welt

American  

[welt] / wɛlt /

noun

1. a ridge or wale on the surface of the body, as from a blow of a stick or whip.

2. a blow producing such a ridge or wale.

3. Shoemaking.

   1. a strip, as of leather, set in between the outsole of a shoe and the edges of its insole and upper, through which these parts are joined by stitching or stapling.

   2. a strip, usually of leather, that ornaments a shoe.

4. a strengthening or ornamental finish along a seam, the edge of a garment, etc.

5. a seam in which one edge is cut close to the stitching line and covered by the other edge, which is stitched over it.

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verb (used with object)

1. to beat soundly, as with a stick or whip.

2. to furnish or supply (a shoe or garment) with a welt or welts; sew a welt on to.

verb (used without object)

1. to be marked with or develop welts.

welt British  

/ wɛlt /

noun

1. a raised or strengthened seam or edge, sewn in or on a knitted garment

2. another word for weal 1

3. (in shoemaking) a strip of leather, etc, put in between the outer sole and the inner sole and upper

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verb

1. to put a welt in (a garment, etc)

2. to beat or flog soundly

Other Word Forms

• unwelted adjective

Etymology

Origin of welt

1375–1425; late Middle English welte, walt shoemaker's welt, Old English wælt (thigh) sinew

Example Sentences

There was an egg-sized welt on her arm where the wildfire had laid a fiery paw on her.

From Literature

“Where did you get that?” she asked, nodding at the heart-shaped welt on my right hand.

From Literature

I look down at my arms—littered with tiny red welts from mosquitoes that apparently decided to use me as their pizza party.

From Literature

Red welts on his face showed where the acorns had hit.

From Literature

Before anyone could answer, she pulled up her sleeve and showed them a faint pink welt with a bright red dot in the center.

From Literature

Related Words

• bruise
• contusion
• scar
• stripe