wisp of hay

См. также в других словарях:

• wisp´ like´ — wisp «wihsp», noun, verb. –n. 1. a small bundle; small bunch: »a wisp of hay. 2. a small portion of anything; slight bit; shred; fragment: »a wisp of hair, a wisp of smoke. 3. a little thing: »a wisp of a girl …   Useful english dictionary

• Wisp — Wisp, n. [OE. wisp, wips; probably akin to D. & G. wisch, Icel. visk, and perhaps to L. virga a twig, rod. Cf. {Verge} a rod, {Whisk}, n.] [1913 Webster] 1. A small bundle, as of straw or other like substance. [1913 Webster] In a small basket, on …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• wisp — [wısp] n [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: Perhaps from whisk] 1.) a wisp of hair, grass, ↑hay etc is a thin piece of it that is separate from the rest wisp of ▪ A wisp of hair had escaped from under her hat. 2.) a wisp of smoke, cloud, mist etc is a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• wisp — c.1300, handful or bundle of hay, grass, etc., used for burning or cleaning or as a cushion; perhaps from an unrecorded O.E. word, cognate with Norw. and Swed. visp wisp, of unknown origin; sometimes said to be connected with whisk or with M.L.G …   Etymology dictionary

• wisp — I. noun Etymology: Middle English Date: 13th century 1. a small handful (as of hay or straw) 2. a. a thin strip or fragment b. a thready streak < a wisp of smoke > c. something frail, slight, or fleeting < a wisp of a girl > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• wisp — wisplike, adj. /wisp/, n. 1. a handful or small bundle of straw, hay, or the like. 2. any thin tuft, lock, mass, etc.: wisps of hair. 3. a thin puff or streak, as of smoke; slender trace. 4. a person or thing that is small, delicate, or barely… …   Universalium

• wisp — noun (C) 1 wisp of hair/hay/grass etc a thin piece of hair etc that is separate from the rest: A wisp of hair had escaped from under her hat. 2 wisp of smoke/cloud etc a small thin line of smoke etc that rises upwards see also: will o the wisp… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• wisp — /wɪsp / (say wisp) noun 1. a handful or small bundle of straw, hay, or the like. 2. any small or thin tuft, lock, mass, etc.: wisps of hair. 3. anything small or thin, as a shred, bundle, or slip of something, sometimes used as a brush or whisk.… …  

• wisp — [[t]wɪsp[/t]] n. 1) a handful or small bundle of straw, hay, or the like 2) any thin tuft, lock, mass, etc.: wisps of hair[/ex] 3) cvb a thin puff or streak, as of smoke; slender trace 4) a person or thing that is small, delicate, or barely… …   From formal English to slang

• will-o'-the-wisp — 1660s, earlier Will with the wisp (c.1600), from the masc. proper name Will + wisp bundle of hay or straw used as a torch …   Etymology dictionary

• will-o'-the-wisp — ► NOUN 1) a phosphorescent light seen hovering or floating at night on marshy ground, thought to result from the combustion of natural gases. 2) a person or thing that is difficult or impossible to reach or catch. ORIGIN originally as Will with… …   English terms dictionary