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Willy

 - 4 dictionary results

wil⋅ly

[wil-ee] noun, plural -lies, verb, -lied, -ly⋅ing.
–noun
1. willow (def. 4).
–verb (used with object)
2. to willow (cotton).
Also, willey.


Origin:
1825–35; special use of dial. willy, OE wilige basket (orig. one made of willow twigs); akin to willow

Wil⋅ly

[wil-ee]
–noun
1. a male given name, form of William.
2. a female given name.

wil⋅low

[wil-oh]
–noun
1. any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, characterized by narrow, lance-shaped leaves and dense catkins bearing small flowers, many species having tough, pliable twigs or branches used for wickerwork, etc. Compare willow family.
2. the wood of any of these trees.
3. Informal. something, esp. a cricket bat, made of willow wood.
4. Also called willower, willy. a machine consisting essentially of a cylinder armed with spikes revolving within a spiked casing, for opening and cleaning cotton or other fiber.
–verb (used with object)
5. to treat (textile fibers) with a willow.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME wilwe, var. of wilghe, OE welig; c. OS wilgia, D wilg, LG wilge


wil⋅low⋅like, adjective
wil⋅low⋅ish, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

willow 
O.E. welig, from P.Gmc. *walg- (cf. O.S. wilgia, M.Du. wilghe, Du. wilg), probably from PIE *wel- "to turn, roll," with derivatives referring to curved, enclosing objects. The change in form to -ow (14c.) paralleled that of bellow and fellow. Willowy "flexible and graceful" is attested from 1791.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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