wand

Meaning

Noun

1. A hand-held narrow rod, usually used for pointing or instructing, or as a traditional emblem of authority.
2. An instrument shaped like a wand, such as a curling wand.
3. A stick or rod used by a magician (a magic wand), conjurer or diviner (divining rod).
4. A stick, branch, or stalk, especially of willow.
5. A card of a particular suit of the minor arcana in tarot, the wands.

Verb

1. To scan (e.g. a passenger at an airport) with a handheld metal detector.
2. To use a handheld vibrator (the sex toy) on (a person or body part).

Concepts

wand

baton

rod

staff

stick

scepter

cane

sceptre

switch

mace

pole

verge

truncheon

twig

supple stick

ferule

birch

sprig

bow

long handle

crozier

bandy

bar

crook

drub

ingot

perch

shaft

walking stick

mahlstick

conductor’s baton

yard

Pronounced as (IPA)

/wɒnd/

Etymology

From Middle English wand, wond, from Old Norse vǫndr (“switch, twig”), from Proto-Germanic *wanduz (“rod”), from Proto-Indo-European *wendʰ- (“to turn, twist, wind, braid”). Cognate with Icelandic vendi (“wand”), Danish vånd (“wand, switch”), German Wand (“wall, septum”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 (wandus, “rod”).

Sentences

The S . W . A . T . entry team used an optical wand to observe the proceedings behind the door .