welt

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a raised, often red mark on the skin caused by a blow, pressure, or irritation

   The strap left a painful welt across his shoulder.

2. 2
   noun

   a strip or ridge used to strengthen or join an edge or seam, especially on a shoe

   The cobbler replaced the damaged welt around the edge of the boot.

3. 3
   verb

   informal: to strike someone hard enough to raise a welt

   The branch swung back and welted him across the arm.

From Middle English welte, a strip, border, or reinforcing band, of uncertain origin. The skin sense compares a raised mark to such a ridge, and the verb developed from the noun.

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