welter

¹

[ wel-ter ]

verb (used without object)

1. to roll, toss, or heave, as waves or the sea.
2. to roll, writhe, or tumble about; wallow, as animals (often followed by about ):

   pigs weltering about happily in the mud.

3. to lie bathed in or be drenched in something, especially blood.
4. to become deeply or extensively involved, associated, entangled, etc.:

   to welter in setbacks, confusion, and despair.

noun

1. a confused mass; a jumble or muddle:

   a welter of anxious faces.

2. a state of commotion, turmoil, or upheaval:

   the welter that followed the surprise attack.

   Synonyms: tumult, confusion

3. a rolling, tossing, or tumbling about, as or as if by the sea, waves, or wind:

   They found the shore through the mighty welter.

welter

²

[ wel-ter ]

noun

1. Informal. a welterweight boxer or wrestler.

adjective

1. (of a steeplechase or hurdle race) pertaining to, or noting a race in which the horses bear welterweights.

welter

/ ˈwɛltə /

verb

1. to roll about, writhe, or wallow
2. (esp of the sea) to surge, heave, or toss
3. to lie drenched in a liquid, esp blood

noun

1. a rolling motion, as of the sea
2. a confused mass; jumble

Word History and Origins

Origin of welter¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English welteren, welten “tumble, fall over; writhe,” Old English wiltan, weltan “roll”; cognate with Middle Dutch welteren, Low German weltern “to roll”

Origin of welter²

First recorded in 1785–95; of uncertain origin; perhaps from welt in the sense “to beat soundly” + -er ¹, or welter ¹ in the sense “a rolling or tossing about”

Word History and Origins

Origin of welter¹

C13: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch weltern; related to Old High German walzan, welzen to roll

Example Sentences

Anyone who has bought into the Republican condemnation of Democrats as the “godless” left was no doubt surprised by the welter of references to many faiths.

From Los Angeles Times

Being an MP, while a privilege, isn't easy, splitting your life between two places, the welter of public scrutiny and being subject to the vagaries of your party's political fortunes.

From BBC

But the 2014 YouTube video set off a welter of “fire noodle challenges” around the world, launching Buldak into viral fame.

From Los Angeles Times

But a welter of economic numbers will barrel into the mix today too - chief among them the September retail sales release, but also industrial output data and an October reading on U.S. housing.

From Reuters

Monitors here said a welter of confused shouting accompanied the reading of the first communique from Teheran.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• jumble