1. Something twisted, intertwined, or curled; as, a wreath of smoke; a wreath of flowers. "A wrethe of gold." Chaucer. [He] of his tortuous train Curled many a wanton wreath. Milton.
2. A garland; a chaplet, esp. one given to a victor. Conquest doth grant He dear wreath to the Grecian combatant. Chapman. Far back in the ages, The plow with wreaths was crowned. Bryant.
3. (Her.)
Defn: An appendage to the shield, placed above it, and supporting the crest (see Illust. of Crest). It generally represents a twist of two cords of silk, one tinctured like the principal metal, the other like the principal color in the arms.
WREATHE Wreathe, v. t. [imp. Wreathed; p. p. Wreathed; Archaic Wreathen; p. pr. & vb. n. Wreathing.] Etym: [See Wreath, n.] [Written also wreath.]
1. To cause to revolve or writhe; to twist about; to turn. [Obs.] And from so heavy sight his head did wreathe. Spenser.
2. To twist; to convolve; to wind one about another; to entwine. The nods and smiles of recognition into which this singular physiognomy was wreathed. Sir W. Scott. From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve Down dropped. Milton.
3. To surround with anything twisted or convolved; to encircle; to
infold.
Each wreathed in the other's arms. Shak.
Dusk faces with withe silken turbants wreathed. Milton.
And with thy winding ivy wreathes her lance. Dryden.
4. To twine or twist about; to surround; to encircle. In the flowers that wreathe the sparkling bowl, Fell adders hiss. Prior.
WREATHE
Wreathe, v. i.