NYT Dictionary

WHEY

/hweɪ/
NounInterjectionWHAYGrade 5

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2022, 2023

Meaning

The liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained in the process of making cheese.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English whey, wheye, whei, from Old English hwǣġ, hwæiġ, hwæġ, hweġ (“whey”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwaij (“whey”) (cognate with Saterland Frisian Waai, Woaie, West Frisian waai, Dutch wei, Low German Wei, German Low German Wei), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *kʷey- (“to pile up, build”) (compare Old Church Slavonic чинъ (činŭ, “order”), Ancient Greek ποιέω (poiéō, “to pile up, make”), Sanskrit कय (káya, “every one”)).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

beveragebloodbuttercheesecreamcurddrinkfluidhydraulicsjuice

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

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