whel

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English hwēol, from Proto-Germanic *hweulu, plural of *hwehwl, from Proto-Germanic *hwehwlą, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷékʷlos.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /hweːl/

Noun

whel (plural wheles)

  1. A wheel (circular device for motion):
    1. The wheel as a symbol of fluctuation or repetition.
    2. A breaking wheel; a wheel used as for torture.
  2. A wheel as or in a machine (e.g. a waterwheel; a potter's wheel).
  3. A circular movement or figure (especially in astronomy).
  4. (rare) A hinge or pivot for a gate.

Descendants

  • English: wheel
    • Maori: wīra
  • Middle Scots: quhel, quhele, quheil, quheile
  • Yola: wheel

References

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