Wiwi, subs. (Australian).—A Frenchman. [That is, Oui, Oui!]
1845. Wakefield, Adventures in New Zealand, i. 94. If I had sold the land to the white missionaries, might they not have sold it again to the Wiwi (Frenchmen) or Americans?
1857. Hursthouse, New Zealand, the Britain of the South, i. 14. De Surville's painful mode of revenge, and the severe chastisement which the retaliatory murder of Marion brought on the natives, rendered the Wee-wees (Oui, oui), or people of the tribe of Marion, hateful to the New Zealanders for the next half-century.
1859. Thomson, Story of New Zealand, i. 236. Before the Wewis, as the French are now called, departed.
1873. Carleton, Life of Henry Williams, 92. The arrival of a French man-of-war was a sensational event to the natives, who had always held the Oui-oui's in dislike.
1881. Percy Pomo, 207. Has [sic] the Weewees puts it.
Wobble. See Wabble.
Wobbler, subs. (military).—An infantryman.
Wobble-shop, subs. phr. (common).—A shop where intoxicants are sold without a license.
WOLF, verb (common).—To devour ravenously: hence wolfer = a greedy feeder or guzzling tosspot: also a wolf in the stomach = famished; to keep THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR = tO keep hunger and want at bay.
1513-25. Skelton, Works (Dyce), ii. 132. To KEPE THE WOLFE FROM THE DORE.
1645. Howell, Familiar Letters. Indeed tis very fitting that hee or shee should have wherwith to support both, according to their quality, at least to keep the woolf from the door, otherwise 'twere a meer madnes to marry.
1705. Buckingham, Works, II. 127. I am no stranger, says she, to your circumstances, and know with what difficulty yOU KEEP THE WOLF FROM YOUR DOOR.
1885. Field, 4 Ap. Wolfing down some food preparatory to fishing.
1897. Marshall, Pomes, 118. He just placed him 'gainst a shutter, and then fired him in the gutter, But the worn-out whiskey wolfer calmly slumbered through it all.
Phrases. Dark as a wolf's mouth (or throat) = pitch dark; to cry wolf = to raise a false alarm; to have a WOLF BY THE EARS (see quots.); TO SEE A WOLF = (1) to lose one's voice, and (2) to be seduced (Fr. avoir vu le loup).
d. 1655. Adams, Works, III. 249. He that deals with men's affections hath a wolf by the ears; if we speak of peace, they wax wanton; if we reprove, they grow desperate.
1742-4. North, Lord Guildford, ii. 2. He found himself so intrigued that it was like a wolf by the ears; he could neither hold it, nor let it go; and, for certain, it bit him at last.
1767. Fawkes, Idyll. Theoc., xiv. 'What! are you mute?' I said—a waggish guest, 'Perhaps she's seen a wolf,' rejoin'd in jest.
1823. Scott, Quentin Durward, xviii. 'Our young companion has seen a wolf,' said Lady Hameline, alluding to an ancient superstition, 'and has lost his tongue in consequence.'
Wolfe's Own, subs. phr. (military).—The first battalion of The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, late the 47th Foot; the black worm in the gold lace is in memory of the Hero of Quebec.
Wolverine State (The), subs. phr. (American).—Michigan: its inhabitants are Wolverines.
Wollop. See Wallop.
