Defn: To lash with stripes; to wale; to thrash; to drub. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.] Halliwell. Bartlett.
WHALEWhale, n. Etym: [OE. whal, AS. hwæl; akin to D. walvisch, G. wal,walfisch, OHG. wal, Icel. hvalr, Dan. & Sw. hval, hvalfisk. Cf.Narwhal, Walrus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any aquatic mammal of the order Cetacea, especially any one of the large species, some of which become nearly one hundred feet long. Whales are hunted chiefly for their oil and baleen, or whalebone.
Note: The existing whales are divided into two groups: the toothed whales (Odontocete), including those that have teeth, as the cachalot, or sperm whale (see Sperm whale); and the baleen, or whalebone, whales (Mysticete), comprising those that are destitute of teeth, but have plates of baleen hanging from the upper jaw, as the right whales. The most important species of whalebone whales are the bowhead, or Greenland, whale (see Illust. of Right whale), the Biscay whale, the Antarctic whale, the gray whale (see under Gray), the humpback, the finback, and the rorqual. Whale bird. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of large Antarctic petrels which follow whaling vessels, to feed on the blubber and floating oil; especially, Prion turtur (called also blue petrel), and Pseudoprion desolatus. (b) The turnstone; — so called because it lives on the carcasses of whales. [Canada] — Whale fin (Com.), whalebone. Simmonds. — Whale fishery, the fishing for, or occupation of taking, whales. — Whale louse (Zoöl.), any one of several species of degraded amphipod crustaceans belonging to the genus Cyamus, especially C. ceti. They are parasitic on various cetaceans. — Whale's bone, ivory. [Obs.] — Whale shark. (Zoöl.) (a) The basking, or liver, shark. (b) A very large harmless shark (Rhinodon typicus) native of the Indian Ocean. It sometimes becomes sixty feet long. — Whale shot, the name formerly given to spermaceti. — Whale's tongue (Zoöl.), a balanoglossus.
WHALEBACKWhale"back`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A form of vessel, often with steam power, having sharp ends and a very convex upper deck, much used on the Great Lakes, esp. for carrying grain.
WHALEBOATWhale"boat`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A long, narrow boat, sharp at both ends, used by whalemen.
WHALEBONEWhale"bone`, n.
Defn: A firm, elastic substance resembling horn, taken from the upper jaw of the right whale; baleen. It is used as a stiffening in stays, fans, screens, and for various other purposes. See Baleen.
Note: Whalebone is chiefly obtained from the bowhead, or Greenland, whale, the Biscay whale, and the Antarctic, or southern, whale. It is prepared for manufacture by being softened by boiling, and dyed black.
WHALEMANWhale"man, n.; pl. Whalemen (.
Defn: A man employed in the whale fishery.
WHALERWhal"er, n.
Defn: A vessel or person employed in the whale fishery.
WHALERWhal"er, n.
Defn: One who whales, or beats; a big, strong fellow; hence, anything of great or unusual size. [Colloq. U. S.]
WHALINGWhal"ing, n.
Defn: The hunting of whales.
WHALINGWhal"ing, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or employed in, the pursuit of whales; as, a whaling voyage; a whaling vessel.
WHALLWhall, n. Etym: [See Wall-eye.]
Defn: A light color of the iris in horses; wall-eye. [Written also whaul.]
WHALLYWhall"y, a.
Defn: Having the iris of light color; — said of horses. "Whally eyes." Spenser.
WHAMEWhame, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A breeze fly.
WHAMMELWham"mel, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Whelm.]
Defn: To turn over. [Prov. Eng.]
WHANWhan, adv.
Defn: When. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WHANGWhang, n. Etym: [Cf. Thong.]
Defn: A leather thong. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]
WHANGWhang, v. t.
Defn: To beat. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]
WHANGDOODLEWhang"doo`dle, n.
Defn: An imaginary creature, of undefined character. [Slang]
WHANGHEEWhang*hee", n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Wanghee.
WHAP; WHOP Whap, Whop, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OE. quappen to palpitate, E. quob, quaver, wabble, awhape, wap.]
Defn: To throw one's self quickly, or by an abrupt motion; to turn suddenly; as, she whapped down on the floor; the fish whapped over. Bartlett.
Note: This word is used adverbially in the north of England, as in the United States, when anything vanishes, or is gone suddenly; as, whap went the cigar out of my mouth.
WHAP; WHOPWhap, Whop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Whapping.]
Defn: To beat or strike.
WHAP; WHOPWhap, Whop, n.
Defn: A blow, or quick, smart stroke.
WHAPPER; WHOPPERWhap"per, Whop"per, n. Etym: [See Whap.]
Defn: Something uncommonly large of the kind; something astonishing; — applied especially to a bold lie. [Colloq.]
WHAPPING; WHOPPINGWhap"ping, Whop"ping, a.
Defn: Very large; monstrous; astonishing; as, a whapping story.[Colloq.]
WHARF Wharf, n.; pl. Wharfs or Wharves. Etym: [AS. hwerf, hwearf, a returning, a change, from hweorfan to turn, turn about, go about; akin to D. werf a wharf, G. werft, Sw. varf a shipbuilder's yard, Dan. verft wharf, dockyard, G. werben to enlist, to engage, woo, OHG. werban to turn about, go about, be active or occupied, Icel. hverfa to turn, Goth. hwaírban, hwarbon, to walk. Cf. Whirl.]
1. A structure or platform of timber, masonry, iron, earth, or other material, built on the shore of a harbor, river, canal, or the like, and usually extending from the shore to deep water, so that vessels may lie close alongside to receive and discharge cargo, passengers, etc.; a quay; a pier. Commerce pushes its wharves into the sea. Bancroft. Out upon the wharfs they came, Knight and burgher, lord and dame. Tennyson.
Note: The plural of this word is generally written wharves in the United States, and wharfs in England; but many recent English writers use wharves.
2. Etym: [AS. hwearf.]
Defn: The bank of a river, or the shore of the sea. [Obs.] "The fat weed that roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf." Shak. Wharf boat, a kind of boat moored at the bank of a river, and used for a wharf, in places where the height of the water is so variable that a fixed wharf would be useless. [U. S.] Bartlett. — Wharf rat. (Zoöl.) (a) The common brown rat. (b) A neglected boy who lives around the wharfs. [Slang]
WHARFWharf, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wharfed; p. pr. & vb. n. Wharfing.]
1. To guard or secure by a firm wall of timber or stone constructed like a wharf; to furnish with a wharf or wharfs.
2. To place upon a wharf; to bring to a wharf.
WHARFAGEWharf"age, n.
1. The fee or duty paid for the privilege of using a wharf for loading or unloading goods; pierage, collectively; quayage.
2. A wharf or wharfs, collectively; wharfing.
WHARFINGWharf"ing, n.
1. Wharfs, collectively.
2. (Hydraul. Engin.)
Defn: A mode of facing sea walls and embankments with planks driven as piles and secured by ties. Knight.
WHARFINGERWharf"in*ger, n. Etym: [For wharfager.]
Defn: A man who owns, or has the care of, a wharf.
WHARL; WHARLINGWharl, Wharl"ing, n.
Defn: A guttural pronunciation of the letter r; a burr. See Burr, n.,6.A strange, uncouth wharling in their speech. Fuller.
WHARPWharp, n.
Defn: A kind of fine sand from the banks of the Trent, used as a polishing powder. [Eng.]
WHATWhat, pron., a., & adv. Etym: [AS. hwæt, neuter of hwa who; akin toOS. hwat what, OFries. hwet, D. & LG. wat, G. was, OHG. waz, hwaz,Icel. hvat, Sw. & Dan. hvad, Goth. hwa. sq. root182. See Who.]
1. As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this what did you say what poem is this what child is lost What see'st thou in the ground Shak. What is man, that thou art mindful of him Ps. viii. 4. What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! Matt. viii. 27.
Note: Originally, what, when, where, which, who, why, etc., were interrogatives only, and it is often difficult to determine whether they are used as interrogatives or relatives. What in this sense, when it refers to things, may be used either substantively or adjectively; when it refers to persons, it is used only adjectively with a noun expressed, who being the pronoun used substantively.
2. As an exclamatory word: — (a) Used absolutely or independently; - - often with a question following. "What welcome be thou." Chaucer. What, could ye not watch with me one hour Matt. xxvi. 40.
(b) Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage! What a piece of work is man! Shak. O what a riddle of absurdity! Young.
Note: What in this use has a or an between itself and its noun if the qualitative or quantitative importance of the object is emphasized. (c) Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys! What partial judges are our and hate! Dryden.
3. As a relative pronoun: — (a) Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; — called a compound relative. With joy beyond what victory bestows. Cowper. I'm thinking Captain Lawton will count the noses of what are left before they see their whaleboats. Cooper. What followed was in perfect harmony with this beginning. Macaulay. I know well . . . how little you will be disposed to criticise what comes to you from me. J. H. Newman.
(b) Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which. See what natures accompany what colors. Bacon. To restrain what power either the devil or any earthly enemy hath to work us woe. Milton. We know what master laid thy keel, What workmen wrought thy ribs of steel. Longfellow.
(c) Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.
4. Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; — used indefinitely. "What after so befall." Chaucer. Whether it were the shortness of his foresight, the strength of his will, . . . or what it was. Bacon.
5. Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; — with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition. What for lust [pleasure] and what for lore. Chaucer. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom shrunk. Shak. The year before he had so used the matter that what by force, what by policy, he had taken from the Christians above thirty small castles. Knolles.
Note: In such phrases as I tell you what, what anticipates the following statement, being elliptical for what I think, what it is, how it is, etc. "I tell thee what, corporal Bardolph, I could tear her." Shak. Here what relates to the last clause, "I could tear her;" this is what I tell you. What not is often used at the close of an enumeration of several particulars or articles, it being an abbreviated clause, the verb of which, being either the same as that of the principal clause or a general word, as be, say, mention, enumerate, etc., is omitted. "Men hunt, hawk, and what not." Becon. "Some dead puppy, or log, orwhat not." C. Kingsley. "Battles, tournaments, hunts, and what not." De Quincey. Hence, the words are often used in a general sense with the force of a substantive, equivalent to anything you please, a miscellany, a variety, etc. From this arises the name whatnot, applied to an étagère, as being a piece of furniture intended for receiving miscellaneous articles of use or ornament. But what is used for but that, usually after a negative, and excludes everything contrary to the assertion in the following sentence. "Her needle is not so absolutely perfect in tent and cross stitch but what my superintendence is advisable." Sir W. Scott. "Never fear but what our kite shall fly as high." Ld. Lytton. What ho! an exclamation of calling. — What if, what will it matter if; what will happen or be the result if. "What if it be a poison" Shak. — What of this that it etc., what follows from this, that, it, etc., often with the implication that it is of no consequence. "All this is so; but what of this, my lord" Shak. "The night is spent, why, what of that" Shak. — What though, even granting that; allowing that; supposing it true that. "What though the rose have prickles, yet't is plucked." Shak. — What time, or What time as, when. [Obs. or Archaic] "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." Ps. lvi. 3. What time the morn mysterious visions brings. Pope.
WHATWhat, n.
Defn: Something; thing; stuff. [Obs.]And gave him for to feed, Such homely what as serves the simpleSpenser.
WHATWhat, interrog. adv.
Defn: Why For what purpose On what account [Obs.] What should I tell the answer of the knight. Chaucer. But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates What do I pick up so thriftily their scatterings and diminishings of the meaner subject Milton.
WHATE'ERWhat*e'er", pron.
Defn: A contraction of what-ever; — used in poetry. "Whate'er is in his way." Shak.
WHATEVERWhat*ev"er, pron.
Defn: Anything soever which; the thing or things of any kind; being this or that; of one nature or another; one thing or another; anything that may be; all that; the whole that; all particulars that; — used both substantively and adjectively. Whatever fortune stays from his word. Shak. Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields. Milton. Whatever be its intrinsic value. J. H. Newman.
Note: Whatever often follows a noun, being used elliptically. "There being no room for any physical discovery whatever" [sc. it may be]. Whately.
WHATNOTWhat"not, n. Etym: [See the Note under What, pron., 5.]
Defn: A kind of stand, or piece of furniture, having shelves for books, ornaments, etc.; an étagère.
WHATSOWhat"so, indef. pron.
Defn: Whatsoever; whosoever; whatever; anything that. [Obs.]Whatso he were, of high or low estate. Chaucer.Whatso the heaven in his wide vault contains. Spenser.
WHATSOE'ERWhat`so*e'er", pron.
Defn: A contraction of whatsoever; — used in poetry. Shak.
WHATSOEVERWhat`so*ev"er, pron. & a.
Defn: Whatever. "In whatsoever shape he lurk." Milton.Whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. Gen. xxxi. 16.
Note: The word is sometimes divided by tmesis. "What things soever ye desire." Mark xi. 24.
WHAULWhaul, n.
Defn: Same as Whall.
WHAUPWhaup, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Whaap. [Prov. Eng.]
WHEAL Wheal, n. Etym: [OE. whele, AS. hwele putrefaction, hwelian to putrefy.]
Defn: A pustule; a whelk. Wiseman.
WHEALWheal, n. Etym: [Cf. Wale.]
1. A more or less elongated mark raised by a stroke; also, a similar mark made by any cause; a weal; a wale.
2. Specifically (Med.), a flat, burning or itching eminence on the skin, such as is produced by a mosquito bite, or in urticaria.
WHEALWheal, n. Etym: [Cornish hwel.] (Mining)
Defn: A mine.
WHEALWORMWheal"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The harvest mite; — so called from the wheals, caused by its bite.
WHEAT Wheat, n. Etym: [OE. whete, AS. hwte; akin to OS. hwti, D. weit, G. weizen, OHG. weizzi, Icel. hveiti, Sw. hvete, Dan. hvede, Goth. hwaiteis, and E. while. See White.] (Bot.)
Defn: A cereal grass (Triticum vulgare) and its grain, which furnishes a white flour for bread, and, next to rice, is the grain most largely used by the human race.
Note: Of this grain the varieties are numerous, as red wheat, white wheat, bald wheat, bearded wheat, winter wheat, summer wheat, and the like. Wheat is not known to exist as a wild native plant, and all statements as to its origin are either incorrect or at best only guesses. Buck wheat. (Bot.) See Buckwheat. — German wheat. (Bot.) See 2d Spelt. — Guinea wheat (Bot.), a name for Indian corn. — Indian wheat, or Tartary wheat (Bot.), a grain (Fagopyrum Tartaricum) much like buckwheat, but only half as large. — Turkey wheat (Bot.), a name for Indian corn. — Wheat aphid, or Wheat aphis (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Aphis and allied genera, which suck the sap of growing wheat. — Wheat beetle. (Zoöl.) (a) A small, slender, rusty brown beetle (Sylvanus Surinamensis) whose larvæ feed upon wheat, rice, and other grains. (b) A very small, reddish brown, oval beetle (Anobium paniceum) whose larvæ eat the interior of grains of wheat. — Wheat duck (Zoöl.), the American widgeon. [Western U. S.] — Wheat fly. (Zoöl.) Same as Wheat midge, below. — Wheat grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Agropyrum caninum) somewhat resembling wheat. It grows in the northern parts of Europe and America. — Wheat jointworm. (Zoöl.) See Jointworm. — Wheat louse (Zoöl.), any wheat aphid. — Wheat maggot (Zoöl.), the larva of a wheat midge. — Wheat midge. (Zoöl.) (a) A small two-winged fly (Diplosis tritici) which is very destructive to growing wheat, both in Europe and America. The female lays her eggs in the flowers of wheat, and the larvæ suck the juice of the young kernels and when full grown change to pupæ in the earth. (b) The Hessian fly. See under Hessian. — Wheat moth (Zoöl.), any moth whose larvæ devour the grains of wheat, chiefly after it is harvested; a grain moth. See Angoumois Moth, also Grain moth, under Grain. — Wheat thief (Bot.), gromwell; — so called because it is a troublesome weed in wheat fields. See Gromwell. — Wheat thrips (Zoöl.), a small brown thrips (Thrips cerealium) which is very injurious to the grains of growing wheat. — Wheat weevil. (Zoöl.) (a) The grain weevil. (b) The rice weevil when found in wheat.
WHEATBIRDWheat"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird that feeds on wheat, especially the chaffinch.
WHEATEARWheat"ear`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European singing bird (Saxicola oenanthe). The male is white beneath, bluish gray above, with black wings and a black stripe through each eye. The tail is black at the tip and in the middle, but white at the base and on each side. Called also checkbird, chickell, dykehopper, fallow chat, fallow finch, stonechat, and whitetail.
WHEATENWheat"en, a. Etym: [AS. hwæten.]
Defn: Made of wheat; as, wheaten bread. Cowper.
WHEAT RUSTWheat rust.
Defn: A disease of wheat and other grasses caused by the rust fungusPuccinia graminis; also, the fungus itself.
WHEAT SAWFLY Wheat sawfly. (a) A small European sawfly (Cephus pygmæus) whose larva does great injury to wheat by boring in the stalks. (b) Any of several small American sawflies of the genus Dolerus, as D. sericeus and D. arvensis, whose larvæ injure the stems or heads of wheat. (c) Pachynematus extensicornis, whose larvæ feed chiefly on the blades of wheat; — called also grass sawfly.
WHEATSEL BIRDWheat"sel bird`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The male of the chaffinch. [Prov. Eng.]
WHEATSTONE'S BRIDGEWheat"stone's bridge`. (Elec.)
Defn: See under Bridge.
WHEATSTONE'S RODSWheat"stone's rods. (Acoustics)
Defn: Flexible rods the period of vibration of which in two planes at right angles are in some exact ratio to one another. When one end of such a rod is fixed, the free end describes in vibrating the corresponding Lissajous figure. So called because devised by Sir Charles Wheatstone.
WHEATWORMWheat"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small nematode worm (Anguillula tritici) which attacks the grains of wheat in the ear. It is found in wheat affected with smut, each of the diseased grains containing a large number of the minute young of the worm.
WHEDERWhed"er pron. & conj.
Defn: Whether. [Obs.]
WHEEDLEWhee"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wheedled; p. pr. & vb. n. Wheedling.]Etym: [Cf. G. wedeln to wag with the tail, as a dog, wedel a fan,tail, brush, OHG. wadal; akin to G. wehen to blow, and E. wind, n.]
1. To entice by soft words; to cajole; to flatter; to coax. The unlucky art of wheedling fools. Dryden. And wheedle a world that loves him not. Tennyson.
2. To grain, or get away, by flattery. A deed of settlement of the best part of her estate, which I wheedled out of her. Congreve.
WHEEDLEWhee"dle, v. i.
Defn: To flatter; to coax; to cajole.
WHEEL Wheel, n. Etym: [OE. wheel, hweol, AS. hweól, hweogul, hweowol; akin to D. wiel, Icel. hvel, Gr. cakra; cf. Icel. hjol, Dan. hiul, Sw. hjul. *218 Cf. Cycle, Cyclopedia.]
1. A circular frame turning about an axis; a rotating disk, whether solid, or a frame composed of an outer rim, spokes or radii, and a central hub or nave, in which is inserted the axle, — used for supporting and conveying vehicles, in machinery, and for various purposes; as, the wheel of a wagon, of a locomotive, of a mill, of a watch, etc. The gasping charioteer beneath the wheel Of his own car. Dryden.
2. Any instrument having the form of, or chiefly consisting of, a wheel. Specifically: — (a) A spinning wheel. See under Spinning. (b) An instrument of torture formerly used. His examination is like that which is made by the rack and wheel. Addison.
Note: This mode of torture is said to have been first employed in Germany, in the fourteenth century. The criminal was laid on a cart wheel with his legs and arms extended, and his limbs in that posture were fractured with an iron bar. In France, where its use was restricted to the most atrocious crimes, the criminal was first laid on a frame of wood in the form of a St. Andrew's cross, with grooves cut transversely in it above and below the knees and elbows, and the executioner struck eight blows with an iron bar, so as to break the limbs in those places, sometimes finishing by two or three blows on the chest or stomach, which usually put an end to the life of the criminal, and were hence called coups-de-grace — blows of mercy. The criminal was then unbound, and laid on a small wheel, with his face upward, and his arms and legs doubled under him, there to expire, if he had survived the previous treatment. Brande. (c) (Naut.) A circular frame having handles on the periphery, and an axle which is so connected with the tiller as to form a means of controlling the rudder for the purpose of steering. (d) (Pottery) A potter's wheel. See under Potter. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. Jer. xviii. 3. Turn, turn, my wheel! This earthen jar A touch can make, a touch can mar. Longfellow. (e) (Pyrotechny)
Defn: A firework which, while burning, is caused to revolve on an axis by the reaction of the escaping gases. (f) (Poetry) The burden or refrain of a song.
Note: "This meaning has a low degree of authority, but is supposed from the context in the few cases where the word is found." Nares. You must sing a-down a-down, An you call him a-down-a. O, how the wheel becomes it! Shak.
3. A bicycle or a tricycle; a velocipede.
4. A rolling or revolving body; anything of a circular form; a disk; an orb. Milton.
5. A turn revolution; rotation; compass. According to the common vicissitude and wheel of things, the proud and the insolent, after long trampling upon others, come at length to be trampled upon themselves. South. [He] throws his steep flight in many an aëry wheel. Milton. A wheel within a wheel, or Wheels within wheels, a complication of circumstances, motives, etc. — Balance wheel. See in the Vocab. — Bevel wheel, Brake wheel, Cam wheel, Fifth wheel, Overshot wheel, Spinning wheel, etc. See under Bevel, Brake, etc. — Core wheel. (Mach.) (a) A mortise gear. (b) A wheel having a rim perforated to receive wooden cogs; the skeleton of a mortise gear. — Measuring wheel, an odometer, or perambulator. — Wheel and axle (Mech.), one of the elementary machines or mechanical powers, consisting of a wheel fixed to an axle, and used for raising great weights, by applying the power to the circumference of the wheel, and attaching the weight, by a rope or chain, to that of the axle. Called also axis in peritrochio, and perpetual lever, — the principle of equilibrium involved being the same as in the lever, while its action is continuous. See Mechanical powers, under Mechanical. — Wheel animal, or Wheel animalcule (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of rotifers having a ciliated disk at the anterior end. — Wheel barometer. (Physics) See under Barometer. — Wheel boat, a boat with wheels, to be used either on water or upon inclined planes or railways. — Wheel bug (Zoöl.), a large North American hemipterous insect (Prionidus cristatus) which sucks the blood of other insects. So named from the curious shape of the prothorax. — Wheel carriage, a carriage moving on wheels. — Wheel chains, or Wheel ropes (Naut.), the chains or ropes connecting the wheel and rudder. — Wheel cutter, a machine for shaping the cogs of gear wheels; a gear cutter. — Wheel horse, one of the horses nearest to the wheels, as opposed to a leader, or forward horse; — called also wheeler. — Wheel lathe, a lathe for turning railway-car wheels. — Wheel lock. (a) A letter lock. See under Letter. (b) A kind of gunlock in which sparks were struck from a flint, or piece of iron pyrites, by a revolving wheel. (c) A kind of brake a carriage. — Wheel ore (Min.), a variety of bournonite so named from the shape of its twin crystals. See Bournonite. — Wheel pit (Steam Engine), a pit in the ground, in which the lower part of the fly wheel runs. — Wheel plow, or Wheel plough, a plow having one or two wheels attached, to render it more steady, and to regulate the depth of the furrow. — Wheel press, a press by which railway-car wheels are forced on, or off, their axles. — Wheel race, the place in which a water wheel is set. — Wheel rope (Naut.), a tiller rope. See under Tiller. — Wheel stitch (Needlework), a stitch resembling a spider's web, worked into the material, and not over an open space. Caulfeild & S. (Dict. of Needlework). — Wheel tree (Bot.), a tree (Aspidosperma excelsum) of Guiana, which has a trunk so curiously fluted that a transverse section resembles the hub and spokes of a coarsely made wheel. See Paddlewood. — Wheel urchin (Zoöl.), any sea urchin of the genus Rotula having a round, flat shell. — Wheel window (Arch.), a circular window having radiating mullions arranged like the spokes of a wheel. Cf. Rose window, under Rose.
WHEELWheel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wheeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Wheeling.]
1. To convey on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle; as, to wheel a load of hay or wood.
2. To put into a rotatory motion; to cause to turn or revolve; to cause to gyrate; to make or perform in a circle. "The beetle wheels her droning flight." Gray. Now heaven, in all her glory, shone, and rolled Her motions, as the great first mover's hand First wheeled their course. Milton.
WHEELWheel, v. i.
1. To turn on an axis, or as on an axis; to revolve; to more about; to rotate; to gyrate. The moon carried about the earth always shows the same face to us, not once wheeling upon her own center. Bentley.
2. To change direction, as if revolving upon an axis or pivot; to turn; as, the troops wheeled to the right. Being able to advance no further, they are in a fair way to wheel about to the other extreme. South.
3. To go round in a circuit; to fetch a compass. Then wheeling down the steep of heaven he flies. Pope.
4. To roll forward. Thunder mixed with hail, Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptian sky, And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls. Milton.
WHEELBANDWheel"band`, n.
Defn: The tire of a wheel.
WHEELBARROWWheel"bar`row, n.
Defn: A light vehicle for conveying small loads. It has two handles and one wheel, and is rolled by a single person.
WHEEL BASEWheel base.
Defn: The figure inclosed by lines through the points contact of the wheels of a vehicle, etc., with the surface or rails on which they run; more esp., the length of this figure between the points of contact of the two extreme wheels on either side.
WHEELBIRDWheel"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European goatsucker. [Prov. Eng.]
WHEELEDWheeled, a.
Defn: Having wheels; — used chiefly in composition; as, a four- wheeled carriage.
WHEELERWheel"er, n.
1. One who wheels, or turns.
2. A maker of wheels; a wheelwright. [Obs.]
3. A wheel horse. See under Wheel.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: A steam vessel propelled by a paddle wheel or by paddle wheels; — used chiefly in the terms side-wheeler and stern-wheeler.
5. A worker on sewed muslin. [Eng.]
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European goatsucker. [Prov. Eng.]
WHEELHOUSE Wheel"house`, n. (Naut.) (a) A small house on or above a vessel's deck, containing the steering wheel. (b) A paddle box. See under Paddle.
WHEELINGWheel"ing, n.
1. The act of conveying anything, or traveling, on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle.
2. The act or practice of using a cycle; cycling.
3. Condition of a road or roads, which admits of passing on wheels; as, it is good wheeling, or bad wheeling.
4. A turning, or circular movement.
WHEELMANWheel"man, n.; pl. Wheelmen (.
Defn: One who rides a bicycle or tricycle; a cycler, or cyclist.
WHEEL OF FORTUNEWheel of fortune.
Defn: A gambling or lottery device consisting of a wheel which is spun horizontally, articles or sums to which certain marks on its circumference point when it stops being distributed according to varying rules.
WHEEL-SHAPEDWheel"-shaped`, a.
1. Shaped like a wheel.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Expanding into a flat, circular border at top, with scarcely any tube; as, a wheel-shaped corolla.
WHEELSWARFWheel"swarf`, n.
Defn: See Swarf.
WHEELWORKWheel"work`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: A combination of wheels, and their connection, in a machine or mechanism.
WHEEL-WORNWheel"-worn`, a.
Defn: Worn by the action of wheels; as, a wheel-worn road.
WHEELWRIGHTWheel"wright`, n.
Defn: A man whose occupation is to make or repair wheels and wheeled vehicles, as carts, wagons, and the like.
WHEELYWheel"y, a.
Defn: Circular; suitable to rotation.
WHEENWheen, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. hw, hw, a little, somewhat, hw little, few.]
Defn: A quantity; a goodly number. [Scot.] "A wheen other dogs." SirW. Scott.
WHEEZEWheeze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wheezed; p. pr. & vb. n. Wheezing.] Etym:[OE. whesen, AS. hwsan (cf. Icel. hvæsa to hiss, Sw. hväsa, Dan.hvæse); akin to AS. hwsta a cough, D. hoest, G. husten, OHG. huosto,Icel. h, Lith. kosti to cough, Skr. k. sq. root43. Cf. Husky hoarse.]
Defn: To breathe hard, and with an audible piping or whistling sound, as persons affected with asthma. "Wheezing lungs." Shak.
WHEEZEWheeze, n.
1. A piping or whistling sound caused by difficult respiration.
2. (Phon.)
Defn: An ordinary whisper exaggerated so as to produce the hoarse sound known as the "stage whisper." It is a forcible whisper with some admixture of tone.
WHEEZYWheez"y, a.
Defn: Breathing with difficulty and with a wheeze; wheezing. Used also figuratively.
WHEFTWheft, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Waft, n., 4.
WHELK Whelk, n. Etym: [OE. welk, wilk, AS. weoloc, weloc, wiloc. Cf. Whilk, and Wilk.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one numerous species of large marine gastropods belonging to Buccinum and allied genera; especially, Buccinum undatum, common on the coasts both of Europe and North America, and much used as food in Europe. Whelk tingle, a dog whelk. See under Dog.
WHELKWhelk, n. Etym: [OE. whelke, dim. of whele. See Wheal a pustule.]
1. A papule; a pustule; acne. "His whelks white." Chaucer.
2. A stripe or mark; a ridge; a wale. Chin whelk (Med.), sycosis.— Rosy whelk (Med.), grog blossom.
WHELKEDWhelked, a.
Defn: Having whelks; whelky; as, whelked horns. Shak.
WHELKYWhelk"y, a.
1. Having whelks, ridges, or protuberances; hence, streaked; striated.
2. Shelly. "Whelky pearls." Spenser.
WHELM Whelm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whelmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Whelming.] Etym: [OE. whelmen to turn over, akin to OE. whelven, AS. whelfan, hwylfan, in , , to overwhelm, cover over; akin to OS. bihwelbian, D. welven to arch, G. wölben, OHG. welben, Icel. hvelfa to overturn; cf. Gr.
1. To cover with water or other fluid; to cover by immersion in something that envelops on all sides; to overwhelm; to ingulf. She is my prize, or ocean whelm them all! Shak. The whelming billow and the faithless oar. Gay.
2. Fig.: To cover completely, as if with water; to immerse; to overcome; as, to whelm one in sorrows. "The whelming weight of crime." J. H. Newman.
3. To throw (something) over a thing so as to cover it. [Obs.] Mortimer.
WHELP Whelp, n. Etym: [AS. hwelp; akin to D. welp, G. & OHG. welf, Icel. hvelpr, Dan. hvalp, Sw. valp.]
1. One of the young of a dog or a beast of prey; a puppy; a cub; as, a lion's whelps. "A bear robbed of her whelps." 2 Sam. xvii. 8.
2. A child; a youth; — jocosely or in contempt. That awkward whelp with his money bags would have made his entrance. Addison.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: One of the longitudinal ribs or ridges on the barrel of a capstan or a windless; — usually in the plural; as, the whelps of a windlass.
4. One of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.
WHELPWhelp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whelped; p. pr. & vb. n. Whelping.]
Defn: To bring forth young; — said of the female of the dog and some beasts of prey.
WHELPWhelp, v. t.
Defn: To bring forth, as cubs or young; to give birth to.Unless she had whelped it herself, she could not have loved a thingbetter. B. Jonson.Did thy foul fancy whelp so black a scheme Young.
WHEN When, adv. Etym: [OE. when, whan, whenne, whanne, AS. hwænne, hwanne, hwonne; akin to OS. hwan, OD. wan, OHG. wanne, G. wann when, wenn if, when, Goth. hwan when, and to E. who. Who.]
1. At what time; — used interrogatively. When shall these things be Matt. xxiv. 3.
Note: See the Note under What, pron., 1.
2. At what time; at, during, or after the time that; at or just after, the moment that; — used relatively. Kings may Take their advantage when and how they list. Daniel. Book lore ne'er served, when trial came, Nor gifts, when faith was dead. J. H. Newman.
3. While; whereas; although; — used in the manner of a conjunction to introduce a dependent adverbial sentence or clause, having a causal, conditional, or adversative relation to the principal proposition; as, he chose to turn highwayman when he might have continued an honest man; he removed the tree when it was the best in the grounds.
4. Which time; then; — used elliptically as a noun. I was adopted heir by his consent; Since when, his oath is broke. Shak.
Note: When was formerly used as an exclamation of surprise orimpatience, like what!Come hither; mend my ruff: Here, when! thou art such a tedious lady!J. Webster.When as, When that, at the time that; when. [Obs.]When as sacred light began to dawn. Milton.When that mine eye is famished for a look. Shak.
WHENASWhen"as`, conj.
Defn: Whereas; while [Obs.] Whenas, if they would inquire into themselves, they would find no such matter. Barrow.
WHENCE Whence, adv. Etym: [OE. whennes, whens (with adverbial s, properly a genitive ending; — see -wards), also whenne, whanene, AS. hwanan, hwanon, hwonan, hwanone; akin to D. when. See When, and cf. Hence, Thence.]
1. From what place; hence, from what or which source, origin, antecedent, premise, or the like; how; — used interrogatively. Whence hath this man this wisdom Matt. xiii. 54. Whence and what art thou Milton.
2. From what or which place, source, material, cause, etc.; the place, source, etc., from which; — used relatively. Grateful to acknowledge whence his good Descends. Milton.
Note: All the words of this class, whence, where, whither,whereabouts, etc., are occasionally used as pronouns by a harshconstruction.O, how unlike the place from whence they fell Milton.
Note: From whence, though a pleonasm, is fully authorized by the useof good writers.From whence come wars and fightings among you James iv. 1.Of whence, also a pleonasm, has become obsolete.
WHENCEEVERWhence*ev"er, adv. & conj.
Defn: Whencesoever. [R.]
WHENCEFORTHWhence`forth", adv.
Defn: From, or forth from, what or which place; whence. [Obs.]Spenser.
WHENCESOEVERWhence`so*ev"er, adv. & conj.
Defn: From what place soever; from what cause or source soever.Any idea, whencesoever we have it. Locke.
WHENE'ERWhen*e'er, adv. & conj.
Defn: Whenever.
WHENEVERWhen*ev"er, adv. & conj.
Defn: At whatever time. "Whenever that shall be." Milton.
WHENNESWhen"nes, adv.
Defn: Whence. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WHENSOEVERWhen`so*ev"er, adv. & conj.
Defn: At what time soever; at whatever time; whenever. Mark xiv. 7.
WHER; WHEREWher, Where (, pron. & conj. Etym: [See Whether.]
Defn: Whether. [Sometimes written whe'r.] [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Men must enquire (this is mine assent), Wher she be wise or sober or dronkelewe. Chaucer.
WHEREWhere, adv. Etym: [OE. wher, whar, AS. hw; akin to D. waar, OS. hw,OHG. hwar, war, wa, G. wo, Icel. and Sw. hvar, Dan. hvor, Goth. hwar,and E. who; cf. Skr. karhi when. sq. root182. See Who, and cf.There.]
1. At or in what place; hence, in what situation, position, or circumstances; — used interrogatively. God called unto Adam, . . . Where art thou Gen. iii. 9.
Note: See the Note under What, pron., 1.
2. At or in which place; at the place in which; hence, in the case or instance in which; — used relatively. She visited that place where first she was so happy. Sir P. Sidney. Where I thought the remnant of mine age Should have been cherished by her childlike duty. Shak. Where one on his side fights, thousands will fly. Shak. But where he rode one mile, the dwarf ran four. Sir W. Scott.
3. To what or which place; hence, to what goal, result, or issue; whither; — used interrogatively and relatively; as, where are you going But where does this tend Goldsmith. Lodged in sunny cleft, Where the gold breezes come not. Bryant.
Note: Where is often used pronominally with or without a preposition,in elliptical sentences for a place in which, the place in which, orwhat place.The star . . . stood over where the young child was. Matt. ii. 9.The Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Matt. viii. 20.Within about twenty paces of where we were. Goldsmith.Where did the minstrels come from Dickens.
Note: Where is much used in composition with preposition, and then is equivalent to a pronoun. Cf. Whereat, Whereby, Wherefore, Wherein, etc. Where away (Naut.), in what direction; as, where away is the land
Syn.— See Whither.
WHEREWhere, conj.
Defn: Whereas. And flight and die is death destroying death; Where fearing dying pays death servile breath. Shak.
WHEREWhere, n.
Defn: Place; situation. [Obs. or Colloq.]Finding the nymph asleep in secret where. Spenser.
WHEREABOUT; WHEREABOUTSWhere"a*bout`, Where"a*bouts`, adv.
1. About where; near what or which place; — used interrogatively and relatively; as, whereabouts did you meet him
Note: In this sense, whereabouts is the common form.
2. Concerning which; about which. "The object whereabout they are conversant." Hooker.
WHEREABOUT; WHEREABOUTSWhere"a*bout`, Where"a*bouts`, n.
Defn: The place where a person or thing is; as, they did not know hiswhereabouts. Shak.A puzzling notice of thy whereabout. Wordsworth.
WHEREASWhere*as", adv.
Defn: At which place; where. [Obs.] Chaucer.At last they came whereas that lady bode. Spenser.
WHEREASWhere*as", conj.
1. Considering that; it being the case that; since; — used to introduce a preamble which is the basis of declarations, affirmations, commands, requests, or like, that follow.
2. When in fact; while on the contrary; the case being in truth that; although; — implying opposition to something that precedes; or implying recognition of facts, sometimes followed by a different statement, and sometimes by inferences or something consequent. Are not those found to be the greatest zealots who are most notoriously ignorant whereas true zeal should always begin with true knowledge. Sprat.
WHEREATWhere*at", adv.
1. At which; upon which; whereupon; — used relatively.They vote; whereat his speech he thus renews. Milton.Whereat he was no less angry and ashamed than desirous to obeyZelmane. Sir P. Sidney.
2. At what; — used interrogatively; as, whereat are you offended
WHEREBYWhere*by", adv.
1. By which; — used relatively. "You take my life when you take the means whereby I life." Shak.
2. By what; how; — used interrogatively. Whereby shall I know this Luke i. 18.
WHERE'ERWher*e'er", adv.
Defn: Wherever; — a contracted and poetical form. Cowper.
WHEREFOREWhere"fore, adv.& conj. Etym: [Where + for.]
1. For which reason; so; — used relatively. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matt. vii. 20.
2. For what reason; why; — used interrogatively. But wherefore that I tell my tale. Chaucer. Wherefore didst thou doubt Matt. xiv. 31.
WHEREFOREWhere"fore, n.
Defn: the reason why. [Colloq.]
WHEREFORMWhere*form", adv. Etym: [Where + from.]
Defn: From which; from which or what place. Tennyson.
WHEREINWhere*in", adv.
1. In which; in which place, thing, time, respect, or the like; — used relatively. Her clothes wherein she was clad. Chaucer. There are times wherein a man ought to be cautious as well as innocent. Swift.
2. In what; — used interrogatively. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him! Mal. ii. 17.
WHEREINTOWhere`in*to", adv.
1. Into which; — used relatively.Where is that palace whereinto foul things Sometimes intrude notShak.The brook, whereinto he loved to look. Emerson.
2. Into what; — used interrogatively.
WHERENESSWhere"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of having a place; ubiety; situation;position. [R.]A point hath no dimensions, but only a whereness, and is next tonothing. Grew.
WHEREOFWhere*of", adv.
1. Of which; of whom; formerly, also, with which; — used relatively.I do not find the certain numbers whereof their armies did consist.Sir J. Davies.Let it work like Borgias' wine, Whereof his sire, the pope, waspoisoned. Marlowe.Edward's seven sons, whereof thyself art one. Shak.
2. Of what; — used interrogatively. Whereof was the house built Johnson.
WHEREONWhere*on", adv.
1. On which; — used relatively; as, the earth whereon we live. O fair foundation laid whereon to build. Milton.
2. On what; — used interrogatively; as, whereon do we stand
WHEREOUTWhere*out", adv.
Defn: Out of which. [R.]The cleft whereout the lightning breaketh. Holland.
WHERESOWhere"so, adv.
Defn: Wheresoever. [Obs.]
WHERESOE'ERWhere`so*e'er", adv.
Defn: Wheresoever. [Poetic] "Wheresoe'er they rove." Milton.
WHERESOEVERWhere`so*ev"er, adv.
Defn: In what place soever; in whatever place; wherever.
WHERETHROUGHWhere*through", adv.
Defn: Through which. [R.] "Wherethrough that I may know." Chaucer. Windows . . . wherethrough the sun Delights to peep, to gaze therein on thee. Shak.
WHERETOWhere*to", adv.
1. To which; — used relatively. "Whereto we have already attained." Phil. iii. 16. Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day. Shak.
2. To what; to what end; — used interrogatively.
WHEREUNTOWhere`un*to", adv.
Defn: Same as Whereto.
WHEREUPONWhere`up*on", adv.
Defn: Upon which; in consequence of which; after which.The townsmen mutinied and sent to Essex; whereupon he came thither.Clarendon.
WHEREVERWher*ev"er, adv.
Defn: At or in whatever place; wheresoever.He can not but love virtue wherever it is. Atterbury.
WHEREWITHWhere*with", adv.
1. With which; — used relatively. The love wherewith thou hast loved me. John xvii. 26.
2. With what; — used interrogatively. Wherewith shall I save Israel Judg. vi. 15.
WHEREWITHWhere*with", n.
Defn: The necessary means or instrument.So shall I have wherewith to answer him. Ps. cxix. 42.The wherewith to meet excessive loss by radiation. H. Spencer.
WHEREWITHALWhere`with*al", adv. & n.
Defn: Wherewith. "Wherewithal shall we be clothed" Matt. vi. 31.Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way Ps. cxix. 9.[The builders of Babel], still with vain design, New Babels, had theywherewithal, would build. Milton.
WHERRETWher"ret, v. t. Etym: [From Whir.]
1. To hurry; to trouble; to tease. [Obs.] Bickerstaff.
2. To box (one) on the ear; to strike or box. (the ear); as, to wherret a child. [Obs.]
WHERRETWher"ret, n.
Defn: A box on the ear. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
WHERRY Wher"ry, n.; pl. Wherries. Etym: [Cf. Icel. hverfr shifty, crank, hverfa to turn, E. whirl, wharf.] (Naut.) (a) A passenger barge or lighter plying on rivers; also, a kind of light, half-decked vessel used in fishing. [Eng.] (b) A long, narrow, light boat, sharp at both ends, for fast rowing or sailing; esp., a racing boat rowed by one person with sculls.
WHERRYWher"ry, n. Etym: [Cf. W. chwerw bitter.]
Defn: A liquor made from the pulp of crab apples after the verjuice is expressed; — sometimes called crab wherry. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
WHERSOWher"so, adv.
Defn: Wheresoever. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WHET Whet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whetted; p. pr. & vb. n. Whetting.] Etym: [AS. hwettan; akin to D. wetten, G. wetzen, OHG. wezzen, Icel. hvetja, Sw. vättja, and AS. hwæt vigorous, brave, OS. hwat, OHG. waz, was, sharp, Icel. hvatr, bold, active, Sw. hvass sharp, Dan. hvas, Goth. hwassaba sharply, and probably to Skr. cud to impel, urge on.]
1. To rub or on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening; to sharpen by attrition; as, to whet a knife. The mower whets his scythe. Milton. Here roams the wolf, the eagle whets his beak. Byron.
2. To make sharp, keen, or eager; to excite; to stimulate; as, to whet the appetite or the courage. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Shak. To whet on, To whet forward, to urge on or forward; to instigate. Shak.
WHETWhet, n.
1. The act of whetting.
2. That which whets or sharpens; esp., an appetizer. "Sips, drams, and whets." Spectator. Whet slate (Min.), a variety of slate used for sharpening cutting instruments; novaculite; — called also whetstone slate, and oilstone.
WHETHER Wheth"er, pron. Etym: [OE. whether, AS. hwæ; akin to OS. hwe, OFries. hweder, OHG. hwedar, wedar, G. weder, conj., neither, Icel. hvarr whether, Goth. hwa, Lith. katras, L. uter, Gr. katara, from the interrogatively pronoun, in AS. hwa who. Who, and cf. Either, Neither, Or, conj.]
Defn: Which (of two); which one (of two); — used interrogatively andrelatively. [Archaic]Now choose yourself whether that you liketh. Chaucer.One day in doubt I cast for to compare Whether in beauties' glory didexceed. Spenser.Whether of them twain did the will of his father Matt. xxi. 31.
WHETHERWheth"er, conj.
Defn: In case; if; — used to introduce the first or two or more alternative clauses, the other or others being connected by or, or by or whether. When the second of two alternatives is the simple negative of the first it is sometimes only indicated by the particle not or no after the correlative, and sometimes it is omitted entirely as being distinctly implied in the whether of the first. And now who knows But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours Shak. You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge. Shak. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. Rom. xiv. 8. But whether thus these things, or whether not; Whether the sun, predominant in heaven, Rise on the earth, or earth rise on the sun, . . . Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid. Milton. Whether or no, in either case; in any case; as, I will go whether or no. — Whether that, whether. Shak.
WHETHERINGWheth"er*ing, n.
Defn: The retention of the afterbirth in cows. Gardner.
WHETILEWhet"ile, n. Etym: [Cf. Whitile.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The green woodpecker, or yaffle. See Yaffle. [Prov. Eng.]
WHETSTONEWhet"stone`, n. Etym: [AS. hwetstan.]
Defn: A piece of stone, natural or artificial, used for whetting, orsharpening, edge tools.The dullness of the fools is the whetstone of the wits. Shak.Diligence is to the understanding as the whetstone to the razor.South.
Note: Some whetstones are used dry, others are moistened with water, or lubricated with oil. To give the whetstone, to give a premium for extravagance in falsehood. [Obs.]
WHETTERWhet"ter, n.
1. One who, or that which, whets, sharpens, or stimulates.
2. A tippler; one who drinks whets. [Obs.] Steele.
WHETTLEBONESWhet"tle*bones, n. pl.
Defn: The vertebræ of the back. [Prov. Eng.] Dunglison.
WHEWWhew (hwu), n. & interj.
Defn: A sound like a half-formed whistle, expressing astonishment, scorn, or dislike. Whew duck, the European widgeon. [Prov. Eng.]
WHEWWhew, v. i.
Defn: To whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover. [Prov. Eng. &Scot.]
WHEWELLITEWhew"ell*ite, n. Etym: [So named after Prof. Whewell of Cambridge,England.] (Min.)
Defn: Calcium oxalate, occurring in colorless or white monoclinic crystals.
WHEWER Whew"er, n. Etym: [Cf. W. chwiwell a widgeon, chwiws widgeons, waterfowls; or cf. E. whew, v. i.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European widgeon. [Prov. Eng.]
WHEY Whey, n. Etym: [AS. hwæg; cf. D. wei, hui, Fries. weye, LG. wey, waje. ]
Defn: The serum, or watery part, of milk, separated from the more thick or coagulable part, esp. in the process of making cheese. In this process, the thick part is called curd, and the thin part whey.
WHEY CUREWhey cure.
Defn: Treatment with whey as a drink and in baths.
WHEYEYWhey"ey, a.
Defn: Of the nature of, or containing, whey; resembling whey; wheyish. Bacon.
WHEYFACEWhey"face`, n.
Defn: One who is pale, as from fear.
WHEY-FACEDWhey"-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a pale or white face, as from fright. "Whey-faced cavaliers." Aytoun.
WHEYISHWhey"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat like whey; wheyey. J. Philips.— Whey"ish*ness, n.
WHICH Which, pron. Etym: [OE. which, whilk, AS. hwilc, hwylc, hwelc, from the root of hwa who + lic body; hence properly, of what sort or kind; akin to OS. hwilik which, OFries. hwelik, D. welk, G. welch, OHG. welih, hwelih, Icel. hvilikr, Dan. & Sw. hvilken, Goth. hwileiks, hwleiks; cf. L. qualis. Who, and Like, a., and cf. Such.]
1. Of what sort or kind; what; what a; who. [Obs.] And which they weren and of what degree. Chaucer.
2. A interrogative pronoun, used both substantively and adjectively, and in direct and indirect questions, to ask for, or refer to, an individual person or thing among several of a class; as, which man is it which woman was it which is the house he asked which route he should take; which is best, to live or to die See the Note under What, pron., 1. Which of you convinceth me of sin John viii. 46.
3. A relative pronoun, used esp. in referring to an antecedent noun or clause, but sometimes with reference to what is specified or implied in a sentence, or to a following noun or clause (generally involving a reference, however, to something which has preceded). It is used in all numbers and genders, and was formerly used of persons. And when thou fail'st — as God forbid the hour! —Must Edward fall, which peril heaven forfend! Shak. God . . . rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Gen. ii. 2. Our Father, which art in heaven. Matt. vi. 9. The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Cor. iii. 17.
4. A compound relative or indefinite pronoun, standing for any one which, whichever, that which, those which, the . . . which, and the like; as, take which you will.
Note: The which was formerly often used for which. The expressionswhich that, which as, were also sometimes used by way of emphasis.Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are calledJames ii. 7.
Note: Which, referring to a series of preceding sentences, or members of a sentence, may have all joined to it adjectively. "All which, as a method of a proclamation, is very convenient." Carlyle.
WHICHEVER; WHICHSOEVERWhich*ev"er, Which`so*ev"er, pron. & a.
Defn: Whether one or another; whether one or the other; which; that one (of two or more) which; as, whichever road you take, it will lead you to town.
WHIDAH BIRDWhid"ah bird`, (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of finchlike birds belonging to the genus Vidua, native of Asia and Africa. In the breeding season the male has very long, drooping tail feathers. Called also vida finch, whidah finch, whydah bird, whydah finch, widow bird, and widow finch.
Note: Some of the species are often kept as cage birds, especially Vidua paradisea, which is dark brownish above, pale buff beneath, with a reddish collar around the neck.
WHIDERWhid"er, adv.
Defn: Whither. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WHIFF Whiff, n. Etym: [OE. weffe vapor, whiff, probably of imitative origin; cf. Dan. vift a puff, gust, W. chwiff a whiff, puff.]
1. A sudden expulsion of air from the mouth; a quick puff or slight gust, as of air or smoke. But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword The unnerved father falls. Shak. The skipper, he blew a whiff from his pipe, And a scornful laugh laughed he. Longfellow.
2. A glimpse; a hasty view. [Prov. Eng.]
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The marysole, or sail fluke.
WHIFFWhiff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whiffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Whiffing.]
1. To throw out in whiffs; to consume in whiffs; to puff.
2. To carry or convey by a whiff, or as by a whiff; to puff or blow away. Old Empedocles, . . . who, when he leaped into Etna, having a dry, sear body, and light, the smoke took him, and whiffed him up into the moon. B. Jonson.
WHIFFWhiff, v. i.
Defn: To emit whiffs, as of smoke; to puff.
WHIFFETWhif"fet, n.
Defn: A little whiff or puff.
WHIFFINGWhiff"ing, n.
1. The act of one who, or that which, whiffs.
2. A mode of fishing with a hand line for pollack, mackerel, and the like.
WHIFFLEWhif"fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whiffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Whiffling.]Etym: [Freq. of whiff to puff, perhaps influenced by D. weifelen towaver.]
1. To waver, or shake, as if moved by gusts of wind; to shift, turn, or veer about. D
2. To change from one opinion or course to another; to use evasions; to prevaricate; to be fickle. A person of whiffing and unsteady turn of mind can not keep close to a point of controversy. I. Watts.
WHIFFLEWhif"fle, v. t.
1. To disperse with, or as with, a whiff, or puff; to scatter. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
2. To wave or shake quickly; to cause to whiffle.
WHIFFLEWhif"fle, n.
Defn: A fife or small flute. [Obs.] Douce.