wall

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English wallen, from Old English weallian (“to bubble, boil”), from Proto-Germanic *wallōnan, *wellōnan (“to fount, stream, boil”), from Proto-Indo-European *welǝn-, *welǝm- (“wave”). Cognate with Middle Dutch wallen (“to boil, bubble”), Dutch wellen (“to weld”), German wellen (“to wave, warp”), Danish vælde (“to overwhelm”), Swedish välla (“to gush, weld”). See also well.

Verb

wall (third-person singular simple present walls, present participle walling, simple past and past participle walled)

  1. To boil.
  2. To well, as water; spring.
Related terms

Etymology 2

From Middle English walle, from Old English *weall (“spring”), from Proto-Germanic *wallô, *wallaz (“well, spring”). See above. Cognate with Old Frisian walla (“spring”), Old English wiell (“well”).

Noun

wall (plural walls)

  1. (chiefly dialectal) A spring of water.

Etymology 3

From Middle English wall, from Old English weall (“wall, dike, earthwork, rampart, dam, rocky shore, cliff”), from Proto-Germanic *wallaz, *wallan (“wall, rampart, entrenchment”), from Latin vallum (“wall, rampart, entrenchment, palisade”), from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (“to turn, wind, roll”). Cognate with North Frisian wal (“wall”), Dutch wal (“wall, rampart, embankment”), German Wall (“rampart, mound, embankment”), Swedish vall (“mound, wall, bank”). More at wallow, walk.

Noun

wall (plural walls)

Wikipedia has an article on:

Wikipedia

  1. A rampart of earth, stones etc. built up for defensive purposes.
  2. A structure built for defense surrounding a city, castle etc.
    The town wall was surrounded by a moat.
  3. Each of the substantial structures acting either as the exterior of or divisions within a structure.
    We're adding another wall in this room during the remodeling.
    The wind blew against the walls of the tent.
  4. A point of desperation.
  5. A point of defeat or extinction.
  6. An impediment to free movement.
    A wall of police officers met the protesters before they reached the capitol steps.
  7. A type of butterfly (Lasiommata megera).
  8. (often in combination) A barrier.
    a seawall, a firewall
  9. A barrier to vision.
  10. Something with the apparent solidity and dimensions of a building wall.
    a wall of sound, a wall of water
  11. (anatomy, zoology, botany) A divisive or containing structure in an organ or cavity.
    • 1992, Rudolf M. Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, page 4-5
      The epidermal cells of the capsule wall of Jubulopsis, with nodose "trigones" at the angles, are very reminiscent of what one finds in Frullania spp.
  12. (auction) A fictional bidder used to increase the price at an auction. Also called a chandelier.
  13. (soccer) A line of defenders set up between an opposing free-kick taker and the goal.
    • 2011 January 23, Alistair Magowan, “Blackburn 2 - 0 West Brom”, BBC:
      Blackburn were the recipients of another dose of fortune when from another Thomas pass Odemwingie was brought down by Jones inside the penalty area, but referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a free-kick which Chris Brunt slammed into the wall.
  14. (Internet) A personal notice board listing messages of interest to a particular user.
Synonyms
Translations
defensive rampart built up of earth, stone etc.
structure built for defense surrounding or separating an area
permanent, substantial side or division in a building
anatomy, zoology, botany usage
temporary impediment
Lasiommata megera
fictional bidder at an auction
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

Verb

wall (third-person singular simple present walls, present participle walling, simple past and past participle walled)

  1. To enclose with a wall
    He walled the study with books.
  2. (with "in") To enclose by surrounding with walls.
    They had walled in the garden
  3. (with "off") To separate with a wall
    The previous owners had walled off two rooms, making an apartment.
  4. (with "up") To seal with a wall
    They walled up the basement space that had been used as a coal bin.
Translations
to enclose by surrounding with walls

Derived terms

Terms derived from the noun or verb wall

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Scots

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /wɑl/, /wal/

Noun

wall (plural walls)

  1. (spring): A well.
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Last modified on 19 May 2013, at 15:14