Chapter XXXVI: Front Matter (36)

WHARF, hworf, _n._ a bank of timber or stone on the shore of a harbour or river for lading and unlading vessels: (_Shak._) the bank of a river:--_pl._ WHARFS, WHARVES.--_v.t._ to secure by a wharf: to place on a wharf.--_ns._ WHARF'AGE, the dues paid for using a wharf: accommodation at a wharf; WHARF'ING, material for making a wharf: wharfs; WHARFINGER (hworf'in-j[.e]r), one who has the care of, or owns, a wharf; WHARF'-RAT, the common brown rat: a fellow who loafs about a wharf in the hope of picking up a chance job. [A.S. _hwerf_, a dam; prob. conn. with _hweorfan_ (Ice. _hverfa_), to turn.]

WHAT, hwot, _interrog. pron._ applied both to persons and things--also used elliptically and as an interjection: (_Shak._) used to express a summons, or as a mere expletive.--_interrog. adj._ of what sort, how much, how great--also used in an intensive manner.--_rel. pron._ that which, such ... as: (_Shak._) any, who, which.--_indef. pron._ something: (_Spens._) a portion, bit.--_adv._ (_obs._) why? to what degree?--_conj._ so much as: that, as in _but what_, that ... not.--_ns._ WHAT'ABOUTS, the things one is occupied about; WHAT'-D'YE-CALL (-IT, -'EM), a word substituted for the name of a thing (or person) because of forgetfulness, or in contempt.--_adjs._ WHAT'EN, WHAT'TEN (_Scot._), what kind of.--_prons._ WHATEV'ER, WHATE'ER', anything which: (_coll._) what?--_adj._ any or all that, no matter what.--_adjs._ WHAT'-LIKE (_coll._), of what kind; WHAT'NA (_Scot._), same as WHATEN.--_pron._ WHAT'NOT, whatever or whoever.--_adj._ WHAT'SO, of whatever kind.--_pron._ whosoever.--_adjs._ WHATSOEV'ER, WHATSOE'ER', of whatever kind; WHATSOMEV'ER (_coll._), whatsoever.--WHAT AN IF (_Shak._), what of; WHAT ELSE, could anything else be the case? WHAT ... FOR (_Shak._), what kind of; WHAT HO! a loud summons; WHAT IF, what would happen if? WHAT NOT, elliptical for 'what may I not say?' implying the presence or existence of many other things; WHAT OF, what comes of? what do you think of? WHAT'S WHAT, the real or genuine thing; WHAT THOUGH, what matters it though, notwithstanding; WHAT TIME, at the very time when; WHAT WITH, by reason of. [A.S. _hwæt_, neut. of _hwa_, who; Ger. _was_, L. _quid_.]

WHATNOT, hwot'not, _n._ a piece of furniture with shelves for books, &c., so called because used to hold anything: anything, no matter what.

WHAUP, hwawp, _n._ (_Scot._) a curlew--sometimes _Great Whaup_ as opposed to _Little Whaup_, the whimbrel.

WHEAL, hw[=e]l, _n._ a wale, weal.--_v.t._ to cause weals upon. [Prob. conn. with A.S. _hwelan_, to pine.]

WHEAL, hw[=e]l, _n._ a Cornish name for a mine.

WHEAT, hw[=e]t, _n._ the most valuable of all the cereal grasses, the grain furnishing a white flour for bread--known as _bearded_, _beardless_, or _bald_, according to the presence or the absence of the awns or beard; as _white_, _red_, or _amber_, according to colour; and as _spring_, _summer_, _autumn_, or _winter_, according to the time of sowing.--_ns._ WHEAT'-BIRD, the chaffinch; WHEAT'-EAR, an ear of wheat; WHEAT'-EEL, a disease in wheat--also _Ear-cockle_.--_adj._ WHEAT'EN, made of wheat.--_ns._ WHEAT'-FIELD, a field of wheat; WHEAT'-FLY, name of several flies which destroy wheat--e.g. the Hessian fly; WHEAT'-MIDGE, a dipterous insect which lays its eggs in the flowers of wheat-heads, and whose reddish larvæ devour the kernels; WHEAT'-MIL'DEW, the rust which gathers on wheat and oats; WHEAT'-MOTH, one of several small moths whose larvæ devour stored wheat.--WHEAT-EAR STITCH, a fancy stitch in embroidery. [A.S. _hw['æ]te_--_hwit_, white; Ger. _weizen_; allied to _white_, and named from its colour.]

WHEAT-EAR, hw[=e]t'-[=e]r, _n._ a bird of the genus Chat, a common summer visitant of Britain, abounding on downs and fallow fields. [Corr. from _White-arse_.]

WHEEDLE, hw[=e]d'l, _v.t._ to entice by soft words: to flatter.--_n._ a coaxing person.--_n._ WHEED'LER.--_adj._ WHEED'LESOME, coaxing.--_n._ WHEED'LING. [Perh. from Ger. _wedeln_, to wag the tail, as a dog--_wedel_, a fan, brush--Old High Ger. _wehan_, to blow.]

WHEEL, hw[=e]l, _n._ a circular frame turning on an axle: an old instrument of torture: a steering-wheel: (_fig._) the course of events, from the wheel, one of the attributes of Fortune, the emblem of mutability: (_coll._) a bicycle or tricycle: circular motion: principle of life or motion: (_Shak._) a refrain: (_pl._) chariot: (_slang_) a dollar.--_v.t._ to cause to whirl: to convey on wheels: to turn.--_v.i._ to turn round or on an axis: to roll forward: to change direction: to move in a circle: to change about: (_coll._) to ride a bicycle or tricycle.--_ns._ WHEEL'-AN'IMAL, -ANIMAL'CULE, a rotifer; WHEEL'-BARROW, a barrow supported on one wheel and two handles, and driven forward by one man; WHEEL'-BOAT, a boat having wheels, for use on water or on inclined planes; WHEEL'-CARR'IAGE, any kind of carriage moved on wheels; WHEEL'-CHAIR, a chair moving on wheels.--_adj._ WHEEL'-CUT, cut, or ground and polished, on a wheel--of glass.--_n._ WHEEL'-CUT'TER, a machine for cutting the teeth on watch and clock wheels.--_p.adj._ WHEELED, having wheels.--_ns._ WHEEL'ER, one who wheels: the horse nearest the wheels of a carriage: a maker of wheels; WHEEL'-HORSE, one of the horses next the wheels in a team; WHEEL'-HOUSE, a box or small house erected over the steering-wheel in ships: a paddle-box; WHEEL'ING, the act of moving or conveying on wheels: a turning or circular movement of troops; WHEEL'-LOCK, a lock for firing a gun by means of a small steel wheel; WHEEL'MAN, a steersman: a cyclist; WHEEL'-PLOUGH, a plough the depth of whose furrow is regulated by a wheel; WHEEL'-RACE, the part of a race in which the water-wheel is fixed; WHEEL'-TAX, a tax on carriages; WHEEL'-WIN'DOW, a circular window with radiating tracery; WHEEL'-WORK, a combination of wheels and their connection in machinery; WHEEL'WRIGHT, a wright who makes wheels and wheel-carriages.--_adj._ WHEEL'Y, like a wheel.--WHEEL AND AXLE, one of the mechanical powers, in its primitive form a cylindrical axle, on which a wheel, concentric with the axle, is firmly fastened, the power being applied to the wheel, and the weight attached to the axis; WHEEL OF LIFE (see ZOETROPE); WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS, a complication of circumstances.--BREAK A BUTTERFLY (FLY, &c.) UPON THE WHEEL, to inflict a punishment out of all proportion to the offence: to employ great exertions for insignificant ends. [A.S. _hwéol_; Ice. _hjól_.]

WHEEN, hw[=e]n, _n._ (_Scot._) a small quantity: a quantity. [A.S. _hw['æ]ne_--_hwón_, _adv._, a little.]

WHEEZE, hw[=e]z, _v.i._ to breathe with a hissing sound: to breathe audibly or with difficulty.--_n._ WHEEZE--also WHEEZ'ING.--_adv._ WHEEZ'ILY.--_v.i._ WHEEZ'LE, to make wheezy sounds.--_adj._ WHEEZ'Y. [A.S. _hwésan_; Ice. _hvæsa_, to wheeze, to hiss.]

WHELK, hwelk, _n._ a popular name for a number of marine Gasteropods, especially applied to species of _Buccinum_ common on the coasts of northern seas.--_adjs._ WHELKED, ridged like a whelk; WHEL'KY, knobby, rounded. [Wrong form of _welk_--A.S. _wiloc_, _weoluc_, prob. from _wealcan_, to roll.]

WHELK, hwelk, _n._ (_Shak._) the mark of a stripe on the body, a wrinkle, an inequality or protuberance. [_Weal_, _wheal_.]

WHELM, hwelm, _v.t._ to cover completely: to plunge deep: to overburden: to ruin, destroy.--_v.i._ to pass over in such a way as to submerge. [M. E. _whelmen_, _whelven_, to overturn (Ice. _hválfa_, Ger. _wölben_); allied to A.S. _hwealf_, arched; cf. Gr. _kolpos_, a gulf.]

WHELP, hwelp, _n._ the young of the dog kind and of lions, &c.: a puppy: a cub: a young man (in contempt).--_v.i._ and _v.t._ to bring forth young. [A.S. _hwelp_; Ice. _hvelpr_.]

WHEMMLE, hwem'l, WHUMMLE, hwum'l, _n._ an overthrow: (_Scot._) confusion.--_v.t._ to whelm, overthrow. [Freq. form of _whelm_.]

WHEN, hwen, _adv._ and _conj._ at what time? at which time: at or after the time that: while.--_interj._ (_Shak._) an exclamation of impatience, like _what!_--_conj._ WHEN'AS (_Shak._), when: whereas.--_adv._ and _conj._ WHENCE (also FROM WHENCE), from what place: from which things: wherefore.--_adv._ WHENCEFORTH' (_Spens._), whence.--_conjs._ WHENCESOEV'ER, from what place, cause, or source soever; WHENEV'ER, WHENE'ER', at every time when; WHENSOEV'ER, at what time soever: whenever. [A.S. _hwænne_, _hwonne_ (Ger. _wann_, _wenn_); orig. accus. of interrog. pron. _hwá_, who.]

WHERE, hw[=a]r, _adv._ and _conj._ at which place, at what place? to what place, to which place? (_Shak._) whence, whereas: wherever.--_n._ (_Shak._) situation, place.--_adv._ and _conj._ WHEREABOUT', about which, about where: near what?--also WHERE'ABOUTS.--_n._ WHERE'ABOUTS, one's present place.--_conjs._ WHEREAGAINST' (_Shak._), against which; WHEREAS', as or on account of which: since: when in fact: where.--_advs._ and _conjs._ WHEREAT', at which: at what? WHEREBY', by which; WHERE'FORE, for which reason: for what reason? why?--_n._ the cause.--_advs._ and _conjs._ WHEREFROM', whence; WHEREIN', in which respect: in what? WHEREINSOEV'ER, in whatever place or respect; WHEREINTO (hw[=a]r-in't[=oo], -in-t[=oo]'), into what? into which.--_n._ WHERE'NESS, state of having place or position.--_advs._ and _conjs._ WHEREOF', of which: of what? WHEREON', on which: on what? WHEREOUT', out of which; WHERE'SO, WHERESOE'ER', WHERESOEV'ER, in what place soever: (_Shak._) whencesoever; WHERETHROUGH', through which; WHERETO', to which: to what? WHEREUN'DER, under which; WHEREUNTIL' (_Shak._), whereunto; WHEREUNTO', WHEREUN'TO, whereto: for what purpose? WHEREUPON', upon or in consequence of which; WHERE'ER', WHEREV'ER, at whatever place; WHEREWITH', WHEREWITHAL', with which? with what.--WHERE AWAY? (_naut._), a query uttered by the officer of the deck as to the direction of an object sighted by the lookout.--THE WHEREWITH, WHEREWITHAL, means. [A.S. _hw['æ]r_, _hwár_; from stem of who. Cf. _There_.]

WHERRY, hwer'i, _n._ a shallow, light boat, sharp at both ends for speed:--_pl._ WHERR'IES.--_n._ WHERR'Y-MAN, one who rows a wherry. [Ety. dub.; perh. conn. with Ice. _hverfr_, crank--_hverfa_, to turn.]

WHERRY, hwer'i, _n._ a liquor made from the pulp of crab-apples.

WHET, hwet, _v.t._ to sharpen by rubbing: to make keen: to excite: (_obs._) to preen:--_pr.p._ whet'ting: _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ whet'ted.--_n._ act of sharpening: something that sharpens the appetite.--_ns._ WHET'-STONE, a stone for sharpening edged instruments: a stimulant; WHET'TER.--WHET ON, or FORWARD (_Shak._), to urge on. [A.S. _hwettan_--_hwæt_, sharp; Ger. _wetzen_.]

WHETHER, hweth'[.e]r, _interrog._ and _rel. pron._ signifying which of two.--_conj._ which of two alternatives.--_interrog. adv._ introducing the first of two questions, the second being introduced by or--also _conj._--WHETHER OR NO (_coll._), in any case, surely. [A.S. _hwæther_, from _hwá_, who, with the old comp. suffix _-ther_; cog. with Goth. _hwathar_, Ger. _weder_; also with L. _uter_, Gr. _koteros_, Sans. _katara_. Cf. _Other_ and _Alter_.]

WHETHERING, hweth'[.e]r-ing, _n._ (_prov._) the retention of the afterbirth in cows.

WHEW, WHEUGH, hw[=u], _interj._ expressing wonder or dismay.--_n._ a whistling sound noting astonishment.--_v.i._ to utter such a sound.

WHEW, hw[=u], _v.i._ (_prov._) to bustle about.

WHEY, hw[=a], _n._ the watery part of milk, separated from the curd, esp. in making cheese.--_adjs._ WHEY'EY, WHEY'ISH, of whey: like whey.--_n._ WHEY'-FACE, a pale or white face, caused by fright.--_adj._ WHEY'-FACED.--_ns._ WHEY'ISHNESS; WHEY'-TUB. [A.S, _hw['æ]g_; Low Ger. _wey_.]

WHICH, hwich, _interrog. pron._ what one of a number?--also used adjectively.--_rel. pron._ (_obs._) who, whom: now used of things only.--_prons._ WHICHEV'ER, WHICHSOEV'ER, every one which: whether one or other.--(_obs._) WHICH...HE, who; WHICH...HIS, whose--surviving in the vulgar use of _which_ as a mere introductory word; WHICH IS WHICH? which is the one, which is the other? a common phrase denoting inability to decide between two or more things.--THE WHICH (_obs._), which. [A.S. _hwilc_, _hwelc_, from _hwí_, instrumental case of _hwá_, who, and _líc_, like; Goth. _hwei-leiks_, Ger. _welch_, _welcher_; L. _qualis_. Cf. _Such_ and _Each_.]

WHID, hwid, _n._ (_Scot._) a rapid movement.--_v.i._ to move quickly, to whisk.--_v.i._ WHID'DER, to whiz. [Prob. conn. with W. _chwid_, a jerk; or perh. A.S. _hwitha_, a breeze.]

WHID, hwid, _n._ (_Scot._) a lie: (_obs._) a word: (_prov._) a quarrel.--_v.i._ to lie.--CUT BOON WHIDS, to speak good words. [Perh. A.S. _cwide_, a word--_cwethan_, to say.]

WHIDAH-BIRD. See WHYDAH.

WHIFF, hwif, _n._ a sudden puff of air or smoke from the mouth: a slight blast: a light kind of outrigger boat: (_prov._) a glimpse.--_v.t._ to throw out in whiffs: to puff.--_v.i._ to go out or off in a whiff.--_ns._ WHIFF'ER; WHIFF'ET, a whipper-snapper.--_v.i._ WHIFF'LE, to veer about, blow in gusts: to be fickle: to prevaricate: to talk idly.--_n._ a fickle, light-headed person.--_ns._ WHIFF'LER, a fickle person: a herald, usher, piper, leading the way in a procession; WHIFF'LERY, levity; WHIFT, a breath, snatch. [W. _chwiff_, a puff; imit.]

WHIFF, hwif, _v.i._ to fish with a hand-line.--_n._ WHIFF'ING. [_Whip_.]

WHIFFLETREE, hwif'l-tr[=e], _n._ a swingletree.--Also WHIP'PLETREE. [From whifle, to turn. Cf. _Whiff_.]

WHIG, hwig, _n._ the name, since 1830 almost superseded by 'Liberal,' of one of the great English political parties: a Scotch Presbyterian, first so called in the middle of the 17th century: (_U.S._) one of those who in the colonial period were opposed to British rule: one of the survivors of the old National Republican party, first so called in 1834--it died in 1852.--_adj._ composed of Whigs--also WHIG'GISH.--_n._ WHIG'GARCHY, government by WHIGS.--_adv._ WHIG'GISHLY.--_ns._ WHIG'GISM, WHIG'GERY, WHIG'GISHNESS, WHIG'SHIP, Whig principles. [Prob. short for _whiggamore_.]

WHIG, hwig, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to jog along.

WHIG, hwig, _n._ (_prov._) sour whey, buttermilk.

WHIGGAMORE, hwig'a-m[=o]r, _n._ originally a person who came from the west and south-west of Scotland to Leith to buy corn: one of the 7000 Western Covenanters who marched on Edinburgh in 1648, sealing the doom of Charles I.: a Scotch Presbyterian, a WHIG. [Traced by some to _whiggam_, a sound used by the peasantry of the western Lowlands in driving their horses; others derive from _whig_, sour whey. Not derivable from _whig_ (1) and Gael. _mor_, great.]

WHIGMALEERIE, hwig-ma-l[=e]'ri, _n._ (_Scot._) a trinket, knick-knack: a whim. [Orig. uncertain.]

WHILE, hw[=i]l, _n._ a space of time: trouble spent.--_adv._ during the time that: at the same time that, as long as.--_v.t._ to cause to pass without irksomeness (with _away_).--_conjs._ WHILE, WHILST, as long as: at the same time that: (_Shak._) until; WHILES (_B._), while, at the same time that.--_adv._ (_Scot._) at times (orig. gen. of A.S. _hwíl_).--_advs._ WH[=I]'LOM, WH[=I]'LOME (_Milt._), formerly, once (orig. dat. pl. of A.S. _hwíl_, time).--EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, now and then; THE WHILE (_Shak._), in the meantime; THE WHILST (_Shak._), while: in the meantime; WORTH WHILE, worth the trouble and time taken. [A.S. _hwíl_; Goth. _hweila_, Ger. _weile_.]

WHILK, hwilk, _pron._ an obsolete form of _which_.

WHILLY, hwil'i, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to cajole.--_v.i._ WHILL'Y-WHAW, to make wheedling speeches.--_n._ cajolery.--_adv._ smooth-tongued, wheedling. [Prob. a mixture of _wile_ and _wheedle_.]

WHIM, hwim, _n._ a caprice: a fancy: a machine for raising ore, a mine.--_v.i._ to turn round, to be seized with a whim.--_v.t._ to cause to turn.--_adjs._ WHIM'MY, WHIM'SICAL, full of whims, odd, fantastical.--_ns._ WHIMSICAL'ITY, WHIM'SICALNESS.--_adv._ WHIM'SICALLY.--_ns._ WHIM'SY, WHIM'SEY, a whim, freak.--_adj._ full of whims, changeable.--_n._ WHIM'-WHAM, a ridiculous notion or thing, a freak, an odd device. [Ice. _hvima_, to have the eyes wandering.]

WHIMBREL, hwim'brel, _n._ a bird of the family _Scolopacidæ_, allied to the curlew and like it in form, plumage, and habits, but smaller, and having a shorter bill.--Also WIM'BREL. [Prob. imit.]

WHIMPER, hwim'p[.e]r, _v.i._ to cry with a low, whining voice.--_n._ a peevish cry.--_ns._ WHIM'PERER, one who whimpers; WHIM'PERING, peevish crying.--_adv._ WHIM'PERINGLY.--BE ON THE WHIMPER, to be peevish and ready to cry. [Scot. _whimmer_; Ger. _wimmern_; perh. from the root of _whine_.]

WHIMPLE, hwim'pl (_Spens._). Same as WIMPLE.

WHIN, hwin, _n._ gorse, furze.--_n._ WHIN'-CHAT, a bird very similar in appearance, esp. when it assumes its duller autumn plumage, to the Stone-chat, a summer visitant of Britain.--_adj._ WHIN'NY, abounding in whins. [W. _chwyn_, weeds.]

WHIN, hwin, _n._ See WHINSTONE.

WHINE, hw[=i]n, _v.i._ to utter a plaintive, shrill cry: to complain in an unmanly way.--_n._ a plaintive cry: an affected nasal tone of complaint.--_ns._ WH[=I]'NER; WH[=I]'NING.--_adv._ WH[=I]'NINGLY. [A.S. _hwínan_, to whine; Ice. _hvína_.]

WHINGE, hwinj, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to whine. [_Whine_.]

WHINGER, hwing'[.e]r, _n._ a dirk.--Also WHIN'IARD and WHIN'YARD. [Prob. a corr. of _hanger_.]

WHINNOCK, hwin'ok, _n._ (_prov._) the smallest pig in a litter: a milk-pail.

WHINNY, hwin'i, v.i, to neigh:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ whinn'ied.--_n._ a neigh. [Freq. of _whine_.]

WHINSTONE, hwin'st[=o]n, _n._ a popular name in Scotland for any hard and compact kind of stone, as distinguished from sandstone or freestone and rocks of slaty structure.--Also WHIN. [Perh. corr. from _whernstone_, _quernstone_, stone suitable for querns.]

WHINYARD. See WHINGER.

WHIP, hwip, _n._ that which whips: a lash with a handle for punishing or driving: a driver, coachman: one who enforces the attendance of a political party: a whipper-in, the person who manages the hounds: a call made on members of parliament to be in their places against important divisions: a simple form of hoisting apparatus, a small tackle consisting of a single rope and block.--_v.t._ to strike with a lash: to drive or punish with lashes: to lash with sarcasm: (_coll._) to beat, outdo: to beat into a froth, as eggs, cream, &c.: to keep together, as a party: to fish with fly: to overlay, as one cord with another, to enwrap, lay regularly on: to sew lightly: to overcast, as a seam: to move quickly, snatch (with _up_, _away_, _out_).--_v.i._ to move nimbly: to make a cast in fishing with fly:--_pr.p._ whip'ping; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ whipped, whipt.--_ns._ WHIP'-AND-DER'RY, a hoisting apparatus--same as _whip_ above; WHIP'CAT, a tailor; WHIP'CORD, cord for making whips.--_adj._ WHIP'CORDY, tough like whipcord.--_v.t._ WHIP'-GRAFT, to graft by fitting a tongue cut on the scion to a slit cut slopingly in the stock.--_ns._ WHIP'-HAND, the hand that holds the whip: advantage over; WHIP'-HAND'LE, the handle or stock of a whip: an advantage; WHIP'JACK, a poor whining seaman who never was at sea; WHIP'LASH, the lash of a whip; WHIP'PER, one who whips: an officer who inflicts the penalty of whipping; WHIP'PER-IN, one who keeps the hounds from wandering, and whips them in to the line of chase: one who enforces the discipline of a party; WHIP'PER-SNAP'PER, a pretentious but insignificant person; WHIP'PING, act of whipping: punishment with the whip or lash: a defeat: a binding of twine, as at the end of a rope: in bookbinding, the sewing of the edges of single leaves in sections by overcasting the thread--also WHIP'-STITCH'ING; WHIP'PING-BOY, a boy formerly educated along with a prince and bearing his punishments for him; WHIP'PING-CHEER (_Shak._), chastisement; WHIP'PING-POST, a post to which offenders are tied to be whipped: the punishment itself; WHIP'-SAW, a saw usually set in a frame, for dividing timber lengthwise, and commonly worked by two persons.--_v.t._ to cut with a whip-saw: to have the advantage of a person at every point.--_ns._ WHIP'-SNAKE, a name given in North America to various species of the genus _Masticophis_ (esp. _M. flagelliformis_, the coach-whip snake, four to five feet long, slender, and harmless), as also to species of _Philodryas_, of _Passerita_, &c.; WHIP'-SOCK'ET, a socket to hold the butt of a whip; WHIP'-STAFF, the handle of a whip; WHIP'STER (_Shak._), same as WHIPPER-SNAPPER; WHIP'-STITCH, a kind of half-ploughing--_raftering_: a hasty composition: a tailor; WHIP'-STOCK, the rod or handle of a whip.--_adjs._ WHIP'-TAIL, -TAILED, having a long, slender tail.--WHIP AND SPUR, with great haste; WHIP THE CAT, to practise small economies: to work by the day as a dressmaker going from house to house. [M. E. _whippen_; prob. a form of _wippen_--Old Dut. _wippen_, to shake, conn. with Old High Ger. _wipph_, swinging motion (Ger. _weifen_, to move), and akin to L. _vibr[=a]re_, to tremble.]

WHIPPET, hwip'et, _n._ (_obs._) a kind of dog, a cross between a greyhound and spaniel.

WHIPPLETREE. See WHIFFLETREE.

WHIP-POOR-WILL, hwip'-p[=oo]r-wil', _n._ a species of goat-sucker, a native of North America. [So named from the fancied resemblance of its notes to the words _whip poor Will_.]

WHIPPY, hwip'i, _adj._ (_Scot._) active, nimble.--_n._ a pert young woman.

WHIR, hw[.e]r, _n._ a sound from rapid whirling.--_v.i._ to whirl round with a noise.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) to hurry away with a whizzing sound:--_pr.p._ whir'ring; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ whirred.--_n._ WHIR'RING. [Dan. _hvirre_, to whirl; ult. imit.]

WHIRL, hw[.e]rl, _n._ a turning with rapidity: anything that turns with velocity.--_v.i._ to revolve rapidly.--_v.t._ to turn round rapidly: to carry away rapidly, as on wheels.--_ns._ WHIRL'-ABOUT', anything that turns round rapidly; WHIRL'-BAT (_obs._), the ancient cestus; WHIRL'-BLAST, a whirling blast of wind; WHIRL'-BONE, the knee-cap; WHIRL'ER; WHIRL'IGIG, a child's toy which is spun or whirled rapidly round: a merry-go-round: anything that revolves rapidly: the water-beetle (_Gyrinus_): an ancient instrument of punishment, consisting of a pivoted wooden cage in which the prisoner was spun round; WHIRL'ING; WHIRL'ING-DER'VISH, one of an order of Mohammedan devotees who dance or spin round--the Mevlevis or dancing dervishes, founded in 1273; WHIRL'ING-T[=A]'BLE, -MACHINE', a machine exhibiting the effects of centripetal and centrifugal forces: an instrument used by potters; WHIRL'POOL, a circular current in a river or sea, produced by opposing tides, winds, or currents: an eddy; WHIRL'WIND, a violent aerial current, with a whirling, rotary, or spiral motion and wild circling rush. [Skeat explains M. E. _whirlen_ as a contraction for an assumed _whirf-le_, a freq. of Ice. _hvirfla_, to whirl, freq. of _hverfa_ (pa.t. _hvarf_), to turn round; Ger. _wirbeln_, to whirl.]

WHIRRET, hwir'et, _n._ (_obs._) a blow.--_v.t._ to give a box on the ear to: to vex.--Also WHIRR'ICK.

WHIRRY, hw[.e]r'i, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to fly rapidly.

WHISH, hwish, _v.i._ to move with the whizzing sound of rapid motion. [Imit.]

WHISH, hwish, _interj._ hush!--also WHISHT.--_adj._ (_obs._) silent.

WHISK, hwisk, _v.t._ to move with a quick motion: to sweep or stir rapidly.--_v.i._ to move nimbly and rapidly.--_n._ a rapid sweeping motion: a small bunch of anything used for a brush: a small instrument for beating or whisking, esp. eggs.--_ns._ WHIS'KER, he who, or that which, whisks: the hair on the sides of a man's face (esp. in _pl._): the bristle on the face of a cat, &c.; WHISKERAN'DO, a whiskered person, in allusion to Don Ferolo _Whiskerandos_ in Sheridan's _Critic_.--_adjs._ WHISKERAN'DOED, WHIS'KERED, WHIS'KERY, having whiskers; WHIS'KING, moving briskly; WHIS'KY-FRIS'KY, flighty. [Scand., Ice. _visk_, a wisp of hay; Sw. _viska_, to wipe, Ger. _wischen_; prob. conn. with _wash_.]

WHISK, hwisk, _n._ whist. [So called from the rapid action of sweeping the cards off the table after a trick has been won.]

WHISKET, hwis'ket, _n._ (_prov._) a basket.

WHISKY, WHISKEY, hwis'ki, _n._ a spirit made by the distillation of the fermented extract from malted and unmalted cereals, potatoes, or any starch-yielding material--the best qualities made either from malted barley alone, or from a mixed grist of barley-malt and dried barley and oats.--_adjs._ WHIS'KIFIED, WHIS'KEYFIED, intoxicated.--_n._ WHIS'KY-LIV'ER, cirrhosis of the liver, from too much whisky.--WHISKY INSURRECTION, an outbreak against the excise regulations which occurred in Western Pennsylvania in 1794; WHISKY TODDY, toddy having whisky for its chief ingredient. [Gael. _uisge beatha_--_uisge_, water, _beatha_, life; cf. L. _vita_, Gr. _bios_, life.]

WHISKY, WHISKEY, hwis'ki, _n._ a light gig.

WHISKY-JACK, hwis'ki-jak, _n._ the gray or Canada jay.--Also WHIS'KY-JOHN. [Amer. Ind. _wiss-ka-tjan_.]

WHISPER, hwis'p[.e]r, _v.i._ to speak with a low sound: to speak very softly: to plot secretly.--_v.t._ to utter in a low voice or under the breath.--_n._ a low, hissing voice or sound: cautious or timorous speaking: a secret hint: a low rustling sound.--_ns._ WHIS'PERER, one who whispers: (_B._) a secret informer; WHIS'PERING, whispered talk: insinuation.--_adj._ like a whisper.--_n._ WHIS'PERING-GALL'ERY, a gallery or dome so constructed that a whisper or slight sound is carried to an unusual distance.--_advs._ WHIS'PERINGLY, in a whisper or low voice; WHIS'PEROUSLY, in a whisper. [A.S. _hwisprian_; Ger. _wispern_, Ice. _hvískra_; allied to _whistle_.]

WHIST, hwist, _adj._ hushed: silent.--_v.i._ to become silent.--_v.t._ (_Spens._) to hush or silence.--_interj._ hush! silence! be still! [Akin to _hist!_]

WHIST, hwist, _n._ a well-known game at cards, played with the whole pack, by two against two.--_ns._ WHIST'-PLAY, play in the game of whist; WHIST'-PLAY'ER.--DUMMY WHIST (see Dummy); FIVE POINT WHIST, whist played without counting honours; LONG WHIST, a game of ten points with honours counting; SHORT WHIST, the game of five points, without honours. [Orig. _whisk_. Cf. _Whisk_.]

WHISTLE, hwis'l, _v.i._ to make a shrill sound by forcing the breath through the lips contracted: to make a like sound with an instrument: to sound shrill: to inform by whistling, to become informer.--_v.t._ to form or utter by whistling: to call by a whistle.--_n._ the sound made in whistling: a small wind instrument: an instrument sounded by escaping steam, used for signalling on railway-engines, steamships, &c.--_adj._ WHIS'TLE-DRUNK (_obs._), too drunk to whistle.--_ns._ WHIS'TLE-FISH, a rockling; WHIS'TLER, one who, or that which, whistles: a kind of marmot: a broken-winded horse; WHIS'TLING.--_adv._ WHIS'TLINGLY.--_n._ WHIS'TLING-SHOP (_slang_), a shebeen, the keeper being called a _whistler_.--WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, to talk to no purpose; WHISTLE FOR, to summon by whistling; WHISTLE FOR A WIND, a superstitious practice of old sailors during a calm; WHISTLE OFF, to send off by a whistle: (_Shak._) turn loose.--GO WHISTLE (_Shak._), to go to the deuce; PAY FOR ONE'S WHISTLE, to pay highly for one's caprice; PIGS AND WHISTLES, an exclamation equivalent to 'The deuce!' or the like--also in phrase, 'To make pigs and whistles of anything'=to make a sad mess of it; WET ONE'S WHISTLE (_coll._), to take a drink of liquor; WORTH THE WHISTLE, worth the trouble of calling for. [A.S. _hwistlian_; Sw. _hvissla_; cf. _Whisper_.]

WHIT, hwit, _n._ the smallest particle imaginable: a bit. [By-form of _wight_, a creature.]

WHITE, hw[=i]t, _adj._ of the colour of pure snow: pale, pallid: colourless: pure: unblemished: purified from sin: bright: burnished without ornament: transparent and colourless, as of wine: pertaining to the Carmelite monks: gracious, favourable: (_U.S._) reliable, honest.--_n._ the colour of snow: anything white, as a white man, the mark at which an arrow is shot, the albuminous part of an egg.--_v.t._ to make white.--_ns._ WHITE'-ALLOY', a cheap alloy used to imitate silver; WHITE'-ANT, a termite.--_adj._ WHITE'-BACKED, having the back white or marked with white.--_ns._ WHITE'BAIT, the name by which the fry of the herring and sprat are known in the market, and when served for the table, esp. in London; WHITE'-BASS, a silvery serranoid fish of the American Great Lake region.--_adj._ WHITE'-BEAKED, having a white beak.--_ns._ WHITE'-BEAR, the polar bear; WHITE'-BEARD, an old man.-_adjs._ WHITE'-BEARD'ED; WHITE'-BELL'IED; WHITE'-BILLED.--_ns._ WHITE'BOY, a member of an association of Irish peasants first formed in County Tipperary about 1761--wearing white shirts--long noted for agrarian outrages; WHITE'BOYISM, the principles of the Whiteboys; WHITE'-BRASS, an alloy of copper and zinc.--_adj._ WHITE'-BREAST'ED.--_n.pl._ WHITE'CAPS (_U.S._), the name given to a self-constituted committee of persons who generally commit outrageous acts under the guise of serving the community.--_ns._ WHITE'CHAPEL-CART, a light two-wheeled spring-cart much used by London butchers, grocers, &c.; WHITE'-COPP'ER, a light-coloured alloy of copper.--_adjs._ WHITE'-CREST'ED, -CROWNED, having the crest or crown white--of birds.--_n.pl._ WHITE'-CROPS, grain, as barley, rye, wheat.--_ns._ WHITE'-DAMP, carbonic oxide, a poisonous but not inflammable gas found in coal-mines in the after-damp; WHITE'-EL'EPHANT (see ELEPHANT).--_adjs._ WHITE'-FACED, having a face pale with fear or from illness: with white front, forehead--also WHITE'-FRONT'ED; WHITE'-F[=A]'VOURED, wearing white favours.--_ns._ WHITE'-FEATH'ER (see FEATHER); WHITE'FISH, a general name for such fish as the whiting, haddock, menhaden, &c.: the largest of all the _Coregoni_ or American lake whitefish; WHITE'FRIAR, one of the Carmelite order of friars, so called from their white dress.--_adj._ WHITE'-HAND'ED, having white hands unstained with guilt.--_ns._ WHITE'-HASS (_Scot._), an oatmeal and suet pudding; WHITE'HEAD, the blue-winged snow-goose: a breed of domestic pigeons, a white-tailed monk; WHITE'-HEAT, the degree of heat at which bodies become white; WHITE'-HERR'ING, a fresh or uncured herring; WHITE'-HON'EYSUCKLE, the clammy azalea; WHITE'-HORSE, the name applied to a figure of a horse on a hillside, formed by removing the turf so as to show the underlying chalk--the most famous in Berkshire, at Uffington, traditionally supposed to commemorate Alfred the Great's victory of Ashdown (871)--periodically 'scoured' or cleaned from turf, &c.--_adj._ WHITE'-HOT.--_ns._ WHITE'-[=I]RON, pig-iron in which the carbon is almost entirely in chemical combination with the iron; WHITE'-L[=A]'DY, a spectral figure which appears in many of the castles of Germany, as at Ansbach, Baireuth, Altenburg, &c., by night as well as by day, particularly when the death of any member of the family is imminent; WHITE'-LAND, land with a stiff clayey soil white when dry; WHITE'LEAD, a carbonate of lead used in painting white; WHITE'-LEATH'ER (see LEATHER); WHITE'-LEG, an ailment of women after parturition--also _Milk-leg_; WHITE'-LIE (see LIE); WHITE'-LIGHT, ordinary sunlight; WHITE'-LIME, whitewash.--_adjs._ WHITE'-LIMED, whitewashed; WHITE'-LIST'ED, having white lists or stripes on a darker ground; WHITE'-LIV'ERED, having a pale look, so called because thought to be caused by a white liver: cowardly: malicious; WHITE'LY (_Shak._), coming near to white, white-faced.--_ns._ WHITE'-MEAT, food made of milk, butter, eggs, &c.: the flesh of poultry, rabbits, veal, &c.; WHITE'-MET'AL, a general name for alloys of light colour.--_v.t._ WH[=I]'TEN, to make white: to bleach.--_v.i._ to become or turn white.--_ns._ WH[=I]T'ENER; WHITE'NESS; WHITE'-POT, a Devonshire dish of sliced rolls, milk, eggs, sugar, &c. baked; WHITE'-PRECIP'ITATE, a white mercurial preparation used externally; WHITE'-PYR[=I]'TES, marcasite; WHITE'-RENT, the tinner's poll-tax of eightpence to the Duke of Cornwall: rent paid in silver.--_adj._ WHITE'-RUMPED.--_ns._ WHITES (see LEUCORRHOEA); WHITE'-SALT, salt dried and calcined; WHITE'SMITH, a worker in tinned or white iron: a tinsmith; WHITE'-SQUALL (see SQUALL); WHITE'STONE, granulite; WHITE'-SWELL'ING, a disease of the joints, esp. the knee, in which the synovial membrane passes into pulpy degeneration; WHITE'THORN, the common hawthorn; WHITE'THROAT, a bird of the same genus as the Blackcap, having the breast and belly of a brownish-white; WHITE'-VIT'RIOL, sulphate of zinc; WHITE'WASH, slaked quicklime, reduced to the consistency of milk by means of water, used for colouring walls and as a disinfectant: a wash for the skin: false colouring.--_v.t._ to cover with whitewash: to give a fair appearance to.--_ns._ WHITE'WASHER, one who whitewashes; WHITE'-WA'TER, shoal water near the shore, breakers: the foaming water in rapids, &c.; WHITE'-WAX, bleached beeswax: Chinese wax, or pela; WHITE'-WINE, any wine of clear transparent colour, as hock, &c.; WHITE'WING, the velvet scoter, scurf-duck: the chaffinch.--_adj._ WHITE'-WINGED.--_ns._ WHITE'WOOD, a name applied to a large number of trees or their timber--the American tulip-tree, white-wood cedar, cheesewood, &c.; WH[=I]'TING, a small sea-fish allied to the cod, so called from its white colour: ground chalk free from stony matter and other impurities, extensively used as a size-colour, &c.--also WHITE'NING, and SPANISH WHITE, PARIS WHITE (the finest); WH[=I]'TING-TIME (_Shak._), bleaching-time.--_adj._ WH[=I]'TISH, somewhat white.--_ns._ WH[=I]'TISHNESS; WH[=I]T'STER (_Shak._), a bleacher of cloth or clothes.--_adjs._ WH[=I]'TY, whitish; WH[=I]'TY-BROWN, white with a tinge of brown.--WHITE-HEADED EAGLE, the North American bald eagle; WHITE HORSE, a white-topped wave; WHITE HOUSE, a popular name of the official residence of the President of the United States at Washington; WHITE OF AN EGG, the albumen, the pellucid viscous fluid surrounding the yolk; WHITE OF THE EYE, that part of the ball of the eye which surrounds the iris or coloured part.--CHINA WHITE, a very pure variety of whitelead--also SILVER WHITE and FRENCH WHITE; PEARL WHITE, the basic nitrate of bismuth used as a cosmetic; ZINC WHITE, impure oxide of zinc.--MARK WITH A WHITE STONE (see STONE); SHOW THE WHITE FEATHER (see FEATHER). [A.S. _hwít_; Ice. _hvitr_, Ger. _weiss_.]

WHITHER, hwith'[.e]r, _adv._ to what place? to which place: to what: whithersoever.--_adv._ WHITHERSOEV'ER, to whatever place.--NO WHITHER, to no place. [A.S. _hwider_, from the stem of _who_. Cf. _Thither_, _There_.]

WHITLEATHER, hwit'leth-[.e]r, _n._ leather dressed with alum, white leather: the paxwax or nuchal ligament of the ox.

WHITLOW, hwit'l[=o], _n._ a painful inflammatory affection of the fingers, almost always proceeding to suppuration, paronychia.--_n._ WHIT'LOW-GRASS, a small British saxifrage: the small _Draba verna_ of America. [A corr. of _whick-flaw_=quick-flaw. Cf. _Quick_ and _Flaw_.]

WHIT-MONDAY, hwit'-mun'd[=a], _n._ the Monday following Whitsunday.

WHITSOUR, hwit'sowr, _n._ a kind of summer apple.

WHITSUN, hwit'sun, _adj._ pertaining to, or observed at, _Whitsuntide_.--_ns._ WHIT'SUN-ALE, a festival formerly held at WHITSUNTIDE; WHIT'SUNDAY, WHIT'SUNTIDE, the seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the day of Pentecost, when the converts in the primitive Church wore white robes: in Scotland, one of the term-days (May 15) on which rents, annuities, &c. are payable, the Whitsunday removal terms in towns being fixed as May 28; WHIT'SUNTIDE, the season of Pentecost, comprising the week following Pentecost Sunday; WHIT'SUN-WEEK, the week beginning with Whitsunday.

WHITTAW, hwit'aw, _n._ (_prov._) a saddler.--Also WHITT'AWER.

WHITTIE-WHATTIE, hwit'i-hwot'i, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to mutter, whisper.--_n._ language intended to deceive.

WHITTLE, hwit'l, _v.t._ to pare or cut with a knife: to cut to an edge.--_v.i._ to cut wood aimlessly: (_obs. slang_) to confess at the gallows.--_n._ a small pocket-knife. [M. E. _thwitel_--A.S. _thwítan_, to cut.]

WHITTLE, hwit'l, _n._ (_prov._) a woollen shawl: a blanket. [A.S. _hwítel_, a white mantle--_hwít_, white.]

WHIZ, hwiz, _v.i._ to make a hissing sound, like an arrow or ball flying through the air:--_pr.p._ whiz'zing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ whizzed.--_n._ a hissing sound.--_ns._ WHIZ'ZER; WHIZ'ZING.--_adv._ WHIZ'ZINGLY. [Imit.; cf. _Wheeze_, _Whist_, and _Hiss_.]

WHO, h[=oo], _pron._ (both _rel._ and _interrog._) what person? which person.--_pron._ WHOEV'ER, every one who: whatever person.--WHO BUT HE, who else? he only.--AS WHO SHOULD SAY, as if one should say.--THE WHO (_Shak._), who. [A.S. _hwá_; cog. with Goth. _hwas_, Ice. _hver_, Ger. _wer_; also with Sans. _kas_, Gr. _pos_, L. _quis_.]

WHOA, hw[=o], _interj._ stop!

WHOLE, h[=o]l, _adj._ sound, as in health (so in _B._): unimpaired: containing the total amount, number, &c.: all: not defective: complete: in mining, as yet unworked.--_n._ the entire thing: a system or combination of parts.--_adv._ wholly.--_adjs._ WHOLE'-COL'OURED, all of one colour; WHOLE'-FOOT'ED (_coll._) unreserved; WHOLE'-HEART'ED, -SOULED, noble: hearty, generous; WHOLE'-HOOFED, having undivided hoof; WHOLE'-LENGTH, giving the whole figure, as a portrait: full-length.--_n._ a portrait or statue giving the whole figure.--_ns._ WHOLE'NESS; WHOLE'S[=A]LE, sale of goods by the whole piece or large quantity.--_adj._ buying and selling in large quantities: extensive.--_n._ WHOLE'S[=A]LER, one who sells by wholesale.--_adjs._ WHOLE'-SKINNED, having an unbroken skin: unhurt: safe in reputation; WHOLE'SOME, healthy: sound: salutary: (_Shak._) prosperous.--_adv._ WHOLE'SOMELY.--_ns._ WHOLE'SOMENESS; WHOLE'-STITCH, a lace-making stitch used in filling.--_adv._ WHOLLY (h[=o]'li), completely, altogether.--_n._ WHOLTH, wholeness, soundness.--WHOLE NUMBER, a unit, or a number composed of units, an integral number.--UPON, ON, THE WHOLE, generally speaking, to sum up.--WITH WHOLE SKIN, safe, unscathed. [A.S. _hál_, healthy; Ice. _heill_, Ger. _heil_. By-form _hale_ (1).]

WHOM, h[=oo]m, _pron._ objective case of _who_.--_prons._ WHOMEV'ER, WHOMSOEV'ER, objective case of _whoever_, _whosoever_. [A.S. _hwám_, which was orig. dat. of _hwá_, who, and replaced in the 12th and 13th centuries the older accus. _hwone_.]

WHOMMLE, hwom'l, WHOMBLE, hwomb'l, _v.t._ (_prov._). Same as WHEMMLE.

WHOOBUB, h[=oo]'bub, _n._ (_Shak._). Same as HUBBUB.

WHOOP, hw[=oo]p, or h[=oo]p, _n._ a loud eager cry.--_v.i._ to give a clear, sharp cry: to shout in scorn, eagerness, &c.--_v.t._ to insult with shouts.--_interj._ (_Shak._) ho!--_ns._ WHOOP'ER, one who whoops: a species of swan; WHOOP'ING-COUGH, HOOPING-COUGH, an infectious and epidemic disease, mostly attacking children under ten, esp. in spring and autumn, its characteristic sign a cough occurring in paroxysms consisting of a series of short expiratory puffs followed by a deep inspiration of air through the contracted cleft of the glottis. [O. Fr. _houper_, to shout; cf. _Houp!_ _Houp-la!_ Perh. of Teut. origin, cog. with Goth. _w[=o]pjan_, to crow.]

WHOOT. See HOOT.

WHOP, WHAP, hwop, _v.t._ (_coll._) to whip.--_v.i._ to flop on the ground.--_n._ WHOP'PER, one who whops: anything very large, esp. a monstrous lie.--_adj._ WHOP'PING (_slang_), very large. [_Whip_.]

WHORE, h[=o]r, _n._ a woman who prostitutes her body for hire, a prostitute, harlot, strumpet, hence any unchaste woman.--_v.i._ to practise lewdness.--_v.t._ to corrupt by lewd commerce.--_ns._ WHORE'DOM, unlawful sexual intercourse: idolatry; WHORE'HOUSE, a brothel; WHORE'MASTER (_Shak._), a pimp.--_adj._ WHORE'MASTERLY, libidinous.--_ns._ WHORE'MONGER, a lecher: a pander; WHORE'SON (_Shak._), a bastard.--_adj._ mean, scurvy.--_adj._ WH[=O]'RISH.--_adv._ WH[=O]'RISHLY.--_n._ WH[=O]'RISHNESS. [Ice. _hóra_, an adulteress, fem. of _hórr_, an adulterer. The word was confused with A.S. _horu_ (Old High Ger. _horo_), dirt. There is no connection with _hire_.]

WHORL, hworl, _n._ a number of leaves in a circle round the stem: a turn in a spiral shell: a volution--e.g. in the ear: the fly of a spindle.--_p.adj._ WHORLED, having whorls: arranged in the form of a whorl or whorls. [By-form of _whirl_.]

WHORTLEBERRY, hwor'tl-ber-i, _n._ a widely-spread health plant with a purple edible berry, called also the _Bilberry_--in Scotland, _Blaeberry_--sometimes abbrev. WHORT. [A.S. _wyrtil_, a shrub (Ger. _wurzel_, root), dim. of _wyrt_, root, and _berie_, berry; confused rather than conn. with A.S. _heort berge_, berry of the buckthorn.]

WHOSE, h[=oo]z, _pron._ the possessive case of _who_ or _which_.--_pron._ WHOSESOEV'ER (_B._), of whomsoever. [M. E. _hwas_--A.S. _hwæs_, gen. of _hwá_, who.]

WHOSO, h[=oo]'so, WHOSOEVER, h[=oo]-so-ev'[.e]r, _indef. rel. pron._ every one who: whoever.

WHOT, hwot, _adj._ (_Spens._). Same as HOT.

WHUMMLE, a form of _whemmle_.

WHUNSTANE, a form of _whinstone_.

WHY, hw[=i], _adv._ and _conj._ for what cause or reason? on which account: wherefore.--_interj._ used us an expletive or exclamation.--_n._ WHY'-NOT (_obs._), a dilemma.--WHY, SO (_Shak._), an expression of unwilling consent.--THE CAUSE WHY, THE REASON WHY, the reason why a thing is, or is to be done; THE WHY AND WHEREFORE, the whole reason. [A.S. _hwí_, _hwý_, instrumental case of _hwá_, who.]

WHYDAH, WHIDAH, hwid'a, _n._ a genus of birds of the Weaver family, natives of the tropical parts of Africa, often brought to Britain as cage-birds. [From the country of _Whydah_ in Dahomey.]

WICK, wik, _n._ a creek. [Ice. _vík_, a bay. Cf. _Viking_.]

WICK, wik, _v.t._ in curling, to strike a stone in an oblique direction. [Prob. A.S. _wícan_, to bend.]

WICK, wik, _n._ the twisted threads of cotton or other substance in a candle or lamp which draw up the inflammable liquid to a flame. [A.S. _weoca_; allied to _weak_--A.S. _wác_.]

WICK, wik, _adj._ (_prov._) quick, alive.--_n._ a lively person.

WICK, wik, _n._ a village or town, as in Ber_wick_, Green_wich_. [A.S. _wíc_--L. _vicus_, a village.]

WICKED, wik'ed, _adj._ evil in principle or practice: deviating from morality: sinful: ungodly: mischievous: (_prov._) active, brisk.--_n._ (_B._) a wicked person, (_pl._) wicked persons collectively.--_adv._ WICK'EDLY.--_n._ WICK'EDNESS.--WICKED BIBLE, an edition printed in 1632 in which the word 'not' was omitted in Exodus xx. 14.--THE WICKED ONE, the devil. [Orig. a pa.p. with the sense 'rendered evil' from _wikken_, to make evil, _wikke_, bad; A.S. _wicca_, wizard.]

WICKEN, wik'n, _n._ the mountain-ash or rowan-tree.--Also WICK'Y.

WICKER, wik'[.e]r, _n._ a small pliant twig or osier: wickerwork.--_adj._ made of twigs or osiers.--_adj._ WICK'ERED, made of wicker: covered with wickerwork.--_n._ WICK'ERWORK, basketwork of any kind. [M. E. _wiker_--A.S. _wicen_, pa.p. of _wícan_, to bend.]

WICKET, wik'et, _n._ a small gate: one of three upright rods bowled at in cricket: a batsman's stay at the wicket: the ground where the wickets are placed.--_ns._ WICK'ET-DOOR, -GATE, a wicket; WICK'ET-KEEP'ER, in cricket, the fieldsman who stands immediately behind the wicket. [O. Fr. _wiket_ (Fr. _guichet_), a dim. form, prob. from Ice. _vik-inn_, pa.p. of _víkja_, to move; cf. A.S. _wícan_, to bend.]

WIDDERSHINS, WIDERSHINS, &c. See WITHERSHINS.

WIDDY, wid'i, provincial form of _widow_ and of _withy_ (see WITHE).

WIDE, w[=i]d, _adj._ extended far: having a considerable distance between: broad: distant: bulging, expanded: deviating, errant, wild.--_n._ wideness: in cricket, a ball that goes wide of the wicket, counting one to the batting side.--_advs._ W[=I]DE, W[=I]DE'LY.--_adj._ W[=I]DE'-AWAKE', fully awake: on the alert: ready.--_n._ a kind of soft felt hat.--_n._ W[=I]DE'AWAKENESS.--_adj._ W[=I]DE'-CHAPPED, wide-mouthed.--_v.t._ and v.i, W[=I]'DEN, to make or grow wide or wider: (_Shak._) to throw open.--_ns._ W[=I]DE'NER, one who, or that which, widens: a kind of tool; W[=I]DE'NESS, width.--_adjs._ W[=I]DE'-SPREAD, diffused; W[=I]DE'-STRETCHED (_Shak._), large; W[=I]DE'-WA'TERED, bordered or covered by wide waters.--_n._ WIDTH, wideness, breadth. [A.S. _wíd_; Ice. _víthr_, Ger. _weit_.]

WIDGEON, WIGEON, wij'on, _n._ a genus of Ducks having the bill shorter than the head, the legs short, the feet rather small, the wings long and pointed, and the tail wedge-shaped: a fool. [O. Fr. _vigeon_--L. _vipio_, _vipionis_, a small crane.]

WIDOW, wid'[=o], _n._ a woman who has lost her husband by death.--_v.t._ to bereave of a husband: to strip of anything valued: (_Shak._) to endow with a widow's right: to be widow to.--_ns._ WID'OW-BENCH, a widow's share of her husband's estate besides her jointure; WID'OW-BEWITCHED', a grass-widow; WID'OW-BIRD, a corruption of WHYDAH-BIRD; WID'OWER, a man whose wife is dead; WID'OWERHOOD; WID'OWHOOD, state of being a widow, or (rarely) of being a widower: (_Shak._) a widow's right; WID'OW-HUN'TER, one who seeks to marry a widow for her money; WID'OW-M[=A]'KER, one who bereaves women of their husbands; WID'OW'S-CHAM'BER, the apparel and bedroom furniture of the widow of a London freeman, to which she was entitled; WID'OW-WAIL, a dwarf shrub with pink, sweet-scented flowers, native to Spain and southern France.--WIDOW'S LAWN, a fine thin muslin; WIDOW'S MAN, a fictitious person; WIDOW'S SILK, a silk fabric with dull surface, for mournings; WIDOW'S WEEDS, the mourning dress of a widow. [A.S. _widwe_, _wuduwe_; Ger. _wittwe_, L. _vidua_, bereft of a husband, Sans. _vidhav[=a]_.]

WIELD, w[=e]ld, _v.t._ to use with full command: to manage: to use.--_adj._ WIEL'DABLE, capable of being wielded.--_ns._ WIEL'DER; WIEL'DINESS.--_adjs._ WIELD'LESS (_Spens._), not capable of being wielded, unmanageable; WIEL'DY, capable of being wielded: manageable: dexterous, active.--WIELD THE SCEPTRE, to have supreme command or control. [A.S. _geweldan_--_wealdan_; Goth. _waldan_, Ger. _walten_.]

WIERY, w[=e]'ri, _adj._ (_obs._) wet, marshy, moist. [A.S. _wær_, a pond.]

WIFE, w[=i]f, _n._ a woman: a married woman: the mistress of a house, a hostess--often in this sense 'goodwife.'--_n._ WIFE'HOOD, the state of being a wife.--_adjs._ WIFE'LESS, without a wife; WIFE'-LIKE, WIFE'LY. [A.S. _wíf_; Ice. _víf_, Ger. _weib_; not conn. with weave.]

WIG, wig, _n._ an artificial covering of hair for the head, worn to conceal baldness, formerly for fashion's sake, as in the full-dress _full-bottomed_ form of Queen Anne's time, still worn by the Speaker and by judges, and the smaller _tie-wig_, still represented by the judge's undress wig and the barrister's or advocate's frizzed wig: a judge. (For BAG-WIG, see BAG.)--_n._ WIG'-BLOCK, a block or shaped piece of wood for fitting a wig on.--_adj._ WIGGED, wearing a wig.--_n._ WIG'GERY, false hair: excess of formality.--_adj._ WIG'LESS, without a wig.--_n._ WIG'-M[=A]'KER, a maker of wigs. [Short for _periwig_.]

WIG, wig, _v.t._ (_coll._) to scold.--_n._ WIG'GING, a scolding. [Prob. derived from 'to snatch at one's wig,' to handle roughly.]

WIGAN, wig'an, _n._ a stiff canvas-like fabric for stiffening shirts, borders, &c. [_Wigan_, the town.]

WIGEON. See WIDGEON.

WIGGLE, wig'l, _v.i._ (_prov._) to waggle, wriggle.--_n._ a wiggling motion.--_n._ WIGG'LER, one who wriggles.

WIGHT, w[=i]t, _n._ a creature or a person--used chiefly in sport or irony. [A.S. _wiht_, a creature, prob. from _wegan_, to move, carry; Ger. _wicht_. Cf. _Whit_.]

WIGHT, w[=i]t, _adj._ swift, nimble: courageous, strong.--_adv._ WIGHT'LY, swiftly, nimbly. [Ice. _vígr_, warlike--_víg_, war (A.S. _wíg_).]

WIGWAG, wig'wag, _v.i._ to twist about, to signal by means of flags.--_adj._ twisting.--_adv._ to and fro.

WIGWAM, wig'wam, _n._ an Indian hut. [Eng. corr. of Algonkin word.]

WILD, w[=i]ld, _adj._ frolicsome, light-hearted: being in a state of nature: not tamed or cultivated: uncivilised: desert: unsheltered: violent: eager, keen: licentious: fantastic: wide of the mark.--_n._ an uncultivated region: a forest or desert.--_ns._ W[=I]LD'-ASS, an Asiatic or African ass living naturally in a wild state; W[=I]LD'-BOAR, a wild swine or animal of the hog kind.--_adj._ W[=I]LD'-BORN, born in a wild state.--_n._ W[=I]LD'-CAT, the undomesticated cat.--_adj._ (_U.S._) haphazard, reckless, unsound financially.--_ns._ W[=I]LD'-CHERR'Y, any uncultivated tree bearing cherries, or its fruit; W[=I]LD'-DUCK, any duck excepting the domesticated duck.--_v.t._ WILDER (wil'd[.e]r), to bewilder.--_v.i._ to wander widely or wildly.--_adv._ WIL'DEREDLY, in a wildered manner.--_ns._ WIL'DERING, any plant growing wild, esp. one that has escaped from a state of cultivation; WIL'DERMENT, confusion; WIL'DERNESS, a wild or waste place: an uncultivated region: a confused mass: (_Shak._) wildness; W[=I]LD'-FIRE, a composition of inflammable materials: a kind of lightning flitting at intervals: a disease of sheep; W[=I]LD'-FOWL, the birds of the duck tribe: game-birds; W[=I]LD'-FOWL'ING, the pursuit of wild-fowl; W[=I]LD'-GOOSE, a bird of the goose kind which is wild or feral; W[=I]LD'-GOOSE-CHASE (see CHASE); W[=I]LD-HON'EY, the honey of wild bees; W[=I]LD'ING, that which grows wild or without cultivation: a wild crab-apple.--_adj._ uncultivated.--_adj._ W[=I]LD'ISH, somewhat wild.--_n._ W[=I]LD'-LAND, land completely uncultivated.--_adv._ W[=I]LD'LY.--_ns._ W[=I]LD'NESS; W[=I]LD'-OAT, a tall perennial Old World grass.--_adj._ W[=I]LD'-WOOD, belonging to wild uncultivated wood.--_n._ a forest.--WILD ANIMALS, undomesticated animals; WILD BIRDS, birds not domesticated, esp. those protected at certain seasons under the Act of 1880; WILD HUNT, the name given in Germany to a noise sometimes heard in the air at night, mostly between Christmas and Epiphany, as of a host of spirits rushing along, accompanied by the shouting of huntsmen and the baying of dogs--the 'Seven Whistlers' and 'Gabriel's Hounds' of our own north country; WILD SHOT, a chance shot.--_Run wild_, to take to loose living: to revert to the wild or uncultivated state; SOW WILD OATS (see OAT). [A.S. _wild_; prob. orig. 'self-willed,' from the root of _will_; Ger. _wild_.]

WILD, w[=i]ld, a variety of _weald_.

WILDGRAVE, w[=i]ld'gr[=a]v, _n._ a German noble, whose office was connected with hunting. [Ger. _wild_, game, _graf_, count.]

WILE, w[=i]l, _n._ a trick: a sly artifice.--_v.t._ to beguile, inveigle: coax, cajole: to make to pass easily or pleasantly (confused with _while_).--_adj._ WILE'FUL, full of wiles. [A.S. _wíl_, _wíle_; Ice. _vél_, _væl_, a trick. Doublet _guile_.]

WILL, wil, _n._ power of choosing or determining: volition: choice or determination: pleasure: command: arbitrary disposal: feeling towards, as in good or ill will: disposition of one's effects at death, the written document containing such.--_v.i._ to have a wish, desire: to resolve, be resolved: to be accustomed, certain, ready, or sure (to do, &c.)--used as an auxiliary, esp. in future constructions: to exercise the will: to decree: (_B._) to be willing.--_v.t._ to wish, desire: to determine: to be resolved to do: to command: to dispose of by will: to subject to another's will, as in hypnotism:--_pa.t._ would.--_adj._ WIL'FUL, governed only by one's will: done or suffered by design: obstinate: (_Shak._) willing.--_adv._ WIL'FULLY.--_n._ WIL'FULNESS.--_adj._ WILLED, having a will: brought under another's will.--_n._ WILL'ER, one who wishes, one who wills.--_adjs._ WILL'ING, having the will inclined to a thing: desirous: disposed: chosen; WILL'ING-HEART'ED, heartily consenting.--_adv._ WILL'INGLY.--_n._ WILL'INGNESS.--_adj._ WILL'YARD (_Scot._), wilful: shy.--_ns._ GOOD'-WILL (see GOOD); ILL'-WILL (see ILL).--AT WILL, at pleasure; CONJOINT, JOINT, WILL, a testamentary act by two persons jointly in the same instrument; HAVE ONE'S WILL, to obtain what one desires; TENANT AT WILL, one who holds lands at the will of the owner; WITH A WILL, with all one's heart; WORK ONE'S WILL, to do exactly what one wants. [A.S. _willa_, will--_willan_, _wyllan_, to wish; Goth. _wiljan_, Ger. _wollen_, L. _velle_.]

WILLET, wil'et, _n._ a North American bird of the snipe family, belonging to the tattler group--also _Stone-curlew_.

WILLIEWAUGHT, wil'i-wäht, _n._ (_Scot._), for _gude-willie waught_. [See WAUGHT.]

WILL-O'-THE-WISP, wil'-o-the-wisp', _n._ the ignis-fatuus: any deluding person or thing.

WILLOW, wil'[=o], _n._ any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, having slender, pliant branches: the wood of the willow: a cricket-bat.--_v.t._ to beat with willow rods, as in cleaning cotton, &c.--_adj._ WILL'OWED, abounding with, or containing, willows.--_n._ WILL'OW-HERB, a perennial herb (_Epilobium_) of the evening primrose family--also _Rose-bay_, _Bay-willow_, _French_ or _Persian willow_.--_adj._ WILL'OWISH, like a willow, slender and supple.--_ns._ WILL'OW-MACHINE', a machine for extracting dirt from hemp, cotton, &c.--also WILL'OW; WILL'OW-MOTH, a common British night-moth; WILL'OW-WAR'BLER, -WREN, a small European sylviine bird; WILL'OW-WEED, one of various species of _Polygonum_ or knot-weed: the purple loose-strife.--_adj._ WILL'OWY, abounding in willows: flexible, graceful.--_n._ WEEP'ING-WILL'OW, a very ornamental species, a native of the East, much planted in Britain on account of its beautiful pendent twigs.--BEDFORD WILLOW, a species whose bark is especially rich in salicin and in tannin; WHITE, or HUNTINGDON, WILLOW, the largest of British species, reaching a height of eighty feet. [A.S. _welig_; Low Ger. _wilge_, Dut. _wilg_.]

WILL-WORSHIP, wil'-wur'ship, _n._ (_B._) worship that is self-invented, superstitious observance without divine authority.

WILLY, wil'i, _n._ (_prov._) a willow basket.

WILLY-NILLY, wil'i-nil'i, _adv._ willing or unwilling.--_adj._ vacillating. [_Will_ and _nill_.]

WILT, wilt, _v.i._ to droop, lose energy.--_v.t._ to render limp or pithless. [Cf. _Welk_; cf. Ger. _welk_, withered.]

WILT, wilt, 2d pers. sing. of _will_.

WILY, w[=i]'li, _adj._ full of wiles or tricks: using craft or stratagem: artful: sly.--_adv._ W[=I]'LILY.--_n._ W[=I]'LINESS, cunning.

WIMBLE, wim'bl, _n._ an instrument for boring holes, turned by a handle.--_v.t._ to bore through with such. [Scand., Dan. _vimmel_, auger; conn. with Old Dut. _weme_, a wimble, and _wemelen_, to whirl.]

WIMBLE, wim'bl, _adj._ (_Spens._) active, nimble. [Sw. _vimmel_, giddy--_vima_, to be giddy; allied to _whim_.]

WIMPLE, wim'pl, _n._ a hood or veil folded round the neck and face (still a part of a nun's dress): a flag.--_v.t._ to hide with a wimple: (_Shak._) to hoodwink: to lay in folds.--_v.i._ to ripple: (_Spens._) to lie in folds. [A.S. _wimpel_, a neck-covering; cf. Ger. _wimpel_, a pennon, Fr. _guimpe_, a nun's veil, Eng. _gimp_, a thin cloth for trimming.]

WIN, win, _v.t._ to get by labour: to gain in contest: to allure to kindness, to gain: to achieve, effect: to attain: to induce: in mining, to sink down to a bed of coal: to obtain the favour of.--_v.i._ to gain the victory: to gain favour: (_prov._) to make one's way, to succeed in getting:--_pr.p._ win'ning; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ won (wun).--_n._ a victory, success.--_ns._ WIN'NER; WIN'NING, the act of one who wins: that which is won (usually in _pl._): a shaft or pit to open a bed of coal.--_adj._ influencing: attractive.--_adv._ WIN'NINGLY.--_ns._ WIN'NINGNESS; WIN'NING-POST, the goal of a race-course.--WIN BY A HEAD, to win very narrowly; WIN IN A CANTER, to win easily, as it were at an easy gallop; WIN ON, UPON, to gain upon, to obtain favour with; WIN, or GAIN, ONE'S SPURS, to earn one's knighthood by valour on the field, hence to gain recognition or reputation by merit of any kind. [A.S. _winnan_, to suffer, to struggle; Ice. _vinna_, to accomplish, Ger. _gewinnen_, to win.]

WIN, win, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to dry by exposure to the wind. [_Wind_.]

WINCE, wins, _v.i._ to shrink or start back: to be affected acutely, as by a sarcasm: to be restive, as a horse uneasy at its rider.--_n._ WIN'CER, one who winces. [O. Fr. _guinchir_, _ganchir_, to wince--Old High Ger. _wenkan_ (Ger. _wanken_), to wince. Allied to Eng. _wink_, and Ger. _winken_, to nod.]

WINCEY, WINSEY, win'si, _n._ a cloth, plain or twilled, usually with a cotton warp and woollen filling--same as linsey-woolsey (q.v.).

WINCH, winsh, _n._ the crank of a wheel or axle: a kind of hoisting machine: a dyer's reel suspended horizontally by the ends of its axis over the vat, so as to allow the cloth to descend into either compartment of the bath according as it is turned on the right or left.--Also WINCE. [A.S. _wince_, prob. orig. 'a bent handle,' and so akin to Eng. _wink_.]

WIND, wind (_poet._ w[=i]nd), _n._ air in motion: breath: flatulence: anything insignificant: the wind instruments in an orchestra: air impregnated with scent: a hint or suggestion of something secret, publicity: (_slang_) a part of the body near the stomach: a disease of sheep in which the inflamed intestines are distended by gases.--_v.t._ (w[=i]nd) to sound or signal by blowing: to scent: (wind) to expose to the wind: to drive hard, so as to put out of breath: to allow to recover wind:--_pr.p._ w[=i]nd'ing and wind'ing; _pa.p._ wind'ed and wound.--_ns._ WIND'AGE, the difference between the size of the bore of a gun and that of the ball or shell: the influence of the wind in deflecting a missile; WIND'BAG, a person of mere words.--_adjs._ WIND'-BOUND, hindered from sailing by a contrary wind; WIND'-BR[=O]'KEN, affected with convulsive breathing--of a horse; WIND'-CHANG'ING, fickle.--_ns._ WIND'-CHART, a chart showing the direction of the wind; WIND'-CHEST, the box or reservoir that supplies compressed air to the pipes or reeds of an organ; WIND'-DROP'SY, tympanites; WIND'-EGG, an addle-egg, one soft-shelled or imperfectly formed; W[=I]ND'ER, one who sounds a horn: one who, or that which, winds or rolls; WIND'FALL, fruit blown off a tree by the wind: any unexpected money or other advantage.--_adj._ WINDFALL'EN, blown down by wind.--_ns._ WIND'-FLOW'ER, the wood-anemone; WIND'-FUR'NACE, any form of furnace using the natural draught of a chimney without aid of a bellows; WIND'-GALL, a puffy swelling about the fetlock joints of a horse; WIND'-GAUGE, an instrument for gauging or measuring the velocity of the wind: an appliance fixed to a gun by means of which the force of the wind is ascertained so that allowance may be made for it in sighting; WIND'-GUN, air-gun; WIND'-H[=O]'VER, the kestrel.--_adv._ WIND'ILY.--_ns._ WIND'INESS; WIND'-IN'STRUMENT, a musical instrument sounded by means of wind or by the breath.--_adj._ WIND'LESS, without wind.--_ns._ WIND'MILL, a mill for performing any class of work in which fixed machinery can be employed, and in which the motive-power is the force of the wind acting on a set of sails; WIND'PIPE, the passage for the breath between the mouth and lungs, the trachea.--_adj._ WIND'-RODE (_naut._), riding at anchor with head to the wind.--_ns._ WIND'ROSE, a graphic representation of the relative frequency of winds from different directions drawn with reference to a centre; WIND'ROW, a row of hay raked together to be made into cocks, a row of peats, &c., set up for drying; WIND'-SAIL (_naut._), a wide funnel of canvas used to convey a stream of air below deck.--_adj._ WIND'-SH[=A]'KEN, agitated by the wind.--_ns._ WIND'SIDE, the side next the wind; WIND'-SUCK'ER, the kestrel: a critic ready to fasten on any weak spot, however small or unimportant.--_adjs._ WIND'-SWIFT, swift as the wind; WIND'-TIGHT, air-tight.--_adv._ WIND'WARD, toward where the wind blows from.--_adj._ toward the wind.--_n._ the point from which the wind blows.--_adj._ WIND'Y.--A CAPFUL OF WIND, a slight breeze; BEFORE THE WIND, carried along by the wind; BETWEEN WIND AND WATER, that part of a ship's side which is now in, now out of, the water owing to the fluctuation of the waves: any vulnerable point; BROKEN WIND, a form of paroxysmal dyspnoea; CAST, or LAY, AN ANCHOR TO WINDWARD, to make prudent provision for the future; DOWN THE WIND, moving with the wind; FIGHT WINDMILLS, to struggle with imaginary opposition, as Don Quixote tilted at the windmill; GET ONE'S WIND, to recover one's breath; GET THE WIND OF, to get on the windward side of; GET TO WINDWARD OF, to secure an advantage over; GET WIND OF, to learn about, to be informed of; HAVE THE WIND OF, to be on the trail of; HOW THE WIND BLOWS, or LIES, the state of the wind: the position of affairs; IN THE WIND, astir, afoot; IN THE WIND'S EYE, IN THE TEETH OF THE WIND, right against the wind; SAIL CLOSE TO THE WIND, to keep the boat's head near enough to wind as to fill but not shake the sails: to be almost indecent; SECOND WIND, new powers of respiration succeeding to the first breathlessness; SOW THE WIND AND REAP THE WHIRLWIND, to act wrongly and receive a crushing retribution. [A.S. _wind_; Ice. _vindr_, Ger. _wind_, L. _ventus_, Gr. _a[=e]t[=e]s_, Sans. _v[=a]ta_, wind.]