\Wel"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Weltered}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Weltering}.] [Freq. of OE. walten to roll over, AS.
wealtan; akin to LG. weltern, G. walzen to roll, to waltz,
sich w["a]lzen to welter, OHG. walzan to roll, Icel. velta,
Dan. v[ae]lte, Sw. v["a]ltra, v["a]lta; cf. Goth. waltjan;
probably akin to E. wallow, well, v. i. ????. See {Well}, v.
i., and cf. {Waltz}.]
1. To roll, as the body of an animal; to tumble about,
   especially in anything foul or defiling; to wallow.
         When we welter in pleasures and idleness, then we
         eat and drink with drunkards.         --Latimer.
         These wizards welter in wealth's waves. --Spenser.
         He must not float upon his watery bier Unwept, and
         welter to the parching wind, Without the meed of
         some melodious tear.                  --Milton.
         The priests at the altar . . . weltering in their
         blood.                                --Landor.
2. To rise and fall, as waves; to tumble over, as billows.
   ``The weltering waves.'' --Milton.
         Waves that, hardly weltering, die away.
                                               --Wordsworth.
         Through this blindly weltering sea.   --Trench.

\Wel"ter\, v. t. [Cf. {Wilt}, v. i.]
To wither; to wilt. [R.]
      Weltered hearts and blighted . . . memories. --I.
                                               Taylor.

\Wel"ter\, a. (Horse Racing)
Of, pertaining to, or designating, the most heavily weighted
race in a meeting; as, a welter race; the welter stakes.

\Wel"ter\, n.
1. That in which any person or thing welters, or wallows;
   filth; mire; slough.
         The foul welter of our so-called religious or other
         controversies.                        --Carlyle.
2. A rising or falling, as of waves; as, the welter of the
   billows; the welter of a tempest.