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weir

noun \ ˈwer , ˈwir \
|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Definition of weir

1 : a fence or enclosure set in a waterway for taking fish
2 : a dam in a stream or river to raise the water level or divert its flow

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Recent Examples of weir from the Web

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Origin and Etymology of weir

Middle English were, going back to Old English wer, going back to Germanic *wera- (whence Old Saxon wer, werr "fish trap, dam," Middle High German wer, Old Norse ver "fishing place"), derivative of an Indo-European verb stem *u̯er- "halt, check, avert," whence, from an iterative derivative *u̯or-ei̯e-, Germanic *warjan- (whence Old English werian "to ward off, protect," Old Saxon, "to hinder, prevent," Old High German weren, werren "to hinder, defend," Old Norse verja "to defend, guard," Gothic warjan "to hinder, forbid"); and, with other ablaut derivatives, Greek érymai, érysthai "to ward off, protect, save," Sanskrit vṛṇoti "(s/he) obstructs, prevents"
Note: See note at aperient.

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

Weir

biographical name \ ˈwir \

Definition of Weir

Robert Walter 1803–1889 American painter

WEIR Defined for English Language Learners

weir

noun

Definition of weir for English Language Learners

  • : a low wall or dam built across a stream or river to raise the level of the water or to change the direction of its flow

Learn More about weir

  1. See words that rhyme with weir Spanish Central: Translation of weir Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about weir

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