wainscot

noun wain·scot \ ˈwān-skət , -ˌskōt , -ˌskät \

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Definition of wainscot

1 British : a fine grade of oak imported for woodwork

2 a (1) : a usually paneled wooden lining of an interior wall

(2) : a lining of an interior wall irrespective of material

b : the lower three or four feet (about one meter) of an interior wall when finished differently from the remainder of the wall

See wainscot defined for kids

Recent Examples of wainscot from the Web

Hardwood floors and glass tile were covered in linoleum, wainscot was buried by drywall and Douglas fir counters were hidden by Formica.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "On the market: Romantic Oregon beach homes (photos) Psst: It's almost Valentine's Day," 10 Feb. 2018
The formal dining room has original wainscot and walls painted sky blue with a pattern of gold stenciled fleur-de-lis.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Glory days return to gilded 1882 Italianate mansion built for Portland shoe merchant (photos)," 24 Apr. 2018
Hardwood floors and glass tile were covered in linoleum, wainscot was buried by drywall and Douglas fir counters were hidden by Formica.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "On the market: Romantic Oregon beach homes (photos) Psst: It's almost Valentine's Day," 10 Feb. 2018
Hardwood floors and glass tile were covered in linoleum, wainscot was buried by drywall and Douglas fir counters were hidden by Formica.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "On the market: Romantic Oregon beach homes (photos) Psst: It's almost Valentine's Day," 10 Feb. 2018
Hardwood floors and glass tile were covered in linoleum, wainscot was buried by drywall and Douglas fir counters were hidden by Formica.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "On the market: Romantic Oregon beach homes (photos) Psst: It's almost Valentine's Day," 10 Feb. 2018
Hardwood floors and glass tile were covered in linoleum, wainscot was buried by drywall and Douglas fir counters were hidden by Formica.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "On the market: Romantic Oregon beach homes (photos) Psst: It's almost Valentine's Day," 10 Feb. 2018
The house features floors, wainscot and window frames of heart of pine, a common building material from the time that resists termites.

— lauren ritchie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Leesburg may lose its grand dame of a historical home after fire guts second floor," 23 Feb. 2018
Hardwood floors and glass tile were covered in linoleum, wainscot was buried by drywall and Douglas fir counters were hidden by Formica.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "On the market: Romantic Oregon beach homes (photos) Psst: It's almost Valentine's Day," 10 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wainscot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of wainscot

Middle English, from Middle Dutch wagenschot, probably from wagen wagon + schot shot, crossbar

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom

wainscot

verb

Definition of wainscot

wainscoted or wainscotted; wainscoting or wainscotting

transitive verb

: to line with or as if with boards or paneling

Recent Examples of wainscot from the Web

There are three large bedrooms (with the third flexing as a second living area) and two full baths, one with lilac walls, wainscoting, and a charming clawfoot tub.

— lauren ro, Curbed, "Adorable Craftsman bungalow asks $350K," 15 May 2018
The house has five full baths, two half-baths, a heated two-car garage, white oak floors with dark walnut stains, millwork, coffered ceilings, wainscoting, custom cabinetry and a whole-house sprinkler system.

— bob goldsborough, chicagotribune.com, "Ex-Blackhawk Niklas Hjalmarsson lists Lakeview home with optional side yard," 25 July 2017
The use of wainscoting on the lower-level walls underscores the home’s overall quality.

— joan walden, courant.com, "Property of the Week: 3 Erica Lane, West Simsbury," 20 July 2017
Powder room: Window trim paint, Inchyra Blue; wainscoting paint, Arsenic—Farrow & Ball; farrow-ball.com.

— House Beautiful, "November 2017 Product Guide," 13 Oct. 2017
To the right of the foyer is the dining room with Palladian windows, wainscoting and nine-foot ceilings.

— karen a. avitabile, courant.com, "Property of the Week: 118 Frazer Fir Road, South Windsor," 15 Feb. 2018
The 6,036-square-foot house is open and bright with high-end appointments such as crown molding, tray ceilings and wainscoting.

— karen a. avitabile, courant.com, "Property of the Week: 118 Frazer Fir Road, South Windsor," 15 Feb. 2018
All of the original detail was there: molding, doors, hinges, wainscoting, horsehair plaster with split lathe, wide pine floors and raised paneling in addition to four original fireplaces and rare gunstock posts on the second level.

— elizabeth finkelstein, Country Living, "This Cozy, Red Farmhouse Sums Up Everything We Love About New England," 30 Oct. 2017
A rooftop deck and balconies look out on the Pacific from the three-story residence, with its hardwood floors, wainscoting and beamed ceilings.

— marilyn kalfus, Orange County Register, "Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt selling ocean-view Newport Beach house," 28 Apr. 2017