| wig | A kind of raised seedcake. "Wiggs and ale." Origin: Cf. D. Wegge a sort of bread, G. Weck, orig, a wedge-shaped loaf or cake. See Wedge. 1. A covering for the head, consisting of hair interwoven or united by a kind of network, either in imitation of the natural growth, or in abundant and flowing curls, worn to supply a deficiency of natural hair, or for ornament, or according to traditional usage, as a part of an official or professional dress, the latter especially in England by judges and barristers. 2. An old seal; so called by fishermen. Wig tree. <botany> See Smoke tree, under Smoke. Origin: Abbreviation from periwig. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| Wigand manoeuvre | An assisted breech delivery with pressure above the symphysis while the foetus lies astraddle the operator's other arm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Wigand, J Heinrich | <person> German obstetrician and gynecologist, 1766-1817. See: Wigand manoeuvre. (05 Mar 2000) |
| wigeon | <zoology> A widgeon. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| wiggler | <zoology> The young, either larva or pupa, of the mosquito. Synonym: wiggletail. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| wight | 1. A whit; a bit; a jot. "She was fallen asleep a little wight." (Chaucer) 2. A supernatural being. 3. A human being; a person, either male or female; now used chiefly in irony or burlesque, or in humorous language. "Worst of all wightes." "Every wight that hath discretion." (Chaucer) "Oh, say me true if thou wert mortal wight." (Milton) Origin: OE. Wight, wiht, a wight, a whit, AS. Wiht, wuht, a creature, a thing; skin to D. Wicht a child, OS. & OHG. Wiht a creature, thing, G. Wicht a creature, Icel. Vaett a wight, vaett a whit, Goth. Waihts, waiht, thing; cf. Russ. Veshche a thing. Cf. Whit. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| wigwam | An Indian cabin or hut, usually of a conical form, and made of a framework of poles covered with hides, bark, or mats; called also tepee. [Sometimes written also weekwam] "Very spacious was the wigwam, Made of deerskin dressed and whitened, With the gods of the Dacotahs Drawn and painted on its curtains." (Longfellow) "The wigwam, or Indian house, of a circular or oval shape, was made of bark or mats laid over a framework of branches of trees stuck in the ground in such a manner as to converge at the top, where was a central aperture for the escape of smoke from the fire beneath. The better sort had also a lining of mats. For entrance and egress, two low openings were left on opposite sides, one or the other of which was closed with bark or mats, according to the direction of the wind." Origin: From the Algonquin or Massachusetts Indian word wek, "his house," or "dwelling place;" with possessive and locative affixes, we-kou-om-ut, "in his (or their) house," contracted by the English to weekwam, and wigwam. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |