W to Wading
W
(W) the twenty-third letter of the English alphabet, is usually a consonant, but sometimes it is a vowel,
forming the second element of certain diphthongs, as in few, how. It takes its written form and its name
from the repetition of a V, this being the original form of the Roman capital letter which we call U. Etymologically
it is most related to v and u. See V, and U. Some of the uneducated classes in England, especially
in London, confuse w and v, substituting the one for the other, as weal for veal, and veal for weal;
wine for vine, and vine for wine, etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 266-268.
Waag
(Waag) n. (Zoöl.) The grivet.
Waahoo
(Waa*hoo") n. (Bot.) The burning bush; — said to be called after a quack medicine made
from it.
Wabble
(Wab"ble) v. i. [Cf. Prov. G. wabbeln to wabble, and E. whap. Cf. Quaver.] To move staggeringly
or unsteadily from one side to the other; to vacillate; to move the manner of a rotating disk when the axis
of rotation is inclined to that of the disk; — said of a turning or whirling body; as, a top wabbles; a buzz
saw wabbles.
Wabble
(Wab"ble), n. A hobbling, unequal motion, as of a wheel unevenly hung; a staggering to and fro.
Wabbly
(Wab"bly) a. Inclined to wabble; wabbling.
Wacke
(Wack"e Wack"y) n. [G. wacke, MHG. wacke a large stone, OHG. waggo a pebble.] (Geol.)
A soft, earthy, dark-colored rock or clay derived from the alteration of basalt.
Wad
(Wad) n. [See Woad.] Woad. [Obs.]
Wad
(Wad), n. [Probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. vadd wadding, Dan vat, D. & G. watte. Cf. Wadmol.]
1. A little mass, tuft, or bundle, as of hay or tow. Holland.
2. Specifically: A little mass of some soft or flexible material, such as hay, straw, tow, paper, or old rope
yarn, used for retaining a charge of powder in a gun, or for keeping the powder and shot close; also, to
diminish or avoid the effects of windage. Also, by extension, a dusk of felt, pasteboard, etc., serving a
similar purpose.
3. A soft mass, especially of some loose, fibrous substance, used for various purposes, as for stopping
an aperture, padding a garment, etc.
Wed hook, a rod with a screw or hook at the end, used for removing the wad from a gun.
Wad
(Wad), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Waded; p. pr. & vb. n. Wadding.]
1. To form into a mass, or wad, or into wadding; as, to wad tow or cotton.
2. To insert or crowd a wad into; as, to wad a gun; also, to stuff or line with some soft substance, or
wadding, like cotton; as, to wad a cloak.
Wad
(Wad, Wadd), n. (Min.) (a) An earthy oxide of manganese, or mixture of different oxides and
water, with some oxide of iron, and often silica, alumina, lime, or baryta; black ocher. There are several
varieties. (b) Plumbago, or black lead.
Wadding
(Wad"ding) n. [See Wad a little mass.]
1. A wad, or the materials for wads; any pliable substance of which wads may be made.
