withe
Meaning
-
- A flexible, slender shoot or twig, especially when used as a band or for binding; a withy.
- A band of twisted twigs.
- An elastic handle to a tool to save the hand from the shock of blows.
- An iron attachment on one end of a mast or boom, with a ring, through which another mast or boom is rigged out and secured.
- Alternative spelling of wythe (“single section of bricks one unit thick”)
- Alternative spelling of wythe (“partition between flues in a chimney”)
Pronounced as (IPA)
/wɪθ/
Etymology
From Middle English withe, withthe, from Old English wiþe, wiþþe (“cord, band, thong, fetter”), from Proto-Germanic *wiþiz, *wiþjǭ (“cord, rope”), from Proto-Indo-European *wéh₁itis (“that which twines”), from *weyt- (“that which winds or bends, branch, switch”), from Proto-Indo-European *wey- (“to turn, wind, bend”). Cognate with Danish vidje (“wicker”), Swedish vidja (“withe, wicker, osier”), Icelandic við, viðja (“a withe”), Latin vītis (“vine”), Russian ветвь (vetvʹ, “branch, bough, limb”). Doublet of vice (“a type of tool, etc.”). The brickwork and chimney architecture senses may have a different etymology, see wythe.
Bookmark this
Improve your pronunciation
Start learning English with learnfeliz.
Practice speaking and memorizing "withe" and many other words and sentences in English.
Go to our English course page
Notes
Sign in to write sticky notes
Questions