# withe

Pronunciation: say "WITH" /wɪθ/

## Noun

1. A slender, flexible shoot or twig, especially one used as a band or tie for binding.
   - Simple: A thin, bendy twig that can be used to tie things together.
   - _The farmer twisted a withe around the gate to hold it shut._
   - _Hurdle makers wove green withes between upright stakes._
2. A band formed from several slender twigs twisted together, used for tying or binding.
   - Simple: A rope-like band made by twisting thin twigs together.
   - _The thatcher secured the roof bundles with a stout withe._
   - _Medieval builders lashed scaffolding poles together with withes._
4. Alternative spelling of wythe. — Alternative spelling of wythe (“single section of bricks one unit thick”).
   - Simple: Alternative spelling of wythe. It means one layer of a brick wall, one brick thick.
   - _A wall this old is rarely more than one withe thick._
   - _The mason checked that each withe lined up before mortaring._
6. Alternative spelling of wythe. — Alternative spelling of wythe (“partition between flues in a chimney”).
   - Simple: Alternative spelling of wythe. It means the brick wall between two flues inside a chimney.
   - _A sound withe stops smoke from one fireplace drifting into another's flue._
   - _Inspectors check the withe whenever two flues share a chimney._
7. A flexible part of a tool's handle that absorbs the shock of blows and protects the hand.
   - Simple: A springy part of a tool's handle that softens the shock when you strike something.
   - _The mallet's withe took the worst of the impact away from his wrist._
   - _Craftsmen valued a handle whose withe spared their hands during long work._
8. An iron fitting with a ring at the end of a mast or boom, through which another mast or boom is rigged out and secured.
   - Simple: A metal ring fitting on the end of a mast or pole that holds another pole in place.
   - _The crew rigged the studding-sail boom out through the withe._
   - _Each withe was inspected for rust before the ship set sail._

## Verb

3. To fasten or bind something using flexible twigs or withes.
   - Simple: To tie something tightly using thin, bendy twigs.
   - _Villagers withe the hurdles together to make a temporary pen._
   - _He withed the faggots into tidy bundles for the fire._
5. To strike or flog someone using flexible twigs or rods.
   - Simple: To hit someone with thin, bendy sticks as punishment.
   - _The overseer threatened to withe any worker who slacked off._
   - _He withed the stubborn mule to drive it forward._

## Origin

From Middle English withe, from Old English wiþe ("cord, band, thong, fetter"), from Proto-Germanic *wiþiz, and ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root *wey- meaning "to turn, wind, or bend." It is related to Latin vītis ("vine") and Swedish vidja ("withe, wicker"), and is a doublet of vice. The brickwork and chimney senses may have a different origin.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/withe (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).