willow-oak 
coast to Texas and north to Kentucky and Mis- 
souri. Its leaves are narrow and entire, strongly suggest- 
ing those of a willow. It grows some 70 feet high, and af- 
fords a heavy and strong, rather soft, wood, somewhat used 
for fellies of wheels and In building. Also peach-oak^ sand- 
jack, .-iee cut under oaA.— Upland wlllow-oalt, Quercws 
cinerea, a tree reaching i^ feet high, found from Fortress 
Slonroe to 'I'exas on sandy barrens and dry upland ridges. 
The leaves are somewhat broader than those of the willow- 
oak, leathery, and white-downy beneath. Also blue-jack 
and sand-jack. 
willow-peeler (wil'o-pe'ler), «. A machine 
or device for stripping the bark from willow- 
wands, as a crotch with sliarp edges, through 
which the waud is drawn. Also called willow- 
.'itripper. 
willow-ptarmigan (wil'o-tUr"mi-gan), 9). The 
common ptarmigan of North America, Lago- 
jiiis albu.9. having in winter white plumage 
with a black tail, but no black stripe through 
the eye: distinguished from rocl-pt(irinigan. 
Also icilhw-groKse. The name originally ap- 
plied to the" European bird named L. saliceti. 
See dabipa and ri/pe^. 
Willow-sawfly (wil'o-sa"fli), n. Any one of 
the different saw-flies which breed upon wil- 
low, as Ciinbex americana. Dolents arvensis, 
XcnidtD.t vcntrali.i, and a number of others. 
Phyllcecus ittteger is a North American species whose 
larvre bore into the young shoots of willow, whence it is 
speeitied as the willow-shoot saw-fiy. See wUlow-cimhex 
and u'Ulatr-dolerus. 
willow-slug (wil'o-slug), )i. The larva of any 
saw-tly. as yemaius ventialis, which infests wil- 
lows. That of the species named, more fully called yel- 
loic-spotted u-Ulmv-slug, has some economic consequence 
in connection with the osier industry. 
willow-sparrow (wil'o-sparo), n. Same as 
unUow-ti'iirbler. [Local, Eng.J 
willow-thorn (wil'o-thorn), ». Same as sal- 
low-tliorit. See Uippophnii. 
willow-warbler (wir6-war"bler), n. A small 
sylviine bird of Etirope, Sylvia or I'liylloscopu.i 
t'rochHiis; the willow-wren. It is about 5 inches long, 
greenish above, whitish below, and very abundant in sum- 
mer in the British Islands in woods and copses. See chiff- 
chaff. -Yellow-browed barred willow-warbler. See 
yellou'-hrowed warbler, under warbler. 
willow-weed (wil'o-wed), H. l. One of various 
species of ruli/goiium, or knotweed, as P. amphi- 
hiutii, r. Pcr.-iicaria, or P. lapathifolium. Britten 
and Holland. [Prov. Eng.] — 2. The purple 
loosestrife, Lythrum Salicaria. 
willow-wort (wil'6-wert), m. 1. The common 
loosestrife, Lysimarhiu vulgaris, or the purple 
loosestrife, Lythrum Salicaria. — 2. A plant of 
the order Salicineee, the willow family. Lindley. 
willow-wren (wil'o-ren), n. The willow-war- 
bler: a common British name and also book- 
name. 
willowy (wil'o-i), a. [< willow^ + -yl.] 1. 
Abounding with willows. 
Where willowy Camus lingers with delight ! 
Gray, Ode for Music. 
Steadily the millstone hums 
Down in the willowy vale. 
Bryant, Song of the Sower. 
2. Resembling a willow; flexible; drooping; 
pensile; graceful. 
Willsia (wil'si-a), n. [NL., named after one 
jyills.~[ A generic name based on medusoids of 
certain gymnoblastic hydroid polj^ps, apparent- 
ly coryniform, which produce other medusoids 
j4, the medusa, with buddint; stolons. 11, a bud developed on a 
stolon; A, its radial canal; e, m.anubriuiii. C, a stolon ; fr, its free end 
beset with neuiatocysts : b, c, d, d, four buddinji medusoids, the last 
nearly ready to Ije detached ; e and h, as in fig. B. 
like themselves by means of proliferating sto- 
lons; also, a designation of such medusoids. 
In the example figured the stolons are developed at the 
bifurcation of each of the four principal radiating canals 
of the swimming-bell, each stolon endhig in a knob with 
a bunch of thread-cells, and giving rise along one side 
to a series of buds which successively, from the free end 
6930 
toward the other end, acquire the character of complete 
medusoids. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 132. 
Willughbeia (wil-o-be'iii), n. [NL. (Rox- 
burgh, 1819), named for Francis U'illughby, 
lC3,T-7ii, an Englisli naturalist, who wrote on 
the use of sap in plants.] A genus of gamo- 
petalous plants, of the order Apocynaccx and 
tribe Carisi^ae. it is characterized by climbing stems, 
flowers in dense cymes with a five-parted salver-shaped 
corolla bearing its stamens near the base of its tube, and 
followed by a large globose berry with hard pericarp 
and abundant pulp, in appearance resembling an orange. 
By its axillary (not terminal) cymes it is further distin- 
guished from the related climbing genus of india-rubber 
plants, Landolphia, for which the name Willuffhbeia has 
also been used. The genus includes 8 or 10 species, na- 
tives of India, Malacca, and Ceylon. They are sarmen- 
tose shrubs, generally tendril-bearing and climbing to 
great heights. The leaves are opposite, short-petioled, 
and feather-veined. The W. elastica of many writers, an 
india-rubber plant of Borneo, is now classed as Urceola. 
will-willet (wii'wil'et), n. [Cf. icillet, pill- 
roillet.'] 1. S&me a,s pilUwillet. — 2t. The Amer- 
ican oyster-eatcher: as, "the will-willet or oys- 
ter-catcher," Bartram, Travels (od. 1791). Lau- 
son, 1709. 
will-with-a-wisp, «. Same as will-o'-the-wisp, 1. 
will- worship ( wU'wer'ship), n. [A lit. render- 
ing of Gr. iOi'/oftprjOKcia; < wiW + worship.'] 
Worship according to one's own fancy; wor- 
ship imposed merely by human will, not by di- 
vine authority; supererogatory worship. 
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in icill 
worship. Col. ii. 23. 
Let not the obstinacy of our halfe Obedience and iinll 
Worship bring forth that Viper of Sedition that for these 
Foure-score Years hath been breeding to eat through the 
entrals of our Peace. Milton, Keformation in Eng., ii. 
will-worshiper (wirwer"ship-er), )(. One who 
practises wUl-worship. 
He that says "God is rightly worshipped by an act or cere- 
mony concerning which himself hath no way expressed his 
pleasure" — is superstitions or ^will-worshipper. 
Jer. Taylor, Rule of Conscience, II. iii. 13. 
willyl (wil'i), a. [< ME. winy, Willi (= G. willig, 
willing); < roiWl + -(/!.] If. Willing; ready; 
eager. 
All wight men in wer, willy to fight, 
And boldly the bekirt, britnet there fos. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), 1. 7713. 
Be the whilke ilke man that is willy 
May Wynne the liffe that laste schall ay. 
York Plays, p. 458. 
I have assayde zowr suster, and I fonde her never so 
^(•yUy to noon as sche is to hym, zyf it be so that his londe 
stande cleer. Paston Letters, I. SB. 
2. Self-willed; wilful. Jainieson. [Scotch.] 
willy^ (wil'i), n. A dialectal variant of willow'^. 
willy^ (wil'i), )(. [< ME. u-ilic, < AS. wilige, a 
basket made of willow twigs, < wclig, a willow: 
see willow"^. Cf. wccP.~\ A willow basket; a 
fisli-basket. [Prov. Eng.] 
willy* (wil'i), II. Same as willow'^. 
willyard (wil'yiird), «. 1. Wilful; obstinate; 
unmanageable. 
"He's a gnde creature, " saitl she, "and a kind; it's a 
pity he has sae willyard a powny." 
Scott, Heart of Mid-Lothian, xxvi. 
Eh, sirs, but human nature 's a willful and wityard thing. 
Scott, Antiquary, xxv. 
2. Shy; awkward; confused; bewildered. 
But. oh ! for Hogarth's magic pow'r ! 
To show Sir Bardie's uillyart glow'i-. 
And how he star'd and stannner'd. 
Burns, On Meeting with Lord Daer. 
[Scotch in both senses.] 
willying-machine (wil'i-ing-ma-shen"), n. 
Same as milloioiiig-inai'hinc. 
■willy-mufty, -willie-muftie (wiri-muf'ti), «. 
The willow-warbler. [Local, Eng.] 
■willy-nilly (wil'i-nil'i), r(. or «(/i'. 1. Will he or 
will he not; will ye or will ye not; willing or 
unwilling. See iiill^, irill~. — 2. Vacillating; 
shilly-.shallyjng. 
Someone saw thy willy-nilly nun 
Vying a tress against our golden fern. 
Tennyson, Harold, v. 1. 
Also nilly-willy. 
willy-wagtail (wil'i-wag'tal), u. The white 
or pied wagtail. [Local, Eng.] 
willywaw, n. See williwaw. 
Wilmot proviso. See proviso. 
wilnt, V. [< ME. wiliien. wiliiieii, < AS. wihiian, < 
if(7/«((, wish, desire: see ii'(7/l, ic/W2.] I. trans. 
1. To wish; desire. 
If she wUneth fro the for to passe, 
Thanne is she fals, so love here wel the lasse. 
Chaucer, Troilus, iv. 61."). 
And wyliiest to have alle the M'orld at thi commande- 
ment, that schalle leve the with outen fayle. or thou leve 
it. Mandevilte, Travels, p. 29;'.. 
2. To receive willingly ; consent or submit to. 
wily 
To penaunce and to pouerte he mot putte hym-selue, 
And muche wo in this worlde witn^n and stiffren. 
Piers Plowman (C), xxiL «8. 
3. To resolve; determine. 
If a man haue synned longe bifore. 
And axe mercy And a-mende his mys, 
Repeiite, and wilne to synne no more, 
Of that man god gladder is 
Than of a child synlees y-bore. 
Hymns to Vircfin, etc. (E. E. T. S.\ p. 75. 
II. intraiis. To have a desire; long (for); 
yearn or seek (after). 
The cherl . . . higtithastely tohaue what itwoldgerne, 
Appeles <k alle thinges that childern after wilnen. 
William of Paleme (E. E. T. 8.), 1. 59. 
■wilningt, «. [Verbal n. of wiln, v.] Desire; 
inclination ; will. 
In the beestys the love of hyr lyvynges ne of hyr bee- 
inges ne comth nat of the wilnynyes of the sowle, but of 
the bygynnyngis of nature. 
Chaucer, Boethiua, iiL prose 11. 
wilsome^ (wil'sum), a. [< ME. wilsom ; < will^ 
+ -sonic. Ct. wilsome^.'] 1 . Wilful ; obstinate ; 
stubborn. [Prov. Eng. and Scotch.] — 2t. 
Loved; desirable; amiable. 
Thus was the kowherd out of kare kindeli holpen. 
He & his wilsum wif wel to liuen for euer. 
William o/Palerne(E. E. T. 8.), I. .'1394. 
3. Fat; indolent. [I-Vov. Eng.] 
'Wilsome''' (wil'sum), a. [< ME. wilsum, wilsom, 
wildsom (prob. after Icel. villusamr, erroneous, 
false); < wild^ (cf. will^) + -some. Prob. con- 
fused with ici7«oi«el.] 1. Wandering; devious. 
Mony wylsum way he rode, 
The bok as I herde say. 
Sir (Jawayne and the Green Knight (E. E. T. S.), L 689. 
Alias ! what ayles that feende 
Thus wilsom wayes make vs to wende. 
York Plays, p. 144. 
2. Doubtful; uncertain. 
In erthe he was ordand ay. 
To w.arne the folke that ztilsoin wore 
Of Cristis comyng. York Play; p. 97. 
[Provincial in both senses.] 
wilsomeness (wil'sum-nes), «. [ME.; < wil- 
some'^ + -Hcss,] Wilfulness; obstinacy. Wi/clif, 
Eechis. xxxi. 40. 
Wilson's blackcap. See blackcap, 2 (c), and cut 
under Myiodioetcs. 
Wilson's bluebird. The common eastern blue- 
bird of the United States, Sialia sialis (formerly 
<S'. wilsoni). See cut under Sialia. 
Wilson's fly-catching warbler. See warbler, 
and cut under Myiodioctcs. 
Wilson's phalarope. See Steganopus (with 
cut). 
Wilson's sandpiper. See sandpijter, and cut 
under f:tiiif, 3. 
Wilson's snipe. See snipe'^, and cut under 
Galliiiago. 
Wilson's stint. See stint, 3. 
Wilson's stormy petrel. See Oceanites. 
Wilson's tern. See tern^ and Sterna (with out). 
Wilson's theorem. See theorem. 
Wilson's thrush. See reery (with cut). 
■wiltl (wilt), r. [Also welt, dial, variants of 
irilk, wclk (= G. welk, withered, verwclken, fade, 
wither): see wcWl.] 1. intrans. 1. To droop or 
fade, as plants or flowers when cut or plucked; 
wither. 
To wilt, for wither, spoken of green herbs or flowers, is 
a general word. Ray. 
The frosts have fallen and the flowers are drooping, 
summer u~ilts into autumn. .S. Judd, Margaret, ii. 5. 
2. To become soft or languid; lose energy, 
pith, or strength. [Colloq., U. S.] 
II. trans. To cause to droop or become lan- 
guid, as a plant; take the stiffness, strength, 
or vigor out of ; hence, to render limp and pith- 
less ; depress. 
Despots have wilted the human race into sloth and im- 
becility. DuiyhL 
She wanted a pink that Miss Amy had pinned on her 
breast . . . and died, holding the wilted stem in her hand. 
S. Judd, Margaret, ii. 1. 
wilt'"' (wilt). The second person singular pres- 
ent indicative of will^. 
Wilton carpet. See carpet. 
■wiluite (wil iVit), «. [< Wiliii (see def .) -I- -iff2.] 
1. A variety of grossular garnet from the Wilui 
(Vilui) river in eastern Siberia. — 2. A variety 
of vesuvianite from the same locality. 
Also riluite. 
wily (wi'li), a. [Early mod. E. also wilie, icylie; 
< ME. wily, wyly ; < wilc^ + -.i/l.] Full of wiles; 
subtle; cunning; crafty; sly. 
But abone all (for Gods sakeX Son, beware, 
Be not intrapt in Womens wylic snare. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Magnificence. 
