Meaning

(intransitive, obsolete) To roll; revolve..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To roll; revolve.
2. A ridge or lump on the skin, as caused by a blow.
3. A strip, especially one around the edge of something (for example, in some old heraldry).
4. (obsolete, shoemaking) A shoe made with a welt (strip of leather set into the seam).
5. (transitive) To cause to have welts; to beat.
6. (transitive) To install welt (a welt or welts) to reinforce.
7. (UK, dialect, archaic, intransitive) To decay.
8. (UK, dialect, archaic, intransitive) To become stringy.

Example Sentences

When she saw, on the back and shoulders of the child, great welts and calloused spots, ineffaceable marks of the system under which she had grown up thus far, her heart became pitiful within her.

[…] I am sure of one thing,—scars are plenty enough in Germany, among the young men; and very grim ones they are, too. They criss-cross the face in angry red welts, and are permanent and ineffaceable.

She was nearly four feet long, with a large welt on her shell, which was encrusted with ancient-looking barnacles.

… round about a border of Purple Veluet, with Floure de luces of Gold, embrodred to the full, with a welt and bordure of Ermines foure fingers broad. / Vpon the last named cloath or Couerlet of St / …

Therefore this may be taken for an Observation, that an edg, or hem, or welt, only runs on the sides of the Ordinary; but the Border invirons, or goeth clear round the same, […]

“The neighborhood is officially called Mid-City, but it is often referred to as Crenshaw. The area is wide and bright, a grid of small streets crisscrossed with boulevards and the welt of the I-10 freeway running along its southern edge.”

Previous to the fifties, most of the shoes made were welts, or spring heels, and later most of the work changed to turns or "runrounds" as they were called.

Nathan D. Chase, a well-to-do boss who accumulated enough wealth to retire in 1850 at middle age, observed that the prices for making shoes remained low from 1837 to 1842: 4 cents for red-bottomed cacks, 8 cents for women's turned slippers, 10 cents for thick-heeled runrounds, 12 cents for set heels, 20 cents for welts.

Word Forms

• welts
• welting
• welted

Synonyms for welt

Related Words

When Should You Use Welt?

Use welt when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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