wainscot

 
Pronunciation: /ˈweɪnskət, -kɒt/

noun

  • 1 [in singular] an area of wooden panelling on the lower part of the walls of a room.
  • [mass noun] British historical imported oak of fine quality, used mainly to make panelling.
  • 2a drab yellowish to brown-coloured European moth.
    • Mythimna and other genera, family Noctuidae: several species

verb (wainscots, wainscoting, wainscoted or wainscots, wainscotting, wainscotted)

[with object]
  • line (a room or wall) with wooden panelling: the interior was to be wainscotted to a height of 4 feet (as adjective wainscotted) round the wainscotted walls ran narrow benches

Origin:

Middle English: from Middle Low German wagenschot, apparently from wagen 'wagon' + schot, probably meaning 'partition'. wainscot (sense 2 of the noun) dates from the early 19th century