Wound sb.

Forms: α. 1–3 wund, 3 wunde (wnde); 3–5 wonde, 4–6 wond (6 Sc. vond), 5 woynd, 6 Sc. wind. β. 3–7 wounde, 3– wound (5 wownd, Sc. vound); 8 pl. wawnds. [Common Teutonic: OE. wund = OFris. wunde, wund (WFris. woune, EFris. wûn), MDu. wonde (Du. wond), OS. wunda (LG. wunde, wunne, wunn), OHG. wunta, wunda (MHG. wunte, wunde, G. wunde), ON. (Icel., MSw.) und (Da. vunde from LG.), of uncertain relationship.

  The original ŭ was normally lengthened before nd, but in the standard pronunc. has been prevented from developing into ou (as in bound, hound, ground, etc.) by the influence of the w (in contrast to wound, pa. t. of WIND v.¹). The pronunc, (waund) is however given by some dictionaries of the 18th century (Kenrick, 1773; Jones, 1798), is widely current in dialects, is implied in various forms of WOUNDS and ZOUNDS, and was common in the adv. WOUNDY.]

  1.  A hurt caused by the laceration or separation of the tissues of the body by a hard or sharp instrument, a bullet, etc.; an external injury.

  † Death’s wound: see DEATH-WOUND.

  α.  Beowulf, 2711. Ða sio wund ongon, þe him se eorðdraca ær ʓeworhte, swelan and swellan.

c. 900.  Bæda’s Hist., II. ix. (1890), 124. Eac wæs se cyning ʓehæled from þære wunde, þe him ær ʓedon wæs.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 180. Wið wunda,… ʓenim þas wyrte þe we senecio nemdun.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 79. Þa com þer an helendis Mon and heuede rouþe of him and wesch his wunden mid wine.

c. 1205.  Lay., 23969. He wunde afeng feouwer unchene long.

c. 1275.  Passion of our Lord, 187, in O. E. Misc., 42. Ne schullen hi nouht yete þolie none wnde.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1980. He haues a wunde in the side.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 5337. Byhalde þe wondes þat yhe styked.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 501. Þan he askede of Olyuere … If þat he any wonde bere in ys body þat tyde.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 6316. Achylles … hymselfe fore to no fyght for hys fel wondys.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 181. The bee is a Passynge wrathfull beste … and for vengeaunce they lewyth thar Styngill in the wonde.

1526.  Tindale, Acts xvi. 33. He toke them … and Wasshed their wondes.

1549.  Compl. Scot., xiv. 121. The mortal vondis that he hed resauit fra bessus his seruituir.

  β.  c. 1290.  Sancta Crux, 438, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 14. To-gadere huy smiten to grounde … and maden heom wel bitere woundes.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 11397. He hadde mo þan tuenti wounde ar he were inome.

c. 1325.  Spec. Gy Warw., 442. And þere þeih sholen se soþliche, His grisli wounden openliche.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 137. Of word among the men of Armes Ben woundes heeled with the charmes, Wher lacketh other medicine.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xix. 87. Þe blude rynnez doun fra þer woundes.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 533/1. Wownde, festryd, cicatrix. Wownde, made wythe swerde or other wepne, stigma.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xv. 356. He … cast hym doun to the grounde with a wounde mortall.

1547.  Boorde, Brev. Health, I. ccclxxvii. (1557), 120 b. There be dyuers sortes of woundes, some be newe and freshe woundes and some be olde woundes, some be depe woundes, [etc.].

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. 55. Dead Henries wounds, Open their congeal’d mouches, and bleed afresh.

1611.  Middleton & Dekker, Roaring Girl, L 3. Wounds should be drest and heal’d, not vext, or left Wide open, to the anguish of the patient.

1665.  Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 271. Octavius … was shortly after shot by the Besieged, and dyed of the Wound.

1679.  Oldham, Sat. Jesuits, III. (1681), 70. A Wound though cur’d, yet leaves behind a Scar.

1732.  Lediard, Sethos, II. VIII. 222. I receiv’d a wound with a sword which laid me on the ground.

1744.  J. Armstrong, Art Preserv. Health, III. 516. For want of timely care Millions have died of medicable wounds.

1770.  Goldsm., Des. Vill., 157. The broken soldier … Wept o’er his wounds.

1804.  Naval Chron., XII. 387. Having … several sabre and pike wounds.

1841.  Lever, O’Malley, lxxi. ‘And his wound? Is it a serious one?’ said a … voice, as the doctor left my room.

1866.  G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xxvi. The blood flowed from a wound on the head.

1907.  J. H. Patterson, Man-Eaters of Tsavo, vii. 78. I … bathed and dressed his wounds.

  b.  Esp. in the (Five) Wounds of Christ.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 75. Ac he hom helde mid his halie fif wunden.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 292. Nem ofte Jesu … Vlih into his wunden, creop in ham mid þine þouhte.

a. 1300.  Leg. Rood, ii. 258. He aros to lyue From deþe þen þridde dai myd is wounden viue.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 642. Alle his afyaunce vpon folde was in þe fyue woundez þat Crist kaȝt on þe croys.

1450–1530.  Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 155. By meryte of our lordes fyue woundes.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 2. The moost worthy to be loued woundes & passyon of Chryst.

1533.  in Linc. Dioc. Docum. (1914), 157. The ij. cunstabelles … shall deyll y^d in honor and worship of the v. wondes of our lord to the v. porest folkes in the towne.

1625.  trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., 220. They … brought into the field many men, vnder flying colours, wherein were painted in some, the fiue wounds of our Lord.

1660.  F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 53. The Church of the five wounds of our Saviour.

1807.  Wordsw., White Doe, II. 21. And figured there The five dear wounds our Lord did bear.

1845.  Pusey, trans. Horst’s Parad. Soul (1847), II. VI. 81. Salutations to the Five Wounds of Christ.

1887.  Encycl. Brit., XXII. 549/2. As regards full stigmatization, with the visible production of the five wounds,… the oldest case, after St. Francis, is that of Ida of Louvain.

  c.  Used as an oath or strong exclamation, as By Christ’s, or His, wounds, His arms and wounds, Wounds of God, etc. (Cf. WOUNDS int.)

  See also BLOOD sb. 1 e, GAD sb.⁵ 3, GOD sb. 14 a, GOG¹ 2, and OONS, SWOUNDS, ZOUNDS.

c. 1350.  Athelston, 144. Sodaynly þan schalt þou dy, Be Cristes woundys fyue.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Wolf & Lamb, 2689. Be his woundis, fals tratour, thow sall de.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, clxxxix. 762. Than the maister ruffian began to swore bloode & woundes that thei shulde plei at the dyse.

1550.  Latimer, Serm., G ii b. He cried oute, what, shall I dye (quod he) woundes, sydes, hart, shal I dye,… woundes and sydes shal I thus dye?

1560.  Nice Wanton, 215. It is lost, by His woundes! and ten to one!

1568.  Fulwell, Like will to Like, B 1 b. Gogs hart…, Blood, wounds and nailes, it wil make a man mad.

1589.  Rare Tri. Love & Fort. (Roxb.), 143. By his wounds I would never lin [etc.].

1602.  Chettle, Hoffman, IV. (1631), H 2 b. S’wounds ile confound her, and she linger thus.

1728.  Cibber & Vanbr., Provok’d Husb., I. 14. Ad’s waunds, and heart!… I’m glad I ha’ fun ye.

1748.  Smollett, Rod. Rand., xi. ‘Blood and wounds! (cried Weazel) d’ye question the honour of my wife, madam!’

[1869.  Blackmore, Lorna D., xxv. Wounds of God! In what way thought you that a lawyer listened to your rigmarole?]

  d.  fig. or in fig. context.

a. 900.  Cynewulf’s Crist, 1314. Eala! Þær we nu maʓon wraþe firene ʓeseon on ussum sawlum synna wunde.

c. 1000.  Rule St. Benet (Logeman), 80. Ælfremeda wunda na abarian [L. aliena vulnera non detegere].

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 42. Ure helende com to helen þe wundes þe þe deuel hadde on mancun broht.

a. 1240.  Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., I. 189. Þine wunden healen þe wunden of mi saule.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 239. My foo that gave myn herte A wounde.

14[?].  Hoccleve, Virg. & Christ, 62. Vn-to the souerain leche, preye of grace, Þat he my wowndes vouchesauf to cure.

1530.  Tindale, Answ. More, I. Wks. (1572), 261/1. The wound of temptation beyng greater then that it could bee healed with the preaching of a woman.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 231. That the woundes of the Church might be healed.

1592.  Timme, Ten Eng. Lepers, L 3 b. Who falleth from patience by the wounds of evill tongues.

1621.  Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 59. The wounde of the priviledge of the House not soe greate, as that his Majestie shoulde conceave a suspicion of our zeale to his honor.

a. 1683.  Sidney, Disc. Govt., I. xi. 24. This Wound is not cured by saying, that he first conquers one, and then more.

1708.  Pope, Ode St. Cecilia, 29. She … Pours balm into the bleeding lover’s wounds.

1744.  H. Brooke, in E. Moore, Fables, xv. 14. The wounds of honour never close.

1823.  Scott, Quentin D., xvi. Louis, who searched the wounds of the land with steel and cautery.

1862.  Mrs. Browning, De Profundis, v. And tender friends go sighing round, ‘What love can ever cure this wound?’

1885.  ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, xi. My jewel will always believe the best of me; time will heal up her wounds.

  2.  transf. An incision, abrasion, or other injury due to external violence, in any part of a tree or plant.

1574.  T. Hyll, Ordering Bees, etc., 77. Then the barke of him [an Apple tree] is sicke: then cut it with a knife,… and when the humour thereof is somwhat flowen ouer,… stoppe diligently his wounde with clay.

1658.  Evelyn, Fr. Gard. (1675), 33. Make as few wounds in a Tree as possibly you can.

1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 397. If you have occasion to make any great Wounds, cover them over with Clay.

1799.  H. Rooke, Sk. Sherwood Forest, 15. Where the Bark has been stript off for cutting the letters, the wood which grows over the wound never adheres to that part.

1837.  P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 73. If the cortical layers, while yet young, are accidentally injured, the part destroyed is again regenerated, and the wound healed up without a scar.

1897.  W. G. Smith, trans. Tubeuf’s Dis. Plants, 79. Wounds to the wood are also frequently produced during the felling of neighbouring Trees.

  b.  In other transf. uses.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 689. Soon had his crew Op’nd into the Hill a spacious wound And dig’d out ribs of Gold. Ibid., IX. 782. Her rash hand … Forth reaching to the Fruit, she pluck’d, she eat: Earth felt the wound.

1792.  Pakenham, in Trans. Soc. Arts, X. 210. Fifty-eight lower masts were wounded,… thirty-two of which had their wounds in the upper third.

  3.  Surgery. An incision or opening made by a surgical operator.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., III. vi. 143. If … you … then by a Wound made in an Artery shall put in a crooked hollow probe.

1805.  Med. Jrnl., XIV. 522. The wound of the integuments was contracted with strips of adhesive plaster.

1884.  Thompson, Tumours of Bladder, 37. At the operation no tumour was found,… on Feb. 20, the wound was quite healed.

  4.  Something that causes a wound (lit. or fig.).

1715.  Pope, Iliad, IV. 225. My varied belt repell’d the flying wound.

1844.  Mrs. Browning, Drama of Exile, 667. Let thy words be wounds … For, so, I shall not fear thy power to hurt.

  † 5.  (= L. plaga.) a. A blow, a stroke. (Cf. PLAGUE sb. 1.) Obs.

1382.  Wyclif, Luke xii. 47. Thilke seruaunt that knew the wille of his lord, and made not him redy, and dide not vp his wille, schal be betun with many woundis.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. xvi. (1495), n ij/1. The seruaunt that is not chastysed with wordes muste be chastysyd with woundes.

1450–1530.  Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 68.

  b.  A plague. Obs.

c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 1207. That was the ten woundes of Egypte.

  † 6.  An imperfection, a flaw. Obs.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. i. 1. Our first and ingenerated forefathers, from whom … we derive our being, and the severall wounds of constitution.

  7.  Her. (See quot.)

1572.  Bossewell, Armorie, 10. Seuen signes, or tokens which are figured in Armes round … 7. Is of Purpre, and is to be called a Wounde.

  8.  attrib. and Comb. a. simple attributive, as wound-complication, -fever, -mark, -print, -secretion, -surface, -typhoid; with meaning ‘used for the healing of wounds,’ as wound balsam, -herb, -oil, -ointment, -paste; b. objective and instrumental, as wound-dilator, -dressing, explorer; wound-inflicting, -plowed, -producing, -scarred, -worn adjs.

1658.  A. Fox, trans. Würtz’ Surg., IV. i. 300. I like and approve better of Wound Oyles, and of Wound Ointments, than of *Wound Balsams.

1850.  Pereira, Elem. Mat. Med. (ed. 3), II. 1525. Wound Balsam.

1899.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 213. A common and formidable *wound-complication.

1846.  G. P. R. James, Heidelberg, III. 141. In every country town, however, the latter [sc. the barber] exercised the craft of bone-setting and *wound-dressing.

1884.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Wound explorer, an electric sound used in searching for bullets.

1888.  Fagge & Pye-Smith, Princ. & Pract. Med. (ed. 2), I. 70. Pyæmia (*wound-fever, surgical infection).

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. cxci. 508. In the world there are not two better *wound herbes.

1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 543. Golden Rodde … is the most soveraigne woundherbe of many.

1671.  Salmon, Syn. Med., III. xxii. 416. Clowns-woundwort an excellent woundherb.

1866.  J. B. Rose, trans. Ovid’s Met., 229. So did the *wound-inflicting brute rush on.

1892.  J. A. Henderson, Ann. Lower Deeside, 114. One of the survivors of the gang used to exhibit … the *wound-mark of a dagger.

1658.  *wound-oil, *-ointment (see wound balsam above).

1753.  J. Bartlet, Gentl. Farriery, xxv. 224. Pledgits of tow spread with black or yellow basilicon (or the wound ointment).

1902.  Brit. Med. Jrnl., 12 April, 907. Herr König did not approve of *wound-paste.

c. 1600.  J. Day, Begg. Bednall Gr., I. i. (1881), 10. Thou art a Souldier, and thy *wound-plow’d face Hath every furrow fill’d with falling tears.

1862.  J. M. Neale, Hymns East. Church, 88. In His Feet and Hands are *Wound-prints, And His Side.

1897.  Westm. Gaz., 9 Oct., 5/3. One of the most terrible *wound-producing bullets with which our military could be armed.

1888.  Gunter, Mr. Potter, xii. 144. The weather-beaten, *wound-scarred veteran of the plains.

1880.  Barwell, Aneurism, 2. This cord … was saturated in *wound-secretion.

1884.  Bower & Scott, De Bary’s Phaner., 108. *Wound-surfaces, of whatever sort, are closed and healed by it.

1896.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 611. Pyæmia has been called *wound-typhoid.

1820.  Shelley, Prometh. Unb., II. i. 62. His pale *wound-worn limbs.

  9.  Special comb.: wound-cork, a protective layer formed on a damaged trunk or branch of a plant or tree; † wound-drink (see quot. 1694); wound-free adj., free from wounds; invulnerable; wound-fungus, a fungus that grows on the injured part of a plant; wound-parasite, a parasite infesting damaged plants; wound-rocket (see quot.); † wound-shrub, a shrub having healing properties; wound-stripe, a strip of gold braid worn by a wounded soldier on the left sleeve, vertically, above the cuff; † wound-tree (see quots. and cf. wound-shrub); wound-weed = WOUNDWORT; wound-wood, wood formed over an injured part.

1897.  W. G. Smith, trans. Tubeuf’s Dis. Plants, 76. A corky tissue—*wound-cork—may be formed in consequence of wounds to the bark.

1657.  W. Coles, Adam in Eden, cccxxxv. 614. Of Bugle … The decoction … is an especial helpe in all *Wound-drinkes.

1694.  W. Salmon, Pharm. Bate, 757/1. A *Wound Drink, or Drink for wounded People.

1609.  Heywood, Brit. Troy, XII. xciii. 263. Nor scapt the Troian *wound-free. Ibid. (1613), Silver Age, III. i. When we prou’d his skin To be wound-free, not to be pierc’d with steele. Ibid. (1624), Gunaik., VI. 280. An hearbe with whose juice if he would annointe any part of his bodie it should preserve it wound-free.

1897.  W. G. Smith, trans. Tubeuf’s Dis. Plants, 77. They are less suited for the entrance of *wound-fungi than wounds on the living branch. Ibid., 76. The normal duramen is preyed on for nutriment by many *wound-parasites.

1548.  Turner, Names of Herbes (E. D. S.), 82. Barbara herba … maye be called in englishe *wound-rocket, for it is good for a wounde.

1659.  Lovell, Herball, 542. *Wound-shrub, Izontecpatlis, Vulnerum medicina.

1919.  Chamb. Jrnl., Feb., 82/2. A young fellow with *wound-stripes on his arm.

1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 1650. Negundo mas & fœmina. The male and female *wound tree. Ibid., Nimbo. Another healing or wound tree.

1857.  Anne Pratt, Flower. Pl., III. 288. Solidago Virgaurea … This Golden Rod … was called *Wound-weed.

1897.  W. G. Smith, trans. Tubeuf’s Dis. Plants, 77. These reagents … even replace the formation of protective *wound-wood.