wood-bird 
wood-bird (wud'berd), 
in the woods. 
A bird that lives 
Begin theae wood-birds but to couple now ? 
Shak., M. .v. D., iv. 1. 146. 
wood-block (wud'blok), H. 1. In cngr<iviii(j,ii 
die cut in relief on wood, and in condition for 
furnishing impressions in ink in a printing- 
press; a woodcut. See wnod-cn graving. The 
wood commonly used fnr wooii-blocks is box, the blocks 
being cut directly across the grain. Infei-ior kinds of wood, 
such as American rock-maple, pear, plane, etc., are used 
for coarser work. 
2. A print or impression from such an engraved 
block; a woodeut. Also used attril)utively in 
both senses: as, ifood-blncl: illustrations. 
wood-boiler (wud'boi'ler). It. A vessel adapted 
for boiling wood in order to soften it and thus 
facilitate working. 
wood-borer (wud'b6r"er), II. That which bores 
wood, as an insect, a crustacean, or a moUusk. 
Compare Cis, ship-worm, Superda. and teredo. 
and other citations under wond-boriiig. 
wood-boring (wM'bor'ing), a. Capable of or 
characterized by boring wood; having the hab- 
its of a wood-borer: as, the ifoorf-6«rJ«(/ shrimps; 
wood-boriiuj beetles. See gribble'^, Limnoriii, 
Clieluridee, LymexyJnn, ship-worm, and teredo. 
wood-bom (wud'bom), a. Born in the woods. 
[Kare.] 
The woodb&nie people fall before her ilat. 
Spenser, F. Q., I. vi. 16. 
wood-bound (wild 'bound), 11. Encumbered with 
tall woo(lv- hedgerows. Jiiip. Diet. 
wood-brick (wiid'brik), n. A block of wood, of 
the shape and size of a brick, inserted in the 
interior walls of a building to afford a hold for 
the joinery, etc. 
Woodbridge giin. See gun^. 
WOOd-broney (wnd'bro ni), H. The common 
ash, I-'rtuiiiiis execltior. [Prov. Eng.] 
wood-broom (wiid'brom), ti. The wild teazel, 
Vipsaeiis sylvestri.s. 
wood-bug (wiid'bug), H. A forest-bug. 
Woodburjrtvpe (wuil'ber-i-tip), )(. [Xamed 
after Sir Walter KV)orf6«ry, the inventor.] 1. 
A photomechanical process in which a ma- 
trix is produced from a negative on a plate of 
bichromated gelatin, hai-deneil in alum, and 
transferred under very heavy presstire to a sur- 
face of metal. The rusuUinp plate of metal affords 
very beautiful prints in the lithographic press. The 
printing is done in a pigment compounded with gelatin, 
tile impression being hardened and fi-xed by inuuersion in 
a solution of alum. Compjire hetwtj/pij. 
2. A picture produced by this process. 
wood-calamint(wiid'kar'a-mint), n. See Cahi- 
lllillfhil. 
wood-carpet (wud'kar'pet). II. 1. A floor- 
covering made of slats or more ornamental 
shapes of wood of dilTerent colors, fastened to a 
cloth backing. The dllfercnt pieces of wood are ar- 
range<l so as to produce the elfects of tessellated tI(K)rs, 
mosaic-work, etc. Also called in the Tnited States wfntd- 
carpetint/, 
2. A British georaetrid moth, Mclaiiippe rirritii, 
common in the south of England. 
wood-carver (wud'kiir'ver), n. One who carves 
wood. 
The peasants are turners, lapidaries, electro-platers, 
wood-carvers, and spectacle-makL-rs. 
Edinburgh P.ev., CLXVI. 310. 
wood-carving (wiid'kiir ving), II. 1. The art 
or process of carving wood. — 2. A piece of 
sculpture in wood. 
wood-cell (wtid'sel), II. A cell normally enter- 
ing into the composition of the wood of plants. 
Wood -cells are one of the regular modirtrations of prosen- 
chyiua, consistiir,' of cell-structures greatly elongated in 
proportion t»t thtiir In-eadth, with very thick walls and 
nsually pointed extremities. When thoroughly lignifled, 
wood-cells take little active part it? the metabolism of the 
plant, their function beiTig mainly to give strength and 
power of resistance to it. Also calleil woixty fiber. See 
prosen^hyrrut, timue, 4, and cut under disk, 4 (/'). 
wood-charcoal (wud'chiirkol), ». See ehar- 
ciial, 1. 
WOOdchatfwud'clmt), «. The red-backed shrike 
or butcher-bird of Africa and Europe, Lriiiiiis 
rufus. Also called L. iiiirinilntns and by other 
names. It is occasionally seen in Great Britain in sum- 
mer. The name is misleading, as the bird is not a chat in 
any proper sense. 
woodchat-shrike (witd'chat-sinik), >i. The 
woodcliat. 
wood-chopper (wud'chop'er). II. Oncwhochops 
wood; specifically, one who cuts down trees, as 
a lumlierman. 
WOOdchUCk^ fwiid'chuk), ii. [Also irfiodKhoci; 
applied to a different quadruped; a corruption, 
simulating E. n-midl, of irrjiirk, wcejael; repr. an 
Araer. Ind. name, of which the Cree form is ren- 
dered otchock by Sir .Tohii K'icliardson.] Tlie 
6965 
commonest North American species of marmot, 
Aretoiiiys monax, a large rodent quadruped of 
the family Seliiriilie. It is from l.l to 18 inches long, 
of very stout, heavy form, with brownish and grayish tints 
above, and reddish-brown 1)l'1ow. It feeds on vegetables 
of many kinds, Ijurrows in the ground, and hibernates in 
winter. Also called fjround-hog and chuck. See cut under 
.4rc((Mni/s.— WOOdChuCk day, in popular myth and rural 
tradition, the day on which the woodchuck rtrst conies out 
of its hole after its hibernation, tliis action being regarded 
as affording a weather-prophecy. The saying goes that if 
the woodchuck sees its shadow on that day, it retires to 
its burrow for six weeks longer, which implies that warm, 
sunshiny weather very early in the spring, or in Febrmiry, 
arousing the woodchuck from its torpidity, is likely to be 
followed by a cold or late season. Also (fround-hog day. 
woodchuck- (wud'ehuk), n. [Prob. < wooift + 
eh iiek^, var. of ehrickS.'] The green woodpecker, 
Gceinus viridis. See cut under jioj^ayVi^. [Prov. 
Eng.] 
WOOd-chuck (wud'ehuk), H. In a lathe, a chuck 
adapted for holding a piece of wood to be oper- 
ated on. 
The stoppers are fixed in a hollow wood-chitck by slight 
blows of a mallet. O'Bryne, Artisan's Handbook, p. 195. 
WOodcoal (wud'kol), H. Charcoal. 
woodcock (wtid'kok), H. [< ME. wodekoc, wode- 
kok, icoddccoke, < AS. iciidticoc, a woodcock; as 
icoodl -t- corf-l.] 1. One of two distinct birds 
of the family Heolopacidse, closely related to the 
true snipe (dalliiiago). (a) In Europe, Scolopax 
rusticula (wrongly spelled rusiicula), a verj- common bird 
of the northerly parts of the Old World, one of the largest 
and best-known representatives of its family, highly es- 
European Wondcock ^Stolt^pitx riistuiiln). 
teemed as a game-bird, its flesh being delicious, while the 
thick cover it inhabits and the rapidity of its flight test 
the nerve and skill of the sportsman. It is migratory, 
breeding chiefly in tlie higher latitudes, nesting upon the 
ground in a dry spot under cover, and laying four eggs. 
This woodcock is over 12 inches in length, and weighs from 
10 to I.') ounces ■, the plumage is intimately variegated with 
brown, lilack, russet, and tawny. It is seldom seen in 
America, and only as a straggler from l-^urope. (6) In 
the I'nited States and Canada, Phitohela minnr, a bird 
of the same general cliaracteristics as the former, but 
smaller, usually nndeV 12 inches in lengtli, and weighing 
9 ounces or less; the under parts are whole-colored, and 
there is a generic diflerence from Scidopax rusticula in the 
American Wcrfidcock ^riiiloiifhi minor\. 
structure of the outer primaries, tliree of which are at- 
tenuated and abbreviated in Philiihela. The sexes are 
alike in color, but the female is considerably larger than 
the male, and alone reaches the maxinnnn size and weight 
above given ; the male is usually 10 to IJ inches long, and 
16 to 17 in spread, weighing r-,, 6, or 7 ounces according to 
condition. The bill is pei-fectly straight, 2^ to ;i inclles 
long, and deejiiy furrowed; it is a very sensitive probe, 
with wliich the bird feels for woi-ins in the muii by thrust- 
ing it in for its full length. The physiognomy of the 
woodcock is peculiar, by reason of the shape of the head, 
and the great size of the <lark eyes, as well as their site 
high up and far hack. The wings are short and rounded, 
but ample; the tail is vei-; shfirt, roinided, and usually 
lield up : tlie legs arc feathered t^i the heel, iiakeil beyond ; 
the toes are cleft (juite to the base ; there Is a small hind 
toe, and tlie middle toe with its claw is rather hniger than 
tile tarsus. The woodcock is to some extent a Tiocturnal 
bird. It abon?i(ls in most of its range, and is one of the 
leading game-birds of America; it is found in bogs and 
swamps, wet woodlan4ls, alder-brakes (sometimes called 
woiidcork-brakes in consequence), and not seldom in quite 
dry flckls, as corn-fleids; it is migratory, but erratic and 
capricious in its movements, and nests througlnmt its 
woodcut 
range. The eggs are laid on the ground, generally in 
April (eailler oi- later according to latitude) ; they are less 
pointed than usual among waders, 1.} by 1,', inches in size, 
of a l>rownish-gray color, witli very numerous and small 
chocolate-brown surface-spots and neutral-tint shell-spots ; 
the full number is four. The woodcock has a peculiar 
bleating cry. and sometimes exhibits the curious habit of 
removing the young from danger by flying otf with the 
chick, whicli is lield in tlie parent's feet. Also called snipe, 
with or without qualifying words (see snipe^,\ (c)), Ameri- 
can woodcock, little woodcock, lesser woodcock, red woodcock, 
wood-hen, bog-sucker, boybird, timberdoodle, Iiookumpake, 
night-peck, night-partrid'je, sfirups, cock (stiort for wood- 
cock), and Labrador twister. 
2. The largo black pileated woodpecker, or log- 
cock, Hylotomus (or Ceophlccus) pihatiis. See 
cut under ji«7«(teff. [Local, U.S.] 
Woodcock ... is applied by backwoodsmen and other 
country folk to the pileated woodpecker, . . . wherever 
that big red-crested bird of the tall timber is foumi. 
O- Trumbull, Bird Names (18S8), p. 161. 
3. In coiieh., a woodcock-shell: more fully 
called thorny Koodcoek. Also called Vemis's- 
eoiitb. — 4. A simpleton: in allusion to the fa- 
cility with which the European woodcock al- 
lows itself to bo taken in springes or in nets set 
for it in the glades. 
tJo, like a woodcock. 
And thrust your neck i' the noose. 
Btau. and Ft., Loyal Subject, iv. 5. 
Among us in England this l)ird is infamous for its sim- 
plicity or folly, so that a woodcock is proverbially used for 
a foolisli, simple person. Willoughby. 
Little woodcock. («) The gieat or double snipe, or wood- 
cock-snipe, Gaflinago major. [British.) (6) The Ameri- 
can woodcock, Pldlohela minor: a book-name. [U. S.] — 
Springes to catch woodcocks, arts to entrap simplicity. 
S/ia*THanilet, i. 3. 116.— Woodcock's crosst, penitence 
for folly. 
Not controversies now arc in disputes 
At Westminster, where such a coyle they keepe; 
Where man doth man within the law betosse. 
Till some go croslesse home by Woodcocks cros^e. 
John Taylor, Works (1630). (Xares.) 
Woodcock's head. («) A tobacco-pipe: so called from 
the sliapc. 
Sac. peace, I pray you, I love not the breath of a 
I'-oodcock's head. 
Fastid. Meaning my head, lady? 
Sav. Not altogether so, sir ; but as it were fatal to their 
follies tliat think to grace themselves with taking tobacco, 
when they want better entertainment, you see your pipe 
bears the true ft>rm of a wood-cock' s head. 
B. .tonson. Every Man out of his Humour, ill. ;i 
(6) A woodeock-shell, an Murex haustettuoi. 
woodcock-eye (wiid'kok-i), u. A snap-hook. 
E. U. Knight. [Eng.] 
woodcock-fish (winrkok-hsh), II. The sea- 
woodcock or trumpet-fish, Cenlriscus (or ildc- 
rorh(iniplioxiis) scolopax: so called from the long 
beak, like that of the snipe or woodcock. See 
cut under snipe-tish. 
woodcock-owl (wiid'kok-oul), II. The short- 
eareil owl, Asio iieeipitriniis, Otns braehyotns, 
or llrochyotii.i palii.ttris: so called from its asso- 
ciation with the European woodcock. [Local, 
Eng. and Ireland.] 
woodcock-pilot (wVul'kok-pilot), It. The Eu- 
ropean gold-crested kinglet, Jlcgnliis eri.'ifatns : 
so called as preceding the woodcock in migra- 
tion. See cut under goldcrest. [Ijoeal, Eng.] 
woodcock-shell (wiid'kok-shel). II. One of sev- 
eral muricine shells which have a long spout 
or beak, as Manx trilinlns or M. tcntiispiiia ; a 
woodcock, woodcock's head, or Vcnus's-comb. 
See cut under J/»rfj'. 
woodcock-snipe (wud'kok-snip), n. Same as 
little iroodeoek (it) (which see, under iroodcoek). 
wood-copper (wiid'kop't^r), n. See olircnite. 
wood-corn (wud'korn), ti. A certain quantity 
of grain paid by the tenants of some manors in 
Great Britain to the lord of the manor for the 
liberty to pick up dead or broken wood. 
woodcracker (wiid'krak''er), II. The common 
Euro])ean nutcracker or nuthatch, ,Sitt(i ear.fio 
or S. europreii. See cutuuder.S'/7/((. I'lol, Nat. 
Hist. Oxford, ]>. 17;"). ( Yarrcll.) [Local, Eng.] 
woodcraft (wtid'kraft) n. [< ME. irndecriij'! ; 
< iniod^ + cm/yi.] Skill in anything which 
pertains to tlie woods or forest; skill in the 
chase, especially in hunting deer, etc. 
what were ivoodcra.ft without fatigue anil without dan- 
ger'.' Scott, tiuentin Durwanl, x. 
wood-crash (wiid'krash), n. A iiiacliin(>, made 
on the ])riiicii)le of a siiring-rattle, used in the- 
aters to imitate the souikI of breaking timbers. 
wood-cricket (vvi'id'krik"et), H. A kind of 
cricket that lives ii) the woods : specifically, Xi- 
inobiiis sylrcstris, of Europ(\ 
wood-culver (\vud'kul"ver), ii. The wood- 
pigeon or ring-dove. I'olniiiba pahiinhiis. Also 
icood-epicsl. I Prov. Eng.] 
woodcut (wild'kut), «. An engraving on wood, 
or a print from such an engraving. See Hood- 
ciigriiriiig — Woodcut-paper, a «oft paper of very flue 
