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

Aim for the point where his red wattles meet feathers on his neck. —Adam Moore, Outdoor Life, 10 Mar. 2023

Those wattles act as speed bumps to slow the flow and stem erosion. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025

Capes scans the horizon, his eyes moving across the acacia trees and the wattle bushes, and takes a deep breath. —Keith Drew, AFAR Media, 16 Jan. 2025

The garden that separates the main house from the casita, designed by Double Green Landscapes, melds Japanese and California influences with a variety of maple and ginkgo trees, giant timber bamboo, bower wattle, and leopard plants. —Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 5 Dec. 2024

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

Rhymes for wattle

• bottle
• cottle
• glottal
• mottle
• pottle
• scrotal
• throttle
• nahuatl

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