willow

Noun

any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
a textile machine having a system of revolving spikes for opening and cleaning raw textile fibers
Any of various deciduous trees or shrubs in the genus Salix, in the willow family Salicaceae, found primarily on moist soils in cooler zones in the northern hemisphere.
The wood of these trees.
A cricket bat.
The baseball bat.
A rotating spiked drum used to open and clean cotton heads.

Verb

To open and cleanse (cotton, flax, wool, etc.) by means of a willow.
To form a shape or move in a way similar to the long, slender branches of a willow.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English wilwe, welew, variant of wilghe, from Old English welig, from Proto-West Germanic *wilig, from Proto-Germanic *wiligaz, from Proto-Indo-European *welik- (compare (Arcadian) Ancient Greek ἑλίκη (helíkē), Hittite 𒌑𒂖𒆪 (welku, “grass”)), from *wel- (“twist, turn”).

Synonyms

willow tree, withy

Scrabble Score: 12

willow is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
willow is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
willow is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

willow is a valid Words With Friends word