Wigging, a rebuke before comrades. If the head of a firm calls a clerk into the parlour, and rebukes him, it is an EARWIGGING; if done before the other clerks, it is a WIGGING.
Wild, a village.—Tramps’ term. See [VILE].
Wild, vexed, cross, passionate,—said to be from WILLED (SELF-WILLED), in opposition to “tamed” or “subdued.” In the United States the word “mad” is supplemented with a vulgar meaning similar to our Cockneyism WILD; and to make a man mad on the other side of the Atlantic is to vex him, or “rile” his temper—not to render him a raving maniac, or a fit subject for Bedlam.
Wild Irishman, the train between Euston and Holyhead, in connection with the Kingstown mail-boats.
Wild oats, youthful pranks. A fast young man is said to be “sowing his WILD OATS.”
William, a bill. The derivation is obvious.
Willow, a cricket-bat. From the material of which it is made. The great batsman, W. G. Grace, is often called “champion of the WILLOW.”
Wind, “to raise the WIND,” to procure money; “to slip one’s WIND,” a coarse expression, meaning to die. See [RAISE].
Wind, “I’ll WIND your cotton,” i.e., I will give you some trouble. The Byzantine General, Narses, used the same kind of threat to the Greek Empress,—“I will spin a thread that they shall not be able to unravel.”
Windows, the eyes, or “peepers.”