withy
Americannoun
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a willow.
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a pliable branch or twig, especially a withe.
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a band, loop, halter, or rope of slender twigs; widdy.
adjective
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made of pliable branches or twigs, especially of withes.
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flexible; pliable.
noun
adjective
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(of people) tough and agile
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rare resembling a withe in strength or flexibility
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of withy
before 1000; Middle English; Old English wīthig; akin to withe, Old Norse vīthir, Old High German wīda, Greek ītéa willow, Latin vītis vine
Vocabulary lists containing withy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The HCA estimates the number of professional withy pot-makers is now in single figures and those who remain use it as a sideline to their main income.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2020
“Seismicity is a feature of mining in the region and deep-level mining layouts and support systems have been designed specifically to cope withy seismicity,” Neal Froneman said in a presentation to investors.
From Reuters ● Jun. 7, 2018
A white garment waved out in the breeze under the blue jellab; he sat straight as a withy, feeling the mule's mouth with a hard hand, and bringing its nose into the air.
From In the Tail of the Peacock by Savory, Isabel
Each quickly into proper shape Bent up the fatal pin, And tied it carefully with thread Upon a withy thin.
From Golden Moments Bright Stories for Young Folks by Anonymous
O the withy, O the withy, O bitter withy That causes me to smart!
From Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan by Miles, Clement A.
The sculptures were woven from willow withies at Martin’s workshop in Devon, where he created the work in sections.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2023
Finally, we came upon this man's workshop, and the withies were fabulous.
From Time Magazine Archive
I would make a raft, for the withies would enable me to fasten it together.
From Dick Onslow Among the Redskins by Soper, George
Soon, full soon, they will be here, Twisting withies for the bier; Under a heathen yew-tree's shade Will a wasted heart be laid— Heart that never dared be dear.
From Ionica by Cory, William (AKA William Johnson)
Then he and Nancy turned from the tempting stream and walked up a pleached alley of withies woven and interarched.
From Sinister Street, vol. 1 by MacKenzie, Compton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
