Etymology Dictionary

WATTLE,  a twig, flexible rob, usually a hurdle; the fleshy part under the throat of a cock or turkey.  (E.)   In all senses, it is the same word.   The orig. sense is something twined or woven together; hence it came to mean a hurdle, woven with twigs, or a bag of woven stuff; hence the baggy flesh on a bird's neck.   It also appears in the corrupt form wallet; see Wallet.   M.E. watel, a bag, P. Plowman, C. xi. 269; see further under Wallet.   Hence M.E. watelen, verb, to wattle, twist together or strengthen with hurdles, P. Plowman, B. xix. 323.—A.S. watel, a hurdle, covering; also watul.   'Teges, watul;' Ælfric's Grammar, ed. Zupitza, p. 52, l. 13.   Watelas, pl., coverings of a roof, tiles, Luke, v. 19; also in the sense of twigs or hurdles, Ælfred, tr. of Beda, b. iii. c. 16.   Lit. 'a thing woven or wound together;' moreover, it is a dimin. form, with suffix -el, from a base WAT, to bind, a variant of Teut. base WAD, to bind, both being from ✔WA, to bind; see Withy, Weed (2), Weave.   Der. wattle, verb, M.E. watelen, as above.   Doublet, wallet.