Meanings
plural woodwoses
- A wild man of the woods; a faun or satyr, or a representation of such a being in heraldry or other decoration.
The young woodwose had now closed his eyes and was stretched out supine on the pool's marble margin; his Tarzan brief had been cast aside on the turf.
1962, Vladimir Nabokov, Pale Fire1 more example
'If the cub has a grievance, let him bring it to the King's judgement,' answered Saeros. 'But the drawing of swords here is not to be excused for any such cause. Outside the hall, if the woodwose draws on me, I shall kill him.'
2007, J. R. R. Tolkien edited by Christopher Tolkien, The Children of Húrin
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Old Englishwuduwāsa
- Middle Englishwodwo
- Englishwoodwose
From Middle English wodwo, from Old English wuduwāsa.
More words from Middle English, Old English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
woodwose. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/woodwose
“woodwose.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/woodwose. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “woodwose,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/woodwose.
Source: woodwose on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.