Added 9 October 2026
wick
/ˈwɪk/ noun
In Latin: ellychnium, fīlum, mergulus Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about wick at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A braid or bundle of fibre or other porous material (now generally twisted or woven cotton) in a candle, kerosene heater, oil lamp, etc., that draws up a liquid fuel (such as melted tallow or wax, or oil) at one end, to be ignited at the other end to produce a flame.
Trim the wick fairly short, so that the flame does not smoke.
- Synonym of wicking (“the material of which wicks (etymology 1, noun sense 1) are made”).
- Any piece of porous material that conveys liquid by capillary action; specifically , a strip of gauze placed in a wound, etc., to absorb fluids.
verb
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Of a material (especially a textile): to convey or draw off (liquid) by capillary action.
The fabric wicks perspiration away from the body.
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Of a material: to convey or draw off liquid by capillary action. Chiefly followed by through or up: of a liquid: to move by capillary action through a porous material.
The moisture slowly wicked through the wood.
- Of a material: to convey or draw off liquid by capillary action.
noun
adjective
Origin
The noun is derived from Middle English wek, weke, wicke (“fibrous cord drawing fuel to flame of a candle, etc.; material used to make this object”), from Old English wēoce (“wick”), from Proto-West Germanic *weukā (“flax bundle; wick”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *weg- (“to weave”). It has been suggested that noun etymology 1, noun sense 2 (“penis”) is derived from Hampton Wick, used as rhyming slang for prick. If so, that sense should be placed under etymology 2. The verb is derived from the noun. cognates * Dutch wiek (“wick; wing; blade, propeller”) * German Wieche (“wick; wisp”) * Swedish veke (“wick”) * West Frisian wjok, wjuk (“wing”)
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)