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Wattle

1. A twig or flexible rod; hence, a hurdle made of such rods. And there he built with wattles from the marsh A little lonely church in days of yore. (Tennyson)

2. A rod laid on a roof to support the thatch.

3. (Science: zoology) A naked fleshy, and usually wrinkled and highly coloured, process of the skin hanging from the chin or throat of a bird or reptile. Barbel of a fish.

4. The astringent bark of several Australian trees of the genus acacia, used in tanning.

Synonym: wattle bark.

(Science: botany) The trees from which the bark is obtained. See savanna wattle, under savanna. Wattle turkey.

(Science: zoology) same as brush turkey.

Origin: AS. Watel, watul, watol, hurdle, covering, wattle; cf. Oe. Watel a bag. Cf. Wallet.