— whetter , n.
/hwet, wet/ , v. , whetted, whetting , n.
v.t.
1. to sharpen (a knife, tool, etc.) by grinding or friction.
2. to make keen or eager; stimulate: to whet the appetite; to whet the curiosity.
n.
3. the act of whetting.
4. something that whets; appetizer or drink.
5. Chiefly Southern U.S.
a. a spell of work.
b. a while: to talk a whet.
[ bef. 900; ME whetten (v.), OE hwettan (deriv. of hwaet bold); c. G wetzen, ON hvetja, Goth gahwatjan to incite ]