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An American Dictionary of the English Language

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

  1. Wōold, v. t.p. 1524(Naut.) To wind; especially, to wind a rope round, as a mast or yard, when made of two or more pieces, at the place where they have been fished or scarfed, for confining and supporting them.
  2. Wōōld'er, n.p. 1524(Naut.) A stick used in woolding. 2. (Rope-making.) One of the handles of the top formed by a wooden pin passing through it. See Top. Tomlinson.
  3. Woold'ing, n.p. 1524(Naut.) (a.) The act of winding, as a rope round a mast. (b.) A rope used for binding masts and spars.
  4. Wool'-driv'er, n.p. 1524One who buys wool and carries it to market.
  5. Wōōl'-dyēd, a.p. 1524Dyed in the form of yarn before making up into cloth, in distinction from piece-dyed. Simmonds.
  6. Wōoled, a.p. 1524Having wool;—used chiefly in composition: as, a fine-wooled sheep.
  7. Wōōl'en, a.p. 1524Made of wool; consisting of wool; as, woolen cloth. 2. Pertaining to wool; as, woolen manufactures.
  8. Wōōl'en, n.p. 1524Cloth made of wool; woolen goods.
  9. Wōōl'en-drā/per, n.p. 1524One who deals in woolen goods.
  10. Wool'en-ēt, n.p. 1524A thin, light, textile fabric of wool.
  11. Wool'en-scrib'bler, n. pl.p. 1524A machine for combing or preparing wool in thin, downy, translucent layers. [Written also woollen-scribbler.] Simmonds.
  12. Wool'fell, n.p. 1524A skin with the wool; a skin from which the wool has not been sheared or pulled.
  13. Wool'-gath'er-ing, a.p. 1524Indulging in a vagrant or idle exercise of the imagination; roaming upon a fruitless quest; idly fanciful. [Rare.]
  14. Wool'-găth'er-ing, n.p. 1524Indulgence in idle exercise of the imagination; a foolish or useless pursuit or design; vagary. The apostle wished us to hope; but does not send us a wool-gathering after vain hope. Alison.
  15. Wŏŏl'-grōw'er, n.p. 1524A person who raises sheep for the production of wool.
  16. Wool'-grōw'ing, a.p. 1524Producing sheep and wool.
  17. Wool'-hall, n.p. 1524A trade-market in the woolen districts. Simmonds.
  18. Wool'li-ness, n.p. 1524The state or quality of being woolly.
  19. Wool'ly, a.p. 1524Consisting of wool; as, a woolly covering; a woolly fleece. 2. Resembling wool; of the nature of wool. “My fleece of woolly hair.” Shak. 3. Clothed with wool. “Woolly breeders.” Shak. 4. (Bot.)…
  20. Wool'ly-hĕad, n.p. 1524A negro. [Colloq. and vulgar.]
  21. Wool'man, n.p. 1524One who deals in wool.
  22. Wool'-päck, n.p. 1524A pack or bag of wool weighing two hundred and forty pounds. Simmonds. 2. Any thing bulky without weight.
  23. Wool'-săck, n.p. 1524A sack or bag of wool; specifically, the seat of the lord chancellor of England in the House of Lords, being a large, square bag of wool, without back or arms, covered with red cloth.
  24. Wool'-scrib'bler, n.p. 1524See WOOLEN-SCRIBBLER.
  25. Wool'sey, n.p. 1524See LINSEY-WOOLSEY.
  26. Wōol'-stā'ple, n.p. 1524A city or town where wool used to be brought to the king's staple for sale.
  27. Wool'-stā'pler, n.p. 1524One who deals in wool. 2. One who sorts wool according to its adaptation to different manufacturing purposes. Simmonds.
  28. Wool'-stōck, n.p. 1524A heavy wooden hammer for milling cloth. Simmonds.
  29. Wool'ward, adv.p. 1524In wool. [Obs.] To go woolward, to wear woolen next the skin. I go woolward for penance. Shak.
  30. Wōol'ward-gō'ing, n.p. 1524A wearing of woolen clothes next the skin as a matter of penance. [Obs.] “Their watching, fasting, woolward-going, and rising at midnight.” Tyndale.
  31. Wool'-wind'er, n.p. 1524A person employed to wind or make up wool into bundles to be packed for sale.
  32. Wōop, n.p. 1524(Ornith.) A certain bird.
  33. Woor'a-li, n.p. 1524See WOURALI.
  34. Wēos, n.p. 1524(Bot.) A certain plant; a kind of sea-weed.
  35. Wōo'zy, a.p. 1524Oozy; wet. [Obs.] Drayton.
  36. Wōōtz, n.p. 1524Indian steel; a species of steel imported from the East Indies, valued as the material of edge-tools. It has in combination a minute portion of alumina and silica.
  37. Word, n.p. 1524The spoken sign of a conception or idea: an articulate or vocal sound, or a combination of articulate and vocal sounds, uttered by the human voice, and by custom expressing an idea or ideas; a single…
  38. Word, v. i.p. 1524To use words in discussion; to dispute. [Rare.] L'Estrange.
  39. Word, v. t.p. 1524To express in words. The apology for the king is the same, but worded with greater deference to that great prince. Addison. 2. To ply with words; to meet with talk instead of action. Thou word'st me…
  40. Word'-bŏŏk, n.p. 1524A collection of words; a vocabulary; a dictionary; a lexicon.
  41. Word'-cătch'er, n.p. 1524One who cavils at words. 2. One who busies himself in collecting words with their significations.
  42. Word'er, n.p. 1524A speaker. [Obs.]
  43. Word'i-ly, adv.p. 1524In a verbose or wordy manner.
  44. Word'i-ness, n.p. 1524The state or quality of being wordy, or abounding with words. Jeffrey.
  45. Word'ing, n.p. 1524The act or manner of expressing in words; style of expression. It is believed the wording was above his known style and orthography. Milton.
  46. Word'ish, a.p. 1524Respecting words; full of words; wordy. [Obs.] Sidney.
  47. Word'ish-ness, n.p. 1524The quality of being wordish or wordy; wordiness; verbosity; manner of wording. [Obs.] The truth they hide by their dark wordishness. Digby.
  48. Word'less, a.p. 1524Not using words; not speaking; silent. Shak.
  49. Word'-pāint'ing, n.p. 1524The act of describing an object fully and vividly by words only, so as to present it clearly to the mind, as if in a picture.
  50. Word'-pic'ture, n.p. 1524An accurate and vivid description, which presents an object clearly to the mind, as if in a picture.
  51. Words’man, n.p. 1525One who deals in words, or in mere words; a verbalist. [Rare.] “Some speculative wordsman.” Bushnell.
  52. Word'y, a.p. 1525Using many words; verbose; as, a wordy speaker; a wordy orator. “A wordy and insolent braggart.” Shak. 2. Containing many words; full of words. We need not lavish hours in wordy periods. Philips.
  53. Wōre, imp.p. 1525of wear; (b.) imp. of ware. See WEAR and WARE.
  54. Work, v. i.p. 1525To exert one's self for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to labor; to operate; to be engaged in the performance of a task, a duty, or the like. Go therefore now, and…
  55. Work, v. t.p. 1525To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or utilize by labor; as, to work mortar. He could have told them of two or three gold mines, and a silver mine, and given…
  56. Work, n.p. 1525Exertion of strength; effort directed to an end; toil; labor; employment; particularly in man, manual labor. Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed. Milton. 2. The matter on which one is…
  57. Work'a-ble, a.p. 1525Capable of being worked, as a metal. 2. Capable of being worked, or worth working; as, a work'able mine.
  58. Work'-băg, n.p. 1525A bag for holding instruments or materials for work; especially, a bag for holding needle-work, and the like.
  59. Work'-bŏx, n.p. 1525A box for holding instruments or materials for work.
  60. Work'-dāy, n. & a.p. 1525The same as WORKING-DAY, q. v.