[f. WOOL sb. (Cf. OE. wullian to wipe with wool.)]
1. trans. † a. To coat or line with wool. Obs.
1660. in N. & Q., 7th Ser. XII. 67/2. One Richard Bailey, who … is also very skilfull in the Art of Oyling of Linnen Cloath or Taffaty, or Woolling of either, so as to make it Impenetrable.
b. To stuff up with wool.
1883. ‘Ouida,’ Wanda, viii. I feel as if some hand had woolled up my ears.
2. U.S. slang. a. To pull the ‘wool’ or hair of (a person) in sport or (esp.) in anger.
1854. in Congressional Globe, July, 1690/3 (Thornton). I regret very much to see these two gentlemen from Illinois wooling each other in the most approved fashion.
1869. Le Fanu, Wyvern Myst., I. 163. The more you and the old boy wool each other the better for Hal.
1894. H. Gardener, Unoff. Patriot, 315. Waol little Margaret’s curly pate for me.
b. To ‘pull the wool over the eyes of’: see quot.
1890. Barrère & Leland, Dict. Slang, Wool, to (common), to get the better of, to discomfit.
