wattle

1 of 3

noun (1)

wat·​tle ˈwä-tᵊl 

1

a

: a fabrication of poles interwoven with slender branches, withes, or reeds and used especially formerly in building

b

: material for such construction

c

wattles plural : poles laid on a roof to support thatch

2

Australia : acacia sense 2

wattled

ˈwä-tᵊld 

adjective

wattle

2 of 3

verb

wattled; wattling

ˈwät-liŋ, 

ˈwä-tᵊl-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to form or build of or with wattle

2

a

: to form into wattle : interlace to form wattle

b

: to unite or make solid by interweaving light flexible material

wattle

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a fleshy pendulous process usually about the head or neck (as of a bird)

Examples of wattle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It was created for her royal tour of Australia in 1954 and reveals white and yellow wattle blossom motifs to honor her first visit to the country as queen. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2026

Many of the roosters’ combs and wattles were cut off and some had injuries on their claws. —Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026

Plastic bed edging is one option, but natural materials like rocks and woven branches (known as wattle edging) can also be used to frame flower beds. —Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026

Pardington spat out the coin and looked at the bird, the male with its long, curved beak and pronounced wattle. —Tom Page, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English wattel, from Old English watel; akin to Old High German wadal bandage

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1513, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing wattle

• wattle and daub

Rhymes for wattle

• bottle
• cottle
• glottal
• mottle
• pottle
• scrotal
• throttle
• nahuatl

Kids Definition

wattle

1 of 3 noun

wat·​tle ˈwät-ᵊl 

: a framework of poles interwoven with slender branches or reeds and used in building

also : material for such a framework

wattled

-ᵊld 

adjective

wattle

2 of 3 verb

wattled; wattling ˈwät-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to form or build of or with wattle

2

a

: to weave (as branches) together to form wattle

b

: to unite or make solid by weaving together light flexible material

wattle

3 of 3 noun

: a fleshy flap of skin hanging usually from the neck (as of a bird)

Medical Definition

wattle

noun

wat·​tle ˈwät-ᵊl 

: a fleshy process that hangs usually from the head or neck (as of a bird)

wattled

-ᵊld 

adjective