wherry (1), whery, whirry

[Icel. hverfr =shifty, crank (said of a ship); Norw. hverv = crank, unsteady, swift, from Icel. hverfa (p. t. hvarf )=to turn.] 1. A light, shallow boat, seated for pa engers, and plying on rivers. "James was conveyed to Mill bank, where he cro ed the Thames in a wherry ." -Macaulay . Hist . Eng ., ch. ix. 2. A light, half-decked fishing ve el used in different parts of Great Britain and Ireland.