width

English

Etymology

PIE word
*dwóh₁

From wide +‎ -th (abstract nominal suffix), possibly by analogy with Old Norse vídd (“width”), though this is unlikely, as the word is not attested before the end of the 16th century and was historically unknown in Scots and the traditional dialect of Northern England, where one would expect Old Norse influence to be the strongest (these varieties traditionally employed wideness instead). Replaced Middle English wide, wyde (“width”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈwɪtθ/, /ˈwɪdθ/, /ˈwɪθ/, [wɪd̪θ]
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (Australia):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪtθ, -ɪdθ, -ɪθ

Noun

width (countable and uncountable, plural widths)

  1. The state of being wide.
  2. The measurement of the extent of something from side to side.
  3. A piece of material measured along its smaller dimension, especially fabric.
  4. (cricket) The horizontal distance between a batsman and the ball as it passes him.
  5. (sports) The use of all the width of the pitch, from one side to the other.
    Manchester United like to play with width.
    • 2011 September 18, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 41-10 Georgia”, in BBC Sport‎[1], archived from the original on 12 November 2011:
      England looked to put width on the ball after the restart, Armitage very nearly going over in the corner only for the video referee to decide his foot was in touch. But Armitage did get on the score-sheet five minutes later, Ben Foden straightening and putting the London Irish man in.

Synonyms

  • (extent or measure of how broad or wide something is): breadth

Derived terms

Descendants

  • → Scots: width, wyth

Translations

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Translations to be checked

References

Scots

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from English width, replacing Middle Scots wydnes.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈwɪ(t)θ/

Noun

width (uncountable)

  1. width, breadth
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