Well

Well, wel, n. a rise of water from the earth: a spring: a pit in the earth whence a supply of water is obtained: an enclosure in a ship's hold round the pumps: the open space in the middle of a staircase: a cavity: an eddy.—v.i. to issue forth, as water from the earth: to spring.—ns. Well′-boat, -smack, a fishing-boat having a well; Well′-bor′ing, sinking wells by drilling through rock; Well′-buck′et, a vessel for drawing up water from a well; Well′-curb, the stone ring built round the mouth of a well; Well′-deck, an enclosed space on the deck of a ship; Well′-drain, a pit drawing the water from wet land; Well′-dress′ing, the festal decoration of wells and springs, as at Tissington in Derbyshire on Ascension-day, &c.; Well′-head, the source of a spring; Well′-hole, the pit or shaft of a well; Well′-house, a room built over a well; Well′ing, an outpouring; Well′-room, a room enclosing a mineral well: a cavity in a boat for collecting leakage and rain-water; Well′-sink′er, one who digs wells; Well′-sink′ing, the act of boring for water; Well′-spring, a fountain.—The wells, any place where mineral wells are situated. [A.S. wella—weallan, to boil; cf. Ice. vella, to boil.]