“A woman’s nec whisk is used both plain and laced, and is called of most a gorget or falling whisk, because it falleth about the shoulders.” (Randle Holme.)
Whisket, O. E. A basket. S.
Whistle. Prehistoric specimens of whistles made of bones have been disinterred among relics of the Stone Age. The Mexicans in antiquity made curiously grotesque whistles of baked clay representing caricatures of the human face and figure, birds, beasts, and flowers. (Consult Musical Instruments by Carl Engel.)
White, in Christian art represented by the diamond or silver, was the emblem of light, religious purity, innocence, virginity, faith, joy, and life. (J.)
White is in theory the result of the union of the three primary colours. The principal white pigments are white lead, Lake white, Krems white, zinc white, constant white (q.v.). (See Carbonate of Lead, Oxide of Zinc, &c.)
White Copper. German silver.
White Lead is the white pigment universally used for oil painting; it is considered a good dryer, and is used to render oil more drying. (Consult Merrifield’s Treatise, &c., vol. i. cl.). (See Carbonate of Lead.)
White Vitriol. Sulphate of Zinc (q.v.).
Whiting, as used for wall painting, &c., is pure chalk, cleansed and ground with water.
Whittle, O. E. A pocket clasp knife. (Shakspeare.)