withy1 (with i)

[ ult. E. with2, withe ), a willow, = OFries. with the = MD. weede, D. wede, weede, hop-plant, = MLG. wide, LG. wiede, wied, wede, wide = OHG. wida, MHG. wide, G. weide, a willow, = Icel. vithja, a withy, vith, a withe, vithir, a willow, Sw. vide, willow, vidja, willow-twig, = Dan. vidje , a willow, osier (the forms showing two orig. types, represented by withyl and with, withe, and a variation also in the length of the vowel); ef. Lith. zil - wittis, zil wytis, gray willow, Ru . vitsa, withe, OBulg.viti, string for a heron, viti, twist, braid; L. vitis, vine, Gr. ίτέα, a willow, a wicker shield; orig. 'that which twines or bends,' vimen, twig, etc.] 1. A willow of any species. [Prov. Eng.] See where another hides himself as sly As did Actæon or the fearful deer, Behind a withy. J. Dennys (Arber's Eng. Garner, I. 170). The Withy is a reasonable large tree (for some have been found ten feet about). Evelyn, Sylva, i. 20. 2. A withe; a twig; an osier. With grene wythyes y-bounden wonder lye. Political Poems , etc. (ed. Furnivall), p. 58. A kind of oblong ve el made of bark, by the simple contrivance of tying up the two ends with a withy . Cook , First Voyage, iii. 8. 3. A halter made of withes.-4. In ceram., same as twig1 , 3.-Gray withy, the sallow or goat willow, Salix caprea . - Hoop withy. Same as hoop - withe . See Rivina . withy2 (with'i or wi'Thi), a. [ withe , with2 , + -yl.] Made of withes; like a withe; flexible and tough. I learnt to fold my net,. And withy labyrinths in straits to set. Thirsil from withy prison, as he uses, Lets out his flock. P. Fletcher , Piscatory Eclogues, i. 5. P. Fletcher , Purple Island, iii. withy-pott (with'i-pot), n. A ve el or nest of osiers or twigs. There were withy - potts or nests for the wild fowle to lay their eggs in, a little above ye surface of ye water. Evelyn , Diary, Feb. 9, 1665. withywindt (with'i-wind), n . Same as withwind. Minsheu . Whiter Galet then the white withie -winde. Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 521.