See Also: Wing and Wing - Sailing(gambling)
Wing It(money)
WING ON CO(finance)
sea wing(medicine)
right wing(dictionary)
wing(1)(dictionary)
wing(2)(dictionary)
wing(encyclopedia)
Wing(medicine)
Lee Wing Wah(tourism)

wing(1) (iou)



wing noun. ME.
[Old Norse vngir accus., vengi pl. of vngr wing of a bird, aisle, repl. Old English feTra wings pl. of feTer FEATHER noun.]
I.
Either of the modified forelimbs of a bird, which are usu. specialized for flight and bear large feathers for this purpose. ME.
b. Any of various appendages of other animals which are specialized for flight; esp. (a) either of the modified forelimbs of a bat or pterodactyl, formed by skin stretched between the digits or behind the fifth digit respectively; (b) each of two or four flat extensions of the thoracic cuticle in most insects, usu. either transparent or covered in scales. LME.
c. The wing of a bird used as food. Also, the shoulder of a hare or rabbit. LME.
d. A representation, image, or imitation of a wing. M16.
a. A wing as the means of flight of a supernatural being or mythical creature, as an angel, demon, dragon, etc. ME.
Byron The Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast.
b. The means by which something inanimate or abstract is regarded or represented as having the ability to fly, or to carry one swiftly along. Usu. in pl. LME.
Shakespeare Richard III When I should mount with wings of victory.
Power or means of flight, or of movement or action represented as flight; action or manner of flying (lit. & fig.). ME.
Shakespeare 2 Henry VI Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.
b. Shelter; protecting care (esp. with ref. to Matthew 23:37). Chiefly in under the wing of etc. below. ME.
transf. A bird; birds collectively, esp. game-birds. L16.
b. A flock of plover. rare. E19.
II.
A thing resembling or analogous to a wing in form or function, as (a) an apparatus intended to enable human flight when attached to the arms or shoulders; (b) in pl. = water-wings s.v. WATER noun; (c) a sail of a windmill; (d) poet. a ship's sail; the sails of a ship collectively; (e) slang an arm. ME.
Byron While flew the vessel on her snowy wing.
b. spec. A rigid horizontal winglike structure forming a supporting part of an aircraft; transf. (in pl.), a pilot's certificate of ability to fly an aeroplane (often indicated by a badge representing a pair of wings). E20.
Publishers Weekly Mike Hagen earns his wings as a crop duster in rural Florida.
A lateral part, appendage, boundary, or extension of a structure, as (a) a lateral or outlying part of an area or space; (b) either of the retaining walls at the ends of a bridge; (c) a lateral projection or member of a tool, implement, mechanism, etc.; (d) in a horse-drawn carriage, either of a pair of curved pieces extending over the wheels to protect passengers from mud splashes; in a motor vehicle, each of the parts of the bodywork incorporating the mudguards and covering the wheels; (e) either of a pair of side-pieces projecting forwards at the top of the high back of some armchairs; (f) a platform or deck extending out from the side of a boat. LME.
J. S. Blackie The Hill of Howth, forming the north wing of the bay of Dublin. Sports Illustrated Rick..slouched against the rear wing of his Penske-Chevy.
a. Either of the divisions on the right or left side of the main body of an army or fleet in battle array. Also, either of the two divisions of a regiment; an operational unit of an air force consisting of two or more squadrons. LME.
Guardian Reduction..involving..elimination of five fighter wings and the closure of 15 bases.
b. In Football and other games, (the position of) a forward player on the far right or left of the centre; the part of the playing area in which a wing normally plays. L19.
Rugby News Modern wings must be able to kick accurately to touch and to..sidestep and swerve.
c. A section of a group or a political party, holding more progressive or reactionary views than those of the more moderate centre. L19.
New York Review of Books Wright..wanted to use the speakership to restore to life the old liberal wing of the Democratic party.
Either of a pair of lateral projecting pieces of a garment on or near the shoulder; in military uniform, a kind of epaulette (now worn by bandsmen) which stands out from the seam at the top of the shoulder. Also, a side-flap of a cap etc. Now chiefly Hist. LME.
A subordinate part of a building which projects or is extended in a certain direction from the side of the main or central part. Also, any more or less separate section of a building, esp. of an institution such as a hospital or prison. E16.
A. S. Byatt Christabel's room was in the east wing..closed since 1918.
b. Nautical. The part of a ship's hold nearest the side of the vessel. Also, the sponson of a steamer. M18.
c. Theatrical. Either of the side scenes of a stage; sing. & (usu.) in pl., the space at either side of the stage where these pieces of scenery stand. L18.
Anatomy. = ALA 1. M17.
Botany.
a. Each of the lateral divisions or leaflets of a pinnate leaf. L17-M18.
b. Either of the two lateral petals on either side of the keel in a papilionaceous flower or the flower of a fumitory. L18.
c. A thin membranous appendage of a seed (e.g. of the elm or sycamore) assisting its dispersal; a membranous flange extending along a stem or stalk. L18.
Physics. A part of a spectral line where the intensity tails off to zero. M20.
Phrases: a wing and a prayer [a song (1943) by H. Adamson] (a) an emergency landing by an aircraft; (b) fig. reliance on hope or the slightest chance in a desperate situation. bastard wing: see BASTARD adjective. be on wings be going with light steps as in a joyously ebullient mood. clip the wings of: see CLIP verb2 1. feel one's wings: see FEEL verb. give wings to, lend wings to (a) give the power of flight to; (b) fig. give full rein to; speed up. LEFT WING. lend wings to: see give wings to above. make wing arch. make one's way by flying, fly. on the wing (a) flying, in flight; (b) fig. moving or travelling swiftly; astir, on the move; departing; ready to start or depart. on the wings of the wind swiftly. RIGHT WING. spread one's wings, stretch one's wings, try one's wings test or develop one's powers; expand one's horizons; lead a life of wider scope than hitherto. take under one's wing protect; treat as a protege. take wing (a) (of a bird etc.) take flight, fly away; (b) fig. depart swiftly, make off, flee. try one's wings: see spread one's wings above. under a person's wing: see under the wing of below. under the wing of, under a person's wing under the protection, care, or patronage of (a person). waiting in the wings holding oneself in readiness to act; (for the moment) taking no part in the action. wing-and-wing Nautical (of a ship) sailing directly before the wind, with the foresail hauled over on one side and the mainsail on the other.
Attrib. & comb.: In the senses 'of or pertaining to the wing of a bird, insect, etc.', as wing-feather, wing-power, etc., 'of or pertaining to the wing of an aircraft', as wing flutter, wing-tank, etc., 'of or pertaining to the wing of an army (now rare) or an air force', as wing-adjutant, wing-headquarters, etc., 'of or pertaining to the position of wing in sport', as wing-forward, wing-half, etc., 'having wings or side appendages', as wing-bonnet, etc. Special combs., as wing-back chair = wing chair below; wing-band = wing-bar (a) below; wing-bar (a) a line of contrasting colour on the feathers of a bird's wing, esp. on the greater or median coverts; (b) Aeronautics a line of runway lights extending sideways at right angles to the runway; wing-beat one complete cycle of movements made by a wing in flying; wing-bow a band of contrasting colour on the shoulder or bend of the wing of a domestic fowl, esp. on the lesser coverts; wing-bud Entomology in an insect larva, a rudiment from which a wing develops; wing-case Entomology either of a pair of modified toughened forewings which cover the functional wings in certain insects; esp. an elytron of a beetle; wing chair a high-backed armchair with wings or projecting side-pieces; wing-clap noun & verb (a) noun a loud crack made by a bird striking its wings together; (b) verb intrans. produce a wing-clap or series of wing-claps; wing-clapping the production of a wing-clap or series of wing-claps; wing collar a high stiff shirt collar with the upper corners bent down; wing commander a rank in the Royal Air Force next below a group captain and above a squadron leader; wing-cover = wing-case above; wing covert any of the small coverts overlying the flight-feathers of a bird's wing; wing-dam noun & verb (a) noun a dam or barrier built into a stream to deflect the current; (b) verb trans. provide with a wing-dam; wing-fish any of various fishes with enlarged winglike pectoral fins; esp. a flying fish; wing-footed adjective (chiefly fig.) having winged feet; swiftly-moving; wing formula Ornithology a record of the shape of a bird's wing, usu. comprising an indication of the length of each primary feather in relation to the wing tip or the longest primary covert; wing-game game-birds collectively (as opp. to ground game s.v. GROUND noun); wing loading: see LOADING 6; wingman (a) the pilot of an aircraft which is positioned behind and to one side of the leading aircraft, as in combat formation; the aircraft itself; (b) a player in the wing position; wing mirror (a) a side mirror (freq. adjustable) on a dressing-table; (b) a rear-view mirror projecting from the side of a motor vehicle; wing-nut a screwed nut with winglike projections for turning with the fingers; also called butterfly nut; wingover Aeronautics a manoeuvre in which an aircraft turns at the top of a steep climb and flies back along its original path; wing oyster (the shell of) any of various marine bivalve molluscs of the genus Pteria and family Pteriidae, with a winglike extension to each valve projecting from an elongated straight hinge; wing rib the end rib of a loin of beef; wing root the part of an aircraft wing where it is attached to the fuselage; wing-sail a rigid or semi-rigid structure similar to an aircraft wing fixed vertically on a boat to provide thrust from the action of the wind; wing-sheath = wing-case above; wing-shell (a) = wing-case above; (b) (the shell of) any of various bivalve molluscs with a winglike shell or extension to it; esp. a wing oyster, US a piddock; (c) = PTEROPOD; wing-shooting the practice of shooting birds that are in flight; wing-shot noun & adjective (a) noun a shot aimed at a flying bird; a person skilled in wing-shooting; (b) adjective shot while flying; shot in the wing; wing-snail = PTEROPOD; wingspan: see SPAN noun1 3c; wing-tag verb trans. attach a distinguishing marker to the wing of a bird; wing-tip (a) the tip of the wing of a bird, bat, insect, or aircraft; (b) (chiefly N. Amer.) a shoe with a toecap having a backward extending point and curving sides, resembling the shape of a wing; wing-walking acrobatic stunts performed on the wings of an airborne aircraft as a public entertainment; wing-wall a lateral wall forming a support to an abutment and to the adjacent earth.
wingless adjective having no wings; (of a kiwi, moa, etc.) having rudimentary wings: L16.
winglessness noun (rare) L19.
winglike adjective resembling a wing L18.