1. A twisted or distorted neck; a deformity in which the neck is drawn
to one side by a rigid contraction of one of the muscles of the neck;
torticollis.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of Old World birds of the genus
Jynx, allied to the woodpeckers; especially, the common European
species (J. torguilla); — so called from its habit of turning the neck
around in different directions. Called also cuckoo's mate, snakebird,
summer bird, tonguebird, and writheneck.
Wry"necked` (?), a. Having a distorted neck; having the deformity
called wryneck.
Wry"ness, n. The quality or state of being wry, or distorted. W.
Montagu.
Wryth"en (?), obs. p. p. of Writhe. Writhen.
Wul"fen*ite (?), n. [So named after F. X. Wulfen, an Australian
mineralogist.] (Min.) Native lead molybdate occurring in tetragonal
crystals, usually tabular, and of a bright orange-yellow to red, gray,
or brown color; — also called yellow lead ore.
Wull (?), v. t. & i. See 2d Will.
Pour out to all that wull.
Spenser.
Wung"-out` (?), a. Having the sails set in the manner called
wing-and-wing. [Sailors' slang]
Wur"ba*gool (?), n. (Zoöl.) A fruit bat (Pteropus medius) native of
India. It is similar to the flying fox, but smaller.
Wur"mal (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Wormil.
Wur"ra*luh (?), n. (Zoöl.) The Australian white-quilled honey eater
(Entomyza albipennis).
{ Wust (?), Wuste }, obs. imp. of Wit. Piers Plowman.
Wy`an*dots" (?), n. pl.; sing. Wyandot (&?;). (Ethnol.) Same as Hurons.
[Written also Wyandottes, and Yendots.]
Wych"-elm` (?), n. [OE. wiche a kind of elm, AS. wice a kind of tree.
Cf. Wicker.] (Bot.) A species of elm (Ulmus montana) found in Northern
and Western Europe; Scotch elm.
By confusion this word is often written witch-elm.
Wych"-ha`zel (?), n. (Bot.) The wych-elm; — so called because its
leaves are like those of the hazel.
{ Wyc"lif*ite, Wyc"liff*ite } (?), n. A follower of Wyclif, the English
reformer; a Lollard.
Wyd (?), a. Wide. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Wye (?), n.; pl. Wyes (&?;).