wall

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English weall; akin to Middle High German wall; both from Latin vallum rampart, from vallus stake, palisade; perhaps akin to Old Norse vǫlr staff — more at wale Date: before 12th century 1. a. a high thick masonry structure forming a long rampart or an enclosure chiefly for defense — often used in plural b. a masonry fence around a garden, park, or estate c. a structure that serves to hold back pressure (as of water or sliding earth) 2. one of the sides of a room or building connecting floor and ceiling or foundation and roof 3. the side of a footpath next to buildings 4. an extreme or desperate position or a state of defeat, failure, or ruin <

the surrounded troops had their backs against the wall

> <

small companies driven to the wall

> 5. a material layer enclosing space <

the wall of a container

> <

heart walls

> 6. something resembling a wall (as in appearance, function, or effect); especially something that acts as a barrier or defense <

a wall of reserve

> <

tariff wall

> • wall-like adjective II. transitive verb Date: 13th century 1. a. to provide, cover with, or surround with or as if with a wall <

wall in the garden

> b. to separate by or as if by a wall <

walled off half the house

> 2. a. immure <

walled the monster up within the tomb — E. A. Poe

> b. to close (an opening) with or as if with a wall III. verb Etymology: Middle English (Scots) wawlen, probably from Middle English wawil- (in wawil-eghed walleyed) Date: 15th century intransitive verb of the eyes to roll in a dramatic manner transitive verb to roll (one's eyes) in a dramatic manner