• WIBBET
n. 1. a little piece, a wee bit …Bk1869 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a very small child …Bk1869 Eng. dial.
• WICK
n. the penis …20C rhyming sl. for ‘prick’
• WICKED
adj. 1920 sl., orig. US – really good, fantastic, excellent, first-rate, wonderful; great; deeply satisfying
adv. 1960 Amer. dial. – very; extremely, really, totally
• WICKED GOOD
adj. very good …1974 Amer. dial.
• WICKER
vb. to whinny, to neigh softly …1965 Amer. dial.
• WICKERBILL
n. 1. 1921 Amer. dial. – a poor, White, rural Southerner; also used as a vaguely derogatory term
n. 2. 1939 Amer. dial. – the foreskin; the penis
n. 3. 1951 Amer. dial. – a contraption, a gadget, a doohickey
• WICKET FOR WACKET
phr. tit for tat …1889 Eng. dial.
• WICKEYUP; WICKIE-UP; WICKIUP; WICKY-UP
n. any meagre shelter or dwelling …1876 Amer. dial.
• WICKY
n. a teepee …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• WIDDER
n. a widow …Amer. dial.
• WIDDERY-MINDED
adj. vacillating; changeable …B1900 Eng. dial.
• WIDDIE
int. 1902 Amer. dial. – a call to chickens or other domestic fowl
n. 1936 Amer. dial. – a baby chick; also, rarely, a hen
• WIDDLE
n. 1954 sl.– urination
vb. 1968 sl. – to urinate
• WIDDY
int. 1902 Amer. dial. – a call to chickens or other domestic fowl
n. 1. Amer. dial. – a widow
n. 2. 1936 Amer. dial. – a baby chick; also, rarely, a hen
• WIDDY-BIT
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a small amount; a bit
• WIDE
adj. 1. 1879 Brit. sl. – said of someone engaged in or skilled in sharp practice, dishonest
adj. 2. Brit. sl. – shrewd; wary
• WIDE AND SIDE
adv. far and wide …a900 obs.
• WIDE BOY
n. a rogue, a ne’er-do-well …1937 Brit. sl.
• WIDE EYE
n. 1. 1990 Amer. dial. – insomnia
n. 2. 1990 Amer. dial. – severe exhaustion
• WIDE HOLE IN THE ROAD
n. a very small town …1965 Amer. dial.
• WIDE OF THE CUSHION
adv. 1690 obs. – away from the main purpose or argument, beside the mark; erroneously or mistakenly
• WIDE PATH IN THE ROAD
n. a very small town …1965 Amer. dial.
• WIDE PLACE IN THE ROAD
n. a very small town …1879 Amer. dial.
• WIDE SPACE IN THE ROAD
n. a very small town …1965 Amer. dial.
• WIDE SPOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
n. a very small town …1950 Amer. dial.
• WIDE SPOT IN THE ROAD
n. a very small town …1909 Amer. dial.
• WIDE-WHERE
adv. far and wide, over a wide area …OE arch.
• WIDGEON
n. 1. 1513 – a wild duck of the genus Mareca
n. 2. 1612 obs. – applied to a person, in allusion to the supposed stupidity of the bird; a fool, a simpleton
vb. a1596 obs. – to make a ‘widgeon’ of; to cheat, to befool
• WIDGET
n. a gadget; a small manufactured item …E20 colloq.
• WIDGIE
n. an Australasian Teddy-girl …1950 Aust. & NZ sl.
• WIDOW
n. an outhouse or toilet …1900 Amer. college sl.
• THE WIDOW
n. 1. 1781 – champagne
n. 2. 1969 Amer. dial. – an outside toilet
• WIDOWER
n. 1. 1965 Amer. dial. – a widow
n. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – a divorced woman
• WIDOW GENTLEMAN
n. a widower …1965 Amer. dial.
• WIDOW JONES
n. an outhouse or toilet …1900 Amer. college sl.
• WIDOW JONES HOUSE
n. an outside toilet …1969 Amer. dial.
• WIDOW JONES PLACE
n. a W.C.; a toilet …19C colloq.
• WIDOW LADY
n. a widow …1912 Amer. dial.
• WIDOW-MAKER
n. 1. 1899 Amer. dial. – a tree or branch that has fallen on or is likely to fall on or snap back at a person; a dangerous hanging limb
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – an extra-bad horse
n. 3. 1970 Amer. dial. – a cigarette
n. 4. 1974 Amer. dial. – corn whisky
n. 5. a killer or potential killer of men
• WIDOWMAN
n. a widower …1688 Amer. dial.
• WIDOWS
n. in dominoes, in bidding games, the dominoes left after the players have drawn their hands
• WIDOW WOMAN
n. 1. 1739 Amer. dial. – a widow
n. 2. 1941 Amer. dial. – a divorced woman
• WIELDER OF THE BIG STICK
n. Theodore Roosevelt, twenty-sixth US President …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• WIELD THE SCEPTRE
vb. to exercise supreme authority, to rule …L16
• WIENER
n. 1. 1950s US college sl. – a boring, socially unappealing or unacceptable person
n. 2. 1950s US college sl. – a hard-working student
• WIENER DOG
n. a dachshund …N. Amer. colloq.
• WIENIE
n. a wiener sausage …1891 Amer. dial.
• WIFE
n. 1. 19C sl. – a mistress or concubine
n. 2. 1883 sl. – passive member of a homosexual partnership
n. 3. 20C sl. – the more feminine partner in a homosexual marriage
• WIFE-BEATER
n. a man’s sleeveless vest or T-shirt …c1990s US colloq.
• WIFELKIN
n. 1851 colloq. rare – an affection form of address for a wife
• WIFE-WIDOW
n. a wife living apart from her husband …1875 nonce word
• WIFEY
n. a little wife; a little or young woman; chiefly used as a term of endearment or familiarity …L18
• WIFFENPOOF
n. 1. 1939 Amer. dial. – an imaginary animal or monster; an animal that cannot be named
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense
• WIFFIN
n. a moment …B1900 Sc.
• WIFFLE-HEADED
adj. thoughtless …B1900 Eng. dial.
• WIFFLE-WOFFLES
n. 1. 20C colloq. – a stomach-ache
n. 2. 20C colloq. – sorrow, the dumps, a state of depression
• WIFIE
n. L18 – a little wife; a little or young woman; chiefly used as a term of endearment or familiarity
• WIFT
vb. M16 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – orig., to go astray; later, to drift to and fro, to drift along
• WIG
n. 1. L18 colloq. – a severe reprimand
n. 2. 1950s Amer. sl. – an eccentric
n. 3. 1950s Amer. sl. – the mind
vb. E19 colloq. – to reprimand severely
• WIGEON
n. a fool, a simpleton …E17 arch.
• WIGGA-WAGGA
n. the penis …E20 Brit. sl.
• WIGGER
n. a White person who tries to emulate or acquire cultural behaviour and tastes attributed to Black people …L20 US sl.
• WIGGING
adj. 20C students’ sl. – stressing, going crazy
n. 1805 colloq. – a severe rebuke, reproof, or reprimand; a scolding
• WIGGIN’S
n. an eavesdropper …1930 sl.
• WIGGLE
n. the penis, esp. that of a child …20C US
• WIGGLER
n. 1. US – an earthworm
n. 2. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a larval mosquito
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an earthquake
• WIGGLE ROOM
n. scope for negotiation, esp. in order to modify a previous statement or decision …colloq., chiefly N. Amer.
• WIGGLETAIL
n. earthworm …1970 Amer. dial.
• WIGGLE-WAGGLE
adj. L18 – vacillating
n. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a larval mosquito
• WIGGLEWORM
n. an earthworm …1896 Amer. dial.
• WIGGLYTAIL
n. earthworm …1970 Amer. dial.
• WIGGLY-WAGGLY
adj. that wiggles and waggles …L19 colloq. & Eng. dial.
• WIGGLY-WOGGLY
adj. that wiggles and waggles …L19 colloq. & Eng. dial.
• WIGGY
adj. crazy or eccentric; delirious; not in control of one’s emotions …1810 US sl.
• WIGHT
adj. 1. ME, now arch., Sc., & Eng. dial. – strong and courageous, esp. in warfare; valiant, brave
adj. 2. ME, now arch., Sc., & Eng. dial. – strong, robust, mighty; exercising strength, energetic
adj. 3. ME, now arch., Sc., & Eng. dial. – strongly built or constructed, stout
adj. 4. ME, now arch., Sc., & Eng. dial. – forcible, violent, powerful in effect
adv. 1. ME obs. exc. Sc. – actively, energetically
adv. 2. ME obs. – quickly, without delay
n. 1. OE obs. – a certain amount, esp. a small amount; usually used in negative contexts
n. 2. ME now arch., Eng. dial., & literary usage – a human being; a person
• WIGHTLING
n. a valiant man; a brave warrior …a1250 obs.
• WIGHTY
adj. strong and courageous, esp. in warfare, valiant, brave …LME obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• WIG OUT
vb. 1. 1955 sl. – to make or become wildly excited or enthusiastic; to lose control of one’s emotions; to be or get angry
vb. 2. 1950s Amer. sl. – to become psychotic
vb. 3. sl. – to be intoxicated with narcotic drugs
• WIG-PICKER
n. a psychiatrist …1961 US sl.
• WIGSBY
n. a person wearing a wig …L18 jocular arch.
• WIGS ON THE GREEN
n. violent or unpleasant developments, ructions …orig. Irish
• WIGWAG
vb. to signal with flags …World War I Amer. sl.
• WIKIWIKI
adj. 1967 Hawaii – quick, fast, speedy
adv. 1917 Hawaii – quickly, hastily, right away
• WILD
adj. 1955 colloq., orig. & chiefly US – intensely eager or enthusiastic; exciting
• WILD ABOUT
adj. 1868 – fond of; enthusiastic about; liking
• WILD AS A CUT FOX
adj. 1910s Aust. & US sl. – completely deranged; utterly furious
• WILD AX-HANDLE
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – diarrhoea
• WILD CANARY
n. 1876 Amer. dial. – a goldfinch
• WILDCAT
adj. 1881 Amer. dial. – of a still or its products: illicit
n. 1. 1881 Amer. dial. – illicit liquor
n. 2. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a locomotive and tender running without cars
• WILDCAT HOUSE
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a place where liquor was sold and consumed illegally
• WILDCAT’S ANKLE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• WILDCATTER
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – one who makes or distributes illicit liquor
• WILDCAT WARRIOR
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – prizefighter Joe Louis
• WILD COLT
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – the child of an unwed mother
• WILDER THAN A PEACH-ORCHARD BOAR
adj. 1997 Amer. dial. – very wild, unrestrained
• WILD HAIR
n. M20 US sl. – the imaginary cause of impassioned or violent behaviour
• WILD-HOG
vb. 1939 Amer. dial. – to live a life of debauchery; to be wild; to seek illicit sexual adventure
• WILD INDIAN
n. 1946 Amer. dial. – a child, esp. a misbehaving or unruly one
• WILDING
n. 1989 US sl. – rampaging by a gang of youths through a public place, attacking or mugging people along the way
• THE WILD MARE
n. 1. a1586 obs. – a seesaw
n. 2. 1790 Eng. dial. – a boys’ game; the person who acts the mare slides over the shoulders of several others, who are linked together, and is strapped with leathern aprons and such like, all the while he is getting over them
• WILD MARE’S MILK
n. 1937 Amer. dial. – distilled liquor, whisky
• WILD OAT
n. 1929 Amer. dial. – a child born out of wedlock
• WILD OATS
n. 1. a1564 obs. – a dissipated or dissolute young fellow; a ‘wild’ young man
n. 2. 16C sl. – excitement and energy in youth; usually considered to be sexual in the male
• WILD ONE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – in cards: the joker
• WILD QUIRT
n. 17C colloq. – diarrhoea
• WILDWARE
n. 1393 obs. – fur of wild animals
• WILL A FISH SWIM?
phr. M19 sl. – a phrase used to emphasize one’s absolute agreement
• WILL AND WALE
n. 1742 Sc. – free choice
• WILLAWAW
n. 1896 Amer. dial. – a sudden violent wind or windstorm
• WILLIAM
n. 1. 1850 Amer. dial. – a piece of paper currency
n. 2. 1865 US sl. – a dollar bill
• WILLIAMSTOWN PIERS
n. Bk1999 Aust. rhyming sl. – ears
• WILLIE
n. 1905 sl. – the penis
• WILLIE-FISHER
n. 1. B1900 Sc. – a notorious liar
n. 2. B1900 Sc. – the common tern; the sea-swallow, Sterna hirundo; a water-fowl
• WILLIES
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – the rolls of dust that gather under beds, furniture, etc.
• THE WILLIES
n. 1. 1896 sl., orig. US – a state of nervousness or unease
n. 2. 1905 Amer. dial. – feelings of physical discomfort or illness, esp. delirium tremens
• WILLIPUS-WALLIPUS
n. 1. 1885 Amer. dial. obs. – a steamroller or other large machine; any monstrous thing
n. 2. 1892 Amer. dial. – a fictitious animal; a bogeyman
• WILLIPUS-WAMPUS
n. 1921 Amer. dial. – a fictitious animal; a bogeyman
• THE WILLIWACKS
n. 1972 Amer. dial. – a remote, sparsely inhabited area
• WILLIWAW
n. 1896 Amer. dial. – a sudden violent wind or windstorm
• WILL-JILL
n. 1. 19C Eng. dial. – a sterile or impotent person
n. 2. 19C Eng. dial. – an hermaphrodite
• WILL-O’-THE-WISP
n. a firefly; a lightning bug …1939 Amer. dial.
• WILLOW BUG
n. a mayfly …1888 Amer. dial.
• WILLOW WITCH
n. 1. 1930 Amer. dial. – a dowsing rod, a divining rod (whether made of willow or not)
n. 2. 1977 Amer. dial. – a dowser, one who uses a divining rod
• WILLOW WITCHER
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – a dowser
• WILLOW WITCHING
n. 1929 Amer. dial. – dowsing
• THE WILLOW-WACKS
n. 2002 Amer. dial. – a remote, sparsely inhabited area
• WILLY
n. 1. 19C US sl. – the stereotype of a domestic Black servant or slave
n. 2. 1905 sl. – the penis
n. 3. 1965 Amer. dial. – a piece of paper currency
• THE WILLY-NILLIES
n. 1. 1965 – feelings of uneasiness, apprehension, depression, or nervousness
n. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – an imaginary disease
• WILL YOU TAKE EGGS FOR MONEY?
phr. will you allow yourself to be imposed upon? …1633
• THE WILLYWACKS
n. a remote, sparsely inhabited area …1972 Amer. dial.
• THE WILLYWAGS
n. a remote, sparsely inhabited area …1965 Amer. dial.
• WILLY-WALLIE
n. 1822 Sc. – an affected effeminate man
• WILLY-WALLIES
n. 1747 Sc. – fine clothes, finery
• WILMA
n. 1989 Amer. dial. – a prank involving the abrupt and rough yanking upwards of someone’s belt loop, belt buckle, underwear top, or seat of the pants so that the victim’s underwear becomes wedged between the buttocks; a wedgie
• WILTED
adj. 20C US sl. – intoxicated with alcohol
• WILY-PIE
n. c1450 obs. – a crafty or cunning fellow; a sly rogue
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Updated: February 28, 2023
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