Wood"peck`er (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of scansorial
birds belonging to Picus and many allied genera of the family Picidæ.
These birds have the tail feathers pointed and rigid at the tip to aid
in climbing, and a strong chisellike bill with which they are able to
drill holes in the bark and wood of trees in search of insect larvæ
upon which most of the species feed. A few species feed partly upon the
sap of trees (see Sap sucker, under Sap), others spend a portion of
their time on the ground in search of ants and other insects.
The most common European species are the greater spotted woodpecker
(Dendrocopus major), the lesser spotted woodpecker (D. minor), and the
green woodpecker, or yaffle (see Yaffle).
The best-known American species are the pileated woodpecker (see under
Pileated), the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), which
is one of the largest known species, the red-headed woodpecker, or
red-head (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), the red- bellied woodpecker (M.
Carolinus) (see Chab), the superciliary woodpecker (M. superciliaris),
the hairy woodpecker (Dryobates villosus), the downy woodpecker (D.
pubescens), the three-toed, woodpecker (Picoides Americanus), the
golden-winged woodpecker (see Flicker), and the sap suckers. See also
Carpintero.
Woodpecker hornbill (Zoöl.), a black and white Asiatic hornbill
(Buceros pica) which resembles a woodpecker in color.
Wood"rock` (?), n. (Min.) A compact woodlike variety of asbestus.
{ Wood"ruff` (?), Wood"roof` (?), } n. [AS. wudurofe. See Wood, n., and
cf. Ruff a plaited collar.] (Bot.) A little European herb (Asperula
odorata) having a pleasant taste. It is sometimes used for flavoring
wine. See Illust. of Whorl.
Wood"-sare` (?), n. [Wood + Prov. E. sare for sore.] (Bot.) A kind of
froth seen on herbs. [Obs.]
Wood"-sere` (?), n. The time when there no sap in the trees; the winter
season. [Written also wood- seer.] [Obs.] Tusser.
Woods"man (?), n.; pl. Woodsmen (&?;). A woodman; especially, one who
lives in the forest.
Wood's" met"al (?). A fusible alloy consisting of one or two parts of
cadmium, two parts of tin, four of lead, with seven or eight part of
bismuth. It melts at from 66° to 71° C. See Fusible metal, under
Fusible.
Wood"stone` (?), n. (Min.) A striped variety of hornstone, resembling
wood in appearance.
Woods"y (?), a. Of or pertaining to the woods or forest. [Colloq. U.
S.]
It [sugar making] is woodsy, and savors of trees.
J. Burroughs.
Wood" tick` (?). (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of ticks of the
genus Ixodes whose young cling to bushes, but quickly fasten themselves
upon the bodies of any animal with which they come in contact. When
they attach themselves to the human body they often produce troublesome
sores. The common species of the Northern United States is Ixodes
unipunctata.
Wood"wall` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The yaffle. [Written also woodwale, and
woodwele.]
Wood"ward` (?), n. (Eng. Forest Law) An officer of the forest, whose
duty it was to guard the woods.
Wood*war"di*a (?), n. [NL. After Thomas J. Woodward, an English
botanist.] (Bot.) A genus of ferns, one species of which (Woodwardia
radicans) is a showy plant in California, the Azores, etc.
{ Wood"-wash` (?), Wood"-wax` (?), Wood"- wax`en (?), } n. [AS.
wuduweaxe.] (Bot.) Same as Woadwaxen.
Wood"work` (?), n. Work made of wood; that part of any structure which
is wrought of wood.
Wood"worm` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Wood worm, under Wood.
Wood"y (?), a. 1. Abounding with wood or woods; as, woody land. "The
woody wilderness." Bryant.
Secret shades Of woody Ida's inmost grove.
Milton.
2. Consisting of, or containing, wood or woody fiber; ligneous; as, the
woody parts of plants.
3. Of or pertaining to woods; sylvan. [R.] "Woody nymphs, fair
Hamadryades." Spenser.
Woody fiber. (Bot.) (a) Fiber or tissue consisting of slender,
membranous tubes tapering at each end. (b) A single wood cell. See
under Wood. Goodale. — Woody nightshade. (Bot.). See Bittersweet, 3
(a). — Woody pear (Bot.), the inedible, woody, pear- shaped fruit of
several Australian proteaceous trees of the genus Xylomelum; — called
also wooden pear.
Woo"er (?), n. [AS. wgere. See Woo, v. t.] One who wooes; one who
courts or solicits in love; a suitor. "A thriving wooer." Gibber.
Woof (wf), n. [OE. oof, AS. wef, web, web; on, an, on + wef, web, fr.
wefan to weave. The initial w is due to the influence of E. weave. See
On, Weave, and cf. Abb.]
1. The threads that cross the warp in a woven fabric; the weft; the
filling; the thread usually carried by the shuttle in weaving.