WALE
Ridge or rib in a knitted or woven fabric, such as corduroy or pique.

WARP
(1) The threads which run along the length of a piece of cloth.
(2) Wool suitable for warp yarns. It must be absolutely sound and regular, showing body, substance and free-grown with a clear well-defined staple. The length must exceed certain accepted standards according to quality number.

WARP WOOL
Shafty, deep-stapled wool with good breadth. Minimum lengths: Two and three-quarter inches for 80's and better; three inches for 74's/70's/66's; three and a half inches for 64's and stronger.

WASTY
A wool which is thin and open with poor tensile strength. It frequently has a long weathered tip and will produce a large percentage of noil during manufacture.

WEANER
A lamb that has been weaned from its mother, or has stopped suckling its mother (six to nine months old).

WEBBY
Thinly-grown wool with little or no staple formation and excessive number of cross fibres.

WEFT
(1) The threads which run from side to side of a piece of cloth. at night-angles to the warp.
(2) A rather thinly grown wool, one and a half to two and a quarter inches in length, suitable for combing on either Noble or Continental machines.

WEIGHT NOTE
Document produced when a line of wool is weighed at the depot. Contains details of line including number of bales, their weights and the brand.

WET EWE
A ewe that is rearing a lamb.

WETHER
A male sheep that has been castrated as a lamb.

WHIPCORD
A warp twill fabric with distinct diagonal cords and clear finish. A compact, long-wearing utility cloth used for riding habits, uniforms, sportswear. It resembles, but is coarser than, tricotine and gabardine.

WIGGINGS
The wool that has been taken from around the sheep's eyes.

WOOL BLIND
A term applied when the wool around the eyes has excessive growth and interferes with the sight of the sheep.

WOOL BROKER
Agent who sells wool on behalf of the growers.

WOOL CLEAN
Wool which has been scoured to remove grease and vegetable matter. Generally the term refers to weight of clean wool and may be estimated weight from yield tests.

WOOL FANCIES
A general term describing numerous novelty wool fabrics in various yarns, colors, weights and designs. Used for high-fashion coats, suits and dresses.

WOOL FAT OR GREASE
Greasy substance which flows from the fat glands of the sheep on to the fibres.

WOOL GREASY
Unprocessed wool. Generally refers to its weight.

WOOL ROLLER
Man employed at the shearing shed who skirts the fleece, removing all dirty or inferior portions, and then rolls the fleece with the shoulder exposed. The fleece is then passed to the classer.

WOOL SORTING
Grading of fleeces and pieces into lots, each of which contains one quality only.

WOOL SPECIALTY
One bale lots of wool with attributes which give it special status.

WOOL
The fibre from the fleece of the sheep.

WOOLGROWER
Person who produces a wool clip.

WOOLLEN SYSTEM
A method of yarn production from wool fibres which have been carded, but not combed or gilled. The fibres in the yarn do not lie parallel to each other.

WOOLLENS
A general term describing various fabrics woven from woollen yarn, spun from the shorter wool fibres, which are not combed to lie flat as in worsted yarn. Soft surface textures and finishes are produced and the weave of individual yarns does not show as clearly as in worsted fabrics. Woollen fabrics include tweeds, fleeces and meltons.

WOOLPACK
A jute container for wool; it measures 4ft. 6in. by 2ft. 3in.

WORSTED SYSTEM
A system of yarn production from wool fibres which have been carded or prepared and either gilled or combed, or both. The fibres in the yarn lie parallel.

WORSTEDS
A general term describing various fabrics woven from worsted yarns containing the longer fibers spun from combed wool. Usually refers to tightly woven, smooth, clear-finished goods in a variety of twill or fancy weaves. Worsted fabrics include gabardines, crepes and serges.

WORSTEDS
Fabrics made from long wool fibres which lie parallel in the yarn. Worsteds are used for suitings and clear-finish tailored types of material, such as serges, gabardines and steep twills. Worsteds hold their shape better than woollens.

WOVEN FELT
Heavily milled woollen cloth.

WRINKLES
Small folds of skin on the body of the sheep and over the breech region.