the twenty-third letter of the English alphabet, is usually a consonant, but sometimes it is a vowel, forming the second element of certain diphthongs, as in few, how. It takes its written form and its name from the repetition of a V, this being the original form of the Roman capital letter which we call U. Etymologically it is most related to v and u. See V, and U. Some of the uneducated classes in England, especially in London, confuse w and v, substituting the one for the other, as weal for veal, and veal for weal; wine for vine, and vine for wine, etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 266-268. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The grivet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The burning bush; -- said to be called after a quack medicine made from it. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. Prov. G. wabbeln to wabble, and E. whap. Cf. Quaver. ] To move staggeringly or unsteadily from one side to the other; to vacillate; to move the manner of a rotating disk when the axis of rotation is inclined to that of the disk; -- said of a turning or whirling body; as, a top wabbles; a buzz saw wabbles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A hobbling, unequal motion, as of a wheel unevenly hung; a staggering to and fro. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Inclined to wabble; wabbling. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ G. wacke, MHG. wacke a large stone, OHG. waggo a pebble. ] (Geol.) A soft, earthy, dark-colored rock or clay derived from the alteration of basalt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Woad. ] Woad. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. vadd wadding, Dan vat, D. & G. watte. Cf. Wadmol. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A little mass, tuft, or bundle, as of hay or tow. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: A little mass of some soft or flexible material, such as hay, straw, tow, paper, or old rope yarn, used for retaining a charge of powder in a gun, or for keeping the powder and shot close; also, to diminish or avoid the effects of windage. Also, by extension, a dusk of felt, pasteboard, etc., serving a similar purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A soft mass, especially of some loose, fibrous substance, used for various purposes, as for stopping an aperture, padding a garment, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wed hook, a rod with a screw or hook at the end, used for removing the wad from a gun. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Waded; p. pr. & vb. n. Wadding. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To form into a mass, or wad, or into wadding; as, to wad tow or cotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To insert or crowd a wad into; as, to wad a gun; also, to stuff or line with some soft substance, or wadding, like cotton; as, to wad a cloak. [ 1913 Webster ]