wings

nounorgan, device of flight
nounsection; extension

Synonyms for wings

noun organ, device of flight

Antonyms for wings

Word Origin & History

late 12c., wenge, from Old Norse vængr "wing of a bird, aisle, etc." (cf. Danish and Swedish vinge "wing"), of unknown origin, perhaps from a Proto-Germanic *we-ingjaz and ultimately from PIE root *we- "blow" (cf. Old English wawan "to blow;" see wind (n.)). Replaced Old English feðra (plural) "wings" (see feather). The meaning "either of two divisions of a political party, army, etc." is first recorded c.1400; theatrical sense is from 1790.

Verbal phrase wing it (1885) is from theatrical slang sense of an actor learning his lines in the wings before going onstage, or else not learning them at all and being fed by a prompter in the wings. The verb to wing "shoot a bird in the wing" is from 1802. The slang sense of to earn (one's) wings is 1940s, from the wing-shaped badges awarded to air cadets on graduation. To be under (someone's) wing "protected by (someone)" is recorded from early 13c. Phrase on a wing and a prayer is title of a 1943 song about landing a damaged aircraft.

Example Sentences for wings

And the third time I said, 'Behold the winged separates from that which hath no wings.'

The voice again said, 'Behold the winged separates from that which hath no wings!'

Tarleton advanced, with his infantry in the centre, and his cavalry on the wings.

I was thinking of my dream, and says I: 'Did she have her wings on?'

The ornithopter has hinged planes which work like the wings of a bird.

He would willingly have accompanied her on the wings of a cloud to the regions of fancy.

It was probably merely the beating of the wings of a night bird.

But, in a gusty, uncertain wind it must use its wings or alight somewhere.

They fell from the open sky like plummets, their wings half folded.

It hovered about Eurylochus, and almost brushed his face with its wings.

wings

Synonyms for wings

Antonyms for wings

More words related to wings

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