whelve

transitive verb

ˈ(h)welv,
-weu̇v
-ed/-ing/-s
dialectal, England
: to turn (as a dish or vessel) upside down usually to cover something

Word History

Etymology

Middle English whelven, from Old English gehwielfan, gehwelfan to arch, bend over; akin to Old High German welben to vault, arch

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near whelve

Cite this Entry

“Whelve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whelve. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!