whey

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained in the process of making cheese.
intj
  1. A shout for attention
  2. A shout of enthusiasm or delight
  3. Shouted when someone drops a glass or other crockery, especially in a pub.

Pronunciation

hwā /hweɪ/ /weɪ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-whey.wav

Word forms

whey wheys whig whay

Etymology

From Middle English whey, wheye, whei, from Old English hwǣġ, hwæiġ, hwæġ, hweġ (“whey”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwaij (“whey”) (cognate with Saterland Frisian Waai, Woaie, West Frisian waai, Dutch wei, Low German Wei, German Low German Wei), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *kʷey- (“to pile up, build”) (compare Old Church Slavonic чинъ (činŭ, “order”), Ancient Greek ποιέω (poiéō, “to pile up, make”), Sanskrit कय (káya, “every one”)).

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