1. A cloth or wrapper worn about the waist; by extension, such a garment worn about the hips and passing
between the thighs.
2. (Naut.) A covering of canvas or tarpaulin for the hammocks, stowed on the nettings, between the
quarterdeck and the forecastle.
Waistcoat
(Waist"coat) n. (a) A short, sleeveless coat or garment for men, worn under the coat, extending
no lower than the hips, and covering the waist; a vest. (b) A garment occasionally worn by women as a
part of fashionable costume.
The waistcoat was a part of female attire as well as male . . . It was only when the waistcoat was
worn without a gown or upper dress that it was considered the mark of a mad or profligate woman.
Nares.
Syn. — See Vest.
Waistcoateer
(Waist`coat*eer") n. One wearing a waistcoat; esp., a woman wearing one uncovered, or
thought fit for such a habit; hence, a loose woman; strumpet. [Obs.]
Do you think you are here, sir,
Amongst your waistcoateers, your base wenches?
Beau. & Fl. Waistcoating
(Waist"coat*ing), n. A fabric designed for waistcoats; esp., one in which there is a pattern,
differently colored yarns being used.
Waister
(Waist"er) n. (Naut.) A seaman, usually a green hand or a broken-down man, stationed in the
waist of a vessel of war. R. H. Dana, Jr.
Wait
(Wait) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Waited; p. pr. & vb. n. Waiting.] [OE. waiten, OF. waitier, gaitier, to
watch, attend, F. guetter to watch, to wait for, fr. OHG. wahta a guard, watch, G. wacht, from OHG.
wahhen to watch, be awake. &radic134. See Wake, v. i.]
1. To watch; to observe; to take notice. [Obs.]
"But [unless] ye wait well and be privy,
I wot right well, I am but dead," quoth she.
Chaucer. 2. To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary till the arrival of some person or event; to
rest in patience; to stay; not to depart.
All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Job xiv. 14.
They also serve who only stand and wait.
Milton.
Haste, my dear father; 't is no time to wait.
Dryden.
To wait on or upon. (a) To attend, as a servant; to perform services for; as, to wait on a gentleman;
to wait on the table. "Authority and reason on her wait." Milton. "I must wait on myself, must I?" Shak.
(b) To attend; to go to see; to visit on business or for ceremony. (c) To follow, as a consequence; to await.
"That ruin that waits on such a supine temper." Dr. H. More. (d) To look watchfully at; to follow with
the eye; to watch. [R.] "It is a point of cunning to wait upon him with whom you speak with your eye."
Bacon. (e) To attend to; to perform. "Aaron and his sons . . . shall wait on their priest's office." Num.
iii. 10. (f) (Falconry) To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung; — said of a hawk. Encyc.
Brit.
Wait
(Wait) v. t.
