wiry

UK: ˈwaɪəri | US: ˈwaɪəri

Definition

  1. adj. (of a person or body part) lean, tough, and sinewy

  2. adj. (of hair or fibers) stiff, coarse, and wiry in texture

  3. adj. resembling wire in form or flexibility

Structure
wir <wire>y <adjective suffix>
Etymology

wir<wire> + y<adjective suffix>

  • wir (from Old English wīr, meaning "metal drawn into a thin thread")
  • y (a suffix forming adjectives, indicating "characterized by or resembling")

Etymology Origin:
The word "wiry" originates from the Old English wīr (wire), referring to the thin, flexible metal strands used in crafting. By the 16th century, the suffix -y was added to describe physical traits resembling wire—such as lean toughness (for people) or stiff coarseness (for hair). The evolution reflects a metaphorical shift from literal wire to abstract qualities of strength and texture.

Examples

  1. The farmer had a wiry frame from years of manual labor.

  2. Her wiry hair resisted all attempts to smooth it down.

  3. The gymnast’s wiry muscles gave her exceptional agility.

  4. A wiry vine clung stubbornly to the stone wall.

  5. The old man’s wiry beard bristled in the wind.