# Willy

/ˈwɪɫi/ (US) · /wˈɪli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/willy
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. textile machine

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a machine used to clean and open up wool or cotton fibers.

For teachers: a machine, also known as a willow, equipped with revolving spikes for opening and cleaning raw wool or cotton.

- The factory worker fed the raw wool into the willy to remove the dirt.
- The introduction of the mechanical willy significantly increased the efficiency of the fiber-cleansing process during the early industrial era.

### 3. to clean wool

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to clean wool or cotton using a special machine.

For teachers: to process, open, or cleanse textile fibers using a willy machine.

- They had to willy the cotton before it could be spun into thread.
- The raw material must be thoroughly willied to ensure all impurities are extracted before the carding stage begins.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a raw textile fiber.

## Examples

- The little boy ran around without his clothes, pointing at his willy.
- Parents in the UK often use the word willy when talking to toddlers about their bodies to avoid using more adult language.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.