Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 1624

Walkable

Walk"a*ble (?), a. Fit to be walked on; capable of being walked on or over. [R.] Swift.

Walker

Walk"er (?), n.

1. One who walks; a pedestrian.

2. That with which one walks; a foot. [Obs.]

Lame Mulciber, his walkers quite misgrown. Chapman.

3. (Law) A forest officer appointed to walk over a certain space for inspection; a forester.

4. [AS. wealcere. See Walk, v. t., 3.] A fuller of cloth. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

She cursed the weaver and the walker The cloth that had wrought. Percy's Reliques.

5. (Zoöl.) Any ambulatorial orthopterous insect, as a stick insect.

Walking

Walk"ing, a. & n. from Walk, v. Walking beam. See Beam, 10. -- Walking crane, a kind of traveling crane. See under Crane. -- Walking fern. (Bot.) See Walking leaf, below. -- Walking fish (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of Asiatic fishes of the genus Ophiocephalus, some of which, as O. marulius, become over four feet long. They have a special cavity over the gills lined with a membrane adapted to retain moisture to aid in respiration, and are thus able to travel considerable distances over the land at night, whence the name. They construct a curious nest for their young. Called also langya. -- Walking gentleman (Theater), an actor who usually fills subordinate parts which require a gentlemanly appearance but few words. [Cant] -- Walking lady (Theater), an actress who usually fills such parts as require only a ladylike appearance on the stage. [Cant] -- Walking leaf. (a) (Bot.) A little American fern (Camptosorus rhizophyllus); -- so called because the fronds taper into slender prolongations which often root at the apex, thus producing new plants. (b) (Zoöl.) A leaf insect. See under Leaf. -- Walking papers, ∨ Walking ticket, an order to leave; dismissal, as from office. [Colloq.] Bartlett. -- Walking stick. (a) A stick or staff carried in the hand for hand for support or amusement when walking; a cane. (b) (Zoöl.) A stick insect; -- called also walking straw. See Illust. of Stick insect, under Stick. -- Walking wheel (Mach.), a prime mover consisting of a wheel driven by the weight of men or animals walking either in it or on it; a treadwheel.
Walk-mill
Walk"-mill` (?), n. [Walk to Walking Leaf, or full + mill.] A fulling mill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Walk-over
Walk"-o`ver (?), n. In racing, the going over a course by a horse which has no competitor for the prize; hence, colloquially, a one-sided contest; an uncontested, or an easy, victory.<-- = a walk; a cake-walk. -->
Walkyr
Wal"kyr, n. (Scand. Myth.) See Valkyria.
Wall
Wall (?), n. (Naut.) A kind of knot often used at the end of a rope; a wall knot; a wale. Wall knot, a knot made by unlaying the strands of a rope, and making a bight with the first strand, then passing the second over the end of the first, and the third over the end of the second and through the bight of the first; a wale knot. Wall knots may be single or double, crowned or double-crowned.
Wall
Wall (?), n. [AS. weall, from L. vallum a wall, vallus a stake, pale, palisade; akin to Gr. a nail. Cf. Interval.]
1. A work or structure of stone, brick, or other materials, raised to some height, and intended for defense or security, solid and permanent inclosing fence, as around a field, a park, a town, etc., also, one of the upright inclosing parts of a building or a room.
The plaster of the wall of the King's palace. Dan. v. 5.

2. A defense; a rampart; a means of protection; in the plural, fortifications, in general; works for defense.
The waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Ex. xiv. 22.

In such a night, Troilus, methinks, mounted the Troyan walls. Shak.

To rush undaunted to defend the walls. Dryden.

3. An inclosing part of a receptacle or vessel; as, the walls of a steam-engine cylinder.
4. (Mining) (a) The side of a level or drift. (b) The country rock bounding a vein laterally. Raymond. &hand; Wall is often used adjectively, and also in the formation of compounds, usually of obvious signification; as in wall paper, or wall-paper; wall fruit, or wall-fruit; wallflower, etc. Blank wall, Blind wall, etc. See under Blank, Blind, etc. -- To drive to the wall, to bring to extremities; to push to extremes; to get the advantage of, or mastery over. -- To go to the wall, to be hard pressed or driven; to be the weaker party; to be pushed to extremes. -- To take the wall. to take the inner side of a walk, that is, the side next the wall; hence, to take the precedence. I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's." Shak. -- Wall barley (Bot.), a kind of grass (Hordeum murinum) much resembling barley; squirrel grass. See under Squirrel. -- Wall box. (Mach.) See Wall frame, below. -- Wall creeper (Zoöl.), a small bright-colored bird (Tichodroma muraria) native of Asia and Southern Europe. It climbs about over old walls and cliffs in search of insects and spiders. Its body is ash-gray above, the wing coverts are carmine-red, the primary quills are mostly red at the base and black distally, some of them with white spots, and the tail is blackish. Called also spider catcher. -- Wall cress (Bot.), a name given to several low cruciferous herbs, especially to the mouse-ear cress. See under Mouse-ear. -- Wall frame (Mach.), a frame set in a wall to receive a pillow block or bearing for a shaft passing through the wall; -- called also wall box. -- Wall fruit, fruit borne by trees trained against a wall. -- Wall gecko (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Old World geckos which live in or about buildings and run over the vertical surfaces of walls, to which they cling by means of suckers on the feet. -- Wall lizard (Zoöl.), a common European lizard (Lacerta muralis) which frequents houses, and lives in the chinks and crevices of walls; -- called also wall newt. -- Wall louse, a wood louse. -- Wall moss (Bot.), any species of moss growing on walls. -- Wall newt (Zoöl.), the wall lizard. Shak. -- Wall paper, paper for covering the walls of rooms; paper hangings. -- Wall pellitory (Bot.), a European plant (Parictaria officinalis) growing on old walls, and formerly esteemed medicinal. -- Wall pennywort (Bot.), a plant (Cotyledon Umbilicus) having rounded fleshy leaves. It is found on walls in Western Europe. -- Wall pepper (Bot.), a low mosslike plant (Sedum acre) with small fleshy leaves having a pungent taste and bearing yellow flowers. It is common on walls and rocks in Europe, and is sometimes seen in America. -- Wall pie (Bot.), a kind of fern; wall rue. -- Wall piece, a gun planted on a wall. H. L. Scott. -- Wall plate (Arch.), a piece of timber placed horizontally upon a wall, and supporting posts, joists, and the like. See Illust. of Roof. -- Wall rock, granular limestone used in building walls. [U. S.] Bartlett. -- Wall rue (Bot.), a species of small fern (Asplenium Ruta-muraria) growing on walls, rocks, and the like. -- Wall spring, a spring of water issuing from stratified rocks. -- Wall tent, a tent with upright cloth sides corresponding to the walls of a house. -- Wall wasp (Zoöl.), a common European solitary wasp (Odynerus parietus) which makes its nest in the crevices of walls.
Wall
Wall (), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Walled (); p. pr. & vb. n. Walling.]
1. To inclose with a wall, or as with a wall. Seven walled towns of strength." Shak.
The king of Thebes, Amphion, That with his singing walled that city. Chaucer.

2. To defend by walls, or as if by walls; to fortify.
The terror of his name that walls us in. Denham.

3. To close or fill with a wall, as a doorway.
Wallaba
Wal"la*ba (?), n. (Bot.) A leguminous tree (Eperua falcata) of Demerara, with pinnate leaves and clusters of red flowers. The reddish brown wood is used for palings and shingles. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).
Wallaby
Wal"la*by (?), n.; pl. Wallabies (#). [From a native name.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of kangaroos belonging to the genus Halmaturus, native of Australia and Tasmania, especially the smaller species, as the brush kangaroo (H. Bennettii) and the pademelon (H. thetidis). The wallabies chiefly inhabit the wooded district and bushy plains. [Written also wallabee, and whallabee.]
Wallah
Wal"lah (?), n. (Zoöl.) A black variety of the jaguar; -- called also tapir tiger. [Written also walla.]
Wallaroo
Wal`la*roo" (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of kangaroos of the genus Macropus, especially M. robustus, sometimes called the great wallaroo.
Wallbird
Wall"bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The spotted flycatcher. [Prov. Eng.]
Waller
Wall"er (?), n. One who builds walls.
Waller
Wall"er, n. [G.] (Zoöl.) The wels.
Wallerian degeneration
Wal*le"ri*an de*gen`er*a"tion (?). (Med.) A form of degeneration occurring in nerve fibers as a result of their division; -- so called from Dr. Waller, who published an account of it in 1850.
Wallet
Wal"let (?), n. [OE. walet, probably the same word as OE. watel a bag. See Wattle.]
1. A bag or sack for carrying about the person, as a bag for carrying the necessaries for a journey; a knapsack; a beggar's receptacle for charity; a peddler's pack.
[His hood] was trussed up in his walet. Chaucer.

2. A pocketbook for keeping money about the person.
3. Anything protuberant and swagging. Wallets of flesh." Shak.
Walleteer
Wal`let*eer" (?), n. One who carries a wallet; a foot traveler; a tramping beggar. [Colloq.] Wright.
Wall-eye
Wall"-eye` (?), n. [See Wall-eyed.]
1. An eye in which the iris is of a very light gray or whitish color; -- said usually of horses. Booth. &hand; Jonson has defined wall-eye to be a disease in the crystalline humor of the eye; glaucoma." But glaucoma is not a disease of the crystalline humor, nor is wall-eye a disease at all, but merely a natural blemish. Tully. In the north of England, as Brockett states, persons are said to be wall-eyed when the white of the eye is very large and distorted, or on one side.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) An American fresh-water food fish (Stizostedion vitreum) having large and prominent eyes; -- called also glasseye, pike perch, yellow pike, and wall-eyed perch. (b) A California surf fish (Holconotus argenteus). (c) The alewife; -- called also wall-eyed herring.
Wall-eyed
Wall"-eyed` (?), a. [Icel. valdeyg&edh;r, or vagleygr; fr. vagl a beam, a beam in the eye (akin to Sw. vagel a roost, a perch, a sty in the eye) + eygr having eyes (from auga eye). See Eye.] Having an eye of a very light gray or whitish color. Booth. &hand; Shakespeare, in using wall-eyed as a term of reproach (as wall-eyed rage," a wall-eyed wretch"), alludes probably to the idea of unnatural or distorted vision. See the Note under Wall-eye. It is an eye which is utterly and incurably perverted, an eye that knows no pity.
Wallflower
Wall"flow`er (?), n.
1. (Bot.) A perennial, cruciferous plant (Cheiranthus Cheiri), with sweet-scented flowers varying in color from yellow to orange and deep red. In Europe it very common on old walls. &hand; The name is sometimes extended to other species of Cheiranthus and of the related genus Erysimum, especially the American Western wallflower (Erysimum asperum), a biennial herb with orange-yellow flowers.
2. A lady at a ball, who, either from choice, or because not asked to dance, remains a spectator. [Colloq.]
Wallhick
Wall"hick` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The lesser spotted woodpecker (Dryobates minor). [Prov. Eng.]
Walling
Wall"ing, n.
1. The act of making a wall or walls.
2. Walls, in general; material for walls. Walling wax, a composition of wax and tallow used by etchers and engravers to make a bank, or wall, round the edge of a plate, so as to form a trough for holding the acid used in etching, and the like. Fairholt.
Walloons
Wal*loons" (?), n. pl.; sing. Walloon (). [Cf. F. wallon.] A Romanic people inhabiting that part of Belgium which comprises the provinces of Hainaut, Namur, Liége, and Luxembourg, and about one third of Brabant; also, the language spoken by this people. Used also adjectively. [Written also Wallons.] A base Walloon . . . thrust Talbot with a spear." Shak. Walloon guard, the bodyguard of the Spanish monarch; -- so called because formerly consisting of Walloons.

Wallop

Wal"lop (?), v. i. [Cf. OFlem. walop a gallop; of uncertain origin. Cf. Gallop.] To move quickly, but with great effort; to gallop. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Wallop

Wal"lop, n. A quick, rolling movement; a gallop. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Wallop

Wal"lop, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Walloped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Walloping.] [Probably fr. AS. weallan to spring up, to boil or bubble. &root;147. See Well, n. & v. i.]

1. To boil with a continued bubbling or heaving and rolling, with noise. [Prov. Eng.] Brockett.

2. To move in a rolling, cumbersome manner; to waddle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

3. To be slatternly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Wallop

Wal"lop, v. t.

1. To beat soundly; to flog; to whip. [Prov. Eng., Scot., & Colloq. U. S.]

2. To wrap up temporarily. [Prov. Eng.]

3. To throw or tumble over. [Prov. Eng.]

Wallop

Wal"lop, n.

1. A thick piece of fat. Halliwell.

2. A blow. [Prov. Eng., Scot., & Colloq. U.S.]

Wallow

Wal"low (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wallowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Wallowing.] [OE. walwen, AS. wealwian; akin to Goth. walwjan (in comp.) to roll, L. volvere; cf. Skr. val to turn. √147. Cf. Voluble Well, n.]

1. To roll one's self about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire.

I may wallow in the lily beds. Shak.

2. To live in filth or gross vice; to disport one's self in a beastly and unworthy manner.

God sees a man wallowing in his native impurity. South.

3. To wither; to fade. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Wallow

Wal"low, v. t. To roll; esp., to roll in anything defiling or unclean. Wallow thyself in ashes." Jer. vi. 26.

Wallow

Wal"low, n. A kind of rolling walk.

One taught the toss, and one the new French wallow. Dryden.

Wallower

Wal"low*er (?), n.

1. One who, or that which, wallows.

2. (Mach.) A lantern wheel; a trundle.

Wallowish

Wal"low*ish, a. [Scot. wallow to fade or wither.] Flat; insipid. [Obs.] Overbury.

Wall-plat

Wall"-plat` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The spotted flycatcher. It builds its nest on walls. [Prov. Eng.]

Wall-sided

Wall"-sid`ed (?), a. (Naut.) Having sides nearly perpendicular; -- said of certain vessels to distinguish them from those having flaring sides, or sides tumbling home (see under Tumble, v. i.).

Wallwort

Wall"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) The dwarf elder, or danewort (Sambucus Ebulus).

Walm

Walm (?), v. i. [AS. weallan; cf. wælm, billow. √147.] To roll; to spout; to boil up. [Obs.] Holland.

Walnut

Wal"nut (?), n. [OE. walnot, AS. wealh-hnutu a Welsh or foreign nut, a walnut; wealh foreign, strange, n., a Welshman, Celt (akin to OHG. Walh, properly, a Celt, from the name of a Celtic tribe, in L. Volcae) + hnutu a nut; akin to D. walnoot, G. walnuss, Icel. valhnot, Sw. valnöt, Dan valnöd. See Nut, and cf. Welsh.] (Bot.) The fruit or nut of any tree of the genus Juglans; also, the tree, and its timber. The seven or eight known species are all natives of the north temperate zone.