English

Noun

wheal ‎(plural wheals)

1. A small raised swelling on the skin, often itchy, caused by a blow from a whip or an insect bite etc.

Synonyms

• wale
• weal
• welt

Translations

Etymology 2

A disused mine shaft at Wheal Florence

From Cornish hwel.

Noun

wheal ‎(plural wheals)

1. (Britain, dialect, Cornwall, mining) A mine.
   • 1829, Thomas Moore, The History of Devonshire, page 528,

     The four last-mentioned mines, Wheal Crowndale, Wheal Crebor, East Liscombe, and Wheal Tamar, are on the same lode, which ranges as usual from east to west, and are included in a space of about four miles in length.

   • 2003, Peter Long, The Hidden Places of Cornwall, page 85,

     Surrounding the village are the remains ot many mine workings including the picturesque gtoup of clifftop buildings thar were once part of one of the county's best known mines - Wheal Coares.

   • 2010, Julia Bradbury, Julia Bradbury's Railway Walks, page 27,

     If you look at the map there are ‘wheals’ all over the place. There's Wheal Rose, Wheal Plenty and Wheal Busy. Back on the tramroad the industrial communities come thick and fast as you head southeast to Wheal Rose.

Usage notes

Chiefly appears in the names of mines in Cornwall and Devon.

Anagrams

• whale