WEASAND, w[=e]'zand, _n._ the windpipe: the throat. [A.S. _wásend_; not to
be traced to A.S. _hwésan_ (Ice. _hvæsa_), to wheeze.]
WEASEL, w[=e]'zl, _n._ a common carnivore belonging to the same genus as
the polecat and stoat--the body long and slender--eating rats, frogs,
birds, mice, &c.: (_Shak._) a lean, hungry fellow.--_n._ WEA'SEL-COOT, the
red-headed smew.--_adj._ WEA'SEL-FACED, having a lean sharp face. [A.S.
_wesle_; Ger. _wiesel_.]
WEATHER, weth'[.e]r, _n._ state of the air as to heat or cold, dryness,
wetness, cloudiness, &c.--_v.t._ to affect by exposing to the air: to sail
to the windward of: to gain or pass, as a promontory or cape: to hold out
stoutly against difficulties.--_v.i._ to become discoloured by
exposure.--_adj._ (_naut._) toward the wind, windward.--_adjs._
WEATH'ER-BEAT'EN, distressed or seasoned by the weather; WEATH'ER-BIT'TEN,
worn or defaced by exposure to the winds.--_n._ WEATH'ER-BOARD, the
windward side of a ship: a plank in the port of a laid-up vessel placed so
as to keep off rain, without preventing air to circulate.--_v.t._ to fit
with such planks.--_n._ WEATH'ER-BOARD'ING, thin boards placed overlapping
to keep out rain: exterior covering of a wall or roof.--_adj._
WEATH'ER-BOUND, delayed by bad weather.--_ns._ WEATH'ER-BOX, -HOUSE, a toy
constructed on the principle of a barometer, consisting of a house with the
figures of a man and wife who come out alternately as the weather is
respectively bad or good; WEATH'ER-CLOTH, a tarpaulin protecting boats,
hammocks, &c.; WEATH'ERCOCK, a vane (often in the form of a cock) to show
the direction of the wind: anything turning easily and often.--_v.t._ to
act as a weathercock for.--_p.adj._ WEATH'ER-DRIV'EN, driven by winds or
storms.--_adj._ WEATH'ERED (_archit._), made slightly sloping, so as to
throw off water: (_geol._) having the surface altered in colour, form,
texture, or composition by the action of the elements.--_n._ WEATH'ER-EYE,
the eye considered as the means by which one forecasts the weather.--_v.t._
WEATH'ER-FEND (_Shak._), to defend from the weather, to shelter.--_ns._
WEATH'ER-GAGE, the position of a ship to the windward of another: advantage
of position; WEATH'ER-GLASS, a glass or instrument that indicates the
changes of the weather: a barometer; WEATH'ER-GLEAM (_prov._), a bright
aspect of the sky at the horizon; WEATH'ER-HELM, a keeping of the helm
somewhat a-weather when a vessel shows a tendency to come into the wind
while sailing; WEATH'ERING (_archit._), a slight inclination given to the
top of a cornice or moulding, to prevent water from lodging on it:
(_geol._) the action of the elements in altering the form, colour, texture,
or composition of rocks.--_adj._ WEATH'ERLY (_naut._), making little leeway
when close-hauled.--_n._ WEATH'ER-MAP, a map indicating meteorological
conditions over a large tract of country.--_adj._ WEATH'ERMOST, farthest to
windward.--_n._ WEATH'ER-NOT[=A]'TION, a system of abbreviation for
meteorological phenomena.--_adj._ WEATH'ER-PROOF, proof against rough
weather.--_ns._ WEATH'ER-PROPH'ET, one who foretells weather: a device for
foretelling the weather; WEATH'ER-ROLL, the lurch of a vessel to windward
when in the trough of the sea; WEATH'ER-SER'VICE, an institution for
superintending and utilising observed meteorological phenomena;
WEATH'ER-SIDE, the windward side; WEATH'ER-SIGN, a phenomenon indicating
change of weather: any prognostic; WEATH'ER-STAIN, discolouration produced
by exposure; WEATH'ER-ST[=A]'TION, a station where phenomena of weather are
observed; WEATH'ER-STRIP, a thin piece of some material used to keep out
wind and cold; WEATH'ER-SYM'BOL, a conventional sign indicating some
meteorological phenomenon.--_adjs._ WEATH'ER-WISE, wise or skilful in
foreseeing the changes or state of the weather; WEATH'ER-WORN, worn by
exposure to the weather.--WEATHER ANCHOR, the anchor lying to windward;
WEATHER A POINT, to gain an advantage or accomplish a purpose against
opposition; WEATHER OUT (_obs._), to hold out against till the end.--KEEP
ONE'S WEATHER EYE OPEN, to be on one's guard, to have one's wits in
readiness; MAKE FAIR WEATHER (_Shak._), to conciliate: to flatter; STRESS
OF WEATHER, violent and especially unfavourable winds, force of tempests.
[A.S. _weder_; Ice. _vedhr_, Ger. _wetter_.]
WEAVE, w[=e]v, _v.t._ to twine threads together: to unite threads in a loom
to form cloth: to work into a fabric: to unite by intermixture: to
construct, contrive.--_v.i._ to practise weaving:--_pa.t._ w[=o]ve,
(rarely) weaved; _pa.p._ w[=o]v'en.--_ns._ WEAV'ER; WEAV'ER-BIRD, a family
of Passerine birds resembling the finches, so called from their remarkably
woven nests; WEAV'ING, the act or art of forming a web or cloth by the
intersecting of two distinct sets of fibres, threads, or yarns--those
passing longitudinally from end to end of the web forming the warp, those
crossing and intersecting the warp at right angles forming the weft. [A.S.
_wefan_; Ice. _vefa_, Ger. _weben_; cog. with Gr. _hupp[=e]_, a web,
_huphainein_, to weave.]
WEAVE, w[=e]v, _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_Spens._) waved, floated.
WEAZAND, w[=e]'zand, _n._ Same as WEASAND.