Wipe (?), n. [Cf. Sw. vipa, Dan.
vibe, the lapwing.] (Zoöl.) The lapwing.
[Prov. Eng.]
Wipe, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Wiped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Wiping.] [OE.
vipen, AS. wīpian; cf. LG. wiep a wisp of straw,
Sw. vepa to wrap up, to cuddle one's self up, vepa a blanket;
perhaps akin to E. whip.]
1. To rub with something soft for cleaning; to
clean or dry by rubbing; as, to wipe the hands or face with a
towel.
Let me wipe thy face.
Shak.
I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish,
wiping it, and turning it upside down.
2 Kings xxi.
13.
2. To remove by rubbing; to rub off; to obliterate;
-- usually followed by away, off or out. Also used
figuratively. "To wipe out our ingratitude."
Shak.
Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them
soon.
Milton.
3. To cheat; to defraud; to trick; -- usually
followed by out. [Obs.] Spenser.
If they by coveyne [covin] or gile be wiped beside
their goods.
Robynson (More's Utopia)
To wipe a joint (Plumbing), to make a
joint, as between pieces of lead pipe, by surrounding the junction with a
mass of solder, applied in a plastic condition by means of a rag with which
the solder is shaped by rubbing. -- To wipe the nose
of, to cheat. [Old Slang]
Wipe, n. 1. Act of
rubbing, esp. in order to clean.
2. A blow; a stroke; a hit; a swipe.
[Low]
3. A gibe; a jeer; a severe sarcasm.
Swift.
4. A handkerchief. [Thieves' Cant or
Slang]
5. Stain; brand. [Obs.] "Slavish
wipe." Shak.