From Middle English walowen, walewen, walwen, welwen, from Old English wealwian (“to roll”), from Proto-West Germanic *walwōn, variant of *walwijan, from Proto-Germanic *walwijaną (“to roll”), from Proto-Indo-European *welw-, from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, wind, roll”). Cognate with Latin volvō (“roll, tumble”, verb).
Meanings
(intransitive) An instance of wallowing.
(intransitive) A pool of water or mud in which animals wallow, or the depression left by them in the ground.
However, we have no time to linger, and picking our way among the countless buffalo wallows which indent the level surface of the summit, the wagon, […] 1901, George Bird Grinnell, Theodore Roosevelt, editors, American Big-Game Hunting:
Soon, the incessant wind would dry the stenchy wallow to corduroyed cement. 2003, Suzann Ledbetter, A Lady Never Trifles with Thieves:
pl babranina (an instance of wallowing) · oc bardàs (a pool of water or mud in which animals wallow) · de Suhle (a pool of water or mud in which animals wallow) · sv göl (a pool of water or mud in which animals wallow) · ru лу́жа (a pool of water or mud in which animals wallow) · de Bad (a pool of water or mud in which animals wallow) · cs válení se (an instance of wallowing) · tr debelenme (an instance of wallowing) · fi rapakko (a pool of water or mud in which animals wallow) · hu dagonyázás (an instance of wallowing) · oc fangàs (a pool of water or mud in which animals wallow) · cs rochnění se (an instance of wallowing) · oc fangàs (an instance of wallowing) · hu dagonya (a pool of water or mud in which animals wallow) · fi lätäkkö (a pool of water or mud in which animals wallow) · hy թավալում (an instance of wallowing) · oc bardàs (an instance of wallowing) · bg въргаляне (an instance of wallowing)
From Middle English walowen, walewen, walwen, welwen, from Old English wealwian (“to roll”), from Proto-West Germanic *walwōn, variant of *walwijan, from Proto-Germanic *walwijaną (“to roll”), from Proto-Indo-European *welw-, from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, wind, roll”). Cognate with Latin volvō (“roll, tumble”, verb).
Meanings
(intransitive) To roll oneself about in something dirty, for example in mud.
O be thou my Charon, / And giue me ſwift tranſportance to theſe fieldes, / VVhere I may wallow in the lilly beds, / Propoſ'd for the deſeruer. c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
When Manſoul trampled upon things Divine, / And wallowed in filth as doth a ſwine: 1682, John Bunyan, “To the Reader”, in The Holy War, Made by Shaddai upon Diabolus, for the Regaining of the Metropolis of the World. […], London: […] Dorman Newman […]; and Benjamin Alsop […], →OCLC:
Pigs wallow in the mud.
Make ye him drunken: for hee magnified himselfe against the Lord: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shalbe in derision. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 48:26:
(intransitive) To move lazily or heavily in any medium.
The fire was thrown to a great height; the fountains and jets all wallowed together; new ones appeared, and danced joyously round the margin, then converging towards the centre they merged into one glowing mass, which upheaved itself pyramidally and disappeared with a vast plunge. 1875, Isabella L. Bird, The Hawaiian Archipelago:
Amongst the cruisers, it's not such good news. New Orleans is sunk; Wichita is wallowing and desperately in need of assistance, which two destroyers are providing; meanwhile, Biloxi and Vincennes are both in the process of going down and being abandoned, whilst Miami is right on the knife-edge of being recoverable, with three destroyers clustering around offering pumping and additional damage-control crews to try and keep the light cruiser afloat. 2021 May 5, Drachinifel, 43:29 from the start, in Battle of Samar - What if TF34 was there?, archived from the original on 19 Aug 2022:
“A Hot Steam’s somebody who can’t get to heaven, just wallows around on lonesome roads an‘ if you walk through him, when you die you’ll be one too, an’ you’ll go around at night suckin‘ people’s breath-” 1960 July 11, Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, N.Y.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC:
(figuratively, intransitive) To immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically.
If there be any lazy Fellow, any that cannot away with Work, any that would wallow in Pleaſures, he is haſty to be prieſted. And, when he is made one, and hath gotten a Benefice, he conſorts with his Neighbour Prieſts, who are altogether given to Pleaſures; and then both he, and they, live, not like Chriſtians, but like Epicures; drinking, eating, feaſting, and revelling, till the Cow come Home, as the saying is; [...] 1610, Alexander Cooke, “Pope Joane”, in William Oldys, editor, The Harleian Miscellany: […], volume IV, London: T[homas] Osborne, […], published 1745, →OCLC, page 125:
With Smithers out of the picture I was free to wallow in my own crapulence. 1995, The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 1, Who Shot Mr. Burns?, written by Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein
Regret is an appalling waste of energy, and no one who intends to be a writer can afford to indulge in it. You can't get it into shape; you can't build on it; it's only good for wallowing in. 1918 February (date written), Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “Je ne parle pas français”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 78:
She wallowed in her misery.
With the help of a sleepy waiter, Little Billee got the bacchanalian into his room and lit his candle for him, and, disengaging himself from his maudlin embraces, left him to wallow in solitude. 1894, George du Maurier, “Part Third”, in Trilby: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, page 165:
There the North British, having apparently decided that we had sufficiently wallowed in luxury, turned us out and loaded us into ancient four-wheelers, which were then attached to the rear of the night express (8.15 from Kings Cross). 1957 July 14, M. D. Greville, “A Diamond Jubilee of Railway Memories”, in Railway Magazine, page 459:
(intransitive) To live or exist in filth or in a sickening manner.
The floors are at times inches deep with dirt and scraps of clothing. The whole place wallows with putrefaction. In some of the rooms it would seem that there had not been a breath of fresh air for five years. 1895, The Review of Reviews, volume 11, page 215:
God sees a man wallowing in his native impurity. 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:
de sich suhlen (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · nl woelen (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · oc se baudrejar (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · ru погря́знуть (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · hu átadja magát (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · oc se cabussar (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · ca rebolcar-se (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · kix vīu (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · sh valjati se (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · gl embuligar (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · fr se complaire (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · hu merül (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · it sguazzare (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · oc s'enfangar (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · hu élvezetet lel (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · bg валям се (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · gl estomballar (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · pt chafurdar (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · cs utápět se (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · it adagiarsi (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · hy թավալվել (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · gl estomballar (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · ru увяда́ть (to wither; to fade) · lt voliótis (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · nl wentelen (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · tr ağnamak (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · gl envorcallar (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · cs válet se (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · grc κυλίνδομαι (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · oc s'aprigondir (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · sv vältra sig (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · fi rypeä (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · it guazzare (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · fa مراغه کردن (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · hu élvezetét leli (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · ga bí ag únfairt (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · sh ogreznuti (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · ja 溺れる (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · hu elmerül (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · ca enfangar-se (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · fr se vautrer (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · tr debelenmek (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · hu belemerül (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · fi rypeä (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · hu tobzódik (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · es dejarse abrumar (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · ru валя́ться (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · it crogiolarsi (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · got 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐍅𐌹𐍃𐍉𐌽 (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · de sich wälzen (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · fr se vautrer (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · cs libovat si (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · ru купа́ться (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · ca rebolcar-se (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · cs rochnit se (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · ru валя́ться (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · mi tītakataka (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · hu dagonyázik (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · fi rypeä (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · hu gázol (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · ru вя́нуть (to wither; to fade) · tr ağnamak (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · pl tarzać się (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · tr debelenmek (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · cs bahnit se (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · la voluto (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · ca enfangar-se (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · fa مراغیدن (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · it rotolarsi (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · de sich suhlen (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · el κυλιέμαι (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · hu fetreng (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · bg въргалям се (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · fi rypeä (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · sh uvaljati se (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · ar تَمَرَّغَ (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · nl woelen (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · mi okeoke (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · oc fangassejar (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · oc s'enfangar (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · hu fetreng (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · hu hánykolódik (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · bg въргалям се (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · izh pesetellä (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · fi kieriskellä (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · oc s'immergir (to immerse oneself in, to occupy oneself with, metaphorically) · es revolcarse (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · gl embuligar (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · hu hentereg (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · tr anamak (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · fi kuihtua (to wither; to fade) · hu hempereg (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · tr debelenmek (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · qu wayt'ay (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud) · hu kéjeleg (to live in filth or gross vice; to disport oneself in a beastly and unworthy manner) · gl envorcallar (to roll oneself about, as in mire; to tumble and roll about; to move lazily or heavily in any medium; to flounder; as, swine wallow in the mire) · sh ukaljati se (to roll; especially, to roll in anything defiling or unclean, as a hog might do to dust its body to relieve the distress of insect biting or cool its body with mud)
From Middle English walwen, from Old English wealwian (“to fade, wither”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps an alteration of Old English fealwian (“to grow pale, turn yellow, ripen, wither”). Alternatively, perhaps related to Middle English welken (“to fade, droop, wither”), modern English welk.
Meanings
(UK, dialectal, intransitive, of plants) To fade, fade away, wither, droop; fail to flourish.
From Middle English walwe, walh, from Old English wealg, from Proto-West Germanic *walg, from Proto-Germanic *walgaz. Cognate with Dutch walg (“disgust”), dialectal Norwegian valg (“tasteless”). Doublet of waugh.