Wattle

//ˈwɒtl̩// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A construction of branches and twigs woven together to form a wall, barrier, fence, or roof. countable, uncountable

    "And there the heathen Prince, Arviragus, / Gave him an isle of marsh whereon to build; / And there he built with wattles from the marsh / A little lonely church in days of yore, […]"

  2. 2
    framework consisting of stakes interwoven with branches to form a fence wordnet
  3. 3
    A single twig or rod laid on a roof to support the thatch. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    a fleshy wrinkled and often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of certain birds (chickens and turkeys) or lizards wordnet
  5. 5
    A wrinkled fold of skin, sometimes brightly coloured, hanging from the neck of birds (such as chicken and turkey) and some lizards. countable, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    any of various Australasian trees yielding slender poles suitable for wattle wordnet
  2. 7
    A barbel of a fish. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    A decorative fleshy appendage on the neck of a goat. countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    Loose hanging skin in the neck of a person. countable, uncountable

    "The buttons below his waddle open to reveal a ruddy V, tidemark of the sun."

  5. 10
    Any of several Australian trees and shrubs of the genus Acacia, or their bark, used in tanning, seen as a national emblem of Australia. countable, uncountable

    "The tents and sheets are made of the best Canadian duck, tanned for the purpose of preservation with a strong extract of iron-bark and wattle-bark."

Verb
  1. 1
    To construct a wattle, or make a construction of wattles. transitive
  2. 2
    interlace to form wattle wordnet
  3. 3
    To bind with wattles or twigs. transitive
  4. 4
    build of or with wattle wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English wattel, watel, from Old English watel, watul (“hurdle”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wey- (“to turn, wind, bend”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English wattel, watel, from Old English watel, watul (“hurdle”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wey- (“to turn, wind, bend”).

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