Category:Whittle

Whit"tle, n. Etym: [as. hwitel, from hwit white; akin to icel. Hvitill a white bed cover. See white.] (a) a grayish, coarse double blanket worn by countrywomen, in the West of england, over the shoulders, like a cloak or shawl. C. Kingsley. (b) same as whittle shawl, below. Whittle shawl, a kind of fine Woolen shawl, originally and especially a white one.

Whittle Whit"tle, n. Etym: [oe. thwitel, fr. As. pwitan to cut. Cf. Thwittle, Thwaite a piece of ground.]

Defn: a knife; esp., a pocket, sheath, or clasp knife. "a butcher's Whittle." Dryden. "rude whittles." Macaulay. He wore a sheffield whittle in his hose. Betterton.

Whittle Whit"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whittled; p. pr. & vb. n. Whittling.]

1. To pare or cut off the surface of with a small knife; to cut or Shape, as a piece of wood held in the hand, with a clasp knife or Pocketknife.

2. To edge; to sharpen; to render eager or excited; esp., to excite With liquor; to inebriate. [obs.] "in vino veritas." When men are well whittled, their tongues run at Random. Withals.

Whittle Whit"tle, v. i.

Defn: to cut or shape a piece of wood with am small knife; to cut up A piece of wood with a knife. Dexterity with a pocketknife is a part of a nantucket education; but I am inclined to think the propensity is national. Americans must and Will whittle. Willis.