wattle
/ˈwɑtl̩/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.52 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A construction of branches and twigs woven together to form a wall, barrier, fence, or roof.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A wrinkled fold of skin, sometimes brightly coloured, hanging from the neck of birds (such as chicken and turkey) and some lizards.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "And there the heathen Prince, Arviragus, / Gave him an isle of marsh whereon to build; / And there he built with wattles from the marsh / A little lonely church in days of yore, […]"
- "The buttons below his waddle open to reveal a ruddy V, tidemark of the sun."
- "The tents and sheets are made of the best Canadian duck, tanned for the purpose of preservation with a strong extract of iron-bark and wattle-bark."
- ""Tip me your wattles, my pal, and touch my whids, or I'll make you whindle like a kinchin," give me your ears and take my words, or I'll make you snivel like a child."
- "Wat. A hare, from his wattles, i. e. long ears."
Etymology
From Middle English wattel, watel, from Old English watel, watul (“hurdle”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wey- (“to turn, wind, bend”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈwɑtl̩/
- British English: /ˈwɒtl̩/