WHANG, hwang, _v.t._ to flog: (_Scot._) to cut in great slices.--_n._ a
blow, bang: a large slice. [Prob. a variant of _whack_.]
WHANGAM, hwang'gam, _n._ a feigned name of some animal, invented by
Goldsmith.
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.]