wah-wah

or wa-wa

[ wah-wah ]

/ ˈwɑˌwɑ /

adjective

producing a muted, bawling sound like that of a trumpet with the hand moved momentarily over the bell: a wah-wah effect on a synthesizer; a guitar with a wah-wah pedal.

noun

a sound or effect like the muted sound of a trumpet, especially in music.

an electronic device or attachment to produce such a sound, often used with an electric guitar.

Nearby words

Origin of wah-wah

First recorded in 1925–30; imitative

wa-wa

[ wah-wah ]

/ ˈwɑˌwɑ /

noun

wah-wah.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wawa

By the way, the reports that he found a Wawa touch-screen menu “amazing” are misleading.
Mitt Romney, Awesome Campaigner?|Howard Kurtz|June 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
(spoiled); and poor Wawa puckered up his little rosy mouth, and began to cry most piteously.
Funny Little Socks|Sarah. L. Barrow
Next day he arrived before the walls of Wawa, in the neighbourhood of the far-famed river.
Great African Travellers|W.H.G. Kingston
Then there must be a great “wawa,” or discussion by the Indians.
The Columbia River|William Denison Lyman

British Dictionary definitions for wawa

wawa

/ (ˈwɑːˌwɑː) Canadian West coast slang /

noun

speech; language

verb

(intr) to speak

Word Origin for wawa

C19: from Chinook Jargon; probably of imitative origin

noun

Canadian a variant of wavey

wah-wah

/ (ˈwɑːˌwɑː) /

noun

the sound made by a trumpet, cornet, etc, when the bell is alternately covered and uncovered: much used in jazz

an electronic attachment for an electric guitar, etc, that simulates this effect

Word Origin for wah-wah

C20: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for wawa

wah-wah

1926, in jazz slang, in reference to the effect on brass instruments made by manipulating the mute; of imitative origin. Later also in reference to an electric guitar effect. As an imitation of the sound of a baby crying, it is recorded from 1938. Wah-wah pedal is recorded from 1969. Cf. Chinook jargon wawa "talk, speak, call, ask, sermon, language;" Cree (Algonquian) wehwew "goose," Lenape (Algonquian) wava "snow goose," all probably of imitative origin.