† wyen.1
Latterly Scottish and northern. Obsolete.
In Old English chiefly, and in later use only, in poetic use.
1. One who fights; a fighting man; a warrior or soldier.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > [noun]
wyec900
rinkeOE
earlOE
manlOE
champion?c1225
warrer?c1225
drightmanc1275
here-dringc1275
here-gumec1275
here-kempec1275
wal-kempc1275
warrior1297
battlerc1300
fighterc1300
battle-wrighta1400
man-of-war1449
frekec1475
war-manc1485
combatant1489
Mars1565
warfarer1591
combater1598
Mavortian1598
brave1601
fire-eater1792
war-wolf1810
war-hound1812
war-dog1846
toa1860
Mavors1868
fightist1877
ninja1964
simba1964
α.
β. a1400–50 Wars Alex. (Ashm.) 1030 Bot wees wiȝtly with-in þe wallis ascendid, Freschely fendid of.c1420 Anturs of Arth. (Douce) liv Þe wees, þat werene wounded so woþely.., Surgenes sone saued.c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1212 Mony woundit we from his weppont paste.?c1600 (c1515) Sc. Field (Lyme) l. 416 in I. F. Baird Poems Stanley Family (D.Phil. thesis, Univ. of Birm.) (1990) 247 Now is this fuerse feilde foughten to and ende; Many a wee wanted his horse and wandered home one [emended in ed. to on] fote.?c1600 (c1515) Sc. Field (Lyme) l. 343 in I. F. Baird Poems Stanley Family (D.Phil. thesis, Univ. of Birm.) (1990) 244 A yong knight.., Sir William Warkehoppe..was the wees [c1650 Percy wyes] name.c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) i. xv. 50 And hi þa sona hider sendon maran sciphere strengran wighena.
993 Battle of Maldon 210 Swa hi bylde forð bearn Ælfrices, wiga wintrum geong.
OE Beowulf 629 He þæt ful geþeah, wælreow wiga æt Wealhþeon.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3787 William & his wiȝes were armed wel sone.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 56 [He] wente in-to Wales with his wyes alle.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 581 Syþen þe brawden bryne of bryȝt stel ryngeȝ Vmbe-weued þat wyȝ, vpon wlonk stuffe.
a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 499 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 110 The wyis quhar ye wicht went war in wa wellit.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 505 With mony wy that worthie war and wycht, [he] Appeirit thair richt sone.
?c16002 [see β. ]. 2.
a. A noble, vigorous man; hence gen., a man, a person.In very frequently use from c1340 to c1420, esp. in α-form.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > [noun]
hadc900
lifesmaneOE
maneOE
world-maneOE
ghostOE
wyeOE
lifeOE
son of manOE
wightc1175
soulc1180
earthmanc1225
foodc1225
person?c1225
creaturec1300
bodyc1325
beera1382
poppetc1390
flippera1400
wat1399
corsec1400
mortal?a1425
deadly?c1450
hec1450
personagec1485
wretcha1500
human1509
mundane1509
member1525
worma1556
homo1561
piece of flesh1567
sconce1567
squirrel?1567
fellow creature1572
Adamite1581
bloat herringa1586
earthling1593
mother's child1594
stuff1598
a piece of flesh1600
wagtail1607
bosom1608
fragment1609
boots1623
tick1631
worthy1649
earthlies1651
snap1653
pippin1665
being1666
personal1678
personality1678
sooterkin1680
party1686
worldling1687
human being1694
water-wagtail1694
noddle1705
human subject1712
piece of work1713
somebody1724
terrestrial1726
anybody1733
individual1742
character1773
cuss1775
jig1781
thingy1787
bod1788
curse1790
his nabs1790
article1796
Earthite1814
critter1815
potato1815
personeityc1816
nibs1821
somebody1826
tellurian1828
case1832
tangata1840
prawn1845
nigger1848
nut1856
Snooks1860
mug1865
outfit1867
to deliver the goods1870
hairpin1879
baby1880
possum1894
hot tamale1895
babe1900
jobbie1902
virile1903
cup of tea1908
skin1914
pisser1918
number1919
job1927
apple1928
mush1936
face1944
jong1956
naked ape1965
oke1970
punter1975
the world > people > person > man > [noun]
churla800
werec900
rinkeOE
wapmanc950
heOE
wyeOE
gomeOE
ledeOE
seggeOE
shalkOE
manOE
carmanlOE
mother bairnc1225
hemea1250
mother sona1250
hind1297
buck1303
mister mana1325
piecec1325
groomc1330
man of mouldc1330
hathela1350
sire1362
malea1382
fellowa1393
guestc1394
sergeant?a1400
tailarda1400
tulka1400
harlotc1405
mother's sona1470
frekea1475
her1488
masculinea1500
gentlemana1513
horse?a1513
mutton?a1513
merchant1549
child1551
dick1553
sorrya1555
knavea1556
dandiprat1556
cove1567
rat1571
manling1573
bird1575
stone-horse1580
loona1586
shaver1592
slave1592
copemate1593
tit1594
dog1597
hima1599
prick1598
dingle-dangle1605
jade1608
dildoa1616
Roger1631
Johnny1648
boy1651
cod1653
cully1676
son of a bitch1697
cull1698
feller1699
chap1704
buff1708
son of a gun1708
buffer1749
codger1750
Mr1753
he-man1758
fella1778
gilla1790
gloak1795
joker1811
gory1819
covey1821
chappie1822
Charley1825
hombre1832
brother-man1839
rooster1840
blokie1841
hoss1843
Joe1846
guy1847
plug1848
chal1851
rye1851
omee1859
bloke1861
guffin1862
gadgie1865
mug1865
kerel1873
stiff1882
snoozer1884
geezer1885
josser1886
dude1895
gazabo1896
jasper1896
prairie dog1897
sport1897
crow-eater1899
papa1903
gink1906
stud1909
scout1912
head1913
beezer1914
jeff1917
pisser1918
bimbo1919
bozo1920
gee1921
mush1936
rye mush1936
basher1942
okie1943
mugger1945
cat1946
ou1949
tess1952
oke1970
bra1974
muzhik1993
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [noun] > noble person or man
earleOE
wyeOE
freeOE
nobleman?c1225
athelc1275
noblec1325
douzepersc1330
freelya1350
hathela1350
gentlec1400
nobleness1490
gentle blood1575
comes1583
altezza1595
birth1596
nobility1841
α.
β. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 17 Þanne weies of worschipe, wittie & quainte, Wiþ his lettres he let to þe lud sende.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 281 ‘Sertes,’ þan seide þemperour,..‘y am þat ilk weiȝh’.1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 374 ‘Holy writt,’ quod that weye, ‘wisseth men to suffre’.a1400–50 Wars Alex. 134 He passis his way, Vn-wetandly to any wee.a1400–50 Wars Alex. 383 His liknes he changis, Worthis agayn to a wee, fra a worme turnys.OE Andreas (1932) 1711 Hie ða gebrohton æt brimes næsse on wægþele wigan unslawne.
a1000 Menologium 160 Se þe fægere iu mid wætere oferwearp wuldres cynebearn, wiga weorðlice.
1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 571 Wis holde ȝe no whi but ȝif he wel conne Faire tempren his tounge.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 98 Went neuere wy in this worlde thorw that wildernesse, That he ne was robbed.
a1400–50 Wars Alex. 1628 In þe same wedes, For all þis werld as þis wy wendes now attyred.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 579 Þen alle þe wyȝez in þe worlde myȝt wynne By þe way of ryȝt to aske dome.
c1420 Anturs of Arth. xxix Scho was the worthilieste wyghte, þat any wy myghte welde.
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Lion & Mouse l. 1538 in Poems (1981) 61 Thair is na wy that will my harmis wreik.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 249 I awoik as wy that wes in weir.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. xi. 19 Sone slaid scho down wnsene of ony wy.
a1568 in Bannatyne MS (1896) IV. 739 Sen ye ar pleisit to pleiss ane vthir wy.
b. Used as a form of address.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > man > [noun] > as a form of address
lordOE
wye1340
gentleman1534
old fellow1567
gaff1573
godhood1586
gaffer1590
dad1605
daddy1681
hearty1735
cock-of-wax1790
governor1819
bub1839
smarty1847
doc1870
guy1876
Sunny Jim1903
big guy1910
chief1927
daddy-o1944
pops1944
tosh1954
Sonny Jim1960
ese1961
majita1963
G1990
mi'jito1990
1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 69 Wordlich weiȝ, we wische of þi ȝifte Ai-lastinge lif.
a1400–50 Wars Alex. 2302 Welcom we [Dubl. wye], at all þe werd sall wyn with þi handis.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1508 ‘I woled wyt at yow, wyȝe,’ þat worþy þer sayde.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. aiiv Sen thi will is to wend wy now in weir Luke that wisly thow wirk.
?c1600 (c1515) Sc. Field (Lyme) l. 202 in I. F. Baird Poems Stanley Family (D.Phil. thesis, Univ. of Birm.) (1990) 238 I will wynde you to wreke, wees, I you heete.
c. Without article. (Cf. man n.1)
ΚΠ
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 337 Hadde neuere wye witte to worche þe leest.
1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles iii. 288 Þis warmnesse in welth with wy vppon erthe Myȝte not longe dure.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1039 I am, wyȝe, at your wylle, to worch youre hest.
c1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) x. 51 Thair is nocht wie Can estimie My sorrow.
d. Applied to the Deity. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > [noun] > as man
gomec1320
wyec1400
the Man Upstairs1961
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2441 Þe wyȝe hit yow ȝelde Þat vp-haldeȝ þe heuen & on hyȝ sitteȝ.
1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) iii. 39 Be the wy that all the warld wrocht.
3. transferred. A woman; a lady. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > woman > [noun]
wifeeOE
womaneOE
womanOE
queanOE
brideOE
viragoc1000
to wifeOE
burdc1225
ladyc1225
carlinec1375
stotc1386
marec1387
pigsneyc1390
fellowa1393
piecec1400
femalea1425
goddessa1450
fairc1450
womankindc1450
fellowessa1500
femininea1513
tega1529
sister?1532
minikinc1540
wyec1540
placket1547
pig's eye1553
hen?1555
ware1558
pussy?a1560
jade1560
feme1566
gentlewoman1567
mort1567
pinnacea1568
jug1569
rowen1575
tarleather1575
mumps1576
skirt1578
piga1586
rib?1590
puppy1592
smock1592
maness1594
sloy1596
Madonna1602
moll1604
periwinkle1604
Partlet1607
rib of man1609
womanship?1609
modicum1611
Gypsy1612
petticoata1616
runniona1616
birda1627
lucky1629
she-man1640
her1646
lost rib1647
uptails1671
cow1696
tittup1696
cummer17..
wife1702
she-woman1703
person1704
molly1706
fusby1707
goody1708
riding hood1718
birdie1720
faggot1722
piece of goods1727
woman body1771
she-male1776
biddy1785
bitch1785
covess1789
gin1790
pintail1792
buer1807
femme1814
bibi1816
Judy1819
a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823
wifie1823
craft1829
shickster?1834
heifer1835
mot1837
tit1837
Sitt1838
strap1842
hay-bag1851
bint1855
popsy1855
tart1864
woman's woman1868
to deliver the goods1870
chapess1871
Dona1874
girl1878
ladykind1878
mivvy1881
dudess1883
dudette1883
dudine1883
tid1888
totty1890
tootsy1895
floozy1899
dame1902
jane1906
Tom1906
frail1908
bit of stuff1909
quim1909
babe1911
broad1914
muff1914
manhole1916
number1919
rossie1922
bit1923
man's woman1928
scupper1935
split1935
rye mort1936
totsy1938
leg1939
skinny1941
Richard1950
potato1957
scow1960
wimmin1975
womyn1975
womxn1991
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3356 Thou shalt haue riches more Rife..Þan any lady in þi land,..And more likandly lyf..as a wee noble.
1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) xxxi. 34 I lufe þe wy Will nocht apply, Nor grant to gife me grace agane.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
wyen.2
/wʌɪ/, U.S. /waɪ/ technical.
a. (See quots. and cf. Y n. 3.)
ΘΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > support of specific shape
stirrupc1450
Y1793
wye1857
scissor legs1865
society > communication > writing > written character > name of written character > [noun] > others
Bc1000
Dc1000
ellc1000
Fc1000
Sc1000
yogha1300
Pa1398
ess1540
tee1610
alif1727
cue1755
em1793
en1793
dee1795
double U1841
edh1846
wye1857
vee1883
gee1926
nut1940
kay1959
at sign1977
1857 C. Davies & W. G. Peck Math. Dict. Wyes, the supports of the telescope in the theodolite and level.
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2823/2 Wye, a Y or crotch. Used in many ways as a temporary shore or brace.
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 295 Wye (C[umb.]), the beam-end connection above the pump-rods of a winding and pumping engine.
b. spec. (a) Plumbing. A short pipe with a branch joining it at an acute angle. (b) Electrical Engineering = star n.1 19.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > conveyor > [noun] > conduit, channel, or tube > pipe > other types of pipe
swan-pen1426
service pipe1718
standpipe1728
service1786
jet pipe1795
safety tube1803
gas pipe1807
outlet pipe1837
pipette1839
downpipe1846
nipple1863
downcomer1868
downcome1872
wyea1877
benda1884
Y brancha1884
gas line1887
sparge pipe1910
riser1962
marine riser1972
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical engineering > motor > [adjective] > with star-connection
star-connected1893
wye1916
society > occupation and work > equipment > conveyor > [adjective] > types of pipe
conducting1800
inflow1848
wye1978
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical engineering > motor > [noun] > induction motor > connection to common point > set of windings with
star1891
wye1980
a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. III. 2823 Wye... A name applied to a stem or pipe with branches.
1916 C. E. Magnusson Alternating Currents ix. 97 If the three circuits be connected as shown..it is called a Star or Wye connection.
1964 R. F. Ficchi Electr. Interference x. 200 With a source that is wye-connected, the system neutral is readily available.
1978 K. W. Sessions Homeowner's Handbk. Plumbing & Repair iv. 145 (caption) Some cast~iron soil-pipe 90° wye branches.
1980 Slemon & Straughen Electric Machines ii. 143 Three similar single-phase transformers may be connected to give 3-phase transformation, and since the primary and secondary windings may be connected either in delta or in wye, there are four possible combinations of connections.
Draft additions 1993
(c) U.S. Railways. An arrangement of three sections of track in the shape of a concave-sided triangle or ‘Y’, frequently used for turning locomotives.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > rail travel > railway system or organization > [noun] > track > arrangement of three sections for turning
wye1950
Y track-
1950 E. T. Bollinger Rails that Climb xviii. 271 After the first winter the short snowshed at Corona had grown to cover the wye, the long passing track, as well as the main line.
1972 Amer. Speech 1968 43 290 By going ‘around the wye’ an engine or train can reverse its direction.
1976 Western Yesterdays X. 20 He was to tear up a section of the snowshed on the wye next to the lake.
1985 Railroad Model Craftsman July 47/1 Shelby, Montana, also in the first subdivision, had a classification yard, a wye and an engine house.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1c900
n.21857