Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ

A.Word.A.Day--wattle

wattle (WOT-l) noun

1. A construction of poles intertwined with twigs, reeds, or branches, used for walls, fences, and roofs. Material used for such construction.

2. A fleshy, wrinkled, often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat, characteristic of certain birds, such as chickens or turkeys, and some lizards.

3. Any of various Australian trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia.

verb tr.

1. To construct from wattle.

2. To weave into wattle.

[Middle English wattel, from Old English watel, hurdle.]

"The floral pattern includes blooming red roses and a yellow-breasted rooster with a red crest and wattle." Ralph and Terry Kovel, Remembering the Days of Fireplace Ovens, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 22 Aug 1998.

This week's theme: words for miscellany.

X-Bonus