Definition

The act of cleaning or preparing wool or cotton using a special tool called a willy or willow.

Example

The willying of the wool made it soft and ready for spinning.

Conversation

Have you ever tried willying wool before?

No, I haven't even heard of that technique.

It's really interesting; it helps prepare the fibers for spinning.

That sounds cool! I might look into it for my next project.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'willying' originates from the verb 'will' (from Old English 'willan', meaning to wish or desire) combined with the suffix '-ing' (indicating the action or process of). Thus, 'willying' refers to the action of wishing or desiring something.

Memory Tip

Think of 'will' as your desire or wish, and '-ing' shows that it's happening right now. So, 'willying' is the act of actively wishing for something.

Visually Confused Words