Whitneyite
(Whit"ney*ite) n. [So called after J.D. Whitney, an American geologist.] (Min.) an arsenide
of copper from Lake Superior.
Whitson
(Whit"son) a. See Whitsun. [Obs.]
Whitsour
(Whit"sour`) n. [White + sour.] (Bot.) A sort of apple.
Whitster
(Whit"ster) n. [Contracted fr. whitester.] A whitener; a bleacher; a whitester. [Obs.]
The whitsters in Datchet mead.
Shak. Whitsun
(Whit"sun) a. Of, pertaining to, or observed at, Whitsuntide; as, Whitsun week; Whitsun Tuesday;
Whitsun pastorals.
Whitsunday
(Whit"sun*day) n. [White + Sunday.]
1. (Eccl.) The seventh Sunday, and the fiftieth day, after Easter; a festival of the church in commemoration
of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; Pentecost; — so called, it is said, because,
in the primitive church, those who had been newly baptized appeared at church between Easter and
Pentecost in white garments.
2. (Scots Law) See the Note under Term, n., 12.
Whitsuntide
(Whit"sun*tide`) n. [Whitsunday + tide.] The week commencing with Whitsunday, esp.
the first three days — Whitsunday, Whitsun Monday, and Whitsun Tuesday; the time of Pentecost. R. of
Gloucester.
Whitten tree
(Whit"ten tree`) [Probably from white; cf. AS. hwitingtreów.] (Bot.) Either of two shrubs so
called on account of their whitish branches.
Whitterick
(Whit"ter*ick) n. The curlew. [Prov. Eng.]
Whittle
(Whit"tle) n. [AS. hwitel, from hwit white; akin to Icel. hvitill 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.
Whittle shawl, a kind of fine woolen shawl, originally and especially a white one.
Whittle
(Whit"tle) n. [OE. thwitel, fr. AS. pwitan 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.
He wore a Sheffield whittle in his hose.
Betterton. Whittle
(Whit"tle), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whittled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Whittling ]
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.
2. To edge; to sharpen; to render eager or excited; esp., to excite with liquor; to inebriate. [Obs.]
"In vino veritas." When men are well whittled, their tongues run at random.
Withals. 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.
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.
