whittle



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Whittle \Whit"tle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whittled; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Whittling.]
   [1913 Webster]
   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To edge; to sharpen; to render eager or excited; esp., to
      excite with liquor; to inebriate. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            "In vino veritas." When men are well whittled, their
            tongues run at random.                --Withals.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Whittle \Whit"tle\, v. i.
   To cut or shape a piece of wood with am small knife; to cut
   up a piece of wood with a knife.
   [1913 Webster]

         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.
   [1913 Webster]
.



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Whittle \Whit"tle\, n. [AS. hw[imac]tel, from hwit white; akin
   to Icel. hv[imac]till 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.
       [1913 Webster]

   Whittle shawl, a kind of fine woolen shawl, originally and
      especially a white one.
      [1913 Webster]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Whittle \Whit"tle\, n. [OE. thwitel, fr. AS. pw[imac]tan to cut.
   Cf. Thwittle, Thwaite a piece of ground.]
   A knife; esp., a pocket, sheath, or clasp knife. "A butcher's
   whittle." --Dryden. "Rude whittles." -- Macaulay.
   [1913 Webster]

         He wore a Sheffield whittle in his hose. --Betterton.
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