[f. WHET v.]
1. An act of sharpening; transf. the interval between two sharpenings of a scythe, etc.; also fig. an occasion, turn, ‘go.’ Now dial.
a. 1628. J. Preston, Saints Daily Exerc. (1629), 32. The whetting of the sithe, though there be a stop in the work for a time, yet, as our common saying is, a whet is no let.
1641. Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 32. A good mower will goe the breadth of those broade-landes with a whette.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, xxx. If the afflatus comes, give way, Robert; never heed me: I’ll bear it this whet (time)
1892. Hole, Mem., xvi. 194. ‘Well, Booth,’ a visitor said to his sick neighbour, ‘thee’d like to get better, wouldn’t thee, Booth? But thee mun dee, this whet.’
2. fig. Something that incites or stimulates desire; an incitement or inducement to action.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 112, marg. The sloth of the Moors a whet to the Banyans.
1710. S. Palmer, Proverbs, 6. Diversion shou’d never be any more than a Whet in order to the better … Pursuit of our Work.
1770. Ann. Reg., Hist. Eur., 32/2. The carnage at Patras gave a new whet, which was not at all wanted, to the … revenge of the Greeks.
1846. Lower, Hand-bk. Lewes, 24. Should any facts I may state serve as a whet for the visitor’s curiosity.
1880. J. Caird, Univ. Addr. (1898), 134. For some minds … the whet of society is indispensable in order to the attainment of the right temper and use of their powers.
1882. Stevenson, Across the Plains, iii. (1892), 123. Solitude: an excellent thing in itself, and a good whet for company.
b. Something that whets the appetite; chiefly, light refreshment taken as an appetizer or to stave off hunger till the next meal; esp. an appetizer in the form of a small draught of liquor; a dram, a drink (cf. wet).
1688. Shadwell, Sqr. Alsatia, II. 23. Let’s whett; bring some Wine. Come on; I love a Whett.
1692. Ray, Disc., II. v. (1693), 191. The President of the Council … engaged me to take a Glass of Wormwood Wine as a whet before dinner.
1693. Congreve, in Dryden’s Juvenal, xi. 209. An Iv’ry Table is a certain whet; You would not think how heartily he’ll eat.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 279. Fruit, Wine, Tobacco, and Salt Bits for a Whet, being placed before them, they continue Drinking till Midnight.
1736. Fielding, Pasquin, I. 6. I have brought the Colonel to take a Morning’s Whet with you.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (1785), III. 360. They whipt out two Bottles of Champaigne instantly, for a Whet, as they called it.
1769. Mrs. Raffald, Engl. Housekpr. (1778), 139. To make a nice Whet before Dinner. Cut some slices of bread…, fry them in butter, [etc.].
1771. Smollett, Humphry Cl., To Sir W. Phillips, 8 Aug. I have seen turnips make their appearance, not as a dessert, but by way of hors d’œuvres, or whets.
1803. Med. Jrnl., X. 477. As he walks out in the morning he takes what is called a small glass (half a gill) of bitters … at the first grog-shop he passes; and commonly takes a second whet (another half gill) before he gets to work.
1833. in F. D. Palmer, Diary of C. J. P. (1892), 112. The Corporation gave a ‘whet’ at the Town Hall.
1852. W. Jerdan, Autobiogr., I. xxiii. 189. He … swallowed his two dozen of green oysters as a whet, and proceeded to dine.
1879. Stevenson, Trav. Cevennes, 90. Father Michael … gave me a glass of liqueur to stay me until dinner…. The whet administered, I was left alone.
