v. t. To open and cleanse, as cotton, flax, or wool, by means of a willow. See Willow, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. wilowe, wilwe, AS. wilig, welig; akin to OD. wilge, D. wilg, LG. wilge. Cf. Willy. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Bot.) Any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, including many species, most of which are characterized often used as an emblem of sorrow, desolation, or desertion. “A wreath of willow to show my forsaken plight.” Sir W. Scott. Hence, a lover forsaken by, or having lost, the person beloved, is said to wear the willow. [ 1913 Webster ]

And I must wear the willow garland
For him that's dead or false to me. Campbell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Textile Manuf.) A machine in which cotton or wool is opened and cleansed by the action of long spikes projecting from a drum which revolves within a box studded with similar spikes; -- probably so called from having been originally a cylindrical cage made of willow rods, though some derive the term from winnow, as denoting the winnowing, or cleansing, action of the machine. Called also willy, twilly, twilly devil, and devil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Almond willow,
Pussy willow,
Weeping willow. (Bot.) See under Almond, Pussy, and Weeping. --
Willow biter (Zool.) the blue tit. [ Prov. Eng. ] --
Willow fly (Zool.), a greenish European stone fly (Chloroperla viridis); -- called also yellow Sally. --
Willow gall (Zool.), a conical, scaly gall produced on willows by the larva of a small dipterous fly (Cecidomyia strobiloides). --
Willow grouse (Zool.), the white ptarmigan. See ptarmigan. --
Willow lark (Zool.), the sedge warbler. [ Prov. Eng. ] --
Willow ptarmigan (Zool.) (a) The European reed bunting, or black-headed bunting. See under Reed. (b) A sparrow (Passer salicicolus) native of Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe. --
Willow tea, the prepared leaves of a species of willow largely grown in the neighborhood of Shanghai, extensively used by the poorer classes of Chinese as a substitute for tea. McElrath. --
Willow thrush (Zool.), a variety of the veery, or Wilson's thrush. See Veery. --
Willow warbler (Zool.), a very small European warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus); -- called also bee bird, haybird, golden wren, pettychaps, sweet William, Tom Thumb, and willow wren. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding with willows; containing willows; covered or overgrown with willows. “Willowed meads.” Collins. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A willow. See Willow, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A perennial herb (Epilobium spicatum) with narrow willowlike leaves and showy rose-purple flowers. The name is sometimes made to include other species of the same genus. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spiked willow-herb, a perennial herb (Lythrum Salicaria) with willowy leaves and spiked purplish flowers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the color of the willow; resembling the willow; willowy. Walton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A thorny European shrub (Hippophae rhamnoides) resembling a willow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) (a) A European species of loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris). (b) Any kind of Polygonum with willowlike foliage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) (a) Same as Willow-weed. (b) Any plant of the order Salicaceae, or the Willow family. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Abounding with willows. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where willowy Camus lingers with delight. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resembling a willow; pliant; flexible; pendent; drooping; graceful. [ 1913 Webster ]