wand

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

wand, n. [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. vöndr, akin to Dan. vaand, Goth. wandus; perhaps originally, a pliant twig, and akin to E. wind to turn.].

•  A small stick; a rod; a verge.  [1913 Webster]

  "With good smart blows of a wand on his back."  [1913 Webster]
•  A staff of authority.  [1913 Webster]

  "Though he had both spurs and wand, they seemed rather marks of sovereignty than instruments of punishment."  [1913 Webster]

  "Picus bore a buckler in his hand;
  His other waved a long divining wand."  [1913 Webster]

Wand of peace (Scots Law), a wand, or staff, carried by the messenger of a court, which he breaks when deforced (that is, hindered from executing process), as a symbol of the deforcement, and protest for remedy of law. Burrill.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

wand, n.
1 a a supposedly magic stick used in casting spells by a fairy, magician, etc. b a stick used by a conjurer for effect.
2 a slender rod carried or used as a marker in the ground.
3 a staff symbolizing some officials' authority.
4 colloq. a conductor's baton.
5 a hand-held electronic device which can be passed over a bar-code to read the data this represents.

Etymology

ME prob. f. Gmc: cf. WEND, WIND(2)

THESAURUS

wand

Tarnkappe, armory, badge, badge of office, badges, baton, blazonry, brassard, button, caduceus, cap and gown, cap of darkness, chain, chain of office, class ring, cockade, collar, crook, crosier, cross, cross-staff, decoration, divining rod, doodlebug, dowser, dowsing, dowsing rod, dress, eagle, emblems, ensigns, fasces, fern seed, figurehead, fleur-de-lis, gavel, hammer and sickle, heraldry, insignia, lapel pin, livery, mace, magic belt, magic carpet, magic ring, magic spectacles, magic wand, mantle, markings, medal, merrythought, mortarboard, old school tie, pin, portfolio, regalia, ring, rod, rod of office, rose, scepter, school ring, seven-league boots, shamrock, sigillography, skull and crossbones, sphragistics, staff, swastika, tartan, thistle, tie, truncheon, uniform, verge, wand of office, water witch, water witching, wish-bringer, wish-giver, wishbone, wishing bone, wishing cap, wishing stone, wishing well, witching, witching stick

ROGET THESAURUS

wand

Scepter

N scepter, regalia, caduceus, Mercury's rod, Mercury's staff, Mercury's wand, rod of empire, mace, fasces, wand, staff, staff of office, baton, truncheon, flag, ensign of authority, emblem of authority, badge of authority, insignia of authority, throne, chair, musnud, divan, dais, woolsack, toga, pall, mantle, robes of state, ermine, purple, crown, coronet, diadem, tiara, cap of maintenance, decoration, title, portfolio, key, signet, seals, talisman, helm, reins.

Spell

N spell, charm, incantation, exorcism, weird, cabala, exsufflation, cantrap, runes, abracadabra, open sesame, countercharm, Ephesian letters, bell book and candle, Mumbo Jumbo, evil eye, fee-faw- fum, talisman, amulet, periapt, telesm, phylactery, philter, fetich, fetish, agnus Dei, lamb of God, furcula, madstone, mascot, mascotte, merrythought, Om, Aum, scarab, scarabaeus, sudarium, triskelion, veronica, wishbone, swastika, fylfot, gammadion, wand, caduceus, rod, divining rod, lamp of Aladdin, wishing-cap, Fortunatus's cap.