A

Infinitive \In*fin"i*tive\, n. [L. infinitivus: cf. F. infinitif. See {Infinite}.] Unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined. {Infinitive mood} (Gram.), that form of the verb which merely names the action, and performs the office of a verbal noun. Some grammarians make two forms in English: ({a}) The simple form, as, speak, go, hear, before which to is commonly placed, as, to speak; to go; to hear. ({b}) The form of the imperfect participle, called the infinitive in -ing; as, going is as easy as standing. Note: With the auxiliary verbs may, can, must, might, could, would, and should, the simple infinitive is expressed without to; as, you may speak; they must hear, etc. The infinitive usually omits to with the verbs let, dare, do, bid, make, see, hear, need, etc.; as, let me go; you dare not tell; make him work; hear him talk, etc. Note: In Anglo-Saxon, the simple infinitive was not preceded by to (the sign of modern simple infinitive), but it had a dative form (sometimes called the gerundial infinitive) which was preceded by to, and was chiefly employed in expressing purpose. See {Gerund}, 2. Note: The gerundial ending (-anne) not only took the same form as the simple infinitive (-an), but it was confounded with the present participle in -ende, or -inde (later -inge).

Legate \Leg"ate\ (l[e^]g"[asl]t), n. [OE. legat, L. legatus, fr. legare to send with a commission or charge, to depute, fr. lex, legis, law: cf. F. l['e]gat, It. legato. See {Legal}.] 1. An ambassador or envoy. 2. An ecclesiastic representing the pope and invested with the authority of the Holy See. Note: Legates are of three kinds: ({a}) Legates a latere, now always cardinals. They are called ordinary or extraordinary legates, the former governing provinces, and the latter class being sent to foreign countries on extraordinary occasions. ({b}) Legati missi, who correspond to the ambassadors of temporal governments. ({c}) Legati nati, or legates by virtue of their office, as the archbishops of Salzburg and Prague. 3. (Rom. Hist.) (a) An official assistant given to a general or to the governor of a province. (b) Under the emperors, a governor sent to a province.

Libration \Li*bra"tion\ (l[-i]*br[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [L. libratio: cf. F. libration.] 1. The act or state of librating. --Jer. Taylor. 2. (Astron.) A real or apparent libratory motion, like that of a balance before coming to rest. {Libration of the moon}, any one of those small periodical changes in the position of the moon's surface relatively to the earth, in consequence of which narrow portions at opposite limbs become visible or invisible alternately. It receives different names according to the manner in which it takes place; as: {(a)} Libration in longitude, that which, depending on the place of the moon in its elliptic orbit, causes small portions near the eastern and western borders alternately to appear and disappear each month. ({b}) Libration in latitude, that which depends on the varying position of the moon's axis in respect to the spectator, causing the alternate appearance and disappearance of either pole. ({c}) Diurnal or parallactic libration, that which brings into view on the upper limb, at rising and setting, some parts not in the average visible hemisphere.

Respiration \Res`pi*ra"tion\ (r?s`p?*r?"sh?n), n. [L. respiratio: cf. F. respiration. See {Respire}.] 1. The act of respiring or breathing again, or catching one's breath. 2. Relief from toil or suffering: rest. [Obs.] Till the day Appear of respiration to the just And vengeance to the wicked. --Milton. 3. Interval; intermission. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall. 4. (Physiol.) The act of resping or breathing; the act of taking in and giving out air; the aggregate of those processes bu which oxygen is introduced into the system, and carbon dioxide, or carbonic acid, removed. Note: Respiration in the higher animals is divided into: ({a}) Internal respiration, or the interchange of oxygen and carbonic acid between the cells of the body and the bathing them, which in one sense is a process of nutrition. ({b}) External respiration, or the gaseous interchange taking place in the special respiratory organs, the lungs. This constitutes respiration proper. --Gamgee. In the respiration of plants oxygen is likewise absorbed and carbonic acid exhaled, but in the light this process is obscured by another process which goes on with more vigor, in which the plant inhales and absorbs carbonic acid and exhales free oxygen.

A \A\ ([.a]), prep. [Abbreviated form of an (AS. on). See {On}.] 1. In; on; at; by. [Obs.] ``A God's name.'' ``Torn a pieces.'' ``Stand a tiptoe.'' ``A Sundays'' --Shak. ``Wit that men have now a days.'' --Chaucer. ``Set them a work.'' --Robynson (More's Utopia). 2. In process of; in the act of; into; to; -- used with verbal substantives in -ing which begin with a consonant. This is a shortened form of the preposition an (which was used before the vowel sound); as in a hunting, a building, a begging. ``Jacob, when he was a dying'' --Heb. xi. 21. ``We'll a birding together.'' `` It was a doing.'' --Shak. ``He burst out a laughing.'' --Macaulay. Note: The hyphen may be used to connect a with the verbal substantive (as, a-hunting, a-building) or the words may be written separately. This form of expression is now for the most part obsolete, the a being omitted and the verbal substantive treated as a participle.

Monkey \Mon"key\, n.; pl. {Monkeys}. [Cf. OIt. monicchio, It. monnino, dim. of monna an ape, also dame, mistress, contr. fr. madonna. See {Madonna}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) (a) In the most general sense, any one of the Quadrumana, including apes, baboons, and lemurs. (b) Any species of Quadrumana, except the lemurs. (c) Any one of numerous species of Quadrumana (esp. such as have a long tail and prehensile feet) exclusive of apes and baboons. Note: The monkeys are often divided into three groups: ({a}) {Catarrhines}, or {Simid[ae]}. These have an oblong head, with the oblique flat nostrils near together. Some have no tail, as the apes. All these are natives of the Old World. ({b}) {Platyrhines}, or {Cebid[ae]}. These have a round head, with a broad nasal septum, so that the nostrils are wide apart and directed downward. The tail is often prehensile, and the thumb is short and not opposable. These are natives of the New World. ({c}) {Strepsorhines}, or {Lemuroidea}. These have a pointed head with curved nostrils. They are natives of Southern Asia, Africa, and Madagascar. 2. A term of disapproval, ridicule, or contempt, as for a mischievous child. This is the monkey's own giving out; she is persuaded I will marry her. --Shak. 3. The weight or hammer of a pile driver, that is, a very heavy mass of iron, which, being raised on high, falls on the head of the pile, and drives it into the earth; the falling weight of a drop hammer used in forging. 4. A small trading vessel of the sixteenth century. {Monkey boat}. (Naut.) (a) A small boat used in docks. (b) A half-decked boat used on the River Thames. {Monkey block} (Naut.), a small single block strapped with a swivel. --R. H. Dana, Jr. {Monkey flower} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Mimulus}; -- so called from the appearance of its gaping corolla. --Gray. {Monkey gaff} (Naut.), a light gaff attached to the topmast for the better display of signals at sea. {Monkey jacket}, a short closely fitting jacket, worn by sailors. {Monkey rail} (Naut.), a second and lighter rail raised about six inches above the quarter rail of a ship. {Monkey shine}, monkey trick. [Slang, U.S.] {Monkey trick}, a mischievous prank. --Saintsbury. {Monkey wheel}. See {Gin block}, under 5th {Gin}. {Monkey wrench}, a wrench or spanner having a movable jaw.

Motion \Mo"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. motio, fr. movere, motum, to move. See {Move}.] 1. The act, process, or state of changing place or position; movement; the passing of a body from one place or position to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; -- opposed to {rest}. Speaking or mute, all comeliness and grace attends thee, and each word, each motion, forms. --Milton. 2. Power of, or capacity for, motion. Devoid of sense and motion. --Milton. 3. Direction of movement; course; tendency; as, the motion of the planets is from west to east. In our proper motion we ascend. --Milton. 4. Change in the relative position of the parts of anything; action of a machine with respect to the relative movement of its parts. This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its motion. --Dr. H. More. 5. Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity. Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God. --South. 6. A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress; esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly; as, a motion to adjourn. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. --Shak. 7. (Law) An application made to a court or judge orally in open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant. --Mozley & W. 8. (Mus.) Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts. The independent motions of different parts sounding together constitute counterpoint. --Grove. Note: Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale. Contrary motion is that when parts move in opposite directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique motion is that when one part is stationary while another moves. Similar or direct motion is that when parts move in the same direction. 9. A puppet show or puppet. [Obs.] What motion's this? the model of Nineveh? --Beau. & Fl. Note: Motion, in mechanics, may be simple or compound. {Simple motions} are: ({a}) straight translation, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. ({b}) Simple rotation, which may be either continuous or reciprocating, and when reciprocating is called oscillating. ({c}) Helical, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. {Compound motion} consists of combinations of any of the simple motions. {Center of motion}, {Harmonic motion}, etc. See under {Center}, {Harmonic}, etc. {Motion block} (Steam Engine), a crosshead. {Perpetual motion} (Mech.), an incessant motion conceived to be attainable by a machine supplying its own motive forces independently of any action from without.

A \A\ ([.a] emph. [=a]). 1. [Shortened form of an. AS. [=a]n one. See {One}.] An adjective, commonly called the indefinite article, and signifying one or any, but less emphatically. ``At a birth''; ``In a word''; ``At a blow''. --Shak. Note: It is placed before nouns of the singular number denoting an individual object, or a quality individualized, before collective nouns, and also before plural nouns when the adjective few or the phrase great many or good many is interposed; as, a dog, a house, a man; a color; a sweetness; a hundred, a fleet, a regiment; a few persons, a great many days. It is used for an, for the sake of euphony, before words beginning with a consonant sound [for exception of certain words beginning with h, see {An}]; as, a table, a woman, a year, a unit, a eulogy, a ewe, a oneness, such a one, etc. Formally an was used both before vowels and consonants. 2. [Originally the preposition a (an, on).] In each; to or for each; as, ``twenty leagues a day'', ``a hundred pounds a year'', ``a dollar a yard'', etc.

A \A\ [From AS. of off, from. See {Of}.] Of. [Obs.] ``The name of John a Gaunt.'' ``What time a day is it ?'' --Shak. ``It's six a clock.'' --B. Jonson.

A \A\ A barbarous corruption of have, of he, and sometimes of it and of they. ``So would I a done'' ``A brushes his hat.'' --Shak.

A \A\ An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meter A merry heart goes all the day, Your sad tires in a mile-a. --Shak.

A- \A-\ A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various sources. (1) It frequently signifies on or in (from an, a forms of AS. on), denoting a state, as in afoot, on foot, abed, amiss, asleep, aground, aloft, away (AS. onweg), and analogically, ablaze, atremble, etc. (2) AS. of off, from, as in adown (AS. ofd[=u]ne off the dun or hill). (3) AS. [=a]- (Goth. us-, ur-, Ger. er-), usually giving an intensive force, and sometimes the sense of away, on, back, as in arise, abide, ago. (4) Old English y- or i- (corrupted from the AS. inseparable particle ge-, cognate with OHG. ga-, gi-, Goth. ga-), which, as a prefix, made no essential addition to the meaning, as in aware. (5) French [`a] (L. ad to), as in abase, achieve. (6) L. a, ab, abs, from, as in avert. (7) Greek insep. prefix [alpha] without, or privative, not, as in abyss, atheist; akin to E. un-. Note: Besides these, there are other sources from which the prefix a takes its origin.

Ferment \Fer"ment\, n. [L. fermentum ferment (in senses 1 & 2), perh. for fervimentum, fr. fervere to be boiling hot, boil, ferment: cf. F. ferment. Cf. 1st {Barm}, {Fervent}.] 1. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer. Note: Ferments are of two kinds: ({a}) Formed or organized ferments. ({b}) Unorganized or structureless ferments. The latter are also called {soluble or chemical ferments}, and {enzymes}. Ferments of the first class are as a rule simple microscopic vegetable organisms, and the fermentations which they engender are due to their growth and development; as, the {acetic ferment}, the {butyric ferment}, etc. See {Fermentation}. Ferments of the second class, on the other hand, are chemical substances, as a rule soluble in glycerin and precipitated by alcohol. In action they are catalytic and, mainly, hydrolytic. Good examples are pepsin of the dastric juice, ptyalin of the salvia, and disease of malt.

Gastropoda \Gas*trop"o*da\, n. pl., [NL., fr. Gr. ?, ?, stomach + -poda.] (Zo["o]l.) One of the classes of Mollusca, of great extent. It includes most of the marine spiral shells, and the land and fresh-water snails. They generally creep by means of a flat, muscular disk, or foot, on the ventral side of the body. The head usually bears one or two pairs of tentacles. See {Mollusca}. [Written also {Gasteropoda}.] Note: The Gastropoda are divided into three subclasses; viz.: ({a}) The Streptoneura or Dioecia, including the Pectinibranchiata, Rhipidoglossa, Docoglossa, and Heteropoda. ({b}) The Euthyneura, including the Pulmonata and Opisthobranchia. ({c}) The Amphineura, including the Polyplacophora and Aplacophora.

Gripe \Gripe\, n. 1. Grasp; seizure; fast hold; clutch. A barren scepter in my gripe. --Shak. 2. That on which the grasp is put; a handle; a grip; as, the gripe of a sword. 3. (Mech.) A device for grasping or holding anything; a brake to stop a wheel. 4. Oppression; cruel exaction; affiction; pinching distress; as, the gripe of poverty. 5. Pinching and spasmodic pain in the intestines; -- chiefly used in the plural. 6. (Naut.) (a) The piece of timber which terminates the keel at the fore end; the forefoot. (b) The compass or sharpness of a ship's stern under the water, having a tendency to make her keep a good wind. (c) pl. An assemblage of ropes, dead-eyes, and hocks, fastened to ringbolts in the deck, to secure the boats when hoisted; also, broad bands passed around a boat to secure it at the davits and prevent swinging. {Gripe penny}, {a} miser; a niggard

A \A\ (named [=a] in the English, and most commonly ["a] in other languages). The first letter of the English and of many other alphabets. The capital A of the alphabets of Middle and Western Europe, as also the small letter (a), besides the forms in Italic, black letter, etc., are all descended from the old Latin A, which was borrowed from the Greek {Alpha}, of the same form; and this was made from the first letter (?) of the Ph[oe]nician alphabet, the equivalent of the Hebrew Aleph, and itself from the Egyptian origin. The Aleph was a consonant letter, with a guttural breath sound that was not an element of Greek articulation; and the Greeks took it to represent their vowel Alpha with the ["a] sound, the Ph[oe]nician alphabet having no vowel symbols. This letter, in English, is used for several different vowel sounds. See Guide to pronunciation, [sect][sect] 43-74. The regular long a, as in fate, etc., is a comparatively modern sound, and has taken the place of what, till about the early part of the 17th century, was a sound of the quality of ["a] (as in far). 2. (Mus.) The name of the sixth tone in the model major scale (that in C), or the first tone of the minor scale, which is named after it the scale in A minor. The second string of the violin is tuned to the A in the treble staff. -- A sharp (A[sharp]) is the name of a musical tone intermediate between A and B. -- A flat (A[flat]) is the name of a tone intermediate between A and G. {A per se} (L. per se by itself), one pre["e]minent; a nonesuch. [Obs.] O fair Creseide, the flower and A per se Of Troy and Greece. --Chaucer.

A 1 \A 1\ ([=a] w[u^]n). A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to ships in first-class condition. Inferior grades are indicated by A 2 and A 3. Note: A 1 is also applied colloquially to other things to imply superiority; prime; first-class; first-rate.

Artemisia \Ar`te*mi"si*a\ ([aum]rt[-e]"m[i^]zh"[i^]*[.a] or [aum]rt[-e]"m[i^]sh"[i^]*[.a]), n. [L. Artemisia, Gr. 'Artemisi`a.] (Bot.) A genus of plants including the plants called mugwort, southernwood, and wormwood. Of these {A. absinthium}, or common wormwood, is well known, and {A. tridentata} is the sage brush of the Rocky Mountain region.

Gum \Gum\, n. [OE. gomme, gumme, F. gomme, L. gummi and commis, fr. Gr. ?, prob. from an Egyptian form kam?; cf. It. {gomma}.] 1. A vegetable secretion of many trees or plants that hardens when it exudes, but is soluble in water; as, gum arabic; gum tragacanth; the gum of the cherry tree. Also, with less propriety, exudations that are not soluble in water; as, gum copal and gum sandarac, which are really resins. 2. (Bot.) See {Gum tree}, {below}. 3. A hive made of a section of a hollow gum tree; hence, any roughly made hive; also, a vessel or bin made of a hollow log. [Southern U. S.] 4. A rubber overshoe. [Local, U. S.] {Black gum}, {Blue gum}, {British gum}, etc. See under {Black}, {Blue}, etc. {Gum Acaroidea}, the resinous gum of the Australian grass tree ({Xanlhorrh[oe]a}). {Gum animal} (Zo["o]l.), the galago of West Africa; -- so called because it feeds on gums. See {Galago}. {Gum animi or anim['e]}. See {Anim['e]}. {Gum arabic}, a gum yielded mostly by several species of {Acacia} (chiefly {A. vera} and {A. Arabica}) growing in Africa and Southern Asia; -- called also {gum acacia}. East Indian gum arabic comes from a tree of the Orange family which bears the elephant apple. {Gum butea}, a gum yielded by the Indian plants {Butea frondosa} and {B. superba}, and used locally in tanning and in precipitating indigo. {Gum cistus}, a plant of the genus {Cistus} ({Cistus ladaniferus}), a species of rock rose. {Gum dragon}. See {Tragacanth}. {Gum elastic}, {Elastic gum}. See {Caoutchouc}. {Gum elemi}. See {Elemi}. {Gum juniper}. See {Sandarac}. {Gum kino}. See under {Kino}. {Gum lac}. See {Lac}. {Gum Ladanum}, a fragrant gum yielded by several Oriental species of Cistus or rock rose. {Gum passages}, sap receptacles extending through the parenchyma of certain plants ({Amygdalace[ae]}, {Cactace[ae]}, etc.), and affording passage for gum. {Gum pot}, a varnish maker's utensil for melting gum and mixing other ingredients. {Gum resin}, the milky juice of a plant solidified by exposure to air; one of certain inspissated saps, mixtures of, or having properties of, gum and resin; a resin containing more or less mucilaginous and gummy matter. {Gum sandarac}. See {Sandarac}. {Gum Senegal}, a gum similar to gum arabic, yielded by trees ({Acacia Verek} and {A. Adansoni["a]}) growing in the Senegal country, West Africa. {Gum tragacanth}. See {Tragacanth}. {Gum tree}, the name given to several trees in America and Australia: (a) The black gum ({Nyssa multiflora}), one of the largest trees of the Southern States, bearing a small blue fruit, the favorite food of the opossum. Most of the large trees become hollow. (b) A tree of the genus {Eucalyptus.} See {Eucalpytus.} (c) The sweet gum tree of the United States ({Liquidambar styraciflua}), a large and beautiful tree with pointedly lobed leaves and woody burlike fruit. It exudes an aromatic terebinthine juice. {Gum water}, a solution of gum, esp. of gum arabic, in water. {Gum wood}, the wood of any gum tree, esp. the wood of the {Eucalyptus piperita}, of New South Wales.

Note: The common or sea lamprey of America and Europe ({Petromyzon marinus}), which in spring ascends rivers to spawn, is considered excellent food by many, and is sold as a market fish in some localities. The smaller river lampreys mostly belong to the genus {Ammoc[oe]les}, or {Lampetra}, as {A. fluviatilis}, of Europe, and {A. [ae]pypterus} of America. All lampreys attach themselves to other fishes, as parasites, by means of the suckerlike mouth.

2. (Zo["o]l.) A scaup duck. See below. {Scaup duck} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of northern ducks of the genus {Aythya}, or {Fuligula}. The adult males are, in large part, black. The three North American species are: the greater scaup duck ({Aythya marila}, var. nearctica), called also {broadbill}, {bluebill}, {blackhead}, {flock duck}, {flocking fowl}, and {raft duck}; the lesser scaup duck ({A. affinis}), called also {little bluebill}, {river broadbill}, and {shuffler}; the tufted, or ring-necked, scaup duck ({A. collaris}), called also {black jack}, {ringneck}, {ringbill}, {ringbill shuffler}, etc. See Illust.. of {Ring-necked duck}, under {Ring-necked}. The common European scaup, or mussel, duck ({A. marila}), closely resembles the American variety.

Vole \Vole\, n. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of micelike rodents belonging to {Arvicola} and allied genera of the subfamily {Arvicolin[ae]}. They have a thick head, short ears, and a short hairy tail. Note: The water vole, or water rat, of Europe ({Arvicola amphibius}) is a common large aquatic species. The short-tailed field vole ({A. agrestis}) of Northern and Central Europe, and Asia, the Southern field vole ({A. arvalis}), and the Siberian root vole ({A. [oe]conomus}), are important European species. The common species of the Eastern United States ({A. riparius}) (called also {meadow mouse}) and the prairie mouse ({A. austerus}) are abundant, and often injurious to vegetation. Other species are found in Canada.

Egret \E"gret\, n. [See {Aigret}, {Heron}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) The name of several species of herons which bear plumes on the back. They are generally white. Among the best known species are the American egret ({Ardea, or Herodias, egretta}); the great egret ({A. alba}); the little egret ({A. garzetta}), of Europe; and the American snowy egret ({A. candidissima}). A bunch of egrets killed for their plumage. --G. W. Cable. 2. A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress, or anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette. 3. (Bot.) The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or achenes, as the down of the thistle. 4. (Zo["o]l.) A kind of ape.

Shad \Shad\ (sh[a^]d), n. sing. & pl. [AS. sceadda a kind of fish, akin to Prov. G. schade; cf. Ir. & Gael. sgadan a herring, W. ysgadan herrings; all perhaps akin to E. skate a fish.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of food fishes of the Herring family. The American species ({Clupea sapidissima}), which is abundant on the Atlantic coast and ascends the larger rivers in spring to spawn, is an important market fish. The European allice shad, or alose ({C. alosa}), and the twaite shad. ({C. finta}), are less important species. [Written also {chad}.] Note: The name is loosely applied, also, to several other fishes, as the gizzard shad (see under {Gizzard}), called also {mud shad}, {white-eyed shad}, and {winter shad}. {Hardboaded}, or {Yellow-tailed}, {shad}, the menhaden. {Hickory}, or {Tailor}, {shad}, the mattowacca. {Long-boned shad}, one of several species of important food fishes of the Bermudas and the West Indies, of the genus {Gerres}. {Shad bush} (Bot.), a name given to the North American shrubs or small trees of the rosaceous genus {Amelanchier} ({A. Canadensis}, and {A. alnifolia}) Their white racemose blossoms open in April or May, when the shad appear, and the edible berries (pomes) ripen in June or July, whence they are called Juneberries. The plant is also called {service tree}, and {Juneberry}. {Shad frog}, an American spotted frog ({Rana halecina}); -- so called because it usually appears at the time when the shad begin to run in the rivers. {Trout shad}, the squeteague. {White shad}, the common shad.

Maguey \Mag"uey\, n. [Sp. maguey, Mexican maguei and metl.] (Bot.) The century plant, a species of {Agave} ({A. Americana}). See {Agave}.

Widgeon \Widg"eon\, n. [Probably from an old French form of F. vigeon, vingeon, gingeon; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vipio, -onis, a kind of small crane.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of fresh-water ducks, especially those belonging to the subgenus {Mareca}, of the genus {Anas}. The common European widgeon ({Anas penelope}) and the American widgeon ({A. Americana}) are the most important species. The latter is called also {baldhead}, {baldpate}, {baldface}, {baldcrown}, {smoking duck}, {wheat}, {duck}, and {whitebelly}. {Bald-faced}, or {Green-headed}, widgeon, the American widgeon. {Black widgeon}, the European tufted duck. {Gray widgeon}. (a) The gadwall. (b) The pintail duck. {Great headed widgeon}, the poachard. {Pied widgeon}. (a) The poachard. (b) The goosander. {Saw-billed widgeon}, the merganser. {Sea widgeon}. See in the Vocabulary. {Spear widgeon}, the goosander. [Prov. Eng.] {Spoonbilled widgeon}, the shoveler. {White widgeon}, the smew. {Wood widgeon}, the wood duck.

Agave \A*ga"ve\, n. [L. Agave, prop. name, fr. Gr. ?, fem. of ? illustrious, noble.] (bot.) A genus of plants (order {Amaryllidace[ae]}) of which the chief species is the maguey or century plant ({A. Americana}), wrongly called Aloe. It is from ten to seventy years, according to climate, in attaining maturity, when it produces a gigantic flower stem, sometimes forty feet in height, and perishes. The fermented juice is the pulque of the Mexicans; distilled, it yields mescal. A strong thread and a tough paper are made from the leaves, and the wood has many uses.

Lant \Lant\, n. [Cf. {Lance}.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of small, slender, marine fishes of the genus {Ammedytes}. The common European species ({A. tobianus}) and the American species ({A. Americanus}) live on sandy shores, buried in the sand, and are caught in large quantities for bait. Called also {launce}, and {sand eel}.

Moose \Moose\, n. [A native name; Knisteneaux mouswah; Algonquin monse. Mackenzie.] (Zo["o]l.) A large cervine mammal ({Alces machlis}, or {A. Americanus}), native of the Northern United States and Canada. The adult male is about as large as a horse, and has very large, palmate antlers. It closely resembles the European elk, and by many zo["o]logists is considered the same species. See {Elk}. {Moose bird} (Zo["o]l.), the Canada jayor whisky jack. See {Whisky jack}. {Moose deer}. Same as {Moose}. {Moose yard} (Zo["o]l.), a locality where moose, in winter, herd together in a forest to feed and for mutual protection.

Babul \Ba*bul"\, Babool \Ba*bool"\, n. [See {Bablah}.] (Bot.) Any one of several species of {Acacia}, esp. {A. Arabica}, which yelds a gum used as a substitute for true gum arabic. In place of Putney's golden gorse The sickly babul blooms. --Kipling.

Gum \Gum\, n. [OE. gomme, gumme, F. gomme, L. gummi and commis, fr. Gr. ?, prob. from an Egyptian form kam?; cf. It. {gomma}.] 1. A vegetable secretion of many trees or plants that hardens when it exudes, but is soluble in water; as, gum arabic; gum tragacanth; the gum of the cherry tree. Also, with less propriety, exudations that are not soluble in water; as, gum copal and gum sandarac, which are really resins. 2. (Bot.) See {Gum tree}, {below}. 3. A hive made of a section of a hollow gum tree; hence, any roughly made hive; also, a vessel or bin made of a hollow log. [Southern U. S.] 4. A rubber overshoe. [Local, U. S.] {Black gum}, {Blue gum}, {British gum}, etc. See under {Black}, {Blue}, etc. {Gum Acaroidea}, the resinous gum of the Australian grass tree ({Xanlhorrh[oe]a}). {Gum animal} (Zo["o]l.), the galago of West Africa; -- so called because it feeds on gums. See {Galago}. {Gum animi or anim['e]}. See {Anim['e]}. {Gum arabic}, a gum yielded mostly by several species of {Acacia} (chiefly {A. vera} and {A. Arabica}) growing in Africa and Southern Asia; -- called also {gum acacia}. East Indian gum arabic comes from a tree of the Orange family which bears the elephant apple. {Gum butea}, a gum yielded by the Indian plants {Butea frondosa} and {B. superba}, and used locally in tanning and in precipitating indigo. {Gum cistus}, a plant of the genus {Cistus} ({Cistus ladaniferus}), a species of rock rose. {Gum dragon}. See {Tragacanth}. {Gum elastic}, {Elastic gum}. See {Caoutchouc}. {Gum elemi}. See {Elemi}. {Gum juniper}. See {Sandarac}. {Gum kino}. See under {Kino}. {Gum lac}. See {Lac}. {Gum Ladanum}, a fragrant gum yielded by several Oriental species of Cistus or rock rose. {Gum passages}, sap receptacles extending through the parenchyma of certain plants ({Amygdalace[ae]}, {Cactace[ae]}, etc.), and affording passage for gum. {Gum pot}, a varnish maker's utensil for melting gum and mixing other ingredients. {Gum resin}, the milky juice of a plant solidified by exposure to air; one of certain inspissated saps, mixtures of, or having properties of, gum and resin; a resin containing more or less mucilaginous and gummy matter. {Gum sandarac}. See {Sandarac}. {Gum Senegal}, a gum similar to gum arabic, yielded by trees ({Acacia Verek} and {A. Adansoni["a]}) growing in the Senegal country, West Africa. {Gum tragacanth}. See {Tragacanth}. {Gum tree}, the name given to several trees in America and Australia: (a) The black gum ({Nyssa multiflora}), one of the largest trees of the Southern States, bearing a small blue fruit, the favorite food of the opossum. Most of the large trees become hollow. (b) A tree of the genus {Eucalyptus.} See {Eucalpytus.} (c) The sweet gum tree of the United States ({Liquidambar styraciflua}), a large and beautiful tree with pointedly lobed leaves and woody burlike fruit. It exudes an aromatic terebinthine juice. {Gum water}, a solution of gum, esp. of gum arabic, in water. {Gum wood}, the wood of any gum tree, esp. the wood of the {Eucalyptus piperita}, of New South Wales.

Lark \Lark\, n. [OE. larke, laverock, AS. l[=a]werce; akin to D. leeuwerik, LG. lewerke, OHG. l?rahha, G. lerche, Sw. l["a]rka, Dan. lerke, Icel. l[ae]virki.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one numerous species of singing birds of the genus {Alauda} and allied genera (family {Alaudid[ae]}). They mostly belong to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. In America they are represented by the shore larks, or horned by the shore larks, or horned larks, of the genus {Otocoris}. The true larks have holaspidean tarsi, very long hind claws, and usually, dull, sandy brown colors. Note: The European skylark, or lark of the poets ({Alauda arvensis}), is of a brown mottled color, and is noted for its clear and sweet song, uttered as it rises and descends almost perpendicularly in the air. It is considered a table delicacy, and immense numbers are killed for the markets. Other well-known European species are the crested, or tufted, lark ({Alauda cristata}), and the wood lark ({A. arborea}). The pipits, or titlarks, of the genus {Anthus} (family {Motacillid[ae]}) are often called larks. See {Pipit}. The American meadow larks, of the genus {Sturnella}, are allied to the starlings. See {Meadow Lark}. The Australian bush lark is {Mirafra Horsfieldii}. See {Shore lark}. {Lark bunting} (Zo["o]l.), a fringilline bird ({Calamospiza melanocorys}) found on the plains of the Western United States. {Lark sparrow} (Zo["o]l.), a sparrow ({Chondestes grammacus}), found in the Mississippi Valley and the Western United States.

Bitterweed \Bit"ter*weed`\, n. (Bot.) A species of Ambrosia ({A. artemisi[ae]folia}); Roman worm wood. --Gray.

Vole \Vole\, n. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of micelike rodents belonging to {Arvicola} and allied genera of the subfamily {Arvicolin[ae]}. They have a thick head, short ears, and a short hairy tail. Note: The water vole, or water rat, of Europe ({Arvicola amphibius}) is a common large aquatic species. The short-tailed field vole ({A. agrestis}) of Northern and Central Europe, and Asia, the Southern field vole ({A. arvalis}), and the Siberian root vole ({A. [oe]conomus}), are important European species. The common species of the Eastern United States ({A. riparius}) (called also {meadow mouse}) and the prairie mouse ({A. austerus}) are abundant, and often injurious to vegetation. Other species are found in Canada.

Pimpernel \Pim"per*nel\, n. [F. pimprenelle; cf. Sp. pimpinela, It. pimpinella; perh. from LL. bipinnella, for bipinnula two-winged, equiv. to L. bipennis; bis twice + penna feather, wing. Cf. {Pen} a feather.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Anagallis}, of which one species ({A. arvensis}) has small flowers, usually scarlet, but sometimes purple, blue, or white, which speedily close at the approach of bad weather. {Water pimpernel}. (Bot.) See {Brookweed}.

Rocambole \Roc"am*bole\, n. [F.] [Written also {rokambole}.] (Bot.) A name of {Allium Scorodoprasum} and {A. Ascalonium}, two kinds of garlic, the latter of which is also called {shallot}.

Male \Male\, a. [F. m[^a]le, OF. masle, mascle, fr. L. masculus male, masculine, dim. of mas a male; possibly akin to E. man. Cf. {Masculine}, {Marry}, v. t.] 1. Of or pertaining to the sex that begets or procreates young, or (in a wider sense) to the sex that produces spermatozoa, by which the ova are fertilized; not female; as, male organs. 2. (Bot.) Capable of producing fertilization, but not of bearing fruit; -- said of stamens and antheridia, and of the plants, or parts of plants, which bear them. 3. Suitable to the male sex; characteristic or suggestive of a male; masculine; as, male courage. 4. Consisting of males; as, a male choir. 5. (Mech.) Adapted for entering another corresponding piece (the female piece) which is hollow and which it fits; as, a male gauge, for gauging the size or shape of a hole; a male screw, etc. {Male berry} (Bot.), a kind of coffee. See {Pea berry}. {Male fern} (Bot.), a fern of the genus {Aspidium} ({A. Filixmas}), used in medicine as an anthelmintic, esp. against the tapeworm. {Aspidium marginale} in America, and {A. athamanticum} in South Africa, are used as good substitutes for the male fern in medical practice. See {Female fern}, under {Female}. {Male rhyme}, a rhyme in which only the last syllables agree, as laid, afraid, dismayed. See {Female rhyme}, under {Female}. {Male screw} (Mech.), a screw having threads upon its exterior which enter the grooves upon the inside of a corresponding nut or female screw. {Male thread}, the thread of a male screw.

Goshawk \Gos"hawk`\, n. [AS. g?shafuc, lit., goosehawk; or Icel. g[=a]shaukr. See {Goose}, and {Hawk} the bird.] (Zo["o]l.) Any large hawk of the genus {Astur}, of which many species and varieties are known. The European ({Astur palumbarius}) and the American ({A. atricapillus}) are the best known species. They are noted for their powerful flight, activity, and courage. The Australian goshawk ({A. Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]}) is pure white.

Colicroot \Col"ic*root`\, n. A bitter American herb of the Bloodwort family, with the leaves all radical, and the small yellow or white flowers in a long spike ({Aletris farinosa} and {A. aurea}). Called sometimes star grass, blackroot, blazing star, and unicorn root.

Vole \Vole\, n. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of micelike rodents belonging to {Arvicola} and allied genera of the subfamily {Arvicolin[ae]}. They have a thick head, short ears, and a short hairy tail. Note: The water vole, or water rat, of Europe ({Arvicola amphibius}) is a common large aquatic species. The short-tailed field vole ({A. agrestis}) of Northern and Central Europe, and Asia, the Southern field vole ({A. arvalis}), and the Siberian root vole ({A. [oe]conomus}), are important European species. The common species of the Eastern United States ({A. riparius}) (called also {meadow mouse}) and the prairie mouse ({A. austerus}) are abundant, and often injurious to vegetation. Other species are found in Canada.

Kivikivi \Ki`vi*ki"vi\, Kiwikiwi \Ki`wi*ki"wi\, n.; pl. {Kivikivies} (?), {Kiwikiwies}. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of Apteryx, esp. {A. australis}; -- so called in imitation of its notes. Called also {kiwi}. See {Apteryx}.

A B C \A B C"\ ([=a] b[=e] s[=e]"). 1. The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the whole alphabet. 2. A primer for teaching the alphabet and first elements of reading. [Obs.] 3. The simplest rudiments of any subject; as, the A B C of finance. {A B C book}, a primer. --Shak.

A B C \A B C"\ ([=a] b[=e] s[=e]"). 1. The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the whole alphabet. 2. A primer for teaching the alphabet and first elements of reading. [Obs.] 3. The simplest rudiments of any subject; as, the A B C of finance. {A B C book}, a primer. --Shak.

Dozen \Doz"en\, n.; pl. {Dozen} (before another noun), {Dozens}. [OE. doseine, dosein, OF. doseine, F. douzaine, fr. douze twelve, fr. L. duodecim; duo two + decem ten. See {Two}, {Ten}, and cf. {Duodecimal}.] 1. A collection of twelve objects; a tale or set of twelve; with or without of before the substantive which follows. ``Some six or seven dozen of Scots.'' ``A dozen of shirts to your back.'' ``A dozen sons.'' ``Half a dozen friends.'' --Shak. 2. An indefinite small number. --Milton. {A baker's dozen}, thirteen; -- called also a {long dozen}.

Baker \Bak"er\, n. [AS. b[ae]cere. See {Bake}, v. i.] 1. One whose business it is to bake bread, biscuit, etc. 2. A portable oven in which baking is done. [U.S.] {A baker's dozen}, thirteen. {Baker foot}, a distorted foot. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor. {Baker's itch}, a rash on the back of the hand, caused by the irritating properties of yeast. {Baker's salt}, the subcarbonate of ammonia, sometimes used instead of soda, in making bread.

Poison \Poi"son\, n. [F. poison, in Old French also, a potion, fr. L. potio a drink, draught, potion, a poisonous draught, fr. potare to drink. See {Potable}, and cf. {Potion}.] 1. Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly effect upon it; as, morphine is a deadly poison; the poison of pestilential diseases. 2. That which taints or destroys moral purity or health; as, the poison of evil example; the poison of sin. {Poison ash}. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus {Amyris} ({A. balsamifera}) found in the West Indies, from the trunk of which a black liquor distills, supposed to have poisonous qualities. (b) The poison sumac ({Rhus venenata}). [U. S.] {Poison dogwood} (Bot.), poison sumac. {Poison fang} (Zo["o]l.), one of the superior maxillary teeth of some species of serpents, which, besides having the cavity for the pulp, is either perforated or grooved by a longitudinal canal, at the lower end of which the duct of the poison gland terminates. See Illust. under {Fang}. {Poison gland} (Biol.), a gland, in animals or plants, which secretes an acrid or venomous matter, that is conveyed along an organ capable of inflicting a wound. {Poison hemlock} (Bot.), a poisonous umbelliferous plant ({Conium maculatum}). See {Hemlock}. {Poison ivy} (Bot.), a poisonous climbing plant ({Rhus Toxicodendron}) of North America. It is common on stone walls and on the trunks of trees, and has trifoliate, rhombic-ovate, variously notched leaves. Many people are poisoned by it, if they touch the leaves. See {Poison sumac}. Called also {poison oak}, and {mercury}. {Poison nut}. (Bot.) (a) Nux vomica. (b) The tree which yields this seed ({Strychnos Nuxvomica}). It is found on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts. {Poison oak} (Bot.), the poison ivy; also, the more shrubby {Rhus diversiloba} of California and Oregon. {Poison sac}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Poison gland}, above. See Illust. under {Fang}. {Poison sumac} (Bot.), a poisonous shrub of the genus {Rhus} ({R. venenata}); -- also called {poison ash}, {poison dogwood}, and {poison elder}. It has pinnate leaves on graceful and slender common petioles, and usually grows in swampy places. Both this plant and the poison ivy ({Rhus Toxicodendron}) have clusters of smooth greenish white berries, while the red-fruited species of this genus are harmless. The tree ({Rhus vernicifera}) which yields the celebrated Japan lacquer is almost identical with the poison sumac, and is also very poisonous. The juice of the poison sumac also forms a lacquer similar to that of Japan. Syn: Venom; virus; bane; pest; malignity. Usage: {Poison}, {Venom}. Poison usually denotes something received into the system by the mouth, breath, etc. Venom is something discharged from animals and received by means of a wound, as by the bite or sting of serpents, scorpions, etc. Hence, venom specifically implies some malignity of nature or purpose.

Harvesting \Har"vest*ing\, a. & n., from {Harvest}, v. t. {Harvesting ant} (Zo["o]l.), any species of ant which gathers and stores up seeds for food. Many species are known. Note: The species found in Southern Europe and Palestine are {Aphenogaster structor} and {A. barbara}; that of Texas, called {agricultural ant}, is {Pogonomyrmex barbatus} or {Myrmica molifaciens}; that of Florida is {P. crudelis}. See {Agricultural ant}, under {Agricultural}.

Beat \Beat\, v. i. 1. To strike repeatedly; to inflict repeated blows; to knock vigorously or loudly. The men of the city . . . beat at the door. --Judges. xix. 22. 2. To move with pulsation or throbbing. A thousand hearts beat happily. --Byron. 3. To come or act with violence; to dash or fall with force; to strike anything, as, rain, wind, and waves do. Sees rolling tempests vainly beat below. --Dryden. They [winds] beat at the crazy casement. --Longfellow. The sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wisbed in himself to die. --Jonah iv. 8. Public envy seemeth to beat chiefly upon ministers. --Bacon. 4. To be in agitation or doubt. [Poetic] To still my beating mind. --Shak. 5. (Naut.) To make progress against the wind, by sailing in a zigzag line or traverse. 6. To make a sound when struck; as, the drums beat. 7. (Mil.) To make a succession of strokes on a drum; as, the drummers beat to call soldiers to their quarters. 8. (Acoustics & Mus.) To sound with more or less rapid alternations of greater and less intensity, so as to produce a pulsating effect; -- said of instruments, tones, or vibrations, not perfectly in unison. {A beating wind} (Naut.), a wind which necessitates tacking in order to make progress. {To beat about}, to try to find; to search by various means or ways. --Addison. {To beat about the bush}, to approach a subject circuitously. {To beat up and down} (Hunting), to run first one way and then another; -- said of a stag. {To beat up for recruits}, to go diligently about in order to get helpers or participators in an enterprise.

Belladonna \Bel`la*don"na\, n. [It., literally fine lady; bella beautiful + donna lady.] (Bot.) (a) An herbaceous European plant ({Atropa belladonna}) with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries. The whole plant and its fruit are very poisonous, and the root and leaves are used as powerful medicinal agents. Its properties are largely due to the alkaloid atropine which it contains. Called also {deadly nightshade}. (b) A species of {Amaryllis} ({A. belladonna}); the belladonna lily.

Bevel \Bev"el\, a. 1. Having the slant of a bevel; slanting. 2. Hence: Morally distorted; not upright. [Poetic] I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel. --Shak. {A bevel angle}, any angle other than one of 90[deg]. {Bevel wheel}, a cogwheel whose working face is oblique to the axis. --Knight.

Bifilar \Bi*fi"lar\, a. [Pref. bi- + filar.] Two-threaded; involving the use of two threads; as, bifilar suspension; a bifilar balance. {Bifilar micrometer} (often called {a bifilar}), an instrument form measuring minute distances or angles by means of two very minute threads (usually spider lines), one of which, at least, is movable; -- more commonly called a {filar micrometer}.

Adventure \Ad*ven"ture\ (?; 135), n. [OE. aventure, aunter, anter, F. aventure, fr. LL. adventura, fr. L. advenire, adventum, to arrive, which in the Romance languages took the sense of ``to happen, befall.'' See Advene.] 1. That which happens without design; chance; hazard; hap; hence, chance of danger or loss. Nay, a far less good to man it will be found, if she must, at all adventures, be fastened upon him individually. --Milton. 2. Risk; danger; peril. [Obs.] He was in great adventure of his life. --Berners. 3. The encountering of risks; hazardous and striking enterprise; a bold undertaking, in which hazards are to be encountered, and the issue is staked upon unforeseen events; a daring feat. He loved excitement and adventure. --Macaulay. 4. A remarkable occurrence; a striking event; a stirring incident; as, the adventures of one's life. --Bacon. 5. A mercantile or speculative enterprise of hazard; a venture; a shipment by a merchant on his own account. {A bill of adventure} (Com.), a writing setting forth that the goods shipped are at the owner's risk. Syn: Undertaking; enterprise; venture; event.

Natal plum \Na*tal" plum`\ (Bot.) The drupaceous fruit of two South African shrubs of the genus {Arduina} ({A. bispinosa} and {A. grandiflora}).

Boil \Boil\, n. [Influenced by boil, v. See {Beal}, {Bile}.] A hard, painful, inflamed tumor, which, on suppuration, discharges pus, mixed with blood, and discloses a small fibrous mass of dead tissue, called the core. {A blind boil}, one that suppurates imperfectly, or fails to come to a head. {Delhi boil} (Med.), a peculiar affection of the skin, probably parasitic in origin, prevailing in India (as among the British troops) and especially at Delhi.

Block \Block\, n. [OE. blok; cf. F. bloc (fr. OHG.), D. & Dan. blok, Sw. & G. block, OHG. bloch. There is also an OHG. bloch, biloh; bi by + the same root as that of E. lock. Cf. {Block}, v. t., {Blockade}, and see {Lock}.] 1. A piece of wood more or less bulky; a solid mass of wood, stone, etc., usually with one or more plane, or approximately plane, faces; as, a block on which a butcher chops his meat; a block by which to mount a horse; children's playing blocks, etc. Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke, And Christmas blocks are burning. --Wither. All her labor was but as a block Left in the quarry. --Tennyson. 2. The solid piece of wood on which condemned persons lay their necks when they are beheaded. Noble heads which have been brought to the block. --E. Everett. 3. The wooden mold on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped. Hence: The pattern or shape of a hat. He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block. --Shak. 4. A large or long building divided into separate houses or shops, or a number of houses or shops built in contact with each other so as to form one building; a row of houses or shops. 5. A square, or portion of a city inclosed by streets, whether occupied by buildings or not. The new city was laid out in rectangular blocks, each block containing thirty building lots. Such an average block, comprising 282 houses and covering nine acres of ground, exists in Oxford Street. --Lond. Quart. Rev. 6. A grooved pulley or sheave incased in a frame or shell which is provided with a hook, eye, or strap, by which it may be attached to an object. It is used to change the direction of motion, as in raising a heavy object that can not be conveniently reached, and also, when two or more such sheaves are compounded, to change the rate of motion, or to exert increased force; -- used especially in the rigging of ships, and in tackles. 7. (Falconry) The perch on which a bird of prey is kept. 8. Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction; a stop; a hindrance; an obstacle; as, a block in the way. 9. A piece of box or other wood for engravers' work. 10. (Print.) A piece of hard wood (as mahogany or cherry) on which a stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted to make it type high. 11. A blockhead; a stupid fellow; a dolt. [Obs.] What a block art thou ! --Shak. 12. A section of a railroad where the block system is used. See {Block system}, below. {A block of shares} (Stock Exchange), a large number of shares in a stock company, sold in a lump. --Bartlett. {Block printing}. (a) A mode of printing (common in China and Japan) from engraved boards by means of a sheet of paper laid on the linked surface and rubbed with a brush. --S. W. Williams. (b) A method of printing cotton cloth and paper hangings with colors, by pressing them upon an engraved surface coated with coloring matter. {Block system} on railways, a system by which the track is divided into sections of three or four miles, and trains are so run by the guidance of electric signals that no train enters a section or block before the preceding train has left it.

Bone \Bone\, n. [OE. bon, ban, AS. b[=a]n; akin to Icel. bein, Sw. ben, Dan. & D. been, G. bein bone, leg; cf. Icel. beinn straight.] 1. (Anat.) The hard, calcified tissue of the skeleton of vertebrate animals, consisting very largely of calcic carbonate, calcic phosphate, and gelatine; as, blood and bone. Note: Even in the hardest parts of bone there are many minute cavities containing living matter and connected by minute canals, some of which connect with larger canals through which blood vessels ramify. 2. One of the pieces or parts of an animal skeleton; as, a rib or a thigh bone; a bone of the arm or leg; also, any fragment of bony substance. (pl.) The frame or skeleton of the body. 3. Anything made of bone, as a bobbin for weaving bone lace. 4. pl. Two or four pieces of bone held between the fingers and struck together to make a kind of music. 5. pl. Dice. 6. Whalebone; hence, a piece of whalebone or of steel for a corset. 7. Fig.: The framework of anything. {A bone of contention}, a subject of contention or dispute. {A bone to pick}, something to investigate, or to busy one's self about; a dispute to be settled (with some one). {Bone ash}, the residue from calcined bones; -- used for making cupels, and for cleaning jewelry. {Bone black} (Chem.), the black, carbonaceous substance into which bones are converted by calcination in close vessels; -- called also {animal charcoal}. It is used as a decolorizing material in filtering sirups, extracts, etc., and as a black pigment. See {Ivory black}, under {Black}. {Bone cave}, a cave in which are found bones of extinct or recent animals, mingled sometimes with the works and bones of man. --Am. Cyc. {Bone dust}, ground or pulverized bones, used as a fertilizer.

Bone \Bone\, n. [OE. bon, ban, AS. b[=a]n; akin to Icel. bein, Sw. ben, Dan. & D. been, G. bein bone, leg; cf. Icel. beinn straight.] 1. (Anat.) The hard, calcified tissue of the skeleton of vertebrate animals, consisting very largely of calcic carbonate, calcic phosphate, and gelatine; as, blood and bone. Note: Even in the hardest parts of bone there are many minute cavities containing living matter and connected by minute canals, some of which connect with larger canals through which blood vessels ramify. 2. One of the pieces or parts of an animal skeleton; as, a rib or a thigh bone; a bone of the arm or leg; also, any fragment of bony substance. (pl.) The frame or skeleton of the body. 3. Anything made of bone, as a bobbin for weaving bone lace. 4. pl. Two or four pieces of bone held between the fingers and struck together to make a kind of music. 5. pl. Dice. 6. Whalebone; hence, a piece of whalebone or of steel for a corset. 7. Fig.: The framework of anything. {A bone of contention}, a subject of contention or dispute. {A bone to pick}, something to investigate, or to busy one's self about; a dispute to be settled (with some one). {Bone ash}, the residue from calcined bones; -- used for making cupels, and for cleaning jewelry. {Bone black} (Chem.), the black, carbonaceous substance into which bones are converted by calcination in close vessels; -- called also {animal charcoal}. It is used as a decolorizing material in filtering sirups, extracts, etc., and as a black pigment. See {Ivory black}, under {Black}. {Bone cave}, a cave in which are found bones of extinct or recent animals, mingled sometimes with the works and bones of man. --Am. Cyc. {Bone dust}, ground or pulverized bones, used as a fertilizer.

{Sand grouse} (Zo["o]l.), any one of many species of Old World birds belonging to the suborder Pterocletes, and resembling both grouse and pigeons. Called also {rock grouse}, {rock pigeon}, and {ganga}. They mostly belong to the genus {Pterocles}, as the common Indian species ({P. exustus}). The large sand grouse ({P. arenarius}), the painted sand grouse ({P. fasciatus}), and the pintail sand grouse ({P. alchata}) are also found in India. See Illust. under {Pterocletes}. {Sand hill}, a hill of sand; a dune. {Sand-hill crane} (Zo["o]l.), the American brown crane ({Grus Mexicana}). {Sand hopper} (Zo["o]l.), a beach flea; an orchestian. {Sand hornet} (Zo["o]l.), a sand wasp. {Sand lark}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A small lark ({Alaudala raytal}), native of India. (b) A small sandpiper, or plover, as the ringneck, the sanderling, and the common European sandpiper. (c) The Australian red-capped dotterel ({[AE]gialophilus ruficapillus}); -- called also {red-necked plover}. {Sand launce} (Zo["o]l.), a lant, or launce. {Sand lizard} (Zo["o]l.), a common European lizard ({Lacerta agilis}). {Sand martin} (Zo["o]l.), the bank swallow. {Sand mole} (Zo["o]l.), the coast rat. {Sand monitor} (Zo["o]l.), a large Egyptian lizard ({Monitor arenarius}) which inhabits dry localities. {Sand mouse} (Zo["o]l.), the dunlin. [Prov. Eng.] {Sand myrtle}. (Bot.) See under {Myrtle}. {Sand partridge} (Zo["o]l.), either of two small Asiatic partridges of the genus {Ammoperdix}. The wings are long and the tarsus is spurless. One species ({A. Heeji}) inhabits Palestine and Arabia. The other species ({A. Bonhami}), inhabiting Central Asia, is called also {seesee partridge}, and {teehoo}. {Sand picture}, a picture made by putting sand of different colors on an adhesive surface. {Sand pike}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The sauger. (b) The lizard fish. {Sand pillar}, a sand storm which takes the form of a whirling pillar in its progress in desert tracts like those of the Sahara and Mongolia. {Sand pipe} (Geol.), a tubular cavity, from a few inches to several feet in depth, occurring especially in calcareous rocks, and often filled with gravel, sand, etc.; -- called also {sand gall}. {Sand pride} (Zo["o]l.), a small British lamprey now considered to be the young of larger species; -- called also {sand prey}. {Sand pump}, in artesian well boring, a long, slender bucket with a valve at the bottom for raising sand from the well. {Sand rat} (Zo["o]l.), the pocket gopher. {Sand rock}, a rock made of cemented sand. {Sand runner} (Zo["o]l.), the turnstone. {Sand saucer} (Zo["o]l.), the mass of egg capsules, or o["o]thec[ae], of any mollusk of the genus {Natica} and allied genera. It has the shape of a bottomless saucer, and is coated with fine sand; -- called also {sand collar}. {Sand screw} (Zo["o]l.), an amphipod crustacean ({Lepidactylis arenarius}), which burrows in the sandy seabeaches of Europe and America. {Sand shark} (Zo["o]l.), an American shark ({Odontaspis littoralis}) found on the sandy coasts of the Eastern United States; -- called also {gray shark}, and {dogfish shark}. See Illust. under {Remora}. {Sand skink} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Old World lizards belonging to the genus {Seps}; as, the ocellated sand skink ({Seps ocellatus}) of Southern Europe. {Sand skipper} (Zo["o]l.), a beach flea, or orchestian. {Sand smelt} (Zo["o]l.), a silverside. {Sand snake}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any one of several species of harmless burrowing snakes of the genus {Eryx}, native of Southern Europe, Africa, and Asia, especially {E. jaculus} of India and {E. Johnii}, used by snake charmers. (b) Any innocuous South African snake of the genus {Psammophis}, especially {P. sibilans}. {Sand snipe} (Zo["o]l.), the sandpiper. {Sand star} (Zo["o]l.), an ophiurioid starfish living on sandy sea bottoms; a brittle star. {Sand storm}, a cloud of sand driven violently by the wind. {Sand sucker}, the sandnecker. {Sand swallow} (Zo["o]l.), the bank swallow. See under {Bank}. {Sand tube}, a tube made of sand. Especially: (a) A tube of vitrified sand, produced by a stroke of lightning; a fulgurite. (b) (Zo["o]l.) Any tube made of cemented sand. (c) (Zo["o]l.) In starfishes, a tube having calcareous particles in its wall, which connects the oral water tube with the madreporic plate. {Sand viper}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Hognose snake}. {Sand wasp} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of hymenopterous insects belonging to the families {Pompilid[ae]} and {Spherid[ae]}, which dig burrows in sand. The female provisions the nest with insects or spiders which she paralyzes by stinging, and which serve as food for her young.

Head \Head\, n. [OE. hed, heved, heaved, AS. he['a]fod; akin to D. hoofd, OHG. houbit, G. haupt, Icel. h["o]fu?, Sw. hufvud, Dan. hoved, Goth. haubip. The word does not corresponds regularly to L. caput head (cf. E. {Chief}, {Cadet}, {Capital}), and its origin is unknown.] 1. The anterior or superior part of an animal, containing the brain, or chief ganglia of the nervous system, the mouth, and in the higher animals, the chief sensory organs; poll; cephalon. 2. The uppermost, foremost, or most important part of an inanimate object; such a part as may be considered to resemble the head of an animal; often, also, the larger, thicker, or heavier part or extremity, in distinction from the smaller or thinner part, or from the point or edge; as, the head of a cane, a nail, a spear, an ax, a mast, a sail, a ship; that which covers and closes the top or the end of a hollow vessel; as, the head of a cask or a steam boiler. 3. The place where the head should go; as, the head of a bed, of a grave, etc.; the head of a carriage, that is, the hood which covers the head. 4. The most prominent or important member of any organized body; the chief; the leader; as, the head of a college, a school, a church, a state, and the like. ``Their princes and heads.'' --Robynson (More's Utopia). The heads of the chief sects of philosophy. --Tillotson. Your head I him appoint. --Milton. 5. The place or honor, or of command; the most important or foremost position; the front; as, the head of the table; the head of a column of soldiers. An army of fourscore thousand troops, with the duke Marlborough at the head of them. --Addison. 6. Each one among many; an individual; -- often used in a plural sense; as, a thousand head of cattle. It there be six millions of people, there are about four acres for every head. --Graunt. 7. The seat of the intellect; the brain; the understanding; the mental faculties; as, a good head, that is, a good mind; it never entered his head, it did not occur to him; of his own head, of his own thought or will. Men who had lost both head and heart. --Macaulay. 8. The source, fountain, spring, or beginning, as of a stream or river; as, the head of the Nile; hence, the altitude of the source, or the height of the surface, as of water, above a given place, as above an orifice at which it issues, and the pressure resulting from the height or from motion; sometimes also, the quantity in reserve; as, a mill or reservoir has a good head of water, or ten feet head; also, that part of a gulf or bay most remote from the outlet or the sea. 9. A headland; a promontory; as, Gay Head. --Shak. 10. A separate part, or topic, of a discourse; a theme to be expanded; a subdivision; as, the heads of a sermon. 11. Culminating point or crisis; hence, strength; force; height. Ere foul sin, gathering head, shall break into corruption. --Shak. The indisposition which has long hung upon me, is at last grown to such a head, that it must quickly make an end of me or of itself. --Addison. 12. Power; armed force. My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head. --Shak. 13. A headdress; a covering of the head; as, a laced head; a head of hair. --Swift. 14. An ear of wheat, barley, or of one of the other small cereals. 15. (Bot.) (a) A dense cluster of flowers, as in clover, daisies, thistles; a capitulum. (b) A dense, compact mass of leaves, as in a cabbage or a lettuce plant. 16. The antlers of a deer. 17. A rounded mass of foam which rises on a pot of beer or other effervescing liquor. --Mortimer. 18. pl. Tiles laid at the eaves of a house. --Knight. Note: Head is often used adjectively or in self-explaining combinations; as, head gear or headgear, head rest. Cf. {Head}, a. {A buck of the first head}, a male fallow deer in its fifth year, when it attains its complete set of antlers. --Shak. {By the head}. (Naut.) See under {By}. {Elevator head}, {Feed head}, etc. See under {Elevator}, {Feed}, etc. {From head to foot}, through the whole length of a man; completely; throughout. ``Arm me, audacity, from head to foot.'' --Shak. {Head and ears}, with the whole person; deeply; completely; as, he was head and ears in debt or in trouble. [Colloq.] {Head fast}. (Naut.) See 5th {Fast}. {Head kidney} (Anat.), the most anterior of the three pairs of embryonic renal organs developed in most vertebrates; the pronephros. {Head money}, a capitation tax; a poll tax. --Milton. {Head pence}, a poll tax. [Obs.] {Head sea}, a sea that meets the head of a vessel or rolls against her course. {Head and shoulders}. (a) By force; violently; as, to drag one, head and shoulders. ``They bring in every figure of speech, head and shoulders.'' --Felton. (b) By the height of the head and shoulders; hence, by a great degree or space; by far; much; as, he is head and shoulders above them. {Head or tail}, this side or that side; this thing or that; -- a phrase used in throwing a coin to decide a choice, guestion, or stake, head being the side of the coin bearing the effigy or principal figure (or, in case there is no head or face on either side, that side which has the date on it), and tail the other side. {Neither head nor tail}, neither beginning nor end; neither this thing nor that; nothing distinct or definite; -- a phrase used in speaking of what is indefinite or confused; as, they made neither head nor tail of the matter. [Colloq.] {Head wind}, a wind that blows in a direction opposite the vessel's course. {Out one's own head}, according to one's own idea; without advice or co["o]peration of another. {Over the head of}, beyond the comprehension of. --M. Arnold.

Butt \Butt\, But \But\, n. [F. but butt, aim (cf. butte knoll), or bout, OF. bot, end, extremity, fr. boter, buter, to push, butt, strike, F. bouter; of German origin; cf. OHG. b[=o]zan, akin to E. beat. See {Beat}, v. t.] 1. A limit; a bound; a goal; the extreme bound; the end. Here is my journey's end, here my butt And very sea mark of my utmost sail. --Shak. Note: As applied to land, the word is nearly synonymous with mete, and signifies properly the end line or boundary; the abuttal. 2. The thicker end of anything. See {But}. 3. A mark to be shot at; a target. --Sir W. Scott. The groom his fellow groom at butts defies, And bends his bow, and levels with his eyes. --Dryden. 4. A person at whom ridicule, jest, or contempt is directed; as, the butt of the company. I played a sentence or two at my butt, which I thought very smart. --Addison. 5. A push, thrust, or sudden blow, given by the head of an animal; as, the butt of a ram. 6. A thrust in fencing. To prove who gave the fairer butt, John shows the chalk on Robert's coat. --Prior. 7. A piece of land left unplowed at the end of a field. The hay was growing upon headlands and butts in cornfields. --Burrill. 8. (Mech.) (a) A joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together without scarfing or chamfering; -- also called {butt joint}. (b) The end of a connecting rod or other like piece, to which the boxing is attached by the strap, cotter, and gib. (c) The portion of a half-coupling fastened to the end of a hose. 9. (Shipbuilding) The joint where two planks in a strake meet. 10. (Carp.) A kind of hinge used in hanging doors, etc.; -- so named because fastened on the edge of the door, which butts against the casing, instead of on its face, like the strap hinge; also called {butt hinge}. 11. (Leather Trade) The thickest and stoutest part of tanned oxhides, used for soles of boots, harness, trunks. 12. The hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in rifle practice. {Butt chain} (Saddlery), a short chain attached to the end of a tug. {Butt end}. The thicker end of anything. See {But end}, under 2d {But}. Amen; and make me die a good old man! That's the butt end of a mother's blessing. --Shak. {A butt's length}, the ordinary distance from the place of shooting to the butt, or mark. {Butts and bounds} (Conveyancing), abuttals and boundaries. In lands of the ordinary rectangular shape, butts are the lines at the ends (F. bouts), and bounds are those on the sides, or sidings, as they were formerly termed. --Burrill. {Bead and butt}. See under {Bead}. {Butt and butt}, joining end to end without overlapping, as planks. {Butt weld} (Mech.), a butt joint, made by welding together the flat ends, or edges, of a piece of iron or steel, or of separate pieces, without having them overlap. See {Weld}. {Full butt}, headfirst with full force. [Colloq.] ``The corporal . . . ran full butt at the lieutenant.'' --Marryat.

Calamus \Cal"a*mus\, n.; pl. {Calami}. [L., a reed. See {Halm}.] 1. (Bot.) The indian cane, a plant of the Palm family. It furnishes the common rattan. See {Rattan}, and {Dragon's blood}. 2. (Bot.) A species of {Acorus} ({A. calamus}), commonly called {calamus}, or {sweet flag}. The root has a pungent, aromatic taste, and is used in medicine as a stomachic; the leaves have an aromatic odor, and were formerly used instead of rushes to strew on floors. 3. (Zo["o]l.) The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill.

Maple \Ma"ple\, n. [AS. mapolder, mapulder, mapol; akin to Icel. m["o]purr; cf. OHG. mazzaltra, mazzoltra, G. massholder.] (Bot.) A tree of the genus {Acer}, including about fifty species. {A. saccharinum} is the rock maple, or sugar maple, from the sap of which sugar is made, in the United States, in great quantities, by evaporation; the red or swamp maple is {A. rubrum}; the silver maple, {A. dasycarpum}, having fruit wooly when young; the striped maple, {A. Pennsylvanium}, called also {moosewood}. The common maple of Europe is {A. campestre}, the sycamore maple is {A. Pseudo-platanus}, and the Norway maple is {A. platanoides}. Note: Maple is much used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound; as, maple tree, maple leaf, etc. {Bird's-eye maple}, {Curled maple}, varieties of the wood of the rock maple, in which a beautiful lustrous grain is produced by the sinuous course of the fibers. {Maple honey}, {Maple molasses}, or {Maple sirup}, maple sap boiled to the consistency of molasses. {Maple sugar}, sugar obtained from the sap of the sugar maple by evaporation.

Shad \Shad\ (sh[a^]d), n. sing. & pl. [AS. sceadda a kind of fish, akin to Prov. G. schade; cf. Ir. & Gael. sgadan a herring, W. ysgadan herrings; all perhaps akin to E. skate a fish.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of food fishes of the Herring family. The American species ({Clupea sapidissima}), which is abundant on the Atlantic coast and ascends the larger rivers in spring to spawn, is an important market fish. The European allice shad, or alose ({C. alosa}), and the twaite shad. ({C. finta}), are less important species. [Written also {chad}.] Note: The name is loosely applied, also, to several other fishes, as the gizzard shad (see under {Gizzard}), called also {mud shad}, {white-eyed shad}, and {winter shad}. {Hardboaded}, or {Yellow-tailed}, {shad}, the menhaden. {Hickory}, or {Tailor}, {shad}, the mattowacca. {Long-boned shad}, one of several species of important food fishes of the Bermudas and the West Indies, of the genus {Gerres}. {Shad bush} (Bot.), a name given to the North American shrubs or small trees of the rosaceous genus {Amelanchier} ({A. Canadensis}, and {A. alnifolia}) Their white racemose blossoms open in April or May, when the shad appear, and the edible berries (pomes) ripen in June or July, whence they are called Juneberries. The plant is also called {service tree}, and {Juneberry}. {Shad frog}, an American spotted frog ({Rana halecina}); -- so called because it usually appears at the time when the shad begin to run in the rivers. {Trout shad}, the squeteague. {White shad}, the common shad.

Columbine \Col"um*bine\, n. [LL. columbina, L. columbinus dovelike, fr. columba dove: cf. F. colombine. Perh. so called from the beaklike spurs of its flowers.] 1. (Bot.) A plant of several species of the genus {Aquilegia}; as, {A. vulgaris}, or the common garden columbine; {A. Canadensis}, the wild red columbine of North America. 2. The mistress or sweetheart of Harlequin in pantomimes. --Brewer.

Egret \E"gret\, n. [See {Aigret}, {Heron}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) The name of several species of herons which bear plumes on the back. They are generally white. Among the best known species are the American egret ({Ardea, or Herodias, egretta}); the great egret ({A. alba}); the little egret ({A. garzetta}), of Europe; and the American snowy egret ({A. candidissima}). A bunch of egrets killed for their plumage. --G. W. Cable. 2. A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress, or anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette. 3. (Bot.) The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or achenes, as the down of the thistle. 4. (Zo["o]l.) A kind of ape.

Heron \Her"on\, n. [OE. heiroun, heroun, heron, hern, OF. hairon, F. h['e]ron, OHG. heigir; cf. Icel. hegri, Dan. heire, Sw. h["a]ger, and also G. h["a]her jay, jackdaw, OHG. hehara, higere, woodpecker, magpie, D. reiger heron, G. reiher, AS. hr[=a]gra. Cf. {Aigret}, {Egret}.] (Zo["o]l.) Any wading bird of the genus {Ardea} and allied genera, of the family {Ardeid[ae]}. The herons have a long, sharp bill, and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe toothed. The common European heron ({Ardea cinerea}) is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly hunted with the larger falcons. Note: There are several common American species; as, the great blue heron ({Ardea herodias}); the little blue ({A. c[oe]rulea}); the green ({A. virescens}); the snowy ({A. candidissima}); the night heron or qua-bird ({Nycticorax nycticorax}). The plumed herons are called {egrets}. {Heron's bill} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Erodium}; -- so called from the fancied resemblance of the fruit to the head and beak of the heron.

Lead \Lead\ (l[e^]d), n. [OE. led, leed, lead, AS. le['a]d; akin to D. lood, MHG. l[=o]t, G. loth plummet, sounding lead, small weight, Sw. & Dan. lod. [root]123] 1. (Chem.) One of the elements, a heavy, pliable, inelastic metal, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished. It is both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity, and is used for tubes, sheets, bullets, etc. Its specific gravity is 11.37. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic weight, 206.4. Symbol Pb (L. Plumbum). It is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena, lead sulphide. 2. An article made of lead or an alloy of lead; as: (a) A plummet or mass of lead, used in sounding at sea. (b) (Print.) A thin strip of type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing. (c) Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs; hence, pl., a roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates. I would have the tower two stories, and goodly leads upon the top. --Bacon 3. A small cylinder of black lead or plumbago, used in pencils. {Black lead}, graphite or plumbago; -- so called from its leadlike appearance and streak. [Colloq.] {Coasting lead}, a sounding lead intermediate in weight between a hand lead and deep-sea lead. {Deep-sea lead}, the heaviest of sounding leads, used in water exceeding a hundred fathoms in depth. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. {Hand lead}, a small lead use for sounding in shallow water. {Krems lead}, {Kremnitz lead} [so called from Krems or Kremnitz, in Austria], a pure variety of white lead, formed into tablets, and called also {Krems, or Kremnitz, white}, and {Vienna white}. {Lead arming}, tallow put in the hollow of a sounding lead. See {To arm the lead} (below). {Lead colic}. See under {Colic}. {Lead color}, a deep bluish gray color, like tarnished lead. {Lead glance}. (Min.) Same as {Galena}. {Lead line} (a) (Med.) A dark line along the gums produced by a deposit of metallic lead, due to lead poisoning. (b) (Naut.) A sounding line. {Lead mill}, a leaden polishing wheel, used by lapidaries. {Lead ocher} (Min.), a massive sulphur-yellow oxide of lead. Same as {Massicot}. {Lead pencil}, a pencil of which the marking material is graphite (black lead). {Lead plant} (Bot.), a low leguminous plant, genus {Amorpha} ({A. canescens}), found in the Northwestern United States, where its presence is supposed to indicate lead ore. --Gray. {Lead tree}. (a) (Bot.) A West Indian name for the tropical, leguminous tree, {Leuc[ae]na glauca}; -- probably so called from the glaucous color of the foliage. (b) (Chem.) Lead crystallized in arborescent forms from a solution of some lead salt, as by suspending a strip of zinc in lead acetate. {Mock lead}, a miner's term for blende. {Red lead}, a scarlet, crystalline, granular powder, consisting of minium when pure, but commonly containing several of the oxides of lead. It is used as a paint or cement and also as an ingredient of flint glass. {Red lead ore} (Min.), crocoite. {Sugar of lead}, acetate of lead. {To arm the lead}, to fill the hollow in the bottom of a sounding lead with tallow in order to discover the nature of the bottom by the substances adhering. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. {To} {cast, or heave}, {the lead}, to cast the sounding lead for ascertaining the depth of water. {White lead}, hydrated carbonate of lead, obtained as a white, amorphous powder, and much used as an ingredient of white paint.

Indian \In"di*an\ (?; 277), a. [From India, and this fr. Indus, the name of a river in Asia, L. Indus, Gr. ?, OPers. Hindu, name of the land on the Indus, Skr. sindhu river, the Indus. Cf. {Hindoo}.] 1. Of or pertaining to India proper; also to the East Indies, or, sometimes, to the West Indies. 2. Of or pertaining to the aborigines, or Indians, of America; as, Indian wars; the Indian tomahawk. 3. Made of maize or Indian corn; as, Indian corn, Indian meal, Indian bread, and the like. [U.S.] {Indian} bay (Bot.), a lauraceous tree ({Persea Indica}). {Indian bean} (Bot.), a name of the catalpa. {Indian berry}. (Bot.) Same as {Cocculus indicus}. {Indian bread}. (Bot.) Same as {Cassava}. {Indian club}, a wooden club, which is swung by the hand for gymnastic exercise. {Indian cordage}, cordage made of the fibers of cocoanut husk. {Indian corn} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Zea} ({Z. Mays}); the maize, a native of America. See {Corn}, and {Maize}. {Indian cress} (Bot.), nasturtium. See {Nasturtium}, 2. {Indian cucumber} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Medeola} ({M. Virginica}), a common in woods in the United States. The white rootstock has a taste like cucumbers. {Indian currant} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Symphoricarpus} ({S. vulgaris}), bearing small red berries. {Indian dye}, the puccoon. {Indian fig}. (Bot.) (a) The banyan. See {Banyan}. (b) The prickly pear. {Indian file}, single file; arrangement of persons in a row following one after another, the usual way among Indians of traversing woods, especially when on the war path. {Indian fire}, a pyrotechnic composition of sulphur, niter, and realgar, burning with a brilliant white light. {Indian grass} (Bot.), a coarse, high grass ({Chrysopogon nutans}), common in the southern portions of the United States; wood grass. --Gray. {Indian hemp}. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus {Apocynum} ({A. cannabinum}), having a milky juice, and a tough, fibrous bark, whence the name. The root it used in medicine and is both emetic and cathartic in properties. (b) The variety of common hemp ({Cannabis Indica}), from which hasheesh is obtained. {Indian mallow} (Bot.), the velvet leaf ({Abutilon Avicenn[ae]}). See {Abutilon}. {Indian meal}, ground corn or maize. [U.S.] {Indian millet} (Bot.), a tall annual grass ({Sorghum vulgare}), having many varieties, among which are broom corn, Guinea corn, durra, and the Chinese sugar cane. It is called also {Guinea corn}. See {Durra}. {Indian ox} (Zo["o]l.), the zebu. {Indian paint}. See {Bloodroot}. {Indian paper}. See {India paper}, under {India}. {Indian physic} (Bot.), a plant of two species of the genus {Gillenia} ({G. trifoliata}, and {G. stipulacea}), common in the United States, the roots of which are used in medicine as a mild emetic; -- called also {American ipecac}, and {bowman's root}. --Gray. {Indian pink}. (Bot.) (a) The Cypress vine ({Ipom[oe]a Quamoclit}); -- so called in the West Indies. (b) See {China pink}, under {China}. {Indian pipe} (Bot.), a low, fleshy herb ({Monotropa uniflora}), growing in clusters in dark woods, and having scalelike leaves, and a solitary nodding flower. The whole plant is waxy white, but turns black in drying. {Indian plantain} (Bot.), a name given to several species of the genus {Cacalia}, tall herbs with composite white flowers, common through the United States in rich woods. --Gray. {Indian poke} (Bot.), a plant usually known as the {white hellebore} ({Veratrum viride}). {Indian pudding}, a pudding of which the chief ingredients are Indian meal, milk, and molasses. {Indian purple}. (a) A dull purple color. (b) The pigment of the same name, intensely blue and black. {Indian red}. (a) A purplish red earth or pigment composed of a silicate of iron and alumina, with magnesia. It comes from the Persian Gulf. Called also {Persian red}. (b) See {Almagra}. {Indian rice} (Bot.), a reedlike water grass. See {Rice}. {Indian shot} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Canna} ({C. Indica}). The hard black seeds are as large as swan shot. See {Canna}. {Indian summer}, in the United States, a period of warm and pleasant weather occurring late in autumn. See under {Summer}. {Indian tobacco} (Bot.), a species of {Lobelia}. See {Lobelia}. {Indian turnip} (Bot.), an American plant of the genus {Aris[ae]ma}. {A. triphyllum} has a wrinkled farinaceous root resembling a small turnip, but with a very acrid juice. See {Jack in the Pulpit}, and {Wake-robin}. {Indian wheat}, maize or Indian corn. {Indian yellow}. (a) An intense rich yellow color, deeper than gamboge but less pure than cadmium. (b) See {Euxanthin}.

Capful \Cap"ful\, n.; pl. {Capfuls}. As much as will fill a cap. {A capful of wind} (Naut.), a light puff of wind.

A cappella \A cap*pel"la\ [It. See {Chapel}.] (Mus.) (a) In church or chapel style; -- said of compositions sung in the old church style, without instrumental accompaniment; as, a mass a capella, i. e., a mass purely vocal. (b) A time indication, equivalent to alla breve.

Teal \Teal\, n. [OE. tele; akin to D. teling a generation, production, teal, telen to breed, produce, and E. till to cultivate. The English word probably once meant, a brood or flock. See {Till} to cultivate.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of small fresh-water ducks of the genus {Anas} and the subgenera {Querquedula} and {Nettion}. The male is handsomely colored, and has a bright green or blue speculum on the wings. Note: The common European teal ({Anas crecca}) and the European blue-winged teal, or garganey ({A. querquedula} or {A. circia}), are well-known species. In America the blue-winged teal ({A. discors}), the green-winged teal ({A. Carolinensis}), and the cinnamon teal ({A. cynaoptera}) are common species, valued as game birds. See {Garganey}. {Goose teal}, a goslet. See {Goslet}. {Teal duck}, the common European teal.

Cast \Cast\, n. [Cf. Icel., Dan., & Sw. kast.] 1. The act of casting or throwing; a throw. 2. The thing thrown. A cast of dreadful dust. --Dryden. 3. The distance to which a thing is or can be thrown. ``About a stone's cast.'' --Luke xxii. 41. 4. A throw of dice; hence, a chance or venture. An even cast whether the army should march this way or that way. --Sowth. I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die. --Shak. 5. That which is throw out or off, shed, or ejected; as, the skin of an insect, the refuse from a hawk's stomach, the excrement of a earthworm. 6. The act of casting in a mold. And why such daily cast of brazen cannon. --Shak. 7. An impression or mold, taken from a thing or person; amold; a pattern. 8. That which is formed in a mild; esp. a reproduction or copy, as of a work of art, in bronze or plaster, etc.; a casting. 9. Form; appearence; mien; air; style; as, a peculiar cast of countenance. ``A neat cast of verse.'' --Pope. An heroic poem, but in another cast and figure. --Prior. And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought. --Shak. 10. A tendency to any color; a tinge; a shade. Gray with a cast of green. --Woodward. 11. A chance, opportunity, privilege, or advantage; specifically, an opportunity of riding; a lift. [Scotch] We bargained with the driver to give us a cast to the next stage. --Smollett. If we had the cast o' a cart to bring it. --Sir W. Scott. 12. The assignment of parts in a play to the actors. 13. (Falconary) A flight or a couple or set of hawks let go at one time from the hand. --Grabb. As when a cast of falcons make their flight. --Spenser. 14. A stoke, touch, or trick. [Obs.] This was a cast of Wood's politics; for his information was wholly false. --Swift. 15. A motion or turn, as of the eye; direction; look; glance; squint. The cast of the eye is a gesture of aversion. --Bacon. And let you see with one cast of an eye. --Addison. This freakish, elvish cast came into the child's eye. --Hawthorne. 16. A tube or funnel for conveying metal into a mold. 17. Four; that is, as many as are thrown into a vessel at once in counting herrings, etc; a warp. 18. Contrivance; plot, design. [Obs.] --Chaucer. {A cast of the eye}, a slight squint or strabismus. {Renal cast} (Med.), microscopic bodies found in the urine of persons affected with disease of the kidneys; -- so called because they are formed of matter deposited in, and preserving the outline of, the renal tubes. {The last cast}, the last throw of the dice or last effort, on which every thing is ventured; the last chance.

Onion \On"ion\, n. [F. ognon, fr. L. unio oneness, unity, a single large pearl, an onion. See {One}, {Union}.] (Bot.) A liliaceous plant of the genus {Allium} ({A. cepa}), having a strong-flavored bulb and long hollow leaves; also, its bulbous root, much used as an article of food. The name is often extended to other species of the genus. {Onion fish} (Zo["o]l.), the grenadier. {Onion fly} (Zo["o]l.) a dipterous insect whose larva feeds upon the onion; especially, {Anthomyia ceparum} and {Ortalis flexa}. {Welsh onion}. (Bot.) See {Cibol}. {Wild onion} (Bot.), a name given to several species of the genus {Allium}.

{Ground furze} (Bot.), a low slightly thorny, leguminous shrub ({Ononis arvensis}) of Europe and Central Asia,; -- called also {rest-harrow}. {Ground game}, hares, rabbits, etc., as distinguished from winged game. {Ground hele} (Bot.), a perennial herb ({Veronica officinalis}) with small blue flowers, common in Europe and America, formerly thought to have curative properties. {Ground of the heavens} (Astron.), the surface of any part of the celestial sphere upon which the stars may be regarded as projected. {Ground hemlock} (Bot.), the yew ({Taxus baccata} var. Canadensisi) of eastern North America, distinguished from that of Europe by its low, straggling stems. {Ground hog}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The woodchuck or American marmot ({Arctomys monax}). See {Woodchuck}. (b) The aardvark. {Ground hold} (Naut.), ground tackle. [Obs.] --Spenser. {Ground ice}, ice formed at the bottom of a body of water before it forms on the surface. {Ground ivy}. (Bot.) A trailing plant; alehoof. See {Gill}. {Ground joist}, a joist for a basement or ground floor; a. sleeper. {Ground lark} (Zo["o]l.), the European pipit. See {Pipit}. {Ground laurel} (Bot.). See {Trailing arbutus}, under {Arbutus}. {Ground line} (Descriptive Geom.), the line of intersection of the horizontal and vertical planes of projection. {Ground liverwort} (Bot.), a flowerless plant with a broad flat forking thallus and the fruit raised on peduncled and radiated receptacles ({Marchantia polymorpha}). {Ground mail}, in Scotland, the fee paid for interment in a churchyard. {Ground mass} (Geol.), the fine-grained or glassy base of a rock, in which distinct crystals of its constituents are embedded. {Ground parrakeet} (Zo["o]l.), one of several Australian parrakeets, of the genera {Callipsittacus} and {Geopsittacus}, which live mainly upon the ground. {Ground pearl} (Zo["o]l.), an insect of the family {Coccid[ae]} ({Margarodes formicarum}), found in ants' nests in the Bahamas, and having a shelly covering. They are strung like beads, and made into necklaces by the natives. {Ground pig} (Zo["o]l.), a large, burrowing, African rodent ({Aulacodus Swinderianus}) about two feet long, allied to the porcupines but with harsh, bristly hair, and no spines; -- called also {ground rat}. {Ground pigeon} (Zo["o]l.), one of numerous species of pigeons which live largely upon the ground, as the tooth-billed pigeon ({Didunculus strigirostris}), of the Samoan Islands, and the crowned pigeon, or goura. See {Goura}, and {Ground dove} (above). {Ground pine}. (Bot.) (a) A blue-flowered herb of the genus {Ajuga} ({A. Cham[ae]pitys}), formerly included in the genus {Teucrium} or germander, and named from its resinous smell. --Sir J. Hill. (b) A long, creeping, evergreen plant of the genus {Lycopodium} ({L. clavatum}); -- called also {club moss}. (c) A tree-shaped evergreen plant about eight inches in height, of the same genus ({L. dendroideum}) found in moist, dark woods in the northern part of the United States. --Gray. {Ground plan} (Arch.), a plan of the ground floor of any building, or of any floor, as distinguished from an elevation or perpendicular section. {Ground plane}, the horizontal plane of projection in perspective drawing. {Ground plate}. (a) (Arch.) One of the chief pieces of framing of a building; a timber laid horizontally on or near the ground to support the uprights; a ground sill or groundsel. (b) (Railroads) A bed plate for sleepers or ties; a mudsill. (c) (Teleg.) A metallic plate buried in the earth to conduct the electric current thereto. Connection to the pipes of a gas or water main is usual in cities. --Knight. {Ground plot}, the ground upon which any structure is erected; hence, any basis or foundation; also, a ground plan. {Ground plum} (Bot.), a leguminous plant ({Astragalus caryocarpus}) occurring from the Saskatchewan to Texas, and having a succulent plum-shaped pod. {Ground rat}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Ground pig} (above). {Ground rent}, rent paid for the privilege of building on another man's land. {Ground robin}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Chewink}. {Ground room}, a room on the ground floor; a lower room. --Tatler. {Ground sea}, the West Indian name for a swell of the ocean, which occurs in calm weather and without obvious cause, breaking on the shore in heavy roaring billows; -- called also {rollers}, and in Jamaica, {the North sea}. {Ground sill}. See {Ground plate} (a) (above). {Ground snake} (Zo["o]l.), a small burrowing American snake ({Celuta am[oe]na}). It is salmon colored, and has a blunt tail. {Ground squirrel}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) One of numerous species of burrowing rodents of the genera {Tamias} and {Spermophilus}, having cheek pouches. The former genus includes the Eastern striped squirrel or chipmunk and some allied Western species; the latter includes the prairie squirrel or striped gopher, the gray gopher, and many allied Western species. See {Chipmunk}, and {Gopher}. (b) Any species of the African genus {Xerus}, allied to {Tamias}. {Ground story}. Same as {Ground floor} (above). {Ground substance} (Anat.), the intercellular substance, or matrix, of tissues. {Ground swell}. (a) (Bot.) The plant groundsel. [Obs.] --Holland. (b) A broad, deep swell or undulation of the ocean, caused by a long continued gale, and felt even at a remote distance after the gale has ceased. {Ground table}. (Arch.) See Earth table, under Earth. {Ground tackle} (Naut.), the tackle necessary to secure a vessel at anchor. --Totten. {Ground thrush} (Zo["o]l.), one of numerous species of bright-colored Oriental birds of the family {Pittid[ae]}. See {Pitta}. {Ground tier}. (a) The lowest tier of water casks in a vessel's hold. --Totten. (b) The lowest line of articles of any kind stowed in a vessel's hold. (c) The lowest range of boxes in a theater. {Ground timbers} (Shipbuilding) the timbers which lie on the keel and are bolted to the keelson; floor timbers. --Knight. {Ground tit}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Ground wren} (below). {Ground wheel}, that wheel of a harvester, mowing machine, etc., which, rolling on the ground, drives the mechanism. {Ground wren} (Zo["o]l.), a small California bird ({Cham[ae]a fasciata}) allied to the wrens and titmice. It inhabits the arid plains. Called also {ground tit}, and {wren tit}. {To bite the ground}, {To break ground}. See under {Bite}, {Break}. {To come to the ground}, {To fall to the ground}, to come to nothing; to fail; to miscarry. {To gain ground}. (a) To advance; to proceed forward in conflict; as, an army in battle gains ground. (b) To obtain an advantage; to have some success; as, the army gains ground on the enemy. (c) To gain credit; to become more prosperous or influential. {To get, or To gather}, {ground}, to gain ground. [R.] ``Evening mist . . . gathers ground fast.'' --Milton. There is no way for duty to prevail, and get ground of them, but by bidding higher. --South. {To give ground}, to recede; to yield advantage. These nine . . . began to give me ground. --Shak. {To lose ground}, to retire; to retreat; to withdraw from the position taken; hence, to lose advantage; to lose credit or reputation; to decline. {To stand one's ground}, to stand firm; to resist attack or encroachment. --Atterbury. {To take the ground} to touch bottom or become stranded; -- said of a ship.

Fasten \Fas"ten\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fastened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fastening}.] [AS. f[ae]stnian; akin to OHG. festin[=o]n. See {Fast}, a.] 1. To fix firmly; to make fast; to secure, as by a knot, lock, bolt, etc.; as, to fasten a chain to the feet; to fasten a door or window. 2. To cause to hold together or to something else; to attach or unite firmly; to cause to cleave to something, or to cleave together, by any means; as, to fasten boards together with nails or cords; to fasten anything in our thoughts. The words Whig and Tory have been pressed to the service of many successions of parties, with very different ideas fastened to them. --Swift. 3. To cause to take close effect; to make to tell; to lay on; as, to fasten a blow. [Obs.] --Dryden. If I can fasten but one cup upon him. --Shak. {To fasten} {a charge, or a crime}, {upon}, to make his guilt certain, or so probable as to be generally believed. {To fasten one's eyes upon}, to look upon steadily without cessation. --Acts iii. 4. Syn: To fix; cement; stick; link; affix; annex.

A cheval \A` che*val"\ [F., lit., on horseback.] Astride; with a part on each side; -- used specif. in designating the position of an army with the wings separated by some line of demarcation, as a river or road. A position [`a] cheval on a river is not one which a general willingly assumes. --Swinton.

Chip \Chip\, n. 1. A piece of wood, stone, or other substance, separated by an ax, chisel, or cutting instrument. 2. A fragment or piece broken off; a small piece. 3. Wood or Cuban palm leaf split into slips, or straw plaited in a special manner, for making hats or bonnets. 4. Anything dried up, withered, or without flavor; -- used contemptuously. 5. One of the counters used in poker and other games. 6. (Naut.) The triangular piece of wood attached to the log line. {Buffalo chips}. See under {Buffalo}. {Chip ax}, a small ax for chipping timber into shape. {Chip bonnet}, {Chip hat}, a bonnet or a hat made of Chip. See {Chip}, n., 3. {A chip off the old block}, a child who resembles either of his parents. [Colloq.] --Milton. {Potato chips}, {Saratoga chips}, thin slices of raw potato fried crisp.

Teal \Teal\, n. [OE. tele; akin to D. teling a generation, production, teal, telen to breed, produce, and E. till to cultivate. The English word probably once meant, a brood or flock. See {Till} to cultivate.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of small fresh-water ducks of the genus {Anas} and the subgenera {Querquedula} and {Nettion}. The male is handsomely colored, and has a bright green or blue speculum on the wings. Note: The common European teal ({Anas crecca}) and the European blue-winged teal, or garganey ({A. querquedula} or {A. circia}), are well-known species. In America the blue-winged teal ({A. discors}), the green-winged teal ({A. Carolinensis}), and the cinnamon teal ({A. cynaoptera}) are common species, valued as game birds. See {Garganey}. {Goose teal}, a goslet. See {Goslet}. {Teal duck}, the common European teal.

Clean \Clean\, a. [Compar. {Cleaner}; superl. {Cleanest}.] [OE. clene, AS. cl?ne; akin to OHG. chleini pure, neat, graceful, small, G. klein small, and perh. to W. glan clean, pure, bright; all perh. from a primitive, meaning bright, shining. Cf. {Glair}.] 1. Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes. 2. Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber. 3. Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, aclean trick; a clean leap over a fence. 4. Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style. 5. Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire. When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of corners of thy field. --Lev. xxiii. 22. 6. Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure. Create in me a clean heart, O God. --Ps. li. 10 That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven --Tennyson. 7. (Script.) Free from ceremonial defilement. 8. Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy. ``Lothair is clean.'' --F. Harrison. 9. Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs. {A clean bill of health}, a certificate from the proper authority that a ship is free from infection. {Clean breach}. See under {Breach}, n., 4. {To make a clean breast}. See under {Breast}.

Breach \Breach\, n. [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. br[ae]k, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See {Break}, and cf. {Brake} (the instrument), {Brack} a break] . 1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense. 2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of contract; a breach of promise. 3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. --Shak. 4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves; surge; surf. The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. --2 Sam. v. 20? {A clear breach} implies that the waves roll over the vessel without breaking. {A clean breach} implies that everything on deck is swept away. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. 5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture. There's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach. --Shak. 6. A bruise; a wound. Breach for breach, eye for eye. --Lev. xxiv. 20? 7. (Med.) A hernia; a rupture. 8. A breaking out upon; an assault. The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. --1. Chron. xiii. 11? {Breach of falth}, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or trust. {Breach of peace}, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public peace. {Breach of privilege}, an act or default in violation of the privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false swearing before a committee. --Mozley. Abbott. {Breach of promise}, violation of one's plighted word, esp. of a promise to marry. {Breach of trust}, violation of one's duty or faith in a matter entrusted to one. Syn: Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding.

Breach \Breach\, n. [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. br[ae]k, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See {Break}, and cf. {Brake} (the instrument), {Brack} a break] . 1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense. 2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of contract; a breach of promise. 3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. --Shak. 4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves; surge; surf. The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. --2 Sam. v. 20? {A clear breach} implies that the waves roll over the vessel without breaking. {A clean breach} implies that everything on deck is swept away. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. 5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture. There's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach. --Shak. 6. A bruise; a wound. Breach for breach, eye for eye. --Lev. xxiv. 20? 7. (Med.) A hernia; a rupture. 8. A breaking out upon; an assault. The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. --1. Chron. xiii. 11? {Breach of falth}, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or trust. {Breach of peace}, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public peace. {Breach of privilege}, an act or default in violation of the privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false swearing before a committee. --Mozley. Abbott. {Breach of promise}, violation of one's plighted word, esp. of a promise to marry. {Breach of trust}, violation of one's duty or faith in a matter entrusted to one. Syn: Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding.

Clerical \Cler"ic*al\, a. [LL. clericalis. See {Clerk}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the clergy; suitable for the clergy. ``A clerical education.'' --Burke. 2. Of or relating to a clerk or copyist, or to writing. ``Clerical work.'' --E. Everett. {A clerical error}, an error made in copying or writing.

Close \Close\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Closed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Closing}.] [From OF. & F. clos, p. p. of clore to close, fr. L. claudere; akin to G. schliessen to shut, and to E. clot, cloister, clavicle, conclude, sluice. Cf. {Clause}, n.] 1. To stop, or fill up, as an opening; to shut; as, to close the eyes; to close a door. 2. To bring together the parts of; to consolidate; as, to close the ranks of an army; -- often used with up. 3. To bring to an end or period; to conclude; to complete; to finish; to end; to consummate; as, to close a bargain; to close a course of instruction. One frugal supper did our studies close. --Dryden. 4. To come or gather around; to inclose; to encompass; to confine. The depth closed me round about. --Jonah ii. 5. But now thou dost thyself immure and close In some one corner of a feeble heart. --Herbert. {A closed sea}, a sea within the jurisdiction of some particular nation, which controls its navigation.

Heron \Her"on\, n. [OE. heiroun, heroun, heron, hern, OF. hairon, F. h['e]ron, OHG. heigir; cf. Icel. hegri, Dan. heire, Sw. h["a]ger, and also G. h["a]her jay, jackdaw, OHG. hehara, higere, woodpecker, magpie, D. reiger heron, G. reiher, AS. hr[=a]gra. Cf. {Aigret}, {Egret}.] (Zo["o]l.) Any wading bird of the genus {Ardea} and allied genera, of the family {Ardeid[ae]}. The herons have a long, sharp bill, and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe toothed. The common European heron ({Ardea cinerea}) is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly hunted with the larger falcons. Note: There are several common American species; as, the great blue heron ({Ardea herodias}); the little blue ({A. c[oe]rulea}); the green ({A. virescens}); the snowy ({A. candidissima}); the night heron or qua-bird ({Nycticorax nycticorax}). The plumed herons are called {egrets}. {Heron's bill} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Erodium}; -- so called from the fancied resemblance of the fruit to the head and beak of the heron.

2. (Zo["o]l.) A scaup duck. See below. {Scaup duck} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of northern ducks of the genus {Aythya}, or {Fuligula}. The adult males are, in large part, black. The three North American species are: the greater scaup duck ({Aythya marila}, var. nearctica), called also {broadbill}, {bluebill}, {blackhead}, {flock duck}, {flocking fowl}, and {raft duck}; the lesser scaup duck ({A. affinis}), called also {little bluebill}, {river broadbill}, and {shuffler}; the tufted, or ring-necked, scaup duck ({A. collaris}), called also {black jack}, {ringneck}, {ringbill}, {ringbill shuffler}, etc. See Illust.. of {Ring-necked duck}, under {Ring-necked}. The common European scaup, or mussel, duck ({A. marila}), closely resembles the American variety.

Multiple \Mul"ti*ple\, n. (Math.) A quantity containing another quantity a number of times without a remainder. Note: {A common multiple} of two or more numbers contains each of them a number of times exactly; thus, 24 is a common multiple of 3 and 4. The {least common multiple} is the least number that will do this; thus, 12 is the least common multiple of 3 and 4.

Cascade system \Cascade system\ (Elec.) A system or method of connecting and operating two induction motors so that the primary circuit of one is connected to the secondary circuit of the other, the primary circuit of the latter being connected to the source of supply; also, a system of electric traction in which motors so connected are employed. The cascade system is also called {tandem, or concatenated}, {system}; the connection a {cascade, tandem, or concatenated}, {connection}, or {a concatenation}; and the control of the motors so obtained a {tandem, or concatenation}, {control}. Note: In the cascade system of traction the cascade connection is used for starting and for low speeds up to half speed. For full speed the short-circuited motor is cut loose from the other motor and is either left idle or (commonly) connected direct to the line.

{White elm} (Bot.), a majestic tree of North America ({Ulmus Americana}), the timber of which is much used for hubs of wheels, and for other purposes. {White ensign}. See {Saint George's ensign}, under {Saint}. {White feather}, a mark or symbol of cowardice. See {To show the white feather}, under {Feather}, n. {White fir} (Bot.), a name given to several coniferous trees of the Pacific States, as {Abies grandis}, and {A. concolor}. {White flesher} (Zo["o]l.), the ruffed grouse. See under {Ruffed}. [Canada] {White frost}. See {Hoarfrost}. {White game} (Zo["o]l.), the white ptarmigan. {White garnet} (Min.), leucite. {White grass} (Bot.), an American grass ({Leersia Virginica}) with greenish-white pale[ae]. {White grouse}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The white ptarmigan. (b) The prairie chicken. [Local, U. S.] {White grub} (Zo["o]l.), the larva of the June bug and other allied species. These grubs eat the roots of grasses and other plants, and often do much damage. {White hake} (Zo["o]l.), the squirrel hake. See under {Squirrel}. {White hawk}, or {kite} (Zo["o]l.), the hen harrier. {White heat}, the temperature at which bodies become incandescent, and appear white from the bright light which they emit. {White hellebore} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Veratrum} ({V. album}) See {Hellebore}, 2. {White herring}, a fresh, or unsmoked, herring, as distinguished from a red, or cured, herring. [R.] --Shak. {White hoolet} (Zo["o]l.), the barn owl. [Prov. Eng.] {White horses} (Naut.), white-topped waves; whitecaps. {The White House}. See under {House}. {White ibis} (Zo["o]l.), an American ibis ({Guara alba}) having the plumage pure white, except the tips of the wings, which are black. It inhabits tropical America and the Southern United States. Called also {Spanish curlew}. {White iron}. (a) Thin sheets of iron coated with tin; tinned iron. (b) A hard, silvery-white cast iron containing a large proportion of combined carbon. {White iron pyrites} (Min.), marcasite. {White land}, a tough clayey soil, of a whitish hue when dry, but blackish after rain. [Eng.] {White lark} (Zo["o]l.), the snow bunting. {White lead}. (a) A carbonate of lead much used in painting, and for other purposes; ceruse. (b) (Min.) Native lead carbonate; cerusite. {White leather}, buff leather; leather tanned with alum and salt. {White leg} (Med.), milk leg. See under {Milk}. {White lettuce} (Bot.), rattlesnake root. See under {Rattlesnake}. {White lie}. See under {Lie}. {White light}. (a) (Physics) Light having the different colors in the same proportion as in the light coming directly from the sun, without having been decomposed, as by passing through a prism. See the Note under {Color}, n., 1. (b) A kind of firework which gives a brilliant white illumination for signals, etc. {White lime}, a solution or preparation of lime for whitewashing; whitewash. {White line} (Print.), a void space of the breadth of a line, on a printed page; a blank line. {White meat}. (a) Any light-colored flesh, especially of poultry. (b) Food made from milk or eggs, as butter, cheese, etc. Driving their cattle continually with them, and feeding only upon their milk and white meats. --Spenser. {White merganser} (Zo["o]l.), the smew. {White metal}. (a) Any one of several white alloys, as pewter, britannia, etc. (b) (Metal.) A fine grade of copper sulphide obtained at a certain stage in copper smelting. {White miller}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The common clothes moth. (b) A common American bombycid moth ({Spilosoma Virginica}) which is pure white with a few small black spots; -- called also {ermine moth}, and {virgin moth}. See {Woolly bear}, under {Woolly}. {White money}, silver money. {White mouse} (Zo["o]l.), the albino variety of the common mouse. {White mullet} (Zo["o]l.), a silvery mullet ({Mugil curema}) ranging from the coast of the United States to Brazil; -- called also {blue-back mullet}, and {liza}. {White nun} (Zo["o]l.), the smew; -- so called from the white crest and the band of black feathers on the back of its head, which give the appearance of a hood. {White oak}. (Bot.) See under {Oak}. {White owl}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The snowy owl. (b) The barn owl. {White partridge} (Zo["o]l.), the white ptarmigan. {White perch}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A North American fresh-water bass ({Morone Americana}) valued as a food fish. (b) The croaker, or fresh-water drum. (c) Any California surf fish. {White pine}. (Bot.) See the Note under {Pine}. {White poplar} (Bot.), a European tree ({Populus alba}) often cultivated as a shade tree in America; abele. {White poppy} (Bot.), the opium-yielding poppy. See {Poppy}. {White powder}, a kind of gunpowder formerly believed to exist, and to have the power of exploding without noise. [Obs.] A pistol charged with white powder. --Beau. & Fl. {White precipitate}. (Old Chem.) See under {Precipitate}. {White rabbit}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The American northern hare in its winter pelage. (b) An albino rabbit. {White rent}, (a) (Eng. Law) Formerly, rent payable in silver; -- opposed to black rent. See {Blackmail}, n., 3. (b) A rent, or duty, of eight pence, payable yearly by every tinner in Devon and Cornwall to the Duke of Cornwall, as lord of the soil. [Prov. Eng.] {White rhinoceros}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The one-horned, or Indian, rhinoceros ({Rhinoceros Indicus}). See {Rhinoceros}. (b) The umhofo. {White ribbon}, the distinctive badge of certain organizations for the promotion of temperance or of moral purity; as, the White-ribbon Army. {White rope} (Naut.), untarred hemp rope. {White rot}. (Bot.) (a) Either of several plants, as marsh pennywort and butterwort, which were thought to produce the disease called rot in sheep. (b) A disease of grapes. See {White rot}, under {Rot}. {White sage} (Bot.), a white, woolly undershrub ({Eurotia lanata}) of Western North America; -- called also {winter fat}. {White salmon} (Zo["o]l.), the silver salmon. {White salt}, salt dried and calcined; decrepitated salt. {White scale} (Zo["o]l.), a scale insect ({Aspidiotus Nerii}) injurious to the orange tree. See {Orange scale}, under {Orange}. {White shark} (Zo["o]l.), a species of man-eating shark. See under {Shark}. {White softening}. (Med.) See {Softening of the brain}, under {Softening}. {White spruce}. (Bot.) See {Spruce}, n., 1. {White squall} (Naut.), a sudden gust of wind, or furious blow, which comes up without being marked in its approach otherwise than by whitecaps, or white, broken water, on the surface of the sea. {White staff}, the badge of the lord high treasurer of England. --Macaulay. {White stork} (Zo["o]l.), the common European stork. {White sturgeon}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Shovelnose} (d) . {White sucker}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The common sucker. (b) The common red horse ({Moxostoma macrolepidotum}). {White swelling} (Med.), a chronic swelling of the knee, produced by a strumous inflammation of the synovial membranes of the kneejoint and of the cancellar texture of the end of the bone forming the kneejoint; -- applied also to a lingering chronic swelling of almost any kind. {White tombac}. See {Tombac}. {White trout} (Zo["o]l.), the white weakfish, or silver squeteague ({Cynoscion nothus}), of the Southern United States. {White vitriol} (Chem.), hydrous sulphate of zinc. See {White vitriol}, under {Vitriol}. {White wagtail} (Zo["o]l.), the common, or pied, wagtail. {White wax}, beeswax rendered white by bleaching. {White whale} (Zo["o]l.), the beluga. {White widgeon} (Zo["o]l.), the smew. {White wine}. any wine of a clear, transparent color, bordering on white, as Madeira, sherry, Lisbon, etc.; -- distinguished from wines of a deep red color, as port and Burgundy. ``White wine of Lepe.'' --Chaucer. {White witch}, a witch or wizard whose supernatural powers are supposed to be exercised for good and beneficent purposes. --Addison. --Cotton Mather. {White wolf}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A light-colored wolf ({Canis laniger}) native of Thibet; -- called also {chanco}, {golden wolf}, and {Thibetan wolf}. (b) The albino variety of the gray wolf. {White wren} (Zo["o]l.), the willow warbler; -- so called from the color of the under parts.

Countersink \Coun"ter*sink`\, n. 1. An enlargement of the upper part of a hole, forming a cavity or depression for receiving the head of a screw or bolt. Note: In the United States a flaring cavity formed by chamfering the edges of a round hole is called a countersink, while a cylindrical flat-bottomed enlargement of the mouth of the hole is usually called {a conterbore}. 2. A drill or cutting tool for countersinking holes.

Dry \Dry\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dried}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Drying}.] [AS. drygan; cf. drugian to grow dry. See {Dry}, a.] To make dry; to free from water, or from moisture of any kind, and by any means; to exsiccate; as, to dry the eyes; to dry one's tears; the wind dries the earth; to dry a wet cloth; to dry hay. {To dry up}. (a) To scorch or parch with thirst; to deprive utterly of water; to consume. Their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. -- Is. v. 13. The water of the sea, which formerly covered it, was in time exhaled and dried up by the sun. --Woodward. (b) To make to cease, as a stream of talk. Their sources of revenue were dried up. -- Jowett (Thucyd. ) {To dry, or dry up}, {a cow}, to cause a cow to cease secreting milk. --Tylor.

Cut \Cut\, n. 1. An opening made with an edged instrument; a cleft; a gash; a slash; a wound made by cutting; as, a sword cut. 2. A stroke or blow or cutting motion with an edged instrument; a stroke or blow with a whip. 3. That which wounds the feelings, as a harsh remark or criticism, or a sarcasm; personal discourtesy, as neglecting to recognize an acquaintance when meeting him; a slight. Rip called him by name, but the cur snarled, snapped his teeth, and passed on. This was an unkind cut indeed. --W. Irving. 4. A notch, passage, or channel made by cutting or digging; a furrow; a groove; as, a cut for a railroad. This great cut or ditch Secostris . . . purposed to have made a great deal wider and deeper. --Knolles. 5. The surface left by a cut; as, a smooth or clear cut. 6. A portion severed or cut off; a division; as, a cut of beef; a cut of timber. It should be understood, moreover, . . . that the group are not arbitrary cuts, but natural groups or types. --Dana. 7. An engraved block or plate; the impression from such an engraving; as, a book illustrated with fine cuts. 8. (a) The act of dividing a pack cards. (b) The right to divide; as, whose cut is it? 9. Manner in which a thing is cut or formed; shape; style; fashion; as, the cut of a garment. With eyes severe and beard of formal cut. --Shak. 10. A common work horse; a gelding. [Obs.] He'll buy me a cut, forth for to ride. --Beau. & Fl. 11. The failure of a college officer or student to be present at any appointed exercise. [College Cant] 12. A skein of yarn. --Wright. {A cut in rates} (Railroad), a reduction in fare, freight charges, etc., below the established rates. {A short cut}, a cross route which shortens the way and cuts off a circuitous passage. {The cut of one's jib}, the general appearance of a person. [Colloq.] {To draw cuts}, to draw lots, as of paper, etc., cut unequal lengths. Now draweth cut . . . The which that hath the shortest shall begin. --Chaucer.

Teal \Teal\, n. [OE. tele; akin to D. teling a generation, production, teal, telen to breed, produce, and E. till to cultivate. The English word probably once meant, a brood or flock. See {Till} to cultivate.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of small fresh-water ducks of the genus {Anas} and the subgenera {Querquedula} and {Nettion}. The male is handsomely colored, and has a bright green or blue speculum on the wings. Note: The common European teal ({Anas crecca}) and the European blue-winged teal, or garganey ({A. querquedula} or {A. circia}), are well-known species. In America the blue-winged teal ({A. discors}), the green-winged teal ({A. Carolinensis}), and the cinnamon teal ({A. cynaoptera}) are common species, valued as game birds. See {Garganey}. {Goose teal}, a goslet. See {Goslet}. {Teal duck}, the common European teal.

Dark \Dark\ (d[aum]rk), a. [OE. dark, derk, deork, AS. dearc, deorc; cf. Gael. & Ir. dorch, dorcha, dark, black, dusky.] 1. Destitute, or partially destitute, of light; not receiving, reflecting, or radiating light; wholly or partially black, or of some deep shade of color; not light-colored; as, a dark room; a dark day; dark cloth; dark paint; a dark complexion. O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon, Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse Without all hope of day! --Milton. In the dark and silent grave. --Sir W. Raleigh. 2. Not clear to the understanding; not easily seen through; obscure; mysterious; hidden. The dark problems of existence. --Shairp. What may seem dark at the first, will afterward be found more plain. --Hooker. What's your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word? --Shak. 3. Destitute of knowledge and culture; in moral or intellectual darkness; unrefined; ignorant. The age wherein he lived was dark, but he Could not want light who taught the world to see. --Denhan. The tenth century used to be reckoned by medi[ae]val historians as the darkest part of this intellectual night. --Hallam. 4. Evincing black or foul traits of character; vile; wicked; atrocious; as, a dark villain; a dark deed. Left him at large to his own dark designs. --Milton. 5. Foreboding evil; gloomy; jealous; suspicious. More dark and dark our woes. --Shak. A deep melancholy took possesion of him, and gave a dark tinge to all his views of human nature. --Macaulay. There is, in every true woman-s heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity. --W. Irving. 6. Deprived of sight; blind. [Obs.] He was, I think, at this time quite dark, and so had been for some years. --Evelyn. Note: Dark is sometimes used to qualify another adjective; as, dark blue, dark green, and sometimes it forms the first part of a compound; as, dark-haired, dark-eyed, dark-colored, dark-seated, dark-working. {A dark horse}, in racing or politics, a horse or a candidate whose chances of success are not known, and whose capabilities have not been made the subject of general comment or of wagers. [Colloq.] {Dark house}, {Dark room}, a house or room in which madmen were confined. [Obs.] --Shak. {Dark lantern}. See {Lantern}. -- The {Dark Ages}, a period of stagnation and obscurity in literature and art, lasting, according to Hallam, nearly 1000 years, from about 500 to about 1500 A. D.. See {Middle Ages}, under {Middle}. {The Dark and Bloody Ground}, a phrase applied to the State of Kentucky, and said to be the significance of its name, in allusion to the frequent wars that were waged there between Indians. {The dark day}, a day (May 19, 1780) when a remarkable and unexplained darkness extended over all New England. {To keep dark}, to reveal nothing. [Low]

Maple \Ma"ple\, n. [AS. mapolder, mapulder, mapol; akin to Icel. m["o]purr; cf. OHG. mazzaltra, mazzoltra, G. massholder.] (Bot.) A tree of the genus {Acer}, including about fifty species. {A. saccharinum} is the rock maple, or sugar maple, from the sap of which sugar is made, in the United States, in great quantities, by evaporation; the red or swamp maple is {A. rubrum}; the silver maple, {A. dasycarpum}, having fruit wooly when young; the striped maple, {A. Pennsylvanium}, called also {moosewood}. The common maple of Europe is {A. campestre}, the sycamore maple is {A. Pseudo-platanus}, and the Norway maple is {A. platanoides}. Note: Maple is much used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound; as, maple tree, maple leaf, etc. {Bird's-eye maple}, {Curled maple}, varieties of the wood of the rock maple, in which a beautiful lustrous grain is produced by the sinuous course of the fibers. {Maple honey}, {Maple molasses}, or {Maple sirup}, maple sap boiled to the consistency of molasses. {Maple sugar}, sugar obtained from the sap of the sugar maple by evaporation.

Dog \Dog\ (d[o^]g), n. [AS. docga; akin to D. dog mastiff, Dan. dogge, Sw. dogg.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A quadruped of the genus {Canis}, esp. the domestic dog ({C. familiaris}). Note: The dog is distinguished above all others of the inferior animals for intelligence, docility, and attachment to man. There are numerous carefully bred varieties, as the beagle, bloodhound, bulldog, coachdog, collie, Danish dog, foxhound, greyhound, mastiff, pointer, poodle, St. Bernard, setter, spaniel, spitz dog, terrier, etc. There are also many mixed breeds, and partially domesticated varieties, as well as wild dogs, like the dingo and dhole. (See these names in the Vocabulary.) 2. A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch. What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? -- 2 Kings viii. 13 (Rev. Ver. ) 3. A fellow; -- used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly dog; a lazy dog. [Colloq.] 4. (Astron.) One of the two constellations, Canis Major and Canis Minor, or the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog. Canis Major contains the Dog Star (Sirius). 5. An iron for holding wood in a fireplace; a firedog; an andiron. 6. (Mech.) (a) A grappling iron, with a claw or claws, for fastening into wood or other heavy articles, for the purpose of raising or moving them. (b) An iron with fangs fastening a log in a saw pit, or on the carriage of a sawmill. (c) A piece in machinery acting as a catch or clutch; especially, the carrier of a lathe, also, an adjustable stop to change motion, as in a machine tool. Note: Dog is used adjectively or in composition, commonly in the sense of relating to, or characteristic of, a dog. It is also used to denote a male; as, dog fox or g-fox, a male fox; dog otter or dog-otter, dog wolf, etc.; -- also to denote a thing of cheap or mean quality; as, dog Latin. {A dead dog}, a thing of no use or value. --1 Sam. xxiv. 14. {A dog in the manger}, an ugly-natured person who prevents others from enjoying what would be an advantage to them but is none to him. {Dog ape} (Zo["o]l.), a male ape. {Dog cabbage}, or {Dog's cabbage} (Bot.), a succulent herb, native to the Mediterranean region ({Thelygonum Cynocrambe}). {Dog cheap}, very cheap. See under {Cheap}. {Dog ear} (Arch.), an acroterium. [Colloq.] {Dog flea} (Zo["o]l.), a species of flea ({Pulex canis}) which infests dogs and cats, and is often troublesome to man. In America it is the common flea. See {Flea}, and {Aphaniptera}. {Dog grass} (Bot.), a grass ({Triticum caninum}) of the same genus as wheat. {Dog Latin}, barbarous Latin; as, the dog Latin of pharmacy. {Dog lichen} (Bot.), a kind of lichen ({Peltigera canina}) growing on earth, rocks, and tree trunks, -- a lobed expansion, dingy green above and whitish with fuscous veins beneath. {Dog louse} (Zo["o]l.), a louse that infests the dog, esp. {H[ae]matopinus piliferus}; another species is {Trichodectes latus}. {Dog power}, a machine operated by the weight of a dog traveling in a drum, or on an endless track, as for churning. {Dog salmon} (Zo["o]l.), a salmon of northwest America and northern Asia; -- the {gorbuscha}; -- called also {holia}, and {hone}. {Dog shark}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Dogfish}. {Dog's meat}, meat fit only for dogs; refuse; offal. {Dog Star}. See in the Vocabulary. {Dog wheat} (Bot.), Dog grass. {Dog whelk} (Zo["o]l.), any species of univalve shells of the family {Nassid[ae]}, esp. the {Nassa reticulata} of England. {To give, or throw}, {to the dogs}, to throw away as useless. ``Throw physic to the dogs; I'll none of it.'' --Shak. {To go to the dogs}, to go to ruin; to be ruined.

Scale \Scale\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scaled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scaling}.] To weigh or measure according to a scale; to measure; also, to grade or vary according to a scale or system. Scaling his present bearing with his past. --Shak. {To} {scale, or scale down}, {a debt, wages, etc.}, to reduce a debt, etc., according to a fixed ratio or scale. [U.S.]

Deep \Deep\ (d[=e]p), a. [Compar. {Deeper}; superl. {Deepest}.] [OE. dep, deop, AS. de['o]p; akin to D. diep, G. tief, Icel. dj[=u]pr, Sw. diup, Dan. dyb, Goth. diups; fr. the root of E. dip, dive. See {Dip}, {Dive}.] 1. Extending far below the surface; of great perpendicular dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high, which is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certain depth; as, a deep sea. The water where the brook is deep. --Shak. 2. Extending far back from the front or outer part; of great horizontal dimension (measured backward from the front or nearer part, mouth, etc.); as, a deep cave or recess or wound; a gallery ten seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep. Shadowing squadrons deep. --Milton. Safely in harbor Is the king's ship in the deep nook. --Shak. 3. Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep valley. 4. Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; -- opposed to shallow or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a deep subject or plot. Speculations high or deep. --Milton. A question deep almost as the mystery of life. --De Quincey. O Lord, . . . thy thoughts are very deep. --Ps. xcii. 5. 5. Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning. Deep clerks she dumbs. --Shak. 6. Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt; as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror. ``Deep despair.'' --Milton. ``Deep silence.'' --Milton. ``Deep sleep.'' --Gen. ii. 21. ``Deeper darkness.'' -->Hoole. ``Their deep poverty.'' --2 Cor. viii. 2. An attitude of deep respect. --Motley. 7. Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue or crimson. 8. Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy. ``The deep thunder.'' --Byron. The bass of heaven's deep organ. --Milton. 9. Muddy; boggy; sandy; -- said of roads. --Chaucer. The ways in that vale were very deep. --Clarendon. {A deep line of operations} (Military), a long line. {Deep mourning} (Costume), mourning complete and strongly marked, the garments being not only all black, but also composed of lusterless materials and of such fashion as is identified with mourning garments.

Sour \Sour\, a. [Compar. {Sourer}; superl. {Sourest}.] [OE. sour, sur, AS. s?r; akin to D. zuur, G. sauer, OHG. s?r, Icel. s?rr, Sw. sur, Dan. suur, Lith. suras salt, Russ. surovui harsh, rough. Cf. {Sorrel}, the plant.] 1. Having an acid or sharp, biting taste, like vinegar, and the juices of most unripe fruits; acid; tart. All sour things, as vinegar, provoke appetite. --Bacon. 2. Changed, as by keeping, so as to be acid, rancid, or musty, turned. 3. Disagreeable; unpleasant; hence; cross; crabbed; peevish; morose; as, a man of a sour temper; a sour reply. ``A sour countenance.'' --Swift. He was a scholar . . . Lofty and sour to them that loved him not, But to those men that sought him sweet as summer. --Shak. 4. Afflictive; painful. ``Sour adversity.'' --Shak. 5. Cold and unproductive; as, sour land; a sour marsh. {Sour dock} (Bot.), sorrel. {Sour gourd} (Bot.), the gourdlike fruit {Adansonia Gregorii}, and {A. digitata}; also, either of the trees bearing this fruit. See {Adansonia}. {Sour grapes}. See under {Grape}. {Sour gum} (Bot.) See {Turelo}. {Sour plum} (Bot.), the edible acid fruit of an Australian tree ({Owenia venosa}); also, the tree itself, which furnished a hard reddish wood used by wheelwrights. Syn: Acid; sharp; tart; acetous; acetose; harsh; acrimonious; crabbed; currish; peevish.

Adansonia \Ad`an*so"ni*a\, n. [From Adanson, a French botanist.] (Bot.) A genus of great trees related to the Bombax. There are two species, {A. digitata}, the baobab or monkey-bread of Africa and India, and {A. Gregorii}, the sour gourd or cream-of-tartar tree of Australia. Both have a trunk of moderate height, but of enormous diameter, and a wide-spreading head. The fruit is oblong, and filled with pleasantly acid pulp. The wood is very soft, and the bark is used by the natives for making ropes and cloth. --D. C. Eaton.

Direct current \Direct current\ (Elec.) (a) A current flowing in one direction only; -- distinguished from {alternating current}. When steady and not pulsating a direct current is often called a {continuous current}. (b) {A direct induced current}, or momentary current of the same direction as the inducing current, produced by stopping or removing the latter; also, a similar current produced by removal of a magnet.