3. Hence, also, to draw or spin out to great length and tenuity; as, to wiredraw an argument.
Such twisting, such wiredrawing, was never seen in a court of justice.
Macaulay. 4. (Steam Engine) To pass, or to draw off, (as steam) through narrow ports, or the like, thus reducing
its pressure or force by friction.
Wire-drawer
(Wire"-draw`er) n. One who draws metal into wire.
Wire-heel
(Wire"-heel`) n. (Far.) A disease in the feet of a horse or other beast.
Wire-puller
(Wire"-pull`er) n. One who pulls the wires, as of a puppet; hence, one who operates by secret
means; an intriguer.
Political wire-pullers and convention packers.
Lowell. Wire-pulling
(Wire"-pull`ing), n. The act of pulling the wires, as of a puppet; hence, secret influence or
management, especially in politics; intrigue.
Wire-tailed
(Wire"-tailed`) a. (Zoöl.) Having some or all of the tail quills terminated in a long, slender,
pointed shaft, without a web or barbules.
Wirework
(Wire"work`) n. Work, especially openwork, formed of wires.
Wire-worker
(Wire"-work`er) n. One who manufactures articles from wire.
Wireworm
(Wire"worm`) n. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the larvæ of various species of snapping beetles, or elaters; —
so called from their slenderness and the uncommon hardness of the integument. Wireworms are sometimes
very destructive to the roots of plants. Called also wire grub. (b) A galleyworm.
Wiriness
(Wir"i*ness) n. The quality of being wiry.
Wiry
(Wir"y) a. [Written also wiery.]
1. Made of wire; like wire; drawn out like wire.
2. Capable of endurance; tough; sinewy; as, a wiry frame or constitution. "A little wiry sergeant of meek
demeanor and strong sense." Dickens.
He bore his age well, and seemed to retain a wiry vigor and alertness.
Hawthorne. Wis
(Wis) adv. [Aphetic form of iwis, ywis; or fr. Icel. viss certain. See Ywis.] Certainly; really; indeed.
[Obs.] "As wis God helpe me." Chaucer.
Wis
(Wis), v. t. [Due to mistaking OE. iwis certain, AS. gewiss, for I wis. See Ywis.] To think; to
suppose; to imagine; — used chiefly in the first person sing. present tense, I wis. See the Note under
Ywis. [Obs. or Poetic] "Howe'er you wis." R. Browning.
Nor do I know how long it is
Coleridge. Wisard
(Wis"ard) n. See Wizard.
Wisdom
(Wis"dom) n. [AS. wisdom. See Wise, a., and - dom.]
