|
2. One who searches fro, or works upon, the wrecks of vessels, etc. Specifically: (a) One who visits a
wreck for the purpose of plunder. (b) One who is employed in saving property or lives from a wrecked
vessel, or in saving the vessel; as, the wreckers of Key West.
3. A vessel employed by wreckers.
Wreckfish
(Wreck"fish`) n. [So called because it often comes in with wreckage.] (Zoöl.) A stone bass.
Wreckful
(Wreck"ful) a. Causing wreck; involving ruin; destructive. "By wreckful wind." Spenser.
Wrecking
(Wreck"ing), a. & n. from Wreck, v.
Wrecking car (Railway), a car fitted up with apparatus and implements for removing the wreck occasioned
by an accident, as by a collision. — Wrecking pump, a pump especially adapted for pumping water
from the hull of a wrecked vessel.
Wreck-master
(Wreck"-mas`ter) n. A person appointed by law to take charge of goods, etc., thrown on
shore after a shipwreck.
Wreke
(Wreke Wreeke), v. t. See 2d Wreak. [Obs.]
Wren
(Wren) n. [OE. wrenne, AS. wrenna, wrænna, perhaps akin to wr&aemacrne lascivious.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small singing birds belonging to Troglodytes and numerous
allied of the family Troglodytidæ.
Among the species best known are the house wren (Troglodytes aëdon) common in both Europe and
America, and the American winter wren See also Cactus wren, Marsh wren, and Rock wren, under
Cactus, Marsh, and Rock.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small singing birds more or less resembling the true wrens in
size and habits.
Among these are several species of European warblers; as, the reed wren (see Reed warbler (a), under
Reed), the sedge wren the willow wren the golden-crested wren, and the ruby-crowned wren
Ant wren, any one of numerous South American birds of the family Formicaridæ, allied to the ant thrushes.
— Blue wren, a small Australian singing bird the male of which in the breeding season is bright blue.
Called also superb warbler. — Emu wren. See in the Vocabulary. — Wren babbler, any one of
numerous species of small timaline birds belonging to Alcippe, Stachyris, Timalia, and several allied
genera. These birds are common in Southern Asia and the East Indies. — Wren tit. See Ground
wren, under Ground. — Wren warbler, any one of several species of small Asiatic and African singing
birds belonging to Prinia and allied genera. These birds are closely allied to the tailor birds, and build
their nests in a similar manner. See also Pincpinc.
Wrench
(Wrench) n. [OE. wrench deceit, AS. wrenc deceit, a twisting; akin to G. rank intrigue, crookedness,
renken to bend, twist, and E. wring. &radic144. See Wring, and cf. Ranch, v. t.]
1. Trick; deceit; fraud; stratagem. [Obs.]
His wily wrenches thou ne mayst not flee. Chaucer.
|
