Wil·low n.
 1. Bot. Any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, including many species, most of which are characterized often used as an emblem of sorrow, desolation, or desertion. “A wreath of willow to show my forsaken plight.” --Sir W. Scott. Hence, a lover forsaken by, or having lost, the person beloved, is said to wear the willow.
 And I must wear the willow garland
 For him that's dead or false to me.   --Campbell.
 2. Textile Manuf. A machine in which cotton or wool is opened and cleansed by the action of long spikes projecting from a drum which revolves within a box studded with similar spikes; -- probably so called from having been originally a cylindrical cage made of willow rods, though some derive the term from winnow, as denoting the winnowing, or cleansing, action of the machine. Called also willy, twilly, twilly devil, and devil.
 Almond willow, Pussy willow, Weeping willow. Bot. See under Almond, Pussy, and Weeping.
 Willow biter Zool. the blue tit. [Prov. Eng.]
 Willow fly Zool., a greenish European stone fly (Chloroperla viridis); -- called also yellow Sally.
 Willow gall Zool., a conical, scaly gall produced on willows by the larva of a small dipterous fly (Cecidomyia strobiloides).
 Willow grouse Zool., the white ptarmigan.  See ptarmigan.
 Willow lark Zool., the sedge warbler. [Prov. Eng.]
 Willow ptarmigan Zool. (a) The European reed bunting, or black-headed bunting.  See under Reed. (b) A sparrow (Passer salicicolus) native of Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe.
 Willow tea, the prepared leaves of a species of willow largely grown in the neighborhood of Shanghai, extensively used by the poorer classes of Chinese as a substitute for tea. --McElrath.
 Willow thrush Zool., a variety of the veery, or Wilson's thrush.  See Veery.
 Willow warbler Zool., a very small European warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus); -- called also bee bird, haybird, golden wren, pettychaps, sweet William, Tom Thumb, and willow wren.


 Wren n.
 1. Zool. Any one of numerous species of small singing birds belonging to Troglodytes and numerous allied of the family Troglodytidae.
 Note: ☞ Among the species best known are the house wren (Troglodytes aedon) common in both Europe and America, and the American winter wren (Troglodytes hiemalis).  See also Cactus wren, Marsh wren, and Rock wren, under Cactus, Marsh, and Rock.
 2. Zool. Any one of numerous species of small singing birds more or less resembling the true wrens in size and habits.
 Note: ☞ Among these are several species of European warblers; as, the reed wren (see Reed warbler (a), under Reed), the sedge wren (see Sedge warbler, under Sedge), the willow wren (see Willow warbler, under Willow), the golden-crested wren, and the ruby-crowned wren (see Kinglet).
 Ant wren, any one of numerous South American birds of the family Formicaridae, allied to the ant thrushes.
 Blue wren, a small Australian singing bird (Malurus cyaneus), the male of which in the breeding season is bright blue. Called also superb warbler.
 Emu wren. See in the Vocabulary.
 Wren babbler, any one of numerous species of small timaline birds belonging to Alcippe, Stachyris, Timalia, and several allied genera. These birds are common in Southern Asia and the East Indies.
 Wren tit. See Ground wren, under Ground.
 Wren warbler, any one of several species of small Asiatic and African singing birds belonging to Prinia and allied genera. These birds are closely allied to the tailor birds, and build their nests in a similar manner.  See also Pincpinc.

 ◄ ►