(a) To remove dirt, clean; also fig.; also, dry one’s hands [quot. c1400]; ~ on hondes, of towels: ?rub over hands; ?rub hands on; ppl. wipinge as adj.: ?who or which cleans; (b) ~ awei, to wear away; disappear.

(a) To wipe (sth., a part of the body, a horse) in order to clean or dry it; also fig.;—also without obj. [quot. c1384]; also, polish (a stone, armor); fig. cleanse (a soul or oneself of sin); (b) to cleanse (a wound or wounded part of the body), deterge; also fig. [quot. a1460]; also, deterge (an ocular blemish with an ophthalmic powder) [quot. ?a1425 *Chauliac(1)]; (c) to wipe (sth. on sth.) in order to cleanse and/or dry it.

(a) To wipe off (dirt, sweat, etc.); dry (tears); also fig.; ~ awei (of, up); (b) to remove (sth. from sth. else) [quot. ?a1425]; ~ awei, eliminate (an imperfection of the sight, a disease, etc.), eradicate; efface (a painted design, footprints); also, cause the loss of (winnings) [1st quot.]; of the sun: melt (frost); (c) ~ awei (of), to remove the trace of (sins, ignominy, etc.); ~ oute of minde, remove (impure thoughts from the mind); (d) wiped oute, erased.

(a) To rub (one’s eyes); also, rub (one’s eyes with blood); rub (someone’s forehead with a sacred document), draw across; stroke (someone’s face), caress; ppl. wipinge, of a serpent: ?licking (its cheeks with its tongue) [last quot., which may = whippen v.]; (b) in fig. phrases: ~ mouth, to wipe one’s mouth, protest one’s innocence; ~ nose, wipe someone’s nose, insult someone; ~ the stake,?take the pot at gambling.

In surname.