woolgathering

[ wool-gath-er-ing ]

noun

1. indulgence in idle fancies and in daydreaming; absentmindedness:

   His woolgathering was a handicap in school.

2. gathering gather of the tufts of wool shed by sheep and caught on bushes.

woolgathering

/ ˈwʊlˌɡæðərɪŋ /

noun

1. idle or absent-minded indulgence in fantasy; daydreaming

Derived Forms

• ˈwoolˌgatherer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of woolgathering¹

First recorded in 1545–55; wool + gathering

Example Sentences

His interest in music—or rather, at first, in the free and glamorous lives of musicians—began with much posing and woolgathering.

From The Daily Beast

Really, God thought with annoyance, this woolgathering—at such a moment!

From Project Gutenberg

I trust that your good man here is not jealous, for beauty, you well do ken, ever sends the wits of a Douglas woolgathering.

From Project Gutenberg

But surely one's mind must be curiously at random to go to such woolgathering.

From Project Gutenberg

Woolgathering, Ben had missed some remark about Artemis' rigging.

From Project Gutenberg

Amid that universal blaze and downright pour of stifling heat, his mind was gone woolgathering back into the old New Forest.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absorbed
• bemused
• distracted
• engaged
• engrossed
• fascinated
• forgetful
• obsessed