• WAI
n. fresh water …1938 Hawaii usage
• WAIBLE
vb. to walk feebly and unsteadily …Bk1905 Sc.
• WAIDEN
adj. supple, flaccid, wanting firmness …1866 Sc.
• WAIF
adj. 1. stray, wandering, homeless …c1730 Sc.
adj. 2. paltry, weak, inferior; worn-out …1791 Sc. obs.
n. 1. a person who is without home or friends; one who lives uncared-for or without guidance; an outcast from society; an unowned or neglected child …1784
n. 2. a stray animal …1785 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 3. something borne or driven by the wind; a puff of smoke, a streak of cloud …1854
• WAIF-AND-STRAY
n. homeless vagrants; flotsam and jetsam, useless or discarded objects; strayed cattle of unknown ownership …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAIF-BEAST
n. a stray animal of unknown ownership …1681 Sc. obs.
• WAIF-CHILD
n. a waif; a foundling …1681-2 Eng. dial. obs.
• WAIFINGER
n. a waif; a stray …Bk1905 Eng. dial. obs.
• WAIFS
n. stolen goods which are thrown away by the thief when in flight, for fear of being apprehended …1579 obs.
• WAIF-WOMAN
n. a woman with no possessions or connections …1776 Sc.
• WAIK
adj. weak …1843 Sc. & Eng. dial.
• WAIKEN
vb. to weaken …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAIKNESS
n. weakness …1839 Sc. & Eng. dial.
• WAIL
n. a legal trial …1930s US criminals’ sl.
vb. 1. of the eyes: to weep …1593 obs. rare
vb. 2. to hurry away; to be quick over anything …1867 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. in jazz: to perform excellently …1955 US jazz sl.
vb. 4. to abandon one’s inhibitions; to lose oneself in an activity, esp. of musicians, or of sexual pleasure; …1955 sl., orig. African-American
vb. 5. to behave badly or aggressively …1960s W. Indies
vb. 6. to sing …1970s sl., orig. African-American
vb. 7. in pinball: to score a large number of points in a short period of time …1977 US sl.
• WAIL DOWN THE PLACE
vb. to dance and sing with utter abandon …1960s W. Indies
• WAILER
n. 1. a professional mourner …1647
n. 2. in drag racing: a very fast car …1970 US sl.
• WAILERESS
n. a female wailer …1388 obs.
• WAILFUL
adj. 1. of cries, complaints, speeches: having the character of a wail, expressive of grievous pain or sorrow …1544 chiefly poetic
adj. 2. of mournful aspect …1557 obs.
adj. 3. full of lamentation, sorrowful …1579 chiefly poetic usage
• WAILING
adj. 1. excellent, wonderful …1950s African-American & college sl.
adj. 2. exciting …1965 US sl.
• WAILING ROBES
n. mourning garments …1591 nonce use
• WAILISH
adj. given to wailing, querulous …c1550 obs.
• WAILLANT
adj. valiant …c1475 obs.
• WAILMENT
n. wailing, lamentation …1593 obs.
• WAILSOME
adj. that is to be bewailed …1566 obs.
• WAILSTER
n. a female wailer …1388 obs. rare
• WAILY
adj. oppressed with woe …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAIME
n. a flaw, a tear …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAIMING
n. lamentation …a1300 obs.
• WAIN
n. 1. a large open vehicle, drawn by horses or oxen, for carrying heavy loads, esp. of agricultural produce, usually four-wheeled; a wagon …c1250
n. 2. profit, advantage …c1315 obs.
n. 3. conquest, possession gained by conquest; also, booty, spoil …c1330 obs.
n. 4. a hem, border …c1440 obs.
vb. 1. to transport in a wain or carriage …c1200 obs.
vb. 2. to carry, to bring, to convey …a1300 obs.
vb. 3. to go, to rush …c1400 obs.
vb. 4. to remove …1865 Eng. dial. obs.
• WAINAGE
n. the drawing of wagons …1894 Eng. dial. obs.
• WAIN-AND-HORSES
n. the constellation of the Great Bear, Ursa major …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAINDER!
int. an expression of bewilderment, esp. used when the speaker cannot find something that he wants …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAINER
n. the driver of a wain, a wagoner …a1500
• WAINFUL
n. as much as a wain will hold; a wain-load …1713 rare
• WAINISH
vb. to decay, to pine away, to become emaciated …1808 Sc. obs.
• WAINMAN
n. the driver of a wain, a wagoner …1392 obs.
• WAINT
adj. clever; stout …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAIN-THOFTS
n. the seats in a wagon …Bk1905 Eng. dial. obs.
• WAINWRIGHT
n. a wagon-builder …c1000
• WAIOURU BLONDE
n. a Maori woman …1997 NZ sl.
• WAIR
adj. ? wild, stormy …c1480 Sc. obs. rare
• WAIRAWONS!
int. well-a-day! …Bk1905 Sc. obs.
• WAIRPISH
vb. to brandish, to wave about one’s arms, a stick, etc. …1923 Sc.
• WAIRSH
adj. 1. squeamish; feeling a desire for dainty food; having a griping in the bowels …1804 Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 2. weak, delicate, wanting in stamina; faint, as from want of food; sickly-looking …1808 Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 3. raw …1894 Sc.
• WAIRSH-STOMACHED
adj. squeamish …1742 Sc.
• WAIST
n. a girdle …1550 obs.
• WAIST AND LINGER
n. a finger …20C rhyming sl.
• WAIST BABY
n. a baby that stands as high as one’s waist …1944 Amer. dial.
• WAIST-CLOTH
n. a loincloth that the natives of hot climates wear round the waist, either hanging down in front or passed between the thighs …1810
• WAISTCOATEER
n. a low-class prostitute …a1616 obs.
• WAISTCOAT PIECE
n. the breast and neck of mutton …L19 sl.
• WAISTLINE PARTY
n. a party in which the price of admission is based on the size of one’s waistline …1967 African-American usage
• WAIST TOG
n. a waistcoat …M19 sl.
• WAIT
n. 1. a military watchman, sentinel, or lookout; also, a scout, spy; a watchman in a camp, castle, or fortified place who was furnished with a born to trumpet to sound an alarm or to make a signal …a1300 obs.
n. 2. a watchman attached to the royal household who sounded the watch,, etc. by the blowing of a pipe, trumpet, or other wind instrument …a1300 obs.
n. 3. a municipal watchman …1418 obs.
n. 4. a player on the flute, trumpet, etc. …1510 obs.
n. 5. watchfulness …1575 obs.
n. 6. one who waits in services, an attendant …1652 obs.
n. 7. a body of guards …1704 obs.
vb. 1. to watch with hostile intent; to spy upon; to lie in wait for …c1200 obs.
vb. 2. to watch, to keep one’s eye upon, to observe constantly; to look out for, to watch for …a1300 obs.
vb. 3. to watch over, to take charge of, to care for (a person’s interests) …a1300 obs.
vb. 4. to take precautions, to be watchful or cautious …a1300 obs.
vb. 5. to keep watch, to look intently …1338 obs.
vb. 6. to search for …1340-70 obs.
vb. 7. to watch mentally, to observe, to consider attentively …1382 obs.
vb. 8. to observe carefully …1399 obs.
vb. 9. to be on the watch to inflict injury …c1400 obs.
vb. 10. to act as a watchman …1436 obs.
vb. 11. to befall, to happen …1825 Sc.
vb. 12. to lodge, to make one’s (temporary) home …1951 Sc.
• WAIT AND LINGER
n. the finger …1992 UK rhyming sl.
• WAITER
n. 1. one who watches or observes closely; one who is on the lookout …1382 obs.
n. 2. a regular member (often a person of high rank) of the retinue or household of a royal or noble personage …a1400 obs.
n. 3. in hunting: one set to watch the movements of the intended game …c1400 obs. rare
n. 4. one who lies in wait …c1430 obs. rare
n. 5. an observer in secret; a scout, a spy …1471 obs.
n. 6. a man of lower rank employed as a household servant; a groom, a footman, a servitor …a1483 obs.
n. 7. an attendant upon the bride at weddings; a bridesmaid …1537 obs. exc. Amer. dial.
n. 8. a warder of the Tower of London …1551
n. 9. one who out of courtesy waits at table on special occasions …1605 obs.
n. 10. a waiting-woman …1639 obs. rare
n. 11. a watchman at the city gates …1684 Sc. obs.
n. 12. a salver, a small tray …1738
n. 13. a losing horse …L19 Aust. sl.
n. 14. a male who waits in a public restroom for another male who has agreed to come there and perform a homosexual act …20C US
• WAITER AT THE TABLE
n. a parasite …1552 obs. rare
• WAITER-ON
n. a waiter …1884 Eng. dial.
• WAITER’S DELIGHT
n. in poker: a hand consisting of three threes and a pair (‘treys full’) …1988 US sl.
• WAITER-WENCH
n. a female servant …1890 Eng. dial.
• WAIT FOR A LAY
vb. Bk1902 Sc. – to wait for a chance or opportunity
• WAIT FOR DEAD MEN’S SHOES
vb. to look forward to an inheritance; to live in expectation of a legacy or other advantage from a man’s death …1546
• WAIT-GLEED
n. one who sits lazily watching the fire …c1310 obs.
• WAITH
adj. wandering, roaming …1710 Sc. obs.
n. 1. game for or obtained by hunting; spoil of the chase; also generally, spoil, booty …a1300 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. obs.
n. 2. the act or practice of hunting or fishing; chiefly, unlawful taking of game; also, the right to hunt game …c1400 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. obs.
n. 3. the spectral appearance of a person just before or after death; a ghost …1790 Eng. dial.
n. 4. that which is stray and unclaimed; flotsam and jetsam; a wandering, a straying …1838 Sc. obs.
vb. 1. to look; to seem, to appear …Bk1905 Eng. dial. obs.
vb. 2. to wander …Bk1905 Sc. obs.
• WAITHING
n. fishing; a catch of fish …c1470 Sc. obs.
• WAITHMAN
n. a hunter; esp. applied to forest outlaws …c1425 Sc. obs.
• WAITING
n. 1. a lying in wait, ambush …c1200 obs.
n. 2. entertainment, feasting …a1300 obs.
n. 3. watching, observation …1377 obs.
• WAITING BOARD
n. a tray intended to be carried by one waiting at table …1770 obs.
• WAITING-MAID
n. a superior female servant in personal attendance on a lady …1561
• WAITING-MAN
n. a male servant who waits or attends upon his employer or on an official …1518 obs.
• WAITING ROOM
n. in surfing: the area beyond the breakers where surfers wait to catch waves …1977 Israel sl.
• WAITING-WOMAN
n. a female servant, or personal attendant …1565 now arch.
• WAIT-LAYER
n. one who lies in wait …1600 obs.
• WAITMAN
n. an attendant on the bride or groom at a wedding …1966 Amer. dial.
• WAIT ON
vb. 1. to wait for someone or something …1817 Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to court a woman …1877 Amer. dial.
vb. 3. to care for or attend a pregnant or sick person …1923 Amer. dial.
• WAIT ON THE TABLE
vb. to say grace before a meal …1911 Amer. dial.
• WAITRESS
n. 1. a waiting-maid, a handmaid …c1586 obs. rare
n. 2. a bridesmaid at a wedding …1966 Amer. dial.
• WAITS
n. 1. a small body of wind instrumentalists maintained by a city or town at the public charge; they played for the daily diversion of the councillors, on ceremonial and festive occasions, and as a town or city band they entertained the citizens, walking the streets, often by night or in the early morning …1298 obs.
n. 2. wind instruments, either hautboys (oboes), flutes, or shawms (forerunner of the oboe) …1530 obs.
n. 3. a band of musicians and singers who walk the streets by night at the approach of Christmas and the New Year playing and singing carols and other seasonable music for gratuities …1773
• WAIT-SCATHE
n. a nickname for a perpetrator of mischief …1481 obs.
• WAITSMAN
n. an attendant on the bride or groom at a wedding …1966 Amer. dial.
• WAIT UP!
int. wait for me! …1944 US sl.
• WAIT UPON
vb. to court a woman …1877 Amer. dial.
• WAIVE
vb. 1 to move to and fro in the wind; to be tossed about; to totter …a1300 obs.
vb. 2. to shun, to avoid; to elude, to escape, to dodge a blow …1303 obs.
vb. 3. to cast aside, to relinquish, to forsake the truth, one’s faith or god, a state or condition, etc. …1303 obs.
vb. 4. to abandon, to leave, to desert; to forsake a person, place, thing …c1330 obs.
vb. 5. to move to and fro or from side to side (the beard, hand, or something held in the hand); to wave, to wag …1338 obs.
vb. 6. to wander, to stray …c1350 obs.
vb. 7. to remove, to put away, to banish …1377 obs.
vb. 8. to refuse or reject something offered …c1386 obs.
vb. 9. to go by, to pass …1390 obs.
vb. 10. to treat with neglect, to ignore, to disregard, to overlook; to let pass an opportunity …c1400 obs.
vb. 11. to cast off a garment …c1400 obs.
vb. 12, to send or dispatch …a1400-50 obs.
vb. 13. to cast away money …c1440 obs.
vb. 14. to wield …1789 Sc. obs.
• WAIVE ONE’S WIT
vb. to change one’s mind …c1400 obs.
• WAIVE UP
vb. 1. to throw open a window, etc. …a1300 obs.
vb. 2. to raise up …Bk1905 Sc.
• WAJAN
n. 1. a prostitute; a promiscuous woman, esp. from the slums …20C W. Indies sl.
n. 2. an expert …20C W. Indies sl.
• WAJANG
n. 1. a prostitute; a promiscuous woman, esp. from the slums …20C W. Indies sl.
n. 2. an expert …20C W. Indies sl.
• WAJANK
n. 1. a prostitute; a promiscuous woman, esp. from the slums …20C W. Indies sl.
n. 2. an expert …20C W. Indies sl.
• WAK
adj. moist, damp, wet …1513 Sc. obs.
n. moisture, humidity …1456 Sc. obs.
• WAKA BLONDE
n. a Maori woman …1980s NZ sl., derogatory
• WAKE
adj. not sleeping, awake …1414 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 1. the state of wakefulness, esp. during normal hours of sleep …a1250 obs.
n. 2. the vigil or eve of a festival, and the observances belonging to this …a1500 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 3. the act of awaking …1678 obs.
n. 4. a track or trail on land …1851 rare
n. 5. the wick of a candle; a candle; a form of ‘wick’ …1865 Eng. dial.
n. 6. an open hole, or an unfrozen place in the ice; a piece of open water, in the midst of a frozen lake, river, etc. …1895 Eng. dial.
n. 7. a consequence …Bk1905 Eng. dial. obs.
vb. 1. to stay awake for the purpose of watching or tending; to keep watch while others sleep, to be on guard at night …c1200 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to sit up late for pleasure or revelry; to turn night into day …a1300 obs.
vb. 3. to be active, alert, stirring, vigilant; also, to be diligent, to exert oneself to do something …1352 obs.
vb. 4. to stay awake for any work or active occupation; to pass the night in work, study, etc. …1471 obs.
vb. 5. to wander …1802 Sc. obs.
vb. 6. to become aware of something …1910 Aust. sl.
• WAKE-AMINE
n. amphetamine …1990s drug culture sl.
• WAKE AND BAKE
vb. to smoke marijuana as one of the first acts of the day …1997 US sl.
• WAKEFUL
adj. rousing one from sleep; awakening …1629 obs.
• WAKE IT!
int. an exhortation to action; get with it! …1980s US college sl.
• WAKE IT UP!
int. hurry up! get on with it! …1950s Aust. & NZ sl.
• WAKELING
n. a weak child …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAKEMAN
n. a watchman …c1200 obs.
• WAKE-ME-UP
n. the first drink of the day …1940s sl.
• WAKEN
adj. 1. alert, brisk, lively; sharp; intelligent, quick-witted …1867 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. awake; disinclined for sleep …1872 Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 3. wanton …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to remain awake, to refrain from sleeping, to keep watch or vigil; to remain alive …1682 obs. rare
vb. 2. to watch, to watch over, to keep an eye upon …1535 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. to stir up; to cause to effervesce …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAKE ‘N’ BAKE
vb. to smoke marijuana upon waking …1997 US drug culture sl.
• WAKENER
n. an alarm attached to a clock …1564 obs.
• WAKENESS
n. the state of being awake; one’s waking hours …1585-92 obs.
• WAKEN ON
vb. to become animated, earnest, or excited; to become violent in language …Bk1905 Sc.
• WAKENSOME
adj. easily roused from sleep; sleepless …1856 Eng. dial.
• WAKER
adj. unsleeping, watchful, vigilant …c1000 obs.
n. 1. one who stays awake; one who abstains from sleep …c1290 obs.
n. 2. one who watches; a watcher, a watchman …1382 obs.
n. 3. one who sits up with a sick person …1798 Eng. dial.
• WAKERELL
n. a church bell …1485 obs.
• WAKERIFE
adj. c1480 – indisposed to sleep, wakeful, vigilant, watchful → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
• WAKERIFELIE
adv. Bk1905 – wakefully → Sc.
• WAKERIFENESS
n. 1891 – the state of wakefulness; sleeplessness → Sc.
• WAKERLY
adj. 1400 – wakeful, watchful → obs.
adv. 1400 – nimbly → obs.
• WAKER-UPPER
n. a heroin addict’s first injection of the morning …1982 US sl.
• WAKES
n. nocturnal revels …1577 obs.
• WAKE SNAKES
vb. to cause disturbance or trouble; to provoke to the uttermost; to get oneself into trouble; to having a rousing, roaring time …1848 Amer. sl.
• WAKE THE DEAD
vb. to masturbate …1990s sl.
• WAKE-UP
adj. used of an addictive substance taken upon waking up …1981 US sl.
n. 1. an alert and resourceful person, always aware of the possibilities of a situation …1930s Aust. sl.
n. 2. the first drink of the day …1940s sl.
n. 3. a short time remaining on a jail sentence or term of military service, esp. the last morning …1950 US sl.
n. 4. the day’s first dose of a drug taken by an addict; a crack cocaine user’s first pipe …1954 sl.
n. 5. any amphetamine or central nervous system stimulant …1969 US sl.
(verbs as ‘wake up’)
vb. 1. to make someone aware; to inform someone …1859 Aust. sl.
vb. 2. to become aware of something …1910 Aust. sl.
vb. 3. in horse racing: to stimulate a horse illegally by electric shock or drugs …1947 US sl.
vb. 4. to become aware that you are being swindled …1969 US sl.
• WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE
vb. to come to one’s senses …1980s sl.
• WAKE UP, AUSTRALIA!
int.Bk1999 Aust. sl. – said to a daydreamer
• WAKE-UPBOOST
n. 1. the first drink of the day …1940s sl.
n. 2. a narcotic user’s first injection of the day; a crack cocaine user’s first pipe …1950s sl.
• WAKE-UPHIT
n. 1. the first drink of the day …1940s sl.
n. 2. a narcotic user’s first injection of the day; a crack cocaine user’s first pipe …1950s sl.
• WAKE-UP PILL
n. a stimulant drug …1969 drug culture sl.
• WAKE-UPSHOT
n. 1. the first drink of the day …1940s sl.
n. 2. a narcotic user’s first injection of the day; a crack cocaine user’s first pipe …1950s sl.
• WAKE-WORD
n. a watchword; a rallying cry …1510 obs.
• WAKE YOU
vb. to make you aware of something …1953 US sl.
• WAKE YOUR IDEAS UP
vb. to concentrate; to use your wits …1961 UK sl.
• WAKEY-WAKEY
(interjections as ‘wakey, wakey!’)
int. 1. get a move on! stop daydreaming! …1940s sl.
int. 2. up you get! wake up …1959 sl.
n. a wake-up call …2001 UK sl.
• WAKEY, WAKEY, EGGS AND BAKEY!
int. used for calling someone from sleep to breakfast …2000 US sl.
• WAKEY, WAKEY, HANDS OFF SNAKIE!
int. used for humorously waking up a male …1985 Aust. sl.
• WAKING
n. a night-attack …1525 obs.
• WAKKEN-BEGGAR
n. snuff …Bk1905 Eng. dial. jocular usage
• WAKKENER
n. a stunning blow …1899 Eng. dial.
• WAKLE
vb. to deceive with smooth, flattering talk …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• WAKNESS
n. moisture, humidity …c1520 Sc. obs.
• WAKRONG
adj. wakeful …1340-70 obs. rare
• WAKY
adj. wakeful …a1541 obs.
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