wallow
n. countablen. a place where animals like pigs or cows lie in mud to cool down and keep their skin healthy. It can also mean a deep pool of water or a thick layer of mud.
n. a shallow depression or pool of mud or water in which animals, particularly swine, lie to cool themselves and protect their skin from parasites. Often used in agricultural or rural contexts.
The pigs spent the whole afternoon in the wallow.
After the heavy rain, the farmer noticed a deep wallow had formed in the corner of the pasture.
The cattle were reluctant to leave the wallow, having spent several hours cooling their hides in the thick, damp earth after the midday sun reached its peak.
From Middle English walowen, walewen, walwen, welwen, from Old English wealwian (“to roll”), from Proto-West Germanic walwōn, variant of walwijan, from Proto-Germanic walwijaną (“to roll”), from Proto-Indo-European welw-, from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, wind, roll”). Cognate with Latin volvō (“roll, tumble”, verb).
From Middle English walwen, from Old English wealwian (“to fade, wither”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps an alteration of Old English fealwian (“to grow pale, turn yellow, ripen, wither”). Alternatively, perhaps related to Middle English welken (“to fade, droop, wither”), modern English welk.
From Middle English walwe, walh, from Old English wealg, from Proto-West Germanic walg, from Proto-Germanic walgaz. Cognate with Dutch walg (“disgust”), dialectal Norwegian valg (“tasteless”). Doublet of waugh.