| Wagstaffe's fracture | Fracture, with displacement, of the medial malleolus. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| wagtail | <ornithology> Any one of many species of Old World singing birds belonging to Motacilla and several allied genera of the family Motacillidae. They have the habit of constantly jerking their long tails up and down, whence the name. Field wagtail, any one of several species of wagtails of the genus Budytes having the tail shorter, the legs longer, and the hind claw longer and straighter, than do the water wagtails. most of the species are yellow beneath. Called also yellow wagtail. Garden wagtail, the Indian black-breasted wagtail (Nemoricola Indica). Pied wagtail, the common European water wagtail (Motacilla lugubris). It is variegated with black and white. The name is applied also to other allied species having similar colours. Called also pied dishwasher. Wagtail flycatcher, a true flycatcher (Sauloprocta motacilloides) common in Southern Australia, where it is very tame, and frequents stock yards and gardens and often builds its nest about houses; called also black fantail. Water wagtail. Any one of several species of wagtails of the restricted genus Motacilla. They live chiefly on the shores of ponds and streams. The American water thrush. See Water thrush. Wood wagtail, an Asiatic wagtail; (Calobates sulphurea) having a slender bill and short legs. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| wah | <zoology> The panda. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| waikavirus | A genus of plant viruses in the family sequiviridae. Transmission is mostly by leafhoppers and depends on a self-encoded helper protein. The type species is rice tungro spherical virus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| waileress | A woman who wails. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| wain | 1. A four-wheeled vehicle for the transportation of goods, produce, etc.; a wagon. "The wardens see nothing but a wain of hay." (Jeffrey) "Driving in ponderous wains their household goods to the seashore." (Longfellow) 2. A chariot. The Wain. <astronomy> See Charles's Wain, in the Vocabulary. Wain rope, a cart rope. Origin: OE. Wain, AS. Waegn; akin to D. & G. Wagen, OHG. Wagan, Icel. & Sw. Vagn, Dan. Vogn, and E. Way. See Way, Weigh, and cf. Wagon. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| wainscot | 1. Oaken timber or boarding. "A wedge wainscot is fittest and most proper for cleaving of an oaken tree." (Urquhart) "Inclosed in a chest of wainscot." (J. Dart) 2. A wooden lining or boarding of the walls of apartments, usually made in panels. 3. <zoology> Any one of numerous species of European moths of the family Leucanidae. They are reddish or yellowish, streaked or lined with black and white. Their larvae feed on grasses and sedges. Origin: OD. Waeghe-schot, D. Wagen-schot, a clapboard, fr. OD. Waeg, weeg, a wall (akin to AS. Wah; cf. Icel. Veggr) + schot a covering of boards (akin to E. Shot, shoot). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| waist | The portion of the trunk between the ribs and the pelvis. Origin: A.S. Waext Waist of the heart, an obsolete term for the middle segment of the cardiac silhouette, on the chest X-ray, containing the pulmonary salient. (05 Mar 2000) |
| waistcoat | A short, sleeveless coat or garment for men, worn under the coat, extending no lower than the hips, and covering the waist; a vest. 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. Synonym: See Vest. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| waistcoateer | One wearing a waistcoat; especially, a woman wearing one uncovered, or thought fit for such a habit; hence, a loose woman; strumpet. "Do you think you are here, sir, Amongst your waistcoateers, your base wenches?" (Beau. & Fl) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| wait | 1. To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders. "Awed with these words, in camps they still abide, And wait with longing looks their promised guide." (Dryden) 2. To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany; to await. 3. To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect. "He chose a thousand horse, the flower of all His warlike troops, to wait the funeral." (Dryden) "Remorse and heaviness of heart shall wait thee, And everlasting anguish be thy portion." (Rowe) 4. To cause to wait; to defer; to postpone; said of a meal; as, to wait dinner. 1. To watch; to observe; to take notice. ""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. 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." . "I must wait on myself, must I?" . To attend; to go to see; to visit on business or for ceremony. To follow, as a consequence; to await. "That ruin that waits on such a supine temper." . To look watchfully at; to follow with the eye; to watch. "It is a point of cunning to wait upon him with whom you speak with your eye." . To attend to; to perform. "Aaron and his sons . . . Shallwait on their priest's office." . <veterinary> To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung; said of a hawk. Origin: 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. 134. See Wake. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| waiter's cramp | An occupational dystonia characterised by spasm of the muscles of the back and dominant arm in persons who wait tables. (05 Mar 2000) |
| waiting | From Wait, In waiting, in attendance; as, lords in waiting. Waiting gentlewoman, a woman who waits upon a person of rank. Waiting maid, Waiting woman, a maid or woman who waits upon another as a personal servant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| waiting lists | Prospective patient listings for appointments. (12 Dec 1998) |
| waitress | A female waiter or attendant; a waiting maid or waiting woman. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |