I. ˈwȯl noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English weall; akin to Middle High German wall; both from Latin vallum rampart, from vallus stake, palisade; perhaps akin to Old Norse vǫlr staff — more at wale
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a high thick masonry structure forming a long rampart or an enclosure chiefly for defense — often used in plural
b. : a masonry fence around a garden, park, or estate
c. : a structure that serves to hold back pressure (as of water or sliding earth)
2. : one of the sides of a room or building connecting floor and ceiling or foundation and roof
3. : the side of a footpath next to buildings
4. : an extreme or desperate position or a state of defeat, failure, or ruin
the surrounded troops had their backs against the wall
small companies driven to the wall
5. : a material layer enclosing space
the wall of a container
heart wall s
6. : something resembling a wall (as in appearance, function, or effect) ; especially : something that acts as a barrier or defense
a wall of reserve
tariff wall
• wall-like ˈwȯl-ˌlīk adjective
•
- off the wall
- up the wall
II. transitive verb
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : to provide, cover with, or surround with or as if with a wall
wall in the garden
b. : to separate by or as if by a wall
wall ed off half the house
2.
a. : immure
wall ed the monster up within the tomb — E. A. Poe
b. : to close (an opening) with or as if with a wall
III. verb
Etymology: Middle English (Scots) wawlen, probably from Middle English wawil- (in wawil-eghed walleyed)
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb
of the eyes : to roll in a dramatic manner
transitive verb
: to roll (one's eyes) in a dramatic manner