wainscot
[weyn-skuh t, -skot, -skoht]
- wood, especially oak and usually in the form of paneling, for lining interior walls.
- the lining itself, especially as covering the lower portion of a wall.
- a dado, especially of wood, lining an interior wall.
- British. oak of superior quality and cut, imported from the Baltic countries for fine woodwork.
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- to line the walls of (a room, hallway, etc.) with or as if with woodwork: a room wainscoted in oak.
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Origin of wainscot
1325–75; Middle English < Middle Low German or Middle Dutch wagenschot, equivalent to wagen wain + schot (< ?)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for wainscot
Historical Examples
Wet the wainscot all over with a brush dipped in the mixture, and when dry, rub it bright: this will give it a fine gloss.
If he should come to wed my daughter after pinning me to the wainscot of my own hall may I be for ever damned.
The Tavern KnightRafael Sabatini
The wrench upon it had already pulled the bodkin from the wainscot.
The Historical Nights Entertainment, Second SeriesRafael Sabatini
Then opening a door in the wainscot near the fireplace he flung it in.
Elsie Marley, HoneyJoslyn Gray
And with a crayon he made drawings on the wainscot of the room.
Art in EnglandDutton Cook
wainscot
- Also called: wainscoting, wainscotting a lining applied to the walls of a room, esp one of wood panelling
- the lower part of the walls of a room, esp when finished in a material different from the upper part
- fine quality oak used as wainscot
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- (tr) to line (a wall of a room) with a wainscot
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Word Origin
C14: from Middle Low German wagenschot, perhaps from wagen wagon + schot planking, related to German Scheit piece of wood
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for wainscot
n.
mid-14c., "imported oak of superior quality," probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Flemish waghenscote "superior quality oak wood, board used for paneling" (though neither of these is attested as early as the English word), related to Middle Low German wagenschot (late 14c.), from waghen (see wagon) + scote "partition, crossbar." So called perhaps because the wood originally was used for wagon building and coachwork. Meaning "panels lining the walls of rooms" is recorded from 1540s. Wainscoting is from 1570s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper