weaver

 weaver on Wikipedia

From Middle English wevere, wever, from Old English *wefere, *wifre, *wæfre (“weaver”, in compounds), from Proto-West Germanic *webārī. By surface analysis, weave +‎ -er. Compare Saterland Frisian Weeuwer (“weaver”), Dutch wever (“weaver”), German Low German Wever (“weaver”), German Weber (“weaver”), Swedish vävare (“weaver”), Icelandic vefari (“weaver”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈwiː.və(ɹ)/

• Audio (Southern England):

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈwi.vɚ/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -iːvə(ɹ)
• Homophone: weever

weaver (plural weavers)

2. A person who weaves; especially, one who weaves cloth for a living.
   • 1738, J. B. Du Halde, “PROVINCE II. KYANG-NAN.”, in A Description of the Empire of China and Chinese-Tartary, Together with the Kingdoms of Korea, and Tibet‎, volume I, London, →OCLC, page 73:

     The Silks, varniſh'd Works, Ink, Paper, and in general every thing that comes, both from Nan-king and the other Cities of the Province, which carry on an aſtoniſhing Trade, is much more eſteem'd and dear, than what is brought from other Provinces. In the City Shang-hay only, and the Villages belonging to it, they reckon above 200,000 Weavers of Callico.

4. A horizontal strand of material used in basket weaving.

   Coordinate terms: spoke, stake

   • 1988, Lyn Siler, The Basket Book: Over 30 Magnificent Baskets to Make and Enjoy:

     To add a new weaver, simply soak a new one, slide one end under a rib (over the old weaver) and continue weaving with both of them until the old one runs out. […] If your weaver has dried, rewet it and weave several rows as in Diagram 26.

6. A weaverbird.
8. An aquatic beetle of the genus Gyrinus.
10. Any of certain spider species, such as the sheet weaver or the funnel weaver, so named because they spin interesting and characteristic webs.
12. Any of certain fish of the family Pinguipedidae.

• weave