Idioms for wood
Origin of wood
1
before 900; Middle English; Old English
wudu, earlier
widu; cognate with Old Norse
vithr, Old High German
witu, Old Irish
fid
OTHER WORDS FROM wood
wood·less, adjectiveWords nearby wood
wont,
wonted,
woo,
woo-hoo,
woo-woo,
wood,
wood alcohol,
wood anemone,
wood ant,
wood avens,
wood betony
British Dictionary definitions for knock on wood (1 of 3)
Wood
/ (wʊd) /
noun
Mrs Henry, married name of Ellen Price . 1814–87, British novelist, noted esp for the melodramatic novel East Lynne (1861)
Sir Henry (Joseph). 1869–1944, English conductor, who founded the Promenade Concerts in London
John, known as the Elder . 1707–54, British architect and town planner, working mainly in Bath, where he designed the North and South Parades (1728) and the Circus (1754)
his son, John, known as the Younger . 1727–82, British architect: designed the Royal Crescent (1767–71) and the Assembly Rooms (1769–71), Bath
Ralph. 1715–72, British potter, working in Staffordshire, who made the first toby jug (1762)
British Dictionary definitions for knock on wood (2 of 3)
wood
1
/ (wʊd) /
noun
verb
(tr)
to plant a wood upon
to supply or be supplied with fuel or firewood
See also
woods
Derived forms of wood
woodless, adjectiveWord Origin for wood
Old English
widu, wudu; related to Old High German
witu, Old Norse
vithr
British Dictionary definitions for knock on wood (3 of 3)
wood
2
/ (wʊd) /
adjective
obsolete
raging or raving like a maniac
Word Origin for wood
Old English
wōd; related to Old High German
wuot (German
Wut), Old Norse
ōthr, Gothic
wōths, Latin
vātēs seer
Scientific definitions for knock on wood
wood
[ wud ]
The thick xylem of trees and shrubs, resulting from secondary growth by the vascular cambium, which produces new layers of living xylem. The accumulated living xylem is the sapwood. The older, dead xylem in the interior of the tree forms the heartwood. Often each cycle of growth of new wood is evident as a growth ring. The main components of wood are cellulose and lignin.
Other words from wood
woody adjectiveCultural definitions for knock on wood
knock on wood
Some people say, “Knock on wood,” and then knock on something made of wood for good luck, when they have made a remark that has been true up to that point and they want it to continue to be true: “I've never had an accident yet, knock on wood.”
notes for knock on wood
The expression alludes to an ancient superstition that touching wood would ward off evil spirits.
Idioms and Phrases with knock on wood
knock on wood
Also, touch wood. Express a wish that something will or will not occur, as in This last round of treatment should have cured her, knock on wood. This expression alludes to an ancient superstition that literally knocking on or touching wood will ward off evil spirits. [c. 1900]