wainscot Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun panel forming the lower part of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the rest of the wall
    dado.
  2. noun wooden panels that can be used to line the walls of a room
    wainscoting; wainscotting.

WordNet

Wain"scot noun
Etymology
OD. waeghe-schot, D. wagen-schot, a clapboard, fr. OD. waeg, weeg, a wall (akin to AS. wah; cf. Icel. veggr) + schot a covering of boards (akin to E. shot, shoot).
Definitions
  1. Oaken timber or boarding. Obs.
    A wedge wainscot is fittest and most proper for cleaving of an oaken tree. Urquhart.
    Inclosed in a chest of wainscot. J. Dart.
  2. (Arch.) A wooden lining or boarding of the walls of apartments, usually made in panels.
Wain"scot transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Wainscoted; present participle & verbal noun Wainscoting
Definitions
  1. To line with boards or panelwork, or as if with panelwork; as, to wainscot a hall.
    Music soundeth better in chambers wainscoted than hanged. Bacon.
    The other is wainscoted with looking-glass. Addison.

Webster 1913