wattle

1 of 3

noun (1)

wat·​tle ˈwä-tᵊl 

1

a

: a fabrication of poles interwoven with slender branches, withes, or reeds and used especially formerly in building

b

: material for such construction

c

wattles plural : poles laid on a roof to support thatch

2

Australia : acacia sense 2

wattled

ˈwä-tᵊld 

adjective

wattle

2 of 3

verb

wattled; wattling

ˈwät-liŋ,

ˈwä-tᵊl-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to form or build of or with wattle

2

a

: to form into wattle : interlace to form wattle

b

: to unite or make solid by interweaving light flexible material

wattle

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a fleshy pendulous process usually about the head or neck (as of a bird)

Examples of wattle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Add black beads for eyes, along with a paper beak and wattle. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2023

Sydney was awash in green and gold, and the wave of wattle is looking to wash over the rest of the country in the coming weeks. —Rachel Yabsley, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2023

Byrne used this information to conclude that wattle was being used as firewood even 50,000 years ago. —Nora McGreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2022

Symptoms in infected birds include neurological symptoms, fatigue, swollen comb or wattles, difficulty walking, nasal discharge and decreased egg production. —Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 14 May 2023

Signs of the disease include sudden death; respiratory distress; clear discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth; lethargy; disinterest in food or water; swelling of the eyes, head, wattles or combs; a discolored or bruised comb, wattle or legs; and stumbling or falling. —Susanne Ruststaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2022

The beauty of the virtual chicken is that the researchers could test the female’s reaction to a rooster with a wattle and without one, and watch her responses to wattles of varying size and flexibility—all by altering the appendage digitally. —Kate Wong, Scientific American, 21 Jan. 2014

Sprigs of wattle have been used to represent Australia for decades, notably decorating the colonial-era Commonwealth Coat of Arms. —Nora McGreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2022

The emblems — including the Canadian maple leaf, Australian wattle and the New Zealand fern — were also embroidered onto the dress in color, a first for a coronation dress and a direct request from Her Majesty. —Monique Jessen, PEOPLE.com, 1 June 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English wattel, from Old English watel; akin to Old High German wadal bandage

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1513, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing wattle

• wattle and daub

• wattle and daub

Kids Definition

wattle

1 of 3 noun

wat·​tle ˈwät-ᵊl 

: a framework of poles interwoven with slender branches or reeds and used in building

also : material for such a framework

wattled

-ᵊld 

adjective

wattle

2 of 3 verb

wattled; wattling ˈwät-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to form or build of or with wattle

2

a

: to weave (as branches) together to form wattle

b

: to unite or make solid by weaving together light flexible material

wattle

3 of 3 noun

: a fleshy flap of skin hanging usually from the neck (as of a bird)

Medical Definition

wattle

noun

wat·​tle ˈwät-ᵊl 

: a fleshy process that hangs usually from the head or neck (as of a bird)

wattled

-ᵊld 

adjective