wainscot

1 of 3

noun (1)

wain·scot ˈwān-skət

-ˌskōt,

-ˌskät

British : a fine grade of oak imported for woodwork

a(1)

: a usually paneled wooden lining of an interior wall

(2)

: a lining of an interior wall irrespective of material

: the lower three or four feet (about one meter) of an interior wall when finished differently from the remainder of the wall

wainscot

2 of 3

verb

wainscoted or wainscotted; wainscoting or wainscotting

transitive verb

: to line with or as if with boards or paneling

wainscoting

3 of 3

noun (2)

wain·scot·ing ˈwān-ˌskō-tiŋ -ˌskä-

-skə-

variants or wainscotting

: wainscot sense 2

: material used to wainscot a surface

Examples of wainscot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Instructions Create the Walls On the short edge of one of the wainscot panels, mark 20 inches. — Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2026 The color above the wainscot, Benjamin Moore Dove Wing, adds a pleasing cream accent to the moodier green. — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2026

Verb

Like a modern version of wainscoting, blue-gray paint covers the lower half of the hallway walls and doors, lining up with the base of the wall-mount bookshelves. — Kit Selzer, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2020 Replete with exterior walls, a functioning lime-green kitchen, a dining room with a table and a soda siphon, a living room with a fireplace and hardwood floors, wainscoting and whatnot. — chicagotribune.com, 11 Oct. 2019

Noun

The wainscoting started at the base of the wall and went up to a chair rail height. — Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 Adding to the kitchen’s visual appeal is beadboard wainscoting and a large passageway to the family room. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wainscot

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle Dutch wagenschot, probably from wagen wagon + schot shot, crossbar

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1570, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of wainscot was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

wainman

wainscot

wainscot chair

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wainscot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wainscot. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wainscot

noun

wain·scot

ˈwān-skət,

-ˌskōt,

-ˌskät

: a usually paneled wooden lining of the wall of a room

: the lower three or four feet (about one meter) of an interior wall when finished differently from the rest

wainscot

noun (1)

verb

noun (2)

Examples of wainscot in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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