Wabun code
A form of Morse code used to encode Japanese-language messages written in kana for transmission via telegram.
Entries starting with W
128 entries.
wafer
A thin disk of silicon or other semiconductor on which an electronic circuit is produced.
wafer-scale integration
A rarely-used system of building very large integrated circuit networks that use an entire silicon wafer to produce a single "super-chip".
waffle
nounConstruction
A concrete slab used in flooring with a gridlike structure of ribs running at right angles to each other on its underside.
wagon
nounRail equipment
A vehicle (wagon) designed to transport goods or people on railway.
wagon-lit
nounRail equipment
A sleeping car, often used in international trains in continental Europe; the Wagons-Lits company also ran dining cars.
walk
verbMachining
To tend to move radially while feeding axially, whether tending toward on-center or tending toward off-center. Walking may be desirable (e.g., when a reamer walks into concentricity) or undesirable (e.g., when a twist drill walks into eccentricity.)
wall plate
nounConstruction
A piece of timber laid horizontally in or on a wall as a support for a girder, rafter, or joist.
wallbox
nounConstruction
A socket set into a wall to support a shaft or beam.
wane
nounWoodworking
A rounded corner caused by lack of wood, often showing bark.
waned
adjectiveCarpentry
Having wanes, i.e. rounded corners caused by lack of wood, often showing bark.
waney
nounWoodworking
A sharp or uneven edge on a board that is cut from a log not perfectly squared, or that is made in the process of squaring.
warm working
nounMetallurgy
The process of processing a metal at a temperature between one-tenth and four-tenths of the melting point
warning track
A non-driving surface at the edge of a road, with a different surfacing warning drivers of the approach to the edge of the road, as part of the shoulder of a road.
warning triangle
A triangle made of (usually) red reflective material, used to warn other road users of a broken-down vehicle.
warp
nounManufacturing
The threads that run lengthwise in a woven fabric; crossed by the woof or weft.
warp beam
The roller on which the warp is wound in a loom.
warplike
adjectiveManufacturing
Resembling or characteristic of the warp.
wash
To separate valuable material (such as gold) from worthless material by the action of flowing water.
washdirt
Earth rich enough in metal to pay for washing.
washeryman
A person who works in a washery in a mine.
washing stuff
Any earthy deposit containing enough gold to pay for washing it.
washout
A place in a mine where ore has been washed away by a flow of water.
washpit
An outdoor pit with water running through it, used to wash livestock.
wastegate
A valve that allows exhaust gases to bypass an engine's turbocharger, in order to keep from overspeeding the turbocharger rotor or driving the boost pressure high enough to risk engine knocking or detonation.
wasteman
A person employed to examine the state of the mine workings, to check that they are properly ventilated, and sometimes to build pillars to support the roof in the waste.
watch receiver
A small telephone receiver resembling a pocket watch.
watchout
Any potentially hazardous condition or situation that may make a fire more dangerous.
water column
nounRail equipment
A column alongside a railway track used to replenish a steam engine's water supply.
water core
nounMetalworking
A hollow core through which water may be passed.
water injection
nounAutomotive
The process of squirting a small amount of water, in the form of a fine spray, into the air/fuel mixture going into a gasoline piston engine, in order to cool the engine cylinders, and, thereby, reduce detonation or knocking in high performance engines, especially when using a high compression ratio.
water leader
A person employed to remove water from the horseways and other places.
water line
nounManufacturing
The outline of a horizontal section of a vessel, as when floating in the water.
water popping
nounCarpentry
A technique used to open the grain of wood flooring by introducing clean water to its surface before staining and finishing it.
water repellent
A chemical used to make fabric water-repellent.
water trough
nounRail equipment
a long trough placed between the rails in a railway track, which enabled a steam locomotive to replenish its water supply without stopping by lowering a scoop. They were removed at the end of steam train operation.
water twist
A kind of cotton twist, first made by the water frame.
water wand
A type of device that is screwed onto the end of a garden hose in order to reduce water pressure without decreasing the volume.
water-line model
nounManufacturing
a model of a vessel formed of boards which are shaped according to the water lines as shown in the plans and laid upon each other to form a solid model
waterfall skirt
A skirt that is longer on one side than the other.
waterleave
An easement consisting of the right granted to a miner to use a watercourse for drainage etc.
waterstop
nounConstruction
A waterproof barrier that is used to prevent moisture from leaking through a joint.
waterworks
Engineering works relating to the conveyance and flow of fluids (principally water), such as the collection and distribution of water, drainage, irrigation, etc.
wavelet modulation
A method of modulating signals that uses wavelets to represent the data being transmitted.
waver
In full waver roller: a roller which places ink on the inking table of a printing press with a back and forth, waving motion.
way-cleaner
A person employed to clean the rails, removing coaldust etc.
web
A long sheet of paper which is fed from a roll into a printing press, as opposed to individual sheets of paper.
webbing
Tapes conducting webs of paper in a printing machine.
wedge gear
A specialized friction gear characterized by circumferential grooves of wedge-shaped cross section on its wheel periphery.
Wedgwood
The ceramic ware with white embossed cameos made by Josiah Wedgwood, English potter.
weedwhacker
A device used to cut grass and destroy weeds; a string trimmer.
weft
nounManufacturing
The yarn used for the weft; the fill.
weight
verbManufacturing
To add weight to something; to make something heavier.
weldless
adjectiveMetallurgy
Made or done without welding.
well
nounMetalworking
The lower part of a furnace, into which the metal falls.
wellpoint
nounConstruction
A small well consisting of a tube hammered into the ground, that can drain water from a construction site.
Welsh plain
A type of coarse woolen fabric produced in Wales between the 17th and 19th centuries.
Western Union splice
A method of tightly joining two ends of metal wire by twisting each around the other.
wet heater
A torpedo engine where water is injected into the combustion chamber alongside fuel and compressed air or oxygen, cooling the engine and increasing its power through the production and expansion of steam.
wet sump
nounAutomotive
A type of engine sump where oil pools in a pan at the bottom of the engine.