25 October 2018
withy
[with -ee, with-ee] Chiefly British
noun, plural withies.
1. a willow.
2. a pliable branch or twig, especially a withe.
3. a band, loop, halter, or rope of slender twigs; widdy.
adjective, withier, withiest.
4. made of pliable branches or twigs, especially of withes.
5. flexible; pliable.
Origin of withy
Middle English, Old English
1000 before 1000; Middle English; Old English wīthig; akin to withe, Old Norse vīthir, Old High German wīda, Greek ītéa willow, Latin vītis vine
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for withy
Historical Examples
The withy bands were but weak; it is no great marvel that he shook them off.
Museum of Antiquity
L. W. Yaggy
A blasted oak will tumble to the earth, if struck by a thunderbolt,—like a withy.
The Buccaneer
Mrs. S. C. Hall
Would you mind taking a turn with me in the withy walk, Harriet Roe?
Johnny Ludlow. First Series
Mrs. Henry Wood
As she was passing the top of the withy walk, their voices reached her ear.
Johnny Ludlow. First Series
Mrs. Henry Wood
With a wire there is little risk of that; but then the withy does not cut its way into the fish.
The Gamekeeper at Home
Richard Jefferies
So much white will not look amiss in this place, and withy is easily worked.
Rustic Carpentry
Paul N. Hasluck
I tied a withy round the pat and led it home; but it was all lost by the way.’
Tales from the Fjeld
P. Chr. Asbjrnsen
In this Nera goes to tie a withy to the foot of a man who has been hung.
The Religion of the Ancient Celts
J. A. MacCulloch
It is, however, the plantations of withy or osier that are most important.
Hodge and His Masters
Richard Jefferies
The fox had been found in a spinney running down to withy Brook, and his race for life had begun.
Vanishing Roads and Other Essays
Richard Le Gallienne
Anagram
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Today’s quote
Cherish all your happy moments; they make a fine cushion for old age.
– Booth Tarkington
On this day
25 October 1854 – Charge of the Light Brigade. A famous cavalry charge led by Lord Cardigan of Britain, against the Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. The Russians were victorious. The charge was immortalised in the poem of the same name by poet laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The poem can be read here: http://www.ram.org/contrib/the_charge_of_the_light_brigade.html
25 October 1917 – October Revolution. This is the traditional date (old style Julian calendar) for the October Revolution, which corresponds with 7 – 8 November 1917 (new style Gregorian calendar) for the October Revolution. Part of the Russian Revolution which commenced with the February Revolution (8-12 March 1917) and which overthrew the Russian Provisional Government and replaced it with the Soviet government.
25 October 1923 – the first jar of vegemite rolls off the production lines. It was developed by a chemist named Dr Cyril P. Calister, under direction of the Fred Walker Company (which later became Kraft). Australia’s iconic vegemite is a yeast extract spread, great for toast, crumpets, pikelets, gravy, stews, soups and anything else.
25 October 1941 – birth of Helen Reddy, legendary 1970’s Australian singer, with hit songs such as I Am Woman, and Delta Dawn.
25 October 1964 – Zambian Independence. Formerly, Northern Rhodesia, the British government grants independence. The first president is Kenneth Kaunda of the United National Independence Party.
25 October 1993 – death of Vincent Price, American actor, starred in a number of horror films, including House of Wax, House of Usher and The Raven. He also acted in the 1960s television series Batman, in which he played the evil mastermind, Egghead; a master criminal with a fixation on eggs. Price provided a voice-over on Alice Cooper’s 1975 album Welcome to My Nightmare. In 1976, Price recorded a cover version of Bobby Pickett song, Monster Mash. Born 27 May 1911.