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W . the twenty-third letter of the English alphabet, is usually a consonant, but sometimes it is a vowel, forming the second element of certain diphthongs, as in few, how. It takes its written form and its name from the repetition of a V, this being the original form of the Roman capital letter which we call U. Etymologically it is most related to v and u. See V, and U. Some of the uneducated classes in England, especially in London, confuse w and v, substituting the one for the other, as weal for veal, and veal for weal; wine for vine, and vine for wine, etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, // 266-268.
Wa'n't . A colloquial contraction of was not.
Waag n. The grivet.
Waahoo n. The burning bush; -- said to be called after a quack medicine made from it.
Wabble v. i. To move staggeringly or unsteadily from one side to the other; to vacillate; to move the manner of a rotating disk when the axis of rotation is inclined to that of the disk; -- said of a turning or whirling body; as, a top wabbles; a buzz saw wabbles.
Wabble n. A hobbling, unequal motion, as of a wheel unevenly hung; a staggering to and fro.
Wabbly a. Inclined to wabble; wabbling.
Wacke n. Alt. of Wacky
Wacky n. A soft, earthy, dark-colored rock or clay derived from the alteration of basalt.
Wad n. Woad.
Wad n. A little mass, tuft, or bundle, as of hay or tow.
Wad n. Specifically: A little mass of some soft or flexible material, such as hay, straw, tow, paper, or old rope yarn, used for retaining a charge of powder in a gun, or for keeping the powder and shot close; also, to diminish or avoid the effects of windage. Also, by extension, a dusk of felt, pasteboard, etc., serving a similar purpose.
Wad n. A soft mass, especially of some loose, fibrous substance, used for various purposes, as for stopping an aperture, padding a garment, etc.
Wad v. t. To form into a mass, or wad, or into wadding; as, to wad tow or cotton.
Wad v. t. To insert or crowd a wad into; as, to wad a gun; also, to stuff or line with some soft substance, or wadding, like cotton; as, to wad a cloak.
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