waist

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Inherited from Middle English wast (waist), probably from Old English *wæst, *wǣst, *weaxt, *wæhst, from Proto-West Germanic *wahstu, from Proto-Germanic *wahstuz (growth, development, stature, build), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂weg-s- (to multiply, increase). Cognate with Middle English wacste (growth, increase, might, power), Middle High German wahst (growth), Danish vækst (growth), Swedish växt (growth, development, size), Icelandic vöxtur (growth), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌷𐍃𐍄𐌿𐍃 (wahstus, growth). Related to Old English weaxan (to grow, increase). More at wax.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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waist (plural waists)

  1. (anatomy) The part of the body between the pelvis and the stomach.
  2. A part of a piece of clothing that covers the waist.
  3. The narrow connection between the thorax and abdomen in certain insects (e.g., bees, ants and wasps).
  4. The middle portion of the hull of a ship or the fuselage of an aircraft.
  5. (nautical) That part of the upper deck of a ship between the quarterdeck and the forecastle.
  6. The middle part of anything.
    The waist of a bell widens into the lip.

Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Japanese: ウエスト (uesuto)

Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Further reading

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Anagrams

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Gothic

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Romanization

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waist

  1. Romanization of 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐍃𐍄

Middle English

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Etymology 1

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Noun

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waist

  1. Alternative form of wast (waste (noun))

Etymology 2

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Noun

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waist

  1. Alternative form of wast (waist)

Etymology 3

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Verb

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waist

  1. Alternative form of wasten

Scots

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Etymology

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Inherited from Middle English wast (waist), probably from Old English *wæst, *wæxt, from Proto-West Germanic *wahstī, form Proto-Germanic *wahstuz.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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waist (plural waists)

  1. waist