词源字典 w.doc

-ward adv. suffix expressing direction, O.E. -weard toward, lit. turned toward, sometimes -weardes, with genitive singular ending of neuter adjectives, from P.Gmc. *warth (cf. O.S., O.Fris. -ward, O.N. -verr), variant of PIE *wert- to turn, wind, from base *wer- to turn, bend (see versus). The original notion is of turned toward. -worth as final element in place names, is from O.E. wor enclosed place, homestead. W not in the Roman alphabet, but the Mod.Eng. sound it represents is close to the devocalized consonant expressed by Roman -U- or -V-. In O.E., this originally was written -uu-, but by 8c. began to be expressed by the runic character wyn (Kentish wen), which looked something like a cross between lower-case -p- and -y-. In 11c., Norman scribes introduced -w-, a ligatured doubling of Roman -u- which had been used on the continent for the Gmc. w sound, and wyn disappeared c.1300. W.C. lavatory, 1954, abbreviation of water closet. WAC 1943, Amer.Eng., acronym from Womens Army Corps, formed 1943. wacke rock resembling sandstone, 1803, from Ger. Wacke, from M.H.G. wacke a large stone, from O.H.G. wacko gravel, probably from O.H.G. wegan to move. A miners word, brought into geology by Ger. geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner (1750-1817). wacky crazy, eccentric, 1935, variant of whacky (n.) fool, late 1800s British slang, probably ultimately from whack a blow, stroke, from the notion of being whacked on the head one too many times. Wack crazy person is a 1938 back-formation; extended form wacko is recorded from 1977. Wack in slang sense of worthless, stupid, is attested from late 1990s. wad 1540, soft material for padding or stuffing, of uncertain origin, and the different meanings may represent more than one source. Among the possible connections are M.L. wadda, Du. watten, and M.E. wadmal (1392) woolen cloth, which seems to be from O.N. vamal a woolen fabric of Scandinavia, probably from va cloth + mal measure. The meaning bundle of currency is Amer.Eng., 1778. The verb is first recorded 1579. To shoot (ones) wad do all one can do is recorded from 1914. The immediate source of the expression probably is the noun sense of disk of cloth used to hold powder and shot in place in a gun. Wad in slang sense of a load of semen is attested from 1920s, and the expression now often is felt in this sense. As a suffix, -wad in 1980s joined -bag, -ball, -head in combinations meaning disgusting or unpleasant person. waddle (v.) to walk with short steps, 1592, frequentative of wade. The noun is recorded from 1691. wade O.E. wadan to go forward, proceed, in poetic use only, except as oferwaden wade across, from P.Gmc. *wadan (cf. O.N. vaa, Dan. vade, O.Fris. wada, Du. waden, O.H.G. watan, Ger. waten to wade), from PIE base *wadh- to go, found only in Gmc. and L. (cf. L. vadere to go, vadum shoal, ford, vadare to wade). The notion is of to advance into water. It. guado, Fr. gu ford are Gmc. loan-words. Originally a strong verb (p.t. wod, pp. wad); weak since 16c. Fig. sense of to go into (action, battle, etc.) is recorded from c.1374. Waders waterproof high boots is from 1841. wadi watercourse, 1839, from Arabic wadi seasonal watercourse, prop. part. of wada it flowed. wafer 1368, from Anglo-Fr. wafre, O.N.Fr. waufre honeycomb, wafer, perhaps from Frankish (cf. Flem. wafer, altered from M.Du. wafel honeycomb; see waffle (n.). Also found in O.Fr. as gaufre, gofre wafer, waffle. Eucharistic bread first so called 1559. waffle (n.) 1744, from Du. wafel waffle, from M.Du. or M.L.G. wafel; cognate with O.H.G. waba honeycomb (Ger. Wabe) and related to O.H.G. weban, O.E. wefan to weave (see weave). Sense of honeycomb is preserved in some combinations referring to a weave of cloth. Waffle iron is from 1794. waffle (v.) 1698, to yelp, bark, frequentative of waff to yelp (1610); possibly of imitative origin. Figurative sense of talk foolishly (1701) led to that of vacillate, equivocate (1803), originally a Scottish and northern Eng. usage. waft 1513, to carry over water, back-formation from obs. wafter convoy ship (1482), from M.Du. or M.L.G. wachter a guard, from wachten to guard, related to waken rouse from sleep (see wake (1). The meaning pass through air or space, float is first attested 1704, and possibly shows some influence of northern dialect waff cause to move to and fro (1513), a variant of wave. wag (v.) c.1225, probably from a Scand. source (cf. O.N. vagga a cradle, Dan. vugge rock a cradle, O.Swed. wagga fluctuate), and in part from O.E. wagian move backwards and forwards; all from P.Gmc. *wagojanan (cf. O.H.G. weggen, Goth. wagjan to wag), probably from PIE base *wegh- to move about (see weigh). Wagtail is attested from 1510 as a kind of small bird; 18c. as a harlot, but seems to be implied much earlier: If therefore thou make not thy mistress a goldfinch, thou mayst chance to find her a wagtaile. Lyly, Midas, 1592 Wag-at-the-wall (1825) was an old name for a hanging clock with pendulum and weights exposed. wag (n.) person fond of making jokes, 1553, perhaps a shortening of waghalter gallows bird, person destined to swing in a noose or halter, applied humorously to mischievous children, from wag (v.) + halter. Or possibly directly from wag (v.). wage (n.) c.1300, a payment for services rendered, also in M.E. a pledge of security (1338), from O.N.Fr. wage (O.Fr. guage) pledge, from Frank. *wadja- (cf. O.E. wedd, Gothic wadi pledge); see wed. Mod.Fr. cognate gages (pl.) means wages of a domestic, one of a plethora of Fr. words for different classes, e.g. traitement (university professor), paye, salaire (workman), solde (soldier), rcompense, prix. The O.E. (and usual Gmc.) word was lean, related to loan (cf. Goth. laun, Du. loon, Ger. lohn) wage (v.) c.1320, to pledge, deposit as a pledge, from O.N.Fr. wagier (O.Fr. gagier), from wage (see wage (n.). Meaning to carry on (of war, etc.) is attested from 1456, probably from earlier sense of to offer as a gage of battle (c.1430). wager (n.) 1303, from Anglo-Fr. wageure, from O.N.Fr. wagier to pledge (see wage (n.). The verb is first recorded 1602. waggish willing to make a fool of oneself, and fond of doing so to others, 1589, see wag (n.). waggle 1440, frequentative of wag (v.). Cf. Du. waggelen to waggle, O.H.G. wagon to move, shake, Ger. wackeln to totter. wagon 1523, from M.Du. wagen, waghen, from P.Gmc. *wagnaz (cf. O.E. wgn, Mod.Eng. wain, O.S., O.H.G. wagan, O.N. vagn, O.Fris. wein, Ger. Wagen), from PIE *woghnos, from *wegh- to carry, to move (cf. Skt. vahanam vessel, ship, Gk. okhos, L. vehiculum, O.C.S. vozu carriage, chariot, Rus. povozka, Lith. vazis a small sledge, O.Ir. fen, Welsh gwain carriage, cart; see weigh). In Du. and Ger., the general word for a wheel vehicle; Eng. use is a result of contact through Flemish immigration, Dutch trade, or the Continental wars. It has largely displaced the native cognate, wain. Spelling preference varied randomly between -g- and -gg- from mid-18c., before Amer.Eng. settled on the etymological wagon, while waggon remained common in Great Britain. Wagon train is attested from 1810. Phrase on the wagon abstaining from alcohol is 1904, originally on the water cart. wah-wah 1926, in jazz slang, in ref. to the effect on brass instruments made by manipulating the mute; of imitative origin. Later also in ref. to an electric guitar effect. As an imitation of the sound of a baby crying, it is recorded from 1938. Wah-wah pedal is recorded from 1969. Cf. Cree wehwew goose, Algonquian wava snow goose, of imitative origin. Wahabi 1807, follower of Islamic fundamentalist Abd-el-Wahhab (1691-1787), from his name, with Arabic gen. suffix -i. wahoo type of large marine fish, 1905, of unknown origin. waif 1376, unclaimed property, flotsam, stray animal, from Anglo-Norm. waif, gwaif (1223) ownerless property, probably from a Scand. source akin to O.N. veif waving thing, flag, from P.Gmc. *waif-, from PIE *weip- to turn, vacillate, tremble ecstatically. Cf. M.L. waivium thing thrown away by a thief in flight. A Scot./northern Eng. parallel form was wavenger (1493). Meaning person (especially a child) without home or friends first attested 1784, from legal phrase waif and stray (1624). Neglected children being uncommonly thin, the word tended toward this sense. Connotations of fashionable, small, slender woman began 1991 with application to childishly slim supermodels such as Kate Moss. wail (v.) c.1330, from O.N. vla to lament, from v woe (see woe). Of jazz musicians, to play very well, attested from 1955, Amer.Eng. slang (wailing excellent is attested from 1954). The noun is recorded from c.1400. wain O.E. wgn wheeled vehicle, from P.Gmc. *wagnaz (see wagon). Largely fallen from use by c.1600, but kept alive by poets, who found it easier to rhyme on than wagon. Wainwright wagon-builder is O.E. wgn-wyrhta. wainscot 1352, imported oak of superior quality, probably from M.Du. or M.Flem. waghenscote superior quality oak wood, board used for paneling (though neither of these is attested as early as the Eng. word), related to M.L.G. wagenschot (1389), from waghen (see wagon) + scote partition, crossbar. So called perhaps because the wood originally was used for wagon building and coachwork. Meaning panels lining the walls of rooms is recorded from 1548. Wainscoting is from 1580. waist O.E. *wst growth, hence, perhaps, where the body grows, from P.Gmc. *wahs-tu- (cf. O.E. wstm, O.N. vaxtr, Swed. vxt, O.H.G. wahst growth, increase, Goth. wahstus stature, O.E. weaxan to grow see wax (v.), from PIE *wegs-, extended form of base *aug- to increase (see augment). Meaning portion of a garment that covers the waist (but, due to fashion styles, often is above or below it) is from 1650. Waistcoat is attested from 1519. Waistline is attested from 1896. wait (v.) c.1200, to watch with hostile intent, lie in wait for, from O.N.Fr. waitier to watch (Fr. guetter), from Frank. *wahton (cf. Du. wacht a watching, O.H.G. wahten, Ger. wachten to watch, to guard; O.H.G. wahhon to watch, be awake, O.E. wacian to be awake; see wake (v.). General sense of remain in some place is from 1375; meaning serve as an attendant at a table is from 1568. The noun is first attested c.1300. To wait (something) out endure a period of waiting is recorded from 1909, originally Amer.Eng., in ref. to baseball batters trying to draw a base on balls. Waiting game is recorded from 1890. Waiting room is attested from 1683. Waiting list is recorded from 1897; the verb wait-list to put (someone) on a waiting list is recorded from 1960. waiter 1382, attendant, watchman, agent noun from wait (v.). Sense of servant who waits at tables is from 1483, originally in ref. to household servants; in ref. to inns, eating houses, etc., it is attested from 1663. Fem. form waitress first recorded 1834. waive c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. weyver to abandon, waive, O.Fr. weyver, guever to abandon, give back, probably from a Scand. source akin to O.N. veifa to swing about, from P.Gmc. *waibijanan (see waif). In M.E. legal language, used of rights, goods, or women. Waiver act of waiving is from 1628 (modern usage is often short for waiver clause); baseball waivers is recorded from 1907. wake (v.) to become awake, O.E. wacan to become awake, also from wacian to be or remain awake, both from P.Gmc. *waken (cf. O.S. wakon, O.N. vaka, Dan. vaage, O.Fris. waka, Du. waken, O.H.G. wahhen, Ger. wachen to be awake, Goth. wakan to watch), from PIE base *weg- to be strong, be lively (cf. Skt. vajah force, swiftness, race, prize, vajayati drives on; L. vegere, vigere to be live, be active, quicken, vigil awake, wakeful, vigor liveliness, activity). Causative sense to rouse from sleep is attested from c.1300. Phrase wake-up call is attested from 1976, originally a call one received from the hotel desk in the morning. wake (n.2) state of wakefulness, O.E. -wacu (as in nihtwacu night watch), related to watch; and partly from O.N. vaka vigil, eve before a feast, related to vaka be awake (cf. O.H.G. wahta watch, vigil, M.Du. wachten to watch, guard; see wake (v.). Meaning a sitting up at night with a corpse is attested from 1412 (the verb in this sense is recorded from c.1250). The custom largely survived as an Irish activity. Wakeman (c.1200), which survives as a surname, was M.E. for watchman. wake (n.1) track left by a moving ship, 1547, perhaps from M.L.G. or M.Du. wake hole in the ice, from O.N. vok, vaka hole in the ice, from P.Gmc. *wakwo. The sense perhaps evolved via track made by a vessel through ice. Perhaps the Eng. word is directly from Scand. Fig. phrase in the wake of following close behind is recorded from 1806. waken to become awake, O.E. wcnan, wcnian to rise, spring, from the same source as wake (v.). Fig. sense was in O.E. Trans. sense of to arouse (someone or something) from sleep is recorded from c.1200. Walach Romanian people, 1786, from Ger. Wallache, from O.C.S. Vlachu, from O.H.G. wahl foreigner, one speaking a foreign language (see Vlach). Waldensian 1604, from Waldenses (pl.), 1449, from M.L., apparently from Waldensis, a variant form of the surname of Peter Waldo, the preacher who originated the sect c.1170 in southern France. Excommunicated 1184, they eventually were swept into the Protestant revolt (16c.). Waldorf salad 1911, from Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, where it first was served. wale O.E. walu ridge, as of earth or stone, later ridge made on flesh by a lash (related to weal (2); from P.Gmc. *walo (cf. Low Ger. wale weal, O.Fris. walu rod, O.N. vlr round piece of wood, Goth. walus a staff, stick, Du. wortel, Ger. wurzel root). The common notion perhaps is raised line. Used in reference to the ridges of textile fabric from 1583. Wales horizontal planks which extend along a ships sides is attested from 1295. Wales see Welsh. walk (v.) O.E. wealcan to toss, roll, and wealcian to roll up, curl, muffle up, from P.Gmc. *welk- (cf. O.N. valka to drag about, Dan. valke to full, M.Du. walken to knead, press, full, O.H.G. walchan to knead, Ger. walken to full), perhaps ult. from PIE base *wel- to turn, bend, twist, roll (see vulva). Meaning shifted in early M.E., perhaps from colloquial use of the O.E. word. Rarely is there so specific a word as NE walk, clearly distinguished from both go and run Buck. Meaning to go away is recorded from c.1460. Trans. meaning to exercise a dog (or horse) is from 1470. Walk-up in ref. to an apartment not accessible by elevator is attested from 1919 as an adj., 1925 as a noun. The surname Walker probably preserves the cloth-fulling sense. walk (n.) c.1386, act of walking (see walk (v.). The noun meaning broad path in a garden is from 1533; walk of life is from 1752. Sports sense of base on balls is recorded from 1905. walk-on minor non-speaking role, 1902, theatrical slang. Meaning Actor who has such a part is attested from 1946. The sports team sense is recorded from 1974. walk-out strike, 1888, from walk + out. Phrase Walk out to leave is attested from 1840. walk-over easy victory, 1838, such as one that happens in the absence of competitors, when the solitary starter can traverse the course at a walk. Transf. sense of anything accomplished with great ease is attested from 1902. To walk (all) over (someone) treat with contempt is from 1851. walkabout periodic migration by a westernized Aboriginal into the bush, 1828, Australian Eng. walkie-talkie 1939, popularized in World War II army slang, from walk + talk. walking c.1400, pp. adj. from walk (v.). Walking sickness, one in which the sufferer is able to get about and is not bed-ridden, is from 1846. Walking wounded is recorded from 1917. Walking bass is attested from 1939 in jazz slang. Walking stick is recorded from 1580; the insect so called from 1760. wall O.E. weall rampart (natural as well as man-made), also defensive fortification around a city, side of a building, interior partition, an Anglo-Frisian and Saxon borrowing (cf. O.S., O.Fris., M.L.G., M.Du. wal) from L. vallum wall, rampart, row or line of stakes, apparently a collective form of vallus stake. Swed. vall, Dan. val are from Low Ger. In this case, Eng. uses one word where many languages have two, e.g. Ger. Mauer outer wall of a town, fortress, etc., used also in ref. to the former Berlin Wall, and wand partition wall within a building (cf. the distinction, not always rigorously kept, in It. muro/parete, Ir. mur/fraig, Lith. muras/siena, etc.). The verb meaning to enclose in a wall is late O.E. *weallian. Wallpaper is attested from 1827. Phrase up the wall angry, crazy is from 1951; off the wall unorthodox, unconventional is recorded from 1966, Amer.Eng. student slang. Wall-to-wall (adj.) recorded 1953, of carpeting; metaphoric use (usually disparaging) is from 1967. Wall Street U.S. financial world, 1836, from street in New York City that is home to many investment firms and stock traders, as well as NYSE. The street so called because it ran along the interior of the defensive wall of the old Dutch colonial town. wallaby kind of small kangaroo, 1826, from native Australian wolaba. wallbanger cocktail made from vodka or gin and orange juice, 1970, in full Harvey wallbanger. Probably so called from its effect on the locomotive skills of the consumer. wallet c.1386, bag, knapsack, of uncertain origin, probably from O.Fr., perhaps from P.Gmc. *wal- r