Whet
Whet , transitive verb
[Anglo-Saxon hwettan; akin to Dutch wetten, German wetzen, Old High German wezzen, Icelandic hvetja, Swedish vattja, and Anglo-Saxon hwat vigorous, brave, Old Saxon hwat, Old High German waz, was, sharp, Icelandic hvatr, bold, active, Swedish hvass sharp, Danish hvas, Gothic hwassaba sharply, and probably to Sanskrit cud to impel, urge on.]
1.
To rub or on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening; to sharpen by attrition; as, to whet a knife.
The mower whets his scythe.
Here roams the wolf, the eagle whets his beak.
2.
To make sharp, keen, or eager; to excite; to stimulate; as, to whet the appetite or the courage.
Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar,
I have not slept.
Collocations (1)
To whet on or To whet forward , to urge on or forward; to instigate. — Shakespeare
Whet , noun
1.
The act of whetting.
2.
That which whets or sharpens; esp., an appetizer.
Sips, drams, and whets.
Collocations (1)
Whet slate (Mineralogy) , a variety of slate used for sharpening cutting instruments; novaculite; -- called also whetstone slate, and oilstone.