WHARFINGER
Wharf"in*ger, n. Etym: [For wharfager.]
Defn: A man who owns, or has the care of, a wharf.
WHARL; WHARLING
Wharl, Wharl"ing, n.
Defn: A guttural pronunciation of the letter r; a burr. See Burr, n.,
6.
A strange, uncouth wharling in their speech. Fuller.
WHARP
Wharp, n.
Defn: A kind of fine sand from the banks of the Trent, used as a polishing powder. [Eng.]
WHAT
What, pron., a., & adv. Etym: [AS. hwæt, neuter of hwa who; akin to
OS. hwat what, OFries. hwet, D. & LG. wat, G. was, OHG. waz, hwaz,
Icel. hvat, Sw. & Dan. hvad, Goth. hwa. sq. root182. See Who.]
1. As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this what did you say what poem is this what child is lost What see'st thou in the ground Shak. What is man, that thou art mindful of him Ps. viii. 4. What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! Matt. viii. 27.
Note: Originally, what, when, where, which, who, why, etc., were interrogatives only, and it is often difficult to determine whether they are used as interrogatives or relatives. What in this sense, when it refers to things, may be used either substantively or adjectively; when it refers to persons, it is used only adjectively with a noun expressed, who being the pronoun used substantively.
2. As an exclamatory word: — (a) Used absolutely or independently; - - often with a question following. "What welcome be thou." Chaucer. What, could ye not watch with me one hour Matt. xxvi. 40.