As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over
her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them,
beareth them on her wings. --Deut. xxxii.
11.
Note: In the wing of a bird the long quill feathers are in
series. The primaries are those attached to the ulnar
side of the hand; the secondaries, or wing coverts,
those of the forearm: the scapulars, those that lie
over the humerus; and the bastard feathers, those of
the short outer digit. See Illust. of {Bird}, and
{Plumage}.
2. Any similar member or instrument used for the purpose of
flying. Specifically: (Zo["o]l.)
(a) One of the two pairs of upper thoracic appendages of
most hexapod insects. They are broad, fanlike organs
formed of a double membrane and strengthened by
chitinous veins or nervures.
(b) One of the large pectoral fins of the flying fishes.
3. Passage by flying; flight; as, to take wing.
Light thickens; and the crow Makes wing to the rooky
wood. --Shak.
4. Motive or instrument of flight; means of flight or of
rapid motion.
Fiery expedition be my wing. --Shak.
5. Anything which agitates the air as a wing does, or which
is put in winglike motion by the action of the air, as a
fan or vane for winnowing grain, the vane or sail of a
windmill, etc.
6. An ornament worn on the shoulder; a small epaulet or
shoulder knot.
7. Any appendage resembling the wing of a bird or insect in
shape or appearance. Specifically:
(a) (Zo["o]l.) One of the broad, thin, anterior lobes of
the foot of a pteropod, used as an organ in swimming.
(b) (Bot.) Any membranaceous expansion, as that along the
sides of certain stems, or of a fruit of the kind
called samara.
(c) (Bot.) Either of the two side petals of a
papilionaceous flower.
8. One of two corresponding appendages attached; a sidepiece.
Hence:
(a) (Arch.) A side building, less than the main edifice;
as, one of the wings of a palace.
(b) (Fort.) The longer side of crownworks, etc.,
connecting them with the main work.
(c) (Hort.) A side shoot of a tree or plant; a branch
growing up by the side of another. [Obs.]
(d) (Mil.) The right or left division of an army,
regiment, etc.
(e) (Naut.) That part of the hold or orlop of a vessel
which is nearest the sides. In a fleet, one of the
extremities when the ships are drawn up in line, or
when forming the two sides of a triangle. --Totten.
(f) One of the sides of the stags in a theater.
Who heaves old ocean, and whowings the storms.
--Pope.
Living, to wing with mirth the weary hours.
--Longfellow.
2. To supply with wings or sidepieces.
The main battle, whose puissance on either side
Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse.
--Shak.
3. To transport by flight; to cause to fly.
I, an old turtle, Will wing me to some withered
bough. --Shak.
4. To move through in flight; to fly through.
There's not an arrow wings the sky But fancy turns
its point to him. --Moore.
5. To cut off the wings of; to wound in the wing; to disable
a wing of; as, to wing a bird.