welter

English

Etymology 1

From Middle Low German, from Proto-Germanic. Cognates include Old Norse velta (Danish vælte), German wälzen, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (waltjan). Akin to wallow, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (walwjan) and Latin volvere.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛltə(ɹ)

Noun

welter (plural welters)

1. general confusion; disorderly mixture; aimless effort; as, a welter of papers and magazines

Verb

welter (third-person singular simple present welters, present participle weltering, simple past and past participle weltered)

1. (intransitive) to roll; to wallow
2. (intransitive) to be soaked or steeped in; as, to welter in one’s own blood

Derived terms

• bewelter

Etymology 2

Adjective

welter

1. Of horsemen, heavyweight; as, a welter race.

Translations

of horsemen, heavyweight

• French: welter (fr)

Derived terms

• welter-weight

Etymology 3

Compare wilt (intransitive verb).

Verb

welter (third-person singular simple present welters, present participle weltering, simple past and past participle weltered)

1. To wither; to wilt.
   • I. Taylor

     Weltered hearts and blighted […] memories.

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Italian

Etymology

English

Noun

welter m (invariable)

1. welter-weight

Synonyms

• peso welter