witwall Now dial.
(ˈwɪtwɒl)
Forms: 6–7 witwol, 6–8 witwal, 8–9 whitwall, 6– witwall.
[a. early mod.G. † wittewal(e, also † weidewal (Gesner), now widewal, wiedewal; = MLG. weddewale, early Flem. widewael (Kilian). Cf. woodwall.]
† 1. The Golden Oriole, Oriolus galbula. Obs.
| 1544 Turner Avium Præcip. I. 7, Χλωρίον, uireo,..Anglicè a uuituuol, Germanicè eyn witwol, oder eyn weidwail. 1601, 1658, 1676 [see loriot]. 1671 H. M. tr. Erasm. Colloq. 514 But one can hardly guess for what reason the..Raven and the Witwal [L. chlorio]..hate one the other. 1678 Ray Willughby's Ornith. 198 The Witwall, as it is by some called, Galbula seu Picus nidum suspendens. |
2. The Green Woodpecker (Gecinus viridis) or the Greater Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major).
| 1668 Charleton Onomast. 86 Picus viridis..the Hickwall, Witwall, or Green-Wood-pecker. 1678 Ray Willughby's Ornith. 137 The greater spotted Woodpecker or Witwall. 1844 Hood Haunted House i. 62 The ringing of the Whitwall's shrilly laughter. |