welt

[welt]

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.

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

/ 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

verb

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

2. to beat or flog soundly

Other Word Forms

• unwelted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of welt¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of welt¹

C15: origin unknown

Example Sentences

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

Read more on Literature

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

Read more on 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.

Read more on Literature

Some, like Brayn Nestor, bore bloody welts from the rubber bullets that had hit them.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Donovan seemed to use downstairs as his target with Crocker bringing the uppercut into play but he would find himself with a huge welt under the left eye by the end of the fourth.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bruise 
• contusion 
• scar 
• stripe