What is "weltering"

Welter \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. [root]146. 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.

n. The motion of something that welters; a billowing. vb. (present participle of welter English)