wainscot

[ weyn-skuht, -skot, -skoht ]

noun

1. wood, especially oak and usually in the form of paneling, for lining interior walls.
2. the lining itself, especially as covering the lower portion of a wall.
3. a dado, especially of wood, lining an interior wall.
4. British. oak of superior quality and cut, imported from the Baltic countries for fine woodwork.

verb (used with object)

, wain·scot·ed, wain·scot·ing or (especially British) wain·scot·ted, wain·scot·ting.

1. to line the walls of (a room, hallway, etc.) with or as if with woodwork:

   a room wainscoted in oak.

wainscot

/ ˈweɪnskət /

noun

1. Also calledwainscotingwainscotting a lining applied to the walls of a room, esp one of wood panelling
2. the lower part of the walls of a room, esp when finished in a material different from the upper part
3. fine quality oak used as wainscot

verb

1. tr to line (a wall of a room) with a wainscot

Other Words From

• un·wainscot·ed adjective
• un·wainscot·ted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wainscot¹

1325–75; Middle English < Middle Low German or Middle Dutch wagenschot, equivalent to wagen wain + schot (< ?)

Word History and Origins

Origin of wainscot¹

C14: from Middle Low German wagenschot, perhaps from wagen wagon + schot planking, related to German Scheit piece of wood

Example Sentences

Named for its historic 1920s Chateauesque building, Castle is a treasure box of prewar charm: lattice windows, crown-molding, wainscot, Art Deco tile.

From Los Angeles Times

“Emma,” said she, “this paper is worse than I expected. Look! in places you see it is dreadfully dirty; and the wainscot is more yellow and forlorn than any thing I could have imagined.”

From Literature

A wainscot cap is very similar in application to the chair rail.

From Seattle Times

They could hear the wood splintering under his teeth—a sound like a mouse in a shed wainscot at midnight.

From Literature

Werner glances around: a trunk, a box of linens, the pale blue of the walls and the rich white of the wainscot.

From Literature

Related Words

• cover
• fill
• stuff