Dictionary: AWI – AZZ

► AWIDE adv.  wide, widely → 1610 obs.
► AWILD-EN vb. to become wild or unruly → 1225 obs.
► A-WILL adv. at one’s will; of one’s own accord → 1275 obs.
► AWIN vb. 1. to labour → 950 obs.
vb. 2. to overcome, to conquer; to win, to gain, to obtain → 1000 obs.
► A-WING adv. on the wing; fluttering → 1827
► A-WINK adv. winking → 1883
► A-WIPER n. one who curries favour; a toady → 1968 Amer. dial.
► AWIS adv. certainly → 1790 Sc.
► AWIT vb. 1. to perceive, to know → 1200 obs.
vb. 2. to watch over, to command a troop → 1250 obs.
► AWITTINS adv. unwittingly → 1903 Sc.
► AWK adj. 1. directed the other way or in the wrong direction, back-handed, from the left hand → 1440 obs.
adj. 2. of persons or things: awkward, untoward, perverse → 1440 obs.
adj. 3. odd, strange → 1440 obs.
adj. 4. untoward to deal with, awkward to use, clumsy → 1593 obs.
n. 1. backhandedness, untowardness, awkwardness → 1644 obs.
n. 2. a stupid, clumsy person → 1811 Eng. dial.
► AWKA VEETY n. aqua vitae, whisky → 1829 Sc.
► AWKLY adj. untoward, perverse → 1400 obs.
adv. 1. in the wrong direction, backhanded or left-handed wise; hence, sinisterly, unluckily → 1440 obs.
adv. 2. perversely, untowardly → 1440 obs.
adv. 3. inauspiciously → 1565 obs.
adv. 4. in ungainly fashion, clumsily, awkwardly → 1603 obs.
► AWKNESS n. wrongness, irrationality, perversity, untowardness, awkwardness, ineptitude → 1587 obs.
► AWKWARD adj. 1. froward, untoward, perverse, in conduct → 1530 obs.
adj. 2. backward; back-handed → 1866 Eng. dial.
adj. 3. of persons or animals: perverse, obstinate, difficult to manage, bad-tempered → 1883 Eng. dial.
adj. 4. of the weather: uncertain → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
adj. 5. of things: perverse, unfavourable → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
adj. 6. pregnant → L19 sl.
► THE AWKWARD AGE n. the time of life when one is no longer a child and yet not properly grown up → 1895
► AWKWARD AS A CAT IN PATTENS adj. very awkward, clumsy, making a great noise → 1903 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AWKWARD AS A CHOW ON A BIKE adj. extremely clumsy, uncoordinated → 1920 Aust. sl.
► AWKWARD AS DICK’S HATBAND adj. very awkward → 1868 Eng. dial.
► AWKWARD AS JOB’S OFF-OX adj. very awkward or clumsy → 1966 Amer. dial.
► AWKWARDISH adj. rather awkward → 1603 colloq.
► AWKWARDLY adj. awkward, troublesome, clumsy → 1703 Eng. dial.
adv. wrongly, perversely → 1540 obs.
► AWKWARDNESS n. untowardness, perversity; perverseness, obstinacy, impracticability → 1674 obs.
► AWKWARDS n. perverseness, obstinacy, impracticability → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AWKWARD SQUAD n. 1. collectively, people who do not, or will not, conform; a notional grouping of people who are ‘difficult’; a set of people who tend to behave in an obstructive way or who express opposition or dissent → 1796 Brit.
n. 2. army recruits drilling → 1890 Eng. sl.
n. 3. where backward rookies receive elementary instruction → 1944 services’ sl. (Bk.)
► AWKY adj. untoward, difficult, awkward → 1655 obs.
► AWL n. the penis → 17C sl.
► AWLATED adj. disgusted → 1297 Sc.
► AWL-BIRD n. the green woodpecker, Gecinus viridis → 1763 Eng. dial.
► AWLENCH vb. to make splendid, to adorn → 1200 obs.
► AWLY adj. awful, dreadful, terrible → 1200 obs.
adv. awfully, terribly, dreadfully → 1225 obs.
► AWM vb. 1. to waste time, to be idle; to move about aimlessly, to loiter, to lounge; to stand gaping and staring; to do work in a slovenly manner → 1878 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to set about a thing, to begin, to move, to attempt → 1902 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AWMAN n. a thrashing, a sound beating, chastisement → 1866 Sc.
► AWMRIE n. a fool, a simpleton → 1897 Sc.
► AWMUS adj. pitiable, sad, wretched → 1802 Sc.
► AWN n. a yawn → 1950 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. to put before a person’s eyes; to show, to manifest; to appear → 1175 obs.
vb. 2. to yawn → 1950 Amer. dial.
► AWNED adj. fated, destined, ordained → 1747 Eng. dial.
► AWNING OVER THE TOY SHOP n. a male beer belly → 1990 Aust. sl.
► AW NUTS! int. an exclamation of disgust → 1934 students’ sl.
► A-WOBBLE adv. wobbling → 1881
► AWOL adj. 1. absent without leave; missing → 1920 sl., orig. US
adj. 2. ‘after women or liquor’ → 1944 US military sl.
n. 1. a deserter → 1918 US sl.
n. 2. ‘ a wolf on the loose’ → 1942 US military sl.
► AWOL BAG n. in the Korea and Vietnam wars: an overnight bag → 1956 US sl.
► A.W.O. LOOSE n. absence without leave → 1920 US sl.
► AWOMEN CORNER n. a humorous creation to match the ‘amen corner’ in the church; men and women, except courting couples, sat on opposite sides of the church → 1960 Amer. dial.
► AWONDER vb. to astonish, surprise, marvel; to be astonished or amazed; to cause to wonder → 1230 obs.
► AWONDERED adj. astonished, astounded, amazed → 1154 obs.
► A WORD n. AIDS → 1980 US homosexual sl.
► AWORRY vb. to strangle; to worry → 885 obs.
► AWORTH vb. 1. to vanish, to perish; to escape notice → 1000 obs.
vb. 2. to become, to turn to → 1275 obs.
► AWORTHY vb. to give honour or dignity to; to dignify, to adorn → 1275 obs.
► AWOUS adj. awe-inspiring → 1675 obs.
► AWOW! int. an exclamation of sorrow; alas! → 1768 Sc.
► AWPING adj. clumsy, awkward → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AWPISH adj. clumsy, awkward → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AWPS n. 1. a stupid, clumsy, gawky person → 1790 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a wayward, mischievous child → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AW-PUCK n. the will-o’-the-wisp → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AWRACK adv. wrecked, ruined → 1627
► AWRAP vb. to wrap → 1609 obs.
► AWRATH vb. to make angry, to enrage → 1250 obs.
► AWREAK vb. 1. to avenge → 1048 obs.
vb. 2. to condemn, to blame, to find fault with → 1275 obs.
vb. 3. to sentence to punishment, to condemn a person → 1300 obs.
► AWREAKING n. revenge → 1340 obs.
► A-WRECK adv. in a wrecked condition → 1878
► AWREIGHT adj. wrenched away → 1275 obs.
► AWRIGHT! int. that’s good! I feel great! → 1960 sl.
► AWRITE vb. to write → 885 obs.
► AWRONG adv. wrongly, in a wrong way → 1430
► AWROTH vb. to make angry, to enrage → 1250 obs.
► AWRY-EYED adj. having bleary or wild-looking eyes, esp. as a result of drunkenness; drunk; enraged, angry → 1919 Amer. dial.
► AWSE adj. awesome, wonderful, perfect → 1989 Amer. sl.
vb. to attempt → 1886 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AW SHUCKS adj. of a person’s manner, behaviour, etc.: genially self-deprecating, shy, or abashed; bashful → 1932 colloq.
int. a mild exclamation expressing surprise, exasperation, genial self-deprecation, or gratified embarrassment → 1888 colloq.
► AWSOME adj. 1. awful, appalling, terrifying → 1817 Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 2. susceptible to fear, terrified → 1898 Eng. dial (Bk.)
► AWSOMELY adv. very much → 1901 Sc.
► AWTUS n. a dwarf; any diminutive thing → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► AWVISH adj. 1. silly, dull, stupid, clownish, mischievous → 1740 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. reluctant, undecided → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
adv. slightly unwell, out of sorts → 1790 Eng. dial.
► AWVISHLY adv. stupidly, queerly → 1746 Eng. dial.
► AWVISHNESS n. disagreeable behaviour, perversity → 1867 Eng. dial.
► AX n. 1. a finishing action, such as a dismissal from a position, defeat in a game, expulsion from school, rejection of a lover, etc. → 1883 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a straight razor or knife → 1896 Amer. sl.
n. 3. a question → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 4. the penis → 1915 Amer. sl.
n. 5. any sharp-edged weapon → 1950 US sl.
n. 6. a musical instrument, esp. an electric guitar; orig. used in jazz circles for any instrument, particularly a saxophone or trumpet, instruments on which ‘chops’ (musical figures) are played → 1955 US jazz sl.
n. 7. in a gambling operation: the house’s cut of the bets → 1974 US sl.
n. 8. the lip of a wave → 1991 US sl.
vb. 1. to ask → 1785 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to dismiss or discharge; to drop, to cancel, to reject → 1922 sl.
► AXABLE adj. of an age suitable for marriage → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AXE n. 1. a finishing action, such as a dismissal from a position, defeat in a game, expulsion from school, rejection of a lover, etc. → 1883 Amer. sl.
n. 2. straight razor or knife → 1896 Amer. sl.
n. 3. the penis → 1915 Amer. sl.
n. 4. any sharp-edged weapon → 1950 Amer. sl.
n. 5. a musical instrument, esp. an electric guitar; orig. used in jazz circles for any instrument, particularly a saxophone or trumpet, instruments on which ‘chops’ (musical figures) are played → 1955 US jazz sl.
n. 6. in a gambling operation: the house’s cut of the bets → 1974 US sl.
n. 7. the lip of a wave → 1991 US sl.
vb. 1. to dismiss or discharge; to drop, to cancel, to reject → 1922 sl.
vb. 2. to lessen expenditure → 1923 Eng. sl.
► THE AXE n. dismissal of an employee → 1923
► AXE GOD n. a popular electric-guitar player who inspires hero-worship with his musical technique → 1999 Brit. sl.
► AXE HANDLE n. an imprecise unit of measurement, esp. when applied to the breadth of a man’s shoulders or woman’s buttocks → 1947 US sl.
► AXE HANDLE PARTY n. a riot or brawl → 20C US sl.
► AXE HERO n. a popular electric-guitar player who inspires hero-worship with his musical technique → 1996 Brit. sl.
► AXE MAN n. 1. a warrior armed with a battle-axe → 1828
n. 2. one who carries or wields a knife → L19 sl., orig. African-American
n. 3. a barber → 1920 US prison sl.
n. 4. a person who decides when a company will discharge an employee → 1975 Trinidad and Tobago
n. 5. an electric guitarist; rarely, any musician → 1976 Brit. sl.
► AXE UP vb. to share → 1980 Aust. sl.
► AXE-WOUND n. the vagina → 2003 Brit. sl.
► AX-HANDLE n. orig. among loggers: a unit of measurement, esp. of width → 1843 Amer. dial.
► AX-HANDLE PARTY n. among loggers: a brawl → 1958 Amer. dial.
► AX-HANDLES n. diarrhoea → 1965 Amer. dial.
► AX-HOLDER n. a hand → 1885 Amer. sl.
► AXINOMANCY n. divination by means of an axe-head → 1601
► AXIOMANCY n. divination involving the use of an axe-head and a bed of red-hot coals → 2003 
► AXIOPISTICAL adj. trustworthy → 1611 obs.
► AXIOPISTY n. trustworthiness; worthiness of being believed → 1862
► AXIS n. the vagina → 19C sl.
► AXIS RAT n. a German submarine → 1945 World War II Amer. sl.
► AXIS SNAKE n. a German submarine → 1945 World War II Amer. sl.
► AXIS WATER-MOCCASIN n. a German submarine → 1945 World War II Amer. sl.
► AXLE n. 1. the shoulder → 1000 obs.
n. 2. the ass; the buttocks, rectum, and anus → 1934 Amer. euphemism
► AXLE GREASE n. 1. margarine or butter → 1883 Amer. sl., esp. military usage
n. 2. money, esp. that used for purposes of bribery → 1891 Amer. sl.
n. 3. semen → 20C sl.
n. 4. any particularly thick and sticky hair pomade → 1943 Aust. sl.
vb. to grease one’s hair down → 1968 Amer. dial.
► AXLE-HEAD n. the back portion of the jaw which contains the molars or ‘axle-teeth’ → 1881 Eng. dial.
► AXLE-TOOTH n. a molar tooth → 1483 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial.
► AXLE-TREE n. the pole of the heaven; the heaven, the sky → 1522 obs., poetic usage
► AXMAN n. 1. one who carries or wields a knife → L19 sl., orig. African-American
n. 2. a womanizer, a sexual athlete → 1910 sl.
n. 3. a barber → 1929 Amer. sl.
n. 4. a musician, esp. a guitarist → 1970 sl., orig. African-American
► AX-WADDLE n. one who collects and deals in ashes; hence, one who crouches over the fire, a dirty person → 1746 Eng. dial.
► AX-WADDLER n. one who collects and deals in ashes; hence, one who crouches over the fire, a dirty person → 1746 Eng. dial.
► AY adv. ever, always, continually; at all times → 1175 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial.
► AYAH n. a native-born nurse or maidservant, employed esp. by Europeans in India and other parts of South Asia → 1782
► AYATOLLAH n. a dogmatic leader; an influential or powerful person → 1979
► AY-DI-ME! int. an exclamation of regret or pity → 1898 Sc. (Bk.)
► AY-DURING adj. eternal, everlasting → 1580 obs.
► AYE adv. always, ever; continually → 1671 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► AYE AND LIKE adv. yes, certainly → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AYE-AYE POPEYE! int. an exclamation of agreement or compliance → 1990 UK sl.
► AYE-AYE SHEPHERD’S PIE! int.  an exclamation of agreement or compliance → 1990 UK sl.
► AYE, DOOGIE AYE! int. used for expressing disbelief in whatever you have just been told → 1988 Sc. sl.
► AYE, HAWKEYE! int. used for expressing disbelief in whatever you have just been told → 1988 Sc. sl.
► AYE, HOOCH-AYE! int. used for expressing disbelief in whatever you have just been told → 1988 Sc. sl.
► AYE, MARRY! int. a term of asseveration; indeed! truly! → 1833 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► AYEMER n. in television: a morning show → 2002 Can. sl.
► AYEN n. a year-old child → 1911 Sc.
► AYE, POPEYE! int. used for expressing disbelief in whatever you have just been told → 1988 Sc. sl.
► AYEST vb. to desire eagerly → 1916 Sc.
► AYET vb. 1. to pour out; to shed; to spill → 1000 obs.
vb. 2.  to douse; to souse or soak in liquid → 1000 obs.
► AYETE vb. 1.  to kill, to destroy → 1000 obs.
vb. 2.  to understand, to comprehend; to recognize, to perceive → 1000 obs.
► AYE, THAT EYE! int. used for expressing disbelief in whatever you have just been told → 1988 Sc. sl.
► AYIELD vb. to yield up → 1000 obs.
► ‘AY IS FOR ‘ORSES phr. used as a disdainful rejoinder when someone says ‘eh?’ → 1738 Brit.
► AY-LA! int. an exclamation of surprise or grief → 1898 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► AY LASTING adj. everlasting → 1340 obs.
► AYLE adv. all along, always → 1686 Eng. dial.
n. a grandfather → 1325 obs.
► AYLESBURY (DUCK) n. anything at all, nothing → 1990 euphemism, rhyming sl. for ‘fuck’
► AYLESBURY’ED adj. exhausted → 1990 rhyming sl. (Aylesbury ducked – fucked)
► AYNE adj. first-born, eldest → 1483 obs.
► AYNESS n. everlastingness; applied as a special term to the ‘second degree of eternity; possessed by angels and spirits → 1587 obs.
► AYO! int. used as a greeting → 1995 US sl.
► AYOND prep. beyond → 1724 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► AYONT adv. of place: farther, beyond → 1768 Sc. & Eng. dial.
prep. 1. of place: further than, on the other side of, beyond → 1792 Sc. & Eng. dial.
prep. 2. in excess of, beyond → 1843 Sc.
prep. 3. of time: after, later than → 1895 Sc.
► AYRAB n. an Arab → 1940 US sl., derogatory
► AYRABA n. 1. a street urchin → 20C sl.
n. 2. a huckster; a street peddler of vegetables and fruits → 1942 Amer. dial.
► AYRE n. a ridge of sand or gravel formed by the sea; a gravelly beach; also, a sandbank → 1539 chiefly Sc.
vb. 1. to march, to proceed, to make one’s way; to move about, as opposed to remain still → 1440 obs.
vb. 2. to plough → 1540 obs.
► AYROM n. an unpleasant upstir, display of temper, tantrums → 1850 Eng. dial.
► AYRTON (SENNA) n. £10, a £10 note → 1990 Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘tenner’
► AYSE n. ease → 1852 obs. (Bk.)
vb. to make at ease → 1852 obs. (Bk.)
► AYST vb. to desire eagerly → 1916 Sc.
► AYUH! int. yes → 1894 Amer. dial.
► AYVISH adj. 1. comical, queer → 1740 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. half-witted, silly; babyish, aping childishness → 1881 Eng. dial.
► AY-WHEN adv. at every time; always → 1485 obs.
► AYWHERE adv. everywhere → 1000 obs.
► AZAM adj. of a door: half open, ajar → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AZLE FANG n. a molar tooth → 1824 Sc.
► AZOON adv. presently → 1790 Eng. dial.
► AZOTE n. 1. a switch or whip; anything used as a whip → 1892 Amer. dial.
n. 2. calamity → 1934 Amer. dial.
► AZOTH n. the alchemists’ name for mercury, as the essential first principle of all metals → 1477
► AZTEC HOP n. diarrhoea suffered by visitors to Mexico → 1962 sl.
► AZTEC REVENGE n. diarrhoea suffered by visitors to Mexico → 1978 sl.
► AZTEC STATE n. Arizona → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► AZTEC TWO-STEP n. diarrhoea suffered by visitors to Mexico → 1970 sl.
► AZUREAN adj. azure → 1882
► AZUREOUS adj. azure; of a clear blue colour → 1835 (Bk.)
► AZURINE adj. blue, azure → 1577
► AZURN ► AZURNE adj. of a blue colour → 1637 obs.
► AZURY adj. bluish; tinted with soft clear blue → 1600
n. azure hue or colour → 1504 obs.
► AZZ n. the buttocks → 2002 US sl.
► AZZALD adj. bad-tempered, irritable → 1841 Eng. dial.
n. 1. a silly, insignificant, mean person → 1830 Eng. dial.
n. 2. an ill-tempered person; an habitual fault-finder → 1881 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a peevish, wayward, mischievous child → 1891 Eng. dial.
► AZZARD n. 1. a silly, insignificant, mean person → 1790 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a peevish, wayward, mischievous child → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AZZARDLY adj. poor, ill-thriven → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AZZLED adj. crabbed; sour; churlish → 1890 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► AZZLE-TOOTH n. a molar tooth → 1788 Eng. dial.
► AZZY n. a wayward child → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)