(a) The common European wolf (Canis lupus); also, the wolf as an animal of venery [quots. c1425 & c1475]; a route of wolfes, a wolf pack; (b) in cpds. and combs.: ~ bicche, bicche of the ~, she (femele) ~, a female wolf; ~ den, a wolf’s lair; wolfes fot, a type of fish [cp. sense 3.]; wolfes guttes, wolf’s intestines as a material for harp or viol strings; ~ hed, wolfes hed, q.v.; ~ hound, ?a wolfhound; ?= hunte n. (a); wolfes louse, ?a louse or other sucking insect found on wolves; wolf(es skin, wolfes fel, a wolf hide, wolf’s skin; wolfes strenges, harp strings made of wolf gut; ~ whelp, a wolf cub or pup; wer ~, q.v.; (c) in plant names: wolf(es comb [OE wulfes camb], wolfes crombe (pestel, ters, thistel), the wild teasel (Dipsacus silvestris); ~ thistel, q.v.; wolfes fist, a puffball or similar fungus; wolfes hele, = self-hele, q.v.

(a) The wolf as the type of the predator, a symbol of rapacity, ferocity, etc.;—freq. in contrast to the sheep; also in fig. context; wolfes kinnes, of the rapacious or predatory nature characteristic of wolves; in the wolfes mouth, fig. in or into great danger; (b) fig. a ferocious, pitiless, or rapacious person, one who preys on innocents or exploits the powerless; also, the devil; a devil, demon; ~ of helle, helle ~; develes ~, a pillager of church goods, one who robs the church; (c) as derogatory epithet; (d) in conventional comparisons or similes, stock phrases, fixed expressions, etc.; also in proverbs and prov. expressions; weren the ~ from the gate, to put up a defense against want or hostile circumstances.

A type of fish; ~ fish, water ~.

= lupe n.

Mil. A tonglike apparatus with sharp teeth, used for grasping battering rams.

(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.281].