Wreck"fish` (?), n. [So called because it often comes in with
wreckage.] (Zoöl.) A stone bass.
Wreck"ful (?), a. Causing wreck; involving ruin; destructive. "By
wreckful wind." Spenser.
Wreck"ing, a. & n. from Wreck, v.
Wrecking car (Railway), a car fitted up with apparatus and implements
for removing the wreck occasioned by an accident, as by a collision. —
Wrecking pump, a pump especially adapted for pumping water from the
hull of a wrecked vessel.
Wreck"-mas`ter (?), n. A person appointed by law to take charge of
goods, etc., thrown on shore after a shipwreck.
{ Wreke (rk), Wreeke }, v. t. See 2d Wreak. [Obs.]
Wren (rn), n. [OE. wrenne, AS. wrenna, wrænna, perhaps akin to wrne
lascivious.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small singing birds belonging
to Troglodytes and numerous allied of the family Troglodytidæ.
Among the species best known are the house wren (Troglodytes aëdon)
common in both Europe and America, and the American winter wren (T.
hiemalis). See also Cactus wren, Marsh wren, and Rock wren, under
Cactus, Marsh, and Rock.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small singing birds more or
less resembling the true wrens in size and habits.
Among these are several species of European warblers; as, the reed wren
(see Reed warbler (a), under Reed), the sedge wren (see Sedge warbler,
under Sedge), the willow wren (see Willow warbler, under Willow), the
golden-crested wren, and the ruby-crowned wren (see Kinglet).
Ant wren, any one of numerous South American birds of the family
Formicaridæ, allied to the ant thrushes. — Blue wren, a small
Australian singing bird (Malurus cyaneus), the male of which in the
breeding season is bright blue. Called also superb warbler. — Emu wren.
See in the Vocabulary. — Wren babbler, any one of numerous species of
small timaline birds belonging to Alcippe, Stachyris, Timalia, and
several allied genera. These birds are common in Southern Asia and the
East Indies. — Wren tit. See Ground wren, under Ground. — Wren warbler,
any one of several species of small Asiatic and African singing birds
belonging to Prinia and allied genera. These birds are closely allied
to the tailor birds, and build their nests in a similar manner. See
also Pincpinc.
Wrench (rnch), n. [OE. wrench deceit, AS. wrenc deceit, a twisting;
akin to G. rank intrigue, crookedness, renken to bend, twist, and E.
wring. √144. See Wring, and cf. Ranch, v. t.]