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Presented  to  the 

LIBRARIES  of  the 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO 

by 
Hugh  Anson-Cartwright 


GLOSSARY 


OF 


TERMS    AND    PHRASES 


GLOSSARY 


OF 


TERMS   AND    PHRASES 


EDITED    BY  THE 

REV.   H.   PERCY   SMITH,   M.  A. 

OF  BALLIOL  COLLEGE,   OXFORD,   CHAPLAIN    OF  CHRIST  CHURCH,  CANNES 


NEW  YORK 
D.    APPLETON    AND    COMPANY 

I,  3,  AND    5    BOND   STREET 
1883 


CONTRIBUTORS. 

THE  REV.  H.  PERCY  SMITH,  M.A.,  late  Vicar  of  Great  Barton, 
Chaplain  of  Christ  Church,  Cannes,  Editor. 

ASSISTED    BY 

THE  REV.  SIR  GEORGE  W.  COX,  BART.,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Scraying- 
ham,  author  of  the  "  Mythology  of  the  Aryan  Nations,"  etc.,  and 
joint-editor  of  Brande's  "  Dictionary  of  Science,  Literature,  and 
Art." 

THE  REV.  J.   F.    TWISDEN,  M.A.,  late  scholar  of  Trinity  College, 
"  Cambridge,  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  Royal  Staff  College. 

C.  A.  M.  FENNELL,  M.A.,  late  Fellow  of  Jesus  College,  Cambridge, 
Editor  of  Pindar. 

COLONEL  W.  PATERSON,  late  Professor  of  Military  Surveying  at  the 
Royal  Military  College,  Sandhurst. 

THE  REV.  C.  P.  MILNER,  M.A.,  Vice-Principal  of  Liverpool  College; 

AND    OTHERS. 


PREFACE. 


THE  "Glossary  of  Terms  and  Phrases"  is  intended  to  bring  to- 
gether such  words,  expressions,  quotations,  etc.,  English  or  other,  as 
are  among  the  more  uncommon  in  current  literature,  and  require, 
not  for  the  scientific  but  for  the  ordinary  reader,  explanations,  for 
the  want  of  which  the  meaning  of  a  sentence  or  a  paragraph,  even 
the  drift  of  an  argument,  is  often  missed  ;  explanations,  moreover, 
not  to  be  obtained  without  reference  to,  and  perhaps  tedious  search 
among,  a  large  and  varied  number  of  books,  many  of  them  not 
easily  accessible.  In  short,  the  editor  indulges  the  hope  that  this 
Glossary  may  supply  all  the  information  needed  by  general  readers, 
who  may  wish  to  have  a  fair  understanding  of  the  text  of  any 
work  in  ordinary  English  literature. 

Of  these  terms  and  expressions  some  are  purely,  some  are  more 
or  less,  technical  and  scientific  ;  some  are  simply  uncommon  ;  some 
contain  allusions  mythological,  historical,  geographical ;  some  fall 
under  a  very  large  class,  which  must  be  styled  miscellaneous  ;  some 
belong  to  other  languages  than  our  own. 

But  in  explaining  the  words  themselves,  no  attempt  has  been 
made  to  enter  further  than  is  necessary  into  the  nature  of  the 
things  named.  At  the  same  time,  the  amount  of  general 
added  to  glossarial  information  must  necessarily  be  very  different 
in  different  cases.  Words,  therefore,  are  omitted  (i)  of  whose  actual 
signification  there  is  no  doubt — this  book  being  a  glossary,  and  not 
as  it  were  a  miniature  encyclopaedia ;  (2)  which  imply  a  special 


viii  PREFACE. 

knowledge  of  the  art  or  science  to  which  they  belong ;  (3)  which, 
occurring  in  writers  such  as  Spenser,  Burns,  etc.,  are  explained  in 
glossaries  attached  to  them.  It  is  plain,  however,  that  the  exact 
limits  of  an  ordinary  reader's  needs  cannot  be  defined,  and  there 
must  be  many  terms  as  to  the  inclusion  or  rejection  of  which  the 
editor  must  exercise  his  judgment  in  a  Glossary  intended  as  much 
for  the  mechanics'  institute  as  for  the  general  reader  or  the  man  of 
education.  But  his  estimate  of  these  needs  may,  it  is  hoped,  be 
not  very  far  wrong,  while  of  the  real  need  of  some  such  Glossary 
experience  leaves  no  doubt  whatever.  As  to  the  etymological 
explanations  given,  it  may  be  well  to  say  that  very  often  the 
nearest  cognate  form  simply  has  been  set  down — not  as  implying, 

by  any  means,  that  in  all  such  cases  the  word  has  been  necessarily 

i 
borrowed  from  the  one  to  the  other. 

The  references  given  to  books  are  made,  as  far  as  it  was 
possible  to  make  them,  to  works  not  difficult  of  access. 

For  the  explanation  of  American  terms  found  in  the  Glossary, 
the  editor  begs  to  express  his  obligation  to  the  work  entitled 
Mr.  John  Russell  Bartlett's  "  Dictionary  of  Americanisms." 

H.  PERCY  SMITH. 


ABBREVIATIONS    USED    IN    THIS    WORK. 


abbrev. 

= 

abbreviation. 

(Eccl.  Arch.) 

= 

Ecclesiastical  Architecture. 

act. 

:= 

active. 

(Eccl.  Hist.) 

—  : 

Ecclesiastical  History. 

adj. 

= 

adjective. 

[Eccl.  L.] 

= 

Ecclesiastical  Latin. 

adv. 

= 

adverb. 

[Egypt.] 

= 

Egyptian. 

[Afgh.] 

= 

Afghanistan. 

[Eng.] 

=r 

English. 

(Agr.) 

= 

Agriculture. 

(Eng.  Hist.) 

= 

English  History. 

(Alchem.) 

= 

Alchemy. 

(Entoni.  ) 

= 

Entomology. 

(Algtb.) 

= 

Algebra. 

(Ethn.) 

= 

Ethnology. 

[Amer.] 

= 

American. 

(Etym.) 

:s 

Etymology. 

(Anat) 

= 

Anatomy. 

fam. 

= 

family. 

(Ant.) 

= 

Antiquity. 

(Farr.) 

= 

Farriery. 

[An] 

= 

Arabic. 

fern. 

— 

feminine. 

(Arch.} 

= 

Architecture. 

(Feud.) 

S; 

Feudal. 

(Arch&ol.) 

=: 

Archaeology. 

fig- 

•-•— 

figure. 

(Arith  ) 

= 

Arithmetic. 

[Flem.] 

= 

Flemish. 

art. 

= 

article. 

(Fortif.) 

= 

Fortification. 

[A.S.] 

= 

Anglo-Saxon. 

[Fr.] 

= 

French. 

(Astral.) 

= 

Astrology. 

freq. 

= 

frequentative. 

(Astron.) 

= 

Astronomy. 

(Fr.  Hist.) 

= 

French  History. 

(Bibl.) 

= 

Biblical. 

[Gadh.] 

s= 

Gadhelic. 

(Biol.) 

= 

Biology. 

[Gael.] 

= 

Gaelic. 

(fiot.) 

= 

Botany. 

[Case.] 

r= 

Gascon. 

[Braz.] 

= 

Brazilian. 

gen. 

sr 

genus. 

[Bret.] 

— 

Breton. 

(Geog.) 

— 

Geography. 

(Cam  b.  Univ.) 

= 

Cambridge  University. 

(Geol.) 

= 

r>      Y 

Geology. 

[Carib.] 

= 

Caribbean. 

[Ger.] 

ts 

German. 

catachr. 

= 

catachrestic. 

[Goth.] 

~ 

Gothic. 

[Catal.] 

= 

Catalan. 

[Gr.j 

rr 

Greek. 

Gels. 

= 

Celsus. 

(Gram.) 

= 

Grammar. 

[Celt.] 

= 

Celtic. 

[Hayt.] 

= 

Haytian. 

(Ckem.) 

= 

Chemistry. 

[Heb.] 

= 

Hebrew. 

[Chin.] 

= 

Chinese. 

(Her.) 

= 

Heraldry. 

(Chron.) 

= 

Chronology. 

[Hind.] 

= 

Hindu. 

class. 

= 

classical. 

(Hist.) 

— 

History. 

collat. 

= 

collateral. 

[Icel.] 

= 

Icelandic. 

(Com.) 

= 

Commercial. 

(Ichth.) 

— 

Ichthyolofry. 

(Conch.) 

r= 

Conchology. 

[It.] 

= 

Irish. 

(Conv.) 

= 

Convocation. 

iron. 

rr: 

ironical. 

corn 

= 

corruption. 

[It.] 

— 

Italian. 

correl. 
(Crystallog) 
[Cymr.] 

= 

correlative. 
Crystallography. 
Cymric. 

[Jap.] 
(Jurisp.) 

kingd. 

= 
= 

Japanese. 
Jurisprudence, 
kingdom. 

d. 

=r 

died.. 

[L.] 

•  — 

Latin. 

fD.] 

= 

Dutch, 

(Lang.) 

= 

Language. 

[Dan.] 

= 

Danish. 

(Leg.) 

= 

Legal. 

deriv. 

= 

derivative. 

[L.G.] 

= 

Low  German. 

dim. 

= 

diminutive. 

(Lit.) 

_ 

Literature. 

(Dipt.) 

= 

Diplomatic. 

Lit. 

r= 

literally. 

[Dor.] 

= 

Doric. 

[L.L.] 

— 

Low  Latin. 

(Dyn.) 

= 

Dynamics. 

(Log.) 

= 

Logic. 

(Eccl.) 

= 

Ecclesiastical. 

(Mag.) 

= 

Magnetism. 

ABBREVIATIONS. 


(Manuf.) 

_ 

Manufactures. 

(PhysioL) 

_ 

Physiology 

masc. 

= 

masculine. 

plu. 

= 

plural. 

(Math.) 

— 

Mathematics. 

(Poet.) 

=5 

Poetry. 

[M.E.] 

= 

Middle  English. 

[Pol] 

= 

Polish. 

(Mech.) 

= 

Mechanics. 

[Port.] 

= 

Portuguese. 

(Med.) 

= 

Medical. 

p.p. 

= 

past  participle. 

Med.  L. 

:= 

Mediaeval  Latin. 

p.  part. 

= 

past  participle. 

metaph. 
(Mcteorol.) 

— 

metaphorical. 
Meteorology. 

pron. 
(Pros.) 

= 

pronounced. 
Prosody. 

meton. 

= 

metonymy. 

pr.  part. 

= 

present  participle. 

(Jtotr.) 

= 

Metric. 

redupl. 

= 

reduplicate. 

(Mil.) 

= 

Military. 

(Rhet.) 

= 

Rhetoric. 

(Min.) 

= 

Mineralogy. 

(Rom.  Hist.) 

s 

Roman  History. 

[Mod.  Gr.] 

r= 

Modern  Greek* 

rt. 

= 

root. 

modif. 

rr 

modification. 

[Russ.] 

r= 

Russian. 

(Muni  dp.) 

= 

Municipal. 

[Scand.] 

= 

Scandinavian. 

(Mus.) 

= 

Music. 

(Schol.) 

=r 

Scholastic. 

(Myth.) 

= 

Mythology. 

(Scien.  ) 

= 

Science. 

[N.-Amer.Ind.]  = 

North-American  Indian. 

[Scot.] 

= 

Scotch. 

(Nat.  Hist.) 

= 

Natural  History. 

(Scot.  Law.) 

— 

Scotch  Law. 

(Naut.) 

= 

Nautical. 

[Semit.] 

= 

Semitic. 

neg. 

= 

negative. 

sing. 

= 

singular. 

neut. 

•=. 

neuter. 

[Skt.] 

= 

Sanskrit. 

Norm.  Fr. 

— 

Norman  French. 

[Slav.] 

=: 

Slavonic. 

[Norw.] 

= 

Norwegian. 

[Sp.3 

= 

Spanish. 

(Niimis.) 

= 

Numismatics. 

spec. 

= 

species. 

[O.E.] 

= 

Old  English. 

(Stockbrok.) 

— 

Stockbroking. 

[O.Fr.] 
[O.H.G.] 

z 

Old  French. 
Old  High  German. 

sub-kingd. 
subst. 

=r 

sub-kingdom, 
substantive. 

[O.N.] 

= 

Old  Norse. 

(Surg.) 

= 

Surgery. 

[Onomatop.] 

= 

Onomatopoeia. 

[Sw.] 

= 

Swedish. 

ord. 

= 

order. 

syll. 

= 

syllables. 

(Ornith.) 
[O.S.] 

= 

Ornithology. 
Old  Saxon. 

[Syr.] 
[Teut.] 

= 

Syriac. 
Teutonic. 

[O.Sp.] 

= 

Old  Spanish, 

(Theat.) 

=; 

Theatrical. 

(Ost.) 
(Ostr.) 

= 

Osteology. 
Ostracology. 

(Theol.) 
transl. 

= 

Theological, 
translation. 

(Oxf.  Univ.) 

= 

Oxford  University. 

[Turk.] 

= 

Turkish. 

\Parl.) 
(Path.) 

= 

participle. 
Parliamentary. 
Pathology. 

typ. 
(Univ.) 
v.a. 

= 

typical. 
University 
verb  active. 

[Pers.] 

= 

Persian. 

(  Vet) 

.— 

Veterinary. 

(Phil.) 

= 

Philosophy. 

v.n. 

_ 

verb  neuter. 

(Phys.) 

= 

Physics. 

(Zool.) 

= 

Zoology. 

GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS  AND  PHRASES. 


ABBE 


A.  With  the  Romans,  usually  stood  for  the 
prsenomen  Aulus  ;  in  inscriptions,  often  for  Au- 
gustus, A.  A.  being  duo  Augusti,  A.  A.  A.,  tres 
Augusti  ;  in  epitaphs,  for  Annus  ;  upon  voting- 
tablets  at  the  Comitia,  for  Antlquo,  /  reject 
(TT.B.)  ;  in  judicial  trials,  for  Absolvo,  /  say 
"  not  guilty  ',  as  opposed  to  C.,  Condemno,  I  say 
"  guilty"  _and  to  N.L.  (q.v.).  As  a  numeral, 
A  is  500,  A  5poo. 

A  1,  In  Lloyd's  Register  of  Shipping  (q.v.), 
indicates,  to  shippers  and  insurers,  a  first-class 
vessel,  thoroughly  equipped.  A  refers  to  hull, 
i  to  anchor,  cables,  etc.  Hence  A  I,  in  slang, 
=  first-rate. 

-a,  -ay.  Norse  suffix.  1.  =  island  in  the  sea, 
as  in  Staff-a,  Colons-ay.  2.  =  river,  as  in  Gret-a, 
Rattr-ay.  [A.S.  ea,  O.H.G.  aha,  Goth,  ahva, 
L.  aqua,  water,}  (-ea;  ey.) 

Ab.  Eleventh  month  of  civil,  fifth  of  ecclesi- 
astical, Jewish  year  ;  July  —  August. 

A.B.  (Natit.),  i.e.  able-bodied  ;  a  first-rate,  as 
distinguished  from  an  ordinary,  seaman. 

Aback.  (Naut.)  Position  of  sails  when  the 
wind  bears  on  their  front.  They  are  Taken  or 
Laid  A.  by  accident  or  design  respectively. 

Abacot.  A  spurious  word,  given  in  all  dic- 
tionaries, and  said  to  mean  "a  cap  of  State, 
wrought  up  into  the  shape  of  two  crowns,  worn 


formerly  by  English  kings."    But  both  word  and 

ng  are  delusions.     T 
[O.Fr.  bicoquet,  the  peak  of  some  kind  of  lady's 


thing  are  delusions.     The  true  word,  Bycocket 


head-dress},  not  uncommon  up  to  and  after  1500, 
after  undergoing  a  series  of  corruptions,  appears 
in  Spelman's  Glossdrium  (1664)  as  "Abacot," 
with  the  above  explanation  ;  whence  it  has  been 
copied  from  one  dictionary  into  another  ever 
since.  Its  primitive  meaning  probably  sur- 
vives in  the  Sp.  bicoquin,  a  cap  with  two  points. 
As  Henry  V.  on  his  bassinet  at  Agincourt,  and 
as  Richard  on  his  helmet  at  BoswortTi,  wore  a 
gold  crown  ;  so  Henry  VI.  (crowned  King  of 
England  and  of  France)  wore  at  Hedgley  Moor 
two  crowns  upon  his  bycocket  —  but  in  no  sense 
as  part  of  it.  (See  Dr.  Murray's  Letter  to  the 
Athenczum,  February  4,  1882.) 

Abacus.  [L.,  Gr.  #0a£,  &&CLKOS,  a  table,  slab.] 
1.  The  tablet  on  the  top  of  the  capital  of  a 
column,  which  supports  the  entablature.  2.  With 
Greeks  and  Romans,  a  wooden  tray  for  arith- 


metical computation  ;  divided  by  parallel  lines, 
and  having  in  the  spaces  pebbles,  representing 
units,  tens,  etc.  Similarly,  3,  a  framework  with 
parallel  wires,  strung  with  beads,  to  render  cal- 
culations palpable,  used  in  infant  schools  ;  and 
by  the  Chinese,  with  whom  all  calculations  of 
weights,  measures,  etc.,  are  decimal. 

-abad.  [Hind.,  dwelling.]  Part  of  names;  as 
in  Hyder-abad,  the  abode  of  Hyder ;  Murshed- 
abad,  etc. 

Abaddon.  [Heb.,  the  destroyer.]  Name  for 
the  angel  of  the  bottomless  pit,  Rev.  ix.  II ;  in 
Milton,  the  pit  itself.  (Apollyon.) 

Abaft  (prefix  a,  i.e.  on,  and  -baft,  i.e.  by  aft). 
(Naut.}  Behind  the  object  mentioned. 

Abandon.  [Fr.]  Freedom  from  restraint, 
careless  ease  of  manner. 

Abandonment.  (Naut.)  By  a  written  notice, 
conveys  to  the  underwriters  an  insured  ship^ 
when  a  "constructive  total  loss,"  i.e.  so  da- 
maged that  repair  would  cost  more  than  she  is 
worth. 

A  bas  le,  les.    [Fr.]    Down  with. 

Ab  assuetis  non  fit  injuria  [Leg.  L.,  wrong 
does  not  arise  from  what  one  is  accustomed  to], 
i.e.  one  has  no  claim  at  law  in  respect  of  a 
nuisance  or  damage  which  has  been  long  borne 
without  complaint. 

Abatis.  [Fr.]  (Mil.)  An  obstacle  formed 
of  trees  felled  [Fr.  abattu] ;  their  stems  being 
placed  close  together  in  the  ground,  with  the 
ends  of  the  branches  sharpened  and  pointed 
towards  an  enemy. 

Abattoir.  [Fr.  abattre,  to  knock  down.]  A 
public  slaughter-house. 

Abattuta.  [It.,  at  the  beat.]  (Mus.)  Revert 
to  strict  time. 

Abb.  [A.S.  ab,  and  ob.]  Yarn  of  a  weaver's 
warp. 

Abbasides.  (Hist.)  Caliphs  of  Bagdad  (749- 
1258),  claiming  descent  from  Abbas,  uncle  of 
Mohammed.  To  this  line  belonged  Haroun-al- 
Raschid,  contemporary  of  Charlemagne. 

Abbe.  [Fr.]  A  word  applied  not  only  to  the 
abbots  or  heads  of  conventual  houses,  but  to 
all  persons  vested  with  the  ecclesiastical  habit 
(Littre).  Before  the  French  Revolution,  many 
such  men  rose  to  eminence  in  the  world  of  letters 
and  fashion.  The  A.  commendataires,  nominated 


ABBO 


ABBR 


by  the  king,  drew  one-third  of  the  revenues  of 
their  abbeys,  as  sinecurists. 

Abbot  of  Joy.  [Fr.  Abbe  de  Liesse,  L.  Abbas 
Latitice.]  A  master  of  revels,  formerly,  in  some 
French  towns. 

Abbot  of  Misrule,  In  Med.  Hist.,  the 
master  of  the  revels  ;  called  in  Scotland  the 
Abbot  of  Unreason  (see  Sir  W.  Scott's 
Monastery}.  (Boy  Bishop,  The ;  Feast  of  Fools ; 
Saturnalia.) 

Abbot  of  the  People.  Formerly  a  chief 
magistrate  among  the  Genoese. 

Abbots,  Mitred.  In  Eng.  Hist.,  twenty-four 
in  number,  ecclesiastical  dignitaries,  who  held 
of  the  king  in  capite  per  baroniam,  and  sat  and 
voted  in  the  House  of  Lords. 

Abbreviations,  Symbols,  etc.  [Eccl.  L!  abbrg- 
viatio,  -nem,  a  shortening.']  >j?,  Chr.,  is  an  A.,  1, 
for  xP?0"7^"'  excellent  (Chrestomathy) ;  and, 
later,  2,  for  Xpurrrfs,  Christ.  LXX.,  Septuagint; 

A.U.C.,  ab  urbe  condita,  in  the year  from 

the  building  of  Rome  ;  S.P.Q.R.,  senatus  popu- 
lusque  Romanus,  the  senate  and  people  of  Rome; 
S.D.,salutemdTcit,  sends  greeting;  D.D.D.,dono 
dedit,dicavit,gave,  dedicated,  as  a  gift;  D.O.M., 
Deo  Optimo  Maximo,  to  God,  the  Best,  the 
Greatest ;  M.S.,  memoriae  sacrum,  sacred  to  the 
memory  of ;  H.S.E.,  hie  sepultus  (situs)  est,  here 
is  buried;  R.I.P.,  requiescat  in  pace,  may  he 
rest  in  peace  ;  S.T.T.L.,  sit  tibi  terra  levis,  light 
be  the  earth  upon  thee;  I.H.C.  and  I.H.S. 
are  the  first  three  letters,  I,  H,  2  (I,  E,  S) — which 
last  was  at  one  time  written  very  like  our  C — 
in  the  Greek  IH5OY2,  Jesus;  A.S.,  anno  sa- 
lutis,  in  the  year  of  our  salvation,  =  anno  Do- 
mini ;  B.V.M.,  beata  Virgo  Maria,  the  blessed 
Virgin  Mary;  S.J.,  of  the  Society  of  Jesus. 

Astronomy :  1.  Members  of  the  solar  system  : 
0,  The  Sun  ;  tf,  the  Moon  ;  £  ,  Mercury  ;  ?  , 
Venus;  ©  or  $  ,  the  Earth;  <J  ,  Mars;  1£, 
Jupiter ;  f? ,  Saturn  ;  ^ ,  the  Georgian.  2. 
Signs  of  the  Zodiac:  I.  Y,  Aries,  o° ;  2.  ft, 
Taurus,  30° ;  3.  n,  Gemini,  60° ;  4.  25,  Cancer, 
90°;  5.  ^l,  Leo,  120°;  6.  ttfc,  Virgo,  150°;  7. 
^,  Libra,  180°  ;  8.  TY),,  Scorpio,  210°;  9.  $, 
Sagittarius,  240°;  10.  yf,  Capricornus,  270°; 
II.  ^T,  Aquarius,  300°;  12.  X>  Pisces,  330°. 
3.  Other  symbols  are:  <$,  conjunction;  D, 
quadrature  ;  §  ,  opposition  ;  &,  ascending  node; 
*& ,  descending  node. 

•  In  Bishops'  signatures :  Cant,  or  Cantuar.  is 
Cantuariensis,  of  Canterbury;  Ebor.,  Ebor- 
acensis,  of  Eboracum  or  Eburacum,  York ; 
Dunelm.,  Dunelmensis,  of  Durham;  Winton., 
Wintoniensis,  of  Wintonia,  Winchester ;  Sarum, 
of  New  Sarum,  i.e.  Salisbury;  Vigorn., 
Vigornensis,  of  Worcester  ;  Oxon.,  Oxoniensis, 
of  Oxford;  Exon.,  Exoniensis,  of  Exeter; 
Rpffen.,  Roffensis,  of  Rochester ;  Cicestr., 
Cicestrensis,  of  Chichester;  Menev.,  some- 
times, for  Menevensis,  of  Menevia,  now  St. 
David's.  Similarly,  Cantab.,  Cantabrigiensis, 
of  Cambridge;  Eblan.,  Eblanensis,  of  Eblana, 
Dublin.  Ch.  Ch.  is  Christ  Church;  C.C.C., 
Corpus  Christi  College,  Oxford;  F.T.C.D., 
Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  S.P.G., 
S.P.C.K.,  C.M.S.,  A.C.S.,  are  the  Societies 


for  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge,  Church  Missionary, 
Additional  Curates';  E.C.U.,  English  Church 
Union;  A.P.U.C.,  Association  for  Promoting 
Unity  of  Christendom. 

Botany :  $ ,  male  ;  §  ,  female  ;  $  ,  hermaph. 
or  bisexual ;  $  —  $  —  $  ,  polygamous ;  $  £  , 
dioecious ;  $  —  £ ,  monoecious  ;  0  or  Q» 
annual ;  ®  or  6*  >  biennial  ;  %,  perennial  ;  V} , 
a  tree  or  shrub  ;  v.v.,  visum  vivum,  seen  alive  ; 
v.s.,  siccum,  seen  in  a  dried  state  ;  v.c-,  cultum, 
seen  cultivated  ;  v.sp.,  sporadicum  or  sponta- 
neum,  seen  wild. 

Chemistry :  The  chemical  symbol  for  aluminium 
is  Al ;  for  silver  [L.  argentum],  Ag  ;  arsenic,  As  ; 
gold  [L.  aurum],  Au  ;  boron,  B  ;  barium,  Ba  ; 
bismuth,  Bi ;  bromine,  Br ;  carbon,  C  ;  calcium, 
Ca ;  cadmium,  Cd  ;  cerium,  Ce  ;  chlorine,  Cl ; 
cobalt,  Co  ;  chromium,  Cr ;  caesium,  Cs  ;  copper 
[L.  cuprum],  Cu ;  didymium,  D ;  erbium,  E  ; 
fluorine,  F;  iron  [L.  ferrum],  Fe  ;  glucinum, 
Gl ;  hydrogen,  H  ;  mercury  [L.  hydrargyrum], 
Hg ;  iodine,  I  ;  indium,  In ;  indium,  Ir  ;  potas- 
sium [L.  L.  kalium,  from  Ar.  alkali],  K ;  lan- 
thanum, La  ;  lithium,  Li ;  magnesium,  Mg  ; 
manganese,  Mn  ;  molybdenum,  Mo  ;  nitrogen, 
N  ;  sodium,  Na  (Natron)  ;  niobium,  Nb  ;  nickel, 
Ni ;  oxygen,  O  ;  osmium,  Os  ;  phosphorus,  P  ; 
lead  [L.  plumbum],  Pb  ;  palladium,  Pd  ;  plati- 
num, Pt ;  rubidium,  Rb  ;  rhodium,  Rh  ;  ruthe- 
nium, Ru  ;  antimony  [L.  stibium],  Sb ;  selenium, 
Se;  silicon,  Si ;  strontium,  Sr  ;  tin  [L.  stannum], 
Sn  ;  sulphur,  S  ;  tantalum,  Ta  ;  tellurium,  Te  ; 
thorium,  Th  ;  titanium,  Ti ;  thallium,  Tl ;  ura- 
nium, U ;  vanadium,  V ;  tungsten,  W  (Wol- 
fram) ;  yttrium,  Y  ;  zinc,  Zn  ;  zirconium,  Zr. 

Of  the  principal  Codices  or  MSS.  oj  the  JVezc 
Testament:  A.  is  the  Alexandrine,  or  Codex 
Alexandrinus,  in  the  British  Museum,  probably 
fifth  century ;  B.,  Codex  Vaticanus,  in  the 
Vatican,  probably  fourth  century ;  C. ,  Cod. 
Ephraemi,  at  Paris,  i.e.  of  Ephraem  the  Syrian, 
a  palimpsest,  probably  fifth  century  ;  D.,  Cod. 
Cantabrigiensis,  or  Bezce,  at  Cambridge,  probably 
end  of  fifth  century  or  beginning  of  sixth 
century  ;  K,  Cod.  SinaitTcus,  found  by  Tischen- 
dorf,  1859,  in  a  monastery  on  Mount  Sinai, 
probably  fourth  century. 

On  English  Coins  are:  A.C.,  A.D.,  A.T., 
Arch-Chancellor,  -Duke,  -Treasurer;  D.G., 
D_ei  gratia,  by  the  grace  of  God;  F.D.,  fidei 
defensor,  Defender  of  the  Faith;  S.R.I., 
Sanctum  Romanum  Imperium,  Holy  Roman 
Empire;  M.B.F.  et  H.,  Magnae  Britanniae, 
Francioe,  et  Hiberniae,  of  Great  Britain,  France, 
and  Ireland. 

In  Dignities,  Degrees,  Professions,  etc.  :  H.M., 
S.M.,  His  or  Her  Majesty,  Sa  Majeste  ;  S.A.R., 
S.A.I.,  Son  Altesse  Royale,  Imperiale,  His  or 
Her  Royal,  Imperial,  Highness;  D.N.P.P., 
Dominus  noster  Papa  Pontifex,  our  Lord  the 
Pope.  K.C.H.  is  Knight  Commander  of 
Hanover;  K.G.,  K.H.,  K.M.,  K.P.,  K.T., 
K.M.G.,  are  Knights  of  the  Garter,  of  Han- 
over, of  Malta,  of  St.  Patrick,  of  the  Thistle, 
of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George ;  K.  B.  not  now 
in  use,  Knight  of  the  Bath,  of  which  order 


ABBR 


ABBR 


(as  of  S.I.  and  M.G.)  there  are  now  three 
classes,  viz.  G.C.B.  Grand  Cross,  K.C.B. 
Knight  Commander,  and  C.  B.  Companion ; 
C.I.E.  is  Companion  of  the  Order  of  the 
Indian  Empire;  C.S.I.,  K.C.S.I.,  G. C.S.I., 
Commander,  Knight  Commander,  Grand  Cross, 
of  the  Star  of  India;  L.C.J.  and  L.C.B.  are 
Lord  Chief  Justice,  — Baron  ;  P.C.,  Privy  Coun- 
cillor; H.E.I.C.,  Honourable  East  India  Com- 
pany; S.T.P.,  Sanctae  Theologize  Professor,  is 
the  L.  translation  of  D.D.,  Doctor  of  Divinity; 
LL.D.,  Legum  Doctor,  Doctor  of  Laws,  the 
equivalent  in  Cambridge  and  Dublin  of  the 
Oxford  D.C.L.,  Doctor  of  Civil  Law;  A. A. 
is  Associate  of  Arts ;  B.  M. ,  Bachelor  of 
Medicine:  S.C.L.,  B.C.L.,  Student,  Bachelor, 
of  Civil  Law;  A.K.C.,  Associate  of  King's 
College  ;  B.  es  L.  is  the  French  Bachelier  es, 
i.e.  en  les,  Lettres ;  F.R.S.,  properly  Frater- 
nitatis  Regise  Socms,  has  adapted  itself  to  the 
Eng.  translation,  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society ; 
similarly,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.,  F.R.A.S.,  F.R.G.S., 
are  Fellows  of  the  Royal  Geolog.,  Linnsean, 
Royal  Astron. ,  Royal  Geog. ,  Societies ;  R.  A. , 
Royal  Academy,  Royal  Academician  ;  A.  R.  A. , 
Associate  of  ditto  ;  P.R.A.,  President  of  ditto  ; 
A.E.R.A.,  Associate  Engraver  of  Royal  Acad.  ; 
M.I.C.E.,  Member  of  the  Institute  of  Civil  En- 
gineers ;  M.  R.  C.  S .  is  Member  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Surgeons;  M.R.C.V.S.,  Member  of 
Veterinary  ditto;  F.R.I.B.A.,  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Institute  of  British  Architects.  R.M., 
usually  Royal  Marines,  is,  in  Ireland,  Resident 
Magistrate.  D.L.,  Deputy-Lieutenant  of  the 
County  ;  J.P-,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  i.e.  a  magis- 
trate; W.S.,  Writer  to  the  Signet,  i.e.  one  of  a 
body  of  legal  practitioners  in  Edinburgh,  cor- 
responding generally  to  the  highest  class  of 
attorneys  in  London;  M.F.H.,  Master  of  the 
Fox-hounds  ;  M.  C. ,  master  of  the  ceremonies. 
Amongst  Naval  A.  are  :  R.N.,  Royal  Navy  ; 
H.M.S.,  Her  Majesty's  ship  ;  A.B.,  able-bodied 
seaman;  C.G.,  coastguard;  C.P.,  sent  by  the 
civil  power;  D.,  in  Complete  Book,  dead  or 
deserted;  D.S.Q.,  discharged  to  sick  quarters; 
F.G.,  on  a  powder  cask,  fine  grain ;  and  L.G., 
large  grain.  (For  L. ,  v.  L's,  Three ;  and  v. 
A  I.)  Amongst  Military  A.  are  :  F.M.,  Field- 
Marshal;  A.D.C.,  Aide-de-Camp  ;  Q.M.G., 
Quarter-Master-General;  R.A.,  R.E.,  R.H.A., 
R.M.,  are  Royal  Artillery,  Engineers,  Horse 
Artillery,  Marines  ;  C.O.,  Commanding  Officer  ; 
S.C.,  Staff  Corps;  S.C.,  Staff  College;  R.M.C. 
and  R.M.A.,  Royal  Military  College,  Sandhurst, 
and  Academy,  "Woolwich. 

In  referring  to  Languages:  Sansk.,  Skr.,  or 
Skt.,  is  Sanskrit;  A.S.,  Anglo-Saxon;  O.H.G. 
and  M.H.G.,  Old,  and  Middle,  High  German; 
Pl.D.,  Platt  Deutsch,  Low  German;  O.E., 
O.F.,  O.N.,  O.S.,  Old  English,  Old  French, 
Old  Norse,  Old  Saxon;  L.L.,  Low  Latin; 
Prov.,  Provei^al ;  tj  —  root  of  a  word. 

Mathematics :  Q.  E.  D. ,  quod  erat  demonstran- 
dum, which  was  to  be  pro ved;Q.E.F.,  faciendum, 
to  be  done.  Letters  of  the  alphabet  are  used  to 
denote  numbers  or  numerical  quantities  ;  but 
a,  6,  c,  etc. ,  denote  constant  or  known  numbers  ; 


u,  x,  y,  2,  variable  or  unknown  numbers ; 
m,  n,  p,  etc.,  simple  numerical  coefficients,  or 
exponents  :  thus,  a  certain  power  of  a  known 
number  (a)  would  be  written  am ;  ab  is  a  X  b  ; 

-^,  a  -^-  b ;  a   >  b  means  a  is  greater  than  b ; 

a  <  b,  less ;  a*  means  a  X  a  X  a  X  a,  and  the 
4  is  called  an  exponent  of  a;  *J,  formerly  r, 
i.e.  L.  radix,  is  the  sq.  root  of  a  number;  but 
>$a  or  «£,  %]a  or  at,  mean  the  cube  root,  the 
fourth  root,  of  a ;  .*.  stands  for  therefore,  Y  for 
because;  cos.,  tan.,  log.,  are  cosine,  tangent, 
logarithm.  When  the  variations  of  one  quantity 
(u)  follow  those  of  another  quantity  (x)  the  for- 
mer is  said  to  be  a  function,  f,  F,  or  <f>,  of  the 
latter,  written  u  =  f(x) ;  A  indicates  the  finite 
change  which  a  variable  undergoes,  as  Au  ;  but 
if  the  change  is  indefinitely  small,  du,  8«;  2 
means  the  sum  of  a  number  of  quantities  which 
differ  from  each  other  by  finite  differences ;  f 
the  sign  of  integration,  denotes  the  total  result 
of  a  variation,  the  rate  of  which  is  continually 
changing,  as  the  distance  described  by  a  body 
moving  with  a  velocity  that  continually  varies". 
When  a  group  of  quantities  of  the  same  kind  is 
considered,  it  is  convenient  to  denote  them  all 
by  the  same  letter,  and  to  distinguish  the  mem- 
bers of  the  group  by  figures,  I,  2,  3,  etc.,  to  the 
right  and  below,  called  suffixes  ;  thus,  the  group 
of  forces  which  keep  a  body  at  rest  may  be  de- 
noted by  P,,  P2,  P3. 

Medicine:  A,  a,  or  aa,  is  ana,  i.e.  avd,  again, 
an  equal  quantity;  A  A  A,  amalgama ;  F.,  Ft., 
fiat,  fiant,  let  it,  them,  be  made;  M.,  sometimes 
manipiilus,  a  handful,  sometimes  misce,  mix  ; 
P.,  pugillus,  a  handful;  P.^E.,  partes  sequales, 
equal  parts  ;  P.R.N.,  pro  re  nata,  according  to 
the  occasion;  Q.S.,  quantum  sufficit,  as  much 
as  is  sufficient ;  R,  recipe",  take. 

Miscellaneous:  i.e.,  id  est,  that  is;  L. S.,  locus 
sigilli,  place  for  the  seal ;  loc.  cit.,  or  I.e.,  loco 
citato,  in  the  passage  quoted  ;  e.g.,  exempli 
gratia,  for  example  ;  v.l.,  varia  lectio,  a  different 
reading;  cf.  is  for  L.  confer,  compare;  crim.  con., 
criminal  conversation ;  id.,  idem,  the  same;  ibid., 
ibidem,  in  the  same  place;  s.v.,  sub  v5ce,  or 
verbo,  under  the  word,  in  the  dictionary  ;  s.h.v., 
sub  hac  voce,  hoc  verbo,  under  this  word ;  K.T.A., 
i.e.  Ka\  T&  \onrd,  and  the  rest,  the  same  as  the 
L.  etc.,  i.e.  et  csetera ;  q.v.,  quod  vide,  i.e.  which 
see,  refers  the  reader  to  the  word  last  mentioned  ; 
p.r.n.,  pro  re  nata,  according  to  circumstances, 
lit.  for  the  matter  or  occasion  arising  ;  M.,  in  the 
Marriage  Service,  a  printer's  correction  intro- 
duced after  1726,  from  the  Act  prescribing  the 
form  of  banns,  should  be  N.  for  Nomen  ;  L\M., 
Dis  Manibus  (Manes);  ob.,  obiit,  died;  A.S., 
anno  salutis,  in  the  year  of  Redemption ;  Ca. 
Sa.,  capias  ad  satisfaciendum  (q.v.) ;  fi.  fa.,  fieri 
facias  (q.v.}  ;  pxt,  pinxit,  painted  ;  nem.  con., 
nemine  contradlcente,  no  one  saying  No,  is 
=  carried  unanimously ;  no. ,  for  number,  is 
the  It.  numero;  sp.g.,  specific  gravity;  c.g.s. 
are  the  Fr.  centimetre,  gramme,  second ;  m.s.l. 
mean  sea-level;  x.d.,  exclusive  of  dividend; 
ult,  inst.,  prox.,  are  mense  ultimo,  instanti, 


ABBR 


AJtJJbK 


proximo,  in  the  last,  in  the  present,  in^  the 
next,  month;  p.p.c.,  pour  prendre  conge,  to 
take  leave  ;  in  France,  s.g.d.g.,  sous  garantie 
du  gouvernement,  under  the  guarantee  of  the 
government,  i.e.  patented ;  Ent.  Sta.  Hall, 
entered  at  the  Stationers'  Hall ;  R.S.O.,  railway 
sub-office,  for  letters;  F.P.,  fire-plug;  N. S. 
is  New  Style,  O.S.  Old  Style,  i.e.  respectively 
after  and  before  the  alteration  of  the  calendar 
by  Gregory  XIII.  in  1582,  adopted  in  England 
1751.  Doubled  letters  indicate  a  plural;  as 
LL.D.,  Legum  Doctor;  MSS.,  manuscripts; 
reff.,  references  ;  N.  or  M.,  i.e.  N.  or  NN., 
nomen  or  nSmina,  name  or  names  ;  and  many 
others. 

Musical:  Adg°  or  ad°,  adagio,  slowly ;  Ad  lib., 
ad  libitum  ;  Ag°,  agitato,  in  an  agitated,  restless 
style;  All'  ott,  or  All' 8vtt,  all'  ottava,  at  the 
octave  higher  or  lower  than  it  is  written ;  Al 
seg.,  al  segno,  to  the  sign,  i.e.  go  back  to  the 
§  ;  At,  or  A  tempo,  in  time  (A  battuta)  ; 
CD.,  colla  destra,  with  the  right  hand;  C.S., 
colla  sinistra,  with  the  left  hand  ;  Cal.,  calando, 
lit.  loweringly,  with  decreasing  tone  and  pace ; 
Can.,  cantSris,  the  chanter's,  precentor's  (side) ; 
Cello. ,  violoncello ;  Cor.,  cornet  or  horn  ;  D. , 
destra,  or  droite,  right;  D.C.,  da  capo,  over 
again,  lit.  from  the  head  or  beginning;  Dec., 
decani,  the  dean's  (side)  ;  D.S.,  from  the  sign  (see 
Al  seg.) ;  F.,  forte,  loud  ;  FF.,  or  Fff.,  or  Ffor., 
fortissimo,  very  loud  ;  F.  O.,  full  organ  ;  G. , 
gauche,  left ;  G.O.,  great  organ ;  L.,  left ;  L.H., 

left  hand ;  MM.  J  =  92,  the  crotchet-beat  being 
equal  to  the  pendulum-pulse  of  Malzel's  metro- 
nome, with  the  weight  set  at  92  (remembering 
that,  "to  be  correct,  the  metronome  should  beat 
seconds  when  set  at  60"  (Stainer  and  Barrett, 
Dictionary  of  Music) ;  M.V.,  mezza  voce,  with 
half  the  power  of  the  voice ;  Obb. ,  obbligato, 
i.e.  important,  and  that  cannot  be  dispensed 
with;  P.,  piano,  soft;  P.F.,  piu  forte,  louder; 
PP.,  pianissimo,  very  soft ;  PPP.  and  PPPP. 
are  used  for  pianississimo  ;  Rail.,  rallentando, 
gradually  slower;  R.H.,  right  hand;  Ritar., 
ritardando,  gradually  slower  and  still  slower ; 
Riten.,  ritenendo  or  ritenuto,  holding  back  the 
pace  ;  S.,  senza,  without ;  :<g,  segno,  sign,  point- 
ing the  extent  of  a  repeat;  Sfz.,  sforzando, 
forced,  i.e.  emphasizing  the  note  or  chord  ;  S.T., 
senza  tempo,  without  definite,  marked,  time ; 
Tern.  i°,  tempo  primo,  resume  the  original  pace ; 
Va.,  viola;  Vo.,  viollna ;  V.S.,  voltisubito,  turn, 
i.e.  turn  over,  quickly  ;  with  very  many  others. 

Abbreviators.  [L.  abbrevio,  /  abridge.']  In 
the  papal  court,  condense  documents,  for  the 
preparation  of  bulls. 

A.B.C.  process  of  deodorizing  impurities,  i.e. 
by  alum,  blood,  charcoal. 

Abd.  [Ax.,servant.~]  Abd- Allah,  servant  of  God. 

Abderite,  The.  The  laughing  philosopher 
Democritus,  bom  at  Abdera,  in  Thrace. 

Abdiel.  [Heb.,  servant  of  God.~\  The  angel 
of  Jewish  tradition,  who  alone  withstood  Satan's 
rebellious  designs. 

Abdomen.  [L.]  In  the  animal  body,  the 
lower  of  two  cavities,  the  upper  being  the 


thorax,  or  chest,  and  the  diaphragm  in  mam- 
malia being  the  partition  between  the  two.  In 
insects,  it  is  the  last  of  three  portions  into  which 
the  body  is  divided. 

Abductor  muscles  draw  away  from,  Adductor 
M.  draw  back  to,  the  mesial  (q.v.)  line  of  the 
body.  [L.  abduco,  2  draw  away,  adduce,  / 
bring  to."}  Muscles  which  close  the  valves  of 
the  shell  of  Lamellibranchiata  are  called  Ad- 
ductor M. 

A-beam.  (Naut.)  In  a  line  drawn  at  right 
angles  to  the  vertical  plane  through  the  ship's 
keel,  and  passing  through  the  centre  of  her  side. 
Abaft  the  B.,  any  point  within  the  right  angle 
contained  by  this  line  and  the  line  of  the  ship's 
keel  in  a  direction  opposite  to  her  course.  Be- 
fore the  B.,  neither  a  B.,  nor  abaft  the  B.,  nor 
ahead  (in  a  line  with  the  keel  forward),  nor  astern 
(in  a  line  with  the  keel  aft).  Starboard  B.,  on 
the  right ;  Larboard  B. ,  or  Port  B.,  on  the  left 
hand,  looking  forward.  Weather  B.,  the  wind- 
ward ;  Lee  B.,  the  other  side. 

Abecedarian  hymns.  Hymns  in  which  the  first 
verse  or  stanza  began  with  the  first,  and  succeed- 
ing verses  or  stanzas  with  the  succeeding,  letters 
of  the  alphabet,  in  imitation  of  Heb.  acrostic 
poetry,  e.g.  Ps.  cxix. 

Abecedary  circles.  Rings  of  letters  described 
round  magnetized  needles,  by  which  friends  were 
supposed  to  be  able  to  communicate,  looking  at 
them  at  certain  fixed  times. 

Abelardians.  Followers  of  Abelard,  a  dis- 
tinguished Schoolman  of  the  twelfth  century, 
whose  opinions  brought  on  him  the  censure  of 
St.  Bernard.  (Nominalists.) 

Abele  (2  syl.).  The  Populus  alba,  white 
poplar. 

Abelians,  Abelites.  An  African  sect,  fourth 
century,  who  enjoined  the  separate  state  of  the 
married,  to  avoid  handing  down  original  sin  ; 
after  an  assumed  example  of  Abel. 

Abelmoschus.  [Ar.  habb-el-misk,  grain  of 
musk.}  A  tropical  genus  of  mallow.  The  seeds 
of  A.  moschatus  are  used  in  perfumery,  and  in 
medicine ;  and  the  pods  of  A.  esculentus,  the 
W.  Indian  ochro  or  gobbo,  mucilaginous  and 
nutritive,  are  used  in  soups. 

A  bene  placito.  [L.L.]  (Mus.)  The  time, 
amount,  of  grace  notes,  etc.,  left  to  the  choice 
and  the  good  pleasure  of  the  performer. 

Aber-,  Cymric  prefix,  meaning,  like  Erse  and 
Gaelic  inver,  a  meeting  of  waters,  either  stream 
and  stream,  or  stream  and  sea. 

Aberrant  group.  [L.  aberrantem,  part,  of 
aberro,  /  stray  from.}  One  differing  widely 
from  the  type  of  the  natural  group  to  which 
they  apparently  belong ;  e.g.  Lemurs  compared 
with  Quadrumana. 

Aberration ;  Annual  A. ;  Chromatic  A. ;  Circle 
of  A. ;  Diurnal  A. ;  Planetary  A. ;  Spherical  A. 
[L.  aberratio,  -nem,  aberro,  I  stray  from.}  The 
apparent  displacement  of  a  heavenly  body,  caused 
by  the  composition  of  the  velocity  of  light  with 
that  of  the  earth.  The  velocity  of  light  is  about 
10,000  times  greater  than  that  of  the  earth 
in  her  orbit,  so  that  the  stars  appear  displaced 
through  an  angle  of  about  20*5",  the  displace- 


ABER 


ABRA 


ment  taking  place  in  a  plane  passing  through 
the  star  and  the  direction  of  the  eartlvs  motion  ; 
this  is  called  the  Aberration,  and  sometimes  the 
Annual  A.  The  Diurnal  A.  is  a  very  minute 
displacement  of  a  like  kind  due  to  the  com- 
position of  the  velocity  of  light  with  that  of  the 
earth's  rotation.  When  the  heavenly  body  has 
a  motion  of  its  own,  as  is  the  case  with  a  planet, 
its  velocity  has  to  be  taken  into  account,  and 
then  we  have  the  Planetary  A.  When  a  ray  of 
light  undergoes  reflexion  or  refraction,  its 
Spherical  A.  is  the  distance  between  the  geo- 
metrical focus  and  the  point  in  which  it  cuts  the 
axis  of  the  reflecting  or  refracting  surface 
supposed  to  be  spherical.  When  white  light 
passes  directly  through  a  lens,  the  distance  be- 
tween the  geometrical  foci  of  the  most  and  the 
least  refracted  coloured  rays  is  the  Chromatic  A. 
The  Circle  of  Chromatic  A.  is  the  smallest  circle 
through  which  all  the  coloured  rays  pass  near 
their  geometrical  foci. 

Aberuncate.  [L.  ab,  from,  e,  out,  runco,  1 
weed.  ]  To  pull  up  by  the  roots. 

Abhorrers.  In  Eng.  Hist.,  the  name  given, 
in  1680,  to  those  who  expressed  abhorrence  of 
encroachments  on  the  royal  prerogative,  while 
those  who  demanded  the  summoning  of  Parlia- 
ment were  called  Petitionei-s.  It  was  at  this  time 
that  the  words  Whig  and  Tory  came  into  use. 

Abib.  Exod.  xiii.,  xxiii.,  xxxiv,  ;  Deut.  xvi.  ; 
the  month  of  green  ears,  seventh  of  Jewish  civil 
year,  but  first  of  ecclesiastical,  as  being  that  in 
which  the  Passover  fell  j  the  post- Baby  Ionian 
Nisan,  March — April. 

Abies.  [L.]  Fir;  is  distinguished  in  a  general 
way  from  Pinus  (q.  z>. )  by  leaves  growing  singly 
around  the  stem,  by  character  of  fructification, 
and  by  general  pyramidal  form.  Silver  fir, 
Norway  spruce,  larch,  and  cedar  of  Lebanon, 
are  representatives  of  its  four  natural  divisions. 

Abigail.  A  waiting-maid  (?  from  Abigail  Hill, 
afterwards  Mrs.  Masham ;  rather  than  from 
Nabal's  wife;  see  Latham's  Diet,,  s.v.). 

Abiit,  excessit,  evasit,  erupit.  [L.,  he  has 
gone  away,  retired,  escaped,  gone  tearing  off.} 
Originally  said  by  Cicero  of  Catiline's  precipi- 
tate departure  from  Rome. 

Ab  Inltio  [L.,  from  the  beginning} ;  as,  pro- 
ceedings void  ab  initio. 

Abiogenesis.    (Biogenesis. ) 

Abjuration  of  the  realm.  An  oath  to  leave  it 
for  ever.  [L.  abjuratio,  -nem,  a  forswearing.} 

Ablactation.  [L.  ablactatio,  -nem,  weaning.} 
The  separation  of  an  inarched  graft  from  its 
parent  stock,  but  not  before  some  union  with 
the  new  has  taken  place. 

Ablaqueation.  [L.  ablaqueatio,  -nem.]  An 
opening  of  the  ground  at  the  roots  of  trees,  to 
let  in  air. — Evelyn. 

Ablepsia.  [Gr.  d)8\€vj/ta,  blindness,  a  neg., 
j8A.e7rw,  /  see.}  Incorrect  term  for  colour-blind- 
ness. (Dyschromatopsy.) 

Ablepsy.  (Dipl. )  Wrong  reading  by  a  scribe 
of  that  which  he  is  copying. 

Abnormal.  [L.  ab,  from,  norma,  carpenter's 
rule,  a  pattern.}  Deviating  from  rule  or  law, 
e.g.  in  the  development  of  li  ving  things. 


Abnonnis  sapiens.  [L.]  Wise,  but  of  no  sect 
or  school ;  naturally  shrewd. — Horace. 

Abolitionist.  One  who  is  for  abolishing  slavery 
immediately  and  entirely. 

Abolla.  [L.,  Gr.  dva&oX-f).]  A  woollen  cloak, 
scarlet  or  purple,  worn  by  Roman  soldiers, 
opposed  to  tdga,  the  outer  garment  worn  in 
time  of  peace;  hence  attributed,  derisively,  to 
the  Stoics,  whose  philosophy  was  essentially 
polemical,  controversial. 

Aboma  Epicrates,  Cenchria.  [Gr.  eTrtKpar-fjs, 
one  who  overmasters,  /ce7xpi'a?,  spotted  like  millet 
seeds  (weVxP01)-]  Boa  C.,  Ringed  B.  of  Trop. 
America,  Possesses  rudimentary  hind  legs  ;  it 
was  worshipped  by  the  ancient  Mexicans.  Fam. 
PythSmdre. 

Abomasus.    Fourth  stomach  of  a  ruminant. 

A  bon  chat  bon  rat.  [Fr.,  to  good  cat  good 
rat.}  The  parties  are  well  matched. 

Aborigines.  [L.]  Inhabitants  ab  origine,  pre- 
historic. (Autochthones.) 

Abortion.  [L.  abortio,  -nem.]  1.  An  unnatural 
expulsion  of  the  foetus  after  the  sixth  week  and 
before  the  sixth  month.  2.  In  Law,  the  crime  of 
producing  this  by  drugs  or  instruments. 

Abortive.  [L.  abortivus,  ab-orior,  I  fail  to 
rise,  miscarry}  (Sot.)  Imperfectly  formed.  A. 
branches,  woody  nodules  in  the  bark  of  some 
trees,  e.g.  cedar. 

Abou-Hannes.  Spec,  of  bird,  identified  by 
Cuvier  with  Ibis  Religlosa,  Sacred  Ibis,  of 
Egypt.  Numenius  L,  gen.  Numenms,  fam. 
Scolopacidse,  ord.  Grallse. 

About,  To  go.  (Naut. )  To  put  a  ship's  head 
to  the  wind,  and  fill  on  the  other  tack.  Ready 
about  and  about  ship  are  orders  to  go  about. 

Ab  ovo  usque  ad  mala.  [L.]  From  the 
beginning  to  the  end  ;  lit.  from  the  egg,  the 
first  dish,  to  the  apples,  the  last,  in  a  Roman 
meal. 

Abox.    (Naut.}    (Brace.) 

Abracadabra.  An  ancient  mystic  word  of  un- 
known origin  ;  a  charm  against  fevers,  written 
on  paper,  folded  up,  and  worn  a  certain  time 
in  the  bosom,  then  thrown  into  a  stream.  The 
word  was  in  the  form  of  an  equilateral  triangle 
inverted,  each  line  being  shorter  by  one  letter 
than  the  preceding,  and  the  letter  A  only  re- 
maining as  the  apex.  Perhaps  Pers.  abrasas,  a 
mystical  term  for  Deity,  and  Heb.  dabar,  Divine 
Word ;  the  C  is  really  the  S  of  the  word  in  its 
Greek  form  (Littre).  (Abraxas.) 

Abrahamites.  Bohemian  deists  of  the  last 
century,  who  professed  the  faith  of  Abraham 
before  circumcision.  Their  existence  was  short. 

Abraham  Man.  An  impostor,  who  per- 
sonated "  poor  Tom  of  Bedlam,"  i.e.  the  harm- 
less incurable  lunatic,  who  went  about  in  squalid 
dress,  singing  songs  and  driving  a  good  trade. 
(See  Edgar's  account  of  himself  in  King 
Lear.}  Shamming  Abraham  is  still  slang. 

Abramis.  [Gr.  &0pa/*fy.]  Gen.  of  fresh- 
water fish  ;  Europe,  W.  Asia,  N.  America  ;  as 
the  common  bream  (Abramis  Brama).  Fam. 
Cyprinidse,  ord.  Physostomi,  sub-class  TelSostei. 

Abranchian,  Abranchiate.  [Gr.  a  neg., 
gills}  Without  gills.  Among  Verte- 


ABRA 


ACAN 


brates — reptiles,  birds,  and  mammals  ;  among 
Annelids— leeches  and  earthworms. 
A  bras  ouverts.  |_Fr-]  With  open  arms. 
Abraxas,  or  Abrasax  Stones.  A  word  first  used 
by  the  Basiliclians,  a  Gnostic  sect,  as  expressing 
the  number  of  spirits  or  deities  subject  to  the 
supreme  deity,  365.  The  letters  which  make 
up  the  word  A.  stand  in  Greek  numerals  for  I,  2, 
100,  I,  60,  I,  200  =  365.  [Pers.  Abraxas  or 
Abrasas,  God,}  (Abracadabra.)  Stones  have 
been  found  bearing  this  name  written,  together 
with  an  emblem,  the  body  of  a  man,  or  serpent, 
or  fowl. 

Abreuvoir.  [Fr.  from  L.  adbibe'rare,  to  give 
drink.}  1.  A  drinking-place  for  cattle,  etc.  2. 
A  joint  between  stones,  to  be  filled  in  with 
mortar. 

Abrogation.  [L.  abrogatio, -nem.]  The  repeal 
of  a  law  by  competent  authority  ;  the  inversion 
of  the  process  by  which,  in  the  Roman  comitia, 
the  votes  of  the  curies  or  tribes  were  asked  for 
a  measure. 

Abscissa.    (Co-ordinates.) 
Absentee.     One  who  derives  his  income  from 
one    country,    but    resides    and    spends    it    in 
another. 

Absentem  laedit  cum  ebrlo  qui  Htigat.  [L.] 
He  injures  the  absent  who  quarrels  with  a  drunken 
man  ;  the  absence  of  sense  being  tantamount  to 
personal  absence. 

Absinthe.  An  aromatic  liqueur  prepared  from 
some  of  the  small  alpine  species  of  Artemisia. 

Absinthine.  The  bitter  principle  of  wormwood 
[Gr.  ufyivQiov},  Artemisia  Absinthium. 

Absit.  [L.,  let  him  be  absent^}  Written  leave 
to  be  absent  for  one  night  from  college,  during 
a  term  of  residence. 

Absit  omen.  [L.,  may  the  omen  be  absent^} 
God  forbid ! 

Absolute,  Sir  Anthony.    A  character  in  The 
Rivals  of  Sheridan ;  generous,  irritable,  over-bear- 
ing.   Captain  A.,  a  bold,  adroit,  determined  man. 
Absolve  a  doubt  or  difficult  passage,  =  clear 
up,  explain.     [L.  absolve,  I  unloose.~\ 

Absolvi  ammam  meam,  or  Hberavi  animam 
meam.  [L.]  1  have  relieved  my  soul  (conscience), 
especially  by  an  ineffectual  protest. 

Absonous.  [L.  absonus.]  Discordant,  con 
trary  to,  not  in  harmony  with. 

Absorbents.  [L.  absorbentes,  part,  of  ab 
sorbeo,  I  suck  up.}  A  system  of  delicate  vessels, 
pervading  the  entire  body,  whose  function  is  to 
take  up  substances  and  convey  them  into  the 
mass  of  the  circulating  fluid.  Of  these,  the 
Lacteals  [L.  lac,  milk}  convey  the  chyle  from 
the  stomach  and  intestines  ;  the  Lymphatics  [L. 
lympha,  water}  absorb  all  redundant  matter 
throughout  the  body  (Lymph).  A  drug  which 
stimulates  such  vessels  is  called  absorbent,  e.g. 
calomel. 

Absorbing  wells  are  sunk  through  retentive 
ground  into  permeable  ground,  to  get  rid,  by  in 
filtration,  of  liquids  thrown  in. 

Absque  imputatione  vasti.  [Leg.  L.,  without 
impeachment  of  waste.}  Said  of  life  tenure ;  a 
reservation  securing  tenant  against  being  suec 
for  (non-malicious)  waste. 


Abstention.     In  Politics,  refraining  from  the 
exercise  of  public  rights,  especially  from  voting. 
Abstersive.    [L.  abs,  jfrww,  off,  tergeo,  /  wipe.} 
Able  to  wipe  away,  cleanse. 

Abstinence,    Days  of.     [L.    abstinentia,    the 
holding   off  from    anything.}     In   the    Roman 
Church,  days  on  which  the  eating  of  flesh  is  for- 
bidden,   as  distinguished  from  days  of  fasting, 
when    only    one    meal  is  allowed  during   the 
wenty-four  hours. 
Abstraction.     (Predicable.) 
Abstract  number.     A  number   the    unit  of 
which  denotes  no  particular  thing  ;  e.g.  twelve 
as  distinguished  from  twelve  apples. 

Abstract  of  title.  (Leg. )  Epitome  of  evidence 
of  ownership. 

Absurdum,  Reductio  ad.     (Reductio.) 

Abudah.  In  Ridley's  Tales  of  the  Genii,  a 
merchant  of  Bagdad,  driven  by  a  little  old  hag 
to  search  for  Oromanes'  talisman. 

Abuna.     Abyssinian  high  priest. 

Ab  uno  disce  omnes.  [L.,  from  one  (man) 
know  all  (his)  associates^}  Take  this  as  a 
specimen. 

A-burton.  (Naut.)  Spoken  of  casks  stowed 
athwart  ship?. 

Abuse  of  process.  (Leg.)  Obtaining  advan- 
tage by  some  intentional  irregularity  in  the  form 
of  legal  proceedings. 

Abuttal.  The  boundary  of  land ;  land  is  said 
to  abut  on  this  road  or  that  river. 

Academics.    (Academy.) 

Academy  figure.  A  drawing  generally  made 
in  black  and  white  chalk  from  a  living  model, 
as  by  students  at  an  Academy^  of  Arts. 

Academy,  Philosophy  of,  i.e.  Platonism.  The 
Academia  (called  after  its  supposed  owner,  the 
hero  Academos),  being  a  garden  in  the  suburbs 
of  Athens,  where  Socrates  discoursed,  and  Plato 
taught  for  nearly  half  a  century.  Hence  A.  = 
seat  of  learning. 

Acadia.    Indian  name  of  Nova  Scotia. 

Acajou.  1.  Mahogany  ;  the  word  originally 
American,  and  introduced  with  the  article, 
eighteenth  century.  2.  Applied  also  to  the 
Cashew  nut  (Anacardium  occidentale). 

Acalephae.  [Gr.  cbroX^iN)  a  nettle."}  Sea- 
nettles,  sea-blubbers,  jelly-fish.  A  class  (in 
Cuvier's  system)  of  Radiata  (q.v.},  soft  and 
gelatinous,  mostly  with  stinging  hairs ;  e.g. 

Acanthion.  [Gr.  &KavOa,  a  thorn.}  Gen.  of 
flat-spined  porcupine  ;  two  species.  India  and 
Islands.  Fam.  Hystricidae,  ord.  Rodentia. 

AcanthSphis.  [Gr.  &Kav6a,  a  thorn,  o</>is,  a 
serpent. ~\  Gen.  of  venomous  serpents,  allied  to 
vipers,  having  a  horny  spur  at  the  end  of  the 
tail.  Australia,  Moluccas,  New  Guinea. 

Acanthopterygii.  [Gr.  foa^a,  a  thorn,  irrep-v^, 
-vyos,  a  fin.}  Ord.  of  fish,  with  some  of  their 
fin  rays  spinous,  as  perch.  A.  Pharyngognathi 
have  anchylosed  pharyngeal  bones,  and  are  gene- 
rally provided  with  teeth,  as  the  wrasse ;  sub- 
class Teleostel 

Acanthus.  [Gr.  &Kav9a,  a  thorn.}  1.  Brank- 
ursine,  Bear's  breech,  Bear's  foot,  type  gen.  of 
Acanthaceae.  2.  Sometimes  also  the  gum-pro- 


ACAP 


ACCO 


ducing  Acacia  vera  of  Africa  (Virgil,  Geo.  \.  119, 
and  Milton,  Paradise  Lost,  iv.  696).  3.  (Arch.) 
In  Cor.  and  Comp.  orders,  the  foliage  of  the 
capital ;  suggested,  according  to  Vitruvius,  by 
the  leaves  of  some  acanthous  plant. 

A  cappella.  [It.]  1.  In  old  Church  style, 
unaccompanied,  as  in  the  Sistine  Chapel.  2. 
Alia  Breve  (q.v.}. 

Acarus.  [Gr.  &Kap-i,  ~ia,  mite."]  Gives  its 
name  to  fam.  Acarida,  containing  mites,  ticks, 
water- mites,  as  cheese-m.,  itch-m.,  nose- worm 
(Demodex  folliculorum)  ;  class  Arachmda. 

Acatalectio.  [Gr.  a,Ka.ra.Ki]KTiK6s,  a  neg.,  /cora- 
\-hyu),  I  leave  off.~\  In  Prosody,  a  verse  in  which 
a  syllable  is  not  wanting  at  the  end.  Catalectic 
[/caraATj/CTi/c^s,  leaving  o/"],  with  one  syllable 
deficient. 

Acaulous.  [Gr.  o  neg.,  Kav\6s,  a  stem.~]  A 
term  sometimes  used  in  Bot.  to  mean  having  no 
stem,  or  a  short  concealed  one. 

Accadian.  A  name  denoting  the  language 
of  the  primitive  inhabitants  of  Chaldsea,  found 
in  cuneiform  inscriptions.  It  is  agglutinative. 

Accelerating  force.  [L.  accelero,  /  hasten.] 
Force  considered  simply  with  reference  to  the 
rate  at  which  it  increases  the  velocity  of  a 
moving  body ;  called  also  the  accelerating 
quantity,  the  accelerative  effect,  and  sometimes 
merely  the  acceleration  of  the  force. 

Acceleration  of  sidereal  on  mean  solar  time. 
When  the  same  portion  of  time  is  estimated  both 
in  mean  solar  units  and  in  sidereal  units,  the 
numerical  excess  of  the  latter  over  the  former 
is  called  the  Acceleration;  thus,  2  h.  30  m-  of 
mean  solar  (ordinary  clock)  time  equals  2  h. 
30  m.  24*64  s.  of  sidereal  time — the  24*64 
seconds  being  the  acceleration. 

Acceleration  of  the  moon's  mean  motion.  A 
minute  secular  diminution  in  the  length  of  the 
lunar  month,  which  becomes  appreciable  only 
after  centuries. 

Acceleration  of  a  force.     (Accelerating  force.) 

Accent.  [L.  accentus ;  ad,  to,  cantus,  melody '.] 
1.  (Gram.)  Stress  laid  on  a  syllable  in  a  word, 
or  word  in  a  sentence.  2.  Melodic  A.  The 
relative  pitch  of  syllables  according  to  special 
laws  in  certain  languages,  as  Greek,  Latin, 
Sanskrit,  Hebrew,  Chinese.  In  Greek,  there 
are  three  accents  ;  acute  (high),  as  \6yov  ;  grave 
(low),  as  T\)V  \6yov ;  circumflex  (from  high  to 
low),  as  TT)S.  In  French,  the  accents,  acute  '  , 
grave  x,  circumflex  A,  vary  the  pronunciation, 
not  the  melodic  pitch  of  vowels. 

In  Math,  a  mark  put  above  a  letter  or  figure  : 
1.  To  distinguish  between  quantities  that  are 
alike  in  certain  respects  ;  thus,  in  a  dynamical 
question  it  may  be  convenient  to  indicate  a 
number  of  distinct  portions  of  time  by  the  letters 
t'j  t",  t'",  etc.  2.  To  indicate  the  minutes  and 
seconds  of  an  angle,  as  15'  37".  3.  Sometimes 
minutes  and  seconds  of  time  are  thus  indicated. 
4.  To  indicate  feet  and  inches  in  working 
drawings,  as  5'  7"  for  5  ft.  7  in. 

Acceptance.  An  engagement  by  one  upon 
whom  a  bill  of  exchange  is  drawn,  to  pay  it 
when  due  according  to  the  terms  expressed. 

Acceptilation.     [L.  acceptilatiS,  -nem  ;  lit.  a 

2 


carrying  aiuay  of  the  thing  received."]  Acknow- 
ledgment of  receipt,  and  release  from  debt, 
though  not  really  paid. 

Acceptor.  [L.]  A  drawee  who  accepts  (admits 
his  liability  for  the  amount  of)  a  bill  of  exchange 
(q.v.}. 

Accessary,  subst.,  Accessory,  adj.  [L.  accessa- 
rius,  from  accessor,  one  -who  draws  near  to  (Du- 
cange).]  1.  Contributing  to  a  design,  or  to  the 
character  and  quality  of  a  thing,  either  in  a  good 
or  a  bad  sense  ;  especially,  2,  one  not  present  at 
the  commission  of  a  crime,  yet  in  some  way 
acceding  to  it,  consentient,  either  before  or 
after. 

Accessio  cedit  principal!.  [L.]  A  maxim  of 
law ;  an  accessory  thing  when  annexed  to  a 
principal  thing  becomes  part  and  parcel  of  the 
latter  :  so  the  trees  go  with  the  soil.  Accessio, 
in  Rom.  Law,  is  a  mode  of  acquisition  of 
property  by  natural  means ;  in  Eng.  Law, 
Accretion. 

Accessory  stops.  (Mus.)  Pedals,  e.g.  couplers, 
composition  pedals,  which  act  mechanically  upon 
others,  and  have  no  pipes  in  connexion  with 
them. 

Acciatura.     ( Appoggiatura. ) 

Accidence.  An  elementary  book,  teaching  the 
accidents,  i.e.  modification  of  words,  as  by 
inflexion,  declension. 

Accldens,  Per.  [L.]  By  an  accidental,  not  an 
essential,  characteristic;  opposed  to  per  se:  the 
sun  shines  per  se,  the  moon  per  accidens. 

Accident.     (Fredicable.) 

Accidental  colours.  Colours  depending  on  the 
affections  of  the  eye.  If  after  looking  steadily  at 
a  coloured  window  we  look  at  a  white  wall,  we 
see  a  ghost  of  the  window  in  complementary 
colours  ;  this  is  an  A.  image  of  the  window,  and 
its  colours  are  A.  colours. 

Accidental  point.  In  perspective,  the  vanish- 
ing point,  that  is,  the  point  in  the  perspective 
plane  where  any  given  set  of  parallel  stiaight 
lines  in  the  object  viewed  appears  to  meet.  It 
is  found  by  drawing  a  straight  line  from  the 
spectator's  eye  to  the  perspective  plane,  parallel 
to  the  given  lines.  It  is  called  accidental  to 
distinguish  it  from  the  principal  point,  or  point 
of  sight,  which  is  the  point  where  a  perpen- 
dicular line  from  the  spectator's  eye  meets  the 
perspective  plane. 

Accipitres.  [L.  accipiter,  bird  of  prey."}  Ord. 
of  birds.  Birds  of  prey,  as  eagles,  owls,,  vul- 
tures. Obvious  external  characteristics — power- 
ful, crooked  beak,  and  talons. 

Accite.    [L.  accltus,  summoned.']   To  summon. 

Acclamation.  [L.  acclamatio,  -nem.}  In  the 
language  of  the  Conclave,  a  pope  is  said  to  be 
elected  by  acclamation  when  he  is  proclaimed  by 
the  voices  of  a  sufficient  number  of  cardinals  at 
once;  he  is  elected  \)y  Adoration  when  a  cardinal 
kneels  before  him,  and  the  necessary  number 
follow  his  example. 

Acclimatize.  [Gr.  K\i/j.a,  a  climate."}  To 
accustom  a  plant  or  animal  to  a  climate  other 
than  its  natural  one. 

Accolade.  [Fr.]  The  slight  blow  on  the  neck 
[Fr.  col]  or  shoulder  ;  as  the  last  insult  to  be 


ACCO 


ACKE 


endured  (?) ;  which  afterwards  became  an  em- 
brace in  dubbing  a  knight.     (J'adoube.) 

Accolent.  [L.  accolentem,  part,  of  accolo,  7 
dwell  near.}  A  borderer. 

Accommodation.  [L.  accommodatio,  -nem.] 
Bill  of  exchange;  a  bill  accepted,  drawn,  or 
endorsed  by  A  to  accommodate  B,  who  engages 
to  pay  the  bill  when  due,  or  at  least  that  A 
shall  not  be  loser  on  the  bill. 

Accost.  [L.  ad  costam,  at  or  to  the  side.] 
Now  meaning  to  address,  had  an  earlier  meaning, 
to  adjoin  ;  at  the  shore,  land  accosts  the  sea.  So 
(ffer. )  Accosted  or  Cottised,  said  of  a  bend,  etc.  , 
when  placed  between  cottises,  or  narrow  bends. 

Account,  Stockbroking.  The  fortnightly  settle- 
ment on  the  Stock  Exchange,  when  all  bargains 
not  settled  off-hand  should  be  concluded  ;  but  vide 
Backwardation;  Contango;  Continuations. 

Accoutrements.  (Mil.)  Belts  and  pouches  of 
a  soldier.  [Fr.  accoutrer,  to  dress  tip,  perhaps  = 
L.L.  accustodire,  to  take  care  of ;  the  coustre,  or 
sacristan,  having  the  care  of  vestments. — Skeat, 
Etymological  English  Dictionary. 

Accrescent.  [L.  accrescentem,  part,  of  accresco, 
/  groiu  on  toJ\  (Bot.)  Said  of  an  organ  per- 
sistently growing  larger,  e.g.  a  calyx  after  the 
flowering. 

Accretion.    (Accessio  cedit  principali.) 

Accroach.  [Fr.  accrocher,  to  hook  on  to,  croc, 
a  hook."]  To  encroach  upon  royal  prerogative. 

Accruing  costs.  (Leg.)  Expenses  incurred 
after  judgment. 

Accrument.  [Fr.  accru,  part,  of  accroitre,  to 
increase.  ]  Add  ition. 

Accubation  [L.  accubatio,  -nem,  accubo,  7 
recline  at  or  near]  or  accumbent  posture  ;  that  of 
the  Romans  who,  at  meals,  reclined  on  the  left 
elbow. 

Accumulation,  Argument  by,     (Soritic.) 

Ace.  1.  A  unit  [L.  as].  2.  A  card  marked 
with  a  single  point  or  figure,  as  an  ace  of  hearts. 
Sometimes  =  the  smallest  quantity ;  "not  an  ace. " 

AcephalL  [Gr.  a-Ke<pa\os,  not-headed.'}  (Zool.) 
Bivalve  molluscs  proper  (Lamellibranchiata), 
as  the  oyster,  clam,  and  teredo. 

AcephalL  [Gr.  a.Kf<pa\os,  without  a  head.~\ 
1.  An  Egyptian  Eutychian  sect,  fifth  century, 
separated  from  the  Patriarch  of  Alexandria,  who 
had  subscribed  Zeno's  HSnoticon.  2.  Said  of 
bishops  exempt  from  metropolitan  or  patriarchate 
jurisdiction. 

Aceraceae.  An  ord.  of  trees,  of  which  the 
common  maple  (acer  campestre)  is  the  type. 

Aceric.  [L.  ac£r,  -is.]  Obtained  from  the 
maple. 

Acerose.  [L.  acerosus,  acus,  aceris,  a  pointed 
thing."]  (Bot.)  Needle-shaped,  like  the  leaves 
of  a  fir. 

Acerra.  1.  A  box  for  incense,  at  Roman 
funerals.  2.  An  altar  on  which  incense  was 
burnt. 

Acetabulum.  [L.]  1.  A  small  cup  for  vinegar 
[acetum]  in  Roman  antiquities ;  in  Gr.  o£i5- 
&a.$ov,  oxybaphon  (q.v.).  2.  (Anat.)  The  cup- 
shaped  cavity  in  the  pelvis,  into  which  the  head 
of  the  femur  is  articulated.  Acetabuliferous, 
Caving  cups  or  suckers,  like  cuttle-fish. 


Acetarious.  f_L.  acetarius.]  Used  in  salad 
[L.  acetaria,  plu.],  as  lettuce,  etc. 

Acetic  acid.  An  acid  formed  by  the  oxidation 
of  alcohol.  It  derives  its  name  from  vinegar 
[L.  acetum],  which  is  a  weak  impure  acetic 
acid.  Its  salts  are  called  acetates. 

Acetone.  A  volatile,  inflammable  fluid,  also 
called  pyroacetic  acid. 

Achaemenidean  inscriptions.  Records  in- 
scribed in  old  Bactrian  or  old  Persian,  of  a  later 
period  than  the  Zend-Avesta,  relating  to  Darius 
(descendant  of  Achaemenes)  and  his  dynasty. 

Achaian  (Achaean)  League.  A  confederacy 
of  the  twelve  Achaian  towns  in  the  north  of  the 
Peloponnesus,  which  rose  into  great  historical 
importance  after  B.C.  280. — Freeman,  History  of 
federal  Government,  vol.  i.  ch.  5- 

Achates.  [Gr.]  The  Achates  of  the  ancients 
was  i.q.  modern  Jasper.  (Agate.) 

Achates,  Fidus,  =  a  faithful  companion,  as 
Achates  was  of  y£neas. 

Acheenese,  or  Atcheenese,  of  Acheen,  or  At- 
cheen.  Small  independent  kingdom  In  north- 
west of  Sumatra. 

Achene,  Achenium.  [Gi\  o  neg.,  xa^w>  I SaPe-\ 
(Bot.)  Small  brittle  seed-like  fruit,  e.g.  the  so- 
called  "  seed  "  of  the  strawberry.  (Indehiscent.) 

Acheron.  [Gr.,  from  a  root  which  has  given 
the  names  Achel6us,  Axius,  Exe,  Usk,  Usque- 
[baugh],  whiskey,  and  many  others  denoting 
water.}  A  river  (i)  in  Thesprotia,  (2)  in  Italy, 
(3)  in  the  nether  world  of  Hades,  mistakenly 
supposed  in  this  instance  to  be  so  named  as 
flowing  with  aches,  grief,  and  pains,  as  if  from 
&XOSJ  ache,  pain^  and  £e«,  7  flow.  (Lethe; 
Phlegethon;  Styx.) 

A  cheval.  [Fr.,  on  horseback]  (Mil}  Said  of 
troops  placed  so  that  a  river  or  road  passing 
through  the  centre  is  at  right  angles  with  the 
front. 

Achievement.  [Fr.  achever,  to  bring  to  a  head 
or  end.}  Any  sign,  ensign,  of  deeds  performed  ; 
now  corrupted  into  hatchment. 

Achilleine.  The  bitter  principle  of  milfoil,  or 
yarrow,  AchillSa  millefolium,  ord.  Cc 

Achilles.     (Nereids.) 

Achlamydeous.  [Gr.  xAfyfa,  «  cloak,}  Plants 
without  calyx  or  corolla,  having  no  floral  enve- 
lope, e.g.  willow. 

Achne.  [Gr.  #xj/r?>  a particle  on  the  surface."} 
Small  hard  inflamed  tubercles  on  the  skin.  Often 
written,  incorrectly,  acne. 

Achromatic.  [Gr.  d  neg,,  xpu/j.0,,  colour."} 
Not  showing  colour,  as  A.  lenses,  A.  telescopes, 
etc.,  in  which  chromatic  dispersion  is  wholly  or 
nearly  corrected. 

Acicular.  [L.  acicula,  a  small  pin  or  needle."} 
(Bot.  and  Min.)  Slender  and  pointed. 

Acidimetry.  [L.  acidus,  acid^  and  Gr.  /uerpeTi/, 
to  measure]  The  art  of  measuring  the  free  acid 
contained  in  any  liquid. 

Aciform.    [L.  acus.]    Of  the  shape  of  a  needle. 

Acinaciform.  [L.  acinaces.]  Of  the  shape  of 
a  scimitar. 

Aciniform.  [L.  acinus.]  Of  the  shape  of  a 
grapestone. 

Acker,  i.e.  Eager,  or  Eagor.    (Bore.) 


Compositse. 


ACLI 


ACTI 


Aclinic  line.  [Gr.  a  neg. ,  KXivu,  I  make  to 
slant. ]  The  magnetic  equator,  or  line  joining 
all  those  places  on  the  earth  where  the  magnetic 
needle  has  no  inclination  or  dip,  i.e.  where  it  is 
horizontal. 

Acme.  [Gr.]  (Rhet.)  The  extreme  height  of 
pathos  or  sentiment  to  which  the  hearer  is  led 
by  a  climax  [Gr.  KAijuo£,  a  ladder]  or  series  of 
impressions,  each  more  intense  than  the  pre- 
ceding. 

Acoemetae.  [Gr.  oKof/wjTos,  sleepless.]  An 
order  of  nuns  of  the  fourth  century ;  so  called 
because,  in  their  convents,  the  offices  were  said 
without  interruption  day  and  night.  In  the 
following  century  an  order  of  monks  was  estab- 
lished at  Constantinople,  for  the  like  purpose. 

Acolyte.  [Gr.  o.K6\ovQos,  follower,  O.E.  colet] 
One  of  the  minor  ecclesiastical  orders  who 
attends  the  priest  in  the  ministry  of  the  altar. 

Aeon.  (Naut. )  A  flat-bottomed  boat ;  Medi- 
terranean. 

Aconite.  [Gr.  a.K6vlrov,  L.  acomtum.]  Monks- 
hood  (Acomtum  Napellus),  ord.  Ranunculacese. 
A  poisonous  plant,  with  long  tapering  root,  di- 
vided leaves,  and  tall  stems  bearing  racemes  of 
purple  flowers  ;  cultivated  in  gardens  for  orna- 
ment and  for  medicinal  purposes  ;  root  sometimes 
mistaken  for  horse-radish,  with  fatal  results. 

Acotyledonous.  [Gr;  a  neg.,  /coruArjScoi/,  a 
cup-shaped  cavity]  (Bot.)  Vegetating  without 
the  aid  of  cotyledons,  or  seed-lobes  ;  =  Linnaean 
Cryptogamia,  e.g.  ferns,  lichens,  mosses. 

Acoustics.  [Gr.  a.Kovo-Tii<6s,  having  to  do  -with 
hearing.~\  The  theory  of  sound. 

Acquest.  [L.  acquire,  I  acquire.]  Acquisition  ; 
in  Law,  property  not  inherited. 

Acquittance  roll  [Fr.  acquitter,  L.  adquie- 
tare]  shows  the  debts  and  credits  o£  each  non- 
commissioned officer  and  soldier  of  a  regiment, 
and  is  signed  monthly  by  him  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  its  accuracy. 

Acrasia.  [Gr.  aKpao-ia,  incontinence.]  In 
Spenser's  Faery  Queen,  an  enchantress,  personi- 
fying want  of  self-control. 

Acre.  [L.  ager,  a  field.]  An  area  of  4840 
square  yards.  The  Scotch  acre  is  1*27  of  an 
English  acre,  the  Irish  nearly  I  '62. 

Acre-fight.  A  border  combat  between  the 
English  and  the  Scotch. 

Acre,  God's.  [Ger.  Gottes-acker.]  A  burial- 
ground. 

Acrita  [Gr.  &KP\TOS,  not  exercising  judgment, 
i.e.  being  almost  destitute  of  sensation],  i.q. 
Protozoa  (q.v.). 

Acrito-chromacy.  The  being  unable  to  dis- 
tinguish [Gr.  &Kplros]  colour  [xp^M0]-  (Dys- 
chromatopsy.) 

Aero-.    [Gr.  &Kpos.]    Topmost,  extreme. 
Acroama.     (Anagnostes.) 
Acroamatic,  Acroatic.     [Gr.  a/cpoc^ai-i/ccfe,  de- 
signed for  hearing,  aKpodo^at,  I  hear]    The  oral 
teaching  of  philosophers,  for   intimate    friends 
only.     (Esoteric.) 

Acrobat.  [Gr.  a.Kp<$P8.Tos,  from  &Kpos,  high, 
jScuVw,  I  go.]  A  rope-dancer ;  and  so  a  gymnast 
generally. 

Acrogens.    [Gr.  tiucpos,  topmost,  y'ryvofiiat,  -y 


I  am  produced.]  (Bot.)  One  of  the  primary 
classes  of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  according  to 
the  Natural  system,  =  the  Cryptogams  of  the 
Linnaean.  The  term  applies  literally  to  those 
plants  whose  stems  increase  by  growth  at  the 
summit,  e.g.  tree-ferns,  club-mosses,  etc.,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  the  manner  of  growth  of  Exogens 
and  of  Endogens. 

Acroleine.  [L.  acre  oleum,  acrid  oil]  A 
pungent  volatile  fluid,  produced  by  the  action  of 
heat  on  fats. 

Acrolith.  [Gr.  d.Kp6\Wos,  from  &Kpos,  ex- 
treme, \idos,  stone]  A  name  given  to  the  oldest 
Greek  statues,  the  body  being  still  of  wood  and 
draped,  but  the  extremities,  head,  arms,  feet, 
of  marble ;  marking  the  transition  into  marble 
statuary. 

Acromonogrammaticum.  [Gr.  &icpos,  extreme, 
fj.6vos,  only,  •Ypd/j.fjLa,  a  letter.]  A  poetical  com- 
position of  which  every  verse  begins  with  the 
last  letter  of  the  preceding  line. 

Acronychal.  [Gr.  dupfovxos,  happening  at 
nightfall.]  The  rising  or  setting  of  a  star  is 
A.  when  it  rises  as  the  sun  sets  and  sets  as 
the  sun  rises.  The  Cosmical  rising  and  setting 
is  the  opposite,  viz.  the  star  rises  as  the  sun 
rises  and  sets  as  the  sun  sets.  Also  spelt,  incor- 
rectly, Acronical. 

Acropolis.  [Gr.]  The  citadel,  or  upper  town 
of  a  Greek  city. 

Acrospire.  The  slight  coil  or  curve  [Gr. 
<nre?pa]  at  the  end  [&Kpov]  of  the  germinating 
seed,  e.g.  in  barley. 

Acrostic.  [Gr.  dKp6ffT*ixov,  i>  the  beginningoj 
averse,  2,  an  acrostic  poem.]  A  piece  of  poetry 
in  which  the  first  letters — or,  according  to  modern 
use  of  the  word  A.,  the  first,  or  the  last,  or  some 
central  one — of  every  line,  taken  consecutively, 
make  a  word  or  a  sentence. 

Acroterion.  [Gr.  dKpur-fiptov,  extremity] 
(Arch.)  A  short  pedestal  for  a  statue,  at  the 
apex  and  the  extremities  of  a  pediment. 

Act,  Acta.  In  Rome,  records  of  public  pro- 
ceedings, as  A.  populi,  Senatus,  etc.,  at  one  time 
published  as  a  kind  of  newspaper.  Hence,  in 
later  times,  Philosophical  "  Transactions,"  Acts 
of  Parliament,  Fr.  acte  authentique  ;  and  to  keep 
an  act,  i.e.  perform  a  public  exercise,  for  a  degree. 

Acta  Diurna.  [L.]  The  records  of  the  daily 
acts  of  the  Senate,  published  by  the  order  of 
Julius  Caesar. 

Acta  Martyrum,  [L.]  Records  of  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  martyrs.  St.  Augustine  speaks  of 
these  records  as  being  read  to  the  people  on  their 
festival  days. 

Acta  Sanct5rum.  [L.]  A  title  given  to  the 
records  of  the  lives  of  saints,  the  most  celebrated 
collection  being  that  of  the  Bollandists.  (Sanc- 
torale.) 

Actes.  [Fr.]  In  Fr.  Law,  documents  (Act), 
e.g.  A.  de  deces,  de  mariage,  certificates  of 
death,  marriage. 

Actian  Games.  (Hist.)  Games  celebrated  at 
Actium,  on  the  Ambracian  Gulf,  in  honour  of 
Apollo,  and  renewed  with  increased  splendour 
by  Octavius  after  his  victory  over  M.  Antonius. 

Actinia.     [Gr.  daris,  a/crlj/os,  a  ray  of  the  sun] 


ACTI 


10 


Sea-anemone,  giving  its  name  to  fam.  Actlmdse, 
class  Actinozoa,  sub-class  Ccelenterata. 

Actinic  rays.  [Gr.  d/cris,  OLKTWOS,  a  ray  of 
the  sun.]  The  rays  of  the  spectrum  by  which 
chemical  changes  are  produced,  as  in  photo - 

Actinograph.  [Gr.  d/crk,  ypdQw,  I  write.]  An 
instrument  for  registering  variations  in  the  in- 
tensity of  the  actinic  rays. 

Actinolite.  [Gr.  d/crfc,  \iOos,  a  stone.']  A 
crystallized  mineral,  green ;  a  prismatic  variety 
of  hornblende. 

Actinometer.  [Gr.  OKT/S,  fierpov,  measure.] 
An  instrument  for  measuring  the  intensity  of  the 
sun's  radiant  heat. 

Action.  [L.  actI5,  -nem.]  (Mil.)  An  engage- 
ment of  minor  proportions  to  those  of  a  battle. 

Action  of  a  moving  system,  or  Quantity  of 
Action,  is  a  quantity  proportional  to  the  average 
kinetic  energy  of  the  system  during  a  certain 
time,  multiplied  by  the  time.  (For  Action  and 
Reaction,  vide  Eeaction.) 

Act  of  God,  By  the.  In  Law ;  caused  by 
something  beyond  human  control,  as  a  lightning 
stroke,  a  hurricane. 

Actuality.  [L.  actualis,  belonging  to  an  act.] 
Real  existence  of  some  state,  quality,  or  action  ; 
opposed  to  Potentiality  (q.v.),  and  to  that  which 
is  Virtual  (q.v.). 

Actuary.  [L.  actuarius.]  1.  In  the  Roman 
courts,  an  officer  who  drew  up  contracts  and 
other  instruments  in  the  presence  of  the  magis- 
trate. 2.  The  registering  clerk  of  Convocation. 
3.  A  calculator  of  the  value  of  life  interests, 
annuities,  etc. 

Actum  est  de.     [L.]    All  is  over  with. 

Actus  non  facit  reum,  nisi  mens  sit  rea.  In 
Law ;  the  act  does  not  make  a  man  a  criminal, 
unless  the  intention  be  criminal. 

Aculeate.  [L.  aculeus,  a  sting,  sharp  point.  ] 
(Bot.)  Covered  with  prickles,  which  are  cellular; 
while  thorns  or  spines  grow  from  the  wood,  and 
are  stiff  shortened  branches. 

Acuminate  leaf  [L.  acumen,  a  point]  has  a 
projecting,  tapering  point,  e.g.  the  common 
reed  ;  Acute  being  simply  pointed. 

Acupressure.  (Med.)  -The  occlusion  of  an 
artery  by  fhe  pressure  [L.  pressura]  of  a  needle 
[acus]  in  such  a  way  as  to  arrest  the  circulation 
through,  or  the  hemorrhage  from  it. 

Acupuncture.  (Med.)  Pricking \L.  punctura] 
of  the  affected  parts  with  a  needle  [acus],  for 
remedial  purposes. 

Acute  disease  [L.  acutus,  sharp]  is  opposed  to 
Chronic;  acute  sound  or  accent  to  grave ;  acute 
angle  is  less  than,  obtuse  more  than,  90°. 

Acuyari.  (Bot.)  The  wood  of  the  Icica 
altissima,  a  resinous  tree  of  Guiana. 

Adactyle.  [Gr.  dneg.,  Sa/crCAos,  finger,  toe.] 
Zool.)  Without  separated  toes,  as  the  horse. 

Adage.     [L.  adagium.]    A  proverb. 

Adagio.     [It.]     (Mus.)     Slowly,  leisurely. 

Adamant.  [Gr.  dSdjuav,  dneg.,  Sa^udw,  I  tame.] 
1.  With  the  Greek  poets,  the  hardest  metal,  it 
is  not  certain  what.  2.  The  diamond.  Adamas, 
both  in  Gr.  and  in  L.,  has  both  meanings. 
Another  form  of  the  word  is  diamond,  through 


ADDI 

Fr.  diamant ;  and  another  is  Fr.  aimant,  a  load- 
stone. 

Adamantine  spar.  Brown  sapphire.  (Co- 
rundum. ) 

Adamites.  A  name  applied  to  sects  which, 
n  the  early  Christian  centuries,  and  again  in 
the  twelfth  and  fifteenth,  professed  to  imitate 
Adam's  primitive  state  of  innocence. 

Adam's  apple.  The  prominence  in  men's 
throats,  made  by  the  top  front  angle  of  the 
thyroid  cartilage  of  the  larynx.  (Thyroid.) 

Adam's  needle.     (Yucca.) 

Adams,  Parson.  A  poor  curate  and  scholar 
in  Fielding's  Joseph  Andrews;  type  of  a 
thoroughly  simple  manly  Christian. 

Adam's  Peak.  A  mountain  in  Ceylon, 
associated  with  the  name  of  Adam  and  of 
Buddha,  whose  supposed  foot-print,  seen  near 
the  summit,  attracts  yearly  thousands  of 
pilgrims. 

Ad  amussim.  [L.]  Lit.  to  the  carpenter's 
rule;  exactly. 

Adansonia.     (Baobab.) 

Adar.  [Heb.,  (1)  fire,  splendour]  Esth.  iii., 
ix. ;  sixth  month  of  Jewish  civil,  twelfth  of 
ecclesiastical  year  ;  February — March.  Ve-adar, 
i.e.  additional  A.  =  intercalary  month. 

Adatis.     A  fine  cotton  cloth  of  India. 

Adawlut,  Sudder.     (Sudder.) 

Ad  Calendas  Grsecas  [L.,  to  the  Greek 
Calends],  i.e.  never.  (Calends.) 

Ad  captandum.  [L.,  for  catching]  Addressed 
to  prejudice,  fancy,  ignorance,  rather  than  to 
well-informed  reason. 

Ad  crumenam,  Argumentum.  [L.,  argument 
to  the  purse.]  An  argument  addressed  to  one's 
power  of  or  interest  in  spending. 

Adda.  Small  burrowing  lizard  (Scincus  offi- 
cinalis),  supposed  to  be  remedial  in  leprosy  and 
all  cutaneous  diseases.  Arabia,  Egypt,  Nubia. 

Addendum.  [L.,  a  thing  to  be  added]  In 
mechanics,  the  distance  by  which  the  teeth  of  a 
toothed  wheel  project  beyond  the  pitch  circle. 

Adder.  [A.S.  nsedre,  an  adder,  properly 
nadder,  a  swimming  or  water-snake ;  some  refer 
it  to  A.S.  attor,  poison  ]  (Bibl.).  Four  Heb. 
words  are  in  the  Authorized  Version  represented 
by  adder  or  asp.  i.  Pethen,  the  cobra.  2. 
Shephiphon,  the  cerastes,  or  horned  viper.  3. 
Akshub,  a  species  of  viper.  4.  Tsiphonl,  cocka- 
trice (Isa.  xi.  8),  perhaps  the  cerastes. 

Adder's  tongue.  (Bot.)  Ophiogl5ssum  vul- 
gatum,  the  type  of  an  order  of  ferns  ;  so  named 
from  the  shape  of  the  spike  into  which  the 
spore-cases  are  collected. 

Addicti.     (Nexi.) 

Addiction.  [L.  addictio,  -nem.]  In  Rom. 
Law,  the  assignment  of  goods  or  slaves  to  another 
by  sale  or  the  legal  sentence  of  the  praetor. 

Addison's  disease  (described  by  Dr.  Addison, 
of  Guy's  Hospital),  or  Bronzed  skin.  A  state 
of  anaemia,  languor,  irritable  stomach,  etc., 
associated  with  disease  of  the  supra-renal 
capsules. 

Additament.  [L.  additus,  added]  An  addition. 
Addition.     [L.  addltio,  -nem.]     (Her.)     Any 
mark  of  honour  added  to  a  coat  of  arms. 


ADDL 


II 


ADM  I 


Addled  Parliament.  A  Parliament  of  1614 ; 
so  called  because  it  had  passed  no  Acts  before  it 
was  dismissed  by  James  I.  (Parliament.) 

Addlings.  (A'aut.)  Savings  of  pay.  In  Lin- 
colnshire phrase,  to  addle  is  to  earn. 

Addorsed.  [L.  ad,  to,  dorsum,  a  back.]  (Her. ) 
Back  to  back. 

Adductor.     (Abductor.) 

Adelantado.  [Sp.,  one  who  is  promoted.]  A 
governor  of  a  province  in  the  Spanish  kingdom. 

Adelphi.  A  district  south  of  the  Strand,  close 
to  Charing  Cross ;  so  called  from  the  architects, 
four  Scotch  brothers  [Gr.  d5e\<J>of]  Adams. 

Adelphia.  (Bot.)  Linnasan  name  for  a  col- 
lection, a  brotherhood  [Gr.  d8eA<J>o's,  a  brother] 
of  stamens  united  by  filaments  in  a  bundle.  It 
all  are  in  one  bundle,  Linnrean  class  xvi.,  the 
plants  are  Monadelphia;  if  in  tzve,  class  xvii., 
Diadelphia ;  if  in  three  or  more,  class  xviii. , 
Polyadelphia. 

Ademijeu,  — voix.  [Fr.]  With  half  the  power 
of  the  instrument,  — the  voice. 

Ademption.  [L.  ademptio,  -nem,  a  taking 
away,  a  seiztire.]  (Leg.)  Alienating  the  subject 
of  a  legacy  during  testator's  life. 

Aden-,  Adeno-.  (Med. )  Having  to  do  with  a 
gland  [Gr.  dSrjj/]. 

Adept.  Skilled.  [L.  adeptus,  one  who  has 
acquired,  i.e.  the  art  of  alchemy ;  part,  of 
adipiscor,  I  acquire.] 

Adessenarians.  [L.  adesse,  to  be  present] 
(Eccl.  Hist.)  Persons  holding  that  there  is  a 
real  presence  of  Christ  in  the  Eucharist,  but 
denying  that  it  is  effected  by  transubstan- 
tiation. 

Ad  eundem.  [L.]  Said  of  a  graduate  of  one 
university  admitted  to  the  same  degree  [gradum] 
at  another. 

Adhesion.  [L.  adhsesio,  -nem,  from  adhsereo, 
/  stick  to.]  1.  The  force  of  attraction  exerted 
between  the  surfaces  of  bodies  in  contact.  2. 
(Surg. )  The  reunion  of  parts  that  have  been 
severed.  3.  (Path.)  The  morbid  union  of  parts 
naturally  separated,  but  contiguous. 

Ad  hoc,  Argumentum  [L.,  argument  for  this], 
i.e.  of  particular  not  general  application. 

Ad  hominem,  Argumentum.  [L.,  argument 
to  the  man.]  Addressed  to  a  man's  special  interest 
or  feelings. 

Adhuc  sub  judice  Us  est.  [L.]  The  matter 
in  dispute  is  not  yet  decided ;  is  still  under  the 
judge. 

Adiabatic  curves.  [Gr.  dSidpaTos,  not  to  be 
passed.]  Show  the  relation  between  the  volume 
and  pressure  of  vapour  when  no  heat  is  allowed 
to  pass  in  or  out  of  the  vessel  containing  it. 

Adiantum.  [Gr.  dSiavrov,  unwetted,  d  neg., 
StotVw,  /  wet.]  A  gen.  of  ferns ;  so  called  by 
the  Greeks  because  the  leaves  are  not  readily 
wetted  by  water.  The  number  of  the  spec,  is 
very  great.  (Maidenhair.) 

Adiaphorites,  -ists.  Melanchthon's  party,  who 
assented  to  Charles  V.'s  Edict,  the  Augsburg 
Interim,  A.D.  1548,  settling  things  indifferent 
[Gr.  d§id</>opos]  until  certain  differences  could 
be  settled  by  a  Council. 

Adiaphorous.    [Gr.  aStdtyopos.]   1.  Indifferent. 


2.  (Chcm.  and  Med.)  Not  acting  one  way  or 
the  other,  e.g.  not  as  acid  or  as  alkali. 

Ad  interim.     [L.]     In  the  mean  while. 

Adipocere.  [L.  adeps,  fat,  cera,  wax.]  A 
fatty,  waxy  result  of  the  decomposition  of  animals 
in  moist  places  or  under  water. 

Adipose  tissue.  [L.  adeps,  soft  fat,  opposed 
to  sebum,  hard  fat. ~\  An  aggregation  of  minute 
spherical  closed  vesicles  of  fat. 

Adit.  [L.  aditus,  an  approach.]  A  horizontal 
entrance  to  a  mine. 

Adjective.     (Substantive,  Nouns.) 

Adjective  colours  [L.  adjectivus,  that  which 
is  added]  require  some  base  or  mordant  to  fix 
them  for  dyeing. 

Adjustment.  (Naut.]  Insurance  ;  the  process 
by  which  the  net  amount  receivable  under  a 
policy  is  determined. 

Adjustment  of  compass.  1.  The  rearranging 
of  deranged  parts  of.it.  2.  Compensation,  i.e. 
the  correction,  by  observation,  of  the  error  in 
the  deflexion  of  the  needle  caused  by  the  attrac- 
tion of  the  ship,  or  of  objects  in  her. 

Adjutant.  [L.  adjuto,  /  assist.]  An  officer, 
lieutenant  or  captain,  acting  as  assistant  to  the 
commanding  officer  ;  charged  with  instruction 
in  drill ;  with  the  interior  discipline,  duties,  and 
efficiency  of  the  regiment ;  the  control  of  the 
staff-sergeants  and  band  ;  and  having  the  charge 
of  all  documents  and  correspondence,  as  well 
as  being  the  channel  of  communication  for  all 
orders. 

Adjutant  bird.     (Argala.) 

Adjutant-General.  A  field  officer  or  general 
officer,  performing  similar  but  superior  duties  to 
those  of  an  adjutant  (q.v.),  for  a  general  com- 
manding either  a  division  (g.v.)  or  a  whole 
army. 

Ad  leones.  [L.,  to  the  lions.]  A  cry  often 
raised  against  those  of  the  early  Christians  who 
would  not  sacrifice  to  the  deified  Csesar. 

Ad  lib.,  i.e.  ad  libitum.     [L.]     At  pleasure. 

Admeasurement.  The  art  or  practice  of 
measuring  according  to  rule. 

Adminicular.  [L.  adminiculum,  a  prop,  ad, 
to,  maims,  a  hand.]  Supporting,  helping. 

Adminiculum.  [L.,  a  prop,  support.]  Generally 
used  =  evidence  in  support  of  other  evidence. 

Administration,  Letters  of.  1.  Granted  by  the 
Probate  Court,  formerly  by  the  ordinary,  to  one 
appointed  to  distribute  the  effects  of  an  intestate 
person.  2.  In  Politics,  the  A.  is  the  executive 
power,  as  distinguished  from  the  constitution  ; 
but  is  generally  used  as  =  the  Cabinet  or  the 
Ministry. 

Admirable  Crichton.     (Crichton.) 

Admirable  Doctor,  The.  Doctor  Mirabilis, 
Friar  Roger  Bacon  (1214-1292). 

Admiral.  [O.Fr.  amirail,  Ar.  amir,  prince, 
chief.]  Formerly  often  =  the  leading  vessel  in  a 
fleet. 

Admiral;  Vice-A. ;  Kear-A. ;  A.  of  Fleet. 
(Bank.)  In  the  Newfoundland  fisheries,  the  first 
three  vessels  to  arrive  are  the  A.t  Vice-A.,  and 
Rear -A.,  respectively. 

Admittatur.  [L.]  In  some  American  colleges, 
a  certificate  of  admission  ;  let  him  be  admitted. 


ADMO 


12 


ADVO 


Admonitionists.  A  name  denoting  those 
Puritans  who,  in  1571,  sent  an  "admonition" 
to  Parliament,  condemning  everything  in  the 
Church  of  England  which  did  not  harmonize 
with  the  doctrine  of  Geneva. 

Admonitions  to  Parliament,  First  and  Second. 
A  volume  of  addresses,  drawn  up  under  Cart- 
wright  (1535-1603),  sometime  Margaret  Pro- 
fessor at  Cambridge,  bitterly  denouncing  Church 
doctrine  and  discipline.  Bishop  Cooper,  of  Win- 
chester, answered  in  an  Admonition  to  the  People 
of  England,  at  Whitgift's  suggestion. 

Admortization.  [L.  ad^  to,  mortem,  death.] 
In  feudal  times,  reduction  of  property  to  mort- 
main (q.v.). 

Adnate.  [L.  adnatus, grown  to.]  (Bot.)  Grow- 
ing to  anything  by  the  whole  surface,  e.g.  an 
ovary  united  to  the  side  of  a  calyx. 

Ad  nauseam.  [L.]  To  a  sickening  degree  ;  lit. 
to  sea-sickness  [Gr.  vavaia,  vavs,  a  ship], 

Adobe.  [Sp.  adobar,  Fr.  adouber,  to  prepare, 
dress."]  A  sun-dried  brick. 

Adolescence.  [L.  adolescentia,  adolesco,  7 
grow  lip.]  The  period  between  fourteen  in  males, 
twelve  in  females,  and  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Adonic  verse.  The  last  "line  of  a  Sapphic 
stanza,  consisting  of  a  dactyl  and  a  spondee. 

Adonize.  To  deck  one's  self  like  Adonis,  the 
darling  of  Aphrodite  (Venus),  who  died  from  a 
wound  inflicted  by  the  tusk  of  a  wild  boar. 
Aphrodite  changed  his  blood  into  flowers : 
hence  the  name  AdSnis  given  to  a  gen.  of  ord. 
Ranunculacese. 

Adopter,  or  Adapter.  (Chem.}  A  two-necked 
receiver,  placed  between  a  retort  and  another 
receiver,  increasing  the  length  of  the  neck  of  the 
retort,  and  giving  more  space  to  elastic  vapours. 

Adoptians.  A  name  given  to  the  followers  of 
some  Spanish  bishops  in  the  eighth  century,  who 
maintained  that  as  to  His  humanity  Christ  was 
only  the  adopted  Son  of  the  Father. — Milman, 
History  of  Latin  Christianity,  bk.  v.  ch.  i. 

Adoration.     (Acclamation.) 

Adpressed.  (Sot.}  Brought  into  contact  with- 
out adhering. 

Ad  quod  damnum.  [L.]  A  writ  to  the  sheriff, 
to  inquire  to  what  damage  to  the  king  or  the 
public  the  granting  of  certain  liberties  might  be. 

Ad  rem.  [L.,  to  the  thing.}  To  the  purpose, 
point. 

Adscititious,  Ascititious.  [L.  adscisco,  sup. 
adscitum,  I  receive,  adopt.]  Taken  in  so  as  to 
complete ;  supplemental. 

Adscriptus  glebae.  [L.]  One  who  is  attached 
to  the  soil ;  a  serf.  (Villein.) 

Adsum.  [L.,  /  am  here.]  Answer  to  one's 
name  at  some  schools,  as  at  Charterhouse ; 
"calling  over"  or  "  roll-call." 

Adullamites.  A  term  applied  by  Mr.  Bright 
in  the  session  of  1866  to  Mr.  Horsman  and  the 
members  who  joined  him  in  his  objections  to  the 
Reform  Bill  then  before  the  House  of  Commons  ; 
in  reference  to  the  action  of  David  in  the  cave 
of  Adullam  (i  Sam.  xxii.  I,  2). 

Adulterine  guilds.  Unchartered  trading 
societies,  acting  as  a  corporation  and  paying 
annual  fines. 


Adumbration.  [L.  adumbratio,  -nem,  an  out- 
line, sketch  in  shadow]  An  imperfect  account. 

Adunation.  [L.  adunatio,  -nem.]  A  making 
into  one. 

Aduncity.  [L.  aduncita, -tern.]  (Zoo!.}  Hook- 
edness,  crookedness,  as  in  the  beak  of  the  eagle 
or  claw  of  the  tiger. 

Ad  unguem.  [L.]  To  a  nicety  ;  lit.  to  the 
nail,  with  which  sculptors  tested  the  smoothness 
of  surface  in  their  finished  works. 

Adust.  [L.  adustus,  adviro,  I  scorch."]  Burnt 
up,  scorched. 

Ad  valorem.  [L.]  In  Finance,  a  term  denot- 
ing the  market  value  of  commodities  imported 
and  liable  to  a  customs  rate,  varying  according 
to  the  quality  of  the  article  or  the  measure  of  its 
supply. 

Advanced  guard.  A  detachment  preceding  the 
main  body  of  troops  on  a  march,  for  the  purpose 
of  guarding  against  surprise. 

Advanced  works.  Constructed  beyond  the 
glacis  of  a  fortification,  but  still  capable  of 
being  defended  from  the  body  of  the  place. 

Advance  money.  (Naut.)  Wages  advanced 
to  a  sailor  previous  to  his  embarkation.  To  work 
up  the  dead  horse  is  to  clear  off  this  advance. 

Advance  note.  (JVauf.)  A  written  promise  to 
pay  a  part  of  a  sailor's  wages  at  a  given  time  after 
his  sailing.  It  was  negotiable ;  but  it  ceased  to 
be  so  after  August  i,  1881,  by  43  and  44  Viet., 
c.  1 6. 

Adventitious.  [L.  adventicius,  foreign, 
strange.}  1.  Added  from  without,  not  inherent 
in  the  thing  itself ;  as  the  dread  of  an  idol.  2. 
(Bot.)  Appearing  in  an  unusual  way,  e.g.  root 
fibres  from  the  stems  of  ivy,  banyan.  3.  (Med. ) 
Foreign  to  the  structure  or  tissue  in  which  it  is 
found. 

Adventure,  Bill  of.  (Com.}  A  signed 
declaration  that  shipped  goods  belong  to  another 
person  who  takes  the  hazard  of  transport. 

Adversaria.  [L.,  i.e.  scripta,  "writings,  turned 
adversus,  towards  one's  self.]  A  commonplace 
book  ;  memoranda  lying  in  front  of  one. 

Adversifoliate.  [L.  adversus,  opposite,  folium, 
a  leaf.]  (Bot.)  Having  opposite  leaves.  (Alter- 
nate.) 

Advertise.  [L.  ad,  to,  verto,  1  t^lrn.~\  To 
give  notice  or  information  to. 

Advertisements  of  Elizabeth.  May,  1566. 
Injunctions,  monitions,  for  attainment  of  uni- 
formity in  public  worship  ;  having  the  force  of 
law,  according  to  Ridsdale  judgment,  May,  1877; 
but  this  decision  is  questioned,  and  the  matter 
not  unlikely  to  be  reconsidered. 

Advice.  [L.  ad,  to,  visum,  opinion,  through 
O.Fr.  a  vis,  It.  avvlso.]  Commercial  and 
journalistic  notice,  information. 

Ad  vivum.     [L.]     To  the  quick. 

Advocate.     In  Theology.     (Paraclete.) 

Advocate,  Lord.  Chief  Crown  lawyer  in 
Scotland. 

Advocates,  Ecclesiastical.  (Doctors'  Commons.) 

Advocatus  diaboli.  [L.,  It.  Awocato  del 
diavolo.]  Devil's  advocate.  One  who  brings 
forward  every  possible  objection  to  a  proposed 
canonization,  and  is  answered  by  A.  Dei ;  hence 


ADVO 


=  one   who   brings  a  charge  in  order  to  give 
opportunity  of  vindication. 

Advowson.  [L.  advocatio,  -nem,  the  act  or 
relation  of  #dz'<fozta.r  =  patr6nus.]  (Eccl.)  The 
right  in  perpetuity  to  present  to  a  living  ;  appen- 
dant,  when  annexed  to  land ;  in  gross,  when  it 
has  become  separated. 

Adynamic  illness.  [Gr.  a  neg.,  Svva.fj.is, 
power, .]  (Meet.)  Illness  characterized  by  want 
of  power. 

Adytum.  [L.,  Gr.  &&VTOV,  not  to  be  trodden.} 
The  shrine  of  an  ancient  temple  ;  called  Secos 
in  the  temples  of  Egypt.  Cf.  Holy  of  holies. 

Adze,  Addice.  [A.S.  adese,  an  axe ;  cf.  L. 
ascia,  Gr.  a^lvri.}  Wood  too  rough,  or  not  con- 
veniently placed,  for  planing,  is  dressed  with  an 
A.,  a  mattock-like  instrument,  with  blade  arch- 
ing inwards,  the  edge  being  at  right  angles  to 
the  handle. 

JEehmalotarch.  [Gr.  alxp-a-Kosros,  taken  ivith 
the  spear,  &px<»>  I  rule."]  (Hist.)  The  governor 
of  the  captive  jews  in  Chaldaea  and  elsewhere, 
called  by  the  Jews  themselves  Rosch-galuth  or 
Resch  Glutha,  chief  of  the  Captivity. 

JEdile.  [L.  sedilis,  from  sedes,  a  building.'} 
A  Roman  magistrate  who  had  charge  of  build- 
ings, public  works,  theatrical  performances, 
games,  and  markets,  and  of  the  registers 
of  legislative  measures.  There  were  first  two 
Plebeian  yEdiles  ;  afterwards  two  Curule  (q.v.) 
JfL.  were  added. 

JEgilops.  [Gr.  cuV\o»J>,  goat-eyed.~\  1.  (Med.) 
An  ulcer  in  the  eye.  2.  A  grass  supposed  to 
have  the  power  of  healing  this  disease. 

JEginetan  marbles.  Figures — pre-Phidian — 
from  pediment  of  a  temple  of  Athena  in  ^Egina, 
now  restored,  in  the  Glyptotheke  at  Munich. 
They  represent  the  goddess  and  eight  chief 
heroes  of  the  Trojan  war. 

JEgis.  [Gr.  cuyls.}  The  mythic  shield  of 
Zeus  (Jupiter),  covered  with  the  skin  of  the 
goat  Amalthgca,  which  had  nursed  him,  and 
given  by  him  to  Athena,  who  by  fixing  on  it 
the  head  of  Medusa  gave  to  it  the  power  of 
petrifying  all  who  looked  at  it.  (Gorgon.) 

JEgrescit  medendo.  [L.]  Lit.  he  grows  worse 
by  the  healing ;  the  remedy  makes  matters  worse. 
—Virgil. 

JEgrdtat.  [L.,  he  is  sick.}  He  cannot  attend 
examination  for  honours,  lectures,  hall,  etc. 

Aei-parthenos.  [Gr.,  ever  virgin.'}  A  title  of 
the  Virgin  Mary. 

Ael,  Eal,  Al,  i.q.  all  [A.S.  eal]  ;  as  Aelwin 
=  all-conquering  ;  Albert,  all-bright,  illustrious. 

JElf-  =  help,  Aelfwin  =  helping  in   victory. 
[A.S.  helpan,  to  aid.};  also  =  elf,  as 
gift  of  the  elves,  like  the  Gr.  Nymphodoros. 

JEmilian  Provinces.    (Emilian.) 

JEneid.  The  great  poem  of  Virgil,  relating 
the  wanderings  of  y£neas  after  the  fall  of  Troy, 
and  his  settlement  in  Italy.  As  compared  with 
the  genuine  epic  poems  which  have  sprung  from 
the  traditions  of  the  people,  the  AL.  is  an  arti- 
ficial epic. 

JEolian.  Anything  relating  to  the  Greek  wind- 
god  Aiolos,  ^Eolus,  the  guardian  of  the  winds, 
which  he  kept  pent  up  in  bags  in  his  vast  cave. 


JEolian  attachment.  [L.  ^olus,  god  of  winds.} 
Converts  a  piano  into  a  wind  instrument  by 
bellows  attached  to  the  pedal.  (JEolian  harp.) 

JEolian  harp.  Eight  or  ten  strings  of  catgut 
in  unison,  stretched  across  a  light  wooden  box, 
placed  in  a  current  of  air  and  producing 
harmonic  sounds. 

JEolian  mode.     (Greek  modes.) 

JEolic.  In  Gr.  Hist.,  a  name  by  which  some 
tribes  were  known  who  did  not  belong  to  the 
Doric  or  Ionic  stock. 

JEolipile,  Eolipile.  [L.  yESlus,  god  of  winds, 
pila,  a  playing-ball,  a  globe.}  A  hollow 
globe  mounted  so  as  to  be  capable  of  rotation 
round  a  diameter,  containing  water  and  furnished 
with  two  nozzles  in  opposite  directions  at  right 
angles  to  a  diameter  and  at  opposite  ends  of  it. 
When  the  water  is  heated,  jets  of  steam  come 
out  of  the  nozzles,  and  make  the  sphere  turn 
round  the  diameter,  round  which  it  is  free  to 
move.  Often  spelt  Eolipyle,  incorrectly. 

JEons.  [Gr.  alwves,  ages.}  By  this  name 
the  Gnostics,  referring  to  an  order  of  time 
in  their  generation,  designated  the  genealogies  of 
superior  intelligences,  among  these  being  the 
Demiurge  [8iiiJ.iovpy6s},  or  creator  of  the  world 
out  of  matter,  who  was  regarded  as  proceeding 
from  the  evil  principle. 

JEra,  Era.  [L.]  In  Chronology,  the  amount 
of  time  reckoned  from  some  given  epoch,  the 
Christian  era  dating  from  the  birth  of  Christ. 
(Hegira;  Nabonassar,  Era  of;  Yezdigerd,  Era 
of.) 

JErarian.  [L.  serarius.]  A  Roman  citizen 
who  had  become  a  mere  payer  of  money  [_ses, 
sens,}  for  the  support  of  the  State ;  in  other 
words,  had  been  degraded  to  the  lowest  rank. 
(Proletarian.) 

JErarmm.  [L.]  The  public  treasury  of  the 
Roman  plebs,  or  commonalty. 

Aerated  waters.  Charged  with  gas,  usually 
carbonic  acid,  under  pressure. 

Aerial  perspective.  [L.  aerius,  from  ae'r,  air.} 
The  art  of  expressing  the  relative  distance  of 
objects  in  a  picture  by  such  faintness  of  colour 
as  may  answer  to  the  amount  of  air  or  distance 
between  them  and  the  spectator. 

Aerodynamics.  [Gr.  aty,  aepos,  air,  SVVO./MS, 
power. }  The  science  of  air  currents  or  winds. 

Aerography.  [Gr.  a-fjp,  air,  ypdQw,  I  ^vr^te, 
draw.}  The  science  of  describing  the  atmosphere. 

Aerolith,  -lite  [Gr.  eb?p,  the  atmosphere,  \i6os, 
a  stone},  or  Meteorite  [yuerewpos,  high  in  the 
air}.  A  body,  stony  or  metallic,  which,  coming 
within  the  earth's  attraction,  and  ignited  by 
friction  with  the  atmosphere,  appears  as  a 
4 'falling  star." 

Aerophytes.    (Epiphytes.) 

Aery.     (Eyry.) 

JEruginous.  [L.  serugmem,  copper  rust.  ~\  Par- 
taking of  verdigris,  rust  (carbonate)  of  copper. 

JEsculapian.  Anything  relating  to  ^Esculapius 
[Gr.  Asklepios],  son  of  Apollo,  worshipped  as 
the  god  of  surgery  and  medicine. 

JEsculus.  [L.]  A  gen.  of  plants,  ord. 
Hippocastaneoe ;  the  best  known  species  is  the 
JE.  Hippocastanum,  horse  chestnut. 


JESIR 


AGAR 


Msir.    (Asuras.) 

Aesthetic.  [Gr.  cuVflrjTiKoy,  belonging'  to  per- 
ception or  feeling.']  In  Art,  having  reference  to 
the  feeling  and  perception  of  the  beautiful,  as 
distinct  from  objective  knowledge. 

JEstimatio  capitis.  [L.,  the  value  of  an 
individual  life.]  King  Athelstan  fixed  a  tariff 
of  fines,  pro  s£.,  i.e.  according  to  the  rank  of  the 
wounded  or  slain;  and  in  Justinian's  Institutes 
the  punishment  of  an  injuria  was  to  be  graduated 
according  to  the  rank  and  the  worthiness  of  the 
injured. 

Aestivation.     (Vernation.) 
JEtheling.      [A.S.,    from   rethel,    noble."]     In 
Eng.  Hist.  ;  before  the  Norman  Conquest,  the 
presumptive  heir  to  the  crown. 

Aetheogamous.  [Gr.  0^175,  unusual,  ydpos, 
marriage.']  (Bot.)  Unusually  propagated. 

.ffithiops  mineral.  [Gr.  Ai0f<n£,  an  Ethiopian.'] 
A  black  sulphide  of  mercury. 

JEthrioscope.  [Gr.  aiQpios,  clear,  ffKoirea),  I 
view.~\  An  instrument  showing  the  changes  of 
temperature  produced  by  a  clear  or  clouded 
sky. 

JEthusa.  [Gr.  oXBowa,  burning.']  Fool's 
parsley  ;  ^E.  cynapium,  ord.  Umbelliferae. 

JEtiology.  [Gr.  alria,  a  cause,  \6yos,  a  dis- 
course."] (Med.)  The  doctrine  of  the  causes  of 
disease. 

JEtolian  League.  (Gr.  Hist.)  A  league  of  the 
^tolian  tribes  to  the  north  of  the  Corinthian 
gulf. — Freeman,  History  of  Federal  Government. 
Affeer.  [O.Fr.  affeurer,  from  feur,  Sp.  fuero, 
an  assize,  tax.}  (Leg.)  To  fix  a  sum  for  a  fine. 
Afferent.  [L.  afferentem,  part,  of  affero, 
from  ad,  to,  fero,  I  bear.]  1.  (Anat.)  Carrying 
from  the  surface  to  the  centre,  as  opposed  to 
efferent.  2.  (Physiol.)  Afferent,  sensory,  or  excitor 
nerves,  convey  sensational  impressions  from  the 
various  parts  of  the  body  to  the  ganglionic 
centres  ;  Efferent  or  motor  nerves  convey  from 
these  centres  to  the  muscles  the  impressions 
which  call  forth  contraction. 

Affidavit.  [L.L.,  he  has  sworn  to.~\  An  ex- 
parte  written  statement,  made  on  oath  or  solemn 
affirmation  before  an  authorized  magistrate,  as 
evidence  to  be  laid  before  a  court  or  a  judge. 

Affiliated  societies.  In  Politics,  societies 
depending  on  a  central  society,  from  which  they 
receive  directions. 

Affinity.  [L.  affimta,  -tern.]  1.  Relation  by 
marriage ',  Consanguinity^}-,,  consangumlta,  -tern], 
by  blood.  2.  (Zool.  and  Bot. )  A.  expresses 
a  marked  resemblance  in  important  organs ; 
Analogy  referring  to  less  important  organs  or  to 
outward  form.  3.  (Chem.)  The  tendency  of 
different  substances  to  enter  into  chemical  com- 
binations with  each  other. 

Affix.  [L.  affixus,  part,  of  affigo,  from  ad,  to, 
fixus,  part,  of  figo, ///>.]  (Gram.)  An  element 
added  to  the  beginning  (Prefix)  or  end  (Suffix)  of 
a  word. 

Afflatus.     [L.]     Inspiration. 

Affluent.     [L.  affluentem,  part,  of  affluo,  7 

flow  or  stream  to.]      A  smaller  or  secondary 

river,  flowing  into  a  larger  or  primary  river,  or 

into  a  lake.     An  important  affluent  is  called  a 


tributary,    as   the  Drave   of   the   Danube,    the 
Jumna  of  the  Ganges. 

Afforage.  [Fr.]  A  duty  paid  in  France  on 
the  sale  of  liquors. 

Afforest.  [L.L.  foresta,  a  •wood.']  To  con- 
vert ground  into  forest ;  the  converse  being  to 
disafforest. 

Affreight.  [O.H.G.  freht,  a  cargo.]  To  hire 
a  ship  for  conveyance  of  goods. 

Affrontee.     (Her. )     Facing  each  other. 
Affusion.  [L.L.  affusio,  -nem,  a  poiitingupon.] 
Baptism  administered  by  the  pouring  of  water 
is  called  baptism  by  affusion,  as  distinguished 
from  baptism  by  immersion,  in  which  the  whole 
body  of  the  baptized  is  plunged  under  water. 
Afore.     (Naui.)     Contrary  of  Abaft  (q.v.). 
A  fortiori.     [L.]     All  the  more;  lit.    by  a 
stronger  argument. 

Afrancesados.  [Sp.]  The  Spanish  party 
which  attached  itself  to  the  cause  of  the  French 
(1808-1814). 

Afrit.  [Ar.]  An  evil  genius  in  Arabic 
mythology.  (Jin.) 

Aft.     (Naut.)     I.q.  Abaft  (q.v.). 
After-birth.     (Placenta.) 
After-body.     (Naut.)     That  part  of  a  ship 
which  is  abaft  her  greatest  width. 
After-damp.    (Fire-damp.) 
Aftermath.      [A.S.    aefter,    after,    maeS,^   a 
mowing,  ma  wan,  to  mow  ;  cf.   mead ;  L.  meto, 
etc.]     The  second  crop   on   permanent  grass- 
lands. 

After-piece.     A  short,  light  play,  performed 
after  the  principal  piece  of  a  theatrical  enter- 
tainment. 
Aga.     (Effendi.) 

Agacerie.     [Fr.]    Provoking  coquetry.    Littre 
refers  Fr.  agacer,  to  provoke,  to  Norm,  agasser, 
to  chase  away  with  clamour,  hence  to  irritate. 
Agallochum.     (Aloes- wood.) 
Agama.     Gen.   of  lizards,  giving  its  name  to 
the   fam.  Agamzdce,  closely  allied   to,   and  the 
Eastern    representatives    of,    the    Iguanida   of 
the  western  hemisphere.    This  fam.  contains  the 
flying  dragons  (Draco)    of  E.    India   and   the 
Indian  Archipelago. 

Agami.  Gold-breasted  trumpeter  of  S. 
America.  Gregarious  bird,  about  the  size  of 
the  pheasant,  easily  tamed  (Psophia  crepitans). 
(Psophidae.) 

Agamous.  [Gr.  #7a/xoy,  univedded.]  (Bot.) 
Having  no  visible  organs  of  fructification. 

Agapae.  [Gr.  aydirr),  love.]  The  love-feasts 
of  the  early  Christian  Church.  They  were  held 
in  the  church  in  connexion  with  'the  Lord's 
Supper,  but  not  as  a  necessary  part  of  it.  They 
were  ultimately  forbidden  on  account  of  the 
irregularities  to  which  they  led. 

Agapemone.  [Gr.  \*.ovt\,  abode,  aydtnj,  love.] 
A  fanatical  conventual  establishment  set  up  near 
Bridgewater,  about  1849,  by  "Brother  Prince," 
a  clergyman,  calling  himself  Witness  of  the  First 
Resurrection. 

AgapetEB.      [Gr.   aya-jr^s,   beloved.]     (Eccl. 
Hist.)    In  the  first  centuries,  women  under  vows 
of  virginity,  who  attended  on  the  clergy. 
Agar.     [Malay  word.]     Edible  seaweed. 


AGAR 


AGNO 


Agaric.  [Gr.  ayapiicdv,  tree  fungus.]  A  large 
gen.  of  fungi,  with  fleshy  cap  on  a  stalk,  of 
which  A.  campestris,  common  mushroom,  may 
be  taken  as  a  type. 

Agastria.  [Gr.  &  neg.,  yaa-riip,  a  stomach] 
(Physiol.)  Devoid  of  internal  digestive  cavities. 

Agate.  [L.  achates.]  1.  (Geol.)  Found  in  R. 
Achates,  Sicily.  Chalcedonic  nodules  and  geodes 
in  amygdaloidal  lavas.  Algerian  A.  is  a  calca- 
reous stalagmite.  2.  A  small  printing  type. 

Agathodaemon.    [Gr.  ayadoSainvv.]   The  good 


genius  or  spirit,  probably  at  first  only  an  epithet 
of  Zeus  (Jupiter). 

Agave.  [Gr.  ayavds,  admirable.]  A  gen.  of 
plants  ;  American  ;  ord.  Amaryllidaceae  ;  e.g. 
American  aloe. 

Agenda.  [L.,  things  to  be  done.]  1.  A  list  of 
things  to  be  considered  at  a  public  meeting.  2. 
Matters  of  duty,  Credenda  being  matters  of  faith. 

Age  of  Reason.  The  age  in  which  reason  is 
supposed  to  exclude  faith,  and  which  was  thought 
to  have  been  reached  by  the  triumph  of  the 
French  Revolution. 

Ager  Publicus.  [L^  The  territory  of  the 
Roman  state  acquired  by  conquest  ;  Ager  Ro- 
mdnus  being  the  original  territory. 

Ages,  The  four.  An  old  tradition  represents 
the  existence  of  mankind  as  starting  with  a 
Golden  Age,  in  which  the  earth  yielded  its 
fruits  of  its  own  accord,  and  pain  and  sickness 
\vere  unknown.  This  was  followed  by  the  Silver 
Age,  the  men  of  which  were  punished  for  their 
impiety  to  the  gods.  After  which  came  the 
Brazen  and  the  Iron  Ages,  each  worse  than  the 
preceding.  Between  these  two  last  the  Hesiodic 
theogony  inserted  the  Heroic  Age,  or  the  age  of 
the  heroes  who  fought  at  Troy. 

Agger.  [L.]  1.  In  a  Roman  camp,  the 
earth  dug  out  from  the  fossa,  or  trench,  and 
placed  on  the  bank  ;  on  its  outer  edge  was  the 
vallum,  or  stockade.  2,  A  mound  erected  be- 
fore the  walls  of  a  besieged  city  to  sustain  the 
battering  engines. 

Agglomerate.  [L.  agglomeratus,  agglomero, 
/  collect  into  a  body.]  (Geol.}  With  Lyell  = 
accumulations  of  angular  fragments  showered 
round  a  volcanic  cone  or  crater. 

Agglomerative  languages.  Such  as  tend  to 
combine  many  elements  into  one  long  aggluti- 
nated or  inflected  word,  as  the  dialects  of 
American  Indians. 

Agglutinative  languages.  The  languages  or 
the  nomadic  Turanian  tribes,  in  which  the  modi- 
fying suffixes  are  glued  on  to  the  root.  To  this 
family  belongs  the  Basque  language  of  S.  France 
and  N.  Spain.  (Aryan  languages.  ) 

Aggregate.  [L.  aggregatus,  flocked  together] 
1.  A  mass  formed  of  homogeneous  particles 
clustered  together,  as  distinguished  from  a  com- 
pound. 2.  (Bot.}  Flower,  one  of  several  florets 
within  one  calyx  or  receptacle,  e.g.  daisy,  chry- 
santhemum. 3.  (Geol.)  A  rock,  the  components 
of  which  can  be  separated  mechanically,  as 
granite. 

Aggregate  corporations.     (Corporations.) 

Aggregations,  Various.  Apiary  of  bees  [L. 
apiarium].  Army  of  rats.  Band  of  robbers, 


smugglers.  Bevy  of  girls,  larks,  quails,  roes. 
Brood  of  chickens.  Burrow  of  conies.  Clack  of 
women.  Clutch  of  eggs.  Colony  of  rooks,  or 
rookery.  Columbary  of  pigeons  [L.  colum- 
barium, a  dove-cote].  Covey  of  partridges  [Fr. 
couvee,  brood].  Crew  of  sailors,  wretches.  Cry 
of  falcons.  Drove  of  horses,  asses,  camels,  pigs, 
geese.  Eyry  (q.v.)  of  hawks,  eagles.  Fall  of 
woodcocks.  Flight  of  geese,  wild  ducks,  wood- 
cocks, starlings.  Flock  of  sheep,  geese,  turkeys, 
pigeons,  fieldfares,  sparrows.  Fry  of  small 
young  fishes,  of  children  [Fr.  frai,  spawn]. 
Gang  of  workmen,  navvies,  gipsies,  thieves, 
convicts.  Herd  of  deer,  cattle,  goats,  swine, 
swans.  Horae  of  brigands.  Kennel  of  hounds 
[Fr.  canaille].  Mew  (q.v.)  of  falcons.  Muster 
of  peacocks.  Nest  of  wasps,  hornets,  rabbits. 
Nide  or  Nye  of  pheasants  [Fr.  nid,  L.  nidus]. 
Pack  ot  hounds,  wolves,  grouse.  Plump  of 
spears.  Pod  of  seals,  sea-elephants.  Pride  of 
lions.  Rascall  of  boys.  Rout  of  wolves.  School 
of  whales.  Shoal  of  fish  [A.  S.  scolu].  Siege  of 
herons  [Fr,  siege,  a  sitting].  Singular  of  boars. 
Skein  of  wild  geese.  Skulk  of  foxes.  Slouth  of 
bears.  Sounder  of  wild  swine.  String  of  red 
deer  or  of  horses.  Stud  of  horses,  greyhounds. 
Swarm  of  insects.  Whisp  or  Walk  of  snipes. 
Vaccary  of  cows  [L.  vacca,  a  cow],  Vespary  of 
wasps  [L.  vespa,  a  wasp].  Warren  of  rabbits. 
Yard  of  poultry 

-agh,  -auch.  [6/.  Erseachadh,y&/<£]  A  level 
place,  as  in  Balbaugh. 

Agila  wood.     (Aloes.) 

Agio,  [It.]  Generally,  the  difference  between 
current  and  standard  moneys  ;  also,  the  premium 
paid  by  one  who  prefers  payment  in  a  metal 
other  than  that  which  he  can  legally  claim.  So 
in  France,  there  is  an  A.  on  gold. 

Agiosimandrum.  [Gr.  a,yio(ri)ij.a.vrpov.]  In 
the  East,  a  wooden  instrument  used  in  sum- 
moning the  people  to  the  church  instead  of 
bells. 

Agiotage.  [Fr,]  Manoeuvres  for  raising  or 
lowering  the  price  of  funds. 

Agistment.  [Fr.  giste,  glte,  L.  jacita,  a 
lying-place )  lodging.]  1.  The  taking  in  of  cattle 
to  pasture.  Tithe  of  A.,  tithe  upon  profit  made 
by  A.  2.  (Naut. )  An  embankment  to  keep  out 
the  sea  or  a  river. 

Aglet,  Aiglet.  [L.  acus,  a  needle,  dim.  acicula, 
Fr.  aiguille,  aiguillette.]  The  tag  of  a  point 
of  the  lace  or  string  formerly  used  for  gathering 
together  the  different  parts  of  a  dress. 

Agnail,  Angnail.  Probably  two  distinct  words 
run  into  one  (?).  1.  A  swelled  gland  in  the  groin 
[L.  inguen,  inguinalia,  Fr.  angonailles].  2.  A  sore 
under  the  nail  [A.  S.  ang-naegle,  troubled  nail\. 

Agnate.  [L.  agnatus.]  In  Rom.  Law,  re- 
lated on  the  father's  side.  Cognate  [cognatusj, 
on  the  father's  or  the  mother's. 

Agnition.  [L.  agnitio,  -nem.]  An  obsolete 
word  for  acknowledgment. 

Agnoetae.  [Gr.  ay  vow,  1  am  ignorant  of.] 
Heretics  :  1.  Fourth  century,  who  questioned 
the  omniscience  of  God.  2.  Others,  sixth  cen- 
tury, who  held  that  Christ  knows  not  when  the 
day  of  judgment  shall  be. 


AGNO 


16 


AILU 


Agnomen.  [L,]  All  Romans  of  good  family 
bore  three  names  :  Pranomen,  of  the  individual  ; 
Nomen,  of  the  class,  gens  ;  Cognomen,  of  the 
house,  or  familia  ;  e.g.  Publius  Cornelius  Scipio. 
A  fourth,  Agnomen,  was  sometimes  added  on 
account  of  some  personal  distinction,  e.g.  Afri- 
canus.  Some  even  had  a  second  A.  [Cf.  Fr. 
prenom,  a  Christian  name.] 

Agnosticism.  [Or.  d  neg.  ,  yvuffTtKds,  profess- 
ing knowledge  (yviaffis).]  The  theory  that  man 
has  insufficient  evidence  or  insufficient  power  for 
judgment  concerning  Divine  truth. 

Agnus  castus.  [L.]  A  shrub,  the  Vttex  agnus 
castus  of  botanists,  the  branches  of  which  were 
strewed  by  matrons  on  their  beds  at  the  Thes- 
mophoria,  a  festival  of  Demeter  (Ceres). 

Agnus  Dei.  [L.,  Lamb  of  God.]  In  the 
Roman  Church,  cakes  of  wax  are  so  called, 
which  are  stamped  with  the  figure  of  a  lamb 
bearing  the  banner  of  the  cross. 

Agog  =  a-going,  i.e.  on-going  ;  on  the  alert. 
Agonic  line.     [Gr.  d  neg.,  ytav'ia,  an  angle."} 
The  line  joining  all  those  places  on  the  earth 
where  the  magnetic  needle  has  no  declination, 
or  variation,  i.e.  deviation  from  the  true  N. 

Agony  column  of  an  advertisement  sheet, 
generally  the  second,  headed  by  notices  of  dis- 
appearances and  losses,  mysterious  appeals  and 
correspondence. 

Agora.  [Gr.,  from  ayeipu,  I  bring  together.  ] 
The  market-place,  and  so  the  "forum,"  of  a 
Greek  town. 

Agouti.  Gen.  of  rodent,  ranging  in  size 
between  the  hare  and  the  rabbit;  speckled 
brown  fur,  long  hind  legs.  Trop.  America 
and  Islands.  Dasyprocta,  fam.  Cavndae,  ord. 
R5dentia. 

Agrarian  laws.  [L.  leges  agrarise.]  (Rom. 
Hist.}  Laws  proposed  or  carried  by  the  plebeians 
against  the  patricians,  with  reference  to  the  dis- 
tribution of  public  lands  acquired  by  conquest. 

Agreement.  (Naut.)  The  master  of  a  vessel 
exceeding  eighty  tons  must  enter  into  an  A.  in 
a  special  form  with  each  of  his  crew  carried 
from  a  British  port. 

Agricultural  Holdings  Act,  of  38  and  39  Viet., 
has  for  its  object  the  securing  to  tenants  com- 
pensation for  unexhausted  improvements. 

Agricultural  Returns.  A  yearly  return  of  the 
acreage  in  Great  Britain  under  cultivation,  and 
of  the  nature  of  the  crops,  distinguishing  meadow- 
land,  orchards,  gardens,  and  woods,  supplying 
also  the  number  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  and 
pigs. 

Agrimony.  [L.  agrimonia,  properly  arge- 
monia.]  (Bot.)  A.  Eupatoria,  ord.  Rosaceae,  is 
a  common  wild  plant,  with  long  spikes  of  small 
yellow-scented  flowers,  and  unequally  pinnate 
leaves  ;  it  is  much  used  in  "  herb  teas." 


Agrostemma.     [Gr.   ayp6s,  afield, 
crown.]    A  gen.  of  Caryophyllacese  ;  Lychnis  A. 
Githago  being  the  well-known  corn-cockle. 

Agrostis.  [L.,  Gr.  frypaxrris.]  A  gen.  o 
grasses,  known  by  the  name  of  Bent  grasses, 
having  numerous  spec. 

Agrypnotics.  [Gr.  &ypvirvos,  sleepless.]  Tend 
ing  to  prevent  sleep,  e.g.  strong  tea. 


Ague-cake.  A  tumour  arising  from  enlarged 
pleen,  sometimes  following  protracted  ague. 

Ague-cheek,  Sir  Andrew.      A   meek  docile 
impleton  in  Shakespeare's  Twelfth  Night. 
Ahead.     (Naut.)     Abeam. 
Ahold.     (Naut.)    An  old  term  for  bringing  a 
ship  close  to  a  wind  and  holding  it. 

Ahriinan.  In  the  Zend-Avesta,  or  sacred  books 
of  the  Persians,  the  evil  god  or  principle  is  called 
Angro-Mainyus  (spirit  of  darkness),  a  word  of 
which  Arimanes  and  Ahriman  are  the  Latin  and 
English  forms.  This  evil  god  was  opposed 
to  Spento-Mainyus  (spirit  of  light),  a  name  for 
Ahuro-mazdao,  or  Ormuzd,  in  Skt.  Asuro- 
medhas  [Gr.  /XTJTZS,  wisdom],  the  wise  spirit, 
or  Supreme  and  good  God  ;  the  strife  between 
these  two  principles  being  the  dualism  which 
characterizes  the  theology  of  Zoroaster. 

Ahull.  (Naut.)  1.  The  condition  of  •  a 
vessel  with  bare  poles,  and  helm  a- lee  (g.v.). 
2.  Abandoned  and  drifting. 

Ai.  1,  (Aye-aye.)  2.  The  three- toed  sloth 
(Bradjfpus  tridactylus) ;  S.  America  ;  ord. 
Edentata.  3.  Spec,  of  wild  dog  (Dasicyon 
Silvestris)  ;  Guiana,  occasionally  domesticated 
by  Arecuna  Indians. 

Aid.  [Fr.  aide,  L.L.  adiuda,  L.  adjuvo,  7 
help]  Originally  a  benevolence  ;  afterwards  an 
exaction  from  a  tenant  to  his  lord,  in  cases  of 
emergency. 

Aide-de-Camp.  [Fr.]  An  officer  on  the  per- 
sonal staff  of  a  general ;  in  the  field  carrying 
orders,  at  other  times  acting  as  secretary.  2. 
The  sovereign  also  appoints  A.  to  herself,  who 
rank  as  colonels,  from  amongst  distinguished 
officers. 

Aide-toi  et  le  del  t'aidera.  [Fr.]  Help  thyself 
and  Heaven  will  help  thee.  The  motto  of  a 
French  political  society,  whose  influence  with 
the  middle  classes  helped  to  bring  about  the 
Revolution  of  1830. 
Aiery,  Aire,  Airy.  (Eyry.) 
Aigrette,  Egret.  [O.H.G.  hiegro,  L.  aigro- 
nem,  heron,  Fr.  aigre,  aigrette.]  1.  Gen.  of 
lesser  white  heron.  2.  (Bot.)  I.q.  pappus 
(q.v.)>  3.  Head-dress  of  feathers,  or  plume-like 
ornament. 

Aiguilles.  [Fr.,  L.  acicula,  a  needle]  Sharp, 
lofty,  serrated  peaks  ;  e.g.  A.  Vertes,  A.  Rouges, 
Mont  Blanc. 

Aiguillette.  [Fr.  dim.  of  aiguille,  L.  acicula, 
a  needle.]  Shoulder-knot  composed  of  long  gold 
cords  with  tags,  formerly  worn  on  the  right 
shoulder  by  generals  and  some  staff  and  cavalry 
officers,  now  only  by  Queen's  aides-de-camp. 

Ailantus.  A  tree,  native  of  China,  with  very 
long  pinnate  leaves,  naturalized  in  S.  Europe, 
upon  the  leaves  of  which  some  silkworms  feed 
(A.  gland ulosa).  Ord.  Simarabaceae. 

Ailettes.  [Fr.,  little  wings]  Small  leathern 
armour  worn  by  knights,  thirteenth  century, 
behind  or  at  the  side  of  the  shoulders,  probably 
both  as  protection  and  a  mark  for  followers  ; 
seen  in  brasses,  stained  windows,  etc. 

Ailurus.  [Gr.  afooupos,  the  wavy -tailed  one] 
Chitwa,  Panda,  Wali,  a  cat-like  animal, 
with  rich  chestnut  and  black  fur,  allied  to  the 


AIRC 


ALBU 


bears.    Thibet  and  Himalayas.   Fam. 
ord.  Carmvora. 

Air-chamber.  A  cavity  in  pumps,  fire- 
engines,  and  other  hydrostatic  machines,  con- 
taining compressed  air  for  keeping  up  a  con- 
tinuous flow  of  the  water  by  its  elastic  force. 
Called  also  an  Air-vessel. 

Air-engine.  An  engine  moved  by  heated 
or  compressed  air. 

Air-gun.  An  instrument  for  propelling  bullets 
or  other  missiles  by  the  force  of  condensed  air. 

Air  martyrs.     (Pillar  saints  ;  Stylites.) 

Air  plants.  Popular  name  for  orchids  when 
first  introduced  into  England. 

Air-pnmp.  1.  An  engine  for  exhausting  air 
from  a  closed  space,  or  receiver,  so  as  to  obtain 
a  more  or  less  perfect  vacuum.  2.  A  pump  for 
removing  from  the  condenser  of  a  steam-engine 
the  condensed  steam,  the  water  that  has  pro- 
duced the  condensation,  and  any  air  that  may 
have  got  into  the  condenser. 

Airt.  Direction ;  the  point  from  which  the 
wind  blows.  [C/.  Ger.  ort,  place.} 

Air  thermometer.    (Thermometer.) 

Aise.    (?)  A  linen  napkin  to  cover  the  chalice. 

Ait,  Eyot.  [A.S.  ey,  island.]  An  islet  in  a 
river  or  lake. 

Aitchbone.  Properly  edgebone  of  the  rump  ;  i.e. 
presented  edgewise,  when  dressed.  * 

Aix-la-Chapelle,  Peace  of.  1.  A  treaty  relating 
to  the  Spanish  Netherlands,  made  in  1668, 
between  Louis  XfV.  and  Carlos  II.  2.  A  second 
and  better-known  treaty,  between  Great  Britain, 
France,  Germany,  Holland,  and  Spain,  confirm- 
ing previous  treaties,  was  signed  in  1748. 

A  Jove  principium.  [L.,  the  beginning  (is) 
from  Jupiter, ,]  Said  of  a  grand  opening  to  a 
narrative  or  poem. 

Ajutage.  [L.  adjuto,  /  assist. "\  1.  The 
brass  nozzle  placed  at  the  end  of  a  tube  for 
regulating  the  discharge  of  the  water  which 
forms  a  fountain  or  jet  d'eau  2.  A  short  tube 
of  a  tapering  or  conical  form  placed  in  the  side 
of  a  reservoir  to  facilitate  the  discharge  of  the 
water. 

-al.  Often  ends  Shropshire  names  ;  said  to  be 
Cymric  =  high,  e.g.  Erc-al. 

A1-.  At  the  beginning  of  a  word  or  name  : 
1.  Often  Arabic  for  the,  e.g.  Alcoran  =  the 
Koran  (Alcoran).  2.  White,  Celtic,  as  in  Aln 
for  al-aon,  white  river,  All-wen,  Al-an,  All-an, 
All-en,  all  meaning  white  rivers. 

Alabarches  [Gr.],  perhaps  more  properly 
Arabarches.  The  chief  magistrate  of  the  Jews 
at  Alexandria. 

Alabaster.  [Gr.  a\dpa<rrpos.]  1.  Gypsum, 
massive  sulphate  of  lime.  2.  Anciently,  a  sub- 
translucent,  yellowish,  banded,  calcareous  stalag- 
mite, like  the  "Algerian  agate,"  was  called  A. 

Ala  carte.  [Fr.]  According  to  the  card.  Of 
meals  =  as  specified  in  bill  of  fare. 

Aladdin.  In  the  Arabian  Nights'  Tales,  a  poor 
widow's  son,  who  gets  a  magic  lamp  and  ring, 
on  rubbing  either  of  which,  a  djin  appears  ready 
to  work  miracles  for  the  rubber,  like  the  ring  of 
Gyges. 

A  la  lanterne.     [Fr.,    to  the  lamppost}     A 


French   phrase  for   execution  by  Lynch  law; 
a  cry  of  the  Revolution. 

A  la  mise  en  scene.  [Fr.]  Lit.  according  to 
the^getting  up  of  the  play. 

A  la  mode.     [Fr.]     According  to  the  fashion. 

Alamoth.  [Heb.]  Title  of  Ps.  xlvi.,  and  in 
I  Chron.  xv.  20.  Virgins,  probably  =  "for 
altos  or  sopranos  "  (Speaker's  Commentary). 

Al  Araf.  [Ar.  arafa,  to  distinguish^}  The 
Mohammedan  Limbus,  or  Limbo,  for  spirits 
who  are  excluded  both  from  paradise  and  from 
hell. 

Alarm-post.  Rendezvous  for  troops  on  the 
occurrence  of  any  sudden  danger,  announced  by 
bugle-call  or  beat  of  drum. 

Alastor.  [Gr.  a\d<rTwp,  the  avenging  deity. .] 
An  epithet  of  Zeus. 

A  latere.    (Legate.) 

Alb.  [L.  albus,  white. 1  (Eccl.)  A  linen  vest- 
ment, fitting  closely  to  the  body,  and  tied  by  a 
girdle. 

Albany.     (Albyn.) 

Albarium  opus.  [L.]  In  Roman  architecture, 
probably  a  superior  kind  of  stucco. 

Albata.  One  of  the  many  white  [L.  albus] 
metals  made  at  Birmingham. 

Albati.  [L.]  Christian  hermits,  who  came 
down  from  the  Alps,  A.D.  1399,  to  Italy, 
dressed  in  white,  living  on  the  highways,  sorrow- 
ing for  sins  of  the  age  ;  dispersed  by  Boniface  IX. 

Albigenses.  Certain  religionists,  numerous 
and  influential,  in  and  near  Alby,  S.  France, 
twelfth  century,  protesting  against  Roman  cor- 
ruptions, but  charged  with  Paulicianism. 

Albino.  1.  White  negro  of  the  African  coast ; 
so  named  by  the  Portuguese  voyagers.  And  2, 
generally,  persons  having  white  skin  and  hair  and 
redness  of  eyes,  from  absence  of  pigment  cells. 
The  same  thing  is  found  in  cats,  rabbits,  birds, 
and  elephants.  Albinism,  the  state  of  an  A. 

Albion.  [L.  albus,  white,  or  some  Celtic 
equivalent.]  England,  said  to  be  so  named  from 
the  white  cliffs  seen  from  the  French  coast. 

Albion,  New.  The  name  given  by  Sir  F. 
Drake  (1578)  to  California. 

Albis,  Dominica  in.  [L.,  the  LorcPs  day  in 
white  (robes).}  A  name  for  Low  Sunday,  or  the 
Sunday  following  Easter  Day,  because  then  the 
persons  baptized  on  Easter  Eve  laid  aside  their 
white  garments.  (Quasimodo.) 

Albite.     [L.  albus,  white.}     Soda- felspar. 

Albugo.  [L.,  whiteness. }  A  dense  whitening 
of  the  cornea  of  the  eye,  generally  resulting  from 
an  inflammatory  attack. 

Album.  [L.]  In  Rome,  an  official  white 
tablet,  on  which  the  Pontifex  MaxTmus  recorded 
the  events  of  the  year ;  or  praetors  wrote  edicts  ; 
or  senators'  names  were  enrolled  ;  hence  its 
modern  meaning,  a  blank  book  for  inscriptions, 
photographs,  etc. 

Album  calculum  addere.  [L.]  To  put  (into  the 
urn)  a  white  stone  ;  to  approve. 

Album  Graecum.  [L.,  Greek  white.}  The 
white  faeces  of  dogs,  chiefly  bone-earth,  used 
in  tanning. 

Albumen.  [L.,  white  of  egg.}  1.  One  of  the 
protein  [Gr.  irpwros,  first}  or  elementary  sub- 


ALBU 


18 


ALEX 


stances  of  the  animal  body,  represented  by  white 
of  egg,  serum  in  the  blood,  etc.  ;  others  are 
fibrin,  represented  by  muscular  tissue  ;  casein  is 
the  basis  of  cheese  [L.  caseus]  ;  legumin  is  in  the 
seeds  of  all  leguminous  plants.  2,  In  Plants, 
Pcrisperm,  or  Endosperm  [Gr.  irepf,  around, 
tvlov,  within,  oWflua,  seed].  A  substance  found 
in  some  seeds  between  the  coat  and  the  embryo 
which  it  is  to  nourish ;  e.g.  flour  of  corn. 

Alburnum.  [L.]  Sap-wood,  immediately 
below  the  bark ,  opposed  to  heart-wood,  or 
duramen  [L.,  hardness}. 

Albus  liber.  [L.]  Title  of  an  old  compila- 
tion of  the  laws  and  customs  of  the  city  of 
London. 

Albyn,  Albin.  [Alp,  or  alb,  which  seems  to 
be  Celtic  for  high;  ynys,  Cymric  for  island.] 
The  Highlands  of  Scotland,  or  Scotland 
generally.  Albany  is  an  old  name  for  Scot- 
land. 

Alca.  [L.L.  auca,  goose,  i.e.  avica,  from  avis  ; 
so  It.  oca,  Fr.  oie.]  Auk,  gen.  of  marine  web- 
footed  birds  ;  wings  very  short,  used  for  swim- 
ming under  water.  N.  Temp,  and  Arctic  zones. 
Fam.  Alcidae,  ord.  Anseres. 

Alcabala.  (Hist.)  A  heavy  tax  on  sales  of 
property,  imposed  in  Spain  and  the  Spanish 
colonies,  and  payable  as  often  as  the  land  was 
sold. 

Alcaic  verse.    A  metre,  consisting  of  a  stanza 

of  four  lines  attributed  to  the  Greek  poet  Alcaeus. 

Alcaide,    Alcalde.      [Sp.,   Ar,  kada,    head.] 

Military  governor  of  a  fortress  or  gaol.     (Al- 

guazil.) 

Alcarraza.  [Sp.,  from  Ar.  alcurrar,  an  earthen 
far.]  A  porous  earthenware  vessel,  used  for 
cooling  water  by  evaporation. 

Alcedinidae.  (Alcedo.)  Kingfishers.  Fam,  of 
birds  universally  distributed,  having  only  one 
American  gen.  Ceryle,  ord.  Picarise. 

Alcedo.  [L.,  kingfisher.]  Alcyon,  Halcyon; 
gen.  of  Alcedinidse  (q.v.). 

Alces.  [From  O.G.  elch,  elhe ;  cf.  Gr.  c!\»dj, 
an  elk,  and  perhaps  d\n-f),  strength^}  Elk, 
moose ;  largest  of  deer  kind,  dark  brown. 
N.  of  Europe,  Africa,  and  America.  Gen.  and 
spec.  Alces,  fam.  Cervidse,  ord.  Ungulata. 

Alceste.  Hero  ofMoliere's  Le  Misanthrope ; 
type  of  stern  unconventional  uprightness. 

Alchemy.  [A  word  compounded  of  the  Ar. 
defin.  art.  al,  and  Gr.  xn^0-]  The  supposed 
art  of  the  land  of  Chemi,  or  Ham,  its  object 
being  the  production  of  the  precious  metals, 
into  which  it  was  thought  that  the  lower  metals 
might  be  converted. 

Alcinous.  [Gr.  'A\Kiv6os.]  In  the  Odyssey, 
the  King  of  the  Phceacians. 

Alcluyd.  Old  name  of  Dumbarton.  [(?)  Alt, 
steep  placs,  cluyd  =  Clyde ;  cf.  clith,  Gaelic, 
strong."] 

Alcmanian  metres.  Those  introduced  by 
Alcman  of  Sparta,  lyrist,  the  earliest  Greek 
poet  of  love-song,  seventh  century  B.C.  ;  espe- 
cially the  iambic  trimeter  brachycatalectic,  or 
iambic  of  five  feet. 

Alco.  A  name  for  some  varietfes  of  shepherd's 
dog.  Peru  and  Mexico. 


Alcoran.  [Ar.,  the  book.]  The  Mohammedan 
scriptures,  which  are  said  to  have  been  dictated 
to  Mohammed  by  the  angel  Gabriel. 

Alcornoque  bark.  An  astringent  bark,  generally 
cork,  used  in  tanning. 

Alcove.  [Ar.  el  kauf,  a  tent,  Sp.  alcoba.] 
A  recess,  in  a  bedroom,  for  the  bed  ;  and  so, 
anv  recess,  for  books,  etc. ;  a  covered  garden 
seat 

Aicyonidee.  [Gr.  d\Kv6veiov,  a  zoophyte,  like 
the  nest  of  the  kingfisher,  a\K\>&v,  -6vos.]  Fam. 
of  Alcyonaria,  or  Asteroid  Polypes,  as  Alcyoni- 
um,  "Dead  men's  fingers." 

Aldehyde,  i.e.  a/cohol  dfe^rogenatus,  deprived 
of  its  hydrogen,  partly.  A  pungent  volatile 
liquid,  consisting  of  two  atoms  of  carbon,  four 
of  hydrogen,  and  one  of  oxygen  ;  i.e.  alcoho- 
minus  two  atoms  of  hydrogen. — Brande  and 
Cox,  Dictionary  of  Art  and  Science. 

Alderman.  [A.S.  ealdorman,  elder-man^] 
The  original  title  of  the  officer  afterwards  called 
earl ;  also  of  the  chief  magistrates  of  minor 
districts ;  now  applied  to  the  municipal  officers 
in  a  borough  next  in  order  to  the.  mayor. 

Aldine  editions.  Editions  of  the  classics  publ 
lished  by  the  three  Manutii,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
Aldo-Manuzio,  set  up  a  press  at  Venice  in  1490. 
(Elzevirs.) 

Ale.  A  rustic  merry  meeting ;  as  Church- 
ale,  Whitsun-ale.  (Church-ales.) 

Alea  belli.    [L.]    Lit.  the  hazard  of  war. 

Ale-conner,  or  -kenner,  faster,  -founder. 
Gustator  cervisiae,  taster  of  beer;  one  who 
"kens  "  good  ale  ;  in  very  ancient  times  chosen 
in  each  manor,  and  sworn  to  examine  the  purity 
and  price  of  ale,  and  to  present  defaulters. 

Alectryomancy.  Divination  [Gr.  /*ai/re/a] 
by  means  of  a  cock  \a\sKTpv<av].  Grains  of  corn 
being  placed  upon  letters  of  the  alphabet,  pro- 
phetic words  were  formed  out  of  the  letters 
underlying  the  grains  which  he  picked  up. 

A-lee.  (Naut.)  The  position  of  the  helm, 
when  the  tiller  is  put  down  to  leeward,  i.e.  away 
from  the  wind. 

Alegar.  Vinegar  made  from  sour  beer.  (A 
catachrestic  word  ;  cf  Peterloo,  q.v  ) 

Alemanni.     (?)  All  men.     Germans,  probably 

I  a  confederacy  of  different  tribes,  within  the  limits 
of  the  Rhine,  Main,  and  Danube  ;  first  heard  of 
I  A.D.  214,  in  Caracalla's  treacherous  massacre. 

Alembic.  [Ar.  al,  and  ambeeg,  a  corrupt 
j  form  of  Gr.  fyi)3i|,  a  ctip]  A  form  of  still,  now 
obsolete. 

Alexandrian  Codex.    (Codex.) 

Alexandrian  School.  A  school  for  learning  of 
all  kinds,  instituted  at  Alexandria  by  Ptolemy, 
son  of  Lagos.  It  became  especially  celebrated 
for  its  grammarians  and  mathematicians. 

Alexandrine.  An  Eng.  iambic  of  twelve 
syll.,  e.g.  the  last  line  of  the  Spenserian 
stanza,  in  imitation  of  the  French  heroic  verse, 
first  employed  in  a  French  translation  of  a  Latin 
poem,  The  Alexandriad ;  or  (?)  in  an  original 
work  on  A.  the  Great. — English  Cyclopcedia, 
i.  195 

Alexipharmic  =  antidote.  [Gr.  aX^ityap^Kos, 
from  aAe|«,  I  keep  off,  tyd.piio.Kov,  poison.] 


ALER 


ALLE 


Alexiterics,  properly  Alexeterics.     [Gr. 
T-flpios,  able  to  keep  off.}     Preservatives  against 
poison. 

Al  fresco.     [It.]    In  the  open  air. 

Algae.  [L.  alga,  seaweed.}  (Bot.)  A  tribe  of 
Cryptogams,  comprehending  seaweeds  and 
fresh -water  submersed  spec,  of  similar  habits, 
besides  some  terrestrial  spec. 

Algaroba.  [Sp.,  Ar  kharoob.]  The  bean 
tree  of  the  Mediterranean,  with  sweet  pods 
(Cerat5nia  siliqua) ;  called  also  St.  Johris  Bread, 
as  if  it  were  the  "locust"  of  Matt.  iii.  The 
pods  are  also  used  in  tanning. 

Algaroth,  Powder  of.  An  oxychloride  of 
antimony,  discovered  by  Algarotti  of  Verona. 

Algebra.  [Ar.  al  jebr'e  al  mokabalah,  restora- 
tion and  reduction}  The  science  of  general 
numerical  operations  and  results  ;  a  generalized 
arithmetic  ;  whereas  in  arithmetic  the  operations 
are  performed  on,  and  the  results  are  expressed 
in,  specific  numbers  (i,  2,  3,  etc.)  ;  in  A.  the 
operations  are  performed  on,  and  the  results 
are  expressed  in,  general  numbers  (a,  6,  c,  etc.) 
connected  by  the  symbols  (+ ,  — ,  etc.)  of  ele- 
mentary operations  (addition,  subtraction,  etc.). 

Algor.  [L.,  coldness.}  \Med.)  A  sudden 
chill ;  Rigor,  if  attended  with  shivering. 

Algorithm.  [Corr.  from  Ar.  al  khowarezmi ; 
originally  the  tables  used  in  trigonometry,  which, 
in  the  thirteenth  century,  came  to  mean  Arith- 
metic in  Arabic  numerals  :  see  Littre,  Supple- 
ment.} The  Arabic  notation  of  numbers ;  the 
science  of  calculation  by  nine  figures  and  zero. 

Alguazil.  A  Spanish  officer  answering  to  the 
English  bailiff.  The  name  is  Arabic,  as  is  that 
of  Alcalde,  or  the  Kadi,  the  magistrate  or  judge. 

Alhambra.  [Ar.  al  hamra,  the  red  castle.}  The 
palace  of  the  Moorish  kings  in  Granada,  begun 
1248,  completed  1313.  Resigned  to  Ferdinand 
and  Isabella  by  Boabdil,  1492. 

Alias.     [L.]     Otherwise. 

All  Baba.  In  the  Arabian  Nights'  Tales,  a 
man  who  enters  the  cave  of  the  Forty  Thieves 
by  means  of  the  magic  word  Sesame.  (Sas- 
safras; Saxifrage.) 

Alibi.  [L. ,  elsewhere}  Not  near  the  scene  of 
a  crime  at  the  time  of  committal. 

Alicant,  or  Vino  tinto,  from  its  colour.  Wine 
of  Alicante,  in  Spain. 

Alidad.  [L.L,  alidada,  Ar.  al,  the,  hadat, 
rule}  The  index  of  an  instrument  which  is 
capable  of  an  angular  motion  ;  rarely  used,  ex- 
cept of  the  line  of  sights  of  an  azimuth  compass. 

Aliena  optimum  frui  insania,  [L.]  //  is  an  ex- 
cellent thing  to  profit  by  another's  error. 

Alienation  in  mortmain.  The  making  over  of 
lands,  tenements,  etc.,  to  a  religious  or  other 
corporate  body.  (Mortmain.) 

Aliena  vivere  quadra,  [L.]  To  live  from 
another's  table;  i.e.  as  a  parasite,  sponge. — 
Juvenal. 

Alien  priories.  (Hist.)  Inferior  monasteries 
in  England,  belonging  to  foreign  religious  houses. 

Alignment.  [Fr.  aligner,  to  dress  in  line,  L. 
Hnea.]  (Mil.)  Manoeuvre  by  which  the  same 
relative  parts  of  any  body  of  troops  are  brought 
into  the  same  line. 


Alimony.  [L.  alimonium,  sustenance,  from 
alo,  I  nourish.)  Allowance  made  to  a  wife  out 
of  her  husband's  estate  during  or  after  a  matri- 
monial suit. 

Aliped.  [L,  ala,  wing,  pes,  pedis,y^A]  Wing- 
footed,  as  the  bat. 

Aliquando  bonus  dormitat  Homerus.  [L.]  Lit. 
now  and  then  our  friend  Homer  goes  to  sleep;  i.e. 
there  are  dull  passages  in  the  best  works. — 
Horace. 

Aliquot  part.  [L.  aliquot,  some,  several}  A 
part  of  a  whole,  expressible  by  a  fraction  having 
unity  for  its  numerator  ;  thus  is.  8d.  is  an  aliquot 
part  of  ;£i,  viz.  ^. 

Alisma  plantago.  [Gr.  &AMTJUO.]  (Bot.)  Water- 
plantain  ;  once  thought  a  cure  for  hydrophobia  ; 
the  gen.  A.  being  typical  of  ord.  Alismaceae. 

Alizarine.  The  chief  colouring  agent  in 
madder  [Sp.  alizari] ;  now  obtained  from  coal-tar. 

Alkahest.  An  imaginary  universal  solvent  of 
the  alchemists. 

Alkali.  [Ar.  al  qali,  kelp}  Any  caustic  base 
which  changes  red  litmus  to  blue.  Fixed 
A.,  potash  and  soda,  volatile  A.,  ammonia. 
(Caustic.) 

Alkalimetry.  [Alkali,  and  Gr.  fierpeco,  I 
measure.}  The  art  of  measuring  the  amount  of 
pure  alkali  contained  in  commercial  potash  or 
soda. 

Alkaloids.  So  called  from  their  power  of 
forming  definite  salts  with  the  acids  ;  substances 
remarkably  affecting  the  human  system  ;  having 
alkaline  properties  in  a  low  degree ;  mostly 
vegetable,  as  morphia,  strychnine,  nicotine,  caf- 
feine ;  but  there  are  animal  A.  also,  as  urea, 
kreatine. 

Alkanet  [Fr.  arcanete],  or  Bugloss.  (Anchusa.) 
Dyer's  A.,  the  root  of  which  yields  the  fine 
red  dye  for  colouring  oils,  wax,  etc. 

Alkanna,  or  Al-henna.     (Henna.) 

Alkermes.  A  cordial  distilled  from  bay  leaves 
and  various  spices,  and  flavoured  with  syrup  of 
kermes  and  orange-flower  water. 

Alia  breve.  [It.]  In  Mus.,  =  the  notes  in- 
dividually to  be  made  shorter,  i.e.  the  pace  to 
be  quicker  than  usual.  It  is  a  kind  of  common 
time  marked  (|>  used  in  church  music,  each  bar 
being  =  a  breve  =  2  semibreves  =  4  minims, 
but  the  minims  being  played  as  if  they  were 
crotchets.  The  division  of  the  bar  into  two 
parts  each  =  two  minims  is  called  alia  cappella 
time.  But  the  use  of  the  term  is  not  always 
clear. 

Allah.  [Ar.]  God:  as  Allah  Akbar,  God  is 
great ;  akin  to  Heb.  El. 

Alia  prima.  A  method  of  painting  in  which 
the  colours  are  applied  all  at  once  [It.]  to  the 
canvas,  without  retouching. 

Allegory.  [Gr.  aXKyyopia,  from  &\\os,  other, 
dyopevu),  I  speak.}  Expansion  into  narrative  of  a 
sense-representation  of  some  moral  or  spiritual 
truth,  of  which  the  leading  idea  would  be  a 
Metaphor;  as  Pilgrim 's  Progress  ;  Parable  being 
a  kind  of  A.,  but  more  concise  and  didactic  ; 
Fable,  again,  differing  as  admitting  the  non- 
natural,  e.g.  trees  and  animals  talking. 

Allegro.      [It.,  gay,    cheerful.}      (Mus.)     A 


ALLE 


20 


ALMA 


quick  movement.  Allegretto,  dim.  of  A.,  not 
quite  so  quick.  A.  assai,  fast  enough,  quicker 
than  A.  A.  con  brio,  with  spirit;  con  fuoco, 
with  fire. 

Allemande,  i.e.  German  dance.  Introduced 
from  Alsace,  temp.  Louis  XIV.  ;  a  kind  of  slow, 
graceful  waltz,  the  arms  entwined  and  detached 
in  the  different  steps. 

Allerion.  [L.L.  alario, -nem, from  ala,  awing.'} 
(Her.)  An  eagle  displayed,  without  beak  or 

All-fours.  In  cards,  a  game  of  chance  in  which 
four  points  maybe  made  :  (i)  by  highest  trump  ; 
(2)  by  lowest ;  (3)  by  knave  of  trumps  ;  (4)  by 
majority  of  pips  from  tricks  taken. 

All-hallows,  All-hallowmas,  Hallowmas.  Old 
English  names  for  All  Saints'  Day,  November  I. 

Allioe.  [Ger.  alose,  else,  ils ;  cf.  L.  alausa, 
al5sa,  a  fish  found  in  the  Moselle  (?)  ;  probably 
a  Gallic  word.]  The  larger  (two  feet  long) 
of  the  shads,  the  other  being  the  twaite.  Like 
herring,  but  larger.  British  waters.  Gen. 
Clupea,  fam.  Clupeidse  ord.  Physostomi,  sub- 
class Teleostfii. 

Alliciency.  [L.  allicio,  I  allure.]  The  power 
of  attraction,  e.g.  in  a  magnet. 

Alligation.  [L.  alligatio,  -nem,  a  bending  or 
tying  to.]  (Arith.}  A  rule  by  which  the  value  of 
mixtures  is  found  from  the  known  values  and 
quantities  of  the  component  parts. 

Alligator  apple.    (Custard  apple.) 

Alligator  pear.     (Avocado.) 

Alligator  water.  The  brackish,  white,  and 
muddy  water  at  the  mouths  of  tropical  rivers. 

Alliteration.  [L.  ad,  to,  litera,  a  letter.}  The 
recurrence  of  the  same  letter,  generally  at  the 
beginning  of  words,  for  rhetorical  effect ;  e.g.  in 
Ancient  Mariner,  "The  fair  breeze  blew,  the 
white  foam  flew."  Laborare  est  orare  =  Work 
is  worship.  (Assonance.) 

Alliterative  poems.  Poems  in  metres,  the 
rhythm  of  which  depends  on  the  recurrence  of 
sounds  in  the  initial  letters  of  words.  To  this 
class  belong  the  old  English  poems,  such  as 
Piers  Ploughman 's  Vision.  The  practice  was 
maintained  as  late  as  the  sixteenth  century. 

Allium.  [L.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  bulbous  plants, 
ord.  Liliaceae,  to  which  belong  onion,  leek, 
shallot,  garlic,  chive. 

Allocate.  To  set  apart,  as  if  to  a  particular 
place  [L.  ad  locum].  Generally  applied  to  sums 
of  money,  fees,  "allowances." 

Allocator  [L.,  it  is  allowed]  =  the  amount  of 
an  attorney's  claim,  after  the  costs  have  been 
taxed.  (Taxing-masters.) 

Allochroite.  [Gr.  &\\os,  other,  xpota,  colour] 
A  variety  of  garnet,  with  iron,  exhibiting  a 
variety  of  colours.  (Garnet. ) 

Allocution.  [L.  allocutio,  -nem.]  1.  An  address, 
especially  of  a  Roman  imperator  to  his  army, 
or  of  the  pope  to  the  Sacred  College.  2. 
Bidding  Prayer  (q.v.). 

Allodium,  Allodial  tenure.  Land  held  by  a 
man  in  his  own  right,  and  free  from  all  feudal 
burden  :  opposed  to  fee,  fief,  feud.  Some  con- 
nect with  O.N.  odal,  Dan.  Sw.  odel,  an  estate, 
and  Gothic  alldha,  odhol,  ancient  inheritance. 


Others  with  A.S.  leod,  the  people.  Blackstone 
gives  all,  whole,  and  odh.  Ger.  od,  property. 
Wollaston,  that  of  which  a  man  has  the  all,  or 
all-hood.  (Frank-aleu.) 

Allonge.  [Fr.  allonger,  to  lengthen]  1.  (Leg.) 
Slip  attached  to  a  bill  of  exchange  for  super- 
numerary endorsements,  if  there  is  no  more 
room  on  the  bill.  2.  To  make  a  "lunge,"  in 
fencing. 

Allopathy.  [Gr.  &\\os,  other,  vdOos,  suffering, 
affection]  A  name  given  to  the  ordinary  prac- 
tice by  homoeopathists.  (Homoeopathy.) 

Allophane.  [Gr.  &\\os,  other,  <t>aivop.a.i,  I  ap- 
pear] A  mineral,  one  of  the  aluminous  silicates, 
of  which  clay  is  another ;  the  proportion  of 
water  large ;  pale  blue,  green,  brown ;  changed 
in  appearance  before  the  blowpipe. 

Allotment.  (Naut.)  That  portion  of  the  pay 
of  a  sailor,  or  marine,  on  foreign  service,  allotted 
monthly  to  his  wife  and  family. 

Allotropy.  [Gr.  dAAorpoWw,  /  am  change- 
able] (Chem.)  The  same  element  sometimes 
exists,  no  extraneous  substance  being  added,  in 
various  forms,  which  exhibit  different  properties. 
So,  ozone  is  an  allotropic  form  of  oxygen. 
Phosphorus  is  a  remarkable  example  ;  sulphur 
also. 

Alloy.  A  combination  of  two  or  more  metals, 
except  when  one  of  them  is  mercury.  Originally 
such  debasement  of  metal  as  is  according  to  law 
[Fr.  a  loi]. 

Allspice,  or  Jamaica  pepper.  The  berry  of  a 
handsome  tree,  Pimenta  off  icinalis  ;  S.  America 
and  W.  Indies  ;  ord.  Myrtaceae. 

All  the  Talents.  The  Fox  and  Grenville 
Coalition  Ministry,  formed  on  the  death  of  Mr. 
Pitt,  January,  1 806. 

Ail-to  brake.    Judg.  ix.    (To-brake.) 

Allumette.   [Fr.  allumer,  to  kindle]    A  match. 

Alluvion.  [L.  adliivio,  -nem,  fiood,  from  ad,  to, 
luo,  lavo,  I  wash]  Land  added  to  an  estate  by 
alluvial  deposit  from  sea  or  stream. 

Alluvium.  [Neut.  of  L.  alluvius,  alluvial] 
Earth,  etc.,  brought  down  by  rivers  and  floods, 
and  deposited  upon  land  not  permanently  sub- 
merged ;  e.g.  many  river-plains,  meadow-lands. 

Allux,  Allex.     (Hallux.) 

Allworthy,  Mr.  In  Fielding's  Tom  Jones; 
type  of  modest  worth  and  benevolence. 

Allyl.  A  hypothetical  substance,  supposed  to 
exist  in  oil  of  garlic  [L.  allium]. 

Almack's.  A  suite  of  rooms,  in  King  Street, 
St.  James's,  London  ;  so  called  as  having  been 
built  by  a  Scotchman  named  Macall,  who  trans- 
posed his  name.  Balls  of  a  very  exclusive 
character  were  held  in  these  rooms,  which  are 
now  known  as  Willis's. 

Almagest.  [Ar.  form  of  Gr.  /jLtyiffTos,  greatest] 
The  Arabic  name  for  Ptolemy's  work,  The  Mathe- 
matical Construction  of  the  Heavens,  which  con- 
tains a  complete  account  of  the  state  of  astro- 
nomy in  his  time — the  first  half  of  the  second 
century — and  from  which  is  drawn  a  large  part 
of  our  knowledge  of  ancient  astronomy. 

Alma  Mater.  [L.]  Fostering  mother ;  generally 
applied  to  one's  university  or  school. 

Almanac.     [Ar.    al    manack,   the  diary.]    A 


ALMA 


ALTO 


calendar  wherein  are  noted  down  the  days,  weeks, 
and  months  of  the  year  ;  the  most  remarkable 
phenomena  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  etc.  In  the 
Nautical  A.  are  given  the  daily  positions  of  the 
sun,  moon,  planets,  and  certain  stars,  the  lunar 
distances  of  certain  stars  for  every  third  hour 
of  Greenwich  mean  time,  and  other  information 
of  a  like  kind  very  useful  to  travellers  by  land 
and  sea. 

Almanack  de  Gotha.  Published  yearly  at  Gotha 
since  1764,  and  giving  a  large  amount  of  in- 
formation upon  the  principal  affairs,  political 
and  statistical,  of  every  civilized  country. 

Almandine.  Red  transparent  varieties  of  iron 
and  garnet  (q.v.). 

Alme,  Al-mai.  [Ar.  almet,  instructed,  alam,  to 
know]  Singing  girls  of  Egypt,  who  live  in 
bands,  and  attend  marriages,  funerals,  etc. ,  sing- 
ing pathetic  ballads  ;  something  like  the  Roman 
prseficse.  (Ambubaiae.) 

Almery.  [Fr.  armoire,  L.  armarium,  a  cup- 
board.] An  older  form  of  the  word  ambry 
(q.v.)  or  aumbry. 

Almohades.     (Almoravides.) 

Al  molino,  ed  alia  sposa,  sempre  mancha 
qualche  cosa.  [Sp.]  A  mill  and  a  wife  always 
•want  something. 

Almonry.  A  room  in  which  are  kept  the  alms 
gathered  for  the  poor.  In  many  monasteries  the 
almonries  had  special  endowments.  [Fr.  aumone, 
Gr.  Ixcrj/ioo-uvr;,  an  alms.~\ 

Almoravides.  An  Arab  dynasty  of  N.W. 
Africa,  founded  in  the  eleventh  century.  They 
overthrew  the  Almohades  in  Africa  and  Spain 
in  the  following  century. 

Almuce.     (Amice.) 

Almug,  I  Kings  x. ;  Algiim,  2  Chron.  ii.  [?  A 
corr.  of  Indian  name  valguka.]  Probably  red 
sandalwood  (Pterocarpus  santalinus). 

Alnager.  [L.  ulna,  art  ell.}  (Eng.  Hist.} 
A  sworn  officer,  whose  duty  it  was  to  examine 
into  the  assize  of  cloth  and  collect  the  alnage 
duty  on  cloths  sold. 

Alnaschar.  A  poor  delf- seller  in  the  Arabian 
Nights'  Tales,  whose  dream  of  wealth  vanishes 
on  his  smashing  a  mirror,  which  is  really  his 
basket  kicked  over  in  waking. 

Aloadae.     (Mars.) 

Aloes.  The  bitter  inspissated  juice  of  several 
species  of  Aloe,  succulent  plants  with  fleshy, 
prickly  margined  leaves,  and  erect  spikes  of  red 
or  yellow  flowers.  The  lign  aloes  [L.  lignum 
aloes]  of  Scripture  (Numb.  xxiv.  ;  Ps.  xlv.)  is 
the  resinous  wood  of  Aquilaria  agallocha,  a  drug 
once  generally  valued  for  use  as  incense. 

Alogians.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  Atyos,  the  WORD.] 
Heretics,  second  century,  who  denied  the  Divine 
Logos,  or  Word  ;  they  attributed  St.  John's 
Gospel  to  Cerinthus. 

Alogon.     (Neat.) 

Alonsine.     (Alphonsine  Tables.) 

Alp.  Any  lofty  mountain,  particularly  the 
mountains  of  Switzerland.  Also,  a  mountain 
pasture.  The  word  is  found  in  Albion,  Albyn, 
Albania,  etc.  (Southern  Alps.) 

Alpaca.  A  stuff  made  of  the  wool  of  the 
alpaca,  mixed  with  silk  or  cotton.  (Auchenia.) 


Alpenstock.  [Ger.]  A  staff  used  by  moun- 
taineers. 

Alphonsine  Tables.  Tables  of  the  motions  of 
the  sun,  moon,  and  planets,  in  A.D.  1253  and 
subsequent  years,  by  Alphonso,  King  of  Castile. 

Alquifou.  [Fr.  alquifoux.]  A  lead  ore,  used 
for  green  varnish  on  pottery. 

Al  Eakim.  In  the  legend  of  the  Seven  Sleepers, 
a  dog  who  has  care  of  all  letters  and  corre- 
spondence. 

Al  root.     A  red  dye-stuff  used  in  India. 

Alsatia.  Once  a  name  for  Whitefriars,  an 
asylum  for  debtors  and  those  who  had  broken 
the  law. 

Al-sirat.  [Ar.]  The  path,  narrow  as  a 
sword-edge,  over  the  abyss  of  hell,  to  the  Mo- 
hammedan paradise. 

Altaic.  [From  Altai  Mountains  in  N.  Asia  ] 
Generic  name  for  the  Tungusic,  Mongolic, 
Turkic,  and  Samoyedic  groups  of  agglutinative 
languages. 

Altarage.  [L.  obventio  altaris.]  Profits  arising 
to  the  parish  priest,  for  services  at  the  altar. 
(Obvention.) 

Altar  tombs.  Tombs  in  churches,  which  in 
shape  resemble  an  altar. 

Al-taschith.  Title  of  Pss.  Ivii.,  Iviii.,  lix.,  and 
of  Ps.  Ixxv. ,  which  is  similar  in  spirit,  i.e.  destroy 
not;  alluding  to  David's  answer  to  Abishai 
(i  Sam.  xxvi.  9). 

Alterative.  Medicine  modifying  a  morbid 
condition  by  gradual  change. 

Alter  ego.  [L.,  another  /.]  A  second  self. 
Alter  idem  [L.],  a  second  same  one ;  an  intimate, 
true  friend. 

Alternate.  [L.  alternatim.]  In  Bot.,  placed 
on  opposite  sides  of  an  axis,  but  on  different 
levels,  as  the  leaves  of  laurel,  etc.  ;  or  between 
other  bodies  of  the  same  whorl,  or  of  different 
whorls,  as  the  stamens  of  an  umbellifer,  between 
the  petals,  and  A.  with  them.  A.  leaves  are 
distinguished  from  opposite,  which  are  set  on  the 
same  level ;  e.g.  jessamine,  which  is,  therefore, 
an  adversifoliate  plant. 

Alternate  angles,  etc.,  lie  on  opposite  sides 
of  the  same  straight  line,  as  in  Euclid,  i.  27. 

Alternate  generation.  That  process  of  repro- 
duction in  which  one  impregnation  supplies  two 
or  more  generations,  called  Nursing  generations. 
Reproduction  by  impregnation  then  recurs. 
Probably  it  is  an  internal  budding  or  fission. 
Most  striking  in  Hydrozda,  but  Entozoa  and 
Molluscoids  supply  instances. 

Althaea.  [Gr.  a\6aia,  marsh  mallow,  &\eu,  2 
heal.]  (Bot.}  A  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Malvaceae; 
including  marsh  mallow,  hollyhock. 

Altimetry.  [L.  altus,  high,  Gr.  pcrplw,  1 
measure.]  The  art  of  measuring  heights  by 
instruments. 

Altis.  [Gr.]  The  sacred  enclosure  of  Zeus 
at  Olympia. 

Altitude  and  azimuth  instrument,  or  Alt- 
azimuth instrument.  (Azimuth.) 

Altitude  of  a  heavenly  body.     [L.  altitude, 
height.]   The  angular  distance  of  its  centre  above 
the  horizon  measured  on  a  vertical  circle. 
Alto-relievo.     (Mezzo-relievo.) 


ALTR 


22 


AMBR 


Altruism.  The  doing  to  another  [It.  altrui] 
as  one  would  be  done  by ;  opposed  to  egoism. 
The  term  for  the  so-called  religious  system 
adopted  by  Comte.  (Comtism ;  Positivism.) 

Alula.  [L.]  Winglet,  dim.  of  ala,  wing. 
(Wing.) 

Alum.  [L.  alumen.  ]  Sulphate  of  alumina, 
combined  with  sulphate  of  potash  or  some  other 
alkali.  Roman  A.  is  extracted  from  volcanic 
rocks  near  Naples.  A.  ore,  an  aluminous  slate, 
containing  sulphide  of  iron. 

Alumina.  Sesquioxide  of  aluminium,  the 
chief  constituent  of  clays. 

Aluminium.  [L.  alumen,  alum.]  (Min.) 
A  bluish-white  metal  obtained  from  alumina, 
remarkable  for  its  lightness.  A.  bronze  is  a 
gold-coloured  alloy  of  copper  and  aluminium. 

Alumnus.     [L.]     Pupil,  nursling. 

Alure.  [L.L.  allorium.]  (Arch.}  A  gang- 
way or  passage. 

Aluta.  [L.]  Leather  softened  by  means  of 
alum. 

Alva-marina.  Dried  seaweed  [L.  alga  marina], 
used  for  stuffing  mattresses. 

Alveolar.  [L.  alveolus,  dim.  of  alveus, 
channel.}  Relating  to  sounds  formed  by  bring- 
ing the  side  and  tip  of  the  tongue  near  or  up  to 
the  upper  gums  before  articulating  the  consonant 
(q.v.)  or  vowel  (q.v.). 

Alveolar  processes  ofc  the  maxillary  bones. 
Those  from  which  the  teeth  spring. 

Amacratic.  [Gr.  a/j.a,  together,  Kpdros,  strength.] 
Concentrating  actinic  rays  to  a  focus ;  also  termed 
amasthenic  [a/ta,  together,  adevos,  strength}. 

Amadis.  The  name  of  several  heroes  of 
chivalric  poetry,  the  chief  of  whom  was  A.  the 
Lion,  Knight  of  Gaula,  i.e.  Wales. 

Amadou.  German  tinder,  prepared  from  a 
fungus  of  the  cherry,  ash,  etc.,  Boletus  igmarius. 
[Amadouer,  to  coax  ;  cf.  esca,  L.  and  It  ,  mean- 
ing both  bait  and  touchwood] 

Amalfian  Code.  A  collection  of  marine  laws, 
compiled  by  the  people  of  Amalfi,  in  Italy,  about 
the  eleventh  century,  (Oleron,  Laws  of;  Wisby, 
Ordinances  of.) 

Amalgam.  [Gr.  fidXay/j-a,  a  thing  softened.] 
A  combination  of  metals,  into  which  mercury 
generally  enters,  rubbed  together  while  in  a 
powdery  state,  afterwards  becoming  hard  ,  gene- 
rally used  for  filling  up  the  cavities  of  decayed 
teeth,  and  for  purposes  of  repair. 

Amaltheia,  Horn  of.  [Gr.  a^Qfia.]  The 
horn  of  the  goat  which  suckled  Zeus  (JEgis),  and 
from  which  flowed  Nectar.  Hence,  a  horn  of 
plenty,  or  cornucopiae. 

Amantium  irae  amoris  integratio  est.  [L.] 
Lovers'  quarrels  are  the  renewal  of  love. — Terence. 

Amanuensis.  [L.]  Originally  a  slave  copyist ; 
a  manu,  from,  or  by  means  of,  the  hand ;  as  a 
pedibus,  a  footman;  ab  epistolis,  a  secretary,  etc. 

Amaranth.  1.  (Poet.)  [Gr.  o.p.<ipa.vros,  im- 
fading,  from  &  neg.,  napaivca,  I  make  to  wither.] 
2.  (Bot. )  A  gen.  ( Amaranthus)  to  which  belong 
love-lies-bleeding,  cockscomb,  etc. 

Amaritude.     [L.  amantudo.]     Bitterness. 

Amaryllidaceae  (Amaryllis).  (Bot.)  An  ord.  of 
plants,  mostly  bulbous,  and  with  poisonous  pro- 


perties ;  to  which  belong  narcissus,  daffodil, 
snowdrop,  amaryllis,  Guernsey  lily,  agave,  etc. 

Amaryllis.  Proper  name  of  women  in  Latin 
poetry  ;  meton.,  a  rustic  lass. 

Amassette.  [Fr.]  A  horn  instrument  used  to 
collect  [Fr.  amasser]  a  painter's  colours  on  the 
stone  during  the  process  of  grinding. 

Amasthenic.    (Amacratic.) 

Amate.  To  make,  or  to  be,  stupid,  senseless. 
[Cf.  Ger.  matt  and  Fr.  mat,  dull,  languid  ;  and 
It.  matto,  mad.] 

Amati.  Meton.  for  a  violin.  In  Cremona, 
seventeenth  century,  the  Amati  family  were 
famous  makers  of  violins ;  even  surpassed  by 
one  of  their  pupils,  Straduarius,  also  of  Cremona. 

Amaurdsis.  [Gr.  d/xoupuxns,  a  darkening.] 
Blindness,  arising  not  from  injury,  but  from  a 
paralysis  of  the  retina. 

Amazonian.  As  applied  to  fighting  women, 
extraordinarily  strong  ;  from  the  Amazons. 

Amazons  =  Sisters.  [Gr.  afjia&v  being  one 
nourished  at  the  same  breast ;  cf.  a5e\(f)6s,  one 
from  the  same  womb.]  The  legend  of  Scythian 
women,  who  removed  the  right  breast  that  they 
might  use  the  bow,  arose  from  the  error  of  d 
being  considered  privative  instead  of  copulative. 

Amazon  stone.     Green  felspar  from  Siberia. 

Ambarvalia.  [L.,  from  ambire  arva,  to  go 
rotmd  the  fields.  ]  Religious  feasts  of  the  Romans, 
in  which  the  victims  were  led  round  the  fields. 
They  were  celebrated  by  the  twelve  Arval 
Brothers  (Arvales  Fratres),  at  the  end  of  May. 

Ambassador.  [Fr.  ambassadeur.]  A  foreign 
minister  of  the  first  grade,  representing  person- 
ally the  dignity  of  his  sovereign,  and  communi- 
cating with  the  sovereign  or  head  to  whom  he  is 
sent.  England  sends  A.  to  France,  Russia, 
Austria,  the  German  Empire,  and  the  Sultan. 

Ambassy.  [Hind.]  A  State  howdah  (q.v.), 
with  a  canopy. 

Amber.  [Ar.  anb'r,  introduced  at  the  time  of 
the  Crusades.]  A  fossil  resin,  washed  by  the 
Baltic  out  of  a  Tertiary  lignite  formed  of  Pinus 
succinifera.  Also  found  on  east  coast  of  Eng- 
land, between  Southwold  and  Aldeburgh. 

Ambergris.  [Fr.  ambre  gris,  grey  amber.} 
Found  on  the  sea,  or  shore,  of  warm  climates 
chiefly  ;  a  fatty  substance,  morbid  (?),  in  the  in- 
testines of  the  sperm  whale  ;  used  as  a  perfume, 
and  to  flavour  wine. 

Ambidextrous.  [L.  ambo,  both,  dextra,  the 
right  hand.}  1.  Using  the  left  hand  as  usefully 
as  the  right.  2.  Shuffling,  untrustworthy, 
equally  ready  to  take  either  of  two  sides. 

Ambisexual  words.  [L.  ambo,  both,  sexus,  a 
sex.}  Equally  applicable  to  either  sex ;  so 
damsel  [O.Fr.  damoisel,  L.  dominicellus], 
girl,  man,  and  L.  homo,  were  all  of  them 
originally  both  masc.  and  fern. 

Ambitus.  [L.]  Of  a  tone,  in  Plain  song,  is 
its  compass  ;  the  ascent  and  decent  between  its 
extreme  limits. 

Ambo.  [L.,  Gr.  &/j.fiwv.]  A  kind  ol  pulpit  in 
the  choir,  from  which  the  choir  sang,  Epistie 
and  Gospel  were  read,  and  sometimes  sermons 
preached. 

Ambreada.    [Fr.  ambreade.]    Artificial  amber 


AMBR 


AMMO 


Ambrosia.  [Gr.,  immortal.]  The  food  of  the 
Olympian  gods,  which  preserves  them  from 
death.  Called  by  the  Hindus  Amrita.  (Nectar.) 
Ambrosian  Office.  One  partly  composed,  partly 
compiled,  by  St.  Ambrose,  at  the  end  of  the 
fourth  century  ;  it  withstood  all  attempts  to  sub- 
stitute the  Roman  order ;  confirmed  by  Alexander 
VI.,  1497- 

Ambrosin.  Early  Milanese  coin,  with  figure 
of  St.  Ambrose  on  horseback. 

Ambrotype.  [Gr.  &/J.PPOTOS,  immortal,  TUTTO?, 
type.]  A  photographic  picture  on  glass,  the 
lights  of  which  are  in  silver,  and  the  shades 
formed  by  a  dark  background  seen  through  the 
glass. 

Ambry,  Almery,  Aumery,  Aumbry.  [Fr.  ar- 
moire,  L.  armarium,  a  closet  for,  L.  arma, 
utensils, .]  1.  A  niche  or  cupboard  near  an  altar, 
for  utensils  belonging  thereto.  2.  A  larger 
closet  for  charters,  vestments,  etc. 

Ambubaiae.  [L.]  Syrian  singing  women,  who 
performed  in  public  at  Rome. 

Ambulance.  [Fr.]  Hospital  waggon  follow- 
ing troops  in  the  field.  Hospitals  attached  to 
an  army,  with  their  staff  of  surgeons,  etc.,  have 
lately  been  called  Ambulances. 

Ambulance  classes.  Formed  in  connexion 
with  the  Ambulance  Department  of  the  Order  of 
St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  in  England  ;  to  teach  so 
much  of  anatomy  and  medicine  as  may  serve  to 
give  first  aid  to  the  sick  and  injured — the  ap- 
parently drowned,  poisoned,  hung,  suffocated, 
etc. — pending  the  arrival  of  a  doctor. 

Amedians.     An  Italian   congregation   of  the 
fifteenth  century,    united  by  Pius  V.  with   the 
Cistercians.    They  are  also  called  Amis  de  Dieu 
(Amedieu),  Friends  of  God. 
Ameer,  Amir.    (Emir.) 

Amelia,  from  which  character  Fielding's  novel 
is  named,  =  a  tender  and  true  wife. 
Amen.     [Heb.]     So  be  it ;  verily. 
Amende  honorable.     [Fr.]     An  open,  unre- 
served acknowledgment  of  error  ;  formerly,  in 
France,   a  confession  of  offences  against  some 
laws  of  order  or  morality,  made  by  the  criminal, 
kneeling,  in  open  court ;  sometimes  in  his  shirt, 
with  torch  in  hand,  and  rope  round  the  neck. 

Amenity,  [L.  amcemtatem.]  Pleasantness ; 
amenities  often  ironical  for  bitter,  abusive  re- 
marks. 

A  mensa  et  thoro.  [L.,  from  board  and  bed.  ]  A 
legal  separation ;  husband  and  wife  no  longer 
living  together,  but  the  marriage  tie  remaining. 

Amentaceae.     [L.  amentum,  a  thong.]     (Sot.} 
Catkin-bearing  tribe,  a  nat.  ord. ;  willow,  alder, 
white  birch,  etc. ,  are  genera. 
Amenthes,  Amenti.     (Osiris.) 
Amentia.     [L.,  folly,  madness.]    As  now  ap- 
plied, is  =  congenital  imbecility.     (Dementia.) 

Amercement,  Amerciament.  A  fine  imposed 
by  a  court  of  justice,  the  offender  being  at  the 
mercy  [Fr.  mercie]  of  the  king  or  other  lord. 
Merces  =  penalty,  or  a  fine  as  an  alternative 
punishment,  being  a  mercy.  Amerce ',  to  punish 
by  fine  (Deut.  xxii.). 

American  organ.     A  musical  instrument,  the 
chief  characteristic  of  which  is  that  the  air 
3 


ucked  through  the  reeds  into  the  bellows,  not 
blown  from  bellows  through  reeds  as  in  a 
tiarmonium. 

A  merveille.     [Fr.]     To  perfection. 

Ametabolia.  [Gr.  o,ueTa/8oAos,  unchangeable.] 
In  wingless  insects  (Apt£ra),  absence  of  observ- 
able metamorphosis  (q.v.). 

Amethyst.  [Gr.  d[*.f6vffTos,  not  drunken,  as 
supposed  to  guard  the  wearer  against  drunken- 
ness.] 1.  A  purple  variety  of  rock-crystal. 
2.  Oriental  amethyst,  purplish  sapphire. 

Amhario  language.     (Semitic.) 

Amianthus.  [Gr.  dpiavros,  undefiled.]  Moun- 
tain flax,  a  delicate  kind  of  asbestos  (q.v.}  ; 
sometimes  woven  into  cloth  ;  easily  cleansed  by 
fire,  if  soiled. 

Amice,  Amictus,  Amicia,  Almutium,  Almuce, 
Aumusse.  [L.  amlcio,  /  clothe.]  A  square 
linen  collar  worn  over  the  shoulders  and  neck 
by  priests  in  the  early  Church.  The  "grey 
amice"  is  a  cape  of  fur,  now  sometimes  worn 
over  the  arm. 

Amicus  curlse.  [L.,  a  friend  of  the  court]  A 
member  of  the  bar,  not  retained  in  the  case, 
who  makes  a  suggestion  for  the  benefit  of  the 
court. 

Amidine.     The  soluble  part  of  starch. 

Amidships.  1  The  centre  point  of  the  line 
of  a  ship's  greatest  length  or  breadth.  2.  The 
centre  part  of  a  ship. 

Amiens,  Peace  of.  A  peace  made  between 
England  and  France,  1802,  leaving  France 
practically  paramount  on  the  Continent,  and 
tending  to  the  exaltation  of  Napoleon,  who  now 
became  consul  for  life. 

Amis  de  Dieu.     (Amedians. ) 

Amman.  [Heb.]  A  Jewish  measure  of  length, 
from  the  elbow  to  the  end  of  the  middle  finger  ; 
a  cubit. 

Ammergau  Play.  At  A.,  a  village  in  the  ex- 
treme S.  of  Bavaria,  a  dramatic  representation 
of  the  Crucifixion  is  given  once  in  every  ten 
years.  One  of  the  very  few  remaining  examples 
of  the  mysteries  (q.v.},  once  the  only  kind  of 
dramatic  performance,  and  so  popular  from  the 
eleventh  century  to  the  end  of  the  fourteenth 
century. 

Ammodytes.  [Gr.  d/j.^o-^vr^s,  sand-burrower, 
a  kind  of  serpent.]  (Zool.}  Sand-eels,  sand- 
launces  ;  small,  silvery,  eel-like  fishes  ;  the  latter 
spec,  is  the  smaller.  Fam.  Ophidiidse,  ord. 
Anacanthini,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Ammonia,  Volatile  alkali,  Spirits  of  harts- 
horn. (First  procured  from  sal  ammoniac.) 
A  gaseous  alkali,  the  oxide  of  a  hypothetical 
metal,  ammonium.  A.  is  a  compound  of  one  of 
nitrogen  and  three  of  hydrogen  ;  obtained  in  this 
country  chiefly  from  pit-coal  and  refuse  animal 
substances, — hence  the  word  hartshorn  ;  and  A. 
because  obtained  from  camels'  dung  burnt  near 
the  temple  of  Jupiter  Ammon. 

Ammoniac,  Sal.  (First  made,  it  is  said,  from 
camels'  dung,  near  the  temple  of  Jupiter 
Ammon.)  Chloride  of  ammonium.  Ammoniac 
gum,  a  resinous  gum  from  Persia,  used  in 
medicine. 
Ammonites.  (Geol.)  Fossil  molluscs,  cephalo- 


AMMO 


AMUL 


podous,  allied  to  the  nautilus ;  in  shape  like  the 
curved  horn  of  Jupiter  Ammon  ;  characteristic 
of  the  Trias  (of  Alps),  Lias,  and  Oolite.  _ 

Ammonium.  (For  denv.  vide  Ammonia.)  A 
quasi-metal,  consisting  of  four  equivalents  of 
hydrogen  and  one  of  nitrogen  ;  not  yet  obtained 
by  itself,  but  known  in  an  amalgam  with 
mercury. 

Ammophila  [Gr.  fyt/ios,  sand,  4>i\e«,  I  love], 
or  Arundo  Arenaria.  1.  Sea-reed,  sand-reed- — 
the  Marum,  Marrum,  of  English  and  Scotch 
laws— valuable  as  fixing  shifting  sand.  2. 
(Entom.)  Sand-wasps. 

Amnesty.  [Gr.  d/jLv-nffria,  a  forgetting.]  A 
pardon  of  political  offences,  e.g.  at  the  Restora- 
tion ;  or,  as  part  of  a  treaty,  of  offences  com- 
mitted in  war. 

Amceba  [Gr.  d/j.oi&6s,  interchangeable},  or  Pro- 
teus animalcule.  Microscopic  fresh-water  A., 
consisting  of  a  living,  structureless,  albuminous 
substance  (sarcode,  protoplasm),  of  no  particular 
shape,  but  protruding  any  part  as  a  pseudopodion, 
to  serve  as  a  hand  or  a  foot,  and  extemporizing 
any  part  as  a  mouth  and  digestive  cavity.  Sub- 
kingd;  Protozoa. 

Amcebean  ode.  [Gr.  dfj-oi^aios,  alternate.] 
One  sung  by  two  persons  in  alternate  strains, 
£.£-.' Virgil,  Eel.  i.,  iii.,  etc. 

Amomum.  [L.,  Gr  6/uw/xoj/ ]  (Bot.)  A  gen 
of  plants,  ord.  Zingiberaceae,  yielding  aromatic 
seeds,  as  grains  of  paradise,  cardamom  ;  mostly 
tropical. 

Amorphous  rocks  and  minerals.  (Geol.)  Those 
which  have  not  determinate  form  [Gr  /*o/>$4]  or 
structure. 

Amorphozoa.  [Gr.  &/j.op$os,  unshapen,  &ov, 
an  animal.}  Sponges,  the  skeletons  of  amcebi- 
form  bodies,  which  invest  them  when  living 
Sub-kingd.  Protozda.  (Amoeba.) 

Amortissement.  [Fr.,  from  amortir,  to  deaden.} 
The  extinguishing  of  debt,  as  by  a  sinking 
fund. 

Amortize.  [Fr.  amortir,  to  deaden.}  Aliena- 
tion of  lands  in  mortmain. 

Amour  propre.  [Fr.]  Self-love,  often  =  self- 
respect. 

Amphibalum.  (Chasuble.) 
Amphibia,  Amphibians.  [Gr.  d^0ij8tos,  double, 
lived.}  (Zool.)  Vertebrates,  when  immature, 
possessing  gills,  which  in  maturity  are  in  the 
Perennibranchiates  supplemented,  and  in  the 
Caducibranchiates  superseded,  by  lungs.  They 
are  classified  as  follows  : — Ord.  i.,  Pseudophidia 
[Gr.  ^euSrjs,  false,  bfy'&iov,  a  small  snake} ; 
Cseciliadse  [L.  caecilia,  a  kind  of  lizard,  csecus, 
blind},  worm-like  animals,  burrowing  in  tropical 
marshes.  Ord.  ii.,  Batrachia  Urodela  [/Sarpaxoy, 
a  frog,  ovpd,  a  tail,  5f}A.os,  visible},  as  newts. 
Ord.  iii.,  Batrachia  Anoura  [ou/  neg.,  ovpd,  a 
tail},  as  frogs. 

Amphiboly.  [Gr.  ai*<j>ipo\ia,  fyt<J><j8aAA«,  I  toss 
to  and  fro.}  Ambiguity. 

Amphibrachys,  Amphibrach.     In  Prosody,  a 

foot,   «  -  v ,  having  one  long  syll.  and  a  short 

[Gr.  fipaxvs]  one  on  each  side  of  it  [dfj.(pi],  e.g. 

amare;  the  converse  vt  Amphitnacer. 

Amphictyonic    Council.      [Gr.    dj 


meaning  most  probably  dwellers  round  about.} 
Any  council  of  Greek  confederated  tribes.  The 
most  important  was  that  of  the  twelve  northern 
tribes,  which  met  alternately  at  Delphi  and 
Thermopylae. 

Amphigore.  Nonsense  verse,  as  Pope's  Song 
by  a  Person  of  Quality  [Fr.  amphigoure,  non- 
sense, rigmarole ;  an  eighteenth  century  word, 
origin  unknown-] 

Amphimacer  [Gr  &/j.<pifj.aKpos,  long  both  ways], 
or  Creticus.  A  foot,  -  «  -,  having  one  short 
syll.  and  a  long  [fj.a.Kp6s]  one  on  each  side  [djucpi], 
e.g.  dlgnitas  ;  the  converse  of  Amphibrachys. 

AmpMpneust.  [Gr.  a^tyi,  twofold,  irreucrrTjs, 
a  breather.}  Perennibranchiate,  tailed,  Batra- 
chians,  as  Pr5teus  anguineus  (q  v.). 

Amphiprostyle.     [Gr   apQi,  on  both  sides,  irp6, 
efore,   arv\os,  a  pillar.}     Having  a  portico  at 
each  end  ;  said  of  a  temple. 
Amphisbaena,    Amphisbsenidae.      [Gr     a/j.(pis- 
uva,  a  kind  of  serpent  going  both  ways.}   (Zool.) 
"am.  and  gen   of  snake-like,  footless,  burrowing 
izards.      Spain,    Asia   Minor,    N.    and    Trop. 
Africa,  and  Trop,  S.  America. 

Amphiscii  =  living  in  the  Torrid  zone,  and 
lasting  a  shadow  [Gr.  <TKI£\  on  both  sides  [aju<f>fc], 
sometimes  north,  sometimes  south.  ['A^(/>i<r/ctos 
n  class.  Gr.  is  shaded  around,  or  on  both  sides} 

Amphitrite.  1.  (Zool.)  Tubicolous  annelid. 
Tubicolae.)  2.  In  Myth.  (Nereids). 

Amphiuma.  (Zool.)  Gen.  of  eel-like  Amphibia, 
with  rudimentary  feet.  Southern  U.S.A.  Ord. 
Batrachia  Urodela. 

Amphora.  [L.]  A  clay  pitcher,  two-handled 
Gr.  UfjiQi,  on  both  sides,  <j>epo>,  /  carry},  used  as 
a  liquid  measure.  Gr.  =  9  gall. ;  Rom.  =  6.  Also 
as  a  cinerary  urn. 

Amplexicaulis,  Amplexicaul.  [L.  amplector, 
/  embrace,  caulis,  a  stem. }  (Bot.)  Said  of  a  leaf, 
which  at  its  base  embraces  the  stem  ~,  e.g.  upper 
leaves  of  shepherd's-purse  (Capsella  bursa- 
pastoris). 

Amplification.  [L.  amplificatio,  -nem,  from 
amplifico,  /  make  large}  (Rhet.)  An  enrich- 
ment of  discourse  by  epithet  and  image  and 
graphic  detail  >  word-painting.  (Auxetic.) 

Amplitude.  [L.  amplitude,  wide  extent}  The 
angular  distance  of  a  heavenly  body,  when  rising 
or  setting,  from  the  east  or  west  points  of  the 
horizon.  If  the  angular  distance  is  taken  from 
the  magnetic  east  or  west,  it  is  the  Magnetic  A. 

Ampulla.  [L.,  cf.  amphora,  a  two-handled 
jar.}  1.  A  narrow-necked,  globular,  two-handled 
bottle,  for  unguents  ;  and  (Eccl. )  for  oil  at  coro- 
nations. 2.  (Anat.)  The  globular  termination 
of  one  of  the  semicircular  canals  of  the  ear. 

Ampyx.     [Gr   tf/uruf.]     A  head-band  or  fillet 
worn  anciently  by  Greek  women  of  rank. 
Amrita.    (Ambrosia.) 

Amuck.  A  Malay,  in  a  mad  fit  of  rage  or 
revenge,  runs  "amuck,"  amok,  seeking  the  life 
of  any  one  he  meets,  until  he  is  killed  by  their 
efforts  at  self-preservation. 

Amulet.  [L.L.  amuletum,  Ar.  hamalet  =  a 
thing  suspended.}  A  talisman  ;  a  gem,  ornament, 
figure,  scroll,  etc.,  worn  to  avert  evil.  Oriental, 
Egyptian,  Jewish,  Greek,  Roman,  modern. 


AMY 


ANAL 


Amy.  [Fr.  ami,  friend.}  (Nazit.)  A  friendly 
alien  serving  on  board  ship. 

Amygdaleae.  [Gr.  a/j.uy$d\ov,  Fr.  amande, 
almond.]  (Bot.)  A  sub-ord.  of  Rosacese,  including 
peach,  plum,  cherry,  etc. ;  with  fleshy  fruit  and 
resinous  bark. 

Amygdaloid.  .  [Gr.  &/j.vy8d\ov,  almond,  eTSey, 
shape.}  (Geol.)  A  variety  of  igneous  rock,  in 
which  are  embedded  almond-shaped  bodies, 
agate,  calcspar,  or  zeolites,  rilling  holes  once 
occupied  by  steam. 

Amylaceous.  Of  the  nature  of  starch  [L. 
amylum]. 

Ana.  [Gr.  &vd,  again.]  In  prescriptions,  or 
a,  =  equal  quantity. 

-ana.  Originally  neut.  plu.  ;  e.g.  Scaliger-ana, 
Benthami-ana,  =  loose  thoughts,  sayings,  and 
leading  passages  of  S.  or  B.,  collected. 

Anabaptist.  [Gr.  dvafiairrifa,  I  rebaptizc.] 
1.  One  who,  denying  infant  baptism,  is  for 
rebaptizing  adults.  2.  Fanatical  lawless  sect, 
sixteenth  century,  in  Germany. 

Anabas.  [Gr.  &va-&cdvu,  to  go  up,  second  aor. 
part,  ava&ds.]  (Zool.)  Perca  scandens,  climbing 
perch.  Its  pharyngeal  bones  'are  so  modified 
as  to  retain  moisture  for  its  gills,  enabling  it  to 
remain  long  out  of  water,  when  it  travels  con- 
siderable distances,  and,  according  to  some, 
climbs  trees.  Fam.  PercidaBj,  ord.  Acantho- 
pterygii,  sub-class  Tele'oste'i. 

Anabasis.  [Gr.,  a  going  up.}  A  work  in  which 
Xenophon  relates  the  attempt  of  Cyrus  the 
younger  to  wrest  the  Persian  crown  from  his 
brother,  and  his  consequent  march  or  ascent  to 
the  field  of  Cunaxa,  where  he  was  slain. 

Anabathmi.  Certain  Greek  antiphons,  the 
words  being  from  Pss.  cxx.  to  cxxxiv.,  or  the 
Songs  of  Degrees  (q.v.).  [Gr.  dva/jafljuoi,  LXX.] 
Anableps.  [Gr.  dj/aj3A.eirco,  /  look  up.]  Star- 
gazer.  (Zool.)  A  gen.  of  fresh-water  fish,  about 
twelve  inches  long,  having  eyes  with  double 
pupils,  and  frequently  swimming  with  the  head 
out  of  water.  Trop.  America.  Fam.  Cyprlno- 
dontiadse,  ord.  Physostomi,  sub-class  Tele'oste'i. 

Anacanthmi.  [Gr.  &v-dKavOo$,  without  spines} 
(Zool.}  Ord.  of  fish  without  spinous  rays  to  the 
fins,  as  the  cod  and  sole. 

Anacards,  or  Cashew  tribe.  (Bot.)  An  ord.  of 
woody  plants,  W.  Indies  and  S.  America,  yield- 
ing acrid  resin,  used  as  varnish ;  as  sumach, 
pistachio,  mango. 

Anacharsis,  meton.  =a  traveller.  A.  a  famous 
Scythian  traveller,  who  visited  Athens  in  the 
time  of  Solon ;  and  the  only  barbarian  who  ever 
received  the  Athenian  franchise  (see  Herod.,  iv. 
46,  76).  (Seven  Rishis.) 

Anachoretae,  Anchorets.  [Gr.  <Wx«pT?'H)s,  a 
dweller  apart.]  Hermits  dwelling  alone  and 
apart  from  society  ;  a  Ccenobite  \Koiv6$ios]  being 
one  who  lives  in  a  fraternity  [KOIVOS  fiios,  life  in 
common}. 

Anachronism.  [Gr.  avaxpovur/j.6s,  from  oi/a, 
back,  xpdvos,  time.]  A  confusion  of  time,  repre- 
senting things  as  coexisting  which  did  not  co- 
exist ;  e.g.  ancients  painted  in  modern  costume. 
(Parachronism.) 
Anaclastics.  (Dioptrics.) 


Anacoluthon.  [Gr.  dvaK6\ov6oi/,  not  following.  ] 
In  Gram.,  a  term  denoting  the  want  of  strict 
sequence  in  a  sentence,  the  members  of  which 
belong  to  different  grammatical  constructions. 

Anaconda,  Anacondo,  Anacunda.  (Zool.)  One 
of  the  largest  snakes,  non-venomous,  killing  its 
prey  by  constriction.  Trop.  America.  Fam. 
Pythonida?. 

Anacreontic  verse.  An  iambic  of  three  and  a 
half  feet,  spondees  and  iambuses,  an  anapaest 
being  sometimes  substituted  for  the  first  foot ; 
that  of  Anacreon  of  Teos,  an  amatory  lyric  poet, 
sixth  century  B.C. 

Anadem.  [Gr.  avaS^o,  ai/a-8ew,  /  bind  or  tie 
up.}  A  fillet,  wreath. 

Anadiplosis.  [Gr.  dvdSiirXiaffts,  a  redoubling.] 
The  repetition  of  a  word  in  the  last  sentence  as 
the  starting-point,  exegetically,  of  a  new  thought, 
as,  "The  mouse  ran  up  the  clock;  the  clock 
struck ;  "  etc. 

Anadromous.  [Gr.  dvaSpo/j.'fi,  a  running  up.] 
Fish  which  at  certain  seasons  leave  the  sea  for 
rivers,  as  the  salmon,  are  sometimes  so  termed. 

Anadyomene.  [Gr.]  An  epithet  of  Aphrodite, 
or  Venus,  as  coming  tip  [dj/aSwo/teVrj]  from  the 
sea,  or  springing  from  its  foam. 

Anaemia.  [Gr.  dvaifjiia,  from  av neg. ,  af/xo,  blood.] 
Morbid  poverty  of  blood,  and  the  condition 
consequent. 

Anaesthesia.  (Pathol.)  Insensibility  [Gr.  dvcu- 
0-0ij<na,from  av  neg. ,  aiffOdvo/jiai,  I  feel] ;  is  opposed 
to  Hypercesthesia  [virep,  above],  unnaturally  acute 
sensibility. 

Anagallis.  [Gr.  dvaya\\ls.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of 
plants,  ord.  Primulacese  ;  of  which  the  type  is  the 
pimpernel,  or  shepherd's  weather-glass. 

Anaglyphic,  Anaglyptic.  [Gr.  <W,  up, 
•yA.u</>o>,  /  engrave.  ]  Embossed,  in  relief;  sunk 
work  being  Diaglyphic  [Sid,  through}.  Ana- 
glyptography,  the  art  of  giving  an  embossed  ap- 
pearance to  engravings. 

Anagnostes.  A  reader  [Gr.  avayj/^r-ns, 
dva.yiyv(a<TKii>t  I  redd]  at  meals,  amongst  the 
Romans  ;  the  thing  read  or  sung  being  Acrddma 
[d/cpoao/tcH,  I  hear}. 

Anagram.  [Gr.  dvdypa/j./j.a.  ]  A  transposition  of 
letters  of  one  word  or  more,  so  as  to  make  a  new 
word  or  new  words ;  a  connexion  in  meaning 
being  sometimes  preserved  ;  e.g.  aper^,  epar^j ; 
Horatio  Nelson,  honor  est  a  Nilo. 

Anagraph.  [Gr.  dvaypa^-f}.]  A  transcription, 
copy  of  a  record,  etc. 

Anal.     (Zool.)     Near  the  anus  ;  e.g.  anal  fin. 

Analecta.  [Gr.,  from  dva-\4yo>,  I  gather  up.] 
Literary  fragments,  selections. 

Analemma.  [Gr.  dvd\inj./j.a,  a  thing  taken  up.} 
1.  The  orthographic  projection  of  the  great 
sphere  on  the  plane  of  a  meridian  or  of  the 
solstitial  colure  (q.v.).  2.  An  astrolabe  (q.v.). 
3.  =  L.  substructio,  a  base;  e.g.  for  a  sun-dial. 

Analeptics.  [Gr.  dva\tfiirriK6s,  fit  jor  restor- 
ing.} Restorative  medicine  or  diet. 

Anal  glands.  In  Comp.  Anat.,  organs,  pre- 
senting every  grade  of  glandular  structure, 
secreting  substances,  sometimes  attractive,  as  in 
the  civet ;  sometimes  repulsive,  and  applied  to 
purposes  of  defence  ;  e.g.  the  sweet  fluid  ejected 


ANAL 


26 


ANCH 


by  some  aphids,  the  acrid  vapour  of  "bom- 
bardiers," the  inky  fluid  of  some  molluscs. 

Analogue.  [Gr,  dvdxoyos,  proportionate^  A 
term  indicating  general  organic  similarity  :  the 
tapir  is  an  A.  of  the  elephant ;  a  gill,  of  a  lung. 
Sometimes,  less  strictly  used,  as  the  "  wing  "  of 
a  bat ;  but  the  wing  of  a  bird,  compared  with 
an  arm  or  with  the  paddle  of  a  whale,  is  a 
Homologue  [6p6\oyos,  agreeing],  a  relatively 
similar  development. 

Analogy.  [Gr.  dvaXoyia,  proportion.]  1.  A 
method  of  argument  founded  on  similarity  of 
relations,  where  induction  is  not  complete.  2. 
Title  of  Bishop  Butler's  work  in  defence  of  re- 
vealed religion.  3.  Proportion  :  the  equality  or 
similarity  of  ratios  ;  thus,  the  ratio  of  2  Ibs.  of 


Anaptyxis.  [Gr.  dvawrv^is,  an  unfolding.] 
(Etym.)  The  insertion  of  a  vowel  between  two 
consonants  in  a  word,  as  in  Eng.  borough, 
Goth.  burg. 

Anarthropoda.  [Gr.  &v-apepos,  tmarticttlate, 
irouy,  ir68os,  a  foot.]  (Anniilosa.) 

Anarthrous.  [Gr.  Avapdpos,  from  dv  neg.,  &pdpov, 
a  joint,  the  article.]  1.  (Zool.)  Without  joints,  e.g. 
a  mollusc.  2.  (Gram.)  Without  the  article, 
6,  r,,  r6. 

Anasarca.  [Gr.  dvd  crdpita,  throughout  the 
flesh.]  (Physiol.)  A  collection  of  serum  in  the 
cellular  tissues  of  the  body  and  limbs;  pop. 
dropsy. 

Anastasius,  or  Memoirs  of  a  Modern  Greek, 
written  at  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century. 


butter  to  3  Ibs.  is  equal  or  similar  to  the  ratio  of    The  celebrated  Oriental  romance  of  Mr.  Thos. 


4  in.  to  6  in.,  consequently  the  two  ratios  form 
an  analogy  or  proportion. 

Analysis.     [Gr.   dvd\vffis,  dva-\v<at  I  unloose.'} 

1.  Resolution  of  a  whole,  logical  or  material, 
into  its  parts  ;  opposed  to  Synthesis  [avvBeffis, 
from  ffvv,  together,  6e<ns,  a  placing].     A.,  from 
examining  facts,  arrives  at  principles  ;  S.  assumes 
principles,   and  proceeds  to   work  out  results. 

2.  In  Physics,  the  resolving  of  a  compound  sub- 
stance into   its  constituent   parts  ;   it  is  called 
proximate  when  the  substance  is  resolved  into 

components  which  are  themselves  compound; 
ultimate,  when  it  is  resolved  into  its  elements. 
Qualitative  A .  determines  the  nature,  Quantita- 
tive A.  the  amount,  of  the  various  ingredients. 
Volumetric  A.  is  a  method  of  quantitative  A.  by 
the  use  of  measured  volumes  of  reagents  of 
known  strength.  (For  Spectral  A.,  vide  Spectral.) 

3.  The  solution   of  geometrical  problems,    by 
treating  them  as  particular  cases  of  more  general 
problems  ;  a  process   commonly  performed  by 
the  aid  of  algebraical  equations  ;  whence  alge- 
braical   geometry    is     often    called     analytical 
geometry.     4.  In  Language,  the  substitution,  as 
in  English,  of  prepositions,  auxiliaries,  etc.,  for 
inflexions. 

Analyzer.  The  part  of  a  polariscope  by 
which,  when  light  has  been  polarized,  its  pro- 
perties are  tested. 

Anamnesis.  [Gr.]  Plato  held  that  knowledge 
was  a  reminiscence  [avafjivriffis]  of  the  knowledge 
possessed  in  some  former  state. 

Anamorphosis.  [Gr.,  a.  forming  anew.]  1.  The 
process  taking  place  in  a  certain  toy,  by  which 
the  true  form  of  an  object  is  obtained  from  a 
distorted  picture  by  reflexion  in  a  properly 
curved  mirror.  2.  (Nat.  Hist.)  Change  in  form 
(usually  progressive),  traceable  from  species  to 
species,  either  contemporaneous  or  successive. 

Ananas.  A  Brazilian  name  ;  the  plant  which 
produces  the  pine-apple  (Ananassa  satlva). 

Ananke.    [Gr.  di/cfy/cT?.]     (Myth.)     Necessity 

Anapaest.  [Gr.  dvdiraiffTos,  struck  back,  re 
sounding^  A  metrical  foot,  ww-,  as,  "Not a 
drum  |  ...  not  a  fu  |  neial  note;"  perhaps 
meaning  a  dactyl  reversed. 

Anaphora.  [Gr.,  a  carrying  back.]  In  Rhetoric 
a  repetition  of  a  word  at  the  beginning  of  con 
secutive  clauses  or  verses;  e.g.  "Sic  vos  noi 
vobis,"  etc. 


lope. 

Anastatica.  [Gr.  dvda-raffis,  resurrection.] 
Rose  of  Jericho,  Resurrection  flower,  Mary's 
'ov>er,  a  small  woody  annual  (A.  hierochuntica), 
rd.  Cruclferse.  Its  flower,  dried  up  into  a  small 
>all,  will,  for  years  after  being  gathered,  ex- 
and,  if  wetted,  and  close  again. 

Anastatic  printing.  The  printing  of  en- 
gravings, etc. ,  which  are  first  steeped  in  an  acid, 
hen  pressed  on  a  zinc  plate.  The  acid,  eating 
away  the  plate  where  not  covered  by  an  oily 
nk,  leaves  the  engraving  in  relief. 

Anastomosis.  [Gr.,  opening  as  by  a  mouth.] 
1.  (Anat.)  The  junction  of  blood-vessels,  being 
yenerally  the  branches  of  separate  trunks.  2. 
Bot.)  The  growing  together  of  two  parts  meet- 
ng  from  different  directions. 

Anastrophe.    (Inversion.) 

Anathema.  [Gr.]  Properly  a  thing  dedicated 
or  devoted.  Hence  =  under  a  ban  or  curse. 
Maranatha;  Baca.) 

Anathema.  [Gr.  dva.Q-np.a.]  A  thing  dedicated, 
in  a  good  sense  ;  Luke  xxi.,  and  class. 

Anatidae.  [L.  anatem,  duck;  cf.  O.E.  ened, 
enid,  Ger.  ente.]  (Zool.)  Earn,  of  web-footed 
birds,  as  ducks  ;  cosmopolitan ;  ord.  Anseres. 

Anatomy.  [Gr.  dvaro^i],  dissection.]  Formerly, 
often  (i)  the  thing  dissected,  (2)  a  skeleton. 

Anatomy  of  Melancholy,  by  Robert  Burton 
(1576-1640).  A  remarkable  work,  with  a  singu- 
lar charm,  professing  to  analyze  and  to  remedy 
M. ;  quaint,  learned,  and  abounding  in  quota- 
tions from  authors,  medical  and  other. 

Anatron.  [Ar.  al-nitrun,  from  Gr.  v'npov, 
soda.]  Glassgall  (q.v.). 

Anbury,  Ambury.  1.  In  horses  and  cows,  a 
soft,  bloody  tumour.  2.  From  the  shape,  a 
disease  in  turnips,  Club-root,  or  "fingers  and 
toes." 

Anchoret.  (Anachoretae.) 
Anchors.  [L.  anchora,  Gr.  fynvpa,  an  an- 
chor.] Bower,  the  four  large  equal-sized  anchors 
kept  ready  for  use  on  board  ship.  They  are  :  Best, 
or  Starboard  £.,  and  Small  or  Port  B.,  in  the 
bows ;  Sheet  A.  and  Spare  A.,  kept  to  starboard 
and  port,  abaft  the  fore-rigging.  Stream  A.,  a 
third  of  the  size  of  the  B.  A.  Kedge,  smaller  than 
a  Stream.  Grappling  A.,  or  Grapnel,  a  boat's 
anchor,  with  four  flukes.  The  Floating  A.,  & 
fourfold  piece  of  canvas,  on  an  iron  frame, 


ANCH 


27 


ANGE 


suspended  in  the  water,  so  as  to  diminish  a 
ship's  drift  to  leeward. 

Anchor  watch.  A  portion  of  the  watch  con- 
stantly on  deck  while  a  ship  is  at  single  anchor, 
ready  to  attend  to  it,  let  go  another,  set  head- 
sails,  etc.,  as  required. 

Anchusa  [Gr.  &yxov<ra,  alkan^t],  l<ifguss 
[RovyXwaaros,  ox-tongue].  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants, 
ord.  Boraginaceae ;  including  Dyer's  alkanet,  or 
Anchusa  tinctoria. 

Anchylosis.  [Gr.  dyKv\w<ris,  a  crooking,  con- 
traction of  limbs.}  (Med.)  Unnatural  union  of 
two  bones,  resulting  in  more  or  less  stiffening ; 
applied  to  joints. 

Ancien  regime.  [Fr.,  the  old  rule.]  The  system 
maintained  by  the  French  monarchy  and  aris- 
tocracy before  the  Revolution. 

Ancient.     Corr.  of  ensign  [L.  insigne]. 

Ancient  demesne.  Lands  named  m  Domes- 
day Book  as  Terra  Regis. 

Ancientry.     Antiquity  of  lineage. 

Ancients.  [Fr.  anciens.]  Gentlemen  of  the 
Inns  of  Court  and  Chancery. 

Ancilia.  [L.]  Shields  ;  i.e.  the  shield  of  Mars 
which  fell  in  Numa's  time,  and  eleven  others 
made  like  it  that  the  true  one  might  not  be 
stolen;  carried  yearly  round  the  city,  which 
could  not  be  taken  while  the  shield  was  m 
Rome.  Corssen  derives  from  an,  on  both  sides, 
cile  =  cut  out,  root,  skar,  to  cut,  the  A.  being 
panduriform  (y.v.). 

Ancillary.  [L.  ancilla,  a  handmaid^  Sub- 
servient to  ;  assisting. 

Ancipital.  [L.  anceps,  ancipitis,  an  for 
amphi,  on  both  sides,  caput,  a  head.]  (Bot.) 
Two-edged,  compressed,  so  as  to  form  two  op- 
posite angles  or  edges  ,  e.g.  stem  of  iris. 

Ancipitis  usus.     (Contraband.) 

Ancon.  [Gr.  ayKdv,  a  bent  arm.]  1.  A 
corner  or  quoin  ot  a  wall.  2.  A  bracket  support- 
ing a  cornice. 

Ancony.  [Gr.  dyK&v.]  A  bar  ot'  iron  un- 
wrought  at  the  ends. 

Ancora.  [It.  i.q.  Fr.  encore,  once  more,  lit. 
to  this  hour ;  L.  hanc  horam.]  A  call  for  the 
repetition  of  a  song. 

Andabatism.  [L.  andabata,  a  gladiator,  who 
wore  a  helmet  without  holes  for  the  eyes.] 
Lit.  blindfold  fighting ;  uncertainty,  wild  argu- 
ment. 

Andante.  [It.]  Going,  i.e.  evenly ;  (Mus.)  in 
rather  slow  time. 

Andirons,  also  written  Aundirons  and  Hand- 
irons.  Fire-dogs.  An  ornamental  standard  of 
iron,  with  a  cross-bar,  used  to  support  the  logs 
of  a  wood  fire. 

Andreada  Forest.  The  southern  and  central 
parts  of  Sussex  in  the  period  before  the  Norman 
Conquest. 

Andrew.  In  nautical  parlance  :  1.  A  man- 
of-war.  2.  The  Government,  and  Government 
authorities. 

Andrew,  Cross  of  St.     (Cross.) 

Andrews,  Joseph.  Fielding's  novel  and  its 
hero,  a  virtuous  footman. 

-andria.  [Gr.  dvf)p,  a  man,  avSpos.]  (Bot.)  The 
first  eleven  of  the  twenty-four  (Linnaean)  classes 


into  which  vegetables  are  primarily  divided,  are 
characterized  solely  by  the  number  of  stamens. 
Mon-andria  =  having  I  stamen;  Di-,  2  ;  Tri-,  3  ; 
Tetr-,  4  ;  Pent-,  5  ;  Hex-,  6  ;  Hept-,  7  ;  Oct-, 
8 ;  Enne-,  9 ;  Dec-,  10 1  DSdec-,  12  to  19. 
Classes  12  and  13  are  Ikos-andria,  with  20 
[eftco(n]  or  more  inserted  on  the  calyx  ;  and  Poly-, 
20  or  more  inserted  on  the  receptacle.  Gyn- 
andria  [yvv-fj,  a  woman]  have  a  column,  i.e.  an 
insertion  of  stamens  on  the  pistil. 

Androeceum.  [Gr.  dvf)p,  dvSp6s,  a  man,  oi/moy, 
neut.  adj.,  domestic^  (Bot.)  The  male  system  of 
a  flower. 

Androgynous.  [Gr.  dvfyoywos.]  Having 
characteristics  of  both  sexes. 

Anele.  [A.S.  ele,  oil.]  To  give  extreme 
unction. 

Anelectric.  [Gr.  dv  neg.,  and  electric.]  A 
body  not  easily  electrified  by  friction. 

Anelectrode.  [Gr.  dvd,  up,  and  electrode 
(q.v.).]  The  positive  pole  of  a  galvanic  battery. 

Anemia.     (Anaemia.) 

Anemometer.  [Gr.  Hi/epos,  wind,  nerpov, 
measttre.]  An  instrument  for  ascertaining  and 
registering  the  pressure  of  wind. 

Anemophilous  flowers.  Those  which  are 
fertilized  by  the  action  of  the  wind  carrying  the 
pollen  from  one  to  another.  [Gr.  Sve/xos,  wind, 
<j>i\ea),  I  love.] 

Anent,  Anenst.  [A.S.  on  efen,  on  even,  on 
even,  on  a  level  ivith.]  Over  against,  close  by, 
concerning. 

Anenterous.  [Gr.  a  neg.,  ej/repo,  bowels.] 
Having  no  alimentary  canal. 

Aneroid  barometer.  [Gr.  a  neg.,  vnp6s,  wet, 
clSoy,  form,  as  not  making  use  of  mercury.]  A 
cylindrical  metallic  box,  partially  exhausted  of 
air,  with  a  top  made  to  yield  very  easily  under 
varying  external  pressure  ;  the  motion  of  the  top 
is  transmitted  to  a  pointer  which  shows  its  extent, 
and  therefore  the  variation  in  the  atmospheric 
pressure  producing  it. 

Anethum.    (Anise.) 

Aneurism.  [Gr.  avevpvff/j.o's,  a  widening] 
(Med.)  A  pulsating  tumour,  consisting  of  an 
artery  preternaturally  enlarged.  (Varix.) 

Anfractuous.  [L.  anfractus,  a  bending  round.] 
1,  Winding  about.  2.  (Bot.)  Sinuous,  doubling 
abruptly  in  different  directions. 

Angeiology,  Angiology.  [Gr.  ayyeiov,  a 
•vessel.]  (Anat.)  Knowledge  of  the  vessels  of  the 
body. 

Angel.  [Gr,  &yye\os,  New  Testament,  an 
angel.]  An  old  coin  worth  ten  shillings,  marked 
with  the  figure  of  an  angel. 

Angel  Doctor.    (Doctor.) 

Angel,  Order  of  Golden.  An  order  of  knight- 
hood, said  to  have  been  instituted  by  Constan- 
tine.  It  was  revived  by  the  Emperor  Charles  V. 

Angelica.  [Gr.  dyye\iic6s,  from  its  pro- 
perties (?).]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Umbel - 
lifene  ;  the  hollow  stalks  of  A.  Archangelica  are 
candied  and  eaten. 

Angelical  hymn.  (Eccl.)  In  the  Eucharistic 
Office,  the  hymn  beginning  with  the  words, 
"Glory  be  to  God  on  high;"  L.  "Gloria  in 
Excelsis." 


ANGE 


28 


ANIO 


Angelology,  Demonology,  of  a  people,  or 
period.  The  current  belief  respecting  angels 
and  evil  spirits.  [Gr.  #776X05,  New  Testament, 
angel;  Sat^cav,  New  Testament,  evil  spirit.} 

Angelot.  [Fr.]  A  small  rich  Norman  cheese 
(originally  stamped  with  a  figure  of  St.  Michael). 

Angelus  bell.  The  bell  rung  at  the  time 
appointed  for  the  recitation  of  the  Ave  Maria, 
or  the  angel's  annunciation  to  the  Virgin. 

Angevin.     Belonging  to  Anjou. 

Angina  pectoris.  [L.,  tightening  of  the  chest.} 
(Med.)  A  nervous  disease  of  the  heart,  attended 
with  sudden  excessive  pain  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  chest ;  ascribed  to  a  bony  degeneration  of 
the  cardiac  vessels. 

Angiosperms.  [Gr.  dyye'iov,  a  vessel,  0-ircp/j.a, 
seed.]  (Bot.)  Such  exogens  as  have  seeds  enclosed 
in  a  seed-vessel ;  Gymnosperms  [JV/JLVOS,  naked] 
being  those  whose  seeds  are  perfected  without  a 
seed-vessel. 

Angle ;  Acute  A. ;  Dihedral  A. ;  Obtuse  A. ;  A. 
of  friction ;  A.  of  incidence ;  A.  of  reflexion ;  A.  of 
refraction ;  A.  of  traction ;  Bight  A. ;  Solid  A. ; 
Visual  A.  [L.  angulus,  an  angle,  corner."]  The 
difference  of  direction  of  two  intersecting  straight 
lines.  When  the  adjacent  angles  made  by  two  such 
lines  are  equal,  each  angle  is  a  Right  A. ;  an  Acute 
A.  [acutus,  sharpened]  is  less,  and  an  Obtuse  A. 
[obtusus,  blunted]  is  greater,  than  a  right  angle. 
A  Dihedral  A.  [Gr.  SieSpos,  not  in  its  class, 
sense,  but  as  if  =  having  two  bases,  sides}  is  that 
contained  by  two  intersecting  planes  ;  a  Solid  A. 
is  the  angular  space  at  the  vertex  of  a  pyramid 
enclosed  by  three  or  more  plane  angles  meeting 
at  a  point ;  the  Visual  A.  of  an  object  is  the 
angle  subtended  at  the  eye  by  the  line  joining 
its  two  extreme  points ;  the  A.  of  repose  is  the 
A.  of  friction  (Friction).  (For  A .  of  incidence, 
reflexion,  refraction,  traction,  vide  Reflexion ; 
Refraction;  Traction.) 

Angle-iron.  Pieces  of  iron  of  an  angular  form, 
used  for  joining,  at  an  angle,  the  plates  of  which 
tanks,  etc. ,  are  built  up. 

Angle  of  leeway.  The  difference  between  the 
seeming  and  the  actual  course  of  a  ship  when 
sailing  near  the  wind. 

Anglia,  East.  Name  for  Norfolk  with  Suf- 
folk and  Cambridgeshire. 

Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle.  A  narrative,  in  the 
Anglo-Saxon  language,  extending  from  Caesar's 
invasion  to  the  death  of  Stephen,  1 1 54.  A  very 
important  work,  mostly  in  prose  ;  the  work, 
apparently,  of  many  successive  hands  ;  the  latter 
part,  at  least,  by  contemporary  authors  with 
the  events  related. 

Anglo-Saxon  language:  English  language. 
While  no  exact  date,  of  course,  can  be  assigned 
to  the  change  of  Anglo-Saxon  into  English,  it 
has  been  proposed  by  the  late  Mr,  T.  Shaw,  in 
Students  English  Literature,  p.  17,  to  arrange, 
approximately,  the  chief  alterations  under  the 
following  epochs  : — I.  Anglo-Saxon,  from  A.D. 
450  to  1150.  2.  Semi-Saxon,  from  A.D.  1150  to 
1250 ;  from  the  reign  of  Stephen  to  the  middle 
of  that  of  Henry  III.  3.  Old  English,  from  A.D. 
1250  to  1350,  the  middle  of  the  reign  of  Edward 
U.  4.  Middle  English,  from  A.D.  1350  to  1550, 


the  reign  of  Edward  VI.  5.  Modern  English, 
from  A.D.  1550  to  the  present  day.  Dr.  Morris 
gives  a  somewhat  different  division : — I.  A.D. 

450  to  1 100.  2.  A.D.  1 100  to  1250.  3.  A.D. 
I25O  to  I35O.  4.  A.D.  1350  to  1460.  5.  A.D. 

1460  to  the  present  time ;  under  the  titles  of 
English  of  the  First  Period ;  of  the  Second  Period, 
etc.  (Morris's  English  Accidence,  p.  48). 

Angola  cat;  A.  goat.     (Angora.) 

Angora  cat.  [Gr.  'Ayicvpa,  now  Angora,  in 
Asia  Minor.]  Variety  of  cat,  with  long  silky 
fur,  and  frequently  with  eyes  of  different  colours. 
Felis  catus  Angorensis  (Linnaeus,  Buflfon). 

Angora  cloth.  Made  from  the  silky  wool  of 
the  goat  of  Angora,  ancient  Ancyra,  Asia  Minor. 
(Tentmaker.) 

Angora  goat.  (A.  cat.)  Variety  of  goat,  with 
long  silky  hair,  generally  white. 

Angostura  bark ;  A.  bitters.  The  bark  of  the 
Gulipea  cusparia,  a  S.  American  tree,  common 
around  Angostura,  in  Columbia. 

Angsana.  A  red  gum  from  Hindostan,  like 
dragon's  blood. 

Anguilla.  [L.  dim.  of  anguis,  snake,  Gr. 
67XeAus,  eel.}  Gen.  of  fish,  as  the  common  eel ; 
only  gen.  found  in  fresh  water  of  fam.  Muraemdoe, 
ord.  Physostomi,  sub-class  Teleoste'i. 

Anguis.  [L.,  Gr,  cx's-]  (Zool.)  Properly  a 
snake  of  the  constrictor  kind  ;  but  designating  a 
gen.  of  footless  lizards,  as  A.  fragilis  \L»,  fragile}, 
the  blind-worm,  fam.  Scincidse. 

Angular  velocity.  The  rate  at  which  a  body 
turns  round  an  axis. 

Angus.  Division  of  Scotland,  from  Saxon  to 
Stuart  periods,  nearly  coincident  with  County 
Forfar. 

Angusticlave.  The  tunic  of  the  Equites,  with 
narrow  [L.  angustus]  purple  stripe  [clavus]  ; 
opposed  to  Laticlave  [latus,  broad],  that  of  the 
senators. 

Anhelation.  [L.  anhelo,  I  pant.}  Difficulty 
of  breathing. 

Anhydride.  [Gr.  &v  neg.,  vSpoeiS^s,  watery  I\ 
Any  oxygenated  compound,  which  by  reaction 
with  the  elements  of  water  forms  an  acid. 

Anhydrous.  [Gr.  &v-v$pos,  wanting  water.] 
Deprived  of,  or  not  containing,  water.  An 
anhydrous  acid  is  called  an  anhydride. 

Anicut.  In  the  Indian  rivers,  a  dam  with 
bottom  sluice,  which  regulates  irrigation. 

Aniline.  [First  obtained  from  indigo,  Ar.  an 
nil.]  A  colourless  liquid,  the  source  of  many 
brilliant  dyes  ;  which,  or  some  of  which,  readily 
absorb  moisture  from  the  air,  so  that  the  dyed 
substances  keep  moist. 

Anima  mundi.  [L.,  the  soul  of  the  world."] 
With  some  early  philosophers,  a  force,  not 
material,  but  of  the  nature  of  intelligence,  the 
source  of  all  sentient  life. 

Anime,  or  African  copal.  A  gum-resin  ob- 
tained from  an  African  tree,  Trachylobium 
Hornemannianum  ;  nat.  ord.  Leguminosoe. 

Animus.  [L.,  intent.}  In  libel,  malicious 
purpose. 

Animus  furandi.  [L.]  The  intention  of  stealing. 

Anion.  [Gr.  Aviuv,  going  up,  from  &vd,  up, 
and  teVoj,  to  go.}  The  element  which  goes  to 


ANIS 


29 


ANON 


the  positive  pole,  when  a  substance  is  decom- 
posed by  electricity.     (Cation.) 

Anise,  or  Aniseed.  [Ar.  anisun,  Gr.  Hviaov  and 
&vi]Qov.}  Fruit  of  Pimpinella  anisum  (nat.  ord. 
Umbelliferae),  which  is  among  the  oldest  of 
medicines  and  spices ;  aromatic  stimulants  and 
carminative  ;  used  as  a  cattle  medicine. 

Anisette.  [Fr.]  A  cordial  flavoured  with 
aniseed. 

Anlsodactyla.  [Gr.  avlaos,  unequal,  SO.KTV\OS, 
finger  or  toe.  ]  (Zool.)  Having  an  uneven  number 
of  toes,  as  the  feet  of  the  horse  among  Ungulata. 

Anjou.  Old  province  of  France,  capital 
Angers. 

Anlace.  A  short  dagger,  worn  in  the  four- 
teenth and  fifteenth  centuries. 

Annandale.  The  larger  and  eastern  part  of 
Dumfriesshire,  from  Norman  to  Stuart  periods  ; 
the  less  and  west  part  being  Nithsdale. 

Annat.  [L.  annus,  a  year.}  A  half-year's 
stipend  due  by  Scotch  law,  A.D.  1672,  to  a 
minister's  next  of  kin,  not  to  his  estate,  after 
his  death. 

Annates  [L.  annus,  a  year],  or  First-fruits.  A 
moiety  of  the  full  value  of  one  year's  profits  at 
first  of  every  vacant  bishopric,  afterwards  of  every 
other  vacant  benefice  also,  claimed  by  the  pope, 
as  a  beneficiary  fee  ;  afterwards  by  Henry  VIII.  ; 
given  by  Queen  Anne  to  the  Governors  of  Q.  A.  B. 
(q.v.),  for  augmentation  of  the  maintenance  of 
poor  clergy.  The  valuation  is  that  of  Liber 
Regis  (q.v.),  A.D.  1535. 

Annealing.  [O.E.  angelan,  to  kindle.}  1. 
The  melting  and  gradually  cooling  of  glass  or 
metal,  to  remove  brittleness.  2.  The  heating  of 
glass  or  tiles,  to  fix  colours. 

Annelids.  [Fr.  annelides,  id.,  from  L.  anellus, 
dim.  of  anvilus,  a  ring.}  (Zool.)  Annulose,  or 
ringed  worms,  distinctly  segmented,  as  leeches 
and  earth-worms. 

Annex.  [L.  annexus,  part,  of  annecto,  / 
join  on  to.}  1.  A  room  or  gallery  adjoining  a 
larger  covered  area,  especially  in  exhibition 
buildings.  2.  A  paper  joined  to  a  diplomatic 
document. 

Annihilationists  [Eccl.  L.  annihilo,  /  bring 
to  nothing}  understand  the  death  which  is  the 
wages  of  sin  to  be  a  gradual  extinction  of  all 
existence. 

Annomination.  [L.  ad,  to,  nomen,  a  name.} 
Emphatic  opposition  of  words  of  same  sound,  but 
different  sense  or  use;  e.g.  "The  parson  told 
the  sexton,  And  the  sexton  tolled  the  bell,"  "And 
leaves  begin  to  leave  the  shady  tree."  The  tone 
of  a  piece  alone  determines  whether  A.  =  pun- 
ning or  not. 

Anndna.  [L.]  Yearly  produce /  and  so  a 
contribution  of  corn  due  from  a  Roman  pro- 
vince for  the  use  of  the  army  and  the  city. 

Annotta,  Annotto,  Arnotto,  Koucou.  A  thin 
yellowish-red  Boating  of  waxy  pulp,  which  covers 
the  seeds  of  Bixa  orellana.  It  is  separated  and 
used  for  colouring  cheese,  etc. 

Annual  Register.  Published  since  1759,  gives 
principal  events  of  importance,  political  and 
miscellaneous,  in  the  year. 

Annual  Keturns,  H.M.  Navy.    A  report  of  (i) 


sailing  qualities  of  ship  ;  (2)  state  of  crew  ;  (3) 
progress  of  young  officers  in  navigation.  Sent 
to  the  Admiralty  from  every  ship  on  commission. 

Annuent  muscles  [L.  annuo,  /  nod  to} 
throw  the  head  forwards. 

Annular  eclipse.     (Eclipse.) 

Annulata,  Annulates.  [L.  annulata,  ringed, 
from  annulus,  a  ring.}  (Annelids.) 

Annulate.  [L.  annulatus.]  Having  ringed 
form  or  marks  ;  e.g.  an  antelope's  horn. 

Annulet.  1.  (Arch.)  A  small  flat  fillet 
encircling  a  column  ;  e.g.  those  under  the  Doric 
capital.  2.  (Her.)  A  ring  [L.  annulus]  borne 
(i)  as  a  charge,  or  (2)  as  difference  in  the  fifth 
son's  escutcheon. 

Anniiloida,  or  Echinozoa.  Provisional  sub- 
kingd.  of  Invertebrates,  including  Echino- 
dermata  (as  star-fish)  otherwise  reckoned  with 
the  Radiata ;  and  Scdlecida  (as  the  tapeworm 
and  vinegar  eel),  otherwise  reckoned  with  the 
Annulosa. 

Annulosa.  [L.  anniilus,  a  ring.}  Sub-kingd. 
of  certain  Invertebrates,  which  are  composed  of 
definite  ringed  segments,  "  somites  "  [Gr.  <r<a/j.a, 
a  body},  and  containing  (i)  Arthropoda,  or  Arti- 
culata,  with  jointed  locomotive  appendages,  as 
crabs,  barnacles,  spiders,  centipedes,  and  insects ; 
and  (2)  Anarthropoda,  without  such  appendages, 
as  spoon-worms,  leeches,  earth-worms. 

Annulus  et  baculum.  [L.]  The  bishop's  ring 
and  pastoral  staff,  given  in  granting  investiture. 

Annunciation,  Order  of  the.  An  order  founded 
in  Savoy,  1535,  as  the  order  of  the  Collar,  by 
Amadeus  VI.  ;  received  its  present  name  from 
Charles  III. 

Annus  mirabllis.  [L.]  Year  of  wonders, 
1666,  i.e.  of  the  Great  Fire,  and  of  our  successes 
over  the  Dutch.  Title  of  a  poem  by  Dryden. 

Anoa.  (Zool.)  Gen.  and  spec,  of  wild  oxen, 
allied  to  buffalo,  but  small.  Celebes,  sub-fam. 
Bovlnae,  fam.  Bovidse,  ord.  Ungulata. 

Anode.  [Gr.  &vodos,  a  way  up,  from  dvd,  up, 
656s,  a  way.}  The  positive  pole,  or  path  by 
which  the  current  enters  a  body  being  decom- 
posed by  electricity. 

Anodyne.  [Gr.  dvct>5vvos,  dv  neg.,  b§vvri,pain} 
A  sedative,  narcotic,  etc.,  which  assuages  pain. 

Anolis.  (Zool.)  Gen.  of  lizard  with  expansile, 
coloured  throat.  Trop.  America  to  California. 
Fam.  Iguamdae. 

Anomalistic  year.     (Year.) 

Anomaly,  Eccentric ;  Mean  A. ;  True  A.  [Gr. 
avtofjiaXla.)  irregularity,  anomaly.}  The  True  A. 
of  a  planet  is  its  angular  distance,  measured  at 
the  sun,  from  perihelion.  The  Eccentric  A.  is 
a  like  angle  measured  from  perihelion  to  the 
planet's  place  referred  (by  a  perpendicular  to  the 
axis)  to  the  circle  described  on  the  major  axis  of 
its  orbit  (Ellipse).  The  Mean  A.  is  a  like  angle 
measured  to  the  place  the  planet  would  occupy 
if  it  moved  on  the  circle  with  its  mean  velocity. 

Anomoeans.  [Gr.  dvfaoios,  unlike.}  Arians, 
fourth  century,  who  held  the  essence  of  the  Son 
to  be  unlike  that  of  the  Father,  and  rejected 
the  term  Homoiousios.  (Homoeusians.) 

Anon.  [A.S.  on  an  =  in  one,  i.e.  instant.} 
1.  Quickly;  as  in  Matt.  xiii.  20.  2.  Sometimes. 


ANON 


ANTH 


Anona.  \Bot.]  The  custard  apple  ;  type  of  ord. 
Anonace«,  W.  Indies  and  S.  American  trees, 
aromatic,  and  yielding  delicious  fruit. 

Anonymous.     (Pseudonym.) 

Anoplotherium.  [Gr.  &voir\os,  unarmed,  0-rjptov, 
beast.]  (Geol.)  An  extinct  pachyderm,  between  the 
swine  and  ruminants  ;  tuskless,  two-toed,  grami- 
nivorous. There  are  some  spec,  of  Tertiary  age. 

Anorexy.  [Gr.  dvop^ia,  from  dv  neg.,  ope£is, 
desire.]  Loss  of  appetite. 

Anorthite.  [Gr.  avneg.,  op8^,  sc.  yovta,  right 
angle-]  (Min.}  A  variety  of  lime-felspar  ;  named 
from  its  cleavage. 

Anorthoscope.  [Gr.  dv  neg.,  opOos,  straight, 
<TKoire<a,  I  behold.']  Produces  interesting  figures, 
etc.,  by  means  of  two  discs  rotating  rapidly 
one  before  the  other  ;  the  anterior  opaque  with 
vertical  slits,  the  other  transparent  with  dis- 
torted figures.  (Zoetrope.) 

Anosmia.  [Gr  dv  neg.,  ooy*^,  smell.]  Loss 
of  the  sense  of  smell. 

Anostomas.  [Gn  &vu,  upward,  ar&fjLa,  mouth.] 
(Zool.)  Gen.  of  fish,  freshwater,  with  under  jaw 
so  projecting  that  the  mouth  seems  placed  ver- 
tically. Trop.  America.  Fam.  Characinidse, 
ord.  Physostomi,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Another  place.  (Parl.)  The  conventional 
way,  in  either  House,  of  referring  to  the  other 

Anoura.  [Gr.  av  neg.,  ovpd,  a  tail.]  (Zool.) 
The  third  ord  of  Amphibia,  tail-less  Batrachians, 
as  frogs. 

Ansated.     Having  handles  [L.  .ansae]. 

Ansee  of  Saturn's  rings.  Projections  resem- 
bling handles  [L.  ansse]. 

Anse  de  panier.  [Fr,,  basket  handle.]  Ellip- 
tical arch  of  a  bridge. 

Anseres.  [L.  anser,  goose,  gander,  Ger.  gans, 
Gr.  xV«]  (Zool.]  Ord.  of  web-footed  and  lobate- 
footed  birds,  as  ducks,  grebes.  Cosmopolitan. 

Answer  the  helm,  To.   To  obey  the  rudder. 

Anta,  Antae.  [L.]  The  end  of  a  wall  ter- 
minating in  a  pillar  ;  the  terminations  of  the 
pteromata,  or  side  walls,  of  a  temple,  when  pro- 
longed beyond  the  face  of  the  end  walls. 

Antaeus.  [Gr..  'Avrcuos.]  (Myth.]  A  giant, 
invincible  so  long  as  he  remained  in  contact 
with  the  earth  Heracles  (Hercules)  lifted  him 
and  crushed  him  in  the  air 

Antagonist  muscles.  [Gr.  avrayuvia-T^s,  one 
who  contends  against,]  In  their  actions  op- 
posed to  each  other  ;  e.g.  the  form  of  the  mouth 
in  health  is  due  to  such  combined  action  j  the 
opposite  is  seen  in  paralysis! 

Antalgics  [Gr.  &\yost  pain],  i.q.  Anodynes 
(q.v.].  ^ 

Antan&clasis.  [Gr.,  a  reflexion,  an  echo.] 
(Rhet.)  The  pointed  use  of  the  words  of  a 
previous  speaker  in  a  different  sense. 

Antarctic.     (Zone.) 

Antarthritic.  [Gr.  dpOptris,  sc.  v6ffos,  joint 
disease^  Counteracting  gout. 

Antatrophic.  Overcoming  or  counteracting 
atrophy. 

Antebrachium.  The  forearm  [made  up  of  L. 
ante,  before,  and  brachium,  which  is  sometimes 
the  whole  arm,  sometimes  the  lower  arm  from 
the  fingers  to  the  elbow]. 


Antecedent.   (Conditional  proposition ;  Ratio.) 

Antediluvian.  1.  Before  the  Flood  [L.  ante 
diluvium].  2.  Old-fashioned,  very  antiquated. 

Antefixes.     (Arch.)     Carved  blocks. 

Antelucan  [L.  antelucanus]  worship,  i.e. 
before  daylight  [ante  lucem]. 

Antenate.  [L.]  Born  before  the  union  of 
English  and  Scottish  crowns  (James  I.),  and  so 
not  English  in  law  ;  post-nate,  born  after,  i.e. 
claiming  the  rights  of  native  English. 

Antenicene.  Before  the  Council  of  Nice  or 
Nicaea,  in  Bithynia,  A.D.  325. 

Antepagment.  [L.  antepagmentum.]  Door- 
ways  or  architrave  of  doorway. 

Antepaschal.  Relating  to  the  time  before 
Easter  [flacr^o,  the  Passover]. 

Antepast.  A  foretaste  [L.  ante,  before,  pastus, 
a  feeding]. 

Antependium.  [L.  ante,  before,  pendeo,  to 
hang.]  The  frontal  or  covering  of  the  altar,  in 
churches,  usually  made  of  cloth,  silk,  or  velvet, 
and  embroidered. 

Antepenultimate.  [L.  ante,  before,  psene, 
almost,  ultimus,  the  last.]  The  last  but  two ; 
generally  said  of  a  syll.  or  a  letter. 

Antepilani.  [L.]  In  the  Roman  legion,  the 
Hastati  and  Principes,  as  being  drawn  up 
before  the  Triarii,  who  were  armed  with  pila, 
long  spears. 

Anteport.     Outward  gate  or  door  [L.  porta], 

Anterides.    [Gr.,  props.]    (Arch.)    Buttresses. 

Antero-posterior.  Forwards  from  behind; 
e.g.  compression  of  the  skull. 

Antesignani,  [L.]  In  the  Roman  legion,  the 
Hastati,  as  standing  in  front  of  the  standards 
[ante  signa]. 

Anteversion.  [L.  anteversio,  -nem.]  (Med.)  The 
tilting  forwards  of  a  part  which  is  naturally  in- 
ferior. Retroversion,  the  backward  and  downward 
depression  of  a  part  naturally  superior. 

Antevert.  [L.  anteverto,  /  go  before,  place 
before]  Prevent. 

Anthelion.  A  bright  spot,  connected  with  a 
halo,  nearly  opposite  to  the  sun  [Gr.  avOfau>s]. 

Anthelix.  [Gr  dv64\^.]  Antihelix,  the 
curved  ridge  of  the  external  ear  within  the 
helix  (q.v.). 

Anthelmintic.  [Gr.  €\/j.tvs,  a  worm.]  (Med.) 
Destroying  or  removing  worms. 

Anthem.     (Antiphon.) 

Anthemis.  [Gr.  a.vQep.is,  chamomile.]  (Bot.)  A 
gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Compositse,  of  which  the 
Chamomile  (q.v.)  (A.  nobilis)  is  the  type. 

Anther.  [Gr  a.vQnp6s,  flowery]  (Bot )  That 
part  of  the  stamen  which  is  filled  with  pollen  j 
the  pollen-case. 

Antheridia.  [Dim.  coined  from  anther.]  (Bot.) 
Organs  of  Cryptogamous  or  flowerless  plants, 
supposed  to  represent  anthers  of  Phanerogamous 
or  flowering  plants. 

Anthesterion.  [Gr.  aveeo-r'npidav.]  Eighth 
Attic  month,  beginning  197  days  after  summer 
solstice. 

Antho-.     [Gr.  &v9os.]     Flower. 

Anthocarpous.  (Bot.)  Having  flowers  [&v6os] 
w&<\.  fruit  [itapiros]  in  one  mass,  as  the  pine-apple. 

Anthodium    [Gr.    cii>0w57js,   like  flowers],    or 


ANTII 


ANTI 


Capitulum  [L.,  little  head}.  (Bot.)  The  head  of 
flowers  of  a  composite  plant,  as  daisy,  aster, 
chamomile. 

Antholites.  [Gr.  &vdos,  a  flower,  \iOos,  stone,] 
(Geol.}  Fossil  inflorescence ;  e.g.  of  the  Carboni- 
ferous period. 

Anthologium.  [Gr.  avQo\oyia,  a  nosegay.]  In 
the  Greek  Church,  a  book,  in  two  six-monthly 
parts,  containing  the  offices  sung  through  the 
year  on  special  festivals. 

Anthology.  A  collection  by  an  editor  of 
Greek  epigrams  and  other  short  poems  ;  the  first 
known  being  that  of  Meleager,  circ.  B.C.  100. 
There  are  also  others,  Arabic,  Indian,  Persian, 
Chinese,  etc. 

Antholysis.  [Gr.  &vdos,  a  flower,  \vffis,  a  re- 
solving] (Sot.)  Defined  by  Dr.  Lindley,  "  the 
retrograde  metamorphosis  of  a  flower ;  as  when 
carpels  change  to  stamens,  stamens  to  petals, 
petals  to  sepals,  and  sepals  to  leaves,  more  or 
less  completely." 

Anthorismus.  [Gr.  aveopurpts,  from  tort, 
against,  dpify,  I  define.]  (Rhet.)  A  counter- 
definition. 

Anthozoa.  [Gr.  &i/6os,  a  flower,  £<aov,  an 
animal]  (Zool.)  Lq.  Actmozoa  (Actinia),  corals 
and  sea-anemones,  sub-kingd.  Cselenterata. 

Anthracite  [Gr.  frvOpal-,  coal,  charcoal],  Blind- 
coal,  Glance-coal.  A  black,  light,  lustrous  sub- 
stance, burning  slowly,  without  flame,  with 
intense  heat ;  a  natural  carbon,  formed  by  pres- 
sure and  heat  from  coal. 

Anthracotherium.  [Gr.  &vOpa£,  coal,  Oyplov,  a 
wild  beast]  (Geol.)  An  extinct  pachyderm,  near 
to  swine ;  its  remains  first  found  in  Ligurian 
brown  coal  or  lignite. 

Anthrax.  [Gr.  &/0pa£,  coal,  a  carbuncle.]  A 
malignant  boil ;  a  carbuncle. 

Anthropography.  [Gr.  foepuiros,  man,  ypaQw, 
I  ivrite]  A  description  of  the  physical  character 
of  man  ;  his  language,  customs,  distribution  on 
the  earth,  etc. 

Anthropolatrae.  [Gr.  HvQpwiros,  man,  \arpetd, 
worship]  Man-worshippers  ;  name  given  to  the 
orthodox  Christians  by  the  Apollinarians,  who 
denied  Christ's  perfect  humanity. 

Anthropolites  [Gr.  foOpwiros,  man,  \(Qos, 
stone]  =  fossil  human  remains  j  e.g.  in  the  coral 
sand  of  Guadaloupe. 

Anthropology.  The  science  of  man  [Gr. 
foOpanros]  under  every  aspect  of  his  nature. 

Anthropometry.  [Gr.  6.v6p<airos,  man,  perpov, 
measure]  The  systematic  examination  of  the 
heights,  weights,  etc.,  of  human  beings,  in  con- 
nexion with  other  physical  characteristics,  and 
with  age,  race,  locality,  occupation,  etc. 

Anthropomorphites.  [Gr.  aveponrS/jLoptpos,  in 
human  form]  Persons  who  regard  the  Deity 
as  having  a  human  shape.  The  name  is  applic- 
able to  heathens  generally,  and  to  some  Chris- 
tian sects. 

Anthropopathy.  (Rhet.)  The  ascription  to 
God  of  human  passion  [Gr.  irdQos]. 

Anthropophagy.  [Gr.  av6puiro<f>ayia.]  Can- 
nibalism. 

Anthurium.  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  Araceae,  one  of 
which  (A.  Scherzerianum)  is  much  grown  in  hot- 


houses under  the  name  of  the  Flamingo  plant ;  it 
has  a  large  scarlet  spathe  and  a  twisted  spadix, 
and  is  very  handsome. 

Antiarin.  Poisonous  principle  of  the  upas 
tree ;  the  gum  resin  being  used  for  poisoning 
arrows.  (Upas.) 

Anti-attrition,  A  preparation  of  black  lead 
and  lard  with  a  little  camphor,  which  lessens 
friction  in  machinery.  [Coined  from  Gr.  avri, 
against,  and  L.  attritio,  friction] 

Anti-bacchms.     (Bacchius.) 

Anti-burghers.     (Burghers.) 

Antical,  Anticous.  [L.  antlcus,  that  which  is 
before]  (Bot.)  Placed  in  the  front  part  of  a 
flower,  i.e.  furthest  from  the  axis. 

Antichlore.  [Gr.  avrl,  against,  and  chlorine 
(q.v.).]  Any  substance  used  to  remove  the  excess 
of  chlorine  from  bleached  rags. 

Antichthones.  [Gr.  from  avrl,  opposite  to, 
"XJd&v,  the  earth,  the  ground]  Inhabitants  of 
opposite  hemispheres. 

Anti-civism.  A  spirit  hostile  to  the  rights  of 
fellow -citizens  [L.  elves]. 

Anti-climax.     (Climax.) 

Anticlinal  line  \Gr.avri,  against,  K\lvu>,  I  make 
to  bend],  or  Saddleback.  (Geol.)  The  ridge  line,  or 
axis  of  elevation,  from  which  strata  dip  in  oppo- 
site directions.  Synclinal  \a\>v,  together],  the 
furrow  line  towards  which  they  dip. 

Anticor.  [Fr.  anticoeur.]  A  swelling  of  the 
breast,  opposite  the  heart. 

Anti-Corn-Law  League.  An  association 
formed  in  1836,  chiefly  through  the  energy  of 
Richard  Cobden,  to  procure  the  repeal  of  the 
laws  regulating  or  forbidding  the  exportation  or 
importation  of  corn.  These  laws  were  abolished 
in  1846. 

Anticum.  [L.,  in  front]  The  front  or  en- 
trance of  a  church. 

Anticyra,  Name  of  two  Greek  towns  famed 
for  hellebore,  an  old  remedy  for  lunacy  ;  melon., 
a  retreat  for  those  who  act  madly  (vide  Horace, 
Sat.  ii.  3,  83). 

Anti-dactyl.     An  anapaest  (q.v.). 

Antidote.  [Gr.  avriSorov,  from  avri,  against, 
StSc^u,  I  give]  That  which  counteracts  evil 
effects. 

Anti-friction  wheels  or  rollers.  Placed  be- 
tween two  surfaces  which  pass  over  each  other, 
to  convert  a  rubbing  into  a  rolling  contact.  " 

Anti-gallicans.  (Naut.)  Extra  backstays. 
(Stays.) 

Antigraph.  [Gr.  foriypatyi},  a  reply,  a  copy.] 
A  copy,  transcript. 

Anti-helix.    (Anthelix.) 

Anti-hypnotic  (more  correctly  Anthypnotic). 
[Gr.  VTTI/OCO,  /  lull  to  sleep]  Preventive  of  sleep. 

Antilegomena.  [Gr.  from  aj/Tikeyw,  I  gain- 
say] Things  spoken  against ;  books  at  first  not 
admitted  to  be  canonical — 2  Peter,  James,  Jude, 
Hebrews,  2  and  3  John,  and  Apocalypse. 

Antilibration.  [Coined  from  Gr.  cum,  opposite 
to,  and  L.  libratio,  a  levelling]  Of  words, 
sentences,  counterbalancing. 

Antilithic.  [Gr.  \i'0os,  a  stone]  Preventive 
or  destructive  of  gravel  or  urinary  calculi. 

Antilogarithms,    Table  of,      [Gr.   tori,  over 


ANTI 


ANTO 


against,  and  logarithm  (q.v.}.]  The  number  cor- 
responding to  a  logarithm.  A  Table  of  A.  gives 
a  series  of  logarithms,  each  differing  from  the 
one  before  it  by  a  unit  in  a  certain  decimal 
place,  and  the  numbers  corresponding  to  them. 

Antiloimio.    Preventive  of  plague  [Gr.  \otfji6s]. 

Antimacassar.  [Coined  from  Gr.  a.vri,  against, 
macassar,  a  hair  oil,  named  from  a  district  in 
the  island  of  Celebes.]  A  fancy-work  cover  for 
a  chair-back  or  sofa. 

Antimony.  [Ar.  alithmidun.]  A  brittle  bluish- 
white  metal.  In  commerce,  its  native  tersulphide 
is  called  antimony,  the  metal  itself  regulus  of 
antimony.  White  A.  is  the  native  oxide.  Glass 
of  A.  is  an  artificial  oxysulphide. 

Antinephritic,  Counteractive  of  kidney  disease 
[Gr.  vefplTis]. 

Antinomians.  [Gr.  o,vrl,  against,  v6fios,  law,] 
Opposers  of  law.  This  name  was  applied  by 
Luther  to  John  Agricola  and  his  followers,  on 
the  ground  that  they  denied  to  the  Law  all  au- 
thority as  a  rule  of  life,  and  asserted  the  entire 
uselessness  of  good  works  (Solifidians).  Gene- 
rally the  word  is  regarded  as  designating  those 
who  hold  that  the  wicked  actions  of  the  elect 
are  not  sinful. 

Antinomy.      [Gr.  avrl,  opposite,   v6/j.os,  law.] 

1.  A  law  opposed  to  another  law.   2.  The  natural 
contradiction  of  logical  conclusions  about  matters 
beyond  experience,  as  that  of  the  doctrine   of 
eternal  necessary  causation,   and   the  doctrine 
of  a  personal  First  Cause  absolutely  free. 

Antinous.  [L.]  A  beautiful  Bithynian 
youth,  deified  after  his  death  by  the  Emperor 
Hadrian.  Hence  the  name  is  applied  sometimes 
to  denote  singular  beauty  in  the  young. 

Anti-paedobaptist.  One  who  opposes  infant 
baptism.  (Paedobaptist.) 

Antiperiodic.  Preventing  a  fit  [Gr.  irep/oSos] 
of  intermittent  fever  ;  as  quinine  does. 

Antiperistaltic.     Opposing  peristaltic  motion 

(?.*.)• 

Antiperistasis.  [Gr.  cum',  against,  TteplaTaa-is, 
a  standing  round.]  Opposition  to  one  quality 
by  a  contrary  quality,  by  which  the  former  be- 
comes more  intense ;  as  quicklime  is  heated 
by  cold  water,  or  as  one  ethical  extreme  seems 
to  beget  the  other.  A  principle  of  A.  was  once 
imagined  as  existing  in  nature. 

Antiphlogistic.  [Gr.  <p\o^iar6st  set  on  fire.] 
Checking  inflammation. 

Antlphon.  [Gr.  avri^xavos,  from  avri,  and 
tytavi),  voice.]  Corr.  into  Anthem,  the  meaning 
also  being  changed.  1.  In  Gr.  Mus.,  =  unison. 

2.  (Eccl.)    Antiphonal  singing,  i.e.  side  answer- 
ing side,  as  in  cathedrals.    See  something  of  this 
kind,  Exod.  xv.  21  ;  I  Sam.  xviii.  7. 

Antiphonal,  or  alternate  singing.  (Antiphon.) 
Antiphonar.  In  the  unreformed  ritual,  the 
book  of  invitatories  (q.v.},  responsories  (q.v.), 
verses,  collects,  and  whatever  else  is  sung  in 
the  choir  ;  but  not  the  hymns  peculiar  to  the 
Communion  Service.  (Gradual.) 

Antiphrasis.  [Gr.,  from  Qpdffis,  a  speaking.] 
The  use  of  words  in  an  opposite  sense  to  the 
proper  one ;  e.g.  Jeddart  justice,  *>.  hanging  first 
and  trying  afterwards. 


Antipope.  One  who  assumes  the  office  of  pope 
in  the  Latin  Church  without  a  valid  election. 
The  antipopes  belong  chiefly  to  the  fourteenth 
and  sixteenth  centuries. 

Antipyretic.  [Gr.  Truperrfs, fever.]  Remedying 
fever. 

Antiquitas  saeculi,  juventus  mundi.  [L.] 
Ancient  times  were  the  worldjs  youth  ;  what  is 
very  old  to  us  is  very  young  in  the  history  of  the 
world. 

Antirrhinum,  Snapdragon.  (Bot.)  A  gen.  oi 
plants  which  has,  as  it  were,  two  noses  [pTves] 
opposite,  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the  flowers. 
Ord.  Scrophulariacese. 

Antiscii.  [Gr.  avriffKios,  throwing  a  shadow, 
ffKid,  the  opposite  way.]  Living  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  equator. 

Antiscorbutic.  Preserving  from  scurvy  [scor- 
butus]  (q.v.}. 

Antiseptic.  Preventing  putrefaction  [Gr.  <T^TT&>, 
I  make  rotten], 

Antispast.  A  four  syll.  foot,  *  -  -  w,  ~ 
iambus  +  trochee,  and  so,  one  drawn  in  dij~ 
ferent  directions  [Gr.  avriffiraffTos] ;  as  Alex- 
ander, reducetur. 

Antistasis.  [Gr.]  A  party,  faction,  political 
opposition. 

Antistes.  [L.,  one  who  stands  bejore  another^ 
Chief  priest,  prelate. 

Antistrophe.     (Strophe.) 

1  Antithesis.  [Gr.,  opposition,  change,  trans- 
position] 1.  Contrast,  in  word  or  sentiment,  as 
"solitudinem  faciunt,  pacem  appellant."  2.  In 
Gram.,  change  of  letter,  as  illi  for  olli.  (Meta- 
plasm.) 

Anti-trades.  Winds  extending  from  the  trade- 
wind  regions  to  near  the  poles  ;  very  variable  ; 
but  their  general  direction  is  towards  the 
poles.  In  the  N.  regions,  S.W.  currents  of 
air  prevail,  called  the  S.W.  Anti-trades;  in 
the  S.  regions,  the  prevalent  winds  are  from 
the  N.W.,  forming  the  N.  W.  Anti-trades.  (See 
a  useful  manual  of  Physical  Geography  by 
S.  Skertchly.) 

Antitype.  [Gr.  avrtrviros.]  Answering  to  the 
type  or  figure  [TUTTOS]  ,  as  ' '  Christ  our  Pass- 
over"  (i  Cor  v.). 

Antizymic.  [Gr.  dvri,  against,  £^"7,  leaven.] 
Preventing  fermentation. 

Antlers.  [Cf.  Fr.  andouiller  and  entoillier,  the 
first  horns,  (?)  ante,  before,  ceil,  eye  (vide  Littre).] 
The  male  Cervidse,  or  true  deer  (and,  in  the 
case  of  the  reindeer,  the  females  also)  have  solid 
bony  horns  or  antlers,  shed  yearly.  Beginning 
with  a  single  "dag,"  they  add  a  fresh  "tine," 
or  "  tyne,"  on  each  renewal  till  the  eighth  year, 
after  which  the  additions  are  less  regular.  (Deer, 
Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Antoecians.  [Gr.  avri,  and  O!KOS,  a  house.]  In 
Geog.,  those  who  live  under  the  same  meridian 
but  on  opposite  parallels  of  latitude. 

Antonine,  Itinerary  of.  An  ancient  geo- 
graphical work,  giving  the  distances  on  all  the 
provincial  roads,  and  from  post  to  post,  through- 
out the  whole  Roman  empire.  (Itinerary.) 

Antonines.  Antdmnus  Pius,  Roman  emperor, 
and  his  successor,  M.  Aurelius  A.  ;  types  of  good 


ANTO 


33 


APLU 


rulers  (A.D.  138-180)  ;  reign  of  first  peaceful,  of 
second  victorious. 

Antonine,  Wall  of.  From  Firth  of  Clyde  to 
Firth  of  Forth  ;  built  about  A.D.  140. 

Antonomasia.  [Gr.]  The  use  of  an  epithet, 
patronymic,  etc.,  instead  of  a  proper  name,  as 
the  "  Son  of  Peleus,"  the  "Iron  Duke,"  the 
"Sick  Man,"  for  Achilles,  Wellington,  the 
Turkish  sultan. 

Antony,  Cross  of  St.   (Cross.) 

Antony,  Fire  of  St.     A  name  for  erysipelas. 

Antrustions.  Among  the  Franks,  personal 
dependents  of  the  kings  and  counts  ;  so  called, 
beyond  doubt,  from  the  trust  placed  in  them. 
They  were  also  known  as  Fideles,  faithful,  and 
Leudes,  people. 

Anubis.  An  Egyptian  deity,  Kneph,  with 
the  body  of  a  man  and  the  head  of  a  dog. 

Anus.  [L.]  The  opening  at  the  lower  ex- 
tremity of  the  alimentary  canal. 

Anversois.  The  inhabitants  of  Antwerp 
[Fr.  Anvers]. 

Aonian.  1.  Boeotian,  AonYa  being  part  of 
Boeotia.  2.  Belonging  to  the  Muses;  Mount 
Helicon,  and  its  inspiring  fountain,  Aganippe, 
in  Aonia,  being  sacred  to  the  Muses. 

Aorist.  [Gr.  d6pio-To$,  indefinite.]  In  Gram., 
the  tense  which  leaves  undefined  the  time  of  the 
action  denoted  by  it. 

Aorta.  [Gr.  doprrj,  detpco,  f  raise.]  The  main 
trunk  of  the  arterial  system,  from  which  every 
artery  of  the  body  arises,  except  those  which 
supply  the  lungs. 

A  entrance.     [Fr.]     To  the  uttermost. 

Ap.  Welsh  prefix  to  names  =  son  of,  as  in  Ap 
Thomas,  P-rice  (Ap  Rhys),  P-ugh  (Ap  Hugh). 

Apagogical  argument.  [Gr.  dvayuyfi,  in  the 
sense  of  a  leading  away,  not  =  abduction  in 
scientific  logic.]  Proves  indirectly,  by  proving 
that  the  contradictory  is  impossible,  e.g.  Euclid, 
bk.  iii.  9,  10,  II,  etc. 

Apanage.    (Appanage.) 

Apanthropy.  [Gr.  diravOpwirta,  from  ^6,  from, 
&vQp<airos,  man.]  Aversion  to  society. 

Apateon.  [Gr.  dTraraw,  I  deceive.]  ( Geol]  One 
of  the  oldest  known  salamandroid  Amphibia 
from  the  coal  measures.  (Batrachia.) 

Apatite.  [Gr.  diraTaw,  /  deceive]  Native 
phosphate  of  lime,  frequently  found  in  greenish 
six-sided  prisms,  and  resembling  other  minerals. 

Apaturia.  [Gr.  dirarovpia,  from  d  =  a/j.a,  to- 
gether, and  irarpid  ;  cf.  Adelphi ;  Amazons.]  An 
Athenian  festival,  denoting  the  meeting  of  the 
people  in  their  Phratries.  (Phratry.) 

Apaume.  [Fr.  paume,  palm]  (Her]  Having 
a  hand  opened,  so  as  to  show  the  whole  palm. 

A-peek,  A-peak,  i.e.  on  peak.  (Naut.}  When 
a  ship  is  directly  over  her  anchor  it  is  A-peek. 
Short-stay  P.  and  Long-stay  P.  when  the  cable 
is  in  a  line  with  the  fore  and  main  stays  respec- 
tively. 

Apelleeans.  (Eccl  Hist.)  A  sect  of  the  second 
century,  who  are  said  to  have  maintained  that 
the  body  of  Christ  perished  at  His  ascension. 

Apetalous  [Gr.  d  neg.,  irfra\ov,  a  leaf] 
flowers  =  having  calyx,  as  anemone,  but  not 
corolla ;  or  having  neither,  as  in  willows. 


Aphasresis.  [Gr.  d<paipf<ns,  a  taking  away] 
In  Gr.,  the  cutting  out  of  a  letter  or  syll.  at 
the  bep-irming  of  a  word.  (Metaplasm.) 

Aphaniptera.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  <paivo>,  I  show, 
TTTffov,  a  wing]  (Entomb)  Ord.  of  insects  with 
no  perceptible  wings,  as  fleas. 

Aphasia.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  <pd<ris,  a  saying]  Loss 
of  memory  for  the  names  of  things,  which 
things  are,  nevertheless,  in  themselves  as  well 
understood  as  before. 

Aphelion.  [Gr.  dir6,  from,  %\ios,  the  sun]  The 
point  of  a  planet's  orbit  most  distant  from  the  sun. 

Aphemia  [Gr.  d  neg.,  ^r?^,  a  speaking],  i.q. 
Aphasia. 

Aphid,  Aphis.  Plant-louse,  gen.  of  Hemi- 
pterous  insects,  with  enormous  number  of  spec. 
Females  parthenogenetic  to  the  ninth  generation. 
(Parthenogenesis.) 

Aphlogistic.     [Gr.  a.(p\6yiffTos,    from  d  neg., 
,  I  set  on  fire]     Burning  without  flame. 

Aphonia.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  <pwfi,  -voice]  Loss  of 
voice. 

Aphorism.  [Gr.  d<popifffjL6s,  a  definition,  air6, 
from,  dpify,  I  mark  off  by  limits]  A  short 
comprehensive  maxim. 

Aphrodite.    (Anadyomene.) 

Aphthae  [Gr.  &<pOai,  ulcerations,  thrush, 
(?)  airrw,  I  set  on  fire],  or  Thrush.  A  disease, 
mostly  of  infancy,  characterized  by  small  white 
ulcers  on  the  tongue,  palate,  and  gums. 

Aphyllous  [Gr.  &(pv\\os,  from  d  neg. ,  (pv\\oi>, 
a  leaf]  plants  =  plants  not  having  leaves ;  e.g. 
mushroom. 

Apiaceae.  [L.  ^mn\,  parsley.]  (Bot.)  Another 
name  for  Umbelliferse. 

Apiacere.     [It.]    At  pleasure. 

Apiary.  [L.  apiarium,  apis,  a  bee]  A  place 
where  bees  are  kept. 

Apices  juris  non  sunt  jura.  [Leg.  L.]  Nice 
points  of  law  are  not  laws  ;  i.e.  laws  deal  with 
broad  principles,  not  with  minute  details. 

Apician  food.  (Apicius,  a  notorious  epicure 
of  Rome,  in  the  time  of  Tiberius.)  Expensive, 
luxurious. 

Apicillary.    At  or  near  the  apex. 

Apiculate.  (Bot. )  Abruptly  pointed.  [Api- 
culus,  dim.  coined  from  L.  apex,  a  point,  summit.  ] 

Apiocrinite.  [Gr.  &TTIOV,  a  pear,  Kpivov,  a  lily.  ] 
(Gtol.)  A  pear-shaped  encrinite  (q.v.)  ;  found  in 
Oolite ;  near  allies  are  found  in  the  chalk,  and 
exist  now. 

Apis.  In  Egyptian  religion,  a  bull  which  was 
supposed  to  represent  the  god  Apis.  By  the 
Greeks  it  was  called  Epaphos,  and  was  said  to 
be  the  son  of  lo.  (Osiris.) 

Aplanetic.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  irX&vt\TiK6s,  disposed 
to  wander.]  When  light,  diverging  from  a  point, 
enters  a  refracting  medium  having  a  surface  so 
formed  that  the  rays  converge  accurately  to  a 
point,  the  surface  is  A. 

Aplastic.  [Gr.  d  neg. ,  irActacrw,  I  form,  shape.  ] 
Not  easily  moulded. 

Aplomb.  [Fr. ,  lit.  perpendicularity,  a  plomb, 
according  to  the  plummet]  Stability,  self- 
possession. 

Aplustre.  [L.,  Gr.  tifyXavTov]  The  carved 
stem,  with  its  ornaments,  of  a  Roman  ship. 


APNCE 


34 


APOT 


Apncea.  [Gr.  &irvoia,  from  d  neg.,  irvew,  I 
breathe.}  A  suspension  of  respiration,  in  real  or 
apparent  death. 

Apocalypse.  [Gr.  awo/ccUv^s,  an  unveihng.} 
The  title  of  the  last  of  the  canonical  books  of  the 
New  Testament.  The  term  Apocalyptic  litera- 
ture is  applied  to  works  treating  of  this  book. 

Apocalyptic  writings,  The.  Portions  of 
Scripture  which  teach  by  visions,  like  in  character 
to  the  Apocalypse  ;  as  Daniel  and  2  Esdras. 
The  A.  number  is  666  (Rev.  xiii.). 

Apocarpous  pistil.  [Gr.  air  6,  away  from, 
KapirAs,  fruit.]  (Bot.)  One  in  which  the  carpels 
(q.v.)  remain  distinct;  e.g.  ranunculus.  (Syn- 
carpous.) 

Apocope.  [Gr.  airoKOTrfj,  a  cutting  off}  (Gram.} 
Loss  of  the  beginning,  more  often  of  the  end, 
of  a  word.  (Hetaplasm.) 

Apocrisiarius.  [Gr.  a.ir6Kpiffis,  an  answer, 
decision.}  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  representative  at  the 
imperial  court  of  a  foreign  Church  or  bishop  ;  at 
length  =  papal  nuncio. 

Apocrypha.     [Gr.    airJ/cpttya,  things  hidden.} 


Claiming  to  be  in  the  canon,  but  put  away  ;  or 
as  "read  not  publicly,  but  in  secret"  (Preface 
to  A.,  1539). 

Apocrypha  of  New  Testament.  The  Pseudo- 
Gospels,  or  Apocryphal  Gospels.  (Gospels.) 

Apode,  Apoda.  [Gr.  frnovs,  gen.  &iro8os,  foot- 
less.] A  term  which  has  been  variously  used  : 
with  Cuvier,  =  the  eel  family  ;  with  others,  = 
sand-eels  ;  with  some  old  authors,  the  Ophio- 
morpha,  including  Cseciliae  ;  with  Mr.  Darwin, 
one  of  the  orders  of  Cirripedia  ;  with  others, 
again,  some  worm-like  animals  linking  the  worms 
to  Echinoderms.  It  has  also  been  applied  to 
some  intestinal  worms,  etc.  Birds  of  paradise 
were  so  called,  when  known  only  by  their 
skins. 

Apodictic.  [Gr.  cb-o5e«KTj/c<fe,  owro-Se/KfUjiu,  7 
show  forth.]  In  Aristotle  and  some  moderns, 
demonstrative,  not  empirical,  judgment. 

Apodosis.    (Protasis.) 

Apodyt§rium.  [L.,  from  Gr.  avotivT-fipiov.]  An 
undressing-room  in  Roman  baths. 

Apogee.  [Gr.  rb  d.-troyaiov,  from  air6,  from, 
the  earth^\  The  point  of  the  moon's  orbit  furthest 
from  the  earth.  When  the  earth  is  in  aphelion, 
the  sun  is  sometimes  said  to  be  in  A. 

Apollinarians.  (Eccl.}  The  followers  o: 
Apollinaris,  Bishop  of  Laodicea,  who  in  the 
fourth  century  maintained  that  the  Logos  sup- 
plied the  place  of  the  human  soul  in  Christ 
The  doctrine  was  denounced  by  the  Council 
of  Constantinople,  A.D.  381. 

Apollinaris  water.  Effervescing  mineral  water 
from  Apollinarisberg,  on  the  Rhine,  near  Bonn. 

Apollo.    (Phoebus  Apollo.) 

Apollo  Belvidere,  i.e.  in  the  Belvidere  of  the 
Vatican.  A  Greek  work,  found  at  Antium,  1  503. 

Apollyon.  [Gr.  &iro\\vwt  I  destroy.}  The 
destroyer.  (Abaddon.) 

Apologue.  [Gr.  a.Tr6\oyos.]  A  fable,  gene- 
rally with  special  application  ;  e.g.  the  belly  and 
the  members. 

Apology  for  the  Bible,  etc.  =  a  defence. 
[Gr.  aTroAo7ia,  a  defence,  speech  in  defence.} 


Apologetics,  the  scientific  defence  of  Christianity ; 
/.  i  Pet.  iii.  15. 

Aporauios  Zeus.  [Gr.  'Air6fj.vios,  from  av6, 
from,  jutno,  a  fly.}  Averter  of  flies.  (Beelzebub ; 
ffiulagros.) 

Aponeurosis.  [Gr.]  (Anat. )  Expansion  of  a 
muscle  into  a  tendon  \yevpov]. 

Apopemptic  poem.  [Gr.  airoire.inn-i/cJs,  vale- 
dictory,} Addressed  to  one  about  to  leave  his 
country  on  a  journey ;  e.g.  Horace,  Od.  i.  3. 

Apophthegm.  [Gr.  cwr<$c/>0€7jua.]  A  terse, 
sententious  saying  ;  a  maxim. 

Apophyge.  [Gr.  airofyvyi],  a  flying  off.~\ 
(Arch.)  A  curve  connecting  a  shaft  with  a 
fillet,  either  at  the  top  or  at  the  bottom  of  a 
column  (Brande  and  Cox). 

Apophysis.  [Gr.  airjQvffis.]  (Anat.)  A  pro- 
cess or  prominence  of  a  bone  ;  e.g.  for  the  in- 
sertion of  a  muscle.  (Bot. )  A  fleshy  tubercle  ; 
e.g.  from  which  an  urn  moss  grows. 

Apoplexy.  [Gr.  a.irmt\i]^ia,  from  &7ro7rA^(r<ra>, 
I  strike  off  or  down.}  A  sudden  extravasation  of 
blood  or  serum  in  the  brain,  characterized  by 
loss  of  sensation  and  voluntary  motion. 

Aposiopesis.  [Gr.]  A  figure  in  Rhetoric,  by 
which  a  sentence  breaks  off  abruptly,  leaving 
the  hearer  or  reader  to  supply  the  rest,  as,  "  Quos 
ego— Sed  "  (Virgil). 

Apostasy.  [Gr.  air6ffraois.]  Defection;  fall- 
ing away  from  a  faith  or  an  allegiance. 

Aposteme.  [Gr.  b.ir^ffrrt\\uj.,  an  interval.}  A 
separation  of  purulent  matter,  an  abscess  ;  corr. 
into  Apostume  and  Imposthume. 

Apostil.  A  marginal  to  a  book  or  document. 
(Fr.  apostille,  a  =  ad,  and  post  ilia,  sc.  verba.] 
(Postil.) 

Apostle  spoon.  Of  old  silver  :  the  handle  ending 
in  the  figure  of  an  Apostle  ;  generally  presented 
at  christenings. 

Apostles.  (Naut.)  (Knight-heads.) 
Apostolical  Canons,  and  (2)  Ap.  Constitutions. 
Two  collections — (?)  Antenicene,  authorship 
unknown — of  rules  concerning  Christian  duty, 
Church  constitution,  government,  ministry, 
worship ;  the  latter  ascetic,  and  exalting  the 
priesthood  excessively. 

Apostolical  Majesty,  His.  A  title  of  the 
King  of  Hungary,  who  is  also  called  Emperor 
of  Austria.  Pope  Sylvester  II.  so  named  St. 
Stephen,  first  King  of  Hungary,  after  his  con- 
version ;  crowned  A.D.  1000. 

Apostolic  Fathers,  i.e.  contemporary  with,  or 
living  just  after,  the  apostles  ;  they  are  five : 
Clement  of  Rome,  Barnabas,  Hermas,  Ignatius, 
Polycarp. 

Apostollci.  (Apotactici.) 
Apostrophe.  [Gr.]  1.  (Rhet.)  A  sudden 
breaking  off  from  the  previous  method  of  an 
address,  in  order  to  address,  in  the  second 
person,  some  person  or  thing  absent  or  present. 
2.  (Gram.)  The  mark  (')  of  a  letter  or  letters 
omitted  ;  as  o'clock. 

Apotactici.      [Gr.  airoTdffffo/j.ai,    I  renounce}, 

ApostolicL    A  sect  of  the  third  century,  revived 

in  the  twelfth  century ;  they  professed  to  renounce 

marriage,  wealth,  etc. 

Apothecium.     [Gr.    diro07jK7j,    a   store-house.'} 


APOT 


35 


APSE 


(Bot. )    A  flat  disc,  containing  the  asci  of  lichens ; 
often  called  a  Shield. 

Apotheosis.     [Gr.]     Deification. 

Apotome.  [Gr.]  In  Geom.,  the  difference 
between  two  lines  represented  by  numbers,  one 
or  both  of  which  are  quadratic  surds. 

Apozem.  [Gr.  eb-o&ua,  from  fat,  from,  off, 
£ea>,  I  boil.}  A. decoction. 

Appair,  v.a.  'to  impair;  and  v.n.  to  become 
worse.  [Fr.  &  pire,  to  worse '.} 

Appalement.  [Fr.  palir,  to  grow  pale.}  De- 
pression, from  fear. 

Appanage.  [L.L.  appanagium,  an  allowance 
for  3raz</(panis).]  (Feud.)  An  allowance  to  the 
younger  branches  of  a  sovereign's  house  from  the 
revenues  of  the  country.  A  district  thus  con- 
ferred was  called  panagium, 

Apparel.  [Preserving  the  meaning  oft.  prepara- 
tion in  Fr.  appareil,  appareiller,  to  make  things 
matched,  pareil,  L.L.  pariculus.]  (Naut.)  Masts, 
yards,  sails,  ground  gear,  etc.  Apparelled, 
fully  equipped. 

Apparent,  Heir.  Certain  heir,  in  whom,  if 
he  live,  the  succession  vests  absolutely  ;  opposed 
to  H.  Presumptive,  i.e.  presumed,  in  the  absence 
of  A.,  and  dependent  upon  contingencies. 

Apparent  time.     (Time.) 

Apparitor.  [L.]  1.  An  attendant  on  a  Roman 
magistrate  or  judge,  to  receive  orders,  etc.  2. 
In  ecclesiastical  courts,  an  officer  who  attends  in 
court,  receives  the  judge's  instructions,  cites 
defendants,  sees  to  the  production  of  witnesses 
(see  Canon  CXXXVIIL). 

Appaume.     (Apaume.) 

Appellant.  [L.  appellantem,  appealing.}  (Leg:) 
A  party  appealing  from  the  judgment  of  an 
inferior  court.  His  opposer  is  Respondent. 

Appellate  jurisdiction.  (Leg.)  Power  of  a 
judicial  body  or  a  judge  to  hear  appeals  from 
the  decision  of  inferior  courts.  In  England,  the 
House  of  Lords  has  A.  J.,but  modified  by  the 
Judicature  Act. 

Appendiculate.  [L.  appendix,  an  addition.} 
(Bot. )  Added  appendage,  or  appendicle  ;  accom- 
panying, but  not  essentially ;  e.g.  stipules,  ten- 
drils, hairs,  etc. 

Appentis.  [Fr.,  L.L,  appendicium.]  A  shed, 
pent-house,  upon  columns,  or  brackets. 

Appian  Way.  Made  by  Appius  Claudius  the 
censor,  A.  U.  C.  442,  from  the  Porta  Capena,  at 
Rome,  through  the  Pontine  Marshes  to  Capua  ; 
afterwards  extended  to  Brundusium  (Brindisi). 

Applegath's  machine.  The  first  vertical- 
cylindrical  printing-machine  ;  used  for  the  Times 
since  1848. 

Apple,  Prairie.     (Bread-root.) 

Apples  of  Sodom.     (Sodom,  Vine  of.) 

Applique.  [Fr.]  In  needlework,  a  pattern  cut 
out  from  one  foundation,  and  applied  to  another. 

Appoggiatura.  [It.  appogiare,  to  lean  upon.} 
(Music.)  A  note  of  grace  or  embellishment,  leant 
upon,  and  borrowing  one-half  from  the  time  of 
the  more  important  note  which  it  precedes,  and 
with  which  it  is  now  very  often  written  as  incor- 
porated. It  differs  from  the  Acciatura  [It.  acciare, 
to  mince},  which  is  simply  a  grace  note,  without 
any  recognized  time. 


Appraise.     [Fr.  apprecier,  L.  pre'tium,  -value.} 

1.  To  value  goods   sold  under  distress   (q.v.}. 

2.  To  praise. 

Apprecation.  [L.  apprecor,  /  worship.} 
Earnest  prayer. 

Apprehension,  Simple.  [L.  apprehensio,  -nem, 
a  seizing  on.}  (Log.}  The  notion  of  objects  as 
received  by  the  mind.  It  is  said  to  be  incomplex 
when  it  is  of  separate  objects ;  complex  when  of 
objects  related  to  each  other. 

Apprentice.  [Fr.  apprendre,  to  learn}  (Leg. ) 
Formerly  a  barrister  under  sixteen  years'  stand- 
ing ;  after  which  he  might  be  a  Serjeant-at-law. 

Appropriation.  [L.  adpropriatio,  -nem,  from 
proprius,  proper.}  (Eccl.)  Perpetual  annexa- 
tion of  a  benefice  to  a  corporation  sole  or  aggre- 
gate, i.e.  a  parson,  college,  etc.  Impropriation 
[improprius,  unsuitable},  the  holding  by  a  layman 
of  the  profits  of  ecclesiastical  property. 

Appropriation  Clauses,  The.  An  expression 
common  in  the  discussions  in  Parliament,  1833- 
38,  referring  to  certain  proposed  methods  of 
dealing  with  the  Irish  Church  temporalities. 

Approver.  In  Law,  one  who,  being  arraigned 
for  treason  or  felony,  confesses  the  indictment, 
and  takes  an  oath  to  reveal  all  treasons  or  fe- 
lonies known  to  him  as  committed  by  others. 

Approximations,  Successive.  A  series  of 
numbers  which  approach  more  and  more  nearly 
to  the  actual  numerical  value  of  a  quantity  ;  thus, 
the  ratio  of  the  circumference  to  the  diameter  of 
a  circle  is  expressed  more  and  more  nearly  by 
the  following  numbers  : — 3,  2?2,  ff§,  etc.,  and  these 
are  S.  A.  to  its  actual  value. 

Appui.  [Fr.,  L.L.  appodiare,  to  support, 
podium,  an  elei'ated  place,  a  balcony.}  A 
support. 

Appurtenances.  (Law.)  Things  belonging  or 
appertaining  to  another  thing  as  principal. 

Apres  moi  (nous)  le  deluge.  [Fr.]  After  me 
(us)  the  flood. 

A  primo.     [L.]     Lit. /raw  the  first. 

A  principle.     [L.]     from  the  beginning. 

A  priori  [L.]  reasoning  is  from  the  former, 
i.e.  the  known  fact,  principle,  law,  intuitive  con- 
ception, to  the  result;  so  from  knowledge  of 
astronomy  an  eclipse  is  predicted.  A  posteriori, 
from  the  latter  fact  or  event,  etc.,  we  reason  back 
to  its  cause  ;  as  from  the  fact  of  an  eclipse,  to  its 
cause  and  explanation. 

Apron,  or  Stomach-piece.  (Naut.)  A  strength- 
ening timber,  shaped  to  fit  the  sides  of  the 
bows,  scarfed  to  the  fore  dead-wood  knee  (q.v.), 
slanting  upwards,  and  fitting  to  the  stem  above 
the  end  of  the  keel. 

A  propos  de  bottes.  [Fr.]  Lit.  in  reference  to 
boots  =  having  no  connexion  with  the  matter. 

Apsaras.  [Skt.  apa,  L.  aqua,  water.}  The 
Nymphs  of  the  Rig  Veda. 

Apse,  Apsis,  or  Absis.  [Gr.  ctyfe,  an  arch.} 
1.  (Arch.}  The  end  of  the  choir  of  a  church, 
whether  it  be  circular,  polygonal,  or  even  rect- 
angular. In  the  early  Christian  churches,  the 
bishop's  throne  was  placed  in  the  apse  behind  the 
altar,  and  upon  the  axis  of  the  church.  Usually 
the  word  is  taken  to  mean  any  polygonal  termi- 
nation of  a  building.  2.  (Astron.)  A  point  in 


APS1 


ARBI 


a  planet's  orbit  where  it  moves  at  right  angles  to 
the  radius  vector;  the  apses  are  the  aphelion 
and  perihelion,  and  the  line  joining  them  is  the 
line  of  apsides. 

Apsidal.     Belonging  to  an  apse. 

Apsides,  Line  of.     (Apse.) 

Apteral.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  trrep6v,  a  •wing.'] 
(Arch.)  A  building  without  lateral  columns,  and 
therefore  not  peripteral  (g.v.). 

Apterous.  [Or.  &-TTTfpos,  un-winged]  Wing- 
less, as  the  kiwi,  or  apteryx  of  New  Zealand, 
among  birds,  and  the  flea  among  insects. 

Apteryx.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  vrepv^,  wing.]  (Zool.) 
Fam.  and  gen.  of  birds,  about  two  feet  high,  with 
brown,  hair-like  plumage,  and  rudimentary  wings. 
Kiwi,  New  Zealand.  Ord.  Struthiones. 

Aptote.  [Gr.  &TTTWTOS,  not  fallen  or  declined.] 
In  Gram.,  a  noun  without  distinction  of  cases  ; 
indeclinable. 

Apuleius.     (Golden  ass.) 

Apyretic.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  irvpfr6s,  fever.]  Free 
from  fever. 

Apyrous.  [Gr.  &irvpos,  from  d  neg.,  irup,  fire] 
Incombustible,  unsmelted. 

Aquafortis.  [L.,  strong  water. ~\  Nitric  acid.  A. 
regia,  a  mixture  of  one  of  nitric  acid,  to  two  or 
more  of  hydrochloric  acid  ;  royal  water,  because 
dissolving  gold,  the  king  of  metals.  A.  Toffana 
(prepared  by  a  woman  so  named),  or  Aquetta, 
little  water,  a  celebrated  poison  used  in  Rome 
about  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century  ;  (?)  a 
solution  of  arsenic. 

Aqua  marina.  [L.,  sea-water.]  Aquamarine, 
some  blue  and  sea-green  varieties  of  beryl  (q.v.). 

Aquam  perdere.  [L.]  To  lose  time;  lit.  the 
water  of  the  water-clock,  Clepsydra  (<?.v.), 
which  regulated  the  length  of  speeches. 

Aquarius.  [L.]  The  water-bearer',  the  eleventh 
sign  of  the  Zodiac,  through  which  the  sun  moves 
in  January  and  February.  Also,  one  of  the 
twelve  Zodiacal  constellations. 

Aquatinta.  [L.  aqua  tincta,  water-dyed]  A 
mode  of  etching  on  copper,  producing  imitations 
of  drawings  in  India  ink,  bister,  and  sepia. 

Aque.  \Cf.  Aeon.]  A  Rhine  boat  with  flat 
sides  and  bottom. 

Aqueous  humour  of  the  eye  occupies  the 
anterior  chamber  of  the  eye,  i.e.  the  space 
between  the  cornea  and  the  front  of  the  lens. 

Aqueous  rocks.  In  Geol.,  rocks  derived  from 
the  action  of  water.  These  include  the  whole 
series  of  fossiliferous  rocks  in  all  parts  of  the 
world. 

Aquilae.  [L.  for  aercS/uoTo,  parts  adorned 
%vith  (Gr.  arrol)  eagles]  (Arch.}  The  pediment 
of  a  Grecian  temple. 

Aqulla  non  capit  muscas.  [L.]  An  eagle  does 
not  catch  Jlies. 

Aqullegia.  [L.,  water-gatherer,  in  the  hollow 
of  its  leaves.]  (Bot.)  Columbine,  a  gen.  nearly 
related  to  aconite  ;  ord.  Ranunculacese. 

Aquilo.  [L.,  root  &.= sharpness.]  The  north 
wind. 

Aquitaine.  Old  province  of  France,  S.  of  Brit- 
tany and  Anjou. 

-ar.  [Indo-Europ.]  1.  Name  or  part  name  of 
rivers  =  flowing  (?),  e.g.  Ar-ar,  Ar-ay,  Ar-bach, 


Tam-ar,  Aar  (?).  2.  Celtic  =  at,  on,e.g.  Armorici, 
on  (by)  the  sea,  Armagh,  on  the  plain,  Aries 
(Ar-laeth),  on  the  marsh. 

Arab,  Street.     A  homeless  child  in  a  city. 

Araba.  In  Turkey,  plain  rough  cart,  or  box, 
on  four  wheels,  drawn  by  bullocks. 

Arabesque.  Properly  of  an  Arabian  or 
Saracenic  style,  in  which  the  decorations  of 
walls  consist  of  fruits,  flowers,  and  foliage, 
curiously  interlaced.  But  the  term  is  also  ap- 
plied to  styles  more  or  less  resembling  it,  which 
existed  long  before  the  rise  of  the  Saracenic. 

Arabian  Nights'  Tales.  (Thousand  and  One 
Nights.) 

Arabii.  An  Arabian  sect  in  Origen's  time, 
who  believed  the  soul  to  be  dissolved  with  the 
body  by  death,  but  given  back  at  the  resurrection. 

Arabin.     Chief  constituent  in  gum-arabic. 

Arabo-Tedesco.  [It.,  Arab-German]  A  term 
sometimes  used  to  denote  Byzantine  art,  and  the 
combination  of  Moorish  and  Gothic  art  in  N.  Italy. 

Aracese,  or  Aroidea.  (Bot.)  An  ord.  of  plants, 
of  which  arum  is  the  type  gen. 

Arachis.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  paxisi  a  backbone]  (Bot.) 
A  plant,  ord.  Legumin.,  cultivated  in  warm  parts 
of  America,  Asia,  Africa  ;  which  matures  its 
pea-like,  oily,  edible  fruits  underground. 
American  name,  Mandubi ;  also  called  Pea-nut 
or  Monkey-nut. 

Arachne.  [Gr.,  a  spider.]  A  Lydian  girl, 
changed  to  a  spider  for  vicing  with  Athena  in 
weaving ;  meton.,  a  good  weaver. 

Arachnidae.  [Gr.  apaxvn,  a  spider;  cf.  L. 
aranea.]  (Zool.}  Class  of  Annulosa  or  Arthro- 
poda,  including  mites,  spiders,  and  scorpions. 

Araeostyle.  [Gr.  dpcuoo'TuA.oy,  with  columns 
far  apart]  (Arch.)  A  building,  of  which  the 
columns  are  separated  from  each  other  by  four 
or  five  diameters. 

Araeosystyle.  (Arch.)  A  building  in  which 
the  columns  are  arranged  in  pairs,  with  space 
of  three  diameters  and  a  half  between  the  pairs. 

Aragonite.  (Min.)  Prismatic  carbonate  of 
lime  ;  abundant  in  a  ferruginous  clay  in  Aragon. 

Arak,  Arrack,  Araki,  Raki.  [Ar.  arak  = 
exudation]  A  spirit  distilled  from  various  sub- 
stances— fruits,  rice,  palm  sugar ;  but  principally 
from  the  juice  of  the  Areca  palm. 

Aramaic  languages.  The  northern  branch  of 
the  Semitic  family  of  languages,  which  includes 
the  Chaldee  and  Syriac  dialects. 

Arangous.  [L.  araneosus,  aranea,  a  spider; 
cf.  Gr.  dpdxvr).]  Cobweb-like,  e.g.  the  membrane 
enclosing  the  crystalline  humour  of  the  eye. 

Arango.  [Native  name.]  A  rough  carnelian 
bead,  used  in  trading  with  Africans. 

Arare  litus.  [L.]  Lit.  to  plough  the  sea-shore ; 
to  labour  in  vain. 

Arbalist.  [O.Fr.  arbaleste,  cross-bow,  L. 
arcubalista.]  Cross-bow  formed  of  a  wooden 
stock  with  a  bow  of  steel,  and  fired  by  means 
of  a  small  lever. 

Arbiter  bibendi.  [L.]  Master  of  the  drinking- 
feast.  ( Symposiarch. ) 

Arbiter  elegantiarum.  [L.]  A  master  of  the 
ceremonies;  an  authority  on  matters  of  etiquette 
and  taste. 


ARBO 


37 


ARCH 


Arbor.     (Shaft.) 

Arbor  Dianse.  [L.  for  tree  of  Diana,  i.e.  silver.] 
Tree-shaped  crystals  of  silver.  Similar  crystals 
of  lead  are  called  arbor  Saturni  [L.,  tree  of 
Saturn]. 

Arboretum.  [L.]  A  place  set  apart  for  the 
special  cultivation  of  trees  [arbores]  of  different 
kinds. 

Arborization.  A  tree-like  appearance ;  of 
blood-vessels,  or  in  minerals,  etc. 

Arbor  vitae.  [L.]  (Bot.)  Thuja,  a  gen.  of  trees, 
ord.  Coniferae,  allied  to  the  cypress ;  evergreens, 
with  compressed  or  flattened  branchlets. 

Arbuscular.  Like  a  shrub  or  small  tree  [L. 
arbuscula]. 

Arbutus.  [L.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  evergreen 
shrubs,  ord.  Ericese  ;  its  fruit  a  rough  berry  with 
five  many-seeded  cells.  A.  xtnedo,  the  straw- 
berry-tree, is  a  characteristic  feature  of  the  rocks 
at  Killarney. 

Arc.  [L.  arcus,  a  bow.]  A  portion  of  a 
curved  line ;  as  an  arc  of  a  circle.  Sometimes 
called  an  Arch. 

Arcades  ambo.  [L.]  Virgil,  Ed.  vii.  4,  both 
Arcadians ;  simple  shepherds,  both  of  them  ; 
often  used  unfavourably,  a  pair  of  them. 

Arcadia,  The  Countess  of  Pembroke's.  Sir 
Philip  Sidney's  romance,  published  A.D.  1590. 

Arcadian  simplicity,  etc.  Like  that  of 
Arcadia,  in  Peloponnesus,  mountainous  and  cen- 
tral, therefore  not  conquered  by  the  Dorians, 
nor  open  to  the  sea,  nor  to  other  states. 

Arcana.  [Neut.  plu.  of  L.  arcanus,  hidden.} 
Mysteries  (q.v.}. 

Arcani  Disciplma.  [L.,  discipline  of  the  secret.] 
A  name  given  to  a  supposed  system  in  the 
primitive  Church,  by  which  its  most  important 
doctrines  were  divulged  only  to  a  select  class ; 
called  also  the  Economy,  or  the  principle  of 
reserve  in  the  communication  of  religious 
doctrine. 

Arc-boutant.  [Fr.  bouter,  to  set,  push.]  A 
flying  buttress. 

Arch.  [L.  arcus,  a  bow]  In  Building,  a  struc- 
ture disposed  in  a  bow-like  form,  the  materials  of 
which  support  each  other  by  their  mutual  pres- 
sure. An  arch  described  from  a  single  centre  is 
semicircular.  If  from  two  centres,  each  at  the 
spring  of  the  arch,  it  is  equilateral.  If  the  centres 
are  without  the  spring,  it  is  an  acute-angled 
A.  If  they  are  within  it,  it  is  obtuse-angled. 
Arches  of  three  and  four  centres  are  lower  than 
arches  described  from  two  centres,  and  are  used 
chiefly  in  the  Later  Continuous  or  Perpendicular 
work  of  this  country.  The  Tudor  arches  are 
chiefly  of  this  kind.  A  segmental  A .  is  one,  the 
curve  of  which  is  less  than  a  semicircle.  A 
stilted  A.  is  one  which  starts  from  a  centre  or 
centres  placed  above  the  capital.  Foil  arches  are 
those  which  are  foliated  in  outline  without  a 
rectilineal  A.  to  cover  them.  Ogee  arches  are 
those  which  have  their  sides  formed  of  two  con- 
trasted curves. 

Arch-.  [Gr.  apx<a,  I  rule.]  First  or  most 
prominent. 

Archaeolithic.     (Prehistoric  archaeology.) 
Archaeology.     [Gr.    apxcuos,    ancient,    \6yos 


discourse.]    The  scientific  study  of  antiquities  of 
art,  etc. 

Archseopteryx  [Gr.  apxaios,  ancient,  irrepv^,  a 
ving]  macroura  [/uucp<fe,  long,  oupd,  tail].  (Geol.) 
A  fossil  bird,  very  rare,  about  the  size  of  a  rook, 
with  some  twenty  free  caudal  vertebrae.  Oolite 
f  Solenhofen. 

Archaism.  [Gr.  apxaiffpAs,  imitation  of  the 
indents.  ]  The  employment  of  antiquated  words 
and  phrases. 

Arch-chancellor.  Under  the  Empire,  an 
officer  who  presided  over  the  secretaries  of  the 
court. 

Arch-chemic.  A  name  applied  by  Milton  to 
;he  sun,  as  having  the  greatest  chemical  power. 

Arches,  Court  of  Arches.  [L.  Curia  de  arcubus.] 
\Leg.  Eccl.)  Court  of  appeal,  whose  judge 
^dean)  used  to  sit  in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary-le- 
Bow  (so  called  from  the  arcus,  arches,  bows,  on 
which  the  steeple  was  reared).  (Court,  Christian.) 

Archetype.  [Gr.  apx*Tinros.]  1.  The  original 
idea  of  the  work  as  it  exists  in  the  workman's 
mind  before  its  execution.  With  Plato,  the 
cosmos  as  it  existed  before  creation  in  the  Divine 
Mind.  (Ideas.)  2.  In  Palaeography,  an  older 
MS.  to  which  extant  MSS.  can  be  traced,  not 
being  the  original  author's  MS. 

Archil.     (Litmus.) 

Archilochian  verse.  The  dactylic  semipenta- 
meter,  -wwl-wwj-H,  much  used  by 
Archilochus  of  Paros,  circ.  700  B.C.  ;  said  to  be 
the  earliest  Greek  lyrist,  and  to  have  invented 
iambic  verse  ;  bitter  and  satirical ;  hence  "Archi- 
lochian bitterness,"  and  "  Parian  verse  "  (Horace, 
Art.  Poet.,  79). 

Archimago.  [As  if  from  a  Gr.  word  apx'^o-yos, 
meaning  chief -wizard]  In  Spenser's  Faery 
Queen,  an  impersonation  of  Hypocrisy  and 
Deceit. 

Archimandrite.  A  title  of  the  Greek  Church, 
equivalent  to  abbot  in  the  Latin  ;  the  word 
mandra,  in  the  language  of  the  Lower  Empire, 
signifying  a  monastery. 

Archimedean  screw  (said  to  have  been  in- 
vented by  Archimedes  while  in  Egypt).  A  pipe, 
with  one  end  in  water,  wound  spirally  round 
a  cylinder  which  is  held  in  an  inclined  position  ; 
when  the  cylinder  is  made  to  turn  on  its  axis 
water  is  raised  along  the  pipe.  There  are  several 
forms  of  this  machine. 

Arching,  or  Hogging.  (Naut.)  The  falling 
of  the  stem  and  stern  of  a  vessel  when  broken- 
backed. 

Architectonic.  [Gr.  apxireKTOvitcos.]  Like  or 
pertaining  to  a  master  builder  [dpxiTc/crwi'].  A. 
art,  or  science,  one  which  organizes  all  that  is 
beneath  it. 

Architrave.    (Order.) 
Architriclinos.     (Symposiarch.) 
Archives.     [L.  archlvum,  from  Gr.  apx^ov,  a 
public  building,  town  hall,  etc.]     1.  Places   for 
public    records.     2.    The    records    themselves. 
Archivist,  a  keeper  of  A. 

Archivolt.  [It.  archivolto,  vault,  arch]  1. 
An  arched  vault.  2.  Renaissance  term  for  the 
ornamented  band  of  mouldings  round  the  vous- 
soirs  (q.v.)  of  a  classical  arch ;  sometimes  the 


ARCH 


ARGE 


mouldings  occupying  the  face  and  soffits  of  a 
mediaeval  arch. 

Arch-lute.  A  double-stringed  theorbo  (q.v.), 
an  Italian  instrument,  with  fourteen  notes,  the 
lowest  being  the  bass  G,  for  accompanying  bass 
voices  ;  very  powerful ;  about  five  feet  long ;  em- 
ployed by  Corelli,  Handel,  etc. 

Arch-marshal.  [Ger.  erz-marschall.]  Grand - 
marshal  of  the  empire  ;  a  dignity  once  attached 
to  the  Elector  of  Saxony. 

Archons.  [Gr.,  a  ruler.]  The  chief  magis- 
trates in  ancient  Athens,  chosen  yearly,  nine  in 
number  :  the  first  called  Eponymos,  as  giving  his 
name  to  the  year ;  the  second,  Basileus,  king,  as 
being  the  high  priest ;  the  third,  Polemarch,  ruler 
in  war,  as  commanding  the  army.  The  other 
six  were  called  Thesmothetae,  setters  forth  of  the 
law. 

Archontics.  A  sect  of  the  second  century ;  so 
called  from  the  Gr.  &PXW,  <*  ruler,  as  holding 
strange  notions  respecting  the  Deity  and  the 
origin  of  the  world. 

Arcite.  In  Chaucer's  Knights  Tale,  Emily's 
lover,  killed  by  a  fall  in  the  lists  just  as  he  had 
won  her  hand. 

Arcograph.  [A  word  made  up  from'  L.  arcus, 
a  bow,  and  Gr.  ypdtyw,  I  write.'}  An  instrument 
for  describing  arcs  of  circles  in  cases  in  which 
compasses  cannot  be  used. 

Arctic  Zone.     (Zone.) 

Arctomys.  [Gr.  &PKTOS,  bear,  pvs,  mouse.'] 
(Zool.)  Marmot,  gen.  of  Rodent,  something  like 
a  rabbit ;  several  spec,  in  Europe,  Asia,  and  N. 
America,  at  high  altitudes.  Fam.  Sciuridae, 
squirrel- kind. 

Arcturus.    (Myth.}    (Rishis,  The  Seven.) 

Arcuate.     In  the  form  of  a  bow  [L.  arcus]. 

Arcuation.  [L.  arcuatio,  -nem,  an  arching, 
arcading.}  The  bending  of  branches  into  the 
ground  as  layers,  which  take  root  and  become 
separate  plants. 

Arcubalist.     (Arbalist.) 

-ard.  An  element  in  names.  1.  Celtic,  high  ; 
e.g.  Ard-rossan,  Liz-ard.  2.  Teutonic,  strong 
[Goth,  hardus,  A.S.  heard],  as  in  Godd-ard 
Bern-ard  ;  exceeding  in,  as  in  slugg-ard,  drunk- 
ard, dot-ard. 

Ardassine.    Very  fine  Persian  silk. 

Arden,  The  Forest  of.  The  scene  of  cheerful 
exile  and  of  love-making,  in  Shakespeare's  As 
You  Like  It. 

Are.  [Fr.,  L.  area,  an  open  space.]  One 
hundred  square  metres  or  H9'6o33  square  yards. 

Area.  [L.,  an  open  space.]  The  extent  of  the 
surface  of  any  plane  figure ;  to  find  the  A.  of  a 
plane  figure  or  of  a  curved  surface  (as  of  a 
sphere)  is  to  find  the  square,  or  the  number 
of  square  units,  having  the  same  extent  as  the 
figure  or  surface. 

Aread,  Arede.  [A.S.  aredan,  raed,  counsel] 
To  declare,  direct,  explain. 

Areca,  Areek.  A  beautiful  gen.  of  palms, 
ord.  Palmaceae.  A.  catechu  produces  the  betel- 
nut,  universally  chewed  in  E.  India.  (Arak.) 

Areek,  i.e.  on-reek.  [A.S.  rec,  Ger.  rauch, 
smoke]  Reeking. 

Arefy.    [L.  areo,  lam  dry]     To  make  dry. 


Arena.  [L.,  sand.]  1.  The  sanded  floor  of 
the  amphitheatre ;  and  so  the  floor  or  body  of  a 
public  building.  2.  (Metaph.)  Contest ;  place 
of  contest  or  debate,  etc. 

Arendator.  [L.L.  arrendo,  I  pay  rent]  A 
contractor  with  the  Russian  Government  for 
rents  of  farms. 

Areng.  A  palm  of  the  Indian  Archipelago, 
yielding  sago,  and  from  which  the  palm  wine  is 
made. 

Areola.  [Dim.  of  L.  ar£a.]  A  small  space  ; 
interstice  ;  variously  applied  in  Bot.  and  Anat. ; 
and,  especially,  to  the  coloured  ring  round  the 
nipple,  or  mammilla. 

Areolar  tissue,  formerly  called  Cellular  T. 
That  which  is  found  investing  and  forming  the 
basis  of  all  tissues. 

Areolate.  Divided  into  small  spaces  [L. 
areolse]. 

Areometer.  [Gr.  apcuo's,  thin,  utrpov, 
measure.]  A  hydrometer  (q.v.)* 

Areopagitica.  (Areopagus.)  Milton's  speech 
for  the  liberty  of  unlicensed  printing,  addressed 
to  Parliament,  1644. 

Areopagus.  [Gr.  "Apeios  Trdyos.]  A  court  of 
judicature  at  Athens  ;  so  called  as  meeting  on 
the  Hill  of  Ares.  Its  power  was  greatly  in- 
creased by  Solon. 

Arete.  [L.  arista,  in  the  sense  of  &  fish-bone.] 
The  narrow  ridge  of  a  mountain  rock.  (Arris.) 

Arethusa.     (Ortygia.) 

Aretine  ware.  Ancient  red  pottery  of  Aretium 
(Arezzo) ;  made,  on  the  decline  of  Greek  and 
Etruscan  work,  of  a  darker  red  and  higher  finish 
than  the  Samian  (q.v.\ 

Aretinian  syllables :  Ut,  Re,  Mi,  Fa,  Sol,  La, 
Si.  (Sol  fa.) 

Aretology.  The  science  of  moral  -virtue 
[Gr.  opeTTj]. 

Argala.    (Marabou.) 

Argali  (Mongolia).     Wild  sheep. 

Argan.  In  Moliere's  Le  Malade  Imaginaire, 
the  hypochondriacal  hero. 

Argand  lamp.  (From  M.  Argand,  the  in- 
ventor. )  A  lamp  having  a  ring-shaped  burner 
covered  by  a  chimney,  so  that  the  flame  has  a 
current  of  air  both  on  the  inside  and  the  outside. 

Argemone.  [Gr.  dpy^vn.']  (Bot.)  A  small 
gen.  of  plants,  natives  of  Mexico,  ord,  Papa- 
veracese.  A.  mexicana  has  seeds  narcotic,  pur- 
gative, diuretic,  and  yielding  a  valuable  oil  to 
painters.  It  is  often  a  noxious  weed  in  the 
tropics. 

Argent.  [Fr.,  from  L.  argentum,  silver.] 
(Her. )  White  or  silver,  represented  in  engrav- 
ing by  a  plain  white  surface. 

Argentan.  German  silver  [L.  argentum] ;  an 
alloy  of  two  parts  of  copper,  one  of  nickel,  one 
of  tin. 

Argenteus  Codex.    (Codex.) 

Argentine.  [L.  argentum,  silver]  (Mm.)  1.  A 
white  variety  of  crystallized  calcareous  spar, 
laminated,  and  somewhat  siliceous.  2.  A  white 
variety  of  shale. 

Argentine  Republic.  A  confederation  occu- 
pying the  valley  of  the  Rio  de  la  Plata,  S. 
America. 


ARGH 


39 


ARMA 


Arghool.  An  Egyptian  wind  instrument,  a 
kind  of  flute  made  of  a  cane  or  bundle  of  canes  ; 
there  are  different  kinds. 

Argil.  [L.  argilla.]  Clay,  or  the  pure  earth 
of  clay,  trisilicate  of  alumina. 

Argillaceous.  (Geol.)  Clayey,  having  the 
characteristics  of  clay  [L.  argilla].  A.  rocks, 
having  clay  as  the  principal  ingredient ;  e.g.  clay, 
shale,  loam,  marl,  etc. 

Argillite.     [L.  argilla,  clay.}     Clay-slate. 

Argive.  In  the  Iliad,  the  collective  name 
of  the  tribes  who  followed  Agamemnon  to  the 
attack  of  Troy. 

Argo.     (Argonauts.) 

Argol.  The  crust  deposited  inside  wine-casks. 
It  is  an  impure  salt  of  tartar,  and  is  used  in 
dyeing,  etc. 

Argonauta.  [Gr.  dpyovavrris,  a  sailor  in  the 
Argo.}  (Zool.)  Paper-nautilus,  gen.  of  mollusc. 
Female  (poulpe)  occupies  single-chambered  shell, 
unattached  ;  and  advances  by  ejecting  jet  of 
water.  Male  is  smaller  (not  one  inch  long),  and 
has  no  shell.  Ord.  Dibranchiata,  class  Cephalo- 
poda. 

Argonauts.  (Gr.  Myth.}  The  chieftains 
who  went  with  Jason  in  the  ship  Argo  to  Col- 
chis, to  recover  the  golden  fleece  of  the  ram 
which  had  borne  away  Phrixus  and  Helle  from 
Orchomenos. 

Argonyn,  Argnesyn.  One  in  charge  of  galley- 
slaves. 

Argosy.  (Probably  from  the  mythical  ship 
Argo.)  A  merchant-ship,  generally  from  the 
Levant. 

Argot.  [Fr  ]  Slang,  cant  phraseology.  Ori- 
gin of  the  word  unknown. 

Argument.  [L.  argumentum.]  (Log.)  The 
reasoning  involved  in  the  premisses  and  con- 
clusion of  a  Syllogism. 

Argumentum  ad  hominem.  [L.]  An  argument 
pressed  home  for  personal  application.  A.  ad 
ignorantiam,  one  founded  upon  your  adversary's 
ignorance.  A.  ad  verecundiam,  one  addressed 
to  -the  sense  of  shame.  A.  bacultnum  [coined 
from  L.  bacillus,  a  stick},  an  appeal  to  force. 

Argus,  or  Argos  Panoptes.  [Gr.,  the  bright, 
all-seeing  one.}  In  Gr.  Myth.,  the  being  with  a 
thousand  eyes,  guardian  of  the  horned  maiden 
lo,  i.e.  the  moon  ;  killed  by  Hermes,  the  mes- 
senger of  the  morning.  The  eyes  of  Argus  are 
the  stars. 

Argute.    [L.  argutus.]    Subtle,  acute. 

Aria.     [It.]    The  air  of  a  song. 

Ariadne.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  the  daughter  of 
Minos,  and  wife  of  Dionysus  or  Bacchus. 

Arians  [Arius,  Alexandrian  priest]  denied  the 
three  Persons  in  the  Holy  Trinity  to  be  of  the 
same  essence,  affirming  the  Word  to  be  a 
creature ;  condemned  by  Council  of  Nice,  A.  D. 

325- 

Ariel  [Heb.,  lion  of  God,  or  (?)  hearth  of  God\, 
i.e.  Jerusalem  (Isa.  xxix.). 

Ariel.  In  Shakespeare's  Tempest,  a  good 
spirit  who  works  wonders  for  Prospero. 

Aries,  First  point  of.  The  vernal  equinox 
(Equinox).  The  Ram  (Aries)  is  the  constellation 
in  which  the  vernal  equinox  was  situated  in  the 

4 


time  of  Hipparchus  ;  but  now,  in  consequence 
of  precession,  the  bright  star  of  the  Ram  is  about 
30°  to  the  east  of  the  first  point  of  Aries. 

Arietta.     [It.]     Dim.  of  Aria. 

Aril,  Arillus.  [L.  L.  arilla,  a  piece  of  red  cloth.  } 
(Bot.)  A  covering  to  the  seed,  derived  from 
expansion  of  the  placenta  ;  the  mace  of  the 
nutmeg.  Adj.,  Arillate. 

Arimanes,  Areimanios.  Gr.  corr.  of  Ahri- 
man  (q.v.). 

Ariolation,  Hariolation,  [L.  hariolus,  a  sooth- 
sayer.} Soothsaying. 

Arioso.  [It.]  Marked  by  melody  as  distin- 
guished from  harmony. 

Arista.  [L.]  (Bot.)  The  Awn,  the  pointed 
beard  issuing  from  the  glume,  or  floral  scales  of 
grasses  ;  probably  lengthened  rib  of  the  envelope 
of  the  flower.  Aristate,  having  an  A.  [Awn, 
(?)  a  contraction  of  L.  a  vena,  oats ;  or  ef.  Gr. 
&XV^\  chaff.} 

Aristarchian  criticism.  Bold  and  severe,  like 
that  of  the  Alexandrian  grammarian,  Aristar- 
chus,  circ.  160  B.C.  He  edited  Homer,  and 
obelized  numerous  verses  [Gr.  6&e\6s,  a  pointed 

instrument}  ;  an  horizontal  line,  ,  being 

used  to  denote  a  spurious  passage ;  hence  to 
obelize,  to  mark  something  censurable  in  a  book 
by  a  dagger  f  in  the  margin. 

Aristocracy.     (Oligarchy.) 

Aristogeiton.     (Harmodius.) 

Aristolochia.  [Gr.  apurTo\6xeia  and  -x«««] 
(Bot.)  Birthwort,  a  gen.  of  plants,  found  mostly 
in  hot  countries  ;  ord.  Aristolochiacese  ;  her- 
baceous plants  or  shrubs,  often  climbing. 

Aristology.  [Gr.  &piffrov,  the  dejeuner.]  A 
facetious,  word  =  science  of  breakfasts  or 
luncheons. 

Aristophanio.  In  the  style  of  Aristophanes  ; 
witty  and  humorous,  but  highly  personal  and 
somewhat  coarse. 

Aristotelian.  Of  or  after  Aristotle  [Gr.  'Apj- 
<TTOTeA.7)y],  the  great  analytical  philosopher  of 
Greece,  the  first  European  to  systematize  logic, 
ethics,  metaphysics,  and  to  study  natural  philo- 
sophy practically.  (Causes.) 

Aristotle's  lantern,  i.e.  shaped  like  a  lantern, 
and  described  by  A.  A  unique  arrangement, 
in  the  mouth  of  the  globular  sea-urchin,  of  five 
three-sided  teeth  set  circularly,  which  triturate 
food. 

Arivedersi.  [It.]  Till  we  meet;  (good-bye) 
till  we  again  see  each  other ;  so  Fr.  au  revoir  ; 
Ger.  auf  wiedersehen. 

Ark  of  the  covenant.  In  the  Jewish  taber- 
nacle, a  coffer  under  the  mercy-seat,  containing 
the  golden  pot  of  manna,  with  Aaron's  rod  and 
the  tables  of  the  covenant. 

Arkose.  (Geol.)  Debris  of  granite,  reconstructed 
into  a  rock.  [A  most  unsatisfactory  term  :  said  to 
be  from  a  supposed  Gr.  adv.  apucos,  sufficiently, 
i.e.  to  resemble  granite  ;  or  from  &pKos,  another 
form  of  &PKTOS,  the  north  ;  because  first  studied 
in  Sweden!] 

Aries.  [A.S.  carles.]  Earnest  money,  to 
bind  a  bargain.  (Fessen-penny.) 

Armada.  [Sp.,  armed.}  In  Eng.  Hist.,  the 
fleet  with  which  Philip  II.  of  Spain  proposed  to 


ARMA 


40 


ARRA 


conquer  England.     Called  by  the  Spaniards  the 
"  Invincible  A." 

Armatoli.  A  Greek  national  militia,  known 
in  the  Middle  Ages,  and  in  the  war  of  the  Greeks 
rising  against  the  Turks. 

Armature.  [L.  armatura.]  1.  Body  armour. 
2.  The  pieces  of  soft  iron  placed  at  the  extremities 
or  poles  of  magnets  to  preserve  their  magnetic 
power.  3.  Iron  bars  used  as  supports  for  the 
columns  or  other  parts  of  a  building. 

Armed,  (Her.)  Having  horns,  beak,  talons, 
etc.,  differing  in  colour  from  the  body. 

Armenian  Liturgy.     (Liturgy.) 

Armenians.  Christians  of  Armenia,  the  first 
country  in  which  Christianity  was  recognized  as 
a  national  religion,  in  the  fourth  century ;  at  a 
later  time  adopted  Eutychian  (q.v.)  or  Mono- 
physite  heresy. 

Armeria.    (Thrift.) 

Armida.  The  fair  enchantress  in  Tasso's 
Jerusalem  Delivered  (transl.  by  Fairfax,  A.D. 
1600),  who  detained  Rinaldo  in  voluptuous  ease. 
Her  chief  means  of  captivating  was  a  magic 
girdle. 

A  ranger.  [L.,  bearing weapons, .]  (Her.)  An 
esquire  ;  one  having  a  right  to  armorial  bearings. 

Armilla.  [L.,  bracelet.]  (Ornith.)  Circular 
mark  at  base  of  tibia  of  birds.  Armillated,  pro- 
vided with  an  A. 

Armillary  sphere.  [L.  armilla,  a  circular 
ornament,  bracelet.}  An  astronomical  instrument, 
consisting  of  a  set  of  concentric  rings  representing 
the  meridian  of  the  station,  the  ecliptic,  and  a 
meridian  of  celestial  longitude,  with  an  auxiliary 
circle  turning  round  the  points  representing  the 
north  and  south  poles,  and  carrying  the  poles  of 
the  ecliptic.  It  was  formerly  used,  e.g.  by  Tycho 
Brahe,  for  observations  made  out  of  the  plane  of 
the  meridian. 

Armillus.  Jewish  name  for  final  Antichrist. 
[(?)  Gr.  ep7j/i</-\aoy,  waster  of  the  people,  for 


Arming.  (Naut.)  Tallow  placed  on  a  sound- 
ing-lead, to  pick  up  objects  from  the  sea-bottom. 

Arming-press.     A  bookbinder's  tool. 

Armings.  (Naut.)  Red  cloths,  hung  fore 
and  aft  on  holidays  by  foreigners. 

Arminians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Arminius,  a  Dutch  divine  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury, who  opposed  the  doctrine  of  an  absolute 
predestination  of  the  elect.  They  were  also 
called  Remonstrants,  from  a  writing  which  they 
presented  in  protest  against  this  doctrine  to  the 
States  of  Holland  in  1609. 

Armistice.  [L.L.  armistitium.]  A  suspension 
of  hostilities  by  agreement. 

Armorie,  or  Breyonec.  Language  of  Brittany, 
representing  the  Gadhelic  or  first  great  Celtic 
branch  of  the  two  which  came  westward  across 
the  Continent.  It  is  still  spoken  by  a  million  and 
a  half  of  French  subjects.  Armorica  =  the  land 
upon  the  sea  (Taylor's  Words  and  Places). 

Armour-clad.  (Naut.)  A  ship  having  hei 
sides  covered  with  iron  or  steel  plates. 

Armourer.  1.  One  who  makes  arms.  2 
One  who  has  the  care  of  arms. 

Armours.     (Top  A—) 


Army  Discipline  and  Regulation  Act.  Passed 
by  Parliament  in  A.D.  1879,  to  supersede  the 
Mutiny  Act  (q.v.)  and  Articles  of  War  (q.v.). 

Army  Service  Corps  includes  the  present 
Commissariat,  Transport,  and  Ordnance  Store 
Departments  of  the  Army. 

Arnaa,  Arnee,  Arni.  The  Indian  buffalo, 
nearly  seven  feet  high,  black,  inhabiting  forests 
at  the  base  of  the  Himalayas.  Bubalus,  Buftalus. 
Sub-fain.  Bovlnas,  fam.  Bovidse,  ord.  Ungulata. 

Arnica,  Leopard's  bane.  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of 
plants,  ord.  Compositae.  Tincture  of  A.  montana, 
used  in  medicine,  as  a  remedy  for  bruises.  A 
"  andsome  perennial,  with  yellow  marigold-like 
flowers  ;  native  of  mountains  of  Europe. 

Arnoldists.     (Eccl.    Hist.)    The   followers  of 
Arnold  of  Brescia,  who,  in  the  twelfth  century, 
protested  against  the  abuses  of  the  papal  court. 
:Ie  was  burnt  at  the  desire  of  the  English  pope, 
Adrian  IV.  (Nicolas  Breakspear). 
Arnot,  Arnut,  i.e.  Earth-nut.     (Pig-nut.) 
Arnotto.     (Annotta.) 
Aroba.     [Ar.  ar-rub.]     The  fourth  part. 
Aroideae.     (Araceae.) 

Aroint  tb.ee.  Aroynt  —gnawed.  [Fr.  ronger, 
according  to  Richardson.]  Generally  considered 
=  begone,  and  etym.  unknown  ;  but  Skeat,  Etym. 
Diet.,  gives  Icel.  ryma,  to  make  room  ;  rime  ta, 
make  room,  becoming  rynt  ye  by  an  easy  cor- 
ruption. 

A  Roland  for  an  Oliver.  A  phrase  equivalent 
o  "Tit  for  tat,"  a  blow  from  Roland  being 
equal  to  one  from  his  fellow-paladin  Oliver. 
(Paladin.) 

Aroph,  i.e.  Aroma  philosophorum,  one  of 
several  pretentious  titles  of  medicine  used  by 
Paracelsus  and  others,  who  pretended  to  possess 
the  elixir  of  life,  etc. 

Arpeggio.  [It.,  harping.]  The  playing  of 
the  notes  of  a  chord  not  together,  but  in  rapid 
succession,  as  on  a  harp. 

Arpent.  [L.  arepennis,  a  Gallic  word,  a  half- 
acre.]  The  old  French  acre  ;  the  A.  de  Paris 
was  32,400  French  square  feet  or  §  of  an  English 
acre  ;  the  A.  des  eaux  et  forets  or  mesure  royale 
was  48,400  French  square  feet,  or  about  i£ 
English  acres. 

Arquebus.  [Fr.  arquebuse,  introduced  from 
It.  archibuso.]  The  first  invented  firelock,  with 
match  fixed  in  cock,  and  fired  by  a  trigger  lifting 
the  pan  to  ignite  the  priming.  It  was  supported 
on  a  rest  whilst  being  fired. 

Arquifoux.     [Sp.  arquifol.]     A  Cornish  kind 
of   lead-ore,    which   gives  a  green   varnish   to 
pottery;  "potter's  ore." 
Arra.    (Arrha.) 
Arrack.     (Arak.) 
Arragonite.     (Aragonite.) 
Arraigns,  Clerk  of.     [O.Fr.  aresner,  arraison- 
ner,  from  ad  rationem,  to  account.]     Assistant  or 
deputy  to  the  clerk  of  assize,  who  calls  over  the 
jury  pannel,  recites  charges,  and  generally  acts 
as  chief  officer  of  the  court. 

Arrant,  i.q.  errant,  and  so,  thorough -going  (?) ; 
or  with  Wedgewood,  cf.  Ger.  arg,  Dan.  arrig, 
Eng.  arch,  mischievous,  troublesome. 

Arras.     Hangings  for  rooms,  covered  with  a 


ARRA 


ARTI 


pattern  like  wall  paper  (first  woven  at  Arras,  in 
France) . 

Arrayer,  or  Commissary  of  Musters.  Title 
given  early  in  the  fifteenth  century ;  a  militia 
inspector,  of  which  there  were  two  in  each 
county,  perhaps  the  precursor  of  the  modern 
lord-lieutenant. 

Arrearage.  [Fr.  arriere,  behind^  The  un- 
paid remainder  of  a  debt. 

Arrect.  [L.  arrectus,  part,  of  arrigo,  I  set  up.] 
Set  up  straight,  attentive. 

Arrectary.  [L.  arrectaria,  plu.,  upright  posts.] 
An  upright  beam,  e.g.  of  a  cross. 

Arrectis  aurlbus.  [L.]  Lit.  with  pricked-up 
ears ;  all  attention. 

Arrentation.  [L.L.  arrendo,  /  let  for  rent, 
Fr.  arrenter.]  Licensing  an  owner  of  forest 
land  to  enclose  by  low  hedges  and  small  ditches 
under  a  yearly  rent. 

Arreoy.  In  Tahiti,  an  association  (described  by 
Cook  and  by  Ellis)  of  the  principal  persons  of 
both  sexes,  regarded  as  married  to  one  another ; 
connected  with  almost  universal  infanticide 
(Lubbock,  Prehistoric  Times,  p.  487). 

Arreptitious.  [L.L.  arrepticius,  arripio,  / 
seize.]  Seized  in  mind,  possessed,  irrational. 

Arrest.  [O.Fr.  arrester,  to  stop,  arrest,  L.L. 
adrestare.]  Confinement  of  an  officer  pending 
judicial  inquiry  as  to  misconduct.  He  is  re- 
quired to  give  up  his  sword  whilst  under  A. ,  and 
his  word  of  honour  is  trusted  as  to  not  leaving 
his  quarters. 

Arrestation.    The  act  of  arresting. 
Arrha.     [L.]     Earnest  money;  a  law  term. 
"If  but  a   penny,  it  is  emptionis,  venditionis, 
contracts      argumentum"    (Blackstone,     Com- 
mentaries). 

Arride.  [L.  arridgo,  /  smile  at,  please.  ]  To 
please. 

Arriere.  [Fr.]  Of  an  army,  the  rear.  A.  ban 
(Ban).  A.  pensee,  mental  reservation. 

Arriere-fief.     [Fr.]     (Hist.)     A  feudal  term, 
answering  to  the  English  sub -in  feud  at  ion  (q.v.). 
Arris.     The  edge  of  a  stone,  or  piece  of  wood 
[Fr.  arete], 

Arroba.  [Sp.  and  Port]  Weight  and  measure. 
(Aroba.) 

Ar  rogation.  [L.  arrogatio,  -nem,  from  ad,  to, 
rogo,  I  ask.]  Adoption  of  a  person  of  full  age, 
[sui  juris] ;  because  the  consent  of  the  comltia 
curiata  at  Rome  had  to  be  asked. 

Arrondissement.     [Fr.]    A  city  ward  or  an 
electoral  district.     (Prefect.) 
Arrow-headed  writing.     (Cuneiform  letters.) 
Arrow-root.    Starch  of  the  tuberous  root-stock 
of    maranta,    especially    Arundinacea    of    W. 
Indies.    Ord.  Marantaceas.    The  native  Indians 
used  it  with  success  against  the  poison  of  their 
arrows  ;  hence  the  name. 

Arsenic.     [Gr.  apfffviKov,  strong.]     (Min.)    A 
brittle  steel-grey  metal.     The  'white  arsenic  of 
commerce  is   its  trioxide,  which   is  also  called 
arsenious  acid,  and  forms  salts  called  arsenites. 
Arsenicismus.     Poisoning  by  arsenic. 
Ars  est  celare  artem.     [L.]     The  aim  of  art 
is  to  hide  art,  i.e.  to  leave  no  trace  of  the  work- 
man.    (Artis.) 


Arshine.  A  Russian  measure  of  length  equal 
to  2  ft.  4  in. ;  also  Archine  and  Arschine. 

t  Arsis  and  Thesis.  [Gr.  &pais,  a  lifting  up, 
fle'cns,  a  laying  down.]  With  the  old  Greek 
orchestric  musicians,  the  raising  of  the  foot  on 
short  syllables,  and  the  lowering  on  long.  In 
Latin  and  modern  prosody,  arsis  is  =  metrical 
accent,  or  "ictus"  stroke,  i.e.  the  stroke  of  the 
foot  on  the  ground  which  marked  it ;  thesis  being 
of  the  weak  syllable.  But  A.  and  T.  having  been 
used  sometimes  of  metrical  scansion,  sometimes 
of  accent  or  elevation  of  voice,  much  difficulty 
has  arisen.  (See  Stainer  and  Barrett,  Dictionary 
of  Musical  Terms.} 

Ars  longa,  vita  brevis.  [L.]  Art  is  enduring, 
life  is  short. 

Arson,  [L.  ardeo,  I  burn,  am  on  fire.]  The 
maliciously  setting  fire  to  a  building;  substantive 
to  Incendiary. 

Ars  Poetica.  [L.]  The  poem  of  Horace  on 
the  "art  of  poetry." 

Art  and  part.  [From  artifex  et  particeps, 
contriver  and  partaker.]  (Scot.  Law.)  Contriv- 
ance and  participation  in  a  crime. 

Artegal.  In  Spenser's  faery  Queen,  the 
champion  of  true  justice. 

Artemis,  Arrows  of.  Arrows  -which  never 
miss  their  mark.  Artemis,  in  Gr.  Myth.,  is  the 
sister  of  Apollo. 

Artemisia.  (Bot.)  Extensive  gen.  of  plants, 
ord.  Composite,  many  species  intensely  bitter ; 
e.g.  A.  absinthium,  wormwood. 

Arterial  system  includes  all  the  arteries  from 
the  origin  of  the  aorta  to  the  beginning  of  the 
capi]  laries. 

Arteriotomy.  [Gr.  aprypia,  an  artery,  TC^J/W, 
/  c ut.]  The  opening  of  an  artery. 

Arteritis.     Inflammation  of  an  artery. 

Artery.  [Gr.  oprTjpta.]  A  ramification  of  the 
aorta.  Arteries  carry  the  blood  from  the  left  ven- 
tricle of  the  heart  to  the  tissues.  Veins,  most  of 
them,  carry  back  blood  from  the  capillaries,  en- 
larging as  they  proceed,  and  pour  it  into  the  right 
auricle  of  the  heart.  Arteries,  being  found  void  of 
blood  after  death,  were  anciently  considered  as 
air-ducts  ;  hence  the  erroneous  notion  of  the  word 
being  derived  from  dtp,  air,  and  r-rtpfta  /  keep. 

Artesian  wells.  [Long  known  in  Artois,  L. 
Artesia.]  Borings  or  pipe-wells  which  allow 
water  to  come  up  to  or  near  the  surface  in 
places  where  it  has  accumulated  in  basin-shaped 
strata. 

Arthritis.  [Gr.]  1.  Inflammation  of  a  joint 
[&p6pov].  2.  Gout. 

Arthropoda.  [Gr.  tipQpov,  a  joint,  irovs,  iroSos, 
afoot.]  (Anniilosa.) 

Arthur,  King.  The  great  hero  of  British 
tradition,  the  son  of  Uther  Pendragon,  and  the 
husband  of  Guenevere  whose  love  for  Lancelot 
marred  the  harmony  of  the  society  of  knights 
who  feasted  at  his  Round  Table.  He  was  slain 
by  his  son  Mordred,  but  the  story  went  that 
he  would  come  forth  alive  in  due  time  to  rescue 
his  country  from  thraldom. 

Articles  of  War.  Certain  regulations  made  by 
the  sovereign  and  confirmed  annually  by  Parlia- 
ment in  the  Mutiny  Act,  for  the  government  of 


ARTI 


ASCI 


all  persons  subject  to  military  discipline.  (Army 
Discipline  and  Regulation  Act.)  The  same 
rules  are  applied  to  the  army  since  1879,  but 
changed  in  construction. 

Articles,  Statute  of  the  Six.     (Six  Articles.) 

Articulata.  [L.,  jointed,  from  articulus,  dim. 
of  artus,  joints,  limbs.  ]  ( Annulosa.) 

Articulation.  [L.  articulus,  dim.  of  artus,  a 
joint.}  (Anat.}  The  joinings  of  bones.  (Bot.) 
The  connexion  of  the  parts  of  a  plant  by  joints ; 
e.g.  grasses,  canes.  (Node.) 

Articiili  cleri.  [L.L.]  Statutes  relating  to 
the  clergy,  passed  on  their  petition. 

Artlculo  mortis,  In.  [L.]  At  the  point  of 
death. 

Artificial  grasses.  Green  crops,  such  as  clover, 
sainfoin,  lucerne. 

Artillery.  [L.  ars,  artis,  used,  like  machine — 
Gr.  jwTjx0"'^ — m  the  sense  of  any  engine  of  war.] 
i  Sam.  xx.  ;  instruments,  bows  and  arrows. 

Artillery,  Royal  Marine.  Formerly  a  part  of 
Royal  Marine  Regiment,  now  a  separate  corps. 

Artiodactyla.  [Gr.  fymoj,  even,  Sa/friJAos, 
finger  or  toe.]  (Zool.)  Division  of  Ungulata ; 
having  an  even  number  of  toes,  as  the  deer. 

Artis  est  celare  artem.  [L.]  It  is  the  pro- 
vince of  art  to  conceal  art.  (Ars.) 

Artiste.  [Fr.]  One  who  uses  knowledge  or 
power  of  any  kind  dexterously ;  e.g.  as  of 
dancing,  cooking,  etc. 

Art  of  war.  The  efficient  arrangement  and 
ordering  of  troops  under  every  circumstance, 
and  the  control  of  all  military  appliances. 

Arundelian  marbles.  A  collection  of  statues, 
inscriptions,  etc.,  brought  to  England  from 
Greece  in  1627,  by  the  Earl  of  Arundel,  many  of 
which  are  now  at  Oxford.  (Parian  Chronicle.) 

Arundo.  [L.,  reed.]  (Bot.}  A  gen.  of  grasses  ; 
tall,  growing  in  wet  places,  and  with  hard, 
almost  woody,  culm.  A.  ddnax  of  S.  Europe, 
the  tallest  of  European  grasses  ;  six  to  twelve 
feet  high ;  with  thick,  hollow,  woody  culms, 
used  for  reeds  of  clarionets,  fishing-rods,  etc. 

Arusha.     (Erotic.) 

Aruspices,  Harusplces.  [L.]  Roman  sooth- 
sayers, who  professed  to  foretell  the  future  by 
examining  the  entrails  of  sacrificial  victims.  The 
last  part  of  the  word  contains  the  root  spec,  to  see; 
the  former  part  may  be  from  haruga,  a  victim. 

Aruspicy.  The  art  of  prognosticating.  (Aru- 
spices.) 

Arval  Brothers.  [L.  Fratres  Arvales,  brothers 
of  the  fields]  Amongst  the  ancient  Latins,  a 
college  of  twelve  priests,  dedicated  to  the  service 
of  Ceres,  in  whose  honour  they  carried  victims 
round  the  fields  in  the  festival  hence  called 
Ambarvalia. 

Arvicola.  [L.  arvum,  arable  land,  colo,  7 
inhabit.}  (Zool.}  Vole,  gen.  of  small  rodents,  like 
rats  and  mice  ;  allied  to  the  beaver  ;  as  water-rat 
and  short-tailed  field-mouse.  Fam.  Muricke. 

Arvil  supper.  A  funeral  feast  in  N.  of  England. 

Aryan,  [Skt.  arya,  noble.}  General  name  of 
the  family  of  nations  of  Europe  and  Asia  to 
which  the  Celts,  Teutons,  Sclavs,  Italians, 
Greeks,  Persians,  and  Hindus  belong ;  =  Indo- 
European. 


Aryan  languages.  The  dialects  spoken  by 
the  various  branches  of  the  Aryan  family  of 
mankind.  They  are  all  inflexional — that  is,  the 
root  and  the  termination  may  both  be  modified 
or  corrupted,  in  contrast  with  the  Turanian  or 
Agglutinative  languages,  in  which  the  root  must 
remain  unchanged. 

As.  [L.]  1.  Roman  copper  coin  weighing 
half  a  Roman  ounce,  about  0*487  of  an  avoirdu- 
pois ounce — from  B.c.  217  to  A.D.  14  about — 
worth  about  8d.  2.  A  Roman  pound,  about 
°7375  °f  an  avoirdupois  pound ;  also  called 
libra. 

Asa  dulcis.  [L.,  sweet  asa.]  A  drug  sold 
among  the  ancients  for  its  weight  in  gold,  as 
having  all  but  miraculous  virtues  ;  from  the 
Thapsia,  a  gen.  of  ord.  Umbelliferge. 

Asafcetlda,  or  Assa  f.  [L.,  fetid  asa]  A  drug, 
the  gum  resin  of  the  root  of  the  Narthex  or 
Ferula  Asa  foetida  of  Persia,  N.W.  India,  etc.  ; 
ord.  Umbellifene. 

Asarotos.  [Gr.]  With  the  ancients,  a  room 
paved  in  mosaic,  so  as  to  look  as  if  unswept 
[O?KOS  affdpcaros],  and  as  if  with  crumbs,  etc., 
lying  about. 

Asbestos.  [Gr.,  unquenched,  indestructible  bv 
fire]  A  form  assumed  by  some  hornblendic 
minerals,  as  actinolite,  tremolite,  etc.  ;  a  fibrous 
mass  of  parallel  capillary  crystals  ;  such  as 
Mountain  flax. 

Ascarides.  [Gr.  avKapis,  -iSos,  a  maw-worm.] 
The  common  round  worms  inhabiting  the  in- 
testines of  man  and  some  other  mammals.  Ord. 
Nematoda  [vrifiar-daSris,  thread-like],  class  Scole- 
cida  [<TK<t)\T)%,  a  worm],  sub-kingd.  Annuloida. 

Ascendant.  The  sign  of  the  Zodiac  which  is 
rising  above  the  horizon  at  the  time  of  a  child's 
birth. 

Ascension,  Right.  The  arc  of  the  equinoctial 
between  a  star's  declination  circle  and  the  first 
point  of  Aries,  measured  from  that  point  from 
west  to  east. 

Ascensum,  Per.  [L.,  by  ascent]  By  distilla- 
tion in  a  retort,  so  that  the  vapour  ascends. 

Ascetic.  [Gr.  do-/cr?Ti/c^s,  belonging  to  disci- 
pline] One  who  leads  an  austere,  solitary,  de- 
votional life  ;  e.g.  Essenes  and  Therapeutic 
among  the  Jews,  and  monks  of  Egyptian  and 
Syrian  deserts  in  early  Christian  times. 

ASCI.  [Gr.  ao-Koi,  plu.  of  a<rit6s,  a  leathern 
bag]  (Bot.}  Certain  spore-cases  of  lichens  and 
fungi. 

Ascians,  Askians.  [Gr.  Hemos,  shadeless] 
Inhabitants  of  the  Torrid  zone,  who,  when  the 
sun  is  in  the  zenith,  cast  no  shadow. 

Ascidians  [Gr.  ao-KiStov,  a  small  leather 
bottle],  Tunicata.  A  class  of  marine  Molluscoida, 
resembling  a  double-necked  leather  bottle,  of  a 
leathery  or  gristly  nature.  In  A.,  some  have 
seen  a  stage  of  evolution  from  Mollusca  towards 
Vertebrata. 

Ascidlum.  [L.]  A  petiole  or  leaf-stalk  which 
has  become  leaf-like,  and  of  which  the  margins 
are  folded  in  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of  urn  or 
pitcher,  is,  if  closed,  an  ascidium  [Gr.  aaKiSiov, 
a  small  leather  bottle] ;  if  open — e.g.  the  pitcher- 
plant — an  ampulla  [L.,  a  narrow-necked  bottle}. 


ASCI 


43 


ASPO 


Ascites.  [Gr.]  Dropsy  of  the  abdomen  [from 
nonets,  a  leather  bag,  the  abdomen}. 

Asclepiad  verse.  Metrum  Asclepiadeum,  in- 
vented by  Asclepiades,  Greek  poet,  some  time 
after  Alcaeus  and  Sappho.  A  choriambic  verse, 
of  which  there  are  many  variations ;  as  "Maecenas 
atavis,"  etc.  (Horace);  "Sic  te,  diva  potens 
Cypri"  (Horace)  ;  "Grato,  Pyrrha,  subantro" 
(Horace) ;  and  others.  (Choriambus.) 

Ascraean  Poet,  The.  Hesiod  ;  born  at  Ascra, 
near  Mount  Helicon,  in  Boeotia,  circ.  B.C.  850. 

Aseptic.  [Gr.  a  neg. ,  <r^ira,  /  make  rotten.] 
Not  liable  to  decay. 

Asgard.  In  Teut.  and  Scand.  Myth. ,  the  abode 
of  the  ALsir,  the  gods  whose  name  answers  to 
the  Asuras  of  the  Rig  Veda,  from  the  root  as, 
to  breathe,  hence  to  be. 

Ashera.  [Heb.j  The  word  translated  grove, 
in  the  Authorized  Version  of  the  Old  Testament, 
2  Kings  xxiii.  7,  etc.  It  answers  to  the  Linga  of 
Hindus  and  the  Phallos  of  the  Greeks. 

Ashes.  Commercial  name  for  alkalies  such  as 
pot-ash,  wood-ash,  etc. 

Ashlar,  Ashler,  Aslure,  Estlar:  (Arch.')  The 
name  for  hewn  or  squared  stones  used  in  building. 

AshtSreth,  Astarte.  Chief  female  Phoenician 
divinity  ;  Ashtaroth  (plu.),  images  of  A. 

Asia,  in  New  Testament,  the  western  part  of 
Asia  Minor,  about  —  Mysia,  Lydia,  Caria; 
which  became  a  Roman  province,  Asia  Propria, 
when  Attalus  III.  left  all  his  dominions  to  the 
Romans,  B.C.  133. 

Asialia.     Deficiency  of  saliva  [Gr.  oioXov]. 

Asianism.  A  florid  style  of  rhetoric,  mostly  cul- 
tivated in  Asia  Minor  ;  opposed  to  Atticism,  the 
correct,  natural  style  of  the  best  Athenian  orators. 

Asiarchs.  [Gr.  'A.<ridpxat.]  Acts  xix.  31 ;  offi- 
cers chosen  annually  by  the  cities  of  Asia  (q.v.) ; 
having  the  charge,  and  bearing  the  expense,  of 
public  games,  of  religious  and  theatrical 
spectacles,  etc.  ;  thus  sometimes  called  'ApxtepeTs. 

Asiatic  Societies.  Of  Calcutta,  Bombay, 
Ceylon,  and  others,  founded  in  Europe,  arose  out 
of  the  Calcutta  Society  formed  under  Warren 
Hastings,  at  Sir  W.  Jones's  desire,  for  the 
purpose  of  "  inquiring  into  the  history,  civil  and 
natural ;  the  antiquities,  arts,  sciences,  and 
literature  of  Asia." 

Asinego.    [Port]     Young  ass ;  simpleton. 

Asitia.  [Gr.]  (Med.)  Not  in  its  proper 
sense  of  want  of  food,  but  =  loathing  for  food 
[d  neg.,  (Tiros,  food]. 

Asklepios.     (JEsculapian.) 

Asleep.  (Naut.}  Said  of  a  sail  just  filled 
with  wind. 

Asmodeus.  The  unclean  spirit  mentioned  in 
Tobit  iii.  The  word  is  a  corr.  of  the 
Aeshma-daeva  of  the  Zendavesta. 

Asomatous.  [Gr.,  from  a  neg.,  <rcD^a,  body.] 
Bodiless,  unsubstantial. 

Aspalathus.  [Gr.  a.<nr<t\aQos.]  Ecclus.  xxiv.  ; 
a  prickly  shrub,  yielding  fragrant  oil. 

Aspect.  [L.  aspectus,  appearance.]  (Astron.) 
The  angular  distance  of  one  planet  or  star  from 
another;  it  was  either  conjunction,  opposition, 
trine,  qtiadrate  (quartile),  or  sextile,  according  as 
the  angle  was  o°,  180°,  120°,  90°,  or  60°. 


Aspectant.  [L.  aspectare,  to  gaze  at.]  (Her.} 
Facing  each  other. 

Aspergilliform.  (Bot.)  Shaped  like  a  brush 
[L.L.  aspergillum]. 

Aspergillum.  [L.  aspergo,  I  sprinkle.]  A 
kind  of  brush  used  for  sprinkling  holy  water. 

Asperifoliae  of  Linnaeus.  [L.  asper,  rough, 
folium,  a  leaf}  =  Boraginaceae. 

Aspersion.  A  sprinkling  [L.  aspersio,  -nem] ; 
as  distinct  from  Immersion.  (Affusion.) 

Aspersively.  By  way  of  aspersion,  censure, 
slander  [L.  aspergo,  I  sprinkle,  stain]. 

Aspersorium.    (Benitier.) 

Asphalt.  [Gr.  Str^oATos.]  A  solid  bitumen, 
produced  by  the  agency  of  heat  and  pressure 
upon  lignitic  and  coal -bearing  strata ;  generally 
black,  and  more  or  less  lustrous ;  found  at  the 
Dead  Sea,  or  Lacus  Asphaltites ;  in  Trinidad  ; 
Texas  ;  Val  Travers  and  Seyssel,  Switzerland ; 
and  other  places. 

Asphodel  meadows.  (Myth.)  The  meadows 
of  Elysium,  adorned  with  asphodels,  flowers  of 
the  lily  kind.  (Elysian.) 

Asphodelus,  Asphodel.  [Gr.  cw7</><$5e\os.]  (Bot.) 
the  gen.  of  Liliacese,  having  fleshy  roots,  long 
narrow  leaves,  and  a  simple  or  branded  scape, 
bearing  close  racemes  of  white  star-like  flowers. 
A .  albus  was  formerly  common  in  gardens,  and 
is  very  ornamental. 

Asphyxia.  [Gr.  aa-Qvtfa,  lack  of piilse]  (Bot.) 
A  temporary  cessation  of  respiration  and  circula- 
tion ;  often  applied  to  a  state  arising  from  air 
either  vitiated  or  insufficient. 

Aspic.  [Gr.  cuntis.]  1.  An  asp.  2.  Savoury 
meat  jelly,  containing  pieces  of  meat,  fish,  etc. 
3.  A  gun  carrying  a  12  Ib.  shot. 

Aspidium.  (Bot.)  Shield  fern ;  a  gen.  of 
Ferns,  of  which  common  male-fern  is  the  type ; 
formerly  including  ferns  in  which  the  dot-like 
s5rl  were  covered  by  a  roundish  cover,  or,  as  it 
were,  shield  \G*.  aairis]. 

Aspldorhynchus.  [Gr.  danris,  a  shield,  f>vyx°*> 
a  beak,  snout.]  (Geol.)  A  gen.  of  fossil  Ganoid 
fishes  ;  with  long  bony  covering  to  the  upper 
jaw  ;  in  the  Lias  and  Oolite. 

Aspirate.  [L.  ad,  to,  splro,  /  breathe.]  1. 
(Elym.)  A  mute  or  momentary  consonant,  with 
a  breath  immediately  following  it,  as  in  Irish 
b'hoy,  for  boy.  Such  consonants  are  common 
in  Eastern  languages.  The  chief  are  tfh,  gh, 
fh,  d?h,  //&,  6' A,  ctth,  fh.  2.  (Surg.)  To 
evacuate  the  fluid  contents  of  a  cavity,  such  as 
an  abscess  or  the  pleural  cavity  of  the  chest,  by 
a  hollow  needle,  or  canula,  connected  with  an 
exhausted  air-chamber. 

Aspiration.  [L.  asplratio,  -nem.]  (Etym.)  The 
change  of  an  unaspirated  consonant  to  an  aspirate 
(q.v.),  as  of  Se/cojueu  to  Attic  5e'x<V*ai  (x  =  kh)  ; 
or  the  addition  of  a  breath  (an  h  sound)  before  a 
word  that  began  with  a  vowel,  as  in  London  and 
Bucks,  e.g. 

Asplenium.  [Gr.  &<rir\-nvos,  without  spleen, 
for  the  affections  of  which  it  was  a  supposed 
cure.]  Spleenwort,  a  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Ferns, 
including  asplenium,  adiantum  nigrum,  common 
spleen-wort,  wall-rue  (Ruta-muraria),  etc, 

Asportation.    [L.  asportatio,  a  carrying  away.] 


ASSA 


44 


ASSO 


(Naut.)     The  illegal  taking  away  of  a  ship  or 
cargo  ;  removal  of  goods,  essential  to  larceny. 

Assai.  A  beverage  much  used  on  the  Amazon, 
prepared  from  the  assai  palm  fruit. 

Assapan.  (Zool.)  Sciuropterus  volucella. 
(Flying  squirrel.) 

Assart,  Essart.  [L.L.  assartum,  from  ex,  out, 
sarrio,  I  hoe.]  The  offence  of  total  destruction 
of  trees  or  shrubs  in  a  forest. 

Assassin.  Originally  one  of  a  military  and 
religious  order  of  Ismailites  (q.v.),  formed  in 
Persia  by  Hassan-ben- Sabbah,  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  eleventh  century,  and  so  called  from  their 
immoderate  use  of  haschish,  an  intoxicant  made 
from  Indian  hemp  (Cannabis). 

Assassination  Plot.  A  plot  for  a  Jacobite 
rising  in  England,  together  with  an  invasion 
from  France,  to  be  followed  by  the  assassina- 
tion of  William  III. ;  entrusted  to  Sir  G.  Barclay. 
Conspirators  executed  March,  1696. 

Assation.     Roasting  [L.  asso,  /  roast]. 

Assault  [O.Fr.  assalt,  L.  assaltus,  from  ad, 
to,  saltus,  a  leaping.}  Rapid  attack  over  open 
ground  on  any  fortified  post. 

Assaying.  [Fr.  essai,  a  trial,  from  L.L. 
exagium,  a  standard  weight.]  The  determi- 
nation of  the  quantity  of  any  metal  in  its  ore  or 
alloy. 

Assegai.  Short  spear  used  by  natives  of  S. 
Africa,  with  a  very  thin  shaft  of  about  five  feet  in 
length  and  an  iron  blade  secured  by  a  strip  of 
raw  hide.  When  used  for  throwing,  the  blade 
is  convex  on  one  side  and  concave  on  the 
other,  for  the  purpose  of  transmitting  a  rotary 
motion. 

Assegai  tree.  Curtisia  f  aginea — a  Cape  tree — 
ord.  Coruacese,  of  which  the  shafts  for  javelins 
or  assegais  are  made. 

Assembly.  [Fr.  assemblee.]  1.  (Hist.}  The 
four  legislative  bodies  of  the  first  French  Revo- 
lution :  i.  The  Constituent  A.,  1789-91.  2. 
The  Legislative  A.,  1792.  3.  The  Convention, 
1792-95.  4.  The  Corps  Legislatif,  1795,  which 
appointed  the  Directory.  (Consul.)  2.  (Mil.) 
Bugle-call  for  collecting  together  the  whole  of 
the  officers  and  soldiers  of  a  regiment. 

Assembly,  General  The  highest  court  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  having  both  lay  and  clerical- 
elements,  and  possessing  supreme  legislative  and 
judicial  authority  in  all  matters  purely  ecclesi- 
astical. 

Assembly  of  Divines,  i.q.  Westminster  A. 
(q.v.). 

Assentation.  [L.  assentatio,  -nem,  assentor, 
I  flatter.]  Insincere,  flattering  assent. 

Asses'  Bridge,  Pons  Asmorum  [L.],  i.e.  the  first 
difficulty  in  geometry  ;  the  fifth  proposition  of 
book  i.  of  Euclid,  the  figure  somewhat  suggestive 
of  a  bridge. 

Asses,  Feast  of.     (Fools,  Feast  of.) 

Assessor.  [L.  from  adsideo,  ad,  near,  secleo,  / 
sit.]  1.  A  person  who  sits  near  judges  in  court, 
to  advise  them  or  take  part  in  their  decisions.  2. 
A  valuer  of  property  for  taxation  or  rating. 

Assets.  [Norm.  Fr.  assetz,  Fr.  assez,  enough, 
from  ad,  to,  satis,  enough.']  1.  The  entire  pro- 
perty which  can  be  realized  for  distribution 


among  creditors.  2.  (Leg.)  The  chargeable 
property  of  a  deceased  person. 

Asseveration.  [L.  asseveratio,  -nem,  assevero, 
I  affirm  strongly.]  Strong,  positive  assertion. 

Assibilation.  [L.  ad,  to,  sibilo,  /  hiss.]  The 
change  of  /  or  d,  k  (c)  or  g  to  a  sibilant  (s,  sh,  2, 
Fr.  j),  before  ay,  i,  or  u  (v),  as  in  Eng.  -shun 
or  -shon  for  -tion,  Attic  (ri>,  thou,  for  TV. 

Assideans  [Gr.  'A<n5a?o<],  I  Mace.  vii.  1 3 ; 
i.q.  Chasidim  [Heb.,  the  pious],  A  Jewish  party 
(?  bound  by  some  vows  as  to  external  obedience), 
brought  into  prominence  at  the  Maccabsean 
rising  ;  devoted,  in  after  times,  to  ceremonial. 

Assident  signs  [L.  assideo,  /  sit  by]  of  a 
disease,  are  those  usually,  but  not  necessarily 
and  always,  concomitant. 

Assientos.  [Sp.,  agreements.]  (Hist.)  Treaties 
made  by  Spain  with  Portugal,  France,  and  Eng- 
land, for  supplying  her  American  colonies  with 
negro  slaves  from  Africa. 

Assignats.  [L.  assignatus,  allotted,  assigned.] 
Paper  money  issued  by  the  French  Government 
during  the  Revolution,  on  security  of  unsold 
Church  property,  lands  of  emigrant  nobles,  etc. 

Assignee,  Assign.  [L.  assignatus.]  A  person 
appointed  by  or  for  another,  to  transact  the 
business  connected  with  property  in  place  of  the 
appointer.  Lessees  are  assignees  by  deed,  exe- 
cutors and  trustees  in  bankruptcy  by  law. 

Assimilate.  [L.  assimulo,  /  make  like  to.] 
To  change  into  like  substance,  as  we  assimilate 
food,  etc. 

Assimilation.  [L.  adsimilatio, -nem.]  (Etym.) 
The  process  or  tendency  by  which  different 
sounds  in  a  word  come  to  be  pronounced  more 
like  to  each  other ;  as  "  cubburd  "  for  cup-board 
(vide  also  Sandhi). 

Assistant.  [L.  assisto,  I  assist.]  (Mil.)  The 
officer  holding  the  appointment  next  under  the 
deputy  to  the  head  of  any  branch  of  the  army. 

Assize  [O.Fr.  assis,  (i)  an  assembly  of  judges, 
(2)  a  tax],  is,  in  Scotland,  the  jury,  fifteen  in 
criminal  cases.  The  word  also  denoted  formerly 

(1)  a  royal  ordinance,  as  the  Assize  of  Jerusalem ; 

(2)  an  ordinance  regulating  the  price  of  victuals, 
assisa  venalium  ;  (3)  Grand  A.,  a  jury  of  sixteen 
knights,  by  whom  a  writ  of  right  was  tried. 

Assizement.  [Norm.  Fr.  assize,  L.  assessio,  a 
sitting  by  or  near.]  Inspection  of  weights  and 
measures. 

Assize  of  Jerusalem.  A  code  of  laws  drawn 
up  in  1 100,  under  Godfrey  of  Bouillon,  for  the 
administration  of  the  Latin  kingdom  of  Palestine. 

Association.  [L.  adsociare,"/0yW«  with]  In 
Psych.,  the  tendency  by  which  later  objects  or 
states  of  consciousness  recall  earlier  objects  or 
states  with  which  they  have  some  connexion. 
This  principle  has  been  applied  by  Hartley, 
Mackintosh,  Bain,  and  others,  to  explain  our 
more  complex  emotions,  and  especially  what  are 
termed  our  moral  sentiments. 

AssoiL  To  soil,  stain.  [L.  (?)  assolo,  post- 
class.,  /  throw  to  the  grotind,  solium  ;  or  (?)  cj. 
souiller,  L.L.  siiculare,  to  wallow  like  a  pig] 

Assoil,  Assoilzie.  [O.Fr.  assoiller,  L.  absolvere, 
to  acquit.  ]  Assoilment,  acquittal. 

Assommoir.     [Fr.]    A  weapon  for  dealing  the 


ASSO 


45 


ASTR 


death-blow  to  animals.  Hence,  any  overwhelm- 
ing event. 

Assonance.  [L.  assono,  /  resound  to.}  Like- 
ness of  sounds  ;  e.g.  see  Mrs.  Browning's  Dead 
Pan.  (Alliteration.) 

Assuetude,     [L.  assuetudo.]     Custom,  habit. 

Assument  [L.  assumentum,  assuo,  /  sew  on.] 
A  patch,  something  added  on. 

Assumpsit.  [I..,  he  undertook.]  (Leg.)  An 
action,  or  a  verbal  promise,  or  agreement. 

Assumpt.  In  argument,  an  assumption  ;  a 
thing  granted.  [L.  assumo,  I  take  to  myself.} 

Assumptive  arms.  Those  assumed  without 
sanction  of  the  Heralds'  College. 

Assurance.  [L.L.  assecfxro,  /  make  safe.}  In 
Law,  a  contract  for  the  payment  of  a  certain  sum 
on  the  occurrence  of  a  certain  event. 

Assurgency.  [L.  assurgo,  I  rise  up.}  Arising 
upward. 

Assurgent  [L.  assur-gent-em,  rising  up] 
(Her.)  Rising  from  the  sea. 

Astacolites.  [Gr.  aaraKos,  a  lobster,  \idos,  a 
stone.}  (Geol.)  A  name  formerly  given  to  fossil 
remains  of  the  long-tailed  or  lobster-like  Crus- 
taceans. 

Astacus.  [L.,  Gr.  aa-ra^s,  lobster  or  crab.]  1. 
Gen.  of  insects  (Fabric).  2.  Gen.  of  long-tailed 
Decapod  Crustaceans,  as  river  crayfish;  giving 
its  name  to  fam.  Astacidse,  as  lobsters.  Sub- 
kingd.  Anniilosa. 

Astarte.  1.  A  Phoenician  goddess,  called  in 
Old  Testament,  Ashtoreth.  (Ostara.)  2.  (Zool.) 
A  gen.  of  bivalve  molluscs — N.  and  Arctic  Seas 
— fam.  Cyprinidae,  class  Conchif£ra. 

Astatic.  [Gr.  a  neg.,  '/<mj/ui,  place  or  weigh} 
Without  weight,  imponderable. 

Astatic  needle.  [Gr.  a  neg.,  ffTarinds,  causing 
to  stand.}  An  instrument  formed  of  two  equal 
magnetic  needles  with  their  poles  turned  opposite 
ways,  so  that  its  motion  is  uninfluenced  by  the 
earth's  magnetism. 

Asteism.  [Gr.  do-reiVr/i^s.]  Witty,  humorous 
conversation ;  good-natured  banter. 

Asteriadae.     (Asteroidea.) 

Asterisk.  [Gr.  dareplffKos,  a  little  star] 
Originally  the  mark  *,  by  which  the  early  gram- 
marians noted  omissions,  additions,  or  anything 
remarkable  in  manuscripts.  (Aristarchian.) 

Asterism.  1.  A  group  of  stars,  whether  form- 
ing a  constellation  or  not.  2.  A  marking  with 
an  Asterisk,  [Gr.  affrepur^s,  the  same  in  both 
meanings.] 

Astern.     (Naut.)     (A-beam.) 

Asteroid.     (Planetoid.) 

Asteroidea.  [Gr.  do-repots,  star-like.}  (Zool.) 
Ord.  of  star-fishes,  whose  arms  are  an  immediate 
continuation  of  the  central  disc.  It  contains  five 
families :  Asteriadse  [Gr.  currc/nay,  starred],  As- 
tropectmidse  [L.  astrum,  a  star,  pectinem,  a 
comb],  Oreastridse,  Asterimdse  [Gr.  dtrrirjp,  a 
star],  Brisingidse ;  class  Echlnodermata.  The 
name  Asteriadae  is  also  given  by  some  authorities 
to  corals  with  star-like  polypes. 

Asterolepis.  [Gr.  do-r^p,  a  star,  Aem's,  a  scale.] 
(Geol.)  Gigantic  Ganoids,  with  star-like  mark- 
ings on  the  dermal  plates  of  the  head ;  in  the 
Old  Red  Sandstone. 


Asterophyllites.  [Gr.  do-r^p,  star,  <pv\\ovt  leaf, 
\l6os,  stone.]  (Geol.)  Fossil  plants  from  coal 
formations. 

Asthenic  diseases.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  trOevos, 
strength.]  (Med.)  Diseases  characterized  by 
great  loss  of  power. 

Astigmatism.     [Gr.  a  neg.,  (rriy/j.a,  a  mark.] 

1.  The  fact  that,  after  reflexion  or  refraction,  the 
rays,  which  before  formed  a  pencil,  no  longer 
pass  through  a  common   point.     2.  (Med.)     A 
defect  of  the  eye,  which,  not  having  the  normal 
spherical  form,   cannot  see  a  lucid  point,  e.g. 
a  puncture  in   a  card,   as  a  point  [o-riy/ia],   or 
cannot  see  it  continuously,  but  more  or  less  as  an 
elongation. 

Astolpho.  A  boastful  paladin  of  Charlemagne, 
noted  for  a  magic  horn. 

Astor,  J.  Jac.  Fur  trader,  founder  of  A. 
Library,  New  York  ;  richest  American  of  his 
time ;  died  1848. 

Astrsea.  [L.,  Gr.  aa-rpaia.]  1.  A  daughter  of 
Zeus  and  Eos,  or,  as  others  said,  of  Themis, 
law,  who  sojourned  on  earth  during  the  Golden 
Age,  and  was  then  placed  among  the  stars. 

2.  (Geol.)    Gen.  of  coral,  studded  with  star-like 
polypes. 

Astraea  Redux.  [L.]  Astma  returning;  title 
of  Dryden's  poem,  celebrating  the  Restoration. 

Astragal.    (Bead-moulding.) 

Astragalus.  [Gr.  oo-rpaydAos.]  (Anat.)  The 
ankle-bone,  one  of  seven  composing  the  tarsus  ; 
that  on  which,  through  the  tibia,  the  weight  of 
the  body  first  falls. 

Astral.  [L.  astrum,  a  star.}  Starry  ;  star- 
like  ;  having  to  do  with  the  stars. 

Astrict.  To  bind,  compel  [L.  astringo,  / 
draw  tight,  p.  part,  astrictus], 

Astringents.  [L.  astringo,  /  draw  tight.] 
Medicines  which  contract  organic  fibre,  and 
diminish  excessive  discharges. 

Astrolabe.  [Gr.  curTp6\af}os,  from  tio-rpa,  stars, 
\a/j./3dv(i>,  I  take,  receive.]  1.  An  instrument 
closely  resembling  the  armillary  sphere  (q.v.). 
2.  A  stereographic  projection  of  the  sphere  on  the 
equator  or  on  a  meridian. 

Astrology,  Apotelesmatic;  Judicial  A.;  Natural 
A.  [Gr.  affrpoXoyia.  ]  1.  The  science  of  astronomy. 
2.  More  commonly  a  superstition  embodied  in 
rules  by  which  it  was  supposed  that  a  man's 
fortune  could  be  predicted  from  the  configura- 
tion of  the  heavenly  bodies  at  the  time  of  his 
birth ;  sometimes  called  Apotelesmatic  [cwrorf- 
Kfffp.a.T'iKos,  belonging  to  completion]  or  judicial 
A.,  to  distinguish  it  from  Natural  A.,  which 
essayed  to  trace  the  dependence  of  the  weather 
on  the  heavenly  bodies. 

Astronomy,  Physical;  Plane  A.;  Spherical  A.  [Gr. 
far  povofjiia,  from  &ffTpa,  stars,  vefj-u,  I  class.]  The 
science  which  treats  of  the  magnitudes,  distances, 
arrangements,  and  motions  of  the  heavenly 
bodies  ;  their  constitution  and  physical  condition  ; 
and  their  mutual  actions  on  each  other,  so  far  as 
can  be  inferred  from  observed  facts.  Physical  A . 
deduces  the  observed  movements  of  the  members 
of  the  solar  system,  from  the  general  laws  of 
dynamics  and  the  special  law  of  universal 
gravity.  Formal,  or  Plane,  or  Spherical,  A. 


ASTR 


46 


ATMO 


treats  of  the  methods  and  principles  of  making 
and  reducing  astronomical  observations. 

Astrophel.  [Gr.  farpov,  a  star,  <pi\€<a,  I  love] 
A  Grecized  form  of  "  Phil.  Sid.,"  i.e.  Sir  Philip 
Sidney,  in  Spenser's  elegy. 

Astrophic.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  ffrpo^,  turning, 
stropht]  Not  divided  into  strophe  and  anti- 
strophe,  with  or  without  epode  ;  said  of  a  lyric 
poem  of  continuous  rhythm. 

Asiiras.  [Skt,  beings.]  In  the  Rig  Veda,  a 
general  name  for  the  gods,  from  the  root  as,  to 
be,  answering  to  the  Teut.  yEsir. 

Asylum.  [Gr.  ocrOAos,  safe  from  violence,  from  d 
neg.,  ffv\d(o,  I  plunder]  1.  A  sanctuary,  place 
of  refuge  ;  and  so,  2.  For  the  blind,  etc.,  a  place 
of  protection. 

Asymptote.  [Gr.  do-u^Trrwroy,  not  falling 
together]  (Math.)  A  line  which  a  branch  of  a 
curve  continually  approaches,  but  never  actually 
touches  ;  commonly  a  straight  line  ;  but  there  are 
A.  curves  :  thus,  certain  spirals  have  A.  circles. 

Asynartete.  [Gr.  auwapriiros,  not  joined 
together]  (Gram.}  Clauses  or  sentences  not 
grammatically  connected. 

Asyndeton.  [Gr.  a&vvb'fTos,  not  conjoined] 
(Rhel. )  The  omission  of  connecting  particles,  as 
' '  Veni,  vidi,  vici ;  "  the  union  of  clauses  by  many 
such  particles  being  Polysyndeton  [TTOA.US,  many], 
a  word  formed  by  analogy,  the  Greek  word  being 
Poly synthe Ion  [iroXixrvvQerov,  much  compounded]. 

Atabal.    A  Moorish  tabor,  kettledrum. 

Atabeks.  A  title  given  to  rulers  of  several  of 
the  small  principalities  into  which  the  empire 
of  the  Seljuk  Turks  became  divided  ;  eleventh, 
twelfth,  and  thirteenth  centuries. 

Atactic.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  TUKTIKOS,  able  to  manage] 
Marked  by  Ataxy  ;  i.e.  (i)  irregularity  in  bodily 
functions  ;  or  (2)  want  of  co-ordinating  (q.v.) 
power  in  movements. 

Ataman.    (Hetman.) 

Ataraxia.  Freedom  from  mental  disturbance 
[Gr.  arapa^la,  from  d  neg.,  rapdffiro),  I  disturb]  ; 
perfect  calmness.  The  great  end  aimed  at  by 
Epictetus. 

A-taunto,  or  All  a-tannto.  (Mtut.)  The  con- 
dition of  a  ship,  when  the  masts  are  in  position 
and  fully  rigged. 

Atavism.  [L.  atavus,  an  ancestor]  In 
animals  and  plants,  the  reappearance  in  a 
descendant  of  some  ancestral  peculiarity.  (Re- 
version.) 

Ataxy.    (Atactio.) 

Ate.  [Gr.,  mischief,  hurt.]  In  the  Iliad,  the 
spirit  of  mischievous  folly,  whom  Zeus  seizes  by 
the  hair  and  hurls  from  Olympus.  With  the  Attic 
tragedians,  the  spirit  which  exacts  vengeance  for 
bloodshed,  and  to  which  even  Zeus  is  compelled 
to  submit.  (Erinyes;  Fates.) 

-ate,  -ite.  (Chem.)  Terminations  denoting 
the  presence  of  oxygen,  as  sulph-ate,  sulph-z'te,  of 
potassium.  Each  of  these  salts  consists  of  sulphur, 
oxygen,  potassium,  but  a  salt  in  -ate  contains 
more  oxygen  than  the  salt  in  -ite. 
Atelettes.  (Hatelettes.) 

Atelier.  [Fr.]  Workshop;  also  a  studio. 
[O.Fr.  astelier,  L.  hastellarius,  a  place  for 
making  hastellae,  splints.] 


Atellan  Fables,  i.e.  Plays,  Atellanae  Fabulae, 
or  Ludi  Osci.  Ancient  rustic  comedies  of  Atella, 
in  Campania  ;  played  as  interludes,  or  after- 
pieces, on  the  Roman  stage.  A  kind  of  har- 
lequin, exciting  laughter  by  his  old  Oscan  dialect, 
is  probably  the  prototype  of  the  modern  harlequin 
or  clown. 

Ateshaja,  The  place  of  fire  ;  i.e.  of  blue  flame 
of  naphtha,  issuing  from  the  soil,  about  a  mile  in 
diameter,  on  W.  of  Caspian  Sea  ;  visited  by  the 
Persian  fire-worshippers. 

Athanor.  [Heb.  tannur,  an  oven]  With 
the  alchemists,  a  self-feeding  furnace  of  equable 
heat. 

Atharva  Veda.     (Veda.) 

Atheling,  JEtheling  =  heir-apparent  or  pre- 
sumptive. [A.S.  yEthel,  Athel,  Ethel  —  noble; 
and  -ing,  the  usual  A.S.  patronymic=.ww.] 

Athenaeum.  [Originally,  temple  of  Athena] 
1.  A  school  at  Rome,  founded  by  Hadrian.  2. 
A  literary  association.  3.  The  building  used 
for  it. 

Athenian  Bee,  The.     Plato. 

Athermanous.  [Gr.  d  neg.,  Btpp.a.lva>,  I  make 
warm.]  Opaque  to  radiant  heat. 

Atheroid.  In  shape  like  an  ear  of  corn  [Gr. 
a0-f)p,  gen.  aOepos], 

Atheroma.  [Gr.]  A  tumour  having  matter 
like  gruel  [d^prj]. 

Athlete.  [Gr.  dflXajr^s,  from  50Aos,  a  contest,] 
(Gr.  Hist.)  One  who  took  part  in  the  public 
games,  especially  in  the  Pentathlon,  which  con- 
sisted of  boxing,  wrestling,  throwing  quoits, 
leaping,  and  running.  (Palaestra.) 

Athwart  (Naut.)  Across  the  line  of  a  ship's 
course.  A.  her  hawse  (Hawse).  A.  ship,  from 
side  to  side ;  in  opposition  to  fore  and  aft. 

Atlantes.  [Gr.,  plu.  of  Atlas  (q.v.).]  Greek 
columns,  shaped  like  men,  as  supports  of  enta- 
blatures ;  the  Romans  used  the  name  Telamones 
[re\afiS>ves].  (Caryatid.) 

Atlantis.  An  island  mentioned  by  Plato  as 
having  existed  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  beyond  the 
pillars  of  Heracles  (Hercules),  and  as  having 
been  submerged  by  earthquakes.  (Thule.) 

Atlantis,  New.  Lord  Bacon's  imaginary 
island,  also  in  the  Atlantic,  with  a  philosophical 
commonwealth,  devoted  to  art  and  science. 

Atlas.  1.  (Myth.)  A  brother  of  Prometheus. 
He  held  up  the  pillars  which  support  the  heaven, 
and  was  turned  into  stone  when  Perseus  held 
before  him  the  face  of  the  Gorgon  Medusa. 
Hence  Atlas  Mountains,  Atlantic  Ocean.  (Gor- 
gons,  Promethean.)  2.  (Anat.)  The  first  of  the 
cervical  vertebrae.  3.  A  kind  of  Indian  silk  or 
satin,  curiously  inwrought  with  gold  and  silver. 

Atmology.  [Gr.  UT/JLOS,  vapour,  Ao-yoy,  dis- 
course] The  part  of  meteorology  which  treats 
of  aqueous  vapours. 

Atmolysis.  [Gr.  ar/jds,  vapour,  \6ffts,  a  loos- 
ing.] The  separation  of  the  constituents  of  a 
mixed  gas  by  passage  through  a  porous  sub- 
stance. 

Atmomiter.  [Gr.  dr/i^y,  fifrpov,  measure.] 
An  instrument  for  measuring  the  rate  of 
evaporation. 

Atmosphere.     [Gr.    dr/zos,  ff<pcupa,   a  sphere.] 


ATMO 


47 


ATTR 


The  pressure  of  the  air  per  unit  of  area  on  the 
surface  of  the  earth  ;  as,  a  pressure  of  three 
atmospheres,  i.e.  a  pressure  three  times  as  great 
as  that  of  the  atmosphere  on  the  earth,  or  one 
at  the  rate  of  about  45  Ibs.  per  square  inch. 

Atmospheric  dust.    (Meteoric  dust.) 

Atmospheric  engine.  A  primitive  sort  of 
steam  pumping-engine ;  the  piston  in  the  first 
place  was  forced  up  by  steam,  and  then,  the 
steam  being  condensed  within  the  cylinder,  was 
forced  down  by  atmospheric  pressure. 

Atmospheric  line.  The  line  of  an  indicator 
diagram  which  would  be  traced  out  by  the 
pencil  if  the  steam  pressure  within  were  exactly 
balanced  by  the  atmospheric  pressure  without. 

Atmospheric  railway.  A  project  for  loco- 
motion, the  movement  being  produced  by 
atmospheric  pressure  against  a  surface  which 
has  a  vacuum  on  the  other  side. 

Atocha  grass.    [Sp.]     (Esparto.) 

Atoll.  [Maldive  word.]  A  coral  island,  con- 
sisting of  a  circular  rim,  surrounding  a  circular 
piece  of  salt  water. 

Atom.  [Gr.  firo/io?,  indivisible.']  1.  One  of 
the  ultimate  portions  into  which  matter  is  divi- 
sible, and  which  are  assumed  to  be  incapable  of 
further  division.  2.  A  molecule  (q.v.). 

Atomic  philosophy.  [Gr.  a  neg.,  re/i-j/w,  / 
divide]  The  theory  that  all  things  were  made 
by  the  concourse  of  indivisible,  eternal  atoms, 
[arojuot,  ou]  of  different  shapes  ;  held  chiefly  by 
the  Greeks  Leucippus,  Democritus  (B.C.  460- 
361),  Epicurus  (B.C.  342-270). 

Atomic  theory.  In  Physics,  every  element  con- 
sists of  indivisible  particles  called  atoms,  of  size 
and  weight  invariable  in  the  same  element.  The 
atomic  -weight  of  an  element  is  the  weight  of  one 
of  its  atoms  as  compared  with  the  weight  of  an 
atom  of  hydrogen  ;  this  is  also  called  its  combin- 
ing weight. 

Atomy  =  an  atom. 

Atonic.  [Gr.  a  neg.,  rSvos,  tension.]  (Med.) 
Marked  by  atony >  i.e.  want  of  energy. 

A  tort  et  a  travers.  [Fr.]  At  cross  pur- 
poses. 

Atrabilarian,  Atrabilious.  Melancholy  [L. 
atra  bilis,  black  choler,  an  imaginary  secretion, 
with  the  ancients]. 

Atra  cura,  Post  equitem  sedet.  [L.]  Black 
care  sits  behind  the  horseman  or  knight  (Horace) ; 
i.e.  care  attends  the  great  and  successful. 

AtramentaL  Of  the  nature  of  ink  [L.  atra- 
mentum]. 

Atreto-.  [Gr.  Hrpijros,  not  perforated]  (Anat.) 

A-trip.  (Naut.)  An  anchor  is  A.  when  it 
breaks  the  ground  in  weighing.  Sails  are  A. 
when  ready  for  trimming.  Yards  are  A.  when 
in  position,  and  ready  to  have  the  stops  cut  for 
crossing.  An  upper  mast  is  A.  when  ready  for 
lowering. 

Atrium.  [L.]  The  hall,  or  principal  room 
in  a  Roman  house. 

Atropa.  [Gr.  &rpoiros,  inflexible]  (Bot.)  A  gen. 
of  plants,  ord.  S5lanacese.  A.  belladonna  [It., 
beautiful  lady],  the  deadly  nightshade,  is  a 
tall  shrubby  plant,  with  large  egg-shaped  entire 
leaves,  dull  purple  bell-shaped  flowers,  and 


shining  black  berries  ;  it  is  very  poisonous,  and 
is  employed  in  medicine. 

Atrophy  [Gr.  arpoQia,  a  wasting  away]  of 
the  body  ;  defective  nutrition. 

Atropism.  ( Med. )  The  state  induced  by  con- 
tinual use  of  Atropa,  i.e.  of  belladonna. 

Atropos.  [Gr.,  inflexible]  (Myth.)  One  ot 
the  three  Fates  (q.v.). 

Attache.     [Fr.]     One  attached  to  an  embassy. 

Attachment.  [It.  attaccare,  to  fasten]  (Leg.) 
1.  A  writ  or  precept  for  apprehension  of  a 
person  for  contempt  of  court.  2.  An  order  for 
the  securing  of  a  debtor's  goods  or  debts  due  to 
him.  3.  =  Woodmote,  the  lowest  of  the  three 
ancient  forest  courts. 

Attagen.  [L.,  heath-cock,  or  perhaps  god- 
wit.  ]  (Frigate-bird. ) 

Attaghan.     (Yataghan.) 

Attainder.  [Fr.  atteindre,  from  attingere,  to 
touch]  The  status  of  a  criminal  condemned  to 
death  ;  corruption  of  blood. 

Attar,  Otto,  Uttar.  [Ar.  itr,  perfume]  A 
strong-smelling  essential  oil  obtained  from  roses. 

Attemperate,  adj.  [L.  attempero,  ///,  adjust] 
Properly  adapted,  proportionate  to. 

Attenuants.  [L.  attenuantes,  making  thin] 
(Med. )  Diluent  medicines,  rendering  the  humours 
less  dense  and  viscid. 

Attestation.  [L.  attestatio,  -nem,  testimony] 
In  the  army,  a  recruit's  voluntary  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  the  sovereign,  taken  before  a  justice  of 
the  peace. 

Attic  Bee.    (Athenian  Bee.) 

Attic  faith,  Attike  pistis.    (Punica  fides.) 

Atticism.  [Gr.  'ATTt/ftoytos.]  Concise,  grace- 
ful diction. 

Attic  salt.  Wit,  elegance,  like  that  of  the 
Athenians. 

Atticus.  A  name  given  to  Addison,  by  Pope, 
after  A.,  the  intimate  friend  and  correspondent 
of  Cicero. 

Attire.  [Ger.  zier,  adornment]  (Her]  The 
horns  (of  a  stag). 

Attle.  [O.E.  adl,  ailing]  Mining  rubbish, 
consisting  of  valueless  pieces  of  rock. 

Attollent  [L.  attollo,  /  lift  up}  muscles,  or 
Levator  muscles  [levo,  I  raise],  raise  some  part ; 
e.g.  upper  eyelid. 

Attorneys.     (Solicitors.) 

Attraction.  [L.  adtractio,  -nem,  /  draw  to- 
gether] The  tendency  which  each  of  two  bodies 
has  to  make  the  other  approach  it.  When  the 
bodies  are  at  sensible  distances,  there  is  the  A. 
of  gravitation,  or  in  other  cases  magnetic  and 
electrical  A.  ;  at  minute  or  insensible  distances 
there  are  cohesive  A.,  capillary  A.,  etc. 
(Gravity;  Magnetism.) 

Attrahent  medicine  [L.  attraho,  /  draw 
towards]  draws  the  fluids  to  the  place  where  it 
is  applied. 

Attrap.     To  put  trappings  upon. 

Attribute.  [L.  attributum,  a  thing  ascribed,  a 
predicate]  1.  In  Art,  a  distinguishing  symbol, 
as  a  trident,  of  Neptune ;  a  gridiron,  of  St. 
Giles.  2.  (Log.)  A  quality,  furnishing  matter 
for  a  predicate  ;  as  the  justice  of  Aristldes. 

Attrition.      [L.  attritio,  -nem,  attero,  /  rub 


ATYP 


48 


AUPI 


against.}   1.  A  wearing  away.    2.  (Theol.)    Grief 
for  sin,  not  yet  change  of  heart. 

Atypic.  [Gr.  o  neg.,  TVTTOS,  pattern,  type.] 
Having  lost  its  typical  character. 

Atzereth.  [Heb.]  The  name  given,  in  later 
times,  to  the  Day  of  Pentecost^  meaning,  pro- 
bably, a  closing  festival ;  and  originally  applied 
to  the  "holy  convocation,"  "the  solemn  as- 
sembly," held  on  the  day  after  the  week  of  the 
Feast  of  Tabernacles. 

Aubade.  [Fr.  aube,  dawn,  L.  alba.]  1.  Open- 
air  morning  concert;  a  kind  of  huntsup  (q.v.). 
2.  Sometimes,  rough  music. 

Aubaine,  Droit  d'.  In  Fr.  Law,  the  right  of 
the  sovereign  to  succeed  to  the  goods  of  a 
deceased  foreigner,  not  naturalized.  Aubain,  a 
foreigner,  in  O.Fr.  is  said  to  be  alibi  natus. 

Auberge.  [Fr.]  An  inn  ;  originally  herberge, 
i.e.  a  military  station,  from  Ger.  heriberge.  So 
the  Ger.  herberg  has  similarly  changed  meaning 
(Littre). 

Aubin.  [Fr.,  probably  from  L.  ambulare,  to 
walk.]  An  amble  ;  Canterbury  gallop. 

Auburn.     Oliver  Goldsmith's  Deserted  Village. 

Auchenia.  [Gr.  auxewos,  of  or  belonging  to 
the  neck  (auxV)-]  (Zool.)  Gen.  of  Camelidse, 
smaller  than  true  camels.  S.  America.  Two  spec, 
(llama  and  alpaca)  domesticated,  the  former  in- 
troduced into  Australia. 

Aucourant.  [Fr.]  Lit.  keeping  up  with  the 
stream — with  what  is  passing  ;  acquainted  with  it. 

Audentes  or  Audaces  fortuna  juvat.  [L.] 
Fortune  favours  the  bold. 

Audi  alteram  partem.  [L.]  Hear  the  other 
side. 

Audit.  [L.  auditus,  hearing,  examination.] 
1.  Periodical  investigation  of  the  accounts  of  a 
firm  or  society,  by  or  for  them.  2.  A  banquet 
in  connexion  with  the  above  in  colleges. 

Audita  querela.  [L.]  After  listening  to  the 
complaint. 

Auditorium.  [L.,  lecture-room,  audience.] 
The  part  of  a  theatre  or  assembly-room  designed 
for  the  audience. 

Au  fait.  [Fr.]  Lit.  to  the  fact ;  conversant 
with  the  circumstances,  at  home  in  a  subject. 

Au  fond.     [Fr.]    At  bottom. 

Augean.  Filthy,  like  the  stables  of  Augeas, 
King  of  Elis,  which  Hercules  cleansed. 

Augite  [Gr.  avy-f),  a  bright  light],  or  Py- 
roxene. (Geol.)  A  black  or  green  mineral ;  one 
of  the  principal  in  many  lavas  and  dolerites ; 
nearly  allied  to  hornblende. 

Augment.  [L.  augmentum.]  (Gram.)  Syllabic 
A.,  a  vowel  prefixed  to  past  tenses,  as  l-^u,  Skt. 
#-bhvit,  he  became.  Temporal  A.,  lengthening 
of  an  initial  vowel  in  past  tenses,  as  edit  (edo), 
Skt.  ada  (root  ad),  he  has  eaten. 

Augmentation.  [L.  augmentum,  from  augere, 
to  increase]  (Her]  A  charge  added  to  a  coat  of 
arms,  as  a  mark  of  honour. 

Augmentation  of  moon's  semi-diameter.  [L. 
augmentatio,  -nem,  an  increasing]  The  excess  of 
the  angle  subtended  by  the  moon's  semi-diameter, 
as  seen  by  a  spectator  at  any  instant,  above  what 
it  would  be  if  seen  by  a  spectator  at  the  same 
instant  in  the  position  occupied  by  the  earth's 


centre ;  it  is  this  latter  angle  which  is  given  for 
every  day  of  the  year  in  the  Nautical  Almanac. 

Augmentations,  Court  of,  of  the  king's 
revenue  ;  consisted  of  a  chancellor  and  thirty- 
two  other  members,  with  its  seal,  and  full  power 
to  dispose  of  abbey  lands  and  buildings  most 
profitably  to  the  king  ;  A.D.  1538. 

Au  grand  complet.  [Fr.]  In  full  muster ; 
none  wanting  ;  entire  completion. 

Augsburg  Confession.    (Confession  of  Faith.) 

Augsburg  Interim.    (Interim.) 

Augurs.  [L.  augures.]  Roman  soothsayers, 
who  professed  to  read  the  future  in  the  flight, 
the  cries,  or  the  numbers  of  birds,  as  seen  on  the 
right  hand  or  the  left  (Sinister).  In  so  doing 
they  were  said  to  take  the  auspices  (Aruspices). 

Augurs,  The  two.    (Cato.) 

Augusta.  [L.]  The  title  of  the  wife  of  the 
Roman  emperor. 

Augustan  age.  The  reign  of  Octavius, 
commonly  known  as  Augustus  ;  rendered  illus- 
trious by  the  writings  of  Virgil,  Horace,  and 
other  great  poets,  and  by  the  labours  of  great 
lawyers  in  codifying  the  civil  law. 

Augustan  history.  A  series  of  histories  of  the 
Empire,  ranging  from  A.D.  157  to  285. 

Augustine,  or  Austin,  Friars.  One  of  the 
minor  mendicant  orders ;  first  entered  England 
A.D.  1252  ;  fame  is  disputants.  Keeping  of 
Augustines  meant  thi  performing  an  act  for  M.A. 
degree  at  Oxford.  (Orders,  Mendicant.) 

Augustines,  Austin  Canons,  Black  Monks 
(wearing  a  black  hood  over  the  white  rochet). 
A  religious  order  in  the  Roman  Church,  follow- 
ing the  supposed  rule  of  St.  A.,  established  or 
remodelled  in  the  eleventh  century  ;  their  disci- 
pline something  between  monastic  and  secular. 

Augustinians.  Divines  who,  professing  to 
follow  St.  Augustine,  have  held  that  grace  is 
absolute  rather  than  conditioned. 

Auk.     (Alca.) 

Aulaeum.     [L.]    The  curtain  of  a  theatre. 

Aula  Eegis.  [L.]  The  court  of  justice  of  the 
king,  i.e.  before  the  king  himself ;  the  origin  of  all 
our  courts  (Stephen's  Blackstone,  bk.  v.  ch.  iv.). 

Aularian.  A  member  of  a  hall  [L.  aula]  at 
Oxford,  as  distinguished  from  a  college. 

Auld  lang  syne.  Time  long  past,  lung  syne 
being  the  Scottish  form  of  long  since. 

Auld  Eeekie.  Edinburgh,  i.e.  the  old  town, 
often  reeking  with  dirt  and  smoke ;  cf.  Ger. 
raiichig,  smoky.  (Areek;  Gardiloo.) 

Aulio  Council.  [Gr.  auAwds,  of  the  court, 
OUATJ.]  The  Reichofsrath,  the  second  chamber 
under  the  Empire  ;  at  first  the  personal  council 
of  the  Emperor  Maximilian,  1501.  This  council 
and  the  Reichskammergericht,  or  Imperial 
Chamber,  were  the  two  supreme  courts.  (Emperor ; 
Empire.) 

Aulnager.    (Alnager.) 

Aumbry.    (Ambry.) 

Aunaturel.     [Fr.]    In  its  natural  state. 

Aune.  [Fr.]  An  ell ;  of  different  lengths  in 
different  places ;  not  in  use  now.  [O.Fr.  alne, 
L.L.  alena  ;  cf.  ulna.] 

Au  pied  de  la  lettre.  [Fr.]  To  the  foot  <y 
letter;  literally. 


AURA 


49 


AUTO 


Aura.  [L,,  air.}  1.  A  supposed  electric  ema- 
nation from  a  body,  forming  an  atmosphere 
round  it.  2.  (Path.)  The  sensation  of  air 
breathing  or  blowing  ;  e.g.  that  from  below  up- 
wards, sometimes  before  an  attack  of  hysteria  or 
epilepsy. 

Aurantiaceae.  (Bot.)  An  ord.  of  plants,  of 
which  the  gen.  Citron  [Gr.  Kirpov}  includes 
orange,  lime,  shaddock,  etc.  [from  Ar.  naranj, 
Eng.  orange,  Latinized  aurantium], 

Aurea  Legenda.     (Golden  Legend.) 

Aurelia.  [L.  aurum,  gold,  from  its  colour,  as 
chrysalis,  Gr.  xP^aAAis,  from  \pva^,  gold.} 
(Entom.)  1.  Chrysalis  ;  the  gold-coloured  pupa 
of  certain  Lepidopt£ra.  2.  Spec,  of  Lucernarida, 
or  Umbrella  Hydroz5a  (sea-blubbers),  sub-kingd. 
Cselenterata. 

Aureole.  [Fr.,  L.  aureolus,  dim.  of  aureus, 
golden,  from  aurum.]  1.  A  golden  halo.  2. 
The  glory  round  the  heads  of  saints  in  pictures. 
(Nimbus.) 

Au  reste.  [Fr.]  As  to  what  remains  to  be 
said  ;  in  L.,  quod  restat. 

Aureus.    [L.]    A  Roman  coin. 

Au  revoir.     (A  rivedersi.) 

Auric  acid.  Sesquioxide  of  gold  [L.  aurum]. 
Its  salts  are  called  Aurates. 

Auricle.  [L.  auricula,  dim.  of  auris,  an  ear.} 
1.  (Anat.)  That  part  of  the  ear  which  projects 
from  the  head.  2.  Auricles,  two  upper  cavities 
of  the  heart.  3.  (Zoo!.)  Gen.  of  Pulmoniferous 
Gasteropoda  (G.  with  lungs,  as  the  snail). 
Malay  and  Pacific  Islands  only ;  but  fossil  in 
Europe.  Fam.  Auriculldae,  ord.  Pulm5nife'ra, 
class  Gasteropoda. 

Auricled.  [L.  auricula,]  Having  ear-like 
appendages. 

Auricular  confession.  (Eccl.)  Lit.  confession 
made  into  the  ear  [L.  auricula]  of  the 
priest.  One  of  the  seven  sacraments  of  the 
Latin  Church.  The  need  of  such  confession  was 
formally  laid  down  by  the  Fourth  Council  of 
Lateran,  1215.  (Penitence;  Penance.) 

Auriflamme.  The  ancient  royal  banner  of 
France.  The  origin  of  the  word  is  uncertain  ; 
but  some  suppose  it  to  be  from  the  L.  auri 
flamma,  a  golden  flame.  It  was  at  first  the 
banner  of  the  abbey  of  St.  Denis.  By  some  it 
is  said  to  have  been  lost  at  Agincourt ;  others 
affirm  that  it  was  last  seen  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  VII. 

Auri  pigmentum.     (Orpiment.) 

Auri  sacra  fames.     [L.]    Accursed  hunger  for 

gold 

Aurochs.  [Ger.  auer-ochs,  L.  urus,  a  Celt, 
word,  Csesar  ;  the  wild  ox.}  The  wild  Polish 
and  Caucasian  Bison,  six  feet  high,  grey  and 
brown,  with  shaggy  mane  and  shoulders.  Bos 
bonassus,  fam.  Bovidse,  ord,  Ungulata. 

Aurora.  The  Latin  goddess  of  the  morning, 
called  by  the  Greeks  Eos.  (Eos,  Tears  of.) 

Aurora  borealis  [L.,  northern  dawn},  or 
Northern  light.  An  appearance  of  streams  of 
light  shooting  up  from  the  northern  horizon  ; 
probably  due  to  an  electrical  disturbance  in 
the  upper  regions  of  the  atmosphere  ;  though 
most  frequent  in  high  latitudes  N.  or  S.  It 


is  seen  from  time  to  time  in  all  parts  of  the 
earth. 

Aurum  musivum.  [L.]  Mosaic  gold,  a  bi- 
sulphide of  tin. 

Ausculta  fill  [L.,  hearken,  my  son},  or  Greater 
Bull.  Pope  Boniface  VIII.  's  censure  of  Philip 
of  France,  reasserting  the  claims  of  the  Lesser 
Bull  (q.v.) ;  burnt  publicly  at  Paris,  January, 
1302. 

Auscultation.  [L.  auscultatio,  -nem,  from 
ausculto,  I  listen}  The  investigation  of  disease 
by  means  of  hearing,  with  or  without  an  instru- 
ment. 

Auspices.     (Augurs.) 

Auster.  [L.]  The  hot  south  wind.  Austral, 
southern.  Australasia  =  S.  Asia.  (Winds.) 

Austrian  Netherlands.  About  the  middle  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  comprised  most  of  Bel- 
gium and  Luxemburg. 

Aut  Caesar  aut  nullus.  [L.]  Lit.  either  Ccesar 
or  nobody ;  either  supreme  success  or  nothing 
at  all. 

Authentic  [Gr.  avOevrtitds]  =  authoritative. 
Bishop  Watson  distinguishes  between  an  A. 
work,  i.e.  containing  a  true  statement  of  facts ; 
and  a  Genuine,  i.e.  coming  from  him  whose 
name  it  bears.  But  this  is  not  accurate.  Arch- 
bishop Trench  (Select  Glossary)  points  out  the 
true  opposite  to  authentic,  -warranted,  viz.  o5eV- 
iroror,  not  owned,  anonymous.  (Effendi.) 

Authentic  Doctor,  The.  Gregory  of  Rimini, 
died  A.D.  1357. 

Authentic  modes.  The  earlier  existing  modes 
in  plain  song,  on  which  the  Plagal  were  con- 
structed. (Greek  modes.) 

Authentics.  (Rom.  Law.}  An  anonymous 
collection  of  Justinian's  novels. 

Autocephali.  [Gr.  avroK^aXoi,  from  our^y, 
self,  Kf(pa\-ft,  head.}  (Eccl.)  (i)  Metropolitan 
bishops  not  under  a  patriarch  ;  also  (2)  bishops 
immediately  under  a  P.  and  having  no  M. 

Autochthons.  [Gr.  avT6xGo^s.]  The  Greek 
name  for  the  aborigines  of  any  country.  The 
Athenians  claimed  to  be  such. 

Autocrat.  [Gr.  avroKparup.}  (Hist.)  An 
Athenian  general,  invested  with  full  powers, 
like  the  R.  Consul  with  his  imperium.  Hence 
any  despotic  sovereign,  as  the  Czar  of  Russia. 

Auto  da  Fe.  [Sp.,  Act  of  Faith.}  In  Spain, 
Portugal,  and  their  colonies,  a  solemn  delivery 
of  heretics  by  the  Inquisition  to  the  civil  power, 
for  punishment. 

Autogenous.  [Gr.  avrts,  self,  yevvda,  I 
generate.}  (Anat.)  Developed  from  a  distinct 
centre. 

Autography.  [Gr.  avr6s,  self,  ypdfw,  I 
write.}  A  process  in  lithography,  by  which  the 
characters  on  paper  are  made  to  inscribe  them- 
selves on  the  stone. 

Automatic.  [Gr.  avr6fjL&ros,  self -moving,  self- 
moved.}  Properly,  anything  which  has  the  power 
of  regulating  its  own  actions.  Applied  wrongly 
and  unfortunately  to  things  which  have  not  this 
power.  Human  actions,  as  springing  from  free- 
will, are  the  true  automatic  actions. 

Automatism.  Properly  free  volition.  Wrongly 
used  to  denote  the  modern  theory  respecting 


AUTO 


AVOI 


actions  in  which  each  condition  follows  on  the 
last  by  suggestion  and  without  will. 

Automaton.  [Gr.]  A  puppet,  called  from  its 
resembling  that  which  is  really  an  automaton,  or 
self-moved  thing.  (Automatic.) 

Automedon,  [Gr.,  self -ruling]  In  the  Iliad, 
the  charioteer  of  Achilles.  Hence  any  one 
skilled  in  driving. 

Autonomy.  [Gr.  avTovopla,  from  avr6s,  self, 
v6fj.os,  law.]  Self-government  of  a  state. 

Autopsy.  [Gr.  ouro^to,  from  avr6s,  self,  tty/r, 
a  seeing]  Personal  inspection;  often  •=. post- 
mortem examination. 

Autoschediastical.  [Gr.  avToerxcSmo-Ti/cJs, 
from  avTO<rx*Sios,  hand  to  hand,  gen.  applied  to 
fight,  fray.]  Extemporaneous,  impromptu. 

Autotypography.    (Nature-printing.) 

Autre-fois  acquit.  (Leg.)  At  other  time 
acquitted ;  having  been  tried  already. 

Autumnal  equinox.    (Equinox.) 

Auvergne,  Arverni.  An  old  province  of  France, 
comprising  the  departments  of  Cantal,  part  of 
Haute-Loire,  and  Puy-de-D6me. 

Auxetic.  [Gr.  avfrriKds.]  1.  Making  to 
increase.  2.  (Rhet.)  Given  to  amplification 
(q.v.)  ;  in  Gr.  avfrffis. 

Auxiliary  scales.    (Music.) 

Auxiliary  screw.  (Na^tt.)  A  vessel  rigged 
for  sailing,  and  also  fitted  with  a  screw-propeller. 

Ava.  [The  native  name.]  A  fermented  drink 
made  from  the  root  of  the  long  pepper  by  the 
South  Sea  Islanders. 

Avalanche.  [Fr.]  A  huge  mass  of  snow 
which  descends  from  the  higher  parts  of  moun- 
tains into  their  valleys  [L.  ad  vallem,  whence 
Fr.  avaler,  to  descend}. 

Avale.    To  descend,  sink.     (Avalanche.) 

Avalon.    (Avilion.) 

Avant-projet.     [Fr.]    Rough  draft. 

Avanturine.  (Geol.)  A  variety  of  quartz,  re- 
flecting light  from  fine  spangles  of  mica ;  re- 
sembling A.  glass,  which  is  brown-red  and 
spangled,  and  was  invented  accidentally  [Fr.  par 
aventure]  by  the  falling  of  copper  filings  into 
melted  glass. 

Avast !  [ Cf.  It .  basta,  enough  !  hold  /]  ( Naut. ) 
Hold  hard  1  stop  ! 

Avatar.  [Skt.,  a  descent]  (Hind.  Myth.)  The 
descent  or  incarnation  of  a  deity  for  a  special 
purpose.  Thus  there  are  ten  avatars  of  Vishnu. 

Avaunt !  =  begone  !  lit.  forward.  [Fr.  avant, 
L.  abante.] 

Ave !  [L.,  hail thou /]  Short  for  Ave  Maria  ! 
the  invocation  to  the  B.V.  Mary  beginning 
thus. 

Avebury,  Abury.  A  village  twenty-five  miles 
north  of  Salisbury,  remarkable  as  having  the 
largest  so-called  druidical  temple  in  Europe. 

Ave  Caesar !  morituri  te  salutamus.  [L.]  Lit. 
Hail,  C&sar!  we,  just  about  to  die,  greet  thee ; 
address  of  gladiators  to  the  Roman  emperor 
before  they  fought. 

Avellane.  (Her.)  Composed  of  four  filberts 
[L.  avellanae]  enclosed  in  their  husk. 

Aven,  or  Herb  benet.  (Bot.)  A  plant  [Fr. 
benoite],  aromatic,  tonic,  astringent ;  Geum 
urban um,  ord.  Rosacese. 


Avenaceous.  Having  to  do  with  oats  [L. 
avena]. 

Avenage.  [L.  avenagium,  from  avena,  oats] 
Payment  of  rent  by  a  farmer  in  oats,  i.e.  in  kind. 

Average.  [L.L.  averagium.]  (Naut.)  1.  The 
contribution  borne  by  the  ship  and  cargo,  or 
portions  thereof,  for  anything  done  to  ensure 
safety.  2.  The  quotient  obtained  by  dividing 
the  sum  of  a  set  of  numbers  by  the  number  of 
the  numbers. 

Avernus.  [L.]  A  bituminous  lake  in  Cam- 
pania, with  high  banks,  supposed  to  be  con- 
nected with  the  infernal  regions.  Hence  the 
expression  of  Virgil,  "  Facilis  descensus  Averni," 
for  the  downward  course  which  is  not  easily 
retraced. 

Averroism.     (Monopsychism.) 

Averse  feet.  [L.  aversus,  turned  away]  Feet 
of  birds,  when  set  so  far  back  that  the  bird  sits 
upright ;  e.g.  auks. 

Avertin.  [Fr.,  L.  averto,  /  turn  away,  es- 
trange] 1.  A  form  of  vertigo,  especially  a 
vertiginous  disease  of  sheep.  2.  A  popular 
term  for  a  crazy,  sullen  state,  breaking  out 
into  occasional  fury. 

Aviculldaa.  [L.,  dim.  of  avis,  lird]  Wing- 
shells  ;  fam.  of  molluscs,  properly  with  wing-like 
extensions  at  the  hinge,  as  pearl  oysters.  Warm 
and  tropical  seas.  Class  Conchifera. 

Avignon  berries.  Yellow  berries  of  the  buck- 
thorn, used  in  dyeing  (from  Avignon,  in  France). 

Avilion.  In  the  Arthurian  legends,  the  spot 
where  Arthur  was  buried.  Said  to  be  Glaston- 
bury. 

A  vinculo  matrimonii.  [L.]  From  the  bond  of 
marriage  ;  a  total  divorce. 

Avis.  [Fr.]  A  notice,  advice,  i.e.  a  vis  [L.  ad 
visum],  according  to  the  view  of  him  who  gives  it. 

Aviso,  Awiso.    (Naut.)    An  advice-boat. 

Avizandum.  (Scot.  Law.)  To  take  time  to 
consider  judgment. 

Avocado  pear,  Alligator  P.  (Bot.)  Persea  gratis- 
sima,  ord.  Lauracese  ;  a  tree  of  the  warm  parts 
of  America ;  its  fruit,  which  is  like  a  large  pear 
in  shape,  and  contains  a  large  quantity  of  firm 
buttery  pulp,  is  called  Vegetable  marrow,  or  Mid- 
shipman's  butter. 

Avocet.  [Fr.  avosette,  It.  avoselta.]  (Ornith.) 
Spec,  of  black  and  white  wading  bird,  about 
eighteen  inches  in  length,  with  long,  upcurvecl 
bill.  Now  rare  in  Great  Britain.  Gen.  Re- 
curvirostra  [L.  re-curvus,  recurved,  rostrum, 
beat],  fam.  Scolopacidse,  ord.  Grallse. 

Avoidance.  [L.  L.  ex-viduare,  to  empty,  whence 
Eng.  avoid]  (Leg.)  1.  The  period  when  a 
benefice  is  void  of  an  incumbent ;  opp.  to 
Plenarty.  2.  The  setting  aside  an  opponent's 
pleading  by  introducing  new  matter.  3.  (Par!.) 
A  formal  mode  of  dismissing  a  measure  without 
decision  on  its  principle,  as  "  that  this  Bill  be 
read  this  day  six  months." 

Avoirdupois  [Fr.,  to  have  weight]  ;  also 
written  Averdupois.  The  system  used  in  England 
for  expressing  the  weight  of  all  heavy  articles, 
and  all  metals  except  gold  and  silver.  The 
fundamental  unit  of  mass  is  the  pound  avoirdu- 
pois. (Pound.) 


AVON 


AZRA 


Avon,  Afon.  [Celtic,  river  or  wafer.]  Name 
or  part  of  name  of  many  rivers. 

Avowry.  (Leg.}  The  plea  of  one  who 
justifies  the  fact  of  having  taken  a  distress  in  his 
own  right  when  sued  in  Replevin. 

Avulsion.  [L.  avulsiS,  -nem,  from  a,  from, 
vello,  I  tear.]  (Leg.)  Land  taken  from  one 
estate  and  added  to  another  by  inundation  or 
change  of  a  river's  course. 

Avvocato  del  diavolo.     (Advocatus  diaboli.) 

Away  there!  (Naut.)  The  mode  of  giving 
an  order  to  a  boat's  crew  on  a  man-of-war. 

A-weather.  (Naut.)  When  the  tiller  is  to 
windward,  the  contrary  of  A-lee  (q.v.). 

A-weigh.     (Naut.)     (A-trip.) 

Awn.     (Arista.) 

Axil,  Axilla.  [L.  axilla,  armpit.]  (Bot.) 
The  upper  angle  formed  by  the  separation  of  a 
leaf  from  its  stem.  Adj.,  Axillary,  that  which 
grows  at  that  angle. 

Axillary  thermometer.  A  thermometer  placed 
under  the  armpit,  sometimes  in  the  mouth  or 
elsewhere,  to  ascertain  the  heat  of  the  body. 

Axiom.  [Gr.  a£i<i)/na.]  In  Geom.,  a  proposition 
which  it  is  necessary  to  take  for  granted,  and 
which  therefore  admits  of  no  demonstration ;  as, 
"  the  whole  is  greater  than  its  parts." 

Axis.  [L,]  (Anat.)  The  second  vertebra  of 
the  neck,  upon  which  the  Atlas  moves. 

Axis ;  Major  A. ;  Minor  A. ;  A.  of  a  lens ;  A.  of  a 
telescope.  [L.,  axle-tree ;  hence  the  axis  of  the 
earth.]  1.  The  line  within  a  turning  body  round 
which  the  rotation  takes  place,  and  which  remains 
at  rest  during  the  rotation.  2.  A  line  with  refer- 
ence to  which  all  the  points  of  a  body  or  curved 
line  are  symmetrically  arranged  ;  as,  the  axis  of 
a  cylinder,  the  axis  of  a  parabola.  The  A.  of  a 
lens  is  the  line  passing  through  the  centres  of 
its  surfaces.  The  A.  of  a  telescope  or  microscope 
is  the  axis  of  the  object-glass,  with  which  the 
axis  of  the  eye-piece  should  coincide.  (For 
Major  A.  and  Minor  A.,  vide  Ellipse.)  3.  (Bot.) 
The  root  and  stem  of  the  whole  plant.  The 
plumule  and  radicle  are  the  axes  of  growth, 
around  which  all  other  parts  are  arranged. 

Axis  of  a  crystal.  Through  any  point  within 
a  crystal  let  planes  be  drawn  parallel  to  its  faces 
and  cleavage  planes  ;  any  three  lines  of  intersec- 
tion of  these  planes  are  axes  of  the  crystal,  pro- 
vided they  are  not  in  one  plane.  The  positions 
of  the  faces  can  be  determined  with  reference  to 
the  axes,  and  if  known  with  reference  to  one  set 
of  axes,  they  can  be  determined  with  reference 
to  any  other  set:  In  most  cases,  however,  one 
particular  set  is  selected  and  spoken  of  as  the 
axes ;  thus,  if  any  three  intersections  are 
mutually  at  right  angles,  they  would  be  called 
the  axes  of  the  crystal. 

Axle.  [L.  axis,  Gn  &£(av.]  1.  An  axis.  2. 
A  cylindrical  shaft  on  which  a  wheel  or  other 
body  turns,  or  which  turns  with  the  wheel  on 
the  bearings.  An  axis  is  a  geometrical  abstrac- 
tion, an  axle  its  concrete  realization.  (Shaft.) 

Axle-box.  A  peculiarly  formed  journal-bear- 
ing, by  which  the  weight  of  locomotive  engines 
or  railway  carriages  is  transmitted  to  the  axles, 
and  within  which  the  axles  turn. 


Axolotl.  [Mexican.]  Sired  on  [Gr. 
sfren,  q.v.]  pisciforme  [L.  piscis,  fish,  forma, 
form],  (Zool.)  Tailed  Batrachian,  retaining  or 
losing  its  gills  according  to  circumstances. 
Possibly  it  is  the  larval  stage  of  a  salamander. 
It  is  twelve  or  fourteen  inches  long.  Mexican 
lakes. 

Ayah.  An  Indian  native  waiting-maid  or  nurse. 

Aye-aye.  [Onomatop.]  (Zool.)  1.  A  quad- 
rumanous  animal,  somewhat  resembling  a  large 
squirrel,  and  with  its  mammae  on  the  abdomen  ; 
"one  of  the  most  extraordinary  of  the  mammalia 
now  inhabiting  the  globe  "  (Wallace) ;  classed  in 
a  fam.  by  itself.  Madagascar.  Cheiromys 
Madagascanensis  [Gr.  xe'lP>  hand,  fj.vs,  mouse], 
sub-ord.  Le'muroidea,  ord.  Primates.  2.  I.q. 
Ai  (q.v.). 

Aye,  aye,  sir  (Naut.)  =  "I  understand."  As 
an  answer  from  a  boat,  it  shows  that  a  com- 
missioned officer  is  in  her.  The  addition  of  a 
ship's  name  indicates  a  captain,  and  of  "flag,"  an 
admiral. 

Ayegreen.  The  houseleek  [L.  sempervlvum 
(q.v.)]. 

Ayrshire  Ploughman,  The.     Robert  Burns. 

Ayuntamiento.  [Sp.]  The  council  of  a  town 
or  village  ;  also  called  justida,  concejo,  cabildo, 
regimiento. 

Azamoglans.  Foreign  children  brought  up 
among  the  Turks  as  Mohammedans  and  soldiers. 

Azazel.  Lev.  xvi.  8,  10;  transl.  scapegoat,  but 
meaning  quite  uncertain. 

Azi-dahaka.     (Zohak.) 

Azimuth.  [Ar.  as-samt,  a  way  or  path.] 
(Astron.)  The  arc  of  the  horizon  intercepted 
between  the  meridian  and  a  vertical  circle  drawn 
through  the  centre  of  a  heavenly  body ;  it  may 
be  reckoned  from  the  north  point,  but  in 
northern  latitudes  it  is  most  convenient  to 
reckon  it  from  the  south  point  westward  from 
o°  up  to  360°.  The  Magnetic  A.  is  a  similar 
arc  measured  from  the  magnetic  meridian ;  it 
is,  in  fact,  the  bearing  of  a  point  from  the 
magnetic  south. 

Azimuth  and  altitude  instrument.  An  instru- 
ment consisting  of  a  horizontal  circle  moving 
round  a  vertical  axis  in  fixed  supports,  and  a 
vertical  circle  moving  round  a  horizontal  axis 
which  is  rigidly  attached  to  the  former  axis.  The 
vertical  circle  carries  a  telescope  whose  axis 
coincides  with  a  diameter.  The  altitude  and 
azimuth  of  a  heavenly  body  can  be  observed  by 
it  when  properly  adjusted. 

Azimuth  compass.  A  compass  furnished  with 
sights  for  observing  the  bearing  of  points  from 
the  magnetic  north  or  south. 

Azoic  rocks.  [Gr.  a  rieg.,  foj],  life.]  (Geol.) 
Non-fossiliferous,  destitute  of  life.  This  term, 
and  Hypozoic  =  under  [fnr6]  life,  are  obsolete  as 
systematic  terms.  (Neozoic.) 

Azote.  [Gr.  a  neg.,  &4\,  life.]  Nitrogen, 
which  does  not  support  life. 

Azoth.     Paracelsus'  panacea,  or  elixir  of  life. 

Azrael.  [A  Semitic  word.]  With  Jews  and 
Mohammedans,  the  angel  of  death,  once  visible 
to  those  whom  he  took  away,  now  invisible,  by 
reason  of  Mohammed's  prayer. 


AZTE  f 

Aztecs.  A  dwarfish  people  of  considerable 
civilization,  in  the  high-land  of  Anahuac,  in  S. 
America;  now  extinct.  Two  children,  said  to 
belong  to  this  race,  were  exhibited  in  London  in 
1853  ;  but  Professor  Owen  pronounced  them  to 
be  dwarfs,  probably  from  S.  America. 

Azulejo.  An  enamelled  tile.  The  Moors  in- 
troduced this  kind  of  work  into  Spain  in  the 
eighth  century  ;  examples  of  A.  of  the  thirteenth 
century  are  found  in  the  Alhambra. 

Azuline.  A  coal-tar  dye,  giving  a  fine  blue 
colour  with  a  shade  of  red  in  it. 


BACK 

Azure.  [Pers.  eazur,  blue.}  (Her.)  The  blue 
colour  in  coats  of  arms,  represented  in  engrav- 
ing by  horizontal  lines. 

Azure  stone.     (Lapis  lazuli.) 

Azurite.  1.  (Lapis  lazuli.)  2.  Blue  carbonate 
of  copper. 

Azygous.  [Gr.  &£vyos,  not  paired}  (Anai.) 
Said  of  muscles,  bones,  etc.,  that  are  single. 

Azymite.  One  who  uses  unleavened  [Gr. 
#fouos]  bread  in  the  Eucharist.  So  the  Latins 
and  others  have  been  termed  by  the  Greek 
Church. 


B. 


B  is  used  as  an  abbreviation  for  before,  as 
B.C.,  before  Christ ;  or  for  bachelor,  as  B.A., 
Bachelor  of  Arts.  Among  the  Greeks  and 
Hebrews,  B  denoted  2  ;  among  the  Romans,  300, 
with  a  dash  over  it,  3000.  It  is  also  the  name  of 
one  of  the  notes  in  the  musical  scale,  answering 
to  the  French  Si. 

Baal,  Bel.  [Heb.,  lord,  master.}  The  Semitic 
sun-god,  worshipped  as  the  embodiment  of  mere 
power.  (Moloch.) 

Baalzebub,  Baalzebul.     (Muiagros.) 

Babes  or  Children  in  the  Wood.  Children  of 
the  "Norfolk  gentleman"  of  an  old  favourite 
ballad.  Their  guardian  uncle  hired  two  ruffians 
to  kill  them  ;  one,  relenting,  slew  the  other,  and 
deserted  the  children,  who,  dying  in  the  night, 
were  covered  with  leaves  by  robin  redbreast. 
(Cf.  the  "Two  Wanderers,"  in  Grimm's  House- 
hold Stories.) 

Babies  in  the  eyes.  Reflexions  of  one's  self  in 
the  eyes  of  another. 

Babington's  Conspiracy  (named  from  one  of 
the  number).  That  of  some  English  gentlemen, 
with  some  priests  of  an  English  seminary  at 
Rheims ;  one  John  Savage  was  hired  to  kill 
Queen  Elizabeth,  and  an  insurrection  was  to  be 
raised,  aided  by  a  Spanish  invasion.  Fourteen 
were  executed,  September,  1586. 

Babism,  Babi.  Persian  pantheistic  heresy  from 
Mohammedanism,  founded,  A.D.  1843,  by  Seyud 
Mohammed  AH  of  Shiraz. 

Bablah  bark.  [Pers.  babul,  a  mimosa.]  The 
shell  of  the  fruit  of  a  kind  of  mimosa,  used  in 
dyeing  drab. 

Baboon.  [Cf.  Fr.  babouin,  from  the  same  root 
as  Ger.  bappe,  thick-lipped  (Littre).]  (Zool.) 
Gen.  of  monkey,  with  clog-like  nose,  bare 
(frequently  bright-coloured)  nasal  callosities, 
generally  short  tail ;  some  (as  mandrill)  very 
large.  Africa.  Cynocephalus,  fam.  Cynopi- 
thecidse,  ord.  Primates. 

Baboon,  Louis  -—  the  French,  in  Dr.  Arbuth- 
not's  John  Bull.  (Bull,  John.) 

Bacca,  or  Berry.  In  Bot.,  =  succulent  fruit, 
having  seeds  in  a  pulpy  mass ;  e.g.  gooseberry, 
grape,  potato-berry;  the  hawthorn  raspberry 
rose,  not  having  true  berries.  Adj.,  Baccate, 
Kaceated. 


Baccalaureat.  The  first  or  lower  degree  in 
any  faculty  conferred  in  universities. 

Baccarat.     A  gambling  game  at  cards. 

Bacchanalia.  [L.]  A  festival  to  Bacchus,  god 
of  wine,  at  which  the  celebrants  were  called 
bacchanals. 

Bacchanalian.  Relating  to  Bacchus  or  Diony- 
sos,  a  Semitic  deity  representing  the  powers  of 
the  Cosmos  generally,  whose  orgiastic  worship 
was  introduced  into  Greece  against  strong  oppo- 
sition from  the  people.  The  name  Bacchus, 
which  appears  as  Bocchus,  the  title  of  the  Maure- 
tanian  kings,  is  a  corr.  of  Malchus,  Malek, 
Moloch  (Brown,  Great  Dionysiak  Myth,  ii.  100). 

Bacchante.  [Fr.]  A  female  worshipper  of 
Bacchus  ;  hence  a  termagant. 

Bacchlus.  [Gr.  /Soucx*  ios.]  In  metre,  a  foot, 

w ;  e.g.  tJlysses.  Anti-bacchius  being  the 

opposite  to  B.,  i.e.  —  —  w  ;  e.g.  dilecte  (q.v.). 

Bacchus.    (Bacchanalian.) 

-bach.  [Cymric,  little.}  Part  of  names,  as 
Penmaen-bach. 

Bachelor  [L.L.  baccalarius,  from  which  this 
word  has  been  obtained]  denotes  a.  farm  servant; 
hence,  as  some  have  supposed,  any  young  man  ; 
and  so  a  younger  student,  or  one  who  has  re- 
ceived a  lower  degree  in  any  faculty,  e.g.  B.A., 
B.D.,  as  distinct  from  M.A.  and  D.D.  The 
word  also  denotes  a  lower  knighthood,  which 
some  have  explained,  however,  as  =  bas  cheva- 
lier (?).  The  Latinized  baccalaureus  gave  rise  to 
the  notion  which  explained  the  word  as  =  baccis 
laureis  donatus,  crowned  with  a  laurel  wreath 
(see  Littre  and  Brachet,  s.v.). 

Bacile,  Bacino.  [It.,  basin.}  A  glazed  plate, 
of  uncertain  origin,  encrusted  upon  church  walls 
in  Italy.  B.  Amatorio,  a  faience  plate,  with 
a  portrait  and  posy. 

Bacillarise.  [L.  bacillum,  dim.  of  baculum,  a 
staff}  A  small  group  of  Diatomacea.  (Desmi- 
diacea.) 

Back.  [D.  bac,  a  tray  or  bowl}  A  large 
vessel  used  in  brewing. 

Back-bond.  (Scot.  Laiv.)  A  deed  of  declara- 
tion of  trust. 

Backing,  i.q.  endorsement.  B.  a  warrant,  en- 
dorsement by  a  justice  of  a  warrant  granted  in 
another  jurisdiction. 


BACK 


53 


BALA 


Backing  and  filling.  (Naut.)  Getting  to 
windward  by  sailing  and  backing  alternately, 
with  a  favourable  tide,  in  a  channel  too  narrow 
for  turning. 

Back-lash.  The  space  allowed  for  play  be- 
tween the  teeth  of  wheels,  to  enable  them  to 
work  in  either  direction  without  wedging  them- 
selves. 

Back-painting.  A  method  of  staining  the  backs 
of  mezzotinto  prints  affixed  to  glass,  so  as  to  give 
them  the  appearance  of  stained  glass. 

Back-pressure.  The  resistance  offered  by  the 
air  and  waste  steam  to  the  motion  of  the  piston 
of  a  steam-engine. 

Back-raking  a  horse.  The  removal  of  hard- 
ened faeces  by  the  greased  hand  and  arm. 

Backs.  Leather  made  of  the  strongest  oxhides. 
Backshish,  Bakshish.  [Ar.j  A  gratuity. 
Back-sight.  In  levelling  along  a  line,  suppose 
the  staff  to  be  held  at  points  A,  B,  C,  D,  etc., 
successively,  the  level  is  first  placed  between 
A  and  B,  then  between  B  and  C,  then  between 
C  and  D,  and  so  on  ;  in  these  positions  the 
surveyor  looks  back  to  A,  B,  C,  etc.,  and  for- 
ward to  B,  C,  D,  etc.,  and  in  each  case  reads 
the  staff;  the  former  readings  are  called  back- 
sights, the  latter  fore-sights. 

Back-staff.    An  instrument  formerly  used  for 
taking  the  sun's  altitude  at  sea. 
Backstays.    (Stays.) 
Back,  To.     (Naut.)     To  go  stern  first. 
Backwardation.     (Stockbrok.)      Consideration 
paid  on  settling  day  by  bears  (y.v.),  for  carrying 
over  their  bargains.     (Continuations.) 

Back-water.  1.  Water  held  back  by  a  dam 
or  other  obstruction.  2.  Water  thrown  back  by 
the  turning  of  a  water-wheel,  and  moving  up 
stream. 

Back  water,  To.  In  rowing,  to  work  the  oar 
the  reverse  way. 

Baconian  method  =  inductive ;  Lord  Bacon, 
although  not  the  inventor,  having  been  first  to 
lay  down  rules  of  experiment  and  observation. 

Bacteria.  [Gr.  /So/crr^a,  a  staff.}  (Zoo/.) 
Short,  staff-shaped,  microscopic  organisms,  oi 
disputed  origin  and  nature,  found  in  organic 
infusions,  but  not  appearing  if,  after  boiling,  none 
but  thoroughly  filtered  air  is  admitted.  They  are 
accompanied  by  thread-like  vibrwnes  [L.  vibro, 
I  vibrate],  and  are,  after  an  interval,  succeeded 
by  active,  single-ciliated,  spherical  monads,  per- 
hans  the  larvae  of  infusoria  (q.v .). 
Badaud.  [Fr.]  Idler. 

Badenoch.  District  in  Inverness,  at  foot  o 
Grampians. 

Badger.  [Heb.  tachash  ;  Exod.  xxv.  5,  etc.' 
(Bibl.  and  Zool.)  1.  Probably  Dugong  (q.v.),  or 
as  some,  the  badger  \cf.  L.  taxus,  Ger.  dachs] 
2.  A  licensed  dealer  in  corn,  etc. 

Badger-bag.  (Naut.)  He  who  represent 
Neptune  when  a  ship  crosses  the  line. 

Badigeon.  [Fr.,  stone-coloured ;  origin  un 
known.]  A  fine  plaster,  for  filling  holes  in 
statuary. 

Badinage.  [Fr.  badiner,  to  jest.]  Trifling 
playful  talk,  "  chaff." 

Badminton.  1.  Outdoor  game  with  battledore 


nd   shuttlecocks.     2.  Also  a  drink,  a  kind   of 
laret-cup. 

Baffling  winds.    (Naut.)     Shifty  W. 

Bagala.  [An,  mule.]  (Naut.)  A  high- 
terned  vessel  of  Muscat,  of  from  50  to  300  tons, 
uilt  rather  for  carrying  than  sailing. 

Bagasse.     [Fr.]     (Cane-trash.) 

Bagatelle.      [Fr.,   little  bundle,  O.Fr.  bague.] 
.  A    trifle.      2.  A    game    played    on    a    long 
>oard  with  nine  holes  at  further  end,  with  balls 
and  cue. 

Bagaudae.  A  name  given  to  peasants  in  Gaul, 
vho  rose  against  the  Romans  in  the  third 
entury. 

Bagnes.     [Fr.]     Hulks,  convict  prisons, 

Bag  on  a  bowline,  To.  (Naut.)  To  fall  oft 
>ne's  course. 

Bagshot-sand.  (B.,  village  in  Surrey.)  The 
owest  series  of  strata  in  the  Middle  Eocene 
jroup  of  the  English  Tertiaries. 

Baguette.  [Fr.,  a  wand.]  (Arch.)  A  small 
ound  moulding.  (Bead-moulding.) 

Bahadur  [Pers.]  =  worshipful. 

Bahr.  [Ar.,  sea.]  Lake,  large  river,  as  Bahr 
Tubairyeh,  the  Sea  of  Tiberias  or  Lake  of 
Galilee. 

Baidar.     (Nattt.)     An  Arctic  canoe  manned 
six  or  twelve  paddles. 

Bailee.  One  who  is  in  temporary  possession 
of  goods  committed  to  him  in  trust. 

Bailey.  [L.L.  ballium,  Fr.  bailie.]  A  castle 
court  between  the  walls  surrounding  the  keep, 
[n  the  Old  Bailey,  London,  the  name  survives 
after  the  castle  has  disappeared. 

Bailie.  In  Scotland,  a  municipal  magistrate 
=  alderman. 

Bailiwick.  [Fr.  bailli,  bailiff,  and  Saxon  vie 
=  vicus,  street  or  dwelling.}  The  district  within 
which  authority  is  exercised  ;  so  a  county  is  the 
B.  of  a  sheriff,  or  a  particular  liberty  is  the  B.  of 
some  lord. 

Bairam.  The  Mohammedan  feast  which  fol- 
lows the  Eamadan,  or  month  of  fasting.  Owing 
to  the  use  of  the  lunar  months,  these  periods  range 
round  the  whole  year  in  a  cycle  of  thirty-three 


years. 


Bajaderes.  Indian  dancing  women,  who  may 
be  compared  with  the  Ambubaiee. 

Bajocco.  [It.]  A  papal  copper  coin,  worth 
about  a  halfpenny ;  said  to  be  from  bajo,  bay- 
coloured  ;  cf.  "a  brown,"  slang  for  a  penny  or  a 
halfpenny.  No  longer  current. 

Bajiilus.  [L.]  Lit.  one  who  carries  anything. 
(Eccl.)  Bajulus  aquae,  the  bearer  of  holy  water 
in  processions. 

Baker's  dozen.     Colloquial  for  thirteen. 

Bal-,  Balla-,  Bally-.  [Gadhelic  baile,  an  abode.} 
In  Ireland,  Scotland,  and  Wales,  =  stockade, 
abode,  enclosure,  as  in  Bal-moral,  Bally-shannon ; 
cf.  bailey  [L.  ballum,  Eng.  wall]. — Taylor, 
Words  and  Phrases. 

Bala-.  Cymric  name  or  part  of  name  ;  effluence 
of  a  stream  from  a  lake,  as  Bala. 

Balance  of  power.  A  fictitious  diplomatic 
phrase,  =  absence  of  any  specially  predominant 
power  ;  disturbance  of  the  status  quo  in  Europe 
is  said  to  affect  the  B.  of  P. 


BALA 


54 


BAMB 


Balance  of  watch.  The  part  which,  by  its 
motion,  regulates  the  beat. 

Balandra.  (Naut.)  1.  A  lighter.  2.  A  kind 
of  schooner.  3.  A  Spanish  pleasure-boat. 
[Sp.  form  of  Eng.  bilander  (q.v.)>  D.  bijlander, 
Fr.  belandre.] 

Balanoid.  In  shape  [Gr.  e?Sos]  like  an  acorn 
[0d\avos]. 

Balanus.  [Gr.  £a\aj/os,  an  acorn.]  Acorn- 
shell  ;  cessile  Cirriped  Crustacean,  affixed  by 
head  to  rock,  etc.,  protected  by  calcareous  shell. 
Larva  (Nauplius)  and  pupa  free.  Gives  its  name 
to  fam.  Balanidse. 

Balas  ruby.     (Buby.) 

Balaustin.  [Gr.  j8aA.atWio»>,  wild  pomegranate 
flower.]  (Bot.)  A  term  applied  to  pomegranate- 
like  fruit;  i.e.  with  leathery  rind,  and  drupes 
arranged  in  cells  within. 

Balcar.     (Balkers.) 

Baldachino  [It.],  Baldachin,  Bawdequin.  A 
canopy,  originally  of  rich  silk  from  Baldacco,  i.e. 
Bagdad ;  hence  a  piece  of  furniture  fixed  over 
the  principal  altar  of  a  church  or  carried  over 
sacred  persons  or  things ;  the  modern  form  of 
Ciborium.  The  most  celebrated  is  at  St. 
Peter's,  Rome. 

Balder.  The  white  sun-god  of  Teut.  Myth. 
The  first  syllable  of  the  name  is  found  in  Bj el- 
bog,  the  pale  or  white  spirit.  (Tschernibog.) 

Balderdash.  1.  Senseless  talk,  jargon.  2.  A 
trashy  worthless  mixture  of  liquor.  [Accord- 
ing to  Latham,  from  Welsh  balldorddus,  imperfect 
utterance  ;  cf.  Gr.  fiaTTohoyw,  fiaTrapifa,  and  L. 
balbutio.] 

Baldric.  [L.L.  baldrellus.]  1.  A  girdle  used 
by  feudal  warriors.  2.  A  bell-rope.  3.  The 
leather  strap  connecting  the  clapper  with  the 
crown  of  the  ball.  4.  Broad  leather  belt  cross- 
ing the  body,  for  suspending  the  sword  from  the 
right  shoulder. 

Baldwin's  phosphorus.     (Phosphorus.) 

Bale.  [Goth,  balwjan,  torquere  (Richard- 
son).] Writhing,  misery,  calamity.  Bale-fire,  a 
fire  signalling  alarm. 

Bale,  Selling  under  the.  Selling  goods 
unopened,  wholesale.  [Bale,  a  package,  Fr. 
bale,  one  of  the  many  variants  of  the  word 
which  in  Eng.  is  ball.'} 

Baleen.  [Fr.  baleine,  L.  balaena,  Gr.  tpdXaiva 
and  <t>d\i)t  Scand.  hvalo,  and  Eng.  whale.] 
Whalebone,  the  horny  laminae  through  which 
the  whale  strains  its  food. 

Balinger,  or  Balangha.  (Naut.}  1.  A  small 
sloop.  2.  A  barge.  3.  A  small  war-ship  with- 
out forecastle,  formerly  in  use. 

Baling-strips.  Strips  of  thin  iron  for  binding 
bales. 

Balister.  A  cross-bow.  [L.L.  balistarius, 
i.e.  arcus.]  (Arcubalist;  Ballista.) 

Balistraria  [L.],  Arbalestria  [L.],  Arbalis- 
teria  [L.].  Narrow  apertures  in  the  walls  of 
a  fortress,  for  the  discharge  of  arrows  from  the 
cross-bow ;  often  cruciform ;  thirteenth,  four- 
teenth, and  fifteenth  centuries. 

Balk.  [A.S.  bselc.]  1.  A  strip  or  ridge  of 
land  purposely  lef '•  .out  in  ploughing.  2.  Spelt 
aiso  baulk  ;  the  sqi  ared  trunk  of  the  fir ;  a  large 


beam  of  timber ;  cf.  Ger.  balken,  a  beam. 
[Query  :  Are  these  two  words  or  only  one  with 
some  radical  meaning  of  straightness,  whence  to- 
balk  —  (i)  to  check,  disappoint ;  (2)  to  heap  up 
in  a  ridge  ?  Cf.  a  billiard  ball  "  in  balk."] 

Balkers.  Watchers  on  heights  for  shoals  of 
herring. 

Ballast.  [Of  doubtful  origin.]  (Naut.} 
Weighty  materials,  as  iron,  gravel,  casks  of 
water,  carried  below  to  keep  a  vessel's  centre  of 
gravity  down.  A  ship  in  B.  —  laden  with  B. 
only.  Shifting  of  B.  is  its  getting  out  of  its 
proper  position  through  rolling. 

Ballatoon,  (Naut.)  A  small  Indian  schooner 
without  topsails. 

Ballerina.     [It.]     A  female  dancer. 

Ballet.  [It.  palletta,  a  little  ball.]  1.  (Her.) 
A  roundlet  or  small  disc.  (Pallet.)  2.  A  theatrical 
representation  by  means  of  movements  and 
dances  accompanied  by  music. 

Ball-flower.  (Arch.)  An  ornament  shaped 
like  a  globular  flower,  frequently  used  in  build- 
ings of  the  Geometrical  and  Continuous  styles 
of  English  architecture. 

Balling  process.  The  process  by  which  salt- 
cake  is  converted  into  ball-soda.  The  furnace 
used  is  called  the  balling  furnace.  (Salt-cake ; 
Black-ash.) 

Ballista,  Balista.  [L.,  from  Gr.  pd\\u>,  I 
throiv.]  A  large  military  engine,  used  by  the 
ancients  for  throwing  stones,  etc.,  as  the 
Catapulta,  a  kind  of  powerful  cross-bow  [Gr. 
KaTCMreATrjs],  was  for  heavy  darts,  arrows,  etc. 
Its  construction,  of  which  there  were  several 
varieties,  is  not  very  well  known. 

Ballistics.  [From  Ballista  (q.v.).]  The 
doctrine  of  the  motion  of  projectiles  in  a  resisting 
medium,  such  as  the  air. 

Balloen.  (Naut.)  A  Siamese  State  galley, 
shaped  as  a  sea-monster,  with  from  140  to  200 
oars. 

Ball-soda.     (Black-ash.) 

Balluster  has  been  corr.  into  banister.  [It.  ba- 
lestriera,  a  loop-hole  for  the  cross-bow  (L.  balista); 
afterwards  applied  to  the  columns  themselves.] 

Balm,  Common.  A  plant  with  lemon-scented 
leaves  and  stem,  which  yield  oil  of  B.  ;  Melissa 
omcinalis,  ord.  Lab.  An  infusion  of  B.  is  a 
popular  remedy  in  fevers. 

Bal  masque.     [Fr.]     Fancy  ball. 

Balneum.  [L.]  Among  the  Romans,  in  the 
singular,  a  private  bath,  as  distinguished  from 
the  Balnese,  or  public  baths. 

Balsa.  S.  American  float  or  raft,  resting 
partly  on  air-tight  skins ;  for  landing  goods 
through  a  heavy  surf. 

Balsam.  [Gr.  £aA<raJuo>>.]  A  vegetable  pro- 
duct, containing  benzoic  acid.  Balsams  of  Peru 
and  of  Tolu  are  S.  American  balsams,  used  as 
stimulants  and  expectorants.  Canada  balsam 
and  balsam  of  copaiba  (Canada  balsam;  Copaiba) 
are  not  true  balsams,  but  oleo-resins. 

Balsamo,  Jos.  A  famous  charlatan  and  mes- 
merist of  the  last  century ;  also  called  Cagliosiro. 

Balzarine.  A  light  material  of  worsted  and 
cotton  for  ladies'  dresses. 

Bambino.     [It.,    a  child.]    A   representation 


BAMB 


55 


BANN 


of  the  infant  Jesus ;  sometimes,  but  not  neces- 
sarily, wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes. 

Bambocciata.  [It.,  from  bamboccio,  a  puppet, 
from  bambo,  an  infant  (Bambino).]  A  picture, 
generally  grotesque,  of  common  rustic  life,  such 
as  those  of  Peter  van  Lear,  seventeenth  century, 
nicknamed  the  Cripple  [It.  il  Bamboccio]. 

Bambusa,  Bamboo.  Arborescent  grasses,  Asiatic 
and  American,  having  many  spec. 

Bampton  Lectures.  Founded  by  Canon  B.  ; 
a  yearly  course  of  eight  sermons  at  St.  Mary's, 
Oxford,  by  the  Lecturer  of  the  year ;  since  1 780. 

Ban-.  [Gaelic  and  Erse,  white.]  Name  or 
part  name  of  rivers,  as  Bann,  Ban-don. 

Ban.  1.  [In  Slav.,  master.]  Lords  of  some 
frontier  provinces  were  so  called ;  the  Ban 
being  the  Viceroy  or  Governor  of  Croatia. 
Banat,  Bannat,  the  lordship  of  a  B.  (Tabernicus.) 
2.  [Fr.]  A  national  levy  of  soldiers  in  feudal 
times.  Lever  le  ban  et  1'arriere  ban,  a  summons 
of  the  feudal  lords  and  the  tenants  tinder  them; 
arriere  ban  being  a  corr.  of  heribannum,  from 
Ger.  heer,  an  army. 

Ban,  Banns.  [H.G.  bannan,  to  publish  a 
decree.]  Originally  simply  a  proclamation,  as  in 
Gaelic  and  modern  Welsh ;  hence  banish,  ban- 
ditti;  ban  in  the  sense  of  a  curse  ;  ban,  a  levy ; 
banns  of  marriage. 

Banana.    (Plantain.) 

Banco.  [It.]  1.  (Leg.}  2.  In  Commerce, 
Bank  money,  standard  money;  as  opposed  to 
the  inferior  coinage  which  may  be  current ;  and 
which  was  received,  in  early  banking  times,  at 
this  its  intrinsic  value  only.  B.  now  refers 
generally  to  the  Hamburg  bank  accounts,  which 
are  not  represented  in  corresponding  coinage. 

Banco,  Bane,  Sittings  in.  [L.L.  bancus,  bench.] 
Sittings  of  a  superior  court  of  common  law 
as  a  full  court. 

Band ;  Crossed  B. ;  Direct  B. ;  Endless  B.  A 
broad  leather  strap  having  its  ends  joined  and 
passing  over  two  wheels  fixed  on  parallel  shafts, 
to  communicate  the  motion  of  the  one  to  the 
other.  The  term  is  also  applied  to  cords  and 
other  wrapping  connectors.  A  band  is  some- 
times called  an  Endless  B. ,  and  is  either  direct, 
when  its  straight  parts  are  parallel,  or  crossed ; 
a  direct  B.  makes  the  wheels  turn  in  the  same, 
a  crossed  B.  in  opposite,  directions. 

Bandanna.  1.  Peculiar  silk  handkerchief  made 
in  India.  2.  Similar  calico  printing  in  England. 

Bandeau.  [Fr.]  A  band  or  fillet,  principally 
as  a  head-dress  or  part  of  a  head-dress. 

Banded.     (Her. )     Tied  with  a  band. 

Bande  Noire.  [Fr.]  German  foot -soldiers, 
part  of  the  Grand  Companies  employed  by 
Louis  XII.  in  his  Italian  wars:  they  carried 
a  black  ensign  when  a  favourite  general  died. 
The  name  was  similarly  borne  by  other  soldiers, 
both  French  and  Italians ;  it  was  given  also, 
in  the  first  French  Revolution,  to  some  societies 
which  bought  confiscated  property  of  the  Church, 
of  emigrants,  etc. 

Banderol.  [Fr.  banderolle,  from  It.  bande- 
ruola.]  Flag  about  two  feet  square,  for  signalling, 
and  also  for  marking  the  points  during  military 
manoeuvres. 


Bandfish.  Gen.  of  fish  (Cepola),  of  ribbon- 
like  form.  One  spec,  colour  red,  length  about 
fifteen  inches  (C.  rubescens)  [L.,  reddening]. 
British ;  most  others,  Japanese.  Fam.  Cepo- 
lidte,  ord.  Acanthopterygii,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Bandicoot.  [Telinga,  pandi-koku,  pig-rat.] 
Fam.  of  rat-like  insectivorous  marsupials. 
Australia  and  islands.  Peramelidae  [coined 
from  Gr.  inrjpa,  a  pouch,  L.  m£les  or  melis,  a 
marten  or  badger], 

Banditti.  [It.]  Properly,  persons  put  under 
a  ban  and  outlawed.  But  the  word  has  now 
much  the  same  meaning  as  robber.  (Ban.) 

Ban-dog ;  i.e.  band-dog ;  any  large  watch- 
dog, kept  tied  tip. 

Bandoleers.  Small  wooden  cases  covered 
with  leather,  for  holding  the  charges  of  a  musket, 
and  suspended  from  a  shoulder-belt.  [Fr.  ban- 
douliere,  from  It.  bandoliera.] 

Bandore,  Pandore.  [Gr.  iravSovpa.]  A  kind 
of  lute  with  twelve  wire  strings.  The  word  has 
been  corr.  into  Banjo. 

Bang,  Bhang.  A  narcotic  made  of  the.  larger 
leaves  and  seed  capsules  of  Indian  hemp  ;  i.q. 
Haschish .  (Assassin. ) 

Bangle.  1.  A  plain,  or  somewhat  plain,  metal 
bracelet.  2.  To  waste  by  little  and  little,  to 
squander  carelessly ;  in  Dr.  Johnson's  time  a 
colloquial  word  only. 

Bangorian  Controversy,  The.  Upon  the  rela- 
tions of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  authority,  between 
Bishop  Hoadley  of  Bangor,  and  W.  Law, 
author  of  Serious  Call,  with  others,  A.D.  1717. 

Bangor  Use.     (Use.) 

Bania,  or  Bunnea.  [Hind.]  A  money-lender, 
banker. 

Banian.  A  merchant  class  among  the  Hindus ; 
mostly  very  strict  in  observance  of  fasts  :  hence 
" Banian  days"  in  nautical  slang,  =  days  on 
which  meat  is  not  served. 

Banjo-frames.  (Naut.}  Frames  by  which 
screw-propellers  are  raised  on  deck,  and  in 
which  they  work. 

Banked  fires.  (Naut.)  Fires  drawn  forward, 
and  covered  with  ashes,  so  as  just  to  keep  the 
water  in  the  boilers  hot. 

Banker.  (Naut.)  A  vessel  employed  on  the 
Newfoundland  Bank,  i.e.  in  cod-fishery. 

Bank  Holidays.  Easter  Monday,  Monday  in 
Whitsun  week,  first  Monday  in  August,  and 
December  26. 

Bank  money.     (Banco.) 

Bank  rate.  The  variable  rate  at  which  the 
Bank  of  England  advances  money. 

Bank  stock.  Shares  in  the  property  of  a  bank, 
especially  Bank  of  England. 

Ban  lieue.  [L.L.  banleuca,  ban  (q.v.),  and 
leuca,  Celtic,  a  league,  an  indefinite  amount  of 
territory.]  Land  outside  the  walls  of  a  town, 
but  subject  to  its  law. 

Bannatyne  Club.  Instituted  1823,  by  Sir  W. 
Scott ;  its  object  the  printing  in  a  uniform 
manner  of  rare  works  of  Scottish  history, 
topography,  poetry,  etc.  Geo.  B.,  antiquary, 
collector  of  "Ancient  Scottish  Poems,"  1568. 

Bannerer.  In  mediaeval  times,  bore  the 
banner  of  the  city  of  London  in  war. 


BANN 


BARD 


Banneret.  A  feudal  lord  who  led  his  men  to 
battle  under  his  own  banner.  The  privilege  of 
so  leading  them  was  often  awarded  on  the 
battle-field  to  those  who  had  there  distinguished 
themselves. 

Bannering.    Beating  the  bounds  [L.L.  banna]. 

Bannerole.     (Banderol.) 

Bannimus.  [L.L.,  -we  banish. ]  Form  of  ex- 
pulsion from  Oxford  University. 

Bannock.  In  Scotland,  a  home-made  cake, 
generally  of  pease -meal,  or  pease  and  barley 
mixed,  baked  on  a  girdle,  i.e.  circular  iron  plate. 

Banquette.  [Fr.,  a  bench,  dim.  of  banque,  a 
bank,  from  It.  banca.]  (Fortif.)  Low  bank  of 
earth,  placed  on  the  inside  at  a  suitable  height, 
to  enable  the  defenders  to  fire  over  the  parapet. 

Banshie.  In  Irish  Myth.,  a  phantom  in  female 
form,  supposed  to  announce  the  approaching 
death  of  living  persons,  and  answering  to  the 
Grey  spectre  or  Bodach  Glas  of  Scotland  (Scott, 
Waverley,  ch.  xxx.). 

Banstickle.  Spec,  of  stickleback,  three-spined. 
Gasterosteas  [Gr.  yaffr-fip,  belly,  bffTfov,  bone], 
fam.  Gasterosteidse,  ord.  Acanthopterygii,  sub- 
class Tgleostei.  (Stickleback.) 

Bantine  Table.  [L.  Tabula  Bantma.]  A 
bronze  tablet,  with  an  Oscan  inscription  of  thirty- 
three  lines,  found  A.D.  1793,  near  Bantia,  in 
Apulia. 

Banting.  One  who  diets  himself  to  prevent 
fatness,  or  the  diet  of  such,  from  W.  Banting, 
notorious  (A.D.  1863)  for  having  thus  become 
thin. 

Bantling.  [Probably  =  handling,  an  infant 
in  swaddling  clothes.]  A  child;  meton.,  an 
author's  pet  work. 

Banyan  tree  of  India.  Ficus  IndTca,  ord. 
Urtlcaceae  ;  a  native  of  most  parts  of  India. 

Baobab,  or  Adansonia  digitdta  (Adanson,  Fr. 
naturalist).  Monkey-Bread,  Sour  Gourd,  an  ex- 
traordinary tree  of  Trop.  Africa,  nat.  ord.  Bom- 
bacese  ;  the  only  spec,  known  ;  in  Humboldt's 
opinion,  "  the  oldest  organic  monument  of  our 
planet." 

Baphic.  Belonging  to  dyes  or  dyeing 
[Gr.  j8a^]. 

Baphomet.  [Corr.  of  Mahomet.]  Some  kind 
of  figure  or  symbol,  which  the  Templars  were 
accused  of  using  in  magical  rites. 

Baptistery.  [Gr.  ^aTma-rfipiov.]  1.  A  part  of 
a  church,  or  a  separate  building,  for  baptism  by 
immersion.  2.  A  canopied  enclosure  containing 
the  font. 

Bar.  (Her.)  An  ordinary  bounded  by  two 
horizontal  lines  drawn  across  an  escutcheon,  so  as 
to  contain  one-fifth  part  of  it.  In  popular 
language,  Bar  sinister  =  Baton  (q.v.). 

Bar,  Confederation  of.  An  unsuccessful  asso- 
ciation of  some  Polish  nobles,  formed  at  Bar, 
1767,  for  the  purpose  of  freeing  their  country 
from  foreign  influence. 

Bar,  Trial  at.     Trial  before  the  judges  of  the 
superior  court   instead  of  at   nisi  prius   (q. 
generally  before  a  special  jury. 

Baragouin.  [Fr.]  Jargon,  gibberish ;  origin- 
ally the  Bas-Breton  language,  of  which  the  words 
bara,  bread,  and  gwin,  wine,  occurred  most 


frequently  in   conversations   between   the   Bas- 
Bretons  and  the  French  (Littre,  Brachet). 

Barataria.  Sancho  Panza's  island-city,  in 
Don  Quixote.  [Sp.  barato,  cheap, .] 

Barb.     An  Arabian  or  Barbary  horse. 

Barba.  [L.,  beard.]  (Bot.)  A  sort  of  down 
found  on  the  leaves  of  some  plants.  Barbate, 
having  a  B. 

Barbados  leg.     (Elephantiasis.) 

Barbarian.  A  word  used  by  the  Greeks  to 
designate  all  who  were  not  Greeks.  It  represents 
the  Skt.  varvara,  applied  by  the  Aryan  invaders 
of  India  to  the  negro-like  aboriginal  inhabitants 
whom  they  found  there.  Another  Greek  form 
of  the  word  is  Belleros.  (Bellerophon's  letters.) — 
Max  Mtiller,  Chips,  vol.  ii.  Bellerophon. 

Barbecue.  A  beast,  especially  hog,  stuffed 
and  roasted  whole.  [  (?)  Fr.  barbe  a  queue,  snout 
to  tail.] 

Barbed  horse.  [Fr.,  L.  barba, «  beard.]  Com- 
pletely equipped  with  armour.  Barb  means  a 
hooked  point,  armour  for  horses. 

Barbel.  [O.Fr.,  L.  barbellus,  dim.  of  barbus, 
id.,  from  barba,  a  beard.]  Numerous  gen.  of  fish, 
with  four  barbules,  two  at  tip  of  nose,  two  at 
corners  of  mouth.  Europe,  Asia,  Africa ;  one 
spec.  British.  Barbus,  fam.  Cyprlnidse,  ord. 
Physostomi,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Barberini  vase.     (Portland  vase.) 

Barberry.  [Ar.  barbaris,  L.L.  berberis  vul- 
garis.]  1.  Ord.  Berberidese ;  a  British  shrub 
with  racemes  of  yellow  flowers  ;  the  fruit  is  used 
as  a  preserve.  2.  Another  kind,  B.  aquifolium, 
is  the  well-known  plant  of  English  shrubberies. 

Barber-surgeons.  Corporations  with  certain 
privileges,  from  Edward  IV.'s  time,  1461,  till 
1 8  George  II.  dissolved  the  connexion.  The 
barber's  pole  still  represents  the  ribbon  wound 
round  the  arm  before  blood-letting. 

Barbet.  [Fr.,  dim.  of  barbe,  beard.]  1.  The 
poodle  dog,  especially  the  small  breed.  2. 
(Bucconidse.) 

Barbette.  [Fr.,  barbe,  beard,  parce  que  le 
canon  fait  la  barbe,  rase  1'epaulement  (Littre).] 
Elevation  of  earth  placed  in  salient  works  of  a 
fortification  to  give  guns  freer  range,  by  being 
fired  without  embrasures. 

Barbican.  Masonry  fortification,  formerly 
used  to  protect  the  drawbridge  leading  into  a 
town  ;  also  as  a  watch-tower.  [Fr.  barbacane, 
Ar.  barbak-khaneh,  a  rampart ;  introduced,  like 
many  other  military  words,  by  the  Crusaders.] 

Barbiton.  [Gr.  pdp&lros  and  -oi/.]  Some 
kind  of  lyre,  seven-stringed,  used  by  the  ancient 
Greeks. 

Barca-longa.  [Sp.]  1.  A  Spanish  coasting 
lugger,  undecked  and  pole-masted,  and  fitted 
with  sweeps  for  rowing.  2.  A  Spanish  gun-boat. 

Barcarolle,  Barquerolle.  [Fr.  barque,  a  bark.] 
Song  of  Venetian  gondoliers,  or  one  of  the  same 
character. 

Barcone.     A  short  lighter  ;  Mediterranean. 

Bard.    [L.L.  bardae.]    Horse-trapping,  armour. 

Bardesanites.     In  Eccl.  Hist.,  the  followers  of 
Bardesanes,  in  the  second  century,  who  regarded 
the  devil  as  a  self-existent  being.     (Ahriman.) 
Bards.     (Minstrels.) 


BARE 


57 


BARO 


Bare-bone.     Lean,  so  that  the  bones  show. 

Barebone's  Parliament.  (Hist. )  A  nickname 
for  the  council  summoned  by  Cromwell,  1653, 
from  Praise-God  Barebone,  one  of  the  members. 

Bareges  [Bareges,  H.  Pyrenees],  or  Cr£pe  de 
Bareges.  Mixed  tissues  for  dresses,  usually  of 
silk  and  worsted  ;  made  really  at  Bagneres. 

Bare  poles,  Under.  (AW.)  With  no  sails 
set. 

Barge  [see  Bark;  L.L.  barga],  Captain's, 
or  Admiral's.  A  man-of-war's  boat  for  the 
use  of  those  officers.  State  B.,  a  large  boat 
sumptuously  fitted.  Trading  B.  (variously 
named)  is  flat-bottomed,  and  usually  fitted  with 
a  spritsail  and  a  mast  to  lower  ;  used  on  rivers 
and  canals.  Also  an  east-country  vessel  pecu- 
liarly constructed.  Bread-B.,  the  bread  or 
biscuit  tray  or  basket. 

Bargeboard.  Probably  =  F^r^-board  ;  the 
ornamental  woodwork  carried  round  under  a 
gable  roof. 

Barguest.  [Guest,  another  form  of  ghost, 
Ger.  geist.]  A  horrible  goblin,  toothed  and 
clawed,  in  the  N.  of  England ;  supposed  to 
shriek  at  night. 

Barilla.  [Sp.]  Impure  carbonate  of  soda, 
alkali  produced  by  burning  salsola  (q.v.}. 

Barium.  [Gr.  fiapvs,  heavy.'}  A  malleable 
yellowish-white  metal,  the  basis  of  the  alkaline 
earth  baryta. 

Bark.     (Cinchona  tree.) 

Bark,  or  Barque.     (Barque.) 

Barkantine,  or  Barquantine.  A  three-masted 
vessel,  carrying  only  fore-and-aft  sails  on  her 
main  and  mizzen. 

Bark-bound.  Having  the  bark  too  firm  or 
close  for  healthy  growth. 

Barker's  mill.  An  elementary  kind  of  turbine. 
It  is  capable  of  rotation  round  the  axis  of  a 
vertical  tube  having  two  horizontal  tubes  or 
arms  at  the  lower  end,  the  whole  being  like  an 
inverted  T  ;  there  are  openings  in  the  horizontal 
tubes  near  their  ends,  but  on  opposite  sides ; 
water  flows  down  the  vertical  tube  and  comes 
out  at  these  holes  in  two  horizontal  jets ;  the 
reactions  of  the  jets  form  a  couple  which  causes 
the  mill  to  turn  in  a  direction  opposite  to  the 
jets. 

Barking  smack.  A  smack  hailing  from  Barking 
Creek,  in  Essex. 

Barlaam  and  Josaphat.  A  very  popular  me- 
diaeval religious  romance,  in  which  the  hermit 
B.  converts  the  Indian  Prince  J.  Originally 
Sanskrit,  but  transl.  into  many  languages. 

Barlaamites.  (Ecd.  Hist.)  Followers  of 
Barlaam,  a  Latin  monk  of  fourteenth  century ; 
known  chiefly  from  their  controversy  with  the 
Quietist  monks  of  Mount  Athos  (Gibbon,  Roman 
Empire,  ch.  Ixiii.). 

Barley.  Pot  B  ,  of  which  the  husk  only  has 
been  removed  :  Pearl  J3.,  of  which  the  pellicle 
also  has  been  removed,  and  the  seed  rounded. 

Barley-corn,  John,   or  Sir  J.     A   humorous 

personification  of  malt  liquor ;  from  an  old  tract, 

The  Arraigning  and  Indicting  of  Sir  J.  B.,  Kt. 

Barley-mow.  A  heap  of  stored  barley.    (Mow.) 

Barmecide  feast  =  unreal,  imaginary  :  such  as 


the  Barmecide  prince  first  set  before  the  hungry 
Schacabac  in  the  Arabian  Nights'  Tales. 

Barmote,  Barrmote,  Barghmote,  Berghmote. 
[A.S.  berg,  hill,  gemote,  assembly. ~\  A  Derby- 
shire court  for  miners. 

Barnabee.     Popular  name  for  the  lady-bird. 

Barnack  stone.     (Bath-stone.) 

Barnacle  goose.  Spec,  of  goose,  about  two 
feet  long,  plumage  black,  white,  and  grey. 
Temperate  regions.  Gen.  Barnicla,  fam. 
Anatidse,  ord.  Anseres  (Lepas.)  They  were 
supposed  to  be  produced  from  shells  found  on 
certain  trees  in  Scotland  and  elsewhere.  This 
absurd  notion  rose  from  a  confusion  of  the  name 
with  that  of  the  cirriped  Barnacle,  the  bird  being 
originally  called  Hibernicula,  as  being  found  in 
Hibernia  (Ireland),  then  Bernicula,  and  lastly 
Barnacle  (Max  Miiller,  Lectures  on  Language). 

Barnacles.  1.  [From  the  likeness  to  spectacles.] 
Pincers  enclosing  the  muzzle  of  a  horse,  to  keep 
him  quiet  for  any  slight  operation ;  the  Twitch 
(y.v.)  is  better.  2.  Spectacles  ;  (?)  a  corr.  of 
binocle,  as  binnacle  also  is ;  or  (?)  connected 
with  obsolete  bernlein,  of  the  same  meaning ; 
and  this  with  beryllus. 

Barometer;  Aneroid  B.;  Marine  B. ;  Mountain 
B, ;  Siphon  B. ;  Wheel  B.  [Gr.  ftapos,  weight,  /icV- 
pov,  measure.']  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
pressure  of  the  atmosphere.  It  consists  of  a  tube 
containing  mercury,  about  thirty-four  inches  long, 
held  in  a  vertical  position,  with  its  open  end  dipping 
into  a  basin  of  mercury ;  the  space  within  the 
upper  part  of  the  tube  being  a  vacuum,  the  height 
of  the  column  above  the  surface  of  the  mercury  in 
the  basin  is  an  exact  measure  of  the  atmospheric 
pressure.  In  the  Siphon  B.  the  lower  end  of  the 
tube  is  bent  up,  instead  of  dipping  into  a  basin  of 
mercury.  In  the  Wheel  B.  the  motion  of  the 
mercurial  column,  due  to  changes  in  the  atmo- 
spheric pressure,  is  communicated  to  a  hand  which 
shows  the  variations  on  an  enlarged  scale.  The 
Marine  B.  is  a  barometer  hung  on  gimbals,  and 
otherwise  protected  from  disturbance  caused  by 
the  ship's  motion,  firing  of  guns,  etc.  The  Moun- 
tain B.  is  adapted  for  being  carried  from  place 
to  place  by  travellers ;  from  the  readings  of  a 
barometer  at  two  stations,  the  vertical  height  of 
the  one  above  the  other  can  be  inferred,  since, 
all  other  circumstances  being  the  same,  the 
weight  of  a  column  of  air  of  that  vertical  height 
equals  the  difference  between  the  weights  of  the 
barometric  columns  at  the  two  stations.  In  an 
Aneroid  B.  (q.v.)  the  variations  in  the  pressure  of 
the  air  are  measured  by  the  movements  of  the 
elastic  top  of  a  small  box,  which  are  com- 
municated to  a  hand  like  the  hand  of  a  clock. 

Barometz  fern.  [Russ.  boranez,  little  lamb.] 
Scythian  lamb;  the  prostrate  hairy  rhizome  of 
the  Dicksonia  barometz,  whose  appearance  has 
given  rise  to  many  fabulous  stories. 

Baron.  (Hist.)  Lit.  the  man  of  the  Liege 
lord  or  king.  This  title  displaced  that  of  Thane 
in  this  country  on  the  full  establishment  of  the 
Feudal  system  after  the  Norman  Conquest,  the 
Ceorls  and  Thralls  being  now  known  as  Freemen 
and  Villeins. 
Baron  and  Feme,  or  Femme.  1.  In  Norm. 


BARO 


BARY 


Fr.  Law,  =  man  and  wife.  2.  (Her.}  Husband 
and  wife.  When  one  shield  bears  the  husband's 
arms  on  the  dexter  side  and  the  wife's  arms  on 
the  sinister  side,  it  is  said  to  be  parted  per  pale, 
baron  and  feme. 

Baron  of  beef.    A  double  sirloin. 
Barony,  in  Ireland,  =  hundred,  or  wapentake, 
in  England. 

Baroscope.  [Gr.  pdpos,  weight,  aKoireu,  I  be- 
hold^ An  instrument  for  showing  that  bodies 
are  supported  by  the  buoyancy  of  air,  in  the 
same  manner  as  they  are  by  that  of  water, 
though  in  a  much  less  degree. 

Barouche.  [F.,  from  L.  birota,  a  two-wheeled 
carriage!]  A  four-wheeled  carriage,  having  a 
top  that  can  be  raised,  and  front  and  back 
seats  facing  each  other,  each  seat  holding  two 
persons. 

Barque,  Bark.  [A  word  common  to  most 
Aryan  languages ;  L.  barca,  through  It.  or  Sp. 
barca.]  Generally  any  small  ship,  square-sterned, 
without  headrails  ;  but  especially  a  two  or  three 
masted  vessel  with  only  fore-and-aft  sails  on  her 
mizzen-mast.  Bark-rigged,  having  no  square- 
sails  on  the  mizzen-mast. 

Barra-boats.  Vessels  of  the  Scotch  Western 
Isles,  sharp  at  both  ends,  and  with  no  floor,  so 
that  their  transverse  section  is  V-shaped. 

Barracan.  [Ar.  barrakan,  a  coarse  gown.}  A 
coarse  strong  camlet,  used  for  cloaks,  etc. 

Barracoon.  Dep6t  for  slaves  newly  captured. 
[Fr.  baraque,  from  It.  baracca,  barracks ;  and 
Gael,  barrachad,  a  hut,  barrach,  branches  of  trees 
(Littre).] 

Barras.  [Fr.]  The  resin  of  the  Pinus  mari- 
tima  ;  the  base  of  Burgundy  pitch.  [Having  a 
barred  or  streaked  appearance  when  dried,  Fr. 
barre  (Littre).] 

Barrator,  Barretor.  One  guilty  of  Barratry. 
Barratry.  \_Cf.  It.  barratrare,  L.L.  baratare, 
to  cheat,  O.Fr.  barat,  barete,  fraud,  quarrel!] 
(Leg.)  1.  Exciting  others  to  suits  or  quarrels.  2. 
Fraudulent  conduct  towards  owners  or  insurers 
of  a  ship  by  master  or  crew. 

Barrel  [Fr.  baril]  of  beer  is  thirty-six 
gallons. 

Barrel-bulk.  (Naut.)  A  measure  of  capacity 
=  five  cubic  feet.  Eight  barrel-bulk  =  one  ton 
measurement. 

Barren  flowers  bear  only  stamens  without  a 
pistil,  as  in  the  cucumber. 

Barret-cap.  [Fr.  barrette.]  A  cap  formerly 
worn  by  soldiers. 

Barrier  Treaty.  (Hist.)  A  treaty,  made  1715, 
between  the  Emperor,  the  King  of  England,  and 
the  States-General  of  the  United  Provinces, 
giving  to  the  latter  the  right  of  holding  certain 
fortresses  in  the  Spanish  Netherlands. 

Barring-out.  "A  savage  licence  practised  in 
many  schools  to  the  end  of  the  last  (i.e.  seven- 
teenth) century,"  "  the  boys  taking  possession  oJ 
the  school  when  the  vacation  drew  near,  and  bar- 
ring out  the  master."  (See  Johnson's  account, 
in  his  Life  of  Addison.) 

Barrique.  [Fr.,  L.L.  barrica,  connected  with 
baril  (Littre).]  A  French  barrel  of  wine  or 
brandy,  of  different  capacity  in  different  places 


The  barrique  of  Cognac  is  45-22  English  gallons, 
and  is  divided  into  27  veltes. 

Barris.     Spec,  of  Baboon  (q.v.). 

Barrow.  [A.S.  beorg,  beorh,  a  hill,  mound; 
cf.  burgh,  borough,  Gr.  irvpyos,  a  tower.]  1.  A 
Durial-mound.  [L.  tumulus,  a  mound  tomb] 
2.  Intrenched  hill,  for  a  fenced  town. 

Barrulet.  (Her.)  A  diminutive  of  the  bar, 
Deing  one-fourth  its  thickness. 

Barry.     [Fr.  barre,  barred]    (Her.)    Covered 

th  horizontal  stripes  alternately  of  two  tinc- 
tures. (Bar.) 

Barry  Cornwall.  Properly  Barry  Peter  Corn- 
wall ;  a  pseudonym  and  anagram  of  Bryan 
Waller  Procter,  poet. 

Barry  Lindon.  An  Irish  adventurer  and 
gambler  ;  hero  of  Thackeray's  tale  so  named. 

Bar-shoe.  A  horseshoe  with  a  complete  ring 
of  iron  forming  a  bar  across  the  opening ;  dis- 
tributing the  pressure,  and  relieving  a  tender 
part.  (See  Stonehenge  on  the  Horse,  p.  563.) 

Bar-shot.  Used  sometimes  in  naval  warfare 
for  destroying  masts  and  rigging  ;  a  bar  with  a 
half-ball  at  each  end  ;  in  shape  like  a  dumb-bell. 

Barter.  [O.Fr.  bareter,  It.  barattare  ;  words 
meaning  both  to  barter  and  to  deceive.]  Originally, 
the  simple  exchange  of  one  commodity  for 
another ;  secondarily,  =  loss  of  credit.  Mr. 
Huskisson,  in  1825,  said  that  the  panic  placed 
England  within  forty-eight  hours  of  B.  ;  i.e.  of 
such  loss  of  credit  that  its  notes  would  not 
have  been  received,  or  its  coin,  except  for  its 
intrinsic  value  as  an  article  of  exchange. 

Bartholomew,  St.,  Massacre  of.  (Fr.  Hist.)  A 
terrible  massacre  of  the  Huguenots  in  Paris, 
August  24,  1572,  in  which  the  Admiral  Coligny 
was  the  first  victim.  Similar  massacres  took 
place  at  the  same  time  in  the  larger  French 
towns. 

Bartizan.  A  small  overhanging  turret,  a  stone 
closet,  projecting  from  an  angle  at  the  top  of  a 
tower,  or  from  a  parapet,  or  elsewhere  ;  as  in 
mediaeval  castles. 

Barton.  1.  A  grange,  courtyard.  [A.S.  bear 
=  crop,  or  bere,  barley,  and  tun  or  ton,  en- 
closure] 2.  A  certain  combination  or  system  of 
pulleys. 

Barton,  Elizabeth,  Holy  Maid  of  Kent, 
brought  forward  as  a  prophetess,  denounced  the 
divorce  of  Henry  VIII.  and  his  second  marriage, 
and  was  executed  for  high  treason,  1534. 

Baru.  A  woolly  substance  from  the  leaves  of 
Saguerus  saccharifer,  a  sago  palm  ;  used  in  caulk- 
ing ships,  stuffing  cushions. 

Barwood.  A  red  African  wood  used  for  dye- 
ing and  turner's  work  (imported  in  short  bars). 

Baryta,  Barytes.  [Gr.  &aptTr)s,  heaviness] 
Oxide  of  barium ;  an  alkaline  earth,  grey, 
poisonous  ;  the  heaviest  of  known  earths. 

Barytone,  Bariton.  (?)  Of  heavy  low  tone 
[Gr.  fiapvs  r6vos],  as  compared  with  tenor. 
1.  A  voice  in  compass,  and  still  more  in  charac- 
ter, something  between  tenor  and  bass.  2.  The 
Viola  de  bardone,  or  V.  di  fagotto  of  Haydn, 
now  obsolete.  3.  In  Pros.,  having  the  low 
melodic  accent,  which  is  not  generally  marked. 
(Oxytone.) 


BASA 


59 


BASS 


Basalt.  [L.  basaltes,  probably  an  African 
word,  =  hard  dark  marble.}  Hard  dark-coloured 
rock,  of  igneous  origin,  often  columnar  and  hexa- 
gonal, from  geometric  cracks  in  cooling. 
(Pissures-of-retreat. ) 

Basanite,  Touchstone,  Lydlus  lapis,  or  Lydite. 
A  black  siliceous  schist,  on  which  pure  gold 
rubbed  leaves  a  certain  mark.  [Gr.  Paffavos,  a 
touchstone.} 

Bas  bleu.    [Fr.]    A  Blue-stocking. 

Bas  chevalier.  A  knight  of  the  lowest  rank 
of  knighthood.  (Bachelor.) 

Bascinet,  Basinet,  Basnet.  Mediaeval  hel- 
met, light,  somewhat  basin-shaped,  introduced 
temp.  Edward  I.  [Fr.  bassin,  a  basin.} 

Base.  [Gr.  pdais,  a  step.}  1.  (Her.} 
(Escutcheon.)  2.  (Chem.)  A  body  which  unites 
with  acids  to  form  salts  ;  as  silver  unites  with 
nitric  acid  to  form  the  salt  called  nitrate  of  silver. 
3.  (Dyeing.)  A  substance  used  as  a  mordant. 

Base-ball.  The  national  game  of  the  U.S.  of 
America,  somewhat  like  our  rounders ;  so 
called  from  the  four  bases,  one  at  each  corner  of 
a  square,  whose  side  is  thirty  yards  ;  the  first, 
second,  and  third  being  canvas  bags,  painted 
white,  filled  with  some  soft  material,  and  the 
home  base  marked  by  a  flat  plate  painted  white. 
(See  full  account,  English  Cydop&dia,  i.  255.) 

Base-court.  [Fr.  basse  cour.]  1.  The  outer 
court  of  a  feudal  mansion,  containing  the  stables, 
accommodation  for  servants,  etc.  2.  (Leg.)  An 
inferior  court  not  of  record,  as  court-baron, 
court-leet. 

Base-fee.  (Leg.)  An  inheritable  freehold 
terminated  on  some  special  qualifying  contin- 
gency, such  as  the  fall  of  a  certain  tree,  failure  of 
issue  under  an  entail,  the  ceasing  to  be  lord  or 
tenant  of  a  certain  manor. 

Base  line.  1.  In  Perspective,  the  line  where 
the  plane  of  the  picture  intersects  the  ground 
plane.  2.  In  Surveying,  an  accurately  measured 
line  on  which  a  network  of  triangles  is  con- 
structed, whose  angular  points  are  conspicuous 
places,  and  whose  distances  from  each  other  are 
calculated  from  the  base  and  measured  angles 
only. 

Base  of  operations.  The  portion  of  country, 
sea-coast,  river,  or  the  strong  towns,  either  on 
the  flanks  or  rear  of  an  army  in  the  field,  from 
which  its  resources  are  drawn,  and  to  which  it 
can  retreat  in  case  of  reverse. 

Bashaw.  Pasha  =  head  or  master ;  a  Turk- 
ish title  of  honour,  given  to  viceroys,  provincial 
governors,  generals,  etc.  :  hence  a  swaggering 
bully. 

Bashi-Bazouks.  Irregular  troops  in  the 
Turkish  service. 

Basic.  (Chem.)  Relating  to,  or  acting  as,  the 
base  of  a  salt. 

Basil.  1.  [Fr.  basane,  from  Ar.  bithanet.] 
The  skin  of  a  sheep  tanned.  (Bezel.)  2.  [Fr. 
basile,  from  base.]  The  angle  to  which  the  edge 
of  a  cutting  tool  is  ground. 

Basil,  Liturgy  of.     (Liturgy.) 

Basilian  Order.     (Orders,  Religious.) 

Basilic  (Anat.y  Med.)  =  most  important  or 
excellent ;  lit.  king-like  [Gr.  fraai At/cos], 


Basilica.  [Gr.  fiaa-iXiicf) ,  i.e.  a-rod,  a  royal 
portico  in  Athens,  which  gave  the  idea  (?).]  1. 
A  public  court  of  justice  and  of  exchange,  in 
Rome,  with  wide  porticoes,  and  a  raised  tribunal 
at  the  end  ;  whence  arose  the  form  of  a  church, 
with  nave,  aisles,  chancel.  Some  Basilicas 
became  churches.  2.  In  Jurisp.,  the  name  of  a 
digest  of  laws  in  sixty  books,  by  the  Byzantine 
Emperor  Basilius,  867-880 ;  chiefly  an  adapta- 
tion of  Justinian's  Code. 

Basilidians.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  a  Gnostic  sect, 
who  maintained  the  mystical  system  of  Basileides, 
and  asserted  that  Simon  of  Cyrene  suffered  on 
the  cross  in  place  of  our  Lord. 

Basilikon  Doron.  [Gr.,  a  royal  gift.}  The 
title  of  a  book  written  by  James  1.  of  England  for 
the  benefit  of  his  son  Henry,  Prince  of  Wales. 

Basilisk.  [Gr.  fiaaiXiaKos,  dim.  of  £a<nAeus, 
king.}  (ZooL)  Name  applied  to  gen.  of 
American  lizard,  fam.  Igiianidae  ;  one  spec,  has 
a  crest  or  crown.  (Bibl.)  (Cockatrice.) 

Basin,  River.  The  whole  area  drained  by  a 
river  and  its  tributaries. 

Baskerville  editions.  Much  admired  as 
specimens  of  printing.  John  B.,  typemaker,  of 
Birmingham,  raised  the  art  of  printing  to  a 
degree  of  perfection  previously  unknown  in 
England;  died  1775. 

Basket-fish.     The  starfish. 

Basle,  Confession  of.  The  Calvinistic  Con- 
fession  of  faith,  drawn  up  in  1530,  and  called 
also  the  Helvetic  Confession. 

Basque.  A  language  still  spoken  in  the 
Spanish  and  French  Pyrenees,  belonging,  like 
the  Finnic,  to  the  Agglutinate  or  Turanian 
group,  called  by  the  people  Escuara ;  the  same 
root  appearing  in  "Basque,"  "Escuara,"  "Es- 
quimaux," and  "Gascony." 

Bas-relief.     (Basso-relievo.) 

Bass,  Bast.  The  inner  fibrous  bark  of  the 
lime-tree,  of  which  the  Russian  matting  used  in 
gardens  is  made.  Bast  is  also  obtained  from  the 
leafstalks  of  two  Brazilian  palms,  Attalea  funi- 
fera  and  Leopold  inia  Piassaba ;  and  Cuba  bast 
from  the  inner  bark  of  Paritium  elatum. 

Basset.  [Fr.  bassette.]  A  game  of  cards, 
invented  at  Venice,  fifteenth  century ;  introduced 
into  France,  seventeenth  century ;  forbidden  by 
Louis  XIV.,  after  he  had  lost  largely  by  false 
cards. 

Basset,  Bassetting  edge.  (Mm.,  Geol.)  When 
a  slanting  vein  or  bed  shows  itself  at  the  surface, 
its  edge  is  called  the  Basset-edge,  or  outcrop. 

Basset  horn.  A  rich  melodious  kind  of 
clarionet,  between  a  clarionet  and  a  bassoon, 
embracing  nearly  four  octaves. 

Bassia.  A  gen.  of  trees,  ord.  Sapotaceos ; 
tropical.  One  kind,  the  Indian  butter  tree,  yields 
from  its  pressed  seeds  a  white,  fatty,  lard-like 
substance,  keeping  fresh  for  many  months ; 
another,  the  African  butter  tree,  yields  the  Galam 
butter  mentioned  by  Mungo  Park,  an  important 
article  of  commerce  in  Sierra  Leone  (7reasury 
of  Botany,  i.  127,  and  Chambers'  Encyclopedia). 

Bassinet.  [Dim.  of  Fr.  bassin,  a  basin, 
possibly  a  corr.  of  Fr.  berceaunette.]  A 
hooded  cradle,  of  wickerwork. 


BASS 


60 


BATT 


Bassoon.  A  kind  of  bass  oboe  of  four  tubes 
bound  together  [It.  fagotto,  i.e.  a  bundle},  of  rich 
tone,  very  valuable  to  the  composer.  Double 
B.,  introduced  1784,  reached  an  octave  lower, 
but  did  not  answer;  its  place  is  supplied  by  the 
serpent. 

Bassora  gum.  (Sometimes  shipped  from 
Bussorah}  A  gum,  said  to  be  the  exudation  of 
almond  and  plum  trees  ;  by  some  supposed  to  be 
the  produce  of  a  cactus  or  mesembryanthemum. 

Basso-relievo.    (Mezzo-relievo.) 

Basta.  [It.,  enough}  (Music.}  When  the 
leader  stops  some  performer. 

Bastard  eigne.  [L.L.  basta,  bastum,  pack- 
saddle,  muleteer's  bed;  cf.  O.Fr.  fils  de  baste; 
for  termination,  cf.  -ard;  for  eigne,  cf.  O.Fr. 
aisne,  ainsne,  eldest,  Fr.  antne,  L.  ante  natus.] 
An  eldest  illegitimate  son  whose  mother  is  after- 
wards married  to  the  father. 

Bastard-wing.     (Wings.) 

Bastille.  [Fr.]  1.  Any  fort  or  tower  outside 
the  walls  of  a  city.  2.  More  particularly  the 
fortress,  so  called,  built  originally  outside  the 
city  of  Paris,  and  destroyed  by  the  people,  1 789. 

Bastinado.  [Sp.]  1.  An  Eastern  punishment, 
of  beating  the  soles  of  the  feet.  2.  Generally, 
cudgelling,  beating. 

Bastion.  [Fr.,  It.  bastione.]  Interior  work 
in  permanent  fortification,  consisting  of  two  faces 
joined  together  in  a  salient  angle,  with  two 
flanks  retired  from  their  other  extremities.  A 
demi-bastion  has  one  face  and  one  flank. 

Baston.     (Baton.) 

Basuto.  A  S.  African  tribe,  lying  between 
Natal  and  the  Orange  River  Free  State. 

Bat.  1.  Shale.  2.  Cotton  wool  in  sheets. 
3.  A  piece  of  brick  less  than  half  its  length. 

Batardeau.  [Fr.,  dim.  of  O.Fr.  bastard,  a 
dyke.}  (Fortif.)  Wall  placed  across  a  wet  ditch 
to  retain  the  water ;  provided  with  sluices  and 
surmounted  by  a  conical  turret  to  prevent  access 
along  the  top. 

Batata,  Patata.  Batatas  edulis.  (Bot.)  A 
convolvulaceous  plant  with  tuberous  edible 
roots,  the  sweet  potato  ;  its  name  now  transferred 
to  the  SSlanum  tuberosum. 

Batavian.  [L.  batavus,  adj.]  Dutch;  Bat£vi, 
the  Batavians,  Hollanders. 

-batch,  -bach  (Mercia),  -beck,  -bee  (Northum- 
bria).  Part  name  of  streams  =  brook  [Norse 
beck],  as  Wood-batch,  Birk-beck  (birch-brook). 

Bateau.  [Fr.,  L.L.  batus,  from  A.S.  bat.] 
1.  A  heavy,  flat-bottomed,  sharp-ended  boat, 
used  on  Canadian  rivers  and  lakes.  2.  A 
peculiar  kind  of  army  pontoon. 

Bat-fowling.  Catching  birds  at  night  by  a 
light  within  a  net,  to  which  they  fly  when  the 
bushes  are  beaten  ;  hence  the  term. 

Bath.  A  Hebrew  liquid  measure  =  ephah,  a 
dry  measure  (see  Ezek.  xlv.  n).  (Cab.) 

Bath  Col,  Bath  Kol.  [Heb.,  daughter  of  the 
voice,  =  secret  inspiration,  post-prophetic,  upon 
which  most  Jewish  traditions  were  founded.]  A 
fantastic  divination  of  the  Scriptures,  like  Sortes 
Virgilianse  (q.v.). 

Bath-metal.  An  alloy  of  nine  parts  of  zinc  to 
thirty-two  of  copper. 


Bath,  Order  of  the.  (Hist.)  An  English 
order  of  knighthood,  instituted  by  Henry  IV. 
and  revived  by  letters  patent  of  George  I. 

Bathos.  [Gr.  0a0os,  depth.}  An  absurd 
descent  from  lofty  to  mean  thoughts  or  language  ; 
a  more  than  anti-climax,  e.g.  "And  thou,  Dal- 
housie,  thou  great  God  of  War,  lieutenant- 
colonel  to  the  Earl  of  Mar." 

Bath-stone.  Fine-grained,  cream-coloured, 
Oolitic  limestone,  from  the  Lower  Oolite  of  the 
West ;  easily  wrought,  hardening;  with  exposure, 
not  very  durable.  From  Oolitic  strata  come  also 
Caen  stone,  Kettering  stone,  Portland  stone, 
Barnack  rag,  etc. 

Bathybius.  [Gr.  Pa0vs,  deep,  fiios,  life}  Pro- 
fessor Huxley's  proposed  term  for  a  very  low 
form  of  life  found  in  ooze  dredged  from  the 
Atlantic  ;  one  not  yet  widely  accepted. 

Batiste.  Fine  linen  cloth  of  French  make  ; 
so  called  from  the  first  maker  of  it,  Batiste  of 
Cambray. 

Bat-man.  [Fr.  bat,  pack-saddle,  L.  bastum.] 
Soldier-servant  of  a  non-commissioned  officer  ; 
also  one  who  attends  an  officer's  horse,  or  the 
bat -horses  provided  with  pack-saddles  for  carry- 
ing the  tents  and  light  baggage  of  troops. 

Baton.  [Fr.]  1.  (Music.)  i.  A  conductor's  wand. 
2.  In  written  music,  a  pause  of  two  or  more 
bars.  [From  the  same  root  as  batir,  Gr.  j3acrra£eij/, 
to  hold  in  one's  hands,  etc.]  2.  (Her}  An  abate- 
ment in  coats  of  arms  to  denote  bastardy,  a  kind 
of  diminutive  of  the  bend  sinister.  (Bend.)  3. 
Staff  of  a  field-marshal. 

Batrachia,  Batracbians.  [Gr.  pdrpaxos,  a 
frog.}  1.  The  second  and  third  ord.  of 
Amphibia,  comprising  B.  urodela  (Tailed  B.), 
as  newts,  and  B.  anoura  (Tailless  B.),  as  frogs. 
2.  Animals  having  the  external  characteristics  of 
frogs. 

Batrachomyomachy.  [Gr.  Parpaxo(jivo/Mtx'ia> 
from  ^a.Tpa.xos,afrog,  IJLVS,  mouse,  fiaxr?,  a  fight} 
The  so-called  Homeric  poem  describing  the 
battle  of  the  frogs  and  the  mice — a  satire  on 
the  Trojan  war  and  on  the  action  of  the  gods 
in  that  struggle. 

Batta.  [Hind,  bat,  a  weight}  Certain  extra 
pay  allowed  to  troops  in  India  to  cover  excep- 
tional expenses. 

Battalion.  [Fr.  bataillon,  from  It.  batta- 
glione.]  Body  of  infantry  commanded  by  a 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  composed  of  a  variable 
number  of  companies,  but  with  a  complete  staff. 

Battel.  Adj.,  fruitful,  fertile;  v.a.  to  make 
or  to  become  fat  or  fertile ;  cf.  bait,  bit,  bite, 
according  to  Richardson. 

Battel,  or  Battle,  Wager  of.     (Wager.) 

Batteloe.     An  Indian  vessel,  lateen-rigged. 

Battels.  [Said  to  be  from  A.S.  bat,  to  in- 
crease, and  dael,  deal  or  portion}  Accounts  due 
to  a  college  from  a  member  for  food  supplied, 
and  other  expenses. 

Batten.  [O.E.  bat,  a  staff;  cf.  Fr.  baton, 
cudgel;  (?)  Gr.  fiaardfa,  I  carry  (Diez).]  A 
strip  of  wood  ;  a  small  plank. 

Batten-down  hatches,  To.  (Naut.)  To  fasten 
tarpaulins  over  them  by  battens,  i.e.  long,  thin 
strips  of  wood  nailed  down. 


BATT 


61 


BEAL 


Battering  walls.  (Arch.}  The  walls  of  a 
building  whose  sides  converge. 

Battery.  [Fr.  battre,  to  beat.]  1.  Any  number 
of  guns  grouped  together,  and  having  a  separate 
equipment  and  organization  of  gunners.  2.  The 
fortification  behind  which  guns  are  mounted. 

Battery,  Electric.  A  group  of  electric  jars,  so 
arranged  that  they  can  be  charged  and  dis- 
charged as  one  machine.  A  galvanic  or  voltaic 
battery  is  an  arrangement  for  producing  an  elec- 
tric current  by  chemical  action. 

Battle  of  the  Books.     (Boyle  Controversy.) 

Battle  of  the  Spurs.  (Hist.)  The  name  given 
to  the  victory  of  Henry  VIII.  at  Guinegate, 
1513,  from  the  hasty  flight  of  the  French. 

Battle  of  the  Standard.  (Hist.)  The  name 
given  to  the  battle  of  Northallerton,  1138,  in 
which  David  I.  of  Scotland  was  defeated  by  the 
English. 

Battology.  [Gr.  fidrros,  onomatop.  for  stam- 
merer^ Stammering  talk,  senseless  repetition 
(Matt.  vii.  7).  But  there  is  said  to  have  been  a 
poet,  Battus,  who  composed  in  this  style. 

Battue.  [Fr.]  The  beating  or  shooting  down 
of  game  which  has  been  driven  to  one  spot  by 
a  circle  of  beaters.  (Tinchell.) 

Battuta.  [It.,  a  beat.}  In  Music,  the 
measuring  of  time  by  beating. 

Baubee,  [Said  to  be  Fr.  bas  billon,  bad  copper 
coin.]  In  Scotland,  a  halfpenny ;  first  applied 
to  a  copper  coin  of  James  VI. 

Baulk,  Balk.  [A.S.  bale,  a  beam.]  Joist 
placed  between  the  pontoons  of  a  military  bridge 
to  support  the  flooring. 

Bavaroy.  [Fr.  Bavarois,  Bavarian.]  A  kind 
of  cloak,  originally  of  Bavarian  make. 

Bavieca.     The  steed  of  the  Cid. 

Bavins.   [O.Fr.  baffe,  a  faggot.]   Brush  faggots. 

Bawboard,  i.e.  larboard.     (A-beam.) 

Bawdequin.     (Baldachino.) 

Bawn.  In  Ireland,  an  earthwork  round  a 
house  or  castle  ;  an  enclosure  with  mud  or  stone 
walls  for  the  protection  of  cattle. 

Bawson,  Bawsin,  Bawsand.  The  badger,  as 
having  white  streaks  on  a  dark  face  [from  Ar. 
ablaq,  fem.  balqa,  a  pie-bald  (horse)].  (Vide 
Devic's  Supplement  to  Littre's  Dictionary,  s.v. 
"  Balzan.") 

Bay.  [Cf.  Fr.  aboyer,  L.  baubor,  Gr.  j8ai5£w, 
Ger.  bellen,  to  bark]  To  bark  loudly  and  in 
an  hostile  manner. 

Bayaderes.    (Bajaderes.) 

Bayard.  1476-1524.  The  Chevalier  sans 
Peur  et  sans  Reproche,  who  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  Battle  of  the  Spurs.  A  type  of  the 
ideal  knight. 

Bayard.  1.  A  bay  horse.  2.  The  name  of 
more  than  one  noted  horse  of  old  romance. 

Bayardly.  [O.Fr.  bayard,  a  gaper]  Blindly 
unreasoning,  stupid  ;  like  the  leap  of  Bayard  in 
terror. 

Bayberry  Candleberry,  Wax-myrtle.  (Bot.) 
Myrica  cerifera,  small  spreading  shrub  of  N. 
America,  ord.  Amentaceae ;  its  drupes  covered 
with  wax,  used  for  candles. 

Bay-cherry.  Name  of  the  common  laurel, 
Cerasus  lauro-cerasus,  when  first  introduced  into 


England  about  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth 
century. 

Bayes.  Champion  of  rimed  (rhymed)  drama 
(meant  for  Dryden)  in  The  Rehearsal,  a  farce 
ascribed  to  George  Villiers,  Duke  of  Buckingham. 

Bayeux  Tapestry.  (Hist.)  A  piece  of  needle- 
work, 214  feet  long,  19  inches  broad,  said  to 
have  been  wrought  by  Matilda,  wife  of  William 
the  Conqueror,  representing  the  history  of  the 
invasion  of  England  in  1066.  Still  preserved 
at  Bayeux. 

Bayou  State.  State  of  Mississippi,  from  its 
creeks  (bayous). 

Bay  State.     Massachusetts. 

Bay,  To  stand  at,  To  be  brought  to.  [Fr.  aux 
abois,  lit.  at  or  to  the  barking.  (Bay.)]  Spoken  of 
a  hunted  animal  when,  as  a  last  resource,  it  turns 
round  and  faces  the  baying  hounds.  Fig.,  to  turn 
upon  one's  enemies  when  unable  to  escape  them. 

Bazaras.  A  flat-bottomed  boat  used  on  the 
Ganges  ;  it  sails  and  rows.  Corr.  into  budge- 
row. 

Bdellium.  [L.]  Gen.  ii.  12;  probably  pearls 
or  some  precious  stone.  LXX.  has  &v0pa£  [Gr., 
carbuncle],  B.  [Gr.  /SSeAAtoi']  is  the  transparent 
gum  of  the  Borassus  flabelliformis  ;  of  no  great 
value,  and  not  likely  to  be  meant  here  (Speaker's 
Com  mentary) . 

Bdellometer.  [Gr.  /SSeAAa,  a  leech,  nerpov,  a 
measure,  as  if  =  artificial  leech.]  A  cupping 
glass  with  an  exhausting  syringe. 

Beaches,  Eaised,  Shingle  B.  Accumulations 
of  water-worn  stones,  piled  up  by  wave  and  tide, 
in  exposed  districts,  the  sand,  etc.,  being  swept 
onwards  to  more  sheltered  parts ;  e.g.  Northam, 
N.  Devon.  When  to  this  movement  is  added  a 
lateral  tide  current,  they  move  along  the  coast  as 
Travelling  B. ;  e.g.  Chesil  Bank  [cf.  Ger.  kiesel, 
flint,  pebbles],  on  the  Dorset  coast. 

Bead.  An  Old  Eng.  word,  signifying  prayer. 
Hence  bidding  the  beads,  i.e.  the  desiring  the 
prayers  of  the  congregation.  The  word  is  also  ap- 
plied to  the  perforated  balls  on  a  string,  by  which 
prayers  are  told  or  counted.  (Chaplet;  Rosary.) 

Beadle.     (Bedell.) 

Bead-moulding.  (Arch.)  A  moulding,  the 
vertical  section  of  which  is  semicircular.  Called 
also  Astragal. 

Bead-roll.  The  list  of  dead  persons  for  whom 
mass  was  to  be  said.  Hence  any  list.  "  Fame's 
eternal  bead-roll "  (Spenser). 

Beadsmen,  or  Bedesmen.  Persons  maintained 
by  alms,  professedly  for  the  purpose  of  praying 
for  the  dead.  Hence  the  word  came  to  mean 
simply  almsmen. 

Bead-tool.  A  cutting  tool,  having  a  curved 
edge,  for  making  beading. 

Bead  tree.  (Bot.)  Persian  lilac,  Pride  of 
India ;  Melia  [Gr.  /xeAia],  Azed  arach ;  an  ash, 
of  which  one  spec,  resembles  a  gen.  of  the  nat. 
ord.  Meliacse. 

Beagle.    A  small  hound  used  for  hare-hunting. 

Beaker.  [Ger.  becher.]  A  well-annealed  thin 
glass  tumbler,  used  by  chemists  for  boiling,  etc. 

Beal.  [Cf.  ball,  and  many  similar  words.] 
(Med.)  To  suppurate,  to  come  to  a  head.  Beal- 
ing  formerly  =  pregnant. 


BEAM 


62 


BEBI 


Beam-engine.  A  large  iron  lever,  capable  of 
movement  round  a  central  axle ;  by  one  end  it 
is  attached  to  the  piston-rod  of  a  steam-engine  ; 
by  the  other  it  works  a  pump  or  drives  the  main 
shaft.  A  steam-engine  in  which  a  beam  is  used 
for  transmitting  the  steam  power  is  a  Beam-E. 

Beam,  Before  the.    Lee,  weather.    (A-beam.) 

Beam-compasses.  A  rod  on  which  are  two 
sliding  points,  adjusted  by  screws,  by  which 
greater  distances  can  be  set  off  or  transferred 
than  by  an  ordinary  pair  of  compasses. 

Beam-ends.  (Naut.)  A  ship  is  on  her  beam- 
ends  when  heeled  over  so  much  that  the  deck 
is  nearly  perpendicular ;  beams  being  the  trans- 
verse, timbers  the  vertical,  parts  of  a  ship's  frame 
work. 

Beamfleet.  The  north  part  of  the  estuary  of 
the  Thames. 

Beam  tree.  [The  word  beam,  Ger.  baum,  a 
tree,  is  common  to  many  Aryan  languages.] 
White  beam  is  a  tree  from  twenty  to  forty  feet 
high  ;  a  native  of  almost  all  parts  of  Europe. 
P^rus  aria,  ord.  Rosaceas ;  having  very  hard 
wood,  used  for  cogs  ;  with  scarlet  fruit  in  autumn. 

Bean-cod.  A  small  Spanish  or  Portuguese 
fishing-boat,  sharp  forward,  with  a  curving  bow, 
usually  lateen-rigged. 

Bean  goose.  (Zoo!.)  Wild  goose,  Anser  ferus, 
Anas  sSgetum  ;  about  thirty-four  inches  long, 
plumage  brown  and  grey.  N.  Temp,  and 
Arctic  regions.  Gen.  Anser,  fam.  Anatidae,  ord. 
Anseres. 

Bean-King's  Festival.  A  German  social  rite, 
derived  from  France.  A  cake,  in  which  a  bean 
has  been  hidden,  is  cut  on  the  evening  of  Three 
Kings'  Day  (q.v.) ;  the  recipient  holds  a  court, 
etc.,  and  gives  the  next  year's  festival :  a  sup- 
posed relic  of  the  Roman  Saturnalia. 

Bear.  A  term  used  for  a  speculator  who  sells 
stocks  or  shares,  speculatively,  which  he  does  not 
possess,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  repurchase 
again  at  a  lower  figure,  and  thereby  make  a  pay- 
ing transaction  of  the  concern.  (Bull.) 

Bear,  Bere.    l.q.  Barley. 

Beard.  (Printing.']  The  part  of  a  type  be- 
tween the  shoulder  of  the  shank  and  the  face. 

Beardil.    The  loach. 

Bearing.  (Meek.)  1.  A  cylindrical  hole,  in 
which  a  shaft  is  supported  and  on  which  it 
moves.  2.  A  surface  which  guides  the  motion  of 
the  piece  which  it  supports. 

Bearing  the  bell.  Taking  the  lead,  gaining 
the  first  place ;  an  expression  said  to  have  been 
derived  from  the  giving  a  small  bell  of  gold  or 
silver  to  the  winner  at  a  horse-race,  early  in  the 
seventeenth  century. 

Bear-leader.  1.  One  who  leads  about  a  dancing 
bear.  2.  Hence,  by  meton.,  a  facetious  term  for 
a  discreet  person  in  charge  of  a  youth  of  rank 
in  travelling,  etc. 

Bearnais,  Le.  Henri  IV.  of  France  and 
Navarre  ;  born  at  Pan,  in  the  Beam,  1553. 

Bear's-breech.  [L.L.  branca,  claw.}  (Acan- 
thus; Brankursine.) 

Bear's-foot.  1.  Bear's-breech.  2.  Helleborus 
fcetidus,  ord.  Ranunculaceae. 

Bear,  To  (Naut.)  N.  or  S.,  etc.,  is  to  be  in 


a  line  with  the  named  point  of  the  compass. 
B.  d(nvn  upon,  to  approach  from  windward. 
B.  up  or  away,  to  go  to  leeward.  B.  up  round, 
to  put  her  right  before  the  wind.  B.  off  from  or 
in  with  the  land,  to  sail  from  or  towards  the 
shore.  B.  sail,  to  carry  canvas  well. 

Beasts,  Wild,  of  the  desert.  [Ileb.  isiim.] 
Hy&nas.  Isa.  xxxiv.  14. 

Beasts,  Wild,  of  the  island.  [Heb.  iyim.] 
Jackals.  Isa.  xxxiv.  14, 

Beatific.  [L.  beatificus.]  Making  happy  or 
blessed.  B.  vision,  that  seeing of  God  which  is  the 
blessedness  of  heaven. 

Beatification.  Papal  declaration  that  a  cer- 
tain deceased  person  may  be  honoured  by  a 
particular  religious  worship  without  incurring  the 
penalty  of  superstitious  worship. 

Beatitudes.  [L.  beatitude,  blessing  1.  The 
nine  sentences  of  blessing  with  which  the  Ser- 
mon on  the  Mount  begins  (Matt.  v.  3-11).  2. 
In  the  Greek  Church,  hymns  commemorating 
the  saints. 

Beating  the  bounds.     (Perambulation.) 

Beating  the  bush.  (Met.)  1.  From  fowling, 
=  having  all  the  labour,  while  another  catches 
the  birds  and  has  all  the  gain.  2.  From  hunt- 
ing, =  not  going  straight  to  the  point  of  dis- 
cussion ;  as  hunters  move  in  a  roundabout  way, 
not  straight  to  the  object. 

Beating  to  windward.  (Naut.)  Getting  to 
windward  by  tacking  in  a  heavy  wind.  (Tack.) 

Beati  possidentes.  [L.,  happy  are  they  who 
have.]  A  phrase  of  much  the  same  meaning  as 
the  saying  that  "  possession  is  nine  points  of  the 
law." 

Beatrice.  Dante's  saintly  love,  and  guide 
through  Paradise. 

Beats.  The  alternations  in  the  intensity  of 
the  sound  produced  by  two  notes  nearly  in 
unison. 

Beau  Brummel.  George  Bryan  B.,  friend  and 
companion  of  the  Prince  Regent ;  died  insane, 
1840. 

Beau  ideal.     [Fr.]     Conception  of  perfection. 

Beau  monde.  Lit.  the  fine  world ;  the  world 
of  fashion. 

Beau  Nash.  Master  of  the  ceremonies  at 
Bath  in  the  last  century. 

Beauseant.  (Bawson.)  The  black-and-white 
banner  of  the  Templars. 

Beaute  de  diable.  \F?.,  fiend's  beauty^  Beauty 
that  suggests  no  goodness  of  character ;  beauty 
symptomatic  of  disease  ;  or  the  fugitive  beauty  of 
early  youth. 

Beaux  yeux.     [Fr.]     Lovely  eyes. 

Beaver.  1.  [Fr.  baviere,  baver,  to  slobber,  be- 
cause when  down  it  occupied  the  place  of  a 
child's  bib.]  Part  of  a  helmet  covering  the 
mouth,  and  movable  on  pivots  at  the  jaws ; 
being  let  down,  it  enables  the  wearer  to  drink. 
2.  An  amphibious  rodent  quadruped,  of  the  gen. 
Castor.  N.  America.  The  name  is  found  in 
many  of  the  Aryan  languages. 

Bebirine.  A  tonic  and  febrifuge,  like  quinine 
in  action,  from  the  bark  of  the  biburu  or  green- 
heart  of  Guiana  (Nectandra  rodicei),  a  valuable 
timber  tree  ;  ord.  Lauracese. 


BEBI 


BEGH 


Bebisation.     (Solmization.) 

Beccabunga.     (Brooklime.) 

Beccafico.  [It.,  fig-pecker,  Fr.  becque-figue, 
Ger.  feigen-drossel.]  A  name  applied  to  almost 
any  warbler  (Sylvia),  or  other  small  garden  bird, 
when  fat. 

Bechamel.  A  fine,  white  broth,  named  from 
the  Marquis  of  Bechamel,  steward  of  Louis  XIV. 

Beche-de-mer.  [L.  beca,  fern,  form  of  beccus.] 
Lit.  sea-spade  (Holothuroidea).  (Trepang.) 

Becbic  remedies.  (Med.)  For  the  relief  of 
cough  [Gr.  #rj£,  adj.  /Bi^Kcfe]. 

Beck.  A  brook  \cf.  Ger.  bach,  a  brook,  and 
perhaps  Gr.  tcirfy,  a  spring] ;  as  in  Wans-beck- 
water,  where  the  place  has  received  three  names 
of  the  same  meaning,  and  kept  them  all  (cf.  Bala- 
lake). 

-beck,  -bee.    (-batch.) 

Becket's  Crown.  The  circular  or  apsidal 
building  to  the  east  6f  the  choir  in  the  Cathe- 
dral of  Canterbury  is  so  called. 

Bed.  [A  word  common  to  the  Teut.  and 
Scand.  languages.]  (Mech.)  The  foundation  or 
fixed  part  of  a  machine. 

Bedchamber,  Lords  of  the.  Officers,  generally 
twelve,  of  the  royal  household,  under  the  groom 
of  the  stole,  during  a  king's  reign,  waiting  in 
turn  upon  the  sovereign. 

Bedeguar.  [Ar.]  A  shaggy  excrescence  on 
the  wild  rose,  produced  by  a  gall  insect  (Cynips 
rosae) ;  once  considered  diuretic,  more  recently 
a  vermifuge. 

Bedell.  [L.L.  bedellus,  A.S.  bydel,  mes- 
senger.~\  In  the  university  and  elsewhere,  the 
officer  who  attends  the  vice-chancellor.  (Bead.) 

Bedford  Level.  A  tract  on  the  east  coast, 
nearly  =  the  Fens  ;  so  called  from  the  Earl  of 
Bedford,  who,  with  others,  made  the  first  suc- 
cessful effort  to  drain  it  in  1634. 

Bedford  Ministry.  In  1763,  a  mixed  Ministry 
of  the  followers  of  Grenville  (First  Lord)  and 
Bedford,  with  Halifax  and  Sandwich  as  Secre- 
taries of  State. 

Bedight,  Dight.  [A.S.  clihtan,  to  arrange.} 
Adorned,  dressed  out. 

Bedlam,  i.e.  Hospital  of  St.  Mary  of  Beth- 
lehem ;  converted  into  an  asylum  by  the  city  of 
London,  after  the  dissolution  of  monasteries. 
B.  beggars,  its  out-patients,  real  or  pretended. 
(Abraham  man.) 

Bed  of  justice.  [Fr.  lit  de  justice.]  A  pro- 
ceeding by  which  the  French  kings  were  able 
to  override  the  rejection  of  their  decrees  by  the 
Parliament,  by  mounting  their  throne,  called 
lit,  and  causing  the  decrees  in  question  to  be 
registered  in  their  presence — the  Parliament 
usually  entering  a  protest. 

Bedouin,  Beduin.  [Ar.  bedawi,  dwellers  in 
the  desert}  Nomad  Arabs  ;  said  to  be  descended 
from  Ishmael ;  and  aboriginal  Moors,  who  have 
become  settled  Arabs. 

Bedstraw,  Ladies'  B.,  Cheese  rennet  (Galium 
verum).  [Gr.  yd\iov,  ya\a,  milk}  (Hot.)  A 
branched  herb,  with  whorled  leaves  and  small 
yellow  flowers  in  numerous  dense  panicles ;  ord. 
Rubiacese. 

Beebee,  Bibi.    [Hind.]    Lady. 


Bee-bread.  A  brown  substance,  the  pollen 
of  flowers,  collected  by  bees  as  food  for  their 
young. 

Bee-eater.  Fam.  of  birds,  mostly  in  Africa 
and  the  East.  One  British  spec.,  M£rops  apiaster 
[Gr.  juepo\|/,  articulate-voiced)  L.  apiaster,  apis, 
a  bee],  eleven  inches  long,  brown  back,  greenish 
blue  quill  feathers. 

Beef-brained,  Beef-witted.  Heavy-headed  ; 
dull  of  apprehension. 

Beef-eater.  [Corn  of  Fr.  buffetier.]  A  yeo- 
man of  the  king's  guard,  whose  place  was  once 
near  the  table  or  side -board  [buffet]  at  cere- 
monial feasts. 

Beef-wood  of  Australia.  Hard,  heavy  timber, 
like  raw  beef  in  colour,  of  the  Casuarina. 

Bee-glue.     (Propolis.) 

Bee  hawk-moth,  Bee-moth.  Sesia  apiformis. 
(Entom.)  A  moth  with  rapid  flight,  and  bee- 
like  wings  and  body ;  feeds  on  the  poplar.  Ord. 
LepTdoptera. 

Bee  in  one's  bonnet,  To  have  a.  To  be  rather 
mad. 

Beeld  refuge.     [A.S.  byld.]     Place  of  shelter. 

Bee-line.  A  direct  line,  like  that  of  bees 
returning  to  the  hive  or  nest  from  their  utmost 
distance  ;  a  faculty  ascribed  to  their  power  of 
sight. 

Beelzebub.     (Apomuios;  Muiagros.) 

Bees,  Fable  of  the,  or  'Private  Vices  made  Pub- 
lic Benefits.  A  poem  by  Bernard  Mandeville 
(1670-1733).  An  attempt  to  show  that  human 
passions  and  evil  tendencies  work  unconsciously 
towards  the  welfare  of  society,  which,  as  at  pre- 
sent constituted,  is  inconceivable  without  them. 
He  was  opposed  by  Bishop  Berkeley. 

Beestings.     (Biestings.) 

Beetle.  1.  [A.S.  bytl.]  A  wooden  mallet  for 
driving  in  wedges,  stakes,  etc.  2.  [A.  S.  beotan, 
beotjan,  to  threaten}  To  hang  over  or  forward, 
as  of  cliffs  or  eyebrows. 

Beetling.  [O.E.  bytl,  a  mallet.}  The  pro- 
duction of  figured  fabrics  by  means  of  corrugated 
or  indented  rollers. 

Beetrave.  Beetroot  [from  Fr.  bette-rave, 
beta,  beet,  and  rapa,  turnii}. 

Beffana.  [Corr.  of  EpiphanTa.]  An  old 
woman,  the  fairy  of  Italian  and  German  children, 
who  puts  presents  or  else  ashes  into  children's 
stockings  on  Twelfth  Night,  while  she  is  look- 
ing out  for  the  returning  Magi,  whom  she  missed 
as  they  returned  home  "  another  way." 

Beffroi.     (Belfry.) 

Before  the  mast.  The  working  seaman,  as 
distinguished  from  an  officer. 

Beg,  Bey.  A  Turkish  title  of  State  officers, 
=  prince,  chief;  not  very  definitely  used. 

Beggar  of  Bethnal  Green,  The  Blind.  Henry 
de  Montfort,  in  disguise  after  the  battle  of 
Evesham.  Percy  gives  the  ballad  of  Bessie,  his 
daughter. 

Beggar's  Opera,  The.     A  play  by  John  Gay. 

Beghard.  Societies  of  laymen  in  Germany, 
France,  and  the  Netherlands,  first  appearing  in 
the  thirteenth  century,  subsisting  mostly  by  men- 
dicancy, and  little  esteemed  ;  disappearing  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  fourteenth  century.  But  the 


BEGL 


64 


correct  use  of  the  word  is  uncertain,  and  their 
history  very  obscure.  [L.L.  beggardus,  Flem. 
beggen,  Eng.  beg  (Littre).]  (Orders,  Mendicant ; 
Tertiaries.) 

Begler-beg  =  a  chief  of  chiefs,  governor- 
general  of  a  province,  next  in  rank  to  the  Vizier. 
(Beg.) 

Beguinages.      Societies    of    women,    called 
Beguines,  in  Holland,  Belgium,  and  Germany, 
not  bound  by  vows  ;  their  mode  of  life,  like  that 
of  the  Beghards  (q.v.),  neither  clerical  nor  lay. 
Their  principal  institution  is  at  Ghent. 
Beguines.    (Beguinages.) 
Begum.     In  India,  a  princess  or  lady  of  high 
rank. 

Behemoth.  Job  xl. ;  the  hippopotamus.  [(?)  An 
Egyptian  word  ;  if  Heb. ,  =  great  beast,  or  beast 
of  beasts.] 

Beit.     [Ar.,  i.q.    beth,    Heb.,    tent  or  hut.] 

Abode  or  abodes.    Beit  al may  be  a  temple 

or  town  of 

Belay,  To.  (Naut.)  To  fasten  a  rope  by 
taking  several  turns  round  a  cleat,  belaying-pin, 
etc.  B.  there!  stop  ! 

Belaying-pins.  Wooden  pegs  or  short  iron 
bars. 

Belcher.  A  blue  handkerchief  with  white 
spots  ;  named  after  a  pugilist. 

Beldam.  [Fr.  belle  dame.]  Originally  a  term 
of  respect,  especially  to  elders,  has  come  to 
mean  hag. 

Belemnite.  [Gr.  ftiKspvov,  a  dart.]  Popularly 
J^hundcrbolts  and  St.  Peter  s fingers  ;  the  conical, 
internal-shell  remains  of  a  gen.  of  extinct 
Cephalopodous  molluscs. 

Bel  esprit.  [Fr.]  A  sprightly,  clever  writer 
or  conversationalist. 

Belfry.  M.H.G.  ber  vrit,  a  watch-tower, 
became  berfredus,  berfroi,  beffroi,  i.e.  a  mov- 
able breaching  tower  used  in  sieges  ;  then,  from 
the  resemblance,  a  turret,  and  more  particularly 
a  bell  turret ;  written  belfry,  though  having 
nothing  really  to  do  with  bells. 

Belial,  Sons  of.  A  general  name  for  worth- 
less persons,  as  men  of  recklessness  or  lawless- 
ness; this  being  the  meaning  of  the  Heb. 
word  represented  by  Belial,  which  is  certainly 
not  a  proper  name,  although  the  etymology  is 
uncertain/  As  Beliar  (2  Cor.  vi.),  it  is  per- 
sonified, =  Satan. 

Belinda.  Pope's  name  for  Arabella  Fermor 
in  The  Rape  of  the  Lock. 

Bell.  \.  (Arch.)  The  capital  of  a  Corinthian 
or  Composite  column,  without  the  foliage  ;  which 
is  like  a  bell  reversed.  2.  (A\rut.)  Watch. 

Bell,  Acton,  Currer,  Ellis.     Names  assumed 

by  Anne,  Charlotte,  Emily  Bronte,  authoresses. 

Belladonna.     [It.,    beautiful   lady.]     Deadly 

nightshade,    common    in    hedges ;   a    spec,   ol 

Atropa,  ord.  Solanacece.  Most  spec,  are  poisonous. 

r       Bella,  horrida  bella.   [L.]    Wars,  dread  wars. 

Bell    and    Lancaster    system,    i.e.    that    o 

mutual  instruction,  by  aid   of  the  boys  them 

selves  ;  first  used  1790,  by  Rev.  Dr.  B.,  in  E.I.C 

Madras  schools,  there  being  no  qualified  ushers 

perfected  by  L.  as  the  monitorial  system,  in  Eng 

land,  in  the  next  generation. 


BELL 

Bellarmine.  (Cardinal  B.,  died  1621.)  A 
stoneware  jug,  big-bellied,  with  a  bearded  face 
on  its  neck  ;  sixteenth  century  ;  made  in  Holland. 
Bell-bird.  (Zool.)  1.  White  bird,  about  as 
arge  as  a  pigeon,  with  a  black  protuberance  from 
.ts  forehead,  about  three  inches  long,  usually 
tensile,  but  erected  when  the  bird  utters  its  note, 
ike  the  toll  of  a  church  bell.  Trop.  America. 
Fam.  Cotingidae,  ord.  Passeres.  2.  Spec,  of 
Honey-eater,  with  a  note  like  the  tinkling  of  a 
small  bell.  Australia.  Fam.  Meliphagidre  [Gr. 
\i,  honey,  $ayw,  to  eat],  ord.  Passeres. 
Bell,  book,  and  candle.  A  mode  of  excom- 
munication, chiefly  between  the  seventh  and 
tenth  centuries,  in  the  R.  C.  Church.  After 
sentence  read,  the  book  is  closed,  a  lighted 
candle  thrown  to  the  ground,  and  a  bell  tolled 
as  for  one  dead. 

Bell-crank.  A  bent  lever,  with  its  arms  nearly 
at  right  angles  to  each  other,  for  changing  the 
direction  of  the  motion  of  a  link  when  that 
motion  is  of  limited  extent ;  it  resembles  the 
crank  placed  at  the  corner  of  a  room,  where  the 
bell  wire  goes  off  at  right  angles  to  its  first 
direction. 

Belle  Alliance.  [Fr.]  A  farm,  the  centre  of 
the  French  position,  at  Waterloo. 

Belle  denuit.  [Fr.,  beauty  of  the  night]  The 
Marvel  of  Peru  (Mirabilis  Jalapa). 

Belles  lettres.  [Fr.]  Polite  literature  ;  litera- 
ture of  refining,  elevating  character  generally ; 
not  with  reference  to  subject-matter. 

BelT  eta  dell'  oro.   [It.]    The  fair  age  of  gold. 
Belle  etage.    [Fr.]    The  best  story  in  a  house, 
the  second. 

Bellerophon's  letters.  Letters  which  carry  the 
death-warrant  of  the  bearer ;  the  Greek  story 
being  that  Proetus,  whose  wife  had  conceived  for 
Bellerophon  a  passion  like  that  of  Potiphar's  wife 
for  Joseph,  and  with  the  same  consequences, 
sent  B.  to  lobates,  King  of  Lycia,  with  letters 
requesting  him  to  put  B.  to  death.  (Barbarian.) 
Bell-flower.  Popular  name  for  the  cam- 
panulas. 

Bellibone.  A  woman  beautiful  and  good.  [A 
corr.  of  Fr.  belle  et  bonne.] 

Bellic,  Bellique.  Warlike.  [L.  bellicus,  per- 
taining to  war,  and,  in  poetry,  warlike] 

Bellis.  [L.  bellus,  pretty]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of 
plants,  ord.  Composite.  B.  perennis,  the  com- 
mon daisy. 

Bellman.  A  name  applied  to  watchmen  in 
the  streets. 

Bell-metal.  80  of  copper  to  20  of  tin  :  some- 
times 77  to  23.  (Bronze.) 

Bell  of  arms.  (From  the  generally  round 
shape.)  (Mil.)  Separate  building  for  storing 
the  arms  of  a  regiment. 

Bell-ringing.  Changes  rung  on  3  bells  are 
Rounds;  on  4,  Changes  or  Singles;  on  5, 
Doubles  or  Grandsires ;  on  6,  Bobs  minor;  on 
7,  Triples ;  on  8,  Bobs  major;  on  9,  Caters ; 
on  10,  Bobs  royal;  on  n,  Cinques ;  on  12, 
Bobs  maximus.  A  bell  is  set  when  having  the 
mouth  upwards ;  at  handstroke,  when  set  up 
so  far  only  as  that  the  titffing  or  sallic  is 
held  by  the  ringer  ;  at  backstroke,  when  rung 


BELL 


BENE 


round  so  far  that  the  end  of  the  rope  is  held. 
7'reble  is  the  highest,  7^enor  the  lowest,  of 
a  set.  Position  of  rounds,  is  that  of  B.  struck 
thus— 12345  ;  in  any  other  order,  they  are  in 
change's.  5000  changes  are  a  peal ;  any  smaller 
number  a  touch  or  flourish,  i.e.  a  practice  rather 
than  a  performance.  A  bell  is  going  up  when 
changing  its  position  from  that  of  treble  in 
rounds  towards  that  of  tenor,  e.g.  the  treble  in 
12345,  21435,  24135 ;  and  down,  vice  versa. 
Place-making  is  striking  two  blows  in  succession 
in  any  one  place,  e.g.  No.  4  in  15432,  51423. 
Bob  and  single,  called  out  by  the  conductor, 
produce  certain  changes  in  the  courses  of  the  B., 
other  than  those  caused  by  the  fact  of  the  treble 
leading.  In  Stedman's  method  (1640)  the  prin- 
ciple is  that  three  B.  should  go  through  their 
changes,  one  bell  coming  down  from  behind  to 
take  its  part  in  the  changes,  and  one  going  up 
behind  to  take  its  part  in  the  dodging.  (See 
Troytes'  Change- Ringing.} 

Bellona.     [L.]     The  Latin  goddess  of  war. 

Bell  tent.  Conical  dwelling  of  canvas,  sup- 
ported on  one  pole  in  the  middle. 

Bell  the  cat,  To.  To  run  a  great  risk  for 
others,  from  the  fable  in  which  an  old  mouse 
proposes  that  a  bell  should  be  hung  on  the  cat's 
neck  that  the  mice  may  have  \varning. 

Belhia,  or  Belua,  multorum  capitum  (Horace). 
The  many-heafad  monster  ;  the  mob. 

Belhiine.  Beastly,  brutal.  [L.  bellumus, 
bellua,  a  beast,  generally  =  a  monster,  brute.} 

Bell-wether.  The  leader  of  a  flock,  which 
wears  a  bell ;  meton.  the  leader  of  a  subsequent 
party. 

Belly.  [A.S.  bselg,  a  pouch.}  (Natit.)  1. 
The  swell  of  a  sail.  2.  The  hollowed  part  of  a 
shaped  timber.  To  B.  a  sail  is  to  fill  it  with 
wind,  with  bellying  canvas,  going  free.  B.  to  the 
breeze,  the  sails  filling  with  wind.  B.  to  ivind- 
•zvard,  carrying  too  much  sail. 

Belomancy.  [Gr.  &€\o/j.atnla.]  Divination 
IfiavTfla]  by  the  flight  of  arrows  [jSeAos,  an 
arrow},  sometimes  differently  marked,  and  taken 
at  random  from  the  quiver. 

Belone.    [Gr.,  a  sharp  point.}     (Gar-fish.) 

Belphcebe.  A  chaste,  beautiful  huntress  in 
Spenser's  Faery  Queen  ;  meant  for  Queen  Eliza- 
beth as  woman.  (Gloriana.) 

Belt.    [L.  balteus.]    A  Band. 

Beltane,  Belteine,  Bealtine.  [Ir.]  Said  to 
mean  (it  can  scarcely  be  doubted,  erroneously) 
fire  of  Baal,  the  worship  of  whom  is  supposed  to 
liave  exisited  in  these  islands  in  the  remotest 
Druidical  times  ;  name  of  a  festival  once  ob- 
served in  Ireland  and  the  Scotch  Highlands. 

Belted  Will.  Lord  W.  Howard,  Warden  of 
the  Western  marches,  seventeenth  century. 

Beluga.  [Russ.  name.]  Gen.  of  whale,  white 
whale.  Arctic  and  Australian  seas.  Fam.  Del- 
phimdge,  ord.  Cetacese. 

Belus.  The  Grecized  form  of  the  Syrian  Bel. 
(Baal.) 

Belvedere.  [It.  bello,  beatitiful,  vedere,  to  see.] 
A  room  above  the  roof  of  a  house,  for  fresh  air 
and  prospect. 

Belvedere,  Apollo.      A    beautiful    statue    of 


Apollo,  found  towards  the  end  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  in  the  ruins  of  Antium,  and  placed  in 
the  Belvedere  of  the  Vatican  (q.v.)  at  Rome, 
whence  it  has  its  name. — Perry,  Greek  and 
Roman  Sculpture. 

Bema.  [Gr.,  a  step,  a  place  for  stepping.}  1. 
The  tribune  or  pulpit  for  speakers  in  a  Greek 
assembly.  2.  (EccL  Ant.}  The  raised  plat- 
form containing  the  altar,  with  the  seats  of  the 
bishop  and  clergy.  (Apse;  Pnyx.) 

Bembridge  beds.  (Geol.)  A  division  of  the 
Upper  Eocene,  principally  developed  in  the  Isle 
of  Wight.  The  Bembridge  limestone  is  the 
equivalent  of  the  Montmartre  deposits,  and 
yields  remains  of  some  species  of  palgeotherium, 
etc. 

Bemol  [Fr.]  (Music]  is  n,  a  flat  note,  i.e.  the 
(5-like  sign  which  makes  flat  [mol].  Ger.  mol  is 
minor,  from  the  difference  between  major  and 
minor  thirds ;  dur  or  durum,  hard,  is  in 
mediseval  music  natural,  and  so  major  as 
compared  with  moll,  or  L.  mollis,  soft. 

Ben-.  [Gael.,  mountain.}  Part  of  Highland 
names,  as  Ben-more,  great  mountain. 

Benbow,  John,  Admiral,  1650-1702,  kept  up 
for  four  days,  off  St.  Martha,  W.  Indies,  a  run- 
ning fight  with  a  superior  French  force,  when 
almost  deserted  by  the  rest  of  his  squadron, 
August,  1702.  He  died  of  his  wounds  in 
November  of  the  same  year. 

Bencher.  Senior  members  of  Inn  of  Court, 
who  have  control  over  students  for  the  bar. 

Benchmare.  [(?)  Welsh  pwncmawr,  big 
point.}  The  broad  arrow. 

Benchmark.  In  Surveying,  shows  the  starting- 
point  of  a  long  line  of  levels,  and  is  affixed  to 
permanent  objects,  showing  exactly  where  the 
level  was  held. 

Bench  warrant.  (Leg.)  A  warrant,  signed  by 
a  judge  or  two  justices,  for  the  apprehension  of 
one  against  whom  a  true  bill  has  been  found,  or 
who  has  committed  contempt  of  court. 

Bend.  (Her.)  An  ordinary  bounded  by  two 
parallel  lines  drawn  from  the  dexter  chief  to  the 
sinister  base.  If  charged  with  any  device,  it 
occupies  one-third  part  of  the  shield  ;  if  un- 
charged, one-fifth.  Figures  occupying  its  place 
are  said  to  be  in  bend.  A  bend  sinister  has  the 
lines  drawn  from  the  sinister  chief  to  the  dexter 
base.  (Escutcheon.) 

Bendlet.  (Her.)  A  diminutive  of  the  bend, 
being  one-half  its  thickness. 

Bends.     (Naut.)     (Wales.) 

Bend,  To.  (Naut.)  To  fasten  ropes  together,  or 
to  an  anchor.  B.  a  sail,  fasten  it  to  its  yard, 
or  stay,  ready  for  setting. 

Bendy.  (Her.)  Covered  with  bands  alter- 
nately of  two  tinctures,  slanting  like  a  bend. 

Benedick  =  a  confirmed  bachelor,  who 
marries  after  all,  as  B.  marries  Beatrice,  in 
Much  Ado  about  Nothing. 

Bene  decessit.  [L.,  he  has  left  satisfactorily^ 
Certificate  of  good  conduct  on  leaving  a  college 
or  school. 

Benedictines.  (EccL  Hist.)  An  order  of 
monks  distinguished  for  their  learning.  They 
follow  the  rule  of  St.  Benedict,  who  founded  his 


BENE 


66 


BERK 


first  house  at  Subiaco,  early  in  the  sixth  century. 
To  this  order  belonged  Pope  Gregory  the  Great 
and  the  monks  whom  he  sent  to  England  under 
Augustine,  first  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.— 
Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity^,  iii.  ch.  vi. 

Benediction.  [L.  benedictio,  -nem,  a  speaking 
well  of.}  1.  Any  form  of  blessing.  2.  In  the 
Latin  Church,  specially  the  blessing  of  the  people 
with  the  reserved  sacrament,  which  is  held  up 
by  the  priest  in  the  monstrance. 

Benedict  medicines  =  gentle  remedies;  op- 
posed to  Drastic,  heroic. 

Benefice,  popularly  a  living,  is,  according  to 
Coke,  "a  large  word,"  =  "any  ecclesiastical 
promotion  whatsoever."  (Beneficium.) 

Beneficiary.  Holding  a  dependent,  feudatory 
office  ;  without  independent  power. 

Beneficium.  1.  Under  the  Romans,  a  grant  of 
land  to  a  veteran  soldier.  2.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  feudal  system,  an  estate  conferred  by  the 
sovereign  and  held  under  him,  which  as  a 
hereditary  thing  became  a  fief.  3.  (Eccl.) 
A  living,  preferment ;  on  the  assumption  of 
its  being  held  under  the  pope  as  a  superior 
lord. 

Beneficium  invito  non  datur.  [L.]  A  benefit 
is  not  conferred  against  one's  will. 

Benefit  of  clergy.  [L.  privilegium  clericale.] 
Withdrawal  of  the  clerical  order,  and  eventually 
of  all  who  could  read,  from  civil  to  ecclesiastical 
tribunals  in  all  capital  charges  except  high 
treason.  Not  wholly  abolished  till  7  and  8 
George  IV. 

Benefit  societies,  or  Friendly  8.  Associations 
for  mutual  benefit  among  the  labouring  class, 
a  small  weekly  payment  insuring  a  certain 
weekly  sum  during  sickness ;  in  some  cases  a 
payment  at  death ;  also  in  some  cases  a  pension 
after  a  certain  age. 

Bene  meritus.    [L.]    Well-deserving. 

Benet,  Herb.     [Fr.  benolte.]     (Aven.) 

Benevolence.  [L.  benevolentia,  good  will.} 
(Eng.  ffist.)  A  tax  levied  by  the  sovereign, 
under  the  name  of  a  gratuity.  No  voluntary  aid 
can  now  be  raised  on  behalf  of  the  Crown  with- 
out authority  of  Parliament,  the  breach  of  this 
condition  being  declared  illegal  by  the  Bill  of 
Bights. 

Bengal-lights.  Used  during  shipwreck,  = 
nitre  6,  sulphur  2,  tersulphuret  of  antimony  I. 

Benign,  Benignant  growths,  etc.  [L.  benignus.] 
(Med.)  Local  growths,  not  returning  if  removed, 
not  destructive  of  life ;  opposed  to  Malignant  [L. 
malignus],  cancerous  and  destructive  of  life. 

Benison.  [O.Fr.  beneison,  benai£on,  L. 
benedictionem.]  A  blessing ;  cf.  malison,  orison, 
i.e.  maledictionem,  orationem. 

Benitier.  [Fr.]  A  vessel  for  holy  water,  as 
a  font ;  an  aspersorium  or  sprinkler,  or  a  stoup 
attached  to  a  wall. 

Benjamin,  Benzoin.  [Fr.  benjoin,  from  Ar. 
loubban  djaoni,  Japanese  incense.}  A  dry 
fragrant  balsam  obtained  from  the  benjamin 
tree,  and  used  for  making  incense,  etc. 

Benjamin  tree.     Corr.  of  Benzoin  (q.v.). 

Ben,  Oil  of.  A  clear  sweet  oil,  much  used 
in  chemistry,  perfumery,  and  by  watchmakers ; 


obtained  from  the  seeds  of  the  Moringa 
pterygosperma,  a  tree  of  E.  Indies  and  Arabia. 

Ben  trovato.    (Si  non  e  vero.) 

Bents,  or  Bent  grass.  A  term  of  general 
significance,  applied  usually  to  the  old  stalks  of 
various  grasses. 

Benzoic  acid.  An  aromatic  acid  prepared  from 
benzoin.  Its  salts  are  called  benzoates. 

Benzoin.    (Benjamin.) 

Benzole,  Benzine,  Benzine  collas.  (Benzoin.) 
Bicarburetted  hydrogen,  a  colourless  liquid, 
obtained  from  coal  tar.  It  dissolves  fats,  and  is 
a  source  of  aniline. 

Beowulf.  An  Anglo-Saxon  epic,  of  great 
literary  and  philological  value.  [Beo  or  Bewod, 
with  the  old  Saxons,  the  harvest  month  >  pro- 
bably the  name  of  a  god  of  agriculture  (Cham- 
bers's  Encyclopedia}} 

Berberis.     (Barberry.) 

Berceaunette.  [Dim.  of  Fr.  berceau,  a  cradle^ 
A  wicker  basket  with  a  hood  over  the  head,  used 
as  a  cradle. 

Berceuse.  [Fr.,  a  cradle  song,  from  berceau, 
a  cradle,  L.L.  bersa,  ivickerwork  hurdle.} 

Bereans.  An  obscure  Scottish  sect,  A.D. 
1773,  who  professed  to  reject  all  religion,  except 
credence  of  the  written  Word ;  claiming  to  be 
like  B.  (Acts  xvii.  n). 

Berengarians.  Followers  of  Berengar,  Arch- 
deacon of  Angers,  eleventh  century,  who  pro- 
tested against  the  current  doctrine  of  the  Real 
Presence ;  recanted  ;  retracted  ;  and  again  re- 
canted. 

Bergamot.  [Port,  bergamota.]  (Bot.)  1.  A 
name  borne  by  very  many  different  kinds  of  pear, 
not  having,  however,  any  common  distinctive 
character  ;  from  Bergamo,  Lombardy.  2.  Also 
a  garden  name  for  Monarda  didyma. 

Bergamot  orange.  (Bot.)  A  fragrant  spec. 
(Bergamia)  of  Citrus,  ord.  Aurantiacese ;  its 
greenish-yellow  rind  contains  an  essential  oil. 

Berg-mehl.  [Ger.]  (Geol.)  Mountain  meal, 
Tripoli,  Polier  schiefer,  Xiesel-guhr,  Diatoma- 
ceous  earth,  etc.  Recent  and  Tertiary  deposits  of 
whitish  fine  powder,  almost  entirely  from  the 
frustules  or  siliceous  cell-walls  of  Diatomaceae ; 
some  varieties  are  mixed  with  food,  increasing 
the  bulk,  and,  perhaps,  slightly  nutritious ;  used 
for  polishing  metals.  Found  in  Norway,  Tripoli, 
Richmond,  U.S.,  Mull,  Dolgelly,  Mourne  Moun- 
tains, etc. 

Bergmote.  [A.S.  berg,  hill,  mot,  gemot, 
meeting.}  Court  for  decision  of  matters  con- 
nected with  mining. 

Berlin.  A  four-wheeled  covered  carriage, 
seating  two  persons  (invented  at  Berlin). 

Berm.  [Fr.  berme,  pathway  on  a  bank,  from 
Ger.  berme.]  (Fortif.,  Mil.)  Narrow  level  space 
left  outside  a  rampart  or  parapet,  to  diminish 
the  pressure  of  earth  on  the  escarp  of  the  ditch. 

Bernardines.     (Feuillans.) 

Bernicia,  Berneieh.  The  north  part  of  North- 
umbria  in  the  Saxon  period. 

Bernicle  goose.     (Barnacle  goose.) 

Bernoose.     (Bournouse.) 

Berretta.    (Biretta.) 

Berry.    (Bacca.) 


BERR 


BIAD 


-berry,  -berie,  -bery.  [L.L.  beria,  a  large  open 
field.}  Part  of  names,  as  in  Dol-berry,  a  word 
made  up  of  two  synonyms.  (Dol-,  Dal-.) 

Bersaglieri.  Sharp-shooters  ;  riflemen  of  the 
Sardinian  army,  introduced  1848. 

Berserkers.  [IceL]  In  Icelandic  tradition, 
wearers  of  bearskins  acks  or  coats ;  noted  for 
their  frantic  outbursts  of  rage.  (Grettir  Saga.) 

Berth.  (Naut.)  1.  A  sleeping-place  on  board 
ship.  Hence,  2,  the  place  where  a  ship  lies. 
3.  A  place  to  which  any  one  is  appointed.  To 
give  a  wide  B.,  to  keep  well  away  from  anything. 

Bertholletia.     (Brazil  nuts.) 

Beryl.  [Gr.  ^pv\\os.]  (GeoL)  A  mineral, 
hexagonal,  of  various  shades  of  green  and  blue, 
found  in  Primary  rocks  of  O.  and  N.  World ; 
consists  of  silica,  alumina,  and  glucina.  Amongst 
its  varieties  are  emerald  and  precious  B.,  or  Aqua- 
marine. 

Beshrew  tb.ee  =  be  thou  syrewe  [A.S.,  sor- 
rowed, vexed} ;  hence  =  I  curse  thee,  wish  thee 
evil. 

Besprent.  Besprinkled.  [A.S.  besprengan, 
to  sprinkle  over.} 

Bessemer  steel.  Steel  made  by  passing  a  blast 
of  air  through  molten  cast  iron,  so  as  to  get  rid 
of  the  carbon  and  silicon,  and  then  adding 
enough  pure  cast  iron  to  supply  carbon  for  the 
formation  of  steel.  (Named  after  the  inventor.) 

Bessus.  In  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  King  and 
no  King,  a  cowardly  captain. 

Bestead.  To  be  in  stead  or  in  place  ;  and  so, 
1.  To  profit ;  2.  To  be  circumstanced — "hardly 
bestead"  (Isa.  viii.  21).  But  this  should  rather 
be  translated  =  hardened,  hardening  them- 
selves {Speaker's  Commentary}. 

Bestiaires.  [Fr.]  Written  books,  of  the 
eleventh,  twelfth,  and  thirteenth  centuries,  de- 
scribing the  animal  world,  real  and  fabled,  with 
drawings  and  symbolical  explanations,  in  prose 
and  in  verse,  Latin  and  English. 

Bestow.  Sometimes  to  bury  j  so  Felix-stow, 
burial-place  of  Bishop  Felix. 

Beteem.  1.  To  deign,  think  fit,  to  suffer.  [Cf. 
A.S.  tamian,  to  tame ;  or  D.  betaemen,  to  be 
suitable  (Wedgwood).]  2.  [A.S.  tyman.]  To 
teem  ;  to  bear  abundantly. 

Betel,  Piper  betel.  A  spec,  of  Piper,  ord.  Pi- 
peraceae,  the  leaves  of  which  are  chewed  by  the 
inhabitants  of  many  parts  of  India  with  the  nuts 
of  the  Areca  (q.v.)  catechu.  B.  nut.  (Areca.) 

Bete  noire.  [Lit.  black  beast.}  A  bugbear; 
something  one  dreads  or  shrinks  from. 

Beth-,  Bedd-.  [Cymr.]  1.  Grave,  as  in  Bedd- 
gelert,  grave  of  St.  Kelert.  2.  Beth-  [Heb.],  house, 
as  in  Beth-el,  house  of  God. 

Betise.     [Fr.]     Stupidity. 

Beton.  The  French  name  for  concrete  ;  but  as 
the  mode  of  preparing  it  is  very  different,  it  is 
well  to  retain  the  use  of  the  two  names. 

Betony.  (Bot.)  Native  plant,  Stachys  betomca, 
ord.  Labiatse  ;  formerly  much  used  in  medicine  ; 
a  popular  remedy  still  for  some  complaints. 

Better  equity,  To  have.  To  be  second  incum- 
brancer  of  an  estate  with  security,  if  there  be  a 
prior  incumbrancer  without. 

Betty,  sometimes  Bess.     A  thieves'  instrument 


for  wrenching  doors,  drawers,  etc. ;  a  jimmy  ; 
instruments  of  all  kinds  being  frequently  personi- 
fied, as  spinning-jenny,  boot-jack,  etc. 

Betula.  [L.]  (Bot.)  Gen.  of  Amentaceous 
trees,  ord.  Betulaceae.  B.  alba,  the  common 
birch.  B.  papyracea,  Canoe  B.  or  Paper  B.  of 
N.  America,  is  very  valuable,  on  account  of  its 
durable  bark,  used  for  boxes,  thatching,  canoes, 
etc. 

Bever.  [Fr.  breuvage,  forbevrage,  L.  bibe're.] 
With  labourers,  a  drinking  between  meals,  gene- 
rally at  eleven  o'clock,  elevens,  and  at  four 
o'clock,  fours. 

Bevil,  Bevel.  [Fr.  biveau.]  A  kind  of  car- 
penter's square  that  may  be  set  to  any  required 
angle.  A  B.  angle  is  any  angle  except  a  right 
angle  and  half  a  right  angle. 

Beyile.  (Bevil.)  (Her.)  A  chief  broken  or 
opening  like  a  carpenter's  bevel. 

Bevil-wheels.  Two  portions  of  cones  on  which 
teeth  are  cut  so  as  to  work  together  and  trans- 
mit motion  from  one  axis  to  another  intersecting 
it  and  inclined  to  it  at  any  angle.  These  axes 
coincide  in  direction  with  the  axes  of  the  cones ; 
and  the  wheels  move  on  each  other  just  as  two 
cones  would  do  if  rolling  on  each  other. 

Bevis    of   Hampton    (Southampton),   Sir.    A 
knight  of  romance  (Drayton's  Polyolbion,  bk.  ii.). 
Bewpar.     (Naut.)     (Buntine.) 
Bewray.   [A.S.  wregan.]    To  accuse,  to  show, 
to  make  evident ;  cf.  Ger.  regen,  to  stir. 
Bey.     (Murza.) 

Bey,  Beg.  A  Turkish  or  Tartar  title,  meaning 
lord,  prince,  or  chief. 

Bezan.  [Fr.]  A  white  or  striped  cotton 
cloth  from  Bengal. 

Bezant.     1.  A  gold  coin  struck  at  Byzantium, 
current  in  England  in  the  time  of  Edward  III. 
(Dinar.)    2.  (fler.)    A  golden  disc,  named  from 
the  Byzantine  coin  so  called. 
Beza's  Codex.     (Godez.) 

Bezel,  Basil.  [Fr.  biseau,  a  slant,  bevil.} 
The  slope  or  angle  to  which  the  cutting  edge  of 
a  tool,  e.g.  a  plane,  is  ground  ;  a  sloping  edge  to 
a  frame,  or  to  that  which  is  set  in  it ;  the  ledge 
in  a  ring  which  secures  the  stone. 

Bezique.  A  game  of  cards,  generally  played 
by  two  persons. 

Bezoar  stones.  [Pers.  pad,  relieving,  curing, 
zahr,  poison}  Concretions  found  in  the  first 
stomach  of  some  ruminants,  especially  goats  ;  of 
hair,  fibre,  stony  matter ;  once  thought  alexi- 
pharmic. 

Bezonian.  [It.  bisogno,  want}  A  beggar, 
low  fellow. 

Bhagavadgita.     [Skt.,  sacred  poem}    An  ex- 
position of  Brahmanic  doctrine  in  a  dialogue  be- 
tween Krishna  and  Arjuna  in  the  Mahabharata. 
Bhang.     (Haschish;  Assassin.) 
Bhisti.     [Hind.]     (Water-carrier.) 
Bhowani.     (Thugs.) 

Bi-.  [L.  bis,  bi-.]  As  a  prefix,  implies  that 
something  is  doubled,  as  a  bichloride  is  a  salt  con- 
taining twice  as  much  chlorine  as  the  chloride. 

Biacuminate.      [L.     bi-,     two,     acumlnatus, 
pointed}     (Bot.)     Having  two  diverging  points. 
Biadetto.    (Bice.) 


BIAN 


68 


BIFI 


Bianchi  and  Neri.  [It.,  White  and 
Parties  or  factions  in  the  Florentine  Republic  in 
the  fourteenth  century.  Dante  belonged  to  the 
Bianchi,  and,  being  banished,  wrote  his  great 
work  in  exile. 

Biauriculate.  [L.  bi-,  two,  auricula,  ear.] 
1.  (Anat.)  Said  of  the  heart ;  having  two 
auricles  or  cavities.  2.  (Bot.)  Having  a  pair 
of  earlike  leaflets. 

Bibasic.  [L.  bi-,  two,  and  Gr.  ft&ffa,  base.} 
Capable  of  combining  with  two  equivalents  of  a 
base. 

Biberon.  [L.  bibe're,  to  drink.}  ^  A  water-pot 
with  one  or  more  conical  or  cylindrical  spouts. 

Bibiri,  or  Beebeeree,  of  Guiana.  Commonly 
called  the  Greenheart.  A  kind  of  Nectandra,  ord. 
Lauraceae ;  a  large  tree  of  sixty  or  seventy  feet, 
yielding  the  bibiru  bark,  a  tonic  and  febrifuge ; 
and,  more  particularly,  a  very  valuable  timber 
for  ship-building,  strong  and  durable,  cutting 
into  great  lengths,  placed  in  the  first  class  at 
Lloyd's,  called  the  twelve-year  class. 

Bible,  English.  The  first  Bible  in  English  was 
that  translated  by  Wyclif,  about  A.D.  1360. 
The  first  printed  English  Bible  is  that  of  Tindal, 
who  was  assisted  by  Coverdale.  After  Tindal's 
death,  the  work  was  carried  on  by  John  Rogers, 
who  dedicated  the  book  to  Henry  VIII.,  under 
the  assumed  name  of  Thomas  Matthews  :  hence 
commonly  called  Mattheivs*  Bible.  Tindal's 
version,  amended  by  Coverdale  and  examined 
by  Cranmer,  who  wrote  a  preface  for  it,  was  the 
first  Bible  set  forth  by  authority,  and  is  known 
as  Cranmer's  Bible,  or  the  Great  Bible.  The 
paraphrase  of  the  New  Testament  by  Erasmus 
was  set  forth  in  an  English  version  in  1547,  a 
copy  being  ordered  to  be  placed  in  every  parish 
church.  In  1560  some  English  exiles  published 
at  Geneva  a  translation,  with  marginal  readings, 
which  is  thus  known  as  the  Geneva  Bible.  The 
great  English  Bible,  commonly  called  the 
Bishops'  Bible,  was  printed  in  folio  in  1568,  the 
translation  having  been  made  by  the  bishops  and 
others  engaged  to  aid  them,  acting  under  the 
authority  and  supervision  of  Archbishop  Parker. 
In  the  following  year  this  translation  was 
published  in  8vo,  the  chapters  being  divided 
into  verses  as  in  the  Geneva  Bible.  The  folio 
reprint  of  this  version,  in  1572,  is  known  as 
Parker's  Bible.  A  Roman  Catholic  translation 
of  the  New  Testament  was  published  in  1584,  at 
Rheims,  and  is  hence  called  the  Rhemish  Bible  ; 
a  second,  giving  the  Old  Testament  also,  was 
published  at  Douay  in  1609-10.  In  1603  King 
James  I.,  at  the  Hampton  Court  Conference, 
ordered  a  new  translation  to  be  made.  Forty- 
seven  translators  were  engaged  upon  it.  This 
Bible,  commonly  called  King  James's  Bible,  or 
the  Authorized  Version,  was  published  in  1611. 
A  revised  version  of  the  New  Testament,  as 
given  in  the  Authorized  Version,  was  published 
in  1881.  (Breeches  Bible.) 

Bible  in  Spain,  1844,  describes  the  personal 
adventures  of  George  Borrow,  travelling  in 
Spain  as  agent  of  the  Bible  Society. 

Biblia  pauperum,  or  B.  pauperum  Christi.  The 
books  of  the  poor  of  Christ,  i.e.  the  preaching 


clergy ;  a  kind  of  mediaeval  picture-book,  of 
forty  or  fifty  pages,  each  giving,  with  a  text,  some 
leading  event  of  human  salvation.  A  similar 
book  in  rime  was  Speculum  Humance  Salva- 
tidnis.  These  were  amongst  the  first  books 
printed. 

Bibliomancy.  Divination  [Gr.  fj.avreid\  from 
passages  in  the  Bible  [0i&\iov,  a  book}  taken  at 
random.  (Sortes  Virgilianse.) 

Bibliomania.  A  passion  for  possessing  old 
or  rare  books.  [Gr.  £ij8A/oj/,  a  book,  p-avia., 
madness.} 

Bibliophile.  [Gr.  &i&\iov,  a  book,  $i\4a),  / 
love.}  A  lover  of  rare  editions,  curious  copies, 
etc.,  of  books. 

BibliopSle.    [Gr.  &i&\io-n<S)\t\s.}    A  bookseller. 

Bibulous.  [L.  bibulus.]  Able  to  imbibe  fluid 
or  moisture  ;  as  sand. 

Bicalcarate  limb.  [L.  calcar,  a  spur.}  (Bot.) 
Furnished  with  two  spurs. 

Bicameral.  [L.  bi-,  two,  camera,  a  chamber} 
Having  two  legislative  chambers. 

Bicarinate.  [L.  bi-,  two,  carinatus,  keeled.} 
(Bot.)  Having  two  elevated  ribs  or  keels  on  the 
inner  side,  as  some  Pales  (q.v.)  have. 

Bice.  [Ger.  beis.]  A  pigment,  blue  and  green, 
known  to  artists  from  early  times ;  native  car- 
bonate of  copper ;  artificially  prepared  also. 
Hambro'  blue,  Paul  Veronese  green,  etc.,  are  B. 

Biceps,  Bicipitous.  (Anat.)  Having  two 
heads  [L.  capita]  or  origins,  as  a  muscle ;  having 
a  double  insertion. 

Biche.  [Fr.  ;  cf.  Ger.  bitze,  Eng.  bitch  j  vide 
Littre  (s.v.).]  Hind,  roebuck. 

Biconjugate.  [L.  bis,  twice,  conjugatus,/w«#/ 
together.}  (Bot.)  Having  a  pair  of  leaflets  on 
each  of  two  secondary  petioles. 

Bidale,  i.e.  Bid-ale.  An  invitation  to  drink  at 
a  poor  man's  house,  and  make  a  subscription  for 
him  there.  (Bead.) 

Biddery-ware.  Metallic  ware,  made  at  Biddery, 
in  India. 

Bidding  Prayer  [A.S.  biddan,  to  pray}, 
sometimes  Allocution,  before  the  sermon,  e.g.  at 
the  universities,  and  in  cathedrals,  specifies  certain 
persons  and  objects  to  be  prayed  for,  by  Canon 
LV.  and  by  very  ancient  custom. 

Bidding  the  beads.     (Bead.) 

Bidet.  A  little  nag.  [Fr.  bidet,  from  Gael, 
bideach,  diminutive} 

Bidpai,  Fables  of.     (Hitopadesa.) 

Bien  chaussee.     [Fr.]     Wearing  neat  boots. 

Biennial.  [L.  biennium,  a  space  of  two  years} 
1.  Occurring  every  two  years.  2.  (Bot.)  Re- 
quiring two  seasons  for  flower  and  fruit,  then 
dying. 

Bienseance.     [Fr.]    Decency,  propriety. 

Biestings,  Beestings.     (Colostrum.) 

Bifarious.  [L.  bifarius,  twofold}  Generally 
in  Anat.  pointing  two  ways,  and  in  Bot.  arranged 
in  two  rows. 

Biffin,  Beaufin.  A  spec,  of  apple  grown  in 
Norfolk  ;  said  to  be  so  called  from  its  likeness 
to  the  colour  of  raw  beef.  The  apples  are 
slowly  dried  in  an  oven  and  pressed  for  keeping. 

Bifid.  [L.  bifidus,  bi-,  two,  findo,  /  cleave.} 
Cleft,  divided  into  two  part  of  the  way  down. 


BIFI 


69 


BILL 


Bifilar  magnetometer.  [L.  bT-fllum,  lit.  a 
double  thread.]  A  bar  magnet  suspended  hori- 
zontally by  two  threads  of  equal  length,  and  so 
adjusted  that  each  supports  half  the  weight,  is 
the  essential  part  of  a  Bifilar  magnetometer  or 
Bifilar;  when  the  bar  turns,  the  threads  be- 
coming inclined  to  the  vertical,  it  must  rise,  and 
thus  the  magnetic  force  is  compared  with  the 
weight  of  the  magnet. 

Biforate.  [L.  bi-,  two,  foro,  /  bore,  pierce^ 
Having  two  perforations. 

Bifurcation.     (Crystal.) 

Biga.     [L.]     A  two-horse  chariot. 

Bigaroo,  Bigaroon.  [Fr.  higarreau,  from  bi- 
garre,  streaked  =  white  and  red.]  The  large 
white-heart  cherry. 

Big  Ben.     The  great  bell  at  Westminster. 

Bigendians,  in  Lilliput,  made  it  a  matter  of 
conscience  to  break  their  eggs  at  the  big  end  ; 
heretics  in  the  eyes  of  the  orthodox  Little- 
endians.  (See  Gulliver's  Travels.} 

Bigenous  shoot.  [L.  bi-,  two,  gemtus,  be- 
gotten^ (Bot.)  Midsummer  shoot ;  a  second 
feeble  shoot  of  leaves  in  summer. 

Bigg,  Big,  or  in  Scot.  Bere.  (Bot.)  Hordeum 
hexastichon.  A  grain  hardier  than  barley,  and 
ripening  more  rapidly. 

Biggin.  [Fr.  beguin.]  A  cap  or  hood  ;  lit. 
like  one  worn  by  a  Beguine  (q.v.). 

Bight.  [Cf.  Goth,  biugan,  bend,  D.  bogt, 
Dan.  bught,  a  bend,  I/ay.]  A  bend  in  a  coast- 
line, an  open  bay. 

Bight  of  a  rope.     Any  part  not  an  end. 

Biglow,  Mr.  Hosea.  Pseudonym  of  James 
Lowell,  author  of  satirical  poems  against  slavery. 

Bignonia.  (Abbe  Bignon,  temp.  Louis  XIV.) 
(Bot.)  The  Trumpet  flower,  typ.  gen.  of  ord. 
Bignoniacese  ;  trop.  or  sub-trop.  ;  elegant  climb- 
ing plants  ;  the  stems  used  as  ropes. 

Bijouterie.  [Fr.,  jewellery^  Small  articles  of 
vertu. 

Bijugous  leaf.  (Bot.)  [L.  bijugus,  hvo  yoked 
together,  doubled^  A  pinnate  leaf  having  two 
pairs  of  leaflets. 

Bikh,  Bish,  Vish,  Atavisha.  Hindu  name  for  a 
most  destructive  vegetable  poison,  Acomtumferox. 

Bilabiate  flower.  [L.  labium,  a  lip.]  (Bot.) 
Having  parts  in  two  separate  parcels  or  lips,  as 
the  snapdragon  and  dead-nettle. 

Bilamellate.  [L.  lamella,  a  small  plate  of 
metal.'}  (Bot.)  Formed  of  two  plates  or  layers, 
e.g.  stigmas,  placentae,  etc. 

Bilander.  [D.  bijlander,  Fr.  belandre.] 
Small  flat -bottomed  merchant  vessel  used  on  the 
coast  of  Holland,  keeping  close  by  land. 

Bilateral  contract.  (Leg.)  One  by  which 
both  parties  [L.  latera,  sides],  enter  into  obliga- 
tions towards  each  other,  as  a  C.  of  sale. 

Bilateral  symmetry.  (Med.)  Said  of  organs 
situated  on  each  side  of  the  mesial  line  (q.v.). 

Bilberry,  Common,  or  Bleaberry.  [Blueberry 
(?)  cf.  Ger.  blaubeere.]  Vaccinium  myrtillus,  ord. 
Vacciniaceae.  A  small  bush  with  dark  berries, 
used  for  tarts,  etc.  Other  spec,  are  whortle- 
berry, cowberry,  etc. 

Bilbo.  (Made  at  Bilbao,  in  Biscay.)  A  rapier, 
sword. 


Bilboes.  (First  made  at  Bilbao,  in  Biscay.) 
Long  iron  bars  with  shackles  sliding  on  them 
and  a  lock  at  the  end  ;  used  to  confine  the  feet 
of  prisoners  on  board  ship. 

Bilge,  or  Bulge.  [Cf.  ball,  bole,  bowl,  belly, 
and  many  other  like  words  having  the  idea  of 
roundness  or  swelling.]  The  bottom  of  a  vessel, 
where  it  is  nearly  flat,  on  each  side  of  her 
keel.  B.  -water,  rain  or  sea  water  collected  in 
the  B. 

Bilingual.  [L.  bilinguis.]  Speaking  in,  or 
written  in,  two  languages. 

Biliteral.  [L.  bi-,  tiuo,  lit  era,  letter^ 
Consisting  of  two  letters  ;  as  the  roots  i,  go  (the 
smooth  breathing  before  an  initial  vowel  being 
counted),  ki,  move.  2,  Containing  two  consonants 
of  roots  belonging  to  languages  with  syllabaria. 
(Syllabarium ;  Triliteral.) 

Bilk.  To  cheat,  disappoint,  deceive ;  originally 
a  slang  word  :  some  connect  it  with  balk. 

Bill.  [A.S.  bile,  the  bill  of  a  bird.]  Used  as 
a  weapon  by  yeomen  of  the  time  of  Plantagenets ; 
consisting  of  a  curved  blade  with  spike  at  top 
and  back,  mounted  on  a  six-foot  staff. 

Billet.  [Fr.  billet,  a  note ;  the  mediseval  L. 
billa  being  the  class,  bulla.]  1.  (Her.)  An 
oblong  shape,  resembling  a  letter  or  brick.  2. 
Quarter  compulsorily  provided  for  troops,  by  the 
inhabitants  of  a  country,  including  the  provision- 
ing of  them  at  a  fixed  rate. 

Billet-doux.     [Fr.]     A  love-letter. 

Billet-moulding.  (Arch.)  A  round  moulding 
cut  in  notches  so  as  to  resemble  billets,  or  pieces 
of  stick. 

Bill  in  equity.  Plaintiffs  statement,  written 
or  printed,  addressed  as  a  petition  to  the  Court 
of  Chancery. 

Billingsgate.  Coarse  rough  language  (like 
that  of  B.  Market). 

Billion.  With  French  and  other  continental 
arithmeticians,  a  thousand  million,  not  as  with 
us  a  million  million ;  so  a  trillion  is  a  thousand 
billion,  etc.  (Numeration.) 

Bill,  or  Declaration,  of  Eights.  (Hist.)  The 
declaration  of  the  Lords  and  Commons  of  Great 
Britain,  presented  to  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
February,  1688,  setting  forth  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  the  people  which  had  been  violated 
by  James  II.  This  Bill  became  law  November, 
1 689.  (Petition  of  Right. ) 

Bill  of  exchange.  A  negotiable  security  in  the 
form  of  a  written  request  signed  by  A  (drawer) 
that  B  (drawee)  will  pay  C  (payee)  the  sum 
mentioned,  by  endorsement.  C  can  assign  the 
bill  to  D  (endorsee  or  holder),  and  D  to  another, 
ad  lib. 

Bill  of  health.  A  certificate  given  to  the 
masters  of  ships  clearing  out  of  port,  certifying 
the  state  of  health  in  the  vessels  at  the  time  of 
their  leaving. 

Bill  of  indemnity.  A  name  given  to  laws 
passed  for  the  relief  of  persons  who  have  acted 
in  an  illegal  manner. 

Billon.  [Fr.  copper  coin,  origin  unknown.] 
A  composition  of  gold  or  silver  with  a  larger 
quantity  of  copper ;  once  common  in  France, 
from  about  1200;  coined — or  something  very 


BILL 


70 


BISC 


like  it— by  Henry  VIII.  and  by  Elizabeth,  for 
Ireland.  The  groschen  of  N.  Germany  is  of  B. 

Billot.  [Fr.,  a  block  of  wood.]  Gold  or  silver 
in  bars  or  masses. 

Billyboy.  A  kind  of  sea-barge  on  the  E. 
coast. 

Bimaculate.  Marked  with  two  spots  [L.  bi-, 
,  two,  macula,  a  spot}. 

Bimana.  [L.  bi-,  tivo,  manus,  hand.]  (Zool.) 
Two-handed.  The  human  race,  viewed  as  pos- 
sessing two  hands  on  the  anterior  extremities. 

Bimbashi.    A  Turkish  provincial  dignitary. 

Bimestral.  [L.  bi-mestris.]  (Bot.)  Lasting 
for  two  months  only. 

Bimetallism,  Theory  of.  The  theory  that  the 
national,  and  if  possible  international,  standard 
of  value  should  be  not  that  of  silver  only  or  of 
gold  only,  but  a  mixed  standard  of  gold  and 
silver,  the  relative  value  of  the  metals  being 
determined;  and  this  probably  being  15^:  I, 
"which  has  been  maintained  for  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  present  century  by  the  French 
bimetallic  arrangement "  (Nineteenth  Century, 
June,  1 88 1). 

Bims.     Slang  for  inhabitants  of  Barbadoes. 

Binary;  B.  arithmetic;  B.  logarithm;  B.  star. 
[L.  bini,  two  each.]  Two  ;  double.  In  B.  arith- 
metic the  radix  is  2,  so  that  all  numbers  can 
be  expressed  by  two  symbols,  viz.  i  and  o ;  for 
in  B.  arithmetic  2  plays  the  part  which  10 
plays  in  ordinary  arithmetic  ;  thus,  nooi,  which 
in  the  latter  would  mean  I  x  10* +  i  X  io3  +  i, 
means  in  the  former  I  X24+i  X23+i,  or  25. 
In  B.  logarithms  the  base  is  2.  A  B.  star  is 
a  double  star  whose  constituents  revolve  round 
a  common  centre  of  gravity. 

Binate.  [L.  bmi,  two  apiece.]  (Bot.)  Growing 
in  pairs. 

Bin,  Bing.  1.  Properly  a  heap ;  and  so  2,  a 
receptacle  for  things  stored.  Wedgwood  com- 
pares Sw.  binge,  and  O.N.  bunga,  a  heap  ;  and 
Fr.  bigne,  a  bump,  tumour. 

Bind.  A  miner's  term  for  shales  in  the  coal- 
measures. 

Bindweed.  Popular  name  for  wild  convol- 
vulus. 

Bing.  [Dan.  binge.]  A  heap  of  alum  thrown 
together  to  drain. 

Binnacle,  Bittacle.  [Corr.  of  Fr.  habitacle, 
L.L.  habitaculum,  a  place,  habitation,  for  steers- 
man and  pilot.]  The  case  or  box  on  deck,  in 
which  the  compass  and  a  light  are  placed. 

Binomial  theorem.  [Fr.  bindme,  L.  bis,  twice, 
Gr.  vofj.-fi,  distribution]  A  formula  for  express- 
ing any  power  of  the  sum  of  two  numbers 
by  means  of  a  sum  of  the  powers  and  pro- 
ducts of  powers  of  the  numbers  severally ;  thus, 
(a4-£)13  =  al5+  i$a"b  +  1050.™^  +,  etc. 

Bio-.     [Gr.  pios,  life] 

Biogenesis.  [Gr.  fttos,  life,  ytveffis,  generation] 
Generation  of  (all)  life  from  living  germs,  op- 
posed to  spontaneous  evolution  of  life  from  dead 
germless  matter,  on  Bastian's  theory.  (Abio- 
genesis.) 

Bio-geol5gy.  [Gr.  0ios,  life,  777,  earth]  The 
science  which  treats  of  the  distribution  of  plants 
and  animals  over  the  globe  and  the  causes,  of 


that  distribution.      (See  Kingsley,  Health  and 
Education,  p.  173.) 

Biology.  The  science  of  life  [Gr.  fttos],  and  of 
the  forces  and  phenomena  of  life  ;  these  including 
the  sciences  of  Zool.  and  Bot. 

Biolytio.  [Gr.  Arfw,  /  loose]  Tending  to 
destroy  life. 

Biotaxy.  The  arrangement  [Gr.  TO£IS]  or 
classification  of  animate  beings  according  to 
their  outward  organization. 

Biparietal  diameter.  [L.  paries,  -etis,  a 
wall]  (Anat.)  The  diameter  between  the 
parietal  bones ;  applied  to  the  cranium. 

Biparous.  [L.  pario,  /  bring  forth]  Bring- 
ing forth  two  at  a  birth. 

Bipeltate.  [A  word  made  up  from  L.  bi-, 
two,  and  Gr.  WATTJ,  pelton,  a  shield]  Pro- 
tected as  by  a  double  shield  or  buckler. 

Bipinnate.  [L.  bi-,  two,  pinna,  a  feather.] 
(Bot.)  Twice  pinnate  ;  e.g.  the  frond  of  bracken. 

Bipontine  editions  of  classics.  Published  A.D. 
1779,  at  Deuxponts,  or  Zweibriicken,  a  town  of 
Rhemish  Bavaria,  formerly  capital  of  an  in- 
dependent duchy.  [L.  bi-,  two,  pons,  ponds,  a 
bridge.] 

Bipupillate.  [L.  bi-,  two,  pupilla,  the  pupil 
of  the  eye]  (Entom.)  Applied  to  a  spot  with 
two  differently  coloured  dots,  on  the  wing  of  a 
butterfly. 

Biquadratic.  [L.  bis,  twice,  quadratus, 
squared.]  Of  or  belonging  to  the  fourth  power 
of  a  number ;  in  a  B.  equation,  the  fourth  is 
the  highest  power  of  the  unknown  quantity  ; 
as  x*  —  ix  =  103. 

Bird-bolt.  An  arrow  broad  at  the  ends,  for 
shooting  birds. 

Bird-cherry.  Prunus  padus,  native  tree,  with 
long  white  racemes  of  flowers  ;  ord.  Rosacese. 

Bird-lime.  A  glutinous  substance  from  the 
boiled  middle  bark  of  the  holly  ;  it  may  be 
obtained  also  from  the  mistletoe. 

Bird  of  paradise.  A  gen.  of  birds,  Paradl- 
seidse,  fam.  Corvidse.  The  males  are  character- 
ized by  gorgeous  accessory  plumes,  springing 
in  some  spec,  from  the  sides  or  rumps,  in 
others  from  the  head,  bust,  or  shoulders.  The 
natives  usually  cut  off  their  legs  :  hence  the 
notion  of  their  being  legless  (Butler,  Hudibras). 
New  Guinea  and  neighbouring  islands. 

Bird's-eye.  A  kind  of  tobacco,  cut  so  that  the 
sections  of  the  stalk  resemble  a  bird's  eye. 

Bird's-nest.  (Naut.)  A  look-out  place  at  the 
masthead. 

Birds'  wings.     (Wings.) 

Bird-witted.  Desultory  in  thought,  flighty, 
having  no  concentration. 

Bireme.  [L.  biremis,  bi-,  two,  remus,  an 
oar]  A  vessel  with  two  tiers  of  oars  ;  trireme, 
one  with  three  tiers  ;  so  quadrireme,  quinqui- 
reme,  with  four,  with  five  tiers. 

Biretta.  [L.L.  birretum,  a  cap]  A  square 
black  cap,  rounded  at  the  top,  worn  by  priests. 

Birk,  Birken.     Birch,  birchen. 

Birmingham  system.     (Caucus  meeting.) 

Birthwort.     (Aristolochia.) 

Biscuit  [Fr.,  from  L.  bis  coctus,  twice  cooked ; 
cf.  Ger.  zwieback]  is,  in  pottery,  somewhat  a 


BISD  3 

misnomer.  The  first  baking,  to  preserve  shape 
and  texture,  gives  the  likeness,  in  colour  and 
texture,  to  ship  biscuit ;  the  second  firing  vitri- 
fies the  glaze,  and  brings  out  the  metallic  colours. 

Bis  dat  qui  cito  dat.  [L.]  He  gives  twice  who 
gives  promptly. 

Bise.  [Fr.]  A  cutting  N.  wind  prevalent  on 
the  northern  shores  of  the  Mediterranean. 

Bisect.  [L.  bi-,  two,  seco,  /  cut.}  To  divide 
into  two  equal  parts. 

Bisetous.  [L.  bis,  twice,  setosus,  bristled, 
seta,  a  bristle}  Having  two  bristles. 

Bishop.  As  a  drink,  hot  port  wine  flavoured 
with  lemon  and  cloves. 

Bishop  Barnaby.     The  may-bug  or  lady-bird. 

Bishopping  the  teeth  of  horses.  A  method  of 
passing  off  an  aged  horse  for  a  six-year-old. 
The  nippers  are  shortened  to  the  required  length, 
and  an  oval  cavity  is  scooped  in  the  corner 
nippers,  which  is  then  made  black  by  burning. 

Bishops'  Bible.     (Bible,  English.) 

Bishops'  Book,  or  Institution  of  a  Christian 
Man.  A  primer  of  doctrine  and  instruction,  A.D. 
1538;  the  culminating  point  of  the  Reformation 
during  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  (Blunt's  Preface). 

Bishops  in  partibus.     (In  partibus  infidelium.) 

Bisk,  Bisque.  [Fr.  bisque.]  Soup  of  several 
kinds  of  meat  boiled  together. 

Bismillah.  [Ar.  ]  A  form  in  use  with  Moslems ; 
in  the  name  of  God. 

Bismuth.  [Ger.  wismuth.]  A  metal,  crystal- 
line, reddish-white,  brittle  ;  found  native  in  Corn- 
wall, Germany,  Sweden,  France,  and  combined 
with  oxygen,  sulphur,  arsenic  ;  useful  in  the  arts 
and  in  medicine. 

Bisoma.  [L.  bi-,  two,  Gr.  <refyta,  body}  A 
sarcophagus,  or  urn,  or  coffin,  to  hold  two  bodies. 

Bison.  [L.  bison,  Gr.  fiiawv.}  1.  Gen.  of 
Bovidae.  2.  Spec.  Aurochs  (q.v.),  and  American 
bison. 

Bis  peccare  in  bello  non  licet.  [L.]  One 
cannot  make  more  than  one  mistake  in  war ;  i^. 
one  mistake  is  (generally)  fatal. 

Bisque.  1.  [Fr.]  Unglazed  porcelain.  2. 
[Fr.  (?)  It.  bisca,  a  gaming-house}  A  term  differ- 
ently used  in  different  games,  meaning  odds,  an 
advantage  given  to  one  player  over  another. 

Bissextile.  Leap  year,  i.e.  L.  annus  bissextus 
or  bissextilis  ;  so  called  because  in  the  Julian 
calendar  the  24th  of  February  (ante-diem  sextum 
Kalendas  Martias)  was  reckoned  twice  over  in 
the  leap  year. 

Bister,  Bistre.  [Fr.,  origin  unknown.]  A  pig- 
ment, warm  brown,  prepared  from  soot  of  wood, 
especially  beechwood. 

Bistoury.  [(?)  Pistoia,  where  they  were  made.] 
A  small  surgical  knife. 

Bisulcate.  [L.  bi-,  two,  sulco,  /  furrow.} 
1.  Having  two  furrows.  2.  (Zool.)  Cloven- 
footed,  with  two -hoofed  digits. 

Biting  in.  Eating  away,  by  an  acid,  the 
parts  of  the  plate  not  covered  by  the  etching 
ground.  (Etching.) 

Bitter  end.  (Naut.)  The  part  of  a  cable 
abaft  the  Bitts. 

Bittern.  1.  A  bitter  compound  of  quassia, 
etc.,  for  adulterating  beer.  2.  The  liquor  left 


BLAC 

after  salt  has  been  crystallized  out  from  sea- 
water. 

Bittern,  Bittour.  [Etym.  unknown;  cf.  Fr. 
butor,  L.L.  bitorius  ;  bos  taurus  seems  to  be  an 
error  (Littre').]  Night-feeding  gen.  of  heron 
tribe,  distinguished  by  greater  length  of  toe,  and 
by  being  feathered  to  the  tarsus.  Cosmopolitan  ; 
three  spec,  found  in  Great  Britain.  Gen. 
B5taurus,  fam.  Ardeidae,  ord.  Grallae. 

Bitter-sweet.  (Bot.)  Solanum  dulcamara. 
Ord.  Solanacese.  A  common  hedge  climber, 
with  potato-like  violet  flowers  and  red  berries. 

Bitts.  [Dan.  bitte,  Fr.  bitte.]  (Naut.)  Two 
upright  pieces  of  timber  in  the  fore-part  of  a 
ship,  to  which  cables  are  fastened.  There  are 
minor  B.,  as  the  topsail-sheet  B,,  to  which  the 
topsail  sheet  is  fastened. 

Bitumen.  [L.]  Includes  the  liquid  mineral 
substances,  naphtha,  petroleum,  etc.,  as  well  as 
the  solid  mineral,  pitch,  asphalt,  mineral 
caoutchouc,  etc.  (Asphalt.) 

Bituminous  shale.  Thin-bedded  clays,  suffici- 
ently rich  in  hydrocarbon  to  yield  paraffin,  etc., 
by  distillation. 

Bivalve.  [L.  bi,  two,  valvae,  doors}  Possess- 
ing two  valves,  or  doors  ;  term  applied  to  shells 
of  certain  molluscs,  as  cockles  and  small  Crus- 
taceans. 

Bivouac.  [The  French  form  of  Ger.  beiwache, 
by -watch.}  In  warfare,  the  halting  of  soldiers  at 
night  in  the  open  air. 

Bixa.     (Annotta.) 

Bizarre.  [Sp.  bizarro,  valiant.}  Capricious, 
fantastic.  Originally,  valiant ;  then,  angry, 
headlong  ;  lastly,  strange,  capricious. 

Bjelbog.     (Tschernibog.) 

Black  Act.  A  statute  passed,  9  George  I., 
against  the  Waltham  Blacks,  who  infested  the 
forest  near  Waltham,  Hants.  The  Act  was 
repealed  in  1828. 

Black  art.  Mediaeval  name  for  necromancy,  as. 
if  derived  from  L.  niger,  black. 

Black-ash.  A  mixture  of  impure  carbonate 
and  sulphide  of  sodium,  obtained  from  salt-cake 
(q.v.)  by  roasting  it  with  chalk  and  coal. 

Black  Assize.  A  name  given  to  an  assize  at 
Oxford  in  1577,  from  a  pestilence  which  broke 
out  while  it  was  held. 

Black-band.  A  valuable  carbonaceous  iron- 
stone in  the  coal-measures  of  Scotland  and 
S.  Wales. 

Black  Book  of  Admiralty.  1.  A  book  of 
ancient  Admiralty  statutes  and  ordinances. 
2.  A  mythical  record  of  offences. 

Black  cap.  Assumed  by  a  judge,  that  he  may 
be  in  full  dress. 

Black  chalk.  A  kind  of  shale  or  clay-slate, 
containing  much  carbon  ;  used  for  drawing,  and 
ground  down  for  paint ;  in  Carnarvonshire,  Isle 
oflslay,  Spain. 

Black  Country.  The  district  between  Bir- 
mingham and  Wolverhampton,  full  of  coal-pits 
and  furnaces. 

Black  Death.  (From  black  spots  on  the  body). 
The  Oriental  plague  which  desolated  Asia  and 
Europe  in  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

Black  dose,  or  draught.     Sulphate  of  magnesia 


BLAC 


72 


BLAT 


and  infusion  of  senna,  with  aromatics  to  render 
it  palatable  ;  Epsom  salts. 

Black  flux.  A  mixture  of  charcoal  and  carbo- 
nate of  potash.  (Flux.) 

Black  Friars.  A  mendicant  order,  called 
from  their  habit,  B.  F.  in  England  ;  in  France, 
Jacobins,  as  living  in  Rue  St.  Jacques  ;  Preach- 
ing F.,  from  their  office  of  converting  Jews  and 
heretics;  and  Dominicans,  as  founded  by  St. 
Dominic,  a  Spaniard,  early  in  the  thirteenth 
century. 

Black  game.  Heath-fowl ;  opposed  to  red 
game,  as  grouse. 

Black-hole.  Place  of  solitary  confinement  for 
soldiers. 

Black  Hole  of  Calcutta.  (Hist.)  A  dungeon 
in  which  Suraj-u-Daula,  1756,  shut  up  146 
English  prisoners  taken  in  the  defence  of  the 
city,  of  whom  all  but  sixteen  were  stifled  to 
death. 

Black-lead,  Plumbago,  properly  Graphite, 
into  which  no  lead  enters.  A  greyish-black 
mineral,  chiefly  carbon,  but  containing  alumina, 
silica,  etc. ;  used  for  making  pencils. 

Black-letter.  The  old  English  or  Gothic 
letter,  generally  used  in  manuscript  writing 
before  the  introduction  of  printing,  and  continued 
in  types  to  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  and 
in  many  instances  later. 

Black-letter  saints'  days.  In  the  Calendar 
of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  the  commemo- 
ration days  of  saints  whose  names  are  not 
rubricated,  and  for  whom  no  special  Collect, 
Epistle,  and  Gospel  are  provided. 

Black  list.  A  list  of  the  insolvent,  bankrupt, 
swindlers,  etc.,  printed  for  the  private  use  and 
protection  of  the  trading  community. 

Black  mail.  An  impost  in  the  Highlands 
and  bordering  Lowlands  of  Scotland,  in  the 
earlier  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  submitted 
to  as  a  compromise  with  robbers.  (Mails.) 

Black  Monday.     1.  The  cold  Easter  Monday 

of  1360,  April  14  ;  when  many  of  Edward  III.'s 

soldiers  died  before  Paris.     2.  The  first  Monday 

of  work  after  holidays. 

Black  Monks.     (Augustines.) 

Black   quarter,    Black    spald,  Quarter    evil. 

An    apoplectic    disease    in     cattle,    especially 

young  cattle  ;   caused   by  rich  pasture   on   stiff 

undrained   soil,   by  change  from  poor  to  rich 

pasture,  etc. 

Black  Eod,  Usher  of  the.  Chief  gentleman 
usher  to  the  sovereign  ;  summons  the  House  oi 
Commons  to  the  Peers  when  the  royal  assent  is 
given  to  Bills  ;  takes  into  custody  any  peer  guilty 
of  breach  of  privilege.  He  belongs  to  the  Order 
of  the  Garter. 

Black  Rood  of  Scotland.  "A  piece  of  the 
true  cross,"  in  ebony  gilt,  brought  in  the  eleventl 
century  by  the  wife  of  King  Malcolm,  and  lefl 
as  an  heirloom  of  the  Scottish  kingdom.  It  was 
lost  by  David  II.  at  Durham,  and  was  placed  in 
the  cathedral,  whence  it  disappeared  at  the  Refor 
mation. 

Black  rubric,  i.e.  a  statement,  not  really  a 
rubric  or  direction.  The  declaration  at  the  end 
of  the  Communion  Office,  respecting  kneeling 


n   rubricated  Prayer-books    printed   black;   in 
>thers  printed  in  Roman  type,  not  in  italics. 
Blacks.      1.  A  kind  of  ink  for  copper-plate 
rinting,  made  by  charring  the  refuse  of  a  wine- 
ress.    2.  (Bianohi  and  Neri.) 
Black  ships.     Indian  vessels  built  of  teak. 
Blackstone's  Commentaries  on  the  Laws  of 
Sngland.  Published  1765-69.   Originally  lectures 
at   Oxford,    by   Blackstone,    the   first    Vinerian 
Drofessor  of  Law  ;  appointed  judge,  1770. 

Black  Watch.  The  42nd  Regiment,  into 
which  companies  were  enrolled,  1737,  who  had 
watched  the  Highlands,  dressed  in  dark  tartan. 

Bladud.     In  British  legend,  the  father  of  King 
ear.     He  is  said  to  have  built  the  city  of  Bath, 
where  he  was  cured  of  his  leprosy  by  its  medi- 
cinal waters. 

Blague.  [Fr.]  Humbug,  brag,  intended  to 
mystify  ;  its  earlier  meaning,  a  tobacco-pouch. 
Littre  refers  to  Gael,  blagh,  to  blow,  inflate. 

Blaize.     (Fake.) 

Blano  coursier.  [Fr.,  white  horse.']  The 
icrald  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath  (from  the  white 
lorse  of  Hanover). 

Blanch-holding.  (Scot.  Law.)  A  tenure  for  a 
peppercorn  duty. 

Blanching.  1.  Whitening  metal  for  coinage. 
2.  Coating  iron  plates  with  tin. 

Blanching-liquor.  A  solution  of  chloride  of 
lime  for  bleaching. 

Blancbisseuse.     [Fr.]     Washerwoman. 

Blanket.  [Fr.  blanchet.]  Woollen  cloth  to 
lay  inside  the  tympans  in  printing. 

Blanketeers.  Were  to  have  marched,  taking 
blankets,  etc.,  with  them,  to  petition  for  reform, 
to  the  Prince  Regent  in  London,  March,  1817. 
(Peterloo.) 

Blank  verse.  The  unrimed  heroic  verse  of 
five  feet,  or  ten  syllables,  each  foot  being  in 
general  either  an  Iambus  or  a  Spondee. 

Blarney  stone,  To  have  kissed  the.  To  be 
extremely  persuasive,  to  be  an  adept  at  soft 
sawder.  Cormack  Macarthy,  Lord  of  Blarney, 
duped  Carew,  A.D.  1602. 

Blase.  Satiated,  cloyed ;  etym.  unknown. 
Littre  compares  blaser,  to  burn,  blaze,  a  pro- 
vincial use  of  which  is  =  dessecher,  to  dry  up, 
from  excessive  use  of  stimulants. 

Blast,  Blast-pipe.  The  waste  steam  from 
a  high-pressure  engine  is  driven  through  the 
Blast-pipe  into  the  chimney,  and,  causing  a 
partial  vacuum  in  the  smoke-box,  increases  the 
draught  through  the  furnace. 

Blastema.  [Gr.]  1.  (Anat.)  The  albuminous 
formative  element  in  animal  tissue.  2.  (Bot.) 
The  axis  of  an  embryo. 

Blast-furnace.     A  furnace  for  smelting  iron 
ores,  an  operation  requiring  a   very  high  tem- 
perature, which  is  obtained  by  a  strong  blast  of 
air  forced  into  the  furnace  from  beneath. 
Blasto-.     [Gr.  0Aa<rros,  bud,  sprout.} 
Blastoderm.     [Gr.  Se'p/ta,  skin.}    Tiie  germinal 
membrane  of  the  ovum. 

Blastogenesis.  In  plants,  multiplication  by 
buds.  [Gr.  ft\dcrTi]  and  -r6s,  bud,  sprout ', 
•ytveais,  origin.} 

Blatant.      Onomatop.     roaring,     bellowing; 


BLAT 


73 


BLOW 


cf.  blare,  blatter.  B.  Beast  is  Rumour  or  Slander, 
of  "vile  tongue"  and  "  hellishe  race"  (Faery 
Queen,  bk.  vi.). 

Blateroon.  [L.  blatero,  -nem.]  A  babbler, 
idle  talker. 

Blatter.    [L.  blatgro,  verb.]  To  prate,  talk  idly. 

Blazonry.  [Fr.  blason,  a  coat  of  arms.]  The 
art  of  painting  or  describing  coats  of  arms 
according  to  heraldic  rules. 

Bleb,  Blab,  Blob.  Originally  a  drop  of  water,  a 
blister ;  generally  an  air-bubble  in  glass,  ice,  etc. 
[Cf.  Ger.  blahen,  to  s*iuell] 

Blechnum.  [Gr.  £A^xa>"-]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of 
plants,  ord.  Ferns.  B.  boreale,  Hard  fern,  the 
only  British  spec.  Common  in  woods. 

Blee.  [A.S.  bleoh,  blewan,  to  blow,  bloom.] 
Complexion,  colour. 

Blench.  [Collateral  form  of  blanch,  to  groin 
pale.}  To  avoid,  elude,  start  from. 

Blende.  [Ger.  blenden,  to  dazzle]  (Min.) 
Zinc  B.,  Garnet  B.,  Black-jack.  1.  Properly 
sulphide  of  zinc ;  in  Cornwall,  Cumberland, 
etc.,  and  many  parts  of  Europe  and  N.  America. 
2.  Popularly  applied  to  many  other  lustrous 
minerals. 

Blenn-.    [Gr.  f$\4wa,  phelgin,  mucus]    (Med.) 

Bless  [akin  to  bliss,  blithe],  from  the  action 
of  the  hand  in  making  -j- ,  sometimes  =  to 
brandish. 

Blessed  thistle  (from  its  supposed  medicinal 
virtue).  Carduus  benedictus  of  old  writers  and 
of  Med. ;  gen.  ord.  Compositse. 

Blets.  [Fr.  blet,  overripe]  Spots  of  decay  in 
apples,  pears  ;  the  work  of  a  low  form  of  fungus. 

Bleu  du  roi.  [Fr.,  king's  bhte]  In  china,  a 
deep  cobalt  blue. 

Bleu,  Gros.  [Fr.]  The  darker  variety  of  B. 
du  roi 

Bleyme.  In  a  horse,  inflammation  between 
the  sole  and  bone  of  the  foot.  [(?)  Corr.  of  Fr. 
flegme,  Gr.  <()\€y/j.a,  inflammation] 

Blindage.  Building  of  strong  beams  leaning 
close  together  against  a  wall,  or  against  another 
set  of  beams,  and  covered  with  fascines  and  earth, 
for  the  protection  of  troops  and  stores. 

Blind-coal.    (Anthracite.) 

Blind-fish.     (Hag.) 

Blind  Harry.  Scotch  minstrel  of  fifteenth 
century.  Author  of  the  romance  of  Wallace. 

Blind  hockey.     A  gambling  game  with  cards. 

Blindman.  At  the  General  Post  Office,  a 
decipherer  of  illegible  or  misspelt  addresses. 

Blind  story.  (Eccl.  Arch.)  A  name  for  the 
Triforium,  or  second  story  above  the  Pier  arches, 
and  below  the  Clerestory. 

Blind-worm.  Anguis  fragilis  [L.,  fragile 
snake].  Harmless  spec,  of  footless  lizard,  fre- 
quently taken  for  venomous  snake.  Fam. 
Scincidae. 

Blink.  The  dazzling  whiteness  about  the 
horizon,  caused  by  reflexion  of  light  from  fields 
of  ice. 

Blistered  steel.  Steel  produced  by  heating  to 
redness  bars  of  pure  iron,  surrounded  by 
powdered  charcoal,  etc.,  till  they  have  absorbed 
sufficient  carbon.  When  taken  out,  the  bars  are 
covered  with  blisters. 


Blister-fly.  [O.K.  blaesan,  to  blow;  cf.  Ger. 
blase,  blister,  D.  bluyster,  id]  Spanish  fly,  Can- 
tharis  vesicatoria  [Gr.  Kav6apls,  name  of  various 
beetles,  L.  veslca,  a  bladder,  blister],  A  beetle, 
about  one  inch  long,  green,  with  gold  reflexions  ; 
rare  in  England.  Ord.  ColSoptera. 

Block.  [A  Teut.  and  Scand.  word.]  1.  Two 
or  more  pulleys  or  sheaves  placed  side  by  side 
on  a  common  axle  in  parallel  mortices  cut  in  a 
properly  shaped  piece  of  wood.  2.  (Naut.)  A 
pulley  made  in  four  parts  :  (i)  the  shell,  or  out- 
side ;  (2)  the  sheave,  or  wheel ;  (3)  the  pin,  or 
axle  ;  (4)  the  strop,  a  piece  of  rope  or  iron  by 
which  the  block  is  made  fast.  Building  B., 
tranverse  pieces  of  timber  to  support  a  ship  when 
building,  or  in  a  dry  dock. 

Block-house.  (Fortif.)  Covered  fieldwork, 
composed  of  trunks  of  trees,  with  a  shell-proof 
roof  of  earth. 

Block  machinery.  A  system  for  manufacturing 
the  shells  and  sheaves  of  blocks  for  ship  tackle, 
set  up  in  Portsmouth  Dockyard  by  Sir  M.  I. 
Brunei,  1802-8,  and  at  Chatham  in  1807. 

Blomary.  The  first  forge  through  which  iron 
passes,  after  it  is  melted  from  the  ore.  (Bloom.) 

Blonde.  [Fr.  blond,  fair]  A  fine  kind  of 
lace,  made  of  silk  (from  its  colour). 

Blood  and  Iron,  The  Man  of.    Prince  Bismarck. 

Blood  money.  Money  earned  by  giving  in- 
formation or  by  agreeing  to  help  in  bringing  a 
capital  charge  against  another. 

Blood  murmurs.  (Med.)  Heard  in  certain 
portions  of  the  arterial  system,  especially  in 
cases  of  anaemia  (q.v.). 

Blood-root  of  N.  America,  or  Puccoon.  (Bot.) 
Sangumaria  Canadensis,  ord.  Papaveraceae ;  its 
fleshy  root-stalk  and  its  leaf-stalks  abound  in 
a  red  juice ;  acrid,  narcotic,  emetic,  purgative  ; 
much  used  in  United  States. 

Blood-stone.     (Heliotrope.) 

Bloodwit.  [From  A. S.  blod,  blood,  wyte,  pity. ] 
A  fine  for  bloodshed. 

Bloody  Assizes.  Those  held  by  Judge  Jeffreys 
in  1685,  after  the  suppression  of  Monmouth's 
rebellion. 

Bloom.  1.  [A  Teut.  and  Scand.  word.]  A 
clouded  appearance,  like  the  bloom  on  fruit, 
sometimes  assumed  by  the  varnish  on  a  painting. 
2.  [From  O.E.  bloma,  a  mass]  A  mass  of  crude 
iron  from  the  puddling  furnace,  while  undergoing 
its  first  hammering. 

Bloomer  costume.  A  dress  for  females,  de- 
vised in  America  in  1848,  approaching  as  nearly 
as  possible  to  that  of  men.  The  attempt  to 
introduce  it  into  England  was  unsuccessful. 

Blooming.     ( Shingling. ) 

Blowing  lands.  (Agr.)  Lands  liable  to  have 
their  surface  blown  away. 

Blow-pipe.  An  instrument  which,  by  driving 
a  blast  through  a  flame,  concentrates  its  heat  on 
any  object.  The  oxy-hydrogen  blow-pipe  is  one 
in  which  a  mixture  of  oxygen  and  hydrogen  is 
used  for  the  blast  instead  of  air. 

Blowsalinda.  In  Gay's  Shepherd's  Week,  a 
rustic  lass. 

Blow  the  gaff,  To.  (Naut.)  To  let  the  cat 
out  of  the  bag. 


BLUB 


74 


BODY 


Blubber.  [Akin  to  blob,  bleb,  drop,  lump.} 
1.  A  bubble.  2.  The  oil-bearing  fat  of  whales 
and  other  fish. 

Blue  and  Green  factions.     (Factions.) 

Bluebell.  (Bot.)  Wild  hyacinth  (Scilla  niitans) 
or  Campanula  rotundifolia. 

Blue-book,  The,  on  any  subject,  is  the  report 
or  paper  published  by  Parliament ;  in  blue  paper 
covers. 

Bluebottle.  (Bot.)  Of  corn-fields,  sometimes 
cultivated  for  its  coloured  flower-heads ;  Cen- 
taurea  cyanus,  ord.  Compositae. 

Blue-gowns—in  Scot. — or  King's  Bedesmen, 
i.e.  praying  for  him ;  and  receiving  a  small 
bounty,  with  a  blue  gown,  and  badge  "  pass  and 
repass ; "  and  so  =  privileged  mendicants,  such 
as  Edie  Ochiltree  (Walter  Scott,  Antiquary). 
None  appointed  since  1833 ;  all  have  now  died 
out. 

Blue-John.     The  blue  variety  of  fluor-spar. 

Blue  Laws.  A  derisive  name  for  certain 
regulations  in  the  early  government  of  New 
Haven  plantation,  which  punished  breaches  of 
good  manners  and  morality;  "blue"  being  an 
epithet  applied  to  the  Puritans,  after  the  Restora- 
tion. 

Blue  Mantle.  The  second  pursuivant  (so 
named  by  Edward  HI.,  from  the  French  coat 
which  he  assumed,  being  blue). 

Blue-peter.  [Origin  doubtful.]  (Naut.}  A 
blue  flag  with  a  white  square  in  the  centre. 
When  flown  at  the  foretop-masthead,  it  indicates 
that  the  vessel  is  ready  to  sail. 

Blue-pill.  (Med.)  Piliila  hydrargyri  ;  mercury 
in  the  metallic  form,  *very  finely  subdivided ; 
mixed  with  conserve  of  roses,  to  form  a  pill. 

Blue-stocking.  A  literary  lady,  but  pedantic, 
unpractical.  About  1781,  B.  S.  Clubs,  accord- 
ing to  Boswell,  arose,  of  literary  persons  of  both 
sexes ;  at  which  Mr.  Stillingfleet,  gravely  dressed 
and  in  blue  stockings,  was  one  of  the  most 
constant. 

Bluff.  The  precipitous  face  presented  by  a 
high  bank  to  the  sea  or  to  a  river. 

Blunderbuss.  1.  A  noisy  blunderer.  2.  A 
short,  wide-mouthed,  noisy  gun. 

Boa.  [L.  boa  and  bova,  a  serpent;  or  a 
water-snake,  said  to  suck  cows.}  Name  of  a 
non-venomous  gen.  of  serpents,  killing  its  prey 
by  constriction.  Trop.  America.  Fam.  Pytho- 
nidae. 

Boabdil.     (Bobadil.) 

Board,  By  the.  (Naut.)  Almost  level  with  the 
deck.  Board  and  board,  side  by  side,  and  touch- 
ing. Board.  (Leg.) 

Boart,  Bort,  Carbonado.  Black  diamond, 
rarely  in  perfect  crystals ;  used  for  boring,  etc. 
(Diamond.) 

Boast.  To  block  out  stone  into  a  simple, 
rough  &w-like  form,  leaving  the  carving,  etc., 
for  future  work,  the  rough  projection  itself  being 


Boatila.  (Naui.)  A  flat-bottomed  narrow- 
sterned  boat.  Gulf  of  Manar,  between  Ceylon 
and  India. 

Boatswain.  [From  boat,  and  swain  =  A.S. 
swan,  a  lad.}  (A7aut.)  The  officer  of  the  first 


lieutenant;  he  gives  no  orders,  but  reports  de- 
fects, and  has  charge  of  the  ship's  rigging, 
anchors,  etc.  He  also  pipes  hands  to  their 
duties.  B.  captain,  nickname  for  one  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  his  duties.  B.  's  mate,  assistant 
to  B. 

Bobadil.  An  Anglicized  form  of  the  Ar. 
Abu  Abdallah,  or  father  of  Abdallah.  Also 
written  Boabdil.  (Matamoros.) 

Bobadil,  Captain.  In  Ben  Jonson's  Every 
Man  in  His  Humour,  a  bragging  coward. 

Bobbin.  [Fr.  bobine.j  A  wooden  pin  or  reel 
for  winding  thread  on. 

Bobbinet  [i.e.  bobbin  net].  A  kind  oi 
machine-made  lace. 

Bobibation.     (Solmisation.) 

Bobo'link,  Rice  troopial,  Rice  bird,  Reed 
bird,  Reed  bunting  (of  U.S.A.,  not  that  of 
Britain).  (Ornith.)  Butter  bird  of  Jamaica, 
Skunk  bird  of  Cree  Indians.  Gen.  and  spec,  of 
American  Hang-nests  ;  migratory  ;  length,  seven 
or  eight  inches ;  plumage,  black,  white,  and 
yellow.  Gen.  Dolichonyx  [Gr.  SoAtx^s,  long, 
owl-,  claiu},  fam.  Icteridae,  ord.  Passeres. 

Bobstay.     (Stays.) 

Bocal.  [Gr.  fiavKa\is,  a  water-cooler^  A 
cylindrical  glass  vessel  with  a  wide  short  neck. 

Bocardo.  The  building  at  Oxford  in  which 
Cranmer  was  imprisoned,  by  which  Ridley  and 
Latimer  passed  on  their  way  to  be  burned  iu  the 
city  ditch  opposite  Balliol  College,  October  16, 
1555.  So  named  from  an  impracticable  figure 
in  Logic. 

Bocasine.  [O.Fr.  boccasin.]  A  sort  of  fine 
buckram. 

Bocca.  [It.,  motith.}  In  glass-making,  the 
round  hole  through  which  the  glass  is  removed 
from  the  furnace. 

Boccaccio.     (Decameron.) 

Bocedisation.     (Solmisation.) 

Booking.  A  kind  of  coarse  baize  made  at 
Bocking. 

Bocland.  [A.S.]  Land  held  by  book, 
charter,  or  deed,  and  so  continuing  in  perpetual 
inheritance,  while  the  Folc-lands,  at  the  end  of  a 
given  term,  reverted  to  the  community.  The  only 
burdens  on  Bocland  were  those  of  the  Trinoda 
Necessitas,  that  is,  the  duty  of  contributing  to  the 
costs  of  war,  and  the  repair  of  castles  and  bridges. 

Bodach  Glas.     (Banshie.) 

Bod-,  Bos-.  A  house  ;  part  of  Cymric  names,  as 
in  Bod-min,  Bos-cawen. 

Bode's  law.  (Astron.)  An  arithmetical  for- 
mula, expressing  approximately  the  distances  of 
the  planets  from  the  sun. 

Bodleian  Library.  The  L.  of  the  University 
of  Oxford  ;  so  called  from  Sir  Thomas  Bodley, 
1597,  its  restorer  and  benefactor. 

Body.  A  term  used  for  the  paste  as  mixed  for 
manufacturing  pottery  or  porcelain. 

Body  colours.  Water-colours  mixed  with 
white,  consistent,  opaque ;  opposed  to  trans- 
parent tints  and  washes. 

Body  of  the  place.  (Mil.)  Enceinte  or  circuit 
of  a  fortress,  comprising  the  interior  rampart 
immediately  surrounding  the  town  fortified 
j  [Enceinte  is  L.  incincta,  pregnant.} 


BOED 


75 


BOMB 


Boedromion.  [Gr.]  Third  Attic  month, 
beginning  fifty-nine  days  after  the  summer 
solstice. 

Boeotian  =  stupid,  dull,  foggy-minded,  as  the 
inhabitants  of  Boeotia — "  crasso  adre  nati" 
(Horace) — were  said  to  be,  untruly. 

Bog-butter.  In  Ireland,  a  peculiar  substance, 
seventy-four  per  cent,  carbon,  formed  by  de- 
composition of  peat ;  in  colour  and  consistency 
like  butter;  liquid  at  124°  F. 

Bogle.    (Bogy.) 

Bogomiles.  [Slav.  Bog,  God,  miloric,  have 
mercy.]  A  Bulgarian  sect  of  the  twelfth  century, 
who  are  said  to  have  been  Mani.ch.eans. 

Bog-spavin.     (Spavin.) 

Bog-trotter.  One  of  the  lower  Irish  peasantry, 
who  traverse  bogs  with  singular  speed  and 
safety,  and  often  elude  justice. 

Bogue,  To.  (Naut.)  To  drop  off  a  wind. 
Used  only  of  clumsy  craft. 

Bogus.  [Amer.]  Spurious  ;  originally  of 
counterfeit  coin. 

Bogy,  Bogle.  (Myth.}  Fairies  or  super- 
natural beings,  amongst  whom  are  included  the 
Brownies,  who  answer  to  the  Latin  Lares,  or 
household  spirits.  (Puck.) 

Bohemian.  1.  A  gipsy.  2.  One  of  unsettled 
habits,  mentally.  [Fr.  Bohemien,  as  coming 
into  France  from  Bohemia  ;  cf.  gypsy  ;  i.e.  enter- 
ing Europe  by  ^Egyptus,  a  district  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Danube.] 

Bohemian  Brethren.  A  sect  which  sprang  up 
in  Bohemia  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  In  1535  they  renounced  Anabaptism, 
and  were  united  first  with  the  Lutherans  and 
afterwards  with  the  Zuinglians.  The  Moravians 
seem  now  to  be  their  nearest  representatives. 
(Taborites.) 

Bohemian  glass.  1.  A  hard,  scarcely  fusible 
glass,  consisting  of  silicates  of  lime  and  potash. 
2.  Ornamental  glass,  containing  in  addition 
silicate  of  alumina. 

Boidae.     (Boa.) 

Boiling  point  The  temperature  at  which  a 
given  substance  passes  into  vapour,  and  beyond 
which  its  temperature  cannot  be  raised  under 
given  circumstances  of  atmospheric  pressure, 
purity  of  the  substance,  etc. ;  the  B.  P.  of  a 
thermometer  is  the  temperature  of  steam  arising 
from  boiling  water  under  a  pressure  of  29-905 
inches  of  mercury. 

Bold  boat.  (Naut.)  One  that  stands  a  sea 
well. 

-bold,  -bottle.  A  house;  part  of  A.S.  or 
Norse  names.  [A.S.  botl,  house)  bytkan,  to 
build.} 

Bole.  1.  The  stem  of  a  tree,  from  the  idea  of 
roundness ;  cf.  v.  to  boll,  Ger.  bollig,  bowl,  ball, 
etc.  2.  [Gr.  jSoiAos,  a  clod,  earth.]  (Geol.)  An 
earthy  mineral,  like  clay  in  structure,  of  silica, 
alumina,  and  red  oxide  of  iron  ;  found  amongst 
basalt  and  other  trap  rocks  of  the  O.  and  N. 
World.  Armenian  B.  is  used  in  colouring  an- 
chovies. 

Bolero.  (Said  to  be  name  of  inventor.) 
Spanish  dance,  in  triple  time,  with  marked 
rhythm,  representing  various  phases  of  love. 


Boletus.  [L.]  An  extensive  gen.  of  Fungi, 
resembling  agarics,  but  having,  beneath  the  cap 
or  pileus,  not  gills  but  pores  or  small  tubes  ; 
some  are  edible. 

Bolio.  [Hind.]  Indian  river  boat,  longer 
and  narrower  than  a  budgerow.  (Bazaras.) 

Bollandists.  (J.  Bolland,  1643.)  A  succes- 
sion of  associated  Jesuits,  in  Antwerp,  who 
published  Acta  Sanctorum,  1643-1794  ;  the 
work,  more  than  once  interrupted,  is  now  carried 
on  by  aid  of  the  Belgian  Government. 

Boiled.  Exod.  ix.  ;  generally  understood  to 
mean  rounded,  swollen ;  i.e.  in  the  seed-vessel. 
[D.  bol,  bolle,  a  head;  cf.  ball,  bowl,  bulla, 
etc.]  Johnson,  loc.,  gives  "  to  rise  in  a  stalk  ;  " 
Speaker's  Commentary,  "  in  blossom." 

Bolognese  school  A  school  of  painting,  the 
first  being  founded  in  the  fifteenth  century  by 
Marco  Troppo,  its  great  master  being  Francia  ; 
the  second,  in  the  sixteenth,  by  Bagnacarallo  ; 
the  third,  at  the  end  of  the  same  century,  by 
the  Caracci. 

Bolsover  stone.  Yellow  limestone  of  B.,  in 
Derbyshire,  of  which  the  Houses  of  Parliament 
are  built ;  a  combination  of  carbonate  of  mag- 
nesia with  carbonate  of  lime. 

Bolster,  i.e.  boltster.  A  smith's  tool,  used  for 
punching  holes  and  making  bolts. 

Bolter.  A  kind  of  sieve,  which  bolts  or  sifts 
coarser  from  finer  parts  of  meal.  \Cf.  Ger. 
beutelen,  to  shake,  to  bolt,  and  L.  pulto,  /  strike, 
knock^\  Bolting,  the  act  of  sifting. 

Bolt-head.  A  glass  globe  with  a  long,  straight 
neck,  used  by  chemists  in  distilling. 

Bolt-rope.  (Naut.)  The  rope  round  the  edge 
of  a  sail. 

Bolus.  [Gr.  j3w\os,  clod,  lump  of  earth.]  A 
medicinal  preparation  in  a  large,  soft  mass,  to 
be  divided  into  pills. 

Bomba,  King,  i.e.  the  Liar  King.  Ferdinand, 
King  of  the  Two  Sicilies.  B.  is  the  puff  of  the 
distended  cheek,  expressive,  in  Italy,  of  disbelief 
of  the  thing  said. 

Bombardier.  [Fr.  bombarder,  to  bombard.] 
Non-commissioned  officer  in  the  artillery,  ranking 
immediately  after  a  corporal. 

Bombardier  beetle.  (Entom.)  Brachinus  cre- 
pitans,  one  of  the  ground  beetles  (Carabidse). 
When  handled,  it  discharges  a  volatilized  acid 
with  an  explosion.  Common  in  England.  Ord. 
Coleoptera. 

Bombardo.  [It.]  A  wind  instrument  of 
former  times,  large  and  rude,  upon  which  the 
modern  oboe,  clarionet,  etc.,  have  been  im- 
provements. 

Bombardon.  A  large  brass  bass  wind  instru- 
ment, having  a  tone  somewhat  like  that  of  an 
ophicleide. 

Bombasin,  Bombazine.  [L.  bombycmus,  made 
of  silk  or  of  fine  cotton.]  A  fabric,  of  silk  and 
worsted  mixed. 

Bombast.  [Gr.  j8<f/*j3v£,  silkworm,  raw  silk.] 
Padding  ;  and  so  turgid  language. 

Bombastes  Furioso.  The  hero  of  a  burlesque 
opera,  by  Rhodes,  in  ridicule  of  modern  tragedy, 

Bombax.  [Gr.  £<fyxj8u|,  silk,  with  which 
cotton  was  at  first  confounded.]  (Bot.)  A 


BOMB 


BOOM 


gen.  of  plants,  B.  ceiba,  common  silk-cotton 
tree. 

Bombldae,  Bombus.  [Onomatop.  ;  cf.  similar 
words  in  Gr.,  L.,  Fr.,  It. ;  Ger.  hummel,  Eng. 
humble-bee,'}  (Zool.)  Humble-bees,  Bumble-bees. 
Fam.  of  bees  with  thick  hairy  bodies,  making 
nests  underground.  Ord.  Hymenoptera. 

Bomb-ketch.     (Ketch.) 

Bombolo.  [It.  bombola,  a  bottle.'}  A  glass  globe 
with  a  short  neck,  used  in  refining  camphor. 

Bombycldse,  Bombyx.  [Gr.j8rf/u/fo{,]  (Entom.) 
Silkworm  moths.  Sub-fam.  of  Lepidoptera. 

Bombycilla,  Bombycivora.  [Gr.  0dp£»£,  silk- 
worm, L.  voro,  1  devour. .]  (Ornith.)  Names 
applied  by  Brisson  and'Temninck  respectively 
to  a  portion  of  fam.  AmpelTdse,  including  Bohe- 
mian chatterer.  (Chatterer,  B.) 

Bombyclnous.  Silken,  in  colour  like  a  silk- 
worm. (Bombasin.) 

Bona  Dea.  [L.,  the  good  goddess, ,]  A  Latin 
goddess,  whose  rites  were  celebrated  only  by 
women. 

Bona  fid5.  [L.]  With  good  faith,  fair  and 
straightforward. 

Bonair.  Complaisant,  yielding.  In  the 
espousals  of  the  Sarum  Manual,  a  wife  promises 
to  be  "  bonere  and  buxum."  (Debonair.) 

Bona  notabilia.  In  Law,  goods  exceeding  £$ 
in  value,  belonging  to  a  person  dying  in  another 
diocese. 

Bonassus.  [L.  bonasus,  Gr.  p6vd<Tos.~\ 
(Aurochs;  Bison.) 

Bona  vacantia.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Law,  goods 
lying  ownerless ;  in  Eng.  Law,  goods  in  which 
the  king  only  claims  a  property :  royal  fish, 
shipwreck,  treasure  trove,  etc.,  personal  property 
of  an  intestate  who  leaves  no  next  of  kin. 

Bon  avocat,  mauvais  voisin.  [Fr.]  A  good 
lawyer  is  a  bad  neighbour. 

Bond.  [A.S.]  (Arch.)  The  arrangement  of 
materials  in  a  wall — "tied"  together — in  a 
way  which  shall  show  harmony  of  structure  ; 
known  as  English  and  Flemish  B.  (Stretcher.) 

Bondager.  [A.S.  bonda;  cf.  Icel.  bondi,  a 
husbandman^}  (Hind.) 

Bond-stone.  One  reaching  through  the  whole 
thickness  of  a  wall,  and  so  binding  together  its 
two  faces. 

Bond-timber  is  worked  into  a  wall  longitu- 
dinally ;  to  tie  the  work  as  it  is  setting,  and 
permanently. 

Boneblack.  Animal  charcoal,  made  by  cal- 
cining bones  in  closed  vessels. 

Bone-caves.     (Caves.) 

Bone  earth.  The  ash  left  when  bones  are 
burnt,  consisting  chiefly  of  phosphate  of  lime  j 
used  as  manure  and  for  cupels. 

Boneset.     (Comfrey.) 

Bon  Gaultier.  Pseudonym  of  Professor 
Aytoun,  author  of  Lays  of  the  Scottish  Cavaliers, 
and  Theodore  Martin,  who  published  a  volume 
of  ballads  under  this  name. 

Bon  gre,  mal  gre.  [Fr.]  Willing  or  unwil- 
ling, L.  nolens  volens  ;  gre,  accord,  being  from 
L.  gratum. 

Bon  homme  Jacques.  [Fr.]  A  name  given  to 
the-peasantry  of  the  Jacquerie  (q.v.). 


Boniface.  In  Farquhar's  Beatio?  Stratagem, 
an  ideal  innkeeper. 

Bonlto.  [Sp.]  Two  spec,  of  Tunny  fish. 
(Zool.)  (i)  Thynnus  Pelamys.  (2)  Scombei 
Rochei,  about  two  feet  and  a  half  long,  mottled 
blue  back,  white  belly ;  this  has  four  dark  lines 
lengthwise  each  side  of  the  belly.  May  be 
caught  with  artificial  flying-fish.  Mediterranean 
and  Atlantic,  occasionally  British  coasts.  Fam. 
Scombridse,  ord.  Acanthopterygii,  sub-class  Te- 
leostei. 

Bon  marche.  [Fr.,  good  market,  cheapness.} 
Adopted  as  the  name  of  the  vast  business  of  the 
late  Achille  Boucicault. 

Bonne.     [Fr.]    Nursemaid,  nursery  governess. 

Bonne  bouche.     [Fr.]     A  dainty  morsel. 

Bonnet.  [Fr.  bonnet,  cap,  L.L.  boneta,  some 
kind  of  cloth.]  1,  (Mil.)  Small  raised  work  ol 
two  faces,  placed  on  the  salients  in  fortification, 
to  increase  the  height  of  the  parapet.  2. 
(Anat.)  Reticiilum  [L.,  little  net},  Honey-comb 
bag.  Second  stomach  of  a  ruminant.  3.  (Naut.) 
(Preserving  the  original  idea  of  Fr.  bonnet,  stuff ; 
etymology  unknown.)  A  piece  of  canvas,  laced 
to  the  bottom  of  fore-and-aft  sails  in  a  light  wind. 

Bonnet  laird.  Owner  of  a  cottage  and  an 
acre  or  two  of  land ;  who  wore,  till  lately,  the 
old  braid  bonnet  of  the  Lowland  Scottish 
peasantry,  broad,  round,  blue,  with  red  tuft. 

Bonnet  piece.  A  beautiful  native  gold  coin  of 
James  V.  of  Scotland  ;  with  bonnet  instead  of 
crown . 

Bonnet  rouge.  [Fr.]  The  red  cap  of  Liberty. 
(Liberty,  Cap  of.) 

BonnibeL  [Fr.  bonne  et  belle.]  A  girl  fair 
and  good. 

Bono  Johnny.  Pigeon  English  (q.v. )  for  Eng- 
lishman. 

Bon  ton.     [Fr.,  good  tone.'}     Good  breeding. 

Bonus.  [L.,  good."}  A  premium  or  advan- 
tage. In  Insurance,  a  share  of  profits  given  to 
policy-holders. 

Bon  vivant.    [Fr.]    A  free  liver. 

Bonze.     (Talapoins.) 

Bonzes.  The  European  name  for  the  priests 
of  the  religion  of  Fo  or  Buddha  in  the  Chinese, 
Birman,  and  Japanese  empires.  [Skt.  bandya, 
i.e.  vandya,  deserving  praise.] 

Booby-hatch.  (Naut.)  A  smaller  companion, 
lifting  off  in  one  piece. 

Bookland.     (Bocland.) 

Book  of  Sports.  Proclaimed  at  Greenwich  by 
James  I.,  May,  1618,  sanctioning  certain  amuse- 
ments for  Sunday  after  service ;  revived  by 
Charles  I.,  1633  ;  ordered  by  Lords  and  Com- 
mons, 1643,  to  be  publicly  burnt. 

Boom.  1.  (Naut.)  [Cf.  beam,  Ger.  baum,  a 
tree  or  pole.]  A  long  spar  used  to  extend  the 
foot  of  a  sail.  B .  forwards ,  carry  all  possible  sail. 
B.  off,  keep  off  with  spars.  To  top  one's  B., 
start  off.  Booms  of  a  ship.  (Decks.)  2.  Any 
obstacle  across  a  river  or  harbour,  for  protection 
in  war,  as  spars,  an  iron  chain,  etc. 

Boomerang.  Bow-shaped  Australian  missile, 
of  hard  wood,  for  war,  sport,  or  chase,  about  two 
inches  and  a  half  broad,  two  feet  long ;  with 
one  side  flat,  the  other  rounded.  On  failing 


BOON 


77 


BOTT 


to  strike  its  mark  it  returns  in  its  flight  to  the 
thrower. 

Boon.  [Gael,  bunach.]  The  refuse  from 
dressed  flax. 

Boot  and  saddle.  (Mil.}  Preparatory  trumpet- 
call  for  cavalry  mounted  parade. 

Bootikin,  Boot,  Boots.  Used  judicially  in 
Scotland — not  after  1690.  A  case  of  wood  for 
the  leg,  into  which  wedges  were  driven,  to  ex- 
tort confession. 

Boots.     (Cinderella.) 

Booty.  In  Ireland,  one  of  nomadic,  unsettled 
life. 

Borachio.  1.  A  bottle  or  cask.  [Sp.  borracha, 
a  fig-skin,  bottle.}  2.  A  drunkard. 

Borage,  Common.  A  spec.  (Officlnalis)  of 
Borago,  a  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Boraginese, 
growing  wild  in  many  parts  of  Europe.  Its 
flowers  and  leaves  are  used  in  flavouring  claret- 
cup. 

Borassus  flabelliformis,  or  Fan  palm.  [L.  fla- 
bellum,  a  fan.}  (Bot.)  The  only  spec,  of  the  gen. 
B.  or  Skt.  Tala,or  Palmyra,  the  finest  of  palms ; 
the  sap  yields  palm  wine,  or  toddy,  and  sugar. 

Borax.  [Heb.  borak,  white}  Biborate  of 
soda,  used  as  a  flux  and  in  soldering.  (Boron ; 
lineal.) 

Border  justice.  Jeddart  justice,  hanging  first 
and  trying  afterwards.  (Antiphrasis.) 

Bord-service.  Tenure  of  bordlands,  from  which 
is  maintained  the  lord's  board  or  table. 

Bordure.  [Fr.]  {Her.}  A  border  round  an 
escutcheon,  containing  the  fifth  part  of  the 
field. 

Bore.  [Ger.  bor.]  (Araut.)  A  tidal  wave  of 
great  height,  confined  to  certain  rivers  and  inlets 
of  the  sea,  e.g.  Severn.  It  comes  suddenly  with 
a  peculiar  roar,  and  returns  as  suddenly.  In  the 
Petticodiac,  Bay  of  Fundy,  it  is  seventy-two 
feet  high. 

Boreas.  [Gr.]  The  N.  wind,  or  rather 
N.N.E.  ;  Aquilo.  (Wind.) 

Borecole,  or  Sprouts.  A  variety  of  Brassica 
6b6racea,  ord.  Cruciferae.  [Corr.  of  broccoli  (?).] 

Boree.     An  Irish  dance. 

Borel,  BorreL  [O.Fr.  burel,  coarse  cloth  for 
peasantry,  L.  burra.]  Rude,  illiterate,  clownish. 

Borer-fish.     ( Hag. ) 

Born  alive.  In  Law,  manifesting  life  after  the 
extrusion  of  the  whole  body. 

Boron.  An  infusible  element  of  a  dark  olive 
colour,  resembling  carbon  in  its  properties.  It 
was  first  obtained  from  boracic  acid,  its  trioxide, 
the  salts  of  which  are  called  borates.  (Borax.) 

Borough  English.  A  mode  of  descent  in  some 
ancient  boroughs  and  manors,  in  which  the 
owner's  youngest  son,  or  his  youngest  brother 
(if  he  has  no  issue),  is  the  heir.  (Gavelkind.) 

Borrowing  days.  Three  days  of  April,  which 
before  the  change  of  style  were  April  I,  2,  3, 
and  so  seemed  more  properly  to  belong  to 
March. 

Borsholder.  [A.S.  burh-ealdor.]  (Hist.}  The 
elder  or  chief  of  a  borough  or  tything. 

Bort.  The  smaller  fragments  removed  from 
diamonds  in  cutting  them.  (Boast.) 

Borten.     A  narrow  wooden  staff. 


Bosa.  [Pers.  boza.]  An  Eastern  drink  made 
from  fermented  millet  seed. 

Boscage.  Underwood,  land  covered  with 
thickets.  [Fr.  bocage,  O.Fr.  boscage,  boscati- 
cum,  from  L.L.  boscus,  wood.}  Bosky,  contain- 
ing thickets,  copses. 

Boshes.  [Ger.  boschung,  slope.}  The  lower 
part  of  a  blast  furnace,  sloping  inward  to  the 
hearth. 

Bos  in  lingua.  [L.]  An  ox  is  on  his  tongue, 
i.e.  some  weighty  reason  for  silence  (or,  less  pro- 
bably, a  bribe,  a  coin  stamped  with  an  ox) ;  cf. 
/Sous  eTrt  y\<iHro"r)  (^schylus,  Agam.,  36). 

Bosjesman.  The  Dutch  name  for  some  African 
tribes,  akin  to  the  Hottentot,  called  by  the  Eng- 
lish Bushmen. 

Bosky.     (Boscage.) 

Boss.  [An  Amer.  word.]  1.  A  master  work- 
man ;  said  to  be  D.  baas,  master.  2.  One  who 
is  superior,  in  any  way,  to  his  fellows. 

Bossage.     (Boast.) 

Bot.  [Gael,  botus,  boiteag,  a  maggot, .] 
(Entom.}  Larva  of  botfly.  CEstrus  equi  [Gr. 
ola-rpos}  deposits  its  eggs  on  the  horse's  hairs ; 
by  his  licking  the  place  they  are  transferred  to 
his  intestines,  where  they  are  hatched.  CE.  bovis 
burrows  in  the  skin  of  the  cow.  CE.  ovis  infests 
the  frontal  sinus  of  sheep.  Ord.  Diptera. 

Botanomancy.  Divination  [Gr.  /toj/refo]  by 
means  of  plants,  flowers  \^oravi\,  herb,  grass], 
practised  by  the  ancients  to  discover  their  loves  ; 
and  by  Teutonic  nations  ;  e.g.  Marguerite  and 
the  star-flowers  in  Faust. 

Botargo.  [Sp.  botarga.]  A  sausage,  made 
with  mullet  roe,  inducing  thirst. 

Bote.  [A.S.  bot,  from  betan,  to  repair.}  1. 
Necessaries  used  off  an  estate  for  its  mainten- 
ance ;  as  hay-bote,  wood  for  repairing  hedges. 
2.  Reparation,  as  in  bootless. 

Botelliferous  sponges.  Having  straight  swelled 
branches.  [L.  botellus,  dim.  of  bottilus,  a  sausage.} 

Bothie.  [Gael,  bothag,  a  cottage.}  This  word 
has  come  to  mean  a  house  or  barrack  of  lodgings 
for  unmarried  labourers  in  E.  and  N.E.  parts 
of  Scotland. 

Botree  of  Ceylon,  Peepul  of  India.  Ficus 
religiSsa,  somewhat  like  the  banyan  ;  held  sacred 
by  Buddhists,  planted  near  every  temple. 

BotryoidaL  (Bot.,  Min.)  Having  the  shape 
or  likeness  [Gr.  clSos]  of  a  chister  of  grapes 
[porpvs]. 

Bottcher  ware.  (From  its  discoverer.)  A 
kind  of  reddish-brown  pottery,  unglazed,  but 
polished  by  a  lathe,  and  afterwards  covered  with 
a  dark  varnish  and  painted  or  gilded. 

Bottom.  (Naut.}  Hull  of  a  ship ;  put  by 
Synecdoche  (q.v.)  for  the  ship  itself;  thus, 
British  B.  means  British  ship,  Dutch  B.  Dutch 
ship,  etc. 

Bottom,  Nick.  The  silly  conceited  weaver 
with  an  ass's  head,  with  whom  Titama  in 
Shakespeare's  Midsummer  Night's  Dream  fell 
in  love. 

Bottomry.  Hypothecation  of  a  vessel  (a 
bottom)  as  security  for  money  lent,  which  is  lost 
to  lender  if  the  vessel  be  totally  lost. 

Bottonny.     [Fr.  bontonne.]     (Her.)    Having 


BOTU 


BOWC 


each  arm  terminated  with  three  semicircular  bud 
[Fr.  boutons],  arrayed  like  a  trefoil. 

Botulifonn,     [L.    bStulus.J     Shaped    like 
sausage. 

Bouge.  [(?)  Fr.  bouche,  a  mouth;  cf.  bonn 
bouche,  a  dainty  morsel.}  Victuals,  allowance  o 
food. 

Bouget  [Fr.]  (Her.)  An  ancient  vessel  fo 
carrying  water. 

Bought,  or  Bout,  of  the  plough.  [A.S.  beogan 
bigan,  bugan,  to  bend ;  cf.  bight ;  Dan.  bagt 
a  bay,  Ger.  biegen,  to  bend.}  The  course  of  th< 
plough  both  up  and  down  the  space  cultivated. 

Bought-note.  Transcript  of  a  broker's  signec 
entry  of  a  contract  given  to  the  seller.  Sold 
note,  ditto  to  the  buyer. 

Bougie.  [Fr. ,  a  wax-candle,  first  made  at  B. 
in  Algiers.]  (Med.)  A  small  rod,  metal  o: 
other,  for  distending  contracted  mucous  canals 
in  various  parts  of  the  body. 

Boulder-clay.  (Geol.)  An  important  member 
of  the  Glacial  deposits,  Northern  drift,  Erratics, 
etc.,  of  the  post-Tertiary  system.  The  glacia 
beds,  produced  from  glaciers,  coast-ice,  and  ice- 
bergs, differ  in  the  several  parts  of  England. 
They  comprise  the  Lower  B.  clay  (a  sandy  clay, 
with  pebbles  and  boulders  of  granite,  greenstone, 
grit,  etc.),  the  Middle  drift  of  sands  and  gravels, 
and  the  Great  Upper  B.  clay.  Arctic  shells  occur 
in  some  places.  In  Scotland,  the  Till,  a  dark 
clay  with  boulders  of  old  hard  rocks,  is  the  chief 
member. 

Boulders,  Erratic  blocks.  (Geol.)  Large  an- 
gular or  subangular  masses  of  rock,  often  striated, 
which  have  been  carried  by  ice  to  great  distances 
from  the  parent  rocks. 

Boule.  [Fr.]  Inlaid  work  in  wood,  gilt-metal, 
or  tortoiseshell ;  so  called  from  a  cabinet-maker 
or  tbeniste  of  the  time  of  Louis  XIV.,  whose 
name  has  been  corrupted  into  Buhl. 

Boulevard.  [Fr.,  O.Fr.  boulevart,  from  Ger. 
boll-werk,  a  fortification]  Formerly  a  broad 
rampart,  but  now  any  open  promenade  in  a 
town. 

Bouleversement.  [Fr.]  An  upsetting,  over- 
turning of  one's  plans ;  bouleverser,  to  make  to 
turn  [L.  versare]  like  a  ball  [bulk]. 

Boulimy,  Bulimy.  [Gr.  £o«,Ai>fc,  excessive 
hunger.}  Ravenous  insatiable  appetite ;  a  disease, 
lit.  ox-hunger  [)8oCs,  an  ox] ;  so  £«/-rush,  ^-daisy, 
^rj^-chestnut,  /torse-laugh,  etc.,  —  on  a  large 
scale.  (Bucephalus.) 

Boulogne  sore-throat  Original  name  some 
twenty-five  years  ago  for  diphtheria  (q.v.). 

Bounty  Board.     The  trustees,  governors,   of 
Queen  Anne's  Bounty.     (Queen  Anne's  Bounty.) 
Bounty  money.      Gratuity  given  to  soldiers 
after  their  enlistment. 

Bouquotin.  [Fr.]  The  ibex  (?.«,.).  [(?)  Dim. 
of  bouc,  buck ;  or  (?)  corr.  of  bouc-estain,  the 
Ger.  stein-bok.] 

Bourd.  [Fr.  bourde,  a  falsehood,  sham.}  A 
jest. 

Bourdon.  [Fr.]  1.  A  droning  bass  sound ; 
a  burden  or  drone  accompaniment,  as  in  a  bag- 
pipe. 2.  A  stop  on  an  organ,  or  imitation  of  it 
on  a  harmonium. 


Bourgeois.  1.  [Fr.]  Properly,  any  member 
of  a  borough  or  burg,  i.e.  a  fortified  town  [Gr. 
irvpyos,  a  lofty  place,  or  stronghold} ;  hence 
akin  probably  to  the  Teut.  berg,  a  hill.  (Bour- 
geoisie.) 2.  (Probably  from  the  inventor.)  A 
kind  of  type,  as — 

London. 

Bourgeoisie.  [Fr.]  The  class  of  citizens 
including  the  merchants,  manufacturers,  and 
master  tradesmen. 

Bourgeon.  [Fr.  subst.  bourgeon,  from  O.H.G. 
burjam,  to  lift,  push.}  (Bot.)  To  sprout,  put 
forth  buds  and  leaves. 

Bourn,  Lq.  Burn.  A  stream,  rivulet.  [A.S. 
byrna  ;  cf.  Ger.  brunnen,  a  -well,  spring] 

Bourne.     [Fr.  borne.]     Limit,  boundary. 

Bournouse.  [Ar.]  1.  A  large  woollen  mantle 
with  hood,  N.  African.  2.  An  adaptation  of 
it  worn  in  France  and  England,  after  the  con- 
quest of  Algeria. 

Bourree.  [Fr.]  A  jig,  in  common  time ;  often 
employed  formerly  as  one  of  the  movements  of 
a  sonata. 

Bourse.  [Fr.]  A  purse,  and  so,  Exchange. 
[L.  byrsa,  Gr.  j8up«ro,  a  hide] 

Bouse.  (Naut.\  To  haul  up  with  pulleys. 
B.  tip  the  jib,  to  tipple. 

Eovs  eVl  y\(t>ara-rj.    (Bos  in  lingua.) 

Boustrophedon.  [Gr.,  from  /SoCs,  ox,  crrpt^ta, 
I  turn]  A  stage  of  writing  among  the  Greeks, 
in  which  the  words  were  written  alternately  from 
right  to  left,  and  from  left  to  right,  after  the 
fashion  of  ploughing.  This  stage  was  inter- 
mediate between  the  Semitic  form,  which  went 
only  from  right  to  left,  and  the  European  form, 
which  goes  only  from  left  to  right. 

Bout.  A  turning,  winding,  one  of  several 
similar  turns;  cf.  bow,  bough,  and  obsolete 
sought,  viz.  a  bending,  twisting. 

Boutade.  [Fr.]  A  whim,  freak  ;  from  a  sense 
of  attacking,  pushing  [bouter,  to  push]. 

Boutique.  [Fr.]  A  shop  ;  corr.  formed  from 
apotheca,  a  store-house  [Gr.  oirod^/c?}]. 

Boutisale.  A  sale  where  things  go  for  as  little 
as  in  the  sale  of  booty. 

Bouts-rimes.  [Fr.]  A  social  amusement; 
*imed  endings  are  given,  and  verses  constructed 
)y  each  person  present. 

Bovate.     (Carucate.) 

Bovey-coal.  (B.,  in  Devon.)  A  variety  of 
ignite  (q.v.)t  of  the  Tertiary  age. 

Boyidae.  [L.  boves,  oxen]  Hollow-horned 
Ruminants.  A  fam.  of  R.,  comprising  sheep, 
goats,  antelopes,  oxen,  and  buffaloes.  Absent 
rom  Madagascar  and  adjacent  islands,  Australia, 
Vew  Zealand,  and  Polynesia,  Central  and  S. 
America,  and  adjacent  islands.  Ord.  Ungulata. 
Bow  bells.  The  bells  of  Bow  Church,  in 
Condon,  mentioned  in  the  legend  of  Whittington 
s  cheering  him  with  the  chime,  "Turn  again, 
rVhittington,  Lord  Mayor  of  London."  Those 
)orn  within  the  sound  of  Bow  bells  are  called 
Cockneys  (q.v.). 

Bow  china.  That  made  at  the  earliest  (1730) 
inghsh  porcelain  manufactory;  having  various 
marks — anchor,  dagger,  arrow,  bow  and  arrow ; 
-noulds,  etc.,  transferred  to  Derby  about  1776. 


BOWC 


79 


BRAC 


Bow-compass  pen.  The  instrument  or  pen 
used  in  mechanical  drawing,  with  a  ruler  or 
straight  edge  for  inking-in  straight  lines,  is  a 
Bow-pen;  when  one  leg  of  a  compass  is  re- 
placed by  a  bow-pen  we  have  a  Bwv-compass, 
which  is  used  for  inking-in  circles.  The  bow- 
compass  is  often  called  simply  a  Bow,  and  the 
bow-pen  simply  a  Drawing-pen. 

Bowdlerism.  (From  Bowdler's  family  edition 
of  Shakespeare.)  Literary  prudery. 

Bower.  [Ger.  bauer,  knave.}  The  best  card 
in  the  game  of  euchre. 

Bower  anchors.     (Anchors.) 

Bowers.  [A.S.  bur.]  In  the  house  of  an  Old 
English  noble,  separate  sleeping-chambers  for 
the  ladies,  built  apart  from  the  great  wooden 
hall,  in  the  berths  of  which  the  men  slept.  (Tun.) 
In  Scotland,  a  bouroch  is  a  shepherd'shut.  (Cf. 
Byre.) 

Bowie-knife.  [Amer.]  A  large  clasp-knife, 
called  after  Colonel  Bowie,  a  Western  trapper. 

Bowline.  (Naut.)  The  rope  by  which  the 
weather  edge  of  a  squaresail  is  kept  taut  for- 
ward, when  sailing  on  a  wind. 

Bowling,  Tom.  A  British  sailor  in  Smollett's 
Roderick  Random,  and  in  a  popular  song. 

Bow  of  a  ship.  (Naut. )  The  part  towards  the 
stem,  from  where  the  planks  arch  inwards.  Bold 
B,  a  wide,  Lean  B.  a  narrow,  one.  On  the  port 
B.  or  Starboard  B.,  within  an  angle  of  forty-five 
degrees,  contained  by  the  line  of  the  ship's 
course  and  a  line  drawn  from  the  stem  forward 
to  the  left  or  right  respectively. 

Bowsprit,  sometimes  written  Boltsprit.  (Naut.} 
A  large  spar  extending  over  the  bows.  Beyond 
it  are  the  jibboom  and  flying-jibboom. 

Bowtell,  Boutell,  Bottle,  Boltell  (?  like  a  bolt). 
An  old  term  for  a  round  moulding,  or  bead  ; 
also  for  the  small  shafts  of  clustered  pillars, 
jambs,  mullions,  etc.  ;  the  Eng.  term  for  the 
torus  and  astragal  of  classical  architecture. — 
Parker's  Glossary  of  Architecture. 

Bowyer.  One  who  uses  a  bow  j  formerly, 
also,  a  maker  of  bows. 

Box-hauling.  (Naut.)  A  method  of  turning 
a  vessel  in  a  small  space  by  putting  her  helm 
a-lee,  bracing  the  head  yards  aback,  squaring 
the  after  yards,  taking  in  the  mizzen  or  spanker, 
and  then,  as  she  comes  to  the  wind,  hauling  the 
sheets  of  the  headsails  to  windward.  As  she 
gathers  stern-way,  the  helm  is  shifted  and  sails 
are  trimmed. 

Box  the  compass,  To.  (Naut.)  To  repeat  its 
thirty-two  points,  backwards  and  forwards,  and 
to  answer  any  question  about  them. 

Boyard,  Boyar.  General  name  for  Slavonic 
fief-holders  by  tenure  of  military  service. 

Boyau.  [Fr.,  lit.  an  intestine;  O.Fr.  boyel, 
L.  botellus,  a  sausage.]  (Mil.)  Trench  by  which 
the  besiegers  approach  under  cover  in  a  zigzag 
direction  towards  a  fortress. 

Boy  Bishop,  The.  1.  St.  Nicholas,  Bishop  of 
Myra,  in  Lycia,  famed  for  early  piety  ;  patron 
saint  of  boys  and  scholars.  2.  One  of  the 
choristers,  chosen  yearly,  in  mediaeval  times,  to 
act  the  part  of  a  bishop  in  mimic  ceremonies ; 
buried  in  bishop's  robes  if  he  died  a  B.  B..  The 


tomb  of  a  B.  B.  may  be  seen  in  Salisbury 
Cathedral. 

Boycotting.  An  excommunication,  ordering 
tradesmen  to  refuse  supplies  to  a  purchaser. 
(From  an  Irish  landlord,  named  Boycott,  who 
was  so  treated  in  J  880.) 

Boyle  Controversy.  Respecting  the  so-called 
Epistles  of  Phdldris ;  their  genuineness  main- 
tained, 1695,  by  Hon.  C.  Boyle,  afterwards  Earl 
of  Orrery,  with  the  help  of  Atterbury  ;  disproved 
by  Bentley.  Dean  Swift,  who  took  the  wrong 
side,  satirized  the  B.  C.,  in  his  Battle  of  the 
Books. 

Boyle  Lectures.  Founded  by  Hon.  R.  Boyle, 
in  defence  of  Christianity  ;  eight  delivered  yearly 
since  1692. 

Boyle's  law.  (Hon.  R.  Boyle,  1627-1692.)  The 
fact  that  the  volume  of  a  given  quantity  of  gas 
varies  inversely  as  the  pressure  per  square  inch 
that  it  exerts,  provided  the  temperature  con- 
tinues constant ;  thus,  if  the  volume  is  halved, 
the  pressure  per  square  inch  is  doubled. 

Brabantine.  Relating  to  Brabant ;  old  name 
of  the  middle  of  Belgium,  between  the  rivers 
Scheld  and  Meuse. 

Braccate.  [L.  braccse,  breeches]  (Ornith.) 
Having  feathers  descending  from  the  tibia  and 
concealing  the  feet. 

Brace.  [Fr.  bras,  an  arm,  L.  brachium.]  A 
slanting  piece  in  a  trussed  partition  or  roof, 
designed  to  give  stiffness  to  the  joints ;  a  brace 
is  commonly  in  a  state  of  compression. 

Brace,  To  (Naut.), yards,  bring  them  to  either 
side  with  the  Braces,  i.e.  ropes,  one  at  each  end 
of  a  yard,  either  fastened  to  it  or  rove  through 
blocks.  To  B.  sharp,  to  bring  the  yards  as 
nearly  as  may  be  in  a  line  with  the  keel,  and 
still  hold  a  wind.  To  B.  a-box,  to  B.  them 
square. 

Brach.  [Fr.  braque,  from  Ger.  braccho.]  A 
kind  of  hunting  dog. 

Brachelytrous,  Brachyelytrous.  [Gr.  ftpaxvs, 
short,  f\i/rpov,  a  sheath  or  covering.]  (Entom.) 
Insects  whose  elytra  do  not  cover  more  than 
one-third  of  the  abdomen,  as  Devil's  coach- 
horse,  Staphylmus  olens. 

Brachiate  branches.  [L.  brachium,  an  arm.] 
(Bot.)  Standing  opposite  to  each  other,  nearly 
at  right  angles  to  the  stem  from  which  they 
proceed. 

Brachiopoda,  Brachiopods.  (Zool.)  Bivalve 
molluscoids,  with  dorsal  and  ventral  valves ;  as 
Terebratulse,  or  lampshells  [L.  brachium,  an 
arm,  Gr.  irots,  iroSos,  a  foot] ;  a  misnomer. 
Called  also  Pallio-branchs,  i.e.  mantle-gills  [L. 
pallium,  a  mantle,  Gr.  fipdyx"*>  £#//],  the  mantle 
serving  for  gills. 

Brachistochrone.     (Curve.) 

Brachycatalectic.     (Catalectic.) 

Brachy cephalic.  [Gr.  jSpaxus,  short,  and 
Kf<f>a\"fj,  head.]  A  term  applied  by  some  to 
skulls  whose  transverse  diameter  is  more  than  T80 
of  their  longitudinal  diameter.  Such  are  gene- 
rally the  skulls  of  the  Turanian  nations.  Skulls 
which  exhibit  a  less  proportion  between  the  two 
diameters  are  known  as  Dolichocephalic  [Gr. 
So\ixos,  long]. 


BRAG 


80 


BRAS 


Brachygraphy.    [Gr.  Pp&xvs,  short, 
Shorthand,  stenography. 

Brachylogy.  [Gr.  fipax^oyla..]  Brevilo- 
quentia,  in  a  writer — especially  of  Attic  Greek  — 
conciseness,  pregnancy  of  expression ;  as,  fre- 
Acika  es  vi)Kra  [Gr.],  ended  into  the  night ;  i.e. 
lasted  into  the  night,  and  then  ended  (Thucyd.). 

Brachypterous.  [Gr.  Ppaxts,  short,  irrepov, 
wing.]  Birds  whose  closed  wings  do  not  reach 
the  base  of  the  tail  ;  as  auks,  penguins,  etc. 

Bracklesham  beds.  (B.,  in  Hants.)  A  highly 
fossiliferous  member  of  the  nummulitic  series, 
and  equivalent  to  the  Middle  Bagshot  sands. 

Bract.  [L.  bractea,  thin  plate  of  metal]  The 
leaf  or  leaflet  at  the  base  of  the  flower-stalk  ; 
dim.  Bracteole  [bracteola]. 

Brad-,  Broad-.  Part  of  Saxon  names,  as  in 
Brad-ford  ;  i.e.  broad  ford. 

Bradypus.  [Gr.,  from  #pa5us,  slow,  TTOVS, 
foot.]  Gen.  of  sloth,  arboreal  mammal,  about 
two  feet  lon£.  Trop.  America.  Fam.  Brady- 
podidse,  ord.  Edentata. 

Braggadocio.  In  Spenser's  Faery  Queen,  the 
braggart  and  impostor. 

Brahmanas.     (Veda.) 

Brahmans,  or  Brahmins.  The  first  or  highest  of 
the  four  castes  of  Hindus.  The  priesthood  is 
confined  to  this  caste,  which  is  said  to  have  pro- 
ceeded from  the  mouth  of  Brahm,  the  seat  of 
Wisdom.  (Caste.) 

Braiard.  A  promising  growth  of  seed,  etc., 
[A  Scot,  word.] 

Braid.  Generally,  as  by  Dr.  Johnson,  under- 
stood as  deceitful,  fickle,  with  the  notion  of 
entangling  (cf.  brede,  to  deceive,  obsolete)  ;  but 
by  Wedgwood  (s.v.  "Bray")  =  resembling; 
"  Frenchmen  so  braid,"  in  Diana's  speech  in 
AlPs  Well  that  Ends  Well,  being  =  thus 
mannered. 

Braidism  (i.e.  so  called  after  Mr.  Braid}. 
Hypnotism  (y.v.). 

Braille.  [Fr.]  (Invented  by  Louis  Braille, 
a  blind  Frenchman.)  A  method  of  writing 
words  or  music  for  the  blind,  by  means  of  raised 
dots  only,  the  number  and  position  of  which 
denote  the  required  character.  Simple,  inex- 
pensive ;  largely  used  on  the  Continent. 

Brails.  [O.E.  brayle  ;  O.Fr.  braiel ;  Ir.  brog, 
a  girdle,  breeches,  breeks.]  (Naut.}  Ropes  working 
in  pulleys,  and  fastened  to  the  outer  leech  of 
a  sail,  by  which  it  can  be  trussed  up  close  to  the 
mast  and  gaff,  or  to  the  stay. 

Brake,  All  to-.  Judges  ix.  To-brake  is  perf. 
of  to-breken  ;  all  or  al  being  an  adv.  =  utterly  ,' 
and  "  all  to-brake  his  skull  "is,  therefore,  broke 
it  utterly  in  pieces.  7o  is  a  particle  common 
in  O.E.,  meaning  asunder;  it  is  sometimes  in- 
tensive, as  to-bite,  to-cleave,  etc.  (see  Morris's 
English  Accidence,  p.  226). 

Brake,  Break  [akin  to  L.  frango,  frac,  -turn, 
Gr.  p-fiyw/jit,  PO.KOS,  Ger.  brechen],  -block ;  Clip-B. ; 
Friction-B. ;  Slipper-B.  An  instrument  for  ar- 
resting or  regulating  the  motion  of  a  body,  as  a 
train  ;  the  Brake-B.  is  the  piece  pressed  (by 
levers,  atmospheric  pressure,  etc.)  against  the 
circumference  of  the  wheel  of  a  railway  car- 
riage j  a  Slipper-B.  is  pressed  by  levers  against 


the  top  of  the  rails,  so  as  to  take  some  of  the 
weight  off  the  wheels,  and  cause  a  considerable 
friction  ;  in  the  Clip-B.  the  two  sides  of  the  rail 
are  gripped.  The  friction-B.  is  a  band  01 
wrought  iron  surrounding,  without  touching,  a 
wheel  (as  in  a  crane,  etc.),  until  by  pressure  on 
the  end  of  a  lever  it  is  made  to  clasp  the  wheel 
with  a  great  and  easily  regulated  friction.  All 
these  brakes  act  by  friction.  There  are  also 
Atmospheric  Brakes,  Continuous  B.,  Pump-B., 
Fan-B.,  etc. 

Brake,  Common  bracken.  (Bot.)  Pteris 
aquillna  ;  the  most  abundant  British  spec,  of 
the  ord.  Filices,  ferns ;  covering  large  spaces, 
sometimes  in  parks,  heaths,  hillsides. 

Bramah's  press.    (Hydraulic  press.) 

Bran.     Fingal's  dog. 

Brancard.  A  horse  litter;  originally  a  Fr. 
word,  a  brancard  being  a  branche  stripped 
of  its  leaves,  a  stick,  a  shaft ;  then  a  litter  made 
of  crossed  sticks.  — Brachet,  Etym.  Diet. 

Brancher.  [Fr.  branchier,  probably  from 
branche,  in  the  sense  of  a  branch  (Littre) ;  It. 
branca,  talon,  brancare,  to  gripe.]  A  young 
hawk  that  has  begun  to  perch. 

Branchiae.  [L.,  Gr.  ppd-yx">~]  (Anat.)  Gills ; 
an  apparatus  for  breathing  in  amphibia  and 
fishes,  containing  cartilaginous  leaflets,  through 
which  the  blood,  circulating,  is  purified  by  the 
oxygen  contained  in  water. 

Branchiopoda.  [Gr.  fydyxia,  gills,  »ofa,  -irfoos, 
the  foot.]  (Entom.)  Div.  of  small  Crustaceans, 
breathing  by  their  feet,  as  Daphnia  pulex,  branch  - 
horned  water-flea,  common  in  ponds.  Sub-class 
Entomostraca. 

Brandenburg  Confession.  A  document  drawn 
up  to  end  the  disputes  occasioned  by  the  Con- 
fession of  Augsburg.  (Confession  of  Faith.) 

Brangle.  [Fr.  branler,  to  move,  shake  (?),  or 
obrandiller,  to  brandish  (?)  or  be-wrangle  (?),  or 
perhaps  a  modification  of  wrangle.]  To  dispute, 
menace,  quarrel. 

Brank.  Buckwheat.  [Brace  or  brance,  a 
Gallic  term  for  some  kind  of  white  corn.] 

Brank,  Branks,  Scold's  bridle.  A  hoop  of 
iron,  with  hinges  at  the  sides,  a  plate  of  metal 
projecting  inwards,  and  a  padlock  at  the  back  ; 
passing  over  the  head  and  gagging  the  tongue. 
Formerly  a  punishment  for  scolding  women,  and 
sometimes  for  immorality.  [Cf.  Brank  in  Scot- 
land, and  Teut.  pranghe,  =  a  bridle]  Hence 
Branks,  in  Scotland  =  mumps. 

Brankursine.  [L.L.  branca  ursina,  bear's 
claw,  Ger.  baren  klau.]  (Acanthus.) 

Bransle.  [Fr.]  Corr.  into  Brawl;  a  country- 
dance  of  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

Brash.     (Pyrosis.) 

Brash,  Shivers,  Rubbles.  (Geol.}  Masses,  layers 
of  angular  fragments  of  rock,  often  derived  from 
an  underlying  rock. 

Brass.  1.  [A.S.  braes.]  An  alloy  of  copper 
and  zinc  ;  misused  sometimes  in  old  writings  for 
Bronze,  as  in  Exod.  xxxviii.  2,  and  elsewhere  ; 
sometimes  for  Copper,  as  in  Job  xxviii.  2,  and 
elsewhere.  2.  A  brass  sleeve,  or  Bush. 

Brassage.  A  deduction,  in  former  times,  from 
the  value  of  the  coin,  for  the  expense  of  coinage  ; 


BRAS 


81 


BREC 


said  to  be  from  bras,  an  arm,  as  if  brachiorum, 
labour. 

Brassart,  Brasset.  [Fr.  brassard,  from  bras, 
an  arm.]  The  piece  of  armour  which  protected 
the  arm  above  the  elbow. 

Brasses,  Monumental.  Slabs  of  brass,  bearing 
in  outline  the  effigies  of  the  dead,  or  some  other 
device.  The  earliest  known  is  that  of  Sir  John 
d'Abernon,  who  died  1277,  and  was  buried  at 
Stoke  d'Abernon,  in  Surrey. 

Brass.et.     (Brassart.) 

Brassica.  [L.,  cabbage.}  (Bot.)  A  remarkable 
group  of  plants,  ord.  Cruciferse,  including  common 
cabbage,  borecole,  turnip,  rape,  etc.,  and  pro- 
bably the  mustards.  Brassicacece  is,  with  some, 
another  name  for  Cruciferse. 

Brattice,  Bretise.  1.  Corr.  of  bretage,  any 
boarded  defence,  as  a  testudo,  parapet  [Fr. 
bretesche] ;  now,  2,  boarding  round  machinery 
or  in  a  mine ;  3,  any  partition  between  an  up- 
cast and  a  down-cast  shaft.  [Scand.  bred,  Ger. 
brett,  D.  berd,  a  plank  or  board  (Wedgwood).] 

Brattishong,  Brandishing,  Bretise,  Bretise- 
ment.  A  crest,  battlement,  or  other  parapet. 
[Fr.  breteche.]  (Brattice.) 

Bravest  of  the  Brave.  Marshal  Ney's  title 
with  the  French  army,  after  the  defeat  of  the 
allied  Russians  and  Prussians  at  Friedland, 
June  14,  1807. 

Bravo.  Formerly  in  Italy,  especially  in  Venice ; 
a  hired  assassin,  who  undertook  any  danger  for 
money.  Plu.,  Bravi. 

Bravura.  [It.,  dash,  brilliancy]  '  (Music.} 
An  air  containing  difficult  passages,  with  a  large 
proportion  of  notes,  requiring  volubility,  ac- 
curacy, and  spirit  in  the  execution. 

Brawling.  [Fr.  brouiller,  to  embroil ;  or  (?) 
Fr.  bransle,  branle,  from  branler,  to  shake.}  In 
Church  Law,  the  molestation  of  a  clergyman  or 
preacher  during  any  ministration  in  any  place 
licensed  for  service. 

Braxy,  Braxes,  Bracks.  In  sheep,  generally 
a  plethora  or  a  disease  of  the  intestines,  caused 
probably  by  food  too  nitrogenous ;  lasting  from 
one  to  six  hours ;  marked  by  staring  look, 
laboured  breathing,  and  convulsions.  But  the 
term  is  used  vaguely. 

Bray,  Scot.  Brae ;  (?)  cf.  brow.  Raised 
ground,  bank,  overlooking  ground  used  in  forti- 
fication. 

Bray,  Vicar  of.  Lived,  according  to  tradition, 
from  Henry  VIII.  to  Elizabeth  ;  according  to  the 
song,  from  Charles  II.  to  George  I. ;  trimming  to 
suit  Court  religion  and  retain  his  benefice. 

Brazen  Age.     (Ages,  The  four.) 

Braziline,  Breziline.  The  colouring  matter  in 
Brazil  wood. 

Brazil  nuts.  The  seeds,  in  a  large  woody 
shell,  of  the  magnificent  Bertholletia  excelsa 
(from  Berthollet,  chemist)  of  the  Orinoco  and 
N.  Brazil ;  100  to  120  feet  high. 

BrazU  wood.  Dark  red  and  yellowish  brown, 
valuable  in  dyeing,  the  produce  of  Csesalpinia 
echinata  and  other  spec.  S.  America  and 
W.  Indies.  Brazil  is  said  to  be  named  from 
B.  W.,  of  which  the  old  native  name  was  Braxilis 
(see  Chambers's  Encyclopedia). 


Brazing.  Soldering  with  an  alloy  of  brass  and 
zinc. 

Bre-.  [Celt.,  promontory.}  Part  of  names, 
as  in  Bre-don. 

Breach  of  close.  (Leg.)  Wrongful  entry  of  or 
trespass  on  another's  land,  whether  enclosed  or 
not. 

Breadalbane.  District  of  Scotland  in  Tudor 
period,  mostly  included  in  W.  Perthshire. 

Bread-fruit.  The  fruit  of  Artocarpus  incisa 
[Gr.  &pros,  bread,  Kapiros,  fruit},  a  native  of  the 
South  Sea  Islands  and  parts  of  Indian  Archi- 
pelago :  about  the  size  of  a  child's  head ;  when 
baked,  like  the  crumb  of  a  wheaten  loaf. 

Bread-root  of  N.  America,  or  prairie  apple, 
Ps5ral£a  esciilenta  [Gr.  ^wpaAeos,  ivarted},  i.e. 
having  tubercles.  A  papilionaceous  plant,  grown 
along  the  Missouri,  with  tuberous  carrot-like 
farinaceous  roots. 

Breadth.  That  treatment  of  the  subject 
painted  which  shows  at  once  the  leading  idea, 
without  over-finish  of  details. 

Break.  A  large  four-wheeled  carriage,  with 
a  straight  body,  seats  for  four,  with  calash  top, 
and  seats  for  driver  and  footmen. 

Break  bulk,  To.  (Naut.}  To  open  the  hold 
and  begin  to  unlade  the  ship. 

Breakers.  (Naut.)  1.  Waves  breaking  over 
reefs,  etc.,  either  at  or  immediately  below  the 
surface  of  the  water.  2.  Small  casks  used  on 
board  ship. 

Break-ground.  (Mil. )  The  opening  of  the  first 
trench  of  a  siege. 

Breaking  the  line.  (Naut.)  Advancing  in 
column,  and  cutting  the  enemy's  line  in  two ; 
then  enveloping  one  half  with  the  whole  fleet ; 
e.g.  Rodney's  defeat  of  the  French  off  Dominica, 
April,  1782. 

Break-water.  A  structure  such  as  a  mound, 
a  wall,  etc.,  placed  near  the  mouth  of  a  harbour, 
to  break  the  force  of  the  waves  coming  in. 

Bream,  To.  (Naut.)  To  clean  a  ship's  bottom 
by  fire. 

Breast.  [A  Teut.  and  Scand.  word.]  The 
curved  trough  extending  from  the  sluice  to  the 
tail-race,  within  which  a  breast-wheel  turns,  and 
which  prevents  the  escape  of  water  from  the 
buckets  until  they  are  over  the  tail-race. 

Breastplate  of  Jewish  high  priest ;  described 
Exod.  xxviii.  15,  et  seq. 

Breast-plough.  A  kind  of  plough,  driven  by 
the  breast,  for  cutting  turf. 

Breast-summer.     (Bressumer.) 

Breast-wheel.     (Water-wheel.) 

Breastwork.  Earthen  parapet  sufficiently  low 
to  admit  of  being  fired  over  from  the  level  of  the 
adjacent  ground. 

Breath  figure,  Roric  figure.  A  likeness  of 
itself,  impressed  by  a  coin,  etc.,  on  a  plate  with 
which  it  has  been  left  nearly  or  quite  in  contact. 
An  electrical  B.  F.  is  formed  by  passing  an 
electric  current  from  the  coin  through  the  plate. 
By  breathing  on  the  plate  these  figures  are  ren- 
dered visible.  [L.  ros,  r5r-em,  dew} 

Breccia.  [It.]  (Geol.)  Angular  breakings  of 
pre-existing  rock,  not  far  distant,  cemented  into  a 
new  rock  ;  rounded  pebbles  form  Conglomerate. 


BRED 


82 


BRID 


Breda,  Declaration  of.  (Hist.)  A  document 
sent  by  Charles  II.  from  Breda,  1660,  promising 
that  no  man  shall  be  disquieted  for  differences  of 
opinion  in  matters  of  religion  which  do  not  dis- 
turb the  peace  of  the  kingdom. 

Brede.  [A.S.  bredan.]  Another  form  of 
braid,  to  knit  together,  weave. 

Breeches  Bible,  or  Geneva  B.,  1557.  Trans- 
lated there  by  English  divines,  in  Queen  Mary's 
reign.  So  called  from  the  word  used  in  the 
translation  of  Gen.  iii.  7,  "made  themselves 
breeches"  (Bible,  English.) 

Breeching-rope  for  gun.  (Naut.)  A  rope, 
one  end  fastened  to  a  vessel's  side,  the  other  to 
the  breech  of  a  gun ;  long  enough  to  allow  the 
gun  to  be  run  in  and  loaded,  and  to  stop  ex- 
cessive recoil. 

Breech-loader.  Firearm,  with  its  barrel  open 
at  the  stock,  through  which  aperture  the  charge 
can  be  inserted. 

Breem.  [A.S.  bremman,  to  be  violent ;  (?)  cf. 
Gr.  jSpe'jitw,  L.  fremo.]  Furious,  excessive, 
fierce. 

Breeze-fly.  [Onomatop.  ;  cf.  Ger.  bremse, 
O.E.  brimse,  briose.]  (Entom.)  Gad-fly,  Cleg, 
Dipterous  insect,  with  blood-sucking  females. 
Tabanus  bovmus  [L.  bovinus,  belonging  to  oxen}, 
fam.  Tabanidae. 

Bregma.  [Gr.,  from  jSpe'x&j,  I  moisten.]  The 
top  of  the  head,  because  in  infancy  this  part  is 
longest  in  hardening. 

Brehon  laws.  Ancient  Irish  laws ;  so  called 
from  a  word  signifying  judges ;  some  being  as 
old,  perhaps,  as  the  first  centuries  of  the 
Christian  era.  (Pale.) 

Breme.  To  bring  forth  young  abundantly ; 
to  teem. 

Brentford,  The  two  Kings  of,  =  once  rivals, 
now  reconciled ;  like  the  two  kings  in  the 
Rehearsal,  a  farce  by  George  Villiers,  Duke  of 
Buckingham. 

Bressumer,  Breast-summer.     [Fr.  sommier,  a 
pack-saddle,  a  lintel.]     (Arch.)    A  beam  or  sum- 
mer, like  a  lintel,  but  supporting  the  whole  front, 
or  nearly  so,  of  a  wall ;  e.g.  over  a  shop-front. 
Bretage,  Bretise.    (Brattice.) 
Bretexed.     Embattled.     (Brattice.) 
Brethren,    Elder    and    Younger.      (Trinity 
House.) 

Bretigny,  Peace  of.  A  treaty  between  France 
and  England,  1360,  by  which  Edward  III. 
renounced  his  pretensions  to  the  crown  of 
France.  (Salic  law.) 

Bretwalda.  In  O.Eng.  Hist.,  the  title  of  an 
office  which  assured  a  certain  supremacy  to  one 
of  the  Anglo-Saxon  princes.  According  to 
Beda,  the  first  who  held  this  office  was  Ceaw- 
lin,  the  grandson  of  Cerdic. 

Breve.  [L.  brevis,  short,  as  compared  with 
long  (q.v.)  and  with  maxim  (q.  v. ) .  ]  ( Music. )  The 
average  whole  note  of  the  sixteenth  century,  as 
the  semibreve  is  of  our  own  time.  "  It  is  certain 
that  a  sound  lasting  four  beats  may  be  expressed 
and  has  been  expressed  by  six  different  forms — 
the  maxim,  the  long,  the  breve,  the  semibreve, 
the  minim,  the  crotchet"  (Hullah,  quoted  by 
Stainer  and  Barrett). 


Brevet.  [Fr.,  from  L.L.  brevetum,  L.  brevis, 
short.}  (Mil.)  An  honorary  rank  conferred  on 
officers  in  the  army  above  that  which  they  hold 
in  their  own  corps. 

Brevete.  [Fr.]  A  patentee,  from  brevet,  a 
patent. 

Breviarium.  of  Alario.  A  collection  of  laws, 
Roman  and  Teutonic,  for  the  Goths  in  Italy. 

Breviary.  [L.  breviarium.]  An  abstract  of 
various  books  before  used ;  a  daily  office  of 
prayer,  praise,  and  instruction  in  the  Roman 
Church,  made  up  of:  (i)  Vespers,  at  sunset.  (2) 
Compline  [completorium],  about  9  p.m.,  a  com- 
pleting of  the  day's  devotion.  (3)  Nocturns,  or 
Matins,  at  midnight.  (4)  Lauds,  or  Matin 
Lauds,  before  break  of  day.  (5)  Prime,  at  sun- 
rise, or  at  six  o'clock.  (6,  7,  8)  Tierce,  Sext, 
None,  every  third  hour  afterwards.  Recited 
daily,  by  all  ecclesiastical  persons,  in  public  or 
private,  at  some  time ;  at  the  canonical  hours 
by  many  religious  orders. 

Breviary  of  Quignon.  A  breviary,  published 
at  Rome  by  Cardinal  Quignonex,  in  1536.  It  is 
said  to  have  been  used  in  the  compilation  of  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer  of  the  Church  oi 
England. 

Breviate.  [L.  breviatum,  from  brevio,  I  abbre- 
viate.} An  abstract  summary  abridgment. 

Brevier.    A  kind  of  type,  as — 

Inclusive. 

Breviloquentia.    (Brachylogy.) 

Brevipennate.  [L.  breves  pennae,  short 
wings.}  (Ornith.)  1.  Swimming  birds  whose 
wings  do  not  reach  to  the  tip  of  the  tail. 
2.  With  Cuvier,  short-winged  birds,  as  the 
ostrich. 

Brevis  esse  laboro,  obscurus  fio.  [L.]  I  try  to 
be  concise,  and  1  become  obscure  (Horace). 

Brewer  of  Ghent.  Jacob  van  Artevelde, 
popular  leader  in  Flanders,  who  declared  for 
Edward  III. ;  murdered  in  a  tumult  at  Ghent, 

1345- 

Brewis.  1.  Pieces  of  bread,  soaked  in  gravy. 
2.  Broth,  pottage  ;  Aom  A.S.  briw,  brewis,  A.S. 
breowan,  to  brew  ;  or  (?)  c/.  Welsh  briw,  broken  ; 
and  Eng.  bribe,  which  originally,  both  in  Fr. 
and  in  Eng.,  meant  a  sop,  a  hunch  ot  bread. 

BrezUine.     (Braziline.) 

Brezonic,  i.q.  Armoric.  Language  of  Brit- 
tany. 

Briarean.  Like  the  giant  Briare5s,  Briareus, 
with  his  hundred  arms. 

Bric-a-brac.  [Fr.]  Odds  and  ends;  old 
stores,  articles  of  curiosity ;  a  word  formed  from 
de  brie  et  de  broc,  one  way  or  another  (see 
Littre,  s.v.  "Broc"). 

Brickie.  Vessels  and  graven  images  (Wisd. 
xv.  13),  easy  to  break,  brittle,  as  the  word  is 
now  written. 

Brick-nogging.  (Arch.)  Brickwork  carried 
up  and  filled  in  between  timber  framing. 

Brick  tea.  Tea  made  into  cakes,  with  fat, 
etc.  ;  used  in  Thibet. 

Bride  of  the  Sea.  Venice,  whose  doges  every 
year,  on  Ascension  Day,  were  married  to  the 
Adriatic,  throwing  a  ring  into  the  sea ;  on  the 


BRID 


BROA 


first  occasion,  as  a  privilege,  granted  by  Pope 
Alexander  III.,  1177,  when  the  League  of 
Lombardy  had  defeated  the  Emperor  Frederic 
Barbarossa. 

Bridewell.  A  house  of  correction.  B.,  a 
palace,  built  1522,  by  Henry  VIII. ,  to  receive 
Charles  V.  ;  given,  1533,  to  the  city  as  a  house 
of  correction.  Near  the  well  of  St.  Bridget,  or 
Bride,  between  Fleet  Street  and  the  Thames. 

Bridge.  (Girder;  Skew;  Suspension;  Tubu- 
lar.) 

Bridge  of  Sighs.  (Hist.']  The  Venetian  Porta 
de  Sospiri,  leading  from  the  lower  part  of  the 
ducal  palace  to  a  prison,  the  door  of  which  is 
now  walled  up. 

Bridgewater  Treatises,  '*  On  the  Power, 
Wisdom,  and  Goodness  of  God,  as  manifested  in 
Creation,"  by  eight  different  authors  ;  for  which 
£8000  was  left  by  Earl  of  B.,  1829. 

Bridlegoose,  Judge.  In  Rabelais's  Pantagruel, 
Juge  Bridoye  ;  he  decides  causes  by  dice. 

Bridle-port.  (Naut.}  A  port  in  the  bows  for 
taking  in  Bridles,  i.e.  the  upper  part  of  moor- 
ings. 

Briefs  [L.  breve,  a  document,  epistle]  and  Bulls 
[bulla,  a  boss,  the  seal  of  lead].  1.  Pontifical 
letters  :  (i)  less  ample  and  solemn,  more  like 
letters  to  individuals,  or  to  bodies  ;  (2)  solemn 
decrees  of  the  pope,  as  head  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  They  differ  in  many  ways 
(see  Hook's  Church  Dictionary  /  English  Cyclo- 
pedia, i.  365).  2.  In  Prayer-book,  Church 
Briefs,  or  Queen's  Letters,  letters  patent,  au-/ 
thorizing  collections  for  charitable  purposes ; 
now  discontinued. 

Brig  [an  abbrev.  of  brigantine]  is  a  two- 
masted,  square-rigged  vessel.  B.  schooner  (Her- 
maphrodite). 

Brigade*  [Fr.  brigade,  from  It.  brigata.]  1. 
Body  of  troops,  composed  of  from  two  to  four 
battalions  of  infantry,  with  a  relative  proportion 
of  cavalry  and  artillery.  2.  In  the  artillery 
branch  alone,  B.  corresponds  with  a  battalion 
of  infantry.  3.  The  officer  who  commands  a 
B.  in  the  English  army  is  called  a  Brigadier. 
4.  In  the  French  army,  a  Brigadier  means  a 
corporal. 

Brigadier.     (Brigade.) 

Brigandine.  Jer.  xlvi.  4  and  li.  3  ;  coat  of 
mail,  equipment  of  a  brigand ;  formerly  =  a 
light-armed  soldier.  [It.  and  Med.L.  briga, 
strife.] 

Brigantine.  [It.  brigantine,  akin  to  brigand, 
a  piratical  vessel.]  A  vessel  rigged  as  a  brig, 
except  the  mainsail,  which  is  like  a  schooner's. 

Bright's  disease.  A  name  for  several  forms  of 
disease  of  the  kidneys ;  with  urine  generally 
albuminous,  and  other  important  signs  of 
structural  change.  First  described  by  Dr.  Bright, 
of  Guy's  Hospital. 

Brigue.     To  contest,  canvass.     (Brigandine.) 

Brilliant  diamond.  So  called  from  the  effect 
of  the  facets,  56-64  generally,  with  upper  octa- 
gonal face,  into  which  it  is  cut ;  only  a  good 
stone  being  thus  treated.  Rose  D.,  broad  in 
proportion  to  their  depth,  have  a  flat  base,  with 
two  rows  of  triangular  facets,  and  six  upper- 


most, uniting  in  a  point.     Stones  still  thinner 
are  cut  as  Table  D. 

Brills.  [(?)  Cf.  Ger.  brille,  spectacles^  The 
hair  on  the  eyelids  of  a  horse. — Johnson. 

Bring-to,  To.  (Naut.}  To  bend  or  fasten  a 
sail  to  a  yard.  B.-to  a  ship,  to  stop  her  way  by 
letting  the  sails  counteract  each  other.  B.-to  an 
anchor,  to  let  go  the  anchor.  To  bring  up,  to 
come  to  an  anchor. 

Bring  up  with  a  round  turn,  To.  (Naut.)  1. 
To  stop  a  running  rope  by  taking  a  turn  round  a 
cleat,  etc.  2.  To  do  a  thing  effectually,  but 
suddenly.  3.  To  bring  a  man  to  his  senses  by  a 
rating. 

Brioche.  [Fr.,  connected  withbroyer,  to  crush 
(Littre).]  1.  A  kind  of  cake.  2.  A  circular 
sofa -cushion. 

Brisket.  The  breast-piece  of  meat ;  probably 
the  same  word  as  breast  [A.S.  brest,  or  = 
breast -steak]. 

Bristol  board.  A  thick,  stiff"  paper,  for  draw- 
ing ;  first  made  at  B. 

Bristol  Boy.  The  poet  Thomas  Chatterton, 
who  died  at  eighteen,  A.D.  1770. 

Bristol  diamonds.  Bright  crystals  of  colourless 
quartz  (q.v.),  found  near  B.  and  elsewhere ; 
called  also  Cornish  D.,  Bagshot  D.y  Irish  D., 
Diamants  d'Alenpon,  etc. 

Bristol  riots.  The  most  prominent  of  the 
riots  which  have  occurred  at  Bristol  took  place 
in  1831,  during  the  agitation  for  reform  in  Parlia- 
ment. The  city  was  set  on  fire,  and  many  houses 
were  burnt. 

Brisure.  [Fr.  briser,  to  break.]  (Fortif.}  Break 
in  the  rampart  of  a  fortress,  where  the  enceinte  is 
withdrawn  to  form  a  concave  flank. 

Britannia  metal  averages,  of  tin  85^  parts, 
antimony  10^,  zinc  3,  copper  i. 

British  gum.  A  brown,  soluble  substance, 
formed  by  heating  dry  starch,  and  used  for 
stiffening  calicoes,  etc.  It  is  also  called  Dextrine, 
from  its  power  of  rotating  a  polarized  ray  of 
light  to  the  right  [L.  dextra]. 

British  seas.     (Quatuor  Maria.) 

British  ship.  One  owned  by  a  British  subject, 
registered,  and  flying  the  flag. 

Britomart.  The  impersonation  of  chastity, 
in  Faery  Queen,  bk.  iii. 

Britzska.  [Pol.  bryczka,  dim.  of  bryka, 
freight -waggon]  A  long,  four-wheeled  travelling 
carriage,  with  a  movable  hood. 

Briza.  (Bot. )  A  gen.  of  grasses,  belonging  to 
the  tribe  Festuceas  ;  amongst  them  are  the 
quaking  grasses. 

Broach.  [Fr.  broche,  a  spit,  L.L.  brocca.] 
The  morse  or  clasp  of  a  cope  is  sometimes  so 
called. 

Broach  spires.  Spires,  the  junction  of  which 
with  the  tower  is  not  marked  by  any  parapet  or 
other  division. 

Broach-to,  To.  Unintentionally  to  let  a  ship 
come  head  to  wind. 

Broad  arrow,  >|V  [origin  quite  uncertain],  de 

notes  Crown  property ;  is  used  also  to  mark 
Ordnance  Survey  stations,  and  property  under 
arrest  by  Customs'  officers  ;  and,  in  other  ways, 


BROA 


84 


BRUN 


by  Government  officials.  It  is  illegal — 9  and  10 
William  III.,  1698—10  use,  for  private  owner- 
ship, the  B.  A.  Said  by  some  to  have  been 
suggested  by  the  three  nails  of  the  cross. 

Broad  Bottom  Administration.  That  of  H. 
Pelham,  1744  ;  a  grand  coalition  of  all  parties  of 
weight,  in  which  nine  dukes  were  placed. 

Broadcloth.  Fine  woollen  cloth,  over  twenty- 
nine  inches  broad. 

Broad  gauge.    (Gauge  of  railways.) 

Broad  pennant.     (Flag.) 

Broadpiece.  The  name  of  any  coin  wider  than 
a  guinea. 

Broadside.  1.  Any  large  page  printed  on  one 
side  of  a  sheet  of  paper ;  and,  strictly-,  not 
divided  into  columns.  2,  (Naut.)  The  side  of 
a  ship  above  the  water.  The  simultaneous  dis- 
charge of  all  the  guns  from  the  whole  side. 

Broadsword.  Straight,  double-edged  sword, 
with  a  broad  blade. 

Brobdingnagian.  Gigantic.  (Gulliver's Travels.) 

Brocade.  [Fr.  brocher,  to  prick,  to  figure.] 
A  thick  silk  stuff,  with  a  raised  pattern. 

Brocage,  Brokage,  Brokerage.  The  business 
of  a  broker. 

Brocard.  In  Fr.  a  taunt,  jeer ;  in  Eng.  a 
principle,  maxim  [Brocard,  Bishop  of  Worms, 
author  of  Regulce  Ecdes.,  eleventh  century 
(Littre)]. 

Brocatel.  [Fr.  brocatelle.]  A  kind  of  imita- 
tion brocade  made  of  cotton. 

Brochure.  [Fr.  brocher,  to  stitch.]  A 
pamphlet,  a  short  treatise. 

Brock.  [A.S.  broc.]  The  badger,  M£les 
taxus,  gen.  Melemnae,  fam.  Mustelidse,  ord. 
Carnivora. 

Brocken  spectre,  Brockengespenst.  The 
shadow  of  objects,  magnified,  thrown  at  sunset 
upon  the  mists  of  the  Blocksberg,  the  highest 
summit  of  the  Harz  Mountains. 

Brocket.  [Fr.  brocart,  id.,  from  broche, 
spike.]  (Deer,  Stages  of  growth  of.)  A  small 
spec,  of  deer-  (Subulo),  with  horns  consisting  of  a 
single  dag.  S.  America. 

Brog.     A  kind  of  bradawl. 

Brogue,  Brog.  1.  A  rude  coarse  shoe  of  the 
early  Irish  and  Scottish  Highlanders.  2.  By 
meton.  =  the  pronunciation  of  the  wearer. 

Brokage,  i.q.  Brocage. 

Broken-backed.    (Naut.)    (Arching.) 

Broken  wind.  In  a  horse,  a  rupture,  in- 
curable, of  some  of  the  air-cells  ;  from  inflamma- 
tion, too  much  chaff,  exertion  just  after  feeding, 
etc.  ;  expiration  has  become  a  double  effort,  in- 
spiration being  still  a  single  one. 

Brokerage.  Commission  charged  to  investors 
by  brokers,  for  ordinary  shares  and  stocks. 

Bromby.  [(?)  Name  of  person  or  place  from 
which  its  progenitors  escaped.]  The  wild  horse 
of  Australia. 

Brome,  Bromus.  [Gr.  jfy>o>oy,  a  kind  of  oats.] 
A  gen.  of  grasses,  belonging  to  the  tribe 
Festuceae.  About  eight  spec,  are  natives  of 
Britain. 

Bromic  acid.  (Ckem.)  An  acid  composed  of 
bromic  and  oxygen,  the  salts  of  which  are  called 
Bromates.  (Bromine.) 


Bromine.  [Gr.  /Jpw/xos,  stink]  A  liquid, 
reddish-brown  element,  found  in  sea-water. 

Bronchi.  [Gr.  ^6^-^os, windpipe]  (Anat.)  The 
bifurcations  of  the  trachea,  or  windpipe,  and 
their  division  into  smaller  tubes  ;  ramifying  into 
the  lungs.  Bronchitis,  inflammation  of  the 
bronchial  tubes. 

Bronchocele.  [Gr.  Kfai),  a  tumour]  (Med.) 
Gottre,  Derbyshire  neck;  a  swelling  in  the  fore 
part  of  the  neck,  being  a  morbid  enlargement 
of  the  thyroid  gland. 

Bronchotomy.  The  making  an  opening  into 
the  air-passages  to  prevent  suffocation.  (Bronchi.) 

Bronze.  An  alloy  of  copper  and  tin,  i.q. 
Gun-metal,  Bell-metal,  etc.,  with  sometimes  a 
little  zinc  or  lead ;  i.q.  Gr.  xa^KOS  and  L.  ses  ; 
used  from  very  remote  antiquity. 

Bronze,  Age  of.     (Prehistoric  archaeology.) 

Brooch.  A  painting  all  in  one  colour,  as  a 
sepia  painting. 

Brooklime.  (Bot.)  Plant  common  in  ditches, 
with  opposite  leaves  and  small  blue  flowers. 
Beccabunga  veronica,  ord.  Scrophulariacese. 

Broom  at  masthead.  Shows  that  the  vessel 
is  for  sale.  B.,  To.  (Bream.) 

Broom-rape,  Orobanche.  [Gr.  opopdyxy,  from 
opofios,  bitter  vetch,  &yxw»  I  strangle]  (Bot.) 
Parasitical  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Orobanchese. 

Brose.  Boiling  broth,  or  water,  poured  on 
oatmeal,  pease-meal,  stirred  into  a  lumpy  con- 
sistency. (Brewis.> 

-brough.     (-bury.) 

Brown-coal.     (Lignite.) 

Brownie.  In  Scotland,  a  character  like  Robin 
Goodfellow  and  the  Ger.  kobold  ;  a  good- 
humoured  goblin  in  farmhouses,  who  drudges 
for  the  family  when  they  are  in  bed.  (Bogy.) 

Browning.  The  process  of  colouring  gun- 
barrels,  etc.,  brown,  to  keep  off  rust. 

Brownists.  Certain  Puritans  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  follower  of  Robert  Browne,  who 
denounced  all  Church  government,  and  the 
use  of  all  forms  in  prayer,  etc.  (Independents.) 

Brown  spar.  (Geol.)  Certain  crystallized 
varieties  of  dolomite  ;  reddish,  brownish ;  owing 
to  oxide  of  iron. 

Bruin.  [D.]  Quasi-personal  name  for  the 
bear  [brun,  the  brown  one],  in  the  mediaeval 
popular  Ger.  epic,  Reinecke  the  Fox. 

Brumaire.  [Fr.,  foggy,  misty,  L.  briima, 
winter]  The  second  month  in  the  calendar  of 
the  first  French  Republic ;  October  22 — Novem- 
ber 20. 

Brumal.  [L.  brumalis.]  Belonging  to  winter 
or  winter  solstice  [bruma]. 

Brummagem.  [Corr.  of  Birmingham,  "Ber- 
mingeham "  in  Domesday  Book.]  A  sham 
article. 

Brunonian  theory.  That  of  J.  Brown,  M.D., 
Edinburgh,  1733-1788,  that  life  is  sustained 
during  health  by  external  exciting  agents  in 
equilibrium ;  if  these  agents  exhaust  excitability 
too  rapidly,  asthenic  diseases  (q.v.)  arise,  re- 
quiring alcohol  ;  if  excitability  accumulate, 
sthenic  diseases  [Gr.  vQevos,  strength]  arise,  re- 
quiring opiates. 

Brunswick-green.     Oxychloride  of  copper. 


BRUS 


BUDE 


Brush-wheel.  Wheels  working  under  incon- 
siderable forces,  like  toothed  wheels,  but  in 
which  sliding  is  prevented  by  bristles  or  buff 
leather  on  the  circumferences. 

Brusquerie.  [Fr.]  Abruptness,  bluntness  of 
manner. 

Brussels  sprouts.  A  cultivated  variety  of 
cabbage,  having  the  stem  covered  with  little 
close  heads. 

Brutte.  [Fr.  brouter,  to  eat  the  shoots  or 
brouts.}  To  browse. 

Brutum  fulmen.  [L.]  A  harmless  thunder- 
bolt, i.e.  a  great  but  ineffectual  threat ;  the  first 
meaning  of  L.  brutus  being  unwieldy,  ponderous  ; 
cf.  Gr.  fiapvs,  fipldvs. 

Bryology.  [Gr.  ppvov,  tree-moss.}  (Bot.)  The 
science  of  mosses. 

Bryony,  Common.  [Gr.  &pv<S)in\.}  The  only 
British  spec.,  Dioica,  of  the  gen.  Bryonia,  ord. 
Cucurbitacese  ;  the  root  purgative,  and  used  for 
bruises. 

Bryozoa.  [Gr.  fipvov,  moss,  £S>ov,  animal.} 
(Entom.)  An  ord.  of  compound  polypes,  which 
incrust  foreign  bodies  like  moss,  as  the  Flustra, 
or  sea-mat. 

Bryum.  [Gr.  fiptov.]  A  gen.  of  mosses ; 
abundant  in  Britain. 

Bubalus.  [L.,  which  originally,  like  Gr. 
fiovfia\ts  and  -os,  meant  a  kind  of  antelope,  but 
came  to  mean,  i.g.  urus.]  Buffalo.  Gen.  of 
hollow-horned  ruminant,  wild  and  domesticated. 
Africa  and  India  (as  the  Arnaa,  q.v.),  and  S. 
Europe.  Sub-fam.  Bovinae,  fam.  Bovidse,  ord. 
Ungulata.  Not  to  be  confounded  with  Bison. 

Bubble,  South  Sea.     (South  Sea  Company.) 

Bubbles.  Financial  or  commercial  projects 
started  to  cheat  investors. 

Buccaneers.  Associated  pirates,  mostly  Eng- 
lish and  French,  of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries,  in  the  Caribbean  Sea,  who  attacked 
Spanish  ships  and  settlements.  The  Caribbee 
boucan  is  a  place  for  smoke-dried  meat ;  so  B.  = 
meat-preserving  W.  -Indian  settlers.  The  French 
called  themselves  filibustier,  i.e.  freebooter. 

Buccma  famae.     [L.]     7 he  trumpet  of  fame. 

Buccinator.  [L.,  tntmpeter.}  Muscles  in  the 
substance  of  the  cheek,  the  contractions  of 
which  force  out  the  cheeks  when  distended  with 
air. 

Bucconidae.  [L.  bucca,  the  puffed  cheek ;  if 
there  was  the  It.  word  buccone,  it  would  mean 
the  big  puffed  cheek.}  (Ornith.)  Puff-birds, 
brabers.  Fam.  of  climbing  and  fly-catching 
small  birds,  like  kingfishers,  but  dull-plumaged. 
Trop.  America.  Ord.  Picanse. 

Bucentaur.  [Gr.  &ovs,  an  ox,  Kevravpos,  a 
centaur.}  An  imaginary  monster,  the  name 
being  chiefly  known  as  that  of  the  galley  of  the 
Venetian  doges,  in  which,  by  the  dropping  of  a 
ring  into  the  water,  they  yearly  espoused  the 
sea  in  the  name  of  the  republic.  (Bride  of 
the  Sea.) 

Bucephalus.  [Gr.  0ovKf<pa\os,  bull-headed.} 
The  horse  which  Alexander  the  Great  broke  in, 
fulfilling,  it  is  said,  the  condition  of  the  oracle 
necessary  for  gaining  the  Macedonian  crown. 

Buchan.    District  of  Scotland  from  Saxon  to 


Tudor  period,  north  part  6f  Banffshire  and 
Aberdeenshire. 

Buchanites.  Vicious  fanatics  in  W.  Scotland, 
A.D.  1783,  followers  of  Mrs.  or  Lucky  Buchan, 
who  gave  herself  out  as  the  woman  of  Rev.  xii. 
The  last  is  said  to  have  died  in  1846. 

Buck.  [Cf.  Fr.  bouc,  Ger.  bock.]  The  male 
of  several  animals  connected  with  sport,  as 
fallow  deer  and  ferrets.  Buck,  To,  to  soak  linen 
in  a  solution  of  wood  ashes.  [Gael.  adj.  bog, 
soft,  moist ;  but  see  Wedgwood.] 

Buck,  Complete.     (Deer,  Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Bucket.  The  vessels  on  the  circumferences 
of  an  overshot  wheel  which  contain  the  water 
by  whose  descent  the  wheel  is  turned. 

Buck-eye,  A.  1.  =  belonging  to  Ohio,  where 
the  buck-eye,  or  ^sculus  Ohiotensis,  American 
horse-chestnut,  is  abundant  (Webster).  2.  In  the 
horse,  a  too  convex  cornea,  causing  indistinct- 
ness of  the  image  falling  upon  the  retina ; 
congenital. 

Bucking.  1.  [Ger.  bochen,  to  beat.}  Crushing 
ore  by  hammering  it  on  a  flat  plate.  2.  (Capriole.) 

Buckle.  [(?)  Fr.  boucle,  the  boss  of  a  shield, 
or  (?)  A.S.  bugan,  to  bend ;  cf.  bough.]  To 
bend,  shrivel  up,  as  scorched  paper ;  or  become 
hollow  from  pressure,  as  a  weakened  wall. 

Buckler.  [Fr.  boucle,  L.  buciila,  boss  of  a 
shield.}  Shield  of  stout  leather,  worn  on  the 
left  arm  and  sometimes  studded  with  metal 
bosses. 

Buckra.  With  negroes,  =  a  white  man  ;  in 
the  language  of  the  Calabar  coast,  a  demon, 
a  powerful  and  superior  being. — Webster. 

Buckram.  [Fr.  bougran.]  A  coarse  linen 
cloth,  stiffened  with  glue. 

Buckwheat  [Ger.  buchweizen],  i.e.  Beech- 
wheat,  the  seed  being  like  beech-mast ;  a  plant 
valuable  as  food  for  game,  growing  on  very 
poor  soil.  Fagopyrum  esculentum,  ord.  Poly- 
gonaceae. 

Bucolics.  [Gr.  &OVKO\IKO'S,  pastoral.}  Poems 
which  were  supposed  to  be  the  songs  of  herds- 
men, as  the  Eclogues  of  Virgil. 

Bucrania.  [Gr.  fiovKpdvia,  from  Qovs,  ox, 
Kpavtov,  skull.}  (Arch.)  Ornaments  in  the  shape 
of  an  ox's  head,  on  the  walls  of  buildings. 

Buddha.     (Buddhism.) 

Buddhism.  A  religion  which  numbers  a  large 
majority  of  the  whole  human  race  as  its  ad- 
herents. The  name  Buddha  (or  tfie  enlightened, 
from  the  same  root  with  L.  videre,  and  Eng. 
wit]  was  given  to  the  traditional  founder,  Gau- 
tama, whose  system  was  publicly  recognized 
by  Asoka  in  the  third  century  B.C.  Buddhism 
was  expelled  from  India  by  the  Brahmans,  be- 
tween A.D.  500  and  700.  It  teaches  especially 
the  necessity  of  separation  from  the  world  by 
prayer  and  contemplation,  in  order  to  exempt 
the  soul  after  death  from  renewed  imprisonment 
in  matter,  and  to  secure  for  it  Nirvana,  i.e. 
absorption  into  the  divine  essence  from  which 
it  sprang. 

Budding.     In  Zool.,  i.q.  gemmation  (q.v.). 

Buddie.  [Ger.  butteln,  to  shake.}  A  large 
trough  for  washing  ore  in. 

Bude  light.     A  very  bright  light  made  by 


BUDG 


86 


BULW 


supplying  an  argand  gas-jet  with  oxygen  (first 
used  at  Bude,  in  Cornwall). 

Budge.  [L.  bulga,  a  leathern  bag.]  Lamb- 
skin fur. 

Budgerow.    (Bazaras.) 

Budget.  [Fr.  bougette ;  and  this  from  Gael, 
bouge,  whence  L.  bulga,  a  leathern  bag.]  1.  A 
portable  bag  ;  and  so,  2,  a  stock  store.  3.  The 
yearly  statement  of  the  Chancellor  of  the 
Exchequer. 

Buffa.  [It.,  funny.]  Comic  j  as  aria  buffa, 
opera  buffa. 

Buffalo  chips.     Dry  dung  used  as  fuel. 

Buffer,  Buffing  apparatus.  A  plate  or  cushion 
projecting  from  the  frame  of  a  railway  carriage. 
Buffers  are  placed  in  pairs  at  each  end  of  the 
carriage,  and  are  fastened  by  rods  to  a  spring  of 
flat  steel  plates  or  other  material  under  the 
framework,  to  deaden  the  concussions  caused 
when  the  velocity  of  part  of  the  train  is  checked. 
The  buffers,  rods,  and  springs  are  sometimes 
called  the  Buffing  apparatus  or  Biiffing  ar- 
rangement. 

Buffet.     [Fr.]     Counter  for  refreshment. 

Buffet  a  billow,  To.  (Naut.)  To  go  against 
wind  and  tide. 

Buffy  coat.  (Med.)  On  blood  drawn  in  a 
diseased  condition,  a  crust  of  greyish  corpuscles, 
the  red  particles  sinking. 

Bug,  Bugbear.  A  spectre  or  some  other 
frightful  appearance  ;  cf.  Welsh  bwg.  (Puck ; 
Bogy.) 

Buggy.  A  name  used  in  India  for  a  light 
vehicle,  with  four  wheels  and  one  seat,  drawn 
by  one  horse. 

Bugle.  [Lit.  the  horn  of  a  bugle ;  L.  bucula, 
a  young  cow]  Military  trumpet  without  keys, 
used  for  sounding  the  different  calls  in  an  infantry 
regiment. 

Bugloss.     (Anchusa.) 

Biihlwork,  Boulework,  Boolwork.     (Boule.) 

Buhr-stone,  Burr-stone.  (Geol.)  A  siliceous 
rock,  hard,  cellular  ;  very  valuable  for  millstones ; 
the  best  from  the  Paris  basin. 

Build  a  chapel,  To.  (Naut.}  Suddenly  to 
turn  a  ship  by  careless  steering. 

Bui.  [Heb.]  I  Kings  vi.  38  ;  month  of  rain, 
second  of  civil,  eighth  of  ecclesiastical,  Jewish 
year ;  the  post-Babylonian  Marchesvan  ;  October 
: — November. 

Bulb.  [L.  bulbus,  Gr.  0oA|8<k.]  (Bot.)  Pseudo- 
B.  [Gr.  ^euS^y,  false] — e.g.  some  orchids — is  an 
aboveground  tuber,  the  stem  being  thickened  by 
deposit  of  bassorine  (q.v.). 

BulbuL  [Pers.  name  for  nightingale.]  1. 
Fam.  of  birds,  Fruit-thrushes,  Pycnonotidse 
[Gr.  irvKv6s,  thick,  VUTOS,  back.]  Popularly 
confounded  with  the  nightingale,  Curruca  lus- 
cima.  Africa  and  the  East.  2.  With  Byron  and 
Moore,  the  nightingale. 

Bulimus,  properly  Bulinus.  (Zoo/.)  A  very 
extensive  gen.  of  Pulmoniferous  molluscs,  most 
abundant  in  Trop.  S.  America.  Fam.  Helicidse 
(snails). 

Bulimy,  Bulimia.     (Boulimy.) 

Bulkheads.  (Naut.)  Wooden  or  metal  par- 
titions between  decks  to  separate  one  part  from 


another.  Compartment B '. ,  extra  strong  bulkhead, 
separating  the  vessel  into  water-tight  compart- 
ments. By  this  means  a  vessel  (although  struck 
and  filling)  may  be  kept  afloat,  the  water  being 
unable  to  get  through  the  compartment  bulk- 
heads to  the  rest  of  the  vessel. 

Bull.  1.  (Briefs.)  2.  A  term  used  for  a  specu- 
lator who  buys  stocks  or  shares  in  the  hope  of 
selling  at  a  higher  figure,  thereby  taking  a  cheer- 
ful view  of  things  ;  being  the  exact  opposite  of 
the  Bear,  who  takes  a  gloomy  view  of  the 
situation.  3.  Irish  bull,  a  sentence  expressing 
ideas  which  a  moment's  consideration  shows  to 
be  incompatible  and  their  conjunction  absurd. 

Bulla.  [L.]  A  boss  or  stud,  mostly  of  gold, 
worn  by  noble  Roman  youths,  till  1 7,  and  then 
consecrated  to  the  Lares,  at  the  putting  on  of 
the  toga  virilis. 

Bullace.  [Primus  insititia,  plum,  as  if  =  used 
for  grafting  (?).]  A  wild  plum. 

Bull  and  Mouth.  Sign  of  an  inn,  i.e.  Bou- 
logne mouth,  or  harbour. 

Bullarium,  Bullary.  A  collection  of  bulls. 
(Briefs.) 

Bull-dog,  or  Muzzled  bull-dog.  (Naut.)  1. 
The  great  gun  in  the  wardroom  cabin.  2.  Main- 
deck  guns. 

Bull-dogs.  University  proctor's  servants,  who 
arrest  or  summon  disorderly  persons  in  the 
streets,  and  chase  students  if  they  run  from  a 
proctor. 

Bulletin.  [It.  bulletina.]  Originally  a  gene- 
ral's despatch  ;  report  of  the  health  of  some  royal 
or  eminent  person  ;  sometimes  a  document  from  a 
scientific  society. 

Bullet-tree,  Bully-tree.  (Bot. )  A  tree  of  Guiana, 
a  spec,  of  Mimusops,  ord.  Sapotacese  ;  having 
very  solid  heavy  wood,  and  cherry-like  delicious 
fruit. 

Bullet-wood.    (Bullet-tree.) 

Bullhead,  Miller*  st/mmb.  (Zool. )  Large-headed 
fish,  four  or  five  inches  long,  dark  brown,  with 
spotted  sides  and  white  belly.  Fresh-water 
streams;  Europe.  Cottosgobio,  fam.  Trighidse, 
ord.  Acanthopterygii,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Bullion.  [Fr.  billon,  copper.]  Uncoined  gold 
and  silver  after  smelting,  often  in  bars  or  ingots. 

Bull,  John,  =  the  English  ;  from  the  History 
of  John  Bull ;  or,  Law  is  a  Bottomless  Pit,  by  Dr. 
Arbuthnot,  friend  of  Swift  and  Pope  ;  a  political 
jeu  d'esprit,  satirizing  national  quarrels  ;  Lewis 
Baboon  being  the  Frenchman,  Nick  frog  the 
Dutchman. 

Bull,  Papal.    (Briefs.) 

Bull's-eye.  (Naut.)  1.  A  block  made  with- 
out a  sheave.  2.  Hemispherical  pieces  of  ground 
glass  to  admit  light  below.  3.  The  central  point 
of  a  target. 

Bull,  Wild.  [Heb.  to,  or  teo ;  Isa.  li.  20.] 
(Bibl.)  Spec,  of  large  bovine  antelope,  pro- 
bably Alcephalus  bubalis. 

Bulrush,  i.e.  large  rush.  If  any  particular 
one  be  meant,  it  is  Scirpus  lacustris,  ord. 
Cyperacese;  its  root  astringent  and  diuretic, 
once  used  in  medicine.  The  name  is  often 
applied  to  Typha  latifolia. 

Bulwark.     [Gtr.  bollwerk,  a  fortification]     1. 


BUMB 


BURL 


Any  artificial  defence  to  keep  off  invaders.  2. 
In  a  ship's  sides,  it  means  the  protection  raised 
above  the  upper  deck  to  keep  off  the  waves. 

Bum-bailiff.  [Bound  (?)  and  L.L.  bailivus, 
porter,  lit.  walker,  errand-rimner  ;  root  ba,  go.} 
Sheriff's  officer,  who  serves  writs  and  arrests  for 
debt. 

Bumboat.  A  clumsy  boat  used  in  traffic 
between  shore  hucksters  and  vessels. 

Bummaree.  1.  In  Billingsgate,  one  who 
buys  from  the  salesmen  and  retails  bonne  maree 
[Fr.],  good  fresh  fish.  2.  In  a  bad  sense,  a  middle 
man  who  makes  too  much  out  of  both  producer 
and  consumer. 

Bumpkin,  Bumking,  or  Bormkin.  (Naut.} 
1.  A  small  boom ;  one  projects  over  each  bow 
of  the  ship,  to  extend  the  clew  of  the  foresail  to 
windward.  2.  Those  on  the  quarters  for  the 
blocks  of  the  main  brace.  3.  A  small  outrigger 
over  the  stern  of  a  boat,  on  which  a  mizzen  is 
usually  extended. 

Bungalow.  In  India,  a  kind  of  rural  villa  or 
house,  generally  of  one  story,  but  of  all  sizes 
and  styles. 

Bunkum,  Buncombe.  1.  =  Constituent  body, 
as  distinguished  from  Congress.  A  tedious 
member  for  Buncombe,  U.S.,  once,  as  members 
left  the  House,  continued  the  speech  which  "  B. 
expected."  Hence,  2,  mere  speech-making. 

Bunsen's  burner.  A  tube  in  which,  by  means 
of  holes  in  the  side,  the  gas  becomes  mixed  with 
air  before  consumption,  so  that  it  gives  a  non- 
luminous,  smokeless  flame. 

Bunt.  1.  (Smut.)  2.  Of  a  sail,  the  middle  part, 
made  slightly  baggy  (as  it  were  bent}  to  gather 
wind.  3.  In  a  furled  sail,  that  part  which  is  furled 
over  the  centre  of  the  yard.  B. -lines,  ropes  to 
turn  up  the  foot  of  a  course,  or  topsail,  forward, 
and  thus  diminish  the  effect  of  the  wind. 

Bunter.  A  woman  who  picks  up  rags,  and  so 
a  low  woman.  Bunts  are  perhaps  bent  or 
broken  bits  (Richardson). 

Buntine,  Bunting.  Thin  woollen  material,  of 
which  ships'  flags  and  signals  are  made  (to  bunt 
being  to  sift  meal ;  the  loose  open  cloth  used  is  a 
bunting-c\oti\. — Wedgwood). 

Buoyancy;  Centre  of  B.  [Fr.  bouee,  origin- 
ally baje,  a  buoy ;  fastened  by  a  chain  or  rope, 
L.L.  boja.]  The  upward  pressure  of  a  fluid  on 
a  body  wholly  or  partly  immersed  in  it,  which 
equals  the  weight  of  the  fluid  displaced.  The 
centre  of  gravity  of  the  immersed  part  of  the 
body  supposed  of  uniform  density,  i.e.  of  the  fluid 
displaced,  is  the  Centre  of  B.  (Rankine,  122,  123). 

Bur,  Burr,  Common.  [Fr.  bourre,  hair,  flock.} 
(Bot. }  1.  The  rough  fruit  of  the  burdock,  Arctium 
lappa,  ord.  Compositse,  abundant  in  waste 
places  throughout  Europe.  2.  Rough  edge  left 
in  turning,  engraving,  etc.,  metal.  3.  The  lobe 
of  the  ear.  4.  The  rough  annular  excrescence 
at  the  root  of  a  deer's  horn.  All  these,  with 
similar  words,  from  Gael,  root  borr  =  protrude, 
sivell. — Wedgwood. 

Burdelais,  Burlace.    A  sort  of  grape  (Johnson). 
Burden,  or  Burthen.     (Naut.)    The  amount  of 
tons  weight  which  a  ship  can  carry  ;  rather  less 
than  twice  her  tonnage. 


Burden.  [Fr.  bourdon,  the  drone  stop  in  an 
organ.]  1.  Of  a  song,  the  refrain  at  the  end  of 
each  stanza.  2.  The  bass  of  the  bagpipe. 

Bureaucracy.  Government  by  officials.  [Coined 
from  Fr.  bureau,  a  writing-table,  an  office,  and 
Gr.  KP&TOS,  power,  rule} 

Burette.  [Fr.,  dim.  of  O.Fr.  bure,  a  bottle} 
1.  A  cruet.  2.  A  graduated  glass  tube,  used  by 
chemists  for  pouring  out  measured  quantities  of 
liquid. 

-burg,     (-bury.) 

Burgage  holding.  Scotch  tenure  by  which 
lands  in  royal  boroughs  are  held  of  the  sovereign 
under  service  of  watch  and  ward. 

Burgage  tenure.  Tenure  of  old  borough 
lands,  site  of  houses,  of  a  lord  for  rent ;  a  kind 
of  free  socage. 

Burgee.     (Flag.) 

Burgeon.     (Bourgeon.) 

Burghbote.  An  ancient  impost  for  maintain- 
ing the  defences  of  a  city. 

Burgers ;  Anti-burghers.  The  Session  Chamber 
of  Scotland,  A.D.  1745,  who  were  for  election  v. 
patronage,  but  divided  (1747)  as  to  the  lawfulness 
of  the  oath  taken  by  burgesses,  to  which  the  A. 
objected.  Reunited  in  1820,  they  are  now  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church. 

Burgh-mails.  (Scot.  Law.}  Yearly  payments 
to  Crown,  like  Eng.  fee-farm  rents. 

Burghmote.  The  old  English  name  for  the 
borough  court. 

Burgomaster,  Biirgermeister.  [Ger.  and  D.] 
Chief  magistrate  of  a  municipal  town,  =  mayor. 

Burgonet,  Burganet  (Bourgogne}.  [O.Fr. 
bourguignote.]  Burgundian  helmet. 

Burgoo.   WTith  sailors,  oatmeal  gruel  seasoned. 

Burgrave.  [Ger.  burg-graf.]  Under  the 
Empire,  a  castellan  having  the  right  of  private 
justice  and  of  imposing  taxes,  etc. 

Burgundy.  (From  Burgundi,  a  tribe  of  Van- 
dals.) There  were  two  kingdoms,  Upper  and 
Lower  B.,  before  A.D.  1032  ;  a  third,  nearly  the 
same  as  the  province  of  B.,  from  A.D.  880-1361  ; 
it  then  became  a  dukedom.  Upper  B.  became 
Franche-Comte.  B.  forms  the  departments  of 
Yonne,  Cote-d'Or,  Saone-et-Loire,  and  Aix  in); 
the  E.  of  France. 

Burgundy  pitch.  The  purified  resin  of  the 
spruce  fir,  used  for  making  plasters. 

Buridan's  ass.  The  ass  between  two  bundles 
of  hay.  John  Buridan,  Schoolman,  fourteenth 
century,  propounded  the  problem  that  if  the 
bundles  be  equidistant  from  the  ass,  he  will 
starve  from  indecision,  or  else  of  two  equal 
attractions  one  is  greater,  or,  thirdly,  the  ass  has 
free-will. 

Burin.  1.  A  graver,  the  principal  instrument 
used  in  engraving  on  copper.  Used,  2,  meton. 
=  a  style,  a  clear  B.,  a  soft  B.  \Cf.  bore,  L. 
forare,  Gr.  ir6pos,  etc.] 

Burking.  A  name  for  the  practice  of  provid- 
ing subjects  for  medical  dissection,  from  a  man 
named  Burke,  who  in  1820  obtained  some  by 
murder.  Hence  to  burke  is  to  bring  anything 
suddenly  or  violently  to  an  end,  and  hush  it  up. 

Burl.  [Fr.  bourre,  hair,  flock,  bourreler,  to< 
rack}  To  dress  cloth,  clearing  it  of  the  kaots* 


BURL 


88 


BUTT 


Burlace.     (Burdelais.) 

Burleigh's  nod,  Lord.  In  Sheridan's  Critic, 
Lord  B.  says  nothing,  but  gives  his  head  a  shake, 
to  which  Puff  gives  an  absurd  amount  of 
meaning. 

Burletta.  A  comic  operetta.  [It.  burlare,  to 
jest,  from  which  also  burlesque.] 

Burling.     (BurL) 

-burn,  -bourne.  [A.S.  byrna,  Ger.  brunnen.] 
Stream  ;  part  of  Saxon  names,  as  in  Ty-burn, 
Brox-bourne. 

Burnet,  Common.  (Bot.)  Sanguisorba  offici- 
nalis,  ord.  Rosacese  ;  a  native  plant.  Poterium 
sanguisorba  is  salad  B.,  once  grown  for  salads. 

Burning-house.  The  furnace  in  which  tin 
ore  is  burnt  to  remove  the  sulphur. 

Burnish.  [Fr.  brunir,  to  polish.}  To  polish  ; 
as  a  neut.  verb,  to  grow  bright.  (Varnish.) 

Burnisher.  A  tool  with  smooth  hard  round 
surface,  generally  agate,  for  rubbing  and  bright- 
ening gold  leaf. 

Burnt-ear.    In  corn.     (Smut.) 

Burrel.  A  pear,  the  red  butter  pear.  (Bury 
pear.) 

Burrock.  [A.S.  burh,  beorh,  hill,  -ock,  dim. 
suffix.]  A  small  dam  or  weir  for  fishing  pur- 
poses. 

Bursars.  [L.L.  bursarius,  a  purser.]  1.  In 
the  English  universities,  the  treasurers  of  col- 
leges and  halls.  2.  In  the  Scottish  and  foreign 
universities,  persons  aided  in  the  costs  of  their 
residence  by  grants  from  a  burse  or  fund  set  apart 
for  that  purpose.  Bursary,  in  Scotland,  the 
grant  or  exhibition  thus  received. 

Burschenshaft.  [Ger.]  An  association  formed 
in  1815,  among  students  in  German  universities, 
for  the  liberation  and  union  of  Germany. 

Burt.  \Cf.  Ger.  butte,  D.  bot,  a  fat-fish.] 
(Zool.)  Fish  of  turbot  kind,  fam.  Pleuronectidae, 
ord.  Anacanthinae,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

-bury,  -burg,  -burgh,  -brough,  -borough,  -berry. 
[Goth,  baurgi-s,  O.S.  burg,  A.S.  byrig,  fortified 
post]  Part  of  Teutonic  names.  Often  marks 
site  of  a  camp  ;  -bury  is  distinctively  Saxon. 

Bury  pear,  i.e.  Beurre,  as  \ibutter  pear. 

Busby.  (Mil.)  The  head-dress  worn  by 
hussars,  artillerymen,  and  engineers  in  the  army, 
and  consisting  of  a  fur  hat  with  a  bag  hanging 
from  the  top  on  the  right  side. 

Bush.  [A  Teut.  and  Scand.  word.]  The 
brass  or  white  metal  lining  of  the  bearing  of  an 
axle  or  journal  box,  with  which  the  revolving 
piece  is  actually  in  contact,  and  which  takes  the 
wear  caused  by  friction. 

Bushel.  [Fr.  boisseau,  L.  buscellus,  a  vessel 
for  measuring  grain]  A  measure  of  eight  gallons 
or  22i8'2  cubic  inches  ;  a  Winchester  B.  was 
21 5O'4  cubic  inches,  and  a  heaped  B.  one  third 
more. 

Bushman.    (Bosjesman.) 

Bushranger.  One  who  roams  about  the  woods ; 
generally  in  a  bad  sense,  as  an  escaped  criminal. 

Busiris.  In  Egypt.  Myth.y  a  being  of  whom 
the  most  contradictory  accounts  are  given  by 
ancient  writers,  some  speaking  of  him  as  a  king, 
others  affirming  that  the  name  meant  simply  the 
tomb  of  Osiris. 


Busk.    To  prepare,  get  one's  self  ready. 

Buskin.  [Gr.  ic60opvos,  and  L.  cothurnus.]  1. 
The  high-soled  boot,  reaching  to  the  middle  of 
the  leg,  worn  by  tragic  actors.  2.  By  meton. 
=  tragedy;  so  soccus,  the  flat-soled  shoe  of 
comedians  and  slaves,  =  comedy.  \Cf.  Flem. 
brosekin,  from  which  also  It.  borzacchino,  and 
Fr.  brodequin.] 

Busking.  (Afaut.)  1.  Piratical  cruising.  2. 
Beating  to  windward  along,  or  standing  on  and 
off  from,  the  coast. 

Buss.  1.  A  kiss  [L.  basium].  2.  (Naut.) 
A  two-masted  Dutch  fishing -boat,  from  50  to 
70  tons  burden.  3.  A  herring-boat  (British), 
from  10  to  15  tons. 

Bustard.  [L.  avis  tarda,  slow  bird,  Sp. 
avutarda  or  abutarda.]  (Ornith.)  Fam.  of  birds. 
Inhabits  open  districts  in  E.  hemisphere.  Two 
spec,  occasionally  visit  Great  Britain:  (i)  Otis 
[Gr.  uris,  the  eared  one]  tarda,  Great  bustard, 
about  forty-five  inches  long  ;  plumage  of  male 
white,  pale  chestnut,  and  black.  (2)  Otis  tetrax, 
Little  bustard,  about  seventeen  inches  long,  black 
throat,  with  white  collar  and  gorget.  Ord. 
Grallse. 

But  and  ben.  A  Scotch  term,  applied  to  the 
two  rooms  of  a  cottage,  kitchen  and  parlour, 
opposite  to  each  other  ;  the  speaker  considers 
himself  as  being  in  but. 

Butcher-bird.     (Shrike.) 

Butcher's  broom.  Formerly  used  for  sweeping 
blocks ;  a  native  plant,  in  bushy  places  and 
woods,  shrubby,  evergreen ;  Ruscus  aculeatus, 
ord.  Liliacese. 

Butt.  1.  Of  beer,  is  108  gallons.  2.  [Fr. 
butte,  rising  ground,  knoll]  Earthen  mound 
placed  behind  a  target  for  the  purpose  of  check- 
ing the  further  progress  of  balls. 

Butte.  [Fr.]  An  isolated  high  hill ;  origin- 
ally the  rising  knoll  on  which  the  butt  or  mark 
stood. 

Butter  and  eggs.  Popular  name  for  Narcissus 
incomparabilis  of  the  Mediterranean,  common 
in  gardens ;  also  for  the  toad-flax  (Linaria 
vulgaris),  in  allusion  to  the  two  shades  of  yellow 
in  the  flowers. 

Butter-box.  (Naut]  1.  A  lumpy  brig.  2, 
A  Dutchman. 

Butter  of  antimony,  tin,  zinc.  (Chem.)  The 
trichloride  of  antimony,  bichloride  of  tin,  chlo- 
ride of  zinc,  being  semi-fluid  buttery  substances. 

Butter  tree.  Indian  B.,  the  kernels  of  which 
yield  a  firm,  white,  rich  butter,  keeping  fresh 
for  months.  Bassia  butyracea,  ord.  Sapo- 
taceae.  The  African  B.,  or  Shea,  is  B.  Parkii. 

Button.  The  round  mass  of  metal  left  in  a 
cupel  after  fusion. 

Button's.  A  coffee-house  in  Russell  Street, 
Covent  Garden,  where  wits  assembled  in  Ad- 
dison's  time. 

Buttress.  [Fr.  buttee.]  A  projection  from  a 
wall,  giving  it  greater  strength  ;  so  called  from 
its  butting  or  pushing.  Flying  buttresses,  i.e. 
buttresses  connected  by  an  arch  either  with 
other  buttresses  or  with  the  wall  of  the  building, 
seem  first  to  have  been  used  in  the  Lancet  or 
Early  English  style.  (Geometrical  style.) 


BUTT 


89 


CABL 


Butts.  1.  The  stoutest  part  of  tanned  ox- 
hides, used  for  harness,  etc.  2.  A  kind  of  door- 
hinges  (from  being  screwed  on  to  the  part  which 
butts  against  the  casing). 

Butyric  acid.  An  acid  found  in  butter  [L. 
butyrum]. 

Buxom.  In  O.E.,  bough-some  [cf.  Ger. 
biegsam,  compliant,  obedient,  easily  bowed,  and 
so  flexible,  brisk,  lively  ;  but  the  word  may  be 
connected  with  the  Scand.  pege,  a  maiden]. 
(Bonair.) 

By.  In  competitions,  the  position  of  the 
odd  competitor  drawn  without  a  match  in  a 
heat  or  tie. 

-by.  [Norse,  abode,  village,  O.N.  by,  I  dwell, 
bu,  dwelling-place ;  cf.  A.S.  buan,  to  dwell,  Gr. 
(f)v,  make  to  be,  become,]  Part  of  names  in  Danish 
and  Norwegian  districts. 

By-and-by.  Mark  vi.  25  ;  Luke  xxi.  9  ;  imme- 
diately. [Gr.  ^OUTTJS,  eufleW]  (Presently.) 

By-blow.     An  illegitimate  child. 

By-law,  Bye-law.  [Cf.  Sw.  by-lag.]  1.  A 
law  for  a  particular  "by,"  or  town  ;  and  so,  2, 
laws  for  any  special  association,  as  a  particular 
railway,  (-by.) 

By,  or  Surprise,  Plot.  A  plot,  formed  in 
1603,  for  seizing  James  I.,  and  compelling  him 


to  grant  free  exercise  of  religion  ;  so  called  to 
distinguish  it  from  the  Main  Plot,  formed  at  the 
same  time  by  George  Brooke  and  others  for 
placing  Arabella  Stuart  on  the  throne. 

Byre.  [A.S.  bur,  a  chamber,  from  buan,  to 
dwell ;  cf.  bower.]  Cow-shed. 

Byssin.  [Gr.  fivcrffos,  a  fine  flax.]  Made  of 
bysse,  or  fine  linen. 

Byssus.  [L.,  Gr.  0vff<ros,  a  fine  flax.]  With 
Greeks  and  Romans,  as  with  us,  the  bundle  of 
silky  filaments  by  which  many  bivalves  adhere 
to  rocks,  etc.  The  beautiful  silky  B.  of  the 
Pinna  was  once  woven  into  cloth,  highly  valued. 

Byzant.     (Bezant.) 

Byzantine  architecture  includes  the  several 
styles  from  the  foundation  of  Constantinople, 
A.D.  328,  to  its  conquest  by  the  Turks,  1453. 
Its  typical  ecclesiastical  form,  a  Greek  cross  with 
central  cupola  and  apse,  was  fixed  by  the  church 
of  St.  Sophia  at  Constantinople,  now  the  Great 
Mosque. 

Byzantine  empire.  The  E.  Roman,  Eastern, 
or  Greek  empire. 

Byzantine  historians.  Greek  historians,  living 
between  the  sixth  and  fifteenth  centuries.  Their 
works  were  collected  and  published  by  order  of 
Louis  XIV.,  in  thirty-six  vols.,  folio. 


c. 


C.  This  letter  is  used  in  ancient  MSS.  as  an 
abbrev.  for  Caius,  Caesar,  Consul,  Civitas,  etc. ; 
in  the  Roman  law  courts  it  was  the  sign  of  con- 
demnation, in  contradistinction  to  A,  for  Absolve, 
/  acquit,  the  former  being  therefore  called  Litera 
tristis,  the  latter  Litera  salutaris.  As  a  numeral, 
it  denotes  100. 

Caaba.  The  temple  of  Mecca ;  so  called  from 
the  black  stone  worshipped  there  before  the 
time  of  Mohammed,  and  now  seen  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  building.  The  stone  is  pro- 
bably an  aerolite. 

Cab.  Mentioned  only  in  2  Kings  vi.  25  ;  the 
smallest  dry  measure  with  the  Jews ;  according 
to  Josephus,  =  about  two  quarts. 

Cabal.  [Fr.  cabale.]  In  Eng.  Hist.,  a  name 
given  to  the  five  Cabinet  ministers  of  Charles  II. 
—  Clifford,  Arlington,  Buckingham,  Ashley, 
and  Lauderdale — 1667-74,  because  the  initials 
of  their  names  happened  to  form  the  word. 

Cabala.  A  Hebrew  word,  denoting  the 
general  body  of  tradition  interpreting  the 
canonical  books  in  their  figurative  as  well  as 
their  direct  sense,  the  Masorah,  or  unwritten 
tradition,  setting  forth  its  literal  meaning. 
(Pharisees;  Sadducees;  Talmud.)  As  dealing 
with  the  secondary  meanings  of  Scripture,  the 
Cabala  became  associated  with  magic,  and  the 
Christian  Cabalists  made  a  profession  of  divining 
by  combinations  of  scriptural  characters.  (Sortes.) 

Caballine.  [L.  caballlnus.]  1.  Belonging  to 
a  horse  [caballus].  2.  As  a  subst.,  horse-aloes. 

Cabaret.     [A  Fr.  word,  of  unknown  origin, 


with  various  meanings.]  1.  A  set  of  tea-things  ; 
properly,  including  a  china  tray.  2.  A  tavern, 
public-house. 

Cabas.     [Fr.]    A  flat  basket, 

Cabbage.  To  steal  pieces  of  cloth,  said  01 
tailors  ;  hence  to  pilfer  generally. 

Gabbling.  Breaking  up  flat  masses  of  iron  to 
be  reheated  and  wrought  into  bars. 

Cabinet-picture.  A  small  picture,  generally  of 
a  finished  character,  suitable  for  a  small  room 
[Fr.  cabinet]. 

Cabiri.  [Gr.  Kiifieipoi.]  Mystic  deities,  specially 
worshipped  in  the  northernmost  islands  of  the 
^Egean.  Like  that  of  Bacchus  or  Dionysos,  their 
worship  was  introduced  from  Syria,  and  their 
name  is  identified  with  the  Hebrew  word 
Gibborim,  the  mighty  ones  (Brown,  Great 
Dionysiak  Myth}.  (Bacchanalian.) 

Cable.  (Wauf.)  The  rope,  or  chain,  to 
which  an  anchor  is  made  fast.  A  shot  of  C.,  two 
spliced  together.  C.  length  in  charts,  i.e. 
accurately  =  607-56  feet,  or  ^  of  a  sea  mile. 
C.  distance,  roughly  about  600  feet.  In  making, 
600  to  690  feet.  A  cablet,  720  feet.  Ditto, 
hawser  laid,  780  feet.  Cables  are  named  after 
the  anchor  with  which  they  are  used,  as  Stream 
cable. 

Cable-moulding.  A  bead-moulding,  in  later 
Norman  work,  cut  in  imitation  of  the  twisting 
of  a  rope. 

Cable's  length,  sometimes  Cable-tow.  Gene- 
rally, 1 20  fathoms  =  720  feet. 

Cabling.      A     round     moulding     frequently 


CABL 


90 


CADU 


worked  in  the  flutes  of  columns,  pilasters,  etc., 
in  classical  architecture. — Parker's  Gloss,  of 
Architecture. 

Cablish.  [Gr.  /corajSoX^,  a  thriving  down, 
through  Fr.  accabler,  to  overwhelm.'}  Brush- 
wood, windfalls  of  wood. 

Cabob.  [Pers.  cobbob,  roast  meat.}  A  small 
piece  of  meat  roasted  on  a  skewer. 

Caboched,  Cabashed.  [Fr.  caboche,  head.} 
(Her.)  Full-faced,  and  without  vneck. 

Caboose,  more  correctly  Cambocse.  [D. 
kombnis,  a  cook's  room.}  (Naut.)  The  kitchen 
of  a  merchant  ship. 

Cabriolet.  [Fr. ,  from  cabrioler,  to  bound.}  A 
one-horse  carriage,  having  a  hood  and  a  seat  for 
two  persons. 

Cacsemia.  [Gr.  KUK^S,  bad,  aT^ua,  blood.}  A 
bad  state  of  blood. 

Cacao,  or  Cocoa.  The  ground  seeds  of  the 
TheobromaC,  ord.  Sterculacese.  In  W.  Indies, 
Brazil,  etc.  They  contain  a  peculiar  principle, 
called  Theobromine. 

Cachalot  [From  the  Catal.  quichal,  Sp. 
quircal,  a  tooth  (Littre).]  (Zool.)  Physeter  ma- 
crocephalus  [Gr.  Qvffurfip,  a  blower,  fuutjpoitt' 
</>a\os,  long-headed},  one  of  the  largest  Cetacea, 
yielding  ambergris,  as  well  as  spermaceti,  but  no 
whalebone. 

Cachectic.  [Gr.  Ka%^(a.,  a  bad  state  or  habit 
(KOMJ)  e{w)  of  body.}  In  a  state  of  cachexia. 

Cache-mari.  [Fr.,  hide  husband.}  Slang  for  an 
epergne,  or  large  flower-stand,  on  a  dining-table. 

Cachepot.  [Fr.  cacher,  to  hide,  pot,  a  pot.} 
An  ornamental  case  to  hold  a  flower-pot. 

Cachet,  Lettres  de.  [Fr.]  In  France,  before 
the  Revolution,  letters  under  the  private  seal 
[cachet]  of  the  king,  used  at  first  to  interfere 
with  the  ordinary  course  of  justice,  and  after- 
wards for  the  illegal  detention  of  citizens. 

Cachinnation.  [L.  cachinnatio,  -nem,  cachinno, 
/  laugh  aloud ;  cf.  Gr.  /ra7%ctA.a«  :  onomatop.] 
Loud,  excessive  laughter. 

Cacbiri.  A  liquor  like  perry,  made  in  Cayenne 
from  the  manioc  root. 

Cacholong.  (Geol.)  A  beautiful  hard  white 
opaque  mineral,  probably  a  variety  of  opal ;  from 
river  Cach,  Bokhara,  cholong,  (?)  precious  stone, 
in  Kalmuc.  Faroe  Islands,  Greenland,  etc. 

Cacbolot,  or  Spermaceti  whale.     (Cachalot.) 

Cacique,  Cazique.  [Hayt.  word,  adopted  by 
the  Sp.]  A  name  for  chiefs  of  Indian  tribes  of 
Central  and  S.  America. 

Cacochymy.  [Gr.  KOIKES,  bad,  j^v^s,  juice, 
liquid.}  (Med.)  Bad  condition  of  the  juices  or 
humours. 

Cacodemon.  [Gr.  KaKoSaf^wo,  from  KO.KOS,  bad, 
5aifj.(i)v,  as  used  in  New  Testament.]  Evil  spirit. 

Cacodyl.     [Gr.  KUKW^S,  stinking,  v\i\,  stuff.} 

(Chem.)     An  inflammable  liquid,  prepared  from 

zinc  and  chloride  of  arsenic,  and  acting  as  a  base. 

Cacoethes   [Gr.    T&   Ka^Bes,   ill  habit}   scri- 

bendi.     An  itch,  or  passion,  for  scribbling. 

Cacography.  1.  Bad  handwriting  [Gr.  jcoucife, 
bad,  ypafyo),  I  write}.  2.  Bad  spelling;  opposed 
to  Orthography  [6pQ6s,  straight,  right}. 

Cacophony,  CacophSnia.  [Gr.  Ktuc6s,  bad,  <pwr], 
sound,  voice.}  1.  An  ill-sounding  effect  in  words. 


2.  Harshness  in  musical  effect.     3.   (Med.)     A 
depraved  state  of  voice. 

Cadastral  Survey.  [Fr.  cadastre.]  A  survey 
of  an  extensive  tract  of  country,  made  with  exact 
instruments,  such  as  the  Ordnance  Survey ;  origin- 
ally, one  serving  as  a  register  [L.  capitastrum], 
regulating  the  imposition  of  taxes  on  real 
property. 

Cadaver.     [L.]    A  corpse. 

Caddis  worm,  Case  worm.  Larva  of  Phry- 
ganefdse  [Gr.  (ppvyavov,  a  faggot},  Neuropterous 
(or  (?)  Trichopterous)  insects ;  living  under  water 
in  tube  constructed  of  fragments  of  rush,  stone, 
etc. 

Caddow,  Caddess,  Cadow.  The  young  of  the 
crow.  Richardson  mentions  the  suggestion  caw, 
and  daw  or  dow. 

Cade.     [L.  cadus.]    A  cask. 

Cade  lamb.  [(?)  Fr.  cadet ;  or  cf.  Dan.  kaad, 
wanton, frolicsome  (Wedgwood).]  A  pet  lamb, 
a  somewhat  spoilt  child. 

Cadence.  [L.  cadere,  to  fall.}  1.  (Her.) 
Family  descent ;  cadency.  2.  (Music. )  The  close 
of  a  musical  passage  or  phrase.  If  harmonized, 
a  Perfect  C.  is  when  the  chord  of  the  key-note 
is  preceded  by  the  chord  of  the  dominant ;  a 
Plagal  C.  is  when  the  key-note  is  preceded  by 
the  chord  of  the  subdom.,  major  or  minor.  All 
other  cadences  are  termed  imperfect. 

Cadene.  [Fr.  cadene,  from  L.  catena,  chain.} 
An  inferior  Levantine  carpet. 

Cadet.  [Fr.  cadet,  younger,  L.L.  capitettum, 
little  head.}  Formerly  meant  the  younger 
branches  of  any  noble  family,  but  now  applied 
to  young  gentlemen  who  are  being  trained  for 
the  profession  of  arms.  Naval  C.,  one  training 
for  a  midshipman  on  board  a  man-of-war. 

Cadi,  Kadee.  [Ar.,  a  judge.}  (Alcaide.)  With 
Mohammedan  nations,  a  judge,  who  passes 
sentence  in  all  cases  of  law  ;  in  India,  chief 
judge  ;  in  the  dominions  of  the  Ottoman  sultan, 
subject  to  the  mufti. 

Cadis.     [Fr.]    A  coarse  serge. 

Cadit  quaestio.  [L.]  The  matter  for  discus- 
sion falls  to  the  ground ;  there  is  an  end  of  it. 

Cadmeian  victory.  [Gr.  KaS/tefa  J/IKT?.]  A 
victory  won  to  one's  own  ruin,  referring  to  the 
story  of  the  armed  men  who  sprang  up  when 
Cadmus  sowed  the  dragon's  teeth,  and  who  slew 
each  other ;  or,  as  some  have  said,  to  the  fratri- 
cidal war  of  Eteocles  and  Polyneikes,  the  sons 
of  GEdipus. 

Cadmia.  [Gr.  KaS^efo.]  The  old  name  for 
Calamine. 

Cadmium.  [Gr.  icaS/ufa.]  A  soft  white  metal, 
generally  found  in  zinc  ores,  such  as  calamine. 
C.  yellow,  used  as  a  pigment,  is  its  sulphide. 

Cadogan.     A  teapot,  filled  from  below. 

Cadre.  [Fr.,  frame,  outline,  from  It.  quadro.] 
The  nominal  establishment  of  officers  of  a 
regiment. 

Caducary.  [L.  caducus,  falling.}  (Leg.) 
Relating  to  lapse,  escheat,  forfeiture,  or  con- 
fiscation. 

Caduceus.    (Myth.)   The  staff  of  Hermes.   The 
word  is  probably  a  Latinized  form  of  the   Gr. 
or  herald's  staff. 


CADU 


GALA 


Caducibranchiate.  [L.  caducus,  liable  to  fall, 
Gr.  jSpcfyxta,  gills.}  (Amphibia.) 

Caducity.  [L.  caducus,  falling  or  fallen.'] 
1.  A  tendency  to  fall ;  e.g.  Bot.,  in  the  petals  of 
the  cistus.  2.  Feebleness. 

Cadus.  [L.]  A  large  jar,  especially  of  earthen- 
ware, for  wine. 

Caecuban  wine.  The  choicest  Roman  wine 
before  the  age  of  Augustus. 

Caecum.  [L.  csecus,  blind.]  A  blind  sac  or 
bag  ;  in  man,  the  first  portion  of  the  colon. 

Caedmon.  An  Old  English  poet  of  the  seventh 
century,  who  sang  of  the  mysteries  of  creation 
and  redemption  in  alliterative  (q.v.)  verse. 

Caelatura.  [L.]  The  Roman  term  for  work- 
ing raised,  or  partly  raised,  figures  in  metal. 

Caen  stone.  From  the  quarries  of  C.,  Nor- 
mandy ;  a  member  of  the  Oolitic  group.  (Bath- 
stone.) 

Caer-.  [Cf.  Erse  cathair,  fortress.]  Part  of 
Cymric  names,  as  in  Caer-marthen. 

Caesarem  vehis,  Fortunamque  ejus.  [L.] 
7^hou  carriest  C.  and  his  fortune.  An  apo- 
strophe spoken  to  the  ship  in  which  C.  sailed  ; 
applied  to  any  vessel,  carriage,  train,  etc., 
carrying  some  one  precious  in  the  eyes  of  the 
speaker. 

Caesarian  operation  (Pliny's  belief  being  that 
Caesar  was  named  "a  cseso  matris  utero "). 
Extraction  of  the  fcetus  by  incision  of  the  ab- 
domen. The  same  story  is  told  of  Macduff,  and 
of  many  of  the  large  group  of  Fatal  children. 

Csesarism.  The  theory  of  irresponsible  de- 
spotism. 

Caesium.  An  alkaline  metal,  having  a  pair  of 
bhte  [L.  csesius]  lines  in  its  spectrum. 

Caestus.  [L.  csedo,  I  strike,  slay.]  A  Roman 
pugilist's  leather  strap  of  bull's  hide,  often 
weighted  with  balls  of  lead  or  iron,  bound  round 
the  hands  and  arms  ;  a  gauntlet. 

Caesura.  [L.,  a  cutting,  called  also  ro/j.-fj  and 
comma,  Gr.  K^ILO..]  In  Pros.,  a  pause  or  me- 
trical break  near  the  middle  of  the  line,  caused 
by  the  separation  of  the  first  syllable  of  a  foot, 
forming  the  last  of  a  word,  from  the  next  syllable, 
which  forms  the  first  of  another  word  ;  as  in  the 
Latin  hexameter,  e.g.  "Arma  virumque  cano  | 
Trojse  qui  primus  ab  oris." 

Caetera  desunt.  [L.]  At  the  end  of  an  in- 
complete copy  of  a  work :  the  remainder  is 
wanting. 

Caeteris  parlbus.    All  other  things  being  equal ; 

e.g.   C.  P.   a  preference  to  natives  of ,  in 

awarding  a  scholarship. 

Caffeine.  [Fr.  cafeine,  from  cafe,  coffee.]  The 
essential  principle  of  coffee  and  tea,  also  called 
theine  [theine,  from  the,  tea].  (Alkaloids.) 

Caftan,  Kaftan.  [Turk,  gaftan,  a  robe  of 
honour.]  A  robe,  cloak,  presented  by  the 
sultan  to  visitors  of  distinction,  especially  to 
ambassadors. 

Cage.  [Fr.  cage,  L.  cavea.]  (Meek.)  A 
piece  put  over  a  valve,  which,  while  giving  the 
valve  freedom  of  motion,  prevents  it  from  being 
displaced. 

Cagliostro.     (Balsamo.) 

Cag-mag.     [(?)  Onomatop.  from  the  effort  of 


eating.]     Coarse,  tough  meat ;  properly  a  tough 
old  goose. 

Cagots.  Gipsy-like  people  (?  descendants  of 
ancient  leper  communities  ?)  in  Beam  and  other 
parts  of  Gascony ;  once  badly  treated,  and  still 
socially  degraded.  Similar  are  the  Caqueux  in 
Brittany,  and  the  Colliberts  in  Poitou,  Maine, 
Anjou.  [Ca,  Prov.  =  canis,  dog  (I.  Taylor).] 

Cahar.     [Hind.]     Palanquin-bearer. 

Cahier.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  a  report  of  certain 
assemblies  and  their  proceedings ;  e.g.  of  the 
States-General,  clergy,  etc.  ;  lit.  a  writing-book, 
of  four  leaves  [L.  quaternum]. 

Caimacan.     (Kaimakan.) 

Cainites.  Gnostics  of  trie  second  century, 
who  held  Cain  to  have  been  the  work  of  a 
mighty  power,  Abel  of  a  weak  one ;  and  that 
the  way  to  be  saved  was  to  make  trial  of  all 
things,  evil  as  well  as  good. 

Cainozoic,  Caenozoic.     (Neozoic.) 

Caique,  or  Kaique.  A  small  vessel  of  the 
Levant.  The  Constantinople  skiff,  fast  but 
crank,  whose  traditional  wave-line  is  the  same 
as  the  one  reckoned  a  triumph  of  modern  marine 
architecture. 

<Ja  ira.  [Fr.,  that  will  go  on,  i.e.  succeed.] 
The  refrain  of  the  Carillon  National,  or  Revolu- 
tionary song  of  1 790. 

Caird.    [Ir.  ceard.]    A  tinker,  vagrant,  tramp. 

Cairn.  [Gael,  kaern,  a  heap.]  1.  A  heap  of 
stones,  piled  in  memory  of  the  dead  over  stone 
chests,  urns,  etc.,  containing  their  remains; 
Keltic.  2.  Similar  heaps  used  as  marks  in 
trigonometrical  surveys;  called  in  S.  Africa  a 
pile.  (Tumulus.) 

Cairngorm  stone.  (Geol.)  A  brown  or  yellow 
quartz  crystal,  having  a  little  oxide  of  iron  or 
manganese  ;  when  brown-black  it  is  called 
Morion.  In  C.  Mountains  of  Aberdeen ;  near 
Orleans  ;  in  Brazil.  (Quartz.) 

Caisse.  [Fr.,  L.  capsa,  a  chest,  case.]  Case, 
strong  box,  cashier's  office.  Livre  de  C.,  Compte 
de  C.,  cash-book,  cash  account.  C.  d'amortisse- 
ment,  sinking  fund. 

Caisson.  [Fr.  caisson,  waggon,  caisse,  a  chest, 
L.  capsa.]  1.  (Arch.)  Sunk  panels,  lacunaria, 
of  flat  or  arched  ceilings,  etc.,  or  of  Soffits.  2. 
A  flat-bottomed  frame  of  large  timbers,  used  for 
laying  the  foundations  of  a  bridge.  3.  Case 
containing  receptacles  for  shells,  when  they  are 
buried  for  explosion.  4.  Ammunition-waggon. 

Cajeput  oil.  The  pungent,  aromatic,  volatile 
oil  of  the  Melaleuca  C.  of  the  Moluccas ;  ord. 
Myrtacefe. 

Calabar,  or  Ordeal,  bean.  The  seeds  of 
Physostigma  venenSsum,  a  plant  resembling  our 
scarlet  runner,  but  with  a  woody  stem  ;  employed 
as  an  ordeal  in  W.  Trop.  Africa  in  the  case  of 
persons  suspected  of  witchcraft. 

Calabar  skin.  The  skin  of  the  Siberian 
squirrel. 

Calabash  [Sp.  calaboza] ;  for  goblets,  cups, 
etc.  1.  The  hard  shell  of  the  fruit  of  the 
Trop.  American  tree  Crescentia,  ord.  Big- 
noniaceoe.  2.  Vessel  made  of  a  dried  gourd. 

Caladium.  [Gr.  Ko.Xa.Qiov,  basket.]  A  gen. 
of  plants,  ord.  Aroidese.  W.  Indian  and  S. 


GALA 


92 


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American.  Cultivated  in  hot-houses  for  their 
beautiful  spotted  leaves,  etc. 

Calamanco.  [Sp.  calamaco.]  A  glossy  woollen 
stuff. 

Calamander  wood.    (Coromandel  wood.) 

Calamary.  [Gr.  Ka\a/j.dptoi',  pen-case,  /coAo/tos, 
reed,  pen.]  Not  to  be  confounded  with  Cala- 
maria,  which  is  a  gen.  of  dwarf  ground-snakes. 
(Squid.) 

Calambac.     (Eagle-wood.) 

Calambour.  [Pers.  halambak.]  A  fragrant 
aloe-wood  used  by  cabinet-makers. 

Calamiferous  plant.  Producing  a  hollow, 
knotted  stem  like  a  reed  [L.  calamus]. 

Calamine.  [L.  calamus,  a  reed.~\  (Min.) 
Carbonate  of  zinc  ;  adhering  in  a  reed-like  form 
to  the  base  of  the  furnace  when  smelted. 
Electric  calamine  is  native  trisilicate  of  zinc, 
which  is  electric  when  heated.  (Cadmia.) 

Calamint.  [Gr.  KaXap-ivQi}.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of 
plants,  ord.  Lamiacese,  to  which  belong  cat-mint, 
basil,  thyme,  etc. 

Calamite.  [L.  calamus,  a  reed.]  (Geol.)  A 
frequent  and  characteristic  gen.  of  fossil  plants, 
found  chiefly  and  abundantly  in  the  coal-mea- 
sures ;  resembling  Equiseta. 

Calamus.  [L.,  reed.]  1.  A  gen.  of  grass-like 
palms,  E.  Indian  mostly,  which  furnish  the 
rattan  canes  of  commerce.  2.  In  Exod.  xxx. 
23;  Song  of  Sol.  iv.  14;  Ezek.  xxvii.  19;  the 
sweet  cane ;  probably  the  root-stock  of  an  aro- 
matic reed,  the  Acorus  [Gr.  &Kopos]  calamus. 

Calamus  root.  Used  with  oils  of  cloves, 
lavender,  rosemary,  in  aromatic  vinegar ;  the 
rhizome  of  Acorus  [Gr.  &Kopos]  calamus,  or  Sweet 
flag,  ord.  Aroidese.  Brought  from  Asia  in  the 
fifteenth  century  ;  now  naturalized  in  Europe. 

Calando.  [It.  calare,  to  decrease.}  (Music.) 
Decreasingly,  both  as  to  sound  and  as  to  time. 

Calandra.  [Gr.  Ka\av1>pa,  a  kind  of  lark.]  1. 
(Ornith.)  A  short-billed  lark,  the  largest 
European  spec.  (Cuvier).  2.  (Entom.)  C. 
grdndria  [L.  granum,  grain],  C.  oryzce  [upvfr, 
rice],  etc.,  Corn  weevil,  Rice  IV.,  etc.  Gen.  of 
weevils,  Rhynctiphora  [pvyxos>  snout,  <pope?v, 
•wear],  long-snouted  beetles,  whose  larvae  are 
destructive  of  corn,  rice,  etc. 

Calash.  [Slav,  kolaska.]  1.  A  four-wheeled 
carriage,  opened  or  shut  by  a  movable  hood.  2. 
The  hood  itself.  3.  A  large  hood,  protecting 
the  head,  for  going  out  at  night ;  worn  by 
ladies.  , 

CalatMform.  Of  the  shape  of  a  basket  [L. 
calathus]. 

Calatrava,  Order  of.  An  order  of  Spanish 
knighthood,  instituted  by  Sancho  III.  of  Castile, 
1158. 

Calcaire  grossier .  [Fr . ,  coarse  limestone.  ]  ( Geol. ) 
A  member  of  the  Middle  Eocene  of  the  Paris 
basin,  and  representative  of  Bracklesham  Eocene, 
is  composed  of  fossil  marine  molluscs  and  fora- 
mimfera,  and  is  the  building  stone  of  Paris. 

Calcaneum,  or  Os  calcis.   [L.]    The  heel-bone. 

Calcar.  [L.  calcaria,  limekiln.]  An  oven 
used  for  calcining  sand  and  potash  in  glass- 
making. 

Calcarate  flower,     Having  a  spur  [L.  calcar]. 


A  hollow  projection  from  the  base  of  the  petals  ; 
as  in  larkspur  and  some  orchids. 

Calcareous.  [L.  calcarius,  of  or  belong  to 
lime]  (Geol.)  Containing  a  considerable  amount 
of  lime. 

Calceolate.  (Bot.)  Of  the  shape  of  a  slipper 
or  small  shoe  [L.  calceolus]  ;  e.g.  calceolaria. 

Calcination.     (Calx.) 

Calcitration.  [L.  calcitro,  /  kick.]  The  act 
of  kicking. 

Calcium.  A  malleable  pale  yellow  metal,  the 
basis  of  lime  [L.  calx]. 

Calcium  light.  A  white  dazzling  light ;  that 
of  the  melting  at  red  heat,  under  a  current  of 
air,  of  calcium,  a  metal  present  in  various  com- 
pounds of  lime  [L.  calx,  calcis]. 

Calcography.  [L.  calx,  time,  Gr.  ypdcpeiv,  to 
•write]  The  art  of  drawing  with  chalk. 

Calc-sinter.  [Ger.  sinter,  dross.]  Incrustations 
deposited  by  siliceous  and  by  calcareous  springs 
are  Siliceous  sinter  and  Calc-sinter. 

Calc-spar,  Calcareous  spar,  Calcite.  (Geol.) 
Crystallized  carbonate  of  lime  ;  found  in  nu- 
merous forms  and  degrees  of  purity. 

Calc-tuft,  Calcareous  tuft.  Chemically,  nearly 
i.q.  marble ;  but  cellular,  spongy,  generally 
friable  ;  sometimes  good  for  building,  e.g.  the 
Travertine  at  Rome. 

Calculating-machine.  A  mechanical  con- 
trivance by  which  arithmetical  operations  (ad- 
dition, multiplication,  etc.,  of  numbers)  can  be 
performed.  Napier's  rods  (or  Napier's  bones) 
are  an  early  form  of  machine  for  multiplying  and 
dividing  numbers.  Another  was  Pascal's.  Of 
later  forms,  the  best  known  is  Babbage's  C.-M., 
which  is,  strictly  speaking,  a  difference  machine, 
i.e.  it  is  adapted  for  calculating  a  series  of 
numbers  separated  from  each  other  by  a  common 
difference  ;  by  means  of  subsidiary  contrivances, 
the  common  difference  can  be  varied ;  the 
machine  is  therefore  adapted  for  the  calculation 
of  mathematical  tables,  such  as  tables  of  the 
logarithms  of  numbers,  etc.  Another  well- 
known  modern  machine  is  that  of  M.  Thomas, 
of  Colmar. 

Calculus.  [L.,  a  small  stone.}  (Med.)  A 
hard,  stony  secretion  in  any  part ;  most  frequently 
applied  to  a  concretion  in  the  bladder. 

Calculus  of  finite  differences ;  Differential  C. ; 
Integral  C. ;  C.  of  variation.  A  collection  of  rules 
or  theorems  applicable  to  calculations  performed 
with  certain  defined  classes  of  magnitudes. 
Conceive  two  magnitudes  connected  in  such  a 
manner  that  a  change  in  the  one  necessitates 
a  corresponding  change  in  the  other,  e.g.  the 
radius  and  the  area  of  a  circle.  Any  corre- 
sponding changes  which  these  two  magnitudes 
undergo  are  called  their  differences.  If  these 
differences  are  finite,  a  collection  of  theorems 
may  be  formed  having  reference  to  the  relations 
existing  between  them,  and  such  a  collec- 
tion of  theorems  is  called  the  C.  of  finite 
differences.  If  the  differences  are  indefinitely 
small,  such  as  would  occur  when  the  change 
takes  place  continuously,  we  have  the  Differential 
C.  The  theorem  of  the  Integral  C.  relates  to 
the  total  finite  result  of  a  continuous  change, 


CALD 


93 


CALL 


the  rate  of  which  at  each  point  is  known,  i.e. 
to  the  determination  of  functions  from  their  dif- 
ferential coefficients.  These  and  similar  calculi 
are  commonly  carried  out  into  numerous  details  ; 
and,  in  particular,  most  treatises  on  the  Diffe- 
rential and  Integral  C.  explain  the  applications 
of  these  calculi  to  questions  of  geometry,  etc. 
It  is  not  unusual  to  speak  of  the  differential 
and  integral  calculus  as  7#<?  C.,  on  account  of 
its  numerous  applications  to  physical  questions, 
most  changes  in  nature  being  continuous.  (For 
C.  of  variation,  vide  ISO-.) 

Calda.  [L.  and  It.]  Warm  spiced  wine  and 
water. 

Caldarfum.  [L.]  In  the  Roman  baths,  the 
chamber  containing  the  warm  bath. 

Caldas,  Caldelas.  In  Spain  and  Portugal, 
•warm  springs,  from  which  many  places  are 
named  ;  e.g.  C.  da  Rainha,  etc. 

Caleche,  Calash.  [Fr.  caleche.]  A  light 
carriage  for  four,  with  movable  top  and  sepa- 
rate seat  for  driver. 

Caledonia.  Scotland,  north  of  Firths  of  Clyde 
and  Forth,  under  the  Romans. 

Calefacient.  [L.  calefacientem,  making  warm.'] 
Causing  a  sensation  of  warmth  ;  e.g.  a  mustard 
poultice. 

Calembeg.     A  kind  of  olive-green  sandalwood. 

Calembour.  [Fr.]  A  pun  :  "  le  nom  de 
1'abbe  de  Calemberg,  personnage  plaisant '  de 
contes  allemands,"  Littre ;  who  compares  es- 
piegle,  sprightly,  harmlessly  mischievous,  espie- 
glerie,  sharp  saying — a  word  which  passed  into 
Fr.  from  a  translation  of  the  life  of  Till  Eulen- 
spiegel,  Owl's  Looking-glass,  a  German,  circ. 
1480,  famous  for  petites  fourberies  inglmeuses. 

Calendar,  Julian,  Gregorian.  (Calends.)  1. 
A  register  or  list  of  things,  as  a  C.  of  State 
papers.  2.  A  book  or  table  containing  the 
order  and  sequence  of  all  the  days  of  the  year  ; 
an  almanac  ;  an  Ephemeris  [Gr.].  In  the  Julian 
C.  the  year  is  =  365  days  ;  but  every  fourth  year 
has  an  additional  day,  =  366  days.  In  the 
Gregorian  or  Reformed  C. ,  three  of  these  additional 
days  are  omitted  in  the  course  of  400  years  ;  so 
that  only  97  years  in  the  400  are  366  days  long. 
The  rule  is  that  the  year  consists  of  366  days 
when  its  number  is  divisible  by  4,  as  A.D. 
1880,  1884,  etc. ;  but  it  consists  of  365  days  when 
its  number,  though  divisible  by  4,  consists 
exactly  of  centuries  and  is  not  divisible  by  400 ; 
thus,  A.D.  1900  will  have  only  365  days,  but 
A.D.  2000  will  have  366  days. 

Calendars,  The  three.  In  the  Arabian  Nights' 
Tales,  sons  of  kings  disguised  as  begging  der- 
vishes. 

Calendering.  The  process  of  passing  linen  or 
calico  between  cylinders,  so  as  to  flatten  out  the 
threads  and  give  a  closer  texture. 

Calends.  [L.  calendae.]  In  the  Roman 
calendar,  the  first  days  of  each  month.  The 
Greek  month  had  no  Calends  :  hence  the  phrase 
"  Greek  Calends  "  is  equivalent  to  the  3Oth  of 
February,  iron.,  =  never. 

Calenduline.  Mucilaginous  matter  found  in 
the  leaves  of  common  marigold  (Calendula 
officlnalis). 


Calenture.  [Sp.  calentura.]  An  ardent  fever, 
mostly  attacking  seamen  when  sailing  into  hot 
climates,  the  sufferer  often  imagining  the  sea  a 
green  field  ;  the  term  nearly  obsolete. 

Calfat.     (Miuf.)     (Caulk.) 

Calf  s  skin  =  part  of  a  fool's  dress,  in  Shake- 
speare's time. 

Cali.     (Kali.) 

Calibre.  [(?)  Fr.  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
equalibre,  L.  ^equilibrium ;  Littre  suggests 
Ar.  kalib,  a  form,  mould.'}  1,  The  bore  of  a 
gun,  diameter  of  a  bullet.  2.  Meton.  quality, 
power.  C.  of  a  ship,  the  known  weight  repre- 
sented by  her  armament.  3.  To  calibrate  z. 
thermometer-tube  is  to  ascertain  the  size  of  its 
bore. 

Calidore,  Sir.  [Gr.  Ka\6s,  fair,  5£>pov,  gift.} 
In  Spenser's  Faery  Queen,  type  of  courtesy, 
meant  for  Sir  Philip  Sydney. 

Caliduct.  [L.  calidus,  hot,  duco,  I  lead.}  A 
flue  for  hot  air  or  water.  (Caloriduct.) 

Caligation.  [L.  caligatio,  -nem.]  Darkness, 
mistiness. 

Caligorant.  In  Ariosto's  Orlando  Fitrioso,  a 
giant  entangled  in  his  own  net,  and  captured  by 
Astolpho ;  type  of  a  sophistic  heretic. 

Caligraphy.  Not  so  correct  as  Calligraphy 
(q.v.). 

Calila  and  Dimna.     (Panchatantra.) 

Calin.  [Fr.]  An  alloy  of  lead  and  tin,  used 
by  the  Chinese  for  tea-canisters,  etc. 

Calipash  and  Calipee.     (Callipash.) 

Caliph  [Ar.  khalif]  =  a  lieutenant  or  deputy, 
i.e.  of  Mohammed ;  a  title  at  first  given  to  the 
sovereigns  of  the  Muslim  Arabs,  as  successors, 
vicars,  spiritually,  of  the  prophet ;  but  generally 
applied  to  certain  dynasties  only  of  Mohammedan 
sovereigns. 

Caliphat.  In  the  Hist,  of  Islam.  1.  The 
office  of  the  successor  and  vicegerent  of  Moham- 
med. But  the  question  of  the  true  representation 
of  the  prophet  has  been  often  fiercely  debated. 
(Abbasides;  Fatimites;  Ommiad  Caliphs;  Shia; 
Suni.)  2.  The  country  subject  to  the  caliph. 

Calippic.     (Cycle.) 

Calisaye  bark.  One  of  the  best  kinds  of 
Peruvian  bark,  valuable  as  a  source  of  a  quinine. 

Caliver.  An  old  word  for  a  musket  (q.v.). 
(Another  form  of  Calibre.) 

Calixtines.  1.  A  branch  of  Hussites ;  called 
also  Utraquists,  who  demanded  the  cup  [L. 
calix]  for  the  laity,  or  administration  in  each 
part  [in  utraque  parte]  of  the  sacraments. 
2.  Followers  of  George  Calixtus,  or  Callisen, 
Lutheran  divine,  seventeenth  century,  who  was 
for  reuniting  Roman  Catholics,  Lutherans,  etc., 
on  the  basis  of  the  Apostles'  Creed. 

Calk.  [Probably  from  L.  calco,  I  tread  in, 
stuff.}  1.  To  stop  with  tow  the  seams,  or  leaks, 
of  vessels.  Calkers,  Ezek.  xxvii.  9.  2.  I.q.  cal- 
culate [L.  calculus,  a  pebble}.  Calkings,  i.e. 
calculations,  as  of  nativities,  etc. 

Calk,  Calkin.  In  the  heel  [L.  calx]  of  a  horse- 
shoe, a  sharp-pointed  armature  to  prevent  slip- 
ping on  ice,  etc. 

Call.  l.p  A  demand  from  shareholders  of  a 
public  company  for  an  instalment  if  the  capital 


CALL 


94 


CAMA 


is  not  all  paid  up.  2.  (Stockbrok.)  (Put  and 
call.) 

Callidity.  [L.  callidita,  -tern.]  Shrewdness ; 
lit.  as  of  a  practised,  hardened  person  [callum, 
thick  skin]. 

Calligraphy.  [Gr.  KaAArypa^io,  from  KO.\\OS, 
beauty,  ypdtpco,  I  write.]  Good,  beautiful  hand- 
writing. 

Calliope.  [Gr.,  beautiful-voiced.]  The  Muse 
of  epic  or  heroic  poetry. 

Callipash  and  Callipee.  [(?)  Corr.  of  Carapace 
(q.v.),  or  (?)  of  Calabash.]  1.  The  turtle's  upper 
and  under  shell  respectively.  2.  The  green  fat 
of  the  one,  and  the  yellow  flesh  of  the  other,  in 
Chelone  viridis,  green  turtle. 

Calliper-compasses ;  Callipers.  Compasses  with 
bowed  legs  for  measuring  the  diameters  of 
cylinders.  (Calibre.) 

Callisthenics.  Gymnastics,  exercises  of 
strength  [Gr.  aQevos],  only  to  develop  grace 
[KOI\\OS]  ',  not  as  feats  of  strength  or  activity. 

Callisto.     (Muses.) 

Callosity.  [L.  callosita,  -tern.]  Hardness  of 
skin.  (Callidity.) 

Callow.  [O.E.  caluw,  colo ;  (?)  cf.  L.  calvus, 
bald.]  Unfledged,  tender,  as  young  birds  in  the 
nest. 

Calluna.  [Gr.  Ka\\vvca,  7  make  beautiful. 1 
(Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Ericese,  having  one 
spec.  Vulgaris,  Common  heath. 

Callus.  1.  New  bony  growth,  uniting  fractured 
ends.  2.  Sometimes  i.q.  callosity. 

Caloric.  The  (imaginary)  principle  of  heat 
[L.  calor] ;  it  was  supposed  to  be  a  fluid  sub- 
stance diffused,  but  unequally,  through  all 
bodies,  and  producing  the  sensible  effect  of 
heat. 

Caloriduct.  [L.  ca!5rem,  heat,  duco,  Head.] 
A  better  form  than  Caliduct  (q.v.}. 

Calorifere.  [Fr.,  L.  calor,  heat,  fero,  I  bring.'} 
A  stove. 

Calorimeter ;  Calorimetry.  [L.  calor,  heat,  Gr. 
(jifTpov,  measure.']  An  instrument  for  ascertain- 
ing the  quantity  of  heat  required  to  raise  a  given 
quantity  of  a  given  substance  from  one  specified 
temperature  to  another,  or  to  make  it  change  its 
state,  e.g.  from  ice  to  water,  or  from  water  to 
steam.  Calorimetry  is  measurement  of  quantities 
of  heat,  which  must  be  distinguished  from  mea- 
surement of  temperature. 

Calotte.  [Fr.]  A  skull-cap,  worn  by  eccle- 
siastics. 

Calottistes  [Fr.],  or  Kegiment  de  la  Calotte. 
A  bold  satirical  society  (temp.  Louis  XIV.),  whc 
sent  to  any  public  character  who  had  made 
himself  ridiculous,  a  calotte  or  skull-cap  for  the 
weak  part  of  his  head. 

Calotype.  [Gr.  Ka\6s,  fair,  rfaos,  type.]  A 
method  of  photography  in  which  a  negative 
picture  is  obtained  on  paper  covered  with  iodide 
of  silver. 

Caloyer.  [Mod.  Gr.  Ka\6yepos,  good  old  man, 
from  Ka\6s,  good,  yepwv,  old  man.]  A  general 
name  for  monks  of  the  Greek  Church.  There 
are  also  C.  nuns.  All  follow  St.  Basil's  rule 
only. 

Caltha.     [L.]     (Bot.)    A  gen.  of  plants,  ord. 


Ranunculacese  ;  the  marsh  marigold  (C.  palustris) 
is  a  well-known  British  plant,  with  large  yellow 
cup-shaped  flowers,  blooming  in  marshy  places 
in  early  spring. 

Caltrop.  [A.S.  coltrseppa.]  1.  (Bot.)  A 
small  prostrate  plant,  Tribulus  terrestris.  Ord. 
Zygophyllaceae.  In  S.  Europe.  It  has  prickly 
fruit,  dangerous  to  the  feet  of  cattle.  2.  (Mil.) 
An  iron  instrument,  with  four  points  so  arranged 
that,  three  being  in  the  ground,  the  fourth  pro- 
jects upwards.  Used  for  harassing  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  as  by  Bruce  at  Bannockburn. 

Calumba  root.  The  bitter  tonic  root,  large, 
fleshy,  deep  yellow,  of  the  Jateorhiza  palmata  of 
Mozambique.  Ord.  Menispermacese. 

Calumet,  or  Peace-pipe,  of  N.- American 
Indians,  with  long  reed  stem  and  marble  bowl ; 
smoked,  by  representatives  of  both  sides,  in 
making  a  treaty. 

Calvary.  [L.  calvarium,  a  skull  —  Gr. 
Kpaviov  (Luke  xxiii.  33).]  A  representation  of 
the  Passion,  with  the  figures  of  St.  John  and  the 
B.V.  Mary,  generally  life-size,  in  a  church  or 
on  some  eminence. 

Calver.  To  shrink,  when  cut,  not  falling  in 
pieces ;  said  of  fish,  especially  salmon,  prepared 
in  a  particular  way,  when  fresh  and  firm. 

Calville.  A  kind  of  apple.  White  winter  C., 
grown  on  the  Continent,  is  a  choice  variety. 

Calvinists.  (Eccl.)  The  followers  of  Calvin, 
the  head  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Geneva,  in 
the  sixteenth  century.  (Sublapsarians.) 

Calx.  [L.,  quicklime.]  A  term  derived  from 
the  alchemists,  =  the  products  of  calcination, 
i.e.  of  the  heating  or  roasting  the  various  metallic 
ores. 

Calyculus.  [L.,  dim.  of  calyx  (q.v.).]  1. 
(Bot.)  A  partial  involucre,  containing  but  one  or 
perhaps  two  flowers.  2.  The  external  bracts  of 
a  capitulum,  when  they  form  a  distinct  ring  or 
rings. — 7reas.  of  Botany.  Adj.,  Calyculate. 

Calyon.  [Fr.  caillon.]  Flint,  pebble  stone, 
used  in  building  houses,  walls,  churches,  e.g.  in 
eastern  counties. 

Calypso.  [Gr.  KaAt«J/c£.]  In  the  Odyssey,  a 
nymph  or  sea-goddess  who  detains  Odysseus 
(Ulysses)  for  seven  years  on  his  way  home  to 
Ithaca.  She  is  the  Venus  of  the  Tanhaiiser 
legend,  and  the  Fairy  Queen  in  that  of  Thomas 
of  Ercildoune. 

Calyptra.  [Gr.  KaXvirrpa,  a  woman's  veil.] 
(Bot. )  The  hood  of  a  moss. 

Calyx.  [L.,  Gr.  /cc*Au|,  the  cup  of  a  flower. .] 
The  external  envelope  of  a  flower. 

Calzoons.  [Corr.  of  Fr.  cale9on  or  It.  calzoni.] 
Drawers. 

^Cam.  [A  Gael,  word.]  1.  Crooked.  [Cf. 
/ca/iTTTw,  I  bend,  L.  camurus,  crooked.}  The  rivers 
Cam ;  More-cambe,  crooked  sea,  one  of  which 
the  coast  takes  many  bends.  2.  (Mech.)  A 
single  tooth  which  either  rotates  continuously  or 
oscillates,  and  drives  a  sliding  or  turning-piece 
either  constantly  or  at  intervals. 

Camaieu.  [Fr.]  A  painting  executed  in 
different  shades  of  one  colour  only ;  *'and  thus 
resembling  a  cameo  (q.v.). 

Camail.      [Fr.,    Prov.    capmail ;    L.    caput, 


CAMA 


95 


CAMP 


head,  and  maille,  a  mesh,  L.  macula.]  1.  A 
coat  of  mail,  covering  head  and  shoulders. 
2.  A  clerical  short  cloak,  like  in  shape,  but 
longer. 

Camaldiilites.  Benedictine  monks,  established 
at  Camaldoli,  in  the  eleventh  century. 

Camaraderie.    [Fr.]     Good  fellowship. 

Camarilla.  [Sp.,  L.  camera,  a  chamber.]  A 
small  room  or  audience  chamber  of  the  king ; 
and  so  =  his  secret  cabinet. 

Cambel  and  Triamond.  Inpersonations  of 
friendship,  Spenser's  Faery  Queen,  bk.  iv. 

Camber.  [Fr.  cambre,  arched.]  The  con- 
vexity on  the  upper  side  of  a  beam,  to  prevent  its 
bending  under  the  weight  it  has  to  sustain. 

Camber,  To.  [Gr.  K^TTTO),  I  bend,  L.  camurus, 
crooked.]  1.  To  curve  planks.  2.  (Naut.)  C. 
backed  keel,  one  slightly  arched,  but  not  enough 
to  constitute  actual  arching  (g.v.).  3.  A  C.,  a 
place  for  storing  and  cambering  timber. 

Cambistry.  The  science  of  money  exchanges. 
[L.  cambiare,  to  barter,  whence  Fr.  changer.] 

Cambium.  [L.  cambio,  /  exchange.]  1.  A 
viscid  secretion  in  spring,  between  the  bark  and 
alburnum  (q.v.),  the  supposed  material  of  new 
wood  and  bark.  2.  A  (supposed)  restorative  of 
bodily  wear,  residing  in  the  blood. 

Gamboge.     (Gamboge.) 

Cambrai,  League  of.  An  alliance,  1508, 
between  the  pope,  the  emperor,  France,  and 
Spain,  against  Venice. 

Cambrai,  Peace  of.  A  treaty  between  France 
and  the  emperor,  1529. 

Cambrasine.  [Fr.  cambresine.]  A  kind  of 
fine  linen,  like  cambric  (Cambrai,  the  place  of 
manufacture). 

Cambria.  Old  name  of  Wales;  land  of 
Cymry. 

Cambrian,  Cumbrian.  Professor  Sedgewick's 
term  for  some  of  the  oldest  known  fossiliferous 
rocks,  underlying  the  true  Silurian ;  occurring 
extensively  in  Wales  (Cambria)  and  in  Cumber- 
land. 

Cambuscan.  The  model  king  in  Chaucer's 
Squire's  Tale.  (Canace.) 

Camden  Society.  (In  honour  of  Wm.  Camden, 
buried  at  Westminster,  1623.)  Publishes  early 
historical  and  literary  remains. 

Came.  Lead  cast  into  thin  rods,  used  for 
framing  the  glass  of  casements. 

Camel.  [Gr.  KO/XTJA-OS,  a  Semit.  word.]  1. 
(Zool.)  A  ruminant.  The  two  spec,  of  this 
gen.  are  the  common  camel  and  the  Dromedary. 
2.  (Naut.)  A  wooden  case  enclosing  a  ship,  to 
float  it  over  shallows. 

Camelopard.  [Gr.  Ka/jiri\o-irdp8a\is,  from 
K<i/j.r)\os,  a  camel,  ir<ip$a.\is,  a pard,  panther,  etc.] 
(Zool.}  Giraffe  [Ar.  zurafa] ;  a  ruminant.  .The 
tallest  extant  quadruped,  and  the  only  spec,  of 
its  gen.  and  fam.  Nubia  and  adjacent  south- 
west open  country  of  Africa.  Ord.  Ungulata. 
(Wrongly  pronounced  cameleopard.) 

Camelot.  The  city  in  which  Arthur  had  his 
court  and  his  Bound  Table. 

Camelus  saltat.  [L.]  The  camel  is  dancing; 
said  of  one  doing  something  very  unlike  his  usual 
habits. 


Camenee.  [L.]  Latin  deities  whose  names, 
as  shown  by  the  forms  Carmentis  and  Carmense, 
were  connected  with  [carmen]  song.  Hence 
they  were  identified  with  the  Greek  Muses. 

Cameo.  [Fr.  camaieu  and  camee,  It.  cameo, 
and  L.L.  camseus.]  Carving,  in  relief,  of  shells  ; 
and  of  agate,  onyx,  sard  :  opposed  to  Intaglio, 
an  incising ;  as  fora  seal. 

Camera,  In.     [L.]    In  a  chamber,  privately. 

Cameralistics.  [L.  camera,  a  chamber.] 
Science  of  public  finance. 

Camera  lucida.  [L.,  a  bright  chamber.]  An 
optical  instrument  invented  by  Dr.  Wollaston, 
in  1807.  Originally  a  four-sided  prism  of  glass 
set  in  a  brass  frame  ;  used  by  artists  for  obtaining 
an  accurate  outline  of  a  distant  object.  The 
faces  are  inclined  at  such  angles  that,  when  it  is 
placed  in  a  proper  position,  light  from  the  object 
after  two  internal  reflexions  forms,  on — or  more 
strictly  behind — the  paper,  an  image  which  the 
artist  can  then  trace. 

Camera  obscura.  [L.]  A  darkened  chamber 
or  box,  in  one  of  the  walls  of  which  is  placed  a 
convex  lens  or  combination  of  lenses,  by 
means  of  which  the  image  of  an  'external  object 
can  be  formed  on  a  screen  placed  in  a  proper 
position  ;  in  the  form  used  by  photographers 
it  is  often  spoken  of  simply  as  a  Camera. 

Camerel,  Cambrel.  A  wooden  notched  crook, 
by  which  large  pieces  of  meat  are  hung.  [Cf. 
cam  (q.v.)  and  L.  camurus,  crookea,  in  E.  Ang. 
croom.] 

Camerlengo  =  Chamberlain.  The  pope's 
Minister  of  Finance,  and  of  civil  aftairs  gene- 
rally; temporary  head  of  the  Church  "sede 
vacante  ; "  sole  head  in  things  temporal ;  assisted 
by  other  cardinals  in  things  spiritual. 

Cameronians.  1.  (Richard  Cameron,  killed 
1680.)  Resisting  Charles  II.'s  attempts  to  settle 
Church  government,  became  a  definite  sect, 
after  1688  ;  a  very  small  body  now.  2.  The  26th 
Light  Infantry ;  raised  from  the  Cameronians 
in  1688. 

Camisards,  The.  (Fr.  Hist.)  Insurgents  in 
the  Cevennes  Mountains,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century  ;  so  called  from  the  white 
shirt  or  jacket  which  they  wore  to  recognize 
each  other  by  night.  (Dragonnades.) 

Camlet.  [Fr.  camelot,  from  Gr.  /ca^urjAwnfj,  a 
camel's  skin.]  1.  A  fine  cloth  made  of  goat's 
hair.  2.  A  similar  cloth  made  of  wool  mixed 
with  linen  or  cotton. 

Camouflet.  [Fr.  ;  origin  very  uncertain ;  see 
Littre  (s.v.).]  1.  A  puff  of  smoke  in  the  face. 
2.  An  affront.  3.  A  small  mine  established  from 
the  galleries  of  a  besieged  fortress,  in  the  wall  of 
an  enemy's  gallery,  for  the  purpose  of  blowing 
in  the  latter. 

Camous,  Camoused,  Camoys.  [(?)  Cf.  L.camus, 
Gr.  Krjfji6sta  imizzle.]  Depressed,  as  the  negro's 
nose. 

Campagna,  Campagna  di  Roma.  [It.]  An  undu- 
lating, unhealthy,  uncultivated  plain  surrounding 
Rome,  including  the  larger  part  of  the  ancient 
Latium  ;  the  ground  almost  entirely  volcanic. 

Campagnol.  [Fr.  campagne,  country.]  (Zool.) 
A  kind  of  field-mouse,  Arvicola  arvalij. 


CAMP 


96 


CANE 


Campanile.  The  Italian  name  for  a  bell- 
tower,  the  structure  in  Italy  being  usually  or 
often  detached  from  the  church. 

Campanology.  [L.L.  campana,  a  bell,  and  Gr. 
\6yos,  discourse. ]  Knowledge  of  bells  and  of  the 
art  of  ringing. 

Campanulate.  (Sot.)  Shaped  like  a  bell 
[L.L.  campanula], 

Campeachy  wood.    (Logwood.) 

Campeador.    [Sp.]    A  champion. 

Camp  equipage.  Includes  the  tents,  bedding, 
implements,  and  utensils  used  by  an  army  when 
encamped. 

Camp  fight.   Trial  of  a  cause  by  duel  or  combat, 

Camphene,  Camphilene.  An  artificial  camphor 
obtained  from  turpentine. 

Camphine.  A  spirit  of  turpentine  obtained 
from  the  Pinus  australis  of  the  S.  States  of 
America.  Used  for  burning  in  lamps. 

Camphire.  [Heb.  copher,  Gr.  Kinrpos.]  In 
Song  of  Sol.  i.  14  and  iv.  13 ;  a  small  shrub, 
Lawsonia  inermis,  with  white  and  yellow  sweet- 
scented  flowers  ;  its  leaves  yielding  the  henna  of 
the  Arabs,  used  to  dye  the  nails,  palms,  etc. 

Camphor.  [Ar.  kafru.]  A  solid  essential  oil, 
distilled  from  the  wood  of  the  Laurus  camphora. 
Malay,  Borneo,  Sumatra,  or  hard  C,,  is  found  in 
masses  in  the  Dryobalanops  ar5matica.  By  some 
chemists  all  volatile  oils  which  are  concrete  at 
ordinary  temperatures  are  called  Camphors. 

Campion.  (Bot.)  The  English  name  for  the 
spec,  of  the  gen.  Lychnis,  ord.  Caryophyllacese. 

Campo  Santo.  [It.,  Holy  field.']  1.  A  ceme- 
tery ;  especially,  2,  one  for  persons  of  dis- 
tinction ;  so  called  from  that  of  Pisa. 

Camus,  Camis.  A  light  tunic.  [L.  camisia,  a 
night-gown  ;  whence  Fr.  chemise.] 

Camwood.  A  red  dye-wood,  mostly  from 
Sierra  Leone  ;  used  also  in  ornamental  turnery  ; 
from  a  leguminous  shrub,  Baphia  nitida. 

Can,  Ken,  Kin.  [Cf.  Gael,  cenn,  head.'}  Part 
of  a  name,  as  in  Ken-more,  Can-tire. 

Canaanite.  Matt.  x.  4  ;  a  misprint  for  Can- 
anite  ;  most  likely  from  Heb.  kana,  to  be  zealous, 
and  =  Zelotes,  Luke  v^.  15,  the  Zealot  (q.v.). 

Canace.  A  model  woman,  daughter  of  Cam- 
buscan  (q.v.) ;  owner  of  the  mirror  which  showed 
the  true  or  false  lover,  and  of  the  ring  which 
explained  the  language  of  birds. 

Canada  balsam.  An  oleo-resin  from  the  balm 
of  Gilead  fir,  Abies  balsamea,  which  grows 
abundantly  in  Canada  and  Northern  U.  S.  It  is 
used  for  making  colourless  varnish. 

Canada  clergy  reserves.  One-seventh  of  all 
lands  in  Upper  C.,  and  of  those  of  the  townships 
in  Lower  C.  ;  with  which  in  1853,  by  16  Viet., 
the  Legislature  was  empowered  absolutely  to 
deal,  life-interests  being  untouched. 

Canaille.  [Fr.,  mob,  rabble.  It.  canaglia,  lit. 
a  pack  of  dogs.}  The  likeness  in  form  and  mean- 
ing to  L.  canalicolae  is  accidental. 

Canakin.  [Dim.  of  can.}  A  cup,  or  small  can. 

Canaliculate.  (Bot.  and  Anat.)  Channelled, 
having  a  small  passage  or  furrow  [L.  canaliciilus]. 

Canard.  [Fr.,  a  d^^ck.}  A  French  satirist  of 
the  last  century  told  a  story  of  a  number  of  ducks 
which  devoured  their  companions  as  each  was 


killed,  until  one  only  remained,  with  the  flesh 
of  all  in  his  stomach.  This  story,  made  up  in 
ridicule  of  travellers'  tales,  was  revived  more 
recently  for  the  same  purpose  in  America,  and 
the  word  has  thus  come  to  denote  an  extravagant 
tale  or  hoax. 

Canariensis.  (Bot.)  A  common  garden  name 
for  Canary  creeper  (Tropseolum  peregrlnum). 
Ord.  Geraniaceae. 

Canaries.  A  lively  dance  of  former  times,  in 
f  time,  imported,  it  is  said,  from  the  Canary 
Islands ;  though  probably  it  had  been  exported 
thither  previously  from  Normandy  by  Bethen- 
court,  who  invaded  them  in  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury (Eng.  Cyclop.).  To  canary  is  an  obsolete 
verb. 

Canary,  or  Sack.  Wine  made  in  the  C. 
Islands. 

Canary  wood.  (From  the  colour.)  A  light 
S.- American  wood  used  for  cabinet-work,  etc. 

Canaster.  [Sp.  canasta,  a  basket.}  A  coarse, 
dry  smoking  tobacco,  originally  brought  from  S. 
America  in  rush  baskets. 

Can-buoys.  (Nattt.)  Large,  cone-shaped 
buoys  over  shoals,  sunken  vessels,  etc. 

Canceller.  [Fr.  chanceler,  to  stagger,  reel.} 
To  waver  in  flight ;  to  turn  upon  the  wing  j  said 
of  a  hawk. 

Cancellate.  [L.  cancelli,  plu.,  railings,  a  lat- 
tice."} (Bot.)  Consisting  of  a  network  of  veins. 

Cancelled  ticket.  (Naut.)  One  with  the 
corner  cut  off  for  bad  conduct,  still  valid,  as 
showing  the  time  of  a  sailor's  past  services. 

Cancelli.  [L.]  1.  Rails  in  a  basilica  sepa- 
rating the  court  from  the  audience ;  whence  the 
Eng.  chancel.  2.  A  gate  of  rails  or  lattice-work. 
(Carceres.) 

Candelabrum.  [L.]  Candlestick  or  lamp- 
holder. 

Candent.  [L.  candentem,  glounng  with  heat.'} 
In  a  state  of  white  heat. 

Canderos.     A  clear  white  Indian  resin. 

Candidates.  [L.  candidatus,  clothed  in  white.] 
Applicants  for  public  offices  in  Rome  ;  so  called 
either  from  their  then  wearing  a  white  toga  or 
putting  white  marks  on  their  dress. 

Candide.  Hero  of  Voltaire's  Candide,  a  cynical 
optimist  indifferent  to  accumulated  misfortunes. 

Candleberry.     (Bayberry.) 

Candlemas  Day.  The  festival  of  Purification 
of  B.V.  Mary ;  numerous  candles  having  been 
used,  in  reference  (?)  to  Luke  ii.  32.  (Hypa- 
pante.) 

Candle-waster.  One  who  keeps  late  hours,  as 
spendthrift  or  as  student. 

Candock.  A  weed  that  grows  in  rivers. — 
Johnson. 

Candour,  Mrs.  In  Sheridan's  School  for  Scandal, 
a  slanderous  gossip,  "  with  a  very  gross  affecta- 
tion of  good  nature  and  benevolence." 

Candroy.  A  machine  used  in  preparing 
cotton  cloths  for  printing. 

Candy.  1.  A  weight  of  20  ^naunds,  either  in 
Madras  or  Bombay.  2.  A  dry  measure  of  24^ 
English  bushels. 

Canella.  [Fr.  cannelli,  dim.  of  canne,  cam.} 
(Bot.)  White  cinnamon,  or  Whiteivood  barky  the 


CANE 


97 


CANT 


bark  of  the  young  branches  of  C.  alba,  of  W. 
Indies  and  S.  America  ;  stomachic  and  stimulant 
tonic. 

CanephSri.  [Gr.  Kavn$6poi.]  In  Gr.  Ant., 
figures  bearing  on  their  heads  baskets  with  the 
materials  for  sacrifice.  (Caryatides.) 

Canescent.  [L.  canesco,  /  grow  white.} 
Growing  white. 

Cane-sugar.  The  non-fermenting  sweet  ele- 
ment in  cane,  maple,  beet-root,  etc.  (Glucose; 
Sucrose.) 

Cane-trash.  The  dry  splinters,  used  as  fuel, 
into  which  sugar-canes  are  turned  after  their 
third  compression,  in  sugar-making  ;  called  also 
Bagasse,  from  Sp.  bagazo,  a  residtntm. 

Cangica  wood.  A  yellowish-brown  S.- Ameri- 
can wood,  used  for  cabinet-work,  etc. 

Canicular  [L.  camcula,  belonging  to  the  Dog- 
star]  period;  C.  year.  The  C.  year  was  the 
fixed  year  of  the  Egyptians,  of  365^  days, 
reckoned  from  one  heliacal  rising  of  the  Dog- 
star  to  another,  as  distinguished  from  the 
wandering  year  of  365  days,  by  which  they 
regulated  their  festivals.  (For  C.  period,  vide 
Sothic  period.) 

Canidia.     [L.]    A  sorceress  in  Horace. 

Canister-shot.  Cylindical  tin  cases  containing 
a  number  of  shot  which  scatter  as  they  are  dis- 
charged from  the  gun. 

Canker.  [L.  cancer,  crab.]  1.  In  the  horse's 
foot,  a  fungoid  growth  between  the  hoof  and 
the  sensitive  part.  2.  In  the  dog's  ear,  inflam- 
mation of  the  lining  membrane.  3.  (Bot.) 
(Bedeguar.) 

Canker-worm.  [Heb.  yeleg.]  (Bibl.)  Larva 
of  locust. 

Cannabis  sativa.  [L.,  Gr.  Kawafiis.]  Common 
hemp. 

Cannel-coal,  i.e.  candle-coal.  Coal  of  a  kind 
not  lustrous,  nor  soiling  the  fingers  ;  compact, 
breaking  conchoidally  ;  burning  readily,  giving 
out  a  clear  yellow  flame,  without  melting. 

Cannibals.  Devourers  of  human  flesh,  called 
by  the  Greeks  Anthrdpophagoi.  The  origin  of 
the  word  is  uncertain  :  it  may  be  a  corruption  of 
the  name  Caribbee. 

Cannon  or  Shank  of  a  horse's  leg.  [L.  canna, 
a  reed.]  The  front  and  largest  bone  of  the  three 
between  the  knee  and  the  fetlock,  the  two 
smaller  and  hinder  bones  being  splints. 

Cannon-ball  tree.  Couroupita  Guiancensis.  A 
Trop.  American  tree.  Ord.  Myrtacese ;  so 
called  from  appearance  of  fruit. 

Cannuck,  Cunnick,  Canuck.  [Amer.]  Nick- 
name for  a  Canadian. 

Canon.  [Gr.  KO.VUV,  a  rule.]  1.  Any  rule  or 
principle,  as  the  canons  of  criticism.  2.  Laws  and 
ordinances  of  ecclesiastical  Councils  :  whence  the 
C.  law  made  up  of  them.  3.  The  C.  of  Scrip- 
ture, the  authorized  catalogue  of  the  sacred 
books.  4.  In  cathedral  and  collegiate  churches, 
one  who  performs  certain  services  in  the  church, 
and  is  possessed  ef  certain  revenues  connected 
with  them.  5.  In  Music,  a  perpetual  fugue,  the 
production  of  harmony  by  the  parts,  each  of  them 
taking  the  same  melody,  but  beginning  it  at 
separate  times.  Tallis's  Evening  Hymn  is  a  C. 


of  two  parts.  6.  In  Printing,  a  large  type,  seldom 
used  except  in  posting-bills.  7.  (Math.}  A 
general  rule  or  formula  for  the  solution  of  mathe- 
matical questions.  8.  A  table  of  the  numerical 
values  of  sines  and  tangents  of  angles  was  called 
the  Trigonometrical  C.  9.  The  solar  table  con- 
structed by  Hipparchus  to  show  the  place  of 
the  sun  with  respect  to  the  fixed  stars  was  called 
theC. 

Canon.  [Sp. ;  one  of  very  many  words  meaning 
a  hollow,  or  tube-like  form ;  e.g.  Gr.  KO.VVO.,  L. 
canna,  cane.]  A  deep  gorge  or  ravine  between 
high  and  steep  banks  worn  by  a  stream  of  water. 
The  term  is  in  common  use  in  the  territories  of 
the  U.S.  bordering  on  Mexico. 

Canonical  hours.  The  name  given  to  the 
seven  hours  for  devotion,  imposed  on  the  clergy  of 
the  Latin  Church  by  Canon  law,  namely,  matins, 
with  lauds,  prime,  terce,  sext,  none,  vespers, 
compline.  (Breviary.) 

Canonization  [Eccl.  L.  canon,  a  list  or  roll], 
which  succeeds  beatification  (q.v.),  enrols  a  de-         * 
ceased  person  among  the  saints. 

Canon  Law.  Regulates  the  discipline  of  the 
Church  of  Rome  ;  being  made  up  of  various 
books  of  Decretals  (q.v.),  decrees  of  popes, 
and  Canons  of  Councils. 

Cant,  Cantle.     [Fr.  chanteau,  L.L.  cantellus.] 

1.  A  corner,  an   edge.     2.  The  hind  bow  of  a 
saddle.    3.  Verb,  (i)  to  raise,  or  rise,  on  the  edge 
or  corner,  e.g.  to  decant ;  (2)  to  cut  off  the  angle 
of  a  square   building ;    (3)    to   edge   in,    put   a 
border  ;  cf.  Ger.  kante,  corner,  border. 

Cantab.  One  who  belongs  or  has  belonged 
to  the  University  of  Cambridge  [L.  Canta- 
brigiensis]. 

Cantabit  vacuus  cor  am  latrone  viator.  [L.] 
A  traveller  with  empty  pockets  will  whistle  before 
the  highwayman  j  poor  folks  have  no  fear  of 
thieves,  burglars,  etc. 

Cantaliver.  (Arch.)  A  block  or  bracket  sup- 
porting a  balcony  or  cornice. 

Cantaloupe,  or  musk-melon.  Cultivated  at  the 
papal  villa  of  Cantaluppo. 

Cantata.  [It.,  L.  canto,  I sing.]  Properly  a 
short  lyric  drama,  with  airs,  recitatives, 
choruses  ;  e.g.  Purcell's  Mad  Bess ;  but  the 
word  is  now  used  indefinitely. 

Canteen.  [Fr.  cantine,  from  L.  quintana,  a 
camp  market  (Littre).]  1.  Sutler's  establishment 
provided  in  barracks  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers. 

2.  A  vessel  for  containing  food,  attached  to  a 
soldier's  knapsack.     3.  A  chest  for  holding  the 
different  table  requisites  of  an  officer. 

Cantera.     (Naut.)    A  Spanish  fishing-boat. 

Canterbury.  A  low  wooden  stand  with 
divisions  for  holding  music,  etc. 

Canterbury  gallop,  or  Canter.  A  slow  gallop, 
like  that  of  the  pilgrims,  ambling  to  Canterbury. 
(Canter,  if  from  canterius,  &  gelding,  would  have 
appeared  in  continental  languages.) 

Canterbury  Tales.  By  Chaucer  (died  1400)  ; 
are  told,  each  of  them,  by  some  one  of  a  party 
of  pilgrims  at  the  Tabard  Inn,  Southward,  on 
their  way  to  the  shrine  of  St.  Thomas  of  Canter- 
bury ;  and  give  various  pictures  of  English  life 
of  the  time. 


CANT 


98 


Cantharides.  [Gr.Kdv6apos,Kaveapl5os.]  (Entom.) 
A  coleopterous  insect,  of  the  fam.  Cantharidae  ; 
called  also  Spanish  fly.  The  blister-fly  (q.v.) 
of  the  apothecary. 

Canthus.     [Gr.  KavQ&s.]     The  corner  of  the 

CVG 

Canticle.  [L.  canticiilum,  dim.  of  canticum, 
a  song.]  A  name  used  to  denote  the  songs  or 
psalms  introduced  into  the  Order  for  Morning 
and  Evening  Prayers  in  the  Prayer-book.  The 
Song  of  Solomon  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as 
Canticles. 

Canting  heraldry.     A  coat  of  arms  or  motto, 
containing  a  pun  on  the  name  of  the  bearer  ;  as 
the  device  of  a  broken  spear  for  Brakspeare,  or 
the  motto  "  Ver  non  semper  viret "  for  Vernon. 
Cantire.    Gael.  =  headland.     (Can.) 
Canto  fenno.    (Cantus  firmus.) 
Canton.      [Fr.]      (Her.)      A    square    figure, 
occupying  one-third  part  of  the  chief,  generally 
on  the  dexter  side. 

Cantonments.  [Fr.  canton,  a  district.]  (Mil.) 
Permanent  station,  where  troops  of  all  arms  are 
massed  together  away  from  the  native  in- 
habitants. 

Cantoon.  Fustian,  with  a  fine  cord  visible  on 
one  side,  and  a  saling  surface  of  yarns  on  the 
other. 

Cantoris  side.  [L.,  of  the  chanter.]  In  a 
cathedral,  that  of  the  precentor  ;  opposed  to  that 
of  the  dean  [Decani],  who  is  generally  on  the 
south. 

Cantor  lectures.  (Dr.  C.,  died  1861.)  Three 
courses  of  six  each,  in  connexion  with  Society 
of  Arts,  covering  a  wide  range  of  subjects. 

Cantrap.  A  Scand.  word,  denoting  a  spell  or 
incantation  ;  hence  spiteful  mischief. 

Cantred,  Cantref.  [Welsh.]  A  district  of  a 
hundred  [cant]  villages  [tref,  a  village]. 

Cantus  firmus  [L.],  Canto fermo  [It.].  (Music.} 
1.  In  chanting,  the  chief  melody,  the  air; 
which,  now  taken  by  the  sopranos,  was  once 
sung  by  the  tenors.  2.  The  subject  or  theme  of 
counterpoint. 

Cantus  planus.     (Plain  song.) 
Cantwara.     [Cant-,   a  British   tribal    name ; 
wara,  Teut.,  host.]    Man  of  Kent.     • 

Caniila.  [L.  canniila,  dim.  of  canna,  a  reed.] 
In  Surgery,  a  metallic  tube ;  a  portion  of  the 
surgical  instrument  trochar  and  canula.  (Aspira- 
tion.) 

Canzone.  [It.,  L.  cantionem,  a  singing.]  A 
kind  of  lyric  poem,  adopted  with  alterations 
from  the  poetry  of  the  troubadours  in  Italy,  in 
the  thirteenth  century  ;  divided,  like  the  Greek 
strophic  ode,  into  stanzas.  The  dim.  canzonet, 
a  kind  of  C.  in  short  verses,  a  favourite  form 
with  the  poets  of  the  fifteenth  century.  Canzonet 
also  means  a  short  song ;  sometimes,  like  the 
Neapolitan  and  Sicilian  C.,  a  rondeau. 

Caoutchouc.  [Native  S.-Amer.  name.]  India- 
rubber,  gum  elastic,  a  vegetable  compound  founc 
in  all  plants  with  a  milky  juice,  especially  in 
the  moraceous,  euphorbiaceous,  arto-carpaceous, 
and  others.  Ficus  elastica  of  India,  Siph5nia 
elastica  of  S.  America,  yield  it  largely. 
Cap.  (Araut.)  A  strong  piece  of  timber  o 


CAPI 

ron  fitted  to  a  masthead  (having  two  holes  in 
t,  one  round  and  the  other  square)  to  confine 
n  upper  mast  to  a  lower. 

Capability  Brown.  A  successful  landscape 
gardener  of  last  century ;  much  given  to  using 
he  word  C. 

Capacity.  [L.  capacitatem.]  The  solid  contents 
>f  a  body.  The  Thermal  C.  of  a  substance  is 
he  number  of  units  of  heat  required  to  raise  a 
unit  weight  of  the  substance  one  degree  of  tem- 
perature. 

Cap-a-pie.  [O.Fr.  (de)  cap  a  pie,  from  head 
ofoot.]  Said  of  a  man  when  fully  armed. 

Caparison.  [O.Fr.  caparason,  from  Sp. 
caparazon,  L.L.  caparo,  hood.']  A  cloth  over 
:he  saddle  of  a  horse,  often  richly  ornamented. 

Capax  doli.  [L.]  Capable  of  deceit.   (Callidity.) 

Capel  Court.  Where  the  members  of  the  Stock 
Exchange  meet,  is,  by  meton.,  often  used  as  = 
Stock  Exchange. 

Capelmeister,     Kapellmeister,      Maestro     di 

ipella.  [Chapel-master. ,]  Director,  often  com- 
Doser,  of  music,  and  choir-trainer  in  a  royal  or 
ducal  chapel ;  a  post  of  honour  and  importance. 
Palestrina,  Handel,  Bach,  Haydn,  Mendelssohn, 
and  other  great  musicians  were  C. 

Capercailzie,  Capercali,  Caperkally.  [Horse 
if  the  woods  (Pennant).]  (Ornith.}  Wood-grouse, 
cock  of  the  wood.  Male,  three  feet  long  ;  wings, 
from  tip  to  tip,  four  feet.  Female  much  smaller, 
and  with  plainer  plumage.  N.  parts  of  Europe 
and  Asia.  Lately  reintroduced  into  Scotland. 
Tetrao  urogallus,  fam.  TetraSnidse,  ord.  Galllnse. 

Cape,  To.  (Naut.)  To  keep  a  course;  e.g. 
How  does  she  C.  ?  i.q.  How  is  her  head?  [L. 
caput]. 

Capias.  [L.]  You  are  to  seize;  writ  of  arrest 
for  debt.  (Mesne  process.) 

Capias  ad  satisfaciendum,  commonly  called 
Ca.  sa.  A  writ  of  execution  taken  out  by  a 
plaintiff  after  having  recovered  judgment  against 
the  defendant,  whom  the  sheriff  is  therein 
directed  to  keep  and  bring  on  a  day  named  to 
Westminster,  that  the  plaintiff  may  have  satisfac- 
tion for  his  demand;  "issuable  now  in  a  very 
limited  class  of  cases,  viz.  where  imprisonment 
for  debt  or  final  judgment  is  still  permitted  " 
(Brown,  Law  Dictionary}. 

Capillaire.  Syrup  of  maidenhair  fern,  pre- 
pared from  Adiantum  capillus  Veneris,  and 
also  from  the  fragrant  root-stock  of  an  American 
spec.,  Adiantum  pedatum  ;  and  flavoured  with 
orange  flowers. 

Capillary  [L.  capillaris,  pertaining  to  the  hair, 
capillus]  action ;  C.  attraction ;  C.  repulsion ;  C. 
tubes.  Tubes  of  very  fine  bore  are  called  C.  tubes. 
When  a  C.  tube  of  glass  is  dipped  into  water,  it 
is  found  that  the  water  rises  in  the  tube  above 
the  level  at  which  it  rests  outside ;  the  force  of 
adhesion  of  water  to  the  glass  being  greater  than 
the  cohesion  of  the  parts  of  the  water  to  each 
other.'  The  like  is  true  of  other  liquids  and 
tubes,  provided  the  liquid  can  wet  the  tube. 
These  are  instances  of  C.  attraction.  That  term 
is,  however,  applied  more  generally  to  all  cases 
in  which  the  surface  of  the  liquid  is  raised  above 
its  general  level  where  it  is  in  contact  with  a 


CAPI 


99 


CAQU 


substance  which  it  can  wet.  If  the  cohesion  of 
the  parts  of  the  liquid  to  each  other  exceeds  the 
force  of  adhesion  of  the  liquid  to  the  solid — as 
in  the  case  of  mercury  and  glass — there  is  de- 
pression instead  of  elevation ;  and  in  this  case 
there  is  said  to  be  C.  repulsion.  The  term 
C.  action  is  =  C.  attraction  or  repulsion. 

Capillary  vessels.  1.  (Anat.)  A  network  of 
minute  vessels,  connecting  the  veins  and  the 
arteries.  2.  C.  leaves  (Bot.),  hair-like  j  e.g. 
fennel. 

Capita  ant  navim.  [L.]  With  Roman  boys, 
=  head  or  tail ;  lit.  heads  of  the  two-faced 
Janus  on  one  side  of  the  as,  or  ship  on  the  other. 
Capital.  (Mil.)  An  imaginary  line  bisecting 
the  salient  angle  formed  by  the  two  faces  of  any 
fortification. 

Capite  censi.  [L.,  reckoned  by  the  head.'] 
Roman  citizens,  who  from  poverty  paid  no  taxes. 
(Proletarians.) 

Capite,  Tenure  in.  (Leg.)  Tenure  in  chief , 
of  lands  held  directly  from  the  Crown  ;  they  are 
now  held  in  common  socage. 

Capitol.  [L.  capit5lium,  the  head  of  the  city.~\ 
In  ancient  Rome,  the  great  temple  of  Jupiter  on 
the  Tarpeian  Mount. 

Capitularies.  [L.  capitula,  little  chapters; 
articles  of  instruction  from  bishops  to  their 
clergy.]  A  term  applied  to  ordinances  issued 
by  the  Frankish  kings,  many  of  them  concerned 
with  the  government  of  the  Church. 

Capitulum.  [L.,  a  little  head.]  (Bot.)  The 
head  of  flowers  in  a  composite  ;  e.g.  the  daisy. 

Capnomancy.     With  the  ancients,  divination 
[Gr.  fj.avreia]  from  the  smoke  [/canWs]  of  victims. 
Capoc.     Cotton  too  short  and   fine  to   spin, 
used  as  cotton  wool. 

Capoch,  Caponch.  [Fr.  capuce.]  1.  A  monk's 
hood.  2.  The  hood  of  a  clerk. 

Capo  di  Monte  China  Manufactory.  Formerly 
near  Naples.  Articles  were  made  in  coloured 
relief  (1736-1821).  The  moulds  and  marks  are 
now  in  use  at  La  Doccia,  near  Florence. 

Caponniere.  [Fr.,  from  Sp.  caponnera,  a 
fattening-coop.]  (Mil.}  Covered  passage  pro- 
tected by  stockade  work  and  earth,  sunk  across 
the  dry  ditch  of  a  fortification,  which  is  also 
utilized  for  its  defence. 

Capote.  [Fr.]  A  long  cloak  with  a  hood. 
[Dim.  of  Fr.  cape,  a  cape,  cloak ;  this  being, 
according  to  Littre,  the  Picard  pronunciation  of 
chape,  It.  cappa,  L.L.  capa,  a  cope,  from 
capere,  as  containing  the  whole  body.] 

Cappadine.  The  last  part  of  the  silk  which 
cannot  be  wound  off  the  cocoon. 

Cappagh  brown.  (Geol.)  A  bituminous  earth, 
found  at  Cappagh,  near  Cork.  It  contains  oxide 
of  manganese  and  iron,  and  is  used  as  a  pigment 
in  oil-painting. 

Cap-paper.      1.  A  coarse  brown  paper,  used 

for  making  caps  to  wrap  sugar,  etc.    2.  Foolscap. 

Capped  hock,  or  elbow.    (Spavin.) 

Capreolate.     [L.  capreolus,  a  tendril.]    (Bot.] 

Having  tendrils,  or  spiral  claspers,  for  support. 

Capriccio    [It.,  freak,  fancy],    or   Fantasia 

A  musical  piece,  fanciful   and   unrestrained  in 

subject  and  treatment. 


Capricorn.    (Zodiac.) 

Caprification.  [L.  caprificatio  (Pliny).]  1. 
[n  the  Levant,  the  maturation  of  figs,  by  placing 
over  them  branches  of  the  wild  Jig,  capri- 
^cus,  on  which  are  insects,  which,  puncturing 
he  fruit,  are  said  to  hasten  the  ripening.  2. 
The  shakings  of  male  flowers  from  wild  dates 
over  the  cultivated  palm.  (For  fertilization,  see 
Herod.,  i.  193.) 

Caprifoils.  The  honeysuckle  family,  Capri- 
x>liacese,  Lonicereae. 

Caprifole.    [O.Fr.]    The  wild  climbing  vine. 

Capriole.  [L.  capreolus,  a  wild  goat.]  A  leap 
of  a  horse  from  all  fours  at  once,  upwards  only, 
with  a  kick  of  the  hind  legs  ;  called  by  Austra- 
ians,  bucking. 

Capstan,  Cabestan,  Capstern,  etc.  [Perhaps 
from  L.  capistrum,  Sp.  cabestro,  L.  capere,  to 
seize,  hold.]  (Naut.)  A  machine  for  lifting  the 
anchor,  usually  a  flat-headed  cylinder  revolving 
on  an  iron  pin,  with  square  holes  cut  in  the  side 
of  its  head,  into  which  bars  are  inserted,  radiat- 
"ngfrom  the  centre,  and  so  giving  great  leverage. 

Capsule.  [L.  capsula,  a  small  box  or  chest.] 
1.  (Bot.)  Any  dry,  many-seeded  fruit  opening 
by  valves  or  pores,  as  foxglove,  poppy.  2. 
(Physiol.)  Any  membranous,  bag-like  expansion, 
"nvesting  a  part.  3.  (Chem.)  A  small  saucer, 
used  for  melting  ores,  etc.  4.  Metallic  covering 
for  the  corks  of  bottles. 

Captain,  Navy.    (Bank.) 

Captain's  cloak.  The  thirty-sixth  Article  of 
War  ;  so  called  from  its  sweeping  character. 

Captation.  [L.  captatio,  -nem,  a  catching  at.] 
The  act  or  the  disposition  of  courting  favour  or 
popularity. 

Caption.  [L.  captio,  -nem,  a  taking.]  (Leg.) 
That  part  of  an  instrument  which  shows  its 
authority. 

Capucha.     (Capoch.) 

Capuchin  Friars.  A  seceding  order  of  Fran- 
ciscans, established  by  Clement  VII.  ;  when  the 
pointed  cowl  (Capoch)  was  added  to  the  F, 
habit. 

Capulet.     In  a  horse.     (Spavin.) 

Capulets  and  Montagues.  In  Shakespeare's 
play  of  Romeo  and  Jidiet,  rival  houses  of  nobles 
of  Verona. 

Caput  Jejunii.  [L. ,  head  of  the  fast.  ]  A  name 
for  Ash  Wednesday,  and  sometimes  for  the 
Wednesday  preceding. 

Caput  mortuum.  [L.,  dead  head.]  1.  In 
Hist.,  this  word  denotes  the  residuum  of  a 
traditional  narrative  after  all  the  supernatural  or 
extraordinary  incidents  have  been  cast  aside. 
What  remains  may  be  possible  or  likely,  but 
rests  on  no  evidence.  (Euemerism.)  2.  With 
the  old  chemists,  the  inert  residue  of  the  dis- 
tillation and  sublimation  of  different  substances  : 
its  symbol  being  a  death's-head  and  cross  bones. 

Capybara.  (Zool.)  Hydrochcerus  [Gr.  vSapr)s, 
watery,  xoTpos,  hog],  water-hog,  the  largest  known 
existing  rodent ;  three  to  four  feet  long ;  the 
water-horse  (i.e.  D.  water-haas,  water-hare}  of 
Demarara.  Banks  of  rivers  in  Trop.  S.  America. 
Fam.  Cavndse,  ord.  Rodentia. 
Caqueuz.  (Cagots.) 


CAR 


100 


CARD 


Car-.  [Cymr.,  city,  fortified  post.']  Part  of 
names,  as  in  Car-lisle.  (Caer-.) 

Carabas,  The  Marquis  of.  The  title  assumed 
by  the  young  miller  in  Puss  in  Boots ;  hence 
any  arrogant,  pretentious  parvenu. 

Carabine.     (Carbine.) 

Caracal.  [Turk.,  black-ear.]  (Zool.)  Spec,  of 
(or  (?)  gen.  allied  to)  lynx,  as  large  as  a  bull 
terrier ;  reddish  brown.  S.  Asia  and  Africa. 
Caracal  melanotis,  fam.  Felidse,  ord.  Carmvora. 

Caracana.  ( Ornith. )  Carrion  hawks.  Trop. 
America.  Pandion  (Cuvier).  Gen.  Polyborinse 
[Gr.  iro\v&6pos,  much-devouring],  fam.  Fal- 
comdae,  ord.  Accipitres. 

Carack,  Carrak,  or  Carriok.     (Galleon.) 

Caracol.  1.  A  half-turn  to  right  or  left,  of  a 
horseman.  2.  A  winding  staircase.  [Sp. 
caracol  means  both  of  these  ;  also  a  snail.] 

Caracoli.  An  alloy  of  gold,  silver,  and  copper, 
used  for  cheap  jewellery. 

Caracora,  or  Caracol.  (Nduf.)  Of  Borneo  and 
Eastern  isles,  a  kind  of  prahu  (q.v.). 

Caracteres  de  civilite.  [Fr.]  In  Printing,  the 
cursive  characters  used  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
by  the  printer  Granjon,  of  Lyons. 

Carafe.  [Fr.,  from  It.  caraffa,  a  decanter.]  A 
water-bottle. 

Caragheen.     (Carrageen.) 

Caraites.  A  Jewish  sect,  which  adheres  to  the 
letter  of  Scripture,  and  rejects  the  rabbinical 
interpretations  and  the  Cabala. 

Carambole.  [Fr.]  A  cannon  in  billiards ; 
origin  unknown. 

Caramel.  [Sp.  caramello.]  The  brown  mass 
which  cane-sugar  becomes  at  420°  heat ;  used  to 
colour  sugar,  coffee,  malt,  spirits,  etc. 

Caramoussal.  (Naut.)  A  Turkish  merchant 
ship,  with  pink  stern.  (Pink.) 

Carapace.  [From  Sp.  carapacho ;  another 
form  of  the  Catal.  carabassa,  a  calabash.]  (ZooL) 
Upper  shell  of  tortoises  and  turtles,  of  lobsters, 
etc.,  and  of  certain  infusoria.  (Chelonidae.) 

Carat.  [Gr.  Kepdriov,  a  small  horn-shaped 
seedy  a  carat.]  1.  A  weight  of  four  grains  of 
barley  ;  the  jeweller's  C.  at  Vienna  is  0*206085 
grammes  =  3*19  grains.  In  London,  for 
diamonds,  the  ounce  troy  is  divided  into  151^ 
carats,  making  a  C.  3*17  grains.  2.  As  applied 
to  gold,  the  ounce  is  divided  into  24  C.,  and  if 
of  the  twenty-four  parts  by  weight,  two,  three, 
four,  etc.,  parts  are  alloy,  the  gold  is  said  to  be 
twenty-two,  twenty-one,  twenty,  etc.,  carats 
fine. 

Caravan.  A  Persian  word,  denoting  a  com- 
pany of  travellers  associated  for  self-defence  in 
crossing  deserts  or  other  dangerous  regions. 
Four  regular  caravans  yearly  visit  Mecca. 

Caravansary,  properly  Caravanserai.  An 
unfurnished  public  building  for  the  lodgment  of 
a  caravan  on  its  journey. 

Caravel,  Caravela.     (Carvel.) 

Carbasse,  or  Karbaty.    A  Lapland  boat. 

Carbazotic  acid.  (Carbon  and  azote.)  (Chem.) 
Picric  acid  (q.v.). 

Carbine.  [Fr.  carabine,  from  It.  carabina.] 
Short  musket  used  by  cavalry  and  artillerymen. 
One  regiment  of  English  cavalry  retains  the 


name  Carbiniers,  but  the  term  has  lost  its 
former  acceptation. 

Carbolic  acid.  (Chem.)  An  oily  liquid  ob- 
tained from  coal-tar,  used  as  a  disinfectant. 

Carbon.  [L.  carbo,  a  coal.]  (Geol.)  A  non- 
metallic  element,  existing  in  a  pure  state  as 
diamond  or  charcoal. 

Carbonaceous  rocks.  (Geol.)  Containing  fossil 
carbon  largely ;  e.g.  shales  of  central  Devon- 
shire. 

Carbonado.  [Sp.,  from  L.  carbonem,  coal, 
charcoal.]  Meat  cut  across  for  broiling. 

Carbonari.  [It.,  from  L.  carbo,  -nem,  char- 
coal. ]  A  secret  association  first  instituted  amongst 
the  charcoal-burners  of  Germany,  who  found  it 
necessary  in  the  vast  forests  of  that  country  to 
aid  one  another  against  robbers  and  enemies  by 
conventional  signs  known  only  to  themselves, 
their  oath  being  called  "  The  Faith  of  Charcoal- 
burners."  In  the  early  part  of  the  present 
century  the  association,  having  spread  to  France 
and  the  Netherlands,  was  extended  into  Italy, 
where  its  object  was  the  expulsion  of  the  Aus- 
trians  and  union  of  the  people  of  the  peninsula 
into  one  state,  an  object  which  has  been  attained 
by  the  establishment  of  the  Italian  kingdom. 

Carbdne  notare,  [L.]  To  mark  with  charcoal. 
(Creta  notatus.) 

Carbonic  acid.  (Chem.)  Dioxide  of  carbon  ;  a 
suffocating  gas.  Its  salts  are  called  carbonates. 

Carboniferous  [coal-bearing]  system  (Geol.)  = 
Palaeozoic  strata,  resting  upon  the  Devonian,  and 
covered  by  the  Permian  ;  a  vast  series  of  beds 
of  sandstone,  limestone,  shale,  and  coal. 

Carboy.  A  large  glass  bottle,  cased  in  wicker, 
for  holding  vitriol,  etc.  ;  cf.  Fr.  carafe,  Sp. 
carabba,  etc.  ;  probably  an  Eastern  word. 

Carburation.  The  uniting  of  anything  with 
carbon.  (Blistered  steel.) 

Carburet,  Carbide.  (Chem.)  A  compound  of 
carbon  with  another  element. 

Carcanet.  [Fr.  carcan,  an  iron  collar.]  A 
collar  of  jewels. 

Carcass.  [Fr.  carcasse,  from  It.  carcassa.] 
(Mil.)  Shell  filled  with  a  highly  inflammable 
composition,  which,  on  being  fired  against 
buildings,  speedily  ignites  them  through  three 
holes  in  the  metal. 

Carcass  of  a  ship.  (Naut.)  The  keel,  stem 
and  stern  posts,  and  the  ribs. 

Carcelage.  [L.  career,  a  prison.]  Prison  fees. 
— Johnson. 

Carcel  lamp.  (From  the  inventor.)  A  lamp 
in  which  the  oil  is  raised  through  tubes  by  clock- 
work. 

Carceres.  [L.  plu.  of  career,  prison]  In 
Roman  race-course  [circus],  stalls  with  gates 
[cancelli],  whence  the  chariots  started. 

Carcinoma.  [Gr.  *apK//>o>/ia,  ttapKivos,  cancer.] 
(Med.)  A  variety  of  cancer.;  a  form  of  malig- 
nant disease. 

Cardamine.  [Gr.  KdpS&fwv,  cress.]  (Bot.)  A 
gen.  of  Cruciferse.  C.  pratensis,  the  cuckoo 
flower,  or  ladies'  smock,  a  common  spring 
meadow  flower. 

Cardamoms.  [Gr.  napSd/jLupov.]  (Bot.)  The 
aromatic  capsules  and  seeds  of  several  kinds  of 


CARD 


101 


CARO 


amomum,  especially  of  Amomum  (or  Eleltavia) 
cardamomum,  native  of  the  Malabar  coast. 

Cardiac.  [Gr.  Kaptita,  the  heart ;  ihe  extremity 
of  the  stomach,  nearest  the  heart, .]  1.  Cordial, 
invigorating.  2.  Relating  to  the  heart.  3. 
(Med.)  Plexus,  a  system  of  ganglia  connected 
with  the  heart  and  great  blood-vessels. 

Cardialgia.  [Gr.  /copSta,  heart,  &\yos,  pain.} 
(Med.}  Neuralgic  affection  of  heart. 

Cardinal.  [L.  cardinalis,  from  cardinem,  a 
hinge.}  (Eccl.  Hist.}  The  title  of  the  seven 
bishops  of  Rome,  and  of  the  clergy  of  the 
twenty-eight  principal  churches  of  the  city,  who 
composed  the  College  of  Cardinals.  This  college 
now  has  generally  seventy  members. 

Cardinal  bird.  (Ornith.)  Also  called  Cardinal 
grosbeak,  a  sub-fam.  of  the  Fringillidse. 

Cardinal  numbers;  C.  points;  C.  signs;  C. 
winds.  The  numbers  which  answer  the  question, 
"  How  many?"  i.e.  one,  two,  three,  etc.,  are  C. 
numbers.  The  C.  points  of  the  horizon  are  the 
N.,  S.,  E.,  and  W.  points  ;  the  two  former  are 
the  points  in  which  the  meridian  cuts  the  horizon 
near  the  north  and  south  poles  of  the  heavens 
respectively ;  the  two  latter  those  in  which  the 
prime  vertical  cuts  the  horizon  near  the  points 
where  the  sun  rises  and  sets  respectively.  The 
C.  signs  of  the  Zodiac  are  Aries,  Libra,  Cancer, 
and  Capricorn.  The  C.  winds  are  those  which 
blow  from  the  C.  points  of  the  horizon. 

Cardinal  virtues.  Temperance,  fortitude,  jus- 
tice, prudence. 

Carding.  [L.  carduus,  a  thistle.}  Combing 
out  wool  or  flax  to  prepare  them  for  spinning. 

Carduus  benedictus.    (Blessed  thistle.) 

Careen,  To.  [L.  carina,  keel.}  (Naut.)  To 
incline  to  one  side,  so  as  to  show  the  bottom. 

Careme.  [Fr.,  O.Fr,  Quaresme,  L.  Quadra- 
gesima.] The  forty  days  of  Lent ;  hence  Lent. 

Carent  vate  sacro.  [L.]  They  are  without  a 
sacred  bard  (Horace).  No  poet  has  sung  their 
praises  and  made  their  name  live. 

Carex.  [L.,  sedge.}  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  grassy, 
rush-like  plants,  of  which  there  are  many  native 
spec,  in  Britain  ;  ord.  Cyperace'se. 

Carfax.  As  at  Oxford,  a  place  where  four 
roads  meet  [L.  quatuor  furcas]. 

Cargason.  [Sp.  cargazon.]  Sometimes  used 
as  =  cargo. 

Caribou.  [Native  name.]  An  American  var. 
of  the  reindeer.  Tarandus,  fam.  Cervidae,  ord. 
Ungulata. 

Caries.     [L.]    Destructive  softening  of  bone. 

Carillon.  Chimes  played  by  instruments  or 
finger-keys  ;  properly  on  four  bells  [L.L.  quad- 
rili5nem]. 

Carina.  [L.,  a  keel.}  The  union  in  a  keel- 
like  form  of  the  two  oblique  front  petals  of  a 
Papilionaceous  flower  ;  e.g.  sweet-pea. 

Carinatae.  [L.  carina,  keel.}  (Ornith.)  Birds 
with  a  keel  to  their  breastbone,  flying  birds. 

Cariole,  Carriole.  [Fr.  carriole,  L.  carrus,  a 
cart.}  A  small  light  open  carriage. 

Cark.  [A.  S.  care,  care,  cearig,  anxious,  fear- 
ftd.}  Anxious  care,  worry. 

Carline,  Caroline.  A  silver  Italian  coin, 
named  from  Carlo  (Charles)  VI.  of  Naples. 


Carlines.  [Fr.  carlingue,  It. carlinga.]  (Naut.) 
Small  timbers  let  into  the  beams,  and  joining 
them.  On  the  C.  and  athwart  the  vessel  are 
placed  ledges,  to  which  the  deck  planking  is 
nailed.  Carline  knees  are  what  would  be  beams 
if  a  hatchway  did  not  intervene.  They  support 
the  deck. 

Carline  thistle.  (Bot.)  Carllna  vulgaris,  ord. 
Compositse  ;  common  in  chalky  parts  of  Great 
Britain.  (Carolus,  i.e.  Charlemagne,  to  whom 
an  angel  is  said  to  have  shown  the  root,  as  a 
remedy  for  plague  in  his  army.) 

Carlisle  table,  or  Table  of  mortality.  (Life 
assurance.) 

Carlock.     (Charlock.) 

Carlo vingian  kings.    (Carolingian  kings.) 

Carmagnole.  (C.,  in  Piedmont,  home  of  the 
Savoyard  players.)  L  A  song  and  dance,  popular 
in  the  French  Revolution  ;  hence,  2,  a  dress  worn 
by  the  Jacobins.  3.  Turgid  and  fanatical  reports 
of  French  successes  in  the  field. 

Carmelites,  White  Friars.  Hermits  gathered 
for  safety  in  the  twelfth  century  to  Mount  C. 
Albert,  Patriarch  of  Jerusalem,  gave  them  rules, 
confirmed  by  Honorius  III.,  A.D.  1224.  They 
left  the  Holy  Land  after  peace  between  Frederick 
II.  and  the  Saracens.  (Orders,  Mendicant.) 

Carminatives.  (Med.)  Allay,  as  if  by  a  charm 
[L.  carmen],  spasmodic  pain  in  the  bowels,  and 
expel  flatus. 

Carmine.  [L.L.  carmesinus,  from  Ar.  karmesi, 
the  kermes  insect.}  A  red  pigment  prepared 
from  the  cochineal  insect,  chiefly  used  in  water- 
colour  painting. 

Carnation.  [L.  caro,  carnis,  flesh.}  The 
flesh  tint  in  painting. 

Carneian  Apollo.  The  name  for  Apollo  as 
worshipped  at  Sparta,  probably  connected  with 
that  of  Ashtaroth  Karnaim,  or  the  horned 
Astarte,  of  the  Phoenician  tribes. 

Carnelian.     (Chalcedony.) 

Carnify.  To  make  flesh  [L.  carnem  facgre] 
by  assimilation  of  food;  L.  carmfico  being  to 
execute. 

Carnival,  Carnaval.  [In  Med.  L.  carnis  leva- 
men,  carnelevamen,  solace  of  the  flesh.}  A  feast 
before  the  fast  of  Lent. 

Carnivora.  [L.  carnem,  flesh,  voro,  I  devour.} 
Flesh-eaters,  an  ord.  of  Mammals  comprising 
PinnTgrada  (seals  and  walruses),  Plantigrada  (as 
bears),  and  Digit igrada  (as  cats  and  dogs). 

Carnosity.     (Med. )     A  fleshy  overgrowth. 

Carob.     (Algaroba.) 

Caroche.  [Fr.  carrosse,  It.  carrozza.]  A 
carriage,  coach. 

Carol,  Carolle,  was  originally  a  dance  [L. 
choreola,  dim.  of  chorea] ;  then  any  song  of 
rejoicing,  especially  a  Christmas  hymn.  Wedg- 
wood prefers  corolla,  dim.  of  corona,  =  a  round 
dance;  quoting  a  "karole"  of  stones,  i.e.  a 
circuit,  from  Robert  of  Brunne. 

Caroline.     (Carline.) 

Carolingian  kings.  (Hist.)  The  dynasty  of 
Frank  kings ;  so  called  from  Charles  the  Great 
(Charlemagne),  son  of  Pepin. 

Carolus.  [L.,  darling,  dim.  of  carus,  dear ; 
hence  Charles.]  An  old  coin  worth  23^. 


CARO 


102 


GARY 


Caroteel.  A  large  cask,  in  which  dried  fruits, 
etc.,  are  packed. 

Carotids.  [Gr.  KapcariSes,  from  Kapdca,  I  make 
drowsy,  as  compression  of  C.  does.]  (Med.) 
Two  great  arteries  of  the  neck,  which  carry 
blood  to  the  head. 

Carous.  (Naut.)  A  kind  of  gallery  in  ancient 
ships,  fitted  on  a  pivot,  and  raised  by  ropes  and 
pulleys,  so  as  to  be  swung  out-board,  and  to 
render  it  easier  to  board  another  vessel. 

Carpal.    Pertaining  to  the  wrist  [L.  carpus]. 

Carpe  diem.  [L.]  Enjoy  the  day ;  use  the 
present  time. 

Carpel.  [Gr.  /copWs,  fruit.]  (Bot.)  One  of 
the  cells  of  an  ovary. 

Carpocratians.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  the  followers 
of  Carpocrates,  who  is  called  by  Eusebius  the 
father  of  the  Gnostic  heresy.  His  system  was 
based  on  the  assertion  that  men  cannot  free 
themselves  from  the  power  of  evil  except  by 
compliance  with  evil ;  in  other  words,  that  the 
only  road  to  righteousness  is  through  iniquity. 

Carpolite.  [Fr.  carpolithe,  Gr.  Kap^s,  fruit, 
XiQos,  stone.}  (Geol.)  Petrified  fruit. 

Carpology.  That  part  of  botany  which 
relates  to  fruit  [Kapv6s\,  i.e.  to  the  structure  of 
seeds  and  seed-vessels. 

Carrageen,  Carageen,  Irish  moss.  Chondrus 
crispus,  a  seaweed— not  a  moss — on  the  rocky 
shores  of  most  parts  of  Europe,  and  of  Eastern 
N.  America  j  yielding  a  nutritious  jelly.  Ord. 

Carrara  marble.  A  white  saccharine  lime- 
stone, from  Monte  Sagro,  near  Carrara;  about 
sixty  miles  S.W.  of  Modena. 

Carreau.  [Fr.]  Heavy  sfttare-he&ded  arrow, 
which,  with  coeur  [heart,  i.e.  courage],  pique 
[pike],  and  trefle  [trefoil},  are  the  originals  of 
the  diamond,  heart,  spade,  and  club  of  playing 
cards. 

Carriage,  I  Sam.  xvii.  22,  Gr.  (r/ceurj  in  LXX., 
is  baggage;  so  Acts  xxi.  15,  a.iroo'Kevao'di/j.fVoi, 
"  we  took  up  our  carriages." 

Carrick.  [Erse  carraig,  crag,  rock]  Part  of 
Gadhelic  names,  as  in  Carrick-fergus. 

Carriere.     [Fr.]     Career,  course. 

Carronade.  (First  made  at  the  Carron  Iron 
Works,  Scotland.)  (Mil.}  Short,  light  iron  gun 
without  trunnions,  and  having  a  chamber  with 
slight  windage.  They  are  fastened  by  a  loop 
underneath. 

Carron  oil,  Linseed  oil.  Equal  portions  of 
lime-water  and  of  linseed  oil,  shaken  together ; 
in  use  for  nearly  a  century  for  burns,  etc.,  at  the 
C.  Works. 

Carrousels.  [Fr.]  A  kind  of  knightly  exer- 
cise, common  in  all  countries  of  Europe  till  the 
beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  ;  in  imitation 
of  the  tournament. 

Carrows.  In  Ireland,  needy  strolling  gamesters. 

Carry  away,  To.  (Naut.)  To  break,  as  "a 
rope  has  carried  away,"  i.e.  has  broken.  To 
carry  on,  to  carry  all  sail,  even  if  dangerous. 

Carse.  [Cymr.  kors,  fen.]  In  Scotland, 
low  lands  adjoining  rivers  ;  sometimes  only  the 
level  alluvial  land ;  sometimes  used  to  include 
undulations  at  a  greater  distance. 


Carstone.  A  hard  ferruginous  Cretaceous 
sandstone  in  the  E.  counties. 

Carte,  A  la.     (A  la  carte.) 

Carte  blanche.  [Fr.,  -white  card]  1.  A  blank 
paper  signed,  and  given  to  another  to  fill  up  as 
he  likes ;  and  so,  2,  unconditional  authority. 

Carte  de  visite.  [Fr.,  visiting  card]  Com- 
monly used  to  denote  photographic  portraits  of 
the  size  of  a  visiting  card. 

Cartel.  [Fr.  cartel,  from  It.  cartello.]  1.  Agree- 
ment between  hostile  forces  for  the  exchange  of 
prisoners.  2.  A  challenge.  3.  A  ship  bearing 
a  flag  of  truce,  or  carrying  prisoners  of  war  for 
exchange. 

Cartesian  geometry.     (Co-ordinates.) 

Cartesian  philosophy.  That  of  Des  Cartes, 
French  philosopher  (born  1596,  died  1650). 

Carthamine.  (Chem.)  The  colouring  matter  of 
safflower  [L.L.  carthamus].  Alkalies  change  it 
from  red  to  yellow. 

Carthusians.  1.  A  very  rigid  monastic  order, 
founded  A.D.  1086,  by  St.  Bruno,  at  Chartreuse, 
near  Grenoble  ;  one  of  their  houses  being 
Charterhouse,  in  London,  a  corr.  of  Chartreuse. 
2.  A  Carthusian,  one  educated  at  Charterhouse. 

Cartilage.  [L.  cartilage.]  Gristle,  a  smooth 
elastic  solid  in  the  body,  softer  than  bone. 

Cartilaginous  fishes.  [L.  cartilaginSsus, 
gristly]  (Chondropterygii.) 

Cartoon.  [It.  cartone,  pasteboard,  or  large 
paper]  A  sketch  or  drawing  for  fresco  or 
tapestry.  The  word  is  specially  applied  to  the 
seven  well-known  compositions  of  Raphael,  at 
Hampton  Court. 

Cartouch.  [Fr.  cartouche,  from  L.  carta, 
paper]  1.  (Mil.)  Wooden  case,  with  holes  for 
the  reception  of  each  charge  for  any  firearm.  2. 
(Arch.)  Oval  or  oblong  enclosure  in  hieroglyphic 
inscription.  (The  It.  cartoccio,  and  its  deriva- 
tive Fr.  cartouche,  have  both  meanings.) 

Cartulary,  Chartulary.  [L.  chartularium.]  A 
collection  of  charters  belonging  to  a  corporation, 
civil  or  eccles.,  or  to  a  family  ;  very  common  in 
the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries. 

Carucate,  or  Plough-land.  [L.  carruca,  some 
sort  of  four-wheeled  carriage]  An  ancient 
division  of  land,  not  fixed,  but  as  much  as  would 
employ  a  plough  and  team  during  the  year  ; 
more  or  less,  according  to  the  soil.  Where  oxen 
were  used,  a  similar  division  was  an  Ox-gang  or 
B 'ovate  [L.  bovem,  an  ox]. 

Caruncule.  [L.  caruncula,  dim.  of  caro, 
flesh]  1.  (Med.)  A  small  fleshy  growth,  natural 
or  morbid.  2.  (Bot.)  A  wart  or  protuberance 
round  or  near  the  hilum  of  a  seed. 

Carvage,  Carve.  One  hundred  acres  of  plough 
[L.L.  carruca]  -land. 

Carvel.  A  light  lateen-rigged  vessel,  un- 
decked. Spain  and  Portugal.  C. -£**'#  ship  or 
boat,  one  the  planks  of  whose  sides  do  not 
overlap. 

Caryatides.  [Gr.  /eopuariSer.]  In  Gr.  Arch., 
figures  of  women  employed  instead  of  columns 
to  support  entablatures.  Male  figures  so  used 
were  called  Telam5nes,  and  sometimes  Persians. 
(Canephori.) 

Caryophyllaceous,  (Bot.)  A  nat.  ord.  of  which 


GARY 


CAST 


the  type  is  the  common  pink  (Dianthus  caryo- 
phyllus) :  the  corolla  has  five  petals,  with  long 
narrow  claws.  [Gr.  Ka.pi>6$v\\ov,  lit.  nut  leaf, 
the  c love  tree.  ] 

Caryopsis.  (Sot.)  A  dry,  one-seeded  fruit, 
and  so  far  having  the  appearance  [Gr.  &J>is]  of 
a  nut  [K&PVOV],  with  no  distinction  between 
seed-coat  and  pericarp ;  e.g.  a  grain  of  wheat, 
barley. 

Ca.  sa.  A  writ  addressed  to  sheriff,  rapias 
ad  .ratisfaciendum,  you  are  to  seize  with  a  view  to 
satisfaction  ;  under  which  a  man  was  imprisoned 
until  he  made  satisfaction  (for  debt). 

Cascabel.  Reverse  end  of  a  cannon  ;  that  part 
which  lies  behind  the  base  ring. 

Cascarilla.  An  aromatic  bark  yielded  by  more 
than  one  species  of  Crotdn  (q.v.). 

Case.  1.  (Reliquary.)  2.  (Naut.)  A  ship's 
planking  outside  ;  casing  (i)  the  covering  of  the 
beams,  and  (2)  a  bulkhead  round  a  mast. 

Casehardening.  The  process  of  converting 
the  outer  surface  of  iron  goods  into  steel,  by 
heating  them  in  charcoal. 

Casein,  Caseine.  The  nitrogenous  substance 
contained  in  milk  and  cheese  [L.  caseus]. 
(Albumen.) 

Casemate.  [Fr.  case-mate,  from  Sp.  casa-mata, 
casa,  a  house,  mata,  to  slay.]  (Mil.)  Vaulted 
masonry  chamber  made  shell-proof  under  a  ram- 
part for  the  lodgment  of  troops  and  guns. 

Caserne.     [Fr.,  barracks,  from  Sp.  caserne.] 

Cashew-nut.  [Fr.  acajou,  name  of  the  tree.] 
The  fruit  of  a  tropical  tree,  Anacardium  occi- 
dentale,  nat.  ord.  Anacardiaceae. 

Cashier.  1.  [Fr.  casser,  to  annul,  L.  quassare.] 
(Mil.)  To  dismiss  an  officer  from  the  service 
with  disgrace.  2.  [Fr.  caissier,  caisse,  a  case  or 
chest.']  A  keeper  of  money. 

Cashmere,  Cachemere.  Textile  fabric,  made 
of  the  downy  wool  at  the  roots  of  the  hair  of  the 
Thibet  goat ;  first  made  in  the  valley  of  C.,  in  N. 
India. 

Cask,  i.q.  Casque.  A  helmet  [probably  L.  cadis- 
cus,  dim.  of  cadus,  an  earthen  vessel}. 

Caskets.     (Naut.)     (Gaskets.) 

Cassandra's  prophecies.  Prophecies  which  are 
justified  by  events,  but  which  no  one  believes 
when  uttered.  The  story  was  that  Phoebus 
Apollo  sought  to  win  the  love  of  Cassandra, 
daughter  of  Priam,  and  gave  her  the  gift  of  pro- 
phecy, but,  when  she  resisted  him,  laid  on  her 
the  doom  that  her  predictions  should  be  always 
verified,  but  never  credited.  (Paris,  Judgment 
of.) 

Cassareep.  A  condiment  made  from  the  juice 
of  the  manioc  plant.  (Cassava.) 

Cassation.  Reversal  of  judicial  sentence  [L. 
cassare  in  Cod.  Just,  being  =  cassum  reddere, 
to  render  null  and  voia\ 

Cassava,  or  Manioc.  (Bot.)  Manihot  vitilis- 
sima;  Trop.  American  plant,  ord.  Euphorbia. 
From  its  large  roots,  when  dried  and  powdered, 
a  very  nourishing  food  is  obtained,  of  whica 
tapioca  is  a  preparation. 

Casse  paper.  [Fr.  casser,  to  break  into  frag- 
ments, L.  quassare,  to  shatter. ~\  In  Printing, 
broken  paper,  the  two  outside  quires  of  a  ream. 

8 


Cassia.  Exod.  xxx.  24 ;  an  ingredient  in  the 
anointing  oil,  aromatic  bark  of  more  than  one 
kind  of  cinnamomum. 

Cassimere.  [Fr.  casimir.]  A  thin  twilled 
woollen  cloth. 

Cassinette.  [Sp.  casinete.]  A  stuff  made  of 
cotton  warp  and  woollen  woof. 

Cassiterides.  [Gr.]  Islands  which  produce 
tin.  Supposed  by  some  to  be  the  Scilly  Islands, 
by  others  the  Isle  of  Wight,  or  the  coasts  of 
Cornwall. 

Cassius,  Purple  of.  (From  Cassius,  a  German 
of  the  seventeenth  century. )  A  stannate  of  gold 
and  tin,  used  for  painting  china. 

Cassolette.  [Fr.]  A  box  with  a  perforated 
lid  to  emit  perfumes. 

Cassonade.  [Fr.,  from  O.Fr.  casson,  a  large 
chest.]  Unrefined  sugar  (imported  in  chests). 

Cassowary.  [Malay  kassuwaris.]  An  ostrich- 
like  bird  of  the  gen.  Casuarius.  It  is  a  native 
of  Malacca,  Java,  and  the  neighbouring  islands. 

Cast.  A  tube  for  conveying  metal  into  a 
mould. 

"  Castagnac  Capt."  Said  of  states  in  Turkey  ; 
all  patched  together. 

Castalian  spring.     (Parnassus.) 

Caste.  [Sp.  and  Port,  casta,  perhaps  from 
L.  castus,  pure.]  A  name  denoting  the  heredi- 
tary classes  into  which  the  population  of  Hin- 
dustan is  divided.  According  to  the  book 
containing  the  ordinances  of  Menu,  the  four 
castes  sprang  severally  from  the  mouth,  arm, 
thigh,  and  foot  of  Brahma.  These  are  (i)  the 
Brahmans ;  (2)  the  Kshatryas,  or  warriors ;  (3) 
the  Vaisyas,  or  merchants ;  and  (4)  the  Sudras, 
or  tillers  of  the  soil.  But  the  Sudras  were  pro- 
perly outcasts,  the  Aryan  conquerors  of  India 
belonging  to  the  three  castes  only. 

Castellan,  Chatelain.  In  the  Middle  Ages, 
the  keeper,  warden  of  a  castle  [L.  castellum,  Fr. 
chateau]. 

Castellany.  The  lordship  attached  to  a  castle  ; 
its  authority  and  extent  of  jurisdiction. 

-caster.  [L.  castra,  fortified  camp]  Part  of 
names  of  towns  in  England,  as  in  Don-caster. 

Casteth.  The  steamy  air  rising  from  a  shaft 
on  winter  mornings. 

Cast-horse.  One  which  has  been  pronounced 
unfit  for  further  retention  in  the  military  service. 

Castigatory.  [L.  castigo,  /  chastise.]  (Cuck- 
ing-stool.) 

Castile.  Old  kingdom  of  Spain,  all  except 
Navarre,  Aragon,  and  Granada,  afterwards  New 
C.,  Old  C.,  two  provinces. 

Casting.  The  warping  of  wood  by  weather, 
etc. 

Casting  accounts.     (Naut.)     Sea-sickness. 

Castle  of  Indolence.  A  poem  by  Thomson  ; 
an  enchanter  entices  the  unwary  into  the  C.  of 
I.,  where  they  lose  all  strength  and  good  aspira- 
tions. 

Cast-offs.     Landsmen's  clothes. 

Cast  of  the  lead,  To  get.     (Naut.)     (Heave.) 

Castor.  Beaver  ;  slang  for  hat ;  made  of  fur,, 
before  the  invention  of  silk  hats. 

Castor  and  Pollux.     [Gr.  icda-rap  and  iro\v 
1.  Mentioned  in  Acts  xxviii.  II,  under 


CAST 


104 


CATA 


the  title  Dioskouroi,  or  the  twin  sons  of  Zeus, 
as  the  figure-head  of  a  ship.  In  the  heavens, 
they  reappear  as  the  constellation  Gemini.  In 
Gr.  Myth.,  they  are  brothers  of  Helen.  (Paris, 
Judgment  of.)  2.  A  pair  of  electric  flames  seen 
on  the  mastheads  of  vessels,  etc.,  at  sea,  as 
being  twin  lights. 

Castor-oil  plant.  (Bot.)  Ricinus  commums 
(ord.  Euphorbiacese),  much  grown  lately  for  its 
ornamental  foliage.  The  well-known  oil  is 
made  from  the  crushed  seeds. 

Castor  ware.  Roman  pottery  made  near 
Castor,  Northamptonshire  ;  ornamented  with 
reliefs  usually  of  a  different  colour  from  the 
ground. 

Castrametation.  [L.  castra,  plu.,  a  camp,  me- 
tatio,  a  measuring.}  (Mil.)  The  art  of  laying 
out  an  encampment  for  troops,  on  the  principle 
that  they  may  occupy  the  same  frontage  as  when 
drawn  up  in  order  of  battle. 

Casual  poor.  Vagrants  and  travellers  wanting 
casual  shelter  and  relief. 

Casual  suffix.  (Gram.)  Terminations  form- 
ing cases  [L.  casus]  of  nouns. 

Casuist.  [L.  casus,  a  falling,  a  condition.'} 
( Theol.)  One  charged  with  the  decision  of  cases 
of  conscience. 

Casuistry.  The  science  of  the  treatment  of 
conscience,  with  its  rules  and  principles  in  prac- 
tice. (Cf.  Jeremy  Taylor,  Ductor  Dubitantium  ; 
Bishop  Sanderson,  Cases  of  Conscience.) 

Casula.    (Chasuble.) 

Casus  belli.    [L.]    A  case  for  war;  a  suffi- 


cient ground  for  going  to  war. 
sus  omissus.     [L., 


(Leg.) 


Casus  omissus.     [L.,   omitted  case.] 
Point  unprovided  for  by  statute. 

Cat.  (Naut.)  A  strong  vessel  of  about  600 
tons  (usually  a  collier  or  timber-ship),  built  on 
the  lines  of  a  Norwegian,  but  having  a  deep 
waist,  narrow  stern,  projecting  quarters,  and  no 
ornamental  figure-head. 

Catabaptists.  A  word  formed  on  a  false 
analogy  [from  Gr.  Kara,  against,  and  fraTrrifa,  / 
baptize},  and  applied  to  all  who  deny  the  neces- 
sity of  baptism,  or  oppose  that  of  infants. 

Catachresis.  Lit.  a  misuse  [Gr.  Karaxpyais}. 
1.  In  Etym.,  as  alegar,  Peterloo,  in  imitation 
of  vinegar,  Waterloo  ;  and  oftener,  2,  in  Rhet., 
a  strained  use  of  words ;  as  in  Hamlet,  act  iii., 
"  or  to  take  arms  against  a  sea  of  troubles." 

Cataclysm.  [Gr.  Ka.Ta.KXvap.6s.}  An  inunda- 
tion ;  a  sudden  bursting  of  waters. 

Catacombs.  [L.L.  catacumbse ;  but  the  origin 
of  the  word  is  doubtful.]  (Arch.)  Passages 
excavated  in  the  soil,  with  recesses  or  chambers 
for  graves  or  bone-houses.  At  Rome,  the  cata- 
combs were  also  used  as  places  for  worship 
during  the  times  of  persecution. 

Catacoustics.  [Coined  from  Gr.  Ka.ro.,  back,  in 
composition  with  verbs  of  motion,  b.Kov<mK6s, 
relating  to  hearing}  The  science  of  reflected 
sounds,  a  branch  of  acoustics  (q.v.). 

Catadioptric.  [Gr.  Kara.,  down,  and  SiowrpiKSs, 
from  SiWrpoj/,  spying-glass.}  Relating  to  the 
reflexion  and  refraction  of  light,  as  a  C.  tele- 
scope, i.e.  a  reflecting  telescope. 

Catafalque.    A  decorated  temporary  structure 


used  in  funerals ;  originally  a  place  from  which 
to  see  a  show.  [L.L.  scadafaltum,  from  which 
come  also  echafaud,  and  its  Eng.  equivalent 
scaffold}  (See  Brachet,  s.v.  "  Echafaud.") 

Catalan.  Belonging  to  Catalonia.  (Naut}  A 
Spanish  fishing-boat. 

Catalectic.  [Gr.  /ccrraATjKTi/cJs,  deficient.}  In 
Gr.  and  L.  Prosody,  a  verse  wanting  one  syllable 
of  its  proper  length  ;  if  wanting  two  syllables,  it 
was  Brachycatalectic.  (Acatalectic.) 

Catalepsy.  [Gr.  KOTCIATJ^IS,  a  seizing,  cata- 
lepsy,  a  variety  of  hysteria.]  (Med.)  A  suspen- 
sion of  sensation  and  volition ;  the  limbs  and 
body  remaining  as  they  are  placed  ;  a  condition 
of  the  body  resembling  death. 

Catallactics.  [Gr.  KaraXXaKriK6s,  from  Ka.ra.X- 
Xda-o-oo,  I  exchange.}  The  science  of  exchanges  ; 
political  economy. 

Catalogue  raisonne.  [Fr.]  List  of  books, 
with  a  short  account  of  the  character  of  their 
contents. 

Catalysis.  [Gr.  KaraXwis,  from  Ka.ro.,  down, 
Xfeiv,  to  loose.}  (Chem.)  The  influence  by 
which  (as  some  chemists  have  thought)  sub- 
stances are  decomposed  and  recomposed,  by  the 
contact  of  substances  which  do  not  enter  into 
actual  composition  with  the  original  elements, 
as  in  the  formation  of  ether  from  alcohol  through 
sulphuric  acid. — Webster. 

Catamaran.  1.  A  kind  of  raft,  of  three  planks 
lashed  together,  the  middle  serving  as  a  keel, 
used  on  the  Coromandel  Coast,  Brazil,  W. 
Indies.  2.  Bonaparte's  floating  batteries,  for 
invading  England,  were  so  called.  3.  An  old 
hag. 

Cat-a-mountain.  [Sp.  gato  montes.]  (ZooL) 
One  of  the  wild  Felidse,  not  accurately  defined  ; 
with  Ray,  the  N.- American  lynx. 

Catanadromous.  [Gr.  Kara.,  down,  ava-Spo/j.^, 
a  running  up.}  A  term  which  has  been  applied 
to  fish  which  descend  and  ascend  rivers  to  and 
from  the  sea,  as  the  salmon. 

Cataphract.  [Gr.  KaratypaKros,  mailed.}  1.  An 
armed  horseman.  2.  A  coat  of  mail ;  armour. 

Cataphrygians.     (Montanists.) 

Cataplasm.     [Gr.  KardirXaff^a.}    A  poultice. 

Catapult.  [L.  catapulta,  Gr.  /eaTOTrcATrjs.]  A 
kind  of  huge  cross-bow  for  throwing  stones, 
javelins,  etc.  (Ballista.) 

Cataract.  [Gr.  KarappaKrt\s,  a  fall  of  water.} 
In  the  eye,  an  opaque  condition  of  the  crystalline 
lens  or  its  capsule. 

Catarrh.  [Gr.  Kardppoos,  a  flowing  down,  a 
catarrh.}  A  cold,  with  running  from  the  head. 

Catasterism.  [Gr.  Karaarepicr^s,  a  placing 
among  the  stars.}  Of  Eratosthenes,  a  list  of  475 
principal  stars  according  to  their  constellations  ; 
published  about  sixty  years  before  the  time  of 
Hipparchus. 

Catastrophe.  [Gr.,  a  sudden  turn  or  end.} 
1.  The  change  or  final  event  of  whatever  kind, 
in  a  drama  or  romance.  2.  A  calamitous  change, 
more  or  less  sudden. 

Catastrophic  changes.  (Geol.)  Those  brought 
about  by  abrupt,  sudden  action;  opposed  to 
Uniformitarian,  the  result  of  steady,  continuous 
action. 


CATA 


105 


CATH 


Catastrophist.     (TJniformitarian.) 

Catawba.  A  light,  sparkling  wine,  made  near 
Cincinnati,  U.S.,  from  a  native  grape. 

Catch  a  crab,  To.  (Naut.)  To  be  knocked 
backwards  by  one's  oar  catching  water  too  much 
when  rowing. 

Catchpole.  A  bailiff,  to  catch,  if  necessary, 
the  poll  or  head  [cf.  Fr.  happe-chaire,  catch-flesh}. 

Catch-work.  (Agr.)  A  series  of  nearly 
parallel  channels  on  a  slope  to  be  irrigated, 
catching  and  redistributing  the  water  succes- 
sively. 

Catechism.  [Gr.  /caTrjx€/ft)>  to  sound  in  one's 
cars.}  Instruction  by  word  of  mouth,  specially 
by  question  and  answer.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  the  C. 
of  Nowell,  Dean  of  St.  Paul's,  taken  mainly 
from  that  of  Poynet,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  was 
approved  by  Convocation  in  1563.  Overall's  C. 
added  the  questions  and  answers  on  the  sacra- 
ments. The  C.  known  as  the  Assembly's  Larger 
C.,  drawn  up  by  the  Westminster  divines,  was 
approved  by  the  Church  of  Scotland  in  1648.  A 
shorter  form  of  this  C.  was  prepared  at  the  same 
time. 

Catechists.  [Gr.  KOTTjxttf-T^s,  /COTTJXTJT^S.]  An 
order  of  men  appointed  to  catechize  candidates 
for  baptism  in  the  primitive  Christian  Church. 
The  catechetical  school  of  Alexandria,  to  which 
Origen  belonged,  was  widely  celebrated. 

Catechu.  (Bot.)  A  watery  extract  of  the  bark 
of  Acacia  catechu  and  A.  suma,  of  E.  Indies, 
ord.  Legum.  containing  large  quantities  of 
tannin. 

Catechumen.  [Gr.  KaTT)x<>v/j.€vos,  taught  by 
word  of  mouth.}  1.  One  who  is  being  instructed 
in  the  rudiments  of  the  faith,  before  baptism ; 
a  neophyte.  2.  A  beginner  in  any  kind  of 
knowledge. 

Categorematic.  [Gr.  KaTijyop-nfjLa,  a  predicate.} 
In  Logic,  any  word  capable  of  being  employed 
by  itself  as  a  Predicate.  Such  are  all  common 
nouns.  (Syncategorematic.) 

Categorical  proposition.  In  Logic,  a  propo- 
sition which  affirms  or  denies  absolutely  the 
agreement  of  the  Subject  with  the  Predicate,  as 
distinguished  from  one  which  does  so  condition- 
ally or  hypothetically. 

Category.  [Gr.  Karriyopia.}  In  Logic,  a  class 
under  which  a  family  of  predicates  may  be 
ranged.  The  complete  number  of  categories 
would  thus  embrace  the  whole  range  of  human 
thought  and  knowledge.  Aristotle  framed  ten 
categories  which  may  be  reduced  to  four — sub- 
stance, quality,  quantity,  relation ;  but  many 
other  schemes  have  been  put  forth,  none  of  which, 
perhaps,  can  be  regarded  as  final. 

Catelectrode.  [Gr.  Kard,  down,  and  electrode.] 
The  negative  pole  of  a  galvanic  battery. 

Catena.  [L.,  a  chain.}  A  regular  uninter- 
rupted succession. 

Catena  Patrum  [L.,  a  chain  of  the  Fathers}, 
i.e.  a  series  of  passages  from  the  F.,  elucidating 
some  portion  of  Scripture,  as  the  Catena  Aurea 
of  Thomas  Aquinas. 

Catenary  curve.  (Geom.)  The  curve -formed 
by  a  cord  hanging  between  two  points  of  sus- 
pension not  in  the  same  vertical  line. 


Cateran,  Caterran  [Gael.]  =  robbers,  banditti ; 
so  Loch  Katrine,  originally  Loch  Cateran. 

Cater-cousin.  Cousin  in  the  fourth  [Fr. 
quatre]  degree. 

Caterpiller.  [Heb.  khosil ;  i  Kings  viii.  37, 
etc.]  (Bibl.)  Probably  locust  or  its  larva. 

Caterwauling.  [Probably  onomatop.]  To 
make  a  noise  like  cats,  or  any  other  offensive 
or  quarrelsome  noise. 

Cates.  Provisions,  delicacies.  [Said  to  be  a 
corr.  of  delicates,  or  dainty  meats ;  more  probably 
from  Fr.  acheter,  to  buy,  formerly  acater,  L. 
ac-capitare,  originally  to  receive  as  rent.} 

Catfall.  (Naut.)  A  rope  used  in  hoisting  the 
anchor  to  the  cathead. 

Cat-fish.  (Ichth.)  Sea-cat,  Wolf -fish,  Anarrhi- 
chas  lupus ;  carnivorous,  naked  fish  living  at  the 
bottom  of  shallow  seas  and  tidal  waters.  W. 
Indies.  Gen.  Anarrhichas,  fam.  Blennidse,  ord. 
Acanthopterygii,  sub-class  Tel£ostei. 

Catgut  is  made  from  the  intestines  of  sheep. 
[(?)  Corr.  of  cord-gut,  or  of  gut-cord.] 

Cathari.  [Gr.  KaBapot,  pure.}  (Eccl.  Hist.} 
An  Eastern  sect,  probably  the  same  as  the 
Paulicians.  (Novatians.) 

Catharists.  [Gr.  KaBaptfa,  I  cleanse.}  Mani- 
chseans  (q.v.)  who  professed  especial  purity ; 
holding  matter  to  be  the  source  of  evil,  renounc- 
ing marriage,  animal  food,  wine. 

Cat-harpings.  (Naut.)  Ropes  keeping  the  top 
of  the  shrouds  taut. 

Cathartic  [Gr.  KaOapTiKd's,  from  Ka.6alpa>,  I 
cleanse,  purge}  remedies  purge  more  mildly ; 
Drastic,  more  severely  [Spaanicts,  effective, 
drastic}. 

Cathay.  An  old  name  for  China  ;  Cathay  or 
Khitai  being  the  Mongolian  and  Russian  name 
for  North  China ;  as  Chin  was  the  Indian  and 
Portuguese  name  for  South  China. 

Cathead.  (Naut.)  A  curved  timber,  which 
passes  through  the  bulwark  forward,  and  from 
which  the  anchor  is  suspended  (when  being 
hauled  up)  clear  of  the  vessel's  bows. 

Cathedrals  of  the  New  Foundation.  The 
cathedral  churches  of  sees  founded  by  Henry 
VIII.,  from  funds  obtained  by  the  suppression 
of  the  monasteries,  the  cathedrals  of  the  sees 
already  established  being  called  henceforth  the 
C.  of  the  Old  Foundation.  The  new  sees  were 
those  of  Westminster,  Oxford,  Peterborough, 
Bristol,  Gloucester,  and  Chester. 

Cathedrals  of  the  Old  Foundation.  (Cathedrals 
of  the  New  Foundation.) 

Catherine  wheel,  or  Rose  window  (q.v.). 
St.  C.,  an  Alexandrian  of  royal  descent,  con- 
fessing Christ  at  a  feast  appointed  by  the 
Emperor  Maximinus,  was  tortured  on  a  wheel, 
and  put  to  death,  A.D.  307. 

Catheter.  [Gr.  /caflerTjp,  Ka0fyu,  I send  down.} 
A  surgical  instrument  for  emptying  the  bladder. 

Cathetometer.  [Gr.  KdBeros,  adj.,  let  down  or 
in,  subst.  a  plumbline,  fterpov,  a  measure.]  An 
instrument  used  for  the  accurate  determination 
of  differences  of  level,  e.g.  the  height  to  which 
a  fluid  rises  in  a  capillary  tube  above  the  ex- 
:erior  free  surface.  It  consists  of  an  accurately 
divided  metallic  stem  which  can  be  made  vertical 


CATH 


106 


CAUT 


by  means  of  three  levelling  screws  on  which  the 
instrument  stands.  On  the  stem  slides  a  metallic 
piece  carrying  a  telescope— like  the  telescope  of 
a  theodolite— whose  axis  can  be  made  horizontal 
by  a  level.  The  telescope  is  first  directed  to  one 
object,  and  moved  by  a  delicate  screw  till  a 
horizontal  wire  in  the  focus  of  the  eye-piece 
coincides  with  the  image  of  the  object ;  the  stem 
is  then  read.  The  process  is  repeated  for  the 
second  object.  The  difference  of  the  readings 
is,  of  course,  the  difference  of  the  levels  of  the 
objects. 

Cathode.  [Gr.  itdOoSos,  descent.}  The  nega- 
tive pole,  or  path  by  which  the  current  leaves 
a  body  which  is  being  decomposed  by  electricity. 

Catholes.  (Naut.}  Two  holes  astern,  above 
the  gun-room  ports,  through  which  hawsers  may 
be  passed. 

Catholic  emancipation  removed  all  civil  dis- 
abilities from  Dissenters,  -1829. 

Catholic  Majesty,  Most.  Title  of  the  kings  of 
Spain. 

Cat-in-pan,  (?)  To  turn.  "A  cunning  which 
lays  that  which  a  man  says  to  another  as  if 
another  had  said  it  to  him  "  (Bacon,  quoted  by 
Johnson)  ;  to  be  a  turncoat,  to  change  sides 
unscrupulously. 

Cation.  [Gr.  KariW,  going  down,  from  Kara, 
down,  Uvai,  to  go.~]  The  element  which  goes  to 
the  negative  pole  when  the  substance  is  decom- 
posed by  electricity.  (Cathode.) 

Catlings.     Catgut  strings. 

Catoptrics.  [Gr.  KaroirrpiKAs,  having  to  do 
with  a  mirror,  Karoirrpov.}  The  part  of  optics 
which  treats  of  the  formation  of  images  by 
mirrors  and  other  reflecting  surfaces,  and  of 
vision  by  means  of  them. 

Cato  Street  Conspiracy.  A  conspiracy  formed 
in  1820  by  Thistlewood  and  others,  for  murdering 
the  ministers,  seizing  the  Bank,  and  setting  fire 
to  London. 

Catraia.  (Naut.)  Pilot  surf-boats  of  Lisbon 
and  Oporto,  about  fifty-six  feet  long  by  fifteen 
feet  broad,  propelled  by  sixteen  oars. 

Cat-rig.  (Naut. )  Vessels  rigged  with  a  large 
fore-and-aft  mainsail  only,  set  on  a  boom  and 
gaff,  and  having  the  mast  stepped  near  the  stem. 
Suitable  for  light  winds  only. 

Catsalt.     A  fine  granulated  salt. 

Cat's-eye.  (Min. )  A  variety  of  quartz,  trans- 
lucent, yellowish,  greenish,  and  greyish -brown. 
Found  in  Malabar,  Ceylon,  etc. 

Cats'-paw.  A  dupe  who  does  perilous  work  for 
another,  as  in  the  fable  the  cat's  paw  was  used  by 
the  monkey  to  pull  the  chestnuts  out  of  the  fire. 

Caucasian  races.  An  incorrect  term,  =  what 
is  now  divided  into  Aryan,  or  Indo-European, 
and  Semitic  ;  most  of  the  Caucasian  tribes  being 
Turanian  (q.v.}. 

Caucus  meeting.  1.  A  general  meeting  of 
party.  In  1770,  a  fray  between  some  British 
soldiers  and  Boston  ropemakers  resulted  in 
democratic  meetings  of  ropemakers  and  caulkers; 
called  by  the  Tories  caucus  meetings.  2.  In 
England  now — sometimes  called  the  Birmingham 
system— the  management  of  all  electioneering 
business  by  a  representative  committee  of  voters. 


Caudate.  (Bot.)  Prolonged  into  a  kind  of 
tail  [L.  cauda]. 

Caudle,  Mrs.  A  nagging  wife,  who  delivers 
Curtain  Lectures  ;  by  Douglas  Jerrold. 

Caul.  (Perhaps  a  modification  of  cowl.)  1. 
Membrane  sometimes  covering  the  face  of  a 
child,  at  birth.  2.  The  omentum,  or  fatty  net- 
work in  which  the  bowels  are  wrapped.  3. 
Small  net  for  the  hair. 

Caulk,  To.  [Akin  to  L.  calcare,  to  ram  in 
with  the  heel,  Gael,  calc,  to  drive,  ram.]  (A  aut. ) 

1.  To  go  to  sleep  in  your  clothes,  lying  on  deck. 

2.  To  fill  in  cracks  or  seams  with   oakum  or 
other  material  driven  in  tight. 

Caulker.  1.  One  who  caulks,  or  pays  the 
seams.  2.  A  morning  dram.  Caulker's  seat,  a 
box  slung  over  the  ship's  side,  in  which  a  caulker 
sits  and  works.  (Pay.) 

Caulopteris  [Gr.  Kav\6s,  stem,  irrepis,  fern} 
(Geol.)  =  fossil  tree-fern  stems;  Carboniferous 
system. 

Causa  (i)  cognoscendi  [L.],  the  cause  of  our 
knowing  a  fact ;  (2)  essendi,  the  cause  of  the 
fact  itself;  e.g.  (2)  "  the  ground  is  wet,  because 
it  has  rained  ;  "  but  (i)  "it  has  rained,  because 
the  ground  is  wet,"  i.e.  this  is  how  we  know  it. 

Causa  latet,  vis  est  notissima.  [L.]  The  cause 
does  not  appear,  the  effect  is  most  evident  (Ovid). 

Cause  celebre.  [Fr.]  An  important  or  inte- 
resting trial,  which  has  become  historical. 

Causerie.     [Fr.]     Chat,  gossip. 

Causes.  With  Aristotle  and  the  logicians, 
are  four  :  Material,  that  otit  of  which  the  effect 
is  produced  ;  Efficient,  that  by  which,  as  the 
agent ;  Formal,  that  according  to  which,  as 
the  regulating  idea ;  Final,  that  for  which,  as 
the  purpose.  Thus,  of  a  cup,  cause  I  is  the 
clay ;  2,  the  maker  ;  3,  the  design  intended  ;  4, 
drinking. 

Causeuse.  [Fr.  causer,  to  talk,  chat,  L. 
causari,  to  defend  a  cause,  disctiss.}  A  small  sofa. 

Causeway,  Causey.  [Fr.  chaussee.]  A  raised 
pathway  or  road  for  crossing  wet  land. 

Caustic.  [Gr.  Kav(nlK.6s,  burning.}  1.  In 
Optics,  the  curve  (or  surface)  formed  by  the 
intersection  of  consecutive  rays  reflected  from  a 
mirror  or  other  reflecting  surface.  The  bright 
curve  seen  by  lamplight  on  the  surface  of  a  cup 
of  milk  is  the  caustic  formed  by  the  intersection 
of  the  rays  of  light  reflected  from  the  inside  of 
the  cup.  A  C.  is  also  formed  by  the  intersection 
of  consecutive  rays  refracted  through  a  lens  or 
other  refracting  substance.  2.  Lunar.  (Lunar 
caustic.)  3.  Any  medicament  producing  an 
eschar  (q.v.). 

Cautel.     [L.  cautela.]     Caution,  proviso. 

Cautela,  Ex  abundanti,  or  pro  majore.  [L.] 
In  Law,  out  of  greater  caution  ;  to  make  certainty 
more  certain  ;  as  when,  in  a  legal  instrument, 
some  provision  is  inserted,  which  the  law  would 
itself  imply  as  being  just  and  equitable  under 
the  circumstance. — Brown's  Law  Dictionary. 

Cautery.  Searing  by  hot  iron  [L.  cauterium, 
Gr.  KavTypiov,  branding-iron}. 

Cautio.     [L.]     Security,  in  law  or  contracts. 

Cautionary.  Given  as  a  security  ;  so  caution 
money  paid  at  matriculation. 


CAVA 


107 


CENA 


Cavalier.     [Fr.  cavalier,   from  It.    cavaliere.] 

1.  (Fortif.)    A  raised  work  placed  in  the  interior 
of  and  corresponding  in  shape  with  a  bastion. 

2.  A  mounted  knight. 

Cavaliere  servente.  [It.]  A  man  who  dis- 
plays devotion  to  a  married  lady. 

C,a  va  sans  dire.  [Fr.]  That  is  taken  for 
granted  ;  lit.  that  goes  without  saying. 

Cavatlna.  [It.,  short  air.]  Properly  an  air 
of  simple,  gentle  character,  having  one  move- 
ment ;  sometimes  preceded  by  a  recitative. 

Cavea.  [L.]  The  semicircular  space  for 
spectators  in  a  Roman  theatre. 

Caveat  emptor.  [L.]  Let  the  purchaser 
beware ;  e.g.  let  him  take  reasonable  care  that 
his  purchase  is  really  what  he  expects. 

Cave  canem.  [L.]  Bc^vare  of  the  dog ; 
frequently  inscribed  on  Roman  vestibules. 

Cavendish.  Tobacco  mixed  with  molasses 
and  pressed  into  cakes. 

Cave  ne  litteras  Bellerophontis  adferas.  [L.] 
Take  care  you  do  not  bring  Bellerophon's  letters. 

Cavers.  Persons  stealing  ore  from  Derbyshire 
mines. 

Caves.  As  spoken  of  in  Geol.,  are  generally 
excavations  made  by  water  along  the  fissures  of 
limestones ;  in  France,  Switzerland,  Bavaria, 
Belgium,  S.  Wales,  Devon,  Derbyshire,  York- 
shire, etc.  ;  sometimes  containing  relics  of  animals 
and  men  inhabiting  them  in  long-past  ages. 

Caveson.  [Fr.  cave9on,  Sp.  cabeza,  L.L. 
capitium.]  A  kind  of  bridle  or  noseband,  used 
in  breaking  in  a  horse. 

Caviar.  [Fr.  and  Port.]  Salted  roe  of 
sturgeon  and  other  fish  ;  a  Russian  luxury. 

Cavity.  (Naut.)  The  displacement  of  water 
caused  by  a  vessel  floating  in  it.  Centre  of  C., 
Displacement,  Immersion,  or  Buoyancy  is  the 
mean  centre  of  such  part  of  a  ship  as  is  under 
water,  i.e.  considering  the  whole  as  homoge- 
neous. 

Cavo-relievo.  [It.]  A  kind  of  carving  in 
relief,  where  the  highest  surface  is  level  with  the 
plane  of  the  original  stone,  giving  an  effect  like 
the  impression  of  a  seal  in  wax.  (Alto-relievo.) 

Cavy,  Cavia,  Cobaia.  [Brazilian  name.]  (Zoo!.) 
Aperea.  Gen.  of  fam.  Caviidse  ;  as  the  guinea- 
pig,  Restless  cavy.  S.  America.  Ord.  Rddentia. 

Cawker.     (Caulker.) 

Cazique.     (Cacique.) 

Cecity.    Blindness  [L.  cDecitatem]. 

Cecropian.  Anything  relating  to  Cecrops, 
Kekrops,  a  mythical  king  or  founder  of  Athens. 
Sometimes  applied  to  the  bees  of  Hymettus, 
with  the  general  meaning  of  Attic  or  Athenian. 

Cecutiency.  [L.  coecutio,  /  am  blind  or  nearly 
blind.']  A  tendency  to  blindness. 

Cedant  anna  togse.  [L.]  Let  arms  give  way 
to  peace  ;  the  military  to  the  civil. 

Cedilla  [It.  zediglia,  dim.  of  zeta]  c  in  Fr. 
before  a,  o,  u;  showing  that  c  is  pronounced 
soft ;  as  sottpfon. 

Celadon.  1.  In  Thomson's  Summer,  lover  of 
Amelia,  who  is  killed  in  his  arms  by  lightning. 
2.  Sea-green  porcelain. 

Celandine.  [Gr.  xf^1^viotf']  !•  (Bot.)  Cheli- 
donium  majus,  the  only  spec,  of  the  gen.  C., 


ord.  Papaveraceoe ;  a  glaucous  annual,  with  small 
yellow  flowers  and  orange-coloured  juice  ;  not 
uncommon ;  its  flowering  once  thought  to  be 
connected  with  the  coming  of  the  swallow 
[xeAiSwi/j.  2.  C.  of  Wordsworth  and  other 
poets,  as  also  of  Theophrastus,  Dioscorides,  and 
Pliny,  is  the  Ranunculus  ficaria  or  pilewort, 
allied  to  buttercup. 

Celature.  [L.  cselatura,  carving.]  Emboss- 
ing, or  the  thing  embossed. 

-cele.     [Gr.  KTJATJ,  a  tumour.]     (Med.) 

Celeres.  [L.]  In  old  Roman  tradition,  a  body 
of  cavalry  instituted  by  Romulus,  divided  into 
the  three  centurions  of  Ramnes,  Titienses,  and 
Luceres. 

Celestial  Empire.  A  name  often  used  in 
speaking  of  the  Chinese  empire. 

Celestines.  An  almost  extinct  order,  founded 
in  the  thirteenth  century  by  Pietro  di  Morone 
afterwards  Celestine  V.  ;  a  branch  of  the  Bene- 
dictine. 

Celibacy.  [L.  cselebs,  unmarried ;  probably 
from  ca-,  a  particle  of  separation,  and  the  root 
which  has  given  the  Teut.  leib,  the  body,  as 
in  Z^/^-guards  ;  similar  formations  being  seen  in 
the  L.  csecus,  codes,  blind  or  one-eyed,  from 
ca-  and  ac,  oc,  the  root  of  oculus,  Ger.  auge, 
the  eye,  and  in  the  Eng.  ceorl  =  ca-eorl,  churl, 
halt  =  ha-lith,  deprived  of  or  maimed  in  a  lith 
or  limb,  and  half  =  ha-leib,  with  divided  or 
separated  body.  The  L.  caelebs  would  therefore 
closely  represent  the  Eng.  half  (Bopp,  Com- 
parative Grammar).]  (Eccl.)  The  condition  of 
unmarried  life,  imposed  as  a  necessary  obligation 
on  all  the  clergy  of  the  Latin  Church,  and  by 
the  Greek  Church  on  all  who  are  not  married 
before  receiving  holy  orders. 

Cell.  [L.  cella.]  1.  Of  an  ancient  temple, 
the  naos  or  enclosed  space  within  the  walls  ; 
hence  a  room  in  a  monastery,  prison.  2.  (Biol. ) 
A  definite  portion  of  sarcode,  o*  protoplasm,  con- 
taining a  nucleus  [L.,  a  kernel]  ;  whether  or  not 
assuming  the  form  popularly  called  a  cell. 

Cellarer,  Cellarist.  In  a  monastery,  i.q.  a 
bursar. 

Cellulares.  (Bot.)  The  simplest  plants,  formed 
of  cellulose  (q.v.)  ;  e.g.  fungi. 

Cellular  tissue.  1.  (Bot.)  Coherent  cells, 
not  united  into  continuous  tubes  or  vessels.  2. 
( Med. )  (Areolar  tissue.) 

Cellulose.  (Chem.)  1.  A  compound  of  carbon, 
hydrogen,  and  oxygen — C.  24,  H.  29,  O.  10 ; 
the  basis  of  vegetable  tissue.  2.  The  colourless 
material  of  the  woody  fibre  of  young  plants, 
which  forms  the  walls  of  the  cells  [L.  cellulse]. 

Celts.     Weapons  of  stone  or  bronze,  wedge-    . 
shaped  or  socketed,  used  by  the  early  inhabitants    * 
of  Europe  (?  connected  with  the  name  Celts ; 
or  (?)  with  a   supposed   L.   celtis   or  celtes,   a 
chisel ;  cf.  Welsh  cellt,  a  flint. — Evans's  Stone 
Implements). 

Cementation.  [Eng.  cement.']  The  process 
of  heating  a  solid  body  surrounded  by  the  powder 
of  other  substances,  so  that  without  fusion  its 
nature  is  changed  by  chemical  combination. 
(For  an  instance,  vide  Blistered  steel.) 

Cenacle.      [Fr.]      1.    A    guest-chamber    [L. 


CENA 


108 


CENT 


coenaculum].  2.  A  picture  of  the  Last  Supper ; 
and,  especially,  Leonardo  da  Vinci's  is  so  called. 
3.  Reunion  of  literary  men,  intimate,  and  with 
some  degree  of  mutual  admiration . 

Cena,  Coena.  [L.]  The  chief  meal  of  the 
Romans,  dinner  rather  than  supper.  The  fashion- 
able hour  in  the  Augustan  age  was  from  1.30 
to  2.30  p.m. 

Cenci,  Beatrice.  Heroine  of  Shelley's  The 
Cenci,  executed  at  Rome  for  conspiring  against 
her  unnaturally  brutal  father's  life. 

Cendres,  Jour  de.  [Fr.,  L.  dies  cingrum, 
day  of  ashes.}  French  name  of  Ash  Wednesday. 

Ce  n'est  que  le  premier  pas  qui  coute.  [Fr.] 
Lit.  it  is  but  the  first  step  which  costs;  the  first 
effort,  the  first  outlay,  is  the  chief  difficulty. 

Cenobites.    (Coenobites.) 

Cenotaph.  [Gr.  Kevordfiov.]  Lit.  an  empty 
tomb  [Kfv6s  T&fyos] ;  a  monument  only,  the  body 
being  elsewhere. 

Censors.  [L.  censSres.]  In  Rom.  Hist.,  two 
magistrates  appointed  for  eighteen  months  out 
of  each  lustrum,  or  period  of  five  years,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  the  register  of  the  citizens. 
(Lustration.) 

Cent.  1.  A  hundred  [L.  centum],  as  five  per 
cent.,  i.e.  five  in  the  hundred.  2.  A  coin  used 
in  the  U.S.,  made  of  copper  or  copper  and 
nickel  =  T^  of  a  dollar,  or  about  a  halfpenny. 

Cental.  A  new  English  weight  =  100  Ibs. 
avoirdupois. 

Centaurs.  [Gr.  /ceVravpos,  Skt.  gandharva.] 
(Myth.}  Beings,  half  man,  half  horse,  who  are 
said  to  have  lived  in  Thessaly. 

Csntaury.  (Bot.)  Erythrcea  Centaurium ;  ord. 
Gentianacese.  A  British  plant,  with  numerous 
small  bright  pink  flowers,  frequent  in  dry  places, 
and  collected  for  use  as  a  tonic. 

Centenary.  [L.  centenarius.]  1.  A  hundred 
of  anything ;  as  a  C.  of  years.  2.  The  hundredth 
anniversary. 

Centesimation.  The  picking  out  of  every 
hundredth  [L.  centesimus)  person ;  cf.  Deci- 
mation. 

Centiare;  Centigramme;  Centilitre;  Centimetre. 
[Fr.]  Measures  of  the  hundredth  part  of  an 
are,  gramme,  litre,  metre  respectively.  (Are; 
Gramme;  Litre;  Metre.) 

Centigrade.    (Thermometer.) 

Centime.  The  hundredth  [L.  centesimus] 
part  of  a  franc  (q.v.). 

Centimetre.  The  hundredth  part  of  a  metre, 
i.e.  of  39^  inches ;  about  =  f  of  inch,  nearly. 

Centner.  1.  In  Prussia,  1 10  Ibs.  or  220  marks, 
equal  to  about  113*4  Ibs.  avoirdupois.  2.  The 
Zollverein  C.  is  50  kilogrammes,  or  noj  Ibs. 
avoirdupois. 

Cento.  [L.,  Gr.  /ceVrpwj',  a  patchwork  cloak."} 
1.  Patchwork.  2.  A  collection  of  verses  from 
one  or  more  poets,  so  arranged  as  to  form  a 
distinct  poem. 

Central  force.  An  attractive  or  repulsive  force 
which  originates  in  a  determinate  point  of  space, 
and  acts  round  that  point  in  such  a  manner  that 
its  intensity  at  any  point  of  space  depends  on  the 
distance  only  and  not  on  the  direction ;  thus, 
gravity  is  a  C.  F. 


Centre  [L.  centrum,  Gr.  Kfvrpov] ;  C.  of  a 
curve;  C.  of  gravity;  C.  of  gyration;  C.  of 
inertia;  C.  of  a  lens;  C.  of  mass;  C.  of  oscilla- 
tion; C.  of  percussion;  C.  of  position;  C.  of 
pressure ;  C.  of  a  surface.  A  term  used  vaguely 
to  mean  the  middle  point  or  part  of  anything. 
The  C.  of  a  curved  line  or  surface  is  the  point 
(if  there  be  one)  which  bisects  all  straight  lines 
that  are  drawn  through  it  and  are  terminated  at 
both  ends  by  the  line  or  surface,  such  as  the  C. 
of  a  circle,  ellipse,  sphere,  spheroid,  etc.  The 
C.  of  gravity  is  that  point  of  a  body  through 
which  the  force  of  gravity  on  the  body  will  act, 
in  whatever  position  it  may  be  placed ;  conse- 
quently, if  that  point  is  supported  the  body  will 
rest  in  any  position.  It  must  be  remembered, 
however,  that  this  definition  presupposes  that 
the  forces  exerted  by  gravity  on  the  parts  of  the 
body  act  along  parallel  lines.  The  C.  of  gravity 
is  called  also  the  C.  of  inertia,  and  sometimes 
the  C.  of  mass  and  the  C.  of  position.  The  C. 
of  gyration  is  a  point  into  which,  if  all  the 
particles  of  a  rotating  body  were  condensed,  its 
moment  of  inertia,  with  reference  to  the  axis  of 
rotation,  would  continue  unchanged.  The  C. 
of  oscillation  is  that  point  of  an  oscillating  body 
at  which,  if  all  the  particles  of  the  body  were 
condensed,  the  small  oscillations  would  be 
performed  in  the  same  time  as  the  actual  small 
oscillations  of  the  body.  The  C.  of  percussion 
is  the  point  of  a  rotating  body  at  which  it  must 
strike  an  obstacle,  so  that  there  may  be  no  jar  on 
the  axle  or  hinges.  It  coincides  in  position  with 
the  C.  of  oscillation.  The  C.  of  pressure  of  a 
plane  surface  immersed  in  a  fluid  is  the  point  in 
which  the  resultant  of  the  pressures  of  the  fluid 
meets  the  surface.  This  term  is  sometimes  used 
to  denote  the  metacentre  (q.v.).  The  C.  of  a  lens 
is  a  point  fixed  with  reference  to  the  lens  having 
this  property :  if  the  part  of  a  ray  of  light  within  the 
lens  tends  towards  the  centre,  the  parts  outside  of 
the  lens  are  parallel.  In  the  case  of  an  ordinary 
double  convex  lens,  the  centre  is  within  it. 

Centrebit.     A  tool  for  boring  circular  holes. 

Centrifugal  force.  [L.  centrum,  centre,  fugio, 
I  fly  fro™-]  When  a  body  moves  in  a  circle 
there  is  a  second  body,  which  may  be  called  the 
guiding  body,  and  whose  place  is  commonly 
the  centre,  by  whose  action  the  moving  body  is 
deflected  from  its  rectilinear  course  and  caused 
to  move  in  the  circle  ;  the  reaction  which  it 
exerts  against  the  guiding  body  is  the  C.  F.  of 
the  moving  body.  When  a  stone  is  whirled 
round  in  a  sling  it  endeavours  to  leave  the  hand 
that  guides  it ;  arid  by  that  endeavour  stretches 
the  sling,  and  stretches  it  more  the  faster  it 
moves.  The  stretching  of  the  sling  is  due  to 
two  forces,  the  action  of  the  hand  and  the  re- 
action of  the  stone ;  the  latter  is  the  C.  F.  of 
the  stone. 

Centring.  A  temporary  wooden  support  for 
vaults,  arches,  etc.,  while  building. 

Centring,  Error  of.  In  astronomical  instru- 
ments it  commonly  happens  that  the  centre  of 
the  divisions  of  the  divided  circle  is  not  exactly 
coincident  with  the  centre  on  which  the  circle 
itself  turns — although  great  pains  are  taken  to 


CENT 


109 


CERT 


attain  coincidence.  This  being  so,  the  reading 
taken  at  a  fixed  point  past  which  the  divided 
circle  turns  will  differ  from  the  true  reading  by 
the  E.  of  C.  When  this  error  is  small,  its  effects 
are  completely  avoided  by  taking  the  arithmetical 
mean  of  two  readings  made  with  reference  to 
two  fixed  points  at  opposite  ends  of  a  diameter. 
Called  also  Error  of  Eccentricity. 

Centripetal  force  [L.  centrum,  centre,  peto, 
1  seek}  is  the  force  by  which  bodies  are  every- 
where drawn,  impelled,  or  at  all  events  tend, 
towards  some  point  as  to  a  centre.  Such  a 
force  is  gravity,  in  virtue  of  which  bodies  tend 
towards  the  centre  of  the  earth ;  or  the  force  of 
magnetism,  by  which  iron  is  drawn  towards  a 
magnet.  The  term  is  used  by  Newton  for  what 
is  now  more  commonly  called  a  Central  force. 

Centrobaric.  [Gr.  nevrpov,  L.  centrum,  centre, 
jSo/oos,  weight.]  Appertaining  to  the  centre  of 
gravity.  There  are  cases  in  which  the  attraction 
exerted  by  a  body  (A)  according  to  the  law  of 
gravity  on  another  body  (B)  is  reducible  to  a 
single  force  in  a  line  which  always  passes  through 
a  point  fixed  relatively  to  the  second  body.  In 
this  case  the  second  body  (B)  is  said  to  be  C. 
relatively  to  the  first  (A).  When  this  is  the 
case,  the  second  body  (B)  is  also  C.  relatively  to 
every  attracting  mass,  and  it  attracts  all  matter 
external  to  itself  as  if  its  own  mass  were  collected 
in  that  point.  It  has  been  proposed  to  call  this 
fixed  point  the  Centre  of  gravity  of  the  body  (B), 
and  to  distinguish  by  the  name  C.  of  mass  or  C. 
of  inertia  the  point  which  is  usually  called  the  C. 
of  gravity. 

Centroclinal,  or  Cycloclinal,  strata.  [L. 
centrum,  a  centre,  Gr.  KVK\OS,  a  circle,  K\iv<a,  I 
make  to  slant.]  (Geol.)  Strata  dipping  inward 
concentrically,  like  basins  one  within  another ; 
e.g.  Forest  of  Dean  coal-field. 

Centrolinead,  [L.  centrum,  centre,  Hnea,  a 
line.]  An  instrument  for  drawing  lines  con- 
verging to  a  centre  which  is  outside  of  the  paper 
on  which  the  lines  are  to  be  drawn. 

Centumvir.  [L.]  Hundred-man  ;  member  of 
a  committee  or  court  of  a  hundred. 

Centuriators  of  Magdeburg.  (Magdeburg, 
Centuriators  of.) 

Centuries.  [L.  centurise.]  In  Rom.  Hist., 
the  divisions,  supposed  to  be  each  of  100,  in 
which  the  people  voted  in  the  Comitia,  or  meet- 
ing of  Centuries.  In  the  Legion  the  C.  was 
one-half  of  the  Maniple,  and  the  one-thirtieth 
part  of  the  Legion. 

Cepaceous.  (Bot.)  Having  the  character  of 
an  onion  [L.  csepa]  in  shape  or  smell. 

Cephalalgic  remedies  are  for  -tain  [Gr.  &\yos] 
of  the  head  [/cecpcMj]. 

Cephalaspis.  [Gr.  K€</>a\^,  a  head,  aa-irls,  a 
shield.]  (Geol.]  A  fossil  fish,  with  bony  body- 
shield  shaped  like  a  cheese-knife ;  found  by 
Hugh  Miller  in  the  Old  Red  Sandstone. 

Cephalic.  Relating  to  the  head ;  generally 
medicines  for  affections  of  the  head. 

Cephalopoda,  Cephalopods.  [Gr.  /ce<j>aA.^,  head, 
TTOVS,  iro$6s,foot.]  (Zool.)  Highest  class  of  mol- 
luscs. They  have  eight  or  more  arms  ranged 
round  the  head  and  provided  with  suckers ;  most 


are  naked,  as  the  cuttlefish,  but  nautili  have 
shells. 

Ceramic.  [Gr.  Kepa^juK^s,  of  pottery.]  Relating 
to  pottery. 

Cerastes.  [Gr.  Kepao-rrjs,  horned,  from  /repay, 
horn;  cf.  L.  cornu.]  (Zool.)  The  horned  viper,  a 
venomous  viperine  snake.  Egypt  and  adjacent 
parts.  About  two  feet  long  ;  greyish  colour. 

Cerberus.  [Gr.  /cepjSepos.]  (Myth.)  The 
three-headed  dog  which  guards  the  entrance  to 
the  kingdom  of  Hades,  the  fellow-monster 
being  Orthros.  These  two  names  are  found  as 
Carvara  and  Vritra  in  the  Rig  Veda. 

Cerdonians.  The  followers  of  Cerdon  [Gr. 
Kep§o>j/],  who  in  the  second  century  maintained  a 
system  of  Dualism,  combining  with  it  the 
opinions  of  the  Docetse.  (Ahriman.) 

Cere.  [L.  cera.]  1.  Wax.  Cered,  waxed. 
Cere-cloth,  one  smeared  with  wax,  or  similar 
matter;  unless  this  is  A.S.  sore-cloth,  a  cloth 
for  sores.  Cerement  [L.L.  cerementum],  a  waxed 
winding-sheet.  2.  (Ornith.)  The  naked  space 
at  the  base  of  the  bill  of  some  birds. 

Cereals.  [L.  cerealis,  relating  to  Ceres,  god- 
dess of  agriculture.]  (Bot.)  Grasses  cultivated 
for  their  edible  seed :  wheat,  barley,  oats,  rye, 
maize  or  Indian  corn,  rice,  millet.  ^ 

Cerebel,  Cerebellum.  [L.  dim.  of  cerebrum, 
the  brain.]  The  under  and  posterior  portion  of 
the  brain. 

Cerebration,  Unconscious.  The  non-voluntary 
working  out  and  reproduction  of  ideas,  under 
certain  nerve  conditions. 

Ceres.  [L.]  (Myth.)  The  Latin  goddess 
answering  to  the  Greek  Demeter.  (Eleusinian 
Mysteries.) 

Cerevisia.  [L.,  a  Gallic  word.]  In  old  legal 
statutes  and  elsewhere,  beer. 

Cerinthians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Cerinthus,  who  in  the  first  century  propounded 
opinions  agreeing  essentially  with  those  which 
were  set  forth  by  the  Cerdonians  in  the  second. 

Cerium.  A  rare  greyish-white  metal,  named 
after  the  planet  Ceres. 

Cernuous.  [L.  cerniius,  looking  downwards, 
probably  from  an  old  cer  =  Gr.  /capo,  the  head 
(as  in  cer-vix,  the  neck,  which  carries,  vehit,  the 
head)  and  nuo,  nutus,  nod.]  (Bot.)  Hanging 
down  at  the  top,  drooping  ;  e.g.  a  snowdrop. 

Cerography.  [Gr.  /crjpbs,  wax,  ypdtyeiv,  to 
rurite.]  Engraving  on  a  copper  plate  coated 
with  wax,  from  which  a  stereotype  plate  is 
taken. 

Ceroplastio  art.  [Gr.  K-npoTr\acrriK6st  from 
KT)p6s,  wax,  irX&craeiv,  to  mould.]  The  art  of 
modelling  in  wax. 

Certent  et  cygnis  ululae.  [L.]  Let  owls  too  vie 
with  swans;  i.e.  if  bad  authors  vie  with  good  ones. 

Certification.  [L.  certus,  sure,  facere,  to 
make.]  (Scot.  Law.)  Assurance  to  a  part  of 
the  consequences  of  non-appearance  in  court  or 
neglect  of  a  court  order. 

Certiorari.  [L.,  to  be  more  fiilly  informed.] 
(Leg.)  Name  of  a  writ  commanding  an  inferior 
court  to  return  the  records  of  a  case  before  it,  so 
that  such  case  may  be  removed  into  a  court  of 
equity. 


CERT 


no 


CHAI 


Certosa.  [It.,  corr.  of  Carthus-ia.]  1.  A 
Carthusian  monastery.  2.  A  burying-ground. 

Cerumen.  [L.  cera,  wax.}  A  secretion  of  the 
ear. 

Ceruse.  1,  Carbonate  of  lead,  commonly 
called  white  lead.  2.  A  white-lead  cosmetic 
preparation.  [Fr.  ceruse,  L.  cerussa,  with  same 
two  meanings.] 

Cervical.  Belonging  to  the  neck  [L.  cervlcem]. 
(Cernuous.) 

Cervine.  [L.  cervlnus,  from  cervus,  deer,  the 
horned  beast.]  Relating  to  deer. 

Cespititious.  Made  of  turf  [L.  coespes, 
csespitis]. 

Cespitose.  [L.  csespitem,  a  sod,  a  knob.] 
(Bot.)  Growing  in  tufts. 

Cess.    [L.  census,  rating.']  Assessment  or  tax. 

Cessante  causa,  cessat  et  effectus.  [L.]  The 
cause  ceasing,  the  effect  also  ceases  ;  a  saying  of  the 
scholastic  logicians,  "cause"  being  used  in  its 
fullest  sense  ;  e.g.  the  flatness  of  the  metal  does 
not  cease  when  the  hammering  ceases  :  but  cause 
includes  the  ductility  of  the  metal,  as  well  as  the 
blow  of  the  hammer. 

Cessante  ratione  legis,  cessat  ipsa  lex.  [L.] 
On  the  reason  for  a  law  ceasing,  the  law  itself 
ceases  (to  exist). 

Cessavit.  [L.,  he  has  ceased.]  In  Law,  a  writ 
issued  when  a  tenant  has  ceased  to  perform  the 
conditions  of  his  tenure. 

Cesser.  [L.  cessare,  to  cease.]  (Leg.)  1.  Neg- 
lect of  service.  2.  As  in  proviso  for  C. ,  ter- 
mination of  trusts. 

Cession.  [L.  cessi5,  -nem,  a  giving  up.]  (Eccl.) 
Of  a  living,  the  giving  it  up,  upon  appointment 
to  some  dignity  which  cannot  be  held  with  it. 

-cester,  -Chester.     [L.  castra,  fortified  camp.] 
Part  of  Saxon  names,  as  in  Wor-ce 
Chester,  Chester,  Chester-field. 

C'est  fait  de  lui.   [Fr.]  //  is  all  over  with  him. 

C'est  le  crime  qui  fait  la  honte,  et  non  pas 
1'echafaud.  [Fr.]  It  is  the  crime  that  makes  the 
disgrace,  and  not  the  scaffold. 

Cestoids.  [Gr.  Keo-r^y,  girdle,  elSoy,  form.] 
Intestinal  worms,  like  the  tapeworm. 

Oestrum.  [L.,  Gr.  Kecrrpov.]  A  graving-tool, 
used  by  the  ancients  in  encausting  painting. 

C'est  tout  egal.     [Fr.]    It  is  all  the  same. 

Cestui-que  trust.  [Norm.  Fr.]  (Leg.)  Equit- 
able owner  of  estate  legally  vested  in  a  trustee. 

Cestui-que  use.  [Norm.  Fr.]  The  enjoyer  of 
equitable  or  beneficial  interest  in  estate  legally 
held  by  \h&  feoffee  to  uses  (q.v.). 

C'est  une  autre  chose.  [Fr.]  That  is  another 
thing. 

Cestus.    (Csestus.) 

Cestus.  [L.,  Gr.  K€<rr6s.]  A  girdle ;  es- 
pecially the  girdle  of  Venus. 

Cestvaen,  Cistvaen,  Kistvaen.  An  enclosure, 
like  three  sides  of  a  box,  with  a  stone  cover, 
often  found  in  barrows,  generally  at  the  east 
end ;  for  burial,  generally,  and  covered  with 
earth ;  perhaps  in  some  instances  made  for 
other  purposes.  [A  hybrid  word  ;  Kia-rr),  chest, 
Welsh  maen,  stone  (Latham).] 

Cetacea.  [Gr.  /ojroy,  sea-monster.]  (Zool.) 
An  ord.  of  mammals  without  posterior  feet, 


-cester,  Dor- 


adapted  to  an  aquatic  life,  warm-blooded,  with 
horizontal  tail ;  including  whales,  narwhals, 
dolphins,  porpoises. 

Ceterach.  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  polypodiaceous 
ferns,  of  the  group  Asplenise  ;  to  which  belongs 
the  common  Scale-fern. 

Cevenol.  An  inhabitant  of  the  district  of  the 
Cevennes  Mountains,  France. 

C.  G.  S.  unit.     (Dyne.) 

Chace.     The  extreme  length  of  a  cannon. 

Chaconne  [Fr.],  Chacona  [Sp.,  from  Basque 
chocuna,  pretty].  A  slow,  graceful  dance  in 
triple  time,  Spanish  ;  generally  in  a  major  key. 
Passacaglia,  a  similar  dance,  being  generally  in 
a  minor.  P.  has  been  treated  classically,  by 
Bach. 

Chacun  a  son  gout.  [Fr.]  Every  one  accord- 
ing to  his  own  taste. 

Chadband,  Rev.  Mr.  In  Dickens's  Bleak 
House,  a  hypocrite. 

Chaeronean,  Cheronean,  sage.  Plutarch,  born 
at  Chaeroaeia,  in  BoeStia,  where  he  spent  most  of 
his  life.^ 

Chaetodon.  [Gr.  \o!irt],  hair,  oSotJs,  -6vros, 
tooth,  =  having  rows  of  bristle-like  teeth.  ]  (Ichth.) 
Gen.  of  fish,  with  deep,  compressed  bodies  and 
strongly  marked  colouring.  The  beaked  C» 
catches  flies  by  squirting  water  at  them.  Trop. 
seas.  Fam.  Squamipennes,  ord.  Acantho- 
pterygii,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

<Jhafery.  [Fr.  chaufiferie,  from  chauffer,  to 
heat.]  A  forge  where  iron  is  wrought  into  bars. 

Chafing-dish.  [Fr.  echauffer,  to  chafe.}  A 
portable  vessel  of  hot  coals,  for  heating  anything. 

Chafing-gear.  (Naut.)  Anything  put  on 
rigging  or  spars,  to  prevent  them  from  being 
rubbed  or  worn. 

Chafron.  [Fr.  chanfrein,  from  L.  camus,  Gr. 
KT?^S,  a  muzzle,  and  Fr.  frein,  a  bit,  curb  ;  a  re- 
duplication by  which  a  rare  word  is  explained 
by  a  commoner  one  (see  Littre,  s.v.).}  Iron 
mask,  frequently  with  a  spike  on  the  forehead, 
worn  by  a  war-horse. 

Chagigah.  [Heb.,  festivity.}  A  voluntary 
peace  offering  made  by  private  individuals,  at 
the  Passover,  from  the  flock  or  the  herd. 

Chain,  Gunter's.     (Gunter's  chain.) 

Chain-moulding.  In  the  Norman  style,  a 
moulding  resembling  a  chain,  common  on  Nor- 
man window  and  doorway  arches. 

Chain-pump.  A  machine  for  raising  water. 
It  consists  of  an  endless  chain  passing  over  two 
wheels,  one  above  and  the  other  below  the 
water,  the  former  being  Vorked  by  a  winch  ;  to 
the  chain  discs  or  buckets  are  attached  ;  the 
chain  with  the  buckets  is  made  to  pass  upward 
through  a  tube,  and  thereby  brings  the  water  up 
when  the  winch  is  turned.  (Chain- wheel.) 

Chain-rule.  A  rule  in  arithmetic  for  working 
a  sum  in  compound  proportion  =  double  rule  of 
three. 

Chains,  Chain- wales,  or  Channels.  (Naut.} 
Blocks  of  wood  fastened  to  the  outside  of  a 
ship  a  little  aft  of  the  masts,  to  which  the 
Chain-plates  (iron  plates,  the  lower  end  fastened 
to  the  ship's  side,  the  upper  provided  with  fixed 
dead-eyes)  are  attached,  by  which  they  are  kept 


CHAi 


ill 


CHAM 


off  so  as  to  carry  the  shrouds  clear  of  the  bul- 
wark. In  the  chains,  stationed  between  two 
shrouds  to  cast  the  lead. 

Chain-wheel.  A  machine  the  reverse  of  the 
chain-pump.  In  it,  the  water  falling  down 
the  tube  communicates  motion  by  means  of  the 
brackets  to  the  upper  wheel,  which  therefore 
becomes  a  prime  mover ;  in  much  the  same  way 
that  a  water-wheel,  or  turbine,  is  a  prime  mover. 
Chalaza.  [Gr.  x<^«C«»  hail.}  (Bot.)  The 
point  of  union,  at  the  base  of  an  ovule,  between 
the  nucleus  and  integuments. 

Chalcedony  (abundant  near  Chalcedon,  on  the 
Asiatic  side  of  the  Bosphorus).  (Geol.)  A  beauti- 
ful variety  of  silica,  sub-translucent,  milk-white 
or  coloured.  Agate  is  laminated  C.  ;  C.  red, 
yellow,  white, 'is  Carnelian,  called  from  the  red 
kind  [It.  carniola,  carne,  flesh~\  ;  rich  red  is 
Sard;  C.,  in  layers,  is  Onyx.  C,  of  Rev.  xxi.  19 
=  carbuncle  ;  but  includes  also  Chrysocolla,  or 
Native  verdigris,  an  ore  of  copper,  sometimes 
called  copper  emerald. — King,  Precious  Stones. 

Chalcography.  [Gr.  XOA/C^S,  copper,  ypd^ew, 
to  write, .]  Engraving  on  copper. 

Chaldee  language.  The  language  of  the  Jews 
after  the  Babylonish  captivity,  being  a  Hebrew 
dialect,  differing  little  from  the  Syriac,  or  old 
Assyrian.  (Aramaic  languages.) 

Chaldee  Paraphrases.  Running  commentaries 
on  the  Old  Testament,  called  Targums. 
(Talmud.) 

Chaldron,  or  Chalder.  [L.  caldarium,  a  vessel 
for  hot  water. ,]  An  old  dry  measure,  latterly 
used  as  a  measure  for  coals  and  coke.  A  chaldron 
of  coals  was  36  heaped  bushels,  or  about  27  cwts. 
Chalet.  [P'r.]  Summer  hut  for  Swiss  herds- 
men ;  also  Swiss  wooden  houses  generally. 

Chalk.  [A.S.  cealc,  L.  calx,  calcem,  lime- 
stone.] A  white  earthy  limestone,  largely  com- 
posed of  coccoliths  and  globigerlna ;  the  upper- 
most Secondary  formation  in  England  and  in 
France  ;  1000  feet  thick  ;  represented  in  Germany 
by  sandstones,  etc.  (Foraminifera.) 

Challenge.  Exod.  xxii.  9  ;  claim.  [O.Fr. 
chalonge,  L.  calumnia.] 

Challenge  of  jurors.  An  exception  or  objection 
against  those  empannelled  ;  (i)  a  challenge  to 
the  array  being  against  the  whole  number,  on 
account  of  partiality,  or  for  some  other  reason  ; 
(2)  a  challenge  to  the  polls  being  against  one 
or  more  individuals. 

Challis.     A  fine  twilled  woollen  fabric. 
Chalumeau,  Chalameau.     [Fr.,  whence  Eng. 
shawm  ;  L.  calamellus,  dim.  of  calamus,  a  reed.] 
Pastoral    reed-pipe  ;     the   lower  notes   of    the 
clarionet  are  said  to  have  a  C.  tone. 

Chalybean  steel  =  steel  of  the  best  make  ;  the 
Chalybes  of  Asia  Minor  having  been  famed 
as  workers  in  iron. 

Chalybeate    waters.      [Gr.    xfavty,  x«Au. 
hardened  iron.~\     Mineral  waters  in   which   the 
iron  predominates. 
Cham.     (Khan.) 
Chama,     [Gr.  x^47?*  a  cockle,  a  gaping  shell." 
(Zool.}      Giant     clams,     fam.     of    Conchifera, 
Bivalve  molluscs.     Tropics. 

Chamade.     [Fr.,   It.   chiamare,    L.    clamare 


'o  cry  out.}  The  beat  of  a  drum,  or  the  sound 
of  a  trumpet  summoning  the  enemy  to  a  parley. 

Chameeleon.     (Chameleon.) 

Chamber.  [L.  camera.]  The  cell  in  a  mine 
or  gun,  where  the  powder  is  deposited. 

Chamberlain,  Lord,  or  King's  C.  An  officer 
of  very  high  standing  in  the  royal  household 
'formerly  an  influential  member  of  the  Govern- 
ment), a  member  of  the  Privy  Council.  He  has 
also  to  do  with  the  licensing  of  certain  theatres 
and  new  plays  ;  inquires  into  the  status  of 
Dersons  desiring  to  be  presented ;  issues  the 
queen's  invitations,  etc. 

Chamberlain,  The  Lord  Great.  Holds  a  here- 
ditary office,  very  ancient,  and  once  very  impor- 
:ant.  He  has  the  government  of  the  palace  at 
Westminster,  receives  upon  solemn  occasions 
the  keys  of  W.  Hall ;  prepares  the  Hall  for 
coronations,  State  trials,  etc.  ;  has  charge  of  the 
House  of  Lords  during  the  session. 

Chambers,  Judges'.  Rooms  where  judges  sit 
for  despatch  of  business  which  does  not  require 
a  court. 

Chambre  ardente.  [Fr.,  burning-chamber.'} 
(Hist.)  The  court  instituted  by  Francis  I.  for 
trying  and  burning  heretics. 

Chambre  des  Comptes.  [Fr.]  A  French  court, 
before  the  Revolution,  for  the  registration  of 
edicts,  treaties  of  peace,  etc. 

Chameleon.  [Gr.  xct^at^6/a"'>  ground-lion,  a 
lizard  which  was  supposed  to  change  its  colour.]  - 

1.  (Min.)    Manganate  of  potassium,  the  solution 
of  which  changes  colour  from  green  to   purple. 

2.  (Zool. )     A  gen.  of  saurian  reptiles,  popularly 
supposed  to  live  on  air,  and  to  change  its  colour 
at  will.     It  lives  on  insects,  and  the  modifica- 
tions  of  colour  are   produced   by    the  varying 
proportions  in  the  pigments  contained  under  the 
rete  mjicosum,  or  coloured  layer  of  the  skin. 

Chamfer.  [Fr.  chanfrein.]  (Arch.)  The  edge 
of  any  right-angled  object  cut  a-slope  or  on  the 
bevel.  (Chafron.) 

Chamois.  [Heb.  zomer.]  (Bibl.)  Probably 
Moufflon  (q.v.). 

Chamomile,  Camomile.  [Gr.  x^o'V^o"?  earth- 
apple.']  (Bot.)  Anthemis  nobllis  (ord.  Compo- 
sitse),  a  herb  with  finely  divided  leaves  and  daisy- 
like  flowers,  the  latter  used  in  fomentations,  etc. 

Champarty,  Champerty.  [L.  campus,  field, 
partem,  part  or  share.}  (Leg.)  A  bargain  be- 
tween A,  a  party  to  a  suit,  and  B,  a  third  party, 
that  B  maintain  the  suit  on  condition  of  a  share 
of  the  object  of  the  suit  if  A  win. 

Champ  clos,  Au.  [Fr.]  Lit.  in  closed  field,  — 
in  judicial  combat  or  in  tournament. 

Champ  de  Mai.  [Fr.]  (Hist.)  The  assembly 
of  the  Champ  de  Mars  was,  under  Pepin  and  some 
of  his  successors,  held  in  May,  and  so  called. 

Champ  de  Mars.  [Fr.]  (Hist.)  A  public 
assembly  of  the  Franks,  held  in  the  open  air 
yearly  in  March.  The  name  of  the  open  space 
in  Paris  of  this  name  was  probably  suggested  by 
the  Campus  Martius  at  Rome. 

Champignon.  [L.  CfimpiaiOucnx,  as  growing 
in  the  campus,  or  open  field.]  (Bot.)  A  small 
kind  of  Agaricus,  or  mushroom  (Agaricus 
oreades). 


CHAM 


112 


CHAR 


Champion.  [Fr.,  Sp.  campeon.]  (Feud.) 
One  who  appeared  in  the  wager  of  battle  to 
fight  in  behalf  of  another.  In  Eng.  coronations 
the  king's  champion  appeared  to  defend  his  right 
against  all  assailants.  For  this  service  he  held 
the  manor  of  Scrivelsby  in  grand  serjeanty. 

Champ  leve.  [Fr.,  raised  field.}  A  process  of 
cutting  down  a  metal  plate,  so  that  the  pattern  is 
left  raised,  and  the  interstices  afterwards  filled 
with  enamel. 

Chancel.  (Arch.)  Literally,  a  place  enclosed 
within  cross-bars  [L.  cancelli].  Hence  the 
sanctuary  of  a  church. 

Chancellor.  [L.  cancellarius.]  1.  (Hist.) 
Under  the  Roman  emperors,  a  notary,  or  scribe  ; 
so  called  from  the  cancelli,  or  rails,  within 
which  he  sat.  2.  (Eccl.)  The  principal  judge  of 
the  consistory  court  of  a  diocese.  3.  The  Lord 
High  C.  of  England,  the  highest  judicial  officer  of 
the  kingdom  (Seal,  Great;  Speaker).  4.  Anciently, 
ecclesi-ecdicus,  Church  lawyer,  an  ecclesiastical 
officer,  learned  in  Canon  law,  who  holds  courts 
for  the  bishop ;  advises  and  assists  him  in 
questions  of  ecclesiastical  law.  5.  C.  of  a  cathedral, 
generally  a  canon,  has  general  care  of  the  litera- 
ture and  schools  belonging  to  it ;  sometimes  also 
lectures  in  theology.  6.  C.  of  university,  the 
supreme  authority  of  a  British  university,  gene- 
rally a  nobleman  or  statesman. 

Chance-medley.      [Fr.    chaude,    hot,    melee, 
•fray.]     (Leg.)    A  casual  affray  ;  also  the  slaying 
an  assailant  in  sudden  self-defence,  or  hasty  slay- 
ing of  one  committing  an  unlawful  act. 

Chancery.  [Cf.  Fr.  chancellerie,  from  chan- 
celler,  chancellor.}  Original  seat  of  chancellor, 
royal  chaplain  and  amanuensis,  keeper  of  the 
royal  conscience.  Under  Edward  I.  arose 
the  extraordinary  intervention,  between  private 
parties,  of  the  king  as  the  sole  source  of  equity. 
By  Lord  Selborne's  Judicature  Act,  1873,  the 
Court  of  C.  became  the  C.  Division  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Judicature,  while  equity  rules 
are  to  override  common  law  when  they  are  at 
variance,  so  that  a  fusion  of  law  and  equity  is 
attempted.  (Cancelli.) 

Chances.     (Probability.) 

Chandoo.     An  extract  of  opium,  for  smoking. 

Changeling.  1.  Something  left,  especially  a 
child,  in  the  place  of  another.  2.  A  fool,  sim- 
pleton. 3.  One  given  to  changing  sides,  want- 
ing in  fixity. 

Change-ratio,  C.-wheels.  If  A  and  B  are 
two  parallel  axes  connected  by  toothed  wheels 
which  work  with  each  other,  then  A's  velocity 
of  rotation  will  bear  to  B's  a  ratio  depending  on 
the  number  of  teeth  in  the  wheels.  Now,  if  it  be 
required  to  change  this  ratio  from  time  to  time 
into  some  other  assigned  ratio,  this  can  be  done 
by  furnishing  the  axes  A  and  B  with  wheels,  the 
sums  of  whose  pitch  radii  are  equal,  and  on  whose 
circumferences  are  cut  a  proper  number  of  teeth  ; 
the  wheels  are  placed  on  the  axles  in  such  a 
manner  that  when  A  is  shifted  to  the  right  or  left 
on  its  bearings  by  one  definite  distance,  one  pair 
of  wheels  is  brought  into  action  ;  by  shifting  it 
through  another  distance  a  second  pair  of  wheels 
is  brought  into  action,  and  so  on.  These  wheels 


are  called  C. -wheels,  and  the  corresponding 
ratios  of  the  velocities  of  rotation  of  the  axles 
the  C. -ratios.  Suppose  the  wheels  on  A  have 
60,  36,  and  72  teeth  respectively,  and  those  on 
B,  1 20,  144,  and  108  ;  when  the  first  pair  is 
brought  into  play,  A's  velocity  has  to  B's  the  ratio 
of  2  :  I  ;  when  the  second  pair,  4  I  I  ;  when  the 
third,  3  :  2.  These  ratios  are  the  C.-ratios. 

Chanks.     Conch-shells. 

Channel-gropers.  (Naut.)  Vessels  kept  on 
service  in  the  Channel.  Applied  formerly  to 
those  on  the  look  out  for  smugglers, 

Chansons.  [Fr.,  song.]  Short  lyrical  com- 
positions sung  by  the  Troubadours. 

Chanticleer.  The  cock  [Fr.  chante-clair, 
sing  clear],  in  Reinecke  the  Fox  (q.v.\ 

Chantry.  [Fr.  chanter,  L.  cantare,  to  sing.] 
A  chapel  or  altar,  with  endowment  for  a  priest 
to  offer  Masses  for  the  soul  of  the  founder  or 
others. 

Chap-books.  Various  old  and  now  scarce 
tracts,  miscellaneous,  of  inferior  manufacture, 
sold  by  chapmen  ;  at  one  time  the  only  popular 
literature ;  treating  of  religion,  historical  per- 
sonages, weather,  dreams,  ghost  stories,  etc.  ; 
dating  from  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, and  succeeded  by  the  still  inferior  Penny 
C.  B.,  which  included  stories  of  humour  Bf4 
roguery.  (Cheap-jack.) 

Chapeaubras.  [Fr.]  A  kind  of  cocked  hat, 
which  could  be  flattened  and  carried  under  the 
arm  [bras] ;  worn  by  regimental  officers  till 
about  1812. 

Chapelle  ardente.  [Fr.]  A  chapel,  lit  with 
many  candles  placed  round  a  catafalque,  or  bier, 
in  the  funeral  rites  of  the  Latin  Church. 

Chapelle  de  fer.  [Fr.,  L.L.  capa  or  cappa, 
a  cape.]  Close-fitting  iron  skull-cap ;  formerly 
the  head-piece  for  both  infantry  and  light  horse. 

Chapellet.  [Fr.  chapelet.]  A  pair  of  stirrup 
leathers  with  stirrups. 

Chaperon.  [Fr.  chape,  L.  cappa,  a  hooded 
cloak,  whence,  by  meton. ,  its  usual  meaning.] 
1.  A  hood.  2.  A  hood  or  cap  worn  by  knights 
of  the  Garter. 

Chapiter,  Chaptrel.  [Fr.  chapitre,  O.Fr. 
chapitle,  L.  capitulum.]  The  capital  of  a 
column,  as  in  Exod.  xxxvi.  38  and  elsewhere. 

Chaplet.  [Fr.  chapelet.]  In  the  Latin  Church, 
a  string  of  Beads  on  which  prayers  are  counted. 
(Rosary.) 

Chapman.  [A.S.  »ceapan,  to  buy ;  cf.  Ger. 
kaufmann.]  A  trafficker,  especially  a  buyer. 

Chapt.  Jer.  xiv.  4  ;  cracked,  gaping  open, 
from  the  heat ;  to  chap  (probably  the  same  word 
as  chip,  chop,  etc.)  being  to  cleave,  to  crack. 

Chapter.  [L.  capitulum,  from  caput,  head.] 
The  assembly  of  the  dean  and  canons,  forming 
the  council  of  the  bishop,  in  a  cathedral  church  ; 
or  of  a  superior  abbot  and  his  monks  in  conven- 
tual houses. 

Chapter  House.  (Arch.)  The  room  in  which 
the  Chapter  holds  its  meetings. 

Char.  [Celt,  cear,  red.]  (Ichth.)  Spec,  of 
salmon,  about  twelve  inches  long,  back  brown, 
belly  yellow.  European  lakes.  Salmo  salvelinus, 
S.  umbla,  Ombre  chevalier  of  Lake  of  Geneva. 


CHAR 


CHAS 


Char,  Chare.  1.  [A.S.  eyre,  a  turn.}  An  oc- 
casional job  or  turn  at  work,  a  separate  employ- 
ment. 2.  To  hew,  work.  Charred  stone  [Fr. 
carre,  L.  quadratus],  hewn  stone.  (See  Parker's 
Glossary  of  A  rch  itecture. ) 

Char-a-bancs.     [Fr.]    Pleasure-van. 

Charact,  Charect.  [Gr.  xaPaKT'hp,  stamp,  im- 
press.} 1.  Distinctive  mark.  2.  An  inscription. 

Characteristic  of  a  logarithm.     (Index.) 

Charade.  [Fr.,  Prov.  charada,  L.L.  carrata, 
cart-load.}  An  enigma  consisting  of  equivocal 
descriptions  of  the  idea  conveyed  by  the  parts 
and  the  whole  of  a  word  which  is  to  be  guessed. 
The  description  may  be  verbal  or  dramatic. 

Charadriidae.  [Gr.  x°-Pa$Pl6s,  bird  frequent- 
ing clefts,  xapaSpot,  xaP£*0-(re{j/,  cleave.}  (Ornith.) 
Fam.  of  birds  of  the  plover  (Charadrius)  kind. 
Cosmopolitan.  Ord.  Grallse. 

Charah.    An  Afghan  knife  or  sword. 

Charbon.  [Fr.,  coal,  charcoal ;  cf.  carbuncle, 
from  L.  carbunculus.]  (Vet.  Surg.)  A  malig- 
nant pustule. 

Chard.  1.  A  kind  of  white  beet.  2.  The 
foot-stalk  and  midrib  of  white  beet,  and  some 
other  plants,  blanched. 

Charegitea.  [Ar.,  rebel.}  A  name  given  to 
the  sect  by  one  of  whom  the  Caliph  Ali  was 
murdered,  A.D.  66 1.  (Assassin.) 

Charge.  1.  (Her.}  Any  figure  borne  on  an 
escutcheon.  2.  (Eccl.)  Bishop's  or  archdeacon's 
address  to  clergy.  3.  A  vigorous  military 
attack ;  the  explosive  materials  in  a  mine  or 
gun. 

Charge  d'affaires.  [Fr.]  A  foreign  minister 
of  the  third  grade. 

Charge  de  Marseille.  An  old  French  corn 
measure,  still  used;  equal  to  about  4*4  English 
bushels. 

Chariness.  [A.S.  cearig,  chary,  careful.} 
Scrupulous  carefulness,  circumspectness. 

Charism,  Charisma.  [Gr.  x^cr^o.]  (Eccl.)  A 
special  gift  or  talent,  e.g.  of  healing ;  I  Cor.  xii.  28. 

Charites.    [Gr.]    (Graces.) 

Charity-sloops.  The  ten-gun  brigs  built  at  the 
beginning  of  this  century.  Said  to  have  been 
intended  to  give  employment  to  officers  j  hence 
their  name. 

Charivari  (?).  1.  In  France,  formerly,  a  mock 
serenade,  with  pans,  kettles,  etc.,  rough  music. 
2.  Any  uproar  expressive  of  dislike.  3.  Satirical 
political  papers,  as  the  C.  of  Paris. 

Charlatan.  [It.  ciarlatano,  ciarlare,  to  prattle.} 
A  quack  ;  one  who  pretends  to  knowledge. 

Charles's  Wain.  The  constellation  of  the 
Greater  Bear ;  the  term  is,  however,  generally 
limited  to  the  seven  stars  which  are  most  con- 
spicuous in  that  constellation.  (Eishis.) 

Charlock.  (Bot.)  A  wild  mustard,  Sinapis 
arvensis,  ord.  Cruciferae. 

Charon.  [Gr.]  (Myth.)  The  ferryman  who 
rows  the  dead  across  the  Stygian  lake  in  the 
under  world.  (Styx.) 

Charpie.  [Fr.,  lint,  past  part,  of  O.Fr.  charpir, 
L.  carpere,  to  pluck.}  A  substitute  for  lint, 
made  of  small  pieces  of  old  linen. 

Charpoy.     [Hind.]     A  pallet-bed. 

Charqui.     [L.  caro  cocta,  cooked  flesh.}    Lean 


beef  dried  in  the  sun ;  corr.  into  Eng.  jerked 
beef. 

Chart.  [L.  charta,  paper,  that  which  is 
written  upon  paper.]  There  is  no  clear  distinc- 
tion between  a  map  and  a  chart.  Either  is  the 
delineation  on  a  plane  surface  of  the  relative 
positions  of  a  number  of  points  on  the  surface 
of  the  terrestrial  or  of  the  celestial  globe. 
Thus  we  speak  of  a  chart  of  a  coast  or  of  a 
celestial  chart. 

Chart,  or  Sea-chart.  (Naut.)  A  sea-map, 
i.e.  a  projection  of  some  part  of  the  sea  and 
neighbouring  coast,  with  the  harbours,  bearings, 
lights,  known  depths,  currents,  and  kinds  of 
bottom,  etc.,  carefully  marked.  The  coast-line 
is  shaded  seaward  in  maps,  and  landward  in 
sea-charts. 

Charta,  Magna,  [L.]  The  Great  Charter  of 
the  realm,  signed  by  King  John,  1215,  renewed 
by  Henry  III.,  providing  against  the  unlawful 
imprisonment  of  the  subject  and  the  imposition 
of  taxes  without  the  consent  of  the  Council  of  the 
kingdom. 

Charta  de  Una  parte.  [L.]  (Leg.)  A  deed- 
poll  (q.v.). 

Chartae  Libertatum.  [L.]  Magna  Charta  and 
Charta  de  Foresta,  the  latter  consisting  of 
forest  laws  confirmed  by  Edward  I. 

Charts.  [Fr.]  1.  A  document  containing  a 
statement  of  constitutional  law ;  and  especially, 
2,  that  of  Louis  XVIII.,  1814,  acknowledging 
the  rights  of  the  nation. 

Charter,  To.  (ATaut.)  To  hire  a  vessel  under 
a  Charter-party,  i.e.  a  deed,  or  written  agree- 
ment. A  general  ship  is  one  which  ships  goods 
from  others  than  charterers. 

Charterhouse.  [Fr.  Chartreux.]  A  college  in 
London,  founded  by  Thomas  Sutton ;  once  a 
monastery.  (Carthusians.) 

Charter-land.     (Bocland.) 

Charter-party..  A  written  agreement  by 
which  a  shipowner  lets  the  whole  or  a  part  of  a 
ship  to  a  merchant  for  the  conveyance  of  goods, 
and  the  merchant  pays  an  agreed  sum  by  way  of 
freight  for  their  carriage. 

Chartists.  In  Mod.  Eng.  Hist.,  those  who 
maintain  what  is  called  the  People's  Charter, 
of  six  points  :  universal  suffrage,  vote  by  ballot, 
yearly  Parliaments,  payment  of  members,  abo- 
lition of  property  qualification,  and  equal  electoral 
districts.  Of  these  the  second  and  the  sixth 
have  become  law. 

Chartulary.     (Cartulary.) 

Charybdis.     (Scylla;  Incidit.) 

Chase.  [Fr.  chasse,  a  reliquary,  L.  capsa.] 
An  iron  frame  in  which  type  is  wedged,  before 
being  placed  in  the  press  for  printing. 

Chase-ports.  (Naut.)  The  gun-ports  in  the 
bow  and  stern. 

Chasidim.     (Assideans.) 

Chasing.  [Fr.  enchasser.]  Working  raised 
figures  on  metal. 

Chasse  marees.  French  coasters  of  the  Chan- 
nel. Bluffly  built,  and  generally  lugger-rigged, 
with  two  or  three  masts  and  a  topsail. 

Chassepot.  A  rifle  introduced  into  the  French 
army  before  the  Franco-German  war. 


CHAS 


114 


CHER 


Chasseur.  [Fr.,  from  chasser,  to  hunt,  L. 
captare.]  Light  infantry  soldier  in  the  French 
army  ;  Chasseur  a  cheval  being  the  name  for 
light  cavalry. 

Chasuble,  Chasible,  Chesible.  [L.  casula,  casu- 
bula.]  (Eccl.)  A  vestment  representing  the 
Roman  ptenula,  which  was  circular,  with  a  hole 
to  admit  the  head  in  the  centre.  Modern  use 
has  left  it  oblong,  so  as  to  expose  the  arms.  It 
is  prescribed  as  the  -vestment  in  the  rubric  of  the 
first  Prayer-book  of  Edward  VI. 

Chateau.  [Fr.,  L.  castellum.]  In  France,  a 
gentleman's  country  seat,  which  in  feudal  times 
was  generally  fortified  as  a  castle. 

Chateaux  en  Espagne.  [Fr. ,  castles  in  Spain.} 
Romance  castles,  castles  in  the  air. 

Chatelaine.  [Fr.]  1.  The  mistress  of  a  man- 
sion. 2.  An  ornament  with  chains  for  hanging 
useful  articles  to  a  lady's  waist. 

Chatelains.    (Vavassors.) 

Chatoyant.  [Part,  of  Fr.  chatoyer,  to  have  a 
play  of  colours.}  Having  an  undulating  lustre, 
like  the  eye  of  a  cat  [Fr.  chat].  (Cat's-eye ;  Na- 
creous.) 

Chats,  Chit.  Twigs,  young  shoots.  Chat-wood, 
little  sticks  fit  for  fuel. 

Chattah.     [Hind.]     An  umbrella. 

Chattels.  [L.L.  catalla,  cattle,  O.Fr.  chaptal, 
from  capita,  heads.}  (Leg.)  Goods  not  in  the 
nature  of  freehold  or  part  and  parcel  thereof. 
Personal  C.  belong  immediately  to  the  owner's 
person,  as  most  movable  goods.  Real  C.  also 
appertain  to  some  lands  or  tenements  in  which 
the  holder  has  use  or  interest,  as  a  box  with 
writings  of  land  or  issue  out  of  some  immovable 
thing,  as  a  lease. 

Chatterer,  Bohemian.  (Ornith.)  Bohemian 
waxwing,  European  representative  of  fam. 
Ampelidse  [Gr.  &/J.IT€\OS,  vine} ;  about  the  size 
of  a  starling,  with  chestnut-coloured  crest,  and 
horny  appendages  to  the  wings,  like  red  sealing- 
wax.  Or  .  Passeres. 

Chatterers.  (Ornith.)  Cotin°ida ;  an  extensive 
fam.  of  birds,  characteristic  of  Trop.  America, 
as  the  umbrella  bird.  Ord.  Passeres. 

Chauffer.  [Fr.  chauffer,  to  heat.}  An  iron 
stove. 

Chausses.  [Fr.,  drawers.}  Close-fitting  chain- 
mail  for  legs  and  feet. 

Chauvinism.  (From  Chauvin,  the  veteran  of  the 
First  Empire,  in  Scribe's  Soldat  Laboreur. )  Idola- 
try of  French  military  prestige  of  the  Napoleonic 
idea. 

Chavender,  Chevin.  [L.  capit5nem,  a  big-head 
fish.]  (Ichth.)  Chub,  spec,  of  fresh- water  fish, 
Great  Britain,  Leuciscus  cephalus  [Gr.  Aeu/ctWos, 
the  white  mullet,  /ce^aAos,  a  large-headed  sea 
fish  (?  a  mullet)],  fam.  Cyprinldse,  ord.  Physo- 
stomi,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Chay-root.  [Sp.  chaya.]  An  Indian  root  used 
as  a  red  dye. 

Cheap,  -cheap.  Purchase  market ;  Saxon  name 
or  part  name,  as  in  Cheap-side,  West-cheap, 
Chipping  Norton,  Chippen-ham,  Copen-hagen. 

Cheap-jack.     Popular  name  for  a  Chapman. 

Cheaters,  Escheators.  Collectors  of  Crown 
escheats  (q.v.),  often  oppressive  and  fraudulent ; 


hence  the  verb  to  cheat  is  said  to  come;  but  cf. 
A.S.  ceat,  L.  captio,  deception. 

Cheeky.   (Her.)  Covered  with  alternate  squares 
of  two  different  tinctures,  like  a  chess-board. 
Cheek.    (Fortif.)    The  side  of  an  embrasure. 
Cheeks.      1.   The   two   solid   parts   upon  the 
sides  of  a  mortise.     2.  The  side  walls  of  a  lode. 

Cheer,  Be  of  good.  In  Gospels  and  Acts  ;  be 
of  good  countenance.  [Fr.  chere,  Gr.  Kapa,  a 
head  ovface.}  Spenser,  Faery  Q^^een,  pt.  ii.  42. 
Cheetah.  (Zool.)  Hunting  leopard,  Felis  jubata 
(maned)  or  Cynseliirus,  dog-cat,  as  being  in  form 
and  habit  a  sort  of  connecting  link,  though  a 
true  feline  ;  long  domesticated,  and  employed  in 
the  chase.  Africa  and  S.  Asia ;  in  Persia  called 
Youze. 

Chef.  [Fr.]  Chief,  head-cook ;  i.e.  chef  de 
cuisine. 

Chef  d'oeuvre.  [Fr.]  Master-piece;  lit.  head  of 
work. 

Cheiromys.    (Aye-aye.) 

Cheiroptera.  [Gr.  %€'P>  hand,  trreptv,  wing.} 
(Zool.)  Bats;  an  order  of  mammals  with  a 
patagium  [L.,  border  or  stripe,  itaTaryeiov}  or 
membrane,  which  enables  them  to  fly,  connecting 
the  fingers  and  toes,  and  the  fore  and  hind  limbs 
on  each  side,  and  sometimes  the  hind  limbs  and 
tail.  They  are  insectivorous,  carnivorous,  or 
frugivorous.  Universally  distributed. 

Cheirotherium.  Hand-beast  [Gr.  x*'LP>  G"np'loj/}- 
(Geol.)  A  wild  beast,  whose  hand-like  footprints 
appear  on  Red  Sandstone,  probably  a  Laby- 
rinthodont  reptile  [Gr.  \afivpiv8os,  a  labyrinth, 
oSovs,  a  tooth,  from  the  peculiar  internal  structure 
of  the  teeth], 

Chelate.  (Nat.  Hist.}  In  shape  like  a  claw 
[Gr.  x-n^]- 

Chelonia.  [Gr.  ^\&vi\,  tortoise.}  (Zool.)  The 
fifth  ord.  of  reptiles  ;  tortoises  and  turtles. 

Chelonidae.  (Chelonia.)  (Zool.)  Sea- turtles. 
Chelone  viridis,  Green  T.  (Atlantic),  supplies 
soups,  etc. ;  Hawk's-bill  T.  (Indian  and  Pacific), 
tortoiseshell. 

Chelsea  china.  China  ware  made  at  C. ,  1 745- 
1784  ;  leading  marks,  anchor  or  triangle ;  moulds 
transferred  to  Derby. 

Chemic.  A  solution  of  chloride  of  lime  for 
bleaching. 

Chemin  des  rondes.  [Fr.]  In  old  fortifications, 
a  broad  pathway  concealed  by  a  hedge  or  wall 
formed  outside  the  parapet,  to  enable  officers  to 
go  their  rounds. 

Cheng.  A  Chinese  musical  instrument,  a  kind 
of  small  organ ;  a  bundle  of  tubes  held  in  the 
hand  and  blown  by  the  mouth. 

Cherem.     (Niddin.) 

Cheroot.  A  kind  of  cigar,  made  in  Manila 
and  elsewhere. 

Cherry-laurel.  (Bot.)  Prunus  laurocerasus. 
A  common  shrubbery  plant,  in  no  way  connected 
with  the  true  laurel  (Laurus  nobilis).  Water 
distilled  from  the  leaves  is  used  in  flavouring, 
and  cases  of  poisoning  have  resulted  from  its 
employment. 

Chersonesus.  [Gr.  x*Pffdvt]ffos,  a  ?and  island.} 
A  long  peninsula,  like  the  Thracian  coast  on  the 
N.  side  of  the  Hellespont. 


CHER 


CHIE 


Chert  (formerly  Chertz ;  cf.  Ger.  quarze). 
(Gcol.)  A  granular  siliceous  rock  ;  either  of  (i) 
pseudo-morphosed  granular  limestone,  as  in  the 
Carboniferous  limestone ;  or  (2)  cemented  sponge- 
spicules  and  sand,  as  in  the  Upper  and  Lower 
Greensands. 

Cherubic  hymn,  or  Seraphic  hymn.  (Ter- 
Sanctus.) 

Cherubim.  [Heb.]  1.  An  order  of  angels, 
with  attributes  resembling  those  of  the  Seraphim. 
2.  Two  symbolical  figures  placed  on  the  mercy- 
seat  of  the  ark,  in  the  tabernacle  and  temple. 

Chervil.  A  culinary  vegetable,  used  in  soups 
and  as  a  garnish,  especially  in  some  parts  of  the 
Continent.  Anthriscus  cserefolium  (Pliny,  for 
Xo»pe'4>uAA.oz>),  ord.  Umbelliferse.  Naturalized  in 
England. 

Che  sara,  sara.     [It.]     What  will  be,  will  be. 

Chesil  Bank.     (Beaches.) 

Chess.  Plank  laid  on  the  platform  of  a 
pontoon  bridge  to  form  the  roadway. 

Chessel,  The  wooden  vat  in  which  cheese  is 
pressed. 

Chessom  earth  =  "  mere  mould,  between  the 
two  extremes  of  clay  and  sand." — Bacon,  quoted 
by  Johnson. 

Chess-tree.  (Nauf.)  A  piece  of  oak  with  a 
hole  in  it,  or  an  iron  plate  with  thimble-eyes, 
fastened  to  the  top  sides  of  a  vessel  for  passing 
the  maintack  through,  so  as  to  extend  the  clue 
of  the  mainsail  to  windward. 

Chester,  -Chester,     (-cester.) 

Chest  of  Chatham.  An  ancient  institution  for 
wounded  and  injured  seamen  of  Royal  Navy. 
Re-established  by  Queen  Elizabeth  in  1590, 
maintained  by  a  proportioned  contribution  from 
the  pay  of  each  seaman  and  apprentice,  called 
Smart  money. 

Chevage,  Chiefage.  [From  Fr.  chef,  head, 
L.  L.  che vagium.  ]  A  kind  of  poll  tribute  formerly 
paid  by  villeins  to  the  lord  of  the  manor. 

Cheval  glass.  [Fr.  chevalet,  an  ease!.]  A 
large  mirror  swinging  in  a  frame. 

Chevalier,  Bas.  [Fr.]  A  knight  of  the  lowest 
grade,  or  a  young  knight,  knight  bachelor. 
(Bachelor.) 

Chevalier  d'industrie.  [Fr.]  One  of  the  swell 
mob,  a  swindler. 

Chevaux  de  frise.  [Fr.,  first  used  in  de- 
fensive warfare  in  Friesland.]  Beams  of  wood 
transfixed  by  pointed  stakes  or  sword-blades,  as 
temporary  barriers  to  a  passage. 

Chevelure.     [Fr.]     Head  of  hair. 

Cheveril.  [Fr.  chevre,  a  goat.}  Kid  leather ; 
adj.,  pliable,  yielding,  in  a  bad  sense. 

Chevisance.  [O.Fr.]  (Leg.)  1.  An  unlaw- 
ful bargain  or  contract.  2.  An  indirect  gain  in 
point  of  usury.  3.  An  agreement  or  composition, 
especially  between  debtor  and  creditor. 

Chevron.  [Fr.,  L.L.  caprionem,  a  goat.'} 
1.  A  rafter.  2.  Zigzag  moulding,  Norman,  like 
a  pair  of  rafter?.  3.  (Her.}  An  ordinary  in 
the  form  of  a  pair  of  rafters.  4.  (Mil.)  Dis- 
tinguishing stripe-;,  denoting  rank,  on  the  sleeve 
of  a  non-commissioned  officer's  coat. 

Chevy  Chase.  Old  ballad  founded  on  the 
battle  of  Otterburn,  Northumberland,  1388,  in 


which  the  Earl  of  Douglas  was  killed,  and 
Henry  Percy  (Hotspur),  son  of  the  Earl  of 
Northumberland,  taken  prisoner. 

Chewing  of  oakum,  or  pitch.  (Naut.)  Ex- 
pressive of  leakage  caused  from  insufficient 
caulking. 

Chi.  The  Gr.  x>  a  mark  used  anciently  by 
the  Greeks,  in  reading,  to  note  passages  as 
spurious ;  but  -x-,  X  w^^  points  on  each  side, 
noted  excellent  [Gr.  XP7?0"7"^*]  passages. 
(Chrestomathy.) 

Chiaro-scuro.  [It.,  clear-obscure.}  In  Painting, 
the  proper  disposition  of  lights  and  shadows. 

Chiasm.  [Gr.  xiaffljl-6s,  a  marking  with  x-] 
1.  (Chi.)  2.  A  crosswise  arrangement  of  words 
or  clauses,  as  "  Begot  by  butchers,  but  by  bishops 
bred." 

Chiasma.  [Gr.  x'^M"*  the  mark  of  x-}  The 
crossing  of  the  fibres  of  the  optic  nerve. 

Chibbal.  [Fr.  ciboule,  L.  csepulla.]  A  kind 
of  small  onion. 

Chibouque.     [Turk.]    A  Turkish  pipe. 

Chic.  [Fr.]  In  Mod.  Eng.  slang,  =  style, 
the  correct  thing.  In  Fr.  (i)  originally  sharp- 
ness in  practice  ;  now  (2)  a  term  of  the  workshop 
=  rapid,  easy  execution,  e.g.  in  painting.  Littre 
inclines  to  think  (i)  an  abbrev.  of  Chicane ;  and 
(2)  a  distinct  word,  the  Ger.  schick,  arrangement, 
despatch. 

Chica.  [Sp.]  1.  A  popular  Spanish  and  S.- 
American dance ;  said  to  be  Moorish ;  hence 
jig(?).  2.  A  fermented  liquor  made  from  maize. 
3.  Red  colouring  matter,  used  by  the  Indians, 
from  the  wood  of  the  climbing  Bignonia  C.  of 
the  Orinoco. 

Chicanery.  Sophistry,  sharp  practice  ;  origin- 
ally, dispute  over  the  game  of  mall  [Byz.  r£vKd- 
viov}  ',  then,  over  lawsuits. 

Chicard.  The  harlequin  of  the  modern  French 
carnival. 

Chiches.    [Fr.  chiche,  L.  cicer.]    Chick-pease. 

Chichevache  and  Bycorne.  Two  fabled  mon- 
sters, of  whom  B.  feeds  on  obedient  husbands 
and  is  very  fat,  C.  on  patient  wives  and  is  almost 
starved. 

Chicks.     [Hind.]     Venetian  blinds  in  India. 

Chicory,  Succory,  Common.  (Bot.)  Cichorium 
intybus,  ord.  Compositse ;  a  perennial  plant, 
wild  in  England  and  most  parts  of  Europe, 
having  long  carrot-like  roots,  for  the  sake  of 
which  it  is  cultivated. 

Chief.  [Fr.  chef,  L.  caput,  head.}  (Her.)  An 
ordinary  occupying  the  upper  part  of  an  escut- 
cheon, and  containing  one-third  part  of  the  field. 
(Escutcheon.) 

Chief,  Examination  in.  (Leg. )  First  question- 
ing of  a  witness  in  the  interest  of  self  of  the  party 
who  calls  said  witness ;  opposed  to  cross-exami- 
nation and  re-examination. 

Chief  Baron.  (Leg.)  Presiding  judge  in  Court 
of  Exchequer  (q.v.)  of  Pleas  at  Westminster. 

Chief-rents.     (Quit-rents.) 

Chiefrie.  A  small  rent  paid  to  a  lord  para- 
mount. 

Chievance.  [(?)  Fr.  achevance,  a  finishing, 
bringing  to  an  end,  L.  caput,  O.Fr.,  chief.}  The 
extortion  of  unfair  discount  in  a  bargain. 


CHIF 


116 


CHIR 


Chiffonier.  [Fr.]  1.  A  collector  of  rags  and 
odds  and  ends.  2.  A  wooden  stand,  furnished 
with  shelves  for  odds  and  ends  or  bric-a-brac.  3. 
An  ornamental  sideboard  with  drawers. 

Chignon.  [Fr.]  The  nape  of  the  tuck;  hence 
a  mass  of  hair,  often  chiefly  false,  worn  at  the 
back  of  the  head. 

Chigoe.  (Entom^  Jigger,  Sand-flea ;  wingless 
insect  breeding  under  the  human  skin  (Pulex 
pgnetrans). 

Child,  Childe.  1.  Old  title  of  an  eldest  son 
while  heir-apparent  or  while  candidate  for  knight- 
hood, as  Childe  Rowland.  2,  A  young  man ;  e.g. 
Song  of  the  Three  Children.  3.  In  Elementary 
Education  Act,  1876,  one  between  five  and 
fourteen. 

Childermas.  [A.S.  childa-maesse  daeg.]  In- 
nocents' Day,  December  28. 

Child-wife.  1.  Formerly,  a  wife  who  has 
borne  a  child  ;  now,  2,  a  very  young  wife. 

Chiliad.  [Gr.  ylKvks.}  A  thousand  in  num- 
ber ;  a  cycle  of  a  thousand  years. 

Chiliarch.  Commander  [Gr.  apx^s]  of  a  thou- 
sand [xiA.'°0  men.  , 

Chiliasts.  [Gr.  x«\tacrra£,  from  x*A'ot»  a 
thousand.}  Believers  in  a  millennium,  or  blissful 
reign  of  the  saints  on  the  earth  for  a  thousand 
years  after  the  final  judgment.  Papias,  Bishop  of 
Hierapolis,  in  the  second  century,  is  said  to  have 
been  the  first  who  held  this  opinion. 

Chill;  Chilled  shot;  Chilled  wheel.  When 
castings  of  iron  are  rapidly  cooled,  they  become 
extremely  hard;  the  iron  is  then  said  to  be 
chilled,  and  the  mould  in  which  such  iron  is  cast 
is  called  a  chill.  Chilled  shot  is  shot  for  heavy 
ordnance,  made  of  chilled  iron.  A  Chilled  wheel 
is  a  wheel  of  a  railway  carriage  whose  tire  is 
hardened  by  chilling ;  such  wheels  are  exten- 
sively used  in  U.S. 

Chilled.  1.  Varnish  is  said  to  be  chilled, 
when  through  dampness  a  bloom  (q.v.)  appears 
on  a  picture.  2.  (Casehardening.) 

Chilli.  [Sp.  chili.]  The  pod  of  the  cayenne 
pepper. 

Chiltern  Hundreds.  A  tract  extending  through 
part  of  Bucks,  and  of  Oxford.  The  steward  was 
an  officer  appointed  by  the  Crown  to  preserve 
order  there.  A  member  of  Parliament,  as  he 
cannot  strictly  resign,  vacates  his  seat  by  ac- 
cepting a  nominal  office  under  the  Crown,  such 
as  this  stewardship.  The  hundreds  are  Burnham, 
Desborough,  and  Stoke,  once  forest-land  infested 
by  robbers. 

CMmaeridae.  [Gr.  xO*°»pa»  a  monster  with  a 
lion's  head,  a  goat's  body  with  second  head,  and  a 
serpent  for  a  tail;  hence  a  monster  generally. } 
(fchth.)  Fam.  of  shark-like  fishes;  N.  and  S. 
Temperate  latitudes.  British  spec.,  Chimsera 
monstrosa,  Rabbit-fish,  King  of  the  herrings, 
Sea-cat ;  three  feet  long,  white  with  golden-brown 
markings,  large  head,  whip-like  tail.  Ord.  H616- 
cephala,  sub-class  Chondropterygii. 

Chimera.  [Gr.  x'V«'P«-]  A  monster  slain  by 
Hipponoos,  who  is  also  called  Bellerophon.  (Bel- 
lerophon's  letters.)  The  word  meant  simply 
goats  of  a  year  old,  strictly  winterlings ;  and  as 
the  sun  slays  the  winter,  the  creature  slain  would 


be  a  chimera.  It  now  means  commonly  a  wild 
fancy  or  an  object  impossible  of  attainment. 
Adj.,  Chimerical. 

Chimere.  [Fr.  cimarre,  It.  zimarra.]  The 
upper  robe  of  satin,  black  or  red,  with  lawn 
sleeves  attached  to  it,  worn  by  bishops  of  the 
English  Church. 

Chimin.  [Fr.  chemin,  L.L.  caminus,  way, 
road.}  (Leg.)  Away.  Private  roads  are  either 
C.  in  gross,  when  a  person  holds  the  road  as  pro- 
perty ;  or  C.  appendant,  as  when  a  person  cove- 
nants for  right  of  way  over  another's  land  to  his 
own. 

Chiminage.  [Fr.  chimin  (q.v.).]  (Leg.) 
Toll  due  by  custom  for  way  through  a  forest. 

Chimming.  [Ger.  kimme,  the  edge  of  a  cask.} 
Dressing  ore  in  a  tub  or  keeve. 

Chimney  money,  or  Hearth  tax.  An  impost 
levied  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II. ,  and  abolished 
in  that  of  William  III.  and  Mary. 

China  clay.  A  clay  found  in  the  west  of 
England,  used  for  making  china.  China  stone 
is  a  kind  of  granite  used  for  glazing  fine  pottery. 

China  grass.  Grass  cloth,  a  fine  glossy 
fabric,  made  from  the  fibre  of  the  Boehmeria 
mvea  of  Assam ;  not  a  grass,  but  allied  to  the 
nettle ;  ord.  Urtlcacese. 

Chinampas.     (Floating  islands.) 

Chinche.  [L.  cimicem.]  1.  (Entom.)  A  bug. 
2.  (ZooL)  Chinchilla,  burrowing  gregarious 
rodents  of  the  high  Andes  of  Chili  and  Peru ; 
of  about  fourteen  inches  in  length,  with  long 
hind  legs,  valued  for  their  soft  grey  fur.  Fam. 
Chinchillklse,  ord.  Rodentia. 

Chincough.  [(?)  Onomatop.  similar  names 
occurring  in  other  languages.]  Whooping- 
cough. 

Chine  and  chine.     Casks  stowed  endways. 

Chinese  white.  Oxide  of  zinc,  used  as  a 
pigment. 

Chinse,  To.  To  caulk  slightly  or  tempo- 
rarily, by  working  in  oakum  with  a  knife. 

Chintz.  [Hind,  chhint.]  A  cotton  cloth, 
printed  in  five  or  six  colours. 

Chioppine.  [O.Fr.  escapin,  It.  scapino,  sock.} 
A  kind  of  clog  or  patten,  once  worn  by  ladies. 

Chippendale.  Furniture  inlaid  with  coloured 
woods  (made  by  Chippendale,  in  the  last 
century). 

Chippers.  Women  who  dress  the  best  ore  in 
lead-mines.  » 

Chipping.  (Cheap.)  A  market-place ;  part  of 
A.S.  names,  as  in  Chipping  Norton,  Chippen- 
ham,vCopen-hagen 

Chiragra.  (Mea.)  Gout  in  the  hand  [Gr. 
Xeip-dypa,y  as  iroS-dypa,  gout  in  (lit.  a  trap  for)  the 
feet}. 

Chirk.  [Cf.  Prov.  Ger.  schirken,  to  chirp.} 
To  chirp  ;  Loc.  Amer.  adj. ,  cheerful.  Onomatop. 
of  various  sounds  of  birds  and  insects. 

Chirograph.  [Gr.  x^pfypfy0"'  a  tm'ng  written 
with  the  hand,  a  bond.}  A  diplomatic  document, 
in  two  copies,  on  one  sheet,  between  which  was 
written  chirdgraphum,  or  some  such  word,  so 
that  through  this  word  cut  lengthwise  the  parch- 
ment might  be  divided  into  authentic  duplicates. 

Chirographist.     [Gr.  x*lp>  a  hand,  ypafw,  2 


CHIR 


117 


CHOR 


write.'}  One  who  tells  fortunes  by  palmistry,  i.e. 
by  inspecting  or  reading  the  lines  of  the  palm. 

Chirology.  [Gr.  x6t/P»  «  hand,  \6yos,  dis- 
course.] Deaf-and-dumb  language. 

Chiromancy.  [Gr.  xflP°P-at/T€'ia-]  Divinations 
by  the  lines  of  the  hand.  (Palmistry.) 

Chiropodist.  [Coined  from  xe^P>  hand,  irovs, 
iro56s,  foot.}  One  who  cuts  nails  and  treats 
corns,  etc. 

Chlroptera.     (Cheiroptera.) 

Chirurgeon,  now  abbrev.  into  Surgeon.  [Gr. 
X^tpovpyosj  "working  by  the  hand,  a  surgeon.} 

Chisleu.  Ninth  month  of  the  sacred,  the  third 
of  the  civil,  Jewish  year ;  November — December. 

Chit.  [Hind.,  a  written  document  of  any  kind.] 
(Naut.)  A  note.  Formerly  one  given  by  a 
divisional  officer,  authorizing  the  purser  to  supply 
"slops  ;  "  has  to  be  presented  to  the  purser. 

Chitine.  [Gr.  x°^Tr7»  hair,  mane.}  A  sub- 
stance allied  to  horn,  of  which  the  skeletons  of 
insects  and  crustaceans  are  formed  ;  in  insects  it 
forms  the  elytra  also,  and  some  internal  organs ; 
and  in  some  annelids  the  loco-motor  bristles. 

Chiton.  [Gr.  xrr^j/.  ]  A  tunic,  with  or  without 
sleeves,  fastened  with  a  girdle  or  zone  [Gr. 
((•tvrf}.  The  Ionic  C.  reached  to  the  feet. 

Chitonidae.  [Gr.  x^v,  tunic.}  (Zool.)  Fam. 
of  gasteropodous  molluscs,  the  only  known  in- 
stance of  a  protecting  shell  of  many  portions — 
not  valves,  but  overlapping  plates. 

Chitterling.  1.  A  short  frill.  2.  The  frill-like 
small  intestines  of  the  hog. 

Chittim,  Kittim.  The  Island  of  Cyprus  was 
known  to  the  Phoenicians  and  Jews  by  this  name. 
Its  chief  town,  Kition,  was  a  great  emporium 
for  the  Phoenician  slave-traders.  Numb.  xxiv. 
24,  and  elsewhere. 

Chitty  face.  [Fr.  chiche-face.]  A  mean- 
faced  fellow. 

Chiun.  Amos  v.  26;  generally  regarded  as 
the  name  of  an  idol.  The  word  may  also  mean 
the  pedestal  or  support  of  an  image. 

Chive,  or  Give.  [L.  csepa,  an  onion.}  (Bot.) 
Allium  Schoenoprasum,  ord.  Liliacese. 

Chivey.    ( Naut. )    A  knife. 

Chladni's  figures.     (Nodal  figures.) 

Chlamyphore.  [As  if  Gr.  x^^ocp6pos,  %Aa- 
/tus,  mantle,  $op4<t>,  I  wear.}  (Zool.)  Gen.  (two 
spec.)  of  armadillo;  small.  La  Plata  and  Bo- 
livia. Chlamydophorus,  fam.  Dasypodldse,  ord. 
Edentata. 

Chlamys.  [Gr.  x&apfc.]  An  oblong  outer 
garment,  a  mantle. 

Chloral.  (Chem.)  A  colourless,  pungent  liquid, 
obtained  by  the  action  of  chlorine  upon  tz/cohol. 

Chloric  acid.  (Chem.)  An  acid  obtained  from 
chlorine.  Its  salts  are  called  Chlorates. 

Chlorine.  (Chem.)  A  greenish-yellow  [Gr. 
XAwp(fs]  gas;  one  of  the  elements. 

Chloroform.  (Chlorine  and  formyl,  it  being  a 
terchloride  of  formyl.)  A  powerful  anaesthetic, 
composed  of  oxygen,  hydrogen  and  chlorine. 

Chlorometry.  [Gr.  xAoyxfc,  yellowish  green, 
fjifTpoi/,  measure.}  (Chem.)  The  process  of 
testing  the  bleaching  power  of  any  combination 
of  chlorine. 

Chlorophyll.     [Gr.   xXupts,  green,   <pi>\\ov,  a 


leaf.}  (Chem.)  A  substance  to  which  green 
leaves  owe  their  colour ;  minute,  somewhat 
waxy  granules  floating  in  the  fluid  of  the  cells. 

Chlorosis.  [Gr.  xAft>P°'*-]  !•  (Bot."}  I.q. 
Etiolation  (q.v.).  2.  (Med.)  Green  sickness,  a 
disease  arising  from  deficiency  of  red  corpuscles 
in  the  blood. 

Chlorous  acid.  (Chem.)  An  acid  containing 
equal  parts  of  oxygen  and  chlorine. 

Chocolate  gale.  (Naut.)  A  smart  wind  from 
N.W.  of  Spanish  Main  and  W.  Indies. 

Choir  organ.     (Organ.) 

Choke-damp.     ( Fire-damp. ) 

Choke-pear,  Choke-plum.  A  harsh  pear, 
scarcely  eatable;  and  so,  metaphorically,  a 
silencing,  sarcastic  speech. 

Choke  the  luff.  (Naut.)  To  get  the  fall  of  a 
tackle  between  the  block  and  the  leading  part, 
so  as  to  prevent  it  from  running  through  the 
block.  Slang  for  to  be  silenced,  and  to  get  a  meal 
to  stay  hunger. 

Choki.  [Hind,  chauki,  guard-house. .]  A  cus- 
tom-house or  police-station  in  India ;  hence 
choki-dar,  an  officer  of  customs  or  police. 

Cholagogue.  [Gr.  x°A*7ft'7^-]  (Med.)  A 
medicine  which  increases  the  flow  of  bile. 

Cholesterine.  [Gr.  ffTepc6s,  solid.}  A  fatty 
constituent  in  bile  [xo^^j],  the  basis  of  biliary 
calculus. 

Choliambic.  [Gr.  xwXfa/tjBos,  a  halting  iam- 
bus.} An  iambic  trimeter,  acatalectic  verse 
[senarius] ;  the  fifth  foot  always  being  an  iambus, 
the  sixth  a  spondee.  Also  called  Scazonic  (q.v.~). 

Chondro-.     [Gr.   xfoSpos,  cartilage.}     (Anat.) 

Chondropterygii.  [Gr.  xrfpSpo?,  gristle, 
irrepy£,  Jin.}  (Ichth.)  Sub-class  of  fish,  with 
cartilaginous  skeletons,  comprising  chimseras, 
sharks,  and  rays. 

Chopine.     (Chioppine.) 

Choragic  monument.  (Gr.  Arch.)  A  monu- 
ment in  which  the  tripod  bestowed  on  the 
Choragus  who  best  performed  his  office  was 
publicly  exhibited,  as  those  of  Lysicrates  and 
Thrasyllos  at  Athens. 

Choragus.  [Gr.  x°p<*7<fc>  leader  of  a  chorus. } 
At  Athens,  a  citizen  who  defrayed  the  cost  of 
the  public  choruses  in  the  great  yearly  dramatic 
exhibitions.  The  office  was  a  Liturgy. 

Chord.  [L.  chorda,  Gr.  x°P^y  cord.}  The 
straight  line  joining  two  points  of  a  curve,  as  a 
chord  of  a  circle,  of  an  ellipse,  etc. 

Chorea.  [Gr.  x°P6"*>  « dancing. }  (Med.)  St. 
Vitus's  dance ;  a  nervous  affection  characterized 
by  irregular  and  involuntary  muscular  move- 
ments. 

Chorepiscopus.  [Gr.  x&>p-€7"<r'f07ros»  country 
bishop.}  In  the  early  and  mediaeval  times,  most 
likely  =  suffragan  bishop,  having  delegated 
authority  only,  like  present  Bishops  of  Notting- 
ham or  Dover  ;  but  doing  the  work  also  now  done 
by  archdeacons,  rural  deans,  and  vicars-general. 

Choreus.  [Gr.  x°Pe'°£>  *•*•  TOVS,  a  metrical  foot 
belonging  to  the  chorus.}  1.  I.q.  trochee.  2. 
With  later  metrists,  i.q.  tribrach. 

Choriambus.  [Gr.  x°Pia^os^  (Pros.)  A 
foot,  =  a  trochee  +  an  iambus,  -  w  -  ;  as 
anxietas,  Heligoland. 


CHOR 


118 


CHRO 


Chorion.  [Gr.  \6piov,  a  caul.}  (Physiol.) 
Outer  envelope  of  the  ovum ;  the  membrane 
enveloping  the  foetus. 

Choroid.  Like  a  chorion,  in  the  multiplicity 
of  its  vessels  ;  e.g.  the  choroid  coat,  one  of  the 
internal  tunics  of  the  eye. 

Chorus.  [Gr.  x0/^5-]  *n  ^e  Greek  theatre,  a 
band  of  singers  and  dancers  who  performed  the 
odes  introduced  into  each  drama. 

Chouans,  Chouanerie.  1.  A  name  given,  in 
1830,  to  certain  insurgent  royalists  of  the  west 
of  France  during  the  Revolution  of  1793;  and 
used  again  in  1832.  2.  Applied  also  to  the 
adherents  of  the  elder  branch  of  the  Bourbons. 
[(?)  Chouan,  a  screech-owl,  as  if  describing 
nocturnal  predatory  habits  ;  or  as  being  the  nick- 
name of  Cottereau,  one  of  their  leaders.  Chouan 
has  been  corr.  into  chat-huant  (Littre,  s.v.).] 

Chough.     Cornish  chough,  red-legged  crow. 

Choule.  Lq.  jowl.  [(?)  A.S.  ceole,  the  jaw  ; 
or  Fr.  gueule,  L.  gula.] 

Chow-chow.  [Chin.J  A  kind  of  Indian  mixed 
pickle. 

Chowder.  A  stew  of  fresh  fish,  pork,  onions, 
etc.  C.  beer,  a  fermented  liquor  ;  an  infusion  of 
black-spruce  and  molasses. 

Chowry.     [Hind,  chaunry.]     A  fly -flapper. 

Chrematistics.  [Gr.  xPr)lJ-aTiar"iK'')-]  That  part 
of  political  economy  which  has  to  do  simply  with 
money  [xp-fl/J-ara]. 

Chrestomathy.  [Gr.  xpTjoTo/tafleja.]  A  collec- 
tion of  choice  passages,  excellent  [xPT?°"r^y]  f°r 
any  one  to  learn  [fj.a.Ge'iv]  in  acquiring  a  language. 

Chriemhild,  Zriemhild.  [Ger.]  Heroine  of 
the  Nibelungen  Lied ;  changes  from  a  type  of 
gentle  womanhood  to  a  revengeful  fury  on  her 
beloved  husband's  murder. 

Chrism,  [Gr.  x^Ier/m,  ungtient]  Consecrated 
oil  used  at  baptism,  confirmation,  ordination, 
orders,  and  extreme  unction,  in  the  Roman  and 
Greek  Churches.  Chrismatory,  a  small  vessel 
forC. 

Chrisome.  A  white  vesture,  in  token  of 
innocence,  placed  at  baptism  on  the  child,  to 
keep  the  oil  [Gr.  XP^W  an  unction,  New 
Testament]  from  running  off.  Chrisome-child, 
one  shrouded  in  its  C.,  because  dying  between 
its  baptism  and  the  churching  of  the  mother  ; 
sometimes  incorrectly  used  to  mean  one  dying 
before  baptism. 

Christ-cross  row.  Cms-cross  row,  the  alphabet 
arranged  in  the  form  of  a  -f- ,  with  A  at  the  top 
and  Z  at  the  foot ;  in  old  primers. 

Christians  of  St.  John.     (Sabians.) 

Christinas  tree.  Among  the  Teutonic  nations, 
the  stem  of  a  tree,  generally  fir,  lit  up  with 
candles,  and  bearing  gifts  which  ai-e  tied  on  to 
the  branches.  It  represents,  in  all  likelihood,  the 
world-tree  Yggdrasil. 

Christmas  rose.  Common  in  gardens,  bloom- 
ing in  winter  and  early  spring.  Helleborus 
niger,  ord.  Ranunculaceae. 

Christology.  Discourse  respecting  the  nature 
and  work  of  Christ ;  the  doctrine  of  the  Person 
of  Christ. 

Christopher  North.  Norn  deplume  of  Jonathan 
Wilson,  Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy  at  Edin- 


burgh, 1820,  and  writer  in  'Blackwood;  author 
of  Nodes  Ambrosiana. 

Christ's  thorn.  (Bot.)  Paliurus  aculeatus,  ord. 
Rhamnacese ;  of  S.  Europe  and  W.  Asia ;  a 
deciduous  thorny  shrub.  Another  Paliurus  bears 
the  name  of  C.  T.  also,  i.e.  Zizyphus  Splna 
Christi,  used  for  hedges ;  a  native  of  countries 
bordering  on  the  Mediterranean  and  of  W.  Asia. 
Opinions  differ  as  to  the  identification  of  the 
"thorns"  of  Matt,  xxvii.  29. 

Chromate.     (Chromium.) 

Chromatic.  [Gr.  xp°>/*«T''«fe»  florid,  relating 
to  colotir]  1.  Having  semi-tonic  intervals,  other 
than  those  of  the  diatonic  scale.  C.  scale,  one 
of  successive  semi-tones  throughout.  2.  In  Gr. 
Music.  (Diatonic.) 

Chromatic  dispersion.     (Dispersion  of  light.) 

Chromatrope.  [Gr.  xpv/*"*  colour,  rpoirfj,  a 
turning.}  An  optical  toy,  consisting  of  a  revolv- 
ing disc,  painted  with  circles  of  various  colours. 

Cnromatype.  [Gr.  xp&H"'  a  colour,  T^KOS, 
type.]  A  photographic  process  in  which  the 
picture  is  obtained  on  paper  treated  with  bichro- 
mate of  potash. 

Chrome  (i.e.  Chromium)  green.  Oxide  of 
chromium.  C.  orange  and  yellow  are  chromates 
of  lead.  C.  red  is  generally  made  of  red  lead. 

Chromium,  Chrome.  [Gr.  XP^M0?  colour.]  A 
whitish  brittle  metal,  very  difficult  to  fuse ;  pro- 
ducing many  compounds,  from  which  colours 
are  obtained.  Chromic  acid  is  derived  from  it, 
the  salts  of  which  are  called  Chromates. 

Chromo-lithograph.  [Gr.  XP^M«>  colour, 
Ai'0«j,  a  stone,  ypd<j><0,  I  draw.]  Reproduction 
of  pictures  by  the  use  of  coloured  inks  in 
lithography. 

Chronic  disease.  [Gr.  XPOVIK4$>  relating  to 
time.]  One  of  continuance,  of  permanent 
recurrence;  as  opposed  to  Acute,  i.e.  more 
severe,  rapid  in  progress,  and  short  in  duration. 

Chroniclers,  Ehyming,  more  properly  Kiming. 
A  series  of  early  English  verse  writers,  which 
became  conspicuous  at  the  end  of  the  thirteenth 
century. 

Chronogram.  [Gr.  xP^vos,  time,  ypanna, 
writing,  from  ypd<pw,  I  write.]  An  inscription 
of  which  such  letters  as  are  Roman  numerals, 
if  added,  make  up  a  specific  date  ;  as  on  a  medal 
of  Gustavus  Adolphus,  struck  1632  :  "  Christ Vs 
DVX  ;  ergo  trIVMphVs ;  "  whereof  the  capitals 
make  M  OCX  WWII.,  i.e.  MDCXXXIL 

Chronograph,  [Gr.  xp^*/os>  time,  ypd<pfiv,  to 
write.]  A  watch  so  contrived  that  the  second 
hand  marks  the  dial  when  required,  as  at  the 
beginning  or  end  of  a  race. 

Chronograph,  Electro-chronograph.  [Gr. 
Xpovos,  time,  ypd<f>w,  2  write.]  An  instrument 
for  showing  instants  and  intervals  of  time 
graphically.  It  consists  of  an  electro-magnetic 
recording  apparatus  put  into  communication 
with  the  pendulum  of  an  astronomical  clock  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  circuit  is  broken  at  a 
certain  point  of  each  oscillation,  and  in  con- 
sequence the  seconds'  beats  of  the  pendulum  are 
indicated  by  a  series  of  equidistant  breaks  or 
points  in  a  continuous  line  described  on  a  roll  of 
paper  to  which  a  uniform  motion  is  given  by 


CHRO 


119 


CIDA 


machinery.  The  instant  of  the  occurrence  of  a 
phenomenon  —  such  as  the  passage  of  a  star 
across  one  of  the  wires  of  a  transit  instrument  — 
can  then  be  indicated  by  a  dot  made  by  similar 
means  amongst  the  equidistant  dots  which 
denote  the  seconds.  There  are  other  Electro- 
chronographs  or  Chronoscopes  used  in  researches 
on  the  velocities  of  shot,  etc. 

Chronometer.  [Gr.  x^"°*»  time*  ptrpov, 
measure.]  A  very  accurate  portable  time-keeper. 
A  ship's  C.  is  a  large  C.  hung  on  gimbals,  and 
designed  to  show  the  Greenwich  mean  time 
wherever  the  ship  may  be. 

Chrononhotonthologos.  A  pompous  character 
in  H.  Carey's  burlesque  of  the  same  name. 

Chronoscope.  [Gr.  -%p6vos,  time,.  ffKoitfiv,  to 
observe.]  1.  An  instrument  to  measure  the 
duration  of  luminous  impressions  on  the  retina. 
2.  An  instrument  for  determining  with  great 
accuracy  short  intervals  of  time.  The  chrono- 
graph is  also  called  a  C. 

Chrysaor.     (Pegasus.) 

Chryselephantine.  Made  of  gold  [Gr.  xperos] 
and  ivory  [e'A.e<J>as]  ;  like  the  celebrated  statue  of 
Zeus  at  Olympia  by  Pheidias. 

Chrysoberyl. 


[Gr.  xp^ff^>  gold,  frfipv\\os, 
beryl.]  (Mm.)  A  hard  green  or  yellowish-green 
semi-transparent  gem,  of  which  nearly  80  per 
cent,  is  alumina,  and  nearly  20  per  cent,  is  the 
rare  earth  glucina.  Found  in  Ireland,  Brazil, 
Ceylon,  etc. 

Chrysolite.  Gold-stone  [Gr.  xp^s  Affloj.] 
(Geol.)  A  name  applied  to  the  paler  and  more 
transparent  crystalline  variety  of  olivine,  silicate 
of  magnesia  and  iron.  In  volcanic  rocks,  Au- 
vergne,  Vesuvius,  Mexico,  Egypt,  etc.  (Topaz.) 

Chrysology.  [Gr.  x/wcnfe,  gold,  \6yos, 
reckoning.]  Branch  of  political  economy  which 
concerns  the  production  of  wealth  and  money. 

Chrysolyte  of  Rev.  xxi.  20  [Gr.  xP^oAiflos] 
is  probably  the  Oriental  topaz,  a  yellow  variety 
of  the  true  sapphire.  —  King,  Precious  Stones,  etc. 
(Topaz.) 

Chrysoprase,  Chrysoprasus  [Gr.  xp\xr6s, 
gold,  irpdffov,  a  leek],  i.e.  yellowish-leek-green 
or  apple-green  variety  of  Chalcedony.  In  Lower 
Silesia  and  Vermont.  C.  of  the  ancients,  un- 
certain. C.  of  Rev.  xxi.  20  is  probably  the 
Indian  chrysolite  (q.v.).  —  King,  Precious  Stones. 

Chrysotype.  [Gr.  xpu<r(fc,  gold,  TVTTOS,  type.} 
A  photograph  taken  on  paper  prepared  with 
chloride  of  gold. 

Chuck.  The  piece  fixed  to  the  mandrel  of  a 
turning-lathe  for  holding  the  material  that  is  to 
be  shaped  in  the  lathe  ;  there  are  fork  chucks, 
eccentric  chucks,  oval  chucks,  etc. 

Chuett,  Chewett.  Pie  or  pudding  made  of 
small  pieces  of  meat  ;  to  chew  =  to  compress,  to 
crush,  to  break  up. 

Chuff.  A  coarse  clown.  C  huffy,  blunt, 
surly. 

Chukra.  Iron  quoit  with  sharp  edge,  six  or 
eight  inches  in  diameter,  used  as  a  weapon  of 
offence  in  India. 

Chunam.     The  Indian  name  for  lime. 

Chupkun.     [Hind.]     A  native's  vest  in  India. 

Church-ales.    Annual  festivals  formerly  held  in 

9 


churchyards  or  near  a  church,  on  the  anniversary 
of  its  dedication,  or  at  Easter,  or  Whitsuntide  ; 
as  Easter-ales,  Whitsun-ales,  Churchwardens' 
brewed  ale ;  the  profits  were  appropriated  to 
church  repairs.  Church-ales  grew  into  fairs,  often 
noisy  and  riotous.  Long  discontinued,  they  are 
now  represented  by  village  fairs,  wakes,  etc. 

Churchdom.  Institution,  government  of  a 
church. 

Churches,  Robbers  of.  Acts  xix.  37  [Gr. 
t€po<rv\ovs] ;  retains  an  earlier  use  of  the  word 
church  as  applied  to  any  kind  of  temple* 

ChurL     (Earl.) 

Chyle.  [Gr.  %v\i%,  jtiice,  chyle.]  (Med.)  A 
milky  fluid  into  which  chyme  is  converted,  and 
which  is  absorbed  into  the  lacteals.  Adj., 
Chylaceous.  Chylo-poietic  organs,  those  which 
have  to  do  with  making  [Gr.  Tronj-ri/cJs]  chyle. 

Chyme.  [Gr.  x*Wy>  juice,  chyme,  or  chyle.] 
(Med. )  The  pulpy  mass  into  which  food  is  con- 
verted by  the  action  of  the  stomach. 

Ciborium  [Gr.  itfftcapiov,  a  cup]>  corr.  into 
Severey..  (Arch.)  1.  A  bay  or  compartment  of  a 
vaulted  ceiling.  2.  A  vaulted  canopy  over  an 
altar. 

Cicada.  [L,,  id.]  (Entom.\  Tree  cricket.  Gen. 
of  Hemipterous  insects  ;  of  which  the  male  has  a 
remarkable  musical  apparatus  at  the  base  of  the 
abdomen.  Hot  countries  mostly.  Sub-ord. 
Homoptera. 

Cicala,  i.q.  Cicada. 

Cicatrice.    [L.  cicatrix, -cem.]  (Med.}   A. scar. 

Cicatricula.  [L.,  a  little  scar.]  1.  The  point 
of  germination  in  an  egg.  2.  The  same  as 
the  scar,  in  a  seed. 

Cicerone.  (From  the  orator  Cicero.)  So- 
called  from  his  garrulity,  a  guide  to  art 
treasures  in  Italy;  and,  generally,  a  guide  of 
the  same  kind  anywhere. 

Cichorium.  [L.,  Gr.  Ktx°Pat  succory*]  (Bot.) 
A  gen.  of  Composite,  including  the  chicory  and 
endive  ;  having  ligulate  florets  and  a  milky  juice. 

Cicisbeo.  [It.]  A  term  applied  to  a  knot  of 
ribbons  attached  to  a  fan  or  a  sword-hilt ;  and 
so  to  a  cavaliere  servente,  one  of  a  class  of  per- 
sons who  dangled  at  the  side  of  married  ladies 
with  the  devotion  of  lovers.  The  practice,  sup- 
posed to  be  drawn  from  ages  of  chivalry,  is  now 
nearly  extinct. 

Ciconla.  [L.,  sfork.]  (OrnithJ)  A  widely 
spread  gen.  of  the  stork  family,  to  which  it 
gives  the  name  of  Ciconiidse.  Two  spec.,  the 
Black  S.  (C.  nigra)  and  the  White  S.  (C.  alba) 
occasionally  visit  Britain.  Ord.  Grallae. 

Cicurate.  [L.  cicuro,  I  make  tame.]  To  tame 
an  animal,  to  render  harmless,  e.g.  something 
poisonous. 

Cicuta.  [L.]  (Bot.)  A  deadly  gen.  of  Um- 
belliferse;  C.  virosa,  the  Cowfant,  or  Water 
hemlock,  dangerously  poisonous,  occasionally 
found  wild  in  England  by  the  side  of  ditches 
and  ponds. 

Cid,  Romance  of  the.  A  Spanish  epic  poem, 
relating  the  exploits  of  Cid  [Ar.  seid,  a  lord] 
Roderigo,  or  Ruy  Diaz,  known  also  as  El  Cam- 
peador,  the  Champion,  in  the  eleventh  century. 

Cidaris.     [Gr.  /ci5a/ny.]     1.   A  Persian  head- 


CIDE 


CIRC 


dress,  or  turban.  2.  The  mitre  of  bishops.  3. 
The  triple  tiara  of  the  pope. 

-cide  =  slayer,  as  in  regicide,  parricide  [L. 
caedo,  I  slay  ;  in  comp.  -cido]. 

Cider  originally  meant  strong  liquor,  i.q.  Gr. 
o-foepa,  in  LXX.  and  New  Testament ;  so  trans- 
lated by  Wiclif  in  Luke  i.  15.  [Grecized  from 
Heb.  shakar,  to  be  intoxicated.] 

Ci-devant.  [Fr.]  Hitherto,  formerly ;  ci  being 
ici,  here,  and  devant,  before  [L.  de  abante]. 

Cilia.  [L.  cilium,  an  eyelash.]  (Bot.  and 
Zool.)  Hairs,  hair-like,  fringe-like  processes. 

Ciliary  motion.  [L.  cilia,  eyelashes.}  (Zool.)  A 
rapid,  vibratile  motion  of  a  multitude  of  minute 
hair-like  processes  of  the  epithelium,  even  when 
detached,  in  all  animals,  except  the  Articulata. 
Its  mechanism  and  source  unknown  ;  independent 
both  of  the  vascular  and  the  nervous  systems. 

Cilicious.  Of  cilicium  [L.],  i.e.  cloth  made 
of  the  soft  under-hair  of  the  Cilician  goat,  or  of 
similar  material.  (Tentmakers.) 

Cimmerian  darkness.  Like  that  of  the  fabled 
Cimmerii,  who  lived  beyond  the  ocean  in  per- 
petual gloom,  "enveloped  in  mist  and  cloud" 
(Odyssey,  xi.  14).  Another  mythical  tribe  of  Cim- 
merii dwelt  in  caves  between  Baise  and  Cumse. 
Cf.  Cymry,  Cimbri,  Cumbri. 

Cinchona  tree.  (Bot.)  Of  S.  America,  ord. 
Rubiacese;  an  important  gen.,  native  of  the 
tropical  valleys  of  the  Andes,  and  now  much 
cultivated  in  India  ;  yielding  the  medicinal  bark 
known  as  Peruvian  bark,  Jesuits'  B.,  Quin- 
quina, etc. 

Cinchonine.  An  alkaloid  obtained  from  Cin- 
chona bark. 

Cincture.  [L.  cinctura,  a  girdle, .]  1.  (Eccl.) 
A  band  or  cord  by  which  the  Alb  of  the  priest 
is  tied  round  the  body.  2.  (Arch.)  The  fillet 
which  separates  the  shaft  of  a  column  from  the 
capital  or  the  base. 

Cinderella.  In  popular  stories,  the  girl  who, 
like  Boots,  sits  among  the  ashes,  but  is  the 
future  bride  of  the  king. 

Cinematics.    (Kinematics.) 

Cinereous,  Cineritious.  [L.  cinereus,  cme1- 
ricius.]  Resembling  ashes  in  form  or  in  colour. 

Cingalese.    Of  or  belonging  to  Ceylon. 

Cinnabar.  [Gr.  Kurd/Sapi,  some  red  vegetable 
dye.]  The  native  red  sulphide  of  mercury,  from 
which  the  pigment  vermilion  is  obtained. 

Cinnamon-stone.  A  variety  of  lime-garnet ; 
the  finer  specimens  valuable.  In  Scotland,  Ire- 
land, Ceylon,  N.  America,  etc.  (Garnet.) 

Cinque-cento.  [It.  io*  five  htindred.]  The  style 
of  art  which  arose  in  Italy  after  the  year  1500. 

Cinque-pace.  [Fr.]  A  lively  dance,  i.q. 
galliard. 

Cinque  ports.  Sandwich,  Dover,  Hythe, 
Romney,  Hastings,  to  which  afterwards,  before 
the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  were  added  Winchelsea 
and  Rye  ;  a  separate  jurisdiction  in  some  respects 
from  the  counties  of  Kent  and  Sussex  ;  originally 
after  the  battle  of  Hastings,  erected  into  a  kind  of 
county  palatine,  under  a  Warden  at  Dover  Castle. 

Cion,  i.q.  Scion.  [Fr.  scion,  from  scier,  to  saw, 
L.  secare.j 

Cipango,  Zipangri     A  marvellous  island  in 


the  Eastern  seas,  described  by  Marco  Polo ; 
sought  for  by  Columbus,  etc. 

Gipherhood.  [Ar.  sifr,  empty ;  cf.  ciffro,  L. 
zephyrus,  a  gentle  wind.]  The  condition  of  a 
cipher,  worthlessness. 

Ciphering.  The  continued  sounding  of  an 
organ  pipe  when  no  note  is  down,  from  derange- 
ment of  the  mechanism. 

Cippus.  [L.]  A  small  low  pillar,  used  as  a 
milestone,  landmark,  or  gravestone. 

Circean.  Belonging  to  Circe,  one  of  the 
moon-goddesses  of  the  Odyssey,  who  can  turn 
men  into  swine.  She  is  thus  the  magician  or 
sorceress. 

Circensian  games.     (Circus.) 

Circinate.  [L.  circmatus.]  In  Bot.,  rolled 
together  downward,  as  in  the  foliation  of  ferns. 

Circle  ;  Antarctic  C. ;  Arctic  C. ;  C.  of  declina- 
tion ;  Galactic  C. ;  Great  C. ;  Horary  C. ;  Hour  C. ; 
Meridian  C.  ;  Mural  C. ;  Reflecting  C. ;  Repeat- 
ing C. ;  Small  C  ;  Transit  C. ;  Vertical  C.  1. 
The  line  traced  out  by  a  point  moving  in 
one  plane  at  a  constant  distance  from  a  fixed 
point.  2.  The  figure  enclosed  by  this  line. 
Of  circles  on  a  sphere  those  whose  planes 
pass  through  the  centre  of  the  sphere  are  Great 
C.  ;  those  whose  planes  do  not  pass  through  the 
centre  are  Small  C.  The  Arctic  and  Antarctic 
C.  are  parallels  of  latitude  as  distant  from  the 
north  and  south  poles  respectively  as  the  tropics 
are  from  the  equator,  i.e.  about  23°  28'.  Vertical 
C.  are  great  circles  passing  through  the  zenith 
and  nadir ;  they  are  therefore  at  right  angles  to 
the  horizon.  Hour  C.,  or  C.  of  declination,  are 
circles  on  the  great  sphere  passing  through  the 
poles  of  the  heavens.  The  Galactic  C.  is  the 
great  circle  of  the  heavens  to  which  the  course 
of  the  Milky  [Gr.  ya\a,KTii<6s]  Way  most  nearly 
conforms.  A  Meridian  C.,  or  Transit  C.,  is  a 
metal  circle  with  its  circumference  or  limb 
divided  into  degrees,  minutes,  etc.,  fastened  to 
an  astronomical  telescope  whose  axis  coincides 
with  one  of  its  diameters.  It  is  adjusted  so  as 
to  move  round  its  axle  in  the  plane  of  the  meri- 
dian. It  serves  for  the  simultaneous  deter- 
mination of  the  right  ascensions  and  polar 
distances  of  heavenly  bodies.  A  Mural  C. 
(q.v.)  [L.  muralis,  belonging  to  a  wall]  resembles 
a  transit  circle,  but  is  mounted  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  serve  only  for  the  determination  of  the 
polar  distances  of  heavenly  bodies.  A  Keflect- 
ing  C.  is  an  instrument  constructed  on  the  same 
principle  and  destined  for  the  same  uses  as  a 
sextant,  but  it  is  more  complete,  as  the  graduated 
circle  is  entire  and  the  divisions  are  carried  all 
round  it.  A  Repeating  C.  is  an  instrument 
designed  for  the  accurate  measurement  of  angles. 
By  a  certain  mechanical  contrivance  the  obser- 
vation of  the  angle  is  repeated  many  (say  ten) 
times,  and  then  the  arc  that  is  read  off  is  ten 
times  the  required  angle.  The  errors  in  the 
final  result  are  of  two  kinds  :  (i)  errors  of 
observation, — these  tend  to  neutralize  each  other 
when  the  observations  are  numerous ;  (2)  the 
error  in  the  final  reading, — this  is  divided  by  the 
number  of  observations,  i.e.  by  10  in  the  case 
supposed.  It  might,  therefore,  be  expected  that 


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121 


CIVI 


an  angle  would  be  determined  by  this  instrument 
with  extreme  accuracy ;  but  practically  the 
repeating  circle  has  not  been  found  to  answer 
the  expectation  that  was  formed  of  it.  The 
Horary  C.,  or  Hour  C.,  on  a  sun-dial,  are  the 
lines  which  show  the  hours. 

Circle  of  Ulloa.     (Ulloa.) 

Circuit.  [L.  circuitus,  agoing  round, ]  The 
continuous  path  of  an  electrical  current. 

Circuits.  [L.  circuitus,  from  circum,  about,  eo, 
I  go.]  (Leg.)  Eight  districts  visited  by  judges 
twice  or  thrice  a  year  for  assize,  by  commissions 
of  the  peace,  of  oyer  and  terminer,  of  general 
gaol  delivery,  and  of  nisi  prius.  The  C.  are 
the  Northern,  Home,'  Western,  Oxford,  Midland, 
Norfolk,  North  Wales,  South  Wales.  The 
Scotch  C.  are  Southern,  Western,  Northern. 

Circular  argument.  In  Logic,  an  argument 
which  arrives  at  a  conclusion  stated  or  involved 
in  the  major  premiss  of  the  syllogism. 

Circular  notes.  Drafts  issued  by  bankers  to 
an  intending  traveller,  and  accompanied  by  a 
printed  letter  of  indication,  bearing  his  signature 
and  introducing  him  to  certain  foreign  bankers 
who  will  cash  a  C.  N.  if  signed  in  their  presence 
and  upon  production  of  the  letter. 

Circular  poets.     (Cyclic  poets. ) 

Circum-.  [L.,  around,  about.]  Often  used  as 
prefix. 

Circumambient.  [L.  circum,  around,  ambio, 
/  encompass.]  Encompassing  on  all  sides  ;  as 
e.g.  air. 

Circumcelliones.  [L.,  from  circum,  around, 
cella,  hut,  cottage.]  Donatist  Christians  of  the 
fourth  century,  fanatics  who  went  from  town  to 
town,  professing  to  reform  manners,  redress 
grievances,  liberate  slaves.  Given  to  violence, 
and,  in  desire  of  martyrdom,  to  self-destruction. 

Circumcursation.  [L.  circumcurso,  /  run 
about.]  A  running  about;  a  rambling,  inco- 
herent method. 

Circumferentor.  [L.  circumfero,  /  carry 
round.  ]  A  particular  form  of  surveyor's  compass. 

Circumforaneous.  [L.  circumforaneus.]  Stroll- 
ing about  in  the  market-place  [L.  forum] ;  attend- 
ing fairs,  etc. 

Circumgyration.  [L.  circumgyro,  I  turn 
round,  gyrus,  a  circle.]  The  act  of  turning 
round  and  round. 

Circumlocution  Office.  In  Dickens's  Little 
Dorrit,  a  fictitious  public  office  ;  a  satire  upon  the 
delays  and  roundabout  ways  of  Red  tape  (q.v.). 

Circumstantial  evidence.  (Leg.)  Evidence 
not  of  the  fact  to  be  proved,  but  of  circumstances 
from  which,  when  proved,  the  fact  may  be  more 
or  less  satisfactorily  inferred  or  presumed. 

Circumvallation.  [L.  circumvallo,  I  surround 
with  a  wall.]  In  ancient  sieges,  an  earthen 
embankment  thrown  up  round  a  town  to  prevent 
succour  from  without.  An  inner  bank,  or  Con- 
travallation,  was  also  raised  to  guard  against 
sorties  from  the  place. 

Circus.  [L.]  (Arch.)  A  long  building  at 
Rome,  semicircular  at  one  end,  in  which  the 
races,  called  Ludi  Circenses,  were  held.  By  the 
Greeks  such  buildings  were  termed  Hippodromes. 

Cirque  [Fr.],  i.q.  Circus. 


Cirripedia,  Cirripeds,  Cirropoda.  [L.  cirrus, 
a  filament,  pedem,  a  foot.]  (Zool. )  Filament  - 
footed ;  the  lowest  class  of  Crustaceans,  as  the 
barnacle. 

Cirrus.  [L.  cirrus,  a  curl.]  Long  streaks  of 
white  cloud,  spreading  in  all  directions.  Cirro- 
cumulus  and  cirro-stratus  are  combinations  of 
this  cloud  with  cumulus  and  stratus  (qq.v.). 

Cisalpine  Republic,  A.D.  1797  to  1802.  A 
state  formed  in  N.  Italy  west  of  the  Apen- 
nines, under  the  protection  of  Napoleon  I.  It 
merged  into  the  Italian  Rep. ,  which  in  A.D.  1805 
become  Napoleon's  Kingdom  of  Italy. 

Ciselure.     [Fr.]     The  chasing  of  metals. 

Cist.  [Gr.  KfoTT}.]  Mystic  chest.  Like  the 
baskets  carried  in  the  Eleusinian  Mysteries. 

Cistercians.  A  monastic  order,  founded  at 
Citeaux  (Cistercium),  in  Burgundy,  towards  the 
end  of  the  eleventh  century,  as  a  reformed  and 
stricter  branch  of  the  Benedictines. 

Cistus.     (Rock-rose.) 

Cital,  i.q.  Recital. 

Citation.  [L.  citatio,  -nem,  a  calling  out.] 
1.  Summons  to  appear  at  a  court  of  visitation  of 
clergy.  2.  Quotation  of  something  said  or 
written. 

Cithara.  [L.]  Ancient  lute,  something  like 
a  gidtar,  which  is  the  same  word. 

Citharista.  [L.]  played  the  cithara  only; 
Cttharcedus  sang  while  playing. 

Cithern,  Cittern.  [Gr.  KiGapa,  a  kind  of  lyre.] 
A  kind  of  guitar  with  eight  wires. 

Cities  of  the  Plain.  Sodom,  Gomorrah, 
Admah,  Zeboim,  and  Bela  or  Zoar. 

Citizen-King.  Louis  Philippe,  elected,  A.D. 
1830,  constitutional  monarch  of  France. 

Citric,  Citrine.  [Gr.  Kirpov,  citron.]  Belong- 
ing to  lemons,  limes,  etc. 

Citric  acid.  [L.  citrus,  the  citron  tree.]  An 
acid  formed  from  lemon  or  lime-juice. 

City.  [Fr.  cite,  L.L.  citatem,  i.q.  civitatem.] 
A  town  incorporated,  which  is  or  has  been  the 
see  of  a  bishop  ;  as  London,  Bath,  Westminster. 

City  of  the  Sun,  transl.  of  the  Syrian  name, 
Baal-bee.  A  ruined  city  in  Ccele-Syria ;  with 
the  Greeks  and  Romans,  Heliopolis,  which  also 
means  City  of  the  Sun. 

Ciudad.    [Sp.,  i.q.  It.  civita.] 

Gives,  i.q.  Chives. 

Civet.  [Pers.  zabad.]  The  brown,  musky 
secretion  of  the  civet  cat. 

Civet  cat.  (Zool.}  A  long-tailed  African 
carnivore  (not  a  cat),  black  and  white,  three  feet 
and  a  half  long,  secreting  "civet"  in  a  pouch 
beneath  the  arms.  Viverra  civetta,  fam.  Viver- 
ridae.  Other  spec,  secrete  a  similar  scent. 

Civic  crown.  [L.  corona  clvica.]  Of  oak 
leaves,  for  saving  a  Roman  citizen's  life  ;  called 
also  quercus  clvilis. 

Civil  Bill  Court.  (Leg.)  In  Ireland,  analogous 
to  County  Court. 

Civil  death.  The  being  dead  in  law  was  the 
result  once  of  entrance  into  a  monastery,  or  of 
abjuration  of  the  realm  ;  now,  of  outlawry  for 
treason,  or  felony,  or  other  cause.  Hence  the 
use,  in  conveyance,  of  the  term  natural  death. 

Civilian.    1.  Properly,  one  learned  in  the  civil 


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122 


CLEA 


or  Roman  law.  Hence  a  member  of  the  College 
of  Doctors  of  Law  in  the  English  Ecclesiastical 
and  Admiralty  Courts.  2.  Popularly,  one  not 
belonging  to  the  army  or  the  navy. 

Civil  law.  1.  The  law  of  particular  states  or 
cities,  municipal  law.  2.  Lq.  Roman  law, 
especially  as  consolidated  by  Justinian.  (Corpus 
Juris  Civilis.) 

Civil  list.  Annual  sum  of  ^385,000,  granted 
by  Parliament  at  the  sovereign's  accession,  for 
maintenance  of  royal  household  and  establish- 
ment, together  with  ^1200  per  annum  for  pen- 
sions to  such  as  have  a  special  claim  on  the 
country,  as  men  distinguished  in  literature  and 
science,  or  their  relations.  The  sovereign,  on 
accession,  surrenders  the  hereditary  revenues  of 
the  Crown,  and  is  freed  from  all  obligations  in 
reference  to  expenses  for  war  or  the  civil  ad- 
ministration of  the  country. 

Civil  Service  is  =  all  duties  performed  for 
and  by  the  State,  not  being  naval  or  military. 
C.  S.  estimates  are  all  State  expenses  not  in  the 
Army  and  Navy  E. 

Civism.     Citizenship ;  citizen-like  conduct. 

Clack-valve.    (Valve.) 

Clairvoyance.  [Fr.,  from  clair,  dear,  voir,  to 
see.]  An  extraordinary  power  of  sight,  said  to 
exist  in  the  mesmerized,  in  other  parts  of  the 
body  than  the  eye. 

Clam,  Clem.  In  the  dialect  of  Lancashire, 
hungry. 

Clamp.  [D.  klampen,  to  fasten  together. ,]  A 
mass  of  bricks  heaped  up  for  burning,  or  of  ore 
for  smelting,  etc. 

Clamp,  Clamping-screw.  (Astron.}  To  damp 
is  to  fasten  the  movable  arm  of  an  astronomical 
instrument ;  this  is  done  by  pressing  a  piece  of 
metal  against  the  fixed  part  of  the  instrument  by 
means  of  a  damping- screw.  It  is  usual  to  set 
the  instrument  very  nearly  in  the  position  it  is 
finally  to  take,  and  then  to  clamp  it ;  the  final 
adjustment  is  given  by  means  of  the  tangent,  or 
small  motion  screw,  which  generally  forms  part 
of  the  clamping  apparatus. 

Clancular.  [L.  clancularius.]  Conducted  with 
secrecy  [clam,  secretly}. 

Clapboard.    A  stave  for  making  casks. 

Clapdish.  A  wooden  bowl  or  dish,  with  noisy 
lid,  used  by  beggars  to  attract  attention. 

Clapper.    [Fr.  clapier.]    A  burrow  for  rabbits. 

Clapperclaw.    To  scold  [from  clap  and  claw]. 

Claque.  [Fr.  claquer,  to  clap.']  Preconcerted 
applause  to  gain  success  for  a  public  performance. 
In  Paris,  claqiieurs  have  been  organized  and 
trained  for  the  last  fifty  years. 

Clarence.  (Called  after  the  Duke  of  Clarence.) 
A  close  four-wheeled  carriage  with  a  single  seat. 

Clarencieux.  (Originally  herald  to  the  Duke 
of  Clarence.)  The  second  king-at-arms  in  the 
Heralds'  College. 

Clarendon,  Constitutions  of.  A  statement  of 
the  relations  between  the  civil  and  the  temporal 
powers,  subscribed  at  Clarendon,  near  Salisbury, 
by  the  bishops,  1164;  Becket,  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  alone  refusing. 

Clarendon  Press.  The  printing-press  of  the 
University  of  Oxford. 


Clare,  St.,  Order  of.  An  order  of  women  in- 
stituted by  St.  Francis,  in  1213,  and  so  called  from 
the  first  abbess,  Clara  of  Assisi.  The  nuns  are 
called  Minoresses  and  Poor  Clares. 

Clarichord.  (?)  A  corr.  of  clavichord  (q.v.) ; 
or  (?)  some  kind  of  harp. 

Clarum  et  venerabile  nomen  gentibus.  [L.] 
A  renowned  name,  and  one  reverenced  by  (distant} 
peoples. 

Clary  water.  A  cordial  made  with  flowers  of 
Clary  (Salvia  sclarea),  a  plant  of  .the  same  gen. 
with  sage  ;  a  native  of  S.  Europe. 

Clasper.     (Bot.}    A  tendril. 

Claudication.  [L.  claudjco,  /  limp.]  Lame- 
ness ;  inequality  of  muscular  power  in  the  two 
legs. 

Claustral.    Relating  to  a  Cloister. 

Clausum  fregit.  [L.,  he  broke  the  close.}  In 
Law,  =  he  committed  a  trespass ;  he  made,  in 
whatever  way,  an  unwarrantable  entry  on 
another's  soil. 

Clavam  Hercule  extorquere.  [L.]  To  wrest 
the  club  from  Hercules ;  to  attempt  impossibilities. 

Clavate.     (Clovate.) 

Clavated.  [L.  clava,  a  club.]  Club-shaped  ; 
growing  thicker  towards  the  top. 

Clave9in.  [Fr.]  A  harpsichord.  Clave9inist, 
a  performer  on  it.  C.  is  clavi-cimbalo,  or  keyed 
dulcimer  ;  cimbalo  (denoting,  perhaps,  a  cymbal- 
like  ring)  having  once  in  It.  been  =  dulcimer. 

Clavichord.  [L.  clavis,  a  key  for  tuning ; 
chorda,  a  string.}  A  musical  keyed  instrument, 
mediaeval,  used  till  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  soft-toned,  with  muffled  strings  pressed 
by  brass  pins  projecting  from  the  keys ;  the 
origin  of  the  spinet. 

Clavicle.  [L.  clavicula,  a  small key, .]  (Anat.} 
The  collar-bone,  somewhat  like  an  ancient 
key. 

Clavier.  [L.L.  claviarius,  clavis,  a  key.'} 
(Music.}  A  key-board,  whether  manual  or  pedal. 

Claviform,  Clavate.  Shaped  like  a  club  [L. 
clava]. 

Clavigerous.  [L.  claviger.]  Bearing  a  dub 
[clava]  or  a  key  [clavis]. 

Clavus  hystericus.  [L.]  (Med.)  An  acute 
pain  of  the  head,  as  if  a  nail  [L.  clavus]  were 
being  driven  in. 

Claw.     (Bot.}     The  narrow  end  of  a  petal. 

Claw,  or  Claw  off.  (Naut. }  To  beat  slowly 
and  with  difficulty  off  a  lee  shore  to  avoid  ship- 
wreck. 

Claymore.  [Gael,  glai-mor,  great  sword  ;  cf. 
L.  gladius  major.]  Long,  straight,  double-edged 
sword  with  a  basket-hilt ;  at  one  time  much 
used  by  the  Highlanders  of  Scotland  ;  about 
three  feet  and  a  half  long,  and  weighing  six  or 
seven  pounds. 

Clean  ship.  (Naut.}  A  whaler  without  either 
fish  or  oil. 

Clearance.  (Naut.}  The  written  permit  of 
the  custom-house  to  allow  a  vessel  to  clear  out, 
or  sail. 

Clearers.  Spectacles  whose  glasses  are  weak 
convex  lenses. 

Clearing  House,  City.  The  place  (at  corner 
of  Post  Office  Court,  Lombard  Street)  where 


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123 


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each  London  banker  (for  himself  or  as  corre- 
spondent of  country  banks)  sends  daily  bills  and 
drafts  drawn  on  other  bankers.  The  C.  clerks 
strike  balances  at  the  end  of  each  day,  make  out 
each  banker's  account,  and  settle  differences 
by  transfer  to  and  from  accounts  kept  for  the 
purpose  by  C.  and  bankers  with  the  Bank 
of  England.  Thus  transactions  amounting  to 
millions  are  settled  without  employing  money. 

Clearing  House,  Railway.  The  place  where 
railway  companies,  which  do  business  in  common, 
have  their  shares  of  expenses  and  receipts  ad- 
justed on  the  principle  of  the  City  C.  (q.v.). 

Clear-story.     (Clerestory.) 

Cleats,  Gleets.  (Naut.}  Pieces  of  wood  to 
which  ropes  are  fastened.  Fixed  pegs  or  pieces 
of  wood,  to  fasten  ropes  upon,  or  prevent  their 
slipping. 

Cleavage.  (Geol.}  Planes  of  natural  division, 
(i)  in  minerals,  due  to  original  constitution  ;  (2) 
in  slate,  to  a  superinduced  structure,  lateral  pres- 
sure having  squeezed  all  the  unmixed  particles 
into  parallel  position  (Sorby).  Schist  has  im- 
perfect cleavage. 

Cleavage-plane.  (Geol.}  Crystals  have  a 
tendency  to  separate  along  certain  planes  whose 
directions  are  determinate ;  any  one  of  these 
planes  drawn  through  an  assigned  point  is  a 
Cleavage-plane. 

Cleavers.  [Ger.  klebkraut.]  (Bot.}  Goose- 
grass,  catchweed. 

Cleche.    [Fr.  cleche.]    (Her.}   A  cross  voided. 

Clef.  [L.  clavis,  a  key.}  A  sign  giving  the 
name  and  pitch  of  the  notes,  as,  G  or  treble  clef, 
C  or  tenor,  F  or  bass. 

Cleg.  A  common  name,  in  some  parts,  for 
horse-fly. 

Cleishbotham,  Jedediah.  Sir  W.  Scott's  ficti- 
tious editor  of  Tales  of  My  Landlord,  the  flogging 
schoolmaster. 

Cleistogamous  flowers.  [Gr.  K\curr6s,  dosed, 
yd/ji-os,  marriage^  Those  which  do  not  open, 
and  are  consequently  necessarily  self-fertilized. 

Clematis.  [Gr.  /cA^uari'y,  dim.  of  /cAf//*a,  a 
twig.'}  (Bot.}  Common  Traveller's  joy,  Old 
man's  beard,  a  native  climbing  hedge  shrub,  with 
sweet  white  flowers.  C.  vltalba,  ord.  Ranun- 
culacese. 

Clementines.  A  collection  of  Decretals  (q.v.} 
and  Constitutions  published  by  Pope  Clement  V., 
in  the  Council  of  Vienna,  A.D.  1308,  followed  in 
1317  by  the  Extravagantes  of  John  XXII. 

Clepsydra.  [Gr.  from  KAeVraj,  /  steal, 
water.}  A  water-clock,  the  principle  being  that 
of  the  hour-glass  of  sand ;  used  to  time  speakers 
in  law  courts. 

Cleptomama.  [Gr.  /cAeVrw,  I  steal,  navia, 
madness.]  A  mania  for  stealing,  without  motive 
or  purpose. 

Clerestory,  perhaps  Clear-story.  (Arch.}  The 
range  of  windows  in  Gothic  churches  or  build- 
ings, interposed  between  the  main  roof  and  the 
roof  of  the  aisles. 

Clergy,  Benefit  of.    (Benefit  of  clergy.) 

Clerical  error.    A  mistake  in  copying. 

Clericis  laicos.  [L.]  Title  of  the  famous  bull 
of  Pope  Boniface  VIII.,  1295  ;  severing  Church 


property  from  all  secular  obligation,  and  de- 
claring himself  the  one  trustee  of  all  the  property 
held  by  clergy,  by  monastic  bodies,  and  by 
universities.  —  Milman's  Hist,  of  Latin  Chris- 
tianity, vii.  60. 

Clerks  to  the  Signet.    (Signet.) 

Cleromancy.  [Gr.  /cA.7?pos,  a  lot,  /uavreia,  divina- 
tion.} Divination  by  throwing  dice  and  seeing 
how  they  turn  up. 

Clevy.  A  cross-piece  at  the  end  of  the  tongue 
of  a  waggon,  etc. 

Clew.    (Naut.)    Of  a  sail.     (Cine.) 

Cliche.  [Fr.,  stereotype ;  clicher  being  another 
form  of  cliquer  ;  cf.  Ger.  klinke,  latchet.}  1. 
The  impression  of  a  die  in  melted  metal.  2. 
Stereotype. 

Click.  1.  (Ratchet.)  2.  Consonants  occurring 
in  African  languages,  as  Hottentot  and  Zulu, 
formed  by  separating  the  articulatory  organs  after 
or  with  sucking  in  of  breath,  all  other  consonants 
involving  emission  of  breath.  The  varieties  are 
guttural,  palatal,  and  dental,  of  which  the  two 
last  sound  not  very  unlike  English  tch. 

Client.    (Patron.) 

Clientele.  [Fr.]  1.  The  condition  of  a  client. 
2.  The  body  of  clients  with  whom  a  lawyer, 
banker,  broker,  etc.,  have  to  do. 

Clifford,  Paul.  Hero  of  Lytton's  novel,  P.  C., 
a  romantic  highwayman,  who  marries  a  lady  and 
reforms. 

Climacteric.  [Gr.  KXr/xoKTrjpiKt/s,  having  to  do 
zvith  a  critical  time,  from  /cAi/to/cr^p,  the  round 
of  a  ladder,  a  climacteric.}  1.  A  critical  time  in 
life,  supposed  to  be  every  seventh  year ;  the 
sixty-third  year  being  the  Grand  C.  2.  The 
period  of  cessation  of  menstrual  life. 

Climatology.  The  science  which  deals  with 
the  conditions  determining  climate. 

Climature.    An  obsolete  word  for  climate. 

Climax.  [Gr.,  a  ladder.}  (Rhet.)  The 
placing  of  a  series  of  propositions  before  a 
hearer  in  such  an  order  that  the  impression  shall 
increase  in  intensity,  until  it  reaches  the  Acme. 
The  opposite  process  is  called  Anti-climax. 
(Bathos.) 

Clinch.  [Cf.  Ger.  klinke,  latch,  from  a  Teut. 
word  comes  Fr.  clinche. ]  Lit.  a  holdfast; 
metaph.  a  pun  or  double  entendre. 

Clincher,  or  Clinker  built.  A  ship  or  boat, 
the  planks  of  whose  sides  overlap.  Iron  ships 
thus  built  are  called  lap-jointed. 

Clinic,  Clinical.  [Gr.  /cAm/coy,  pertaining  to 
abed  (KXlvT)).}  1.  (Eccl.)  Of  baptism,  adminis- 
tered to  one  on  a  sick-bed.  2.  (Med. }  Confined 
to  the  bed  by  illness ;  of  lectures,  delivered  at 
patients'  bedsides. 

Clinker,  Humphry.  Hero  of  Smollett's  novel 
of  the  same  name. 

Clinkers.  [Ger.  klinker.]  1.  Bricks  run  to- 
gether and  glazed  by  great  heat.  2.  Lumps  of 
slag. 

Clinkstone  (i.e.  ringing  musically  when  struck), 
or  Phonolite.  [Gr.  fyu>v4],  sound,  \idos,  a  stone.} 
A  compact  fissile  rock  of  the  trachyte  family, 
usually  bluish-grey  or  brownish ;  composed 
almost  entirely  of  felspar. 

Clinometer.      [Gr.    K\iv<at   I  make  to  slant, 


CLIO 


124 


CLYD 


,  measure."]    An  instrument  for  measuring 
the  dip  of  mineral  strata. 

Clio.  [Gr.  «*«'«.]  (Myth.)  The  Muse  of 
history. 

Clip.  To  fly  or  move  more  rapidly ;  a  term 
in  falconry. 

Clipper.  A  fast  sailer.  C. -built,  i.e.  on  the 
model  of  the  sharp-built,  low-lying,  rakish  (q.v.) 
American  schooner. 

Clique.  [Fr.]  A  knot  of  exclusive  persons, 
a  small  party. 

Cloaca.  [L.,  a  setver.}  1.  C.  Maxima, 
ascribed  to  Tarquinius  Priscus,  the  most  famous 
of  many  Roman  drains  and  sewers,  which  carried 
rain  and  foul  water  into  the  Tiber.  2.  (Zool.) 
In  birds,  reptiles,  many  fishes,  and  some  mammals, 
a  pouch  for  the  excretions  of  the  intestinal  canal 
and  of  the  generative  and  urinary  organs. 

Clock.  [A  word  common  to  Teut.  and  Scand. 
dialects.]  1.  The  C.  in  ordinary  use,'supposed 
to  be  perfectly  adjusted,  shows  local  mean  time  ; 
the  astronomical  C. ,  used  in  observatories,  shows 
local  sidereal  time.  (Time.)  2.  In  a  stocking, 
figured  work  at  the  ankle.  3.  Proper  name  for 
beetle. 

Clockard.    (Belfry.) 

Clock-calm.     (Naut.)    Dead  calm. 

Clog  almanack,  Kim  stock,  or  Prime  staff. 
A  primitive  kind  of  calendar  ;  a  square  piece  of 
wood,  containing  three  months  on  each  of  the 
four  edges ;  the  days  are  shown  by  notches, 
every  seventh  large  sized  ;  certain  marks  and 
symbols  denote  the  golden  number  or  the  cycle 
of  the  moon  ;  saints'  days  are  marked  by  symbols 
of  the  several  saints.  Used  till  end  of  the  seven- 
teenth century ;  some  perfect,  as  at  Oxford. 
[(?)  A.S.  ge-logian,  to  place,  regtilate.] 

Cloisonne.  [Fr. ,  partitioned,  L.L.  closionem, 
a  partition.'}  Enamel  inlaid  between  narrow 
partitions  of  metal. 

Cloister.  [L.  claustrum,  from  claudo,  I  shut. 1 
A  covered  walk  in  conventual  or  other  buildings. 
The  members  of  monastic  houses  are  said  to  be 
cloistered. 

Clonic.  [Gr.  K\6vos,  disturbance.']  (Med.) 
Having  a  quick,  convulsive  motion. 

Close.  (Her.)  Having  the  wings  folded  or 
closed. 

Closed  works.  (Mil.)  Those  in  field  Fortif., 
which  are  entirely  surrounded  by  earthworks, 
affording  an  equal  cover  in  all  directions  from 
the  fire  of  artillery. 

Close  harmony.     (Open  harmony.) 

Close-hauled.  (Naut.)  Sailing  as  nearly  as 
possible  in  the  direction  from  which  the  wind 
blows.  To  do  this,  the  sails  are  C.,  i.e.  brought 
nearly  in  a  line  with  the  ship's  course.  Called 
also  on  a  taut  boivline,  and  on  a  wind. 

Close-reefed.  (Naut.)  With  all  the  reefs  of 
the  sails,  which  are  set,  taken  in. 

Close  time.  A  portion  of  the  year  during 
which  it  is  forbidden  to  kill  game  or  fish,  while 
breeding. 

Closet.  (Her.)  A  diminutive  of  the  bar, 
being  one-half  its  size. 

Closet  play.  A  drama  to  be  read,  not  per- 
formed. 


Closh.     [Fr.  clocher.]     Skittles  or  ninepins. 

Cloth  in  the  wind.  (Naut.)  1.  Sailing  so 
near  the  wind  that  the  sails  shake.  2.  Tipsy. 

Clot-poll,  Clod-poll.     A  blockhead. 

Cloture.  [Fr. ,  from  an  assumed  L.  clausitura, 
an  enclosing.]  With  other  meanings,  has  that 
of  summary  termination,  definite  closing  of  a 
subject ;  especially  the  termination  of  discussion 
by  enforced  silence,  by  shutting  up  an  obnoxious 
speaker. 

Cloud,  Palace  of  St.  Built  in  1572,  by  Jerome 
de  Gondy;  purchased  by  Louis  XIV.,  1058; 
purchased  again  from  the  Orleans  family  by 
Louis  XVI.,  1782,  as  a  residence  for  Marie 
Antoinette. 

Clough,  Claugh,  Cleugh.  [Cf.  A.S.  cleofan, 
to  cleave,  cleft,  O.N.  kljufa,  Gr.  yXa.(f><a,  y\v^w, 
L.  glubo,  scalpo,  sculpo,  2  hollow  out ;  cf.  D. 
kloof,  narrow  valley.]  1.  Part  of  A.S.  names, 
as  in  Claugh-ton,  Buc-cleugh.  2.  A  sluice  for 
letting  water  gently  off  warped  lands.  (Warp.) 
3.  A  hollow  in  a  hill-side. 

Clout.  [O.E.  clut,  a  little  cloth.]  An  iron 
guard-plate  on  an  axle-tree. 

Clout,  Colin.  1.  Spenser's  name  for  himself. 
2.  Character  in  Gay's  Pastorals. 

Clovate.  Like  a  clove  or  nail  [L.  clavus]  in 
shape  ;  of  a  shell. 

Clove.     Of  wool,  half  a  stone,  or  seven  pounds. 

Cloy.    (Spike.) 

Clubbing.  (Naut.)  Drifting  down  a  current 
with  an  anchor  out,  so  as  to-be  able  to  steer.  C. 
a  fleet,  manoeuvring  it  so  as  to  get  the  first 
division  to  windward. 

Club-haul,  To.  (Naut.)  In  tacking,  as  soon 
as  the  wind  is  out  of  the  sails,  to  let  go  the  lee 
anchor,  which  brings  the  vessel's  head  to  the 
wind  ;  then,  as  she  pays  off  on  the  other  tack, 
the  cable  is  cut,  and  the  sails  trimmed  for  that 
tack :  done  only  in  extreme  cases,  and  when 
otherwise  the  ship  is  expected  to  miss  stays. 

Club  law.     Law  of  force  majeure  (q.v.). 

Club-moss.     (Lycopodium.) 

Cluck.     (Click.) 

Clue.  [A  Teut.  and  Scand.  word,  akin 
perhaps  to  L.  globus  and  glomus.]  (Naut.)  The 
lower  corner  of  a  squaresail.  C.  garnets,  C.  lines, 
tackle  for  hauling  up  the  C.  to  the  yards  in 
lower  and  upper  sails  respectively.  From  C.  to 
earing,  i.e.  from  one  extremity  to  the  other  ; 
thoroughly. 

Clugniacs.  A  reformed  order  of  Benedictines  ; 
so  called  from  the  Abbey  of  Clugny,  on  the 
Sadne. — Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity, 
bk.  viii.  ch.  4. 

Chinch.  Popularly,  stiff  indurated  clay ;  more 
strictly,  the  harder  chalk,  such  as  is  used  for 
stonework  in  chimney-places,  in  the  inside  of 
churches,  etc. 

Clutch.  1.  In  machinery,  a  projecting  piece, 
whereby  one  shaft  can  be  rapidly  connected  or  dis- 
connected at  pleasure  with  another  shaft.  2.  The 
number  of  eggs  for  a  hen  to  hatch  at  a  time. 

Clyde,  Clwyd,  Cloyd,  Clydach.  [Celt.]  River 
names  ;  cf.  Gael,  clith,  strong. 

Clydesdale.  Old  name  of  Lanark  County, 
from  the  Norman  to  the  Stuart  period. 


CLYP 


125 


COCK 


Clypeate.  (Bot.)  Like  a  round  shield 
[L.  clypeus]. 

Clyster.  [Gr.  K\va-T-fip.]  A  liquid  injected 
into  the  lower  intestines. 

Co-.  1.  (Math.)  Frequently  an  abbrev.  of 
Complement  (q.v.),  as  in  co-sine,  co-latitude.  2. 
[L.,  together.}  Frequent  prefix  to  words,  espe- 
cially of  L.  origin. 

Coacervate.  [L.  coacervatus,  heaped  up,  from 
con-,  together,  acervus,  a  heap.]  1.  To  pile,  to 
heap.  2.  Piled,  heaped. 

Coadjutor.  [L.  co-,  and  adjutor,  a  helper.] 
(Eat.)  The  assistant  of  a  bishop  or  prelate. 
In  the  Latin  Church,  such  assistants  are  generally 
bishops  of  sees  in  partibus  infidelium.  (Titular 
bishops.) 

Coaguluni.     [L.]     A  curd,  a  clot. 

Coak.  The  round  piece  forming  the  middle  of 
a  wheel. 

Coal-whipper.  Labourer  who  unloads  coal 
from  the  hold  of  a  ship. 

Coamings,  or  Combings,  of  hatches.  A  raised 
wooden  ledge,  preventing  water  on  deck  from 
getting  into  the  hold. 

Coan  of  Cos.  Fine  and  transparent  like  the 
ancient  textures  woven  in  Cos  (Kos). 

Coarctation.  [L.  coarctatio,  -nem,  from 
coarcto,  /  confine,  from  co-  (q.v.},  arctus,  close, 
narrow.}  1.  Contraction  of  the  dimensions  of 
anything.  2.  Restraint  of  liberty.  3.  (Physiol.) 
The  encasing  and  complete  concealing  of  parts. 

Coat-card.  Playing-card  with  a  coated  figure 
on  it,  king,  queen,  or  knave ;  corr.  into  Court-card. 

Cob.  [A.S.  cop,  cob,  Ger.  kopf,  head ; 
borrowed  from  Celt.  ;  cf.  Cymr.  cop,  cob,  top.] 
1.  A  lump.  2.  Clay  and  straw  for  making  walls. 

3.  A  stout,  short-legged  weight-carrying  horse. 

4.  [Amer.]  The  receptacle  on  which  the  grains  of 
maize  grow.  5.  The  spider  cobweb  =  spider's  web 

Cobalt.  [Ger.  kobalt]  (Mm.)  A  brittle, 
reddish-grey  metal.  Cobalt  bloom  is  the  native 
arsenate.  Cobalt  glance,  the  sulpharsenate.  Co- 
balt blue  is  a  pigment  compounded  of  alumina 
and  cobalt.  Cobalt  green  is  a  pigment  contain- 
ing iron  and  cobalt. 

Cobb,  Cobble.  [A.S.  cuople,  Ger.  kiibel,  tub.] 
A  fishing-boat. 

Cobbing.  (Naut.)  Beating  with  aflat  piece 
of  wood,  called  the  cobbing  -board ;  an  old  punish- 
ment. 

Cobbles.  Large  pebbles  or  round  stones,  used 
for  paving. 

Cobcal.     A  sandal  worn  by  ladies  in  the  East. 

Cob-loaf.  (Cob.)  A  loaf  rounded  at  the  top, 
not  baked  in  a  tin. 

Cob-rake.  An  instrument  used  in  washing 
crushed  lead-ore  from  mud. 

Cob-wall.     Wall  made  of  clay  and  straw. 

Coca.  (Bot.)  The  dried  leaf  of  a  wild  Peru- 
vian tree,  Erythroxylon  (red  wood).  Coca,  a 
stimulating  narcotic,  very  pernicious  to  mind  and 
body.  Its  cultivation  extensive  and  very  lucrative. 

Cocagne.  [Fr.]  Pays  de  C.,  Country  of 
Cockayne,  an  imaginary  place  or  condition,  in 
which  every  one  has  an  abundance  for  eating  and 
drinking,  without  the  trouble  of  getting  it.  [L. 
coquere,  to  cook ;  Picard.  couque,  a  kitchen.] 


Cocciilus  Indicus.  [L.,  little  Indian  berry.] 
(Bot.)  The  black,  kidney-shaped,  intoxicating, 
poisonous  berry  of  a  climbing  shrub,  gen.  Ana- 
mirta,  otd.  Menispermaceae,  used  in  adulterating 
beer. 

Cochineal.  [Fr.  chounille,  Sp.  cochinilla, 
dim.  from  L.  coccus,  scarlet.]  A  scarlet  dye- 
stuff,  consisting  of  the  dried  bodies  of  insects 
found  on  several  kinds  of  cactus  in  Mexico. 

Cochin  leg.  One  affected  with  elephantiasis  ; 
common  at  Cochin,  Malabar  Coast. 

Cochlea.  [L.,  a  snail,  snails  shell.]  (Anat.) 
Spiral  structure  in  the  bones  of  the  ear. 

Cochlearifonn.  Of  the  shape  of  a  spoon  [L. 
cochlear],  pointed  at  one  end  for  drawing  out  the 
snail  [cochlea],  and  bowl-shaped  at  the  other. 

Cochleary,  Cochleated.     Screw-shaped. 

Cochleate.  (Bot.)  Like  the  bo_wl  of  a  spoon 
[L.  cochlear] ;  e.g.  pods  of  Medicago  maculata. 

Cochon  de  lait.  [Fr.]  Sucking-pig;  man  of 
a  pink-and-white  complexion. 

Cock-and-bull  story.  A  highly  exaggerated 
account  of  a  trifle,  or  a  long  story  invented 
merely  to  suggest  an  idea;  so  called  from  a 
particular  tale  of  the  kind. 

Cockatrice.  Isa.  xi.  8,  and  elsewhere ;  crested 
serpent,  basilisk.  Imaginary;  a  device  in 
Heraldry. 

Cockayne.    (Cocagne.) 

Cock-bill.  (Naut.)  Anchors  perpendicular  to 
the  cat-haad,  cables  hanging  perpendicular,  and 
yards  set  slantwise  to  the  deck  (a  sign  of  mourn- 
ing) are  a-cock-bill. 

Cock-boat,  or  Cogge.  (Naut.)  A  small  river 
or  in-shore  boat.  A  yawl. 

Cocker.  [(?)  Akin  to  cook,  as  coddle,  origin- 
ally —  parboil.]  To  fondle,  coddle. 

Cocker,  According  to.  Edward  C.,  arithme- 
tician of  the  time  of  Charles  II. 

Cockets,  or  Coquets.  [From  quo  quietus,  words 
of  the  old  L.  form.]  (Naut.)  1.  A  custom- 
house warrant,  allowing  shipment  of  certain 
goods.  2.  Slang  name  for  fictitious  ship's  papers. 

Cocket-bread,  i.q.  Sea-biscuit. 

Cock-feather.  Of  an  arrow,  the  F.  at  right 
angles  to  the  direction  of  the  notch. 

Cock  Lane  ghost.  (C.  L.,  Smithfield.)  The 
work  of  "a  naughty  girl  of  eleven,"  to  which 
Dr.  Johnson  was  ' '  weak  enough  to  pay  serious 
attention,"  going  "  with  some  friends  at  one  in 
the  morning  to  St.  John's  Church,  Clerkenwell, 
in  the  hope  of  receiving  a  communication  from 
the  perturbed  spirit." — Macaulay's  Biography. 

Cockle.  1.  A  stove  for  drying  hops.  2.  [A.S. 
coccel.]  Popular  name  for  Lychnis  githago. 
3.  In  Job  xxxi.  40,  Bao  shah,  translated 
"wild  grapes"  in  Isa.  v.  2;  some  foetid  weed, 
perhaps  some  kind  of  arum. 

Cockney.  This  name  for  a  citizen  of  London 
is  as  old  as  the  twelfth  century,  being  found  in 
some  verses  attributed  to  Hugh  Bagot,  Earl  of 
Norfolk,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  (Cocagne.) 
C.  school^  a  nickname  which  J.  G.  Lockhart 
hoped  to  give  to  a  school  of  writers,  including 
Shelley,  Keats,  Hazlitt,  and  Leigh  Hunt,  whom 
he  thought  vulgar. 

Cockpit.     (Naut.]     The  part  of  a  man-of-war 


COCK 


126 


COEX 


inhabited  by  the  midshipmen,  under  the  lower 
gun-deck,  and  near  the  after  hatchway.  Fore  C., 
where,  in  large  ships  and  during  war,  the  boat- 
swain and  carpenter  have  their  cabins  leading  to 
their  storerooms  and  the  magazine. 

Cocktail.  1.  An  American  kind  of  drink, 
chiefly  spirit  or  wine.  2.  (?)  For  cocked  tail,  like 
a  sorry  nag ;  poor,  worthless. 

Cock  to  -ffisculapius,  To  sacrifice  a.  The  dying 
Socrates  bade  a  pupil  do  this  on  his  behalf,  pro- 
bably to  signify  his  belief  in  the  continuance  of 
life  after  death,  the  cock  being  the  bird  of 
the  morning,  and  ^Esculapius  being  the  great 
healer. 

Cocoa.    (Cacao.) 

Cocoon,  [Fr.  cocon,  id.,  from  coque  =  L. 
concha,  a  shell.]  1.  The  silky  covering  of  the 
pupa  of  many  insects,  and  of  the  eggs  of  spiders. 
2.  The  chitinous  capsules  containing  the  eggs  of 
leeches  and  earthworms.  (Cbitine.) 

Cocote.     [Fr.]     Fast  woman. 

Cocus-wood.    The  wood  of  the  cocoa  palm. 

Cocytus.  [Gr.  KuKvr6s,  lamentation.}  (Myth.) 
One  of  the  rivers  of  the  infernal  regions,  denot- 
ing deep  and  clamorous  grief. 

Coda.  [It.,  tail.]  1.  The  tail  of  a  note.  2.  A 
few  chords  or  bars  added  to  show  the  conclu- 
sion of  a  piece,  generally  of  contrapuntal ;  of 
music.  Dim.  Codetta. 

Codeine.  [Gr.  K^eia.,  a  poppy  head.]  One  of 
the  alkaline  substances  found  in  opium. 

Codex.  [L.]  1.  A  manuscript,  originally  as 
being  written  on  the  bark  of  a  tree  ;  cf.  L.  liber, 
Eng.  book  —  beech.  The  most  ancient  MSS. 
containing  parts  of  the  Old  and  the  New  Testa- 
ments are :  The  C.Alexandrinus,  sent  to  Charles  I. 
by  Cyrillus  Lucaris,  Patriarch  of  Constantinople, 
and  now  in  the  British  Museum  ;  the  Vatican 
MS. ;  both  belonging  probably  to  the  fifth  cen- 
tury. The  C.  Sinattlcus,  discovered  by  Tischen- 
dorf,  in  1844,  in  the  library  of  St.  Catherine's 
Monastery  on  Mount  Sinai,  may,  perhaps,  be 
somewhat  older,  if  its  genuineness,  which  there 
seems  no  reason  to  doubt,  may  be  admitted. 
The  C.  Cottonidnus,  also  in  the  British  Museum, 
and  containing  portions  of  the  first  and  the 
fourth  Gospels,  may  belong  to  the  end  of  the 
fourth  century.  The  C.  Bezce,  in  the  University 
Library  at  Cambridge,  has  been  supposed  by 
some  to  be  the  oldest  of  all  known  MSS.  of  the 
New  Testament,  and  contains  the  Gospels  and 
Acts  with  some  omissions.  (Abbreviations.)  2. 
(Leg.)  A  code  of  laws,  as  the  C.  Gregorianus, 
Theodosianus,  Justinianus.  (Corpus  Juris  Civilis.) 

Codex  Alexandrinus.    (Codex.) 

Codex  Argenteus.  [L.,  Silver  Volume.]  The 
MS.  containing  the  Gothic  translation  of  the 
Gospels  by  Ulphilas.  Formerly  at  Stockholm, 
now  at  Upsala. 

Codex  Aureus.  [L.,  Golden  Volume.]  An 
important  Latin  MS.  of  the  Gospels,  in  the 
Town  Library  at  Treves ;  (?)  eighth  century. 

Codex  Bezae.     (Codex.) 

Codex  Cottonianus.     (Codex.) 

Codex  Sinaiticus.     (Codex.) 

Codex  Vaticanus.     (Codex.) 

Codices  of  New  Testament.     (Abbreviations.) 


Codicil.  [L.  codicilli,  small  tablets,  short 
writing ;  dim.  of  c5dex.]  A  supplement  to  a 
will,  adding  to,  explaining,  or  revoking  its  pro- 
visions. 

Codilla.  [L.  caudicula,  a  little  tail.]  The 
coarsest  part  of  flax. 

Coefficient,  Literal;  Numerical  C.  [L.  con-, 
together,  efficio,  effect.]  The  number  prefixed 
to  an  algebraical  symbol  to  show  how  many 
times  the  number  denoted  by  that  symbol  is  to 
be  taken.  Thus,  if  x  denotes  any  number, 
known  or  unknown,  ia*  signifies  a  number  that 
is  ten  times  x,  and  10  is  said  to  be  the  coefficient 
of  x  in  the  expression  icxr.  A  coefficient  is  not 
necessarily  a  whole  number ;  it  may  be  a  frac- 
tional or  incommensurable  number,  or  even  a 
number  which  is  a  combination  of  algebraical 
symbols,  so  that  there  are  literal  coefficients  as 
well  as  numerical  coefficients. 

Coehorn.  1.  Distinguished  Dutch  engineer, 
contemporary  of  Vauban,  1632  to  1704  A.D. 
2.  Small  mortar  invented  by  him,  throwing  an 
eight-pound  shell. 

Coelatura.  [L.,  chasing.]  The  Roman  term  for 
working  raised  or  half-raised  figures  in  metal. 

Coalenterata.  [Gr.  KOI\OS,  hollow,  ei/repa,  the 
bowels.]  (Zool.)  Sub-kingd.  of  Invertebrates, 
comprising  part  of  Cuvier's  RadTata,  as  corals 
and  sea-anemones.  In  C.  the  mouth  opens  into 
the  body-cavity,  which  may,  perhaps,  be  con- 
sidered as  an  intestinal  canal. 

Coeliac,  Celiac.  [Gr.  /cotAia/cos.]  Pertaining 
to  the  cavity  of  the  belly. 

Coelum,  non  animum,  mutant  qui  trans  mare 
currunt.  [L.]  They  change  their  climate  not 
their  mind  who  wend  across  the  sea  (Horace). 

Coemption.  [L.  coemtio,  -nem,  from  coemo, 
I  buy  up.]  Purchase  of  an  entire  estate  or  quan- 
tity of  goods. 

Coeuaculum.  [L.]  Dining-room,  usually  an 
upper  chamber  among  Romans.  (Cenacle.) 

Coena  Domini,  In.  [L.,  in  the  Supper  of  the 
Lord.]  (Eccl.  Plist.)  The  name  of  a  papal  bull, 
setting  forth  the  rights  claimed  by  the  popes 
over  kings  and  their  subjects,  and  anathematiz- 
ing all  who  impugn  them.  It  was  so  called  as 
being  read  annually  on  Holy  Thursday. 

Ccenaesthesis.  [Gr.  KO\VT\  tutrQtiffis.]  Lit.  com- 
mon feeling. 

Coenobites,  Cenobites.  [Gr.  Koiv6&ioi,  living 
in  common.]  Persons  living  under  rule  in  a 
community,  as  opposed  to  solitaries,  Anchorets, 
or  hermits. 

Coercive,  Coercitive,  force.  [L.  coercere,  to 
compel. ]  The  force  which  renders  a  body  slow 
to  acquire  and  part  with  magnetism. 

Coercion  Act.  Of  Lord  Grey,  1833,  gave  the 
Lord-Lieutenant  of  Ireland  power  to  suppress 
any  meeting  or  association  which  he  thought 
dangerous  to  peace,  to  declare  any  district  dis- 
turbed, and  to  suspend  the  Habeas  Corpus  Act, 
with  other  powers.  A  Coercion  Act  was  passed 
in  the  session  of  1881. 

Coeval.  [L.  cosevus,  from  con-,  with,  sevum, 
age.]  Of  the  same  age. 

Coexistent  vibrations.  The  simple  harmonic 
vibrations  of  different  periods,  by  whose  coexist- 


COFE 


127 


COLL 


ence  any  complex  vibratory  motion  of  a  body 
can  be  represented. 

Cofering.  [D.  koffer,  a  box.}  Putting  a  ridge 
of  clay  round  a  mining  shaft  to  keep  out  water. 

Coffer.  [Fr.  coflfre.]  (Arch.)  A  sunk  panel 
in  vaults  or  domes. 

Cofferdam.  [D.  koffer,  a  box,  dam,  a  drain.'] 
A  water-tight  enclosure  formed  of  timber  erected 
on  the  bed  of  a  river ;  from  the  space  thus 
enclosed  the  water  is  pumped  out,  leaving  it 
clear  for  the  erection  of  a  pier,  an  abutment,  a 
wharf,  or  other  such  work. 

Coffin-bone.  [L.  os  pedis,  bone  of  the  foot.']  In 
a  horse,  a  small  spongy  bone  in  the  middle  of 
the  hoof,  very  liable  to  disease. 

Coffle.  [Ar.  kafala,  caravan.]  A  gang  of 
slaves  on  the  way  to  market. 

Cog;  Cog-wheel.  [Welsh  cog,  a  short  piece  of 
wood.]  1.  When  the  teeth  of  wheels  are  sepa- 
rate pieces  let  into  mortises,  they  are  called 
Cogs;  and  the  wheels  are  Cog-wheels.  2.  A 
rough  square  pillar  left  to  support  the  roof  of  a 
mine. 

Cog  a  die.  To  cheat  [Welsh  coeglaw,  to 
deceive]  with  dice. 

Cogge,  Goggle,  or  Cog.    (Cock-boat.) 

Cogito,  ergo  sum.  [L.]  /  think,  therefore  I 
exist ;  Descartes's  famous  reason  for  asserting  the 
fact  of  self-existence. 

Cognate.    (Agnate.) 

Cognition.  [L.  cognitid,  -nem,  the  becoming 
acquainted  with.]  In  Moral  Phil.,  one  of  the 
three  phenomena  of  Consciousness,  and  =  the 
faculties  of  knowledge  ;  the  others  being  Feeling 
=  capacities  of  pleasure  and  pain  ;  and  Desiring 
and  Willing  =  effort  in  action  ;  according  to 
Kant,  and,  after  him,  Sir  W.  Hamilton. 

Cognizance,  Cognisance.  [O.Fr.,  from  L. 
cognoscentia,  knowledge.']  (Leg.)  1.  The  judicial 
hearing  of  a  cause,  judicial  knowledge.  2. 
acknowledgment  of  a  fine.  3.  The  pleading  of 
bailiff  or  agent  as  defendant  in  Replevin.  4. 
(Her.)  An  heraldic  badge,  worn  by  a  retainer 
(whereby  his  lord  was  known). 

Cognizee,  Cognisee.  [L.  cognosce,  7  acknow- 
ledge ;  cf.  connoiseur.]  (Leg.)  One  to  whom 
a  fine  of  land  is  acknowledged,  the  acknowledger 
thereof  being  the  cognizor. 

Cognizor,  Cognisor.     (Cognizee.) 

Cognomen.     (Praenomen.) 

Cognoscenti,  [It.]  Well-informed  (plu.); 
knowing  ones. 

Cognovit.  [Leg.L.  C.  actionem,  he  hath 
admitted  (\ha  justice  of)  the  action.]  A  defend- 
ant's written  confession  that  he  has  no  available 
defence. 

Cohobate.  [L.L.  cohobare,  cohobatum.]  To 
distil  over  again. 

Cohorts.     (Centuries;  Legion.) 

Coif.  [Fr.  coiffe,  L.L.  cofea,  cuphia,  kuppa, 
kuppha,  mitre  ;  cf.  A.S.  cop,  top,  head.]  A  kind 
of  cap,  the  badge  of  serjeants-at-law. 

Coign,  Coigne,  Coin,  Quoin.  [Cf.  L.  cuneus, 
wedge.]  A  jutting  point,  an  external  angle. 

Coin.  (Mil.)  Wedge  [L.  cuneus]  used  for 
elevating  or  depressing  heavy  guns. 

Coir.     The  fibrous  covering  of  the  cocoa-nut. 


Coistril.  [O.Fr.  coustillier,  groom,  lad.]  1. 
An  esquire's  attendant.  2.  A  young  fellow. 

Ccl.  [Fr.]  Lit.  neck  ;  a  high  pass  over  a 
shoulder  of  a  mountain  or  between  two  ridges. 

Colander.  [L.  c5lo,  I  strain.]  A  strainer, 
often  a  tin  vessel  with  the  bottom  and  lower 
part  of  the  sides  perforated. 

Colbertine.  (Named  after  M.  Colbert.)  A 
kind  of  net  lace. 

Colcothar.  (Word  invented  by  Paracelsus.) 
Sesquioxide  of  iron,  used  as  jewellers'  rouge. 

Colder.  (Agr.)  Short  broken  ears  or  pieces 
of  straw  thrown  off  in  threshing ;  eaten  by  cattle. 

Coldshort.     Brittle  when  cold. 

Coleoptera.  [Gr.  Ko\f6irTepos,  sheath-winged '.] 
(Entom.)  Beetles ;  ord.  of  insects  with  many 
thousand  spec. ;  four-winged,  the  first  pair  con- 
verted into  elytra,  and  the  second,  when  not  in 
use,  folded  crosswise  under  the  first.  They  are 
divided  into  four  sections,  according  to  the  num- 
ber of  joints  in  the  so-called  tarsus,  heel — Tri- 
mera,  Tetramera,  Pentamera,  and  Heteromera ; 
as  ladybirds,  weevils,  cockchafers,  and  blister- 
beetles,  respectively. 

Coleraine  Co.,  i.q.  Londonderry. 

Coliseum.  [L.  Colosseum,  from  Gr.  /coAooWy, 
a  huge  figure;  cf.  col,  hill.]  The  Amphitheatre 
of  Vespasian,  at  Rome 

Collaborates,  fern,  -trice.  [Fr.]  Fellow- 
worker,  assistant. 

Collar.  [L.  collum,  the  neck.]  1.  (Arch.)  A 
horizontal  piece  of  timber  connecting  two  rafters. 
2.  In  machinery,  a  circular  projection  on  a  shaft, 
made  to  give  it  a  bearing,  so  that  it  may  not  be 
shifted  by  a  force  applied  in  the  direction  of  its 
length. 

Collate.  [L.  collatus,  part,  of  confero,  7 
compare.]  1 ' o  compare,  especially  diplomatically 
to  set  down  the  various  readings  of  different  MSS. 

Collation.  [L.  collatio,  -nem.]  (Eccl.)  Ap- 
pointment to  a  benefice  by  a  bishop  as  patron 
or  by  lapse.  (Institution.) 

Collectanea.  [L.  collectaneus,  belonging  to  a 
collection.]  A  collection  of  excerpts,  an  an- 
thology, miscellany. 

Collects.  [L.L.  collecta,  from  colligere,  to 
bring  together.]  Short  and  comprehensive 
prayers,  found  in  the  Liturgies  of  all  Churches. 

College.  [L.  collegium.]  (Hist.)  Any  so- 
ciety bound  by  the  same  laws  or  customs.  In 
Europ.  Hist.,  the  term  is  applied  especially 
to  societies  of  persons  belonging  to  universities. 
These  are  generally  independent  foundations, 
under  the  superintendence  of  a  visitor. 

College  of  Cardinals.     (Cardinal.) 

College  of  Electors.  The  society  of  princes 
who  had  a  voice  in  the  election  of  the  emperor. 
(Electors.) 

College  of  Heralds.  A  society  dating  from  the 
time  of  Edward  III.,  and  consisting  of  three 
kings-at-arms,  Garter,  Clarencieux,  and  Norroy  ; 
six  heralds,  and  four  pursuivants. 

Collegiates.     (Meunonites.) 

Collet.  [Fr.]  That  part  of  a  ring  in  which 
the  stone  is  set. 

Colletic.     Of  the  nature  of  glue  [Gr.  it6\\a]. 

Collibert.    (Cagots.) 


COLL 


128 


COLU 


Collimating  eye-piece;  Collimation,  Error  of; 
Line  of  C. ;  Collimator.  The  Line  of  collima- 
tion  is  the  imaginary  line  joining  the  optical 
centre  of  the  object-glass  to  the  intersection 
of  the  wires  in  the  field  of  view  of  an  astro- 
nomical telescope.  When  the  axis  on  which  the 
telescope  turns  is  not  exactly  at  right  angles  to 
the  line  of  collimation,  the  defect  from  the  right 
angle  is  called  the  Error  of  C.  This  error 
is  corrected  by  viewing  a  distant  object,  first 
when  the  telescope  is  in  a  certain  position, 
and  again  when  the  axis  of  rotation  has  been 
reversed  on  its  bearings.  It  may  also  be  cor- 
rected by  means  of  an  eye-piece  so  constructed 
that  the  observer  can  see  at  the  same  time  the 
wires  in  the  field  of  view,  and  their  image  formed 
by  reflexion  in  a  basin  of  mercury  ;  this  is  called 
a  Collimating  eye-piece.  The  error  can  also  be 
corrected  by  the  use  of  a  small  telescope  floated 
on  mercury,  the  wires  in  whose  field  of  view 
serve  as  a  distant  object ;  this  instrument  is  called 
a  Collimator.  (Collimation  should  have  been 
written  from  the  first,  Collineation ;  a  false  reading 
otcollimare,  in  a  passage  of  Cicero,  for  collineare 
— con,  together,  linea,  a  line — having  caused 
the  error.  See  Littre,  s.v.) 

Collodion.  [Gr.  /eoAAcSSrjs,  glue-like.}  A 
solution  of  gun-cotton  in  a  mixture  of  ether  and 
alcohol.  It  is  used  in  photography. 

Colloid.  [Gr.  K6\\a,  glue,  eltios,f0rm.]  Any 
substance  which  in  its  solid  form  is  not  crystal- 
line ;  as  gelatine,  glass,  etc. 

Colluvies.     [L.]     Refuse,  filth. 

Collyridians.  [Gr.  Ko\Xvpis,  a  roll  of  bread.} 
(EccL  Hist.)  A  sect  of  the  fourth  century,  in 
Arabia  and  Thrace  ;  so  called  from  their  offering 
cakes  in  honour  of  the  Virgin. 

Collyrium.  [L.,  Gr.  Ko\\vpa,  a  kind  of  pastry.} 
Eye-salve,  eye-lotion. 

-coin.  [L.  colonia,  a  Roman  colony.}  Part 
of  names,  as  in  Lin-coin,  Coln-ey  Hatch,  Col(n)- 
chester. 

Colocynth.  [Gr.  KoXoK^vQ-r),  a  gourd.}  (Med.) 
A  purgative  ;  dried  powdered  pulp  of  the  C. 
gourd,  Bitter  apple,  or  Coloquintida.  Common  in 
Asia,  Africa,  Spain.  Gen.  Cuciimis,  ord.  Cucur- 
bitaceae. 

Cologne,  Three  Kings  of.  The  three  Magi, 
whose  bodies  were  said  to  have  been  taken  to 
Constantinople;  thence  to  Milan;  thence,  A.D. 
1 164,  to  Cologne  ;  and  who  are  popularly  known 
as  Gaspar,  Balthasar,  and  Melchior. 

Cologne  earth.  (From  Cologne,  in  Germany.) 
A  violet-brown  bituminous  earth,  used  as  a  water- 
colour. 

Colon.  [Gr.  n6\ov,  misspelt  KU>\OV.]  1.  Part 
of  the  great  intestine,  from  the  ccecum  to  the 
rectum.  2.  A  stop  in  punctuation,  marked  thus 
[:] ;  showing  a  pause  longer  than  the  semicolon, 
marked  [;],  and  shorter  than  the  period,  or  full 
stop,  marked  [.]. 

Colony.  Acts  xvi.  12  ;  a  colonia  [L.] ;  a  foreign 
town,  to  which  had  been  granted  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  Roman  citizenship. 

CBlophon.  [Gr.,  top,  finishing  stroke.}  In 
MSS.  and  old  books,  usually  at  the  end,  the 
scribe's  or  publisher's  notice  of  the  title  of  a 


work,  his  own  name,  date,  and  place  of  issue ; 
now  given  on  the  title-page. 

Colophony.  (From  Colophon,  a  town  in 
Ionia.)  The  dark  resin  obtained  by  distilling 
turpentine. 

Colossus.  [Gr.  Ko\o<rff6s ;  cf.  col,  hill.}  A 
statue  larger  than  life.  In  Hist.,  the  most 
celebrated  of  these  statues  were  the  Colossus  at 
Rhodes,  absurdly  supposed  to  have  bestridden 
the  harbour ;  and  the  Colossus  of  the  Sun,  set  up 
at  Rome  by  Nero  before  the  Golden  House.  The 
Flavian  Amphitheatre,  known  as  the  Colosseum, 
is  said  to  have  been  so  called,  as  being  built  on 
the  site  where  this  figure  had  stood. 

Colostrum.  [L.]  First  milk  secreted  after 
confinement. 

Colour  ;  Colour-blindness  ;  Colours,  Comple- 
mentary ;  C.  of  thin  plates ;  Primary  C. ; 
Scale  of  C.  The  sensations  produced  by  dif- 
erent  kinds  of  light  are  Colours.  The  Primary 
C.  are  red,  green,  and  violet  (or  blue). 
Sometimes  red,  yellow,  and  blue  are  (erro- 
neously) called  the  three  primary  colours ;  and 
sometimes  there  are  said  to  be  seven  primary 
colours,  but  in  that  case  certain  compound 
colours  are  called  primary.  •  When  any  two 
colours  mixed  in  proper  proportions  produce 
white,  they  are  Complementary ;  as,  red  and 
green,  or  blue  and  yellow.  Colour-blindness  is 
insensibility  to  one  or  more  of  the  primary 
colours.  The  commonest  form  is  "red-blind- 
ness," or  insensibility  to  red,  whether  as  a  separate 
colour  or  as  mixed  with  others.  To  a  person 
who  is  red-blind,  all  colours  are  blue  or  green,  or 
combinations  of  them.  The  C.  of  thin  plates 
are  produced  by  the  interference  of  light  reflected 
from  the  upper  and  under  surfaces  of  the  plate  ; 
such  are  those  seen  in  soap-bubbles.  Newtorfs 
scale  of  colours  is  the  succession  of  colours  due 
to  successive  variations  in  the  thickness  of  these 
plates,  and  is  exhibited  in  the  coloured  rings 
formed  when  two  lenses  are  pressed  together. 

Colourable.  [L.  color,  colottr;  in  Rhet.,  pre- 
text, a  plea  which  prima  facie  implies  some  right 
in  an  opposite  party.]  Specious,  evasive. 

Colportage.  [Fr.]  Hawking;  distribution  by 
colporteurs,  hawkers  especially  of  religious  pub- 
lications. 

Colstaff.  [Fr.  col,  the  nec?t.}  A  staff  for 
carrying  burdens  on  the  shoulders  of  two  persons. 

Colt's-foot.  (From  the  shape  of  the  leaves.) 
(Bot. )  A  native  plant,  in  clayey  and  moist  chalky 
places  throughout  Europe.  Tussilago  farfara  ; 
ord.  Compositae  [L.  tussis,  a  cough,  the  leaves 
being  used  to  relieve  asthma  and  cough,  either 
by  smoking  or  by  decoction]. 

Columbse.  [L.]  (Ornith.}  Ord.  of  birds,  com- 
prising the  pigeons  and  doves  (Columbidse)  and 
the  three  spec,  of  dodo  (Dididoe),  all  of  which 
latter  are  extinct.  Some  authorities  class  the 
Columbae  and  Gallinse  together,  under  the  name 
of  Rasores,  Scratchers. 

Columbarium.  [L.,  lit.  pigeon-cote. .]  1.  A 
dovecote.  2.  A  tomb,  with  niches  in  the  sides 
for  sepulchral  urns. 

Columbary.     (Columbarium.) 

Columbia.  Federal  Republic  of.    Name  some- 


COLU 


129 


COMM 


times  applied  to  the  United  States  of  America ; 
from  Columbia,  the  district  containing  Wash- 
ington. 

Columbier.  Drawing-paper  thirty-four  and  a 
half  inches  by  twenty-three  and  a  half. 

Columbine.     (Aquilegia.) 

Columbium,  Tantalum.  First  found  in  N. 
America. 

Column.  [L.  columna,  a  pillar.]  1.  (Bot.) 
The  combined  stamens  and  styles  forming  a 
solid  central  body,  as  in  orchids.  2.  (Mil.} 
Massed  formation  of  troops,  showing  a  small 
front.  3.  (Order.) 

Colure.  [Gr.  al  K&\OVOOI,  i.e.  ypafj.fj.ai,  the 
colures,  the  docked,  truncated,  lines.  ]  The  decli- 
nation circles  on  the  great  sphere  which  pass 
through  the  equinoctial  and  solstitial  points  are 
called  the  equinoctial  colure  and  the  solstitial 
colure ;  they  divide  both  the  celestial  equator 
and  the  ecliptic  into  four  equal  parts. 

Colymbldae.  [Gr.  Ko\v/j.&is,  a  sea-bird,  diver. ~\ 
(Ornith.)  Divers;  fam.  and  gen.  of  sea-birds. 
Northern  regions.  Ord.  Anseres. 

Colza.  [Sp.]  A  kind  of  cabbage  whose 
seeds  yield  oil  for  lamps. 

Colza  oil.    (Colza.) 

Coma.  1.  [Gr.  /CO^UTJ,  hair.]  The  luminous, 
nebulous  substance  surrounding  the  nucleus  of 
a  comet.  The  nucleus,  with  the  coma,  forms  the 
head  of  the  comet.  2.  [Gr.  Koyta,  sleep,  lethargy.] 
A  profound  insensibility,  resulting  from  cerebral 
compression,  or  some  narcotics,  as  opium. 

Comatose.     More  or  less  in  a  state  of  Coma. 

Comatiila  rosacea.  [L.  comatulus,  having 
the  hair  delicately  curled,  rosaceus,  rose  fashion.] 
(Bot.)  Feather  star.  A  small  and  very  beau- 
tiful, and  the  only  British  spec,  of  the  fam.  of 
Crinoids  [Gr.  Kplvov,  a  lily,  e?8os,  appearance]. 
Radiated  Echmodermata ;  free  when  mature ; 
stalked  when  young,  in  which  state  it  has  been 
described  as  an  independent  spec.,  Pentacrinus 
Europaeus  [Wi/re,  five,  Kpivov,  a  lily]. 

Comazants.     St.  Elmo's  fires. 

Comb.  A  toothed  instrument  for  separating 
and  cleansing  flax,  etc. 

Combe,  Comb,  Coombe.  \Cf.  Welsh  cym, 
fwllow,  ravine.]  A  dry  ravine  or  gully  at  the 
head  of  a  valley. 

Combers,  Grass.  (Naut.)  Farm  labourers 
who  have  volunteered  as  seamen. 

Combination.  In  Crystallog. ,  a  figure  bounded 
by  the  faces  of  any  number  of  forms. 

Combination-room.  The  common  room  in 
which  the  fellows  of  a  college  meet. 

Combinations.  (Math.)  Of  different  things, 
are  the  different  collections  that  can  be  made  of 
them  without  reference  to  the  order  in  which 
they  are  arranged.  If  there  were  ten  balls 
marked  I,  2,  etc.,  it  would  be  possible  to  select 
three  of  them  (e.g.  2,  7,  8  ;  5,  4,  9,  etc.)  in  120 
different  ways  ;  there  are,  therefore,  120  combi- 
nations of  ten  things  taken  three  and  three 
together. 

Combings.     (Coamings.) 

Combing  sea.  A  rolling  wave  ready  to  turn 
over. 

Combining  weight.     (Atomic  theory.) 


Comessation.  [L.  L.  comessatio,  L.  comissatiS, 
-nem,  Gr.  Kw/j.dfa,  1  revel.]  A  revelling. 

Comet.  [Gr.  KO/J.^TTIS,  long-haired,  a  comet.] 
A  body  having  a  nebulous  appearance,  moving 
in  the  planetary  regions  under  the  influence  of 
the  sun's  attraction. 

Comfit.  [Fr.  confit,  from  L.  confectum.]  A 
dry  sweetmeat. 

Comfrey  [L.L.  confirma,  =  a  strengthener], 
in  O.E.  Boneset.  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants, 
Symplvytum,  ord.  Borageacese ;  natives  of  Europe 
and  N.  Asia  ;  formerly  esteemed  as  a  vulnerary 
(q.v.).  Prickly  C.  (S.  asperrimum),  a  native  of 
the  Caucasus,  a  tall  rough  plant,  is  much  spoken 
of  as  food  for  cattle. 

Comitia.    (Centuries;  Plebiscite.) 

Comitia  of  tribes.     (Plebiscite.) 

Comity  of  nations.  [L.  comit,  -atem,  cour- 
teousness]  The  mutual  recognition  of  each  other's 
laws,  wherever  they  are  applicable  ;  e.g.  extra- 
dition (q.v.). 

Comma.  [L.,  from  Gr.  K6/j.fj.a,  ctattse,  a  thing 
cut  off.]  1.  The  smallest  stop  in  punctuation, 
dividing  clauses ;  its  sign  is  [ ,  ].  2.  A  short 
clause.  3.  In  Music,  a  very  small  interval, 
about  the  ninth  of  a  tone.  4.  Pros.,  =  Caesura 
(q.v.). 

Commandant.  (Mil.)  The  chief  executive 
officer  commanding  a  garrison  or  combined 
detachments  of  troops. 

Commandary.  A  manor  or  chief  messuage 
with  land  and  tenements  thereto  pertaining, 
belonging  to  the  Priory  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem, 
governed  for  the  use  of  the  society  by  a  com- 
mander. 

Commander.    (Navy.)     (Rank.) 

Commander  of  the  Faithful.  [Ar.  Emir  al 
Mumenin.]  A  title  of  the  caliphs,  assumed  by 
Omar.  (Miramamolin.) 

Commandery,  Commandry.    (Preceptories.) 

Command  of  a  work.  (Mil.)  Relative,  the 
height  above  a  work,  in  front  of  it ;  Absolute, 
the  height  above  the  level  of  the  ground.  C.  of 
fire,  when  an  effective  fire  can  be  delivered  over 
the  heads  of  the  defenders  of  a  work  without 
injury  to  them  ;  C.  of  observation,  when  not. 

Commedia,  La  Divina.     (Divine  Comedy.) 

Commedia  dell'  Arte.  [It]  The  Italian  popu- 
lar comedy. 

Comme  il  faut.  [Fr.,  as  it  shotild  be.]  Proper, 
appropriate. 

Commemoration.  At  Oxford,  the  annual 
festival  in  honour  of  the  benefactors  of  the 
university.  (Encaenia.) 

Commemorative  symptoms.  [L.  commemoro, 
I  remind  of.]  (Med.)  Indicate  some  previous 
condition  of  the  patient. 

Commencement.  At  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, the  day  from  which  all  degrees  conferred 
for  a  year  preceding  date,  and  on  which  they 
are  confirmed  by  recitation  before  the  congrega- 
tion of  the  Senate, 

Commendam,  In.  [L.L.]  In  Canon  law, 
one  to  whom  the  custody,  without  profits,  of  a 
void  benefice  was  for  a  time  committed,  held  it 
for  a  trust ;  but  by  various  devices  the  holding 
of  a  living  thus  became  the  means  of  enjoying 


COMM 


130 


COMP 


pluralities,  with  their  revenues.  Sometimes 
bishoprics  insufficiently  endowed  were  thus 
assisted.  Commendams  abolished  6  and  7  Wil- 
liam IV. 

Commendatory  letters.    (Literae  formate.) 

Commensurable.  [L.  commensurabilis,  that 
can  be  measured  with  another.]  Two  magni- 
tudes are  said  to  be  commensurable  when  a 
third  magnitude  (called  their  common  measure) 
can  be  found  of  which  the  two  are  exact  mul- 
tiples. The  ratio  of  two  C.  magnitudes  is  ex- 
pressed by  a  vulgar  fraction.  Thus,  ii  foot  is 
C.  with  i£  yard,  their  common  measure  being 
£  foot,  and  their  ratio  being  expressed  by  T5S. 

Comme  sur  des  roulettes.  [Fr.]  As  though 
on  wheels ;  metaph.  of  matters  which  proceed 
smoothly  and  quickly. 

Comminuted  fracture.  (Med.)  Said  of  a  bone 
broken  into  several  pieces  [L.  commmutus,  part, 
of  verb  comminuoj. 

Comminution.  [L.  con,  thoroughly,  minuo,  7 
make  (minor)  less.]  1.  Reducing  to  very  small 
particles.  2.  Continuous  removal  of  small 
particles. 

Commissariat.  (Mil.)  Department  in  charge 
of  Government  stores  and  arrangements  for  sup- 
plying provisions  and  transport.  The  officers 
are  Commissaries. 

Commissary.  [L.L.  commissarius,  commis- 
sum,  a  trust.]  1.  One  who,  under  the  bishop's 
commission,  exercises  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction 
in  particular  causes  and  in  parts  of  a  diocese 
inconveniently  distant  from  the  B.'s  principal 
Consistory  Court.  In  the  Clementine  Constitu- 
tions, "  officialis  foraneus."  2.  (Commissariat.) 

Commissary  of  Musters.    (Arrayer.) 

Commission.  [L.  commissum,  a  thing  en- 
trusted.] Authority  from  the  sovereign,  con- 
tained in  a  document,  for  the  exercise  of  certain 
specified  powers.  Military  commissions  were 
until  lately  under  the  sign  manual. 

Commission,  Putting  a  ship  in.  In  the  Navy, 
hoisting  the  pennant ;  after  which  the  crew  are 
under  martial  law.  Generally  used  to  mean 
fitting  her  out  for  a  voyage  after  she  has  been 
laid  up. 

Commissioned  officers.  (Navy.)  Lieutenants, 
and  upwards. 

Commissure.  [L.  commissura,  a  joining  to- 
gether.] Place  of  union  of  two  parts,  a  closure, 
seam. 

Commia  voyageur.  [Fr.]  A  commercial  tra- 
veller. 

Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons.  One 
to  which  a  Bill,  after  the  second  reading,  is 
referred.  It  may  be  either  a  selected  one 
or  a  C.  of  the  whole  House,  i.e.  one  formed  of 
every  member,  the  Speaker  quitting  the  chair, 
sitting  and  debating  as  the  rest,  another  member 
being  appointed  chairman. 

Commode.  [Fr.]  1.  Head-dress  of  women. 
2,  Chest  of  drawers,  bureau,  night-stool. 

Commodore.  [Probably  contr.  from  It.  com- 
mandatore,  a  commander.]  1.  (Bank.)  2.  The 
convoy-ship,  carrying  a  light  in  her  top. 

Commonage.  A  joint  right  on  common  land 
or  water.  The  most  important  of  these  rights 


is  that  of  pasturage.  Among  other  similar  rights 
is  that  of  cutting  turf,  called  C.  of  turbary ;  of 
cutting  wood,  called  C.  oiestoners;  and  of  fishing, 
called  C.  otpiscary. 

Commoner,  The  Great.  William  Pitt,  after- 
wards Earl  of  Chatham,  Secretary  of  State, 
1756. 

Commoners.     (Pensioners.) 

Common  law.  (Leg.)  Sometimes  opposed 
to  Statute  law,  and  =  unwritten  law,  sometimes 
to  Civil  and  Canon  law,  often  to  Equity,  some- 
times to  Lex  mercat5ria.  Unwritten  law  includes 
general  and  particular  customs,  and  rules  and 
principles  not  expressly  and  specially  authorized 
by  the  Legislature. 

Common  measure.     (Commensurable.) 

Common  Prayer,  Book  of.  The  first  English 
Prayer-book,  known  as  the  first  Prayer-book  of 
Edward  VI.,  was  put  forth  in  1549,  with  the 
approval  of  Convocation  and  Parliament.  His 
second  Prayer-book  was  issued  in  1552,  without 
the  sanction  of  Convocation.  A  third  book, 
differing  little  from  the  second,  was  put  forth  in 
1559  by  Elizabeth,  who  in  1560  issued  a  book 
in  Latin  for  the  use  of  the  universities.  The 
last  revision  took  place  in  1661,  after  the  Savoy 
Conference.  A  Prayer-book  for  use  in  Scotland 
was  issued  in  1635. 

Common  purple,  or  Purpura.  [L.]  (Conch.) 
Purpura  Idpillus ;  like  a  small  whelk,  white 
with  reddish-brown  bands.  One  of  the  molluscs 
secreting  that  which  furnished  the  Tyrian  purple. 
Common  and  widely  distributed.  Fam.  Buc- 
cinidse,  ord.  Prosobranchlata,  class  Gaste"r6- 
poda. 

Common  sense.  [Gr.  KOLVOS  vovs,  L.  commu- 
nis  sensus.]  A  supposed  sense,  which  was  the 
common  bond  of  all  others  ;  a  judge  and  con- 
troller, to  which  they  referred  the  sensations 
which  they  themselves  received  indifferently  and 
unintelligently. 

Commonwealth  of  England.  (Hist.)  The 
name  given  to  the  form  of  government  estab- 
lished in  England  on  the  death  of  Charles  I. 

Commorant.  [L.  commoran,  -tern,  p.  part, 
of  com-,  moror,  I  tarry.]  Abiding,  dwelling  in 
a  certain  place. 

Commune.  [Fr.  commun,  L.  communis,  com- 
mon.] 1.  One  of  the  small  districts  into  which 
France  is  divided.  2  The  name  given  to  the 
insurgent  socialists  of  Paris,  1871. 

Communication.  In  strategy,  a  line  of  C.  is 
any  practicable  route  between  the  different  por- 
tions of  the  same  army. 

Commutation  Acts,  Tithe,  i.e.  6  and  7  William 
IV.  and  others.  By  these  there  has  been  sub- 
stituted for  tithe  a  rent-charge  payable  in  money, 
but  varying  on  a  scale  regulated  by  averages  of 
the  price  of  corn — wheat,  barley,  and  oats — for 
the  seven  years  preceding. 

Commutator.  [L.  commutatio,  -nem,  an  inter- 
changing.] A  contrivance  for  reversing  or  stop- 
ping an  electric  current. 

Compaginate.  [From  p.  part,  of  L.  compa- 
gino,  I  join  together,  from  pagina,  page,  leaf] 
Unite,  hold  together,  connect. 

Companion.      (Naut.)     1.   The  framing  and 


COMP 


COMP 


sashlights  on  the  quarter-deck,  or  round-house. 
2.  In  small  merchantmen,  the  hood  over  the 
cabin  staircase.  C.  ladder,  that  by  which  the 
officers  ascend  to,  and  descend  from,  the  quarter- 
deck. C.  way,  the  stairs,  etc.,  leading  to  the 
cabins. 

Company,  [Fr.  compagnie,  one  of  the  same 
district  (L.  pagus).]  (Mil.)  Separate  body  of 
infantry,  commanded  by  a  captain,  and  possess- 
ing its  own  interior  economy. 

Company,  John.  Nickname  of  the  East  India 
Company. 

Comparative  grammar.  The  science  which 
determines  the  relations  of  kindred  languages 
by  examining  and  comparing  their  grammatical 
lorms.  It  could  scarcely  be  said  to  exist  until 
European  grammarians  became  acquainted  with 
Sanskrit,  the  ancient  language  of  the  Aryans  of 
India. 

Comparative  mythology.  The  science  which 
compares  the  popular  traditions  and  beliefs  of 
different  countries,  for  the  purpose  of  classifying 
them  and  determining  their  origin  and  the  mode 
of  their  growth.  This  science  has  come  into 
existence  since  the  discovery  of  the  Sanskrit 
language  and  literature  by  European  scholars, 
and  without  it  it  would  perhaps  have  been  im- 
possible. 

Comparative  science.  Short  for  comparative 
study  of  a  particular  science,  i.e.  its  study  with 
a  view  to  the  comparison  of  genera  and  species 
and  the  registration  of  points  of  similarity  and 
difference,  whence  general  conclusions  may  be 
drawn  by  induction.  It  is  opposed  to  descriptive 
or  mere  analytical  science. 

Comparison,  or  Simile.  (Rhet.)  The  com- 
paring of  one  thing  with  another  in  some  point 
common  to  both.  It  differs  from  Metaphor  only 
in  form,  the  latter  only  implying,  while  the 
former  states  the  likeness. 

Compartment  bulkheads.     (Bulkheads.) 

Compass,  Azimuth ;  Mariner's  C. ;  Prismatic  C. ; 
Surveying  C.  The  Azimuth  C.  is  a  magnet,  to 
which  a  properly  divided  circular  card  is  at- 
tached, mounted  by  means  of  a  double  suspen- 
sion by  gimbals  ;  it  is  furnished  with  a  line  of 
sights,  or  some  equivalent  contrivance,  which, 
being  directed  to  the  sun,  enables  the  observer 
to  determine  its  bearing  from  the  magnetic 
north  ;  by  means  of  an  observed  altitude  of  the 
sun  and  a  calculation  based  thereon,  its  bearing 
from  the  true  north  at  the  same  instant  can  be 
found  ;  by  comparing  these  two  results,  the 
bearing  of  the  magnetic  north  from  the  true 
north  can  be  inferred,  i.e.  the  direction  of  the 
magnetic  meridian  at  that  time  and  place  can  be 
found.  In  the  Mariner's  C.,  the  Prismatic  C., 
and  the  Surveying  C.,  which  are  modifications 
of  the  same,  instrument,  the  approximate  con- 
stancy of  the  direction  of  the  magnetic  needle 
over  a  considerable  tract  of  sea  or  land  is  ap- 
plied to  the  determination  of  directions  with 
sufficient  accuracy  for  many  purposes  of  naviga- 
tion and  surveying.  In  the  prismatic  C.,  a  pris- 
matic lens  is  used  to  show  the  wire  and  gradua- 
tion lines  below  it  in  the  same  field  of  view,  so 
that  the  observer  obtains  the  reading  without 


losing  the  coincidence    of   the  wire  with  the 
distant  object. 

Compassionate  allowance.  Pensions  given  since 
the  Crimean  war  to  the  children  of  deceased 
officers  left  in  reduced  circumstances,  till  they 
attain  a  certain  age. 

Compass-roof.  (Areh.)  An  open-timbered  roof, 
also  called  Span-roof. 

Compass-timbers.  (Nattt.)  Those  which  are 
carved  or  shaped. 

Compellation.  [L.  compellatio,  -nem,  an  ac- 
costing.} Appellation  used  in  addressing  a  person 
or  persons. 

Compensate;  Compensation  balance;  C.  bar; 
C.  pendulum.  An  instrument  designed  for 
exact  measurement  is  said  to  be  compensated 
for  temperature,  or  simply  to  be  compensated, 
when  its  parts  are  combined  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  points  on  which  the  measurement  de- 
pends continue  fixed  relatively  to  each  other, 
although  the  parts  severally  expand  or  contract 
with  the  ordinary  changes  of  temperature. 
For  the  exact  measurement  of  distance,  a  brass 
and  a  steel  bar,  of  precisely  the  same  length 
at  o°  C.,  are  riveted  together  at  the  middle  ;  at 
each  end  a  metal  tongue,  a  few  inches  long,  is 
loosely  riveted  to  both,  and  projects  at  right 
angles  to  the  bars.  In  consequence  of  the  un- 
equal rates  of  expansion  of  brass  and  steel,  points 
properly  chosen  on  the  tongues  will  remain  fixed 
at  a  constant  distance  apart,  though  the  tem- 
perature vary.  The  measurement  is  effected  by 
means  of  the  fixed  points.  The  instrument  is  a 
Compensation  bar.  The  compensation  of  the 
balance Awheel  of  a  chronometer  is  effected  by 
an  application  of  the  same  principle.  (For  C. 
pendulum,  vide  Pendulum.) 

Compensation.  [L.compensatio,-nem.]  (Gram.} 
The  lengthening  of  a  vowel  to  make  up  for  the 
loss  of  part  of  a  consonantal  group  (and,  as  some 
hold,  also  to  make  up  for  the  loss  of  a  syllable)  ; 
as  \eyuv  for  \fyov(rs),  0«ts  for  6e(vr)i. 

Competentes.  [L.,  qualified.}  Those  of  the 
catechumens  (q.v.)  who  were  immediate  candi- 
dates for  baptism. 

Competition  Wallah.  A  candidate  for  an  ex- 
amination for  a  Government  office  in  India. 

Compitalia,  Ludi  compitalicii.  [L.]  A  yearly 
Roman  festival  in  honour  of  the  Lares  compitales, 
celebrated  in  the  winter. 

Complacence.  [L.  compl&ceo,  /  am  very 
pleasing.}  In  Moral  Phil.,  =  moral  esteem;  a 
love  for  that  which  is  itself  benevolent. 

Complain,  To.  (Naut.)  To  creak,  as  masts, 
etc. 

Complement;  Arithmetical  C.  [L.  comple- 
mentum,  that  which  completes.}  When  two 
angles  together  make  up  a  right  angle  (or  90°), 
the  one  is  said  to  be  the  C.  of  the  other. 
When  the  sum  of  two  numbers  is  10,  the  one  is 
the  Arithmetical  C.  of  the  other. 

Complement,  Moon  in  her.  (Her.)  The  full 
moon. 

Complementary  colours.     (Colour.) 

Complete  Angler.  A  treatise  on  fishing 
with  descriptions  of  river  scenery  ;  reflexions 
on  God's  goodness ;  and  charming  dialogue. 


COMP 


132 


CONG 


A  book  unique  in  its  way;   by  Izaak  Walton 
(15)3-1683). 

complete-book.  (Naut.)  A  book  containing 
full  information  concerning  every  one  on  board 
serving  for  wages  ;  as  to  name,  age,  place  of 
birth,  rating,  time  of  entry,  etc. 

Compline.     (Breviary;  Canonical  hours.) 

Complutensian  Polyglot  Bible.  Printed  at 
Alcala,  in  Spain  (Complutum),  A.D.  1514  and 
1515  ;  the  work  of  Cardinal  Ximenes. 

Compluvium.  [L.]  A  square  open  space  in 
the  middle  of  a  Roman  atrium  (q.v.),  towards 
which  the  roof  sloped  so  that  the  rain  [pluvia] 
fell  into  a  tank  [impluvium]  below. 

Compo.  (Naut.)  The  portion  of  wages  paid 
monthly  to  a  crew. 

Component.    (Composition.) 

Compony.  [Fr.  compone.]  (Her.)  Composed 
of  a  row  of  squares  alternately  of  two  tinctures. 

Composing.  Placing  types  in  proper  order  for 
printing. 

Composing-stick.  A  small  frame,  held  in  the 
hand,  wherein  the  compositor  sets  up  the  lines 
of  type. 

Compositae.  [L.]  (Bot.)  The  largest  known 
nat.  ord.  of  plants,  having  several  florets  collected 
into  a  head  or  a  common  receptacle ;  e.g.  dahlia, 
daisy,  aster. 

Composite  ship.  (Naut.)  One  built  partly  of 
wood  and  partly  of  iron  ;  having  an  iron  frame 
and  wooden  planking. 

Composition.  [L.  composltio,  -nem,  from 
p.  part,  of  compono,  I  arrange.']  (Leg.)  1.  An 
amicable  arrangement  of  a  lawsuit.  2.  An  agree- 
ment for  the  remission  of  tithes  on  some  con- 
sideration in  lieu  thereof.  3.  A  private  arrange- 
ment with  creditors,  they  agreeing  to  accept  part 
payment  in  satisfaction  of  their  claims.  (Tithes.) 

Composition  of  forces ;  C.  of  proportion ;  C.  of 
ratios;  C.  of  velocities.  The  determination  in 
magnitude  and  direction  of  the  single  force 
equivalent  to  two  or  more  given  forces  is  the 
C.  of  those  forces ;  the  single  force  thus  found 
is  their  resultant ;  and  they  are  the  components 
of  the  resultant.  The  terms  Composition,  Compo- 
nent, and  Resultant  are  similarly  applied  to 
velocities.  When  two  or  more  ratios  are  ex- 
pressed numerically,  the  ratio  which  the  product 
of  their  antecedents  bears  to  the  product  of  their 
consequents  is  said  to  be  the  ratio  which  is  com- 
pounded of  those  ratios.  When  four  magnitudes 
are  proportional,  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  first 
and  second  together  are  to  the  second  as  the 
third  and  fourth  together  are  to  the  fourth  ;  this 
inference  is  said  to  be  drawn  by  composition  or 
simply  componendo. 

Compos  mentis.  [L.]  In  full  possession  of 
mental  powers. 

Compost.  [L.  com-positus,  placed  together.' 
Manure  made  by  mixing  dung  and  urine,  especi- 
ally the  latter,  with  leaves  and  earths  of  various 
kinds,  according  to  the  use  which  is  to  be  made 
of  it. 

Compostella,  The  Order  of.  (Hist.)  An  order 
of  Spanish  knighthood,  founded  in  the  twelfth 
century,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  roac 
to  the  shrine  of  St.  James  at  Compostella. 


Compos  v5ti.  [L.]  Having  obtained  (or  grati- 
fied) a  -wish. 

Compotier.  [Fr.  compote,  L.  composita.]  A 
dish  for  preserved  or  stewed  fruits. 

Compound.  In  India,  the  precincts  of  an 
English  residency. 

Compounder.  ( Univ. )  A  master  of  arts  who 
pays  down  a  sum  in  lieu  of  all  annual  college 
and  university  fees,  for  keeping  his  name  regis- 
tered as  a  member  of  the  college  and  Senate. 

Compound  flowers,  i.q.  Composite.    (JSot.)  C. 
leaf,  one  divided  into  separate  leaflets  ;  e.g.  ash. 
Compound  householder.     One  who  is  occupier 
of  a  ratable  tenement  in  common  with  others. 

Compressor  muscles.  Such  as  compress  the 
parts  on  which  they  act. 

Compte  rendu.  [Fr.]  A  report  of  an  officer 
or  agent. 

Comptoir.     [Fr.]     Counter,  counting-house. 

Comptroller.  [Fr.  controleur,  from  contre- 
role,  L.  contra-rotulus,  counter-register •.]  An 
examiner  of  accounts,  or  reports,  or  returns. 

Compurgation.  [From  L.  compurgare,  to 
purify '.]  In  Eng.  Hist.,  an  ancient  mode  of 
trial  in  civil  and  criminal  cases,  which  allowed 
the  accused  to  clear  himself  by  his  own  oath 
confirmed  by  the  oaths  of  eleven  of  his  neigh- 
bours. (Jury,  Trial  by.) 

Comtist.  In  Philosophy,  a  follower  of  Auguste 
Comte.  (Positivists. ) 

Cdmus.  [L.,  Gr.  KW/*OS,  band  of  revellers,  song 
of  ditto.}  1.  The  chorus  which  sang  a  triumphal 
or  complimentary  ode  in  Greece,  and  the  friend 
who  accompanied  it.  2.  (Myth.)  A  winged 
youth,  god  of  festivity.  Milton,  in  Comus  a 
Masque,  makes  him  a  vile  enchanter.  3.  (Naut. } 
Class  of  ships  (like  C.  and  five  others,  beginning 
with  letter  C,  now,  or  lately,  in  construction) ; 
steel-clad  battle-ships  ;  steel  replacing  the  stout 
iron  plates  hitherto  used. 

Conacre.  In  Irish  usage,  the  subletting  by 
a  tenant  of  a  portion  of  his  farm  for  a  single  crop. 

Con  amore.  [It.]  Lit.  with  love ;  with  en- 
thusiasm, zeal. 

Concave,  Double;  Concavo-plane ;  Concavo- 
convex.  (Lens.) 

Concentric.  [L.  con-,  together,  centrum,  a 
centre.}  Curves  and  surfaces  which  have  a 
common  centre  are  C.  (Centre.) 

Concept.  [L.  conceptus,  conceived.}  (Log.) 
The  result  of  the  act  or  the  process  of  mental 
representation,  as  distinguished  from  the  process. 

Conception.  [L.  conceptio,  -nem,  a  conceiv- 
ing.} (Log.)  The  mental  act  by  which  we 
combine  a  number  of  individuals  together  by 
means  of  some  mark  or  character  common  to 
them  all. 

Conceptualists.    (Nominalists.) 

Concession.  [L.  concessio,  -nem,  from  con-, 
cedo,  I  grant,  give  up.]  (Finance.)  Permission 
conceded  by  a  government  to  a  person  or  com- 
pany to  undertake  enterprises,  such  as  mining, 
making  canals  or  railways  ;  generally  subject  to 
fixed  conditions  and  limitations. 

Concetti.  [It.,  conceits.}  Ingenuities  of  thought 
or  expression,  jeux  d1  esprit,  etc.,  introduced  in 
serious  composition ;  the  production  mostly  of 


CONG 


133 


CONE 


the  sixteenth  century  ;  generally  in  false  taste. 
It.,  Sp.,  and  Fr.,  and,  e.g.  Donne  and  Cowley, 

Conchoid.  [Gr.  Kojx"n>  a  muscle-shelly  eTSos, 
form.'}  Shell-shaped. 

Conchs.  (Naut.)  The  wreckers  of  the 
Bahama  reefs. 

Conch-shell.  [L.  concha,  Gr.  Kdyxri,  Skt. 
gankha,  shell- fish.'}  (Zool.)  Sea-trumpet  (Triton 
variegatus) ;  twelve  inches  or  more  long  ;  white, 
mottled  with  brown  and  yellow  ;  inside,  white, 
streaked  with  black.  Used  as  trumpet  by  South 
Sea  Islanders  and  Australians,  who  bore  a  hole 
about  one-fourth  the  distance  from  the  tip,  and 
blow  it  as  a  flute.  Warm  seas.  Fam.  Muricidse, 
ord.  Prosobranchiata,  class  Gasteropoda. 

Conciator.  [It.  conciatore.J  The  person  who 
dispenses  and  mixes  the  materials  in  glass-making. 

Concierge.     (Ostiarius.) 

Conciliation  Act.  Lord  North's,  1777,  after 
Burgoyne's  surrender  at  Saratoga,  granted  all 
American  demands  short  of  independence. 

Concilium  Begionale.     [L.]    A  district  court. 

Concinnity.  [L.  concinnitas,  from  concinnus, 
neat,  well-arranged,  from  con-,  with,  cinnus,  lock 
of  hair.}  Internal  harmony,  proper  adjustment 
and  proportion  of  parts. 

Concision.  [L.  concisio,  -nem.]  Phil.  iii.  2 
[Gr.  Kararo/dj],  amputation,  mere  cutting  off, 
not  the  true  Circumcision  [irepwo/dj]. 

Conclamatum  est.  [L.]  Lit  the  (dead  man's] 
name  has  been  called ;  as  the  Romans  did  when 
a  death  was  ascertained  ;  all  is  over. 

Conclave.  [L. ,  from  con-,  -with,  and  clavis,  a 
key.]  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  name  given  to  the 
College  of  Cardinals,  especially  when  shut  up  in 
the  Vatican  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  pope. 
(Cardinal.) 

Conclusion.  [L.  conclusio,  -nem.]  (Log.) 
The  proposition  inferred  from  two  former  pro- 
positions, termed  the  premisses  of  the  argument, 
or  Syllogism, 

Concordat.  [L.  concordare,  to  agree  together.] 
An  agreement  ( i )  originally  as  to  mutual  rights 
of  bishops,  abbots,  priors,  etc.  ;  (2)  between  the 
pope  and  some  temporal  sovereign,  regulating 
things  ecclesiastical  in  the  dominions  of  the 
latter. 

Concordia  discors,  [L.]  A  discordant  concord ; 
harmony  between  things  naturally  at  variance. 

Concrete.  [L.  concretus,  solidified.]  A  mixture 
of  lime,  sand,  and  gravel,  which  dries  into  a 
solid  mass. 

Concrete  number.  [L.  concretus,  grown  to- 
gether, hardened.]  Numbers  are  said  to  be  con- 
crete when  the  units  of  which  they  are  com- 
posed have  a  particular  name  ;  as  seventeen  men, 
twenty-five  apples,  etc. 

Concrete  term.  (Log.)  A  term  used  when 
the  notion  of  a  quality  is  regarded  in  conjunction 
with  the  object  that  furnished  the  notion,  as 
•wise.  The  quality  regarded  in  itself  is  denoted 
by  an  Abstract  term,  as  wisdom. 

Condensation;  Condense;  Condenser.  [L.  con- 
densatio,  -nem,  from  densus,  thick,  close.]  To  con- 
dense, (i)  to  make  (or  become)  closer  or  more 
compact ;  as  when  we  speak  of  condensed  air. 


In  this  sense,  Condensation  is  opposed  to  Rare- 
faction. But  (2)  frequently  it  implies  that  the 
ubstance  condensed  undergoes  a  change  of 
state,  as  when  gases  or  vapours  are  condensed 
into  the  liquid  or  solid  form.  The  Condenser  of 
a  steam-engine  is  the  vessel  into  which  the  steam 
is  withdrawn  from  the  cylinder,  and  in  which  it 
is  condensed  by  the  injection  of  cold  water. 

Condenser.  1.  An  instrument  for  reducing  an 
elastic  fluid  into  a  smaller  volume.  2.  An  instru- 
ment for  concentrating  electricity. 

Condensing  engine.    (Steam-engine.) 

Conder.    (Balcar.) 

Condictio.  In  Rom.  Law,  a  personal  action  j 
Vindicatio  being  a  real  action. 

Condignity.  [L.  con-,  with,  dignus,  worthy.] 
(Theol.)  A  scholastic  term  of  the  Thomists, 
denoting  that  men  by  divine  grace  may  become 
worthy  of  eternal  life  as  a  reward  for  their 
holiness.  (Congruity.) 

Conditional  proposition.  (Log.)  A  pro- 
position asserting  the  dependence  of  one  cate- 
gorical or  positive  statement  on  another,  the 
former  statement  being  called  the  antecedent,  the 
resulting  proposition  the  consequent. 

Conditioned,  The  philosophy  of  the.  SirW. 
Hamilton's  expression  in  reference  to  the 
inability  of  the  mind  to  apprehend  or  to  reason 
about  the  abstract  and  the  infinite. 

Condottieri.  [It.,  leaders.]  In  It.  Hist., 
mercenary  adventurers  of  the  fourteenth  and 
fifteenth  centuries,  who  commanded  bands,  or 
even  small  armies,  whose  services  they  sold. 

Conduct.  1.  As  at  Eton,  etc.,  a  chaplain; 
as  being,  2,  an  imperfect  member  of  a  corporate 
body  [L.  conductus,  i.e.  hired,  salaried],  for 
certain  services,  but  not  taking  part  in  the  general 
management. 

Conduction  of  heat.  The  flow  of  heat  from 
the  hotter  to  the  colder  parts  of  a  body,  or  from 
the  hotter  to  the  colder  of  two  bodies  in  contact. 

Conductivity,  Thermal.  The  quantity  of  heat 
which  passes  in  a  unit  of  time  through  a  unit  of 
area  of  a  wall  of  a  given  substance  ;  the  wall 
being  a  unit  thick,  and  its  opposite  sides  having 
temperatures  which  differ  by  a  unit.  As  thus 
defined,  the  T.  C.  of  silver  is  about  four  times 
that  of  brass,  and  ten  times  that  of  iron. 

Conductor.  [L.]  1.  (Mil.)  Warrant  officer 
of  the  Army  Service  Corps.  2.  (Phys.)  A  sub- 
stance that  transmits  heat,  electricity,  etc. 

Conduit.  [Fr.,  from  L.  conductus,  part,  of 
conduce,  I  lead  together.]  (Arch.)  Properly  a 
passage  giving  secret  communication  between 
apartments.  Also  a  pipe  or  passage  for  dis- 
tributing water. 

Condyle.  [Gr.  /rtfz/SvAos,  the  knuckle,  or 
similar  knob  of  any  joint.]  (Anat. )  The  rounded 
head  of  a  bone. 

Condy's  fluid.  (From  inventor.)  A  mixture 
of  manganate  and  permanganate  of  potash. 

Cone  [Gr.  K&VOS,  math,  cone,  a  fir-cone] ; 
Conical  surface.  1.  (Math.)  (i)  The  solid 
generated  by  the  revolution  of  a  right-angled 
triangle  round  its  perpendicular ;  (2)  more 
generally,  a  solid  whose  surface  is  generated 
by  a  straight  line  which  moves  so  as  always  to 


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134 


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pass  through  a  fixed  point,  and  to  conform  to 
some  other  condition,  such  as  to  pass  through  a 
given  curve  whose  plane  does  not  contain  the 
point.  The  surfaces  of  these  solids  are  often 
called  Cones,  though,  strictly  speaking,  they  are 
Conical  surfaces.  2.  (Bot. )  A  dense  spike  of 
female  flowers, -covered  with  woody  scales;  e.g. 
fir. 

Coney.  [O.Fr.  conil,  L.  cunlculus  ;  said  to  be 
originally  Sp.]  (Zool.)  1.  The  rabbit  (Lepus 
cuniculus).  2.  In  the  Bible,  the  Shaphan,  or 
Aschkoko  (Hyrax  Syri&cus)  ;  gregarious  pachy- 
derm, like  the  marmot  in  appearance  and  size  ; 
spec,  of  a  single  gen.  forming  fam.  Hyracoidea  ; 
in  some  points  apparently  resembling  the  gen. 
Rhinoceros.  Syria  and  Africa. 

Confarreation.  [L.  confarreatio,  -nem.]  An 
ancient  solemn  form  of  marriage  with  the 
Romans,  bread  [far]  being  sacrificially  offered 
in  the  presence  of  the  Pontifex  Maxlmus,  or 
Flamen  Dialis,  and  ten  witnesses ;  its  dissolution 
being  Diffarredtio. 

Confederation,  Germanic.  (Hist.}  An  alliance 
of  German  states,  formed  at  the  Congress  of 
Vienna,  1815,  and  designed  to  supply  the  want 
of  the  ancient  imperial  government  dissolved 
in  1806. 

Confederation  of  the  Rhine.  A  league  of 
several  German  states,  formed  in  1806,  by 
Napoleon,  who  made  them  declare  themselves 
separated  for  ever  from  Germany,  and  united 
by  offensive  and  defensive  alliance  with  France. 
Dissolved  in  1813. 

Conference.  (Hist.}  A  name  applied  some- 
times to  meetings  for  theological  discussion,  as 
the  Hampton  Court  Conference,  1604  ;  the 
Savoy  Conference,  1660. 

Confervae,  Confervaceae.  [L.  conferva,  a  water- 
plant  supposed  to  have  healing  power.]  (Bot.} 
Simple  tubular  jointed  spec,  of  algae,  inhabiting 
fresh  water. 

Confession,  Auricular.    (Auricular  confession.) 

Confession  and  Avoidance.  In  Law,  an  ad- 
mission of  the  truth  of  the  allegation,  in  part  at 
least ;  followed  by  reasons  against  drawing  the 
legal  consequence  drawn  by  the  opposite  side. 

Confession  of  Faith.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  A  formu- 
lary setting  forth  the  opinions  of  a  religious  com- 
munity, as  the  Nicene  Creed.  The  word  is 
applied  especially  to  the  Lutheran  and  other 
Protestant  expositions  of  belief,  as  the  Augsburg 
Confession,  1530;  the  General  Confession  of  the 
Scotch  Church,  1581  ;  the  Westminster  Con- 
fession, 1643. 

Confessor.  [Eccl.  L.]  1.  One  persecuted,  and 
ready  to  lay  down  his  life  for  the  gospel,  but 
not  actually  martyred.  2.  One  authorized  to 
hear  confessions. 

Confirmation  of  a  bishop.  The  election  of  a 
B.  by  conge  d'elire  having  been  certified  to  the 
king,  the  royal  assent  goes  to  the  archbishop, 
with  direction  to  confirm  and  consecrate.  He 
subscribes  fiat  confi rmatio ;  and  the  vicar- 
general  then  cites  to  Bow  Church  all  opposers  ; 
and  thus,  after  certain  details,  the  election  is 
ratified, 

Confluence ;  Confluent.    [L.  confluens,  flawing 


into  another  river  ;  hence,  Coblenz  =  con- 
fluentes.]  The  point  of  junction  where  two 
rivers  meet ;  the  smaller  is  then  a  confluent  of 
the  larger  river. 

Conformable  strata  (Geol.}  —  lying  one  upon 
another  in  parallel  order.  Unconfonuable  —  over- 
lying another  set  at  a  different  angle  ;  the  latter 
condition  indicating  lapse  of  time. 

Conformity,  Declaration  of,  i.e.  to  the  Liturgy 
of  the  Church  of  England.  Required  of  all 
persons  who  are  to  be  licensed  or  instituted  to 
an  ecclesiastical  charge. 

Confrere.  [Fr.]  Fellow-member  of  a  fra- 
ternity ;  intimate  associate. 

Confucianism.  The  system  of  the  Chinese 
philosopher,  Kong-fu-tzee,  Confucius  (about 
B.C.  550).  It  was  confined  to  Ethics,  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  religion.  (Taouism.) 

Conge.  [Fr.,  leave.}  Permission,  leave  of 
absence,  discharge.  Jour  de  C.,  holiday.  [L. 
commeatus,  authorization,  permission.} 

Conge  d'elire,  or  eslire.  [Fr.]  Leave  to 
choose,  especially  the  sovereign's  licence  to  a 
dean  and  chapter  to  elect  a  bishop  to  a  vacant 
see. 

Congener.  [L. ,  from  con-,  with,  genus,  gene'ris, 
kind.}  One  of  the  same  genus  or  kind. 

Congenital.  [L.  congenltus,  born  with.}  Be 
longing  to  a  person  from  birth. 

Congeries.  [L.,  from  con-,  together,  gero,  / 
carry. }  A  collection  into  one  mass,  a  heap. 

Congestion.  [L.  congestio,  -nem,  a  crowding.} 
An  undue  determination  of  blood,  or  other  fluid, 
to  an  organ. 

Congiary.  [L.  congiarium.]  A  present  of 
corn  made  by  Roman  emperors  to  the  people, 
measured  by  the  gallon  [congius]. 

Conglomerate.    (Breccia.) 

Congou.  [Chin,  kung-foo.]  A  superior  black 
tea,  having  large  leaves. 

Congregation.  [L.  congregatio,  -nem,  from 
con-,  and  grex,  a  flock.}  1.  At  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge, the  assembly  of  masters  and  doctors,  for 
transacting  the  ordinary  business  of  the  uni- 
versity ;  and  at  which  degrees  are  given.  2.  In 
the  Latin  Church,  any  company  of  religious 
persons  forming  subdivisions  of  monastic  orders ; 
a  committee  of  cardinals  for  transaction  of  the 
business  of  the  see  of  Rome. 

Congregationalists  differ  little  from  Inde- 
pendents, except  in  admitting  a  communion  of 
Churches. 

Congress.  [L.  congressus,  a  stepping  to- 
gether.} (Hist.}  1.  A  meeting  of  the  sovereigns 
of  states,  or  their  representatives,  to  arrange 
international  matters.  2.  The  title  of  the  national 
legislature  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

Congruity.  [L.  congruita,  -tern,  agreement.} 
( Theol. }  A  term  used  by  the  Scotists  to  denote 
the  necessary  bestowal  of  divine  grace  on  those 
who  so  live  in  their  natural  state  as  to  be  fit  re- 
cipients of  it.  (Condignity.) 

Conic  sections.  The  curves  formed  by  the  in- 
tersection of  a  cone  with  a  plane.  They  are  of 
three  kinds— Ellipses,  Hyperbolas,  and  Para- 
bolas, according  to  the  direction  of  the  cutting 
plane.  A  point  traces  out  a  conic  section  when 


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135 


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it  moves  in  such  a  manner  that  its  distance  from 
a  fixed  point  bears  a  constant  ratio  to  its  per- 
pendicular distance  from  a  fixed  line.  The  fixed 
point  is  called  the  focus,  the  fixed  line  the  directrix 
of  the  conic  section. 

Conicoid.  [Gr.  Kuvticds,  conical,  €?5os,  form.'] 
A  surface  of  the  second  degree,  i.e.  one  of  the 
class  of  surfaces  which  correspond  to  the  conic 
sections  in  plane  geometry. 

Conine.  [Gr.  K&vewv,  hemlock.]  An  alkaloid 
obtained  from  hemlock. 

Conirostrals,  Conirostres.  [L.  conus,  cone, 
rostrum,  bill.']  (Ornith.)  Conical-billed  birds. 
A  large  tribe  or  fam.  of  Passdres,  or  Insessores, 
in  those  systems  which  characterize  birds  by  the 
form  of  their  bills.  It  includes  larks,  crows, 
starlings,  hornbills. 

Conistra.  [Gr.  Kovlffrpa,  a  place  covered  with 
dtist  (KOVIS).]  An  arena,  the  pit  of  a  theatre. 

Conium.  [Gr.  Ktiivetov.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of 
plants,  ord.  Umbel liferse,  of  which  C.  m&culatum 
(spotted  in  stem)  is  common  hemlock.  Found  in 
Britain  and  in  Europe  generally,  in  waste 
places,  by  the  sides  of  ditches,  etc. 

Conjee.     (Naut. )     Rice-gruel. 

Conjugate;  C.  diameters;  C,  foci.  [L.  con- 
jugatus,  joined  together  in  pairs,  jiigum,  a  pair."} 
1.  (Math,  and  Phys.)  When  points,  lines, 
planes,  etc.,  in  pairs,  are  related  in  such  a 
manner  that  the  first  stands  to  the  second  in 
a  relation  precisely  similar  to  that  in  which  the 
second  stands  to  the  first,  they  are  often  said 
to  be  Conjugate.  C.  foci  of  a  lens  are  two 
points  such  that  light  diverging  from  the  first 
is  concentrated  by  the  lens  at  the  second ;  they 
are  conjugate,  because  light  diverging  from 
the  second  will  be  concentrated  by  the  lens  at 
the  first.  If  there  be  two  diameters  to  an  ellipse 
or  hyperbola  such  that  the  first  is  parallel  to  the 
tangents  drawn  through  the  extremities  of  the 
second,  then  it  follows  that  the  second  will  be 
parallel  to  the  tangents  drawn  through  the 
extremities  of  the  first,  and  the  diameters  are 
called  C.  diameters.  2.  (Bot.)  Growing  in 
pairs. 

Conjunction ;  Inferior  C. ;  Superior  C,  [L.  con- 
junctio,  -nem,  a  joining  together.}  1.  (Astron.) 
When  two  planets  have  the  same  heliocentric 
longitude,  they  are  in  Conjunction;  but  when 
the  earth  is  one  of  the  planets,  the  other  planet 
is  said  to  be  in  C.  when  it  passes  behind  the 
sun,  i.e.  when  its  geocentric  longitude  equals 
that  of  the  sun.  If,  however,  the  planet  is  an 
inferior  planet  (Venus  or  Mercury),  this  conjunc- 
tion is  distinguished  as  a  Superior  C.  /  and  when 
either  of  these  planets  passes  between  the  sun 
and  the  earth,  they  are  at  Inferior  C.  2.  ( Gram. ) 
A  part  of  speech  expressing  the  relation  of  pro- 
positions to  each  other. 

Conjunctiva  [L.],  i.e.  membrana.  The  mucous 
membrane  which,  lining  the  eyelids,  is  continued 
over  the  eyeball. 

Conjunctive  mood.  (Gram.)  The  modification 
of  the  verb  which  expresses  the  dependence  of 
the  event  intended  on  certain  conditions. 

Conn,  Con,  or  Cun,  To.  (Naut.)  To  direct 
the  steersman.  Connings  are  reckonings. 

10 


Connate  leaves.  [L.  connatus,  born  at  the 
same  time  with.']  (Bot.)  United  at  the  base  by 
adhesion,  e.g.  the  leaves  of  the  yellow-wort 
(Chldra  perfoliata),  the  stalk  of  which  is  there- 
fore perfoliate  (q.v.). 

Connecting-rod.     (Crank.) 

Connivent.  [L.  connlveo,  7  close  together, 
wink.']  1.  Inattentive.  2.  (Anat.  and  Bot.) 
Lying  close  together,  converging  ;  e.g.  the  anthers 
of  a  borage  blossom  C.  around  the  style. 

Connoisseur.  [Fr.]  A  person  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  a  subject,  especially  with  an  art ; 
a  skilled  critic. 

Connusance,  Conusance.     [Fr.    connoissance.] 

1.  (Leg.)     Cognizance.     2.  (Cognizance.) 
Conoid;   Conoidal  surface.     [Gr.    Kuvocfi-tis, 

cone-shaped.}  1.  The  surface  generated  by  a 
straight  line  which  passes  at  right  angles  through 
a  fixed  straight  line,  and  is  guided  in  its  motion 
by  a  given  curve  is  a  C.  surface  or  a  Conoid. 

2.  Formerly,  any  one  of  the  surfaces  formed  by 
the   revolution    of  the   conic  sections   round   a 
principal  axis,  i.e.  round  a  line  drawn  through 
the  focus  at  right  angles  to  the  directrix.     (Conic 
sections.) 

Conquistador.  [Sp."|  One  of  the  Spanish 
conquerors  of  Peru  and  Mexico. 

Conscia  mens  recti.  [L.]  A  mind  conscious 
of  rectittide  ;  a  good  conscience. 

Conscience  clause.  A  clause  introduced  into 
the  Revised  Code  for  national  education  in  1860, 
for  parishes  where  only  one  school  is  needed.  It 
provided  for  the  admission  of  Dissenters,  and 
exempted  them  from  the  religious  teaching  of 
the  school. 

Conscript.  [L.  conscriptus,  enrolled.']  (Mil.) 
One  taken  by  lot  to  serve  in  the  army  under  a 
Conscription. 

Conscript  Fathers.  [L.  Patres  Conscripti.] 
(Hist.)  The  senators  of  ancient  Rome. 

Conscription.  [L.  conscriptio,  -nem,  a  written 
list.]  (Hist.)  Compulsory  enrolment  for  mili- 
tary service  by  land  or  sea.  In  ancient  Rome 
the  conscription  was  made  by  the  will  of  the 
consuls,  who  selected  as  they  pleased.  In  France 
it  is  determined  by  lot. 

Consectary.  [L.  consectarius.]  Consequent 
deducible,  to  be  inferred. 

Consecutive  intervals.  (Music.)  Similar  inter- 
vals in  sequence,  as  C.  fifths,  octaves  ;  forbidden 
generally  when  between  the  same  two  parts. 

Consecutive  symptoms,  or  Sequelae,  occur 
after  or  during  the  decline  of  a  disease  without 
being  directly  connected  with  it.  (Sequela.) 

Conseil  d'Etat.  [Fr.,  Council  of  State.]  The 
French  House  of  Commons. 

Consenescence.  [L.  cons^nesco,  7  grow  old.] 
Growing  old,  decay  from  age. 

Consensual.  [L.  consensus,  consent]  Resting 
on  mutual  consent  as  a  C.  contract ;  e.g.  marriage. 

Consensual  actions.  Instinctive  reflex  actions 
of  animals,  the  result  of  impressions  made  on 
the  sensory  ganglia,  as  distinguished  from  the 
cerebrum. — Carpenter's  Ment.  Phys.,  p.  81. 

Consentes,  Dii.  [L.]  The  name  by  which  the 
Romans  spoke  of  their  twelve  great  deities— Juno, 
Minerva,  Ceres,  Vesta,  Diana,  Mars,  Venus, 


CONS 


136 


CONS 


Mercury,  Neptune,  Vulcan,  Apollo,  and  Jupiter 
the  father  of  all.     Also  called  Dii  complices. 
Consequent.     (Conditional  proposition ;  Ratio. ) 
Conservancy.     [L.  conserve,  /  take  care  of.] 
A  board  which  takes  care  of  a  river  and  regulates 
the  traffic. 

Conservation  of  areas;  C.  of  energy;  C.  of 
force ;  C.  of  momentum ;  C.  of  motion  of  centre 
of  gravity;  C.  of  motion  of  rotation;  C.  of  mo- 
tion of  translation;  C.  of  vis  viva.  It  is  a 
fundamental  principle  of  Physics  that  the  total 
energy  of  any  body  or  system  of  bodies  is  a 
quantity  which  can  neither  be  increased  nor 
diminished  by  any  mutual  action  of  these 
bodies,  though  it  may  be  transformed  into  any 
of  the  forms  of  which  energy  is  susceptible. 
Thus  some  of  the  mechanical  or  kinetic  energy 
of  the  system  may  disappear,  to  be  replaced 
by  an  exact  equivalent  of  heat.  This  principle 
is  termed  that  of  the  C.  of  energy.  The  term  C. 
of  force  is  sometimes  used  as  equivalent  to  the 
C.  of  momentum  ;  but  more  commonly  it  is  used 
(though  inaccurately)  as  equivalent  to  the  C.  of 
energy.  The  term  C.  is  used  in  several  con- 
nexions in  the  science  of  dynamics.  Thus  it 
is  proved  that,  in  the  case  of  a  body  acted  on  by 
any  forces,  the  motion  of  the  centre  of  gravity  is 
the  same  as  if  all  the  mass  were  collected  at  the 
centre  of  gravity  and  all  the  forces  applied  to  it 
unchanged  in  magnitude  and  direction,  while  the 
motion  of  rotation  round  the  centre  of  gravity  is 
the  same  as  if  that  point  were  fixed  and  the 
forces  unchanged.  These  theorems  are  called 
the  principles  of  the  C.  of  the  motion  of  the 
centre  of  gravity,  and  of  the  motion  of  rotation. 
The  C.  of  momentum  is  the  theorem  that,  if  the 
particles  of  a  system  are  acted  on  only  by  their 
mutual  attractions  and  repulsions,  the  sum  of  the 
momenta  estimated  in  a  given  direction  is  con- 
stant. The  C.  of  areas  is  the  theorem  that,  in 
the  last  case,  if  the  mass  of  each  particle  is  mul- 
tiplied by  the  area  (referred  to  any  given  plane) 
which  it  describes  round  a  fixed  point,  the  sum 
of  these  products  will  be  proportional  to  the  time 
of  description.  Kepler's  second  law  is  a  par- 
ticular case  of  the  C.  of  areas.  The  term  C.  of 
vis  viva  is  also  used. 

Conservatoire.  [Fr.]  A  school  especially  of 
music,  a  museum. 

Consignee.  [Fr.  consigne,  L.  consignatus, 
signed.}  One  to  whom  goods  (a  consignment) 
are  sent,  the  sender  being  the  consignor,  who 
consigns  or  delivers  them  on  trust  to  the  carrier. 

Consistentes.  [L.]  In  the  ancient  Church, 
the  last  order  of  penitents,  standing  ivith  the 
faithful  after  dismissal  of  the  rest,  joining  in 
common  prayer,  and  seeing  the  oblation  offered, 
but  not  offering  nor  communicating. 

Consistory  Courts.    (Court,  Christian.) 

Consolato  del  mare.  [Sp.]  A  code  of  mari- 
time laws  compiled  for  the  old  kings  of  Aragon. 

Console.  [Fr.]  (Arch.}  C.  table,  a  table  or 
slab  supported  by  brackets. 

Consols.  Stock  in  the  English  Funds,  con- 
sisting of  different  kinds  of  annuities  severally 
consolidated  into  capital,  bearing  interest  at  three 
and  three  and  a  half  per  cent,  for  ever. 


Consomme.  [Fr.]  Gravy  or  jelly-soup. 
Consonant.  [L.  consonantes,  from  con-,  -with, 
;ono,  /  sound.}  (Gram.)  A  sound  in  speech 
produced  by  an  opening  action  of  the  articulatory 
in-gans,  and  which  must  be  sounded  with  a  vowel 
'q.v.}.  As  adj.,  in  harmony  with,  agreeing  with. 
Constable.  [Fr.  connetable,  from  L.  comes 
stabuli,  count  of  the  stable.}  (Hist.)  A  title 
which  is  supposed  to  have  originated  in  the 
Lower  Empire.  The  Constable  of  France  was 
the  first  dignitary  under  the  Crown.  In  Eng- 
land, the  permanent  office  of  Lord  High  Con- 
stable was  forfeited  by  the  attainder  of  the  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  in  1522. 

Constable  of  the  Tower.  Governor  of  the 
Tower  of  London,  who  is  one  of  the  senior 
generals  in  the  army ;  the  appointment  having 
been  anciently  one  of  high  importance  and  trust. 

Constans,  Type  of.    (Type  of  Constans.) 

Constant.  [L.  constan,  -tern,  part,  of  con- 
stare,  to  stand  together.}  In  Math.,  a  quantity 
or  number  whose  value  in  regard  to  any 
question  or  class  of  questions  is  fixed.  Con- 
stants generally  serve  to  define  the  relations  ex- 
isting between  variable  magnitudes.  Thus,  if  s 
denotes  the  number  of  feet  through  which  a  body 
will  fall  in  t  seconds,  it  is  known  that  s  —  lbt'z 
(approximately) ;  here  the  constants,  16  and  2, 
serve  to  define  the  relation  existing  between  the 
variable  magnitudes  s  and  /. 

Constantia.  A  red  wine  made  at  the  place  so 
called,  near  Capetown. 

Constantine,  Donation  of.  An  alleged  gift  to 
the  pope  by  the  Emperor  Constantine  after  his 
conversion,  conveying  to  him  the  city  of  Rome 
and  the  whole  Western  Empire.  The  document 
is  supposed  to  be  a  forgery  of  the  eighth  century. — 
Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity,  bk.  i.  ch.  2. 

Constellation.  [L.  constellatio,  -neni.]  (As- 
tron. )  A  group  of  stars.  The  division  of  stars 
into  constellations  is  purely  arbitrary.  The  large 
stars  within  the  group  are  distinguished  as  o,  £, 
etc.  ;  as,  a  Leonis,  J3  Aquilse,  5  Ursae  Majoris, 
etc. 

Constituent  Assembly.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  the  first 
of  the  national  assemblies  of  the  Revolution. 
Dissolved  in  1791.  (Assembly.) 

Constrictive.  [L.  constrictivus,  constringo,  1 
draw  together.}  Able  to  bind  together,  astrin- 
gent. 

Construct ;  Construction.  [L.  constructus, 
part,  of  construere,  to  put  together.}  To  draw 
by  geometrical  rules  ;  as  "  to  construct  a  figure 
similar  to  a  given  rectilineal  figure."  Mathe- 
matical problems  are  in  many  cases  solved  by 
algebraical  processes  ;  but  it  frequently  happens 
that  the  steps  of  the  process  correspond  to  the 
drawing  of  certain  lines  on  paper,  by  means  of 
which  a  line  or  other  magnitude  can  be  deter- 
mined which  serves  as  a  solution  of  the  problem. 
Under  these  circumstances  the  problem  is  said 
to  be  solved  by  C. 

Constructive.  (Marine  Insttr.)  Taken  for 
certain.  A  constructive  total  loss  is  reckoned 
when  salvage  is  highly  improbable,  and,  on 
abandonment  of  all  claim  to  salvage,  owners 
recover  against  underwriters  as  for  total  loss. 


CONS 

It  also  occurs  when  it  would  cost  more  than  a 
ship's  value  to  repair  her.  (Abandonment.) 

Consualia.     (Ludi  circenses.) 

Consubstantial.  [L.  con-,  with,  substantia, 
substance.}  (Theol.)  This  word  translates  the 
Greek  homoiousios,  used  in  the  Nicene  Creed 
to  denote  the  oneness  of  substance  between  the 
Father  and  the  Son.  (Homoiousian.) 

Consubstantiation.  ( Theol. )  The  name  given 
to  the  Lutheran  doctrine  that,  while  the  bread 
and  wine  in  the  Eucharist  retain  their  natural 
substance,  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ  are  at 
the  same  time  transfused  into  them,  and  thus 
that  both  substances  are  partaken  of  together. 
(Transubstantiation.) 

Consul.  [L.]  1.  The  two  supreme  magis- 
trates of  Rome  after  the  expulsion  of  the  kings 
were  called  Consuls.  They  held  office  for  one 
year.  (Autocrat.)  2.  In  France,  the  title  was 
conferred  in  1 799  on  the  persons  entrusted  with 
the  provisional  government  of  the  country  after 
the  dissolution  of  the  Directory.  3.  It  is  also 
given  generally  to  public  officers  who  act  on 
behalf  of  foreign  states  partly  in  a  diplomatic 
and  partly  in  a  commercial  character. 

Consulars.  [L.  consulates.]  Roman  citizens 
were  so  called  after  having  served  as  consuls. 

Consultation,  Writ  of.  In  Law,  a  writ  by 
which  a  cause,  removed  into  the  King's  Court  by 
Prohibition  out  of  the  ecclesiastical  court,  is 
returned  thither  again. 

Contadino.     [It.]     Peasant,  countryman. 

Contagium  animatum,  or  vivum.  A  living 
disease  germ ;  a  mediaeval  expression,  antici- 
patory of  the  modern  germ-theory  of  contagion. 

Contango.  (Stockbrok.)  The  commission 
charged  to  bulls  for  carrying  over  a  bargain  from 
one  settling  day  to  the  next,  if  stock  has  fallen 
in  price  since  he  bought.  (Continuations.) 

Contemporanea  expositio  est  optima  et  for- 
tissima  in  lege.  [L.]  An  exposition  delivered  at 
or  near  the  date  (of  a  law  or  deed)  is  the  best  and 
most  powerful  in  law. 

Contents.  (Natit.)  A  document  containing 
a  merchantman's  destination,  cargo,  etc.,  which 
must  be  delivered  to  the  custom-house  before 
sailing. 

Conterminous.  [L.  conterminus,  from  con-, 
together,  terminus,  boundary. .]  Having  the  same 
bounds,  bordering  upon,  contiguous. 

Contestation.  [L.  contestatio,  -nem,  a  calling 
to  witness.}  1.  A  contesting,  a  controversy.  2. 
Attestation. 

Continental  system.  (Hist.)  The  name  given 
to  the  plan  of  the  first  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  for 
excluding  English  merchandise  from  all  parts  of 
the  Continent. 

Contingent.  [L.  contingens,  -tern,  part,  of 
contingere,  to  concern.}  (Mil.)  1.  Allowance 
made  to  captains  for  repair  of  arms,  pay  of  clerk, 
purchase  of  documents,  the  keeping  each  soldier 
efficient  in  kit,  and  as  compensation  for  risk  of 
taking  charge  of  public  money.  2.  Establish- 
ment of  troops  organized,  equipped,  and  kept  in 
efficiency,  at  the  disposal  of  a  neighbouring 
superior  state. 

Continual  proportion.     If  there  are  any  mag- 


137 


CONT 


nitudes  such  that  the  first  bears  to  the  second  the 
same  ratio  that  the  second  bears  to  the  third, 
and  the  second  to  the  third  the  same  ratio  that 
the  third  bears  to  the  fourth,  and  so  on,  the 
magnitudes  are  said  to  be  in  a  Continual  or  Con- 
tinued P. 

Continuations.  (Stockbrok.)  The  carrying 
over  of  a  time  bargain  from  one  fortnightly 
settling  day  to  another,  for  which  a  commission 
is  charged,  called  contango  if  a  buyer  defer  set- 
tlement, backwardation  if  a  seller  defer. 

Continued  fever.  Abating,  but  never  entirely 
intermitted.  (Intermittent  fever.) 

Continued  fraction.  A  fraction  whose  nume- 
rator is  unity  and  denominator  a  whole  number 
plus  a  fraction  ;  this  fraction  has  for  its  numerator 
unity  and  its  denominator  a  whole  number  plus  a 
second  fraction  of  the  same  form  as  the  preceding, 


and  so  on ;  as 


_  which  equals   -^ 
i 183 


Continued  product  of  three  or  more  numbers 
is  obtained  by  multiplying  the  first  by  the 
second,  their  product  by  the  third,  and  so  on. 
Thus  the  continued  product  of  7,  12,  and  15,  is 
1260. 

Continuity ;  Equation  of  C. ;  Law  of  C. ;  Con- 
tinuous. A  variable  magnitude  is  said  to  change 
contimiously  when  it  passes  from  one  assigned 
value  to  another  without  breaks  or  jumps.  If 
we  suppose  the  magnitude  to  be  always  on  the 
increase  or  decrease  between  the  assigned  values, 
it  changes  continuottsly  when  it  passes  succes- 
sively through  every  intermediate  value.  The 
Law  of  C.  is  the  doctrine  that  no  change 
in  a  natural  phenomenon  takes  place  with  per- 
fect suddenness  or  abruptness  ;  thus  the  gaseous 
and  liquid  states  of  matter  may  be  made  to  pass 
one  into  the  other  without  any  interruption  or 
breach  of  Continuity.  The  Equation  of  C.  in 
hydro-dynamics  is  an  algebraical  or  symbolical 
statement  of  the  fact  that  at  any  point  of  a  fluid 
in  motion  the  rate  of  diminution  of  the  density 
bears  to  the  density  the  same  ratio  that  the  rate 
of  increase  of  the  volume  of  an  infinitely  small 
portion  bears  to  the  volume  of  the  portion  at  the 
same  instant. 

Continuous  lines.  ( Mil. )  Any  series  of  field 
works  without  break  or  interval. 

Continuous  style.  {Arch.)  More  commonly 
called  Perpendicular.  (Geometrical  style.) 

Contorted.  [L.  contortus,  part,  of  contorqueo, 
/  whirl  round.  ]  (Bot. )  Twisted  so  that  all  the 
parts  have  a  similar  direction  ;  as  the  segments 
of  an  oleander  flower. 

Contour  line.  [Fr.  contour,  contour.}  1.  (Geog.} 
A  line  on  a  map  showing  all  those  points  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground  which  are  at  an  assigned 
height  (say  100  feet  or  200  feet)  above  the  sea- 
level.  2.  (Mil.)  Represents  the  intersection 
of  a  horizontal  plane  with  the  surface  of  a  hill. 

Contra  audentior  ito.     (Ne  cede  mails.) 

Contraband.  [L.  contra,  against,  bannum, 
public  prohibition.']  Goods,  such  as  munitions 
of  war,  belligerents'  property,  which  neutrals  are 


CONT 


138 


COOR 


prohibited  from  importing  or  exporting  to  or 
from  a  belligerent's  ports. 

Contra  bonos  mores.  [L.]  Against  good  con- 
duct, against  morality. 

Contradictory  propositions.  (Log. )  Propositions 
which  have  the  same  term  differing  in  quantity 
and  quality,  Contrary  propositions  being  two 
universals  with  the  same  terms — the  one  negative, 
the  other  affirmative. 

Contranitency.  [L.  contra,  against,  mtor,  / 
strive.}  Resistance  to  force  employed. 

Contrary  motion.    (Music.}    (Motion.) 

Contrary  propositions.  (Contradictory  pro- 
positions.) 

Contrate-wheel.    A  Crown-wheel. 

Contravallation.    { Circumvallation. ) 

Contrectatio  rei  alienae  animo  furandi  est 
furtum.  [L.]  The  totiching  of  another's  property 
with  intention  of  stealing  is  theft. 

Contredanse.  [Fr.,  corr.  into  country-dance.] 
An  English  dance  ;  the  performers  being  in  two 
lines  opposite  to  [L.  contra]  each  other. 

Contretemps.  [Fr.]  Lit.  against  time;  an 
unexpected  accident. 

Control.  [Fr.  controle,  O.Fr.  contre-role,  a 
counter-roll,  a  duplicate,  for  verification.]  (Mil.) 
Department  having  entire  charge  of  all  payments, 
stores,  quarters,  and  equipage  of  an  army. 

Contumacy.  [L.  contumacia.]  Obstinate  dis- 
obedience to  the  rules  and  orders  of  a  court,  or 
neglect  of  a  legal  summons. 

Contusion.  [L.  contusio,  -nem,  from  contundo, 
I  bmise,  crush.}  (Med.)  An  injury  without 
apparent  wound,  caused  by  a  fall,  blunt  weapon, 
etc. 

Conundrum.  A  kind  of  riddle  involving  an  ab- 
surd comparison,  by  means  of  a  punning  answer, 
between  unlike  things. 

Conusee.    (Cognizee.) 

Convection;  Convective.  [L.  convectio,  a 
bringing  together.}  When  a  heated  body  is 
placed  in  or  near  a  fluid,  the  neighbouring  part 
of  the  fluid  has  its  density  diminished,  and,  as- 
cending, is  replaced  by  some  of  the  colder  part  of 
the  fluid,  which  in  its  turn  grows  warm  and 
ascends  ;  a  current  is  thus  set  up  which  is  called 
a  C.  current,  and  the  heat  is  said  to  be  diffused 
by  C.  C.  currents  may  be  set  up  by  other  means, 
as  when  electricity  is  the  thing  carried,  e.g.  when 
a  conductor  ending  in  a  fine  point  is  strongly 
electrified,  the  particles  of  air  near  the  point  will 
be  charged  with  electricity,  and  then  carried  to- 
wards any  surface  oppositely  electrified.  This 
constitutes  a  Convective  discharge  of  electricity. 

Convener.  [L.  con-,  together,  vdnio,  /  come.} 
A  Scotch  county  official. 

Conventicle  Act,  First,  1664,  made  liable  to 
fine  and  imprisonment  any  over  sixteen  years  of 
age  present  at  any  exercise  of  religion  not  allowed 
by  the  Church  of  England,  where  there  were  five 
persons  more  than  the  household.  C.  A.,  Second, 
1670,  modified  these  penalties,  but  gave  part  of 
the  fine  to  informers.  (Declaration  of  Indul- 
gence.) 

Convention.  [L.  conventio,  -nem,  a  coming 
together.}  (Hist.)  1.  An  assembly  of  national 
representatives  meeting  under  extraordinary 


circumstances,  without  being  convoked  by  legal 
authority.  Such  was  the  Parliament  which  re- 
stored Charles  II.  in  1661,  and  the  Parliament 
which,  in  1688,  declared  that  James  II.  had  ab- 
dicated the  crown.  2.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  the  as- 
sembly which  proclaimed  the  republic  in  1 792. 
(Assembly.) 

Convergent  series.  [L.  con-,  together,  verge, 
I  incline.}  A  series  such  that  the  sum  of  its 
first  n  terms  cannot  be  made  to  exceed  a  certain 
assigned  number,  however  large  n  may  be  ;  e.g. 
1+4  +  4  +  I  +  A  +  etc-»  cannot  be  made  to  ex- 
ceed 2,  however  many  terms  may  be  taken. 

Conversazione.  [It.]  A  social  gathering  for 
conversation,  especially  one  at  which  experts 
and  amateurs  in  literature,  art,  or  science  meet. 

Convex,  Double;  Convexo-concave;  Convexo- 
plane.  (Lens.) 

Conveyance.  [L.  conv£ho,  /  convey.}  (Leg.) 
An  instrument  which  assumes  the  transfer  of 
property  to  a  living  person. 

Conveyancing.  (Leg.)  The  art  or  science  of 
the  alienation  of  property. 

Convocation.  [L.  convocatio,  -nem,  a  calling 
together.}  (Eccl.  Hist.}  The  Council  of  the 
Church,  consisting  of  the  clergy  of  a  province 
summoned  by  the  archbishop.  Edward  I.  first 
summoned  convocations  in  England  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obtaining  subsidies  from  them.  The 
power  of  taxing  their  own  body  was  taken  from 
them  in  1664,  when  the  clergy  were  allowed  to 
vote  in  elections  of  knights  of  the  shire.  The 
House  of  Convocation  in  the  University  of 
Oxford  is  the  assembly  which  ratifies  decrees  and 
statutes. 

Convoy.  [Fr.  convoi,  L.L.  conviare,  to  escort."} 
1.  (Mil.)  Guard  accompanying  stores  and 
baggage  for  their  protection.  2.  (Naut.)  A 
merchant  fleet  under  the  protection  of  armed 
vessels.  3.  The  armed  vessels  themselves.  4. 
A  drag  to  check  carriage- wheels  in  descending  a 
hill. 

Convulsionists,  Convulsionaires.  [Fr.]  Fana- 
tical Jansenists,  in  France,  early  in  the  eigh- 
teenth century,  exhibiting  contortions  resembling 
the  movements  of  all  kinds  of  animals.  (Dancing 
mania.) 

Coolies,  Coulies.  Originally  the  name  of  one 
of  the  hill  tribes  of  Hindustan ;  many  of  these 
being  employed  as  labourers  and  porters  in  Bom- 
bay, etc.  The  word  C.  became  =  porter ;  but 
it  is  used  now  to  denote  emigrant  labourers  from 
India  and  China  to  other  countries. 

Coom.  [Ger.  kahm,  mildew. ~\  Soot  or  coal- 
dust. 

Coomb.  [(?)  Cf.  L.  cumulus,  a  heap.}  A  dry 
measure  of  four  bushels,  or  half  a  quarter. 

Coomings.     (Coamings.) 

Cooptation.  [L.  cooptatio,  -nem,  from  con-, 
together,  opto,  /  choose.}  Election  of  fresh 
members  to  a  board  or  college  by  the  existing 
members. 

Co-ordinate  axes;  C.  geometry;  C.  planes. 
Co-ordinates ;  Origin  of  C. ;  Oblique  C. ;  Rectan- 
gular C. ;  Spherical  C.  If  a  point  in  a  plane  is 
taken  and  through  it  are  drawn  two  lines  or  axes 
which  are  then  produced  indefinitely  both  ways, 


COOR 


139 


CORA 


the  plane  is  evidently  divided  into  four  portions. 
Suppose  a  point  taken  anywhere  in  the  plane, 
its  position  relatively  to  the  two  straight  lines  or 
axes  can  be  denned  thus :  Through  the  point 
draw  a  line  parallel  to  the  one  axis  to  cut  the 
other ;  the  line  thus  drawn  is  called  the  ordinate, 
and  the  intercept  the  abscissa.  If  the  lengths  of 
the  abscissa  and  ordinate  are  known,  the  position 
of  the  point  is  known,  provided  it  be  known  in 
which  of  the  four  portions  of  the  plane  it  is 
situated.  If,  however,  the  signs  +  or  —  pre- 
fixed to  the  abscissa  indicate  that  it  is  measured 
to  the  right  or  left  of  the  fixed  point,  and  the 
same  signs  prefixed  to  the  ordinate  indicate  that 
it  is  to  be  measured  up  or  down,  it  is  plain  that, 
the  signs  and  magnitudes  of  the  ordinate  and 
abscissa  being  known,  the  position  of  the  point  is 
determined  without  ambiguity  relatively  to  the 
axes.  The  ordinate  and  abscissa  are  called  the 
C.  of  the  point,  the  axes  or  lines  of  reference  are 
called  C.  axes,  and  the  point  through  which  they 
both  pass  is  called  the  Origin  of  C.  ;  when  the 
axes  are  at  right  angles  to  each  other  the  C.  are 
rectangular,  when  otherwise  the  C.  are  oblique. 
The  position  of  a  point  in  space  may  be  defined 
by  an  extension  of  the  same  method  with 
reference  to  three  C.  planes.  The  position  of 
a  point  on  the  surface  of  a  sphere  may  be 
similarly  defined  by  arcs  of  two  great  circles 
which  are  called  its  Spherical  C. ,  e.g.  the  latitude 
and  longitude  of  a  place  on  the  earth's  surface 
(as  commonly  defined)  are  the  spherical  co- 
ordinates which  fix  its  position.  C.  geometry  is 
an  application  of  algebra  to  geometry,  based  on 
the  determination  of  the  position  of  a  point  by 
means  of  its  co-ordinates.  It  is  sometimes  called 
Cartesian  geometry,  from  the  name  of  its  inven- 
tor, Des  Cartes.  (For  Polar  co-ordinates,  vide 
Eadius- Vector.) 

Co-ordinating  power  of  the  brain  brings  mus- 
cular movements  into  harmony;  it  is  absent, 
e.g.,  in  intoxication. 

Copaiba,  Copaiva,  Capivi.  [Braz.  cupauba.] 
An  oleo-resin  from  a  Brazilian  tree  of  this  name. 
It  is  used  medicinally  and  in  oil-painting. 

Cupal.  An  Indian  resin  (Mexican,  copalli), 
much  used  for  artists'  varnish. 

Coparcenary.  [L.  co-,  with,  O.Fr.  pa^on- 
nere,  from  L.  partior,  /  share.]  (Leg.)  Joint- 
ownership  of  an  inheritable  estate  without  par- 
tition, by  two  or  more  persons  possessing  equal 
title,  their  several  claims  descending  to  their 
respective  heirs.  C.  differs  from  joint-tenancy 
(q.v.)  and  tenancy  in  common  (q.v. ),  inter  alia, 
in  origin,  kind  of  seising,  and  methods  of  dissolu- 
tion ;  also  from  joint-tenancy  in  not  involving 
benefit  of  survivorship  (jus  accrescendi). 

Coparcener.     Co-tenant  by  descent. 

Cope.  [L.L.  cappa,  a  cape.]  1.  (Eccl.)  A 
semicircular  vestment  worn  by  the  clergy  in 
processions.  The  rubric  of  the  first  Prayer-book 
of  Edward  VI.  enjoins  its  use  by  priests  adminis- 
tering the  Holy  Communion  as  an  alternative  with 
the  vestment.  2.  The  top  of  a  founder's  flask. 

Copeck.     (Rouble.) 

Cophetua,  King.  A  legendary  king  in  Africa, 
in  Percy's  Reliques,  who  married  a  beggar-maid. 


Coping  of  a  wall.  (Arch.)  The  covering 
course,  often  sloping  on  the  upper  surface  to 
throw  off  water. 

Coppel.    (Cupel.) 

Copperas.  [It.  copparosa,  from  L.  cupri  rosa, 
rose  of  copper.']  Sulphate  of  copper,  iron,  or 
zinc,  accordingly  as  its  colour  is  blue,  green,  or 
white,  respectively. 

Coppice,  Copse.  [O.Fr.  coupeiz,  from  couper, 
to  cut.]  Wood  grown  to  be  cut  every  few 
years. 

Coprolite,  [Gr.  K^irpos,  dung,  \t6os,  stone.} 
Fossilized  excrements,  chiefly  of  saurians  and 
sauroids  ;  popularly  misapplied  to  all  the  phos- 
phatic  nodules  dug  up  for  artificial  manures. 

Copts.  Properly  the  people  from  whom  the 
country  of  Egypt  received  its  name.  More  par- 
ticularly the  Monophysite  or  Jacobite  Christians 
of  Egypt,  who  use  the  Liturgies  of  Basil,  Cyril, 
and  Gregory. 

Copula.  [L.,  a  band.}  (Log.)  The  part  of  a 
proposition  which  affirms  or  denies  the  predicate 
of  the  subject.  In  strictness,  the  only  copula  is 
the  present  tense  of  the  verb  to  be,  with  or  with- 
out the  negative  sign. 

Copy.  Paper  twenty  inches  by  sixteen.  In 
Printing,  a  technical  term  for  an  author's  manu- 
script. 

Copyhold.  (Leg.)  A  lease  tenure  nominally 
at  the  lord's  will  but  really  free  by  custom. 
C.  is  a  parcel  of  a  manor  which  has  a  court, 
and  must  have  been  demisable  by  copy  of 
court-roll  from  time  immemorial.  The  manor 
court  as  relating  to  copyholders  is  a  customary 
court. 

Coq-a-1'ane.  [Fr.,  a  cock  on  an  ass."]  A  story 
without  any  connected  transition ;  d'un  sujet  a 
un  autre  (Littre) ;  probably  the  original  meaning 
of  cock-and-bull  story. 

Coquecigrue.  [Fr.]  As  explained  by  Littre, 
an  imaginary  animal,  sometimes  C.  de  mer ;  the 
word  being  variously  used  :  e.g.  the  coming  of  the 
C.  (Rabelais)  is  =  never;  He  is  a  C.  =  one 
who  romances ;  //  is  a  C.  =  nonsense,  false- 
hood ;  originally  meaning  a  kind  of  rest-harrow, 
a  sticky  troublesome  weed. 

Coquilla  nut.  [Sp.  coquillo,  dim.  of  coco,  a 
cocoa-mit.]  A  Brazilian  fruit,  with  a  hard  brown 
shell  used  in  ornamental  turning. 

Coracle.  [Welsh  corwgh,  from  cwrwg,  round 
body.]  A  very  light  boat  of  leather  or  oil-cloth 
stretched  over  wicker-work ;  used  by  a  single 
person. 

Coracoid  bone.  [Gr.  /copa/cu-ctS^y,  crow-like, 
as  resembling  a  crow's  bill.]  A  bone  in  birds, 
answering  to  the  coracoid  process  of  the  scapula 
in  mammals. 

Coracora.     (Koracora.) 

Coralan.  (Naut. )  A  small  open  boat  of  the 
Mediterranean,  used  for  coral-fishing. 

Coral  wood.  (From  the  colour.)  A  fine  red 
wood,  used  in  cabinet-making. 

Coram  non  judice.  [L.]  Before  one  who  is 
not  a  judge  j  i.e.  in  a  court  not  having  juris- 
diction. 

Coram  populo.     [L.]    Before  the  people. 

Coran.     (Alcoran.) 


CORA 


140 


CORO 


Cor  Anglais,  English  horn.  [L.  cornu,  a 
horn.}  (Music.)  1.  The  tenor  hautboy.  2. 
A  reed-stop  in  an  organ. 

Coranto.  [It.  correre,  to  run,  Fr.  courante, 
courir.]  1.  A  kind  of  country-dance,  quick,  in 
triple  time ;  Italian.  2,  In  Handel's  and  other 
lessons  for  the  harpsichord,  a  courante  is  gene- 
rally introduced  as  one  of  the  movements. 

Corban.  [Heb.,  an  offering  Q*  gift,]  Among 
the  Jews,  anything  offered  to  God,  especially  in 
fulfilment  of  a  vow.  Any  one  might  thus  inter- 
dict himself  from  assisting  any  one,  even  parents 
in  distress  (Matt.  xv.  5^ 

Corbel.  [Fr.  corbeau.]  (Arch.}  A  projecting 
bracket,  supporting  a  superincumbent  object, 
or  receiving  the  spring  of  an  arch.  A  corbel- 
table  is  a  parapet  or  cornice  resting  on  a  series 
of  corbels. 

Corbel-table.    (Corbel.) 

Corbie  steps.  (Arch.}  Small  battlements 
running  up  the  sides  of  gables. 

Cord.  A  pile  of  wood  eight  feet  long,  four 
high,  and  four  broad,  containing  128  cubic  feet. 
(From  the  cord  with  which  it  is  measured. ) 

Cordate.  (Bot. )  Shaped  like  a  heart  [L.  cor, 
cordis] ;  e.g.  leaf  of  violet. 

Cordeliers.  The  Friars  Minor,  or  Minorites, 
of  the  order  of  St.  Francis ;  so  called  from  the 
cord  tied  round  the  waist.  The  name  was  also 
assumed  by  a  Parisian  revolutionary  club,  of 
which  Danton  and  Marat  were  prominent 
members. 

Cordon.  [Fr.,  from  corde,  a  string,  L.  chorda.] 
(Mil.}  1.  Line  of  troops  spread  out  for  obser- 
vation. 2.  A  band  of  stonework  placed  along 
the  top  of  a  revetement.  3.  Ribbon,  twist. 

Cordon  bleu.  [Fr.]  Lit.  blue  ribbon,  a  first- 
rate  cook. 

Cordovan,  Goatskin  leather  from  Cordova, 
in  Spain. 

Corduroy.  [(?)  Fr. ,  corde  du  roi,  king's  cord.} 
A  thick  cotton  stuff  with  corded  or  ribbed 
surface. 

Cordwainer.  [Fr.  cordonnier.]  A  shoemaker, 
originally  a  worker  in  Cordovan  leather. 

Cores.  Baked  earth  placed  in  the  centre  of  a 
mould  to  form  a  cavity  in  the  casting. 

Corf.  [Ger.  korb,  (?)  L.  corbis,  large  basket, ] 
A  large  basket  used  for  coals  in  mines. 

Coriaceous.  Like  skin  or  leather  [L.  corium] 
in  texture. 

Coriander.  [Gr.  ttopiawov.]  (Bot.}  Exod. 
xyi.  31  ;  Coriandrum  s&tivum,  ord.  UmbellifenE  ; 
yielding  round  aromatic  fruits ;  wild  in  Egypt 
and  Palestine  ;  but  much  cultivated  also. 

Corinne.  Heroine  of  Mad.  de  StaeTs  novel 
Corinne,  who  pines  away  on  being  deserted  by 
her  lover. 

Corium.  [L.,  skin,  leather.]  (Physio!.)  The 
part  of  a  mucous  membrane  which  is  below  the 
Epithelium. 

Cora.  (Bot. }  A  fleshy  underground  stem,  re- 
sembling a  Bulb,  but  not  scaly;  e.g.  crocus. 

Cormontaigne.  French  engineer  who  invented 
a  system  of  fortification  at  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century. 

Cornbrash.    (Gcol.)    A  coarse  shelly  limestone, 


Oolitic ;  a  brash  \cf.  breccia],  i.e  rock  broken 
up  by  frost,  etc. ,  and  good  for  corn-fields. 

Cornea.  [L.]  (Anat.)  The  transparent  disc 
forming  the  anterior  of  the  eye,  set  in  the  scle- 
rotic ;  somewhat  horny  [corneus]  in  texture. 

Cornel,  or  Dogwood.  (Bot. }  A  bushy  shrub  in 
hedges  and  thickets  (Cornus  sangumea) ;  type 
of  ord.  Corneae. 

Corner.  [L.L.  cornerium,  from  L.  cornu,  a 
horn,  an  end.}  (Stockbrok.)  A  combination  of 
speculators  with  a  view  to  influencing  prices  by 
getting  all  available  supply  of  a  stock  or  com- 
modity into  a  few  hands. 

Cornet.  [L.  cornu,  a  horn.}  1.  A  kind  of  horn 
or  trumpet  with  keys,  formerly  much  used  in 
Church  service ;  in  the  King's  Chapel  especially, 
and  in  several  cathedrals.  2.  (Mil.)  Formerly, 
a  commissioned  officer  of  the  cavalry,  who  carried 
the  standard. 

Cornice.    (Order.) 

Corniche,  The  [Fr.],  or  Corniche Road.  From 
Genoa  to  Nice,  along  the  Riviera  di  Ponente  ; 
narrow,  like  a  ledge  or  cornice ;  very  beautiful, 
and,  in  places,  1600  feet  above  the  sea. 

Corniculated.  [L.  cormculum,  a  little  horny 
dim.  of  cornu.]  1.  (Anat.)  Having  processes 
like  small  horns.  2.  (Bot. )  Shaped  like  a  small 
horn. 

Coring.  The  process  of  forming  gunpowder 
into  grains. 

Comings.  [Eng.  corn.]  The  small  shoots  in 
malt. 

Cornish,  or  China  stone.  (Geol.)  Disintegrated 
rock,  consisting  of  quartz,  felspar,  and  a  talcose 
mineral.  Cornish,  or  China  clay,  artificially  pre- 
pared kaolin  (q.v.)  from  Cornwall.  (Peh- 
tun-tze.) 

Corn  laws.  Laws  for  the  supposed  protec- 
tion (?)  of  British  agriculturists,  prohibiting  im- 
portation of  foreign  corn  for  home  use  unless 
prices  rose  above  a  fixed  rate  ;  abol.  1846. 
(Anti-Corn-Law  League. ) 

Cornopean,  or  Cornet-a-piston.  A  small  brass 
instrument,  modern,  like  a  trumpet,  but  shorter, 
with  valves  or  pistons,  to  produce  a  complete 
chromatic  scale. 

Cornstones.  ( Geol. }  Calcareous  concretions  in 
the  Old  Red  Sandstone  of  Herefordshire  and 
Scotland,  often  containing  fossil  fishes  (pteri- 
chthys,  etc.),  and  yielding  lime  for  agriculture; 
hence  the  name. 

Cornucopias,  incorrectly  Cornucopia.  [L.,  horn 
of  plenty.}  A  representation  of  a  horn  full  of 
fruit  and  flowers,  an  emblem  of  abundance. 

Cornwall,  Barry.  Nom  de  plume  of  Bryan 
Waller  Procter,  poet,  of  whose  name  Barry  Peter 
Cornwall  is  an  anagram. 

Cornwall,  Duchy  of.  Hereditary  title  and 
estate  of  the  eldest  son  of  the  reigning  sovereign 
of  the  British  empire. 

Corody,  Corrody.  [L.L.  corrodium,  corredium, 
It.  corredare,  to  fit  out,  furnish.]  (Eccl.)  1.  A 
defalcation  from  a  salary,  for  some  other  than 
the  original  purpose ;  e.g.  an  allowance  given  to 
a  servant  by  the  king,  from  a  monastery  which 
he  had  founded  ;  and  generally,  2,  allowance  of 
food,  clothing,  lodging. 


CORO 


141 


CORS 


Corolla.  [L. ,  a  small  wreath,  or  crown,  dim. 
of  corona.]  (Bot.)  The  inner  whorl  or  envelope 
(composed  of  petals)  surrounding  the  organs  of 
fructification  ;  popularly  called  the  flower. 

Coromandel  wood.  A  red,  hazel-brown  varie- 
gated wood,  from  the  Coromandel  or  eastern 
coast  of  India,  used  for  making  furniture. 

Corona.  [L.,  a  wreath,  crown.]  1.  A  lumi- 
nous appearance  of  concentric  coloured  rings 
sometimes  seen  round  the  sun  and  moon ;  pro- 
bably caused  by  diffraction  of  light  due  to  the 
moisture  in  the  atmosphere.  2.  The  circle  of 
light  which  appears  to  surround  the  dark  body 
of  the  moon  during  a  total  eclipse  of  the  sun. 
3.  An  aurora  borealis  in  the  form  of  a  circle 
round  the  magnetic  pole. 

Corona  castrensis,  or  vallaris.  [L.]  Crown 
given  to  the  first  sealer  of  the  rampart  [vallum] 
of  a  foe's  camp  [castra]. 

Coronach,  Cronach.  [Gael. ,  akin  to  Eng.  croon, 
etc.]  Funeral  dirge  among  the  Irish  and  Scottish 
Celts. 

Coronse,  Os.  [L.]  (Anat.)  Bone  of  the  shape 
of  a  coronet,  in  the  horse  ;  one  of  the  phalangeal 
bones  of  the  foot ;  below  the  os  suffragmis  (q.v. ). 

Coronal.  [L.  coronalis,  from  corona,  crown.] 
1.  A  crown,  wreath.  2.  Adj.,  pertaining  to  a 
crown. 

Coronary  substance.  In  a  horse,  a  fibro- 
cartilaginous  band  between  the  skin  of  the  leg 
and  the  hoof,  liberally  supplied  with  blood ; 
necessary  to  the  formation  of  horn  ;  attached  to 
the  upper  part  of  the  coffin-bone. 

Coroner.  [L.  coronator.]  (Hist.)  The  title 
of  an  office  established  before  the  Norman  Con- 
quest, the  holder,  as  his  name  shows,  being 
especially  the  officer  of  the  Crown.  His  functions, 
which  extended  to  property  generally  as  affected 
by  the  rights  of  the  Crown,  are  now  practically 
confined  to  the  holding  of  inquests  on  those  who 
die  or  are  supposed  to  die  a  violent  death.  He 
is  also  the  sheriff's  substitute  when  the  sheriff 
is  interested  in  a  suit.. 

Coronet.     In  a  horse.     (Coronae,  Os.) 

Corozo.  Nut  of  a  kind  of  palm,  whose  con- 
tents harden  into  a  white,  close-grained  substance 
known  as  vegetable  ivory. 

Corporal  [L.  corporalis,  relating  to  the  body.] 
1.  (Eccl.)  A  linen  cloth  used  for  covering 
the  consecrated  element  of  bread  after  com- 
munion. 2.  (Mil.)  A  non-commissioned  officer, 
the  lowest  whose  rank  is  defined,  and  distin- 
guished by  two  stripes  on  the  sleeve  above  the 
elbow.  A  soldier  acting  as  C.  has  one  stripe, 
and  is  called  a  Lance-  C. 

Corporation.  [L.  corpus,  a  body.]  (Hist.) 
A  body  of  persons  capable  of  receiving  and 
granting  for  themselves  and  their  successors. 
Corporations  may  be  either  sole,  as  a  king,  a 
bishop,  a  parson  ;  or  aggregate,  as  colleges  in  the 
universities,  the  municipalities  of  towns,  etc. 

Corporation  Acts.  1.  Acts  regulating  munici- 
pal corporations.  The  Corporation  and  Test  Act, 
passed  1661,  was  repealed  1828.  2.  The  popular 
name  of  the  statute  25  Charles  II.,  c.  2,  which 
ordained  that  all  persons  holding  any  office, 
military  or  civil,  should  have  taken  the  oath  of 


allegiance,  and  should  in  the  previous  year  have 
received  the  Eucharist  according  to  the  rites  of 
the  Church  of  England. 

Corporeal  hereditament.  Any  subject  or  item 
of  real  property. 

Corposant,  or  Compsant.  [It.  corps  santo, 
holy  body.  ]  ( Naut. )  ( Castor  and  Pollux. ) 

Corps.  [Fr.,  L.  corpus,  a  body.]  (Mil.)  A 
body  of  troops  ;  is  now  used  as  =  an  army  com- 
plete in  itself,  under  separate  commander,  an 
army  C. 

Corps  diplomatique.  [Fr.,  diplomatic  body] 
The  assemblage  of  ambassadors  and  diplomatic 
persons  at  a  court. 

Corpse.  ( Naut. )  Slang  for  a  party  of  marines 
on  board  ship. 

Corpse  candle.  A  light  seen  in  churchyards, 
etc.,  caused  by  gas  evolved  from  the  decaying 
bodies. 

Corpus  Christi.  [L.,  the  Body  of  Christ.] 
(Eccl. )  In  the  Latin  Church,  a  festival  in 
honour  of  the  Eucharist,  instituted  by  Urban  IV., 
in  1264,  and  celebrated  on  the  first  Sunday  after 
Trinity  Sunday. 

Corpuscle;  Corpuscular.  [L.  corpusculum,  a 
little  body]  The  ultimate  particles  by  the  aggre- 
gation of  which  the  ordinary  forms  of  matter  are 
supposed  to  be  composed  are  called  Corpuscles. 
The  mutual  forces  which  the  corpuscles  exert  on 
each  other  and  to  which  their  aggregation  is  due 
are  called  Corpuscular  forces. 

Corpus  delicti.  [L.,  the  body  of  the  crime.] 
The  subject  of  a  crime  which  forms  an  essential 
part  of  the  proof  of  most  crimes. 

Corpus  Juris  Civilis.  [L.]  The  imperial  or 
civil  Roman  law  consolidated  by  Justinian. 
Its  four  parts  are — Institiitiones,  Digesta  or 
Pandecta,  CSdex  Repetitae  Prselecti5nis  (nine 
books,  together  with  Jus  Publlcum,  three  books), 
and  Novelise. 

Corral.  [Sp.]  In  S.  America  and  colonies, 
a  yard  or  stockade  for  cattle. 

Correi.     [Scot.]    A  hollow  on  a  hillside. 

Correlation.  [L.  con-,  with,  relatio,  relation] 
Reciprocal  relation.  Correlative  terms,  in  Logic, 
are  such  naturally  and  expressly,  as  parent  off- 
spring. Such  terms  as  white  and  black  are 
relative  only. 

Corrigendum,  plu.  corrigenda.  [L.]  A  thing 
or  things  to  be  corrected. 

Corrosive  sublimate.    (Sublimate.) 

Corrugated.  [L.  corrugatus,  wrinkled.]  Bent 
into  parallel  furrows  and  ridges. 

Corruption  of  blood.  An  immediate  conse- 
quence of  attainder,  both  upward  and  down- 
ward ;  so  that  neither  inheritance  nor  transmis- 
sion of  land  was  any  longer  possible.  By  3  and 
4  William  IV.  abolished  as  to  all  descents  hap- 
pening after  January  I,  1834. — Brown's  Law 
Dictionary. 

Corruptio  optimi  pessima.  [L.]  The  cor- 
riiption  of  that  which  is  best  is  the  worst  of  all 
corruption;  the  greater  the  height,  the  lower 
the  fall. 

Corsair.  [L.L.  corsarius,  from  L.  currere, 
cursum,  to  run.]  (Naut.)  A  pirate,  especially 
of  Barbary. 


CORS 


142 


COTT 


Corsnedd.  [A.S.]  The  morsel  of  execration, 
a  form  of  ordeal  among  the  English  before  the 
Norman  Conquest.  A  piece  of  bread  or  cheese 
was  supposed  to  cause  convulsions  to  the  guilty 
who  tried  to  swallow  it.  (Cf.  the  story  told  of 
the  death  of  Earl  Godwine,  father  of  King 
Harold.) 

Cortege.  [Fr.]  A  train  of  attendants,  a  pro- 
cession. 

Cortes.  [Sp.]  (Hist.)  The  old  assembly  of 
the  states  in  Leon,  Aragon,  Castile,  and  Por- 
tugal ;  the  Spanish  Parliament. 

Cortical.  1.  Having  the  nature  of  bark  [L. 
corticem].  2.  Acting  as  an  external  covering, 
as  the  C.  layer  of  the  cerebrum. 

Cortile.  [L.L.]  (Arch.}  A  quadrangular 
area,  open  or  covered,  surrounded  by  domestic 
buildings  or  offices. 

Corundum.  [Hind,  korund.]  (Min.)  Some- 
times termed  Adamantine  spar  j  a  mineral,  cry- 
stallized or  massive,  of  alumina,  nearly  pure  ;  the 
hardest  known  substance  next  to  the  diamond. 
Tinted  varieties  of  precious  C.  are  sapphire  and 
ruby.  China,  India,  America,  etc. 

Coruscation.  [L.  coruscatio,  -nem.]  A  flash, 
a  flashing. 

Corvee.  [Fr.]  (Hist.)  The  obligation  of  the 
inhabitants  of  a  district  to  perform  certain  ser- 
vices, as  the  repairing  of  roads,  etc. ,  for  the  sove- 
reign or  the  feudal  lord.  (Trinoda  necessitas.) 

Corvette.  (Naut.)  A  flush-decked  war-ship 
with  one  tier  of  guns. 

Corybantes.    (Cybele.) 

Corydon.  [Gr.  KopvSwv.]  Name  of  a  cowherd 
in  Theocritus'  fourth  idyll,  borrowed  by  Virgil, 
representing  a  rustic  swain  generally. 

Corymb.  [Gr.  K6pv/j.fios,  a  highest  point,  a 
duster  of  flower?.]  (Bot.)  An  inflorescence,  of 
which  the  axis  develops  lateral  pedicels,  elon- 
gated so  as  to  make  the  flowers  level,  or  nearly 
so  ;  e.g.  centaury.  Compound  C.,  if  the  pedi- 
cels are  branched.  (Cyme.) 

Coryphaeus.  [Gr.  KopvQalos.]  A  leader  in  the 
dance,  or  a  conductor  of  a  chorus. 

Coryza.  [Gr.  Kopvfa.]  A  cold  in  the  head 
[n6pvs],  with  running  at  the  nose ;  e.g.  catarrh. 

Cosas  de  Espana.  [Sp.]  Customs  or  ways 
of  Spain,  e.g.  a  bull-fight.  The  phrase  has 
not  the  meaning  of  the  French  Chateaux  en 
Espagne. 

Coscinomancy.  [Gr.  KO<JK\VO  -  navreia,  sieve- 
divination.  The  practice  of  divination  by  ob- 
serving the  rest  or  motion  of  a  suspended  sieve. 

Cosecant;  Cosine;  Cotangent.  (Trigonometrical 
function.) 

Cosmical.  [Gr.  Koa-f*.iK6s,  from  K&ffnos,  universe, 
order.]  Pertaining  to  the  universe,  or  to  the 
solar  system  as  a  whole. 

Cosmical  rising  and  setting.    (Acronychal.) 

Cosmogony.  [Gr.  Koff/j-oyovia,  creation  or  origin 
of  the  world.]  The  science  of  the  origin  of  the 
universe. 

Cosmography.  [Gr.  Kd'<r/j.oypa<pia,  universe- 
description.]  The  science  of  describing  the 
constitution  of  the  universe  and  the  mutual 
relation  of  its  parts,  or  a  description  of  the 
universe. 


Cosmopolitan.  [Gr.  KJoyio-iroArrrjy,  ivor -Id- 
citizen.]  Pertaining  to  a  citizen  of  the  world, 
free  from  ties  or  prejudices  due  to  a  special  home 
or  country. 

Cosmorama.  [Gr.  Koapos,  .world,  'opa/Mi,  sight, 
spectacle.]  An  exhibition  through  lenses  of  scenes 
in  various  parts  of  the  world,  with  arrangements 
for  making  the  pictures  look  natural. 

Cosmos.  [Gr.  Kofffj.os,  order,  harmony,  used 
by  Pythagoreans  first  for  the  universe.]  The 
universe,  or  the  essential  principle  of  order  in 
the  system  of  the  universe. 

Cossack.     Tartar  irregular  horseman. 

Cosset.  [A.S.  cote,  house,  sittan,  to  sit.]  1.  A 
lamb  reared  by  hand  in  the  house.  2.  A  pet. 
3.  To  C.,  to  pet,  to  fondle. 

Costa.  \L.tario.]  (Bot.)  The  midrib  of  a 
leaf. 

Costal.  [L.  costa,  a  rib.]  Pertaining  to  the 
ribs. 

Costeaning.  [Cornish  cottas  stean,  dropped 
tin.]  The  discovery  of  lodes  by  sinking  pits 
in  their  vicinity  transversely  to  their  supposed 
direction. 

Costermonger.  [Costard,  a  kind  of  apple,  for 
O.Fr.  custard,  custard ;  cf.  Welsh  caws,  curd, 
and  A.S.  mangere,  dealer,  from  mangian,  to 
trade  ;  cf.  L.  mango,  dealer,  slave -dealer.]  Huck- 
ster of  fruit. 

Costrel.  [Welsh  costrel,  L.L.  costrellus,  (?) 
from  costa,  side,  or  canistra,  basket.]  An  earthen 
or  wooden  bottle  with  ears  for  slinging  it  at  the 
side. 

Coterie.  [Fr.]  A  set  of  persons  connected 
by  common  interests,  who  often  enjoy  each 
other's  society,  and  are  more  or  less  exclusive. 

Cothurnus.  [L.,  for  Gr.  itAQopvos.]  The  high- 
soled  boot  laced  up  the  front,  worn  by  Greek 
tragic  actors  j  originally  a  hunting-boot,  a  buskin. 

Coticular.  [L.  coticula,  small  -whetstone  (cos, 
c5tis).]  Belonging  to  or  fit  for  whetstones. 

Co-tidal  lines.  Lines  drawn  across  a  map  of 
the  ocean,  to  show  at  what  places  the  times  of 
high  tide  are  the  same. 

Cotillon.  [Fr.  cotte,  cotille,  a  petticoat.]  A 
lively  dance,  something  like  a  country-dance  ; 
name  and  special  character  given  to  it  in  France. 

Cotswold.  [A.S.  cote,  mud  hut,  weald, 
forest.]  A  range  of  low  hills,  mostly  in  Glouces- 
ter, in  which  the  Thames  rises ;  noted  for  a  breed 
of  sheep. 

Cottabos.  [Gr.]  A  Greek  game,  in  which 
liquid  was  tossed  out  of  a  cup  into  a  metal  dish 
so  as  to  make  a  peculiar  sound. 

Cotter.  A  wedge  used  for  connecting  certain 
parts  of  machinery.  If  a  shaft  have  one  end 
enlarged  and  formed  into  a  socket  which  the 
end  of  a  second  shaft  fits,  the  two  may  be  firmly 
held  together  by  a  wedge  driven  into  a  properly 
formed  hole  passing  through  both,  and  then 
they  will  act  as  a  single  shaft.  The  wedge 
is  a  C. 

Cottier.  [Leg.  L.  cotarnis,  from  A.  S.  cote  or 
a  like  Teut.  word.]  A  cottager  who  holds  in  free 
socage  (q.v.)  for  a  certain  rent  and  occasional 
personal  service  [metayer] ;  the  rent  is  often  a 
fixed  proportion  of  the  yield  of  the  land. 


COTT 


143 


COUP 


Cottise.  [Fr.  cote,  a  rib,  L.  costa.]  (Her.} 
A  diminutive  of  the  bend,  being  one-fourth  its 
size.  A  bend  between  two  cottises  is  said  to  be 
cottised. 

Cottonade.    A  stout,  thick  cotton  fabric. 

Cotton  Famine.  The  cessation  of  work  in  the 
mills  of  Lancashire ;  no  cotton  arriving  whilst 
the  American  ports  were  closed,  1861-65. 

Cotton-gin.  A  machine  for  separating  the 
cotton  fibre  from  the  seed. 

Cottonian  Library.  The  remains  of  the  library, 
containing  records,  charters,  and  other  MSS., 
founded  by  Sir  Robert  Bruce  Cotton  (1570-1631), 
given  to  the  nation  1700,  placed  in  the  British 
Museum  1757. 

Cotyla.  [L.,  for  Gr.  KOT^A??.]  Originally  a 
cup,  then  a  liquid  measure  =  half  a  pint  nearly. 

Cotyledon.  [Gr.  KOTuA.rj5wv ,  a  cuplike  hollow.  ] 
(Bot.)  The  seed-leaves  or  seed-lobes  of  the 
embryo. 

Cotylifonn.  [Gr.  KOTUA.??,  cup,  L.  forma, 
form.~\  Hollowed  like  a  cup,  as  the  thigh-bone 
socket. 

Couac.  [Onomatop.]  The  quack  of  inartistic 
blowing  of  the  clarionet  or  hautboy. 

Conch.  1.  A  preliminary  layer  of  size,  etc., 
in  painting  or  gilding.  2.  A  layer  of  barley  for 
malting,  when  spread  out  after  steeping. 

Couchant.  [Fr.]  (Her.)  Lying  down  with 
the  head  erect. 

Couching.  [Fr.  coucher,  to  put  to  bed.  ]  (Med. ) 
Pushing  downwards,  by  a  needle,  of  the 
cataractous  lens  into  the  vitreous  humour. 

Conguar.  Puma,  or  American  lion,  not  a 
lion  (Felis  concolor) ;  the  "  painter,"  i.e.  panther 
of  N.- American  farmers. 

Coulisse.  [Fr.]  A  side  scene  in  a  theatre,  a 
space  between  the  side  scenes. 

Coulter.  [O.E.  culter,  a  knife,  from  L.,  id.~\ 
Knife-like  iron  of  the  plough,  cutting  the  soil  in 
a  vertical  plane. 

Coumarin.  (Bot. )  A  camphor-like  sweet  sub- 
stance, the  cause  of  perfume  in  the  tonquin-bean 
of  perfumers,  the  Coumarou  of  French  Guiana, 
the  woodruff,  the  sweet  vernal  grass,  and  other 
plants. 

Council,  Privy.  The  chief  council  of  the  Eng- 
lish sovereign.  Its  jurisdiction  is  mainly  appel- 
latej  appeals  from  all  parts  of  the  empire  being 
made  to  it  in  the  last  resort.  The  Star  Chamber 
and  the  Court  of  Requests  were  formerly  com- 
mittees of  the  P.  C. 

Counsels  of  perfection.  (Theol.)  In  the  Latin 
Church,  counsels  of  holiness  not  applicable  to 
all,  but  binding  on  those  who  undertake  to 
follow  them.  These  are  poverty,  chastity,  and 
obedience. 

Count.  [L.  comes,  a  companion.']  (Hist.)  In 
most  of  the  European  states,  a  title  corresponding 
to  that  of  the  British  earl.  Under  the  Byzan- 
tine empire,  the  ten  highest  of  the  forty-three 
duces,  dukes,  or  great  military  commanders, 
were  called  comites,  counts,  or  companions  of 
the  emperor. 

Counter-approach.  (Mil.)  Trench  made  by 
jthe  garrison  of  a  besieged  place  beyond  their 
fortifications,  to  check  advance  of  the  besiegers. 


Counter-battery.  (Mil.)  Guns  employed  by 
besiegers  to  silence  the  guns  of  a  fortress. 

Counter-drawing.  [Fr.  contre,  over  against.] 
Copying  by  means  of  transparent  paper. 

Counterfort.  (Mil.)  Buttress  of  masonry 
placed  behind  a  revetement  as  a  support. 

Counter-guard.  (Fortif.)  Work  constructed 
in  front  of  and  parallel  to  a  bastion  or  ravelin, 
covering  its  faces. 

Counter  of  ship.  (Naut.)  That  part  abaft  the 
stern-post. 

Counterparts.    (Original.) 

Counterpoint.  [It.  contrappunto.]  The  art 
of  composing  music  in  parts. 

Counter-proof.  An  impression  of  an  engraving 
obtained  by  pressing  plain  paper  on  a  freshly 
printed  proof,  so  as  to  give  a  reversed  copy. 

Counterscarp.  (Mil.)  Outer  side  of  the  ditch 
of  a  fortification.  (Escarp.) 

Countersign.  (Mil. )  Secret  word  or  sentence 
entrusted  to  sentries  for  preventing  any  but  au- 
thorized persons  passing  their  posts.  (Parole,  2.) 

Countersink.  A  bit  for  widening  the  upper 
part  of  a  hole,  so  as  to  receive  the  head  of  a 
screw. 

Countervail.  [L.  contra  valeo,  I  am  worth  on 
the  other  hand.~\  Esth.  vii.  4 ;  to  compensate  for. 

Count  of  the  Saxon  shore.  [L.  comes  littoris 
Saxonici.]  During  the  Roman  occupation  of 
Britain,  an  officer  whose  jurisdiction  extended 
from  what  are  now  the  coasts  of  Norfolk  to  those 
of  Sussex.  According  to  some,  he  had  to  guard 
the  country  from  the  invasion  of  Saxons ; 
others  hold  that  he  had  the  government  of  Teu- 
tonic inhabitants  already  settled  in  this  country. 

Count  Palatine  (Hist.)  represents  the 
comes  palatii  of  the  empire,  who  originally  held 
office  in  the  court,  but  afterwards  obtained 
within  his  own  district  the  jurisdiction  which 
the  comes  palatii  had  in  the  palace.  Hence  the 
German  title  pfalzgraf,  English  palsgrave. 
(Paladins.) 

Count-wheel.  The  wheel  which  causes  a  clock 
to  strike  the  hours  correctly. 

Coup.  [Fr.,  blow,  stroke.']  C.  de  bonheur,& 
piece  of  good  luck ;  C.  du  del,  a  special  provi- 
dence ;  C.  d'essai,  a  first  attempt ;  C.  d'etat,  a 
stroke  of  policy,  an  unexpected  State  measure 
more  or  less  violent ;  C.  de  grdce,  stroke  of 
mercy,  finishing  stroke  ;  C.  de  main,  bold  sudden 
stroke  or  surprise ;  C.  oTail,  glance,  prospect ; 
C.  de  the&tre,  an  unexpected  sensational  event, 
something  done  for  effect ;  C.  de  pied  de  P&ne, 
the  kick  of  the  ass,  given  to  the  dying  lion, — a 
contemptible  insulting  of  fallen  greatness  ;  C. 
de  vent,  sudden  squall.  [Coup  is  L.  colpus, 
a  later  form  of  colapus,  or  colaphus,  a  blow  with 
the  fist,  a  box  on  the  ear,  Gr.  Ko'Acupos.] 
(Jarnac.) 

Coup  d'ceil.    [Fr.]    View  taken  in  at  a  glance. 

Coup  de  soleil.     [Fr.]     A  sun-stroke. 

Coup  de  theatre.  [Fr.]  Theatrical  stroke  :  an 
unexpected  event  or  manoeuvre,  a  piece  of  clap- 
trap. 

Coupe.  [Fr.  for  cut  off.\  1.  The  front  com- 
partment in  a  French  diligence ;  also  in  some 
railway  carriages.  2.  (Her. )  Cut  off  short. 


COUP 


144 


COVE 


Couple.  [L.  copula.]  1.  Two  equal  forces, 
acting  on  a  body  in  opposite  directions  along 
parallel  lines.  A  C.  tends  merely  to  cause  rota- 
tion in  the  body  on  which  it  acts.  2.  One  of  the 
pairs  of  plates  of  two  metals  which  compose  a 
voltaic  battery. 

Couple-close.  (Her. )  A  dim.  of  the  chevron, 
being  one-fourth  its  size. 

Coupler.  In  an  organ,  mechanical  appliance 
for  connecting  manuals  with  each  other  or  with 
pedals. 

Coupling-box.  A  hollow  cylinder,  into  which 
the  ends  of  two  shafts  fit  and  are  fastened,  for 
the  purpose  of  connecting  them  in  a  line. 

Coup  manque.    [Fr.]    A  miss  ;  a  wrong  move. 

Coupon.  [Fr.]  An  interest  or  dividend 
warrant. 

Coupure.  [Fr.,  a  cutting,  couper,  to  cut.] 
(Mil. )  Retrenchment  made  across  the  terreplein 
of  a  fortification,  to  prevent  the  enemy,  when  in 
possession  of  one  end  of  a  rampart,  from  having 
access  along  the  whole  face. 

Courant.     [Fr.]     (Her.}     Running. 

Courbaril.  [Native  name.]  A  S. -American 
resin  used  for  varnish. 

Coureau.  [Fr.]  (Naut.}  1.  A  yawl  of  the 
Garonne.  2.  A  narrow  channel. 

Course,  A  ship's.  (Naut.}  The  C.  is  estimated 
by  the  angle  which  it  makes  with  the  meridian, 
and  is  reckoned  either  in  points  of  the  compass 
or  degrees;  e.g.  if  she  sails  N.E.,  her  C.  is 
four  points  or  forty-five  degrees. 

Courses.  (Natit.}  The  sails  hanging  from 
the  lower  yards.  Trysails  are,  and  lower  stay- 
sails may  be,  included  in  the  courses. 

Court,  Christian,  Curia  Christianitdtis,  —  the 
ecclesiastical  courts  as  a  whole,  distinguished 
from  civil ;  these  being  ,in  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land theoretically  six  in ''number.  1.  The  Arch- 
deacon's C. ,  the  lowest,  held  wherever  the  arch- 
deacon, either  by  prescription1" or  by  composition, 
has  jurisdiction,  the  judge  being  called  the 
official  of  the  archdeaconry.  2.  The  Consistory 
C.  of  each  bishop,  held  in  his  cathedral,  for  trial 
of  all  ecclesiastical  causes  within  the  diocese ; 
the  bishop's  chancellor  or  commissary  being 
judge.  3.  The  Prerogative  C.,  at  Doctors' 
Commons,  for  proving  wills,  granting  adminis- 
trations upon  the  estates  of  intestates  in  certain 
cases.  ^  4.  The  Arches  C.  (held  anciently,  till  about 
1567,  in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary  de  Arciibus,  or 
Le-Bow),  the  supreme  court  of  appeal  of  the 
archbishopric]  of  Canterbury  in  all  ecclesiastical 
causes  except  those  of  the  Prerogative  C.,  the 
judge  being  the  official  principal  of  the  arch- 
bishop. 5.  The  C.  of  Peculiars,  of  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  subservient  to  and  in  connexion 
with  that  of  Arches.  6.  C.  of  Delegates,  the 
judges  being  delegated,  under  the  great  seal,  to 
sit  fro  hac  vice,  upon  appeals  to  the  king.  But 
its  powers  now,  in  England,  are  transferred  to 
the  Judicial  Committee  of  the  Privy  Council ; 
and  those  of  the  others,  in  a  great  degree,  to 
the  Courts  of  Probate,  Divorce,  and  Matrimonial 
Causes.  (See  Hook's  Church  Dictionary.} 

Court-baron.  [L.  curia  baronis.]  1.  The  court 
in  which  the  barons  who  held  of  the  king  in 


grand  serjeanty  exercised  both  civil  and  criminal 
jurisdiction.  2.  (Leg.}  A  manorial  court,  not  of 
record,  for  the  maintenance  of  services  and  duties 
of  tenure,  and  determining  petty  civil  cases  not 
concerning  more  than  forty  shillings  debt  or 
damage. 

Court-card.    (Coat-card.) 

Court-leet.  [A.S.  leod,  Ger.  leute,  people.} 
(Leg. }  A  court  of  record  held  once  a  year  by 
the  lord  of  a  hundred  or  manor,  on  grant  by 
charter  for  the  viewing  of  Frankpledges,  and 
presentment  and  punishment  of  trivial  mis- 
demeanours. 

Couscous.  An  African  dish,  chiefly  consisting 
of  meat  and  millet-flour. 

Coute  que  coute.  [Fr.]  Cost  what  it  may 
cost ;  at  all  hazards. 

Couvade.  [Fr.  couver,  to  brood.]  A  custom 
practised  among  negroes,  American  Indians,  and 
in  the  Basque  country,  which  compels  the  hus- 
band to  take  to  his  bed  when  his  wife  bears  a 
child,  lest  harm  happening  to  him  should  extend 
to  the  infant  also. 

Covenanters.  [From  L.  convenio,  through 
Fr.  convenant.]  (Hist.}  Those  of  the  Scottish 
people  who  signed  or  expressed  their  adherence 
to  the  covenant  of  1638. 

Covenants,  Scottish.  These  were  chiefly 
two.  1.  National  C.,  subscribed  at  Edinburgh, 
A.D.  1638,  embodying  the  Confession  of  Faith 
of  1580  and  1581  ;  caused  by  Charles  I.'s 
attempt  to  enforce  Episcopacy.  2.  Solemn 
League  and  C.,  ratified  by  General  Assembly 
at  Edinburgh,  A.D.  1643  ;  an  endeavour  to  en- 
force Presbyterian  uniformity  in  the  three  king- 
doms, an  army  being  sent  into  England  against 
Charles.  Subscribers  bound  themselves  to 
mutual  defence,  and  to  the  extirpation  of 
popery,  prelacy,  superstition,  heresy,  schism,  and 
profaneness. 

Coventry,  Peeping  Tom  of.    (Peeping  Tom.) 

Coventry,  Sending  to,  Putting  into.  Exclud- 
ing from  all  social  intercourse  ;  said  to  be  derived 
from  the  Cavaliers  forcing  inoffensive  Puritans 
to  go  to  the  Puritan  stronghold,  Coventry. 

Cover.  [L.  cooper io,  /  cover ^  (Mil.}  Any 
screen  from  direct  observation,  concealing  from 
an  enemy's  fire. 

Covered  way.  ( Mil. }  Road  on  the  immediate 
exterior  of  the  ditch  in  a  regular  fortification, 
following  its  course,  and  covered  by  the  glacis. 

Covering  party.  (Mil.}  Detachment  of  armed 
troops  placed  in  front  of  the  trenches  for  the 
protection  of  the  working  party. 

Coverley,  Sir  Roger  de.  A  genuine  English 
country  gentleman  in  the  Spectator,  by  Addison 
and  Steele,  full  of  ingenuous  weaknesses  and  un- 
obtrusive virtues. 

Covert-baron.  (Leg.}  Married,  under  the 
protection  of  a  husband [L.L.  baron]. 

Coverture.  [O.  Fr. ,  from  couvir,  Eng.  cover, 
It.  coprire,  from  L.  cooperire,  to  cover.}  (Leg.} 
The  state  of  a  married  woman,  as  she  and  her 
property  are  under  the  power  and  protection  of 
her  husband,  except  in  so  far  as  his  common  law 
rights  are  limited  by  marriage  settlement  or 
the  Married  Woman's  Property  Act  (1870). 


COVI 


145 


CRAS 


Covin.  [O.  Fr.  covine,  from  convenir,  L.  con- 
v£nire,  to  come  together,  agree.'}  A  collusive 
agreement  between  two  or  more  persons  for  the 
injury  of  another. 

Cow-pox,  Vaccinia.  [L.  vaccmus,  of  or  from 
a  cow  (vacca).]  (Med.}  An  eruptive  vesicular 
disease,  of  which  the  morbific  matter  was  first 
obtained  from  the  cow  ;  caused  by  vaccination ; 
a  prophylactic  of  small-pox. 

Cowrie,  Cowry,  Gowry.  [Hind,  kauri.]  Cy- 
praeidae,  fam.  of  gasteropodous  molluscs.  All 
seas.  C.  moneta,  money  C.,  is  used  in  parts  of 
India  and  Africa  as  coin. 

Coxarian.  Relating  to  the  hip-joint  [L.  coxa]. 

Coxendix.     [L.]    The  hip,  the  hip-bone. 

Coxwain,  Cockswain.  (Naut.)  One  who 
steers,  or  pulls  the  after  oar  in  a  boat,  and,  in 
the  absence  of  an  officer,  commands  it.  (Boat- 
swain.) 

Crab.    A  kind  of  crane  (q.  v. }. 

Crab,  or  Crab-capstan.  (Naut.}  1.  A  wooden 
cylinder,  the  lower  end  passing  through  the 
deck  and  resting  on  a  socket,  the  upper  end 
having  four  holes  through  it  at  different  heights 
for  the  reception  of  long  oars  ;  used  to  wind  in 
a  cable  or  any  weight.  2.  A  portable  winch 
for  loading  and  unloading  timber-ships,  etc. 

Crabbed.  [From  crab,  sour,  rough,  as  in  crab- 
apple,  crab-faced ;  akin  to  cramp,  as  in  cramp- 
bark.'}  Sour,  harsh,  rough,  difficult,  vexatious. 

Crabbing  to  it.  (Naut. )  Carrying  too  much 
sail  in  a  breeze,  so  as  to  crab,  i.e.  drift  to  lee- 
ward. 

Crabbier.    (Krabla.) 

Crackle,  Cracklin  (i.e.  crackling)  china.  A 
kind  of  china  covered  with  a  network  of  veins  or 
fine  cracks,  artificially  caused  by  unequal  expan- 
sion of  body  and  glaze.  (Body.) 

Cradle.  [O.E.  cradel.]  A  steel  instrument 
used  in  preparing  the  ground  of  a  mezzotint 
plate. 

Cradlings.  (Arch. }  The  timber  ribs  in  arched 
ceilings  or  coves  to  which  the  laths  are  nailed  in 
order  to  receive  the  plastering. 

Craig  and  tail.  (Geol.)  A  conformation  of  hill, 
which  has  a  precipitous  front  on  one  aspect,  the 
opposite  being  a  gradual  slope,  as  the  Castle 
Rock  at  Edinburgh. 

Craik,  or  Crake.  A  diminutive  of  car  rick 
(q.-v.}. 

Crambe  repetita.  [L.]  Cabbage  repeatedly 
served  up <  (Juvenal) ;  i.e.  stale  repetitions. 

Crambis.  [Gr.  Kpa^is,  ^%>?-caterpillar.] 
(Entotn.)  The  common  grass-moth  of  meadows 
in  summer,  or  Veneer.  Gen.  of  Lepidoptera 
nocturna,  fam.  Tmeidse. 

Crambo.  "  A  play  at  which  one  gives  a  word, 
to  which  another  finds  a  rhyme  "  (Johnson).  By 
an  easy  transition,  we  get  the  game  of  Dumb  C. 

Cramp.  [A  word  common  to  many  Teut. 
languages.]  An  instrument  consisting  of  a  piece 
of  iron  bent  at  the  ends  with  a  screw  at  one  end 
and  a  shoulder  at  the  other,  used  for  compressing 
closely  the  joints  of  frameworks,  and  for  other 
purposes. 

Cramper.  (Naut.}  Yarn  or  twine  fastened 
round  the  leg,  as  a  cure  for  cramp. 


Cramp-fish.     (Torpedo.) 

Crampings.  (Naut.}  Fetters  and  bolts  for 
offenders. 

Cramp-rings.  Rings  formerly  used  on  the 
supposition  that  they  could  cure  cramp  and 
epilepsy,  especially  if  they  were  blessed  by 
sovereigns.  (Zing's  evil.) 

Crance.  (Naut.)  The  cap  of  the  bowsprit, 
through  which  the  jibboom  passes. 

Crane.  [A.S.  cran,  Gr.  ytpavos,  L.  grus.] 
A  machine  (so  called  from  its  likeness  to  the 
long-reaching  neck  of  the  bird)  for  raising  weigh 
by  means  of  a  rope  or  chain  loassine-  from  a 


rope  or  chain  passing  from  an 


axle,  on  which  it  can  be  wound  up,  over  a  pulley 
placed  at  the  end  of  an  arm  (the  jib}  which  is 
capable  of  horizontal  motion  round  a  vertical 
axis. 

Cranial.  Relating  to  the  cranium  [L.],  or 
sktill  [Gr.  Kpaviov]. 

Crank  [a  Teut.  and  Scand.  word] ;  C.-pin. 
A  piece  capable  of  turning  round  a  centre, 
connected  by  a  link,  called  a  connecting-rod, 
with  another  piece  which  moves  backwards  and 
forwards.  A  Crank  is  used  to  convert  an  alter- 
nating motion  into  a  continuous  circular  motion, 
or  vice  versa.  Thus  the  alternate  motion  of  the 
piston  is  converted  by  the  crank  into  the  con- 
tinuous motion  of  the  driving-wheel  of  a  loco- 
motive engine.  The  cylindrical  piece  which 
joins  the  crank-arm  to  the  connecting-rod  is 
called  the  C.-pin. 

Crank,  or  Crank-sided.  (Naut.}  Easy  to 
capsize. 

Cranmer's  Bible.    (Bible,  English. ) 

Crannoge.  In  Ireland  and  Scotland,  a  Lake- 
dwelling. 

Cranny.  1.  A  Portuguese  or  native  office 
clerk  or  subordinate  employe  of  the  Indian 
Government.  2.  An  iron  instrument  for  forming 
the  necks  of  glasses. 

Crantara.  [Gael,  creantarigh,  cross  of  shame.  ~\ 
The  fiery  cross  which  was  passed  from  place  to 
place  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland  to  rally  the 
clans. 

Crapaud,  Johnny.  Lit.  Johnny  Toad;  nick- 
name of  Frenchmen. 

Crapula.  [L.,  Gr.  Kpanrd^.]  The  sickness 
and  headache  consequent  on  drunkenness. 

Crare,  or  Grayer.  (Naut.)  An  old  name  for 
a  heavy  merchantman. 

Crash.  [L.  crassus,  coarse.]  A  coarse  linen 
cloth. 

Crasis.  [Gr.  Kpaffis,  a  mixing.]  1.  (Gram.} 
A  mixing  of  two  words  by  the  coalescence  of  the 
final  and  initial  vowels  into  one  long  syllable,  as 
fyca  o?8o  into  £y<£8a,  T&  6vo/u.a  into  roijvofj.a,  rb 
avrb  into  raurb.  (Synaeresis. )  2.  Temperature, 
constitution,  as  if  a  result  of  a  mixing  of  various 
properties. 

Crassamentum.  [L.  crassus,  thick."}  The  thick, 
red,  clotty  part  of  blood,  from  which  the  thin 
watery  part,  serttm  [L.,  whey}  separates  during 
coagulation. 

Crassa  Minerva.     (Minerva. ) 

Crassa  negligentia.  [L.]  Gross,  criminal 
negligence. 

Crassulacese.    [L.  crassus,  thick,  fat ;  the  leaves 


CRAT 


146 


CRES 


being  fleshy.]  (Bot.)  Houseleeks,  a  nat.  ord. 
of  polypetalous  exogens ;  succulent,  growing  in 
very  hot,  dry,  open  places  of  temperate  regions ; 
many  cultivated  for  their  beautiful  flowers. 

Cratsegus.  [Gr.  tcpdrouyos.]  (Bot.}  C. 
oxyacantha;  hawthorn,  may  bush.  Ord. 
Rosaces.  ['O|us,  sharp,  &KavQa,  thorn.'} 

Cratch-cradle,  Cat1  s-cradle.  [Cratch  =  crib, 
manger ;  cf.  Fr.  creche,  fromTeut.  kripya,  crib.~\ 
A  game  played  by  two  persons  holding  an  endless 
string  symmetrically  in  the  fingers  of  the  two 
hands,  and  taking  it  off  each  other's  hands  so  as 
at  once  to  form  a  new  pattern. 

Crater.  [L.,  fromGr.  Kpar-^p,  a  mixing-bowl.] 
1.  A  large  kind  of  antique  bowl.  2.  The  mouth 
of  a  volcano. 

Crateriform.  (Bot.)  Shaped  like  a  bowl 
[Gr.  KpaT-f)p] ;  e.g.  flower  of  cowslip.  Cyathi- 
form,  more  contracted  at  the  orifice,  like  a 
cup  [KVO.OOS]  used  in  drawing  wine  from  the 
Kpar-fip  :  e.g.  flower  of  buttercup. 

Crau.  Between  Aries  and  Marseilles,  a 
singularly  stony  plain,  "Campus  lapideus"  of 
the  ancients,  of  30,000  acres,  covered  with  rolled 
boulders  and  pebbles,  once  deposited  by  the 
Rhone,  Durance,  etc.  ;  partly  barren,  partly 
irrigated  by  the  Canal  de  Craponne,  and  very 
productive. 

Cravat.  [Fr.  cravate,  Croatian.]  A  neck- 
cloth. The  French  took  this  piece  of  dress 
(1636)  from  the  regiment  le  Royal  Cravate,  which 
was  dressed  in  the  Croat  fashion.  The  Croats 
(Cravates)  are  a  Sclavonic  people  in  the  south- 
east of  Austria. 

Craw.     [Ger.  kragen,  neck.]     Crop. 

Crawl.  [Cf.  D.  kraal,  an  enclosure.]  An 
enclosure  of  hurdles  or  stakes  in  shallow  water 
for  fish. 

Crawling  off.  (Naut.)  Slowly  working  off 
a  lee  shore. 

Cream  of  lime.  The  scum  of  lime-water. 
Cream  of  tartar  is  purified  tartar  (from  its  rising 
to  the  top  like  cream). 

Cream  ware.  Pottery  of  that  colour  made 
by  Wedgwood  and  others.  Queen  Charlotte 
gave  to  Wedgwood's  the  name  of  Queeris 
ware. 

Creance.  [Fr.  creance,  credence.]  A  small 
line  tied  to  an  untrained  hawk  when  lured. 

Creatine.  [Gr.  /cpeas,  -ax os,  flesh.]  A  crystal- 
lized substance  obtained  from  the  flesh  of 
animals. 

Creazes.  The  tin  in  the  middle  part  of  the 
huddle. 

Creche.  [Fr.,  Prov.  crepcha,  O.Sax. 
cribbia.]  Lit.  a  crib,  manger  ;  a  public  nursery 
for  children. 

Credat  Judaeus.  [L.]  Let  a  Jew  belime  it; 
an  expression  of  incredulity,  Jews  being  thought 
very  superstitious  by  Romans. 

Credence  table,  or  Credential.  [Perhaps  from 
It.  credenzare,  to  taste  meats  or  drinks  before 
they  are  offered  to  another.]  (Eccl.)  A  table  or 
shelf  on  one  side  of  the  altar,  for  receiving  the 
utensils  needed  in  the  celebration  of  the 
Eucharist. 

Credit  foncier.     [Fr.]      Credit  on    land,    in 


France ;    a    company    for    lending    money    on 
security  of  landed  property. 

Cree.     A  tribe  of  Indians  in  Canada,  north 
west  of  Lake  Winnipeg. 

Creed  of  Pius  IV.  A  creed  put  forth  in  1564, 
summing  up  the  doctrines  laid  down  by  the 
Canons  of  the  Council  of  Trent. 

^Creel.  [Gael,  craidhleag,  basket;  cf.  Gr. 
/raAaflo?,  L.  corbis,  from  root  kar,  bend.]  Osier 
basket  for  carrying  fish  in  Scotland. 

Creeper.  (Nattt. )  A  small  grapnel  for  getting 
things  up  from  the  bottom  of  rivers,  harbours, 
etc. 

Creese.  Dagger  with  a  wavy  blade,  used  as  a 
weapon  by  the  Malays. 

Cremaillere  line.  [Fr.  cremaillere,  a  pot- 
hook, the  O.Fr.  cremaille  being  L.  cramaculus 
(Brachet).]  (Mil.}  Intrenchment  composed  of 
alternate  long  and  short  faces,  to  give  a  certain 
amount  of  flanking  defence. 

Cremation.  [L.  crematio,  -nem,  from  cremc, 
/  burn.]  Burning;  especially  the  disposal  oi" 
dead  bodies  by  fire. 

Cremona.     Meton.  for  violin.     (Amati.) 

Crenate.  [L.  crena,  a  notch.]  (Bot.)  Having 
rounded  notches,  as  the  margin  of  the  leaf  of 
ground  ivy.  Serrate  [serratus,  serra,  a  saw], 
saw-edged,  as  a  rose  leaf.  Dentate  [dentatus, 
dens,  a  tooth],  having  pointed  notches,  and  con- 
cave spaces  between  them,  as  the  leaves  of 
speedwell. 

Creneau.  [Fr.,  from  L.  crena,  a  notch^  dim. 
crenellum.]  Narrow  slit  made  for  firing  through 
in  old  castle  walls. 

Crenellate.  [Fr.  creneau.]  (Arch.}  To  furnish 
a  building  with  battlements ;  hence  to  fortify. 
In  the  twelfth  century,  licences  to  crenellate 
were  permissions  to  build  a  castle. 

Crenelle.  Properly  the  embrasure  of  a  battle- 
ment. Hence  the  battlement  itself. 

Crenelled.  In  Nat.  Hist.,  having  notches. 
(Crenate.) 

Creole.  [Sp.  criollo.]  In  S.  America  and 
W.  Indies,  generally  an  individual  born  in  the 
country,  but  of  a  race  not  native ;  more  particu- 
larly one  born  in  the  country,  of  pure  European 
blood  ;  not  an  emigrant ;  not  the  offspring  of 
mixed  blood,  such  as  a  Midatto  (white  father 
and  negro  mother)  or  a  Mestizo  (white  father 
and  Indian  mother). 

Creosote.  [Gr.  /cpe'ay,  flesh,  <ru>£eii>,  to  pre- 
serve.] An  antiseptic  fluid,  obtained  from  the 
oil  of  distilled  wood  tar. 

Crepitus.  [L.]  In  Surg.,  the  grating  or 
crackling  of  ends  of  bone  against  each  other,  in 
a  case  of  fracture. 

Crepuscular.  [L.  crgpusculum,  twilight,  early 
dazvn.]  1.  Like  to  or  characterized  by  the 
half-light  of  late  evening  or  early  dawn.  2. 
(ATat.  Hist.)  Flying  only  at  those  times. 

Crescent.  (Her.)  A  waxing  [L.  crescens] 
moon,  with  its  horns  turned  upwards.  It  is 
borne  (i)  as  a  charge,  (2)  as  the  difference  in 
the  second  son's  escutcheon. 

Crescit  amor  nummi  quantum  ipsa  pecunia 
crescit.  [L.]  The  love  of  the  shilling  groivs  as 
much  as  the  growing  hoard  of  money. 


CRES 


CROM 


Crescive.  [L.  cresco,  /  grow.]  Possessing 
the  active  power  to  grow  or  increase. 

Cresselle.  [Fr.  crecelle,  a  rattle.}  (Eccl.)  A 
wooden  instrument  used  in  the  Latin  Church 
instead  of  bells  before  Church  services  during 
Passion  Week  ;  a  temporary  return,  probably,  to 
primitive  custom. 

Cresset.  [Fr.  croisette,  little  cross,  with  which 
tombs  were  once  adorned.]  An  open  burner  on 
a  pole  to  serve  as  a  torch  or  beacon. 

Cresting.  (Arch.)  An  ornamental  bordering 
in  stone  or  metal  work,  running  along  the  ridge 
of  a  roof  or  a  canopy,  etc. 

Cretaceous  system.  [L.  cretaceus,  chalk-like, 
creta,  chalk.}  (Geol.)  The  uppermost  of  the 
Secondary  group  ;  consisting,  in  England,  of  the 
gault.  greensand,  and  chalk. 

Creta  notatus.  [L.]  Marked  with  chalk;  of 
a  lucky  or  well-omened  day ;  the  unlucky  day 
being  marked  with  charcoal  [carbo].  Hence  the 
phrase  of  Horace,  "  Creta  an  carbone  notandus." 

Creticus.  [Gr.  KP^TIKOS.]  In  Metre,  a  foot, 
-  w  — ,  as  dlllges,  nightingale.  (Amphimacer.) 

Cretin.  In  Switzerland  and  other  mountainous 
countries,  one  in  a  state  of  idiocy  or  semi-idiocy, 
with  more  or  less  of  deformity,  often  goitre. 
C.,  probably  another  form  of  chretien,  as  if  = 
innocent.  So  Fr.  benet,  benedictus,  silly,  which 
again  is  Ger.  selig,  blessed. 

Cretonne.  (From  the  first  maker.)  A  kind  of 
chintz  for  covering  furniture,  etc. 

Creux.    [Fr.  for  a  hollow. ]    An  intaglio  (q.v. ). 

Crevet.     [Fr.]    A  goldsmith's  crucible. 

Crewel-work.  [Crewel  is  for  clewel,  from 
clew ;  cf.  Ger.  kleuel.]  Coarse  embroidery 
worked  with  worsted. 

Cribbage.  A  game  at  cards,  in  which  the  score 
is  marked  on  a  board,  and  its  four  great  points 
are  to  make  fifteens,  flushes,  flush  sequences, 
and  pairs. 

Cribble.  [Fr.  cribbler,  to  sift,  crible,  sieve, 
from  L.L.  criblus,  from  L.  cribrum,  sieve."]  To 
sieve,  to  sift. 

Cribration.     [L.  cribro,  I  sift.}    A  sifting. 

Cribriform.  Like  a  sieve  [L.  cribrum],  per- 
forated. 

Crichton,  The  Admirable.  James  C.,  a  Scotch 
gentleman  of  rare  learning,  wit,  beauty,  and 
accomplishments  in  the  sixteenth  century.  He 
took  the  degree  of  M.A.  at  Paris  when  fourteen 
years  old,  and  was  murdered  in  his  twenty-third 
year. 

Cricoid.  (Anat.)  Ring-shaped  [Gr.  KP'IKOS,  a 
ring},  lowest  cartilage  of  the  larynx ;  its  lower 
margin  parallel  to  the  first  ring  of  the  trachea. 

Crimen  laesae  majestatis.  [L.]  Lese-majesty; 
the  crime  of  injtired  majesty;  high  treason. 

Criminal  letters  (Scot.  Law)  answer  to 
English  indictment  by  a  private  prosecutor. 

Criminate.  [L.  crlmmor,  I  acciise.}  To  accuse, 
to  prove  guilty. 

Crimp.  \_Cf.  Ger.  krimmen,  to  seize  with  the 
daws  or  beak.}  One  who  entrapped  persons  for 
impressment  into  the  British  navy.  The  word 
is  also  applied  to  those  who  get  hold  of  seamen 
on  landing,  ply  them  with  liquor,  get  all  they  can 
out  of  them,  and  ship  them  off  again  penniless. 


Crimson.  [Kermes,  the  cochineal  insect,  Heb. 
tola,  a  worm  ;  Isa.  i.  18.]  (Bibl.)  Cochineal. 
Homopterous  insect,  from  which  the  dye  is 
obtained. 

Crined.  [L.  crinis,  hair.}  (Her.)  Having 
hair  different  in  colour  from  the  body. 

Cringle.  [A  Teut.  and  Scand.  word.]  A  short 
piece  of  rope  containing  a  thimble  worked  into 
the  bolt-rope. 

Criniere.  [Fr.,  from  crin,  horsehair,  L. 
crinis.]  Plate  armour  worn  on  the  neck  of  a 
war-horse. 

Crinoid.     Shaped  like  a  lily  [Gr.  Kpivov}. 

Crinoidea.  [Gr.  Kpivov,  a  lily,  cTSos,  form.} 
Fossil  echinoderms,  with  lily-shaped  radiated 
disc  on  a  jointed  stem  (encrinite,  pentacrinite, 
etc.). 

Crispin,  St.    The  patron  saint  of  shoemakers. 

Criss-cross  (Christ-cross).  1.  A  mark  like  -f . 
2.  A  game  played  on  slate  or  paper  with  the 
figure  :pp,  also  called  Noughts  and  crosses. 

Criss-cross  row.    (Christ-cross  row.) 

Cristate.     Having  a  tuft  or  crest  [L.  crista]. 

Crith.     The  weight  of  a  litre  of  hydrogen. 

Crithomancy.  [Gr.  KplQo-^avrfia,  from  /cpf0^, 
barley,  fjiavreia,  divination.}  Divination  by 
inspecting  barley  cakes  or  barley  meal  sprinkled 
on  a  sacrificial  victim. 

Critical  angle  of  a  transparent  medium,  one 
whose  sine  equals  the  reciprocal  of  the  refractive 
index.  Thus  the  refractive  index  of  water  is  \, 
and  the  angle  whose  sine  is  \  is  about  48°  36' ; 
this  is  therefore  the  critical  angle  for  water.  If  a 
ray  of  light  moving  in  water  makes  an  angle 
with  the  vertical  exceeding  this  angle,  it  cannot 
get  out  of  the  water  into  air,  but  is  totally  re- 
flected internally  at  the  surface.  The  like  is 
true  of  all  transparent  media. 

Grizzle.  [Ger.  grieselig,  speckled."}  A  rough- 
ness on  the  surface  of  glass  which  clouds  its 
transparency. 

Croat.    (Cravat.) 

Crochet.  [Fr.]  A  fancy  fabric  made  by  loop- 
ing wool  or  thread  with  a  small  hook  (crochet). 

Crockets.  (Arch.}  Ornaments  resembling 
foliage,  running  up  along  the  edge  of  a  gable  or 
pinnacle.  The  word  is  probably  connected  with 
crook,  a  curve. 

Crocking.     Blackening  with  soot  or  crock. 

Crocodile's  tears.  Hypocritical,  forced  ex- 
pressions of  grief. 

Croons  of  antimony.  (Chem.)  Oxysulphide  of 
antimony,  of  the  colour  of  saffron  [L.  crocus]. 
Crocus  of  Mars  is  sesquioxide  of  iron,  known 
also  as  jewellers'  rouge  (Colcothar). 

Croft.  [L.  crypta,  Gr.  Kpvim),  crypt.}  1.  A 
covered  way,  an  underground  chamber.  2.  A 
small  enclosed  field. 

Croissant,  Cross.  (Her.)  A  cross  the  ends 
of  which  terminate  in  crescents  [Fr.  croissants]. 

Crome,  Croom.    A  crook,  a  hooked  staff. 

Cromlech.  (Archczol.)  A  horizontal  slab 
resting  on  two  or  three  or  more  rude  upright 
stones,  once  called  "Druidical  altars,"  now 
admitted  to  be  places  of  sepulture  ;  surrounded 
by  a  circle  of  rough  upright  stones,  and  formerly 
often  covered  with  earth.  Found  in  Britain ;  in 


CRON 


148 


CROW 


France,  especially  in  Brittany,  and  there  called 
Dolmens  [Gael,  daul,  table,  maen,  stone],  and 
elsewhere  in  Europe;  in  N.  and  S.  America; 
Hindustan,  etc.  [Welsh  cromlech,  an  inclined, 
an  incumbent  flagstone  (Skeat).] 

Crone.  [Celt,  crion,  to  wither.]  (Sheep, 
Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Croodle.    To  cower  down,  to  lie  close. 

Crook-rafter.    (Knee-rafter.) 

Croon.  [Scot.]  To  hum  or  murmur  in  a  low 
tone  [cf.  Eng.  groan].  (Coronach.) 

Crop.  1.  Ore  of  the  best  quality  when  prepared 
for  smelting.  2.  [A.  S.  crop ;  cf.  Gael,  crap,  a 
knob.]  The  receptacle  which  opens  out  of  a  bird's 
gullet,  and  in  which  its  food  is  softened. 

Croquet.  [Fr.]  1.  An  almond  biscuit,^ 
small  portion  of  some  meat  encased  in  a  biscuit- 
like  crust.  2.  An  outdoor  game  in  which 
wooden  balls  are  knocked  through  hoops  with 
a  wooden  mallet  on  a  smooth  lawn. 

Crore.     [Hind.]     Ten  millions  of  rupees. 

Cross.  [L.  crux,  Ger.  kreuz.]  1.  (Ecd.) 
Among  the  many  forms  assumed  by  the  cross,  the 
most  important  are:  (i)  The  Greek  cross,  with 
equal  limbs.  (2)  The  Latin,  with  a  transverse 
beam  one-third  shorter  than  the  vertical.  (3) 
the  Maltese,  or  eight-pointed  cross.  (4)  Cross  of 
lona,  or  Irish  cross,  a  Latin  cross  with  a  ring 
over  a  part  of  the  vertical  and  transverse  limbs. 
(5)  Cross fleury,  having  fleur-de-lis  at  the  three 
upper  extreme  ends.  (6)  Cross  fitche,  crossletted 
on  the  three  upper  ends,  and  pointed  at  the 
bottom,  representing,  it  was  said,  the  Crusader's 
sword.  (7)  St.  Andrew's  cross,  or  the  Cross 
saltire,  shaped  like  the  letter  X.  (8)  St. 
Anthony's,  or  the  Tau  cross,  shaped  like  the 
letter  T.  (Crux  simplex.)  2.  (Her.}  An 
ordinary  consisting  of  two  broad  stripes,  one 
horizontal,  the  other  vertical,  crossing  each  other 
in  the  centre  of  the  escutcheon. 

Cross-birth.  (Med.)  A  delivery  when  the 
child's  head  is  not  first  presented. 

Cross-bow.  Short  bow  fixed  horizontally  in  a 
stock  for  shooting  arrows.  Used  as  late  as  the 
time  of  Elizabeth  by  some  of  the  English  army. 

Cross  division.  This  logical  error  is  when  the 
members  into  which  a  class  is  divided  do  not 
exclude  each  other.  Man  is  divisible,  according 
to  race,  into  Caucasian,  Mongolian,  ^Ethiopian  ; 
according  to  religion,  into  Christian,  Moham- 
medan, Jew,  and  Pagan ;  but  a  division  into 
Christian,  Jew,  Mongolian,  ^Ethiopian— even  if, 
as  a  fact,  every  man  could  be  ranged  under  one 
only  of  these  four  classes — would  be  a  C.  D., 
because  not  dividing  "  man  "  upon  one  principle 
of  division  only,  whether  of  religion,  race,  or 
any  other. 

Crosse,  La,  or  lacrosse.  A  Canadian  game, 
learnt  from  the  N.- American  Indians;  played 
with  a  crosse,  or  battledore,  five  or  six  feet  long 
(across  which  strips  of  deer-skin  are  stretched, 
but  not  tightly),  and  an  indiarubber  ball,  eight 
or  nine  inches  in  circumference  ;  the  object  be- 
ing to  drive  the  ball  (which  is  not  handled,  but 
picked  up  by  the  bent  end  of  the  battledore), 
through  a  goal,  like  that  used  in  football. 

Crossettes.    [Fr.]    (Arch.}     Small  projecting 


pieces  in  the  stones  of  an  arch,  which  hang  upon 
the  adjacent  stones. 

Cross-examination.  (Leg.)  Examination  of 
a  witness  by  or  for  the  side  which  did  not  call 
him  or  her,  generally  but  not  necessarily  after 
examination-in-chief  (Voir  dire),  to  make  the 
witness  alter  or  amend  or  throw  discredit  on  his 
own  evidence  or  give  evidence  in  favour  of  the 
other  side.  In  C,  E.  leading  questions  are 
allowed. 

Cross-fertilization.    (Fertilization  of  flowers.) 

Cross-fire.  In  which  the  range  of  any  firearm 
sweeps  across  a  space  already  grazed  by  fire. 

Cross-hatching.  [Fr.  hacher,  to  att.]  Draw- 
ing a  series  of  lines  across  each  other  at  regular 
angles  so  as  to  increase  the  depth  of  shadow  in 
engraving. 

Cross-head.  The  piece  which  connects  the 
piston-rod  and  the  connecting-rod  of  a  steam- 
engine.  It  consists  of  a  socket  to  which  the 
piston-rod  is  keyed,  and  a  journal  or  two  journals 
on  which  the  connecting-rod  works.  The  cross- 
head  is  connected  with  the  guiding  apparatus 
which  maintains  the  rectilineal  motion  of  the 
piston-rod. 

Crossjack-yard.  (Naut.)  Pronounced  crojeck- 
yard.  (Yards.) 

Crosslet.  [Dim.  of  cross.]  (Her.)  Having  its 
arms  terminated  with  small  crosses. 

Cross-trees.  (Naut. )  The  timber  laid  across 
the  upper  ends  of  the  lower  and  top  masts,  the 
former  supporting  the  top,  and  the  latter  ex- 
tending the  top-gallant  shrouds. 

Crotdn.  [Gr.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants,  ord. 
Euphorbiaceoe  ;  many  having  important  medical 
properties.  C.  tiglium,  a  small  tree  of  the 
Moluccas,  Ceylon,  and  other  parts  of  E.  Indies  ; 
very  actively  and  dangerously  drastic,  yielding 
C.  oil. 

Crouch  ware.  Salt-glazed  stoneware,  made 
at  Burslem  and  elsewhere,  1690-1780.  Some- 
times called  Elizabethan. 

Crouds,  Shrouds.  (Arch.)  An  old  name  for 
the  crypt  of  a  building,  as  in  Old  St.  Paul's. 

Croupier.  [Fr.,  partner.]  At  a  gaming-table, 
the  dealer  or  dealer's  assistant. 

Croupiere.  [Fr.,  from  croupe,  crupper.]  De- 
fensive armour  covering  the  haunches  of  a  horse 
down  to  the  hocks. 

Crowdie.  (Naut.}  Cold  meal  and  milk  mixed, 
or  a  mixture  of  oatmeal  and  boiled  water  with 
treacle,  or  sugar  and  butter. 

Crowfoot  tribe.     (Bot.)    I.q.  Ranunculaceae. 

Crown  or  Demesne  lands.  (Hist.)  Lands, 
estates,  or  other  real  property  belonging  to  the 
sovereign  or  the  Crown,  acquired  by  purchase, 
succession,  forfeiture,  or  in  other  ways.  The 
practice  of  granting  Crown  land  to  subjects  in 
perpetuity  was  abolished  by  Parliament,  1702. 

Crowner.    (Coroner.) 

Crown-glass.  Glass  composed  of  silicates  of 
soda  and  lime  ;  made  by  blowing  a  large  bubble 
and  twirling  it  when  reheated  till  it  becomes  a 
flat  disc. 

Crown-paper.  (From  the  original  water-mark. ) 
Paper  twenty  inches  by  fifteen.  Double  crown 
is  thirty  inches  by  twenty. 


CROW 


149 


CRYS 


Crown-saw.  A  saw  formed  by  cutting  teeth 
on  the  edge  of  a  hollow  cylinder. 

Crown-wheeL  A  wheel  with  teeth  set  at  right 
angles  to  its  plane,  and  therefore  parallel  to  the 
axis  of  rotation. 

Crown-work.  (Mil.)  Large  outwork  placed 
beyond  the  enceinte  of  a  fortress,  consisting  of 
two  fronts  with  long  branches  enclosing  the 
ground  in  rear.  It  may  broadly  be  considered 
as  a  double  hornwork  (q.v.}. 

Crow-quill.  A  nom  de  plume  of  Alfred  H. 
Forrester,  the  humourist ;  born  1805. 

Crow's-foot.  (Mil.}  The  Roman  tribulus  or 
caltrop ;  an  obstacle  against  cavalry,  a  small 
block  of  wood  with  four  iron  spikes  inserted, 
one  always  projecting  upwards  as  it  lies  on  the 
ground. 

Crow's-nest.  (Naut.}  A  shelter  for  the  look- 
out man  at  the  top-gallant  masthead. 

Cru.cet-hou.se.  "A  chest  short  and  narrow," 
and  not  deep,  "with  sharp  stones,"  in  which  a 
man  was  placed  and  crushed.  (See  Mrs.  Armi- 
tage's  Childhood  of  the  English  Nation :  Horrors 
of  Stephen's  Reign.} 

Crucible.  [L.  L.  crucibulum,  as  being  formerly 
marked  with  a  "t  ;  or  (?)  from  criicio,  /  torture, 
metals  having  been  formerly  spoken  of  as  tor- 
tured to  yield  up  their  virtues.]  A  vessel  for 
heating  and  fusing  glass,  metallic  ores,  etc. 

Cruclfers,  or  Cabbage  tribe,  Criiciferae  (i.e. 
bearing  flowers  like  a  Maltese  cross),  Cruciatae, 
Brassicaceae  [L.  brassica,  cabbage}.  (Bot.)  A  very 
extensive  nat.  ord.  of  plants,  including  mustard, 
turnip,  cabbage,  wallflower,  stock,  etc.,  of  some 
2000  spec.  ;  absent  from  parts  excessively  cold 
or  tropical. 

Crude  form.  (Gram.}  Professor  Key's  name 
for  the  Stem  of  an  inflected  word. 

Crural.  [L.  crus,  cruris,  a  leg.}  Pertaining 
to  or  like  the  thigh  or  leg. 

Crusades.  [Fr.  croisade,  from  L.  crux,  crucis, 
a  cross.}  (Hist.)  Expeditions  undertaken  by 
men  who  bore  on  their  arms  the  symbol  of  the 
cross,  under  a  vow  to  wrest  the  Holy  Sepulchre 
from  the  unbelievers. 

Cruse.  [Cf.  kroes,  akin  to  crock,  Ger.  krug, 
pitcher.}  A  small  vase  or  bottle. 

Cruset.   [Fr.  creuset.]   A  goldsmith's  crucible. 

Crushroom.  A  hall  in  a  theatre  where  the 
occupiers  of  boxes  or  stalls  can  wait  for  their 
carriages. 

Crustacea.  [L.  crustata,  id.,  crusta,  a  crust  or 
shell.}  (Zool.}  Class  of  Arthropoda  (Annulosa), 
with  external  skeleton  of  chitine,  breathing  by 
gills  or  surface,  possessing  more  than  eight  legs ; 
as  the  crab.  (Chitine.) 

Crutched  Friars  (or  Crouched  Friars)  = 
Crossed  Friars.  [Crouch  ;  cf.  O.  E.  cross,  is  akin 
to  crotch  and  crutch,  It.  croce,  L.  crux,  gen. 
crucis.  ]  Part  of  a  street  in  the  City  of  London, 
near  Mark  Lane. 

Cruth,  Crwth,  Crotta,  corr.  into  Crowd.  A 
kind  of  harp  or  violin,  six-stringed,  anciently 
introduced  into  Ireland  and  thence  into  Wales. 
C.  or  some  such  instrument  was  used  by  the 
Druids  in  accompaniment ;  hence  Crowther, 
Crowder,  =  a  fiddler. 


Crux  simplex.  A  single  upright  piece,  without 
transom.  Decussata,  or  St.  Andrew's,  like  a 
d€cussis,  i.e.  X ;  Commissa,  or  St.  Anthony's,  T 
worked  on  his  cope  ;  Immissa,  or  Latin  Cross,  -\- , 
with  place  for  title  specifying  the  crime.  (Cross.) 

Cry.  [Fr.  cri,  Prov.  crida,  from  L.  quiritare, 
freq.  of  queror.]  Afar,  a  long  way.  A  C.  of 
players  =  company ;  a  C.  originally  =  a  pack 
of  hounds. 

Cryophorus.  [Gr.  Kpvos,  icy  cold,  <pepw,  I  bear.} 
An  instrument  for  showing  the  cold  produced  by 
evaporation.  It  consists  of  a  glass  tube  with  a 
short  bend  at  each  end,  to  which  are  fastened 
glass  bulbs  (A  and  B)  which  the  tube  serves  to 
connect.  The  bulbs  can  therefore  be  placed 
inside  two  basins  or  tumblers  on  a  table.  One 
bulb  (B)  is  partly  filled  with  water,  and,  as  the 
air  has  been  withdrawn  and  the  instrument  her- 
metically sealed,  the  other  bulb  (A)  and  the  tube 
are  filled  with  vapour  of  water.  If  the  tumbler 
in  which  the  bulb  A  is  placed  be  filled  with  ice, 
the  vapour  in  A  is  condensed,  and  the  vacuum 
thus  formed  is  filled  with  vapour  from  the  water 
in  B ;  but  this  in  turn  is  condensed,  and  thus  a 
rapid  evaporation  of  the  water  in  B  is  set  up. 
In  this  process  so  much  of  the  heat  of  the  water 
in  B  is  rendered  latent  that  its  temperature 
rapidly  falls,  and  at  last  it  is  converted  into  ice. 

Crypt.  [Gr.  Kptfirrts,  hidden.}  (Arch.}  The 
hidden  part  of  a  building,  that  is,  the  foundation 
story,  supporting  the  main  fabric. 

Crypteia.  [Gr.  Kpt/Trrefa.]  (Gr.  Hist.}  A 
system  of  espionage  carried  out  in  Sparta.  Ac- 
cording to  some  its  object  was  to  keep  down  the 
numbers  of  the  Helots  by  secret  murder ;  but  this 
is  not  likely. 

Cryptogams.  [Gr.  Kpinrrds,  hidden,  yd/j.os, 
marriage. }  (Bot. )  Linnaean  Class  xxiv. ,  flower- 
less  plants.  Phcenogams  [fyaivw,  I  make  to 
appear},  or  Phanerogams  [(pavfpos,  manifest}, 
being  flowering  plants,  having  the  organs  of 
reproduction  visible,  (-andria.) 

Cryptograph.  An  esoteric  style  of  writing 
cypher,  which  beneath  the  outward  form  of 
statement  contains  another  concealed  \Gi.  upwind s] 
meaning  for  the  uninitiated  ;  so  in  some  stories 
of  the  Talmud  the  rabbis  are  thought  to  have 
inculcated  polemical  views  which  could  not 
safely  have  been  given  in  an  undisguised  form. 

Cryptography.  [Gr.  icpvirrds,  secret,  ypc(<pca, 
I  write.}  The  art  or  practice  of  writing  in 
cypher. 

Cryptoiogy.  [Gr.  Kpvin6s,  hidden,  Xe'yw,  / 
speak. }  The  art  of  obscure  speech,  of  enigmatical 
utterances,  as  those  of  the  Delphic  oracle. 

Cryptoporticus.  [L.]  A  covered  passage,  a 
vaulted  hall. 

Crystal  [Gr.  KpvaraXKos, clear  ice,  rock-crystal] ; 
Attractive  C. ;  Biaxial  C. ;  Negative  C. ;  Optic  axis 
of  C. ;  Positive  C. ;  Eepulsive  C. ;  TTniaxial  C.  A 
solid,  which  may  be  either  natural  or  an  artificial 
product  of  chemical  operations,  bounded  by  plane 
surfaces  and  exhibiting  when  broken  a  tendency 
to  separate  along  planes  which  either  are  parallel 
to  some  of  the  bounding  planes  or  make  given 
angles  with  them.  In  a  crystal  exhibiting  double 
refraction,  there  will  be  one  or  two  directions 


CRYS 


150 


CULT 


along  which  the  refracted  ray  passes  without 
division  (or  bifurcation);  these  are  the  Optic 
axes  of  the  C.  If  there  are  two  such  direc- 
tions, as  in  topaz,  the  crystal  is  Biaxial ;  if  only 
one,  as  in  Iceland  spar,  it  is  Uniaxial.  Of  uni- 
axial  crystals,  those  are  positive  or  attractive  in 
which  the  extraordinary  ray  is  more  refracted 
than  the  ordinary  ray ;  those  are  negative  or 
repulsive  in  which  the  contrary  is  the  case. 

Crystalline.  Mineral  or  rock  made  up  of  indis- 
tinct crystals,  sparkling,  shining,  but  not  crystal- 
lized in  one  crystal.  Sub-crystalline,  the  same, 
but  in  a  less  degree. 

Crystallization,  Water  of.  The  water  which 
a  salt  takes  into  combination  in  order  to  assume 
a  crystalline  form. 

Crystallized  mineral.  [Gr.  Kpv(rra\\os,  ice, 
crystal.]  Presenting  a  certain  definite  geometric 
form. 

Crystallography.  The  mathematical  doctrine 
of  the  forms  of  crystals. 

Crystalloids.  [Gr.  Kp6o-ra\\os,  ice,  e?5os, 
form.]  Substances  capable  of  crystallization,  as 
opposed  to  Colloids. 

Crystallotype.  [Gr.  /rpiWaAAos,  ice,  TVTTOS, 
type.]  A  photograph  on  glass. 

Ctenoid.  [Gr.  /crei's,  /nWs,  a  comb.]  (Ichth.) 
With  Agassiz,  an  ord.  of  fishes,  with  scales  im- 
bricated and  having  toothlike  pectinations  on  the 
hinder  margin ;  e.g.  perch.  This  mode  of  classi- 
fication of  fishes,  however,  is  very  imperfect. 
(Ichthyology.) 

Cube;  C.  root;  Cubic  equation;  Cubic  foot, 
yard,  etc.  A  Cube,  in  Geometry,  a  solid  with  six 
square  faces ;  in  Arithmetic,  the  product  of 
three  equal  numbers  is  the  cube  of  one  of 
them ;  thus,  64,  or  4  x  4  X  4,  is  the  cube  of  4. 
The  C.  root  of  a  given  number  is  that  number 
which,  when  cubed,  produces  the  given  num- 
ber; thus  4  is  the  cube  root  of  64.  A  Cubic 
foot,  yard,  etc. ,  is  a  space  whose  volume  equals 
that  of  a  cube  whose  edge  is  a  foot,  yard,  etc., 
long.  An  equation  which,  after  reduction  to  its 
simplest  form,  contains  the  cube  of  the  unknown 
number  is  a  Cubic  equation  ;  as  JTS— 3.*  =  53. 

Cubicular.  [L.  cubiciilarius,  from  cublculum, 
bedchamber.]  Pertaining  to  or  like  to  a  bed- 
chamber. 

Cubilose.  [L.  cubile,  bed,  lair,  nest.]  The  mu- 
cous secretion,  in  some  of  the  swallow  tribe,  of 
which  the  Chinese  edible  nests  are  entirely  made. 

Cubit.  [L.  cubitus,  the  elboiv  as  leant  upon, 
a  cubit.]  An  ancient  measure  of  length,  in  use 
particularly  amongst  the  Jews.  The  length  of 
the  Common  C.  was  rSij  foot;  that  of  the 
Sacred  C.  was  2 '002  feet.  The  Great  C.  was  as 
long  as  six  common  cubits. 

Cucking-stool  (Ducking-stool,  or  Choking-stool). 
(Ducking-stool.) 

Cuckold.  [L.  ciiculus,  a  cuckoo.]  One  whose 
wife  is  unfaithful. 

Cuckoo.  [Used  to  transl.  Heb.  shachaph,  to 
be  lean.]  (Bibl.)  Lev.  xi.  16;  probably  includes 
gulls  and  terns,  Laridse. 

Cuckoo  flower,  or  Ladies'  smock.  (Bot. )  Car- 
d5mme  pratensis,  ord.  Cruciferse  ;  also  Lychnis 
flos  cikuli,  as  coming  with  the  cuckoo. 


Cucullate.  [L.  cucullus,  a  hood.]  (Bot.) 
Hooded,  rolled  inwards,  so  as  to  conceal  any- 
thing within  ;  e.g.  flower  of  monkshood. 

Cucullus  non  facit  monachum.  [L.]  The 
cowl  does  not  make  the  friar.  (L'habit.) 

Cucurbit.  [L.  cucurblta,  gourd.]  A  gourd- 
shaped  vessel  used  for  distillation. 

Cucurbitaceous.  (Bot. )  1.  Resembling  a  gourd 
[L.  cucurblta].  2.  Belonging  to  ord.  Cucurbi- 
taceae,  or  gourd  tribe. 

Cudbear.  (Introduced  by  Dr.  Cuthbert 
Gordon.)  A  violet  powder  made  from  lichens, 
used  as  a  dye. 

Cuddy.  (Naut.)  1.  The  small  cabin  of  a 
barge,  or  lighter.  2.  In  ocean-going  vessels, 
the  cabin  under  the  poop-deck.  3.  The  little 
cabin  of  a  boat. 

Cue.  [O.Fr.  coue,  Fr.  queue,  from  L. 
cauda,  a  tail.]  1.  A  twist  of  hair  like  a  tail  at 
the  back.  2.  ( Theat. )  The  last  words  of  an 
actor's  speech,  which  tell  the  next  speaker  when 
to  begin  ;  hence  a  part  to  be  played  immediately, 
a  hint  or  prompting.  3.  A  straight,  tapering  rod 
used  for  playing  billiards. 

Cuerpo.  [Sp.,  body.]  To  be  walking  in  C., 
to  be  without  proper  body  clothing,  to  be  un- 
protected. 

Cuffey.     A  nickname  or  name  for  negroes. 

Cui  bono?  [L.]  Lit.  to  whom  is  it  for  a 
good  ?  who  will  be  the  better  for  it  ? 

Cuillbet  in  sua  arte  pgrito  credendum  est. 
[L.]  In  his  own  art  the  skilled  man  mitst  be 
trusted ;  a  legal  maxim  of  frequent  application 
in  estimating  the  value  of  evidence. 

Cuirass.  [Fr.  cuirasse,  from  It.  corazza.] 
The  breast  and  back  plate  of  armour. 

Cuisine.  [Fr.]  Kitchen  department,  style 
of  cooking. 

Cuissart.  [Fr.,  from  cuisse,  thigh,  L.  coxa.] 
Armour  covering  the  thigh. 

Cujusvis  homlnis  est  errare.  [L.]  Any  man 
may  make  mistakes. 

Culdees.  [Probably  Gael,  gille  De,  servants 
of  God,  words  corresponding  to  the  L.  cultores 
Dei,  from  which  it  was  mistakenly  thought  to  be 
derived.]  An  Irish  religious  order,  said  to  have 
been  instituted  by  Columba,  who  founded  the 
monastery  of  lona  in  the  sixth  century. 

Cul-de-sac.  [Fr.]  Bottom  of  the  bag;  a  street, 
road,  or  lane  which  has  no  egress  at  one  end. 

Culex.  {L.,id.]  (Entom.)  Gen.  of  dipterous 
insects.  Male  (harmless)  has  plumed  antennce ; 
female  sucks  blood. 

Culinary.  [L.  cullnarius,  from  ciilina  (colina), 
a  kitchen,  from  root  kak,  to  cook.]  Belonging  to 
the  kitchen  or  to  cookery. 

Cullet.  [From  Eng.  cull,  to  pick  out.]  Broken 
glass,  used  as  an  ingredient  in  making  fresh  glass. 

Culm.  1.  [L.  culmus,  a  stalk,  especially  of 
grain.]  The  straw  of  grasses.  2.  [Welsh  cwlm.] 
A  hard,  slaty  coal. 

Cult.  [L.  cultus,  tending,  worship.]  A  system 
of  religious  belief  or  worship. 

Cultch,  Cutch.  Rough  stones  and  the  like, 
laid  down  to  form  an  oyster-bed. 

Cultirostrals,  Cultirostres.  [L.  culter,  knife, 
rostrum,  &7/.]  (Ornith.)  Knife-billed  birds ;  a 


CULV 


CURS 


tribe  or  fam.  in  those  systems  which  characterize 
them  by  the  form  of  their  bills.  It  includes 
herons,  cranes,  storks,  etc. 

Culverin.  [Fr.  couleuvrine,  couleuvre,  a 
snake,  L.  coluber.]  (Mil.)  The  first  kind  of 
cannon  of  great  length  invented  when  the  system 
of  hooping  (q.v.)  was  discarded. 

Cumber  (Luke  x.  40,  IT  fpifaira.ro,  and  xiii.  7, 
/carapye?)  retains  its  earlier  sense  \cf.  Ger. 
kiimmern],  to  cause  distress,  not  simply  to  be 
an  encumbrance. 

Cumbria.  Name  of  the  district  comprising 
Cumberland,  Westmoreland,  and  Lancashire, 
from  the  Saxon  to  the  Plantagenet  period. 

Cumbrian.    (Cambrian.) 

Cum  grano  salis.  [L.]  With  a  grain  of  salt ; 
said  of  accepting  a  statement  with  doubt  or 
reservation. 

Cumin,  Cummin.  The  fruits  of  a  small  annual 
umbelliferous  plant  [L.  ciimlnum,  cymmum], 
native  of  the  East,  mentioned  in  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments  (Isa.  xxviii.  25, 27  ;  Matt,  xxiii. 
23) ;  used  in  many  places  as  a  carminative,  and 
sometimes  mixed  with  food. 

Cum  multis  aliis.  [L.]  With  many  others, 
or  otJter  things. 

Cumulative.  [From  L.  cumiilatus,  p.  part,  of 
cumiilo,  /  heap  up]  Formed  by  accretion  or 
addition.  A  C.  argument  is  a  series  of  considera- 
tions of  which  each  suggests  some  conclusion 
without  proving  it,  but  which  taken  together  form 
a  proof  of  more  or  less  validity. 

Cumulus.  [L.,  a  heap.}  Thick  white  clouds, 
ragged  and  broad  at  the  base,  ascending  in  the 
form  of  peaks.  Cumulo-stratus  is  a  compound 
of  this  cloud  with  stratus  (q.v.).  Cumulo -cirro- 
stratus  is  the  same  as  nimbus  (q.v.). 

Cunabula.   [L.]    Cradle,  earliest  abode,  origin. 

Cunctando  restituit  rem,  Unus  homo  nobis. 
[L.]  One  man  restored  our  power  by  delaying  ; 
said  by  Ennius  of  Q.  Fabius  Maximus,  who,  by 
declining  to  engage,  but  hanging  about  Hannibal 
in  the  Second  Punic  War,  weakened  his  force 
seriously. 

Cunctator.  [L.]  The  Delayer;  title  of  Quin- 
tus  FSbius  Maximus.  (Cunctando.) 

Cungi.  [L.]  The  wedge-shaped  blocks  of 
seats  in  a  Roman  theatre  or  amphitheatre. 

Cuneiform.  [L.  ciineus,  wedge,  forma,  shape.} 
Wedge-shaped.  (For  C.  inscriptions,  vide 
Arrow-headed.) 

Cuneiform  letters.  The  name  given  to  the 
inscriptions  found  on  old  Babylonian  and  Persian 
monuments,  the  characters  being  formed  like  a 
wedge  [L.  cuneus].  This  is  the  oldest  form  of 
syllabic  writing  known. 

Cunette.  [Fr.]  Drain  run  down  the  middle 
of  a  dry  ditch  to  carry  off  any  water. 

Cupel,  or  Coppel.  [L.  cupella,  a  small  cask, 
dim.  of  cupa.]  A  small  flat  crucible  used  in 
assaying  metals ;  made  by  pressing  moistened 
bone-ash  into  circular  steel  moulds. 

Cupellation.  The  assaying  of  silver,  etc.,  by 
melting  it  with  lead  in  a  cupel  exposed  to  the 
air.  The  lead,  being  oxidized,  dissolves  the  im- 
purities, and  all  but  the  pure  metal  is  absorbed 
by  the  cupel  (q.v.). 

11 


Cupid.  [L.  cupido,  desire.]  The  Latin  name 
of  the  god  of  love,  who  was  called  by  the  Greeks 
Eros. 

Cup-leather.  The  leather  which  serves  as  a 
packing  to  the  ram  of  a  hydraulic  press.  It  pre- 
vents the  water  from  oozing  out  between  the 
ram  and  the  cylinder  when  force  is  applied  to 
the  machine. 

Cupola.     [It.]     In  Arch.,  a  dome. 

Cupping.  [Fr.  couper,  to  cut,  rather  than 
from  the  shape  of  the  glass  used.]  Bleeding,  by 
incisions  with  a  scarifier  made  in  a  surface  to- 
wards which  blood  has  been  drawn  by  the  ex- 
haustion of  the  air  in  a  cupping-glass. 

Cupric,  Cuprous.  [L.  cuprum,  copper]  Con- 
taining copper.  Cuprous  contain  a  larger  pro- 
portion of  copper  than  cupric  salts. 

Cupule.  [L.  cupula,  a  little  tub]  (Bot.)  A 
small  cup,  formed  by  the  bracts  of  an  involucre 
cohering  round  the  base  of  the  fruit ;  e.g.  an 
acorn. 

Curagoa.  A  liquor  flavoured  with  orange 
peel  (made  in  Curacoa). 

Curare  cutem.  [L.]  To  take  care  of  the  skin  ; 
to  take  care  of  the  health,  especially  by  bathing 
and  gymnastic  exercises. 

Curari,  Ourari,  Urali,  Wourali,  Woorara.  The 
arrow-poison  of  S. -American  Indians,  which 
destroys  the  powers  of  motion,  leaving  those  of 
sensation  intact.  Used  by  vivisectors  for  experi- 
ments on  dogs  and  other  animals,  which  are  thus 
put  to  excruciating  agonies. 

Curate.  In  Prayer-book,  one  having  the  cure 
[L.  cura,  care]  of  souls. 

Curator.     [L.]    Superintendent,  custodian. 

Cure.     [Fr.]     Parish  priest. 

Curetes.    (Cybele.) 

Curia.  [L.]  The  name  usually  applied  to  the 
temporal  court  of  the  Roman  see. 

Curiosa  interpretatio  reprobanda.  [L.]  A 
legal  maxim,  Ingeniously  subtle  interpretation 
should  be  rejected  •  for  the  framer  of  the  law,  etc. , 
is  not  likely  to  have  intended  it. 

Curioso.  [It.]  A  person  of  great  curiosity ; 
sometimes  Virtuoso. 

Curious.  [L.  curiosus,  careful,  inqttisitive, 
from  cura,  care]  Exhibiting  care  or  skill, 
abstruse,  recondite. 

Curmudgeon.  A  corr.  not  of  corn  merchant 
but  of  cornmudgin,  i.e.  corn-mudging,  =  corn- 
hoarding  or  corn-withholding.  Hence  a  nig- 
gardly, grasping  fellow  (Skeat). 

Currach.  [Welsh  cwrwg.]  A  skiff  formerly 
used  in  Scotland.  (Coracle.) 

Curra-curra.  (Naut. )  An  extremely  fast  boat 
of  the  Malay  Islands. 

Currency.  [L.L.  currentia,  from  currens, 
running,  current]  1.  Circulation,  general  es- 
timation. 2.  Circulating  medium  of  exchange 
of  publicly  recognized  value. 

Currente  calamo.  [L.]  With  flowing  pen  ;  of 
rapid  composition. 

Current-sailing.  Calculating  a  ship's  course 
as  affected  by  a  current. 

Curriculum.  [L.]  A  course ';  often  used  of  a 
course  of  studies. 

Curse  of  Scotland.     A  name  for  the  nine  of 


CURS 


152 


CUSP 


diamonds  in  cards,  for  the  origin  of  which  many 
reasons  have  been  assigned,  no  one  perhaps 
being  of  more  value  than  the  rest.  One  of  these 
assigns  it  to  the  nine  lozenges  on  the  shield  of 
John  Dalrymple,  Earl  of  Stair,  concerned  in  the 
massacre  of  Glencoe. — Chambers 's  Encyclopedia. 
Cursitors.  [L.,  from  cursus,  course.'}  (Leg.} 
Clerks  of  course,  clerks  of  the  Court  of  Chancery, 
who  made  out  original  writs,  now  done  in  the 
Petty  Bag  Office. 

Cursive.  [From  L.  curro,  I  run.]  Running ; 
said  of  writing  in  which  the  letters  of  a  word  are 
all  connected  and  the  strokes  generally  slant ; 
in  MSS.  opposed  to  Uncial  (q.v.). 

Cursorius.  [L.,  pertaining  to  running.} 
(Ornith.}  A  gen.  of  birds,  fam.  Glareolidae 
[L.  glarea,  gravel}.  Pratincoles  and  Coursers. 
India,  Africa,  and  S.  Europe.  Ord.  Grallae. 

Cursory.  [L.  cursorius,  from  cursor,  runner. ~} 
Hasty,  careless,  superficial. 

Curtain.  [L.  cortina,  in  mediaeval  sense  of  an 
enclosed  court,  a  wall  between  two  bastions.'} 
(Fortif. )  The  part  of  a  rampart  which  connects 
the  interior  extremities  of  the  flanks  of  two 
adjacent  bastions. 

Curtal  friar.  A  term  used  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  in  Ivanhoe,  as  equivalent  to  irregular  clerk 
or  hedge  priest,  and  applied  by  him  to  Friar 
Tuck,  of  Copmanhurst.  He  may  have  coined 
the  phrase  to  denote  a  pious  monk  with  a  frock 
shortened  for  convenience  of  moving  about. 

Curtana.  [L.  curtus,  cut  short.'}  The  point- 
less sword  of  mercy,  called  the  sword  of  Edward 
the  Confessor,  borne  naked  before  British  sove- 
reigns at  their  coronation.  (Sword  of  State.) 

Curtate  distance.  [L.  curtatus,  shortened.] 
The  C.  of  a  planet  from  the  sun  or  earth  is  its 
distance  measured  along  the  ecliptic,  i.e.  the  dis- 
tance from  the  centre  of  the  sun  (or  earth)  to  the 
point  in  which  the  ecliptic  is  met  by  a  perpen- 
dicular drawn  to  it  from  the  centre  of  the  planet. 
Curtein.  (Curtana.) 

Curtesy  of  England.  (Leg. )  The  right  of  a 
husband,  under  certain  conditions,  to  hold  during 
his  life  the  lands  of  his  wife  after  her  death. 

Curtilage.  [L.L.  cortilagium,  curtilagium, 
from  L.L.  cortile,  curtile,  dim.  from  L.  cohors, 
cohortis,  a  yard.}  (Leg.)  A  yard  belonging 
to  a  dwelling-house. 

Curule  magistracies.  (Hist.)  In  ancient 
Rome,  the  highest  offices  of  the  State,  the 
holders  being  allowed  to  sit  on  ivory  chairs, 
sellce  curules,  when  discharging  their  functions. 

Curvature  [L.  curvatura,  a  bending} ;  Centre 
of  C. ;  Circle  of  C. ;  Double  C. ;  Radius  of  C. ;  C. 
of  surfaces.  When  a  moving  point  traces  out  a 
curved  line,  its  direction  changes  from  point  to 
point ;  the  rate  of  this  change  of  direction  at  any 
point  per  unit  length  of  the  curve  is  the  Curva- 
ture at  that  point.  The  Circle  of  C.  at  any 
point  of  a  curve  has  the  same  curvature  as  that 
of  the  curve  at  that  point ;  the  centre  and  radius 
of  C.  are  the  centre  and  radius  of  this  circle. 
So  far  it  has  been  supposed  that  all  the  points  of 
the  curve  lie  in  one  plane.  When  this  is  not 
the  case,  the  curve  is  tortuous,  and  is  said  to 
have  Double  C.,  or  more  strictly  curvature  and 


tortuosity  }  the  helix  or  thread  of  a  screw  is  a 
curve  of  double  C.  The  C.  of  a  surface  at  any 
point  will  depend  on  the  direction  in  which  the 
C.  is  considered ;  e.g.  in  the  case  of  a  common 
cylinder  there  is  evidently  no  curvature  parallel 
to  the  axis,  while  at  right  angles  to  the  axis  the 
C.  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  circular  base  of  the 
cylinder. 

Curve,  Brachistochronous ;  C.  of  equal  pres- 
sure; Tautochronous  C.  The  curve  along  which 
a  body  will  descend  from  one  point  to  another 
in  the  shortest  possible  time  is  the  Brachisto- 
chronotis  curve  [Gr.  /3paxio"ros,  shortest,  -xp6vos, 
time},  or  the  C.  of  shortest  descent.  When  a 
curve  is  such  that  a  body  descends  along  it  to 
the  lowest  point  in  the  same  time  from  what- 
ever point  it  starts,  it  is  said  to  be  a  Tauto- 
chronous C.  [6  otfWy,  the  same},  or  a  C.  of  equable 
descent.  Curves  of  equal  pressure  are  such  that, 
when  a  body  descends  along  them,  the  pressure 
against  the  curve  is  the  same  at  all  points. 

Curves,  Method  of.  When  one  quantity  un- 
dergoes a  series  of  changes  depending  on  the 
progress  of  another  quantity,  this  dependence 
can  be  expressed  to  the  eye  by  means  of  a  curve. 
Suppose  it  were  required  to  register  the  varia- 
tions in  the  height  of  a  barometer  throughout  the 
twenty-four  hours  of  a  day.  A  sheet  of  paper 
can  be  placed  on  a  cylinder  in  a  vertical  position, 
and  made  to  revolve  uniformly  by  clockwork  ;  if 
a  pencil  point  pressed  against  the  paper  rises  and 
falls  with  the  mercury  in  the  barometer,  it  will 
plainly  trace  out  a  curve  on  the  paper.  Now, 
suppose  the  paper  to  be  unwarped,  a  horizontal 
line  on  it,  if  properly  divided,  will  show  the  pro- 
gress of  the  time  throughout  the  day,  and  vertical 
lines  drawn  from  the  horizontal  line  to  the  curve 
will  show  the  corresponding  heights  of  the 
barometer.  The  variations  in  the  heights  of  the 
barometer  are  thus  completely  represented  by  this 
method,  which  is  one  instance  of  the  Method  of 
curves.  Indicator  curves,  adiabatic  lines,  co- 
tidal  lines,  etc. ,  are  other  instances  of  a  method 
which  admits  of  application  in  every  branch  of 
physics. 

Cuseform.  (Naut.)  A  Japanese  long  open 
whale-boat. 

Cushat.  [O.E.  cusceat.]  The  quest,  ring- 
dove, or  wood-pigeon. 

Cushion  of  a  horse's  foot.     (Frog.) 
Cushion  capital.     (Arch.)     Capitals  shaped  in 
the  form  of  large  cubical  masses  projecting  over 
the  shaft,  and  rounded  off  at  the  lower  corners. 

Cusp.  [L. _cuspis,  a  point:}  1.  (Arch.)  A 
projecting  point  in  the  foliation  of  arches  or  of 
tracery  of  any  kind.  2.  (Geom.)  A  singular 
point  on  a  curve,  at  which  two  of  its  branches 
have  a  common  tangent  in  such  a  manner  that, 
if  we  suppose  the  curve  traced  out  by  a  point,  it 
moves  up  to  the  cusp  along  one  branch  and 
then  moves  back  along  the  other.  3.  (Astron. ) 
Either  point  of  the  horns  of  a  crescent  moon  or 
planet.  4.  (Anat.)  The  point  or  projection  on 
the  summit  of  the  crown  of  a  tooth.  (Cuspidate.) 
Cuspidate.  [L.  cuspis,  cuspidis,  a  spear!} 
(Bot.}  Rounded  off,  with  a  projecting  point  in 
the  middle ;  e.g.  many  species  of  bramble 


CUST 


153 


CYCL 


Custard  apple.    (Anona.) 

Customary  freehold.  (Leg.)  (Privileged 
copyholds.) 

Gustos  morum.     [L.]     Guardian  of  morals. 

Gustos  rotulorum.  [Leg.  L.]  Keeper  of  the 
rolls ;  the  principal  justice  of  the  peace  in  a 
county,  who  has  charge  of  the  rolls  and  records 
of  the  sessions  of  the  peace. 

Cutch.     Catechu  (q.v.). 

Cutchery.    A  Hindu  court  of  justice. 

Cut  his  painter,  To.  (Naut.)  1.  To  die.  2. 
To  go  off  suddenly  or  secretly.  (Painter.) 

Cuticle.  [L.  cuticula,  dim.  of  cuds,  skin.~[ 
(Physiol.)  The  insensible  external  layer  of  the 
skin  ;  the  Epidermis,  or  scarf-skin. 

Cutis.  [L.,  skin.}  (Physiol.)  The  true  skin, 
condensed  areolar  tissue.  C.  anserina.  Goose-skin, 
or  goose-flesh ;  a  roughness  of  the  skin,  produced 
by  cold  or  fear. 

Cut  of  the  jib.  (Naut. )  1.  The  look  of  a  ship. 
2.  Metaph.  of  a  person. 

Cutter.  (Naut.)  A  small  vessel  with  a  single 
masl  and  straight,  running  bowsprit,  carrying  a 
large  fore-and-aft  mainsail  and  jib  ;  also  a  gaff- 
topsail,  and  a  stay-foresail.  C.  brig,  a  vessel 
with  squaresails,  'fore-and-aft  mainsail,  and  a 
jigger-mast.  Shifts  C.,  a  ship's  boat,  broader, 
deeper,  and  shorter  in  proportion  than  the  barge, 
or  pinnace,  and  more  fitted  for  sailing. 

Cuttle,  Captain.  A  one-armed  retired  sea- 
captain  in  Dickens's  Dombey  and  Son,  ingenuous, 
eccentric,  and  kindly;  often  saying,  "When 
found,  make  note  of." 

Cuttle-fish.  SepiSdae,  fam.  of  dibranchiate 
cephalopods  (q.v.),  with  traces  of  a  shell,  and 
rudiments  of  internal  skeleton.  All  seas. 

Cutty.  [Gael,  cut,  a  short  tail,  Eng.  scut ; 
cf.  L.  cauda,  tail.]  A  short  clay  pipe. 

Cutty-stool.  A  seat  or  gallery  in  a  Scotch 
kirk,  painted  black,  on  which  offenders  against 
chastity  were  compelled  to  sit  and  make  pro- 
fession of  penitence,  and  to  be  publicly  re- 
buked. 

Cuvette.  [Fr.]  A  large  clay  pot,  in  which 
the  materials  for  plate-glass  are  melted. 

Cyan-,  Cyano-,  =  blueness.  [Gr.  icdavos,  a 
dark  blue  substance  ;  of  what  kind  (?).] 

Cyanogen.  [Gr.  Kuavos,  blue,  yevvav,  to  beget.] 
A  gas  composed  of  one  part  of  nitrogen  and  two 
of  carbon. 

Cyanometer,  [Gr.  KVO.VOS,  blue,  n&pov, 
measure. ~\  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
degree  of  blueness  in  the  sky. 

Cyanotype.  [Gr.  KVO.VOS,  blue,  rvvos,  type.] 
A  photograph  of  a  blue  colour,  developed  by 
ferrocyanide  of  potassium. 

Cyathiform.  Having  the  shape  [L.  forma]  of 
a  cyathus.  (Crateriform.) 

Cyathus.  [L.,  from  Gr.  KVO.QOS,  a  cup.]  A 
cup  especially  for  drinking. 

Cybele.  [Gr.  KwjSeAij.]  (Myth.)  An  Asiatic 
goddess,  whose  rites  were  celebrated  with  great 
excitement  by  her  priests,  who  were  named 
Corybantes,  Curetes,  Galli,  etc.  Lord  Byron 
makes  the  penult  of  the  name  long,  thus  making 
it  answer  to  the  Greek  form  Kybebe.  (Baccha- 
nalian; Dionysian.) 


Cycadaceae,  Cycads.  (Bot. )  The  Cycas  tribe,  a 
nat.  ord.  of  chlamydeous  dicotyledons  ;  small 
palm-like  trees  or  shrubs,  with  cylindrical  un- 
branched  trunks,  pinnate  leaves,  and  dioecious 
flowers.  Natives  of  tropics  and  temperate  parts 
of  Asia  and  America. 

Cyclades.  [Gr.  KuKActees.]  The  group  of 
islands  in  the  archipelago  east  of  Eubcea  and 
Attica,  round  [eV  /cwcAy]  Delos. 

Cycle  [Gr.  KI^AOS,  a  ring,  circle] ;  Calippic 
C. ;  C.  of  indictions ;  Lunar  C. ;  Metonio  C. ;  C. 
of  operations ;  Reversible  C. ;  Solar  C.  1.  The 
continual  recurrence  of  a  set  of  events  in  an 
assigned  order.  2.  The  period  during  which 
the  occurrence  of  one  set  takes  place.  The 
Solar  C.  consists  of  twenty-eight  Julian  years, 
after  the  lapse  of  which,  on  the  Julian  system, 
the  same  days  of  the  week  would  always  return 
to  the  same  days  of  each  month  throughout  the 
year.  The  Lunar  C.  consists  of  235  lunations, 
which  do  not  differ  from  nineteen  Julian  years 
by  quite  an  hour  and  a  half.  Consequently,  if 
in  any  one  period  of  nineteen  years  the  days  of 
the  occurrence  of  all  the  new  moons  (or  full 
moons)  are  noted,  they  will  be  found  to  recur 
on  or  very  near  to  the  same  days  in  the  same 
order  in  the  next  period  of  nineteen  years,  and 
so  on.  These  nineteen  years  constitute  a 
Lunar  or  Metonic  C. ,  the  fact  of  the  recurrence 
having  been  discovered  by  Meton,  an  Athenian 
mathematician,  circ.  432  B.C.  The  Golden 
Number  of  a  year  denotes  its  place  in  the  lunar 
C.  The  Calippic  C.  (Calippus,  of  Cyzlcus,  circ. 
320  B.C.)  was  designed  as  an  improvement  on 
the  Metonic  C.,  and  consists  of  seventy-six  years, 
or  four  Metonic  C.  The  adoption  of  this  C.  in 
combination  with  the  Julian  calendar  brings  the 
succession  of  new  moons  back  to  the  same  day, 
and  nearly  the  same  hour  of  the  day.  C.  of 
indictions,  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  used  in  the 
courts  of  law  and  in  the  fiscal  organization  of 
the  Roman  Empire  under  Constantine  and  his 
successor ;  it  was  thus  introduced  into  legal 
dates  as  the  Golden  Number  was  introduced 
into  ecclesiastical  dates.  To  find  the  prime 
number  or  year  of  the  solar  C.,  add  9  to  the 
number  of  the  year  A.D.  and  divide  by  28  ;  to 
find  the  Golden  Number  or  year  of  the  lunar  C., 
add  I  and  divide  by  19 ;  to  find  the  indiction, 
add  3  and  divide  by  15  :  the  remainder,  if  any, 
is  the  required  year  ;  if  none,  the  year  is  the 
twenty-eighth,  nineteenth,  and  fifteenth  of  these 
C.  respectively.  C.  of  operations,  in  thermo- 
dynamics, a  series  of  operations  by  which  a 
substance  working  in  a  heat-engine  (as  steam  in 
a  steam-engine)  is  finally  brought  to  the  same 
state  in  all  respects  as  at  first.  When  a  C.  of 
operations  can  be  gone  through  first  in  a  given 
order,  and  then  in  the  reverse  order,  the  cycle 
is  said  to  be  a  Reversible  C.  If  a  heat-engine 
were  capable  of  performing  a  reversible  C.  of 
operations,  it  would  be  dynamically  perfect. 

Cyclica.  [Gr.  KvK\tK6s,  circular.]  (Entom.) 
Section  of  coleopterous  insects,  Tetramgrous 
(Coleoptera),  as  longicorn,  beetles,  and  weevils. 

Cyclic  chorus.  [Gr.  KVK\IOS  x^pos.]  The 
chorus  which  danced  round  the  altar  of  Diony- 


CYCL 


154 


CZAR 


sins  (Bacchus)  in  a  circle,  in  contrast  with  the 
square  choruses  of  the  tragic  drama. 

Cyclic  poets.  (Hist, )  The  supposed  authors 
of  those  poems  which  treated  of  the  heroic  and 
mythological  ages  of  Greece.  The  Iliad  and 
Odyssey  were  at  first  included  in  this  epic  cycle, 
which  was  arranged  at  Alexandria  in  the  second 
century  B.C. 

Cycloid.  [Gr.  Kv/cAoezS^jy,  in  class.  Gr.  cir- 
cular,]  The  curve  which  is  traced  out  in  space 
by  a  point  on  the  circumference  of  a  circle, 
which  rolls  in  a  plane  along  a  straight  line. 

Cycloid  fishes.  [Gr.  KVK\OS,  a  circle.]  An 
ord.  with  Agassiz,  having  C.  scales,  i.e.  formed 
of  concentric  layers,  not  covered  with  enamel, 
and  with  margins  not  toothed  ;  e.g.  herring, 
trout. 

Cyclone.  [Gr.  KVK\ 6a>,  I  make  to  whirl  round.  ] 
A  storm  which  combines  a  rotatory  with  a  pro- 
gressive motion. 

Cyclopean.  (Arch.}  Ancient  buildings  are  so 
termed  in  which  the  walls  are  composed  of  large 
stones  laid  without  any  mortar,  as  at  Mykenae 
and  Tiryns. 

Cyclopes.  [Gr.  Ku/cAonres.]  (Myth.}  A  race 
of  gigantic  beings  who  are  represented  in  the 
Odyssey  as  shepherds,  having  only  one  eye  in 
the  midst  of  their  forehead.  Such  was  Poly- 
phemus, from  whom  Ulysses  made  his  escape. 
They  are  described  also  as  forging  the  thunder- 
bolts of  Jupiter,  and  they  are  supposed  to  have 
raised  the  buildings  called  Cyclopean. 

Cyclopteris.  [Gr.  KVK\OS,  a  circle,  irrepis, 
fern.]  (Geol.)  Applied  to  two  different  kinds  of 
fern-like  fossil  plants,  with  rounded  leaflets,  (i) 
from  the  coal-measures,  (2)  Oolite. 

Cylinder.  [Gr.  /cvAii/Spos,  a  cylinder.]  The 
part  of  a  steam-engine  in  which  the  piston  is 
driven  alternately  up  and  down  by  the  steam. 

Cymar,  Simar.  A  light  covering,  a  scarf. 
(Chimere. ) 

Cymbifonn.  (Bot.}  Of  the  shape  of  a  boat  or 
skiff  [L.  cymba] ;  e.g.  glumes  of  canary  grass 
and  other  grasses. 

Cyme.  [Gr.  KV^O.,  a  young  sprout.]  (Bot.}  An 
umbel-like  inflorescence  ;  a  panicle,  of  which  the 
pedicels  are  unequal  in  length,  and  the  flowers 
thereby  brought  to  nearly  the  same  level ;  e.g. 
elder. 

Cymric,  Kymric.  [Welsh.]  Division  of  Celtic 
(Keltic) ;  often  includes  the  kindred  Cornish  and 
Armorican  dialects. 

Cynanche.  [Gr.  Kwdyx^l)  from  KVCDV,  a  dog, 
and  fryxw,  I  sqtieeze  tight.]  Has  been  corr.  into 
Quinsy.  C.  dericorumt  i.  q.  Dy aphonia  clericorum. 


Cynanthropy.  The  malady  of  a  [Gr.  KVVO.V- 
eptaTros]  a  man  [&vQp<airos]  who  fancies  himself  a 
dog\K.v<av].  Cf.  Lycanthropy. 

Cynegetics.  [Gr.  KvvrjyijT'iK^  (TC'XVI?).]  Art 
of  hunting  with  dogs. 

Cynics.  ( Hist. )  A  sect  of  Greek  philosophers  ; 
so  called,  it  is  said,  from  their  snarling  and  surly 
humour,  the  name  being  derived  from  KVWV,  a 
dog.  It  was  founded  by  Antisthenes,  a  disciple 
of  Socrates  ;  and  Diogenes  belonged  to  it. 

Cynosarges.  [Gr.  Kwtaapyes.]  (Hist.}  An 
academy  in  the  suburbs  of  ancient  Athens,  in 
which  Antisthenes  taught  (Cynics.) 

Cynosure.  This  word  has  been  supposed  to 
denote  a  dog's  tail,  from  Gr.  KwAaovpa. :  but  the 
first  syllable  of  this  word,  as  of  Cynosarges,  has 
probably  nothing  to  do  with  KVWV,  a  dog.  It  was 
applied  by  some  philosophers  to  the  constellation 
of  the  Lesser  Bear,  and  has  hence  come  to  mean 
any  point  of  special  attraction. 

Cy  pres.  [O.Fr.]  (Leg.}  As  near  as  possible  ; 
a  rule  of  Approximate  construction  if  strict  con- 
struction be  impossible  or  involve  public  harm. 

Cyprinidae.  [Gr.  Kujrpis,  name  of  Aphrodite, 
from  Kvirpos,  Cyprtts.]  (Zool.)  Fam.  of  bivalve 
molluscs.  Universally  distributed.  Class  Con- 
chifera. 

Cyrenians.  '(Hist.}  The  followers  of  Aris- 
tippus,  a  disciple  of  Socrates,  who  founded  a 
school  at  Cyrene,  a  Greek  colony  on  the  north 
coast  of  Africa,  and  whose  opinions  approached 
those  of  Epicurus. 

Cyst.  [Gr.  irfori?,  the  bladder,  a  bag.]  (Med.) 
An  abnormal  development  in  shape  like  a  pouch, 
or  sac.  Cystitis,  inflammation  of  the  bladder, 
Cysto'id,  like  a  C.,  in  appearance. 

Cystalgia.  Pain  [Gr.  &\yos]  in  the  bladder 
[KIHTTIS]. 

Cytherea.  [L.,  Gr.  Kvftlpcut.]  A  Greek  name 
for  Aphrodite,  Venus,  from  the  island  of  Cythera, 
where  she  had  a  well-known  temple. 

Cytisus.  [In  L.,  a  kind  of  clover.]  (Bot.) 
Broom  ;  one  of  many  allied  gen.  Ord. 
Leguminosse,  sub-ord.  Paplllonacese.  Common 
Broom,  C.  scoparius,  from  L.  scopse,  plu., 
twigs,  a  broom. 

Czar,  Zar,  or  Tsar.  A  title  given  by  many 
Slavonic  tribes  to  their  chiefs.  Ivan  II.  adopted, 
in  1579,  the  title  of  Czar  of  Moscow.  The  wife 
of  the  czar  is  called  the  Czarina,  and  the  eldest 
son  of  the  emperor  is  the  Czarowitch. 

Czarina.     (Czar.) 

Czarowena.  Wife  of  the  czarowitch,  Princess 
Imperial  of  Russia. 

Czarowitch,  Czarowitz.     (Czar.) 


155 


DAME 


D. 


D.  1.  As  a  Roman  numeral,  signifies  500 ; 
and  among  Roman  writers,  stands  for  Divus, 
Decimus,  etc.  D.M.,  in  Roman  epitaphs,  is 
for  Diis  Manibus.  2,  In  naval  affairs.  (Ab- 
breviations.) 

Da  capo.  [It.]  (Music.)  From  the  beginning, 
=  revert  to  the  commencement  of  a  subject. 

D'accord.     [Fr.]    Agreed,  in  harmony. 

Dacoits,  Dacoos.  In  India,  thieves  who  go 
about  the  country  in  gangs.  They  prefer  gene- 
rally to  rob  without  violence,  being  thus  chiefly 
distinguished  from  the  Thugs. 

Dactyl.  [Gr.  SaKTv\os,  a  finger.  "\  (Pros.)  A 
metrical  foot,  of  a  long  syllable  followed  by  two 
short  ones.  (Spondee.) 

Dactylioglyphy.  [Gr.  8aitTv\ios,  a  ring, 
7Au</>ei»',  to  engrave.'}  The  art  of  engraving 
gems. 

Dactyliomancy.  [Gr.  8a.KTv\to-/ji.avT(ia.]  Fin- 
ger- ring-divination. 

Dactylology.  [Gr.  ScforuAos,  finger,  \oyos, 
speech .]  The  art  of  talking  on  the  fingers  by 
means  of  a  manual  alphabet,  chiefly  practised  by 
the  deaf  and  dumb. 

Da  dextram  miseris.  [L.]  Offer  your  right 
hand  to  the  wretched. 

Dado.  [It.]  (Arch.)  1.  The  part  of  a  pe- 
destal, called  the  die,  in  the  middle  between  the 
base  and  the  cornice.  2.  The  wainscoting  of  a 
wall,  which  would  be  supposed  to  represent  the 
dado  of  the  pilasters  arranged  round  it. 

Daedalean.  [Gr.  5oj5a\eo.]  An  epithet  ap- 
plied to  works  of  art  cunningly  wrought ;  from 
the  mythical  Daedalus,  whose  name  describes 
him  as  the  skilful  worker.  Daedalus  is  said  to 
have  built  the  labyrinth  in  Crete  for  the  Mino- 
taur. He  escaped  from  the  island  on  wings 
which  he  had  made ;  his  son  Icarus,  flying  with 
him,  fell  into  the  sea  and  was  drowned. 

Daemona  daemone  pellit.  [L.]  He  drives  out 
one  devil  by  another. 

Dagh.     [Turk.]     Hill,  mountain. 

Daguerreotype.  (M.  Daguerre,  inventor, 
1839.)  One  of  the  earliest  successful  forms  of 
photography.  A  copper  plate  is  silvered  and 
polished,  and  by  the  action  of  vapour  of  iodine 
covered  with  a  film  of  iodide  of  silver.  A  picture 
of  the  object  is  then  formed  on  the  surface  by 
means  of  a  camera  obscura.  As  iodide  of  silver 
is  decomposed  by  sunlight,  the  silver  surface  will 
be  restored  where  the  lights  of  the  picture  fall, 
but  the  film  of  iodide  of  silver  will  remain  where 
the  shadows  fall.  The  result  thus  obtained  is 
rendered  visible  and  permanent  by  vapour  of 
mercury,  which  easily  combines  with  and  tar- 
nishes the  plate  where  the  silver  is  exposed  to  its 
action. 

Dab.ni.  (Nattt.)  A  decked  Indian  or  Ara- 
bian boat. 

Daily  progress.  (Naut.)  A  return  made  daily 
by  a  vessel  as  to  progress  of  equipment  while  in 
port. 


Daimio.  When  the  Shogunate,  or  authority 
of  the  Tycoon,  was  abolished  by  the  Mikado  of 
Japan,  the  daimios  (or  barons)  resigned  their 
fiefs  into  the  hands  of  the  latter,  with  whom  the 
whole  power  of  the  state  has  rested  since  1871. 

Daireb.  [Turk.]  The  Khedive  of  Egypt's 
private  landed  estate. 

Dais.  [Fr.]  1.  The  raised  platform  at  the 
upper  end  of  a  dining-hall.  2.  The  upper  table 
on  its  platform.  3.  The  seat,  sometimes  with 
canopy,  for  guests  at  this  table.  4.  The  canopy 
over  the  seat  of  a  person  of  dignity. 

Daker,  Dakir,  Dicker.  [L.L.  dacra,  decara,  L. 
d£curia.]  1.  A  number  of  ten  units.  2.  A  score. 

Daker-hen.    The  moor-hen. 

Dakoity.     The  system  of  Dacoit  robbery. 

-dale,  -dell.  [Cf.  Ger.  thai,  valley,  O.H.G. 
tal,  A.S.  dal,  O.N.  dais,  Gr.  66\os,  excavated 
chamber,  Skt.  dharas,  deep  place. ,]  Part  of 
Saxon  names,  meaning  valley,  as  in  Annan-dale, 
Arun-del. 

D'Alembert's  principle  (French  mathematician, 
1717-1783)  in  Dynamics  asserts  that  when  a 
system  of  rigidly  connected  particles  moves 
under  the  action  of  any  forces  impressed  on  it 
from  without,  forces  equal  to  the  effective  forces, 
but  acting  in  exactly  opposite  directions,  applied 
at  each  point  of  the  system,  would  be  in  equili- 
brium with  the  impressed  forces. 

Dalesman.  Inhabitant  of  a  valley,  especially 
of  the  dales  of  the  north  of  England. 

Dalgetty,  Dugald.  A  mercenary  soldier  in 
Scott's  Legend  of  Montrose,  bold,  shrewd,  un- 
scrupulous, and  pedantic. 

Dalmatic.  A  gown  or  robe  with  sleeves,  worn 
by  deacons  in  the  Latin  Church  over  the  alb. 
It  represents  a  dress  imported  into  Rome  from 
Dalmatia  by  the  Emperor  Commodus. 

Da  locum  melioribus.  [L.]  Give  place  to 
your  betters. 

Dalriadic.  (Dalriada,  old  name  of  Antrim.) 
Pertaining  to  Antrim. 

Daltonism.  Colour-blindness  (q.v.) ;  so  called 
from  Dalton,  the  chemist,  who  was  colour-blind. 

Dalton's  theory.  The  atomic  theory.  (Atomic 
philosophy.) 

Damage  feasant.  [O.Fr.  damage  faisant, 
doing  damage,  L.L.  damnaticum  faciens,  from 
damnum,  damage.]  (Leg.)  Doing  injury,  tres- 
passing. 

Damara,  Dammar  gum.  [Malay  damar.]  A 
resin  from  the  Indian  Archipelago,  used  for 
making  varnish. 

Damask.  A  stuff  woven  with  raised  figures 
(originally  made  at  Damascus). 

Damaskeen.  (Damascus,  where  first  made.) 
Iron  or  steel  inlaid  with  gold  or  silver. 

Damasse.  [Fr.]  A  Flemish  linen  in  imitation 
of  damask. 

Damassin.     [Fr.]    A  kind  of  damask  worked 
with  gold  and  silver  patterns  in  the  warp. 
Dame.    (Madam.) 


DAME 


156 


DATU 


Damelopre.  [D.  damloper  =  bilander  (q.v.), 
from  dam,  dam,  loopen,  to  run;  cf.  Ger.  laufen.] 
(Naut.)  A  flat-floored  Dutch  vessel,  formerly 
used  for  carrying  heavy  cargoes  over  shallows. 

Damenisation.     (Solmisation.) 

Damna  minus  consueta  movent.  [L.]  Loss 
to  which  one  is  unaccustomed  affects  one  (espe- 
cially). 

Damnant  quod  non  intelligunt.  [L.]  They 
condemn  what  they  do  not  understand. 

Damnonia.  Name  of  Cornwall  and  Devon  in 
the  time  of  the  Roman  occupation. 

Damnosa  hereditas.  [L.]  An  inheritance  or 
legacy  which  entails  loss. 

Damocles.  A  courtier  whom  Dionysius  L, 
Tyrant  of  Syracuse  (B.C.  4°5-3^7)>  allowed  to 
take  his  place  and  state  at  a  banquet,  but  had 
a  sword  hung  over  him  by  a  hair,  to  illustrate  the 
dangers  incident  to  wealth  and  power. 

Damon  and  Pythias.  1.  Two  Pythagoreans  of 
Syracuse,  in  the  time  of  Dionysius  I. ,  famous  for 
their  close  friendship,  which  made  them  each 
willing  to  die  for  the  other.  2.  Damon,  shep- 
herd in  Virgil's  eighth  Eclogue;  hence  any  rustic 
swain.  The  Damon  of  Ed.  iii.  is  the  master  of 
a  goatherd  Tltyrus. 

Damosel.    (Ambisexual  words.) 

Dampers.  In  a  piano,  pieces  of  wood  covered 
with  cloth,  and  (when  the  loud  pedal  is  not  used) 
checking  the  vibrations  of  the  wires  when  struck. 

Dan.  [O.Fr.  don,  Sp.  don,  It.  donno,  from 
L.  dominus,  master.]  An  old  title  of  respect, 
like  sir,  as  Dan  Geoffrey  ( Chaiicer)  in  Spenser. 

Dance  Macabre.     (Dance  of  Death. ) 

Dance  of  Death.  In  a  series  of  woodcuts,  said 
to  be  by  Hans  Holbein.  Death  is  represented  as 
dancing  with  persons  of  all  kinds  from  Adam 
downwards.  This  dance  is  sometimes  called  the 
Dance  Macabre,  perhaps  from  St.  Macarius.  It 
was  painted  on  the  north  end  of  the  cloisters  of 
Old  St.  Paul's,  London. 

Dancette.  (Her.}  Zigzagged,  generally  with 
three  projections. 

Dancing  mania,  which  spread  through  a  large 
part  of  Middle  Europe  in  the  thirteenth  and 
fourteenth  centuries,  a  wild  delirium,  with  re- 
ligious delusions.  Similar  were  the  tarantism 
of  S.  Italy,  the  leaping  ague  of  Scotland,  the 
dance  of  St.  Weit  (St.  Vitus),  and  many  other 
phenomena. 

Dandie.     [Hind.]    A  boatman. 

Dandies.  (Naut.)  The  rowers  of  the  Ganges 
.  budgerows  (q.v.). 

Dandin,  George.  The  hero  of  Moliere's  play 
G.  D.,  a  rich  French  bourgeois,  whose  marriage 
into  a  noble  family  brings  him  endless  disagree- 
ables, whereupon  he  continually  exclaims,  "Tu 
1'as  voulu,  George  Dandin  ! "  ("  You  would  have 
it  so,  George  Dandin  !  "). 

Dandiprat.     Child,  little  fellow,  dwarf. 

Dandy.  (Naut.)  A  sloop  or  cutter  having 
a  jigger-mast,  which  carries  a  lugsail. 

Dandy  Dinmont.  A  Liddesdale  farmer  in 
Scott's  Guy  Mannering,  who  has  given  a  name 
to  a  celebrated  breed  of  long-backed  Scotch 
terriers. 

Danegelt.   In  Eng.  Hist.,  a  tribute  of  twelve- 


pence  laid  by  the  Danes  upon  the  Anglo-Saxons 
for  every  hide  of  land  throughout  the  country. 

Danelagh,  Danelaw.  [A.S.  Dene-lage.] 
(Hist. )  A  name  applied  to  the  part  of  England 
beyond  Watling  Street,  as  the  region  in  which 
the  Danish  law  remained  in  force  after  the  peace 
of  Wedmore,  by  which  the  Northmen  evacuated 
Wessex  and  the  part  of  Mercia  south-west  of 
Watling  Street,  A.D.  878-880. — Freeman,  Norm. 
Conquest,  vol.  i.  ch.  2. 

Daphne.  The  Greek  word  for  laurel.  The 
nymph  who  fled  from  Apollo  was  said  to  be  so 
called,  because  she  was  changed  into  a  laurel 
bush. 

Darby  and  Joan.  Representatives  of  a  happy 
old  married  couple,  hero  and  heroine  of  a  ballad 
of  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century.  The 
originals  were  claimed  by  Healaugh,  a  village  in 
the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire. 

Daric.  [Gr.  Sopei/cds.]  Greek  name  of  a 
Persian  gold  coin. 

Darien  scheme.  A  disastrous  speculation  for 
forming  an  entrepot  between  the  Eastern  and 
Western  hemispheres  (1695-1701),  put  forth  by 
W.  Paterson,  founder  of  the  Bank  of  England, 
who  was  fully  convinced  of  its  practicability. — 
Macaulay,  Hist,  of  England. 

Darks.     ( Naut. )     Moonless  nights. 

Darning  the  water.  (Naitt.)  Blockading  a 
port  by  cruising  off  it. 

Darogah.  [Hind.]  A  superintendent,  overseer. 

Darraign,  Darrain.  [O.Fr.  desrener,  L.L. 
der&tiSnare,  from  ratio,  -nem,  reason.]  (Leg.) 
To  clear  an  account,  to  settle  a  controversy. 

Darrein.     [Cf.  Fr.  dernier.]    Last. 

Darsena.  [It.,  from  Ar.  dar-9ana,  a  place  of 
construction.']  (Naut.}  An  inner  harbour.  A 
wet  dock  (Mediterranean). 

Dasymeter.  [Gr.  Soo-jJs,  dense,  pfrpeiv,  to 
measure.]  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
density  of  gases. 

Dasypus.  [Gr.  Saa-virovs,  hairy-foot.]  (Zool.) 
Originally  the  hare ;  it  now  gives  a  name  to 
the  armadillo  family ,_  DSsypodidse.  Central  and 
S.  America.  Ord.  Edentata. 

Dasyure.  [Gr.  Savvs,  hairy,  otipd,  tail.]  (Zool.) 
Fam.  of  rapacious  marsupials,  Native  cats  (as 
the  Tasmanian  devil,  DS.syurus  ursinus),  rang- 
ing in  size  from  a  mouse  to  a  shepherd's  dog. 
Australasia. 

Datary.  [It.  datario.]  In  the  pope's  court, 
an  officer — a  prelate,  sometimes  a  cardinal  — 
who  receives  petitions  concerning  the  provision 
of  benefices.  He  dates  a  petition,  if  registered, 
writing  "Datum  Romse,"  etc.  ("Given  at 
Rome,"  etc.). 

Data  temper e  prosunt.  [L.]  Timely  gifts 
are  beneficial. 

Datisoa  yellow.  A  permanent  vegetable  dye, 
used  in  Cashmere. 

Datoo.  1.  West  wind  in  Straits  of  Gibraltar. 
2.  A  Malay  mark  of  rank. 

Datum,  plu.  Data.  [L.  p.  part.  neut.  of  do,  / 
give.]  An  admitted  fact  or  proposition  which 
forms  a  ground  for  an  inference  or  deduction. 

Datum-line.  [L.  datum,  a  thing  given.]  Tn 
levelling,  the  horizontal  line  drawn  on  the  pic- 


DAUK 


157 


DEBA 


ture  of  a  section  of  the  ground  to  which   the 
heights  of  all  points  on  the  surface  are  referred. 

Dauk,  Dawk.     [Hind.]     The  mail-post. 

Dauphin.  The  title  of  the  heir-apparent  of 
the  French  crown  before  the  Revolution.  It  had 
been  borne  by  the  Counts  or  Lords  of  Vienne,  in 
Dauphine,  from  the  twelfth  century  or  earlier, 
and  was  probably  of  heraldic  origin. 

Da  venlam  lacrymis.  [L.]  Grant  inditlgence 
to  tears. 

Davits.  [Fr.  davier.]  (Naut.}  Pieces  of 
timber  or  iron  projecting  over  a  ship's  side  or 
stern,  from  which  the  boats  are  suspended. 
Fish-D.,  that  by  which  the  flukes  of  an  anchor 
are  raised  clear  of  the  vessel  to  the  top  of  the 
bow  ;  doing  this  is  called  fishing  the  anchor. 

Davy  lamp.  (Invented  by  Sir  Humphry 
Davy,  1778-1829.)  A  lamp  used  by  coal- 
miners.  Instead  of  glass  a  wire  netting  surrounds 
the  candle.  When  a  stream  of  sub-carburetted 
hydrogen  (fire-damp)  passes  through  a  fine  wire 
netting,  it  may  be  ignited  on  one  side  without 
the  flame  passing  back  to  the  other  side  of  the 
netting.  Consequently,  when  the  lamp  is  in  air 
charged  with  fire-damp,  the  flame  of  the  candle 
ignites  only  the  gas  within  the  lamp  ;  the  out- 
side gas  does  not  ignite  till  the  wire  becomes 
white  hot.  (Geordy  lamp.) 

Davy's  locker,  or  Davy  Jones's  locker.  A 
sailor's  phrase,  denoting  the  depths  of  the  sea. 
The  name  Davy  is  akin  probably  to  devil  [Ger. 
teufel].  (Old  Nick.) 

Dawk-boat.     (Naut.}     A  mail-boat  (Indian). 

Day.  (Nattt.)  Is  reckoned  from  noon  to 
noon,  i.e.  from  one  observation  to  the  next. 
D.-book,  old  name  for  log-book. 

Day,  Apparent  solar;  Astronomical  D. ;  Civil 
D. ;  Lunar  D. ;  Mean  solar  D. ;  Sidereal  D.  The 
Apparent  solar  D.  is  the  interval  between  two 
successive  transits  of  the  sun's  centre  across  the 
meridian.  The  average  length  of  a  very  large 
number  of  apparent  solar  days  is  a  Mean  solar 
D.  The  Astronomical  solar  D.  is  reckoned 
from  noon  to  noon  ;  the  Civil  D.  from  midnight 
to  midnight.  The  interval  between  two  succes- 
sive (superior)  transits  of  a  given  star  is  a 
Sidereal  D.  ;  it  is  the  interval  of  time  in  which 
the  earth  makes  one  revolution  on  her  axis,  and 
is  3  mins.  55*91  sees,  of  mean  time  shorter  than 
a  mean -day.  The  sidereal  D.  begins  when  the 
first  point  of  Aries  is  on  the  meridian.  The 
interval  between  two  successive  transits  of  the 
moon  is  called  a  Lunar  D.  Its  average  length 
is  about  54  mins.  of  mean  time  longer  than  a 
mean  day. 

Day-fly.     (Ephemeridse.) 

Day-rule.  (Leg. )  A  permission  to  a  prisoner 
to  leave  prison  for  the  purpose  of  transacting 
necessary  business. 

Daysman.  Umpire,  arbiter  deciding  between 
two  parties  after  judicial  hearing  (Job  ix.  33). 
Day  at  one  time  =  (i)  law  day,  also  (2)  day  for 
the  meeting  of  an  assembly. 

Days  of  grace.    (Grace,  Days  of.) 

Day's  work.  (Naut.)  The  reduction  by 
trigonometry  of  the  ship's  courses  and  distances 
from  noon  to  noon,  after  allowing  for  currents, 


leeway,  etc.,  and  so  determining  her  latitude  and 
longitude,  i.e.  by  dead-reckoning. 

Dead-angle.  Space  between  any  two  lines  of 
intrenchment  not  swept  by  musketry  fire. 

Dead-colouring.  The  first  layer  of  colouring, 
generally  grey  ;  so  called  because  not  seen  when 
the  painting  is  finished. 

Dead-eye,  or  Dead  man's  eye.  (Naut.}  Flat, 
rounded  pieces  of  wood  with  one  or  more  holes 
in  them,  through  which  a  lanyard  (or  small  rope) 
is  passed,  so  as  to  get  a  purchase. 

Dead-freight.  (Leg.}  Freight  paid  by  a 
merchant,  who  does  not  ship  a  full  cargo,  for  the 
part  not  shipped. 

Dead-heat.  The  result  of  a  contest  in  which 
two  or  more  competitors  are  equally  first. 

Dead  horse.    (Naut.)    (Advance  money.) 

Dead-lights.  (Naut. )  Wooden  shutters  fitted 
into  cabin  windows. 


Dead-lock.     1.  A   lock  without  a 


spring 


latch,  which  can  only  be  worked  with  key.  2. 
Metaph.  a  standstill  in  negociations  or  opera- 
tions. 

Dead-men.  (Naut.}  Reef  or  gasket  ends 
left  dangling  from  a  yard,  when  a  sail  is  furled 
in  a  slovenly  manner. 

Dead-points.  Those  points  of  the  circle  de- 
scribed by  the  end  of  a  crank  at  which  the 
crank  and  connecting-rod  are  in  the  same 
straight  line.  In  this  position  the  driving  power 
has  no  tendency  to  turn  the  crank,  which  is 
carried  past  the  dead-points  only  by  the  inertia 
of  the  machine. 

Dead-reckoning.    (Day's  work.) 

Dead-ropes.  (Naut.)  Ropes  not  passing 
through  a  block. 

Dead-set.  1.  Attitude  of  a  pointer  giving 
warning  of  game.  2.  A  conspiracy  to  cheat  at 
cards. 

Dead-wood.  ( Naut. }  Blocks  of  timber  fayed' 
on  to  the  upper  side  of  the  keel,  and  at  the:  ex- 
treme ends,  to  a  considerable  height  one  upon 
another.  Dead-wood  knees,  the  top  pieces  of 
dead-wood  fore  and  aft,  shaped  so  as  to  fasten  the 
keel  to  the  stem  and  stern. 

Dead-works,  Upper,  or  Supernatant  works. 
So  much  of  a  laden  vessel  as  is  above  water. 

Deal.  [A.S.  dselan,  to  divide.}  As  in  Exod. 
xxix.  40 ;  a  portion. 

Deal  beach,  Kolled  upon.  (Naut. )  A  pock- 
marked man  ;  also  called  Cribbage-faced. 

De  alieno  corio  liberalis.  [L.]  Liberal  at 
another's  expense  ;  lit.  from  another's  skin. 

Dean  of  Christianity.    (Decani.) 

Dean  of  Faculty.     (Decani^  Faculty  Court.) 

Dean  of  the  Arches.    (Decani.) 

Dean  of  the  City.     (Decani.) 

De  asmi  umbra  disceptare.  [L.]  To  dispitte- 
about  an  asfs  shadow  •  to  indulge  in  idle,  useless 
disputations. 

Death  in  the  pot.  Poison  which  has  ac- 
cidentally found  its  way  into  an  ordinary  meal 
2  Kings  iv.  40).  (Sodom,  Vine  of.) 

Death-watch.  (Entom. )  Gen.  of  small  beetle 
(Anobium),  which  calls  its  mate  by  tapping  with 
its  mandibles.  Fam.  Ptinidoe. 

Debacle.     [Fr.]    A  breaking  up  of  river  ice; 


DEBE 


158 


DECK 


a  sudden  violent  flood  carrying  all  before  it ; 
lit.  an  unbarring  [bacler,  to  bar  with  a  wooden 
bar,  baculus]. 

Debellation.  [L.  debellare,  to  utterly  over- 
come in  war.}  Utter  subjugation,  the  carrying 
of  a  war  to  an  utterly  successful  issue. 

Debenture.  [From  L.  debeo,  /  owe.}  A 
deed-poll  charging  property  with  repayment  of 
money  lent  at  a  given  interest.  Public  com- 
panies often  raise  money  by  D.  The  interest  on 
D.  stock  is  a  primary  charge  on  the  company's 
property. 

Debenture  stock.  (Debenture.) 
Deblai.  [Fr.  deblayer,  to  clear  away,  L.L. 
debladare,  to  clear  afield.}  Excavation  from 
which  the  materials  remblai  [Fr.  remblayer,  to 
embank}  have  been  obtained  for  constructing 
fortifications. 

Debasement.  [Fr.]  Clearing  off  of  wood 
[bois]. 

Debonair.  [Fr.  debonnaire,  de  bon  air,  of 
good  appearance.  (For  the  history  of  the  word 
air,  see  Littre  and  Wedgwood.)]  Graceful, 
gentle,  courteous. 

Debouch.  [Fr.  deboucher,  to  clear,  uncork, 
bouche,  a  mouth,  L.  bucca.]  To  pass  through 
the  outlet,  or  debouchure,  of  any  defile. 

Debruised.  (Her.)  Having  an  ordinary 
placed  across  it. 

Debutant,  -ante,  fern.  [Fr.]  One  who  makes 
a  debut,  or  first  appearance,  especially  on  the 
stage. 

Decade.  [Fr.  decade,  L.L.  decada,  from 
SfKcis,  -dSos,  a  number  of  ten.}  A  sum  or  aggre- 
gate numbering  ten,  especially  a  period  of  ten 
years. 

D  ecagon.    ( Polygon. ) 

Decagramme;  Decalitre;  Decametre.  [Gr. 
Se/ca,  ten,  and  Fr.  gramme,  etc.]  Measures  of 
ten  grammes,  ten  litres,  and  ten  metres  respec- 
tively. (Gramme;  Litre;  Metre.) 

Decameron.  [Gr.  Se'«o  fiepwv,  of  ten  parts,  or 
Sex^AtepoSj  lasting  for  ten  days.}  A  famous  col- 
lection of  stories  by  Boccaccio  (fourteenth  cen- 
tury), supposed  to  be  told  in  ten  days  ;  whence 
Chaucer,  Shakespeare,  etc.,  got  material. 

Decani.  [L.]  (Eccl.)  St.  Augustine  speaks 
of  the  chief  of  ten  monks  as  a  Decanus.  Hence 
the  dean  of  a  cathedral  church  is  one  who  is 
supposed  to  preside  over  ten  canons  or  preben- 
daries at  least ;  and  a  Decanus  Christianitatis, 
or  Dean  of  Christianity,  was  so  called  as  having 
jurisdiction  over  a  district  of  ten  churches.  He 
was  also  known  as  Urban  Dean,  or  Dean  of  the 
City.  Thus,  also,  the  Deans  of  Faculty  in 
universities  presided  over  their  respective 
faculties,  and  maintained  discipline.  The  Dean 
of  the  Arches  is  the  judge  in  the  metropolitan 
court  of  Canterbury,  this  court  having  been 
anciently  held  in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary  of  the 
Arches,  or  le-Bow. 

Decapoda.  [Gr.  5e/co,  ten,  irovs,  irotios,  foot.} 
(Zool.)  1.  Cephalopods  with  ten  suckers,  as 
cuttlefish.  2.  Crustaceans  with  ten  thoracic  feet, 
as  crabs. 

Decarburation.  The  freeing  of  any  substance 
from  [L.  de]  carbon.  (Bessemer  steel.) 


Decastich.  [Gr.  5e/ca,  ten,  ori'xes,  lines.}  A 
verse  or  poem  of  ten  lines. 

Decasyllabic.  [Gr.  5e/co,  ten,  <ruA\a#j,  syllable.] 
Of  ten  syllables. 

Deccan.  A  district  of  high  tableland  in 
Central  Hindustan,  between  the  Nerbuddah  and 
the  Kistnah. 

Decemvirs.  [L.  decemviri,  ten  men.}  (Hist.) 
This  name,  applying  to  any  body  of  ten  men,  is 
used  especially  to  denote  the  commission  of  ten 
appointed  to  revise  the  laws  of  Rome  in  the 
3O2nd  year  after  the  foundation  of  the  city.  As 
the  result  of  their  work,  they  are  said  to  have 
put  forth  the  laws  of  the  Twelve  Tables. 

Decennary.  [L.L.  decennarium,  from  de"cen- 
nium,  from  d£cem,  ten,  annus,  year.}  1.  A 
period  of  ten  years.  2.  The  day  which  ter- 
minates such  a  period  or  begins  the  next. 

Decheance.    The  French  term  for  Forfeiture. 

Deciduous.  [L.  de-ciduus,  that  falls  down  or 
off.}  1.  (Nat.  Hist.)  Shed  during  the  lifetime 
of  the  creature.  2.  (Bot.)  D.  trees,  not  ever- 
green. 

Decies  repetlta  placebit.  [L.]  Though  re- 
peated ten  times,  it  will  be  pleasing. 

Decigramme ;  Decilitre ;  Decimetre ;  Decistere. 
[L.  declmus,  tenth,  and  Fr.  gramme,  etc.] 
Measures  of  the  tenth  part  of  a  gramme,  litre, 
metre,  and  stere  respectively.  (Gramme ;  Litre  ; 
Metre;  Stere.) 

Decimal ;  Circulating  D. ;  D.  fraction ;  D.  no- 
tation; D.  place;  Recurring  D.;  Repeating  D. 
Reckoned  by  tens.  The  D.  notation  is  that  in 
common  use  for  expressing  numbers  by  units, 
tens,  hundreds,  etc.  A  D.  is  a  fraction  ex- 
pressed by  an  extension  of  the  decimal  notation, 
by  tenths,  hundredths,  etc.  ;  thus,  273^  is 
expressed  by  273-568,  i.e.  200  +  70  +  3  +  ft  + 
T55  "r*  T?f(50 »  according  as  a  number  stands  for  so 
many  tenths,  hundredths,  thousandths,  etc.,  it 
stands  in  the  first,  second,  third,  etc.,  D.  place. 
It  is  found  that  by  this  notation  all  numbers  can 
be  expressed  either  exactly  or  to  any  assignable 
degree  of  approximation.  When  after  any 
assigned  place  a  decimal  consists  of  a  group 
of  digits  repeated  to  infinity  in  the  same  order  ; 
as,  2-51834834834,  etc.,  it  is  a  Circulating,  or 
Recurring,  or  Repeating  D.  ;  the  group  of  digits 
repeated  is  the  Repetend. 

Decimation.  [L.  decimare,  to  decimate.}  1.  The 
selection  of  every  tenth  man  for  punishment,  as 
after  mutiny  of  Roman  soldiers  under  the  empire. 
2.  A  destruction  of  one  in  ten,  or  ten  per  cent. 

Deck-,  or  Round-  house.  A  cabin  on  the  deck, 
with  gangways  on  each  side. 

Decks.  In  a  line-of-battle  ship  (three-decker) : 
Poop-D.,  that  which  reaches  from  the  mizzen- 
mast  to  the  taffrail.  The  Upper  or  Spar  D., 
from  stem  to  stern,  divided  into  Quarter-D., 
that  part  abaft  the  mainmast ;  Waist  or  Booms, 
between  the  fore  and  main  masts.  Forecastle, 
from  the  foreshrouds  to  bows.  Main-D.,  or 
Gun-D.y  the  whole  length  of  ship  below  the 
spar-D.;  then  the  Middle-D.,  succeeded  by 
Lower-D.  and  Orlop-D.  In  a  two-decker,  the 
Middle-D.  is  omitted.  Flush- D.  is  one  con- 
tinued the  whole  length  of  a  vessel. 


DECL 


DEFE 


Declaration  for  liberty  of  conscience.  (Seven 
bishops.) 

Declaration  of  Indulgence,  The,  by  Charles  II. , 
March  15,  1672,  suspended  all  penalties  against 
Dissenters.  (Conventicle  Acts;  Five-Mile  Act.) 

Declension.  [L.  decllnatio,  -nem,  Gr.  irruxns, 
slanting,  inflexion.]  (Gram.)  The  indication  by 
change  of  form  or  auxiliary  words  (prepositions) 
of  the  relation  of  the  idea  of  a  noun  to  other 
ideas  expressed  in  a  sentence.  (Aptote.) 

Declination;  D.  circle;  Magnetic  D. ;  Parallel 
of  D.  [L.  declmatio,  -nem,  a  bending  aside.'} 
The  circle  drawn  through  the  poles  of  the  great 
sphere  which  passes  through  the  centre  of  a 
heavenly  body  is  its  D.  circle ;  its  D.  is  its  an- 
gular distance  north  or  south  of  the  celestial 
equator  measured  on  its  declination  circle ;  its 
Parallel  of  D.  is  the  small  circle  drawn  through 
it  parallel  to  the  celestial  equator.  The  Magnetic 
D.  at  any  place  is  the  angle  between  the  direc- 
tion of  the  magnetic  north  and  the  meridian;  i.e. 
the  bearing  of  the  magnetic  north  east  or  west 
of  true  north. 

Declinometer.  [Eng.  decline,  Gr.  juerpoi/,  a 
measure.}  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
declination  (q.v.}  of  the  needle. 

Decollation.  [From  L.  decollare,  to  take  off 
from  the  neck  (collum).]  Beheading  ;  especially 
used  of  the  martyrdom  of  St.  John  Baptist. 

Decor  inemptus.    [L.]    Unboiight grace. 

Decree  nisi.  A  decree  in  the  first  instance  of 
divorce  or  nullity  ;  to  be  made  absolute  in  six 
months,  unless  cause  to  the  contrary  be  shown 
in  the  mean  time. 

Decreet.  [L.  decretum,  p.  part,  of  decerno, 
I  decree.  }  (Scot.  Law. )  Final  decision  of  a  court. 

Decrement.  [L.  decrementum,  decrease.} 
(Her. )  The  wane  of  the  moon. 

Decrements.  [L,  decrementa,  diminutions.'} 
Charges  in  battels  at  Oxford  for  wear  and  tear 
of  table  furniture,  etc. 

Decrepitating  salts.  [L.  de,  and  cre"pitare,  to 
crackle.}  Salts  which  crackle  when  heated. 

Decrescent,  Moon.  (Her.)  A  waning  [L. 
decrescentem]  moon,  having  its  horns  turned  to 
the  sinister  side. 

Decretals.  [L.  decretalis,  decretum,  a  decree.} 
1.  A  portion  of  Canon  law,  the  decrees  or  written 
answers  of  early  popes  upon  disputed  questions. 
So  the  Romans  had  regarded  the  responsa  pru- 
dentum  when  unanimous,  as  law  ;  and  the  em- 
peror's opinion,  afterwards,  when  all  legislative 
power  became  centred  in  him.  2.  (Hist. )  This 
name  is  specially  used  to  denote  the  collection 
of  letters  and  decrees  of  the  twenty  popes  from 
Clement  to  Melchiades,  published  during  the  pon- 
tificate of  Nicholas  I. ,  858-867.  These  spurious 
decretals,  which  were  certainly  completed  after 
829,  assert  the  papal  supremacy,  and  contain  the 
whole  Roman  system  of  dogma  and  discipline. 
— Milman,  Hist,  of  Lathi  Christianity. 

Deciis  et  tutamen  in  armis.  [L.]  An  orna- 
ment and  protection  in  battle  (Virgil) ;  of  a 
breast-plate. 

Decussate.  [L.  decusso,  /  divide  by  x ,  the 
sign  of  decussis,  ten.}  (Bot.)  Crossing  at  right 
angles  ;  e.g.  the  leaves  of  Pimelea  decussata. 


Decypher,  Decipher.  [Fr.  dechififrer,  It.  deci- 
ferare.]  To  interpret  secret  writing  (cipher),  or 
illegible  writing,  or  unknown  language,  as  that  of 
Etruscan  or  cuneiform  inscriptions. 

Dedecorant  bene  nata  culpae.  [L.]  Faults 
disflgure  natural  advantages. 

Dedication,  Feast  of.  The  annual  feasts,  com- 
memorating the  dedication  of  churches,  were  in 
this  country  called  wakes ;  i.e.  vigils  or  eves.  In 
his  instructions  to  Augustine,  Gregory  the  Great 
allows  the  yearly  celebration  of  these  feasts  in 
churches  made  out  of  the  heathen  temples.  The 
custom  was  kept  up  to  the  seventeenth  century, 
when  the  Puritans  raised  their  voices  against  it ; 
and  although  it  has  fallen  into  disuse  in  some 
counties,  it  is  still  observed  generally  in  the  north. 

De  die  in  diem.    [L.]    From  day  to  day. 

Dedimus  potestatem.  [L.]  (Leg.)  We  have 
given  the  power ;  a  writ  or  commission  to  a  private 
person  or  private  persons  to  forward  some  act 
pertaining  to  a  judge  or  court. 

Deduction.  [L.  deductio,  -nem,  a  bringing 
do*vn.}  A  proposition  in  geometry,  the  proof 
of  which  can  be  deduced  from  Euclid's  pro- 
positions. 

Deed-poll.  (Leg.)  A  deed  (with  a  polled edge 
as  opposed  to  an  indenture;  q.v.),  executed  by 
one  party  only,  manifesting  the  grantor's  act  and 
intention,  when  he  undertakes  certain  obligations 
without  any  being  imposed  in  return  on  the 
grantee. 

Deemster,  Doomster.  [A.S.  dom,  doom.}  The 
title  of  judges  in  Jersey  and  in  the  Isle  of  Man. 
In  Scotland,  an  officer  so  named  reads  out  the 
sentence  awarded  by  the  court. 

Deep.     (Naut.)     More  than  twenty  fathoms. 

Deep-sea  line.  A  sounding  apparatus  for  use 
in  the  deep  sea. 

Deer,  Stages  of  growth  of.  [O.E.  deor;  cf. 
Ger.  thier,  Gr.  0-f)p,  L.  fera.]  The  young  of  the 
Red  deer  (Cervus  elSphus)  is  termed  a  calf,  and 
becomes  in  successive  years  a  Brocket,  a  Spade 
or  Spayed,  a  Staggard,  a  Stag,  and  a  Hart.  The 
corresponding  terms  in  the  Fallow  deer  (Dama 
vulgaris)  are  Fawn,  Pricket,  Sorrel,  Soare,  Buck 
of  the  first  head,  Complete  buck.  The  young  of 
the  Roe  (Capr£olus  capraea)  is  termed  a  Kid, 
and  becomes  successively  a  Gird  and  a  Hemwe. 
(Antlers.) 

De  facto.  [L.]  A  legal  phrase,  denoting 
possession  without  reference  to  title  ;  de  jurt, 
denoting  right  of  title  without  reference  to  pos- 
session. 

Defalcation.  [L.  defalcatio,  -nem,  defalcare, 
from  falx,  falcis,  sickle.}  A  cutting  off  or  de- 
duction, especially  unlawful  abstraction  by  an 
employe  or  officer  of  money  entrusted  to  him. 

Defeasance.  [From  O.Fr.  defesant,  Fr.  defai- 
sant,  pres.  part,  of  defaire,  to  undo.}  1.  A 
defeat.  2.  A  rendering  null  and  void.  3.  (Ltg. ) 

Defecate.  [L.  defsecare,  to  cleanse  from  dregs 
(fasces).]  To  purify,  make  clear,  clarify. 

Defender  of  the  Faith.  This  title  (in  L.,  Fidei 
Defensor)  was  bestowed  by  Pope  Leo  X.  (1521) 
on  Henry  VIII. ,  for  the  publication  of  his  book 
against  Luther.  On  the  suppression  of  the 
monasteries,  the  pope  withdrew  the  title,  which 


DEFE 


160 


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was  afterwards  bestowed  on  the  king  by  Parlia- 
ment (1544). 

Defensio  Populi  Anglican!.  [L.,  Defence  of  the 
English  People.]  Milton's  pamphlet,  written 
in  justification  of  the  execution  of  Charles  L, 
in  answer  to  Salmasius,  i.e.  De  Saumaise,  a 
very  learned  man,  employed  by  Christina  of 
Sweden  to  write  an  invocation  of  divine  ven- 
geance upon  the  Parliament. 

Deferent    (Epicyle.) 

Deferred  stock.  Stock  on  which  no  interest 
is  paid  until  the  holders  of  preference  and  ordin- 
ary stock  have  received  interest  at  the  rate  of  so 
much  per  cent. 

Defervescence.  [L.  defervesco,  I  cease  boiling.] 
A  growing  cool,  a  subsiding  from  a  state  of  ebul- 
lition or  agitation. 

Defide.    [L.,  of  the  faith.]    (Eccl.)   Essential. 

Defilade.  [Fr.  defiler,  to  file  off.]  (Mil.}  To 
arrange  the  heights  of  the  earthworks  of  fortifica- 
tion so  as  to  conceal  the  interior  from  the  fire  of 
an  enemy. 

Deflagrate,  To.  [L.  deflagrare,  to  be  burned 
up.]  To  cause  to  burn  with  sudden  and  spark- 
ling combustion. 

Deflagrator.  [L.  deflagrare,  to  be  burned  up.] 
A  kind  of  voltaic  battery  used  for  producing 
great  light  and  heat. 

DefluVlum.  [L.]  A  flowing  or  falling  off,  as 
of  the  hair. 

Defterdar.  [Turk.,  book-keeper.]  The  Turkish 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer. 

Degage.     [Fr.]     Unembarrassed,  at  ease. 

Deglutinate.  [L.  deglutinare,  to  unglue,  from 
gluten.  To  separate  by  moistening  or  warming, 
to  unglue. 

Deglutition.  [From  L.  degluttio,  I  swallow 
down.]  1.  The  act  of  swallowing  down.  2,  The 
power  of  swallowing. 

Degradation.  1.  (Geol.)  Gradual  waste  and 
removal,  as  of  hill,  rock,  etc.  2.  (Phys.)  D.  of 
force  or  energy,  the  change  of  a  small  quantity 
of  force  of  a  higher  intensity  into  a  larger  quantity 
of  lower  intensity. 

Degrade.  [L.L.  degridare,  to  make  to  step 
(grSdi)  down  (de).]  1.  In  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, to  put  off  competition  in  an  examination 
for  a  degree  with  honours  for  a  year  or  more,  on 
some  plea  to  be  approved  by  the  authorities.  2. 
(Her. )  To  terminate  in  steps. 

Degree  [L.L.  degr&dus,  a  step,  degree] ;  D.  of 
an  equation ;  D.  of  latitude ;  D.  of  the  meridian. 
1.  The  36oth  part  of  the  circumference  of  a 
circle.  2.  The  angle  subtended  at  the  centre 
by  that  part.  If  two  stations  are  taken  on  the 
same  meridian  such  that  the  directions  of  the 
plumb-lines  at  them,  when  produced,  contain  an 
angle  of  i°,  they  are  said  to  be  a.  D.  of  latitude 
apart ;  the  length  of  the  arc  of  the  meridian 
between  them  is  a  D.  of  the  meridian  ;  the  length 
of  a  degree  of  the  meridian  is  greater  near  the 
poles  than  near  the  equator.  The  D.  of  an 
equation  is  the  highest  power  of  the  unknown 
quantity,  e.g.  x3  —  jx  +  6  =  o  is  an  equation  of 
the  third  degree. 

Degree  in  University.  (Faculty;  Begent 
masters.) 


Degrees.  Fifteen  songs  of,  or  psalms  of,  Ps. 
cxx.-cxxxiv.  inclusive.  A  very  obscure  term. 
(?)  Chanted  on  the  return  from  Babylon  ;  (?) 
written  for  pilgrims  going  up  to  feasts  at  Jeru- 
salem ;  (?)  chanted  upon  the  fifteen  steps  leading 
from  the  court  of  the  women,  in  the  temple,  to 
the  court  of  the  men  of  Israel  ;  so  LXX.,  "  'n5$; 


De  gustibus  non  est  disputandum.  [L.,  we 
must  not  dispute  about  tastes.]  There  is  no  ac- 
counting for  tastes. 

Dehiscent  fruits.  [L.  dehisco,  I  part  asunder.] 
(Bot/  Opening  by  a  suture,  which  allows  the 
seeds  to  escape  ;  e.g.  legumes.  Indehiscent, 
when  the  sutures  do  not  give  way  at  the  ripen- 
ing ;  e.g.  nut,  wheat. 

Dehors.     [Fr.]    Foreign  to,  outside. 

Deianeira.    (Nessus,  Shirt  of.) 

Dei  gratia.  [L.,  by  the  grace  of  God.]  A 
formula  commonly  used  in  describing  the  title 
of  a  sovereign  ;  first  used  by  the  clergy. 

Deipara.  [L.]  Translates  the  Greek  Theo- 
tokos,  mother  of  God  ;  the  title  of  the  Virgin 
Mary  in  the  Eastern  Church. 

Deipnosophists.  [Gr.  Aenri/o-iroQurTal,  supper- 
philosophers.]  The  characters  in  Athenseus's 
(third  century)  work  of  the  name,  in  which  he 
professes  to  record  the  learned  table-talk  of 
Galen,  Ulpian,  and  others. 

Deira.  A  large  district  of  Northumbria  in 
early  Eng.  Hist. 

Dejeuner.  [Fr.,  from  L.  de,  from,  jejumum, 
a  fast.]  A  morning  meal,  breakfast. 

Dejure.     (De  facto.) 

Dekoyts.     (Dacoits.) 

Delai  Lama.     (Lama.) 

Delation.  [L.  delatio,  -nem,  an  informing 
against.]  An  information,  a  charging  with  a 
crime. 

Del  credere.  [It.]  Guaranty  or  warranty  by 
a  factor  of  the  solvency  of  a  purchaser. 

Dele.  [L.]  Erase,  remove  from  the  text  ; 
commonly  used  (or  d  only)  in  correcting  proofs 
or  the  press. 

Delectable  Mountains.  In  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's 
Progress,  mountains  whence  the  Celestial  City 
could  be  descried. 

Delegates,  Court  of.    (Court,  Christian.) 

Delenda  est  Carthago.  [L.]  Carthage  must 
be  destroyed  ;  the  continual  contention  of  the 
elder  Cato. 

Delete.  [L.  deletus,  p.  part,  of  deleo,  I  destroy, 
erase.]  To  blot  out,  remove  from  a  text. 

Delft  ware,  Delf.  Coarse  earthenware  made  at 
Delft,  in  Holland. 

Delian  problem.     (Duplication.) 

Delibation.  [L.  delibatio,  -nem.]  A  tasting,  a 
slight  trial. 

Delicately.  In  its  older  sense,  wantonly  [Gr. 
o-TraToAwo-a,  I  Tim.  v.  II]. 

Delimitation.  [L.  de,  off,  llmitare,  to  enclose 
by  boundaries,  from  limes,  limitis,  limit.] 
Settlement  of  frontiers  or  boundaries. 

Deliquescent  salts.  [L.  dellquescere,  to  melt 
away.  ]  Salts  which  melt  by  attracting  moisture 
from  the  air. 

Dellrant  reges,  plectuntur  ichivi.    [L.]    The 


DELI 


161 


DEMO 


chiefs  act  madly;  Me  Achcean  people  are 
punished. 

Deliration.  [L.  deliratio,  -nem,  madness,  de- 
lirium^ from  delirare,  to  draw  aside  the  fiirrow 
(lira).]  Delirium,  mad  delusion. 

Delitescence.  [L.  delitesco,  /  hide  atvay.~\ 
(Med. )  Sudden  subsiding  of  a  tumour  or  disease 
generally. 

Delivery.  [Fr.  delivrer,  L.L.  delibe'rare,  to 
deliver,  from  de,  from,  liberare,  to  make  free 
(liber).]  (Leg.)  Of  a  deed,  an  actual  or  im- 
plied handing  it  over. 

Delia  Crusca.  [It.,  of  the  sieve.}  The 
Academia  della  Crusca  was  founded  in  Florence 
in  1582,  and  is  now  incorporated  with  the  Ac. 
Florentina.  The  dictionary  published  by  this 
academy  established  the  Tuscan  dialect  as  the 
standard  of  the  Italian  language. 

Della  Cruscan.  Name  of  a  class  of  silly 
poetasters  at  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
borrowed  by  one  of  the  members  as  signature, 
from  the  Florentine  academy,  Della  Crusca. 

Delia  Bobbia  ware.  (From  inventor's  name.) 
Terra-cotta  bas-reliefs,  thickly  enamelled  with  a 
tin-glaze  ;  made  at  Florence,  circ.  1400-1530  j  in 
France,  circ.  1530-1567. 

Delos.    (Ortygian  shore.) 

Delphi.     (Parnassus.) 

Delphic.   [Gr.  AeA<£o/.]   Oracular,  ambiguous. 

Delphic  oracle.  The  oracle  Apollo  at  Delphi, 
the  most  celebrated  in  Greece  for  the  wisdom  or 
the  ambiguity  of  its  answers. 

Delphin  Classics.  [L.  delphinus,  dolphin. 
(Dauphin.)]  Name  of  an  edition  of  the  classics 
prepared  for  the  Dauphin  of  France,  afterwards 
Louis  XV. 

Delphimdae.  [Gr.  5eA</>k,  dolphin.']  (Zoo!.) 
Fam.  of  carnivorous  cetaceans,  as  the  porpoise. 
Universally  distributed. 

Delta.  A  triangular  tract  of  alluvial  land  or 
mud  ;  so  called  from  its  likeness  to  the  shape  of 
the  fourth  letter  in  the  Greek  alphabet,  A.  The 
largest  deltas  are  those  of  the  Mississippi,  Ganges, 
Nile,  Rhone,  Po,  and  Danube. 

Deltoid  muscle.  The  triangular-shaped  muscle 
of  the  shoulder,  in  shape  [e?8os]  like  a  delta,  A. 

De  mal  en  pis.     [Fr.]    From  bad  to  worse. 

Demarch.  [Gr.  5^apx°s,  from  STJ/XOS,  district, 
&pxetv,  to  rule.}  The  mayor  of  a  Greek  town- 
ship. 

Deme.    (Demos.) 

De  medietate  linguae,  A  jury.  [L.,  of  a  moiety 
of  one's  own  tongue, .]  One  of  which  half  are 
foreigners,  if  they  can  be  found ;  a  privilege  of 
foreigners  indicted  for  felony  or  misdemeanour. 

Dementia.  [L.,  madness.}  In  Path..  =  diminu- 
tion, through  injury  or  disease,  of  mental  powers 
which  had  been  fully  developed.  (Amentia.) 

Demesne.  [O.Fr.  demaine,  Fr.  domaine,  L. 
dominium,  property.}  That  part  of  an  estate  or 
manor  retained  by  a  lord  in  his  own  occupation. 

Demi-bastion.     (Bastion.) 

Demi-gorge.  (Fort.)  Line  from  the  interior 
extremities  of  a  face  or  flank  of  a  work  in  forti- 
fication, to  the  capital  (q.v. ). 

Demijohn.  [Fr.  Dame  Jeanne,  Lady  Jane, 
from  Demaghan,  a  town  of  Khorassan,  renowned 


for  glassware.]  A  large  glass  jar  or  bottle  with  a 
small  neck,  covered  with  wickerwork. 

Demi-lune.  [Fr.,  half -moon.}  (Fortif.)  In 
primitive  fortification,  a  semicircular  work,  now 
occupied  by  the  ravelin  (q.v.). 

Demi-monde.  [Fr.,  half -world.}  Those  on 
the  outskirts  of  the  fashionable  world.  The  word 
got  a  disreputable  sense  during  the  reign  of 
Napoleon  III. 

De  mmimis  non  curat  lex.  [L.]  The  law 
does  not  concern  itself  about  trifles  ;  otherwise  an 
undignified  use  would  be  made  of  its  courts,  and 
petty  litigation  encouraged. 

Demi-rilievo.  [Fr.  demi,  half,  and  It.  rilievo, 
relief.}  Carving  in  which  the  figures  are  half 
raised  from  the  background. 

Demise.  [Fr.  demise,  from  demettre,  L. 
demittere,  tv  lay  or  let  down.}  1.  (Leg.)  A 
transfer,  grant  by  lease.  2.  Hence  the  death 
of  a  sovereign,  upon  which  the  kingdom  is  at 
once  transferred  to  the  successor,  as  signified  by 
the  phrase,  "  The  king  never  dies." 

Demission.  [L.  demissio,  -nem,  a  letting 
down.}  A  lowering,  abatement,  depression. 

Demi-tint.  Half-tint,  that  is,  the  colour  of  an 
object  neither  in  the  full  light  nor  full  shade. 

Demiurge.  [Gr.  Srjmovpyds,  working  for  the 
people,  from  5rj/uoy,  of  the  peo.ple,  epyfiv,  to  work.} 
1.  The  maker  of  the  universe  employed  by  the 
Supreme  Divine  Mind  according  to  Plato's  Ti- 
maeus,  regarded  by  Neoplatonists  and  Gnostics 
as  the  source  of  all  evil.  In  the  Zoroastrian 
system,  the  Demiurge  is  Ahriman.  2.  A  magis- 
trate in  some  Peloponnesian  states,  as  Mantinea 
and  the  Achaean  League. 

Demi-vill.  [Fr.  demi,  half,  vill,  Fr.  ville,  It. 
villa,  township.}  A  township  containing  only 
five  freemen.  (Frankpledge.) 

Demivolt.  [Fr.  demi,  half,  volte,  It.  volta, 
from  voluto,  I  turn.}  An  artificial  motion  of  a 
horse,  in  which  he  gives  a  half-turn  with  the 
fore  legs  raised. 

Democrats.  (Amer.  Polit.)  One  of  the  two 
great  political  parties  in  the  U.S.  (Eepublicans.) 

Demogorgon.  [Gr.  Sai/jLuv,  deity,  yopydsf 
terrible  to  behold.'}  A  terrible  embodiment  of 
supreme  power  in  the  superstitions  of  the  first 
centuries  of  our  era ;  mentioned  by  Milton  in 
Paradise  Lost. 

Demoiselle.    [Fr.]    (Damosel.) 

Demon.  A  word  now  used  to  denote  evil 
spirits.  The  Greek  word  which  it  represents  is 
supposed  to  mean  simply  wise  or  intelligent ; 
and  in  the  Iliad  and  Odyssey  there  is  practically 
no  distinction  between  gods  and  demons.  In 
the  Hesiodic  Theogony,  the  men  of  the  Golden 
Age  become  after  their  death  guardian  demons 
of  the  earth.  Demons  afterwards  were  classified 
as  good  and  bad,  and  ultimately  were  regarded 
only  as  evil.  The  Latin  genii  answered  in  some 
respects  to  the  Greek  demons  ;  but  the  Genius 
or  guardian  of  each  man  was  as  mortal  as 
himself, 

Demonetize.  To  withdraw  money  from 
currency,  or  in  any  way  deprive  it  of  current 
value. 

Demonology.     (Angelology.) 


DEMO 


162 


DEPO 


Demonstrator.  [L.,  one  ivho points  out.]  An 
exhibitor  of  dissected  parts;  a  teacher  of 
anatomy. 

De  mortals  nil  nisi  bonum.  [L.]  Nothing 
but  good  (should  be  said)  about  the  dead. 

Demos.  [Gr.]  1.  The  people,  especially  the 
sovereign  people  of  ancient  Athens ;  often 
treated  as  a  person  by  the  comic  poets.  2.  The 
Demoi  of  Attica  were  districts  or  boroughs,  into 
which  the  members  of  the  tribes  were  divided. 
Commonly  called  Demes  by  English  writers. 

Demosthenic.  Pertaining  to  or  like  Demos- 
thenes, of  exalted  eloquence  or  patriotism. 

Demotic.  [Gr.  STj/tort/cdy,  belonging  to  ST^TCCI, 
private  citizens ;  commoners.'}  D.  character, 
a  simplified  form  of  the  hieratic  character  of 
Egyptian  writing.  (Enchorial.) 

De  motu  proprio.  [L.]  At  his  own  instance; 
of  one  who  is  the  real  as  well  as  the  technical 
promoter  of  a  suit  or  measure. 

Dempster.  [A.S.  deman,  to  jitdge,  deem,  and 
-ster,  suffix  denoting  agent.]  (Old  Scot.  Lavv.) 
The  officer  whose  duty  it  was  to  pronounce  the 
sentence  or  judgment  of  the  court.  (Deemster.) 

Demulcent  medicines,  etc.  [L.  demulceo,  / 
caress.]  Soothing,  diminishing  irritation. 

Demurrage.  [O.Fr.  demourer,  Fr.  demeurer, 
L.  demorare,  to  delay.]  (Naut.}  An  allowance 
made  by  a  freighter  to  owners  of  a  ship  detained 
in  port  longer  than  agreed  upon  in  the  contract 
of  affreightment. 

Demurrer.  1.  (Demurrage.)  2.  (Leg.}  A  plead- 
ing by  a  defendant  (generally  in  a  civil  suit), 
which,  admitting  the  facts  of  the  opponent's  case, 
takes  exception  to  the  indictment,  information, 
or  evidence,  and  asks  the  court  to  decide  if  such 
case  stands  in  law.  The  chief  heads  of  exception 
are  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court,  to  the  person 
of  the  plaintiff,  to  the  substance  or  form  of  the 
bill. 

Demy.  [L.  dimidius,  half.}  1.  A  scholar  (half 
a  fellow)  of  Magdalen  College,  Oxford.  2.  A 
kind  of  paper  about  twenty-two  inches  by  seven- 
teen. 

-den.  [(?)  Celt.]  Part  of  names,  as  in  Ar- 
den,  meaning  deep,  wooded  valley  in  a  forest. 

Denarii  de  caritate.  [L.]  Pence  of  charity  ; 
oblations  made  anciently  to  cathedral  churches, 
by  parish  priests,  going  with  some  of  their  pa- 
rishioners to  visit  them  ;  these  became,  in  time,  a 
settled  charge. 

Denarius.  [L.]  A  Roman  silver  coin  con- 
taining ten,  afterwards  sixteen,  asses,  =  eight- 
pence  or  nearly  thirteen-pence.  The  aureus  D. 
=  twenty-five  silver  D. 

Dendrite,  Dendritic.  [Gr.  Scj/Spfrrjs,  of  or 
belonging  to  a  tree,  SwSpov.]  (Geol.}  Branching 
crystallization  or  oxidation  on  the  surfaces  of 
fissures  and  joints  in  rocks ;  mistaken,  some- 
times, for  fossil  plants. 
Denier.  (Livre.) 

Denis,  Abbey  of  St.  The  burial-place  for  the 
French  kings  from  A.D.  775. 

Denizen.  [O.Fr.  deinzein,  from  deinz,  =  L.L. 
deintus,/r<?w  within  (Skeat).]  1.  An  adopted 
citizen  or  subject.  2.  A  resident  in  a  foreign 
country.  3.  Dwellers  in,  inhabitants. 


Denominations,  The  Three.  An  association  of 
Dissenting  ministers  of  London  and  Westminster, 
A.D.  1727  ;  Presbyterian  (now  Socinian),  Inde- 
pendent, and  Baptist. 

Denominator.    (Fraction.) 

Denoument.  [Fr.  denouer,  to  untie,  L.  de, 
and  n5dare,  to  knot.]  The  discovery,  the  cata- 
strophe of  a  drama  or  plot,  a  scene  of  discovery 
or  detection  in  real  life. 

Denshiring.  Dressing  land  with  ashes  of  burnt 
stubble,  turf,  or  parings  of  top  soil. 

Density  [L.  densita,  -tern]  ;  Specific  D.  The 
Density  of  a  substance  is  the  quantity  of  matter 
in  a  unit  of  its  volume.  Specific  D. ,  or  Specific 
gravity,  of  a  substance  is  the  ratio  which  the 
weight  of  any  volume  of  it  bears  to  the  weight 
of  an  equal  volume  of  some  standard  substance  ; 
which  for  solids  and  liquids  is  commonly  dis- 
tilled water  at  some  specified  temperature,  e.sr. 
60°  F.  or  3-94°  C. 

Dentation.  [L.  dens,  dentis,  tooth, ,]  Formation 
of  the  teeth. 

Dentirostrals,  Dentirostres.  [L.  dentem,  tooth, 
rostrum,  bill.]  (Ornith.)  Tooth -billed  birds,  a 
tribe  or  fam.  in  those  systems  which  characterize 
them  by  their  bills.  It  includes  shrikes  'and 
thrushes. 

Dentition.  [L.  dentltio,  -nem.]  The  time,  the 
symptoms,  of  cutting  teeth. 

Deobstruent.  [L.  de,  from,  obstruo,  I  stop  up.  ] 
Medicines  removing  obstruction. 

Deodand.  [L.  Deo  dandum,  to  be  given  to  God.] 
In  English  jurisprudence,  a  practice,  now  abol- 
ished, of  inflicting  a  fine  in  cases  of  homicide  on 
the  chattel  which  was  declared  to  be  the  cause 
of  the  death. 

De  omnibus  rebus  et  quibusdam  aliis.  [L.]  On 
all  things  and  some  others. 

Deontology.  [Gr.  rb  Seov,  gen.  Seovros,  that 
which  is  binding,  right, ,]  j.  Bentham's  name 
(1747-1832)  for  his  system  of  morality,  based 
upon  what  Dr.  Priestley  had  defined  as  the  object 
of  government,  "the  greatest  happiness  of  the 
greatest  number." 

Deorum  cibus.     [L.]    Food  for  the  gods. 

Department.  [Fr.  departement]  In  Fr. 
Hist. ,  the  name  given  by  the  Constituent  Assembly 
to  the  eighty-three  new  divisions  into  which  the 
whole  French  territory  was  divided  (1787-90). 

Departure.  (Naut.)  1.  The  difference  in 
longitude  made  good  by  a  ship  from  the  meridian 
from  which  she  departed.  2.  The  bearing  of 
an  object  from  which  a  voyage  commences. 

Depectible.  [L.  de,  and  pecto,/rtww£  off.]  Of 
tenacious  cohesion,  viscous. 

Depilatory.  [L.  depilo,  I  pull  out  hairs  (pili).] 
Of  use  for  removing  superfluous  hair. 

Depletion  [L.  depleo,  /  empty  otit]  =  blood- 
letting. 

Deploy.  [Fr.  deployer,  to  unroll.]  (Mil.} 
When  troops  from  a  close  formation  are  extended 
into  line. 

Depolarization;  Depolarize.  A  ray  of  polarized 
light  falling  at  a  certain  angle  on  a  plate  of  glass 
is  found  not  to  be  reflected  ;  but  if  a  double  re- 
fracting substance  is  interposed  before  the  ray 
reaches  the  glass,  it  is  now  reflected,  and  is  said 


DEPO 


163 


DESY 


to  be  Depolarized ;  this  result  is  due  to  the  com- 
bination of  the  first  polarization  with  a  second. 
If  the  interposed  substance  be  a  very  thin  plate, 
the  light,  if  originally  white,  becomes  coloured, 
the  colour  varying  with  the  thickness  and  posi- 
tion of  the  plate. 

Deponent.  [L.  depono,  /  lay  down,  depose."] 
1.  (Leg.)  One  who  makes  an  affidavit,  a 
witness.  2.  ( Gram. )  D.  verb,  one  which  has  a 
passive  form  but  an  active  or  intransitive  sense, 
as  sequor,  I  follow  ;  moror,  /  tarry. 

Depositary.  [L.  depositarius.  ]  One  with 
whom  any  property  is  deposited  in  trust.  De- 
positoryr,  the  place  in  which  it  is  so  deposited. 

Depot.  [Fr.  depot,  deposit,  L.  depositum.] 
(Mil.)  1.  A  storehouse.  2.  Establishment  for 
the  collection  of  war  material.  3.  A  reserve  for 
the  training  of  officers  and  men  for  the  service 
companies. 

Deprecations.  [L.  deprecatio,  -nem,  from 
precor,  I  pray.  \  In  the  Litany,  the  sentences 
which  begin  with  the  word  "  From." 

Depression  of  a  heavenly  body.  Its  angular 
distance  below  the  horizon  measured  on  a  vertical 
circle. 

Depression  of  the  dew-point.  The  number  of 
degrees  that  the  dew-point  is  below  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  atmosphere. 

De  principatibus.     (Machiavellian.) 

Depurate.  [L.  de,  thorotighly,  puratus,  p.  part. 
of  puro,  /  cleanse.]  To  free  from  impurities  or 
alien  matter. 

Deputies,  Chamber  of.  [Fr.  Chambre  des 
Deputes.]  In  Fr.  Hist.,  the  lower  of  the  two 
legislative  chambers  under  the  monarchy,  from 
1814  to  1848. 

Deputy-lieutenant.  The  deputy  of  the  lord- 
lieutenant  of  a  county.  There  are  several  in 
each  county.  A  uniform  attaches  to  the  office. 

Deracinate.  [Fr.  deraciner,  from  racine,  root.'} 
To  pluck  or  dig  up  by  the  roots. 

Deraign,  Derain,  Dereyn.    ( Darraign. ) 

Derbyshire  neck.     (Goitre.) 

Derbyshire  spar,  i.e.  abundant  in  D.  lime- 
stone. (Fluor-spar.) 

Derelict.  [L.  de,  and  r£lictus,  utterly  aban- 
doned.'} 1.  (Naut.)  A  vessel  forsaken  at  sea.  2. 
Of  lands,  suddenly  left  bare  by  retirement  of  the 
sea,  i.e.  generally  by  raising  of  the  coast-line. 

De  rigeur.  [Fr.]  Necessary  according  to 
etiquette. 

Deringer.  [Amer.]  A  kind  of  pistol  named 
from  the  original  maker. 

Derm.  [Gr.  5e>Ma,  skin.'}  The  true  skin, 
lying  under  the  rete"  mucosum,  which  is  covered 
by  the  epiderm. 

Dermaptera.  [Gr.  Stpua,  the  skin,  irrfptv,  a 
wing.'}  (Entom.)  Earwigs,  Forficiilidse.  Insects 
having  leathery  elytra.  Ord.  Orthoptera. 

Dermatology.    (Dermis.) 

Dermis.  The  vascular  layer  of  the  skin  [Gr. 
^fpfjLa]  ;  the  ciitis  vera,  or  true  skin.  Dermal, 
relating  to  the  D.,  or  equivalent  outer  covering. 
Dermatology,  an  account  of  the  skin,  its  functions, 
diseases,  etc. 

Dernier  resort.   [Fr.]  Last  resottrce,  last  resort. 

Derogatory.       [L.     derogatSrius,     detracting 


from.'}  (Leg.)  D.  clause  in  a  will,  a  secret 
clause  known  only  to  the  testator,  with  a  condi- 
tion that  no  future  will  not  containing  this  clause 
word  for  word  shall  be  valid. 

Derrick.  A  crane  on  which  the  jib  can  be  set 
at  different  angles  with  the  crane-post. 

Dervise,  Dervish.  This  Persian  word,  signify- 
ing poor,  denotes  certain  classes  of  so-called 
religious  persons  among  the  Mohammedans,  some 
living  in  monasteries,  others  as  hermits,  and 
belonging  to  many  orders. 

Descant.  In  mediaeval  times  the  addition,  at 
first  improvised,  afterwards  written,  of  parts  to 
a  subject ;  the  tentative  beginning  of  modern 
harmony. 

Descensum,  Per.  [L.  for  by  descent.}  By 
distillation  through  a  pipe  from  the  bottom  of  .a 
crucible,  so  that  the  vapour  descends. 

Description-book.  (Naut.)  Contains  age, 
place  of  birth,  and  description  of  each  of  crew. 

Descriptive  geometry.  A  part  of  practical 
geometry,  treating  of  the  representation  of  points 
and  lines  in  space  by  means  of  their  orthographic 
projections  on  two  planes  at  right  angles  to  each 
other. 

Deshabille.  [For  Fr.  deshabille,  ^mdress, 
morning  dress."}  A  careless  light  toilet,  undress. 

Desiccation.  [L.  desicco,  /  dry  up.~\  A 
thorough  drying  up. 

Desired.  [Fr.  desirer,  L.  deslde'rare,  to  regret 
the  loss  of.]  Mourned  for,  regretted,  missed 
(2  Chron.  xxi.  20). 

Desmidiaceas.  [Gr.  SeoyJy,  -i'5os,  a  bundle, 
Sew,  I  bind.]  One  of  the  lowest  groups  of  or- 
ganic life,  propagated  by  budding  and  subsequent 
fission,  distinguished  by  their  green  colour,  and 
non-siliceous  composition  from  the  Dtatomdcea , 
which  contain  much  silex.  Found  in  ponds  and 
streams.  It  is  disputed  whether  they  are  animal 
or  vegetable. 

Desmology.  [Gr.  Secr/mSs,  a  band,  bond.]  That 
part  of  Anatomy  which  has  to  do  with  ligaments. 

De  son  tort.  [Fr.]  Of  his  own  wrong;  said 
of  a  stranger  who  ventures  to  act  as  executor. 

DesPoblados.    [Sp.]    (Poblados.) 

Desponsation.  [L.  desponsatio,  -nem,  from 
desponsare,  intens.  of  despondere,  to  betroth.} 
Act  or  ceremony  of  betrothal. 

Despumation.  [L.  despumare,  to  take  froth 
off,  from  spuma,  froth,  foam.]  The  act  or  pro- 
cess of  skimming  off  scum  or  froth. 

Desquamation.  [L.  de-squamo,  /  make  to 
scale  off.]  A  separation  of  the  cuticle  in  small 
scales,  e.g.  after  scarlatina. 

Destrictdrium.  [L.]  A  chamber  in  the 
Roman  thermoe  for  the  rubbing  and  scraping 
down  after  the  perspiration. 

Desudation.  [L.  desudatio, -nem.]  A  violent 
sweating. 

Desuetude.  [L.  desuetfido,  distise."}  Disuse, 
discontinuance  of  custom  or  practice. 

Desultores.  [L.,  vault  ers.}  Men  who  leapt 
from  one  horse  to  another  when  riding,  especially 
equestrian  performers  in  the  circus. 

Desynonymize.  Words  at  first  synonymous 
must  in  time  shade  off  into  somewhat  different 
meanings,  and  are  said  to  D.  (Synonym.) 


DETA 


164 


DEVO 


Detached  work.  (Mil.)  Such  fortifications  as, 
being  beyond  the  body  of  the  place,  have  to 
depend  on  their  own  garrison  for  protection. 

Detachment.  Small  body  of  troops  sent  to 
garrison  a  post  away  from  their  regiment. 

Detail  of  duty.  (Mil.)  Roster  (g.v.)  of  the 
numbers  of  each  rank  with  the  names  in  turn 
for  military  duty. 

Detent.    (Eatchet.) 

Detenu,  ue.    [Fr.]    Prisoner. 

Detergent  medicines  [L.  detergeo,  /  wipe 
away]  cleanse  ulcers,  wounds,  etc. 

Determinable  freeholds.    (Determine.) 

Determinant.  (Math.)  When  n  —  i  numbers 
satisfy  n  linear  equations,  the  algebraical  ex- 
pression obtained  by  their  elimination,  is  the 
D.  of  that  set  of  equations.  The  properties  of 
determinants  form  an  important  branch  of  modern 
algebra. 

Determine.  [L.  determine,  /  put  bounds 
(termini)  to.}  (Leg.)  To  bring  to  a  conclusion  ; 
e.g.  if  a  widow  have  an  estate  granted  to  her 
during  widowhood,  her  marriage  determines  the 
estate.  Estates  held  for  life  only  subject  to  a  de- 
termining contingency  are  determinable  freeholds. 

Determining  bachelor.  A  bachelor  who  will 
be  entitled  to  the  degree  of  master  at  the  end  of 
the  current  term. 

Determinism.  The  theory,  in  its  extreme  form, 
of  heredity  ;  that  every  organism  is  mainly  deter- 
mined— is  what  it  is — by  aggregation  of  inherited 
qualities  and  tendencies,  influenced  by  circum- 
stances. Experientialism,  less  absolutely,  holds 
experience  to  be  the  foundation  of  all  knowledge ; 
and  all  primary  beliefs  (e.g.  personal  identity, 
uniformity  of  nature,  etc. )  to  be  generalizations 
of  our  own  or  others'  experience.  Intuitionalism 
holds  them  to  be  instinctive,  naturally  implanted, 
and  spontaneously  developed.  (As  to  Exp.  and 
Int.,  vide  Carpenter's  Ment.  Phys.,  pp.  226,  227.) 

Detonating  tube.  [L.  detonare,  to  thunder.} 
A  stout  glass  tube  used  for  exploding  gaseous 
mixtures  by  electricity. 

Detractor  muscle.  [L.  detr&ho,  I  draw  away.} 
(Anat.)  One  which  draws  the  part  to  which  it  is 
attached  away  from  some  other  part. 

Detriment,  Moon  in  her.  [L.  detrimentum, 
loss.}  (Her.)  An  eclipsed  moon. 

Detriments.  [L.  detrimenta,  plu.,  rubbing  off, 
damages,  from  det^ro,  7  rub  off.}  College  charges 
at  Cambridge,  for  wear  of  table  linen,  etc. 

Detritus.  [L.,  part,  of  dete'ro,  /  rub  or  wear 
away.}  (Geol.)  Accumulations  of  wasted  rock- 
surfaces. 

De  trop.  [Fr.]  Lit.  too  much;  and  so,  in 
the  way,  not  wanted. 

Detumescence.  [L.  detumesc£re,  to  cease 
swelling.}  Diminution  of  swelling,  subsidence. 

Detur  digniori.  [L.]  Let  it  be  given  to  one 
more  worthy. 

Deus  ex  machina.  [L.]  A  scholastic  phrase, 
borrowed  from  the  stage,  where  gods  might  be 
represented  as  flying  in  the  air.  It  was  applied 
to  philosophers  who,  when  unable  to  solve  a 
difficulty  by  ordinary  means,  resorted  to  the  aid 
of  a  supernatural  power. 

Deusnobls  haec  otia  fecit.    [L.]     A  God  has 


provided  this  ease  for  us  (Virgil,  Eel.  i.)  ;  motto 
of  the  Chelsea  pensioners. 

Deutero-canonical.  [Gr.  Sevrepos,  second, 
Ka.voviK.6s,  canonical.}  (Theol.)  Books  read  as 
lectures  in  the  Church,  without  being  included  in 
the  canon  of  Scripture.  The  term  was  also 
applied  to  those  books  of  the  New  Testament 
which  were  not  at  first  generally  received.  (Anti- 
legomena.) 

Deuteroscopy.  [Gr.  Sevrcpos,  second,  ffKoirtw, 
I  see.}  1.  Second  sight.  2.  A  second,  less 
obvious  meaning  not  seen  at  first. 

Devastavit.  [L.]  (Leg.)  Lit.  he  has  wasted; 
a  waste  of  property  by  an  executor  or  adminis- 
trator. 

Developable  surface.  One  described  by  the 
motion  of  a  straight  line  in  such  a  manner  that 
it  could  be  unrolled  and  laid  flat  without  tearing 
or  stretching  ;  a  cone  is  a  developable  surface. 

Devexity.  [L.  devexita,  -tem,  from  dev£ho,  7 
carry  down.}  A  bending  down,  a  sloping,  a 
curving  downwards. 

Deviation  of  the  plumb-line.  The  angle  at 
any  station  between  the  actual  direction  of  the 
plumb-line  and  the  perpendicular  drawn  at  that 
place  to  the  mean  surface  of  the  earth  assumed 
to  be  an  ellipsoid. 

Devil.  (Naut.}  The  seam  next  to  the  water- 
ways. D.  to  pay,  and  no  pitch  hot  (Naut.)  == 
the  troublesome  water-seam  to  fill  in  with  pitch, 
and  none  ready ;  a  troublesome  job,  and  no  one 
ready  to  undertake  it.  [D.,  a  nickname  for  the 
water-seam ;  pay  being  the  O.Fr.  empoier,  to 
daub  with  pitch. }  (Pay. ) 

Devil  and  bag  o'  nails.  Sign  of  an  inn ;  a>. 
Pan  and  the  Bacchanals. 

Devil-cart.  One  with  a  pair  of  large  wheels 
and  a  long  trail  (q.v.),  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
veying logs  of  timber. 

Devil's  advocate.     (Advocatus  diaboli.) 

Devil's  coach-horse.  (Entom. }  Black  cocktail, 
St&phylmus  oleus,  of  same  fam.  as  the  small  one 
which  gets  into  the  eyes,  ord.  Coleopte'ra. 

Devil's  Wall.  A  huge  Roman  wall  about  368 
miles  long,  begun  in  Adrian's  time,  extending 
from  Ratisbon  on  the  Danube  to  below  Cologne 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Rhine,  and  completing 
the  northern  frontier  of  the  empire. 

Devil- worshippers.     (Jezids.) 

Devise.  [Fr.  deviser,  from  divide,  divide, 
p.  part,  divlsus,  to  sort  into  parcels.}  (Leg.) 
Properly  to  transmit  real  property  by  will,  as 
bequeath  is  used  of  personal  property ;  but  D. 
also  =  bequeath. 

Devoir.  [Fr.]  Duty,  respects,  becoming  act 
of  civility. 

Devolution.  [L.L.  devolutio,  -nem,  act  of 
rolling  down,  from  L.  devolvo,  act.  and  neut., 
/  roll  off,  away.}  1.  A  power  claimed  by  the 
pope  of  appointing  to  a  see,  if  the  chapter 
appoint  an  unworthy  person,  or  neglect  to 
appoint.  2.  Act  of  rolling  down.  3.  A  pass- 
ing on  to  a  successor. 

Devonian.  ( Geol. )  The  marine  equivalent  of 
the  Old  Red  Sandstone,  typically  developed  in 
Devonshire ;  often  applied  also  to  the  Old  Red 
Sandstone,  and  to  both  together. 


DEWE 


165 


DIAL 


Dewel,  Dole,  Dool,  Dowel.  [O.K.  d£l,  a 
portion,  daelan,  to  divide ;  cf.  Ger.  theilen,  D. 
deelen,  id.}  A  post,  stone,  or  strip  of  un- 
ploughed  land  marking  a  boundary. 

Dewlap.  Loose  flesh  which  hangs  from  the 
throats  of  oxen. 

Dew-point.  When  a  body  is  in  process  of 
cooling,  its  temperature,  at  the  instant  when 
dew  begins  to  be  deposited  on  it,  is  the  dew- 
point  in  that  particular  state  of  the  atmosphere. 

Dexter.  [L.,  right.}  (Her.)  The  right-hand 
side  of  an  escutcheon,  which  is,  of  course,  to 
the  left  hand  of  a  person  facing  it. 

Dextrine.  1.  British  gum.  2.  (Bot.}  Starch, 
in  its  soluble  condition,  during  its  conversion 
into  sugar  for  the  nourishment  of  plants  ;  e.g.  in 
germinating  barley.  At  400°  F. ,  viewed  by  polar- 
ized light,  starch  has  the  property  of  turning  the 
plane  of  polarization  to  the  right  [L.  dextra]. 

Dextrose.  [L.  dextra,  right.}  Grape-sugar, 
which  turns  the  plane  of  polarization  towards 
the  right.  (Polarization.) 

Dey.  1.  [From  Turk,  dai,  maternal  uncle.} 
Title  (misnomer)  of  the  ruler  of  Algiers ;  pro- 
perly, title  of  the  commander  of  the  Janizaries. 
2.  Scotch  for  dairy-maid.  [Cf.  Prov.  Eng. 
day-house,  day-woman,  O.Swed.  doggja,  Gr. 
6^-0-601,  Goth,  daldjan,  to  suck.} 

Dhirzee,  Dirzee.     [Hind.]    A  tailor. 

Dhobee,  Dobee.    [Hind.]    A  washerman. 

Dhole,  Bed  dog,  Kholsun.  (Zool.)  Spec,  of 
wild  dog,  light  bay  colour,  the  size  of  a  small 
greyhound ;  hunts  almost  silently,  in  packs. 
Western  Ghauts,  and  other  mountainous  parts 
of  India.  Cu5n  diikhuensis,  gen.  Cuon,  fam. 
Cinldae,  ord.  Mammalia. 

Dhouy,  or  Dhouey.    (Douey.) 

Dhotee.  [Hind.]  A  native's  waist-cloth  in 
India. 

Dhow.  An  Arabian  vessel  (of  from  150  to 
250  tons  burden),  about  85  feet  long  by  20  feet 
9  inches  in  beam  and  II  feet  6  inches  deep, 
carrying  small  cargoes,  fitted  for  defence,  and 
rigged  with  a  single  mast  forward,  carrying  a 
large  lateen,  whose  yard  is  the  length  of  the 
vessel,  the  tack  fastened  to  the  stem,  the  hal- 
yards leading  to  the  taffrail. 

Di-.     (Chem.)    (Bi-.) 

Di-,  Dis-.  1.  L.  prefix,  =  in  twain,  in  dif- 
ferent directions ;  also  used  as  a  negative,  as  in 
displease.  2.  Gr.  prefix  [Sis,  trvice],  —  contain- 
ing two  chemical  equivalents. 

Diabetes.  [Gr.,  from  Sid,  through,  Paivta,  I 
go.}  (Med.)  A  disease  of  the  general  system, 
characterized  by  excessive  hunger  and  thirst, 
with  great  increase  of  urine  containing  almost 
always  more  or  less  of  sugar ;  its  true  antecedents 
still  obscure. 

Diachylon,  commonly  pron.  Diaculum.  [Neut. 
of  Gr.  Stdxv\os,  thoroughly  juicy,  succulent.] 
Common  healing  plaster,  of  red  oxide  of  lead 
and  olive  oil. 

Diaconicum.  [Gr.  SmKoj/t/cJ*/,  serviceable.'}  In 
Greek  Church,  a  vestry,  sacristy,  or  credence 
table. 

Diacoustics.  [Gr.  Si(d),  through,  a/covw,  / 
hear.}  The  branch  of  acoustics  which  treats 


of  the  passage  of  sounds  through  different 
media  and  of  consequent  refraction ;  also  called 
Diaphonics. 

Diacritical.  [Gr.  SiaxpiriK6s,  able  to  distin- 
guish.] D.  marks,  marks  in  type  or  writing, 
added  to  letters  or  combinations  of  letters  to 
give  them  a  special  pronunciation,  as  the  cedilla 
under  c  in  French,  to  show  it  is  to  be  sounded 
as  s. ,  e.g.  facade ;  and  the  hyphen  or  dots  (marks 
of  diaeresis)  in  proem,  pro-em. 

Diaculum.     Corr.  of  Diachylon  (q.v.). 

Diaeresis.  [Gr.  Siaipeffis,  separation.}  (Gram.) 
The  resolution  of  a  diphthong  or  a  contracted 
syllable  into  two  syllables. 

Diaglyptic.  [Gr.  Sid,  through,  y\v^(a,  I 
chisel]  Pertaining  to  carving  in  intaglio ;  op- 
posed to  Anaglyphic,  or  carving  in  relief. 

Diagnosis.  [Gr.  Stdyvwiris,  a  distinguishing, 
discerning.]  (Med.}  Distinction  of  the  charac- 
teristics of  different  diseases,  especially  the 
discriminating  knowledge  of  a  particular  case, 
from  a  study  of  all  particular  circumstances  taken 
together. 

Diagometer.  [Gr.  Sidyeiv,  to  transmit,  p,frpov, 
a  measure.]  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
power  of  bodies  to  conduct  electricity. 

Diagonal  scale.  [Gr.  Stayuvios,  diagonal.]  A 
scale  on  which,  by  means  of  lines  drawn  obliquely, 
distances  can  be  read  off  true  to  the  hundredth 
of  an  inch  (or  other  unit)  by  means  of  subdivi- 
sions a  tenth  of  an  inch  long.  It  is  to  be  found 
engraved  on  most  ivory  protractors. 

Dialect.  [Gr.  SjoAe/crJs,  speech,  local  variety 
of  speech.]  Variety  of  speech.  There  is  no 
fixed  distinction  between  a  D.  and  a  language, 
but  generally  D.  is  preferred  for  varieties  of 
speech  which  are  comparatively  limited  in  area 
or  literary  importance,  or  for  the  form  of  speech 
of  a  member  of  an  ethnological  family  descended 
from  a  mother  language. 

Dialectic.  [Gr.  SioAe/m/cr;.]  A  name  used  by 
Plato  as  synonymous  with  metaphysics,  or  the 
highest  philosophy.  It  is  applied  in  a  narrower 
sense  to  that  portion  of  logic  which  treats  of 
modes  and  rules  of  reasoning. 

Dialectics.  [Gr.  SiccAe/crt/cos,  pertaining  to 
discourse.}  1.  Platonic,  though  invented  by  Zeno, 
the  method  of  scientific  investigation  by  question 
and  answer,  involving  the  classification  of  par- 
ticulars under  generals  and  generals  under  uni- 
versals,  and  the  reverse  process  of  division.  2. 
Aristotelian,  the  art  of  maintaining  a  tenet  in 
conversation.  3.  Kantian,  the  science  of  illusory 
phenomena. 

Diallage.  [Gr.,  interchange.]  (Rhet.)  A 
figure  of  thought  under  which  several  arguments 
are  brought  to  establish  one  point,  the  L.  con- 
summatio. 

Dialogism.  (Rhet.)  The  reporting,  in  the 
third  person,  of  a  dialogue  between  two  or  more 
speakers. 

Dialysis.  [Gr.  Sid-\vffis,  dissolution]  1. 
(Gram.)  Diaeresis.  2.  (Rhet.)  Asyndeton.  3. 
The  separation  of  the  crystalloids  from  the  col- 
loids in  a  solution  containing  both,  by  the  diffu- 
sion of  the  former  into  water  through  paper 
parchment.  (See  Graham's  Chemistry.) 


DIAM 


166 


DICH 


Diamagnetic.    (Paramagnetic.) 

Diamagnetic  body.  [Gr.  Sid,  across,  /j.dyvrjs, 
magnet.]  A  body  tending,  when  suspended 
between  the  poles  of  a  magnet,  to  place  itself  at 
right  angles  to  the  line  joining  those  poles. 

Diameter ;  Apparent  D.  [Gr.  tiid/j.tTpos.']  Any 
chord  drawn  through  the  centre  of  a  central 
curve  or  surface,  as  a  diameter  of  a  sphere.  The 
angle  subtended  at  the  eye  of  the  observer  by 
the  diameter— supposed  not  to  be  foreshortened 
—of  a  heavenly  body  is  its  Apparent  D. 

Diamond  necklace,  The  affair  of  the.  A  plot 
by  which  the  name  of  Marie  Antoinette,  wife  of 
Louis  XVI.,  King  of  France,  was  tarnished,  on 
the  supposition  that  she  was  privy  to  the  intrigue 
by  which  the  Countess  of  Lamotte  Valois  ob- 
tained possession  of  a  diamond  necklace  bespoken 
for  Mad.  du  Barry  by  Louis  XV.,  and  at  that 
time  in  the  hands  of  the  queen's  jewellers. 

Diamond  type.  [Fr.  diamant,  (?)  from  Gr. 
,  unconquerable.  ]  A  kind  of  printing  type, 


Comparative. 

Dianoetic.  [Gr.  8ia-vo(o/j.at,  I  think  over.~\ 
Pertaining  to  the  discursive  comparative  ana- 
logical faculty. 

Dianthus.  [Gr.  Siavd-fis,  double-flowering, 
variegated.}  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants,  ord. 
Caryophyllacese,  of  many  spec.,  annual  and  pe- 
rennial, as  pink,  carnation,  sweet  william,  etc. 

Diapason,  [Gr.  Sia  iraffuv,  i.e.  ^opSwc, 
through  all  the  strings. \  (Gr.  Music.)  1.  An 
octave.  2.  In  an  organ,  D.  or  principal,  certain 
important  stops  extending  usually  through  the 
whole  compass.  (Open  diapason.) 

Diaper.  Figured  linen  cloth.  [Mr.  Skeat 
traces  the  word  to  the  O.Fr.  diaspre,  O.It, 
diaspro,  jasper,  rejecting  the  derivation  from 
d'Ypres,  of  Ypres,  the  cloth  working  Flemish 
city.] 

Diapering.  [Fr.  diaprer,  to  diaper.]  Orna- 
menting with  flowers  or  arabesques,  repeated  in 
squares  or  other  regular  patterns. 

Diaphanous.    [Gr.  Sm^aj/^s.]    Transparent. 

Diaphonics.  [Gr.  Std,  through,  <p(aveut  I 
sound.]  Diacoustics  (q.v.). 

Diaphoretic.  [Gr.  Sia<poptiTiK6s.]  Promoting 
perspiration. 

Diaphragm  [Gr.  Sia^poyyua,  8ta(f>payvv/j.i,  I 
barricade],  or  Midriff [A.S.  midrife,  hrife,  intes- 
tine]. (Anat.)  The  transverse  muscle  in  mam- 
malia generally,  separating  the  cavity  of  the 
thorax  or  chest  from  that  of  the  abdomen  or  belly. 

Diastase.  [Gr.  Sido-ravis, separation.]  (Chem.) 
A  nitrogenous  substance  formed  in  germinating 
seeds,  which  by  fermentation  converts  starch  into 
sugar. 

Diastem-,  Diastemato-,  =  longitudinal  division, 
fissure.  [Gr.  StaoTTj/ta,  interval,  severance.] 

Diastole.  [Gr.]  1.  (Gram.}  The  lengthen- 
ing of  a  short  syllable,  opposed  to  Systole.  2. 
(Physiol.)  Dilatation  of  the  heart  and  arteries 
on  the  entrance  of  blood ;  opposed  to  Systole 
[ffvaroX-f),  owre'AAw,  /  draw  together],  contrac- 
tion, or  Systaltic  action  :  these  being  the  first 
and  second  heart-sounds,  and  both  together  mak- 
ing one  rhythm. 


Diatessaron.  [Gr.,  through  four.]  (Ecd. 
Hist.}  A  name  given  to  harmonies  of  the 
Gospels.  The  earliest,  now  lost,  was  the  work 
of  Tatian  in  the  second  century. 

Diathermal  [Gr.  SidQeppos,  warmed  thrcntgh] ; 
Diathermanous  [Gr.  8iaOep/j.alv(a,  I  warm 
through].  Capable  of  transmitting  radiant  heat ; 
thus,  rock-salt  is  diathermanous. 

Diathesis.  [Gr.,  disposition.]  (Med.)  Con- 
dition of  the  system  generally,  with  the  idea  of 
predisposition  to  some  kind  of  disease. 

Diatomaceae.  [Gr.  8idro/j.os,  cut  in.  frvo,  the 
individual  consisting  of  a  double  frustule,  and 
easily  separable  from  the  rest  of  the  series.] 
Simple  organism  of  protoplasm,  with  delicate 
siliceous  crust,  developed  in  long  linked  strings. 
(Desmidiaceae.) 

Diatonic  scales.  [From  Gr.  SiarovutAv,  but 
with  different  meaning.]  1.  The  major  and  minor 
of  modern  music.  D.  melody  =  using  no  notes 
not  found  in  the  D.  scale.  Opposed  to  Chromatic. 
2.  The  SiaTovov  yevos,  the  simplest  of  three 
genera  of  music  with  the  Greeks.  (For  explana- 
tion, see  Diet,  of  Greek  and  Roman  Antiquities.} 

Diatribe.  [Gr.  5tarpj/3^,  wearing  away,  pass- 
ing of  time,  discussion.]  A  continuous  discourse  ; 
especially  a  sustained  flow  of  invective,  an 
elaborate  attack.  Usually  pronounced  as  a  word 
of  three  syll.  in  English. 

Dibasic  acid.  [Gr.  Sty,  twice,  frdvis,  base.] 
(Chem.)  Any  acid  containing  two  atoms  of 
hydrogen  in  its  composition. 

Dibbs.  1.  Slang  for  ready  money.  2.  A 
small  pool.  3.  An  old  game,  Greek  and  English, 
of  throwing  up  the  small  bones  of  the  legs  of 
sheep  and  catching  them  on  the  palm,  then  on 
the  back  of  the  hand. 

DI  bene  vertant.  [L.]  May  the  god  give  a 
good  turn  to  affairs. 

Dibranchiata.  [Gr.  8k,  double,  /9^4yxM,£»&r.] 
(Ichth.)  1.  Cephalopods  with  one  pair  of  gills,  as 
cuttle-fish.  2.  Cirripeds  with  one  pair  of  gills. 

Dicast.  [Gr.  8?/cc«r<H)s,  a  judge.]  One  of  the 
5000  free  citizens  at  Athens  who  were  yearly 
balloted  for  and  sworn  in  to  serve  as  judges  in 
the  law  courts.  A  judicial  panel  consisted  of 
many  dicasts,  often  of  500  or  more  ;  they  voted 
by  ballot  on  the  verdict,  which  the  majority 
decided. 

Dichogamous  flowers.  [Gr.  5? x«,  apart,  yd/j.os, 
marriage.]  Those  in  which  the  anthers  are 
developed  before  the  pistil,  and  -vice  versa. 

Dichoraeus.  [Gr.  8l-xdpeios  (irovs).']  (Metr.) 
A  double  chorseus  or  trochee ;  thus,  —  v.  —  w ,  as 
willy-nilly,  eminere. 

Dichotomy.  [Gr.  Sixoron'ta,  a  severing.]  1. 
(Astron.}  The  moon's  dichotomy  is  when  she 
is  at  half- moon  at  the  end  of  her  first  and  third 
quarters.  2.  (Log.)  The  division  of  a  class 
into  two  sub-classes,  opposed  to  each  other  by 
contradiction,  as  Earl  and  Churl,  male  and 
female,  living  and  dead,  fire  and  not  fire.  3. 
A  division  of  the  more  general  into  two  more 
particular  subdivisions  ;  a  Pythagorean  method 
adopted  by  Plato ;  thus  the  political  is  divided  into 
the  legislative  and  the  iudicial  (i.e.  so  far  as 
theory  is  concerned). 


DICK 


167 


DIFF 


Dicker.  1.  [Cf.  L.L.  dacra,  dicora,  probably 
from  a  Celt,  form,  the  number  ten.'}  Half  a  score, 
especially  of  hides.  2.  [Amer.]  A  petty  bartering. 

Dicotyledonous  plants.  (Bot. )  Those  of  which 
the  embryo  is  furnished  with  two  cotyledons 
opposite  to  one  another ;  corresponding  to 
Exogens(q.v.\ 

Dictator.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Hist.,  an  extraor- 
dinary magistrate  invested  with  absolute  power 
for  six  months. 

Dictum.  [L.]  Expressed  opinion  o*  command. 
(Obiter  dictum.) 

Dictum  de  omni  et  nullo.  [L.]  In  the  Aris- 
totelian logic,  the  assignment  of  an  object  to  its 
class,  or  the  placing  of  one  class  under  another 
class,  so  that  whatever  is  true  of  the  class  shall 
be  true  of  every  member  included  in  the  class. 

Didactic.  [Gr.  SiSaKTii<6s,  from  8iSao-/ceo,  / 
teach.]  A  name  applied  to  any  writings  which 
treat  of  the  rules  or  principles  of  any  science  or 
art,  but  more  especially  to  poetry  of  an  ethical  or 
reflective  character,  and  to  poems  embodying  a 
scientific  treatise,  as  the  Phenomena  of  Aratus, 
De  Kerum  Natura  of  Lucretius. 

Didactyle.  [Gr.  SiSditTv\os,  Sis,  twice,  Sa/c- 
rv\os,  finger,  toe.~\  (Zool.)  Two-toed. 

Didelphia.  [Gr.  Sis,  twice,  Se\(pvs,  uterus.] 
Having  a  double  uterus.  The  second  sub-class 
of  mammals,  containing  the  marsupials,  as  the 
kangaroos  and  opossums. 

Didelphyidae.  (Didelphia.)  The  true  opos- 
sums. Trop.  America.  Ord.  Marsuplalia  (q.v.). 

Die.     (Dado.) 

Diegesis.  [Gr.,  from  Sid,  through,  r)y€o/j.ai, 
I  lead.]  Narration,  statement  of  a  case. 

Dielectric.  [Gr.  Sid,  through,  and  electric.] 
A  non-conducting  body. 

Diemperdidi!  [L.]  I  have  lost  a  day!  ex- 
clamation of  the  Roman  emperor  Titus,  after 
passing  one  day  without  doing  anything  for  his 
subjects'  good. 

Dies  cinerum.  [L.,  day  of  ashes.]  Ash 
Wednesday. 

Dies  dolorem  minuit.    [L.]    Time  abates  grief. 

Die-sinking.  Engraving  a  steel  die  for  the 
stamping  of  coins  or  medals. 

Diesis.  [Gr.]  In  Gr.  Music,  at  first  a  semi- 
tone, afterwards  came  to  mean  a  quarter-tone, 
or  a  third  of  a  tone  ;  (?)  from  a*  sense  of  dissolving 
the  note  [Sifrjjui]. 

Dies  non.  [L.  (sc.  juricus).]  Not  a  court- 
day  ;  a  day  on  which  no  legal  proceedings  go 
on  and  no  business  transactions  are  completed, 
or  if  so  are  invalid. 

Die-stock.  A  contrivance  to  hold  the  dies  for 
cutting  screws. 

Diet.  [L.L.  dieta,  from  dies,  a  day,  Ger. 
Reichstag.]  The  chief  national  assembly  of  the 
Empire,  summoned  twice  each  year  by  the 
Emperor;  also  of  other  states,  as  Hungary, 
Switzerland,  etc. 

Dieu  et  mon  droit.  [Fr.,  God  and  my  right.] 
The  motto  of  the  royal  family  of  England.  First 
assumed  by  Richard  I. 

Dieu  et  son  acte.  [Fr.,  God  and  His  act.] 
The  act  of  God  ;  said  of  an  inevitable  accident. 

Diffarreatio.     (Gonfarreation.) 
12 


Difference.  [L.  differentia.]  1.  (Her.}  A 
mark  added  to  a  coat  of  arms  to  distinguish 
different  branches  of  a  family  or  different  sons 
of  one  house.  2.  In  Logic,  the  predicable,  which 
distinguishes  the  subject  from  all  others  from 
the  point  of  view  in  which  it  is  then  regarded. 
The  genus,  with  this  difference,  is  said  logically 
to  make  up  the  species.  (Predicable.) 

Differences.  (Stockbrok.)  The  sums  lost  and 
won  in  speculative  time-bargains,  being  the 
difference  between  the  price  of  the  stock  or 
shares  concerned  agreed  to  on  the  day  of  pur- 
chase and  the  available  price  on  settling  day. 

Differentia.    (Differentiation.) 

Differential;  D.  calculus;  D.  coefficient;  D. 
motion;  D.  screw;  D.  thermometer;  D.  wind- 
lass. If  the  magnitude  of  one  quantity  depends 
on  that  of  a  second  quantity  (as  the  volume  of  a 
sphere  on  its  radius),  so  that  if  the  second  quan- 
tity is  increased  that  of  the  first  will  be  increased 
(or  diminished) ;  the  ratio  which  the  increment 
of  the  first  bears  to  that  of  the  second  when  they 
are  indefinitely  small  is  the  D.  coefficient  of  the 
first  quantity  with  respect  to  the  second.  The 
indefinitely  small  increments,  considered  as 
separate  magnitudes,  are  Differentials.  (For 
D.  calculus,  vide  Calculus.)  When  a  compa- 
ratively quick  motion  is  made  to  communi- 
cate a  slow  motion  by  means  of  the  difference 
of  the  velocities  of  two  pieces,  it  is  said  to  com- 
municate a  D.  motion.  Thus,  in  the  D.  wind- 
lass, the  barrel  consists  of  two  cylinders  of  nearly 
equal  radii,  the  weight  is  fastened  to  a  pulley  in 
the  loop  of  a  rope  whose  ends  are  fastened  to 
the  cylinders  and  wound  round  them  in  opposite 
directions ;  on  turning  the  winch  the  rope  is 
wound  on  to  one  and  off  the  other  cylinder  ;  so 
that  the  rope  in  the  hanging  loop  is  shortened 
(or  lengthened)  by  the  difference  between  the 
lengths  wound  on  and  off.  A  heavy  weight 
attached  to  the  pulley  is  thus  slowly  raised  with- 
out unduly  weakening  the  barrel.  The  same 
principle  is  applied  in  the  D.  screw.  The  D. 
thermometer  is  an  air  thermometer  with  two 
bulbs,  for  ascertaining  the  difference  between  the 
temperatures  of  two  substances  or  places,  when 
the  actual  temperature  of  each  is  not  required. 

Differentiation.  [From  L.  differentia,  differ- 
ence.] 1.  (Log.)  Exact  definition  by  the  differ- 
entia, or  characteristic  peculiarity  essential  to 
classification,  of  a  species.  2.  (Biol. )  The  de- 
velopment in  evolution  of  specific  distinctions. 
3.  Resolution  of  a  homogeneous  aggregate  into 
its  heterogeneous  constituents.  4.  (Math.)  The 
process  of  finding  differential  coefficients. 

Diffraction  of  light.  When  a  small  opaque 
body  is  placed  in  light  radiating  from  a  point,  its 
shadow  is  found  not  to  be  its  true  geometrical 
projection,  but  to  be  surrounded  by  iris-coloured 
fringes.  The  light,  therefore,  does  not  proceed 
in  accurately  straight  lines  past  the  edges  of  the 
body,  and  is  said  to  be  diffracted  by  them,. 
Diffraction  is  one  kind  of  interference  of  light. 

Diffusion.  [L.  diffusio,  -nem,  diffunde're,  to 
shed  abroad.]  The  action  by  which  gases  or 
fluids  become  intermixed  when  in  contact- 

Diffusion  of  gases.    The  tendency  of  two  or 


DIGA 


168 


DINA 


more  gases  in  contact  to  intermingle  with  each 
other. 

Digamy.  [From  Gr.  Si'-,  Sis,  twice,  yd/^os, 
marriage.]  Marriage  by  one  who  has  lost  his 
first  wife. 

Digest.  [L.  digesta,  neut.  plu.  p.  part,  of  dlggro, 
I  arrange.]  A  systematically  arranged  work  on 
law  ;  especially  Justinian's  fifty  books. 

Digester.  A  strong  closed  vessel  for  heating 
water  above  boiling  point. 

Digesting.  Softening  by  heat  and  moisture. 
Digests.  [L.  digestus,  brought  into  order.] 
(Hist.)  Compilations  of  the  Roman  law ;  the 
best  known  being  that  of  Justinian,  which  is  also 
called  the  Pandects,  or  general  collection,  from 
the  Greek  words  irav,  all,  and  Se'x6<r0at,  to  receive. 
Digit.  [L.  dlgltus,  a  finger.]  1.  Any  one  of 
the  ten  numerals.  2.  The  twelfth  part  of  the 
diameter  of  sun  or  moon.  The  term  is  used  in 
estimating  the  extent  of  an  eclipse,  e.g.  when 
three  quarters  of  the^  diameter  of  the  sun  are 
hidden  by  the  moon,  nine  digits  are  eclipsed. 

Digitalis,  Foxglove  (Folks'  glove,  i.e.  Fairies' 
glove).     (Hot.)    A  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Scrophu- 
lariacese.     D.  purpurea,  Common  F.,  native  of 
Britain,  is  much  valued  in  medicine,  and  grown 
as  an  ornamental  plant. 
Digitate  leaf.    (Palmate.) 
Digitigrada,  Digitigrade.    [L.  digitus,  finger, 
toe,  gradior,  I -walk.]    (Zool.)  Carnivorous  quad- 
rupeds which  walk  upon  their  toes,  as  the  cat. 

Digladiation.  [From  dlglSdiari,  to  fight  hand- 
to-hand,  from  dis-,  apart,  gl&dius,  sword.]  Sharp 
contention. 

Digna  canis  pabiilo.  [L.]  A  dog  deserves 
food ;  it  is  a  poor  dog  that  does  not  deserve  a 
crust. 

Digraph.  [Gr.  Si'-,  Sis,  twice,  ypaQw,  I  write] 
A  combination  of  two  letters  to  indicate  a  single 
articulate  sound,  as  oo  in  book,  ch  and  ie  in 
chief. 

Digression.     (Parecbasis.) 
Dihedral  angle.    (Angle.) 
Diiambus.    [Gr.  8^,  Sis,  tw ice,  fa/u£os.]   (Metr.) 
A  double  iambus  ;  thus,  «  -   ~  -  ,  as  amaemtas. 
Dii  consentes.    (Gonsentes,  Dii.) 
Dikast.    (Dicast.) 

Dike,  Dyke.  [O.E.  die,  (i)  a  mound,  (2)  a 
trench,  something  dug  ;  cf.  D.  dijk,  Fr.  digue, 
an  embankment.]  In  the  south  of  England,  a 
ditch,  with  or  without  a  bank ;  in  the  north, 
a  stone  fence. 

Di  laneos  pedes  habent.  [L.]  The  gods  have 
feet  of  wool ;  i.e.  the  approach  of  their  vengeance 
is  unheard. 

Dilaniation.  [From  L.  dilaniare,  to  tear  in 
pieces.]  The  act  of  tearing  to  pieces. 

Dilapidation.  [L.  dilapldatio,  -nem,  a  wasting, 
lavishing.]  The  result  of  neglect,  on  the  part  ol 
an  incumbent,  to  repair  the  chancel,  glebe  house, 
or  any  other  edifices  of  his  living  ;  or  of  wilfu' 
waste,  committed  or  suffered  to  be  committee 
upon  glebe,  woods,  or  any  other  inheritance  o 
the  Church. 

Dilettante.  [It.]  An  amateur  devotee  of  fin 
art  and  antiquities. 

ligenoa.      [Fr.,  L.  diligentia.]    1.  A  heavy 


tage-coach,  used  in  France.  2.  (Scot.  Law.} 
^rocess  of  arrest  or  seizure  for  debt,  or  com- 
mlsory  production  of  evidence. 

Dilligront.  Pottage  formerly  made  for  the 
overeign  on  the  day  of  coronation. 

Dill-water.  For  relief  of  flatulence  and  griping 
n  children,  in  which  oil  of  dill  is  used,  which  is 
obtained  from  the  seeds  of  the  common  dill 
Anethum  gr&veolens). 

Diluvial  agency.  [L.  diluvium,  an  inunda- 
lion.]  (Geol.)  Powerful  exceptional  agency  of 
water  ;  opposed  to  Alluvial. 

Dilving.  Washing  tin  ore  in  a  canvas  sieve  in 
a  tub  of  water,  so  that  the  waste  runs  over  the 
edge  of  the  sieve. 

Dimanche.  The  French  form  of  the  Latin 
Dominica  [sc.  dies],  the  Lord's  day. 

Dime.  A  silver  coin  used  in  the  U.S.,  a  tenth 
Fr.  dime,  L.  decima]  of  a  dollar. 

DI  melius-  [L.]  May  the  gods  grant  it  (sc. 
dent)  better;  Ovid  goes  on  -quam  nos  moneamus 
talia  quenquam,  than  that  I  should  give  such 
advice  to  any  one. 

Dimension.  1.  In  Geom.,  length,  breadth, 
and  thickness  are  the  three  dimensions  of  space. 
2.  In  Algebra,  each  of  the  letters  which  occur  in 
a  product  is  a  dimension  of  the  product ;  e.g. 
x*y3  is  a  product  of  five  dimensions,  or  of  the 
fifth  degree. 

Dimeter.     A  verse   having  two  metres  [Gr. 

uerpos],  or  four  feet ;  as  an  iambic  D.,  e.g. 
Horace,  Epod.  i. — x. 

Dimetric  system.  [Gr.  St^rpof,  of  two 
measures.]  In  Crystallog.,  the  pyramidal  system 
(q.v.). 

Dimidiated.     [L.  dimidiatus.]     Halved. 

Dlmidium  facti  qui  ccepit  habet.  [L.]  He 
who  begins  has  half  his  task  (done) ;  well  begun, 
half  done  (Horace). 

Dimidium  plus  toto.  [L.]  The  half  is  more 
than  the  vvhole  ;  the  golden  mean  is  best,  a  Latin 
version  of  Hesiod's  "  Tl\eov  rinurv  -navrAs." 

Diminished.  (Mztsic.)  Made  less  than  minor ; 
e.g.  C  natural  to  B  flat  above  being  a  minor 
seventh,  the  C  sharpened  would  make  a  di- 
minished seventh,  i.e.  by  a  semi-tone. 

Dimissory  letters.  In  the  ancient  Church: 
1.  L.  to  clergy  about  to  leave  one  diocese  and 
settle  in  another,  granting  the  bishop's  leave  to 
depart.  2.  In  the  Church  of  England  now, 
D.  L.  are  a  licence  from  a  bishop  in  whose 
diocese  a  candidate  for  holy  orders  has  a  title 
to  another  bishop,  granting  leave  to  ordain. 
(Literae  formatae.)  Dimissorice  (sc.  lit^rse), 
Roman  law,  a  written  notice,  remitting  a  case  to 
a  superior  judge. 

Dimity.  [Gr.  Stfuros,  of  double  thread.]  A 
stout  white  cotton  cloth  ribbed  or  figured. 

Dimorphism.  [Gr.  Si/iop^os,  two- formed] 
Crystallization  of  a  substance  in  two  different 
systems ;  thus  carbonate  of  lime  in  some  forms 
crystallizes  as  Iceland  spar  in  the  rhombohe- 
dral  system,  and  as  aragonite  in  the  prismatic 
system. 

Dimsel.      (Naut.}     A    standing    water,    too 
large  for  a  pond  and  too  small  for  a  lake. 
Dinar.     A  modern  Eastern  corr.  of  the  L. 


DING 


169 


DIPT 


Denaritis,  a  coin  originally  worth  ten  asses,  and 
answering  to  the  Gr.  Drachma,  the  value  being 
about  that  of  the  modern  franc-piece.  In  the 
English  New  Testament,  the  Gr.  Si]vdpiov  is 
translated  by  the  word  penny. 

Dinghey,  or  Dingy.  1.  A  small  Bombay  boat 
with  sail  and  paddles.  2.  The  boats  of  the 
Hooghly.  3.  A  small  extra  ship's  boat. 

Dingo.  (Native  name.)  Variety  of  dog,  about 
two  feet  high,  reddish  brown,  wild,  savage,  hunts 
in  packs.  Australia.  Believed  to  be  an  im- 
portation. 

Dinmont.     (Sheep,  Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Dinmont,  Dandy.  (Dandy. )  A  store  farmer, 
in  Scott's  Guy  Mannering,  whose  name  attaches 
to  a  valuable  breed  of  long-backed  Scotch 
terriers. 

Dinornis.  [Gr.  8eiv6s,  terrible,  $pvts,  bird.] 
(Ornith,)  A  gen.  of  very  large  birds,  tribe  Bre- 
vlpennes,  of  New  Zealand ;  local  name,  moa ; 
extinct  since  seventeenth  century  (?). 

Dinosaurians.  [Gr.  Seiv6s,  <ravpos,  lizard.] 
(Geol.)  A  group  of  gigantic  reptiles,  chiefly  of 
the  saurian  type  and  of  high-class  organization. 
From  the  Lias  to  Cretaceous.  Iguanodon,  me- 
galosaurus,  etc. 

Dinotherium.  [Gr.  Seiv6y,  Brjpiov,  beast.] 
(Geol. )  Huge  pachyderm,  with  tusk-like  incisors 
and  proboscis  ;  found  in  the  Miocene  of  France, 
Germany,  etc. ;  its  true  zoological  position  un- 
certain. 

Diocletian  aera,  or  JEra  of  martyrs,  is  counted 
from  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Diocletian, 
A.D.  284. 

Dicecesis.     (Paroikia.) 

Dioecious.     (Monoecious.) 

Dionysia.  [Gr.  Aiovvo-ia.]  Festivals  of  Diony- 
sus. There  were  four  in  the  four  shortest  months  : 
(i)The  Lesser,  or  Rural;  (2)  Lenaea ;  (3)  An- 
thesteria ;  (4)  City,  or  Great,  D.  Comedies  and 
tragedies  were  performed  at  these  festivals. 

Dionysian.  [Gr.  Aiovv<riaic6s.]  Relating  to 
Dionysus,  son  of  Zeus  (Jupiter)  and  Semele 
daughter  of  Cadmus  of  Thebes.  He  is  said  to 
have  brought  from  the  East  the  orgiastic  worship 
with  which  he  was  honoured.  He  is  known 
also  as  Bacchus.  (Bacchanalian.) 

Diophantine  analysis  or  problems.  (Diophan- 
tus,  mathematician,  of  Alexandria.)  Question  in 
indeterminate  equations,  involving  squares  or 
cubes  of  the  unknown  quantities,  as  to  divide 
a  given  square  number  into  two  other  square 
numbers  ;  thus,  if  =  82  +  IS2. 

Dioptrics.  [Gr.  SioTrrpt/co?,  having  to  do  with 
a  mirror  (Stoirrpov).]  The  part  of  optics  which 
treats  of  the  refraction  of  light ;  it  includes  the 
formation  of  images  by  lenses  and  combinations 
of  lenses. 

Diorama.  [Gr.  Sid,  through,  opd/j.a,  a  view.] 
A  painting  seen  from  a  distance  through  a  large 
opening,  and  having  the  effect  heightened  by 
light  directed  on  its  surface  or  shining  from 
behind  through  the  transparent  portions. 

Diorite.  [Gr.  Siopifa,  I  distinguish.]  (Geol.} 
An  igneous  rock  (greenstone,  etc.),  composed  of 
felspar  and  hornblende. 

DiorthStic.   [Gr.  StopdwTiKo's,  from  Gr.  Siop86ca, 


/  correct,  from  Sid.  through,  op06s,  upright.] 
Pertaining  to  correction  or  emendation. 

Dioscuri,  Dioskouroi.  [Gr.]  Sons  of  Zeus. 
(Castor  and  Pollux.) 

Didta.  [Gr.  Siwros,  two-eared.]  A  large 
amphora  with  two  handles. 

Dip.  1,  The  inclination  of  the  magnetic 
needle  to  the  horizon.  (Dip  of  the  horizon.)  2. 
(Geol.)  The  inclination  of  strata  from  the  ho- 
rizon, measured  by  the  angle  it  makes  with  the 
plane  of  the  horizon ;  the  strike  [Ger.  streich, 
stroke]  being  the  .line  of  outcrop  of  a  stratum, 
and  at  right  angles  to  its  D. 

Dip,  Dipt  ware.  Pottery  ornamented  by  ex- 
pressing coloured  clays,  in  arborescent  or  other 
forms,  upon  the  article  as  it  turns  slowly  on  a 
lathe. 

Diphtheria,  Diphtheritis.  [Gr.  SiQOcpa,  pre- 
pared leather.]  A  form  of  very  fatal  sore  throat, 
occurring  epidemically,  with  low  dangerous 
fever  and  formation  of  a  false  membrane  upon 
the  surface  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the 
fauces. 

Diploma.  [Gr.,  lit.  a  letter  folded  double.] 
In  Rome,  formerly  a  State  letter  of  introduc- 
tion for  travellers,  a  magistrate's  grant  of 
some  privilege ;  now  any  document  conferring 
authority,  and  especially  a  licence  to  practise 
physic  or  surgery. 

Diplomatics.  [Gr.  Slir\cafji.a,  anything  folded 
double, .]  The  science  which  deciphers  and  de- 
termines the  dates  of  ancient  writings.  Its 
principles  were  fully  developed  in  the  great 
work  of  Mabillon,  De  Re  Diplomatica,  1681. 
(Palaeography.) 

Dipnoi.  [Gr.  Hi-woos,  double -breathing.] 
(Zool. )  Mud-fishes,  a  sub-class  of  fish,  containing 
three  gen.  of  one  spec,  each,  by  some  reckoned 
amphibia.  Ceratodus  [/cepos,  -aros,  a  horn, 
6S6vs,  a  tooth],  an  Australian  spec.,  presents 
characteristics  suggesting  the  combination  of  the 
sub-classes  Teleostei,  Dipnoi,  and  Ganoidei 
under  the  last  name. 

Dip  of  the  horizon;  Magnetic  D.  The  angle 
at  the  eye  of  the  observer  between  a  plane  at 
right  angles  to  the  plumb-line,  and  a  line  drawn 
to  a  point  on  the  visible  horizon  or  line  which 
seems  to  bound  the  ocean.  When  a  magnet  is 
suspended  so  as  to  swing  freely  round  a 
horizontal  axis  at  right  angles  to  the  magnetic 
meridian,  it  comes  to  rest  at  a  certain  definite 
inclination  to  the  horizon ;  this  angle  (which  is 
different  at  different  places)  is  the  Magnetic  D. 

Dipolarization.    (Depolarization.) 

Dipping  needle.  A  magnetic  needle  so  sus- 
pended as  to  show  the  magnetic  dip. 

Dipsomania.  [Gr.  Stya,  thirst,  fjiavla,  mad- 
ness.] A  thirst  for  stimulants  not  to  be  con- 
trolled. 

Diptera.  [Gr.  Sl-irrfpos,  two -winged.]  (Entom.) 
Ord.  of  insects  with  two  wings,  the  hind  pair 
represented  by  short  halteres,  balancers,  as  house- 
flies  and  gnats. 

Dipteros.  [Gr.  SiVrcpoy,  from  Si  for  Sis,  twice, 
trrep6v,  wing.]  (Arch.)  A  rectangular  temple  or 
building  with  a  double  row  of  supporting  columns 
on  all  sides.  (Peripteral.) 


DIPT 


170 


DISP 


Diptych.  [Gr.  5f*T&xo?,  folded  double, .]  A 
tablet  of  wood,  metal,  or  other  substance,  folded 
like  a  book  of  two  leaves.  Used  at  first  for 
registers.  The  diptychs  of  the  Greek  Church 
contain  on  one  side  the  names  of  the  living,  on 
the  other  those  of  the  dead,  which  are  to  be  re- 
hearsed during  the  office. 

Direct  motion.    (Music.}    (Motion.) 

Direct  motion  of  a  planet.    (Proper  motion.) 

Directorium.  [L.]  (Ecd.}  A  book  of  rules 
for  the  performance  of  the  sacred  offices,  as 
Directorium  Anglicanum. 

Directory.  1.  A  book  of  regulations  for 
divine  worship,  drawn  up  in  1644  by  the 
Assembly  of  Divines  in  England,  and  set  forth  by 
the  Lords  and  Commons  to  be  used  instead  of  the 
Prayer-book.  2.  The  name  given  in  1795  to 
the  executive  body  of  the  French  republic, 
overthrown  four  years  later  by  Bonaparte. 
(Assembly.) 

Directrix.  1.  (Conic  sections.)  2.  In  Solid 
Geom.,  when  a  surface  is  described  by  a  moving 
line  which  slides  on  one  or  more  fixed  guiding 
lines,  any  one  of  the  fixed  lines  is  called  a 
Directrix. 

Direct  taxation.    (Indirect  taxation.) 

Dirge.  A  contraction  of  L.  dirige,  direct, 
which  occurs  in  the  first  nocturn  of  the  Office  for 
the  Dead.  Hence  (i)  music  for  that  office,  (2) 
any  mournful  tune. 

Dirige.    (Dirge.) 

Diriment.  [L.  dirimo,  /  take  away,  annul.  ] 
D.  impediments  to  a  marriage  are  absolute  bars 
which  would  make  it  void  ab  initio. 

Dirt-beds.  (Geol.}  Layers  of  black  dirt,  old 
vegetable  soil,  in  the  Lower  Purbeck  beds,  with 
numerous  fossil  cycadeous  stems  standing  up- 
right, and  coniferous  trunks  lying  down. 

Diruit,  aedificat,  mutat  quadrata  rotundis, 
[L.]  He  pulls  down,  builds  up,  changes  square 
for  round. 

Dis.    (Pluto.) 

Dis-,  Di-.  [L.]  Prefix  denoting  separa- 
tion, hence  used  with  privative  and  negative 
force. 

Disabling  Statutes.  Acts  of  Parliament  re- 
straining and  limiting  rights  and  powers. 

Disafforest.  To  throw  open  forest  ground  to 
the  public,  or  to  enclose  it  for  cultivation. 

Disaggregation.  [L.  dis-,  prefix  of  separa- 
tion, and  aggrego,  /  bring  to  the  flock  (grex, 
gregis).]  Distinction  of  an  aggregate  into  com- 
ponent parts. 

Dis  aliter  vlsum.  [L.]  The  gods  determined 
otherwise. 

Disbar.  To  expel  from  the  bar,  a  power 
vested  in  benchers  of  the  four  inns  of  court,  sub- 
ject to  appeal. 

Disbench.  To  expel  from  the  position  of  a 
bencher,  a  power  vested  in  the  benchers  of  an 
inn  of  court. 

Disboscation.      [L.    dis-,    priv.     prefix,    and 
L.L.  boscus  ;  cf.  Fr.  bosquet,  thicket,  from  Teut. 
bosk,  Eng.  bush.}    The  bringing  woodland  into 
cultivation  or  pasturage. 
Discalced  clerks  of  the  passion.     (Passionists.) 
Disce  aut  discede.    [L.]    Learn  or  go. 


Disceptation.  [L.  disceptatio.]  Debate,  dis- 
cussion. 

Discharged  living.  (Eccl.)  One  released 
under  6  Anne  from  payment  of  firstfruits. 

Discharger.  An  instrument  for  discharging  a 
Leyden  jar. 

Disciplina,  Arcani.    (Arcani  Disciplina.) 

Discobolus.  [Gr.  5i<TKofi6\os.]  A  quoit- 
thrower.  A  celebrated  bronze  statue  of  Myron, 
fifth  century  B.C.,  of  which  several  marble  copies 
exist. 

Discoid.  [Gr.  8i<r/co-ej5ijs,  quoit -shaped.}  Of 
the  form  of  a  disc. 

Discommon.  1.  (Univ.}  Of  a  townsman,  to 
make  it  punishable  for  persons  in  statu  pupillari 
to  have  any  dealings  with  him,  a  power  of  the 
collective  heads  of  houses.  2.  (Leg. )  To  make 
no  longer  common  or  commonable,  as  of  land  by 
enclosure. 

Discontinuous.   Not  continuous.   (Continuity.) 

Discovert.  (Leg.)  A  widow,  a  woman  not 
in  coverture. 

Discovery.  [L.  dis-,  neg.  prefix,  and  coope"rire, 
to  cover.}  (Leg.)  A  bill  of  D.  in  equity  prays 
that  the  court  compel  the  defendant  to  disclose 
facts  or  discover  (give  access  to)  documents 
material  to  the  plaintiffs  case,  provided  such 
discovery  be  not  perilous  to  the  defendant. 

Discrepancy.  [L.  discrgpantia,  discordance.} 
Disagreement,  variance. 

Disembody.  To  deprive  a  military  force  of  its 
arms  and  accoutrements,  and  release  them  from 
service  for  a  limited  period. 

Disembogue.     To  discharge. 

Disesteem.  To  feel  no  esteem  for,  to  deprive 
of  esteem. 

Disherison.  [L.  dis-,  neg.  prefix,  and  Fr. 
heriter,  from  L.  hseres,  heir.}  The  act  of  de- 
barring from  inheritance. 

Disintegrate.  To  break  up  a  whole  into  com- 
ponent parts,  to  deprive  of  cohesion,  of  unity. 

Disjecti  membra  poetse.  [L.]  The  limbs  of 
the  dismembered  poet  (Horace). 

Disjunctive.  [L.  disjunctive,  from  dis-,  neg. 
prefix,  and  jungo,  I  join.}  1.  (Gram.}  Express- 
ing an  opposition  or  separation  of  ideas,  as  the 
D.  conjunctions  :  but,  else,  although,  unless,  lest, 
either — or,  neither — nor.  2.  (Log.)  Involving 
opposition  or  separation  of  ideas,  as  the  D. 
syllogism:  "It  is  either  good  or  bad,  or 
both  ;  but  it  is  not  bad,  therefore  it  is  not  both, 
therefore  it  is  good." 

Disk.  [Gr.  StWos,  a  round  plate,  qiwit.} 
(Bot.)  A  fleshy  circular  organ  enlargement 
between  the  stamens  and  ovary,  as  in  spindle- 
tree  (Euonymus). 

Dislocation  of  memory.  (Path. }  The  curious 
effects  upon  it  of  injury,  disease,  or  decay. 

Dislocations,  Slips.  (Geol.)  Displacements 
of  stratified  rocks  from  their  original  sedimentary 
position  by  fracture.  (Fault.) 

Dismal  Swamp.  About  thirty  miles  north  to 
south  by  ten  miles  of  country  around  Lake 
Drummond,  •  chiefly  in  Virginia,  partly  in 
Carolina,  U.S. 

Dispark.     To  throw  or  lay  open,  as  a  Park. 
Dispart.     [(?)  Fr.  disparite,  disparity.}    The 


DISP 


171 


DIVE 


excess  of  half  the  diameter  of  the  base  ring  of  a 
gun  over  half  the  diameter  of  the  muzzle. 

Dispauper.  To  disqualify  from  suing  in  forma 
pauperis  one  who  has  been  admitted  to  sue  thus, 
either  because  he  has  subsequently  acquired  pro- 
perty or  for  any  other  sufficient  cause. 

Dispensatory,  i.q.  Pharmacopoeia  (q.v.}. 

Dispensing  power.  (Hist.)  The  power  of 
the  English  sovereign  to  dispense  with  penalties 
on  things  forbidden  by  law  but  not  by  moral 
obligation.  James  II.  regarded  this  power  as 
authorizing  him  to  dispense  with  tests  against 
Roman  Catholics  and  Dissenters. 

Dispersion  of  light,  or  Chromatic  D.  of  light. 
The  separation  of  a  pencil  of  rays  of  white  light 
into  rays  of  coloured  light  by  means  of  a  prism 
or  other  refracting  medium. 

Displacement.    (Naut.)    (Cavity.) 

Displayed.  [Fr.  deployer.]  (Her.)  Having 
its  legs  spread  and  wings  expanded. 

Dispondeus.  [L.]  A  double  spondee  ;  thus, 
,  as  desolatse. 

Disseisin.  [Fr.  dissaisin.]  A  deprivation  of 
actual  seisin  (q.v.)  by  force  or  fraud,  a  turning 
out  of  an  owner  in  actual  possession  of  a  freehold. 

Dissepiment  [L.  dissepimentum,  dissepio,  / 
hedge  off},  or  Septum  [L.,  an  enclosure}.  (Bot.) 
A  vertical  partition,  division  into  cells,  of  com- 
pound fruit ;  e.g.  wallflower.  (Loculus.) 

Dissidents.  [L.  dissidentes,  sitting  apart.} 
(Hist.}  Dissenters  in  Poland  from  the  Roman 
Catholic  or  established  religion,  who  were 
allowed  the  free  exercise  of  their  faith.  After 
the  partition  of  the  country,  they  were  placed  on 
the  same  footing  with  the  members  of  the  Latin 
Church. 

Dissilient.  [L.  dissilio,  I  start  asunder, } 
Starting  open,  opening  with  elastic  force. 

Dissimilation.  [L.  dis-slmilis,  unlike.'} 
(Gram.)  Change  of  one  of  two  contiguous 
similar  or  identical  sounds,  or  avoidance  of  the 
juxtaposition  of  such  sounds,  as  Tifoj/tu  for  0i07j^iu, 
equester  for  equetter,  vdrietas  not  variitas. 

Dissipat  evius  curas  edaces.  [L.]  Wine  dis- 
perses gnawing  cares  ( Horace). 

Distaff.  [O.E.  distaef.]  A  cleft  stick  for 
holding  the  bunch  of  flax,  etc.,  from  which  the 
thread  was  drawn  in  hand-spinning. 

Distemper.  \Cf.  </w-ease,  afc-order.]  1.  In 
dogs,  an  affection,  typhoid,  contagious,  of  the 
upper  air-passages ;  somewhat  like  strangles  in 
horses,  and  scarlatina  in  children.  2.  In  horses, 
D.  means  influenza,  an  epidemic  catarrh,  severe, 
attended  with  great  weakness.  3.  In  cattle, 
sometimes,  epizootic  (q.v.),  pleuro-pneumonia 
(q.v.).  4.  [It.  tempera.]  Painting  on  a  dry 
surface  of  plaster,  etc.,  with  colours  mixed  in 
some  aqueous  vehicle,  such  as  size. 

Distich.  [Gr.  8/irrifgo*,  of  two  rows,  or 
•verses.}  In  poetry,  a  rhymed  couplet. 

Distillation.  [L.  distillatio,  -nem,  distillare, 
to  drip  down.]  The  process  of  heating  a  sub- 
stance so  that  it  gives  off  a  vapour  afterwards 
condensed  by  cold. 

Distinguishing  pendant.    A  special  flag  to  dis- 
tinguish signalling-ships  in  a  fleet  or  squadron. 
Distrait.     [Fr.]    Preoccupied,  absent. 


Distress.  [O.Fr.  destresse,  from  districtus,  p. 
part,  of  distringo  (distrain).]  The  act  or  fact  ot 
distraining. 

District.  [L.L.  districtus,  a  crossing  over.} 
(Mil. )  Province  occupied  by  troops  commanded 
by  one  general  officer.  England  is  divided  into 
nine,  Scotland  one,  Ireland  three,  Channel 
Islands  two. 

Distringas.  [L.,  that  you  distrain.]  (Leg.) 
A  special  writ  of  execution  addressed  to  a  sheriff, 
issued  against  a  corporation  aggregate  ;  or  to  re- 
strain transfer  of  stock  or  payment  of  dividends 
by  the  Bank  of  England. 

Ditheism.  [Gr.  S/-,  Sis,  twice,  6e6s,  god.} 
Belief  in  two  gods.  (Dualism.) 

Dithyramb.  [Gr.  ^iQvpa^os.}  A  kind  of 
lyric  poetry,  in  honour  of  Dionysus  Bacchus, 
then  of  the  other  gods  also  ;  cultivated  especially 
at  Athens ;  degenerating  from  its  wild  lofty 
style,  D.  became  =  bombast  (origin  of  the 
word  unknown,  but  perhaps  akin  to  Gr.  Bpiap.- 
&os,  L.  triumphus). 

Di  tibi  dent  annos.  [L.]  May  the  gods  give 
thee  years. 

Ditrochaeus.  [L.,  for  Gr.  8irp6x*">s.]  A  foot 
consisting  of  two  trochees.  (Dichoraeus.) 

Dittany,  Common  or  Bastard,  or  Fraxinella. 
(Bot.)  Native  perennial  of  S.  Europe,  cultivated 
in  England ;  Dictamnus  fraxinella,  ord.  Rutacese ; 
containing  a  quantity  of  lemon-scented  oil,  and 
giving  off  enough  from  its  erect,  rose-coloured, 
sometimes  white,  raceme,  to  take  fire  from  a 
light.  D.  of  Crete,  a  febrifuge,  is  the  woolly 
labiate  Origanum  dictamnus,  growing  abun- 
dantly on  Mount  Dicte. 

Dittay.  [From  L.  dictare,  to  assert,  freq.  of 
dic£re,  to  say.}  The  matter  of  a  charge  or  in- 
dictment against  an  accused  person,  in  Scotland. 
Taking  up  D.,  collecting  the  information  neces- 
sary for  trial. 

Dittology.  [Gr.  8iTTo\o7i'a.]  A  double  reading 
or  interpretation  of  a  text. 

Ditty-bag.  A  sailor's  bag,  to  hold  smaller 
necessaries.  D.-box,  that  in  which  he  keeps  his 
valuables. 

Diurnal  motion ;  D.  circle ;  D.  aberration.  The 
apparent  daily  motion  of  the  heavenly  bodies, 
which  is  due  to  the  rotation  of  the  earth  on  its 
axis.  Consequently  each  star  seems  to  describe 
a  circle — its  1).  circle — in  the  course  of  a  day. 
(For  D.  aberration,  vide  Aberration.) 

Divan.  [Pers.  diwan,  a  book  of  many  leaves, 
a  council.'}  1.  A  council.  2.  A  council-cham- 
ber. 3.  A  salon  with  cushioned  seats.  4.  A 
cushioned  seat  or  sofa  along  a  wall. 

Divaricate.  [L.  divarlcatus,  splayed,  spread 
asunder,  from  di-  for  dis-,  apart,  and  varus, 
awry,  grown  apart.}  1.  Widely  divergent.  2. 
To  diverge  widely. 

Divellent.  [L.  divellens,  -entis,  p.  part,  of 
divello,  /  pluck  asunder.]  Drawing  asunder, 
pulling  apart,  tending  to  separate. 

Divergent  series.  (Math.)  A  series  such  that 
the  sum  of  its  first  n  terms  can  be  made  to  ex- 
ceed any  assigned  number,  however  great,  by 
taking  n  large  enough ;  e.g.  I  +  5  +  g  +  \->  etc., 
is  a  divergent  series. 


DIVE 


172 


DOEJ 


Di  Vernon.  The  heroine  of  Scott's  Rob  Roy, 
in  whom  beauty,  courage,  straightforwardness, 
and  purity  of  heart  are  singularly  blended. 

Diversions  of  Purley.  Written  by  Horne- 
Tooke,  1786,  et  seqq.  A  series  of  dialogues  on 
language. 

Diversum  vitio  vitlum  prope  majus.  [L.] 
The  opposite  of  a  vice  is  almost  a  greater  vice ; 
e.g.  asceticism  is  often  as  selfish  as  self-indul- 
gence. 

Dives  agris,  dives  positis  in  fenore  nummis. 
[L.]  Rich  in  lands,  rich  in  money  laid  out  at 
interest  (Horace). 

Divide.  (Math.}  To  mark  with  graduation 
line,  as  to  divide  the  arc  of  a  sextant.  Dividers, 
compasses  used  in  mechanical  drawing. 

Divide  et  impera.  [L.]  Divide  and  rztle  ; 
if  you  can  bring  about  disunion  and  disintegra- 
tion in  a  people,  you  can  easily  keep  it  in 
subjection. 

Dividend.  [L.  dividendum,  sum  to  be  divided.] 
(Finance.}  1.  Amount  available  to  be  paid  to 
creditors  or  share  or  stock  holders,  by  pro  rata 
division.  2.  The  sum  paid  to  each,  the  share 
determined  by  such  division.  3.  The  percentage 
on  the  debt  or  capital  so  divided. 

Divi  divi.  A  Central-American  plant,  the 
pods  of  which  are  used  in  tanning  and  as  a 
mordant. 

Divine  Comedy,  La  Divina  Commldia.  The 
immortal  work  of  Dante,  or  Durante  Alighieri 
(1265-1321);  divided  into  Inferno,  Purgatorio, 
Paradiso  ;  a  vision  of  Torment,  Expiation, 
Bliss ;  with  powerful  invective  against  existing 
corruptions  in  Church  and  State ;  entitled  by 
Dante  La  Commedia,  because  ending  cheerfully, 
Divina  being  an  addition  of  after-times. 

Divine  Doctor,  The.  Title  of  Jean  Ruysbroek 
(1294-1381),  a  celebrated  mystic  and  schoolman. 

Divine  Legation  of  Moses.  Bishop  Warbur- 
ton's  work,  in  answer  to  the  deistical  works  of 
Shaftesbury,  Tindal,  and  others. 

Divining-rod.  A  rod,  usually  hazel,  forked  at 
the  top,  used  by  those  who  pretend  to  find  water 
or  metals  by  occult  means. 

Division.  (Mil.}  Two  or  more  brigades  (q.v.} 
of  an  army. 

Divot.  [Scot.]  (Feal  and  dust.)  A  thin 
turf  used  for  roofing  cottages. 

Dixie,  Dixie's  Land.  An  ideal  paradise  in  the 
Southern  states.  In  the  popular  mythology  of 
New  York  City,  Dixie  was  the  negro's  paradise 
on  earth  in  times  when  slavery  and  the  slave- 
trade  were  flourishing  in  that  quarter.  Dixie 
owned  a  tract  of  land  on  Manhattan  Island,  and 
also  a  large  number  of  slaves  ;  and  his  slaves 
increasing  faster  than  his  land,  an  emigration 
ensued,  such  as  has  taken  place  in  Virginia  and 
other  states.  Naturally,  the  negroes  who  left  it 
for  distant  parts  looked  to  it  as  a  place  of  un- 
alloyed happiness,  and  it  was  the  "  Old  Vir- 
ginny"  of  the  negroes  of  that  day.  Hence 
Dixie  became  synonymous  with  an  ideal  locality, 
combining  ineffable  happiness  and  every  im- 
aginable requisite  of  earthly  beatitude. — Bart- 
lett's  Americanisms. 

Djerrah.    A  Turkish  barber-surgeon. 


Doa.     (Naut.}     A  Persian  trading-ship. 

Doab.  1.  Two  rivers ;  the  Skt.  equivalent  to 
the  Gr.  Mesopotamia,  L.  Interamna.  2.  Applied 
particularly  to  the  district  between  the  Jumna 
and  the  Ganges. 

Doccia.  A  pottery  and  porcelain  manufactory 
near  Florence,  established  1735  ;  where  Capo  di 
Monte  and  Delia  Robbia  ware  are  largely 
imitated. 

Docetae.  [Gr.  SoK^rca.]  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  those 
who  maintained  that  Christ  suffered  in  appearance 
only.  (Cerdonians;  Cerinthians.) 

Dochmiac.  [Gr.  5<$xA"os>  athwart,  name  of  a 
foot  in  prosody.]  (Pros.)  A  measure  of  which 
the  type  is  an  iambus  followed  by  a  cretic  ;  thus, 
w  — — «_,  as  <f>i\oi  vavBdrai :  but  it  admits  of 
about  thirty  variations. 

Docimastic  art.  [Gr.  SoKi^d^iv,  to  test.~\  The 
art  of  assaying  metals. 

Docket,  Docquet.  1.  A  small  piece  of  paper  or 
parchment  containing  a  summary  or  abridgment 
of  a  greater  writing.  2.  A  register  of  cases  in  a 
court.  3.  A  label  tied  to  goods,  containing  the 
I  name  of  owner  or  consignee  or  the  name  of  place 
of  delivery. 

Dock  herself,  To.  (Naut.}  To  settle  in  the 
mud. 

Dock-warrant.  Certificate  of  the  possession 
of  goods  stored  in  a  dock  ;  they  are  negotiable, 
so  that  the  rightful  holder  is  owner  of  the  goods 
specified. 

Doctissimus  Komanorum.  [L.]  Most  learned 
of  the  Romans  ;  title  of  the  grammarian  Varro. 

Doctor.  [L.,  a  teacher.]  A  word  first  used 
as  a  title  of  learned  distinction  in  the  twelfth 
century.  With  some  further  epithet  it  has  been 
applied  to  many  of  the  schoolmen  and  divines  of 
the  Middle  Ages.  Thus,  Thomas  Aquinas  is  the 
Angelic  or  Universal  Doctor ;  William  of  Ock- 
j  ham,  the  Invincible ;  Alexander  of  Hales,  the 
!  Irrefragable ;  St.  Bernard  is  the  Mellifluous ; 
Roger  Bacon,  Mirabilis  or  Wonderful ;  Thomas 
Bradwardine,  the  Profound '  •  Bonaventura,  the  Se- 
raphic ;  and  Duns  Scotus,  the  Subtle  Doctor. 
The  four  Greek  doctors  are — Athanasius,  Basil, 
Gregory  Nazianzen,  and  Chrysostom.  The 
four  Latin  are — Jerome,  Ambrose,  Augustine  of 
Hippo,  and  Gregory  the  Great. 

Doctrinaire.   [Fr.]  Given  to  applying  favourite 
doctrines  in  practice ;  one  who  applies  abstract 
I  principles  of  a  special  study  in  practical  matters, 
regardless  of  the  logic  of  facts. 

Doddrat.  [Cf.  dodipoll,  stupid  person.]  1.  A 
sort  of  hockey-stick.  2.  A  stupid  fellow. 

Dodder.  (Bot.}  A  plant  parasitic  on  furze, 
heath,  thyme,  etc.,  with  red  thread-like  stems, 
somewhat  resembling  catgut.  Cusctita  ^pithy- 
mum,  ord.  Convolvulacese. 

Dodecahedron.     (Polyhedron.) 

DodecasyllaHc.  Consisting  of  twelve  [Gr. 
5coSe/co]  syllables  [<rvAAa£ai]. 

Dodo.  A  recently  extinct  bird  of  the  pigeon 
kind,  weighing  forty  or  fifty  pounds.  Plumage 
grey  and  brown,  wings  aborted.  Mauritius. 
Didus  Ineptus,  fam.  and  gen.  Dldldae,  ord. 
Columbse. 

Doe,  John.     The  fictitious  plaintiff  in  an  eject- 


DOES 


173 


DOMI 


ment,  abolished,  with  equally  fictitious  defendant 
Richard  Roe,  in  1852,  by  the  Common  Law 
Procedure  Act. 

Doeskin.     A  close,  twilled  cloth. 

Doff.  [From  do,  in  old  sense  "  put,"  and  off.] 
To  put  off,  either  of  a  dress  or  a  suitor  or 
claimant.  (Don.) 

Dog.     The  carrier  of  a  lathe. 

Doge.  [L.  dux,  ducis,  a  leader. ]  The  supreme 
magistrate  of  the  Venetian  republic.  The  office 
had  its  origin  towards  the  end  of  the  seventh 
century.  The  same  title  was  also  given  to  the 
chief  magistrates  of  Genoa.  (Bucentaur. ) 

Dogfish.  (Ichth.)  Small  sharks.  Several 
British  spec.  Eighteen  to  thirty-six  inches  long  ; 
horny  eggs ;  familiar  as  Mermaids'  purses,  Sea- 
purses.  Scyllium  and  Pristiurus,  fam.  Scyllildae, 
ord.  Pl&giostomata,  sub-class  Chondropterygii. 

Dogger.  [D.,  codfish.}  Dutch  fishing-smack 
about  150  tons,  generally  two-masted,  used  in  the 
Dogger  Bank  fishery. 

Doggy.  A  colliery  superintendent,  under  a 
butty. 

Dog-star.  The  star  a  Canis  majoris,  or  Sirius  ; 
the  brightest  of  the  fixed  stars  ;  it  is  due  south  at 
midnight  at  Greenwich  about  the  1st  of  January, 
and  at  an  altitude  of  about  22°. 

Dog-tooth  moulding.  (Arch.}  An  ornament 
in  the  form  of  four  leaves  arranged  pyramidally 
and  placed  in  a  hollow  moulding.  Frequently 
seen,  in  late  Romanesque  and  Early  English  or 
lancet-work. 

Dog-vane.     (Vane. ) 

Dog-watch.     (Watch.) 

Dogwood.  A  small  kind  of  underwood,  used 
for  butchers'  skewers,  etc. 

Doit.     [D.  duit.]     A  small  Dutch  coin. 

Dolabriform.  (Bot. )  Of  the  shape  of  a  hatchet 
[L.  dolabra] ;  e.g.  leaves  of  some  mesembry- 
anthemums. 

Dolce  far  niente.  [It.]  A  phrase  denoting  the 
pleasure  of  doing  nothing,  with  reference  gene- 
rally to  previous  strain  of  work. 

Doldrums.  1.  Sailor's  name  for  the  region  of 
calms  near  the  equator.  2.  Ennui,  listlessness. 

Dole.  [A.S.  doel,  division,  Ger.  theil,  Goth, 
dailis.]  1.  A  distribution,  or  dealing  out.  2. 
A  portion  given.  3.  A  boundary  mark. 

Dolerite.  [Gr.  So\6p6s,  deceitful.}  An  igneous 
rock  (lava,  etc.)  composed  of  felspar  and  augite. 

Doli  capax.     [L.]     (Leg.}     Capable  of  crime. 

Dolichocephalic.    ( Brachycephalic. ) 

Dolium.  \L,.,avery  large  jar.}  (Zool.)  Gen.  of 
whelk,  Apple  tun-shell,  barrel-shaped  and  with 
short  spire.  Mediterranean  and  Pacific. 

Dollar,  i.q.  Thaler.  (Joachims-thaler.)  A 
silver  coin,  having  different  values  in  different 
countries.  In  the  U.S.  its  full  weight  is  416 
grains,  of  which  3715  grains  are  pure  silver.  It 
is  the  unit  of  money  value  in  the  U.S.,  and  is 
worth  about  4-r.  2d.  The  Spanish  duro,  or  hard 
dollar,  has  about  the  same  value.  The  Prussian 
thaler  is  worth  about  2s.  I  id.  j  the  rix-dollar  of 
Bremen,  about  3-r.  ^d.,  etc. 

Dolmen.  [Turk,  dolaman.]  A  long  gown 
worn  by  Turks. 

Dolmen.     (Cromlech.) 


Dolomite.  (M.  Dolomieu.)  (Geol.}  A  crystal- 
line variety  of  magnesian  limestone. 

Dolphin.  (Naut.}  A  buoy,  or  a  post  on  a 
quay  or  beach,  to  make  fast  to.  D.  of  the  mast, 
a  strap  of  plaited  cordage  fastened  round  the 
lower  yards.  D.  -striker,  a  short  gaff  spar  under 
the  bowsprit-end,  suspended  perpendicularly  for 
guying  down  the  jibboom. 

Dolus  an  virtus,  quis  in  hoste  requirat  ?  [L.] 
Whether  craft  or  valour,  who  asks  in  the  case  of 
a  foe?  (Virgil). 

Dolus  malus.  [L.,  evil  craft.]  (Leg.}  Fraud; 
opposed  to  dolus  bonus,  honest  stratagem. 

-dom.  [From  A.S.  dom,  judgment,  state  ;  cf. 
Of/j.a,  deposit,  district,  Skt.  dhaman,  dwelling- 
place,  law,  condition,  from  root  dha,  to  place, 
lay,  do.]  Termination  of  words,  meaning  state 
condition  ;  answering  to  -thum  in  German. 

Dom.  [L.  dominus,  master.}  1.  In  the 
Middle  Ages,  a  title  of  the  pope,  and  afterwards 
of  dignitaries  of  the  Latin  Church  and  of  certain 
monastic  orders.  2.  The  German  word  for 
cathedral  [L.  domus]. 

Domdaniel's  cave.  A  cave  sometimes  supposed 
to  be  near  Babylon  ;  the  imaginary  abode  of  evil 
spirits,  genii,  and  enchanters. 

Dome-book,  (-dom.)  A  book  of  local  customs 
as  to  judicial  proceedings,  Liber  Jfidicidlis  •  com- 
posed under  King  Alfred ;  lost  since  Edward  IV. 

Domesday-book.  This  book,  called  Liber 
Judicidrius  or  Censudlis  Anglice,  and  drawn 
up  by  order  of  William  the  Conqueror,  contains 
a  general  survey  of  English  lands,  describing  the 
amounts  under  the  several  forms  of  culture,  and 
giving,  in  many  cases,  the  number  of  the  inhabit- 
ants, free  or  bond. 

Domett.     A  mixed  woollen  and  cotton  cloth. 

Domicile.  The  place  which  the  law  regards 
as  that  of  a  man's  abode  [L.  domicilium]. 

Domiciliary.  [L.  domicilium,  private  resi- 
dence, regular  abode.}  A  D.  visit,  a  visit  of 
officers  by  authority  to  search  a  private  dwelling. 

Dominant.  [L.  dominans,  -tis,  governing.} 
(Music.}  1.  The  fifth  above  the  key-note.  2. 
In  Greg.  Music,  the  prevailing  note  in  the  re- 
citation. 

Dominant  tenement.  (Leg.)  In  relation  to 
servitudes,  the  tenement  in  favour  of  which  the 
service  is  constituted. 

Dominica.    (Dimanche.) 

Dominica  in  Albis.  (Albis,  Dominica  in;  Quasi- 
modo.) 

Dominical  letter  [L.  Dominica,  sc.  dies,  the 
Lord's  day],  or  Sunday  letter.  The  days  of  the 
year  are  marked  in  the  calendar  by  the  letters 
A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  G,  repeated  in  order,  the 
ist  of  January  being  marked  A.  The  letter 
written  against  the  first  Sunday  in  any  year  is 
the  Dominical  letter  of  that  year.  The  29th  of 
February  has  no  letter. 

Dominicans.  Friars  of  the  order  of  St.  Do- 
minic, instituted  in  the  thirteenth  century. 
(Orders,  Mendicant.) 

Dominie  Sampson.  The  awkward  but  devoted 
tutor,  who  has  failed  to  pass  his  ordeal  as  a 
preacher  ;  a  well-known  character  in  Scott's 
Guy  Mannering. 


DOMI 


174 


DOUB 


Dominion  of  Canada,  =  all  British  N.  America 
except  Newfoundland.  In  February,  1867,  upon 
the  combined  principles  of  federation  and  local 
self-government,  Ontario  and  Quebec,  i.e.  Upper 
and  Lower  C.,  with  New  Brunswick,  were  formed 
into  one  dominion,  under  a  governor-general, 
Senate,  and  House  of  Commons.  Afterwards 
were  added  Manitoba,  British  Columbia,  Prince 
Edward's  Island. 

Domino.  [It.]  1.  A  long  cloak  with  a  hood, 
worn  at  masquerades.  2.  A  kind  of  mask. 

Dommus.  [L.]  (Univ.)  Title  attached  to 
the  degree  of  bachelor. 

-don.  [Celt,  dun,  a  hill  fort. ,]  1.  Part  of 
names,  as  in  Lon-don,  Dun-mow.  2.  Name  or 
part  name  of  rivers,  as  the  Don  and  the  Ban- 
don. 

Don.    [Sp.,  from   L.  dominus,  lord,  master.'] 

1.  The  Spanish  form  of  Dom,  sir,  mister.      2. 
( Univ. )    A  fellow  of  a  college  or  a  professor  in 
the  university.     3.  To  D.  [from  do,  in  old  sense 
of  "  put,"  and  on],  to  put  on,  assume.    (Doff.) 

Donation  of  Charlemagne.  (Hist.)  A  gift 
made  to  the  pope,  A.D.  774,  by  Charles  the 
Great,  of  the  powers  which  he  had  by  conquest 
over  the  Lombard  kingdom  and  the  exarchate 
of  Ravenna.  It  confirmed  the  Donation  of  Pepin ; 
but  the  extent  and  conditions  of  the  gift  are  not 
known.— Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity, 
bk.  iv.  ch.  12. 

Donation  of  Pepin.  (Hist.)  The  presentation, 
by  the  Frank  king  Pepin  to  the  pope,  in  A.D. 
755,  of  the  keys  of  the  chief  towns  in  the  exar- 
chate of  Ravenna,  which  he  had  wrested  from  the 
Lombards. 

Donations  of  Constantino.  A  clumsy  and  au- 
dacious forgery,  circ.  A.D.  760,  granting  from  C. 
to  the  pope  and  his  successors  "palatium  nostrum, 
et  urbem  Romam,  et  totius  Italiae  et  occidentalium 
regionum  provincias,  loca,  civitates,"  etc. ;  when 
the  seat  of  empire  was  transferred  to  Constanti- 
nople. (See  Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity, 
bk.  i.  72.) 

Donatists.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  religious  faction, 
raised  in  Africa  early  in  the  fourth  century  by  the 
Numidian  bishops  opposed  to  Cecilianus,  Bishop 
of  Carthage.  Two  persons  named  Donatus  are 
mentioned  as  leaders  of  this  party.  The  name 
Circumcelliones  was  given  to  the  bands  of  country- 
people  who  took  up  arms  in  their  cause. 

Donative.  [L.  ddnatlvum,  a  largess.}  1.  Lar- 
gess given  by  a  Roman  emperor  to  his  soldiers. 

2.  A  kind  of  advowson;  when  the  king,  or   a 
subject  by  his  licence,  founds  a  church  or  chapel, 
which  shall  be  in  the  gift   or    disposal  of  the 
patron,  and  vested  absolutely  in  the  clerk  by 
mere  donation,  without  presentation,  institution, 
or  induction. 

Donatory.  [From  L.  donator,  a  donor,  or  for 
donatary,  L.L.  donatarius,  from  p.  part,  of d5n- 
are,  to  give.]  (Scot.  Law. )  A  donee  of  the  Crown 
and  recipient  of  escheated  property. 

Donax.     (Arundo.) 

Donee.  [Fr.  donne,  L.  d5natus.]  The  object 
of  a  gift  or  donation. 

Donga.     A  ravine  with  steep  sides  (S.  Africa). 

Donkey-engine.     A  small  steam-engine  used 


as  subsidiary  to  a  large  engine,  pumping  water 
into  its  boilers,  etc. 

Donkey  frigate.  One  carrying  twenty-eight 
guns,  and  having  an  upper  deck. 

Donna.     [It.,  L.  domina.]     Title  of  ladies. 

Dono  dedit.     [L.]    He  gave  as  a  gift. 

Don  Quixote.     (Quixotism.) 

Donzel.  [It.  donzello,  O.Fr.  donzel,  from  L. 
domimcellus,  dim.  ofdommus.]  A  young  squire 
or  knight's  attendant. 

Doolah.    A  passage-boat  of  Canton  river. 

Dooley,  Dhoolie.  Covered  Indian  litter, 
carried  by  a  pole  on  men's  shoulders,  for  the 
sick  and  wounded. 

Dop.  The  copper  cup  which  holds  diamonds 
while  being  polished. 

Dorax.  A  renegade  Portuguese  in  Dryden's 
play  Don  Sebastian. 

Dorcas.    (Dragon.) 

Dorcas  Societies  make  or  collect  and  distribute 
clothing  to  the  poor  (Acts  ix.  39). 

Dorey.  A  flat-floored,  W. -Indian  boat  of 
burden. 

Dorian  mode.    (Greek  modes.) 

Dormant.  [Fr.]  (Her.)  Lying  down  with  the 
head  resting  on  the  fore  paws,  as  if  asleep. 

Dormer  window.  (Arch.)  A  window  placed 
in  a  gable  projecting  from  a  sloping  roof. 

Dornock.  A  stout  figured  linen  (made  at  Dor- 
nock,  in  Scotland). 

Dorsal.  [L.  dorsum,  back.]  Of  or  belonging 
to  the  back,  as  dorsal  Jin  in  fishes. 

D'Orsay,  Count.  A  celebrated  French  beau 
and  politician,  friend  of  Napoleon  III. 

Dorsibranchiate  [L.  dorsum,  the  back,  Gr. 
Ppdyxia,  gills'],  N  otobranchtdta  \yS>ros,  the  back, 
fipdyxta,  gills].  Annelids  having  gills  along 
their  backs,  as  the  sea-mouse  (Aphrodite). 

Dort,  Synod  of.  An  assembly  of  Protestant 
divines,  who,  at  D.,  near  Rotterdam  (A.D.  1618- 
19),  decided  in  favour  of  absolute  decrees,  and 
excommunicated  the  Arminians. 

Dorture.  [From  L.  dormio,  /  sleep.}  A 
dormitory  of  a  convent. 

Dos  a  dos.     [Fr.]    Back  to  back. 

Dositheans.  (Eccl  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Dositheus,  who,  in  the  first  century,  seems  to 
have  given  himself  out  as  the  Messiah. 

Dossal,  Dorsal.  [L.  dorsualis,  on  the  back.} 
That  which  hangs  on  the  back  of  anything.  The 
cloth  or  hanging  behind  an  altar.  (Reredos.) 

Dot.    [Fr.]    Dowry,  tocher,  heiress's  property. 

Dotation.  [From  L.  dotare,  to  endow,  give  a 
marriage  portion  (dos,  d5tis)  to.}  1.  Act  of 
bestowing  a  dowry.  2.  Endowment. 

Dotheboys'  Hall.  The  "Yorkshire  school" 
kept  by  Squeers,  in  Dickens's  Nicholas  Nickleby, 
where  boys  were  beaten,  made  drudges  of,  and 
starved. 

Dotted  Bible.  A  folio  edition  of  the  Bible, 
published  in  London,  1578. 

Douane.     [Fr.]    Custom-house. 

Douanier.     French  custom-house  officer. 

Douay  Bible.    (Bible,  English.) 

Double  a  ship,  To.  ( Naut. )  To  line  or  case 
her  with  planking  not  less  than  two  inches 
thick. 


DOUB 


175 


DRAG 


Double-banked.  (Naut.)  A  boat  where  two 
men  sit  on  one  thwart,  either  each  to  an  oar  or 
both  to  one.  Double-bankers,  sixty-gun  frigates, 
with  guns  along  the  gangway. 

Double  Cabinet.    (King's  Men.) 

Double  consciousness.  A  morbid  condition, 
in  which  the  patient  imagines  himself,  at  times, 
more  than  one  person  ;  or,  without  knowing  it, 
has  two  independent  sets  of  observation  and 
recollection  ;  thought  to  be  connected  with  un- 
conscious cerebration  (q.v.)t  but  not  yet  ex- 
plained. 

Double  entendre.  [Fr.]  Double  meaning; 
a  speech  capable  of  a  questionable  construction 
as  well  as  an  innocent  one. 

Double  entry.  A  system  of  book-keeping,  in 
which  the  cost  price  of  each  article  or  item  sold 
is  entered  by  the  selling  price,  or  whereby  the 
debit  and  credit  of  each  transaction  is  exhibited. 

Double  quarrel.     (Duplex  querela.) 

Double  star.  Two  stars  which  appear  as  one 
to  the  naked  eye,  and  are  seen  as  two  only 
when  looked  at  through  a  telescope  of  some 
power.  The  brightest  star  of  the  Twins  (o 
Geminorum)  is  a  double  star.  There  are  many 
others. 

Doublet.  [O.Fr.  doublet,  dim.  of  double, 
double,  pair,  from  L.  duplus.]  1.  A  throw  of  two 
identical  numbers  with  dice.  2.  Doublets,  a  game 
in  which  a  list  of  words  is  formed,  containing  the 
same  number  of  letters,  each  of  which  only 
differs  in  one  letter  from  the  next,  the  first  and 
last  being  given:  thus,  turn  cat  into  dog — cat,  can, 
tan,  ton,  don,  dog.  3.  A  pair  of  words  arising 
out  of  the  same  root,  but  differing  somewhat  in 
form  and  meaning ;  so  from  L.  abbreviate 
(through  the  Fr.),  abbreviate  and  abridge ;  Fr. 
Noel  and  natal;  endroit  and  indirect.  (Variants.) 
4.  A  waistcoat.  5.  A  counterfeit  gem,  formed 
of  two  pieces  of  crystal  with  a  colour  between 
them.  6.  A  word  or  phrase  accidentally  re- 
peated in  printing. 

Doubling.  The  lining  of  the  mantle  borne 
about  an  escutcheon. 

Doubloon.  A  Spanish  coin,  worth  about ^3  $s. 
Spelt  also  Doblon.  The  modern  doblon  is,  how- 
ever, worth  five  hard  dollars,  or  about  2Os.  lod. 

Doubly  oblique  prismatic  system.  In  Cry- 
stallog.,  consists  of  those  crystals  whose  axes 
contain  unequal  angles,  and  whose  parameters 
are  unequal ;  when  transparent,  they  are  optically 
biaxial,  as  blue  vitriol. 

Douce  pere.  [Fr.]  One  of  the  twelve  peers 
[douze,  pairs]  of  French  romance. 

Douceur.  [Fr.,  sweetness.]  A  present,  es- 
pecially one  intended  to  mollify  or  corrupt. 

Douche.  [Fr.]  A  jet  of  water  used  in 
bathing. 

Douey.  (Naut.)  A  one-masted,  flat-bottomed 
vessel,  of  the  Coromandel  coast. 

Dough-boys.  (Naut.)  Hard  dumplings  boiled 
in  sea-water. 

Dough-faces.  A  contemptuous  nickname  ap- 
plied to  the  Northern  abettors  of  negro  slavery. 
The  term  generally  means  a  pliable  politician, 
one  who  is  accessible  to  personal  influences  and 
considerations. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 


Doulocracy.  [Gr.  SovXa-Kparia.]  Slave-govern- 
ment, government  by  slaves. 

Dove's  dung.  Chiryonim,  2  Kings  vi.  25  ; 
some  kind  of  pulse,  called  in  Arabic  dove's  dung 
or  sparrow's  dung  ;  or  perhaps  the  root  of  Orin- 
thogalum  umbellatum  ;  or  (?)  some  kind  of  fuel ; 
or  (?)  to  be  understood  literally. 

Dovetail.  When  two  boards  are  to  be  joined 
neatly  and  securely  with  their  faces  at  right 
angles  to  each  other,  wedge-shaped  projections 
are  cut  on  the  one  piece  which  exactly  fit  notches 
cut  in  the  other.  The  joint  thus  formed  is  called 
a  dovetail,  from  the  shape  of  the  notches  and 
projections. 

Dowel  (corr.  of  Dovetail).  [Fr.  douille,  socket.] 
A  small  wedge  or  piece  of  wood  driven  into  the 
joints  of  brickwork,  to  which  other  pieces  of  wood 
may  be  fastened  by  nails  ;  a  vertical  iron  rod 
fixed  into  a  wall  and  also  into  a  body  which  is 
to  be  attached  securely  thereto,  as  a  cross  on 
the  wall  of  a  church.  (Coak.) 

Dowlas.  [(?)  O.H.G.  dwahilja,  towel  (q.v.).] 
Coarse  linen  cloth. 

Down-haul  tackles.  Those  used  to  prevent 
lower  yards  from  swaying  while  being  struck. 

Downs,  The.  A  road  for  ships,  six  miles  long, 
off  Kent,  between  N.  and  S.  Forelands. 

Down  with  the  helm.  (Naut.)  Put  the  tiller 
to  leeward. 

Dow-purse.  A  sum  of  money  presented  by 
the  bridegroom  to  the  bride,  in  some  parts,  on 
the  wedding  night. 

Doyen.  [Fr.,  L.  de'canus.]  Meaning  a  dean, 
is  often  colloquially  =  the  senior  member  of  an 
associated  body. 

Dozen ;  Baker's  D. ;  Devil's  D. ;  Long  D.  [Fr. 
douzaine,  L.  duodecim.]  Twelve.  K  Baker1  sD.t 
a  DeviVs  D.)  or  a  Long  D,,  —  thirteen. 

Drab.  [O.E.  drabbe,  dregs.]  A  wooden  box 
for  holding  salt  when  taken  out  of  the  boiling-pan. 

Drabler.     Extra  canvas  to  deepen  a  Bonnet. 

Drachma.    (Dinar.) 

Draconic.  Exceedingly  severe  ;  said  of  laws, 
regulations.  Draco  is  said  to  have  been  author, 
or  perhaps  compiler,  of  the  first  written  laws 
[0c0>tof]  of  Athens,  which  made  death  the 
penalty  of  almost  all  crimes.  But  the  word  is 
unfair  ;  the  legislation  of  D. ,  as  far  as  we  know 
it,  being  a  mitigation  of  existing  law. 

Draft.  1.  (Leg.)  A  rough  copy  of  a  docu- 
ment. 2.  ( Com. )  A  •  written  order  for  the 
payment  of  money,  i.  q.  a  bill  of  exchange. 

Dragoman.  [L.L.  dragomannus,  drogamen- 
dus,  from  Ar.  tardjuman  (Targum),  more  rarely 
truchman  and  trudgman.]  An  interpreter  in 
Turkey  and  the  Levant. 

Dragon.  [Gr.  Spd/cwc,  keen-sighted,  Heb. 
tan,  Job  xxx.  29,  etc.,  tanan,  to  extend.]  (Bibl.) 
1.  A  be"ast  of  the  desert,  most  probably  the 
jackal.  2.  [Tannin,  Ps.  cxlviii.  7,  has  same 
root  as,  but  is  different  word  from,  tan,  as  above.] 
(Bibl.}  An  aquatic  animal.  (Leviathan  and 
Whale. )  3.  With  the  Greeks,  any  creature  with 
keen  sight,  the  gazelle  being  called  from  the 
same  verb  Dorcas.  4.  A  noxious  serpent, 
especially  in  Myth.,  those  which  cause  drought. 
(Sphinx.) 


DRAG 


176 


DRUM 


A  pirate    boat   formerly 
[L.] 


Dragonet,  Skulpin.  Name  of  two  British  spec, 
of  fish,  Gemmeous  D.  (Calli5nymus  lyra) 
[Gr.  Ka\\idavvfj.os,  beautiful-named} ;  and  Sordid 
D.  (C.  DrScunculus),  nine  to  ten  inches  long, 
with  large  pectoral  and  ventral  fins.  Fam. 
Gobiidas,  ord.  Acanthopterygii,  sub-class  Te- 
leostel. 

Dragonnades.  Persecutions  of  the  French 
Protestants  by  Louis  XIV.  and  Louis  XV.  ;  so 
called  because  dragoons  were  employed  in  them 
against  the  people. 

Dragon's-blood.  A  resin  which  exudes  from 
the  fruit  of  a  palm  (Calamus  dr&co),  native  of 
Malaya,  used  in  varnish. 

Dragon's  teeth.    (Cadmeian  victory.) 

Drag-ropes  are  attached  to  guns  to  assist  in 
moving  them  on  an  emergency.  D.  issued  to 
our  cavalry  are  lassoes. 

Drakkar.     (Naut.) 
used  by  the  Normans. 

Dramatis  persdnae.  [L.]  The  actors  in  a 
play.  (Person.) 

Drapier's  letters.  Those  of  Dean  Swift, 
writing  under  this  pseudonym  in  an  Irish  paper, 
to  warn  the  Irish  against  giving  gold  and  silver 
for  Wood's  halfpence,  i.e.  £180,000  worth  of 
bad  copper,  which  W.  Wood  was  by  patent 
empowered  to  coin. 

Drastic  medicines.  Especially  purgatives; 
acting  powerfully  [Gr.  Spao-Ttitds]. 

Draught.  1.  (Mil.}  Detachment  of  soldiers 
from  the  depot  reinforcing  the  main  body.  2. 
(Naut. )  Of  a  vessel,  her  depth  in  the  water. 

Draught-house.  2  Kings  x.  27 ;  cesspool.  So 
draught,  Matt.  xv.  17  [Gr.  afaSp&i/a]. 

Dravidian.  Name  of  a  family  of  agglutinative 
non- Aryan  languages,  in  Central  India,  such  as 
Tamil  and  Telegu. 

Draw,  To  (as  a  sail).     To  fill. 

Drawback.  A  term  used  to  signify  the  paying 
back  of  duties  previously  levied  on  goods  upon 
their  exportation. 

Draw-bar;  D.-hook;  D.-spring.  The  hooks 
which  carry  the  coupling  connecting  one  railway 
carriage  _with  another  are  Draw-hooks.  The 
D.-bar  is  the  prolongation  of  the  hook  by 
which  it  is  fastened  to  the  buffer  spring,  when 
only  one  spring  is  used  for  buffers  and  draw- 
hook  ;  or  to  the  D. -spring,  when  each  buffer 
and  draw-hook  has  its  own  spring. 

Drawcansir.  The  braggart  in  Villiers's  The 
Rehearsal. 

Drawer.  The  person  who  creates  a  draft  or 
bill  of  exchange. 

Drawing-room.    (Levee.) 

Draw-plate,  or  Wire-drawer's  plate.  A  steel 
plate  furnished  with  a  graduated  series  of  conical 
holes,  through  which  wire  can  be  drawn  suc- 
cessively till  its  thickness  has  been  reduced  to 
the  required  amount,  without  subjecting  it  to  a 
force  that  would  break  it. 

Dresden  china.  A  delicate,  semi-transparent, 
highly  finished  china. 

Dreykonigstag.  With  the  Germans,  Twelfth 
Night ;  Three  Kings'  Day,  i.e.  the  three  Magi 
of  tradition— Caspar,  Melchior,  and  Balthasar. 

Drift,  Northern  D,    (Boulder-clay.) 


Driftland,  Drofland,  Dryfland.  (Leg.}  Yearly 
rent  paid  by  tenant  for  the  right  of  driving 
cattle  through  a  manor. 

Driftsail.  A  sail  allowed  to  drag  in  the 
water  to  check  drifting. 

Driftway.  A  passage  between  two  shafts  in 
a  mine. 

Drill.  [Ger.  drillkh.]  1.  A  coarse  linen  or 
cotton  cloth.  2.  A  borer.  3.  An  agricultural 
implement. 

Dripstone.  (Arch.}  The  Moulding  placed  over 
doors,  windows,  archways,  etc. ,  to  carry  off  rain. 
It  is  also  called  weather-moulding,  water-table, 
label,  and  Hood-moulding. 

Driver.  1.  (Mech.}  A  piece  which  com- 
municates motion  to  another  piece  ;  e.g.  when 
two  toothed  wheels  work  together,  the  one 
which  communicates  motion  is  the  D.,  and  the 
one  which  receives  the  motion  is  the  Follower. 
2.  (Sails.) 

Driving  notes.  (Music.}  In  syncopated  pas- 
sages, the  notes  which  send  on  the  accent  to 
that  part  of  the  bar  which  is  not  generally 
accented. 

Driving-wheels  of  a  locomotive  engine.  The 
wheels  which  are  connected  by  means  of  a  crank, 
etc.,  to  the  pistons,  and  communicate  motion 
to  the  train. 

Drofland.    (Driftland.) 

Drogheda,  Statute  of.    (Poyning's  Law.) 

Drogher.  (Naut.}  A  small  vessel  of  the  W. 
Indies,  to  take  off  sugar,  rum,  etc.,  to  ships. 
Lumber-D.  is  a  W. -Indian  coaster. 

Droit  d'aubaine.  (Fr.  Law.}  Right  of  the 
king  to  the  property  of  an  alien  at  his  death. 

Dromio.  Name  of  twin  brothers  exactly  like 
each  other,  in  Shakespeare's  Comedy  of  Errors. 

Dromoes,  Dromos,  Dromonds.  Vessels  of  large 
burden,  ships  of  war. 

Drop-scene.  The  painted  sheet  let  down  in 
front  of  the  stage  of  a  theatre,  between  scenes 
and  acts  of  a  play. 

Drosera  [Gr.,  dewy\,  Sundew.  A  gen  of. 
curious  little  plants,  Exogens,  ord.  Droseracese, 
natives  of  Britain,  having  leaves  covered  with 
viscid  red  glandular  hairs,  in  which  insects  are 
caught,  the  plant  being  thus  nourished.  Mr. 
Darwin's  researches  upon  the  sundew  are  well 
known. 

Drosky.  [Russ.  drozhki.]  A  low,  open,  four- 
wheeled  carriage. 

Drosometer.  [Gr.  Sp6a-os,  dew,  /*erp€«',  to 
measure.}  An  instrument  for  measuring  the  fall 
of  dew. 

Drown  the  miller,  To.  (Naut.)  To  put  too 
much  water  into  wine,  etc. 

Druggers.  (Naut.)  Small  French  vessels  of  the 
Channel  ports,  which  carried  fish  to  the  Levant, 
and  brought  back  spices,  etc. 

Drugget.  [Fr.  droguet.]  A  coarse,  thick 
woollen  cloth,  stamped  on  one  side  with  figures. 

Druidical  altars.    (Cromlech.) 

Drum.  1.  A  cylinder  revolving  on  its  axis, 
on  to  which  (or  off  from  which)  ropes  are  wound. 

2.  (Arch.)     The  upright  part  of  a  cupola,  above 
or  below  a  dome  ;  generally  the  part  below  it. 

3.  A  large  social  gathering  at  a  private  house  ; 


DRUM 


177 


DULC 


(?)  from  the  phrase,  "  John  Drum's  entertain- 
ment "  (Shakespeare). 

Drum,  Sacred.  Among  Laplanders,  formerly, 
a  kind  of  necessary  household  god  in  every 
family ;  a  hollowed  section  of  fir  or  beech, 
covered  with  skins  on  one  side,  hung  with  rings, 
beaten  with  a  reindeer's  horn  ;  divination  was 
by  the  movement  of  the  rings. 

Drum-Alban.  Formerly  name  of  the  Gram- 
pian Mountains. 

Drum-head  court-martial  (the  D.  serving  as 
an  impromptu  writing-table).  One  held  in  the 
field,  for  treachery,  plundering,  killing  the 
wounded,  or  other  gross  offence ;  the  sentence 
is  carried  out  on  the  spot. 

Drum-major.  The  non-commissioned  officer 
in  charge  of  drummers  and  their  instruction. 

Drumming.  In  mercantile  phrase,  means  the 
soliciting  of  customers.  It  is  chiefly  used  in 
reference  to  country  merchants,  or  those  sup- 
posed to  be  such. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Drummond  light.  A  light  produced  by  heat- 
ing a  piece  of  lime  in  the  flame  of  a  jet  of  oxygen 
and  hydrogen  (invented  by  Captain  Drummond). 

Druses.  A  people  of  the  Lebanon,  reaching 
as  far  as  Baalbec.  Regarded  by  the  Maronites 
as  atheists.  Some,  styling  themselves  Okkals,  or 
Spiritualists,  make  great  claims  to  purity. 

Dryads.  [Gr.  fyvds,  SpvdSos.]  In  Myth.,  tree- 
nymphs  ;  also  called  Hamadryads. 

Dryasdust,  The  Rev.  Dr.  Representative  of 
dry,  dull  learning,  in  some  of  Scott's  prefatory 
letters  before  his  novels. 

Dry  ducking.  Suspending  a  person  a  short 
distance  above  the  water.  D.  flogging,  flogging 
with  clothes  on. 

Dryfland.    (Driftland.) 

Dry  goods.  Cloths,  stuffs,  laces,  etc.,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  groceries. 

Dry  light.  [L.  siccum  lumen.]  The  clear, 
bright  light  of  the  intellect,  not  heated  by  pas- 
sion nor  clouded  by  prejudice. 

Dry  pile.  A  voltaic  pile,  in  which  the  liquid 
is  replaced  by  leather  or  paper,  and  which  is 
chiefly  used  for  electroscopes. 

Dry  point.  Etching  with  a  sharp  needle  with- 
out the  use  of  acid. 

Drysalter.  1.  A  dealer  in  drugs  and  chemicals. 
2.  Originally  a  dealer  in  cured  meats,  pickles,  etc. 

D.  S.  Q.    (Naut.)    (Abbreviations.) 

Dualism.  The  (i)  concurrent  or  (2)  antago- 
nistic working  of  two  principles  in  the  same 
object-matter;  as  (i)  matter  and  spirit,  or  (2) 
the  Manichasan  idea  of  good  and  evil  in  outward 
nature.  (Ahriman.) 

Dub.  To  strike,  as  with  the  flat  sword,  in 
making  a  knight  ;  (?)  the  last  affront  he  was  to 
endure,  like  the  blow  of  liberation  from  a  Roman 
master  in  the  manumission  of  a  slave.  [Dub 
and  the  Fr.  adouber,  with  It.,  Sp.,  L.L.,  and 
other  forms,  probably  from  Ger.  dubban,  to 
strike  (Littre).] 

Du  Barri.    (Pompadour.) 

Dubber.   [Hind,  dabbah.]   A  bottle  of  leather. 

Dubbing.  [O.E.  dubban,  to  strike.}  A  greasy 
dressing  for  leather. 

Ducat.     The  Dutch  and  Austrian  ducats  are 


gold  coins  worth  about  9-y.  4^. ;  the  Neapolitan 
D.  is  a  silver  coin  worth  about  3^.  $d.  The 
first  coined  ducats  were  Sicilian,  in  the  twelfth 
century,  bearing  the  inscription,  "  Sit  tibi, 
Christe,  datus,  quern  Tu  regis,  iste  Ducatus," 
i.e.  Duchy. 

Ducatoon.     A  half-ducat,  worth  about  5-r. 

Ducestecum.  [L.]  You  shall  bring  with  you ; 
name  of  a  subpoena  requiring  a  person  to  bring 
into  court  as  evidence  any  written  instrument,  etc. 

Duck.  [Ger.  tuch,  cloth.}  A  light  canvas, 
used  for  sails,  etc. 

Duck  at  the  yardarm,  To.  An  old  punishment 
in  the  French  navy.  A  rope  is  passed  through  a 
block  at  the  yardarm,  to  one  end  a  cross-piece 
of  wood  is  fastened,  and  the  prisoner  sits  lashed 
on  it ;  he  is  then  hauled  up  to  the  yardarm,  and 
dropped  into  the  sea  as  often  as  ordered.  D. 
up,  haul  up  a  sail  when  it  hinders  seeing  how  to 
aim  a  gun,  or  to  steer. 

Duck-billed  platypus.    (Ornithorhynchus.) 

Ducking-stool,  or  Cucking-stool,  Coke-stool, 
Gogin-stool,  Castigatory,  Trebucket.  A  stool  in 
which  common  scolds  were  tied  and  soused 
in  water;  from  the  fifteenth  to  the  eighteenth 
century. 

Ductor  Dubitantium.  A  treatise  on  questions  of 
casuistry,  by  Bishop  Jeremy  Taylor  (1613-1667). 

Ducts.  [L.  ductus,  a  leading!}  (Bot.}  Tubular 
vessels  marked  by  transverse  lines  or  dots. 

Duddeen.    [Ir.]    A  very  short  clay  pipe. 

Dudder.     A  hawker  of  cheap  goods  (duds). 

Duds.    (Naut. )    Clothes  or  personal  property. 

Duenna.  [Sp.]  1.  The  chief  lady-in-waiting 
of  the  Queen  of  Spain.  2.  An  elderly  chaperone 
or  governess. 

Duessa,  or  Fidessa.  In  the  Faery  Queen, 
"clad  in  scarlet  red,"  Falsehood  ;  signifying  the 
faith  of  Rome,  not  without  reference  to  Mary 
Queen  of  Scots,  as  representing  Romish  hostility 
to  Elizabeth.  D.  is  the  double  one,  Truth  being 
Una  (q.v.). 

Duff.     [Eng.,  dough.}    A  stiff  flour  pudding. 

Duffle.  [D.  duffel.]  A  coarse  woollen  cloth, 
with  a  thick  nap. 

Dugong.  [Malay  diiyong.]  Sea-cow,  an 
aquatic  herbivorous  mammal,  similar  to,  but 
three  times  as  long  as,  the  manatee.  (Manatidae.) 
Indian  Ocean,  including  the  Red  Sea. 

Dug-out.     A  canoe  made  of  a  hollowed  tree. 

Duke  Humphrey,  To  dine  with.  To  get  no 
dinner  at  all ;  said  to  refer  to  D.  H.  's  walk  in 
Old  St.  Paul's,  a  promenade  for  the  dinnerless. 
D.  H.,  son  of  Henry  IV.,  was  reported  to  have 
been  starved  to  death. 

Duke  of  York's  School,  or  Royal  Military 
Asylum,  Chelsea,  opened  1803,  for  700  boys 
and  300  girls,  children  of  deceased  soldiers.  The 
girls'  school  has  been  discontinued. 

Dukes.  Gen.  xxxvi.  ;  leaders  of  the  people 
[L.  dikes] ;  so  Solinus  is  D.  of  Ephesus,  in 
Comedy  of  Errors ;  Theseus  D.  of  Athens,  in 
Midsummer  Nighfs  Dream. 

Dulcarnon.  Name  for  "  The  Asses'  Bridge," 
the  fifth  proposition  of  the  first  book  of  Euclid. 

Dulce  est  desipere  in  loco.  [L.]  }Tis  sweet 
to  play  the  fool  in  season  (Horace). 


DULC 


178 


DURA 


Dulce  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori.    [L.] 

It  is  sweet  and  honourable  to  die  for  one's  country 
(Horace). 

Dulcimer.  [It.  dolcimela,  as  if  dolce,  sweet, 
/xeAos,  song.]  1.  In  Dan.  iii.,  probably  bagpipe, 
Heb.  sumphoniah,  LXX.  av^uvia.  2.  D.,  the 
origin  of  the  piano  ;  an  ancient  instrument,  found 
in  some  form  almost  everywhere ;  is  at  first  a 
flat  piece  of  wood  over  which,  on  raised  con- 
verging strips,  strings  are  stretched,  which  are 
struck  by  hammers  held  in  the  hand. 

Dulcinea.     The  rustic  love  of  Don  Quixote. 

Dulia.  [Gr.  SouAe/o,  slavery.]  In  the  Latin 
Church,  three  degrees  of  worship  are  dis- 
tinguished :  D.,  the  reverence  paid  to  angels 
and  saints  in  general ;  Hyperdulla,  the  special 
veneration  paid  to  the  Virgin  Mary ;  and  Latria, 
the  service  of  God  only. 

Dulocracy.    (Doulocracy.) 

Dumb-craft.  (Naut.)  1.  Lighters,  lumps, 
etc.,  without  sails.  2.  The  screws  used  in 
lifting  a  ship. 

Dum  bene  se  gesserit.  [L.]  While  he  shall 
behave  himself  well,  during  good  conduct. 

Dumb-waiter.  A  set  of  circular  shelves  turn- 
ing on  a  pivot,  on  which  dishes  and  table 
necessaries  are  placed,  and  brought  within  reach 
by  turning  it. 

Dum  loquimur  fugit  eetas.  [L.]  While  -we 
are  speaking  time  is  flying. 

Dumose.  [L.  dumus,  a  thorn  or  bush.]  (Bot.} 
Of  compact,  bushy  shape. 

Dumous.    [L.  dumosus.]    Full  of  brushwood. 

Dump.  An  old  dance,  somewhat  slow  ;  named 
(?)  from  a  trick  of  the  players  striking  the  lute 
with  the  fist  at  intervals. 

Dumpage.  1.  P'ee  paid  for  dumping  rubbish 
from  carts.  2.  The  right  of  dumping,  i.e.  un- 
loading a  cart  by  tilting. 

Dumpy  level.  A  short  instrument  fitted  with 
a  telescope,  for  taking  levels. 

Dum  spiro,  spero.  [L.]  While  I  breathe  1 
hope. 

Dunce.  A  word  said  to  be  derived  from  Duns 
Scotus  Erigena,  the  Subtle  Doctor  (Doctor) ;  on 
the  principle  by  which  a  bully  is  called  Hector, 
and  a  blockhead  Solomon,  that  is,  from  the  rule 
of  contraries. 

Dunciad,  The.  Pope's  satire  on  "  dunces,"  i.e. 
on  his  critics  (cf.  Byron's  English  Bards  and 
Scotch  Reviewers}. 

Dunder.  The  lees  of  sugar  from  which  rum  is 
made. 

Dunderhead.  (Naut.)  1.  The  devil.  2.  A 
stupid  fellow. 

Dune.  [Gael,  dun,  hill.]  (Geol.)  A  hillock 
of  drifted  sand. 

Dun-Edin.  Name  for  Edinburgh  in  Scotch 
poetry. 

Dunes.  [Akin  to  A.S.  dun,  downs]  Low 
hills  of  blown  sand,  which  skirt  the  shore  in 
Holland,  Spain,  and  other  countries. 

Dunging.  Immersing  calico  in  a  bath  of 
cowdung  and  hot  water. 

Dungiyah.  (Naut. )  An  Arabian  coaster,  with 
great  beam  and  a  flat  bottom,  trading  between 
the  Red  Sea,  Persian  Gulf,  and  Malabar. 


Dun-head.  (Naut.}  The  after-planking  ol 
E. -country  barges,  making  the  cabin. 

Dunkers.  (Origin  of  name  unknown.)  A 
sect  of  Baptists,  formed  under  peculiar  rules  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  1724. 

Dunkirks.     Dunkirk  pirates. 

Dunmow  flitch.  A  prize  for  any  married 
couple  who  will  swear  that  they  have  not 
quarrelled  or  repented  of  their  marriage  within  a 
year  and  a  day  of  its  celebration  ;  instituted  at 
D.,  in  Essex,  1244,  by  Robert  Fitzwalter. 

Dunnage.  Anything  packed  amongst  the 
cargo  to  keep  it  from  shifting,  or  placed  below  a 
dry  cargo  to  keep  it  from  bilge-water.  D. 
battens,  a  second  floor,  slightly  above  the  other, 
to  keep  the  cargo,  etc.,  dry  in  case  of  a 
leakage. 

Duodecimals ;  Duodenary.  In  Duodenary 
arithmetic  the  base  is  12,  just  as  in  ordinary 
decimal  arithmetic  the  base  is  10 ;  e.g.  in  the 
former,  257'8i  stands  for  2  x  I22  +  5  X  12  +  7 
+  T5  +  T5i  >  Just  as  in  the  latter  it  stands  for 
2  X  io2  +  5  x  10  +  7  +  T8g  +  T^.  Practically,  a 
partial  use  of  the  system  is  made  in  Duodecimals, 
where  the  subdivisions  of  the  foot  are  reckoned 
by  twelfths  :  I  foot  =12  primes,  I  prime  =12 
seconds,  etc. 

Duodenum.  [L.  duodeni,  twelve  each.]  (Anat.} 
The  first  of  the  small  intestines  in  immediate 
connexion  with  the  stomach ;  about  twelve 
inches  in  length. 

Duos  qui  sequitur  lepores neutrum  capit.  [L.] 
He  who  follows  two  hares  catches  neither. 

Duplex  querela.  [L.]  A  process,  by  which 
an  appeal  from  an  ordinary  who  refuses  institution 
to  a  benefice  is  made  to  his  next  immediate 
superior;  who  may  grant  it  if  the  grounds  of 
refusal  seem  insufficient. 

Duplicate.     (Original.) 

Duplicate  of  a  ratio.  If  three  magnitudes  are 
in  continued  proportion,  the  ratio  of  the  first  to 
the  third  is  the  duplicate  or  double  of  the  ratio 
of  the  first  to  the  second.  The  duplicate  of 
the  ratio  of  two  numbers  is  the  ratio  of  their 
squares ;  thus,  1 6  :  25  is  the  duplicate  of  the 
ratio  of  4  :  5. 

Duplication.  [L.  duplicatio,  -nem,  from  du- 
plico,  I  make  double.]  (Lang.}  The  process 
by  which  one  word  or  form  develops  into  two 
different  meanings  becoming  attached  to  dif- 
ferent pronunciations  (or  spellings),  as  custom 
and  costume  from  O.Fr.  coustume. 

Duplication  of  the  cube.  The  Delian  problem, 
viz.  to  find  by  elementary  geometry  the  edge  of 
a  cube  whose  volume  is  double  that  of  a  given 
cube.  Under  the  conditions  the  problem  is 
insoluble.  It  can  be  solved  to  any  degree  of 
nearness  by  extracting  the  cube  root  of  2.  It  is 
a  particular  case  of  the  problem  of  inserting  two 
mean  proportionals  between  two  given  magni- 
tudes ;  i.e.  given  a  and  b  find  x  and  y  such  that 
a  :  x  ::  x  : y  and  x  :y  :: y  :  b. 

Dura  mater.  [L.]  The  outermost,  as  Pia  M. 
is  the  innermost,  covering  enveloping  the  general 
nervous  mass  of  the  brain.  Matres,  because  once 
imagined  to  give  rise  to  the  other  membranes  of 
the  body. 


DURA 


179 


DYSE 


Duramen.    (Alburnum.) 

Durandal.  The  marvellous  sword  of  Orlando 
or  Roland  in  romance.  (Excalibur.) 

Durante  bene  placito.  [L.]  (Leg.)  During 
the  sovereigns  good  pleasure. 

Durbar.  [Hind,  darbar,  audience-hall.]  A 
levee  held  by  a  chief  or  a  representative  of  the 
British  empire  in  India. 

Durden,  Dame.  A  notable  housewife  of  an 
English  popular  song. 

Duress.  [O.Fr.  duresse,  from  L.  duritia, 
hardness.'}  1.  Restraint  of  liberty.  2.  (Leg.) 
State  of  compulsion  by  wrongful  imprisonment 
or  threats  of  confinement,  murder,  mutilation, 
or  mayhem,  which  makes  a  contract  voidable. 

Durmast.  (Bot.)  The  sessile-cupped,  or  short- 
stalked  oak,  Quercus  sessiliflora ;  this  and  the 
common  O.,  pedunciilata,  having  stalks,  being 
two  spec.,  or  varieties  of  the  same  spec.  Com- 
mon throughout  Europe. 

Dustooree.     [Hind.]    Custom,  duty  on  goods. 

Dutch  auction.  A  sale  in  which  goods  are 
put  up  at  a  price  higher  than  their  value,  lower 
prices  being  gradually  named  till  some  one 
buys. 

Dutch  caper.  A  light-armed  D.  privateer  of 
the  seventeenth  century. 

Dutch  clinker.  [Ger.  klinker.]  A  hard  brim- 
stone-coloured brick,  made  in  Holland.  Dutch 
pink  is  chalk  or  whiting  dyed  yellow,  used  for 
paper-staining.  Dutch  rush,  a  rough  kind  of 
rush  used  for  scouring  and  polishing.  Dutch 
gold,  leaf,  foil,  mineral,  or  metal,  is  an  alloy  of 
eleven  parts  of  copper  and  two  of  zinc,  rolled  or 
beaten  into  thin  sheets. 

Dutch  eel-skuyt.  (Naut.}  A  flat-bottomed 
sea-boat  with  lee  boards,  cutter-rigged  and  round- 
looking,  with  two  water-tight  bulkheads  for 
keeping  live  fish. 

Dutchify,  To.  (Naut.)  To  turn  a  square  stern 
into  a  round  one. 

Dutch  pump.  The  punishment  of  drowning, 
for  one  who  did  not  pump  hard.  D.  reckoning, 
a  bad  day's  work,  everything  wrong. 

Dutch  school.  A  school  of  painting,  charac- 
terized by  accuracy  of  representation  and  coarse 
homeliness  of  subject.  Its  chief  painter  was 
Rembrandt. 

Duty  of  a  steam-engine.  The  number  of  foot- 
pounds of  work  done  by  a  steam-engine  in  con- 
sequence of  the  consumption  of  an  assigned 
quantity  of  coal,  generally  a  bushel  (eighty-four 
or  ninety-four  pounds)  or  a  hundredweight. 

Duumviri.  •  [L.]  A  body  of  two  persons 
who  fill  an  office.  D.  sacrorum,  the  two 
keepers  of  the  Sibylline  books  in  ancient  Rome. 

Duvet.     [Fr.]     Down,  wool,  nap. 

Dux  femina  facti.  [L.]  A  woman  the  author 
of  the  achievement  (Virgil,  of  Dido). 

Dyad.  [Gr.  Svds,  the  number  two.'}  A  metal 
one  atom  of  which  replaces  two  of  hydrogen  in  a 
compound. 

Dyas.     (Permian  system.) 

Dying  Gladiator.  A  celebrated  statue  in  the 
Capitoline  Museum ;  the  figure  of  a  Gaul,  with 
Celtic  torques  or  necklace.  (See  Byron,  Childe 
Harold,  canto  iv.  140.) 


Dying  man's  dinner.  (Naut.}  Food  hurriedly 
eaten  when  a  vessel  is  in  great  danger. 

Dyke.  [A.S.  die,  D.  dijk  ;  cf.  Gr.  re^os,  wall, 
Skt.  dehi,  rampart,  mound. ]  A  mound  or  wall 
of  earth,  as  the  Devil's  Dyke,  near  Newmarket. 
(Dike.) 

Dykes.  [An  older  form  of  ditch,  from  A.S. 
dician,  to  dig.'}  (Geol.)  Solidified  walls  of 
molten  material  filling  up,  from  below,  fissures 
in  stratified  rocks  ;  D.  meaning  walls  or  fences, 
in  Scotland. 

Dynam.  [Gr.  Swapis,  power.]  A  unit,  some- 
times used  for  measuring  the  rate  at  which  an 
agent  does  work,  viz.  the  work  done  when  a 
kilogramme  is  moved  against  gravity  through  one 
metre  in  a  second  of  time.  76  dynams  =  I 
horse-power. 

-dynamia.  [Gr.  SOpa/xis,  power,  in  sense  of 
excess.]  (Bot.)  The  Linnaean  xiv.  and  xv. 
classes  are  Di-dynamia,  having  four  stamens,  two 
longer  than  the  others.  Tetra-dynamia,  having 
six  stamens,  four  being  longer  than  the  others, 
(-andria.) 

Dynamic.  [Gr.  Svva/j.iK6s,  powerful,  effective. ] 
(Lang. )  Intended  to  express  change  of  meaning 
or  the  reduplication  (q.v.)  of  the  root  in  forms 
which  express  completed  action. 

Dynamics.  1.  The  science  which  determines 
the  motion  of  a  body  when  the  forces  applied  to 
it  are  not  in  equilibrium  (Poisson).  2.  The 
science  which  treats  of  the  action  of  force,  com- 
prising two  divisions  :  Statics  when  the  forces 
maintain  relative  rest,  and  Kinetics  when  force 
produces  acceleration  of  relative  motion  (Thomp- 
son and  Tait).  In  the  former  sense  D.  is  exactly 
equivalent  to  the  subdivision  Kinetics,  when  D.  is 
used  in  the  latter  sense. 

Dynamite.  [Gr.  56i>a/«s,  power.'}  A  combi- 
nation of  three-fourths  of  nitro-glycerine  with 
one-fourth  of  powdered  silica  ;  of  a  pasty  consis- 
tency ;  exploded  by  a  percussion  cap,  which 
brings  both  percussion  and  fire  to  bear. 

Dynamometer.  [Gr.  5tW/m,  power,  ^trpov, 
measure.  ]  An  instrument  for  measuring  ( i )  force, 
as  a  spring-balance  ;  (2)  force  and  motion  and 
therefore  work,  as  the  steam-indicator. 

Dynasty.  [Gr.  Swao-rela,  from  Svvaa-reveiv,  to 
be  a  8vj/a(T'Hjs,  ruler,  from  Sv^a/uoti,  I  have  power.] 
A  succession  of  rulers  of  the  same  race  or  line, 
as  the  ^Ethiopian  D.  in  ancient  Egypt,  the 
Bourbon  D.  in  France. 

Dyne.  A  unit  of  force  [Gr.  Suj/fyuy],  viz.  the 
force  which,  acting  for  one  second  on  a  mass  of 
one  gramme,  produces  a  velocity  of  one  centi- 
metre a  second.  It  is  called  a  C.  G.  S.  unit. 

Dynevor.  The  southern  division  of  Wales  in 
the  Saxon  period. 

Dys-.  [Gr.  5u<r-.]  A  prefix  in  some  compound 
words,  with  a  general  notion  of  badness,  harsh- 
ness, unfavourableness ;  the  opposite  being  cS,  well. 

Dyschromatopsy.  [Gr.  Su<r-,  with  difficulty, 
Xpwjuo,  -roy,  colour,  <j\l/is,  appearance.]  Colour- 
blindness. 

Dysentery.  [Gr.  Sva-evrepla,  from  Sutr-,  iWepo, 
bowels.]  A  disease  of  the  mucous  membrane  of 
the  colon  ;  with  marked  fever,  great  pain,  bloody 
stools,  etc. 


DYSP 


180 


EAST 


Dyspepsia.    [Gr.  Svffiretyia,  from  Svcr-, 
cook,  digest.}     Impaired  or  difficult  digestion. 

Dysphonia  clericorum  [Gr.  Svfftfxavla,  rough- 
ness of  sound],  Clergyman's  sorethroat.  A  general 
name  for  those  various  affections  of  the  throat 
to  which  public  speakers  and  singers  are  liable. 
(Cynanche.) 

Dyspnoea.  [Gr.  tivffirvoia,  from  8u<r-,  7iWo>,  / 
breathe.]  Difficulty  of  breathing. 

Dytiscus.     [Dim.    of   Gr.    btrris,    a   diver.] 


Water-beetle,  Pentamerous  (i.e.  five-jointed) 
aquatic  coleoptera. 

Dyvnorint.  An  old  name  for  the  north  of 
Devonshire. 

Dyvour.     (Scot.  Law.)    Bankrupt. 

Dwarf  incarnation.  (Myth.)  The  Avatar  of 
Vishnu  as  Hari,  the  new-born  sun,  who  in  two 
strides  becomes  a  giant,  and  in  three  accomplishes 
his  course. 

Dwergar.    (Pygmy.) 


E.  The  fifth  letter  in  the  Greek  and  other 
allied  alphabets  ;  denotes,  as  a  Latin  number, 
250.  In  Music,  it  marks  a  note  of  the  scale 
corresponding  to  the  mi  of  the  French  and 
Italians. 

-ea,  -ey.  [Cf.  ay,  a,  oe;  A.S.]  Part  of 
names,  meaning  island,  as  Chels-ea,  Cherts-ey. 

Eagle.  1,  [Fr.  aigle,  L.  Squila.]  A  gold  coin 
of  the  U.S.,  of  the  value  of  ten  dollars  ;  so  called 
from  its  bearing  on  the  reverse  the  figure  of  the 
American  eagle.  There  are  also  dottble-eagles  of 
twenty  dollars,  as  well  as  halfa.n&  quarter  eagles. 
— Bartlett's  Americanisms.  2.  [Nesher,  Micah  i. 
1 6,  etc.]  (Bibl.)  Spec,  of  vulture,  great  griffon 
V.  (Gyps  fulvus),  four  feet  long,  plumage  yel- 
lowish brown,  with  nearly  black  quill  feathers 
and  white  frill. 

Eagle,  or  Spread  eagle.  (Natit.)  A  man 
fastened  to  the  shrouds  by  his  extended  arms 
and  legs  ;  an  old  punishment. 

Eagle-stone.    (Nodule.) 

Eagle-wood  (eagle  being  the  Malayan  name 
agila).  Agallochum  aloexylon,  a  very  fragrant 
wood,  yielding  incense,  burnt  from  very  early 
times  in  India  and  in  China. 

Eagre,  Eager,  or  Hygre.    (Bore.) 

Ealdorman.     (Alderman.) 

Eame.    [A.S.  earn,  Ger.  oheim.]     Uncle. 

Ean.    (Yean.) 

Eanling.    (Yeanling.) 

Ear,  Earing.  [L.  a_ro,  Gr.  ap6<o,  I  plough.} 
Gen.  xlv.,  i  Sam.  viii.,  etc. ;  ploughing,  any 
manner  of  preparing  ground  for  seed. 

Barings.  (AW.)  Small  ropes  by  which  the 
upper  corners  of  sails  are  fastened  to  the  yard. 

Earl.  [Norse  jarl.]  At  first  any  person-  of 
noble  race,  eorl ;  all  others  being  included  in  the 
class  ceorl,  or  churl.  (Celibacy;  Ealdorman.) 

Earles-money.  [Earles,  from  Fr.  arrhes,  L. 
from  a  Phoenician  word.] 


arrha,    security, 
Earnest  money. 

Earles-penny. 

Earl-marshal. 


The  same  as  Earles-money. 
(Marshal.)      The    hereditary 
head  of  the  Heralds'  College. 
Early  English  style.    (Geometrical  style.) 
Ear-mark.     The  mark  made  on  the  ear  of  a 
horse,  cow,  pig,  or  sheep  by  its   owner ;  and 
hence  the  token  or  signal  by  which  a  thing  is 
known.     So  used  also  in  the  north  of  England . 
The  laws  of  several  of  the  states  require  the  ear- 


mark of  every  proprietor  to  be  recorded  with 
the  town  clerk,  as  evidence  for  reclaiming  strays, 
etc.  — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Earnest.  In  commercial  transactions,  the 
paying  down  any  part  of  the  price  of  goods,  if 
it  be  but  a  penny,  on  the  delivery  of  any  portion 
of  the  goods ;  which,  according  to  Blackstone, 
is  called  in  the  civil  law,  arrha  [L.,  earnest],  arid 
interpreted  to  be  "  emptionis,  venditionis,  con- 
tractse  argumentum,"  a  proof  of  a  real  buying 
and  selling. 

Earsh.  (Earing.)  Grass  that  grows  after 
ploughing. 

Ears  of  a  boat.  (Naut.)  The  pieces  of  timber 
forward  at  the  same  height  as  and  outside  of  the 
gunwale  of  a  boat. 

Earthshine,  Earthlight.  The  faint  light  on 
the  dark  part  of  the  disc  of  the  moon  in  her  first 
or  fourth  quarter,  due  to  the  sunlight  scattered 
from  the  earth,  which  would  render  the  earth 
visible  to  a  spectator  in  the  moon. 

Easel.  [Ger.  esel,  donkey.]  An  artist's  frame 
for  holding  the  canvas  on  which  he  is  painting. 

Easement.  [Fr.  aisement.]  In  Law,  accord- 
ing to  the  old  writers,  "  a  service  or  convenience 
which  one  neighbour  hath  of  another  by  charter 
or  prescription  without  profit ;  "  having  reference 
to  rights  of  way,  watercourses,  ancient  lights, 
etc.  ;  e.g.  a  right  to  divert  or  pen  back  a  stream, 
or  to  pollute  it,  or  the  air,  to  a  certain  extent 
Similar  are  the  Servilities  of  Roman,  and  the 
Servitudes  of  French  and  Scotch  laws.  (See  an 
exhaustive  account  in  Brown's  Law  Dictionary. ) 

Ease  the  helm.    (Naut.)    Put  it  a  little  down. 

Eassel  and  Wessell.  Lowland  Scotch  for  east 
and  ivest.  (See  Scott's  Guy  Mannering,  ch.  i.) 

East  Anglia.  Name  of  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and 
Cambridgeshire  in  early  English  history, 

East  Country.  (Naut.)  Countries  bordering 
on  the  Baltic. 

Easter  eggs.    (CEufs  de  Faque.) 

Easterling.     (Sterling.) 

Eastern  Empire.  The  Greek  or  Byzantine 
empire,  395~H53- 

Eastern  States.  The  six  states  of  New 
England,  in  America — Maine,  New  Hampshire, 
Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  and 
Connecticut. 

East  India  Company.  A  chartered  English 
company,  originally  founded  in  1600  for  trading 


EAST 


181 


ECLA 


with  India.  Since  1748  it  acquired  great  politi- 
cal power,  and  at  the  time  of  its  political  anni- 
hilation (1858)  it  governed  as  subject  or  tributary 
the  vast  empire  of  India,  which  then  passed  to 
the  Crown. 

Eastminster.  Original  name  of  the  cathedral 
church  of  St.  Paul's,  London. 

East  Sea.     Old  name  of  the  Baltic. 

Eat  the  wind  out  of  a  vessel,  To.  To  steal 
to  windward  of  an  opponent  by  very  smart 
seamanship. 

Eau  de  Luce.  [Fr.]  A  compound  solution  of 
ammonia,  mastic,  and  oil  of  amber,  used  as  a 
remedy  for  snake-bites  (invented  by  Luce). 

Ebb  ;  Ebb-tide.  The  reflux  of  the  tide  towards 
the  sea. 

Ebbsfleet.  The  channel  between  the  Isle  of 
Thanet  and  Kent  in  the  Saxon  period. 

Ebenaceous.  [From  L.  ebenus,  ebony.'}  Con- 
sisting of  or  like  ebony. 

Ebionites.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  sect  of  the  first 
century,  who,  holding  opinions  resembling  those 
afterwards  maintained  by  the  Arians,  insisted  on 
the  observance  of  the  Mosaic  Law  and  rejected 
the  authority  of  St.  Paul. 

Eblis.  Arabic  name  of  the  prince  of  the  rebel 
angels  exiled  to  the  infernal  regions  for  refusing 
to  worship  Adam. 

Ebonite.  [Eng.,  ebony. 1  A  hard,  black, 
elastic  compound  of  indiarubber  and  sulphur, 
also  called  vulcanite. 

Ebony.  1.  A  punning  name  given  to  W. 
Black  wood,  original  publisher  of  BlackwoocT  s 
Magazine ',  by  James  Hogg,  the  "Ettrick  Shep- 
herd." 2.  Nickname  for  Blackwood 's  Magazitie. 

Ebridae  Insulae.  Name  of  the  Hebrides  under 
the  Romans. 

Ebullition.  [L.  ebulllre,  to  boil  oz>er.]  Boil- 
ing^or  effervescence. 

Ecarte.  [Fr.]  A  game  at  cards,  generally 
played  by  two,  in  many  respects  like  whist,  but 
if  the  hands  dealt  contain  bad  cards  the  players 
may  throw  out  [ecarter]  cards  and  take  others  in 
their  place  from  the  pack  till  one  is  satisfied. 

Ecbasis.  [Gr.  €/c)8a<ns,  from  IK,  out,  ftalvca,  1 
go.]  (Rhet.)  A  figure  by  which  a  necessary 
consequence  from  a  proposition  concerning  the 
matter  in  hand  is  exhibited  -,  e.g.  "  Education 
'lessens  crime,  therefore  excess  of  crime  shows 
defective  education. " 

Ecbatic.  (Ecbasis.)  (Gram.)  Relating  to  or 
indicating  a  result  or  consequence. 

Ecbole.  [Gr,  ^KjSoA^j,  a  throiving  out,  from 
IK,  from,  j8cU\€ii/,  to  throw.']  (Rhet.)  A  digres- 
sion in  which  a  person  is  introduced  speaking 
in  his  very  words. 

Eccaleobion.  [Gr.  ^Kfca\e'w,  /  evoke,  fttos, 
/r/fc.]  A  hatching-machine. 

Eccentric  [Gr.  ettKevrpos,  out  of  the  centre] ; 
E.  chuck ;  E.  gear ;  E.  strap ;  E.  rod.  1.  The 
apparent  proper  motion  of  the  sun  is  nearly 
accounted  for  by  supposing  him  to  move  uni- 
formly in  a  circle  whose  centre  does  not  coin- 
cide with  that  of  the  earth.  Such  an  orbit — 
whose  centre  does  not  coincide  with  the  centre 
of  motion — was  called  an  E.  in  the  old  astro- 
nomy. 2.  (Mech.)  A  modified  crank  convert- 


ing the  circular  motion  of  the  main  shaft  into  an 
alternating  rectilinear  motion  for  working  the 
slide-valves  of  a  steam-engine.  It  consists  of  a 
circular  disc  or  sheave  keyed  on  to  the  shaft, 
with  whose  axis  the  centre  does  not  coincide ; 
this  disc  is  embraced  by  a  hoop,  the  E.  strap, 
furnished  with  an  arm,  the  E.  rod ;  the  disc  can 
slide  within  the  hoop,  and  consequently,  if  the 
arm  is  properly  guided,  its  end  moves  backwards 
and  forwards  when  the  shaft  is  turned.  The  E. 
gear  is  the  whole  of  the  E.  apparatus.  An  E. 
chuck  holds  a  piece  in  a  lathe  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  tool  cuts  on  it  E.  circles. 

Eccentricity.  1.  Of  an  eccentric  circle,  the 
distance  from  the  centre  of  the  orb  to  the  centre 
of  motion.  2.  Of  an  ellipse,  the  distance  from 
focus  to  centre,  or  ratio  of  that  distance  to  semi- 
major  axis. 

Eccentricity,  Error  of.    (Centring,  Error  of.) 

Ecchymosis.  [Gr.  c*xfy««><m.]  Livid  spots  in 
the  skin,  made  by  extravasated  blood  in  or 
under  the  skin  ;  e.g.  a  black  eye. 

Ecclesiastical  Polity,  Laws  of.  Richard 
Hooker's  great  work,  1594,  in  defence  of  the 
Church  against  Puritans. 

Ecclesiology.  [Gr.  cKKXriffta,  a  church,  \6yos, 
discourse.]  The  science  which  studies  all  matters 
relating  to  the  fabrics  of  ecclesiastical  buildings — 
their  furniture,  decorations,  etc. 

Ecdysis.  [Gr.  €K-5i5<m,  a  stripping  off.] 
Putting  off  the  skin,  as  is  done  by  snakes. 

Echelle.     [Fr.,  L.  scala.]    Musical  scale. 

Echelon.  [Fr.,  the  step  of  a  ladder,  echelle, 
L.  scala.]  (Mil.)  Tactical  movement  by  which 
a  battalion  moves  either  directly  or  obliquely  to  its 
front,  by  each  company  marching  in  a  parallel  di- 
rection to,  but  not  following  the  one  preceding  it. 

Echidna.  [Gr.,  the  throttler,  properly  of  con- 
strictors.] (Zool.)  Australian  hedgehog,  Porcu- 
pine ant-eater.  One  of  the  two  gen.  of  the  ord. 
Monotrem&ta  (the  other  being  the  Ormth5rhyn- 
cus)  containing  two  spec.,  E.  hystrix  and  E. 
setosa.  Australia. 

Echinite.  [Gr.  ^x^os,  sea-urchin.]  (Geol.) 
Any  fossil  echinoderm,  related  to  echinus. 

Echinodenn.     [Gr.  ^xivos,  sea-urchin,   Sep/uo, 
skin,    shell.]      (Zool.)      A  class   of  Annuloida, 
having  an  integument  firm,  coriaceous,  or  crus-   * 
taceous,    and   very  generally  spinous,  like   the 
sea-urchin. 

Echinus.  [(Jr.  tx^oy,  a  hedgehog.]  1.  (Arch.) 
A  kind  of  moulding  under  the  capital  of  an  Ionic 
column,  of  which  the  chief  feature  is  a  row  of 
egg-shaped  ornaments  in  relief.  2.  (Zool.)  Sea- 
urchin,  sea-hedgehog.  Gen.  of  class  Echinoder- 
mata,  having  its  rays  connected,  and  their  tips 
turned  in,  so  as  to  form  a  hemispheroidal 
envelope  of  its  leathery  integument,  which  be- 
comes a  shell  with  upper  and  under  orifices. 

Eckhardt,  The  faithful.  An  old  man  of  Ger- 
man legend,  who  drives  folk  indoors  on  Maunday 
Thursday,  to  save  them  from  the  terrors  of  a  pro- 
cession of  the  dead.  Tieck  made  E.  a  ft'thful 
servant  who  perished  to  save  his  master's  children 
from  the  temptations  of  fiends. 

Eclaircissement.  [Fr.]  A  clearing  up,  a  dis- 
covery. 


ECLA 


182 


EDRI 


Eclat,    [Fr.]     Brilliant  effect. 

Eclectics.  [Gr.  ittotsrutto,  picking  out.]  Pro- 
perly, any  who  borrow  from  other  systems  of 
thought  to  complete  their  own.  In  this  sense 
Plato  and  Aristotle,  and  perhaps  all  thinkers,  are 
eclectics.  But  the  name  was  specially  applied  in 
the  second  century  to  the  New  Platonists  of  Alex- 
andria. (Neoplatonism.) 

Eclectic  school.  [Gr.  CKXCKTIKOS,  picking  out.} 
(Bolognese  school.) 

Eclipse  [Gr.  €*A.e*\J/ts,  a  forsaking,  an  eclipse]  ; 
Annular  E. ;  Lunar  E. ;  Partial  E. ;  Solar  E. ; 
Total  E.  A  Solar  E.  is  the  obscuration  of  the 
sun  caused  by  the  moon  passing  between  the  sun 
and  the  spectator,  and  is  partial  or  total  accord- 
ing as  the  sun  is  parti? lly  or  totally  obscured  at 
the  place  where  the  ooscuration  is  greatest.  If 
at  any  place  the  whole  disc  of  the  moon  is  seen 
against  the  sun,  so  as  to  appear  surrounded  by  a 
ring  of  light,  the  E.  is  annular.  A  Lunar  E.  is 
the  partial  or  total  obscuration  of  the  moon 
caused  by  her  partial  or  total  immersion  in  the 
earth's  shadow. 

Ecliptic.  The  circle  on  the  great  sphere  along 
which  the  sun  appears  to  move  round  the  sphere 
in  the  course  of  a  year  ;  its  position  is  marked 
out  in  the  heavens  by  the  signs  of  the  Zodiac. 
The  earth's  actual  motion  in  her  orbit— to  which 
the  sun's  (apparent)  proper  motion  is  due — takes 
place  in  the  plane  of  the  E. 

Ecliptic  limit.  The  angular  distance  from  a 
node,  or  the  point  of  intersection  of  her  orbit 
with  the  sun's  orbit,  within  which  the  moon 
must  be  at  conjunction  with  the  sun  for  an  eclipse 
to  be  possible.  As  these  orbits  are  inclined,  it 
follows  that  when  the  new  moon  is  more  than  a 
certain  distance  (17°)  from  a  node,  she  passes 
above  or  below  the  sun,  and  there  is  no  solar 
eclipse  visible  anywhere  on  the  earth  ;  and  when 
the  full  moon  is  more  than  a  certain  distance 
(nc)  from  a  node,  she  does  not  dip  into  the 
earth's  shadow,  and  there  is  no  lunar  eclipse. 

Ecloge,  Ecloga.  A  choice  collection  [Gr. 
IK \oy-fi]  of  authors.  Ecloga,  elegant  extracts ; 
and  by  the  grammarians  the  Bucolics  of  Virgil  are 
also  called  EclSgce,  Eclogues,  or  BucdHcon  £., 
collections  of  Bucolics. 

Ecole  Polytechnique.    (Polytechnic  School.) 

Economic  botany.  [Gr.  oiKovo/jiia,  management 
of  a  household. ,]  B.  as  concerned  with  all  arts 
which  supply  human  needs  or  comforts. 

Economy.    (Reserve.) 

Economy,  The.    (Arcani  Disciplina.) 

E  converso.  [L.]  (Log.}  Conversely ;  said  of 
a  proposition  formed  from  another  proposition 
with  transposition  of  the  subject  and  predicate, 
as  "  Queen  Victoria  is  the  Queen  of  England." 

Ecorche.  [Fr.,  flayed.]  A  representation  of 
an  ^animal  flayed  so  as  to  show  the  muscles,  etc. 

Ecossais.     [Fr.]     Scotch. 

Ecphasis.  [Gr.  e/c^do-is,  from  ^*r,  out,  ty-n^t,  I 
speak,  say.]  An  open  statement. 

Ecphoneme.  [Gr.  fK<j>wvi)/j.a,  exclamation.] 
(Gram.)  A  note  of  admiration,  thus —  ! 

Ectasis.  [Gr.,  a  stretching  out,  from  e'/c,  out, 
reii/w,  I  stretch.]  (Pros.)  Lengthening  of  a 
short  syllable ;  which  was  generally,  however,  the 


going  back  for  once  to  the  original  length  of  a 
vowel  which  had  become  short  in  course  of  time. 

Ecthesis.  [Gr.  e/c0e<m,  an  exposition.]  (/list.) 
A  decree  of  the  Emperor  Heraclius,  A.D.  639, 
drawn  up  to  put  an  end  to  the  Monothelite  con- 
troversy. Withdrawn  by  the  Emperor  Constans, 
who  in  648  issued  his  Type,  by  which  he  imposed 
silence  on  both  sides. 

Ecthlipsis.  [Gr.  e/c0AnJ/ts,  a  sqiieezing  out, 
from  e/c,  out,  and  6\i0eiv,  to  press.]  (Pros.)  The 
elision  in  Latin  of  a  syllable  consisting  of  a 
vowel  followed  by  m,  as,  "  O  et  prsesidi(um)  ct 
dulce  decus  meum  "  (Horace,  Od.  i.  2). 

Ectypal.  [Gr.  e'fc,  from,  rviros,  stamp,  pattern, 
model.]  Copied,  imitated. 

Ectypography.  [Gr.  c/c,  out,  rviros,  type, 
ypwpeiv,  to  write.]  Etching  in  relief. 

Ecurie.    [Fr.]    A  stable.- 

Eczema.  [Gr.  €/c£ejua,  from  %«£*<*,  I  boil  out  or 
over.]  An  eruption  of  small  aggregated  vesicles 
on  various  parts  of  the  skin. 

Edda.  This  Norse  word,  signifying  Grand- 
mother, denotes  the  collection  of  the  most  ancient 
Scandinavian  poetry.  Of  the  two  Eddas  the 
Older,  ascribed  to  Ssemund  Sigfusson,  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  reduced  to  writing  about 
the  end  of  the  eleventh  century.  The  New  Edda, 
bearing  the  name  of  Snorri  Stirluson,  about  two 
centuries  later,  is  an  abridgment  of  the  Older 
Edda,  the  parts  being  also  rearranged. — Thorpe. 

Eddish,  Earsh.  [A.S.  edisc,  from  ed,  again; 
cf.  L.  at,  yet,  Gr.  en,  yet,  still.]  Grass  which 
grows  again  after  mowing  or  reaping,  aftermath. 

Edelweiss  of  the  Alps.  Leontopodium  alpi- 
num,  ord.  Compositae. 

Edema.  [Gr.  o^Sr/^a.]  A  swelling;  adj., 
Edematous. 

Edentata.  [L.  e-dentatus,  having  the  teeth 
knocked  out.]  (Zool.)  An  ord.  of  mammals, 
some  entirely  toothless,  as  the  great  ant-eater 
(Myrmecophaga  jiibata) ;  all  destitute  of  in- 
cisors, as  the  sloth  (Bradypus). 

Edessa.  A  principality  on  the  Euphrates, 
north  and  north-east  of  Aleppo,  in  the  time  of 
the  Crusades. 

Edible  nests.    (Cubilose.) 

Edict.  [L.  edictum,  that  which  is  spoken  out.] 
In  Rom.  Hist.,  the  ordinances  of  the  Praetors, 
who  on  taking  office  laid  down  their  rules  for 
regulating  the  practice  of  their  courts. 

Edict  of  Milan.  A  proclamation  issued  by 
Constantine,  A.D.  313,  securing  the  civil  and 
religious  rights  of  Christians. 

Edict  of  Nantes.  A  proclamation  issued  by 
Henry  IV.  of  France,  1578,  securing  to  Protest- 
ants the  free  exercise  of  their  religion.  Revoked 
by  Louis  XIV.,  1685. 

Edition  de  luxe.  [Fr.]  A  very  beautifully 
got  up  edition  of  a  work. 

Editio  princeps.  [L.]  The  original  printed 
edition  of  ancient  works,  often  of  great  value  to 
critical  scholars,  as  being  records  of  readings 
of  manuscripts  since  lost. 

Edredon  [Fr.],  i.q.  eider-down ;  formerly 
ederdon,  from  Ger.  eider-dune. 

Edrisites.  A  dynasty  ruling  in  Fez  in  the 
ninth  century. 


EDUC 


183 


ELAS 


Educt.  [L.  eductum,  p.  part,  of  e-duco,  7 
bring  out.'}  That  which  is  educed  or  brought 
to  light. 

Edulcoration.  [L.  e,  out  of,  dulcorare,  to 
sweeten.'}  The  act  of  cleansing  by  repeated 
affusion  of  water. 

Edward  VI.'s  first  Prayer-book.  (Common 
Prayer,  Book  of.) 

Edward  VI.'s  second  Prayer-book.    (Common 
Prayer,  Book  of.) 
Eerie.    [Scot.]    Wild,  weird. 
E,  Ex.     L.  prefix,  =  from,  out  of,  and  with 
intens.  force ;  added  to  official  titles,  it  denotes 
one   who   used   to  hold   the  office  indicated,  as 
ex-premier. 

Effective.  [L.  effectivus,  from  efflcio,  7 
effect.]  (Com.)  Specie  or  hard  cash,  opposed 
to  bills  or  paper  money. 

Effective  force.  (Dyn. )  The  force  that  must 
be  applied  to  a  detached  particle  to  make  it 
move  in  precisely  the  same  manner  as  that  in 
which  it  actually  moves  when  forming  part  of  a 
moving  system. 

Effendi.    A  Turkish  corr.  of  the  Greek  word 
avBevTys,  meaning  lord  or  superior,  and  applied 
to  civil  functionaries  as  opposed  to  military,  who 
are  called  Agas. 
•  Efferent.    (Afferent.) 

Efflorescence.  [L.  effldresco,  I  blossom  forth.] 
(Mm.)  The  appearance  of  a  whitish  saline 
crust  on  material  changed  by  the  atmosphere 
from  a  crystalline  to  a  powdery  state  ;  e.g.  alum 
in  caves,  sulphate  of  iron  on  pyrites,  etc. 

Effodiuntur  opes  irritamenta  malorum.  [L.] 
Piches  the  incentives  to  evils  are  dtig  out  of  the 
ground. 

Egalite.  [Fr.,  equality.'}  Name  taken  (1792) 
by  Louis  Philippe  Joseph,  Duke  of  Orleans. 

Egesta.  [Things  carried  off  ox  out  (L.  egestus).] 
Excretions ;  matters  thrown  from  or  out  of  the 
bodies  of  animals. 

Egger.   (Eggs.)    (Entom.)    Lasiocampa,  gen. 
of  moth,  spec.  L.   quercifolia,  popiilifolia,  etc., 
according  to  the  trees,   etc.,   which   it  affects. 
Sub-fam.  BombycTdse,  ord.  Le'pldopte'ra. 
Eggs,  Easter.     ((Eufs  de  Paque.) 
Eggs,  Mundane.    ((Eufs  de  Paque.) 
Eggshell  china.     China  turned  down  in  a 
lathe  till  little  but  the  glaze  is  left. 
Ego.    (Subjective  and  objective.) 
Egoism.     [Coined  from  L.   £go,  7,  Fr.  ego- 
isme.]     1.  (Metaph.)     Subjective  ideality;   the 
tenet  which  limits  knowledge  to  personal  expe- 
rience and  existence  to  its  phenomena.     2.  Self- 
love,  habitual  reference  to  self. 

Egress.  [L.  egressus,  a  going  out.]  (Astron.) 
The  end  of  a  transit  of  Venus  or  Mercury  when 
it  is  seen  to  pass  off  from  the  sun's  disc. 

Egret.      [Fr.    aigrette,    id.,    O.H.G.    heigro, 

L.L.  aigronem,  O.Fr.  hairon,  Fr.  heron.]    The 

white  heron  ;  found  in  both  hemispheres.     Two 

spec.,  the  Great  E.  (Ardea  alba)  and  the  Little 

E.  (A.  garzetta),  occasionally  found  in  Britain. 

Fam.  Ardeidse,  ord.  Grallae. 

Egrette.    (Aigrette.) 

Egyptology.    The  scientific  study  of  Egyptian 

antiquities  and  language. 

13 


Eiconoclastes.     [Gr.  et«:c£</,  an  image,  K\do>,  2 
break. ]    Milton's  answer  to  Eikon  Basilike  (q.v. ). 
Eider-down.      The  down  of    the  eider-duck 
w.  ejder]. 

Eidograph.  [Gr.  eTSos,  form,  ypdfaiv,  to 
"write.]  An  instrument  for  copying  drawings. 

Eidolon.  [Gr.,  an  image.]  1.  A  form,  phan- 
tom. 2.  (Scient.)  A  baseless  theory. 
Eigne.  (Bastard  eigne.) 
Eikon  Basilike.  [Gr.,  image  of  the  king.] 
(Hist.)  A  Portraiture  of  His  Sacred  Majesty 
in  His  Solitude  and  Sttfferings,  ascribed  to 
Charles  L,  but  probably  written  by  Gauden, 
Bishop  of  Exeter.  The  recent  discovery  in  the 
Record  Office  of  a  prayer  in  Charles  I.'s  writing, 
identical  with  one  in  E.  B.,  has  reopened  the 
question.  The  Daily  News,  April  24,  1880, 
argues  in  favour  of  the  authorship  of  W. 
Dugard,  High  Master  of  St.  Paul's,  but  more 
recent  criticism  tends  to  confirm  the  authorship 
of  Gauden. 
Eire.  (Eyre.) 

Eirenlkon.  [Gr.,  peaceful.]  A  name  for  works 
designed  to  reconcile  opposite  schools  in  politics 
or  theology,  by  showing  that  the  points  on  which 
they  agree  are  more  in  number  than  those  on 
which  they  differ,  or  that  their  differences  are 
not  fundamental. 

Eisteddfod.  [Welsh  eistedd,  to  sit.]  1.  An 
assembly  or  session  of  Welsh  bards,  with  com- 
petition in  native  poetry  and  music  ;  the  judges 
commissioned  by  Welsh  princes,  and,  after  the 
conquest,  by  English  kings.  The  last  commis- 
sion was  issued  in  1568.  2.  By  a  late  revival, 
meetings  held  in  Wales  for  recitation  of  prize 
poems,  performances  on  the  harp,  etc. 

Ejectment.  [From  L.  ejicio,  7  eject.]  A 
mixed  action  to  recover  possession  of  real 
estate  and  damages  and  costs  for  wrongful 
withholding,  the  best  method  of  trying  a  title 
to  landed  estate.  The  action  lies  against  a 
tenant,  the  plaintiff  being  either  a  claimant  to 
the  estate  or  his  legal  representative  (as  trustee 
or  guardian),  or  the  landlord  for  forfeiture  by 
nonpayment  of  rent. 

Eke;  also  A.S.  ec,  ecan,  akin  to  L.  aug-ere, 
to  increase,  prolong. 

Elan.  [Fr.]  Vehement  impulse,  such  as  is 
supposed  to  characterize  French  soldiers  when 
entering  into  action,  as  contrasted  with  the 
quieter  but  more  steady  endurance  of  the  English. 
Elastic  [Gr.  ^\ar6s,  t\a<rr6s,  beaten  out]  curve ; 
E.  fluid ;  E.  limits.  The  E.  curve  is  the  figure 
assumed  by  the  longitudinal  axis  of  a  slender 
flat  spring  of  uniform  section  under  the  action  of 
two  equal  and  opposite  forces.  Air  and  other 
gases  are  called  E.  fluids,  because  when  a  portion 
of  gas  is  enclosed  it  expands  or  contracts  freely 
when  the  containing  space  is  enlarged  or  dimi- 
nished. The  E.  limits  of  a  given  substance  are 
the  extreme  amount  of  the  strain  (elongation,, 
compression,  etc. )  that  the  substance  can  undergo 
without  permanently  altering  its  form. 

Elasticity;  Modulus  of  E.;  Perfect  E.;  etc. 
The  tendency  of  a  strained  (elongated,  com- 
pressed, distorted)  body  to  return  to  its  original 
volume  and  form  when  the  straining  forces  cease 


ELBE 


184 


ELEV 


to  act.  The  E.  i&  perfect  when  the  body,  having 
been  brought  into  a  certain  state  of  strain  by  the 
action  of  certain  forces,  requires  the  continued 
action  of  those  forces  to  keep  it  in  that  state  of 
strain.  The  Modulus  of  E.  of  any  substance  is 
a  column  of  the  same  substance  capable  of  pro- 
ducing a  pressure  on  its  base,  which  is  to  the 
weight  causing  a  certain  degree  of  compression 
as  the  length  of  the  substance  is  to  the  diminu- 
tion of  its  length.  The  modulus  of  E.  is  fre- 
quently given  in  pounds  per  square  inch  of  the 
cross-section  of  the  compressed  prism. 

Elder  Brethren.  Name  of  the  Masters  of  the 
Trinity  House. 

Eldest  Son  of  the  Church.  A  title  of  the  Kings 
of  France. 

El-Dorado.  [Sp.,  the  golden  region.'}  The 
name  given  by  the  Spaniards  in  the  sixteenth 
century  to  a  country  supposed  to  lie  between  the 
Orinoco  and  Amazoij  rivers  in  S.  America.  It 
is  now  applied  to  any  fabulous  lands  of  bound- 
less wealth. 

Eldritch.    [Scot.]    Ghastly,  weird,  fiendish. 

Eleanor  crosses.  Memorial  crosses  erected  on 
the  spots  where  the  bier  of  Eleanor,  wife  of 
Edward  I.,  rested  on  its  way  to  Westminster, 
the  last  of  these  halting-places  being  at  Charing 
Cross. 

Eleatic  philosophy.  (Hist.}  The  philosophic 
system  of  Xenophanes,  in  the  sixth  century  B.C. 
It  was  confined  to  what  he  regarded  as  the  only 
objects  of  real  knowledge,  namely,  the  ideas  of 
God,  or  of  being  as  it  is  in  itself  and  as  con- 
trasted with  the  world  of  changing  phenomena. 

Elecampane.  {Bot.}  Large-leaved  yellow- 
flowered  plant,  Inula  helenium  [Gr.  eAeVtoj/], 
ord.  Composite.  Native  of  damp  meadows 
in  Mid.  and  S.  Europe  ;  rare  in  Britain.  Its 
root  once  much  used  in  medicine. 

Election.     (Theol.)     (Anninians.) 

Electors  [L.  electSres,  choosers],  under  the 
Empire,  were  princes  having  a  voice  in  the 
election  of  the  Emperor.  The  Elector  of  Hesse- 
Cassel  is  the  only  one  who  still  retains  the  title, 
the  rest  having  become  kings,  grand-dukes,  etc. 
(Emperor ;  Empire.) 

Electro-biology.  [Gr.  fj\€Krpov,  amber,  fiios, 
life,  \6yos,  discourse.]  A  word  used  to  mean  a 
kind  of  induced  reverie. 

Electro-chronograph.    (Chronograph.) 

Electrode.  [Gr.  ^Ae/crpoi/,  and  SSos,  a  way.] 
The  surface  through  which  the  electric  current 
enters  the  substance  to  be  decomposed,  in 
electrolysis. 

Electrolysis.  [Gr.  tfXeKTpov,  and  A<W,  a 
loosening.}  The  decomposition  of  a  body  by  an 
electric  current.  Electrolyte,  a  body  capable  of 
being  thus  decomposed. 

Electro-magnet.  A  mass  of  soft  iron  tempo- 
rarily magnetized  by  being  placed  within  a  coil  of 
wire  through  which  an  electric  current  passes. 

Electro-plating.  Precipitating  a  coating  of 
silver,  etc.,  on  some  other  metal  by  voltaic 
agency. 

Electuary.  [L.L.  electarium,  elingo,  7  lick 
out.]  A  medicinal  compound  of  the  consistency 
of  honey,  into  which  honey,  sugar,  etc.,  enter. 


Eleemosynary.  [L.L  ele'emcsunarius,  adj., 
from  Gr.  <L\eTj,uo(ruj/7j,  alms.]  1.  Relating  to 
alms.  2.  Subsisting  on  alms. 

Elegiac.  [Gr.  t\eyeia.K6s,  adj.,  from  eAeyelbc, 
a  distich  consisting  of  a  (dactylic)  hexameter  and 
a  pentameter,  the  commonest  metre  of  e\fyoi, 
songs  of  'mourning, ,]  1.  Plaintive,  expressing  sor- 
row or  complaint.  2.  (Metr.)  Consisting  of 
6Ae7e?a  (see  above). 

Elegit.  [L.,  he  has  chosen.]  Name  of  a  writ 
bidding  the  sheriff  give  the  judgment-creditor 
the  lands  and  tenements  belonging  to  or  occu- 
pied by  the  debtor,  to  be  held  and  enjoyed  until 
the  debt  is  paid.  The  property  is  said  to  be 
extended  on  an  E.  (Extend.)  Before  the  right 
of  entry  is  given,  the  sheriff  empannels  a  jury  to 
value  the  debtor's  goods  and  chattels  in  case 
they  may  satisfy  the  debt. 

Elegy.  [Gr.  e,\e7os.]  A  song  of  mourning, 
a  lament.  (Elegiac.) 

Element.  [L.  elementa,  plu.,  first  principles.] 
1.  A  substance  which  cannot  by  any  known 
means  be  split  up  into  any  simpler  form  of 
matter.  (Abbreviations,  Chemistry.}  2.  (Math.) 
An  indefinitely  small  portion  of  a  curved  line,  of 
a  surface,  or  of  a  solid. 

Elementary  mathematics.  A  term  frequently 
used  to  denote  those  parts  of  mathematics  which 
can  be  treated  without  systematic  reference  to 
infinitesimals  or  limits. 

Elemi.     A  resin  used  for  varnish. 

Elenchus.  [Gr.  I \t-yxos.]  (Log.)  1.  Con 
vincing  argument  in  refutation,  especially  re- 
ductio  ad .  absurdttm  or  ad  impossible.  2,  Dis- 
proof, refutation. 

Elephant.  Drawing-paper  measuring  twenty- 
eight  inches  by  twenty-three  (from  its  size). 

Elephantiasis  [Gr.  eXttyavriaLais,  from  tXftyas, 
an  elephant],  or  Barbados  leg.  1.  A  disease  com- 
mon in  hot  countries,  the  skin  becoming  livid, 
rugous,  tumid,  especially  in  the  leg,  which  becomes 
an  elephant's  leg,  i.e.  large,  misshapen.  2.  E. 
Gracorum,  a  blood  disease,  in  which  the  skin 
becomes  thick,  rugous,  and  insensible,  with 
falling  off  of  all  hair  except  from  the  scalp, 
hoarseness  of  voice,  and  disfiguration  of  the 
countenance  ;  giving  rise  to  the  term  Satyriasis 
[<raTvpiaffis  ',  which,  however,  in  Gr.  was  dif- 
ferently applied]. 

Eleusinian  Mysteries.  (Gr.  Hist.)  A  festival 
held  yearly  at  Eleusis,  near  Athens,  in  honour  of 
Demeter,  or  Mother  Earth.  The  ceremonial  set 
forth  the  revival  of  nature  in  the  spring-time,  as 
the  return  of  the  maiden  (Kore)  Persephone 
(Proserpine)  from  the  kingdom  of  Hades,  who 
had  stolen  her  away  from  the  plain  of  Enna  in 
the  late  autumn. 

Elevation.  [L.  eleVare,  to  raise  Tip.]  1.  Of  a 
gun,  the  angle  made  by  the  axis  of  its  bore  with 
the  horizontal  plane.  2.  The  representation  of 
a  building  or  other  body  on  a  vertical  plane,  by 
means  of  perspective  or  some  other  ordinary 
projection. 

Elevation,  Angle  of  ;  E.  of  the  pole.  The 
Angle  of  E.  of  a  point  is  the  angle,  in  the  ver- 
tical plane  passing  through  the  point  and  the 
eye,  between  a  horizontal  line  and  a  line  drawn 


ELEV 


185 


EMBA 


from  the  eye  to  the  point.  The  E.  of  the  pole 
at  any  station  is  the  arc  of  the  meridian  between 
the  (elevated)  pole  and  the  (rational)  horizon. 
It  measures  the  latitude  of  the  station. 

Elevator.  1.  A  mechanical  contrivance  for 
lifting  grain,  etc.,  to  an  upper  floor  ;  also  a  build- 
ing containing  one  or  more  elevators.  2.  A 
mechanical  contrivance  now  in  use  at  large  hotels 
for  carrying  guests  to  the  upper  stories. — Bart- 
lett's  Americanisms. 

Eleve.     [Fr.]    P^lp^l. 

Elgin  marbles.  A  collection  of  statues  and 
other  works,  derived  chiefly  from  the  ruins  of  the 
Parthenon  at  Athens,  brought  to  England  by  Lord 
Elgin,  1814,  and  now  deposited  in  the  British 
Museum.  (Parthenon;  Arundelian  marbles. ) 

Elia.     Nom  de  plume  of  Charles  Lamb. 

Elia,  Essays  of.  Chief  literary  work  of  Charles 
Lamb  (died  1835). 

Elimination.  [L.  e-limmo,  I  take  out  of 'doors. } 
(Math,}  The  process  of  finding  the  equation 
which  connects  certain  numbers,  when  two 
equations  are  given  connecting  those  numbers 
and  one  more  number  which  is  commonly  un- 
known. By  an  extension  of  the  process,  n 
unknown  numbers  can  be  eliminated  from  n  +  I 
equations. 

Eliot,  George.  Nom  de  plume  of  Mrs.  Cross, 
nee  (Marian)  Evans,  author  of  "  Adam  Bede," 
etc.  (died  December,  1880). 

Eliquation.  [L.  eliquare,  to  strain.}  The 
separation  of  silver  from  copper  by  adding 
lead,  and  then  melting  out  the  silver  and  lead 
together. 

Elision.  [L.  elisionem.]  (Gram.}  The  cutting 
off  or  the  suppression  of  a  vowel  at  the  end  of  a 
word,  as  in  Greek,  Latin,  and  Italian  poetry. 

Elisors.  [Fr.  eliseurs,  choosers.}  Two  clerks 
of  the  court  or  two  other  persons  of  the  county, 
sworn  to  choose  a  jury  if  the  sheriff  and  coroners 
are  challenged  as  partial,  etc.  Their  choice 
cannot  be  challenged. 

Elite.     [Fr.]    The  select  few,  the  pick. 

Elixation.  [L.  elixo,  I  thoroughly  boil.}  De- 
coction. 

Elixir.  [Ar.  el-ikser.]  1.  The  philosopher's 
stone,  for  transmuting  metals  into  gold.  2.  A 
tincture  for  prolonging  life. 

Elizabethan  ware.     (Crouch  ware.) 

Elizabeth's  Prayer-book.  (Common  Prayer, 
Book  of.) 

Ell.  [D.  eln,  O.Fr.  alne ;  cf.  L.  ulna,  Gr. 
w\4vt],  forearm.}  1.  English,  45  inches.  2. 
French,  aune  de  Paris,  44  French  inches  or  46*9 
English  inches. 

Ellandonan.  District  near  Kintail,  in  Ross- 
shire,  in  the  Tudor  period. 

Ellipse.  [Gr.  lAAcnfas,  a  deficiency.}  (Math.} 
The  plane  curve  described  by  a  point  which  moves 
in  such  a  manner  that  the  sum  of  its  distances 
from  two  fixed  points  (the /£>«')  remains  the  same 
in  all  its  positions.  It  is  a  central  curve,  and  its 
greatest  and  least  diameters  are  called  its  major 
and  minor  axes.  (Conic  sections.) 

Ellipsis,  Ellipse.  (Gram.}  An  omission  of 
words  the  meaning  of  which  is  implied,  as, 
"  He  struck  me,  not  I  him." 


Ellipsoid  [Gr.  eAAenJ/ts,  an  ellipse,  eTSos, 
form} ;  E.  of  revolution.  A  solid  (resembling  an 
egg)  all  whose  plane  sections  are  ellipses  or 
circles.  An  E.  of  revolution  is  formed  by  the 
revolution  of  an  ellipse  round  its  greatest  or  least 
diameter ;  it  is  often  called  a  Spheroid,  which  in 
the  former  case  is  said  to  be  prolate,  and  in  the 
latter  oblate. 

Elliptic  compasses  are  made  for  the  descrip- 
tion of  ellipses,  as  ordinary  compasses  for  the 
description  of  circles. 

Ellipticity  of  the  earth.  The  figure  of  the 
earth  is  very  nearly  that  of  an  oblate  spheroid  ; 
the  equatorial  being  the  greatest  diameter,  the 
polar  the  least.  The  ratio  which  the  excess  of 
the  equatorial  above  the  polar  diameter  bears  to 
the  equatorial  diameter  is  called  the  E.  of  the 
earth,  and  is  very  nearly  I  :  300. 

Elmo,  Fire  of  St.  A  name  of  the  electric 
glow  known  as  Castor  and  Pollux. 

Eloge.     [Fr.]     A  funeral  oration. 

Eloigne,  Eloine,  Eloign.  [Fr.  eloigner,  from 
L.  elongare.]  To  remove  to  a  distance. 

Elongation.  The  angular  distance  of  a  planet 
from  the  sun. 

Eloquent  Doctor,  The.  Doctor  Facundus, 
Peter  Aure5lus,  Archbishop  of  Aix,  fourteenth 
century. 

Elul.  The  twelfth  month  of  civil,  sixth  of 
ecclesiastical,  Jewish  year  ;  August — September. 

Elutriate.  [L.  elutriare,  to  wash  off,  from 
eluo,  as  Pliny  uses  it.]  To  cleanse  or  free  from 
alien  matter  by  washing,  especially  of  an  aggre- 
gate of  heavy  particles,  from  which  lighter 
particles  are  to  be  disengaged. 

Eluxation.  [L.  e,  out,  luxatlo,  -nem,  disloca- 
tion.} Dislocation  of  a  joint. 

Elvan.  A  name  for  felspathic  dykes  or  veins 
in  Cornwall. 

Elves.  (Myth.}  An  old  English  word,  de- 
noting probably  beings  inhabiting  the  waters. 
(Demons;  Fairies;  Nymphs.) 

Elydoric.  [Very  badly  coined  from  Gr.  eAeuoj/, 
oil,  i/5o>p,  water.}  A  mixture  of  oil  and  water- 
colour  painting. 

Elysian.  [Gr.  fato-iov.]  Relating  to  Elysium, 
the  region  to  which  the  souls  of  the  good  were 
carried  after  death.  It  was  supposed  to  be  in 
the  west,  beyond  the  columns  of  Her&kles 
(Hercules). 

Elytrum.  [Gr.  eKwrpov,  a  cover,  ^Atfw,  to 
cover.}  (Entom.}  The  anterior  wing  of  a  beetle, 
etc.,  converted  into  a  horny  (chitinous)  sheath 
for  the  hinder  one. 

Elzevirs.  Books  beautifully  printed  are  some- 
times compared  to  Elzevirs,  that  is,  to  works 
published  by  the  family  of  Elzevir,  properly 
Elzevier,  at  Amsterdam  and  other  places,  in  the 
seventeenth  century.  (Aldine  editions.) 

Em  (M).  The  portion  of  space  occupied  by 
the  letter  M  ;  used  as  a  unit  in  measuring 
printed  matter. 

Embargo.  [Sp.,  from  embargar,  to  arrest, 
detain.}  An  order  preventing  vessels  leaving 
port,  a  detention  in  port. 

Embarras  de  richesse.  [Fr.]  A  perplexing 
superabundance  of  riches. 


EMBA 


186 


EMPH 


Embattled.  (Her.}  Having  an  outline  like 
the  battlements  of  a  tower.  Embattled  grady,  or 
battled  embattled,  signifies  that  each  side  of  each 
battlement  rises  by  degrees,  like  a  flight  of  steps 
[L.  gradus]. 

Ember  days.  [L.  quatuor  tempora,  four 
times,  passing  into  ember  through  the  form 
yuatembcr,  D.  temper,  Sw.  tamperdagar,  ymber- 
dagar.]  Fast-days,  occurring  at  the  times  in  the 
year  appointed  for  ordinations,  being  the  Wed- 
nesday, Friday,  and  Saturday  after  the  first 
Sunday  in  Lent,  Whit  Sunday,  September  14, 
and  December  13. 

Emblements.  [O.Fr.  embleer,  It.  imbiadare, 
to  sow  with  corn  (Fr.  ble,  It.  biado)  ;  cf.  A.S. 
blaed,  short,  leaf,  fruit,  Ger.  blatt,  leaf,  re- 
motely akin  to  L.  flos,  flower,  bloom,  Gr.  <f>\eetv, 
to  teem.']  Growing  crops  of  vegetable  produc- 
tions which  are  planted  or  sown  with  a  view 
to  speedy  return,  as  grain,  root  crops,  or  vege- 
tables, not  trees,  shrubs,  or  grass. 

Embless  de  gentz.  [O.Fr.]  Old  Parliamen- 
tary rolls,  stealings  from  the  people. 

Embody.  (Mil.}  To  incorporate  for  service 
troops  previously  enrolled. 

Embolism.  [Gr.  f^oXiff^s,  insertion,  or 
3fj.p6\i<T/j.a,  a  thing  inserted ;  cf.  Fr.  embolisme.] 

1.  Intercalation,  insertion  of  days,   or  months, 
or    years    between    consecutive    corresponding 
divisions  of  the  ordinary  modes  of  reckoning. 

2.  The  time  inserted  as  above. 
Embonpoint.    [Fr. ,  in  good  case.  ]    Plumpness, 

fulness  of  figure. 

Embossing.  [Prefix  em,  =  L.  in,  and  Ger. 
butz,  point.'}  Working  figures  in  relief,  whether 
by  casting,  cutting,  or  stamping. 

Embouchure.  [Fr.]  A  mouth,  an  opening, 
as  of  a  defile,  a  river,  etc. 

Embowed.     (Her.}     Curved  like  a  bow. 

Embracery.  [Norm.  Fr.  embraserie.]  An 
attempt  to  bribe  or  corrupt  a  jury. 

Embrail.     To  use  the  Brails. 

Embrasure.  [Fr.,  of  doubtful  origin  (Littre).] 
Opening  cut  in  a  parapet  through  which  a  gun 
can  be  fired  whilst  the  gunners  are  protected. 
(Crenelle.) 

Embrocation.  [Gr.  eVj3pe'x«,  /  make  to  soak 
in.]  (Med.)  1.  The  rubbing  of  a  diseased  part 
with  medicated  liquid.  2.  The  liquid  itself. 

Embryology  (Anat.)  traces  the  develop- 
ment of  life  in  the  foetus,  or  embryo  [Gr.  epfipvov, 
from  eV,  within,  fipvw,  I  grow  in  f^^lness\  from 
the  first  to  the  time  of  birth. 

Emerald.     A  kind  of  type,  as — 
Christmas. 

Emerald  green.  Arsenite  of  copper,  a  pigment 
of  this  colour,  very  poisonous. 

Emerald  Isle.  Name  of  Ireland,  from  the 
exceeding  greenness  of  the  vegetation,  caused  by 
the  damp  climate. 

Emeril.  [Fr.,  from  Gr.  opfyis,  emery.]  A 
glazier's  diamond. 

Emeritus.  [L.]  1.  A  Roman  soldier  was  so 
called  after  serving  his  full  time.  2.  Hence 
any  one  who  has  reached  the  end  of  his  term 
of  office. 


Emerods.  Deut.  xxviii.  2751  Sam.  v.  ;  corr. 
of  Haemorrhoids. 

Emery.  [Fr.  emeri,  It.  smeriglio,  Gr.  <r/n5pts.] 
A  granular  variety  of  Corundum  (q.v.),  generally 
mixed  with  iron  ore  ;  chiefly  imported  from 
Naxos ;  found  also  in  several  parts  of  Europe, 
Asia  Minor,  America,  and  India ;  crushed  and 
sifted  to  various  degrees  of  fineness. 

Emeute.  [Fr.,  of  doubtful  origin  (Littre).] 
Disturbance,  riot. 

Emication.  [L.  emicatio,  -nem,  a  springing 
forth.'}  A  flying  off  in  drops,  sparks,  or  any  small 
Darticles,  a  sputtering. 

.  Emigre.      [Fr.,    an  emigrant, ,]     A    political 
refugee. 

Emile.  J.  J.  Rousseau's  ideal  of  a  perfectly 
rained  youth. 

Emilia.  1.  Heroine  of  Chaucer's  Knights 
Tale.  2.  lago's  wife,  in  Shakespeare's  Othello. 

Emilian  Provinces  =  the  Romagna  (q.v.},  to- 
jether  with  the  duchies  of  Parma  and  Modena  ; 
:hrough  which  the  ancient  Via  ALmilia,  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  Via  Flaminia,  or  great  northern 
road,  passed ;  formally  annexed  to  Sardinia, 
1860. 

Eminent  domain.  (Leg.}  The  right  of  a 
government  to  take  the  land  of  private  persons 
into  public  use. 

Emir,  Amir,  Ameer.  {K\.,  commander.}  1.  An 
Arabian  ruler.  2.  One  of  Mohammed's  descend- 
ants. The  khalifs  took  the  title  of  Emir-al- 
Mumemin,  Chief  of  the  Faithful,  corr.  in  the 
West  into  Miramamolin. 

Emmett's  Rebellion.  Napoleon  having  by  his 
agents  excited  discontent  in  Ireland  against  the 
Government,  E.,  son  of  a  Dublin  physician,  after 
interviews  with  the  first  consul  at  Paris,  planned 
a  general  rising,  July  23,  1803.  It  ended  in  little 
more  than  a  city  riot. 

Empalement.  [Fr.]  (Her.}  Conjunction  of 
two  coats  of  arms  in  one  escutcheon,  parted  by 
a  vertical  line  down  the  middle.  (Pale. ) 

Empannel.  (Leg.}  The  writing  on  a  parch- 
ment schedule  by  the  sheriff  the  names  of  jurors 
summoned  by  him. 

Empawn.     To  pawn  (q.v.},  to  pledge. 

Emperor.  (Hist.)  This  word,  which  repre- 
sents L.  imperator,  denoted  the  military  authority 
of  the  consuls.  On  the  fall  of  the  republic,  the 
title  was  conferred  first  for  a  term  of  years,  then 
for  life  on  Octavius  (Augustus) ;  and  by  it  his 
successors  were  known.  Hence  the  emperor  is 
properly  the  head  of  the  Roman  world.  The 
imperial  power  conferred,  A.D.  800,  by  Leo  III. 
on  Charles  the  Great  (Charlemagne)  was  only  a 
revival  or  extension  of  the  Western  Empire.  As 
assumed  by  some  sovereigns  in  modern  times, 
it  is  a  mere  arbitrary  title.  (Aulic  Council.) 

Emphysema  [Gr.  4/*$v<ntpa,  an  inflation'], 
or  Pneumdtosis  [Gr. ,  inflation}.  (Med. )  A  collec- 
tion of  air  in  the  cellular  membrane,  arising 
sometimes  spontaneously,  but  generally  from 
some  wound  which  affects  the  lungs;  rarely, 
the  effects  of  certain  poisons. 

Emphyteusis.  [Gr.  efjL-<f>vTfv<ris,  in-planting.} 
(Rom.  Law.)  A  new  ownership  planted  on  the 
real  dominion,  when  lands  or  buildings  are  let 


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for  yearly  rent  for  a  long  term  or  even  in  per- 
petuity. E.  included  the  letting  of  agri  vectigdles. 
The  tenant  was  Emphytetita. 

Empire,  The.  This  phrase  denotes  strictly  the 
Roman  Empire,  afterwards  called  the  Holy 
Roman  Empire.  (Emperor.)  But  it  is  also 
applied  to  any  widely  extended  dominions  of  a 
single  power,  as  the  British  empire. 

Empiricism.  1.  Knowledge  which  is  non- 
scientific,  and  founded  upon  experience  [Gr. 
e'jiwreipia]  only.  2.  In  a  bad  sense,  =  quackery. 

Emplastic.  [Gr.  eju-TrAarrn/cos,  pertaining  to 
plastering :}  Adhesive,  suitable  for  a  plaster. 

Emplastrum.  [Gr.  ^/j.Tr\a<rr6f,  a  thing  smeared 
over ;  in  Galen,  €fnr\a<Trpov.  ]  Medicaments  of 
an  adhesive  character  spread  upon  leather  or 
other  texture  and  applied  to  the  body. 

Emplead.  [O.Fr.  emplaider.]  To  indict,  to 
accuse. 

Emporium.  [Gr.  ^ir6piov.}   Mart,  port,  depot. 

Empressement.  [Fr.]  Impressive  exhibition 
of  anxiety,  eagerness,  heartiness. 

Emprise,  [O.Fr.  ;  cf.  It.  impresa,  under- 
taking, from  in  (Fr.  en,  em)  and  prendere  (Fr. 
prendre),  to  take.]  Enterprise. 

Empusa.  [Gr.  e/i7rou<ra.]  A  donkey-footed 
[oj/oKcoAos,  ovotTKfKls]  hobgoblin  sent  by  Hecate, 
or  identified  with  Hecate  ;  a  horrible  phantom. 

Empyrean.  [Gr.  e^Trupos,  ifnriptos,  from  eV, 
in,  irvp,fire.}  A  sphere  of  fire,  supposed  to  exist 
above  the  sphere  of  air,  because  the  element  of 
fire  being  lighter  than  that  of  air,  it  would 
naturally  occupy  the  highest  place. 

Empyreuma.  [Gr.  t^n-upcy/ia.]  The  smell  or 
taste  of  animal  or  vegetable  substances  burnt  in 
a  close  vessel. 

Empyreumatic.  [Gr.  e/xTr^peu^ia,  thing  set  on 
(eV)  fire  (vup-).]  Like  burnt  animal  or  vegetable 
substances  in  taste  or  smell. 

Emulsion,  Mulching.  As  used  by  gardeners 
=  manuring. 

Emunctories.  [L.  emungo,  /  blow  the  nose.~\ 
Parts  of  the  body  where  things  excrementitious 
are  collected  for  ejection. 

En-.  Prefix  :  1.  Fr.  en-,  from  L.  in,  in,  on, 
into,  against  (and  with  intens.  force),  as  in  en- 
treat ;  with  Teut.  words,  as  in  en-thrall.  2.  eV, 
in,  on  (and  with  intens.  force),  as  in  en-tonic.  3. 
Teut.  for  A.S.  on,  cf.  avd,  tip,  as  in  en-lighten. 

Enaliosanria  [Gr.  cVaAtos,  marine,  vavpos, 
lizard]  (Geol.)  =  great  fossil  aquatic  lizards,  as 
ichthyosaurus,  plesiosaurus,  etc. 

Enallage.  \Gr.,  interchange.}  (Gram.}  Inter- 
change of  words  or  of  modes  of  inflexion 
between  words  of  a  sentence,  as  [L.]  Virtus  est 
vitium  ftigere,  to  flee  vice  is  virtue,  for  Virtutis  est 
vitium  fugere,  or  Virtus  est  fiiga  vitiorum. 

Enamel.  [Fr.  email.]  An  opaque  or  semi- 
transparent  glaze. 

Enarmed.     (Her.}    Armed. 

En  arriere.     [Fr.]    In  the  background. 

Enarthrosis.  [Gr.  eWp0p«<m,  &p0pov,  a  joint.} 
(Anat.)  A  ball-and-socket  joint,  the  head  of 
one  bone  being  received  into  the  concavity  of 
another,  as  in  the  hip  and  shoulder  joints,  ad- 
mitting an  extensive  range  of  motion.  Gingly- 
mus  [L.,  Gr.  yiyy\v/j.os],  a  true  hinge-joint, 


two  or  more  prominences  fitting  into  correspond- 
ing concavities,  as  the  ankle-joint,  and  giving 
no  lateral  motion. 

En  attendant.     [Fr.]    While  waiting. 

En  avant.     [Fr.]     Onwards,  in  advance. 

En  bloc.  [Fr.]  In  a  mass,  collectively. 
Resolutions  a.,  a  meeting  are  sometimes  carried 
en  bloc,  instead  of  being  discussed  one  by  one. 

Encaenia,  Encenia.  [Gr.  eyxaivia.,  Eccl.  Gr., 
feast  of  dedication.}  At  Oxford  University,  a 
Commemoration  of  benefactors.  (Dedication, 
Feast  of.) 

Encaustic  tiles.  [Gr.  ey/eautmKcfc,  from  €7- 
Kaieiv,  to  burn  in.}  Ornamental  tiles,  the  colours 
of  which  are  fixed  by  burning  them  in. 

Enceinte.  [Fr.]  1.  (Mil.)  (Body  of  the  place.) 
2.  Pregnant,  with  child. 

Encephalo-.     [Gr.  <?7/ce<paAos.]     The  brain. 

Enchiridion.  [Gr.  4yxflP~l^lol/)  manual,  from 
iv,  in,  x€/lP)  hand.}  1.  Manual,  handbook.  2. 
A  dagger. 

Enchorial.    (Kosetta  stone.) 

Enclitic.  [Gr.  ^yK\triKOs,  from  tv,  on,  K\lv<a, 
I  lean.}  (Gram.)  A  word,  generally  a  particle 
or  pronoun,  which  cannot  be  used  without  a 
preceding  word,  the  accentuation  of  which  it 
often  alters,  as  the  L.  interrogative  -ne :  audisne  ? 
do  yoti  hear  ?  but  audis,  you  hear. 

Encomiastic.  [Gr.  £y/co>|U.tao'TtWs,  concerned 
in  praise,  from  eyKu>/ji.iov,  encomium.}  Laudatory, 
panegyrical,  full  of  praise. 

Encomium.  [Gr.  eyKca/jnov  (sc.  «ros),  an  ode 
sung  by  a  KoD/toy,  band  of  revellers,  in  praise  of  a 
victor  or  distinguished  man.]  Elaborate  praise, 
panegyric,  laudation,  eulogy. 

Encore.  [Fr.,  from  L.  hanc  horam,  this  hour. } 
A  word  used  in  demanding  repetition  of  music. 

Encratites.  [Gr.  fyKpar^s,  temperate.}  (Eccl. 
Hist.)  A  Gnostic  sect,  which  condemned  mar- 
riage. 

Encrinite,  Stone-lily.  [Gr.  Kplvov,  lily.}  (Geol.) 
A  crinoid(^.zA),  with  cylindrical  stem;  abundant 
in  the  Muschelkelk.  Allied  forms  abound  in 
many  Palaeozoic  limestones,  and  some  also  in 
Secondary  rocks. 

Encyclical.  [Gr.  fyKvK\ios,  circular.}  A 
circular  letter,  whether  from  a  Council,  pope,  or 
bishop  (see  Acts  xv.  23). 

Encyclopaedia.  [Gr.,  from  fyKi>K\ios  (in  a 
circle),  iratSet'a  (education) ;  in  late  Gr.,  the  circle 
of  arts  and  sciences. }  A  work  containing  a  general 
survey  of  all  branches  of  knowledge  in  general 
articles  on  arts  and  sciences  and  special  articles 
on  particular  objects. 

Encyclopaedists.  (Hist. )  The  French  writers 
whose  works  prepared  the  way  for  the  Revolu- 
tion are  sometimes  so  called. 

Encysted  tumour.  [Gr.  eV,  in,  KVO-TIS,  the 
bladder.}  Enclosed  in  a  sac  or  cyst. 

Endeavour.  [Fr.  en  devoir,  in  the  phrase,  Se 
mettre  en  devoir  de  faire,  lit.  to  place  one's  self 
in  the  task  of  doing,  to  set  one's  self  to  do ;  O.E.] 
To  cause  or  make  to  try,  originally  with  reflexive 
pron.,  as  in  "E.  ourselves,"  in  the  Ordinal  and 
elsewhere  in  Common  Prayer-book. 

Endeavour  one's  self.     (Endeavour.) 

Endemic,  Endemial.     Disease  peculiar  to  the 


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people  [Gr.  ST^OT]  or  country;  naturalized  and 
always  existing  there. 

Endermic,  Endennatio.  Remedies  rubbed 
into  the  skin  [Gr.  Se'/yxa]  or  applied  after  the 
removal  of  the  cuticle. 

End  for  end.  [Naut.)  Reversing  logs, 
spars,  etc.,  e.g.  if  you  shift  a  rope  end  for  end 
in  a  tackle,  the  fall  becomes  the  standing  part, 
and  -vice  versa  ;  also  if  a  running  rope  runs  out 
through  a  block,  or  a  cable  runs  entirely  out,  it 
is  end  for  end. 

Endless  band;  E.  screw.  A  band,  strap,  or 
belt  with  its  ends  fastened  together,  placed  over 
two  pulleys  so  as  to  embrace  a  part  of  the  cir- 
cumference of  each  and  stretched  tightly  enough 
to  enable  it  to  take  hold  of  them  and  com- 
municate motion  from  one  to  the  other.  An 
E.  screw  is  a  screw  mounted  so  as  to  be  capable 
of  rotation  only,  which  gives  motion  to  a  re- 
volving follower,  or  wheel  furnished  with 
properly  shaped  teeth  cut  on  its  circumference, 
which  work  with  the  thread  of  the  screw. 

Endobranehiata.  [Gr.  evtiov,  within,  {tpdyx"*, 
gills.}  (?)  Tectibranchiate,  as  tornatella. 

Endocarp.  [Gr.  e»/5oj/,  within,  nap* 6s,  fruit.] 
(Pericarp.) 

Endogenite.  (Geol.)  Fossil  stem  of  endogenous 
structure.  Endogenites,  a  special  fossil  plant  of 
the  Wealden  strata. 

Endogens.  [Gr.  HvSov,  within,  ytyvo/jiat,  yev-, 
I  am  produced.]  (Bot.)  Growing  by  additions 
to  the  inside,  the  outside  being  the  oldest  and 
hardest  part ;  as  grasses,  lilies,  palms.  Exogens, 
by  additions  to  the  outside  [e|«],  with  separable 
bark  and  concentric  heart-wood  ;  as  forest  trees. 

Endorse.  (Her.}  A  diminutive  of  the  pale, 
being  one-fourth  its  size. 

Endorsement.    (Indorsement.) 

EndosmSsis ;  Exosmosis.  [Gr.  ej/Sor,  within, 
e|o>,  witho^lt,  w(r/j.6s,  a  thrusting.]  In  the 
passage  of  fluids  of  different  densities  through 
animal  or  vegetable  membranes  or  porous  solids ; 
Endosmosis  is  from  the  outside  to  the  inside, 
Exosmosis  from  the  inside  to  the  outside. 

Endromis.  [Gr.]  1.  A  strong  hunting-shoe. 
2.  A  thick  rug  worn  after  running  [Sp^uos]. 

Endymion,  Sleep  of.  Deep  and  dreamless 
sleep.  The  phrase  refers  to  the  Greek  myth  of 
Endymion,  the  darling  of  Selene  (the  moon). 

En  effet.     [Fr.]    In  effect. 

Enema,  pron.  enema.  [Gr.  ej>e,ua,  from  eviijfj.1, 
I  send  in.]  An  injection,  clyster. 

Energetics.  [Gr.  tvepynriKSs,  active.]  The 
science  which  treats  of  the  various  transforma- 
tions of  Energy. 

Energumens.  [Gr.  ^vepyov^voi,  worked  in  or 
ttpon  by  others.]  A  general  name  for  all  persons 
under  demoniac  influence.  In  the  primitive 
Church  they  formed  a  distinct  class,  and  were 
under  the  direction  of  exorcists. 

Energy  [Gr.  fvepyeia,  action] ;  Actual  E. ; 
Intrinsic  E. ;  Kinetic  E. ;  Potential  E.  Capacity 
for  doing  work.  Actual  or  Kinetic  E.  is  the 
capacity  of  a  body  for  doing  work  in  virtue  of 
its  velocity,  and  is  proportional  to  its  mass 
multiplied  by  the  square  of  its  velocity.  The 
Intrinsic  E.  of  a  body  is  the  work  it  can  do  in 


virtue  of  its  actual  condition,  without  receiving 
energy  from  without.  Potential  E.  is  the 
capacity  of  a  body  for  doing  work  in  virtue  of 
its  position  relative  to  other  bodies,  or  of  its 
parts  to  each  other ;  e.g.  when  the  weight  of  a 
clock  has  been  wound  up  it  has  potential  energy 
due  to  its  position  ;  so  the  mainspring  of  a  watch, 
when  wound  up,  has  potential  energy  due  to  its 
configuration. 

En  famille.  [Fr.,  in  family.]  Without 
ceremony. 

Enfant  gate.     [Fr.]     A  spo'.tcd child. 

Enfants  perdus.  [Fr.,  lost  children.]  A 
forlorn  hope  (q.v.). 

Enfant  terrible.  [Fr.]  Lit.  terrible  child ; 
one  given  to  making  inconvenient  remarks, 
more  or  less  clever,  and  mostly  personal,  to  the 
confusion  of  present  company. 

Enfant  trouve.     [Fr.]     A  foundling. 

Enfeoffment.  [From  L.L.  infeoffare,  to  invest 
with  a  feud  or  fee.  ]  The  act  of  or  instrument 
of  investment  with  a  feud  or  fee  (q.v.}. 

Enfilade.  [Fr.,  from  enfiler,  to  thread.]  (Mil.) 
Fire  from  a  gun  or  musket  raking  a  line  of 
troops  or  the  interior  of  the  parapet,  and  at 
the  same  time  grazing  its  whole  length. 

En  fin.     [Fr.,  at  the  end.}     Finally. 

Enfranchise.  To  make  free,  to  invest  with  a 
franchise. 

Engaged  columns.  (Arch.)  Columns,  or 
shafts,  of  which  a  portion  is  attached  to  or  con- 
cealed by  the  wall.  They  never  stand  out  less 
than  half  their  diameter. 

Engaged  wheels.  Toothed  wheels  working 
with  each  other. 

Engagement,  The,  substituted  by  Cromwell's 
Parliament  for  subscription  to  the  Covenant, 
bound  all  who  ministered  to  swear  "to  be  true 
and  faithful  to  the  Government  established, 
without  king  and  House  of  Peers." 

Engar9on.     [Fr.]     In  bachelor  fashion. 

Engineer  [from  L.  ingenium,  native  talent  or 
power,  through  Fr.  ingenieur] ;  Civil  E. ;  Me- 
chanical E. ;  Military  E. ;  Koyal  E.  Originally 
one  who  manages  engines,  but  now  used  in 
several  connexions.  A  constructor  or  designer 
of  the  larger  kinds  of  machines  and  engines  is 
a  Mechanical  E.  One  who  designs  and  erects 
structures  subservient  to  the  use  of  engines  is 
also  an  Engineer  ;  a  Civil  E.,  if  the  engines  are 
for  civil  uses,  as  locomotive  engines  ;  a  Military 
E. ,  if  the  engines  are  for  warlike  uses,  as  heavy 
guns.  Hence  nearly  every  kind  of  structure, 
roads,  bridges,  canals,  fortifications,  are  raised 
by  engineers,  and  works  preliminary  to  their  con- 
struction are  performed  by  E.  Military  engineers 
in  England  are  called  Royal  E.,  because  their 
works  are  carried  on  under  royal  authority. 
There  are  also  Gas  E.,  Marine  E.,  Mining  E., 
Sanitary  E.,  Telegraphic  E.,  etc.  ;  but  in  some 
of  these  cases  the  word  engineer  has  no  mean- 
ing, and  is  merely  a  name  by  which  some  men 
choose  to  call  themselves. 

England,  New.    (New  England.) 

English.    A  kind  of  type,  as — 

Irish. 


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189 


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English  pale.  The  portion  of  Ireland  to 
which,  for  some  centuries  after  its  invasion  by 
the  English  under  Henry  II.,  the  dominion  of 
the  latter  was  confined. 

Englishry.  William  the  Conqueror,  to  check 
the  assassination  of  his  unpopular  Normans,  laid 
under  a  heavy  amercement  the  hundred  in  which 
an  assassinated  person  was  found ;  and  he  was 
presumed  to  be  Norman,  unless  four  nearest 
relations  proved  his  E. 

Engobe.  [Fr.,  from  verb  engober ;  Littre 
compares  s'engober,  to  stuff  one's  self  with  food, 
in  Normandy.]  A  layer  of  Slip  (q.v.),  for  semi- 
liquid  paste,  applied  to  the  surface  of  pottery. 

Engoulee.  [Fr.,  from  en,  in,  and  gueule, 
mouth.']  (Her.)  Having  the  end  in  the  throat 
of  an  animal. 

Engrail.  [Fr.  engreler,  from  grele,  hail.']  1. 
To  spot  as  with  hail,  to  indent  or  make  jagged 
at  the  edges.  2.  (Her.)  To  border  by  a  line 
formed  of  small  semicircles  with  the  points 
turned  outwards. 

En  grand  seigneur.  [Fr.]  In  the  style  of  a 
grandee,  in  great  state. 

En  gros.     [Fr.]     Wholesale. 

Engross.  [L.L.  ingrossare,  to  make  large. ] 
1.  To  increase  in  bulk.  2.  (Leg.)  To  write 
out  fair,  in  large  hand  (a  deed  or  instrument). 
3.  (Com.)  To  buy  up  as  much  as  possible  of 
anything,  in  order  to  sell  at  advanced  rates  ;  to 
forestall.  4.  Hence  to  occupy  wholly,  to  take 
up  all  one's  attention. 

Enhanced.  [O.Fr.  enhausser,  to  exalt.]  (Her.) 
Placed  higher  than  usual  on  an  escutcheon. 

Enharmonic.  [From  the  E.  scale  in  Gr.  Music, 
ytvos  evapnoviKov,  which  admitted  a  quarter- 
tone  between  E  and  F.]  1.  Having  intervals 
less  than  semi-tones  ;  thus,  an  E.  scale  would 
have  more  than  the  twelve  piano-divisions  of  the 
octave,  and  give  separate  sounds  for  G  $  and 
A!?.  But,  2,  E.  modulation  or  change,  is  a 
change  of  the  name  only  of  the  note,  i.e.  a 
treatment  of  notes  theoretically  different  as  if 
really  the  same  ;  e.g.  of  A  b  as  if  it  were  G  8. 
3.  For  E.  Gr.  Music — a  short  statement  of  which 
would  probably  mislead — reference  must  be 
made  to  such  works  as  Stainer  and  Barrett's 
Dictionary  of  Mttsic. 

Enlarge,  To.  (Naut.)  Said  of  the  wind  when 
it  gets  more  astern. 

Enlarger  Testate.  (Leg.)  A  kind  of  release 
by  which  ulterior  interest  in  an  estate  is  con- 
veyed to  a  particular  tenant. 

Enlightened  or  Illuminated  Doctor.  Raymond 
Lully  (1235-1315),  a  very  distinguished  school- 
man, whose  system,  Ars  Lulliana,  undertook  to 
show  that  the  mysteries  of  faith  were  not  con- 
trary to  reason. 

Enmanche.  [Fr.  manche,  sleeve.'}  (Her.) 
Covered  with  a  sleeve  ;  said  of  the  chief  when 
lines  are  drawn  from  the  middle  point  of  the  top 
to  the  lower  corners. 

Ennui.  [Fr.,  perhaps  from  L.  in  odio,  in 
hate,  —  hateful.]  Listlessness,  from  lack  of  em- 
ployment, want  of  interests,  or  satiety,  indiffer- 
ence to  pleasures  and  excitements.  (Tedium 
vita.) 


Ennuye,  fein.  ee.  [Fr.]  One  suffering  from 
ennui  (q.v.). 

Enoch,  Book  of,  A  book  written  probably  in 
the  century  preceding  the  Christian  era.  It 
was  lost  after  the  time  of  Jerome,  who  mentions 
it ;  but  two  Ethiopic  copies  were  discovered  by 
Bruce,  the  African  explorer.  A  passage  from 
this  book  is  quoted  in  the  Epistle  of  St.  Jude. 

Enodation.  [L.  enSdatio,  -nem,  from  enodare, 
to  free  from  knots  (n5di).]  Clearing  from  knots, 
solution,  untying 

En  petit  comite.  [Fr.,  in  a  small  company.] 
In  a  snug  little  party. 

Enpleinjour.     [Fr.]    In  open  day. 

En  rapport.  [Fr.]  In  agreement  with,  in 
harmony  with,  especially  of  connexion  by  mes- 
meric influence,  secret  sympathy  or  private 
understanding. 

En  revanche.  [Fr.,  in  rettirn.]  To  make 
amends. 

Enrollment,  Enrolment.  [From  en-  and  roll.] 
Recording,  registration,  record,  register.  Differs 
from  enlistment,  as  not  necessarily  implying 
consent  to  military  service. 

Ensanguine.  [En-  and  sanguine  (verb  or 
subst.).]  To  stain  deeply  or  widely  with  blood. 

Ensconce.  To  cover  by  a  Sconce,  to  hide 
securely. 

Ensemble.  [Fr.]  A  whole,  a  complete  col- 
lection of  parts  taken  [L.  in  simul]  together. 

Ensient,  Enseint.  (Leg.)  Enceinte  (q.v.),  with 
child. 

Ensiform.  [L.  ensis,  a  sword,  forma,  form.] 
(Bot. )  Like  a  straight,  narrow  sword-blade ;  e.g. 
iris -flag. 

Ensign.  [Fr.  enseign,  one  carrying  military 
decorations,  L.  insignia.]  (Mil.)  The  title, 
until  lately,  of  an  officer  of  infantry  upon  receiv- 
ing his  first  commission. 

Ensigned.     [L.  insigne,  a  badge.]    Adorned. 

Ensilage.  [Fr.]  The  name  given  to  the 
method  of  preserving  Indian  corn  or  other 
fodder  in  a  green  state  for  winter  feeding. 

Ensue.  [O.Fr.  ensuer,  L.  in-sequor.]  To 
follow  after. 

Entablature.    (Order.) 

Entail.  1.  (Arch.)  The  O.E.  form  of  the 
It.  intaglio,  denoting  any  kind  of  carved  or 
moulded  decoration.  2.  An  estate  or  fee  limited 
to  particular  heirs  or  descendants.  (Tail.) 

Entanglement.  A  military  obstacle,  stems  of 
trees  half  cut  through  and  the  upper  parts 
picketed  down  to  the  ground,  or  strong  wire 
twisted  round  top  of  pickets  a  foot  in  length. 

Entasis.  [Gr.]  (Arch.)  The  almost  imper- 
ceptible swelling  of  the  shaft  of  a  column  in.  the 
Greek  orders. 

Entelechy.  [Gr.  tVreAe'xeta.]  The  actual 
being  of  a  thing,  as  opposed  to  simple  capability 
or  potentiality. 

Entente  cordiale.  [Fr.]  (Dipl.)  Cordial 
understanding,  generally  between  countries  and 
statesmen. 

Enteric.  [Gr.  Zvrepa,  loivels.]  Intestinal. 
E.  fever,  i.q.  typhoid. 

Enter  short.  (Bank.)  To  note  down  par- 
ticulars of  bills  paid  in  to  customers  but  not  due 


ENTE 


190 


EPAC 


on  a  previous  column,  not  putting  the  amounts 
into  the  cash  column  until  paid.  If  the  banker 
becomes  bankrupt,  the  customers  are  entitled  to 
their  bills  so  entered  or  to  the  proceeds  if  paid. 

Entete.  [Fr.]  Wrong  in  the  head  [tete], 
obstinate,  vain,  captivated. 

Enthymeme.  [Gr.  eVfliVtyt"*.]  (Rhet.)  1.  A 
syllogism  of  which  the  premisses  relate  to  the 
contingent  in  the  sphere  of  human  action.  2. 
Often  wrongly  used  for  an  incomplete  syllogism, 
i.e.  with  one  premiss  suppressed. 

Entire.  [Fr.  entier,  L.  integer,  whole.] 
Among  brewers,  beer  combining  the  qualities  of 
different  sorts,  so  that  it  can  be  drawn  at  once 
without  after-mixture. 

Entire  contract.  (Leg.}  A  contract  wherein 
everything  stipulated  for  on  one  side  must  be 
performed  as  condition  of  everything  being  per- 
formed on  the  other  side. 

Entireties,  Tenancy  by.  (Leg.}  Tenancy  of 
a  man  and  wife  to  whom  an  estate  is  conveyed 
or  devised  during  coverture,  and  who  are  seised 
per  tout,  each  of  the  whole  estate. 

Entomology.  [Gr.  fv-To/j.ov,  an  insect,  \6yos, 
an  account.]  The  science  of  insects,  including 
other  articulated  animals,  though  possessing 
more  than  six  legs,  undergoing  no  proper  meta- 
morphosis, and  not  having  compound  eyes. 

Entomostraca.  [Gr.  evro^ov,  IHTTO&KOV,  a 
shell.]  Small  Crustacea,  of  low  type,  some  bi- 
valved,  such  as  Cypris,  Cythere,  Estheria,  etc., 
others  provided  with  a  carapace.  Common  in 
very  many  formations ;  e.g.  Cypridiferous  Weal- 
den  clay. 

Entourage.     [Fr.]    Surroundings,  associates. 

Entr'  acte.  [Fr.]  1.  The  interval  between  the 
acts  of  a  play.  2.  Any  entertainment  provided 
at  such  times. 

Entrance.  (Naut.)  The  shape  of  the  bow 
below  water  where  it  meets  the  sea.  Also  the  fore 
foot :  it  is  opposed  to  the  run. 

Entrechat.  [Fr.,  caper.]  Rapid  piece  of 
execution  in  dancing. 

Entre  chien  et  loup.  [Fr.,  between  dog  and 
wolf.}  Said  of  twilight. 

Entree.  [Fr.]  1.  Right  of  entering,  privilege 
of  visiting.  La  grande  E.,  admission  on  a 
formal  footing;  la  petite  E.,  on  a  footing  of 
intimacy.  2.  A  made  dish  of  the  course  before 
the  joint  or  piece  de  resistance. 

Entre  les  deux  vins.  [Fr.,  between  the  two 
wines.]  Neither  quite  sober  nor  quite  in- 
toxicated. 

Entremets.  [Fr.  entre,  between,  mets,  a  dish.] 
1.  Side  dish,  the  chief  dishes  being  entrees,  the 
joints  being  known  as  pieces  de  resistance ;  but 
originally,  2,  short  allegorical  or  dramatic  enter- 
tainments held  during  feasts.  (For  their  con- 
nexion with  the  Crusades  and  the  modern  opera, 
vide  Stainer  and  Barrett,  Dictionary  of  Music. ) 

Entre  nous  [Fr.],  Inter  nos  [L.].  Between 
ourselves,  in  confidence. 

Entrepot.  [Fr.,  warehouse.]  Magazine  for 
goods  meant  for  exportation. 

Entrepreneur.  [Fr.,  contractor.]  Especially, 
one  who  brings  out  musical  and  theatrical  per- 
formers. 


Entresol.  [Fr.,  between  the  floors]  A  part  of 
a  building  on  a  level  between  those  of  two 
floors,  especially  the  ground  and  first  floors  ;  a 
suite  of  rooms  approached  from  a  landing  on  a 
flight  of  stairs.  (Mezzanine.) 

Enucleate.  [L.  enucleo,  /  take  out  (e)  the 
kernels  (nuclei).]  To  explain,  clear  up,  solve. 

Enure.  (Inure.)  1.  To  habituate,  to  accustom. 
2.  (Leg.)  To  take  place,  to  be  available. 

Envelop.  (Math.)  The  line  or  surface  which 
touches  each  of  a  family  of  lines  or  surfaces  ; 
thus,  if  a  great  number  of  equal  circles  are  drawn 
with  their  centres  on  the  circumference  of  a  given 
circle,  the  envelop  is  two  circles  concentric  with 
the  given  circle. 

Envelope.  [Fr.  enveloppe,  envelopper,  to 
wrap  up.]  (Fortif.)  Earthwork  constructed  to 
shelter  some  weak  point  in  the  ground  before 
a  fortification,  without  being  brought  into  the 
general  scheme  of  defence. 

En  verite.     [Fr.]    In  truth,  really. 

Envermeil.  [Fr.  en-  and  vermeil,  vermil, 
vermilion.]  To  dye  red. 

Environment.  [Fr.  environner,  from  en-  and 
viron,  circuit,  from  L.L.  virare,  to  turn  about.] 
Of  any  organic  being,  the  aggregate  of  circum- 
stances by  which  it  is  surrounded. 

Envoi,  Envoy.  [Fr.  envoye,  sent.]  An 
address  to  readers  or  to  the  work  itself,  at  the 
end  of  a  literary  work. 

Eocene.  [Gr.  1)65,  morn,  K<uv6s,  new.]  (Geol.) 
That  on  which  the  dawn  of  life  appears,  i.e. 
the  lowest  group  of  the  Tertiary.  Miocene  [new, 
less]  =  Middle  Tertiaries,  as  having  a  smaller 
percentage  of  recent  species  than  Pliocene  \TrXtiov, 
more]  —  Upper  Tertiary  group.  Pleistocene 
[TrAeTo-Tos,  most]  being  =  post-Tertiary ;  its 
organic  remains  belonging  almost  wholly  to 
existing  species. 

Eolian  accumulations.  (Geol.)  Formed  by 
the  drifting  of  winds  [/Eolus,  god  of  winds] ; 
called  also  Sub-aerial. 

Eolian  mode.    (Gregorian  modes.) 

Eos,  Tears  of.  Eos  was,  in  Gr.  Myth.,  the 
dawn.  When  her  son  Memnon  was  killed, 
her  tears  are  said  to  have  fallen  from  the  sky  in 
the  form  of  morning  dew. 

Ebzoic  rocks.  [Gr.  y&s,  morn,  (w4i,  life] 
The  oldest  fossiliferous  rocks ;  the  Laurentian  and 
Huronian  of  Canada,  Bohemia,  etc. 

Edzobn.  [Gr.  rjcfo,  morn,  &ov,  an  animal.] 
A  foraminiferal  organism  of  the  Eocene  rocks, 
E.  Canadense. 

Ep-,  Eph-,  Epi-.  Gr.  prefix,  eVi,  =  to,  on, 
over,  in  addition  to,  against,  and  with  intens. 
force. 

Epact  [Gr.  ri/j.epai  iiraKToi,  days  added,  intro- 
duced] ;  Monthly  E. ;  Annual  E.  The  Monthly 
E.  is  the  excess  of  the  calendar  month  above 
the  lunar  month.  The  Annual  E.,  the  excess  of 
the  solar  year  above  the  lunar  year  of  twelve 
synodical  months.  The  E.  of  any  given  year  in 
the  lunar  cycle  is  the  number  of  days  of  the 
moon's  age  on  the  1st  of  January  ;  thus,  during 
the  present  century,  when  the  golden  number  is 
5  the  epact  is  14 ;  in  the  year  1847,  tne  golden 
number  was  5,  and  it  appears  from  the  nautical 


EPAG 


191 


EPIG 


almanacs  for  that  year  that  the  age  of  the  moon 
at  noon  on  January  I  was  fourteen  days. 

Epagogic.  [Gr.  eiraywyi^s.]  The  same  as 
Inductive. 

Epanadiplosis.  [Gr.,  added  repetition.]  (Rhet.} 
The  repetition  of  the  first  word  of  a  sentence  at 
the  end,  as,  "Oh,  Sophonisba !  Sophonisba, 
oh!" 

Epanalepsis.  [Gr.]  (Rhet.)  Recurrence  to 
the  same  word  or  phrase. 

Epanaphora.    [Gr.  ^ava^opd.]    (Anaphora.) 

Epanastrophe.  [Gr.  4-na.va^po^.]  (Rhet.} 
Repetition  of  the  end  of  a  clause  at  the  beginning 
of  the  next,  as,  "  The  public  blame  the  butchers, 
the  butchers  try  to  shift  the  responsibility  on  to 
the  farmers  ; "  or  as,  "  The  mouse  ran  up  the 
clock,  the  clock  struck  *  one,' "  etc. 

Epanodos.  [Gr.,  return.}  (Rhet.}  1.  Re- 
petition of  a  clause  of  a  sentence  with  its  parts 
(which  maybe  slightly  altered)  in  inverted  order. 
2.  A  return  to  subjects  already  mentioned  to- 
gether for  separate  treatment. 

EpanorthSsis.  [Gr.  lira.v6p9a>(Tis,  correction.} 
(Rhet.}  An  effective  correction  of  something 
just  said,  as,  "  Hisfautt,  perhaps  I  should  rather 
say,  crime"  etc. 

Epaphos.    (Apis.) 

Epaulement.  [Fr.  epaulement,  epaule,  a 
shoulder.]  (Mil.}  Open,  covering  parapet, 
thrown  up  merely  for  the  concealment  of  troops. 

Epaulette.  [Fr.,  from  epaule,  shoulder,  L. 
spatula.]  Bullion  ornament  worn  on  the  top  of 
the  shoulders  by  commissioned  officers.  Abo- 
lished for  the  English  army  in  A.D.  1854,  and 
now  replaced  by  a  bullion  cord. 

Epenetic.  [Gr.  tiraivert^s,  from  tvaivos, 
praise.]  (Rhet.}  Laudatory  or  encomiastic 
oratory. 

Epenthesis.  [Gr.,  an  insertion.]  In  Gram.x, 
the  insertion  or  doubling  of  a  letter  in  a  word. 
(Metaplasm.) 

Epergne.  [Fr.]  An  ornamental  stand  for  the 
centre  of  a  dinner-table ;  the  centre-piece  of  a 
dinner  or  dessert  service. 

Epexegesis.    [Gr.]    Explanation.     (Exegesis.) 

Ephah.     (Omer.) 

Ephemeridae.  [Gr.  e<p-'fi/j.fpov,  an  insect  living 
for  a  day]  Neuropterous  insects,  of  which  the 
may-fly  or  day-fly  is  the  type. 

Ephemeris.  [Gr.  e>-rjjuepts.]  1.  (Astron.}  (i) 
A  statement,  in  the  form  of  a  table,  of  the  position 
of  a  planet  on  each  day  of  the  year ;  as  the 
ephemeris  of  Mars.  (2}  A  collection  of  these  and 
similar  tables,  published  from  year  to  year, 
as  7Tie  Arautical  Almanac  and  Astronomical 
Ephemeris.  2.  A  journal,  diary.  3.  A  record 
of  events  arranged  according  to  the  day  of  the 
year  on  which  they  have  occurred. 

Ephod.  A  sacred  robe  of  the  Jewish  high 
priests,  afterwards  worn  by  ordinary  priests. 
On  the  part  of  the  ephod  which  covered  the 
shoulders  of  the  high  priest  were  two  large 
gems,  each  bearing  the  names  of  six  of  the 
tribes.  The  ephods  of  the  ordinary  priests  were 
of  fine  linen. 

Ephors.  [Gr.  e<f>opoi,  overseers.]  (Hist.}  Chief 
magistrates  in  many  Dorian  states  of  ancient 


Greece.     Those  of   Sparta    are   the    most  pro- 
minent. 

Epicede,  Epicedium.  [Gr.  firiK^iov]  An 
elegiac  funeral  song. 

Epicene.  [Gr.  ^LKOIVOS]  (Gram.}  Common 
to  both  genders  of  a  word,  which  does  not  change 
its  masc.  or  fern,  grammatical  gender  whether  it 
stands  for  male  or  female,  as  L.  aquila,  fern., 
eagle. 

Epichireme.  [Gr.  &r?xcfpwa']  (Rhet.  and 
Log.}  An  attempted  proof,  a  proposition  of 
which  the  premisses  need  proof,  and  to  which  a 
reason  for  their  adoption  is  appended. 

Epic  poems.  [Gr.  en-os,  a  -word  or  tale.] 
Popular  poems  relating  events  belonging  to 
national  tradition  or  mythology.  Such  are  the 
Iliad  and  Odyssey  of  the  Greeks,  the  Mahabha- 
rata  and  Ramayana  of  the  Hindus,  the  Shah- 
nameh  of  Firdusi,  the  Nibelungen  Lied  of  the 
Germans,  etc.  (JEneid.) 

Epicranium.  [Gr.  eVt,  upon,  Kpdviov,  the  skull] 
(Anat.)  The  scalp. 

Epicurean.  Anything  supposed  to  resemble 
or  to  belong  to  the  philosophy  of  Epicurus,  who 
taught  at  Athens  in  the  third  century  B.C.,  and 
whose  system  is  popularly  regarded  as  making 
pleasure  of  a  sensual  sort  the  main  end  of  life. 

Epicuri  de  grege  porcus.  [L.]  A  hog  of 
Epicurus 's  herd. 

Epicycle.  [Gr.  tiriKVK\4<*,  7  revolve.]  In  the 
ancient  astronomy,  a  mode  of  representing  the 
apparent  motion  of  a  planet  was  that  of  suppos- 
ing it  carried  round  by  the  revolution  of  a  small 
circle — called  the  E. — whose  centre  moved  uni- 
formly along  the  circumference  of  a  large  circle 
— the  deferent — which  was  supposed  to  have  the 
earth  in  its  centre.  If  necessary,  a  second  E. 
was  imagined  to  which  the  first  was  a  deferent. 

Epicyclic  train.  [Gr.  ^a/cu/cXe'cu,  /  revolve] 
A  train  of  mechanism  the  axes  of  which  are 
carried  by  a  revolving  arm  or  frame.  Such 
trains  are  used  in  various  orreries,  in  the  bobbin 
and  fly-frame,  etc. 

Epicycloid.  [Epicycle  (q.v.\  and  Gr.  fISos, 
form]  The  curve  traced  out  by  a  point  on  the 
circumference  of  a  circle  which  rolls  without 
sliding  on  a  fixed  circle  with  which  it  is  in  ex- 
terior contact — the  two  circles  being  in  the  same 
plane.  If  the  circles  are  in  interior  contact,  the 
curve  is  a  Hypocycloid. 

Epideictic.  [Gr.  &ri8«uerfK<fe.]  (Rhet.}  Per- 
taining to  public  exhibition  or  showing  off 
[«ri8ei£is,  from  t-Trifelicvvw,  I  make  a  show]  of 
speeches  neither  forensic  nor  deliberative,  such  as 
panegyries,  funeral  orations,  etc. 

Epidemic  disease.  [Gr.  eVt,  ^^pon,  ST)/*OS,  the 
people]  One  attacking  many  persons  at  the 
same  time  and  in  the  same  place  ;  opposed  to 
Sporadic  (q.v.}. 

Epidermis.  [Gr.  eTrtSep^s,  from  &n,  upon, 
Sfp/ma,  skin]  Cuticle. 

Epidote.  [Gr.  &n5o<m,  increase,  the  base  of 
the  primary  form  exhibiting  an  increase  in  some 
secondary  forms.]  A  green  mineral ;  silicate  of 
alumina  with  lime,  iron,  and  manganese. 

Epigastrium.  [Gr.  firiydffTptov,  from  eV£, 
upon,  yao-r-fip,  the  belly]  (Med.)  The  upper 


EPIG 


192 


EQUA 


part  of  the  abdomen ;  popularly  the  pit  of  the 
stomach. 

Epiglottis.  [Gr.  eiriy\(»TTis,  from  ciri,  upon, 
yXuTTis,  the  glottis,  mouth  of  the  windpipe  j\ 
(Med.)  Cartilage  covering  the  opening  of  the 
windpipe  in  deglutition. 

Epigonotikon,  Epigonation.  [Gr.]  (Eccl.)  A 
lozenge-shaped  ornament  hanging  from  the  right 
side  of  the  girdles  of  Eastern  bishops  and  other 
dignitaries  ;  in  the  West,  used  by  the  pope  only. 

Epigram.  [Gr.  eiri  ypa/nfj.a,  in-scription,  from 
£iri,  on,  ypd(pcD,  I  write.]  1.  A  short,  lively,  and 
pointed  poem,  generally  satirical.  2.  A  saying  in 
the  style  of  such  poems.  3.  A  Greek  inscription. 

Epigraph.  [Gr.  eiriypaQ-f),  inscription.}  1. 
An  inscription.  2.  A  quotation  placed  before  a 
book  or  chapter  as  a  motto. 

Epigraphy,  Epigraphe.  [Gr.  t-jriypaQ-f},  in- 
scription.] The  study  of  inscriptions. 

Epilogue.  [Gr.  eV/Ao7os.]  An  address  to 
the  audience  at  the  end  of  the  play.  (Prologue.) 

Ephnetheus.    (Prometheus.) 

Epinglette.  [Fr.,  from  epingle,  a  pin,  L. 
spiniila.]  (Mil.)  Iron  pricker  for  piercing  the 
canvas  covering  of  the  charge  for  a  cannon. 

Epiphora.  [Gr.  firupopd,  a  defiuxion.}  In- 
voluntary constant  trickling  of  tears.  (Stillicide.) 

Epiphysis.  [Gr.  eirityvais,  an  on-groivth.] 
(Anat. )  At  the  end  of  the  long  bones  ;  an  ossi- 
fication from  a  separate  supplementary  centre. 

Epiphytes  [Gr.  eiri,  upon,  (bvrov,  a  plant},  or 
Aerophytes  [aV?p,  air].  (Bot.)  Air-plants; 
generally  orchidaceous,  attached  to  trees,  but 
nourished  almost  entirely  by  the  air.  Parasites 
[•jrapdfftTos,  one  "who  lives  at  another's  table},  e.g. 
mistletoe,  feed  upon  other  plants. 

Epiplexis.  [Gr.,  striking  at.}  (Khet.)  Per- 
suasive upbraiding. 

Epiploce.  [Gr.  eVtTrXo^,  a  plaiting  on  to.} 
(Rhet.)  Statement  of  several  particulars  in  a 
gradation  of  importance. 

Episode.     (Episodical.) 

Episodical.  [Gr.  eVei<r&>ioj>.]  Anything  of 
the  nature  of  a  digression  or  incidental  narrative 
not  essential  to  the  main  plot  of  a  poem,  the 
episode  of  the  Greek  drama  being  originally 
the  portion  of  dialogue  between  the  songs  of 
the  chorus. 

Epistaxis.  [Gr.,  from  eiriara£(a,  I  bleed  at  the 
nose.}  (Med.)  Hemorrhage  from  the  nose. 

Epistola  non  erubescit.  [L.,  a  letter  does  not 
blush.]  You  can  write  things,  especially  in  ask- 
ing favours,  which  you  cannot  so  easily  say. 

Epistoler.  The  reader  of  the  Epistle  in  the 
Communion  Office. 

Epistrophe.  [Gr.  ^vtffrpo^,  a  turning  to.} 
(Rhet.)  The  ending  of  several  consecutive 
clauses  or  sentences  with  the  same  emphatic 
word  or  phrase. 

Epistylium,  Epistyle.  [Gr.  ^i<rrv\iov,  from 
eVf,  on,  <TTV\OI,  pillars.]  The  lintel  resting  on 
pillars  of  a  building,  the  architrave. 

Epitasis.  [Gr.,  a  stretching.}  1.  The  tighten- 
ing of  the  strings  and  raising  of  the  pitch,  of 
instrument  and  voice,  fo/eo-iy  being  the  slack- 
ening. 2.  The  thickening  of  the  plot  of  a  play  ; 
the  tension,  as  it  were,  of  the  main  thought. 


Epithalamium,  [Gr.  3vi6a\d/j.ios,  nuptial.} 
A  nuptial  song  or  ode,  such  as  those  of  Theo- 
critus and  Catullus. 

Epithelium.  [Gr.  &ri,  and  Or)\-f),  the  nipple.} 
(Anat.}  The  thin  cell-tissue  investing  the  nipple, 
lips,  mucous  membranes,  etc.,  investing  the 
closed  cavities  also,  e.g.  the  great  serous  mem- 
branes, the  ventricles  of  the  brain,  the  interior 
of  the  heart. 

Epitrite.  [Gr.  tirirpiros,  one  and  a  third,  as 
4  to  3.]  A  metrical  foot  of  four  syll.,  any  one  oi 
them  being  short  ;  a  combination  of  spondee  = 
four  beats  with  trochee  or  iambus  =  three. 

Epitrochoid  differs  from  an  Epicycloid  (g.v.) 
in  this,  that  the  describing  point  is  within  (not 
on)  the  circumference  of  the  rolling  [Gr.  M- 


Epizoa.  [Gr.  <M,  upon,  faov,  an  animal.] 
Haustellata,  crustacean  parasites  attaching 
themselves  to  the  bodies  of  fish. 

Epizootic  diseases.  [Gr.  M,  upon,  frov,  an 
animal.]  (Med.)  Attacking  brute  animals  at 
the  same  time.  (Epidemic  disease.) 

E  pluribus  unum.  [L.]  A  unit  formed  out 
of  many  ;  motto  of  the  United  States. 

Epoch.  [Gr.  ^•jrox'fl,  a  check,  a  point  of  time.] 
In  Phys.  A'stron.,  the  moment  of  time  when  a 
planet  is  at  some  precisely  determined  point  of 
its  orbit. 

Epode.  [Gr.  circaUs.}  1.  In  the  strophic 
choruses  of  the  Greek  drama,  the  strain  following 
the  strophe.  2.  Horace's  E.  are  =  added  to  the 
Odes.  (Strophe.) 

Eponymous,  Eponym.    [Gr. 


,  .  .  wjtyios,  gvng  a 

name.]  In  Gr.  Hist.,  the  gods  or  heroes  were 
so  called  whose  names  were  borne  by  Greek 
cities.  Thus  Athene  was  the  eponym  or  name- 
giver  of  Athens.  (Archons.) 

Epopee.  [Gr.  lirorotta.]  Epic  writings  ;  an 
epic  poem. 

Epopts.  [Gr.  &ro7rTcu.]  (Hist.)  All  persons 
initiated  in  the  Eleusinian  Mysteries. 

Epsom  salts.     Sulphate  of  magnesia. 

E'  pur  si  muove.  [It.,  yet  it  moves.}  Words 
said  to  have  been  whispered  by  Galileo,  when 
abjuring  the  Heliocentric  theory  of  astronomy. 

Equal  temperament.  (Music.)  (Temperament.) 

Fquant.  [L.  part,  of  sequans,  making  even.] 
In  order  to  represent  the  observed  motions  of 
the  planets,  Ptolemy  supposed  that  in  certain 
cases  the  deferent  was  eccentric,  and  the  motion 
in  it  uniform,  not  about  the  centre,  but  about 
another  point,  the  Equant.  (Epicycle.) 

Equation  [L.  sequatio,  -nem,  an  eqrtalizing]  ;  E. 
of  centre  ;  E.  of  a  curve  ;  E.  of  payments  ;  E.  of 
time;  Personal  E.  (Math.}  When  two  algebraical 
expressions  are  connected  by  the  sign  of  equality, 
the  whole  is  called  an  E.  The  E.  of  a  curve 
(or  curved  surface)  is  the  algebraical  relation 
between  the  co-ordinates  of  any  of  its  points. 
E.  of  payments  is  a  rule  for  answering  such 
questions  as  the  following  :  —  A  owes  B  several 
sums  of  money  falling  due  at  different  dates,  and 
bearing  interest  from  those  dates  ;  at  what  time 
must  the  whole  be  paid  in  a  lump,  that  neithei 
party  may  sustain  loss  ?  In  Astronomy,  E.  often 
means  the  quantity  by  which  the  actual  value  at 


EQUA 


193 


ERGO 


any  instant  of  a  variable  magnitude  must  be 
increased  or  decreased  to  make  it  equal  to  its 
mean  value  at  that  instant.  The  E.  of  time  is 
the  number  of  minutes  and  seconds  to  be  added 
to  or  taken  from  the  apparent  solar  time  at  an 
instant  to  make  it  equal  to  the  mean  solar  time 
at  that  instant.  The  E.  of  the  centre  is  the 
difference  between  the  true  and  the  mean  longi- 
tude of  a  planet  at  any  instant.  The  Personal 
E.  of  an  observer  is  the  constant  error  of  his 
observations,  due  to  the  individual  peculiarities 
of  his  organs  of  perception. 

Equator;  Celestial  E. ;  Magnetic  E.  1.  (Geog.) 
The  great  circle  on  the  earth's  surface  which  is 
equidistant  from  the  poles,  and  divides  the 
earth  into  a  northern  and  a  southern  hemisphere. 
Strictly  speaking,  the  equator  is  an  irregular  line 
which  is  very  nearly  a  circle  and  still  more  nearly 
an  ellipse.  2.  (Astron. )  The  great  circle  of  the 
great  sphere,  which  is  at  every  point  90°  distant 
from  either  pole  of  the  heavens ;  called  also  the 
Equinoctial  and  the  Celestial  E.  ;  its  plane  coin- 
cides with  that  of  the  equator  of  the  earth, 
supposed  to  be  a  sphere  or  spheroid.  The  Mag- 
netic E.,  the  line  joining  a  series  of  points  near 
the  equator  at  which  there  is  no  magnetic  dip. 

Equatorial.  If  a  telescope  can  turn  freely 
round  a  fixed  axis  (A)  at  right  angles  to  its 
direction,  it  will  plainly  sweep  over  a  single 
great  circle  of  the  heavens — or,  at  least,  so  much 
of  it  as  is  above  the  horizon.  Now  suppose  this 
axis  (A)  to  be  firmly  fixed  at  right  angles  to  a 
second  axis  (B)  which  can  turn  on  fixed  pivots 
at  its  ends.  The  telescope  can  now  be  made  to 
sweep  over  the  whole  heavens  in  successive  great 
circles,  which  will  all  pass  through  a  point  in  the 
prolongation  of  the  axis  B.  Now  suppose  that 
this  axis  (B)  is  fixed  in  a  direction  parallel  to  the 
earth's  axis ;  the  telescope  will  now  be  able  to 
sweep  over  the  whole  heavens  along  great  circles 
passing  through  the  poles  (declination  circles). 
Such  a  telescope  is  said  to  be  equatorially 
mounted,  and,  if  supplied  with  properly  gradu- 
ated circles,  is  called  an  E.  The  axis  (B)  can 
be  turned  on  its  pivots  by  clockwork,  so  that 
when  the  telescope  is  set  on  a  particular  star, 
its  motion  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  star,  which 
will  therefore  remain  as  if  fixed  in  the  field  of 
view  as  long  as  it  is  above  the  horizon. 

Equatorially  mounted.    (Equatorial.) 

Equerry.  [Fr.  ecuyer,  from  L.L»  scutarius, 
shield-bearer.}  1.  An  officer  of  State,  under  the 
Master  of  the  Horse.  2,  A  personal  attendant 
of  royal  or  princely  personages. 

Equinoctial;  E.  colure;  E.  gales;  E.  points. 
The  celestial  equator.  The-  E.  points  are  the 
points  in  which  the  celestial  equator  cuts  the 
ecliptic.  The  E.  gales  are  the  winds  which  are 
believed  to  be  prevalent  about  the  time  when 
the  sun,  in  virtue  of  his  proper  motion,  passes 
through  the  equinoctial  points,  in  the  spring  and 
autumn.  (For  E.  colure,  vide  Colure.) 

Equinox  [L.  aequmoctium,  the  time  of  equal 
days  and  nights},  Autumnal;  Vernal  E.  That 
equinoctial  point  through  which  the  sun  passes 
from  the  southern  to  the  northern  hemisphere  is 
the  Vernal  E.  ;  so  called  because  it  takes  place 


about  the  2ist  of  March,  in  the  (northern) 
spring ;  that  through  which  the  sun  passes  from 
the  northern  to  the  southern  hemisphere  is  called 
the  Autumnal  E.)  because  it  takes  place  about 
the  23rd  of  September,  in  the  (northern)  autumn. 

Equipage.  [Fr.  equiper,  O.Fr.  esquiper,  to 
fit  out,  properly  to  rig  a  ship,  Goth,  skip.] 
(Mil.}  Different  requisites  for  enabling  an  army 
to  move  from  one  place  to  another. 

Equipollent.  [L.  sequipolleo,  to  have  like 
vahie.}  Jn  Log.,  propositions  equivalent  in 
substance,  though  differing  in  expression. 

Equites.  [L.,  horsemen.}  In  ancient  Rome, 
a  class  of  citizens  who  served  on  horseback  in 
the  army. 

Equity  follows  law,  sEquttas  stqrntur  legem 
[L.],  i.e.  the  courts  of  equity  follow,  in  con- 
struing documents  and  determining  rights,  the 
same  principles  as  the  courts  of  common  law, 
but  with  some  important  exceptions. 

Equivalent.  [L.  sequus,  equal,  valere,  to 
avail.}  (Chem.}  The  weight  of  a  substance  that 
in  a  compound  will  replace  one  atom  of  hydrogen. 

Equivocal  chords.  (Music.)  Common  to  two 
or  more  keys,  the  resolution  of  them  being 
therefore  uncertain. 

Equivocal  generation.  Apparently  spon- 
taneous. E.  symptoms^  belonging  to  several 
diseases. 

Equivoque.     [Fr.]     An  ambiguity. 

Equuleus.  [L.]  A  sharp-edged  plank,  on 
which  the  victim  is  placed  astride  as  on  a  horse. 

Era.  (Gelalsean  era;  Nabonassar,  Era  of; 
Sothic  period ;  Yezdigard,  Era  of;  Yugs.) 

Eranian,  Iranian.  Name  of  the  family  of 
languages  comprising  Zend,  Old  Persian,  and 
Armenian. 

Erased.  [L.  erasus,  scraped  off.}  (Her.}  Torn 
off  so  as  to  leave  a  jagged  edge. 

Erasmus's  Paraphrase.     (Bible,  English.) 

Erastianism.  The  undue  or  disproportionate 
exercise  of  secular  authority  in  things  spiritual. 
(Erastus,  physician  to  Elector  Palatine  Frederick 
III. — died  at  Bale,  1583 — writing  against  ex- 
cessive use  of  censures,  has  been  supposed  to 
hold  that  all  ecclesiastical  authority  should  be 
subordinate  to  civil.) 

Erato.  [Gr.]  The  Muse  who  presided  over 
love  poetry. 

Erbium.     (Yttrium.) 

Erd-kunde  [Ger.,  earth-lore}—  "Knowledge 
of  the  face  of  the  earth  and  its  products,"  for 
which  the  only  "English  name"  is  "physical 
geography." — Kingsley's  Health  and  Education. 

Erebus.  [Gr.  "Epefios.]  Popularly  any  place 
of  darkness,  a  hell.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  E.  was  a 
son  of  Chaos  and  Darkness. 

Eremacausis.  [Gr.  ype/ma,  gently,  and  Katffis, 
a  burning.}  (Chem.)  The  gradual  decay  of 
organic  compounds  ;  that  of  slow  combustion,  or 
oxidation,  at  ordinary  temperatures. 

Ergot.  [Fr.,  the  spur  of  a  bird;  origin  un- 
known.] 1.  The  soft  horny  stub  behind  a  horse's 
pastern.  2.  Ergot  of  rye  and  other  grains ;  a 
morbid  condition  of  the  ovary,  which  becomes 
dark  and  like  a  long  spur  ;  caused  by  a  minute 
fungus  ;  sometimes  administered  as  a  medicine. 


ERIC 


194 


ESCU 


Eric,  Eriach.  [Ir.  eiric.]  (Ir.  Law.}  A  fine 
paid  to  the  relatives  of  a  murdered  person. 

Erin.  Early  and  poetic  name  of  Ireland,  in 
its  Latin  form  lerne. 

Erin-go-bragh !    Ireland  for  ever  ! 

Erinyes,  The  avenging.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  the 
beings  who  exact  vengeance  for  bloodshed  are 
so  called.  Thus  the  Erinyes  of  Clytemnestra 
haunt  her  son  Orestes.  The  Erinys  is  the 
Skt.  Saranyu  (the  morning,  whose  light  reveals 
the  hidden  things  of  darkness). 

Erl-king.  [Ger.  erl-konig.]  A  destructive 
goblin  of  the  Black  Forest,  especially  fatal  to 
children ;  subject  of  a  poem  by  Goethe.  The 
legend  is  borrowed  from  Norse  sagas. 

Ermine.  [L.  pellis  Armenia,  the  fur  of  the 
Armenian  rat.]  (Her.)  A  white  fur  with  black 
tufts.  Ermines  is  a  black  fur  with  white  tufts. 
Erminois  is  a  golden  fur  with  black  tufts. 
Erminites  is  a  white  fur,  with  black  tufts  having 
a  red  hair  on  each  side. 

Erminia.  Heroine  of  Tasso's  Jerusalem 
Delivered. 

Ermin  Street.  The  Roman  street  or  road  from 
London  to  Lincoln. 

Erosion.  [L.  erSsio,  -nem,  a  gnawing  away.] 
( Geol. )  A  wearing  away ;  e.g.  a  valley  formed 
gradually  by  water-erosion. 

Erotic.  [Gr.  epom/cta,  from  epws,  love.]  1. 
Anything  relating  to  love.  2.  The  works  of 
poets  and  others  who  write  of  love,  as  of  Sappho, 
Anacreon,  Ovid,  etc.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  Eros  is 
one  of  the  great  cosmogonic  powers.  The  name 
reproduces  that  of  the  Vedia  Ariisha,  the  new- 
born sun,  described  as  a  child  with  wings. 

Erpetology.    (Herpetology.) 

Erratic.  [L.  erraticus,  roving.']  (Geol.)  Carried 
from  its  original  site  by  water,  ice,  etc.  j  said  of 
blocks,  gravel. 

Erse.  Irish  ;  Erse  language,  a  division  of  the 
Gadhelic  branch  of  Celtic. 

Erst.  [A.S.  serest,  superl.  of  ser,  ere;  cf. 
Ger.  erst,y?r.rf.]  First,  at  first,  long  ago. 

Eructation.  [L.  eructatio,  -nem.]  A  belch- 
ing ;  loud,  sudden  ejection  of  wind  from  the 
stomach. 

Erudition  of  any  Christian  Man,  The  Necessary. 
(King's  Book.) 

Erysipelas.  [Gr.  epo-iircAos,  usually  derived 
from  tpvepos,  red,  and  TreAAa,  skin.}  (Med.) 
Inflammatory  and  febrile  disease  of  the  skin, 
with  diffused  redness  and  swelling,  largely 
affecting  face  and  head  ;  sometimes  epidemic. 
Called  also  Ignis  sacer,  the  Rose,  St.  Anthony's 
fire. 

Escalade.  [Fr.,  from  It.  scalata.]  (Mil.)  To 
climb  the  walls  of  a  fortress  by  means  of  ladders. 

Escalloped.  Edged  or  covered  with  curves  in 
the  form  of  a  scattop-shett. 

Escapade.  [Fr.]  A  breach  of  propriety,  a 
freak. 

Escapement ;  E.-wheel.  The  part  of  a  clock 
or  watch  which  oscillates  with  the  pendulum  or 
balance  and  enables  it  to  escape  at  each  beat 
from  the  action  of  the  wheelwork,  the  motion 
of  which — produced  by  the  weight  or  main- 
spring—it thus  regulates,  is  the  E.  The  £.- 


wheel  is  the  wheel  on  which  the  pendulum  acts 
directly,  and  which  is  under  the  continuous 
action  of  the  weight  or  mainspring.  Called  also 
Scapement  and  Scape-wheel. 

Escargatoire.  [Fr.  escargotiere.]  A  nursery 
of  snails  [escargots]. 

Escarp.  [Fr.  escarpe,  from  It.  scarpa.] 
(Fortif.)  Slope  beyond  a  parapet  or  rampart, 
forming  the  inner  side  of  the  ditch. 

Escarpment.  [Fr.  escarpe,  the  outward  slope 
of  a  fortification.}  The  abrupt  steep  face  of  a 
hill. 

Eschar.  [Gr.  effx&pa-,  fireplace,  eschar.}  (Med.) 
Dry  slough  caused  by  burning  or  by  caustic. 
Escharotic,  producing  eschar. 

Eschatology.  [Gr.  eo-xaros,  last,  \6yos,  word.} 
1.  (Theol.)  The  general  body  of  opinions  set 
forth  respecting  the  last  things  leading  to  the 
consummation  of  the  divine  kingdom.  2.  = 
terminology,  TO.  fffxara.  being  the  terms  of  a 
proposition. 

Escheat.  [O.Fr.  eschet ;  cf.  Fr.  echeance, 
escheat.]  Corruption  of  blood.  It  differed  from 
forfeiture  in  operating  on  inheritance,  not  merely 
on  rents  and  profits. 

Escheator.  (Escheat.)  (Old Law.)  A  county 
officer  appointed  by  the  Lord  Treasurer  to  make 
inquest  of  titles  by  escheat. 

Eschevin.    The  head  man  of  an  ancient  guild. 

Eschew.  [O.Fr.  eschever,  eschiver,  Fr. 
esquiver,  from  Teut.  form  akin  to  O.H.G. 
skiuhan,  Ger.  scheuen,  avoid,  shun,  Eng.  shy.} 
Flee  from,  shun,  avoid,  escape. 

Escobar.    A  great  Spanish  writer  on  casuistry. 

Escot.  (Scot.)  An  old  tax  in  boroughs  and 
corporations,  paid  towards  the  common  mainten- 
ance. 

Escritoire.  [O.Fr.  ;  cf.  Fr.  ecritoire,  from 
L.  scriptorius,  pertaining  to  writing.}  A  writing- 
desk. 

Escrow.  [O.Fr.  escroue,  escrowe,  scroll  (q.v.)} 
A  sealed  writing  delivered  by  A  to  C,  to  be  held 
until  B  performs  some  condition,  upon  which  it 
becomes  an  absolute  deed,  and  C  hands  it  over 
to  B,  for  whose  benefit  it  purports  to  be  drawn. 

Escuage.     [O.Fr.]     Scutage  (q.v.\ 

Escurial,  or  Escorial.  A  royal  palace  in  Spain, 
about  twenty-two  miles  from  Madrid,  begun  by 
Philip  II. ,  in  1563. 

Escutcheon.  [Fr.  ecusson,  L.  scutionem,  dim. 
of  scutum,  shield.}  1.  (Her.}  A 
shield  on  which  armorial  bearings 
are  painted.  If  it  be  divided  into 
three  equal  parts  by  horizontal  lines, 
the  upper  part  is  called  the  chief, 
the  lower  part  the  base,  and  the 
middle  part  the  fess.  A  is  called 
dexter  chief,  B  the  middle  chief,  C  the 
sinister  chief,  D  the  honour  point,  E  the  fess 
point,  F  the  nombril  [Fr.,  L.  umbiliculus]  or 
navel  point,  G  the  dexter  base,  H  the  middle 
base,  I  the  sinister  base.  An  E.  of  pretence  is 
the  small  shield  in  the  centre  of  his  own,  on 
which  a  man  bears  the  coat  of  arms  of  his  wife, 
if  she  is  an  heiress  (to  show  his  pretension  to  her 
lands).  2.  (Naut. )  The  place  in  a  ship's  stern 
where  her  name  is. 


ESK 


195 


ESTU 


Esk.  Celt,  name  of  rivers  [cf.  Gael,  and 
Erse  uisge,  water ;  as  in  whisky ;  Welsh  wysg, 
A*.  Usk ;  also  Ex,  Exe,  Axios,  Axe,  Ux-, 
Wash,  Wis-]. 

Eskdale.  Name  of  the  north-east  part  of 
Dumfriesshire  in  the  Stuart  period,  formerly  part 
of  Annandale. 

Esmarch  bandage.  Brought  out  by  Professor 
E. ,  German,  in  the  Franco-German  war  ;  used 
by  Ambulance  classes  (q.v.) ;  simple,  and  most 
valuable  as  first  aid  to  the  injured,  pending  the 
arrival  of  a  doctor  ;  may  be  used  in  thirty-two 
different  ways.  A  yard  of  calico,  cut  diagonally, 
makes  two  E.  B. 

Esmond,  Henry.  Hero  of  Thackeray's  novel 
Esmond,  a  chivalrous  Jacobite  of  Queen  Anne's 
reign. 

Esnecca.  Royal  yacht,  or  perhaps  transport, 
of  the  twelfth  century. 

Esnecy.  [From  O.Fr.  aisne.]  (Leg.)  The 
right  of  the  eldest  coparcener  to  choose  first  in 
the  division  of  the  inheritance. 

Esoteric.     (Exoteric.) 

Espalier.  [Fr.,  from  It.  spalla,  shoulder. }  A 
tree,  trained  to  spread  on  stakes  or  poles,  or 
along  a  wall. 

Esparto.  [Sp.,  from  Gr.  ffirapros.}  A  kind  of 
Spanish  rush,  used  for  making  cordage,  paper, 
etc. 

Espials.  (Naut.}  Night  watches  in  dock- 
yards and  harbours  ;  usually  a  boat  told  off  for 
the  purpose. 

Espieglerie,  [Fr.]  Roguishness,  archness. 
(Calembour.) 

Espionage.  [Fr.]  Employment  of  spies,  ob- 
servation by  spies. 

Esplanade.  [Fr.,  from  It.  splanata.]  (Mil.} 
Open  spaces  left  between  glacis  of  citadel  and 
town,  to  prevent  latter  from  being  used  as  cover 
in  attacking  former. 

Espousals.  [L.  sponsalia,  from  spondeo,  7 
pledge}  Contract  of  marriage,  betrothal.  In 
the  Eastern  Church,  betrothals  precede  mar- 
riage, and  are  binding,  as  they  are  in  Germany. 

Esprit  de  corps.  [Fr.]  Loyal  attachment  to 
a  body  of  which  one  is  a  member,  zeal  for  one's 
order. 

Esprit  fort.  [Fr.]  Advanced  thinker,  bold 
spirit. 

Esqulline.  [L.  Esquilinus  (collis).]  The 
Esquiline  Hill  on  the  east  of  Rome. 

Esquire.  [Fr.  ecuyer,  escuyer,  L.  scutarius, 
one  who  carries  a  knight's  shield  (scutum).] 
A  gentleman  bearing  arms  under  the  rank  of 
knight.  A  captain's  commission  confers  the  title. 

Esquisse.  [Fr.]  The  first  sketch  of  a  picture 
or  model  of  a  statue. 

Essay  on  Education.  That  of  John  Locke 
(1632-1704) ;  important,  as  having  mainly  con- 
tributed to  the  change  by  which  a  more  enlarged 
and  liberal  education  replaced  the  universal  and 
excessive  attention  to  mere  philology ;  and  by 
which  the  appeal  to  a  pupil's  conscientiousness 
replaced  tyrannical  authority. 

Essay  on  the  Human  Understanding.  The 
most  celebrated  and  most  important  work  of 
John  Locke  (1632-1704);  the  first  application 


of  the  inductive  method  to  the  consideration  of 
mental  phenomena  ;  which  are  traced  to  sensa- 
tion and  reflexion  only ;  in  opposition  to  the 
doctrine  of  innate  ideas. 

Essenes.  A  sect  of  Jews,  mentioned  by  Philo 
and  Josephus  as  leading  a  life  of  solitude  and 
contemplation,  as  believing  in  the  life  to  come, 
and  interpreting  all  the  Scriptures  allegorically. 

Essential  notes.  (Music. )  The  key-note,  third, 
and  fifth. 

Essential  oil.  [L.  essentia,  the  very  being.'] 
A  volatile  oil  to  which  a  plant  owes  its  charac- 
teristic odour. 

Essoin,  Essoign,  Assoign.  [O.Fr.  essoine,  L.L. 
sonia,  excuse,  exoniare,  essoniare,  to  excuse.}  (Leg. ) 
Excuse  for  non-appearance  to  answer  an  action, 
etc.,  by  reason  of  illness  or  other  just  cause. 

Essorant.  [Fr.  s'essorer,  to  soar,  L.  ex-aurare.] 
(Her.}  With  outspread  wings  in  act  to  fly. 

Estafette.  [Fr.]  A  courier  who  takes  mes- 
sages, etc.,  as  one  of  a  system  of  relays,  an 
express  messenger. 

Estaminet.  [Fr.  ;  "  origin  unknown,"  Littre, 
who  gives,  as  conjectures,  etamine,  stuff,  of  the 
tablecloth ;  Ger.  stramm,  in  sense  of  fatigued ; 
Flem.  stamenay,  from  stamm,  family  stock,  as 
if  =  familiar  gathering.]  A  tap,  smoking-room. 

Estanques.     Weirs  or  kiddles  in  rivers. 

Estates  of  the  realm,  Three.  Clergy,  nobles, 
and  commons. 

Est  modus  in  rebus.  [L.]  There  is  a  medium 
in  all  things. 

Estoilee.  [O.Fr.  estoile,  star.}  Having  the 
form  of  a  star,  generally  four-rayed. 

Estoliland.  Name  given  to  a  great  tract  of 
Arctic  N.  America  by  imaginative  persons  in  the 
fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries. 

Est  operae  pretium.     [L.  ]     //  is  worth  while. 

Esto  perpetua.  [L.]  Be  thou  everlasting ; 
addressed  to  Venice  by  Paul  Sarpi. 

Estopilla.  [Sp.]  A  long  lawn  or  mixed  linen 
fabric  made  in  Silesia. 

Estoppel.  [From  O.Fr.  estoper,  L.L.  stup- 
pare,  to  stop  ^lp  with  tow  (L.  stuppa).]  (Leg.) 
A  conclusive  admission  which  bars  further 
pleading  on  the  point  or  points  concerned,  as 
that  one  who  disputes  a  title  is  the  possessor's 
tenant,  and  therefore  debarred  from  disputing 
the  title. 

Estovers.  [From  O.Fr.  estoffe,  Fr.  etoffe, 
stuff ;  cf.  Ger.  stoff,  material.}  (Leg.)  Neces- 
saries of  life,  sustenance,  alimony. 

Estrade.  [Fr.  estrade,  Sp.  estrado,  It.  strato, 
L.  stratum,  a  parchment,  a  coverlet,  from  root  of 
sterno,  /  spread  out.}  A  level  space,  a  level 
da'is  in  a  room. 

Estreat.  [O.Fr.  estrait,  from  L.  extractum, 
extract. }  (Leg. )  The  true  extract,  copy,  or  note 
of  a  writing  or  record,  especially  of  recognizances, 
fines,  amercements,  etc.,  entered  on  the  rolls  ot 
a  court. 

Estrich,  Estridge.    (Ostrich.) 

Estuary.  [L.  sestuarium,  a  part  of  the  coast 
covered  at  flood-tide  only.]  (Geog. )  An  inlet  at 
the  mouth  of  a  river  into  which  the  tides  of  the 
sea  enter  ;  as  the  estuary  of  the  Severn. 

Estuation.     (Restuation.) 


ETAB 


196 


EUEM 


Etablissement,  [Fr.]  Establishment,  institu- 
tion, shop. 

Etagere.  [Fr.]  A  whatnot,  a  piece  of  furni- 
ture with  several  shelves  or  stages. 

Etappen.  [Fr.  etape,  rations,  formerly  estaple, 
L.  stapula.]  The  arrangements  for  establishing 
depots  and  forwarding  supplies  along  the  com- 
munications of  an  advancing  army. 

Etat  major.     [Fr.]    Staff,  staff  office. 

Etching.  [Ger.  atzen,  to  eat  or  corrode.} 
Producing  designs  on  metal  or  glass  by  corrod- 
ing it  with  strong  acid,  the  rest  of  the  surface 
being  protected  by  a  coating  of  wax  called  the 
etching-ground. 

Etesian  winds.  [Gr.  irriffiai  (&vefjLoi),  yearly 
winds.'}  Monsoons,  especially  north-west  winds 
which  blow  in  the  ./Egean  Sea  for  forty  days 
after  the  rising  of  the  Dog-star. 

Ethanim  (i  Kings  viii.),  or  Tisri  (q.v.}.  First 
month  of  civil,  seventh  of  ecclesiastical,  Jewish 
year,  September — October. 

Ethelo-proxenos.     (Froxenos.) 

Ether.     [L.  aether,  Gr.  aid-ftp,  the  -upper  air.] 

1.  (Phys.)    A  medium  of  perfect  elasticity  and 
extreme  tenuity,  supposed  to  pervade  space,  and 
to  propagate  undulatory  movements  which  affect 
us  with  the  sensation  of  light  and  radiant  heat. 

2.  ( Chem. )    A  light  volatile  liquid  obtained  by 
distilling  alcohol. 

Ethics.  [Gr.  ^dtmfc,  from  i?0oy,  moral  temper.'} 
The  science  which  treats  of  the  nature  and  laws 
of  voluntary  actions  in  man,  and  so  seeks  to 
determine  his  moral  duty.  Ethics  therefore  and 
morals  denote  the  same  thing. 

Ethiopian  language.    (Enoch,  Book'  of.) 

Ethiops  mineral.    (JEthiops  mineral.) 

Ethnography.  [Gr.  e0*/os,  race,  ypd<j>a>,  1 
•write.'}  The  descriptive  branch  or  view  of 
ethnology  (q.v.). 

Ethnology.  [Gr.  e0vos,  race,  \6yos,  account.'} 
The  study  of  the  characteristics,  relations,  and 
origin  of  the  various  races  of  mankind. 

Etiam  periere  rulnse.  [L.]  Even  the  ruins 
have  perished.  • 

Etiolation.  {Fr.  Dicier,  L.  stipulare,  from 
stipula,  a  stalk.}  (Bot.)  Blanching,  natural  or 
artificial. 

Etiology.    (JEtiology.) 

Et  monere  et  moneri.  [L.,  to  warn  and  to 
be  warned.}  Both  to  give  and  to  receive  advice, 
reproof ;  with  Cicero,  one  of  the  essential  marks 
of  friendship. 

Etrennes.  [Fr.]  New  Year's  gift,  Christ- 
mas-box. 

Etrnria,  Kingdom  of.  1.  Constituted  under 
the  ancient  name  out  of  the  territory  of  Tuscany, 
from  1 80 1  to  1814.  2.  Name  of  the  chief  pottery 
district  in  Staffordshire  ;  so  called  owing  to  the 
celebrity  of  the  ware  of  ancient  Etruria. 

Etruscan  language.  The  speech  of  the  people 
of  ancient  Etruria.  It  is  probably  a  Turanian 
dialect. — Taylor,  Etruscan  Researches. 

Etsba,  [Heb.]  A  Jewish  measure  of  length, 
=  a  finger's  breadth. 

Ettrick  Shepherd,  The.  Name  given  to  the 
Scotch  poet,  James  Hogg  (1772-1835),  a  shep- 
herd in  the  forest  of  Ettrick,  Selkirkshire. 


Et  tu,  Brute !  [L.  ]  You  too,  Brutus  !  said  by 
Caesar  on  seeing  his  friend  Brutus  among  his 
assassins. 

Etymologicum  Magnum,  Etym.  Mag.  A 
large  Greek  etymological  lexicon,  compiled  in 
the  eleventh  century,  useful,  but  necessarily  quite 
untrustworthy  as  to  derivations. 

Etymology.  [Gr.  4rvfjLo\oyla,  from  erv/iov, 
etymon  (q.v.),  \6yos,  account,  discourse.}  1. 
(Lang. )  The  branch  of  philology,  or  of  the  science 
of  language,  which  traces  the  history  of  special 
words  and  inquires  into  their  early  forms,  mean- 
ings, and  elements.  2.  (Gram.}  Classification 
of  the  inflexional  changes  exhibited  by  the 
words  of  a  language,  and  of  phonetic  changes 
from  the  earliest  recorded  forms  of  the  language. 

Etymon.  [Gr.  HTVP.OV  (Ion.  Gr. ),  that  which 
is  real.  ]  ( Lang. )  1.  The  original  sense  of  a 
word  determined  by  tracing  its  derivation.  2. 
The  original  form  of  a  word  as  restored  approxi- 
mately by  the  comparative  method.  3.  A  primi- 
tive item  of  speech,  a  radical. 

Eu-     [Gr.  e 5,  well.} 

Eucalyptus.  (Hot.)  A  large  gen.  of  Austra- 
lian trees,  known  as  gum-trees.  E.  globiilus  is 
much  planted  in  S.  Europe  as  a  preventive  of 
malaria  and  fever.  Ord.  Myrtacese. 

Eucharist.  [Gr.  euxapio-r/o,  thanksgiving.'} 
(Theol.)  The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 
(Consubstantiation ;  Sacrament ;  Transubstantia- 
tion.) 

Euchelaion.  [Gr.,  oil  used  with  prayer.}  In 
the  Eastern  Church,  penitents  conscious  of 
grievous  sins  are  anointed  with  oil  which  is 
consecrated  once  a  year  by  the  bishop.  (Extreme 
Unction.) 

Euchologium,  [Gr.  fv-^oKoyiov,  a  prayer- 
book.}  (Eccl.)  The  chief  liturgical  book  of  the 
Greek  Church,  containing  everything  relating  to 
religious  ceremonial.  Euchologium  sometimes 
=  (Rom.)  Missal  or  Breviary. 

Euchre.  A  German  and  American  game  of 
cards,  in  which  the  knave  of  trumps,  the  right 
bower  [Ger.  baur,  knave},  is  the  highest  card. 

Eudiometer.  [Gr.  tv^ia,  fair  weather,  fitTptiv, 
to  measure.}  An  instrument  invented  for  analyz- 
ing air,  or  determining  the  proportion  of  oxygen 
present.  Its  use  is  now  extended  to  the  analysis 
of  various  gases. 

Eudoxians.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  A  branch  of  the 
Arians,  who  adopted  the  opinions  of  Eudoxius, 
Bishop  of  Antioch,  in  the  fourth  century. 

Euergetes.  [Gr. ,  a  benefactor.}  A  title  be- 
stowed by  the  Greeks  on  some  who  deserved 
well  of  the  State,  and  applied  especially  to  some 
of  the  Egyptian  Ptolemies ;  Luke  xxii.  25.  A 
title  common  on  the  coins  of  the  Syrian  kings. 

Euemerism,  Euhemerism.  The  system  by 
which  Eueme'ros,  a  Sicilian  author  of  the  time  of 
Alexander  the  Great,  converted  mythology  into 
plausible  historical  narrative  by  setting  aside  all 
unlikely,  or  impossible,  or  extraordinary  incidents 
recorded  in  ancient  traditions.  Thus  Zeus,  or 
Jupiter,  became  a  mortal  man  who,  for  benefits 
done  to  his  fellows,  was  after  his  death  worshipped 
as  a  god.  We  find  the  germs  of  this  system  both  in 
Herodotus  and  in  Thucydides.  (Caput  mortuum.) 


EUGU 


197 


EVIC 


Eugubine,  Euguvine,  Tables.  Seven  tablets 
inscribed  with  prayers  and  formulae  in  Umbrian, 
the  ancient  dialect  of  N.E.  Italy ;  probable  date 
as  early  as  the  third  century  B.C.  Found  at 
La  Schieggia,  near  Ugubio,  the  ancient  Eugu- 
bium,  1444. 

Eulenspiegel,  Tyll.  [Ger.,  Tyll  Owl-glass.} 
Hero  of  a  popular  comic  German  tale  of  the 

a  mechanic  of 


Eurydice.     (Myth.)     (Orpheus.) 

Eurypterus.  [Gr.  fvpvs,  broad,  irrepAv,  wing, 
fin.]  (Ichth.)  A  fam.  of  extinct  crustaceans, 
with  broad  swimming  feet;  ranging  from  the 
Upper  Silurians  to  the  coal-measures. 

Euskarian.  Dialect  of  the  Basques,  non- 
Aryan  inhabitants  of  the  Pyrenees. 

Eustacbian  tube  leads  from  the  tympanic 
cavity  of  the  ear  to  the  pharynx.  (Eustachius, 


fifteenth   or  sixteenth    century, 

Kneittingen,  in  Brunswick.  its  discoverer,  Italian  anatomist,  died  1574.) 

Eulogise.   [Gr.  ev\oyiai,  blessings.}  The  Greek  |      Eustathians.     (Eccl.  Hist.)    The  followers  of 
name  for   the   Panis  benedictus,  pain   beni,  or  i  the  monk  Eustathius,  whose  opinions  were  con- 
bread  over  which  a  blessing  is  pronounced  in  the  !  demned  by  the  Council  of  Gangra  in  the  fourth 
Latin  Church,  and  distributed  to  those  who  are     century, 
not  qualified  to  communicate.  Euterpe.    (Muses.) 

Eumenides.       (Myth.)      This    Greek    word,  j      Euthanasia.      [Gr.,  from   e5,   ivell,    68.va.ros, 
meaning  gentle,  was  a  name  given  to  the  Erinyes,  j  death.}     Easy  death. 

as  it  was  supposed,  by  the  figure  of  speech  called  j  Eutychians.  (Eccl.  hist. )  The  followers  of 
Euphemism.  In  later  times  it  denoted  the  j  Eutyches,  abbot  of  a  monastery  at  Constanti- 
three  Furies — Allecto,  Megaera,  and  Tisiphlne.  i  nople,  a  vehement  opponent  of  Nestorius.  The 


(Erinyes.) 

Eunomians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Eunomius,  who  maintained  an  Arianism  more 
extreme  than  that  of  his  friend  Eudoxius. 
(Eudoxians.) 

Eupatrids.  [Gr.  euirt&rpiSoi,  ivell- fathered.] 
(Hist. )  The  dominant  class  in  ancient  Athens, 
answering  to  the  Patricians  at  Rome. 

Euphemism.  [Gr.  fiHpruj.Hr/j.o's.]  (Rhet.)  The 
substitution  of  a  word  or  phrase  for  another 
which  may  give  offence.  Thus  the  Furies,  it 
was  said,  were  called  Eumenides,  and  the  Black 
Sea  Euxine  [Gr.  ci^e/pos],  or  hospitable. 

Euphony.  [Gr.  fixpoavia,  good  sound,  from  «5, 
•well,  <pwf],  sound.]  (Gram.)  Agreeable  sound,  I 


latter  asserted  that  there  were  two  distinct 
natures  in  Christ,  the  former  that  His  human 
nature  was  merged  in  the  divine.  (Nestorians.) 
Evacuation  Day.  The  day  on  which  the 
British  army  evacuated  the  city  of  New  York 
(November  25,  1783),  the  annual  return  of 
which  has  been  celebrated  in  that  city  for  nearly 


a  century. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Evangelical  Prophet,  The.  Isaiah.  (Prot- 
evangelion.) 

Evangelic  Doctor,  The.    Wyclif,  the  Reformer. 

Evaniadae  (so  termed  by  Dr.  Leach  ;  etym.  ?). 
(Entom.)  Gen.  of  hymenopterous  insects,  parasi- 
tical in  cockroaches,  blattidae. 

Evaporatometer.     (Atmometer.) 

the  avoidance  of  disagreeable  combinations  of  I      Evection.     [L.  evectio,  -nem,  a  carrying  out 
articulate  sound  in  speech.  {  or  forth.]     (Astron.)     The  greatest  of  all  the 


Euphoria.  [Gr.  eixpopia,  the  power  of  bearing 
easily.]  A  feeling  of  bodily  well-being. 

Euphrosyne.    [Gr.]    One  of  the  Graces. 

Euphuism.  (Hist.)  An  affected  style  of 
speaking  and  writing  in  vogue  in  the  time  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  and  carried  to  its  height  by 
John  Lilly  in  his  work  called  Euphues  [Gr., 
graceful}. 

Eupoda.  [Gr.  ctf-irovy,  -woSos,  well-footed.] 
{Entom.}  Fam.  of  tetr&merous  beetles. 

Eurasian.  A  half-breed  between  a  European 
and  an  Asiatic  parent. 

Eureka !  properly  Heur$ka  !  [Gr.  6#p7j/ca  !  / 
have  found  /]  Said  by  Archimedes  when  he  dis- 
covered the  principle  of  specific  gravity ;  hence 
used  in  connexion  with  any  discovery. 

Euroclydon.  [Gr.  cvpoK\v8uv.]  This  word, 
probably  denoting  a  storm  from  the  east,  is  men- 
tioned in  Acts  xxvii.  14 ;  but  there  are  many 
readings,  one  of  them  being  Etirakylon,  the 
north-east  wind  [L.  Euraqullo], 

Europa.  [Gr.  evpuvij.]  (Myth.)  The  daugh- 
ter of  the  Athenian  Agenor,  and  sister  of  Cad- 
mus. She  was  carried  over  the  sea  to  Crete  by 
Zeus  in  the  form  of  a  white  bull,  and  there 
became  the  mother  of  Minos,  Rhadamanthys, 
and  ^iacus. 

Eurus.    (Wind.) 

Eury.  The  linen-room  in  the  royal  house- 
hold. 


inequalities  of  the  moon's  motion,  due  to  the  dis- 
turbing influence  of  the  sun,  which  causes  a 
variation  in  the  form  and  position  of  her  orbit 
considered  as  an  ellipse ;  so  that  rhe  is  some- 
times as  much  as  i°  20'  30"  before  or  behind 
her  position  as  it  would  have  been  had  her 
elliptic  motion  been  undisturbed. 

Evelyn's  Memoirs.  Published  1818  ;  a  Diary 
of  events  carefully  observed  from  1641  to  1706  ; 
with  much  other  curious  and  valuable  matter  ; 
by  John  Evelyn,  of  Wotton,  scholar,  author, 
and  a  very  perfect  country  gentleman,  of  the 
highest  Christian  character.  Sir  Walter  Scott 
"had  never  seen  a  mine  so  rich."  (Sylva.) 

Evening  gun,  The.  (Naut. )  Fired  in  summer 
at  nine,  in  winter  at  eight  o'clock. 

Evening  star.  The  planet  Venus  when  she 
sets  after  the  sun. 

Even  keel,  On  an.  (Naut. )  Said  of  a  vessel 
drawing  the  same  depth  of  water  at  the  stem  and 
stern. 

Evens,  or  Vigils.  The  evenings  or  nights 
before  certain  holy  days  of  the  Church,  the  word 
Vigil  being  used  when  the  evening  is  a  fast. 

Every  inch  of  that.  (Naut.)  Belay  without 
easing  the  rope.  Every  rope  an  end,  coil  down 
running  rigging,  etc.  ;  also,  see  every  rope  clear 
for  running. 

Eviction.  [L.  evictio,  -nem,  from  e,  out  of, 
vinco,  I  conquer.]  (Leg.)  1.  Recovery  of  pro- 


EVIL 


198 


EXEG 


perty  by  a  judicial  process.  2.  Expulsion  from 
a  tenement  by  the  landlord. 

Evil  eye.  According  to  an  ancient  and  widely 
spread  superstition,  some  persons  have  the 
power  of  injuring  those  upon  whom  they  look. 
The  idea  formed  part  of  the  Gr.  paffKavia,  and 
of  the  L.  fascmatio;  it  is  the  Kakomati  of 
modern  Greece,  the  Malocchio  of  Italy  ;  and  the 
belief  exists  in  Turkey,  Egypt,  Ireland,  Scot- 
land, and  some  parts  of  England.  (See  Virg., 
EcL  iii.  103.) 

Eviscerate.  [L.  evisce"rare.]  1.  To  take  out 
[e]  the  bowels  [viscera],  to  disembowel.  2. 
(Metaph.)  To  deprive  of  matter  or  strength. 

Evolute.     (Involute  of  a  curve.) 

Evolution.  [L.  evolutio,  -nem,  an  unrolling.'} 
1.  (Arith.)  The  process  of  extracting  the  roots 
— square  root,  cube  root,  etc. — of  numbers.  2. 
(Biol.)  A  development  of  more  complex  from 
more  simple  organization.  In  Darwin's  theory, 
which  ascribes  physical  and  moral  phenomena 
to  continuous  E.,  breaches  of  continuity  are 
explained  by  the  hypothesis  of  natural  selection. 
3.  (Mil.)  Execution  of  a  tactical  movement. 

Evovae.  A  word  used  =  the  ending  of  a  Gre- 
gorian tone  ;  e,  u,  o,  u,  a,  e,  being  the  vowels  of 
"sEcUlOrUm,  AmEn." 

Ewe-necked  horse.  Having  the  neck  not 
arched,  but  somewhat  hollowed  out ;  as  seen  in 
the  sheep,  goat,  etc. 

Ewrar,  Ewary.  An  officer  in  the  royal  house- 
hold, who  attended  with  eiver  for  the  washing 
of  hands  after  meals.  Forks  were  not  used  till 
at  least  as  late  as  Elizabeth's  time. 

Ex-.  1.  L.  prefix  =  out,  otit  of,  from,  tho- 
roughly. 2.  Celt,  name  of  rivers ;  Rom.  Isca 
(cf.  Esk). 

Ex  abundant!  cautela.  [L.]  From  excessive 
caution. 

Exacerbate.  [L.  exacerbare,  from  ex-,  intens. 
acerbus,  sour.]  To  irritate,  exasperate. 

Exacerbation.  [L.  exacerbo,  /  exasperate.] 
1.  Bitterness  of  spirit.  2.  (Med.)  Aggravation 
of  the  symptoms  of  disease. 

Ex  sequo  et  bono.  [L.]  In  equity  and  good 
conscience. 

Exaltados.  [Sp.,  exalted.]  In  Sp.  Hist.,  the 
liberal  party  in  politics. 

Exaltation.  [L.  exaltatio,  -nem.]  (Med.) 
Morbid  activity  of  the  brain. 

Examination.  [L.  ex,  out  of,  anima,  breath, 
life.]  Want  of  life,  real  or  apparent. 

Exanthematous  diseases.  [Gr.  c'£ap(%ia,  (i) 
efflorescence;  (2)  cutaneous  eruption.]  (Med.) 
Eruptive. 

Exarch.  [Gr.  Qapxos.]  The  title  of  the 
viceroys  of  the  Byzantine  emperors  in  the  Italian 
and  African  provinces.  The  E.  for  Italy  was 
known  as  the  E.  of  Ravenna.  (Donation  of 
Pepin ;  Donation  of  Charlemagne.) 

Excalibur.  In  the  Arthur  legend,  the  sword 
which  Arthur  alone  is  able  to  draw  from  the 
stone  into  which  it  had  been  fixed,  thus  proving 
his  title  to  the  kingdom.  It  answers  to  Gram, 
the  sword  of  Odin  ;  to  Durandal,  the  sword  of 
Roland  ;  to  the  Glaive  of  Light  in  the  Scottish 
stroy  of  Esaidh  Ruadh  (Campbell,  Tales  of  the 


West  Highlands) ;  the  sword  of  Apollo,  Chrysaor, 
and  many  others. 

Ex  cathldra.  [L.]  From  the  chair  of  pro- 
fessor or  bishop  ;  i.e.  spoken  with  authority. 

Exceptio  probat  regulam  de  rebus  non  exceptis. 
[L.]  A  special  exception  to  a  rule  proves  it  (to 
hold)  concerning  things  not  (specially}  excepled. 
A  legal  maxim,  of  which  the  first  three  words 
are  often  misapplied  as  meaning  "the  fact  of 
there  being  an  exception  proves  the  existence  of 
a  rule,"  or  "an  exception  is  essential  to  every 
rule." 

Excerpt.  [L.  excerptum,  thing  plucked  out.] 
An  extract,  a  selected  passage. 

Exchanges,  Theory  of.  In  Heat,  the  doctrine 
that  when  bodies  are  in  the  same  region  all 
radiate  heat,  the  hotter  bodies  radiating  more 
heat,  the  less  hot  less  heat ;  so  that  an  exchange 
of  heat  takes  place  between  them. 

Exchequer.  [O.Fr.  exchequier,  L.L.  scac- 
carius,  chess-board.]  1.  Court  of  E.  Chamber, 
a  superior  court  of  revenue  ;  so  called  from  a 
checked  cloth  originally  on  the  table.  2.  The 
public  treasury.  3.  A  treasury  generally,  pos- 
sessions in  money. 

Exchequer  bills.  Bills  of  credit  issued  by 
authority  of  Parliament,  bearing  interest  per 
diem  according  to  the  usual  rate  at  the  time. 
First  issued,  1696. 

Exchequered.  (Naut.)  Seized  as  contraband. 
Marked  with  broad  arrow. 

Excise.  [O.E.  accise,  L.L.  accisia.]  1.  A 
charge  or  impost  on  certain  articles  of  home 
production  and  consumption,  as  malt,  alcohol, 
hops,  or  on  trade  licences.  2.  Revenue  raised 
by  taxing  inland  commodities  or  traders,  i.e.  by 
indirect  taxation. 

Exciting  cause  of  disease ;  its  immediately 
preceding  cause,  as  distinguished  from  predispos- 
ing cause. 

Exclusion,  Bill  of.  (Hist.)  The  bill  intro- 
duced into  Parliament  during  the  reign  of 
Charles  II.,  for  the  purpose  of  excluding  the 
Duke  of  York,  as  a  papist,  from  the  succession. 

Excommunication.  [Eccl.  L.  excommuni- 
catio,  -nem.]  A  censure,  casting  the  offender 
out  of  the  communion  of  the  Church  ;  the  Lesser 
E.  depriving  of  sacraments  and  public  worship, 
the  Greater,  of  all  society  of  the  faithful  also. 

Exconcesso.     [L.]     From  what  is  admitted. 

Excoriate.  [L.  excoriare,  from  ex,  off",  corium, 
skin.]  To  wear  off  the  skin,  to  remove  skin  by 
striking,  rubbing,  or  the  use  of  acrid  substances. 

Excursus.  [L.,  a  running  forth.]  An  essay 
on  a  special  point  appended  to  a  section  of  a 
book. 

Exeat.  [L.,  let  him  depart.]  A  permission 
or  order  without  which  no  person  in  statu 
pupillari  may  go  out  of  residence  at  a  university 
or  college,  or  from  a  religious  house. 

Executive  City,  The.  Washington. — Bartlett's 
A  mericanisms. 

Exedra.  [Gr.]  (Eccl.  Ant.}  A  building 
distinct  from  the  main  body  of  the  church,  as  a 
cloister,  baptistery,  sacristy,  etc. 

Exegesis.  [Gr.,  a  narrative,  explanation, 
from  <?£,  outy  fiyfo/Mi,  Head.]  Exposition,  inter- 


EXEQ 


199 


EXPI 


pretation,    especially    of    sacred    or    classical 
works. 

Exequatur.  [L. ,  let  him  execute  (the  duties  of 
the  office).]  Instrument  recognizing  one  as  con- 
sul or  commercial  agent  for  Government,  and 
conferring  his  authority. 

Exequies.    (Exsequies.) 

Exergue.  [Fr.]  In  Numismatics,  the  lower 
limb  of  a  coin  or  medal,  marked  off  by  a  straight 
line  from  the  rest  of  the  surface,  where  the  date 
is  placed. 

Exfoliation.  [L.  exfolio,  /  strip  of  leaves.] 
A  throwing  off  of  dead  from  living  tissue  j  e.g. 
a  separation  of  a  dead  portion  of  bone. 

Exhaustion,  Method  of.  1.  (Math.}  A  geome- 
trical method  used  by  the  ancient  geometers  for 
proving  indirectly  the  equality  of  certain  mag- 
nitudes and  ratios.  Suppose  it  can  be  proved 
that  A  +  x  is  greater  than  B,  and  that  A  —  y  is 
less  than  B  ;  and  suppose  that,  consistently  with 
this,  it  can  be  shown  that  x  and^j/  can  be  dimi- 
nished till  their  magnitude  is  exhausted,  and  they 
at  length  become  less  than  any  magnitude  that 
can  be  assigned  ;  then  it  can  be  inferred  that 
A  must  equal  B.  2.  (Log.)  When  it  is  known 
that  A,  or  B,  or  C,  or  D,  or  E  was  the  doer, 
and  it  has  been  proved  that  not  A,  B,  C,  or  E 
did  it,  it  follows  that  D  did  it. 

Exhibit.  [L.  exhlbitum,  n.  p.  part,  of  ex- 
hibeo,  /  exhibit.  ]  Something  shown  to  a  witness 
when  giving  evidence  which  is  referred  to  by 
him  in  his  evidence. 

Exhibition.  [Leg.  L.  exhibltio,  -nem,  main- 
tenance. ]  ( Univ. )  Yearly  allowance  for  mainten- 
ance given  to  students  who  do  not  thereby 
become  scholars  on  the  foundation  of  the  college. 

Exigant.  [L.,  let  them  demand.]  (Leg.) 
Name  of  a  writ  calling  on  the  sheriff  to  have-a 
defendant,  who  non  est  inventus,  demanded  at 
five  county  courts  or  five  London  hustings,  after 
which,  unless  he  appear,  he  is  outlawed. 

Exigeant,  -ante.     [Fr.]    Exacting. 

Exigi  facias.  [L.,  do  thou  cause  to  be  de- 
manded."} (Leg.)  I.q.  exigant. 

Exinanition.  [L.  exmanitio,  -nem,  from  ex- 
inamre,  to  empty."}  1.  Privation,  emptiness, 
humiliation.  2.  (Med.)  Bodily  emptiness  and 
exhaustion. 

Exit.     [L.]     He,  or  she,  goes  out. 

Ex  mero  motu.  [L.,  on  mere  impulse."}  Of 
one's  own  will. 

Exodia.  [Gr.]  In  ancient  Rome,  burlesques 
acted  after  other  plays.  With  the  Greeks  the 
Exodion  was  the  final  chorus  in  a  tragic 
drama. 

Ex  officio.     [L.]     By  virttie  of  office. 

Exogens.     (Endogens.) 

Exomis.  [Gr.]  A  sleeveless  tunic  hanging 
from  the  shoulder  [§)/JLOS"\,  worn  in  ancient 
Greece  by  women,  slaves,  and  poor  men. 

Exon.  An  officer  of  the  yeomen  of  the  Royal 
Guard. 

Exorcism.  [Gr.  f£opKi<r/jL6s.]  The  adjuration 
by  which  evil  spirits  were  bidden  to  depart  from 
the  Energumens. 

Exordium.  [L.]  A  beginning,  introduction 
of  a  work  ;  its  first  meaning  being  the  ivarp  of 

14 


a  web ;  from  ordior,  /  weave  \cf.   Gr.   opSe'w,  2 
begin  a  web,  opSrj^uo,  a  ball  of  worsted]. 

Exoriare  aliquis  (nostris  ex  ossibus  nltor) 
[L.  ]  =  Oh  for  some  deliverer !  lit.  Oh,  mayest 
thou  rise  up,  some  one  or  other,  out  of  our  bones, 
i.e.  descendants,  as  an  avenger!  (Virgil). 

Exosmose.     (Osmose.) 

Exostosis.  [Gr.  ffaroHris.  ]  A  morbid 
growth  of  bone  ;  e.g.  splint,  in  a  horse. 

Exoteric.  [Gr.  e'£c0Tept/crfy,  outward.'}  The 
published  writings  of  Aristotle  were  called 
E.,  that  is,  designed  for  the  people.  These 
had  the  form  of  dialogues.  The  treatises  which 
he  prepared  for  his  pupils  were  termed  Esoteric  ; 
but  the  notion  that  these  conveyed  mysterious 
doctrines  not  to  be  found  in  the  others  has  no 
foundation. 

Expansion.  [L.  expansio,  -nem,  an  extending.] 
1.  In  Algebra,  when  a  succession  of  terms  of 
which  one  does  not  contain  x,  and  the  others  are 
multiples  of  x,  x2,  x3,  etc.,  is  found  whose  sum 
equals  an  assigned  function  of  x,  that  function  is 
said  to  be  expanded  in  ascending  powers  of  x. 
Thus,  if  the  function  is  (i  +  *)10,  the  expansion 
is  i  +  i  ox  -f-  45*2  +  I2ox3  +,  etc.  2.  In  the 
steam-engine,  if  the  connexion  between  the 
steam  in  the  cylinder  with  that  in  the  boiler  is 
cut  off  when  a  portion  only  of  the  stroke  is  com- 
pleted, the  engine  is  said  to  work  by  E.,  because 
through  the  remainder  of  the  stroke  the  piston 
is  urged  forward  by  the  force  which  the  steam 
exerts  in  the  act  of  expanding. 

Ex  parte.     [L.]     On  one  side. ' 

Expectation  of  life.  1.  The  mean  or  average 
duration  of  life  (q.v.).  2.  More  exactly,  the 
probable  life,  or  the  number  of  years  more  which 
a  person  of  given  age  has  an  even  chance  of 
living.  According  to  the  Carlisle  Table,  a 
person  twenty  years  old  has  an  even  chance  of 
living  44 '8  years  more. 

Expectation  Week.  (Eccl.)  The  interval 
between  Ascension  Day  and  Whit  Sunday ;  at 
which  time  the  apostles  waited  for  the  promise 
of  the  Comforter. 

Ex  pede  Hercfilem.  [L.]  (You  can  judge  of) 
Hercules  from  his  foot ;  as  Pythagoras  is  said  to 
have  calculated  Hercules'  height  from  the  length 
of  the  Olympic  foot.  The  saying  implies  that  you 
can  judge  of  the  whole  by  the  part.  (Ex  ungue 
leonem.) 

Expense  magazine.  (Mil.)  Contains  the 
immediate  supply  of  ammunition  for  the  batteries 
of  a  siege,  and  is  formed  under  the  parapet. 

Experimentalism.     (Determinism.) 

Experimentum  crucis.  [L.]  A  decisive  ex- 
periment; so  called,  according  to  Lord  Bacon, 
because,  like  a  cross  or  finger-post,  it  shows  men 
which  of  two  ways  they  are  to  go  along. 

Expert.  [L.  expertus,  experienced.]  One 
who  has  scientific  knowledge  of  a  subject ;  said 
especially  of  witnesses  on  matters  of  science,, 
handwriting,  etc. 

Experto  crede.  [L.]  Believe  one  who  has  tried. 

Expilation.  [L.  expilatio,  -nem,  from  expilo, 
I  plunder.]  A  plundering,  ravaging,  pillaging. 

Expiration.  [L.  exspirare,  to  breathe  out,  to 
die.]  (Leg.)  Reversion  of  a  fee  to  the  lord  GDI 


EXPL 


200 


EYEG 


the  failure  of  the  intestate  tenant's  family,  or 
formerly  when  a  tenant  had  been  attainted  of 
treason  or  murder.  In  England,  estates  escheat 
to  the  Crown  if  heirs  fail  one  who  holds  of  the 
Crown,  by  E. 

Expletive.  [L.  expletlvus,  from  expleo,  I  Jill 
out.~\  1.  A  word  or  phrase  inserted  in  a  sentence, 
which  has  no  meaning,  but  often  serves  the 
function  of  emphasis  ;  e.g.  the  old  certes.  2. 
Hence  euphemistic  for  an  oath  or  coarse  ex- 
pression. 

Explicit.  [For  L.  explicitus  est  liber,  the 
book  is  finished.  ]  A  word  formerly  put  at  the 
end  of  books,  as  Finis  is  now.  (Colophon.) 

Exploitation.  [Fr. ,  from  exploit,  exploit,  pro- 
duct, from  L.  explicitus,  unfolded,  exhibited.} 
A  turning  to  account,  exhibiting,  etc. 

Explosive.  [L.  expldsus,  p.  part,  of  explode, 
I  drive  out  by  clapping.}  In  Lang.,  relating 
to  or  produced  by  explosion ;  as  E.  sounds, 
E.  consonants,  of  which  the  commonest  are 
k  (q),  ch,  t,  p,  g,  j,  d,  1>L  with  their  aspirated 
forms  and  the  spiritus  lenis.  They  are  also 
called  momentary  or  shut  sounds,  being  incap- 
able of  prolongation,  and  produced  by  the  open- 
ing action  of  the  articulatory  organs  which  are 
previously  in  contact  so  as  to  stop  the  emission 
of  breath. 

Exponent.  In  Algebra,  the  index  of  a  power  ; 
thus,  x  is  the  exponent  of  a".  Exponential  series, 
the  expansion  of  a*  in  ascending  powers  of  x. 

Exposition  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  In  the 
Latin  Church,  when  the  Host  is  exposed  for  the 
devotion  of  the  people,  it  is  watched  night  and 
day  with  prayers. 

Ex  post  facto.     [L.]    By  an  after  act. 

Expression.  In  Algebra,  a  collection  of  alge- 
braical symbols  ;  as,  $a"*b  +  3>c- 

Exprobration.  [L.  exprobratio,  -nem,  from 
exprobro,  /  consider  a  shameful  act  (probrum).j 
Severe  reproach,  condemnatory  censure. 

Exsequies.  [L.  exsequise,  from  ex,  out,  root 
of  sequor,  I  follow.}  Funeral  procession,  cere- 
monies of  burial. 

Exstipulate  leaves.  (Bot.)  Leaves  from 
which  Stipules  are  absent. 

Ex  temp  ore.  [L.,  from  the  occasion  (time}.} 
Off-hand  ;  said  of  speaking  or  preaching  im- 
promptu, without  book  or  paper  to  refer  to. 

Extend.  (Mil.)  A  light  infantry  movement, 
in  which  skirmishers  take  up  stated  intervals. 

Extension.  [L.  extensio,  -nem.]  1.  (Med.) 
Of  a  fractured  or  dislocated  limb,  pulling  it 
strongly  in  order  to  reduce  it.  2.  (Mech.)  The 
property  of  a  body  in  virtue  of  which  it  occupies 
a  portion  of  space. 

Extensor  muscle.  [L.  extendo,  /  stretch 
out.}  It  extends  the  part  on  which  it  acts. 
(Flexor  muscle.) 

Extensum.  [N.  p.  part,  of  extendo,  I  stretch 
out.}  (Eccl.)  The  full  written  text  from  which 
a  brief  is  drawn  up.  Hence  in  extenso,  as 
opposed  to  an  abstract. 

Exterminate.     In  Algebra,  to  eliminate. 

Extillation.  [L.  ex,  out,  stillare,  to  drop.} 
(Distillation.) 

Extispicious.   [L.  extispicium,  from  exti-spex, 


entrail  inspector.}     Pertaining  to  divination  by 
inspection  of  entrails  [exta]. 

Extradition.  [L.,  from  ex,  out,  and  traditio, 
-nem,  a  giving  tip,  from  trans,  over,  do,  I  give.} 
Delivering  up,  in  a  foreign  country,  a  person  ac- 
cused of  non-political  crime  to  the  authorities  of 
his  own  country  for  trial,  usually  according  to 
an  international  convention. 

Extrados.  [Fr.,  from  L.  extra,  beyond,  dor- 
sum,  the  back.}  (Arch.}  The  external  curve  of 
the  arch.  (Intrados ;  Soffit.) 

Extramural.  [L.  extra,  beyond,  mums,  a 
wall.}  Beyond  or  outside  the  walls. 

Extravagants.  [L.  extravagantes.]  The  de- 
cretal epistles  of  popes  after  the  Clementines,  at 
first  ranged  without,  not  included  in,  Canon  law. 
But  the  collection  called  Common  Extravagants 
was  embodied  in  the  Canon  law,  A.D.  1483. 

Extravaganza.  [It.]  A  musical  or  dramatic 
piece  of  great  wildness  or  absurdity. 

Extravasated  blood.  [L.  extra,  beyond,  vas, 
vasis,  a  vessel.}  {Med.}  Forced  out  of  its  pro- 
per vessels  into  the  surrounding  tissues  ;  e.g.  in 
discolouring  bruises.  (Ecchymosis.) 

Extra  vires.     [L.]     Beyond  one's  powers. 

Extreme,  or  Extreme  term.     (Proportion.) 

Extreme  Unction.  In  the  Latin  Church,  the 
last  of  the  seven  sacraments.  Administered  to 
the  dying,  only  when  all  hope  of  recovery  is 
given  up.  The  oil  is  consecrated  by  a  bishop 
yearly  on  Maunday  Thursday.  (Euchelaion.) 

Extrinsic.  [L.  extrinsecus,  from  withottt.} 
Unessential,  not  given  by  nature,  adventitious, 
coming  from  without ;  correl.  to  Intrinsic. 

Extrusion.  [L.  extrusus,  p.  part,  of  extrudo, 
I  push  out.}  A  thrusting  or  driving  out. 

Ex  ungue  leonem.  [L.]  From  the  claw,  a 
small  but  characteristic  thing,  judge  of  the  lion  ; 
so  Ex  pede  Herctilem,  from  the  foot,  or  foot- 
print, judge  of  Hercules. 

Ex  uno  disce  omnes.  [L.]  From  one  learn 
the  character  of  all. 

Exuviae.  [L.,  from  exuo,  /  divest  myself  of.} 
Originally  the  shed  skin  of  the  snake ;  now 
(Med.,  Bot.,  Geol.)  the  outward  parts  of  animals 
or  plants  which  are  shed,  or  cast  off;  skin, 
shells,  slough,  etc. 

-ey.  Part  of  Anglo-Saxon  names,  =  island, 
as  in  Romn-ey.  (-ea.) 

Eyalet.  [Turk.]  A  Turkish  principality,  a 
district  under  the  government  of  a  pasha  of  the 
first  class. 

Eyas.  [O.E.  nyas,  nias,  Fr.  niais,  stupid, 
silly,  L.  nidacem,  fresh  from  the  nest  (nidus).] 
1.  A  young  hawk  just  taken  from  the  nest.  2. 
An  infant. 

Eye.  (Naut. }  The  loop  of  a  shroud  or  stay 
placed  over  the  mast.  A  collar  generally.  Eyes 
of  a  ship,  or  E.  of  her,  the  foremost  part  in  the 
bows,  the  hawse-holes. 

Eye-glass,  Eye-piece  ;  Erecting  E. ;  Inverting 
E.;  Negative  E. ;  Positive  E.  The  eye-piece  of 
a  telescope  is  the  combination  of  lenses  to  which 
the  eye  is  applied,  and  which  serves  as  a  micro- 
scope for  magnifying  the  image  formed  by  the 
object-glass  or  reflector.  In  astronomical  tele- 
scopes, an  Inverting  E.  (Ramsden's  or  Huy- 


EYET 


201 


FACT 


ghens's)  consisting  of  two  lenses  is  commonly  em- 
ployed ;  the  object  is  seen  through  it  inverted. 
When  Ramsden's  eye-piece  is  used,  the  image  is 
actually  formed  by  the  object-glass  before  it  is 
viewed  by  the  eye-piece,  and  it  is  called  a  Posi- 
tive E.  The  rays  converging  from  the  object- 
glass  are  intercepted  by  Huyghens's  eye-piece 
before  the  image  is  actually  formed,  and  it  is 
called  a  Negative  E.  In  terrestrial  telescopes 
the  eye-piece  commonly  consists  of  four  lenses 
through  which  the  object  is  seen  upright ;  this 
is  an  Erecting  E.  In  some  telescopes  the  image 
formed  by  the  object-glass  is  seen  through  a 
single  lens,  which  is  called  an  Eye-glass. 
Eye-teeth.  The  canine,  or  two  upper  cuspi- 


date, of  which  the  fangs  extend  far  upwards  in 
the  direction  of  the  eye. 

Eyot,  Ait,  Eight.  [Dim.  of  -ey.]  A  small 
island  in  a  river. 

Eyre.  [Fr.,  from  L.  in,  itinere,  on  the  jour - 
ney.~\  Court  of  justices  itinerant. 

Eyry,  more  properly  Aery.     An  eagle's  nest. 

•  [Icel.    ara-hrei&r,  hrerSr  corresponding   to   our 

wreath,   but   used  in  Icelandic   in   the  special 

sense  of  a  nest.     Akin  to  Icel.  are,  an  eagle,  are 

the  Sw.  orn,  A.S.   earn,  heron,  Gr.  dpi/is,  all 

containing  the  root  AR,  to  raise  one's  self.    The 

word  has,  therefore,  nothing  to  do  with  egg,  as 

if  it  were  an  eggery. — Skeat,  Etym.  Diet,  of  Eng. 

\  Lan°.t  s.v.  "Aery."] 


F.  With  the  Romans,  was  used  as  an  abbre- 
viation of  Filius  in  letters  and  inscriptions,  as 
M.  F.  =  Marci  Filius,  son  of  Marcus.  In  Eng. 
usage,  it  was  employed  in  branding,  the  letter 
denoting  the  word."  Felon  :  "  the  custom  was 
abolished  by  law  in  1822. 

F's,  The  three.  Of  the  Irish  Land  League  : 
Fair  rent,  Fixity  of  tenure,  Free  sale. 

Faber  quisque  fortunes  suae.  [L.]  Every 
one  is  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune  (Sallust). 

Fabian  policy.  (Rom.  Hist. )  The  policy  of 
avoiding  engagements,  by  which  Q.  Fabius 
Maximus  is  said  to  have  foiled  Hannibal  in  the 
Second  Punic  War.  (Cunctando.) 

Fables  of  Bidpai,  or  Pilpay.     (Hitopadesa.) 

Fabliaux.  [Fr.]  The  metrical  tales  of  the 
Trouveres,  or  poets  of  the  Langue  d'oil,  or 
northern  French  dialect. 

Fabiila  quanta  fui !  [L.]  What  a  subject  for 
town-talk  have  I  been  I 

Faburden,  i.e.  Faux  bourdon  [Fr.],  or  False 
burdone  [It.].  An  early  method  of  harmonizing 
Plain  Song  (q.v.}.  (Bourdon.) 

Fa9ade.  [Fr.  ;  cf.  It.  facciata,  from  L.  fades, 
front,  face.  ]  The  whole  front  aspect  of  regular 
architectural  building,  the  front  elevation. 

Face.  (Mil.)  Of  a  bastion  in  fortification, 
means  the  two  ramparts  which  meet  in  a  salient 
angle  and  terminate  at  the  shoulders. 

Face  of  a  crystal.  Any  one  of  its  bounding 
planes  ;  a  cleavage-plane  is  always  parallel  to  a 
plane  which  is  or  may  be  a  face  of  a  crystal. 

Face  of  workings.  The  portion  of  a  coal- 
seam  which  is  in  process  of  removal. 

Facetiae.  [L.]  Witty,  humorous  sayings  or 
writings,  pleasantry,  droll  phrases. 

Facets.  [Fr.  facette,  dim.  of  face.]  1.  Small 
faces  or  surfaces  into  which  the  surface  of  a  stone 
is  divided  by  angular  cuttings.  2.  The  faces  of 
a  natural  crystal. 

Facial  angle.  In  Ethn. ,  the  angle  between  a 
straight  line  from  the  opening  of  the  ear  to  the 
bottom  of  the  nose,  and  another  straight  line 
from  the  most  forward  central  point  of  the  fore- 
head to  the  corresponding  point  of  the  upper 


jaw.  The  higher  the  average  cerebral  develop- 
ment in  man,  the  larger  is  the  average  F.  A. 

Fades,  non  uxor,  amatur.  [L.]  Her  face, 
not  the  wife  herself,  is  loved. 

Facile  est  imperium  in  bonis.  [L.]  Ruling 
over  good  people  is  easy. 

Facile  princeps,  [L.]  Easily  first.  Pre- 
eminent. 

Faclli  saevitla  negat.  [L.]  With  good- 
humoured  cruelty  she  refuses  (Horace). 

Facilis  descensus  Averni.    [L.]     (Avernus.) 

Facing-sand.  A  compound  used  for  the  sur- 
faces of  moulds  in  founding. 

Faclnus  majoris  abollse.  [L.]  A  crime  of  a 
longer  cloak,  i.e.  of  a  philosopher. 

Facinus  pulcherrlmum.  [L.]  A  most  noble 
deed. 

Fack.     (Fake.) 

Facon  de  parler.  [Fr.,  a  fashion  of  speaking^ 
A  mere  trick  of  speech. 

Fac-simile.  [L.,  \\t.>make  a  copyJ\  An  exact 
copy,  especially  of  handwriting  or  printed  work. 

Facta  canam,  sed  erunt  qui  me  finxisse  16- 
quantur.  [L.]  /  will  sing  of  facts,  but  there 
will  be  some  to  say  I  have  romanced  (Ovid). 

Factions.  In  the  ancient  games  of  the  Circus, 
parties  distinguished  by  their  colours.  To  the 
earliest,  the  red  and  the  white,  were  added 
afterwards  the  blue  and  the  green  ;  and  the  four 
were  supposed  to  represent  the  four  seasons. 
By  others  the  blue  and  green  were  regarded  as 
denoting  the  conflict  of  the  earth  and  the  sea. 
These  factions  were  causes  of  serious  disturb- 
ances in  Constantinople. — Gibbon,  Roman  Em- 
pire, ch.  xl. 

Factitious.  [L.  facticius,  made  by  art,  from 
factus,  p.  part,  of  facio,  I  make,  do.}  Artificial, 
unnatural. 

Factor;  Prime  F.  [L.,  a  maker.'}  1.  (Math.} 
Numbers  which  when  multiplied  together 
produce  a  number  are  its  factors.  When  they 
are  prime  numbers  they  are  called  its  Prime  F. 
A  number  may  be  divided  into  factors  in  several 
ways,  but  into  prime  factors  in  only  one  way  ; 
e.g.  315  can  be  divided  into  15  x  21,  or  5  X  63, 


FACT 


202 


FALD 


or  45  X  7  ;  but  in  prime  factors  it  is  =  3x3x5x7. 
2.  In  Com.,  an  agent  or  commission  merchant, 
especially  in  foreign  ports.  3.  In  Scotland,  a 
bailiff  or  steward  to  an  estate. 

Factorial.  A  product  whose  factors  are  in 
arithmetical  progression,  as  3  X  5  X  7  X  9,  whose 

F.  is  945. 

Factory.  1.  A  place  where  factors,  i.e.  com- 
mercial agents,  reside.  2.  The  collective  body 
of  such  agents. 

Fac-totum.  [L.,  lit.  do  the  whole.]  One  who 
'performs  service  of  all  kinds. 

Factum.  [L.]  (Leg.)  1.  A  person's  act  and 
deed.  2.  Anything  stated  or  proved. 

Factum  obiit,  moniimenta  manent.  [L.]  The 
event  has  passed  away,  memorials  thereof  remain 
(Ovid) ;  motto  of  London  Numismatic  Society. 

Faculty.  [L.  facultas,  ability,  poiver.]  1. 
Permission,  authority,  privilege.  2.  A  body 
possessed  of  authority  and  privileges;  as  the 
graduates  in  a  special  department  of  learning, 
or  the  members  of  a  learned  profession.  3.  A 
special  department  of  knowledge  or  a  learned 
profession ;  as  the  F.  of  Divinity,  Law,  Medi- 
cine. In  Scotland,  the  Dean  of  F.  is  the  pre- 
sident of  the  F.  of  advocates,  or  barristers. 

Faculty  Court,  The.  Belongs  to  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  ;  not  holding  pleas,  but 
granting  rights  to  pews,  monuments,  etc.,  and 
dispensations  to  marry,  to  eat  flesh  on  prohibited 
days,  to  hold  two  or  more  benefices,  etc. 

Fadaises.  [Fr.]  Nonsense,  rubbish.  Brachet 
derives  Fr.  fade,  insipid,  from  L.  vapidus,  fiat, 
savourless ;  Littre  from  fatuus. 

Fadladeen.  Grand-chamberlain  of  the  harem 
in  Moore's  Lalla  Rookh. 

Faery  Queene.  The  title  of  the  celebrated 
poem  of  Edmund  Spenser,  the  first  part  of 
which  was  presented  to  Queen  Elizabeth  in 
1590.  It  contains  a  double  allegory,  illustrating 
the  triumph  of  Holiness  over  Sin  ;  and  also  that 
of  Truth  over  Falsehood,  in  the  history  of  the 
Reformation. 

Faex  populi.     [L.]    Dregs  of  the  people. 

Fafnir.  In  Northern  Myth.,  the  dragon  who 
guards  Brynhild  and  her  treasure  on  the  glisten- 
ing heath.  (Python;  Volsunga  Saga.) 

Fag.     A  lying  servant  in  Sheridan's  Rivals. 

Faggot  votes.  Votes  obtained  by  splitting  up 
a  property  into  a  number  of  small  holdings  just 
large  enough  to  confer  the  qualification.  When 
this  is  done  by  those  who  pretend  to  have  an 
identity  of  interest  with  the  voters  of  a  consti- 
tuency, though  they  have  none,  only  for  the 
temporary  purpose  of  excluding  a  certain  candi- 
date, the  practice  is  considered  dishonourable. 

Fagin.  An  old  Jew  trainer  of  young  thieves 
in  Dickens's  Oliver  Twist. 

Fagotto.     (Bassoon.) 

Faience  [Fr.],  and  sometimes  Faenza  [It.]. 
Glazed  and  coloured  earthenware,  called  in 
Italy  Majolica;  in  France,  Faience.  (From  a 
town  in  the  province  of  Ravenna,  the  original 
place  of  manufacture.)  Known  also  as  Raphael 
ware,  from  Raffaelo  Ciarla  of  Urbino,  in  the  six- 
teenth century. 

Faikes,  Fakes.     (Geol.)     In    Scot.,  =  shaly 


sandstone,  of  irregular  composition  ;  bituminous 
shale  being  Blaize. 

Faillis.  [Fr.  faillir,  to  fail.]  In  Her.,  a 
fracture  in  an  ordinary,  as  if  a  splinter  were 
taken  from  it. 

Faineant.     [Fr.  ]     Do-nothing. 

Faints.  The  impure  spirit  which  comes  over 
first  and  last  in  distilling  whisky. 

Fairies.  [Fr.  fee,  It.  fata,  from  L.  fatum, 
fate ;  not  connected  seemingly  with  the  Pers. 
peri,  pronounced  by  the  Arabians  feri.]  Ima- 
ginary beings,  belonging  chiefly  to  the  mytho- 
logy of  the  Celtic  tribes  of  Wales,  Scotland, 
and  Ireland.  They  are  small  in  size,  and  are 
sometimes  seen  by  human  eyes.  Mortals  have 
sometimes  been  decoyed  into  fairyland,  as  in 
the  case  of  Thomas  the  Rimer  of  Ercildoune. 

Fairservice,  Andrew.  A  coldly  calculating, 
selfish,  but  somewhat  humorous  Scotch  gardener 
in  Scott's  Rob  Roy. 

Fairway.  (A7auf.)  The  navigable  channel 
of  a  river  or  harbour.  Pilot's  F.,  one  requiring 
a  pilot. 

Fairy  rings.  Green  circles  or  segments  of 
circles  sometimes  seen  in  grass,  caused  by 
agarics  growing  from  a  centre  and  fructifying  at 
the  circumference,  but  popularly  ascribed  to  the 
dancing  of  fairies. 

Fait  accompli.  [Fr.,  accomplished f act. ~\  Some- 
thing definitively  settled  or  achieved. 

Faitour.  [Norm.  Fr.  ;  cf.  O.  Fr.  faiteur,  from 
L.  factor,  doer.]  An  evil-doer. 

Fake,  Fack,  or  Falk.  (JVaut.)  One  of  the 
circles  forming  the  coil  of  a  rope. 

Faking.  The  cutting  of  slits  or  slices  in  a 
dog's  ear,  altering  its  configuration,  often  in  a 
very  slight  degree  indeed ;  a  dishonest  attempt 
to  add  to  the  number  of  points  required  in 
estimating  the  excellence  of  a  dog. 

Fakirs.  [Ar.,  poor.]  In  the  East,  enthusiasts 
who  renounce  the  world  and  give  themselves  up 
to  religious  austerities.  (Dervise.) 

Falbalas.  [Fr.]  Finery,  frippery,  fal-lalls. 
(Furbelow. ) 

Falcated.  [L.  falcatus.]  Shaped  like  a  scythe 
[fal-cem]. 

Falcon.     (Musket.) 

Falconet.  In  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries, 
the  smallest  kind  of  cannon,  the  ball  weighing 
from  one  to  three  pounds,  the  gun  from  five  to 
fifteen  hundredweight. 

Falciila.  [L.,  dim.  of  falx,  sickle.]  (Ornith.) 
The  compressed  curved  talon  of  a  bird  of 
prey.  . 

Faldage.  [L.L.  falda,  a  fold.]  (Leg.}  An- 
ciently, the  privilege  of  setting  up  folds  for  sheep 
in  fields  within  the  limits  of  a  manor,  for  the 
purpose  of  manuring  them. 

Faldistory.  [L.  faldist5rium.]  The  bishop's 
seat  or  throne,  in  the  chancel ;  the  chair  in 
which  he  sits  to  address  the  candidates  at  or- 
dinations. 

Faldstool.  [L.L.  faldestolium,  perhaps  from 
L.L.  falda,  a  fold.]  A  small  desk  at  which  the 
Litany  is  recited.  (Fauteuil.) 

Faldworth.  (Leg.)  One  of  age  to  be  reckoned 
in  a  tithing  or  decennary  (q.v.). 


FALE 


203 


FANN 


Faiernian  wine.  Of  the  Falernian  district  in 
Campania  ;  highly  prized  in  ancient  Rome. 

Falk.     (Fake.) 

Falkland.  Hero  of  W.  Godwin's  novel  Caleb 
Williams,  driven  by  passionate  love  of  fame  to 
crimes  revolting  to  his  nature. 

Falk  laws.  (Dr.  F.,  minister  of  justice.)  In 
Prussia,  in  1873,  made  the  sanction  of  the  State 
necessary  for  the  exercise  of  all  religious  func- 
tions ;  and  required,  before  ordination  by  a 
bishop,  an  examination  implying  previous  educa- 
tion at  a  public  university  ;  so  as  to  keep  out  of 
the  Church  foreign  or  other  anti-national 
tendencies. 

Fall.  The  fall  of  the  leaf ;  autumn. — Bartlett's 
A  mericanisms. 

Fall,  a  fall !  The  whaler's  cry  when  a  whale 
is  harpooned. 

Fallacior  undis.  [L.]  More  treacherous  than 
the  waves. 

Fallacy.  [L.  fallacia,  from  fallo,  /  deceive.'} 
In  Log.  and  Rhet. ,  any  argument  which  pro- 
fesses to  settle  a  question  while  really  it  does 
not.  Logical  fallacies  are  strictly  those  only 
which  are  so  in  dictione,  in  the  words,  i.e.  in 
which  the  conclusion  does  not  follow  from  the 
premisses.  If  the  premisses  themselves  are  un- 
sound, the  fallacy  is  said  to  be  extra  dictionem, 
i.e.  in  the  matter,  and  thus  to  be  beyond  the 
province  of  logic. 

Fal-lalls.     Bits  of  finery. 

Falling  off.  (Naut.)  The  turning  of  a  ship's 
head  to  leeward,  especially  when  sailing  near 
the  wind  or  lying  by  ;  the  opposite  of  Griping, 
or  Coming  up  to  the  wind. 

Falling  sickness.     Popular  name  for  epilepsy. 

Falling  star.     (Aerolitli.) 

Fallitur  augurio  spes  bona  saepe  suo,  [L.] 
Fair  hope  is  often  cheated  by  its  own  augury 
(Ovid). 

Fall  of  a  tackle.  (Naut. )  The  loose  end ; 
i.e.  the  end  one  hauls  upon. 

Fallor?  an  arma  sonant?  [L.]  Am  I  mis- 
taken ?  or  do  1  hear  the  clash  of  arms  ?  (Ovid). 

Fallow.  [A.S.  fealu,  yellowish;  cf.  pale,  L. 
pallidus.]  Originally  land  left  for  a  year  with- 
out cropping,  and  without  culture  beyond  one  or 
two  ploughings ;  now  generally  represented  by 
turnips  and  clover,  or  dispensed  with.  (Rotation 
of  crops.) 

False  keel.  (Naut.}  An  additional  keel 
below  the  main  one. 

False  kelson,  or  Kelson  rider.  (Naut.}  A 
piece  of  timber  fastened  lengthways  to  and 
above  the  main  kelson. 

False  ribs.  In  Anat,  the  five  inferior,  of 
which  the  last  two  are  the  floating  ribs. 

False  stratification,  Drift  bedding.  In  Geol.  ; 
so  called  when  a  stratum  is  made  up  of  smaller 
beds  [L.  stratula]  set  oblique  to  its  upper  and 
lower  horizontal  planes,  by  the  shifting  tides  and 
deposition  of  sand  over  a  bank  or  beach  edge 
from  a  higher  to  a  lower  level. 

Falsi  crimen.  [L.]  (Leg.)  Fraudulent  subor- 
nation or  concealment  with  intent  to  deceive,  as 
by  perjury,  false  writing,  or  cheating  by  false 
weights  and  measures. 


Falstaff,  Sir  John.  A  fat,  sensual,  cowardly, 
humorous  braggart  in  Shakespeare's  Merry 
Wives  of  Windsor  and  Henry  IV. 

Falsum  in  uno,  falsnm  in  omni.  [L.  ]  False 
in  one  point,  false  in  all. 

Fama  nihil  est  celerius.  [L.]  Nothing  is 
swifter  than  rumour  (Livy). 

Fames  optimum  condimentum.  [L.]  Hunger 
is  the  best  sauce. 

Familiar.  [L.  familiaris,  from  fatmlia, 
family.'}  An  attendant  demon  or  evil  spirit. 

Familiars  of  the  Inquisition.  Officers  and 
assistants  of  the  L,  often  from  the  nobility,  to 
whom  great  privileges  were  granted  for  appre- 
hension of  accused  persons  ;  the  king  himself 
being  protector  of  the  order. 

Familists,  Family  of  Love.  Enthusiasts  of 
the  latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  century,  an  off- 
shoot of  Dutch  Anabaptists;  who  denied  Christ's 
Person,  the  Resurrection,  etc.,  interpreting 
Scripture  mystically. 

Family  Compact.  A  treaty,  signed  at  Ver- 
sailles, August,  1761,  between  Louis  XV.  and 
Charles  III.  of  Spain,  as  a  mutual  guarantee 
of  protection ;  no  one  external  to  the  house  of 
Bourbon  was  to  be  admitted. 

Fan.  (Meek.)  A  leaf  of  a  wheel  whose 
revolution  produces  a  current  of  air. 

FanaL  [Fr.,  from  L.L.  fanale,  Gr.  <t>av6s, 
bright.}  A  lighthouse  or  its  light. 

Fanatic.  [L.  fanaticus,  from  fanum,  a  temple. ,] 
A  word  applied  at  first  to  priests  of  Cybele  or 
other  deities,  who  performed  their  rites  with 
extravagant  wildness.  Hence  zealots  or  bigots 
in  religion.  (Bacchanalian.) 

Fancy  stocks.  A  species  of  stocks  which  are 
bought  and  sold  to  a  great  extent  in  New  York. 
Unlike  articles  of  merchandise,  which  may  be 
seen  and  examined  by  the  dealer,  and  which 
always  have  an  intrinsic  value  in  every  fluctua- 
tion of  the  market,  these  stocks  are  wholly 
wrapped  in  mystery.  No  one  knows  anything 
about  them  except  the  officers  and  directors  of 
the  companies,  who,  from  their  position,  are  not 
the  most  likely  men  to  tell  the  truth.  They 
serve  no  other  purpose,  therefore,  than  as  the 
representative  of  value  in  stock  gambling. 
Nearly  all  the  fluctuations  in  their  prices  are 
artificial.  — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Fandango.  [Sp.]  4  lively  Spanish  dance, 
in  f  or  f  time,  the  dancers  wearing  castanets ; 
probably  brought  into  Europe  by  the  Arabians, 
to  whom  it  was  known  in  remote  ages. 

Fanfare.  [Fr.,  from  Sp.  fanfa,  bragging.'] 
A  flourish  of  trumpets.  Fanfaronade,  bragging. 

Fanfaron.  [Fr.,  Sp.  fanfarron.]  Swaggerer, 
boaster,  bully,  blusterer.  (Fanfare.) 

Fang.  1.  A  sheriff's  officer  in  Shakespeare's 
Henry  IV.,  pt.  ii.  2.  A  niche  in  the  side  of 
an  adit  or  shaft  for  ventilation. 

Fang,  With  the.  [A.S.  fang,  a  taking  or 
thing  taken;  cf.  Ger.  fang  and  v.  fangen.] 
With  the  stolen  property  on  his  person.  The 
phrase  was  once  common,  and  is  still  used,  in 
Scotland. 

Fanning-machine ;  F.-mill.  A  machine  for 
separating  chaff  from  grain. 


FANT 


204 


FATH 


Fantasia.  [It.,  fancy,  imagination,  Gr. 
<pavraffia.]  In  Music,  much  the  same  as  Capriccio 
(g.v.),  but  generally  involving  more  execution. 

Fantoccini.  [It.]  Puppets  which  move  by 
machinery  so  as  to  act  dramatic  scenes  ;  a  set  of 
marionettes. 

Fantods.  (Nattt.)  Crotchety  orders,  fancies, 
of  officers,  nicknamed  jib-and-staysail-jacks. 

Fan  vaulting.  (Arch. )  A  form  of  vaulting, 
much  used  in  the  Perpendicular  or  Continuous 
style  of  English  architecture,  the  ribs  radiating 
like  a  fan  from  the  spring  of  the  vault.  The 
finest  specimens  are  those  .of  King's  College 
Chapel,  Cambridge,  and  Henry  VI I.  's  Chapel, 
Westminster. 

Faraday's  wheel.    (Phenakistosoope.) 

Farandole.  [Fr.,  from  Prov.  farandolo,  from 
Sp.  farandula,  comic  acting.']  A  popular  dance 
of  Provence  and  neighbouring  parts  of  Italy  ; 
lively,  and  sometimes  associated  with  great 
popular  excitement. 

Farcy,  in  horses.  [L.  farcio,  /  cram."]  Inflam- 
mation, with  ulceration  of  the  absorbent  glands 
and  vessels  of  one  or  both  hind  limbs  ;  infectious, 
and  generally  an  accompaniment  of  glanders. 

Fardel-bag.  [Fr.  fardeau,  burden.']  The  third 
stomach  of  ruminants,  in  which  the  food  is  fully 
softaned. 

Farding-deal,  i.q.  Farthing-deal.  [(?)  From 
A.  S.  feor%ung,  fourth  part.}  The  fourth  part 
of  an  acre  of  land  ;  also  corr.  into  Farundel. 

Fare-crofts.  (Naut.)  Vessels  formerly  plying 
between  England  and  France. 

Farina.     {L.,  flour.]     Starch. 

Farleu.  1.  (Leg.)  Money  paid  in  lieu  of  a 
heriot  (q.v . ).  2.  Often  the  best  chattel  as  dis- 
tinguished from  the  best  head  of  cattle. 

Farmer  George.  A  nickname  of  George  III., 
fi-om  his  plain  dress,  homely  manners,  and  saving 
habits. 

Faro.    An  old  game  of  cards. 

Farouche.     [Fr.]     Shy,  -wild. 

Farrago.     (Olla  podrida.) 

Farse.  [L.  farsus,  p.  of  farcio,  I  stuff  up] 
Explanations  in  the  vernacular  tongue,  intro- 
duced into  various  parts  of  the  offices  of  the 
Latin  Church,  as  the  Kyrie,  the  Epistle,  etc. 

Farthingale.  [O.Fr.  verdugalle,  vertugalle, 
Sp.  vertugado,  from  verdugo,  a  rod  or  shoot  of  a 
tree,  Sp.  verde,  L.  viridis,  green.]  A  hooped 
petticoat,  a  set  of  hoops  to  make  the  petticoat 
stand  out,  something  like  a  crinoline. 

Farthing-land.  (Farding-deal.)  A  measured 
portion  of  land,  quantity  not  known. 

Farundel.    (Farding-deal.) 

Faryndon  Inn.   An  old  name  of  Serjeants'  Inn. 

Fasces  and  Secures.  [L.]  (Hist.)  Bundles 
of  wooden  rods,  with  an  iron  axe  protruding  from 
them;  an  ensign  of  authority  of  the  superior 
Roman  magistrates,  carried  before  them  by 
officers  called  Lictors. 

Fascet.  An  iron  rod  on  which  glass  bottles 
are  carried  to  the  annealing  furnace. 

Fascia.  [L.,  band,  bandage.]  In  Anat,  a 
tendinous  expansion  or  covering  of  the  muscles. 
Fasciation,  a  bandaging.  Fasciate  (Bot.), 
banded. 


Fascicled,  Fascicular,  Fasciculated.  [L.  fascis, 
a  bundle,  dim.  fasciculus.]  United  or  growing 
in  bundles,  tufts  ;  e.g.  the  roots  of  a  dahlia. 

Fasciculus.  [L.]  A  little  bundle ;  hence  any 
small  collection  of  things  which  may  be  thought 
of  as  tied  together,  such  as  writings,  etc. 

Fascination.  [L.  fascmatio,  fascino,  Gr. 
PaffKaivw,  /  enchant,  akin  to  ^rj/J.]  The  sup- 
posed influence  of  the  evil  eye ;  but,  more 
properly,  charming  through  incantations. 

Fascine.  [Fr.,  from  L.  fascis,  plu.  fasces,  a 
btindle  of  sticks.]  (Mil.)  Faggot  of  brushwood 
for  forming  the  revetment  to  support  earth. 

Fas  est  et  ab  hoste  doceri.  [L.]  //  is  lawful 
to  be  taught  even  by  a  foe. 

Fast.     (Evens.) 

Fast  and  loose  pulleys.  Two  pulleys  set  side 
by  side,  one  fast  and  the  other  loose,  on  a  shaft 
driven  from  another  shaft  by  means  of  a  band. 
When  the  band  is  shifted  by  a  fork  from  the  fast 
to  the  loose  pulley,  it  no  longer  turns  the  shaft ; 
and  vice  versa. 

Fasten-penny,  Fessen-penny.  The  money, 
usually  a  shilling,  given  by  the  farmer  to  fasten 
the  engagement  of  a  servant  hired  at  a  Mop  (q.v.). 

Fastern's  Eve.  A  Scotch  name  for  Shrove 
Tuesday. 

Fasti.  [L.]  1.  (Hist.)  The  records  of  the 
ancient  Roman  state.  2.  The  poem  of  Ovid, 
so  called,  gave  an  account  of  the  Roman  year. 
3.  Sc.  dies,  days  on  which  legal  business  could 
be  transacted.  4.  A  calendar,  almanack. 

Fastigiate.  [L.  fastigium,  a  top, gable.]  (Bot.) 
Narrowing  towards  the  top,  as  the  Irish  yew. 

Fatal  children.  In  folk-lore,  a  group  of 
children,  often  born  immediately  before  the 
death  of  their  mothers,  destined  to  bring  ruin 
on  their  parents,  and  to  rise  to  greatness  or 
sovereignty. 

Fata  Morgana.  [It.]  A  phenomenon  of 
mirage,  supposed  to  be  brought  about  by  the 
queen  of  the  fairies,  the  Morgan  le  Fay  of  the 
Arthurian  legends  and  the  story  of  Olger  the 
Dane. 

Fata  obstant.  [L.]  The  Fates  stand  in  the 
•way. 

Fata  volentem  ducunt,  nolentem  trahunt. 
[L.]  The  Fates  lead  the  "willing,  drag  the  un- 
willing. 

Fates.  [L.  fatum,  the  spoken  word.]  In 
Myth.,  the  beings  who  determine  the  destiny  of 
men.  They  were  supposed  to  be  three — Clotho, 
the  spinner  ;  Lachesis,  the  allotter ;  and  Atropos, 
the  unchangeable,  who  cuts  the  thread  of  human 
life.  By  the  Greeks  they  were  called  Moerae; 
by  the  Latins,  Parcse,  pitiful.  (Eumenides; 
Euphemism;  Norns.) 

Fatetur  facinus  is  qui  judicium  fiigit.  [L.] 
He  acknowledges  guilt  who  flees  from  trial. 

Father.  (Naut.)  He  who  constructs  a  ship 
for  the  navy. 

Father  of  Equity,  The.  Lord  Nottingham. 
(Chancery.) 

Father  of  History.  Herodotus,  Greek  his- 
torian, born  B.C.  484,  at  Halicarnassus,  in  Caria. 
He  describes  the  struggle  for  supremacy  between 
the  Persians  and  the  Greeks. 


FATH 


205 


FECU 


Fathom.  [A.S.  faethm,  D.  vadem.]  A 
measure  of  length  =  two  yards. 

Fathom,  Count  Ferdinand.  The  villain  of 
Smollett's  novel  of  that  name. 

Fatidical.  [L.  fatidicus,  from  fatum,  destiny, 
and  root  of  dico,  I  tell."]  Prophetic,  foretelling. 

Fatigue  duty.  [L.  fatigo,  I  weary.']  (Mil.) 
Any  duty  entailing  labour,  other  than  military, 
upon  a  soldier. 

Fatiloquist.  [From  fatiloquens,  from  fatum, 
fate,  and  loquor,  /  speak.]  A  foreteller  of 
destiny,  a  fortune-teller. 

Fatlmites.  Caliphs  reigning  in  Egypt,  claim- 
ing descent  from  Ali,  A.D.  910-1171.  (Shiahs.) 

Fatlute.  A  mixture  of  pipe-clay  and  linseed 
oil.  (Luting.) 

Fattore.  [It.]  A  bailiff  or  steward  to  an 
estate  ;  the  Scottish  factor. 

Fatuous.    [L.  fatuus.]    Silly,  senseless. 

Faubourg.  [Fr.,  suburb.}  A  corr.  of  for- 
bourg  [L.L.  foris  burgum],  the  part  outside 
the  city  wall. 

Faucal.  [From  L.  fauces,  plu.,  opening  of  the 
throat,  pharynx]  (Lang.)  Articulated  in  the 
pharynx,  or  top  of  the  larynx,  above  the  vocal 
chords ;  as  the  splritus  lenis,  or  deep  gutturals  ; 
e.g.  the  Heb.  caph. 

Fauces.  [L.]  The  opening  of  the  mouth  into 
the  pharynx. 

Faucet.  [Fr.  fausset ;  origin  unknown.]  A 
tube  for  drawing  liquor  from  a  cask. 

Fault.  (Geol.)  Any  fissure  in  a  rocky  crust, 
accompanied  with  a  raising  or  a  lowering  of 
strata  on  either  side.  (Dislocations.) 

Faun.    (Fauna.) 

Fauna.  A  name  derived  from  the  Fauns,  o» 
rural  deities  of  Rom.  Myth.,  and  used  to 
denote  the  animals  peculiar  to  a  country. 

Fausse-braie.  [Fr.,  false  coat,\\i.  breeches,  L. 
bracae.]  (Fortif.)  A  work  of  low  relief,  with 
parapet,  constructed  on  exterior  of  rampart  of 
enceinte  of  fortress,  to  give  a  grazing  fire. 

Fausse  Riviere.  [Fr.,  false  river.'}  A  lake 
of  Louisiana,  once  the  bed  of  the  Mississippi, 
which,  about  1714,  took  a  shorter  course  to  the 
sea. 

Faust.  Goethe's  student,  who  makes  a  com- 
pact with  the  devil  Mephistopheles,  to  regain  a 
period  of  youth  and  sensual  gratification. 

Fausted.  Refuse  lead  ore  reserved  for  another 
dressing. 

Faustus,  Dr.  Marlowe's  sorcerer,  a  vulgar 
Faust,  with  the  addition  of  a  familiar  spirit. 

Faute  de  mieux.  \¥r.,for  want  of  something 
better.]  Failing  some  better  arrangement. 

Fauteuil  [Fr.],  formerly  Faudesteuil  [L.L. 
faldestolium].  1.  An  armchair.  2.  A  seat  in 
the  French  Academy.  (Faldstool.) 

Fautor.  [L.,  from  faveo,  I  favour.}  A  sup- 
porter or  abettor. 

Fauvette.  [Fr.  fauve,  Ger.  falb ;  its  colour 
being  light  brown,  inclining  to  olive.]  Garden 
warbler,  small  olive-brown  migratory  bird. 
Curruca  hortensis,  sub-fam.  Silviinse,  fam.  Sil- 
viadae,  ord.  Passeres. 

Faux  pas.  [Fr.,  L.  falsus  passus,  false  step.} 
A  mistake,  an  ill-bred  act  or  speech. 


Favel,  To  curry,  is  to  curry  the  chestnut 
horse ;  to  pay  particular  attention  to  one 
with  whom  we  would  stand  well ;  corr.  into 
"  currying  favour."  Fdvel  [Fr.]  is  =  chestnut 
horse  ;  and  curry  is  the  Fr.  corroyer,  to  curry 
(leather),  from  Fr.  corroi,  L.L.  conredium,  a 
hybrid  word,  =  cum,  with,  and  redum,  arrange- 
ment ;  cf.  Flem.  reden,  to  arrange,  and  A.S. 
rgedan,  to  regulate. 

Faveolate,  Favose.  Honeycombed  [L.  favus, 
a  honeycomb}. 

Favete  linguis.  [L.]  Lit.  favour  with  yout 
tongues ;  i.e.  be  silent,  so  as  to  utter  nothing  un- 
propitious  during  a  religious  solemnity. 

Favour,  To  curry.    (Favel.) 

Fawn.  [Fr.  faon,  originally  the  young  of  any 
beast ;  formerly  feon,  L.  fcetonem,  from  foetus, 
brood.]  (Deer,  Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Fay,  Fairy.     Elf,  sprite.     (Fairies.) 

Fay,  To.  (Naut.)  To  join  pieces  of  wood 
with  no  perceptible  space  between  them. 

Fay-fena.  (Naut. )  A  galley  of  Japan,  carrying 
thirty  oars. 

Faytour.     (Faitour.) 

Feal  and  dust  (Scot.  Law),  =  Eng.  right  of 
turbary  for  fuel,  and  turf  for  roofing. 

Feal  and  leal.  (Leg. )  Faithful  and  loyal,  as 
tenants  by  knight's  service  swore  to  be  to  their 
lords.  [Feal  is  O.Fr.,  from  L.  fidelis, /«&&/«/.] 

Fearn.     (Naut.)    The  windlass  of  a  lighter. 

Fearnaught,  or  Dreadnaught.  (Naut.)  A 
stout,  woollen  felt,  used  for  port  linings,  etc. 

Feast  of  Fools.     (Fools,  Feast  of.) 

Feast  of  Weeks.    (Pentecost.) 

Feateous.  [O.Fr.  faitice,  fetis,  well  made, 
from  L.  facticms,  made  by  art]  Dexterous, 
skilful,  neat. 

Feather,    [Ger.  feder,  Gr.  vrepov,  a  feather] 

1.  A  ridge  on  an  axle  fitting  a  groove  in  the 
eye  of  a  wheel,  to  ensure  their  turning  together. 

2.  (Naut.}     A  vessel  cuts  a  feather  when  she 
makes  the  water  fly  F.  fashion  from  her  bow. 
To  F.  an  oar,  in  rowing,  is  to  turn  it  horizontally 
when  clear  of  the  water. 

Feather,  White,    (White  feather.) 

Featly.  [From  O.E.  feat,  O.Fr.  fait,  well 
made,  neat,  from  L.  factus,  p.  part,  of  facio,  I 
make.  ]  Dexterously,  skilfully,  gracefully,  neatly, 
prettily. 

Feaze,  To.  (Naut.}  To  untwist  a  rope,  to 
make  it  into  oakum. 

Febrifuge.  [L.  febris,  fez>er,  and  fiigo,  I  put 
to  flight.]  (Med.)  That  which  drives  away  or 
mitigates  fever. 

Februation.  [L.  februatio,  -nem.]  Purifi- 
cation. 

Fecket.     (Naut.)     A  guernsey. 

Fecula.  (Bot.)  1.  Starchy,  nutritious  sub- 
stance of  tubers,  as  potato,  arrowroot.  [L. 
faecula,  dim.  of  faex,  sediment,  salt  of  tartar, 
deposited  as  a  crust  and  used  as  a  drug  (Horace, 
Sat.  II.  viii.  9).]  2.  Any  kind  of  starch.  3. 
Chlorophyll,  the  green  colouring  matter  of 
plants. 

Fecund!  calices  quern  non  fecere  disertum? 
[L.]  Whom  have  not  brimming  cups  made  elo- 
quent ?  (Horace). 


FEDE 


206 


FEMO 


Fedelini.     [It.]    A  small  kind  of  vermicelli. 

Federal  currency.  The  legal  currency  of  the 
United  States.  Its  coins  are  :  The  gold  eagle  of 
ten  dollars;  the  double-eagle,  twenty  dollars; 
half  and  quarter  eagles,  of  proportionate  value. 
The  silver  dollar,  of  one  hundred  cents  ;  its  half, 
quarter,  tenth,  and  twentieth  parts.  The  coin 
of  ten  cents  in  value  is  called  a  dime  ;  that  of  five 
cents,  a  half-dime.  The  lowest  coin  in  common 
use  was  the  copper,  now  supplanted  by  the 
nickel,  cent.  Half-cent  coins  have  been  made, 
but  few  or  none  of  late  years. — Bartlett's  Ameri- 
canisms. 

Federal  government.  [L.  fsedus,  a  treaty, .] 
A  government  by  the  union  of  several  states, 
each  of  which  surrenders  a  portion  of  its  sove- 
reign power  to  the  central  authority  ;  as  that  of 
the  Swiss  cantons. — Freeman,  Hist,  of  Fed. 
Government. 

Federals.  Name  of  the  loyal  Americans  in 
the  civil  war  of  North  against  South,  1861-1866. 

Fee.  [O.Fr.  fie,  fiee,  fieu,  fief,  fied,  fief, 
feu,  feod,  feud.~\  (Leg.)  1.  Property,  pos- 
session. 2.  A  fief,  a  manor  held  in  possession 
by  some  tenant  of  a  superior.  3.  An  estate  of 
inheritance  held  ultimately  from  the  Crown.  4. 
In  America,  an  estate  transmissible  to  heirs 
held  absolutely. 

Fee.  [A.S.  feoh,  cattle;  cf.  Goth,  faihu, 
money,  O.H.G.  vihu,  beast,  money,  L.  pecus, 
pgcu,  head  of  cattle,  peciilium,  small  private  pro- 
perty held  by  husband's,  father's,  or  master's 
consent,  pecunia,  money,  riches.']  1.  Remunera- 
tion for  professional  services,  hon5rarium.  2. 
A  perquisite,  a  douceur  paid  to  officers  or 
servants. 

Fee-base.    (Base-fee.) 

Feed;  F.-heater;  F.-motion;  F.-pipe;  F.- 
pump.  In  Mech.,  to  feed  a  machine  is  to  supply 
it  with  the  material  on  which  it  operates.  A  F. 
or  a  F.-motion  is  the  part  of  the  machine  which 
brings  the  material  up  to  the  working  point. 
In  the  steam-engine,  the  F.-pipe  supplies  the 
boiler  with  water,  which  is  raised  by  a  F.  -pump, 
in  most  cases  from  a  F.-heater,  i.e.  a  reservoir 
in  which  the  water  is  heated  by  waste  steam. 

Feeder.    (Float.) 

Feeding-part  of  a  tackle.  (Na^tt.)  The  part 
which  runs  through  the  block ;  opposed  to  Stand- 
ing-part. 

Feed  of  grass.  (Naut.)  Supply  of  vege- 
tables. 

Fee-farm  rent.  (Leg.)  Rent  reserved  on 
granting  an  estate  in  fee,  of  at  least  a  fourth  of 
the  annual  value  of  the  lands  at  the  time  of 
reservation. 

Feel  the  helm,  To.  (Naut.)  Spoken  of  a 
ship  when  she  steers  quickly ;  also  when  she 
gets  enough  way  on  to  answer  the  helm. 

Fee-simple.  (Leg.)  A  freehold  estate  of 
inheritance  absolute  and  unqualified,  enjoyable 
in  all  hereditaments  as  well  as  in  personaltv. 
(Fee.) 

Fee-tail.     [L.L.  feodum  talliatum.]     A  free- 
hold estate  limited  to  a  particular  line  of  descent. 
Feigned  diseases.     (Med.)    Real,  but  volun- 
tarily induced  or  aggravated. 


Fel-.     (Field.) 

Felicitate.  [L.L.  fellcitare.]  To  wish  a  per- 
son joy,  as  one  may  even  wish  for  a  successful 
rival ;  to  congratulate  [congratulari]  being  to 
unite  cordially  in  the  joy. 

Felidae.  [L.  felis,  cat.'}  (Zool.)  Digitigrade 
carnivora  of  the  cat  kind,  specially  distinguished 
by  retractile  claws  and  lacerating  teeth,  ranging 
from  the  cat  to  the  lion  and  tiger.  Found 
everywhere,  except  W.  Indies,  Madagascar  and 
adjacent  islands,  Australasia,  and  Polynesia. 

Felix  faustumque  sit.  [L.]  May  it  be  happy 
and  blest. 

Fell.  [Goth,  filla,  A.S.  fel,  fell,  Ger.  fell, 
L.  pellis,  Gr.  ire'AAa,  from  palna.]  Skin,  hide 
of  a  beast. 

Fell.  [Ger.  fels,  Dan.  fjald,  mountain,  ro&k.~\ 
A  barren,  rocky  hill. 

•fell.  Part  of  names  of  hills  [of  Norw.  origin, 
from  a  form  akin  to  fjeld,  hillside,  as  in  Snae- 
fell]. 

Fellah,  plu.  Fellahin,  Fellaheen.  A  peasant  in 
Egypt,  a  cultivator  of  Egyptian  soil. 

Fellmonger,    formerly   called  also  a  Glover. 
A.S.  fel,  a  ski;i;  cf.  L,  pellis,  Gr.    TrcAAa,    a 
<,ide.~\     One  who  prepared  skins  for  the  leather- 
dresser,  by  separating  the  wool  from  the  hide. 

Fellow.  [Perhaps  O.E.  felau,  Norse  felagi,  a 
partner  in  goo.ls."]  The  title  of  members,  or  the 
higher  members,  of  colleges  in  the  universities, 
who  form  the  governing  body  of  the  college, 
and  divide  a  large  portion  of  its  net  revenues. 
Hence,  generally,  the  members  of  any  society. 

Fellow-commoner,  in  Cambridge,  or  Gentle- 
man commoner,  at  Oxford.  A  resident  in 
college,  in  statu  pupilldri,  allowed  on  payment 
of  extra  college  fees  to  live  at  the  Masters  of 
Arts',  etc.,  or  Fellows'  table;  now  almost  ex- 
tinct in  both  universities. 

Fellowship.  In  Arith.,  a  rule  for  dividing 
profits  and  losses  amongst  partners. 

Felly.     [Ger.  felge.]     The  rim  of  a  wheel. 

Felo  de  se.  [L.,  felon  concerning  himself, ] 
(Leg.)  One  who  commits  suicide,  being  of 
sound  mind. 

Felspar.  [(?)  Ger.  feld-spath,  field-spar,  i.e. 
found  on  the  ground  ;  or  fels-rock,  as  being 
common  in  granite  or  on  mountains.]  (Geol.) 
A  very  abundant  mineral,  silicate  of  alumina 
with  soda,  potash,  lime  ;  of  various  colours  ;  an 
ingredient  of  nearly  all  igneous  and  of  many 
metamorphic  rocks. 

Felstone,  Felsite.  A  rock  composed  wholly 
or  largely  of  felspar. 

Felucca.  [Ar.]  (Naut.)  1.  A  narrow-decked 
vessel  of  the  Mediterranean,  with  one,  two,  or 
three  masts,  carrying  lateen  sails.  2.  A  small 
Mediterranean  craft,  with  six  or  eight  oars, 
in  which  the  helm  may  be  shipped  at  either 
end. 

Femme-couverte  [Leg.  Fr.],  also  Feme- 
covert.  Married  woman.  (Covert-baron.) 

Femme  sole.       [Leg.    Fr.]      Single  woman, 
spinster,  or  widow. 
Femora.     (Triglyph.) 

Femoral.  [L.  femur,  the  thigh.]  (Anat.) 
Relating  to  the  thigh-bone. 


FENG 


207 


FETL 


Fence-month.  (Leg.)  Fawning-month  of  deer, 
when  they  may  not  be  hunted. 

Fence-time,  or  Close-time.  The  breeding-time 
of  fish  or  game,  when  they  should  not  or  must 
not  be  caught  or  killed. 

Fencible.  ( Mil. )  Soldiers  formerly  enrolled 
for  a  limited  time  for  service  in  a  particular 
country  ;  f.g.  Malta  Fencibles. 

Fencing.  Buying  stolen  goods  much  below 
their  value.  Fence,  one  who  so  buys  them. 

Fenders.      [Abbrev.  for  defender s.~\     (Naut.) 

1.  Planks  placed  to   prevent  the  chafing  of  a 
ship's  sides   by  things  being  hoisted  on  board. 

2.  Pieces  of  old  cable,  etc.,  put  over  the  side  to 
prevent  one  vessel  from  touching  another,  or  the 
side  of  a  dock,  etc. 

Fend  off,  To.  (Naut. )  To  keep  a  vessel  from 
coming  into  contact  with  anything,  by  means  of 
spars,  fenders,  etc.  Fend  the  boat,  keep  her  off 
the  ship's  side. 

Feneration.  [L.  feneratio,  -nem,  from  feneror, 
I  lend  on  interest  (fenus).}  Lending  on  interest, 
usury. 

Fenestrae.  [L.,  windows.}  (Anat.)  Of  the 
ear,  two  holes  in  the  cavity  of  the  tympanum. 

Fenestral.  [From  L.  fenestra,  window.}  Of 
or  pertaining  to  windows  or  a  window. 

Fenians.  [Perhaps  from  Finn  (Fingal)  and 
his  Feni,  a  militia.]  An  association  of  Irishmen 
formed  in  America,  in  1865,  with  the  professed 
purpose  of  separating  Ireland  from  England. 

Fenks.  The  refuse  of  whale-blubber,  used  in 
making  Prussian  blue. 

Fenris.     In  Myth.    (Loki.) 

Fens.  [A.S.  fen,  Goth,  fani,  O.H.G.  fenna, 
marsh,  mud.]  Marshy  land,  especially  the  re- 
claimed marsh-land  of  W.  Norfolk,  N.  Cam- 
bridgeshire, S.E.  Lincolnshire,  intersected  by 
the  rivers  Cam  and  Ouse,  Nen  and  Welland. 

Feoffee.  [Fr.  feoffe.]  (Fee.)  One  to  whom 
a  corporeal  hereditament  is  "given,  granted,  and 
enfeoffed." 

Ferae  naturae.  [L.,  of  wild  nature.}  Wild 
animals,  as  rabbits,  hares,  deer,  game,  and 
savage  kinds  of  beasts ;  they  are  not  absolute 
property,  but  landowners  or  privileged  person* 
have  a  qualified  property  in  them  while  they 
remain  within  the  limits  of  their  land  or  liberty. 

Feral  [L.  feralis,  from  fera,  wild  animal.] 
Wild  descendants  of  domesticated  spec. 

Feriae,  [L.]  1.  (Hist.)  Latin  for  festivals. 
The  most  important  were  the  Feriae  Latinse, 
celebrated  on  the  Alban  Mount  by  all  the  Latin 
states.  2.  (Eccl. )  In  the  Latin  Church,  any  days 
which  are  not  feasts  ;  ordinary  weekdays. 

Ferial.  [From  feriae,  holidays.']  In  the  Latin 
Church,  not  festive,  of  or  pertaining  to  non- 
festal  days. 

Feriation.  [L.  feriatus,  keeping  holiday.}  A 
keeping  holiday. 

Feridun.    (Zohak.) 

Feringhee.  The  Oriental  name  for  European  : 
probably  from  the  Varingii,  Hearings,  Norsemen 
who  took  service  at  Constantinople  under  the 
Byzantine  emperors  ;  or,  as  some  think,  from 
the  Franks. 

Fernan-bag.     (Naut.)     1.  A  small  ditty-bag, 


used  for  carrying  tobacco,  etc.     2.  A  monkey's 
pouch. 

Ferracute.  A  pagan  giant  of  chivalric 
romance,  slain  by  Orlando. 

Ferrara.  A  kind  of  sword  made  at  F.,  in 
Italy ;  an  Andrew  F.  being  one  of  the  make  of 
Andria  di  F.,  especially  prized. 

Ferret.  1.  [Heb.  anaza,  in  Lev.  xi.  30.]  (Bibl.) 
Unidentified  ;  perhaps  a  lizard.  2.  [Fr.  for  a  tag, 
dim.  offer,  iron.]  The  iron  used  to  try  whether 
molten  glass  is  fit  for  working.  3.  A  narrow 
kind  of  tape. 

Ferretto.  [It.  ferretto  di  Spagna,  little  iron  of 
Spain.}  Copper  calcined  with  brimstone  or 
white  vitriol. 

Ferric  salts.  [L.  ferrum,  iron.}  (Chem.) 
Salts  containing  iron.  Ferrous  contain  a  larger 
proportion  of  iron  than  ferric  salts. 

Ferrotype.  [L.  ferrum,  iron,  Gr.  TUTTOS, 
type]  A  photograph  taken  with  ferrous  salts. 

Ferruginous.  [L.  ferruginous,  from  ferrugo, 
iron  rust]  l.q.  chalybeate  (q.v. ). 

Fertilization  of  flowers.  (Hot. )  This  is  accom- 
plished by  the  contact  of  the  pollen  with  the 
stigmatic  surface.  Cross-fertilization,  the  fer- 
tilizing of  a  blossom  by  pollen  from  another 
blossom  on  the  same  plant  or  on  a  different 
plant  of  the  same  spec.  This  is  often  effected 
by  means  of  insects,  who,  in  their  search  for 
honey,  carry  the  pollen  from  one  blossom  to 
another.  Mr.  Darwin's  researches  into  the  sub- 
ject are  well  known. 

Fervens  difficili  bile  tumet  jecur.  [L.]  My 
liver  is  inflamed  and  swollen  with  bile  from  ill 
temper  (Horace). 

Fescennine  verses.  (Rom.  Hist.}  Recited 
extemporaneously  by  the  youth  of  Latium  and 
Etruria,  first,  it  is  said,  at  Fescennia,  a  town 
of  Etruria,  at  rustic  festivals  ;  playfully  abusive  ; 
out  of  which  grew  Satire,  the  only  native  poetry 
of  Italy. 

Fescue.  [L.  festuca,  a  stalk.]  An  important 
gen.  of  grasses  ;  Meadow  F. ,  Festuca  pratensis, 
being  one  of  the  most  valuable  for  pasture. 

Fess.  [L.  fascia,  a  girdle.]  (Her]  (Es- 
cutcheon.) 

Fessen-penny.     (Fasten-penny.) 

Festina  lente.  [L.,  hasten  gently]  More  haste, 
worse  speed. 

Fetch,  of  a  bay,  or  gulf.  (Naut]  The  line 
between  the  points  enclosing  it. 

Fete-champetre.  [Fr.]  An  outdoor  enter- 
tainment, a  large  garden-party. 

Fetials.  [L.  fetiales.]  (Hist.)  The  heralds 
of  ancient  Rome,  whose  duty  it  was  to  declare 
war  and  conclude  peace.  (Pater  patratus.) 

Fetish,  Fetishism.  [Fr.  fetiche,  Port.  feitico, 
charm,  from  L.  facticius.]  The  worship  oi 
material  substances — stones,  weapons,  plants, 
etc.,  prevalent  amongst  barbarous  nations,  es- 
pecially those  of  negro  race ;  tribes,  families, 
individuals,  having  their  special  F.  "It  is, 
perhaps,  not  so  much  a  worship  of  natural 
objects,  ...  as  a  system  of  incantation  by  a 
sorcerer  class "  (Kingsley,  At  Last,  p.  287) 
(Obi.) 

Fetlock.     The  lock,   tuft  of  hair,   that  grow 


FETT 


208 


FIEL 


behind  the  pastern-joint  (q.v.)  on  the  feet  of 
horses. 

Fettle.  [O.E./eat.]  1.  In  Athletics,  order, 
condition,  preparation.  2.  (Naiit.)  To  fit, 
repair,  put  in  order  ;  also  used  as  a  threat. 

Fetwah.  [Ar.]  A  written  judgment  of  a 
Mohammedan  mufti  on  a  point  of  law. 

Feu.  In  Scot.  Law,  =  feud,  fee,  limited, 
however,  to  vassal  tenure,  wherein  the  return 
service  is  payment  of  grain,  or  money. 

Feuar.     In  Scot.  Law,  one  who  holds  a  Feu. 

Feudal  system.  (Hist.)  A  system  in  which 
the  sovereign  is  regarded  as  the  proprietor  of  all 
lands,  the  holders  paying  him  homage  and 
swearing  featly  or  faith.  The  chief  is  thus 
suzerain,  and  the  tenant  is  his  vassal. 

Feu-de-joie.  [Fr.,  lit.  fire  of  joy. 1  (Mil.) 
Troops  in  line  firing  in  the  air  in  succession,  to 
commemorate  any  occasion  of  rejoicing. 

Feu  d'enfer.  [Fr.,  fire  of  hell.}  A  very  hot 
fire  from  firearms. 

Feuillans.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  religions  order, 
branching  off  from  the  Bernardines,  and  estab- 
lished at  Feuillant,  in  Languedoc.  The  Club 
des  Feuillans  was  a  revolutionary  society  in 
Paris,  in  1791-92. 

Feuillemort.  [Fr.  feuille  morte,  dead  leaf.} 
The  colour  of  a  dead  leaf. 

Feuilleton.  [Fr.,  dim.  of  feuillet.]  1.  Part 
of  a  newspaper  devoted  to  light  literature, 
criticism,  and  belles  lettres,  etc.  2.  An  article 
on  light  literature  ;  a  part  of  a  novel  published 
in  a  journal. 

Fez.  [Turk.]  A  brirnless  cap  of  cloth  or 
felt. 

Fiacre.  [Fr.]  A  kind  of  hackney  coach  in 
France,  a  four-wheeled  cab  ;  the  first  carriages 
for  hire  in  Paris  having  been  stationed  at  the 
Hotel  de  St.  Fiacre,  1640.  F.,  an  Irish  saint 
of  the  sixth  century,  is  in  France  the  patron 
saint  of  gardeners. 

Fiametta.  [It.,  little  flame.}  Boccaccio's 
name  for  his  lady-love. 

Fiance,  fern.  -ee.  [Fr.,  betrothed.}  Intended 
husband  or  wife. 

Fiar.  In  Scot.  Law,  the  person  in  whom 
the  property  of  an  estate  is  vested,  subject  to 
the  estate  of  the  life-renter. 

Fiars.  A  term  used  in  Scotland  to  denote 
the  regulations  fixing  the  price  of  grain  yearly 
in  the  different  counties. 

Fiasco.  [It.,  a  flask.]  A  failure  in  singing, 
acting,  etc.  (See,  for  an  ingenious  account  of 
the  word,  Stainer  and  Barrett,  Musical  Diction- 
ary ;  and  cf.  ampulla,  meaning  lit.  bottle,  meton. 
bombast.} 

Flat.  [L.,  let  it  be  done.}  An  effective  com- 
mand to  action  ;  a  decisive  or  operative  decree, 
especially  a  divine  decree  which  involves  its  own 
immediate  realization. 

Fibril.  [L.  fibrilla,  a  coined  dim.  of  fibra,  a 
fibre,  filament.}  A  minute  or  terminal  fibre. 

Fibrine.  [L.  fibra,  a  fibre,  filament.}  In 
animals  and  plants,  an  organic  compound,  closely 
resembling  albumen  and  caseine  ;  distinguished 
by  the  very  delicate  filaments  in  which  it  appears 
when  dissolved  in  fluid.  (Albumen.) 


Fibula.  [L.]  1.  A  brooch,  a  buckle.  2. 
(Anat. )  The  small  bone  of  the  leg,  attached  to 
the  outer  side  of  the  tibia,  or  great  bone  of  the 
leg ;  long  and  slender,  and  somewhat  resembling 
the  pin  of  a  brooch. 

Fico.  [It,  a  fig.}  An  action  expressing  con- 
tempt ;  the  placing  of  the  thumb  between  two 
fingers. 

Fid.  (Naut.)  1.  A  square  bar  of  wood  or 
iron  passed  through  a  hole  in  the  foot  of  an 
upper  mast,  the  ends  of  which  rest  on  the 
trestle-trees  to  support  the  weight  of  the  upper 
mast.  2.  A  wooden  pin  to  open  the  strands  of 
a  rope.  3.  The  piece  of  oakum  placed  in  a  gun- 
vent.  4.  Fid  of  anything  ;  a  quid,  or  small 
thick  piece.  When  the  F.  has  been  inserted  in 
the  mast  and  the  mast-rope  slackened,  the  mast 
is  Fidded. 

Fiddle.  (Naut.)  Small  cords  to  prevent 
things  rolling  off  a  table  at  sea.  F.-block,  one 
having  two  sheaves,  the  lower  one  being  the 
smaller.  F.-head,  one  finished  by  a  scroll  turn- 
ing aft,  in  contradistinction  to  a  Scroll-head,  which 
turns  forwards. 

Fiddler's  Green.  A  nautical  Mohammedan 
paradise. 

Fiddlewood.  [Fr.  fidele,  trusty.}  A  hard 
W. -India  wood  used  for  carriage  wheels,  etc. 

Fidei  commissum.  [Leg.  L.]  Property  given 
by  testament  to  one  person  who  is  obliged  by 
operative  words  of  request  to  transfer  it  to  a  third 
person ;  trust  property. 

Fidei  Def en  sor.     ( D  ef ender  of  the  Faith.) 

Fide  jussores.  In  Rom.  Law,  sureties  for  any 
one  on  bail,  came  in  Eccl.  L.  to  mean  sponsors  t 
called  also  Sponsores  susceptdres  [Gr.  ewaSoxot, 
Eng.  gossips  (i.e.  God-sibs,  or  relations  in  God), 
Godparents].  The  term  Fide  jussores  is  now  used 
for  bail  sureties  in  the  Instance  Court  of  the  Ad- 
miralty.— Admiral  Smyth's  Sailor's  Word-Book. 

Fidessa.     (Duessa.) 

Fiduciary.  [L.  fiduciarius,  from  fiducia, 
trust,  from  fidus,  trusty.}  1.  (Leg:)  One  who 
holds  property  in  trust.  2.  In  Theol.,  one  who 
denies  the  necessity  of  good  works,  insisting  on 
faith  only. 

Fidus  Achates.  [L,,  faithful  Achates.}  The 
trusty  follower  and  tried  friend  of  ^neas  (.Virgil, 
sEneid) ;  hence  any  staunch  friend. 

Fief.  [L.L.  feodum,  from  Goth,  faihu,  A.S. 
feoh,  cattle ;  hence  other  goods,  especially  money ; 
hence  property  in  general.]  An  estate  in  lands 
held  of  a  feudal  superior.  (Fee.) 

-field,  -feld,  as  part  of  geographical  names, 
is  the  A.S.  feld,  a  clearing  in  forest-land,  where 
trees  have  been  felled  ;  asinCuck-field,  Fel-sted. 

Field.  [A.S.  feld.]  (Her.)  The  whole  sur- 
face of  an  escutcheon. 

Field  fortification.  (Mil.)  The  throwing  up 
of  such  works  as  are  required  for  retrenching 
villages,  camps,  and  posts,  in  aid  of  temporary 
operations  in  the  field. 

Field  officer.  (Mil.)  Every  officer  holding 
the  rank  of  colonel,  lieut.-colonel,  or  major  in 
the  army.  % 

Field  of  the  Cloth  of  Gold.  (Hist. )  The  name 
given,  from  the  splendour  of  the  ceremony  there 


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observed,  to  the  spot,  between  the  French  towns 
of  Ardres  and  Guines,  where  Henry  VIII.  with 
Wolsey  met  Francis  I.  (1520). 

Field-piece.  ( Mil. )  Light  artillery  (drawn  by 
horses)  which  takes  part  in  the  evolutions  of 
troops. 

Fieldwork.  (Mil.)  Any  earth  or  stockade 
work  constructed  for  the  protection  of  troops  in 
the  field. 

Fieri  facias.  [L.,  cause  thou  to  be  made.'] 
(Leg.)  A  judicial  writ,  commanding  a  sheriff 
to  levy  the  amount  of  debt  or  damages  recovered 
in  the  Queen's  courts  by  execution  on  goods 
and  chattels. 

Fi.  fa.     (Fieri  facias.) 

Fife-rails.  (Naut. )  The  rails  above  the  bul- 
wark of  poop  and  quarter-deck,  and  round  the 
mainmast. 

Fifth-monarchy  men.  (ffist.)  A  faction  or 
sect  which  regarded  the  protectorate  of  Crom- 
well as  the  foundation  of  a  fifth  monarchy 
(succeeding  those  of  Assyria,  Persia,  Greece, 
and  Rome),  in  which  Jesus  Christ  would  reign 
visibly  for  a  thousand  years.  (Millennium.) 

Figala.  (Naut.)  An  E. -Indian  boat,  having 
one  mast,  and  paddles. 

Figaro.  Beaumarchais's  barber  of  Seville,  and 
in  Le  Mariage  of  F. ,  a  valet  de  chambre.  An 
adroit,  unscrupulous  intriguer. 

Figger.     (Naut.)    A  Smyrna  trader. 

Figgie-dowdie.  [Figs  and  dough.]  (Naut.) 
A  kind  of  plum-pudding. 

Fighting-lanterns.  (Natit.)  Used  in  night 
actions,  generally  one  to  each  gun. 

Fighting-sails.  (Naut.)  In  sailing-ships, 
usually  the  courses  and  topsails  only. 

Fighting-water.  (Naut.)  Casks  of  water, 
dashed  with  vinegar,  placed  on  the  decks,  for 
use  in  action. 

Fights.  (Naut.)  Wastecloths  hung  about  a 
ship,  to  hide  men  from  the  enemy.  Close-fights, 
i.q.  close  qtiarters. 

Figurant,  fern.  -ante.  [Fr.]  An  inferior 
operatic  dancer  ;  fern.,  a  ballet -girl. 

Figurate  numbers.  (Math.)  Such  as  can  be 
written  as  fractions  in  which  numerator  and  de- 
nominator are  factorials  of  the  same  number  of 
factors  having  unity  for  a  common  difference  ;  the 
first  factor  in  the  denominator  is  unity,  but  in 
the  numerator  it  may  be  any  number  whatever ; 

7-8.0 
e-S-  7-^-:  ~  84'  which  is  a  F-  N<     (Factorial.) 

Figure.  [L.  figura,  shape,  form.']  1.  (Naut.) 
The  principal  ornament  at  a  ship's  head.  F.- 
head,  a  carved  bust  or  figure  at  the  prow.  2. 
(Rhet.)  An  effective  mode  of  expression,  which 
deviates  from  the  plainest  form  of  utterance. 
There  are  F.  of  thought,  as  a  simile  ;  and  F.  of 
language,  as  antithesis,  chiasmus.  Figures 
affect  clauses  and  sentences,  while  a  Trope  affects 
a  single  word. 

Figured.     (Her.}     Bearing  a  human  face. 

Figured  bass.  In  Music,  with  numbers  above 
and  below,  is  a  kind  of  musical  shorthand, 
indicating  the  harmony. 

Filacer,  Filazer,  Filizer.  [Fr.  filace,  from  L. 
filum,  thread.]  (Leg.)  An  officer  of  superior 


courts,  who  filed  original  writs,  etc.,  and  issued 
processes  thereon.  The  office  is  now  abolished. 

Filadiere.  (Naut.)  A  small,  flat-bottomed 
boat  of  the  Garonne. 

Filature.  [Fr.]  A  reel  for  winding  off  silk 
from  cocoons. 

File.  [Fr.  file,  thread,  L.  filum.]  (Mil.) 
The  front  and  corresponding  rear  rank  man  of 
any  double  rank  of  soldiers  drawn  up  in  line. 

Filiated  colleges.  Educati6nal  institutions, 
residents  at  which  can  proceed  to  degrees  at  the 
filiating  (i.e.  adopting,  as  L.  filius,  a  son)  uni- 
versity upon  examination  only. 

Filibuster.  A  freebooter,  of  which  word  it  is 
a  corr.  Hence  the  Sp.  filibote,  flibote,  a  fast- 
sailing  vessel.  (Buccaneer;  Flute.) 

Filiform.  (Bot.)  Slender  and  round,  like  a 
thread  [L.  filum]  ;  e.g.  stem  of  dodder. 

Filigree.  [Fr.  filigrane,  from  It.  filigrana,  L. 
filum,  a  thread,  granum,  a  grain,  i.e.  bead."] 
Network  of  silver  wire  adorned  with  beads. 

Filioque.    (Nicene  Creed.) 

Filius  mulieratus.  [L.L.]  (Leg.)  Eldest 
legitimate  child  of  a  woman  who  cohabited  with 
her  husband  before  marriage. 

Fliius  nulllus.  [L.,  son  of  nobody."]  Illegiti- 
mate child  or  son  of  an  obscure  person. 
(Hidalgo.) 

Filius  populi.  [L.,  son  of  the  people."]  Illegiti- 
mate child. 

Filler,  Fill-horse.    (Thiller,  Thill-horse. ) 

Fillet.  [Fr.  filet,  thread.']  (Her.)  The 
diminutive  of  the  chief,  being  at  most  one-fourth 
its  size.  The  chief  being  divided  into  four  equal 
horizontal  strips,  the  lowest  strip  would  be  the 
fillet. 

Fillibeg,  Philabeg.  [Scot.  Gael,  filleadh  beag, 
little  plaid  (Latham,  s.v.).}  A  kilt,  or  kind  of 
petticoat  reaching  only  to  the  knees,  worn  by 
the  Scotch  Highlanders. 

Fill  the  mainyard,  To.  (Naut.)  To  fill  the 
main-topsail,  after  it  has  been  aback. 

Filoselle.  [Fr.,  L.L.  folasellum,  firosellum, 
It.  filugello ;  corr.  of  a  dim.  of  L.  filum, 
thread.']  A  coarse-twisted  floss  silk. 

Fimbria.  [L.,  a  fringe."]  (Anat.  and  Bot.) 
A  fringe-like  part,  or  process ;  e.g.  the  margin 
of  a  pink. 

Fimbriated.  [L.  fimbriatus,  fringed^]  (Her.) 
Having  a  border  of  a  different  tincture. 

Finality  John.  Nickname  of  the  late  Earl 
Russell,  who  thought  the  Reform  Bill  of  1831  final. 

Fine.  [L.  finis,  end."]  (Leg.)  1.  A  lump 
sum  paid  to  a  landlord  on  entrance  into  tenancy 
or  on  renewal  of  a  lease.  2.  An  assurance  by 
record  (often  with  four  terminal  proclamations 
in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas)  of  a  transfer  of 
property  founded  on  a  fictitious  pre-existing  right 
— the  transferer  being  called  the  deforceant, 
conusor,  or  recognizer  ;  the  recoverer  the  plain- 
tiff, conusee,  or  recognizee. 

Fine-drawing.  Sewing  up  a  rent  so  that  the 
seam  is  not  visible. 

Fine  metal.     White  cast  iron. 

Finesse.  [Fr.]  Artifice,  acuteness,  nicety, 
trickery. 

Fin-foot.     (Zool.)     Water-bird,  about  thirteen 


FINF 


210 


FISH 


inches  long,  with  lobated  feet  like  grebes. 
America,  Africa,  and  Borneo.  Sub-fam. 
|  Heliormthinae  [Gr.  rjAtos,  sun,  vpvi-s,  -605, 
bird],  fam.  Rallidse,  ord.  Grallse. 

Fingers  and  toes.     (Anbury. ) 

Finial.  [L.  finis,  an  end.]  (Arch.}  The 
top  or  finishing  of  a  seat,  pinnacle,  or  gable. 
(Crockets.) 

Finis  coronat  opus.  [L.]  The  end  crowns  the 
work. 

Finner.  (Zool. )  Gen.  of  whales  with  dorsal 
fin  and  skin  furrowed.  Temperate  and  cold 
latitudes.  Ord.  Physalus. 

Finnic.  (Lang. )  Name  of  a  northern  Tura- 
nian or  agglutinative  group  of  languages ;  also 
called  Norse. 

Finos.   [Sp.,/^.]    Second  best  Merino  wool. 

Fiord.  [Norw.  form  of  the  word  frith  or 
firth.]  A  narrow  inlet  of  the  sea,  penetrating 
far  inland. 

Fioriture.  [It.]  (Music.)  Florid  passages  in 
melody  or  accompaniment. 

Fir-borne,  Fire-bare.  [(?)  Ger.  feuer,  fire, 
baum,  tree]  Old  names  for  a  beacon. 

Fire,  G  reek.    ( Greek  fire. ) 

Fire  and  lights.  In  Naut.  slang,  the  master- 
at-arms. 

Fire-annihilator,  Phillips's.  A  contrivance 
for  extinguishing  fire  by  pouring  in  streams  of 
carbonic  acid,  sulphurous  acid,  and  other  gases 
which  do  not  support  combustion.  Drops  of 
sulphuric  acid  are  made  to  fall  from  a  bottle, 
when  broken,  upon  a  mixture  of  chlorate  of 
potash  and  sugar;  and  the  intense  combustion 
of  the  sugar  fires  a  surrounding  mixture  of  char- 
coal, nitre,  and  gypsum,  and  dense  volumes  of 
the  above-mentioned  gases  are  evolved. — Cham- 
bers's  Encyclopedia. 

Fire-ball.  1.  A  luminous  meteor,  like  a  large 
shooting  star.  (Elmo,  Fire  of  St. ;  Castor  and 
Pollux.)  2.  (Mil.)  Globular  framework  of  iron 
containing  an  inflammable  composition  projected 
from  mortars  during  the  night  to  discover  the 
positions  of  the  trenches  of  besiegers. 

Fire-bill.  (Naut.)  The  placing  of  officers  and 
men  at  fixed  stations  in  case  of  fire.  F.-booms, 
spars  to  keep  off  burning  ships,  etc.  F.  -screens, 
pieces  of  fearnattght  put  round  hatchways  in 
action. 

Firebote.  (Leg.}  Necessary  fuel  allowed  to 
be  taken  off  the  land  by  tenants. 

Fire-box ;  F.-tubes.  The  chamber  of  a  loco- 
motive engine  in  which  the  fire  is  placed  is  the 
Fire-box ;  the  tubes  passing  through  the  boiler 
which  convey  the  heated  air  from  the  fire  to  the 
smoke-box  are  F.-tubes. 

Fire-clay,  Fire-brick.  A  nearly  pure  silicate 
of  alumina,  able  to  retain  its  form  against  a 
great  degree  of  heat,  owing  to  the  absence  of 
lime,  etc.,  which  would  act  as  afflux.  The 
clay-bed,  or  seat-earth,  underlying  nearly  every 
coal-seam,  is  good  fire-clay ;  its  carbonaceous 
blackness  goes  off  with  burning. 

Fire-damp,  in  mines  ;  or  Marsh  gas,  as  being 
generated  in  bogs,  etc.  Light  carburetted  hydro- 
gen ;  After-damp,  Choke-damp,  or  Sty  the,  being 
the  carbonic  acid  gas  formed  by  the  explosion. 


Fire  insurance.     (Life  assurance.) 

Fire-raising.     In  Scotland,  arson. 

Fire-ship.  (Naut. )  A  ship  fitted  with  grap- 
pling irons,  and  filled  with  inflammable  materials, 
to  set  fire  to  the  enemy's  ships. 

Fire-swab.  A  mop  of  rope-yarn,  wetted,  and 
used  to  cool  a  gun  and  mop  up  loose  powder. 

Fire-water.  The  name  given  by  some  of  the 
Indian  tribes  to  ardent  spirits. — Bartlett's  Ameri- 
canisms. 

Fire-worshippers.    (Guebers.) 

Firkin.  [Dim.  of  four ;  cf.  farthing,  firlot] 
1.  Of  ale,  nine  gallons.  2,  Of  butter,  fifty-six 
pounds.  3.  Of  soft  soap,  sixty-four  pounds. 

Firlot.  [Said  to  be  A.S.  feortha  hlot,  fourth 
lot,  or  part.]  An  old  Scotch  dry  measure, 
=  a  quarter  of  a  boll,  which  latter  varies  in 
quantity  according  to  the  locality  and  the  article 
measured ;  but  in  the  case  of  oats  is  =  six 
bushels. 

Firman,  or  Ferman.  [Pers.]  In  Persia  and 
the  Turkish  empire,  any  mandate  of  the  sove- 
reign, from  an  ordinary  passport  to  an  instru- 
ment conveying  extraordinary  privileges.  (Hatti- 
sherif.) 

First-fruits.     (Annates.) 

First  intention.    (Intention, ) 

First-pointed  style.     (Geometrical  style.) 

Firth-guild.  [A.S.  ferd,  army,  and  guild 
(q.v.).~\  An  association  of  a  hundred  men  to 
carry  out  a  deadly  feud  or  avenge  manslaughter. 

Fiscal.  [L.  fiscalis,  from  fiscus,  money- 
basket,  emperor's  privy  purse.]  1.  Pertaining 
to  the  public  treasury.  2.  (Scot.  Law.}  A 
public  prosecutor  in  petty  criminal  cases. 

Fish,  Fish-piece.  A  long  spar,  round  on  one 
side,  hollowed  on  the  other,  bound  to  masts  or 
yards  to  strengthen  them.  To  F.,  to  strengthen 
them  thus.  To  F.  the  anchor,  to  turn  it  upside 
down  for  stowing. 

Fish-beam;  F.-bolt;  F.-joint;  F.-plate.  A 
Fish-beam  is  one  flat  at  top  and  curved  below, 
being  thickest  in  the  middle — like  a  fish's  belly 
— so  as  to  offer  at  all  sections  a  resistance  bear- 
ing a  uniform  ratio  to  the  bending  moment ; 
the  beam  is  thus  equally  strong  at  all  sections. 
A  F.-joint  fastens  two  rails  end  to  end,  by 
means  of  F.-plates,  which  are  flat  pieces  of  iron 
an  inch  thick  placed  on  each  side  of  the  rails 
and  fastened  by  four  screw-nuts  and  bolts,  called 
F. -bolts,  two  of  which  pass  through  the  foot  of 
the  one  rail,  and  two  through  the  head  of  the 
other. 

Fisherman's  ring,  In  Latin,  Anntilus  pisca- 
toris.  A  seal  of  the  pope  ;  its  device  being  St. 
Peter  in  a  boat  casting  his  net. 

Fisherman's  walk.  (Naut.)  A  very  small 
space  ;  "three  steps  and  overboard." 

Fish-fag.  (Naut.)  1.  A  woman  who  carries 
a  fish-basket.  2.  A  slattern. 

Fish-fights,  Siamese.  The  Ctenops  pugnax,  a 
small  fresh-water  fish,  is  kept  for  this  purpose ; 
exhibitions  of  fights  between  these  are  licensed, 
yield  considerable  revenue,  and  are  connected 
with  desperate  gambling. 

Fishing  hawk.     (Osprey.) 

Fish-stew.    [Low  Ger.  stauen,  to  stop,  to  make 


FISS 


211 


FLAG 


a  dam  (stau).]   A  pond  for  rearing  and  fattening 
fresh- water  fish. 

Fission.  [L.  fissio,  -nem,  a  splitting.}  Re- 
production by  division  of  the  parent,  either 
partial,  as  in  many  corals,  or  complete,  as  in 
some  hydrozoa. 

Fissiparous.  [L.  findo,  sup.  fissum,  /  cleave, 
pario,  /  beget."}  Dividing  into  parts,  each  of 
which  is  a  reproduction  of  the  original.  (Gem- 
mation.) 

Fissiped.  [L.  fissi-pgdem.]  Cloven-footed, 
as  deer  ;  a  division  of  Ungulata. 

Fissirostrals,  Fissirostres.  [L.  fissus,  split, 
rostrum,  bill.']  (Ornith.)  Wide-billed  birds  ;  a 
tribe  or  fam.  in  those  systems  which  characterize 
birds  by  their  bills.  It  includes  swallows  and 
goat-suckers. 

Fissures-of-retreat.  (Geol.}  1.  In  granite  and 
basalt,  due  to  contraction  in  solidifying  from  a 
molten  state.  2.  In  septarian  nodules  (y.v.),  to 
solidification  from  a  soft  wet  state  ;  so  also  mud- 
cracks,  i.q.  sun-cracks,  found  fossil,  are  F. 

Fistula.  [L.]  1.  A  shepherd's  pipe,  generally 
a  Pan's  pipe.  2.  (Med.)  A  tubular  ulcerous 
channel,  with  constant  discharge. 

Fitch.  [O.E.  fitchew,  polecat.]  The  fur  of 
the  polecat. 

Fitches.  Isa.  xxviii.  25 ;  the  same  word  as 
vetches  [L.  vicise]. 

Fitchett,  Fitchew.    (Polecat.) 

Fitchy.  (Her.}  Sharpened  to  a  point,  so 
that  it  might  be  fixed  [Fr.  fiche]  in  the  ground. 

Fits  of  easy  transmission  and  reflexion. 
Newton  supposed  that  the  molecules  of  light  in 
their  progress  through  space  pass  continually 
into  alternate  states  which  recur  periodically  at 
equal  intervals.  In  one  of  these  it  is  disposed 
to  obey  the  reflective  forces  of  the  body  which  it 
meets  ;  it  is  then  in  a  Fit  of  easy  reflexion.  In 
the  other  state  it  is  disposed  to  obey  the  re- 
fractive forces  of  the  body,  and  is  then  in  a 
Fit  of  easy  transmission,  Newton  proposed 
by  this  means  to  account  for  the  colours  of  thin 
plates. 

Fitter.  A  skilled  workman  who  exactly  ad- 
justs the  parts  of  a  machine  to  each  other  before 
it  is  finally  put  together. 

Fitz-.  Part  of  names,  =  son  of  [for  Norm. 
Fr.  fiz,  =  Fr.  fils,  from  L.  films] ;  often  form- 
ing surnames  of  royal  bastards ;  as  Fitz- James, 
Fitz-William,  Fitz-Herbert. 

Five-Mile  Act,  Oxford  Act.  (EccL  Hist.}  An 
Act  passed,  1665,  ordaining  that,  except  in 
travelling,  no  Dissenting  teacher  who  had  not 
submitted  to  the  declaration  required  by  the 
Act  of  Uniformity  should  approach  within  five 
miles  of  any  corporate  town. 

Five  points.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  Five  doctrines 
debated  between  Calvinists  and  Arminians : 
(i)  Particular  election;  (2)  particular  redemp- 
tion ;  (3)  total  depravity  of  human  nature ; 
(4)  irresistible  grace ;  (5)  final  perseverance. 

Fives.  A  game  in  which  a  small  hand-ball  is 
hit  by  the  hands  before  the  second  bound  against 
tlie  front  or  side  walls  of  a  three-sided  court ; 
played  sometimes  with  one  wall  only. 

Five-share  men.    (Naut.}    Men  who  enter  on 


whalers,  etc.,  and  agree  to  take  a  share  of  the 
proceeds  of  the  voyage  as  pay. 

Fixed  air.  An  old  term  for  carbonic  acid  gas, 
from  its  existence  in  a  fixed  state  in  limestone, 
etc. 

Flag.  [From  flag,  to  droop  m  flutter  (Skeat).] 
(Naut.}  Taking  a  Flag  to  be  oblong,  the  Cornet 
is  a  swallow-tailed  F.,  in  signalling  called  a 
Burgee;  which,  otherwise,  tapers  either  to  a 
point  (and  is  then,  in  signalling,  a  Pennant}  or 
to  a  pair  of  swallow-tails,  which  latter  is  the 
shape  of  a  Broad  pennant.  In  the  R.N.,  a 
Pennant,  Whiff,  or  Whip  is  flown  at  the  mast- 
head, and  is  lengthened  according  to  a  ship's 
Flag-time,  i.e.  period  of  foreign  service.  The 
leading  British  nautical  flags  are  as  follows : — 
1.  The  National  F.,  viz.  (i)  the  Union  Jack, 
a  combination,  heraldically  incorrect,  of  the 
crosses  of  St.  George,  St.  Andrew,  and  St. 
Patrick,  with  a  broad  white  border  ;  and  (2)  the 
Red  Ensign.  2.  The  Blue  E.,  restricted  to  the 
Naval  Reserve,  certain  Government  services,  and 
Royal  Yacht  Clubs.  3.  The  White  E.  with  a 
red  cross,  or  St.  Georges  E.,  is  restricted  to  the 
R.N.  and  the  R.Y.  squadron.  Each  E.  bears  in 
the  upper  corner  next  the  mast  the  U.J. ,  the  use 
of  which,  undifferenced,  is  similarly  restricted  to 
the  R.N.,  where  it  is  flown  in  the  bows,  but  by 
the  admiral  of  the  fleet  at  the  main.  4.  Ad- 
mirals, Vice- A.,  and  Rear- A.  fly  the  old  English 
colour,  or  St.  George's  Jack,  i.e.  plain  white  with 
plain  red  cross,  at  the  main,  fore,  and  mizzen, 
respectively;  formerly  they  flew  the  R.,  the 
W. ,  and  the  B.  E.  respectively ;  rank  in  each 
division  being  further  denoted  by  the  mast  at 
which  each  E.  was  flown.  A  commodore  flies  a 
Broad  pennant  •at  the  main  or  fore,  according 
to  his  class  ;  all  of  a  lower  rank  fly  the  ordinary 
White  E.  at  the  peak  or  flagstaff.  5.  The 
Pennant,  flown  by  all  ships  in  commission, 
White  for  the  R.N.,  and  Blue  for  armed  Colo- 
nials, etc.,  bear  a  St.  George's  cross  next  the 
mast.  There  are  many  other  British  flags  appro- 
priated to  various  services,  colonies,  and  de- 
pendencies ;  as  the  Royal  Standard,  showing  that 
one  of  the  royal  family  is  on  board  ;  the  Red 
E.  with  the  Dominion  arms  in  the  fly  for 
Canada;  the  Green,  Red,  White  Tricolour 
(horizontal),  with  the  U.  J.  in  the  upper  corner 
next  the  mast,  for  Heligoland.  Some  foreign 
merchantmen's  flags  are  subjoined.  War  and 
governmental  F.  vary,  sometimes  very  widely, 
from  merchantmen.  France:  blue,  white,  red. 
Italy:  green,  white,  red.  Belgium:  black, 
yellow,  red.  Portugal:  blue,  white  ;  all  vertical, 
and  reckoned  from  the  mast  outward.  Holland: 
red,  white,  blue.  Rtissia:  white,  blue,  red. 
Germany:  black,  white,  red.  Spain:  yellow, 
red,  yellow,  red,  yellow.  Austria:  red,  white, 
with  two  coats  of  arms,  half  red  and  half  green. 
Greece :  five  blue,  four  white,  with  Jack  in  corner ; 
all  horizontal,  and  reckoned  from  the  top  down- 
ward. Denmark:  red  with  white  cross.  Nor- 
way: red  with  blue  cross,  and  Jack  in  corner. 
Sweden:  blue  with  yellow  cross,  and  Jack  in 
corner.  U.  S.  A. :  red  and  white  horizontal 
stripes,  with  white  stars  on  blue  ground  in  corner, 


FLAG 


FLEM 


corresponding  in  number  to  the  states  in  the 
Union.  Tiirkey:  green,  with  white  crescent  on 
red  central  disc.  Egypt:  red,  with  white  cres- 
cent and  three  stars.  The  terms  Flag  and  Pen- 
nant are  sometimes  used  to  denote  admiral  and 
commodore  respectively. 

Flagellants.  [L.  flagellantes,  from  fiagello,  / 
-whip,  scourge.'}  Fanatics  who,  first  at  Perugia, 
A.D.  1260,  and  elsewhere  through  Italy,  then,  at 
intervals,  in  many  other  parts  of  Europe  till  the 
sixteenth  century,  found  in  self-scourging  a  vent 
for  wild  religious  feeling. — Milman,  Hist,  of 
Latin  Christianity,  bk.  vi.  334. 

Flagelliform.  (Bot. )  Shaped  like  the  thong 
of  a  whip  [L.  flagellum]. 

Flagellum.  [L.,  a  scourge,  a  young  shoot."} 
(Bot.)  A  vegetating  node,  a  runner;  e.g.  straw- 
berry. 

Flagrante  delicto.  [L.,  while  the  offence  is  hot.~\ 
In  the  very  act. 

Flag  share.  The  admiral's  share,  one-eighth, 
in  prizes. 

Flake-white.  The  purest  white  lead,  in  flakes 
or  scales,  used  in  oil-painting. 

Flambeau.  [Fr.,  a  torch.~]  A  large  wax-light 
for  illuminations. 

Flamboyant.  [Fr.]  (Arch.}  The  French  term 
for  the  style  of  architecture  answering  to  the 
Flowing  English,  from  the  flame-like  forms  of  the 
tracery.  (Geometrical  style.) 

Flamen.  The  Latin  title  for  the  priests  of  any 
particular  deity,  as  distinguished  from  priests  in 
general. 

Flamingo.  [Sp.,  from  its  colour.]  (Zool.)  A 
gregarious,  wading  bird,  five  or  six  feet  high. 
Full  plumage,  red,  with  black  quill  feathers. 
Tropical  and  Southern  countries,  but  not  Austral- 
asia ;  occasionally  S.  Europe.  Phoenicopterus 
[Gr.  ^ojwfc^-Trrepos,  crimson-wing']  ruber,  gen. 
P.,  fam.  Phoemcopte'ridse,  ord.  Grallse. 

Flamingo  plant.     (Anthurinm.) 

Flaminian  Way,  Via  Flaminia,  Made  by  C. 
Flaminius,  B.C.  221  ;  led  from  Rome  to  Ari- 
minum  ;  continued  to  Milan,  as  the  Via  ^Emilia. 
(Emilian  Provinces.) 

Flanche.  (Her.)  An  ordinary  bounded  by 
two  circular  arcs  projecting,  one  from  each  side 
of  an  escutcheon.  A  Flasque  is  of  the  same 
shape  but  wider,  and  a  Voider  wider  still. 

Flancois.  [Fr.  flanc,  flank,  L.  flaccus,  as 
being  the  weak,  flabby  part  (Littre).]  Cover- 
ing of  armour  for  the  flanks  of  a  horse. 

Flaneur.  [Fr.  flaner,  to  stroll  about.']  A 
lounger,  idler,  man  about  town. 

Flandrin.  [Fr.]  1.  A  Fleming,  or  man  of 
Flanders.  2.  As  a  nickname,  a  lanky,  meagre 
fellow. 

Flange;  F.-beam;  F. -joint;  F.-rail;  F.- 
wheel.  A  projecting  edge  or  rib.  A  Flange-joint 
consists  of  projecting  pieces  on  two  shafts  or 
pipes,  by  which  they  may  be  securely  bolted 
together  end  to  end.  A  F.  -rail  has  a  projecting 
edge  on  the  outside,  so  that  a  wheel  with  a  flat 
tire  may  not  slip  off  it.  Railway  cars  have 
F.-ivheels,  the  flange  being  the  projecting  part, 
of  larger  diameter  than  the  rest  of  the  tire,  which 
restrains  the  wheel  from  leaving  the  rail.  A 


F.-beam  has  along  its  length  a  flange  at  its  upper 
and  under  side,  the  part  between  them  being 
often  thin  (and  called  a  web),  so  that  the  re- 
sistance it  offers  to  bending  is  mainly  exerted  by 
the  flanges.  (Flank.) 

Flank,  probably  from  'L.  flaccus.     (Flancois.) 

1.  (Mil.)  Either  extremity  of  a  line  of  troops. 

2.  (Fortif.)     The  rampart  at  the  extremity  of  a 
face  of  a  work. 

Flanked  angle.  A  salient  in  fortification, 
defended  by  a  cross-fire  from  some  other  work. 

Flash.  Burnt  sugar  and  capsicums  for  colour- 
ing spirits. 

Flashing  signals  (Naut.}  are  effected  by  dots 
and  dashes  as  in  electric  telegraphy.  At  night 
a  white  light  is  exposed  and  quickly  covered 
for  a  dot,  and  left  longer  exposed  for  a  dash. 
In  the  daytime  the  dots  and  dashes  are  indicated 
by  collapsing  cones. 

Flask.  [Ger.  flasche,  bottle,'}  The  box  in 
which  moulds  for  castings  are  made. 

Flasket.  [Welsh  fnasged.]  A  long  shallow 
basket. 

Flasque.    (Flanche.) 

Flat  aback.  (Naut. )  Sails  so  much  aback  as 
to  give  stern-way. 

Flat-fish.    (Pleuronectidse.) 

Flatting.  [Probably  Fr.  flou,  softness  of  touch 
(Flou).]  1.  A  mode  of  painting,  which  leaves 
the  work  without  gloss.  2.  A  method  of  gilding, 
where  it  is  unburnished  but  covered  with  size. 

3.  Rolling  out  metal  into  plates. 
Flavescent.       [L.    flavescentem,   p.    part,   of 

flavesco,  I  grow  yellow  (flavus).  ]   Turning  yellow. 

Fleam.  [L.L.  flebotomum,  fletum  (Phlebo- 
tomy).] (Vet.}  A  short  lancet  projecting  from 
the  side  of  a  straight  piece  of  steel,  used  by 
percussion  for  bleeding  horses  and  cattle. 

Fleche.  [Fr.,  an  arrow,  M.H.G.  flitsch.] 
1.  (Mil.}  A  work  in  the  shape  of  an  arrow, 
at  the  foot  of  a  glacis,  covering  the  communi- 
cations with  advanced  works.  2.  (Arch.}  A 
slender  spire. 

Flecherra.  (Naut.}  A  swift  despatch-vessel ; 
S.  America. 

Flectere  si  nequeo  superos,  Acheronta  movebo. 
[L.  ]  If  I  fail  to  bend  the  gods  above,  I  will  stir 
up  hell  below  (Virgil).  (Acheron.) 

Fleece,  Order  of  the  Golden.  An  order  of 
European  knighthood,  founded  by  Philip  III., 
Duke  of  Burgundy,  1430.  (Golden  fleece.) 

Fleet.  A.  S.  name  or  part  name,  =  channel 
[Norse  fliot ;  cf.  A.  S.  fleotan,  to  float],  as  in 
Fleet  Street,  Pur-fleet. 

Fleet  marriages.  Until  A.D.  1754,  mutual 
consent  alone  sufficed  for  legal  civil  marriage  in 
England ;  but  a  full  marriage  as  to  Church 
communion  and  its  important  consequences  bear- 
ing upon  baptism,  legitimacy,  probate  of  wills, 
etc.,  required  a  priest.  Numberless  secret  mar- 
riages had  been  performed  in  "lawless  churches, " 
i.e.  in  churches  claiming  exemption  from  the 
ordinary's  jurisdiction ;  amongst  them  Fleet 
marriages  by  clergymen  imprisoned  in  the  Fleet. 
Abolished  by  Lord  Hardwicke's  Act,  A.D.  1754. 
(See  £"«£•.  Cycl.,  ii.  1016.) 

Flemings.     [C/.   O.E.    fleem,    outlaw,    from 


FLEM 


213 


FLUC 


A.S.  flean,  to  slay.}  The  tribe  which  gave  its 
name  to  Flanders ;  perhaps  =  outlaws  or  their 
descendants. 

Flemish.    Of  or  from  Flanders. 

Flemish  account.  In  Naut.  parlance,  one 
showing  a  deficit. 

Flemish  school.  A  school  of  painting,  estab- 
lished by  the  brothers  Van  Eyck,  at  Ghent 
and  Bruges,  early  in  the  fifteenth  century,  and 
marked  by  excellence  of  drawing,  colour,  and 
chiaro-scuro.  Rubens,  Vandyke,  and  Teniers 
were  the  great  masters  of  the  second  period. 

Flensing.  [Dan.  flensen.]  Cutting  up  the 
blubber  of  a  whale. 

Flesh  traffic.     (Naut.}    Slave-trade. 

Fleta,  sea  Commentarium  Juris  Anglican!. 
[L.]  (Leg.)  A  treatise  on  the  whole  law,  after 
Bracton  and  Glanville,  composed  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  I. 

Fleur-de-lis.  [Fr.]  1.  The  lily  of  the  royal 
arms  of  the  French  kings,  represented  in  a  form 
more  like  that  of  the  head  of  a  javelin.  2.  In 
Her.,  used  (i)  as  a  charge,  or  (2)  as  difference  in 
the  sixth  son's  escutcheon. 

Flexor  muscle.  [L.  flecto,  I  bend.}  It  bends 
the  part  on  which  it  acts.  (Extensor  muscle.) 

Flexure,  contrary,  Point  of.     (Singular  point.) 

Flight.     A  Dutch  canal-boat. 

Flint-glass.  Glass  composed  of  silicate  of 
potash  and  oxide  of  lead,  used  for  table  glass 
and  for  optical  instruments. 

Flint  implements.  Instruments  of  various 
kinds ;  weapons,  arrow-heads,  knives,  and — 
when  fixed  to  wooden  handles — hatchets,  etc., 
used  by  primitive  and  by  savage  man. 

Flipper.  (Naut.)  The  fin  or  paw  of  seals, 
etc.  ;  meton.  the  hand. 

Flitter-mouse.  [Ger.  fleder-maus.]  The  bat. 
(Cheiroptera.) 

Float.  1.  The  channel  which  distributes 
water  for  irrigation.  2.  A  wooden  trowel  used 
in  plastering. 

Float-board.  A  board  fastened  radially  to 
an  undershot  water-wheel,  or  to  a  paddle-wheel 
of  a  steamer,  to  give  the  water  a  hold  for 
turning  the  wheel  or  propelling  the  steamer. 

Floating  anchor.     (Anchors.) 

Floating  coffins.  A  nickname  of  the  old  ten- 
gun  brigs.  Unseaworthy  vessels. 

Floating  islands.  In  lakes  and  slow  rivers  ; 
sometimes  a  collection  of  driftwood  and  alluvial 
soil,  e.g.  those  carried  out  fifty  to  a  hundred 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ganges  ;  sometimes, 
as  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  masses  of  floating 
peat ;  others  appear  and  disappear,  e.g.  one 
in  Derwentwater  ;  some,  as  the  Moating  Gardens 
of  Cashmere,  and  the  Chinampas  of  Mexico,  are 
artificial,  and  very  ancient.  (Bafts.) 

Floating  ribs.     (False  ribs.) 

Floccillation.  [L.  floccillus,  coined  dim.  of 
floccus,  wool.}  A  delirious  picking  of  the  bed- 
clothes before  death. 

Flock.  [L.  floccus.]  The  refuse  of  cotton 
and  wool,  used  for  stuffing  mattresses,  etc. 

Flogging  the  glass.  (Naut.)  Snaking  the 
half-hour  glass,  by  which  the  bells  are  regulated, 
to  make  the  sand  run  quicker. 


Flood  anchor.  (N~azit.)  The  anchor  used 
during  the  flood-tide. 

Floor.  (Naut.)  The  bottom  of  a  ship ; 
strictly,  what  rests  on  the  ground  when  a  ship  is 
ashore. 

Flora  of  a  country  or  geological  epoch  = 
the  plants  belonging  to  it.  (F.,  the  goddess  of 
flowers.)  (Fauna.) 

Floralia,  Florales  Ludi.  [L.,  floral  games.} 
A  Roman  festival  in  honour  of  Flora,  from 
April  28  to  May  2,  conducted  by  the  ^Ediles, 
and  celebrated  with  theatrical  performances,  and 
much  general  licence. 

Floreal.  Eighth  month  of  French  first  Re- 
publican calendar,  from  April  19  to  May  20. 

Florin.  A  coin  having  different  values  in 
different  countries :  the  Austrian  florin  (or  gulden) 
is  worth  about  2s.  ;  the  Bavarian  F.  or  G.  about 
I s.  8d. ;  the  Polish  F.  about  $\d.  (Originally  a  gold 
coin  struck  at  Florence,  in  the  thirteenth  century, 
having  on  one  side  the  head  of  the  Baptist,  on 
the  other  a  lily :  called  from  the  city,  or  from 
the  flower  (?).) 

Flory.  [Fr.  fleuri.]  (Her.}  Adorned  with 
fleurs-de-lis. 

Floss.  [L.  flos,  flower.}  1.  Untwisted  fila- 
ments of  silk,  used  in  embroidery,  etc.  2.  A 
glassy  scum  floating  on  iron  in  the  puddling 
furnace. 

Flota.  The  Spanish  word  for  fleet,  applied 
to  the  ships  sailing  under  convoy  from  Cadiz,  or 
other  ports,  to  the  Transatlantic  possessions  of 
Spain. 

Flotant.  [Fr.  flottant.]  (Her.)  Floating  in 
the  air. 

Flotation,  Plane  of.  [Fr.  flot,  a  wave,  L. 
fluctus.]  The  imaginary  section  of  a  body  made 
by  a  plane  coinciding  with  the  surface  of  the  still 
water  in  which  it  floats. 

Flotsam,  Flotson  (i.e.  floating).  Derelict  or 
shipwrecked  goods  floating  on  the  sea  ;  as  dis- 
tinguished horn  Jetsam,  orjetson  [L.  jactationem, 
a  throwing  over},  goods  thrown  over  and  sunk  ; 
Lagan  [i.e.  lying ;  cf.  Ger.  legen,  to  lay},  goods 
sunk  with  the  wreck,  or  attached  to  a  buoy,  as  a 
mark  of  ownership. 

Flou.  [Fr.]  A  term  in  painting,  meaning  soft- 
ness of  touch  ;  formerly  flo,  the  Flem.  flaun,  or  L. 
fluidus  (Littre) ;  but  are  not  these  connected? 

Flower-Girl  Brigade.  A  society  of  flower- 
girls  in  London,  founded  by  Lady  Burdett  Coutts, 
1879,  which  seeks  to  improve  their  condition 
by  regulating  the  supply  of  flowers,  the  con- 
ditions, places,  etc.,  of  sale,  with  fixed  payment 
or  commission. 

Flower  of  the  winds.  (Naut.)  The  compass, 
as  drawn  on  maps  and  charts. 

Flowers  of  sulphur ;  F.  of  zinc.  Sulphur,  or 
white  oxide  of  zinc,  condensed  from  sublimation  ; 
so  called  from  their  appearance. 

Flowing  sheet,  With  a.  .(Naut.)  With  the 
wind  at  about  right  angles  to  a  ship's  course. 

Flowing  style.     (Geometrical  style.) 

Fluctuation.  [L.  fluctuatio,  -nem,  a  wavering 
motion.}  (Med.)  Undulation  of  fluid  in  any 
cavity  of  the  body,  as  distinguished  by  proper 
manipulation. 


FLUE 


214 


FOCU 


Fluent.  [L.  fluentem,  p.  part,  of  fluo,  I  flow,] 
(Math.)  A  quantity  whose  value  changes  con- 
tinuously ;  thus  the  length  of  the  path  described 
by  a  moving  point  changes  continuously  with  the 
time.  In  Newton's  language,  a  F.  is  what  is 
more  commonly  called  an  Integral. 

Flummery.  [Welsh  llymry,  a  kind  of  oat- 
meal gruel.]  1.  Pap.  2.  Metaph.  silly  talk, 
finniking  ornament. 

Fluorescence.  If  we  look  through  a  solution 
of  sulphate  of  quinine  at  the  end  of  the  solar 
spectrum  which  is  beyond  the  violet  rays  and 
dark  to  the  naked  eye,  we  see  a  blue-coloured 
light,  arising  from  a  lessening  of  the  refrangi- 
bility  of  the  rays  beyond  the  violet  rays  ;  i.e.  the 
solution  reduces  the  rate  of  the  ethereal  vibrations 
to  within  the  limits  at  which  they  produce  the 
sensation  of  light.  This  phenomenon — which 
can  be  exhibited  in  several  forms — is  called  F. 

Fluorine.  A  colourless  gas,  one  of  the  ele- 
ments, occurring  in  fluor-spar. 

Fluor-spar  [a  word  coined  from  L.  fluo,  7 
floiv  ;  i.e.  useful  as  a  flux  in  fusing  iron  ore],  or 
Derbyshire  spar  (q.  v.).]  (Min.)  Fluoride  of  cal- 
cium, calcium  fluorine ;  a  mineral  common 
in  some  metalliferous  lodes. 

Flush  at  cards.  A  hand  in  which  all  the 
cards  are  of  one  suit. 

Flush-deck.    (Decks.) 

Fiate,  Armed  en.  [Fr.]  (Naut.)  Partly 
armed,  as  a  flute,  fluyt,  or  fly '-boat  (q.v.)  might 
be.  (Filibuster.) 

Fluviatile.  [L.  fliiviatilis,  belonging  to  a 
river  (fluvius).]  (Geol.)  1.  Produced  by  river 
action.  2.  Of  or  belonging  to  rivers. 

Flux.  [L.  fluxus,  aflovving.]  Any  substance 
used  to  promote  the  fusion  of  minerals. 

Fluxion.  [L.  fluxio,  -nem,  a  flowing.]  (Math.} 
The  rate  of  change  per  unit  of  time  of  a  Fluent, 
i.e.  of  a  magnitude  whose  value  changes  with  the 
time ;  thus  the  velocity  of  a  moving  point  at 
any  instant  is  the  F.  of  the  length  of  the  path 
described  up  to  that  instant.  A  F.  is  the  name 
given  by  Newton  to  what  is  now  commonly 
called  a  differential  coefficient. 

Fluxions,  Method  of.  A  mathematical  method 
invented  by  Newton,  equivalent  to  the  differ- 
ential and  integral  calculus  subsequently  pro- 
mulgated by  Leibnitz.  ' 

Fly;  Fly-wheel.  A  Fly  consists  of  two  or 
more  vanes  set  on  an  axis  to  prevent  the  ac- 
celeration of  the  velocity  of  a  falling  weight  by 
means  of  the  resistance  (which  increases  very 
rapidly  with  the  velocity,  and  soon  becomes 
equal  to  the  weight)  offered  by  the  air  to  their 
motion.  A  F. -wheel  is  the  heavy  wheel  keyed 
to  the  main  shaft  of  a  steam-engine  ;  it  serves  as 
a  store  of  energy  to  keep  the  angular  velocity 
of  the  shaft  uniform. 

Fly-away,  Cape.  A  cloud-bank  mistaken  for 
land  ;  i.q.  Dutchman's  cnpe. 

Fly-boat.  (Flute ;  Filibuster.)  (Naut.')  1.  A 
Dutch  vessel,  from  300  to  600  tons  burden,  flat- 
bottomed  and  high-sterned.  2.  A  fast  canal- 
boat. 

Fly-by-night.  (Naut.)  1.  An  extra  sail  like 
a  studding-sail,  used  in  sloops  when  before  a 


wind.     2.  A  spare  jib  set  from  topmast-head  to 
the  yardarm  of  a  squaresail. 

Flyer.  A  venture.  To  take  a  F.  in  stocks  is 
the  expression  used  in  Wall  Street  when  persons 
not  stockbrokers,  or  dealers  in  stocks,  occasion- 
ally make  a  venture. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Flying  buttress.  (Arch.)  A  buttress,  shaped 
like  an  arch,  springing  from  a  mass  of  masonry 
on  the  external  wall,  and  abutting  against  the 
springing  of  another  arch.  The  flying  buttresses 
of  Amiens  and  Cologne  Cathedrals  are  among 
the  finest  specimens. 

Flying  camp.  Troops  leaving  their  quarters, 
with  provisions  for  two  or  three  days  and  a 
limited  amount  of  baggage,  for  the  purposes  of 
training  under  canvas  and  of  constantly  moving. 

Flying  colours,  With  (Mil.),  —  victorious  ;  to 
exhibit  the  colours  or  flags  of  a  regiment  being 
considered  somewhat  of  a  display  suited  to 
important  occasions.  Only  certain  regiments 
may  march  through  London  with  F.  C. 

Flying  Dutchman.  (Naut.)  1.  Spectre  ship 
supposed  to  haunt  the  Cape  of  Good'  Hope.  2. 
Any  phantom  vessel. 

Flying-jib.    (Sails.) 

Flying-jibboom.     (Bowsprit.) 

Flying-kites.  (Naut.)  The  lofty  sails,  as  sky- 
sails,  royal  studding-sails,  and  those  above  them. 

Flying-light.  (Naut.)  Crank  from  insuffici- 
ent ballast  or  cargo. 

Flying-sap.  (Mil.)  Intrenchment  formed  on 
open  ground  by  placing  a  row  of  empty  gabions 
on  end  touching  one  another,  and  filling  them 
as  rapidly  as  possible  from  the  earth  immediately 
behind  them. 

Flying  squirrel.  [From  Gr.  <r/ct-oupoy,  shadow- 
tailed,  through  L.L.  dim.  sciuriolus,  Fr.  ecureuil.] 
(Zool.)  Two  gen.  of  squirrels,  Sciuropterus  (flat- 
tailed)  and  Pteromys  (round-tailed),  having  the 
skin  of  their  flanks  so  modified  that,  when  they 
extend  their  legs,  it  extends  correspondingly, 
enabling  them  to  glide  from  tree  to  tree.  Some 
spec,  measure  nearly  three  feet  across.  Sciuro- 
pterus is  found  in  E.  hemisphere  from  Lapland  to 
Borneo,  and  in  W.  hemisphere  from  Labrador 
to  California ;  Pteromys  in  E.  hemisphere  only, 
from  Himalayas  to  Borneo. 

Flying-to.  The  ship's  head  coming  up  to  the 
wind  very  quickly. 

Fly  of  a  flag.     (Hoist.) 

Fo.  1.  The  Chinese  name  for  Buddha.  2. 
The  dog  of  Buddha,  the  lion-like  animal  often 
forming  the  knob  of  a  China  vase-cover. 

Focal  length.  1.  Of  a  lens  or  mirror,  the 
distance  from  the  surface  to  the  principal  focus. 
2.  Of  a  telescope,  that  of  the  object-glass. 

Focus  [L.,  a  hearth]]  Actual  F.;  Geometrical 
F. ;  Principal  F. ;  Virtual  F.  1.  In  Optics,  the 
point  to  or  from  which  rays  falling  on  a  lens  or 
mirror  converge  or  diverge  after  refraction  or 
reflexion  ;  in  the  former  case  the  F.  is  Actual, 
as  the  rays  meet  in  the  focus  ;  in  the  latter 
Virtual,  as  the  rays  proceed  as  if  they  diverged 
from  the  focus.  When  the  incident  rays  are 
parallel  to  the  axis,  the  point  is  a  Principal  F. 
If  the  surfaces  of  lens  or  mirror  are  spherical, 
the  convergence  to  a  point  is  accurate  only  on 


FCEDU 


215 


FORE 


the  supposition  that  their  extent  is  indefinitely 
small ;  the  focus  is  always  determined  on  this 
supposition,  and  when  it  is  necessary  to  draw 
attention  to  the  approximate  character  of  the 
determination  it  is  called  a  Geometrical  F.  2. 
(For  Focus  in  Geom.,  vide  Ellipse;  Hyperbola; 
Parabola.) 

Fcedum  inceptu,  foedum  exitu.  [L.]  Dis- 
graceful in  the  outset,  disgraceful  in  the  issue 
(Livy). 

Fcenum  habet  in  cornu,  [L.]  Lit.  he  has 
hay  on  his  horn ;  said  of  a  dangerous  head  of 
cattle  ;  he  is  a  dangerous  character  (Horace). 

Foetus.  [L.]  The  unborn  child,  from  the 
time  of  quickening. 

Fog.  [L.L.  fogagium,  forest  winter  pasture.] 
(Agr.)  Grass  not  eaten  down  in  summer.  To 
F.  is  to  shut  pasture  early  in  May,  and  to  feed  it 
from  November  or  December  till  the  next  May. 

Fogram.  [(?)  Catachr.  from  Grogram  (Grog).] 
(Naut.)  Indifferent  liquor. 

Fb'hn.  [Ger.]  In  Switzerland,  the  moist 
south  wind  of  spring  ;  the  L.  Fav5nius  (Horace, 
Od.  I.  iv.).  (Pan.) 

Foil  arches.     (Arch.) 

Folcland.  [A.  S.]  Land  of  the  people, 
either  held  in  common  or  parcelled  out  to  in- 
dividuals for  life  under  the  sanction  of  the  free- 
men in  their  local  meetings  (folc-gemote).  It  was 
assignable  to  freemen  and  to  thegns.  (Bocland.) 

Fold.  [A.S.  falod.]  Originally  an  inclosure 
of  felled  trees. 

Folio.  [L.  folium,  leaf.]  A  book  formed  of 
sheets  so  folded  as  to  make  two  leaves  each. 

Folk-lore.  The  popular  tales,  traditions,  and 
superstitions  of  a  country  ;  often  of  high  antiquity. 

Folkmote.  [A.S.  folc-mot]  Any  public 
meeting  of  the  folk  of  a  given  place  or  district, 
and  varying  with  the  latter  in  importance. 

Follicle.  [L.  follis,  a  bag,  dim.  folliculus.] 
1.  (Anat.)  Small  hollow  gland  of  the  skin,  or 
mucous  membrane.  2.  (Bot.)  A  carpel  not 
having  dorsal  suture,  and  dehiscing  by  the 
ventral  suture. 

Folliculus  aeris.  [L.,  air-bag.]  Formed  by 
the  duplicated  lining  membrane  at  the  large  end 
of  a  bird's  egg. 

Follower.     In  Machinery.     (Driver.) 

Followers.  In  sea  phrase,  men  allowed  to  be 
taken  by  a  captain  in  the  navy  when  he  changes 
his  ship. 

Femes.  [L.,  fuel.']  (Med.)  Any  substance 
retaining  contagious  effluvia. 

Fonda.     [Sp.]    An  inn. 

Fondus.  [Fr.  fondre,  melted.]  A  style  of 
printed  calico,  etc.,  in  which  the  colours  melt 
or  shade  into  one  another. 

Fontange.  [Fr.]  A  knot  of  ribbon  on  a 
head-dress,  a  top-knot  (introduced  by  Mdlle.  de 
F.,  1679).— Brachet,  Etym.  Diet. 

Fonticulus.  [L.,  little  fountain,  dim.  of  fons.] 
(Med. )  An  issue. 

Fools,  Feast  of.  (Hist.]  A  feast  celebrated 
anciently  in  French  churches  on  New  Year's  Day  j 
a  survival,  probably,  of  the  Roman  Saturnalia. 

Foolscap.  Paper  twenty-seven  inches  by 
seventeen. 

15 


Fools'  paradise.     (Limbo.) 

Foot-pound.  A  unit  of  work — the  work  done 
when  a  pound  weight  is  raised  vertically  one  foot. 

Foot-ropes.    (Naut.)     (Horse.) 

Foots.  Settlings  of  oil,  sugar,  etc.,  at  the 
bottom  of  a  hogshead. 

Forage.  [Connected  with  fodder  &n&forray, 
L.L.  foderare,  to  demand  foder-age  for  man  and 
horse  (Wedgwood).]  (Mil.)  1.  Allowance  of 
oats,  hay,  and  straw,  given  to  horses.  2.  The 
searching  for  provisions  of  any  kind  is  called 
Foraging.  3.  The  undress  head-covering  of  a 
soldier  is  a  F.-cap. 

Foramen.  [L.  foro,  /  bore,  pierce.]  1.  An 
opening,  hole.  2.  (Bot. )  The  small  orifice  in 
the  integument  of  the  ovule. 

Foraminifera.  [L.  foramen,  an  aperture,  fero, 
I  carry.]  1.  (Zool.)  Ord.  of  Rhizopoda  (mouth- 
less  Protozoa,  capable  of  emitting  pseudopodia,  i.e. 
extensions  for  prehension  and  locomotion),  with 
a  test,  or  shell  of  carbonate  of  lime  or  of  cemented 
sand-grains,  filled,  and  sometimes  invested,  with 
sarcode.  The  pseudopodia  are  emitted  from  the 
mouth  of  or  through  holes  [foramina],  in  the 
shell,  which  is  sometimes  simple,  and  sometimes 
compound  like  that  of  the  Pearly  nautilus.  Sub- 
kingd.  Prdtozda.  (Amoeba.)  2.  (Geol.)  Their 
remains  are  found  in  the  sands  and  ooze  of  exist- 
ing seas,  and  in  very  many  sedimentary  strata,, 
especially  Fusulina  limestone,  chalk,  Nummulitic 
limestone,  Miliolite  limestone. 

Force  [L.L.  fortia,  strength,  from  fortis, 
strong] ;  F.  of  inertia ;  Living  F.  Any  cause 
which  changes  or  tends  to  change  the  state  of  a 
body  as  to  rest  or  motion  ;  it  is  measured  by  the 
quantity  of  motion  (i.e.  the  momentum)  which 
it  generates  (or  would  generate  if  constant)  in  a 
unit  of  time.  This  word  is  often  used  loosely 
and  even  inaccurately.  F.  of  inertia  is  the  re- 
action of  a  body  against  another  body  by  whose 
action  its  velocity  is  changed  in  magnitude  or 
direction.  (For  Living  F.,  vide  Vis  viva.) 

Forced  men.  (Naut. )  Men  serving  on  board 
a  pirate  from  compulsion. 

Force  majeure  [Fr.]  is  used  as  =  a  power 
against  which  one  can  do  nothing.  Sauf  les 
cas  de  F.  M.,  except  in  the  case  of  impossibilities \ 
(Vis  major;  Forlorn  hope.) 

Forceps.     [L.]     A  pair  of  pincers  or  tongs. 

Forcing-pump.  A  pump  with  a  solid  piston- 
or  plunger,  and  two  valves  in  immediate  con- 
nexion with  the  barrel ;  one  opening  upwards  at 
the  top  of  the  suction-pipe,  the  other  outwards  at 
the  junction  of  the  exit-pipe.  On  the  upstroke 
water  comes  up  the  suction-pipe  into  the  barrel, 
on  the  downstroke  it  is  forced  out  of  the  barrel 
into  the  exit-pipe,  and  so  to  the  cistern.  The 
one  valve  keeps  the  water  from  returning  out  of 
the  barrel  into  the  suction-pipe,  and  the  other 
out  of  the  exit-pipe  into  the  barrel. 

Fore-and-after.  (Araut.)  1.  A  cocked  hat 
worn  peak  in  front.  2.  A  schooner  without  any 
squaresails,  or  with  only  a  crossjack-yard. 

Fore-and-aft  sails.  (Naut. )  Any  sails  not  set 
on  a  yard. 

Forebear.    Ancestor,  ancestress* 

Forecastle.     In  a  man-of-war,  the  upper  deck 


FORE 


216 


FORU 


before  the  after  fore-shroud  ;  in  a  merchantman, 
the  seamen's  cabin  forward.  Top-gallant  F., 
a  raised  deck  extending  from  the  bows  to  the 
foremast,  which  it  includes. 

Foreclose.  [L.L.  foris  claudgrej  to  exclude 
from.}  (Leg.}  To  take  over  property  on  which 
one  holds  a  mortgage  upon  non-fulfilment  of  the 
mortgagor's  agreement ;  to  apply  for  the  ex- 
tinction of  the  mortgagor's  equity  of  redemption. 

Foreclosure.  A  closing  off  or  shutting  off  of  a 
mortgagor  from  all  right  or  equity  of  redemp- 
tion. (Foreclose.) 

Forefoot.  (ATaut.)  The  curved  timber  which 
joins  the  stem  and  keel. 

Forel,  Forril.  [O.Fr.  forel.]  Sheepskin  pre- 
pared for  binding,  for  drums,  etc. 

Forelock.  (A'aut.)  An  iron  wedge  driven 
through  a  bolt  to  hold  it  in  its  place. 

Foremast-man.    (Before  the  mast.) 

Forensic.  [L.  forensis,  belonging  to  the 
forum.]  Pertaining  to  courts  of  justice  and  law  ; 
e.g.  F.  medicine  (q.v.). 

Forensic  medicine,  i.q.  Medical  jurisprudence. 
Medicine  as  bearing  upon  questions  arising  in 
law  courts — of  death,  or  injury,  sanity,  legiti- 
macy, etc. 

Fore-peak.  (Naut.)  1.  The  narrowing  part 
of  a  vessel's  hold.  2.  The  part  under  the  lower 
deck,  close  to  the  bows. 

Fore-sheets  of  a  boat.  (Naut.)  The  part 
afore  the  bow  oar. 

Fore-sight.     (Back-sight.) 

Forestall.  [A.S.  foresteallan.]  (Leg.)  To 
buy  up  goods  before  they  get  to  the  market 
stalls,  with  intent  to  push  up  prices. 

Forest  courts.  Old  courts  for  governing  the 
royal  forests.  They  were :  Woodmote,  held  by  ver- 
derers  every  forty  days,  to  try  offences  against  vert 
or  venison  ;  court  of  regard,  every  third  year,  for 
expeditation  of  mastiffs  ;  sweinmote,  thrice  a  year 
before  the  verderers  and  a  jury  of  sweins  (free- 
holders) ;  justice  seat,  before  the  justice  in  eyre. 

Forest  fly.  Hippobosctts  [Gr.  tV7roj8oo-/«k,  horse- 
feeding].  (Entom.)  Gen.  of  dipterous  insect, 
round-bodied,  producing  its  young  advanced  to 
the  pupa  stage.  Gives  name  to  fam.  Hippo- 
boscidse  ;  forest  flies  and  sheep-ticks. 

Forest-marble  and  Fuller's-earth  Oolite. 
(Geol.)  Thin-bedded  Lower  Oolitic  strata  in  the 
west  of  England,  yielding  roofing-stone,  fuller's 
earth,  etc. 

Forfeiture.  [L.L.  forisfactura,  expulsion  or 
outlawry.}  (Leg.)  Punishment  annexed  to 
some  illegal  act  or  negligence  in  the  owner  of 
real  property,  by  which  his  interest  in  it  is  trans- 
ierred  to  another. 

Forgavel.     (Leg.)    Quit-rent. 

Forged  Decretals.  An  imposture  of  the  ninth 
century,  ascribed  to  Isidore  Mercator  ;  a  spu- 
rious collection  of  D.,  professedly  of  above 
thirty  successive  popes  of  the  first  three  centuries. 
They  -make  the  papal  power  supreme  over 
bishops,  give  appeal  to  Rome  in  all  cases,  from 
all  parts  of  the  world,  etc.  (Decretals.) 

Fork.    (Fast  and  loose  pulleys.) 

Forkers.  (Naut. )  Thieves  or  receivers  of  dock- 
yard stores ;  or  dealers  in  taem  when  stolen. 


Forlorn  hope.  [A.S.  for-loren,  lost  utterly.} 
(Mil.)  Formerly  the  officers  and  men  who 
volunteered  to  lead  the  way  in  some  specially 
dangerous  assault ;  a  work  now  carried  out  by 
those  next  for  duty.  [Hope,  D.  hoop,  Ger. 
haufen,  Eng.  heap,  is  body  of  men.}  (Force 
majeure;  Life  Guards.) 

Form  [L.  forma] ;  Hemihedral  F. ;  Holohe- 
dral  F.  Form,  in  Crystallog.,  consists  of  a  face 
and  of  the  other  faces  which  by  the  law  of 
symmetry  must  coexist  with  it ;  the  Holohedral 
F.  [Gr.  $\os,  whole,  fSpa,  seat,  base}  of  a  system 
are  such  as  possess  the  highest  degree  of  sym- 
metry ;  the  Hemihedral  F.  [TJ/U-,  half}  are 
obtained  from  the  holohedral  by  the  omission  in 
certain  ways  of  half  the  faces. 

Forma  pauperis,  In.  [Leg.  L.]  In  the  charac- 
ter of  a  destitute  petitioner. 

Formation.  [L.  formatio,  -nem,  a  shaping^ 
(Geol.)  Strictly,  subordinate  to  System,  and  = 
special  groups  of  strata. 

Forme.  [L.  forma.]  In  Printing,  the  type 
from  which  an  impression  is  to  be  taken, 
arranged  and  secured  in  a  chase  (q.v.). 

Formic  acid.  An  acid  obtained  originally 
from  red  ants  [L.  formicae]. 

Formication.  [L.  formica,  an  ant.}  A  feel- 
ing like  that  of  ants  creeping  over  any  part. 

Form-line.  A  line  used  in  surveying  to  give 
the  outline  of  the  shapes  of  hills,  and  to  mark 
the  points  where  the  changes  in  the  slopes  take 
place. 

Formula.  [L.]  In  Math. ,  a  rule  or  theorem 
expressed  by  means  of  algebraical  symbols. 

Formulary.  [L.  formula,  forma,  a  form.} 
(Eccl.)  1.  Any  book  containing  the  ceremonies, 
rites,  or  offices  of  the  Church.  2.  Any  writing 
containing  an  official  oath. 

Forsan  et  haec  olim  memmisse  juvabit.  [L.] 
Perhaps  it  will  one  day  be  a  pleasure  to  remember 
this  too  ( Virgil). 

Fortem  posce  animum.  [L.]  Pray  for  a 
brave  spirit  (Juvenal). 

Fortes  creantur  fortlbus  et  bonis.  [L.]  The 
brave  spring  from  the  brave  and  good  (Horace). 

Fort-major.  (Mil.)  Performs  duties  in  a 
garrison  for  the  commandant,  analogous  to  those 
which  an  adjutant  does  in  a  regiment. 

Fortunes  filius.  [L.]  A  (favourite)  child  of 
fortune. 

Fortuna  fortes  adjiivat.  [L.]  Fortune  helps 
the  brave  (Terence). 

Fortuna  multis  dat  nlmium,  nulli  satis.  [L.] 
Fortune  gives  too  mttch  to  many,  enough  to  none. 

Fortuna  non  mutat  genus.  [L.]  Fortune  does 
not  change  the  breed  (Horace). 

Fortunatus.  Hero  of  a  popular  German  story, 
who  had  an  inexhaustible  purse,  and  a  wishing- 
cap  which  took  the  wearer  instantly  to  any  part 
of  the  world  ;  these  two  miraculous  possessions 
proved  F.'s  ruin.  (Hermes.) 

Forty  thieves.  (Naut.)  Forty  line-of-battle 
ships  which  were  built  at  the  beginning  of  the 
century,  and  turned  out  badly. 

Forum.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Ant.,  any  open  space 
in  front  of  buildings,  especially  before  sepulchres. 
There  were  fora  for  merchandise,  as  well  as  for 


FOSS 


217 


FRAN 


judicial  and  civil  purposes.  Especially  the 
large  market-place  at  Rome,  where  courts  of 
justice  were  held,  public  speeches  made,  and 
money  transactions  carried  on. 

Fosse.     [Fr.,    from    L.    fossa,    a    ditch.}     In 
Fortif.,  the  ancient  term  for  ditch. 
Fossil  lightning.     (Fulgurites.) 
Fossils.     [L.  fossilis,  dug  up.]     A  word  now 
applied  to  petrified  organic  remains,  but  formerly 
these  were   termed    "extraneous   fossils,"   and 
minerals  were  the  real  F. 

Fossway.  One  of  the  great  Roman  roads, 
from  the  south-west  of  Cornwall,  by  Tetbury, 
Coventry,  and  Leicester,  to  Lincoln. 

Fothering.  (Naut.)  Stopping  a  leak  by  pass- 
ing a  prepared  sail  over  it ;  Lq.  Thrumming. 

Fougass.  [Fr.  fougasse,  L.  focus,  a  fire- 
place^ (Mil.)  Small  mine,  not  more  than  ten 
feet  underground,  ignited  from  surface ;  con- 
taining merely  a  bursting  charge,  loaded  shells, 
or  a  heap  of  stones,  to  destroy  a  small  work  or 
check  an  assault. 

Foul  anchor.  (Naut.)  An  anchor  is  foul,  or 
fouled,  (i)  when  it  hooks  anything  under  water, 
as  the  cable  of  another  vessel ;  (2)  when  the  slack 
of  the  cable  gets  round  its  stock,  or  fluke.  The 
Admiralty  badge  is  a  F.  A.  of  the  second  kind. 
Foulard.  [Fr.]  A  thin  fabric  of  silk  or  silk- 
cotton  ;  origin  of  the  word  unknown. 

Foul  berth.  (Naut.)  When  two  ships  are  so 
anchored  that  they  and  their  cables  cannot  swing 
clear. 

Foumart.     (Polecat.) 

Fount,  Font.    [Fr.  fonte,  from  fondre,  to  cast.} 
A  complete  set  of  printing  types  of  one  size. 
Four-centred  arch.     (Arch.) 
Fourchee.     [Fr.]     (Her.)     Having    the  ends 
forked  or  branched. 

Four-course  shift.     (Eotation  of  crops.) 
Fourierism.     A  system  of  socialism  ;  so  called 
from   Charles   Fourier,    of  Besanjon,    its    pro- 
mulgator,  who  died  in  1837. 
Fowler's  service.     (Rowan.) 
Fox.     [Heb.    shu'aL]     (Bibl.)     Includes   the 
jackal. 

Foxing.  1.  Turning  sour  ;  said  of  beer.  2.  Co- 
vering boots,  etc.,  with  new  front  upper-leather. 
3.  The  appearance  of  spots  upon  paper. 

Fox-tail.  (Bot. )  An  important  gen.  of  grasses, 
of  which  Alopecurus  pratensis,  ord.  Gramineae 
[Gr.  a\uir€KOvpos,  from  oAc«>7rrj|,  a  fox,  ovpd,  a 
tail],  is  one  of  the  best  for  pastures  and  for 
lawns. 

Foyer.  [Fr.]  (Theatr.)  The  green-room. 
[L.L.  focarium,  a  [fireplace.]  (i)  A  fireplace; 
then  (2)  a  home  ;  then  (3)  a  particular  room. 

Foying.  (Naut.)  Going  off  to  ships,  with 
provisions,  or  to  aid  them. 

Foyst.  (Naut.)  Old  name  for  Brigantine(q.-v.}. 
Fracas.     [Fr.  fracasser,  to  shatter,  It.  fracas- 
sare.]     Noisy   interruption,    quarrel  in   public, 
disturbance. 

Frache.  In  glassworks,  a  flat  iron  pan,  in 
which  glass  vessels  are  put,  to  be  placed  in  the 
oven. 

Fracted.  [L.  fractus,  broken}  (Her.}  Having 
a  part  displaced,  as  if  broken. 


Fraction.  [L.  fractio,  -nem,  a  breaking.}  In 
Arithmetic,  one  or  more  aliquot  parts  of  unity. 
A  F.  can  be  expressed  only  by  two  whole  num- 
bers, one  to  denote  the  parts  into  which  the  unit 
is  divided,  and  the  other  to  show  how  many  of 
these  parts  are  taken  to  form  the  F.  The  first 
of  these  numbers  is  called  the  denominator,  and 
the  second  the  numerator. 

Fra  Diavolo.  [It.,  Brother  Devil.}  1. 
Michele  Rezza  (1740-1806),  Calabrian  bandit 
and  guerilla  chief  against  the  French.  2.  Name 
of  a  bandit  in  Auber's  opera  of  that  name. 

Fradubio.  [It.  fia,  between,  dubbio,  doubt.] 
In  Spenser's  Faery  Queene,  a  type  of  the  un- 
decided in  that  day  in  the  matter  of  Rome  and 
the  Reformation. 

Frail.     [Norm,  fraile.]     A  rush  basket. 
Fraise.      [Fr.,  a  fringe,    from    Sp.    fresco.] 
(Mil.)     Pointed  stake,  a  row  of  which,  inclined 
downwards,  is  placed  along  the  upper  edge  of  a 
ditch,  to  increase  difficulty  of  an  assault. 

Frame  of  a  machine.  The  part  which  sup- 
ports the  moving  pieces. 

Franc.     The  French  unit  of  money.     It  is  a 

coin  made  of  nine  parts  of  pure  silver  and  one  of 

copper,  and  weighs  five  grammes ;  =  iod.t  nearly. 

Francesca  of  Rimini.     One    of  the  women 

whose  doom  is  related  by  Dante,  in  his  Inferno. 

Franciscans.     One    of   the    four    mendicant 

orders  founded  by  St.  Francis  of  Assisi,  in  1209. 

(Dominicans;  Orders,  Mendicant.) 

Franconia.  Name  of  a  German  province 
before  1714,  now  almost  included  in  N.W. 
Bavaria. 

Franc-tireur.  [Fr.,  lit.  free-shooter.]  Ir- 
regular sharp-shooter,  generally  raised  from 
amongst  the  dependents  of  the  French  country 
gentry  during  the  late  war  with  Germany ;  a 
revival  of  a  kind  of  soldier  common  in  the 
Middle  Ages. 

Frangas  non  flectes.  [L.]  You  may  break, 
yoii  will  not  bend  (Juvenal). 

Frangipanni.  [It.]  A  scent,  derived  from  a 
W.-Indian  flower. 

Frank-aleu.  In  feudal  language,  land  acknow- 
ledging no  superior ;  hence  not  a  tenure.  (Allo- 
dium.) 

Frankalmoigne.  [Norm.  Fr.,/ra?  alms.}  A 
gift  of  lands  to  those  who  were  consecrated  to 
the  service  of  God,  upon  the  condition  that 
Masses  and  divine  service  be  said  for  the  grantor 
and  his  heirs  ;  the  only  way,  anciently,  of  alien- 
ating without  an  heir's  consent  lands  which  had 
come  by  descent ;  and  the  tenure  by  which, 
mostly,  Church  lands  are  held  now  by  corpora- 
tions sole  or  aggregate  (q.v.). 

Frankenstein.  Mrs.  Shelley's  student,  who 
makes  a  soulless  monster,  endowed  with  a  kind 
of  human  life,  but  debarred  by  its  hideousness 
from  sympathy.  By  a  series  of  horrible  crimes, 
it  inflicts  a  terrible  vengeance  on  the  author  of 
its  wretched  being. 

Frank-fee.  Freehold  lands  exempt  from  all 
services  except  homage. 

Frankfort  black.  A  German  pigment  obtained 
from  calcined  vine  branches. 

Frankincense.     Exod.  xxx.  34  ;  a  constituent 


FRAN 


218 


FRES 


of  incense,  the  fragrant  gum  of  three  spec,  of 
Boswellia  (see  Speaker's  Commentary,  and 
"  Boswellia  "  in  Eng.  Cyd.). 

Frank  letters,  To.  To  send  them  free  of 
postage.  Members  of  either  House  of  Parlia- 
ment could  do  this,  by  signing  their  names  out- 
side. In  January,  1840,  when  the  penny  post 
was  introduced,  the  privilege  was  abolished. 

Franklin.  [O.E.]  A  bailiff  or  steward  of  an 
estate. 

Frank-marriage.  (Leg.)  A  kind  of  tenure 
by  which  tenements  were  held  when  given  to  a 
man  and  his  wife,  she  being  daughter  or  cousin 
to  the  donor,  for  them  and  the  heirs  of  their 
body,  with  no  service  except  fealty. 

Frankpledge.  (Feud.)  A  surety  given  by  a 
lord  for  his  tenants,  or  by  a  tything  for  its  mem- 
bers, making  the  lord  or  the  tything  responsible 
for  the  were,  or  money  payment  of  offences  com- 
mitted by  those  who  might  abscond.  The 
tythings,  as  thus  pledged,  were  called  Frith- 
borhs,  peace-boroughs.  This  word  became  cor- 
rupted into  Friborhs,  and  the  Normans  hence 
invented  the  phrase  Frankpledge.  (Leet,  Court.) 

Franks.  A  Germanic  confederacy  of  tribes, 
freemen,  who  established  themselves  in  and  gave 
the  name  to  France. 

Frank-tenement.  (Leg.)  A  freehold  estate 
held  under  tenure  of  (i)  knight-service,  (2)  of 
free  socage. 

Frap.  (Naut.)  A  boat  for  shipping  salt 
(Mayo,  Cape  de  Verde).  To  F.,  to  brace  tightly 
together.  To  F.  a  ship,  to  pass  a  large  rope 
round  her  four  or  five  times,  so  as  to  strengthen 
her ;  also,  to  snap  your  fingers,  and  to  beat 
[Fr.  frapper]. 

Frater  consanguinSus.  [L.]  A  half-brother 
by  the  father's  side ;  F.  utgrinus,  by  the  mother's. 

Fraticelli.  [It.,  brethren.}  (Ecd.  Hist.)  A 
Franciscan  sect  founded  in  Italy  in  the  thirteenth 
century.  At  the  Reformation  they  embraced 
the  doctrines  of  Luther. 

Frau.     [Ger.]     Wife,  Mrs. 

Fraulein.     [Ger.]     Young  lady,  Miss. 

Fraunhofer's  lines.  First  examined  by  F.,  of 
Bavaria  (died  1826).  A  great  number  of  very 
narrow  dark  lines  crossing  the  solar  spectrum  at 
right  angles  to  its  length.  (Spectrum  analysis.) 

Fraxinella.    (Dittany.) 

Fray.  [Fr.  effrayer,  L.  exfrigidare.]  Deut. 
xxviii.  26  ;  to  affray,  scare. 

Freebench.  (Leg.)  Dower  of  a  widow  out 
of  copyholds,  to  which  the  custom  of  some 
manors  entitles  her ;  generally  a  third  for  life. 
The  right  does  not  attach  till  the  husband's 
decease,  while  the  right  to  dower  attaches  at 
marriage. 

Free-board.  (Naut.)  A  ship's  side  from  the 
water-line  to  the  gunwale. 

Free-borough  men.  (Leg.)  The  great  men, 
who  were  exempt  from  frankpledge. 

Free  cities,  German.  Hamburg,  Bremen, 
Lubeck,  Franfort-on-the-Maine;  sovereign  mem- 
bers of  the  German  confederation. 

Freedmen.  In  Gr.  and  Rom.  Hist.,  persons 
set  free  from  slavery.  (Libertines.) 

Freehold.     (Leg.)    1.  Tenure  in  free  socage, 


originally  feudal,  now  the  only  free  lay  mode  of 
holding  property,  only  the  honorary  services 
of  grand  serjeanty  being  retained  after  the  Re- 
storation. 2.  An  estate  in  real  property  held  in 
fee  simple,  fee  tail,  or  for  life. 

Free  imperial  cities.  In  Europ.  Hist., 
cities  which  acknowledged  no  head  but  the 
emperor,  and  were  thus  virtually  independent. 
Some  of  these  cities  formed  themselves  into 
leagues.  (Hanseatic  League.) 

Free  lance.  An  independent  person  ;  metaph. 
from  the  mercenaries  of  the  Middle  Ages,  who 
offered  their  services  to  any  side. 

Freeman.  (Leg.)  1.  One  born  or  made  free 
of  certain  municipal  privileges  and  immunities. 
2.  One  having  a  franchise.  3.  An  allodial  pro- 
prietor. 

Free-martin.     A  cow-calf,  twin  with  a  bull. 

Freemason.  Properly  a  guild  or  fraternity  of 
builders,  the  word  being  not  improbably  a  con- 
traction for  "freestone"  mason.  In  the  Middle 
Ages  this  guild  was  especially  patronized  by  the 
see  of  Rome  j  and  to  this  fraternity  we  owe 
probably  the  stately  magnificence  of  our  great 
churches  and  cathedrals.  In  Scotland  the  Abbey 
of  Kilwinning  was  built  by  the  freemasons  in 
the  thirteenth  century ;  and  the  Kilwinning  and 
York  lodges  are  the  most  ancient  in  Scotland 
and  England.  A  severe  Act  was  passed  against 
the  association  by  the  Parliament  of  1425,  but 
it  seems  to  have  remained  inoperative ;  and 
Henry  VII.  was  succeeded  by  Cardinal  Wolsey 
as  Grand  Master  of  the  order.  The  first  grand 
lodge  in  London  was  formed  in  1717  »  the  first 
French  lodge,  in  1725;  the  first  American,  in 
1730;  the  first  German,  in  1735. 

Free  ship.  (Naut.)  A  pirate,  in  which  all 
share  plunder  equally. 

Free  socage.  (Leg.)  Plough-service,  a  free 
tenure  of  property  originally  distinct  from  the 
military  tenures  of  knight-service  or  tenure  in 
chivalry,  grand  serjeanty,  and  cornage ;  and 
comprising  petty  serjeanty,  tenure  in  burgage, 
and  gavelkind. 

Free-warren.  (Leg.)  Royal  franchise  granted 
for  the  care  of  beasts  and  fowls  of  warren. 

Freezing  point.     (Thermometer.) 

Freight.  [Ger.  fracht.]  1.  The  sum  paid  for 
the  use  of  a  vessel,  or  carrying  of  goods.  2.  The 
load  itself. 

Fremden-blatt.     [Ger.]     List  of  visitors. 

French-berries.  Buckthorn  berries,  which 
give  a  green  or  purple  dye. 

French-chalk.  A  kind  of  hardened  talc,  used 
for  drawing  lines  on  cloth,  etc. 

French  white.     Pulverized  talc. 

Fresco.  [It.,  fresh,  L.  frigidus.]  Painting 
on  fresh  plaster  with  water-colours. 

Freshen,  To.  (Naut. )  To  move  anything  so 
as  to  lessen  the  strain,  to  relieve  a  certain  part 
or  to  give  it  a  different  effect ;  as  to  F.  a  hawse, 
to  F.  ballast. 

Freshet.  [From  fresh.}  A  river  swollen  by 
rain  and  rushing  to  the  sea  with  a  current  wider 
and  more  rapid  than  usual. 

Freshman.  (Univ.)  An  undergraduate 
student  in  his  first  year  of  residence. 


FRET 


219 


FRIU 


Fret.  1.  (Arch.}  An  ornament  consisting 
of  small  fillets  cutting  each  other  at  right  angles. 
2.  (Her.)  An  ordinary  consisting  of  two 
diagonal  bands,  called  laths,  interlaced  with  a 
mascle.  An  escutcheon  cross-barred  with  many 
interlacing  laths  is  called  Pretty. 

Frets.  [Fr.  ferrette,  an  iron  clamp.]  (Music.) 
Small  projections  across  the  finger-board  of 
guitars,  etc.  ;  by  pressure  of  the  finger  upon 
them  the  vibrating  length,  and  therefore  the 
pitch,  is  regulated. 

Fretwork.    In  woodwork,  a  pattern  sawn  out. 

Freya.     (Thor.) 

Friar.  [Fr.  frere^  L.  frater,  brother.]  A 
general  name  for  the  members  of  any  religious 
order,  but  applied  especially  to  the  mendicants. 
(Orders,  Mendicant.) 

Friborough,  Frithburgh.    (Frankpledge.) 

Fricandeau.  [Fr.]  A  ragout  or  fricassee  of  veal. 

Fricative.  [From  L.  fricatus,  a  rubbing.] 
(Lang.)  A  continuous  consonant,  for  which 
the  articulating  organs  are  approximated  during 
emission  of  breath  just  before  the  separation 
which  completes  the  consonantal  articulation. 
In  English  the  principal  fricatives  are  sh,  zh  (s 
in  pleasure),  y,  r,  I,  n,  th,  s,  z,  f,  z>,  w,  m. 

Friction  [L.  frictio,  -nem,  for  fricatiS,  -nem, 
a  rubbing] ;  Angle  of  F. ;  F.  brake ;  Coefficient 
of  F. ;  F.  cones ;  F.  coupling ;  F.  rollers ;  Boll- 
ing  F. ;  F.  wheels.  Friction  is  the  tangential 
resistance  offered  by  one  body  to  the  sliding 
of  another  body  over  it.  Coefficient  of  F., 
the  ratio  of  the  tangential  resistance  to  the 
normal  reaction  of  a  body  against  another  body 
which  is  sliding,  or  on  the  point  of  sliding  over 
it.  Angle  of  F.,  an  angle  so  taken  that  its 
(trigonometric)  tangent  equals  the  coefficient  of 
friction.  Rolling  F.,  the  resistance  offered  by 
one  body  to  the  rolling  of  another  over  it,  due 
to  the  mutual  compression  at  the  point  of  con- 
tact. F.  coupling,  a  mode  of  connecting  two 
pieces  by  their  friction  when  liable  to  sudden 
changes  of  force  or  velocity  ;  e.g.  by  a  turn  of 
a  screw  a  number  of  metal  plates  carried  by 
one  piece  may  be  pressed  against  a  number  of 
wooden  plates,  and  then  the  connexion  between 
the  pieces  is  established  by  a  force  equal  to  the 
friction  multiplied  by  the  number  of  contacts 
between  the  plates  ;  another  kind  is  a  pair  of 
F.  cones,  viz.  a  solid  cone  on  one  shaft  fitting 
into  a  hollow  cone  on  the  other.  F.  rollers  are 
placed  under  a  heavy  body  that  is  to  be  moved 
forward,  so  as  to  substitute  rolling  friction  for 
the  much  greater  resistance  of  ordinary  friction. 
For  a  like  reason  an  axle  is  sometimes  placed 
in  the  angle  between  each  of  two  pairs  of  F. 
•wheels  instead  of  being  placed  on  two  fixed 
supports.  (For  F.  brake,  vide  Brake.) 

Friends,  Society  of.  More  generally  known 
as  Quakers  (q.v.). 

Friends  of  God.  (Hist.)  A  secret  brother- 
hood, not  organized,  formed  in  the  fourteenth 
century,  by  certain  who  held  that  union  with 
God  was  not  to  be  limited  by  the  observance  of 
particular  ordinances. — Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin 
Christianity,  bk.  xiv.  ch.  7.  (Quakers.) 

Frieze.      1.    (Arch.)      (Order.)      2.     Coarse 


woollen  cloth,  with  a  nap  on  one  side  ,  perhaps 
originally  =  cloth  of  Friesland. 

Frigate.  [Sp.  fregata,  a  word  of  uncertain 
origin.]  In  the  Navy,  ranks  after  a  line-of- 
battle  ship.  Formerly  built  for  swift  sailing,  and 
carrying  from  twenty-eight  to  sixty  guns.  F.  -built, 
with  raised  quarter-deck,  and  forecastle.  Vessels 
having  a  flush-deck  are  galley-built. 

Frigate-bird.  (Ornith.)  Fregetta,  gen.  and 
spec,  of  birds  ,  adult  male  about  three  feet  long 
and  eight  across  ;  black  with  red  pouch.  Tro- 
pical seas.  Fam.  PelScanTdae,  ord.  AnsSres. 

Frigatoon.  (Nattt.)  1.  A  square -sterned 
Venetian  vessel  with  only  main  and  jigger 
masts,  and  a  bowsprit.  2.  A  sloop  of  war, 
ship-rigged. 

Frigidarium.  [L.]  The  cooling-room  in  a 
Roman  bath. 

Friling,  Freoling.     A  freeman  born. 

Frimaire.  [Fr  frimas,  hoar-frost.]  Third 
month  of  the  first  French  Republican  calendar, 
from  November  21  to  December  20. 

Fringes  of  shadows.    (Diffraction  of  light.) 

Fringillidse.  [L.  fringilla,  finch.]  (Ornith) 
Finches,  an  extensive  fam,  of  small,  short-billed 
birds,  ord.  Passeres.  Some  authorities  class  the 
Emberizidse  [Ger.  ammer,  emberitz],  buntings, 
among  them ;  others  exclude  the  Australian 
finches,  so  called. 

Friponnerie.  [Fr.  fripon,  a  gourmand,  then 
a  cheating  trickster ;  friper,  to  rumple,  to  gulp 
down.]  Rascality,  trickery. 

Frisian.  Of  Friesland,  north  of  Nether- 
lands. F.  dialects  are  Low  German. 

Frisket.  [Fr.  frisquette.]  1.  A  light  iron 
frame  which  turns  down  over  the  sheet  to  be 
printed,  to  hold  it  firm  and  keep  the  margin 
clean  and  fresh  [Fr.  frisque  (Littre)].  2.  The 
paper  with  which  wood-engravers,  when  taking 
a  proof  of  their  work,  cover  that  portion  of  the 
woodcut  which  is  not  cut  away,  but  which  forms 
no  part  of  the  engraving. 

Frit.  [Fr.  fritte,  It.  fritta,  fried.]  1.  Semi- 
vitrified  earthenware,  often  pounded  and  used 
for  glaze.  2.  The  material  for  glass,  after  cal- 
cination, but  before  fusion. 

Frith-.  [A.S.  frithn,  O.H.G.  fridn,  Ger. 
friede.]  Peace.  (Frankpledge.) 

Frith  gilds,  i.e.  Peace  clubs.  Voluntary  asso- 
ciations of  neighbours  for  purposes  of  order  and 
self-defence,  general  throughout  Europe  in  the 
ninth  and  tenth  centuries  ;  on  the  Continent 
roughly  met  and  suppressed  ;  in  England  recog- 
nized, as  aiding  social  order. — Green's  Hist,  of 
English  People,  p.  191. 

Frithman.  Member  of  an  association  for  the 
keeping  of  the  peace. 

Frithsoke,  Frithsoken.  [A.S.]  (Leg.)  The 
right  of  liberty  of  frankpledge. 

FritiUary.  [L.  fritillus,  dice-box.]  (Bot.) 
Snake's-head,  Fritillaria  meleagris,  ord.  Lilia- 
cese  ;  a  native  bulbous  plant,  with  chequered 
tulip-shaped  flower  ;  in  meadows  and  pastures, 
throughout  Europe. 

Friuli,  corr.  of  Fdrum  Julii.  Not  marked  in 
modern  maps,  once  capital  of  Venetia  ;  after- 
wards a  Lombardic  duchy  ;  ceded  at  the  fall  of 


FROG 


220 


FULL 


Venice  (1797)  to  Austria;  in  extent  =  modern 
province  of  Udine. 

Frog.  1.  [Possibly  a  corr.  of  fork,  which  it 
resembles  in  shape  (Skeat) ;  but  the  Greeks 
also  called  it  pdrpaxos,  frog.}  Projection  in 
the  hollow  part  of  a  horse's  hoof.  2.  Strip  of 
leather  attached  to  the  waist-belt  for  carrying 
the  sword  or  bayonet.  3.  Loops  of  braid  which 
hang  from  the  undress  coats  of  some  officers. 
Froglanders.  (Naut.)  Dutchmen. 
Froissart,  Chronicle  of,  i.e.  by  Sire  Jean 
Froissart.  A  very  valuable,  abundant,  and 
lively  record  of  contemporary  character  and 
manners,  from  1326  to  1400,  i.e.  about  =  reigns 
of  Edward  III.  and  Richard  II.;  the  greater 
part  derived  from  his  own  life  at  the  courts  of 
Edward  and  Philippa,  of  David  Bruce,  with 
the  Black  Prince  in  Aquitaine,  with  the  Duke 
of  Clarence  in  Italy  and  Amadeus  of  Savoy 
(Chaucer  and  Petrarch  being  his  companions), 
with  the  Duke  of  Brabant,  Count  of  Blois,  and 
Richard  II.  It  is  written  in  Anglo-Norman 
French. 

Frond.  [L.  frons,  frond,  -em,  a  leaf.]  (Bot.) 
A  combination  of  leaf  and  stem,  as  in  many 
algae  and  liverworts  ;  also  applied  to  ferns. 

Fronde,  War  of  the.  [Fr.  fronde,  a  sling.} 
In  Fr.  Hist.,  the  war  waged  by  the  partisans 
of  the  Parliament  against  the  government  of 
Cardinal  Mazarin  in  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV. 

Frondeurs.  [Fr.]  The  supporters  of  the 
Parliament  in  the  war  of  the  Fronde. 

Front!  nulla  fides.  [L.]  ( There  is)  no  trust- 
worthiness in  outward  features  (lit.  brow) 
(Juvenal). 

Front  of  fortification.  The  part  constructed 
on  one  side  of  a  polygon,  consisting  of  the  face 
and  inner  flanks  of  two  collateral  bastions  with 
their  connecting  curtain. 

Frou-frou.  [Fr.]  A  rustling ;  as  of  leaves, 
of  silk,  etc.  ;  onomatop. 

Fructidor.  [Fr.,  a  mongrel  word,  from  L. 
fmctus,  fruif,  and  seemingly  Gr.  Swpov,  a  gift.} 
The  twelfth  month  in  the  French  Republican 
calendar,  August  18  to  September  16. 

Fructification.  In  Bot.,  the  parts  of  the 
flower  ;  or  the  fruit  and  its  parts. 

Fructuary.  [L.  fructuarius,  productive,  enjoy- 
ing usufruct,  from  fructus,  fruit,  enjoyment'} 
(Leg.)  One  who  has  use  of  the  produce  of  pro- 
perty, one  who  enjoys  the  usufruct. 

Fruit.  [L.  fructus.]  That  part  of  a  plant 
which  consists  of  the  ripened  carpels  and  the 
parts  adhering  to  them. 

Frumenty.  [L.  frumentum,  wheat.}  Food 
made  of  wheat  boiled  in  milk  and  sweetened 
and  spiced. 

Frump,  To,  =  to  mock  ;  to  insult.  A  very 
old  word,  occurring  in  the,  dictionaries  of  Cot- 
grave  and  Minshew.  "I  was  abas'd  and 
frumped,  sir  "  (Beaumont  and  Fletcher).  This 
old  word,  though  long  out  of  use  in  England, 
still  lingers  among  the  descendants  of  the  first 
settlers  in  New  England.  — Bartlett's  American- 
isms. 

Frustum.  [L.,  a  piece,  bit.}  The  portion  of  a 
solid — in  most  cases  of  a  pyramid  or  cone — 


which  is  left  when  the  top  is  cut  off  by  a  plane 
section. 

Fucites,  Fucoids.  [L.  fucus,  rock-lichen, 
wrongly  translated  seaweed.}  (Geol.)  Seaweed- 
like  impressions,  occurring  in  many  strata  ; 
often  due  to  tracks  and  burrowings  of  worms 
and  small  crustaceans. 

Fucivorous.  [L.  fucus,  or  rather  Gr.  QVKOS, 
seaweed,  voro,  /  devour.}  Eating  seaweed. 
Sheep  in  Iceland  are  F. 

Fud.     Woollen  waste. 

Fuer.  [L.  fugere,  to  flee.}  (Leg.)  Flight ; 
fuer  in  fait,  actual  flight ;  fuer  in  ley,  non-ap- 
pearance when  called  in  a  county  court. 

Fueros.  [Sp.]  (Hist.)  The  name  given  to 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  certain  Spanish  sub- 
jects. It  corresponds  to  the  O.Fr.  for  or  fors, 
and  may  come  from  the  L.  forum,  or  from  Sp. 
fuera,  without.  These  privileges  especially  dis- 
tinguish the  Basque  provinces. 

Fu-fu.  (Naut.)  Barley  and  treacle  made 
into  a  kind  of  pudding. 

Fugitation.  [From  L.  fiigito,  I  flee,  freq.  of 
fugio,  I  flee. \  In  Scot.  Law,  sentence  of  forfei- 
ture of  goods  pronounced  against  one  who  does 
not  obey  a  citation  to  answer  a  charge  in  court. 

Fugit  hora.     [L.]     Time  is  flying. 

Fugit  irrevocable  tempus.  [L.]  Time  is 
flying,  not  to  be  recalled  (Virgil). 

Fugleman.  [Ger.  flugelmann,  from  fliigel,  a 
wing.}  (Mil.)  1.  Specially  well-drilled  soldier 
posted  in  front  of  a  battalion  to  give  the  time  to 
the  others  in  performing  the  musket  exercises. 
2.  Leader,  guide,  director  in  general. 

Fugue.  [Fr.,  L.  fiiga,  a  flying.}  (Music.)  A 
contrapuntal  composition,  not  easily  defined. 
The  parts,  not  beginning  at  once,  follow  or 
pursue  one  another  at  intervals.  A  short  theme 
or  melody  generally  begins ;  then  follows  the 
answer,  i.e.  the  same  theme  a  fifth  higher  or  a 
fourth  lower.  The  third  part  gives  the  original 
subject  in  the  principal  key  but  an  octave  higher 
or  lower,  and  is  also  followed  by  its  answer. 
The  themes  are  treated  with  freedom  and  variety, 
and  recur  at  diminished  intervals  of  time. 

Fuit  ilium.  [L.]  Troy  has  been,  i.e.  ceased 
to  be. 

Fulcjum.     (Lever.) 

Fulguration.  [L.  fulguratio,  -nem,  from  fulgur, 
lightning.'}  The  sudden  brightening  of  a  metal 
in  assaying  as  the  last  impurity  is  driven  off. 

Fulgurites.  [L.  fulgur,  lightning.}  Vitrified 
sand-tubes,  mostly  vertical,  twenty  feet  or  more 
in  depth,  produced  by  lightning  through  sand  ; 
called  sometimes  Fossil  lightning. 

Full  and  by.  (Naut.)  Sailing  as  near  as  pos- 
sible to  the  wind  without  letting  the  sails  shake. 

Full-bottomed.  (Naut.)  A  ship  designed  to 
carry  a  large  cargo. 

Full  due.  (Naut.)  1.  For  good,  for  ever, 
complete.  2.  As  an  order,  =  belay. 

Fuller's  earth.  A  compact,  friable,  unctuous 
clay,  not  plastic,  falling  to  pieces  in  water ;  often 
greenish  ;  absorbing  grease,  and  once  much  used 
in  fulling.  In  Oolite  (Somerset)  and  Cretaceous 
and  Neocomian  systems  (Surrey). 

Fuller's  Worthies  of   England  and    Wales. 


FULL 


221 


FUTH 


Biographical  notices  of  eminent  Englishmen,  an 
abundant  treasure  of  curious  stories  and  observa 
tions,  by  Thomas  Fuller,  a  royalist  clergyman, 
and  "a  wise  and  leained  humourist"  (i6ox- 
1661). 

Fulling.  [L.  fullo,  a  fuller.}  In  Manuf., 
scouring,  cleansing,  and  thickening  clo'di  by 
beating  it  with  hammers  in  a  mill. 

Full  man.  (Naut.)  In  coasting  vessels,  i.q. 
A.B.  (q.v.). 

Fulmar.  (Ornith.}  A  gen.  of  birds,  fam. 
ProcellarildDe  (petrel  kind),  ord.  Anseres.  A 
spec,  supplying  food  and  oil  inhabits  St.  Kilda, 
Hebrides ;  it  is  about  twenty  inches  long ; 
plumage  grey  above,  white  below,  white  head 
and  neck. 

Fulminating  [L.  fulmmare,  fulminatum,  to 
lighten}  gold,  silver,  mercury.  Explosive  com- 
pounds formed  of  the  oxides  of  these  metals 
combined  with  ammonia  or  nitrogen. 

Fumage.  [L.  fumus,  smoke.}  A  chimney 
tax  or  hearth  money  ;  abolished  in  the  reign  of 
William  III. 

Fumarole.  [It.,  from  L.  fumare,  to  smoke.} 
An  opening  in  a  volcanic  region,  from  which 
steam  and  gaseous  vapours  escape. 

Fumitory,  Common.  (Bot.)  A  wild  plant, 
Fumaria  officinalis,  ord.  Fumariaceoe,  exhaling 
an  unpleasant  smell  like  smoke  [L.  fumus]. 

Funambulist.  [L.  funambiilus,  rope-dancer, 
from  funis,  rope,  ambiilo,  /  walk.}  A  rope- 
dancer,  a  performer  on  the  rope. 

Fund,  Sinking.     (Sinking  fund.) 

Fundamental  laws.     (Organic  laws.) 

Funds.  [L.  fundus,  bottom,  depth.}  Origin- 
ally the  taxes  or  funds  appropriated  for  the  dis- 
charge of  the  principle  of  Government  loans 
upon  terminable  annuities ;  now  the  various 
stocks  constituting  the  public  debt,  of  which  far 
the  largest  part  consists  of  three  per  cent.  Con- 
sols, i.e.  Consolidated  annuities,  formed  from  the 
throwing  together  of  several  separate  stocks 


Fungibiles  res.  [Leg.  L.]  Movable  goods 
which  can  be  replaced  so  that  the  difference 
could  not  be  distinguished,  they  being  estimated 
by  weight,  number,  or  measure. 

Funicular  polygon.  [L.  funiculus,  a  slender 
rope.}  The  form  assumed  by  a  thread  supported 
at  both  ends  when  weights  are  fastened  to  dif- 
ferent points  of  it. 

Funiculus.  [L.,  a  little  cord.}  (Bot.)  The 
stalk  by  which  some  seeds  are  attached  to  the 
placenta. 

Funny.  (Naut.)  A  long,  narrow,  clinker- 
built  boat,  propelled  by  one  sculler  only. 

Funny-bone.  Not  a  bone  at  all ;  popular  name 
for  the  sensation  produced  by  pressing  on  the 
ulnar  nerve  as  it  passes  between  the  inner  con- 
dyle  of  the  hiimerus  and  the  olecranon  process 
of  the  ulna. 

Furbelow.  [Fr.  falballa,  a  word  traced  to  the 
time  of  Louis  XIV.,  of  unknown  origin;  ac- 
cording to  Menage,  a  word  invented  in  a  joke 
(see  Littre,  s.v.).}  A  flounce,  a  plait,  on  any  part 
of  a  dress. 

Furcam  et  nagellum,  Per.     [Leg.  L.,  by  gal- 


lows and  whip.}  The  lowest  servile  tenure, 
when  the  lord  had  power  of  life  and  limb  over 
the  bondman. 

Furcifer.      [L.]     Among  the   Romans,    one 
who  had  to  bear  the  furca,  a  two -pronged  in- 
strument in  shape  like  the  letter  V,  for  carrying 
burdens.     Hence  any  low  rascal  or  scoundrel. 
Furies.     (Erinyes ;  Eumenides.) 
Furlong.     [Corr.  of  furrow-long.}   The  eighth 
part  of  a  mile,  or  220  yards. 

Furlough.  [D.  verlof,  leave.}  (Mil.)  Leave 
of  absence  granted  to  a  non-commissioned  officer 
or  soldier. 

Furniture.  [Fr.  fourniture.]  1.  In  Printing, 
wood  or  metal  pieces  to  place  around  the  type 
in  "locking  up,"  i.e.  tightening  in  the  chase, 
or  iron  frame,  the  types  when  ready  for  printing. 
2.  (Naut.)  The  rigging,  sails,  spars,  etc.,  pro- 
visions, and  every  article  with  which  a  ship  is 
fitted,  including  boats. 

Furor  anna  ministrat.  [L.]  Rage  supplies 
weapons  (Virgil). 

Fuse.  [Fr.  fusee,  originally  a  spindleful  of 
thread,  L.  fusata,  and  so  any  pipe-shaped 
hollow.]  (Mil.}  Funnel-shaped  tube  of  beech 
wood  filled  with  a  composition  of  gunpowder, 
fixed  into  the  side  of  a  shell  for  the  purpose  of 
causing  it  to  explode  at  a  regulated  time  after 
leaving  the  gun. 

Fusee.  [Fr.  fusee,  a  spindleful  of  thread,  L. 
fusata.]  Of  a  watch,  the  conical  wheel  round 
which  the  chain  passes  in  a  spiral  groove  to  the 
barrel  containing  the  mainspring.  It  is  designed 
to  equalize  the  action  of  the  mainspring  by 
enabling  it  to  act  at  a  greater  leverage  as  its 
force  is  diminished  by  its  gradual  unwinding. 

Fusel.  [Ger.  fusel,  bad  liquor J\  A  poisonous 
alcohol  found  in  new  spirits. 

Fusible  metal.  An  alloy  of  one  part  of  bis- 
muth, one  of  lead,  two  of  tin.  It  melts  at  a  heat 
below  the  boiling  point  of  water. 

Fusiform.  (Bot. )  Of  the  shape  of  a  spindle 
"L.  fusus],  thickest  in  the  middle  and  tapering 
upwards  and  downwards,  as  the  root  of  a  radish. 

Fusil.  (Her.)  An  ordinary  shaped  like  a 
spindle  [L.  fusus]  or  elongated  lozenge. 

Fusil.  [Fr.  fusil,  hammer  of  a  gun.~\  (Mil.) 
Short  musket  formerly  carried  by  sergeants  and 
certain  regiments  called  Fusiliers. 

Fust.  (Naut.)  A  low,  roomy,  armed  vessel, 
fitted  with  sails  and  oars,  used  as  a  tender  to 
galleys.  Also  a  scampavia  (q.v.),  barge,  or 
jinnace. 

Fustet.  [Fr.,  dim.  of  O.Fr.  fust,  fut,  forest 
vood,  L.  fustis,  a  long  piece  of  wood.  ]  The  wood 
)f  a  shrub  (Sumach)  of  S.  Europe,  which  yields 
i  fine  orange  colour. 

Fustian.  [O.Fr.  fustaine,  from  Fostat,  i.e. 
Cairo,  where  it  was  made.]  A  kind  of  coarse 
willed  cotton  stuff,  including  corduroy,  vel- 
veteen, etc. 

Fustic.  [Fr.  fustoc  and  -tok.]  A  W.-Indian 
,vood  used  in  dyeing  yellow.  Young  fustic  is 
another  name  for  Fustet. 

Futhorc.  Ancient  Runic  alphabet ;  its  first 
ix  letters  are  /,  u,  thy  o,  r,  c. — Isaac  Taylor, 
Greeks  and  Goths. 


FUTT 


GALE 


Futtocks,  or  Foot-hooks.  (Naut.)  The  pieces 
of  timber  composing  a  ship's  frame.  There  are 
four  or  five  in  each  rib.  Those  next  the  keel 
are  Ground  F.%  or  navel- timbers,  the  others 
Upper  F. 


Futurition.     [Fr.]     Future  state. 

Fyrd,  Fyrdung.  The  militia.  (Trinoda  ne- 
cessitas.) 

Fyrdwite.  (Leg.)  Fine  for  neglecting  to  join 
the  fyrd. 


G.  Was  used  by  the  Romans  as  an  abbrev.  for 
Gens.  G.L.  stood  for  Genius  loci,  and  G.P.R. 
for  Gloria  populi  Romani.  As  a  numeral,  it 
denoted  400. 

Gabardine,  Gaberdine.  [It.  gavardina,  a  word 
of  Celt,  origin.]  A  coarse  frock,  a  smock.  (The 
O.Fr.  galleverdine,  galvardine,  suggest  farthin- 
gale, q.v.) 

Gabarre,  (Naut.)  French  store-ship  ;  formerly 
a  lighter. 

Gabart,  Gabbert,  or  Gabert.  (Naut.)  A  kind 
of  lighter  on  Scotch  rivers  and  canals. 

Gabel.  [A.S.  gafel,  perhaps  from  gifan,  to 
give.]  Any  impost  or  tax.  In  France  the  gabelle, 
when  used  by  itself,  came  to  denote  especially 
tihe  duties  on  salt ;  otherwise  it  was  spoken  of  as 
the  Gabelle  de  vins,  de  drape,  etc.  (Gavel.) 

Gabelle.     (Gabel.) 

Gabion.  [Fr.,  from  It.  gabbione,  and  this 
from  gabbia,  cage.]  (Fortif.)  Strong  cylindrical 
basket  withouftop  or  bottom,  three  feet  high  by 
two  feet  in  diameter.  Gabions  are  filled  with 
earth,  and  used  for  supporting  earthworks  in  a 
steep  position. 

Gable,  or  Gabulle,  (Naut.)  Old  name  for  a 
cable. 

Gad.  [O.Fr.  gad,  goad  or  sting.]  A  pointed 
wedge  used  by  miners. 

Gad-fly.  [O.K.  gad,  a  point ',  a  goad.] 
(Breeze-fly.) 

Gadhelic.  (Lang.)  Keltic  languages  are  di- 
vided into  Cymric  and  G. ,  which  latter  includes 
Erse,  Gaelic,  and  Manx.  (Keltic  languages.) 

Gad-yang.     (Naut.)    Cochin-China  coaster. 

Gaelic  (Gaidheal,  Gael).  The  dialect  of  the 
Scotch  Highlands,  a  branch  of  the  Gadhelic  divi- 
sion of  Celtic  (Keltic).  (Erse.) 

Gaff.  [Ir.  gaf,  Welsh  caff,  Q  hook,  grapple.] 
(Naut.)  The  spar  which  extends  the  upper  end 
of  fore-and-aft  sails,  other  than  stay  and  sprit 
sails.  The  end  next  the  mast  is  the  jaw,  the  other 
end  the  peak.  The  jaw  is  semicircular  and  fits 
on  the  mast,  to  which  it  is  secured  by  the  jaw- 
rope,  which  has  wooden  balls,  called  trucks, 
strung  on  it  to  lessen  the  friction. 

Gaffer.  [A  corn  of  gramfer,  as  gammer  is  of 
grammer,  the  west  of  England  forms  of  grand- 
father and  grandmother  (Halliwell,  quoted  by 
Skeat).]  Old  fellow,  once  a  title  of  respect. 

Gaffoldgild.  (Leg.)  Payment  of  custom  or 
tribute  (gafol).  (Gavel.) 

Gaffoldland,  Gafol-land.    Property  subject  to 
Gaffoldgild. 
Gafol.    (Gavel.) 
Gage.    [O.Fr.  ganger.]    (Naut.)    The  depth 


to  which  a  ship  lies  in  the  water.  A  ship  to 
windward  of  another  has  the  Weather-  G.,  to  lee- 
ward the  Lee-G.,  of  her. 

Gage.  [Fr.  gage,  L.L.  gadium,  vadium,  from 
Teut.  vadi,  akin  to  L.  vas,  gen.  vadis,  surety  ; 
cf.  Ger.  wette,  bet.  A.S.  wedd,  pledge,  from  root 
vadh,  carry  home  ;  cf.  Skt.  vadhu,  young  "wife] 
Pledge.  Estates  in  G.  are  held  in  vivum  vadium, 
vifgage  (<?'V-)>  °r  mortuum  vadium,  mortage 
(q.v.). 

Gage  d'amour.  \¥\:,  pledge  of  loz>e.]  Love- 
token. 

Gaillardise.  [Fr.]  Excessive  merriment  ;  in 
the  plu.,  indecent  jokes,  from  Fr.  gaillard, 
sprightly;  cf.  Cymr.  gall,  strength,  Gael,  galach, 
courage. 

Gained  day.  (Naut.)  In  the  navy,  when  the 
globe  is  circumnavigated  to  the  eastward  (by 
which  a  day  and  night  are  gained)  pay  is  given 
for  that  day. 

Gain  the  wind,  To.  (Nattt.)  To  get  to  wind- 
ward of  another  vessel  when  both  are  going  to 
windward. 

Gair-fowl.  [Celt,  gairan,  to  call.]  (Ornith.) 
The  great  auk.  (Alca  ;  Auk.) 

Galactometer,  Lactometer.  [Gr.  yd\a,  yd- 
\aKTos,  milk]  An  instrument  for  testing  the 
specific  gravity  of  milk. 

Galahad,  Sir.  The  pure  knight  of  King 
Arthur's  Round  Table,  who  found  the  Holy 
Grail.  (Sangreal.) 

Galanga.  [Ar.  khalaudjau.]  An  aromatic 
root  from  India  or  China,  used  as  a  spice. 

Galatea.    (Nereids.) 

Galaxy.  [Gr.  ya\ai-ias,  from  701X0,  milk.]  The 
Milky  Way,  a  faintly  luminous  belt  surrounding 
the  heavens,  which  is  found  on  telescopic  exa- 
mination to  consist  of  stars  scattered  by  millions 
on  the  black  ground  of  the  heavens.  Its  general 
direction  is  that  of  a  great  circle  whose  northern 
pole  is  in  R.  A.  12  hrs.  47  mins.  and  N.P.D.  63°. 

Galbanum.     [Heb.   helbenah,  Gr. 


Exod.  xxx.  34  ;  the  gum-resin  yielded  by  two  or 
more  spec,  of  Ferula,  ord.  Umbelliferae,  from 
which  was  obtained  one  of  the  ingredients  of  the 
"holy  perfume." 

Galbulus.  [L.,  a  cypress  cone]  (Bot.)  Any 
small  cone  with  scales  all  consolidated  into  a 
fleshy  ball  ;  as  juniper. 

Gale.  (Leg.)  Periodical  payment  of  rent. 
(Gavel.) 

Galena.  [L.,  lead  ore,  Gr.  70X^^7.]  Native 
sulphide  of  lead  ;  the  most  abundant  and  pro- 
ductive of  lead  ores. 

Galenic.     Relating  to  the  doctrines  or  method 


GALE 


223 


GALL 


of  Galenus,  physician  at  the  court  of  Rome.    He 
died  circ.  A.D.  200. 

Galenists.  1.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  subdivision  of 
the  Waterlandians.  2.  (Med.)  The  followers 
of  Galen,  a  physician  of  the  second  century,  and 
opposed  to  the  alchemists.  (Alchemy.) 

Galenites      (Mennonites.) 

Gale  of  wind,  (Naut.)  Hard  or  Strong  G., 
number  10  in  the  scale  of  wind-force.  Stiff  G., 
not  so  strong.  Fresh  G. ,  still  less  strong,  one  in 
which  reefed  topsails  may  be  carried,  when  on  a 
wind.  Top-gallant  G.,  when  not  too  strong  to 
allow  these  sails  to  be  carried.  Gentle  G.,  when 
royals  and  flying-kites  may  be  carried  ;  number 
of  force,  4.  To  gale  away,  i.q.  to  go  free. 

GaleopItheCttS.  [Gr.  7aAerj,  weasel,  iriQi]Kos, 
ape.~\  (Zool.)  Flying  lemur  (so  called).  Fore 
and  hind  legs  and  tail  connected  by  skin  ex- 
tension. It  is  doubtful  whether  it  should  be 
placed  in  fam.  Le"mur6idea,  ord.  Primates,  or 
at  head  of  ord.  Insectivora,  though  a  vegetable 
feeder.  They  are  nocturnal  and  arboreal,  and 
sleep  hanging  by  their  tails.  One  spec. ,  Malacca, 
Sumatra,  Borneo ;  another,  Philippines. 

Galere.  \¥r.,  a  galley.]  1.  Vogue  la  G.,  —come 
what  will y  lit.  let  the  galley  or  penal-ship  row, 
as  the  consequence.  2.  Que  diable  allait-il  faire 
dans  cette  G.  ?  What  business  had  he  to  get  into  that 
mess  ?  from  Moliere's  Fourberies  de  Scapin  ;  the 
reiterated  question  of  Geronte,  when  S.  tells  him 
the  trumped-up  story  that  his  son  Leandre  has 
been  enticed  on  board  a  Turkish  galley,  and  will 
be  carried  as  a  slave  to  Algiers,  unless  a  ransom 
of  500  crowns  is  paid  within  two  hours. 

Galette.  [Fr.  galet,  O.Fr.  gal,  a  pebble.] 
French  pastry,  biscuit. 

Galilee.  The  cathedrals  of  Durham,  Lincoln, 
and  Ely  have  appendages  called  by  this  name  ; 
but  beyond  their  name  these  buildings  have  little 
in  common.  These  Galilees,  which  may  have 
had  some  connexion  with  discipline,  were  all 
built  in  the  latter  part  of  the  twelfth  and  the 
early  part  of  the  thirteenth  centuries. 

Galimatias.  [Fr.,  (?)  L.L.  balhmatia,  cymbals  ; 
but  see  Littre  (s.v.).]  A  confused  mixture  (of 
language),  gibberish,  utter  nonsense. 

Galipot.  [Fr. ;  origin  of  the  word  unknown.] 
A  white  resin  from  pine  or  fir  trees. 

Galium.     (Bedstraw.) 

Gall.  1.  [L.  galla,  an  oak-apple ',  gall '-nut '.] 
A  vegetable  excrescence  on  the  oak.  2.  [A.S. 
gealla,  L.  fel,  Gr.  x°^>]  Bile. 

Galleon,  or  Galion.  [L.L.  galea,  a  gallery^ 
(Naut.)  Formerly  a  war-ship,  with  three  or 
four  batteries;  now  the  largest  Spanish  ships 
trading  to  the  W.  Indies  and  Vera  Cruz.  Portu- 
guese vessels  trading  to  India  resemble  these, 
and  are  called  Caragues.  The  Carracks  were 
galleons  fitted  for  fighting  as  well  as  commerce  ; 
they  had  great  depth,  and  were  chiefly  Spanish 
and  Portuguese. 

Galleot,  or  Galliot.  (Naut.)  1.  A  small 
(Galleon)  galley,  carrying  one  mast  and  from 
sixteen  to  twenty  oars.  All  the  men  carried 
muskets,  as  she  was  designed  for  chasing  only. 
2.  A  Dutch  or  Flemish  trader,  having  a  main- 
mast carrying  a  square  mainsail  and  a  mizzen- 


mast  far  aft,  very  round  in  the  ribs,  and  nearly 
flat-bottomed.     3.  A  bomb-ketch.     (Ketch.) 

Gallery.  [Fr.  galerie,  from  It.  galena.]  1. 
(Mil.)  Underground  passage  of  a  mine  leading 
from  the  entrance  to  the  Chamber.  2,  (Naut.) 
A  balcony  projecting  over  the  stern,  from  the 
admiral's  or  captain's  cabin,  and  extending  the 
breadth  of  the  vessel.  Quarter-  G. ,  in  large  ships, 
a  kind  of  balcony  with  windows,  on  the  quarters. 

Galley.  (Galleon.)  (Naut.)  1.  A  low  vessel, 
with  one  deck,  propelled  by  sails  and  oars. 
2.  An  open  rowing-boat  of  the  Thames,  pulling 
six  or  eight  oars ;  used  by  the  Thames  police, 
etc.  3.  A  clinker-built,  fast-rowing  man-of-war's 
boat,  larger  than  a  gig,  and  appropriated  to  the 
captain.  4.  A  ship's  kitchen.  5.  In  Printing, 
a  ledged  board  which  receives  the  types  from 
the  composing-stick. 

Galley-nose,  etc.  (Nai(t.}  The  figure-head. 
Galley-packets,  unauthenticated  news.  Galley- 
pepper,  soot  or  ashes  in  food.  Galley-stoker,  an 
idle  skulker. 

Galli.     (Cybele.) 

Galliard.  [Fr.]  (GaiUardise.)  One  full  of 
animal  spirits. 

Galliard,  Gaillard.  [Fr.,  a  jovial  feltov 
(Gaillardise).]  An  ancient  dance  in  f  time,  by 
one  couple  only  ;  the  origin  of  the  minuet,  but 
more  lively. 

Gallias,  or  Galeas.  (Naut.)  A  heavy,  low 
trading-vessel. 

Gallic  acid.     An  acid  obtained  from  gall. 

Gallican  Church.  The  distinctive  title  of  the 
Chui-ch  in  France,  which  maintains  a  certain  de- 
gree of  independence  in  respect  of  the  Roman 
see.  The  liberties  of  this  Church,  first  asserted 
in  the  Pragmatic  Sanction  of  1438,  were  defined 
and  confirmed  by  the  Propositions  of  the  Galli- 
can Clergy,  promulgated  in  1682.  The  Gallican 
Church  suffered  a  very  severe  defeat  in  the  early 
part  of  the  French  Revolution,  when  its  leaders 
sided  to  a  considerable  extent  with  the  party  of 
progress,  and  accepted  the  "  civil  constitution  " 
of  the  clergy.  The  Concordat  made  by  Napoleon 
with  Rome  had  no  tendency  to  reconstitute  the 
Gallican  Church  as  it  had  stood  in  the  eyes  of 
the  famous  Bossuet,  who  drew  up  the  Declaration 
of  1682.  Since  the  time  of  the  Concordat  with 
Bonaparte,  the  influence  of  the  Ultramontane 
party  seems  to  have  increased  steadily. 

Gallican  Liturgy.     (Liturgy.) 

Gallicism.  [From  Galli,  ancient  Celtic  in- 
habitants of  France  and  N.  Italy.]  A  French 
idiom  or  mode  of  expression. 

Galligaskins.  Large  open  hose,  worn  origin- 
ally by  seafaring  Gascons.  Wedgwood  regards 
the  word  as  a  corr.  of  Greguesques,  a  Greekish 
kind  of  breeches,  worn  at  Venice. 

Gallimatias.    (Galimatias.) 

Gallimaufry.  [Fr.  galimafre'e ;  origin  un- 
known.] 1.  A  hash  of  various  meats.  2.  A 
ridiculous  medley.  (Farrago ;  Olla  podrida.) 

Gallmae,  Gallinaceous  birds.  [L.  gallma,  a 
hen.]  Poultry  and  game  birds  (except  bustard, 
woodcock,  and  snipe),  sometimes  called  RasSres 
[L.,  scrapers]  from  their  scratching  habits,  and 
made  to  include  Columbidse. 


GALL 


224 


GANG 


Gallivats.  (Naut.)  Armed  Indian  row-boats, 
generally  from  fifty  to  seventy  tons. 

Gallon.  [A  word  of  unknown  origin.]  A 
measure  of  capacity.  The  English  imperial 
gallon  is  the  volume  of  ten  pounds  of  distilled 
water  weighed  in  air  at  temperature  62°  Fahr., 
the  barometer  standing  at  30  inches;  it  con- 
tains 277^274  cubic  inches  (or  277-27  cubic 
inches).  The  old  wine  G.,  fixed  by  5  Queen 
Anne,  contained  231  cubic  inches;  the  old  ale 
G.,  282  cubic  inches;  the  old  corn  G.,  268*8 
cubic  inches,  which  was  in  fact  the  Winchester 
G.  as  fixed  by  I  William  and  Mary ;  there 
was  also  an  old  wine  G.  containing  224  cubic 
inches. 

Galloon.  [Fr.  galon,  from  galonner,  to  lace 
with  gold,  silver,  silk,  etc.]  1.  A  kind  of  orna- 
mental ribbon,  usually  interwoven  with  gold  or 
silver  threads.  2.  Cotton  or  silk  tape  for  bind- 
ing hats,  etc. 

Galloway.  1.  A  S. -Scottish  full-sized  pony, 
a  clever  hack  generally,  with  some  Eastern 
blood ;  seldom  above  fourteen  hands.  The 
breed  lost,  and  the  term  obsolete.  2.  Applied 
also  to  a  breed  of  cattle  ;  large  and  black. 

Gallows.  [A.S.  galgo.]  (Araut.)  Cross-pieces 
(for  stowing  booms,  etc.)  on  the  bitts  by  the 
main  and  fore  hatchway.  Called  also  Gallowses, 
G.-bitts,  G. -stanchions,  and  G.-tops. 

Galoche.  [Fr.,  L.  calopedia,  in  mediaeval 
writers,  a  wooden  shoe,  Gr.  KaXoirfoiov  (Brachet).] 
An  overshoe,  galoshe. 

Galore.  [Erse  gu  leor,  enough^  In  plenty, 
in  abundance.  An  old  word,  found  in  Irish 
ballads  ;  now  obsolescent. 

Galvanism.  (From  Galvani,  the  discoverer.) 
Electricity  developed  by  chemical  action  between 
different  substances  without  friction. 

Galvanized  iron.  Iron  coated  with  zinc.  The 
best  sort  receives  first  a  thin  coat  of  tin  by  gal- 
vanic action. 

Gamba.  [It.,  leg,  shank.}  (Music.}  1.  Violdi 
G.,  an  old  instrument,  a  sort  of  viol,  smaller  than 
the  violoncello,  six-stringed,  held  between  the 
knees.  2.  An  organ  stop,  somewhat  like  a 
violoncello. 

Gambe.  [O.Fr.  gambe,  now  jambe ;  cf.  Gr. 
na/jLTTTi,  a  bending.]  (Her.}  A  leg. 

Gambeson  [etym.  uncertain],  or  Wambeys. 
Quilted  tunic,  stuffed  with  wool,  worn  under  a 
shirt  of  mail. 

Gambet.  [It.  gambetta,  dim.  of  gamba, 
shank.}  (Ornith.}  Red-shank,  with  imperfect 
plumage.  Totanus  calidris,  fam.  Scolopacidse, 
ord.  Grallae. 

Gambier.  (Native  name.)  An  astringent  ex- 
tract from  a  Malayan  plant  used  in  tanning. 

Gambit.  [Fr.  gambit,  from  It.  gambetto  = 
croc-en-jambe,  lit.  a  mean  trick  (Littre).]  In 
chess,  an  offered  and  accepted  sacrifice  in  open- 
ing a  game,  to  give  the  first  player  a  good 
position. 

Gamboge.  A  yellow  gum-resin,  from  Cam- 
bodia, in  India,  used  as  a  pigment. 

Gambrel.  [O.Fr.  gambe,  for  jambe,  legs.}  A 
crooked  stick,  used  by  butchers  for  suspending 
slaughtered  animals. 


Gambroon.  [Sp.  gambron.]  A  twill  linen 
cloth  for  lining. 

Game.  [A.S.  gamen,  gomen,  sport,  O.H.G. 
and  O.N.  gaman,  joke.}  In  England  (I  and 
2  William  IV.,  c.  32),  includes  "hares,  phea- 
sants, partridges,  grouse,  heath  or  moor  game, 
black-game,  and  bustards;"  and  (25  and  26 Viet., 
c.  114)  also  "the  eggs  of  game,  woodcocks, 
snipes,  rabbits."  In  Scotland,  G.  is  not  so 
clearly  defined  ;  but  the  difference  is  trifling, 
mainly  of  importance  in  dealing  \vith  each  sepa- 
i  rate  Act.  In  Ireland,  G.  includes  "  deer,  hares, 
1  pheasants,  partridges,  grouse,  landrails,  quails, 
moor-game,  heath-game,  wild  turkeys,  or  bus- 
tards."— Stonehenge's  Brit.  Rural  Sports. 

-gamia.     (Bot.}     (Cryptogams;  Polygamia.) 

Gamin.  [Fr. ;  etym.  unknown.]  A  street 
Arab,  urchin. 

Gammarina.  [L.  gammarus  =  cammarus, 
Gr.  Kd.fjLfj.apos,  a  crab  or  shrimp.}  (Zool.)  Small 
crustaceans,  as  the  sand-hopper  (Talitrus  locusta) 
and  fresh-water  shrimp  (Gammarus  pulex). 

Gammer.  [For  etym.,  vide  Gaffer.]  Old 
woman,  once  a  title  of  respect. 

Gammer  Gurton's  Needle.  A  comedy  of  rustic 
life,  the  earliest  English  comedy,  probably,  but 
one ;  circ.  1565 ;  (?)  by  }.  Still,  afterwards 
Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells.  Humorous,  but  some- 
what coarse  (see  Shaw's  Student's  Eng.  Lit.}. 

Gammon,  To.  [O.Fr.  gambon,  from  gambe,  a 
leg.}  (Naut.}  To  pass  a  lashing  over  the  bow- 
sprit, and  through  a  hole  in  the  cut-water  in  a 
peculiar  manner,  so  as  better  to  support  the 
foremast  stays. 

Gamp,  Mrs.  Sarah.  A  vile  nurse  in  Dickens's 
Martin  Chuzzlewit. 

Gamut,  Gammut.  [O.Fr.  gamme.]  (Music.} 
The  series  of  seven  sounds  which  constitute  the 
musical  scale,  said  to  be  from  "gamma"  (7, 
third  letter  of  the  Greek  alphabet),  which  desig- 
nated the  first  of  the  parallel  lines  upon  which 
the  notes  were  placed  by  Guido  Aretini;  but 
vide  Sol-fa. 

Gang  (from  the  gang,  or  course,  taken ; 
this  being  the  earlier  meaning  of  the  word). 
(Agr.}  A  party  of  labourers  provided  by  a 
middle-man. 

Gang-board.  (Nattt.}  1.  (Gangway.)  3.  A 
plank  used  for  getting  in  and  out  of  boats,  where 
the  water  is  shallow. 

Gang-casks.  (Naut.}  Used  for  bringing  off 
water  in  boats,  and  holding  about  thirty-two 
gallons. 

Ganger.  (Agr.}  The  middle-man  who  pro- 
vides a  Gang. 

Ganglion.  [Gr.  ydyyXiov,  a  tumour  under  the 
skin.}  (Biol.}  A  knot  or  enlargement,  some- 
times a  central  mass,  of  nerve-trunks.  Gang- 
lionic  system.  (Sympathetic.) 

Gangue.  [Fr. ,  from  Ger.  gang,  mineral  "vein, 
Eng.  a  going  or  course.}  The  stony  matter  in 
which  veins  of  ore  are  found. 

Gangway.  [From  M.  E.  gang,  a  way,  with  the 
word  way  unnecessarily  added,  after  the  sense  of 
the  word  became  obscured  (Skeat) ;  cf.  Wans- 
beckwater.]  1.  (Naut.}  In  deep-waisted  vessels, 
the  narrow  platforms  next  the  sides,  which  con- 


GAINN 


225 


GARR 


nect  the  quarter-deck  and  forecastle,  sometimes 
called  G.  -board.  2.  The  openings  in  a  vessel's 
side,  or  bulwarks,  by  which  one  enters  and 
leaves.  To  bring  to  the  G.,  to  flog  a  seaman, 
lashed  to  the  grating.  3.  (Par!.)  The  passage 
across  the  House  of  Commons,  below  which 
junior  and  independent  members  sit. 

Gannet.  [O.E.  ganot,  sea-fowl;  cf.  gander, 
Ger.  gans,  L.  anser,  Gr.  xV-1  (Ornith.)  Gen. 
of  birds,  found  in  all  climates.  British  spec. 
(Solan  goose,  Sula  alba),  about  three  feet  long, 
nearly  all  white  ;  young,  black,  streaked,  and 
spotted  with  white.  Fam.  Pelecamdae,  ord. 
Anseres. 

Gannister.  [Local  term.]  A  compact  siliceous 
sandstone,  used  in  the  formation  of  furnaces  ; 
found  under  certain  coal-beds  in  N.  England. 

Ganoidei,  Ganoids.  [Gr.  yavdSris,  from  ydi/os, 
brightness,  eTSoy,  appearance,  of  a  bright  appear- 
ance^ (Ichth]  Sub-class  of  fish,  mostly  with 
ganoid,  L?.  enamel-covered,  bony  scales,  bucklers, 
or  spines,  and  heterocercal  tails,  as  the  sturgeon, 
and  gar-pike.  Dr.  Giinther  now  combines  the 
sub-classes  Tele"ostei  and  Dipnoi  with  the 
Ganoidei.  (Dipnoi.) 

Gant-line.    (Girt-line.) 

Gantlope,  Gauntlope,  Gauntlet,  and  Gantlet, 
To  run  the.  [Sw.  gatlopp,  from  gata,  a  street, 
lane,  and  lopp,  a  course ;  cf.  Eng.  leap,  loafer, 
Ger.  laufen,  to  run.}  To  run,  stripped  to  the 
waist,  between  two  rows  of  men,  each  of  whom 
had  a  knotted  cord,  knittle,  originally  a  gauntlet, 
with  which  he  struck  the  offender  as  he  passed. 

Gantois.     [Fr.]     An  inhabitant  of  Ghent. 

Ganymede.  [Gr.  rcwu/^Srjs.]  This  word, 
which  is  sometimes  used  to  denote  any  beautiful 
youth,  is  in  the  Iliad  the  name  of  the  son  of 
Tros,  who  is  said  to  have  been  carried  away  by 
an  eagle  to  Olympus,  where  he  became  the  cup- 
bearer of  Zeus,  or  Jupiter. 

Gaol  delivery.  A  commission  to  judges,  etc., 
to  try  and  deliver  (to  freedom  or  punishment) 
every  untried  person  in  gaol,  on  their  arrival  at 
the  assize  town. 

Garancise.  [Fr.  garance,  madder.'}  An  extract 
of  madder  for  dyeing. 

Garb.  [Fr.  gerbe  ;  cf.  L.  carpere,  Gr.  Kapir6s, 
fruit,  Ger.  herbst,  Eng.  harvest.}  (Her.)  A 
sheaf. 

Garble,  To.  (Naut.)  To  mix  rubbish  with  a 
cargo  stowed  in  bulk. 

Garbler  of  spices.  [Ar.  girbhal,  a  sieve 
(Skeat).]  An  old  officer  in  London  city,  who 
may  enter  places  where  spices  and  drugs  are 
sold,  and  garble  (clean)  them. 

Garboard-strake,  or Sandstreak.  (Naut.}  The 
planks  upon  a  ship's  bottom  next  the  keel,  and 
rebated  into  it,  and  into  the  stern  and  stern- 
posts. 

Gar$on.  [Fr.  ;  origin  of  the  word  very  un- 
certain.] Lad,  waiter ;  in  Irish  gossoon. 

Gardant.  [Fr.,  guarding.]  (Her.)  Turning 
its  head  to  gaze  full-faced. 

Garden  City.  Chicago  ;  so  called  from  the 
number  of  its  gardens. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Gardiloo !  [Corr.  of  Fr.  gare  a  1'eau !  look  out 
for  the  water!]  In  Edinburgh,  formerly,  a  cry 


to  passengers  to  beware  of  slops  about  to  be 
thrown  out  of  window. 

Gare !  [Fr.  ;  cf.  Eng.  beware,  O.H.G.  waron, 
to  take  care.]  Look  out! 

Gar-fish.  [O.E.  gar,  a  lance]  (Ichth]  Sea- 
pike,  Mackerel  guide  ;  about  two  feet  long,  bluish- 
green  back,  white  belly,  elongated  jaws,  homo- 
cereal  tail.  British  coast.  Belone  vulgaris, 
fam.  Scombresocidse,  ord.  Physostomi,  sub-class 
Teleostel. 

Gargantua.  The  giant  of  Rabelais's  romance 
of  that  name,  with  a  vast  mouth  and  swallow. 

Garish,  Gairish.  [From  gare,  to  stare,  a 
variant  of  M.E.  gasen,  to  gaze,  by  the  frequent 
change  of  s  to  r  (Skeat).]  Excessively  bright, 
staring,  flaunting. 

Garland.  [A  word  of  uncertain  origin.] 
(Naut]  1,  A  rope  collar  round  the  head  of  a 
mast,  used  to  prevent  chafing  the  shrouds,  and 
for  other  purposes.  2.  A  wreath,  made  by 
crossing  three  small  hoops  covered  with  ribbons, 
etc.,  hoisted  on  the  wedding  day  of  any  of  the 
crew.  3.  A  net,  with  a  hoop  at  top,  used  for 
keeping  food  in. 

Garnet.  [A  corr.  of  granat,  from  the  colour 
and  shape  of  the  seeds  of  the  pomegranate, 
L.  granatum.]  1.  (Min.)  A  common  mineral  in 
some  metamorphic  and  igneous  rocks  ;  the 
several  varieties  being  (i)  Lime-G.  (Grossular, 
etc.);  (2)  Magnesia  G. ;  (3)  Iron-G.,  Precious 
and  Fire-G.,  PjrrSpe,  Carbuncle,  and  Common 
G. ;  (4)  Manganese  G. ;  (5)  Iron-lime  G. ;  (6) 
Lime-chrome  G.  The  best  come  from  Bohemia, 
Pegu,  Ceylon,  and  Brazil.  2.  (Natit.)  A  pur- 
chase fixed  to  a  ship's  mainstay,  and  used  for 
lifting  cargo  in  and  out. 

Garnish.  [A  word  of  O.L.G.  origin,  seen 
in  A.S.  warnian,  to  beware  of  (Skeat).] 
(Naut.]  1.  A  large  amount  of  carving,  etc., 
about  a  ship.  2.  Money,  formerly  exacted  by 
pressed  men  from  newly  pressed  men  coming  on 
board. 

Garnishee.  [For  etym.,  vide  Garnish.]  (Leg.) 
One  warned  not  to  pay  a  debt  to  one  indebted 
to  a  third  person. 

Garniture.  [Fr.]  Embellishment,  ornament, 
furniture,  decoration.  (Garnish.) 

Garous.  [Gr.  ydpov,  L.  garum,  a  highly 
flavoured  condiment  prepared  from  fish.  ]  Of  the 
nature  of  garum. 

Gar-pike.  [O.E.  gar,  a  lance,  pic,  a  point,  of 
Celtic  origin  (Brachet) ;  cf.  Fr.  brochet,  pike, 
from  broche.]  (Ichth.)  Bony  pike,  gen.  of  ganoid 
fish,  several  feet  long,  covered  with  scales, 
elongated  jaws,  heterocercal  tail.  N.  America 
to  Mexico  and  Cuba.  Lepidosteus,  fam.  L£pid- 
ostei,  ord.  Holostei. 

Garrooka.  (Naut.)  Native  name  for  a  fishing- 
vessel  in  the  Persian  Gulf. 

Garrote.     [Sp.]     1.  A  mode  of  execution  by 

trangling  with  an  iron  collar  (fixed  to  a  post), 

which  is  gradually  tightened.     2.  To  seize  by 

the  throat  from  behind,  as  robbers  frequently 

do. 

Garruli.  [L.,  chattering.'}  (Ornith.)  Gen.  of 
lays ;  sub-fam.  Garrulinae,  fam.  Corvldae,  ord.. 
Passgres. 


GART 


226 


GAVE 


Garter.  [Fr.  jarretiere,  from  jarret,  the  ham.} 
(Her.)  1.  A  diminutive  of  the  bend,  being  one- 
half  its  size.  2.  The  principal  king-at-arms. 

Garter,  Order  of  the.  The  highest  order  of 
English  knighthood,  said  by  some  to  have  been 
founded  by  Richard  I.,  while  others  accept  the 
story  which  assigns  it  to  Edward  III.  and  the 
dropping  of  the  Countess  of  Salisbury's  garter. 
The  order  was,  however,  either  founded  or  re- 
stored by  the  latter  sovereign. 

Garter-fish.  (Ichth.)  Scabbard-fish;  various 
spec,  of  fish,  some  five  feet  long.  British  spec. 
silvery  colour,  gen.  Lepidopus  [Gr.  Aew-fc,  -iSos, 
a  scale,  trots,  a  foot},  fam.  Trichiaridse  [fyȣ, 
rpix&s,  hair],  ord.  Acanthopt£rygii,  sub-class 
TeleostM. 

Garters.     (Natit.)     Ship's  irons,  bilboes. 

Garth.  [From  A.S.  gyrdan,  to  surround.]  1. 
(Leg.)  An  inclosure  round  a  building,  a  close. 
2.  A  dam  or  weir. 

Gartun.  [L.,  from  Gr.  ydpov.]  A  dainty 
sauce  of  small  fish  preserved  in  brine. 

Gasconade.  [Fr.  gasconnade.]  Bragging  talk  ; 
said  to  have  been  characteristic  of  the  Gascons, 
the  Vascones,  Basques  of  Navarre. 

Gaskets.  (Naut.)  Cord,  etc.,  wound  round 
a  furled  sail. 

Gaskin,  shortened  from  Galligaskiiis.  In  a 
horse,  the  lower  thigh  of  the  hind  legs,  the  part 
just  above  the  hock,  corresponding  to  the  fore- 
arm of  the  front  legs. 

Gas-pipe.  In  Naut.  slang,  a  breech-loading 
rifle. 

Gassing.  Burning  off  the  small  fibres  of  cloth 
by  passing  it  through  gas-jets. 

Gasteropoda,  Gasteropods.  [Gr.  yaar-^p,  -epos, 
belly,  iiovs,  TroSds,  foot.]  Class  of  land  and  water 
molluscs,  with  single  shell  or  naked,  progressing 
by  ventral  disc,  by  vertical  fin,  or  by  tail,  as 
snail,  whelk,  sea-lemons  (Doris),  Carinaria  [L. 
carina,  keel]. 

Gastrlloquist  [a  mongrel  word,  made  up  of  Gr. 
yaa'T'fjp,  the  belly,  and  L.  loquor,  /  speak],  i.q. 
Ventriloquist. 

Gastritis.    Inflammation  of  the  stomach  [Gr. 


Gastrolator.  [From  Gr.  ycun^p,  stomach,  belly, 
X&rp-ris,  worshipper,]  One  "whose  god  is"  his 
"belly." 

Gastromancy.  [Gr.  yaa-r^p,  belly,  /uurefa, 
divination]  1.  A  kind  of  divination  by  sounds 
from  the  stomach.  2.  Divination  by  appear- 
ances in  round  transparent  vessels. 

Gastronomy.  [Gr.  ya.<rrt,p,  stomach,  v6/j.ost 
law.]  The  art  of  promoting  the  welfare  of  the 
stomach,  generally  confounded  with  the  art  of 
luxurious  feeding. 

Gas-water.  Water  which  has  been  used  for 
purifying  gas  ;  called  also  Gas-liquor. 

Catchers.     The  after-leavings  of  tin. 

Gate.  In  founding,  the  channel  leading  to  the 
mould  from  the  sprue,  or  hole  into  which  the 
metal  is  poured. 

Gate,  or  Sea-gate,  To  be  in  a.  (Naut.  )  Used 
of  two  ships  thrown  one  on  board  the  other  by 
a  wave. 

Gate,  To.     (Univ.)    To    order  a  person  in 


stdtu  pupilldri  not  to  leave  his  college  or  lodg- 
ings after  a  certain  hour  of  the  day  for  a  time,  as 
a  punishment. 

Gate  of  Janus.     (Janus.) 

Gate  of  Tears.  Straits  of  Bab-el-mandeb,  a 
transl.  of  the  Arabic  name. 

Gatling  gun.  (Mil.)  A  gun  composed  of  a 
series  of  six  barrels  arranged  round  a  central 
shaft,  each  being  fired  almost  simultaneously  by 
an  independent  revolving  lock. 

Gauch,  Gaunch.  To  kill,  as  in  Turkey,  by 
dropping  a  man  on  to  hooks,  and  so  leaving  him 
to  die. 

Gaucherie.  [Fr.,  from  gauche,  the  lejt  hand.] 
Awkwardness. 

Gaudy.  [L.  gaudium,  gladness]  (Oxf.  Univ.) 
A  college  feast-day. 

Gauge  [a  word  of  uncertain  origin  ;  in  L.L. 
gaugstum] ;  Broad  G. ;  Narrow  G. ;  Bailway-G. ; 
Eain-G.;  Salt-G.;  Steam-G.;  Tide-G.;  Vacuum-G.; 
Water-G. ;  Wind-G.  To  gauge  a  cask  is  to  as- 
certain the  quantity  of  liquor  it  contains  or  is 
capable  of  containing.  Gauge,  a  measure  or 
standard;  generally  used  as  part  of  a  com- 
pound word.  A  Railway-G.  is  the  distance  be- 
tween the  two  rails  on  which  the  train  runs, 
viz.  7  feet  in  Broad-G.,  and  4  feet  8£  inches 
in  Narrow-G.,  lines.  A  Steam-G  measures  the 
pressure  of  steam  in  a  boiler;  a  Water-G.,  the 
depth  of  water  in  a  boiler;  a  Salt-G.,  the  quantity 
of  salt  in  the  water  in  a  boiler.  A  Vacuum-G. 
measures  the  pressure  of  the  air  or  vapour  in  the 
condenser  of  a  steam-engine  or  the  receiver  of 
an  air-pump.  A  Rain-G.  measures  the  quantity 
of  rain  that  falls  at  a  given  place  in  a  given  time  ; 
a  Tide-G.,  the  height  of  the  tide  at  any  instant 
or  the  variations  of  height  during  any  assigned 
time ;  a  Wind-  G. ,  an  anemometer,  the  force  of 
the  wind,  e.g.  in  pounds  per  square  foot. 

Gauge.  [O.Fr.]  A  kind  of  plaster  used  for 
mouldings  on  a  ceiling. 

Ganger.  Surveying  officer  under  the  Board  of 
Excise. 

Gaul.  [L.  Callus.]  Celtic  inhabitant  of  what 
is  now  France. 

Gault,  Gait.  (Geol.)  Provincial  name  for  clay ; 
but  applied,  more  strictly,  to  the  cretaceous 
clay  below  the  chalk  at  Folkestone  and  else- 
where. 

Gauntlet.  [O.Fr.  gantelet,  from  gant,  Sw. 
wante,  a  glove]  1.  Glove  covered  with  scales, 
with  metal  cuff.  Running  the  G.,  formerly  a 
military  punishment,  the  offender  being  forced 
to  pass  between  two  lines  of  men  facing  inwards, 
each  of  whom  struck  at  him  as  he  passed. 
Throwing  down  the  G.  was  formerly  a  challenge 
to  fight  in  the  tilting  ring.  At  the  coronation  of 
an  English  sovereign,  the  hereditary  champion 
thus  challenges  any  one  who  disputes  the  right 
of  succession.  2.  (Naut.)  A  rope  round  a  vessel, 
fastened  to  the  lower  yardarms,  for  drying  ham- 
mocks. (Gantlope.) 

Gavel.  [O.Fr.  gavelle,  It.  gavella,  handful.] 
A  small  heap  of  loose  wheat  or  other  cereal. 
(Gabel;  Gabelle.) 

Gavel,  Gabel.  [A.S.  gafol,  gaful,  Fr. 
gabelle,  from  L.L.  gabella,  gabulum,  from 


GAVE 


227 


GENI 


O.H.G.    geban,  A.S.   gifan,    to  give.}     (Leg.} 
Tribute,  toll,  tax. 

Gavelgeld.    (Leg.)    Payment  of  tribute  or  toll. 

Gavelkind  (kind  of  land  which  yields  gavel, 
not  military  service).  [A.S.  gafol,  tribute 
(Gabel;  Gabelle).]  A  mode  of  descent  more 
general  before  the  Conquest,  and  still  retained  in 
Kent,  by  which  the  land  of  the  father  is  at  his 
death  divided  equally  among  his  sons,  or  of  a 
brother  among  his  brothers,  if  he  has  no  sons 
of  his  own.  (Borough  English.) 

Gavial.  (Zool.)  Gen.  of  crocodile ;  long- 
snouted.  Ganges,  Borneo,  and  N.  Australia. 

Gavot,  Gavotte.  [Fr.]  1.  A  dance,  stately 
and  spirited,  popular  in  the  seventeenth  and 
eighteenth  centuries ;  originally  a  dance  of  the 
Gavotes  or  people  of  Gap,  Hautes  Alpes.  2. 
Tune  written  for  the  dance,  or  whose  measure 
and  rhythm  were  suggested  by  it ;  e.g.  those  of 
Bach,  Handel,  etc.  A  G.  properly  begins  on 
the  second  half  of  the  bar. 

Gawain,  Sir.  King  Arthur's  nephew,  a  knight 
of  the  Round  Table. 

Gay  science.     (Troubadour.) 

Gaze,  At.  (Her.)  Standing  still  and  turning 
its  head  to  gaze  full-faced. 

Gazette.  [It.  gazzetta,  a  Venetian  coin  worth 
about  \d.,  the  price  of  the  first  paper  at  Venice.] 
A  newspaper  or  journal,  especially  official.  The 
G.  is  the  London  Gazette,  containing  all  State 
proclamations,  appointments  and  promotions  of 
officers,  notices  of  dissolution  of  partnership  and 
of  bankruptcy. 

Gear  [a  Teut.  word] ;  Gearing ;  G.-chain. 
Gearing,  a  means  of  transmitting  motion  par- 
ticularly by  toothed  wheels ;  two  wheels  are 
in  G.  when  their  teeth  are  engaged  together, 
and  out  of  G.  when  disengaged  so  that  the  one 
can  no  longer  drive  the  other ;  the  terms  are 
also  applied  to  any  driver  and  follower,  however 
connected.  A  G.-chain  is  an  endless  chain 
whose  links  are  adapted  to  work  with  the  teeth 
of  wheels  so  as  to  transmit  motion  from  one  to 
the  other.  Spelt  also  Geer,  Geering,  etc. 

Gears.     (Jeers.) 

Geez.  (Lang.)  An  early  Abyssinian  dialect, 
also  called  ./Ethiopian. 

Gehenna.  [Gr.  yievva.}  Means  in  Hebrew 
the  valley  of  Hinnom,  where  the  Jews  burnt  their 
children  in  the  fire  to  Moloch.  In  the  English 
Authorized  Version  of  the  Scriptures,  it  is  trans- 
lated by  hell.  By  mediaeval  writers  it  was  used 
generally  in  the  sense  of  pain  and  suffering. 
Hence  the  verb  gehenner,  to  torture,  which  has 
passed  into  the  Mod.  Fr.  gener,  to  annoy.  In 
India  the  word  has  assumed  the  form  Jehanum. 

Geist.  [Ger.]  Great  intellectual  gifts,  genius, 
vivacity,  spirit. 

Gelaleean  era.  The  era,  fixed  to  March  15, 
1079,  -drawn  up  in  the  reign  of  Malek  Shah 
(1072-1092),  one  of  whose  titles  was  Gelaleddin, 
Glory  of  the  Faith. — Gibbon,  Roman  Empire, 
ch.  ivii. 

Gelly watte.  [Gael,  geola,  a  ship's  boat ;  cf. 
Dan  jolle,  a  yawl,  and  the  modern  corr.  into 
jolly-boat.}  (Naut.)  An  old  term  for  a  captain's 
boat. 


Oemara,     (Talmud.) 

Gemel.    [L.  gemelli,  twins.']    (Her.)    Double. 

Gemini.     ( Castor  and  Pollux . ) 

Gemmation.  [L.  gemma,  a  bud.}  Reproduc- 
tion by  buds,  inside  or  outside  an  animal's  body, 
developing  into  independent  beings,  attached  to 
or  separated  from  the  parent,  as  in  sea-mats 
(Flustra)  or  in  tapeworm  (Taenia).  (Fissi- 
parous.) 

Gemote.     [A.S.]     Meeting. 

Gendarme.  [Fr.]  Formerly  a  man  in  armour, 
and  written  gent  d'arme  ;  but  'now  a  policeman 
of  a  military  character.  The  gendarmerie  of  a 
country  is  a  police  force  organized  and  disci- 
plined on  military  principles. 

Gene.   [Fr.]  Boredom,  annoyance.    (Gehenna.) 

General  Assembly.    (Assembly,  General.) 

General  average.  (Naut.)  A  claim  upon 
owners  and  cargo  by  those  whose  property  has 
been  sacrificed  for  the  general  good. 

General  Confession  of  the  Scotch  Church. 
(Confession  of  Faith.) 

General  ship.    (Charter,  To.) 

Generatrix.  [L.  linea,  the  line  that  produces.} 
The  point  or  line  whose  regulated  motion  de- 
scribes a  line  or  surface. 

Genet.  [Sp.  gineto,  a  'light  horseman}  I.q. 
Jennet.  A  small  breed  of  horses ;  Spain. 

Genet.  [Ar.  djerneith.]  I.q.  Genette.  Gen. 
of  sub-fam.  Viverrinse,  sharp-nosed,  long-tailed, 
with  spotted  or  striped  fur,  and  with  feeble 
musk-secreting  apparatus.  S.  Europe,  Africa, 
and  adjacent  parts  of  Asia.  Fam.  Viverridre, 
ord.  Carnivora. 

Genethliac.  [L.  genethliacus,  from  Gr. 
yfveQ\r),  a  birth.}  1.  Belonging  to  nativities, 
calculated  according  to  the  rules  of  astrology. 
2.  A  birthday  poem. 

Genethliacs.  In  ancient  Rome,  those  who 
told  fortunes  by  means  of  the  stars  presiding  over 
a  man's  birth.  They  were  sometimes  called 
Mathematici,  from  the  diagrams  which  they 
used. 

Genetical.  [Gr.  ycveriKos,  from  root  of  71- 
yvopai,  I  become,  come  into  being.}  Relating  to 
origin,  genesis,  mode  of  production,  line  of 
descent. 

Genette.    (Genet.) 

Geneva.  [Fr.  genievre,/?m?)ter,  L.  jumperus.] 
A  spirit  distilled  from  grain,  and  flavoured  with 
juniper  berries. 

Geneva  Bible.     (Bible,  English.) 

Gen.  fil.  [For  L.  generosi  filius.]  Son  of  a 
gentleman. 

Geniculate  stem.  [L.  geniculum,  a  little  knee.} 
(Bot.)  One  which  bends  suddenly  in  the  middle, 
like  a  knee  ;  e.g.  stem  of  knot-grass. 

Genii.  The  ginn  or  djinn  of  Eastern  nations, 
beings  created  from  fire,  whose  abode  is  Ginnis- 
tan,  the  Persian  Elysium,  are  sometimes  so 
called.  (Genius.) 

Genista.  [L.]  A  gen.  of  leguminous  plants, 
Planta  genista,  Whin,  the  gen  of  the  Celts, 
jenet  of  the  French  ;  the  badge  of  a  race  of  Eng- 
lish kings,  but  it  is  not  known  what  kind  is 
meant — perhaps  the  common  broom. 

Genitive    case.      [L.    genitivus,    relating   to 


GENI 


228 


GEUM 


genus.]  (Gram.)  That  inflexion  of  the  noun 
which  denotes  relation  or  procession. 

Genius.  [L.]  In  the  Old  It.  Myth.,  a  guardian 
spirit,  whose  life  ceased  with  that  of  the  person 
whom  he  guarded.  (Hamadryads.) 

Genius  loci.  [L.]  The  genius  or  presiding 
deity  of  a  place,  the  pervading  spirit,  influence 
of  associations,  etc.,  of  a  place. 

Gennet,  Order  of  the.  An  order  of  knight- 
hood, founded  by  Charles  Martel  after  his  victory 
over  the  Saracens  at  Tours,  in  726  ;  so  called 
from  the  gennet,  or  wood-martin,  to  denote  the 
aid  supposed  to  be  given  by  St.  Martin  of  Tours 
in  the  battle. 

Genoese  Bepublic.  The  free  government  of 
Genoa  (N.W.  Italy)  at  various  times  from  1000 
to  1815,  especially  from  1000  to  1326,  and  1428 
to  1694. 

Genouillere.  [Fr.,  knee-piece,  from  genon,  a 
knee,  formerly  genouil,  L.  gdniculum.]  (Fortif.) 
The  part  of  the  parapet  between  the  sole  of  an 
embrasure  and  the  terreplein  of  a  battery. 

Genre.  [Fr.]  As  applied  to  Painting,  is 
perhaps  =  a  familiar  every-day  life  treatment 
of  a  subject,  not  in  itself  an  important  one ;  as 
opposed  to  the  sacred,  classical,  severe,  typical. 
G.,  not  reproducing  simple  essential  charac- 
teristics, emphasizes  minor  details.  Similarly, 
Dickens's  treatment  of  a  character,  as  contrasted 
with  Shakespeare's,  may  be  called  G. 

Gens  de  condition.     [Fr.]     People  of  quality. 

Gens  d'eglise.   [Fr.]    Churchmen,  ecclesiastics. 

Gens  de  guerre.     [Fr.]     Military  men. 

Gens  de  lettres,     [Fr.]     Men  of  literature. 

Gens  de  robe.     [Fr.]     Men  of  the  law. 

Gentile.  [L.  gentllis.]  With  the  Latins  this 
word  denoted  all  who  belonged  to  the  same  gens, 
or  class,  in  which  many  families  were  united. 
After  the  rise  of  Christianity,  it  came  to  signify 
those  who  adhered  to  the  old  religions,  as  did  also 
the  Gr.  ^i/cJs,  ethnic,  or  heathen.  (Apaturia.) 

Gentleman-at-arms.  One  of  a  corps  composed 
of  retired  officers  or  those  who  have  formerly 
served  in  the  army,  marines,  militia,  or  yeomanry 
(although  civilians  were  formerly  admitted), 
forming  the  sovereign's  body-guard  on  State 
occasions.  Established  in  A.D.  1509. 

Gentleman  commoner.    (Fellow-commoner.) 

Gentoo.  [Port,  gentio,  heathen.}  A  Hindu  or 
Brahman. 

Genus.    In  Logic.     (Difference.) 

Geocentric  theory.  [Gr.  7*},  the  earth,  ttevrpov, 
centre.]  (Astron.)  The  theory  which  makes 
the  earth  the  centre  of  the  movements  of  the 
heavenly  bodies,  the  earth  herself  being  supposed 
to  be  at  rest.  (Heliocentric  theory.) 

Geode.  [Gr.  yf68ns,  earthy.]  (Geol.)  A 
rounded  _  hollow  nodule,  popularly  potato-stone, 
the  interior  of  which  is  often  lined  with  crystals. 
(Nodule.) 

Geodesic  line;  G.  survey;  Geodesy  [Gr. 
yfwScuaia,  a  dividing  of  the  earth,  from  777,  earth, 
Scuco,  I  divide],  A  Geodesic  siirvey  is  a  survey  of 
a  large  tract  of  country  conducted  with  extreme 
exactness,  for  the  purpose  of  determining  the 
form  and  dimensions  of  the  earth.  Geodesy,  a 
systematic  account  of  the  methods  of  observation 


and  calculation  used  in  a  geodesic  survey.  A 
Geodesic  or  Geodetic  line  is  the  shortest  distance 
between  two  points  on  a  given  surface,  measured 
along  the  surface. 

Geognosy.  [Gr.  777,  earth,  yvSxris,  knowledge.] 
1.  Study  of  the  actual  condition  of  the  earth's 
crust,  without  reference  to  its  causes,  history, 
etc.,  which  latter  belongs  to  Geology.  2.  With 
some,  i.q.  Geology. 

Geograffy.  In  Naut.  slang,  a  drink  made  by 
boiling  burnt  biscuit. 

Geography  [Gr.  ycooypaQia,  from  77),  the 
earth,  ypd<t><a,  I  draw  or  describe} ;  Astronomical 
G. ;  Physical  G. ;  Political  G.  A  delineation  or 
description  of  the  earth.  Astronomical  G.  treats 
of  the  methods  by  which  the  relative  positions  of 
points  on  its  surface,  and  its  form  and  magnitude, 
are  determined.  Physical  G.  treats  of  the  forms 
of  continents  and  seas,  rivers  and  mountains, 
climates  and  products  ;  Political  G.,  of  the  ap- 
propriation of  the  surface  of  the  earth  by  com- 
munities of  men. 

Geomancy.  [From  Gr.  7eo>-,  stem  in  compo- 
sition of  77},  the  earth,  and  juoj/re/a,  divination.] 
Divination  by  figures  and  line  of  points,  origin- 
ally marked  on  the  ground. 

Geometrical  style.  (Arch.}  The  style  in 
which  window  and  other  tracery  is  composed 
entirely  of  pure  geometrical  figures,  as  the  circle 
or  the  spherical  triangle.  This  style  succeeded 
the  Early  English,  or  Lancet,  or  First  Pointed 
style,  and  is  itself  also  known  as  the  Second 
Pointed,  or  Middle  Pointed.  It  was  followed  by 
the  Flowing  style,  in  which  the  window  tracery 
is  carried  up  from  the  mullions  to  the  arch  in 
soft  wavy  lines ;  and  this  in  its  turn  was  succeeded 
by  the  Continuous,  or  Perpendicular,  known  also 
as  the  Third  Pointed,  in  which  the  lines  of  the 
tracery  are  carried  up  to  the  window  arch  in 
straight  lines. 

Geometry  [Gr.  yevperpia,  land-measiiring, 
geometry]  \  Algebraical  G. ;  Analytical  G. ;  Co- 
ordinate G. ;  Descriptive  G. ;  Elementary  G. ; 
Higher  G.;  Modern  G.;  Plane  G.;  G.  of  position; 
Practical  G. ;  Solid  G. ;  Spherical  G. ;  G.  of  three 
dimensions ;  G.  of  two  dimensions.  Geometry  is 
the  science  of  space,  or  the  science  which  treats 
of  the  position,  form,  and  magnitude  of  bodies  or 
portions  of  space.  If  the  bodies  are  on  a  plane 
the  science  is  Plane  G.,  or  G.  of  two  dimensions ; 
if  they  are  not  in  a  plane,  Solid  G.,  or  G.  of  three 
dimensions  ;  if  they  lie  on  the  surface  of  a  sphere, 
Spherical  G.  The  part  of  the  science  which  can 
be  deduced  from  the  axioms  and  definitions  of 
Euclid's  Geometry,  and  involve  the  properties 
of  straight  lines  and  circles  only,  is  Elementary 
G. ;  all  beyond  this  belongs  to  the  Higher  G. 
The  division  between  elementary  and  higher  G. 
is,  however,  sometimes  drawn  a  little  differently 
from  this.  For  Algebraical,  or  Co-ordinate,  G., 
vide  Co-ordinate ;  this  kind  of  geometry  is  often 
called  Analytical  G.,  because  the  use  of  general 
symbols  enables  us  to  prove  propositions  by  an 
analysis  of  algebraical  expressions  that  are  more 
general  than  the  propositions  themselves. 
Modern  G.  is  a  collection  of  methods — invented 
in  recent  times  and  in  most  cases  depending  on 


GEOP 


229 


GIBB 


a  combination  of  algebra  with  G. — to  facilitate 
the  discovery  and  proof  of  geometric  truths. 
G.  of  position  is  a  branch  of  modern  G.,  relating 
to  the  conditions  under  which  three  or  more  de- 
fined straight  lines  will  have  a  common  point, 
three  or  more  defined  points  will  range  in  a 
straight  line,  and  the  like.  Practical  G.  is  a 
body  of  rules  for  the  actual  delineation  of  the 
problems  of  G.  ;  in  its  higher  branches  it  fur- 
nishes rules  for  the  delineation  on  paper  of  con- 
structions in  solid  space,  and  then  is  subdivided 
into  Linear  perspective,  Descriptive  G.,  Ortho- 
graphic and  other  kinds  of  Projection  (q.v.). 

Geoponics.  [Gr.  yewTroviK^s,  from  yeca-rrovos, 
husbandman,  from  yew-,  stem  in  composition  of 
777,  earth,  and  ir6vos,  labour.~\  Science  of  tillage, 
of  agriculture. 

Georama.  [From  Gr.  777,  earth,  #pa/xcc,  view, 
spectacle]  A  hollow  globe  on  the  interior  surface 
of  which  the  earth's  surface  is  depicted  so  that 
one  standing  near  the  centre  of  the  sphere  gets 
a  comprehensive  view  of  the  geography. 

Geordy  lamp.  A  lamp,  similar  to  the  Davy 
lamp,  invented  at  the  same  time  by  George 
Stephenson. 

George,  A.  In  Her. ,  a  figure  of  St.  George  on 
horseback,  worn  by  the  knights  of  the  Garter. 

George  Eliot.  Nom  de  plume  of  Miss  Marian 
Evans,  afterwards  Mrs.  Cross  (died  December, 
1880). 

Georgics.  [Gr.  ra  yfapyued,  things  belonging 
to  husbandry,  from  777,  earth,  and  fyyov,  work] 
A  poem  of  Virgil ;  so  called  as  treating  of 
agriculture  and  farm  management  generally. 

Georgium  sidus.    [L.]    (Planet.) 

Geoscopy.  [From  Gr.  yea>-,  stem  in  composition 
of  777,  earth,  and  a/coTre'w,  /  look  at.]  Inspec- 
tion of  the  earth,  study  of  the  results  of  such 
inspection. 

Gerbil.  (Zool.)  Gen.  of  mouse  (Leaping 
mouse),  with  long  hind  legs,  like  the  gerboa, 
but  classed  in  fam.  Muridse.  Several  spec. 
Africa  and  Asia.  (Gerboa.) 

Gerboa.  [Heb.  and  Ar.  'akbar,  id.}  (Zool.) 
Several  spec.  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa ;  one  spec. 
N.  America.  Fam.  Dipodidae,  ord.  Rodentia. 
This  fam.  includes  the  Spring-haas,  or  Cape 
Leaping  hare  (Helamys  Capensis),  about  the 
size  of  the  common  hare  ;  it  will  leap  eight  or 
nine  yards  at  a  bound.  (Gerbil.) 

Geri  and  Freki.  In  Myth.,  the  wolves  of 
Odin. 

German.  [L.  germanus,  -a,  having  both  parents 
the  same,  said  of  brothers  and  sisters.]  Nearly 
related  by  blood,  closely  akin. 

Germane.  (German.)  Closely  allied,  appro- 
priate, relevant. 

German  school.  Of  Painting,  a  school  marked 
by  careful  and  matter-of-fact  truthfulness.  Its 
head  was  Albert  Durer  (born  1471). 

German  silver.  An  alloy  of  copper,  zinc,  and 
nickel  (resembling  the  product  of  an  ore  at 
Henneburg,  in  Germany). 

Germinal  matter  =  albumen  (q.v.) ;  so  called 
from  the  belief  that  albumen  alone  is  concerned 
with  generation  and  nutrition. 

Gerontocomium.     [From  Gr.  ytpuv,  -OVTOS,  old 


man,  and  KO^W,  I  take  care  of.]     A  hospital  01 
asylum  for  old  people. 

Gerund.  [L.  gerundium,  from  gero,  I  bear.} 
(Gram.)  A  verbal  adjective  in  Latin,  used  foi 
the  oblique  cases  of  the  infinitive  mood,  and  so 
bearing  the  function  of  case-government,  like  the 
verb ;  stem  ending  is  -nd ;  as,  Urbem  videndi 
causa,  for  the  sake  of  seeing  the  city. 

Gerundive.  [L.  gerund! vus,  from  gerundium, 
gerund]  (Gram.}  A  verbal  adjective,  ending 
in  Latin  in  -ndus,  etc.,  serving  as  a  present 
participle  passive,  and  as  a  "  participle  of  neces- 
sity," or  future  participle  passive  ;  as,  Urbis 
videndse  causa,  for  the  sake  of  seeing  the  city  ; 
Urbs  videnda  est,  or,  urbem  videndum  est,  the 
city  must  be  (is  to  be)  seen. 

Gerusia.  [Gr.  yepovaia,  an  assembly  of  elders] 
In  Gr.  Hist.,  the  Spartan  senate. 

Gesta  Romanorum.  [L. ,  deeds  of  the  Romans.  ] 
An  olla  podrida  of  mythical  stories,  monkish 
legends,  romances,  classical  tales,  ghost  stories, 
etc.,  gathered  from  all  sources  and  translated 
into  Latin,  some  of  which  furnished  themes  to 
Chaucer,  Shakespeare,  and  others  ;  light  reading 
for  monks  on  winter  evenings  (see  Collier's 
Eng.  Literature).  (Panchatantra.) 

Gests.     (Minstrels.) 

Gesture  language.  A  term  expressing  the 
communications  of  savages  by  gestures  which 
represent  not  letters  but  ideas. — Tylor,  Primitive 
Culture. 

Geysers.  [Icel.,  raging]  Spouting  fountains, 
boiling,  intermittent ;  produced  by  rain  and 
snow-water  subterraneously  heated  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Mount  Hecla. 

Ghaut.  [Hind,  ghat,  a  mountain  pass,  gate] 
1.  A  mountain  pass.  2.  A  range  of  mountains, 
especially  along  the  Malabar  ( W.)  coast  of  India. 
3.  Steps  down  to  a  river. 

Gheber.     [Pers.  ghebr,  infidel.]     (Gueber.) 

Ghee.  [Hind,  ghi.]  A  butter  made  of 
churned  curds,  used  in  India,  and  used  in  sacri- 
fice by  Brahmans. 

Ghetto.     [It.]     The  Jews'  quarter  in  Rome. 

Ghibellines.  In  It.  Hist.,  the  party  which 
maintained  the  supremacy  of  the  Emperor  over 
the  Italian  states.  (Guelfs.) 

Gbirdawar,  Girdwar.  [Hind.]  Inspector  or 
superior  officer  of  police. 

Ghoul.  [Pers.]  An  evil  being  of  Eastern 
legend,  supposed  to  prey  on  corpses. 

Ghrime-sail.  (Naut.)  Old  name  for  a  smoke- 
sail,  i.e.  one  so  hoisted  as  to  prevent  the  smoke 
from  the  galley  blowing  on  to  the  quarter-deck. 

Ghyll.    (-gill.)    Mountain  torrent,  gulley,  goil. 

Giallolino.    [It.,  yellow]     (Massicot.) 

Giaour.  A  Turkish  word,  meaning  infidel, 
and  denoting  all  non- Mohammedans,  especially 
Christians. 

Gib.  Quasi-personal  name  of  a  cat  (Chaucer, 
Romance  of  Rose,  6204). 

Gibberish.  [From  the  old  verb  gibber,  formed 
as  a  variant  of  jabber,  and  allied  to  gabble  (Skeat).] 
Utter  nonsense,  unintelligible  jargon. 

Gibbous.  [L.  gibbus,  humped,  gibbous]  Said 
of  the  moon  or  of  Venus  when  more  than  half 
the  disc  is  bright. 


GIBI 


239 


GIRT 


Gibier.  [Fr.  giboyer,  to  hunt;  origin  un- 
known.] Game,  wild-fowl.  Gibier  de  potence, 
a  gallows  bird. 

Gibraltar.    (Pillars  of  Herakles.) 

Gier-eagle.  [Heb.  racham,  the  tender  one, 
from  its  affection  to  its  young.]  (Bibl.)  Lev. 
xi.  1 8  ;  the  Egyptian  vulture,  Neophron  percno- 
pterus.  Fam.  Vulturidse,  ord.  Accrpitres. 

Giffard  injector.  A  contrivance  for  introducing 
water  into  a  boiler  without  pumping.  A  pipe 
comes  from  the  top  of  the  boiler,  out  of  which 
a  jet  of  steam  issues  into  a  vessel  containing 
water,  by  which  part  of  it  is  condensed  ;  a 
partial  vacuum  is  thereby  formed  near  the  end 
of  the  pipe.  As  steam  (or  any  air  or  gas)  enters 
a  vacuum  with  a  very  great  velocity,  the  un- 
condensed  part  of  the  steam  enters  the  water 
with  a  great  velocity,  and  thus  sets  up  a  cur- 
rent of  water  warmed  by  steam,  which,  being 
directed  into  a  second  pipe,  is  injected  into  the 
water  in  the  boiler.  The  velocity  of  this  current 
is  sufficient  to  keep  the  water  in  the  boiler  from 
flowing  out  along  the  second  pipe. 

Gift-rope.     (Guest-rope.) 

Gig.  [A  word  of  Scand.  origin,  the  root  being 
perhaps  ga,  to  go,  which  seems  to  be  redupli- 
cated (Skeat).]  (Naut.)  A  narrow,  clinker- 
built  ship's  boat,  adapted  for  expeditious  rowing 
or  sailing 

Gigantology.  [Gr.  7/705,  -O.VTOS,  a  giant,  and 
\6yos,  an  account.}  An  account  of  giants,  study 
of,  or  a  treatise  on,  giants. 

Gigot.  [Fr.  gigue,  a  leg ;  origin  unknown.] 
Leg  of  mutton,  piece  of  meat. 

Gil  Bias.  Hero  of  Lesage's  romance  of  the 
name. 

Gild.  [A.S.  and  Goth.  ;  cf.  Ger.  gilde,  corpora- 
tion.} (Leg.}  Tax,  tribute,  contribution.  (Guild.) 

-gill.  Norse  part  of  names  in  Lake  district, 
=  ravine,  as  in  Stock-gill ;  Scottish  -goil. 
(Ghyll.) 

Gillie.  [Gael,  giolla,  boy.}  A  Highland  at- 
tendant. 

Gilpin,  John.  Hero  of  a  humorous  poem  by 
Cowper. 

Gilpy.     In  Naut.  parlance,  a  hobble-de-hoy. 

Gimbal,  or  Gimbol,  sometimes  Gymbol-rings. 
[L.  gemellus,  twin.}  A  mode  of  suspension  by 
which  a  chronometer,  a  compass,  etc.,  remains 
horizontal  in  spite  of  the  oscillation  of  the  ship. 
The  chronometer  is  hung  within  a  ring  on  an 
axis  coinciding  in  direction  with  a  diameter ;  the 
ring  is  suspended  inside  a  second  ring  on  an 
axis  coinciding  in  direction  with  a  diameter  at 
right  angles  to  the  former ;  the  second  ring 
(which  may  be  a  box  or  case)  is  suspended  on 
an  axis  at  right  angles  to  the  second  and  parallel 
to  the  first  axis.  If  the  third  axis  is  tilted,  the 
second,  and  with  it  the  first,  remains  horizontal ; 
if  the  second  axis  is  also  tilted,  still  the  first 
remains  horizontal.  Now,  any  oscillatory  move- 
ment of  the  ship  whatever  is  equivalent  to 
movements  round  two  axes  at  right  angles  to 
each  other,  and  therefore  cannot  do  more  than 
tilt  both  the  second  and  third  axes ;  so  that 
under  all  ordinary  circumstances,  the  first  axis 
will  remain  horizontal. 


Gimcrack.  [O.E.  gim,  neat,  crack,  braggart.} 
A  dainty  toy,  a  trivial  piece  of  work. 

Gimmer.  [Icel.  gymbr.]  (Sheep,  Stages  of 
growth  of.) 

Gimp.  [O.Fr.  guimpe,  the  pennon  of  a  lance. ,] 
A  kind  of  braiding  used  in  trimming  furniture. 

Gin  [Fr.  engin,  L.  ingenium,  (i)  skill,  (2) 
in  later  L.,  a  war-engine] ;  Cotton-G. ;  Whim-G. 
Gin  is  a  contraction  of  the  word  engine,  and  is 
used  in  connexions  in  which  the  very  general 
sense  of  that  word  has  nearly  dropped  out  of 
sight.  Thus,  a  certain  engine  of  torture  is  a 
G.  ;  a  tripod  with  block,  and  tackle,  and  wheel, 
and  axle  for  lifting  cannon  is  also  a  G.  ;  a  horse- 
capstan  is  a  Whim-G.,  i.e.  a  turning  engine;  an 
engine  for  separating  the  seed  from  the  cotton  is 
a  Cotton-G.  (Engineer.) 

Ginevra.  An  Italian  bride  in  S.  Rogers's 
poem  of  the  name,  who  hid  in  an  oaken  chest, 
and,  the  lid  closing  on  her,  was  buried  alive. 

Gingerbread  hatches.  (Naut.)  Sumptuous 
quarters.  G.  "work,  gorgeously  carved  ship's 
decorations. 

Gingham.  [Fr.  guingan,  said  by  Littre  to  be 
a  corr.  of  Guingamp,  the  town  where  such 
fabrics  are  made.]  Cotton  fabric,  originally 
made,  it  is  said,  in  India. 

Gingival.  Relating  to  the  gums  [L.  ginglva, 
a  gum}. 

Ginglymus.     (Enarthrosis.) 

Ginseng.  [Chin,  yansam.]  A  medicinal  root 
used  in  China. 

Gip,  To.    ( Afc»f.)    To  take  entrails  out  of  fish. 

Giraffe.    ( Camelopar  d. ) 

Girandole.  [Fr.,  It.  girondola,  L.  gyrare,  to 
gyrate.'}  As  commonly  used,  a  branched  chan- 
delier ;  meaning  also  circular  displays  of  jets 
d'eau,  and  of  fireworks. 

Gird.     (Deer,  Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Girder ;  G.-bridge.  A  Girder  is  a  long  rectangu- 
lar structure,  consisting  of  two  beams,  one  above 
and  one  below,  built  up  of  plates  of  wrought 
iron  riveted  together;  the  two  are  connected, 
not  by  a  continuous  web,  but  by  strong  bars 
arranged  obliquely  and  dividing  the  intervening 
space  into  triangles.  In  a  G.-bridge  the  space 
between  the  piers  is  spanned  by  two  or  more 
parallel  girders,  which  support  the  roadway. 

Girdle  of  Venus.  The  magic  cestus  of  Aphro- 
dite, which  subdues  all  to  love. 

Girdwar.    (Ghirdawar.) 

Gironde,  The*.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  a  revolutionary 
party,  the  members  of  which  are  called  Giron- 
dists, from  the  department  of  La  Gironde,  which 
returned  three  of  its  chief  leaders  to  the  Legis- 
lative Assembly  of  1791.  (Assembly.) 

Girrock.     (Gar-fish.) 

Girt.  In  Naut.  language,  a  ship  moored  so 
taut  by  two  distant  anchors  that,  when  she 
tries  to  swing,  she  is  caught  by  one  cable  while 
doing  so,  is  girt,  i.e.  lies  with  side  or  stern  to 
wind  or  current. 

Girt-line,  or  Gant-line.  (Naut.)  A  rope 
passed  through  a  single  block  at  the  head  of  a 
lower  mast,  by  which  rigging  and  riggers  are 
hoisted  up.  The  first  rope  fitted  to  a  vessel 
when  rigging  her. 


GISE 


231 


GLED 


Gisement.  (Leg.']  Cattle  taken  in  to  graze 
at  a  certain  price ;  also  the  said  price.  (Agist- 
ment.) 

Gist.     (Giste  of  action.) 

Giste  of  action.  [Fr.  giste,  L.L.  gista,  i.e. 
jacita,  from  L.  jaceo,  I  lie.]  (Leg.)  The  cause 
for  which  an  action  lies  ;  hence  Gist,  the  main 
point  in  some  matter ;  that  on  which  it  turns. 
(Agistment.) 

Gitano.    [It]    A  gypsy. 

Gittith,  "  to  the  chief  musician  upon  G."  Ps. 
viii.,  Ixxxi.,  Ixxxiv.  ;  some  instrument  or  strain 
of  music  for  stirring  occasions  of  praise,  but  it 
is  not  known  what.  G.  perhaps  =  of  Gath 
(vide  Speaker's  Commentary)* 

Gizzard.  [Fr.gesier,  L.  gigeria,  plu.]  (Anat.) 
The  muscular  division  of  the  stomach,  in  birds, 
below  the  liver,  on  the  left  side  of  the  abdomen, 
resting  on  the  intestines ;  in  which  food  is  tri- 
turated by  sand,  gravel,  etc. 

Glabrous.  [L.  glaber.]  (Bot.)  Smooth, 
having  no  hairs. 

Glace.  [Fr.  glacer,  to  glaze,  L.  glacia,  a  secon- 
dary form  of  glacies,  ice]  Glazed. 

Glacial.  [L.  glacialis,  icy.]  Having  a  cry- 
stalline appearance,  as  glacial  acetic  acid. 

Glacial  epoch.  (Geol.)  A  time,  succeeding 
the  formation  of  the  Pliocene  strata,  of  arctic 
condition  in  the  now  temperate  latitudes  of 
Europe,  giving  rise  to  the  Glacial  drift,  or  boulder 
formation.  (Boulders.) 

Glacier.  [Fr.,  from  L.  glacies,  ice.]  A  stream 
of  ice  [Fr.  glace],  which  moves  slowly  down  a 
valley  below  the  limit  of  perpetual  snow,  and 
is  continually  fed  from  the  snow-fields  above 
with  snow  which  is  compressed  into  ice  in  its 
descent. 

Glacieres  [Fr.  glace,  ice],  Ice-caves.  Caves, 
chiefly  in  the  Alps,  full  of  ice  ;  not  connected 
with  any  glacial  system,  the  surface  of  the  earth 
being  much  above  freezing  point. 

Glacis.  [Fr.]  (Fortif.)  The  outside  of  a 
fortress  where  the  superior  slope  of  the  parapet 
of  the  covered  way  is  gently  produced  till  it 
meets  the  level  of  the  surrounding  ground  with- 
out giving  cover  to  the  assailant. 

Glades.  Everglades  ;  tracts  of  land  at  the 
south,  covered  with  water  and  grass. — Bartlett's 
A  mericanisnts. 

Gladiators.  [L.  gladiatores.]  Swordsmen, 
employed  by  the  ancient  Romans  to  fight  at 
funerals,  and  appease  by  blood  the  manes  of  the 
dead.  They  were  afterwards  introduced  into 
the  public  amphitheatres. 

Gladio  succinctus.  [L.,  girl  with,  the  sword.] 
So  an  earl  was  said  to  be,  as  having  jurisdiction 
over  his  county  j  of  which  the  sword  was  the 
symbol. 

Glair.  White  of  egg  [L.L.  clarium  ovi, 
clams,  clear]  or  any  similar  viscous  sub- 
stance. 

Glaive  of  Light.     (Excalibur.) 

Glamour.  [Scot.]  A  bewitching  influence 
on  the  eyes,  making  them  see  things  differently 
from  ordinary  healthy  sight. 

Glance.  [Ger.  glanz,  Itistre.]  (Geol.)  A 
terra  applied  to  certain  coals  and  metallic  ores 

16 


which  are  lustrous ;  e.g.  copper-glance,  glance- 
coal  or  anthracite  (q.v. ). 

Gland.  [L.  glans,  =  galans,  akin  to  Gr. 
Pd\avos,  an  acorn.]  A  loose  piece  of  brass 
forced  down  on  the  packing  of  a  stuffing-box 
(e.g.  the  stuffing-box  at  the  top  of  the  cylinder 
of  a  steam-engine,  through  which  the  piston-rod 
works)  by  two  or  more  bolts  for  compressing 
the  packing  so  as  to  prevent  leakage. 

Glanders.  In  horse,  mule,  and  ass ;  an  in- 
flammation, often  acute  and  dangerous,  of  the 
glandular  system,  especially  of  the  nasal  mucous 
membrane  ;  contagious,  sometimes,  to  man,  and 
even  fatal. 

Glands.  [L.  glandem,  an  acorn.]  1. 
(Physiol.)  _ Various  organs,  which  produce  the 
chief  secretions ;  e.g.  lachrymal,  mammary,  liver, 
kidneys.  2.  Some,  being  ductless,  i.e.  with  no 
excretory  opening,  as  the  spleen,  though  called 
G.,  are  not  true  G.  3.  (Bot.)  Elevations  of 
the  cuticle,  containing  generally  acrid  or 
resinous  substances. 

Glass.  [One  of  a  vast  number  of  words  con- 
taining the  root  gal,  to  shine.]  (Araut.)  A  half- 
hour  sand-glass,  used  on  board  ship  to  measure 
time  by  ;  e.g.  three  glasses  =  an  hour  and  a 
half.  Half-minute  and  quarter-minute  glasses 
are  used  to  measure  the  running  out  of  the  log- 
line. 

Glasse,  Mrs.  Name  or  nom  de plume  of  the 
authoress  of  the  first  English  cookery-book. 

Glass-gall.  The  scum  which  collects  on 
melted  glass. 

Glassites.     (Sandemanians.) 
Glass-paper.     Paper  covered  with  powdered 
glass,  used  for  polishing. 

Glass-soap.  Black  oxide  of  manganese,  or 
any  other  substance  used  to  take  away  colour 
from  glass. 

Glauber's  salts.  Sulphate  of  soda  (discovered 
by  Glauber). 

Glaucdpis.  [Gr.  y\avKunris,  gleaming-eyed.] 
1.  (Entom.)  Gen.  of  Sphinx  moth,  fam.  Z^gae- 
mdse  [£vyaiva,  some  kind  of  shark].  2.  ( Ornith*) 
Brush-bird,  about  the  size  of  a  magpie  j  plumage, 
brown  with  white  stripes  lengthwise  on  back  ; 
red  wattles.  Australia.  Gen.  Anthocsera  [(?) 
&vdos,  flower,  Kaip6u,  I  weave],  fam.  Meliphagi- 
drse  [fj.f\i,  honey,  <f>ayf"iv,  to  eat],  ord.  Passgres.. 

Glaucous.  [L.  glaucus,  bluish-grey '.]  (Bot.} 
Covered  with  bloom ;  e.g.  a  plum. 

Glaucus.  [Gr.  y\avKus,  gleaming.]  (Zool.) 
Sea-lizard ;  nudibranchiate  mollusc,  dark  blue 
back  with  white  stripe,  white  belly,  class 
Gasteropoda. 

Glaze.  [Akin  to  Glass.]  A  substance  which, 
being  applied  to  or  deposited  on  the  surface  of 
pottery  or  porcelain,  vitrifies  with  heat,  and 
unites  with  the  body.  Salt,  or  flint  combined 
with  lead  or  tin,  is  the  chief  G. 

Glazer.  A  wheel  covered  with  emery,  used 
for  polishing  cutlery,  etc. 

Glazing.  Applying  a  very  thin  layer  of  colour 
over  another,  to  modify  its  tone. 

Glede.  [O.E.  glida,  glidan,  to  glide.]  1. 
(Kite.)  2.  (BM.)  Buzzard,  Buteo,  fam,  Fal- 
c5md0e,  ord.  Accipitres. 


GLEE 


232 


GNOS 


Gleemen.  In  Old  Eng.  Hist.,  itinerant 
singers,  who  after  the  Norman  Conquest  were 
called  Minstrels, 

Glen.  [A.S. ;  cf.  Welsh  glyn,  Gadh.  gleann.] 
Narrow  valley,  retired  hollow  between  hills  or 
through  raised  ground. 

Glenlivet.  A  superior  Scotch  whisky  (from 
the  place  where  it  is  made). 

Glenoid.  [Gr.  y \T\VO etSrjy,  from  y\-f)vn,  the 
(shallow)  socket  of  a  joint]  (Anat.)  Pertaining 
to  a  shallow  articular  cavity. 

Glimmer.  (Glass.)  The  miners'  name  for 
mica  ;  so  called  from  its  sparkle. 

Glissade.     [Fr.]     A  sliding. 

Gloaming.    [Akintorifoww.]    Twilight,  dusk. 

Globe-rangers.  A  Naut.  nickname  for  the 
Royal  Marines. 

Globular  chart ;  G.  projection.  The  Globular 
projection  of  the  circles  of  a  sphere  is  the  same 
as  the  stereographic,  except  that  the  point  of  pro- 
jection is  removed  from  the  sphere  by  a  distance 
equal  to  the  sine  of  45°.  A  chart  drawn  on  this 
projection  is  a  G.  chart.  The  ordinary  map,  in 
which  the  surface  of  the  world  is  represented  on 
two  circles,  is — save  for  a  few  convenient  inac- 
curacies—a G.  chart  of  the  eastern  and  western 
hemispheres. 

Glomeralls.  A  name  applied  at  Cambridge 
University  to  commissioners  appointed  to 
arrange  disputes  between  gownsmen  (students) 
and  townsmen. 

Gloriana.  Spenser's  Queen  of  Fairyland, 
meant  both  for  Glory  and  for  Queen  Elizabeth, 
who  is  also  called  Belphcebe  and  Britomart. 
It  was  a  court  fashion  to  address  her  as  Gloriana, 
Oriana,  Astrsea,  Cynthia,  etc. 

Gloss.  [Gr.  y  \iao-ff  a,  language,  word.]  1.  In 
the  Rhet.  of  Aristotle,  a  word  which  needs  ex- 
planation. Hence,  2,  an  interpretation,  com- 
ment, generally  attached  to  the  text  and  so  mar- 
ginal or  interlinear ;  especially  remnants  of  old 
Welsh  and  Irish  language  preserved  on  Latin  MSS. 

Glossary.  [L.  glossarium,  from  Gr.  y\S><rffa, 
language,  word.]  1.  A  collection  of  difficult 
words  or  terms  in  a  book  or  author  explained. 
2.  A  limited  dictionary  of  special  terms  and 
words,  as  of  an  author,  a  science,  a  dialect. 

Glosso-.     [Gr.  yXtoffffa,  the  tongue.] 

Glossology.  [Gr.  y\<aa<ra,  language,  word, 
\6yos,  account.]  1.  The  science  of  interpreting 
words  and  terms.  2.  =  Glottology. 

Glottis.  [Gr.  yXwrris.]  (Physiol.)  The  chink 
or  aperture  ia  the  larynx  for  breathing  and 
speaking,  somewhat  like  a  small  tongiie  in  shape. 

Glottology.  [Gr.  yXurra,  language,  \6yos,  ac- 
count.] The  science  of  language  in  the  most 
comprehensive  sense. 

Glover.     (Fellmonger.) 

Glubdubdrib.  The  fictitious  island  in  Swift's 
GiMiver's  Travels,  where  sorcerers  evoked  the 
spirits  of  the  dead. 

Gliicina.  [Gr.  y\vKvs,  sweet.]  (Geol.)  Oxide 
of  glucinum,  a  rare  earth,  and  a  constituent  of 
emerald  and  beryl. 

Glucinum.  A  rare  white  metal,  resembling 
aluminium  in  its  properties.  Its  salts  have  a 
sweet  [Gr.  y\vnvs]  taste.  It  is  sometimes  called 


Beryllium,  because  it  exists  in  the  beryl.  Other 
names  are  Glycinum,  Glycium. 

Glucose.  [Gr.  y\vKi>s,  sweet.]  Grape-sugar ; 
the  fermented  product  of  starch,  cane-sugar,  and 
woody  fibre. 

Glumdalclitch.  The  little  girl  of  nine  years 
old,  only  just  forty  feet  high,  who  took  care  of 
(Swift's)  Gulliver  in  Brobdingnag. 

Glume.  [L.  gluma,  a  husk.]  (Bot.)  The 
chaff,  bracts,  of  the  grasses. 

Glycerine.  The  sweet  [Gr.  y\vKep6s]  principle 
of  oils  and  fats.  A  clear,  viscid  liquid,  which 
never  dries  at  ordinary  temperatures. 

Glyn-.  Part  of  Welsh  names,  =  glen,  as  in 
Glyn-neath. 

Glyptography.  [Gr.  y\v<f>u,  I  engrave,  7pc«/>c«>, 
/  write.]  The  taking  an  electrotype  cast  of  an 
etching,  to  be  used  as  a  block  to  print  from. 

Glyptodon.  [Gr.  y  \wrr6s,  carved,  oSovs, 
gen.  686vTos,  tooth,  i.e.  having  fluted  teeth.] 
(Zool.)  An  edentate  gen.  of  fossil  animals, 
allied  to  the  armadillos. 

Glyptography.  [Gr.  y\\nn6s,  carved,  ypdfeiv, 
to  write.]  The  art  of  engraving  on  gems. 

Glyptotheca.  [Gr.  y\virr6s,  carved,  0^*77,  a 
store^\  A  building  in  which  sculptures  are  pre- 
served ;  as  the  Glyptothek  at  Munich. 

Gnatho-.     [Gr.  yv'a.9os,  the  jaw.]     In  Anat. 

Gnatho.  [Gr.  yv&Qa>v.]  A  representative 
parasite  in  Terence's  Euniichus. 

Gneiss.  [Ger.]  (Geol.)  A  name  for  the 
lowest  series  of  stratified  (metamorphosed) 
Primary  rocks ;  compounded,  like  granite,  of 
quartz,  felspar,  and  mica.  Some  gneiss  is  a 
metamorphic  rock  of  much  later  age. 

Gnome.  [Gr.  yv&fjur),  a  maxim,  wise  saying.] 
A  brief  and  weighty  sentence,  a  maxim,  as 
"  Know  thyself." 

Gnomes  (properly  Gnomons,  from  Gr. 
yvufjiuv,  knowing).  Elemental  spirits  who,  ac- 
cording to  the  Cabalistic  writers,  inhabited  the 
earth,  and  who  were  regarded  as  goblin  dwarfs. 

Gnomic  poets.  [Gr.  yvu>/j.tn6s,  dealing  in 
maxims.]  Greek  poets,  whose  works  consist 
chiefly  of  short  precepts  or  reflexions,  as  those 
of  Theognis  and  Solon. 

Gnomon.  [Gr.  yvtapuv,  the  gnomon  or  index 
of  a  sun-dial,  a  carpenter 's  rule]  1.  (Geom.)  Let 
a  parallelogram  be  divided  into  four  others  by 
lines  parallel  to  the  sides  and  intersecting  in  a 
diameter ;  if  one  of  the  parallelograms,  across 
which  the  diameter  passes,  be  removed,  the 
figure  formed  by  the  remaining  three  is  a  G. 
2.  (Astron.)  A  pillar,  the  length  of  whose 
shadow  on  the  level  ground  was  used  by  the 
ancient  astronomers  for  finding  the  altitude  of 
the  sun.  3.  (Dialling.)  The  style  or  pin  of  a 
sun-dial,  whose  shadow  marks  out  the  hours. 

Gnomonical  projection.  A  representation  of 
the  circles  of  a  sphere  on  a  tangent  plane,  the 
projecting  point  being  at  the  centre. 

Gnomonics.     The  art  of  constructing  dials. 

Gnostics.  [Gr.  yvutm^s,  from  yv&ais,  know- 
ledge.] (Eccl.  Hist.}  Properly,  persons  laying 
claim  to  or  possessed  of  knowledge.  More 
particularly,  those  who  in  the  first  centuries  of 
the  Christian  era  maintained  doctrines  similar  in 


GNU 


233 


GOND 


their  essential  features  to  those  of  Zoroastrianism. 
(Ahriman.)  Matter  to  them  was  simply  the  pro- 
duct of  evil ;  and  this  conclusion  brought  them 
sometimes  to  great  asceticism,  and  sometimes  to 
the  grossest  licence.  The  Gnostics,  as  time 
went  on,  split  into  various  sects,  distinguished 
rather  by  differences  in  their  cosmogonical 
systems  than  by  any  real  divergence  of  principles. 
Among  these  were  the  Basilidians,  Carpocratians, 
Cerdonians,  Cerinthians,  Valentinians,  and 
others. 

Gnu.  [Hottentot  gnu  or  nju  (Littre).]  (Bot.) 
A  gen.  of  antelope,  with  mane,  and  bull-like 
head.  S.  Africa.  Gen.  Catoblepas  [Gr.  Kara}, 
down,  /SAeVw,  /  look},  sub-fam.  Alcelaphinse, 
fam.  Bovidae,  ord.  Ungiilata. 

Goat  [Welsh  gob,  a  heap.}  The  waste  place 
or  material  in  a  colliery. 

Go-ashores.  In  Naut.  slang,  a  sailor's  best 
clothes. 

Goat,  Wild.    [Heb.  ago.]     (Bib!.)     (Ibex) 

Goat  and  Compasses.  Sign  of  an  inn;  i.e. 
"God  encompasses  us." 

Goat-sucker.  (Ornith.)  An  almost  universally 
distributed  fam.  of  night-flying,  insectivorous 
birds,  with  enormous  gape  of  beak ;  plumage, 
moth-like  in  colouring,  owl-like  in  texture.  The 
British  spec.,  Night-jar,  Night-hawk,  Moth-hawk, 
is  between  ten  and  eleven  inches  long.  Gen. 
Caprimulgus,  fam.  Caprimulgidae  [L.  capri- 
mulgus,  goat-milker},  ord.  Picariae  (Cuvier, 
Fissirostres,  ord.  Passeres). 

Gobelin  tapestry.  French  tapestry  ;  so  called 
after  Giles  Gobelin,  a  well-known  dyer  in  the 
reign  of  Francis  I. 

Gobe-mouche,  or  Gobe-mouches.  [Fr.  gober, 
to  gulp,  mouche,  a  jfty.}  1.  The  fly-catcher,  a 
bird  ;  hence,  2,  a  silly  gossip,  ready  to  swallow 
any  news. 

GobHdse.  [L.  gobius,  Gr.  icwftids,  a  kind  of 
fish,  sometimes  identified  with  gobio,  the 
gudgeon,  which,  however,  belongs  to  ord.  Phy- 
sostomi.]  (Ichth.)  Fam.  of  carnivorous  fresh 
and  salt  water  fishes — temperate  and  tropical 
waters — as  Gobies,  Dragonets,  and  Perioph- 
thalmus  [Gr.  irept-J^flaA/ioy,  properly  round 
the  eye,  but  here  meaning  with  eyes  that  look  all 
round}.  This  last  gen.  (Africa  and  the  East) 
hunts  its  prey  on  the  mud.  Ord.  Acantho- 
pterygii,  sub-class  Teleostel. 

Godown.    A  storehouse,  E.  India. 

God's  acre,  [A.S.  aecer,  L.  ager,yfcA/.]  The 
churchyard. 

Goeletta.  [Fr.]  (Naut.)  1.  A  schooner. 
2.  A  war-slocp. 

Goffering.  [Fr.  gaufrer,  to  figure  cloth,  gaufre, 
a  honey-comb;  cf.  Eng.  Ttvzj^y-cake.]  Plaiting 
or  fluting  frills. 

Gog  and  Magog.  Two  symbolical  warriors 
noticed  in  some  books  of  the  Old  Testament. 
In  the  Apocalypse  they  denote  the  enemies  of  the 
Christian  faith  ;  and  in  the  Koran  the  names  are 
in  like  manner  used  to  mark  the  opponents  of 
Islam.  Two  wooden  giants  in  the  Guildhall, 
London,  are  also  known  by  this  name. 

Going  through  the  fleet.  (Naut.)  Being 
towed  in  a  launch  from  vessel  to  vessel  (the 


drummers  playing  the  rogue's  march),  and  re- 
ceiving a  certain  number  of  lashes  alongside 
each. 

Goitre.]  Fr.]  Swollen  neck  ;  i.q.  Bronchocele 
(q.v.). 

Gold-beater's  skin.  A  delicate  membrane, 
prepared  from  the  peritoneal  membrane  of  the 
ox ;  pieces  of  gold  are  interleaved  with  leaves  of 
G.  for  further  beating,  after  the  process  of 
attenuation  by  vellum  leaves. 

Golden  Age.     (Ages,  The  four.) 

Golden  apple.     (Paris,  Judgment  of.) 

Golden  ass.     (Psyche.) 

Golden  Bull  [L.  aurea  bulk,  the  seal  at- 
tached having  been  encased  in  gold.}  1.  In 
Ger.  Hist.,  the  edict  by  which  Charles  IV. 
settled  the  law  of  imperial  elections,  the  un- 
certainty of  which  had  had  the  effect  of  placing 
the  decision,  mostly,  in  the  hands  of  the  pope ; 
enacted  at  Niirnberg  and  at  Metz,  1356.  2. 
Any  papal  bull  sealed  in  gold. 

Golden  fleece.  In  Myth.,  the  fleece  of  the 
golden  ram  which  bore  Phrixus  and  Helle  to 
Colchis.  (For  Order  of  G.  F.,  vide  Fleece.) 

Golden  Gardens.  The  Great  and  Little  Schiitt, 
about  half-way  between  Vienna  and  Pesth, 
islands  inclosed  by  the  dividing  waters  of  the 
Danube.  Other  large  tracts  of  soil  are  similarly 
formed  by  the  D. 

Golden  Horn.  "  The  harbour  of  Constanti- 
nople .  .  .  obtained,  in  a  very  remote  period, 
the  denomination  of  the  G.  H.,"  expressive  of 
"  the  curve  which  it  describes,"  and  "  the  riches 
which  every  wind  wafted  from  the  most  distant 
countries." — Gibbon,  Decline  and  Fall  of  the 
Rom.  Empire,  ch.  xvii. 

Golden  Legend.  A  collection  of  lives  of 
saints,  compiled  under  the  title  Aurea  Legenda, 
by  Jacobus  de  Voragine,  in  the  thirteenth  century. 

Golden  rose.  A  rose  of  beaten  gold,  blessed 
by  the  pope  on  Mid-Lent  Sunday,  and  usually 
sent  by  him  as  a  gift  to  some  female  sovereign. 

Golden  wedding.  The  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
the  wedding  of  a  couple,  who  are  both  still 
living  in  wedlock. 

Golf.  [Akin  to  Sw.  kolf,  a  bolt,  Ger.  kolbe, 
a  club.}  1.  A  Scotch  game,  in  which  a  small 
ball  is  knocked  into  a  set  of  holes  in  the  ground, 
in  as  few  strokes  as  possible.  2.  (Her.)  A 
purple  roundlet  or  disc. 

Gomascites.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  Calvinistic 
followers  of  Francis  Gomas,  in  the  Dutch 
Church  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

Gomashtah.  [Hind.]  An  E. -Indian  factor  or 
agent. 

Gombron,  or  Gombroon  ware.  (From  G., 
otherwise  Bunder  Abbas,  opposite  Isle  of 
Ormuz,  in  the  Persian  Gulf.)  Persian  fayence, 
and,  according  to  some,  Chinese  porcelain  im- 
ported vtd  G. 

Gomphdsis.  [Gr.  yo^^w,  I  nail.}  (Anat.) 
A  nailing,  an  articulation  with  immobility,  or 
nearly  so ;  as  that  of  teeth  in  the  alveolar 
processes. 

Gomuti.  [Malay.]  A  fibre,  resembling  black 
horsehair,  obtained  from  the  Gomuti  palm. 

Gondola.     [It.]     (Naut.)     1.  The  well-known 


GONE 


234 


GOUT 


boat  used  in  Venice.  It  is  about  thirty  feet 
long  and  four  wide,  nearly  flat-bottomed,  sharp 
and  high  at  the  stem  and  stern,  always  painted 
black,  and  usually  propelled  by  one  long  oar, 
which  is  plied  by  the  gondolier,  standing.  2. 
A  six  or  eight  oared  boat  of  other  parts  of  the 
Italian  coast. 

Gone.  In  Naut.  phraseology,  carried  away. 
Gone-goose,  an  abandoned  ship,  or  one  given 
up  as  lost. 

Gonfalon.     [It.  gonfalone.]     (Gpnfanon.) 

Gonfanon.  [O.H.G.  guntfano,  from  gundja, 
combat,  fano,  banner  (Littre).]  1.  Small  pennon 
attached  to  the  lance,  of  the  eleventh  century ; 
restored  to  lancer  regiments  of  the  Army  of 
Occupation,  1815.  2.  The  banner  of  the  papal 
army,  shaped  like  the  Labarum. 

Goniometer  [Gr.  yuvia,  an  angle,  perpov,  a 
measure} ;  Reflecting  G.  An  instrument  for 
measuring  the  angles  between  the  faces  of 
crystals.  In  the  Reflecting  G.  the  measurement 
is  effected  by  observing  the  angle  through  which 
a  crystal  must  be  turned  in  order  that  the  images 
of  a  signal  A,  formed  by  reflexion  on  two  faces, 
may  successfully  coincide  with  the  signal  B. 

Goniometry.  The  measurement  of  angles. 
The  goniometric  functions  of  an  angle  are  its 
trigonometric  functions  (y.v.). 

Gooroo,  Gura.  [Hind.,  Skt.  guru.]  Spiritual 
teacher. 

Goosefoot.  Chenopodium  [Gr.  xV>  goose,  and 
trovs,  Tro$6s,foot}.  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  weedy  plants, 
ord.  Chenopodium ;  on  dunghills  and  waste 
places,  known  as  fat  hen,  Good  King  Henry, 
etc.,  to  which  belongs  the  Quinoa  of  Peru 
(q.v.). 

Gopher.  (Zoo!.)  A  fam.  of  rodents  (Pouched 
rats),  with  food-carrying  pouch  projecting  from 
each  cheek,  and  some  with  long  hind  legs  like 
Gerbils  (q.v.).  American  Rocky  Mountain  region, 
mostly.  Saccomyidae.  Not  to  be  confounded 
with  the  marsupial  Pouched  mice  (small  Dasy- 
uridae)  of  Australia. 

Gopher  wood.  Gen.  vi.  14  ;  untranslated  ;  the 
meaning  is  mere  matter  of  conjecture. 

Gor-cock.    (Gair-fowL) 

Gor-crow.  The  common  crow ;  from  gore,  in 
the  sense  of  filth  ;  compare  the  provincial  name 
midden  crow,  and  vide  Middings. 

Gordian  knot.  (Hist.}  A  knot  said  to  have 
been  made  by  Gordius,  a  Phrygian  king,  and  so 
intricate  that  no  one  could  untie  it.  Alexander 
the  Great,  it  is  said,  cut  it  with  his  sword. 

Gordon  riots.  Anti-popery  riots,  incited  or 
headed  by  Lord  George  Gordon,  1760. 

Gore.  [O.E.  gw,  lance.}  (Her.)  An  abatement 
denoting  cowardice.  It  is  bounded  by  two 
curved  lines  meeting  in  the  fess  point. 

Gorge.  [Fr.,  from  L.  gurges,  a  whirlpool,  a 
throat.}  1.  (Mil.)  The  contracted  space  be- 
tween the  interior  extremities  of  the  faces  or 
flanks  of  a  fortification.  2.  A  narrow  passage 
between  two  hills. 

Gorged.  (Her.)  Wearing  a  crown  or  the 
like  round  the  throat  [Fr.  gorge]. 

Gorget.  (Gorge.)  (Mil.)  A  piece  of  metal 
armour  protecting  the  neck  and  throat,  after- 


wards modified  into  a  crescent-shaped  ornament 
suspended  on  the  chest  and  worn  by  the  officer 
on  duty. 

Gorgonldse.  [Gr.  Topydav,  the  Gorgon,  a 
monster  oijearful  (70^7^5)  aspect.]  Sea-shrubs ; 
arborescent  corals,  as  Corallium  rubrum,  Red 
coral.  Fam.  Alcyonana,  ord.  Zdantharia,  class 
Actlnozda,  sub-kingd.  Coelenterata. 

Gorgons.  [Gr.  Topy6ves.]  (Myth.)  In  the 
Hesiodic  theogony,  three  sisters,  of  whom  one 
was  Medusa,  whose  head  turned  to  stone  all 
who  looked  on  it.  (JEgis.) 

Gos-hawk.  [O.E.  gos-hafoc,  goose-hawk.} 
(Ornith.)  A  short- winged  British  hawk,  used 
mainly  for  ground  game.  Male,  eighteen  inches 
long,  female,  twenty-four  inches.  Plumage, 
grey-brown  above,  white  dashed  with  black 
below  ;  young  birds,  gentil  falcons,  are  more 
of  a  red  colour.  Astur  palumbarius  [L.,  hawk 
used  for  doves  (palumbes)],  sub-fam.  Accipi- 
trinse,  fam.  Falcontdse,  ord.  Accipitres. 

Gospeller.  The  minister  who  reads  the  Gospel 
in  the  Eucharistic  Office. 

Gossip.  [A.S.,  from  God,  and  sib,  kindred.} 
This  word  now  denotes  only  a  tattler,  or  busy- 
body. Anciently  it  was  applied  to  sponsors,  as 
contracting  a  spiritual  kinship  with  the  baptized 
child  ;  and  in  some  parts  it  still  retains  its 
original  meaning  of  a  godparent.  Similarly 
commere  [Fr.,  a  godmother}  has  acquired  the 
meaning  of  a  gossip. 

Goth.  In  modern  phrase,  a  representative  of 
tasteless  barbarism. 

Gotham.  Three  wise  men  of  Gotham ;  they 
"went  to  sea  in  a  bowl,"  it.  is  said.  G.  is  a 
village  in  Nottingham,  with  a  reputation  for 
folly  ;  said  to  be  due  to  absurd  customary  services 
attached  to  land  tenure  there  ;  but  the  stories 
told  of  the  men  of  Gotham  are  to  be  found 
almost  everywhere. 

Gothamist.  Wiseacre,  silly  blunderer.  (Go- 
tham.) 

Gothenburg  system.  That  by  which  the 
municipal  body  is  the  only  proprietor  of  public- 
houses  in  the  town,  and  the  only  trader  in 
liquor  ;  the  publican  being  their  salaried  ser- 
vant, and  having  no  interest  in  the  amount  of 
drink  consumed. 

Gothic  language.  A  Low  German  dialect, 
preserved  in  the  translation  of  the  Bible  made 
by  Ulphilas  in  the  fourth  century  for  the  Goths 
of  Moesia ;  preserved  in  a  single  MS.  (fifth 
century)  now  at  Upsala,  in  Sweden. 

Gothic  styles.     (Romanesque  styles.) 

Gothic  version.  The  version  of  the  Scriptures 
made  for  the  use  of  the  Goths  by  Ulphilas  in 
the  fourth  century.  (Gothic  language.) 

Gouache.     (Guazzo.) 

Gouge.  [Fr.]  A  chisel  with  a  semi-cylin- 
drical blade. 

Gourmand.  [Fr. ,  a  glutton  ;  origin  unknown  ; 
(?)  onomatop.]  One  fond  of  high  living,  but 
deficient  in  taste  as  to  food. 

Gourmet.  [Fr.]  A  dainty  lover  of  luxurious 
food,  a  fastidious  devotee  of  the  pleasures  of  the 
table. 

Gout.     [Fr.,  L.  gustus,  taste}     7aste,  relish. 


GOUV 


235 


GRAN 


Gouvernante.  \$i.,  governess]  G.  de  menage, 
housekeeper. 

Governor.  [L.  gubernator,  Gr.  nvfrtpvav,  to 
steer]  1.  (Mil.)  An  officer  placed  in  supreme 
authority,  both  civil  and  military.  2.  (Meek.) 
A  contrivance  for  regulating  the  supply  of  steam 
to  the  cylinder,  so  as  to  prevent  the  motion  of 
the  piston  from  exceeding  a  certain  assigned 
rate.  The  commonest  form  (Watt's)  consists 
of  two  heavy  balls  at  the  end  of  arms  fastened 
by  hinges  to  a  vertical  spindle  turned  by  the 
machine  ;  as  the  speed  of  the  rotation  increases, 
the  distance  between  the  balls  increases,  and 
motion  is  given  to  the  end  of  a  lever  connected 
with  a  valve  in  the  steam-pipe,  which  is  thereby 
partially  closed. 

Gowrie  Conspiracy.  An  alleged  attempt  on 
the  part  of  the  son  of  the  Earl  of  Gowrie, 
executed  for  his  share  in  the  Raid  of  Ruthven, 
to  get  possession  of  the  person  of  James  VI. 
(1600). 

Goyenda.     [Hind.]     Informer,  police  agent. 

Grab.  (JVauf.)  An  Indian  coasting-vessel  of 
150  to  200  tons,  generally  two-masted. 

Grace.  Of  a  university  senate,  an  act  or 
decree  of  such  a  deliberative  body. 

Grace,  Days  of.  (Leg.)  Time  of  indulgence 
granted  to  an  acceptor  for  the  payment  of  his 
bill  after  it  has  become  due,  if  not  payable  at 
sight  or  on  demand.  The  number  varies  in 
different  places,  but  Sundays  are  always  reckoned. 

Grace-cup.  The  cup  passed  round  after  a 
formal  dinner  in  a  college  and  elsewhere,  where- 
with the  feasters  drink,  standing,  to  the  opposite 
and  left-hand  men,  who  also  stand,  and  also 
sometimes  to  an  institution  or  benefactor's 
memory. 

Grace  notes.  In  singing  or  playing,  orna- 
mental, not  necessary,  turns,  shakes,  etc. 

Graces.  [L.  Gratiae.]  In  L.  Myth.,  the 
Gratise  answered  to  the  Greek  Charites,  of  whom 
Hesiod  names  three.  They  are  embodiments 
of  beauty.  The  name  is  found  in  that  of  the 
Sanskrit  Harits,  the  horses  of  the  sun  ;  so  called 
as  gleaming  with  ointment  or  light. 

Gradgrind,  Thomas.  A  thoroughly  practical 
utilitarian  in  Dickens's  Hard  Times. 

Gradient.  The  rate  of  ascent  or  descent  of  a 
road  ;  generally  spoken  of  as  a  gradient  of  I  in 
so  many  ;  as,  I  in  10,  i.e.  one  foot  of  vertical 
rise  or  fall  to  every  ten  feet  of  horizontal  dis- 
tance. 

Gradin,  Gradine.  [Fr.]  Seats  of  a  theatre  or 
amphitheatre,  arranged  one  above  another. 

Graduale,  Gradual,  Grail,  Grayle.  1.  In  the 
Rom.  Church,  a  book  containing  the  musical 
portions  of  the  Mass.  2.  An  anthem  between 
Epistle  and  Gospel,  sung  while  the  deacon  as- 
cends the  steps  [L.  gradus]  of  the  altar. 

Graeca fides.  [L.,  Greek  loyalty.]  Treachery, 
duplicity.  (Punica  fides.) 

Grail,  The  Holy.     (Sangreal.) 

Grain.  [L.  granum,  a  small  seed,  corn.]  1. 
The  ToVo^h  Part  °f  a  Pound  avoirdupois.  The 
grain  was  originally  the  weight  of  a  grain 
[granum]  of  barley.  2.  A  red  dye  made  from 
kermes  (kermes). 


Graining.  1.  Painting  in  imitation  of  the 
grain  of  wood.  2.  A  process  in  leather-dress- 
ing, by  which  the  skin  is  softened  and  the  grain 
is  raised. 

Grains  of  paradise,  Meleguetta  pepper.  Seeds 
of  the  Amomum  grana  paradisi,  one  of  the 
ginger  family,  from  Guinea ;  used  to  give 
fictitious  strength  to  spirits  and  beer.  Brewers 
who  possess  them,  and  chemists  from  whom  they 
buy  them,  are  liable  to  heavy  fines,  ,£500  and 
^200. 

Grakle.  [L.  graciilus,  jay  or  jackdaw.] 
(Ornith.)  A  designation  given  by  some  to 
certain  birds  of  the  starling  kind  (Sturnus), 
peculiar  to  the  eastern  hemisphere,  as  those  of  the 
gen.  Pastor  [L.,  feeder}  and  Acridotheres  [Gr. 
aKpis,  -t5os,  locust,  6T)pdca,  I  hunt],  in  common 
with  others  of  the  fam.  Icteridas  [far epos,  jaun- 
dice, according  to  the  notion  that  the  sick  re- 
covered on  seeing  the  bird,  and  it  died]. 

Grallae,  Grallatores.  [L.,  stilt-walkers,  from 
grallae,  stilts.]  (Ornith.)  Wading  and  running 
birds,  an  ord.  ranging  from  the  snipes  to  the 
bitterns  and  flamingoes. 

Gram.  1.  (Excalibur.)  2.  An  Indian  grain 
on  which  horses-are  fed. 

Gramarge.      [Fr.    grimoire,    conjuring-book] 
The  art  of  divination. 
•  Gramercy.    [Fr .  grand'  merci.]     Great  thanks. 

Grammalogue.  A  word  [Gr.  Xo'yos]  written 
(especially  in  phonographic  shorthand)  as  a  letter 
[ypdfjLij.a],  i.e.  represented  by  a  single  sign,  as 
&  =  and. 

Grammar,  Comparative.  (Comparative  gram- 
mar.) 

Gramme.  [Fr.]  The  weight  of  a  cubic  centi- 
metre of  distilled  water,  at  a  temperature  of  4°  C. 
(39-2°  Fahr.)  ;  it  equals  I5'43235  grains. 

Grampus.  [Fr.  grand  (?)  or  gras  (?)  poisson, 
large  or  fat  fish.]  (Ichth.)  Gen.  of  dolphin. 
The  Common  grampus  (sometimes  thirty  feet 
long,  with  black  back  and  white  belly)  ;  attacks 
the  whale.  Ranges  from  North  Sea  to  Cape 
of  Good  Hope.  I.q.  Thresher  or  Killer,  fam. 
Delphinidse,  ord.  Cetacea. 

Grampus,  Blowing  the.  (Naut.)  Sluicing 
any  one  with  water. 

Granadilla.  [Sp.,  dim.  of  granada,  pome- 
granate] The  fruit  of  a  climbing  vine,  found 
in  Brazil  and  W.  Indies. 

Grand  Alliance.  (Hist.)  A  league  formed 
against  Louis  XIV.,  by  Holland,  England,  the 
Emperor,  Spain,  and  Saxony,  1689-1694  ;  re- 
newed between  the  Emperor,  Great  Britain, 
Holland,  Prussia,  and  Hanover,  1701. 

Grand  coup.     [Fr.]     Great  stroke,  great  hit. 

Grand  division.  (Mil.)  Tactical  formation, 
in  which  two  companies  stand  abreast. 

Grandee.  [Sp.  grande  de  Espaiia.]  The 
highest  title  of  Spanish  nobility.  (Hidalgo.) 

Grandiloquent.  [From  L.  grandi-loquus, 
grandly  speaking.]  Bombastic  in  style  of  speech. 

Grandison,  Sir  Charles.  The  title  of  a  novel 
by  Richardson.  On  the  hero  thus  named  For- 
tune lavishes  all  her  gifts.  Hence  persons  of 
superlative  grandeur  and  good  luck  are  some- 
times so  called. 


GRAN 


236 


GREE 


Grand  jeu.  [Fr.]  The  full  play,  or  strength, 
of  an  organ  or  harmonium. 

Grand  Lama,  llama.  Buddhist  high  priest  of 
Thibet,  regarded  as  divine. 

Grand  larceny.     (Petty  larceny.) 

Grand  serjeanty.  An  old  mode  of  tenure  by 
military  service,  or  an  equivalent  payment. 
(Tenure.)  It  has  now  become  freehold,  though 
some  honorary  services  are  retained. 

Granite.  [It.  gram  to,  formed  of  grains.] 
(Geol.)  Strictly  and  typically,  formed  of  quartz, 
felspar,  and  mica.  Most  is  igneous,  but  some  of 
metamorphic  character  :  in  the  latter  case  passing 
into  gneiss  ;  in  the  former,  into  syenite. 

Granitic  rocks  (Geol.)  =  granite  proper, 
graphic  granite,  syenite,  gneiss,  and  others, 
more  or  less  like  G.  in  character  and  appear- 
ance. 

Grant.'  [O.Fr.  graanter,  craanter,  creanter, 
from  L.  credo,  /  believe.]  (Leg.)  Originally  a 
deed  transferring  incorporeal  hereditaments  and 
expectant  estates  where  transfer  by  livery  of 
seisin  was  impossible.  This  conveyance  is  now 
the  usual  mode  of  transferring  real  property,  and 
if  uses  are  superadded,  it  is  called  G.  to  uses. 
(Seisin.) 

Grantee.  (Leg.)  One  to  whom  a  grant  is 
made. 

Granth.  The  scriptures  of  the  Sikhs,  the 
writings  of  gurus,  beginning  with  Nanek,  in 
the  fifteenth  century. 

Granular  casts.  (Path.)  Granular  matter 
adhering  to  kidney  tubecasts;  found  in  the 
urine,  denoting  chronic  disease  in  the  kidneys. 

Granulating.  [Fr.  granuler.]  Forming  into 
small  masses  or  grains. 

Granulation.  [L.L.  granulum,  a  little  grain] 
In  healing  of  wounds  and  ulcers,  minute  red 
vascular  particles,  the  materials  of  new  texture. 

Grape-shot  (general  shape  of  bunch  of  grapes). 
(Mil.)  Projectile  composed  of  layers  of  shot, 
either  arranged  in  a  canvas  bag  round  an  iron 
pin  on  a  circular  plate  or  without  the  canvas 
bolted  between  four  plates. 

Grape-sugar.    (Glucose.) 

Graphic.  [Gr.  7pa</>i/c<k,  pertaining  to  writing 
or  delineation.]  Clearly  and  vividly  described, 
expressed,  or  delineated. 

Graphic  method.  The  Method  of  curves 
(g.v.). 

Graphite.  [Gr.  ypdfw,  I  write.]  Black-lead 
(q.v.). 

Graphitoid.  [Graphite,  and  Gr.  eTSos,  form] 
Resembling  graphite,  or  black-lead. 

Graptolite.  [Gr.  ypairr^s,  written,  \t6os, 
stone.]  1.  With  Linnaeus,  appearances  on  stone, 
as  of  drawings,  maps,  vegetable  forms.  Now,  2, 
fossil  zoophytes — Silurian — resembling  the  sea- 
pens  of  our  own  seas. 

Grasseye.  [Fr.]  (Lang.)  Pronounced  with 
a  guttural  trill  or  uvula  vibration,  as  the  Fr.  r. 

Grasson,  Grassum.  [A.S.  gearsum.]  A  fine 
paid  on  the  transfer  of  a  copyhold  estate. 

Gratis.     [L.]     For  thanks  (only),  for  nothing. 

Gravamen.  [L.]  A  grievance,  inconvenience  ; 
in  conversation,  the  substantial  part  of  a  com- 
plaint. 


Gravel.  [Fr.  gravier,  O.  Fr.  grave,  rough  sand 
mixed  with  stones.]  Irregular,  subangular  stones 
of  hard  rock,  left  by  rivers  and  lakes.  Shingle 
consists  of  pebbles. 

Graver.     An  engraving  tool. 

Graving.  (Naut.)  Cleaning  a  ship's  bottom, 
and  coating  it  with  tar  or  the  like. 

Gravitation.  The  mutual  force  by  which  any 
two  particles  of  matter  in  the  universe  attract  or 
tend  to  draw  each  other  together.  The  force  is 
directly  proportional  to  the  two  masses  and  in- 
versely to  the  square  of  the  distance ;  i.e.  it  is 

represented  by  the  formula,    ™m.t 

Gravity,  Centre  of.     (Centre.) 

Gravity,  Specific.     (Density.) 

Great  Bear.  In  Astron.  and  Myth.  (Rishis, 
The  Seven.) 

Great  Bible.     (Bible,  English.) 

Great  Cham,  or  Khan.  The  supreme  ruler  of 
Tartary. 

Great  circle.     (Circle.) 

Great-circle  sailing  (or  Tangent  sailing). 
That  method  of  navigation  by  which  a  ship's 
course  is  directed  along  the  arc  of  a  Great  circle 
(q.v.),  that  being  the  shortest  distance  between 
two  points  on  the  globe's  surface. 

Great  Commoner,  The.  William  Pitt,  after- 
wards Earl  of  Chatham. 

Great  Divide,  The.  The  Rocky  Mountains, 
which  constitute  the  chief  watershed  of  N. 
America. 

Greater  Bull.     (Ausculta  fill) 

Greater  Excommunication.  (Excommunica- 
tion.) 

Great  Forty  Days.  Those  between  the  Re- 
surrection and  the  Ascension. 

Great  Mogul,  The.  Title  of  the  Mohammedan 
emperors  of  Delhi,  of  Mongolian  race. 

Great  organ.     (Organ.) 

Great  Seal  of  England.  The  seal,  in  the 
keeping  of  the  Lord  Chancellor,  used  for  giving 
the  royal  assent  to  all  charters,  commissions, 
grants  of  land,  letters  patent,  franchise,  liberties, 
etc.  Privy  Seal,  in  the  keeping  of  the  Lord 
Privy  Seal,  that  used  for  sanctioning  issues  ol 
treasure. 

Great  tithes.    (Tithes.) 

Greave.     (Mil.)     Armour  to  protect  the  legs. 

Greaves,  Graves.  The  sediment  of  melted 
tallow. 

Grebe.  [Ger.  grebe,  from  Mod.  Gr.  yXdpos, 
a  gull  (Littre,  Devic's  Supp.)  ;  or  Celt,  krib, 
a  crest  (Skeat's  Etym.  Diet.  ?).]  (Ornith.)  A 
universally  distributed  fam.  of  diving-birds,  with 
lobated  feet  set  so  far  back  that  the  bird  has  a 
difficulty  in  walking.  The  dab-chick  is  the  most 
familiar  British  spec.  Fam.  Podiclpidse  [L. 
podicem,  fundament,  caput,  head],  ord.  Anseres. 

Grecian.  1.  A  boy  of  the  head  class  at  Christ's 
Hospital.  2.  A  Greek  scholar.  8.  A  Jew  who 
knew  Greek  (Acts  vi.  i). 

Grecian  steps.  At  Lincoln  and  elsewhere. 
A  corr.  of  gresen  steps,  grese  being  the  O.E. 
form  of  Fr.  degre,  L.  gradus,  a  step.  Gresen 
steps  is,  therefore,  a  tautology. 

Greek  Calends,  or  Kalends.    (Calends.) 


GREE 


237 


GRIM 


Greek  Church.  The  same  as  the  Eastern  or 
Orthodox  Church.  (Nicene  Creed.) 

Greek  cross.     (Cross.) 

Greek  fire,  i.e.  used  in  defence  against  the 
Saracens  by  the  Byzantine  G.,  who,  circ.  A.D. 
673,  learnt  its  use  from  Callimcus  of  Heliopolis, 
as  it  is  said.  Its  composition  supposed  to  be  of 
nitre,  sulphur,  naphtha ;  highly  inflammable, 
and  said  to  burn  under  water.  Its  use  spread 
through  W.  Europe  in  time.  Grecque,  through 
the  form  Creyke,  becomes  cracker. 

Greek  modes,  or  scales,  or  divisions  of  the 
interval  between  two  octaves,  were  fifteen,  the 
Principal,  or  Authentic,  being  five  :  viz.  Dorian, 
from  D  to  D,  with  us ;  Ionian,  or  Jastian,  E  & 
to  E  b  ;  Phrygian,  E  ;  yEolian,  F  ;  Lydian,  F  #. 
From  these  were  constructed  all  the  Church 
M.  of  Plain  song,  Plagal  [Gr.  ir\ayios,  oblique, 
indirect}  M.  being  added,  formed  from  Authentic, 
by  taking  the  fourth  below  as  a  new  key-note. 
Thus,  Hypo-Dorian  is  our  A.  Authentic  M. 
were  also  distinguished  as  Hyper-  ;  e.g.  Dorian 
is  i.q.  Hyper-Dorian.  (But  Hyper-  has  not 
uniformly  this  meaning.) 

Greenbacks.  Legal  tender  notes.  The  national 
paper-money  currency  of  the  U.S.,  first  issued 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  civil  war.  The 
backs  of  notes  so  issued  by  the  Government, 
and  by  the  national  banks,  are  printed  in  green, 
mainly  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  alterations 
and  counterfeits. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Green  Cloth,  Court  of.  A  court  having  juris- 
diction over  ail  matters  of  justice  in  the  king's 
household  ;  abolished  in  1849. 

Green-eyed  monster.    Jealousy. 

Greenheart    (Bibiri.) 

Green  Man  and  Still.  Sign  of  an  inn ;  i.e. 
herbalist  and  distillery. 

Greensand  (Geol.)  =  (i)  Upper  greensand, 
or  G.  proper,  and  (2)  Lower,  or  Neocomian 
(f.v.),  which  two  are  divided  by  the  gault.  The 
lower  part  of  the  Cretaceous  system,  of  which 
the  chalk  is  the  upper ;  containing,  in  some 
beds,  numerous  greenish  specks  of  glauconitic 
silicate  of  iron. 

Green  sickness.  Popular  name  for  Chlorosis 
(q.v.). 

Greenstone,  Diorite.  A  variety  of  trap  rock, 
found  in  masses  and  dykes,  associated  with 
various  other  rocks. 

Grego.  [It.  Greco,  Greek.}  A  short  cloak  of 
coarse  cloth,  worn  by  Levantines. 

Gregorian  Calendar.     (Calendar;  New  Style.) 

Gregorian  epoch.  The  epoch  of  the  Grego- 
rian Calendar. 

Gregorian  modes,  or  tones  (collected  and  ar- 
ranged by  Gregory  the  Great,  circ.  A.D.  600). 
Certain  Church  modes,  chants,  melodies,  of 
Plain  song,  taken,  as  is  generally  held,  from  the 
Greek  modes  (q.v.},  or  from  some  diatonic  system 
common  to  Hebrew  and  to  Greek  music,  and 
thence  derived  to  the  early  Church. 

Gregorian  telescope.  A  particular  kind  of 
reflecting  telescope,  named  after  its  inventor, 
Professor  Gregory,  and  described  by  him  in 
Off  tea  Promota,  1660.  (Telescope.) 

Grenade.     [Sp.    granado.]     (Mil.)    A    large 


shell  or  bomb.  A  hand.-G.,  barely  two  pounds 
in  weight,  used  for  throwing  against  storming 
parties,  at  a  distance  of  about  twenty-five  yards. 
The  tallest  soldiers,  when  formed  into  compa- 
nies or  regiments  by  themselves,  are  called 
Grenadiers,  having  been  raised  for  this  duty  by 
Charles  II. 

Grenadillo,  Granilla.  [Sp.]  A  pale  W.- 
Indian cabinet  wood. 

Grenadine.  [Fr.]  A  thin  silk  for  dresses, 
shawls,  etc. 

Gres.  [Fr.,  sandstone,  gritstone,  O.H.G.  gries, 
gravel.}  Stoneware. 

Gres  de  Flandre ;  so  called.  Stoneware,  ap- 
parently German. 

Gresham  Lectures.  Free  scientific  lectures 
delivered  in  the  City  of  London,  under  the  will 
of  Thomas  Gresham. 

Gretna-Green  marriages.  Marriages  cele- 
brated at  Gretna  Green,  being  the  first  place 
across  the  Scottish  border  that  could  be  reached 
from  Carlisle  by  persons  wishing  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  facilities  afforded  by  the  Scot- 
tish law  of  marriage.  Such  marriages  are  no 
longer  celebrated,  a  residence  of  twenty-one 
days  being  now  required  in  Scotland  as  in  Eng- 
land. 

Grettir  Saga.  The  Icelandic  story  of  a  hero 
whose  exploits  answer  to  those  of  the  Greek 
Herakles.  (Berserkers.) 

Grex  venalium.  [L.]  A  venal  throng 
(Suetonius). 

Greybeard.     In  Pottery.     (Bellarmine.) 

Grey  Friars.  Franciscans ;  so  called  from  the 
colour  of  their  habit. 

Greyhound.  [Heb.  zarzir  mathnaim,  girded 
of  the  loins}  (Bibl.)  Prov.  xxx.  31  ;  probably 
horse  (vide  margin  of  Authorized  Version). 

Grey  spectre.     (Banshie.) 

Greystone.    (Trachyte.) 

Greywacke.  [Ger.  grauwacke,  grey,  coarse 
rock.}  An  indurated  argillo-arenaceous  rock, 
sometimes  gritty;  Silurian  and  Cambrian,  chiefly. 
But  the  term  is  not  strictly  defined. 

Grice.  [(?)  Fr.  gris,  grey.}  A  young  wild 
boar,  or  domestic  pig,  or  badger. 

Gridiron.  (Naut.)  A  timber  frame,  between 
high  and  low  water  marks,  for  a  ship  to  rest  on, 
to  allow  an  examination  of  her  bottom. 

Griffin.  1.  [Gr.  ypvty.}  A  fabulous  being  of 
mediaeval  fiction  and  romance,  but  answering 
practically  to  the  dragon  of  the  Gardens  of  the 
Hesperides,  or  of  the  Glistering  Heath  in  the 
Volsung  tale.  (Saga.)  2.  [Anglo-Ind.]  New- 
comer  to  India.  3.  An  heraldic  animal,  with  a 
lion's  body  and  an  eagle's  head  and  wings. 

Grilse.  Salmon  in  second  year,  returned  from 
sea. 

Grimalkin.  1.  Quasi-personal  name  of  a 
(properly  she-)cat.  2.  Name  of  a  familiar  of  one 
of  the  witches  in  Macbeth.  Graymalkin  suggests 
the  idea  of  a  cat  such  as  assists  at  the  orgies  of 
witches,in  connexion  with  a  witch-song  beginning 
"  Grauwolcken,"  Grey  clouds.  Dr.  Latham  and 
others  say  gri-malkin  =  grey  scarecrow.  Richard- 
son quotes,  "Grimalkin's  a  hell-cat ;  the  devil 
may  choke  her  "  (Ballad  of  Alley  Croker).  [Mai- 


GRIM 


238 


GUAR 


kin  is  for  Moll-kin,  dim.  of  Moll,  Mary,  with 
suffix  -kin.] 

Grime's  Dyke.  Wall  of  Antdninus,  from  the 
Forth  to  the  Clyde. 

Grimgribber.  [(?)  Fr.  grimoire,  a  conjuring- 
book.}  The  jargon  of  legal  sophistry. 

Grimm's  law.  (Lang.)  The  generalization 
of  Jacob  Grimm,  as  to  the  change  of  early  ex- 
plosive consonants  in  Teutonic  about  the  first 
century,  and  a  further  partial  change,  especially 
in  dentals,  in  O.H.G.  Represented  as  three 
stages  in  column,  we  have — 

Early  stage  :  GH  ;   g      ;   k  :  DH  ;    d   ;    t :  BH  ;  b  ; 
Teut!  ch.     :  g ;      k     ;  h(g)  :  d  ;  t;  th(A):  b ;    p  ;  y(b) 
O.  H.G.  ch.  :  k  ;  ch,  hh  ;  h  (g) :  t ;  z,sz ;   d  :  p  ;/(b)  ;/.(v,b) 

Small  capitals  are  aspirates,  italics  are  spirants, 
or  breathings.  There  is  scarcely  any  passage 
from  spirants  in  O.H.G.,  except  from  the  dental 
th,  which  seems  to  have  been  distasteful. 

Grindery.     Shoemaker's  materials. 

Griping.     (Naut.)     (Falling  off.) 

Griquas.  A  S.- African  race,  sprung  from 
Dutch  settlers  and  Hottentot  women. 

Grisaille,  En.  [Fr.]  Ornamented  with  de- 
signs in  grey. 

Griselda.  The  very  patient  wife  in  Chaucer's 
Clerke  of  Oxenford's  Tale. 

Grisette.  [Fr.]  1.  A  coarse  grey  dress.  2. 
A  woman  who  wore  it. 

Grison,  Grisonia,  vittata.  [Fr.  grison,  gris, 
grey.]  (Zoo!.)  An  animal  of  the  weasel  kind, 
about  two  feet  long,  light  grey  back,  black  belly  ; 
playful  when  tamed,  but  mischievous.  Galictis, 
sub-fam.  Mustellnse,  fam.  Mustelidae,  ord.  Car- 
nivora. 

Grist.    [O.E.]    That  which  is  ground  in  a  mill. 

Grit  =  any  stone  made  up  of  particles  more 
or  less  angular  (mostly  siliceous),  cemented  to- 
gether, as  shell-grit,  which  is  calcareous ;  mill- 
stone grit,  siliceous. 

Groat.  [D.  grote  schware,  great  S.  —  five 
little  schware.]  Any  great  or  large  coin.  An 
old  English  silver  coin,  equal  to  foiirpence  of 
our  present  money. 

Groats.  [O.E.  grotz,  meal  of  wheat  or  barley.] 
Oats  deprived  of  the  hulls,  or  outer  coating. 

Grocer's  itch.  A  kind  of  Eczema  (q.v.)  on 
the  hand,  from  the  irritation  of  sugar. 

Grog.  1.  Rum  and  water,  introduced  as  a 
regular  navy  drink  by  Admiral  Vernon,  called 
"  Old  Grog"  from  his  grogram  cloak.  2.  Any 
mixture  of  spirits  and  water. 

Grog,  Old.  Admiral  Vernon,  who  took  Puerto 
Bello,  New  Granada,  in  1739  ;  known  by  his 
grogram  cloak  ;  originator  of  gi'og. 

Grogram.  [O.Fr.  gro-grain,  coarse  grain.]  A 
coarse  stuff,  made  of  silk  and  mohair. 

Groins.  [Connected  with  Icel.  grein,  Sw. 
gren,  Dan.  green,  a  branch  or  arm.]  (Arch.) 
The  lines  formed  by  the  intersection  of  arches 
crossing  each  other  at  any  angle. 

Grolier.  (From  the  inventor.)  A  kind  of 
decoration  for  bookbinding,  consisting  of  a 
scroll,  embracing  curves,  semicircles,  and  angles. 

Grommets,  or  Grummets.  (Naut.}  Rings  of 
rope,  used  to  fasten  the  sail  to  a  stay,  and  for 
other  purposes. 


Groningenists.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  subdivision 
of  the  sect  of  Anabaptists. 

Groom  of  the  Stole.  In  the  royal  household, 
the  first  lord  of  the  bedchamber  ;  so  called  from 
the  long  robe,  or  stole,  worn  by  the  sovereign  on 
State  occasions. 

Gros.  [Fr.]  Thick,  strong;  used  in  many 
compound  words  for  silk  goods,  as  gros-de- 
Naples,  etc. 

Groschen.  [Ger.,  dim.  of  gross,  and  originally 
=  any  somewhat  thick  or  large  coin.]  A  German 
coin  ;  30  silver  G.  =  24  good  G.  =  I  thaler. 

Grossierete.     [Fr.]     Coarseness,  vulgarity. 

Grotesque.  [Fr.,  It.  grottesco,  in  grotto  style.} 
Quaint,  irregular,  whimsical. 

Grotius.  Of  Delft,  Holland,  the  great  pub- 
licist of  Europe  (born  1585). 

Groundage.    Wharfage. 

Ground  bass.  (Music. )  A  bass  passage  of  four 
or  eight  bars,  repeated  frequently,  each  time 
with  a  variation  of  melody  and  harmony. 

Ground-tackle.  (Naut.)  Anything  used  in 
anchoring  or  mooring  a  ship. 

Grow,  To.  (Naut.)  Used  of  the  direction  of 
the  cable  towards  the  anchor ;  thus  :  *'  The  cable 
grows  on  the  port  bow  "  means  that  it  inclines 
to  the  left  side. 

Grub  Street.  Near  Moorfields,  where  many 
literary  hacks  lodged  in  the  seventeenth  and 
eighteenth  centuries.  It  is  now  Milton  Street. 
It  supplies  an  epithet  for  worthless  authors  and 
their  works. 

Gruesome,  Grewsome.  [Scot.]  Ugly,  fright- 
ful. 

Grummet.     (Grommets.) 

Grumous  blood.  [L.  grumus,  a  little  heap  of 
earth.]  1.  Thick,  clotted.  2.  (Sot.)  Knotted, 
clubbed. 

Grundy,  Mrs.  A  dame  often  referred  to  by 
Dame  Ashfield,  in  Morton's  Speed  the  Plough,  as 
to  "  What  will  Mrs.  Grundy  say  ?  "  Hence  the 
name  stands  for  respectable  English  society  and 
its  censorious  propriety. 

Gryposis.  [Gr.  ypvirwais,  a  crooking.]  A 
growing  inwards  of  the  nails. 

Guacharo.  [Sp.,  screamer ;  cf.  It.  guajare,  to 
yell.]  (Steatornithidse.)  G.  caves,  in  the  valley 
of  Caripe,  Venezuela,  the  haunt  of  the  G.,  a 
remarkable  nocturnal  bird,  described  by  Hum- 
boldt ;  of  ord.  Insessores,  tribe  Fissirostres,  and 
referred  to  Caprimulgidse  ;  but  widely  differing 
from  Insess.,  as  being  strong-billed,  frugivorous. 
From  the  fat  of  the  young  a  valuable  oil  or 
butter  is  obtained. 

Guachos.  Half-breed  inhabitants  of  the 
Pampas  of  La  Plata,  of  Spanish  and  native 
American  extraction. 

Guanches.  The  aborigines  of  the  Canary 
Islands  ;  now  extinct. 

Guano  deposits.  Of  Pacific  and  other  tropical 
islands ;  the  droppings  of  sea-fowl,  with  their 
skeletons  and  eggs,  bodies  and  bones  of  fishes, 
seals,  and  other  animals  ;  60  to  120  feet  deep  ; 
a  valuable  manure.  The  word  is  Spanish. 

Guarana.  A  kind  of  chocolate  made  from  a 
Brazilian  plant. 

Guardacosta.     [Sp.,  coastguard.]    (Naut.)   1. 


GUAR 


239 


GULF 


War-vessels  formerly  employed  in  the  preventive 
service  on  the  coasts  of  S.  America.  2.  Spanish 
revenue-vessels  are  still  so  called. 

Guard-boat.  (Naut.)  1.  A  boat  used  in  har- 
bour to  see  that  officers  and  crews  are  on  the 
alert,  by  rowing  amongst  the  men-of-war.  2. 
One  employed  to  enforce  quarantine. 

liuardian  of  the  spiritualities.  The  person  or 
persons  in  whom  resides  the  ecclesiastical  juris- 
diction of  a  diocese,  when  a  see  is  vacant  by 
death  or  translation. 

Guardians  of  the  poor.     (Poor  laws.) 

Guard-mounting.  (Mil.)  Form  of  parade 
preparatory  to  guards  leaving  the  inspection- 
ground  for  their  respective  posts. 

Guardo.  [Sp.]  (Naut.)  A  guard-ship,  or 
man  belonging  to  one.  G.,  a  trick  upon  a  lands- 
man, generally  in  a  guard-ship. 

Guard-ship.  (Naut.)  A  man-of-war,  stationed 
in  a  harbour  to  superintend  marine  affairs  there, 
and  inspect  nightly  vessels  not  in  commission. 
In  fleets,  each  ship  takes  the  guard  in  turn  for 
twenty-four  hours,  commencing  at  9  a.m.,  and 
during  her  tour  of  duty  hoisting  the  Union  Jack 
at  the  mizzen. 

Guava.  (Hot.)  Fruit  of  the  Psidium  p5mi- 
ferum  and  pyriferum  ;  extensive  gen.  of  Myrta- 
ceae,  of  Trop.  America  only. 

Guazzo.  \I\..,  gouache.]  A  very  durable  kind 
of  distemper  painting. 

Gubbio  ware.  Fayence  made  or  finished  at 
Gubbio,  in  Italy,  about  1518-1537.  Noted  for 
its  ruby  and  other  metallic  lustres. 

Gudgeon.  The  iron  piece  at  the  end  of  a 
wooden  shaft  on  which  it  turns ;  as  the  gudgeon 
of  a  water-wheel. 

Guebers,  This  word,  meaning  infidel  (Giaour), 
is  applied  by  the  Mohammedans  to  the  worship- 
pers of  fire,  who  in  India  are  called  Parsees,  as 
having  come  originally  from  Persia.  Their 
sacred  books  are  the  Zendavesta. 

Guelfs.  (It.  Hist.)  In  the  twelfth  century, 
the  Welfs,  or  Guelfs,  dukes  of  Bavaria,  were 
constantly  at  war  with  the  house  of  Hohen- 
stauffen,  whose  chief  adversary  in  Italy  was  the 
pope.  The  popes  thus  became  the  heads  of  the 
Guelf  party,  as  opposed  to  the  Ghibellines,  or 
supporters  of  the  emperor ;  and  the  struggle 
between  the  two  became  a  contest  between  the 
spiritual  and  temporal  powers. 

Guenevere.     (Arthur,  King.) 

Gueridons.     [Fr.]    Loo-table. 

Guerilla.  [It.,  dim.  of  guerra,  O.H.G.  werra, 
war.}  One  of  a  band  of  men  carrying  on 
irregular  warfare  and  subsisting  by  plunder. 

Guerre  a  la  mort.     [Fr.]     War  till  death. 

Guerre  a  1'ontranoe.  [Fr.]  War  to  the  (bitter) 
end. 

Guest-rope,  or  Guest-warp.  One  carried  to  an 
object  at  a  distance,  either  to  warp  a  vessel  or 
make  a  boat  fast.  Guest -warf- boom,  a  swing- 
ing spar  outrigged  from  a  vessel's  side,  to 
fasten  boats  to. 

Guicowar.  [Hind.]  Lit.  cowherd;  title  of 
the  sovereign  of  Gwalior.  Also  written  Gaik- 
•war. 

Guide-pulley.    A   pulley  used    to    alter  the 


direction  of  a  belt  and  enable  it  to  transmit 
force  from  one  axle  to  another  to  which  -it  is  not 
parallel. 

Guides,  or  Guide-bars.  The  pieces  in  which 
the  cross-head  of  the  piston-rod  slides,  and  by 
which  the  motion  of  the  rod  is  kept  parallel  to 
the  cylinder. 

Guidon.  [Fr.,  from  guider,  to  guide.]  (Mil.) 
Standard  of  a  regiment  of  heavy  dragoons  ;  light 
dragoons  not  carrying  them  in  the  English 
army. 

Guidones,  or  Guides.  Priests  established  by 
Charles  the  Great  (Charlemagne),  at  Rome,  to 
aid  pilgrims  on  their  way  to  Jerusalem. 

Guild.  [A.S.  gildan,  to  pay.]  A  brother- 
hood or  society,  religious,  social,  commercial, 
acting  with  funds  contributed  by  the  members. 
In  the  Middle  Ages  there  was  a  general  tendency 
to  the  formation  of  such  societies  in  all  trades. 
Ultimately  the  guild  became  coextensive  with 
the  corporate  body  of  the  town  or  borough. 
(Gild.) 

Guillemots.  [Fr.,  from  name  of  inventor.] 
Quotation  marks  or  inverted  commas. 

Guillemot.  [Fr.]  (Ornith.)  Gen.  of  rock- 
inhabiting,  diving  sea-birds.  The  common 
guillemot  of  Great  Britain,  with  black  and  white 
breast,  is  about  eighteen  inches  long.  Gen. 
Uria  [Gr.  ovpia,  water-bird],  fam.  Alcidse,  ord. 
Anseres. 

Guillotine.  The  French  instrument  of  de- 
capitation, introduced,  or  improved,  by  Dr. 
Guillotin,  who  died  1814. 

Guimauve,  Pate  de.  [Fr.]  A  lozenge  made 
of  the  root  of  the  marsh-mallow  [guimauve]. 

Guimbarde.  [Fr.,  originally  a  waggon  ;  etym. 
unknown.]  Jew's-harp. 

Guinea-fowl.  (Named  from  locality  whence 
introduced.)  An  African  bird,  domesticated  in 
Great  Britain,  and  acclimatized  in  America  and 
W.  Indies.  Gen.  Numidinae  [L.  Numidian], 
fam.  Phasiamdse  [Gr.,  of  the  Phasis  river],  ord. 
Gallinse. 

Guinea-grains.  Grains  of  paradise  (brought 
from  Guinea). 

Guinea-pig.  [(?)  Corr.  of  Guiana.]  The  rest- 
less cavy.  (Cavy.)  , 

Guinea- worm,  Fildria  dracunculus,  or  Me- 
dmensis.  A  parasite.  In  hot  climates,  e.g. 
Arabia,  Upper  Egypt,  Guinea,  etc.  ;  especially 
affecting  the  leg  ;  from  a  few  inches  to  three  or 
four  yards  long. 

Guipure.  [Fr.]  1.  Originally  a  thick  thread 
or  cord,  over  which  is  twisted  a  thread  of  silk, 
gold,  or  silver ;  applied,  2,  to  thread-lace,  with 
G.  reliefs  ;  and  so,  3,  to  all  lace  without  grounds, 
the  various  patterns  of  which  are  united  by 
brides,  i.e.  irregular  uniting  threads. — Mis. 
Palliser,  History  of  Lace. 

Guisards.  In  Scotland,  masquerade  actors, 
answering  to  morrice-dancers  in  England. 
(Morrice-dance.) 

Gulden.     (Florin.) 

Gules.  [Fr.  gueule,  a  throat.]  (Her.)  The 
red  colour  in  coats  of  arms,  represented  in  en- 
graving by  vertical  lines. 

Gulf.     (Univ.)      To    give    a    common    pass 


GULF 


240 


GWEN 


degree  to  a  candidate  who  has  been  examined 
for  honours. 

Gulf  Stream.  A  warm  oceanic  current,  which 
originates  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  passes  through 
the  Straits  of  Bahama,  skirts  the  coast  of  N. 
America,  and  then  widens  out  and  crosses  the 
Atlantic  mainly  in  a  north-easterly  direction. 

Gulliver's  Travels.  The  title  of  a  romance  by 
Dean  Swift,  relating  the  adventures  of  Gulliver 
in  Lilliput,  the  land  of  pygmies ;  Brobdingnag, 
the  land  of  giants  ;  Laputa  ;  and  the  land  of  the 
Houyhnhnms,  in  which  horses  are  the  head  of 
creation,  while  a  degraded  race  of  human  beings, 
called  Yahoos,  are  their  servants.  The  last  of 
these  narratives  seems  to  be  a  fierce  outburst  of 
scorn  for  mankind.  The  first  is  a  satire  referring 
to  the  court  and  politics  of  England,  Sir  Robert 
Walpole  being  represented  by  the  premier 
Flimnap.  The  third  is  levelled  at  the  abuses 
of  philosophical  science  by  pretenders  or  charla- 
tans. The  second  is  of  a  more  general  character, 
exhibiting  human  action  and  feeling  as  they 
might  appear  to  beings  of  enormous  size  and  of 
cold  reflecting  dispositions. 

Gum    tragacanth.      The    gummy    exudation 
from  the  stems   of   several    Eastern    spec,    of 
Astragalus  ;   used  as  a  demulcent,  and  for  im- 
parting firmness  to  lozenges  and  pill-masses. 
Gum-tree.     (Eucalyptus.) 
Gun-boat      (Naut.)    A  war- vessel,  of  small 
draught,  and  carrying  one  or  more  guns  in  the 
bow  ;  now  propelled  by  steam,  but  formerly  by 
sails  and  sweeps. 

Gun-cotton.  Cotton  soaked  in  sulphuric  and 
nitric  acids,  and  then  dried ;  used  as  gun- 
powder. 

Gunfire.  (Naut. )  Morning,  at  daybreak ; 
evening  at  8  p.m.  winter,  9  p.m.  summer. 
Called  "the  admiral  falling  down  the  hatch- 
way." 

Gunge.     [Hind.]    A  granary,  depot,  a  whole- 
sale market ;  as  Ranee-gunge,  the  queen's  market. 
Gungnir.     [From  the  root  of  gang,  to  go,  as 
in    Rolf  the  ganger,    or   -walker.}       In   Teut. 
Myth. ,  the  spear  of  Odin. 

Gunjah.  Dried  hemp,  from  which  the  re- 
fcinous  juice  has  not  been  removed. 

Gun-led.     (Naut. )     An  explosive  fire-ship. 
Gun-metaL     An  alloy  of  about  nine  parts  of 
copper  and  one  of  tin,  for  making  cannon,  etc. 
Gunnel     (Gunwale.) 

Gunner  of  a  ship.  A  warrant  officer,  who  has 
charge  of  guns  and  stores  belonging  to  them, 
and  instructs  the  crew  in  their  use. 

Gunny.  [Hind,  gon,  sack.}  Coarse  sacking, 
used  in  India  for  rice-bags,  etc. 

Gunroom,  The.  (Naut.)  In  large  vessels,  is 
situated  at  the  after  end  of  the  lower  gundeck, 
and  partly  occupied  by  junior  officers  ;  in  small 
ones,  below  the  gundeck,  and  is  the  lieutenants' 
messroom.  In  frigates,  stern-ports  are  cut 
through  the  gunroom. 

Gunten.  (Naut.)  A  merchant- vessel  in  the 
Moluccas. 

Gunter's  chain;  G.  line;  G.  scales.  The  chain 
commonly  used  by  surveyors  ;  it  is  sixty-six  feet 
long,  and  consists  of  a  hundred  links;  ten 


chains  make  a  furlong,  ten  square  chains  an 
acre.  When  lines  are  measured  in  chains  and 
links,  areas  can  be  calculated  decimally.  G. 
scales  show  the  logarithms  of  numbers,  of  the 
sines,  tangents,  etc. ,  of  angles  ;  they  are  used 
for  finding  products  and  quotients  of  numbers, 
and  for  solving  triangles,  by  measuring  distances 
with  a  pair  of  compasses,  on  the  same  principle 
that  multiplication  of  numbers  is  performed 
by  addition,  and  division  by  subtraction,  with 
the  aid  of  a  table  of  logarithms.  The  scale 
which  gives  logarithms  of  numbers  is  called  G. 
line. 

Gunwale,  or  Gunnel.  (Naut.)  Strictly  speak- 
ing, the  plank  placed  horizontally  upon  the 
timber-heads,  so  as  to  cover  them,  but  often 
used  for  plank-sheer,  i.e.  the  uppermost  plank 
in  a  vessel's  side.  G.  of  a  boat,  a  binder  going 
round  the  uppermost  plank.  G.-to,  having  the 
G.  level  with  the  water. 

Gurgoyle.  [Fr.  gargouille,  a  water- shoot.'} 
(Arch.)  Spouts  for  carrying  off  water,  often 
shaped  in  the  form  of  human  or  other  heads  and 
bodies.  The  word  is  akin  to  our  gargle  and 
gurgle. 

Gurjun.  A  thin  Indian  balsam  or  oil. 
Gurnard.  [O.Fr.  gournauld,  grougnaut,  id. 
(Cotgrave),  Fr.  grogner,  L.  grunnio,  I  grunt ;  if . 
Fr.  grondin,  Ger.  knurrhahn,  id.,  from  grunting 
when  taken.]  (Ichth.)  Widespread  gen.  of  fish, 
mostly  salt-water,  head  and  cheeks  protected  by 
bony  plates ;  one  spec,  flies.  Several  British  spec. 
Trigla,  fam.  Triglidse,  ord.  Acanthopterygii. 

Gurrah.  [Hind,  gorha.]  A  plain  coarse 
Indian  muslin. 

Gusset.  [Fr.  gousset.]  A  square  patch 
doubled  over  the  ends  of  a  seam  to  secure 
them. 

Gustus,  Gustatio.  [L.]  The  first  part  of  a 
recta  ccena  ;  of  lettuces,  eggs,  shell-fish,  etc.,  to 
whet  the  appetite. 

Gutta  cavat  lapldem.  [L.]  The  drop  hollows 
out  the  stone  (Ovid).  Non  vi  sed  saepe  cadendo, 
not  by  force  biit  by  frequent  falling. 

Guttapercha.  [Malay  gutta,  gum,  percha, 
the  tree  from  which  it  is  procured.  ]  A  concrete 
juice  resembling  indiarubber. 

Gutta  serena.  [L.]  The  drop  serene  of  Mil- 
ton, i.q.  Amaurosis  (q.v.) ;  so  called  because  the 
cornea  remains  bright  and  transparent. 

Guttural.  [L.  guttur,  throat.}  An  articulate 
sound  pronounced  with  the  back  of  the  tongue 
and  the  back  of  the  palate ;  also  called  back 
palatals.  The  commonest  are  k,  g,  ghy  ngy  ch, 
as  in  Ger.  nar^,  kh  (x). 

Gutty.  (Her.}  Sprinkled  with  drops  [Fr. 
jouttes]. 

Guy.  [Sp.  guia,  a  guide.}  (Naut.)  Guy-rope, 
I.  One  used  to  steady  or  guide  anything.  2.  A 
large  rope,  slack,  and  extending  from  masthead 
to  masthead,  to  which  a  tackle  is  fixed  ior  load- 
ing or  unloading  a  vessel. 

Guyon,  Sir.  Type  of  temperance,  in  Spenser's 
Faery  Queene,  bk.  ii. 

Guze.     (Her.)     A  sanguine  (blood-coloured) 
roundlet  or  disc. 
Gwent,  Kingdom  of.    A  Celtic  kingdom  com- 


GWYN 


241 


HABE 


prising  Monmouthshire  and  Glamorganshire. 
G.  =  champaign  land. 

Gwynedd.  [Welsh.]  Old  name  of  the  counties 
of  Carnarvon,  Denbigh,  and  Flint. 

Gwyniad.  [Welsh  gwyn,  white.'}  (Tchth.) 
Schelly,  fresh-water  herring,  like  the  herring. 
Spec,  of  Coregonus,  fam.  Salmomdae,  ord.  Phy- 
sostomi,  sub-class  Teleostel. 

Gyall.  (ZooL)  E. -Indian  jungle  ox  (Bos  fron- 
talis) ;  supposed  original  stock  of  humped  breed. 

Gybe.     (Jibe.) 

Gynmasiarch.  [Gr.  yv/j.vaffiapx<>s.]  (Gr.  Hist.) 
The  officer  who  had  charge  of  the  gymnasia. 
(Liturgies.) 

Gymnasium.      [L.,    Gr.    yv/jivda-tov.]      1.  An 

rn  space  covered  with  sand,  for  the  purpose 
athletic  games.  2.  Buildings  for  the  general 
training  of  the  young.  The  most  famous  gym- 
nasia at  Athens  were  the  Lycaeum  and  the 
Academy. 

Gymnodontes.  [Gr.  yvp.v<fs,  naked,  oSous, 
oMvros,  a  tooth.}  (Ichth.)  Fam.  of  fish,  Globe- 
fishes,  Sun-fishes.  Temperate  and  tropical  seas, 
occasionally  Great  Britain.  Ord.  Plectognathi. 

Gymnogens,  or  Gymnospennous  plants.  [Gr. 
yvpvSs,  naked.}  (Bot.)  In  Lindley's  system, 
flowering  plants,  with  exogenous  stems  and 
naked  seeds  ;  a  separate  class,  of  which  Coniferae, 
Taxacese,  Cycadaceae,  and  Gnetaceae  are  orders. 

Gymnosophists.  [Gr.  yv^voo-o^iffrat,  naked 
philosophers.}  The  Greek  name  for  Fakirs  and 
Dervises,  from  their  ascetic  habits. 

Gymnotus.  [Coined  from  Gr.  yv/ju>ds,  naked, 
vSJTos,  back.}  Gen.  and  spec,  of  fish,  Electric 
eel,  five  to  six  feet  long.  Marshes  of  Trop.  S. 
America.  Fam.  Gymn5sidae,  ord.  Physostomi, 
sub-class  Tel£osteT. 

Gynaeceum.  [Gr.  ytivaitteiov,  from  yvi/atK-, 
stem  of  yvvi],  woman.}  Female  apartments. 

Gynaeco-.    [Gr.  yvvf),  a  woman,  gen.  yvvam6s.] 

Gynaecocracy.  [Gr.  yvvaiKOKparla,  rtile  of 
women,  from  yvvatK-,  stem  of  yvv-fi,  woman,  and 
Kpareu,  I  rule.}  A  constitution  under  which  a 
woman  is  or  can  be  sovereign. 

Gynandrous.  (Bot.)  Having  stamens,  style, 
and  ovary,  all  in  one  body ;  e.g.  orchids. 

-gynia.  [Gr.  yvv-f),  a  woman.]  (Bot.)  Each 
of  the  twenty-four  Linnaean  classes  is  divided 
into  two  or  more  orders  ;  in  the  first  thirteen 
depending  on  the  number  of  pistils.  Monogynia 


have  one  pistil ;  Di-,  2  ;  Tri-,  3  ;  Tetra-,  4 ; 
Penta-,  5  ;  Hexa-,  6  ;  Hepta-,  7  ;  Deca-,  10 ; 
Dodeca-,  12  ;  Poly-,  many. 

-gynous.  [Gr.  yvv-f)-]  (Bot.)  Refers  to  the 
styles  of  a  flower. 

Gyp.     (Camb.  Univ.}     A  college  servant. 

Gypsies.  [A  name  which  is  said  to  be  a  corr. 
of  the  word  Egyptian,  but  of  which  the  Ger. 
zigeunes,  the  Russ.  tzigan,  the  It.  zingaro,  the 
Sp.  gitano,  seem  to  be  cognate  forms.]  A  vagrant 
people,  called  by  the  French  Bohemians,  who 
appeared  in  Western  Europe  early  in  the 
fifteenth  century,  and  who  form  everywhere  a 
distinct  race.  Many  still  live  in  England, 
dwelling  in  camps  or  carts,  and  exist  by  fortune- 
telling,  selling  brooms,  baskets,  etc.,  and  beg- 
ging. Some  are  dishonest,  but  seldom  towards 
those  who  show  them  kindness.  They  call  them- 
selves Romany. 

Gypsum.  [L.,  Gr.  7^05,  chalk.}  Sulphate 
of  lime  +  water,  very  widely  diffused  in  strata 
essentially  differing.  Plaster  of  Paris  is  G.,  the 
water  being  driven  off  by  heat. 

Gyrate.  [L.  gyro,  /  turn  in  a  circle  (Gr. 
yipjs).]  To  revolve  round  a  (frequently  moving) 
point  or  axis,  to  move  in  a  spiral  or  circle,  to 
rotate. 

Gyration  [L.  gyro,  I  make  to  turn  round  in  a 
circle}  ;  Centre  of  G. ;  Radius  of  G.  Rotation  ; 
the  Radius  of  G.  is  the  distance  from  the  axis 
to  the  Centre  of  G.  (For  Centre  of  G.,  vide 
Centre.) 

Gyres.  [L.  gyrus,  Gr.  yvpo?.]  A  revolution, 
a  turn  of  circular  motion. 

Gyr-falcon.  [Ger.  geier-falk,  hawk-falcon} 
(Ornith.)  Largest  of  true  falcoi'f. ;  plumage, 
dull  brown  when  young,  nearly  pure  white  when 
mature ;  difficult  to  train.  N.  Europe  and  N. 
America.  Falco  gyrfalco,  sub-fam.  Falconmae, 
fam.  Falcomdae,  ord.  Accipitres. 

Gyron.  [O.Fr.]  (Her.)  An  ordinary  bounded 
by  two  lines  drawn  from  the  fess  point,  one  to 
an  angle  of  the  escutcheon  and  the  other  to  the 
middle  point  of  an  adjacent  side.  An  escutcheon 
divided  into  eight  equal  triangles  by  lines  drawn 
through  the  fess  point  is  called  gyronny. 

Gyroscope.  [Gr.  yvpos,  a  circle,  <r/foW«,  7 
behold.}  A  machine,  made  in  several  forms,  to 
exhibit  the  composition  of  rotatory  motions. 

Gyves,  Gives.     [Welsh  gefyn.]    Fetters. 


H.  Was  used  by  the  Latins  as  an  abbrev. 
of  Homo,  Haeres,  etc.  As  a  numeral,  it  ex- 
pressed 200.  In  music  it  is  used  by  the  Germans 
to  designate  our  B  flat. 

Haaf-boat.  [Dan.  haev,  the  sea.}  (Naut.) 
One  used  in  the  deep-sea  fishery  of  the  Shet- 
lands  and  Orkneys. 

Habeas  Corpus.  [L.]  (Leg. )  Name  of  several 
writs,  of  which  the  most  famous  is  H.  C.  ad 
subjiciendum,  addressed  to  any  one  who  detains 


a  person  in  custody,  commanding  him  to  have 
the  body  to  answer;  i.e.  to  produce  in  court, 
that  the  rightfulness  of  such  detention  may 
be  considered.  It  is  issued  by  the  Lord  Chan- 
cellor or  any  vacation  judge,  unless  a  due 
committal  of  the  prisoner  be  proved.  It  is  the 
£reat  safeguard  of  personal  liberty.  Date  of 
H.  C.  Act,  1679. 

Habemus  confltentem  reum.     [L.]     Lit.  we 
have  the  accused  person  confessing;  in  argument, 


HABE 


242 


HALF 


=   here  is    an    important    admission    on    the 
opposite  side. 

Habendum.  [L.,  to  be  had,  gerundive  of  ha- 
beo,  /  have.]  (Leg.)  That  part  of  a  deed  which 
determines  the  amount  of  interest  conveyed. 

Habitants,  Habitans.  [Fr.]  French  farmers 
of  Lower  Canada. 

Habitat.  [L.,  he  inhabits.]  The  totality  ot 
stations  occupied  by  any  given  organized  being.  , 

Habitue,  -ee.  [Fr.]  One  accustomed  to 
frequent  a  place  ;  as  an  H.  of  a  theatre,  public- 
house,  etc. 

Hachish,  Haschisch,  An  intoxicant,  made 
from  Indian  hemp  (Cannabis),  from  remote  times, 
in  the  Levant.  (Assassin.) 

Hachure  lines,    or  Hatching.      [H.   in  Fr., 
hatching,  hache,   a  hatchet]      On  maps,   short 
broken  strokes  ;  the  shading  of  sloping  ground. 
Hacienda.     (Ranch.) 

Hackery.  [Hind,  chhakra,  cart]  A  Bengal 
street  cart,  drawn  by  oxen. 

Hackney.  [Fr.  hacquenee,  ambling  nag.]  1. 
A  nag.  2.  A  horse  for  hire.  3.  A  H.  -coach, 
a  coach  and  horse  for  hire  ;  first  used  in  London, 
1634. 

Hactenus  invidise  respondimus.    [L.]     Thus 
far  have  we  made  answer  to  envy  (Ovid). 
Hadan.    (Muezzin.) 

Hades.  [Gr.  aSrjs,  also  ifc^s.]  (Gr.  Myth.) 
The  land  of  the  dead,  possibly  as  being  unseen. 
Hence  the  king  of  that  land,  the  husband  of 
Persephone.  The  name  may  be  compared  with 
that  of  Hodr,  the  slayer  of  Balder.  (Eleusinian 
Mysteries.) 

Hades,  Helmet  of.     (Tarnkappe.) 
Hading.     [Ger.  halde,  slope.]    The  angle  at 
which  a  vein  of  ore  is  inclined  to  the  vertical. 

Hadj.      The     Mohammedan    pilgrimage    to 
Mecca   and   Medina.      Those  who    have 
formed  the  pilgrimage  are  called  Hadji. 
Hadji.     (Hadj.) 
Hadrian's  Wall,    or    the  Wall    of   Severus, 
ran  from  Wallsend   (Wall's   End),    near  New- 
castle, to  Carlisle. 

Heema-,  Haemat-,  Haemato-.  [Gr.  aT/to,  blood, 
gen.  atftaros.] 

Eternal.  Pertaining  to  the  blood  [Gr.  oT^io]  in 
blood-vessels. 

Haematite.  [Gr.  aT/io,  blood.]  (Geol.)  Red 
and  brown  kidney-iron  ore  ;  native  peroxide  of 
iron,  found  in  veins  and  masses  ;  impure, 
Limonite  ;  earthy,  Ruddle  ;  crystallized,  Specular 
iron  ore. 

Haematuria.       (Med.)      Bloody    urine    [Gr. 


Haemostatic.  [Gr.  oTaTiWs,  causing  to  rest.] 
(Med.)  Stopping  haemorrhage. 

Haeretico  Comburendo.  [L.]  The  title  of  the 
writ  which  handed  over  the  person  of  the  heretic 
to  execution  by  burning. 

Hseret  lateri  letalis  arundo.  [L.]  The  deadly 
shaft  remains  fixed  in  her  (his)  side  (Virgil)  ;  of 
the  wounds  of  passion. 

Haffle.  To  speak  unintelligibly,  as  "a 
hafflin'  callant"  (Scott's  Guy  Manner  ing);  to 
prevaricate. 

Hafiz.     The  great  lyric  poet  of  Persia. 

Hag.  (Ichth.  )  Myxine,  Borer,  etc.  ;  spec,  of 
worm-like,  eyeless  fish,  twelve  to  fifteen  inches 
long,  which  works  into  the  inside  of  other  fish, 
and  eats  them  away.  Gen.  Myxmidae  [Gr. 
/j.v£ivos,  slime-fish],  ord.  Marsipobranchii,  sub- 
class Cyclostomi. 

Hagadoth.  [Heb.,  legends,  narrations.]  A 
collection  of  legendary  matter,  Halachoth  \rules\ 
one  of  traditional  customs,  belonging  to  the 
oral  law  of  the  Jews,  and  eventually  reduced 
to  writing.  (Talmud.) 

Haggis.  [Scot.]  A  pudding  of  sheep's  or 
lamb's  entrails,  chopped  fine,  with  suet,  herbs, 
leeks,  and  spices,  boiled  in  the  paunch. 

Hagiographa.    [Gr.]    Sacred  writings. 

Hagiology.      Biography   of   the    saints  [Gr. 


per 


Haemony,  Comus,  629,  et  seqq.,  "A  small 
unsightly  root,"  with  "bright  golden  flower  .  .  . 
of  sovran  use  'gainst  all  enchantments,  mildew, 
blast,  or  damp,  or  furies."  (Moly.) 

Haemoptysis.  (Med.)  Spitting  [Gr.  TTTVO-IS] 
of  blood  [af/m]. 

Haemorrhage.  [Gr.  alfj.oppa.yia,  from  oT^ta, 
and  a  root  of  pjiyvvfju,  I  break.]  (Med.}  Flow 
of  blood  from  a  ruptured  vessel. 

Haemorrhoids.  [Gr.  alpoppotlScs,  sc.  <p\f0fs, 
blood-discharging  veins.]  (Med.)  Bleeding  piles  ; 
corr.  into  Emerods. 


Ha-ha,  Haw-haw.  (Haugh.)  A  sunk  fence, 
a  fence  in  the  middle  of  a  depression,  so  that  it 
cannot  be  seen  at  a  short  distance. 

Haigh,  Hay.  [Cf.  D.  hang,  inclosure,  Ger. 
hagen,  to  fence.]  A  place  surrounded  by  a  hedge 
for  purposes  of  chase,  as  Rothwell  Haigh  ;  so 
Haye  Park,  Horse-hay. 

Haik.  [Ar.]  A  piece  of  woollen  or  cotton 
cloth  worn  over  the  tunic  by  Arabs. 

Hail,  To.  [A  word  containing  the  root  of 
call.]  (Naut.)  To  H.  from  a  place,  to  belong 
to  it.  To  H.  a  vessel,  to  inquire  whence  it 
comes  and  whither  bound. 

Hainault  (Geog.)  A  province  of  the  Nether- 
lands (S.),  now  partly  in  France,  partly  in 
Belgium. 

Hakim.     [Ar.]     Wise  man,  physician. 

Halachoth.    (Hagadoth.) 

Halbert.  [Fr.  hallebarde,  from  It.  alabarda.] 
A  kind  of  pike,  formerly  carried  by  sergeants, 
having  under  the  spear-point  a  hatchet  at  one 
side  and  a  hook  at  the  other. 

Halcyon  days.  Fourteen  days  of  winter,  when 
the  kingfisher  [Gr.  dx/cuwv],  it  was  thought, 
builds  its  nest,  and  the  sea  is  calm. 

Hale.  [Cf.  O.  H.G.  halon,  holon,  Ger.  holen, 
to  draw,  pull]  To  pull,  tug,  tow. 

Haler.    (Punt.) 

Half-deck.  (Naut.)  1.  The  space  imme- 
diately below  the  quarter-deck,  between  its  foHe- 
most  part  and  the  steerage.  2.  The  steerage. 
3.  A  H.-decked  vessel  is  one  not  decked  through- 
out. 

Half-press.  The  work  done  by  one  man  at  a 
printing-press. 

Half-topsails,  Under.  (Naut.)  When  only  the 
upper  half  of  a  ship's  topsails  is  visible  ;  i.e.  about 
twelve  miles  off. 


HALI 


243 


HAND 


Halibut,  [A.S.  hali,  holy,  but  =  flat-fish.} 
(Ichth. }  Halibut,  one  of  the  largest  of  flat-fishes, 
five  to  seven  feet  long.  British  and  Northern 
seas.  Hippoglossus  [Gr.  !irir6y\<i)<rffos,  like  a 
horses  tongue]  vulgaris,  fam.  Pleuronectidae,  ord. 
Anacanthmi,  sub-class  T£leostel. 

Halidom.     [A.S.  haligdom,  Ger.  heiligthum.] 

1.  Holiness.     2.  The  holy  or  consecrated  thing, 
as  a  relic.     3,  The  place  where  it  is  preserved. 
Hence,  4,  a  sanctuary  ;  or,  5,  the  possessions  of 
a  religious  house,  as  the  Halidom  of  the  Abbey 
of  Melrose  (Scott).     6.  An  oath  sworn  by  the 
holy  thing  or  place. 

Hallamshire.  Sheffield  and  the  neighbouring 
district. 

Hallel  [Heb.,  praise],  or  Paschal  hymn  of 
the  Jews,  consisted  of  Ps.  cxiii.,  cxiv. ,  cxv.,  the 
first  portion  sung  in  the  early  part  of  the  feast ; 
and  Ps.  cxvi.,  cxvii.,  cxviii.,  sung  at  the  con- 
clusion of  the  supper  (see  Matt.  xxvi.  30). 

Halliards,  Halyards,  or  Haulyards.  [From 
hale  or  haul,  and  yard.]  (Naut.)  The  ropes, 
or  tackles,  by  \vhich  sails  are  hoisted  and  lowered 
upon  their  yards,  etc. ;  in  lower  sails  called 
jeers.  The  cross-jack  and  spritsail  yards  are 
generally  slung. 

Hall-mark.  The  official  stamp  of  the  Gold- 
smiths' Company  or  other  public  assayers,  on 
genuine  gold  and  silver  articles. 

Hallowe'en.  The  evening  of  October  31,  being 
the  eve  or  vigil  of  All-hallows,  or  All  Saint? 
Day,  November  I  \  devoted  once  in  England  to 
amusements,  in  Scotland  to  customs  somewhat 
superstitious.  (See  Burns's  Halloween.} 

Hallucinations.  [L.  halluclnor,  I  wander  in 
mind,  dream.  ]  Morbid  conditions,  in  which,  no 
impression  having  been  made  upon  the  senses, 
the  object  is  believed  to  be  existing.  H.  are 
often  felt  to  be  H.,  being  different  from  delusions, 
and  consistent  with  sanity,  «s  in  the  case  of  Ber- 
nadotte,  Swedenborg,  etc. 

Hallux,  Hallex,  Allux,  AUex.  [L.]  (Anat.) 
The  great  toe.  The  class,  forms  are  allex  and 
halUx. 

Halm.     (Haulm.) 

Halo.  [Gr.  a\ws,  a  halo  ]  1.  A  coloured  circle 
often  seen  in  the  colder  months  of  the  year  sur- 
rounding the  sun  or  moon  at  distances  of  about 
22*  and  46°  from  their  centres  ;  such  circles  are 
probably  caused  by  refraction  of  light  through 
elementary  crystals  of  snow  in  the  atmosphere  ; 
they  are  frequently  attended  by  secondary  circles. 

2.  A  bright  ring  surrounding  the  heads  of  saints 
iii  pictures. 

Haloscope.  An  instrument  for  exhibiting  phe- 
nomena resembling  halos. 

Halsfang.     (Healfang.) 

Halyards.     (Halliards.) 

-ham.  Ham-.  [Cf.  Goth,  haims,  home,  Ger. 
heim,  inclosure,  geheim,  home,  Eng.  ham-let, 
Gr.  KCO/XTJ,  village,  /cC/not,  from  root  KJ,  be  quiet.] 
Part  of  A.S.  names,  as  in  Ing-ham. 

Hamadryads.  [Gr.  o^uaSpuaSes.]  (Myth.} 
Nymphs  who  were  supposed  to  live  and  die 
with  the  trees  which  they  guarded.  (Genii.) 

Hamburg  white.  A  pigment  composed  of  two 
narts  of  baryta  and  one  of  white  lead. 


Hameln,  Piper  of.    (Orpheus.) 

Hamesucken,  Homesoken.  [Cf.  Goth,  sakan, 
to  quarrel. ~\  (Scot.  Law.}  The  offence  ol 
wrongfully  assaulting  a  man  in  his  own  house. 

Hamiltonian  system  (James  Hamilton,  mer- 
chant, died  1831),  Reactive  against  the  exces- 
sive study  of  grammar  before  reading  or  speaking 
languages,  took  the  pupil  at  once  to  the  language 
itself,  which  he  learnt,  if  with  a  teacher,  by  word- 
for-word  translation,  or  if  alone,  by  interlinear 
translation  ;  the  grammatical  and  the  practical 
knowledge  being  gained  simultaneously. 

Hamitio.  (From  Ham,  son  of  Noah. )  (Lang. } 
The  N. -African  family  of  languages,  including 
Egyptian  (Coptic),  Berber  (Libyan),  Ethiopian. 

Hammerbeam.  (Arch.}  A  horizontal  piece 
of  timber,  acting  as  a  tie  at  the  feet  of  a  pair  of 
principal  rafters,  but  not  extending  so  as  to  con- 
nect the  opposite  sides. 

Hammercloth.  [Of  uncertain  origin.]  A  cloth 
which  covers  the  coach-box. 

Hammerslag.  The  coating  of  oxide  formed 
on  heated  iron,  which  is  removed  by  hammering 
the  metal  when  cold. 

Hampton  Court  Conference.  Held  by  James 
L,  A.D.  1603,  at  H.  C.,  first  between  the  king 
and  the  representatives  of  the  Episcopalian  party, 
then  between  these  and  the  representatives  of  the 
Puritans,  for  the  settlement  of  disputes.  (Mil- 
lenary Petition.) 

Hamster,  Crlcetusfrumentdrius.  [Ger.]  (Zool.} 
A  destructive,  burrowing  rodent,  about  fifteen 
inches  long,  with  greyish-fawn  back,  black 
belly.  N.  Europe.  Jf'am.  Muridse. 

Hamstring.    To  cut  the  tendons  of  the  ham. 

Hanaper.  [A.  S.  hnap,  a  cup,  or  bowl.  ]  (Leg. } 
A  treasure,  =  exchequer. 

Hanaper,  or  Hamper,  Clerk  of  the.  An  officer 
of  the  Court  of  Chancery,  who  received  all  money 
due  to  the  king  for  the  seals  of  charters,  patents, 
commissions,  and  writs,  and  the  fees  due  to  the 
officers  for  enrolling  and  examining  them. — 
Brown,  Law  Dictionary. 

Handfasting.  In  the  border  country  formerly, 
the  living  as  man  and  wife  for  a  year  and  a  day, 
after  which  came  either  separation  or  marriage. 
(See  Scott's  Monastery.} 

Handicap.  1.  A  game  at  cards,  something 
like  loo,  in  which  the  winner  of  one  trick  has  to 
hand  ?  the  cap,  i.e.  put  in  the  pool,  a  double 
stake,  the  winner  of  two  tricks  a  triple  stake,  and 
soon.  (See  Pepys's  Diary,  September  18,  1660.) 
2.  A  race  in  which  less  weight  or  distance  or 
more  time  is  given  to  competitors,  in  presumed 
proportion  to  their  inferiority,  so  that,  theoreti- 
cally, the  worst  has  as  good  a  chance  as  the  best. 

Handmast-spar.  (Naut.)  A  round  mast. 
H.-M.-piece,  a  small  round  mast.  H. -spike,  a 
capstan  bar,  round,  with  square  head. 

Handsaw,  in  phrase,  "  Not  know  a  hawk  from 
a  H.,"  is  for  Heronshaw,  Hernshaw. 

Handsel.  1.  Something  delivered  [A.S.  sel- 
lan,syllan,  to  hand  over]  into  the  hand,  especially 
a  first  payment,  or  gift,  or  purchase,  or  use,  re- 
garded as  an  omen.  2.  (Leg. )  Earnest  money. 

Handsomely.     In  Naut.  language,  gently. 

Handspike.     (Mil.}  Wooden  lever  for  slight!)/ 


HANG 


244 


HARP 


moving  the  trail  (q.v.)  of  a  gun  in  taking  aim,  or 
for  raising  any  kind  of  weight. 

Hanging  Gardens.  Of  Nebuchadnezzar's 
palace,  at  Babylon  ;  raised  terraces,  supported 
on  piers  of  brickwork.  Said  to  have  been  built 
for  his  Median  queen,  Nitocris,  to  remind  her, 
in  the  unbroken  naked  plain,  of  her  native  hills 
and  woods. 

Hangnail.    (Agnail.) 

Hank.  [Dan. ,  a  handle]  A  parcel  of  two  or 
more  skeins  of  yarn  or  thread  tied  together. 
Hanks,  hoops  or  rings,  with  which  the  fore  part 
of  a  fore-and-aft  sail  is  confined  to  its  stay. 

Hankey-pankey.  Professional  cant,  specious 
talk,  properly  the  chatter  of  conjurers  to  divert 
attention  from  their  doings. 

Hank  for  hank.  (Naut.)  Used  of  two  ships 
beating  together  in  racing,  etc. 

Hannibalian  War.    (Punic  Wars.) 

Hansard.  1.  Reports  of  Parliamentary  pro- 
ceedings (named  from  the  publisher).  2.  (From 
Hanse.)  Citizen  of  a  town  belonging  to  the 
Hanseatic  League. 

Hanseatic  League.  (Hist.)  A  confederacy 
of  the  Hanse  towns  on  the  coasts  of  the  Baltic, 
formed  in  1239.  It  numbered  at  one  time  eighty- 
five  cities. 

Hanse  towns.  [O.H.G.  hansa,  association.'] 
(Geog.)  Towns  of  the  Hanseatic  League,  for 
defence  of  commerce,  formed  in  the  thirteenth 
century  ;  the  chief  being  Lubeck,  Hamburg,  and 
Brunswick.  The  two  first  and  Bremen  now 
constitute  this  league  for  hansa. 

Hansom.  (From  the  inventor. )  A  light  two- 
wheeled  carriage,  with  the  driver's  seat  elevated 
behind. 

Harakiri.  The  Japanese  suicide,  especially 
upon  being  insulted,  which  entails  the  suicide  of 
the  insulter. 

Haras.  [Fr.,  a  stud,  from  Ar.  faras,  a  horse.} 
Stud  for  horses  for  the  use  of  an  army. 

Hard.  (Naut.)  1.  H.  a  -lee,  when  the  rudder 
is  to  windward  ;  or  the  order  so  to  place  it.  2. 
H.  a-weather,  or  up,  when  the  rudder  is  to  lee- 
ward ;  or  the  order  so  to  place  it.  3.  H.  a-port, 
when  the  rudder  is  to  starboard  ;  or  the  order  so 
to  place  it.  4.  H.  a-starboard,  when  the  rudder 
is  to  port ;  or  the  order  so  to  place  it.  5.  A 
hardy  seaman  is  said  to  be  H.  a-weather. 

Hard  dollar.  (Amer.  Finance.)  Silver  dollar ; 
opposed  to  Soft,  i.e.  paper,  dollar.  Name  of  the 
U.  S.  party  which  advocates  resumption  of  specie 
payments. 

Hardle,  Hartle.  To  prepare  a  dead  hare  or 
rabbit  for  carriage  in  the  hand  or  on  a  pole,  by 
cutting  the  tendon  Achillis  immediately  above 
the  hock  in  one  hind  leg,  and  making  between 
the  tendon  and  the  bone  in  the  other  an  incision 
through  which  the  first  foot  is  passed  beyond  the 
hock,  the  projection  of  which  prevents  the  foot 
from  slipping  back. 

Hard  paste.    (Paste.) 

Hards.    Tow. 

Hardware.  Ware  made  of  metal,  as  cutlery, 
fenders  etc. 

Harem.  [Ar.  haraem,  forbidden,  or  sacred.}  In 
Eastern  houses,  the  rooms  set  apart  for  women. 


Hariolation.  [L.  hanolatio,  -nem,  from  hario- 
lus,  diviner  (Haruspices).]  Divination,  sooth- 
saying. 

Harits.     (Graces.) 

Harl.  [O.G.  harluf,  rope.]  The  threads  of 
hemp  or  flax. 

Harlequin.  [It.  arlechino.]  Originally  a 
droll,  greedy  rogue  of  Italian  comedy,  servant 
of  Pantaleone,  and  lover  of  Columbina  ;  now  a 
dancing  masked  magician  of  Christmas  panto- 
mime. (Scaramouch.) 

Harmattan.  [Afr.]  A  dry,  hot  wind,  blowing 
from  the  interior  of  Africa  towards  the  Atlantic. 

Harmodius.  An  Athenian,  who,  with  his 
friend  Aristogeiton,  murdered  Hipparchos,  the 
son  of  Peisistratos,  and  so  led  to  the  downfall  of 
the  family  of  the  Peisistratidai. 

Hannonia.  [L.,  Gr.  appovia.]  (Med.)  A 
joining  together  of  bones,  e.g.  the  nasal,  by  simple 
apposition. 

Harmonic  [Gr.  TJ  ap/jiovticfi,  the  musical,  i.e. 
science]  ;  Acute  H. ;  Grave  H.  (For  Harmonic 
or  Acute  H.,  vide  Tone.)  The  Grave  H.  is  heard 
in  certain  cases  when  two  perfectly  just  notes 
are  sounded  together  depending  on  the  difference 
of  their  pitches ;  thus  when  the  middle  C  and 
its  major  third  (whose  pitches  are  as  4  :  5)  are 
sounded  together,  a  very  faint  C  two  octaves 
lower  (whose  pitch  is  as  5  —  4  =  i)  is  heard  ; 
it  used  to  be  considered  that  this  note  was  due 
to  the  coalescence  of  the  beats  into  a  continuous 
sound,  but  now  it  is  thought  to  be  due  to  the 
fact  of  the  vibration  having  a  finite,  though  very 
small,  extent. 

Harmonic  function;  H.  motion;  H.  progres- 
sion. If  a  point  moves  uniformly  in  a  circle,  the 
foot  of  the  perpendicular  let  fall  from  it  to  a 
fixed  diameter  has  a  simple  Harmonic  motion ; 
the  algebraical  expression  for  such  a  motion  is 
a  Simple  H.  function  ;  the  sum  of  two  or  more 
S.  H.  functions  is  a  Complex  H.  function.  The 
motions  which  occasion  sound,  light,  etc.,  can 
be  represented  by  H.  F.  (For  H.  progression, 
vide  Progression.) 

Harmonics.  [Gr.  ap/j.ovitco's,  skilled  in 
harmony.]  Tones  of  a  vibrating  body  given  off 
in  addition  to  the  original  tone  ;  e.g.  the  octave, 
the  fifth  above  the  octave,  the  double  octave,  etc., 
of  a  note  struck  on  the  piano.  (Nodes  ;  Tone.) 

Harmost.  [Gr.  O^OO-T^S.]  (Hist.)  A 
magistrate  sent  out  from  Sparta  to  govern  a 
conquered  state.  We  hear  also  of  Theban 
harmosts. 

Harness.  {Harnais,  the  full  fitting  out  of  a 
knight  and  his  horse,  formerly  harnas,  a  Celt, 
word  (Brachet).]  I  Kings  xx.  II,  and  else- 
where ;  body-armour  of  a  soldier. 

Haroun-al-Raschid.  The  caliph  of  the 
Arabian  Nights'  Tales,  a  despot  who  used  to 
mingle  with  his  subjects  in  the  streets  of  Bagdad, 
in  disguise.  He  was  a  contemporary  of  Charles 
the  Great  (Charlemagne). 

Harpagon.      Moliere's    L\ 


'Avare,     an    utter 


Harpies.  [Gr.  ap-rrviai,  from  apirw,  apiro^w,  1 
seize.]  In  Gr.  Myth.,  the  storm-winds.  In 
Hesiod  they  are  described  as  the  beautiful 


HARP 


245 


HAUS 


daughters  of  Thaumas  and  Electra.  In  Virgil 
they  are  of  repulsive  ugliness,  and  insatiably 
greedy. 

Harpings,  or  Harpens.  (Naut.)  1.  That 
part  of  the  wales  which  incloses  the  bow,  and 
is  made  extra  thick.  2.  The  pieces  of  oak,  bolted 
to  the  shape  of  a  vessel,  which  hold  the  fore  and 
after  cant-bodies  together,  until  planked  ;  but 
generally  applied  to  those  at  the  bow.  Cat-H., 
ropes  crossing  from  futtuck-staff  to  futtuck- staff, 
below  the  tops. 

Harpocrates.  The  Greek  form  of  the 
Egyptian  words  Har-pi-chruti,  or  Horus  the 
Child,  who  is  represented  as  a  naked  boy  sitting 
on  a  lotus  flower,  with  his  finger  in  his  mouth. 

Harpoon.  [Fr.  harpon.]  A  long  spear  with 
a  flat,  barbed  head,  for  striking  large  fish. 

Harpsichord.  [Corn  of  Fr.  harpe-chorde.] 
A  stringed  instrument,  in  shape  like  a  grand 
piano,  sometimes  having  two  manuals — one  loud, 
the  other  soft ;  the  sound  independent  of  the 
degree  of  pressure,  and  produced  by  plectra 
moving  the  wire  ;  compass  about  four  octaves. 

Harpy.  [Gr.  *A.pirvta.]  (Her.)  An  heraldic 
animal,  with  a  woman's  head  and  breast  and  a 
vulture's  body  and  legs. 

Harpy  eagle.  (Harpies.)  (Ornith.)  Largest 
of  eagles,  three  feet  and  a  half  and  upwards  in 
length.  Plumage  (adult),  back  slate-coloured, 
belly  white  ;  it  has  a  frill  and  two-pointed  crest, 
which  it  can  raise  at  pleasure.  Central  and  S. 
America.  Thrasaetus,  sub-fam.  Accipitrmse,  fam. 
Falc5mdae,  ord.  Acclpitres. 

Harridan.  [Cf.  Fr.  haridelle,  knacker,  jade.} 
Shrewish  old  hag. 

Harry,  To.  [A.S.  herian,  to  ravage  as  an  army 
(here,  Goth,  harjis).]  To  pillage,  ravage,  worry. 

Hart.  [O.E.  heort.]  (Deer,  Stages  of  growth 
of.) 

Hartshorn.  An  impure  carbonate  of  ammonia 
obtained  by  distilling  hart's  horn  or  any  kind  of 
bone. 

Haruspices.     (Aruspices.) 

Harveian  Oration.  One  annually  delivered  in 
London,  in  honour  of  Harvey,  discoverer  of  the 
circulation  of  the  blood. 

Harvest-moon.  The  moon  near  the  full  at 
about  the  time  of  the  autumnal  equinox,  when 
the  daily  retardation  of  its  rising  is  partly 
counterbalanced  by  its  comparatively  rapid 
motion  in  north  declination,  so  that  it  rises  for 
several  days  together  at  about  the  time  of  sunset. 

Haschish.    (Assassin;  Hachish.) 

Hassock.  [Scot.]  Lit.  ttijt  of  grass.  1. 
Hence  besom,  or  piece  of  turf  for  a  seat.  2.  A 
kneeling  cushion  for  church  or  chapel. 

Hastate  leaf.  [L.  hastatus,  bearing  a  hasta, 
spear.}  (Bot.)  Halbert-shaped,  like  an  arrow- 
head with  the  barbs  at  right  angles ;  e.g.  Atri- 
plex  hastata. 

Hastati.  [L.,  from  hasta,  a  spear.}  The 
first  ranks  of  the  Roman  legion,  consisting  of 
young  men  armed  with  spears.  Behind  these 
stood  the  Principes,  and  behind  these  the  Triarii. 
(Antepilani;  Antesignani.) 

Hatch.  [O.E.  haca,  the  bar  of  a  door.}  1. 
An  opening  into  a  mine,  or  in  search  of  one ; 


from  the  hitch-%p.te,  which  kept  cattle  from 
straying  (Taylor,  Words  and  Places).  2.  Part 
of  names  near  old  forests,  as  Colney  Hatch. 

Hatch-boat.  (Naut.)  A  small  pilot-boat, 
with  a  deck  mainly  composed  of  hatches,  i.e. 
movable  coverings  of  the  hold. 

Hatchel.     [Ger.  hechel.]     (Heckle.) 

Hatchet,  To  bury  the.  To  forget  past  quarrels, 
as  the  N.- American  Indians  bury  the  tomahawk 
when  peace  is  made. 

Hatchet-face.    A  lean,  miserable,  ugly  face. 

Hatching.  [Fr.  hacher,  to  chop.}  Shading 
by  cross  lines  with  pen  or  pencil.  (Hachure  lines.) 

Hatchment.  [Corr.  from  achievement.}  A 
square  frame  bearing  the  escutcheon  of  a  dead 
person. 

Hatchways.  (Naut.)  The  openings  in  the 
decks  of  a  vessel,  through  which  access  is  gained 
to  the  lower  decks  and  hold. 

Hatelettes.  [Fr.]  Morsels  of  meat  cooked 
on  a  spit. 

Hatt.     Short  for  Hatti-sherif. 

Hatti-sherif.  An  edict  signed  by  the  hand  of 
the  sultan  himself.  (Firman.) 

Hatto,  Bishop.  Devoured  by  rats  in  his  castle 
in  the  Rhine,  for  hoarding  grain  and  burning  a 
barn  full  of  poor  people  in  a  time  of  scarcity ; 
as  told  by  Southey. 

Hauberk.  [O.G.  halsberge,  A.S.  healsborg, 
from  hals,  the  neck,  and  bergen,  to  hide.}  A 
jacket  of  chain-mail,  with  a  hood,  and  sleeves 
reaching  below  the  elbow. 

Hand  ignara  mali,  miseris  succurrere  disco. 
[L.]  Not  ignorant  of  evil,  I  learn  to  help  the 
wretched.  Words  put  by  Virgil  into  the  mouth 
of  Dido. 

Haugh.  [Scot.  ;  cf.  haw,  A.S.  haef,  inclo- 
sure,  haga,  hedge,  Ger.  haj,  hedge,  inclosure, 
Dan.  hauge,  garden.}  A  low-lying  meadow. 

Haul  her  wind,  To.  (Naut.)  A  vessel  coming 
up  to  the  wind  is  said  to  If.  her  wind. 

Haul  in,  To.  (Naut.}  To  sail  closer  to  the 
wind,  so  as  to  approach,  to  H.  off,  so  as  to 
get  away  from,  an  object. 

Hauling-down  vacancy.  (Naut.)  One  caused 
by  the  promotion  given  to  a  flag  midshipman 
or  lieutenant,  when  an  admiral  hauls  down  his 
flag.  Hauling  sharp,  having  only  half-rations. 

Haulm,  Halm.  [O.E.  healm,  hattlm,  or  straw; 
cf.  Ger.  halm,  Fr.  chaume,  id.,  L.  calamus,  Gr. 
Ka.XS.fj.i),  a  stalk,  straw,  or  reed.}  (Agr.)  Stalks 
left  after  reaping  or  after  gathering  the  seeds  of 
culmiform  crops 

Haulyards.    (Halliards.) 

Haurient.  [L.  hauriens,  drinking.}  (Her.) 
In  a  vertical  position,  with  the  head  upwards. 

Hausmannize.  To  renovate  a  city  with  ex- 
travagant magnificence,  as  Hausmann  did  Paris, 
under  Napoleon  III. 

Haustellate.  (Zool.)  Provided  with  an  haus- 
tellum  (q.v.). 

Haustellum.  [Dim.  from  L.  haustrum,  id., 
haurio,  /  draw  water,  etc.]  Apparatus  for 
pumping  or  sucking,  in  the  mouths  of  certain 
crustaceous  insects,  as  Epizoa  (q.v.). 

Haustdrium.  [L.  haurio,  /  draw  otit,  draw 
water.}  A  sticker. 


HAUT 


246 


HECA 


Hautboy.  [Fr.  hautbois,  i.e.  instrument  of 
wood,  bois,  having  a.  shrill,  haut,  sound.]  (Oboe.) 

Hauteur.     [Fr.]    Loftiness  of  manner. 

Haut  gout.     High  seasoning. 

Haut  mal.  With  the  French,  =  severe  form 
of  epilepsy ;  distinguished  from  Petit  mal,  the 
ordinary  form. 

Haversack.  [Fr.  havre-sac,  knapsack,  origin- 
ally a  bag  for  oats  (Ger.  haber).]  (Mil.) 
Wallet  used  by  soldiers  for  carrying  their  day's 
provisions. 

Havildar.    [Hind.]    Sergeant  of  Sepoy  troops. 

Havilee.  [Hind.]  Superior  house  in  India, 
of  brick  or  stone  ;  flat-roofed,  on  one  story 
raised  from  the  ground. 

Haw.  (Haugh.)  1.  Hedge,  inclosure.  2. 
Berry  of  the  hawthorn,  i.e.  hedgethorn. 

Haw,  ox  Nictitating  membrane  (q.v.),  of  horse, 
dog,  etc.  A  cartilage  lying  just  \vithin  the 
inner  corner  of  the  eye,  but  capable  of  being 
thrust  outwards,  so  as  partially  to  cover  it  when 
irritated  by  dust,  etc. 

Hawk's  bell.  (Arch.)  A  name  considered 
by  Mr.  Parker  more  appropriate  than  Wall- 
flower (Glossary  of  Architecture,  vol.  i.  53). 

Hawse.  [From  A.S.  halse,  the  neck.]  1. 
That  part  of  the  bow  where  the  H. -holes  for 
the  cable  to  pass  through,  are.  2.  The  position  of 
the  cables  when  a  vessel  rides  with  both  anchors 
out,  one  to  starboard  and  the  other  to  port.  3. 
The  space  between  a  vessel  at  anchor  and  the 
anchor.  Bold  H.t  the  H. -holes  high  above 
the  water.  H.-full,  pitching  bows  under. 

Hawser.  [I.e.  a  raiser,  to  hawse  being  to 
raise,  Fr.  haulser,  hausser,  It.  alzare.]  A  cable- 
laid  rope,  not  so  large  as  a  cable,  but  larger  than 
a  tow-line.  H.-laid  rope,  made  of  three  or 
four  strands  of  yarn,  considered  proportionately 
stronger  than  cable-laid  rope,  which  is  made  of 
small  ropes  more  tightly  twisted.  H.-laid  IO^Q 
is  used  for  rigging,  etc. ;  cable-laid  in  water,  etc. 

Haxo  casemate.  (Mil.)  An  earth-covered 
masonry  chamber  placed  on  the  terreplein  of  a 
work,  for  the  protection  of  guns  firing  through 
embrasures  (q.v.)  of  a  parapet,  and  acting  also 
as  a  traverse  (q.v.). 

Hay.    (Haigh.) 

Haybote.  Hedgebote,  an  allowance  of  wood 
to  a  tenant  for  repair  of  fences. 

Hayward  (i.e.  hedge-guard).  An  officer  who 
has  to  take  care  of  hedges  and  impound  stray 
animals. 

Headborough.  (Leg.)  In  frankpledge,  the 
chief  of  the  ten  pledges  or  freemen  of  a  tithing, 
or  decennary ;  also  called  Borowhead,  Borsholder, 
Tithingman,  etc. 

Headland.  (Agr.)  The  upper  part  of  land 
left  for  the  turning  of  the  plough. 

Head-quarters.  (Mil.)  Station  of  a  general 
commanding. 

Headsails.  (Naut.)  All  those  set  on  a  fore- 
mast, bowsprit,  jib,  and  flying-jibbooms. 

Healds.  The  harness  for  guiding  the  warp- 
threads  in  the  loom. 

Ilealfang,  Halsfang.     [A.S.,  a  catching  of  the 
neckJ\    The  old  English  name  for  the  pillory. 
Eearth  money,  Hearth  penny.      A    chimney 


tax  (Fumage)  levied  from  the  reign  of  Charles 
II.  to  the  Revolution. 

Hearth  tax.     (Chimney  money.) 

Heart-sound.     (Diastole.) 

Heart-wood.     (Duramen.) 

Heat.  [A  word  common  to  many  Aryan 
languages.]  (Racing.)  When  all  competitors 
cannot  walk,  run,  or  row  together,  they  race  in 
divisions,  which  races  are  called  heats.  The 
various  winners  then  race  with  each  other. 
The  deciding  race  is  the  final  H.  In  coursing 
and  wrestling,  the  term  tie  is  used. 

Heat-apoplexy,  i.q.  popularly  Sunstroke. 
Undue  determination  of  blood  to  the  brain,  from 
exposure  to  the  heat  of  the  sun  or  other  intense 
heat. 

Heath.  [Her.  avar.]  Jer.  xvii.  6;  xlviii.  6; 
Juniperus  sabina,  a  dwarf  juniper,  in  barren, 
rocky  places  of  the  desert. 

Heave,  To.  [Ger.  heben,  to  lift.]  (Naut.)  To 
throw  overboard,  to  cast,  as  to  H.  the  log;  to 
haul,  drag,  prize,  etc.,  as,  to  H.  at  the  anchor. 
To  H.  the  log,  to  ascertain  a  ship's  velocity  by 
aid  of  the  log-line  and  sand-glass.  To  H.  the 
lead,  to  ascertain  the  depth  of  water  with  the 
hand  lead-line.  To  get  a  cast  of  the  lead  is  to 
ascertain  it  with  the  deep-sea  lead  and  line. 

Heave  down,  To.  (Naut.)  To  careen  a  ship 
by  purchases  on  the  masts.  To  heave  keel-out, 
to  careen  a  vessel  so  much  that  the  keel  shall  be 
out  of  water. 

Heave  offering.    (Wave  offering.) 

Heave-to,  To.  (Naut.)  1.  To  bring-to  (q.v.), 
2.  In  a  gale,  to  set  only  enough  sail  to  steady  the 
ship. 

Heavy  marching  order.  (Mil.)  That  of  a 
soldier  equipped  and  carrying,  besides  his  arms 
and  ammunition,  complete  kit,  and  great-coat, 
amounting  altogether  to  about  sixty  pounds  ;  to 
which  are  occasionally  added  a  blanket  and 
three  days'  provisions. 

Heavy  spar,  Hepatile,  Bologna  spar.  (Geol.) 
Native  sulphate  of  barytes  (q.v.),  common  in 
many  mining  districts  ;  used  as  a  white  paint, 
and  in  adulterating  white  lead. 

Hebdomadal.  [From  Gr.  4/38ojucfo,  the  number 
seven,  a  week.]  Weekly,  as  in  Oxf.  Univ.,  the 
H.  Council,  the  board  elected  by  the  Senate  to 
prepare  and  regulate  university  business,  which 
meets  at  least  once  a  week  during  term. 

Hebe.  [Gr.,  youth.]  (Gr.  Myth.)  The  cup- 
bearer who  handed  round  nectar  to  the  gods  at 
their  banquets.  She  answers  to  the  Latin 
Jiiventas. 

Hebetation.  [L.  hebetatio,  -nem,  dulness,  from 
hebes,  hebetis,  blunt,  ditll.]  A  making  or  a  being 
dull,  blunt,  stupid. 

Hebetude.  [L.  hSbetudo,  bluntness]  Insensi- 
bility, dulness. 

Hecate.  [Gr.  l/corr?,  fern,  of  Hecatos,  the  far- 
shooter.]  (Gr.  Myth.)  A  goddess  who  repre- 
sents the  moon  ;  not  mentioned  in  the  Iliad  or 
Odyssey,  but  described  by  later  writers  as  a 
daughter  of  Perses  and  Asteria. 

Hecatomb.  [Gr.  eKa-r^u/Jr?.]  A  sacrifice  of  a 
hundred  [eKar6v]  oxen  [j8<fes] ;  hence  a  great 
sacrifice  to  a  god  or  gods. 


HECK 


247 


HELI 


Heck.  [Akin  to  hook.}  An  apparatus  by 
which  the  threads  of  warps  are  separated  into 
sets  for  the  heddles. 

Heckle,  Hackle,  Hatchel.  [Ger.  hechel,  dim. 
of  D.  haak,  hook.}  A  comb  for  separating  the 
coarse  parts  of  flax  or  hemp  from  the  fine. 

Heckling.  [Scot.]  Worrying,  putting  ques- 
tions to  a  candidate  for  Parliament. 

Hectare.  [Fr.,  from  Gr.  €Kar6v,  a  hundred, 
Fr.  are,  L.  area.]  A  French  measure,  equivalent 
to  2 '47 1 1  English  acres.  (Are.) 

Hectic  fever.  [Gr.  CKTIKOS,  belonging  to  the 
habit  (e|ts).]  Constitutional,  long-continued, 
more  or  less  intermittent ;  often  attending  the 
termination  of  organic  disease. 

Hectogramme,    Hectolitre.      [Fr.]     Measures 
of  a  hundred  grammes  and  litres  respectively. 
(Gramme;  Litre.) 
Heddle.    (Healds.) 

Hedonio  sect.  [Gr.  faoviKos,  pleasant^  A 
name  sometimes  given  to  the  Cyrenaic  school  of 
philosophy,  founded  by  Aristippus,  circ.  B.C.  424. 
They  are  said  to  have  despised  speculative  and 
mathematical  studies,  making  pleasure  [^ov-fi] 
and  a  general  sense  of  quiet  engagement  the 
basis  of  their  ethical  system. 

Heel.  (Naut.)  1.  Where  the  keel  and  stern- 
post  join.  2.  The  lower  end  of  a  mast,  bow- 
sprit, boom,  or  timber.  To  H.,  to  incline  to  one 
side.  » H.-knee,  the  shaped  timber  which  con- 
nects the  keel  with  the  stern-post.  H.-rope 
that  which  is  fastened  to  the  H.  of  spars  (other 
than  topmasts)  to  ship  them. 

Heelball.  A  composition  of  bees-wax,  tallow, 
and  lampblack,  used  for  blackening  leather. 

Heel-tool.  A  tool  used  by  turners  for  the  first 
rough  shaping  of  a  piece  of  iron. 

Hegemony.  [Gr.  r)7e/«wa.]  The  presidential 
or  guiding  power  possessed  by  a  state  over  other 
states  in  alliance  with  it.  Such  H.  was  claimed 
by  Athens  and  Sparta  over  the  members  of  their 
respective  confederacies. 

Hegira.  (Hist.)  The  Mohammedan  era, 
marked  by  the  flight  of  Mohammed  from  Mecca 
to  Medina,  A.  D.  622.  It  is  strictly  lunar. 

Heights  of  Abraham,  The.    Above  the  city  of 
Quebec ;   here   Wolfe  defeated   Montcalm,  and 
Quebec   fell    into   the  hands   of  Britain   (Sep- 
tember, 1759). 
Heimskringla.    (Saga.) 

Heir.  [O.Fr.,  from  L.  haeres.]  (Leg.)  One 
entitled  to  succeed  to  an  estate  of  inheritance. 
In  Scotland  H.  is  also  applied  to  successor  to 
personal  property.  There  are  eight  kinds  of  H. : 
1.  H. -apparent,  who  must  succeed  if  he  live  long 
enough.  2.  //.  by  custom,  by  peculiar  custom, 
as  Borough  English,  gavelkind.  3.  H.  by  de- 
vise, made  H.  only  by  will.  4.  H.  general,  H. 
at-law,  in  whom  right  of  inheritance  lies  after  a 
possessor's  death,  a  term  applicable  to  most 
heirs  on  succession.  5.  H. -presumptive,  who 
will  succeed  unless  one  be  born  with  better  right. 

6.  Hreres  sanguinis  et  heredltatis,  H.  of  blood 
and  inheritance,  a  son  who  can  be  disinherited. 

7.  H.  special,  e.g.  by  custom  or  entail.    8.  Ul- 
timus  haeres,  last  heir.     (Escheat.) 

Heirloom.     [From    heir,   and    A.S.    geloma, 

17 


goods.]  (Leg.)  A  movable  or  personal  chattel, 
as  an  ornament,  weapon,  or  piece  of  furniture, 
which  by  special  custom  goes  with  the  inherit- 
ance, though  an  owner  while  living  may  dispose 
of  it. 

Hektemorians.     (Thetes.) 
Heldenbuch.     (Minnesingers.) 
Helen.     (Paris,  Judgment  of.) 
Helena.     (Meteorol.)     (Castor  and  Pollux.) 
Heliacal.     [Gr.  ij\ianos,  belonging  to  the  sun.] 
(Astron.)    The  H.  rising  or  setting  of  a  heavenly 
body  takes  place  at  nearly  the  same  time  as  that 
of  the  sun.     A  star  rises   heliacally  when   it  is 
seen  to  rise   before   the   sun,    i.e.   just   after  it 
emerges  from  the  rays  of  the  neighbouring  sun. 

Heliaea.      [Gr.  faiaia.]      In   Athenian  Hist., 
the  chief  of  the  ten  courts   among   which  the 
Dicasts,  or  jurymen,  were  distributed. 
Helicon.     (Pegasus.) 

Heliocentric  theory.  [Gr.  %\tos,  the  sun, 
Kevrpov,  centre.]  (Astron.)  That  which  makes 
the  sun  the  centre  of  the  motions  of  the  planets, 
including  the  earth,  and  explains  the  apparent 
movements  of  the  heavenly  bodies  by  the  rota- 
tion of  the  earth  on  her  axis,  and  her  motion 
round  the  sun  in  her  orbit ;  it  was  propounded 
by  Aristarchus  of  Samos,  in  the  third  century 
B.C.,  and  established  by  Copernicus,  De  Rev. 
Orb.  Ccelest.  (1543).  (Geocentric  theory.) 

Heliochromy.  [Gr.  r}A.ios,  sun,  ^pcD/xo,  colottr.] 
A  process  of  photographing  objects  in  their 
natural  colours. 

Heliogram.  [Gr.  JjAios,  the  sun,  ypAffxa,  / 
write.]  A  sunshine  message. 

Heliography.  [Gr.  i}A.ioy,  the  sun,  ypd<pw,  1 
write.}  Photography. 

Heliometer.  [Gr.  ^Xios,  the  sun,  perpov, 
measztre.]  A  large  telescope  mounted  equato- 
rially,  whose  object-glass  is  divided  along  a 
diameter,  the  parts  being  mounted  in  separate 
frames  capable  of  relative  motion  produced  and 
accurately  measured  by  a  screw ;  each  half 
forms  its  own  image ;  the  images  are  seen  side ' 
by  side  through  the  eye-piece,  and  can  be  moved 
by  the  screw.  It  is  used  for  the  exact  measure- 
ment of  small  astronomical  distances,  eg.  the 
diameter  of  a  planet,  the  distance  between  the 
components  of  a  double  star,  etc. 

Heliostat;  Heliotrope.  An  instrument  for 
throwing  the  reflected  light  of  the  sun  in  any 
required  direction. 

Heliotrope  (Min.),  or  Blood-stone.  A  deep- 
green  stone  ;  a  jaspery  variety  of  silica,  with  red! 
spots,  caused  by  oxide  of  iron.  (Heliostat.) 

Helix.  [Gr.  eA«f,  adj.  and  subst.,  spiral.]  1. 
(Mech.)  A  spiral  line  of  the  same  form  as  the 
thread  of  a  screw ;  rigJit- handed,  when  it 
ascends  from  the  right  hand  to  the  left  hand 
of  a  person  standing  within  the  coil ;  left- 
handed,  when  it  ascends  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion. 2.  (Anat.)  The  reflected  margin  of  the 
outer  ear.  3.  (Arch.)  The  curling  volutes 
under  the  flowers  of  a  Corinthian  capital.  4. 
(Zool. )  Gen.  of  pulmoniferous  mollusc.  Cosmo- 
politan ;  more  than  2000  spec.  Gives  its  name 
to  fam.  HelTcidse,  snails,  with  6000  spec.  Class 
Gasteropoda. 


HELL 


248 


HERC 


Hellanodicae.  [Gr.  'EAXdvoSt/coj,  fudges  of  the 
Hellenes.]  The  two  judges  at  the  Olympian 
games. 

Hellenism.  [Gr.  'E\\ir)VLff/j.6s,  imitation  of 
EAATji/fs,  Greeks.]  1.  Greek  civilization  adopted 
and  reacted  on  by  aliens,  especially  after  Alex- 
ander the  Great's  death  ;  adj. ,  Hellenistic.  2. 
The  best  civilization  of  unmixed  independent 
Greece  (Hellas),  as  the  word  is  used  by  Grote 
and  others  ;  adj.,  Hellenic. 

Hellenistic  Greek.  The  Greek  used  by  Jewish 
writers.  It  differed  from  other  Greek  chiefly  in 
its  frequent  use  of  Oriental  metaphors  and 
idioms. 

Hellenists.  [Gr.  'EAX^j/ttrraf.]  In  the  New 
Testament,  a  body,  including  not  only  pro- 
selytes of  Greek,  or  foreign,  parentage,  but  also 
Jews  who,  settling  in  foreign  countries,  adopted 
the  forms  of  Greek  civilization  and  the  use  of 
the  common  Greek  dialect. 

Helm.  1.  [O.E.]  A  heavy  cloud  on  the  brow 
of  a  mountain.  Helm  wind  is  the  wind  attend- 
ing such  a  cloud.  2.  [A.S.  helma.]  (AW.) 
The  tiller,  which  was  always  rigged  in- board,  and 
in  the  phrase,  "  Helm  a-lee,"  etc.,  is  still  always 
so  understood.  3.  Applied  to  the  rudder,  and 
the  wheel  or  other  means  used  to  turn  it. 

Helmet  of  Hades.    (Tarnkappe.) 

Helminthology.  [Gr.  e\/j.ivs,  a  worm,  \6yos, 
discourse.]  The  natural  history  of  worms. 

Helots.  [EtAwroj.]  (Hist.)  The  slaves  of 
the  Spartans,  supposed  to  be  so  called  from  the 
Laconian  town  Helos ;  but  the  name  probably 
merely  denotes  captives.  They  resembled  the 
mediaeval  serf  in  being  attached  to  the  soil. 
(Villein.) 

Helve.  [A.S.  hielfa,  O.H.G.  helbe ;  cf. 
Gr.  Ko\dv-T(a,  I  'peck,  chisel.]  1.  Head  of  an 
axe  or  hatchet.  2.  Handle  of  an  axe  or  hatchet. 

Helvetic  Confession.     (Basle,  Confession  of.) 

Hemerobaptists,  An  ancient  Jewish  sect ;  so 
called  from  their  washing  daily  [Gr.  viptpa,  a 
day]  as  a  religious  solemnity.  Perhaps  the 
same  as  the  Sabians. 

Hemlopsia.  [Gr.  tytu-,  half,  ityts,  eyesight.] 
(Med.)  Faulty  vision,  the  patient  seeing  only 
half  an  object. 

Hemiplegia.  [Gr.  form  ^/u7rA.rj|/a,  from  fipt-, 
half,  and  7rA.ij|js,  a  striking]  (Med.)  Paralysis 
of  one  side.  Paraplegia  [Trapofl-Arj^a,  irapd,  by  the 
side  of],  paralysis  of  the  lower  half  of  the  body. 

Hemiptera.  [Gr.  ^a-,  half,  irrepdv,  a  wing.] 
(Entom.)  Rhyncota.  Ord.  of  insects,  containing 
three  sub-orders:  Homoptera,  as  aphides  and 
Cicadas  ;  H£teroptera,  as  land  and  water  bugs  ; 
Thysanoptera,  the  gen.  Thrips,  destructive  in 
green-houses,  etc. 

Hemisphere  of  Berosus  (Babylonian  astro- 
nomer). A  hollow  hemisphere,  with  its  rim  hori- 
zontal, and  having  the  end  of  a  style  as  the 
centre  :  the  shadow  of  this  point  on  the  concave 
surface  would  show  the  zenith  distance  of  the 
sun.  It  was  used,  however,  as  a  sun-dial. 

Hemistich.  [Gr.  T}fj.i<nixiov.]  A  half-verse ; 
e.g.  either  half  of  a  pentameter.  The  unfinished 
verses  in  the  ^Lneid.  as  bk.  i.  534,  636,  are 
called  H. 


Hemuse.    (Deer,  Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Hendecasyllabic.  [Gr.  eVSewa,  eleven,  cr 
syllable.]  A  verse  of  eleven  syllables,  e.g.  that 
of  Catullus,  "  Passer  deliciae  mese  puellse,"  or 
a  heroic  verse  lengthened  by  a  syllable,  as  in  It., 
Ger.,  and  Eng.  verse. 

Henna.  [Ar.  huina.]  A  paste  made  of 
pounded  leaves,  used  by  Asiatics  for  dyeing 
their  nails,  etc.,  of  an  orange  hue.  (Camphire.) 

Henotheism.    (Monotheism.) 

Henoticon.  [Gr.,  capable  of  uniting.']  (Eccl. 
Hist.)  The  Edict  of  Union,  issued  A.D.  482, 
by  the  Emperor  Zeno,  with  the  view  of  ending 
the  Monophysite  controversy  by  avoiding  ex- 
pressions offensive  to  either  side  (Milman,  Hist, 
of  Latin  Christianity,  bk.  iii.  ch.  i). 

Henricians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Henry,  an  Italian  monk  of  the  twelfth  century, 
who  rejected  infant  baptism,  and  declaimed 
against  the  vices  of  the  clergy  (Milman,  Hist, 
of  Latin  Christianity,  bk.  ix.  ch.  8). 

Henri  Deux  ware  (Henri  II.  of  France).  A 
peculiar  ware  of  fine  pipe-clay,  inlaid  with 
coloured  pastes,  in  arabesques,  interlaced  letters, 
and  other  devices,  and  enriched  with  reliefs  of 
lizards,  masks,  etc.  It  appears  to  have  been 
made  temp.  Francis  I.  and  Henri  II.,  in  Touraine, 
at  the  chateau  of  Oiron,  the  chapel  of  which  is 
paved  with  tiles  of  identical  composition.  Only 
fifty-three  pieces  are  known. 

Hepar.  [Gr.  faap,  liver  ^  (Chem.)  Liver  of 
sulphur. 

Hepatic.  Belonging  to  the  liver  [Gr.  T\irap, 
gen.  ijiroTos]. 

Hephaestus.  [Gr.  ^CUO-TOS.]  (Myth.)  One 
of  the  Greek  gods  of  fire. 

HephthemimeraL  [Gr.  €^6-ij/j.ifjLtp-ns,  containing 
seven  (eirro)  half-  (f)m-)  parts  (/leprj).]  (Pros.) 
Of  or  after  three  feet  and  a  half. 

Heptachord.  [Gr.  cirrd,  seven,  x°pMl>  string.] 
(Music.)  1.  A  series  of  seven  notes.  2.  A 
seven-stringed  instrument. 

Heptarchy.  [Gr.  k-nrd,  seven,  &px<*,  f  govern.] 
(Eng.  Hist.)  A  division  of  England  into  seven 
kingdoms — Kent,  Sussex,  Wessex,  Essex,  East 
Anglia,  Mercia,  Northumberland,  which  are 
supposed  to  have  existed  at  the  same  time  with 
and  independently  of  each  other.  In  point  of 
fact,  this  was  never  the  case. 

Hera,  or  Here.  (Gr.  Myth.)  The  wife  of 
Zeus,  or  Jupiter,  and  Queen  of  Olympus ; 
answering  to  the  Latin  Juno. 

Heracleids.  In  Gr.  Myth.  Hist.,  the  de- 
scendants of  Heracles,  or  Hercules,  who  are 
supposed,  after  a  long  series  of  conflicts,  to  have 
divided  the  Peloponnesus  between  them. 

Heracles,  (Gr.  Myth.)  The  hero  called  by 
the  Latins  Hercules. 

Heralds,  College  of.    (College  of  Heralds.) 

Herbal.  [From  L.  herba,  herb,  plant.]  1.  A 
book  on  plants.  2.  =  Herbarium. 

Herbarium.  [L.L.]  1.  A  collection  of 
dried  herbs  [herbge],  a  hortus  siccus.  2.  A  book 
for  dried  specimens  of  plants. 

Herculean,  Belonging  to  or  like  Hercules, 
who  represented  the  Greek  Heracles,  a  hero  of 
invincible  strength,  whose  life  was  a  series  of 


HERE. 


249 


HESS 


labours,  set  down  by  later  poets  as  twelve  in 
number.  The  Latin  Hercules,  or  Herculus, 
was  properly  a  god  of  boundaries  and  fences, 
and  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  Greek  Heracles. 

Hereditament.  [L.L.  haereditamentum,  from 
L.  haereditas,  heir  ship. \  Inheritable  property 
or  rights  of  which  any  property  is  susceptible. 
Corporeal  hereditaments  are  lands  ;  incorporeal 
H.,  rights  arising  out  of  lands,  of  which  the 
chief  are  advowsons,  tithes,  commons,  ways, 
offices,  dignities,  franchises,  pensions  or  coro- 
dies,  annuities,  and  rents. 

Hereford  Use.     (TTse.) 

.Heresiarch.  [Gr.  alpea-tapxos.]  The  leader  of 
a  party,  usually  of  a  religious  sect. 

Heretoch.  [A.S.,  Ger.  herzog.]  The  old  Eng- 
lish name  for  the  persons  chosen  at  the  Folkmote 
to  lead  the  armies  of  the  kingdom. 

Heriot.  [From  A.S.  here,  army,  geatu, 
supply, ,]  Originally  the  horse  and  habiliment 
of  a  deceased  tenant,  given  as  tribute  to  the  lord  ; 
then  the  tenant's  best  beast  (averium)  or  best 
dead  chattel  (or  money  in  its  stead). 

Heritor.  (Scot.  Law.)  A  landholder  in  a 
parish. 

Hermae.  [Gr.  tp/icw.]  In  Gr.  Hist.,  small 
shafts,  with  the  top  shaped  into  a  head,  perhaps 
of  Hermes,  set  up  on  the  side  and  at  the 
crossing  of  roads. 

Hermaion.     (Trouvaille.) 

Hermann's  Consultation.  ( Theol. )  A  treatise 
drawn  up  by  Hermann,  Archbishop  of  Cologne, 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  about  a  reformation 
of  doctrine  and  ceremonies.  An  English  trans- 
lation of  the  Latin  work  was  published  in  1547. 

Hermaphrodite.  (Anat.  and  Bot.)  Partaking 
of  the  characteristics  of  both  sexes  (Hermaphro- 
dites, supposed  son  of  Hermes  and  Aphrodite). 

Hermaphrodite,  or  Brig-schooner.  (Naut.} 
Two-masted  vessel,  carrying  fore-and-aft  sails 
only  on  mainmast,  and  square-rigged,  but  with- 
out a  top,  on  foremast. 

Hermeneutae.  [Gr.  epn-nvevTal,  interpreters.'] 
In  the  public  worship  of  the  ancient  Church, 
translated  one  language  into  another ;  the  minis- 
trant  and  the  people  being  often  unacquainted 
with  each  other's  tongue. 

Hermeneutics.     (Hermes.) 

Hermes.  (Gr.  Myth.}  The  messenger  of  the 
gods,  to  whom,  in  Acts  xiv.  12,  St.  Paul  was 
likened,  as  being  "the  chief  speaker."  In  the 
Rig  Veda  the  name  occurs  in  the  form  of 
Savarna,  a  word  denoting  the  dawn,  with  the 
fresh  morning  breeze.  Hermes  is  thus  the  god 
of  the  moving  air,  which  can  either  discourse 
sweet  music  or  fill  the  forests  with  its  roar.  As 
messenger  of  the  gods,  he  is  the  interpreter  of 
secrets.  Hence  Hermeneutics,  the  science  of 
interpretation,  especially  as  applied  to  the 
Scriptures.  (Caduceus ;  Petasus.) 

Hermes  Trismegistus.  Neoplatonic  name  of 
the  Egyptian  god  Theuth,  the  inventor  of  letters 
and  the  arts  and  sciences,  to  whom  many  works 
were  ascribed  which  really  belong  to  the  fourth 
century  A.D. 

Hermetically  sealed.  Said  of  a  glass  so 
closely  stopped  that  no  exhalation  can  issue 


from  its  contents.  The  neck  of  the  vessel  is 
heated  by  a  blow-pipe  till  on  the  point  of  melt- 
ing, and  then  nipped  with  hot  pincers.  (Her- 
metic art.) 

Hermetic  art,  Alchemy.  So  called  from 
Hermes  Trismegistus,  its  supposed  discoverer. 

Hermit.  [Gr.  fp^irtis.]  One  who  dwells  in 
deserts.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  A  solitary,  as  opposed 
to  those  who  live  in  common  under  rule.  (Cosno- 
bites;  Regulars;  Seculars.) 

Hernia.  [Gr.  tpvos,  sprout.]  Protrusion  of 
an  internal  organ,  or  a  part  of  it  from  its  natural 
cavity,  through  an  abnormal  or  accidental 
opening. 

Hernshaw.     (Handsaw;  Heronshaugh. ) 

Heroic  Age.     (Ages,  The  four.) 

Heroic  treatment,  or  remedies.  [Gr.  fywiWs, 
belonging  to  heroes.]  (Med.)  Violent,  as  opposed 
to  mild,  benignant. 

Heron-shaugh,  -shaw  (Egret.)  [Shaugh,  or 
shaw,  a  -wood.]  1.  A  wood  where  herons  breed. 
2.  The  heron.  (Handsaw. ) 

Herpes.  [Gr.  epirrjs,  from  fpira>,  I  creep.] 
(Med.)  A  skin-disease,  with  clustered  vesicles 
on  an  inflamed  base,  ending  in  desquamation ; 
not  contagious. 

Herpes  zoster.  [Gr.  CCWTT^P,  a  girdle.]  The 
shingles  [L.  cingulum,  a  girdle],  vesicular  patches 
of  which  usually  go  about  half-way  round  the 
waist. 

Herpetology.  [Gr.  epirerov,  a  reptile,  \6yos, 
an  account.]  The  science  of  reptiles,  the  third 
class  of  vertebrates,  cold-blooded,  with  nucleated 
corpuscles,  never  provided  with  gills.  Dr. 
Gunther  classifies  them  as  follows  : — 

Orders.  Examples* 

•  T.  Ophidia  [Gr.,     Serpents, 
dim.  of  6'^><$,  a 
serpent}. 

2.  Lacertllia    [L.     Lizards, 
lacerta,    a    li- 
zard}. 

3.  Rhyncocepha-    The  Hatteria,  Tua- 
llna  [Gr.  ^1/7x05,      tara  of  New  Zea- 
a  snout,  Ke<i>u\>],      land    (one     gen. 

.     a  head].  one  spec.). 

4.  Crocodilla.  Crocodiles. 


Sub-classes. 


[.  Squamata  [L., 
scaly}. 


5.  Cheloma  (q.v.).  Tortoises. 


II.  LorIcata[L., 
provided  with 
a  breastplate\. 

III.  Cataphracta 
(Gr.  KaraQpaKT 
dad  in  full 
armour\. 

Herring-bone  masonry.  In  Arch.,  masonry 
with  rows  of  stones  or  bricks  laid  sloping  in 
different  directions  in  alternate  rows. 

Herschell.    (Planet. ) 

Hership.  (Scot.  Law.}  The  crime  of  forcibly 
carrying  off  cattle. 

Hervarar  Saga.     (Saga.) 

Hesperides,  Gardens  of  the.  (Myth}  A  region, 
much  like  that  of  Elysium  (Elysian),  where  the 
nymphs  called  by  this  name  keep  the  golden 
apples  given  to  Hera  on  the  day  of  her  marriage. 

Hessian.  1.  A  hireling,  a  mercenary  poli- 
tician, a  fighter  for  pay.  Derived  from  the  tra- 
ditional dislike  toward  the  Hessian  soldiers 
employed  by  England  against  her  American 
colonies  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  (Bartlett's 
Americanisms).  2.  A  half-boot,  with  tassels. 


HESY 


250 


HIEK 


Hesychasts.  [Gr.  yo-vxcurrat.]  The  Quietists 
of  Mount  Athos.  (Barlaamites.) 

Hetseria.  [Gr.  eraipfia.]  A  Greek  word,  de- 
noting way  association.  In  Mod.  Hist.,  it  belongs 
to  two  societies,  which  had  much  to  do  with  the 
liberation  of  Greece  from  the  power  of  the  sultan.' 

Hetero-.     [Gr.  crepos,  other,  different.] 

Heterocercal,  Homocercal.  [Gr.  erepos,  other, 
different,  dp.6s,  the  same,  Kfpicos,  tail]  (ZooL  and 
Geol.}  In  existing  fishes,  the  tail  is,  1,  simple, 
e.g.  eel ;  or  bifurcate,  e.g.  roach  ;  or  rounded, 
e.g.  gilt-head  ;  these  all  being  Horn.  Or  it  is,  2, 
Het.,  i.e.  unequally  bilobate,  e.g.  shark,  ray, 
sturgeon,  i.e.  not  symmetrical,  the  vertebrae  run- 
ning along  the  upper  lobe.  All  strata  older 
than  Oolite  have  Het.  only;  in  and  above 
Oolite  are  mostly  Horn.  (Ichthyology.) 

Heteroclite.  [Gr.  €rtp6K\~iros,  differently  de- 
clined] (Gram.)  1.  A  term  applied  to  terminal 
forms  which  have  a  different  declension  from  the 
form  to  which  they  are  referred,  as,  L.  jug£ra, 
neut.  plu.  (third  decl.)  of  jugerum  (second 
decl.),  an  acre.  2.  A  noun  variously  declined, 
i.e.  having  forms  of  different  declensions,  as, 
domus,  house,  domo,  domos  (second  decl.), 
domibus,  domus  (fourth  decl.). 

Heterodynamio  words.  Spelt  alike,  but  [Gr. 
€Tfpo-5vvaiJ.os]  of  different  power  or  meaning  ;  as 
school  [L.  schola],  and  school  of  whales  [A.S. 
sceol] ;  Fr.  louer  [L.  locare],  and  louer  [L. 
laudare]. 

Heterogeneous.  [Gr.  erepos,  other,  ytvos, 
kind,  gender.}  1.  Different  in  kind,  having 
elements  or  component  parts  of  different  kinds. 
2.  (Gram.)  Nouns  varying  in  gender,  as  L. 
tapes  (masc.),  tapete  (neut.),  a  carpet. 

Heterogenesis.  [Gr.  IVepos,  different,  76- 
vfffis,  production.]  The  production  of  offspring 
very  unlike  to  the  parent,  and  showing  no  ten- 
dency to  revert  to  the  parental  type. 

Heterographio.  [Gr.  eVcpos,  other,  ypafyw, 
I  write.}  Using  the  same  combinations  of 
written  letters  to  express  different  sounds,  as 
English  spelling  does,  according  to  which  -ough 
stands  for  seven  different  sounds — e.g.  in  \>ough, 
though,  \\\\ough,  ihoroitgh,  cough,  enough,  ottght. 

Heteroptera.     (Heirtptera.) 

Hetman.  [Russ.  ataman,  Ger.  hetmann.]  A 
Cossack  commander  or  chief. 

Heurtoir.  [Fr.,  from  heurter,  to  strike,  rttn 
counter  to.]  (Mil.)  A  piece  of  timber  laid 
along  the  head  of  a  platform  to  prevent  the 
wheels  of  the  gun-carriage  from  damaging  the 
interior  slope  of  the  parapet. 

Hexachord.  [Gr.  «='|,  six,  xopW,  string] 
(Music.)  A  series  of  six  notes. 

Hexagon.    (Polygon.) 

Hexagonal  system.  [Gr.  e£dyuvos,  hexagonal.] 
In  Crystallog.,  a  name  sometimes  given  to  the 
rhombohedral  system  (q.v.). 

Hexahedron.     (Polyhedron.) 

Hexameter.    (Pentameter.) 

Hexapla.  [Gr.,  sixfold.]  (Theol.)  The  com- 
bination of  six.  versions  of  the  Old  Testament  by 
Origen,  viz.  the  Septuagint,  those  of  Aquila, 
Theodotion,  and  Symmachus,  one  found  at 
Jericho,  and  one  at  Nicopolis. 


Hexastich.  [Gr.  e£o(rnxos.]  A  piece  of 
poetry  of  six  lines. 

Heybote.     (Haybote.) 

Heyloed.  A  burden  laid  on  tenants  for  repair 
of  fences. 

Hiatus.  [L.,  a  gaping,  a  cleft.]  1.  (Pros.) 
A  meeting  of  vowels,  concursus  vocalium,  as 
in  ille^amat.  2.  In  Lit.,  a  missing  passage  in 
the  MS.  of  an  author. 

Hiawatha.  The  hero  of  N. -American  In- 
dian civilization  such  as  it  is  or  was  ;  his  legend 
is  told  by  Longfellow. 

Hibernacle.  [L.  hibernaculum,  'winter  quar- 
ters] A  protection  or  shelter  during  winter. 

Hibernate.  [From  p.  part,  of  hibernare,  to 
pass  the  winter]  1.  To  winter.  2,  To  pass 
the  winter  in  repose  or  seclusion,  like  bears,  etc. 

Hibernicism.  [Hibernia,  L.  for  Ireland]  An 
Irish  mode  of  expression,  an  Irish  bull. 

Hie  et  ubique.     [L.]     Here  and  everywhere. 

Hie  jacet.  [L.]  Here  lies ;  beginning  of 
many  Latin  epitaphs. 

Hickory.  [L.  juglans,  walnut]  (Bot.)  The 
wood  of  several  spec,  of  H.,  a  gen.  of  N.- Ame- 
rican trees,  allied  to  walnut.  Ord.  Juglandaceae. 

Hickory,  Old.  General  Jackson,  President  of 
U.S. 

Hie  ver  assiduum.  [L.]  Here  is  perpetual 
spring  (Virgil). 

Hie  victor  cestus  artemque  repono.  [L.] 
Here  on  my  victory  I  give  rip  my  cestus  (q.v.)  and 
my  art  (Virgil) ;  quoted  in  reference  to  retire- 
ment from  active  pursuit  of  an  art  or  profession. 

Hidage.  A  tax  formerly  paid  to  the  sovereign 
on  every  hide  of  land. 

Hidalgo.  [Sp.  hijo  d'algo,  son  of  somebody] 
An  obsolete  title,  which  denoted  Spanish  noble- 
men of  the  lower  class.  (Grandee.) 

Hidden  fifths;  H.  octaves.  (Music.)  A  se- 
quence like  in  character  to  consecutive  fifths, 
octaves,  and  giving  to  the  ear  almost  the  im- 
pression that  they  have  been  actually  played, 
when  they  have  not.  (For  a  full  explanation,  see 
examples  given  in  theoretical  works  on  music.) 

Hidebound.  1.  (Anat.)  Morbidly  tightened 
in  skin.  2.  (Bot.)  Bark  bound  ;  the  bark  not 
swelling  enough  with  the  growth  of  the  tree. 
3.  (Met.)  Close,  harsh,  penurious. 

Hide  of  land.  [L.L.  hida.]  A  measure  of 
variable  size ;  (?)  120  acres,  or  100,  or  even 
much  less  ;  at  first,  probably,  =  enough  for  one 
household  ;  A.S.  hid,  or  higid,  being  another 
term  for  hiwisc ;  cf.  A.S.  hiwan,  domestics 
(Skeat,  Etym.  Diet]. 

Hidgild,  Hidegild.  Money  (Gild)  paid  by  a  vil- 
lein or  servant  to  save  his  hide  (skin)  a  whipping. 

Hidrosis.  [Gr.  iSpow,  I  sweat]  (Med.)  Ex- 
cessive perspiration. 

Hiemation.  [L.  hiematio,  -nem,  a  wintering.] 
Shelter  from  the  cold  of  winter. 

Hieratic.  [Gr.  iepariK6s,  priestly]  The  sa- 
cerdotal style  of  Egyptian  writing,  especially  on 
papyri,  half-way  between  hieroglyphics  and  a 
syllabarium,  or  alphabet.  (Demotic.) 

Hierocracy.  [Gr.  lepos,  sacred,  Kpareca,  f 
rule]  Government  by  ecclesiastics,  as  in  Jeru- 
salem after  the  Captivity. 


HIER 


251 


HIPP 


Hieroglyphics,  [Gr.  !fpay\v<j>iK6s,  from  "epos, 
sacred,  and  y\v<)>w,  I  engrave.]  Sculpture-writ- 
ing, or  writing  by  pictures,  in  which  ideas  are 
represented  by  visible  subjects.  The  likenesses 
of  these  objects  were  in  course  of  time  modified, 
until  they  assumed  the  forms  of  letters  in  the 
Phoenician,  Greek,  and  Roman  alphabets. 

Hierogram.  [Gr.  Iep6s,  sacred^  yp<Wio,  written 
letter,  from  ypaQw,  I  write.]  A  specimen  of 
hieratic  or  hieroglyphic  writing. 

Hierology.  [Gr.  i<p6s,  sacred,  \6yos,  an 
account.]  The  study  of  sacred  writings,  espe- 
cially of  Egyptian  inscriptions  and  other  writings. 

Hieromnemon.  [Gr.]  In  Gr.  Hist.,  the  name 
of  one  of  the  two  deputies  sent  to  the  Amphi- 
ctyonic  Council  by  each  city  belonging  to  the 
confederacy. 

Hieronymites.  A  religious  order,  with  St. 
Jerome  [L.  Hieronymus]  for  its  patron,  and  fol- 
lowing him  in  fixing  their  convents  in  moun- 
tainous and  solitary  positions. 

Hierophants.  [Gr.  IfpoQavr-fis,  a  shower  of 
sacred  things.]  (Hist.")  The  title  of  the  priests 
who  initiated  candidates  at  the  Eleusinian 
Mysteries. 

Higgle.  \_Cf.  haggle,  cut  in  pieces,  from 
hack.]  1.  To  hawk  provisions.  2.  To  carry  on 
petty  discussion  over  a  bargain. 

High  and  Low  Dutch.  The  Teutonic  dialects 
spoken  by  the  German  peoples  on  the  upper  and 
lower  course  of  the  Rhine.  English,  as  having 
been  brought  to  this  country  from  Anglia,  Fries- 
land,  and  Jutland,  is  a  Low  German  dialect. 

High-Wowing.  In  some  horses,  a  habit  of 
forcible  and  rapid  expiration ;  not  to  be  con- 
founded with  roaring. 

High  Celebration.  The  celebration  of  the 
Eucharist  with  full  apparatus  of  choir  and  music, 
known  in  the  Roman  Church  as  High  Mass, 
in  distinction  to  Low  Mass,  or  celebration  by 
the  priest  alone  with  a  single  attendant. 

High  Commission,  Court  of.  (Hist.)  A  court 
erected  by  Elizabeth,  without  power  to  fine  or 
imprison.  Under  Charles  I.  it  became  a  court 
for  trying  ecclesiastical  offences  of  all  kinds,  and 
was  abolished  by  the  Long  Parliament. 

Highfaluten,  Highfaluting.  [Amer.]  High- 
flown  language,  bombast.  There  can  be  little 
doubt  of  its  derivation  from  "  highflighting  " 
(Bartlett's  Americanisms).  It  is  also  used  in 
East  Anglia. 

Highfliers.  A  nickname  given  to  the  bigoted 
and  extreme  maintainers  of  the  doctrine  of  pas- 
sive obedience,  in  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century. 

High  German.  [Ger.  HochDeutsch.]  (Lang.) 
The  dialects  of  S.  Germany ;  opposed  to  Lew 
German  [Platt  Deutsch]  of  N.  Germany,  the 
Netherlands,  and  England. 

High-low.     A  boot  just  covering  the  ankles. 

High  Mass.     (High  Celebration.) 

High-pressure  steam.     (Steam.) 

Hight.  [Pres.  tense  and  pass.  part,  of  A.S. 
hatan,  to  call,  name,  be  named ;  cf.  Ger.  heiszen, 
to  call,  name,  be  said,  mean,  Goth,  haitan,  O.  N. 
heita  ;  the  past  tense  is  hote.]  Called,  named. 

Hikenhilde  Street.    Heykenylde  Strete,  from 


St.  David's,  by  Worcester,  Wycombe,  Birming- 
ham, Lichfield,  Derby,  Chesterfield,  York,  to 
Tynemouth. 

Hilary  Term.  One  of  the  legal  English  terms, 
appointed  by  statute  to  begin  on  the  nth  and 
end  on  the  3ist  of  January ;  so  called  from 
January  13  being  a  black  letter  day  in  remem- 
brance of  Hilary,  Bishop  of  Poitiers,  circ.  350  A.  D. 

Hilum.  [L.]  (Bot.)  The  scar  on  a  seed 
when  separated  from  the  placenta. 

Himyaric  inscriptions.  Inscriptions  found  in 
Arabia,  in  the  oldest  form  of  the  language 
spoken  in  S.  Arabia. 

Himyaritic.  (Lang.)  Name  of  dialects  of 
S.W.  Arabia  ;  not  now  spoken. 

Hinc  illse  lacrimae.     [L.]     Hence  those  tears. 

Hind,  Hine.  [O.E.  hina,  a  male  domestic.] 
(Agr.)  A  farm  labourer  hired  by  the  year.  He 
hires  at  the  yearly  fair  one  or  more  bondagers 
(females),  who  keep  house  for  him,  and  whose 
services  he  lets  to  the  farmer.  Hinds  with  girls 
of  their  own  are  now  preferred,  and  extra 
women-workers  are  hired  by  the  farmer  direct. 

Hindi.  (Lang.)  Dialect  of  the  Hindus  of  the 
north-west  provinces  of  India,  akin  to  Sanskrit 
(Indo-European),  but  much  corrupted,  and  mixed 
with  Persian  words. 

Hindley's  screw.  An  endless  screw,  the 
threads  of  which  are  cut  on  a  solid  whose  sides 
are  terminated  by  arcs  of  the  same  radius  as  that 
of  the  toothed  wheel  with  which  it  works  ;  in 
this  machine  several  teeth  are  at  work  at  once, 
and  the  pressure  on  each  is  diminished  by  being 
distributed. 

Hindustani.  (Lang. )  Speech  of  the  Hindus, 
also  called  Urdu ;  a  variety  of  Hindi,  with  an 
admixture  of  Arabic  and  Persian.  The  modern 
Aryan  dialects  of  India  are  roughly  classed  as 
Hindi,  Mahratti,  Bengalee. 

Hinny.  The  offspring  of  the  horse  and  the 
ass. 

Hipped  roof.  (Arch.)  A  roof  in  which  two 
sides  at  least  must  intersect. 

Hippo-.  [Gr.  '/TrTro-,  horse.]  Part  of  names,  as 
hippo-centaur. 

Hippocampus  [from  resemblance  to  Gr.  Iinr6- 
Ka/uTTov,  a  sea-horse],  Major  and  Minor.  (Anat. ) 
Two  long,  curved  eminences  or  convolutions  of 
the  brain. 

Hippocras.  Aromatic,  medicated  wine,  vlnum 
Hippocratis.  (Hippocrates,  a  Greek  physician, 
fifth  century  B.C.) 

Hippocratic  face;  i.e.  described  by  Hippo- 
crates. That  seen  in  death,  or  after  long  illness 
or  excessive  hunger  ;  pale,  sunken,  contracted, 
with  pinched  nose,  hollow  temples,  eyes  sunken. 

Hippocrene.  [Gr.  bnroKtfiw,  a  horse-foun- 
tain.] A  fountain  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Helicon, 
supposed  to  have  been  laid  bare  by  the  hocf  of 
the  horse  Pegasus.  (Muses.) 

Hippodrome.  [Gr.  !inr65poij.os.~\  (Arch.)  A 
place  for  horse  exercise.  The  most  celebrated 
hippodromes  were  those  of  Olympia  and 
Constantinople.  (Circus.) 

Hippogryph,  Hippogriff.     A  fabulous  animal, 
partly  horse  [Gr.   ftnros],  partly  grijfin 
a  winged  horse. 


HIPP 


252 


HOLO 


Hippophagy.  [Gr.  '/TTTTOS,  a  horse,  ^ayetv,  to 
eat.}  The  eating  of  horseflesh. 

Hippurite.  (Geol.)  1.  Fossil  plant  of  the  coal- 
measures,  resembling  the  common  Mare's-tail 
[Gr.  lirirovpis]  of  stagnant  waters.  2.  A  large 
coarse  shell  of  the  chalk,  related  to  chema. 

Hirst,  Hurst.  (Geog.)  A  -wood,  especially  as 
part  of  names,  as  in  Chisel-hurst. 

Hirsute.  [L.  hirsutus,  hair ;  <f.  horreo,  7 
bristle,  am  horrid,  Eng.  grisly,  Ger.  grau, 
horrible.}  Hairy,  snaggy. 

Hispanicism.  [L.  Hispanus,  Spaniard.}  A 
Spanish  mode  of  speech. 

Histology.  [Gr.  terr^y,  a  loom,  \6yos,  dis- 
course.] (Anat.  and  Bot.}  The  description  and 
classification  of  tissues. 

Histriomastix.  A  title  coined  by  Prynne,  a 
barrister  of  Lincoln's  Inn  [from  the  L.  hister, 
histrio,  an  actor,  and  Gr.  p.ayri^,  a  scourge\,  for  a 
treatise,  published  in  1634,  against  stage-plays, 
dancing,  and  public  amusements  generally. 

Histrionic  [L.  histrio,  an  actor}  affection.  A 
spasmodic  affection  of  the  muscles  supplied  by 
the  facial  nerve. 

Histrionic  art.  A  name  for  the  dramatic  art, 
from  the  old  Etruscan  word  hister,  an  actor. 

Hitch.  (Naut.)  A  knot  by  which  ropes  are 
joined  together  and  made  fast.  There  are 
many  kinds.  (Knot.) 

Hithe.  [A.S.  hydh.]  Port,  landing-place, 
especially  as  part  of  names ;  as  Green-hithe, 
Lambeth  (Lamb-hithe). 

Hitopadesa.  [Skt,  a  friendly  instructor.}  A 
collection  of  fables,  commonly  called  by  the 
name  of  Bidpai,  or  Pilpay.  Part  of  this  collec- 
tion, under  the  title  Calila  and  Dimna,  has  found 
its  way  into  Europe. 

Hobble-de-hoy.     (Hoyden.) 

Hobbler.  [A.S.  hobeler.]  1.  A  man  of  Kent, 
a  "hoveller,"  partly  smuggler,  partly  unlicensed 
pilot.  2.  A  man  who  tows  a  vessel  from  shore. 
3.  One  who  watches  a  beacon.  4.  (Leg.)  A 
feudal  tenant,  bound  to  serve  as  a  light  (hobby) 
horseman  or  bowman. 

Hobby.  [Dan.  hoppe,  a  mare,  Fris.  hoppa  ; 
cf.  L.  caballus,  a  nag.}  1.  A  nag.  2.  A 
horse's  head  on  a  stick.  3.  A  subject  or  plan 
which  one  is  always  riding,  as  a  child  might 
a  toy  horse. 

Hobiler.  [(?)  Cf.  hobin,  an  ambling  horse, 
hobil,  a  light,  qiiilted  surcoat  (?),  hobby,  a  small 
horse  (?).]  ^  Light  cavalry  soldier— fourteenth 
century  to  sixteenth  century — armed  with  lance, 
and  mounted  on  a  small  horse ;  principally 
employed  on  reconnoitring  duties.  (Hobbler.) 

Hobson's  choice.  A  case  admitting  of  no 
alternative,  choice  between  one  thing  and  no- 
thing. (From  Hobson,  a  Cambridge  horse- 
dealer,  who  would  not  let  out  any  horse  out  of 
its  regular  turn.) 

Hoc  age.  [L.]  Do  this,  attend  to  this,  very 
nearly  i.q.  "  Attention  !  " 

Hoc  erat  in  votis.  [L.]  This  is  what  he 
kept  wishing  for ;  as,  e.g.  a  busy  man  might 
desire,  and  at  length  obtain,  literary  leisure. 

Hoc  jiivat  et  melli  est.  [L.]  This  pleases 
and  is  as  honey. 


Hock,  Hough.  [A.S.  hoh,  the  heel,  the  ham.} 
The  joint  between  the  knee  and  the  fetlock,  in 
a  horse's  hind  leg.  Hock-joint,  the  hinge  formed 
by  tibia  and  astragalus. 

Hocketter,  Hocqueteur.  A  knight  of  the  post, 
a  decayed  man,  a  basket-carrier  (Cowell). 

Hocus.  1.  To  drug,  especially  with  narcotics  ; 
of  liquor.  2.  To  cheat,  hoax. 

Hocus-pocus.  [Said  to  be  corr.  of  L.  hoc  est 
corpus,  this  is  the  body,  in  the  Canon  of  the 
Mass.]  A  piece  of  trickery. 

Hodge.  [Corr.  of  Roger.}  1.  Gammer  Gur- 
ton's  goodman.  2.  Any  simple  rustic. 

Hodgepodge,  Hotchpotch.  [Fr.  hochepot, 
shake-pot.}  A  mixture  of  divers  ingredients,  a 
medley,  a  farrago,  olla  podrida. 

Hodograph.  [Gr.  656s,  a  way,  ypd^w,  I 
draw.}  The  diagram  of  the  velocity  of  a  moving 
point.  If  a  line  fixed  at  one  end  is  always 
parallel  to  the  direction,  and  has  its  length  pro- 
portional to  the  velocity  of  the  motion  of  the 
point,  its  moving  end  traces  out  the  H. 

Hog,  Hoggaster,  Hoggerel,  Hogget.  (Sheep, 
Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Hogden.     (Hoyden.) 

Hogging.     (Naut.)     (Arching.) 

Hog-in-annour.     (Naut.)    An  iron-clad. 

Hogmanny  [Said  to  be  from  Norm.  Fr. 
au  gui  menez,  lead  to  the  mistletoe.}  The  Scotch 
name  for  the  last  night  of  the  year. 

Hogshead.  A  measure  of  capacity.  The 
hogshead  of  wine  is  63  gallons.  The  word  is 
often  used  vaguely  for  any  large  cask  containing 
wine ;  thus  the  H.  of  hock  is  30  gallons ;  of 
claret,  46  gallons  ;  of  tent,  52  gallons. 

Hog- wallow.  [Amer.]  On  some  of  the 
Western  prairies,  but  particularly  those  in  Texas, 
the  ground  has  every  appearance  of  having  been 
torn  up  by  hogs  ;  hence  the  name. — Bartlett's 
A  mericanisms. 

Hoist.  (Natit.)  The  perpendicular  height  of 
a  sail  or  flag  ;  in  the  latter  opposed  to  the  /7j', 
i.e.  its  breadth  horizontally  from  the  mast. 

Hoisting.  (ATaut.)  Taking  up  a  command, 
as  admiral.  H.  the  pendant,  commissioning  a 
ship. 

Hold.  (Naut.}  The  interior  of  a  vessel, 
between  the  floor  and  lower  deck,  in  a  war-ship. 
That  portion  of  a  vessel,  below  the  deck,  con- 
structed for  carrying  cargo,  in  a  merchant-ship. 

Hold  on  the  slack.     (Naut.)     Do  nothing. 

Hold  water,  To.  (Naut.)  In  rowing,  to  hold 
the  oar  in  the  water,  as  if  stopped  in  the  middle 
of  a  stroke. 

Holibut.     (Halibut.) 

Holiday,  (Naut.)  Any  part  left  unpainted, 
untarred,  or  the  like. 

Hollock.  A  sweet  wine  used  in  the  sixteenth 
century. 

Holograph.  [From  Gr.  o\os,  whole,  all,  and 
yp&Qw,  I  write.}  (Scot.  Law. )  A  deed  entirely 
in  a  grantor's  handwriting,  held  valid  without 
witnesses. 

Holothuroidea.  [Gr.  6\o6ovpiov,  a  kind  of 
zoophyte,  e/5os,  appearance.}  Sea  -  cucumbers., 
Trepangs,  Beches-de-mer.  (Zool.)  Ord.  of  worm- 
like,  leathery-coated  Echlnodermata.  One  spec., 


HOLS 


253 


HOMO 


Holothuria  argus,  is  a  Chinese  delicacy.  Sub- 
kingd.  Annul 6'ida. 

Holster.  [D.,  O.H.G.  hulst,  a  saddle.}  A 
leathern  case  for  pistols,  carried  in  the  front  of 
the  saddle. 

-holt.  [A.S.,  Ger.  holz,  a  wood.}  The  ending 
of  the  names  of  many  places  in  England  which 
were  originally  in  the  forests.  (Hurst.) 

Holy  Alliance,  The.  A  league  of  the  chief 
sovereigns  of  Europe,  formed  after  the  defeat  of 
Napoleon  at  "Waterloo.  It  became  practically 
an  engagement  to  uphold  all  existing  govern- 
ments. 

Holy  Coat  of  Treves.  A  coat  kept  at  Treves, 
which  is  said  to  be  the  garment  worn  by  Christ 
at  the  Crucifixion.  Many  coats,  for  which  the 
same  claim  is  made,  are  kept  in  other  places. 

Holy  Maid  of  Kent.    (Nun  of  Kent.) 

Holy  Rood,  or  Holy  Cross,  Feast  of  the.  The 
commemoration  of  the  exaltation  of  the  cross, 
September  14,  in  the  calendar  of  the  Latin 
Church. 

Holystone.  (Naut.)  A  kind  of  sandstone 
used  to  clean  and  whiten  the  decks. 

Holy  Thursday.    Ascension  Day. 

Homage.  [L.L.  homagium,  the  service  of 
the  matt  or  vassal  of  a  feudal  chief.]  The 
act  acknowledging  feudal  dependence.  Liege 
homage  was  rendered  to  the  person  of  the  sove- 
reign, and  could  not  be  renounced ;  simple 
homage  bound  the  vassal  only  while  he  held  a 
fief. 

Home  Circuit  (Leg.),  or  South- Eastern  Cir- 
cuit^ —  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Essex,  Herts,  Surrey, 
Kent,  Sussex.  (Circuits.) 

Home  Counties.     (Circuits.) 

Homeric  poems.  A  title  generally  used  to 
denote  the  Iliad  and  Odyssey,  and  the  hymns  in 
honour  of  Apollo,  Hermes,  and  other  Hellenic 
deities  and  heroes. 

Homerids.  [Gr.  6/j.itpiSai.]  A  family  or  guild 
of  poets  or  rhapsodists  of  Homeric  poetry,  in 
Chios,  claiming  personal  descent  from  Homer. 

Home  Kule  (vide  Fortnightly  Review,  Feb- 
ruary, 1880).  A  scheme  which  proposes  a 
national  Parliament — Queen,  Irish  Lords,  and 
Irish  Commons — legislating  for  and  regulating 
all  internal  affairs  of  Ireland,  with  full  control 
over  Irish  resources  and  revenues  ;  under  con- 
dition of  contributing  a  just  proportion  to  im- 
perial expenditure;  the  Imperial  Parliament 
alone  dealing  with  foreign  and  colonial  ques- 
tions, and  the  defence  of  British  possessions. 

Home  Rulers.  Those  who  wish  to  carry  out 
the  scheme  of  Home  Rule. 

Homesoken.     (Hamesucken.) 

Hominy.  [N.-Amer.  Ind.  auhuminea,  parched 
corn.}  Crushed  maize  cooked  by  boiling. 

Homo-.  [Gr.  6/j.6s,  the  same.}  One  and  the 
same. 

Homocercal.  [Gr.  6fjt6s,  the  same,  Kfpicos,  a 
tail.}  (Ichtk.)  Having  a  tail  consisting  of 
symmetrical  lobes,  as  the  perch.  (Heterocercal.) 

Homoeo-.     [Gr.  o/noios,  like} 

Homoeopathy.  A  systam  of  treatment  which 
professes  to  remedy  by  setting  up  a  similar 
affection  [Gr.  '6/j.oiov  irdBos],  so  as  to  assist  nature 


rather  than  combat  disease.  Its  motto  is  "  Si- 
milia  similibus  curantur." 

Homogangliate.  [Gr.  6/j.os,  one  and  the  same, 
ydyy\tov,  a  plexus  of  the  nerves.}  (Biol.)  Having 
the  nervous  system  arranged  symmetrically. 

Homogeneous.  [From  Gr.  6/j.6s,  same,  yevos, 
kind.}  1.  Having  the  same  nature,  similarly 
constituted.  2.  Consisting  of  identical  or  similar 
constituent  parts  or  elements. 

Homographic.  [From  Gr.  6/j.6s,  same,  yp&tyu, 
I  write}  Expressing  the  same  sound  always  by 
the  same  distinctive  sign  ;  said  of  certain  systems 
of  spelling.  Opposed  to  Theterographic. 

Homoioptoton.  [Gr.  6ftoi6irrcarwt  with  similar 
(O/J.QIOS)  cases  (irrdbffeis).]  (Rhet.)  The  ending 
of  consecutive  clauses  with  words  in  the  same 
case  or  inflexion  generally. 

Homoiousion.  [Gr.  6fj.oiov<Tios,  from  OJJLOIOS, 
like,  ov<ria,  substance,  essence.}  A  term  assert- 
ing the  likeness  of  substance  in  the  Son  and  the 
Father,  which  some  Arians  wished  to  substitute 
for  the  term  Homoousion  [6fj.6s,  the  same}. 
(Anomoeans.) 

Homoiozoic  zones.  Belts  on  the  earth's  sur- 
face, marking  similar  [Gr.  opoios]  forms  of 
animal  life  [faov,  an  animal}. 

Homologate.  [From  L.L.  homologare,  from 
Gr.  buoXoyw,  to  agree.}  (Scot.  Law.)  To  ratify 
an  act  previously  void,  voidable,  or  defective. 

Homologous.  (Math.)  In  a  proportion,  the 
antecedents  of  the  ratios  (i.e.  first  and  third 
terms)  are  like  or  H.  terms ;  and  so  are  the  con- 
sequents (i.e.  second  and  fourth  terms).  The 
corresponding  sides  of  similar  figures  are  H. 
because  they  would  enter  the  proportions  formed 
between  the  sides  as  H.  terms,  i.e.  two  similar 
sides  would  be  both  antecedents  or  both  con- 
sequents. 

Homologue.    (Analogue.) 

Homology.  (Comp.  Anat.  and  JBot.)  Corre- 
spondence or  equivalence  of  certain  parts  with 
reference  to  an  ideal  type  or  to  similar  parts, 
homologues,  in  other  organisms  ;  e.g.  arm,  wing, 
seal's  fore  foot.  (Analogue.) 

Homomorphous.  [From  Gr.  0^6$,  same,  fiop(p^, 
shape.}  Similar  or  identical  in  shape. 

Homonymous.  [Gr.  d/juavvnos,  from  6p6s, 
same,  ovofj.a,  name}  Having  different  meanings  ; 
said  of  a  word  used  more  than  once,  or  of  either 
of  two  words  identical  in  sound  but  differing  in 
sense,  as  "  the  being  of  a  being;  "  fee  —  re- 
muneration, for  faihu,  head  of  cattle  ;  fee=  estate, 
for  feodum. 

Homonymy.     (Metaphor.) 

Homoousion.  [Gr.]  The  term  in  the  Nicene 
Creed,  asserting  the  consubstantiality  of  the  Son 
with  the  Father.  (Homoiousion.) 

Homophagy.  Misspelling  for  Omophagy 
[Gr.  u/j.o<payia],  the  eating  of  raw  flesh  \ufj.6s, 
raw,  and  <paye?i',  to  eat}. 

Homophones.  [Gr.  d/udcpuvos.]  In  Lang., 
words  or  syllables  having  the  same  sound, 
although  written  with  various  combinations  of 
letters.  Such  words  abound  especially  in  some 
monosyllabic  languages  of  Asia. 

Homoptera.  [Gr.  d^os,  one  and  the  same, 
itrep6v,  a  wing.}  (Hemiptera.) 


HOMO 


254 


HORN 


Homo  sum ;  human!  mini  a  me  alienum  puto. 
[L.]     /  am   a  man;   I  think   nothing  human  \ 
•void  of  interest  to  myselj. 

Homo  trium  llterarum.  [L.]  A  man  of 
three  letters,  i.e.  fur  [L.],  a  thief. 

Homo  unius  libri.  [L.]  A  man  </,  one 
book. 

Homunculus.  [L.]  A  little  man;  dim.  of 
homo. 

Honey-dew.  1.  (Bot.}  A  clammy,  saccharine 
substance,  on  the  leaves  and  stems  of  some  trees 
and  herbaceous  plants;  the  sap  of  the  plant, 
flowing,  probably,  from  the  punctures  of  aphids, 
etc. ;  probably,  also,  from  other  causes,  as  the 
ruptured  tissue;  in  warm,  dry  weather.  It  falls, 
sometimes,  in  drops,  abundantly.  2.  An  exu- 
dation of  aphids  themselves,  different  from  but 
mingling  with  that  of  the  plant. 

Hong.  [Chin.]  A  mercantile  house  or  fac- 
tory in  Canton,  for  foreign  trade,  or  a  national 
department  therein. 

Honi  soit  qui  mal  y  pense.  [Fr.]  Shame  be 
to  him  who  thinks  ill  of  it ;  motto  of  the  Order 
of  the  Garter. 

Hondrarium.  [L.,  a  fee.]  The  word  is  often 
used  delicately,  to  avoid  the  actual  mention  of 
money  (post-class.  =  a  present,  a  douceur,  given 
by  one  admitted  to  some  post  of  honour}. 

Honorarium  jus.  (Civ.  Law.}  The  law  of 
the  praetors  and  the  edicts  of  the  sediles  of 
ancient  Rome. 

Honour.  [L.  honor  em.]  1.  (Leg.}  A  seigniory 
of  several  manors  held  under  one  baron  or  lord 
paramount.  2.  At  Whist,  the  ace,  king,  queen, 
or  knave  of  trumps.  3.  (Com.}  To  H.  a  bill  or 
cheque,  etc.,  to  admit  the  claim  of  the  drawer, 
or  the  drawee. 

Honour  point.    (Escutcheon.) 

Honours  of  war.  (Mil. }  Vanquished  troops, 
when  permitted  to  march  out,  carrying  their 
arms  with  them,  from  a  besieged  town,  drums 
beating  and  colours  flying,  are  said  to  have 
capitulated  with  H.  of  W. 

Hood-moulding.  (Arch.}  The  moulding  which 
throws  off  the  rain  from  tracery  or  protects  it 
from  dust.  (Dripstone.) 

Hookah.  [Ar.  hukkah.]  An  Oriental  tobacco- 
pipe,  with  a  long  flexible  stem  from  the  mouth- 
piece to  a  closed  vessel  containing  water,  into 
which  the  stem  from  the  bowl  passes,  so  that  the 
smoke  is  drawn  through  the  water.  It  is  an 
elegant  form  of  Hubble-bubble. 

Hooker,  or  Howker.  (Naut.}  1.  A  small 
fishing  or  pilot  boat.  2.  An  endearing  term  for 
one's  ship,  as,  "  My  old  hooker." 

Hooke's  law.  The  fact  that,  initially,  the 
elongations  of  elastic  bodies  are  proportional  to 
the  forces  producing  them. 

Hookland.  Land  ploughed  and  sown  every 
year. 

Hooped  guns.  (Mil.}  First  system  on  which 
large  guns  were  constructed,  of  staves,  hooped 
together  with  metal  rings  like  a  cask. 

Hope.     [Perhaps  a  Celt,  word.]     A  valley. 

Hoplites.  [Gr.  6n\iTai,  from  otr\a,  arms.] 
(Hist.)  The  heavy-armed  infantry  of  the  Greek 
armies.  (Phalanx.) 


Hoppo.  [Chin.]  A  collector,  an  overseer  of 
commerce. 

Horae.  [L.,  Gr.  &pai.]  (Myth.}  The  god- 
desses (i)  of  the  seasons,  (2)  of  the  hours  of  the 
day. 

Horary  circle.     (Circle.) 

Horas  numero  non  nisi  serenas.  [L.]  j. 
count  but  the  sunny  hours  ;  a  motto  for  a  sun- 
dial. 

Horde.  The  Tartar  word  denoting  the  en- 
campment of  the  nomadic  tribes. 

Hordeolum.  [L.  hordeolus,  a  stye  in  the  eye, 
dim.  of  hordeum,  barley. ~\  (Med.}  A  stye. 

Horizon  [Gr.  6pifav,  defining,  limiting],  Ap- 
parent ;  Artificial  H. ;  Celestial  H. ;  Dip  of  the 
H. ;  Rational  H. ;  Sensible  H. ;  Visible  H.  The 
Rational  horizon  of  a  station  is  the  plane  drawn 
through  the  centre  of  the  great  sphere  at  right 
angles  to  the  direction  of  the  plumb-line  at  the 
station.  If  the  radius  of  the  earth  is  taken  to 
have  sensible  magnitude,  there  is  a  Sensible  //. 
parallel  to  the  former,  and  passing  through  the 
station.  The  circle  in  which  these  planes  cut 
the  great  sphere  is  the  Celestial  H.,  or  the 
Horizon.  The  circle  which  bounds  the  visible 
part  of  the  earth  or  ocean  is  the  Visible  or 
Apparent  H.,  and  is  sometimes  called  the  Sen- 
sible H.  (For  Dip  of  the  H.,  vide  Dip.)  An 
Artificial  H.  is  a  little  trough  of  mercury.  An 
observer  measures  the  angle  between  a  star  and 
its  image  formed  by  reflexion  in  the  mercury, 
and  thus  obtains  the  double  altitude  of  the  star. 

Hornbeam.  (Bot.}  A  tree,  with  a  hard  white 
wood,  much  used  by  turners,  wheelwrights,  etc., 
Carpmus  betulus,  ord.  Amentacese  ;  attaining 
great  height  and  beauty  in  some  parts  of 
Europe. 

Hornbill.  (Ornith.}  Isolated  fam.  of  birds, 
Buce'rotidse  [Gr.  Povttfpws,  ox-,  i.e.  huge-,  homed\, 
with  huge  bills  having  on  the  upper  mandible  a 
bony  excrescence,  in  some  spec,  nearly  as  large 
as  the  bill,  which  in  the  Rhinoceros  H.  is  ten 
inches  long.  Ord.  Plcarise. 

Hornblende.  [Ger.  horn,  horn,  blenden,  to 
dazzle^\  (Min.}  A  silicate  of  lime,  magnesia, 
iron,  and  manganese  ;  a  dark- green  or  black, 
lustrous  mineral,  frequent  in  syenitic  and  dioritic, 
trappean,  and  metamorphic  rocks;  with  horn- 
like cleavage. 

Horn-book.  A  child's  first  lesson-book  was 
once  a  thin  board,  about  the  size  of  a  slate,  on 
which  were  the  letters  of  the  alphabet,  the  Arabic 
numerals,  and  sometimes  the  Lord's  Prayer  ; 
protected  by  a  transparent  plate  of  horn. 

Horner,  Little  Jack.  Supposed  to  have  been 
sent  to  Henry  VIII. ,  by  the  Abbot  of  Glaston- 
bury,  with  a  pie  full  of  deeds  of  manors,  one  of 
which,  "a  plum,"  he  abstracted. 

Hornpipe.  1.  An  old  wind  instrument,  "of  the 
shawm  or  waits  character,"  the  open  end  or  bell 
of  which  was  sometimes  made  of  horn ;  but  it 
may  have  been  so  called  from  its  curved  shape  ; 
called  in  Wales,  Cornwall,  Ireland,  and  Brit- 
tany, the  Pib-corn,  pib  or  piob  being  i.q.  pipe, 
and  corn  being  i.q.  horn.  2.  A  dance  of  English 
origin ;  called  from  the  instrument  played.  — 
Stainer  and  Barrett,  Dictionary  of  Music. 


HORN 


255 


HOUR 


Horns.  \Cf.  L.  cornu,  Gr.  itepas,  Kf  paras.] 
(Antlers.) 

Horns  of  a  dilemma.  A  metaphor  for  grave 
practical  difficulties  when  of  two  or  more  courses 
of  action  both  or  all  appear  equally  imprudent 
or  dangerous ;  borrowed  from  the  argument  so 
called,  in  Logic  [Gr.  8i\i)/j.fj.a],  in  which  an 
adversary  is  caught  between  two  difficulties. 

Hornstone.  (Geol.)  A  variety  of  compact 
quartz ;  hornlike  as  to  appearance  and  degree 
of  transparency. 

Hornwork.  (Fortif.)  Outwork  consisting  of 
two  half-bastions  connected  by  a  curtain,  with 
long  branches  directed  for  defence  on  the  faces 
of  a  work  in  rear  of  it. 

Horoscope.  [From  Gr.  &pa,  a  time,  a  season, 
and  ffKovfw,  /  observe.]  1.  The  sign  of  the 
Zodiac  rising  at  the  time  of  a  child's  birth, 
2.  A  figure  of  the  twelve  signs  of  the  Zodiac, 
wherein  was  marked  the  position  of  the  heavens 
at  the  time  of  the  child's  birth,  from  which 
astrologers  made  predictions  as  to  his  fortunes 
in  after  life. 

Horoscopy.    The  calculation  of  nativities. 

Horresco  referens.    [L.]    I  tremble  as  1  relate. 

Horror  of  a  vacuum.  An  imaginary  prin- 
ciple by  which  the  action  of  pumps,  siphons, 
suckers,  etc.,  was  thought  to  be  accounted  for ; 
the  real  explanation  being  the  pressure  of  the 
atmosphere.  The  theory  was  Aristotle's. 

Hors  de  combat.  [Fr.]  Out  of  the  combat, 
disabled  from  action. 

Hors  d'oauvres.  [Fr.]  From  a  meaning  of 
accessory,  not  essential,  1.  The  lesser  details 
in  a  painting  of  figures.  2.  Sometimes,  side- 
dishes. 

Horse-.  As  a  prefix,  =  large,  coarse,  of  its 
kind,  as  H.-play,  -laugh,  -mint,  -muscle, 
-mackerel,  i.e.  the  scud  ;  so  Ox-,  as  Ox-hunger, 
-daisy ;  compare  Gr.  tiriro-  and  &ov-. 

Horse.  (Naut.)  1.  A  foot-rope  fastened  at 
both  ends  of.  and  hanging  below,  a  yard,  for 
the  men  to  stand  on  when  reefing,  etc.  2. 
Various  large  ropes  in  the  running  rigging.  3. 
The  iron  bar  across  the  deck  on  which  the 
sheets  of  a  fore-and-aft  sail  travel.  4.  A  cross- 
piece,  upon  standards,  on  which  booms,  boats, 
etc.,  are  lashed. 

Horse-furniture.  (Mil.)  The  caparison  of  a 
military  horse. 

Horse  latitudes.  Those  between  the  westerly 
winds  and  trade-winds,  i.e.  in  the  tropics,  ap- 
proximately ;  subject  to  long  calms. 

Horse-power ;  Actual  H. ;  Indicated  H. ;  No- 
minal H.  A  unit  for  estimating  the  rate  at 
which  an  agent  works.  It  works  with  one 
horse-power  when  it  performs  33,000  foot- 
pounds of  work  per  minute.  The  Nominal  H. 
of  a  steam-engine  is  estimated  by  its  dimensions. 
The  Actual  or  Indicated  H.  is  that  of  the  steam 
on  the  piston  in  the  actual  working  of  the  engine, 
and  is  ascertained  by  the  steam-indicator. 

Hortative.  [L.  hortatlvus,  from  horto,  / 
advise}  (Gram.)  Expressive  advice  or  exhor- 
tation ;  term  given  to  what  used  to  be  called 
the  imperative  use  of  the  Latin  subjunctive 
mood. 


Hortus  siccus.  [L.,  a  dry  garden.}  A  col- 
lection of  plants  or  botanical  specimens,  dried 
and  pressed  ;  a  herbarium. 

Horus,  Hor  Apollo.     (Harpocrates.) 

Hosanna.  [Heb.,  save,  I  beseech  thee.}  A 
word  much  used  by  the  Jews  in  their  Hosanna 
Rabba,  or  Feast  of  Tabernacles. 

Hose.  [A.S.  hose.]  (Printing.)  A  case  con- 
nected by  hooks  with  the  platin,  for  keeping  it 
horizontal  and  lifting  it  from  the  forme. 

Hospitaller.  [L.L.  hospitalarius.]  One  resid- 
ing in  a  monastery,  to  receive  strangers  and  the 
poor.  Knights  H.,  a  religious  order,  formerly 
settled  in  England,  founded  circ.  A.D.  1092, 
who,  to  protect  and  provide  for  pilgrims,  had 
built  a  hospital  at  Jerusalem  ;  much  favoured  by 
Godfrey  of  Bouillon  and  Baldwin  of  Jerusalem  ; 
called  also  1C.  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  K.  of 
Rhodes  (1310)  after  settling  there,  and  after  loss 
of  R.,  K.  of  Malta,  where  the  chief  of  the 
order  still  existing  under  this  title  resides. 
(Orders,  Religious.) 

Hospodar.  [Slav.]  An  officer  formerly  ap- 
pointed by  the  sultan  for  the  government  of 
the  Christian  principalities  of  Moldavia  and 
Wallachia. 

Host.  [L.  hostia,  a  victim.}  In  the  Latin 
Church,  the  Eucharistic  elements  after  conse- 
cration. 

Hostel.  [L.L.  hospitalis,  from  hospes,  a 
stranger,  or  guest}  1.  A  place  of  lodgment  for 
students  at  the  universities.  2.  A  detached 
building  forming  part  of  a  college. 

Hostiarius.  The  title  of  the  second  master  in 
some  endowed  schools,  as  at  Winchester.  If 
the  word  be  another  form  of  L.  ostiarius,  a 
door-keeper,  the  modern  usher  may  be  derived 
from  it. 

Hotblast.  A  current  of  heated  air  driven  by 
blowers  into  a  furnace. 

Hotchpotch.    (Hodgepodge.) 

Hot-cockles.  A  game  in  which  one  is 
blindfolded,  and  guesses  who  strikes  him  or 
touches  his  hand  \cf.  Fr.  game  main  chaud,  hot 
hand}. 

Hotel  de  ville.     [Fr.]     Town  hall,  city  hall. 

Hotel  Dieu.  [Fr.,  hostel  of  God.}  The  prin- 
cipal hospital  in  a  French  city. 

Hot-pressed.  Pressed  while  heat  is  applied, 
so  as  to  receive  a  glossy  surface. 

Hound-fish.  (fchth.)  Smooth-hound,  Ray- 
mouthed  dog.  A  small  British  shark,  about 
eighteen  inches  long  ;  eatable.  Squalus  mus- 
telus,  fam.  Carchariidae  [Gr.  Kapxapias,  a  kind 
of  shark,  Kapx^pos,  jagged],  ord,  Plaglostom&ta, 
sub-class  Cnondropterygii. 

Hour-angle ;  H.-circle ;  H.-line ;  H.  of  longi- 
tude ;  H.  of  right  ascension  ;  Sidereal  H. ;  Solar 
H.  The  twenty-fourth  part  of  a  solar  day  is  a 
Solar  hour  ;  of  a  sidereal  day,  a  Sidereal  H.  The 
H.~angle  of  a  heavenly  body  at  any  instant  is 
the  angle  at  the  instant  between  the  meridian 
and  the  declination  circle  of  the  heavenly  body. 
The  H. -lines  on  a  sun-dial  indicate  the  hour  of 
the  day  when  the  shadow  of  the  style  coincides 
with  them.  An  H.  of  longitude  or  of  right 
ascension  is  merely  15°;  thus,  longitude  2  hrs. 


HOUR 


256 


HUMA 


15  mins.  E.  is  the  same  as  longitude  33°  45'  E. 
(For  H.-circle,  vide  Circle.) 

Houri.  [Ar.  hur  al  oyun,  black-eyed.}  A 
Mohammedan  nymph  of  paradise;  "a  higher 
and  purer  form"  of  which  idea  "  we  see  in  the 
Valkyries  of  Norse  Myth.,  who  guide  to  the 
Valhalla  the  souls  of  all  heroes  dying  on  the 
battle-field."— Cox's  Aryan  Mythology. 

House.  1.  In  Astrology,  any  one  of  the 
twelve  parts  into  which  the  whole  circuit  of  the 
heavens  was  divided  by  astrologers.  2.  (Naut.) 
To  enter  "within  board."  To  H.  an  upper 
mast  is  to  lower  it  and  to  secure  its  heel  to  the 
lower  mast.  To  H.  a  gun  is  to  run  it  in  and 
secure  it.  7b  H.  a  ship  is  to  cover  it  with  a 
roof  when  laid  up.  Housed  in,  built  too  narrow 
above,  "pinched." 

House-boat.  One  fitted  with  cabins,  and 
suited  for  towing  only. 

Housebote.  (Leg. )  An  allowance  of  wood  to  a 
tenant  for  repairs  and  fuel ;  also  called  Estovers. 

House-carls,  or  Thinga-men.  (ffist.)  A  force 
embodied  by  the  Danish  Cnut,  King  of  Eng- 
land, receiving  regular  pay,  and  forming  the 
germ  of  a  standing  army.  Under  Cnut  they 
may  be  regarded  as  a  sort  of  military  guild,  with 
the  king  at  their  head. — Freeman,  Norman 
Conquest. 

Household  Troops,  or  the  Guards.  Six  regi- 
ments :  three  of  cavalry — 1st  and  2nd  Life 
Guards,  and  the  Horse  Guards,  or  Oxford 
Blues ;  and  three  of  infantry — Grenadiers,  Cold- 
stream,  and  Scots  Fusiliers. 

Housel.  [A.S.  husul,  offering.']  The  conse- 
crated bread  in  the  Eucharist. 

Housemaid's  knee.  From  kneeling  on  hard, 
damp  stones  ;  inflammation  of  the  bursa,  or  sac, 
between  the  knee-pan  and  the  skin,  resulting  in 
the  effusion  of  fluid. 

House  of  Keys.  In  the  Isle  of  Man,  an  as- 
sembly, composed  of  twenty-four  principal  com- 
moners of  the  island,  having  both  a  legislative 
and  a  judicial  character. 

Housing,  or  House-line.  (Naut.}  Line, 
smaller  than  rope-yarn,  and  used  for  swinging 
blocks,  etc.  H.  of  a  lower  mast,  the  part 
below  deck.  H.  of  a  bowsprit,  the  part  within 
the  knight-heads. 

Houyhnhnms.     (Gulliver's  Travels.) 

Hove.  1.  (Naut.}  H.  dcwn,  or  out,  i.q. 
careened.  H.  off,  got  clear  of  the  ground.  //. 
up,  hauled  up  into  a  slip,  etc.,  on  a  gridiron. 
//.  in  sight,  just  come  into  view.  H.  in  stays, 
position  of  a  vessel  in  the  act  of  going  about. 
H.  short,  when  the  cable  is  taut.  H.  -well 
short,  when  a  vessel  is  nearly  over  her  anchor. 
H.  to  —  brought  to,  etc.  2.  (Agr.)  Used  of 
cattle  swollen  with  eating  green  food. 

Howadji.     [Ar.]     Traveller,  merchant. 

Howdah.  [Hind,  haudah.]  A  seat  for  one  or 
1  more  on  the  back  of  an  elephant  or  camel. 

Howe,  How.  \Cf.  haugh,  Norse  haugr,  mound, 
M.H.G.  houc,  Ger.  hiigel,  hill.}  A  hill. 

Howel.  [Fr.  hoyau,  a  mattock.}  A  tool  used 
for  smoothing  the  inside  of  a  cask. 

Howitzer.  [Ger.  haubitze.]  (Mil.)  Short, 
light  kind  of  ordnance,  with  a  chamber,  used 


principally  for  projecting  shells  nearly  horizon- 
tally. 

Howling  dervishes.  (Dervise;  and  see 
Catherine  and  Craufurd  Tait,  p.  516.) 

Hoy.  [Dan.  hoy,  Ger.  heu.]  (Naut.}  A 
vessel  carrying  goods  and  passengers  from  point 
to  point  along  a  coast,  or  to  and  from  ships. 

Hoyden.  A  clownish,  ill-bred  girl ;  originally 
applied,  and  more  frequently,  to  men  ;  the  same 
word  as  heathen  [D.  heyden],  lit.  dwellers  on 
the  heath,  rough,  wild.  (See  Trench,  Select 
Glossary.) 

Hub.  [Ger.  hub,  heaving.}  The  central  part 
of  a  wheel. 

Hubble-bubble.     (Hookah.) 

Hub  of  the  Universe.  Wendell  Holmes's  name 
for  Boston  State- House.  Hub  =  protuberance, 
nave  of  a  wheel. 

Huckaback.  A  kind  of  linen  with  raised 
figures  on  it,  for  table-cloths  and  towels, 

Huddock,  The.  The  cabin  of  a  keel,  or  coal- 
barge. 

Hudibras,  Sir.  Presbyterian  knight ;  S.  But- 
ler's poem  (1663),  ridiculing  Puritan  doctrine 
and  manners 

Hue  and  Cry.  1.  An  ancient  process  for  the 
pursuit  of  felons,  which  the  common  law  pro- 
vided, and  may  still  make  use  of,  as  it  seems, 
although  unnecessary  in  these  days.  2.  Gazette 
published  by  authority,  containing  the  names  oi 
deserters,  persons  charged  with  crime,  and  other 
particulars  of  police  news. 

Hufkyn.  [(?)  Ger.  hauptchen,  dim.  of  haupt, 
head.}  Iron  skull-cap  formerly  worn  by 
archers. 

Huggins,  Muggins.  Names  implying  preten- 
tious vulgarity. 

Huginn  and  Muninn.  In  Teut.  Myth.,  the 
two  ravens  who  sit  on  the  shoulder  of  Odin,  as 
symbols  of  wisdom  [from  the  words  hugr, 
thought,  and  munr,  mind,  as  in  Menu;  Minerva ; 
Minos ;  and  man}. 

Hubertsburg,  Peace  of.     (Seven  Years'  War.) 

Huguenots.  [Perhaps  from  Ger.  eidgenossen, 
oath-associates,  corr.  into  Eignots.}  A  distin- 
guishing name  of  French  Protestants  from  the 
time  of  Francis  I. 

Huissier.  [Fr.,  from  L.  ostiarius,  door- 
keeper} (Leg.}  The  usher  of  a  court. 

Hulk.  [A.S.  hulce.]  (Naut.}  Usually  an 
old  vessel  unfit  to  go  to  sea,  used  for  stores, 
etc.  ;  e.g.  a  Sheer  H.,  one  fitted  with  sheers  (q.v.}. 

Hull.  [A.S.  hule.]  (Naut.}  The  body  of  a 
ship,  without  masts,  etc.  To  H.,  (i)  to  hit  with 
shot ;  (2)  to  drift  without  rudder,  sail,  or  oar. 
To  strike  H.,  to  take  in  all  sails,  and  lash  the 
helm  a-lee  ;  called  also  70  lie  a-hull.  Hull  to ^ 
situation  of  a  ship  lying  a-hull.  Hull-dcnvn, 
said  of  a  ship  when  .only  masts  and  sails  are 
above  the  horizon. 

Hulsean  Lectures.  Originally  twenty,  now 
eight,  sermons  delivered  yearly  at  Cambridge, 
under  will  of  Rev.  J.  Hulse  (A.D.  1777). 

Hum.  A  cloudy  appearance  on  well-annealed 
glass. 

Humanitarians.  A  name  for  Arians,  as  be- 
lieving Christ  to  be  a  mere  man. 


HUMA 


257 


HYAL 


Humanum  est  errare.   [L.]  //  is  hitman  to  err. 

Humble  Access,  Prayer  of.  The  first  prayer 
in  the  Canon  in  the  Eucharistic  Office. 

Humble-bee.     (Bombidae.) 

Humectation.     [L.  humectatio,  -nem,  irriga- 
tion^   The  steeping  of  a  medicine   in  water; 
the  application  of  moistening  remedies. 
(      Humeral.     Connected  with  the  shoulder  [L. 
1  humerus]. 

Humetty.  (Her.)  Having  those  parts  cut 
off  which  would  touch  the  edges  of  the 
escutcheon. 

Hummelling  barley.  Removing  the  awn  from 
the  grain  after  threshing,  by  a  hummeler,  a  set 
of  blunt  knives  passing  frequently  through  the 
grain. 

Humming-bird  moth,  Macroglossa  stellatdtum 
[Gr.  fjLaKp6s,  long,  y \Sxro a,  tongue,  L.  stellatus, 
set  with  stars}.  (Entom.)  A  moth  with  pro- 
boscus  long  enough  to  suck  the  honey  from 
flowers  without  alighting.  Fam.  Sphingidse. 

Hummums,  Hammams.  [Ar.  hammam,  bath.'] 
Baths,  especially  Turkish. 

Humour.  [L.  humdrem.]  Galen  and  later 
physicians  believed  the  human  temperament  to 
be  made  up  of  the  choleric,  the  phlegmatic,  the 
sanguine,  and  the  melancholy ;  and  the  tem- 
perament of  the  individual  to  be  caused  by  the 
prevalence  of  one  or  other  of  these  humours 
over  the  others. 

Humphrey,  Duke.    (Duke  Humphrey.) 

Hundred.  (Eng.  Hist.)  A  division  of  a 
county,  for  the  administration  of  justice.  (Court- 
baron;  Court-leet;  Wapentake.) 

Hundred  Days,  The.  In  Fr.  Hist. ,  the  time 
\vhich  elapsed  between  the  return  of  Napoleon 
to  France  from  Elba,  and  his  defeat  at  Waterloo, 
1815. 

Hundredor.  A  man  of  a  hundred,  fit  to  serve 
on  a  jury,  liable  for  damage  caused  by  felonious 
rioting. 

Hundredweight.  One  hundred  and  twelve 
pounds. 

Hundred  Years'  War.     (Salic  law.) 

Hungary  water.  A  distilled  water  from  rose- 
mary flowers. 

Hunger  traces.  Lines  of  depression  across 
the  nails,  the  result  of  want  of  food,  or  of 
deficient  nutrition  of  nail-tissue  during  some 
previous  disease. 

Hunks.     A  miser,  a  niggard. 

Hunter,  Hunting  watch.  A  watch  having  its 
glass  protected  by  a  metallic  cover. 

Hunter's  screw.  A  kind  of  differential  screw. 
(Differential.) 

Hunting  cog.  When  two  toothed  wheels  are 
to  work  together,  the  larger  wheel  is  commonly 
made  to  have  one  tooth  more  than  the  just 
number,  to  prevent  the  same  teeth  continually 
working  together  ;  this  extra  tooth  is  the  H.  C. 

Huntingdonians.  Members  of  the  Countess 
of  Huntingdon's  connexion,  formed  by  George 
Whitefield  when,  after  his  separation  from  the 
Wesleys,  he  became  her  chaplain. 

Hunt's  up.  Noisy  music  in  the  early  morn- 
ing, like  that  which  rouses  to  a  hunting  expe- 
dition. (Aubade.) 


Hurdy-gurdy.  An  old  instrument  of  four  gut 
strings,  set  vibrating  by  a  resined  wheel,  to 
which  a  handle  is  attached  ;  two  strings  forming 
a  drone  bass  ;  the  other  two,  acted  upon  by  keys 
pressing  them  at  different  lengths,  giving  the 
tune. 

Hurly-burly.  [From  O.E.  hurl,  tumult.] 
Tumult,  commotion. 

Hurricane.  [A  Carib.  word  huracan,  whence 
Sp.  huracan,  Fr.  ouragan,  etc.]  A  storm  com- 
mon in  the  W.  Indies,  in  which  the  wind  is 
furious  and  liable  to  sudden  changes  of  direction. 

Hurricane-deck.  A  light  deck  above  the 
others.  Hurricane-house,  any  temporary  build- 
ing on  deck. 

Hurst,  Hirst.  A  word  with  the  same  meaning 
as  Holt  in  the  names  of  places  in  England. 

Hurtle.  [Fr.  heurter,  to  strike.]  To  clash, 
to  rush  noisily. 

Husband,  or  Ship's  husband.  (Naut.)  An 
agent  to  receive  money,  retain  claims,  make 
payments,  advance,  and  lend,  in  matters  relating 
to  the  vessel ;  but  not  to  insure  or  borrow. 

Husgable.  (Leg.)  House  rent  (Gabel)  or 
tax. 

Hushing.  Damming  up  water  and  then  letting 
it  rush  down  so  as  to  lay  bare  new  surfaces  of 
ore. 

Hush-money.  A  bribe  to  prevent  the  giving 
of  inconvenient  information. 

Hussites.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Followers  of  John 
Huss,  of  Bohemia,  a  very  zealous  advocate  of 
Wyclif's  opinions  (A.D.  1407)  ;  burnt  alive  (A.D. 
1415)  by  decree  of  the  Council  of  Constance. 

Hussy.  [Huswif,  housewife.}  A  pert  or 
worthless  girl. 

Hustings.     (Hus-thing.) 

Hus-thing.  [AS.,  from  hus,  house,  thing, 
assembly,  or  council.]  (Eng.  Hist.)  A  court 
held  in  a  house,  as  distinguished  from  one  held 
in  the  open  air.  Anciently  the  chief  municipal 
court  of  the  City  of  London.  Hence,  incor- 
rectly, the  modern  Hustings.  (Thing.) 

Hutchinsonians.  The  followers  of  Hutchinson, 
who,  rejecting  Newton's  theory  of  gravitation, 
maintained  the  existence  of  a  plenum. 

Huttonian  or  Plutonic  theory  (Dr.  H.,  died 
1797)  accounts,  by  internal  heat,  for  the  eleva- 
tion of  strata,  and  many  other  phenomena  ;  the 
Wernerian  (Werner,  of  Saxony,  died  1817)  or 
Neptunian  theory  supposes  a  universal  dissolu- 
tion and  suspension  of  mineral  substances  in 
water. 

Hyades.  [Gr.  vciSes,  from  ue/j>,  to  rain.] 
(Myth.)  Daughters  of  Atlas,  who  wept  so 
violently  on  the  death  of  their  brother  Hyas 
that  the  gods  took  them  to  heaven,  where  they 
form  a  cluster  of  five  stars  on  the  face  of 
Taurus.  (Pleiades.) 

Hyaline.  [Gr.  vS.\1vos,  crystal,  of  glass.]  1. 
Crystal,  glassy.  2.  A  crystal  surface,  as  of  the 
sea. 

Hyalltis.  [Gr.  ffaAos,  glass.]  (Med.)  In- 
flammation of  the  vitreous  humour  of  the  eye. 

Hyalography.  [Gr.  vaXos,  glass,  ypdQw,  I 
•write.]  The  art  of  engraving  on  glass. 

Hyalotype.     [Gr.    va\os,  glass,   TUTTO?,   type.] 


HYBR 


258 


HYGR 


A  positive  photograph  on  glass,  copied  from  a 
negative. 

Hybrid.  [L.  hybnda,  hibrida.]  1.  Produced 
by  mixture  of  species  or  genera ;  mongrel,  as  a 
mule.  2.  Compounded  of  elements  belonging 
to  different  languages  ;  said  of  a  word,  as  demi- 
god. 

Hycsos.    (Shepherd  kings.) 

Hyd.     (Hide  of  land.) 

Hydatid.       [Gr.     vSaris,    a    watery    vesicle.] 

1.  Morbid  cysts  in  various  parts  of  the  body. 

2.  Cyst-like  entozoa. 

Hyde.  (Hide  of  land.)  A  measure  of  land. 
Its  contents  are  uncertain. 

Hydr-,  Hydro-.  [Stem,  in  composition,  of 
Gr.  vSfi>p,  water.} 

Hydra.  [Gr.  v8pa,  a  water-serpent ;  so  named 
from  its  reproduction  by  artificial  division,  as  the 
Lernaean  hydra  produced  two  heads  for  every  one 
cut  off.]  1.  (ZooL)  Gen.  and  ord.  of  fresh- water 
polypes,  consisting  of  a  tube  with  tentacles  at 
one  end.  It  is  reproduced  sexually  and  by 
budding,  and,  if  artificially  divided,  every  seg- 
ment becomes  a  perfect  polypite.  Sub-kingd. 
Ccelenterata.  2.  (Myth..)  A  monster  supposed 
to  infest  the,  marshes  of  Lerna.  As  fast  as  one 
head  was  cut  off  by  Heracles  (Hercules),  two 
sprang  up,  until  the  hero  cauterized  the  necks. 
The  story  probably  refers  to  the  bubbling  up 
and  drying  away  of  springs  in  marshes. 

Hydrant.  [Gr.  vdpaiw,  I  irrigate]  A  pipe 
or  spout  by  which  water  may  be  drawn  from  the 
mains. 

Hydrargyrus.    [Gr.  ttpdpyvpos.]    Quicksilver. 

Hydraulic  cement.  [Gr.  i/8pav\iK6s,  pertaining 
to  a  water.organ]  A  cement,  containing  silicate 
of  aluminia,  and  hardening  under  water. 

Hydraulic  press ;  called  .also  the  Hydrostatic 
P.  and  Bramah'sP.  A  machine  in  which  the 
force  applied  to  a  small  piston  is  transmitted 
through  water  to  a  large  piston  ;  as  the  pressure 
per  unit  of  area  is  the  same  in  both  cases,  the 
whole  pressure  on  the  large  piston  is  to  that  on 
the  small  piston  in  the  ratio  of  their  areas.  The 
principle  of  the  machine  was  known  to  Pascal ; 
it  was  practically  realized  by  Bramah,  who 
invented  a  leather  collar  which  enables  the 
pistons  to  work  water-tight. 

Hydraulic  ram.  A  machine  in  which  the 
momentum  produced  by  the  fall  of  a  stream  from 
a  small  height  is  made  to  raise  a  small  column 
of  water  to  a  much  greater  height. 

Hydraulics.  (Hydraulic  cement.)  As  com- 
monly used,  is  the  science  of  the  motion  of  water 
in  pipes,  canals,  etc.,  i.e.  under  the  circumstances 
in  which  the  science  subserves  the  purposes  of 
engineering.  (Hydrodynamics.) 

Hydro-.     (Chem.)     (Hydr-.) 

Hydro-carbons  are  naphtha,  petroleum,  asphalt, 
bituminous  substances  generally  ;  as  being  com- 
posed of  hydrogen  and  carbon  in  some  propor- 
tion or  other. 

Hydrodynamics.  [Gr.  vSap^s,  watery,  Svvafus, 
power.}  Commonly  means  the  theory  of  the 
motion  of  fluids.  Sometimes  used  as  a  general 
term  for  the  science  of  the  effects  of  force  applied 
to  a  fluid  medium,  the  subdivisions  being 


Hydraulics,  or  Hydrokinetics,  when  the  fluid  is 
in  motion,  Hydrostatics  when  it  is  at  rest. 

Hydrography.  [Gr.  v8ap-f)s,  watery,  ypd&w,  1 
describe.]  The  branch  of  geography  which  relates 
to  the  construction  of  maps  of  the  boundaries  of 
land  and  water,  and  of  the  configuration  of  land 
below  water  as  indicated  by  soundings,  whether 
in  the  deep  sea,  in  shoal  water,  or  in  rivers. 

Hydro  kinetics.     (Hydrodynamics.) 

Hydromancy.  [Gr.  vSpofiavris,  a  water- 
prophet]  Divination  by  water,  of  which  there 
seem  to  have  been  many  modes. 

Hydromel.  Honey  [Gr.  ^ueAi]  diluted  with  water. 

Hydro-metallurgy.  [Gr.  vSwp,  water,  and 
metallurgy.]  Assaying  or  reducing  ores  by  liquid 
reagents. 

Hydrometer.  [Gr.  vSapfo,  watery,  perpov, 
measure.}  An  instrument  which  indicates  the 
specific  gravity  of  a  liquid  by  the  depth  to  which 
it  sinks,  or  by  the  weight  required  to  sink  it  to 
a  certain  depth,  in  that  liquid. 

Hydropathy.  Water-cure,  =  the  treatment  of 
disease  [Gr.  irdOos,  affection]  by  cold  water,  out- 
wardly and  inwardly. 

Hydroscope.  [Gr.  v5u>p,  water,  tr/con-clv,  to 
look.}  The  same  as  Hygrometer. 

Hydrostatic  balance ;  H.  paradox ;  H.  press. 
A  balance  arranged  for  ascertaining  the  weight 
of  a  body  suspended  in  liquid,  the  balance  and 
weights  being  in  the  air.  H.  paradox,  the  ill- 
chosen  name  of  an  instrument  which  exhibits  the 
fact  that  a  comparatively  light  column  of  water 
can  support  a  heavy  weight  in  virtue  of  the 
fundamental  laws  of  the  transmission  of  pressure 
through  a  fluid.  (For  H.  press,  vide  Hydraulic 
press.) 

Hydrostatics.  The  science  which  treats  of  the 
equilibrium  of  fluids  under  the  action  of  forces, 
and  of  the  pressures  which  they  exert  on  or 
transmit  to  the  sides  of  the  vessels  containing 
them  or  the  surfaces  of  bodies  in  them.  (Hydro- 
dynamics.) 

Hydrotherapeutics  [Gr.  eepairevu,  I  treat  me- 
dically], i.q.  Hydropathy. 

Hydrothermal agency  (Geol.)  -  that  of  heated 
water  [Gr.  vSopfc,  watery,  Otpn6s,  hot}. 

Hydrozoa.  [Gr.  vSpa,  hydra,  faov,  an  ani- 
mal] (Zoo!.)  Class  of  Coelenterata,  of  which 
the  Hydra  (q.v.}  is  the  typical  form. 

Hydrus.  [Gr.  vSpos,  a  ^vater-serpent,  v^ap-^s, 
watery.]  (ZooL)  Gen.  of  fresh- water  snakes 
(Linnseus). 

Hyetograph.  [Gr.  forts,  rain,  ypd<pu,  I 
write.]  The  science  of  the  geographical  distri- 
bution of  rain. 

Hygieia.  [Gr.  vyieia,  health]  (Myth.}  The 
Greek  goddess  of  health,  the  daughter  of 
Asklepios,  or  ^Esculapius.  Hence  Hygiene,  the 
science  of  matters  relating  to  health  ;  by  some 
used  especially  of  diet,  and  generally  what  used 
to  be  called  non-nat^^rals  (q.v.)  of  the  sick. 

Hygiene.     (Hygieia.) 

Hygrometer.  [Gr.  vypos,  wet,  nerpov,  mea- 
sure.] An  instrument  for  ascertaining  the  pro- 
portionate amount  of  moisture  in  the  atmosphere. 
In  Daniell's  H.  the  measurement  is  effected  by 
an  observation  of  the  dew-point,  on  the  principle 


HYGK 


259 


HYPO 


of  the  cryophorus ;  in  De  Saussure's  H.,  by  the 
variations  in  the  tension  of  a  hair  in  different 
states  of  the  atmosphere. 

Hygrometric.  [Gr.  vyp6s,  wet,  fjuirpov,  mea- 
sure.} Showing  the  degree  of  moisture  in  the 
air ;  e.g.  the  H.  property  of  seaweed,  or  of  the 
Anastatica  (q.v.). 

Hygroscopic,  [Gr.  vypos,  wet,  ffiroKew,  I  be- 
hold.} Having  the  property  of  readily  imbibing 
moisture  from  the  atmosphere  and  thereby  serv- 
ing as  an  indicator  of  its  state  as  to  dry  ness  or 
dampness. 

Hymen.  [L.,  Gr.  "f^v.}  (Myth.)  The  god 
of  marriage. 

Hymeneal.  Anything  relating  to  marriage 
(Hymen),  as  a  song  or.an  ode. 

Hynienmm.  [Gr.  vptviov,  dim.  of  v^v,  a 
membrane.']  (Bot. )  The  membrane  of  the  gills 
of  fungi,  where  the  spores  are  placed. 

Hymeno-.     [Gr.  v^v,  v^vos,  a  membrane.} 

Hymenoptera.  [Gr.  vnev6-irT*pos,  membrane- 
winged.}  (Entom.)  Ord.  of  insects  with  mem- 
branous wings,  as  bees ;  ovipositor  frequently 
modified  into  a  saw,  an  awl,  or  a  sting. 

Hynden.  An  association  of  ten  men,  from 
whom,  in  case  of  deadly  feud,  the  consacramen- 
tals  (sworn  avengers  of  blood)  were  chosen.  H. 
were  subdivisions  of  firth -guilds. 

Hyo'id  bone.  (Anat.)  Between  the  root  of 
the  tongue  and  the  larynx ;  in  appearance  [Gr. 
€?5os]  somewhat  like  the  Greek  letter  u. 

Hypaethral.  [Gr.  vnaiQptos,  from  vvu,  under, 
tuftfip,  air.}  (Arch.)  A  building  or  temple  not 
covered  by  a  roof. 

Hypallage.  [Gr.  vTroAAayr?,  a  change.}  In 
Gram,  and  Rhet. ,  an  inversion  in  which,  while 
the  same  sense  is  conveyed,  the  predicates  are 
transferred  from  their  proper  subject  to  another  ; 
as,  "  Dare  classibus  austros,"  to  give  wind  to  the 
fleets  (Virgil),  instead  of,  to  give  the  ships  to  the 
wind. 

Hypapante.  The  Greek  name  for  the  Purifi- 
cation of  the  B.V.  Mary ;  the  meeting  [Gr. 
vircnravT'fi,  post-class.]  of  Simeon  and  Anna  with 
our  Lord. 

Hypaspist.  [Gr.  fara<nr«rr^s,  from  uW,  under, 
cwnris,  shield}  A  shield-bearer. 

Hyper-.  [Gr.  vir4p,  L.  s-iiper,  Skt.  upar-i, 
Goth,  ufar,  Eng.  over,  Ger.  iiber,  over,  above.} 
1.  Gr.  prefix,  denoting  over,  beyond,  or  excess, 
as  in  hyper-critical,  overcritical.  2.  (Chem.) 
(Per-.) 

Hyperaemia.  (Med.)  Superabundance  of  blood 
[Gr.  aljua]  in  the  capillaries  ;  congestion. 

Hypereesthesia.     (Anaesthesia.)  * 

Hyperbaton.  [Gr.  virepfrarov,  from  virep,  over, 
and  root  of  fiaivo),  I  go.}  (Gram.)  A  reversing 
of  the  proper  natural  order  of  words  so  as  to 
separate  words  or  clauses  which  should  be 
together. 

Hyperbola.  [Gr.  virfpfax-fi,  excess,  from  vircp, 
over,  and  root  of  &d\\(o,  I  throw  (Ellipse).]  1. 
(Math.)  One  of  the  Conic  sections.  It  is  described 
by  a  moving  point,  the  difference  of  whose  dis- 
tance from  two  fixed  points  (its  foci)  is  always 
the  same  ;  it  consists  of  two  distinct  parts  con- 
tained within  the  opposite  angles  formed  by  two 


straight  lines ;  it  continually  approaches  but 
never  actually  meets  these  lines,  which  are  called 
its  asymptotes.  2.  (Rhet.)  An  exceedingly 
exaggerated  representation  of  one's  meaning,  as, 
"  He  is  able  to  pierce  a  corselet  with  his  eye  " 
(Shakespeare). 

Hyperbole.     (Hyperbola.) 

Hyperboreans.  [Gr.  ol  "firfp/Sopeioi.]  (Myth.) 
Literally,  those  who  dwell  beyond  Boreas,  or 
the  North  Wind,  a  region  supposed  to  be  much 
like  Elysium,  or  the  Gardens  of  the  Hesperides. 
Hence  Hyperborean  comes  to  mean  "happy." 
(Elysian.) 

Hypercatalectic.  [Gr.  vTt(pKa.ra\i]KT\K6s,  from 
v-jTfp,  over,  KaTaA.7j/cTt/cos,  catalectic  (q.v.).}  (Pros.) 
Having  a  syllable  or  two  beyond  the  stated 
metre  ;  said  of  verses. 

Hyperdulia.     (Dulia.) 

Hypericum,  [Gr.  virepeiKov  and  virepiKo?.} 
St.  John's  wort,  the  (only)  British  gen.  type  of 
ord.  Hypericinise. 

Hyperion.  [Gr.  "TVepjW.]  A  Greek  name 
for  the  sun  as  he  ascends  the  heavens  before 
noon. 

Hypermetrical.  [Gr.  uWp,  over,  nerpov,  mea- 
sure.] (Pros.)  Having  a  redundant  final  syl- 
lable, which  in  Latin  ends  in  a  vowel  or  in, 
and  is  elided  with  the  initial  vowel  of  the  next 
line. 

Hypertrophy.  [Gr.  Tpe<$xa,  I  nourish.}  1.  A 
condition  arising  from  greatly  increased  nutrition. 
2.  An  enlargement  of  any  part,  which  still  re- 
tains its  natural  organization  and  action. 

Hyphen.  [Gr.  v<p'  kv,  in  one}  A  short  line 
to  show  that  two  words  or  parts  of  words  are  to 
be  connected. 

Hypnotic  [Gr.  virvcariKds,  inclined  to  sleep} 
medicines.  Causing  sleep. 

Hypnotism  [Gr.  virv6<a,  I  put  to  sleep},  or 
Braidism  (discovered  by  Mr.  Braid).  Artificial 
somnambulism  ;  induced  by  gazing  for  several 
minutes  on  a  bright  object  near  to  and  just  above 
the  eyes. 

Hypo-.  [Gr.  vir6,  under,  (i)  in  point  of 
situation,  (2)  somewhat  in  degree.]  (Chem.) 
A  prefix  denoting  that  the  compound  contains 
less  oxygen,  as  hyponitrous  acid,  which  contains 
less  oxygen  than  nitrous  acid. 

Hypobole.  [Gr.  uirojSoA^,  from  fart,  under,  and 
root  of  fid\\(a,  2  throw}  (Rhet.)  Anticipation 
of  several  objections  to  one's  own  argument. 

Hypocaust.  [Gr.  virA-Kavarov}  (Arch.)  A 
chamber  of  hot  air  with  fire  [KCU'W,  /  burn} 
under  \inr6}  it. 

Hypochondria,  Hypochondriasis.  [Gr.  TO 
viroxovSpiov,  the  part  under  the  cartilage  (x«"8pos) 
of  the  breast-bone.]  Extreme  nervous  sensibility, 
with  symptoms  of  disordered  digestion,  much 
gloom  and  melancholy,  and  great  suffering  from 
imaginary  ailments ;  but  there  are  distinct 
varieties. 

Hypocycloid.    (Epicycloid.) 

Hypodermic.  [Gr.  VTTO',  beneath,  $€pp.a,  skin.} 
Existing  under  the  skin,  or  applied  there. 

Hypodiastole.  [Gr.  inroSia(rro\-n,  from  vird, 
under,  8ia<rro\-f},  diastole  (q.v.).}  A  mark  to 
distinguish  certain  Greek  pronouns  followed  by 


HYPO 


260 


1C 


an   enclitic,   as   T<J,T€,    8,Ti,  from  similar  com- 
pounds, as  r6re,  on. 

Hypogene  [Gr.  VTTO,  from  under,  yevvdw,  I 
produce}  (Geol.)  =  nether-formed;  granite, 
gneiss,  and  other  crystalline  rocks,  supposed 
never  to  have  been  formed,  or  at  least  to  have 
taken  their  present  aspects  at  the  surface. 
Obsolete  term. 

Hyportasis.  [Gr.  Wirracm.]  (Theol.)  The 
Greek  Fathers  use  this  word  to  denote  the  dis- 
tinct personality  of  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost.  The  Latin  Fathers  felt  themselves 
obliged  to  retain  the  word,  because  substantia, 
which  translates  it,  was  used  by  them  to  denote 
the  essence  or  being  common  to  each  of  the 
hypostases  of  the  Godhead. 

Hypostatic  union.  The  union  of  Christ's 
human  nature  with  ihe  divine ;  constituting  two 
natures  in  one  person. 

Hypotenuse.  [Gr.  ^  inroreivovao.,  the  subtend- 
ing line.]  The  side  of  a  right-angled  triangle 
opposite  to  the  right  angle.  Spelt  incorrectly, 
Hypothenuse. 

Hypothec.  [Gr.  \nroQi\Ki\,  pledge,  deposit, 
mortgage,  from  viro,  under,  and  root  of  TiOrj/ju,  I 
place}  (Scot.  Law.)  Security  in  favour  of  one 
creditor,  especially  a  landlord,  over  the  property 
of  his  debtor. 

Hypothecation.  (Hypothec.)  (Leg.)  The  act 
of  pledging  property  as  security  for  debt  or 
demand,  without  transfer  of  possession  of 
personal  property,  as  by  giving  bottomry  bonds. 

Hypothetical  baptism.  If  the  priest  cannot 
ascertain,  from  the  answers  of  those  who  bring 
a  child  to  baptism,  whether  it  has  been  really 
baptized  or  not,  he  is  to  baptize  it  hypothetically, 
or  conditionally,  saying,  ' '  If  thou  be  not  already 
baptized,  I  baptize  thee,"  etc. 

Hypotrophy.      [Gr.    £W,     under, 
nourish}     State  of  deficient  nourishment. 

Hypozoic.    (Neozoic.) 


Hypsometer ;  Hypsometry.  [Gr.  Ctyoy,  height, 
measure}  Hypsometry,  the  measure- 
ment of  heights ;  the  word  generally  implies 
that  the  measurement  is  effected  not  by  a 
triangulation,  but  by  a  portable  instrument  such 
as  an  aneroid  or  mercurial  barometer.  In  an 
Hypsometer,  advantage  is  taken  of  the  fact  that 
the  boiling  point  of  water  is  lowered  when  the 
atmospheric  pressure  is  reduced,  to  effect  the 
measurement  of  heights  by  observing  the  tem- 
perature of  the  boiling  point  of  water. 

Hyracoidea.  [Gr.  fya|  (Hyrax),  elSos,  kind} 
(Zool.)  Orel,  of  mammals,  containing  but  one 
gen.,  H^rax.  (Coney,  2.) 

Hyrax.  [Gr.  fy>a|,  L.  sorex,  whence  Fr. 
souris.]  (Coney,  2.)^ 

Hyssop.  [Heb.  ezob,  Gr.  vffatairos}  Exod.  xii. 
22,  and  elsewhere ;  probably  the  thorny  caper, 
Capparis  spinosa. 

Hysteria.  [Once  supposed  to  be  connected 
with  the  womb  (Gr.  vvrfpa.)}  (Med.)  Includes  a 
vast  number  of  symptoms  known  as  nervous  dis- 
orders, all  dependent  upon  a  peculiarly  suscep- 
tible state  of  the  nervous  system.  (Hysterical 
jjints.) 

Hysterical  joints.     (N euro-mimesis.) 

Hysteron-proteron.  [Gr.  vo-Tcpov-irpdrepov, 
latter-former}  (Rhet.}  Inversion  of  the  natural 
order  of  ideas  or  logical  propositions  ;  a  putting 
of  the  cart  before  the  horse. 

Hystrix.  [Gr.  vcrrpt£,  id}  (Zool.)  The  porcu- 
pine, giving  its  name,  Hystricidae,  to  the  fam.  of 
true  porcupines,  with  quills  generally  long  and 
hollow,  and  with  non-prehensile  tails.  S. 
Europe,  N.  Africa,  India,  China,  and  adjacent 
islands.  Ord.  RSdentia.  The  Cercolabidse, 
tree  porcupines,  of  America  are  a  closely  allied 
fam.,  but  Cercolabes  (S.  America)  has  a  pre- 
hensile tail. 

Hythe.  (JVaut.)  A  pier  or  wharf  for  loading 
or  unloading  at.  (Hithe.) 


I.  As  a  Roman  numeral,  denotes  I ;  and,  if 
placed  before  V  or  X,  it  diminishes  by  a  unit 
the  number  expressed  by  those  letters. 

Iambics.  [Gr.  fa,uj8os.]  Metres  in  which  the 
feet  are  chiefly  ^of  two  syllables,  of  which  the 
first  is  short,  as  amant. 

latro-.     [Gr.  ia.Tp6s.}     A  physician. 

Ibex  [L.],  Steinbeck  [Ger.],  Rock-goat. 
(Zool.}  Capra  ibex,  an  Alpine  and  Pyrenean 
spec.,  moderately  gregarious.  The  adult  male  is 
about  two  feet  eight  inches  high  at  the  shoulder ; 
reddish  brown  in  summer,  grey  in  winter ;  the 
horns  are  sometimes  three  feet  long.  Sub-fam. 
Caprlnse,  fam.  Bovidce,  ord.  Ungiilata. 

Ibidem.  [L.]  In  the  same  place ;  written 
In' id.  or  ib.,  and  used  in  references  to  a  passage 
or  book  which  has  been  already  quoted. 

Ibi  omnis  effusus  labor.     [L.]     There  all  his 


labour  was  lost  (Virgil)  ;  of  Orpheus  when  he 
lost  Eurydice. 

Ibis.  [L.,  Egypt,  phib,  Gr.  ?£<*.]  (Ornith.) 
1.  Numenius  L,  Sacred  L;  spec,  of  birds,  about 
two  feet  high,  white,  with  black  pendent 
secondaries.  Migratory  between  Ethiopia  and 
Egypt.  Gen.  Numenius,  fam.  ScolopacidcE,  ord. 
Grallae.  2.  Gen.  of  birds,  as  Scarlet  ibis.  Trop. 
and  N.  Temp.  America.  Fam.  Plataleidse,  ord. 
Grallce. 

-ic,  -ous.  (Chem.)  1.  Terminations  of  the 
names  of  the  hydrogen  salts — as  chloric  acid, 
which  is  chlorate  of  hydrogen ;  chlorous  acid, 
which  is  chlorite  of  hydrogen,  (-ate,  -ite.)  2. 
Terminations  distinguishing  the  salts  (-ous)  in 
which  the  combining  power  of  a  metal's  atoms 
is  partly  expended  on  uniting  them  with  one 
another,  from  those  (-ic)  where  this  power  is 


ICEA 


261 


IDEA 


wholly  employed  in  combining  them  with 
atoms  of  another  body,  as  ferrous,  ferric  salts. 

Ice-anchor.  (Naut.)  A  curved  iron  bar, 
hooked  into  ice. 

Iceberg ;  I.-field ;  I.-floe ;  Ground-I. ;  I.-island ; 
Pack-I.  An  Ice-floe  is  a  large  mass  of  floating 
ice ;  if  it  is  so  thick  as  to  rise  high  above  the 
sea-level,  it  is  an  Iceberg.  An  I.-field  is  the 
frozen  surface  of  the  sea  when  it  extends  on  all 
sides  further  than  the  eye  can  reach,  called  also 
Pack-I.  ;  if  its  limits  are  within  sight  it  is  an 
I. -island.  Ground-I.  is  ice  formed  at  the 
bottom  of  running  water.  Icebergs  have 
generally  been  detached  from  glaciers ;  ice- 
fields, ice-floes,  etc.,  are  merely  the  frozen  sea- 
water. 

Ice-blink.  A  bright  appearance,  caused  by 
the  reflexion  of  light  from  ice  below  the 
horizon. 

Ice-boat.  (Naut.}  A  sledge-boat  fitted  with 
a  sail,  used  on  the  ice. 

Ice-caves.     ( Glacier  es.) 

Iceland-spar.  (GeoL)  Finest,  most  transparent 
variety  of  calc-spar ;  found  in  large  crystalline 
masses  in  I.  trap-rock. 

Ich  dien.  [Ger.,  /  seme.}  Motto  of  the 
Prince  of  Wales's  coat  of  arms,  assumed  from 
that  of  the  King  of  Bohemia  at  the  battle  of 
Cressy. 

Ichnites.  [Gr.  fx"os>  a  f oof  step.}  (Geol.)  A 
general  term  for  fossil  footprints.  Ichnology,  that 
part  of  Geol.  which  has  to  do  with  I.  Ornith- 
ichnites  are  such  as  have  been  referred  to  birds 
[apvis,  opvlQos}. 

Ichnography.  [Gr.  fx^os,  footstep,  ypd<j>a, 
I  describe.}  The  ground-plan  of  a  building. 

Ichor.  [Gr.  IX^P-]  The  watery  part  of  blood. 
1.  (Myth.}  The  element  flowing  through  the 
veins  of  the  gods.  2.  (Med.)  Thin,  aqueous, 
acrid  discharge,  as  distinguished  from  proper 
pus 

Ichthyolites.  [Gr.  Ix^s,  a  fish,  \(Qos,  a  stone.} 
(Geol.}  Fossil  remains  of  fishes. 

Ichthyology.  [Gr.  IxQfa,  a  fish,  \6yos>  an 
account.]  The  science  treating  of  fish,  their 
classification,  etc.  In  this  work  the  classifica- 
tion of  Dr.  Gunther's  British  Museum  Catalogue 
has  been  adopted  (as  by  Mr.  Wallace  in  his 
Geographical  Distribution,  etc.},  and  not  his  later 
arrangement,  which  fuses  the  first  three  sub- 
classes under  the  name  of  Ganoidei.  This  is, 
however,  indicated  by  brackets. 


Sub-class. 


TeleosteT  [Gr. 
eXeos,  perfect, 
oreof,  a  done]. 


II.  Dipnoi. 


III.  Ganoidei. 


Orders. 

1.  Acanthopterygli  (tf.v.). 

2.  Acanthopterygli  Pharyngo- 
gnathi  [Gr.^a'pi/??,- ^70?,  the 
fjiarynx,  yvatios,  tJie  jaw]. 

3.  Anacanthini  (g.v.). 

4.  Physostomi   [Gr.   (f>Zadu>,  to 
blow,  o-rojua,  the  mouth\. 

5.  Lophobranchii  [Gr.  A.6#os,  a 
tuft,  flrfma,  gil 

6.  Plectognathi    [Gr. 
clasped,  yvdOos,  the  jaw}. 

•j.  Sirenoidei  [Gr.  o-eipijc, 
(Siren),  e<do?,  appear- 
ance], 

8.  Holostei     [Gr.      oX-oo-reo?, 
ivholly  bone], 

9.  Chondrestei    [Gr.    xov&pot, 
gristle,  a<TTfov,  bone}. 


Sub-class.  Orders. 

/io.  Holocephala      [Gr.       0X05, 
•whole,  Ke(j)a\ri,  the  head]. 

11.  Plagiostomata  [Gr.  irXdfios, 
slanting,  <no^a.,  -aro?,   the 
motith]. 

IV.  Chandra-  /  Sub-ord.  Selachoidei  [Gr. 

pterygii.  ^  o-eXaxo-ei&j?,        like       the 

ertXaxoj,     kind    of    Chon- 
drosteous  fish\. 

Sub-ord.  Batoidei  [Gr. 
/SUTO?,  the  ray,  tt6os,  ap- 
pearance]. 

12.  MarsTpobranchli  [Gr.    juap- 

o-nror,  <z  pouch, 


13.  Cirrostomi  [L.  cirrus,  a  curl, 
Gr.  aTo/ua,  the  mouth]. 


V.  Cyclostomata 
[Gr.  KwcXo?,  a 
circle,  c-rojua, 
/^£  mouth], 

VI.  Leptocardii 
[Gr.  XeTTTor, 
slender,  Kapdia, 
the  heart]. 

Ichthyomancy.      [Gr.  IxOfa,  a  fish, 
divination.}     Divination  by  inspection  of  fish. 

Ichthyophagy.  [Gr.  ix9vo<paylat  from  \~xQvs, 
a  fish,  Qayeti/,  to  eat.}  The  practice  of  living  on 
a  diet  of  fish. 

Ichthyopslda.  [Gr.  IxMs,  a  fish,  ityts,  appear- 
ance.} (Zool.)  Fish,  and  amphibians  when 
classed  together  as  Branchiate  vertebrates,  i.e. 
as  V.  possessing  temporary  or  persistent  gills. 

Ichthyosaurus.  [Gr.  \\9vs,  a  fish,  cravpos,  a 
lizard.}  (Geol.)  A  gen.  of  extinct  marine 
reptiles,  resembling  saurians,  fishes,  and,  in 
some  respects,  cetacea.  Triassic  to  Cretaceous. 

Ichthyosis.  [Gr.  ixefo,  -vos,  a  fish.}  (Med.) 
A  disease  in  which  the  skin  assumes  somewhat 
the  appearance  of  fish-scales. 

Ichthys.  [Gr.,  a  fish.}  In  Eccl.  Art,  the 
emblematic  fish,  the  word  exhibiting  the  initials 
of  the  words  lesous  CHristos,  THeou  Yios, 
SSter,  Jesus  Christ,  Son  of  God,  Saviour. 

Iconium,  or  Bfoum,  The  kingdom  of.  A  large 
portion  of  Asia  Minor,  contiguous  to  the  Eastern 
Empire  about  the  time  of  the  Crusades. 

Iconoclasts.  [Gr.  eluwv,  an  image,  K\&<a,  I 
break.}  Image-breakers  of  the  eighth  century. 
The  I.  movement  began  with  the  Emperor 
Leo  III.'s  edict,  A.Dn  726,  forbidding  the  honour 
paid  to  sacred  images.  Upon  this  subject  the 
East  and  West  have  been  divided  ever  since. 

Iconography.  [Gr.  flKovoypatyta,  sketch,  de- 
scription.} A  name  denoting  works  descriptive 
of  monuments  of  art,  as  Didron's  Iconographie 
Chretienne. 

Icosahedron.    (Polyhedron.) 

Icteric,  Icterical.  (Med.)  1.  Relating  to 
jaundice  [Gr.  Crepes],  affected  with  it.  2.  Pre- 
venting jaundice. 

Ictus.  [L.,  stroke.}  (Pros.)  Stress  of  voice 
or  a  prolongation  of  a  syllable  of  a  word  or 
measure,  which  coincided  with  a  prominent 
rhythmic  beat,  as  in  the  case  of  the  first,  third, 
and  fifth  arses  (Arsis)  of  a  hexameter  verse. 

-id.  [Gr.  elSos.]  Appearance,  form,  as 
Typho-id,  Aro-id-ese,  Cteno-id. 

-ide.  (Ghent.)  A  termination  denoting  a 
compound  of  two  elements,  as-  chloride  of  iron, 
a  compound  of  chlorine  and  iron. 

Idealogue.  [Gr.  t'Sea,  idea,  and  root  of  \4yw, 
I  tell. }  A  theorist,  a  speculator. 

Ideas.     [Gr.  i$ea.it  forms,  or  shapes.}    In  the 


IDEM 


262 


ILIA 


Platonic  philosophy,  the  eternal  prototypes  of 
being,  and  the  efficient  cause  of  all  that  is.  Of 
these  ideas  there  is  necessarily  an  indefinite 
number,  for  since  every  generic  and  specific  con- 
cept is  according  to  Plato  substantial,  there 
must  be  as  many  ideas  as  there  are  genera  and 
species. — Zeller,  Plato  and  the  Older  Academy. 

I  demens,  et  saevas  curre  per  Alpes,  ut  pueris 
placeas  et  declamatio  fias.  [L.]  Go,  madman 
(i.e.  Hannibal),  rush  over  the  horrid  Alps,  that 
you  may  delight  lads  and  be  made  the  subject  of 
school  themes  (Juvenal,  Sat.,  x.). 

Idem  per  idem.  [L.  ]  The  same  by  the  same ; 
of  an  illustration  or  reference  which  really  adds 
nothing  to  the  consideration  of  a  case. 

Idem  velle  et  idem  nolle.  [L.]  To  have  the 
same  likes  and  the  same  dislikes,  the  same  tastes 
and  the  same  aversions ;  Sallust's  account  of 
firm  friendship. 

Identity,  Personal.  The  sameness  of  the  con- 
scious subject  throughout  the  several  stages  of 
existence.  The  fact  which,  in  strictness  of  speech, 
is  the  only  fact  absolutely  known  to  each  man  is 
that  he  is  a  conscious  thinker ;  all  other  facts 
being  learnt  only  by  inference  from  this  one. 
This  consciousness,  which  it  is  impossible  to 
define,  constitutes  P.  I.  (Individuality ;  Mono- 
psychism.) 

Ideographic  characters.  [Gr.  *Seo,  an  idea, 
7pa0o>,  /  write.]  Written  characters  which 
express  notions,  instead  of  the  arbitrary  signs  of 
an  alphabet.  Such  are  the  Chinese,  and  such 
also  were  the  Egyptian,  Hieroglyphics. 

Ideographic  writing.     (Phonetic  writing.) 

Ideology.  [Gr.  *5ea,  a  form,  or  idea,  \6yos, 
discourse.]  The  science  of  mind.  The  term  was 
first  used  by  the  disciples  of  Condillac,  who 
developed  the  sensational  philosophy  of  Locke. 
(Sensational  school.) 

Ideo-motor  movements.  Muscular  movements 
arising  from  simple  ideas  apart  from  emotion. 
(See  Carpenter's  Mental  Physiology,  p.  124.) 

Ides.  [L.  idus.]  One  of  the  three  divisions 
of  the  old  Roman  month,  being  near  the  middle 
of  it.  The  Ides  of  March,  on  which  Caesar  was 
assassinated,  has  become  an  expression  for  an 
unlucky  day. 

Id  genus  omne.  [L.]  All  that  class 
(Horace). 

Idio-electric.  [Gr.  ?5ios,  peculiar,  and  electric.] 
Naturally  possessing  electric  properties. 

Idiom.  [Gr.  Iti'tupa,  a  peculiarity,  from  Wios, 
one's  own,  private,  peculiar.]  1.  A  mode  of 
expression  peculiar  to  a  language,  dialect,  or 
smaller  division  of  speech  ;  e.g.  "  world  without 
end."  2.  The  general  character  or  system  of 
expression  of  a  particular  language. 

Idiopathy.  [Gr.  ffiios,  private,  ird9os,  affection.] 
1.  Peculiar  sensibility,  2.  (Med.)  A  diseased 
condition,  primary,  not  symptomatic  of  or  fol- 
lowing upon  any  other. 

Idiosyncrasy.  [Gr.  iSioffvyKpaa-ta,  from  ftjos, 
one's  own,  <rvv,  together,  and  Kpavis,  mixture.] 
Constitutional  peculiarity,  e.g.  as  shown  in  effects 
of  medicine,  food,  etc.,  and  of  other  agents,  dif- 
ferent from  the  effects  generally  produced. 

Idiot.    (Idiotai.) 


Idiotai.  [Gr.]  In  the  primitive  Church,  a 
name  for  laymen  as  being  private  persons ;  also 
for  monks  not  in  holy  orders. 

Idlers.  (Naut.)  On  a  man-of-war,  those 
excused  from  the  night  watches;  also  civil 
officers. 

Idle-wheel.  A  wheel  introduced  between  a 
driver  and  its  follower,  to  make  the  latter  revolve 
in  the  same  direction  as  the  former  without 
changing  the  ratio  of  their  velocities. 

Idols.  [Gr.  effiwAo,  false  appearances.]  So 
Bacon,  in  the  Ndvum  Orgdnon,  calls  the  custom- 
ary sources  of  error  in  men's  reasoning.  They 
are  :  1.  /.  Tribus,  L  of  the  Tribe,  errors  common 
to  the  whole  human  race.  2.  /.  Speeds,  /.  of  the 
Cave?  arising  from  the  circumstances  within 
which  the  individual  is,  as  it  were,  inclosed — his 
nationality,  age,  religion,  etc.  3.  /.  FSri,  I.  of 
the  Market-place,  arising  from  popular,  careless, 
undefined  phrase.  4.  /.  Thedtri,  I.  of  the 
Theatre,  arising  from  false  systems  of  thought, 
attractively  disguised  and  presented. 

Idrosis.     Should  be  Hidrosis  (q.v.). 

lerne.     Old  name  of  Ireland. 

Igneous  [L.  ignis,  fire],  or  Pyrogenous  [Gr.  irfy, 
fire],  rocks  are  divided  into  plutonic,  trap- 
pean,  volcanic,  as  to  general  character,  not  by 
exact  lines  of  demarcation. 

Ignis  fatuus.  [L.,  foolish  fire.]  Light  appear- 
ing by  night  over  marshy  grounds  j  so  called 
from  misleading  travellers. 

Ignis  sacer.     (Erysipelas.) 

Ignoramus.  [L.]  1.  We  are  ignorant ;  an 
ignorant  person.  2.  (Leg.)  We  ignore ;  formerly 
written  on  a  bill  thrown  out  by  a  grand  jury. 
Now  "not  a  true  bill,"  or  "not  found,"  is 
used. 

Ignorantia  non  excusat  legem.  [L.]  (Leg.) 
Ignorance  is  no  plea  against  the  law. 

Ignoratio  elenchi.  [L.]  An  ignoring  (or 
inability  to  understand),  a  refutation,  of  one's 
position. 

Ignotum  per  ignotius.  [L.]  What  is  un- 
known by  what  is  more  unknown  ;  of  an  explana- 
tion or  illustration  which  is  more  obscure  than 
what  is  to  be  explained. 

Iguana.  (Zool.)  Gen.  of  lizard,  with  pendu- 
lous dewlap.  S.  America  and  W.  Indies.  Some 
spec,  (as  I.  tuberciilata,  four  feet  to  five  feet 
long)  much  esteemed  as  food. 

Iguanodon  (i.e.  like  iguana,  in  teeth  [Gr. 
oSous,  a  tooth]) .  (Geol.)  Extinct  gigantic  herbi- 
vorous dinosaurian  reptiles.  Wealden  strata. 

I.H.S.    (Abbreviations.) 

Ikenild  Street.     (Hikenhilde  Street.) 

II  a  la  mer  a  boire.  [Fr.]  He  has  the  sea  to 
drink  ;  he  has  undertaken  a  gigantic  enterprise. 

II  a  le  vin  mauvais.  [Fr.]  He  is  quarrelsome 
in  his  cups. 

II  faut  attendre  le  boiteux.  [Fr.]  We  must 
wait  for  the  lame  man  ;  we  must  wait  for  con- 
firmation of  a  hasty  report. 

Iliac.  (Med.)  Relating  to  the  Ilia  [L.],  or 
loiver  bowels. 

Iliad.  [Gr.  'lAtoj.]  A  Greek  poem  consisting 
of  twenty-four  books,  relating  to  incidents 
belonging  to  the  war  of  Troy. 


ILIA 


263 


IMPE 


IKas  malorum.  [L.]  A  (whole)  Iliad  of  dis 
asters. 

Ilk.  1.  [Scot.]  Each;  the  A.S.  eelch,  each 
2.  [Scot.,  A.S.  ylca,  the  same.]  Of  that  I.  =  o 
that  same  (named)  place,  of  one  whose  name  is 
the  same  as  that  of  his  estate. 

Illaqueate.  [From  p.  part,  of  illaqueo,  /  en- 
tangle, from  in,  in,  laqueus,  a  noose.]  To  en- 
tangle, ensnare. 

Illative  conversion.  In  Logic,  a  conversion 
in  which  the  truth  of  the  converse  follows  from 
the  truth  of  the  proposition  given. 

Illi  robiir  et  aes  triplex  circa  pectus  erat,  qui 
fragilem  traci  commisit  pelago  rat  em  primus. 
[L.]  He  had  oak  and  threefold  brass  about  his 
breast  who  first  entrusted  a  frail  bark  to  the  re- 
morseless sea  (Horace). 

Illummati.  [L.,  enlightened.']  1.  In  the 
early  Church,  the  newly  baptized.  2,  I.,  or 
Allumbrados,  a  Spanish  sect,  which  spread  into 
France — about  A.D.  1675  to  J735 — claiming  a 
special  illumination,  which  needed  mental  prayer, 
but  not  good  works  or  sacraments. 

Illuminating.  [Fr.]  Ornamenting  a  manu- 
script with  drawings  in  body  colours  and  gold. 

II  vino  e  una  mezza  corda  [It.],  wine  and 
an  open  heart  =  In  vino  veritas  [L.],  wine  brings 
out  the  truth. 

II  y  a  des  reproches  qui  louent  et  des  louanges 
qui  medisent.  [Fr.]  There  are  censures  which 
praise  and  praises  which  defame  (Roche- 
foucault). 

Image.  The  figure  formed  of  any  object  at 
the  focus  of  a  lens  or  mirror ;  e.g.  the  picture  in 
a  camera  obscura. 

Imaginary  Conversations.  The  title  of  a  work 
of  Walter  Savage  Landor  (died  1864). 

Imaginary  quantity  or  expression.  In  Algebra, 
one  which  involves  the  square  root  of  a  negative 
number,  as  \/(  —  3). 

Imam,  or  Iman.  A  title  (i)  of  the  successors 
of  Mohammed,  (2)  of  the  inferior  order  of 
ministers  in  Islam.  (Mushtahids.) 

Imbibition.  [L.  imbibo,  /  drink  in.]  The 
interpenetration  of  a  solid  by  a  fluid. 

Imbricated.  [L.  imbricatus,  covered  with 
gutter-tiles, .]  (Bot.)  Overlapping,  as  tiles  on  a 
roof ;  e.g.  Araucaria  imbricata. 

Imbroglio.  [Fr.]  An  entanglement,  an  in- 
tricate plot,  a  complicated  embarrassing  state  of 
things. 

Imbued,  (Her.)  Wetted  [L.  imbutus]  with 
blood. 

Imitatores,  servum  pecus.  [L,]  Imitators,  a 
slavish  herd. 

Immaculate  conception.  In  the  Latin  Church, 
a  term  which  denotes  the  conception  of  the 
Virgin  Mary  without  the  taint  of  original  sin. 

Immanent  acts.  [L.  immaneo,  /  remain  in.] 
In  Moral  Phil.,  are  such  as  produce  no  effect 
outside  the  mind  ;  as  e.g.  simple,  intellectual 
operations ;  Transitive  acts  being  such  as  pass 
on,  have  an  effect  upon,  external  objects. 

Immersion.  [L.  immersio,  -nem.]  Baptism 
by  the  dipping  of  the  whole  body  under  the 
surface  of  the  water. 

Immolation.     [L.  immolatio,    -nem.]     (Rom. 

18 


Ant.]  A  ceremony  in  which  some  corn  or  frank- 
incense was  thrown  on  the  head  of  the  victim 
in  a  sacrifice,  together  with  the  mo/a,  or  salt- 
cake. 

Immovable  feasts.  Feasts  the  recurrence  of 
which  does  not  depend  on  the  day  on  \vhich 
Easter  falls;  for  instance,  Christmas  Day, 
Circumcision,  Epiphany. 

Impact.  [L.  impactus,  p.  part,  of  impingo, 
I  make  to  strike  against '.]  A  blow  ;  the  word  is 
often  used  in  mechanics  as  an  abbreviation  of 
the  words  impulsive  action  (q.v. ). 

Impalement.  [Eng.,  pale.]  (Her.)  The 
division  of  a  shield  into  two  by  a  line  passing 
vertically  through  the  centre,  as  a  pale  does. 

Impanation.  [L.  in,  and  panis,  bread.]  A 
word  conveying  a  meaning  akin  to  that  of 
Consubstantiation . 

Impannel,  Impanel.     (Empannel.) 

Impar  congressus  Achilli.  [L.]  Unequally 
matched  with  Achilles  (Virgil). 

Imparl.  (Leg.)  To  get  leave  from  a  court  to 
settle  a  litigation  amicably. 

Imparlance.  (Leg.)  1.  Time  to  plead.  2. 
Leave  to  plead  at  another  time,  without  the 
assent  of  the  other  party. 

Imparsonee.  A  parson  inducted  into  a  bene- 
fice. 

Impartible.  A  word  used  by  Blackstone  in 
the  sense  of  indivisible,  as  if  from  part ;  by 
others,  as  if  from  impart,  with  the  meaning  of 
"capable  of  being  imparted  or  communicated.'* 

Impasting.  [It.  impasto.]  1.  The  laying  on 
of  colours  thickly.  2.  An  intermixture  of  lines 
and  points  in  engraving,  to  represent  thickness 
of  colouring. 

Impasto.  [It.  pasta,  paste.]  The  thickness 
of  the  layer  of  colour  on  a  picture. 

Impatronization.  [From  patron.]  Absolute 
seigniory,  full  possession,  a  putting  into  full 
possession. 

Impeachment.  [From  L.  impure,  to,  prose-- 
cute.] A  process  against  persons  charged  with 
treason  or  other  public  crimes.  The  House  of 
Commons  has  the  power  of  exhibiting  articles  of 
impeachment  against  any  peer  or  commoner. 
The  evidence  required  is  that  of  the  ordinary 
courts  of  justice.  (Attainder.) 

Impeachment  of  waste,  Without.  In  Law,, 
implies,  in  one  to  whom  an  estate  is  granted  for 
life  or  a  term  of  years,  power  to  cut  timber,  etc. , 
and  do  many  things  not  allowable  to  ordinary 
tenants ;  abuse  of  which  is  preventible  by  injunc- 
tion of  Court  of  Chancery. 

Impedimenta.     [L.]     Baggage,  luggage. 

Impenetrability.  [From  L.  in,  not,  and  pene- 
:rabilis,  penetrable]  In  Physics,  the  property  of 
matter  in  virtue  of  which  one  body  excludes 
other  bodies  from  the  space  it  occupies. 

Imperatorial.  [L.  imperatdrius.]  Pertaining 
o  the  office  of  a  Roman  general,  who  after  a 
jreat  victory  during  the  republic  received  the 
special  title  imp£rator,  which  afterwards,  from 
>eing  one  title  of  the  Roman  emperors,  came 
o  be  the  distinctive  title. 

Imperial.  [Fr.  imperiale.]  1.  An  outside  on 
a  diligence.  2.  A  case  for  luggage  carried  oa 


IMPE 


264 


INCA 


the  top  of  a  coach.     3.  Paper  thirty  inches  by 
twenty-two. 

Imperium.  [L.,  command.'}  In  Rom.  Hist., 
the  absolute  power  conferred  by  the  Comitia,  or 
assembly,  of  Curies,  on  the  consuls,  as  com- 
manders-in-chief  of  the  armies  of  the  republic, 
so  long  as  they  were  not  within  one  mile  of  the 
walls  of  the  city. 

Imperium  et  libertas.  [L.]  Empire  and 
freedom  ;  misquoted  by  Earl  Beaconsfield,  No- 
vember 9,  1879  ;  (?)  from  Cicero's  fourth  Philip- 
pic, "  Cum  (D.  Brutus)  .  .  .  populique  R. 
libertatem  imperiumque  defenderit ; "  or  (?) 
"  Res  olim  dissociabiles  miscuerit  (Nerva),  prin- 
cipatum  ac  libertatem  "  (Tacitus,  Agr.,  3). 

Imperium  in  impe'rio.  [L.]  An  absohite 
rule  within  an  absolute  rule ;  power  assumed  in 
opposition  to  constituted  authority. 

Impermeable.  [From  L.  in,  per,  through, 
and  meare,  to  go.]  Not  allowing  a  passage,  im- 
penetrable. 

Impersonal  verbs.  (Gram.)  Those  verbs 
which  are  used  only  in  the  third  person,  their 
subject  being  the  proposition  which  they  serve 
to  introduce. 

Impetigo.  [L.,  skin  eruption,  impeto,  / 
attach.]  (Med.)  Humid  or  running  tetter,  a 
disease  of  the  skin,  in  which  pustules  appear, 
burst,  and  dry  up  in  little  yellow  masses ;  not 
accompanied  by  fever,  nor  contagious. 

Impetration.  [L.  impetrationem.]  Obtain- 
ing by  earnest  petition.  It  was  applied  espe- 
cially to  the  preobtaining  from  the  Roman  see 
of  benefices  belonging  to  lay  patrons. 

Impetus.     Momentum  (q.v.). 

Impiger,  iracundus,  inexorabilis,  acer.  [L.] 
Restless,  full  of  fury,  pitiless,  eager  for  the  fray 
(Horace,  of  Achilles). 

Impluvium.  [L.]  The  aperture  in  the  centre 
of  the  ceiling  of  the  atrium  of  a  Roman  house, 
towards  which  the  roof  sloped  so  as  to  conduct 
rain  [pluvia]  into  the  reservoir  [compluvium] 
below. 

Imponderable  fluids.  Hypothetical  fliuds 
without  weight ;  their  existence  was  imagined  in 
order  to  render  the  phenomena  of  heat,  mag- 
netism, electricity,  etc.,  more  conceivable. 

Imposing-stone.  In  Printing,  the  stone  on 
which  the  pages  or  columns  of  types  are  imposed 
or  made  into  formes. 

Imposthume.  Corr.  of  the  word  Aposteme 
(q.v.). 

Impound.  [From  in,  and  pound.]  (Leg.)  1, 
To  place  a  suspected  document  in  the  custody 
of  the  law.  2.  To  place  in  a  pound  or  safe  place 
of  custody,  especially  stray  cattle. 

Impresario.  [It.]  One  who  gets  up  and 
manages  concerts  and  operatic  performances. 

Imprescriptible.  [It.  imprescrittibile,  from 
L.  in,  per,  through,  scribgre,  to  write.]  1.  Not 
capable  of  being  lost  or  impaired  by  neglect, 
as  certain  rights  are.  2.  Not  depending  on 
external  authority,  self-evidencing,  as  mathe- 
matical axioms. 

Impress.  To  force  into  the  service  of  a  coun- 
try. It  has  been  more  applied  to  the  naval  than 
the  military  branch. 


Impressed  force.  In  Dyn.,  the  forces  acting 
on  a  body  from  without ;  thus,  if  a  body  is  hung 
up  from  a  fixed  point  and  allowed  to  swing,  the 
impressed  forces  are  its  weight  (gravity)  and  the 
reaction  of  the  fixed  points. 

Impress-gang.     (Press-gang.) 

Impression.  1.  Colour  which  is  laid  on  as  a 
ground.  2.  Any  coating  of  a  single  colour. 

Imprimatur.  [L.,  let  it  be  printed]  1.  A 
licence  to  print  some  work,  granted  by  those 
with  whom  the  censorship  of  the  press  rests. 
2.  Wrongly  used  as  =  approval,  sanction. 

Imprimis.  [L.]  Among  the  first,  in  the  first 
place. 

Imprint.  Whatever  is  printed  on  the  title- 
page,  especially  the  date,  printer's  name,  etc. 

Impromptu.  [L.  in  promptu,  in  readiness,  in 
sight]  Off-hand,  without  preparation. 

Improperia.  [L.]  In  the  Latin  Church,  the 
Reproaches,  a  Good  Friday  anthem. 

Impropriation.     (Appropriation.) 

Improvisatore.  [It.,  from  L.  improvise,  unex- 
pectedly^ A  person  who  is  able  to  recite  verses 
without  preparation.  After  the  revival  of  letters, 
Italy  possessed  improvisatores  in  Latin  as  well  as 
in  Italian. 

Impudicity.  [L.  impudlcitatem,  from  in- 
neg.,  pudicus,  modest^\  Immodesty. 

Impulsive  action.  The  mutual  action  between 
two  bodies,  when  it  is  so  large  as  to  cause  a 
sensible  change  in  their  velocities  in  an  insensibly 
short  time ;  as  that  between  a  hammer  and  the 
nail  it  drives,  or  a  cricket-bat  and  the  ball  it 
strikes.  (Impact.) 

-in,  more  commonly  -ine  (Chem.),  =  the 
active  principle  of ;  as  achillein,  nicotine. 

In-,  im-  before  labials,  ir-  before  r,  il-  before  /. 
1.  L.  prefix  =  on,  in,  into,  or  intensive  \cf.  eV, 
cvl,  Teut.  in].  2.  L.  privative  or  negative  pre- 
fix \cf.  d,  av-,  Teut.  un-],  as  in  in-grate,  un-grate- 
ful,  im-proper,  il-logical,  ir-rational. 

In-and-in.  1.  The  name  of  a  gambling  game, 
played  by  three  persons  with  four  dice.  2. 
Of  cattle,  breeding  from  animals  of  the  same 
parentage. 

Inanition.  [It.  inanizione,  from  L.  inanis, 
empty.]  Depletion,  starvation. 

Inappetency.  [It.  inappetenza,  from  L.  in- 
neg.,  and  appetens,  desirous  of,  greedy.]  Lack 
of  appetite,  indifference. 

In  aqua  scribis.  [L.]  You  are  writing  on 
water. 

Inarticulate.  [L.  in-  neg.,  articulus,  a  joint.] 
(Nat.  Hist.)  Not  jointed,  or  articulated. 

In  artlculo  mortis.  [L.]  At  the  point  of 
death. 

Inauguration.  [L.  inauguratiS,  -nem.]  The 
ceremony  by  which  the  Roman  augurs  conse- 
crated a  person  or  thing  to  the  service  of  the 
gods.  It  is  now  commonly,  but  very  wrongly, 
used  to  denote  the  beginning  of  any  undertaking. 
In-board.  (Naut.)  Within  the  ship  ;  opposed 
to  Otit-board. 

Inca,  or  Unca.   The  title  of  the  ancient  kings  of 
Peru,  whose  empire  was  overthrown  by  Pizarro. 
Incalescent.     [L.  incalescentem,    from   calor, 
heat.]     Growing  warm,  increasing  in  heat. 


INCA 


265 


INDE 


Incameration.  [Fr. ,  from  L.  in,  and  camera, 
a  chamber.'}  The  uniting  of  lands,  revenues, 
etc.,  to  the  pope's  domain. 

Incandescent.  [L.  incandesco,  I  glow.]  White 
hot,  having  a  more  intense  degree  of  heat  than 
if  red  hot. 

In  capite.  [L.]  (Leg.)  In  chief;  said  of 
tenancy  immediately  from  the  lord  paramount. 

Incarnadine.  [Fr.  incarnadin,  It.  incarnatino, 
from  L.  in,  in,  caro,  carnis,  flesh."]  1.  Flesh- 
coloured,  of  the  colour  of  a  carnation.  2.  To 
dye  red,  raw-flesh-coloured. 

Incarnation.  (Med.)  The  making  of  new 
flesh  [L.  carnem]  in  the  healing  of  wounds.  In- 
carnative,  or  Sarcotic  [Gr.  (rap/c<ta,  /  make  into 
flesh],  causing  I. 

Incessu  patuit  dea.  [L.]  The  goddess  was 
manifest  by  her  gait. 

Inch,  [L.  uncia.]  The  twelfth  part  of  a  foot, 
or  the  thirty-sixth  part  of  a  yard ;  the  French 
inch,  which  was  the  twelfth  part  of  the  Paris 
foot,  was  i  '06578  English  inches  ;  the  French 
cubic  inch  was  therefore  I'2io6  English  cubic 
inches. 

Inch.-.  In  Scotland,  a  prefix  to  the  names  of 
some  small  islands,  as  Inch-marnock,  Inch-keith ; 
so  Inis,  in  Ireland,  to  some  islands,  and  to 
towns  on  lakes  or  rivers,  as  Inis-hark,  Innis- 
killing.  [(?)  Cf.  v9)ffos,  an  island,  and  L. 
insula.] 

Inchoate.  [L.  inchoatus,  p.  part,  of  inchoo, 
I  begin]  Just  begun,  incipient,  incomplete. 

Incidence,  Angle  of.  The  angle  between  the 
direction  of  a  ray  of  light  just  before  reflexion  or 
refraction,  and  the  perpendicular  to  the  surface 
of  the  reflecting  or  refracting  body. 

Incidit  in  Scyllam  cupiens  vitare  Charybdim. 
[L.]  He  Jails  Upon  (the  rock]  Scylla  when  eager 
to  avoid  (the  whirlpool)  Charybdis  ;  out  of  one 
peril  into  another  as  great. 

Incineration.  The  reducing  of  a  substance 
into  ashes  [L.  in  cineres]. 

Incisor  teeth.  [L.  incldo,  /  cut  into.]  Four 
front  teeth  in  each  jaw,  for  cutting  or  dividing 
food. 

Incivism.  [Fr.  incivisme,  from  L.  in-  neg., 
clvis,  a  citizen]  Lack  of  love  for  the  state  of 
which  one  is  a  citizen. 

Inclave.  [Fr.  enclave,  a  boundary]  (Her.) 
In  a  form  resembling  the  parts  of  a  dovetailed 
joint. 

Inclination.  [L.  inclinatio,  -nem,  a  bending.] 
In  Mag.,  the  angle  which  the  magnetic  needle 
makes  with  the  plane  of  the  horizon ;  i.e.  the 
dip  of  the  needle. 

Inclination  of  the  orbit  of  a  planet.  The 
angle  between  the  plane  of  the  orbit  and  the 
plane  of  the  ecliptic. 

Inclined  plane.  A  plane  inclined  at  a  greater 
or  less  angle  to  the  horizon.  It  is  reckoned  a 
mechanical  power,  because  a  weight  can  be  raised 
along  it  by  agents  who  would  be  unable  to  lift 
the  weight  directly. 

Inclinometer.     [L.  incllnare,   to   incline,   Gr. 
HfTpov,  measure]      An  apparatus  to  determine 
the  vertical  component  of  the  magnetic  force. 
Incluse,  or  Recluse.  [L.,  shut  up]   (Eccl.  Hist.) 


Hermits  in  single  cells,  on  the  doors  of  which 
the  seal  of  the  bishop  or  abbot  was  impressed. 

In  coena  Domini.  [L.,  at  the  Lord's  Supper] 
The  title  of  a  celebrated  papal  bull,  giving  ex- 
tracts from  different  constitutions  of  popes,  and 
declaring  the  rights  claimed  by  the  see  of  Rome 
from  Gregory  VII.'s  time,  with  anathema  against 
those  who  violate  them  ;  read  once  at  least  every 
year  in  all  Roman  churches. 

In  commendam.     (Commendam,  In.) 

Incommensurable.  [L.  incommensurabilis, 
that  cannot  be  measured  with  another.]  Not 
j  having  a  common  measure ;  e.g.  a  side  and  a 
diagonal  of  a  square  are  incommensurable,  be- 
cause no  line,  however  small,  can  be  found 
which,  being  an  aliquot  part  of  the  one,  is  an 
exact  aliquot  part  of  the  other. 

Incompossible.  (Log.)  Said  of  two  or  more 
things  possible  separately,  but  not  conjointly. 

Incomprehensible.  [L.  incomprenensibilis.] 
That  which  cannot  be  confined  in  space.  This 
is  the  sense  in  which  it  is  used  in  the  Athanasian 
Creed. 

Inconcinnity.  [L.  in-  neg.,  and  concinnity 
(q>v]]  Want  of  harmony  or  agreement. 

Inconsonancy.  [L.  in-  neg.,  and  consonant, 
sounding  with]  In  Music,  discordance. 

Incorporating  languages.  (Agglomerative 
languages ;  Poly  synthetic,) 

Incorporeal  [L.  incorporeus,  from  in-  neg., 
corpus,  a  body]  (Leg.)  Not  capable  of  actual, 
palpable  seisin  or  possession,  as  rights,  dig- 
nities, etc.  I.  chattels,  =  I.  rights  incident  to 
chattels,  as  patent  rights,  copyrights. 

Incremation.     (Cremation.) 

Increment.  [L.  incrementum,  an  addition, 
increase]  In  Rhet.,  an  amplification  without  a 
strict  climax. 

Increment  [L.  incrementum,  increase] ;  Incre- 
ments, Method  of.  (Math.)  The  amount  by  which 
a  variable  magnitude  increases  under  specified 
circumstances.  The  Method  of  I.  is  the  calculus  of 
finite  differences.  (Calculus  of  finite  differences.) 

Increscent,  Moon.  (Her.)  A  waxing  [L.  in- 
crescentem]  moon,  having  its  horns  turned  to 
the  dexter  side. 

Incubation  of  a  disease.  [L.  incubatio,  -nem,  a 
brooding]  (Med.)  The  period  between  its  con- 
traction and  the  appearance  of  distinct  symptoms. 

Incubi.     (Succubi.) 

Incubus.  [L.,  nightmare,  from  inciibo,  1 
brood]  1.  Fairy  demon.  2.  Nightmare,  a  sen- 
sation of  pressure  on  the  chest  and  of  an  im- 
possibility of  moving,  speaking,  or  breathing. 
3.  Meton.  a  load,  weight,  discouragement. 

Incunabula.  [L.]  Swaddling  clothes,  birth- 
place, origin,  beginning. 

In  curia.     [L.]     (Leg.)    In  court. 

Incus.  [L.,  an  anvil]  (Anat.)  From  its 
shape,  a  small  bone  of  the  middle  ear. 

Indefinite  proposition.  In  Log.,  a  proposi- 
tion with  a  common  term,  but  without  any  sign 
to  show  whether  it  is  distributed  or  undis- 
tributed, i.e.  the  universal  or  particular ;  as, 
"Barbarians  can  be  civilized."  Here  it  is  in« 
definite  whether  all  be  meant,  or  some. 

Indehiscent.     (Dehiscent  fruits.) 


INDE 


266 


INDI 


Indemnify.  [L.L.  indemmfico,  from  indem- 
nis,  without  damage,  loss  (damnum),  and  root  of 
facio,  I  make.]  1.  To  secure  against  loss,  harm, 
or  punishment.  2.  To  compensate  for  past  loss 
or  expense. 

Indenizen.     To  naturalize.     (Denizen.) 
Indent,  sometimes  Requisition.     {Mil.]     Offi- 
cial document  demanding  the  supply  of  stores  for 
Government  consumption.     (Indenture.) 

Indentation.  [L.  dentem,  a  tooth]  In  Print- 
ing, the  act  of  beginning  the  first  line  of  a  para- 
graph further  in  from  the  margin  than  the  other 
lines  (called  a  common  indentation),  or  of  begin- 
ning the  second  line  and  those  following  it  further 
in  than  the  first  line  (called  a  hanging  indentation.} 
Indenture.  [From  indent,  to  make  notched 
like  teeth  (denies).]  (Leg.)  A  deed  recording 
mutual  obligation,  of  which  two  or  more  parties 
have  duplicates ;  so  called  from  the  duplicates 
having  originally  been  written  on  one  skin,  which 
was  divided  by  a  jagged  cut,  so  that  the  cor- 
respondence of  the  two  halves  was  manifest  at 
once.  (Deed-poll.) 

Independence,  Declaration  of.  A  document 
drawn  up  by  the  second  Congress  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  May,  1776,  and  declaring 
the  colonies  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to 
Great  Britain. 

Independents.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  a  sect  which 
maintains  that  every  congregation  forms  a  Church 
or  independent  religious  society  in  itself,  and 
therefore  condemns  anything  like  a  national 
establishment  of  religion. 

Indeterminate  analysis;  I.  coefficients;  I. 
equation;  I.  problem.  If  two  (or  more)  un- 
known quantities  enter  an  equation,  for  every 
value  of  the  one  there  will  be  generally  a  corre- 
sponding value  of  the  other  ;  such  an  equation, 
not  serving  to  determine  either,  is  an  Indetermi- 
nate equation.  A  problem  whose  algebraical  state- 
ment gives  rise  to  such  an  equation  is  w\  I.  problem. 
It  may  happen  that  the  solutions  of  such  an 
equation  may  be  limited  by  a  condition,  e.g.  that 
only  positive  integral  values  of  the  unknown 
quantities  are  admissible  ;  the  rules  for  finding 
such  values,  if  any,  are  the  subject  of  /.  analysis. 
The  method  of/,  coefficients  consists  in  assuming 
the  form  of  the  expansion  of  a  function,  and 
using  the  assumption  as  a  means  of  finding  the 
value  of  the  terms  successively. 

Index  [L.,  a  discoverer,  a  sign] ;  I.  error;  I. 
of  a  logarithm;  Eefractive  I.  (Math.}  The 
number  denoting  the  power  to  which  a  given 
number  is  raised ;  e.g.  in  a5  the  number  5  is  the 
Index  of  the  power  to  which  a  is  raised.  The  /. 
of  a  logarithm  is  its  integral  part  or  characteristic. 
The  /.  error  of  a  sextant  is  the  reading  when 
the  planes  of  the  fixed  and  movable  mirrors  are 
parallel ;  in  which  case  the  reading  would  be 
zero  if  the  instrument  were  in  perfect  adjust- 
ment. (For  Refractive  /.,  or  /.  of  refraction, 
vide  Eefraction.) 

Index  Expurgatorius.  [L.]  A  book  issued  at 
Rome,  specifying  erroneous  or  heretical  passages 
to  be  expunged  from  the  literature  of  the  day. 

Index  Prohibitorius.  [L.]  A  book  kept  at 
Rome,  containing  a  list  of  works  which,  owing 


to  their  errors,  the  faithful  are  not  allowed  to 
read. 

Indian  ink.    (Sepia.) 

Indian  red.     A  fine  purple  ochre. 

Indian  summer.  The  short  season  of  pleasant 
weather  usually  occurring  about  the  middle  of 
November ;  so  called  from  the  custom  of  the 
Indians  to  avail  themselves  of  this  delightful 
time  for  harvesting  their  corn. — Bartlett's  Ameri- 
canisms. 

Indian  yellow.  A  golden  yellow  pigment, 
used  as  a  water-colour. 

Indicative  mood.  (Gram]  That  inflexion  of 
the  verb  which  expresses  a  simple  or  uncon- 
ditional judgment. 

Indicator ;  I.-diagram ;  Steam-I.  The  Steam- 
indicator  is  an  instrument  for  showing  the 
actual  pressure  of  the  steam  on  the  piston  of  a 
steam-engine  at  any  point  of  the  stroke.  It 
consists  of  a  small  cylinder  in  which  a  small 
piston  works  against  a  spring  of  known  power. 
When  steam  from  the  cylinder  of  the  steam- 
engine  enters  the  indicator,  its  pressure  and  its 
variations  are  shown  by  the  compression  of  the 
spring.  The  rod  of  the  indicator's  piston  is  made 
to  carry  a  pencil,  the  point  of  which  touches 
a  paper  wrapped  round  a  roller,  whose  motion 
follows  that  of  the  engine ;  the  curve  thereby 
traced  out  during  an  up-and-down  stroke  or  re- 
volution is  the  I.-diagram  ;  it  serves  as  an  exact 
register  of  the  working  of  the  engine  during  one 
stroke. 

Indicator  muscle.  [L.  indico,  /  point  out] 
The  extensor  of  the  index  or  forefinger. 

Indices  of  the  face  of  a  crystal.  If  the  parts 
of  the  axes  cut  off  by  the  face  be  multiplied  by 
certain  positive  or  negative  whole  numbers,  lines 
are  obtained  proportional  to  the  parameters ; 
the  whole  numbers  are  the  indices  of  the  face. 

Indicia,  plu.  [L.]  (Leg.)  Discriminating 
marks,  tokens. 

Indiction.  [L.  indictio,  -nem,  a  declaring]  In 
Chron.,  a  cycle  or  period  of  fifteen  years,  used  in 
the  courts  of  law  and  in  the  fiscal  organization  of 
the  Roman  empire  under  Constantine  and  his 
uccessors,  and  thence  introduced  into  legal  dates. 
The  year  of  I.  corresponding  to  any  year  of  our 


era  is  found  by  adding  3  to  the  date,  and  divid- 
ing the  sum  by  15.     Tl 
of  I. 


he  remainder  is  the  year 
Thus  1880  was  the  eighth  year  of  the 
1 25th  I.  (Cycle.) 

Indictment.  [Fr.,  L.  indico,  I  proclaim,  from 
in,  among,  dico,  I  tell]  1.  (Leg.)  A  written  ac- 
cusation of  a  crime  of  a  public  nature,  preferred 
to  and  presented  by  a  grand  jury.  2.  (Scot.  Law.) 
The  form  of  process  against  criminals'  trial  at 
the  instance  of  the  Lord  Advocate.  (Criminal 
letters.) 

Indifferently.  In  Prayer  for  Christ's  Church 
militant  ;  impartially,  without  distinction  [L. 
"ndifferenter], 

Indigitate.  [L.L.  indigitare,  from  in,  and 
digltus, ./£«£•(??-.]  To  point  out,  indicate. 

Indigo.  [L.  Indlcum,  the  Indian  dye.]  A 
vegetable  dye-stuff  of  a  deep  blue  colour,  made 
n  the  E.  and  W.  Indies. 

Indirect  taxation.     Taxation  by  duties  laid  on 


INDI 


267 


INFE 


articles  of  consumption  ;  direct  taxes,  as  the  in- 
come tax,  being  levied  on  the  taxpayer  personally. 
Indium.  A  soft  grey  metal,  discovered  by  two 
indigo  lines  which  it  shows  under  spectrum 
analysis. 

Individuality.  In  moral  science,  the  person- 
ality of  each  man.  According  to  Bishop  Butler's 
philosophy,  this  personality  is  indivisible,  and 
therefore  immortal.  (Monopsychism  ;  Identity, 
Personal.) 

Individuate.  [L.L.  individuals,  p.  part,  of 
indlviduo,  from  in-  neg.,  dlviduus,  divisible.}  1. 
To  distinguish  as  an  individual  from  other  mem- 
bers of  a  spec.,  to  reduce  to  single  instances.  2. 
To  cause  to  exist  as  an  individual  whole. 

Indivisibles,  Method  of.  Nearly  the  same 
thing  and  applicable  to  the  same  class  of 
questions  as  the  Method  of  exhaustion  (q.v.). 

Indo-European.  In  Ethn.,  a  term  denoting 
certain  nations  of  Europe  and  Asia,  which  have  a 
common  origin.  The  name  Aryan  is  now  gene- 
rally substituted  for  it. 

Indolence.  [L.  indolentia,  an  invention  of 
Cicero's  in  transl.  airdOeta.]  Painlessness. 

Indolent     [L.  in-  neg. ,  doleo,  /  am  in  pain} 
(Med.)     Not  suffering  pain. 
Indorse.     (Endorse.) 

Indorsement.  [L.  in,  and  dorsum,  the  back.} 
The  writing  of  a  name  on  the  back  of  an  accept- 
ance or  bill  of  exchange.  This  is  done  by  the 
holder  of  a  bill  on  receiving  payment,  or  when 
he  hands  it  over  to  another.  The  word  is  used, 
very  wrongly,  ^to  denote  assent  or  approval 
generally. 

Indra.  In  the  Rig  Veda,  the  sun-god,  who, 
by  conquering  Vritra,  the  demon  of  drought,  lets 
loose  the  rain.  Indra  thus  speedily  became  the 
supreme  deity. 

Induction.  [L.  inductio,  -nem,  a  leading  into} 
1.  (Phys.)  The  property  by  which  a  body, 
charged  with  electricity  or  magnetism,  causes  or 
induces  it  into  another  body  without  direct  con- 
tact. 2.  (Eccl.)  The  act  of  putting  an  incum- 
bent, after  institution  (q.v. ),  into  actual  possession 
of  the  church  and  of  all  temporalities.  3.  (Log.) 
The  raising  of  individuals  into  generals,  and  of 
these  into  still  higher  generalities.  4.  (Math.) 
A  method  of  proof  applicable  to  cases  in  which 
a  theorem  is  to  be  shown  to  hold  good  in  an  in- 
definitely great  number  of  cases,  which  may  be 
arranged. as  first,  second,  third,  etc.  Suppose 
that  by  any  means  the  theorem  is  shown  to  hold 
good  in  the  first  case,  and  further  that  it  can  be 
proved  to  hold  good  in  any  case  if  it  hold  good  in 
th'%  preceding  case  :  this  constitutes  the  proof; 
for  as  the  theorem  is  true  in  the  first  case,  it 
must  also  be  true  in  the  second  case,  therefore 
in  the  third  case,  therefore  in  the  fourth,  and 
so  on.  This  form  of  proof  is  called  a  Mathe- 
matical I. 

Inductive.  (Log.)  Belonging  to  induction  [L. 
inductio,  -nem,  a  leading  in],  the  process  which 
raises  individuals  into  generals,  and  these  into 
still  higher  generalities. 

Indulgences.  [L.  indulgentia.]  A  power 
claimed  by  the  Latin  Church  of  granting  re- 
mission for  a  certain  term,  either  on  earth  or  in 


purgatory,  of  the  penalties  due  to  sin.  The 
practice  was  introduced  in  the  eleventh  century, 
as  a  recompense  to  those  who  incurred  the  perils 
of  the  Crusades.  Indulgences  are  said  to  be  ( i ) 
Plenary,  or  complete  ;  or  (2)  Partial. 

Indults.  [L.  indultum,  an  indulgence}  In 
the  Church  of  Rome,  patronage  of  benefices 
granted  to  certain  persons  by  the  pope  ;  e.g.  to 
kings,  emperors,  the  Parliament  of  Paris. 

Indurated  [L.  induro,  /  harden}  (Geol.)  = 
hardened  by  the  action  of  heat  or  otherwise. 

Indusium.  [L.,  an  under -garment}  (Bot. ) 
The  membrane  overlying  the  sori  of  ferns. 

Inequality,  f L.  in-  neg. ,  sequalis,  equal.}  In 
Astron.,  any  variation  in  the  motion  of  moon  or 
planet  from  that  which  it  would  have  if  it  moved 
in  strict  accordance  with  Kepler's  laws.  In 
the  case  of  a  planet,  such  inequalities  are  due  to 
the  attraction  of  other  planets  ;  in  the  case  of  the 
moon,  to  the  attraction  of  the  sun. 

Inerrancy.  [L.  in-  neg.,  errare,  to  wander} 
A  word  rarely  used,  denoting  freedom  from  error. 
Inertia;  Inertiae,  Vis.  [L.,  inactivity}  The 
indifference  of  a  body  to  a  state  either  of  rest  or 
of  motion.  The  tendency  of  a  body  to  continue 
in  the  same  state  of  rest  or  of  uniform  motion  in 
a  straight  line,  except  so  far  as  it  is  compelled  to 
change  its  state  by  the  action  of  external  forces. 
The  resistance  it  offers  to  such  change  is  its  Vis 
inertice. 

Inescutcheon.  (Her.}  A  small  escutcheon 
borne  as  a  charge  in  a  man's  esctitcheon. 

In  esse.  [L.]  In  actual  existence  ;  in  posse 
being  said  of  that  which  may  at  some  future 
time  be. 

In  extenso.   [L.]  In  full,  withoiit  abridgment. 
In  extremis.    [L.]    In  desperate  circumstances, 
at  the  last  gasp. 

Infair.  [A.S.  infcere,  entrance.}  The  "re- 
ception" party  or  entertainment  of  a  newly 
married  couple.  West  and  South. — Bartlett's 
A  merican  isms. 

Infandum,  regina,  jiibes  renovare  dolorem. 
[L.]  Thou  biddest  me,  queen,  icnew  an  un- 
speakable -woe  (Virgil) ;  said  by  ^Eneas  when 
Dido  asked  him  to  tell  of  the  fall  of  Troy. 

Infangenthef,  Infangthef.  [A.S.]  The  privi- 
lege of  judging  thieves  taken  on  their  manors  or 
within  their  franchises,  granted  to  certain  lords. 
Infante,  Infanta.  [Sp.]  The  title  of  the 
younger  sons  and  daughters  of  a  Spanish  sove- 
reign ;  more  anciently  given  to  the  children  of 
all  Hidalgos.  The  word  childe  was  used  in  the 
same  way  in  England. 

Infantry  of  the  line  [L.  infantem,  used  in 
the  Middle  Ages  in  the  sense  of  boy  or  servant, 
who  went  on  foot ;  hence  infanteria  became  the 
name  of  foot-soldiers  in  general],  or  Regulars, 
consist  of  the  foot-soldiers  comprised  in  the 
regiments  numbered  I  to  109,  with  the  addition 
of  the  Rifle  Brigade.  These  numbers  have  been 
lately  replaced  by  territorial  titles. 

Infeoffment.  (Scot.  Law.}  The  act  or  instru- 
ment of feoffment.  (Sasine.) 

Inferiae.     [L.]     Sacrifices  offered  by  the  an- 
cients in  honour  of  the  dead. 
Inferior  planet.    (Planet.) 


INFE 


268 


INLI 


Infeudation.  (Fee.)  (Leg.}  1.  A  placing  in 
possession  of  a  freehold  estate.  2.  A  granting  of 
tithes  to  a  layman. 

Infibulation.  [L.  infibulare,  from  fibula,  a 
buckle^  The  act  of  clasping,  or  confining  as 
with  a  padlock,  etc. 

Infinitesimal  An  indefinitely  small  quantity. 
The  1.  calculus  is  equivalent  to  the  differential 
and  integral  calculus.  (Calculus  of  finite  differ- 
ences.) 

Infinitive  mood.  In  Gram.,  the  inflexion  of 
the  verb  which  expresses  the  mere  conception 
of  the  subject,  without  affirming  or  denying  it. 

Inflamed.    (Her.)    Adorned  with  flames. 

Inflatus.  [L.]  An  inspiration,  an  access  of 
inspiration. 

Inflexion.  [L.  inflexio,  -nem,  a  bending,  from 
in,  and  flexum,  sup.  of  flecto,  /  bend.]  (Lang.) 
1.  A  grammatical  change  of  words  to  express 
different  relations,  including  declension  of  nouns 
and  conjugation  of  verbs,  and  generally  deriva- 
tion by  addition  of  suffixes  and  prefixes.  2.  A 
suffix  or  prefix. 

Inflexional  languages.    (Aryan  languages.) 

Inflexion  of  light ;  Point  of  I.  The  change 
in  direction  which  rays  of  light  seem  to  ex- 
perience in  passing  near  the  edge  of  an  opaque 
body.  (Diffraction  of  light.)  A  Point  of  L  of  a 
curve  is  one  at  which  the  branches  on  either 
side  of  it  are  bent  in  opposite  directions,  and  at 
which  the  tangent  cuts  the  curve. 

Inflorescence.  [L.  infloresco,  /  begin  to  blos- 
som.] (Bot.)  The  flowering  of  a  plant,  generally  ; 
the  commonest  forms  being  spike,  raceme,panicle, 
corymb,  cyme,  umbel,  capitulum  (qq.v.). 

Influenza.  [It.,  as  if  from  the  influence  of  the 
stars.]  Severe  epidemic  catarrh,  due  to  some 
atmospheric  peculiarity  (?),  with  serious  febrile 
symptoms  and  rapid  prostration ;  affecting 
animals  as  well  as  man. 

Infoliate.  [L.  in,  folium,  a  leaf.]  To  cover 
with  leaves  or  with  forms  resembling  leaves. 

In  foro  conscientiee.  [L.]  (Leg.)  At  the 
tribunal  of  conscience. 

Infra.  [L.]  Below,  under,  further  on  in  a  book. 

Infra  dignitatem.  [L.]  Beneath  one's  dignity  ; 
also,  infra  dig. 

Infundibiilum.  [L.,  funnel,  from  infundo,  / 
pouring  (Anat.  and  Hot.)  Applied  to  certain 
parts  having  a  funnel  shape.  Adj.,  Infundibuli- 
form  ;  e.g.  convolvulus. 

Infusoria.  [L.  in-fusus,  a  pouring  in,  infu- 
sdrium  being  properly  the  vessel  used.]  (Zoo!.) 
Minute,  mostly  microscopic,  Protozoa,  possess- 
ing a  mouth  and  digestive  cavity  ;  frequently 
developed  in  organic  infusions.  Some  authorities 
reckon  Diatomacese  as  L,  and  not  as  plants  ; 
some  place  here  the  Rotifera,  which  are  annu- 
loids. 

-ing.  Teut.  patronymic  suffix,  as  in  Wok-ing, 
Birm-ing-ham ;  or  topographic,  as  Bromley-ings, 
men  of  Bromley. 

Ingannation.  [It.  ingannare,  to  deceive,  over- 
reach^ A  cheat,  imposture,  deception. 

Inge.     [A.S.  ing.]     A  meadow,  a  pasture. 

Ingenuas  didicisse  fideliter  artes,  Emollit 
mores  uec  sinit  esse  feros.  [L.]  To  have  dili- 


gently studied  liberal  accomplishments  reflnes  the 
manners  and  does  not  alloiv  them  to  be  boorish. 

Ingesta.  [L.  ingestus,  carried  in.]  (Med.) 
Things  introduced  by  the  alimentary  canal. 

Ingot.  [Fr.  lingot.]  A  mass  of  gold,  silver, 
etc.,  cast  in  a  mould. 

Ingrain.  1.  Dyed  with  grain,  or  kermes. 
2.  Dyed  in  the  grain.  3,  Ingrain  carpet,  a 
double  or  two-ply  carpet.  4.  Triple  ingrain 
carpet,  a  three-ply  carpet. 

Ingressa.     (Introit.) 

Ings.  (Agr.)  Saltings,  or  tidal  salt-water 
marshes. 

Inguinal.  Relating  to  the  groin  [L.  inguen, 
inguinis]. 

inheritable.     [L.  in,  hreres,  an  heir.]    (Leg.) 

1.  Capable  of  being  transmitted  through  blood. 

2.  Capable  of  being  an  heir  or  conferring  heir- 
ship. 

Inhibition.  [L.  inhibitio,  from  inhibdo,  1 
restrain,  from  in,  in,  habeo,  /  hold.]  1.  (Leg.) 
A  writ  from  a  higher  court,  forbidding  a  judge 
of  an  inferior  court  to  proceed  with  a  case.  2. 
(Scot.  Larv.)  A  process  to  restrain  sale  of  land  in 
prejudice  of  a  debt,  or  a  writ  to  prohibit  giving 
credit  to  a  wife.  3.  A  writ  from  a  bishop,  pro- 
hibiting another  bishop  or  clergyman  from  under- 
taking any  ecclesiastical  duties  in  his  diocese. 

Inh'oc,  Inhoke.  A  corner  of  a  common  field 
ploughed  up  and  sowed. 

Inhumation.  [L.  in,  humus,  the  ground.] 
The  act  of  burying. 

Initiated.  [L.  initiati.J  1.  Persons  made  ac- 
quainted with  any  mysteries,  as  with  those  of  the 
heathen  world.  2.  In  the  primitive  Christian 
Church,  the  baptized. 

Injected  parts.  [L.  injicio,  I  throw  in.] 
(Path.)  Having  an  increased  quantity  of  blood 
in  the  vessels. 

Injection;  I.-cock;  I.-pipe.  The  cold  water 
thrown  through  a  rose  at  each  stroke  of  the 
piston  into  the  condenser  of  a  steam-engine,  to 
condense  the  waste  steam  and  form  a  vacuum. 
It  is  thrown  through  the  I.-pipe  from  the  I.-cock. 

Injunction.  [L.  injunctio,  -nem,  a  command, 
from  injungo,  /  enjoin]  (Leg.)  A  writ  of  an 
equity  court,  requiring  a  party  to  do  or  refrain 
from  doing  certain  acts.  A  common  I.  restrains 
a  suitor  from  prosecuting  his  legal  rights  in  a 
court  of  common  law. 

Injunctions  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  (Advertise- 
ments of  Elizabeth.) 

Injuria  [L.]  is,  in  Law,  the  opposite  to/«j, 
and  =  everything  done  without  a  right  to  do  it. 

Inkle.     A  kind  of  broad  linen  tape. 

Inlagation.  [L.L.  inlagatio,  from  A.S.  lagu, 
law.]  (Leg.)  The  restoring  an  outlaw  to  legal 
rights,  inlawing. 

Inlagh.  [O.K.]  (Leg.)  A  person  protected 
by  law  ;  opposed  to  utlagh,  outlaw. 

Inland.  (Leg.)  Demesne  land  ;  opposed  to 
Outland,  let  to  tenants.  I.  has,  as  adj.,  Inlantal. 

Inlier.  (Geol.)  An  exposure  of  a  lower 
stratum  through  a  locally  denuded  overlying 
stratum  ;  often  in  broken  anticlines. 

In  Hmine.  [L.]  At  the  threshold,  by  way  of 
preliminary. 


INLO 


269 


INST 


In  loco  parentis.  [L.]  In  the  place  of  a 
parent. 

In  medias  res,  Kuere.  [L.]  To  rush  into  the 
middle  of  the  subject  (Horace). 

In  medio  tutisslmus  Ibis,  [L.]  Thou  wilt 
go  most  safely  in  the  middle. 

Inner  house.  (Scot.  Law.)  Chambers  of  the 
first  and  second  divisions  of  the  Court  of 
Session. 

Innings.    (Leg.)    Land  recovered  from  the  sea. 
Innis.     [Gadh.]     (Inch-.) 
Innisfail.    An  old  name  of  Ireland,  =  island  of 
destiny. 

Innis  Forda  =  long  island.  Celt,  name  of 
Lewis  and  N.  and  S.  Uist. 

Inns  of  Chancery.  Institutions  consisting 
chiefly  of  attorneys,  formerly  occupied  by  clerks 
who  studied  the  framing  of  writs  which  belonged 
to  Cursitors.  They  are  appendages  of  the  Inns 
of  Court. 

Inns  of  Court.     Four  institutions  for  the  en- 
rolment  and    instruction   of  law  students — the 
Inner  Temple,  Middle  Temple,  Lincoln's  Inn, 
Gray's  Inn.     The   Benchers  have   the   right   of 
admitting  persons  to  practise  at  the  Bar. 
In  nubibus,     [L.]     In  the  clouds. 
Innuendo.      [L.,   by  nodding.'}       1.   An    in- 
direct  hint.     2.  (Leg.)     Used   in   pleadings   to 
indicate   the   application   of    alleged   libels    or 
defamations  to  certain  parties  or  subjects. 

Inoculation.  [L.  inoculo,  /  engraft.}  1. 
(Med.)  Communication  of  a  disease  by  a  specific 
poison  introduced  into  the  blood,  especially  that 
of  small-pox.  2.  (Bot.)  Insertion  of  buds  under 
the  bark  for  propagation.  3.  The  placing  frag- 
ments of  turf  at  short  distances  on  prepared 
ground,  to  grow  together  and  form  a  lawn. 

Inopercular.  Having  no  covering,  or  lid 
[L.  operciilum]. 

Inosculation.  [L.  in,  into,  osculatio,  a  kissing, 
an  inosculation.}  (Anat.)  Generally  i.q.  Ana- 
stSmosis  (q.v.),  but  sometimes  A.  denotes  union 
of  vessels  by  minute  ramifications,  I.  a  direct 
communication  by  trunks. 

In  pari  materia.  [L.]  In  similar  subject- 
matter ;  where  the  same  rules  and  method  of 
reasoning  apply. 

In  partibus  infidelium.  [L. ,  in  the  parts  of  the 
infidels.}  In  the  Latin  Church,  a  phrase  applied 
to  those  bishops  who  serve  in  other  dioceses 
than  those  of  which  they  bear  the  title. 

Inpeny    and    Outpeny.      (Leg.)      Customary 
payments  on  alienation  of  tenants,  etc. 
In  personam.    [L.]    (Leg.)    (In  rem.) 
In  petto.     [It.]     In  reserve  ;  lit.  in  the  breast. 
\        (Cardinal) 

Inpignoration.  [L.  in,  in,  pignoro,  /  pledge, 
from  plgnus,  pignoris,  pledge.}  The  act  ol 
pawning,  or  depositing  as  a  pledge, 

In  posse.  [L.]  (Leg.)  In  possible  being, 
potential.  (In  esse.) 

In  propria  persona.    [L.  ]    In  one's  own  person 
In  puris  naturalibus.     [L.]    In  a  simple  stat, 
of  nature,  naked. 

Inquest  [O.Fr.  enqueste,  from  L.  inquislta, 
p.  part,  of  inquire,  I  inquire}  (Coroner.)  Gram 
/.,  grand  jury.  /.  of  office  =  inquiry  by  the 


jroper  officer  into  matters   affecting  Crown  ot 
State  interests  in  property. 

Inquinate.  [L.  inquinatus,  p.  part,  of  inqulno, 
I  defile.}  To  pollute,  befoul. 

Inquiry,  Writ  of.  (Leg.)  A  process  addressed 
o  a  sheriff,  ordering  him  with  aid  of  a  sworn 
ury  to  ascertain  the  quantum  of  damages  after 
an  interlocutory  judgment  let  go  by  default. 

Inquisition.  [L.  inqulsitio,  -nem,  a  seeking 
for.}  In  Latin  Christendom,  a  court  armed  with 
pecial  powers  for  inquiry  into  offences  against 
religion.  The  first  I.  was  set  up  in  S.  France 
after  the  conquest  of  the  Albigenses  in  the 
thirteenth  century. 

In  re.     [L.]     (Leg.)    In  the  matter  of. 
In  rem.     [L.]     (Leg.)    On  the  subject-matter  ; 
said  of  a  civil  action  as  to  the  status  of  some 
particular  subject-matter,    not    for   recovery   of 
damages  against  a  person  in  personam. 

Insanire  juvat.  [L.]  //  is  pleasant  to  play 
the  fool. 

Inscribe.  [L.  inscribe,  I  write  on.}  (Geom.) 
To  draw  one  figure  within  another,  so  that  their 
boundaries  are  in  contact  at  certain  points  ;  e.g. 
a  circle  is  inscribed  in  a  rectilineal  figure  when 
its  circumference  touches  each  side  of  the  figure  ; 
a  rectilineal  figure  is  inscribed  in  a  circle  when 
every,  angular  point  of  the  figure  is  on  the  cir- 
cumference of  the  circle. 
Insect-fertilization.  (Fertilization  of  flowers. ) 
Insectivora.  [L.  insecta,  insects,  voro,  / 
devour.}  (Zool.)  Insect-eating,  an  ord.  of 
Mammalia  (q.v.),  also  of  birds. 

Insectivorous  plants.  (Bot.)  Such  as  Venus's 
fly-trap,  consume  and  assimilate  the  insects 
caught ;  "  their  recognized  number  is  greatly  on 
the  increase"  (Report  of  British  Association, 
1879,  P-  368). 

Insessores.  [L.]  (Ornith.)  Perching-birds, 
i.q.  Passeres. 

In  situ.    [L.]    In  the  (original)  site  or  position. 
Insolation.    [L.  insolatio,  -nem.]    Exposure  to 
rays  of  the  sun. 

In  sSlido.  [L.]  (Leg.)  In  the  whole,  of  a 
joint  contract. 

Insomnia.  [L.]  (Med.)  Sleeplessness,  rest- 
lessness. (Jactation.) 

Insouciance.     [Fr.]    Affectation  of  carelessness. 

Inspeximus.     [L.,  we  have  inspected.}     1.  The 

first  word  of  an  old  charter,  a  royal  grant.     2. 

An  exemplification  of  the  enrolment  of  a  charter 

or  of  letters  patent. 

Inspissated.  [L.  inspissatus,  p.  part,  of 
inspisso,  /  thicken.}  Thickened,  as  fluids  by 
evaporation. 

Instance  Court  of  Admiralty.  (Leg.)  The 
Court  of  Admiralty  when  not  a  prize  court.  I.  = 
process  of  a  suit. 

Instanter.     [L.]     (Leg.)    Instantly,  at  once. 
Instantly.    Luke  vii.  4  ;  Acts  xxvi.  7  ;  earnestly 
[Gr.  (TirouScuws,  4v  licrtvfla].    (Presently.) 

In  statu  quo.  [L.,  in  the  state  in  which}  In 
the  same  condition  or  state  as  prevails  at  any 
specified  time.  I.  S.  Q.  ante,  in  the  state  or  con- 
dition which  prevailed  be j ore  a  specified  cause  of 
modification,  as  war,  negotiations,  etc. 

Instauration.     [L.  instauratio,  -nem,  from  in- 


INST 


270 


INTE 


stauro,  I  repair,  renew.}     Renewal,  restoration, 
renovation. 

Institute.  [L.  institutes,  appointed,  from  in, 
in,  statuo,  I  place.}  (Scot.  Law.}  A  person  to 
whom  an  estate  is  first  given  by  destination  or 
limitation. 

Institutes.  [L.  institutiones.J  A  treatise  on 
the  elements  of  the  Roman  law,  published  by 
order  of  Justinian,  a  month  before  the  Pandects, 
in  four  vols.,  containing  ninety-eight  titles,  com- 
posed by  Trebonianus  Dorotheus  and  Theophi- 
lus,  chiefly  from  Gaius's  Jnstitutiones. 

Institutes,  of  Lord  Coke,  four  vols.,  1628. 
The  first  vol.,  known  as  Coke  upon  Littleton,  is 
a  comment  on  a  treatise  on  tenures  ;  the  second 
vol.,  a  comment  on  old  Acts  of  Parliament ;  the 
third  vol.,  on  pleas  of  the  Crown  ;  the  fourth 
voL,  an  account  of  various  courts. 

Institutes  of  the  Christian  Religion.  Calvin's 
great  work  ;  first  edition,  1536. 

Institution  [L.  institutio,  from  instituo,  / 
ordain,  appoint},  sometimes  called  also  Investi- 
ture [investio,  I  clothe}.  Verbal  admission  of  a 
clerk  to  a  benefice  by  the  bishop.  (Collation.) 

Institution  of  a  Christian  Man,  or  Bishops' 
Book.  A  book  of  instruction  in  faith  and  duty, 
by  a  committee  of  the  bishops  and  other  divines 
(May,  1537). 

Instrumental  case.     (Gram.)    (Locative  case.) 
Insucken  multures.      (Leg.)      Quantities    of 
corn  paid  in  by  those  who  are  thirled  to  a  mill. 
(Thirlage.) 

Insuetude.  [L.  insuetudo,  from  in-  neg., 
suetus,  p.  part,  of  suesco,  /  become  used.}  Ab- 
sence of  use,  habit,  custom. 

Insulate.    [L.  insula,  an  island.}    In  Ther- 
motics,   to  protect  a  hot   substance  in  such  a 
manner  that  none  (or  at  least  very  little)  of  its 
heat  or  electricity  is  transferred  to  other  bodies. 
Insulse.     [L.  insulsus,  without  salt,  from  in- 
neg.,  salsus,  p.  part,  of  salo  or  sallo,  I  salt.}   In- 
sipid, dull,  tasteless,  lacking  salt  (metaph.). 
Insulsity.     The  state  of  being  Insulse. 
Intaglio.     [It.,  from  intagliare,  to  cut  in.}    A 
carving  in   which   the   figures   sink   below   the 
background. 

Intakers.  (Leg.)  Receivers  of  stolen  goods. 
Integral  [L.  integer,  whole}  ;  I.  calculus ;  In- 
tegration. (Math.)  When  the  differential  co- 
efficient of  a  function  is  given,  the  process  of 
finding  the  function  itself  is  Integration,  and 
when  thus  found  the  function  is  called  an  In- 
tegral. (For  /.  calculus,  -vide  Calculus  of  finite 
differences.) 

Integument.  [L.  integumentum,  a  covering.} 
1.  (Anat.)  The  skin,  membrane,  shell,  which 
covers  any  part.  2.  (fiot.)  The  cellular  skin  of 
seed,  leaf,  stem. 

Intelligence  Department.  (Mil.)  A  branch 
of  the  War  Office,  lately  established,  for  collect 
ing,  classifying,  and  arranging  all  information 
with  regard  to  the  physical  and  political  geo 
graphy  of  our  own  and  of  every  country  with 
which  we  are  ever  likely  to  be  hostilely  engaged, 
together  with  their  resources  in  men  and  war 
material. 
Intempesta  nocte.  [L.]  At  dead  of  night. 


Intendment  of  law.  [L.  intellectio  legis.] 
(Leg. )  The  intention  or  true  meaning  of  a  law 
or  legal  instrument. 

Intenerate.  [L.  in,  tener,  tender.}  To  make 
tender.  Rare. 

Intentio  mentis.  [L.]  Close  attention  of 
mind. 

Intention,  first  and  Second.  (Log.)  A  dis- 
tinction drawn  between  acts  of  thought  relating 
to  an  object  out  of  the  mind,  as  mountain, 
stream,  etc.,  which  wee  first  intentions,  and  those 
in  which  the  mind  expresses  its  own  states  of 
consciousness,  as  generalization,  abstraction,  etc. , 
which  are  second  intentions. 

Intention,  first,  Healing  by,  is  when  a  wound 
heals  without  suppuration.  By  second,  when 
after  suppuration. 

Intentio  sacerdotis.  [L.,  the  meaning  of  the 
priest.}  In  the  Latin  Church,  the  validity  of 
the  sacraments  is  made  to  depend  on  the  con- 
dition that  the  priest,  while  he  confers  them, 
has  at  least  the  intention  of  doing  what  the 
Church  does. 

Intercadence.  [L.  inter,  between,  cado,  I  fall.} 
(Med.)  An  occasional  supernumerary  beat  in 
the  arterial  pulsations. 

Intercalation.  [L.  intercalo,  I  proclaim  the 
inserted  days.}  The  insertion  of  days  out  of  the 
ordinary  reckoning. 

Inter  canem  etlupum.  [L.]  'Twixtdogand 
•wolf,  twilight. 

Intercept.  (Math.}  The  part  of  a  line  in- 
cluded between  two  points. 

Intercessio.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Law,  the  becom- 
ing surety.  (Fide  jussores.) 

Interdict.  [L.  interdictum,  a  prohibitory 
decree}  An  ecclesiastical  censure,  forbidding 
spiritual  services  of  every  kind. 

InterfaciaL  [L.  inter,  facies,  a  face}  In- 
cluded between  two  plane  surfaces,  an  inter- 
facial  angle  being  formed  by  the  meeting  of  two 
planes. 

Interference.  The  coexistence  of  two  undu- 
lations in  which  the  length  of  the  wave  is  the 
same.  At  certain  points  of  the  medium  two 
such  undulations  may  cause  the  vibrating  par- 
ticles to  move  with  the  sum  of  the  movements 
due  to  the  undulations  severally,  at  other  points 
with  their  difference.  In  the  case  of  light,  this  is 
equivalent  to  saying  that  at  some  points  the  light 
is  much  stronger,  at  others  much  weaker,  than 
that  which  is  due  to  either  undulation  separately. 
Diffraction  fringes  and  many  other  phenomena 
of  light  are  explained  by  I. 

Interfretted.  [L.  inter,  between,  and  fret.] 
(Her.)  Interlaced. 

Inter  hos  vivendum,  et  moriendum,  et,  quod 
est  durius,  tacendum  !  The  words  of  some  con- 
temporary of  Galileo,  quoted  by  Lacordaire. 
Such  are  they  amongst  whom  one  has  to  live  and 
to  die,  and,  what  is  harder  still,  to  keep  silence  ! 

Interim.  [L.,  in  the  mean  time}  (Hist.)  A 
decree  is  so  called  which  was  issued  in  1548  by 
the  Emperor  Charles  V.,  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
conciling the  opinions  of  the  Protestants  and 
the  Catholics. 
Interior  planet.  (Planet.) 


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271 


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Interlacing  arches.  (Arch.)  Arches,  usually 
round  ones,  intersecting  each  other.  The  inter- 
lacing of  round  arches  exhibits  a  succession  of 
highly  pointed  arches. 

Interlocutory.  [L.  inter,  between,  loquor,  7 
speak.]  Decided  in  the  course  of  an  action,  but 
not  finally  determinate.  In  common  law,  judg- 
ment by  default  when  only  damages  are  sought 
is  I.  before  the  writ  of  Inquiry. 

Interlude.  [L.  inter,  between,  ludo,  I  play.} 
Music  played  between  the  verses  of  a  hymn  or 
song,  the  acts  of  a  drama,  etc. 

Interludes.  [L.  inter-ludo,  I  play  in  the  midst 
of.]  Grotesque,  merry  performances,  which, 
arising  out  of  the  Moralities  (q-v.),  made  an  ap- 
proach towards  the  regular  drama  ;  held  during 
the  Reformation  controversy  in  England ;  each 
side  ridiculing  the  other  ;  well-known  persons, 
events,  corruptions,  being  ridiculed  on  the  stage. 

Interlunar.  (Astron.)  Belonging  to  the  time 
when  the  moon  is  invisible  between  old  and  new 
moon. 

Intermittent  fever.  [L.  intermitto,  in  neut. 
sense,  I  cease  for  a  while.]  (Med.)  Ceasing  for 
a  time  and  then  returning,  the  patient  not  suffer- 
ing in  the  intervals. 

Intermittent  springs.  An  example  of  the 
common  siphon.  If,  towards  the  bottom  of  a 
subterranean  region,  the  water  which  eventually 
appears  as  a  spring  escape  by  an  ascending 
siphon-like  passage,  the  flow  will  continue  till 
the  reservoir  be  nearly  emptied.  Between  this 
time  and  the  rising  of  the  inflowing  water  to 
the  highest  point  of  the  siphon  the  spring  will  be 
intermittent.  Examples,  the  Great  Geyser,  and 
the  Sabbatic  River  of  Josephus  and  Pliny,  near 
Tripoli,  now  the  Neba  el  Fuarr  (Thomson,  The 
Land  and  the  £ oo k,  p.  263). 

Internal  forces.  (Dyn)  Are  exerted  be- 
tween the  parts  of  a  moving  system  ;  thus,  if 
Jupiter  and  its  satellites  are  regarded  as  forming 
a  system,  e.g.  moving  together  round  the  sun, 
the  mutual  attractions  between  Jupiter  and  the 
satellites  would  be  I.  F.  In  like  manner  the 
cohesive  forces  which  bind  together  the  parts  of 
a  solid  body  are  I.  F.,  when  the  motion  of  the 
body  as  a  whole  is  under  consideration. 

Internecine.  [L.  inter,  between,  neco,  I  kill.] 
Mutually  destructive,  causing  mutual  slaughter, 
i.e.  between  kinsfolk,  fellow-citizens,  fellow- 
countrymen. 

Internode.  [L.  internodium.]  (Bot.)  The 
space  between  two  nodes  [nodus,  a  knot]  or 
points  from  which  normal  leaf-buds  issue. 

Internuncius.  [L.]  A  papal  envoy  sent  to 
inferior  states.  (Nuncio.) 

Interpellation.  [Fr.  interpeller,  to  call  upon, 
to  challenge]  In  the  French  Senate,  a  direct 
challenge  to  some  particular  members  to  give 
information,  in  answer  to  some  question  or 
charge,  etc. 

Interpleader,  Bill  of.  If  the  same  claim  be 
made  on  a  person  by  more  than  one  party,  he 
can  seek  relief  by  B.  of  I.,  praying  that  the 
claimants  may  contest  their  rights  inter  se. 

Interpolate.  [L.  interpolo,  /  polish  here  and 
there,  patch  up.]  1,  (Astron.)  To  find  values 


of  a  function  intermediate  to  values  already 
found  ;  thus,  when  the  sun's  right  ascension  at 
every  Greenwich  noon  is  given,  its  value  at  any 
other  time  is  found  by  Interpolation.  2.  The 
insertion,  in  a  MS.  or  any  writing  or  literary 
work,  of  spurious  words  and  passages. 

In  terrorem.  [L.]  For  the  purpose  of  terri- 
fying. 

Intersect.  [L.  inter,  se"co,  I  cut.]  (Math.)  To 
meet  and  cut  mutually,  said  of  lines,  surfaces,  etc. 

Interstellary.  [L.  inter,  Stella,  a  star.} 
Lying  among  the  stars,  i.e.  beyond  the  solar 
system. 

Interstitial  [L.  interstitium,  a  space  between.] 
(Anat.)  Occurring  in  the  interstices  of  an  organ. 

Interstratified.  (Geol.)  Laid  down  at  the 
same  time  with,  and  among,  other  strata. 

Interval,  Intervale.  Low  or  alluvial  land  on 
the  margins  of  rivers. —  Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Intervertebral  substance,  or  cartilage.  (Anat.) 
A  layer  of  elastic,  chamois-leather-like  cartilage, 
acting  as  a  buffer,  and  preventing  any  jar  be- 
tween the  vertebrae.  The  re-expansion  of  it  adds 
sometimes  half  an  inch  to  the  height  of  the  body 
when  a  good  night's  rest  has  succeeded  to  a  day 
of  fatigue ;  and  its  gradual  contraction  and 
diminishing  moisture  shortens  the  body  in  old 
age. 

Interview.  To  question,  to  obtain  informa- 
tion by  questioning,  to  "  pump  a  person  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  secrets. "—Bartlett's  Ameri 
canisms. 

Intestate.  [L.  in-  neg.,  and  testatus,  p.  part, 
of  tester,  I  make  a  will]  (Leg.)  Without  having 
left  a  will,  or  testament. 

In  the  wind.  ( IVaut.)  Said  of  a  vessel  thrown 
nearly  head  to  wind.  All  in  the  W.,  with  every 
sail  shaking. 

Intinction,  Communion  by.  The  administering 
of  the  consecrated  elements  in  the  Eucharist 
mingled.  This  is  the  practice  for  the  laity  in 
the  Eastern  Church. 

Intone.  [L.  intono,  /  call  out  loudly]  To 
recite  the  prayers  on  one  note — generally  G— and 
sing  the  suffrages  and  Litany ;  to  monotone 
being  to  keep  to  one  note  only  throughout. 

In  totidem  verbis.     [L.]    In  so  many  "words. 

Intrados.  [Fr.,  from  L.  intro,  within,  and 
dorsum,  the  back.}  (Arch.)  The  lower  line  of 
anarch.  (Extrados;  Soffit.) 

Intransitive  verbs.  (Gram.)  Verbs  denoting 
actions  the  effects  of  which  do  not  pass  on  to  an 
object. 

In  transitu,  [L.]  On  the  passage,  often 
from  the  owner  of  goods  to  the  consignee. 

Intrinsic.  [L.  intrinsecus,  on  the  inside] 
Inward,  internal,  genuine,  inherent,  essential. 
(Extrinsic.) 

Introit.  [L.  introitus,  entry]  (Eccl.)  Verses 
chanted  at  the  entry  of  the  clergy  into  the  choir 
for  the  celebration  of  the  Eucharist.  In  the 
Ambrosian  ritual,  Ingressa. 

Intromission.  [From  L.  intro-mitto,  I  send 
within  (intro).]  (Scot.  Law.)  The  assuming 
possession,  etc.,  of  property  belonging  to  another. 

Introsusception.  1.  (Intussusception.)  2. 
(Path.)  The  deposition,  interstitially,  of  those. 


INTR 


272 


IRIS 


particles  which  replace  the  waste  of  a  living 
body. 

Intrusive  rocks.  [L.  intrudo,  I  thrust  into.] 
(Geol.)  Igneous  rocks  which  have  thrust  them- 
selves in  sheet-like  masses,  vertical,  oblique,  or 
flat,  through  or  between  sedimentary  strata, 
affecting  them  on  both  sides,  or  above  and 
beneath ;  some  igneous  rocks  are  contemporary 
and  interstratified  with  sedimentary  strata,  alter- 
ing only  the  strata  beneath  them. 

Intuitionalism.    (Determinism.) 

Intumescence.  [L.  intumescentem,  swelling.] 
The  process  of  swelling. 

Intussusception,  Introsusception.  [L.  intus, 
intro,  within,  susceptio,  -nem,  undertaking.]  1. 
When  one  portion  of  the  bowel  is  forced  into 
another,  either  above  or  below,  and  is  contracted 
by  it ;  as  one  part  of  a  glove-finger  into  an  adjacent 
part,  sometimes,  in  withdrawing  the  hand.  2. 
The  taking  into  the  system  of  some  foreign 
matter.  In  sense  (i)  sometimes  called  Invagina- 
tion  [vagina,  a  sheath]. 

Inuline.  »A  substance  intermediate  between 
jam  and  starch,  found  in  many  roots,  especially 
elecampane  [L.  inula]. 

Inure.  [Norm.  Fr.  enurer,  from  L.  inaugurare, 
to  consecrate,  establish,  open.]  (Leg.)  To  take 
effect. 

Inusitation.  [L.  in-  neg.,  usitatum,  wonted, 
commonly  used.]  Neglect  of  use.  Rare. 

Invagination.     (Intussusception.) 

Invected.  [L.  invectus,  carried  in.]  (ffer.) 
Bordered  by  a  line  formed  of  small  semicircles 
with  the  points  turned  inwards. 

Invention  of  the  Cross.  [L.  inventio  Sanctae 
Crucis.]  The  day  commemorating  the  discovery 
of  the  cross  by  Helena,  mother  of  Constantine, 
May  3,  326. 

In  ventre  de  sa  mere.  A  Fr.  Law  term. 
Every  legitimate  child  in  the  -womb  of  its  mother 
is  so  termed,  and  is  in  law,  for  many  purposes, 
supposed  to  be  born  :  e.g.  it  may  receive  a 
legacy,  a  devise  of  lands,  and  this  equally  with 
children  of  the  same  family  born  before,  etc. 

Inver-.    (Aber-.) 

Inversion.  [L.  inversio,  -nem,  Rhet.,  a  trans- 
posing of  words.]  (Music.)  1.  The  various 
transpositions,  having  a  common  root,  of  the 
component  parts  of  a  chord  are  called  I.  2.  Of 
intervals,  is  by  making  the  octave  below  of  the 
upper  note  into  the  lower,  or  the  octave  above  of 
the  lower  into  the  higher  ;  so  a  fifth  becomes  a 
fourth,  and  a  fourth  a  fifth,  etc.  3.  Of  subjects 
or  phrases.  (Per  recte  et  retro.) 

Invertebrate,  Invertebrates.  [L.  in-  neg., 
vertebrata  (q.v.).]  (Zool.)  Animals  without  a 
backbone,  as  the  oyster,  beetle,  starfish,  hydra. 

Investiture.  [L.  vestis,  a  garment.]  (Hist.) 
1.  The  delivery  of  a  fief  by  a  lord  to  his  vassal, 
with  certain  ceremonies.  2.  The  endowment 
of  a  bishop  with  the  temporalities  of  his  see. 
(Institution.) 

Invincible  Doctor.     (Doctor.) 

Invincible  ignorance.  [L.  invincibilis,  un- 
conquerable.] Is  said,  in  Moral  Phil.,  to  be  (i) 
in  itself,  e.g.  an  act  of  the  insane  ;  (2)  in  itself, 
but  not  in  its  cause,  as  an  act  of  the  drunken. 


In  vino  veritas.    [L.]    In  wine  there  is  truth. 

Invita  Minerva.  [L.]  Against  Minerva's 
will  (Horace) ;  said  of  work  composed  without 
signs  of  talent,  Minerva  being  goddess  of  wisdom. 

Invitatory.  [L.  invltatorius.]  Some  text 
chosen  for  the  occasion  of  the  day,  used 
anciently  before  the  Venite,  which  is  also  the 
Invitatory  Psalm. 

In  viridi  observantia.  [I,.]  In  fresh  obser- 
vation ;  seen  recently,  and  by  many. 

Invoice.  [Fr.  envois,  plu.,  sendings,  things 
sent ;  cf.  lettre  d 'envoi,  letter  oj  ad-vice  of  goods 
sent.]  (Com.)  An  account  of  particulars  of 
goods  sent  by  a  seller,  with  prices  and  charges 
annexed. 

Involucre.  [L.  involucrum,  a  wrapper.] 
(Bot. )  A  whorl  of  bracts  on  the  outside  of  a 
calyx  or  flower-head,  which  wraps  up  the  unex- 
panded  flower. 

Involute  of  a  curve.  The  curve  described  by 
the  end  of  a  thread  unwound  from  that  curve, 
the  part  of  the  thread  that  leaves  the  curve 
being  kept  straight  during  the  unwinding.  The 
curve  from  which  the  thread  is  unwound  is  the 
Evolute. 

Involution.  The  squaring  or  cubing  of  a 
number,  or  raising  it  to  any  other  power. 

Iodine.  [Gr.  *a>Srjs,  violet-like,  from  the  colour 
of  its  vapour.]  (Chem.)  A  bluish-black  solid, 
of  metallic  lustre ;  one  of  the  elements. 

Ionian  mode.    (Greek  modes.) 

Iota.  [Gr.  lS>ra,  i,  Heb.  yod.]  The  smallest 
letter  of  the  Phoenician  and  Greek  alphabets; 
and  so,  a  jot,  a  smallest  part. 

lotacism.  (Iota.)  (Lang.)  A  tendency  in  a 
language  to  change  other  vowels  to  the  sound  of 
iota,  It.  i,  as  in  modern  Greek. 

Ipse  dixit.  [L.,  Gr.  OUT&S  t<^.]  He  himselj 
said.  Plato  applied  the  Greek  phrase  to  the 
sayings  of  Socrates. 

Ipsissima  verba.  [L.]  The  very  identical 
words. 

Ipso  facto.     [L.]     (Leg.)    By  the  very  fact. 

Irade.  [Ar.  irada,  will,  desire.]  In  Turkey, 
an  imperial  decree. 

Iridectomy.  [Gr.  Ipts,  the  iris,  fVro/^,  a  ait- 
ting  out.]  The  cutting  out  of  the  segment  of  the 
iris,  for  an  artificial  pupil. 

Iridescent.  Having  colours  like  the  rainbow 
[L.  iris,  iridis], 

Indium.  [L.  iris,  the  rainbow.]  A  rare 
white  metal,  generally  associated  with  osmium  in 
connexion  with  platinum.  (From  the  iridescence 
of  some  of  its  solutions.) 

Iris.  [Gr.  Ipis,  rainbow,  iris.]  1.  (Anat.)  A 
thin  flat  membranous  curtain  of  the  eye  hanging 
in  the  aqueous  humour  and  before  the  lens  ; 
perforated  by  the  pupil  for  the  transmission  of 
light.  2.  (Myth.)  The  messenger  of  the  Olym- 
pian gods,  connected  especially  -with  the  rainbow. 

Irish  cross.     (Cross.) 

Irish  deer.  A  large  cervine  animal,  cllied  to 
the  fallow  deer,  and  now  extinct ;  found  in  peat- 
bogs in  Ireland  and  the  Isle  of  Man. 

Irish  elk.     Probably  not  an  elk.    (Irish  deer.) 

Irish  pennants.  (Naut.)  Ropey  arns,  loose 
reef-points,  etc.,  hanging  about  a  ship. 


IRMI 


273 


ISO 


Innin  Street.     (Ermin  Street.) 

Iron  Age.  (Ages,  The  four;  Prehistoric 
archaeology.) 

Iron  Cross.  A  Prussian  order  of  knighthood, 
instituted  by  Frederick  William  III. 

Iron  crown.  The  crown  of  the  ancient  Lon- 
gobardian  kings  ;  said  to  have  been  the  gift  of 
Gregory  the  Great.  A  plain  fillet  of  iron,  said 
to  be  a  nail  of  the  true  cross,  encircled  by  a 
jewelled  hoop  of  gold,  kept  in  the  cathedral  of 
Monza. 

Iron  Dake.     The  first  Duke  of  Wellington. 

Iron  Gate,  Demir  Kapi,  four  miles  below 
New  Orsova.  A  broad  plateau  of  rock,  1400 
yards  wide,  over  which  the  Danube  formerly  so 
rushed  as  to  bar  the  ascent  to  all  vessels  draw- 
ing more  than  two  feet  and  a  half.  Recent 
blasting  has  enabled  vessels  of  eight  or  nine 
feet  draught  to  pass  at  certain  seasons  of  the 
year. 

Iron  Mask,  Man  of  the.  A  prisoner  who, 
having  been  imprisoned  in  He  Ste.  Marguerite, 
afterwards  died  in  the  Bastille,  1 703.  M.  Taine, 
IJ  Homme  en  Masque de  Fer,  satisfied  himself  that 
this  prisoner  was  Mathioli,  minister  of  the  Duke 
of  Mantua ;  but  although  his  arguments  are 
strong,  they  have  been  disputed,  and  the  mystery 
is  scarcely  cleared  up. 

Irons.  (Naut.)  A  ship  is  in  irons  when  so 
brought  up  into  the  wind  that  she  loses  steerage 
way  and  will  not  come  round  of  herself. 

Ironstone.  (Geol.}  1.  Highly  ferruginous  sand- 
stone, as  in  the  Neocomian  greensand  of  Surrey. 
2.  Beds  and  nodules  of  clay  ironstone,  or  carbon- 
ates of  iron,  more  or  less  argillaceous,  abundant 
in  clays  associated  with  vegetable  remains,  as  in 
the  coal-measures,  Wealden,  etc. 

Ironwood,  i.e.  very  hard  and  very  heavy.  A 
name  given  to  several  different  woods  in  different 
countries. 

Irony.  [Gr.  (Ipuvtia,  from  ftpwv,  one  "who  dis- 
sembles, as  saying  less  than  he  thinks.]  (Rhet.) 
According  to  Aristotle,  irony  was  an  artful  repre- 
senting of  things  as  less  than  they  really  are. 
The  ironical  man  was  thus  one  who  hid  his  own 
qualities.  The  irony  of  Socrates  was  employed 
to  lead  into  contradictions  or  absurdities  those 
who  affected  to  take  for  granted  the  argu- 
ments of  the  speaker.  The  word  now  denotes 
a  subtle  kind  of  sarcasm,  in  which  seeming 
praise  really  conveys  disapprobation. 

Irradiation.  [L.  in,  and  radius,  a  ray.]  The 
apparent  enlargement  of  bright  objects  seen  on 
a  dark  ground  ;  it  is  generally,  perhaps  always, 
an  affection  of  vision. 

Irrational  expression.  In  Algeb.,  one  of 
which  the  root  cannot  be  extracted,  a  surd. 

Irrefragable.  [Fr.  irrefragable,  L.L.  irre- 
fragabilis,  from  L.  in-  neg.,  refragor,  /  oppose.] 
Not  to  be  argued  against,  unanswerable,  incon- 
trovertible. 

Irrefragable  Doctor.     (Doctor.) 
Irremeable.      [L.  irremeabilis,  from  in-  neg., 
re-,  back,  meare,  to  go.]     Allowing  no  return  (as 
he  waters  of  the  Styx). 
Irresolvable  nebula.     (Nebula.) 
Irritability  of   plants.     (Bot.)    A  name  for 


the  imperfectly  understood  "sleep  of  plants," 
occurring  mostly  at  night ;  ciliary  motion  of  the 
spores  of  many  cryptogams  ;  the  action  of  sen- 
sitive plants,  and  of  Venus's  fly-trap,  etc.,  and 
many  similar  phenomena  ;  more  or  less  found  in 
every  plant. 

Irritant.  [From  L.  irntus,  null,  fromin-  neg., 
ratus,  established.]  (Leg.)  Making  null  and 
void.  (Poison.) 

Irvingites.  The  followers  of  Edward  Irving, 
of  the  Scotch  Kirk,  who  in  1830  claimed  utter- 
ances of  unknown  tongues.  They  style  them- 
selves The  Catholic  and  Apostolic  Church. 
Their  Liturgy,  formed  in  1842,  was  enlarged  in 
1852. 

Isagogic.  [Gr.  clffaywyfl,  introduction^  In- 
troductory. 

Isatine.  [Gr.  Iffdns,  u>oad]  A  yellow  crys- 
talline substance  obtained  by  the  oxidation  of 
indigo. 

Ischial,  Ischiatic,  Sciatic.  [Gr.  urx*a5iKos.] 
Having  to  do  with  the  hip  [Iffxiov], 

Isfendyar.     (Bustem.) 

-ish.  [Teut.  -isk,  Gr.  -KTK-O,  •KTK^HJ.]  Dim. 
suffix,  as  in  redd-ish,  rather  red. 

Ishtar.  The  Assyrian  goddess  Ashtaroth. 
(Astarte.) 

Isiac-worship,  The  worship  of  the  Egyptian 
goddess  Isis,  the  wife  of  Osiris  and  mother  of 
Horus.  (Harpocrates.) 

Isidorian  Decretals.    (Forged  Decretals.) 

Islam.  [Ar.,  submission.\  The  collective 
name  for  all  who  believe  in  the  mission  of  Mo- 
hammed. 

Islands  of  the  Blessed.  In  Myth.,  a  region 
corresponding  to  Elysium  (Elysian),  the  Hyper- 
borean gardens,  and  the  Gardens  of  the  Hespe- 
rides.  (Hyperboreans.) 

Isle  of  Saints.  Name  of  Ireland  in  the 
Middle  Ages. 

Ismaelians.  A  Mohammedan  sect,  formed  in 
the  tenth  century  into  a  secret  association,  from 
which  sprang  the  society  of  the  Assassins. 

Iso-  [Gr.  fcros,  equal  to] ;  Isobaric ;  Isochro- 
nous ;  Isoclinal;  Isodynamic;  Isogonic;  Iso- 
metrical  projection;  Isoperimetrical  problems; 
Isothermal.  A  prefix  signifying  equality,  much 
used  in  forming  scientific  words,  especially  in 
the  case  of  lines  which  represent  graphically 
equality  of  phenomena;  thus,  lines  drawn  on  a 
map  to  show  places  where  the  average  barometric 
pressures  are  equal,  are  Isobaric  lines ;  places 
where  the  needle  has  the  same  dip  are  shown 
by  Isoclinal  lines ;  places  where  the  magnetic 
intensity  is  the  same  are  shown  by  Isodynamic 
lines ;  places  where  the  deviation  of  the  magnet 
is  the  same,  by  Isogonic  lines ;  where  the  mean 
annual  temperature  is  the  same,  by  Isothermal 
lines.  Isoperimetrical  problems  relate  to  such 
questions  as  finding  the  greatest  area  inclosed 
by  a  given  perimeter.  The  questions  are  com- 
prised in  the  calciilus  of  variations.  (Calculus 
of  finite  differences.)  Isochronous  [xpovos,  time], 
performed  in  equal  times  ;  e.g.  a  cycloid  is  an 
isochronotis  curve  because  the  oscillations  of 
bodies  moving  in  equal  cycloids  are  performed 
in  equal  times  whether  the  arcs  described  be 


ISOB 


274 


IWIS 


long  or  short.  Isometrical  projection  is  a  species 
of  perspective,  in  which  the  edges  of  a  cube 
are  represented  as  of  equal  length,  and  the 
measurements  of  the  three  visible  faces  equal 
in  all  respects. 

Isobar.  [Gr.  '(eras,  equal,  ftdpos,  weight.}  An 
isobaric  line.  (Iso-.) 

Isocardia.  (Zool.)  [Gr.  fcros,  equal,  KapSia, 
heart.}  Heart-shaped  molluscs  with  equal  valves, 
as  cockles.  Class  Conchifera. 

Isochimenal  lines,  where  the  average  winter 
[Gr.xctM  and  Isotheral  lines,  where  the  average 
summer  [Qepos],  temperatures  are  equal. 

Isoclinal  line.  [Gr.  1<ros,  equal,  K\lveiv,  to 
incline.}  A  line  passing  through  all  the  places 
where  the  magnetic  needle  has  the  same  incli- 
nation, or  dip. 

Isodynamic.  [Gr.  foos,  equal,  Swa/us, 
force.}  Pertaining  to,  or  showing,  equality  of 
forces. 

Isogonic  line.  [Gr.  1<ros,  equal,  yuvla,  angle.} 
A  line  passing  through  all  the  places  where  the 
magnetic  needle  has  the  same  deviation  from 
the  true  N. 

Isohyetose  lines.  [Gr.  tffos,  equal,  vfr6s, 
rain.}  Lines  connecting  those  places  where  the 
mean  annual  rainfall  is  the  same. 

Isomeric.  [Gr.  Yo-oy,  equal,  fj.fpos,  part}  Con- 
sisting of  the  same  elements  in  the  same  propor- 
tion, but  differing  in  physical  qualities  and  in 
the  size  of  its  molecules. 

Isometrical  perspective.  I.q.  Isometrical  pro- 
jection. (Iso-.) 

Isomorph.  [Gr.  teas,  equal,  ;uop<^,  form.} 
(Geol.)  A  substance  having  the  same  crystalline 
form  as  another. 

Isomorphism.  [Gr.  taos,  equal  to,  like,  nop<p-fi, 
form.}  The  crystallization  in  very  nearly  the 
same  form  of  substances  whose  chemical  compo- 
sitions differ  by  one  element,  as  carbonate  of 
lime  and  carbonate  of  magnesia. 

Isonomy.  [Gr.  fcroi/ojuia.]  An  equality  of 
rights  and  privileges  under  equal  [taos]  laws 
\y6fjios}. 

Isosceles.    (Triangle.) 

Isotheral,  or  Isothermal.   (Isochimenal  lines.) 
Issuable.     (Leg.)     On  or  in  which  issue  may 
be  taken,  as  I.  terms,  Hilary  and  Trinity,  in 
which  issues  (single  material  points  of  law  or 
fact)  are  made  up  for  the  assizes. 
Issuant.    [O.Fr.]     (Her.)     Rising  out  of. 
Issue,  or  Fonticulus.      [L.,  a  small  spring.} 
(Med.)    A  small  ulcer  produced  and  continued 
artificially,    by   the    insertion    of   some    round 
body. 
Issue  price.    (Finance.}     The  real  price  at 


which  shares,  bonds,  or  stock  are  sold  on  their 
first  issue  above  or  below  the  nominal  value. 

Isthmian  games.  One  of  the  four  Greek 
national  festivals,  anciently  celebrated  on  the 
Isthmus  of  Corinth  every  other  year,  from  B.C. 
585  probably  till  about  A.D.  312,  in  honour  of 
Poseid5n ;  said  to  have  been  founded  by 
Theseus,  in  place  of  the  nocturnal  festival  of 
Melikertes  (q.v.).  The  games  were  like  the 
Olympic,  the  prizes  being  garlands  of  pine 
leaves,  and  dried. 

Italia  irredenta.  [It.]  Unredeemed  Italy  ;  i.e. 
Trent,  Trieste,  and  whatever  else  once  belonged 
to  Italy,  but  does  not  now. 

Italian  pink.  A  transparent  pigment  prepared 
from  the  juice  of  yellow  berries  or  from  quer- 
citron bark  precipitated  upon  whiting. 

Italic  Version.  [L.  Vetus  Itala,  i.e.  Old 
Italic.}  The  Latin  translation  of  the  Scriptures, 
generally  used  until  St.  Jerome's  time,  who, 
dissatisfied  with  it,  made  the  new  translation 
known  as  the  Vulgate,  which  by  degrees  ob- 
tained universally  in  the  Latin  Church. 

Itch,  Scabies,  Psora.  (Med.)  A  contagious 
vesicular  disease  of  the  skin,  due  to  the  presence 
of  the  itch-mite. 

Itchil.  Province  on  east  of  south  coast  of 
Asia  Minor  about  the  time  of  the  Reformation. 

-ite.    (-ate.) 

Item.  [L.,  also.}  1.  An  additional  particular. 
2.  A  hint. 

Ite,  missa  est  [L.,  go,  it  is  sent.}  The  last 
words  of  the  Roman  Mass.  The  origin  and 
meaning  of  the  expression  is  not  known. 

Iteration.  [L.  it£ratio,  from  itero,  1  repeat, 
from  iterum,  again.}  Repetition. 

Itihasas.  The  name  given  to  the  two 
*reat  Hindu  epics,  the  Ramayana  and  Maha- 
aharata. 

Itinerary.  [L.  iter,  itine'ris,  a  journey.}  A 
work,  naming  places  and  stations  to  be  met 
with  along  a  particular  line  of  road,  as  the  Latin 
itineraries,  the  most  important  of  which  is  that 
of  Antoninus.  The  /.  of  Jerusalem  describes 
he  journey  between  Bordeaux  and  the  holy 
city. 

-itis,  -7m.     Termination  of  Gr.  adj.,  fern., 
as  £ax*Tis,  i.e.  v6aos,  disease  of  the  spine  [pdxis] ;  > 
rickets  (q.v.). 

Ivan  Ivanovitch.  A  fictitious  personage,  re- 
Dresentative  of  Russian  character,  as  John  Bull 
of  English. 

Ivory  black.  A  pigment  formed  of  ivory 
charred  in  closed  vessels. 

Iwis — not  I  wis,  as  if  =  I  know,  but — an 
adv.,  meaning  certainly  [A.  S.  gewis,  certain}. 


275 


JANI 


J. 


J.  The  same  letter  as  I.  It  is  only  within 
the  last  century  that  any  distinction  has  been 
made  in  their  forms. 

Jacchus.  (Zool.)  The  marmorets,  Hapalidse, 
a  fam.  of  platyrrhine  monkeys,  about  the  size  of 
squirrels.  Trop.  S.  America. 

Jachin  and  Boaz.  [Heb.,  probably  He  %vill 
establish,  in  strength.]  Two  brazen  pillars  "in 
the  porch  "  of  Solomon's  temple  (i  Kings  vii.  2)  ; 
or,  more  likely,  isolated  columns  "  at  the 
porch"  (see  Speaker's  Commentary,  v.  15). 

Jacinth.  Of  Rev.  xxi.  20  [Gr.  vaKtvQo^\ ; 
probably  the  true  sapphire. — King,  Precious 
Stones. 

Jack.  1.  (7chth.)  A  pike,  Esox  lucius,  under 
three  pounds  weight.  2.  (Naut.)  (Flag.)  3. 
The  cross-trees.  J.-sta/,  that  on  which  the 
Union  Jack  is  hoisted  at  the  bowsprit  cap. 

Jack ;  J.-screw.  A  portable  machine  for  lifting 
heavy  weights  through  small  distances ;  when 
worked  with  a  screw  it  is  a  J. -screw. 

Jackasses.  (Naut.)  Rough  and  heavy  boats 
of  Newfoundland. 

Jack-boots.  ( Mil.}  Long  cavalry  boots,  such 
as  are  worn  by  our  Life  Guards. 

Jacket.  A  covering  of  a  non-conducting 
substance  put  over  a  hot  body  to  keep  the 
heat  in. 

Jack-in-the-green.  The  principal  character 
of  the  mummers  who  go  about  in  England  on 
May-day. 

Jack  Ketch.     (Ketch,  Jack.) 
Jack-pudding.    A  zany,  a  merry-andrew. 
Jack-stones.      Bedded    masses  of   clay  iron- 
stone in  the  S. -Welsh  coal-fields.     Penny-stones 
are  similar,  but  smaller,  in  Coalbrookdale,  etc. 

Jacobin  Club.  (Fr.  Hist. )  A  society  of  pro- 
minent members  of  the  First  Assembly ;  so 
styled  as  holding  their  meetings  in  a  suppressed 
Jacobin  monastery.  Hence  the  word  Jacobin 
came  to  be  synonymous  with  revolutionary. 

Jacobins.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  the  French  Do- 
minicans were  so  called,  as  having  their  chief 
convent  near  the  Rue  St.  Jacques,  in  Paris. 

Jacobites.  1.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  Mono- 
physite  Christians  of  Syria  ;  so  called  from  Jacob 
Baradzi,  who  revived  their  belief  and  ritual  in 
the  sixth  century.  2.  (Eng.  Hist.)  The  parti- 
sans of  the  Stuart  dynasty  after  the  Revolution 
of  1688. 

Jacobus.  A  gold  coin  worth  25^.,  struck  in 
the  reign  of  James  I. 

Jaconet.  [Fr.  jaconas.]  A  thin  cotton  fabric 
between  cambric  and  muslin. 

Jacque.  [Fr.  jaque.]  English  archer's 
leather  tunic,  made  of  overlapping  flaps. 

Jacquerie.  (Hist.)  A  revolt  of  the  French 
peasantry,  which  occurred  during  the  captivity 
of  their  king  John  in  England,  in  1356  ;  so 
called  from  Jacques  Bonhomme,  a  title  of  de- 
rision applied  by  the  nobles  to  the  peasants. 
Jactation,  Jactitation.  [L.  jacto,  jactito,  / 


toss  about."]     (Med.}     A   tossing   about   in  bed, 
great  restlessness.     (Insomnia.) 

Jactitation.  [L.  jactito,  /  boast]  In  Law,  a 
false  boasting.  J.  of  marriage,  the  giving  out 
that  one  is  married  to  some  other,  by  which  a 
common  reputation  of  their  marriage  may  en- 
ne.  It  has  been  applied  also  to  a  false  claim  to 
a  seat  in  church  ;  also  to  a  false  claim  to  tithes. 
Jade.  [Fr.  jade.]  A  term  applied  to  three 
different  minerals  having  some  resemblance  in 
colour ;  they  have  been  generally  termed  ne- 
phrite (q.v.).  1.  Jadeite,  allied  to  the  epidotes  ; 
China,  Mexico.  2.  Oriental  J.,  allied  to  horn- 
blende ;  China,  Australasia.  3.  Oceanic  J., 
allied  to  pyroxene  ;  New  Caledonia  and  Mar- 
quise Isle. 

J'adoube.    [Fr.]    In  chess,  =  I  touch  this  piece, 
to  put  it  better  in  place,  not  to  move  it.     (Dub.) 
Jaganath.     (Juggernaut.) 
Jaggery.     [Hind,    jagri.]    Dark  coarse  sugar 
made  of  the  juice  of  the  cocoa-nut  palm. 

Jaghir.  [Hind.]  An  assignment  of  the  rent 
and  revenue  of  an  Indian  district  to  a  military 
chief  by  the  English  Government.  Jaghir-dar, 
the  holder  of  a  J. 

Jaguar.  [Sp.]  (Zool.}  Felis  onca,  the  American 
leopard,  like  but  larger  than  that  of  Asia  and 
Africa. 

J'ai  jete  la  manche  apres  la  cognee.     [Fr.] 
I  have  thrown  the  helve  after  the  hatchet.     "  We 
have  burnt  our  ships." 
Jail  delivery.     (Gaol  delivery.) 
Jalousie.     [Fr.]    A  Venetian  blind. 
Jambs.      [Fr.   jambe.]      (Arch.)      The  side 
pieces  of  any  opening  in  a  wall,  supporting  the 
piece   that  discharges   the  weight   of   the  wall 
above  them. 

Jamdari     A  kind  of  figured  Indian  muslin. 
James,  Palace  of  St.     Built  by  Henry  VIII., 
on  the  site  of  a  leper  hospital  founded  in  uoo. 
It  became  a  royal  residence  after  the  destruction 
of  Whitehall  by  fire,  1698. 

James,  St.,  of  the  Sword.  (Hist.)  An  ancient 
military  order  in  Spain  and  Port-gal. 

Jamma.  [Hind.]  Rent  paid  to  the  Govern- 
ment of  India. 

Jam  proximus  ardet  Ucalegon.  [L.]  Already 
is  neighbour  Ucalegon^s  house)  on  fire  (Virgil) ; 
said  of  dangers  affecting  others  which  we  fear 
will  reach  ourselves. 

Jam  redit  et  Virgo ;  redeunt  Saturnia  regna. 
[L.]  Already  too  is  the  virgin  ret^lrn^ng,  the 
Saturnian  rule  returns  (Virgil) ;  i.e.  Astrsea, 
goddess  of  justice  and  the  Golden  Age. 
Jam  satis!  [L.]  Hold,  enough! 
Janissaries,  Janizaries.  [Turk,  yeni-ischeri, 
new  troops]  The  militia  of  the  Ottoman  empire, 
established  probably  by  Orchan  in  the  fourteenth 
century,  and  supplied  chiefly  by  the  capture  of 
Christian  slaves.  It  was  suppressed,  after  a 
terrible  struggle,  in  1826. 

Janitor.     [L.]    Door-keeper,  porter. 


JANS 


276 


JETS 


Jansenists.  A  body  of  French  Roman  Catho- 
lics, who,  following  Jansen,  Bishop  of  Ypres, 
formed  a  considerable  party  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  In  their  opinions  they 
leant  to  Calvinism.  They  were  defeated  in  their 
celebrated  controversy  with  the  Jesuits. 

Janta,  A  machine  used  in  India  for  raising 
water  for  the  irrigation  of  land. 

Januis  clausis.  [L.]  With  dosed  doors;  in 
secrecy. 

Janus.  [L.]  (Myth.)  A  god  whose  name  is 
the  masculine  form  of  Diana.  The  gate  bearing 
his  name  was  open  in  times  of  war,  and  shut  only 
when  the  Roman  republic  was  at  peace. 

Japanning.  1.  Painting  and  varnishing  wood, 
metal,  etc.,  after  the  Japanese  manner.  2. 
Lacquering. 

Jardiniere.  [Fr.,  gardener's  wife.}  A  pot  or 
vase  for  plants. 

Jaruac,  Coup  de.  [Fr.]  An  attack  unfair, 
unexpected,  fatal ;  like  the  dagger-stab  in  the 
leg  which  J.  gave  Chateigneraie  in  the  ju- 
dicial combat  fought  (1547)  before  Henri  II. ; 
"  manoeuvre  perfide,  deloyale  "  (Littre). 

Jasher,  or  Jashar,  Book  of.  A  book,  referred 
to  in  the  Books  of  Joshua  and  Samuel,  of 
which  nothing  fujrther  is  known  with  certainty. 
— Home,  Introd.  to  Study  of  the  Bible  ;  Donald- 
son, Jashar. 

Jasper.  [Gr.  taurvis.}  (Mm.)  An  amorphous 
silica ;  red,  brown,  yellow,  green,  often  banded  ; 
the  result  of  igneous  and  hydro-thermal  action 
on  clays.  (For  J.  of  Rev.  xxi.  19,  -vide  Plasma.) 

Jasper  ware.  A  compact  hard  paste,  capable 
of  a  high  polish,  and  of  being  tinted  throughout 
by  metallic  oxides ;  invented  by  Josiah  Wedg- 
wood. 

Jaunting-car.  An  Irish  vehicle,  on  which 
the  passengers  ride  sideways,  sitting  back  to 
back. 

Javelin.  [Fr.  javeline,  from  It.  giavelina.] 
Short  spear  or  large  dart,  thrown  by  the  hand. 

Javelin-men.  Yeomen  retained  by  the  sheriff 
to  guard  the  judge  of  assize. 

Jaw,  Jaw-rope  of  a  gaff,  or  boom.     (Gaff.) 

JazaiL  [Afgh.]  Long  gun — sometimes  ten 
feet — with  narrow  stock,  used  by  the  natives  of 
Afghanistan. 

Jazerant.  [O.Fr.]  A  frock  of  linked  or 
twisted  mail,  somewhat  lighter  than  the  hauberk. 

Jean.  (From  the  town  of  Genoa.}  Twilled 
cotton  cloth. 

Jean  Jacques.  Forenames  of  the  French 
philosopher  Rousseau  (1712-1778). 

Jean  Paul.  Norn  de  plume  of  the  German 
author  J.  P.  Friedrich  Richter  (1763-1825). 

Jedburgh  justice.     (Jeddart  justice.) 

Jeddart  justice.  Hanging  first  and  trying 
afterwards. 

Jeers.     (Naut.)    (Halliards.) 

Jehovist.  1.  One  who  holds  that  the  vowel 
points  in  the  word  Jehovah  are  the  proper 
vowels  ;  in  opposition  to  those  who  insist  that 
they  are  the  vowels  of  the  word  Adonai.  2.  The 
supposed  writer  or  writers  of  those  passages  in 
the  Pentateuch  in  which  the  word  Jehovah 
occurs,  as  distinguished  from  the  Elohist  writer 


or  writers,  who  use  the  word  Elohim  to  denote 
the  Deity. 

Jehu.  By  meton.  =  a  fast  driver  (see  2  Kings 
ix.  20). 

Jejunum.  [L.,  fasting,  hunger.}  (Med.) 
The  second  portion  of  the  small  intestine, 
generally  found  empty  after  death. 

Jelba,  or  Jerba.  (Naut.)  A  large  coasting- 
boat  used  in  the  Red  Sea. 

Jemadar.  [Hind.]  (Mil.)  Native  commis- 
sioned officer  of  Sepoy  troops,  ranking  with 
lieutenant. 

Jemmy  Ducks.    (Naut.)    The  ship's  poulterer. 

Je  ne  sais  quoi.     [Fr.]     7  know  not  what. 

Jenkins's  Ears,  Fable  of.  Burke's  name  for  a 
story  which  excited  the  English  people  against 
Spain,  1739;  that  of  one  J.,  whose  sloop  had 
been  searched  in  Jamaica  by  a  Spanish  guarda- 
costa,  and  his  ear,  as  he  said,  torn  off;  with  an 
assurance  that  the  king  would  have  been  similarly 
treated. 

Jennet.     (Genet.) 

Jeofail.  [For  Fr.  j'ai  failli,  I  have  failed} 
(Leg.)  An  oversight  in  pleadings  or  other  legal 
proceedings. 

Jerboa.     (Gerboa.) 

Jereed.     (Jerreed.) 

Jeremiad.  A  name  suggested  by  the  Lamenta- 
tions of  Jeremiah,  but  applied  satirically  to 
stories  or  speeches  full  of  absurd  pictures  of 
exaggerated  or  imaginary  evils. 

Jerked  beef.  [Corr.  of  Fr.  charcuit,  cooked 
Beef  cut  in  thin  stripes  and  dried  in  the 


Jerkin.  [Dim.  of  the  D.  jurk,  a  frock.}  A 
jacket. 

Jerquing  a  ship.  (N"aut.)  The  searching  on 
the  part  of  the  custom-house  for  concealed  goods 
in  ships  professedly  unloaded. 

Jerreed.  Blunted  Turkish  javelin,  darted 
from  horseback  with  great  force  and  precision. 

Jersey.  1.  The  finest  wool.  2.  A  jacket  of 
coarse  wool. 

Jerusalem,  St.  John  of,  Knights  of.  (Orders, 
Religious.) 

Jerusalem  Itinerary.     (Itinerary.) 

Jessant.     [O.Fr.]     (Her.)     Springing  up. 

Jesse  window.  (Eccl.  Arch.)  A  window  ex- 
hibiting a  Jesse  tree,  or  the  genealogy  of  our 
Lord  from  Jesse,  father  of  David.  A  window 
in  the  church  of  Dorchester,  near  Oxford,  shows 
this  tree  worked  in  stone  with  the  aid  of  the 
mullions. 

Jester.     (Minstrels.) 

Jesuits.  (Hist.)  The  Society  of  Jesus, 
founded  by  Ignatius  Loyola,  in  1534,  on  the  basis 
of  implicit  submission  to  the  commands  of  the 
holy  see. 

Jet.  [(?)  A.S.  geotan,  to  pour  ;  cf.  Ger.  giessen, 
id.}  A  large,  wooden-handled  ladle  for  taking 
water  out  of  a  pond,  and  the  like. 

Jet,  Gagate.  [Gr.  Ta.ya.Tijs,  Gagas,  a  Lycian 
river.}  A  peculiar  form  of  pitch-coal,  electrical 
when  rubbed.  Whitby  J.  is  from  the  Lias. 

Jet  d'eau.     [Fr.]     Water-spout. 

Jetee.     [Fr.]     Pier,  jetty. 

Jetsam,  Jetson.     (Flotsam.) 


JETT 


277 


JOHN 


Jettison,  or  Jetsen.  [L.  jactationem.]  (Naut.) 
The  act  of  throwing  things  overboard. 

Jetty.  [Fr.  jetee.]  (Arch.)  A  projection 
from  a  building,  overhanging  the  wall  below. 
Shakespeare,  Macbeth,  uses  the  iormjutty. 

Jen  de  main,  jeu  de  vilain.  [Fr.]  A  practical 
joke  is  a  vulgar  joke. 

Jeu  de  mots.     [Fr.]    A  play  on  words. 

Jen  d' esprit.  [Fr.]  Witticism,  a  piece  of 
wit ;  lit.  a  sport  of  the  mind. 

Jen  de  theatre.     [Fr.]    A  stage  trick. 

Jeunesse  doree.     [Fr.]     Gilded  youth. 

Jewellers'  ronge.     (Colcothar.) 

Jew's-harp.  1.  Guimbarde,  Jew's-trump. 
A  small  lyre-shaped,  sweet-toned  instrument ; 
the  metal  tongue  is  set  vibrating  by  the  ringer 
while  blown  upon  with  the  mouth.  Jew  here  is 
only  a  corr.  of  Fr.  jeu,  sport  m  play.  2.  (Naut.) 
A  shackle  so  shaped,  and  used  to  join  a  chain- 
cable  to  the  anchor. 

Jerids,  Yedzidis.  A  fanatical  sect,  belonging 
to  the  mountainous  country  near  Mosul ;  their 
opinions  being  seemingly  a  mixture  of  Mo- 
hammedanism, Manichaeism,  and  Zendism.  By 
the  Turks  they  are  regarded  as  devil-worship- 
pers. 

Jheel.     [Hind.]    A  shallow  lake. 

Jhoul.     [Hind.]     Elephant  housings. 

Jib.  (Naut.)  A  large  triangular  sail  set  on  a 
stay  and  extending  from  the  outer  end  of  the 
jibboom  towards  the  fore-topmast  head.  In 
cutters  and  sloops  it  is  set  on  the  bowsprit.  A 
sail  jibs  when  it  flies  over  from  one  side  to  the 
other.  (Crane.) 

Jib-and-Staysail  Jack.  (Naitt.)  An  inex- 
perienced and  fidgety  officer. 

Jibber  the  kibber.  (Naut.)  To  tie  a  lantern 
to  a  horse's  neck  and  check  one  of  his  legs,  so 
that  the  light  should  move  like  that  of  a  ship, 
and  decoy  vessels  on  shore. 

Jibboom.     (Bowsprit.) 

Jibe.  (Naut.)  To  shift  a  sail  from  one  side 
of  the  vessel  to  another. 

Jibing,  or  Gybing.  (Naut.)  Shifting  the 
boom  of  a  fore-and-aft  sail  from  one  side  to  the 
other. 

Jib-topsail.  (Naut.)  A  fore-and-aft  topsail, 
jib-shaped.  J.-travcller,  an  iron  ring  which 
runs  on  the  booms,  and  to  which  the  tack  of  the 
J.  and  its  guys  are  fastened.  J>-tye,  the  rope 
by  which  the  J.  is  hoisted. 

Jig,  Gigne  [Fr.],  Giga  [It.].  1.  A  lively 
dance,  by  one  or  more  dancers,  of  the  same 
kind  as  bolero  and  chica  ;  but  varying  much 
in  different  countries  from  a  somewhat  sober 
to  a  wild  dramatic  movement.  2.  A  movement 
which  grew  out  of  jig  tunes,  the  origin  of  the 
last  movement  of  the  sonata.  [(?)  From  jig, 
gigue,  a  kind  of  fiddle,  English,  mediaeval;  or 
(?)  i.q.  chica  (q.v.) ;  or  are  all  these  the  same 
word  ?] 

Jigger.  (Naut.)  1.  A  light  tackle  for  hold- 
ing on  the  cable  when  being  hove  in,  and  for 
other  purposes.  2.  A  small  sail  rigged  to  a  mast 
and  boom  over  the  stern.  J.-mast,  an  ad- 
ditional aftermost  mast.  (Chigoe. ) 

Jigging.     [Ger.  schocken,  to  shake.]     Shaking 


a  sieve  full  of  ore  in  water,  whereby  the  lightest 
and  least  metallic  pieces  are  brought  to  the  top. 

Jilalo.  A  large  Manila  outrigged  passage- 
boat. 

Jimmart.  [Fr.]  The  imaginary  offspring  of  a 
bull  and  a  mare. 

Jimmy.     A  short  crowbar  used  by  burglars. 

Jin,  Djin.  Demons  or  spirits  in  Arabian  folk- 
lore. 

Jingo  (in  vulgar  expletive  "  By  J.  ;  "  said 
to  be  for  by  St.  Gengulphus).  One  of  the  war 
party,  1877,  1878,  among  Lord  Beaconsfield's 
supporters;  so  called  from  the  phrase  "By  J.," 
in  one  of  the  music-hall  war-songs. 

Jinjal.  Very  small  cannon,  used  in  India  by 
the  natives. 

Jo.     [Scot.]     Sweetheart. 

Joachims-thaler,  or  Thaler,  whence  Low  Ger. 
dahler,  Eng.  dollar.  An  excellent  coinage  of 
ounce-pieces  of  silver  from  the  mines  of  Joachims- 
thai,  coined  by  the  Counts  of  Schlick  about  the 
end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and  which  became 
a  pattern  coinage. 

Jobber.     One  who  buys  or  sells  for  others. 

Jobbing-house.  [Amer.]  A  mercantile  estab- 
lishment, which  purchases  from  importers  and 
sells  to  retailers. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Jockie.     (Minstrels.) 

Joco  di  mano,  joco  villano.  [It.]  (Jeu  de 
main.) 

Jodeln  [Ger.],  Jodie  [onomatop.].  With  the 
Swiss  and  Tyrolese,  a  peculiar  manner  of  sing- 
ing in  harmonic  progressions,  with  natural  and 
falsetto  voices  rapidly  alternating. 

Joggle-joints.  (Arch.)  Joints  fastened  by 
jogs,  or  knots,  the  surfaces  of  the  adjacent  stones 
being  mutually  indented.  (Rabbeting.) 

Jogues,  Yugs.  Mythical  eras  of  immense 
length  in  the  chronology  of  the  Hindus, 
answering  to  the  Hesiodic  ages  in  Greek  my- 
thology. 

John  Company.  So  the  Indian  natives,  unable 
to  realize  government  by  a  society,  called  the 
E.  I.  Company,  which  ceased  September  I, 
1858  ;  the  Queen  being  proclaimed  Sovereign  of 
India,  with  Lord  Canning  as  first  Viceroy. 

John  Doe  and  Richard  Roe.  In  Law,  fictitious 
personages,  plaintiff  and  defendant,  generally  in 
actions  of  ejectment ;  previous  to  the  passing  of 
the  Common  Law  Procedure  Act,  1852.  They 
were  employed  to  save  certain  niceties  of  law. 
(See  Stephens's  Commentaries.) 

John  Dory.  [(?)  Fr.  jaune-doree,  yellow- 
golden,  or  doree  with  John  prefixed,  or  the  Gasc. 
jan,  i.e.  cock  (?).]  (Ichth.)  Marine  fish,  with 
deep  compressed  body,  elongated  spines  to  first 
dorsal  fin,  olive  brown  with  yellow  tinge. 
British.  Zeus  [Gr.  fa6s]  faber,  fam.  Scom- 
bridse  (mackarel  kind),  ord.  Acanthopterygii, 
sub-class  Teleostel. 

John  O'Groat's  House,  more  correctly  Johnny 
Groat's.  (John  Grot,  chamberlain  to  the  Earl  of 
Caithness,  circ.  1500.)  On  Dungansby  Head,  at 
extreme  north-east  point  of  Scotland  ;  (?)  built  for 
travellers  to  and  from  the  Orkneys  ;  now  a  small 
green  knoll.  (For  its  traditions,  see  Chambers's 
Encyclopedia. ) 


JOHN 


278 


JUDI 


Johnsonese,  Johnsonian  English.  Refer  to 
Johnson's  use  of  long,  pompous  words  from  the 
Latin  ;  the  structure  of  sentences  being  plain. 

Joint-stock.  Stock  held  in  company,  divided 
or  divisible  into  shares  transferable  at  the 
pleasure  of  any  stockholder. 

Joint-tenancy.  (Leg.)  A  tenure  of  the  same 
estate  in  unity  of  title,  interest,  and  possession  by 
two  or  more  persons  each  of  which  is  seised  per 
my  et  per  tout,  with  accession  of  the  rights  and 
interests  of  a  deceased  joint-tenant  or  joint- 
tenants  to  the  survivors  or  survivor.  J.  must 
subsist  ab  initio  by  the  estate  vesting  in  the 
joint-tenants  at  the  same  time.  (Coparcenary; 
Jus  accrescendi ;  Tenancy  in  common.) 

Jointure.  [Fr. ,  from  L.  junctura,  a  joining, 
from  jungo,  I  join.}  (Leg.)  Strictly  a  joint 
estate  limited  to  husband  and  wife,  generally 
a  sole  estate  limited  to  the  wife  inuring  on  the 
husband's  death,  vested  in  herself  for  her  own 
life  at  least,  expressly  in  satisfaction  of  her 
whole  dower. 

Joists.  (Arch.)  The  timbers  of  a  floor  to 
which  the  boards  or  laths  of  the  ceiling  are 
fastened. 

Jolly.  (Naut.)  A  soldier.  Royal  J.,  a 
marine.  Tame  J.,  a  militiaman.  J.-boat, 
clinker-built  and  tubby,  about  four  feet  beam 
by  twelve  feet  long.  J. -jumpers,  sails  above 
the  moonrakers.  J.  Roger,  the  pirate's  flag, 
skull  and  cross-bones  white,  on  a  black  ground. 

Jonathan,  Brother,  =  the  people  of  the 
United  States.  Washington,  when  in  difficulty, 
often  said,  "  We  must  consult  Brother  Jonathan," 
i.e.  J.  Trumbull,  Governor  of  Connecticut,  in 
whom  he  had  great  confidence,  and  whose  name 
became  a  byword.  (See  Bartlett's  American- 
isms. ) 

Jonath-elem-rechokim.  In  title  of  Ps.  Ivi., 
"the  dove  of  silence  of  the  far  ones,"  "the 
silent  dove  among  aliens,"  the  name  of  a  tune  (?) ; 
the  tune  and  the  circumstances  of  David  being 
connected. 

Jongleur.     (Troubadour.) 

Jornada.  [Sp.]  A  march  or  journey  per- 
formed in  a  day. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Joseph.  [Fr.]  1.  Thin  tissue  paper.  2.  Thin 
silvered  paper. 

Joss.     [Corr.  of  Sp.  and  Port.  Dios^  God.}    A 
Chinese    deity    or    idol  j    hence  Joss-house, 
temple. 

Jot  or  tittle.  Matt.  v.  18  :  Jot  [Gr.  lura]  is 
Heb.  yod,  the  smallest  letter  of  the  alphabet ; 
tittle  [Kfpaia],  a  /fora-like  mark,  a  small  stroke 
distinguishing,  e.g.,  E  from  F. 

Jourdain,  M.  Hero  of  Moliere's  comedy, 
Le  Bourgeois  Gentilhomme,  a  rich  tradesman  who 
desires  to  acquire  accomplishments  and  fashion- 
able manners  late  in  life.  He  talked  prose  with- 
out knowing  it,  not  knowing  the  meaning  of  the 
word  "prose." 

Jour  de  Tan.     [Fr.]     New  Year's  Day. 

Journal.  [L.  diurnus,  of  a  day,  daily.}  1. 
(Naut.}  The  log-book,  or  log,  i.e.  a  ship's  daily 
register  of  winds,  weather,  course  and  distance, 
and  of  all  matters  worthy  of  record.  2. 
(Mech.)  The  part  of  a  rotating  piece  of 


machinery  or  of  a  shaft  which  is  supported  by 
the  frame  of  the  machine  ;  it  works  in  a  J.-box. 
The  support  of  a  journal  is  not  necessarily  fixed  ; 
thus  a  crank-pin  is  a  journal. 

Journey.  [Fr.  journee,  a  day's  length,  L. 
diurnus ;  cf.  It.  giorno.]  An  agricultural 
labourer's  day's  work,  especially  in  ploughing. 

Journeyman.  [From  Fr.  journee,  a  day,  a 
day's  work.}  1.  A  man  who  works  for  hire  by 
the  day.  2.  One  who  works  for  hire  for  any 
time  or  by  any  term. 

Jousts.  [It.  giastrare,  Fr.  jouster,  to  tilt} 
Popular  military  games  of  the  Middle  Ages. 

Jovial.  [Fr.  jovialis,  pertaining  to  Jupiter 
(gen.  Jovis).]  1.  (Astrol.)  Under  the  influence 
of  the  planet  Jupiter.  2.  Merry,  full  of  animal 
spirits,  gay.  3.  (Alchem.)  Pertaining  to  tin. 

Jube  (so  called  from  the  form  "  Jube,  domne, 
benedicere,"  uttered  before  the  intoning  of  the 
Gospel).  The  French  name  for  the  Rood-loft, 
or  rood-screen. 

Jubilee  year.  [L.  jubilo,  I  shout  for  joy,  Heb. 
yobel,  to  rejoice}  The  grand  sabbatical  year  of 
the  Jews,  which  was  to  be  celebrated  after 
every  seven  septenaries  of  years,  as  a  year  of 
general  release  of  all  debtors  and  slaves.  In 
modern  times,  the  word  has  been  applied  to 
celebrations  recurring  at  intervals  of  half  or  of  a 
quarter  of  a  century. 

Judaic.     [L.  Judaicus,  of  Judaea.]    Jewish. 

Juddock.  (Ornith.)  The  jack-snipe,  Scolopax 
gallinula,  fam.  Scolopacidoe. 

Judex  damnatur  cum  nocens  absolvltur,  [L.] 
(Leg.)  The  j^tdge  is  condemned  when  a  guilty 
person  is  acquitted.  Motto  of  the  Edinburgh 
Review. 

Judge-Advocate.  (Leg.)  An  officer  appointed 
to  attend  courts-martial,  to  provide  accommoda- 
tion for  the  court,  to  summon  witnesses,  to 
administer  oaths  to  them  and  the  court,  to 
advise  the  court,  to  see  that  the  prisoner  is 
properly  defended,  and  to  send  minutes  of  pro- 
ceedings to  the  J.- A. -General,  an  officer  ap- 
pointed by  letters  patent  under  the  Great  Seal, 
who  can  himself  attend  courts-martial,  all  other 
J.-A.  officiating  at  home  being  his  deputies. 

Judge-Advocate-General.  The  adviser  of  the 
Crown  in  naval  and  military  law. 

Judgment.  [Fr.  jugement,  L.  judicium.] 
(Log.)  The  mental  operation  which  decides 
whether  two  notions  resulting  from  simple 
Apprehension  agree  or  disagree.  It  must,  there- 
fore, be  either  affirmative  or  negative. 

Judicature,  Supreme  Court  of,  consists  of  (i) 
the  Court  of  Appeal,  and  (2)  the  High  Court  oj 
Justice,  (i)  Sits  in  two  divisions,  one  at  West- 
minster, the  other  at  Lincoln's  Inn  ;  the  former 
takes  appeals  from  the  Common  Law  Division  ; 
the  latter  from  the  Chancery  Divisions,  including 
bankruptcy  appeals.  (2)  Consists  of  Queen's 
Bench  and  Probate-Divorce,  and  Admiralty 
Divisions.  (See  Charles  Dickens's  Dictionary 
of  London} 

Judicature  Act.  Lord  Selborne's,  1873, 
unified  the  various  high  courts  of  law  into  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Judicature. 

Judicial  Committee  of  Privy  Council,  established 


JUDI 


279 


JUKI 


3  and  4  Will.  IV.,  consists  of  a  Lord  President, 
the  Lord  Chancellor,  and  certain  judges,  being 
P.  Councillors.  Under  34  and  35  Viet.,  and 
under  the  Appellate  Jurisdiction  Act,  39  and  40 
Viet.,  four  are  paid  members.  In  ecclesiastical 
appeals,  the  archbishops  and  bishops,  or  some 
of  them,  attend,  either  as  members  or  assessors. 
The  court  also  receives  appeals  from  the  colonies, 
India  included,  "  and,  generally,  appeals  in  all 
other  matters  in  which  the  Crown's  intervenion 
is  rather  executive  than  judicial." — Brown,  Law 
Dictionary. 

Judiciary.  [L.  judiciarius,  from  judicium,  law 
court,  from  judex,  gen.  \c\s,  judge.}  Pertaining 
to  judgments  or  law  courts. 

Judicium  Dei  [L.]  In  former  days,  the  re- 
sult of  an  appeal  to  the  judgment  of  God,  by 
means  of  various  ordeals,  single  combat,  etc. 

Juffs.  [Russ.  youft.]  Tanned  ox-hides. 
Bloomed  juffs  are  red  hides,  having  flower-like 
spots  upon  them. 

Juggernaut,  properly  Jaganath.  [Skt.,  lord 
of  the  world.}  The  name  under  which  Brahma  is 
worshipped,  especially  at  Pooree,  in  Orissa,  the 
image  on  the  great  festival  being  dragged  along 
in  a  huge  car. 

Juggler.     (Minstrels.) 

Jugular  veins.  (Anat.)  Two  on  each  side  of 
the  neck  [L.  jtigulum]  by  which  the  blood  is 
brought  from  the  head. 

Julep.  [Ar.  jelab,  a  reddish  medicinal  drink, 
made  of  fruit,  etc.,  from  Pers.  gul,  rose,  ap, 
water.}  A  sweet,  cooling  drink. 

Julian  calendar.     (New  Style.) 

Julian  period  consists  of  7980  (=  28  X  19  X  15) 
Julian  years,  after  which  the  years  of  the  Solar, 
Metonic,  and  Indiction  cycles  come  round  again 
in  the  same  order ;  the  year  of  each  cycle  was 
I  on  B.C.  4713;  the  J.  P.  begins  on  the  1st  of 
January  in  that  year.  The  use  of  the  J.  P.  first 
brought  light  and  order  into  chronology. 

Jump  a  claim.  In  Western  parlance,  is  to 
endeavour  to  obtain  possession  of  the  land,  or 
"  claim,"  which  has  been  taken  up  and  occupied 
by  a  settler,  or  "  squatter,"  in  a  new  country. — 
Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Jumper.  A  long  borer,  used  by  one  person  to 
prepare  a  hole  for  blasting. 

Juncate.    (Junket.) 

Juncite.  [L.  juncus,  a  rush.}  (Geol.)  Fossil 
stems,  rushlike  in  appearance  ;  their  affinities 
uncertain. 

Jungada.  (Naut.)  A  kind  of  raft,  with 
mast  and  tilt,  used  on  the  coast  of  Peru. 

Jungle.  [Hind,  jangal,  desert,  forest.}  Land 
covered  with  trees  and  brushwood  or  coarse 
vegetation,  affording  cover  to  wild  beasts. 

Jungle  fever.  [Hind,  jungal,  wooded  swamp.} 
A  kind  of  intermittent  fever,  appearing  in  the 
jungle  districts. 

Junior.  [L.  junior,  younger,  comp.  of 
juve"nis.]  (Leg.)  1.  A  barrister  under  the  rank 
of  Q.C.  or  Serjeant.  2.  The  younger  in  standing 
of  two  barristers  engaged  in  a  case.  3.  An 
officer  of  the  bar  on  circuit. 

Junlus.  Pseudonym  of  the  writer  of  a  series 
of  political  letters  in  the  Public  Advertiser, 

19 


1769-1772,  attacking  royalty  and  great  men 
connected  with  the  Government.  The  authorship 
of  these  letters,  which  are  believed  by  Macaulay 
and  others  to  have  been  written  by  Sir  Philip 
Francis,  is  still  a  vexed  question. 

Junk.  [L.  juncus,  a  rush,  of  which  ropes 
were  made.]  (Naut.)  1.  Hard  salted  beef  supplied 
to  ships.  2.  Piece  of  old  cables  or  cordage  cut 
up  for  various  purposes.  3.  The  flat-bottomed, 
square-bowed  vessels  of  China,  having  big  sails, 
water-tight  compartments,  and  a  deep  rudder. 

Junket,  Juncate.  [L.L.  juncata,  a  cream-cheese 
made  in  a  basket  of  junci,  rushes.}  1.  A  cream- 
cheese.  2.  Any  dainty.  3.  A  feasting  on  the 
sly. 

Junta.  A  grand  Spanish  council  of  State.  In 
England  the  word  J.  was  used  as  an  equivalent 
for  Cabal,  or  faction. 

Jupe.     [Fr.] ''  Petticoat,  skirt. 

Jupiter.     (Planet.) 

Jupon,  Juppon.  [Fr.  jupon.]  1.  A  tight- 
fitting,  sleeveless  jacket,  reaching  to  the  hips,  of 
silk  or  velvet  over  several  thicknesses  of  other 
stuff,  embroidered  with  the  wearer's  arms,  and 
ending  in  a  rich  border.  2.  A  petticoat. 

Jurassic.  In  continental  Geol.,  =  Lias  and 
Oolite ;  the  rocks  of  the  Jura  being  analogous  to 
the  typical  Lias  and  Oolite  series  of  England, 
"  black  "  (lowest),  "  brown  "  (middle),  "  white  " 
(uppermost)  "Jura." 

Jurat.  [L.,  he  sivears.}  (Leg.)  1.  Memo- 
randum of  time,  place,  and  person  before  whom 
an  affidavit  is  sworn.  2.  An  officer  for  the 
government  of  some  corporation,  not  unlike  an 
alderman.  The  bailiff  in  Jersey  has  twelve  jurats 
as  assistants. 

Juratores  sunt  judices  fact!  [L.]  (Leg.) 
Jurors  are  the  judges  of  matters  of  fact. 

Juratory  caution.  (Scot.  Law.)  A  kind  of 
caution  (security)  offered  by  a  complainer  who- 
cannot  offer  any  better. 

Juravi  lingua,  mentem  injuratam  gero.  [L.} 
/  have  sworn  with  my  tongue,  I  have  a  mind 
unsworn  (Cicero).  Gr.  'H  yXSxro*  bfiuftox'  y  Se 
<f>pT)v  avtafjiOTos  (Euripides). 

Jure  divmo.  By  divine  right ;  as  opposed  to 
J.  ecclesiastico,  J.  humano,  J.  gentium.  The 
ministry,  sacraments,  are  J.  D. 

Juridical.  [L.  juridicus,  relating  to  adminis- 
tration of  justice,  from  jus,  right,  law,  and  root 
of  dico,  /  say.}  Pertaining  to  judges,  judg- 
ments, or  courts  of  law.  J.  days,  those  on  which 
courts  can  lawfully  sit  for  the  administration  of 
justice. 

Jurisconsult.  [L.  jurisconsultns.]  (Leg.)  One 
learned  in  the  law,  especially  Roman  law. 

Jurisdiction.  [L.  jurisdictio,  -nem,  adminis- 
tration of  justice.}  (Leg.)  1.  The  extent  of  the 
power  of  a  court  to  hear  and  determine  causes. 
2.  The  extent  of  the  power  and  authority  of  a 
government  or  an  officer  to  execute  justice. 

Juris  et  de  jure.  [L.]  (Leg.)  Of  law  and 
from  law  ;  of  a  conclusive  presumption. 

Jurisprudence.  [L.  juris-prudentia.]  The 
science  of  law,  especially  of  Roman  law. 

Jurist.  [From  L.  jus,  juris,  law^\  A  civil 
lawyer,  a  student  of  civil  law. 


JURO 


280 


KAOL 


Juror,  Withdrawal  of  a,  is,  in  effect,  as  if 
no  action  had  been  brought. 

Jury,  Trial  by.  Trial  by  a  judge  in  presence 
of  twelve  men,  selected  for  the  purpose,  to 
pronounce  on  the  conclusiveness  or  inconclu- 
siveness  of  the  evidence  laid  before  them.  The 
old  compurgators  were  in  strictness  nothing  more 
than  witnesses  to  character.  (Compurgation.) 

Jury-mast  (said  to  be  for  injury -mast,  one 
put  in  place  of  an  injured  mast).  (Naut.)  A 
temporary  mast,  or  substitute  for  one. 

Jury-rudder.  (Naut.)  Any  contrivance  for 
steering  a  ship  when  the  rudder  is  disabled. 

Jus  accrescendi.  The  right  of  survivorship, 
or,  as  it  is  called,  Accrual,  in  joint-tenancies. 

Jus  albinatus.  [L.L.]  (Leg.)  (Droit  d'au- 
baine.) 

Jus  Anglorum.  [L.]  Laws  and  customs  of 
the  West  Saxons  before  the  Norman  Conquest. 

Jus  Civile.  [L.,  civil  law.]  The  whole  body 
of  law  of  any  state  applying  to  the  citizens 
[cives] ;  especially  the  whole  body  of  Roman 
law,  founded  on  leges,  enactments  of  law. 

Jus  ex  injuria  non  oritur.  [L.]  (Leg.)  A 
right  does  not  arise  out  of  a  wrong. 

Jus  gentium.  [L.,  law  of  nations.']  The 
common  law  of  all  mankind,  founded  on 
naturalis  ratio,  natural  reason. 

Jus  non  scriptum.  [L.]  The  unwritten  law  y 
of  humanity,  social  interest,  public  opinion ;  in- 
troduced by  custom,  with  the  tacit  consent  of 
the  legislator. 

Jus  postliminii.  [L.]  1.  The  right  of  re- 
turning home,  and  resuming  former  privileges ; 
the  right  of  a  citizen  of  Rome  who,  having  been 


made  a  slave,  resumed  his  rights  under  a  fiction 
that  he  had  not  been  in  captivity  at  all.  2. 
"  The  right  of  restitution  after  recapture,  as 
applied  in  maritime  law"  now  (Brown,  Law 
Dictionary). 

Jussi.  (Native  name.)  A  delicate  fibre  obtained 
from  Manila. 

Jus  summum  saepe  summa  malitia  est.  [L.] 
Extreme  legality  is  often  extreme  wickedness 
(Terence).  (Summum  jus.) 

Juste  milieu.  [Fr.,  the  just  mean.]  The  term 
used  to  express  Louis  Philippe's  system  of 
government,  which  began  with  Casimir  Perier 
after  the  revolution  of  1830. 

Justice  Clerk,  Lord.  The  second  highest  judge 
in  Scotland,  and,  in  the  absence  of  the  Lord 
Justice-General,  the  presiding  judge  of  the  Court 
of  Justiciary. 

Justice-General,  Lord.  The  highest  judge  in 
Scotland;  called  also  Lord  President  of  the 
Court  of  Session. 

Justice  seat.     (Forest  courts.) 

Justiciary,  High  Court  of.  (Scot.  Law.)  The 
supreme  criminal  tribunal  of  Scotland. 

Justify.  [L.  Justus,  right,  facer e,  to  make.] 
In  Printing,  to  form  even  or  true  lines  of  type 
by  proper  spacing. 

Justinian,  The  English.    Edward  I. 

Justinianist.  One  who  studies  the  civil  law 
codified  by  order  of  Justinian. 

Justum  et  tenacem  propositi  virum.  [L.]  An 
upright  man  and  firm  in  his  resolution  (Horace). 

Jute.  A  fibrous  material  like  hemp,  imported 
from  Bengal, 

Juverna.    An  old  name  of  Ireland. 


K.  After  it  had  almost  entirely  disappeared 
from  the  Latin  orthography,  was  retained  in 
certain  abbreviations ;  thus,  K.  for  Cseso,  K.  or 
Kal.  for  Calendae,  KA.  for  Capitalis,  K.S., 
Carus  suis. 

Kaaba.  The  great  temple  at  Mecca ;  so  called 
from  the  black  stone  worshipped  there  before 
the  time  of  Mohammed — probably  a  large 
aerolite. 

Kadi.    (Cadi.) 

Kaimakan.  In  the  Ottoman  empire,  a  deputy 
or  governor,  of  which  there  are  generally  two- 
one  residing  at  Constantinople,  the  other  attend- 
ing the  grand  vizier  as  his  lieutenant. 

Kaims,  Kames.  (Geol.)  Ridges  of  post- 
Glacial  gravel  and  sand,  at  the  ends  of  valleys, 
like  embankments  From  a  few  yards  to  twenty 
miles  long  ;  twenty  to  sixty  feet  high.  So  called 
in  Scotland  ;  known  as  Eskirs,  or  Escars,  in 
Ireland. 

Kaique.     (Caique.) 

Kalani.  An  Oriental  notary  public  and  public 
weigher. 

Kaleidoscope.  [Gr.  Ka\6s,  beautiful,  cISos, 
form,  o-Koircw,  I  behold^  A  well-known  toy  in- 


vented by  Sir  D.  Brewster,  in  which  elegant 
coloured  patterns  are  formed  by  the  symmetrical 
distribution  of  the  images  formed  by  successive 
reflexion  at  two  or  three  mirrors  inclined  to  each 
other  at  angles  of  60°. 

Kalends,  Kalendae.     (Calends.) 

Kalewala.  The  Finnic  epic  poem,  which 
is  ascribed  to  Wainambinen. 

Kalmucks,  Kali.    A  tribe  of  Tartars. 

Kami.  The  Japanese  name  for  the  gods  who 
formed  their  first  mythical  dynasty. 

Kamptulicon.  [A  word  coined  from  Gr. 
/ea/«rT<fc,  flexible,  TV\T\,  a  pad,  or  \>\t\,  matter.  ] 
A  kind  of  floor-cloth  made  by  mixing  cork, 
wool,  etc.,  with  melted  indiarubber,  and  spread- 
ing the  mixture  on  canvas. 

Kaneh.  [Heb.,  cane,  or  reed.]  A  Jewish  mea- 
sure of  length,  for  measuring  on  a  large  scale  ; 
as  in  Ezekiel's  vision  of  the  temple  and  its  mea- 
surement (ch.  xl.,  et  seq.). 

Kanjia.     (Naut.)     A  Nile  passenger-boat. 

Kantian.  Relating  to  the  philosophy  of  Im- 
manuel  Kant  (1724-1804). 

Kaolin.  [Chin,  word.]  Porcelain  clay  ;  a  dull 
opaque  clay,  of  various  shades  of  white  ;  arising 


KAPE 


281 


KEYS 


from  decomposition  of  felspar.  A  large  tract 
near  St.  Austell,  on  rotting  granite,  supplies 
Worcester,  etc. 

Kapellmeister.     (Capelmeister.) 

Kara.  A  Tartar  word,  meaning  black;  used 
also  in  the  sense  of  tributary,  as  the  Kara 
Kalpacks. 

Karaites.     (Caraites.) 

Karaman.  Province  of  Asia  Minor  about  the 
time  of  the  Reformation  ;  north  of  Itchil. 

Karbaty.    (Garbasse.) 

Karmathians.  A  Mohammedan  sect  of  the 
ninth  century ;  so  called  from  its  founder, 
Karmata. 

Karmina.     (Upadana.) 

Karroo.  Hottentot  term  for  immense  undulat- 
ing plain,  about  2000  feet  above  the  sea,  north 
of  the  Black  Mountains  of  Cape  Colony ;  of  rich 
clay  soil,  but  unwatered. 

Kat.     (Cat). 

Katcbing  oil.  A  very  clear  oil  made  of 
ground-nuts,  used  in  India  for  cooking. 

Kate.     [Hind.]     A  plantation,  afield. 

Kayak.     Fishing-boat  of  the  arctic  regions. 

Kazic.     A  fishing-boat  of  Shetland. 

Kazy.  [Hind.]  A  Mohammedan  magistrate 
in  India. 

Keblah,  Khebli.     (Kiblah.) 

Keckle,  or  Cackle.  (Naut.)  To  cover  a 
cable  spirally  with  old  rope. 

Kedge,  or  Kedger.     (Anchors.) 

Kedgeree.     An  Indian  dish  of  fish  and  rice. 

Keel.  [A.S.  ceol.]  (Naut.]  1.  A  low  and  flat- 
bottomed  Tyne  boat  for  carrying  coals  to  col- 
liers. 2.  The  principal  timber  quasi -backbone 
of  a  ship.  To  give  the  K.,  to  careen. 

Keel-haul,  To,  or  Keel-rake.  (Naut.)  To 
drop  a  man  into  the  sea  on  one  side  of  a  vessel 
and  haul  him  up  on  the  other;  dragging  him 
under  the  K. 

Keelson,  or  Kelson.  (Naut.)  An  internal 
keel  above  the  floor  timbers,  and  immediately 
over  the  keel. 

Keep  (that  which  keeps  or  protects).  The 
innermost  and  strongest  tower  of  a  castle,  in 
which  treasure  and  prisoners  of  importance  could 
be  most  carefully  guarded. 

Keeping-room.  [Prov.  Eng.]  A  common 
sitting-room,  not  the  parlour,  but  the  second  best 
room.  New  England. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Keesh.  Flakes  of  carburet  of  iron  on  the  sur- 
face of  pig  iron. 

Keeve.  [O.E.  cyf.]  A  large  vat  used  for  fer- 
menting liquor  or  dressing  ores. 

Keil,  or  Bed  clay.  A  deep  red  peroxide  of 
iron,  used  in  marking. 

Kelp.  [O.Fr.  kilpe.]  The  ashes  of  burnt 
seaweed. 

Kelpie.  [Scot.]  A  horse-shaped  water-sprite, 
which  is  supposed  to  forewarn  any  one  destined 
to  be  drowned  in  the  vicinity  of  the  noises  and 
lights  which  it  gives  forth. 

Kelson  rider.     (False  kelson.) 

Kelt.     Salmon  after  spawning. 

Kelter.  [Celt,  celtoir,  dress,  matter."}  1. 
Order,  condition.  2.  (Naut.}  In  good  order  ; 
applies  to  ships  and  men.  (Kilter.) 


Keltic  languages.  1.  Cymric  class:  i.e.  (i) 
Welsh  ;  (2)  Cornish ;  (3)  Bas-Breton.  2. 
Gadhelic:  (i)  Erse,  or  Irish  ;  (2)  Gaelic,  spoken 
in  Scotch  Highlands ;  (3)  Manx,  in  Isle  of 
Man. — Morris,  English  Accidence. 

Kemp,  Kempty.  Coarse  rough  hair  in  wool, 
injuring  its  quality. 

Kennaquhair.  [Scot.,  ken  not  where.'}  A 
fabricated  name  of  an  imaginary  locality  ;  cf. 
Ger.  weissnichtwo.  (Utopia.) 

Kent,  Holy  Maid  of.     (Holy  Maid  of  Kent.) 

Kepler's  laws.  (Johann  K.,  born  near  Stutt- 
gart, 1591,  died  1630.)  Certain  laws  relating 
to  the  motion  of  the  planets,  viz.  :  1.  They 
describe  ellipses  round  the  sun,  which  is  in  one 
of  their  foci.  2.  The  line  joining  a  planet  and 
the  sun  traces  out  equal  areas  in  equal  times. 
3.  The  squares  of  their  periodic  times  are  as  the 
cubes  of  their  major  axes. 

Keramic,  or  Ceramic,  art.  [Gr.  ij  /cepdjui/cTj, 
the  (art)  which  has  to  do  with  it4po.fji.os,  potter's 
earth.]  Pottery.  Kerameikos,  or  Cer&mlcus,  in 
Athens,  the  potters'  quarter. 

Kerlanguishes.  [Turk.,  swallows.'}  (Naut.) 
Fast  sailing-boats  of  the  Bosphorus. 

Kermes.  [Ar.  for  cochineal  insect,  from  Skt. 
karmi,  worm.]  Dried  insects  used  as  a  scarlet 
dye-stuff. 

Kermes  mineral  (from  its  scarlet  colour). 
An  amorphous  trisulphide  of  antimony  used  in 
medicine. 

Kern.  [Erse  cearn,  warrior.]  1.  A  foot- 
soldier  in  Ireland  or  the  Scottish  Highlands. 
2.  (Leg.)  Kernes,  idlers,  vagabonds.  3.  In 
Printing,  that  part  of  a  type  which  hangs  over 
the  body  or  shank. 

Kerosine.  [Gr.  irnpds,  wax.]  An  oil  ex- 
tracted from  bituminous  coal. 

Kerseymere.     (Cassimere.) 

Ketch.  [Fr.  caiche,  Sp.  queche,  D.  kits.] 
(Naut.)  A  galliot-built  vessel,  with  main  and 
mizzen  masts,  of  from  100  to  150  tons  burden. 
K.-bomb,  one  built  very  strongly,  and  carrying  a 
master. 

Ketch,  Jack.  Common  name  for  the  hangman 
in  England  ;  said  to  have  been  the  name  of  that 
officer  in  the  reign  of  James  II.,  or  a  corr.  of 
Jacquett's,  from  the  name  of  the  lord  of  the  manor 
of  Tyburn. 

Kettle-boiling  sound.  (Med.)  One  of  the 
chest-sounds  heard  at  the  beginning  of  phthisis. 

Kettle-bottomed.     (Naut. )    Flat-bottomed. 

Kettle-drums.  Basins  of  copper  or  brass,  with 
parchment  stretched  over  the  top. 

Keuper  of  Germany  [Ger.  kupfer,  copper]  = 
uppermost  division,  red  sandstones  and  marls, 
with  salt  and  alabaster  ;  of  the  Triassic  period. 

Kevels,  or  Cavils.  (Naut.)  Large  cleats,  or 
pieces  of  timber  above  the  rail,  for  belaying 
ropes  to,  etc.  Kevel-heads,  ends  of  top  timbers, 
rising  above  the  gunwale,  and  used  as  kevels. 

Key;  K.-seat  (Mech.)  A  small  wedge  for 
fixing  wheels,  pulleys,  etc.,  to  their  shafts.  The 
recess  into  which  the  key  is  driven  is  ihejK'.-seaf, 
called  also  K.-bed  and  K.-way. 

Key-stone.  The  xniddle  or  uppermost  vcussoir 
of  an  arch. 


KHAL 


282 


KING 


Khalif.    (Caliph.) 

Khamseen.  [Ax.,  fifty-]  A  hot  southerly  wind 
in  Egypt,  because  it  blows  for  fifty  days  after 
Easter. 

Khan.  [Turk.]  1.  King,  chief.  2.  An  Oriental 
inn  or  caravanserai. 

Khansaman-jee.  [Hind.]  Head-butler  in  India. 

Khedive.  1.  [Turk.]  Title  of  the  Forte's 
viceroy  in  Egypt.  2.  [Pers.]  Khediv,  prince, 
sovereign. 

Khidmut-gar.     [Hind.]     A  footman  in  India. 

Khi-lin.    (Kylin.) 

Khotbah.  [Ar.]  A  Mohammedan  form  of 
prayer,  used  in  the  great  mosques  on  Friday  at 
noon. 

Kiabooca  wood.     Amboyna  wood. 

Kibble.  [Ger.  kuble.]  A  bucket  in  which  ore 
is  raised  from  a  mine. 

Kibe.  [Cf.  Skt.  root  jambh,  from  gabh,  to 
snap,  bite,  said  to  be  Welsh  cibwst,  from  cib, 
cup,  gwst,  malady,  as  if  rounded,  swelling 
malady  (Skeat,  Etym.  Diet.}.}  Chilblain,  as  if 
frost-fo'te. 

Kibitka.  [Russ.]  A  rude  kind  of  waggon 
without  springs,  used  by  the  Tartars ;  also  used 
as  a  hut. 

Kiblah.  The  point  to  which  Mohammedans 
turn  when  praying.  This  point  was  at  first 
Jerusalem ;  but  Mohammed  afterwards  changed 
it  to  the  Kaabah  at  Mecca. — Muir,  Life  of 
Mahomet,  ch.  x. 

Kickshaw.  [For  Fr.  quelque  chose,  anything 
whatever.}  1.  Some  fancy  thing,  hard  to  give  a 
name  to.  2.  A  fancy  dish. 

Kicksywicksy.  A  gibberish  word,  first  used 
by  Shakespeare,  seemingly  to  denote  restless- 
ness, and  applied  contemptuously  to  a  wife. 

Kid.  1.  A  faggot  or  bundle  of  heath  and  furze. 
2.  (Deer,  Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Kiddow.     (Guillemot.) 

Kieve.  [Ger.  kufe.]  A  large  tub  for  washing 
ores. 

Kiftis.  (Naut.}  A  large  Indian  boat  fitted 
with  cabins  on  either  side. 

-Ml-.  Erse  part  of  names,  meaning  hermit's 
cell  or  church,  as  in  Kil-kerran,  Church  of  St. 
Ciarran  y  Icolm-kill,  CJnirch  of  Island  of  St. 
Columba. 

Kilhamites.    (New  Connexion  Methodists.) 

Killas.  Local  name  for  a  Cornish  group  of 
schistose  Devonian  rocks,  much  altered  near  the 
granite,  the  elvan,  and  other  dykes  ;  in  which 
lies  a  great  part  of  the  mineral  wealth  of  Corn- 
wall. 

Kilogramme ;  Kilolitre ;  Kilometre.  Measures 
of  a  thousand  [Gr.  x'^'0{]  grammes,  litres,  and 
metres  respectively.  (Gramme ;  Litre ;  Metre.) 

Kilter.  ( Used  still  in  Suffolk. )  Out  of  kilter, 
in  a  bad  condition ;  out  of  shape.  Halliwell 
notices  the  word  kelter  as  provincial  in  Eng- 
land ;  and  Barrow  uses  it  with  the "  prefixed 
"  out  of:  "  "  If  the  organs  of  prayer  are  out  of 
kelter,  or  out  of  tune,  how  can  we  pray?" 
(Barrow's  Sermons). — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 
(Kelter.) 

Kimeridge  clay.  (K.,  near  Weymouth,  where 
the  beds  terminate.)  (Geol.)  A  fossiliferous 


clay  of  the  Upper  Oolite,  containing  a  bitumi- 
nous shale,  called  Kim-coal. 

Kindergarten.  [Ger.,  lit.  children's  garden} 
In  Germany,  a  kind  of  infant  school,  where 
children  of  all  classes  of  society,  not  yet  old 
enough  for  school,  are  taken  care  of,  generally 
from  nine  o'clock  to  one  ;  with  systematically 
arranged  amusements,  more  or  less  instructive. 

Kindfest.  [Ger.,  child -feast.}  1.  The  Feast 
of  Holy  Innocents.  2.  In  N.  Germany,  a  day 
once  kept  in  memory  of  the  invention  of  the 
child  Jesus  in  the  Temple. 

Kinematics,  Cinematics.  [Gr.  Kiv^a,  a  move- 
ment given.}  The  science  of  motion  in  its  purely 
geometrical  relations,  without  reference  to  the 
forces  producing  it. 

Kinesipathy.  [Gr.  Kivrjffis,  movement,  irdOos, 
affection.}  Treatment  of  disease  by  appropriate 
movements,  exercises  of  the  limbs. 

Kinesis.  Any  kind  of  morbid  affections  of 
movement  [Gr.  Ktvijffis}. 

Kinetics.  [Gr.  KlvnnKds,  fit  for  moving.]  The 
science  which  determines  the  motion  of  bodies 
due  to  the  action  of  forces. 

Kineton,  Battle  of.  Now  always  spoken  of  as 
B.  of  Edgehill,  October  23,  1642  (see  Claren- 
don's Hist,  of  Rebellion). 

King-at-arms.  (Her.}  An  heraldic  officer 
whose  business  it  is  to  declare  war.  arrange 
coronations,  etc.  ;  the  chief  of  the  three  Garter 
kings-at-arms.  Clarencieux  and  Norroy  superin- 
tend the  provinces  south  and  north  of  the  Trent 
respectively. 

King-bird.  (Ornith.)  Spec,  of  shrike,  eight 
inches  long,  black  and  grey,  with  red  crest. 
America.  Tyrannus  intrepidus  [L.,  intrepid 
tyrant},  sub-fam.  Tyranninse,  fam.  Tyrannidae, 
ord.  Passeres. 

King  James's  Bible.     (Bible,  English.) 
King    Log.     The   log    sent   to   the   frogs   in 
^Esop's  fable,  when  they  asked  Jupiter  for  a  king. 
King-post.     (Arch.}    The  middle  post  of  a 
roof,  supported  by  the  tie-beam  and  reaching  to 
the  ridge.     (Strut.) 

King's  Book.  1.  (Liber  Kegis.)  2.  A  Neces- 
sary Erudition  of  any  Christian  Man,  A.D. 
1543,  put  forth  under  sanction  of  King  (Henry 
VIII.)  and  Convocation  ;  a  revision  of  the  Insti- 
ttttion,  etc.,  or  Bishops1  Book  (q.v.). 

King's  evidence  (or  Queen's).  One  who, 
having  been  an  accomplice  in  some  crime,  con- 
fesses, offering  all  the  evidence  he  has  to  give  ; 
generally  pardoned,  but  not  absolutely  entitled 
to  pardon  ;  admissible  by  the  judge  as  a  witness 
in  the  trial  of  fellow-criminals. 

King's  evil.  Popular  name  for  scrofula,  once 
believed  to  be  curable  by  a  royal  touch.  Clovis 
touched,  A.D.  481  ;  and  English  sovereigns — 
Edward  the  Confessor  to  Anne— and  Prince 
Charles  Edward  at  Holyrood,  1745.  An  Office 
for  the  ceremony  appears  in  our  Liturgy  as  late 
as  1719. 

King's  Men,  King's  Friends.  A  cabal,  sepa- 
rating the  court  (of  George  III.)  from  the  Ad- 
ministration, controlling  the  ministry, "intercept- 
ing the  favour,  protection,  and  confidence  of  the 
Crown,  .  .  .  coming  between  them  and  their 


KING 


283 


KNIG 


importance  in  Parliament,  .  .  .  the  whole  system 
called  the  Double  Cabinet"  and  "throwing 
everything  more  and  more  into  the  hands  of  the 
interior  managers." — Burke,  Present  Discontents. 

King's  Quhair,  i.e.  Quire.  A  collection  of 
love- verses  of  great  beauty  and  merit,  written  by 
James  I.  of  Scotland  (assassinated  A.D.  1437), 
in  imitation  of  Petrarch. 

King  Stork.  The  stork  sent  by  Jupiter  to 
rule  the  frogs,  when  dissatisfied  with  King  Log 
(q.v.}.  K.  S.  began  at  once  to  gobble  up  his 
subjects. 

King's  yellow.     Orpiment. 

Kingwood.  A  violet-streaked  Brazilian  wood 
used  in  turnery,  etc. 

Kino.  [E. -Indian  word.]  An  astringent  ex- 
tract obtained  from  certain  tropical  trees. 

Kiosk.  [Turk.]  1.  An  open  Turkish  sum- 
mer-house, consisting  of  a  roof  supported  on  light 
pillars.  2.  Such  a  structure  used  as  a  news- 
paper stall  or  flower  stall  in  Paris,  etc.  [Pers. 
and  Turk,  kouchk,  a  "belvedere"  (Littre).] 

Kipper.  A  salmon  split  open,  salted,  and 
dried  or  smoked. 

Kips.     The  skins  of  young  animals  for  tanning. 

Kirk.  The  Scottish  form  of  the  word  Church, 
connoting  also  the  Presbyterianism  of  the  Estab- 
lishment. 

Kirschwasser.  [Ger.,  cherry -water. ~\  A 
spirituous  liquor  made  by  fermenting  the  sweet 
and  small  black  cherry. 

Kirtle,  [A.S.  cyrtel,  Dan.  kiortel.]  A  jacket 
or  short  gown,  a  mantle,  an  outer  petticoat. 

Kish.  A  substance  like  plumbago,  which 
forms  in  a  blast  furnace. 

Kismet.  [Ar.,  it  is  decreed.}  Mohammedan 
expression  of  resignation  to  what  is  fated. 

Kissing-crust  A  projecting  piece  of  upper 
crust  which  has  touched  another  loaf  in  baking. 

Kist.  [Hind.]  An  instalment  of  tax  or  rent 
paid  by  ryots  in  India  to  Government. 

Kit.  1.  (Mtl.\  The  whole  of  the  necessaries 
carried  by  a  soldier  in  his  knapsack.  [For  K. 
in  the  sense  of  a  collection,  a  brood,  cf.  D. 
kudde,  a  flock,  Bav.  kiitt,  and  Ger.  kette,  a 
covey  of  partridges  (Wedgwood).]  2.  A  small 
violin,  about  sixteen  inches  long,  used  by  dancing- 
masters  ;  (?)  carried  in  the  kit  or  pocket.  K. 
is  in  Fr.  pochette. 

Kit-cat.  Canvas  measuring  twenty-nine  inches 
by  thirty-six,  for  portrait-painting. 

Kit-Cat  Club.  Circ.  1688  ;  at  first  simply  con- 
vivial, afterwards  in  Queen  Anne's  reign  exclu- 
sively political,  its  members  devoted  to  the 
Hanoverian  succession ;  among  them  were 
Addison,  Steele,  Wai  pole,  etc.  (Christopher 
Cat  supplied  the  club  with  mutton  pies.)  Sir 
G.  Kneller,  a  member,  accommodated  a  new- 
sized  canvas  to  the  height  of  the  walls ;  hence 
Kit-cat,  —  three  quarters'  length. 

Kitchen-middings,  Kj'dkken-middings  (Mid- 
den), Shell-mounds,  of  Denmark.  Refuse-heaps 
— Neolithic — containing  all  kinds  of  household 
objects,  either  thrown  away  or  lost ;  but  not  any 
remains  of  extinct  animals,  nor  any  trace  of 
metal. 

Kite.     [Welsh  cud,    O.E.    cyta,   (?)  from  its 


chiding  cry.]  1.  (Ornith.)  Milvus  vulgaris 
[L.,  common  kite},  a  bird  of  the  sub-fam. 
Aquilmae,  twenty  to  twenty-six  inches  long ; 
reddish-brown  forked  tail.  Fam.  Falconidse,  ord. 
Accipitres.  2.  (Ichth.)  Rhombus  [Gr.,  dia- 
mond-shape'} vulgaris  [L.,  common},  the  brill, 
a  fish  of  the  fam.  Pleuronectidae,  smaller  than 
turbot ;  colour  light  and  dark  brown,  speckled 
with  white.  Ord.  Anacanthini,  sub-class  Tele- 
ostel. 

Kiteflying.  [Amer.]  An  expression  well 
known  to  mercantile  men  of  limited  means  or 
who  are  short  of  cash.  It  is  a  combination 
between  two  persons,  neither  of  whom  has  any 
funds  in  bank,  to  exchange  each  other's  cheques 
which  may  be  deposited  in  lieu  of  money,  taking 
good  care  to  make  their  bank  accounts  good 
before  their  cheques  are  presented  for  payment. 
— Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Kith.  [A.C.  cy$,  Ger.  kunde,  acquaintance, 
knowledge,  from  A.S.  cunnan,  to  ken,  know.} 
Acquaintance,  people  whom  one  knows. 

Kit's  Coty  House.  A  well-known  cromlech 
(q.v.)  between  Maidstone  and  Rochester. 

Kittiwake.  (So  named  from  its  cry.)  Spec, 
of  gull,  fifteen  or  sixteen  inches  long  ;  plumage 
grey  and  white,  varying  with  age  and  season, 
hind  toe  rudimentary.  Widely  distributed. 
Larus  tridactylus  [Gr.  rpe7s,  three,  SOLKTV\OS, 
finger,  toe},  gen.  Larus  [Gr.  and  L.,  gull],  fam. 
Laridoe,  ord.  Anseres. 

Kiwi-kiwi.     (Native  name.)     (Apteryx.) 

Klaus,  Peter.  A  German  goatherd  of  Sitten- 
dorf,  whom  a  magic  draught  sent  to  sleep  for 
twenty  years. 

Kleptomania.  [Coined  from  Gr.  KAeVnw,  / 
steal,  fj.avla,  madness.]  A  morbid  desire  to  steal, 
in  persons  neither  poor  nor  uneducated. 

Kloof.  [Boer.]  A  cleft,  or  rocky  ravine,  in 
S.  Africa. 

Knapsack.  [(?)  Ger.  knappe,  a  journeyman, 
sack,  bag.}  (Mil.)  Waterproof  receptacle  car- 
ried on  the  back  or  loins  of  an  infantry  soldier, 
to  contain  spare  clothing  and  necessaries. 

Knee.  In  ship-building,  is  an  angular  piece  of 
wood  or  iron,  connecting  the  deck-beams  with 
the  ribs  of  the  vessel. 

Knee;  K. -timber.  A.  knee.  In  K.-timber,  the 
bend  has  been  produced  naturally  in  the  growth 
of  the  tree. 

Knee-rafter,  Crook-rafter.  (Arch.")  A  rafter 
of  which  the  lower  end  is  crooked  downwards 
to  rest  more  firmly  on  the  wall. 

Knife-board.  The  outside  seat  along  the 
front  of  an  omnibus,  with  the  driver's  box  in  the 
middle  j  so  called  from  the  shape  of  the  foot- 
board. 

Knight-heads.  (Naut.)  1.  Two  large  timbers 
for  supporting  the  bowsprit,  rising  above  and  on 
each  side  of  the  stem,  i.q.  Bollard  timbers.  2.  In 
merchant  ships,  the  bitts  supporting  the  ends 
of  the  windlass,  on  the  main-deck.  3.  The 
lower  jear-blocks,  which  were  formerly  bitts  with 
sheaves  in  them. 

Knight  of  the  shire,  K.  of  Parliament.  A 
county  M.P.  ;  town  members  being  Burgesses. 

Knight-service.     (Leg.)     Tenure  in  chivalry, 


KNIG 


284 


KYLE 


created  by  investiture  with  a  Knighfs  fee  of 
twelve  plough-lands,  i.e.  800  or  680  acres,  worth 
•£20  a  year,  the  tenant  giving  homage,  fealty, 
and  forty  days'  military  service  a  year,  and 
eventually  other  harassing  services.  This  tenure 
did  not  always  imply  the  amount  of  land 
mentioned. 

Knight's  fee.     (Knight-service.) 

Knights  Hospitaller,  K.  of  St.  John  of  Jeru- 
salem, K.  of  Bhodes,  K.  of  Malta.  (Hospitaller.) 

Knittles.  (Naut.}  Small  lines  us£d  as  points 
for  reefing,  etc. 

Knobkiri.  A  club  varying  in  length  from  one 
to  six  feet,  terminated  by  a  knob,  and  used,  the 
smaller  ones  as  missiles,  by  the  natives  of 
S.  Africa. 

Knob-stick.  A  man  who  does  not  belong  to 
a  trades-union,  and  who  works  during  a  strike. 

Knot,  f Akin  to  L.  n5dus.]  (Newt.)  1.  K.  to 
be  tied.  (Hitch.)  2.  K.  on  the  log- line  is  the 
_!_th  of  a  Geog.  or  Naut.  mile.  Hence  the 
number  of  knots  run  per  half-minute  gives  the 
number  of  miles  per  hour,  which  are  conse- 
quently termed  knots,  and  =  2025  yards  ap- 
proximately. 

Knott.  In  names  of  places,  =  a  small  round 
hill,  as  in  Ling  Knott. 

Knout.  [Russ.]  A  whip,  consisting  of  a 
handle  two  feet  long,  a  leather  thong  four  feet 
long,  with  a  metal  ring  at  the  end  to  which  the 
striking  part  is  attached,  i.e.  a  flat  tongue  of 
hardened  hide  two  feet  long.  It  is  used  for 
torturing  human  beings. 

Know-nothings.  Founded,  1853,  by  an  ex- 
midshipman,  Ned  Buntline.  A  secret,  exclusive, 
political  order ;  none  to  be  admitted  whose 
grandfathers  were  not  American  natives ;  in 
answer  to  every  question,  they  "knew  nothing." 
They  maintained — (i)  repeal  of  all  naturalization 
laws  ;  (2)  none  but  native  Americans  for  office; 

(3)  a  pure   American   common  school  system ; 

(4)  war  on  Romanism. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 
Knubs.    .  Waste  silk  formed  in  winding  off  the 

threads  from  a  cocoon. 

Knur,  Knurl,  Knar.  [Cf.  Ger.  knorren.]  1. 
A  knot,  a  hard  lump.  2.  A  slender  club  used 
in  the  Yorkshire  game  of  K.  and  spell. 

Koala.  1.  A  name  for  the  jackal  in  the 
Marathi  language.  2.  (Wombat.) 

Kobold.  A  German  word  denoting  a  spectre, 
and  answering  to  the  Eng.  goblin. 

Kobus.  (ZooL}  A  gen.  of  cervicaprine  ante- 
lope. Trop.  Africa. 

Koff.  (Naut.}  A  large  Dutch  coaster,  two- 
masted,  with  spritsails. 

Koodoo,  Kudu.  (ZooL)  Tragelaphus  strepsi. 
ceros,  one  of  the  handsomest  of  bovine  antelopes. 
African  highlands,  from  Abyssinia  seawards. 
Fam.  Bovidae,  ord.  Ungiilata. 

Kookrie.  Broad-bladed  knife,  with  concave 
edge  and  sharp  point,  used  for  all  purposes  by 
the  Ghoorkas  of  the  Himalayas. 

Kopeck,  or  Copek.  [Russ.]  The  hundredth 
part  of  a  rouble,  and  =  i£  farthing  of  English 
money. 

Koppa.  Name  of  a  letter  of  the  oldest  Greek 
alphabets,  which  fell  into  disuse.  It  is  preserved 


in  Latin,  etc.,  as  q;  cf.  Heb.  koph.  It  is 
written  Q,  and  was  used  by  the  grammarians 
to  represent  the  numeral  90.  (Sampi.) 

Koprology.  [Gr.  K6irpos,  dung,  \6yos,  dis- 
course^ The  doctrine  of  the  evil  effects  of  animal 
or  vegetable  decomposition  of  any  kind. 

Koracora.  (Naut.)  A  Molucca  vessel,  com- 
mon in  the  Malays,  broad-beamed,  with  high 
stem  and  stern,  and  an  outrigger. 

Kosmos.    [Gr.  «Jo>ios.]     (Cosmos.) 

Koth.  A  shiny  earthy  substance,  ejected  from 
some  S.- American  volcanoes. 

Koumiss.  [Native  word.]  A  spirituous  drink 
distilled  from  mare's  milk,  used  by  the  Tartars. 

Kowtow,  Kootoo,  Kotou.  [Chin.]  A  bowing 
to  the  earth  in  deferential  self-abasement. 

Kraal.  [D.]  In  S.  Africa,  an  inclosure,  a 
collection  of  huts  in  a  stockade. 

Krabla.  (Naut.}  A  Russian  vessel,  used  in 
the  Arctic  fishery. 

Krang,  Kreng.  The  fleshy  part  of  a  whale 
after  the  blubber  has  been  removed. 

Kremlin,  The.  A  palace  at  Moscow,  begun 
1367  ;  fortified  1492.  Burnt  during  the  occupa- 
tion of  Napoleon  I.,  1812  ;  rebuilt,  1816. 

Krems,  Crems,  Kremnitz  white.  A  white 
carbonate  of  lead  (from  Crems,  in  Austria). 

Kreosote,  Creosote.  [Gr.  Kpeas,  flesh,  o&fa,  1 
preserve.]  A  principle  in  pyroligneous  acid  and 
all  the  tars,  having  the  property  of  preserving 
animal  matter ;  used  externally  and  internally. 

Kreutzer.  [Ger.]  The  sixtieth  part  of  a  Ba- 
varian and  the  hundredth  part  of  an  Austrian 
florin  ;  formerly  stamped  with  a  cross  [Ger. 
kreuz]. 

Kriss-Kringle.  [Ger.  Christ  Kindlein,  the 
Infant  Christ.]  The  German  for  child  is  kind, 
of  which  the  diminutive  is  kindlein  or  kindchen. 
This,  in  some  parts  of  Germany  and  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, has  been  formed  into  kindel,  and  the 
children  are  promised  gifts  at  Christmas  from 
"  Christ-Kindel." — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Kroomen,  or  Crew-men.  (Naut.}  Fishmen. 
An  African  tribe,  British  subjects,  Cape  Palmas  ; 
they  get  in  wood  and  water  where  the  climate 
is  dangerous  for  Europeans. 

Kruller.    A  curled  crisp  cake  fried  in  fat. 

Kshatrya.     (Caste.) 

Kudos.     [Gr. /cGSos.]    Honour,  glory. 

Kufio  letters.  The  characters  of  the  ancient 
Arabic  alphabet ;  so  called  from  Kufa,  a  town  on 
the  Euphrates. 

Kulian.   [Hind.]   A  kind  of  pipe  for  smoking. 

Kummerbund.     [Hind.]    A  girdle. 

-kund.  [Hind.]  Part  of  names,  =  province, 
as  in  Bundel-kund. 

Kupfer-schiefer.  Copper-slate.  (Geol.}  A 
member  of  the  Permian  system  in  Germany ;  a 
source  of  copper  from  time  immemorial ;  repre- 
sented in  England  by  the  marl-slate  of  Durham. 

Kutkubala.    A  mortgage-deed  in  India. 

Kyanizing.  (From  Kyan,  the  inventor.) 
Saturating  wood  with  a  solution  of  corrosive 
sublimate,  to  preserve  it  from  dry-rot. 

Kyle.  A  district  extending  across  the  middle 
of  Ayr  county,  from  the  Norman  to  the  Stuart 
period. 


KYLE 


285 


LACT 


Kyley.    [Austral.]    A  boomerang. 

Kylin.  A  Chinese  four-footed  scaly  monster, 
with  dragon-like  head  and  serrated  back,  sup- 
posed to  bring  good  luck. 

Kyloes.  1.  Ferries  between  the  mainland  and 
western  isles  of  Scotland.  2.  The  cattle  from 
those  districts. 

Kyrie,  The.  [Gr.  Kvpie,  O  Lord!]  1.  A  term 
applied  to  the  Lesser •,  or  Short,  Litany;  and 


sometimes,  2,  applied  also  to  the  expanded  form 
of  Kyrie  eleeson,  which  forms  a  responsory  to  the 
ten  commandments  in  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer.  (Litany ;  Liturgy.) 

Kyriological.  [Gr.  Kvpio\oyuc6s,  describing 
literally, ,]  A  term  denoting  that  class  of 
Egyptian  hieroglyphics  in  which  a  simple  pic- 
ture represents  the  thing  meant ;  in  contrast  with 
tropical  or  symbolical  representation. 


I. 


L.    As  an  abbrev.  among  the  Romans,  stood 
for  the  prsenomen  Lucius  ;   sometimes  also  for 
lex,    latum,    libens,    libertus,    etc.      The    form 
L.  L.  S.  denoted  a  Sestertium.     As  a  numeral,  it  ! 
stands  for  50. 

Laager.  [Boer.]  A  temporary  defensive  in- 
closure,  formed  of  waggons,  in  S.  Africa. 

Labadists.  (Hist.}  A  sect  of  the  seventeenth 
century ;  so  called  from  Jean  Labadie.  They 
resembled  the  Quietists. 

Labarum  (?).  The  standard  of  Constantine, 
made  in  commemoration  of  the  alleged  vision  of 
the  cross  in  the  heavens  ;  said  to  have  been  a 
lance,  with  transverse  rod,  from  which  hung  a 
purple  veil ;  above  it,  a  golden  crown  encircled 
the  monogram  XP,  i.e.  CHR.  The  word  was 
also  written  Laborum,  as  the  Gr.  forms  are 
\a/3apov  and  A-a/Swpoy. 

Labdacism.  [L.  labdacismus,  from  Aaj85o, 
\dfyij35a,  AA.,  L!.]  (Lang.)  1.  Frequent  repeti- 
tion of  L.  2.  A  wrong  pronunciation  of  L  j  as 
when  pronounced  like  //,  ly,  yy. 

Label  [L.  labellum,  a  little  lip.]  1.  (Her.) 
A  Fillet,  with  three  or  more  pendants,  borne  as 
the  difference  in  the  eldest  son's  escutcheon. 
2.  (Arch.)  (Dripstone.) 

Labial.  [L.  labia,  a  lip.]  (Lang.)  Articulated 
with  the  lips ;  as  the  vowels  u  (oo),  o,  and  the 
consonants  /,  p-A,  by  b-h,  m>  the  Mod.  Gr.  <f>, 
Ger.  w. 

Labialization.  (Labial.)  (Lang.)  The  ten- 
dency to  change  or  the  process  of  changing  ar- 
ticulate sounds  to  labials  or  labiodentals  ;  as  i.e. 
Skt.  £atvar  to  Goth,  fidvor,  Eng./our ;  Skt.  gaus 
to  3o6s,  bos,  on. 

Labiate  [L.  labia,  a  lip]  plants.  (Bot.)  An 
ord.  of  exogens,  with  corolla  divided  into  upper 
and  lower  lips ;  as  rosemary,  dead-nettle,  snap- 
dragon, etc. 

Labiodental.  [L.  labium,  a  lip,  dens,  -tern,  a 
tooth.]  Pronounced  by  co-operation  of  the  lips 
and  teeth. 

Labiolingnal.  [L.  labise,  lips,  lingua,  tongue.] 
Sounds  articulated  by  rounding  or  slightly  pro- 
truding the  lips,  while  the  tongue  takes  some 
vowel  position  ;  w,  hw.  Perhaps  «,  o,  are  better 
called  L.  than  labials. 

Labor  omnia  vincit  imprSbus.  [L.]  Obstinate 
labour  conquers  everything  (Virgil). 

Laborum  dulce  levamen.  [L.]  Sweet  soothing 
of  my  toils  (Horace). 


Labouring  force.    Mechanical  work.    (Work.) 

Labrador  felspar,  Labradorite.  (Geol.)  A 
lime-felspar,  with  beautiful  chatoyant  play  of 
colours. 

Labrador  series.    (Laurentian.) 

Labyrinth.  [Gr.  Aa/3upu>0os.]  1.  Properly  a 
place  full  of  inextricable  windings,  as  the  L.  of 
Deedalus.  (Daedalean.)  2.  (Anat.)  The  in- 
ternal ear,  the  cochlea  and  semicircular  canals  ; 
so  called  from  their  complexity.  3.  A  system 
of  canals  through  which  water  is  transmitted 
so  as  to  carry  off  and  deposit  in  certain  places 
the  ground  ore  of  a  metal. 

Labyrinthodon.    (Cheirotherium.) 

Lac.    [Hind.]    One  hundred  thousand  rupees. 

Lac.  [Pers.  lak.]  A  resinous  substance, 
produced  mainly  on  the  banyan  tree,  l4r  the 
puncture  of  a  small  insect.  Stick  lac  is  the  sub- 
stance in  its  natural  state,  incrusting  small 
twigs.  When  broken  off  and  boiled  in  alkali, 
the  residuum  is  called  seed  lac.  When  melted 
and  reduced  to  a  thin  crust,  it  is  called  shell  lac, 
or  shellac.  Barbados  lac  is  petroleum  from  the 
W.  Indies. 

Lacerta.  [L.,  a  lizard.')  (ZooL)  Gen.  of 
lizard,  giving  name  to  fam.  Lacertidse,  land- 
lizards,  and  to  ord.  Lacertilia. 

Lacertus.  [L.]  (Anat.)  The  upper  muscular 
part  of  the  arm. 

Laches.  [Fr.  lacher,  to  slacken.]  In  Law, 
negligence,  delay ;  e.g.  in  an  heir  to  enter ;  a 
ground  for  refusing  relief  in  courts  of  equity. 
(Vigilantibus.) 

Laconism.  A  short  and  pithy  sentence  or 
adage  ;  so  called  from  the  Spartans  (Laconians), 
whose  speech  was  thought  to  be  characterized  by 
such  sayings. 

Lacquer.  A  solution  of  shell  lac  in  spirit, 
with  gamboge,  etc. ,  forming  a  yellow  varnish  for 
brass  and  other  metals. 

Lacrosse.    ( Cross e,  La.) 

Lacryma  Christi.  [L.,  tear  of  Christ.]  A 
dark  red  Italian  wine,  much  praised. 

Lacrymatory.  [L.L.  lacrymatorium,  from 
lachryma,  Gr.  So/fpu/ua,  a  tear.]  (Ant.)  A  name 
given  to  small,  narrow-necked  vessels  found  in 
ancient  sepulchres,  which  were  supposed  to  con- 
tain the  tears  of  the  mourners,  with  the  ashes  of 
the  dead. 

Lactation.  [L.  lacto,  I  suckle.}  Suckling ; 
the  act  or  the  period. 


LACT 


286 


LAMM 


Lacteals.    (Absorbents.) 

Lactic  acid.  An  acid  procured  from  milk 
[L.  lac]. 

Lactometer.  A  hydrometer  made  specially 
for  rinding  the  specific  gravity  of  milk,  and 
thereby  determining  its  value. 

Lactose.  [L.  lac,  lactis,  milk.]  Sugar  ob- 
tained by  evaporating  milk. 

Lacuna.    A  small  opening,  gap,  hiatus. 

Lacustrine.  Belonging  to  a  lake  [L.  lacus]. 
(Lake-dwellings.) 

Lade.  (Naut.)  To  L.  a  boat,  i.q.  to  bale  it 
out,  or  empty  it  of  water.  L.-gorn,  or  L.-pail,  a 
bucket  with  a  long  handle,  to  L.  with. 

Laden.  (Naut.)  Having  a  full  cargo.  L.  in 
bulk,  with  the  cargo  not  inclosed  in  casks, 
bales,  etc.,  but  loose  in  the  hold. 

Ladia.  (Naut.)  A  clumsy  Russian  boat,  used 
for  inland  carrying  trade. 

Ladino.  (Lang.)  A  mixed  Latin  dialect  of 
the  Upper  Engadine,  distinct  from  Romansch. 

Ladrone-ship.  [It.,  robber,  L.  latronem.] 
(Naut.)  Strictly  a  pirate,  but  used  by  the 
Chinese  to  signify  a  man-of-war. 

Lady.  [A.S.  hlsefdige.]  The  wife  of  the  lord, 
A.S.  hlaford,  perhaps  =  hlafweard,  warder  of 
bread. — Max  Miiller,  Lectures  on  Language,  2nd 
series. 

Lady  Bountiful.  A  benevolent  old  lady  in 
Farquhar's  Beaux 's  Stratagem,  who  goes  about 
making  all  kinds  of  cures. 

Lady  chapel.  A  chapel  dedicated  to  the 
hono«r  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  often  placed  to  the 
east  of  the  choir  or  chancel  of  churches. 

Lady  Huntingdon's  Connexion.  (White- 
fieldians.) 

Lady  of  the  gunroom.  (Naut.)  The  gunner's 
mate. 

Lady's  smock,  i.e.  our  Lady's  smock.  (Cuckoo 
flower.) 

Lagado.  In  Swift's  Gulliver's  Travels,  a  city 
famous  for  its  academy  of  projectors,  who  plan 
scientific  impossibilities. 

Lagan.    (Flotsam;  Ligan.) 

Lager  beer.  [Ger.  lager,  store,  bier,  beer.] 
A  German  beer,  which  is  kept  in  store  for  some 
months  before  drinking. 

Lagging.  The  clothing  of  steam  boilers,  etc., 
to  prevent  radiation  of  heat. 

Lagomys.  [Gr.  Xay<as,  hare,  /iO?,  mouse.] 
(Zool. )  Calling  hare,  or  pika.  Gen.  of  moun- 
tain rodent,  giving  name  (Lagomyidae)  to  a  fam. 
of  which  it  is  the  only  gen.,  ranging  from  the 
size  of  the  rat  to  that  of  the  guinea-pig.  Ural 
Mountains,  Himalayas,  Siberia,  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. 

Lagoon,  or  Lagune.  [L.  lacuna,  a  natural 
cavity,  a  pool]  1.  The  sea-water  inclosed  by 
the  ring  of  coral  land  which  forms  a  coral  island. 
2.  The  lagoons  at  Venice  are  the  channels 
formed  by  the  sea  between  the  marshy  places 
near  the  city. 

La  grande  nation.  [Fr.]  The  great  nation  ; 
i.e.  the  French. 

Laid  paper.  Writing-paper  having  a  surface 
as  it  were  inlaid  with  lines.  It  is  called  cream- 
laid  or  blue-laid  from  its  colour. 


Laid-to.  (Naut.)  Sometimes  used  for  hove- 
to  ;  but,  when  laid-to,  the  sails  are  kept  full. 

Laissez  aller.    [Fr.]    Let  go. 

Laissez  faire.    [Fr.]    Let  do. 

Lake-dwellings ;  Crannoges,  Ireland  and  Scot- 
land ;  Pfahlbauten,  Pile-dwellings,  Switzerland. 
Fortified  islands,  stockaded  villages,  built  upon 
piles  ;  stone  and  bronze  ages,  and  perhaps  iron. 
(See  Herodotus,  v.  16,  an  account  of  Lake 
Prasias. ) 

Lakes.  [Fr.  laque.]  Insoluble  compounds 
of  animal  or  vegetable  colouring  matter, .  with 
hydrate  of  alumina  or  other  metallic  oxide. 

Lake  school,  Originally  a  contemptuous,  now 
a  recpgnized,  name  for  the  school  of  poets  of 
whom  Wordsworth,  Southey,  Coleridge,  were 
the  most  eminent  j  they  lived  chiefly  at  the 
English  lakes. 

Lallation.  [L.  lallare,  to  sing,  lullably ;  cf. 
Gr.  AaA.eo',  to  prattle.]  (Lang.)  Pronouncing  / 
instead  of  r,  \  for  p,  as  Alcibiades  was  said 
to  do. 

Lama.  A  Mongol  name  for  priests  in  general. 
The  Grand  Lama,  who  resides  at  Lassa,  in 
Thibet,  is  called  the  Delai  Lama.  (Talapoins.) 

Lambdacism.    (Labdacism.) 

Lambeth  Articles.  Nine  Calvinistic  state- 
ments, drawn  up  at  Lambeth,  1595,  by  Arch- 
bishop Whitgift  and  others. 

Lambeth  degrees.  Those  conferred,  in  any 
of  the  faculties,  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury. 

Lambrequins.  [Fr.,  a  Flemish  word  for  a 
veil  or  mantle.  (Her.)  The  mantling  of  an 
escutcheon. 

Lamellibranchiata,  Lamellibranchiates.  [L. 
lamella,  dim.  of  lamina,  a  plate,  Gr.  ftpdyxia, 
gills.]  (Zool.)  Conchifera,  Acephdla,  headless 
bivalve  molluscs,  with  lamellar  gills,  as  oysters. 

Lamellirostrals,  Lamellirostres.  [L.  lamella, 
dim.  of  lamina,  a  plate,  rostrum,  a  bill.] 
(Ornith.)  A  tribe  or  fam.  of  water-birds  (e.g. 
ducks),  viewed  as  characterized  by  small  laminae, 
or  plates,  set  round  the  margin  of  their  man- 
dibles. 

Lamia.  [L.  and  Gr.]  Imaginary  beings  of 
Gr.  and  L.  Myth.,  resembling  Vampires. 

Lamiidae  (from  their  strange  appearance). 
(Lamia.)  (Entom.)  Subdivision  of  Longicorn 
beetles,  living  on  timber  trees. 

Lamina.  [L.,  a  thin  layer.}  (Bot.)  The 
blade  of  a  leaf;  the  upper  part  of  a  clawed 
petal ;  e.g.  pink. 

Laminated.  [L.  lamina,  a  thin  layer] 
Divisible  into  thin  layers  or  plates. 

Lammas  Day.  August  I,  one  of  the  four  cross 
quarter  days,  a  festival  of  the  Romish  Church 
in  memory  of  St.  Peter's  imprisonment. 
(? Lattermath,  or  Loaf-mass,  A.S.  hlaf-moesse, 
thanksgiving  for  firstfruits  of  corn,  or  from  the 
custom  of  bringing  a  lamb  alive  into  the  church 
at  High  Mass  this  day,  John  xxi.  15.) 

Lammergeier.  [Ger. ,  lamb-vulture. ]  ( Ornith. ) 
Bearded  vultiire,  Gier  eagle.  (Bibl.)  Largest 
bird  of  prey  of  Old  World ;  greyish  brown, 
dashed  with  white  above,  nearly  white  below. 
Gypaetos  [Gr.  7^,  vulture,  der^y,  eagle]  bar- 


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batus   [L.,    bearded],  sub-fam.  Vulturinse,  fam. 
Vulturidae,  ord.  Accipltres. 

Lampadephoria.  [Gr.,  a  torch-bearing, ] 
(Hist.)  A  celebrated  torch-race  at  Athens.  If 
the  torch  of  the  runner,  who  had  to  hand  it  on 
unextinguished  to  another,  went  out,  he  lost  the 
race. 

Lampas.  In  horses,  inflammation  of  the  bars 
of  the  mouth,  especially  in  young  horses,  while 
shedding  teeth  or  putting  up  the  tushes,  some- 
times from  overmuch  com  after  a  run  at  grass  ; 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth  swelling 
and  projecting  below  the  level  of  the  nippers. 

Lampoon.  [Fr.  lampon,  a  drinking  song.] 
A  satire  pointed  with  a  strong  personal  feeling 
against  individuals,  as  distinguished  from  the 
Satire,  directed  against  vice  and  folly. 

Lampshells.  (Zool.)  Terebratulida:  [L.,  dim. 
of  terebra,  borer] ;  fam.  of  bivalves,  having  un- 
equal but  symmetrical  valves,  pierced  at  the 
beak,  and  full  of  minute  holes.  Earliest  known 
form  of  animal  life.  All  seas.  Class  Brachio- 
poda. 

Ian-.     (Llan-.) 

Lanate,  Lanated.  [L.  lana,  wool.]  Having 
woolly  hair. 

Lance.  (Mil.)  Long  spear— at  one  time 
eighteen  feet,  now  nine  feet  three  inches — some- 
times ornamented  with  a  flag  ;  used  by  cavalry. 
Five  regiments  of  light  cavalry  are  at  present  so 
armed. 

Lance-corporal.    (Corporal.) 

Lancelot.    (Sangreal.) 

Lanceolate  leaf.  [L.  lanceolatus,  having  a 
lanceola,  small  lance .]  Like  a  lance-head;  e.g. 
the  lanceolate  pinnate  frond  of  lady-fern. 

Lancet  style.    (Geometrical  style.) 

Lanchang.  A  proa  of  Malay,  carrying  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  men. 

Lancinating  pains ;  opposed  to  dull  or 
aching  (wrongly  formed  from  lancea,  a  lance], 
(Med.)  Piercing  as  if  with  a  sharp  instrument. 
[Lancination  properly  means  tearing  in  pieces ; 
L.  lancmo,  I  tear,  rend.] 

Landamman.  [Ger.  landamtman,  country 
office-man.]  1.  The  President  of  the  Swiss 
Federal  Diet.  2.  The  chief  magistrate  of  some 
Swiss  cantons. 

Landau  (first  made  at  Landau,  in  Ger- 
many). A  four-wheeled  carriage,  whose  upper 
part  can  be  opened  and  thrown  back. 

Landes.  [Fr.,  Ger.  lande.]  Waste  lands, 
especially  the  desolate  unproductive  tracts  on 
the  Bay  of  Biscay,  between  the  Gironde  and  the 
Pyrenees. 

Landgrave.  [Ger.  landgraf.]  A  title  as- 
sumed by  some  German  counts  in  the  twelfth 
century,  to  distinguish  themselves  from  the  in- 
ferior counts  under  their  jurisdiction.  This  was 
the  origin  of  the  Landgraves  of  Thuringia  and 
Elsas  (Alsace). 

Landlouper.  \Cf.  Dan.  landlooper,  country 
runner,  Ger.  laufen,  to  run.]  A  vagrant,  a 
vagabond,  land-lubber. 

Landsman.  (Naut.)  The  old  rating  for  a 
man  who  had  never  been  at  sea  before,  now 
rated  second-class  ordinary. 


Landsturm.     (Levee  en  masse.) 

Landwehr.    [Ger.,  land-defence.]    Militia. 

Langued.  (Her.)  Having  a  tongue  [Fr. 
langue]  different  in  colour  from  the  body. 

Langue  d'oc.  (Lang.)  The  dialect  of  Pro- 
vence, also  called  Romance  ;  opposed  to  the  less 
Roman  Langue  d'oyl  of  Frankish-Gaul.  The 
former  used  oc  [L.  hoc]  where  the  latter  used 
oyl  [illud].  (Troubadours.) 

Langue  d'oyl.     (Langue  d'oc ;  Trouveres.) 

Laniard,  Lannier,  or  Lanyard.  [Fr.  laniere,  a 
thong  or  strap.]  (Naut.}  Pieces  of  rope  or 
line  made  fast  to  anything  as  a  handle,  or  to 
secure  it. 

Lanudee.  [L.  lanius,  a  butcher.]  (Ornith.) 
Shrikes,  butcher-birds.  Fam.  of  Dentirostrals, 
ord.  Passeres. 

Lanista.     [L.]     A  trainer  of  gladiators. 

Lansquenet,  Lasquenet.  [Ger.  landsknecht, 
country  boy.]  1.  Originally  a  German  camp  fol- 
lower, a  German  mercenary  foot-soldier.  2.  A 
game  at  cards ;  called  also  Lambskinnet. 

Lantern.  [L.  lanterna.j  In  Eccl.  Arch., 
the  central  tower  of  a  church  is  so  called  when 
it  is  open  internally  to  the  top,  as  in  Canterbury 
Cathedral  and  York  Minster. 

Lantern,  or  Lantern-wheel.  Consists  of  two 
parallel  discs  with  equidistant  holes  cut  in  them 
near  their  circumferences  ;  into  these  holes  cylin- 
drical wooden  pegs  are  passed,  so  that  the  whole 
forms  a  sort  of  cage ;  the  wheel  or  cage  thus 
formed  serves  as  a  follower  to  work  with  an 
ordinary  driving  toothed  wheel. 

Lantern  of  Aristotle  (described  by  A.).  In- 
ternal skeleton  of  globular  sea-urchin,  carrying 
five  incisor  teeth  like  those  of  rodents. 

Lanthanum,  Lantanum,  Lantanium,  Lantha- 
nium.  A  metal  found  with  cerium,  whereby  its 
properties  were  at  first  hidden  [Gr.  \a.vQaa>6iv,  to 
lie  hid]. 

Lanuginous.  [L.  lanugmSsus,  from  lanug- 
inem,  soft  down, .woolly  substance,  from  lana, 
wool.]  (Anat.  and  .#<?/.)  Downy. 

Lanx.     [L.]     A  platter,  a  dish. 

Laocoon.  [Gr.]  (Myth.]  A  Trojan  priest 
who  tried  to  dissuade  his  countrymen  from  ad- 
mitting the  wooden  horse  within  the  walls  of 
Troy,  and  who  was  crushed  by  the  folds  of  an 
enormous  snake  which  destroyed  his  two  sons 
with  him.  The  story  has  gained  celebrity  from 
the  ancient  sculpture  representing  it,  which  is 
now  in  the  Vatican. 

Lap.  A  piece  of  soft  metal  used  to  hold  (as 
in  a  lap]  powder  for  cutting  gems  or  polishing 
cutlery.  It  is  usually  in  the  form  of  a  revolving 
wheel. 

Lapidary.  [L.  lapid,  -em,  a  stone.]  One  who 
cuts,  polishes,  and  engraves  precious  stones. 

Lapides  Judaici.  [L.]  Stones  of  Judcea, 
siliceous  accretions,  sometimes  shaped  exactly 
like  little  loaves  of  bread  (see  Matt.  vii.  9  ; 
Luke  iv.  3). 

Lapis  lazuli,  Lazulite.  [It.  azzuolo,  dark  blue.  ] 
A  mineral,  crystalline  and  massive,  of  beautiful 
azure  or  ultramarine ;  much  used  anciently 
for  engraving,  etc.  ;  found  in  many  parts  of  the 
world ;  (?)  the  sapphirus  of  antiquity.  (Foi 


LAPI 


288 


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different  statements   of   analysis,    see  English 
Cyclop&dia.) 

Lapithse.  [Gr.  Acnrfftcu.]  A  mythical  people, 
who  are  said  to  have  had  many  contests  with 
the  Centaurs. 

Lapping.     [O.E.  to  lap,  =  to  wrap.}     Wrap- 
ping material  used  by  calico-printers. 
Lapscourse.    (Lobscouse.) 
Lapse.     [L.   lapsus,  a  slip.}      (Eccl.)      The 
omission  of  a  patron   to   present  to  a  benefice 
within  six  months  of  avoidance ;  the  right  then 
devolves  to  the  bishop.     If  bishop  omit,  then  to 
archbishop  ;  if  archbishop,  then  to  the  Crown. 

Lapstone.  A  stone  held  in  the  lap,  on  which 
shoemakers  beat  leather. 

Lapsus  calami.     [L.]    A  slip  of  the  pen. 
Lapsus  linguae.     [L.]    A  slip  of  the  tongue. 
Laputa.      In  Swift's    Gulliver's  Trave/s,   an 
aerial  island,  moved  and  guided  by  a  huge  load- 
stone, and  full  of  absent-minded  philosophers. 

Lapwing.     [Heb.  dukiphath ;   Lev.    xi.    19.] 
(Bibl.)      The    hoopoe,    Upupa    gpops ;    about 
thirteen  inches  long,  buff,  barred  with  black  and 
white,    buff   crest    tipped    with  black.     Fam 
Upupidae,  ord.  Passeres. 
Laquais.     [Fr.]     Footman,  lackey. 
Laquais  de  place.     [Fr.]     Cicerone,  guide. 
Laquear.      [L.]      (Arch.)      A    ceiling,  with 
hollowed  or  depressed  compartments  divided  by 
spaces  or  bands,  a  fretted  ceiling  ;  originally  one 
of  the  depressed  compartments  themselves. 
Larboard.     (A-beam.) 
Larbolins.    (Starbolins.) 
Larceny.     [L.  latrocmium.]    Theft,   abstrac- 
tion  and  appropriation    of    personal    property 
belonging  to  others,    a  -species  of  felony.     L. 
under  the  value  of  I2d.  used  to  be  called  petit; 
otherwise,  grand. 

Larding  money.  Paid  yearly  by  tenants  of 
Bradford  Manor,  Wilts.,  for  liberty  to  feed  their 
hogs  with  the  mast  of  the  lord's  wood. 

Lares.  [L.]  (Myth.)  1.  The  Latin  house- 
hold gods,  regarded  as  the  spirits  of  deceased 
ancestors.  2.  Latin  gods  of  the  city,  the  roads, 
etc.,  an  extension  of  the  same  idea  to  the  country 
generally.  (Penates.) 

Largess.  [Fr.  largesse,  L.  largitio,  from 
largus,  large."}  Bestowal,  a  gift.  Commonly 
used  in  the  knightly  language  of  the  Middle 
Ages.  ^ 

Lariat.  [Sp.  la  reata.]  A  rope  made  with 
thongs  of  raw  hide  twisted  or  braided,  and  some- 
times of  sea-grass,  used  for  catching  and  picket- 
ing wild  horses  or  cattle.  Some  writers  incor- 
rectly say  a  riata.  It  is  also  called  a  lasso. — 
Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Laridae.  (Larus.)  (Ornith.)  Gulls  and 
terns ;  fam.  of  shore-birds.  Universally  dis- 
tributed. Ord.  Anseres. 

Larmier.  [Fr.]  (Arch.)  A  dripstone,  to 
carry  off  the  rain  [larmes,  tears  of  water}.  The 
same  as  Lorymer. 

La  royne  le  veult.  The  old  Norm.  Fr.  used 
by  the  Clerk  of  the  Parliaments  in  giving,  on 
behalf  of  the  Queen,  her  royal  assent  to  Acts 
is  :  to  Acts  granting  public  money,  commonly 
called  Money  Bills,  ' '  La  royne  remercie  ses  bons 


sujets,  accepte  leur  benevolence,  et  ainsi  le 
veult,"  The  Queen  thanks  her  good  subjects, 
accepts  their  aid,  and  assents  ;  to  all  other  public 
Acts,  and  to  such  private  A.  as  Railway  Com- 
pany A.,  Acts  for  towns  and  gas,  water,  etc., 
simply  "  La  royne  le  veult,"  The  Queen  assents ; 
to  A.  affecting  private  individuals,  their  rights, 
estates,  naturalization,  etc.,  "  Soit  fait  comme  il 
est  desire,"  Be  it  done  as  desired ;  upon  a 
petition  demanding  a  right,  whether  public  or 
private,  "  Soit  droit  (the  right)  fait  comme  il  est 
desire. " 

L'art  pour  1'art.  [Fr.]  Art  for  art ;  said  of 
the  practice  of  an  art  or  science  for  its  own 
sake,  without  regard  to  any  object  or  result. 

Larus.  [L.,  Gr.  \apos.]  (Omith.)  Gull. 
Large  and  universally  distributed  gen.  of  Laridcs 
(q.v.). 

Larva.  [L.,  a  ghost,  a  mask.}  (Entom.) 
An  insect  as  it  emerges  from  the  egg ;  e.g.  a 
caterpillar. 

Larvae.  [L.]  The  name  given  by  the  Romans 
to  the  spectres  of  the  dead. 

Laryngoscope.  [Gr.  \dpvyj-,  and  ffKoireu,  1 
look  at.}  An  instrument,  having  two  mirrors, 
for  viewing  the  larynx. 

Laryngotomy.  [Gr.  \apvyyorofjiia,  \dpvy£, 
larynx,  Torf,  a  cutting.}  The  operation  ol 
opening  or  cutting  into  the  larynx. 

Larynx.  [Gr.  \xpvy £.]  The  organ  of  voice — 
its  parts  many  and  complex — between  the  trachea, 
or  windpipe,  and  the  base  of  the  tongue. 

Lasciate  ogni  speranza,  voi,  che  'ntrate.  [It.] 
Abandon  all  hope,  ye  ivho  enter  ;  ending  of  in- 
scription over  the  gate  of  hell  (Dante's  Infernoy 
canto  iii.). 

Laskets.  (Naut.)  Small  lines  sewn  to  the 
bonnets  and  drablers,  to  secure  them  to  each 
other  and  the  bonnets  to  the  sails. 

Lasks.  1.  Indian  cut  stones.  2.  Diarrhoaa 
(in  old  books). 

Lassitude.  [L.  lassitudo,  from  lassus,  akin  to 
laxus,  loose.}  Probably  a  state  of  relaxation; 
hence  the  sense  of  heaviness  or  weariness. 

Lasso.  [Sp.  lazo,  from  laqueus,  a  noose.}  A 
rope  ending  in  a  noose,  used  for  catching  wild 
horses,  etc.  (Drag-ropes.) 

Lasting.     A  very  dttrable  woollen  stuff. 
Latakia.     A   superior   kind   of   tobacco,   for 
cigarettes,    etc.,   from    Latakia   (Laodicea),    in 
Syria. 

Latching  keys.  (Naut.)  Loops  on  bonnet's 
head-rope,  for  lacing  it  to  the  sail. 

Lateat  scintillula  forsan.  [L.]  Perhaps  a 
tiny  spark  (of  life)  may  lie  concealed ;  of  the  ap- 
parently drowned.  Motto  of  the  Royal  Humane 
Society. 

Lateen  sail.  [Fr.  voile  latine.]  (Naut.}  A 
triangular  sail,  having  its  foremost  leech  bent  to 
a  yard,  which  hoists  obliquely  to  the  mast. 

Latent  heat  [L.  lateo,  /  lie  hid}  of  a  sub- 
stance is  the  quantity  of  heat  required  to  convert 
a  unit  of  mass  of  that  substance  from  the  solid 
to  the  liquid  (or  from  the  liquid  to  the  gaseous) 
state  without  change  of  temperature. 

Lateran.  A  church  at  Rome,  originally  a 
palace  of  the  family  of  the  Laterani,  seized  by 


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Nero  and  made  an  imperial  residence  ;  bestowed 
by  Constantine  on  the  popes.  Eleven  Councils 
have  been  held  in  this  basilica. 

Lateran  Councils.  A  term  especially  used  of 
five  C.  held  in  the  Church  of  St.  John  Lateran, 
at  Rome;  the  last  (1215),  under  Innocent  III., 
established  the  Roman  doctrine  of  the  Eucharist, 
using  the  word  "transubstantiation."  But 
L.  C.,  with  Dr.  Hook  and  others,  =  "all  the 
Councils  of  the  Roman  Church." 

Later  em  lavas.  [L.]  Yott  are  washing  a 
brick ;  i.e.  an  unburnt  brick ;  you  are  making 
bad  worse. 

Laterite.  [L.  later,  a  brick.}  (Geol.)  Dis- 
integrated gneiss,  generally  red  ;  e.g.  the  indu- 
rated, reddish  clayish  alluvium  in  many  parts  of 
India. 

Latet  angois  in  herba.  [L.]  A  snake  lies 
hidden  in  the  grass. 

Latex.  [L.,  a  liquid  of  any  kind.]  (Bot.} 
The  fluid  of  vegetation  ;  the  sap. 

Lathbrick.  A  long  slender  brick  like  a  lath, 
on  which  malt  is  placed  in  the  drying  kiln. 

Lathe;  Engine-L. ;  Foot-L. ;  Hand-L.;  Power-L. 
A  machine  for  turning  wood  or  metal.  A 
Foot-L.  is  worked  by  the  foot  acting  on  a 
treadle.  An  Engine-L.,  or  Power-L.,  is  worked 
by  steam-power,  and  has  an  automatic  feed  for 
bringing  the  substance  to  be  shaped  up  to  the 
cutting  tool.  In  a  Hand-L.  the  cutting  tool  is 
brought  up  to  the  material  and  guided  by  the 
hand. 

Lathes.  [(?)  A.S.  gelathian,  to  assemble.} 
Kent  has  from  an  early  time  been  divided  into 
five  territorial  divisions  called  L.,  each  of  them 
containing  several  hundreds  :  they  formerly  had 
distinct  courts  superior  to  the  hundred  courts. 

Lathrending.     The  business  of  making  laths. 

Lati-.     [L.  latus,  broad} 

Latin.  [L.  latmus,  of  Latium.}  (Lang.}  The 
language  of  Rome  and  Latium. 

Latin  Church.  ( Eccl.  Hist.}  A  name  given 
to  the  Church  of  Rome  and  the  Churches  in 
communion  with  it,  as  distinguished  from  the 
Eastern  Church,  Orthodox,  or  Greek. 

Latin  cross.     (Cross.) 

Latitat  [L.,  he  keeps  hid}  (Leg.}  Name  of 
writ  by  which  a  person  was  summoned  into 
King's  Bench  (abolished  in  the  reign  of  William 
IV.)  to  answer  a  personal  action,  he  in  all  cases 
being  supposed  to  be  in  hiding,  so  that  he  could 
not  be  found  in  Middlesex. 

Latitude  [L.  latitudo,  breadth} ;  Astrono- 
mical L. ;  Circle  of  L. ;  Geocentric  L. ;  Heliocen- 
tric L.  1.  (Astron.}  The  angular  distance  of  a 
heavenly  body  from  the  ecliptic,  measured  along 
a  great  circle — a  Circle  of  L. — at  right  angles  to 
the  ecliptic  :  if  the  earth  is  supposed  to  be  at  the 
centre,  the  latitude  is  Geocentric ;  if  the  sun,  Helio- 
centric. 2.  ( Geog. )  The  Latititde,  or  Astronomical 
L.,  is  the  angular  distance  of  the  zenith  from  the 
equinoctial,  measured  along  the  meridian  ;  as  the 
earth  is  not  a  sphere,  this  is  not  the  same  as  the 
Geocentric  L. ,  or  the  angle  made  with  the  equator 
by  a  line  joining  the  station  to  the  earth's  centre. 

Latitudinarians.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  A  body  of 
English  divines  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  op- 


posed both  to  the  high  tenets  of  the  ruling  party 
in  the  Church,  and  to  the  extreme  notions  of  the 
Dissenters.  Their  position  was  defended  by 
Fowler,  Bishop  of  Gloucester. 

Latria.    (Dulia.) 

Latro  latrunculus.  [L.]  A  draughtsman  ;a 
man,  a  pawn,  in  chess. 

-latry  =  worship,  as  in  idolatry,  Mario/a/r^ 
[Gr.  Aarpe/a,  service,  worship}. 

Latten.  [Fr.  laiton,  It.  latta,  a  sheet  of  tinned 
iron.]  1.  Sheet  brass.  2.  Thin  iron  plates 
coated  with  tin. 

Latter-day  Pamphlets.  By  Thomas  Carlyle  ; 
a  very  severe  attack  upon  the  political  Govern- 
ment of  England;  written  in  1850,  and  suggested 
by  the  revolutionary  events  of  1848. 

Latter-day  Saints.  Mormons  (q.v.) ;  so  styled 
by  themselves. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Lattermath.    The  same  as  Aftermath. 

Latus  clavus,  [L.]  The  broad  purple  stripe 
down  the  front  of  a  Roman  senator's  tunic. 

Laudato  ingentia  rura,  Exiguum  collto.  [L.] 
Commend  large  estates,  cultivate  a  small  one. 

Laudator  temporis  acti.  [L.]  An  admirer  of 
past  times  (Horace). 

Laudatur  ab  his,  culpatur  ab  illis.  [L.]  He 
is  praised  by  these,  blamed  by  those. 

Laudi  spiritual!.  [It.]  The  origin  of  madri- 
gal music,  certain  motetts,  psalms,  etc.,  brought 
out  at  Rome  by  desire  of  St.  Philip  Neri,  A.D. 

1563- 

Lauds.     (Canonical  hours.) 

Laughing-gas.  Protoxide  of  nitrogen ;  so 
called  because,  when  inhaled  in  small  quantities, 
it  causes  excitement,  often  accompanied  with 
laughter.  Used  as  an  anaesthetic  by  dentists. 

Launch.  (Naut.}  1.  The  largest  boat  of  a 
man-of-war,  corresponding  to  the  long-boat  of 
a  merchantman,  but  longer,  lower,  and  more 
flat-bottomed.  2.  Steam-L.,  a  swift  boat  of 
light  draught. 

Launders.  [Fr.  lavandier,  a  washerman.} 
Tubes,  gutters,  etc.,  for  the  conveyance  of  water 
in  -mines. 

Laura.  [Gr.]  The  inclosure  or  precincts  of 
a  monastery  in  the  Eastern  Church.  The  ancient 
lauras  of  Palestine  were  collections  of  cells  for 
hermits,  who  lived  without  any  common  monastic 
rule  (probably  connected  with  \aftvpiv0os). 

Laureate.  [L.  laureatus,  crowned  with  laurel.} 
The  dignity  of  poet-laureate,  bestowed  in  the 
fourteenth  century  on  Petrarch,  is  said  to  have 
been  suggested  by  the  tradition  of  the  crowning 
of  Virgil  and  Horace  with  laurel  wreaths  in  the 
Roman  Capitol.  In  England,  poets-laureate 
were  sometimes  created  by  the  universities  as 
well  as  by  the  king. 

Laurel  crown.  Placed  on  the  brow  of  a  con- 
queror or  hero,  as  an  emblem  of  victory. 

Laurentian  (covering  the  country  north  of 
the  St.  Lawrence,  Laurentius).  (Geol.}  Highly 
metamorphosed  rocks,  crystalline,  fossiliferous ; 
gneiss,  schist,  marble,  conglomerate,  and  graphite, 
with  trap-dykes,  metallic  ores,  etc.  Anterior  to 
the  oldest  Cambrian  and  Silurian ;  the  oldest 
known  fundamental  series  of  the  stratified 
rocks.  Divided  theoretically  into  the  Upper 


LAUW 


290 


LEAP 


Laurentian  or  Labrador  series,  and  the  Lower 
Laurentian. 

Lauwine.  (Poet. )  An  avalanche  ;  Ger.  Lau- 
wine. 

Lava.  [It.]  Any  rock-material  which  flows, 
melted,  from  a  volcano  ;  usually  either  felspathic 
(as  pumice)  or  augitic  (as  black  lava). 

Lavacrum.  [L.J  (Eccl.  Arch.)  A  name  for 
the  Piscina. 

Lavaret.  1.  (Gwyniad.)  2.  A  name  given 
to  Salmo  oxyrrhyncus  [Gr.  o£vp-pvyx°St  sharp- 
snouted}.  North  and  Baltic  Seas. 

Lavatory.  [L.  lavatorium,  from  lavo,  /  wash.} 
A  washing-place. 

Laver.  [(?)Acorr.  ofulva,  sedge.}  (Bot.)  Name 
of  some  edible  seaweeds,  especially  Porphyra 
vulgaris  and  P.  laciniata,  or  Sloke  [L.  lacmia,  a 
lappet},  the  fronds  of  which  furnish  Purple  L.  ; 
and  Ulva  latissima,  Green  L.  Stewed  or  pickled, 
and  eaten  with  various  condiments,  especially  in 
the  Hebrides.  Porphyra,  because  of  the  purple 
[Gr.  irop<pvpfos]  or  violet  colour  produced  by 
spores,  which  fill  the  whole  frond. 

Laverock  [O.E.  laferc],  abbrev.  to  Lark.  Sky- 
lark, Alauda  arvensis  [L.,  lark  of  the  cultivated 
fields}.  Europe,  Asia  Minor,  and  N.  Africa. 
Gen.  Alauda,  fam.  Alaudidse,  ord.  Passeres. 

Law,  Grimm's.     (Grimm's  law.) 

Law,  -law.  [A.  S.  hlaw,  an  elevation.]  ( Geog.) 
Rising  ground. 

Law;  Laws  of  motion.  1.  (Phys.)  A  general 
proposition  which  enunciates  any  of  the  unvary- 
ing coexistences  or  sequences  observed  in 
natural  phenomena;  e.g.  the  law  of  the  reflexion 
of  light  is  that  the  angles  of  incidence  and  re- 
flexion are  in  the  same  plane  and  are  equal.  In 
some  cases  these  laws  are  known  by  the  names 
of  their  discoverers,  as  Kepler's  L.,  Boyle's  L., 
Hooke's  L.,  etc.  2.  (Math.)  The  L.  of  a 
series  is  the  rule  in  accordance  with  which  its 
successive  terms  are  derived.  The  Laws  of 
motion  are  three  fundamental  facts  concerning 
motion  and  the  forces  which  produce  it,  enunci- 
ated by  Newton  in  the  Introduction  to  the 
Principia,  under  the  head  of  "  Axiomata  sive 
Leges  Motus." 

Law-calf.  A  pale  buff  leather,  used  for  bind- 
ing law-books. 

Laxative.  [L.  laxo,  /  unloose.'}  Gently 
aperient. 

Lay,  To.  (Naut.)  To  come,  or  go.  As  to 
lay  out  on  a  yard  is  to  go  out  towards  the  yard- 
arms. 

Lay  "brothers.  Persons  in  convents  who  are 
under  the  three  vows  but  not  in  holy  orders. 

Lay  days.  (Naut.}  Those  allowed  for  load- 
ing or  unloading. 

Layer.  (Agr.)  Clover,  etc.,  sown  and  cut  with 
barley,  its  aftergrowth  supplying  green  food. 

Lay  figure.  A  large  wooden  doll,  having 
joints,  so  that  it  can  be  placed  in  any  attitude, 
and  used  by  artists  as  a  model  to  hang  drapery 
on,  etc. 

Lay-stall.  1.  A  place  where  rubbish  is  laid. 
2.  A  place  in  which  cows  are  kept,  as  sometimes 
in  London. 

Lay-to.    (Lie-to.) 


Lazar.     (Lazzaroni.) 

Lazaretto  (Lazarus,  New  Testament).  [It.] 
In  foreign  seaports,  a  building  for  the  reception  of 
those  suffering  from  contagious,  especially  pesti- 
lential, disease,  and  of  their  goods. 

Lazarists.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  body  of  mission- 
aries founded  by  St.  Vincent  of  Paul,  1632  ;  so 
named  from  occupying  the  Priory  of  St.  Lazarus, 
at  Paris. 

Lazarus,  St.,  Order  of.  A  military  religious 
order,  established  for  the  care  of  lepers  in  lazar- 
houses,  especially  in  the  Holy  Land. 

Lazy-bed.  (Agr.)  System  of  cultivating 
potatoes  in  beds  from  four  to  six  feet  wide,  sepa- 
rated by  spaces  twelve  or  eighteen  inches  wide, 
to  supply  soil  for  earthing  up  the  crop. 

Lazy-guy.  (Naut.)  A  small  tackle  which 
keeps  the  spanker-boom  steady  in  fine  weather, 
Lazy-painter •,  a  small  rope  used  to  secure  a  boat 
in  fine  weather. 

Lazzardni.  [It.]  The  poorer  classes  at 
Naples  ;  so  called  from  the  Hospital  of  St. 
Lazarus,  which  served  as  a  refuge  for  the  des- 
titute in  that  city. 

Leach.  [O.E.  leah.]  1.  Wood  ashes  through 
which  water  passing  imbibes  the  alkali.  2.  The 
tub  in  which  this  process  takes  place. 

Lead.  [O.E.]  Red  lead  is  a  compound  of 
oxide  and  dioxide  of  lead,  used  in  glass-making 
and  as  a  pigment.  White  lead  is  carbonate  of 
lead,  a  common  pigment.  Stigar  of  lead  is 
acetate  of  lead,  which  has  a  sweet  taste. 

Lead  or  Leads  of  a  rope.  The  direction  or 
directions  in  which  it  is  led. 

Lead,  Sounding.  A  leaden  weight,  attached 
to  a  line  marked  in  fathoms,  used  to  ascertain 
depths.  (Marks  and  deeps.) 

Leader.  (Anat.)  A  colloquial  synonym  of 
tendon. 

Leading  note.     (Music.)     (Subtonic.) 

Leading-part  of  a  tackle.  (Naut.)  That 
leading  from  block  to  block. 

Leading  question.  In  Law,  one  which  sug- 
gests the  answer  :  these  may  be  asked  in  cross- 
examination  only. 

League.  Three  miles,  generally  three  nautical 
miles,  or  515  of  a  degree.  The  length  of  the  L. , 
like  that  of  the  mile,  is  different  in  different 
countries  ;  e.g.  the  old  French  L.  (lieue  com- 
mune) is  5'5  of  a  degree,  but  the  nautical  league 
(lieue  marine)  was  the  ^  of  a  degree,  and  the 
postal  league  (lieue  de  poste  legale)  2000  toises. 

League,  Hanseatic.     (Hanseatic  League.) 

League,  The  Holy.  (Fr.  Mist.)  A  political 
association  of  the  Roman  Catholic  party  in  the 
reign  of  Henri  III.,  1575,  for  the  overthrow  of 
the  Protestant  power. 

League  of  Cambrai.    (Cambrai,  League  of.) 

League  of  the  Public  Weal.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  an 
alliance  formed  by  the  Duke  of  Britanny  and 
others  against  Louis  XL,  1464.  (Public  Weal, 
War  of  the.) 

Leannoth.  In  the  heading  of  Ps.  Ixxxviii., 
for  singing,  for  humbling,  probably  =  requiring 
some  accompaniment  suitable  to  a  psalm  of  deep 
affliction  (Speaker's  Commentary).  (Mahalath.) 

Leap  year.    (Year.) 


LEAS 


291 


LEJE 


Lease.  [L.  laxare,  to  loose ;  cf.  Fr.  laisser.] 
To  let,  to  demise  for  a  reserved  rent  by  a  grant 
or  contract  termed  a  lease,  either  for  life,  for  a 
term,  or  at  will. 

Leash.  1.  A  thong,  loose  string  [Fr.  laisse, 
L.  laxa.]  2.  A  L.  of  birds,  three,  a  brace  and 
a  half. 

Leasing.  [A.S.  leas,  empty,  false]  Ps.  iv.  2  ; 
lying. 

Leasing.     [Ger.  lesen,  to  gather]     Gleaning. 

LeatherstOcking.  Natty  Bumppo,  a  back- 
woodsman in  Cooper's  novel  The  Pioneers. 

Le  bon  temps  viendra.  [Fr.]  The  good  time 
2vill  come. 

Lecanomancy.  [Gr.  \ei<dvir],  bowl,  pavrfia, 
divination.]  Divination  by  throwing  three 
stones  into  a  basin  of  water,  with  an  invocation. 

Lecca  gum.  (From  Lecca,  in  Calabria.)  A 
gum  obtained  from  the  olive  tree. 

Lectica.     [L.]    A  Utter. 

Lectionary.  In  the  English  Prayer-book,  the 
list  of  lessons  [L.  lectiSnes]  from  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments  to  be  read  at  Morning  and 
Evening  Prayer  daily. 

Lectisternium.  [L.,  from  lectus,  a  bed,  and 
sternere,  to  spread]  (Hist.)  An  ancient  Roman 
religious  ceremony,  in  which  the  statues  of  the 
gods  were,  in  times  of  disaster,  placed  on 
couches,  the  gods  themselves,  it  was  supposed, 
taking  part  in  it. 

Lectus  genialis.  [L.]  The  marriage-bed, 
guarded  by  the  Genius. 

Lecythus.     [Gr.  X^KvQos.}    An  oil-flask. 

Led-captain.  (Naut.)  A  parasite,  a  hanger- 
on  to  a  rich  or  titled  personage. 

Ledger.  [A.S.  leger,  a  bed,  a  laying  down; 
cf.  Ger.  lager,  Boer  laager,  Goth,  ligrs.]  (Com.) 
A  book  in  which  accounts  are  finally  entered, 
summed,  and  recorded  from  the  journal,  waste- 
book,  etc. 

Ledger  lines.  (Music.)  Short  additional 
lines  above  and  below  the  ordinary  stave,  origin- 
ally drawn  in  "light"  coloured  lines  [Fr. 
leger,  light}  ;  so  a  ledger  is  lit.  a  book  with 
light  marginal  lines. 

Lee.  [A  word  common  to  many  Aryan  lan- 
guages, denoting  a  sheltered  place.]  (Naut.) 
The  side  away  from  the  wind.  L.  boards, 
strong  frames  of  plank,  fastened  one  to  each 
side  of  flat-bottomed  sailing-vessels,  lowered, 
when  on  a  wind,  and  giving  a  gripe  of  the  water. 
Z.  gauge,  To  have  the,  to  be  to  leeward  of 
another  vessel. 

Leech.  A  physician  [A.S.  Isece,  a  physician, 
a  reliever  of  pain,  from  lacnian,  to  heal}  ;  the 
medicinal  L.  being  the  same  word. 

Leeches.  (Araut.)  The  edges  of  a  sail.  Z.- 
lines,  ropes  fastened  to  the  le'eches  of  the  main- 
sail, foresail,  and  crossjack,  used  to  truss  up 
those  sails.  L.-rope,  the  vertical  part  of  the 
Bolt-rope  (q.v.}. 

Lee-hatch,  Take  care  of  the.  (Naut.)  Don't 
let  her  go  to  leeward  of  her  course. 

Leer.     A  furnace  for  annealing  glass. 

Leet.  [A.S.  leod,  Ger.  leute,  the  people,  or 
the  lewd]  A  court  for  preserving  the  peace  by 
the  system  of  Frankpledge. 


Lee  tide.  (Naut.)  One  running  in  the  direc- 
tion in  which  the  wind  blows.  Opposed  to 
Weather  tide. 

Leewardly.  (Naut.)  A  vessel  inclined  to 
bag  to  leeward.  Opposed  to  Weatherly. 

Lee- way.  (Naut.)  The  drift  of  a  vessel  to 
leeward.  Angle  of  L.-  W.,  the  deviation  of  her 
true  from  her  apparent  course,  owing  to  L.-W. 

Left-handed  marriage.  (Morganatic  marriage.) 

Leg.  (Naut.)  1.  The  run  made  upon  a  single 
tack.  2.  A  cringle  to  a  leech-line. 

Legacy.  [L.  legare,  to  bequeath.}  (Leg.)  A 
gift  of  personal  property  by  will. 

Legal  memory.  Distinguished  from  living 
memory,  dates  from  1189,  the  year  of  Richard 
I.'s  return  from  Palestine. 

Legates.  [L.  legati.]  In  ancient  Rom.  Hist., 
(i)  ambassadors  :  (2)  officers  who  accompanied 
the  proconsuls  and  praetors  into  their  provinces, 
or  aided  the  general  in  the  management  of  his 
army.  (3)  Officers  exercising  powers  committed 
to  them  by  the  pope,  in  foreign  countries  or 
courts.  (Nuncio.) 

Legato.  [It.]  (Music.)  Played  or  sung  slur- 
ringly,  glidingly,  smoothly ;  opposed  to  Staccato. 

Leg-bail,  To  give,  means  to  escape  from 
custody,  to  run  away. 

Legend.  [L.  legenda,  things  to  be  read.]  1. 
Any  book  is  a  legend  ;  but  the  word  was  applied 
more  especially  to,  2,  the  records  of  saints  and 
martyrs,  passages  from  which  were  read  out  in 
the  services  of  the  Church.  Such  was  the  Golden 
L.,  drawn  up  by  Jacobus  de  Voragine,  in  the 
thirteenth  century.  The  term  is  now  often  used 
to  denote,  3,  fictitious  or  doubtful  narratives  of 
any  kind. 

Legerdemain.  [Fr.,  lit.  light  of  hand]  Used 
as  subst.,  =  slight  of  hand,  tricks  requiring  a 
light,  quick  hand. 

Leghorn.  A  kind  of  plait  for  bonnets,  etc., 
made  of  the  straw  of  wheat  cut  while  green  and 
dried  (first  made  at  Leghorn,  Livorno). 

Legion.  [L.  legio,  -nem.]  The  largest  division 
of  the  Roman  army,  consisting  originally  of  ten 
cohorts  =  thirty  maniples  =  sixty  centuries  = 
from  4200  to  6000  infantry  ;  with  300  cavalry. 

Legion  of  Honour.  (Fr.  Hist.)  An  order  of 
merit,  both  military  and  civil,  instituted  by 
Napoleon  Bonaparte,  when  First  Consul. 

Legis  constructio  non  facit  injuriam.  [L.] 
(Leg. )  The  construction  of  the  law  does  injury 
to  no  man  ;  i.e.  laws  are  to  be  interpreted  and 
applied  equitably. 

Legree.  A  cruel  slave-dealer  in  Mrs.  Stowe's 
novel  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin. 

Legume.  [L.  legumen.]  (Bot.)  A  plant  having 
two-valved  fruit,  dehiscing  by  sutures  on  the  face 
and  back,  like  the  pod  of  a  pea,  bearing  its  seeds 
on  the  ventral  suture  only.  Leguminosa,  a  very 
extensive  nat.  ord.,  including  peas,  beans,  lupins, 
clover,  acacia,  tamarinds,  etc. 

Legumes.    [Fr.]     Vegetables. 

Leigh,    (-ley.) 

Lejeu  ne  vaut  pas  la  chandelle.  [Fr.l  The 
game  is  not  worth  the  candle ;  the  reward  of 
success  does  not  compensate  one  for  the  trouble 
bestowed  on  winning  it ;  the  thing  doesn't  pay. 


LEL 


292 


LETT 


I.  E.  L.  Letitia  Elizabeth  Landon,  afterwards 
Mrs.  Maclean,  a  writer  of  verses  (1802-1838). 

Leman,  Lemman.  A  sweetheart ;  formerly 
leofmon  [A.S.  leof,  beloved,  man,  a  person,  a 
human  being].  (Lief.) 

Le  mieux  est  Pennemi  du  Men.  [Fr.]  The 
best  is  the  enemy  of  the  good;  in  pursuing  greater 
advantages  we  lose  present  advantages. 

Lemma.  [Gr.  Af?jujua,  (i)  a  thing  taken,  as  a 
premiss,  L.  sumptio  ;  (2)  a  summary  of  contents.] 
(Math.)  A  subordinate  proposition  introduced 
as  a  digression  into  a  mathematical  book,  in  ex- 
planation of  the  methods  used  in  proving  the 
propositions  which  form  the  subject  of  the  book  ; 
thus  the  lemmas  or  lemmata  of  the  first  sec- 
tion of  the  first  book  of  the  Principia  explain 
the  method  of  proof  adopted  by  Newton  in  the 
propositions  of  the  second  and  subsequent  sec- 
tions which  make  up  his  subject :  he  introduces 
other  lemmas  as  he  goes  on. 

Lemnian  earth.  A  kind  of  bole  from  Lemnos  ; 
formerly  sold  in  small  cakes  as  a  medicine. 

Lemniscate.  (Math.}  The  curve  traced  out  by  a 
point  moving  in  such  a  manner  that  the  product 
of  its  distances  from  two  fixed  points  is  constant. 
Its  form  nearly  resembles  that  of  a  figure  of  eight 
(8),  and  is  somewhat  like  a  fillet  [Gr.  \I]HV((TKOS}. 

Lemons,  Salt  of.  (Chem.)  Binoxalate  of  potash, 
used  for  removing  ink-stains. 

Le  mot  d'enigme.  [Fr.]  The  word  of  'the  riddle ; 
the  key  to  the  puzzle  or  mystery. 

Lemur.  [L.,  a  ghost.}  (Zool.}  A  gen.  ofstrep- 
sirrhine  [curved-nostril},  generally  small  quadru- 
manous  mammals,  giving  the  name  Lgmuroidea 
to  a  sub-ord.  of  ord.  Primates,  specially  charac- 
teristic of  Madagascar,  and  apparently  indicating 
a  former  connexion  with  India. 

Lemures.  [L.]  (Myth.)  Spirits  of  the  dead, 
which,  in  the  belief  of  the  Romans,  had  the 
power  of  hurting  the  living.  (Lamia;  Larvse.) 

Lens.  [L.,  a  lentil.}  (Math.)  A  piece  of 
glass,  such  as  a  common  magnifying  glass,  or 
other  transparent  medium,  generally  of  a  circular 
form,  bounded  by  two  surfaces  of  revolution 
which  have  a  common  axis.  In  most  cases 
these  surfaces  are  portions  of  spheres,  or  one  of 
them  is  plane.  A  lens  has  a  positive 'focal length 
when  thinnest,  a  negative  focal  length  when 
thickest,  in  the  middle.  According  to  the  posi- 
tion of  the  centres  of  the  spheres,  the  former 
lenses  may  be  double-concave,  plano-concave 
(concavo-plane),  or  convexo-concave;  the  latter 
may  be  double-convex,  plano-convex  (convexo- 
plane),  or  concavo-convex. 

Lent.  The  great  fast  of  the  Christian 
Church  ;  so  named  from  the  A.S.  lencten,  Ger. 
lenz,  spring. 

Lenticular.  [L.  lenticularis,  like  a  little  lentil.} 
Having  the  form  of  an  ordinary  magnifying 
glass,  or  double- convex  lens. 

Lentigo.     [L.  lens,  a  lentil.}     Freckles. 

Leonine  City,  Leonina  Civitas.  Pope  Leo  IV., 
circ.  850,  walled  round  part  of  the  Vatican  Hill 
and  plain  beneath,  giving  the  new  suburb  to 
some  Corsican  families  as  a  refuge  from  the  Sara- 
cens. In  1146  Eugenius  III.  began  a  palace 
near  the  Church  of  St.  Peter  for  the  papal 


residence,  which   has  grown  into  an  immense 
mass  of  buildings,  known  as  the  Vatican. 

Leonine  verse  (invented  by  one  of  the  Popes 
Leo,  or  by  a  monk  Leonmus).  Latin  hexameter 
or  pentameter,  riming  in  the  middle,  as — 

"  Daemon  languebat,  monachus  tune  esse  volebat ; 
Ast  ubi  convaluit,  mansit  ut  ante  fuit." 

Leonnoys,  Lionesse,  Lyonnesse.  A  fabulous 
country,  contiguous  to  Cornwall,  of  chivalric 
romances. 

Lepas,  Lepadldae.  [Gr.  Aeiroy,  a  limpet,  as 
clinging  to  ACTTO?,  a  bare  rock.}  (Zool.)  Bar- 
nacles, cirropod  (i.e.  filament-footed)  crustaceans, 
with  a  stalk  or  peduncle  supporting  the  rest  of 
the  animal  in  a  calcareous  shell. 

Lepidodendron.  [Gr.  \erris,  a  scale,  husk, 
Sfvtipov,  a  tree.}  ( Geoi. )  An  important  gen.  of 
fossil  plants  ;  arborescent  Lycopodiacese. 

Lepldoptera.  [Gr.  ACTTIS,  -i5os,  a  scale,  irreptv, 
awing.}  (Entom.)  Ord.  of  insects,  with  four 
wings,  usually  covered  with  microscopic  scales. 
Moths  and  butterflies. 

Leporldse.  [L.  leporem,  hare.}  (Zool.)  Fam. 
of  rodents;  hares  and  rabbits.  Only  one  gen., 
many  spec.  Characteristic  of  N.  hemisphere  ; 
a  few  in  Africa,  none  (till  introduced)  in  Aus- 
tralia. 

Lepto-.     [Gr.  \<irr6s,  fine,  thin.} 

Le  roi  est  mort ;  vive  le  roi !  [Fr.]  The  king 
is  dead j  long  live  the  king!  illustrating  the 
absolute  continuity  of  hereditary  government. 

Lesbia.     Catullus's  name  for  his  mistress. 

Lese  majeste.  [Fr.]  High  treason.  (Leze 
majesty.) 

Les  extremes  se  touchent.  [Fr.]  Extremes 
meet. 

Lesion.  [L.  laesio,  -nem,  an  injuring^  (Med.) 
Injury,  derangement,  structural  or  functional. 

Lessee.  {Leg.}  One  to  whom  property  is  let 
on  lease. 

Lesser  Bull,  The.  That  of  Pope  Boniface 
VIII.  (1303)  to  Philip  of  France,  claiming 
collation  to  benefices,  and  asserting  the  king's 
subordination  in  temporals  as  well  as  spirituals. 
Its  genuineness  doubtful,  but  rendered  probable 
by  the  fact  of  the  authenticity  of  Philip's  an- 
swer.— Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity,  bk. 
vii.  113. 

Lessor.  (Leg.}  One  who  lets  property  to 
another  on  lease. 

Let  (as  used  in  Collect  for  Fourth  Sunday 
in  Advent,  and  often  in  legal  conveyances).  To 
impede,  keep  back  [A.S.  lettan,  to  hinder,  to 
make  Izet,  late,  slow}. 

L'etat  c'est  moi.     [Fr.]     The  State  is  myself. 

Lethe.  [Gr.,  forgctfulness.}  (Myth.)  The 
river  of  Oblivion,  of  which  they  who  drank,  as 
they  entered  the  land  of  the  dead,  forgot  their 
former  lives. 

Letterpress.     Printed  words,  as  distinguished 


from  engravings. 
Cls 
arts. 


Letters.       Classical    and     polite    literature, 


Letters  of  marque.  A  commission  granted 
to  private  persons  in  time  of  war  to  make  prize 
of  the  enemy's  ships  and  goods ;  so  named  as 
authorizing  the  capture  of  property  beyond  the 


LETT 


293 


LEXP 


Mark  or  frontier  of  the  power  which  grants 
commission. 

Letters  of  orders.  A  certificate  given  by  a 
bishop,  that  he  has  ordained  a  certain  person 
priest  or  deacon. 

Letters  of  reprisal  I.q.  Letters  of  marque  (q.v.). 

Letter-wood.  The  wood  of  a  tree  found  in 
Guiana,  having  black  spots  in  it  like  letters. 

Lettic.  (Lang.)  Name  of  a  group  of  Indo- 
European  languages,  near  akin  to  Sclavonic, 
including  Old  Prussian,  Lithuanian,  and  Livo- 
nian,  or  Lettish,  all  round  the  bend  of  the  Baltic. 
They  show  some  of  the  most  ancient  Aryan 
forms. 

Lettish.     (Lang.}     Livonian.     (Lettic.) 

Lettre  de  change.    [Fr.]    Bill  of  exchange. 

Lettres  de  cachet.  [Fr.]  Sealed  letters,  espe- 
cially of  a  royal  order  for  the  imprisonment,  etc., 
of  an  obnoxious  person. 

Leucaemia.  [Gr.  A.6u/c<fo,  white,  aT/io,  blood.'] 
(Med.)  A  want  of  colouring  matter  in  the 
blood ;  but,  according  to  some,  an  excess  of 
the  white  corpuscles. 

Leuco-.     [Gr.  Aeu/c<k,  white."] 

Levant.  [Fr.,  sc.  soleil,  the  rising  sun."]  A 
name  given  to  the  eastern  portion  of  the  Medi- 
terranean, which  is  bounded  by  Asia  Minor  on 
the  north  and  the  Syrian  coast  on  the  east. 

Levanter.  A  strong  easterly  wind  of  the 
Mediterranean . 

Levator  muscle  [L.  le"vo,  I  raise]  raises  that 
to  which  it  is  attached.  (Attollent.) 

Levee.  [Fr.,  from  lever,  L.  levare,  to  raised] 
Ceremonial  visits  paid  to  distinguished  persons, 
strictly  speaking,  at  their  rising.  At  present 
the  assemblies  at  which  the  sovereign  receives 
gentlemen,  the  Drawing-room  being  for  both 
ladies  and  gentlemen. 

Levee  en  masse.  [Fr.]  A  summons  to  the 
whole  people  to  defend  the  country  from  inva- 
sion ;  called  by  the  Germans  Landsturm. 

Level  [L.  libella,  level];  Carpenter's  L.; 
Mason's  L. ;  Spirit-L. ;  Surveyor's  L.  An  instru- 
ment for  finding  a  horizontal  line.  A  Carpenters 
or  Mason's  L.  consists  of  two  pieces  set  square ; 
one  of  them  is  made  vertical  by  a  plumb-line, 
and  then  the  other  is  horizontal.  A  Spirit-L. 
consists  of  a  glass  tube  sensibly  straight,  but  in 
reality  slightly  bent,  so  that  if  produced  it  would 
form  a  ring  of  very  large  radius.  It  is  nearly 
filled  with  spirits  of  wine,  only  a  bubble  being 
left ;  when  it  is  held  in  such  a  position  that  the 
ends  of  the  bubble  are  equally  distant  from  the 
middle  point,  the  tube — or  more  strictly  a  tan- 
gent to  the  axis  of  the  tube  at  its  middle  point — 
is  exactly  horizontal.  A  Surveyor's  L.  consists 
of  a  spirit-level  attached  to  a  telescope  in  such 
a  way  that  the  tangent  aforesaid  is  parallel  to 
the  axis  of  the  telescope  ;  the  whole  is  capable 
of  being  mounted  on  a  tripod  stand. 

Levellers.  (Eng.  Hist.)  A  party  in  the  army 
of  the  Long  Parliament,  which  announced  their 
intention  of  levelling  all  ranks.  They  were  put 
down  by  Fairfax. 

Levelling-staff.  A  graduated  staff  used  in 
connexion  with  a  surveyor's  level.  If  the  level 
is  placed  between  two  points  A  and  B,  and  the 


readings  of  the  staff,  held  erect  first  at  A  then 
at  B,  are  taken,  their  difference  is  the  difference 
in  the  level  of  A  and  B. 

Leven.  Name  of  rivers  ;  from  Celt,  llevn, 
smooth. 

Lever  [L.  leVator,  one  who  lifts']  ;  Arms  of 
L. ;  Bent  L. ;  Double  L.  A  rod  or  bar  (e.g.  a 
crowbar  or  a  poker)  caused  by  a  power  to  move 
round  a  fixed  point  (or  fulcrum)  and  thereby 
overcome  a  resistance  or  raise  a  weight.  The 
distances  from  the  fulcrum  to  the  points  of 
application  of  power  and  weight  are  the  arms 
of  the  lever.  If  the  arms  are  not  in  a  straight 
line  it  is  a  Bent  L.  Many  simple  machines 
consist  of  a  combination  of  two  levers  (e.g.  a  pair 
of  nut-crackers,  a  pair  of  scissors,  etc.) ;  these  are 
called  Double  levers. 

Leverage.  The  mechanical  advantage  of  a 
lever ;  it  is  measured  by  the  ratio  which  the 
length  of  the  arm  of  the  power  bears  to  that  of 
the  weight. 

Leviathan,  published  1651,  in  favour  of  mon- 
archical government.  The  best  known  work  of 
the  metaphysician,  Thomas  Hobbes.  (Oceana.) 

Leviathan.  [Heb.]  1.  The  crocodile.  2. 
The  grampus,  or  Mediterranean  rorqual.  3. 
Job  iii.  8 ;  apparently  the  astrological  dragon, 
as  professedly  raised  by  magicians.  In  Autho- 
rized Version,  L.  is  here  rendered  "their 
mourning." 

Levigate.  [From  levigare,  to  make  smooth 
(levis).]  1.  To  smooth,  to  polish.  2.  To  grind 
to  powder,  to  comminute,  to  pulverize,  the  pro- 
cess being  called  I^evigation. 

Levirate.  [L.  levir,  Gr.  Sa-f}p,  brother-in-law .] 
A  word  used  to  denote  the  Jewish  custom  by 
which  the  brother  of  a  deceased  husband  was 
bound  to  marry  his  widow. 

Leyulose.  [L.  laevus,  left.]  (Dextrose ; 
Polarization.) 

Lewdness,  Acts  xviii.  14  [Gr.  ^081^717^0], 
retains  an  earlier  sense  of  ignorant  recklessness  ; 
"lewd  fellows,"  in  a  somewhat  stronger  sense, 
translates  irovnpovs,  in  ch.  xvii.  5.  [Ger.  leute, 
the  people;  cf.  the  word  "vulgar,"  from  L. 
vulgus,  the  common  people.] 

Lewis,  Lewisson  (a  word  said  to  be  first  used, 
temp.  Louis  XIV.).  A  contrivance  for  enabling 
hold  to  be  taken  of  a  mass  of  stone  that  is  to  be 
raised  by  rope  or  chain.  A  hole  is  cut  in  the 
stone,  which  widens  downward  ;  into  this  the  L. 
is  put,  consisting  of  two  inverted  wedges  separated 
by  a  plug,  to  which  they  are  fastened  by  a  pin. 

Lex  appetit  perfectum.  [L.]  (Leg.)  The 
law  aims  at  perfection. 

Lex  loci  contractus.  [L.]  (Leg.)  The  laic 
of  the  place  of  the  contract ;  meaning  some 
times  where  the  contract  is  made,  sometimes 
where  the  contract  is  fulfilled. 

Lex  mercatdria.  [L.]  (Leg.)  Mercantile  or 
commercial  law  ;  European. 

Lex  non  scripta.  [L.]  (Leg.)  Unwritten 
law  ;  the  common  law  of  England,  which  origi- 
nated in  custom  and  rests  on  precedents. 

Lex  prospicit  non  respicit.  [L.]  (Leg.)  The 
law  regards  thefuturet  not  the  past ;  i.e.  as  to  its 
operation. 


LEXS 


294 


LICH 


Lexscripta.  [L.]  (Leg.)  Written  or  statute 
law. 

-ley.  Part  of  A.S.  names,  =  pasture  in  a 
forest,  as  in  Hors-ley  ;  also  -leigh-,  -lea-,  -liegh, 
Belgian-loo  [A.S.  leah,  lying-place],  as  in  Leigh- 
ton,  Had-leigh,  Ven-loo. 

Leyden  jar  (invented  at  Leyden).  A  glass 
jar,  coated  within  and  without  with  tinfoil 
nearly  to  the  top,  and  used  for  accumulating 
electricity.  It  is  furnished  with  a  brass  knob  at 
the  top,  through  which  it  is  charged. 

Ley  gager.  (Leg.)  A  wager  of  law;  one 
who  begins  a  suit. 

leze  majesty.  Any  crime  committed  against 
the  sovereign  power  of  the  State  ;  from  L.  crimen 
Icesce  majestatis,  or  the  charge  of  injury  done  to 
the  majesty  of  the  Roman  people.  (Lese  majeste.) 

L'habit  ne  fait  pas  le  moine.  [Fir.]  It  is  not 
the  dress i  the  cowl,  which  makes  the  friar. 
(Cucullus.) 

L'hypocrisie  est  un  hommage  que  le  vice  rend 
a  la  vertu.  [Fr.]  Hypocrisy  is  a  homage  which 
vice  renders  to  virtue  (Rochefoucault). 

Liaison.  [Fr.,  L.  Iigati5,  -nem,  a  binding."} 
1.  In  Fr.  grammar,  a  tie  by  which  the  ter- 
minal letter  of  a  word  is  carried  on,  so  as  to 
form  one  sound  with  a  vowel  following.  Thus 
in  the  word  pied,  foot,  the  d  is  silent ;  but  in 
the  phrase  pied-a-terre  the  d  is  joined  on, 
though  with  a  softened  sound,  to  the  vowel 
following.  2.  A  connexion,  acquaintance, 
generally  of  a  dishonourable  kind. 

Liane.  [Fr.,  Norm,  liaune,  the  clematis , 
probably  another  form  of  lien  ;  lier,  to  bind,  L. 
ligare.]  A  general  name  for  the  woody  twining  or 
climbing  plants  which  abound  in  tropical  forests. 

Lias,  i.e.  Lyers.  (Geol.)  A  series  of  argilla- 
ceous and  calcareous  strata,  the  basis  of  the 
Oolitic  or  Jurassic  system. 

Libavius,  Fuming  liquor  of.  (Chern.)  Bichlo- 
ride of  tin,  used  in  dyeing. 

Libel.  [L.  libellus,  a  writing,  dim.  from  liber, 
a  book}  (Leg.)  1.  A  written  statement  or  hint 
tending  to  damage,  disgrace,  or  cast  ridicule  on 
a  perso/i.  2.  An  immoral,  treasonable,  or  sedi- 
tious writing.  3.  (Scot.  Law.)  The  form  of  a 
complaint,  the  ground  of  a  charge. 

Libellers.  [L.  libellus,  a  little  book,  libel.} 
Authors  of  the  Marprelate  libels  (1586-1593). 
(Martin  Marprelate.) 

Liber.  [L.,  (i)  bark,  and  hence  (2)  book.} 
(Bot. )  The  newly  formed  fibrous  layer  of  bark  ; 
the  bast-layer. 

Liber  Albus.  [L.,  the  white  book.}  The  name 
of  an  ancient  book  on  the  laws  and  customs  of 
the  City  of  London. 

Liberator,  The.  A  term  sometimes  applied  to 
Bolivar,  also  to  O'Connell. 

Liberavi  animam  meam.  [L.]  (Absolvi  ani- 
mam  meam.) 

Liber  feudorum.  A  code  of  feudal  law,  pub- 
lished at  Milan,  1170,  by  order  of  the  Emperor 
Frederick  Barbarossa. 

Liber  Kegis  [L.],  Kings  Book,  or  Valor  Ec- 
clesiastuus.  A  return  made,  26  Henry  VIII.,  of 
the  "firstfruits  of  all  dignities,  benefices,  and 
promotions  spiritual,"  and  of  the  "annual 


pension  of  the  tenth  part  of  all  possessions  of 
the  Church,  spiritual  and  temporal,"  due  "to 
the  king  and  his  heirs,"  as  supreme  heads  of  the 
Church  of  England. 

Liber  Sententiarum.  (Master  of  the  Sentences.) 

Liberties.  (Leg.)  Districts  exempt  from  the 
sheriff's  jurisdiction. 

Libertines.  1.  Acts  vi.  9  ;  Libertmus,  in  Rome, 
the  son  of  a  freed  slave.  2.  In  Church  Hist.,  a 
name  given  in  England  to  the  Anabaptists  in 
the  sixteenth  century. 

Libertus,  Liberta,  fern.  [L.]  A  manumitted 
slave,  in  reference  to  his  late  master. 

Liberty.  A  privileged  district,  having  certain 
rights  and  immunities ;  very  frequently  the 
modern  representative  of  some  former  ecclesias- 
tical jurisdiction ;  e.g.  the  L.  of  Bury  St. 
Edmund's. 

Liberty,  Cap  of.  A  symbol  suggested  seem- 
ingly by  the  representations  of  the  Roman 
goddess  Llbertas,  who  held  a  cap  in  one  hand. 
In  England  Britannia  is  sometimes  represented 
as  bearing  such  a  cap,  blue  with  a  white  border, 
on  a  spear.  In  France  a  red  cap  was  chosen  as 
the  badge  of  the  Jacobin  Club. 

Liberty  and  Necessity,  Letter  on.  A  work  of 
the  great  metaphysician,  Thomas  Hobbes  (1588- 
1679). 

Liberty  of  Prophesying.  By  Bishop  Jeremy 
Taylor  ;  the  first  formal  declaration  of  the  duty 
of  toleration;  and  this  in  the  year  1647. 
(Prophesy.) 

Liberty  Wilkes.  John  W.,  brewer ;  M.P.  for 
Aylesbury,  1757  ;  founder  of  the  North  Briton, 
the  attacks  of  which  drove  Bute  from  the 
ministry.  Elected  several  times  for  Middlesex, 
but  the  elections  were  declared  void ;  an  im- 
moral and  violent  man,  but  most  popular, 
especially  during  imprisonment,  as  the  champion 
of  "liberty."  Released,  and,  in  1774,  lord 
mayor,  and  for  many  years  M.  P.  for  Middlesex 
(born  1727,  died  1797). 

Libidinous.  [L.  libidinosus,  from  libidinem, 
pleasure,  lust.}  Lustful,  lecherous. 

Libra,  First  point  of.  The  autumnal  equinox. 
(Equinox;  Aries,  First  point  of.) 

Libration  [L.  llbro,  /  set  swaying,  lit.  some- 
thing which  is  in  equilibrium}  of  the  moon.  An 
apparent  oscillatory  movement  of  the  moon,  in 
virtue  of  which  she  does  not  always  present 
exactly  the  same  face  to  the  earth ;  so  that  on 
the  whole  we  see  a  zone  a  few  degrees  in  breadth 
on  all  sides  of  the  border  beyond  the  exact 
hemisphere ;  this  is  partly  due  to  the  moon's 
motion  round  her  axis  being  uniform  while  her 
motion  in  her  orbit  is  not  uniform,  and  partly 
to  her  axis  ot  revolution  not  being  exactly  per- 
pendicular to  the  plane  of  her  orbit. 

Licentiate.  [L.  licentia,  licence,  from  licet,  it 
is  lawful.}  One  licensed  to  practise  profession- 
ally any  art  or  faculty. 

Licet.     [L.]     It  is  lawful. 

Lichen,  L.  tropicus.  [Gr.  \ei-)tf\v,  lichen.}  1. 
(Bot.)  A  very  extensive  ord.  of  cryptogams,  allied 
to  fungi  and  algae,  growing  on  the  bark  of  trees, 
on  rocks,  etc.  2.  (Mcd.)  Prickly  heat,  a  papular 
eruption  of  the  skin,  with  itching  and  stinging. 


LICH 


295 


LIGU 


Lichenine.  A  starchy  substance  extracted  from 
Iceland  moss  or  lichen. 

Lich-gate.  [A.S.  lie,  Ger.  leich,  a  corpse, .]  The 
covered  gate  at  the  entrance  to  churchyards, 
beneath  which  the  bearers  of  the  coffin  may 
rest. 

Lictors.     (Fasces  and  Secures.) 

Lidford  law  —  Jeddart  justice  (q.v.). 

Lieder  ohne  wdrte.  [Ger.,  songs  "without 
words.}  Instrumental  pieces  with  marked  song- 
like  melody  throughout. 

Lief.  [A.S.  leof,  liof,  O.E.  lefe,  leve,  Ger. 
lieb,  Goth.  Hubs ;  cf.  L.  libet,  lubet,  it  is  pleasing, 
Skt.  root  of  lubh,  to  desire.}  1.  Dear,  beloved, 
2.  Adv.,  gladly,  readily. 

Liege.  [Fr.  lige,  L.L.  ligius,  Prov.  Fr.  litge, 
Ger.  ledig,  empty,  free,  M.H.G.  lidig,  freed, 
loosed.}  (Leg.)  1.  Bound  by  (originally  free) 
tenure  to  be  feal  and  loyal  to  a  lord,  subject. 
2.  Sovereign,  by  misinterpretation  of  liege  lord, 
i.e.  lord  of  liegemen. 

Liege  homage.    (Homage.) 

Liege  lord.  [L.L.  ligeus,  from  L.  ligare,  to 
bind,  unless  it  be  lord  of  the  leute,  leet,  lewd,  folk 
or  people.}  A  feudal  superior,  to  whom  his  liege- 
men owe  vassalage.  (Leet ;  Court-leet.) 

Liegh.     (-ley.) 

Lien,  or  Lienis.     [L.]     (Anat.)     The  spleen. 

Lien.  [Fr.  lien,  L.  ligamen,  a  tie,  from  ligo, 
I  tie.}  (Leg.)  Right  to  retain  provisionally 
another  person's  property  which  is  in  a  man's 
possession  until  the  owner  satisfies  certain  de- 
mands of  the  possessor. 

Lie-to,  To.  (Naut.}  In  a  gale,  to  keep  a 
vessel  nearly  head  to  wind,  under  little  canvas. 
(Bring-to,  To.) 

Lie  under  arms.  (Mil. )  To  rest  as  a  soldier 
ready  accoutred  touching  his  arms,  ready  for 
action  at  a  moment's  notice. 

Lieutenant.    (Bank.) 

Life  assurance.  A  bargain  or  contract  essen- 
tially such  as  follows : — A  pays  B  a  sum  (or 
premium}  annually  during  the  continuance  of  a 
certain  status  (say,  the  life  of  C),  on  condition 
that  B  makes  A  a  certain  payment  (the  sum 
assured)  on  the  determination  of  the  status  (say, 
the  death  of  C,  in  which  case  C's  life  is  assured 
for  that  sum).  For  making  the  bargain  a  certain 
rate  of  interest  is  fixed  on,  and  the  probability 
must  be  ascertained  of  the  status  existing  at  the 
end  of  the  first,  second,  third,  etc.,  year;  when 
this  is  done,  the  probability  is  also  known  of  the 
determination  of  the  status  in  the  course  of  any 
given  year.  From  these  data  the  present  values 
of  the  premiums  and  of  the  sum  assured  can  be 
found,  and,  if  the  bargain  is  fair,  the  two  are 
equal.  Practically  the  office,  i.e.  the  party  B, 
makes  a  profit  by  calculating  the  fair  premium  at 
a  low  rate  of  interest,  as  3  per  cent.,  and  by 
adding  a  loading,  i.e.  a  certain  percentage,  as 
20  or  25  per  cent.,  to  the  fair  premium.  The 
probability  of  C's  life  lasting  for  one,  two,  three, 
etc.,  years  is  ascertained  by  means  of  tables 
derived  from  actual  observation,  showing  the 
number  who  die  in  each  successive  year  of  those 
who  were  alive  and  of  the  same  age  at  a  given 
time  ;  such  are  the  Carlisle  Table,  the  North- 

20 


ampton  Table,  the  Table  of  the  Twenty  Life 
Assurance  Companies,  etc.  Called  also  Life  in- 
surance. Fire  insurance  is  a  similar  bargain, 
except  that  the  status  is  the  existence  of  a  house 
or  some  like  thing ;  and  it  determines  by  its  total 
or  partial  destruction  by  fire. 

Life  Guards.  The  &?i/j/-guard  of  a  sovereign  ; 
in  German  leib-garde.  (Celibacy.) 

Life-lines.  (Naut.)  Lines  stretched  from  gun 
to  gun,  and  about  a  ship,  for  men  to  cling  to  in 
bad  weather.  Also  from  the  lifts  to  the  masts, 
to  enable  men  to  stand  securely  when  manning 
yards. 

Lifting.  On  Easter  Monday  and  Tuesday  ;  an 
old  custom,  still  lingering  in  some  counties.  A 
record  is  preserved  in  the  Tower  of  fees  paid  at 
the  lifting  of  Edward  L  in  his  bed,  on  an  Easter 
Sunday  morning  (English  Cyclopedia,  iii.  262). 

Lifts.  (Naut.)  Ropes  from  the  masthead  to 
the  extremities  of  a  yard. 

Ligaments.  [L.  ligamen  turn,  a  bandage.} 
(Anat.)  The  bands,  or  cords,  of  white  fibrous 
tissue  which,  in  the  formation  of  the  joints, 
connect  the  bones  together. 

Ligan,  Lagan.  [From  ITgamen,  thing  tied ; 
cf.  Prov.  liam.]  Goods  thrown  overboard,  but 
tied  to  a  buoy  or  float  to  mark  their  position. 
(Flotsam.) 

Ligature.  [L.  tfgatura,  a  binding.}  1.  (Med.) 
A  cord  or  thread  for  tying  blood-vessels  to  pre- 
vent hemorrhage.  2.  In  Printing,  two  or  more 
letters  cast  on  the  same  body ;  as  &,  ffi,  ffl. 

Light,  To.  {Naut.}  To  move  or  lift  any- 
thing. 

Light-bob.     (Light  infantry.) 

Lighten.  In  the  Te  Deum,  light,  alight ;  the 
Latin  is  "  fiat  misericordia  Tua  super  nos." 

Lighter.  (Naut.}  A  large  flat-bottomed  boat, 
used  to  carry  goods,  etc.,  to  and  from  ships. 

Light  infantry.  Soldiers  specially  instructed 
for  skirmishing  movements.  In  addition  to 
separate  regiments  so  called,  each  regiment  had 
formerly  one  company  so  trained,  until  it  became 
the  duty  of  the  whole  army  to  perfect  themselves 
in  every  part  of  tactics.  A  L.  I.  soldier  was 
called  a  Light -bob. 

Light-mill.     (Radiometer.) 

Lights.  Popular  name  for  the  lungs,  from 
their  light,  spongy  appearance  [cf..  the  Ger. 
name,  die  leichte  leber,  the  light  liver}* 

Light  sails.  (Naut.)  Those  above  top-gallant 
sails,  the  studding-sails,  and  flying-jib. 

Lign  aloes.    (Aloes.) 

Lignite  [L.  lignum,  wood}>  Wood-coal, 
Brown-coal.  ( Geol. )  Wood  fossilized ;  not  so  far 
converted  into  coal  as  to  lose  its  woody  texture  ; 
often  earthy,  sometimes  as  bright  as  coal,  burn- 
ing with  a  disagreeable  odour.  In  thick  beds 
in  Germany,  Hungary,  and  Nebraska ;  Tertiary 
and  Cretaceous. 

Lignum  vitse.  [L.,  wood  of  life.}  A  very 
hard  wood,  that  of  the  Guaiacum  officinale,  of 
W.  Indies  and  S.  America,  and  perhaps  of  other 
spec.  ;  used  for  making  ships'  blocks,  and  also 
furnishing  gum  guaiacum  used  in  medicine. 

Ligiila.  [L.,  i.q.  lingula,  dim.  of  lingua,  the 
tongue.}  (Entoot.)  Upper  lip  of  insects. 


LIGU 


296 


LINE 


Liguorists.    (Redemptorist.) 

Ligure.  [Gr.  \iyvpiov,  (?)  from  Liguria,  Heb. 
leshem.]  In  the  breastplate  of  Aaron  (Exod. 
xxviii.  19) ;  probably  amber. 

Ligurian  =  Genoese.  The  Ligures  were  an 
Italian  people  in  Gallia  Cisalpina,  Liguria  being 
=  modern  Piedmont,  Genoa,  and  Lucca. 

Lillibullero.  A  song  popular  during  and  after 
the  reign  of  James  II. — Webster. 

Lilliput.  A  country  of  little  people,  >  one- 
twelfth  of  the  human  stature,  in  Swift's  Gulliver's 
Travels. 

Limaceous.  [L.  Umax,  slug.]  Of  the  nature 
of  a  slug. 

Limae  labor  et  mora.  [L.]  The  tedious  labour 
of  the  file  (Horace),  i.e.  of  correcting  and  re- 
vising literary  work. 

Lunation.     [L.  lima,  a  file]    Filing. 

Umax.  [L.,  id.]  (Zool.)  Slug;  gen.  of  pulmo- 
niferous  gasteropod,  shell  rudimentary  or  absent ; 
gives  its  name  to  fam.  Limacidae.  Not  found 
in  S.  America  or  greater  part  of  Africa. 

Limb.  [L.  limbus,  A.S.  lim,  border,  edge; 
whence  the  idea  of  extremity  or  projecting  part, 
as  in  a  limb  of  the  body  or  of  a  tree.]  (Astrtm.) 
1.  The  edge  of  the  disc  of  a  heavenly  body,  as 
the  upper  or  lower  limb  of  the  sun.  2.  The 
graduated  arc  of  an  astronomical  instrument ; 
as  the  reading  of  the  limb  of  a  sextant. 

Limbat.  A  cool  north-west  wind  which  blows 
in  Cyprus  from  8  a.m.  to  noon  or  later. 

Limber.  (Mil.)  Carriage  on  two  wheels,  with 
the  ammunition-boxes,  bearing  the  trail  (y.v.) 
of  the  gun-carriage,  to  which  the  horses  are 
harnessed  for  the  removal  of  the  latter.  L.  is 
properly  a  shaft  \cf.  Fr.  limon]. 

Limbo.     (Limbus.) 

Limbus.  [L.,  a  hem.]  With  the  schoolmen, 
a  border-lake  flowing  around  hell,  where  souls 
awaited  the  resurrection ;  including  :  1.  L. 
Puerorum,  of  unbaptized  infants.  2.  L.  Patrum, 
of  the  patriarchal  Fathers  of  the  Church.  3. 
Purgatorium,  where  the  better  sort  are  being 
cleansed ;  and,  with  some,  4,  L.  Fatuorum,  of 
lunatics.  (See  Milton,  Paradise  Lost,  iii.  495  ; 
and  Faery  Queene,  I.  bk.  ii.  32.) 

Lime-juice  contains  citric  acid ;  that  of  the 
Citrus  acida  ;  specific  against  sea-scurvy. 

Limestone.  A  general  term,  =  all  rocks  of 
which  the  base  is  carbonate  of  lime,  i.e.  lime  + 
carbonic  acid,  (i)  Mostly  constituted  of  the 
organic  calcareous  shells  and  structures  of  mol- 
luscs, crinoids,  corals,  etc.  (2)  In  some  cases, 
of  chemically  deposited  carbonate  lime ;  as 
travertine. 

Limit  [L.  limes,  Hmitis]  ;  Inferior  L. ;  Superior 
L.  (Math.)  A  fixed  magnitude  to  which  a 
variable  magnitude  can  be  made  to  approach  so 
that  their  difference  shall  be  less  than  any 
assigned  magnitude,  but  to  which  it  can  never 
be  made  exactly  equal ;  e.g.  by  diminishing  the 
base  of  an  isosceles  triangle,  either  angle  at  the 
base  continually  approaches  equality  with  a  right 
angle,  and  the  difference  between  it  and  a  right 
angle  can  be  made  less  than  any  assigned  angle, 
but  it  never  actually  equals  a  right  angle.  A 
right  angle  is  therefore  the  limit  of  this  angle. 


If  the  limit  is  greater  than  each  of  the  variable 
magnitudes,  it  is  a  Superior  L. ;  if  less,  an  In- 
ferior L. 

Limitations,  Statute  of.  (I*eg.)  Limiting  the 
time  within  which  actions  have  been  brought, 
e.g.  to  recover  property,  to  forty  years  for  real 
property,  and  six  years  for  debts,  damages,  and 
other  personal  claims  (only  one  or  two  years 
against  public  officers,  etc.). 

Limited  liability.  (Com.)  The  having  the 
liability  of  the  shareholders  to  discharge  the 
obligations  of  the  public  banking  or  trading  to 
which  they  belong  limited  to  the  full  amount  of 
the  share  or  shares  which  they  are  respectively 
registered  as  holding.  Hence  in  a  L.  L. 
company,  when  all  calls  are  paid,  shareholders 
can  only  lose  their  investment. 

Limner  is  the  same  word  as  Illuminator, 
obtained  through  the  Fr.  enlumineur.  It 
means  usually  a  portrait  or  miniature  painter. 

Limoges.  A  kind  of  surface  enamelling 
(perfected  at  Limoges,  in  France),  adorned  by 
small  transparent  globules  placed  over  silver 
tinsel  so  as  to  look  like  gems. 

Limonite.    (Haematite.) 

Limpet.  [Gr.  AeVas.]  (Zool.)  Strictly  the 
fam.  Patellidae  [L.  patella,  cup],  of  which  the 
common  tent-shaped  limpet  is  a  type.  Popularly 
L.  includes  also  Fissurellidse  [fissura,  fissure], 
Keyhole  L.,  whose  shells  have  a  fissure; 
Calyptrseidae,  Bonnet  L.,  whose  apex  is  curved  ; 
and  Dentaliadse  [dens,  dentis,  tooth],  Tooth- 
shells,  shaped  like  an  elephant's  tusk.  This  last 
is  found  in  N.  Atlantic,  Mediterranean,  E.  and 
W.  Indies;  the  rest  inhabit  all  seas.  Ord. 
Prosobranchiata,  class  Gasteropoda. 

Linchpin.  [Ger.  liinse.j  The  small  pin  put 
at  the  end  of  an  axletree  to  hold  on  the  wheel. 

Lincoln,  Use  of.     (Use.) 

Lincoln  green.  A  green  cloth  formerly  made 
at  Lincoln. 

Linctus.  [L.,  licking,  from  lingo,  I  lick.]  A 
thick  treacly  syrup,  for  coughs  and  sore  throat. 

Line,  The;  Equinoctial  L.;  Meridian  L. 
(Geog.)  The  Eqtdnoctial  line,  often  called 
The  line — as  when  we  speak  of  crossing  the 
line — is  the  earth's  equator.  A  Meridian  L.  is 
a  line  drawn  at  any  station  to  show  the  direc- 
tions of  true  north  and  south,  i.e.  the  direction 
of  the  meridian  of  the  station. 

Line.  In  measurement,  =  one-twelfth  of  an 
inch. 

Linear  equation.  An  equation  containing  the 
first  powers  only  of  the  unknown  quantities. 
When  such  an  equation  contains  two  unknowns, 
it  represents  a  straight  line. 

Linear  leaves.  [L.  linea,  a  line]  (Bot.)  Long 
and  narrow  ;  e.g.  grasses,  pinks. 

Line-of-battle  ship.  Formerly  a  vessel  of  not 
less  than  seventy-four  guns.  Rating  by  mere 
number  is  superseded  under  the  present  system 
of  heavy  guns. 

Line  of  beauty.     The  ideal  line  formed  by  a 

Line  of  defence.     ( Mil. )    The  distance  of  any 

point  in  a  fortification  from  the  work  that  flanks  it. 

Line  of  force.     A  line  whose  tangent  at  each 


LINE 


297 


LITH 


point  is  in  the  direction  of  the  resultant  electrica 
force  at  that  point. 

Lines.  (Mil.)  1.  Series  of  fieldworks  mutu- 
ally defending  one  another.  2.  Rows  of  open 
barracks  are  sometimes  so  called. 

Ling.  \Cf.  Norw.  laanga,  D.  leng,  id.' 
(Ichth.)  Sea-fish,  usually  three  or  four  feet 
long,  back  grey,  belly  white.  British  seas. 
Lota  molva,  fam.  Gadidae,  ord.  AnacanthTni, 
sub-class  Teleostei. 

L'ingenu.  [Fr.]  The  frank,  ingemious 
(character). 

Linguadental.     (Lang.}    Pronounced  by  the 
joint  use  of  tongue  and  teeth  [L.  lingua,  dentes]. 
Linguae  centum  sunt  oraque  centum,  Ferrea 
vox.     [L.]     (Rumour)  has  a  hundred  tongues,  a 
hundred  mouths,  a  voice  of  iron  (Virgil). 

Lingua  Franca.  1.  A  jargon  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean, with  an  Italian  basis,  which  arose  in  the 
galleys  of  Algiers  and  the  Levant,  used  for  com- 
munication between  Europeans  (Franks)  and 
Mohammedans.  2.  Any  jargon  of  mixed  speech. 

Linguals.  [L.  lingua,  a  tongue.}  (Lang.) 
Sounds  in  the  articulation  of  which  the  tongue 
is  essentially  concerned,  including  gutturals, 
palatals,  cerebrals,  dentals. 

Linguistic.  [From  L.  lingua,  speech,  tongue. ~\ 
The  science  of  language,  glottology. 

Liniments.  [L.  linimentum.]  Medicaments 
of  an  anodyne  or  stimulating  character,  to  be 
rubbed  [linlre,  to  besmear}  into  the  skin. 

Link.  [Akin  to  Gr.  \vxvos.}  A  torch  made 
of  tow  and  pitch. 

Link  [Sw.  lank,  Ger.  gelenk];  L.-motion; 
L.-work.  1.  The  Tfoj  part  of  a  Gunter's  chain, 
i.e.  T6065  of  a  foot.  2.  In  Mech.,  a  rigid  bar  or 
piece  connecting  two  rotating  or  oscillating 
pieces  by  means  of  pins,  which  it  keeps  at  a 
constant  distance  during  the  motion.  All  such 
combinations  of  jointed  work,  cranks  and  con- 
necting-rods, parallel  motions,  etc.,  are  L.- 
work.  The  combination  of  pieces  by  which 
the  motion  of  the  slide-valve  of  a  locomotive  or 
other  steam-engine  can  be  adjusted  or  reversed 
during  the  motion  of  the  engine,  is  a  L.  -motion. 

-linn-.  [Celt]  Part  of  names,  =  still  pool,  as 
in  Lin-coin,  Kil-lin,  Lynn. 

Linoleum.  [L.  linum,  linen,  oleum,  oil.} 
A  kind  of  floor-cloth. 

Linseed.  The  seed  of  flax  (Linum  usitatis- 
simum). 

Linsey-woolsey.  A  stuff  made  of  linen  and 
wool,  mixed. 

Linstock.  (Mil.)  A  staff  about  three  feet  in 
length,  for  holding  a  match  [Ger.  lunte]  for  firing 
artillery. 

Lint.  [O.E.  linct,y?a.r.]  Linen  scraped  into 
a  soft  substance,  used  for  dressing  wounds. 

Linum.  [L.,Jtax.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants 
which  gives  name  to  the  Llnacese,  or  Llnese. 
Flax-rvorts,  a  nat.  ord.  of  dicotyledonous  plants  ; 
abundant  in  Europe  and  N.  Africa.  The  flax  of 
commerce  is  L.  usitatissimum,  most  in  use. 

Lionced.     (Her.}     Adorned  with  lions'  heads. 

Lioncel.  [Fr.  lionceau.]  (Her.)  A  young 
lion. 

Lionesse.     (Leonnoys.) 


Lion's  share.  An  antiphrasis  (q.v.)  for  the 
whole,  being  that  due  as  his  own  private  share, 
+  that  due  to  the  king  of  the  beasts,  +  that 
which  he  dared  the  other  beasts  who  joined  in 
the  hunt  to  take. 

Liparous.  [Gr.  Xiirapts,  fatty,  sleek.}  (Med.) 
Abounding  in  fat. 

Lip-language.  A  system  of  communication  by 
moving  the  lips  without  sound,  used  in  prisons, 
workshops,  etc.,  and,  particularly,  in  communi- 
cation with  deaf-mutes. 

Lippitudo.  [L.,  from  lippus,  blear-eyed,  sore- 
eyed.}  (Med.)  An  inflamed  condition  of  the 
margins  of  the  eyelids. 

Liquation.  [L.  liquare,  to  melt.}  (Chem.)  The 
process  of  separating  or  melting  out,  by  a  regu- 
lated heat,  a  more  fusible  metal  from  one  less 
fusible. 

Liqueur.  [Fr.]  Preparation  of  distilled  spirit, 
sweetened  and  flavoured  with  herbs,  spices,  etc. 

Liquidation.  [L.L.  liquidatio,  -nem,  from  L. 
liquidus,  clear.}  (Com.)  The  act  of  clearing 
up  the  affairs  of  an  insolvent  company  or  person. 

Liquor.     In  Brewing,  means  water. 

Liquor  of  flints.  A  solution  of  silicate  of 
potash,  called  also  fusible  glass. 

Liripipe,  or  Liripoop.  This  word,  meaning  a 
tippet  or  stole,  is  said  to  be  a  corr.  of  the  L. 
cleri  ephippium,  the  clergy's  caparison. 

Lis-.  [Gadh.]  Part  of  names,  =  earthen  fort, 
as  in  Lis-more. 

Lisbon.  A  sweet  white  wine,  produced  in 
Estremadura,  and  shipped  from  Lisbon. 

Lispendens.     [L.]     (Leg.)    A  pending  suit. 

List.  [O.E.]  A  strip  forming  the  border  of 
cloth  or  flannel. 

List,  To  have  a.  (Naut.)  To  lean  on  one 
side,  as,  She  has  a  list  to  port,  means  she  lies 
over  on  the  port  side. 

Litany,  The  Lesser,  or  The  Short.  [Gr. 
\iTaufia,  an  entreating,  a  Litany.}  A  prelude 
to  prayer,  as  the  Doxology  is  to  praise  ;  a  name 
given  from  very  early  times  to  Kyrie  eleeson, 
Christe  eleeson,  Kyrie  eleeson,  which,  translated 
Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us ;  Christ,  have,  etc., 
occurs  in  Morning  and  Evening  Prayer  soon 
after  the  Creed,  and  in  the  Litany  just  before 
the  Lord's  Prayer.  (Kyrie,  The.) 

Lit  de  justice.     (Bed  of  justice.) 

Litera  canina.    [L.]     The  dog's  letter,  i.e.  R. 

Literae  formats.     (Litterae  formatae.) 

Literae  humaniSres.  [L.]  (Univ.)  The 
more  refined,  i.e.  higher,  literature  or  learning. 

Literal  contract.  (Leg.)  A  written  agree- 
ment signed  by  contracting  parties. 

Litera  scripta  manet.  [L.]  The  written 
letter  abides  y  i.e.  one  cannot  avoid  the  respon- 
sibility for  what  we  have  committed  to  writing. 

Literates.  [L.  literati.]  A  name  usually 
applied  to  those  who  are  admitted  to  holy  orders 
without  having  obtained  a  degree  at  one  of  the 
universities. 

Literatim  [L.]  Letter  by  letter.  (Verbatim 
et  literatim.) 

Litharge.     [Gr.  \iddpyvpos,  from  \i8os,  a  stone, 
&pyvpos,  silver.}    (Chem.)   A  brownish-red  oxide 
f  lead.     (Massicot.) 


LITH 


298 


LIVR 


Lithium.  [Gr.  \tOos,  a  stone.']  A  white  metal, 
the  lightest  solid  known.  It  was  supposed  to 
exist  only  in  minerals  or  stones. 

Litho-.  [Gr.  \l9os.]  1.  A  stone.  2.  (Med.) 
Calculus. 

Litho-fracteur.  [Fr.,  stone-breaker ',  a  coined 
word.]  (C/iem.)  A  professedly  protected  form 
of  nitro-glycerine,  which  is  mixed  with  gun- 
cotton,  the  elements  of  gunpowder,  and  other 
substances;  first  made,  1871,  at  Cologne. 

Lithoglyphie,  Lithoglyptic.  [Gr.  \idos,  a  stone, 
yXixfxa,  /  engrave.']  Pertaining  to  the  cutting 
and  engraving  of  gems. 

Lithography.  [Gr.  XlQos,  stone,  ypdcfxa,  I 
write.]  The  art  by  which  impressions  are 
obtained  from  designs  made  with  a  greasy 
material  on  stone,  so  that  they  alone  take  the 
printer's  ink. 

Lithological.  [Gr.  \idos,  stone,  \6yot,  efts- 
course.'}  (Geol.)  Relating  to  the  characteristics 
of  a  rock  in  itself,  or  of  a  group  of  rocks,  without 
reference  to  relative  age,  fossil  contents,  etc. 

Litho-photography.  [Gr.  \l6os,  stone,  and 
photography  (q.v.)]  The  art  of  producing 
prints  from  lithographic  stones  by  means  of 
photographic  pictures  developed  on  their  sur- 
faces. 

Lithotint.  [Gr.  \t0os,  stone,  and  Eng.  tint.] 
A  picture  produced  in  colours  from  a  lithographic 
stone. 

Lithotomy.  [Gr.  ro/dj,  cutting.']  (Surg.) 
Operation  of  cutting  for  stone  [\iOos]  in  the 
bladder. 

Lithotrity,  [L.  t^ro,  I  bruise,  sup.  tritum.] 
The  operation  of  breaking  a  stone  [\idos]  in  the 
bladder. 

Lithotypy.  [Gr.  \i6os,  stone,  rviros,  type.] 
The  process  of  pressing  into  a  mould  taken  from 
a  page  of  type,  a  composition  which  hardens  into 
a  stony  substance. 

Litmus.  [Ger.  lackmus.]  A  deep-blue  dye, 
obtained  from  the  lichen  Roccella.  Paper  stained 
by  it  (blue  litmus  paper)  is  turned  red  by  acid  ; 
and  litmus  paper  thus  reddened  (red  litmus 
paper)  is  turned  blue  by  alkali.  Hence  they 
are  used  as  tests.  Litmus  papers  are  used  gene- 
rally for  testing  urinary  and  cutaneous  secretions. 
Litotes.  [Gr.  Afr^T^s,  smoot/tness,  simplicity] 
A  figure  of  speech  by  which  a  matter  is  under- 
stated, generally  more  or  less  sarcastically ;  as  to 
say  of  a  very  ugly  man  that  he  is  not  the  best- 
looking  we  have  ever  seen.  It  is  a  species  of 
Irony  in  the  ancient  sense  of  the  word.  Called 
also  Meiosis  [/xeiWts,  a  lessening,  extenuation]. 

Litre.  [Gr.  Xirpa,  L.  libra.]  A  cubic  deci- 
metre, equal  to  1 760773  pint ;  say,  a  pint  and 
three-quarters  English. 

Litterae  formatae.     [L.]    Letters  written  in  a 

particular  form,  and  with  distinguishing  marks, 

in  the  ancient  Church,  were  :  1.  Commendatory, 

or  Systatic  (q.v.),  to  persons  of  quality,  or  ol 

doubted   reputation ;    to   travelling    clergy.     2, 

Communicatory,  Pacifical,  Canonical,  to  all  in 

communion  with  the  Church.  3.  Dimissory  (q.v. ). 

Litterateur.    [Fr.]    One  versed  in  literature, 

and  at  the  same  time  a  writer. 

Little-endians.     (Bigendians.) 


Little  England.  Name  given  to  Barbados  by 
he  inhabitants. 

Little-go.  In  the  Universities  of  Oxford  and 
Cambridge,  the  first  university  examination, 
.vhich  all  students  must  pass ;  called  officially 
3.esponsions,  or  the  Previous  Examination. 

Little  Nell.    A  type  of  childish  purity,   in 
Dickens's  Old  Curiosity  Shop. 
Littleton.     (Institutes.) 

Littoral  deposits,  etc.     [L.  lltoralis.]    (Geol.) 
Belonging  to  the  shore  [littus],  not  to  the  deep  sea. 
Littus  ama;  altum  alii  teneant.    [L.]    Hug 
the  shore  ;  let  others  stand  out  into  the  deep. 

Liturgicum.  [Gr.  \firovpyiK6v.]  In  the 
Eastern  Church,  a  book  containing  the  three 
Liturgies  of  Basil,  Chrysostom,  and  the  Pre- 
sanctified. 

Liturgy,  Liturgies.  [Gr.  \firovpyia,  a  public 
work]  1.  (Hist.)  At  Athens,  certain  public 
services,  exacted  of  the  wealthier  citizens,  were 
called  liturgies.  2.  (Eccl.)  The  office  for  the 
celebration  of  the  Eucharist.  The  Liturgies  of 
Christendom  fall  into  five  classes  :  (i)  Of  St. 
James,  or  Jerusalem  ;  (2)  St.  Mark,  or  Alex- 
andria ;  (3)  St.  Thaddseus,  or  the  Eastern  ;  (4) 
St.  Peter,  or  Rome ;  (5)  St.  John,  or  Ephesus. 
For  each  of  these  there  are  further  subdivisions. 
Among  them  may  be  mentioned  the  Ambrosian, 
or  that  of  Milan ;  the  Ancient  British  ;  the 
Gallican  ;  the  Mozarabic,  which  is  still  used  in 
one  chapel  of  the  Cathedral  of  Toledo;  the 
Liturgy  of  Sarum.  (Use.) 
Liturgy  of  St.  Peter.  (Liturgy.) 
LItuus.  [L.]  (Rom.  Ant.)  1.  The  Augur's 
staff,  used  in  quartering  the  heavens.  2.  A 
curved  trumpet. 

Liver  of  sulphur.  (Ghent.)  A  liver-coloured 
substance,  chiefly  composed  of  trisulphide  and 
sulphate  of  potash. 

Liver  of  antimony.  (Chem.)  An  impure 
oxysulphide  of  antimony. 

Livery.  [L.L.  livrea,  from  L.  libe'ratio,  de- 
livery.'] (Leg.)  1.  The  act  of  delivering  or  re- 
ceiving Seisin.  2.  A  feudal  term  for  the  bestowal 
of  an  estate,  on  his  coming  of  age,  upon  an  heir 
left  a  minor  at  his  father's  death,  the  profits 
during  the  minority  having  been  taken  by  the 
lord,  who  now  gave  the  land  outre-le-main,  out 
of  his  own  hand.  3.  Writ  by  which  possession 
is  obtained.  4.  (Municip.)  A  free  guild  or 
company  in  the  City  of  London,  the  members  of 
which  have  a  peculiar  dress,  livery  [O.Fr.  livree, 
(clothes)  handed  over  (for  a  servant)]. 

Livery-man.  A  freeman  of  the  City  of  London 
and  member  of  one  of  the  City  companies. 

Livid  sky.    (Naut.)    The  peculiar  black-purple 
hue  assumed  by  the  sky  before  an  easterly  gale. 
Livraison.  [Fr.,  from  L.L.  liberatio,  -nem.]  A 
part  of  a  book  printed  and  delivered  by  itself,  a 
number,  in  a  series. 

Livre.  [Fr.,  L.  libra,  a  pound]  1.  The  old 
French  money  of  account  was  12  deniers  =  I  sou; 
20  sous  =  I  livre  (tournois).  For  the  conversion 
of  livres  into  francs,  the  legal  rate  was  81  livres 
=  80  francs.  2.  The  old  French  pound  ;  Livre 
usuelle  =  500  grammes ;  Livre  poids  cle  Marc 
=  489*5058  grammes,  or  75543  grains  troy. 


LIXI 


299 


LOCO 


Lixiviation.  [L.  lixivius,  made  into  lix,  llcis, 
lye.}  The  washing  of  wood  ashes  in  water,  so 
as  to  extract  the  saline  and  soluble  particles  of 
cinders,  etc. 

Llan-  [Cymr.],  =  inclosure,  church ;  part  of 
Welsh  names,  as  in  Llan-beris.  So  Ian,  in 
Cymric,  part  of  Scotland,  as  Lan-rick. 

Llanos.  [Sp.,  from  L.  planus.]  Vast  treeless 
plains  of  Texas,  New  Mexico,  S.  America. 

Lloyd's.  (Com.)  1.  A  society  of  imdenvriters 
(q.v.) ;  so  called  from  Lloyd's  coffee-house.  The 
rooms  are  now  in  the  Royal  Exchange.  This 
society  is  the  great  centre  of  maritime  registration 
and  intelligence.  2.  Aiistrian  L,.,  at  Trieste,  a 
general  commercial  and  industrial  company. 
Lloyd's  List,  the  daily  gazette  edited  by  a  com- 
mittee of  L. 

Lloyd's  Register  of  Shipping  contains,  in 
addition  to  the  names,  class,  and  other 
particulars  relating  to  vessels  classed  by  the 
society,  the  names,  dimensions,  etc.,  of  all 
vessels  of  one  hundred  tons  and  upwards 
registered  in  the  United  Kingdom,  and  of  ships  of 
large  tonnage  owned  abroad.  Vessels  are  classed 
by  the  society  under  the  following  letters : — 
A,  A  in  red,  /£,  E,  I  F,  and  2  F-  The 
figure  I  following  the  class  letter  shows  that  the 
equipment  is  complete  and  efficient,  while  a  — 
instead  of  I  shows  that  it  is  deficient  in  quantity 
or  defective  in  quality.  Vessels  classed  A  are 
new,  or  continued,  or  restored  to  the  class.  Iron 
vessels  are  classed  A  so  long  as  they  are  found 
by  survey  to  be  in  an  efficient  condition  to  carry 
dry  and  perishable  goods  to  all  parts  of  the 
world.  Composite  vessels  are  under  certain 
conditions  classed  A  for  a  term  of  years ;  but 
for  all  A  vessels  satisfactory  evidence  must  be 
first  produced  of  date,  build,  and  place  of  build- 
ing. Iron  vessels  constructed  for  special 
purposes  may  be  classed  A  for  such  purposes. 
Numerals  prefixed  to  the  letter  A,  thus  :  100  A, 
90  A>  etc.,  down  to  75  A  >  and  also  the  letter  A 
cr  B  within  A,  thus  :  /^v»  /&,> — relate  to  iron 
vessels,  and  show  the  rules  under  or  equal  to 
which  they  were  built ;  as  does  also  */^\  j 
while  X\  shows  an  iron  vessel  of  A  class,  but 
not  built  under  the  rules.  A  in  red  denotes 
wooden  vessels,  not  eligible  to  be  classed  A» 
but  fit  to  carry  dry  and  perishable  goods  to  any 
part  of  the  world.  /£  denotes  wooden  vessels 
fit  to  carry  dry  and  perishable  goods  on  short 
voyages,  and  other  goods  to  any  part  of  the 
world,  and  also  iron  vessels  classed  A  prior  to 
the  1st  of  July,  1879,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the 
term  of  years  for  which  A  has  been  granted. 
Those  classed  E  are  wooden  vessels  fit  to  carry 
cargoes  not  subject  to  sea  damage  on  any 
voyage.  Those  classed  I  F  and  2  F  are  foreign- 
built  vessels  classed  by  the  society  before  the 
ist  of  July,  1876 :  I  F>  fit  to  convey  dry  and 
perishable  cargoes  to  all  parts  of  the  world  ;  2  F> 
to  do  so  on  shorter  voyages.  The  character  S 
is  no  longer  used. 

Loach.  [Cf.  Fr.  loche,  id.}  (Tchth.)  Fresh- 
water fish,  about  four  inches  long,  lives  under 
stones,  has  six  barbules  to  the  mouth.  Europe, 


India,  Japan.  Gobitis,  fam.  Cyprlnidoe,  ord. 
Physostomi,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Load.  1.  Of  timber,  fifty  cubic  feet.  2.  Of 
hay,  thirty-six  trusses. 

Loading.     (Life  assurance.) 

Load-line.  (Naut.)  That  below  which  a  loaded 
ship  is  not  to  be  immersed.  Four-fifths  of  total 
depth  from  deck  ;  indicated  by  a  horizontal  line 
through  the  centre  of  a  disc  painted  on  her  side. 

Loadmanage,  Lodemanage.  Hire  of  a  load- 
man. 

Loadstar,  Lodestar.  Leading  star,  guiding 
star  ;  Pole-star ;  Cynosure. 

Loafer.  [D.  loopen,  Ger.  laufen,  to  run;  cf. 
interloper.]  In  the  middle  states  of  America, 
a  vagabond. 

Loam-moulding.  [Eng.,/0#w.]  A  mould  for 
casting  metal,  formed  by  sweeps  without  a 
pattern.  (Sweep.) 

Lobate,  Lobated.  [Gr.  \o$6s,  lobe.}  (Ornith.) 
A  term  applied  to  the  feet  of  certain  water-birds, 
as  grebes,  in  which  the  toes,  instead  of  being 
connected,  are  provided  on  each  side  with 
membranes  which  open  in  striking  and  close  in 
retracting. 

Lobbs.     Underground  stairs  in  a  mine. 

Lobscouse,  or  Lapscourse.  (Naut.)  A  sea- 
dish,  made  of  salt  meat,  biscuit,  potatoes,  onions, 
spices,  etc.,  minced  and  stewed. 

Lobster-boat.  (Naut.)  Clinker-built,  bluff, 
and  fitted  with  a  well  to  keep  the  lobsters  alive. 

Local  attraction.  1.  In  Mag.,  an  attraction 
at  a  given  place  exerted  by  objects  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood causing  a  magnet  to  deviate  from 
the  magnetic  meridian  of  the  place.  2.  A  L.  A. 
may  be  exerted  on  a  plumb-line  by  the  gravita- 
tion of  a  heavy  mass,  e.g.  a  mountain,  and  cause 
it  to  deviate  from  the  direction  proper  to  the 
mean  form  of  the  earth  in  its  neighbourhood. 

Locale.     [Fr.]     Place,  locality. 

Local  option.  The  consent  of  a  community, 
or  stated  proportion  thereof,  to  some  proposed 
legislative  act,  as  a  prerequisite  to  the  action  of 
the  Government. 

Locataire.     [Fr.]     Tenant,  lodger,  lessee. 

Locative  case.  In  Gram.,  the  case  expressive 
of  locality.  Such  a  case  existed  originally  in  all 
Aryan  languages,  and  it  survives  in  Greek  and 
Latin  ;  but  likeness  of  form  has  led  grammarians 
to  confuse  it  with  other  cases,  to  the  great  mis- 
leading of  the  learner. 

Loch,  Lough.  [Scot.,  Cymr.  llwch,  L.  lacus, 
lake.}  Lake. 

Lochaber  axe.  Large  kind  of  hatchet,  used  by 
the  Highlanders  as  a  weapon. 

Lockout.     (Strike.) 

Lockram.  A  sort  of  coarse  linen  (from 
Locronan,  in  Brittany). 

Lockstitch.  A  kind  of  sewing  in  which  each 
stitch  is  secured,  or  locked,  before  the  next  is 
made. 

Loc-man,  or  Loco-man.  (ATaut.)  Old  name 
for  a  pilot. 

Loco  citato  [L.],  Loc.  cit.  In  the  passage 
quoted. 

Loco-focos.  Name  given  in  1834  to  the 
U.  S.  Democratic  party,  because  they  relit  Tarn- 


LOCO 


300 


LOLL 


many  Hall  with  L.  matches,  after  the  lights  had 
been  extinguished  by  the  other  party. 

Locomotive  engine.    (Steam-engine.) 

Loculus.  [L.,  a  little  compartment,  dim.  of 
locus.]  (Bot.)  A  cell,  especially  of  the  ovary ; 
adj.,  bi-,  tri-,  etc.,  multi-locular.  (Dissepiment.) 

Locum  tenens  [L.,  holding  a  place.'}  Any 
deputy  or  substitute.  From  this  phrase  is 
derived  the  Fr.  lieutenant. 

Locus.  [L.,  place.}  (Math.}  When  all  the 
points  in  a  line  (or  surface),  and  no  others, 
satisfy  a  certain  condition,  that  line  (or  surface) 
is  the  L.  of  the  points  ;  e.g.  a  circle  is  the  L. 
of  all  points  that  are  equidistant  from  a  fixed 
point. 

Locus  in  quo  ante.  [L.,  place  in  which 
before.}  The  position  occupied  prior  to  specified 
operations  or  negotiations;  without  ante,  the 
present  position. 

Locus  poanitentise.  [L.,  a  place  (or  chance]  for 
repentance.}  Power  of  drawing  back  from  a 
bargain  before  the  performance  of  any  confirma- 
tory act. 

Locus  slgilli.  [L.]  The  place  for  the  seal ; 
shown  by  "  L.  S."  in  copies  of  instruments. 

Locus  standi.  [L.,  a  position  to  stand  in.] 
A  tenable  ground  in  argument. 

Locutory .  [L.  locutor,  a  speaker. }  A  synonym 
of  parlour,  or  the  speaking-room,  in  monasteries. 

Lode.  [O.  E.  lad,  course,  from  laedan,  to  lead.} 
1.  A  vein  of  ore.  2.  A  cut  or  reach  of  water. 

Lodemanage,  or  Lodemanship.  (Naut.}  Hire 
of  pilot  ;  also  Pilotage,  or  Seamanship.  L.-ship, 
a  pilot-boat,  used  also  for  fishing,  temp.  Edward 
III. 

Lodesman.    A  pilot. 

Lodestar.     (Loadstar.) 

Lodged.  [Fr.  loge.j  (Her.)  Lying  on  the 
ground  with  head  erect. 

Lodgment.  (Mil.)  A  permanent  footing 
established  in  an  enemy's  works,  and  artificially 
protected  from  his  fire. 

Lodia.  (Naut.)  A  large  White-Sea  trading- 
boat. 

Loess,  Lehm,  Loam,  Flood-mud.  [Ger. 
losen,  to  loosen.]  (Geol.)  A  loamy  fluviatile 
deposit,  yellowish,  chiefly  argillaceous,  with 
abundant  land  and  fresh-water  shells  ;  in  the 
valleys  of  the  Rhine,  Danube,  Mississippi ; 
Pleistocene. 

Lofty  ships.  A  name  formerly  given  to  all 
square-rigged  vessels. 

Logarithm  [Gr.  \6yuv  apiOf*6s,  the  mimber  of 
the  ratios] ;  Base  of  L. ;  Brigg's  L. ;  Common 
L. ;  Hyperbolic  L. ;  Naperian  L. ;  Table  of  L. 
The  Logarithm  of  a  number  is  the  index  of  the 
power  to  which  a  given  number  (or  base)  must  be 
raised  to  equal  that  number.  Thus,  to  the  base 
io,  the  L.  of  looo  is  3,  because  io3  =  1000. 
When  logarithms  are  calculated  to  the  base  io, 
they  are  Common  L.,  or  Brigg's  L.  The  L.  of 
the  natural  numbers  (say,  from  I  to  100,000), 
arranged  in  order,  form  a  Table  of  L.  The  use 
of  such  a  table  consists  in  this,  that  numbers 
may  be  multiplied  and  divided  by  the  addition 
and  subtraction  of  their  logarithms.  The  in- 
vention of  L.  is  due  to  Napier,  of  Merchison, 


who  used  a  base  (27182818)  which  made  the 
calculation  of  logarithms  less  hard.  L.  calculated 
to  that  base  are  called  Naperian  L.,  and  some- 
times Hyperbolic  L.,  because  the  area  of  any 
portion  of  a  hyperbola  is  expressed  by  means  of 
them. 

Log-board.  ( Naut. )  Two  boards  shutting  up 
like  a  book,  on  which  the  mate  of  the  watch 
writes  in  chalk  the  particulars  to  be  copied  into 
the  log-book.  (Journal.) 

Loge.     [Fr.]     Opera-box. 

Logement  garni.     [Fr.]    Lodgings,  furnished. 

Loggan.     (Rocking-stones.) 

Loggerhead.  An  iron  ball,  fitted  with  a  long 
handle,  used  to  heat  tar,  etc. 

Loggia.  [It.,  from  L.  locus,  place.]  A 
gallery  or  porch  adorned  with  paintings. 

Logistic  arithmetic ;  L.  logarithms.  [Gr. 
\oyiariKds,  skilled  in  calculating.]  These 
logarithms  are  adapted  for  calculating  the  fourth 
term  of  a  proportion  in  which  the  terms  are 
hours,  minutes,  and  seconds,  or  degrees,  minutes, 
and  seconds  ;  they  are  used  to  shorten  the  last 
step  in  the  calculation  of  a  longitude  from  an 
observed  lunar  distance.  The  term  L.  arithmetic 
is  sometimes  used  to  denote  arithmetical  opera- 
tions performed  on  numbers  sexagesimally 
divided  ;  hence  the  name  L.  logarithms. 

Log-line  and  Log-ship.  A  small  line,  about 
a  hundred  fathoms  long,  divided  into  sections  of 
forty-two  feet  (properly  forty-seven  feet  four 
inches),  called  knots,  and  fastened  to  the  log- 
ship.  Its  use  is  to  estimate  the  rate  of  a  vessel 
sailing,  by  observing  how  many  divisions,  or 
knots,  run  out  in  a  given  time  after  the  log- ship 
has  been  thrown  over,  and  about  fifteen  fathoms 
have  run  out. 

Logogram.  [Gr.  \6yos,  and  ypdwa,  a  letter.] 
A  word-letter,  or  phonogram,  as  i.e.  for  id  est. 

Logography.  [Gr.  \6yos,  word,  ypdQw,  I 
write.]  A  method  of  printing,  in  which  each 
type  is  a  whole  word  instead  of  a  single  letter. 

Logogriph.  [A  word  made  up  of  the  Gr. 
\6yos,  and  ypityos,  a  Jishing-net.]  A  sort  of 
riddle. 

Logomachy.  [Gr.  Aoyojuaxio,  word-fight,  from 
\6yos,  word,  and  root  of  fj.dxou.ai,  I  fight}  A 
war  of  words,  a  contention  about  nothing  more 
than  words. 

Logotype.  [Gr.  \6yos,  word,  TVITOS,  type.] 
A  single  type  containing  two  or  more  letters ;  as 
fi,ffl.  (Ligature.) 

Logwood.  A  dark-red  dyewood  from  Central 
America,  imported  in  logs ;  that  of  the  Hsema- 
toxylon,  a  leguminous  tree,  a  native  of  Cam- 
peachy  Bay. 

Lohengrin.  In  medigeval  tradition,  a  mysteri- 
ous knight  married  to  a  wife  who  is  forbidden  to 
ask  his  name.  The  command  is  disobeyed,  and 
the  knight  vanishes.  The  story  is  counterpart 
of  that  of  Psyche  and  Eros. 

Loimic.  [Gr.  \oi/jL6s,  a  plague.}  (Med.) 
Relating  to  pestilential  disorders. 

Lok,  or  Loki.  In  Norse  Myth.,  a  deity  cor- 
responding to  the  Persian  Ahriman. 

Loligo.     [L.]    (Cuttle-fish.) 

Lollards.     A  religious  sect  in  Germany,  early 


LOME 


301 


LORE 


in  the  fourteenth  century,  differing  in  many  im- 
portant points  from  the  Church  of  Rome.  The 
followers  of  Wyclif  were  also  called  L.  [(?) 
lullen,  to  sing  in  a  murmuring  strain  ;  cf.  L. 
lallare,  and  lull,  with  suffix  -hard]. 

Lombard.  This  word  was  formerly  used  in 
England  to  denote  bankers  and  money-lenders, 
Italian  merchants  from  the  cities  of  Lombardy 
being  the  great  usurers  of  the  Middle  Ages.  A 
street  in  the  city  of  London  still  bears  their 
name. 

Lombard  school.     (Bolognese  school.) 

London  clay.  (Geol.)  Brown  or  dark-blue, 
tenacious,  fossiliferous  clay,  with  occasional  no- 
dules of  greenish  sand,  gypsum,  etc. ;  Tertiary, 
Eocene  ;  next  below  the  Bagshot  sands. 

London  Stone.  A  name  given  to  the  stone 
now  embedded  in  the  south  wall  of  St.  Swithin's 
Church,  Cannon  Street ;  supposed  to  have  been 
a  chief  milestone  of  Watling  Street,  one  of  the 
fifteen  main  Roman  roads  in  England. 

London  waggon.  (Naut.)  The  tender  for- 
merly used  to  convey  pressed  men  from  London 
to  the  receiving  ship  at  the  Nore. 

Lone  Star.  The  state  of  Texas,  whose  flag 
bears  a  single  star  in  its  centre. — Bartlett's 
Americanisms. 

Longa  est  injuria,  long®  ambages.  [L.] 
Long  drawn  out  are  my  wrongs,  long  (will  be) 
the  windings  of  the  narrative  (Virgil). 

Longanimity.  [L.L.  longanimitas,  from  lon- 
gus,  long,  animus,  mind.~\  Long-sufferance, 
endurance,  patience. 

Longbeard.    (Bellarmine.) 

Long-boat.  (Naut.)  The  principal  boat  of  a 
merchantman,  fitted  with  masts  and  spars. 

Long-bow.  (Mil.)  Weapon  with  which  the 
English  archers  were  first  armed,  measuring  six 
feet,  and  shooting  a  shaft  or  arrow  of  three  feet. 
To  ensure  proficiency,  strenuous  laws  as  to  its 
practice  were  made  in  England. 

Longcloth.  Cotton  cloth,  opposed  to  Broad- 
doth. 

Longe  absit.     [L.]    Far  be  it  from  (me,  us). 

Longicorn  beetles,  Longicornia.  [L.  longus, 
long,  cornu,  a  horn.}  (Entom.)  An  enormous 
family  of  tetramerous  beetles,  containing  1488 
gen.,  7576  spec.,  subdivided  by  English  entomo- 
logists into  Prionidae,  Cerambycidse,  and  La- 
miidae.  Vegetable  feeders. 

Longipalpi.  [L.  longus,  long,  palpus,  a 
touching  softly,  hence  the  instrument  with  which 
this  is  done.]  (Entom.)  Brachelytrous  beetles 
with  maxillary  palpi  (i.e.  filaments  attached  to 
the  chewing  jaws)  almost  as  long  as  the  head. 

Longipennate.  [L.  longae  pennae,  long  wings.] 
(Ornith.)  Swimming-birds  whose  wings  reach 
to  or  beyond  the  tip  of  the  tail. 

Longirostrals,  Longirostres.  [L.  longus,  long, 
rostrum,  bill.]  Wading-birds  with  long  bills  ;  as 
woodcocks. 

Longitude  [L.  longitude,  length]  ;  Geocentric 
L. ;  Heliocentric  L.  1.  (Geog.)  The  longitude  of 
a  place  is  the  arc  of  the  equator  intercepted 
between  its  meridian  and  that  of  a  standard  sta- 
tion, as  Greenwich,  Paris,  etc.  It  is  generally 
reckoned  east  or  west  from  o°  up  to  180°  ;  but 


it  is  often  reckoned  in  time,  and  then  I  hour  of 
longitude  equals  15°.  2.  (Astron.)  The  longi- 
tude of  a  heavenly  body  is  the  arc  of  the  ecliptic 
intercepted  between  the  first  point  of  Aries 
(Aries,  First  point  of)  and  its  circle  of  latitude. 
It  is  generally  reckoned  from  op  up  to  360°  in 
the  direction  of  the  sun's  proper  motion,  i.e. 
from  west  to  east.  If  the  earth  is  supposed  to 
be  at  the  centre,  the  longitude  is  Geocentric ;  if 
the  sun,  Heliocentric. 

Long-jawed.  (Naut.}  Said  of  a  rope  when 
so  strained  and  untwisted  that  it  will  coil  both 
ways. 

Long  note.  In  ancient  musical  notation,  = 
two  breves.  (Breve.) 

Long  Parliament  The  last  Parliament  sum- 
moned by  Charles  L,  1640  ;  dissolved  by  Crom- 
well, 1653,  having  been  purged  of  its  Presby- 
terian members,  in  1648,  by  Colonel  Pride,  the 
members  allowed  to  remain  being  called  the 
Rump. 

Long  primer.    A  kind  of  type,  as — 

Large. 

'Long-shore  men,  or  along-.  The  humbler, 
rougher  men  employed  about  the  docks  and 
shipping  in  the  Thames  and  other  rivers. 

Long-sighted  eye.  One  wanting  in  refractive 
power,  and  consequently  unable  to  see  objects 
distinctly  unless  at  a  distance  exceeding  the 
normal  least  distance  of  distinct  vision,  i.e.  eight 
inches.  (Presbyopia.) 

Long-togs.  [L.  toga.]  (Naitt.)  Landsman's 
clothes. 

Long  Vacation.  (Leg.)  From  August  10  to 
October  24,  Common  Law  ;  October  28,  Chan- 
cery ;  Univ. ,  from  the  end  of  Easter  term  to 
October,  more  than  three  months. 

Lonicera.  (Lonicer,  Ger.  botanist,  died  1586.) 
(Bot.)  A  gen.  including  all  honeysuckles;  type 
of  ord.  Caprifoliaceae. 

Lool.  A  vessel  to  receive  the  washings  of 
ores. 

Looming.  [O.E.  leomian,  to  shine.]  The 
indistinct  magnified  appearance  of  objects  as 
seen  in  certain  states  of  the  atmosphere. 

Loom  of  an  oar.     (Naut.)     The  handle. 

Loop.  [Ger.  luppe,  an  iron  lump.]  The 
pasty  mass  of  melted  ore  taken  out  of  the  fire  for 
forging. 

Loophole.  ( Mil. )  Narrow  rectangular  aper- 
ture made  in  masonry  or  wooden  walls  for  the 
purpose  of  firing  through  with  musketry. 

Loover  ways.  Boards  placed  at  an  angle  like 
a  Venetian  blind,  so  that  air  is  admitted,  but  not 
the  wet.  (Louvre.) 

Lorcha.     A  fast-sailing  Chinese  vessel,  armed. 

Lore.  [A.S.  lar,  from  laeran,  to  teach,  akin  to 
learn.]  That  which  is  learnt,  knowledge  of  any 
kind.  The  word  is  used  especially  in  the  phrase 
folk-lore,  or  lore  of  the  people,  their  traditional 
tales,  superstitions,  etc. 

Loretto  cups.  Small  cups  made  of  clay  mixed 
with  dust  from  the  Santa  Casa  of  Loretto,  rudely 
painted  with  a  representation  of  Christ,  or  of  the 
Virgin  and  Child,  and  inscribed  Con  pol.  di. 
S.  C.  (i.e.  Con  polvere  di  Santa  Casa). 


LORE 


LUBB 


Loretto,  Holy  House  of.  The  house  in  which, 
according  to  the  tradition,  the  Virgin  Mary  was 
born,  and  which  was  conveyed  by  angels  from 
the  Holy  Land  to  Italy  in  the  thirteenth  century. 

Lorgnette.     [Fr.]    An  opera-glass. 

Lorica.  [L.]  A  leather  cuirass,  a  corselet  of 
thongs. 

Loricata,  Loricates.  [L.,  provided  with  a 
breastplate.}  (Zoo/.)  The  fourth  ord.  of  reptiles, 
protected  by  bony  plates.  (Herpetology.)  _ 

Lorimer,  Loriner.  [O.Fr.  lormier,  L.  lorum, 
a  thong.~\  A  maker  of  bits,  spurs,  and  oth*er 
metal  work  for  harness. 

Lorry.  A  waggon  with  very  low  sides,  for 
carrying  heavy  goods. 

Lory.  [Hind,  and  Malay.]  (Ornith.)  Gen.  of 
brush-tongued  paroquets,  gay-plumaged,  mostly 
scarlet ;  Austro- Malayan  Islands.  Lorius,  fam. 
1  richoglossidse  [Gr.  Qpll-,  rptx^s,  hair,  y\w<rffa, 
tongue],  ord.  Psittaci. 

Lorymer.     (Larmier.) 

Losel.  [A.S.  los,  loss,  destruction.]  A  waste- 
ful fellow,  scoundrel. 

Losenger.  [O.Fr.  losengier,  It.  lusinghiere, 
from  L.  laud  are,,  to  praise,  hence  to  flatter.} 
A  deceiver,  a  cheat. 

Lost  day.  (Naut.)  The  day  lost  when  the 
globe  is  circumnavigated  westward.  (Gained 
day.) 

Lothario.  A  voluptuary  in  Rowe's  Fair  Peni- 
tent, a  representative  of  those  who  make  love  to 
married  women. 

Lothian.  The  part  of  Scotland  containing  the 
counties  of  Haddington,  Edinburgh,  and  Lin- 
lithgow,  respectively  called  the  East,  Mid,  and 
West  Lothian. 

Lotman.     (Naut.)    Old  name  for  a  pirate. 

Lotophagi.  [Gr.  Aon-o^d-yos.]  (Myth.}  The 
eaters  of  the  lotus,  a  fruit  the  taste  of  which  led 
people  to  forget  their  country  and  friends  and  to 
remain  idle  in  the  lotus-land. 

Lotus.  [Gr.  AarrJs.]  1.  In*class.  Gr.,  the 
name  of  several  plants  (e.g.  a  kind  of  trefoil, 
water-lilies,  etc.)  quite  dissimilar  and  often 
confounded.  2.  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants  be- 
longing to  the  nat.  ord.  Leguminosse  ;  L.  corni- 
culatus  is  the  common  bird's  foot  trefoil  of 
pastures  and  dry  banks  in  Great  Britain. 

Lotus-eaters.     (Lotophagi.) 

Loud  voice.  In  Prayer-book,  =  not  "secreto," 
as  in  the  unreformed  service,  nor  with  the 
mystic  voice  [Gr.  HVO-TIKWS]  of  the  Greek  Church. 

Lough.    (Loch.) 

Louis-d'or.  [Fr.]  A  gold  coin,  first  struck 
under  Louis  XIII.,  1641,  and  commonly  called 
a  twenty-franc  piece. 

Louis  Quatorze.  This  phrase  is  often  used  to 
denote  the  style  of  ornamentation  for  houses, 
furniture,  etc.,  fashionable  in  the  time  of  Louis 
XIV.  of  France. 

Lound.     (Naut.)     Calm,  absence  of  wind. 

Loup-garoux.     (Lycanthropy.) 

Louvre.  [(?)  Fr.  1'ouvert,  the  open;  but  not 
from  the  palace  known  as  the  Louvre,  the  origin 
of  which  name  cannot  be  determined.]  1.  A 
lantern.  2.  A  turret  for  the  escape  of  smoke 
or  for  ventilation.  3.  The  celebrated  museum 


and  gallery  of  Paris,  connected  with  one  of  the 
most  ancient  palaces  of  France. 

Louvre-boarding.     (Luffer-boarding.) 

Love,  Family  of.  (Eng.  Hist.)  A  sect  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  holding  opinions  much  like 
those  of  the  Anabaptists. 

Love-feast.    (Agapae.) 

Lovelace.  A  consummate  voluptuary  and  foe 
to  female  virtue,  in  Richardson's  History  of 
Clarissa  Harlowe. 

-low.  [A.S.  hlaw,  a  mottnd,  rising  ground.] 
Part  of  names,  as  in  Mar-low  ;  cf.  -law  on  Scot. 
Border,  as  in  Hood-law. 

Low  and  aloft.     (Naut.)     Every  sail  set. 

Lowbote.  (Leg.}  Recompense  for  a  man 
killed  in  a  tumult. 

Low  Celebration.  In  the  Latin  Church,  Low 
Mass,  or  Mass  performed  by  a  single  priest,  with 
a  server. 

Lower-case.  In  Printing,  small  letters,  types 
(as  distinguished  from  capitals)  kept  in  the  lower 
case ;  abbrev.  to  I.e. 

Lower  Empire.  A  name  sometimes  applied 
to  the  Roman  empire  in  the  East,  from  the 
establishment  of  Constantinople  as  the  im- 
perial city  to  its  capture  by  the  Turks  in  1453. 
(Emperor ;  Empire.)  Lower  means  later  in 
time  ;  so  Gr.  Kara. 

Lowestoft  China  Manufactory.  Established 
1756,  for  pottery  and  soft-paste  porcelain.  Hard 
paste  introduced  about  1775,  and  continued  till 
about  1800.  It  has  no  distinctive  mark,  but 
roses  are  its  most  characteristic  ornaments. 

Low  German.  (Lang.)  Platt  Deutsch,  name 
of  the  dialects  of  N.  and  W.  Germany,  the 
Netherlands,  and  Anglo-Saxon. 

Low-pressure  engine.     (Steam-engine.) 

Low-pressure  steam.     (Steam.) 

Low  Sunday.  The  first  after  Easter  ;  probably 
a  corr.  of  Laudes,  the  first  word  of  its  Sequence, 
"Laudes  Salvatori,"  etc.  ;  because  the  Introit, 
from  the  first  word  of  which  the  Sunday  was 
commonly  named,  was  on  this  day  the  same  as 
on  Easter  Day,  viz.  "Resurrexit." 

Low  wines.  The  product  of  the  first  distilla- 
tion. 

Loxodromic  [Gr.  \o^s,  slanting,  Spofios, 
course]  curve,  or  Rhumb-line.  A  curve  drawn 
on  a  sphere  so  as  to  make  a  constant  angle  with 
all  the  meridians  it  cuts.  A  ship  which  sails  on 
a  given  course  (e.g.  south-west)  describes  a  /,. 
curve. 

Lozenge.  [Fr.  losange.]  (Her.)  A  diamond- 
shaped  figure,  used  (i)  as  an  ordinary,  (2)  as  the 
escutcheon  whereon  is  painted  the  coat  of  arms 
of  a  maiden  or  widow.  An  escutcheon  covered 
with  alternate  lozenges  of  two  different  tinctures 
is  called  Lozengy. 

L's,  Three.  In  Naut.  talk  or  slang,  formerly 
lead,  latitude,  look-out ;  held  to  be  sufficient  by 
those  who  despised  nautical  astronomy. — Ad- 
miral Smyth's  Sailors'  Word-Book. 

Lubber-land.  (Naut.)  The  happy  land  of 
sailors'  dreams,  where  all  is  play  and  no  work. 
Lubber's- hole,  the  space  between  the  head  of 
a  mast  and  the  top.  Lubber1  s-point,  the  mark 
in  the  compass-bowl  in  a  line  with  the  ship's 


LUCE 


303 


LUNA 


head.     (For  Lubber ;  or  Landlubber,  vide  Land- 
louper.) 

Lucernam  olet.  [L.]  It  smells  of  the  lamp  ; 
it  bears  signs  of  nightly  study. 

Lucifer.  [L.,  light-bearing.]  1.  In  the 
classics,  the  morning  star.  2.  In  Med.  Theol., 
Satan.  "  Hillel,"  in  Isa.  xiv.  12,  meaning 
the  morning  star,  and  translated  "Lucifer," 
is  from  the  verb  hallal,  meaning  to  shine, 
but  also  to  be  proud.  The  fall  of  Hillel,  being 
taken  to  refer  to  the  fall  of  some  proud  angel  in 
connexion  with  the  fall  of  Babylon,  was  held  to 
typify  Satan  and  his  kingdom.  (See  note  to 
"  proud  Lucifera,"  Faery  Queene,  I.  bk.  iv.  12. 
Clarendon  Press  series.)  (Phosphorus.) 

Luciferians.      (Eccl.    Hist.]     The  followers 
of   Lucifer,    Bishop   of   Cagliari,    who    in   the 
fourth  century  refused  to  hold  communion  with 
clergy  who  had  held  Arian  doctrines. 
Lucri  causa.     [L.]    For  the  sake  of  gain. 
Luctation.    [L.  luctationem,   from  luctor,   1 
struggle.]     Effort  to  overcome  difficulties. 

Luciano.  [Etrusc.j  One  inspired  ;  and  so  a 
priest  or  prince. 

Lucus  a  non  lucendo,     (Antiphrasis.) 
Lud,  General.     Name  of  the  supposed  leader 
of  the  artisans  who  endeavoured  (1811)  to  stop 
the  introduction   of  machinery  by  riot.     They 
were  called  Luddites. 

Ludere  par  impar,  [L.]  To  play  odd  and 
even  (Horace). 

Ludi.    [L.]     Games. 

Ludi  Apollinares.  [L.]  Roman  games  in 
honour  of  Apollo,  instituted  by  the  advice  of  the 
Delphic  oracle  after  the  battle  of  Cannoe,  B.C. 
212,  and  held  in  the  Circus  Maximus  yearly, 
July  6,  conducted  by  the  Praetor  Urbanus. 

Ludi  CapitoHni.  [L.]  A  Roman  festival  to 
celebrate  the  departure  of  the  Gauls,  B.C.  387. 

Ludi  Circenses ;  L.  Consuales ;  L.  Romani ;  L. 
Magni.  [L.]  The  most  important  Roman  games, 
celebrated  yearly,  September  4-12,  in  honour  of 
Jupiter,  Juno,  and  Minerva,  or  of  Census  and 
Neptunus  Equestris,  in  the  great  Circus,  super- 
intended by  the  Curule  ^Ediles.  Races,  athletic 
contests,  sham  fights,  and  the  cavalry  exercise 
called  Ludus  Troice,  performed  by  Roman 
youths,  were  carried  on.  (Consus  was  supposed 
to  be  a  deity  presiding  over  counsels  and  secret 
plans  ;  but  his  name  is  probably  connected  with 
that  of  the  Consentes  Dii.) 

Ludi  Liberates,  or  Liberalia.  [L.]  A  Roman 
festival  corresponding  to  the  Greek  Dionysia, 
celebrated  March  17,  when  Roman  youths  of 
sixteen  years  old  received  the  toga  virilis. 

Ludi  Saeculares,  Tarentini,  Taurii.  A  Roman 
festival  in  honour  of  the  infernal  deities  during 
the  republic ;  during  the  empire,  also  of  the 
great  gods  and  Vesta,  Hercules,  Latona,  and 
the  Fates  (Parcse)  ;  celebrated  at  first  on  great 
public  emergencies,  afterwards  at  intervals  of 
many  years  (especially  after  the  establishment  of 
Augustus's  supremacy),  in  the  part  of  the  Campus 
Martius  called  Tarentum,  and  with  games, 
theatrical  entertainments,  and  sacrifices  through- 
out the  city. 

Luff,  or  Loofe.     [D.   loef,  wind,  Ger.  luft.] 


(Naut.)  1.  The  order  to  come  more  into  the 
wind.  2.  The  air,  or  wind.  3.  Abbrev.  for 
Lieutenant.  4.  The  fullest  part  of  the  bows. 
5.  The  weather  leech  of  a  sail.  L.  and  lie  — 
hug  the  wind,  or  sail  as  nearly  as  possible  to  it. 
L.  and  touch  her,  try  how  near  the  wind  she 
will  come.  L.  into  a  harbour,  shoot  into  it, 
head  to  wind,  gradually.  L.  round,  or  L.  a-lee, 
go  on  to  the  other  tack. 

Luffer-boarding,  properly  Loiivre-boarding. 
Sloping  boards  in  the  apertures  of  a  louvre, 
bfelfry,  etc.,  to  admit  air  but  to  shut  out  rain. 

Lug,  Lugg,  L.-worm,  Sand-worm,  Arenicola 
piscatdrum  [L.  arena,  sand,  colo,  /  inhabit,  pis- 
cator,  a  fisherman],  (Zool.)  An  errant  annelid 
found  on  the  seashore. 

Lugete  Veneres  lubidmesque.  [L.]  Mourn, 
ye  Venuses  and  Loves  ;  the  first  line  of  the  poem 
of  Catullus  on  the  death  of  Lesbia's  sparrow. 

Lugger.  (Naut.)  A  boat,  or  small  vessel, 
rigged  with  lugsails. 

Luggnagg.    An  island  in  Swift's   Gulliver's 
Travels,    where  some    of   the    inhabitants   are 
cursed  with  an  immortality  OA  old  age  and  decay. 
Lugsails.     (Sails.) 

L' ultima  che  si  perde  e  la  speranza.    [It.] 
The  last  thing  that  is  lost  is  hope. 
Lumber.     Timber  sawed  or  split  for  use. 
Lumbricidae.     [L.  lumbricus,  an  intestinal  or 
earth-worm.]     (Zool.)    Earthworms.    Annelids 
progressing  by  means  of  chitinous  bristles.    (Chi- 
tine.) 

Lumbricus.  [L.]  (Zool.)  An  intestinal  worm  ; 
earth-worm. 

Lumen  juventse  purpiireum.  [L.]  The  ruddy 
glow  of  youth  (Virgil). 

Lump.     (Naut.)     A  heavy  lighter  used   for 
carrying  anchors,  cables,  etc.,  about  a  harbour. 
Lumpers.     (Naut.)     1.    Men  who  load  and 
unload  ships.     2.  In  the   north,  men  who  fur- 
nish a  ship  with  ballast. 

Lumpkin,  Tony.  A  representative  hobblede- 
hoy, in  Goldsmith's  comedy  She  Stoops  to  Conquer. 
Lunar ;  L.  cycle ;  L.  distance ;  L.  month ;  L. 
observation ;  L.  table  ;  L.  year.  A  Lunar  dis- 
tance is  the  distance  of  a  star  from  the  bright  limb 
of  the  moon.  The  measurement  of  this  angle  is  a 
L.  observation,  or  simply  a  Lunar  ;  with  appro- 
priate calculations  it  enables  the  observer  to 
determine  his  longitude,  and  ascertain  the  error 
of  his  chronometer,  which  is  designed  to  show 
Greenwich  time.  A  L.  month  is  the  interval 
from  new  moon  to  new  moon  ;  twelve  of  them 
make  a  L.  year,  which  is  equal  to  354  days 
8  hrs.  48  mins.  L.  tables  enable  the  astro- 
nomer to  calculate  the  true  position  of  the 
moon  at  any  instant  past  or  future.  The  tables 
which  facilitate  the  calculation  of  the  Greenwich 
mean  time  from  an  observed  L.  distance  are 
sometimes  called  L.  tables.  (For  L.  cycle,  vide 
Cycle.) 

Lunar  caustic.  [L.  luna,  moon,  the  alche- 
mists' name  for  silver^  (Chem.)  Fused  nitrate 
of  silver. 

Lunation.  The  interval  of  time  from  one  new 
moon  to  the  next,  a  lunar  month  or  period  of 
29  days  12  hrs.  44  mins. 


LUNE 


304 


LYNX 


Lune.  Name  of  rivers,  from  alauna,  L.  for 
Celt,  al  avon,  white  water. 

Lune.  (Math.)  Any  one  of  the  four  portions 
into  which  the  surface  of  a  sphere  is  divided  by 
two  great  circles. 

Lunette.  [Fr.,  dim  of  lune,  moon.'}  1. 
(Arch.)  An  opening  in  a  concave  ceiling  to 
admit  light.  2.  (Mil. )  Fieldwork  of  the  shape 
of  a  bastion,  but  formerly  used  also  as  outworks 
in  permanent  fortification.  3.  A  kind  of  con- 
vexo-concave lens  for  spectacles  (from  the 
shape).  In  Fr.,  lunettes  means  spectacles. 

Luni-solar.  Resulting  from  the  joint  action 
of  sun  and  moon,  as  L.-S.  precession,  L.-S. 
tides,  etc. 

Luntra.     (Felucca.) 

Lupercalia.  [L.]  A  Roman  festival  in  honour 
of  Lupercus,  an  agricultural  god,  invoked,  it  is 
said,  as  a  protector  against  wolves  [lupus,  wolf], 

Lupuline.  [L.  lupulus,  dim  of  lupus,  the  hop.} 
The  bitter  extract  of  hops. 

Lupum  auribus  tenere.  [L.,  to  have  a  wolf 
by  the  ears.}  To  be  unable  to  hold  on  and 
afraid  to  let  go ;  to  be  in  a  state  of  difficulty 
whichever  way  one  acts. 

Lupus.  [L.,  wolf.}  Once  called  NoK  me 
tangere  [L.,  touch  me  not}.  (Med.)  A  malignant 
disease  of  the  skin,  closely  allied  to  cancer,  and 
very  destructive. 

Lupus  in  fabiila.  [L.]  The  wolf  in  the 
fable,  whose  appearance  deprived  speakers  of 
their  voice ;  said  of  one  who  appears  unex- 
pectedly when  he  is  being  talked  about. 

Lupus  pilum  mutat,  non  mentem.  [L.]  The 
wolf  changes  his  hair,  not  his  disposition. 

Lurca.  (Naut.)  Old  name  for  a  coasting- 
vessel  of  the  Mediterranean. 

Lurcher.  A  variety  of  dog,  allied  probably 
to  shepherd's  dog  and  to  greyhound ;  used 
generally  by  poachers. 

Lure.  [Fr.  leurre,  and  this  from  the  O.G. 
luoder  (Littre).]  In  Falconry,  a  bunch  of 
feathers  attached  to  a  cord  and  tassel,  having  in 
the  centre  of  the  feathers  a  split  piece  of  wood, 
with  some  meat.  The  hawk,  fed  constantly 
thus,  is  enticed  back  after  an  unsuccessful  chase. 

Lusiads.  [Port.  Os  Lusiadas.]  The  great 
epic  poem  of  Portugal,  written  by  Camoens, 
published  in  1571,  the  subject  being  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Portuguese  power  in  India. 

Lust-huis.  \D.,  pleasure-house."}  A  little  de- 
tached room  or  arbour  for  summer  and  autumn 
evenings,  numbers  of  which  overlook  public 
roads  and  canals  in  Holland. 

Lustration.  [L.  lustratio,  -nem.]  A  purifica- 
tion by  water,  connected  with  sacrifices  and 
other  rites — a  Roman  ceremony  for  winning  the 
favour  of  the  gods.  A  general  lustration  of  the 
people  was  held  by  the  Censors  at  the  end  of 
every  five  years  ;  hence  the  period  itself  came  to 
be  known  as  a  lustre,  lustrum  [from  luo,  the  Gr. 
Aouco,  to  wash}. 

Lustre.  [Fr.]  A  metallic  film  over  the  glaze 
of  pottery,  so  thin  as  to  be  iridescent. 

Lustre  of  years.     (Lustration.) 

Lusus  naturae.     [L.]    A  freak  of  nature. 

Lute.    A  kind  of  guitar,  with  from  four  to 


six  pairs  of  strings,  said  to  be  Sp.  laud,  Ar. 
el'ood. 

Lutescent.  [L.  luteus,  yelloiv.}  Of  a  yellowish 
hue. 

Lute-stern.     (Pink.) 

Lutestring  (corr.  from  L^tstring).  A  plain 
stout  silk  for  ladies'  dresses. 

Lutetia.     Old  Latinized  name  of  Paris. 

Lutherans.  The  followers  of  Martin  Luther. 
(Consubstantiation.) 

Luting.  [L.  liitum,  mud.}  Closing  the  joints 
of  a  vessel  submitted  to  heat  by  means  of  a 
clayey  mixture  called  lute. 

Luxation.  [L.  luxatio,  -nem,  from  luxo,  / 
dislocate.}  (Med.)  Dislocation,  displacement  of 
a  bone  or  other  part. 

Lycanthropy.  [Gr.  \vitavQpu-nia,  from  Ay/coy, 
a  wolf,  and  foepcmos,  a  man.}  1.  A  kind  of 
madness,  in  which  a  man  supposes  himself  to  be 
a  wolf,  and  acts  accordingly.  2.  The  supposed 
assumption  of  the  form  of  wolves  by  human 
beings.  These  human  wolves  were  called  by 
the  French  loup-garoux,  by  the  old  English 
were-wolves,  by  the  Germans  wehr-wolfe.  (Were- 
wolves. ) 

Lycaon.  [Gr.  AiWs,  wolf.}  (Zool.)  Cams 
pictus,  Fennec,  Megalotis  [^yd\a  $>ra,  great 
ears],  hunting  dog,  reddish  brown  patched  with 
black  and  white ;  connects  hysenas  and  dogs, 
having  the  feet  of  the  former  (four  toes  on  each 
foot),  the  teeth  and  bones  of  the  latter.  It 
hunts  in  packs.  S.  Africa.  Gen.  Ljteaon,  fam. 
Camdse,  ord  Carnivora. 

Lyceum.  [L.,  Gr.  Au/ceiov,  the  temple  of 
Apollo  Lykeios.j  1.  A  gymnasium  with  covered 
walks  in  the  east  suburb  of  Athens  (named  after 
the  neighbouring  temple  of  Apollo  L.),  where 
Aristotle  gave  his  lectures ;  hence,  2,  any  higher 
school.  (Gymnasium.) 

Lych-gate.     (Lich-gate.) 

Lychnoscope.  [Gr.  \i>xvos,  a  light,  and 
(TKoirfoo,  I  see.}  (Eccl.  Arch.}  An  aperture  in 
the  wall  of  a  chancel,  through  which  persons 
outside  might  see  the  priest  celebrating  at  the 
altar. 

Lycopodium,  [Gr.  XVKOS,  a  wolf,  and  TTO^S, 
iroSds,  afoot.]  (£ot.)  A  gen.  of  native  plants, 
type  of  ord.  Lycopodiacese,  or  Club-mosses,  vas- 
cular acrogens,  plants  with  creeping  stems  or 
corms,  and  leafy  branches  resembling  moss. 

Lydian  mode.     (Greek  modes.) 

Lydius  lapis,  Lydian-stone.     (Basanite.) 

Lye,  Ley.  [O.E.  leah.}  Water  impregnated 
with  alkaline  salt  imbibed  from  the  ashes  of 
wood. 

Lym,  Lym-hound.  [Fr.  limier,  a  dog  held  in 
a  leash,  O.Fr.  liem,  L.  ligamen,  band.}  The 
bloodhound.  (Ban-dog.) 

Lymph.  [L.  lympha,  wafer.}  (Med.)  The 
fluid  contained  in  the  lymphatic  vessels ;  often 
applied,  especially,  to  the  fluid  used  in  vacci- 
nation. 

Lymphatics.     (Absorbents.) 

Lynch  law.  Irregular  justice  administered  by 
the  people  ;  so  called,  it  is  said,  from  a  Virginian 
farmer  named  Lynch. 

Lynx.    [Gr.  A^.]    (Zool.)    Gen.  of  Felidse, 


LYON 


305 


MACU 


with  tufted  ears  and  short  tails.  N.  hemi- 
sphere ;  except  Caracal  (q.v.),  which  may  perhaps 
be  considered  a  separate  gen. 

Lyon  King-at-arms.  Chief  heraldic  officer 
for  Scotland  ;  title  derived  from  lion  rampant  in 
the  royal  escutcheon. 


Lyonnesse.     (Leonnoys.) 

Lyons,  Poor  Men  of.  (Hist.}  The  followers 
of  Peter  Waldo,  a  merchant  of  Lyons  (circ. 
1160),  commonly  known  as  Waldensians. — 
Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity^  bk.  ix. 
ch.  8. 


M.  As  an  abbrev.,  stands  for  the  prseno- 
men  Marcus ;  sometimes  also  for  magister, 
monumentum,  municipium.  M'  stands  for  the 
praenomen  Manius.  A  Tuscan  symbol  like  the 
letter  was  used  to  denote  1000,  and  was  formerly 
supposed  to  be  the  letter  itself. 

Maash.    (Naut.}    A  large  Nile  trading-vessel. 

Mab.  In  the  mythology  of  the  English  poets 
of  the  twelfth  and  following  centuries,  the  queen 
of  the  fairies. — Shakespeare,  Romeo  and  Juliet. 

Mabby.    A  potato  spirit  used  in  Barbados. 

Mac.  A  Scotch  word  signifying  son  [from 
the  same  root  with  Gr.  fj.4yas,  great,  Ger. 
tnagaths,  magd,  a  maid  or  grown-up  girl,  much, 
muckle,  etc.]. 

Macadamize.  To  construct  roads  by  forming 
a  crust  with  layers  of  stones  broken  into  angular 
pieces  of  small  size,  each  layer  being  consolidated 
before  another  is  placed  on  it.  This  process, 
which  was  known  long  before  in  Europe,  has 
received  its  name  in  England  from  J.  L.  Mac- 
adam, who  died  in  1836. 

Macarius,  St.   (Dance  Macabre.) 

Macaroni.  [It.]  Long  slender  tubes  of  a 
paste,  chiefly  of  wheat  flour. 

Macaronic.  A  ludicrous  distortion  or  adapta- 
tion of  modern  words  to  Greek  and  Latin  in- 
flexions and  metre ;  invented  by  Theoph. 
Folengo,  in  Italy,  sixteenth  century ;  with  a 
gross  ma£aroni-\\\ao.  mixture  of  classical  words, 
as  in  the  schoolboy  verses,  "Trumpeter  unus 
erat,  qui  coatum  scarlet  habebat,"  etc.  The 
Polemo-Middinia  of  Drummond  is  a  specimen. 

Macassar  oil.  A  kind  of  hair-oil  originally  ob- 
tained from  Macassar,  in  the  island  of  Celebes. 

Macaw.  (Ornith.)  Gen.  of  birds  like  par- 
rots, but  with  featherless  cheeks.  America. 
Gen.  Ara,  fam.  Conuridae  [Gr.  K&VOS,  cone, 
ovpd,  tail],  ord.  Psittaci. 

Maccaboy.  A  kind  of  snuff  (from  a  district  in 
the  island  of  Martinique). 

Mace.  [It.]  The  aril — a  body  which  rises 
up  from  the  placenta  and  encompasses  the  seed 
— of  the  nutmeg,  used  as  a  spice. 

Mace.  [Fr.  masse,  a  mass,  lump,  L.  massa.] 
(Mil.)  A  weapon  used  by  cavalry ;  a  species  of 
club,  with  large  fixed  head,  or  hanging  loose  by 
chains.  In  the  first  form  it  is  still  used  as  an 
ensign  of  authority. 

Macedonians.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  the  followers 
of  Macedonius,  who  in  the  fourth  century 
denied  the  distinct  personality  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

Maceration.     [L.  maceratio,  -nem.]    The  act 


of  softening  substances  by  steeping  them  in  cold 
water. 

Machiavellian.  Popularly  used  as  =  having  a 
character  of  craft  or  duplicity  in  politics. 

Machiavellism.  The  system  of  government 
propounded  by  Machiavelli  (1469-1527)  in  his 
treatise  called  The  Prince.  The  term  is  generally 
used  in  a  disparaging  sense. 

Machicolation.  [Fr.  machicoulis,  origin  un- 
known, latter  part  con,  with  couler,  to  trickle 
(Littre).]  Projection  supported  on  corbels  over 
the  gateway  of  a  castle,  through  the  floor  of 
which  stones,  scalding  water,  and  molten  lead 
were  thrown  on  the  heads'  of  the  assailants. 

Machine.  [L.  machina,  any  military  engine.} 
Name  given  to  any  kind  of  engine  used  for  bat- 
tering or  assisting  in  the  attack  of  walls,  before 
the  invention  of  gunpowder. 

Machine-tool.  A  machine  driven  by  steam 
power,  capable  of  adjustment  to  an  automatic 
feed  for  shaping  metal  by  cutting. 

Mackerel-boat.  (JVaut.)  One  clinker-built, 
with  large  foresail,  spritsail,  and  mizzen. 

Macmillanites.  A  Scottish  sect,  representing 
the  Covenanters  of  the  seventeenth  century ;  so 
called  from  John  Macmillan,  who  adopted  their 
principles  and  became  their  leader  and  spokes- 
man. They  are  also  known  as  the  Reformed 
Presbytery,  and  as  Mountain  or  Hill  People. 

Macrame.  [Fr.  Micareme,  Mid-Lent,  when 
priests'  robes  are  trimmed  with  it.]  In  lace,  a 
kind  of  work  principally  applied  to  ornamenting 
towels,  etc.  ;  a  long  fringe  is  left  at  each  end,  for 
the  purpose  of  being  knotted  together  in  geo- 
metrical designs. — Mrs.  Palliser,  History  of  Lace. 

Macro-.     [Gr.  /j.aKp6s,  long.} 

Macrocosm.  [Gr.  ncucpos,  large,  itda/mos,  world.} 
The  universe  as  opposed  to  Microcosm  \juitp6s, 
small],  the  world  of  man. 

Macrometer.  [Gr.  /xa/cp<£;,  long',  fierpeta,  1 
measure.}  An  instrument  for  measuring  inac- 
cessible objects  by  means  of  two  reflectors  on  a 
common  sextant. — Webster. 

Macrura.  [Gr.  /j.aKp6s,  long,  ovpd,  a  tail.} 
(Zool.)  Long-tailed  decapod  crustaceans;  as 
shrimps  and  lobsters. 

Macte  virtute.  [L.,  happy  in  thy  virtiie.} 
Good  luck  to  you. 

Maculae.  [L.,  spots.}  (Med.)  Detached  dis- 
coloured spots  or  patches  in  the  skin,  some  from 
textural  change,  generally  pigmentary. 

Macule.  [L.  macula,  a  spot.}  In  Printing,  a 
blur,  causing  part  of  the  impression  to  appear 
double. 


MADA 


306 


MAGN 


Madame;  Mademoiselle.  The  Fr.  forms  of 
the  L.  mea  domina,  my  lady,  mea  dominicilla, 
my  little  lady  ;  the  latter  being  brought  by  abra- 
sion into  the  Eng.  damsel  and  miss. 

Madder.  [O.K.  maddre.]  A  reddish  root, 
furnishing  dyes  and  pigments. 

Madefaction.  [L.  madefacio,  /  make  wet.] 
(Med.)  I.q.  humectation  (q.v.}. 

Madeira.  A  rich  wine  made  in  the  isle  of 
Madeira. 

Madeira  nut.  A  kind  of  thin-shelled  walnut 
from  Madeira. 

Madjoun.     (Majoun.) 

Madge-howlet.  [Cf.  O.Fr.  machette.]  An  owl. 

Madonna.  [It.  for  L.  mea  domina,  my 
lady.}  The  Italian  term  for  the  Virgin  Mary. 

Mad  Parliament.     (Oxford,  Provisions  of.) 

Madrephyllia.  [Gr.  fj.aba.p6s,  moist,  <}>v\\iov, 
leafage.]  Mushroom  corals,  fungise. 

Madrepore.  [Fr.]  Gen.  of  coral,  giving  its 
name  to  fam.  Madreporidse,  and  to  Madrepo- 
raria,  the  great  bulk  of  recent,  coral-making  zoo- 
phytes, as  the  Brainstone  C.  Ord.  Z5antharia, 
class  Actlnozoa,  sub-kingd,  Coelenterata.  (Gene- 
rally connected  with  madre,  spotted ;  but  Littre 
gives  It.  madrepora,  from  madre,  mother,  Gr. 
irwpos,  tuft-stone.} 

Madrigal.  [Fr.,  from  It.  madriale,  L.L.  ma- 
triale,  some  kind  of  song  (Littre).]  1.  Seems 
to  have  been  originally  a  theme  for  the  poet  im- 
provising ;  then,  2,  the  harmonizing  of  such 
songs  as  had  become  popular ;  lastly,  3,  as 
perfected  in  England,  part-music,  with  distinct 
phrases  or  melodies,  not  mere  concord  of  sounds, 
as  a.  glee  may  be  ;  while  motett  [It.  moto,  theme, 
movement],  once  synonymous  with  madrigal, 
came  to  denote  movements  intended  for  the  ser- 
vices of  the  Church,  and  these  became  anthems. 

Maecenas.  The  friend  and  patron  of  Horace 
and  Virgil ;  hence  any  patron  of  men  of  letters, 
as  Sir  Philip  Sidney  e.g.  was  of  Edmund 
Spenser. 

Maelstrom.  •  [Norw.,  mill-stream]  (Geog.) 
An  eddy  or  race  on  the  Norwegian  coast, 
exaggerated,  like  Scylla  and  Charybdis,  into  a 
terrific  whirlpool,  sucking  down  everything 
coming  within  its  reach. 

Maeso-Gothic.  Belonging  to  the  Maeso-Goths, 
or  Goths  settled  in  Maesia. 

Maestro  di  Capella.    (Gapelmeister.) 

Magdeburg,  Centuriators  of.  Certain  Luthe- 
ran writers  so  styled  themselves,  who  in  the 
sixteenth  century  compiled,  at  Magdeburg,  a 
history  of  the  Church  down  to  the  Reformation. 

Magellanic  clouds.  (Astron. )  Two  nebulous 
or  cloudy  masses  of  light,  resembling  portions 
of  the  Milky  Way,  conspicuously  visible  to  the 
naked  eye  between  18°  and  24°  from  the  South 
Pole,  and  covering  areas  of  about  forty-two  and 
ten  square  degrees  respectively. 

Magenta  (from  the  battle  of  Magenta,  soon 
after  which  it  was  invented).  An  aniline  dye  of 
red  colour  tinged  with  violet. 

Magged.  (Naut.)  1.  Worn  and  stretched 
rope.  2.  Reproved. 

Magians.  [Gr.  pdyos,  perhaps  from  the 
Pehlevi  mog,  or  mag,  a  priest.}  The  hereditary 


priests  among  the  ancient  Persians  and  Medians. 
Zoroaster  is  said  to  have  been  the  great  reformer 
of  their  order.  (Ahriman.) 

Magic,  Natural ;  M.  square.  The  art  of  em- 
ploying the  natural  properties  of  things  to  pro- 
duce effects  that  were  thought  magical  j  as  the 
effects  produced  by  the  magic  lantern.  A  M. 
square  is  a  square  divided  into  nine,  or  sixteen,  or 
twenty-five,  etc.,  smaller  squares,  with  a  number 
written  in  each,  such  that  the  sum  of  the  three, 
or  four,  or  five,  etc. ,  numbers  in  every  horizontal, 
or  vertical,  or  diagonal,  row  is  the  same  ;  as — 


4 

9 

2 

3 

5 

7 

8 

i 

6 

Magilp.  A  mixture  of  linseed  oil  and  mastic 
varnish,  used  as  a  vehicle  in  oil-painting. 

Magister  ad  Facilitates,  (Master  of  the 
Faculties.) 

Magister  Equitum.     (Master  of  the  Horse.) 

Magister  Sententiarum.  (Master  of  the  Sen- 
tences.) 

Magistery.  A  precipitate  produced  by  dilu- 
tion with  water. 

Magistral.  [Sp.]  Roasted  copper  pyrites 
used  in  reducing  silver  ores. 

Magistral  line.  [L.  magistralis,  belonging  to 
a  master.]  (Mil.}  The  one  first  traced  on  the 
ground,  giving  the  outline  of  fortification  works. 
If  the  ditch  has  a  retaining  wall,  it  shows  the 
summit  of  the  escarp  ;  in  other  cases,  the  line  of 
crest  of  the  parapet. 

Magistral  remedy.  [L.  magister,  master.] 
(Med.} '  1.  A  sovereign  remedy.  2.  A  remedy 
according  to  circumstances  for  a  particular  occa- 
sion, and  so  =  extemporaneous,  not  one  of  the 
Pharmacopoeia. 

Magma.  [Gr.,  a  kneaded  mass.}  Any  pasty 
mixture  of  mineral  or  organic  matters. 

Magna  Charta.    (Charta,  Magna.) 

Magna  est  verftas  et  praevalebit.  [L.]  Truth 
is  great  and  will  prevail. 

Magna  est  vis  consuetudinis.  [L.]  The  force 
of  custom  is  great.  (Mos  pro  lege.) 

Magna  Graecia.  Name  given  to  that  part  of 
S.  Italy  which  was  thickly  planted  with  Greek 
colonies— Sybaris,  Croton,  Tarentum,  Rhegium, 
etc. 

Magnas  inter  opes  inops.  [L.,  poor  in  the 
midst  of  much  wealth  (Horace).]  A  miser. 

Magnates.  [L.L.]  In  Hungary,  and  formerly 
also. in  Poland,  the  title  of  the  noble  estate  in 
the  national  representation. 

Magnesia.  An  alkaline  earth,  the  oxide  of 
magnesium  (originally  found  near  Magnesia,  in 
Lydia) ;  the  medicine  being  carbonate  of  M. ,  a 
white,  tasteless,  earthy  substance,  mildly  aperient. 
Epsom  salt,  i.e.  formerly  found  in  springs  near  E. , 


MAGN 


307 


MAID 


is  sulphate  of  magnesia.    Magnesia  alba  is  a  mix- 
ture of  carbonate  and  hydrate  of  magnesium. 

Magnesian  limestone,  i.e.  having  more  than 
twenty  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of  magnesia,  is,  in 
Geol.,  =  Permian  limestone  of  Durham,  and 
Zechstein  of  Germany ;  the  middle  member  of 
the  Permian  system  in  England  and  Europe. 

Magnesium.  A  white  malleable  metal,  the 
base  of  magnesia. 

Magnet  [Gr.  \(6os  Mdyvi]*,  Magnesian  stone, 
magnet} ;  Electro-M.  A  body,  commonly  a 
piece  of  steel,  which  has  the  property  of  attract- 
ing pieces  of  iron  to  its  poles  or  ends.  An 
Electro-M.  is  a  magnet  formed  of  a  core  consist- 
ing of  a  rod,  or  bundle  of  rods,  of  wrought  iron 
round  which  an  electric  current  circulates.  If  a 
bar  of  steel  is  used  as  a  core  instead  of  soft 
wrought  iron,  it  retains  its  magnetic  power  after 
the  current  has  ceased  to  circulate.  In  this  way 
magnets  are  commonly  made,  though  certain 
kinds  of  iron  ore,  called  lodestones,  are  natural 
magnets ;  and  magnets  used  to  be  made  by 
touching  steel  needles  with  a  lodestone. 

Magnetic  battery;  M.  compensator;  M.  ele- 
ments ;  M.  field ;  M.  needle ;  M.  poles ;  M.  storms. 
A  Magnetic  battery  is  a  number  of  magnets  joined 
so  that  their  similar  poles  come  together  and 
strengthen  each  other.  A  M.  compensator  is  a 
magnet  put  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  compass 
of  an  iron  ship,  to  neutralize  the  ship's  permanent 
magnetism.  The  M.  field  is  the  region  sur- 
rounding a  magnet  and  so  modified  by  it  that 
another  magnet  brought  within  the  region  is 
acted  on  by  the  force  of  the  magnet.  A  M.  needle 
is  a  long  thin  magnet  suspended  so  as  to  move 
freely  in  a  horizontal  or  vertical  plane  (i.e.  as  a 
declination  or  dipping  needle).  The  north  pole 
of  a  magnet  is  that  which  turns  towards  the 
North  Pole  of  the  earth  ;  as  unlike  poles  attract 
each  other,  the  magnetism  of  the  north  pole  of  a 
magnet  is  of  the  same  kind  as  that  of  the  South 
Pole  of  the  earth.  The  north  and  south  poles 
here  spoken  of  are  the  M.  poles  of  the  earth,  i.e. 
points  at  which  the  earth  would  exert  no  direc- 
tive power  on  a  declination  needle  ;  they  do  not 
coincide  with  the  geographical  poles  of  the  earth. 
M.  elements  are  the  infinitesimally  small  magnets 
of  which  magnets  are  supposed  to  be  made  up,  in 
the  mathematical  theories  of  magnetism.  (For  M. 
azimuth,  M.  declination,  M.  storm,  etc.,  vide. 
Azimuth ;  Declination ;  Storm,  Magnetic ;  etc. ) 
Magnetism ;  Terrestrial  M.  The  force  of  at 
traction  or  repulsion  exerted  by  a  magnet  on 
other  magnets.  Terrestrial  M.  is  the  magnetic 
force  exerted  by  the  earth,  which  is,  in  fact,  a 
magnet. 


ictism,  Animal,  or  Mesmerism  (q.v.),  (once 
thought  to  have  some  analogy  to  the  M.  of  the 
lodestone).  A  supposed  emanation  by  which 
one  person  can  act  upon  the  body  and  mind  oi 
another,  controlling  both  action  and  thought, 
the  effect  being  that  of  "  expectant  attention'' 
(see  Carpenter's  Mental  Physiology,  ch.  xvi.). 

Magneto-electric  induction;  M.-E.  machine 
The  phenomenon  of  a  momentary  electric  cur- 
rent produced  in  a  coil  of  wire  by  its  motion 
within  a  magnetic  field.  In  a  M.-E.  machine 


he  motion  is  so  arranged  that  a  succession  of 
:hese  momentary  currents  is  made  to  coalesce 
nto  a  continuous  current  in  one  direction. 

Magneto-electricity.  Electricity  developed 
)y  the  action  of  a  magnet. 

Magnifying-glass.  A  lens  with  a  negative 
bcal  length,  in  most  cases  a  double-convex  lens. 

Magni  nomlnis  umbra.  [L.]  The  shadow  of 
a  great  name  (Lucan) ;  said  of  a  man  who 
without  ability  in  himself  inherits  a  great  name, 
or  of  one  who  has  survived  or  lost  his  reputation. 

Magni  refert  quibuscum  vixens.  [L.]  It  mat- 
ters much  with  whom  you  live.  (Noscitur  e  sociis.) 

Magnis  excldit  ausis.  [L.]  He  failed  in  a 
great  enterprise  (Ovid) ;  said  of  Phaethon. 

Magnum  bonum.  [L.,  a  great  good.]  The 
name  given  to  a  kind  of  plum  and  to  a  kind  of 
potato. 

Magnum  est  vectlgal  parsimonia.  [L.]  Econo- 
my is  (in  itself}  a  great  revenue. 

Magnus  Apollo.  [L.]  A  great  Apollo  ;  said 
of  one  distinguished  in  art  or  science.  (Apollo.) 

Magot.  (Zool.)  The  most  common  gen.  of 
Eastern  monkeys,  found  also  in  N.  Africa  and 
Gibraltar.  Some  spec,  have  long  tails ;  others, 
as  the  Gibraltar  monkey  or  Barbary  ape,  have 
none.  Macacus,  fam.  CercSpithecidse. 

Mahabharata.  [Skt.,  the  great  (war  of)  Bha- 
rata.~\  A  long  Indian  epic  poem,  relating  to  the 
civil  war  between  the  Kurus  and  the  Pandus. 

Mahadeva,  Mahadeo.  [Skt.,  the  great  god, 
Gr.  fj.fyas  0eos.]  (Myth.)  A  Hindu  deity  who 
may  be  identified  with  Siva  in  the  later  Tri- 
murtti  or  Trinity. 

Mahadi.    The  twelfth  Imam. 

Mahalath,  "  to  the  chief  musician  upon  M.  ; " 
Ps.  liii.,  Ixxxviii.  ;  probably  s=  sickness,  i.e.  in- 
dicating a  melancholy  tune  as  appropriate 
(Speaker's  Commentary).  (Leannoth.) 

Mahaleb.  [Ar.  mahleb.]  A  kind  of  cherry 
whose  fruit  affords  a  violet  dye. 

Mahlstick.  [Ger.  malen,  to  paint,  stock, 
stick.]  A  stick  used  to  support  an  artist's  hand 
while  painting. 

Mahone,  Mahonna,  or  Maon.  (Naut.}  An 
obsolete  flat-bottomed  Turkish  ship  of  burden. 

Mahound.  A  contemptuous  name  for  Mo- 
hammed or  Mahomet ;  hence  an  evil  spirit  or 
devil.  Often  coupled  with  Termagant. 

Maia.  A  word  denoting  motherhood  (?)  or 
increase  [is  not  May  the  increasing  month,  as 
April  is  the  opening  month  (aperire)?] ;  common 
to  many  Aryan  languages.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  M.  is 
the  mother  of  Hermes.  In  Eng.,  May. 

Maiden.  An  instrument,  resembling  the  Guil- 
lotine, formerly  used  in  Scotland  for  the  behead- 
ing of  criminals.  Hence  to  kiss  the  maiden  was 
to  be  put  to  death.  (Scavenger's  daughter.) 

Maiden  assize.  An  assize  in  which  there  are 
no  prisoners  for  trial. 

Maidenhair.  (Bot.)  Admntum  capillus  Vene- 
ris,  ord.  Filices,  ferns  ;  found  on  moist  rocks, 
old  damp  walls,  etc.  Rare  in  Britain,  abundant 
in  S.  Europe. 

Maid  Marian.  This  term  is  thought  by  some 
to  be  a  corr.  of  Mad  Morion,  the  boy  of  the 
Morrice-dance,  so  called  from  the  helmet  which 


MAID 


308 


MALA 


he  wore.  The  corr.  of  the  words  led  to  the 
change  of  the  sex. 

Maid  of  Kent,  Holy,    (Barton,  Elizabeth.) 

Maihem,  Mayhem.  (Leg.)  The  offence  of 
injuring  another  so  as  in  any  way  to  affect  his 
righting  power. 

Mails.  In  Scot.  Law,  the  rents  of  an  estate. 
Payments  made  by  owners  of  lands,  for  protec- 
tion of  their  property  to  the  chiefs  of  marauding 
clans,  were  termed  black  mail. 

Maine  liquor  law.  A  law  first  enacted  in  the 
state  of  Maine  about  1844,  forbidding  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  drinks  except  by  an  agent  specially 
empowered  by  the  local  magistrate,  or  by  muni- 
cipal authority. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Mainotes.     Pirates  of  the  yEgean  Sea. 

Mainpernor.  [Fr.  main,  hand,  pernor  = 
preneur,  one  who  takes, ,]  [L.]  A  surety  for  a 
prisoner's  appearance  in  court  at  a  given  time. 
(Mainprise,  Writ  of.) 

Main  Plot.    (Bye,  or  Surprise,  Plot.) 

Mainprise,  Writ  of.  (Leg. )  One  of  the  means 
of  remedying  the  injury  of  false  imprisonment ; 
directed  to  the  sheriff,  commanding  him  to  take 
sureties  for  the  prisoner's  appearance  (usually 
called  Mainpernors),  and  to  set  him  at  large. 
Bail  might  imprison  or  surrender  before  the 
stipulated  day ;  but  M.  were  simply  sureties  for 
appearance  on  the  day.  Again,  B.  were  sureties 
in  the  special  matter  only,  but  M.  were  bound 
to  produce  him  to  meet  all  charges  whatsoever. 
— Brown,  Law  Dictionary. 

Maintenance.  (Leg. )  An  offence  punishable 
by  imprisonment,  is,  according  to  Mr.  Justice 
Stephen,  "  the  act  of  assisting  the  plaintiff  in 
any  legal  proceedings  in  which  the  person  giving 
the  assistance  has  no  valuable  interest,  or  in 
which  he  acts  from  any  improper  motive." 

Maintenance,  Cap  of.  A  cap  of  dignity  formed 
of  red  velvet  lined  with  ermine. 

Mainyard  men.  In  Naut.  parlance,  those  on 
the  doctor's  list. 

Maison  de  sante.  [Fr.,  a  house  of  health.'}  A 
private  hospital. 

Maitrank  (i.e.  May -drink).  A  popular  drink 
in  Germany,  prepared  by  throwing  young  shoots 
of  woodruff  (Asp£rula  odorata)  into  light  white 
Rhenish  wine,  and  allowing  it  to  stand  for  a  few 
hours. 

Maitre  d'hotel.    [Fr.]    A  house-steward. 

Maize.     (Zea.) 

Majesty.  [L.  majestas.]  Properly  the  sove- 
reign dignity  of  the  Roman  people.  (Leze 
majesty.) 

Majesty,  Apostolical.  A  title  bestowed  by  the 
pope,  A.D.  looo,  on  the  Duke  of  Hungary. 

Majesty,  Catholic.  A  title  bestowed  by  Alex- 
ander VI.,  1491,  on  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  of 
Spain. 

Majesty,  Most  Christian.  A  title  of  the  French 
kings,  who  were  also  styled  Eldest  Sons  of  the 
Church. 

Majesty,  Most  Faithful.  A  title  of  the  kings 
of  Portugal,  bestowed  by  Pope  Benedict  XIV. 
on  John  V. 

Majolica.  A  soft  enamelled  pottery,  in- 
troduced into  Italy  from  Majorca,  and  distin- 


guished by  coarseness  of  substance  and  elaborate 
design. 

Majorat.  [Fr.]  In  the  law  of  many  conti- 
nental nations,  the  right  of  succession  to  property 
according  to  age.  (Mayorazo.) 

Major-domo.  [L.  major  domus,  the  greater 
officer  of  the  house.]  This  title,  modified  in  later 
times  into  mord-dom,  denotes  seemingly  three 
offices  :  (i)  the  chief  officer  of  the  prince's 
table  ;  (2)  the  mayor  of  the  palace  ;  (3)  the 
count  or  prefect  of  the  palace,  afterwards  the 
Seneschal. 

Major  e  longinquo  reverentla.  [L.]  Respect 
is  greater  at  a  distance ;  answering  to  the 
phrases,  "  Familiarity  breeds  contempt  ; " 
"  Distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view;  and 
"  No  man  a  hero  to  his  own  valet." 

Majoun,  Madjoun.  A  preparation  of  hemp, 
used  as  an  intoxicating  drug  by  Orientals. 

Majuscules  and  Minuscules.  [Fr.]  In  Print- 
ing, capital  letters  and  small  letters. 

Make  ready.  (Mil.)  The  old  word  of  com- 
mand for  bringing  a  soldier's  musket  to  full  cock. 

Making-iron.  A  tool  like  a  grooved  chisel, 
used  in  caulking  ships. 

Malabric.  The  language  of  Malabar,  in  the 
presidency  of  Madras. 

Mala  causa  silenda  est.  [L.]  When  your 
cause  is  bad  you  should  say  nothing  (Ovid). 

Malacca  cane.  A  brown  mottled  cane  for 
walking-sticks,  from  a  palm  growing  in  Malacca. 

Malachite.  [Gr.  /uLa\oix'n,  mallow,  the  leaf  of 
which  has  a  like  colour.]  Native  green  carbo- 
nate of  copper,  used  for  jewellery,  etc. 

Malacology.  [Gr.  /*aAa/cJs,  soft,  Arfyos,  account.  ] 
The  science  of  molluscs  and  molluscoids,  which 
are  soft-bodied,  unsegmented  animals,  with  one, 
two,  or  three  nervous  ganglia,  and  (usually)  an 
external  skeleton,  or  shell.  They  are  classified 
as  follows : — 

MOLLUSCA  PROPER,  TRUE  MOLLUSCS. 


Class.  Orders. 

Cephalopoda.       I.  Dibranchlata  [Gr. 
6«9,  twice, 


Gasteropoda. 


PteropSda. 

Lame'libran- 
chlata,        or 
Conchifera 
[L.    concha, 
shell,  fero,  / 
carry},     Bi- 
valves. 


II.     Tetrabranchlata 
LGr.  T€TTapa-,four]. 

I.  Prosobranchlata 
[Gr.      irpodo),   for- 
ward}. 

II.  Pulmomfera    [L. 
pulmo,  -nis,  lungs, 
fero,  /  carry}. 

III.  Opisthobranchi- 
ata  [Gr.  oniatie,  be- 
hind}. 


IV.  Nucleobranchi- 
ata  [L.  nucleus, 
dim.  of  nux,  kernel, 
Gr.  Bpa7x«a,  gills} 
or  Heteropoda  [Gr. 
other\» 


Examples. 
Octopus  [Gr.  OK- 
Ttti7roi/r,    eight- 
footed},   Paper 
nautilus. 
Pearly  nautilus. 

Whelks. 
Snails. 


Bubble-shells, 
Bullldse       [L. 
bulla,    bubble}, 
and         sea-le- 
mons, Doridae. 

Carlnaria. 


CleodSra,    Hya- 

lea. 
Cockles,  oysters. 


MALA 


309 


MALV 


MOLLUSCOIDA,   MOLLUSCOIDS. 

Class.  Examples. 

Brachiopoda.  Lampshells. 

Tunicata.  Ascidians  [Gr. 

CHTKOS,  leather 
bag}. 

PolyzSa.  Sea-  mats,  Flus- 

tra. 


Malacoptlrygii.     [Gr.  /ta\oK<k,  soft, 
-vyos,  Jin.}     (Ichth.}     In  Cuvier's  system,  fish 
with  soft  rays  in  the  paired  fins  ;  as  the  carp. 

Malacostracans.  [Gr.  fj.a\a.K-6(TTpo.Kos,  soft- 
shelled.}  (Zool.)  Crustaceans  with  crust  soft 
as  compared  with  those  of  molluscs,  though  not 
so  as  compared  with  those  of  other  crustaceans. 
(With  Aristotle,  =  Crustacea  generally.  ) 

Malades  imaginaires.  [L.]  Those  who  fancy 
themselves  ill,  hypochondriacs.  Le  Malade 
Imaginaire  is  the  title  of  a  comedy  by  Moliere. 

Maladie  du  pays.  [Fr.]  Home-sickness. 
(Nostalgia.) 

Maladresse.    [Fr.]   Awkwardness,  clumsiness. 

Mala  fide.   [L.]    With  bad  faith.   (Bona  fide.) 

Mala  gallina,  malum  ovum.  [L.,  a  bad  hen, 
a  bad  egg.}  Things  will  produce  their  like. 

Malagash,  Malagasy,  Madegasse.  People  of 
Madagascar  ;  of  which  island  the  native  name 
is  Madecasse. 

Mala  mens,  mains  animus.  [L.]  A  bad  head, 
a  bad  heart. 

Malapert.  [O.Fr.  apert,  L.  apertus,  open; 
hence  intelligent  ;  hence  malapert,  unskilful, 
ill-bred.}  Generally  denotes  pertness,  impu- 
dence, forwardness. 

Malaprop,  Mrs.  A  character  in  Sheridan's 
play  of  the  Rivals.  She  is  always  using  wrong 
words  which  resemble  the  right  ones  more  or 
less.  So  named  from  Fr.  mal  a  propos,  not  to 
the  purpose. 

Mal  a  propos.    [Fr.]    Unseasonable,  ill-timed. 

Malaria.    (Miasma.) 

Malayala.    A  dialect  of  the  Malabar  language. 

Malebolge.  [It.]  The  eighth  circle  of  Dante's 
Inferno. 

Mal-entendu.  [Fr.,  misunderstood.'}  A  mis- 
apprehension. 

Male-suada  fames.  [L.]  Hunger  tempting  to 
evil  (Virgil). 

Malignants.  [L.  malignus,  of  a  bad  kind.} 
(Eng.  Hist.)  A  name  applied  by  the  Round- 
heads or  Puritans  to  those  who  refused  to  take 
the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant. 

Malignant  tnmours,  etc.     (Benign.) 

Malingerer.  (Naut.  )  One  who  shams  illness 
to  shirk  work. 

Malingery.  [Fr.  malingre,  ailing,  from  mal, 
and  hingre,  O.Fr.  =L.  segrum,  sick.}  A  feigning 
of  illness  ;  strictly,  in  shirking  military  duty. 

Mali  principii  malus  finis.  [L.]  A  bad  be- 
ginning will  have  a  bad  ending. 

Malis  avibus.  [L.]  With  bad  birds,  i.e.  with 
bad  omens. 

Malitia  snpplet  eetatem.  [L.]  A  maxim  of 
the  law,  referring  to  infants  between  seven 
and  fourteen  :  malice  makes  up  for  want  of 
age  ;  i.e.,  in  the  particular  case,  the  premature 
criminal  intelligence  of  the  child  shows  him  to 
have  been  fully  aware  of  what  he  was  doing. 


On  the  other  hand,  the  evidence  of  a  child  intel- 
ligently and  religiously  brought  up,  though  prima 
facie  not  to  be  received,  may  be  received  upon 
the  principle,  Sapientia  supplet  setatem;  gene- 
rally applied  to  children  of  seven  and  under. 

Mall.  [L.  malleus,  hammer.}  A  heavy 
wooden  hammer.  (Maul.) 

Malleable.  [L.  malleus,  hammer.}  Capable 
of  being  spread  out  by  hammering. 

Mallemaroking.  (Naut.}  Seamen  visiting 
each  other,  and  carousing  on  board  Greenland 
ships. 

Mallenders,  Sallenders.  (Vet.}  In  the  horse, 
scurfy  eruptions — M.  in  the  flexure  at  the  back  of 
the  knee,  S.  at  the  bend  of  the  hock. 

Malleolus.  [Dim.  of  L.  malleus,  hammer.'} 
(Anat. )  The  ankle.  M.  internus,  the  termina- 
tion of  the  tibia ;  externus,  that  of  the  fibula ; 
forming  the  outer  and  inner  prominences  of  the 
ankle. 

Malle-poste.  [Fr.]  Mail-coach  or  post, 
mail. 

Malleus.  [L.,  hammer^  (Anat.}  The  most 
external  of  the  bones  of  the  ear,  attached  to  the 
membrana  tympani ;  striking  upon  the  incus 
[anvil]. 

Mallum.  [L.L.]  In  the  usage  of  the  Teutonic 
nations,  the  place  for  the  meeting  of  the  people, 
each  leading  state  in  the  empire  having  its  own 
place  of  assembly. 

Malm.     A  yellow  kiln-baked  brick. 

Malmsey.  [Fr.  malvoisie.]  A  strong,  sweet 
wine. 

Malo  cum  Flatone  errare  quam  cum  aliis  recte 
sentire.  [  L.  ]  I  had  rather  be  wrong  with  Plate 
than  right  with  any  one  else  (Cicero). 

Malta,  Knights  of.     (Orders,  Eeligious.) 

Maltese  cross.     (Cross.) 

Maltha.  [Gr.  ^oA0a.]  A  viscid  mineral 
pitch. 

Malthusian  theory.  The  theory  of  Malthus, 
1798,  that  population  would  soon  outrun  the 
means  of  subsistence,  unless  held  back  by  the 
external  checks  of  vice,  misery,  and  moral  re- 
straints ;  the  argument  being  that  population 
increases  in  a  geometrical,  food  in  an  arithme- 
tical, ratio. 

Malum  in  se.  [L.]  A  thing  wrong  in  itself, 
a  violation  of  moral  law ;  as  stealing.  (Malum 
prohibitum.) 

Malum  prohibitum.  [L.]  A  law  phrase,  for 
things  or  acts  which  become  wrong  only  as  being 
prohibited  by  enactment ;  as  the  importation  of 
goods  into  a  country,  when  so  prohibited,  be- 
comes smuggling. 

Malum  vas  non  frangitur.  [L.]  Worthless 
vessels  are  not  broken. 

Malus  in  uno,  mains  in  omnibus  [L.],  or  Falsus 
in  uno,  etc.  (Leg.)  A  man  if  bad,  if  dis- 
credited as  a  witness  in  one  matter,  is  the  same 
in  all  matters  ;  a  maxim  in  Law ;  a  great  exag- 
geration, and  not  much  acted  upon,  in  fact. 

Malvaceous.  [L.  malva,  mallow.]  1.  Mucila- 
ginous. 2.  Belonging  to  the  ord.  Malvaceae,  or 
mallow  tribe. 

Malversation.  [Fr.,  from  L.  male,  ill,  ver- 
sari,  to  be  occupied.}  Ill  behaviour,  especially 


MAME 


310 


MAND 


in  reference  to  dishonesty,  corruption,  and  em- 
bezzlement. 

Mameliers.  [Fr.  mameliere,  from  mamelles, 
the  breasts.'}  Metal  plates  protecting  each  side 
of  the  chest ;  fourteenth  century. 

Mameluke.  [Ar.  memalik,  a  slave.]  The 
name  of  the  male  slaves  imported  from  Circassia 
into  Egypt.  In  the  thirteenth  century  they  were 
formed  into  an  armed  body  of  guards,  who 
dethroned  the  Sultan  Touran-Shah,  setting  up 
one  of  their  own  number  in  his  place.  They 
then  governed  Egypt  for  263  years.  They 
were  finally  destroyed  by  Mehemet  AH,  1811. 
(Janissaries.) 

Mamertine  Prison.  Two  horrible  dungeons 
were  so  called,  which  were  set  apart  for  State 
prisoners  in  ancient  Rome. 

Mammalia,  Mammals.  [L.  mamma,  breast."] 
(Zoo!.)  The  highest  class  of  vertebrates,  briefly 
characterized  by  suckling  their  young,  and  by 
having  hair  upon  the  whole  or  part  of  their  skin 
or  hide,  at  some  age  or  other.  In  the  classifi- 
cation of  them  we  have  followed  that  adopted 
by  Mr.  Wallace,  Geographical  Distribution  of 
Animals. 


A.              Man. 

Examples. 

B. 

/Ord.  I.  Primates. 

Monkeys  and  lemurs. 

Ord.  II.   Cheiro- 

Bats. 

ptera. 
Ord.  1  1  1.  Insectl- 

Moles,      hedgehogs, 

vora. 

and  shrews. 

Ord.IV.  Carnivora 

Pinnigrade. 

Seals. 

Plantigrade. 
Digitigrade. 

Bears. 
Otters,      cats,      and 

dogs. 

Monodelphia.  / 

Ord.V.  Cetacea. 
Ord.  VI.  Sirenia. 

Whales  and  dolphins. 
The      dugong      and 

manatee. 

Ord.  VII.  Ungu- 

Horses,swine,camels, 

lata. 

oxen. 

Ord.  VIII.    Pro- 

The  elephant. 

boscidea. 

Ord.  IX.    Hyra- 

The  hyrax. 

coidea. 

Ord.  X.    Roden- 

Mice,  beavers,  porcu- 

tia. 

pines,  hares. 

Ord.  XI.    Eden- 

Sloths,    armadilloes, 

tata. 

ant-eaters. 

DTdelpMa.           Ord.XII.  Marsu- 

Kangaroos. 

pialla. 

Ornlthodelphia.  Ord.  XIII.    Mo- 

Ornithorhyncus    and 

nutremata. 

echidna. 

Mammetry.  Any  false  religion,  idolatry; 
Mammet,  an  idol,  being  a  corr.  of  Mahomet, 
with  whose  religion  the  mediaeval  Church  was 
brought  most  closely  into  contact. 

Mammillated.  Having  projections  like  small 
nipples  [L.  mammillae]. 

Mammodis.  [Hind,  mahmudi,  praiseivorthy.] 
Coarse,  plain  Indian  muslins. 

Mammoth.  (Geol.)  Of  Siberia  and  N. 
Europe,  the  fossil  elephant  (Elephas  prlmige- 
mus),  larger  than  existing  elephants  and  covered 
with  dense,  shaggy  hair. 

Man,  Isle  of,  battery.  (Naut.}  The  battery 
of  three  guns  mounted  on  a  ship's  turret ;  from 
the  triplicity  of  the  arms  of  the  island. 

Manakin.  (Ornith.)  Earn,  of  birds,  mostly 
with  gay  plumage.  Trop.  S.  America.  Earn. 
Pipridse,  ord.  Passeres.  Some  unite  these  with 
the  Cotingidae,  Chatterers,  including  Rupicola 


[L.  rupes,  rock,  colo,  /  inhabit],  Cock  of  the 
rock. 

Man-at-arms.  (Mil.}  Designation — fourteenth 
to  sixteenth  century — of  heavy  cavalry  soldier 
fully  equipped  in  armour. 

Manatee,  Manatus.     (Manatidae.) 

Manatidae.  (Zoo!.)  Sea-cows;  two  gen.  form- 
ing ord.  Sirenia — Manatus,  the  manatee  of  the 
Atlantic,  and  HSlicore,  the  dugong  of  the  Indian 
Ocean ;  aquatic  herbivorous  mammals,  which 
may  have  given  rise  to  the  belief  in  sirens,  etc. 
The  dugong  is  distinguished  from  the  manatee 
by  its  forked  tail  and  by  its  size,  being  sometimes 
twenty- six  feet  long,  whereas  the  manatee  is 
only  nine  or  ten  feet  in  length.  Kytina,  a  third 
gen.  and  spec,  recently  inhabiting  theN.  Pacific, 
is  believed  to  be  extinct. 

Manbote.  In  O.E.  Law,  the  compensation  to 
be  paid  for  killing  a  man.  (Wergild.) 

Manche.  [Fr.]  1.  An  ancient  sleeve  with 
long  hangings.  2.  In  Geog.,  La  M.  is  the 
English  Channel. 

Manche.  Of  Mangalore,  Calicut,  etc.,  a  flat- 
bottomed  boat  for  landing  cargoes ;  its  planks 
sewed  together  with  coir-yarn. 

Manchester  school.  That  of  Mr.  Cobden,  Mr. 
Bright,  and  other  leaders  of  the  Anti-Corn-Law 
League.  In  1838  Mr.  Cobden  carried  in  Man- 
chester a  motion  to  petition  Parliament  for  the 
repeal  of  all  duties  on  corn  ;  the  abolition  of  the 
corn  laws  in  1846  was  in  great  part  due  to  Mr. 
Cobden's  lectures,  etc.,  as  Sir  R.  Peel  acknow- 
ledged. 

Manchineel  tree.  (Bot.)  Hippomane  man- 
canilla,  ord.  Euphorbiacese  of  W.  Indies  and 
Trop.  America  ;  one  of  the  most  poisonous  of  all 
vegetable  productions ;  a  drop  of  its  white  juice, 
used  for  arrows,  will  burn  the  skin.  A  large 
handsome  tree,  its  wood  valuable. 

Manciple.  [O.Fr.  mancipe,  with  /  inserted, 
as  in  participle  for  participe,  from  L.  manceps.j 
A  steward,  especially  in  colleges  in  the  univer- 
sities. 

Mandamus.  [L.,  ive  command.]  A  writ  from 
the  Court  of  Queen's  Bench,  directed  to  any  per- 
son or  corporation  within  the  Queen's  dominions, 
requiring  them  to  perform  certain  acts. 

Mandarin.  The  Portuguese  term  [from  L. 
mandare,  to  command]  for  the  official  order  of 
nobility  in  China. 

Mandarining.  Giving  an  orange  colour  to 
silk  or  woollen  goods  by  the  action  of  dilute 
nitric  acid. 

Mandat.     [Fr.]    A  post-offjce  order. 

Mandatary.  [L.  mandatarius,  from  mando,  / 
command]  One  to  whom  a  charge  is  given. 

Mandible.  [L.  mandibiila,  from  mando,  / 
chew.]  (Anat.)  A  jaw,  the  organ  of  mastication. 

Mandibulate.  [L.  mandibula,  a  jaw,  from 
mando,  /  chew.]  (Entom.)  Insects  provided 
with  mandibles  [bitittg  jaws]  to  their  last  stage 
as  beetles. 

Mandoline.  [It.  mandolina.]  An  Italian 
fretted  guitar,  like  an  almond  [mandola]  in 
shape,  of  which  there  are  several  varieties ; 
played  with  a  plectrum  in  the  right  hand,  the 
left  being  used  to  stop  the  strings. 


MAND 


MANS 


Mandrake.  [Gr.  pavSpayopas.]  Gen.  xxx.  15  ; 
Cant.  vii.  13  ;  probably  Mandragora  officmalis,  a 
peculiar  plant,  with  a  large  dark-coloured  fleshy 
root  divided  into  two  or  three  forks,  somewhat 
like  the  human  body ;  poisonous  (except  the 
orange-coloured,  pulpy  fruit)  and  narcotic,  so  that 
to  have  eaten  mandrake  was,  with  the  ancients, 
to  be  stupid.  It  was  said  to  shriek  when  torn  up, 
and  its  fruit  was  supposed  to  cure  barrenness. 

Mandrel,  Mandril.  [Fr.  mandrin  ;  origin  un- 
known.] The  spindle  which  carries  the  chuck 
of  a  lathe,  and  the  pulleys  by  which  the  turning 
motion  is  communicated  to  the  chuck. 

Mandrill.     (Baboon.) 

Mandubi.     (Arachis.) 

Manducation.  [L.  manducare,  to  chew.}  A 
term  applied  to  the  eating  of  the  element  of 
bread  in  the  Eucharist. 

Manege.  [Fr.,  It.  manegglo.]  1.  The  art  of 
training  and  managing  horses.  2.  Riding-school. 

Manes.  The  general  name  given  by  the 
Latins  to  the  spirits  of  the  dead.  The  word 
means  good  or  kind.  They  were  commonly 
identified  with  the  lares.  (Larvae ;  Lemures.) 

Mangabey.  (Zool.)  Gen.  of  monkeys,  White- 
eyelid  monkeys,  with  long  tails.  W.  Africa. 
Cercoc£bus,  fam.  Cercopithecidse. 

Manganese.  ( Min. )  A  metal,  greyish-white, 
brilliant,  heavy,  very  hard,  non-magnetic ;  not 
known  native,  on  account  of  its  powerful  affinity 
for  oxygen. 

Mange  in  horses,  dogs,  cattle,  and  Scab  in 
sheep.  Diseases  resulting  from  the  attacks  of 
minute  mites  or  acari ;  very  similar  to  itch  in  the 
human  subject  [Fr.  manger,  to  eat,  consume; 
so  Fr.  demanger,  to  itch]. 

Manger.  (Naut.)  The  front  part  of  the 
bows,  by  the  hawse-holes,  in  a  man-of-war,  sepa- 
rated from  the  rest  of  the  deck  by  a  high  comb- 
ing, called  the  manger-board,  so  that  water 
shipped  through  the  hawse-holes  may  not  come 
on  to  the  decks. 

Mange-tout.  [Fr.,  one  who  eats  all.}  A  spend- 
thrift. 

Mangle-wheel;  M.-rack.  Mechanical  con- 
trivances for  converting  a  continuous  circular 
motion  into  an  alternating  circular  or  rectilinear 
motion ;  they  are  used  in  mangles.  The  axis 
carrying  the  pinion  is  capable  of  a  small  motion, 
and,  under  the  guidance  of  a  groove,  works  alter- 
nately on  interior  and  exterior  teeth  in  the  case 
of  the  wheel,  and  above  and  below  a  set  of 
projecting  teeth  in  the  case  of  the  rack. 

Mango.  (Native  name,  Mangho.)  (Bot.) 
Fruit  of  Mangifera  Indica,  a  gen.  of  tropical 
Asiatic  trees,  included  among  the  Anacardiacese ; 
in  some  varieties,  highly  prized. 

Mangonel.  [It.  manganella.]  (Mil.}  An 
ancient  engine  of  war,  similar  to  the  Trebuchet. 

Mangostan,  Mangosteen.  [Malay  manggistan.  ] 
A  delicious  Eastern  fruit,  of  the  size  of  a  small 
apple  ;  that  of  Garcinia  mangostana. 

Mangrove.  [Probably  an  abbrev.  of  mangle 
grove,  the  Malay  name.]  A  tree  of  the  gen. 
Rhizophora,  inhabiting  tropical  shores,  and 
known  for  the  dense  groves  which  it  forms  even 
down  to  the  water  itself. 

21 


Manheim  gold.  Brass,  consisting  of  four  parts 
of  copper  to  one  of  zinc. 

Manibus  pedlbusque.  [L.,  with  hands  and 
feet.}  Tooth  and  nail. 

Manichaeans.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Manes,  who,  in  the  third  century,  tried  to  com- 
bine Christianity  with  Eastern  systems  of  philo- 
sophy. He  thus  adopted  the  system  of  Dualism 
j  (Ahriman),  and  set  forth  opinions  much  like 
those  of  the  Corinthians,  Cerdonians,  Carpocra- 
I  tians,  and  other  Gnostics. 

Manichseism.    (Manichaeans.) 

Manifest.     [L.   manlfestus,   open.}      In  com- 

j  mercial  navigation,  a  document  delivered  to  the 

officer   of  customs  by  the   captain   of  a  ship, 

I  giving  a  detailed  list  of  the  cargo  in  his  charge, 

with  the  names  of  the  places  where  the  goods 

were  shipped,  and  to  which  they  are  addressed. 

Manilla.  [Sp.,  from  L.  manus,  hand.}  1.  A 
bracelet  worn  by  Africans.  2.  A  'piece  of 
copper  shaped  like  a  horseshoe,  used  as  money 
in  W.  Africa. 

Manioc.     (Cassava.) 

Maniple.  [L.  mampiilus,  from  manus,  a  hand.} 
(Eccl.)  Originally  a  handkerchief,  now  only  a 
symbolical  ornament,  attached,  in  the  Latin 
Church,  to  the  left  arm  of  the  celebrant  at  Mass, 
and  perhaps  used  at  one  time  for  cleaning  the 
sacred  vessels. 

Maniples.    (Centuries;  Legion.) 

Manitou.  [Algonkin  manitu  or  manito,  a 
spirit,  a  ghost.}  A  spirit,  god,  or  devil  of  the 
American  Indians. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Manjesty.     (Munjeet.) 

Manliana  imperia.  [L.]  Manlian  orders  ;  so- 
called  from  Titus  Manlius,  who,  being  Dictator, 
is  said  to  have  ordered  his  son  to  be  scourged 
and  beheaded  for  fighting  contrary  to  his 
orders. 

Manna.  A  sweetish  secretion  of  several 
species  of  ash  in  S.  Europe  (supposed  to  resemble 
the  manna  of  Scripture). 

Mannite.  Crystallized  sugar  obtained  from 
manna. 

Manoeuvre.  [Fr.,  lit.  work  of  the  hand,  L.L. 
manuopera.]  (Mil.)  Movement,  either  tactical 
or  strategical,  so  disposed  as  by  superior  intelli- 
gence or  practice  to  surpass  the  combinations  of 
an  adversary. 

Man  of  Boss.  So  called  by  Pope,  Moral 
Essays.  J.  Kyrle,  who,  with  £,$<x>  a  year  only 
of  his  own,  and  money  given  by  others,  built 
churches  and  hospitals,  largely  assisted  the  poor, 
sick,  aged,  orphans  (died  at  Ross,  Hereford- 
shire, 1754,  aged  90). 

Manometer,  or  Manoscope.  [Gr.  juapcfc,  rare 
(in  consistency),  /ierpoi/,  a  measure,  ovcoWw,  / 
behold.}  (Chem.)  An  instrument  for  measuring 
the  elastic  force  of  gases  and  vapours  ;  in  most 
cases  either  by  observing  the  height  of  the 
column  of  mercury  which  the  force  can  support, 
or  the  degree  of  compression  which  it  produces 
in  a  given  quantity  of  air. 

Mansard  roof.  (Arch.)  So  called  from  its 
inventor,  a  French  architect,  who  died  in  1666. 
A  curb  roof  sufficiently  lofty  to  admit  of  an 
attic  being  lodged  in  it. 


MANS 


312 


MARG 


[L.L.   mansus,   a    dwelling,}      The 
Scotch  name  for  a  parsonage  house. 

Man  ship,  To.  (Naut.)  To  man  the  yards 
as  a  salute. 

Manslaughter.  In  Law,  the  killing  of  a  man 
without  malice,  express  or  implied. 

Mantelet.  [Fr.  mantelet,  short  cloak.]  (Mil.) 
Square  metal  shield  erected  on  a  wheeled  stand 
for  protecting  sappers  from  musketry  fire. 

Mantiger.  [Gr.  naprixdpas,  an  imaginary 
beast,  the  word  being  a  corr.  of  the  Pers.  mard- 
khora,  man-eater.}  (Zool.)  A  large  monkey 
or  baboon. 

Mantilla.  [Sp.]  A  kind  of  Spanish  veil 
covering  the  head  and  shoulders. 

Mantis.  [Gr.,  a  diviner;  also,  a  kind  of 
locust  or  grasshopper,  with  long  fore  legs  in  con- 
stant motion.}  (Entom.)  Gen.  of  orthopterous 
insects,  frequently  resembling  the  twigs  and 
leaves  on  which  they  live,  called  Praying  insects, 
from  the  way  in  which  they  hold  "their  great 
raptorial  front  legs." 

Mantissa.  [L.  mantisa,  mantissa,  an  addition, 
a  make-weight.]  The  decimal  part  of  a  logarithm. 

Mantle.  [L.L.  mantellum,  Fr.  manteau.] 
(Arch.)  The  piece  lying  horizontally  between 
the  jambs  of  the  chimney. 

Mantling.  The  drapery  or  mantle  hanging 
from  the  helmet  around  the  escutcheon. 

Mann.     (Menu,  Laws  of.) 

Manual.  Of  a  piano  or  organ,  the  key-board 
for  the  hands  [L.  manus],  distinguished  from 
pedals  [pedes,/^/]. 

Manual  exercise.  ( Mil.}  Established  musket 
drill  of  a  soldier,  exclusive  of  firing. 

Manubrium.  [L.,  a  handle.}  (Anat.)  The 
upper  bone  or  portion  of  the  sternum,  or  breast- 
bone. 

Manumission.  [L.  manumissio,  -nem.]  In 
Rom.  Law,  the  freeing  of  the  slave  by  the  master, 
who  took  his  hand  and  said,  "  I  will  that  this 
man  be  free  "  [Hunc  hominem  liberum  esse  volo], 

Manx.     Belonging  to  the  Isle  of  Man. 

Manzera.  (Naut.)  A  cattle-boat  of  the 
Adriatic. 

Maon.    (Mahone.) 

Map.    (Projection.) 

Maple  sugar.  Sugar  obtained  in  the  woods 
of  the  N.  United  States  and  Canada  by  evapo- 
rating the  juice  cf  some  spec,  of  Acer,  more 
especially  A.  saccharinum. 

Mapp  Fair.     (Mop.) 

Marabou.  (Native  name,  Senegal.)  (Ornith.) 
Gigantic  African  stork,  furnishing  plumes  so 
termed  from  under  side  of  tail.  Leptoptilos  [Gr. 
\eirr6s,  delicate,  irri\ov,  plumage]  marabou,  fam. 
Cicomidse  [L.  ciconia,  stork],  ord.  Grallse. 
Indian  spec.,  the  adjutant,  L.  argala. 

Marabout.    Mohammedan  devotee.    (Dervise.) 

Marabut.  (Naut.)  A  bad-weather  sail  in 
use  on  galleys. 

Maran-atha.  i  Cor.  xvi.  22 ;  an  Aramaic  ex- 
pression, the  Lord  cometh  ;  to  be  separated  by  a 
full  stop  from  "Anathema."  (Raca.) 

Maranta.    (Arrow-root.) 

Maraschino.  [It.  marasca,  a  sour  cherry.]  A 
delicate  liqueur  distilled  from  cherries. 


Marasmus.  [Gr.  juapoo>Js,  p.a.pa.lv<a,  I  make 
to  wither.]  (Med.)  Wasting  away  of  the  body, 
atrophy. 

Maravedi.  A  Spanish  coin,  called  after  the 
Marabites  (Almoravides),  an  Arabian  dynasty, 
which  ruled  in  Spain.  It  was  at  first  made  of 
gold,  but  is  now  of  copper.  It  is  the  thirty- 
fourth  part  of  a  real,  and  is  worth  about  a 
twelfth  of  a  penny, 

Marble.  (Geol.)  A  limestone  (popularly  any 
stone)  that  will  receive  a  fine  polish ;  usually 
metamorphic. 

Marc.  [L.L.  emarcus,  a  kind  of  vine.]  The 
refuse  of  pressed  grapes. 

Marcassin.    [Fr.]   (Her.)   A  young  wild  boar. 

Marceline.  [Fr.]  A  thin  silk  tissue  used  for 
lining  ladies'  dresses. 

Marcescent.  [L.  marcescentem,  decaying, 
ivithering.]  (Bot. )  Fading,  or  withering,  with- 
out falling  off. 

March  Decrees,  of  1880.  By  this  name  the 
decrees  abolishing  non-authorized  religious  com- 
munities in  France  are  becoming  known. 

Marches.  [A.S.  mearc,  mark,  boundary.}  1. 
The  borders  or  frontiers  of  any  district ;  espe- 
cially applied  to  the  boundaries  between  Eng- 
land and  Scotland  and  between  England  and 
Wales.  Marquis,  Markgraf,  and  other  similar 
titles  were  =  governors  of  M.  So  Earl  of 
March,  i.e.  of  the  Welsh  M.  ;  where,  in  the 
Middle  Ages,  considerable  authority  was  exer- 
cised by  Marchers,  petty  kings.  Hence  to  march 
with.  An  estate  marches  with  another  when 
they  have  a  common  boundary.  2.  The  eastern 
provinces  of  the  Papal  States  (q.v.),  from  Rimini 
to  the  Tronto,  about  1 10  miles  along  the  Adriatic. 

Marchpane.  [It.  marzapane.J  A  sweet  spiced 
bread. 

Marcid.  [L.  marcidus,  marceo,  /  wither.] 
Lean,  wasted  away. 

Marcionites.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Marcion,  who,  in  the  second  century,  adopted 
the  Oriental  notion  of  two  opposing  principles 
of  good  and  evil  (Ahriman),  and  imagined  that 
between  these  existed  a  third  power,  neither 
wholly  good  nor  wholly  evil,  who  was  the 
creator  of  the  world  and  the  author  of  the  Jewish 
dispensation.  (Gnostics.) 

Marcle.  [O.Fr.]  (Her.)  A  lozenge  voided. 
(Lozenge;  Voided.) 

Marcosians.  A  Gnostic  sect  who  are  said  to 
have  derived  their  name  from  an  Egyptian 
magician  named  Marcus. 

Mare  clausum.  [L.]  A  sea  closed  to  naviga- 
tion, from  whatever  cause. 

Maremma  [It.],  corr.  of  Maritima.  A 
name  given  to  a  vast  extent  of  malarious  low- 
lands on  the  W.  coast  of  Italy  ;  especially  ap- 
plied to  those  of  Tuscany  and  the  Papal  States 
(q.v.). 

Mare's-tail  (from  its  shape).  A  long  streaky 
cloud  indicating  rain. 

Marforio.     (Pasquinade.) 

Margent,  like  Marge.,  is  a  variant  of  margin, 
a  border  or  edge  [L.  margmem]. 

Marginalia.  [L.]  Notes  on  the  margin,  and 
elsewhere  on  the  page,  made  in  reading  a  book. 


MARG 


313 


MARS 


Margrave.     (Marches.) 

Margravine.     The  wife  of  a  Margrave. 

Marie  Antoinette.     (Diamond  necklace.) 

Marigold  window.     (Rose  window.) 

Marigraph.      [L.    mare,   sea,    Gr. 
write,  or  draw.'}     A  machine  for  registering  the 
height  of  tides. 

Marine  acid  (because  obtained  from  salt ;  L. 
marinus,  sea-}.  (Chem.)  Hydrochloric  acid. 

Marine  engine.     (Steam-engine.) 

Marine  glue.     A  mixture  of  tar  and  shellac. 

Marines.  [L.  marinus,  belonging  to  the  sea.  ] 
In  the  English  army,  a  body  of  men  enlisted  to 
serve  as  soldiers,  if  needed,  on  board  ship.  First 
raised  in  1664.  It  consists  of  four  divisions  of 
light  infantry,  and  one  of  artillery. 

Marish.  Ezek.  xlvii.  II  ;  the  same  word  as 
marsh  [Fr.  marais,  L.L.  mariscus]. 

Maritime  law.  (Oleron,  Laws  of;  Wisby, 
Ordinances  of;  Amalnan  Code.) 

Mark,  or  Marc.  1.  [A.S.  marc.]  A  sum  of 
i$s.  4^.  2.  In  the  new  German  coinage,  which 
is  legal  throughout  the  empire,  a  mark  is  a  third 
of  a  thaler ;  the  twenty-mark  gold  coin  is  worth 
about  19^.  "jd.  3.  A  weight,  which  in  Prussia 
is  3609  grains  troy;  it  is  half  a  Cologne  or 
Prussian  pound,  and  a  little  more  than  an  Eng- 
lish half-pound  avoirdupois.  4.  The  territory 
of  a  primitive  Teutonic  community,  ruled  by  a 
king,  ealdorman,  or  some  other  elective  or  here- 
ditary leader.  Such  are  Denmark,  Finmark,  etc. 
(Marches.) 

Mark,  St.,  Order  of.  A  Venetian  order  of 
knighthood,  called  after  St.  Mark,  the  patron  of 
the  republic. 

Marks  and  deeps.  (JVauf.)  Marks  are  the 
fathoms  marked  on  the  hand  lead-line,  and  are 
placed  at  two,  three,  five,  seven,  ten,  thirteen, 
fifteen,  seventeen,  and  twenty  fathoms  ;  Deeps, 
the  fathoms  between  the  marks.  In  sounding 
nine  fathoms,  the  leadsman  calls,  "  Deep  nine," 
but  at  a  marked  fathom,  as  ten,  he  calls,  "  Mark 
ten." 

Marl.  [Marga,  Gael,  and  Latinized  by  Pliny ; 
whence  L.  margula,  O.Fr.  marie.]  (Geol.)  A 
mixture  of  lime  and  clay  in  various  proportions  ; 
in  clay-marl,  clay  predominates  ;  in  marl-clay, 
lime.  Shell-marl  contains  fresh-water  shells. 

Marl,  To.  (ATaut.)  To  serve  a  rope  with  twine, 
etc.,  securing  each  turn  with  a  peculiar  knot,  so 
that,  some  turns  being  cut,  the  others  hold. 

Marline.  (Naut.)  A  small  loosely  twisted 
two-stranded  line  or  string.  M.-holes,  holes 
made  in  sails  for  marling  the  bolt-rope  to  the 
sail,  instead  of  serving  it.  M.  -spike,  an  iron 
pin  tapering  to  a  point,  and  used  for  knotting, 
splicing,  etc.  M.-spike  hitch,  the  knot  used  in 
marling,  with  the  aid  of  a  M.-spike. 

Marmala.  [Port,  marmelo,  a  quince.]  A 
scent  distilled  from  the  Bengal  quince. 

Marmoratum.  [L.]  (Arch.)  A  cement  com- 
posed of  powdered  lime  and  marble. 

Marmot.  [Fr.  marmotte,  originally  mar  mon- 
tain,  L.  murem  montanum,  mountain  rat.]  (Arc- 
tomys.) 

Maronites.  (Eccl.  Hist.']  The  followers  of 
Maron,  an  adherent  of  the  Monothelites.  They 


inhabit  the  mountains  of  LibSnus  and  Antili- 
banus,  in  Syria,  and  formed  a  separate  sect  from 
the  seventh  to  the  twelfth  century,  when  they 
were  reconciled  to  the  see  of  Rome. 

Maroon.  1.  [Fr.  marron,  a  chestnut]  Brown- 
ish crimson.  2.  (JVauf.)  To  put  on  shore  a 
sailor  or  passenger  on  a  desert  island,  and  there 
leave  him.  Alexander  Selkirk  was  marooned 
on  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez,  1704-1708. 

Maroons.  [Probably  a  corr.  of  Sp.  cimarron, 
wild,  savage  (Littre).]  Runaway  negroes,  such 
as  those  who,  when  Jamaica  was  conquered  by 
the  Spaniards,  abandoned  by  their  masters, 
occupied  some  of  the  mountainous  parts.  The 
Maroon  wars  in  Jamaica  occurred  in  1730  and 
1795- 

Marque,  Letters  of,  and  reprisal,  which,  ac- 
cording to  Blackstone,  are  synonymous — "the 
latter  a  taking  in  return  [Fr.  reprise,  from  v. 
reprendre],  the  former  the  passing  the  frontiers 
\cf.  Eng.  the  marches ;  and  the  words  Marquis, 
Margrave],  in  order  to  such  taking  ;  may  be 
obtained  in  order  to  seize  the  bodies  or  goods 
of  the  subjects  of  the  offending  state,  until  satis- 
faction be  made,  wherever  they  happen  to  be 
found."  (Letters  of  marque.) 

Marquee.  [(?)  Distinguished,  part,  of  Fr. 
marquer.]  Large  State  tent,  generally  decorated 
with  flags. 

Marqueterie.  [Fr.  marqueter,  to  checker,  a 
frequentative  of  marquer.]  Marquetry ;  inlaid 
work,  of  differently  coloured  pieces  of  wood, 
ivory,  shell,  etc. 

Marquetry.     (Marqueterie.) 

Marquis,  Marquess.     (Marches.) 

Marrow  Controversy.  Arose  out  of  the  Mar- 
row of  Modern  Divinity,  the  work  of  a  Puritan 
soldier,  temp.  Commonwealth  ;  a  highly  "evan- 
gelical "  work,  condemned  by  the  Assembly, 
1 720 — at  that  time  a  very  worldly  body — but  not 
by  the  judgment  of  the  people.  Substantially 
the  same  controversy  which  led  to  the  expul- 
sion of  the  Rev.  Eben.  Erskine,  1733  (who  had 
denounced  recent  Church  legislation),  and  to  the 
forming  of  the  Secession  Church  ;  and  to  that  of 
the  Relief  Church  also,  1758,  which  asserted  the 
right  to  elect  its  own  minister.  By  the  amalga- 
mation of  S.  and  R.  Churches  was  formed  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church,  1847. 

Marry.  Indeed,  truly.  Said  to  be  from  the 
Virgin  Mary,  owing  to  the  constant  invocation 
of  her  name. 

Mars.  1.  The  Latin  god  of  war.  The  word 
means  the  crusher  or  pounder,  and  the  root  is 
found  in  the  names  of  the  Greek  Ares,  the 
Indian  Maruts,  or  storm-winds,  the  Greek  Alo- 
adae  and  Molionids,  and  of  Thor  Miolnir.  2. 
(Astron.)  (Planet.) 

Marseillaise  (played,  when  but  little  known, 
by  a  body  of  troops  entering  Paris  from  Mar- 
seilles}. A  hymn  which  has  played  an  important 
part  in  French  and  other  revolutions ;  words 
and  music  (almost  certainly)  by  Rouget  de  Lisle, 
a  French  officer  quartered  in  Strasburg  in  1792. 

Marshal.  [Ger.  marschall,  from  O.H.G. 
mara,  horse,  and  scalh,  servant,  *L.L.  mare- 
scalcus.]  A  title  denoting  many  high  offices  in 


MARS 


MAST 


European  countries.  The  office  of  Marshal  of 
England,  which  seems  to  have  been  instituted 
by  William  the  Conqueror,  is  now  hereditary  in 
the  dukes  of  Norfolk. 

Marshalling.  [Eng.  marshal.]  Arranging 
according  to  the  rules  of  heraldry,  (i)  persons  in 
a  procession,  (2)  coats  of  arms  of  distinct  fami- 
lies in  one  escutcheon. 

Marshalsea.  [L.  sedem,  seat.]  In  Law,  the 
see  or  court  of  a  marshal.  The  King's  Bench 
Prison  in  Southwark  was  so  called. 

Harsh  poison,  or  Marsh  miasma.     (Miasma.) 

Marsupialia,  Marsupials.  [L.  marsupmm, 
Gr.  pdpffliros,  -lov,  pouch.}  (Zool.)  An  ord.  of 
mammals,  with  an  external  abdominal  pouch,  in 
which  the  young  are  nurtured  after  an  exception- 
ally short  period  of  gestation  ;  e.g.  the  kangaroo. 
The  opossums  of  N.  America  are  the  only  gen. 
found  out  of  Australia  and  adjacent  islands, 
where  few  mammals  of  other  orders  are  indi- 
genous. 

Martagon.  [Fr.  and  Sp.,  It.  martagone.] 
(Bot.)  A  kind  of  lily. 

Martel  de  fer.  [Fr.]  Iron  hammer,  carried 
at  the  saddle-bow,  perhaps  replacing  the  battle- 
axe  ;  sixteenth  century. 

Martello  towers.  [So  named  probably  from 
It.  martello,  a  hammer.']  1.  Towers  built  on 
some  of  the  Mediterranean  coasts  and  elsewhere, 
as  a  defence  against  pirates.  2.  Towers  which 
have  on  their  summit  a  gun  fixed  on  a  traversing 
platform. 

Martial  law.  A  phrase  used  to  denote  arbi- 
trary and  absolute  power,  exercised  by  a  military 
officer  over  the  lives,  persons,  and  property  of 
individuals,  in  cases  of  great  emergency. 

Martinet.  Severe  military  disciplinarians  are 
so  named,  it  is  said,  from  Colonel  Martinet, 
who,  in  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  invented  a  whip 
for  the  scourging  of  soldiers. 

Martingale.  [Fr.  ;  said  to  be  from  Martignes, 
in  Provence.]  1.  A  strap  fastened  to  a  horse's 
girth,  passing  between  his  fore  legs,  and  ending 
in  two  rings  through  which  the  reins  pass.  2. 
(Naut.)  A  rope  extending  from  the  jibboom 
end  to  the  dolphin-striker,  to  keep  the  jibboom 
down. 

Martin  Marprelate.  The  fictitious  author  of 
a  series  of  tracts,  denouncing  episcopal  govern- 
ment (1588). 

Martinmas.  The  festival  of  St.  Martin,  Bishop  ' 
of  Tours  ;  November  1 1  ;  third  of  the  four  cross- 
quarter  days. 

Martinmas  summer.  The  short  period  of  calm, 
warm  weather  often  experienced  about  the  time 
of  St.  Martin's  festival. 

Martinus  Scriblerus,  Memoirs  of.  Intended 
satirical  treatises  on  all  the  abuses  of  human 
learning,  by  Pope,  Swift,  and  Arbuthnot :  the 
project  was  only  partly  carried  out. 

Martlet.  [Fr.  martinet.]  (Her.)  A  marten 
without  legs,  borne  (i)  as  a  charge,  (2)  as  a  dif- 
ference in  the  fourth  son's  escutcheon. 

Martnets.  [Fr.  martinet.]  (Naut.)  The 
leech-lines  of  a  sail,  said  to  be  topped,  when  the 
leech  is  hauled  up  close  to  its  yard. 

Jttartyrology.     [Gr.  pdprvs,  a  witness,  \6yos, 


discourse.']  Properly,  any  record  relating  to  the 
acts  and  deaths  of  martyrs.  The  Martyrology  of 
Eusebius  has  been  lost.  Fox's  Book  of  Martyrs 
relates  the  sufferings  of  the  English  reformers. 
Gallonius's  De  Sanctorum  Martyrum  Crttcidtibus 
is  a  popular  book  on  the  Continent. 

Marum,  or  Marrum.     (Ammophila.) 

Maruts.     (Mars.) 

Marver  (corr.  from  Marble).  A  hollowed 
plate,  for  shaping  glasswork  when  blown. 

Marzolet.  (Naut.)  An  Indian  boat,  built  of 
bark,  and  caulked  with  moss. 

Maschil.  A  title  of  Ps.  xxxii.  and  twelve 
other  psalms ;  meaning  uncertain,  probably 
instruction.  So  LXX.  ffweoews,  and  Jerome 
erudttio. 

Mash.  [Ger.  maischen,  to  mash.]  A  mixture 
of  ground  malt  and  warm  water  for  brewing. 

Mashallah !    [  Ar.  ]     God  be  praised  I 

Mask.  [Fr.  masque,  L.L.  mascha,  a  witch.] 
1.  Masquerade,  mummery.  2.  Dramatic  per- 
formance by  masked  actors,  as  Comus. 

Masked  battery.  (Mil.)  One  concealed  by 
woods  or  otherwise,  of  which  the  existence  is 
only  disclosed  on  its  opening  fire. 

Masked  troops.  ( Mil. )  Having  their  powers 
of  offence  neutralized  by  being  watched  and 
checked  by  a  superior  force. 

Maslach.  A  preparation  of  opium  used  by 
Turks. 

Maslin.    (Meslin.) 

Masorah.     (Cabala.) 

Mass.  [L.L.  missa.]  The  Eucharistic  Office 
in  the  Latin  Church  ;  so  named,  it  is  said,  from 
the  words  of  dismissal,  ' '  Ite  missa  est ; "  but 
this  is  doubtful. 

Mass.  In  Physics,  the  quantity  of  matter  in 
a  given  body ;  it  is  proportional  to  the  weight. 
If  two  bodies  exactly  counterpoise  each  other  in 
a  perfectly  just  balance,  they  have  equal  masses. 

Masseter.  [Gr.  /uao'o'rj'Hjp,  /u.aao'do/j.ai,  I  chew.] 
(Anat.)  The  muscle  which  raises  the  lower  jaw. 

Massicot.  [Fr.,  from  masse,  a  mass,  because 
obtained  in  small  masses.]  (Chem.)  Yellow 
oxide  of  lead,  obtained  by  heating  lead  in  a 
current  of  air.  When  fused  and  allowed  to 
crystallize,  it  forms  litharge  (q.v. ). 

Mast.  [A.S.  mast.]  (Naut.)  If  made  of  a 
single  spar,  is  called  a  Pole-M.  ;  if  of  more 
than  one,  a  Built- M.,  or  Made-M.  The  lower 
masts  are  as  follows  : — The  Fore-M.  is  the  most 
forward,  and  is  next  in  size  to  the  Main-M., 
which  is  abaft  the  F.-M.  If  there  is  a  third 
lower  M.,  it  is  placed  abaft  the  Main-M.,  and  is 
called  the  Mizzen-M.  Top-masts  are  those  im- 
mediately above  the  fore,  main,  or  mizzen 
respectively.  Top-gallant  M.  are  those  above 
7op-M.,  and  Royal  M.  are  those  above  Top- 
gallant M.  Top-gallant  and  Royal  M.  are 
often  only  one.  All  upper  masts  are  named  after 
their  respective  lower  M.  ;  as,  Main-top  M.,  the 
one  above  the  Main-M.  M.-carlings  are  the 
large  ones  on  each  side  of  a  lower  M.  M.-coat, 
a  piece  of  canvas  fastened  round  a  M.  to  pre- 
vent water  from  soaking  in  between  it  and  the 
decks. 

Master.  [A.S.  master,  magester,  L.  magister.] 


MAST 


315 


MAUD 


(Naut.)  Of  a  merchantman,  the  captain;  of 
a  man-of-war,  an  officer  ranking  with  and  after 
lieutenants  according  to  date,  but  junior  in  com- 
mand to  all  lieutenants.  It  is  his  duty  to  navi- 
gate the  vessel  under  the  captain,  but  he  reports 
to  the  first  lieutenant,  who  gives  the  necessary 
orders.  He  is  also  charged  with  stowing  stores, 
etc.  M.  and  commander,  former  designation  of 
a  commander.  (Bank.) 

Master-gunner.  (Mil.)  Non-commissioned 
officer  of  the  highest  grade  in  the  artillery,  and 
corresponding  with  a  warrant  officer  in  the  navy. 
He  generally  has  separate  charge  of  the  guns 
and  ammunition  in  a  detached  fort. 

Master  of  Arts.  [L.  magister.]  In  the  uni- 
versities, the  highest  degree  in  the  faculty  of 
Arts  ;  the  most  ancient  of  all  academical  titles. 

Master  of  the  Faculties,  Mdgister  ad  Fdcul- 
fates.  The  archbishop's  officer  in  the  Faculty 
Court  (q.v.). 

Master  of  the  Horse.  1.  In  Rom.  Hist.,  an 
officer,  styled  in  L.  Magister  Equttum,  elected  by 
the  Dictator  to  serve  under  him  during  his  dic- 
tatorship. 2.  Nobleman  in  the  sovereign's 
household  in  charge  of  the  equerries  and  horses. 

Master  of  the  Sentences,  Magister  Senten- 
tiarum.  Peter  Lombard,  Bishop  of  Paris,  one 
of  the  founders  of  scholastic  divinity,  author  of 
Liber  Sententiarum,  i.e.  sentences  and  extracts 
from  the  Fathers,  illustrating  doctrines  (died 
1164). 

Masters.  (Leg.)  Subordinate  officers  of  the 
superior  courts  of  law  and  equity  in  England. 
The  office  of  Master  in  Chancery  was  abolished 
in  1853. 

Masters,  Little.  Certain  German  engravers 
of  the  sixteenth  century  (from  the  extreme 
smallness  of  their  prints). 

Mastersingers.  A  class  of  German  poets  in 
the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries,  chiefly  at 
Nurnberg,  formed  into  regular  corporations. 
Hans  Sachs  belongs  to  this  society. 

Master  Thief.  (Hermes;  Rhampsinitos,  The 
Treasures  of;  Treasure.) 

Mastic.  [Gr.  nao-rixil,  from  jucwrr/xefo,  / 
chew,  because  formerly  chewed  in  the  East.] 
1.  A  yellow  resin  obtained  from  a  Levantine 
tree,  and  used  for  artists'  varnish.  2.  A  cement 
used  for  plastering  walls. 

Mastick  (History  of  Susannah,  ver.  54),  or 
Lentisk  (Pistacia  lentiscus).  (Sot.)  Evergreen 
bush,  yielding  a  fragrant  gum ;  in  Palestine  and 
other  Mediterranean  countries. 

Mastodon.  [Gr.  p.affr6s,  a  teat,  oSoik,  tooth.] 
( Geol. )  An  extinct  gen.  of  gigantic  proboscidian 
pachyderms,  with  large  conical  mammiform 
points  to  the  molars,  before  they  are  worn  down ; 
mostly  in  Tertiary  fresh-water  deposits. 

Mastoid.  [Gr.  jwaoroy,  the  breast,  e?5os,  appear- 
ance^ 1.  Like  a  nipple.  2.  Like  the  structure 
of  the  breast. 

Mast-rope.  (Naut.)  That  by  which  an 
upper  mast  is  hoisted  or  lowered. 

Masulah,  or  Massolah,  boats.  Madras  boats, 
from  thirty  to  thirty-five  feet  long,  by  ten  to  eleven 
feet  wide,  propelled  by  twelve  oars,  double 
banked,  and  steered  by  a  man  in  the  stern  with 


a  long  oar ;  built  of  planks  sewed  together  with 
coir-yarn. 

Matador.  [Sp.,  a  slayer,  probably  from  L. 
mactator,  from  mactare,  to  sacrifice.]  The  man 
who  gives  the  death-blow  to  the  bulls  wounded 
in  the  Spanish  bull-fights. 

Matamoros.  A  slayer  of  Moors,  as  the 
Sp.  matador  is  the  slayer  of  the  bulls  [L.  mac- 
tator tauri]  in  the  arena ;  hence  a  swaggerer 
or  braggadocio,  like  Captain  Bobadil  in  Ben 
Jonson's  play,  Every  Man  in  His  Humour. 

Matchlock.  (Mil.)  The  first  kind  of  musket ; 
the  priming  being  ignited  by  a  match  attached 
to  an  iron  finger,  and  brought  down  to  the  touch- 
hole  by  the  thumb  of  the  right  hand. 

Mate.  [A  Teut.  and  Scand.  word.]  (Naut.) 
The  officers  of  a  merchant-vessel  below  the 
captain,  viz.  first  or  chief  M.,  second,  third,  and 
fourth  M. 

Mute.  (Native  name.)  Paraguay  tea;  the 
dried  leaf  of  the  Brazilian  holly. 

Matelote.  [Fr.  matelot,  a  sailor.]  A  dish 
composed  of  many  kinds  of  fish. 

Mater  artium  necessitas.  [L.]  Necessity  the 
mother  of  arts,  or  inventions. 

Materfamilias.  [L.]  The  mother,  or  mistress, 
of  a  family. 

Materia  medica.  [L.]  (Med.)  The  science  of 
the  materials  used  in  alleviation  or  cure  of  disease. 

Materlem  superabat  opus.  [L.]  The  work 
was  better  than  the  material. 

Mathematlci.    (Genethliacs.) 

Mathematics  [Gr.  naQ-nnan^s,  relating  to  T& 
iua07//iaTa,  the  sciences] ;  Pure  M. ;  Mixed  M. 
The  general  term  used  to  denote  a  body  of 
sciences  treating  of  (i)  number;  (2)  position, 
size,  form ;  (3)  motion ;  (4)  force  ;  i.e.  arith- 
metic, geometry,  kinematics,  and  dynamics  (or 
mechanics).  It  is  usual  to  apply  the  term  Pure 
M.  to  arithmetic  and  geometry,  with  all  their 
developments,  and  the  term  Mixed  M.  to 
kinematics  and  dynamics,  and  the  various 
branches  of  physical  science  to  which  they  are 
applicable,  as  astronomy,  optics,  sound,  heat, 
electricity,  etc. 

Matins.    (Canonical  hours.) 

Matrass.  [Fr.  matras.]  An  egg-shaped  vessel, 
with  a  tapering  neck,  used  by  the  old  chemists. 

Matriculation.  [L.  matricula,  a  roll  or 
register.]  Denotes  especially  the  enrolment  of  a 
name  on  a  member's  entrance  into  a  university. 

Matrix.  [L.,  womb.]  1.  The  original 
die  used  for  a  coin  or  medal  which  has  to  be 
represented  in  relief.  2.  The  substance  in 
which  metals  or  gems  are  found  embedded.  3. 
One  of  the  five  simple  colours  in  dyeing — black, 
white,  blue,  red,  and  yellow. 

Matt.  [Ger.,  dull.]  (Chem.)  Crude  black 
copper,  reduced  but  not  purified  from  sulphur, 
etc. 

Mattamore.     (Matamoros.) 

Matter,  Dead.  In  Printing,  type  which  has 
been  used  in  printing,  and  is  ready  for  distri- 
bution. Live  matter  is  type  which  has  been  set 
up,  but  not  yet  printed  from. 

Matthews'  Bible.     (Bible,  English.) 

Maud.     A  shawl  wrap,  made  of  undyed  wool. 


MAUG 


MECH 


Maugre.  In  spite  of,  notwithstanding  [the 
Fr.  malgre,  from  mal,  bad,  gre,  will,  L. 
gratum]. 

Maul,  or  Mall.  [L.  malleus.]  (Naut.}  An 
iron  hammer,  having  one  end  pointed.  Top-M. 
has  an  iron  handle  with  an  eye,  by  which  it  is 
fastened  to  the  masthead. 

Maund.  [Hind.  man.  ]  An  E. -Indian  weight. 
The  Madras  M.  is  25,  and  the  Bombay  M. 
28  pounds  avoirdupois ;  in  Bengal,  the  Factory 
M.  is  74§,  and  the  Bazaar  M.  82T25  pounds  avoir- 
dupois. 

Maundies.  The  Queen's  purses  of  money, 
with  other  gifts,  given  every  Maundy  Thursday 
to  poor  recipients,  equal  in  number  to  the  years 
of  life  to  which  she  has  attained. 

Maundril.  [Fr.  mandrin.]  A  coal-miner's 
pick,  with  two  points. 

Maundy  money.  Coins  of  fourpence,  three- 
pence, twopence,  and  one  penny  in  silver ; 
coined  for  the  purpose  of  being  given  away  by 
the  sovereign  on  Maundy  Thursday. 

Maundy  Thursday.  Thursday  before  Easter ; 
Dies  mandati,  the  day  of  the  command,  i.e.  to 
"love  one  another"  (John  xiii.  34);  or  from 
maunds  [Fr.  mande],  baskets  of  gifts,  anciently 
presented  by  Christians  to  one  another. 

Maunjee.  [Hind.]  A  native  boatman  of  the 
Hooghly. 

Maur,  St.,  Congregation  of.  (Hist. )  A  learned 
body  of  the  Benedictine  order  ;  so  called  from  a 
village  near  Paris,  where  they  were  established, 
1618.  It  numbered  at  one  time  more  than  a 
hundred  houses. 

Mausoleum.  [L.]  1.  A  tomb  built  (circ. 
B.C.  353)  in  memory  of  Mausolus,  King  of 
Caria,  and  reckoned  among  the  seven  wonders 
of  the  world.  2.  Any  splendid  sepulchre. 

Mauvaise  honte.  [Fr.]  Bashfulness,  shame- 
facedness,  awkward  shyness. 

Mauvaise  plaisanterie.  [Fr.]  A  sorry  joke, 
a  scurvy  jest. 

Mauvais  pas.  [Fr.,  a  bad  step.}  A  difficulty, 
a  scrape. 

Mauvais  quart  d'heure.  [Fr.,  a  bad  qtiarter 
of  an  hour.]  A  moment  of  great  distress. 

Mauvais  sujet.  [¥*.,  a  bad  subject.}  A  worth- 
less fellow,  a  scoundrel. 

Mauvais  ton.  [Fr.,  a  bad  tone.}  Want  of 
good  breeding,  ill  manners. 

Mauve.  [Fr. ,  mallow.}  A  pale  lilac  colour, 
obtained  from  aniline. 

Mavis.  '  [Fr.  mauvis,  id.,  L.L.  malvitius, 
possibly  as  doing  harm,  malum,  to  the  vine, 
vltis  (Littre).]  (Ornith.)  Song-thrush,  Turdus 
musicus,  fam.  Turdidse,  ord.  Passgres. 

Maw.  [A.S.  maga,  Ger.  magen.]  (Ornith.) 
Stomach,  the  craw  of  birds. 

Mawmetry.    (Mammetry.) 

Maw-seed.  The  seed  of  the  opium  poppy 
(Papaver  sommferum),  given  to  birds  as  medicine. 

Mawworm.    (Tartuft'e.) 

Maxilla.     [L.]    Jaw,  jawbone. 

Maxim.  [L.  maximus,  greatest.}  In  ancient 
Music,  a  note  =  two  long  notes  or  four  breves. 
(Breve.) 

Maxima  debetur  puero  reverentia.    [L.]    A 


child  should  be  treated  with  the  greatest  reverence 
(Juvenal).. 

Maximum.  \L.,  greatest}  When  a  variable 
magnitude  increases  up  to  a  certain  value  and 
then  decreases,  that  value  is  a  maximum.  A 
M.  is  not  necessarily  the  greatest  value  of  the 
variable.  (Minimum.) 

May.     (Maia.) 

Mayflower.    (Pilgrim  Fathers.) 

Mayor.  [L.  major,  greater.}  The  chief  muni- 
cipal officer  of  a  borough,  after  the  Norman 
Conquest,  answering  to  the  older  Portreeve  or 
borough  reeve.  In  France,  the  title  is  now 
given  to  the  first  municipal  officer  of  each 
commune. 

Mayorazo.  [Sp.,  from  L.  magistrate.]  In 
Spain,  the  inheritance  of  property  on  condition 
of  its  being  transmitted  unimpaired  to  the  next 
heirs.  In  Germany,  this  kind  of  entail  is  known 
as  Majorat. 

Mayor  of  the  palace.     (Major-domo.) 

Mayor  of  the  staple.     (Staples.) 

Mazarine.  (From  Cardinal  Mazarin.)  A  deep 
blue  colour. 

Maze.     In  the  herring  trade,  =  500  herrings. 

Mazurka.  A  Polish  dance,  lively,  in  f  or  f 
time. 

Mazzinians.  The  extreme  party  of  progress 
in  Italy;  so  called  from  Joseph  Mazzini  (1805- 
1872),  who  founded  the  societies  of  Young  Italy 
and  Young  Europe. 

Mead.  [O.E.  medu.]  A  fermented  drink 
made  of  water  and  honey. 

Meadow-sweet.    (Spiraea.) 

Meaking-iron.  (Naut. )  The  tool  with  which 
old  caulking  is  taken  out  of  the  seams. 

Mealie.     In  S.  Africa,  Indian  corn. 

Meal  of  milk.  [A.S.  mail,  a  fixed  portion ; 
cf.  Ger.  mal,  a  time.}  That  given  at  a  single 
milking. 

Meal-Tub  Plot.  A  pretended  plot,  in  con- 
nexion with  the  Popish  Plot  of  Titus  Gates  ;  so 
called  from  the  alleged  discovery  by  Dangerfield 
of  the  papers  relating  to  it  in  a  meal-tub  (1679). 

Mean,  or  Average,  duration  of  life.  The 
average  of  the  number  of  years  lived  by  a  large 
number  of  persons  after  they  have  reached  a 
certain  age  ;  thus,  according  to  the  Carlisle 
Table,  of  people  twenty  years  old  the  mean  dura- 
tion of  life  is  41  "5  years  more. 

Meander.  To  wind  along ;  from  the  rounding 
course  of  the  river  of  this  name  in  Asia  Minor. 

Mean  value ;  M.  term ;  M.  time.  The  Mean 
value  of  two  or  more  numerical  quantities  is 
their  sum  divided  by  their  number  ;  called  also 
the  Arithmetical  M.  (For  Mean  or  M.  term, 
vide  Proportion ;  for  M.  time,  vide  Time.) 

Mease.  [A  word  containing  the  root  of 
measure.}  The  number  of  500;  as  a  mease  of 
mackerel  =  500  mackerel. 

Meatus.  [L.]  (Anat.)  An  opening  or  pas- 
sage ;  e.g.  M.  audltorius,  the  auditory  canal. 

Mea  virtute  me  involve.  [L.]  /  wrap  my- 
self in  my  virtue  (Horace). 

Mechanical  philosophy;  M.  powers.  The 
Mechanical  powers  are  the  simple  machines — 
lever,  wheel  and  axle,  pulley,  inclined  plane, 


MECH 


317 


MEGA 


screw,  and  wedge  ;  by  which  a  man  is  enabled 
to  overcome  a  resistance  greater  than  the  force 
exerted  by  himself.  They  are,  of  course,  some- 
times otherwise  applied.  M.  philosophy  is  a 
doctrine  which  explains  the  phenomena  of 
nature  by  the  mutual  action  of  bodies  on  each 
other  ;  the  term  "body  "including  minute  bodies, 
i.e.  corpuscles  or  molecules. 

Mechanics;  Applied  M.;  Celestial  M.  Pro- 
perly the  science  of  machines  ;  but  as  commonly 
used  it  means  the  science  of  the  motion  and  rest 
of  bodies  as  produced  by  forces,  and  includes 
the  four  divisions  of  statics,  hydrostatics,  dyna- 
mics, and  hydrodynamics.  This  nomenclature 
is  not  universally  accepted  (vide  Dynamics). 
Applied  M.  treats  of  the  application  of  the 
general  doctrine  of  M.  to  works  of  human  art. 
Celestial  M.  treats  of  the  application  of  the 
general  doctrine  of  M.  to  the  motion  of  the 
heavenly  bodies  under  the  force  of  gravity  :  it 
is  the  name  given  to  physical  astronomy  by 
Laplace. 

Mechanism.  The  branch  of  kinematics  which 
treats  of  the  forms  of  machines  considered  as 
modifiers  of  motion. 

Mechanists.  [Gr.  wxavf),  machine.'}  Philo- 
sophers who  refer  all  changes  in  the  universe  to 
merely  mechanical  forces  ;  as  opposed  to  the 
Dynamical  philosophers,  who  assert  a  living 
power  in  nature  antecedent  to  all  phenomena. 

Mechlin  lace  (from  Mechlin,  in  Belgium). 
Lace  with  hexagon  mesh  of  three  threads,  in 
which  the  pattern  is  worked. 

Mecdnlum.  [L.]  1.  Inspissated  juice  of  the 
poppy.  2.  First  faeces  of  infants.  [Gr. 


from  \jd\Kt»v,  a  poppy,  has  both  meanings.] 

Medea.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  the  daughter  of  the 
King  of  Colchis,  by  whose  aid  Jason  obtains 
the  Golden  Fleece  (Argonauts),  and  who  slays 
her  two  sons  when  Jason  proves  faithless  to  her. 

Mediaeval.  [From  L.  medium  sevum,  the 
middle  age  or  period.]  Belonging  to  the  Middle 
Ages. 

Median  line,  Mesial  line  or  plane.  [Gr. 
(jieffos,  L.  medius,  middle  '.]  An  imaginary  longi- 
tudinal division  of  the  body  into  two  equal 
parts. 

Mediastinum.  [L.  mediastmus,  standing  in 
the  middle.}  (Anat.)  (i)  A  middle  partition, 
especially  (2)  that  formed  in  the  thorax  by  the 
approximation  of  the  two  pleurae. 

Mediation.  [L.  mediare,  to  halve.]  In  chant- 
ing, that  which  remains  in  the  former  half  of  a 
verse,  after  the  reciting  note. 

Mediatization.  The  grouping  of  the  smaller 
German  sovereignties  with  larger  neighbouring 
states  after  the  dissolution  of  the  Empire  in 
1806.  This  had  often  been  done  before,  the 
word  meaning  that  they  were  thus  made 
mediately,  instead  of  immediately,  dependent 
on  the  empire.  As  the  empire  was  at  an  end, 
the  term  was  now  used  inappropriately. 

Medical  jurisprudence,  i.q.  Forensic  medicine. 
The  application  of  the  principles  of  medical 
science  in  aid  of  legislation,  or  of  the  administra- 
tion of  justice,  as  in  cases  of  lunacy,  poisoning, 
etc.,  or  of  the  preservation  of  the  public  health. 


Medicine,  in  the  languages  of  the  American 
aborigines,  translates  not  only  medicine  proper, 
but  anything  the  operation  of  which  they  do  not 
understand  ;  anything  mysterious,  supernatural, 
sacred.  Hence,  M.  man,  the  doctor  and  con- 
jurer of  the  American  Indians ;  M.  bag,  of 
remedies  and  charms  ;  M.  feast,  i.e.  religious 
festival,  and  M.  hut,  in  which  it  is  held,  etc. — 
Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Medicine  chest.  In  the  navy,  one  containing 
sufficient  for  one  hundred  men  for  the  cruise. 

Medietate  linguse,  De.  A  jury  de  M.  L.  was 
one  consisting  one-half  of  Englishmen,  one-half 
of  foreigners,  when  either  plaintiff  or  defendant 
was  a  foreigner  ;  abolished  1870. 

Mediety.  A  middle  state  [L.  medietatem] 
between  two  extremes. 

Medio  tutissimus  ibis.  [L.]  You  will  walk 
most  safely  in  the  middle  (Ovid),  by  avoiding 
extremes.  The  Aristotelian  doctrine  was  that 
virtue  was  a  mean  [Gr.  jueo^TTjs]. 

Medium.  [L.  medius,  middle,  mean.]  1. 
The  substance  with  which  the  dry  colours  are 
ground  and  mixed  for  an  artist's  use ;  as  oil, 
water,  etc.  2.  Paper  twenty-three  inches  by 
eighteen. 

Medjidie,  Order  of  the.  Instituted  in  1852, 
by  the  Sultan  Abdul  Medjid. 

Medoc.  Name  of  a  French  wine  (from  Medoc, 
in  the  Gironde). 

Medulla  oblongata.  [L.]  (Anat.)  The  pro- 
longation of  the  spinal  cord,  or  Medulla  splnalis, 
into  the  cavity  of  the  skull. 

Medullary.  (Med. )  Relating  to  or  consisting 
of  medulla  =  (i)  marrow,  (2)  pith. 

Medullary  rays.  (Bot.)  Those  radiating 
from  the  centre  of  exogenous  stems  cut  trans- 
versely. They  are  cellular  plates  or  processes, 
connecting  pith  with  bark,  and  forming  the 
"  silver  grain." 

Medusa.  [Gr.  peHovffa,  one  who  rules.] 
(Myth.)  (Gorgons;  Pegasus.) 

Medusse,  Medusldae.  [Gr.  ju&owra.]  (ZooL) 
Most  of  the  jelly-fishes,  or  sea-nettles  (Aca- 
lephse),  are  thus  termed ;  some,  however,  and 
perhaps  all,  are  the  generative  Buds  of  a 
hydr5z5an. 

Meeching,  Miching.  [Fr.  mechant.]  Skulk- 
ing, shirking,  mean  ;  an  old  Shakespearian  word 
still  occasionally  heard  in  New  York  and  New 
England.  — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Meerschaum.  [Ger.  meer,  sea,  schaum,/ra//z.] 
A  silicate  of  magnesia,  used  for  making  tobacco- 
pipes. 

Meet  her.  (Naut. )  The  order  to  stop  a  ship 
from  turning  more  in  any  direction. 

Megaceros.  [Gr.  fj.eyas,  great,  Kepas,  horn.} 
(Geol.)  M.  htbernicus,  the  gigantic  fossil 
Irish  deer  (not  elk) ;  in  post-Tertiary  lacustrine 
deposits,  and  in  caverns.  Ireland,  Isle  of  Man, 
Scotland,  England,  European  continent. 

Megalesian  games.  Roman  games  held  in  the 
Circus  in  honour  of  Cybele,  the  mother  of  the 
gods,  under  the  title  of  r)  fj.fyd\ri  6eos,  the  great 
goddess.  (Mahadeva.) 

Megalichthys.  [Gr.  peytu,  great,  ixftfe,  a 
fish.]  (Geol.)  A  gen.  of  fossil  crosso-pterygian 


MEGA 


MENS 


[Gr.,  fringe-winged]  ganoid  fishes;  more  es- 
pecially of  the  Sauro-dipterine  [Gr.,  sauroid- 
two-finned]  family  [Kpoffcroi,  a  fringe,  *Wpv£,  a 
wing,  Hiirrepos,  two-winged]. 

Megalithio  monuments    [Gr.    pcyas,    great, 
\teos,  stone]  (Archaol.)  =  cromlechs,  dolmens, 
and  menhirs,  or  stone  pillars,  often  monoliths. 
Megalo-.     [Gr.  p*ya.s,  fern.  neyd-Xt],  great.] 
Megalosaurus.      [Gr.    neyas,    great,    ffavpos, 
lizard.]  (Geol.)  An  extinct  gen.  of  gigantic  rep- 
tiles, carnivorous,  terrestrial ;  in  Oolite  of  Oxon 
and  Normandy  ;  Purbeck  and  Wealden  shales. 

Megarian  school.  The  school  of  philosophy 
established  by  the  disciples  of  Socrates  at 
Megara,  to  which  they  retreated  after  his 
death. 

Megass.     (Bagasse.) 

Megatherium.  [Gr.  peyas,  great,  6-riptov, 
beast.]  (Geol.)  Gigantic  extinct  mammal,  her- 
bivorous, allied  to  sloths  and  ant-eaters.  S. 
America. 

Megrim.  [Fr.  migraine,  headache,  Gr.  fi/ju- 
Kpdvia,  pain  on  one  side  of  the  head,  from  ^/tt-, 
half,  Kpaviov,  the  head.]  1.  Neuralgic  pain,  inter- 
mittent, affecting  one  side  of  the  head.  2.  In  a 
horse,  vertigo  ;  as  when,  at  work,  especially  in 
the  hot  sun,  he  reels,  and  perhaps  falls,  the 
circulation  through  the  brain  being  disturbed, 
usually  by  the  presence  of  tumours. 
Mei'osis.  (Litotes.) 

Meistersingers.  (Mastersingers ;  Singers  of 
Germany.) 

Melada.  [Sp.,  candied.]  Crude  undrained 
sugar,  as  it  comes  from  the  pans. 

Melancholia,  Melancholy.  A  form  of  insanity 
[Gr.  fj.e\ayxo^ia],  arising,  it  was  thought,  from 
an  excess  of  black  bile  \jjLf\aiva  x°^?]- 

Melancholia,  Non  est  magnum  ingenium  sine. 
[L.]    An  old  proverb,  quoted  by  Lacordaire  : 
No  great  character  is  free  from  melancholy. 
Melanic.     (Xanthous.) 

Melanismus.  [Gr.  fteXai/i^o,-,  /  am  black. ~\ 
Tendency  to  blackness  ^of  skin. 

Melanesia.  [Gr.  t*.e\$.vuffis,  a  becoming  black."} 
A  malignant  disease,  with  blackish  morbid 
deposition  in  different  parts  of  the  body. 

Melanotype.  [Gr.  /teA-as,  black,  rviros,  a 
type.]  A  photograph  taken  on  an  iron  plate, 
coated  with  collodion. 

Melasma.  [Gr.  fj.€\aa-fj.a,  black  or  livid  spot.' 
A  cutaneous  disease,  especially  at  old  age,  with 
dark  spots  or  patches,  sometimes  ulcerous. 

Melchisedekians.  (Eccl.  Hist. )  Several  sects 
have  been  so  named  from  their  opinions  re 
specting  the  character  and  office  of  Melchisedek 
Among  them  were  the  Theodotians  in  the  thirc 
century. 

Melchites.  (Eccl.  Hist.]  The  Syriac,  Egyptian, 
and  other  Christians  of  the  Levant  were  callec 
Melchites,  or  Royalists  [from  the  Syr.  melee 
a  king],  by  the  Jacobites,  or  Eutychians,  because 
they  submitted  to  the  imperial  edicts  relating  tc 
the  Council  of  Chalcedon.  They  are  governec 
by  a  patriarch  resident  in  Damascus. 

Meletians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  o 
Meletus,  Bishop  of  Lycopolis,  in  Egypt,  wh( 
was  deposed  by  a  Synod  at  Alexandria  on  th 


of  the  many  mysterious  beings  who  undergo 
;riodical  transformation,  by  which  the  lower 


harge  of  sacrificing  to  idols  during  the  per- 
ecution  of  Diocletian. 

Melikertes.    The  Greek  form  of  the  Syrian 
Vtelkarth,  the  king,  a  name  given  to  the  sun- 
god  ;  also  known  as  Moloch.     (Melchites.) 
Mellifluous  Doctor.     (Doctor.) 
Melodrama.      [Gr.    jue'Aos,   melody,    SpSjuee,   a 
drama.]    A  sensational  dramatic  performance, 
he  main  story  given  in  speaking,  but  the  striking 
ncidents  being  accompanied   by  music,  vocal 
and  instrumental. 

Melotype.  A  photographic  process,  in  which 
he  picture  need  not  be  at  once  developed. 

Melpomene.  [Gr.,  the  singer.]  One  of  the 
Muses,  commonly  called  the  Muse  of  tragedy. 

Melusine.  In  the  traditions  of  S.  France, 
one 

a  periodical 

Dart  of  the  body  becomes  serpentine.  In  this 
state  she  must  not  be  seen  by  her  husband.  If 
she  is  so  seen,  she  vanishes  for  ever.  (Lohengrin ; 
Psyche.) 

Melwel.     (Ichth.)    A  kind  of  cod-fish. 
Membered.     (Her.)     Having  the  beak  and 
legs  different  in  colour  from  the  body. 

Memnon's  harp.  The  statue  called  by  the 
Greeks  Memnon,  at  Thebes,  in  Upper  Egypt,  was 
supposed  to  emit  sounds,  like  that  of  a  harp,  at 
the  rising  of  the  sun.  Hence  the  phrase. 
(Eos,  Tears  of.) 

Memorabilia.  [L.]  Things  noteworthy.  The 
L.  title  of  the  memoirs  of  Socrates  by  Xenophon, 
called  in  Gr.  'Airo/ij/rjjwoi'eiVtaTa. 

Memoria  technlca.  [L.]  An  artificial  system 
of  memory. 

Mendicant  orders.  (Orders,  Mendicant.) 
Menhir.  [Gael,  maen,  stone,  hir,  long.] 
(Arch.)  A  standing  stone  or  pillar  ;  a  memorial, 
probably  of  some  event ;  the  majority  being 
tombstones.  So  Gen.  xxxi.  51 ;  Exod.  xxiv.  4 ; 
Josh.  iv.  21. 

Meningitis.  [Gr.  nwtyt,  a  membrane.'] 
(Med.)  Inflammation  of  the  membranes  of  the 
brain. 

Meniscus.  [Gr.  wvifficos,  a  little  moon.]  A 
lens  convex  on  one  side  and  concave  on  the 
other,  but  thicker  in  the  middle  than  at  the 
edges.  (Lens.) 

Mennonites.  The  Anabaptist  followers  of  Men- 
non  Simonis,  a  Frisian,  in  the  sixteenth  century. 
In  their  objection  to  oaths  and  to  war  they  re- 
semble the  Quakers.  From  the  M.  one  offshoot 
is  that  of  the  Galenites,  called  after  Galen,  a 
physician  of  Amsterdam,  and  answering  to  the 
"  Bible  Christians  "  of  this  country.  Another  is 
that  of  the  Collegiates,  so  called  as  coming 
together  in  meeting-houses,  where  all  had  the 
right  of  expounding  the  Word  of  God. 

Menology.  [Gr.  ^v,  a  month,  \6yos,  account.] 
A  monthly  calendar  of  saints,  martyrs,  con- 
fessors, commemorated. 

Mens  conscia  recti.  [L.]  A  mind  conscious 
of  its  uprightness. 

Mens  sana  in  corpore  sano.  [L.]  A  sound 
mind  in  a  sound  body  (Juvenal). 

Menstruum.  [L.  menstruus,  monthly,  from 
the  belief  that  the  moon  had  influence  on  the 


MENS 


319 


MESO 


powers  of  dissolvents.]     Any  fluid  which  dis- 
solves a  solid  body. 

Mensuration.  [L.  mensuratio,  -nem,  a  mea- 
suring.] The  branch  of  geometry  which  gives 
rules  for  finding  the  lengths  of  lines,  areas  of 
surfaces,  and  volumes  of  solids. 

Mentor.  In  the  Odyssey,  a  friend  and  adviser 
of  Telemachus.  Hence  any  counsellor. 

Menu.     [Fr.]     Bill  of  fare. 

Menu,  Laws  or  Institutes  of.  The  most 
celebrated  code  of  Hindu  law,  religious  and 
civil,  said  to  have  been  revealed  by  Menu,  or 
Manu,  son  of  Brahma.  The  name  reappears  in 
that  of  the  Cretan  lawgiver  Minos. 

Meo  perlculo.    [L.]    At  my  risk. 

Meo  sum  pauper  in  eere.  [L.]  I  am  poor  -with 
my  own  money  (Horace)  ;  i.e.  I  am  not  rich, 
but  I  owe  nothing.  Debt  is  in  L.  sesalienum, 
other  persons^  money. 

Mephistopheles.  The  name  of  the  devil  in 
Goethe's  Faust. 

Mephitio.  Containing  mephitis,  pestilential 
exhalation,  destructive  of  life.  Carbonic  acid 
gas  is  called  mephitic  air. 

Mephitis.  [L.]  Any  noxious  vapours  or 
smell ;  so  called  from  the  Latin  goddess  Mephitis, 
who  was  invoked  for  protection  against  hurtful 
odours. 

Mercaptan.  [Mercury,  and  L.  capere,  to 
seize. .]  A  liquid  composed  of  sulphur,  carbon, 
and  hydrogen  (from  its  energetic  action  on 
mercury). 

Mercator's  chart  or  projection.  (Named  after 
Gerard  Kauffman,  which  in  L.  =  M creator, 
trader.)  A  map  of  the  world  in  which  the 
meridians  are  represented  by  parallel  straight 
lines,  and  the  equator  by  a  straight  line  at  right 
angles  to  them  ;  the  parallels  of  latitude  are, 
therefore,  of  the  same  length  as  the  equator,  and 
fhe  degrees  of  latitude  are  lengthened  out  so  as 
to  maintain  their  due  proportion ;  consequently 
there  is  a  very  great  magnification  in  the  areas 
near  the  poles.  The  map  is  useful  to  navigators, 
as  the  ship's  course  can  be  laid  down  on  it  in  a 
succession  of  straight  lines. 

Mercator's  sailing.  (Naut.)  Calculating  a 
ship's  course  from  Mercator's  chart,  on  which 
the  true  proportions  of  latitude  and  longitude 
are  intended  to  be  indicated,  while  their  true 
measurements  are  sacrificed. 

Mercenaries.  [L.  mercenarius,  from  merces, 
fay.]  Soldiers  who  sell  their  services  for  money. 
By  the  Greeks  they  were  termed  Xenoi,  or 
foreigners.  (Condottieri.) 

Merchant  bars.  Finished  bars  of  iron  fit  for 
the  market. 

Mercurius  AuHcus,  M.  Kusticus,  and  M. 
CIvIcus;  i.e.  Court  Mercury,  Country  M.,  Town 
M.  Short  papers— somewhat  like  the  Toiler 
and  Spectator  of  later  days — "conveying  cheap 
and  easy  knowledge,"  published  "  in  the  Civil 
War,"  to  raise  and  fix  the  prejudices  of  the  people. 
— Johnson,  Life  of  Addison. 

Mercury.  1.  [L.  Mercurius,  from  merx, 
mercari,  to  traffic.]  A  Latin  god  of  commerce 
ivnd  gain.  He  had  nothing  to  do  with  the 
Greek  Hermes,  and  the  Roman  Fetials  refused 


to  allow  their  asserted  identity.  2.  A  brilliant 
white  metal,  liquid  at  ordinary  temperatures.  3. 
(Planet.) 

Mercy-seat.  The  golden  lid  of  the  ark  of 
the  covenant  (q.v.). 

Mere,  M.  baulk.  [O.N.  moeri,  a  boundary.] 
A  boundary,  especially  the  space  left  unploughed 
as  such  in  common  lands. 

Meridian  [L.  merldies,  noon] ;  First  M. ;  Mag- 
netic M.  1.  (Astron.)  The  Meridian  of  a.  place 
is  the  great  circle  passing  through  the  poles  and 
the  zenith  of  the  place.  2.  (Geog.)  The  line  (which 
is  nearly  a  circle  and  still  more  nearly  an  ellipse) 
in  which  the  surface  of  the  earth  is  cut  by  a 
plane  passing  through  the  poles  and  the  place. 
The  First  M.  is  that  from  which  longitudes  are 
reckoned.  In  English  reckoning  the  first  M. 
is  that  of  Greenwich.  The  Magnetic  M.  of  a 
place  is  the  direction  of  the  magnetic  needle  at 
the  place  when  free  to  move  round  a  point  in 
a  horizontal  plane,  and  uninfluenced  by  local 
attraction. 

Meridional  parts,  Table  of.  Gives  the  length 
of  the  arc  of  the  meridian  measured  from  the 
equator,  corresponding  to  every  degree  and 
minute  of  latitude  on  a  Mercator's  chart.  It 
is  used  in  showing  a  ship's  course  on  a  Mercator's 
chart. 

Merino.    A  thin  twilled  fabric  of  merino  wool. 

Merk.     An  ancient  Scotch  coin,  i.q.  mark. 

Merlin.  A  magician  in  the  story  of  King 
Arthur. 

Merlon.  [Fr.  and  Sp.]  (Mil.)  The  part 
of  a  parapet  left  standing  between  two  embra- 
sures as  cover  to  the  men  and  guns.  [Fr.,  from 
a  slight  resemblance  to  merle  perche,  a  perched 
blackbird  (lAiire)] 

Merovingian  kings.  (Hisf.)  The  dynasty  of 
Frank  kings,  beginning  (481)  with  Clovis  (Hlud- 
wig),  grandson  of  Meroveus  (Merwig),  and  end- 
ing with  Childeric,  deposed  by  Pepin,  752. 
(Rois  Faineants.) 

Merry  dancers.  The  Northern  lights,  from 
their  undulatory  movements. 

Merry  men  of  May.  (Naut.)  Currents 
caused  by  ebb-tides. 

Mesa.  [Sp.,  table,  L.  mensa.]  Throughout 
the  whole  region  bordering  on  Mexico,  this 
Sp.  word  is  used  for  a  high  plain  or  table-lznA. 
— Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Mesentery.  [Gr.  /xeo-eWepoi/.]  The  broad 
fold  of  \heperitoneum  (q.v.). 

Mesial  line.     (Median  line.) 

Meslin.  [O.Fr.  mesler  =  Fr.  meler,  to  mix, 
L.L.  misculare.]  (Agr.)  Wheat  and  rye 
mixed. 

Mesmerism.  (Mesmer,  German  physician, 
died  1815.)  (Magnetism,  Animal.) 

Mesne.  (Leg. )  A  word  meaning  middle,  inter- 
mediate, intervening.  So  M.  lord,  a  lord  of  a 
manor,  with  tenants  under  him,  and  a  superior 
lord  over  him ;  M.  process,  any  writ  between 
the  commencement  of  the  action  and  the  final 
process  or  execution  ;  M.  incumbrances,  liabilities 
arising  between  two  given  periods,  etc. 

Mesothet.  [Gr.  peaos,  middle,  Ti0T?/xi,  I  place] 
That  which  placed,  as  it  were,  between  two 


MESO 


320 


METE 


things    apparently   con- 
reconciles    them  ;    thus 
M.    of   free-will  and 


opposite    points,    two 
tradictory,    practically 
action,   or    duty,   is   the 
necessity. 

Mesozoic.     (Neozoic.) 

Mespilus.  [Gr.  jueo-TTiATj.]  (Bot.)  The  common 
medlar,  M.  Germanica,  ord.  Rosacese. 

Messenger.  (Naut.)  An  endless  rope,  or 
cable,  extending  from  the  capstan  to  the  cable, 
by  which  the  latter  is  hauled  in. 

Messidor.  [Fr.,  from  L.  messis,  harvest.} 
The  ridiculous  name  given  to  the  tenth  month 
in  the  French  Republican  calendar.  It  formed 
part  of  June  and  July.  (Vendemiaire.) 

Mestino,  Mestizo.  In  Sp.  America,  the  child 
of  a  Spaniard  or  Creole  and  a  native  Indian. 
(Mulatto.) 

Meta-.  [Gr.]  As  a  prefix,  denotes  next,  after, 
beyond,  reversely,  etc. 

Metacentre.  [Gr.  juerrf,  next  afterwards, 
Kfvrpoif,  centre.}  If  a  vertical  line  is  drawn 
through  the  centre  of  gravity  of  a  floating  body 
in  its  position  of  rest,  and  if  when  the  body  is 
slightly  displaced  a  vertical  line  is  drawn  through 
the  centre  of  gravity  of  the  fluid  displaced  by 
the  body  in  its  new  position,  the  point  of  inter- 
section of  the  line  at  first  vertical  with  the 
second  line  is  the  M.  If  the  M.  is  above  the 
centre  of  gravity,  the  flotation  is  stable.  The 
displacement  is  supposed  to  take  place  round 
a  line  passing  through  the  centre  of  gravity  of 
the  plane  of  flotation,  and  this  line  must  be 
a  principal  axis  of  the  plane  if  there  is  to  be 
aM. 

Metacism.  An  incorrect  form  for  Mutacism 
(q.v.). 

Metagenesis.  [Gr.  p.frd,  in  compos,  reversely, 
yeveais,  generation.}  Development  of  the  in- 
dividual, when  its  parts  and  organs  are  not 
changed  into  the  corresponding  parts  and  organs 
in  the  new  stage. 

Metal.  [L.  metallum.]  1.  In  organ  pipes, 
means  spotted  M.  2.  In  road-making,  stone. 
3.  In  the  artillery,  ^ww-metal. 

Metallic  paper.  Paper  coated  with  a  solution 
of  lime  whiting  and  size,  to  be  written  on  with  a 
pewter  pencil. 

Metallic  tractors.  Used  thirty  or  forty  years 
ago,  but  rejected  now ;  small  pointed  metallic 
bars,  drawn  over  diseased  parts,  and  supposed  to 
cure  or  relieve  by  magnetism  ;  invented  by  Dr. 
Perkins. 

Metalloid.  [Gr.  fJLera\\ov,  metal,  elftos,  form.} 
Any  element  resembling  a  metal  in  its  chemical 
properties ;  an  inflammable  non-metallic  element, 
as  sulphur. 

Metallurgy.  [Gr.  p.fra\\ov,  metal,  fyyeu/,  to 
work.}  The  art  of  working  metals. 

Metamorphic  rocks.  [Gr.  /*eTa/iop</x$o>,  7 
transform.}  (Geol.)  1.  Altered,  whether  much 
or  little,  from  their  original  form  ;  especially, 
2,  those  exhibiting  a  change  to  crystalline 
structure. 

Metamorphosis.  [Gr.  /t€Ta-/i<fy>0w<m,  a  change 
of  form.}  (Zool.)  A  change  seriously  altering 
the  form  and  habits  of  an  animal  after  exclusion 
from  the  egg  ;  as  that  of  the  caterpillar  passing 


into   a  chrysalis,   or    of   the    chrysalis    into   a 
butterfly. 

Metaphor.  [Gr.  pevaQopd,  transference.}  A 
short  similitude,  sometimes  conveyed  by  one 
word,  and  without  any  sign  of  comparison.  M. 
is  of  two  kinds  :  (i)  Radical,  when,  for  instance, 
a  root  which  means  to  shine  is  used  to  furnish 
names  for  the  fire,  the  sun,  the  spring  of  the 
year,  the  brightness  of  thought,  and  a  hymn  of 
praise  ;  (2)  Poetical,  when  a  noun  already  made, 
and  assigned  to  one  definite  object,  is  transferred 
to  another,  as  when  the  sun's  rays  are  called  his 
hands  or  fingers.  The  result  of  this  process 
would  be  Homonymy  [6juc6»>V|U,os,  of  the  same 
name}  and  Polyonymy  \Tro\vtavvp.os,  with  many 
names} ;  by  the  former  of  which  objects  quite 
distinct  from  each  other  would  receive  the  same 
name,  while  the  latter  would  furnish  a  vast 
number  of  names  for  the  same  object.  These 
two  principles  are  the  chief  sources  of  mythology. 
Metaphor  is  said  to  be  broken  when  a  second 
metaphor,  faultily,  is  introduced ;  as  in  Shake- 
speare's "To  take  up  arms  against  a  sea  of 
troubles." 

Metaphysics.    (Dialectic.) 

Metaplasm.  [Gr.  /ieTcwrAeKr/irfs,  from  TAo<r<r<», 
7 form.]  (Gram.)  Any  alteration  in  the  letters 
or  syllables  of  a  word.  This  may  take  place 
in  three  ways — by  adding  or  taking  from  their 
number,  or  by  resolving  them,  (i)  Addition  at 
the  beginning  of  a  word  is  called  Prosthesis 
[Gr.] ;  in  the  middle,  Epenthesis  [Gr.] ;  at  the 
end,  Paragoge  [Gr.].  (2)  The  taking  away  of 
letters  at  the  beginning  is  Apharhis  [o</>aipe<ns]  ; 
in  the  middle,  Syncope  [ffvyKoir-f]} ;  at  the  end, 
ApocSfe  [ctTTo/coTHj] ;  by  contracting  the  vowels, 
Synceresis  [ffvvaipeans].  (3)  The  change  of  one 
letter  for  another  is  Antithesis  [Gr.] ;  and  the 
transposition  of  letters  is  Metathesis  [Gr.]. 

Metastasis.  [Gr.  juercio-Tdo-iy,  a  change  of 
place.}  (Med.)  A  change  in  the  seat  of  a  disease. 

Metatarsus.  [Gr.  jtiera,  next  after,  raptros, 
the  fiat  of  the  foot.}  (A not.)  The  part  of  the 
foot  which  is  between  the  tarsus  and  the  pha- 
langes or  toes,  composed  of  five  bones. 

Metathesis.    (Metaplasm.) 

Metayer.  [Fr.,  L.  medietarius.]  In  the  south- 
west countries  of  Europe,  a  form  of  tenure  in 
which  the  tenant  pays  a  part  of  the  produce 
to  the  landlord.  (Thetes.) 

Metempsychosis.  [Gr.  ftcrc/i^xuffir.]  The 
migration  of  the  soul  through  several  successive 
bodies ;  a  special  doctrine  of  the  Pythagoreans. 

Meteor.  [Gr.  /uerewpos,  high  in  air.}  A  body 
in  the  sky,  of  a  flowing  and  transitory  nature, 
such  as  shooting  stars,  halos,  rainbows,  auroras. 

Meteoric  dust,  or  Atmospheric  dust.  Dust, 
with  which  the  air  high  above  the  earth's  sur- 
face is  almost  certainly  impregnated ;  mostly 
iron  ;  often  found  in  snow  and  on  high  buildings. 
Storm-dust  is  a  mixture  of  fine  particles  of 
quartzose  and  volcanic  sand,  with  diatomacese, 
etc.,  according  to  Professor  Ehrenberg. 

Meteoric  iron.  Metallic  iron,  as  found  in 
meteorolites. 

Meteoric  paper.  A  paper-like  substance, 
found  floating  in  the  air,  of  confervoid  origin. 


METE 


321 


MICA 


Meteoric  shower.  When  shooting  stars  appear 
in  considerable  numbers  at  nearly  the  same  time 
they  form  a  M.  S.  They  generally  do  this  about 
August  10  and  November  13. 

Meteorite.    (Aerolith.) 

Meteorolite.  [Gr.  pcrfcapos,  high  in  air,  \iOos, 
stone.}  A  mass  of  earthy  and  metallic  matter 
that  has  fallen  from  the  sky  to  the  earth. 

Meteorology.  [Gr.  nerewpos,  high  in  air, 
\6yos,  discourse.}  The  science  treating  of  the 
various  states  of  the  atmosphere  as  to  pressure, 
temperature,  moisture,  motion,  etc.,  and  their 
influence  on  climate,  wind,  and  weather. 

-meter.  [Gr.  ^erpov,  a  measure.}  An  instru- 
ment for  measuring  ;  as  a  Gas-M.,  Water-M.,  etc. 

Metheglin.  [Welsh  meddyglyn,  liquor.} 
Mead(q.v.). 

Methodist  New  Connexion.  A  branch  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodists,  called  also  Kilhamites, 
after  Alexander  Kilham,  who  asserted,  first,  the 
right  of  the  Methodists  to  have  their  own  hours 
of  worship,  and  to  receive  the  sacraments  from 
their  own  ministers ;  and,  secondly,  the  right  of 
the  laity  to  share  in  the  government  of  the  body 
to  which  they  belonged.  Apart,  therefore,  from 
questions  of  order,  there  is  no  difference  between 
the  Old  Connexion  and  the  New.  The  dis- 
tinction lies  only  in  the  degrees  of  power  which 
each  allows  to  the  laity. 

Methodists.  (EccL  Hist.}  The  followers  of 
John  Wesley.  But  many  orders  so  called  have 
withdrawn  from  this  connexion.  (Hunting- 
donians ;  Methodist  New  Connexion.) 

Method  of  curves.     (Curves,  Method  of.) 

Method  of  exhaustion.  (Exhaustion,  Method 
of.) 

Methylated  spirit.  Alcohol  mixed  with  ten 
per  cent,  of  methyl  [Gr.  /xera,  after,  0Arj,  wood], 
or  wood-spirit. 

Methystic.  [Gr.  ji60u<7TiK<fc,  intoxicating.} 
(Med.)  Substances  causing  intoxication  or  exhi- 
laration. 

Metoecs.  [Gr.  (JLCTOIKOI,  sojourners.}  (Hist.} 
Resident  aliens  at  Athens,  who  formed  a  large 
class  of  the  inhabitants,  lying  under  many  dis- 
abilities and  burdens. 

Metonic  cycle.  A  cycle  of  nineteen  solar 
years,  in  which  the  new  moons  fall  on  the  same 
days  as  in  the  previous  cycles.  Invented  by 
the  Athenian  Meton,  in  the  fifth  century  B.C. 

Metonymy.  [Gr.  /j.eTwvv/j.ia,  change  of  name.} 
\Rhet. )  A  figure  by  which  the  name  of  an  idea 
or  an  object  is  substituted  for  that  of  another  to 
which  it  has  some  relation,  as  sceptre  for  sway  or 
dominion. 

Metope.  [Gr.  jufT^nj.]  In  Gr.  Arch.,  the 
space  between  the  Triglyphs  in  the  frieze  of  the 
Doric  order. 

Metre.  [Fr.,  Gr.  fj.erpov,  measure.}  The  fun- 
damental unit  of  length  in  the  metric  system  ; 
originally  designed  to  be  the  ten-millionth  part 
of  an  arc  of  the  meridian,  reaching  from  the  pole 
to  the  equator.  It  is,  in  reality,  like  the  yard, 
an  arbitrary  distance,  viz.  the  distance  between 
the  two  ends  of  a  certain  platinum  rod  at  the 
temperature  of  melting  ice.  Its  length  is 
39-37079  inches  or  1-09363  yard. 


Metric  system.  A  system  of  measures  having 
the  metre  for  its  fundamental  unit. 

Metro-.     [Gr.  ^irpov,  a  measure.} 

Metrology.  [Gr.  fj.fr pov,  a  measure,  \6yos, 
an  account. }  System  of  weights  and  measures. 

Metronome.  [Gr.  perpov,  measure,  VO/J.QS, 
law.}  Clockwork,  measuring  the  relative  dura- 
tion of  notes  by  a  pendulum,  to  which  a  balance- 
rod  is  attached,  on  which  the  various  grades  of 
time  are  measured  ;  a  movable  weight  regulates 

the  speed.  The  sign  J  =  132,  means  that  that 
number  of  crotchets  would  be  played  in  a  minute. 

Metropolis.  [Gr.,  mother-city.}  1.  Originally 
the  parent  state  from  which  a  colony  has  sprung. 
2.  The  city  in  which  the  archiepiscopal  see  of  a 
province  is  established.  Thus  Canterbury  is  the 
metropolis  of  England.  3.  In  modern  and  less 
correct  usage,  the  chief  city  or  capital  of  an  in- 
dependent  state. 

Metropolitan.  1.  With  the  Greeks,  one  whose 
see  is  a  civil  metropolis.  2.  With  others,  one 
who,  by  virtue  of  his  see,  presides  over  other 
bishops ;  such  sees  are  Canterbury,  Dublin, 
Calcutta,  Capetown,  etc.  (See  "  Consecration  of 
Bishops,"  in  Prayer-book.) 

Meumettuum.     [L.]    Mine  and  thine. 

Mew.  [O.E.  msew,  Ger.  mewe,  mowe,  (?) 
from  its  cry.]  (Ornith.)  Sea-mew,  the  gull, 
Larus  canus  [L,.,grey]. 

Mew.  A  cage,  or  inclosure,  especially  for 
trained  hawks,  or  an  aggregation  of  them  [Fr. 
meute,  pack,  L.L.  mota,  troop  mobilized,  L. 
movere,  to  move}. 

Mew.  [Fr.  muer,  L.  mutare,  to  change.}  1. 
To  moult,  as  hawks.  2.  To  shed  horns,  as  stags. 

Mew.  To  inclose,  confine.  Mew,  a  prison, 
place  of  confinement ;  originally,  in  Falconry, 
a  place  for  falcons ;  afterwards  for  horses,  as  Mews 
in  London.  [Generally  derived  from  O.Fr. 
mue,  a  changing,  a  place  for  moulting,  L. 
mutare,  to  change.  But  "in  Eng.  the  sense 
of  cage  is  the  oldest ;  whence  mew,  to  inclose  " 
(Skeat,  Etym.  Diet.).  (?)  Is  the  L.L.  muta,  a 
disease,  with  moulting,  possibly,  earlier  still  ?] 

Mezzanine.  [It.  mezzano,  middle.}  (Arch.) 
A  story  of  small  height  introduced  between  two 
higher  ones.  This  would  answer  to  the  Triforium 
in  the  so-called  Gothic  buildings. 

Mezzo-relievo.  [It.]  Sculptured  work,  in 
which  the  projection  is  equal  to  half  the  true 
proportions.  When  more  than  half,  it  is  Alto- 
relievo  ;  when  less,  it  is  Basso-relievo. 

Mezzo  termmo.  [It.]  A  middle  term  ;  a  stop- 
gap, a  compromise. 

Mezzotint.  [It.  mezzo,  half,  tinto,  tint.}  A 
kind  of  engraving,  produced  by  scratching  the 
whole  surface  of  the  plate,  and  then  scraping 
and  burnishing  those  parts  where  the  lights 
should  come. 

Miasma  [Gr.  jtuaoryua,  pollution},  or  Contagion. 
1.  Effluvium,  noxious  emanation,  from  the  bodies 
of  the  sick.  2.  Marsh  M.,  or  Malaria  [It.,  bad 
air},  is  from  vegetable  decomposition,  under 
certain  conditions  of  heat  and  moisture. 

Mica.  [L.  mlco,  I  shine.}  (Geol.)  A  mineral, 
one  of  the  silicates  of  alumina,  with  potash  or 


MICH 


322 


MILI 


magnesia,  a  constituent  of  granite,  of  gneiss,  and 
mica-schist;  metallic  in  lustre,  divisible  into 
flakes,  and  elastic.  Often  mechanically  mixed 
in  sandstone  and  shale.  Muscovite  is  a  potash 
mica  ;  Biotite  is  a  magnesian  mica. 

Michael,  St.,  Order  of.  A  French  order  of 
knighthood,  instituted  by  Louis  XL,  1469. 

Miching.    (Meeching.) 

Michtam.  Title  of  Ps.  xvi.,  lvi.-lx.,  =  a 
"golden  psalm,"  as  in  the  margin,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  rabbis  (Speaker's  Commentary}. 

Micro-.    [Gr.  fuKp6s,  small.} 

Microcosm.    (Macrocosm.) 

Microcosmic  salts.  (Chem.\  A  triple  salt  of 
soda,  ammonia,  and  phosphoric  acid,  originally 
obtained  from  human  urine. 

Micrometer.  [Gr.  /u«p(/y,  small,  ^rpov,  a 
measure.}  An  instrument  for  measuring  small 
distances  or  angles.  It  consists  of  a  spider  line 
(or  wire)  placed  in  the  focus  of  a  telescope  (or 
microscope)  and  moved  by  a  screw  with  a 
graduated  head.  It  is  first  brought  into  optical 
contact  with  a  fixed  wire,  and  then  with  a  second 
point ;  the  difference  of  the  two  readings  of  the 
screw-head  gives  the  distance  from  the  fixed  wire 
to  the  point  in  terms  of  fractional  parts  of  a  turn 
of  the  screw.  The  absolute  value  of  a  turn  of 
the  screw  is  found  from  the  number  of  turns 
per  inch,  or  by  applying  the  micrometer  to  an 
object  of  known  length. 

Microphone.  [Gr.  fUKpos,  small,  <j)d>vn,  voice.} 
An  instrument  for  magnifying  small  sounds  by 
means  of  electricity.  . 

Microscope  [Gr.  fiiKpds,  small,  a-Koveta,  I 
•view}-,  Compound  M. ;  Electro-M. ;  Oxy-hydro- 
gen  M. ;  Photo-electric  M. ;  Simple  M. ;  Solar  M. 
An  instrument  for  rendering  minute  objects  dis- 
tinctly visible  ;  it  may  be  a  single  lens  or  sphere, 
and  in  that  case  is  a  Simple  M.  ;  but  more  com- 
monly the  term  is  applied  to  the  Compound  M., 
which  is  a  combination  of  lenses  duly  mounted, 
consisting  of  an  achromatic  object-glass  and  an 
eye-glass  (or  eye-piece  consisting  of  two  lenses) 
for  viewing  the  image  formed  by  the  object-glass. 
The  Electro  or  Photo-electric,  the  Oxy-hydrogen, 
and  Solar  microscopes  are  instruments  made  on 
the  same  principle  as  the  magic  lantern ;  they 
receive  their  special  name  from  the  kind  of  light 
employed. 

Midas.  (Myth.)  A  Phrygian  king  whose 
touch  turned  everything  to  gold,  and  who  ob- 
tained deliverance  by  washing  in  the  river  Pac- 
tolus,  which  has  ever  since  had  a  golden  hue. 
The  tale  points  to  the  illuminating  power  of  the 
sun,  whose  light  is  quenched  when  he  reaches 
the  water-level  in  the  evening.  Midas  has  also  the 
ears  of  an  ass.  This  is  mentioned  as  a  punish- 
ment for  his  preferring  Pan,  or  Marsyas,  to  Phoebus. 

Midden, Mixen.  [A.S.  midding, id.,  A.. S. meox, 
mix,  dung;  "  dunghill,"  Luke  xiv.  (Wyclif's 
translation)  ;  so  myxen.]  Dunghill,  dustheap. 

Middings.     (Midden.) 

Middle  Ages.  (Hist.)  A  vague  term,  denot- 
ing the  time  of  transition  from  the  conditions  of 
the  ancient  to  those  of  the  modern  world.  They 
are  assumed  by  Hallam  to  begin  with  the  sixth 
and  end  with  the  fifteenth  centuries. 


Middle-latitude  sailing.  (Abut.)  Calculating 
a  ship's  course  by  the  mean  of  the  latitudes  of 
the  points  of  departure  and  arrival  respectively. 
Middleman.  One  who  goes  between  the 
original  owner,  or  producer,  and  the  public  ;  e.g. 
in  trade,  taking  orders  for  work,  which  he  then 
lets  out  to  others  ;  or  in  agriculture,  hiring  land 
in  large  tracts,  and  then  letting  it  again  in  smaller 
portions. 

Middle  Pointed  style.     (Geometrical  style.) 
Middle  term.     (Log.)    That  term  in  a  Syllo- 
gism with  which  the  two  extremes  of  the  con- 
clusion are  severally  compared. 

Middle  tint.  A  mixed  tint  in  which  bright 
colours  never  predominate. 

Middle  watch.  (Naut.)  From  12  (midnight) 
to  4  a.m.  Middle-watcher,  the  snack  taken  by 
the  officers  of  middle  watch  about  2.30  a.m. 

Midgard.    In  Northern   Myth.,   the  middle 
garden  or  earth,  embraced  by  the  branches  of 
the  tree  Yggdrasil. 
Midlothian.    (Lothian.) 
Midrash.    (Scribes.) 

Midrib.     (Bot.)     Of  a  leaf,  the  central  line,  a 
continuation  of  the  footstalk. 
Midriff.    (Diaphragm.) 
Midshipman.    (Hank.) 

Midwife.    [(?)  Ger.  miihe,  labottr pains,  weib, 
woman.]     One  who  assists  women  in  childbirth. 
Mikado.    (Tycoon.) 

Mile.  [In  L.  mille  passuum,  a  thousand 
paces ;  passus  being  the  distance  between  the 
place  where  a  foot  is  set  down,  and  the  place 
where  the  same  foot  is  set  down  the  next  time, 
about  five  feet.]  The  Statute  M.  is  1760  yards. 
Geographical  or  Nautical  M.  —  a  sixtieth  of  a 
degree  of  longitude  measured  on  the  equator, 
and  therefore  about  2029  yards.  Seamen  erro- 
neously call  minutes  of  longitude  miles. 

Mileage.  Allowance  for  travelling,  so  much 
per  mile. 

Milesian.  1.  Properly  an  inhabitant  or  native 
of  the  ancient  Greek  city  Miletus  ;  but  sometimes, 
2,  a  native  or  inhabitant  of  Ireland,  descended, 
according  to  the  tradition,  from  a  Spanish  king 
Milesias,  whose  sons  conquered  the  island  some 
twenty  centuries  B.C. 

Millaria,  Miliary  fever.  A  disease  associated 
with  great  heat  of  the  skin  and  an  eruption  like 
the  seed  of  millet  [L.  milium]. 

Miliolite  limestone.  [L.  milium,  millet  seed.} 
(Geol.)  The  Calcaire  grossier  of  Paris,  largely 
composed  at  places  of  Miliola,  one  of  the  fora- 
minifera  (q.v.). 

Military  honours.  Reception  of  superiors  by 
troops  by  lowering  flags  and  saluting.  When 
an  officer  or  soldier  is  buried  with  M.  H.,  the 
body  is  attended  to  the  grave  by  his  comrades 
in  military  order,  either  guns  or  musketry  being 
fired  over  the  grave,  according  to  his  rank. 
Military  law.  (Martial  law.) 
Military  position.  A  piece  of  ground  so 
selected  as  to  bring  out  most  advantageously  the 
powers  of  the  different  branches  of  the  service 
of  which  an  army  is  composed,  and  which  the 
general  has  at  the  time  at  his  command. 

Military  road.     One  of  superior  construction, 


MI  LI 


323 


MINN 


such  as  those  formed  by  the  Romans,  accessible 
in  all  weathers  for  troops,  with  their  guns,  bag- 
gage, and  supplies. 

MUitat  onmis  amans.  [L.]  Every  lover  is  a 
soldier  (Ovid). 

Militia.  [L.,  military  service.'}  In  the  seven- 
teenth century,  before  the  formation  of  a  standing 
army,  =  the  entire  military  force  of  the  nation. 
The  term  is  now  applied  to  a  force  raised  either 
by  ballot  or  voluntarily  from  the  population,  for 
home  service  in  the  protection  of  the  country  ; 
occasionally  embodied,  for  purposes  of  drill,  in 
time  of  peace. 

Milknippers  of  a  horse ;  his  first,  as  distin- 
guished from  his  permanent,  teeth ;  shed  at 
various  times  between  the  ages  of  three  and 
four. 

Milk  of  lime.  A  milky  mixture  of  lime  and 
water. 

Milkwort,  Common.  (Bot. )  A  small  perennial 
plant,  Polygala  vulgaris,  ord.  Polygalese  [Gr. 
iro\vs,  muck,  7o/\o,  milk] ;  abundant  in  Britain 
in  dry  places ;  its  flowers  purple,  pink,  white, 
sometimes  brilliant  blue. 

Milky  Way.    (Galaxy.) 

Mill.  [O.E.  miln.]  That  part  of  ironworks 
where  puddled  bars  are  converted  into  merchant 
iron. 

Millboard.     Stout  pasteboard. 

Mill-dam;  M.-head;  M.-race ;  M.-tail,  etc. 
A  Mill-dam  serves  to  keep  back  the  water  of 
the  stream  in  a  sort  of  reservoir,  so  that  in  its 
descent  it  may  turn  a  water-wheel,  turbine,  etc. 
The  stream  from  the  reservoir  which  acts  on 
the  wheel  is  the  M.-race ;  the  stream  formed  by 
the  water  that  has  turned  the  wheel  is  the  M.- 
tail,  or  Tail-race,  or  Tail-water.  The  M.-head 
is  the  vertical  height  through  which  the  water 
falls  in  turning  the  wheel. 

Millenarians.    (Chiliasts.) 

Millenary  Petition.  [L.  millenarius,  belonging 
to  a  thousand.}  One  presented  to  James  I., 
A.D.  1603,  by  (some  few  hundreds  short  of)  a 
thousand  Puritan  ministers,  for  relief  in  certain 
ceremonies  ;  and  objecting  to  some  parts  of  the 
Church  service,  and  to  the  state  of  Church  dis- 
cipline. 

Millennium.  [L.L.]  The  space  of  a  thousand 
years  spoken  of  in  Rev.  xx.  4. 

Millerole  de  Marseille.  [Fr.]  A  measure  of 
capacity,  still  used  as  equal  to  sixty-four  litres,  or 
about  fourteen  English  gallons. 

Miller's  thumb.    (Bullhead.) 

Milliard.    [Fr.]    A  thousand  million. 

Millier.  [L.  milliarium,  a  thousand  of.]  A 
thousand  kilogrammes,  nearly  equal  to  a  ton 
weight. 

Milligramme;  Millilitre;  Millimetre.  Mea- 
sures of  the  thousandth  part  of  a  gramme,  litre, 
and  metre  respectively.  (Gramme;  Litre; 
Metre.) 

Milling.    The  grooves  on  the  edge  of  a  coin. 

Milling-tool.  A  roller,  with  indented  surface, 
for  making  grooves  in  metal. 

Mill-rind.  (Her.)  The  iron  placed  in  the 
centre  of  a  millstone  to  protect  the  hole  from 
wearing  out. 


Millstone  grit.  (Geol.)  An  English  division  of 
the  Carboniferous  system  ;  a  coarse  conglome- 
rate, yielding  stone  for  building,  millstones,  fire- 
stones;  N.  counties  of  England  and  N.  and  S. 
Wales.  ^ 

Milreis.  A  Portuguese  coin,  worth  about  5^. 
The  gold  coin  of  five  milreis  is  worth  £i  3.5-.  I  \\d. 

Mime.  [L.  mimus,  Gr.  /«}uos,  a  mimic.] 
Anciently,  a  kind  of  dramatic  entertainment, 
resembling  the  modern  farce  or  vaudeville. 

Mimir,  Well  of.  In  Northern  Myth.,  the 
well  or  fountain  at  which  Odin,  wishing  to  drink, 
was  obliged  to  leave  an  eye  in  payment. 

Mina.  [L.,  Gr.  nva.}  An  ancient  Greek 
weight  and  coin,  varying  in  different  states. 
The  coin  contained  100  drachmas,  and  was 
worth  about  ^3  of  our  money. 

Minaret.  [Ar.  menarah,  a  lantern.}  In  Mo- 
hammedan mosques,  a  turret  used  for  summon- 
ing the  people  to  prayers,  and  thus  serving  the 
purpose  of  a  belfry.  (Muezzin.) 

Minauderie.    [Fr.]  Mincing,  affected  manners. 

Mineral,  Mineralogy.  [Fr.  miner,  to  mine.} 
1.  A  rock  (q.v.),  in  Geol.,  is  regarded  chemically, 
as  resolvable  into  certain  primary  elements  or 
minerals.  2.  These,  in  Min.,  are  regarded 
as  being  pure  or  impure,  soft  or  compact, 
earthy  or  crystalline,  and  exhibit  certain  cleav- 
age, fracture,  lustre,  optical  and  other  sensible 
properties. 

Minerva.  The  Latin  goddess  answering  to 
the  Athena  of  the  Greeks.  The  name  denotes 
intellectual  power  as  well  as  bodily  energy,  as 
is  shown  by  the  connexion  of  the  Gr.  /teW  with 
the  L.  mens,  Skt.  manas,  Eng.  mind.  Hence  the 
phrase  Sus  Minervam,  a  pig  teaches  Minerva, 
the  fool  instructs  the  wise.  To  do  a  thing 
tenui  or  crassd  Minerva  is  to  do  it  poorly  or 
awkwardly. 

Minerva  Press.  In  Leadenhall  Street,  the 
source  from  which  issued,  during  the  latter  part 
of  last  century,  a  great  quantity  of  mawkish 
weak  novels,  and  which,  by  means  of  circulat- 
ing libraries,  gained  a  factitious  popularity. 

Minever.  [O.Fr.  menuver,  from  menu,  small, 
vair,  a  kind  of  fur.]  A  fine  white  fur. 

Minie-rifle.  (Mil.)  One  carrying  a  bullet 
invented  by  Minie,  a  French  officer,  which  has 
a  cup  inserted  in  a  cavity  in  its  base ;  on  its 
being  projected,  the  charge  expands  the  bullet 
into  the  grooves  of  the  rifle,  thus  giving  great 
accuracy  of  flight. 

Minims,  Order  of  the.  [L.  minimi,  the  least.} 
Instituted  in  the  fifteenth  century  by  St.  Francis 
of  Paul.  Their  name  indicated  their  lowliness, 
and  their  rule  was  of  the  strictest  kind. 

Minimum.  When  a  variable  magnitude  de- 
creases down  to  a  certain  value  and  then  increases 
again,  that  value  is  a  minimum.  A  M.  is  not 
necessarily  the  smallest  value  of  the  variable. 

Minion.      [Fr.   mignon,   dainty.}    A  kind  cf 
type,  as- 
General. 

Minium.     [L.]     Red  lead.     (Lead.) 
Minnehofe.     [Ger.]     This  word  denoted   the 
courts   of  love,    well   known   in  the  history  of 


MINN 


324 


MISE 


chivalry.  These  courts,  in  which  ladies  acted 
as  judges,  were  held  periodically  in  Signes, 
Avignon,  Pierrefeu,  and  Lille. 

Minnesingers.  Love-singers,  the  earliest 
school  of  German  poets,  who  imitated  the 
Provencal  troubadours.  Their  verses  are  written 
in  the  old  Swabian  dialect.  Among  their  works 
is  the  great  national  epic,  called  the  Nibelungen- 
liedy  and  the  lays  of  the  Heldenbuch,  or  book  of 
heroes. 

Minorites.  Friars  belonging  to  the  order  of 
St.  Francis.  (Franciscans.) 

Minorities,  Representation  of.  In  Politics, 
the  means  for  giving  effect  to  the  opinion  of  the 
minority.  The  modes  generally  suggested  are 
twofold:  (i)  that  each  elector  shall  have  two 
votes  when  three  candidates  can  be  returned,  or 
(2)  one  vote  when  two  are  to  be  elected.  To 
these  must  be  added  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Hare, 
that  the  elector  should  be  empowered  to  choose 
the  constituency  in  which  he  shall  record  his 
vote. 

Minoresses.    (Clare,  St.,  Order  of.) 

Minos.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  a  king  of  Crete,  and 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  infernal  regions. 
(Menu,  Laws  of.) 

Minot.  [Fr.,  from  mine,  a  corr.  of  hemine, 
L.  hemlna,  Gr.  fiplva,  which  last  was  about  one 
gallon.']  An  O.Fr.  measure,  the  forty-eighth 
part  of  a  muid  [L.  modius],  and  a  little  larger 
than  an  English  bushel. 

Minotaur.  [Gr.  nivdravpos.]  (Myth.")  A 
monster,  half  man,  half  bull,  said  to  be  the  off- 
spring of  Pasiphae,  wife  of  Minos.  (Labyrinth.) 

Minster.  [Ger.  miinster.  Gr.  (jLovavr-hpiov.] 
Originally,  in  this  country,  an  outpost  of  the 
Church,  maintained  by  priests  living  under  rule. 
Thus  every  station  in  the  advance  made  by  the 
colleagues  of  Augustine  received  the  name  of 
monastery  or  minster,  and  retained  it  after 
secular  priests  had  taken  the  place  of  the 
monks. 

Minstrels.  [Fr.  menestrel,  from  O.G.  minne, 
love.]  In  the  Middle  Ages,  an  order  of  men 
who  seem  to  have  been  the  successors  to  the 
Minnesingers,  scalds,  and  bards.  But  they  soon 
degenerated.  The  chanter  of  \hegests  [L.  gesta, 
things  done,  feats],  or  acts  of  kings,  became  a 
gesticulator  or  jester ;  the  jongleur  of  Provence 
[L.  joculator]  sank  into  the  juggler  or  jockie. 
(Gleemen ;  Scald.) 

Mint.  [Gr.  /Ji/0a,  L.  mentha.]  (Bot.)  A 
herb  of  the  nat.  ord.  Labiatse,  used  for  flavouring. 

Mint.  [L.  Moneta,  a  name  of  Juno,  in  whose 
temple  money  was  coined.]  A  place  for  coining 
the  national  money. 

Minuet.  [Fr.  menuet.]  1.  A  slow,  graceful 
dance,  which  had  its  origin  probably  in  Poitou, 
and  in  the  seventeenth  century  ;  by  two  persons, 
in  3  time ;  consisting  of  a  coupee,  a  high  step, 
'  and  a  balance,  and  having  short  steps  [pas 
menus] ;  a  coupee  being  when,  one  leg  being 
a  little  bent  and  raised  from  the  ground,  a 
motion  forward  is  made  with  the  other.  2.  A 
musical  movement,  originally  an  accompaniment 
to  the  dance. 

Minute-guns.     (Mil.  and  Afout.)    Guns  fired 


(as  of  ships)  or  of  mourning  (as  at  funerals). 
Lnutiae.     [L.]     Petty  details,  trifles. 


at  intervals  of  a  minute,  as  a  sign  either  of  dis- 
tress 

Minutiae. 

Miocene.    (Eocene.) 

Miblnir.  The  crushing  or  pounding  hammer 
ofThor.  (Mars.) 

Miquelets.  In  Sp.  Hist.,  partisan  troops 
raised  chiefly  in  Catalonia  ;  first  heard  of  in  the 
seventeenth  century. 

Mirabile  dictu.    [L.]     Wonderful  to  tell. 

Miracle.    (Prodigy.) 

Miracle-plays.  Plays  representing  events  re- 
corded in  the  Bible.  They  were  common  in  the 
Middle  Ages.  The  miracle-play  of  the  Passion 
is  still  performed  at  Ober- Ammergau,  in  Bavaria, 
once  in  every  ten  years. 

Mirage.  [Fr.  mirage,  mirer,  to  aim  at.]  A 
reflected  picture  of  distant  objects,  seen  in 
peculiar  states  of  the  atmosphere.  If  two  trans- 
parent media  of  different  densities  are  in  contact, 
a  ray  of  light  in  the  denser  medium,  inclined  at 
a  small  angle  to  the  common  surface,  will  not 
pass  into  the  rarer  medium,  but  will  be  reflected 
internally.  It  is  probable  that  when  the  M. 
is  seen  the  atmosphere  is  arranged  in  layers 
of  different  densities,  varying  nearly  discon- 
tinuously,  so  that  light  proceeding  from  objects 
in  the  lower  strata  suffers  internal  reflexion, 
and  forms  for  the  observer  the  images  which 
constitute  the  M.  ;  just  as  in  a  long,  low 
room,  ceiled  with  looking-glass,  he  would  see 
both  the  end  of  the  room  and  its  inverted  image  ; 
or  in  other  cases,  where  the  observer  and  the 
object  are  above  the  heated  stratum,  he  sees  it 
and  its  image  as  if  formed  by  reflexion  in  water. 

Miramamolin.    (Emir.) 

Mirmillones.  [L.]  Among  the  Roman 
gladiators,  the  opponents  of  the  Eetiarians; 
so  called  from  the  embossed  fish  [Gr.  nip(j.v\os] 
which  they  wore  on  their  head-piece. 

Mirrour  for  Magistrates,  published  1559.  A 
poem,  very  important  in  English  literature,  and 
veiy  popular  in  its  day,  begun  by  Thomas  Sack- 
ville,  Lord  Buckhurst ;  completed  by  .Baldwyne 
and  Ferrers,  and  others.  The  first  poetical  use 
made  of  chronicles  like  Hollinshed  s,  etc.,  by 
which  English  history,  written  hitherto  in 
monkish  Latin,  had  recently  become  known  to 
the  people  ;  its  plan  being  to  give  an  account  of 
all  the  illustrious,  but  unfortunate,  characters, 
from  the  Conquest  to  the  end  of  the  fourteenth 
century  ;  one  of  the  sources  from  which  Shake- 
speare drew. 

Mirza.  This  word,  a  corr.  of  the  Pers. 
Emir-zadah,  sons  of  the  prince,  is  the  common 
style  of  honour,  when  put  before  the  name  ; 
coming  after  it,  it  signifies  prince. 

Mischia.     (Scagliola.) 

Mischna.    (Talmud.) 

Miscreant.  Until  lately,  often  =  miscreant 
[Fr.  mecreant],  unbeliever  ;  not  morally  evil. 

Misdemeanour.  In  Law,  any  indictable 
offence  not  of  a  felonious  character ;  as  libel, 
seditious  acts,  etc. 

Mise  of  Lewes.  The  name  given  to  the  treaty 
between  the  English  barons  and  the  royalists 
after  the  battle  of  Lewes,  May,  1264. 


MISE 


325 


MODI 


Miserere.  [L.,  have  mercy.'}  1,  The  fifty- 
first  psalm  ;  so  called  from  the  first  word  with 
which  it  begins  in  Latin.  2.  (Arch.}  The  under 
portion  of  the  seat  of  a  stall,  generally  richly 
carved,  and  often  with  grotesques,  so  contrived 
that  it  may  turn  up  when  wanted  as  a  support 
in  long  standing. 

Misericorde.  [Fr.,  pity,  either  the  cry  for 
pity,  or  (?)  ironical.]  Dagger  worn  by  knights 
for  stabbing  to  death  those  who  had  fallen. 

Misfeasance.  [O.Fr.  mes,  wrong,  feasance, 
doing,  from  L.  facere,  to  do.]  In  Law,  a  tres- 
pass or  wrong  done. 

Misnomer.  In  Law,  a  mistake  in  a  name, 
or  the  substitution  of  one  name  for  another ; 
which  has  no  effect,  as  a  general  rule,  if  the 
subject-matter,  or  person,  is  certain  or  ascertain- 
able  notwithstanding. — Brown,  Law  Dictionary. 

Mispickel.  [O.G.]  (Chem.)  A  greyish  white 
ore  of  iron  combined  with  sulphur  and  arsenic. 

Misprision.  [From  Fr.  mepris,  negligence, 
contempt. ,]  In  Law,  (i)  any  Misdemeanour 
which  has  not  a  specific  name  ;  (2)  contempt,  or 
neglect,  in  not  disclosing  crimes,  as  of  treason 
or  felony.  (Treason,  Misprision  of.) 

Missal.  [L.L.  missale.J  The  book  contain- 
ing the  ritual  for  the  celebration  of  Mass  in  the 
Latin  Church. 

Missa  sicca.  [L.,  dry  Mass."\  A  form  of  Mass 
said  on  days  on  which  there  is  no  consecration. 

Missing  vessel.  (Naut.)  One  which,  not 
having  been  heard  of  for  six  months  in  Europe, 
or  twelve  elsewhere,  is  held  to  be  lost. 

Missouri  Compromise.  A  name  popularly 
given  to  an  Act  of  Congress  passed  in  1820, 
and  intended  to  reconcile  the  two  great  sections 
that  were  struggling,  the  one  to  promote,  the 
other  to  hinder,  the  extension  of  slavery.  By 
this  Act,  it  was  determined  that  Missouri  should 
be  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  slave-holding 
state,  but  that  slavery  should  never  be  established 
in  any  state  to  be  formed  in  the  future  lying 
north  of  lat.  36°  30'. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Miss  stays,  To.  (Naut.)  Instead  of  going 
about,  to  fall  back  on  the  old  tack. 

Mistico.  (Naut.)  A  small  vessel  of  the 
Mediterranean,  between  a  felucca  and  a  xebec. 

Mistral  [as  if  maestrale,  the  master  wind], 
Mistraou,  Maestral,  the  Caurus  or  Corus  of  the 
Romans,  Maestro  of  Italy.  A  north-west  wind 
on  S.  coast  of  France  and  up  the  Rhone  as  far 
as  Valence  ;  sudden,  violent,  bitterly  cold,  parch- 
ing, painful  to  eyes  and  face,  especially  prevalent 
from  the  end  of  autumn  to  the  beginning  of 
spring. 

Mithriac  worship.  In  Rom.  Hist.,  the  wor- 
ship of  the  Persian  sun-god  Mithras,  the  Mitra 
of  the  Rig  Veda ;  introduced  into  Rome  about 
the  time  of  the  fall  of  the  republic. 

Mithridate.  An  antidote  to  poison,  an  alexi- 
pharmic.  Mithridates  Eupator,  King  of  Pontus, 
succeeding  to  the  throne  B.C.  120,  when  eleven 
years  old,  and  constantly  fearing  conspiracy,  is 
said  to  have  invented  and  constantly  taken  some 
very  efficacious  antidote  to  poison.  A  poetical 
term. 

Mitrailleuse.      [Fr.]     A    French    gun,    the 


principle   of  which  is   much   like   that   of  the 
English  Gatling  gun. 

Mitre,  or  Mitre-joint ;  M.-wheels.  A  joint 
such  as  that  formed  by  the  skirting-board  at  the 
corner  of  a  room  ;  the  pieces  are  cut  at  a  certain 
angle  (e.g.  45°)  so  as  to  match  when  put  together. 
Two  bevilled  wheels  with  an  equal  number  of 
teeth,  and  with  axes  at  right  angles  to  each  other, 
are  M.-zvheels. 

Mitred  abbots.    (Abbots,  Mitred.) 

Mittimus.  [L.,  we  send.}  In  Law,  (i)  a  writ 
by  which  records  used  to  be  transferred  from  one 
court  to  another  ;  (2)  a  document,  signed  by  a 
magistrate,  committing  an  offender. 

Mixed  actions.  In  Law,  suits  partaking  of 
the  nature  of  real  and  personal  actions.  Now 
abolished  except  in  actions  for  ejectment. 

Mixed  chalice.  A  term  used  to  denote  that 
some  water  is  used  with  the  wine  in  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  Eucharist. 

Mixtion.  [Fr.,  from  mixtio,  -nem,  a  mixing.] 
A  mixture  for  affixing  gold-leaf  to  wood  or  dis- 
temper pictures. 

Mizzen.  (Naut.)  The  spanker  or  driver. 
M.-mast.  (Mast.) 

Mnemosyne.  [Gr.  /ii/^oo-uj/Tj,  memory.'] 
(Myth.)  The  mother  of  the  Muses. 

Moabite  Stone.  An  inscribed  stone  found 
among  the  ruins  of  Dibon,  in  1868,  and  unfor- 
tunately broken  by  the  natives,  owing  to  the 
mismanagement  of  the  Europeans,  who  wished 
to  get  possession  of  it.  Almost  the  whole  of  the 
inscription  has  been  recovered  from  the  broken 
pieces.  The  stone  was  set  up  by  Mesha,  King 
of  Moab,  who  rebelled  against  Jehoram  (2  Kings 
iii.  4,  5),  about  B.C.  890. 

Mobcap,  A  cap  for  women,  tied  under  the 
chin  by  a  very  broad  band. 

Moccasin.  (Native  name.)  An  ornamental 
deerskin  shoe  without  a  sole,  used  by  N. -Ameri- 
can Indians. 

Mock-heroic.  The  treatment  of  a  common- 
place subject  in  a  pompous  and  grand  style ; 
Burlesque  being  the  treatment  of  a  lofty  subject 
in  a  low  style. 

Mocking-bird.  (Ornith.)  Spec,  of  thrush, 
Mlmus  polyglottus  [Gr.,  mimic  of  many  tongues'] ; 
nine  inches  long,  ashen  brown,  with  white  in 
wings  and  tail.  America.  Fam.  Turdldae,  ord. 
Passeres. 

Mocmain  truss.  One  stuffed  with  M.,  a  sub- 
stance growing  on  the  silk-cotton  tree. 

Modality.  In  Log.,  a  term  denoting  proposi- 
tions in  which  the  meaning  of  the  copula  is 
qualified  by  some  word  or  phrase. 

Modal  Trinity.     (Sabellians.) 

Moderators,  Senior  and  Junior.  In  the  Uni- 
versities of  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  officers 
appointed  yearly  to  perform  certain  duties  con- 
nected with  examinations ;  so  called  from  having 
originally  moderated  or  presided  in  the  exercises 
of  undergraduates  in  the  schools  for  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts. 

Modes.     (Greek  modes ;  Gregorian  modes.) 

Modicum.  [L.]  A  moderate,  sometimes  a 
small,  amount  of  anything. 

Modillion.  [Fr.]  (Arch.)  A  projecting  bracket 


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under  the  Corona  of  the  Corinthian  and  Com- 
posite, and  sometimes  also  of  the  Roman  Ionic 
orders. 

Modiste.     [Fr.]    Milliner. 

Module.  [L.  modulus.]  (Arch.)  A  mea- 
sure for  regulating  the  proportions  of  an  order, 
equal  to  the  semi-diameter  of  a  column. 

Modulus  [L.,  a  measure  or  standard} ;.  M.  of 
elasticity ;  M.  of  logarithms ;  M.  of  a  machine  ; 
Young's  M.  A  measure  of  comparison.  It 
commonly  means  the  number  expressing  the 
ratio  of  two  variable  magnitudes  which  have  a 
constant  ratio.  The  M.  of  a  machine  is  the 
number  expressing  the  ratio  which  the  mechanical 
work  done  usefully  at  the  working  point  bears 
to  that  expended  at  the  driving  point  of  the 
machine.  The  M.  of  a  system  of  logarithms  is 
the  ratio  which  the  logarithm  of  any  number 
on  that  system  bears  to  the  hyperbolic  logarithm 
of  that  number.  When  a  rod  of  given  material 
is  stretched  by  a  force,  the  elongation  bears  to 
the  length  the  same  ratio  that  the  force  bears 
to  a  certain  force  called  the  M.  of  elasticity  (or 
Youngs  M.),  which  serves  to  measure/ the  re- 
sistance offered  by  the  material  to  elongation. 
Its  value  is  generally  estimated  in  pounds  per 
square  inch ;  thus,  in  the  case  of  steel,  the  M. 
is  about  thirty  million  pounds  per  square  inch. 

Modus  decimandi,  or  Modus.     (Tithes.) 

Modus  in  rebus.  [L.]  A  medium  (or  mean} 
in  all  things  (Horace). 

Modus  operandi.  [L.]  The  method  of  setting 
to  work. 

Modus  vivendi.    (Vivendi  modus.) 

Moerae.     (Fates.) 

Moff.     A  silk  stuff  made  in  Caucasia. 

Moghrebins,  Mograbians.  A  name,  meaning 
men  of  the  west,  applied  formerly  to  Turkish 
infantry  composed  of  peasants  from  N.  Africa. 

Mogul,  Great.  The  sovereign  of  the  empire 
founded  in  India  by  the  Mongol  Baber  in  the 
fifteenth  century.  The  last  titular  emperor  was 
banished  to  Burmah  in  1858,  for  his  share  in  the 
mutiny  of  1857. 

Mohair.  [Ger.  mohr.]  A  stuff  made  of  the 
long  silky  hair  of  the  Angora  goat,  a  native  of 
Asia  Minor. 

Mohammedanism.  The  religion  of  Mohammed. 
(Islam.) 

Mohur.  [Pers.]  A  gold  coin  worth  fifteen 
rupees ;  it  is  of  the  same  weight  and  fineness 
as  a  rupee,  i.e.  180  grains,  of  which  165  are  pure 
gold  ;  it  is  therefore  worth  29^.  2^d. 

Moidore.  [Port,  moeda  d'ouro,  coin  of  gold.} 
A  gold  coin  of  Portugal,  worth  about  £  I  *js. 

Moire.  [Fr.]  Moire  antique  is  watered  silk. 
Moire  metallique  is  tinplate  to  which  is  given  a 
crystalline  appearance  by  sponging  it  with  dilute 
nitro-hydrochloric  acid. 

Molasses.  [Sp.  melaza,  from  L.  mel,  honey.} 
The  brown  syrup  which  drains  from  sugar  in 
the  process  of  manufacture. 

Mole.  [Heb.]  (Bibl.)  1.  Isa.  ii.  20; 
Ch£phor-per6th,  the  digger  of  holes,  apparently 
a  blind  burrowing  rodent ;  not  our  mole,  but 
probably  the  mole-rat  (Spalax  typhlus).  2. 
Lev.  xi.  30 ;  Tinshameth,  probably  a  lizard. 


Molecule.  [Scholastic  L.  mSlecula,  dim.  of 
mdles,  a  mass.}  One  of  the  finite  number  of 
parts  into  which  a  given  quantity  of  matter 
would,  it  is  supposed,  be  ultimately  resolved  if 
the  process  of  division  could  be  carried  far 
enough.  Molecules  are  of  different  kinds ;  but 
it  is  believed  that  those  of  any  one  kind  are 
all  exactly  alike,  and  are  unchangeable  and 
indestructible.  Each  M.  is  held  to  be  composed 
of  a  crowd  of  atoms  moving  in  a  sort  of  double 
circulation  or  vortex. 

Moleskin.  A  soft,  shaggy  fabric  of  silk  or 
cotton,  like  the  fur  of  a  mole. 

Moline,  Cross.  [L.  mollna,  a  mill.}  (Her.) 
A  cross  resembling  the  iron  which  supports  the 
upper  millstone,  borne  ( I )  as  a  charge  or  (2)  as 
a  difference  in  the  eighth  son's  escutcheon. 

Molinism.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  In  the  Latin  Church, 
a  system  of  opinions  respecting  grace  and  pre- 
destination not  unlike  those  of  the  Arminians ; 
so  called  from  the  Jesuit  Molina,  who  drew  up 
the  propositions  on  which  it  rests,  in  1 588. 

Molinosism.  A  name  given  to  the  doctrine 
of  the  Quietists,  from  the  Spanish  enthusiast 
Molinos,  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

Molionids.     (Mars.) 

Mollah.  The  title  of  the  higher  order  of 
judges  in  the  Turkish  empire.  (Mullah.) 

Mollusca.   [L.  molluscus,  soft.}   (Malacology.) 

Molly  Maguires.  1.  Members  of  a  secret 
society  in  Ireland.  2.  A  society  in  Pennsylvania, 
in  chai-acter  similar  to  the  Ribbon  Society  of 
Ireland,  so  far  as  they  dealt  with  agrarian 
troubles  ;  composed  almost  entirely  of  Irishmen  ; 
combining  against  mine-owners  and  overseers, 
as  they  had  combined  against  landlords  and 
agents.  Murders  were  committed,  and  great 
quantities  of  coal  and  other  property  destroyed 
by  incendiarism.  Ten  were  executed  in  June, 
1877. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Moloch.  The  highest  deity  of  the  Phoenicians. 
The  word,  which  means  king,  occurs  in  the 
composition  of  many  Hebrew  names,  as  Melchi- 
zedek,  Melchishua,  and  in  many  forms  through- 
out the  Semitic  world.  (Bacchanalian.)  This 
god  was  appeased  by  sacrifices  of  infants  thrown 
into  the  fire  under  his  image. 

Molossus.  [Gr.  pbXoaabs.}  In  Pros.,  a  foot 
consisting  of  three  long  syllables. 

Molossus.  [Gr.,  of  Molossia,  in  Epirus.]  1. 
The  fine  Molossian  hound  from  Epirus  (Virgil, 
Georg.  iii.).  2,  The  bull-dog,  Cam's  familiaris 
molossus.  3.  The  Thibet  dog,  C.  F.  M. 
Thibetanus.  4.  The  name  of  three  gen.  of  short- 
headed  bats,  Noctili5nidse ;  Trop.  America. 

Molten  grease.  In  horses,  a  kind  of  dysen- 
tery ;  the  discharge  of  hard  foecal  matter  being 
brought  about  by  a  mucous  secretion. 

Moly.  [Gr.  /i«A.u.]  A  fabulous  herb ;  so 
named  by  the  gods  ;  with  black  root  and  white 
blossom ;  given  by  Hermes  to  Ulysses,  as  a 
counter-charm  to  the  spells  of  Circe  ( Odyssey, 
bk.  x.).  (Heemony.)  2.  (Bot.)  Allium  M.,  a 
kind  of  garlic. 

Molybdenum.  [Gr.  ^oKv^aiva,  a  leaden  ore.} 
(Min.)  A  brittle  white  metal. 

Moment  [L.  momentum,  movement,  a  moving 


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cause] ',  M.  of  a  couple ;  M.  of  a  force ;  M. 
of  inertia ;  Virtual  M.  The  Moment  of  a  force 
with  respect  to  a  point  is  the  product  of  the 
force  and  the  length  of  the  perpendicular  let 
fall  from  the  point  on  the  line  along  which  the 
force  acts.  The  term  M.  of  a  force  with  respect 
to  a  line  and  a  plane  is  also  used.  The  M.  of 
a  couple  is  the  moment  of  either  force  about  a 
point  in  the  line  of  action  of  the  other  force. 
The  M.  of  inertia  of  a  body  with  respect  to  a 
given  axis  is  the  sum  of  the  products  formed  by 
multiplying  the  mass  of  each  particle  by  the 
square  of  its  distance  from  the  axis.  (For 
Virtual  M.,  vide  Virtual.) 

Momentum  [L.],  or  Quantity  of  motion,  is  the 
product  of  the  mass  of  a  body  and  its  velocity. 
The  word  is  often  used  vaguely  for  the  force  or 
impetus  of  a  moving  body. 

Momiers.  [From  Fr.  momerie,  mummery.] 
(Hist.)  A  name  applied  since  1878  to  some 
sections  of  the  Evangelical  party  in  Switzerland 
and  in  parts  of  France  and  Germany.  On  the 
withdrawal  of  the  penal  enactments  against 
them  in  1831,  they  lost  influence  and  gradually 
disappeared. 

Momus.  [Gr.  /MO/AO?.]  In  the  Hesiodic  theo- 
gony,  a  child  of  night,  and  the  god  of  raillery 
and  ridicule. 

Mon-,  Mono-.  (Chem.)  A  prefix,  denoting 
that  a  salt  contains  one  [Gr.  pAvos]  atom  of  the 
element  thus  marked  ;  as  a  mono- sulphide,  which 
contains  one  atom  of  sulphur  in  each  molecule. 

Monad.  [Gr.  /j.ovds,  a  unit.]  1.  A  metal,  one 
atom  of  which  replaces  one  of  hydrogen  in  a 
compound.  2.  (Bacteria.) 

Monarchians.  [Gr.  fj.o'i/apxos,  ruling  alone.] 
A  name  applied  to  those  who,  in  the  third 
century,  were  charged  with  ditheism,  or  the 
worship  of  two  Gods,  or  who  could  not  define 
the  subordination  of  the  Son  to  the  Father. 
Their  opponents  branded  them  as  Patripassians. 
— Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity,  bk.  i. 
ch.  I. 

Moncrieff  carriage.  (Mil.)  By  means  of  which 
a  gun,  with  a  balancing  weight,  is  withdrawn 
by  its  own  recoil  after  each  discharge  below  the 
parapet,  thus  avoiding  the  exposure  from  using 
embrasures. 

Monetization.  The  act  or  process  of  con- 
verting bullion  into  money.  So  Demonetization, 
the  withdrawal  from  use,  as  currency. 

Money ers,  Company  of.  A  company  which, 
until  1837,  superintended  the  manufacture  of  the 
money  of  the  realm  at  the  Mint. 

Mongolia.  A  name  used  to  denote  a  large 
portion  of  the  Asiatic  continent  to  the  north  of 
the  Himalayas. 

Moniliform.  [L.  monile,  a  necklace. \  (Bot.) 
Having  many  successive  swellings,  like  a  string 
of  beads  ;  e.g.  pods  of  sea-kale. 

Monitor.  [L.,  one  who  -warns.]  (Naut.)  A 
heavily  armoured  steamer,  of  light  draught,  and 
small  freeboard,  carrying  her  armament  in  one 
or  two  plated  revolving  turrets,  which  are  situ- 
ated on  her  open  decks. 

Monk.  In  Printing,  a  blotch  from  types  which 
have  received  too  much  ink. 

22 


Monkey.  1.  (Naut.)  A  small  trading-  vessel 
of  the  sixteenth  century.  M.  -boat,  a  half-decked 
boat  of  the  Thames  above  London  Bridge.  M.  - 
spars,  reduced  masts,  etc.,  used  in  training-ships 
for  boys.  2.  The  weight  of  a  pile-driver. 

Monkey-nut.    (Arachis.) 

Monkey-wrench.  A  wrench  with  parallel 
jaws,  capable  of  adjustment  by  a  screw. 

Monmouth  cap.  (Naut.)  A  flat  worsted  cap, 
worn  formerly  by  sailors. 

Mono-.     [Gr.  /j.6vos,  one  only.] 

Monobasic  acid.  [Gr.  fj.6vos,  one,  jScwns,  base.  ] 
(Chem.  )  Any  acid  containing  one  atom  of  hydro- 
gen in  its  composition. 

Monocardian.  [Gr.  KapMa,  heart.]  (Anat.) 
Having  a  single  heart  ;  e.g.  some  reptiles  ;  all 
mammalia  having  a  double  heart. 

Monochlamydeous.  [Gr.  p6vos,  one  only, 
Xha.fJi.vs,  a  mantle.]  (Bot.)  Never  having  both 
calyx  and  corolla  ;  e.g.  the  goose-foots. 

Monochord  [Gr.  T&  p.ov&xofiov*  *&  one- 
stringed  instrument,  the  monochord],  or  Sono- 
meter [made  up  of  L.  sonus,  sound,  and  Gr. 
Utrpov,  measure.]  (Phys.)  1.  An  instrument 
for  ascertaining  the  relation  between  the  various 
notes  of  the  musical  scale,  and  the  rate  of  vibra- 
tion by  which  they  are  respectively  produced. 
A  catgut  or  wire,  placed  over  a  sounding-board 
and  fixed  at  one  end,  is  carried  over  a  pulley 
and  stretched  by  a  certain  weight  ;  it  rests  on 
two  bridges,  one  of  which  is  fixed,  while  the 
other,  sliding  to  and  fro,  varies  the  length  of 
string  between  the  bridges,  as  shown  by  a  divid- 
ing scale.  By  varying  the  weight,  the  tension 
is  increased  or  diminished.  The  string  can  thus 
be  adjusted  to  yield  a  given  note,  and  the  number 
of  vibrations  perceived  can  be  calculated  from 
the  stretching  weight  and  the  length  and  weight 
of  the  strings  between  the  bridges.  2.  With 
the  Pythagoreans,  the  scale  was  measured  phy- 
sically and  arithmetically  by  a  tuning-string,, 
called  the  M. 

Monochromatic  lamp.  A  lamp  whose  light 
is  of  only  one  [Gr.  \i.^vov]  homogeneous  colour 


Monochrome.  [Gr.  p.6vos,  one,  xpoj/ia,  colour.  \ 
A  painting  in  various  shades  of  only  one  colour. 

MonoclinaL  [Gr.  povos,  one  only,  K\iv<a,  1 
make  to  bend.]  (GeoL}  A  set  of  strata  dipping  in 
only  one  direction. 

Monoclinic  system.  [Gr.  fj.6vos,  one  only,. 
K\ivu,  1  make  to  slant  ^  (Crystallog.)  The 
oblique  prismatic  system  (q.v.). 

Monocotyledonous  plants.  (Bot.  )  Having  but 
one  cotyledon  (q.v.)  ;  coextensive  with  Exogens 
(q.v.),  which  term  is  now  more  frequently  used. 
(Dicotyledonous  plants.) 

Monocular.  [Gr.  /u&/oy,  one  only,  L,  oeulus,. 
eye.]  One-eyed  ;  adapted  for  vision  with  one 
eye. 

Monodactylous.  (Zool.)  Having  only  <yn&  finger 
or  toe  [Gr.  SoKTuAoy], 

Monodelphia.  [Gr.  /iJj/oy,  single,  Sf\<f>vsf 
uterus.]  (Zool.)  Having  a  single  uterus.  The 
highest  sub-class  of  the  class  Mammalia,  con- 
taining all  but  the  Marsupials  and  Monotremata. 

Monody.    [Gr.  /ioj/ySi'a,  a  solo.]     A  poem  in 


MONCE 


328 


MONT 


which  the  mourner  is  supposed  to  bewail  by 
himself,  as  opposed  to  pastoral  elegies  in  dia- 
logue. 

Monoecious.  [Gr.  p.6vos,  one  only,  olicos,  house, 
family.}  (Bot.)  Linnsean  class  xxi.,  having 
stamens  and  pistils  on  the  same  plant,  but  in 
different  flowers;  Dioecious  [Si-,  two}  in  class 
xxii. ,  on  different  flowers,  and  on  separate  plants, 
(-andria.) 

Monogamist.  [Gr.  /jLovoya^os. }  Is  used  some- 
times to  denote,  not  one  who  marries  one 
husband  or  wife  at  a  time,  but  one  who  objects 
to  all  second  marriages,  like  the  Vicar  of  Wake- 
field. 

Monogastrio.     Having  but  one  stomach  [Gr. 


Monogram.  [Gr.  p.6vos,  alone,  jpa^a,  a 
letter. ,]  A  cipher,  giving  the  initials  of  a  name, 
intertwined  with  each  other. 

Monograph.  [Gr.  p.6vos,  one  only,  ypdfpu,  I 
write.}  A  treatise,  strictly  confined  to  a  single 
subject. 

Monolith.  [Gr.  p.6vos,  one  only,  \l6os,  stone.} 
A  large  single  block  of  stone,  artificially  or 
naturally  cut  out ;  like  many  of  the  old  menhirs 
(q.v.)  and  obelisks. 

Monologue.  [Gr.  p.6vos,  one,  \6yos,  a  dis- 
course.} A  soliloquy.  The  word  is  also  used 
to  denote  an  entertainment  in  which  one  per- 
former takes  all  the  parts,  after  the  fashion  of 
C.  Mathews,  Woodin,  etc. 

Monometrio  system.  [Gr.  n6vos,  one  only, 
perpov,  measure.}  (Crystallog.)  The  octahedral 
system  (q.v.}. 

Monomial.  [As  if  mono-nomial ;  -vide  Bino- 
mial theorem.]  (Math.)  An  algebraical  expres- 
sion consisting  of  a  single  term,  i.e.  not  of  parts 
connected  by  the  signs  plus  or  minus. 

Monopathy.  [Gr.  /jiovoirddeia,  from  irdOos, 
affection.}  (Med.)  1.  Suffering  in  some  one 
organ  or  function  only.  2.  Sole  or  individual 
suffering. 

Monopetalous.  [Gr.  /j.6vos,  one  only,  ircraXov, 
leaf.}  (Bot.)  Having  all  the  petals  united  into 
one  body  by  their  edges ;  e.g.  convolvulus, 
heath,  campanula. 

Monophysites.  [Gr.  (jLovotpva'trai,  from  pdvos, 
alone,  and  Qixris,  nature.}  A  name  given  to  all 
who  asserted  that  there  was  only  one  nature 
in  Christ.  (Eutychians;  Monothelites;  Nes- 
torians.) 

Monopoly.  [Gr.  fj.ouoTT(a\la,  from  TrwXew,  I 
sell.}  Interference  with  free  exchange  by  royal 
or  other  enactments  assuring  the  trading  in 
certain  articles  to  privileged  persons  or  to  the 
Crown. 

Monopsychism.  [Gr.  f*.6vos,  alone,  tyvx'fii  life.} 
The  doctrine  that  the  constructive  reason  is  one 
individual  substance,  one  and  the  same  in  all 
persons ;  whence  it  follows  that  individuality 
consists  only  in  bodily  sensations  which  are 
perishable,  so  that  nothing  which  is  individual 
can  be  immortal,  and  nothing  that  is  immortal 
can  be  individual.  This  tenet  of  the  numerical 
unity  of  the  soul  of  mankind  was  the  principle 
of  Averroism.  (Identity,  Personal;  Individu- 
ality.) 


MonoptSral.  [Gr.  juoi/JTrrepos,  -with  but  one 
wing.}  (Arch.)  A  temple  without  a  cella. 

Monorime,  less  correctly  Monorhyme.  A  com- 
position in  verse,  in  which  all  the  lines  end  with 
the  same  rime. 

Monotheism.  [Gr.  JJLOVOS,  one  only,  &e6s,  God.} 
The  worship  of  one  God,  to  the  distinct  denial 
of  all  other  gods ;  Henotheism  [els,  gen.  tvA-s, 
one  in  number,  a  single  one}  being  the  worship 
of  single  gods  (or  of  one  at  a  time),  and  Poly- 
theism the  worship  of  many  deities  which 
together  form  one  divine  polity  under  the  con- 
trol of  one  supreme  god. — Max  MUller,  Hibbert 
Lectures,  p.  289. 

Monothelites.  [Gr.  ^ovoBeXrirai,  from  p&vos, 
alone,  and  6e\<a,  I  will.}  A  name  given  to  all 
who,  while  they  allowed  the  distinction  of  the 
two  natures  in  Christ,  asserted  that  the  divine 
will  left  to  His  human  will  no  action  or  efficiency 
of  its  own. 

Monotremata,  Monotrematous.  [Gr.  n6vos, 
single,  rpTJfia,  hole.}  (Zool.)  An  ord.  of  mammals, 
coextensive  with  the  sub-class  Ornlthodelphia, 
having  but  one  outlet  for  all  natural  purposes. 
It  is  peculiar,  both  in  existing  and  in  extinct 
animal  forms,  to  Australia,  and  consists  solely 
of  the  Ornithorhyncus  and  the  Echidnas  (qq.v.). 

Monotriglyph.  (Arch.}  In  the  Doric  order, 
the  intercolumniation  embracing  one  triglyph 
and  two  Metopes  in  the  Entablature.  (Order.) 

Monoxylon.  [Gr.  fj.ov6£u\os,  in  ancient  Gr. 
made  from  a  solid  trtmk.}  (Naut.)  A  boat 
worked  with  one  oar ;  Ionian  Islands. 

Monroe  doctrine.  That  of  President  M. 
(1823),  "the  principle,  in  which  the  rights 
and  interests  of  the  U.S.  were  involved,  that 
the  American  continents,  by  the  free  and  in- 
dependent condition  which  they  have  assumed 
and  maintained,  are  henceforth  not  to  be  con- 
sidered as  subjects  for  future  colonization  by  any 
European  power;"  and,  further,  that  the  U.S. 
would  consider  "any  attempt  of  the  Allied 
Powers  to  extend  their  system "  (that  of  the 
Holy  Alliance)  "to  any  portion  of  this  hemi- 
sphere as  dangerous  to  our  peace  and  safety." — 
Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Monseigneur.  [Fr.]  A  title  given  in  France 
to  dukes,  peers,  archbishops,  etc.,  the  simple 
monsieur  being  the  title  of  the  eldest  brother  of 
the  king. 

Monsoon.  [Fr.  mousson,  from  Malay  mosseem, 
a  year.}  The  wind  which  blows  in  the  Indian 
seas  in  a  nearly  constant  direction,  from  about 
N.E.  for  six  months  (November  to  March),  and 
then  from  about  S.W.  for  the  next  six  months 
(April  to  October). 

Monstrance.  [L.  monstro,  1  show.}  In  the 
Latin  Church,  a  vessel  in  which  the  host  is 
exhibited  to  the  people  through  a  circle  of  crystal 
surrounded  by  rays  of  gold  and  silver. 

Montanists.  (Red.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Montanus,  who,  in  the  second  century,  asserted 
that  he  had  received  from  the  Holy  Ghost 
special  knowledge  on  points  not  made  known 
to  the  apostles,  refused  to  communicate  with 
persons  guilty  of  great  crimes,  and  held  it  un- 
lawful to  fly  in  times  of  persecution.  He  also 


MONT 


329 


MORD 


condemned  second  marriages,  and  enjoined  the 
observance  of  three  Lents.  One  of  his  most 
celebrated  adherents  was  Tertullian.  As 
Montanus  was  a  Phrygian,  his  followers  are 
sometimes  called  Phrygians  and  Cataphrygians. 

Mont  de  Piete.  [Fr.,  hill  of  piety.}  1.  A  name 
for  certain  benevolent  institutions  on  the  Con- 
tinent for  lending  money  to  the  poor  at  low  rates 
of  interest.  2.  Pawnbroker's  office. 

Monte.  [Sp.]  A  game  of  chance,  played 
with  cards,  of  which  the  Spanish  Americans  are 
excessively  fond. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Montem.  An  old  Eton  custom ;  its  origin 
obscure.  Every  third  year  the  whole  school 
marched  in  a  sort  of  semi-military  array  to  a 
mound  [L.  ad  montem]  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
the  college,  and  money,  called  salt  [(?)  salarium, 
salt  money,  allowance},  was  collected  for  the 
captain  of  the  school.  Traced  by  some  to  the 
election  of  the  boy-bishop  by  school-fellows  ; 
by  others  to  the  solemn  initiation  of  new  boys 
into  the  Eton  mysteries,  at  the  mound  still  called 
Salt  Hill,  by  an  actual  partaking  of  salt,  and  a 
making  of  epigrams  upon  them  [sales,  witticisms}. 
The  last  M.  was  in  1844. 

Montgolfier  balloon.  A  fire  balloon  (first 
made  by  the  brothers  Montgolfier). 

Month  [L.  mensis,  Gr.  /J.TJV;  pfiv-ri,  moon,  as 
the  measurer  of  time,  Skt.  ma,  to  measure] ; 
Calendar  M. ;  Full  M. ;  Hollow  M. ;  Lunar  M. ; 
Sidereal  M. ;  Synodic  M, ;  Tropical  M.  Calendar 
months  are  merely  artificial  parts  of  the 
calendar  year,  January,  February,  etc.  The 
mean  of  the  intervals  from  one  new  moon  (i.e. 
from  one  conjunction)  to  the  next  is  the  Synodic 
or  Lunar  M.  ;  its  length  is  29  days  12  lirs.  44 
mins.  2°8  sees.  The  tropical  M.  is  the  mean 
interval  between  her  leaving  and  returning  to  the 
first  point  of  Aries ;  its  length  is  27  days  7  hrs. 
43  mins.  4*5  sees.  The  Sidereal  M.  is  the 
mean  interval  between  her  leaving  and  returning 
to  a  given  point  in  the  heavens,  i.e.  it  is  the 
tropical  month  corrected  for  precession ;  its 
length  is  about  seven  seconds  longer  than  the 
tropical  month.  A  Full  M.  is  one  of  thirty 
days  ;  a  Hollow  M.,  one  of  twenty-nine  days. 
These  terms  were  used  in  the  distribution  of  the 
months  throughout  the  Metonic  cycle. 

Monton.  [Sp.  monton,  a  heap.]  A  heap  of 
ore. 

Montpensier  marriages.  Two  marriages  which 
took  place  in  1846,  the  one  between  the  Queen 
of  Spain  and  the  Duke  of  Cadiz,  the  other  be- 
tween the  Infanta  and  the  Duke  of  Montpensier. 
These  marriages  had  been  the  subject  of  much 
diplomatic  action  between  the  courts  of  England 
and  Spain,  and  that  of  Louis  Philippe,  King  of 
the  French,  who  desired  that  the  husband  of  the 
Spanish  queen  should  be  a  Bourbon,  while  the 
English  Government  urged  that  he  should  be  a 
prince  of  Coburg. 

Monumentum  aere  perennlus.  [L.]  A  monu- 
ment more  lasting  than  brass  ;  spoken  by  Horace 
of  his  fame  as  a  poet. 

Mood.  [L.  modus.]  1.  (Gram.)  The  form 
of  the  verb  which  describes  the  manner  of  our 
conception  of  an  event  or  fact  as  certain,  con- 


tingent, possible,  etc.  2.  (Log.)  The  designa- 
tion of  the  three  propositions  of  a  syllogism 
according  to  their  quantity  and  quality. 

Moon-culminating  stars  come  on  to  the  meri- 
dian a  little  before  or  after  the  moon,  and  at 
nearly  the  same  place.  The  observation  of 
transits  of  the  moon  and  of  a  few  of  these  stars 
on  one  night  serves  to  determine  the  longitude 
with  great  exactness. 

Moon-rakers.    (Naut.)    (Sails.) 

Moonshee.  [Hind,  munshi,  a  writer,  or  secre 
tary.]  A  teacher  of  languages,  especially  in 
India. 

Moor,  To.  (Aftw/.)  To  fasten  a  vessel  by 
two  cables  ;  sometimes,  to  fasten  her  to  moor- 
ings (q.v.). 

Moor-ill.  A  kind  of  dropsical  ailment  in 
horses,  especially  when  turned  out  in  marshy 
ground  ;  a  swelling  of  the  lower  side  of  the 
body,  after  lying  down  at  night,  and  of  the  legs 
during  standing. 

Moorings.  [D.  maaren,  cable,  whence  Fr. 
amarre,  amarrer,  demarrer.]  Heavy  anchors  and 
cables  placed  in  harbours,  etc.,  for  ships  to  moor 
to.  Swinging  M.,  when  only  two  M.  ;  All-fours, 
when  bow  and  stern  M.  are  used. 

Mop,  Statute  Fair.  [L.  mappa,  a  towel,  etc. , 
cloth  used  in  cleaning  the  floor  ;  hence  a  mop.] 
Yearly  fair  for  hire  of  agricultural  servants  ; 
now  dying  out ;  formerly  called  Mapp  Fair. 

Moplahs.  The  Mohammedan  inhabitants  of 
Malabar. 

Mopusses.     In  Naut.  slang,  money. 

Moraine.  [Cf.  L.L.  morena,  a  stockade.] 
(Geol.)  Masses  of  rock  and  rubbish  brought  by 
glaciers  down  from  the  mountains.  When 
deposited  at  the  end  of  a  glacier,  the  mass  is  a 
terminal  M.  ;  when  at  the  side,  a  lateral  M. ; 
and  when  along  the  middle  of  a  glacier  formed 
by  the  junction  of  two  or  more  glaciers,  a 
medial  M. 

Moralities.  [L.  moralis,  relating  to  manners.] 
A  general  term  for  the  theatrical  exhibitions  of 
the  Middle  Ages,  including  Mysteries  and 
Miracle-plays. 

Moravians,  or  United  Brethren.  These  are 
said  to  be  the  followers  of  Count  Zinzendorf,  in 
the  last  century,  and  to  be  so  called  because  the 
first  converts  were  furnished  by  some  Moravian 
families.  The  society  itself  claims  to  have  had 
its  origin  in  the  days  of  Methodius  and  Cyrillus, 
two  Greek  monks,  by  whom  Bulgaria  and  Mo- 
ravia were  converted  from  heathenism.  They 
profess  a  general  agreement  with  the  Augsburg 
Confession  of  Faith. 

Morbidezza.  [It.,  delicacy.]  The  painting  of 
flesh  with  its  natural  delicacy  and  softness  of 
tint. 

Morbus  pedlcularis.     (Pedicularia.) 

Morceau.  [Fr.,  from  L.L.  morsellum,  a 
mouthful.]  (Music.)  A  somewhat  short,  simple 
piece,  or  extract  from  longer  and  more  impor- 
tant pieces. 

Mordant.  [Fr.,  biting.]  Any  substance 
having  an  affinity  for  fibrous  material  and  for  the 
colouring  matter,  and  therefore  fixing  dyes. 

Mordred.     (Arthur,  King.) 


MORE 


330 


MORT 


Moreen.  [Ger.  mohr.]  A  stout  woollen  stuff 
used  for  curtains,  etc. 

More  majdrum.  [L.]  After  the  ways  of  our 
forefathers. 

Morendo.     [It.]     (Music.}    Dying  away. 

Moresque  (i.e.  Moorish).  In  Painting  or 
Sculpture,  a  kind  of  arabesque  ornament,  in 
which  fruits  and  flowers  spring  out  of  each  other, 
without  the  introduction  of  any  animal  figures. 

More  siio.  [L.]  After  his  own  fashion  ;  in  a 
good,  or,  perhaps  oftener,  a  bad  sense  ;  just  like 
him  (her,  or  them). 

Morganatic  marriage,  also  called  Left-handed 
marriage.  A  marriage  between  a  man  of  supe- 
rior and  a  woman  of  lower  rank,  the  contract 
being  that  the  children  shall  not  follow  the  con- 
dition or  inherit  the  possessions  of  the  father. 
[(.')  Goth,  morgjan,  to  shorten.'] 

Morgan  le  Fay.  In  the  Arthur  legend,  a  half- 
sister  of  Arthur.  In  the  story  of  Olger  the 
Dane,  she  is  the  fairy  queen  who  bears  Olger 
away  to  her  home. 

Morgue.  [Fr.]  In  French  towns,  the  place 
where  the  bodies  of  persons  found  dead  are 
exposed,  in  order  to  be  recognized  by  their 
friends. 

Morians'  land.  In  Authorized  Version, 
Ethiopia,  =  the  black-a-moor. 

Morigeration.  [L.  morigerationem,  from  mos, 
moris,  manner,  custom,  behaviour,  etc.,  and 
gero,  I  bear  or  carry. ,]  Obedience,  obsequious- 
ness. 

Morion.  [Fr.,  from  Sp.  morra,  the  round  of 
the  head.]  Musketeer's  helmet,  with  rounded 
top  and  turned-up  brim,  somewhat  like  a  wide- 
awake. 

Mormonites.  The  followers  of  Joseph  Smith, 
an  American  of  Vermont,  settled  in  the  state  of 
New  York.  The  sect  receives  its  name  from  his 
religious  romance,  entitled  The  Book  of  Mormon: 
an  Account  writ teit  by  the  Hand  of  Mormon,  upon 
Plates  taken  from  the  Plates  of  Mormon,  and 
printed  at  Palmyra,  New  York,  in  1830.  In 
1844  the  establishment  of  the  Mormons  at 
Nauvoo,  in  Illinois,  was  sacked,  and  Joseph 
Smith  murdered  by  a  mob.  In  1848  they  es- 
tablished themselves  in  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  in 
the  territory  of  Utah.  They  are  specially  dis- 
tinguished as  upholders  of  polygamy,  which  is 
said  to  have  been  authorized  by  "a  revelation 
on  the  patriarchal  order  of  matrimony,  and 
plurality  of  wives,"  made  to  Joseph  Smith  in 
1843. 

Mormons.    (Mormonites.) 
Morne.     [Fr.    mortne,  stillborn.]     (Her.)     A 
rampant  lion  without  teeth,  tongue,  or  claws. 
Morning  gun.    (Gunfire.) 
Morning  star.    The  planet  Venus  when  she 
rises  before  the  sun. 

Morning  watch.  (Naut.)  That  from  4  a.m. 
to  8  a.m. 

Morocco.     [Fr.    marroquin.]     A    fine  leather 
made  from  goat's  skin  and  tanned  with  shumac. 
Morosoph,      [Gr.    /jLwp6<TO(f>os,  foolishly  wise.] 
One  who  has  a  certain  amount  of  learning  with- 
out method,  or  patience,  or  humility. 

Morpheus.    [Gr.]    (Myth.)    The  Greek  god 


f  sleep ;   so  called   as  being   the  shaper  [Gr. 
opQ'f),  L.  forma]  of  dreams. 
Morphology.     [Gr.  M-opty-f),  form,  shape.]    The 
doctrine  of   the  identity,  1,  (Bot.)  of  the  same 
organs    under  different    modifications,    e.g.    of 
)etal,  sepal,  tendril,  etc.,  with  leaf;  2,  (Comp. 
Anat.)  of  the  same  organ  in  different  individuals, 
*.g.  phalanges  in  man,  and  membranous  wing  of 
)at,  etc. 

Morrice-dance,  or  Morris-dance.  Originally 
Moresco  or  Moorish  dances ;  said  to  have  been 
ntroduced  into  England  by  Edward  III.  The 
performers  danced  with  bells  on  their  feet. 

Morse.  [L.  morsus,  from  mordeo,  I  bite.]  A 
clasp.  More  particularly,  the  clasp  of  a  cope. 
Pectoral.) 

Mors  janua  vitae.  [L.]  Death  is  the  gate  of 
life. 

Mors  ultima  linea  rerum.  [L.]  Death  is  the 
limit  of  (earthly)  things  or  concerns  (Horace). 

Mortal  sins.  [L.  mortalis,  deadly.]  With 
the  Church  of  Rome,  "sins  gross,  knowingly, 
wilfully,  deliberately  committed."  Venial  sins 
[venialis,  pardonable]  are  "those  of  ignorance 
and  negligence,  and  such  as  are  considered  small 
in  their  nature." 

Mortar.  [Fr.  mortier,  L.  mortarium,  a  mor- 
tar.] (Mil.)  Thick  short  gun  placed  on  a 
bed,  for  throwing  shells  at  a  good  elevation  ;  the 
trunnions  (q.v. )  are  at  the  breech,  and  the  cham- 
ber is  shaped  as  the  frustum  of  a  cone. 

Mortgage.  [Fr.,  from  mort,  dead,  and  gage, 
pledge.]  In  Law,  an  absolute  conveyance  ot  an 
estate  from  the  borrower  to  the  lender,  with  the 
condition  that,  if  the  loan  be  repaid  within  a 
stipulated  time,  the  estate  shall  be  reconveyed. 

Mortier.  [Fr.]  A  cap  of  State  anciently 
worn  by  kings  of  France. 

Mortification.  In  Scot.  Law,  a  term  with 
much  the  same  meaning  as  Mortmain. 

Mortise  [Fr.  mortaise  ;  origin  unknown] ;  M.- 
joint;  M.-lock;  M.  and  tenon;  M.-wheel.  A 
rectangular  hole  cut  in  a  piece  of  timber  to  receive 
a  tenon  or  rectangular  projection  at  the  end  of  a 
second  piece.  The  M.  and  tenon  form  a  M.  -joint 
and  connect  the  pieces  at  right  angles.  A 
M.  -lock  fits  into  a  rectangular  hole  or  mortise, 
cut  in  the  thickness  of  a  door.  A  M.  -wheel  is  a 
cast-iron  wheel  with  mortises  in  its  circumference 
to  be  fitted  with  wooden  teeth  or  cogs. 

Mortling.  [Fr.  mort,  dead.]  Wool  taken 
from  a  dead  sheep. 

Mortmain.  [O.Fr.]  An  alienation  of  real 
property  to  any  corporation  or  fraternity ;  so 
called  because  the  lands  fell  into  a  dead  hand, 
i.e.  one  incapable  of  performing  the  services 
required  of  tenants. 
Mortua  manus.  [L.]  (Mortmain.) 
Mortuary.  [L.  mortuarium,  money  paid  at 
death,  soul-shot.]  In  times  preceding  the  Nor- 
man Conquest,  a  gift  left  at  death  to  the  parish 
church,  as  a  recompense  for  personal  tithes  for- 
gotten or  withheld  during  lifetime,  afterwards 
distinguished  into  Dead  M.,  as  money,  etc.,  and 
Live  M.,  i.e.  the  best  beast,  or  the  second  best 
when  the  best  had  gone  for  a  heriot  to  the  lord 
of  the  manor. 


MOSA 


MOUS 


Mosaic.  [Fr.  mosaique,  from  Gr.  /jiovcreios, 
L.  musivus,  belonging  to  the  Muses ;  the  word 
being  thus  another  form  of  music.}  Ornamental 
work,  consisting  of  small  pieces  of  glass,  stone, 
etc.,  harmoniously  inlaid. 

Mosaic  gold.  1.  Bisulphide  of  tin,  a  gold- 
coloured  powder ;  or,  2,  an  alloy  of  equal  parts  of 
copper  and  zinc,  used  for  jewellery. 

Moses.  (Naut.)  A  flat-bottomed  boat  in 
which  hogsheads  of  sugar  are  taken  off  to  vessels 
in  the  W.  Indies.  Moses1  law,  piratical  name 
for  thirty-nine  lashes  on  the  bare  back. 

Moslings.  Thin  threads  of  leather  shaved  off 
in  dressing  skins. 

Mos  pro  lege.  [L.J  Custom  stands  for  law  ; 
so  Gr.  v6p.os  means  (i)  custom,  (2)  law. 

Mosque.  [Ar.  mesjed.]  The  name  for  a 
Mohammedan  place  of  worship.  The  common 
form  of  the  mosques  has  been  suggested  by  Jus- 
tinian's great  church  of  Santa  Sophia  at  Con- 
stantinople, minarets  and  outer  buildings  being 
added  at  will. 

Mosquet,     (Musket.) 

Moss-troopers.  (Hist.}  Marauders  of  the 
Scottish  and  English  border  ;  so  called  from  the 
character  of  the  country  over  which  they  trooped 
in  bands  to  plunder. 

Most  Christian  King.  A  title  of  the  kings  of 
France,  given  first  to  Clovis  by  Pope  Anastasius  ; 
most  of  the  Western  princes  being  Arians. 

Motacilla.  [Said  to  be  L.  moto,  /  keep 
moving,  act.}  (Ornith.)  Wagtail;  gen.  of 
birds.  W.  hemisphere  and  N.W.  America. 
Fam.  Motacillidse,  ord.  Passeres. 

Motazalites.     (Separatists.) 

Mot  d'ordre.  [Fr.]  Watchword.  Bon  mot, 
smart,  witty  saying.  Mot  a  mot,  word  for  word, 
a  literal  saying. 

Motes.    (Folkmote;  Wittenagemote.) 

Motett.    (Madrigal.) 

Mother  Carey's  chickens.     (Petrel.) 

Mothering  Sunday,  Mid-Lent,  or  Refresh- 
ment S.  On  which  day  there  was  once  a  custom 
of  visiting  the  cathedral  or  mother  church  with 
offerings  ;  but  Mothering  has  now  come  to  mean 
visiting  parents.  (Simnel  bread.) 

Mother  liquor.  [Ger.  mutter.]  The  im- 
pure residue  of  a  solution  from  which  crystals 
have  been  obtained. 

Mother-of-pearl.  Shell  material  of  many 
molluscs,  e.g.  oysters  ;  iridescent,  owing  to  the 
microscopic  undulatory  alternations  of  the  car- 
bonate of  lime  and  membrane  which  compose  it. 

Motif.  [Fr.]  The  leading  thought  of  an 
artist's  work. 

Motion.  (Music.1]  1.  Similar  or  Direct,  when 
two  or  more  parts  move  in  the  same  direction. 
2.  Contrary,  when  towards  or  away  from  each 
other.  3.  Oblique,  when  one  part  moves  while 
another  is  stationary. 

Motion,  Perpetual.  That  of  a  machine  which 
would  keep  itself  in  motion  and  do  work  for 
ever,  if  such  a  thing  were  possible. 

Motion,  Quantity  of.     Momentum  (q.v.). 

Mot  pour  rire.     [Fr.]     A  jest,  or  joke. 

Mots  a  double  entente.  [Fr.]  Properly, 
words  with  a  double  meaning.  (Equivoque.) 


Mots  d'argot.  [Fr.]  Slang  phrases,  thieves' 
language. 

Moufflon.  [Littre  suggests  Ger.  muffel,  a  dog 
or  other  animal  with  large  hanging  lips.  ]  (Zool. ) 
Gen.  of  large,  horned,  wild  mountain  sheep,  as 
the  argali  of  Siberia  (A.  caprovis),  four  feet  high, 
with  horns  six  inches  in  diameter  at  base,  and 
long  in  proportion  ;  supposed  original  of  domestic 
breeds.  Corsica,  Sardinia,  Crete,  Asia,  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  California. 

Mould-board.  (Agr.)  The  curved  surface  in 
the  plough,  which  throws  the  soil  on  one  side. 

Moulding.  In  Gr.  and  Rom.  Arch.,  those 
members  of  an  Order  which  are  shaped  into 
curved  or  flat  forms.  These  are  eight :  ( I )  Filet, 
(2)  Astragal,  (3)  Torus,  (4)  Scotia,  (5)  Echinus, 
(6)  Cyma  recta,  (7)  Cyma  reversa,  (8)  Cavetto. 

Mouldings.  In  Goth.  Arch.,  a  name  for  all 
the  various  outlines  given  to  the  angles  of  subor- 
dinate parts  of  buildings,  as  cornices,  capitals, 
bases,  etc. 

Mound.  [L.  mundus,  world.}  (Her.}  A 
globe  encircled  with  a  band  and  surmounted  by 
a  cross,  held  by  sovereigns  as  a  mark  of  dominion. 

Mountain,  The.  [Fr.  La  Montagne.]  In  Fr. 
Hist.,  a  party  of  Jacobins  in  the  Convention  of 
*793  5  so  called  as  occupying  the  highest  rows 
of  seats,  the  moderate  men  choosing  the  lower 
places  in  the  centre,  hence  called  the  Plain. 

Mountain  or  Hill  People.    (Macmillanites.) 

Mountain  cork,  Mountain  leather.  (Mm.) 
Felt-like  minerals,  formerly  supposed  to  be  de- 
composed hornblendic  rock,  but  now  known  as 
a  distinct  mineral — pilolite. 

Mountain  flax.    (Amianthus;  Asbestos.) 

Mountain  limestone,  i.e.  appearing  in  the 
escarpments  of  Derby,  Yorkshire,  Fife,  etc.,  or 
Carboniferous  limestone,  i.e.  a  marked  feature 
in  the  C.  system.  (Geol.)  A  very  distinct 
group  of  rocks,  of  the  C.  series ;  British  Isles, 
Europe,  Asia,  and  America  ;  marked  by  peculiar 
corals,  encrinites,  shells,  in  great  abundance ; 
beds  of  limestone,  with  shale,  thin  seams  of 
coal,  and  gritty  sandstone. 

Mountain  meal.    (Berg-mehl.) 

Mountain  train.  (Mil. )  A  battery  consisting 
of  peculiarly  light  field-guns,  with  carriages 
easily  taken  to  pieces  and  broken  up  into  mode- 
rate mule  burdens,  for  operating  amongst  hills 
or  in  country  devoid  of  roads. 

Mourning.  (Naut.)  The  ensign  and  pennant 
half-mast,  the  yards  topped  awry  or  a-peek,  or 
alternately  topped  an-end,  are  signs  of  mourning. 
The  sides  painted  blue  or  rubbed  with  ashes, 
etc.,  instead  of  white,  indicates  deep  mourning. 
In  the  navy,  a  ship  is  thus  painted  on  the  death 
of  her  captain,  and  the  flag-ship  on  that  of  the 
admiral ;  in  the  merchant  service,  on  that  of 
the  owner. 

Mouse.  1.  [Heb.  'akbar ;  Lev.  xi.  29,  etc.] 
(Bibl.)  Includes  rats  and  jerboas  (q.v.).  2.  [Cf. 
muscle,  i.e.  musculus,  little  mouse.}  (Naut.) 
(i)  A  knot  or  knob,  made  of  twine,  etc.,  wrought 
on  to  the  collars  of  stays,  to  prevent  the  running 
eye  from  slipping.  (2)  A  match  for  firing  a 
mine.  (3)  A  mark  upon  ropes,  to  show  when 
squared  or  brought  home.  To  M.  a  hook,  to 


MOUS 


332 


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put  a  turn  or  so  of  twine  round  the  pointed  neck 
of  a  hook  to  prevent  its  coming  unhooked.  To 
raise  a  M. ,  to  cause  a  lump  by  a  blow. 

Mousseline  de  laine.  [Fr.  for  wool  muslin.} 
A  very  light  woollen  fabric. 

Movable  feasts.  Feasts,  the  recurrence  of 
which  is  determined  by  the  time  when  Easter 
falls. 

Movement.  1.  The  internal  parts,  springs, 
wheels,  etc. ,  of  such  machines  as  clocks,  watches, 
etc.  2.  Any  mechanism  by  which  the  motion 
of  one  piece  is  transferred  in  some  determinate 
way  to  another  piece. 

Mow.  A  Teut.  and  Scand.  word,  denoting  a 
place  for  storing  hay  or  grain. 

Moya.  [Sp.]  Volcanic  effusion  of  foetid  sul- 
phurous mud. 

Mozarabic  Liturgy.  An  early  Liturgy  of  Spain, 
where  the  Christians  were  mixed  up  with  Moors 
and  Arabs.  (Liturgy.) 

Mozarabs,  Mozarabes.  Christians  living  under 
the  government  of  the  Moors  in  Spain. 

MS.  Abbrev.  for  L.  manu  scriptum,  -written 
by  the  hand,  manuscript ;  also  for  L.  memoriae 
sacrum,  sacred  to  the  memory. 

MSS.  Abbrev.  for  L.  manu  scripta,  manu- 
scripts. 

Mucilage.    (Bassora  gum.) 

Mucronate.  [L.  mucro,  -nem,  a  dagger.} 
(Bot.)  Having  an  apex  with  a  small  and  sharp 
projection,  noticeable  apart  from  the  general 
contour  of  the  margin  ;  as  some  leaves  of  plants 
have,  e.g.  Lathyrus  pratensis. 

'Mudian,  'Mujian,  or  Bermudian.  (Naut.}  A 
boat,  peculiar  to  the  Bermudas,  of  from  two  to 
twenty  tons  burden.  Its  stem  and  keel  form  a 
curved  line,  so  that  it  draws  much  water  aft ; 
usually  decked,  and  carries  lead  or  iron  ballast : 
rigged  with  a  single  mast  in  the  bows,  and 
setting  a  three-cornered  mainsail,  the  hoist  of 
which  is  sometimes  three  times  the  length  of 
the  keel ;  its  only  other  sail  being  a  small  fore- 
sail or  jib.  Unequalled  in  sailing  to  windward 
in  smooth  water. 

Muezzin,  Mueddin.  [Ar.]  General  name  for 
the  officers  of  the  mosques  who  sing  from  the 
minaret  the  call, "  Hadan,"  \.Qprayersy  "Namaz," 
at  the  five  canonical  hours. 

Muffineer.  1.  A  dish  for  keeping  muffins  hot. 
2.  A  salt-box,  in  the  form  of  a  pepper-caster,  for 
salting  muffins. 

Muffle.  [Fr.  moufle.]  A  small  earthen  oven 
for  heating  the  alloy,  etc.,  before  adding  it  to 
the  silver  and  gold  in  the  cupel  (q.v.). 

Muffle  the  oars,  To.  (Naut.)  To  put  matting, 
etc.,  round  them,  so  that  they  should  not  rattle 
in  the  rowlocks. 

Mufti.  1.  Turkish  title  of  a  doctor  of  the  law 
of  the  Koran.  The  M.  of  Constantinople,  the 
chief  functionary  of  the  Turkish  Church,  repre- 
sents the  sultan  in  spiritual  matters,  as  the 
grand  vizier  does  in  temporal.  2.  With  officers 
in  the  army,  ==  plain  clothes. 

Muggletonians.  In  Eng.  Hist.,  the  followers 
of  one  Muggleton,  a  tailor,  who,  in  the  seven- 
teenth century,  asserted  that  he  and  his  associate, 
Reeves,  were  the  two  last  and  greatest  prophets 


of  Jesus  Christ.  A  few  of  their  adherents  still 
remain.  They  were  opposed  chiefly  by  the 
Quakers  Fox  and  Penn. 

Muiagros.  [Gr.]  A  god  of  Elis  ;  so  called 
as  catching  or  destroying  flies,  thus  answering 
exactly  to  the  Semitic  Baalzebub.  (Apomuios 
Zeus.) 

Muid  de  Paris.  [Fr.,  L.  modius,  a  peck, 
and  in  a  general  sense,  measttre,  amount.}  An 
old  French  measure  of  capacity  containing  about 
51  bushels.  It  was  subdivided  thus  :  I  muid  = 
12  setiers  =  48  minots  =  144  boisseaux. 

Muirburn.     In  Scotland,  setting  heath  on  fire. 

Mulada.  [Sp.]  A  drove  of  rnules. — Bartlett's 
A  mericanisms. 

Mulatto.  The  offspring  of  a  European  and 
a  negro,  That  of  a  white  and  a  mulatto  is 
called  a  Quadroon  ;  of  a  white 'and  a  quadroon, 
a  Mustee  ;  of  a  white  and  a  mustee,  a  Mustafina. 
(Creole.) 

Mulching.  Dressing  tree  roots  with  litter. 
(Emulsion.) 

Mule,  M.-jenny.  A  machine  for  spinning 
cotton,  invented  by  Crompton  ;  first  completed, 
1770. 

Mull.  [Welsh  moel,  a  hill.}  A  snuff-box 
made  of  the  small  end  of  a  horn. 

Mull.     A  thin  soft  muslin. 

Mullah.  The  Tartar  form  of  the  word 
Mollah ;  but  the  priests  of  Tartary  so  called  have 
not  precisely  the  same  rank  or  office. 

Muller.  [Ger.  mullen,  to  rtib.}  A  flat- 
bottomed  pestle  used  for  grinding  artists'  colours. 

Mullet.  [Fr.  molette,  rowel  of  a  spur.} 
(Her.}  A  star  with  five  points,  borne  (i)  as  a 
charge,  (2)  as  the  difference  in  the  third  son's 
escutcheon. 

Mullion.  (Arch.}  The  upright  bar  which 
divides  the  lights  of  a  window.  (Transom.) 

Multse  terricolis  linguae,  wslestibus  una.  [L.  ] 
The  inhabitants  of  the  earth  have  many  languages, 
those  of  heaven  only  one.  In  Gr.  the  line  runs, 
IloAA.al  juep  6vi)To1s  y\£><rffai  ywta  5'  afavarotcn. 

Multiple;  Common  M. ;  M.  joint;  M.  star. 
Any  number  divisible  by  a  second  number  is  a 
Multiple  of  that  second  number.  Any  number 
divisible  by  each  of  two  or  more  numbers  is 
their  Common  M.  A  M.  star  is  a  group  of 
three  or  more  stars  separated  from  each  other  by 
a  few  seconds,  and  appearing  to  the  naked  eye  as 
one  star.  (For  M.  point,  -vide  Singular  point.) 

Multiplicand ;  Multiplication ;  Multiplier. 
Multiplication  (in  arithmetic)  is  the  process  by 
which  we  find  the  result  of  adding  together  a 
given  number  of  equal  numbers ;  any  one  of  the 
equal  numbers  is  the  Multiplicand ;  the  number 
of  times  it  is  taken  is  the  Multiplier. 

Multis  ille  bonis  flebilis  occidit.  [L.] 
He  died  motirned  by  many  good  men  (Horace). 

Multivalve.  [L.  multus,  many,  valvse,  fold- 
ing doors}  (Zool. )  Composed  of  many  pieces  ; 
as  the  shell  of  many  cirripeds  and  of  the  chiton. 

Multoca.  The  code  of  laws  by  which  Islam 
is  governed,  and  which  cannot  be  overruled 
even  by  the  decrees  of  the  sultan. 

Multum.  An  extract  of  quassia  and  liquorice, 
used  for  adulterating  beer. 


MULT 


333 


MUSL 


Multum  in  parvo.     [L.]    Much  in  little. 

Mum.  [Ger.  mumme.]  1.  A  strong  kind  of 
beer.  2.  [Onomatop.]  Slang  for  silence. 

Mummy.  [Ar.  mumia,  from  mum,  wax.] 
In  Egypt,  a  dead  body  preserved  in  a  dry  state 
from  putrefaction.  This  practice  of  embalming 
was  much  in  vogue  amongst  the  early  Christians, 
and  seems  to  have  been  only  gradually  aban- 
doned. 

Mumps.     (Parotitis.) 

Mumpsimus.  It  is  said  of  some  priest  that 
he  insisted  on  reading  mumpsimus  for  the  L. 
sumpsimus,  we  have  received,  in  the  prayer  after 
Communion.  Hence  the  word  came  to  denote 
the  obstinacy  of  ignorance. 

Munchhausen,  A.  Any  incredible  traveller's 
story,  Baron  Munchhausen  being  the  hero  of  a 
series  of  astounding  adventures  in  a  tale  written 
by  Raspe. 

Mundane  egg.    (CEufs  de  Paque.) 

Mundio.  (Chem.)  Iron  pyrites  or  arsenic 
pyrites. 

Munduc.  (Naut.)  A  sailor  who  pulls  up 
the  diver  and  oysters  in  the  pearl  fishery. 

Mundungus.  In  Naut.  slang,  bad,  rank,  and 
dirty  tobacco. 

Mungo.  Waste  wool,  etc.,  used  for  making 
inferior  cloth. 

Mungo  Park,  surgeon,  of  Selkirkshire,  traveller, 
and  writer  of  his  travels  (1771-1805). 

Municipal  corporation.  The  body  of  burgesses 
or  freemen  of  a  city,  as  a  self-governing  society, 
constituted  by  royal  charter. 

Municipality.  [L.  munus,  an  office,  and  capio, 
/  tak£.\  A  society  the  members  of  which 
are  capable  of  holding  office.  In  Rome  the 
name  municeps  was  given  to  strangers  who 
became  incorporated  with  the  Roman  people 
without  acquiring  the  right  of  citizenship.  The 
word  municipal  is  now  often  used  to  mean  (i) 
the  local  government  of  a  district,  (2)  the  law  of 
particular  districts  or  provinces. 

Muniment.  [L.  mummentum,  a  defence,  a 
protection.]  A  document  kept  by  an  individual 
or  by  a  corporate  body,  in  proof  of  the  right  to 
certain  property,  privileges,  etc. 

Munjeet.  [Hind,  manjit.]  A  kind  of  mad- 
der from  the  E.  Indies. 

Muntz's  metaL  (From  the  inventor. )  An  alloy 
of  three  parts  of  copper  and  two  of  zinc,  used 
for  sheathing  vessels. 

Mural  circle.  [L.  muralis,  belonging  to  a 
wall.]  A  large  graduated  circle,  to  which  is 
fixed  an  astronomical  telescope,  the  axis  of  the 
latter  coinciding  with  a  diameter  of  the  former. 
It  moves  in  the  plane  of  the  meridian  on  a 
strong  horizontal  axis  let  into  a  massive  pier  or 
wall,  and  secured  by  screws  so  as  to  be  capable 
of  adjustment.  It  is  used  in  connexion  with 
a  transit  instrument  for  making  the  observations 
which  determine  the  exact  position  of  the 
heavenly  bodies  on  the  great  sphere.  The 
transit  instrument  serves  to  determine  their  right 
ascensions,  the  M.  C.  their  declinations. 

Murexide.  [L.  murex,  the  ptirple  fish.]  A 
purple  salt  of  ammonia. 

Murex  trunculus.    [L.,  and  L.  dim.  of  trun- 


cus,  truncated.]  (Conch.)  One  of  the  dye- 
secreting  molluscs,  giving  its  name  to  the  Tyrian 
purple.  Fam.  Muricidse,  ord.  Prosobranchiata, 
class  Gasteropoda. 

Muriated.  Coated  with  chloride  (formerly 
called  muriate)  of  silver. 

Muriatic  acid.  [L.  muria,  brine.]  (Chem.) 
Hydrochloric  acid. 

Muridse.  [L.  murem,  mouse.]  (Zool.)  Fam. 
of  rodents,  as  rats  and  mice.  None  indigenous 
in  the  Australasian  Islands  or  Polynesia. 

Murrain.  [O.Fr.  morine,  beast's  carcase, 
mourrir,  to  die.]  Exod.  ix.  3;  Ps.  Ixxviii.  j  some 
kind  of  cattle  plague. 

Murrey.  (Her.)  A  mulberry  [L.  morum] 
colour. 

Murrhine  vases.  [L.  Murrhina  vasa.]  Ancient 
small  vases  coming  from  the  East ;  probably  of 
opalescent  glass. 

Murzas.  The  second  class  of  the  hereditary 
nobility  among  the  Tartars,  the  first  class  being 
called  Beys.  (Mirza.) 

Muscae  volltantes.  [L. ,  flitting  flies.  ]  (Med. ) 
Black  spots  appearing  before  the  eye. 

Muscatel.  [Sp.  moscalet.]  A  rich  spicy 
grape. 

Muschelkalk.  [Ger.,  shell-lime.]  (Geol.) 
Compact  greyish  limestone,  with  abundant 
remains  of  molluscs  and  encrinites ;  the  middle 
member  of  the  Triassic  period,  or  New  Red 
Sandstone.  W.  Europe  ;  absent  from  England. 

Muscidae.  [L.  musca,  a  fly.]  (Entom.)  Fam. 
of  dipterous  insects,  including  house-flies  and 
blue-bottles. 

Muscovado.  [Sp.  mascabado,  spoilt.]  Raw 
sugar. 

Muscovy  glass  =  Potash  mica,  Muscovite; 
plates  of  it  being  still  used  in  some  parts  of 
Russia  for  windows. 

Muses.  [Gr.  (j.ovaai.]  (Myth.)  Goddesses 
presiding  over  music,  poetry,  and  art.  Later 
poetry  described  them  as  nine  in  number. 
(Mnemosyne.) 

Musette.  1.  A  small  bagpipe,  once  much 
used  in  different  parts  of  Europe.  2.  Melody, 
like  the  soft  sweet  tunes  played  on  a  M.  3.  A 
reed-stop  on  the  organ. 

Mushtahids.  In  Persia,  high  priests  who 
represent  the  vicegerent  of  the  Imam. 

Musk.  [Ar.]  A  fragrant  brown  substance 
secreted  by  the  male  musk-deer,  musk-rat,  etc. 

Musket.  This  name  for  a  modern  firearm  is 
derived  from  the  mosquet,  or  sparrow-hawk; 
so  called  from  its  dappled  [L.  muscatus]  plumage. 
The  names  of  other  birds  used  in  falconry  were 
applied,  on  the  disuse  of  that  sport,  to  firearms. 
Thus  the  falcon  became  the  name  of  a  heavier 
sort  of  artillery  ;  the  Fr.  sacre  and  Eng.  saker, 
a  hawk,  also  denoted  a  gun  ;  and  the  It. 
terzuolo,  or  hawk,  is  also  a  small  pistol. — Max 
Muller,  Lectures  on  Language. 

Muslin.  Fine  cotton  cloth,  with  a  downy 
nap,  brought  originally  from  the  town  of 
Mosul. 

Muslin,  or  Dimity.     (Naut.}    (Flying-kites.) 

Muslinet.  [Fr.  mousselinette.]  A  coarse 
cotton  cloth. 


MUSP 


334 


MYST 


Muspelheim.  In  Norse  Myth.,  the  domain 
of  devouring  fire.  (Ninheim.) 

Musrole.  [Fr.  muserolle,  from  museau, 
muzzle.  ]  The  nose-band  of  a  horse's  bridle. 

Mussel  [L.  musculus,  a  little  mouse,  used, 
like  Gr.  (JLVS  and  Fr.  souris,  to  mean  both  a 
muscle  of  the  body  and  also  a  shell-fish. ~\ 
( Conch.)  Fam.  of  bivalve  molluscs  ;  universally 
distributed.  MytilTdse,  class  Conchifera. 

Mussel,  Pearl.  British.  (Conch.}  Unio  mar- 
garitiferus  [L.  unio,  a  pearl,  margarlta  (Skt. 
manjari,  pearl],  fero,  I  carry] ;  broader  than  the 
common  M.  British  rivers.  Fam.  UmSmdse, 
class  Conchifera.  There  is  also  a  Chinese  P.  M., 
Dipsas  plicatos. 

Mussulman.  [Ar.  muslim,  a  believer.']  A 
general  name  for  the  followers  of  Mohammed. 

Mustafina.    (Mulatto.) 

Mustang.  [Sp.  mesteno.]  The  wild  horse 
of  the  prairies,  descended  from  the  stock  intro- 
duced into  America  by  the  first  Spanish  colonists. 
He  is  of  various  colours,  a  cream  colour  and 
piebald  being  quite  common.  Mustangs  are 
found  in  the  greatest  numbers  on  the  rich  prairies 
of  S.-W.  Texas. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Mustee.    (Mulatto.) 

Mustelidse.  [L.  musteda,  weasel.]  (Zool.) 
Fam.  of  digitigrade  carmvora,  as  weasels,  otters, 
badgers.  Absent  from  Madagascar,  Australasia, 
Polynesia. 

Muster.  [Fr.  monstrer,  to  show.]  (Mil.} 
Monthly  parade,  at  which  all  officers  and  men 
have  to  appear,  as  a  guarantee  that  none  are 
entered  on  the  M.-roll  who  are  not  entitled  to 

Mutacism.  [Gr.  nvTa.Kiffp.6s.]  Too  frequent 
pronunciation  of  m,  substituted  for  other  letters. 
( I otacism ;  I ambdacism . ) 

Mutatis  mutandis.  [L.]  All  necessary 
changes  having  been  made. 

Mutato  nomine,  de  te  fabula  narratur.  [L.] 
Change  the  name,  and  the  tale  is  told  of  yourself 
(Horace). 

Muth-labben.  In  title  of  Ps.  ix.  ;  an  obscure 
term,  probably  the  name  of  some  well-known 
melody  (Speaker's  Commentary). 

Mutiny  Act.  [Fr.  mutin,  mutinous.]  (Mil.) 
An  Act  passed  annually  by  Parliament  for  the 
raising  and  keeping  a  standing  army  (which 
otherwise  is  illegal),  and  for  punishing  mutiny, 
desertion,  and  other  offences  against  military 
discipline.  (Army  Discipline  and  Regulation 
Act.) 

Mutiny  of  the  "  Bounty."  A  mutiny  against 
Captain  Bligh,  commander  of  the  Bounty,  1789. 
The  crew  sent  Bligh  adrift  and  took  the  ship  to 
Pitcairn's  Island,  which  they  colonized. 

Mutule.  [Fr.,  L.  mutulus.]  (Arch.)  A  pro- 
jecting block  worked  under  the  corona  of  the 
Doric  cornice. 

Mylodon.  [Gr.  /uC\oy,  a  millstone,  oSovs,  a 
tooth.}  (Geol.)  Huge  fossil  ground-sloths, 
having  molars  with  flat  grinding  surfaces ; 
Pleistocene.  S.  America. 

Mynchery.  The  O.E.  name  for  a  nunnery, 
the  nuns  being  called  mynchens,  the  feminine 
of  monk. 


Myography.  [Gr.  /tDs,  muscle,  ypd.<(><i>,  1 
describe.  ]  The  describing  of  the  muscles. 

Myopia.  [Gr.  /uuwTrm,  fiva>,  /  close,  &$,  the 
eye.]  (Med.)  Short-sightedness;  the  eye  dis- 
cerning objects  at  less  than  eight  inches. 

Myotomy.  [Gr.  /J.TJS,  a  muscle,  T  0/0.^7,  cutting.] 
(Anat. )  The  dissection  or  dividing  of  a  muscle. 

Myriad.  [Gr.  /tupias.]  Ten  thousand ;  but 
the  word  denotes  only  a  confused  mass,  like  the 
L.  mille,  and  throws  light  on  the  early  count- 
ing powers  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  tribes. 

Myriapoda.  [Gr.  (j.vpi6-irovs,-o8os,  ten-thousand- 
footed.]  (Zool.)  Millipedes,  centipedes.  Class 
of  Annulosa  with  not  less  than  eighteen  legs, 
having  all  their  segments  nearly  alike,  the  head 
excepted. 

Myrica,  Sweet-gale,  Bog-myrtle.  (Bot.)  Fra- 
grant native  plant,  type  of  Myriacese;  ord. 
Amentaceae.  M.  of  Virgil  is  tamarisk,  T&m&rix. 

Myrmidons.  [Gr.  /tup/JSoj/es. ]  (Myth.)  The 
followers  of  Achilles,  who  never  act  except  at  his 
bidding.  The  Greeks,  perhaps  wrongly,  con- 
nected the  word  with  jtvfluij£,  an  ant,  and  invented 
a  story  to  explain  it.  It  is  now  used  much  in 
the  same  sense  as  Bravo. 

Myrobalanus.  [Gr.  nvpo-0d\avos,  from  nfyov, 
an  unguent,  &&\avos,  an  acorn.]  A  dried 
Indian  fruit  like  a  prune,  used  in  dying  and 
tanning. 

Mystagogue.  [Fr.,  from  Gr.  nvffraywyts.] 
One  who  initiates  in,  or  interprets,  mysteries. 

Mysteries.  [Gr.  ^v<a,  I  am  closed,  juucco,  1 
initiate  in  secrets,  /JLVO-TT^S,  one  who  is  initiated, 
fjivffT-fipiov,  that  in  which  he  is  initiated.]  1. 
(Hist. )  Ritual  celebrations  connected  with  secret 
doctrines.  The  M.  of  the  ancient  world 
differed  much  in  character,  some  being  of  a 
sober,  others  of  a  frenzied,  type.  (Eleusinian 
Mysteries.)  2.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  This  name  is 
given  to  a  species  of  dramatic  composition,  with 
characters  and  events  drawn  from  sacred  history. 
In  all  these  plays,  however  solemn  might  be 
the  treatment  of  the  subject,  two  persons,  the 
Devil  and  the  Vice,  were  always  held  up  for  the 
amusement  of  the  people.  Among  the  earliest 
of  Biblical  plays  is  a  Greek  tragedy  on  the 
Passion,  by  Gregory  Nazianzen.  A  German 
abbess,  named  Hroswitha,  composed  some 
dramas  of  this  kind  in  the  tenth  century. 
(Miracle-plays;  Moralities.) 

Mystery  [Gr.  /IUCTT^PMW],  Eph.  iii.  3,  and 
elsewhere  in  New  Testament.  Not  something 
above  human  comprehension,  e.g.  the  origin  of 
evil,  but  a  secret,  which,  when  revealed,  is  no 
longer  a  M. 

Mystical  tau.  The  Egyptian  T-shaped 
emblem,  which  was  regarded  as  the  symbol  of 
life. 

Mystics.  [Gr.  HVO-TIKJS,  secret.]  1.  Theo- 
logians who,  like  Clement  of  Alexandria  and  his 
pupil  Origen,  deal  chiefly  with  the  allegorical 
and  mystical  meanings  of  the  Scriptures.  2. 
Those  who  aim  at  tranquil  contemplation  as  an 
end  to  be  preferred  in  life  to  all  philosophical  or 
other  studies.  Those  were  called  also  Quietists. 
Among  the  most  prominent  of  these  were  the 
Spanish  priest  Molinos  (Molinosism),  and  in 


MYTH 


335 


NANK 


France,  Mme.  Guyon  and  Fenelon,  a  bishop  of  j 
Cambrai. 

Myth.  (Naut.)  Land,  or  anything  else  by 
which  the  course  can  be  directed  by  sight. 

Myth,  Mythus.  [Gr.  fj.vdos.]  A  saying,  re- 
lating originally  to  the  phenomena  of  the  out- 
ward world,  be  they  of  sight,  or  sound,  or  any 
other.  These  sayings,  applied  to  the  conditions 
of  human  life,  grew  up  gradually  into  stories, 
which  have  furnished  materials  for  the  epic 
poems  of  the  Aryan  and  other  races.  Thus  the 
sun  was  said  to  see  all  things,  hence  to  be  wise. 
It  was  also  said  that  he  was  compelled  to  ascend 
the  heaven,  and  then  to  come  down  again. 
From  this  sprang  the  story  of  Sisyphos,  the  wise 
[a6<f>os]  man,  condemned  to  heave  to  the  top  of 
a  hill  a  ball,  which  immediately  rolled  down 
again.  Solar  myths  are  myths  or  sayings  re- 


lating to  the  sun ;  Lunar  myths  relate  to  the 
moon,  etc.,  almost  all  sensible  objects  giving 
rise  to  phrases  or  sayings  which  pass  into  mythi- 
cal tales.  Thus  the  saying  that  the  moon 
wanders  through  the  sky  amongst  the  myriad 
stars  grew  into  the  myth  or  legend  of  St.  Ursula 
(Horsel,  Ursel,  being  a  name  for  the  moon- 
goddess)  and  her  train  of  eleven  thousand  virgins. 
The  task  of  analyzing  and  comparing  these  myths 
belongs  to  the  science  of  Comparative  mythology. 

Mythology.     (Metaphor.) 

Mythology,  Comparative.  (Comparative 
mythology.) 

Mythopceia  [Gr.  /tu0oir0«fe]  (Myth.)  - 
making,  producing,  phrases  which  grow  up 
into  mythical  narratives. 

Mytilus,  [Gr.  fj.vri\os,  from  uvs,  muscle.] 
(Mussel.) 


N. 


N.  A  letter  common  to  all  known  languages, 
but  in  some  of  them  interchangeable  with  many 
other  letters.  As  an  abbrev.,  it  is  used  for 
north,  and  for  the  L.  numero,  number ;  some- 
times also  for  natus,  nefastus  dies,  nepos, 
nomine.  N.B.  stands  for  T..  nota  bene,  mark 
well ;  N.L.  for  L.  non  liquet,  it  is  not  dear ; 
etc. 

Nablum.  A  Jewish  musical  instrument,  of 
the  form  of  which  little  is  known.  Josephus 
merely  says  that  it  was  played  upon  by  the 
fingers. 

Nabob.  A  corr.  of  the  Hind,  word  Nuwab, 
denoting  one  who  has  gained  wealth  in  the  East 
and  uses  it  ostentatiously.  (Nawab.) 

Nabonassar,  Era  of.  An  astronomical  era, 
assigned  to  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of 
Nabonassar,  the  alleged  founder  of  the  ^Baby- 
lonish  empire,  B.C.  747. 

Naca,  or  Nacelle.  (Naut.)  A  French  boat, 
without  mast  or  sail,  dating  from  the  twelfth 
century. 

Nacarat.  [Fr.]  1.  A  pale  orange  colour. 
2.  Fine  linen  or  crape  dyed  this  colour. 

Nacodah.    (Nakhadah.) 

Nacre.  [Fr.,  from  Pers.  nigar,  painting.'} 
The  hard  lustrous  internal  layer  of  shells. 
(Mother-of-pearl.)  Adj.,  Nacreous. 

Nacreous.     (Nacre.) 

Nadir.  [Ar.  nazeer,  opposite.'}  (Astron.) 
The  point  vertically  beneath  the  observer  at  any 
given  station,  in  which  the  plumb-line  produced 
downward  would  meet  the  great  sphere. 

Naevus  [L.  ],  N.  maternus,  Mother-spot.  A  con- 
Oenital  mark  or  morbid  growth  on  a  part  of  the 
skin.  Some  are  mere  discolorations,  others 
warty,  having  excrescences ;  but  most  of  them 
of  excessively  vascular  tissue,  or  a  dense  network 
of  veins  raised  above  the  skin. 

Nag's  Head  Consecration.  (Ecd.  Hist.}  A 
story  circulated  by  Roman  Catholic  writers  that 
Matthew  Parker,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 


1 559-15 76,  was  consecrated  at  the  Nag's  Head 
tavern,  in  Cheapside.  The  official  register  shows 
that  he  was  consecrated  at  Lambeth. 

Naiads.  [Gr.  NaiaSes,  akin  to  vdca,  I  flow, 
vavs,  a  ship,  L.  nare,  to  swim,  Skt.  sna,  to 
wash.]  (Gr.  Myth.}  Nymphs  inhabiting 
fountains,  rivers,  and  streams. 

Naiant.  (Her. }  In  a  horizontal  position,  as 
if  swimming  [Fr.  nageant]. 

Naick.     (Mil.)     Corporal  of  sepoy  troops. 

Nail.  As  a  measure  of  length,  the  sixteenth 
part  of  a  yard,  two  inches  and  a  quarter. 

Nail  a  gun,  To.    I.q.  Spike. 

Nainsook.  A  thick  jaconet  muslin,  formerly 
made  in  India. 

Naissant.  [Fr.,  being  born.]  (Her.)  Rising 
from  the  centre  of  an  ordinary. 

Naivete.  [Fr.  naif,  fern,  naive,  simple,  in- 
gemtous,  L.  nativus.]  Simplicity,  artlessness. 

Naked  flooring.  (Arch.}  The  open  timber- 
work  supporting  a  floor. 

Nakhadah,  or  Nacodah.  (Naut.)  An 
Arabian  sea-captain. 

Namaz.     (Muezzin.) 

Name.  Of  a  ship,  includes  that  of  the  port  of 
registry. 

Naming  a  member.  A  member  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  having  been  called  to  order,  and 
persisting  in  disregarding  the  rules  of  the  House, 
may  be  named  by  the  Speaker,  who  leaves  him 
to  the  censure  of  the  House  :  the  member  must 
then  withdraw. 

Nanism.  [Gr.  vavos,  L.  nanus,  a  divarf.] 
The  condition  of  a  dwarf. 

Nankeen.  A  buff-coloured  cotton  cloth, 
chiefly  manufactured  at  Nankin,  in  China. 

Nankin  Porcelain  Tower.  It  was  of  brick 
cased  with  porcelain,  and  was  261  feet  high, 
built  A.D.  1403-1424;  destroyed  by  the  Tae- 
pings,  1853. 

Nankin  ware.  (Exported  from  Nankin.) 
The  blue  and  white  Oriental  china. 


NANT 


336 


NAUC 


Nantes.  A  kind  of  brandy  (made  at  Nantes, 
in  France). 

Nantes,  Edict  of.     (Edict  of  Nantes.) 

Naos.  [Gr.]  In  Or.  Arch.,  this  word, 
which  is  the  same  as  our  nave,  denoted  the  part 
of  a  temple  inclosed  by  the  walls,  the  front  part 
being  called  pronaos,  the  part  in  the  rear  being 
the  opisthodomus,  L.  postlcum. 

Naphtha.  [Gr.,  Pers.  nafata,  to  exude.]  1. 
A  bituminous,  volatile,  inflammable  product  of 
distillation  from  carbonaceous  shales  and  pit- 
coal.  2.  The  native  hydro-carbon  petroleum, 
or  rock-oil,  native  naphtha. 

Napier's  bones  or  rods.  A  mechanical  con- 
trivance, invented  by  Napier  of  Merchison,  for 
multiplying  and  dividing  numbers :  one  of  the 
earliest  calculating-machines. 

Napiform  root.  (Bot]  Of  the  shape  of  a 
turnip  [L.  napus] ;  e.g.  swede,  and  some 
radishes. 

Naples  yellow.  A  gold-coloured  pigment 
used  in  oil-painting,  composed  of  the  oxides  of 
lead  and  antimony. 

Napoleon,  Code  of.  The  great  code,  drawn  up 
by  order  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  consolidating 
the  revolutionary  laws  already  in  existence.  It 
is  both  penal  and  civil ;  but  the  term  is  more 
generally  used  to  designate  the  latter. 

Narcissus.  [Gr.  NapKto-o-o?.]  (Myth.}  A 
beautiful  youth,  said  to  have  been  loved  by  the 
Echo,  and  to  have  been  turned  into  the  flower 
narcissus  after  his  death.  But  the  name  denotes 
simply  lethargic  sleep. 

Narcotic .    ( Poison. ) 

Narcotico-acrid.     (Poison.) 

Narcotics.  [Gr.  vapK<ariK6s,  producing  vdptcn, 
stiffness,  numbness.]  (Med]  Hypnotics ;  soporific 
medicines,  diminishing  the  action  of  the  nervous 
system,  relieving  pain,  and  producing  sleep. 

Nard.    (Spikenard.) 

Narration.  [L.  narrationem.]  (Rhet]  The 
second  division  of  an  oratorical  discourse,  stating 
the  facts  from  which  the  conclusions  are  to  be 
drawn.  (Exordium;  Peroration.) 

Narrow  gauge.    (Gauge.) 

Narthex.  [Gr.]  In  Eccl.  Arch.,  the  first 
section  or  division  in  the  Roman  basilicus,  to 
which  the  women,  the  Energumens,  and  the 
lapsed  were  restricted.  (Exedra.) 

Narwhal.  [Ger.  narwall,  nose-whale]  (Zool] 
Sea-unicorn;  gen.  and  spec.  (Monodon  mono- 
ceros)  forming  fam.  Monodontidse,  ord.  Cetacea. 
The  lower  jaw  is  toothless ;  the  teeth  in  the  upper 
jaw  are  rudimentary,  except  that  the  left  canine 
in  the  male  projects  eight  or  ten  feet  in  a  straight 
line  with  the  animal's  body,  which  is  about 
fifteen  feet  long.  This  is,  no  doubt,  the  unicorn's 
horn,  once  held  to  be  an  antidote  to  poison. 

Nasal.  [L.  nasus,  nose]  (Mil.}  Projecting 
iron  nose-guard,  vertical,  sometimes  sliding;  in 
head-piece  of  eleventh  and  twelfth  centuries. 

Nasturtium.  (Bot]  Properly  a  gen.  of 
Cruciferse,  of  which  the  water-cress  (N.  offi- 
cinale)  is  the  type ;  but  applied  commonly  in 
gardens  to  Tropaeolum  majus. 

Nasute.  [L.  nasutus,  from  nasus,  nose] 
Quick-scented;  hence  critically  nice,  captious. 


Natalitla.     [L.]    Birthdays. 

Natant.     (Naiant.) 

Natatores.  [L.,  swimmers]  (Ornith] 
Swimming-birds,  i.q.  Palmipedes  [L.,  palm-, 
i.e.  broad-,  footed]  or  Anseres. 

National  debt.  The  amount  owed  by  a  state 
to  those  who  have  advanced  money  for  expenses 
incurred  by  the  Government  over  and  above  its 
ordinary  income.  In  England  the  first  loan  of 
a  permanent  character  arose  out  of  the  chartering 
of  the  Bank  of  England,  1694,  when  its  capital 
of  ;£i,  200,000  was  lent  to  the  public  at  eight 
per  cent,  interest ;  the  Crown  reserving  power  of 
repayment,  but  not  allowing  a  corresponding 
right  of  demanding  payment. 

National  Guard.  In  France  the  civilians  who 
armed  themselves  to  keep  order  during  the  first 
revolution. 

Natrix.  [L.,  swimming]  (Zool]  A  gen.  of 
snakes,  having  no  poison  fangs.  Common  ringed 
snake  of  England,  N.  torquata,  is  a  spec. 

Natter-jack.  (Zoo!.)  One  of  the  two  spec,  of 
British  toads,  about  three  inches  long,  with  a 
yellow  line  down  its  back,  and  black  bars  on  the 
legs ;  seldom  approaching  the  water,  except  in 
the  breeding  season.  Bufo  calamita,  gen.  Bu- 
fonidse,  ord.  Anoura,  class  Amphibia. 

Natural  death.    (Civil  death.) 

Naturalism.  A  word  used  somewhat  vaguely 
to  denote  ( i )  the  mere  state  of  nature,  especially 
the  pure  influence  of  nature,  when  rightly  under- 
stood, upon  art — as  e.g.  in  Wordsworth  ;  (2)  the 
theory  which  denies  the  possibility  of  super- 
natural agency  in  the  life  of  man  ;  and  (3)  the 
doctrine  which  asserts  that  the  universe  is  ruled 
by  forces  not  originating  in  an  intelligent  will. 

Naturalistic  school  of  poets,  etc.    (Naturalism.) 

Natural  numbers;  N.  philosophy;  N.  sines, 
cosines,  etc.  (Math]  The  Natural  numbers  are 
the  series  of  integral  numbers,  beginning  with 
unity,  i.e.  I,  2,  3,  etc.  N.  sines,  cosines,  etc.,  of 
angles,  are  the  actual  sines,  cosines,  etc.,  of  angles 
from  o°  up  to  90° ;  they  are  in  most  cases  calcu- 
lated for  every  minute,  and  arranged  in  a  tabular 
form ;  so  called  to  distinguish  them  from  their 
logarithms,  which  are  Logarithmic  sines,  cosines, 
etc.,  and  which  are  most  commonly  employed 
in  astronomical  and  other  calculations.  N. 
philosophy,  the  term  used  by  Newton  for  the 
investigation  of  laws  in  the  material  world,  and 
the  deduction  of  results  not  directly  observed. 

Natural  order.  (Bot. )  One  belonging  to  the 
natural  system  of  classification,  and  exhibiting 
affinities  really  existing ;  as  distinguished  from 
an  artificial  arrangement  made  for  the  student's 
convenience. 

Natfiram  expellas  furca;  tamen  usque  recurret. 
[L.]  Yott  may  thrust  out  nature  with  a  pitch- 
fork ;  but  it  will  find  its  way  back  (Horace). 

Natura  naturans.  Natura  naturata.  [L.] 
Natttre  as  a  forming power,  Nature  as  a  formed 
result. 

Nature-printing.  The  art  of  taking  impres- 
sions from  plants  on  soft  metal,  and  from  these 
taking  an  electrotype  plate,  by  means  of  which 
impressions  are  multiplied. 

Naucrary,    [Gr.    vav    d  fa.]    In  Gr.    Hist., 


NAUL 


337 


NECR 


naucraries  were  political  divisions  of  the  Athenian 
people,  the  naucrarians  [vavicpa.poi]  being  simply 
householders.  After  the  time  of  Solon  each 
naucrary  was  called  on  to  provide  one  war-ship, 
and  thus  the  word  came  to  be  connected  with 
1/01)9,  a  ship,  and  the  navy ;  though  akin  rather 
to  the  verb  vain,  I  inhabit. 

Naulage.     [Gr.    vav\ov,    L.   naulum,  passage 
{  money.}     (Nattt.}    A  freight  or  fare. 

Naulum.  [L.,  Gr.  vav\os,  passage  money.'}  In 
Gr.  and  Rom.  usage,  a  piece  of  money  put  into 
the  mouths  of  the  dead  to  enable  them  to  pay 
Charon  for  taking  them  over  the  Styx. 

Naumachla.  [Gr.,  a  sea-fight.}  In  ancient 
Rome  this  word  was  applied  to  the  representa- 
tions of  sea-fights  exhibited  for  the  amusement  of 
the  people,  who  were  ranged  on  seats  along  the 
banks  as  in  an  amphitheatre. 

Nausea.  [Gr.  vavvia,  vauy,  a  ship.}  Sea-sick- 
ness, inclination  to  vomit. 

Nautical  Almanac.     (Ephemeris.) 

Nautilidae.  [Gr.  vavri\os,  sailor.}  Pearly 
nautilus.  (Conch.}  Fam.  and  gen.  of  mollusc 
with  chambered  shell.  Indian  and  Pacific  Oceans. 
Ord.  Tetrabranchiata,  class  Cephalopoda. 

Naval  Reserve.  Merchant  seamen  and  fisher- 
men, enlisted  for  service  in  the  navy  if  required, 
and  annually  trained. 

Nave.     [O.E.  nafu.]     The  centre  of  a  wheel. 

Navel  point.    (Escutcheon.) 

Navicular  disease.  In  the  horse,  inflammation 
arising  from  a  strain  of  the  strong  flexor  tendon 
of  the  foot,  where  it  passes  over  the  navicular 
bone — a  &>a/-shaped  bone  [L.  naviciila,  a  little 
ship},  the  upper  of  two  rows  of  the  carpus  [L., 
wrist}. 

Navigation  laws.  Enactments  securing  to 
home  shippers  a  monopoly  of  the  carrying  trade, 
either  by  prohibiting  the  importation  of  goods  in 
foreign  vessels,  or  by  levying  differential  duties 
on  such  goods.  The  English  N.  L.  have  been 
repealed,  and  new  regulations  substituted  by  the 
Acts  of  1849  and  1853. 

Naviget  Anticyram.  [L.]  Let  him  sail  to 
Anticyra  (Horace),  to  be  cured  (of  his  madness) 
by  the  hellebore  which  grows  there. 

Navire.  [Fr.]  An  order  of  knighthood  in- 
stituted by  St.  Louis,  King  of  France,  1269 ;  so 
called,  perhaps,  because  the  knight's  collar  had  a 
ship  pendent  from  it. 

Navvy.  [Abridged  from  navigator.}  A  labourer 
on  canals  for  internal  navigation ;  hence  a 
labourer  on  railways,  embankments,  etc. 

Navy  agents.  Certain  firms  appointed  to 
see  to  the  receipt,  etc. ,  of  an  officer's  pay,  prizes, 
etc. 

Nawab,  Naib.  [Hind.]  A  deputy  or  ruler  of 
a  province  in  the  empire  of  the  Moguls,  under 
the  subahdar,  the  ruler  of  a  subah,  or  larger  pro- 
vince. 

Nazarenes.  1.  The  name  given  in  the  East 
by  Moslems  and  Jews  to  Christians,  as  followers 
of  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  2.  A  sect  of  the  second 
century,  which  tried  to  combine  Judaism  and 
Christianity,  and  thus  resembled  the  Ebionites. 

Nazarite,  more  properly  Nazirite.  In  Old 
Testament  Hist.,  one  bound  by  a  vow  to  be  set 


apart  for  the  service  of  God.  The  dedication 
was  usually  for  a  definite  term  ;  but  Samson  is 
called  a  Nazirite  for  life. 

Nealed-to.  (Naut.}  Said  of  a  shore  having 
deep  soundings  close  in. 

Neap.  1.  The  tongue  or  pole  of  a  waggon. 
2.  A  prop  for  the  front  of  a  cart,  etc. 

Neaped.  (Naut.}  Said  of  a  ship  left  aground 
by  the  spring-tides  in  a  harbour,  so  as  to  have  to 
wait  for  the  next  springs  before  she  can  go  to 
sea  or  be  floated  off. 

Neapolitan  sixth.  (Music.}  A  chord  composed 
of  a  minor  third  and  minor  sixth  occurring  on 
the  subdominant  of  a  minor  key  ;  e.g.  (in  C 
minor)  F  jj,  A  *,  D  *,  with  F  in  the  bass.  Its 
derivation  is  matter  of  dispute. 

Neap-tides  take  place  shortly  after  the  first 
and  third  quarters  of  the  moon,  when  the  differ- 
ence between  high  and  low  tide  is  least. 

Near,  and  No  near,  also  No  higher.  (Naut.) 
Don't  let  her  come  up  to  the  wind.  (Off.) 

Neat.  According  to  Wedgwood,  any  brute 
animal,  from  A.S.  ne  witeen,  like  the  Gr.  alo- 
gon,  an  irrational  creature.  The  Greek  word 
is  now  limited  to  horses,  the  English  to  cattle. 
Skeat,  Etym.  Eng.  Diet.,  refers  neat  to  A.S. 
niotan,  to  use,  employ,  enjoy. 

Nebula  [L.  ,  vapour,  cloud}  ;  Irresolvable  N.  ; 
Resolvable  N.  (Astron.}  A  patch  of  faint 
diffused  light  in  the  stellar  regions.  A  Resolvable 
N.  is  one  which,  when  viewed  through  a  powerful 
telescope,  is  seen  to  consist  of  a  group  of  bright 
points  —  to  be,  in  fact,  a  cluster  of  stars.  Of  the 
other,  or  Irresolvable  N.,  some  are  probably 
masses  of  incandescent  gas  ;  others  groups  of 
bright  points  too  small  to  be  seen  individually. 

Nebular    hypothesis.     (Astron.}    The 


hypo- 
radu- 


thesis that  the  sun  and  planets  have  been  gr 
ally  condensed  into  their  present  state  from  that 
in  which  their  matter  formed  a  huge  cloud.  It 
is  favoured  by  many  eminent  astronomers,  and 
by  some  is  regarded  as  an  ascertained  fact. 

Nebulosity.  [L.  post-class,  nebulositas,  misti- 
ness.} (Astron.}  The  faint  mist  observed  to 
surround  certain  stars. 

Nee  deus  intersit,  nisi  dignus  vindice  nodus. 
Let  not  a  god  be  brought  in,  unless  the  knot  be  one 
which  really  needs  his  aid  to  untie  it  (Horace). 

Necessaries.  (Mil.}  Include  such  articles  as 
a  soldier  is  required  to  keep  up  at  his  own  ex- 
pense, in  the  way  of  underclothing,  small  im- 
plements, and  cleaning  materials 

Necessitarians;  Necessarianism.  The  doctrine 
of  necessity  is  that  liberty  can  be  predicated  only 
of  actions  done  in  consequence  of  volitions  ;  but 
not  of  the  volitions  themselves  ;  of  which  last 
motives,  they  say,  are  the  cause;  while  the  doctrine 
of  liberty  is  that  motives  are  not  the  cause,  but 
the  occasion.  Calvinists  have  generally  been  N. 

Necessitas  non  habet  legem.  [L.]  Necessity 
owns  no  law. 

Nechiloth.     (Nehiloth.) 

Neck-mouldings.  In  O.E.  Arch.,  the  mould- 
ings which  connect  the  capital  with  the  shaft. 

Nee  mirum.     [L.]     And  no  wonder. 

Nee  pluribus  impar.    [L.]    A  match  for  many. 

Necrology.    [Gr.  veKpts,  dead,  and  \6yos.]    A 


NECR 


338 


NEOZ 


name  sometimes  applied   to  lists   of   deceased 
benefactors  of  cathedrals,  monasteries,  etc. 

Necromancy.  [Gr.  v€Kpo/j.avTeta.]  Divination 
by  means  of  the  dead. 

1       Necropolis.     [Gr.,  a  city  of  the  dead.}    A  term 
,    applied  to  ancient  burial-places  in  Egypt,  but 
most  unfitly  to  Christian  cemeteries  [KoifjuqT-fipiov, 
a  sleeping-place]. 

(  Necrosis.  [Gr.  veitpwn,  deadness.]  1.  (Med.) 
,  Mortification  of  bone.  2.  (Bot.)  A  disease  of 
1  plants,  seen  in  the  black  spots  of  leaves,  fruit,  etc. 

Nee  scire  fas  est  omnia.  [L.]  We  may  not 
know  all  things  (Horace). 

Nectar.  [Gr.  veitTap.]  (Myth.)  The  drink 
of  the  Olympian  gods.  The  word  agrees  in 
meaning  with  Ambrosia.  (Soma.) 

Nectary.  [L.  nectar,  nectar,  the  drink  of  the 
gods.]  (Bot.)  Formerly  vaguely  used,  now  = 
any  honey-secreting  or  honey-receiving  organ  of 
a  flower ;  e.g.  spur  of  columbine. 

Nee.  [Fr.]  Born;  fern,  of  ne,  part,  of  naitre, 
to  be  born  ;  nee  Williams  =  whose  maiden  name 
wasW. 

Needle.  [O.E.  noedl.]  A  slender  bar  of  mag- 
netized steel,  which,  when  properly  suspended, 
points  N.  and  S.  on  the  compass.  (Magnet.) 

Needle-gun.  (Mil.)  Rifle  fired  by  its  trigger 
striking  a  needle  into  the  percussion  cap,  fixed 
to  the  bottom  of  the  cartridge. 

Needles.  (Geol.)  1.  Detached  masses  of  rock, 
separated  by  water  erosion  from  their  cliffs  or 
shores  ;  e.g.  off  Isle  of  Wight.  2. 1.q.  aiguilles 

(?.»•)• 

Neese.  [A.S.  niesan.]  2  Kings  iv.  34  ;  Job  xli. 
1 8  ;  to  sneeze,  which  is  a  later  form  of  the  word. 

Ne  exeat  regno.  [L.,  let  him  not  go  out  of  the 
kingdom.]  (Leg.)  A  writ  formerly  confined  to 
political  and  State  purposes,  sometimes  resorted 
to  now  in  equity,  where  one  is  about  to  leave  the 
country  so  as  to  frustrate  or  hinder  the  recovery 
of  an  equitable  demand. 

Negative.  A  photograph  upon  glass,  in  which 
the  light  portions  of  the  original  are  represented 
in  some  opaque  material,  and  its  dark  portions 
by  the  transparent  ground. 

Negative  electricity  is  electricity  in  a  degree 
below  the  natural  amount  for  a  given  body. 

Negative  eye-piece;  N.  quantity;  N.  sign. 
The  Negative  sign  is  the  minus  sign,  or  sign  of 
subtraction  ;  e.g.  18  —  n  =  7.  N.  quantity,  a 
number  with  the  negative  sign  prefixed.  Such  a 
quantity,  by  a  simple  extension  of  the  primary 
meaning  of  the  sign,  is  understood  to  be  measured 
in  a  direction  opposite  to  that  which  is  regarded 
as  the  standard  direction  ;  as,  on  a  thermometer, 
—  8°  means  8°  below  zero.  (For  N.  eye-piece, 
vide  Eye-piece.) 

Negative  proposition.  [From  L.  nego,  / 
deny.]  In  Logic,  one  which  denies  the  agree- 
ment between  the  subject  and  its  predicate. 

Neginoth.  In  title  of  Ps.  iv.,  vi.,  "denotes 
an  accompaniment  of  stringed  instruments" 
(Speaker's  Commentary). 

Neglect.  ( Naut. )  In  complete-book,  a  charge, 
not  exceeding  ^3,  against  a  seaman,  for  ship's 
stores  lost  overboard  or  damaged  by  gross 
carelessness. 


Negotiable  instruments.  In  Law,  bills  of  ex- 
change, promissory  notes,  and  other  documents 
on  which  the  right  of  action  passes  by  assign- 
ment notified  generally  by  endorsement. 

Negro-head.    (Cavendish.) 

Nehiloth.  In  title  of  Ps.  v.,  "probably  means 
an  accompaniment  of  flutes  "  (Speaker's  Com- 
mentary). 

Nematoneura.  [Gr.  vrj/jut,  -aros,  a  thread, 
vevpov,  a  nerve.]  (Zool.)  Div.  of  Radiata  of 
Cuvier,  with  a  traceable  nervous  system  ;  as  the 
sea-mats,  Flustra. 

Nem.  con.  A  contraction  for  [L.]  Nemlne 
contradicente,  no  one  contradicting. 

Nem.  diss.  A  contraction  for  [L.]  Nemme 
dissentiente,  no  one  dissenting. 

Nemean  games.  One  of  the  four  great  Greek 
festivals  common  to  the  Greek  cities  generally, 
celebrated  at  Nemea,  in  the  north-east  part  of 
the  Peloponnese. 

Nemesis.  [Gr.,  distribution.]  1.  In  the ///^, 
this  word  denotes  any  cause  of  anger  or  righteous 
wrath.  In  the  Hesiodic  theogony,  it  is  the  name 
of  a  daughter  of  the  night,  who  gradually  be- 
comes the  punisher  of  the  favourites  of  Fortune. 
2.  Retributive  justice. 

Nemo  me  impune  lacesset.  [L.]  No  one  shall 
provoke  me  with  impunity.  Motto  of  the  Order 
of  the  Thistle  of  St.  Andrew. 

Nemo  mortalium  omnibus  horis  sapit.  [L.] 
No  one  of  mortal  men  is  wise  at  all  times. 

Nemo  repente  fuit  turpissimus.  [L.]  No  one 
ever  becomes  utterly  bad  all  at  once. 

Nemo  solus  sapit.  [L.,  no  one  is  wise  by 
himself  alone.]  "In  the  multitude  of  counsellors 
there  is  safety." 

Nemoteneturseipsumaccusare.  [L.]  A  maxim 
in  Law  :  No  one  is  botmdto  accuse  himself,  conviet 
himself  ;  a  witness  need  not  answer  questions 
tending  to  criminate  himself. 

Neocomian  rocks  =  Lower  greensand  -f-  Ather- 
field  clay,  Wealden,  and  possibly  Purbeck  beds ; 
largely  developed  near  Neuchatel  (Neocomium). 

Neo-Latin  languages.  Lq.  Romance :  French, 
Italian,  Spanish,  Portuguese,  Wallachian,  and 
Roumanian. 

Neolithic.    (Prehistoric  archaeology.) 

Neologists.  [Gr.  veos,  new,  \6yos,  discourse.] 
A  name  given  in  the  last  century,  by  orthodox 
German  divines,  to  the  theologians  who  then 
applied  novel  systems  of  interpretation  to  the 
Scriptures. 

Neophyte.  [Gr.  vt6<pvros,  newly  planted.] 
In  the  primitive  Church,  any  newly  made  con- 
vert. 

Neoplatonism.  The  philosophy  of  the  school 
which  sprang  up  at  Alexandria  under  Philon,  or 
Philo  Judzeus,  in  the  first  century,  and  was  more 
fully  developed  by  Ammonius  Saccas  and  Plotl- 
nus,  a  century  later.  It  may  be  described  as 
an  effort  to  reconcile  the  Platonic  philosophy 
with  the  language  of  the  Old  Testament. 
(Eclectics.) 

Neozoic.  [Gr.  veos,  new,  ^,  life]  (Geol.) 
Life-periods  being  taken,  rather  than  rock- 
systems,  as  the  true  Geol.  divisions,  we  have  :  1 
Cainozoic  [Ka.iv6s,  fresh]  =  Tertiary  and  Post- 


NEPE 


339 


NEUR 


Tertiary  epochs.  2.  Mesozoic  [ueVos,  middle]  — 
Secondary  ;  or  Cretaceous,  Oolitic,  and  Triassic. 
3.  Paleozoic  [ira\at6s,  ancient]  =  Primary  ;  or 
Permian,  Carboniferous,  Devonian,  Silurian, 
Cambrian,  and  Laurentian.  Another  mode  of 
division  is  :  1.  Neozoic  =  Post-Tertiary  or  pre- 
sent epoch,  Tertiary,  Cretaceous,  Oolitic,  and 
Triassic.  2.  Palceozoic  =  Permian,  Carbonifer- 
ous, Devonian,  Silurian,  Cambrian,  and  Lauren- 
tian. As  any  rocks  may  become  metamorphic, 
that  term  is  not  now  applied  to  a  division  or 
system  ;  and,  as  the  oldest  known  rocks  (gneiss) 
have  been  stratified,  and  may  once  have  been 
fossiliferous,  the  terms  Azoic  [a  neg.  ,  fa-f],  life] 
and  Hypozoic  [vir6,  beneath]  are  no  longer  used  as 
systematic. 

Nepe.  A  square  piece  of  blanket,  used  by 
N.  -American  Indians  as  a  sock, 

Nepenthe.  [Gr.  vyirevB-fis,  without  sorrow.] 
1.  (Myth.  )  A  magic  potion  given  by  Helen  to 
the  guests  of  Menelaos.  2.  Any  remedy  for 
grief  or  pain. 

Nephew,  Job  xviii.  19,  =  L.  ne"pos,  grand- 
child, descendant  ;  so  I  Tim.  v.  4,  nephews  [Gr. 
fKyova].  Niece  once,  similarly,  like  neptis,  meant 
descendants,  both  male  and  female. 

Nephr-,  Nephro-.    [Gr.  vf<pp6s,  kidney.] 

Nephrite,  Jade,  Axe-stone.  A  mineral,  com- 
posed of  silica  (one-half),  magnesia  (a  fourth), 
lime,  iron,  alumina  ;  with  coarse  splintery  frac- 
ture ;  tough,  translucent  at  the  edges  ;  greenish  ; 
slightly  greasy  to  the  touch  ;  cut  into  implements, 
ornaments,  images,  charms,  etc.  ;  once  thought 
to  cure  complaints  of  the  kidney  [Gr.  ve(pp6s]. 
Tartary,  New  Zealand,  etc.  (Jade.  ) 

Neplus  ultra.  [L.,  do  not  go  beyond.]  Used 
often  in  the  sense  of  the  impossibility  of  going 
further,  as  "  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  artistic  per- 
fection." 

Nepotism.  [L.  nepos,  nepotis,  a  nephew.] 
"Lit.  fondness  for  nephews.  Hence  undue  attach- 
ment to  kinsfolk,  showing  itself  in  abuse  of 
patronage  or  in  other  ways. 

Neptune's  sheep.  In  Naut.  parlance,  crested 
waves. 

Neptunian  rocks  =  stratified  or  aqueous  ; 
opposed  to  igneous,  volcanic,  or  Plutonic. 
(Huttonian.) 

Ne  puero  gladlum.  [L.]  Do  not  trust  a  boy 
with  a  sword. 

Neque  semper  arcum  tendit  Apollo.  [L.] 
Apollo  is  not  always  bending  his  bow  (Horace). 
There  are  times  of  rest  from  toil. 

Ne  quid  nimis.  [L.,  do  nothing  in  excess.] 
Beware  of  overdoing  anything.  So  Gr. 


Nereids.  [Gr.  vnp-niSes.]  (Gr.  Myth.} 
Daughters  of  Nereus,  the  god  of  the  sea.  Am- 
phitrite,  Galatea,  and  Thetis  the  mother  of 
Achilles,  were  among  their  number.  (Naiads; 
Nymphs.) 

Nereus.    (Nereids.) 

Neri.    (Bianchi  and  Neri.) 

Neroli.  [It.]  A  scent  obtained  by  distilling 
the  flowers  of  the  bitter  orange. 

Nerves  [Gr.  vevpov,  sinew,  nerve],  Nine  pairs 
of.  Their  order  being  that  of  their  transmission 


through  the  foramma  at  the  base  of  the  skull, 
from  the  front  backwards,  (i)  Olfactory;  (2) 
Optic ;  (3)  M5t5res  oculorum ;  (4)  Pathetic  ; 
(5)  Trifacial ;  (6)  Abducentes ;  (7)  Portio  dura, 
or  facial ;  Portio  mollis,  or  auditory  ;  (8)  Glosso- 
pharyngeal,  Par  vagum,  called  also  pneumo- 
gastric,  +  spinal  accessory ;  (9)  Hypoglossal. 

Nescit  vox  missa  reverti.  [L.]  The  word 
uttered  cannot  be  unspoken  (Horace). 

Nessun  maggior  dolore  Che  ricordarsi  del 
tempo  felice  Nella  miseria.  [It.]  No  one  greater 
grief  is  there  in  one's  misery  than  to  remember 
happy  times  (Dante). 

This  is  truth  the  poet  sings, 

That  a  sorrow's  crown  of  sorrow  is  remembering  happier 
things. 

Tennyson,  Locksley  Hall. 

Nessus,  Shirt  of.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  the  garment 
dipped  in  the  blood  of  the  centaur  Nessus,  sent 
by  Deianeira  to  Heracles  (Hercules),  whose 
death  it  caused  by  eating  his  flesh  away. 

Nestorians.  (Eccl.  Hist.]  The  followers  of 
Nestorius,  Patriarch  of  Constantinople,  in  the 
fifth  century,  who  forbade  men  to  entertain  any 
combined  notion  of  the  divine  and  human 
nature  in  Christ.  Nestorius  was  opposed  in  the 
Council  of  Ephesus,  A.D.  431,  by  Cyril  of 
Alexandria.  His  opinions  spread  far  Eastwards  ; 
in  the  West  they  were  met  by  the  opposite 
theories  of  Eutyches.  (Eutychians ;  Monophy- 
sites;  Monothelites.) 

Ne  sutor  ultra  crepidam.  [L.,  let  not  the 
cobbler  go  beyond  his  last.]  Things  not  under- 
stood should  be  left  alone. 

Net.  [Fr.  net,  from  L.  mtidus,  shining 
(Wedgwood).]  (Com.)  1.  Things  pure  and  un- 
adulterated. 2.  What  remains  after  the  Tare 
has  been  taken  out  of  merchandise.  3.  The 
price  obtained  by  any  commodity  after  deducting 
all  tare  and  charges. 

Nethinims.  In  Old  Testament,  the  hewers  of 
wood  and  drawers  of  water  for  the  priests  and 
Levites,  an  office  to  which  the  Gibeonites  are 
said  to  have  been  condemned  by  Joshua. 

Net  profit.    (Net.) 

Netting.  (Naut.)  Boarding  Ar.  runs  along 
the  gunwale,  and  is  carried  some  height  up  the 
rigging  to  prevent  an  enemy  from  jumping  on 
board.  Splinter  N.  is  a  horizontal  net,  about 
twelve  feet  above  the  quarter-deck,  stretched 
from  the  main  to  the  mizzen  mast,  to  prevent  any 
one  from  being  injured  by  falling  spars,  etc., 
in  action. 

Nettle-cloth.  A  thick  japanned  cotton  stuff 
used  as  a  substitute  for  leather. 

Nettle-rash.    (Urticaria.) 

Nettles.    (Naut.)    (Knittles.) 

Neumes.  [(?)  Gr.  in/eG/io,  breath.]  (Music.) 
Certain  marks,  accents,  directions— seven  in 
number — as  to  raising  or  lowering  the  voice, 
which  grew  out  of  the  old  accents,  acute,  grave, 
circumflex  ;  used  from  eighth  or  ninth  to  twelfth 
century ;  the  foundation  of  modern  musical 
notation. 

Neur-,  Neuro-.  [Gr.  vevpov,  a  nerve."]  Neural, 
having  to  do  with  the  nerves. 

Neuro-mlmesis.      [Gr.  vevpov,  nerve, 


NEUR 


340 


NIEL 


imitation.}  Sir  J.  Paget's  substitute  for  the 
term  Hysterical  joints  ;  a  nerve-condition  which 
simulates  joint-disease,  especially  at  the  hip  and 
knee. 

Neuroptera.  [Gr.  vevpov,  a  nerve,  vrepdv,  a 
wing.]  (Entom.)  Ord.  of  insects,  with  four 
membranous,  reticulated,  net-like  wings ;  as 
dragon-flies,  Libellulidae. 

Neurosis.  [Gr.  vcvpa,  nerves.]  (Mat.)  A 
proposed  substitute  for  the  word  Hysteria. 

Neutral  axis.  A  beam  bent  by  forces  applied 
transversely  is  found  to  be  stretched  below  a 
certain  line  and  compressed  above  it ;  that  line 
which  is  neither  stretched  nor  compressed  is  the 
N.  A.  of  the  beam. 

Neutral  salt.  A  salt  in  which  none  of  the  pro- 
perties either  of  the  acid  or  base  are  perceptible. 

Neutral  ships.  In  Com.,  ships  belonging  to 
neutral  states  engaged  in  trade  with  the  ports  of 
belligerents. 

Neutral  state.  A  country  which  binds  itself 
not  to  give  aid  or  support  to  either  of  two  belli- 
gerents, and  in  its  turn  is  not  to  be  molested. 

Neutral  tint.  A  grey  water-colour  composed 
of  blue,  yellow,  and  green,  in  various  proportions. 

Neuvaine.  [Fr.]  In  the  Latin  Church,  prayers 
offered  up  for  nine  days  for  some  specified,  pur- 
pose. In  Latin,  Novena. 

Neve.  [L.  mvata,  fern,  of  nivatus,  part,  of 
nivo,  /  coat  with  snow.]  In  a  glacier,  snow 
melted,  but  not  yet  compressed,  etc.,  into  ice 
by  regelation. 

New  Connexion  Methodists.  Wesleyans  who 
withdrew  with  Alexander  Kilham  from  the  old 
society  on  account  of  the  great  powers  given  to 
the  Conference.  Hence  called  Kilhamites. 

Newel.  [O.Fr.  noial,  nual,  from  L.  niicalis, 
belonging  to  a  «w/(nux,  nucis).]  (Arch.}  The 
upright  post  round  which  the  steps  of  a  circular 
staircase  wind. 

New  England.  The  settlement  established  by 
the  Pilgrim  Fathers.  It  was  the  nucleus  of 
Massachusetts,  from  whence  were  developed 
gradually  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Connecti- 
cut, and  Rhode  Island.  In  1643  these  settle- 
ments formed  the  first  American  Confederation. 

Newgate  Calendar.  A  series  of  memoirs  of 
great  criminals. 

New  Jerusalem  Church.    (Swedenborgians.) 

New  Learning,  The.  A  name  sometimes 
given  to  the  revival  of  letters  at  the  close  of  the 
fifteenth  century. 

New  Bed,  i.e.  Sandstone,  =  Triassic,  above  the 
Permian  and  Carboniferous  series  ;  the  Old  Red 
being  below.  The  Permian  formerly  was  in- 
cluded in  N.  R. 

New  Style.  In  Chron.,  the  calendar  of 
Gregory  XIII. ,  correcting  the  errors  of  the  Old, 
or  Julian,  Style  or  calendar.  The  change  was 
made  in  1582,  when  the  day  after  October  4  was 
called  October  15.  It  came  into  use  in  England 
in  1752,  when  the  day  after  September  2  was 
called  September  14. 

Newtonian  philosophy;  N.  telescope.  New- 
ton's view  of  the  system  of  the  world,  as  opposed 
to  that  of  Descartes.  (For  N.  telescope,  -vide 
Telescope.) 


Newton's  rings.  The  rings  of  colour  pro- 
duced when  two  slightly  convex  lenses  are 
pressed  together ;  they  are  one  case  of  the 
colours  of  thin  plates. 

Newton's  scale  of  colour.    (Colour.) 

Nexi.  [L.,  bound.]  Amongst  the  ancient 
Romans,  free-born  persons  bound  to  a  creditor 
for  debt,  and  compelled  to  serve  him  until  the 
debt  was  discharged.  The  condition  of  the  man 
so  bound  was  called  Nexum. 

Next  friend  of  an  infant  or  of  a  married 
woman.  In  Law,  one  who  institutes  suits  in 
equity,  acting  in  them  on  behalf  of  either  infant 
or  one  under  age,  or  for  a  married  woman,  and 
being  responsible  for  the  costs. 

Niaiseries.  [Fr.]  Follies,  sillinesses,  non- 
sense. Fr.  niais  is  the  L.  nidacem,  a  fledgling. 

Nibelungen,  Lay  of  the.  The  oldest  of  all 
existing  German  epic  poems,  known  as  the 
Nibelungen-lied.  (Minnesingers. ) 

Nibelungen-lied.     (Nibelungen  Lay  of  the.) 

Nicaragua  wood.  A  red  dye-wood  brought 
from  Nicaragua. 

Nicene  Creed.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  the  creed  drawn 
up  by  the  Council  of  Nice,  A.D.  325,  and  com- 
pleted by  the  Council  of  Constantinople,  A.D. 
381.  The  words  filioqiie  were  added  after  a 
Patre  by  the  Western  Church,  early  in  the  fifth 
century. 

Nick.  (Printing. )  A  notch  in  the  shank  of 
a  type,  for  holding  it  by. 

Nick,  Old.  A  popular  name  for  the  devil. 
The  name  denotes  a  water-spirit,  Nix,  Nixie 
[Gr.  v-fix03)  to  swim].  So  Old  Harry  is  derived 
from  Ahriman.  (Naiads ;  Nymphs.) 

Nickel.  [Ger.,  from  kupfer  nickel,  base 
copper,  as  it  was  thought  to  be  a  base  ore  of 
copper.]  A  brilliant  white  metal  strongly  mag- 
netic. 

Nick  Frog.     (Bull,  John.) 

Nicolaitans.  One  of  the  earliest  Christian 
sects,  mentioned  in  the  Apocalypse,  where  they 
are  described  as  inclining  to  the  licentious  prac- 
tices of  the  Gentiles. 

Nicol's  prism.     (Prism.) 

Nicotine.  The  chief  alkaloid  contained  in 
tobacco  (introduced  into  France  by  Nicot, 

155°)- 

Nictating,  Nictitating,  membrane.  [L.  nicto, 
I  wink.]  (Anat.)  In  birds,  amphibia,  and  some 
mammals,  the  suspensory  muscle  of  the  eye, 
which  is  thrust  forth  and  drawn  back,  so  as  to 
sweep  away  irritating  particles. 

Niddin.  (Heb.)  The  minor  excommunication 
among  the  Jews,  the  next  being  the  cherem,  and 
the  most  severe  the  scammatha. 

Nide.  [Fr.  nid,  from  L.  nidus,  nest.]  A 
brood  of  pheasants. 

Nidification.  [Fr.,  from  L.  nidificare,  nidus, 
nest,  facio,  I  make.]  The  art  of  building  a  nest, 
including  also  the  hatching  and  feeding  of  young. 


Nidorosity.     [L.  nldor,  smell  as  of  roasting^ 
'"  ,  ofundi 

roast  meat. 


boiling.]    Eructation,  with  the  taste  of  undigested 


Niello.  [It.]  Filling  a  pattern  cut  on  gold  or 
silver  with  a  melted  black  composition,  and 
afterwards  scraping  and  burnishing  the  metal 


NIFL 


341 


NIZA 


so  as  to  present  the  effect  of  a  black  drawing 
thereon. 

Niflheim.  In  Norse  Myth.,  the  home  of  the 
Niflungs  or  Nibelungs,  or  children  of  the  mist 
[cf.  Gr.  v€(f>€\ij,  L.  nebula,  a  cloud\ — the  dreary 
realm  beneath  the  earth,  ruled  by  the  goddess 
Hel.  (Nibelungen,  lay  of  the;  Yggdrasil.) 

Nigged  ashlar.  (Arch.)  A  mode  of  dressing 
stone,  in  which  the  face  is  left  rough.  Also 
called  Hammer-dressed. 

Night-hawk.  [Heb.  tachmas;  Lev.  xi.  16.] 
(Bibl. )  Probably  spec,  of  owl. 

Night-jar.  (From  nocturnal  habits  and  cry.) 
(Goat-sucker.) 

Night  Thoughts.  A  poem  by  the  Rev.  Edward 
Young  (1684-1765),  in  blank  verse ;  consisting 
of  nine  nights  of  reflexion  upon  life,  death, 
immortality. 

Nihil  album.  [L.,  white  nothing.}  White 
oxide  of  zinc  (from  the  extreme  lightness  of  its 
particles). 

Nihil  erat  quod  non  tetlgit :  nihil  quod  tetigit 
non  ornavit.  [L.]  He  (touched)  handled  every  - 
thing,  and  all  that  he  handled  he  adorned. 

Nihil  est  ab  omni  parte  beatum.  [L.]  There 
is  nothing  absolutely  happy  (Horace). 

Nihil  est  in  intellectu  quod  non  prius  in  sensu. 
[L.]  There  is  nothing  in  the  intellect  which  did 
not  exist  before  in  the  senses — the  addition  of  Des- 
cartes to  this  dictum  being  nisi  ipse  intellectus, 
except  the  intellect  itself. 

Nihilism.  [L.  nihil,  nothing,  =  ni  f Hum,  not  a 
thread.]  Nothingness  ;  hence  the  doctrine  that 
nothing  can  be  known.  Russian  nihilism  seems 
to  be  a  protest  against  all  faith,  order,  law. 

Nil  admirari.  [L.]  To  wonder  or  feel 
astonishment  at  nothing;  the  cool  and  phleg- 
matic temper  recommended  by  Horace  as  the 
most  likely  to  ensure  human  happiness. 

Nil  ad  rem.    [L.]    Nothing  to  the  purpose. 

Nil  conscire  sibi ;  nulla  pallescere  culpa.  [L.] 
To  be  conscious  of  no  wrong ;  to  grow  pale  at  no 
charge  (Horace).  Sir  R.  Walpole  quoted  this 
in  the  House  of  Commons  as  "Nullz  pallescere 
culp^."  Pulteney,  afterwards  Earl  of  Bath, 
pointed  out  the  mistake.  Walpole  offered  a  bet 
of  a  guinea,  which  on  a  reference  to  the  book 
was  lost.  Pulteney  remarked  that  it  was  pro- 
bably the  only  money  he  had  given  in  the  House 
which  had  not  caused  a  blush  both  to  the  giver 
and  the  receiver. 

Nil  desperandum.     [L.]    Never  despair. 

Nil  fuit  unquam  sic  impar  sibi.  [L.]  Nothing 
was  ever  so  unlike  itself  (Horace) ;  spoken  of 
inconsistent  and  self-contradictory  characters. 

Nill.  Shining  sparks  sent  off  from  melted 
brass. 

Nil  mortalibus  arduum  est.  [L.,  nothing  is 
difficult  for  men  (Horace).]  Men  will  attempt 
anything. 

Nilometer.  A  graduated  pillar  on  an  island 
opposite  to  Old  Cairo,  for  marking  the  daily  rise 
of  the  Nile.  The  first  pillar  was  set  up  A.D. 
715,  the  second  in  860. 

Nil  sine  magno  Vita  labore  dedit  mortalibus. 
[L.]  Life  yields  nothing  to  men  without  hard 
toil  (Horace). 


Ni  Pun  ni  Pautre.  [Fr.]  Neither  the  one  nor 
the  other. 

Nimbus.  [L.]  1.  A  dark,  heavy  rain-cloud. 
2.  In  Eccl.  Art,  a  circular  disc  round  the  heads 
of  saints  and  angels.  (Aureole.) 

Nimispoeta.    [L.]     Too  nmch  a  poet. 

Nimium  ne  crede  colori.  [L. ,  do  not  trttst  too 
much  to  colour  (Virgil).]  All  is  not  gold  that 
glitters. 

N'importe.     [Fr.,  no  matter.}    Nevermind. 

Niobe.  [Gr.]  A  mythical  name  commonly 
known  through  the  sculptured  group  at  Florence, 
called  "  Niobe  and  Her  Children."  She  is  said 
to  have  wept  herself  to  death  when  her  children 
were  killed  by  Phoebus  and  Artemis.  The  story, 
as  well  as  her  name,  expresses  seemingly  the 
melting  of  the  winter's  snows.  [Cf.  Gr.  j/t<|>eT(k, 
falling  snow.  ] 

Niobium.  [From  L.  Niobe,  daughter  of 
Tantalus.]  (Tantalum.) 

Ni  plus  ni  moins.  [Fr.]  Neither  more  nor 
less. 

Nippers.  (Araut.)  Sound  yarns  taken  from 
condemned  rope  and  marled  together.  Selvagee 
N.,  a  stronger  kind  of  N.  (Selvagee.) 

Nippers  of  a  horse.  The  six  front  teeth  above 
and  six  front  teeth  below ;  next  to  these  are  the 
tushes,  i.e.  canine  teeth. 

Nipter.  [Gr.  viirr^p,  a  washing-vessel  (John 
xiii.  5).]  The  washing  of  feet  on  Good  Friday 
in  the  Greek  Church.  The  office  is  in  the 
EuchSlSgtum  (q.v.\ 

Nirvana.    (Buddhism.) 

Nisan.  Post-Babylonian  name  for  A  bib 
(q.v.). 

Nisi  prius.  [L.,  unless  before.]  A  legal  fiction 
which  ordered  causes  to  be  tried  at  Westminster 
unless  they  were  previously  tried  by  the  judges 
in  the  counties  to  which  they  belonged,  as,  in 
fact,  was  always  the  case.  The  nisi  prius  pro- 
viso has  been  disused  since  1852. 

Nisroch.  The  hawk-headed  god  of  the  Assy- 
rians. 

Nitre.  [Gr.  vlrpov.]  (Chem.)  Nitrate  of 
potassium,  also  called  saltpetre.  Two  acids  are 
derived  from  it,  nitric  and  nitrous,  the  salts  of 
which  are  called  nitrates  and  nitrites  respectively. 
Cubic  nitre  is  nitrate  of  soda,  which  crystallizes 
in  cubes. 

Nitrification.  [Nitre,  and  L.  facere,  to  make] 
The  artificial  production  of  nitre. 

Nitrogen.  [Gr.  virpov,  nitre,  yevvdca,  I  beget.] 
(Chem.)  A  colourless  gaseous  element,  which 
will  neither  burn  nor  support  life.  It  forms 
nearly  four-fifths  of  the  atmosphere. 

Nitro-glycerine.  A  singular  liquid,  discovered 
in  Paris,  1848,  obtained  by  the  action  of  a  mix- 
ture of  nitric  and  sulphuric  acids  on  glycerine  ; 
the  sulphuric  acid  being  simply  an  agent  in 
bringing  about  the  chemical  union  of  the  other 
two ;  used  in  various  blasting  agents.  (Dyna- 
mite; Litho-fracteur.) 

Nix.     (Nick,  Old;  Undines.) 

Nizam,  properly  the  Viceroy  of  the  Great 
Mogul.  The  title  of  one  of  the  native  sove- 
reigns of  India,  derived  from  Nizam-ul-Mulk 
(Moloch),  who,  in  the  beginaing  of  the  eighteenth 


NL 


342 


NOMI 


century,  gained  possession  of  the  Mohammedan 
conquests  in  the  Deccan.  (Nawab.) 

N.L.  Written  upon  a  tablet  after^  a  judicial 
trial  in  ancient  Rome,  is  =  L.  non  liquet,  it  is 
not  clear,  not  proven. 

Nobel.    The  lion  in  Reinecke  the  Fox  (q.v.}. 

Noble.  An  O.E.  coin,  value  6s.  &/.,  in  the 
reign  of  Edward  III. 

Noblesse  oblige.  [Fr.]  Nobility  imposes  on 
us  the  duty  of  noble  conduct. 

Nocet  differre  paratis.  [L.]  Delay  injures 
those  who  are  ready. 

Nocet  emta  dolore  voluptas.  [L.]  Pleasure 
bought  at  the  cost  of  pain  is  mischievous 
(Horace). 

Noctes  ccenaeque  Deum.  [L.]  Nights  and  ban- 
quets of  the  gods  (Horace). 

NoctlKo.  [L.  noctem,  night. ~\  (Zoo!.)  Gen. 
of  bat  with  long  incisors,  giving  its  name  to  fam. 
NoctiliSnidse.  Mostly  found  in  Trop.  America. 
Ord.  Cheiroptera. 

Noctiluca.  [L.,  night-shining.']  (Zool.)  Phos- 
phorescent marine  animalcule.  Class  Infusoria. 

Nocturns.  [L.  nocturnus,  nightly.]  In  the 
Latin  Church,  a  nightly  office,  which  now  forms 
part  of  the  Matins. 

Nodal  figures ;  N.  lines ;  N.  points.  [L.  nodus, 
a  knot.]  The  points  or  lines  of  a  vibrating  body 
which  remain  at  rest  during  the  vibration,  are  its 
N.  points  and  lines.  In  the  case  of  a  vibrating 
plate,  these  lines  and  points  are  shown  by  strew- 
ing sand  on  it  before  it  is  set  in  vibration; 
during  the  motion  the  sand  becomes  heaped  on 
the  N.  lines,  and  forms  N.  figures,  or  the  figures 
of  Chladni  of  Wittenberg  (1756-1827),  who  was 
the  first  to  investigate  them. 

Noddy.  (From  its  stupid  inactivity  ;  cf. 
booby.)  (Ornith.)  Widely  distributed  spec,  of 
tern,  fourteen  to  fifteen  inches  long.  Buff  head, 
brown  body.  Sterna  stolida.  (Sternidae.) 

Node  [L.  nodus,  a  knot} ;  Ascending  N. ;  De- 
scending N. ;  Line  of  nodes.  1.  (Geom.)  The 
oval  made  by  the  intersection  of  one  branch  of  a 
curve  with  another,  as  either  loop  of  a  figure  of 
eight.  2.  (Astron.)  Either  of  the  points  in 
which  the  orbit  of  a  planetary  body  intersects 
the  ecliptic.  The  Ascending  N.  is  that  through 
which  the  planet  moves  from  south  to  north  of 
the  ecliptic ;  the  other  is  the  Descending  N.  The 
straight  line  joining  these  two  points  is  the  Line 
of  nodes. 

Node.  [L.  nodus,  a  knot.]  In  Bot,  the  situa- 
tion on  a  stem  where  any  lateral  member  grows 
out ;  e.g.  leaf  or  leaf-scale ;  the  part  of  the  axis 
between  two  successive  nodes  being  an  Inter- 
node. 

Nodes.  [L.  nodus,  a  knot.'}  (Music.}  Fixed 
or  nearly  fixed  points,  at  which  a  sonorous  string 
divides  itself  into  vibrating  segments,  which  pro- 
duce the  harmonic  sounds. 

Nodule.  [L.  nSdulus,  dim.  of  nodus,  a  knot.] 
(Geol.)  A  round  or  oval  mass  of  rock-matter, 
segregated  from  the  surrounding  matrix,  either 
with  or  without  a  nucleus  ;  e.g.  N.  of  ironstone, 
flint,  cement-stone,  agate.  When  the  fissures 
formed  by  contraction  are  filled  up  with  mineral 
matter,  the  N.  becomes  a  septariiim  [septum,  an 


inclosure],  or  Ludus  helmontii ;  when  it  is 
hollow,  it  is  a  geode.  An  eagle-stone  has  an  irony 
crust  and  ochreous  centre. 

Noetians.  (Eccl.  Hist. }  The  followers  of  the 
Ephesian  Noetus,  the  master  of  Sabellius  (Sabel- 
lians).  As  acknowledging  only  one  Person  in 
the  Godhead,  they  were  charged  with  holding 
that  the  Father  had  suffered  on  the  cross. 
(Patripassians.) 

Nogging.  [Eng.  nog,  a  sqiiare  piece  of  wood 
to  support  the  roof  of  a  mine.]  A  partition  of 
scantlings  filled  with  bricks. 

No  higher.     (Naut.)    (Near.) 

Noils.  [Fr.  noyau,  a  core,  or  kernel.]  Short 
pieces  and  knots  of  wool,  separated  by  comb- 
ing them. 

Nola,  or  Campana.  A  bell.  Bells  are  said  to 
have  been  introduced  into  churches  by  Paulinus, 
Bishop  of  Nola,  in  Campania.  Hence  A.  S. 
cnyllan,  to  knoll,  sound  a  knell. 

Nolens  volens.  [L.,  willing  or  unwilling.] 
Whether  he  will  or  not. 

Noli  me  tangere.  [L.,  touch  me  not.]  1. 
(Lupus.)  2.  (Bot.}  Elegant  wild  plant,  spec,  of 
Impatiens  balsam,  ord.  Balsamineae. 

Nolition.  [A  word  coined  from  L.  nolo,  I  am 
unwilling,  —  non  volo.]  The  opposite  of 
Volition. 

Nolle  prosequi.  [L.]  In  Law,  an  acknow- 
ledgment on  the  part  of  the  plaintiff  that  he 
will  not  further  prosecute  in  a  suit,  either  as  to 
the  whole  or  as  to  some  counts  in  the  declaration. 

Nolo  episcopari.  [L.]  /  do  not  wish  to  be 
made  a  bishop  ;  now  applied  commonly  to  those 
who  affect  a  reluctance  for  promotion  which  they 
do  not  feel.  Said  in  one  or  two  historical  in- 
stances ;  but  not  said,  as  is  often  fancied,  by 
all  to  whom  bishoprics  are  offered. 

Noliimus  leges  Angliee  mutari.  [L.]  We  do 
not  choose  the  laivs  of  England  to  be  changed. 

Nomads.  [Gr.  vo/taSes,  from  vopos,  pasture.] 
A  general  name  for  roving  tribes,  such  as  still 
inhabit  the  vast  country  of  Mongolia. 

No-Man's  Land.  (Naut.}  A  space  amid- 
ships, between  the  after  part  of  the  belfry  and 
fore  part  of  the  boat  in  the  booms,  used  to  keep 
blocks,  ropes,  etc. 

Nombril  [Fr.,  navel]  point.     (Escutcheon.) 

Nom  de  guerre.  [Fr.,  name  <?/  war.}  An 
assumed  name  for  purposes  of  literary  con- 
troversy. 

Nom  de  plume.  \¥r.,pen  name.]  An  assumed 
name  by  which  an  anonymous  author's  writings 
are  known  as  coming  from  one  man  ;  e.g.  Boz. 

Nome.  [Gr.  vopos,  from  pe/io>,  J  divide.] 
(Hist.)  The  Greek  name  for  the  provinces  into 
which  the  ancient  empires  of  Egypt  and  Persia 
were  divided. 

Nomen.    (Prsenomen.) 

Nomenclature.  [L.  nomenclator,  one  who 
calls  out  names.]  A  word  denoting  the  language 
peculiar  to  each  science  or  art. 

Nominalists.  [L.  nominalis,  relating  to  a 
name.]  The  followers  of  John  Roscelin,  of 
Compiegne,  who,  in  the  eleventh  century,  asserted 
that  general  terms  have  no  corresponding  reality, 
being  mere  words  or  names  and  nothing  more. 


NOMI 


343 


NONS 


This  doctrine  caused  great  alarm  among  the 
Schoolmen,  who  had  thus  far  believed  that  all 
that  was  real  in  nature  depended  on  those 
general  notions  which  described  their  essences. 
Roscelin  was  compelled  to  retract  his  opinions  ; 
but  they  were  taken  up  by  Abelard,  who  went 
with  a  body  of  his  followers  to  Paris,  and  brought 
about  the  founding  of  the  celebrated  university 
in  that  city.  The  next  Nominalist  after  Abelard 
was  William  of  Ockham,  who  may  be  styled  a 
Conceptualist,  since  he  allowed  to  general  terms 
a  kind  of  subjective  reality,  as  the  signs  of  an 
actual  process  of  thought,  although  they  were 
neither  distinct  objects  of  consciousness  nor 
realities  in  nature.  Those  who  affirm  that  they 
are  neither  and  deny  to  them  this  subjective 
reality,  are  Realists.  (Schoolmen.) 

Nominal  partner.  In  Law,  one  who  allows  his 
name  to  appear  as  having  a  share  in  a  concern  in 
which  he  has,  in  fact,  no  interest,  and  thus  sub- 
jects himself  to  its  liabilities. 

Nominis  umbra.    (Stat  magni  nominis  umbra.) 

Nomocanon.  [Gr.  v6nos,  law,  tcavuv,  a  rule.] 
(Eccl.  Hist.}  A  work  in  which  the  canons  of 
the  Church  are  compared  with  the  imperial  laws 
on  the  same  subject.  The  best  known  of  such 
works  is  that  of  Photius,  Patriarch  of  Con- 
stantinople. 

Non-age.  In  Law,  the  being  under  the  age  at 
which  a  person  is  qualified  to  do  certain  acts 
which  he  could  not  legally  do  before  that  age  ; 
e.g.  thirteen  is  non-age  for  the  choice  of  a 
guardian ;  twenty  is  non-age  for  the  alienation  of 
lands. 

Nonagesimal.  [L.  nonagesimus,  ninetieth. ~\ 
The  highest  point  of  the  ecliptic  at  any  time,  i.e. 
the  point  which  is  90°  from  its  intersections  with 
the  horizon. 

Nonchalance.     [Fr.]     Coolness. 

Non-commissioned  officer.  (Mil.}  One  raised 
from  the  ranks,  without  the  intervention  of  royal 
authority,  to  perform  the  subordinate  duties  of 
the  army. 

Non-committal.  The  not  pledging  one's  self 
to  any  particular  measure  ;  a  political  term  in 
frequent  use. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Non  compos  mentis.  [L.]  The  legal  phrase 
for  one  mentally  incapacitated  for  the  manage- 
ment of  affairs. 

Non-condensing  engine.    (Steam-engine.) 

Non-conductor.  A  substance  through  which 
electricity  or  heat  passes  with  difficulty  or  not 
at  all. 

Non  cuivis  hommi  contingit  adire  Corinthum. 
[L.,  it  is  not  every  one  who  can  go  to  Corinth 
(Horace).]  Luxuries  are  not  within  the  reach  of 
all. 

Non  eadem  est  aetas,  non  mens.  [L.]  I am  not 
of  the  same  age  or  the  same  habits  of  thinking  (as 
in  times  past)  (Horace). 

Non  ego.    (Subjective  and  objective.) 

Nonequideminvideo,mirormagis.  [L.]  For  my 
part  I  feel  more  astonished  than  enviotis  (Virgil). 

Nones.  [L.  nonae.]  In  the  old  Latin  calendar, 
a  division  of  the  month  ;  so  called  because  they 
fall  on  the  ninth  day  before  the  Ides.  (Canonical 
hours.) 

23 


Non  est  ad  astra  mollis  a  terns  via.  [L.] 
There  is  no  soft  (easy]  road  from  the  earth  to  the 
stars  (Seneca). 

Non  est  inventus.  [L.,  he  is  not  found.]  The 
old  legal  phrase  in  the  sheriff's  return  to  a  writ 
of  capias  or  arrest,  when  the  defendant  was  not 
forthcoming. 

Non-feasance.  The  legal  phrase  for  the  offence 
of  omitting  what  ought  to  be  done.  (Dolce  far 
niente ;  Eois  Faineants.) 

Non  ignara  mali.    (Haud  ignara  mali.) 

Nonjurors.  Clergy  not  swearing  allegiance  to 
William  and  Mary,  and  holding  that  the  Stuart 
family  had  not  been  lawfully  deposed. 

Non  magni  pendis  quia  contigit.  [L.]  You 
think  little  of  it  because  it  was  a  windfall 
(Horace). 

Non  missura  cutem,  nisi  plena  cruoris,  hirudo. 
[L.]  A  leech  not  likely  to  loose  its  hold  until  it  is 
gorged  with  blood  (Horace). 

Non  multa,  sed  multum.  [L.,  not  many 
things ;  but  much.]  Excellence  rather  than 
variety. 

Non-naturals.  Of  the  sick,  with  the  old 
physicians,  things  not  entering  into  the  com- 
position of  the  body,  but  necessary  to  existence  ; 
as  air,  food,  motion,  rest,  sleep,  retentions  and 
excretions,  affections  of  the  mind. — Hooper's 
Medical  Dictionary. 

No !  no !  The  answering  hail  of  a  boat  having 
a  midshipman  or  warrant  officer  on  board. 

Nonobstante.  \L.,notivithstanding.]  InO.E. 
usage,  a  licence  from  the  Crown  for  doing 
something  which,  although  permissible  by  com- 
mon law,  was  restrained  by  Act  of  Parliament. 
(Dispensing  power.) 

Non  omnla  possumus  omnes.  [L.]  We  can- 
not all  do  everything  (Virgil). 

Non  omnibus  dormio.  [L.,  lit.  I  am  not 
asleep  to  every  one.]  I  choose  for  myself  whose 
faults  to  wink  at  and  whose  to  correct. 

Non  omnis  moriar.  [L.,  /  shall  not  all  die 
(Horace).]  I  shall  leave  a  name  behind  me. 

Nonpareil.  [Fr.  nonpareil,  unequalled.']  A 
small  kind  of  printing  type,  as — 

Easter. 

Non  plus.  [L.,  not  more]  A  phrase  used 
when  a  man  can  say  no  more  in  answer  to  an 
argument,  and  is  therefore  put  in  a  fix,  or  non- 
plussed. 

Non  possumus.  [L.,  we  cannot.]  We  cannot 
even  take  the  matter  into  consideration. 

Non  quo,  sed  quomodo.  [L. ,  not  by  what  mean** 
but  how.]  The  doing  of  the  work  is  more  im- 
portant than  the  agent. 

Non  ragionam  di  lor,  ma  guard  a  e  passa. 
[It.,  let  us  not  discourse  aboiit  them,  but  look 
\thou}  and  pass.]  So  Virgil  answers  Dante's 
questions  about  the  lost  souls,  as  he  leads  him  in 
the  Inferno  (canto  iii.). 

Non  sequitur.  [L.]  It  does  not  follow. 
Spoken  of  conclusions  not  warranted  by  the 
Premisses.  (Syllogism.) 

Non  sibi,  sed  patrise.  [L.]  Not  for  himself, 
but  for  his  coimtry. 

Non  sine  dis  animosus  infans.    [L.]    A  child 


NONS 


344 


NOVE 


whose  strength  and  spirit  are  a  gift  from  the  gods 
(Horace). 

Non  sum  qualis  eram.  [L.]  I  am  not  what 
I  ^vas. 

Non  tali  auxilio,  nee  defensoribus  istis  tempus 
eget.  [L.]  It  is  not  that  kind  of  help,  nor  de- 
fenders like  these,  that  the  time  needs  (Virgil) ; 
but  different  men,  better  resources,  higher 
principles  of  action. 

Non  tangenda,  non  movenda.  [L.]  Things 
not  to  be  touched  or  moved. 

Nonum  prematur  in  annum.  [L.]  Keep  what 
you  have  written  for  nine  years  before  you  pub- 
lish it  (Horace). 

Non  vi,  sed  saepe  cadendo.  [L.]  (Outta  cavat 
lapidem.) 

Noon ;  Apparent  N. ;  Mean  N. ;  Sidereal  N. 
Apparent  noon  is  when  the  apparent  (i.e.  the 
actual)  sun,  Mean  N.  when  the  mean  sun,  Side- 
real N.  when  the  first  point  of  Aries, — is  on  the 
meridian  of  the  station  at  which  the  time  is 
reckoned. 

Norbertines.    (Fremonstratensians.) 

Norimon.     A  Japanese  palanquin. 

N.  orM.    (Abbreviations.) 

Normal.  [L.  normalis,  belonging  to  a  car- 
penter's square  (norma).]  (Geom.}  A  perpen- 
dicular line  ;  particularly  the  line  perpendicular 
to  the  tangent  at  the  point  of  contact  with  the 
curve. 

Normal  schools.  [Fr.  ecole  normale,  L. 
norma,  a  rule,  pattern.'}  Institutions  where 
teachers  are  taught  the  principles  of  their  pro- 
fession and  trained  in  the  practice  of  it. 

Norns.  (Scand.  Myth.]  The  Fates.  Their 
names  were  said  to  be  Urd,  Werdand,  and 
Skuld,  or  Past,  Present,  and  Future ;  but  this  is 
evidently  the  notion  of  later  times. 

Norroy.  [North  king,  from  Fr.  nord,  north, 
roi,  king.}  (Her.}  The  third  king-at-arms  (pre- 
siding over  the  provinces  north  of  the  Trent). 

North,  Magnetic ;  N.  point ;  N.  Pole ;  N.  star. 
The  North  Pole:  1,  (Geog.)  the  point  between 
Asia  and  Greenland,  in  which  the  axis  of  rotation 
meets  the  surface  of  the  earth  ;  2,  (Astron.)  the 
point  in  the  heavens  vertically  over  the  North 
Pole  of  the  earth,  situated  in  the  prolongation 
of  the  earth's  axis.  The  N.  point  is  the  point  in 
which  a  vertical  circle  drawn  through  the  North 
Pole  cuts  the  horizon.  Magnetic  N.,  the  point 
near  the  north  point  to  which  a  magnet  points. 
The  N.  star  (called  also  Pole-star,  Polaris,  a 
Ursae  Minoris,  and  Cynosura),  a  star  of  the 
second  magnitude,  situated  about  i°  20'  from 
the  North  Pole. 

North,  Kising  of  the.  A  name  given  to  the 
rising,  in  1569,  of  Roman  Catholics  under  the 
Earls  of  Northumberland  and  Westmoreland  j 
dispersed  by  the  Duke  of  Sussex. 

Northampton  Tables,  or  Tables  of  Mortality. 
(Life  assurance.) 

North  Briton.    (Liberty  Wilkes.) 

Northern  lights.    (Aurora  borealis.) 

Nos  besoins  sont  nos  forces.  [Fr.]  Our  needs 
constitute  our  strength. 

Noscltur  e  sociis.  [L.,  he  is  known  by  his 
society.'}  Birds  of  a  feather  flock  together. 


Nosing.  (Arch.}  The  projecting  moulding 
on  the  edge  of  a  step. 

Nosology.  [Gr.  vd<ros,  disease,  \dyos,  dis- 
course.] Scientific  classification  of  diseases. 

Nostalgia.  [Gr.  voa-ra\y€ca,  I  am  home-sick, 
I  feel  pain  (&\yos)  in  pining  for  a  return 
(v6ffTos).}  Home-sickness,  a  disease  supposed 
to  be  common  amongst  the  natives  of  mountain- 
ous countries,  when  away  from  their  homes. 

Nostalgic.    [Fr.]    (Nostalgia.) 

Nostrum.  [L.,  our  own.}  Our  special  in- 
vention. Often  applied  to  quack  medicines. 

Nota  bene.  [L.]  Mark  well.  The  abbrev. 
is  N.B. 

Notables.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  the  deputies  of  the 
states  under  the  Ancien  regime.  They  met  for 
the  last  time  in  1786. 

Notanda.    [L.]     Things  to  be  noted. 

Notaries,  Apostolical  and  Imperial.  Notaries 
appointed  by  popes  and  emperors  by  virtue  of 
their  supposed  authority  over  the  realms  of  other 
princes.  The  imperial  notaries  were  forbidden 
by  Edward  II.  to  reside  in  England. 

Note.  [L.  nota,  a  mark,  sign.}  (Phys.)  The 
musical  sound  produced  by  a  string  or  other 
vibrating  body,  consisting  of  the  fundamental 
tone  and  its  harmonics ;  the  latter  are  of  slight 
intensity,  but  impart  quality  or  timbre  to  the 
fundamental  tone,  and  any  one  of  them  can  be 
heard  as  a  distinct  tone  by  means  of  a  properly 
chosen  resonator. 

Notionable.  Anything  existing  in  notion  or 
fancy  only,  unreal,  imaginary. 

Notitia.  [L.]  1.  A  roll  or  register,  as  a  list 
of  gifts  to  a  church  or  monastery.  N.  forbandi- 
toria  is  a  deed  of  renunciation.  2.  The  collective 
amount  of  what  is  known  on  some  special  sub- 
ject ;  as  Notitia  EuchSristica. 

Notos.    (Wind.) 

Notre  Dame.  [Fr.]  Our  Lady;  the  Blessed 
Virgin. 

Nougat.  [Fr.,  from  L.  nux,  nut.'}  A  sweet- 
meat made  of  almonds  and  honey. 

Noun.    (Nominalists.) 

Nourriture  passe  nature.  [Fr.]  Good  breed- 
ing is  of  more  consequence  than  birth. 

Nous.  [Gr.]  Mind ;  often  used  by  itself  as 
equivalent  to  the  vulgar  word  Gumption. 

Nous  avons  change  tout  cela.  [Fr.]  We  have 
changed  all  that ;  as  the  pretended  doctor  says, 
in  Moliere's  Medecin  Malgre  Lui,  backing  out 
of  the  blunder  that  "  the  heart  is  on  the  light 
side." 

Nous  verrons.  [Fr. ,  we  shall  see. }  Time  will 
show. 

Novatians.  The  followers  of  Novatianus,  a 
Roman  presbyter,  who,  in  the  second  century, 
insisted  that  the  lapsed  should  never  be  le- 
admitted  to  the  communion  of  the  Church. 
When  his  opponent,  Cornelius,  was  elected 
Bishop  of  Rome,  Novatianus  set  up  a  sect  of  his 
own,  styled  Cathari  or  Puritans. 

Novels.  [L.  Novellas  Constitutions,  New 
Constitutions.}  In  Rom.  Law,  supplementary 
constitutions  of  some  emperors,  as  of  Justinian, 
which  appeared  after  their  collections  of  law  had 
been  made  public.  (Pandects.) 


NOVE 


345 


NUT 


go 
bo 


Novena.    [L.]    (Neuvaine.) 

Novensiles.  A  word  of  uncertain  origin,  used 
by  the  Latins  as  the  name  of  the  nine  Etruscan 

ods  who  had  the  privilege  of  hurling  thunder- 

lts. 

Noverint,  The  trade  of.  Once  =  the  occupation 
of  a  lawyer's  clerk  ;  writs  usually  beginning 
Noverint  universi,  let  all  men  know. 

Novice.  [L.  novitius.]  A  person  admitted 
into  a  religious  house  for  the  probation  termed 
the  novitiate. 

Novissima  verba.  [L.]  Last  (lit.  newest} 
words. 

Novitiate.    (Novice.) 

Novum  Organon.  New  Instrument  [Gr. 
vpyavov]  ;  Bacon's  work,  explaining  his  method 
of  inductive  reasoning. 

Novus  homo.  [L.,  a  new  man.]  In  Rom. 
Hist.,  a  man  who  was  the  first  of  his  family  to 
obtain  a  curule  magistracy  (q.v.). 

Nowed.  (  Her.  )  Having  the  tail  twisted  like 
a  knot  [Fr.  noeud]. 

Nowel.  [Fr.  noyau,  a  kernel."]  The  core  or 
inner  wall  of  a  mould  for  casting  large  cylinders. 

Noyades.  [Fr.]  In  Fr.  Hist.  ,  the  name  of  a 
mode  of  massacre  by  which  the  victims  were  sent 
adrift  in  a  boat  with  a  hole  driven  through 
the  bottom. 

Noyau.  [Fr.,  a  kernel.'}  A  liqueur  flavoured 
with  the  kernels  of  peach  stones. 

Nuances.  [Fr.  nue,  a  cloud,  L.  nubem.] 
(Music.  )  Light  and  shade  in  expression. 

Nucifraga.  [L.  nucem,  nut,  frango,  1  break.} 
(Ornith.)  Nut-cracker;  gen.  of  birds.  Greater 
part  of  Europe  and  Asia.  Sub-fam.  Corvlnas, 
fam.  Corvidae,  ord.  Passe'res.  One  spec.  (N. 
Carjr5c3tactes  [Gr.  /capuo-KaTct/cTrjy,  nut-cracker]) 
occasionally  visits  England.  General  colour 
brown,  white  spots  ;  wings  and  tail  brown. 

Nucleus.  [L.,  a  small  mit,  kernel,  dim.  of 
nux.]  1.  (Astron.}  The  central  part  of  the  head 
of  a  comet.  2.  (Bot.  )  The  centre  of  an  ovule. 

Nudibranchiata,  Nudibranchiates.  [L.  nudus, 
naked,  Gr.  /3pa-yxia>  gills.  \  (Zool.)  Molluscs 
with  unprotected  breathing  organs,  as  Doris, 
sea-lemon. 

Nudum  pactum.  [L.,  a  nude  pact.  ]  In  Law, 
a  naked  contract,  without  any  consideration. 

Nugae  canorae.  [L.]  Melodiotis  trifles  (  Horace). 

Nuggets,  The  larger  lumps  of  gold,  found  in 
the  gold-diggings.  They  are  always  waterworn. 

Nugis  addere  pondus.  [L.  ,  to  give  weight  to 
trifles  (Horace).]  To  make  mountains  out  of 
mole-hills. 

Nulla  aconita  bibuntur  fictlllbus.  [L.  ,  people 
do  not  drink  poison  out  of  earthenware  (Juvenal).] 
The  danger  is  for  those  who  drink  oul  of  gold 
and  silver.  • 

Nulla  bona.     [L.,  no  goods.  ~\    No  assets. 

Nulla  dies  sine  linea.  [L.,  no  day  without  a 
line.}  For  the  artist,  no  day  without  practice  in 
drawing.  For  all,  no  day  without  toil. 

Nulla  est  sincera  voluptas.  [L.]  ho  pleasure 
is  unalloyed  (Ovid). 

Nullah.  The  Hindu  name  for  small  rivers 
and  streams,  or  for  their  channels  when  dry. 

Nulla  pailescere  culpa.     (Nil  conscire  sibi.  ) 


Nullipore.  [L.  nullus,  none,  porus,  a  passage  ; 
i.e.  once  thought 'to  be  coral  without  pores. \ 
( Geol. )  Lime-bearing  seaweeds,  helping  to  form 
some  Tertiary  limestones,  as  in  Malta  and 
near  Vienna  ;  used  as  building-stones. 

Nullius  addictus  jurare  in  verba  magistri. 
[L.,  not  bound  to  swear  by  the  words  of  any 
master  (Horace).]  Free  and  independent  in 
thought  and  word. 

Nullius  in  bonis.  [L.,  in  or  belonging  to  the 
goods  of  no  one.}  Unclaimed,  or  ownerless, 
property. 

Nullum  tempus  occurrit  regi,  or  Ecclesiae. 
[L.]  A  Law  phrase,  denoting  that  the  rights  of 
the  Crown,  or  of  the  Church,  cannot  be  put  into 
abeyance  by  lapse  of  time  (time  does  not  bar  the 
right  of  the  king  or  of  the  Church). 

Number.  [L.  numerus,  Gr.  vo/j.os.]  1.  Any 
particular  aggregate  of  units.  (For  Abstract  N., 
Cardinal  N. ,  Prime  N. ,  etc. ,  vide  Abstract  num- 
ber ;  Cardinal  numbers ;  Prime  meridian ;  etc. )  2. 
(Natit.)  Ships  are  distinguished  by  numbers  for 
signalling.  Losing  the  N.  of  one's  mess,  dying 
suddenly,  killed,  or  drowned. 

Numeration.  The  art  of  naming  numbers. 
The  chief  words  employed  for  this  purpose  are  the 
names  of  the  digits,  ten,  a  hundred,  a  thousand, 
and  a  million.  Words  for  expressing  numbers 
more  than  a  million  are  of  somewhat  uncertain 
use  ;  e.g.  a  billion  means,  in  England,  a  million 
millions,  in  the  U.  S. ,  in  France,  etc. ,  a  thousand 
millions. 

Numerical  equation ;  N.  value.  In  a  Numerical 
equation  every  quantity  except  the  unknown 
quantity  is  a  particular  number,  as  x*  —  Jx3  + 
4-r2  —  5  =  0.  The  N.  value  of  an  algebraical 
formula  is  the  number  obtained  by  substituting 
numbers  for  their  equivalent  algebraical  symbols 
which  compose  the  formula,  and  reducing  the 
result  to  its  simplest  form;  thus  if  s  =  ^ft* 
when/=  32  and  /  =  5,  the  N.  V.  of  s  is  400. 

Nummulite.  [L.  nummus,  money."]  (Geol.) 
A  gen.  of  fossil  foraminifera,  circular,  coin-like  ; 
their  shells  forming  large  masses  of  N.  lime- 
stone. Eocene. 

Nuno  aut  nunquam.     [L.]     Now  or  never. 

Nuncio.  [It.,  from  L.  nuntius,  a  messenger. ~\ 
A  papal  envoy  accredited  to  a  foreign  court. 

Nuncupative  will.  [L.  nunciipo,  1  name} 
In  Law,  a  will  delivered  by  the  testator  by  word 
of  mouth.  By  Eng.  usage,  this  mode  of  making 
a  will  is  allowed  only  to  soldiers  and  seamen  on 
active  service. 

Nundmae.  [L.]  The  old  Latin  market  days  ; 
so  called  as  recurring  every  ninth  day. 

Nun  of  Kent,  Holy  Maid  of  K.  Elizabeth 
Barton;  she  denounced  Henry  VIII. 's separation 
from  Catherine ;  executed,  with  others,  at 
Tyburn. 

Nunquam  minus  solus  quam  cum  solus,  [L.] 
Never  less  alotte  than  when  alone  j  said  of  true 
philosophers. 

Nuremberg,  Peace  of,  July,  1532,  signed  by 
Charles  V.,  granted  liberty  of  conscience  to 
Protestants.  (Smalcald,  League  of.) 

Nursing  generation.     (Alternate  generation.) 

Nut.     [Akin   to  L.  nux.]     A  small  block  of 


NUTA 


346 


OBLA 


metal  or  wood  pierced  by  a  cylindrical  hole 
within  which  is  cut  the  worm  of  a  female  screw 
to  work  with  the  screw  cut  on  a  bolt. 

Nutation.  [L.  nutatio,  -nem,  a  nodding.}  1. 
(Astron. )  A  small  and  slow  gyratory  movement 
by  which,  if  subsisting  alone,  the  Pole  would 
describe  among  the  stars,  in  a  period  of  about 
nineteen  years,  a  minute  ellipse,  whose  longer 
axis  is  about  19"  and  shorter  14".  Its  effect  is 
to  produce  a  small  periodic  variation  in  the 
motion  of  the  equinox  and  in  the  obliquity  of  the 
ecliptic.  2.  (Med.)  Constant  involuntary  shak- 
ing of  the  head. 

Nutrid  skins.  [Sp.  nutria,  L.  lutra,  Gr. 
Iwtipis,  an  otter.}  The  fur  of  a  Brazilian  animal 
resembling  a  beaver. 

Nuxvomica.  [L.,  disgusting  nut.}  The  seed 
of  a  tree  growing  on  the  Coromandel  coast,  from 
which  strychnine  is  obtained. 

Nyctea.     [Gr.  vi>t,  -KTOS,  night.}     (Ornith.) 


Snowy  owl ;  gen.  and  spec.  N.  America  and 
N.  Europe.  Fam.  Strigidae,  ord.  Accipttres. 

Nycthemeron.  [Gr.  wx^^pov.]  (Astron.) 
A  space  of  a  night  and  a  day. 

Nye.     (Nide.) 

Nylghau.  [Pers.  nll-gao,  blue  coiv.}  (Zoo!.) 
A  ruminant ;  gen.  and  spec,  of  bovine  antelope, 
the  largest  of  its  kind,  more  than  four  feet  high 
at  the  shoulder ;  male,  slate  blue,  with  horns  ; 
female,  reddish  grey,  without.  India.  Portax, 
sub-fam.  TrSgelaphlnge,  fam.  Bovidse,  ord.  Un- 
gulata. 

Nympho-lepsy.  1.  The  being  caught  by  a 
nymph  [Gr.  I/U/X^J-ATJTTTOS],  fascinated  by  the 
actual  sight  of  one  ;  and  2,  generally  a  state  of 
rapture,  the  Muses  being  often  called  nymphs. 

Nymphs.  [Gr.  v6^ai.']  (Gr.  Myth.)  At  first 
female  inhabitants  of  the  waters ;  afterwards  of 
trees  and  forests  also.  (Dryads;  Hamadryads; 
Naiads;  Nereids.) 


0. 


0.  Of  this  letter  the  Greeks  had  two  forms — 
one  equivalent  to  the  short,  the  other  to  the 
long,  pronunciation  of  this  letter  in  other 
countries.  Among  the  Irish  the  letter  O  prefixed 
to  a  name  is  equivalent  to  Fitz  in  England, 
meaning  son.  O  in  Music  is  the  semibreve. 

Oaf.  [Collat.  form  of  elf.}  A  changeling. 
A  child  left  by  the  fairies  in  place  of  one  taken 
away  by  them.  Hence  a  dolt  or  blockhead. 

Oak  leather.  A  kind  of  fungus  spawn,  found  in 
old  oaks  ;  sometimes  used  for  spreading  plasters. 

Oakum.  [O.E.  acumba.]  Loose  hemp  formed 
by  untwisting  old  ropes. 

Oases.  [Gr. ,  probably  a  Copt,  word.]  Fertile 
spots  found  scattered  in  the  great  sandy  deserts 
of  Africa ;  owing  their  richness  to  the  springs 
which  abound  among  them. 

Oast-house.  [D.  ast,  est,  a  kiln;  the  word 
probably  imported  with  the  cultivation  of  hops 
(Wedgwood).]  Kiln  for  drying  hops. 

Oath  of  Allegiance.  [A.S.  ath.]  Binds  to 
faithful  and  true  allegiance  to  the  sovereign. 
O.  of  Supremacy  or  of  the  Queen's  Sovereignty, 
in  substance  abjures  the  doctrine  that  princes 
excommunicated  or  deprived  by  the  pope  may 
be  deposed  or  murdered  ;  and  declares  that  no 
foreign  person  or  state  has  any  jurisdiction  in 
England.  (See  the  "  Ordering  of  Deacons.") 

Obbligatd.  [It.,  bound,  made  necessary.} 
(Music.)  Accompaniment  which  cannot  be  dis- 
pensed with. 

Obeah.     (Obi.) 

Obedience,  Passive.  In  Politics,  the  absolute 
submission  supposed  by  some  to  be  due  to  the 
sovereign. 

Obelisk.  [Gr.  o0e\i<TKos,  dim.  of  6&f\os,  a 
spit,  pointed  instrument.}  1.  In  Printing,  a 
dagger  (t)  referring  to  a  note  in  the  margin,  or 
at  the  bottom  of  the  page.  2.  (Aristarcbian 
criticism.) 


Obelize.     (Aristarchian  criticism.) 

Obelus.    (Obelisk.) 

Oberon.  In  Med.  Myth.,  the  king  of  the 
fairies.  The  name  was  originally  Auberon, 
Alberon,  the  first  syllable  of  which  reproduces 
the  O.G.  alb,  our  elf,  fairy.  (Elves.)  It  occurs 
in  the  Heldenbuch  (Minnesingers)  in  the  form 
Alberich,  or  Alban. 

Obi,  Obeah.  The  name  of  a  kind  of  witch- 
craft among  the  negro  tribes  of  W.  Africa,  an 
Obeah-man  or  -woman  being  one  who  practises 
O. ,  advising  in  sickness  and  other  emergencies  ; 
selling  charms,  philtres,  etc.  ;  and  skilled  in  the 
art  of  poisoning,  "the  most  practically  impor- 
tant element  in  O."  (Kingsley,  At  Last,  p.  288  ; 
Tylor,  Primitive  Culture).  (Fetish.) 

Obiit  sine  prole.  [L.]  Died  without  issue. 
Often  given  under  the  initial  letters  O.S.P. 

Obiter  dictum.  [L.]  A  thing  said  by  the  way, 
incidentally,  in  passing,  not  expressive  of  de- 
liberate judgment ;  generally  applied  to  some 
opinion  of  a  judge  which  is  not  judicially  de- 
cisive, not  of  the  essence  of  the  matter  which 
has  been  argued  before  him. 

Obits.  [L.  obitus,  death.}  In  the  Latin 
Church,  a  service  for  the  repose  of  a  departed 
soul. 

Object;  Objective.  (Subject;  Subjective  and 
objective.) 

Object-glass.  The  lens  at  the  end  of  the  tube 
of  a  microscope  or  telescope  which  is  turned 
towards  the  object  to  be  viewed. 

Oblate.  [L.  oblatus,  offered.}  (Eccl.)  A 
person  who  makes  a  donation  or  assignment  of 
his  property  to  a  religious  community,  either  per- 
manently or  for  a  definite  time. 

Oblate  spheroid.    (Ellipsoid.) 

Oblation.  [L.  oblatio,  -nem,  an  offering.}  In 
the  Eucharistic  Office  of  the  Latin  Church,  the 
Lesser  0.  is  the  offering  of  the  bread  and  wine 


OBLI 


347 


OCHL 


in  the  offertory  ;  the  Greater  O.  is  that  of  the 
elements  after  consecration. 

Oblique.  [L.  obllquus,  oblique.'}  (Geom.)  In- 
clined at  any  angle  not  a  right  angle,  as  an  O. 
angle,  O.  co-ordinates,  etc.  The  great  sphere  is 
said  to  be  oblique  when  a  pole  is  not  in  the 
zenith  or  horizon  of  the  spectator. 

Oblique  motion.    (Music.}    (Motion.) 

Oblique  prismatic  system.  ( Crystallog. )  Con- 
sists of  those  crystals  which  have  one  axis  at 
right  angles  to  the  other  two,  which  are  not  at 
right  angles  to  each  other;  when  transparent, 
they  are  optically  biaxal ;  as  oxalic  acid. 

Oblique  sailing.  (Naut. )  The  application  of 
oblique-angled  plane  triangles  to  ascertain  a 
ship's  position  at  sea  bymeans  of  objects  observed. 

Oblong.     (Quadrilateral.) 

Obmutescence.  [L.  obmutesco,  I  become 
dumb.}  Loss  of  speech. 

Oboe,  or  Hautboy  (q.v.).  A  flute-like  instru- 
ment, at  first  the  simple  pastoral  chalumeau  or 
reed-pipe,  now,  after  various  improvements,  a 
kind  of  clarionet,  but  with  double  reed,  beauti- 
fully expressive.  Oboist,  performer  on  the  O. 

Obrine.  A  Polish  military  order  of  the  thir- 
teenth century;  called  also  the  Order  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

Obrok.  A  Russian  word  used  in  two  senses  : 
(i)  for  a  rent  paid  by  the  peasants ;  (2) 
for  the  poll  tax  paid  by  those  who,  being  de- 
pendent on  lords,  have  been  sent  out  to  learn 
some  manufacture,  or  have  of  their  own  will 
quitted  their  feudal  abode. 

Obscurantism.  The  condition  of  one  who 
wishes  to  keep  things  dark  or  who  opposes  the 
progress  of  knowledge. 

Obsecration.  [L.  obsecratio,  -nem,  prayer.} 
In  the  Litany,  the  suffrages  which  begin  with 
the  word  "  By." 

Observants.    (Recollects.) 

Observation.  [L.  observationem,  from  observo, 
1  mark.}  1.  (Nat.  Phil.}  The  exact  determi- 
nation of  the  circumstances  of  phenomena  whose 
occurrence  is  independent  of  human  contrivance ; 
thus  astronomy  is  a  science  of  observation, 
chemistry  of  experiment,  though  a  chemist  ob- 
serves (in  a  less  technical  sense)  the  phenomena 
whose  occurrence  he  has  brought  about.  2. 
(Naut.)  Ascertaining  the  time,  or  longitude, 
also  the  lunar  distances,  by  taking  the  altitude 
of  the  sun  or  other  heavenly  body  with  a  quad- 
rant or  sextant. 

Observatory.  A  building  containing,  and  con- 
structed for  facilitating  the  use  of,  instruments 
for  observing  certain  kinds  of  natural  pheno- 
mena ;  as  a  magnetic  O.  When  used  without 
qualification,  the  word  commonly  means  an 
astronomical  O. 

Obsession.  [L.  obsessio,  -nem,  a  besieging.} 
The  state  of  a  person  besieged  by  evil  spirits,  as 
distinguished  from  one  who  is  internally  pos- 
sessed by  them. 

Obsidian.  [Gr.  o^av6s.}  (Geol.)  A  native 
glass,  volcanic,  more  or  less  felspathic  ;  of  various 
colours,  generally  black ;  ornamental,  and  used 
for  knives,  arrows,  lances,  and  for  looking- 
glasses  in  Mexico  and  anciently. 


Obsidional  crown.  [L.  corona  obsidionalis.] 
In  Rom.  Hist.,  a  crown  granted  to  the  general 
who  raised  the  siege  [obsidionem]  of  a  be- 
leaguered place. 

Obsolescent.  [L.  obsolescentem,  part,  of  ob- 
solescere,  to  wear  out,  fall  into  disuse.}  Said  of 
words  or  things  going  out  of  use. 

Obstacle.  [L.  obstaculum,  a  hindrance.} 
(Mil.)  Any  artificial  impediment  erected  for 
the  interruption  of  the  movements  of  troops, 
either  in  their  march  or  more  frequently  so 
placed  as  to  demoralize  them  within  point-blank 
range  of  an  enemy. 

Obstetrics.  [L.  obstetrix,  a  midwife.}  The 
practice  of  midwifery,  or  the  delivery  of  women. 

Obstruent  [L.  obstruentes]  medicines.  Those 
which  close  up  the  orifices  of  ducts  or  vessels. 
(Deobstruent.) 

Obtrectation.  [L.  obtrectationem,  from  ob- 
trecto,  /  detract  through  envy.}  Slander, 
calumny. 

Obtuse  angle.    (Angle.) 

Obvention.  [L.  obventio,  -nem,  a  falling  to 
one's  lot.}  1.  An  incidental  advantage.  2. 
(Eccl.)  An  offering.  (Altarage.) 

Ocarina.  [It.]  A  musical  instrument  of  terra 
cotta  pierced  with  holes ;  Italian.  Seven  make 
a  set. 

Occaecation.  [L.  occoeco,  Intake  blind.}  The 
making  or  becoming  blind. 

Occident.  [L.  occidentem ;  lit.  the  setting 
sun.]  The  West. 

Occipital.  Pertaining  to  the  occiput  [L.],  or 
back  of  the  head. 

Occlusion.  [L.  occludo,  7  shut  #/.]  The 
retention  of  gases  within  solid  bodies. 

Occultation.  [L.  occultationem,  a  concealing.} 
(Astron.)  The  hiding  of  a  star  or  planet  by  the 
moon  passing  between  it  and  the  spectator ;  or 
of  a  satellite  by  its  primary. 

Occultation,  Circle  of  perpetual.  The  circle 
or  the  great  sphere  for  a  given  station  which 
separates  the  part  that  comes  above  from  the 
part  that  never  comes  above  the  horizon  ;  thus, 
for  a  station  in  latitude  51°  N.  the  circle  of  per- 
petual occultation  is  the  parallel  of  declination 
of  39°  S.  ;  no  star  whose  declination  exceeds 
39°  S.  ever  coming  above  the  horizon. 

Occult  sciences. "  [L.  occultus,  hid.}  A  general 
name  for  the  pretended  sciences  of  the  Middle 
Ages,  such  as  Alchemy,  astrology,  and  magic. 

Occupy  till  I  come.  Luke  xix.  1 3  ;  Gr.  irpa.yp.a- 
revffcurOc,  retains  an  idea,  surviving  in  the  word 
occupation,  of  using,  trading  with  what  one 
possesses. 

Oceana,  published  1656,  by  James  Harring- 
ton. An  elaborate  project  for  establishing  a 
pure  republic  upon  philosophical  principles ;  of 
which  the  basis  is  an  elective  administration  in 
which  the  various  offices  are  held  by  a  system 
of  rotation ;  his  theory  being  a  counterpart  to 
Hobbes's  Leviathan  (q.v.). 

Ocelot.  [Mex.  ocelotl.]  (Zool.)  Gen.  of 
tiger-cats,  Felis  pardalis,  spotted  like  leopards. 
Trop.  America. 

Ochlocracy.  [Gr.  ox^oKparta,  mob-rule.}  1 
A  political  state  in  which  the  mob  has  gained 


OCHR 


348 


OFFI 


illegal  power  ;  or,  2,  one  in  which  the  laws  give 
too  much  power  to  the  people. 

Ochreate.     A  misspelling  for  Ocreate  (q.v.). 

Ochres.  [Gr.  i>xpfc,  pale.}  (Geol.)  Clays 
coloured  with  oxides  of  iron,  sometimes  pul- 
verulent ;  sometimes  in  thick  beds;  e.g.  Shot- 
over,  Oxford,  Canada.  Siena  earth  is  from 
S.,  in  Tuscany. 

Ocreate.  [L.  ocreatus,  greaved.~\  (Bot.) 
Having  an  ocrea,  a  sheath-like  stipule  through 
which  the  stem  passes,  formed  by  consolidation 
of  two  opposite  stipules  ;  e.g.  polygonum. 

Octagon.    (Polygon.) 

Octahedral  system.  [Gr.  ottrdttipos,  fight- 
sided.]  (Crystallog.)  Consists  of  those  crystals 
which  have  three  axes  at  right  angles  to  each 
other  and  equal  parameters  ;  when  transparent 
exhibiting  only  ordinary  refraction  ;  as  fluor-spar. 

Octahedron.     (Polyhedron.) 

Octave.  [L.  octavus,  eighth.]  In  Church 
usage,  the  eighth  day  after  a  feast,  the  feast 
itself  being  included.  (Quinzaine.) 

Octavo.  [L.  octavus,  eighth.]  A  book  com- 
posed of  sheets  folded  so  as  to  make  eight 
leaves. 

Octochord.  [Gr.  OKT<$,  eight,  xop^,  string.] 
An  eight-stringed  instrument  ;  e.g.  lute. 

Octopus.  [Gr.  OKTta-irovs,  eight  -footed.']  (Zool.) 
Gen.  of  cephalopod  with  eight  arms,  giving  its 
name  to  fam.  Octopodidse  ;  found  in  all  temperate 
and  tropical  seas. 

Octoroon.  [L.  octo,  eight.']  The  offspring  of 
a  white  and  a  Quadroon,  i.e.  having  one  black 
great-grandparent,  or  one-eighth  black  blood. 
(Mulatto.) 

Octroi.  [Fr.  ,  from  L.  auctoritatem,  authority.'] 
Originally  any  right  granted  to  a  subject  by  the 
sovereign.  In  later  times  the  word  has  denoted 
especially  the  taxes  levied  by  the  corporations  of 
French  towns  on  all  articles  of  consumption 
brought  within  the  barriers. 

Ocular.  [L.  ocularis,  relating  to  oculus,  eye.] 
(  Optics.  )  The  eye-piece  of  telescope  or  micro- 
scope. 

Odalisques,  properly  Odaliks.  Female  slaves 
employed  in  the  odas  or  chambers  of  the  sultan's 
harem. 

Odeion.    (Odeum.) 

Odeum,  properly  Odeion.  [Gr.  o>Se?o*/.]  At 
Athens,  a  building  for  musical  rehearsals  before 
the  celebration  of  the  great  festivals. 

Odin,  Woden.  The  all-father  of  the  Teutonic 
nations.  The  name  is  retained  in  Wednesday, 
Wednesbury. 

Odisse  quern  laeseris,  proprium  humani  est 
ingenii.  [L.]  //  belongs  to  human  nature  to 
hate  one  whom  you  have  injured  (Tacitus). 

Odometer,  properly  Hodometer.  [Gr.  686s, 
a  way,  peTpov,  measure.]  An  instrument  for 


measuring  distances  ;  as  e.g.  by  registering  the 

number  of  turns  of  a  carriage-wheel. 

Odont-,  Odonto-.     [Gr.  btiovs,  bUvro  ,  a  tooth.  .] 
Odontograph.     [Gr.    65ous,  o8<Woy,    a  tooth, 

ypd<j>w,  I  describe.]  An  instrument  for  describing 

the  teeth  of  wheels. 

Odyle.    "  A  new  imponderable,"  which  Baron 

von  Reichenbach  professed  to  have  discovered  ; 


a  force  pervading  all  nature,  having,  like  mag- 
netism, positive  and  negative  poles ;  known  to 
"sensitives"  by  sight,  smell,  feeling.  But  see 
Carpenter's  Mental  ^Physiology,  p.  159,  and  else- 
where. 

(Ecumenical.  [Gr.  oiKoi^uei/t/eJy,  belonging  to 
the  inhabited  world,  universal.]  In  Eccl.  Hist., 
anything  with  universal  authority.  Thus  CEcu- 
menical  Councils  are  Councils  resting  on  the 
authority  of  the  whole  Church,  as  being  repre- 
sented in  it.  Some  patriarchs  of  Constantinople 
styled  themselves  CEcumenical,  in  opposition  to 
the  claims  of  Roman  bishops. 

(Edema.     (Edema.) 

(Edipus.  [Gr.  OtShrous.]  In  Gr.  Myth.,  a 
king  of  Thebes,  who  solved  the  riddle  of  the 
Sphinx,  and  so  became  noted  for  extraordinary 
wisdom. 

(Egir.    (Ogre.) 

(Enanthic.  [Gr.  olvavQ-n,  the  flower  of  the 
wild  vine, ,]  Having  the  characteristic  odour  of 
wine. 

CEnothera.  [Gr.  olvoO^pas,  some  plant  with 
roots  smelling  like  wine  (olvos}.]  (JBot.}  Even- 
ing primrose,  O.  biennis  ;  ord.  Onagrarise. 

(Enone.    (Paris,  Judgment  of.) 

(Esophagus.  [Gr.  oiVo^efyos.]  (Anat.)  The 
gullet ;  the  tube  leading  from  the  pharynx  to 
the  stomach. 

(Eufs  de  Paque.  [Fr.,  Easter  eggs.]  A  sur- 
vival of  the  old  custom  which  regarded  the  egg 
as  a  symbol  of  the  re-creation  of  the  world  in 
spring.  In  the  Vedic  theogony,  Brahma  pro- 
duces himself  from  the  great  mundane  egg,  out 
of  which  all  living  things  come  into  existence. 

Oferlanders.  (Naut.)  Small  vessels  of  the 
Rhine  and  Meuse. 

Off.  (Naut.)  1.  Opposed  to  Near ;  as  nothing 
off,  keep  her  to  the  wind.  2.  From  ;  as  on  and 
off  a  shore,  i.e.  towards  and  away  from  it.  3. 
Abreast  of  or  near,  as  off"  the  Nore.  4.  In 
driving,  the  Off  side  is  the  right ;  the  Near  side 
is  the  left. 

Offal,  once  written  off-fall.  Properly,  any- 
thing that  falls  off,  whether  valuable  or  not. 
0. -wood  is  sold  by  auction  in  H.M.  dockyards. 

Office,  Holy.  A  name  by  which  the  Inquisi- 
tion is  sometimes  called  ;  properly,  i.q.  the  Con- 
gregation of  the  H.O.,  established  by  Paul  III., 
A.D.  1542,  to  which  the  direction  of  the  Roman 
tribunal  of  the  I.  is  subject. 

Office  found.  In  Eng.  Law,  an  inquiry  in- 
stituted by  officers  of  the  Crown  when  events 
have  occurred  by  which  the  Crown  becomes 
entitled  to  take  possession  of  real  or  personal 
property. 

Office  of  Judge  promoted.  (Eccl.)  The  insti- 
tution of  a  suit  in  the  Court  of  Arches  (q.v.]  by 
the  sending  letters  of  request  signed  by  the 
bishop  of  the  diocese  in  which  the  suit  has 
arisen. 

Official.  [L.  officium,  dttty.]  In  Canon  law, 
the  deputy  of  a  bishop  or  abbot.  The  chief 
official  of  the  bishop  is  his  Chancellor. 

Officinal.  [L.  officma,  a  shop.]  1.  (Med.) 
Made  according  to  recognized  prescriptions.  2. 
(Bot. )  Used  in  medicine. 


OFFI 


349 


OLYM 


Offlcinalis.  [L.  offlcina,  a  -workshop,  labora- 
tory.] As  an  epithet  in  Bot.  ;  used  in  medicine. 

Offing.  (Naut.)  To  seaward,  beyond  an- 
chorage. To  keep  a  good  0. ,  to  keep  well  clear 
of  the  coast. 

Off-reckonings.  (Mil.)  Certain  margin  in 
expense  allowed  to  the  full  colonels  of  regiments 
in  providing  the  clothing  and  accoutrements  for 
their  men. 

Off-set.  In  Surveying,  a  short  distance  mea- 
sured at  right  angles  to  the  chain-line,  for  which 
purpose  an  Off-set  staff  is  used. 

Offward.  (Naut.)  Leaning  away  from  the 
shore ;  spoken  of  a  ship  aground.  The  ship 
heels  0.  and  lies  with  her  stern  to  the  0. ,  means 
inclined  and  with  her  stern  to  the  sea. 

Ogee.  [Fr.  ogive.]  (Arch.)  A  moulding 
which  is  partly  convex  and  partly  concave. 

Ogee  arch.  (Arch. )  An  arch  formed  on  each 
side  by  two  contracted  curves.  Common  in 
Continuous  or  Perpendicular  work.  By  an 
ogival  arch  the  French  mean  simply  an  arch 
struck  from  two  centres.  (Arch.) 

Oghams.  The  name  of  the  characters  in  cer- 
tain old  Irish  inscriptions.  They  are  adapta- 
tions of  the  Runic  alphabet  to  the  needs  of 
writing  on  wood,  the  runes  or  letters  being 
expressed  by  a  convenient  notation  consisting  of 
notches  cut  with  a  knife  on  the  edge  of  a  squared 
staff  instead  of  being  cut  with  a  chisel  on  the 
surface  of  a  stone. — Isaac  Taylor,  Greeks  and 
Goths,  p.  109. 

Ogival,  Ogive.    (Ogee  arch.) 

Ogre.  A  man-devouring  monster,  a  bugbear. 
Ogir  was  the  Norse  god  of  the  sea.  Grimm 
regards  the  word  as  akin  to  the  Goth.  6g,  fear, 
horror.  The  name  came  to  denote  any  object 
of  overpowering  terror. 

Ogygian  deluge.  The  flood  of  Deucalion  is 
sometimes  so  called  as  occurring  in  the  reign  of 
the  mythical  Ogyges. 

Ohm.  (From  the  Danish  electrician,  Ohm.) 
The  unit  of  electrical  resistance,  equal  to  a  force 
capable  of  lifting  ten  million  grammes  one  foot 
in  one  second. 

Oldium.  [(?)  Gr.  uiStov,  a  dim.  coined  from 
Gr.  u&v,  an  egg.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  naked  - 
spored  fungi,  of  which  O.  Tuckeri  is  that  con- 
nected with  the  vine  mildew.  O.  albicans  grows 
on  the  mouth,  fauces,  and  oesophagus  of  infants. 

Oil-box,  Oil-cup.  A  cup  containing  oil  placed 
above  a  hole  or  passage  through  which  the  oil 
passes  to  lubricate  the  bearing  of  an  axle  or 
other  moving  part  of  a  machine. 

Oil-cake.  Compressed  husks  of  rape  seed, 
etc.,  from  which  oil  has  been  extracted. 

Oil-cloth.  Cloth  oiled  or  painted,  for  covering 
floors. 

Oil  of  vitriol.  Sulphuric  acid,  from  its  oily 
appearance. 

Okkals.    (Druses.) 

Old  Catholics.  A  body  of  Latin  Catholics 
who  refused  adhesion  to  the  decree  of  the 
Vatican  Council  respecting  papal  infallibility. 
One  of  the  most  eminent  members  of  this  body 
is  Dr.  Dollinger,  of  Munich. 

Old  Dominion.     The  state  of  Virginia,  pro- 


bably because  V.  was  the  original  name  of  all 
the  English  colonies  in  America. — Bartlett's 
A  mericanisms. 

Old  Foundation,  Cathedrals  of  the.  (Cathedrals 
of  the  New  Foundation.) 

Old  Harry.     (Nick,  Old.) 

Oldhaven  beds.  (Geol.)  Sands,  oyster-beds, 
and  pebbly  strata  lying  on  the  Woolwich  beds 
in  the  S.E.  of  England. 

Old  Man  of  the  Mountain.  The  European 
name  for  the  sheikh  of  the  Assassins. 

Old  Nick.  (Nick,  Old.)  Butler,  in  Hiidibras, 
erroneously  ascribes  it  to  Nicholas  Machiavelli. 
( Machiavellism. ) 

Old  Bed.    (New  Bed.) 

Oldsters.  (Naut.}  Midshipmen  of  four  years, 
master's  mates,  etc, 

Old  Style.    (New  Style.) 

Olefiant  gas.  [L.  oleum,  oil,  figi-i,  to  become.] 
Carburetted  hydrogen,  containing  two  atoms  of 
carbon  to  four  of  hydrogen  (which,  combined 
with  chlorine,  forms  an  oily  compound). 

Oleograph.  [L.  oleum,  oil,  Gr.  ypdfca,  I 
write.]  A  picture  produced  in  oils  by  a  process 
resembling  lithography. 

Oleomargarine.  An  article  made  from  fat, 
grease,  and  oily  substances  ;  large  quantities  of 
which  find  their  way  to  market  in  various  Euro- 
pean countries,  where  it  is  sold  as  butter. — 
Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Oleron,  Laws  of.  A  code  of  maritime  law  ;  so 
called  from  the  Isle  of  Oleron,  and  compiled 
not  later  than  1266.  (Amalfian  Code;  Wisby, 
Ordinances  of.) 

Olibanum.  [Gr.  Xiftavos,  the  frankincense 
tree.]  A  fragrant  gum-resin,  used  in  incense. 

Oligarchy.  [Gr.  oXiyapx^]  A  state  in  which 
only  a  few  out  of  one  class  exercise  supreme 
power,  in  contrast  with  an  aristocracy 3  in  which 
the  whole  class  of  nobles  rules. 

Olitory.  [L.  olitorius,  olus,  oleris,  vegetables.] 
Belonging  to  a  kitchen  garden. 

Olive-Branch  Petition.  Sent,  in  1775,  by 
"Congress"  of  the  "United  Colonies"  to 
George  III.,  as  a  last  appeal.  Not  received,  as 
coming  from  an  illegal  body. 

Oliver.  A  small  lipped  hammer  worked  by 
the  foot. 

Olivine,  Green-earth.  (Geol.)  An  olive-green 
magnesian  earth  and  crystals  (chrysolite),  com- 
mon in  volcanic  rocks. 

Olla.     [Hind.]     A  palm  leaf  for  writing  upon. 

Ollapodrida.   [It.,  L.  olla  putrfda,  rot  ten  jar.] 

1.  A  hotch-potch,    a  pot-au-feu,   into   which  all 
kinds  of  scraps  are  thrown  and  stewed  ;  and  so, 

2,  literary  odds  and   ends,    stories,   anecdotes, 
collected  together,  having  no  reference  to  any 
subject  or  plan ;  so  farrago  [L.]  a  medley,  lit. 
mixed  food  of  spelt  [L.  far]. 

Olney  Hymns.  Published  1776 ;  the  joint 
work  of  John  Newton,  Curate  of  Olney,  Bucks., 
and  the  poet  Cowper. 

Olympiad.  [Gr.  oA.u/*7ras.]  In  Chron.,  the 
interval  of  four  years  between  each  celebration 
of  the  Olympic  games,  forming  the  common  era 
of  Greek  computation,  and  beginning,  it  was 
said,  B.C.  776. 


OLYM 


350 


OPEN 


Olympic  games.  The  greatest  of  the  Greek 
Panhellenic  festivals,  celebrated  once  in  every 
four  years  at  Pisa,  or  Olympia,  in  Elis.  The  first 
recorded  victory  is  that  of  Corcebus,  B.C.  776. 

Omasum.  [L.,  a  paunch.'}  (Anat.)  Third 
stomach  of  a  ruminant. 

Ombrometer.    (Rain-gauge.) 

Omens.  [L.  omina.]  Accidental  signs,  sup- 
posed to  betoken  future  events.  (Augurs.) 

Omentum.  [L.,  a  caul.]  A  broad  band  of 
membrane,  connecting  two  or  more  of  the  ab- 
dominal viscera,  the  chief  being  the  great  O.,  or 
caul,  a  network  of  fatty  tissue. 

Omer.  Exod.  xvi.  36  ;  "  the  tenth  part  of  an 
ephah,"  which  was  an  Egyptian  measure,  and, 
according  to  Josephus,  =  six  cotylae,  or  half- 
pints ;  but  "the  measures  varied  at  different 
times"  (Speaker's  Commentary). 

Ommiad  caliphs.  In  Moham.  Hist.,  the 
caliphs  who  succeeded  Mrawiyah,  son  of  Abu 
Sophian,  who  gained  the  caliphate  after  the  mur- 
der of  Ali.  (Abbasides;  Sbiahs;  Sounites.) 

Omne  vivum  ab  ovo.  [L.]  All  life  comes  forth 
from  an  egg;  a  supposed  axiom  of  biology,  in 
former  times.  (CEufs  de  Paque.) 

Omnia  munda  mundis.  Unto  the  pure  all 
things  are  pure  (Titus  i.  15), 

Omnia  praesumuntur  rite  esse  acta.  [L.]  A 
maxim  in  Law  :  all  acts  are  presiimed  to  have  been 
rightly  done  ;  i.e.  all  acts  preliminary  to  some  act 
proved  in  itself  to  be  legal ;  e.g.  a  marriage 
having  been  proved,  the  church  in  which  it  took 
place  will  be  presumed  to  have  been  consecrated 
for  service. 

Omnium.  [L.,  of  all.]  A  term  formerly  used 
on  the  Stock  Exchange  to  denote  the  various 
kinds  of  stock  created  on  the  negotiation  of  a 
loan  by  Government  which  provided  for  the  ex- 
tinction of  the  debt  partly  by  consols,  partly  by 
stock  bearing  high  interest,  and  by  annuities. 
Speculations  in  all  these  jointly  were  known  as 
omnium. 

Omophagous.  [Gr.  u/j.o(}><iyos,  from  w/j.6s,  raw, 
(Jmyeij/,  to  eat.]  Eating  raw  flesh. 

Omphal-,  Omphalo-.  [Gr.  bp.$a.\6s,  L.  umbili- 
cus, the  navel.] 

Omrah.  [Ar.,  a  chief]  One  of  twenty- four 
councillors  of  the  Great  Mogul.  Emir,  Amir, 
Ameer,  are  other  forms  of  the  same  word. 
(Hiramamolin.) 

On  a  bowline,  or  On  a  wind.  (Naut. )  Sail- 
ing close-hauled  in  the  direction  from  which  the 
wind  comes. 

Oncin.  [L.  uncus,  a  hook.]  A  weapon  having 
a  hook  and  spike  on  a  long  handle  ;  somewhat 
like  a  boat-hook  ;  eleventh  century. 

Oneirocriticism.  [Gr.  bvcipoKptriKos,  from 
uveipos,  a  dream,  Kpivw,  I  judge.]  The  so-called 
science  of  interpreting  dreams. 

Onges.  (Geol.)  The  solid  rock  which  bounds 
a  vein  of  ore. 

OnSmastlcon.  [Gr.,  from  OVO/JLU,  a  name.]  A 
dictionary  or  commonplace-book ;  as  that  of 
Julius  Pollux. 

Onomatopoeia.  [Gr.  ovo^a.roiroii]ffts.]  A  word 
denoting  properly  the  making  of  names,  but 
more  commonly  applied  to  words  expressing  by 


their  sound  the  thing  signified  ;  as  cuckoo,  pee- 
wit, etc. 

On  se  fait  a  tout.  [Fr.]  One  gets  used  to 
anything. 

On  the  beam.  (Naut.)  At  right  angles  to 
the  keel,  and  without  the  ship.  On  the  bcnv. 
(Bow  of  a  ship.)  On  the  quarter,  within  the 
angles  contained  by  a  line  drawn  right  astern 
and  four  points  on  either  quarter. 

Onus  probandi.  [L.]  The  burden  of  proving 
is  said  in  Law  to  lie  generally  on  the  party  who 
maintains  the  affirmative  of  the  question  in  dis- 
pute. 

Onycha.  [Gr.  $vv£,  8vi>xos,  a  finger-nail,  etc., 
named  from  its  resemblance,  Heb.  shecheleth 
(Exod. xxx.  34).]  (Bibl.)  Theoperculum[L.,/ztf] 
of  some  gasteropodous  mollusc  (probably  of  fam. 
Strombidas)  abundant  in  the  Red  Sea ;  said  to 
be  at  this  day  employed  in  the  composition  of 
perfume  (Speaker  s  Commentary). 

Onychltis.  Inflammation  of  the  nail  [Gr. 
&vv\,  ovv-%os]. 

Onyx.  [Gr.  8w$,  finger-nail.]  (Min.)  A 
piece  of  agate  with  layers  of  chalcedony,  one  of 
which  is  flesh-coloured  :  but  the  dark  and  white 
layers  of  artificially  prepared  agates  are  often 
used. 

Ooid,  Ooidal.  1.  Like  an  egg  [Gr.  u6v]  in 
shape  ;  or,  2,  as  having  albumen. 

Oolite  [Gr.  u>6v,  an  egg,  and  \i06s],  or  Roe- 
stone.  (Geol.)  A  variety  of  limestone,  with  roe- 
like  grains  cemented  together.  0.  group,  Oolitic 
or  Jurassic  system,  =  Lias  +  Oolite  +  the  Pur- 
beck. 

Oolong.  [Chin.,  green  dragon.]  A  variety  of 
black  tea,  possessing  the  flavour  of  green  tea. 

Oomiak.  (Naut.)  A  sealskin  boat;  Green- 
land. 

Ooze.  [From  a  root  from  which  have  sprung 
many  families  of  words  having  a  common  mean- 
ing of  moisture ;  as  Exe,  Usk,  Aix,  and  eaux, 
i.e.  aquas;  Uisgah  (whisky),  etc.]  1.  The 
liquor  of  a  tan-vat.  2,  In  Geol.,  e.g.  O.  of  the 
Atlantic,  a  fine,  whitish,  sticky  mud-chalk  in  pro- 
cess of  formation,  and  now  accumulating  over 
wide  areas,  eighty  per  cent,  being  the  calcareous 
deposit  of  globigerinse  and  various  other  minute 
organisms. 

Opal.  [L.  op&lus.]  (Min.)  A  mineral,  hydrate 
of  silica,  chatoyant ;  allied  to  chalcedony,  but 
amorphous,  and  containing  more  water.  Precious 
O.,  containing  ten  per  cent.  There  are  many 
varieties.  Stalagmitic  in  fissures  of  volcanic 
rocks  ;  Hungary,  Mexico,  Queensland. 

Open,  or  Dispersed,  harmony  (Music)  is  of  parts 
separated  by  intervals  as  wide  as  may  be.  Close 
H.  is  of  parts  brought  near  to  one  another. 

Open  diapason,  or  Principal.  (Music.}  In 
organs,  the  chief  open  foundation  stop,  generally 
of  metal ;  in  the  pedals  generally  of  wood. 

Open  hawse.  ( Naut. )  With  two  anchors  out 
and  the  cables  not  crossed. 

Open  list.  (Naut.)  A  ship's  book,  contain- 
ing the  names  of  officers  and  crew,  by  which 
rations  are  issued  and  the  crew  mustered. 

Open  order.  (Naut.}  More  than  a  cable's 
length  apart. 


OPEN 


351 


OPUS 


Open  verdict.  After  an  inquest,  is  =  a  declara- 
tion of  the  jury  that  there  has  not  been  produced 
sufficient  evidence  for  any  decision. 

Open  work.  (  Mil.  )  One  which  is  not  pro- 
tected at  the  gorge  (q.v.),  by  a  parapet  or 
obstacles,  from  a  sudden  attack. 

Opercu-lar,  -late,  -lated.  (Nat.  Hist.)  Having 
a  lid  or  cover  [L.  operculum]. 

Operculata.  (Zool.)  Molluscs  possessing  an 
operculum  (q.v.). 

Operculum.  [L.,  covering,  from  operio,  / 
cover.  ~\  1.  (Conch.}  The  horny  or  nacreous 
plate,  more  or  less  completely  closing  the  mouth 
of  the  shell  in  certain  gasteropodous  molluscs. 
2.  (Bot.  )  The  lid  of  anything,  as  in  the  pitcher 
of  Nepenthes  ;  especially  applied  to  the  spore- 
case  of  urn-mosses. 

Ophicleide.  [Gr.  ofis,  a  serpent,  K\<-is,  a 
key.}  A  large  brass  wind  instrument,  modern, 
orchestral,  powerful  ;  its  compass  being  three 
octaves  from  double  B  b. 

Ophidia,  Ophidians.  [Gr.  btyiSiov,  dim.  of 
o<j>is,  a  serpent.  }  (Zool.)  The  first  ord.  of  rep- 
tiles, serpents. 

Ophiomancy.  [Gr.  o<j>is,  a  snake,  /jLavrela, 
divination.}  Divination  by  means  of  serpents, 
as  from  the  number  of  their  coils  or  of  the  vic- 
tims which  they  devour. 

Ophion.  [L.  and  Gr.  btyiuv.]  Probably  the 
•noufflon  (q.v.)  of  Sardinia. 

Op"  Mr.  A  country  with  which  the  ships  of 
Solomon  carried  on  an  extensive  trade.  It  was 
perhaps  the  island  of  Ceylon,  which  was  named 
Abhira. 

Ophitae.  [Gr.  oQis,  a  snake.  }  An  early 
Christian  sect,  of  Gnostic  origin,  which  wor- 
shipped the  serpent  as  the  author  of  all  sciences. 

Ophthalmia.      Inflammation  of  the  eye  [Gr. 


Opiricus.  An  heraldic  animal  having  wings 
like  a  griffin,  and  a  short  tail  like  a  camel. 

Opisthocomi.  [Gr.  oicio-Od.KoiJi.os,  back-haired.  } 
An  ord.  of  birds  consisting  of  one  gen.  contain- 
ing one  spec.  The  hocco  of  Guiana,  a  gre- 
garious bird  about  the  size  of  a  peacock  ;  plumage 
brown.  Equatorial  America.  It  may  indicate 
the  former  existence  of  a  group  of  birds  other- 
wise extinct. 

Opisthodomus.     (Naos.) 

Opisthograph.  [Gr.  oirio'Qo'ypatyos,  written  on 
the  back.'}  In  Gr.  and  Rom.  Ant.,  any  roll  of 
parchment  or  paper,  written  over  both  on  back 
and  front. 

Opisthotonos.  [Gr.  fcn<rfcfroro»,  Med.  Gr., 
drawn  backwards,  from  oirto-Qe,  from  behind, 
and  reivw,  I  stretch.}  The  being  drawrf  back  by 
tetanic  spasms  of  the  muscles  of  the  back. 

Opium.  [L.,  Gr.  oiuov.]  The  concrete 
juice  of  the  white  poppy. 

Opobalsam.  [Gr.  O7ro/3a\o-a,uoj/.]  Balsam  of 
Gilead. 

Opodeldoc.  [A  word  coined  by  Paracelsus.] 
1.  A  kind  of  plaster  for  external  injuries.  2. 
A  saponaceous  camphorated  liniment. 

Opopanax.  [Gr.]  A  foetid  gum-resin  im- 
ported from  Turkey. 

Oppilation.    [L.  oppilo,  I  stop  up.]    (Med.) 


Obstruction  of  the  passages  by  increased  secre- 
tion or  foreign  matter. 

Opposite  leaves.  (Bot.)  Two  only,  and 
developed  on  the  same  plane  ;  e.g.  pink,  jasmine. 
Alternate,  one  a  little  above  or  below  the  other  ; 
e.g.  rose,  laurel. 

Opposition.  [L.  oppositi5nem,  from  oppono, 
I  oppose.}  (Astron.)  Two  heavenly  bodies  are 
in  O.  when  their  geocentric  longitudes  differ  by 
1 80°,  i.e.  when  they  are  diametrically  opposite 
to  one  another  with  reference  to  the  earth. 

Opprobrium.  [L.]  Reproach,  combined  with 
contempt  or  disdain. 

0.  P.  Eiots.  When  Covent  Garden  Theatre, 
rebuilt  after  the  fire,  was  opened  in  1809,  the 
prices  for  admission  were  raised.  Riots  followed 
for  the  restoration  of  the  O.  P.,  or  old  prices. 

Ops.     (Saturn.) 

Opsiometer.     An  optometer  (q.v.}. 

Optical  angle ;  0.  axis ;  0.  centre.  The  Optical 
axis  of  a  doubly  refracting  crystal  is  that  direc- 
tion along  which  a  ray  of  light  passes  without 
undergoing  bifurcation.  (For  0.  angle,  vide 
Visual  angle ;  for  O.  centre,  vide  Centre  of  a  lens.) 

Optics  [Gr.  j)  birriKT],  the  science  of  the  laws  of 
sight] ;  Geometrical  0. ;  Physical  0.  The  science 
of  light  and  vision.  In  Geometrical  optics 
the  properties  of  mirrors  and  lenses  are  deduced 
from  the  laws  of  reflexion  and  refraction  of  light, 
and  these  properties  are  applied  to  explain  the 
construction  of  telescopes,  microscopes,  etc.  In 
Physical  0.,  the  phenomena  of  reflexion,  refrac- 
tion, polarization,  interference,  etc.,  of  light  are 
traced  back  to  their  physical  cause,  viz.  the  un- 
dulatory  motion  of  the  ether. 

Optimates.  [L.]  (Hist.)  The  Roman  no- 
bility, as  distinguished  from  the  plebeians. 

Optimism.     (Theodicaea.) 

Optimist.  One  who  takes  the  best,  most  hope- 
ful, view  of  a  matter ;  Pessimist,  the  exact  con- 
trary :  both  being  somewhat  unpractical.  [L. 
optTmus,  best,  pessimus,  worst.} 

Optimus  Maxim  us.  [L.,  Best  and  Greatest.} 
Latin  epithets  of  Jupiter,  indicating  his  greatness 
and  goodness. 

Option.  [L.  optio,  -nem,  a  choosing.}  On  the 
Stock  Exchange,  a  percentage  given  for  the 
option  of  selling  or  buying  stock  in  time  bargains 
at  a  certain  price. 

Optometer.  [From  a  Gr.  root  birr-,  seeing, 
fji.fr  pov,  measure.]  An  instrument  for  determin- 
ing the  distance  or  limiting  distances  of  most 
distinct  vision,  and  hence  for  finding  the  focal 
length  of  a  lens  proper  for  a  long-sighted  or  a 
short-sighted  person. 

Opus  magnum.  [L.,  great  work.]  A  phrase 
denoting  works  which  are  monuments  of  vast 
labour  and  research,  as  the  Decline  and  Fall  of 
the  Roman  Empire,  by  Gibbon. 

Opus  operantis.  [L.,  the  work  of  the  worker.] 
(Theol.)  The  effect  of  the  celebrant's  intention 
in  the  administration  of  sacraments.  (Intentio 
sacerdotis.) 

Opus  operatum.  [L.,  work  done.}  (Theol.)  A 
term  denoting  the  effects  of  sacraments  irrespec- 
tive of  the  dispositions  of  those  who  receive 
them. 


OR 


352 


ORDI 


Or.  [Fr.,  from  L.  aurum,  gold.}  (Her.)  The 
metal  gold  in  coats  of  arms,  represented  in 
engraving  by  small  dots. 

Ora.  [A.S.,  metal  or  money.]  O.E.  money. 
The  greater  and  lesser  O.  in  Domesday-book  are 
estimated  at  twenty  and  twenty-six  pence.  In 
Sw.  and  Dan. ,  the  word  also  denotes  a  measure 
of  land. 

Oracle.  [L.  oraculum,  from  os,  a  mouth.] 
1.  An  answer  given  by  heathen  deities  to  those 
who  consult  them.  2.  The  place  at  which  such 
answers  are  given,  as  the  O.  of  Delphi,  of 
Dodona,  etc. 

Oragious.  [Fr.  orageux,  orage,  a  storm,  L. 
auraticum,  aura,  a  breeze.]  (Naut.)  Tempestuous, 
or  stormy. 

Oramby.  (Naut,}  A  State  barge  of  the 
Moluccas  ;  some  row  100  paddles.  (Koracora.) 

Orange.  1.  (Her.)  A  roundlet  or  disc  of  an 
orange  colour.  2.  (Geog.)  A  town  and  small 
district  [L.  Arausion,  -em]  giving  the  title  of 
Prince  of  Orange. 

Orangemen.  (Hist.)  The  name  of  an  Irish 
society,  instituted  in  1795,  to  uphold  Protestant 
ascendancy. 

Orarium.    (Stole.) 

Oratorians,  or  Priests  of  the  Oratory.  A  title 
specially  given  to  the  congregation  of  regular 
clerks  founded  by  St.  Philip  Neri  at  Rome,  early 
in  the  sixteenth  century.  The  Oratory  at  Paris, 
founded  by  Cardinal  de  Berulle,  in  1611,  pro- 
duced many  eminent  men,  among  them  Male- 
branche  and  Massillon. 

Orb.  [L.  orbis,  a  circle.]  An  emblem  of 
sovereignty,  consisting  of  a  globe  surmounted  by 
a  cross. 

Orbicular  leaf.  [L.  orbiculus,  a  small  disc.] 
(Bot.)  Circular,  or  nearly  so;  it  is  generally 
peltate  ;  e.g.  the  garden  nasturtium  (Tropseolum). 

Orbilius.  By  meton.,  =  a  schoolmaster;  the 
name  of  Horace's  master,  who  was  fond  of 
flogging{L.  plagosus]  (Ep.  ii.  i.  70). 

Orbit.  [L.  orbita,  a  rut,  an  orbit. ~\  1. 
(Astron.)  The  path  described  by  a  planet  or 
other  heavenly  body  round  its  primary ;  as  the 
orbit  of  Jupiter  or  of  one  of  the  components  of 
a  double  star.  2.  (Anat.)  The  cavity  in  which 
the  eye  is  embedded  ;  formed,  in  man,  by  seven 
orbital  bones. 

Orchestra.  [Gr.  opx^crrpo,  from  opxeopat,  / 
dance.]  1.  In  the  Gr.  theatre,  a  circular  level 
space  in  front  of  the  spectators,  for  the  evolu- 
tions and  dances  of  the  chorus.  2.  The  place  in 
a  concert-room  or  theatre  for  the  band ;  or,  by 
meton.,  3,  the  full  band  itself. 

Orchil,  OrchiUa  weed.    (Archil.) 

Ordeal.  [L.L.  ordalium,  Ger.  urtheil,  judg- 
ment.] The  referring  of  the  guilt  or  innocence 
of  the  prisoners  to  the  judgment  of  God.  The 
O.  was  at  first  under  the  special  protection  of 
the  clergy,  whose  subsequent  opposition  tended 
to  bring  it  into  disfavour.  Among  the  most  re- 
markable ordeals  was  the  trial  by  the  Eucharist, 
in  which  it  was  supposed  that  the  guilty  person 
would  be  choked  by  the  Host,  as  Godwin,  father 
of  King  Harold,  was  thought  to  have  been  ;  the 
ordeals  of  hot  water ;  of  carrying  a  heated  iron 


bar  in  the  hand  ;  of  stepping  over  red-hot  plough- 
shares ;  etc. 

Ordeal  bean.    (Calabar  bean.) 

Order.  [Fr.  ordre.]  1.  (Nat.  Hist.)  A  group 
inferior  to  class  and  sub-class  ;  superior  to  family, 
tribe,  genus,  etc.  2.  (Arch.)  A  system  of  parts 
in  certain  established  proportions,  determined  by 
the  office  which  each  has  to  perform,  the  whole 
consisting  of  (i)  column  and  (2)  entablature. 
Of  these  the  former  is  subdivided  into  base, 
shaft,  and  capital ;  the  latter  into  the  architrave, 
frieze,  and  cornice.  The  classical  orders  are  the 
Tuscan,  Doric,  Ionic,  Corinthian,  and  Com- 
posite. 

Orderly.  ( Mil. )  Officer  or  soldier  appointed 
to  await  the  orders  of  a  superior  officer,  to  attend 
on  him  personally  during  his  tour  of  duty;  or 
one  who  •  exercises  special  duties  whilst  his 
comrades  are  unemployed.  O.-room  is  the 
commanding  officer's  office  in  a  regiment. 

Order  of  the  day.  In  Parl.,  a  question  pro- 
posed to  the  House  may  be  superseded  by 
moving  "  for  the  order  of  the  day  to  be  read."  If 
this  is  carried,  the  orders  are  read  and  proceeded 
on  in  the  course  in  which  they  stand.  But  this, 
in  its  turn,  may  be  superseded  by  a  motion  to 
adjourn.  (Previous  question,  Moving  the.) 

Orders,  Mendicant.  Religious  bodies  of  per- 
sons under  vows  to  subsist  by  begging.  The  chief 
mendicant  orders  were  those  of  the  Dominicans 
and  the  Franciscans.  The  Carmelites  and  Augus- 
tinians  are  also  to  be  reckoned  among  them. 

Orders,  Religious.  Societies  bound  by  a  rule 
of  religion.  They  may  be  (i)  monastic,  (2) 
military,  or  (3)  mendicant.  The  monastic 
orders  were  distinguished  by  the  rule  to  which 
they  adhered  ;  as  the  Benedictines,  the  Basilians, 
the  Augustinians.  Of  the  military  orders  the 
most  prominent  were  (i)  those  of  St.  John  of 
Jerusalem,  or  the  Knights  of  the  Hospital, 
known  afterwards  as  Knights  of  Rhodes  and 
Knights  of  Malta ;  (2)  the  Knights  Templars, 
and  (3)  the  Teutonic  Knights  (Teutonic  Order). 
The  chief  mendicant  orders  are  the  Dominicans 
and  the  Franciscans. 

Orders  in  Council.  1.  Orders  by  the  sovereign, 
with  the  advice  of  the  Privy  Council,  having  the 
force  of  law,  dealing  generally  with  matters  of 
trade,  revenue,  public  health,  etc.,  as  to  which 
Parliament  has  delegated  its  authority  to  the 
Queen  in  Council ;  but  also,  2,  in  times  of 
emergency — war,  deficient  harvest,  etc. — going 
beyond  the  already  delegated  powers,  in  expecta- 
tion of  future  Parliamentary  protection. 

Ordinal.  [L.  ordinale.]  1.  The  book  con- 
taining the  forms  of  making,  ordaining,  and 
consecrating  of  deacons,  priests,  and  bishops. 
2.  A  book  containing  the  rubrics  of  the  Mass. 

Ordinal  numbers  [L.  ordinalis,  ordinal] 
answer  the  question,  "In  what  order ?"  as, 
first,  second,  third,  etc. 

Ordinance,  Self-denying.  (Hist.)  A  resolu- 
tion of  the  Long  Parliament,  in  1644,  by  which 
its  members  bound  themselves  not  to  take 
certain  offices,  especially  commands  in  the  army. 
The  result  was  the  strengthening  of  the  Inde- 
pendent party  at  the  expense  of  the  Presbyterian. 


ORDI 


353 


ORLE 


Ordinary.  [L.  ordmarius,  an  overseer  who 
keeps  order.'}  1.  (Eccl.)  One  who  has,  in  his 
own  right,  immediate  jurisdiction.  2.  (Leg.) 
In  the  Civil  Law,  a  judge  empowered  to  take 
cognizance  of  causes  in  his  own  right,  not  by 
delegation.  In  Eng.  Law,  the  term  is  applied 
to  ecclesiastical  judges  only.  3.  In  the  Court 
of  Session  in  Scotland,  a  single  judge  sitting  in 
the  outer  house  to  decide  causes  in  the  first 
instance.  4.  (Her.)  A  part  of  an  escutcheon 
contained  by  straight  or  other  lines.  It  is  the 
most  ordinary  species  of  charge.  The  ho- 
nourable ordinaries  are  the  chief,  pale,  bend, 
bend  sinister,  fess,  bar,  chevron,  cross,  saltier 
(q.v.).  The  other  ordinaries  are  called  subor- 
clinate. 

Ordinary,  Laid  tip  in.  (Naut.)  Laid  up  out 
of  commission. 

Ordinary  seaman.  (Natit.)  One  who  can  make 
himself  useful  aloft,  etc. ,  though  not  2&.A.B.  (q.v.). 

Ordinate.    (Co-ordinate  axes.) 

Ordnance.  [Gens  d'ordonnances,  the  ordinary 
men  of  arms  of  France,  the  artilliers,  i.e.  cross- 
bowmen,  etc.,  first  reduced,  under  orders,  by 
Charles  VII.,  1444  (Richardson;  see  Brachet, 
s.v.  "Artillerie").]  (Mil.)  1.  Any  kind  of 
cannon.  2.  The  Board  of  O.  (now  abolished) 
had  the  charge  of  barracks  and  their  furniture  as 
well  as  of  all  O. 

Ordnance  corps.  (Mil. )  Royal  Artillery  and 
Engineers. 

Ordonnance.  [Fr.]  In  Arch.,  the  general 
arrangement  of  the  plan  and  the  superstructure 
of  a  design. 

Ore.  [A.S.  or.]  Metal  combined  with  other 
substances ;  opposed  to  Native  metal. 

Oreads.  [Gr.  opfidSes.]  (Myth.)  Nymphs  of 
the  mountains.  (Dryads;  Naiads;  Nereids.) 

Oreichalcum.  [Gr.  opc/xaA/tos,  mountain 
bronze.}  With  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  a  mixed 
metal,  of  which  the  basis  was  brass  j  but  its 
precise  composition  is  not  known. 

Orembi.    (Oramby.) 

Orestes.    (Fylades  and  Orestes.) 

Organ.  [Gr.  opyavov,  an  implement,  musical 
instrument}  (Music.)  If  complete,  is  a  combi- 
nation of  five  instruments :  1.  Choir  0.,  having 
more  delicate  stops  for  accompanying  the  voice, 
the  manual  being  the  lowest.  2.  Great  0., 
having  pipes  more  in  number,  larger,  and  louder 
voiced,  for  grand  effects,  the  manual  being  second 
from  the  bottom.  3.  Swell  O.,  inclosed  in  a 
shutter  box,  or  Venetian  swell,  opened  and 
closed  by  a  pedal.  4.  Solo  0.,  a  separate 
manual  for  fancy  stops,  as  cremona,  vox  humana. 
5.  Pedal  O.,  played  by  the  feet. 

Organical  description  of  a  curve.  [Gr. 
opy&vuc6s,  produced  by  an  instrument.}  (Math.) 
Description  by  an  instrument ;  as  of  a  circle  by 
a  pair  of  compasses. 

Organic  laws.  Laws  affecting  the  fundamental 
principles  of  the  constitution  of  a  state.  Ac- 
cording to  some  French  writers,  O.  L.  are  posi- 
tive enactments,  sanctioned  by  punishments, 
while  the  fundamental  laws  on  which  they  rest 
are  merely  declaratory. 

Organography,  or  Organoiogy.    [Gr.  opjai/ov, 


an  instrument.')  (Bot.)  Study  of  the  structure 
of  the  organs  of  plants. 

Organon.  [Gr.,  instrument.")  A  name  for  a 
work  laying  down  rules  for  the  direction  of  the 
scientific  faculty,  either  generally  or  with  refer- 
ence to  some  special  department  of  science  ;  as 
the  Organon  of  Aristotle  or  of  Bacon. 

Organzine.  [Fr.  organsin.]  Fine  silk  twisted 
like  a  rope  with  different  strands. 

Orgasm.  [Gr.  &py*rp4st  from  bpydw,  I  swell.} 
(Med.)  Immoderate  excitement. 

Orgeat.  [Fr.,  from  orge,  barley.')  A  liquor 
extracted  from  barley  and  sweet  almonds. 

Orgies.  [Gr.  opym.}  Originally  any  religious 
rites  or  performances.  The  word  was  afterwards 
applied  especially  to  the  Dionysiac  Mysteries, 
and  then  to  mysteries  in  general.  (Bacchanalian ; 
Eleusinian  Mysteries.) 

Orgoglio.  [It.,  pride.}  "  A  hideous  giant," 
brutal  and  ignorant,  born  of  Earth  and  Wind, 
foster-child  of  Ignorance ;  an  impersonation  of 
Pride  (Faery  Queene,  bk.  i.  c.  vii.). 

Oriel.  [Fr.  oriol,  L.L.  oriolum.]  (Arch.}  A 
projection  from  a  building,  or  a  recess  within  it ; 
(?)  cf.  orillon. 

Orient.  [L.  orien,  -tem;  lit.  the  rising  sun.] 
The  east. 

Orientation.  [L.  oriens,  the  rising  (sun),  the 
east.}  (Eccl.)  The  deviation  from  the  true  east 
in  the  direction  of  a  church  or  chancel.  There 
is  a  theory  that  churches  had  their  choirs  or 
chancels  facing  the  point  at  which  the  sun  rose 
on  the  day  set  apart  for  their  dedication. 

Oriflamme.    (Auriflamme.) 

Origenists.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Followers  of 
Origen.  (Catechists.)  They  asserted  that  Christ 
was  the  Son  of  God  by  adoption  (Adoptians), 
and  denied  the  endlessness  of  punishments. 

Original.  1.  In  Art,  a  work  done  by  the 
artist  himself,  not  copied  by  another.  When 
the  artist  copies  his  own  work,  this  copy  is  called 
a  duplicate,  or  Replica.  2.  In  Law,  the  part  of 
an  indenture  executed  by  the  grantor,  where  the 
several  parts  are  interchangeably  executed  be- 
tween the  parties,  the  other  parts  being  called 
counterparts. 

Origin  of  a  muscle.  (Anat.)  Its  more  fixed 
attachment. 

Orillon.  [Fr.,  from  oreille,  an  ear,  L. 
auricula.]  (Fortif.)  Rounded  prolongation  of 
the  face  of  a  bastion  at  the  shoulder  angle,  to 
conceal  a  gun  in  the  extremity  of  the  flank. 

Oriole,  Golden.  [L.  aureolus,  dim.  of  aureus, 
golden,  through  Fr.  oriol,  which  has  now  the 
def.  art.,  and  has  become  loriot.]  (Omith.) 
Spec,  of  bird,  about  ten  inches  long ;  plumage, 
black  and  yellow.  S.  Europe,  occasionally  Great 
Britain.  Orfolus  galbula  [L.  galbus,  yellow}, 
gen.  Oriolus,  fam.  Oriolidse,  ord.  Passdres. 

Orion.  [Gr.]  (Myth.)  A  mighty  giant  and 
hunter  who,  after  his  death,  was  placed  amongst 
the  stars.  The  name  is  probably  Semitic. 

Orlando  Furioso.    (Bhodomontade ;  Boland.) 

Orle.  [O.Fr.,  a  margin.}  (Her.)  An 
ordinary  composed  of  a  narrow  band  following 
the  outline  of  the  escutcheon  at  some  distance 
from  the  edge. 


ORLO 


354 


ORTH 


Orlop,  or  Orlop-deck.    (Decks.) 

Ormolu.  [Fr.  ormoulo.J  A  variety  of  brass, 
25  parts  of  zinc  +  75  of  copper,  more  golden  in 
colour  than  ordinary  brass  ;  improved  sometimes 
by  a  gold  lacquer.  Also  called  Mosaic  gold. 

Ornaments.  (Eccl.)  Of  the  church  and  of  the 
minister,  are  the  "ornamenta,"  i.e.  fittings, 
apparatus,  whether  ornamental  or  not. 

Ornaments  Rubric.  That  beginning  "And 
here  it  is  to  be  noted,"  immediately  preceding 
the  order  for  Morning  Prayer. 

Ornithichnite.     (Ichnites.) 

Ornithodelphia.  [Gr.  opvts,  tfpvWos,  bird, 
8e\<pvs,  uterus,  }  (Zoo/.)  Having  a  uterus  re- 
sembling that  of  birds.  The  third  and  lowest 
sub-class  of  mammals.  (Monotremata.) 

Ornithology.  [Gr.  bpviQo-\6yos,  treating  of 
birds.}  The  science  of  the  natural  history  of 
birds  and  their  classification.  The  latter  is 
somewhat  unsettled.  We  have  followed  that 
adopted  by  Mr.  Wallace,  in  his  Geographical 
Distribution  of  Animals,  as  below. 


Examples. 
Including    the    great    mass    of    the 

smaller    birds  —  crows,  finches,  fly- 

catchers,  creepers,  honey-suckers, 

etc. 
Including     woodpeckers,      cuckoos, 

toucans,  kingfishers,  swifts,  etc. 
Parrots  only. 
Pigeons  and  the  dodo. 
Grouse,  pheasants,  curassows,  mound- 

builders,  etc. 
The  hocco  only. 
Eagles,  owls,  and  vultures. 
Herons,  plovers,  rails,  etc. 
Gulls,  ducks,  divers,  etc. 
Ostrich,  cassowary,  apteryx,  etc. 


Orders. 
I.  Passeres. 


II.  Plcarfa. 

III.  Psittaci. 

IV.  Columbse. 

V.  Galllna. 

VI.  Opisthocomi. 

VII.  AccTpTtres. 

VIII.  Gralte. 

IX.  Anseres. 

X.  Struthiones. 


Ornithomancy.    [Gr.  opvis,  a  bird, 
divination.}    Divination  by  the  flight  of  birds. 
(Augurs.) 

Ornithorhynchus  paradoxus.  [Gr.  Spvis,  -Bos, 
bird,  fivyxos,  snout,  beak,  irapa^o\os,  contrary  to  ex- 
pectation.} (Zool.)  Platypus  [vXarvs,  broad,  TTCTJS, 
foot],  -Duck-bill,  Mtillingong;  a  billed,  ovovivi- 
parous,  aquatic,  burrowing  mammal,  eighteen 
to  twenty  inches  long,  with  soft  dark  fur,  some- 
what like  an  otter.  Australia.  Ord.  Monotre- 
mata. 

Orology.  Study  of  mountains  [Gr.  opos,  moun- 
tain}. 

Oromazdes.   ThesameasOrmuzd.  (Ahriman.) 

Orometer.  [Gr.  opos,  a  mountain,  /j-erpov,  a 
measure.}  An  instrument  for  measuring  hills  in 
military  surveying,  combining  all  the  necessary 
scales  and  tables  for  carrying  out  the  different 
processes. 

Orpheotelestse.  [Gr.  Jp^corcAeo-Toi.]  InGr. 
Hist.,  an  obscure  sect,  the  members  of  which 
went  about  undertaking  to  release  people  from 
their  sins  by  songs  and  sacrifices. 

Orpheus.  [Gr.,  Skt.  Abhu  and  Ribhu,  names 
for  the  sun  and  the  storm-wind.  }  (Myth.  )  A  son 
of  the  river  CEagrus  and  the  Muse  Calliope,  whose 
name  has  become  a  proverbial  expression  for  the 
power  of  music.  Men,  beasts,  trees,  stones,  and 
rocks  all  moved  to  the  sound  of  his  harping  ; 
and  at  his  bidding,  the  ship  Argo  descended 
gently  into  the  water,  when  the  Argonauts 


were  unable  of  themselves  to  stir  it.  The  three- 
headed  dog  Cerberus,  which  guarded  the  gates 
of  Hades,  could  not  resist  the  spell ;  and  Hades 
himself,  under  the  same  influence,  allowed  him 
to  lead  away  his  wife  Eurydice,  who  had  died 
from  a  snake-bite,  and  who  all  but  returned  to 
dwell  with  him  in  the  upper  world.  Orpheus 
reappears  in  The  Piper  of  Hameln  (Browning), 
and  both  are  the  singing  winds. 

Orphic  Mysteries.  (Hist.)  Mysteries  cele- 
brated by  certain  societies,  seemingly  ascetic, 
which  at  the  first  rise  of  Greek  philosophy 
assumed  the  name  of  Orpheus. 

Orphrey,  or  Orfray.  [O.Fr.  orfrais,  L.L. 
auriphragium.]  A  fringe  or  band  of  gold,  some- 
times richly  embroidered,  sewn  on  Albs,  Dalma- 
tics, and  altar  frontals. 

Orpiment.  [L.  auripigmentum,  pigment  of 
gold.}  (Chem.)  Trisulphide  of  arsenic,  a  bright 
yellow  pigment.  It  is  also  called  yellow  arsenic, 
or  king's  yellow.  Red  orpiment  is  another  name 
for  realgar  (q.v.). 

Orpin.  [Fr.,  stonecrop.}  A  yellow  colour 
resembling  these  flowers. 

Orpine.  (Bot. )  A  kind  of  stonecrop,  S£dum 
telephium  [Gr.  re\e<piov],  ord.  Crassulacese  (Se- 
dum). 

Orrery.  A  toy  for  showing  children  the  mo- 
tions of  the  planets ;  called  after  the  Earl  of 
Orrery,  the  Hon.  C.  Boyle  of  the  Battle  of  the 
Books  (q.v.). 

Orris.  [Corr.  from  Orphrey s.}  A  pattern 
work  of  gold  or  silver. 

Orris-root,  Orrice-root.  [Corr.  from  Iris.} 
The  violet-scented  rhizome  of  Iris  florentina  and 
I.  germanica ;  sometimes  called  Iris-root. 

Orseiew.    Dutch  gold.     (Dutch  clinker.) 

Orthoclase.  (Geoll)  Common  felspar,  Pot  ask 
F. ;  because  it  has  a  flat  straight  cleavage  [Gr. 

OpQT]  K\d(Tts]. 

Orthodox  Church.  [Gr.  6pdo'8o£os,  of  right 
belief^  (Ecd.  Hist.)  The  title  of  the  Eastern 
or  Greek  Church. 

Orthoepy.  [Gr.  bpQ&s,  right,  exact,  eir«,  word} 
In  Gram.,  properly  the  right  use  of  word's,  but 
generally  applied  to  prosody  as  dealing  with 
their  proper  pronunciation ;  as  Orthography 
deals  with  their  proper  representation. 

Orthognathic.  [Gr.  opd-f),  sc.  yS>via,  a  right 
angle,  yvdOos,  a  jaw.}  Having  a  facial  right 
angle,  nearly  ;  having  a  skull  the  front  of  which 
scarcely  projects  beyond  the  jaw ;  opposed  to 
Prognathous  [irpo,  in  front  of],  having  a  prominent 
jaw. 

Orthogonal.  [Gr.  opBoyavios,  rectangular.} 
Any  line  taken  down  a  hill  at  right  angles  to  a 
system  of  contours  (q.  v. ).  (Orthographic.) 

Orthographic  projection  of  a  line  or  lines 
[Gr.  6p06s,  straight  upright,  ypd<pw,  I  draw.} 
Its  representation  on  paper  obtained  by  letting 
fall  from  each  point  of  the  line  a  perpendicular 
to  the  plane  of  the  paper ;  or,  it  is  the  perspec- 
tive representation  of  the  line  (or  lines)  made  on 
the  suppositions  that  the  eye  is  infinitely  distant 
and  the  plane  of  the  paper  at  right  angles  to  the 
direction  of  vision. 

Orthography.     [Gr.    6p66s,  ypa.$a>,  I  write.} 


ORTH 


355 


OSTR 


1.  (Gram.)  The  method  of  denoting  sounds  by 
visible  signs.  (Orthoepy.)  2.  (Arch.)  A  geometri- 
cal drawing  of  a  building  in  elevation  or  section. 

Orthopaedic.    [Gr.  op06s,  straight,  TTCUS,  iraid 
a  child.}     Relating  to  the  correction  of  deformity 
in  children. 

Orthoptera,  [Gr.  opQ6-iiT  epos,  upright-winged.} 
(Entom.}  Ord.  of  insects,  properly  with  four 
wings  ;  the  fore  pair  generally  leathery,  the  hind 
pair  folding  like  a  fan,  as  grasshoppers ;  some- 
times wingless,  as  female  cockroaches.  The 
earwigs,  dermaptera,  belong  to  this  ord. 

Ortolan.  [Fr. ,  from  L.  hortiilanus,  a  gardener, 
belonging  to  a  garden .  ]  ( Ornith . )  A  m  igratory 
bunting,  length  about  six  inches ;  plumage, 
brown,  black,  green,  and  buff.  S.  Europe,  occa- 
sionally Great  Britain.  Emberira  hortiilana,  sub- 
fam.  Emberlridae,  fam.  Fringillidse,  ord.  Passeres. 

Ortygia.    (Ortygian  shore.) 

Ortygian  shore.  In  Shelley's  poem  Arethusa, 
the  eastern  shore  of  Sicily,  near  Syracuse.  The 
island  of  Delos  was  also  called  Ortygia,  or  the 
quail-land,  the  quail  [in  Skt.  vartika,  the  return- 
ing bird}  being  one  of  the  birds  which  come 
with  the  first  return  of  spring.  It  thus  became 
one  of  the  names  of  the  dawn,  and  was  applied 
to  Delos  [Gr.  Ar?\os,  the  bright  land],  in  which 
Phoebus  and  Artemis  were  born. 

Orus,  or  Horus.     (Harpocrates.) 

Orvietan.  A  supposed  antidote  to  poison, 
ascribed  to  a  mountebank  of  Orvieto,  in  Italy. 

Oryctology.  Study  of  objects  dztg  up  [Gr. 
OPVKTOS],  whether  Archseol.  or,  more  particularly, 
Geol.  ;  but  the  term  is  not  often  used. 

Oschophoria.  [Gr.]  An  Athenian  festival  in 
honour  of  Dionysus  and  Athena ;  so  called  from 
the  carrying  of  oo^o*,  or  vine  branches  with 
grapes. 

Oscillating  engine.     (Steam-engine.) 

Oscillation,  Centre  of.     (Centre.) 

Oscillum.  [L.,  a  little  face ;  dim.,  through 
osculum,  of  os,  mottth,face.}  A  term  applied  to 
faces  or  heads  of  Bacchus,  suspended  in  vine- 
yards, to  be  turned  in  every  direction  by  the 
wind  j  supposed  to  make  the  vines  fruitful  in  the 
quarter  towards  which  they  looked  (see  Virgil, 
Georg.  ii.  388). 

Osculating  circle  [L.  osculans,  -tis,  kissing} ; 
0.  plane ;  at  any  part  of  a  curve,  passes  through 
three  consecutive  points  of  the  curve  ;  its  radius 
is  the  radius  of  curvature.  The  O.  plane  passes 
through  three  consecutive  points  of  a  tortuous 
curve  (or  curve  of  double  curvature),  such  as  the 
thread  of  a  screw. 

Osculatorium.     (Fax.) 

Osiandrians.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  The  followers  of 
Osiander,  who  differed  from  Luther  and  Calvin 
as  to  the  efficient  cause  of  justification. 

Os  innommatum.  [L.,  bone  without  a  name.} 
(Anat.)  Each  lateral  bone  of  the  pelvis  j  that 
apparently  single  bone  into  which  the  three 
ossa — ischium,  ilium,  and  pubis,  i.e.  hip-bone, 
haunch-bone,  and  share-bone — grow. 

Osiris.  In  Myth.,  one  of  the  chief  deities  of 
Egypt,  brother  and  husband  of  Isis,  and  more 
especially  the  judge  of  the  dead.  As  such  he 
was  called  Rhot-amenti,  of  which  the  Grecized 


form  is  Rhadamanthys.       He   was  worshipped 
under  the  form  of  the  bull  Apis.     (Serapis.) 

Osmometer.  [Gr.  ua-^s,  impulse,  perpov, 
measttre.}  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
amount  of  osmose  (q.v.). 

Osmose.  [Gr.  &><r/«/y,  impulse.}  The  action 
by  which  two  fluids  become  intermixed  through 
an  intervening  membrane  or  other  porous  sub- 
stance. The  flow  towards  the  fluid  which  in- 
creases in  volume,  generally  the  denser,  is  called 
endosmose,  the  other  current  exosmose. 

Osmium.  [Gr.  oV/t^j,  a  smell.}  A  brittle  grey 
metal,  from  the  acrid  odour  of  its  oxide. 

Osnaburgs.     Coarse  linens,  originally  imported 
from  Osnaburg,  in  Germany. 
O.S.B.    (Obiit  sine  prole.) 
Osprey.     [L.  ossifraga,   bone-breaker ;  cf.  Fr. 
orfraie.]      (Ornith.}     Ossifrage,  Fishing  hawk, 
Bald  buzzard ;   spec,  of  bird,  about  twenty-two 
inches  long ;  whitish  head,  brown  back,  white 
belly  ;  gen.   Pandion.     Universally  distributed, 
except  south  part  of  S.  America.     Fam.  Pandi- 
onidae,  ord.  Accipitres. 

Osseous.     [L.  6s,  ossis,  a  bone.}    Bony. 
Osseous  fishes.     [L.  osseus,  bony.}     (Ichth.} 
In  Cuvier's  system,  one  div.  of  fishes,  the  other 
being  ChondropterygH.      O.  F.  are  divided  into 
Acanthopterygii  and  Mdldcopterygii  (q.v.}. 

Ossian's  poems.  Poems  said  to  have  been 
written  by  Oisin,  or  Ossian,  a  Scottish  bard  of 
the  third  century,  and  published  by  MacPherson, 
in  1760.  The  controversy  as  to  their  genuine- 
ness went  on  for  nearly  half  a  century,  and 
ended  much  to  the  discredit  of  MacPherson's 
assertions.  The  materials  of  the  poems,  how- 
ever, seem  to  be  undoubtedly  ancient,  and  were 
probably  obtained  by  him  orally  in  the  Scottish 
Highlands. 

Ossicle.  [L.  ossiculum,  dim.  of  os,  a  bone.} 
A  small  bone.  Ossiculated,  furnished  with  small 
bones. 

Ossifrage.  [Peres  (Lev.  xi.  13),  the  breaker. \ 
(Bibl. }  ( Lammergeier. ) 

Ossuary.  [L.  ossa,  bones. ~\  A  charnel-house, 
a  tomb. 

Os  suffraginis.  [L.]  (Anat.}  The  joint  in 
the  hinder  leg  of  a  quadruped,  which  is  bent 
back  ;  the  pastern. 

Ostara.  (Myth.}  An  ancient  German  deity 
whose  name  reappears  in  our  word  Easter,  and 
may  be  connected  with  that  of  the  Semitic 
Ashtoreth,  or  Astarte. 

Osteology.  [Gr.  OCTTCOV,  a  bone.}  That  part 
of  anatomy  which  treats  of  bones  and  bone 
tissue,  their  chemical  and  physical  properties; 
their  shape,  growth,  articulation,  etc. 
Osteria.  [It.]  An  hostelry. 
Ostiarius.  [L.,  a  doorkeeper. ~\  1.  (Eccl.}  In 
the  Latin  Church,  the  last  of  the  four  minor 
orders.  (Hostiarius.)  2.  (Rom.  Hist.}  Among 
the  ancient  Romans,  a  slave  stationed  at  the 
door  of  a  house,  like  the  French  concierge. 
Hence  Eng.  usher. 

Ostracism.  [Gr.  oar  pendants.}  In  Athenian 
Hist.,  a  vote  by  which,  if  given  by  at  least  6000 
citizens,  the  person  condemned  by  it  had  to  go 
into  exile  for  ten  years.  The  name  of  the 


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person  subjected  to  O.  was  written  by  each  voter 
on  a  shell  [offrpanov].  Only  one  citi/en  could  be 
so  banished  at  a  time  ;  and  if  more  than  6000 
votes  were  recorded  against  two  or  more  citizens, 
the  one  who  was  condemned  by  most  votes  was 
alone  banished. 

Ostracoda.  [Gr.  dffrpaic-aWs,  potsherd-like.] 
(Zool.)  Small  bivalve  crustaceans,  as  Cyprides, 
common  in  fresh  water. 

Ostreldse.  [L.  ostrea,  oyster.]  (Zool.)  Fam. 
of  molluscs,  oysters  and  scallops.  Cosmopolitan. 
Class  Conchifera. 

Ostrich.  [O.Fr.  ostruche,  L.  avis  struthio, 
Gr.  orpot/SiW.]  (Ornith.)  Struthio  camelus. 
The  largest  of  birds,  from  six  to  eight  feet  high. 
The  quill  feathers  of  the  wings  and  tail  furnish 
plumes.  Deserts  of  Africa  and  Arabia.  The 
S.-African  O.  (S.  australis)  is  sometimes  reckoned 
a  distinct  spec.  The  American  ostriches  (Rheas) 
inhabiting  the  S.-  American  plains  are  much 
smaller.  Ord.  Struthiones. 

Os  vespertilionis  [L.],  i.e.  bone  with  ex- 
tended wings,  like  a  bat;  former  name  for 
sphenoid  bone  (q.v.). 

Otalgia,  Otalgy.  [Gr.  ols,  wr6s,  the  ear,  &\yos, 
pain.]  Ear-ache. 

Otariidae.  [Gr.  urapiov,  dim.  of  o3s,  wr6s, 
ear.]  Otaries,  eared  seals;  pinnigrade  car- 
nivora,  sea-lions  and  bears,  able  to  use  their 
hind  limbs  freely.  Northern  parts  of  N.  Pacific, 
and  corresponding  south  latitudes.  Ord.  Car- 
nivora. 

Otic.     [Gr.  #Ti«oy.]     Of  or  for  the  ear  [ols, 


Otitis.  Inflammation  of  the  ear  [Gr.  oSs, 
ur6s]. 

Otolith.  [Gr.  o5s,  arts,  the  ear,  \iQos,  a 
stone.]  A  loose  chalky  secretion  in  the  auri- 
cular sacs  of  Articulata  (q.v.),  especially  fishes, 
indicating,  probably,  the  direction  and  degree  of 
sound. 

Otorrhcea.  [Gr.  ols,  wr6s,  the  ear,  pew,  I 
flo%v.~\  Discharge  of  the  ear. 
.  Ottava  rima.  [It.]  The  stanza  of  eight  lines 
always  employed  by  the  romantic  and  narrative 
poets  ;  that  to  which  Spenser  added  the  Alexan- 
drine, as  a  ninth. 

Otto.    (Attar.) 

Ottoman  empire.  The  empire  of  the  Ottoman 
race  of  Turks. 

Ottoman  race.  (Ethn.)  The  youngest  branch 
of  the  great  Turkish  family  or  stem  ;  so  called 
from  Othman,  who  ruled  them  from  1299  to  1326. 

Oubliette.  [Fr.,  from  oublier,  L.  obliviscor, 
I  forget.]  A  dungeon  open  only  at  the  top,  for 
persons  condemned  to  imprisonment  for  life  or 
to  a  secret  death. 

Ouches.  1.  In  Exod.  xxviii.  25  ;  ornaments 
of  gold,  collets,  probably  of  cloisonnee  (q.v.) 
work,  according  to  Speakers  Commentary.  2. 
With  Shakespeare  and  others,  jewels  generally. 
[Richardson  assigns  the  same  meaning  and  use 
to  (i)  nouche,  Fr.  niche,  notch  ;  and  (2)  ouche, 
Fr.  oche,  a  notch,  ocher,  to  cut  into.] 

Ounce.  [L.  uncia.]  1.  The  twelfth  part  of  a 
pound  troy.  2.  The  sixteenth  part  of  a  pound 
avoirdupois.  The  ounce  troy  =  iTy5,  nearly 


I-/5,  ounce  avoirdupois.  3.  The  fluid  ounce  is 
the  sixteenth  part  of  an  imperial  pint,  and  by 
weight  is  reckoned  546^  grains,  or  ij  ounce 
avoirdupois. 

Ourology.  The  knowledge  of  disease,  as 
learnt  from  the  urine  [Gr.  olpov], 

-ous.    (-ic.) 

Out-board.  (Naut. )  Outside  a  vessel ;  opposed 
to  In-board. 

Outlawry.  (Leg.}  Exclusion  from  the  protection 
of  the  law,  depriving  the  outlaw  of  the  power  of 
bringing  actions,  and  confiscating  his  property 
to  the  Crown.  Inflicted,  generally,  for  non- 
appearance  to  an  indictment,  or  for  absconding 
after  judgment,  leaving  the  judgment  debt  unpaid. 

Outlier.  1.  (Geol.)  An  isolated  portion  of 
stratified  rock ;  separated  by  denudation  from 
the  main  rock.  2.  One  who  resides  away  from 
the  place  of  his  office  or  duty. 

Outpeny.    (Inpeny.) 

Out-ports.  (Naut.)  Those  on  the  coast.  All 
in  the  United  Kingdom  other  than  London. 

Outre.  [Fr.]  In  Art,  exaggerated  or  over- 
strained in  form  or  colour. 

Outrecuidance.  [Fr.]  Excessive  opinion  of 
one's  self ;  from  verb  outrecuider,  L.  ultra, 
beyond,  cogitare,  to  think. 

Outrigger.  (Natit.)  1.  A  strong  beam 
passed  through  the  ports,  lashed  to  the  gunwale, 
and  guyed  to  bolts  at  the  water-line  and  the 
masts,  to  counteract  the  strain  on  them  during 
careening.  2.  A  boom  projecting  from  a  vessel, 
to  hang  boats  by.  3.  Any  spar  rigged  out- 
board, as  the  bumpkin,  or  boomkin.  4.  A  log 
of  wood,  etc.,  rigged  out  from  the  side  of  a 
canoe  or  narrow  boat,  to  prevent  it  from  capsiz- 
ing. 5.  A  light  rowing-boat,  having  its  row- 
locks out-board,  supported  on  iron  stays. 

Outspan.  [Ger.  spannen,  to  yoke,  to  put  to.] 
To  release  oxen  from  the  yoke. 

Outworks.  (Mil.)  All  parts  of  a  permanent 
fortification  in  front  of  the  inside  rampart,  but 
more  or  less  defended  by  it. 

Oval  chuck.  A  lathe  chuck  constructed  to 
hold  the  piece  to  be  turned  in  such  a  way  that 
the  cutting  tool  traces  an  ellipse  instead  of  a 
circle. 

Ovation.  [L.  ovatio,  -nem.]  (Hist.)  The 
inferior  triumph  granted  to  successful  Roman 
generals.  (Triumph.) 

Overcasting.  Sewing  by  running  the  thread 
over  a  rough  edge. 

Overies,  St.  Mary.  The  ancient  name  of  St. 
Saviour's  Church,  Southwark.  (?)  St.  Mary  oj 
the  Ferry,  as  given  by  Stowe,  in  his  Chronicles  ; 
(?)  over-ey,  i.e.  over  the  water,  as  given  by 
Camden,  in  his  Britannia. — Mrs.  Boger,  South- 
wark  and  its  Story,  p.  5. 

Overlap.  (Geol.)  The  extension  of  one 
stratum  or  set  of  strata  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
lower  strata.  Very  important,  as  showing  that 
the  area  of  deposition  was  widening,  probably 
by  subsidence  ;  if  accompanied  by  unconformity, 
it  is  an  evidence  of  great  lapse  of  time,  accom- 
panied by  disturbances. 

Overseers  of  the  poor.  Officers  annually  nomi- 
nated by  the  parish  vestry,  and  appointed  by 


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magistrates  at  petty  sessions  ;  their  duty  being 
to  provide  relief  for  indigent  parishioners  out  of 
funds  collected  by  them  according  to  a  rate 
made  at  a  vestry  meeting.  (Poor  laws.) 

Overshot- wheel.     (Water-wheel.) 

Overstory.    (Arch.)    The  same  as  Clerestory. 

Ovolo.  [It,]  (Arch.)  A  moulding,  whose 
profile  is  the  fourth  part  of  a  circle. 

Ovoviviparous.  [L.  ovum,  egg,  vlvus,  living, 
pario,  to  produce  young.}  Producing  young 
from  eggs,  but  hatching  them  before  birth. 

Ovule.  [As  if  from  a  dim.  of  L.  ovum,  an 
egg.}  (Bot.)  A  rudimentary  unfertilized  seed. 

Owenites.  (Hist.)  The  followers  of  Robert 
Owen,  of  Lanark,  who  maintained  the  principle 
of  the  community  of  property. 

OwL  [Heb.  bach-hayya  'anah.]  (Bibl.)  Lev. 
xi.  16;  probably  the  ostrich. 

Owler.  (Naut. )  A  smuggler,  more  particularly 
of  wool. 

Owling.  In  Law,  the  transportation  of  sheep 
or  wool  out  of  the  kingdom.  The  statutes  re- 
lating to  this  offence  have  all  been  repealed. 

Owl-glass.    (Eul en spiegel,  Tyll.) 

Ox,  Wild.  (Bibl.)  Deut.  xiv.  5.  (Bull, 
Wild.) 

Oxalic  acid.  [Gr.  3£a\is,  sorrel.]  A  poisonous 
acid,  found  in  wood-sorrel,  etc.  Its  salts  are 
called  Oxalates. 

Oxford,  Provisions  of.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Enact- 
ments of  the  Council  held  at  Oxford  (called  by 
its  enemies  the  Mad  Parliament),  1258,  to 
remedy  the  grievances  which  had  arisen  from 
the  evasion  of  the  obligations  imposed  on  the 
king  by  the  Great  Charter.  (Charta,  Magna.) 

Oxford  Act.    (Five-Mile  Act.) 

Oxford  clay.  (Geol.)  Dark-blue  and  greyish 
clays  and  shales  ;  fossiliferous,  with  clayey  lime- 
stone nodules.  Middle  Oolite. 

Ox-gang.    (Carucate.) 


Oxide.  [Fr.]  A  compound  of  oxygen  with 
a  base. 

Oxygen.  [Gr.  3tfs,  acid,  ycvvdw,  I  generate.} 
A  gaseous  element,  supporting  life  and  flame, 
and  originally  supposed  to  be  an  essential  part 
of  every  acid. 

Oxymel.  [Gr.  Jlt^icXi,  from  o£us,  sharp,  and 
jue'Ai,  honey.}  A  mixture  of  vinegar  and  honey. 

Oxymoron.  [Gr.,  pointedly  foolish.}  (Rhet.) 
The  application  of  paradoxical  epithets  to  the 
subject  of  a  proposition,  often  involving  a  kind 
of  contradiction  ;  as  if  we  were  to  speak  of  the 
cruel  kindness  of  indulging  children. 

Oxytone.  [Gr.  o^vrovos.}  In  Gr.  Gram.,  a 
word  having  the  acute  accent  on  the  last  syllable. 

Oyer.  [O.Fr.,  L.  audire,  to  hear.}  In  Law, 
a  defendant,  before  pleading  to  an  action  on  a 
bond,  might  crave  O.  of  the  instrument  on  which 
the  action  was  brought,  i.e.  demand  to  hear  it 
read.  O.  was  abolished  in  1852. 

Oyer  and  tenniner.  In  Law,  the  commis- 
sions for  hearing  and  deciding  causes,  under 
which  assizes  are  held  in  the  different  counties. 

Oyes!    (Oyez!) 

Oyez!  [Fr.,  hear  ye!}  The  cry  of  Norman 
ushers  in  courts  of  justice,  metamorphosed  by 
English  criers  into  "  O  yes  ! " 

Oyster,  Pearl.  [Gr.  offrpeov,  L.  ostreum.] 
Avicula  margaritifera ;  furnishes  pearls,  and  the 
best  mother-of-pearl.  W.  coast  of  Ceylon,  Coro- 
mandel,  Algeria,  Columbia,  Panama.  •  Fam. 
Aviculldse,  class  Conchifera. 

Ozaena.  [Gr.  Sfava,  from  #£«,  I  smell}  Foetid, 
purulent  discharge  from  the  nostrils. 

Ozokerit.  [Gr.  ofy,  I  smell,  K-npos,  wax} 
A  substance  like  resinous  wax,  found  in  Mol- 
davia, and  used  in  making  candles. 

Ozone.  [Gr.  o£i»,  /  smell.}  Oxygen  in  a 
peculiar  state,  in  which  its  powers  are  intensi- 
fied and  it  becomes  perceptible  to  the  smell. 


P. 


P.  A  consonant  of  the  labial  series ;  is,  as  we 
might  expect,  interchangeable  with  b  in  nearly 
all  known  languages.  As  an  abbrev.,  it  stands 
in  Latin  for  Publius ;  and  it  is  sometimes 
used,  in  medicine,  for  Pugillus,  the  eighth  part 
of  a  handful;  p.oe.  stands  for  partes  sequales, 
or  equal  parts ;  and  P.  in  Music  is  piano,  or 
soft. 

Pabulum.  [L.]  Lit.  food;  and  so  material 
for  thought,  learning,  instruction. 

Pace,  Geometrical.  [L.  passus,  Fr.  pas.]  The 
distance  from  where  one  foot  is  put  down  to 
where  it  is  put  down  again ;  and  so  a  measure 
of  five  feet. 

Pac§  tua.    [L.  ]     With  your  good  leave. 

Pacha.     (Pasha.) 

Pachacamac.  The  ancient  Peruvian  name  for 
the  Creator  of  the  universe. 

Pacha's  standard.  A  horse's  tail  fixed  on  a 
lance.  (Pasha.) 


Pachyderm.  [Gr.  *axfa,  thick,  tip/na,  skin.} 
(Zool. )  2^hick-hided ;  with  Cuvier,  =  hoofed  non- 
ruminant  mamalia ;  e.g.  elephant,  hippopotamus, 
tapir,  pig,  horse. 

Paciflcae  litterae.     (Dimissory  letters.) 

Pacification,  Edicts  of.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  edicts  of 
French  kings  in  favour  of  their  Protestant  sub- 
jects, as  the  Edict  of  Nantes. 

Pack.     Of  wool,  is  240  Ibs. 

Packfong.     [Chin.]    German  silver. 

Pack-ice.  Ice  in  the  state  cf  large  floating 
pieces. 

Packwax,  Pax  wax(T).  (Anat.)  A  large  strong 
sinew  in  the  neck  of  quadrupeds ;  the  ligamentum 
nuchae,  ligament  of  the  nape  of  the  neck. 

Pacte  de  Famine.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  an  associa- 
tion, in  the  reign  of  Louis  XV.,  for  raising  the 
price  of  corn  by  exporting  it  and  by  reintroduc* 
ing  it  at  a  vast  profit. 

Pactolus.       [Gr.     ncwcT«\<$s.]      A    river    of 


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358 


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Lydia,  which  was  said  to  bring  down  golden 
sands. 

Padding.  The  impregnation  of  cloth  with  a 
mordant. 

Faddle.  An  instrument  for  stirring  the  sand 
and  ashes  in  a  glass  furnace. 

Paddlewood.  A  light  strong  wood  from 
Guiana,  used  by  the  natives  for  paddles,  by  us 
for  cotton-gin  rollers. 

Paddy.     Rice  still  in  its  husk. 

Paddy-boat.  (Naut.)  A  Ceylon  boat  for 
carrying  rice  and  other  necessaries. 

Paddy's  hurricane.  In  Naut.  slang,  not  wind 
enough  to  extend  a  flag. 

Padishah.  A  title  of  the  Turkish  sultan  and 
of  the  Persian  shah. 

Padrone.  [It.]  (Naut.)  The  master  of  a 
Mediterranean  craft. 

Paduan.  (Naut.)  A  Malay  pirate  armed 
with  one  gun  forward  and  another  aft. 

Paduan  coins.  Coins  forged  by  Cavino  and 
Barsiano,  the  artists  employed  on  the  pope's 
medals  from  Julian  III.  to  Gregory  XIII.,  1550- 
1572. 

Paduasoy,  corr.  into  Fr.  pou  de  soie.  A  silk 
stuff,  originally  made  at  Padua. 

Paean.  [Gr.  iraidi'.]  Among  the  Greeks,  (i) 
a  hymn  in  honour  of  Apollo ;  (2)  a  war-song 
before  or  after  battle.  Hence  any  exulting  or 
triumphant  cry. 

Paedo-.     [Gr.  -nous,  ircutids,  a  child.  } 

Paedobaptists.  [Gr.  irals,  a  child,  j8airn'£w5 
I  baptize.']  Those  who  hold  that  baptism  should 
be  administered  in  infancy.  (Anabaptist.) 

Paenula.    (Chasuble.) 

Paeon.  [L.,  Gr.  iraicav.]  A  metrical  foot  of 
four  syllables,  three  short  and  one  long.  P.  is 
primus,  secundus,  tertius,  quartus,  according  to 
the  position  of  the  long  syllable  ;  e.g.  -  w  w  w , 

W    —    N/    V   ,       W    W   —    V  ,       WV/W-. 

Paganism.  Properly,  the  condition  of  a  pagan, 
or  inhabitant  of  a  country  district.  (Paynim.) 
Commonly,  the  religious  state  of  the  whole 
human  race  except  of  those  who  are  Christians, 
Jews,  or  Mohammedans. 

Page.  A  word  of  uncertain  origin,  applied  to 
youths  in  the  service  of  noble  or  royal  per- 
sonages. 

Pagination.  [L.  pagina,  page.}  The  marking 
of  the  pages  of  a  book. 

Pagoda.  [Pers.  but-kadah,  house  of  gods.} 
1.  (Arch.)  A  temple  containing  an  idol.  2. 
The  name  of  a  coin,  both  gold  and  silver. 

Pani.  (Naut.)  Large  war-canoe  of  Society 
Isles. 

Paigle,  Pagle,  Peagle.  [Probably  epingle, 
"the  style  and  stigma  being  stuck,  as  a  pin, 
into  the  germ  "  (Latham).]  The  cowslip. 

Paillasse.  [Fr.  paille,  straw.}  An  under- 
mattress  of  straw. 

Painim.     (Paynim.) 

Pains  and  Penalties,  Bill  of.  A  process  for 
punishing  State  offenders  out  of  the  ordinary 
course  of  justice.  The  last  instance  was  the  Bill 
passed  by  the  House  of  Lords  against  Queen 
Caroline,  1820,  but  not  carried  into  the  House 
of  Commons. 


Painter.  1.  (Naut.)  A  rope  in  the  bows  of 
a  boat  to  make  her  fast  with.  2.  (Zoo/.)  (Cou- 
guar.) 

Pair.  [L.  pares,  equal.}  Of  stairs,  cards, 
organs,  =  a  set ;  so  "Peers," in  House  of  Lords, 
a  body  of  equals,  in  deliberation. 

Pair  off.  When  two  voters  opposed  to  each 
other  agree  to  abstain  frdm  voting,  and  thus 
neutralize  each  other,  they  are  said  to  pair  off". 

Palace.  ( Alhambra ;  Cloud,  Palace  of  St. ; 
Escurial ;  James,  Palace  of  St. ;  Kremlin,  The ; 
Stephen,  Palace  of  St.  ;  Tuileries  ;  Vatican ; 
Versailles.  Palace  of;  Whitehall;  White 
House.) 

Palace  Court.  A  court  of  justice,  established 
by  Charles  I.,  for  trying  personal  actions  within 
a  liberty  extending  to  twelve  miles  round  White- 
hall. Abolished  1849. 

Paladins.  1.  Properly,  officers  of  the  palace, 
the  L.  comites  palatii,  coiints  of  the  palace,  or 
palatmi,  of  the  Byzantine  court.  2.  In  early 
French  romances,  any  lord  or  chief.  Hence 
especially  the  heroes  or  warriors  of  Charles  the 
Great  (Charlemagne). 

Palaeocrystic  Sea.  That  around  the  Poles,  a 
sea  of  ancient  frost ',  or  ice  [Gr.  -na\ai6v  itpvos}. 

Palaeography.  [Gr.  -Ko.Xa.i6s,  old,  ypd^xa, 
I  write.}  The  science  of  deciphering  ancient 
inscriptions.  (Diplomatics.) 

Palaeolithic.     (Prehistoric  archaeology.) 

Palaeontology.  [Gr.  ira\ai6s,  ancient,  ovra. 
being.}  That  part  of  Geology  which  deals 
with  organic  life,  of  plants'  and  of  animals,  their 
remains,  and  (e.g.  ichnites)  their  records. 

Palaeotherium.  [Gr.  dripiov,  a  beast.}  (Geol.) 
A  gen.  of  extinct  pachyderms ;  in  size  from  that 
of  a  sheep  to  that  of  a  horse,  in  appearance  and 
probably  in  habits  like  the  tapir,  but  much 
slimmer.  Eocene ;  England. 

Palaeozoic.     (Neozoic.) 

Palaestra.  [Gr.  ira\al<rrpa,  from  -iraXalu,  2 
wrestle.}  A  place  or  school  for  wrestling.  In 
Greece,  the  palaestra  was  a  part  of  the  Gymna- 
sium. 

Palama.  [Gr.  iraAcfyirj,  palm  of  the  hand.] 
(Zool.)  Membrane  or  web  between  the  toes  of 
web-footed  animals. 

Palanquin.  [Javan  palangki.]  A  covered 
litter  borne  on  men's  shoulders. 

Palatals.  The  letters  d,  g,  j,  k,  I,  n,  q ;  so 
called  from  the  organ  chiefly  used  in  pronounc- 
ing them. 

Palatinate.  The  name  of  two  German  states, 
called  the  Upper  and  Lower  Palatinates,  which 
remained  under  the  same  sovereign  till  1620. 
The  word  means  properly  the  lordship  of  a 
palatine  (Paladins).  Hence  the  Ger.  pfahgraj 
and  the  Eng.  palsgrave. 

Palatine.     (Tavernicus.) 

Pale.  [Fr.  pal.]  (Her.)  An  ordinary 
bounded  by  two  vertical  lines,  and  containing 
the  middle  third  part  of  the  escutcheon. 

Pale,  The,  or  Within  the  Pale.     In  Ir.  Hist., 
that  portion  of  Ireland  within  which  the  domi- 
nion of  the  English  was  for  some  centuries  con- 
fined after  the  conquests  of  Henry  II. 
Pales,  Palese.     [L.]    (JSot.)    Chaff-like  scales, 


PALE 


359 


PAN 


such 


the    inner    scales    of   the    flower    of 


grasses. 

Palestine,  Palestina,  Exod.  xv.  14 ;  Isa.  xiv. 
29 ;  Joel  iii.  4 ;  is  simply  Philistia,  the  country 
along  the  coast,  held  by  the  Philistines. 

Paletot.     [Fr.]     A  loose  overcoat. 

Palette.  [Fr.]  An  oval  tablet,  with  a  thumb- 
hole  for  holding  it,  on  which  a  painter  lays  and 
mixes  his  colours. 

Palfrey.  [Fr.  palefroi.]  An  easy-going  road- 
ster, especially  for  a  lady  or  an  ecclesiastic. 

Palillogy.  [Gr.  ira\i\\oylaj  from  iriiXiv,  again, 
and  \4ya>,  /  speak. \  (Rhet.)  The  repetition  of 
a  word  or  a  phrase,  for  the  sake  of  greater  im- 
pressiveness,  as  "The  living,  the  living,  he  shall 
praise  Thee." 

Palimpsest.  [Gr.  TraXiV^ori-oy,  rubbed  again.} 
A  parchment  from  which  one  writing  has  been 
erased  to  make  room  for  another.  In  this  way 
many  valuable  ancient  works  have  been  lost.  A 
few  have  been  recovered  from  the  writing  by 
which  they  had  been  overlaid. 

Palindrome,  Palindromic  verses.  [Gr.  ird\iv- 
Spo/tos,  running  back,  running  backwards  and 
forwards.}  Words  or  verses  which  may  be 
read  backwards  as  well  as  forwards ;  as  "  Roma 
tibi  subito  motibus  ibit  amor,"  Rome,  to  thee 
love  will  suddenly  come  with  its  tumults  ;  "Signa 
te  signa  temere  me  tangis  et  angis. "  The 
matter  of  such  verses  must  always  be  worthless. 

Paling-board.  One  of  the  outside  slabs 
sawed  from  the  four  sides  of  a  tree  to  square  it 
(used  for  j>alings). 

Palingenesis.  [Gr.,  from  Ttd\tv,  again,  and 
yevtais,  birth.}  In  Theol.,  regeneration. 

Palinode.  [Gr.  iroAtj/wSia.]  In  poetry,  a  re- 
cantation, or  withdrawal  of  invectives  expressed 
in  a  previous  poem. 

Palisades.  [Fr.  palissade,  It.  palizzata.] 
(Mil.)  Row  of  triangular  wooden  stakes  about 
ten  feet  long  with  six-inch  faces,  sunk  upright  in 
the  ground  for  one-third  of  their  length,  and 
placed  about  three  inches  asunder. 

Palissy  ware.  Made  at  Saintes  and  Paris  by 
Bernard  de  P.  and  his  assistants,  temp.  Henri  II.- 
Henri  IV.  Characterized  by  coloured  reliefs, 
especially  of  fish  and  reptiles.  The  moulds  are 
still  in  use. 

Falkee.     [Hind,  palkf.]     A  palanquin. 

Pall.  (Her.)  A  charge  shaped  like  a  Y,  in 
imitation  of  the  ecclesiastical  fall.  (Pallium.) 

Palladium.  [Gr.  iroAActSioj/.]  1.  A  wooden 
statue  of  Pallas,  supposed  to  be  the  safeguard 
of  Troy.  Hence  any  special  safeguard  or  de- 
fence, as  of  trial  by  jury,  or  a  free  press  for  the 
British  constitution.  2.  A  rare,  steel-grey  metal, 
very  infusible  (from  the  planet  Pallas,  discovered 
a  year  earlier). 

Pallas.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  a  name  of  Athena, 
probably  as  the  virgin  goddess  [Gr.  iraAAa£,  a 
maiden}. 

Pallet.  [Fr.  palette.]  1.  (Her.)  A  diminutive 
of  the  pale,  being  one-half  its  size.  2.  A  gilder's 
tool  for  taking  up  and  applying  gold-leaf.  3. 
The  projecting  piece  at  the  end  of  a  clock  es- 
capement, by  which  it  acts  on  the  scape-wheel. 

Palliobranchiata.    (Bracbiopoda.) 


Pallium.  [L.,  a  cloak.}  (Eccl.)  A  vestment 
sent  from  Rome  to  archbishops  on  their  accession 
to  their  sees.  It  has  now  become  a  mere  white 
woollen  band,  worn  round  the  shoulders,  with 
one  end  hanging  in  front,  the  other  on  the  back. 

Palm.  (Naut.)  1.  The  face  of  an  anchor- 
fluke.  2.  A  flat  piece  of  metal  set  in  leather  or 
canvas,  and  fastened  in  the  palm  of  the  hand, 
for  forcing  a  needle  through  canvas. 

Palm,  Order  of  the  Fruitful.  A  German 
society,  formed  1617,  dissolved  1680,  for  pre- 
serving and  cultivating  the  German  language. 

Palmair.  [Fr.  palmaire,  relating  to  the/a/w 
of  the  hand.]  (Naut.)  1.  Old  name  for  a 
rudder.  2.  A  pilot. 

Palmam  qui  meriiit  ferat.  [L.L.]  Let  the 
deserving  bear  the  palm  (the  prize  of  victory). 
(Olympic  games.) 

Palmary.  [L.  palmarius,  deserving  the  palma, 
prize}  Pre-eminent,  palmy,  chief. 

Palmate  leaf  [L.  palmatus,  shaped  like  the 
palm  of  the  hand  (palma)],  or  Quinate  [quini, 
five  each}.  (Bot.)  One  with  five  lobes,  as  marsh 
cinquefoil.  Digitate  [digitatus,  having  fingers}, 
one  with  five  leaflets,  more  or  less,  radiating 
separately  from  each  other  from  one  point,  as 
cinquefoil,  tormentil. 

Palmers.  (Hist.)  Crusaders  returned  from 
the  East ;  so  called  from  the  palm  branch  which 
they  commonly  carried  with  them. 

Palmerworm.  [Heb.  gazam  (Joel  i.  4),  one 
who  bites  off.}  (£ibl.)  Larva  of  locust. 

Palmetto  State.  S.  Carolina,  the  arms  of 
which  contain  a  palmetto. — Bartlett's  Ameri- 
canisms. 

Palmiped.  [L.  palma,  a  palm,  hand.}  Web- 
footed. 

Palmistry.  [L.  palma,  the  hand.}  The  divi- 
nation which  professes  to  tell  a  man's  fortune  by 
the  lines  on  his  hands  or  fingers.  Called  by  the 
Greeks  xflP°tJI-av'r^ay  Chiromancy. 

Palpebral.  [L.  palpebralis,  from  palpebra, 
eyelid.}  (Anat.)  Pertaining  to  the  eyebrow. 

Palpi.  [L.  palpus,  a  touching  softly,  hence 
the  instrument  with  which  this  is  done.]  (Entom.} 
Feelers  attached  to  the  mouths  of  insects,  spiders, 
crustaceans,  and  acephalous  molluscs. 

Paludamentum.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Ant.,  a 
military  cloak,  worn  by  generals. 

Paly.  (Her.)  Covered  with  bands  alter- 
nately of  two  tinctures,  vertical  like  a.  pale  (q.v). 

Pamban  manche,  or  Snake-boat  of  Cochin. 
(Naut.)  A  canoe,  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  long, 
cut  out  of  a  solid  tree,  and  propelled  by  paddles, 
double-banked.  Used  on  the  rivers  and  back- 
waters of  Cochin. 

Pamela,  or  Virtue  Rewarded.  Richardson's 
novel,  1740.  P.  is  the  virtuous,  persecuted 
servant,  who  becomes  the  wife  of  her  rich  young 
master. 

Pampas.  The  treeless  plains  of  Patagonia 
and  La  Plata. 

Pampero.  A  dry  north-west  wind,  blowing 
from  the  Andes  to  the  coast  over  the  Pampas. 

Pamplegla.  [Gr.  -KO.V,  all,  the  whole,  irArry^, 
stroke,  blow.}  General  paralysis.  (Hemiplegia.) 

Pan.     [Gr.]     (Myth.)    A    rural     deity,    de 


PANA 


360 


PANN 


described  as  playing  on  his  harp  among  the 
reeds  and  rushes.  His  name  was  supposed  to 
be  the  same  as  the  word  irav,  all;  but  it  really 
represents  the  Skt.  Pavana,  the  soft  puffing 
breeze  [L.  Favonius],  which  discourses  only  sweet 
music.  (Orpheus.) 

Pan.  A  mixture  of  areca  nut,  betel,  and  lime, 
chewed  by  Asiatics. 

Panacea.  [Gr.  iravaKeia,  healing  all.'}  (Myth.) 
A  daughter  of  Asklepios,  or  yEsculapius.  Hence 
any  supposed  remedy  for  all  diseases. 

Panache.  [Fr.]  A  plume  worn  on  the 
helmet. 

Panagia.  [Gr.,  All-lady.}   The  blessed  Virgin. 

Pan-Anglican  Synod.  A  Synod  with  represen- 
tatives from  all  Churches  in  communion  with  the 
Church  of  England. 

Panathenaic  festival,  (Plist.)  Two  great  fes- 
tivals of  the  inhabitants  of  Attica,  in  honour  of 
Athena,  were  so  called  ;  the  greater  celebrated 
once  in  five  years,  the  lesser  every  third  year,  or 
perhaps  yearly.  In  the  former,  the  Peplos,  or 
sacred  robe  of  the  goddess,  was  hung  like  a  sail 
on  a  vessel  like  a  ship,  and  carried  to  the 
Acropolis,  where  it  was  placed  on  her  statue. 

Panchatantra.  [Skt.  ,/fetf  &&&?.]  An  ancient 
collection  of  tales  in  Sanskrit.  The  Persian 
translation,  called  the  Book  of  Calila  and  Dimna, 
is  attributed  to  Bidpai,  or  Pilpay.  Another  set 
of  tales,  called  the  Story  of  the  Seven  Sages,  was 
also  translated  into  Persian  from  Sanskrit ;  but 
the  Sanskrit  original  has  not  been  discovered. 
Those  stories  found  their  way  into  Europe,  and 
were  reproduced  in  collections  such  as  the  Gesta 
Komanorum,  in  which  they  were  made  to  answer 
a  strictly  theological  purpose.  (Hitopadesa.) 

Pan  coupe.  [Fr.  pan,  skirt,  flat  front. ~\ 
(Mil. )  The  junction  of  the  two  adjacent  superior 
slopes  of  a  parapet  at  the  salient  of  a  work, 
when  iut  flat  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  a  frontal 
fire  to  be  brought  on  the  capital  (q.v.). 

Pancratium.  [Gr.  irayKpd.Ttov,  a  complete 
victory. ,]  A  kind  of  athletic  contest,  in  which 
wrestling  and  boxing  were  united. 

Pancreas.  [Gr.  irdyicpeas.]  (Anat.)  Sweet- 
bread, a  conglomerate  gland  across  the  posterior 
wall  of  the  abdomen,  secreting  a  fluid  which  is  sup- 
posed to  render  absorbable  the  oily  parts  of  food. 

Pandects.  [Gr.  vavScKrcu,  plu.  of  Traj/SeVrrjs, 
all-receiving.'}  The  great  compilation  of  Roman 
law  executed  under  Justinian,  sixth  century. 
(Digests.) 

Pandemonium.  [Gr.  -RO.V,  all,  Sal/j.<0v,  a 
demon.}  Milton's  name  for  the  "  high  capital 
of  Satan  and  his  peers." 

Pandits.  1.  Learned  Brahmans  in  India. 
2.  Pretenders  to  learning. 

Pandora.  [Gr.  irav,  all,  $<opov,agift.}  (Myth.} 
According  to  Hesiod,  the  first  woman ;  so 
called  as  being  given  to  men  by  all  the  gods. 
Being  presented  to  Epimetheus,  she  lifted  the 
lid  of  the  box  on  his  threshold,  and  let  loose  all 
the  evil  things  shut  up  in  it. 

Pandora's  box.     (Pandora.) 

Pandor  e.     ( Bandore. ) 

Pandour.  A  Hungarian  foot-soldier  in  the 
Austrian  service.  They  were  originally  raised 


in  the  mountainous  districts  of  Lower  Hungary, 
near  the  village  of  Pandur. — Webster,  Eng. 
Diet. 

Panduriform  leaf .  (Bot.)  Oblong,  contracted 
in  the  middle,  something  like  a  fiddle  [L. 
pandura] ;  e.g.  leaves  of  Rumex  pulcher. 

Panegyric.  [Gr.  \6yos  iravi}yvpiK6s,  a  speech 
to  a  general  assembly,  from  IT  why  v  pis.}  1.  An 
oration  in  praise  of  an  individual  or  of  a  body 
of  men,  especially  at  the  great  games.  The 
P.  of  Isokrates  was  composed  for  the  Olympic 
festival,  but  was  not  recited.  2.  (Eccl.)  Sermon 
in  honour  of  particular  saints. 

Panel.  [O.Fr.]  1.  (Arch.)  A  compartment 
with  raised  margins,  as  in  ceilings,  wainscotings, 
etc.  2.  In  Law,  a  roll  on  which  are  written  the 
names  of  those  who  are  to  serve  on  a  jury. 
3.  In  Scot.  Law,  the  defendant  in  a  criminal 
cause  is  called  pannel  (Wedgwood,  Diet,  of 
Etymology,  s.v.  "  pane,"  "  pannel  ").  4.  A  thin 
board  for  painting  a  picture  on.  5.  A  heap  of 
ore  dressed  ready  for  sale.  6.  A  square  section 
of  a  coal-seam  worked  separately.  7.  A  portion 
of  solid  rock  left  unworked  in  a  mine. 

Panem  et  Circenses.  [L.]  Bread  and  the 
Circensian  games  ;  that  is,  popular  indulgences 
which  the  mob  insist  on  receiving.  (Circus.) 

Pangaia.  (Naut.)  E. -African  vessel,  resem- 
bling a  barge.  Its  planks  are  fastened  by 
wooden  pegs,  and  sewed  with  twine.  It  sets 
one  sail  made  of  cocoa-nut  leaves. 

Pangloss.  A  poor  and  conceited  pedant  in 
Colman's  play  of  The  Heir-at-Law  •  the  name 
implying  a  knowledge  of  all  tongues  [Gr.  y\S)<Taa}. 

Panic.  Any  sudden  and  groundless  alarm. 
This  meaning  of  the  word  is  explained  by  the 
myth,  that  on  the  Indian  expedition  of  Bacchus, 
Pan,  being  surrounded  by  his  enemies,  so  scared 
them  with  the  echoes  of  a  rocky  valley  that  they 
all  instantly  fled. 

Panic,  Commercial.  The  crisis  produced 
when  the  bounds  which  separate  overtrading 
and  rash  speculation  from  legitimate  com- 
mercial risk  have  been  passed.  When  bankers 
contract  their  accommodation,  the  discounter 
draws  on  the  resources  of  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land, which  attempts  to  check  such  applica- 
tions by  raising  its  rate  of  discount.  If  the  rate 
be  raised  to  a  height  which  causes  a  collapse  of 
credit,  large  bankruptcies  follow,  and  the  result 
is  a  panic  ;  traders  of  undoubted  solvency,  and 
possessed  of  a  capital  more  than  able  to  meet  all 
claims,  being  often  involved  in  the  calamity. 

Panicle.  [L.  pamcula,  a  tuft,  panicle,  dim. 
of  panus,  a  bobbin-thread .}  (Bot.)  A  compound 
raceme,  the  inflorescence  loosely  rising  from 
branched  pedicels  ;  most  common  in  grasses. 

Fanini.  The  most  celebrated  of  the  San- 
skrit grammarians  ;  his  work  being  even  now 
the  standard  of  Sanskrit  grammar;  many  cen- 
turies B.C. 

Pannag.  Ezek.  xxvii.  17 ;  occurs  nowhere 
else,  and  is  left  untranslated.  The  Syriac  Version 
renders  it  "millet;"  Ewald,  "sweet- wares." 
Fiirst  inclines  to  the  name  of  a  fertile  place — 
perhaps  Pingi,  mentioned  in  the  Mishna,  between 
Baalbec  and  Damascus. — Speaker's  Commentary. 


PANN 


PARA 


Pannyar.  (Naut.)  Kidnapping  negroes  on 
the  African  coast. 

Panopticon.  [Gr.  irav,  a!/,  OTTTO/UCU,  I  see.] 
A  name  coined  by  Jeremy  Bentham  for  his 
model  prison,  in  which  the  cells  were  so  arranged 
that  the  inspector  could  see  each  prisoner  at  all 
times  without  being  seen  himself. 

Panorama.  [Gr.  -nav  opa/j.a,  all  view,]  A 
circular  painting  exhibited  on  the  walls  of  a 
building  of  the  same  form. 

Pan's  pipes,  Pandean  pipes.  A  combination 
of  pipes  graduated  in  length  and  tone ;  the 
upper  ends  open,  level,  played  upon  by  the 
mouth  ;  the  lower  ends  closed.  Very  ancient. 
I.q.  <Tvpiy£a.ndi  fistula;  the  first  idea  of  an  organ. 

Panstereorama.  [Gr.  -KO.V,  all,  (rrepetfc,  solid, 
opd/ict,  a  view.]  A  model  of  a  town  or  country 
erected  in  cork,  wood,  or  any  other  solid  sub- 
stance. 

Pantagruelism.  The  theory  or  practice  of  the 
medical  profession,  from  Pantagruel,  a  character 
of  Rabelais. 

Pantaloon.  [It.  pantalone.]  A  chief  character 
in  pantomimes. 

Pantheism.  [Gr.  nav,  ©e'os,  God.]  In 
Philosophy,  the  theory  which  makes  God  and 
the  universe  in  its  totality,  identical ;  and  by 
inference  denies  the  existence  of  a  conscious 
mind  outside  of  nature. 

Pantheon.  [Gr.]  A  temple  dedicated  to  all 
the  gods.  Such  was  at  Rome  the  structure 
ascribed  to  Agrippa,  son-in-law  of  Octavius 
(Augustus). 

Pantile.     A  tile  with  a  curved  surface. 

Pantisocracy.  [Gr.  iras,  iravrds,  all,  ftros,  equal, 
Kparfw,  I  govern.}  A  fanciful  scheme  of  equal 
government,  that  is,  of  socialism,  suggested  by 
some  enthusiastic  admirers  of  the  French  Revo- 
lution, amongst  whom  at  one  time  were  Southey 
and  Coleridge. 

Pantograph.  [Gr.  vas,  irwrAs,  all,  the  whole, 
ypd<p(0,  I  draiv.]  An  instrument  for  producing 
enlarged  or  reduced  copies  of  drawings. 

Papal  States.  Formerly,  an  irregular  group 
of  states,  Z-shaped,  the  northern  and  eastern 
portions,  Rotnagna  and  The  Marches,  being  con- 
nected by  a  strip  across  the  Apennines  with  the 
southern,  or  States  of  the  Church.  Romagna 
annexed  formally  to  kingdom  of  Sardinia,  1860; 
the  rest  to  kingdom  of  Italy,  1870. 

Papeterie.  [Fr.]  An  ornamental  case  con- 
taining writing-paper,  etc. 

Papier-mache.  [Fr.,  chewed  paper.}  Paper 
pulp,  or  sheets  of  paper  glued  and  pressed 
together,  for  making  mouldings,  trays,  etc. 

Papilionaceous  plants.  [L.  papilio,  a  butter- 
fly.] (Bot.}  Those  leguminous  plants  which 
have  the  pea-like,  five-petalled  flower,  i.e. 
vexillum,  standard,  the  large  P.  at  the  back  ;  alae, 
wings ;  and  carina,  keel,  which  is  made  up  of 
two  petals,  generally  united  by  their  lower 
edges. 

Papillonides.  [L.  papilionem,  a  butterfly.} 
(Entom.}  Butterflies,  Lepidoptera  with  knobbed 
antennae,  Rhopalocera  [Gr.  p6ira\ov,  a  club], 

Papillae.  [L.,  pimples.}  1.  (Anat.)  Minute 
conical  processes  at  the  surface  of  the  true  skin, 


in  several  parts ;  highly  vascular  and  nervous, 
and  actively  concerned  in  the  sense  of  touch.  2. 
(Bot. )  Certain  cellular  growths  on  the  margin 
or  upper  surface  of  the  fronds  of  ferns. 

Pappus.  [L.]  The  seed-down  by  which  the 
fruit  of  some  plants,  especially  Composite,  is 
carried  through  the  air ;  e.g.  dandelion. 

Papyri.  [L.]  Scrolls  written  on  a  surface 
made  from  the  stalks  of  the  Egyptian  plant 
papyrus. 

Papyrine.  [Fr.  papyrine,  made  of  paper] 
Parchment  paper.  (Parchment  paper.) 

Papyrography.  [Gr.  Trdvvpos,  papyrus, 
ypd<p(t>,  1  write.]  Printing  from  pasteboard 
covered  with  a  calcareous  substance,  instead  of 
the  stone  used  in  lithography. 

Papyrus.  [Gr.  irdirvpos.]  (Bot.}  A  gen.  of 
plants,  ord.  Cyperaceae.  P.  antlquorum,  a 
water-plant,  from  whose  soft  cellular  flower- 
stem  the  most  ancient  "paper"  was  made. 

Paque.  The  French  form  of  the  word  Pascha, 
meaning  Easter. 

Par.  [L.,  equal.]  The  exact  correspondence 
of  a  public  security  or  stock  with  the  sum  which 
it  represents.  Absolutely  safe  investments  will 
always  be  at  par,  if  the  capital  value  is  not  likely 
to  be  increased  or  diminished. 

Parable.  In  Ezek.  xx.  49,  ' '  Doth  he  not  speak 
P.  ?"  Ps.  Ixxviii.  2  ;  Numb,  xxiii.  7  ;  Job  xxvii.  I, 
and  many  other  passages,  is  =  riddle,  mysterious 
or  strange  language.  So  Jotham's  "parable" 
in  the  heading  of  Judg.  ix.  (which  is  not  a 
parable  but  a  fable)  is  =  his  riddle,  his  perplex- 
ing question  ;  (?)  because  parables,  being  words 
to  the  wise,  were  often  riddles ;  or  (?)  Gr.  \ 
irapafioXJ],  in  its  occasional  meaning  of  obliquity. 

Parabola.  [Gr.  irapafio^,  a  placing  beside, 
and  so  a  parabola,  because  its  axis  is  parallel  to 
the  side  of  the  cone.]  (Math.}  The  curve 
obtained  by  cutting  a  cone  by  a  plane  parallel  to 
a  tangent  plane.  It  would  be  traced  out  by  a 
point  moving  in  such  a  way  that  its  perpendicular 
distance  from  a  fixed  line  equals  its  distance  from 
a  fixed  point,  its  focus. 

Parabolani.  [Gr.  irapa&oX-l),  a  venture,  risk.} 
In  the  ancient  Church,  officers  who  attended 
upon  the  sick  ;  ready  also  to  engage  in  quarrels 
between  Church  and  State  ;  e.g.  that  between 
Cyril  and  Orestes  of  Alexandria. 

Paraboloid.  [Gr.,  parabola,  eTSos,  form.] 
(Math. )  The  solid  generated  by  the  revolution 
of  a  parabola  round  its  axis  of  symmetry. 

Paracelsists.  Followers  of  the  quack  or 
empiric  Paracelsus,  who,  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
opposed  the  traditionary  doctrines  of  the  schools 
of  Hippocrates  and  Aristotle. 

Parachronism.  [Gr.  irapd,  beside,  xp^os,  time.] 
An  error  in  chronology,  which  assigns  too  late  a 
date  to  any  event. 

Parachute.  [Fr.,  from  parer,  to  ward  off, 
chute,  fall.}  An  umbrella-shaped  machine,  for 
breaking  the  fall  of  anything  let  drop  from  a 
balloon. 

Paraclete.  [Gr.  irapdKXijTos,  an  advocate.] 
The  Holy  Spirit,  as  the  Comforter  of  mankind. 
In  the  early  ages,  some  believed  that  the 
Paraclete  would  appear  corporeally  on  the  earth. 


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Hence  Simon  Magus,  Manes,  Montanus,  and 
others  pretended  to  be  this  expected  Paraclete. 
(Manichaeans;  Montanists.) 

Paradigm.  [Gr.  vapdSeiyfjia,  an  example. ] 
(Khet. )  Any  illustration,  including  parable  and 
fable. 

Paradise.    (Parvise.) 

Paradise  of  fools.     (Limbus.) 

Parados.  [Fr.,  from  parer  a  dos,  to  parry 
behind]  (Fortif.}  Embankment  of  earth  to 
protect  the  occupiers  of  a  fortification  work 
from  the  fire  of  an  enemy  in  their  rear. 

Paradox.  [Gr.  irapaSo|os,  contrary  to  opinion.] 
A  proposition  which  seems  to  be  absurd,  or 
inconsistent  with  previous  experience  or 
previously  ascertained  truths,  although  it  may 
turn  out  to  be  perfectly  well  founded. 

Paraffin.  [L.  parum  affinis,  bitt  little  akin, 
i.e.  chemically  indifferent,  resisting  strong  acids 
and  alkalies.]  A  hydro-carbon,  from  distilla- 
tion of  wood,  peat,  bituminous  shale,  coal ;  very 
abundant  in  beech-tar. 

Paragium.     (Appanage.) 

Paragoge.     (Metaplasm.) 

Paragon.  [Fr.]  1.  A  model,  or  pattern,  with 
the  connotation  of  special  perfection.  2.  A  kind 
of  type,  as — 


Cape, 


Paragraph.  [Gr.  irapaypaQ'f),  a  line  drawn  in 
the  margin]  A  mark  used  in  printing  ;  thus  :  ^ 

Paraleipsis.  [Gr.,  from  irapa\etirw,  I  leave  on 
one  side.}  (Rhet.}  The  artfully  displayed 
omission  of  details,  in  order  to  rouse  the 
emotions  of  the  hearer. 

Paralipomena.  [Gr.,  things  left  on  one  side.] 
The  name  given  in  the  Septuagint  to  the  two 
Books  of  Chronicles,  as  supplementing  those  of 
the  Kings. 

Parallactic  instrument.  (Parallax.)  An 
ancient  instrument  for  observing  the  zenith 
distances  of  stars. 

Parallax  [Gr.  ira.p<i\\o.^,  the  mutual  inclina- 
tion of  two  lines  forming  an  angle] ;  Annual  P. ; 
Binocular  P.;  Diurnal  P.;  Equatorial  P.; 
Geocentric  P. ;  Horizontal  P.  Parallax  is  the 
change  in  the  angular  position  of  a  point  when 
seen  first  from  one  station  and  then  from  another. 
When  a  point  is  viewed  by  one  eye  and  then  by 
the  other  (without  moving  the  head),  the  change 
in  the  direction  in  which  it  is  viewed  is  a  P.,  and 
is  sometimes  called  a  Binocular  P.  The  Diurnal 
or  Geocentric  P.  of  a  heavenly  body  is  the 
difference  at  any  instant  between  its  position  as 
seen  by  the  spectator,  and  its  position  as  it  would 
be  seen  by  a  spectator  having  the  same  zenith 
occupying  the  position  of  the  centre  of  the  earth. 
The  Diurnal  P.  is  commonly  called  simply  the 
P.  of  a  heavenly  body.  The  Horizontal  P.  of  a 
heavenly  body  is  its  P.  when  on  the  spectator's 
horizon ;  it  is  the  angular  magnitude  of  the 
earth's  radius  as  seen  from  the  heavenly  body. 
In  the  case  of  the  moon,  this  angle  is  reckoned 
with  respect  to  the  radius  of  the  earth's  equator, 
and  is  called  the  moon's  Equatorial  horizontal  P. 
The  Annual  P.  is  a  small  change  of  position 


observable  in  a  few  fixed  stars  when  seen  from 
different  points  of  the  earth's  orbit ;  it  is  the 
angle  subtended  at  the  star  by  a  radius  of  the 
earth's  orbit. 

Parallel  [Gr.  irapaAAyjAos,  side  by  side, 
parallel] ;  P.  motion ;  P.  of  declination ;  P.  of 
latitude.  Two  straight  lines  are  Parallel  when, 
being  in  the  same  plane,  they  may  be  produced 
indefinitely  in  both  directions  without  meeting  ; 
planes  are  P.  when,  being  produced  indefinitely 
in  all  directions,  they  never  meet.  The  P. 
motion  is  a  piece  of  linkwork  connecting  the 
end  of  a  piston-rod  to  the  end  of  the  beam  of  a 
steam-engine  in  such  a  manner  that  the  end  of 
the  former,  while  moving  up  and  down  a  straight 
line,  causes  the  latter  to  move  backwards  and 
forwards  in  a  circular  arc ;  the  force  being 
transmitted,  whether  a  pull  or  a  push.  P.  of 
latitude,  (i,  Geog. )  a  small  circle  parallel  to  the 
earth's  equator ;  (2,  Astron. )  a  small  circle  on 
the  great  sphere  parallel  to  the  ecliptic.  P.  of 
declination,  a  small  circle  on  the  great  sphere 
parallel  to  the  celestial  equator. 

Parallel.  (Mil.}  Large  trench  with  covering 
parapet  embracing  the  fronts  of  a  fortification 
to  be  attacked,  and  serving  as  a  communication 
between  the  different  approaches. 

Parallel.  (Naut.)  Latitude.  P. -sailing,  sail- 
ing due  E.  or  W. 

Parallelepiped.  (Math.}  A  solid  contained  by 
six  parallelograms. 

Parallelism.  [Gr.  trapd\\^\os,  side  by  side.] 
In  Hebrew  poetry,  the  rhythm  obtained  by 
expressions  balancing  each  other,  as,  "The 
Lord  is  my  light ;  whom  shall  I  fear  ?  the  Lord 
is  the  strength  of  my  life ;  of  whom  shall  I  be 
afraid?" 

Parallelogram  [Gr.  7rapaAA7jAo7pa/ujuo»',  a 
parallelogram] ;  P.  of  forces ;  P.  of  velocities. 
A  four-sided  figure  whose  opposite  sides  are 
parallel.  If  two  adjacent  sides  represent  in 
magnitude  and  direction  two  forces  (or  velocities) 
acting  on  (or  moving)  a  particle  at  the  angular 
point,  the  single  force  (or  velocity)  equivalent  to 
the  two  is  represented  in  magnitude  and  direc- 
tion by  the  diagonal  drawn  through  that  angular 
point.  This  theorem  is  called  the  P.  of  forces 
(or  velocities}. 

Parallel-veined  leaves.  (Bot.)  1.  Those  of 
endogens  generally ;  the  veins  running  straight 
to  the  margin,  from  and  parallel  to  the  midrib ; 
as  grass,  lily.  2.  Reinitiated  venation  [L.  re- 
ticulum,  dim.  of  rete,  a  net],  that  of  exogens 
generally ;  the  veins  leaving  the  midrib  at 
greater  or  less  angles,  and  giving  off  other  veins 
again ;  as  oak,  rose,  laurel.  3.  Furcate  V.  [L. 
furca,  a  fork],  that  of  acrogens  generally ;  the 
veins  leaving  the  midrib  as  in  No.  2,  then 
dividing  in  a  forked  way  ;  as  in  ferns. 

Paralogism,  Paralogy.  [L.  ttapa.Xoyiffp.6s,  from 
irapd,  beside,  and  \6yos,  reason.]  In  Logic, 
reasoning  which  is  false  in  form,  i.e.  in  which  the 
conclusion  does  not  follow  from  the  premisses. 
(Syllogism.) 

Paralysis,  Palsy.  [Gr.  rrapaAvtm,  irapaAt/o^uat, 
I  am  disabled  at  the  side.]  (Med.}  A  loss, 
more  or  less  complete,  of  the  power  of  motion, 


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and,  in  some  cases,  of  sensation  also.     (Hemi- 
plegia;  Paraplegia;  Paraplegia.) 

Paramagnetic  bodies.  [Gr.  irapd,  alongside  of, 
\i6os  Ma-yi/TjTTjs,  a  magnet.'}  Such  as  iron, 
nickel,  manganese,  etc.  A  bar  of  either  of  these 
substances  tends  to  place  itself  in  a  direction 
parallel  to  that  of  a  magnet  in  its  neighbour- 
hood. The  direction  of  their  magnetization  is 
the  same  as  that  of  the  field  in  which  they  are 
placed.  Other  bodies,  as  bismuth,  zinc,  etc., 
have  the  direction  of  their  magnetization  opposite 
to  that  of  the  field  ;  these  are  Diamagnetic 
[§«£,  through,  across]  bodies. 

Paramatta  (from  Paramatta,  in  Australia). 
A  fabric  resembling  merino,  made  of  worsted 
and  cotton. 

Parameter.  [Gr.  wapa/icrpew,  /  measure  by 
something  else.]  1.  (Math.)  Any  one  of  the 
constants  which  connect  the  variables  of  an 
equation.  If  the  equation  represents  a  curve, 
the  parameters  distinguish  curves  of  the  same 
kind  from  each  other  ;  thus  (x  —  a)8  +  (y  —  b)* 
=  c*  is  the  equation  to  a  circle  ;  a,  b,  c,  are  the 
parameters,  and  for  different  values  of  them  we 
have  circles  of  different  sizes  in  different  posi- 
tions. 2.  (Crystallog.)  The  parts  of  the  axes 
cut  off  by  any  one  face  or  cleavage  plane,  or 
any  three  lines  proportional  to  them,  are  the 
parameters  of  the  crystal. 

Paramos.  Mountainous  districts  in  S.  America, 
in  which  a  damp  cold  prevails  perpetually. 

Paramount.    (Paravail.) 

Para  nut  (from  Para,  in  Brazil).  The  Brazil 
nut. 

Paranymph.    [Gr.  vapdw^os.]    A  bridesman. 

Faranzello.  (Naut.)  Small,  pink-sterned 
vessel,  with  lateen  mainsail  and  mizzen,  and 
large  jib  ;  Mediterranean. 

Parapet.  [Fr.  parapet,  from  It.  parapetto, 
parare,  to  cover,  petto,  the  breast, ,]  (Fortif.) 
Bank  of  earth  covering  men  and  guns  behind  it ; 
its  interior  slope  very  steep,  and  the  superior  or 
upper  one  declined  gently  outwards,  to  facilitate 
the  operation  of  firing  from  behind  it. 

Paraphe.  [Through  Fr.  parafe,  initials,  or 
a  flourish,  and  L.  paragraphus,  from  Gr.  irapd- 
7pa<pos,  a  mark  made  by  the  side.}  An  arbitrary 
addition  to  a  signature  or  monogram. 

Paraphernalia.  [Gr.  trapatyepva,  from  (pepirfi, 
a  dowry.}  In  Law,  the  apparel,  jewels,  etc.,  of 
a  wife,  regarded  as  belonging  to  her  in  separate 
property. 

Paraphrase.  [Gr.  irapd<t>pa<ns.]  (Rfiet.)  The 
rendering  of  a  passage  in  easier  and  simpler 
language. 

Paraphrase  of  Erasmus.    (Bible,  English.) 

Paraphrases,  Chaldee.    (Chaldee  Paraphrases.) 

Paraplegia.  [Gr.]  (Med.)  Paralysis  of  one- 
half  of  the  body,  taken  transversely.  (Hemi- 
plegia.) 

Parasang.  [Gr.  irapa<rdyyi)s,  Pers.  farsang.] 
A  Persian  measure  of  length,  somewhat  exceed- 
ing our  league,  according  to  Herodotus.  Others 
make  it  twice  this  length. 

Paraselene.  [Gr.  itapd,  beside,  ae\-f)vi\,  moon.} 
A  meteor  which  consists  in  the  simultaneous 
appearance  of  several  moons.  (Parhelion.) 


Parasite.  [Gr.  irapdo-iros,  from  irapd,  by,  and 
<riros,  food.]  One  who  lives  by  eating  at  the 
table  of  a  patron.  Hence  a  flatterer  or  fawner. 
Parastatae.  [Gr.  vapaffrdrris,  one  who  stands 
near  another.}  (Arch.)  Pilasters  or  square 
pillars,  standing  out  from  the  wall  along  which 
hey  are  arranged. 

Parataxis.  [Gr.]  In  Gram.,  the  ranging  of 
propositions  one  after  the  other,  without  marking 
their  dependence  or  interconnexion,  as  is  done 
in  Syntax. 

Parathesis.  [Gr.  irapddeais,  a  putting  beside.} 
The  printed  matter  contained  within  brackets. 

Paravail.  In  Feud.  Law,  the  inferior  who 
holds  of  the  superior  lord  or  paramount.  The 
words  were  suggested  by  the  contrast  of  moun- 
tain and  valley. 

Parbuckle.  (Naut.)  To  lower  or  raise  any 
cylindrical  object,  by  making  fast  the  bight  of  a 
rope  to  a  post,  and  passing  the  ends  under  and 
over  the  object,  and  hauling. upon  or  slacking 
tljem,  as  it  is  required  to  raise  or  lower  the 
object.  Casks,  are  often  thus  lowered  into  cellars. 
"Par coe.  (Fates.) 

Parcel,  To.    (Naut.)    To  wind  parcelling,  i.e. 
tarred  canvas,  round  a  rope. 
Parcel  gilt.    Partially  gilt. 
Parcener.     [O.Fr.  pa^onnier,  from  L.  pars, 
partis,  a  portion.}    In  Law,  a  coheir,  or  one  of 
two  or  more  persons  to  whom  an  estate  descends 
jointly,  and  by  whom  it  is  held  as  one  estate. 

Parchment  paper,  Vegetable  parchment.  A 
substance  like  parchment,  made  by  immersing 
bibulous  paper  in  sulphuric  acid  and  water. 

Parclose,  or  Perclose.  [L.  per,  through, 
clausus,  part,  of  claudo,  /  shut.]  A  barrier, 
separating  a  chancel,  chapel,  or  tomb  from  the 
rest  of  the  church. 

Pardon.  [Fr.]  In  Law,  the  regal  preroga- 
tive of  pardoning  offences  against  the  Crown  or 
public,  with  certain  exceptions.  P.  cannot  be 
pleaded  to  a  Parliamentary  impeachment  so  as 
to  stop  the  inquiry. 

Parecbasis.  [Gr.]  (Rhet.)  The  Greek  word 
for  the  Latin  digressio,  digression. 

Paregoric.  [Gr.  irapijyoptK^s,  consoling.] 
(Mcd. )  Mitigating  pain. 

Parembole.     [Gr.]     (Rhet.)    The  insertion  of 

a  paragraph  in  the  middle  of  a  sentence,  in  order 

to  explain  something.     Also  called  Paremptosis. 

Paremptosis.     [Gr.,  from  itapd,  by  the  side  of, 

Iv,  in,  ITTUKTIS,  a  falling.}     (Parembole.) 

Parenchyma.  [Gr.  wapeyxvp**  a  thing  poured 
in  beside,  and  in  Gr.  Med.  =  the  substance  of 
lungs,  liver,  etc.,  as  if  formed  separately  from 
muscular  flesh.]  1.  (Med.)  The  substance, 
basis,  of  a  glandular  organ.  2.  (Bot.)  Cellular 
tissue,  showing  hexagonal  cells  when  cut  across, 
filling  the  spaces  between  the  veins  of  leaves. 

Parenthesis.  [Gr.  irap4v6cffa,  a  putting  in 
beside.}  A  mark  used  in  printing;  thus  (  ), 
inclosing  words  in  a  sentence  which  may  be 
omitted  without  injury  to  its  grammatical  con- 
struction. 

Fares    cum  paribus   facillime  congregantur. 
[L.  ]    Birds  of  a  feather  flock  together. 
Par  excellence.    [Fr.]    Pre-eminently. 


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PARO 


Parget,  Pargetting.  [From  L.  paries,  parietis, 
a  watt.]  (Arch.)  Plaster- work,  decorated  with 
figures  in  relief  or  sunk  in  the  surface. 

Parhelion.  [Gr.  irapfaios,  near  the  sun.]  A 
mock-sun.  Halos  are  usually  attended  by  a 
horizontal  white  circle,  with  brighter  spots  near 
their  intersection  with  this  circle;  these  spots 
are  parhelia.  (Paraselene.) 

Pariah.    (Parias.) 

Parian.  A  fine  porcelain  clay,  used  for  making 
statuettes,  etc.  (from  its  resembling  Parian 
marble). 

Parian  Chronicle.  A  chronological  register, 
giving  the  chief  events  in  Gr.  Hist,  to  about 
the  middle  of  the  third  century  B.C.,  found  in 
the  island  of  Paros,  and  now  included  in  the 
English  collection  of  Arundelian  marbles. 

Parian  verse.  Iambic  verse,  Archilochus,  the 
first  great  master  of  it,  having  been  a  native  of 
the  island  of  Paros. 

Parian  ware.  A  delicate  yellowish  white 
ware,  nearly  approaching  porcelain,  invented 
about  1845.  It  shrinks  seventy-five  per  cent,  in 
firing. 

Farias.  The  lowest  class  of  inhabitants  in 
some  parts  of  India,  who  have  no  caste.  The 
word  is  sometimes  applied  to  all  who  do  not 
belong  to  the  four  Hindu  castes,  the  members 
of  which  are  an  extremely  small  minority  of  the 
population.  Hence  pariah  =  any  outcast. 
(Caste.) 

Parietal  parts.  [L.  pSries,  parietis,  a  watt.] 
1.  (Anal. )  Those  which  inclose  cavities  ;  e.g. 
P.  bones  form  the  sides  and  upper  parts  of  the 
cranium.  2.  (Bot.)  Growing  from  the  lining 
of  anything ;  e.g.  the  placentae  of  the  poppy, 
from  the  walls  of  the  ovary. 

Paring  and  burning.  (Agr.)  Paring  the 
root-matted  surface  off  land,  and  then  burning 
it  to  prepare  the  soil  for  ploughing. 

Paripassu.  [L.,  with  eqiial  pace.]  Evenly, 
or  together. 

Paris,  Judgment  of.  This  phrase  refers  to 
the  myth  of  the  golden  apple  which,  as  not 
being  bidden  to  the  feast,  Eris,  the  Greek 
goddess  of  strife,  threw  down  on  the  banquet- 
table  at  the  wedding  of  Peleus  and  Thetis,  with 
an  inscription  denoting  that  it  was  a  gift  for 
the  fairest.  Hera,  Athena,  and  Aphrodite  at 
once  asserted  each  her  claim.  Zeus  appointed 
Paris,  son  of  the  Trojan  Priam,  and  husband 
of  CEnone,  the  judge  ;  and  the  prize  was  by  him 
adjudged  to  Aphrodite,  who  promised  him  the 
fairest  of  women  as  his  wife.  This  woman  was 
Helen,  whose  abduction  by  Paris  from  the  house 
of  Menelaos  led  to  the  war  between  the  Greeks 
and  the  Trojans,  and  the  destruction  of  Ilion. 

Parish.  [Gr.  irapotida,  a  neighbourhood.] 
Originally  a  civil  division  ;  then  the  district  or 
diocese  of  the  bishop ;  afterwards  an  eccle- 
siastical division  of  a  town  or  district  placed 
under  the  ministry  of  one  pastor.  In  England 
they  are  mentioned  as  early  as  the  reign  of 
Edgar,  970. 

Parisian  Massacre.  (Bartholomew,  St.,  Mas- 
sacre of.) 

Park.    [Fr.  pare,  an  inc!o$ure,  L.L.  parcus.] 


The  artillery  P.  is  the  place  where  the  guns 
and  tumbrils  are  collected  in  a  camp  ;  and  the 
engineer  P.  the  depot  for  intrenching  tools, 
pontoons,  and  engineer  stores. 

Parker's  Bible.    (Bible,  English.) 

Parliament.  (Addled  Parliament;  Conven- 
tion ;  Long  Parliament ;  Mad  Parliament ;  Par- 
liament, Devil's ;  Parliament,  Drunken ;  Parlia- 
ment, The  Good ;  Provisions  of  Oxford. ) 

Parliament,  Barebone's.  (Barebone's  Parlia- 
ment.) 

Parliament,  Devil's.  The  Parliament  con- 
vened at  Coventry  by  Heniy  VI.,  1459.  So 
called  as  having  attainted  the  Duke  of  York  and 
his  supporters. 

Parliament,  Drunken.  The  Parliament  as- 
sembled at  Edinburgh,  1661. 

Parliament,  Long.    (Long  Parliament.) 

Parliament,  Mad.    (Provisions  of  Oxford.) 

Parliament,  Privilege  of.  This  term  denotes 
the  privileges  of  the  several  members  of  either 
House,  enjoyed  by  virtue  of  their  seats.  To  a 
great  extent  they  are  customary ;  and  the 
Houses  themselves  are  (he  only  tribunals  by 
which  questions  arising  on  this  subject  can  be 
tried.  Among  these  privileges  are  freedom  of 
speech  in  debate,  and  freedom  from  arrest  in 
civil  suits.  The  Lords  possess  further  the  privi- 
lege of  voting  by  proxy  and  of  entering  protests 
against  measures  of  which  they  disapprove. 

Parliament,  Rump.    (Long  Parliament.) 

Parliament,  The  Good,  1376.  Opposed  and 
set  itself  to  reform  the  corruption  and  mis- 
government  of  Edward  III.  at  the  decline  of  his 
life  ;  banished  Alice  Perrers,  etc.  ;  marking  a 
new  stage  of  opposition  to  illegal  government. 

Parliament-heel.  ( Naut. )  Spoken  of  a  vessel 
slightly  careened  by  shifting  the  ballast,  etc.,  so 
as  to  clean  the  exposed  part  of  her  bottom. 

Parmenianists.  (Eccl  Hist.}  The  Donatists 
were  sometimes  so  called,  from  Parmenianus, 
Bishop  of  Carthage,  one  of  their  chief  leaders. 

Parnassus.  A  mountain  in  Greece,  sacred  to 
Phoebus  and  the  Muses.  On  its  southern  side 
was  Delphi  with  its  oracle,  and  the  Castalian 
spring.  Hence  steps  to  Parnassus  denotes  helps 
towards  proficiency  in  poetry. 

Parnassus,  Grass  of.  (Bot.)  Beautiful  bog 
plants  (said  to  have  been  produced  on  Mount 
P.).  Parnassia  palustris,  ord.  Droseracese, 
common  in  bogs,  especially  among  mountains  of 
N.  Britain. 

Par  nobile  fratrum.  [L.]  A  noble  fair  of 
brothers  (Horace). 

Parochia,     Corr.  of  Parcetia.     (Paroikia.) 

Parody.  [Gr.  vap^ia.]  A  composition  in 
which  grave  or  serious  writings  are  burlesqued 
by  exaggerating  their  characteristic  features. 
Prose  writings  are  seldom  parodied. 

Paroikia.  [Gr.  TrapoiKia.]  At  first  a  congre- 
gation of  strangers  ( I  Pet.  ii.  1 1 )  ;  a  bishop 
being  set  over  the  P. ,  and  firiffKOTros  and  iropouc/a 
being  correlative  terms,  while  Dfcecesis  [Sioi- 
KTjtns]  =  a  parish.  But  in  the  seventh  or  eighth 
century  parish  churches  being  frequently  founded 
in  villages,  parochia  (<j.v.)  came  to  mean  tho 
presbyter's  cure,  and  dicecesis,  diocese. 


PARO 


365 


PASC 


Parole,  Parol.  [Fr.  parole,  L.  parabola.]  1. 
In  Law,  word  of  mouth,  a  parol  agreement  being 
contrasted  with  a  written  one.  2.  In  military 
language,  the  verbal  pledge  of  a  prisoner  to 
reappear  when  called  for.  3.  Secret  watchword 
given  only  to  commanders,  tc  enable  parties  to 
pass  the  guards  in  a  camp.  (Countersign.) 

Paronomasia.  [Gr.]  (Rhet.)  The  use  of  the 
same  word  in  different  senses  in  a  single  sen- 
tence, or  the  opposition  to  each  other  of  words 
similar  in  sound.  A  kind  of  play,  or  punning. 

Paronymous.  [Gr.  irapdi'v/j.os.  ]  (Gram.) 
Words  of  similar  derivation  ;  as  man,  mankind, 
manhood. 

Parotitis,  or  Mumps.  (Med.)  Inflammation 
of  the  parotid  gland  [Gr.  irapwrls,  from  irapd, 
war,  and  o5s,  ur6s,  the  ear], 

Parqueterie.  [Fr.  parquet,  the  bar  of  a  court 
of  justice,  wooden  flooring.]  Parquetry,  inlaid 
wooden  flooring. 

Parr.  [Perhaps  Gael,  bradan.]  A  small  fish 
found  where  salmon  congregate.  Whether  it  be 
young  salmon,  or  a  spec,  of  trout,  has  been 
doubted. 

Parrals,  or  Parrels.  (N'aut.)  Bands  of  rope 
or  iron  collars  on  which  the  yards  travel  up  or 
down  a  mast.  P. -ropes,  etc.,  various  devices  for 
fastening  yards  to  masts. 

Parricide.  [L.  parriclda,  from  pater,  a  father, 
csedo,  /  kill.]  Properly  the  murder  or  mur- 
derer of  a  father,  but  often  extended  to  the  mur- 
der of  any  near  relation,  and  in  some  countries 
to  that  of  distinguished  and  sacred  persons. 
English  law  treats  it  as  simple  murder. 

Parsee.     (Guebers.) 

Parsing.  In  Gram.,  the  resolution  of  a  sen- 
tence into  \\s>  parts  [L.  partes]. 

Parson.  [L.  pers5na  ecclesige.]  In  Law,  one 
who  has  full  possession  of  the  rights  of  a  paro- 
chial church,  and,  as  such,  is  a  corporation  sole. 
(Hector.) 

Parted,  Party.  [O.Fr.  parti,  divided.']  (Her.) 
Divided  by  a  line  or  lines  in  the  direction  of  one 
or  more  of  the  honourable  ordinaries  ;  as,  parted 
per  pale  and  per  bend  sinister,  which  signifies 
that  the  escutcheon  is  divided  by  a  vertical  line 
down  the  middle  (per  pale),  and  a  diagonal  line 
from  the  sinister  chief  to  the  dexter  base  (per 
bend  sinister). 

Parterre.  [Fr.]  The  pit  in  a  French  theatre  ; 
so  called  because  originally  meaning  that  ground 
which  spectators  stood  upon  in  front  of  a  stage 
erected  in  the  yard  of  an  inn,  where  formerly 
performances  often  took  place.  So  pit  recalls 
the  fact  of  representations  often  taking  place, 
with  us,  in  cockpits. 

Parthenogenesis.  [Gr.  irap6fvos,  a  virgin, 
ycveffis,  origin.]  Professor  Owen's  term,  mean- 
ing (i)  the  production  of  successive  procreative 
generations  from  a  single  ovum,  the  partheno- 
genetic  individual  being  either  sexless  or  virgin 
females ;  meaning  also  (2)  propagation  by  a 
plant  or  animal  by  self-division,  by  gemmation 
from  within  or  without,  or  by  any  other  method 
than  impregnation. 

Parthenon.  [Gr.]  The  temple  of  the  virgin 
Athena,  on  the  Acropolis  at  Athens. 


The  chief  sculptures  taken  from  it  form  the  Eng- 
lish collection  known  as  the  Elgin  marbles. 

Parthenopaean  Kepublic.     Naples. 

Parthian  retreat.  The  Parthians  were  able 
to  discharge  their  arrows  while  riding  at  full 
speed  from  the  enemy.  Hence  a  Parthian 
retreat  is  one  which  practically  prevents  pursuit. 

Particeps  criminis.  [L.,  a  sharer  of  guilt.] 
(Leg. )  An  accessory  to  crime. 

Participants.  [L.  participate,  to  share.]  An 
order  of  knighthood  founded  bySixtus  V.,  1586, 
in  honour  of  the  Virgin  of  Loretto.  It  soon 
came  to  an  end. 

Particle.  [L.  particula,  a  small  part]  In 
Math.  Phys.,  a  portion  of  matter  having  mass 
and  position,  but  so  small  that  its  dimensions  do 
not  come  into  consideration. 

Particular  Baptists.     (Particularists.) 

Particularists.  (Theol.)  Those  who  hold 
the  doctrine  of  particular  reprobation  and  salva- 
tion. Such  are  the  Particular  Baptists.  (Uni- 
versalists.) 

Particular  propositions.  In  Logic,  proposi- 
tions which  affirm  or  deny  anything  of  only  cer- 
tain members  of  a  class ;  as,  "  Some  men  are 
truthful"  or  "are  not  truthful." 

Partidas,  Las  Siete.  [Sp. ,  The  Seven  Parts.] 
An  ancient  Spanish  code  of  laws  drawn  up  in 
the  thirteenth  century ;  so  called  from  the  num- 
ber of  its  chief  divisions. 

Partington,  Mrs.  Speaking  of  the  rejection  of 
the  Reform  Bill,  in  1831,  by  the  House  of  Lords, 
Sydney  Smith  compared  the  Lords  to  Mrs. 
Partington  trying  with  her  mop  to  keep  out  the 
waves  of  the  Atlantic.  The  incident  is  said  to 
have  occurred  at  Sidmouth  in  a  great  storm 
which  flooded  Mrs.  Partington's  house,  with 
many  others. 

Partisan.  [Fr.  pertuisane,  L.  pertundere, 
pertusum,  to  pierce.  ]  A  kind  of  pike  with  which 
officers  were  armed  in  some  regiments  as  late  as 
the  time  of  Maryborough. 

Partners.  (Naut.)  Thick  plank-frames 
round  the  masts,  capstan,  etc.,  to  support  them, 
bolted  to  the  deck-beams. 

Part  owners.  In  Law,  persons  holding  pro- 
perty (chiefly  in  ships)  in  shares,  without  liability 
for  each  other's  engagements. 

Partridges.  (Naut.)  Grenades  fired  from 
mortars. 

Partridge-wood.  A  Brazilian  variegated  wood 
used  in  cabinet-work. 

Parturition.  [L.  parturio,  I  am  in  labour.] 
A  bringing  forth  of  young. 

Parturiunt  montes,  nascetur  ridiciilus  mus. 
[L.]  A  mouse  is  the  outcome  of  a  mountain's 
labour  (Horace). 

Party  wall.  (Arch.)  A  wall  built  upon  the 
joint  lands  of  two  tenants  or  owners. 

Parvise,  or  Paradise.  [The  L.  paradisus,  and 
Gr.  vapaSfiffos,  Skt.  paradesa,  represent  the 
Heb.  pardes,  Ar.  firdans.]  1.  A  church  porch. 
2.  A  room  over  the  porch.  3.  An  open  space 
before  the  entrance  of  a  church, 

Parvum  parva  decent.  [L.]  Small  things 
become  the  humble  man. 

Paschal.     Relating  to  the  Pascha,  or  Passover. 


PASC 


366 


PATC 


Paschal  cycle.  The  cycle  which  determines 
when  Easter  falls. 

Pas  de  Calais.    [Fr.]     Straits  of  Dover. 

Pas  de  souris.  [Fr.,  mouse-steps. \  (Mil.} 
Masonry  steps  from  a  ditch  up  the  counterscarp 
to  the  ground  above,  placed  in  the  most  pro- 
tected angles. 

Pasha.  In  the  Turkish  empire,  a  title  of 
honour  bestowed  on  the  ministers  and  officers 
of  the  sultan,  more  especially  on  the  governors 
of  provinces  termed  pashaliks. »  The  higher 
pashas  have  three  horse-tails  carried  before 
them  as  standards,  the  lower  have  two  ;  and  are 
hence  known  as  pashas  of  two  tails  or  three  tails 
respectively. 

Pasigraphy.  [Gr.  vas,  all,  ypdtpw,  I  write.}  A 
word  invented  to  denote  the  imaginary  language 
which  is  one  day  to  be  written  and  spoken  by  all 
nations.  This  was  the  idea  of  Leibnitz  and  of 
Bishop  Wilkins  in  the  time  of  Charles  II. 

Paspy,  i.e.  Passe-pied.  [Fr.  passe,  L.  passus, 
a  step.}  A  kind  of  minuet,  in  triple  time,  of 
French  origin,  popular  in  Queen  Elizabeth's 
time  and  for  some  time  after. 

Pasqueflower.  (Hot.)  A  gen.  of  plants,  ord. 
Ranunculaceae  ;  Anemone  pulsatilla,  a  native  of 
our  chalky  pastures  ;  having  violet-blue  flowers 
about  Easter-time.  [Paque,  formerly  Pasque]. 

Pasquinade.  [It.  pasquinata.J  A  satire  or 
libellous  criticism ;  so  called  from  a  statue  of  a 
gladiator,  dug  up  at  Rome,  and  named  by  the 
people  Pasquino.  To  this  statue  and  to  another 
called  Marforio,  satirical  placards  were  affixed  at 
night.  These  frequently  bore  the  form  of  a  dia- 
logue between  the  two  statues,  and  reflected  on 
the  Roman  Church  and  court. 

Pasquino  and  Marforio.    (Pasquinade.) 

Passacaglia.     (Chaconne.) 

Passant.     [Fr.]     (Her.)    Passing  or  walking. 

Passaree,  or  Passarado.  (Naut. )  A  rope  by 
which  the  clews  of  the  foresail  are  hauled  out  to- 
wards tail-blocks  on  the  booms,  so  as  to  extend 
its  foot  when  before  the  wind  with  lower  stud- 
ding-booms  out. 

Passed  boys.  (Naut.)  Those  who  have 
passed  through  a  training-ship. 

Passement.  [Fr.]  In  the  history  of  lace,  a 
term  applied  as  far  back  as  the  beginning  of  the 
seventeenth  century  to  every  variety  of  lace. — 
Mrs.  Palliser,  History  of  Lace. 

Passe-partout.  [Fr.]  1.  An  engraving  of 
an  ornamental  border,  on  metal  or  wood,  the 
centre  of  which  was  cut  out  to  allow  the  insertion 
of  another  engraving  to  which  the  border  formed 
a  frame.  2.  A  master-key. 

Passer  es.     (Ornithology.) 

Passe-volant.  (Naut.)  1.  A  Quaker,  or 
wooden  gun.  2.  Any  movable  big  gun. 

Passim.  [L.,  everywhere.}  In  all  parts  of  a 
book. 

Passionists.  A  congregation  styling  them- 
selves Discalced  Clerks  of  the  Passion,  founded 
by  St.  Paul  of  the  Cross,  1728,  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  retreats  and  holding  missions. 

Passion  Sunday.  The  Fifth  Sunday  in  Lent, 
being  the  Sunday  before  Palm  Sunday ;  often 
so  called  by  the  Latins  especially  (Wheatly) : 


Passion  Week  being  the  last  week  in  Lent,  com- 
mencing with  Palm  Sunday  ;  called  also  Great 
Week  and  Holy  Week. 

Paste.  [It.  pasta.]  1.  In  pottery  or  porce- 
lain, clay  as  prepared  and  mixed  ready  for  use. 
It  is  distinguished  into  Hard  P.  and  Soft  P. ;  e.g. 
stoneware  bottles  and  ordinary  flower-pots  re- 
spectively, in  pottery.  Similarly  in  porcelain, 
S.  P.  can,  H.  P.  cannot,  be  easily  cut  with  a 
file  ;  but  the  line  is  a  difficult  one  to  draw. 
H.  P.  stands  heat  better  than  S.  P.  does.  Glazes 
generally  vary  in  hardness  with  the  pastes.  2. 
Artificial  gems  ;  glass  containing  an  extra  pro- 
portion of  metallic  oxide. 

Pasteboard.  A  stout  substance,  formed  of 
sheets  of  paper  pasted  together  and  pressed. 

Pastel.  [Fr.]    1.  A  coloured  crayon.  2.  Wood. 

Pastern,  Pastern-joint.  [Fr.  pasturon;  and 
this  from  pature,  a  tethering-cord  for  animals 
pasturing.}  That  part  of  the  leg  of  a  horse  be- 
tween the  joint  next  the  foot  and  the  hoof. — 
Johnson. 

Pasticcio.  [It.,  a  pasty.}  1.  In  design,  a 
patchwork  from  two  or  more  originals ;  also,  a 
picture  imitating  another  artist's  style  and  colour- 
ing. 2.  In  literature,  a  medley.  (Compare  Far- 
rago; Olla  podrida.) 

Pastille.  [Fr.]  A  small  cone,  made  of  benzoin 
and  other  aromatic  substances,  for  fumigating  a 
room. 

Paston  Letters.  A  valuable  collection  of 
original  letters  of  the  Paston  family  in  Norfolk, 
ranging  from  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  to  that  of 
Henry  VII.  inclusively. 

Pastorale.  [It.,  pastoral.}  (Music.)  A  melody 
or  set  composition,  generally  in  f  time ;  of 
simple,  rustic  character ;  the  words,  if  any,  re- 
lating to  pastoral  life  or  incident. 

Pastoral  Epistles.  In  the  New  Testament, 
I  and  2  Tim.,  and  Epist.  to  Titus. 

Pastoureaux.  [O.Fr.,  shepherds.}  (Hist.) 
Peasants  who  took  up  arms,  during  the  absence 
of  St.  Louis  of  France  on  his  Crusade,  under 
a  Cistercian  monk,  who  called  himself  Jacob, 
Master  of  Hungary.  Another  insurrection,  so 
named,  broke  out  seventy  years  later. 

Pastourelles.    (Troubadours.) 

Patache.  (Naut.)  A  Portuguese  tender, 
armed  and  swift,  for  carrying  treasures  ;  200  to 
300  tons  burden. 

Patallah.  (Naut.)  An  Indian  baggage  or 
cattle  boat. 

Patamar.  (Naut.)  Old  class  of  Indian  advice- 
boats,  swift  and  roomy,  about  76  feet  long  by 
21  feet  broad,  and  II  feet  deep,  with  a  prow- 
stern. 

Patavinity.  [L.  patavMta,  -tern.]  The  use 
of  provincial  idioms  in  speech  is  sometimes  so 
called,  from  the  fact  that  the  historian  Livy,  who 
is  said  to  have  had  this  fault,  was  born  at  the 
provincial  town  of  Patavium  (Padua).  It  cannot, 
however,  be  said  that  Livy's  faults  have  ever 
been  pointed  out  clearly. 

Pataxos.  (Naut.)  A  small  Spanish  boat, 
formerly  used  as  an  advice-boat. 

Patchouly.  [Hind.]  A  scent  distilled  from  a 
Malayan  plant. 


PATE 


367 


PAUP 


Fate,  Dure,  Tendre.     (Paste.) 

Patella.  [L.,  a  small  dish.}  (Anat.)  The 
knee-cap  ;  a  sesamoid  (q.v.)  bone,  heart-shaped; 
the  apex  being  downwards,  anteriorly  convex. 

Paten.  [L.  patena.]  (Eccl.)  The  stand  or 
saucer  on  which  the  chalice  rests  ;  or  the  plate 
in  which  the  bread  is  placed,  in  the  Eucharistic 
Office. 

Patent.  [L.  patentem,  open.}  An  act  of 
the  executive,  by  which  some  exclusive  privilege 
is  granted  to  an  individual  or  a  company ;  so 
named  as  being  in  the  form  of  an  advertisement 
to  all  men.  Political  or  other  privileges,  such 
as  those  which  constitute  a  man  a  bishop  or  a 
peer,  are  thus  granted. 

Paterfamilias.  [L.]  The  father  or  head  of  a 
family. 

Paterines.  [L.  PaterinL]  (fed.  Hist.)  A 
name  given  to  the  Western  Manichaeans  (Milman, 
Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity,  bk.  ix.  ch.  8),  and 
also  by  the  married  clergy  of  Milan  to  the 
monkish  party  in  the  controversy  respecting 
clerical  marriage  (ibid.,  bk.  vi.  ch.  3). 

Pater  noster.  The  Latin  name  of  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  from  its  first  two  words. 

Pater  patratus.  [L.]  The  chief  of  the 
Fetials. 

Pater  patriae.    [L.]     Father  of  his  country. 

Pathology.  [Gr.  vaOo\oyiK^  sc.  f*\vt}-}  The 
art  or  science  which  treats  of  diseases. 

Patibulary,     Belonging  to  a  Patibulum, 

Patibulum.  [L.]  1.  A  fork-shaped  yoke 
placed  on  the  neck  of  criminals,  to  which  the 
hands  were  tied.  2.  The  transom  of  a  cross. 

Patina.  [L.]  In  Numismatics,  the  fine  rust 
with  which  coins  become  covered  by  lying  in 
peculiar  soils,  and  which  is  regarded  as  orna- 
mental. It  varies  greatly  in  colour,  and  is,  in 
fact,  a  natural  varnish,  not  producible  by  any 
human  art. 

Patois.  [(?)  Corr.  from  an  older  form,  patrois, 
L.L.  patriasis,  belonging  to  patria,  country  ; 
hence  the  speech  of  nations.]  A  French  word, 
used  generally  to  denote  dialects  of  the  lower 
classes.  Applied  also  to  local  dialects  ;  e.g.  the 
French  of  the  Channel  Islands  or  of  Provence. 

Patonce.  [Fr.  patte  d'once,  leopard's  paw.} 
{Her.)  Having  its  ends  terminated  in  leopards' 
paws. 

Pat r  es  Conscripti    ( Conscript  Fathers. ) 

Patria  potestas.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Law,  a 
father's  control  over  his  legitimate  and  his 
adopted  children ;  at  first  giving  him  their 
property,  and  even  power  of  life  and  death  ; 
but  much  diminished  afterwards,  especially  under 
the  emperors. 

Patriarch.  [Gr.  irarpiApx^,  from  var-hp,  a 
father,  and  &pxu>  I  rule.}  A  name  given,  in  Acts 
vii.  8,  to  the  sons  of  Jacob  ;  but  more  especially 
applied  to  the  bishops  of  the  most  important 
cities  of  the  Roman  empire,  as  Rome,  Con- 
stantinople, Antioch,  Alexandria. 

Patriarchal,  Cross  (because  carried  before 
patriarchs).  A  cross  formed  of  an  upright  piece 
with  two  smaller  cross-pieces  more  than  half- 
way up,  the  higher  cross-piece  being  the  shorter. 

Patricians.      [L.    patres,  fathers.}      (Hist.) 


The  original  body  of  Roman  citizens,  known  as 
the  populus  [Gr.  ir6\is],  as  opposed  to  the  plebs 
[irXrjOos],  the  inferior  crowd,  which  gradually 
acquired  civic  rights. 

Patrick,  St.,  Order  of.  An  Irish  order  of 
knighthood,  founded  by  George  III.,  in  1783. 

Patripassians.  [L.  pater,  father,  patior,  1 
suffer.}  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Those  who  held  that  it 
was  the  Father  who  suffered  at  the  Crucifixion. 
(Noetians;  Sabellians.) 

Patris  est  filius.  [L.,  he  is  his  father's  son.} 
A  chip  of  the  old  block. 

PatroL  [Fr.  patrouille,  formerly  patouille, 
from  It.  pattuglia,  a  night  watch.}  (Mil.)  A 
party  of  soldiers  who,  in  field  operations,  are 
constantly  moving  along  the  line  of  advanced 
sentries,  searching  for  intelligence,  and  keeping 
up  the  communications.  In  garrison  they  pre- 
vent soldiers  from  creating  disturbances  in  the 
streets. 

Patron.  [L.  patronus,  from  pater,  father.} 
In  ancient  Rome,  the  correlative  term  to  Client. 

Patronage.  In  Eccl.  Law,  the  right  of  pre- 
sentation to  a  benefice. 

Patronymic.  [Gr.  •narptawfj.iK^s,  from  irar-fip, 
and  ovop.a,  a  name.}  A  name  designating  a 
person  by  reference  to  an  ancestor  immediate  or 
remote,  as  Pelides  for  Achilles,  son  of  Peleus, 
etc. 

Patroon.  [D.]  An  owner  (patron)  of  land, 
with  rights  of  entail  under  the  Dutch  govern- 
ments of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

Pattee,  Cross.  [Fr.  patte,  from  patte,  a  paw.} 
A  cross  formed  of  four  equal  arms,  growing 
much  wider  towards  the  ends. 

Pattern.  [Fr.  patron.]  A  full-sized  model  of 
a  metal  casting,  commonly  made  of  wood,  and 
in  several  pieces,  by  which  the  mould  is  formed 
for  receiving  the  melted  metal.  (Eatchet.) 

Pauldron.  Overlapping  plates  of  metal, 
working  on  rivets,  covering  the  shoulder  [Fr. 
epaule]  at  the  exposed  junction  of  the  body  and 
arm  pieces. 

Paulianists.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Paul  of  Samosata,  Bishop  of  Antioch,  in  the 
third  century,  who  held  Sabellian  opinions. 

Faulicianism.     (Paulicians.) 

Paulicians.  (Eccl.  Hist. )  A  Christian  sect, 
which  seems  to  have  arisen  in  Armenia  in  the 
ninth  century,  and  to  have  adopted  the  name  of 
Paulus,  one  of  their  leaders,  to  disavow  con- 
nexion with  the  Manichaeans.  Their  opinions 
are  known  only  from  the  accounts  given  by  their 
opponents,  who  charge  them  with  dualism 
(Ahriman).  A  colony  of  Paulicians  spread  west- 
wards, and  has  been  supposed  to  be  connected 
with  the  Albigenses. 

Paullo  majdra  canamus.  [L.]  Let  us  sing  a 
higher  song  (take  a  higher  range)  (Virgil). 

Pauls,  or  Pawls.  [Welsh  pawl,  a  pole,  or  stake.\ 
(Naut. )  Pieces  of  wood  or  iron  fastened  to  the' 
capstan,  or  windlass,  and  falling  into  notches,  so 
as  to  prevent  it  from  recoiling. 

Paunch.  [Fr.  panse,  L.  panticem.]  The 
first  stomach  of  ruminants. 

Paune.     [N.-Amer.  Ind.]     (Pone.) 

Pauperes  Christi.    (Biblia  pauperum.) 


PAUP 


368 


PECU 


Pauperis,  In  forma.  [L.]  (Leg.)  The  court 
has  power,  under  certain  circumstances,  to 
admit  a  man  to  sue  or  defend  in  the  character  of 
a  poor  person,  counsel  and  attorneys  being 
granted  free  of  charge.  (Dispauper.) 

Pauperism.  In  Law,  the  condition  of  those 
who  are  dependent  for  their  maintenance  on  the 
aid  of  the  public,  this  aid  being  supplied  by 
funds  raised  by  rates  levied  on  the  ratable  value 
of  landed  property,  and  on  tithes  and  rent-charges. 
The  first  statute  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  was 
passed  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.,  1547. 
(Overseers  of  the  poor.) 

Pavan.  [(?)  L.  pav5,  a  peacock.]  A  slow  and 
stately  dance,  still  in  use  in  Spain. 

Pavise.  [Fr.  pavois.]  In  mediaeval  warfare, 
a  large  shield  used  by  troops  assailing  the  walls 
of  fortresses. 

Pavoninae.  [L.  pavd,  -nem,  peacock.]  (Ornith.) 
Birds  of  the  peacock  sub-fam.  (as  the  Argus 
pheasant).  India,  Thibet,  China,  and  islands. 
Fam.  Phasianidse,  ord.  Galllnae. 

Pawn.  [L.  pannus,  a  doth,  a  piece  of  cloth- 
ing being  the  readiest  article  to  give  in  pledge.] 
Something  given  as  security  for  the  repayment 
of  money. 

Pawn.  [O.Fr.-  pieton,  a  footman]  One  of 
the  least  valuable  pieces  in  chess.  (Peonage.) 

Pax.  [L.]  \.  (Myth.)  The  Roman  goddess 
of  peace.  2.  A  small  image  of  the  Saviour,  to 
which  the  people,  on  leaving  the  church,  gave 
the  kiss  of  peace.  3.  A  metallic  plate  with  a 
crucifix  engraved  on  it,  called  also  osculatorium, 
used  for  the  same  purpose. 

Pax  vobiscum.     [L.  ]    Peace  be  with  you. 

Pay,  To.  [Fr.  poix, //&•£.]  (Naut.)  To  P.  a 
seam,  to  pour  pitch  and  tar,  etc.,  into  it  after 
caulking.  (Devil.)  To  P.  a  mast  or  yard,  to  dress 
it  with  oil,  varnish,  etc.  To  P.  a  ship's  bottom, 
to  cover  it  with  tallow,  sulphur,  resin,  etc.  To 
pay  [Fr.  payer,  L.  pacare,  to  satisfy]  aivav, 
or  out,  to  slack  a  rope  off.  To  P.  off,  to  fall  off 
from  the  wind.  To  P.  rotmd,  to  turn  her  head. 

Pay-dirt.  In  America,  auriferous  earth  rich 
enough  to  pay  the  labour  of  extracting  the  metal. 
Similarly,  Pay-rock,  quartz,  or  other  rock  that 
will  pay  for  mining. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Faynim,  or  Painim.  [L.  paganus,  belonging 
to  a  pagus,  or  country  district.]  A  word  used 
in  the  Middle  Ages  to  denote  all  who  were 
not  Christians,  but  applied  especially  to  Mo- 
hammedans. 

Pays  de  Cocagne.  [Fr.]  A  land  like  Utopia, 
or  El-Dorado.  (Cocagne.) 

Peace  of  God.    (Truce  of  God.) 

Peak,  or  Peek.  (Naut.)  The  top  outer  corner 
of  a  sail  extended  by  a  gaff.  To  P.,  to  raise 
the  gaff,  or  a  lateen  yard,  nearer  the  per- 
pendicular. To  stay  P. ,  or  ride  a  short-stay  P. 
(A-peek.) 

Pea-nut.    (AracMs.) 

Pearl.    A  kind  of  printing  type,  as — 

Proportion. 

Pearlash  (from  its  appearance).  A  partially 
purified  carbonate  of  potash,  obtained  by  calcin- 
ing the  commercial  potashes  (q.v.). 


Pearl-edge.  A  projection  on  the  side  of  some 
ribbons  ;  also  a  narrow  kind  of  thread  edging  to 
be  sewed  on  lace. 

Pearl-powder,  or  Pearl-white.  Subnitrate  of 
bismuth,  used  as  a  cosmetic. 

Peasants'  War.  In  Germany,  a  struggle  of 
peasants  headed  by  Munzer,  who  demanded 
community  of  goods  (1524-25). 

Peat.  [O.E.  bete,  to  mend  or  kindle  a  fire] 
(Gcol.)  Decomposed  vegetable  matter,  spongy, 
fibrous  or  homogeneous,  accumulated  in  moist 
places,  on  mountains,  and  in  plains. 

Pebble.  [A.S.  pabol.]  Round  or  oval  stone, 
water-worn  on  a  beach. 

Peccant.  [L.  peccantem,  offending.]  (Med.) 
Morbid,  injurious  to  health. 

Peccary.  (Native  name.)  (Zool.)  American 
representative  of  swine.  Two  spec.,  one  about 
the  size  of  a  small  pig,  the  other  rather  larger  ; 
gregarious.  Paraguay  Jo  Texas.  Dicotyles, 
fam.  Sciidae,  ord.  Ungulata. 

Peccavi.     [L.,  I  have  sinned]     I  confess. 

Pecopteris.  [Gr.  ire/to),  I  comb,  irrepls,  a  fern] 
(Geol.)  Comb-fern,  a  fossil  gen.  of  ferns,  with 
fronds  divided  into  comb -like  leaflets  ;  allied  to 
the  living  Pteris,  bracken.  Very  abundant  in  the 
coal-measures  ;  also  in  Jurassic. 

Pecora.  [L.,  cattle]  Linnsean  name  for 
ruminants. 

Pectinate.  (Bot.)  Divided  into  close,  narrow, 
straight  segments,  like  a  comb  [L.  pecten,  pec- 
tinis];  e.g.  leaf  of  water-milfoil. 

Pectine.  [Gr.  ITI\KT&S,  fixed,  congealed]  Ge- 
latinous gum  of  ripe  fruits  and  vegecables ;  vege- 
table jelly. 

Pectoral.  [L.  pectoralis,  from  pectus,  the 
breast]  A  covering  for  the  breast ;  sometimes 
applied  to  the  morse,  or  clasp,  of  a  cope. 

Pectoriloquy.  [L.  pectus,  -oris,  the  chest,  loquor, 
/  speak]  (Med]  The  clear  sounding  of  the 
voice  from  that  part  of  the  chest  to  which  the 
stethoscope  is  applied. 

Pectous.  [Gr.  tri\int>s,  fixed,  compacted]  Co- 
agulated ;  passing  from  the  colloid  to  the  more 
crystalline  condition. 

Pectus  facit  theologum.  [L.]  //  is  heart,  not 
head,  that  makes  a  divine. 

Peculation.  Strictly,  the  stealing  of  Peculium ; 
but  often  used  to  mean  embezzlement  or  malver- 
sation generally. 

Peculiar.  In  Eccl.  Law,  jurisdictions  not 
under  the  Ordinary  of  the  diocese.  Such  are 
the  peculiars  of  archbishops,  bishops,  deans, 
chapters,  and  the  like. 

Peculiar  People.  A  modern  sect,  which  takes 
its  stand  on  the  literal  interpretation  of  texts  in 
the  Epistle  of  St.  James  and  other  parts  of  the 
New  Testament,  and  on  this  ground  objects  to 
medical  treatment  of  the  sick. 

Peculiars.  Parishes  exempted  by  the  pope 
from  episcopal  jurisdiction  ;  by  an  oversight  not 
restored  at  the  Reformation,  but  remaining  under 
the  sovereign,  or,  by  custom  or  purchase,  under 
some  other  person ;  now  in  nearly  all  dioceses 
abolished. 

Peculiars,  Courts  of.     (Court,  Christian.) 

Peculmm.     [L.,  \\\..  property  in  cattle  (pecus).] 


PEDA 


369 


PELL 


In  Rom.  Law,  the  savings  of  a  son  or  slave  with 
the  consent  of  the  father  or  master. 

Pedagogue.  [Gr.  irai5aytay6s,  from  iroTs,  boy, 
and  ayiay6s,  leader.]  1.  Properly  a  slave  who 
conducted  his  master's  sons  to  school,  and  was 
charged  with  the  care  of  them  generally.  2.  A 
schoolmaster. 

Pedal  curve.  (Math.}  The  curve  described 
by  the  point  of  intersection  of  a  line  moving  so 
as  always  to  touch  a  given  curve  with  the  perpen- 
dicular drawn  to  it  from  a  fixed  point. 

Pedalmaschi.  A  Turkish  officer,  who  looks  to 
the  interests  of  the  sultan  in  cases  of  legacies. 

Pedestal.  [L.  pes,  pedis,  a  fool.}  (Arch.} 
The  substructure  to  a  column  or  a  wall,  the 
height  varying  from  a  quarter  to  one-third  of 
the  height  of  the  column  with  its  entablature. 
(Order.) 

Pedicel.    (Peduncle.) 

Pedicularia.  [L.  pediculus,  a  louse. ~\  General 
term  for  skin-disease,  when  caused  by  lice,  i.q. 
Phtheiriasis. 

Pediculus.  [L.]  A  foot-stalk  ;  but  Pediculus, 
Pedicelhcs,  and  Pedunculus  are  =  the  crawling 
insect. 

Pediment  [L.  pes,  pedis,  a  foot.]  (Arch.} 
The  triangular  mass,  answering  to  a  gable,  over 
the  front  of  a  building,  portico,  etc.  It  is  fre- 
quently filled  with  sculpture,  as  in  the  Parthenon. 
(Elgin  marbles.) 

Pedometer.  [L.  pes,  pedis,  a  foot,  Gr.  perpov, 
measure.']  An  instrument,  like  a  watch,  for 
registering  the  number  of  steps  taken  in  walking  ; 
and  so  of  measuring  the  distance  walked. 

Pedropee.  (Naut.}  Setting  one  foot  on  a 
seam,  kicking  the  other  backwards  and  forwards, 
and  then  setting  it  down  in  front  of  the  former. 
A  test  of  being  sober. 

Peduncle.  [As  if  p£dunciila,  a  coined  dim.  of 
L.  pes,  pedis,  afoot.']  (Bot.)  A  flower-stalk. 
Pedicels  {pediculus],  the  small  branches  into 
which  a  P.  is  sometimes  divided. 

Peel.  1.  [Fr.  pelle,  L.  pala,  a  shovel.']  A 
broad  iron  shovel  with  a  long  wooden  handle, 
used  by  bakers.  2.  A  T-shaped  piece  of  wood 
with  a  long  handle,  for  hanging  up  the  sheets 
of  a  book  to  dry,  etc.  3,  [Celt.]  (Geog.)  A 
stronghold. 

Peep.  As  in  Isa.  viii.  19  ;  to  cry  like  a  little 
bird  [L.  pipio,  I  chirp]. 

Peeping  Tom,  In  the  Coventry  legend,  the 
lad  who  saw  the  Lady  Godiva  as  she  rode 
through  the  town.  The  incident  belongs  to  the 
story  of  the  Master  TMef. 

Peep  o'  Day  Boys.  In  Ir.  Hist.,  insurgents, 
in  1784,  who  visited  the  houses  of  their  enemies 
at  daybreak. 

Peepul.     (Botree.) 

Peer.  [L.  par,  Fr.  pair,  equal. .]  1.  In  com- 
mon law,  those  who  belong  to  the  same  rank  of 
life,  trial  by  jury  being  said  to  be  trial  by  peers 
or  equals  ;  a  relic  of  feudal  usage,  by  which  all 
classes  were  banded  together  for  self-defence  and 
the  settling  of  quarrels.  2.  In  a  more  limited 
sense,  the  highest  class  in  a  country,  as  the  peers 
of  France  or  of  England.  (Paladins;  Parlia- 
ment, Privilege  of.) 


Peert,  Peart.  Brisk,  lively,  (?)  a  corr.  of  pert. 
An  old  word,  still  provincial  in  some  parts  of 
England  ;  used  in  America  both  in  a  good  and 
in  a  bad  sense. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Pegasus.  [Gr.  ir-ftyaffos,  said  to  be  so  named 
as  appearing  first  near  the  n^ycu,  or  fountains, 
of  the  ocean.]  1.  (Myth.}  The  horse  which, 
with  Chrysaor,  the  lord  of  the  golden  sword, 
sprang  from  the  head  of  Medusa,  the  mortal 
Gorgon.  This  horse  Bellerophon  caught,  and 
on  it  rode  to  encounter  the  Chimera.  A  blow 
of  its  hoof  is  said  to  have  discovered  Hippo- 
crene,  the  horse-fountain,  on  Mount  Helicon, 
during  the  contest  of  the  Muses  with  the  Pieri- 
des,  the  nine  daughters  of  Pieros.  2.  (Zool.} 
Pacasse,  or  Pagasse.  Spec,  of  buffalo.  W.  and 
Central  Africa. 

Peh-tun-tze.  [Chin,  peh-tun,  white  paste,  with 
the  dim.  tze  added.]  Strictly,  the  fusible  mate- 
rial of  China  paste  (Pegmatite  of  some  authors), 
felspar  partly  decomposed  ;  vaguely,  any  white 
material  made  up  in  small  bricks,  and  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  porcelain. 

Peine  forte  et  dure.  [Fr. ,  strong  and  hara 
pain.]  (Hist.}  The  name  for  the  practice  ot 
pressing  with  weights  of  iron  prisoners  who 
refused  to  plead  or  answer. 

Pekin.  A  word  used  in  France  by  soldiers  to 
denote  contemptuously  all  who  are  not  military. 

Pekinade  (from  Pekin).  A  woollen  stuff  with 
silk  stripes,  for  covering  furniture. 

Pekoe.  [Chin,  pikhaou.]  A  fine  black  tea 
formed  of  the  leaf-buds  picked  before  they  expand. 

Pelagians.'  (Eccl.  Hist.}  The  followers  of 
Pelagius,  a  British  monk  of  the  fifth  century, 
who  asserted  that  men  inherit  no  depravity,  and 
that  their  own  powers  are  sufficient  for  their 
justification.  The  condemnation  of  Pelagius 
by  Innocent  I.  was  reversed  by  his  successor 
Zosimus,  who  afterwards,  in  obedience  to  an 
imperial  rescript,  anathematized  his  doctrine. 
Eighteen  bishops  refused  to  condemn  Pelagius 
unheard,  and  appealed  to  a  General  Council. 
Among  these  was  Julianus,  of  Eclana,  the  re- 
puted founder  of  Semi-Pelagianism,  which  as- 
serted the  necessity  of  divine  grace  for  the 
practice  of  holiness. 

Pelerine.  [Fr. ,  as  being  worn  by  pilgrims, 
pelerin,  It.  pellegrino,  L.  peregrinus,  from 
per,  across,  agrum,  field.]  A  long  cape  with  ends 
coming  down  in  front. 

Pele  towers.  Small  towers  or  defences  on  the 
Scottish  borders,  properly  pile  towers,  pile  being 
used  in  the  sense  of  fortress.  (Peel.) 

Pell.  [L.  pellis,  a  skin.]  1.  The  skin  or 
hide.  2.  A  roll  of  parchment. 

Pellagra.  [From  L.  pellis,  the  skin  ;  after  the 
analogy,  probably,  of  pod-agra,  chir-agra.]  The 
name  of  a  loathsome  skin-disease,  accompanied 
with  mental  phenomena,  amongst  them  melan- 
cholia, often  suicidal ;  once  thought  to  be  en- 
demic in  N.  Italy,  and  to  arise  from  the  use  of 
maize  as  almost  the  only  food  ;  but  now  known 
to  be  due  to  a  combination  of  poverty,  insuffi- 
cient nourishment,  filth,  toil,  etc. 

Pellet.  [Fr.  pelote,  a  ball  of  thread.}  (Her.} 
A  black  roundlet  or  disc. 


PELL 


370 


PENG 


Pellicle.  [L.  pellicula,  a  small  skin.]  A  thin 
skin  or  film,  especially  one  formed  on  the  surface 
of  solutions  during  evaporations. 

Pellitory.  [L.  parietaria,  paries,  a  wall.'}  (Bot.} 
1.  Wall  pellitory ;  native  plant,  P.  officlnalis, 
ord.  Urticacese ;  with  small  reddish  flowers,  and 
black  shining  fruit ;  on  old  walls,  heaps  of  rub- 
bish. 2.  P.  of  Spain,  Anacyclus  pyrethrum, 
ord.  Composite  ;  allied  to  chamomile,  a  power- 
ful irritant ;  valued  in  medicine. 

Pells,  Clerk  of.  An  officer  of  the  Exchequer, 
who  made  certain  entries  on  parchment  rolls 
[O.Fr.  pel,  skin,  L.  pellis] ;  the  office  a  sinecure 
place  for  life,  worth  ^3000  a  year,  tenable  with  a 
seat  in  the  House  of  Commons  ;  abolished  1834. 

Pelops.    (Tantalize.) 

Pelotage.     [Fr.]     Bales  of  Spanish  wool. 

Pelt.  [Ger.  pelz.]  The  skin  of  a  beast  with 
the  hair  on.  Pelt-wool,  wool  plucked  from  the 
pelts  of  sheep  after  they  are  dead. 

Peltasts.  [Gr.  ireATewTaf.]  (Hist.}  Ancient 
Greek  infantry,  light  armed;  so  called  from 
carrying  the  ircA/rrj,  or  target. 

Peltate  leaf.  [L.  peltatus,  furnished  with 
a  small  light  shield  (pelta).]  (Bot.}  Having 
the  stalk  inserted  in  the  middle,  like  an  arm 
holding  a  shield  ;  e.g.  pennywort,  garden  nas- 
turtium. 

Peltry.  [Fr.  pelleterie.]  The  furred  skins  of 
animals. 

Pelvis.  [L.,  a  fast'*.]  (Anat.}  The  bony  ring, 
composed  of  the  two  ossa  innommata  (q.v.}  and 
sacrum  and  coccyx ;  which  contains  various 
viscera,  and  transmits  the  weight  of  the  spinal 
column  to  the  lower  extremities. 

Pemmican.  (N.-Amer.  Ind.  name.)  A  far- 
famed  provender  in  the  wilds  of  N.  America, 
made  by  pounding  the  choice  parts  of  the  meat 
very  small,  dried  over  a  slow  fire  or  in  the  frost, 
and  put  into  bags  made  of  the  skin  of  the  slain 
animal,  into  which  a  portion  of  melted  fat  is 
then  poured  ;  with  proper  care  it  will  keep  a 
long  time. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Penal  servitude.  In  Law,  the  punishment 
now  substituted  for  transportation  beyond  the 
seas. 

Penance.    (Penitence.) 

Penang  lawyer.     In  Naut.  slang,  a  cane. 

Penarth  beds.     (Rhaetic  formation.) 

Penates.  [L.]  The  ancient  Latin  household 
gods  ;  so  called  as  guarding  the  penus,  or  store 
of  food.  This  general  term  included  the  Lares. 
There  were  P.  of  the  state  or  city,  as  well  as  of 
families. 

Pencel.  [L.  pemcillum,  a  little  tail.]  (Naut.} 
A  small  streamer,  or  pennon. 

Pencil.  Until  comparatively  lately  kepts  its 
classical  meaning  of  a  painter s  brush  [L.  peni- 
cillum]. 

Pencil  of  rays.  An  assemblage  of  rays  pro- 
ceeding from  a  luminous  point. 

Pend,  Penock.     Oil-cake  (so  called  in  India). 

Pendant.  [L.  pendeo,  /  hang.]  1.  In  Eng. 
Arch.,  (i)  a  polygonal  piece  of  stone  or  timber, 
richly  ornamented,  hanging  from  a  vault  or  roof. 
Some  of  the  most  elaborate  specimens  are  those 
in  Henry  VII. 's  Chapel,  Westminster,  (a)  A 


part  hanging  from  the  label  resembling  the  drops 
in  the  Doric  frieze.  (3)  A  companion  picture  or 
work  of  art.  2.  (Naut.)  (i)  I.q.  Pennant. 
(Flag.)  (2)  Single  or  double  ropes,  to  which 
blocks  or  tackles  are  attached.  (3)  Rudder  P., 
ropes  fastened  to  the  rudder  by  chains  to  pre- 
vent its  being  lost  if  unshipped. 

Pendente  lite.     [L.]    Pending  a  suit,  or  trial. 

Pendentive.  [Fr.  pendente,  from  L.  pendeo, 
I  hang.]  (Arch.}  The  portion  of  a  vault  be- 
tween the  arches  of  a  dome. 

Pendulum  [L.  pendulus,  hanging] ;  Ballistic 
P. ;  Compensation  P. ;  Compound  P. ;  Conical 
P.;  Gridiron  P.;  Mercurial  P.;  Simple  P.  A 
suspended  body  that  swings  backwards  and  for- 
wards. If  the  body  is  treated  as  a  particle,  and 
the  thread  by  which  it  is  suspended  as  weightless 
and  perfectly  flexible,  the  combination,  which  is 
purely  ideal,  is  a  Simple  P.  Any  actual  swing- 
ing body  is  a  Compound  P.  The  time  of  oscil- 
lation of  a  compound  P.  is  found  by  ascertaining 
the  length  of  the  corresponding  simple  P.  The 
end  of  a  line  as  long  as  the  simple  P.  drawn 
from  the  point  of  suspension  through  the  centre 
of  gravity  is  the  centre  of  oscillation  ;  so  long  as 
this  point  remains  fixed,  the  time  of  oscillation 
will  be  unchanged.  A  P.  whose  parts  are  so 
contrived  that  the  centre  of  oscillation  remains 
fixed  when  the  parts  expand  or  contract  by 
change  of  temperature,  is  a  Compensation  P.  If 
the  compensation  is  effected  by  suspending  the 
bob  from  a  system  of  parallel  bars  of  steel  and 
brass,  it  is  a  Gridiron  P.  ;  if  by  suspending  a 
vessel  containing  mercury  by  a  steel  rod,  it  is  a 
Mercurial  P.  When  the  bob  is  made  to  move 
continuously  in  a  circle,  so  that  the  rod  describes 
a  conical  surface,  we  have  a  Conical  P.  Such  a 
contrivance  is  competent  to  regulate  the  motion 
of  clockwork,  though  it  is  not  a  swinging  body. 
The  Ballistic  P.  is  used  for  determining  the 
velocity  of  shot ;  it  consists  either  (i)  of  a 
suspended  block  of  wood  into  which  the  shot  is 
fired  ;  the  velocity  being  inferred  from  the  arc 
through  which  the  block  is  observed  to  swing  ; 
or  (2)  of  a  framework  suspended  on  knife-edges 
and  carrying  the  gun  ;  the  velocity  of  the  shot  is 
inferred  from  the  arc  of  the  gun's  recoil. 

Penelope's  web.  (Myth.}  A  web  woven 
each  day  by  Penelope,  the  wife  of  the  absent 
Odysseus  (Ulysses),  in  the  Odyssey,  and  undone 
each  night ;  as  a  device  for  baffling  her  suitors, 
who  were  told  that  she  would  choose  one  of 
them  as  her  husband  when  the  web  was  finished. 

Penests.  [Gr.  nWirrai,  labourers.]  (Hist.) 
The  ancient  Thessalian  serfs,  who  answered  to 
the  Spartan  Helots. 

Penetralia.  [L.]  The  recesses  or  inmost 
parts  of  a  temple,  house,  or  other  building. 

Penfish.     (Squid.) 

Penguin.  [Celt,  pen  gwenn,  white  head,  from 
the  white  patch  or  line  between  the  bill  and  the 
eye,  the  head  itself  being  black.]  (Ornith.]  Fam. 
of  Southern  birds  corresponding  to  auks  ( Aldfdse) 
in  the  North.  Their  wings  are  flippers,  serving 
as  paddles  in  the  water,  and  sometimes  as  fore 
legs  on  the  land.  Fam.  Spheniscidae,  ord. 
AnsSres. 


PENI 


371 


PERA 


Penitence,  Penance.  [L.  pcenitentia.]  In  the 
Latin  Church,  (i)  one  of  the  seven  sacraments  ; 
(2)  also  the  works  enjoined  on  the  penitent  by 
his  confessor. 

Penitential  Psalms,  The  Seven.  Ps.  vi., 
xxxii.,  xxxviii.,  li.,  cii.,  cxxx.,  cxliii. 

Penitentiaries.  1.  In  the  ancient  Church,  pres- 
byters appointed  to  receive  private  confessions, 
in  aid  of,  not  in  prejudice  to,  public  discipline. 
2.  In  foreign  cathedrals,  a  confessor  appointed 
by  the  bishop. 

Penitentiary,  Grand.  An  officer  of  the  Roman 
Church,  usually  a  cardinal,  commissioned  by  the 
pope  to  grant  absolution  in  cases  reserved  for  the 
papal  authority,  such  as  dispensations  for  mar- 
riages, etc. 

Penitents.  [L.  poemtentes.]  Certain  re- 
ligious fraternities  in  the  Latin  Church  have 
been  so  called,  the  most  prominent  being  the 
White  Penitents,  who  appeared  in  N.  Italy  in 
1399  ;  so  called  from  their  white  dress. 
Pennant.  (Flag.) 

Pennant-ship.  (Naut.)  1.  A  commodore's 
ship.  2.  A  Government  ship.  3.  A  merchant 
ship  in  a  convoy,  delegated  to  assist  in  keeping 
it  together. 

Pennon.  [Fr.,  from  L.  penna,  a  feather. \ 
In  the  Middle  Ages,  the  pointed  flag  of  a  knight 
who  had  not  reached  the  dignity  of  banneret. 

Fennoncelle.  The  little  streamer  at  the  head 
of  the  lance  of  a  mounted  lancer. 

Pennyweight.  The  weight  of  the  silver  penny 
in  the  time  of  Edward  I.,  equal  to  the  twentieth 
part  of  an  ounce  troy. 

Pensionary,  The  Grand,  of  Holland.  (Hist.} 
The  prime  minister  of  the  states  of  the  province 
of  Holland.  His  office  was  for  five  years,  and 
he  might  be  re-elected. 

Penstock.  Any  wooden  tube  for  conducting 
water. 

Pent-.  [Gr.  vevre,  five.} 
Pent-,  Penta-.  (Chem.}  A  prefix  denoting 
that  a  salt  contains  five  atoms  [Gr.  -rreWf,  five'} 
of  the  element  thus  marked  ;  as  a  pent-oxide, 
penta-chloride,  which  contain  five  atoms  of 
oxygen,  chlorine,  in  each  molecule. 

Pentacrinite.    [Gr.  TreVre,  Jive,  Kpivov,  lily.'} 
(Geol.)     A  fossil  crinoid  (q.v.),  with  pentagonal 
stem.    Lias  and  Oolite  principally.    Pentacrinus 
the  living  representative. 
Pentagon.    (Polygon.) 

Fentalpha,  or  Solomon's  seal.  A  Pythagorean 
symbol ;  magical ;  mentioned  by  Lucan  ;  found 
on  Jewish  stonework  and  on  Greek  coinage.  A 
five-pointed  star,  as  if  made  by  five  Greek  alphas  : 
"Solomon's,"  on  account  of  the  magical  powers 
widely  attributed  to  him  in  the  East. 

Pentameter.  [Gr.  irevrd/j-eTpos,  of  five  mea- 
sures.} A  verse  consisting  of  five  feet,  and,  with 
a  preceding  verse  of  six  feet  called  the  hexa- 
meter, making  up  the  elegiac  couplet. 

Pentapolis.  [Gr.,  with  five  cities. \  The 
Greek  name  for  any  district  or  region  with  five 
cities.  But  the  most  prominent  was  the  Pen- 
tapolis of  Cyrene,  in  Africa.  Compare  De- 
capolis. 
Pentaptych.  A  painting  having  many  leaves 


as  the  altar-piece  of  Van  Eyck  in  the  Church  of 
St.  Bavon,  in  Ghent.     (Diptych  ;  Triptych.) 

Pentateuch.  [Gr.  TlevrdTfvxos,  from  ireWf, 
five,  T€UXOS,  in  post- Alex.  Gr.,  a  book.'}  A 
name  given  by  the  LXX.  translators  to  the  five 
)ooks,  in  one  volume,  of  Moses  ;  the  Jewish 
name  being  Torah,  the  Law. 

Pentathlon.  [Gr.,  from  irevrt,  five,  &Q\os, 
a  contest.}  The  collective  name  for  the  five 
chief  bodily  exercises  of  the  Greeks — running, 
eaping,  quoit-throwing,  javelin-hurling,  and 
wrestling.  The  Latin  term  is  Quinqiiertium. 
Penteconter,  (Trireme.) 
Pentecost.  [Gr.  irej/TTj/cooWs,  fiftieth.'}  A 
Jewish  feast ;  so  called  as  being  kept  on  the 
fiftieth  day  after  the  Feast  of  the  Passover ; 
that  is,  the  I5th  of  the  month  Nisan,  and  on  the 
next  day  after  the  Feast  of  Unleavened  Bread. 
As  coming  seven  weeks  after  the  Passover,  it 
was  also  called  the  Feast  of  Weeks. 

Penult.  [L.  paene  ultima,  almost  last.}  In 
Gram,  and  Pros.,  the  last  syllable  but  one  of 
a  word. 

Penumbra.  [L.  paene,  nearly,  umbra,  shadow.'} 
The  shadow  of  an  opaque  body,  as  the  earth  or 
moon,  illuminated  by  a  large  distant  body,  as 
the  sun,  consists  of  two  conical  regions  :  the  one, 
that  within  which  no  ray  of  light  enters,  viz. 
the  Umbra  ;  the  other,  which  is  entered  by  rays 
from  part  only  of  the  sun,  is  the  Penumbra. 

Peonage.  [Sp.  peonaje,  from  peon,  one  who 
goes  on  foot.}  A  form  of  servitude  intro- 
duced into  Mexico  after  the  Spanish  Conquest. 
(Pawn.) 

Peotta.  (Naut.}  A  small  vessel  of  the 
Adriatic,  propelled  by  sails  and  oars. 

Peplus.  [L.,  Gr.  ireirAos.]  An  upper  garment 
worn  anciently  by  Greek  women.  The  P.  of 
Athena  was  carried  yearly  in  procession  at 
Athens,  and  presented  to  the  goddess.  (Pan- 
athenaic  festival.) 

Pepper-corn  rent.  The  merest  nominal  rent, 
as  an  acknowledgment  of  tenancy,  in  the  case  of 
lands  held  rent  free. 

Pepper-pot.  A  W.  -Indian  stew  of  vegetables 
and  cassareep. 

Pepsine.  [Gr.  ITCTTTW,  I  cook,  digest.}  A 
special  organic  matter  of  the  gastric  mucous 
membrane,  and  obtainable  from  it,  on  which  its 
digestive  power  depends. 

Pepys*  Memoirs  and  Diary.  ( Samuel  P. ,  1 632- 
1703.)  Written  in  a  kind  of  cypher  after  his 
retirement  from  the  Secretaryship  of  the  Ad- 
miralty ;  a  most  curious  and  minute  picture  of 
contemporary  persons  and  manners. 

Per-.  [L.,  through.'}  (Chem.)  1.  Prefixed 
to  salts  in  -ate,  denotes  increase  of  oxygen,  as  a 
per-chlorate,  which  contains  more  oxygen  than 
the  chlorate.  Hyper-  [Gr.  \nttp,  over}  has  also  this 
force.  2.  Prefixed  to  salts  in  -ide,  denotes  a 
maximum  of  the  element  thus  marked,  as 
per-chloride  of  iron  contains  more  chlorine  than 
any  other  chloride  of  iron. 

Perambulation  of  parishes,  i.e.  of  boundaries, 
to  keep  them  in  remembrance,  or  Beating 
bounds,  is  made,  in  some  parishes,  about 
Ascension  Day,  by  the  minister,  churchwardens, 


PERA 


372 


PERI 


and  some  parishioners.     Originally  psalms  and 
prayers  were  used.     (Rogation  days.) 

Perambulator.  [L.  perambiilo,  /  traverse.} 
1.  A  way  or  distance  measurer,  a  kind  of  ho- 
dometer. (Pedometer.)  2.  A  child's  carnage, 
propelled  from  behind. 

Per  annum.     [L.]    By  the  year,  yearly. 

Per  centum.     [L.]    By  the  httndred. 

Percidae.  [L.  perca,  a  perch.']  (Ichth.)  Fam. 
of  carnivorous  fishes,  as  the  common  perch,  fresh 
and  salt  water.  Universally  distributed.  Ord. 
Acanthopterygii,  sub-class  Tel£ostel. 

Per  contra.  [L.]  On  the  other  side ;  a  com- 
mercial term. 

Percussion.  [L.  percutio,  /  strike. 1  (Med.) 
The  tapping  of  the  surface  of  the  body,  especially 
the  chest,  to  learn,  by  the  sound,  the  condition 
of  some  internal  organ  below  the  part  struck. 

Percussion,  Centre  of.    (Centre. ) 

Percy's  Eeliques  of  Ancient  English  Poetry, 
published  1765.  A  collection  of  old  minstrel 
ballads  of  the  Middle  Ages,  many  existing  in 
MS.  only,  then  for  the  first  time  systematically 
examined  ;  by  Bishop  Percy,  friend  of  Johnson  ; 
valuable  in  itself,  and  very  important,  as  a 
main  cause  of  the  revolution  in  English  taste 
and  literature,  which  replaced  artificial  classicism 
by  romance. 

Per  diem.    [L.]    Daily. 

Pere-la-Chaise.  The  most  important  cemetery 
of  Paris ;  so  called  after  the  confessor  of  Louis 
XIV.,  who  had  a  house  on  its  site. 

Perennial.  [L.  p£rennis.]  (Bot.)  Opposed  to 
Annual  and  to  Biennial,  subsisting  for  a  number 
of  years,  though  dying  down  yearly  ;  e.g.  tubers 
and  bulbs. 

Perennibranchiate.  [L.  perennis,  perennial, 
Gr.  j6po7x<a,  gills. }  (Amphibia.) 

Pereunt,  et  impiitantur.  [L.]  A  common 
motto  on  sun-dials  :  they,  i.e.  the  hours,  pass 
away,  and  are  placed  to  our  account ;  i.e.  we 
have  to  give  account  of  them  (Martial). 

Per  fas  et  nefas.  [L. ,  by  fair  means  or  foul.} 
By  hook  or  by  crook  ;  through  thick  and  thin. 

Perfect  number.  (Math.}  A  number  equal 
to  the  sum  of  its  divisors,  including  unity ;  as, 
28  =  i  +  2  +  4  +  7  +  14. 

Perfervidum  ingenium.  [L.]  A  too  vehement 
or  enthusiastic  temper. 

Ferfidus  ille  Deo,  sed  non  et  perfidus  orbi. 
[L. ,  a  man  faithless  to  God,  but  not  faithless  to 
the  world  a/so.]  So  the  Christian  poet  Pruden- 
tius  speaks  of  Julian  the  Apostate  as  being 
"a  lover  of  his  country,"  and  one  who  "de- 
served the  empire  of  the  world"  (vide  Gibbon's 
Decline  and  Fall,  ch.  xxii.,  ad  fin.}. 

Perfoliate  stem.  (Bot.}  One  which  apparently 
pierces,  goes  through  the  leaf  [L.  per  folium]  ;  in 
reality  the  lobes  of  the  leaf  are  not  only  am- 
tlexicaul  (q.v.),  but  grow  together  where  their 
margins  come  in  contact.  P.  leaf,  one  through 
which  the  stem  passes  ;  e.g.  yellow-wort,  chlSra. 
Pergunnah.  [Hind,  pargana.]  In  British 
India,  a  district  comprising  several  villages,  and 
forming  part  of  a  zillah. 

Peri.  [Pers.  peri,  masc.  and  fern.  (?)  from 
per,  a  wing  =  winged  (Littre).]  A  fairy,  good 


genius,   offspring  of  fallen   spirits   excluded   at 
present  from  paradise.     (Fairies.) 
Peri-.     [Gr.  iff  pi,  around.} 
Perianth.     [Gr.  irepi,  aroimd,  &vQos,  a  flower.} 
(Bot.}     A  floral  envelope,  in  which  calyx  and 
corolla,  though  often  both  present,  are  not  easily 
distinguished  ;  e.g.  crocus,  tulip,  lily. 

Peribolos.  [Gr.,  from  irepf,  around,  jSoAAeo, 
/  cast.}  (Arch.}  The  walled  inclosure  of  a 
temple. 

Pericardium.  [Gr.  T&  irepiKaptiiov.}  (Anat.} 
The  membrane  which  surrounds  the  heart 
[/capSia]. 

Pericarp.  [Gr.  vept,  around,  Kapir6s,  fruit.} 
(Bot. }  All  that  is  around  the  fruit  or  the  ripened 
seed;  i.e.  usually  the  Epicarp  [em,  upon}  or 
outermost  layer ;  with  Mesocarp,  the  middle 
[fj.€<ros],  and  Endocarp  [Iz/Sov,  within},  the 
innermost.  In  peach,  cherry,  plum,  M.  is  the 
fleshy  part,  End.  is  the  stone. 

Perichondrium.  [Gr.  X^POS*  cartilage.} 
Fibrous  tissue,  investing  the  cartilages. 

Periclinal.  [Gr.  irept,  around,  K\ii>w,  I  bend.} 
(Geol.}  Dome-shaped  strata  dipping  away  out- 
wards in  every  direction,  like  basins  placed  one 
over  another.  (Quaquaversal  strata.) 

Pericope.  [Gr.  irepiKoir-f),  a  section.}  (Theol.} 
A  passage  of  the  Bible  extracted  for  the  purpose 
of  reading  in  any  portion  of  the  ritual. 

Pericranium.  [Gr.  77  wept/cpai/ios,  sc.  XIT&V, 
clothing.}  (Anat.)  The  membrane  which  invests 
the  bones  of  the  skull  [npavlov]. 

Periculosae  plenum  opus  aleee.  [L.]  A  task 
of  dangerous  hazard  (Horace). 

Peridot.  [Ar.  feridet,  a  precious  stone.}  A 
variety  of  chrysolite.  (Topaz.) 

Peridrome.  [Gr.  irepiSpo/xos,  from  iff  pi,  around, 
5p6fjLos,  a  course.}  (Arch.}  In  a  Peripteral 
temple,  the  space  between  the  walls  of  the  cella 
and  the  columns. 

Perigee.  [Gr.  irepiyeios,  about  or  around  the 
earth.}  The  point  of  the  moon's  orbit  nearest 
the  earth. 

Perihelion.  [Gr.  irepi,  about  or  around,  ^\toy, 
the  sun.}  (Astron.}  The  point  of  the  orbit 
of  planet  or  comet  nearest  the  sun. 

Perijove.  [Gr.  irfpi,  around,  L.  Jovem,  Jupi- 
ter.] (Astron.)  The  point  in  its  orbit  at  which 
any  one  of  his  satellites  is  nearest  to  Jupiter. 

Periko.  (Naut.}  Bengalese  boat  of  burden, 
undecked. 

Perils,  or  Perils  of  the  sea.  (Naut.}  Not 
dangers,  but  accidents,  unpreventable  by  care 
and  skill  of  the  master  and  crew. 

Perimeter.  [Gr.  irepfyterpoy,  the  line  forming 
a  circumference. }  The  length  of  the  sum  of  the 
sides  of  any  inclosed  space. 

Per  incuriam.  [L.]  By  an  oversight,  through 
want  of  care ;  e.g.  the  Act  which  substituted  the 
Judicial  Committee  of  the  Privy  Council  for  the 
Court  of  Delegates  created,  per  inc.,  a  new 
Final  Court  of  Appeal  in  spiritual  causes. 

Period.  [Gr.  irepiotios,  a  circuit.}  1.  (Rhet.) 
A  sentence,  the  meaning  of  which  cannot  be  fully 
apprehended  before  its  close.  2.  (Math.)  When 
an  algebraical  or  numerical  expression  consists 
of  a  number  of  groups  of  terms,  or  when  it  has 


PERI 


373 


PERR 


a  number  of  groups  of  values,  each  group  con- 
sisting of  the  same  elements  in  the  same  order, 
any  one  group  is  a  P.  ;  as  in  the  number 
2*5732732732,  etc.,  the  group  732  is  a  period. 
3.  The  time  in  which  an  harmonic  motion  goes 
through  one  complete  set  of  changes.  4.  In 
Printing,  a  completed  sentence ;  hence  a  full 
stop. 

Periodical  colours.  Such  as  recur  according 
to  a  fixed  scale  ;  as  in  Newton's  rings,  and  other 
interference  phenomena. 

Periodic  function ;  P.  time.  One  whose  suc- 
cessive values  keep  on  recurring  in  the  same 
order.  The  F.  time  of  a  planet  is  the  time  in 
which  it  makes  one  complete  revolution. 

Perioecians,  or  Perioikoi.  In  Gr.  Hist.,  the 
freemen  of  the  Laconian  townships,  as  distin- 
guished from  the  genuine  Spartiates,  or  citizens 
of  Sparta  itself. 

Periosteum.  [Gr.  TrepiSffreos,  from  ir*pi, 
around,  6<rrcov,  bone.}  (Anat.)  Membrane 
which  invests  the  bones  generally. 

Peripatetics.  [Gr.  irepnTart]riK6s.}  The  philo- 
sophers of  the  school  of  Aristotle,  who  instructed 
his  pupils  in  a  irepiVaroy,  or  covered  walk,  of 
the  Lyceum  at  Athens,  but  not,  as  has  been  sup- 
posed, walking  up  and  down  during  the  whole 
time  of  instruction. 

Periphery.     Circumference  [Gr.  wepiQepeid]. 

Periphrasis.  [Gr.]  (Rhet.)  The  use  of 
several  words  to  denote  a  single  object,  which  for 
whatever  reason  it  is  thought  better  not  to  name. 

Periplus.  [Gr.  Trfpiir\ovs.]  1.  Lit.  a  sailing 
round,  or  circumnavigation.  2.  The  narrative 
of  such  a  voyage  as  the  Periplus  of  Scylax 
(Skylax),  in  the  time  of  Augustus,  and  of  Cosmas, 
called  Indicopleustes  from  his  voyages  to  the 
East. 

Peripteral.  [Gr.  ireplirrepos.]  (Arch.)  A 
building  surrounded  with  a  wing,  aisle,  or  pas- 
sage. With  the  ancient  Greeks,  a  temple  sur- 
rounded by  a  single  row  of  columns,  those  with 
two  rows  being  called  dipteral. 

Peris.    (Peri.) 

Periscians.  [Gr.  irepla-Kios,  from  ircpl,  and 
cr/aa.  shadow.}  In  Geog.,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Arctic  and  Antarctic  circles,  whose  shadows 
describe  an  entire  circumference  in  their  summer 
season. 

Periscopic.  [Gr.  irepiffKOTrfM,  1  look  round.} 
Viewing  on  all  sides. 

Periscopic  spectacles.  Those  furnished  with 
meniscus  lenses  to  increase  the  distinctness  of 
vision  when  objects  are  viewed  obliquely. 

Perissodactyla.  [Gr.  irfpia-<ro-SdKrv\os,  id.} 
(Anat.)  Having  an  odd  number  of  toes,  as  the 
horse,  all  being  inclosed  in  a  single  envelope ; 
a  div.  of  Ungulata. 

Peristaltic  [Gr.  -rrepiffraXriK^s,  clasping  and 
compressing}  action.  (Med.)  Especially  of  the 
bowels  ;  that  vermicular  action,  of  alternate  con- 
traction and  relaxation,  by  which  their  contents 
are  propelled  throughout. 

Peristyle.  [Gr.  irtpKnvXiov,  from  irfpi,  around, 
ffrvXos,  a  column.}  (Arch.)  A  court,  or  clois- 
ter, with  columns  on  three  sides. 

Peritoneum.     [Gr.    irepiT6va.iov,    irepi-Tfivw,    I 


stretch  around.}  (Anat.)  A  large  serous  mem- 
brane, more  or  less  investing  all  the  viscera  lying 
in  the  abdominal  and  pelvic  cavities,  and  then 
reflected  upon  the  walls  of  the  abdomen. 

Perkinism  (Dr.  Perkins,  inventor).  The  use 
of  metallic  tractors  (q.v.). 

Permanent  rotation,  Axis  of.  (Principal 
axis.) 

Permian  system  (developed  in  district  of  Perm, 
Russia)  (Geol.)  =  Lower  New  Red  Sandstones  + 
magnesian  limestones,  marlslate,  etc. ;  in  Germ, 
called  Dyas  [Gr.  Svds,  a  group  of  two} ;  cf. 
the  word  Triassic. 

Permissu  superiorum.  [L.]  With  the  leave 
of  the  superiors ;  a  phrase  used  in  the  Latin 
Church  for  books  issued  with  authority. 

Permitte  Divis  caetera.  [L.,  leave  the  rest  to 
the  gods  (Horace).]  Do  your  duty,  and  trust  the 
rest  to  God. 

Permutations  of  things.  The  different  orders 
in  which  they  can  be  arranged  ;  as,  ab,  ba,  ac,  ca, 
be,  cb,  are  the  permutations  of  a,  b,  c,  taken  two 
and  two  together. 

Per  my  et  per  tout.  In  Law,  joint-tenants 
are  said  to  be  so  seised,  i.e.  by  the  half  and  by 
all ;  each  having  entire  possession  of  every 
parcel  of  land  as  well  as  of  the  aggregate 
whole. 

Pernancy.  [Norm.  Fr.  perner.]  (Leg.)  The 
receipt  or  enjoyment  of  the  profits  of  an  estate, 
the  receiver  being  called  the  Pernor. 

Pernoctation.     [L.  pernocto,  I  pass  the  night} 

1.  (Med.)     Passing   the  night   in  sleeplessness. 

2.  ( Theol. )     In  watching  and  prayer. 
Pernor.    ( Pernancy. ) 

Peroration.  [L.  perorationem,  a  speaking 
through ;  i.e.  reaching  the  end  of  a  speech.] 
The  last  part  of  an  oration,  containing  generally 
a  summary  and  application  of  the  arguments. 

Perpendicular.  [L.  perpendlculum,  adj.  -aris, 
a  plumb-line.}  (Fortif.)  The  line  drawn  in- 
wards at  right  angles  to  the  centre  of  each  side 
of  the  polygon  till  it  strikes  the  lines  of  defence 
(q.v.)  drawn  from  the  angles  of  the  polygon. 

Perpendicular  style.  The  latest  style  of 
genuine  English  architecture ;  also  called  Con- 
tinuous. Its  later  or  Debased  form  immediately 
preceded  or  accompanied  the  Renaissance,  or 
classical  revival.  (Geometrical  style.) 

Perpendt  stone.  (Arch.)  A  stone  which  goes 
through  the  walls ;  also  called  Perpender,  Per- 


Perpeyn  wall.  A  pier  or  buttress,  built  in 
Perpendt  ashlar. 

Per  recte  et  retro.  (Music.}  Lit.  by  forward 
and  backward ;  said  when  the  order  may  be 
reversed ;  e.g.  Crotch's  chant  in  G,  the  third 
part  being  =  first  (and  the  fourth  =  second) 
played  backwards.  (Inversion.) 

Perron.  [Fr. ,  for  pierron,  from  pierre,  a  stone, 
Gr.  Trfrpa.}  (Arch.)  An  external  staircase, 
steps  leading  to  a  first  story. 

Perruquier.  [Fr.]  One  who  makes  perukes, 
or  wigs. 

Perry.  1.  [Fr.  poire,  from  poire,  a  pear.}  The 
fermented  liquor  made  from  pears.  2.  In  Naut. 
slang,  a  sudden  squall. 


PERS 


374 


PETI 


Persaltum.  [L.]  By  a  leap  (as  when  any 
one  is  promoted  to  a  high  dignity  without 
passing  through  the  intermediate  grades). 

Per  se.    [L.,  by  itself, ]     In  itself. 

Persephone.  [Gr.]  (Myth.)  The  daughter 
of  Demeter,  and  wife  of  Hades.  (Eleusinian 
Mysteries.) 

Persian  berries.  A  kind  of  yellow  berries 
used  in  dyeing. 

Persiani.    [It.]    Venetian  blinds. 

Persian  powder.  The  pulverized  flowers  of 
Pyrellivum  carneum,  a  native  of  the  Caucasus  ;  a 
valuable  insecticide ;  used  in  Russia,  Persia, 
Turkey,  Britain,  France. 

Persian  ware.  A  fine  fayence  (Gombroon) 
approximating  to  porcelain  brilliantly  enamelled. 

Persicot.  [Fr.,  from  L.  persicum,  a  peach,] 
A  liqueur  made  of  the  kernels  of  stone  fruits. 

Persiflage.  [Fr.  persifler,  from  per,  the  L. 
per,  an  intens.  particle,  and  siffler,  to  hiss, 
•whistle,  L.  sibilare,  through  a  popular  form 
sifilare,  according  to  Brachet.]  Bantering, 
quizzing. 

Persis.     A  kind  of  dye  obtained  from  lichens. 

Persistent.  [L.  persistentem,  remaining.} 
(Dot.)  Not  falling  off;  as  the  petals  of  St.  John's 
wort,  Hypericum. 

Person.  As  in  Acts  x.  34  and  elsewhere,  "  re- 
specter of  persons ; "  the  part  or  rdle  in  a  play,  L. 
persona  being  (i)  a  mask,  (2)  a  part  acted  ;  so 
also  Gr.  irpuffwirov,  i.e.  with  God  the  question  is 
not  what  person  each  sustains,  but  how. — 
Trench,  Select  Glossary. 

Personable.  1.  Graceful,  or  well  formed,  in 
body.  2.  In  Law,  able  to  maintain  pleas  in 
court. 

Personal  equation.  (Astron.)  The  correction 
to  be  applied  to  an  astronomical  observation  on 
account  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  nervous  system 
of  the  observer  at  the  time  of  observation.  In 
virtue  of  these  organic  peculiarities,  one  observer 
will  note  the  occurrence  of  a  phenomenon  (such 
as  the  bisection  of  a  star  by  a  wire  of  a  transit 
instrument)  some  tenths  of  a  second  earlier  or 
later  than  another  would  note  it. 

Personal  identity.    (Identity,  Personal.) 

Personate  flower.  [L.  persona,  a  mask.] 
(Bot.)  A  labiate  with  compressed  lips ;  e.g.  snap- 
dragon. 

Personnel.  [Fr.]  The  body  of  persons  em- 
ployed in  any  occupation,  as  distinguished  from 
the  materiel  on  which  they  work. 

Perspective  [L.  perspectives,  belonging  to  close 
inspection},  Aerial ;  IsometricalP.;  Linear  P.;  P. 
projection.  The  geometrical  art  of  representing 
on  paper  the  appearance  of  a  solid  body  as  seen 
by  a  single  eye  in  a  given  position.  If  lines  sup- 
posed to  be  drawn  from  the  eye  to  the  boundaries 
of  the  body  are  cut  by  a  plane,  their  points  of 
intersection  with  the  plane  give  the  required  re- 
presentation, or  its  P.  projection.  The  position  of 
the  eye  is  the  point  of  sight,  or  projecting  point ; 
the  plane — which  in  most  cases  is  supposed  to 
be  vertical — is  the  plane  of  projection  or  of  the 
picture.  Aerial  P.  refers  to  the  gradations  of 
colours  according  to  distance.  (For  Isometrical 
P.,  vide  Iso-.) 


Perth,  Five  Articles  of.  Voted  by  the  Scotch 
bishops  at  the  General  Assembly  at  Perth,  1618, 
to  serve  as  a  basis  for  Liturgy  and  Canons. 

Perturbation.  [L.  perturbatio,  -nem,  disorder.] 
(Astron.)  An  inequality  in  the  motion  of  moon 
or  planet  not  included  in  the  expression  of 
Kepler's  laws,  and  arising,  in  the  case  of 
primary  planets,  from  their  mutual  gravitation  ; 
and  in  the  case  of  the  moon,  from  the  unequal 
attraction  of  the  sun  on  the  earth  and  moon. 

Peruvian  bark.     I.q.  cinchona  (q.v.). 

Pescblto.  [Syr.]  The  earliest  Syriac  version 
of  the  Scriptures  ;  so  called  as  being  simple  and 
literal,  rendering  word  for  word.  Introduced 
into  Europe  in  the  sixteenth  century. 

Pessimism.    (Theodicaea.) 

Pessimist.    (Optimist.) 

Pestalozzian  method  of  teaching.  So  far  as 
it  can  be  given  in  a  few  words — concrete,  and 
by  means  of  objects  themselves  ;  with  graduated 
lessons,  personal  study  of  individual  children 
and  their  separate  minds,  character,  etc.  To  no 
one  has  primary  instruction  been  more  indebted 
than  to  Pestalozzi,  of  Zurich  (1745-1827). 

Petal.  [Gr.  WraXoi/,  a  leaf.}  (Bot.)  One 
of  the  parts  of  a  corolla  when  this  is  made  up 
of  many  pieces ;  when  all  in  one  piece,  it  is  styled 
monopetalous. 

Petalism.  [Gr.  ireraXifffjL^s,  from  ir4ra.\ov,  a 
leaf.]  In  Gr.  Hist.,  the  Syracusan  form  of  what 
at  Athens  was  known  as  Ostracism,  leaves  being 
used  by  the  voters  instead  of  shells.  The  exile 
also  lasted  only  five  years  instead  of  ten. 

Petard.  [Fr.]  (Mil.)  Metal  explosive  case 
formerly  used  for  blowing  open  gates. 

Petasus.  [Gr.  WTOO-OS.]  (Gr.  Ant.)  A 
broad-brimmed  hat,  used  by  travellers.  Such 
a  hat  with  wings  is  an  emblem  of  Hermes. 

Petate.  (Central  Amer.  name  for  a  palm  mat. ) 
Dried  palm  leaves  or  grass  used  for  plaiting  into 
hats  and  mats. 

Petechiae.  [It.  petecchia,  L.  petlgo,  an  ertip- 
tion.]  (Med.)  Purple  spots  of  effused  blood, 
like  flea-bites,  in  the  skin,  appearing  in  some 
severe  fevers,  as  typhus. 

Peter-boat.  ( Naut. )  A  Thames  and  Medway 
fishing-boat,  about  twenty-five  feet  by  six  feet, 
shallow  with  sharp  stem  and  stern,  with  a  fish- 
well  amidships. 

Peterloo  Massacre.  The  dispersal  by  the 
military  of  a  large  meeting,  chiefly  of  operatives, 
held  in  St.  Peter's  Field,  Manchester,  July  16, 
1819,  to  agitate  for  Parliamentary  reform.  (P. 
a  sarcastic  name,  suggested  by  Waterloo.) 
(Blanketeers.) 

Peter's  fish.  A  haddock ;  so  called  because 
the  spots  on  either  side  are  supposed  to  be  the 
mark  of  St.  Peter's  fingers  impressed  on  the  fish 
which  he  caught  to  pay  the  tribute. 

Peter's  pence.  Originally  a  voluntary  offering 
by  the  faithful  to  the  Roman  see.  Afterwards 
levied  from  every  house,  under  the  name  of 
Romefeoh,  or  Romescot.  In  this  country  the 
impost  was  finally  abolished  under  Henry  VIII. 

Petiole.  [L.  petiolus,  a  little  foot,  a  stalk.  ] 
(Bot.)  A  leaf-stalk  ;  which,  with  the  blade  or 
limb,  makes  up  the  leaf. 


PETI 


375 


PHAR 


Petit  bourgeois.    [Fr.]    A  second-rate  citizen. 

Petitioners  and  Abhorrers.     (Abhorrers.) 

Petition  of  Right.  An  enactment  of  the  Par- 
liament of  1628  ;  so  named  to  make  it  clear 
that  the  franchises  or  rights  specified  in  it  were 
not  newly  gained,  and  that  the  statute  merely 
explained  the  existing  constitution.  (Bill,  or 
Declaration,  of  Bights.) 

Petitio  principli.  [L. ,  a  demand  of  the  prin- 
ciple.'} (Log.)  A  begging  of  the  question  ;  that 
is,  the  treating  of  a  proposition  as  already  proved, 
when  it  is  only  a  premiss  of  the  Syllogism  by 
which  it  is  to  be  proved. 

Petit  litterateur.  [Fr.]  A  dabbler  in  litera- 
ture. 

Petit  maitre.  [Fr.,  a  little  master, ,]  A  cox- 
comb. 

Petit  mal.    [Fr.]    (Haut  mal.) 

Petit  soins.  [Fr.,  small  cares, ,]  Little  atten- 
tions. 

Petrel.  [(?)  Dim.  of  Peter,  as  seeming  to  walk 
on  the  waves  ;  cf.  Ger.  Peter's  vogel.]  (Ornith.) 
A  cosmopolitan  gen.  of  sea-birds,  as  the  stormy 
petrels,  Mother  Carey 's  chickens;  about  six  inches 
long  ;  black,  with  white  on  wings  and  rump.  Pro- 
cellaria,  fam.  Procellariidoe,  ord.  Anse'res.  "  The 
most  aerial  and  oceanic  of  birds,"  yet  one  spec. 
(Puffmuria.  Berardi,  Tierra  del  Fuego)  has  the 
appearance  and  habits  of  the  auk,  or  grebe. 

Petrine  Liturgy.  That  of  St.  Peter,  or  the 
Roman.  (Liturgy.) 

Petrobrusians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers 
of  Peter  Brueys,  or  De  Bruys,  who  in  the  twelfth 
century  denounced  the  vices  of  the  clergy,  and 
gained  many  disciples  in  S.  France. 

Petroleum  springs.  [L.  petra,  rock,  oleum, 
oil.]  Naphtha,  etc.  ;  liquid  bitumens  found  in 
several  parts  of  Europe,  in  Persia,  W.  Indies, 
and  in  profuse  abundance  in  U.S.  and  Canada. 

Petty  average,  (Naut.)  Charges  for  tow- 
ing, etc.,  borne  partly  by  ship  and  partly  by 
cargo. 

Petty  bag.  A  little  bag  or  sack  in  which  some 
of  the  writs  issuing  out  of  a  court  or  office  of 
Common  Law  (which,  with  the  Court  of  Equity, 
made  up  the  Court  of  Chancery)  were  originally 
kept.  Other  writs  issuing  out  of  the  same 
court  (i.e.  of  Common  Law)  were  generally  kept 
in  a  hamper.  Whence  the  Hanaper  Office. 
(Hanaper.) 

Petty  jury.  In  Law,  the  jury  who  give  their 
verdict  in  criminal  cases  for  which  a  true  bill 
has  been  found  by  the  grand  jury. 

Petty  larceny.  The  stealing  of  goods  below 
the  value  of  one  shilling,  thefts  of  larger  amounts 
being  known  as  Grand  larceny.  The  distinction 
was  abolished  in  1807. 

Petty  officers.  (Naut.)  Sailors  of  first  class, 
ranking  with  non-commissioned  officers  in  the 
army. 

Petty  sessions.  As  distinguished  from  Quarter 
sessions,  a  court  constituted  by  two  or  more 
justices  of  the  peace. 

Petuntse.    [Chin.]    (Peh-tun-tze.) 

Peutingerian  table,  or  map  (so  called  from 
Conrad  Peutinger,  who  first  made  it  generally 
known).  A  map  of  the  ancient  Roman  roads ; 

25 


supposed  to  have  been  drawn  up  early  in  the 
third  century. 

Pewter.  [Ger.  spiauter.]  An  alloy  of  four 
parts  of  tin  and  one  of  lead. 

Pfahlbauten.  Pile-dwellings.  (Lake-dwell- 
ings.) 

Pfennig.  [Ger.]  A  coin  worth  about  an  eighth 
or  a  twelfth  of  a  penny  j  in  N.  Germany  the  5Jgth 
part  of  a  thaler ;  in  S.  Germany  the  5jgth  part 
of  a  florin  or  gulden. 

Phaeacians.  [Gr.  <paia.Kfs.]  (Myth.)  In  the 
Odyssey,  the  inhabitants  of  an  island  called 
SchSria,  whose  ships  have  the  powers  of  thought 
and  speech,  and  perform  their  voyages  without 
rudder,  tackling,  oarsmen,  or  sails.  They  are, 
in  other  words,  the  dwellers  in  Cloud-land,  and 
are,  in  fact,  the  clouds. 

Phaenogams.    (Cryptogams.) 

Phaethon.  [Gr.,  clear-shining.]  (Myth.) 
The  child  of  the  sun,  Helios,  who,  being  en- 
trusted with  his  father's  chariot,  lost  control 
over  the  horses,  who,  approaching  too  near  the 
earth,  scorched  it  up.  He  was  killed  by  a 
thunderbolt  of  Zeus. 

Phalanger.  [From  phalanx  (q.v.).]  (Zool.) 
A  marsupial  quadruped,  of  gen.  Phalarista. 
Australia,  Tasmania,  etc.  Nocturnal  in  habits, 
and  living  in  trees. 

Phalanges.  [Gr.  <pa\ayyfs.]  (A  not.)  In 
men  and  animals,  the  small  bones  of  the  fingers 
and  toes. 

Phalanstery.  [Fr.  phalanstere,  said  to  be 
from  Gr.  <f>d\ay£,  phalanx,  orepetJs,  firm.]  The 
dwelling  of  a  Fourierite  association,  maintaining 
community  of  property  and  goods. 

Phalanx.  [Gr.]  The  order  of  battle  in  which 
the  Greek  Hoplites  were  usually  drawn  up. 

Phalaris,  Epistles  of.  A  collection  of  forged 
letters,  ascribed  to  Phalaris,  tyrant  of  Akragas 
(Agrigentum),  in  Sicily  ;  known  chiefly  through 
the  controversy  on  the  subject  of  their  spurious- 
ness,  between  Bentley,  and  Boyle  who  maintained 
that  they  were  genuine. 

Phanariots.  Greek  officials  of  Constantinople  ; 
so  called  as  living  in  the  Phanar,  the  quarter  of 
the  city  in  which  the  patriarch  resided. — Fin- 
lay,  Hist,  of  Greece,  iv.  252. 

Phanerogams.     (Cryptogams.) 

Phantasmagoria.  [Gr.  ^curoo-pa,  an  appear- 
ance, aydpu),  I  bring  together.]  An  exhibition, 
of  images  thrown  on  a  screen  by  a  magic  lantern. 

Pharisees.  [Heb.  perushim,  separated.]  A 
religious  party  among  the  Jews,  who  held  that 
God  revealed  to  Moses  an  oral  law  (Masorah), 
which  had  been  handed  down  by  tradition,  to 
supplement  the  written  Law,  and  that  this  oral 
law  declared  the  continuance  of  life  after  death 
and  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  (Sadducees.) 

Pharmacopoeia.  [Gr.  <pa.pfjio.KQv,  a  drug,  irotew, 
I  make.]  An  authoritative  work,  giving  direc- 
tions for  the  preparation  of  medicinal  substances. 

Pharos.  1.  An  island  at  the  mouth  of  the 
harbour  of  Alexandria,  on  which  a  lighthouse 
was  erected.  2.  Any  lighthouse. 

Pharynx.  [Gr.  tpapvyi-,  throat,  pharynx], 
(Anat. )  That  part  of  the  alimentary  canal  which 
lies  behind  the  nose,  mouth,  and  larynx. 


PHAS 


376 


PHOS 


Phase.  1.  (Astron.)  A  change  of  appear- 
ance [Gr.  Qdffis]  of  moon  or  planet  caused  by  a 
larger  or  smaller  portion  of  its  illuminated  surface 
being  visible.  2.  (Phys.)  The  propagation  of 
a  wave-motion  through  a  medium  is  due  to  each 
particle  in  succession  being  caused  to  make 
small  oscillations  like  those  of  a  pendulum; 
the  P.  of  the  motion  of  a  particle  is  the 
fractional  part  of  the  time  of  one  oscillation  since 
it  last  passed  through  its  position  of  rest  in  the 
direction  of  the  wave-motion. 

Phasianidae.  [Gr.  QartavJs,  pheasant,  the 
bird  of  the  Phasis,  or  Rheon,  in  Colchis,  now 
Faisz-Rhioni,  in  Georgia.]  (Ornith.)  Fam.  of 
birds  comprising  pheasants,  peacocks,  guinea- 
fowl,  turkeys,  and  jungle-fowl.  Almost  cos- 
mopolitan, but  chiefly  E.  Asia.  Ord.  Gallmae. 

Pheiditia.  [Gr.]  A  later  name  for  the 
Spartan  Syssitia. 

Phenakism.  [Gr.  ^evaKJtr/io's,  from  ^CI/OK^, 
false  hair.']  Saying  what  is  not  meant,  cheating. 

Phenakistoscope.  [Gr.  ^ewKto-T^s,  a  cheat, 
ffKoirfw,  I  look  at. ,]  A  toy,  in  which  advantage 
is  taken  of  the  persistence  for  an  appreciable 
time  of  an  impression  on  the  retina,  to  make  a 
succession  of  pictures  imitate  the  movements 
of  animals.  There  are  several  toys  founded  on 
the  same  principle,  called  by  different  names, 
as  the  Thaumatrope  [davfia,  wonder,  rpoir-fi,  a 
turning\,  the  Zoetrope  \Qiaov,  an  animal)  or 
Wheel  of  life,  Faraday's  wheel,  etc. 

Phenic  acid.  [Gr.  <pom£, purple  red.]  (Chem.) 
Carbolic  acid. 

Phenicine.  [Gr.  $oivi%,  red.'}  A  purple 
powder  obtained  from  indigo. 

Phenix.  [Gr.  tyo'ivi^.}  (Myth.)  A  marvellous 
bird,  said  to  live  500  or  600  years  in  the  desert, 
and  then  to  kindle  its  own  funeral  pyre,  from 
which  it  emerged  with  a  new  life.  It  thus 
became  a  symbol  of  immortality.  But  this  story 
is  told  with  many  variations. 

Pheon.  [O.Fr.]  (Her.)  A  cross-bow  bolt, 
shaped  like  a  broad  arrow-head. 

Phigaleian  marbles.  A  part  of  the  collection 
in  the  British  Museum,  known  as  the  Elgin 
marbles.  They  were  discovered  near  the  site 
of  the  Arcadian  town  Phigaleia. 

Philabeg.    (Ffflibeg.) 

Philhellene.  [Gr.  f*£»,  I  love,  "E\\f]V€s, 
Greeks.)  One  strongly  attached  to  the  cause  of 
Greece  in  the  present  day. 

Philibeg.    (Pbilabeg.) 

Philippics.  1.  Orations  of  Demosthenes 
against  the  policy  of  Philip,  King  of  Macedonia 
and  father  of  Alexander  the  Great.  2.  The 
name  was  applied  to  the  speeches  by  which 
Cicero  drove  Marcus  Antonius  from  Rome ;  and 
hence,  3,  to  severe  invectives  generally. 

Philistinism.  A  word  used  to  describe  the 
supposed  lack  of  sweetness  and  light  in  inferiors 
by  those  who  think  themselves  superior. 

Philoctetes,  Arrows  of.  (Myth.)  Weapons 
without  which  Troy  could  not  be  taken,  and 
which  had  belonged  to  the  hero  Heracles 
(Hercules). 

Philology.  [Gr.  </>iA.oA.o"yfo,  love  of  words. ~\ 
The  study  of  language,  especially  for  purposes 


of  science,  which  chiefly  rests  on  the  comparison 
of  languages— the  method  used  being  that  of 
Comparative  philology. 

Philosopher's  stone.  A  stone  by  which,  when 
obtained  by  a  long  series  of  processes,  the  al- 
chemists believed  that  they  would  be  able  to 
transmute  the  baser  metals  into  gold. 

Philter,  Philtre.  [Gr.  <pi\rpov.}  A  drug 
or  potion  supposed  by  the  ancient  Greeks  and 
Romans  to  have  the  power  of  exciting  love. 

Phlebotomy.  [Gr.  <t>\e&orop.ia.,  from  Q\ty, 
<J>Ae/8</s,  a  vein,  TO/JLTJ,  ctitting.~)  (Med.)  The 
opening  of  a  vein  for  blood-letting. 

Phlegethon.  [Gr.,  burning.}  (Myth.)  One 
of  the  rivers  of  the  infernal  regions ;  called  also 
Pyriphlegethon,  flaming  ivithjire. 

Phlegmatic.  [Gr.  ^\4yp.a.,  (i)  inflammation, 
(2)  as  its  result  a  cold  watery  humour.}  1. 
Abounding  in  phlegm.  2.  Cold,  sluggish,  not 
easily  excited. 

Phlegreean  Plains.  The  volcanic  region  of 
Campania,  in  Italy,  was  so  called.  The  Greek 
Phlegra  denotes  any  burning  land. 

Phlogiston.  [Gr.  ty\oyi<nov,  neut.  adj.,  in- 
flammable.} An  imaginary  principle  of  com- 
bustion, resident  in  matter,  and  accounting  for 
combustion.  (Stahlianism.) 

Phocidee.  [Gr.  ^KTJ,  seal.}  (Zool.)  The  seal 
family,  aquatic  carmvora. 

Phoebus  Apollo.  [Gr.  *o?j8os  'Air<*A\o>i/.]  The 
sun-god  of  the  Greeks,  born  in  Delos,  the  bright 
land,  ruling  in  Lycia,  the  land  of  light,  and 
having  his  great  sanctuary  at  Delphi,  under 
Mount  Parnassus.  His  face  and  form  were 
represented  as  the  perfection  of  beauty,  no  razor 
being  suffered  to  touch  the  golden  locks  (rays) 
which  streamed  over  his  shoulders.  (Ortygian 
shore.) 

Pholas.  [Gr.  qwXfa,  lurking  in  a  hole  ($»A.e<fe).] 
(Zool.)  Gen.  of  bivalve  molluscs,  giving  its 
name  to  fain.  Phol&didae  (piddocks  and  ship- 
worms),  boring  holes  in  wood  and  stone.  Class 
Conchifera. 

Phonetic  spelling.  [Gr.  <j>ou/^,  a  sound.'}  1.  A 
system  which  aims  at  spelling  the  words  of  all 
languages  precisely  according  to  their  sound. 
The  difficulty  seems  to  be  to  arrive  at  an  agree- 
ment as  to  the  signs  which  are  to  represent  these 
sounds,  and  2,  to  ensure  uniformity,  and  3,  per- 
manence, in  vowel-pronunciation. 

Phonetic  writing.  Writing  in  which  signs 
represent  sounds,  as  distinguished  from  ideo- 
graphic, in  which  signs  represent  objects.  (Hie- 
roglyphics.) 

Phonolite.    (Clinkstone.) 

Phonology,  Phonetics.  [Gr.  QwriTiito's,  having 
to  do  with  Qtoff),  sound,  the  sound  of  the  voice.} 
The  science  of  articulation  ;  the  science  of  vocal 
sounds  in  their  relation  to  language. 

Phosphor.  1.  (Astron.)  The  planet  Venus 
when  appearing  as  the  morning  star  [Gr.  tfxixr- 
<(>6pos,  i.e.  the  light -bringer).  2.  (Chem.)  One 
of  the  elements,  resembling  yellow  wax,  very 
inflammable.  Baldwin's  phosphorus,  fused 
nitrate  of  lime,  which,  after  exposure  to  the  sun, 
emits  light  in  the  dark.  Cantoris  phosphorus,  a 
substance  possessing  the  same  properties,  and 


PHOS 


377 


PICA 


made  by  exposing  calcined  oyster-shells  and 
sulphur  to  a  red  heat. 

Phosphorus.    (Phosphor.) 

Photinians.  (EccL  Hist.)  Followers  of  Pho- 
tmus,  who,  in  the  fourth  century,  maintained 
opinions  akin  to  those  of  the  Cerinthians, 
Ebionites,  and  Sabellians. 

Photography.  [Gr.  <pa>s,  gen.  <pcar6s,  light, 
ypd<pw,  I  write.]  The  art  of  producing  a  picture 
by  the  agency  of  light. 

Photolithography.  [Gr.  <f><£y,  <p<ar6s,  light, 
and  lithography.]  A  mode  of  lithographing  in 
which  a  photographic  picture  is  taken  on  the 
prepared  stone. 

Photometer.  [Gr.  <p£>s,  <pa>r6s,  light,  ^rpov, 
a  measure.]  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
intensity  of  a  light  with  reference  to  some  other 
light  taken  as  a  standard. 

Photophone.  Professor  Graham  Bell's  instru- 
ment which,  by  the  agency  of  a  beam  of  light 
[Gr.  Qws,  <p(ar6s],  reproduces  sounds  and  articu- 
late speech  [</>o>i/^,  sound,  voice"]  in  distant  places. 
This  invention  has  lately  led  to  the  discovery 
that  light  may  not  only  be  made  to  convey 
sounds,  but  actually  to  produce  them  by  its 
action  upon  most  known  substances. 

Photosphere.  [Gr.  <pus,  light,  atydipa,  sphere.] 
(Astron.)  The  luminous  envelope  surrounding 
the  sun. 

Photozincography.  [Gr.  $£>s,  $<ar6s,  light, 
and  zincography.]  Printing  from  prepared  zinc 
plates,  on  which  a  photograph  has  been  taken. 

Phratry.  [Gr.  <pparpia,  a  brotherhood,  or  clan.~\ 
In  Gr.  Hist.,  the  union  of  a  certain  number  of 
families  by  the  bond  of  a  common  worship.  It 
answered  to  the  Latin  gens.  The  union  of  a 
certain  number  of  Phratries  on  the  same  prin- 
ciples formed  a  Phyle,  or  tribe  ;  and  the  like 
union  of  tribes  constituted  a  Polis,  or  city,  Latin 
populus.  (Apaturia.) 

Phrenetic.  [Gr.  <ppet>lTtK6s.]  A  madman  ;  a 
frantic  person  is  lit.  suffering  from  phrenitis. 

Phrenic.      Relating  to  the  diaphragm   [Gr. 


Phrenitis.     [Gr.  QptvtTis.]    (Meningitis.) 

Phrygian  mode.     (Greek  modes.) 

Phrygians.  (EccL  Hist.}  An  early  Christian 
sect  ;  so  called  as  abounding  in  Phrygia,  and 
following  the  teaching  of  Montanus.  (Montan- 
ists.) 

Phtheiriasis.  [Gr.  <peeipid<ris,  <p6eip,  a  louse,  ,] 
(Pedicularia.) 

Phthisis.  [Gr.  <J>0r<m,  <J>0i'o>,  I  decay.]  (Med.) 
Pulmonary  consumption. 

Phycology.     Study  of  seaweed  \Gr.  QVKOS], 

Phylactery.  [Gr.  <pv\aitT'f)piov,  from  <pv\d(Tffw, 
I  guard.]  An  amulet  or  preservative.  The 
phylacteries  of  the  Jews  consisted  of  slips  of 
parchment  inscribed  with  verses  of  the  Law, 
worn  during  prayer  on  the  arm  and  between  the 
eyes  (Exod.  xiii.  9). 

Phylarch.  [Gr.  <pv\apxos,  the  ruler  of  a 
<pv\-f],  or  tribe.]  An  Athenian  officer  who  super- 
intended the  registering  of  the  members  of  each 
tribe. 

Phyle.    (Phratry.) 

Phyllodium.        |Gr.    <pv\\6$ijs,    like   a    leaf 


(<pv\\ov).]  (Bot.)  A  petiole  transformed  into  a 
leaf-like  body  ;  e.g.  the  Australian  acacias. 

Phyllome.  [Gr.  ^vAAw/cm,  foliage.]  A  term 
lately  introduced  into  Botany,  including  all  dis- 
tinct lateral  members  borne  upon  stems  or 
branches. — Bettany,  Practical  Botany. 

Phylloxera.  [Gr.  <pv\\ov,  a  leaf,  frpAs,  dry, 
parched.]  A  grub  which,  attacking  the  roots  of 
vines,  eventually  destroys  whole  vineyards. 

Physical  force.  Any  force  which  is  sufficiently 
defined  as  a  cause  that  changes  or  tends  to  change 
the  state  of  a  body  as  to  rest  or  motion.  (For 
P.  astronomy,  P.  geography,  P.  optics,  vide 
Astronomy;  Geography;  Optics.) 

Physics.  [Gr.  (pvo-tic6s,  having  to  do  with 
nature.]  1.  The  laws  of  the  phenomena  of 
matter.  2.  A  general  term  for  the  group  of 
sciences — mechanism,  mechanics  (kinematics, 
dynamics),  heat,  sound,  light,  electricity,  and 
magnetism. 

Physiography.  [Gr.  <p'v<ris,  nature,  ypdcpta,  1 
describe.]  A  systematic  account  of  the  particular 
phenomena  of  nature. 

Physiology.  [Gr.  <pvais,  nature,  \6yos,  dis- 
course.] The  science  which  treats  of  the  pheno- 
mena of  life  in  animals  and  plants. 

Physostomi.  [Gr.  <pvo-a,  a  bladder,  <rr6^.a,  a 
mouth.]  (Ichth.)  The  fourth  order  of  tele- 
ostean  [renews,  perfect,  oyreov,  bone]  fishes,  in- 
cluding cat-fishes,  carps,  herrings,  eels,  and 
more  than  twenty  other  families. 

Phytelephas.  [Gr.  Qvr&v,  a  plant,  frfyas, 
ivory.]  Vegetable  ivory,  being  the  hardened 
albumen  of  the  Cabeza  de  Negro  or  Jagna,  a 
gen.  of  palm-like  plants  inhabiting  S.  America. 

Phytoglyphy,  Phytography.  [Gr.  <pvr6v,  a 
plant,  y\v<p<a,  I  engrave,  ypdtyu,  1  draw.] 
Nature-printing. 

Phyto,  -logy.  (Bot.)  Treats  of  plants  in 
general ;  -tomy,  of  their  anatomical  structure ; 
-graphy  is  the  art  of  describing  them.  [Gr. 
<pijT6v,  a  plant,  \6yos,  discourse,  TOfM-f],  a  cutting, 
ypdcpa,  1  write.] 

Fiacular.  [L.  piacularis.]  Expiatory ;  having 
power  to  appease. 

Pia  mater.    (Dura  mater.) 

Piarists.  [L.  Patres  Scholarum  Piarum,  Fathers 
of  pious  schools.]  An  order  devoted  to  educa- 
tion, founded  at  Rome  by  Casalanzio,  a  Spanish 
nobleman,  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

Piassava.  [Port.]  Fibre  from  a  kind  of  Bra- 
zilian palm,  used  for  brooms,  etc. 

Piaster,  Piastre.  An  Italian  coin  worth  about 
3^.  *]d. ;  a  Spanish  piaster,  or  hard  dollar,  is  worth 
4J.  2d.  ;  the  Turkish  piaster  is  worth  about  2d. 

Piazza.  [It.]  (Arch.)  A  square  open  space 
surrounded  by  buildings. 

Pibroch.  [Gael,  piobaireachd,  piobracht,  the 
pipe  summons.]  The  music  of  the  bagpipes,  but 
not  the  bagpipe  itself.  Every  clan  had  its  own 
pibroch. 

Pica.  [L.,  a  magpie.]  (Med.)  Morbid  de- 
praved appetite  for  things  unfit  for  food. 

Pica.     A  kind  of  type,  as— 

Young 

(from  its  being  used  to  print  ihepye  (Pie)  or  table 


PICA  378 


PIGE 


of   daily  services  in  the  old  Roman  service- 

Pica,  Small;  Double  P.    Two  kinds  of  type, 
as — 

French.       Dutch. 


Picador.  [Sp.]  A  horseman  who  excites  and 
irritates  the  bull  at  a  bull-fight. 

Picard.  (Naut.)  A  Severn  trading-vessel  of 
old  time. 

Picards.  (Hist.}  The  followers  of  the  Fle- 
mish Picard,  who,  in  the  fifteenth  century,  gave 
himself  out  as  the  new  Adam,  and  professed  to 
restore  the  state  of  primeval  innocence. 

Picariee.  [L.  picus,  woodpecker.}  (Orni- 
thology.) 

Piccalilli.    [Hind.]    An  E. -Indian  pickle. 
Piccaroon.     [A  picker,   i.e.   stealer.]     1.   A 
thief  or  swindler.     2.  A  pirate-ship. 
Piccary.     (Naut.)    Petty  piracy. 
Piccolo.    [It.,  little."}    (Music.']    1.  A  wooden 
stop  in  an  organ,  two  feet  in  length,  of  clear, 
bright  tone.     2.  A  flute,  of  which  the  notes  are 
an  octave  higher  than  those  of  the  common  flute. 
3.  A  small  piano  is  sometimes  called  a  P. 

Picidae.      [L.  picus,    woodpecker.'}     (Ornith.) 
Woodpeckers.     Widespread  fam.  of  birds,  but 
not  found   in   Australia.      Sub-ord.    Scansores, 
ord.  Picarioe. 
Pickage.    (Stallage.) 

Picked  out.  Relieved  with  stripes  of  a  different 
colour  \cf.  Fr.  pique,  spotted}. 

Pickerel.  [Dim.  of  pike,  a  kind  of  fish,  from 
Celt,  pic,  a  point,  from  its  pointed  jaws ;  cf. 
Fr.  brochet,  id.j  and  broche,  spike. ~\  (Ichth.)  A 
small  pike.  Esox  lucius,  fam.  Esoddae,  ord. 
Physostomi,  sub-class  T£l£oste"I. 

Pickerie.  (Naut.)  Old  word  for  stealing. 
Under  this  name  theft  was  punishable  by 
duckings. 

Picket.  (Mil.)  Short  stake  [Fr.  piquet; 
(which  came  to  mean  also  cavalry,  whose  horses 
were  fastened  to  the  same  P.)  for  driving  into 
the  ground  to  secure  horses,  tents,  and  revet- 
ments, or  to  mark  out  fieldworks. 

Picklock.     A  superior  kind  of  selected  wool. 
Pickthank.     One   who    thrusts    himself   into 
matters  with  which  he  is  not  asked  to  meddle ;  a 
flatterer  or  talebearer. 

Pick  up  a  wind,  To.  (Natit. )  To  get  from  on 
trade-wind  to  another  with  the  least  amount  o 
calm  possible. 

Picric  acid.  [Gr.  -KIKP&S,  bitter.]  (Chem.)  A 
bitter  acid  used  as  a  yellow  dye. 

Ficromel.  [Gr.  iriKp6s,  bitter,  fj.t\i,  honey. 
A  sweetish-bitter  substance  existing  in  bile. 

Picts'  Wall.    One  of  the  barriers  raised  by  th< 
Romans  to  prevent  the  incursions  of  the  Scot 
into  S.  Britain. 
Piddock.    (Pholas.) 

Pie.  1.  In  Printing,  a  mass  of  unsorted  types 
2.  The  table  used  before  the  Reformation  fo 
finding  out  the  service  for  the  day.  The  won 
is  of  doubtful  origin,  some  referring  it  to  Gr 
it(va\,  a  tablet ;  others  to  the  Litera  Picata,  th 


irge  black  letter  marking  the  beginning  of  each 
ew  order  in  the  service.     (Pica.) 

Piece  de  resistance.  [Fr.]  1.  The  substantial 
oint  in  a  dinner  ;  a  piece  to  cut  and  come  again, 
lence,  2,  the  important  piece  in  a  theatrical  en- 
ertainment,  as  distinguished  from  what  is  before 
nd  after  ;  and  generally,  3,  the  principal  thing 
n  a  day's  business  or  pleasure. 

Piece  goods.     Dry  goods  sold  by  the  piece, 
as  longcloths,  sheetings,  etc. 

Piecener.  [Eng.  piece.'}  A  workman  who 
upplies  rolls  of  wool  to  the  slubbing-machine. 

Piece  of  eight.  A  hard  dollar,  or  Spanish 
piaster  (q.v.),  worth  about  4*.  2d. 

Pieces  justificatives.  [Fr.]  A  French  phrase 
or  passages  cited  at  the  end  of  a  work  in  sup- 
port of  the  author's  statements  or  conclusions. 

Pied-a-terre.     [Fr.]    Foot  on  earth. 

Pie  poudre  court.  In  Law,  a  court  for  de- 
:iding  on  the  spot  disputes  arising  at  fairs  and 
markets;  called  in  L.  curia  pedis  pulveris,  etc., 
rom  the  dusty-footed  dealers  [O.Fr.  pied  poul- 
dreux]  who  frequented  it.  Now  disused. 

Pier  arches.  (Arch.)  The  main  arcade  of  a 
church,  supporting  the  Triforium  and  Clerestory. 

Pierced.  (Her. )  Having  a  round  hole  through 
he  middle. 

Pierides.  [Gr.]  According  to  some,  a  name 
of  the  Muses,  from  Mount  Pieros,  in  Thessaly. 
Others  speak  of  them  as  the  daughters  of  Pieros, 
King  of  Emathia,  who  were  worsted  in  their 
rivalry  with  the  Muses.  (Pegasus.) 

Pierrier.  [Fr.  pierre,  a  stone,  L.  petra.] 
(Mil. )  A  kind  of  cannon  once  used  for  throwing 
stones. 

Piers  Ploughman.  Two  poems,  the  one  called 
the  Vision,  the  other  the  Creed,  of  Piers  the 
Ploughman,  are  supposed  to  have  been  written 
by  Robert  Langland,  in  the  fourteenth  century. 
They  are  in  the  old  English  alliterative  verse, 
and  speak  very  plainly  of  the  ecclesiastical  abuses 
of  the  time. — Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Chris- 
tianity, bk.  xiv.  ch.  7. 

Pietantia.  [L.L.  of  the  Middle  Ages.]  The  zest 
or  relish  given  to  make  the  rest  of  the  fare  more 
palatable ;  from  which,  probably,  the  modern 
pittance,  meaning  the  whole  of  a  donation,  which 
is  nevertheless  small  in  amount. 

Pietists.  Certain  reformers  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  the  seventeenth  century  were  so  called, 
as  wishing  to  awaken  a  more  religious  spirit  and 
greater  strictness  of  life.  Their  efforts  led  to  the 
growth  of  the  more  vehement  and  enthusiastic 
school,  which  found  its  great  interpreter  in  the 
mystical  Jacob  Bohm  or  Behmen. 

Pietra  commessa.  [It. ,  joined  stone."}  Inlaying 
with  veneers  or  precious  stones. 

Pietra  dura.  [It.,  hard  stone."}  Ornamental 
work  in  coloured  stones,  representing  fruits, 
birds,  etc.,  in  relief. 

Piezometer.  [Gr.  irif&tv,  to  press,  /j.crpov, 
measure.]  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
compressibility  of  liquids. 

Pigeon  English.  A  jargon  employed  by 
Chinese  at  Hong-Kong  and  elsewhere,  in  their 
intercourse  with  the  English.  It  is  said  to  be  a 
corr.  of  business  English. 


PIGI 


379 


FINN 


Pig  iron.    (Sow.) 

Figment.  [L.  pigmentum,  paint, .]  (Anat.) 
Colouring  matter  of  any  tissue  ;  e.g.  in  freckles  ; 
in  the  skin  of  dark  races  ;  in  the  P.  nigrum,  on 
the  inner  surface  of  the  choroid  coat  of  the  eye. 

Pignoration.  [L.  pignorati5nem,  from  pignus, 
pignoris,  a  pledge.]  The  act  of  pledging  or 
pawning. 

Pignut.  (Bot.)  Root  of  Bunium  [Gr.  frovviov] 
flexuosum,  ord.  Umbelliferae  ;  like  a  small  potato, 
with  aromatic,  sweet  taste.  Found  in  S.  and  W. 
Europe,  and  plentiful  in  Britain. 

Pike.  [Fr.  pique,  a  thing  peaked.}  (Mil.} 
Arm  of  many  infantry  soldiers  down  to  the 
end  of  the  seventeenth  century.  An  ash-handled 
spear,  surmounted  by  a  steel  head,  and  protected 
for  a  distance  of  four  feet  by  metal  plates  ;  length 
fifteen  to  sixteen  feet. 

Pilaster.  [It.  pilastro.]  (Arch.}  A  square 
engaged  pillar,  projecting  from  the  wall,  usually 
about  the  fifth  part  of  its  width. 

Pile.  [Fr.  poil.j  The  nap  of  cloth,  velvet, 
etc. 

Pile.  [L.  pilus,  a  stake.]  (Her.)  A  wedge- 
shaped  ordinary  formed  by  lines  drawn  from  the 
dexter  and  sinister  chief  to  the  middle  base. 
(Escutcheon.)  Swords  or  other  charges  arranged 
in  this  shape  are  said  to  be  borne  in  pile. 

Pile  arms.  (Mil.)  To  rest  three  muskets 
against  one  another  by  securing  their  ramrods  ; 
preventing  the  necessity  of  laying  them  on  the 
ground. 

Pile-driver.     An  engine  for  driving  in  Piles. 

File-dwellings.     (Lake-dwellings.) 

Files.  (Arch.)  Pieces  of  timber  or  iron, 
used  for  supporting  the  foundations  of  a  building 
or  the  piers  of  a  bridge. 

Pileus.  [L.,  a  cap.]  (Bot.)  The  cap  of  a 
mushroom. 

Pilgarlio.  "  A  sneaking  or  hen-hearted  fellow  " 
(Johnson).  "One  who  peels  garlick  for  others 
to  eat,"  enduring  hardships  while  others  enjoy 
themselves  (Wedgwood).  (For  a  full  account 
of  this  disputed  word,  see  Latham's  Johnson's 
Eng.  Diet. ) 

Pilgrimage  of  Grace.  A  rebellion  in  the  N.  of 
England,  1536;  headed  by  Aske,  and  caused 
chiefly  by  the  dissolution  of  the  smaller  mon- 
asteries. So  called  because  the  insurgents  bore 
banners  displaying  the  five  wounds  of  the 
Saviour.  Scroop,  Archbishop  of  York,  who 
joined  them,  was  executed  in  1537. 

Pilgrim  Fathers.  Nonconformists,  who,  sailing 
from  Southhampton  in  the  Mayflower,  landed 
at  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  December,  1620. 

Pill.  \Cf.  L.  pellis,  skin.]  As  in  Gen.  xxx. 
37,  38  ;  Isa.  xiii.  ;  to  peel,  to  take  off  the  rind  : 
but  pill,  =  to  plunder,  is  Fr.  piller,  It.  pigliare,  a 
military  term. 

Pillared  saints.     (Stylite  saints.) 

Pillars  of  Heracles,  or  Hercules.  The  name 
by  which  the  Greeks  and  Romans  knew  the 
Straits  of  Gibraltar,  the  pillars  being  the  two 
hills  Abila  on  the  African  side,  and  on  the 
European  Calpe,  which  has  received  its  present 
name,  Gibel  al  Tarik,  or  the  Rock  of  Taric, 
from  the  Arab  general  who  destroyed  the  Gothic 


monarchy  of  Spain  in  the  person  of  Roderick. 
(Heracles.) 

Pillau.  [Turk,  pilaw.]  A  Turkish  dish  of 
boiled  rice  and  mutton  fat. 

Pillory.  [Fr.  pilori,  perhaps  from  pilier,  a 
pillar.]  A  wooden  instrument  which  exhibited 
the  head  and  person  of  a  criminal  to  public  view 
and  insult.  (Healfang.) 

Pillow;  P.-block.  1.  [O.E.  pilwe,  L.  pulvmus.] 
A  block  with  a  cylindrical  hole  for  supporting 
a  revolving  axle  or  journal.  2.  Pillow  of  a 
plough  is  a  wooden  cross-piece  for  raising  or 
lowering  the  beam.  3.  [Fr.  pelu,  hairy.]  A 
plain,  coarse  fustian.  4.  (Naut.)  The  timber 
on  which  the  inner  end  of  the  bowsprit  rests. 

Pilosity.  [L.  pilosus,  hairy.}  Hairiness  of 
surface. 

Pilot.  [D.  piloot.]  A  man  experienced  in 
the  channels,  currents,  shoals,  etc. ,  who  has 
charge  of  a  ship's  course.  Branch  P.,  one  who 
holds  the  authority  of  the  Trinity  House  to  act 
as  such.  P.  's  anchor,  one  used  to  drop  a  vessel 
down  a  stream,  or  in  a  tideway.  P.' s  fairway, 
or  water.  (Fairway.) 

Pilpay,  Fables  of.    (Hitopadesa.) 

Pimento.     [Sp.  pimiento.]    Allspice. 

Pina  cloth.  A  soft  yellow  material  for  ladies' 
dresses,  made  from  the  fibre  of  the  /zw-apple 
leaf. 

Pinacotheca.  [Gr.  viva.KoO'fiKij,  from  irlval-,  a 
tablet,  or  picture.]  In  ancient  Arch.,  a  place  for 
the  exposition  of  paintings.  The  National 
Gallery  at  Munich  is  named  Pinakothek. 

Pinax.     [Gr.  ]     A  tablet ;  hence  a  register. 

Pinchbeck  (made  known  by  a  man  so  named). 
An  alloy  of  copper  and  zinc,  somewhat  like 
Mosaic  gold,  first  made  in  1783. 

Pinch-gut.  In  Naut.  slang,  a  niggardly  purser. 
P.-G.  pay,  short  allowance  money. 

Pine-needle  wool.  A  fibre  from  the  buds  and 
leaves  of  pine. 

Pinion.  [Norm.  Fr.  pignon.]  A  small  toothed 
wheel  made  to  work  with  a  rack,  or  with  a 
larger  wheel ;  as  rack  and  pinion,  wheel  and 
pinion. 

Pink.  1.  (Ichth.)  The  salmon  in  its  first 
year.  (Feel;  Grilse.)  2.  (Naut.)  A  narrow- 
sterned  ship,  with  a  small  square  part  above. 
Pink-stern,  a  very  narrow  Severn  boat. 

Pinking.     Cutting  in  small  scallops  or  angles. 

Pink  salt.  A  double  chloride  of  tin  and 
ammonium,  used  as  a  mordant. 

Pin  money.  In  Law,  an  annuity  settled  on  a 
married  woman  for  personal  expenses. 

Pinna.  [L,.,  feather.]  (Zool.)  Gen.  of  bivalves 
with  silky  threads,  byssus  [Gr.  fivacros,  fine  flax] 
of  extraordinary  size,  thrown  out  by  the  foot. 
Fam.  Aviculidae,  class  Conchlfera. 

Pinnace.     [Fr.  pinasse,  It.  pinazza.]     (Naut.) 

1.  A  ship's  boat,  carvel-built  and  schooner-rigged, 
smaller   than  the  barge,  and  fitted  for  rowing. 

2.  French-armed   P.,  mounting  a  long  twenty- 
four  pounder,  from  sixty  to  eighty  tons  burden, 
and  carrying  a  hundred  men. 

Pinnacle.  [L.  pinnacula,  dim.  of  pinna,  a 
turret.]  (Arch.)  A  small  pillar,  square  or 
polygonal,  at  the  angles  of  a  tower,  or  on  the 


FINN 


PITC 


buttresses  between  windows,  ending  pyramidally 
at  the  top,  and  generally  ornamented  with 
foliage.  The  P.  of  the  temple,  mentioned  in 
the  narrative  of  the  temptation  (Matt.  iv.  5),  was 
a  wing  of  the  building,  overhanging  a  steep 
valley. 

Pinnate  leaf.  [L.  pinnatus,  furnished  with  a 
feather  (pinna).  ]  (Bot. )  One  divided  into  several 
pairs  of  leaflets;  e.g.  ash.  Bipinnate,  when 
each  leaflet  is  again  so  divided  ;  e.g.  mimosa. 
Pinnatifid  [findo,  /  cleave],  divided  in  a  pinnate 
manner  nearly  to  the  midrib  ;  e.g.  leaf  of  oak. 

Pinnatifid.    (Pinnate  leaf.) 

Pinnatiped.  [L.  pinnatus,  finned,  pedem, 
foot.']  Aquatic  birds  with  membranes  on  each 
side  of  the  toes. 

Pinner.     The  loose  lappet  of  a  head-dress. 

Pinnigrade,  Pinnipedia.  [L.  pinna,  fin,  gr5- 
dior,  /  walk,  p£dem,  foot.}  (Zool.)  Aquatic 
carnfvora ;  as  seals. 

Pinnock.     (Ornith.)     Tomtit,  Parus. 

Pinole.  [Sp.]  An  aromatic  powder  used  in 
Italy  for  making  chocolate. 

Pintail  duck  (from  its  pointed  tail).  (Ornifh.) 
Sea-pheasant ;  length  about  twenty-six  inches  ; 
plumage  variegated  ;  tail  long.  Migratory  in 
Great  Britain.  DSflla  Scuta  [L.,  sharp},  or  caud- 
acuta  [L. ,  sharp  tail],  gen.  Daf  Ila,  fam,  AnS  tidoe, 
ord.  Anseres. 

Pintles,  properly  Pin-tails.  (Naut.)  Hooks 
by  which  the  rudder  is  hung. 

Pinus.  [L.,  a  pine  tree.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of 
trees,  ord.  Coniferse,  as  now  limited  is  dis- 
tinguished by  leaves  in  all  kinds  evergreen, 
needle-shaped,  growing  in  pairs,  threes,  fours, 
or  fives,  with  membranous  sheath  at  the  base ; 
e.%-  Scotch  P.,  Canadian  red  P.,  stone  P., 
etc. 

Piny,  Piny  tallow.  A  vegetable  tallow  ob- 
tained from  the  seed  of  an  Indian  tree,  Vatera 
Indica. 

Piny  varnish.  A  resin  obtained  from  the  bark 
of  the  above  tree  (Vatera  Indica). 

Pioneer.  [Fr.  pionnier,  from  pion,  a  pawn,  a 
foot-soldier,  L.  pedonem.]  (Mil.)  One  of  a  small 
party  of  soldiers  who  precede  each  regiment  on 
the  march,  furnished  with  digging  and  cutting 
implements  to  clear  away  obstacles. 

Pip,  Chip,  or  Roup.  A  disease  of  poultry, 
generally  of  young  poultry,  especially  chickens, 
turkeys,  and  pheasants ;  sometimes  attacking 
many,  old  and  young  ;  considered  highly  con- 
tagious ;  a  kind  of  influenza. 

Pipe,  Roll  of  the.  A  record  of  the  revenue, 
beginning  from  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  The  Pipe 
Office  was  abolished  1833. 

Pipe  of  wine.  About  two  hogsheads  ;  a  pipe 
of  port  is  115  gallons,  of  sherry  108  gallons, 
of  Sicilian  93  gallons,  etc. 

Piper  of  Hameln.     (Orpheus.) 

Pipette.  [Fr.,  a  little  pipe.]  A  small  glass 
tube  with  a  bulb  in  the  middle,  used  by  chemists 
for  transferring  liquids. 

Piping.  1.  A  kind  of  fluted  trimming  for 
ladies'  dresses.  2.  [L.  pipio,  /  chirp.]  In 
horses,  a  kind  of  whistling ;  a  noise  produced 
by  contraction  of  the  opening  of  the  larynx. 


Pipistrelle.  [Fr.,  It.  pipistrello.]  (Zool.)  A 
kind  of  bat,  fam.  Vespertilionidse. 

Pique.  Hard-spun  white  twilled  stuff  for 
dresses. 

Piquet.  (Picket.)  (Mil.)  Two  detachments 
of  troops  who  protect  the  camp  from  surprise, 
the  outlying  one  being  at  a  considerable  distance 
in  front,  with  double  sentries  pushed  beyond  it ; 
the  inlying  one  remaining  accoutred  in  camp, 
ready  to  turn  out  in  support. 

Piragua,  or  Pirogue.  (Naut.)  A  canoe 
hollowed  from  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  called  in  N. 
America,  a  dug-out. 

Pirameter.  [Gr.  -rreipa,  trial,  fjitrpov,  measure.  ] 
(Mech.)  An  instrument  for  measuring  the  power 
required  to  draw  a  carriage. 

Pirling.  Twining,  as  horsehair,  for  fishing- 
lines. 

Pirn.     A  bobbin  on  which  yarn  is  wound. 

Pirogue.    (Piragua.) 

Pis  aller.  [Fr.]  A  last  resource,  a  make- 
shift. [Pis,  a  comp.  and  superl.  from  L.  pejus. 
The  reader  who  is  interested  in  philology  should 
consult  both  Littre  and  Brachet,  s.v.  "aller;" 
which  is  most  probably  L.  adnare,  to  come, 
originally,  by  -water ;  as  Fr.  arriver  is,  originally, 
to  touch  the  shore,  L.  adripare,  and  so  to  reach  a 
thing,  generally.] 

Pisciculture.  [L.  pisces,  fish,  cultfira,  cul- 
tttre.]  The  artificial  propagation  and  nurture 
of  fish. 

Piscina.  [L.,  a  fish-pond.]  (EccL  Arch.) 
A  water-drain  near  the  altar,  on  the  south  side. 
Sometimes  double. 

Piscis.     [L.,  a  fish.]    (Ichthys.) 

Pisolite.  [L.  plsum,  pea.]  (Geol.)  Oolite 
roe-stone  (q.v.)  when  the  concretions  are  larger, 
resembling  peas. 

Pistachio.  [It.  pistacchio.]  The  almond-like 
kernel  of  the  nut  of  a  kind  of  turpentine  tree 
imported  from  Sicily. 

Pistil.  [L.  pistillum,  a  pestle.]  (Bot.)  The 
female  organ  of  a  plant ;  a  slender  column  com- 
posed of  ovary,  style,  and  stigma. 

Piston  [Fr.  piston,  L.  pistonem,  from  pistare, 
to  pound] ;  P.-rod.  (Mech.)  A  short,  solid  cylin- 
der which  exactly  fits  a  hollow  cylinder,  as  that 
of  a  pump  or  steam-engine ;  it  is  connected  by 
a  P.-rod  to  a  point  outside  the  cylinder,  by 
which  in  some  cases  it  is  moved,  and  which  in 
other  cases  it  moves. 

Pita.  [Sp.]  The  strong  white  fibre  of  the 
American  aloe,  used  for  making  cordage. 

Pitch ;  P.  circle ;  P.  line ;  P.  of  rivets ;  P.  of  a 
screw;  P.  of  a  wheel.  When  two  toothed 
wheels  work  together,  their  motion  is  the  same 
as  that  of  two  circles  on  the  same  centres  moving 
by  a  pure  rolling  contact ;  the  circle  correspond- 
ing to  either  wheel  is  its  Pitch  circle  or  P.  line , 
each  tooth  of  the  wheel  is  partly  within  and 
partly  projects  beyond  the  pitch  circle.  The  P. 
of  a  wheel  is  the  distance  from  one  side  of  a 
tooth  to  the  same  side  of  the  next  tooth,  i.e.  the 
distance  occupied  by  one  complete  tooth  and 
space  measured  along  the  pitch  circle.  The  P. 
of  a  screw  is  the  distance  between  two  consecutive 
turns  of  the  thread  measured  parallel  to  the  axis. 


PITC 


38] 


PLAN 


The  P.  of  rivets  is  the  distance  from  centre  to 
Centre  of  any  two  adjacent  rivets. 

Pitched  market.  One  in  which  the  articles 
are  not  sold  by  sample,  but  produced  in  bulk. 

Pitch  of  a  saw.  The  slope  of  the  face  of  the 
teeth. 

Pitch  of  a  tone.  (Acoustics.}  Its  sound  as 
determined  by  the  number  of  (double)  vibrations 
made  by  the  body  and  therefore  by  the  particles 
of  air. 

Pithecoid;  e.g.  skull,  apelike  [Gr.  7rf07j/cos, 
an  ape], 

Pitons.  [Fr.,  a  screw-ring,  a  peak.]  Conical 
hills,  in  W.  Indies  ;  a  French  term  ;  origin  un- 
known. 

Pitot's  tube.  An  instrument  for  measuring 
the  velocity  of  a  stream,  consisting  of  a  funnel 
with  a  vertical  tube  ;  the  funnel  being  presented 
to  the  stream,  the  water  rises  in  the  tube  to  a 
height  nearly  corresponding  to  the  velocity. 

Pit-pan.  (Naut.)  A  flat-bottomed  canoe  of 
the  W.  Indies  and  Spanish  Main. 

Pittacal.  [Gr.  virra,  pitch,  Ka\6s,  beautiful.} 
A  substance  like  indigo,  obtained  from  wood- 
tar. 

Pittance.    (Pietantia.) 

Pituitous.     Full  of  phlegm  [L.  pltuTta]. 

Pius  IV.'s  Creed.    (Creed  of  Pius  IV.) 

Pivot.  [Fr.  ;  origin  unknown.]  1.  (Mil.} 
Flank  round  which  the  troops  move  in  executing 
military  evolutions.  2.  (Mech.)  The  end  of  an 
axle  which  presses  endwise  against  its  bearing. 

Pivot-man.  (Mil.)  The  soldier  who  marks 
the  centre  while  a  line  is  wheeling. 

Pivot-ship.  (Naitt.)  In  evolutions,  is  the 
one  on  which  a  new  line  or  formation  is  made. 

Pizzicato.  [It.]  To  be  pinched,  twitched 
with  the  ringer,  not  played  with  the  bow ;  said 
of  violin-strings. 

Place  aux  dames.  [Fr.]  Room  for  the 
ladies. 

PlacSbo.  [L.,  / 'shall please.]  1.  In  the  Latin 
Church,  vespers  for  the  dead  ;  so  called  from  the 
first  antiphon  to  the  psalms.  2.  A  medicine 
which  pleases  and  quiets,  but  does  not  otherwise 
benefit  the  patient. 

Placebrick.  A  poor  kind  of  brick,  ill  burnt, 
through  being  on  the  outside  of  the  kiln. 

Placenta  [L.,  a  cake],  or  Afterbirth.  1. 
(Med. )  A  temporary  organ,  spongy,  vascular ; 
developed,  in  mammalia,  during  pregnancy,  and 
forming  the  connecting  vascular  medium  between 
mother  and  ovum  ;  expelled  shortly  after  the 
birth.  2.  (Bot. )  A  process  of  the  ovary,  to  which 
the  ovules  are  attached. 

Place  of  a  heavenly  body.  (Astron.)  Its 
position  as  defined  (i)  by  its  right  ascension 
and  declination ;  (2)  by  its  longitude  and  lati- 
tude. 

Place  of  arms.  (Mil.)  Enlargement  at  the 
salient  and  re-entering  angles  of  the  covered  way 
of  a  fortress. 

Placita.  [L.]  In  the  Middle  Ages,  courts 
in  which  the  sovereign  took  counsel  on  affairs  of 
the  state  ;  termed  Generalia,  as  including  both 
clergy  and  laity. 

Placoid  fishes.    [Gr,  ir\d£,  ir\a.K6s,  a  flat  sur- 


face.] (Ichth.}  With  Agassiz,  an  ord.  including 
all  cartilaginous  fish,  except  the  sturgeon  ;  their 
scales — e.g.  shark,  dog-fish, — being  hard  plates, 
laid  together  in  the  skin ;  not  imbricated, 
(Ichthyology.) 

Plagal  cadence.  [(?)  Gr.  irXayios,  oblique, 
indirect.]  (Music.}  1.  When  the  major  or  minor 
of  the  subdominant  precedes  the  concluding 
chord  of  the  tonic.  2.  Plagal  modes.  (Greek 
modes.) 

Plagiarism.  [L.L.  plagium,  kidnapping,  or 
stealing.]  The  using  of  the  thoughts  or  words 
of  another  without  acknowledgment,  in  literary 
composition. 

Plagihedral  crystal.  [Gr.  ir\5.yios,  oblique, 
e'Spa,  seat,  base.]  As  quartz,  which  commonly 
takes  the  form  of  a  six-sided  prism  terminated 
by  a  pyramid.  In  some  cases  the  solid  angles  at 
the  junction  are  replaced  by  secondary  planes 
obliquely  placed  ;  the  form  of  crystal  is  then 
said  to  be  plagihedral,  and  may  be  right-handed 
or  left-handed  according  to  the  direction  of  the 
secondary  planes.  This  difference  in  the  form 
of  the  crystals  corresponds  to  a  difference  in  their 
action  on  polarized  light. 

Plague.  Originally  a  blow,  stroke,  calamity 
[Gr.  ic\trft\,  L.  plaga] ;  so  in  the  Bible  and  in 
Prayer-book  frequently ;  e.g.  the  P.  of  the  death 
of  the  firstborn  ;  "  P.  of  rain  and  waters." 

Plaid.  [Gael,  plaide.]  A  striped  or  variegated 
stuff  worn  by  the  Highlanders  of  Scotland. 

Plain  song.  [L.  Cantus  firmus.]  (Music.}  A 
kind  of  chant  of  Jewish  and  of  early  Christian 
worship,  extremely  simple,  admitting  double 
measure  only,  and  notes  of  equal  value.  These 
Church  modes,  which  have  affected  the  character 
of  all  the  best  Church  music  ever  since,  were, 
as  regards  structure,  substantially  one  with  the 
ancient  Greek  modes  (q.v.}. 

Planchette.  [Fr.,  a  small  board,  or  plane.]  A 
heart-shaped  piece  of  wood,  so  prepared,  it  was 
said,  as  to  guide  the  hand  of  any  one  writing 
upon  it  to  answers  on  subjects  beyond  his  powers 
of  discernment  or  knowledge. 

Plane;  True  P,  [L.  planus,  level.]  (Math.) 
A  surface,  supposed  to  be  capable  of  indefinite 
extension,  such  that  the  straight  line  joining  any 
two  points  in  it  lies  wholly  in  the  surface.  A 
True  P.  is  a  mechanical  approximation  to  a  theo- 
retically true  P.,  invented  by  Sir  J.  Whitworth, 
and  produced  by  working  on  the  principle  that, 
if  three  bodies  having  faces  A,  B,  C,  such  that 
if  A  and  B  can  be  brought  by  superimposition  to 
coincide  point  by  point  with  C  and  likewise  with 
each  other,  all  three  are  true  planes. 

Plane  of  picture ;  P.  of  projection  ;  P,  of  re- 
flexion ;  P.  of  refraction.  The  plane  on  which 
the  picture  is  supposed  to  be  drawn  in  the  va- 
rious kinds  of  projection  is  called  the  Plane  of 
the  picture,  or  the  P.  of  projection.  The  P. 
of  reflexion  (or  refraction}  is  the  plane  which 
contains  the  incident  and  reflected  (or  refracted) 
rays. 

Plane  of  site.  (Mil. }  One  supposed  to  pass 
between  the  summit  of  a  height  and  any  terre- 
plein  (q.v.}. 

Plane  sailing.    (Naut.}    Navigating  by  means 


PLAN 


382 


PLAT 


of  plane  right-angled  triangles,  i.e.  on  the  sup- 
position that  the  earth  is  a  plane,  and  that  the 
meridians  and  lines  of  latitude  are  equidistant, 
parallel  straight  lines,  at  right  angles  to  each 
other. 

Plane  scale.  A  flat  piece  of  ivory,  metal,  or 
wood,  on  which  are  engraved  various  scales  of 
equal  parts,  e.g.  of  inches  or  parts  of  an  inch  ; 
it  also  contains  scales  for  the  construction  of 
angles  of  any  number  of  degrees,  and  of  their 
chords,  sines,  etc. 

Planet  [Gr.  wAai/^rrjy,  a  -wanderer  ]  ;  Ex- 
terior P. ;  Inferior  P. ;  Interior  P. ;  Primary  P. ; 
Secondary  P. ;  Superior  P.  A  heavenly  body 
revolving  round  the  sun  in  an  orbit,  not  greatly 
differing  from  a  circle  ;  as  seen  from  the  earth 
planets  are  distinguished  from  the  fixed  stars, 
partly  by  their  appearance,  but  chiefly  by  their 
visibly  changing  their  place  among  the  stars 
when  observed  on  successive  nights  for  a  few 
days  or  weeks  together.  A  Secondary  P.  re- 
volves round  a  Primary  P.,  and  with  the  primary 
round  the  sun  ;  as  the  moon  revolves  round  the 
earth,  and  with  the  earth  round  the  sun.  The 
Interior  or  Inferior  planets  are  those  which 
revolve  within  the  earth's  orbit — Mercury  and 
Venus  ;  the  Exterior  or  Superior  planets,  the 
rest,  which  revolve  outside. 

Plane  table.  A  drawing-board,  graduated  at 
the  edge  so  as  to  show  in  degrees  the  angle  at 
the  centre,  with  a  movable  rule  furnished  with 
sights  ;  for  plotting  on  paper  in  the  field  the 
lines  of  a  survey, 

Planetarium.     An  orrery  (q.v.). 

Planetary  nebula.  (Astron.)  A  nebula 
having  a  near  and  in  some  cases  a  perfect  resem- 
blance to  a  planet ;  presenting  the  appearance 
of  a  disc  round  or  slightly  oval ;  in  some  cases 
quite  sharply  terminated,  in  others  a  little  hazy 
or  softened  at  the  border. 

Planetoid.  [Gr.  trXav^r-ns,  elSoy,  form.'] 
(Astron.)  One  of  the  small  planets  (Vesta, 
Ceres,  etc.)  whose  orbits  are  situated  between 
those  of  Mars  and  Jupiter.  Called  also  Asteroids 
and  Minor  planets. 

Flanimeter.  [L.  planus,  level,  Gr.  ft&rpov, 
measure.]  An  instrument  for  finding  mechani- 
cally the  area  of  any  inclosed  plane  drawn  on 
paper. 

Planishing.  [O.Fr.  planir.]  Rendering  level 
by  light  blows  of  a  smooth  hammer,  called  a 
planisher. 

Planisphere.  [L.  planus,  level,  Gr.  <r<f>cupa, 
sphere.]  (Astron.)  1.  A  stereographical  pro- 
jection of  the  great  sphere  ;  by  a  proper  delinea- 
tion of  the  stars  at  a  given  place,  a  movable 
circle  placed  on  the  picture  can  be  made  to  show 
the  positions  of  the  stars  at  any  hour  of  any 
night  relative  to  the  zenith  and  horizon  of  that 
place.  2.  Any  projection  of  the  great  sphere  on 
any  plane. 

Plank-sheer.    (Gunwale.) 

Planometer.  [L.  planus,  level,  Gr.  peTpov, 
measure.]  A  plane  hard  surface  used  as  a  stan- 
dard gauge  for  ascertaining  whether  surfaces  are 
accurately  j>lane. 

Plantagenet.     The  surname  of  the  English 


kings  who  reigned  between  Stephen  and  Henry 
VII.,  from  the  sprig  of  the  broom  plant  [Fr. 
plante  de  genet],  which  they  bore  as  their 
device. 

Planta  genista.     (Genista.) 

Plantain.  [From  L.  plantagmem.]  (Bot.) 
A  plant  of  gen.  Plantago,  with  many  spec. 
The  most  remarkable  of  these  are  the  Musa 
paradisiaca,  or  banana,  and  the  M.  sapientum, 
or  plantain. 

Plantar.  Relating  to  the  sole  of  the  foot  [L. 
planta]. 

Plantation.  [L.  planta,  a  plant, ,]  1.  For- 
merly =  Colonies.  2.  In  new  and  especially  in 
hot  or  tropical  countries,  a  name  applied  to  an 
estate  appropriated  to  the  production  of  staple 
crops,  as  the  sugar-cane,  cotton,  rice,  tobacco, 
coffee,  etc.  (Bartlett's  Americanisms). 

Plantigrades.  [L.  planta,  sole,  gr&dior,  / 
walk.]  (Zool. )  Carnivora  walking  on  the  soles 
of  their  feet ;  as  bears. 

Plaque.  [Fr.]  A  flat  plate  of  metal,  on 
which  enamels,  etc.,  are  painted. 

Plash,  or  Pleach.  [O.Fr.  plesser,  to  make  a 
hedge,  L.  pllco,  Gr.  TrXc/cw,  I  weave.]  (Agr.)  To 
entwine  branches ;  to  cut  partly  through  the 
stems  forming  a  hedge,  bend  them  down,  and 
interweave  them  with  the  hedge. 

Plasma.  [Gr.,  anything  moulded,  or  shaped.} 
(Min.)  Chalcedony  coloured  green  by  some 
metallic  oxide,  probably  copper  or  nickel ;  a 
semi-transparent  jasper.  P.  is  the  tour* is  of 
Rev.  xxi.  19  (King,  Antique  Gems). 

Plastography.  [Gr.  ir\aa-r6s,  moulded,  ypd<f>et, 
I  draw.]  The  art  of  forming  figures  in  plaster. 

Plaster  of  Paris.  Anhydrous  sulphate  of  lime, 
obtained  by  burning  gypsum,  large  beds  of 
which  exist  near  Paris. 

Plastic  clay.  [Gr.  irXao-riicd's,  fit  for  mould- 
ing.} Such  as  can  be  used  for  pottery  and 
china-ware.  The  best  in  England  are  the  white 
clay  of  the  Bracklesham  beds,  the  mottled  clay 
of  the  Woolwich  and  Reading  series,  and  the 
fire-clays  of  the  coal-measures. 

Plastron.  [Fr.,  a  breast-plate;  cf.  It.  piastrone, 
from  piastra,  a  plate  of  metal,  a  dollar.}  1.  The 
under  shell  of  tortoises  and  turtles.  2.  A  leather 
pad  worn  on  the  breast  by  fencers. 

Plate.  [Sp.  plata,  silver. ,]  (Her.)  A  silver 
roundlet  or  disc. 

Plateau,  [Fr.,  a  plateau,  tray,  formerly 
platel,  from  plat,  flat.}  (Geog.)  An  extensive 
plain  at  a  considerable  height  above  the  sea ;  a 
table-land. 

Plate-glass.  Glass  composed  of  silicates  of 
soda  and  lime,  made  by  blowing  a  long  cylinder, 
removing  the  ends  and  cutting  open  the  side, 
and  spreading  it  when  reheated  on  an  iron  table. 

Plateiasmus.  [Gr.  irXoTetoo-^o's,  from  irKarvs, 
flat,  or  broad. ~\  A  broad  dialect  or  accent,  a 
brogue. 

Platelayer.  A  workman  who  lays  down  the 
rails  and  fastens  them  to  the  sleepers  of  a  rail- 
way. 

Plate-mark.  A  mark  on  gold  and  silver  plate, 
to  show  the  place  and  date  of  manufacture,  and 
fineness  of  metal. 


PLAT 


383 


PLUM 


Plate-metal.    White  cast  iron. 

Platen.  In  a  printing-press,  the  part  which, 
under  the  influence  of  the  lever,  gives  the  im- 
pression to  a  sheet. 

Plate  tracery.  (Arch.)  The  earliest  form  of 
tracery,  in  which  the  surface  of  the  window  is 
flat,  with  openings  pierced  through  it. 

Platform.  (Fortif.)  1.  Flooring  of  wood  or 
stone  at  the  bottom  of  the  interior  slope  of  a 
parapet,  to  prevent  the  gun-carriage  wheels  from 
sinking  into  the  ground.  2.  In  the  American 
use(=  general  political  plan),  an  older  Eng.  use 
survives  ;  that  of  (i)  ground -plan  of  a  building, 
(2)  general  pattern  or  principle  [It.  piatta  forma]. 

Platinum,  Platina.  [Sp.  plata,  silver.]  (Min.) 
A  hard,  whitish  metal,  very  heavy  and  not  easily 
acted  on  by  acids.  Platinum,  black  is  platinum 
in  the  form  of  a  black  powder.  Spongy  platinum 
is  the  metal  in  the  form  of  a  porous  brown  mass. 

Platonic  bodies.     (Polyhedron.) 

Platoon.  [Sp.  peloton,  a  large  ball,  a  crmvd.] 
(Mil.)  This  word  formerly  meant  a  very  small 
body  of  soldiers ;  it  is  now  applied  only  to  firing 
exercise  with  a  musket  or  rifle. 

Platycephalous.  [Gr.  ir\drvs,  broad,  flat, 
Kf<j>a\-f),  head.]  Broad-headed. 

Platypus.  [Gr.  TrAarw-irous,  broad-footed.] 
(Ornithorhynchus  paradoxus.) 

Playte.     (Naut.)    Old  name  for  a  river-boat. 

Pleach.    (Plash.) 

Pleading.  [Plea,  Fr.  plaid,  a  plea,  a  sitting 
of  the  court,  is  the  L.  placltum.]  The  technical 
terms,  though  now  little  in  use,  are  these :  The 
plaintiffs  cause  of  complaint  is  the  declaration, 
and  the  defendant's  answer  the  plea ;  plaintiff 
then  makes  his  replication,  to  which  defendant 
answers  by  rejoinder ;  upon  which  follow  plain- 
tiff's sur-rejoinder,  and  defendant's  rebutter, 
answered  by  plaintiff's  sur-rebutter. 

Please  the  pigs.  [A.S.  piga,  a  maiden.]  If  it 
please  the  Virgin. 

Plebeians.  [L.  plebs,  Gr.  irXf}0oy,  the  multi- 
tude.] Roman  citizens  not  included  in  the 
patrician  class,  who  for  a  long  time  kept  the 
whole  power  of  the  State  wholly  in  their  own 
hands.  (Client;  Tribune.) 

Plebiscite.  [L.  plebiscitum,  a  decree  of  the 
plebs.]  1.  In  Rom.  Hist.,  a  law  passed  by  the 
comitia,  or  assembly  of  tribes.  2.  In  Mod. 
Fr.  usage,  a  popular  vote  taken  to  ratify  a 
measure  already  resolved  upon,  as  the  election 
of  an  emperor. 

Plebs.     (Patricians.) 

Plectrum.  [L.,  Gr.  irX^/crpoi/.]  A  quill  or 
similar  piece  of  ivory,  wood,  metal,  for  twitching 
the  strings  of  some  musical  instruments. 

Pledget.  \Cf.  plug,  Ger.  pflocke.]  (Med.) 
A  small  mass  or  tent  of  lint. 

Pleiades.  [Gr.]  (Myth.)  Seven  sisters,  as- 
signed to  many  parents.  Of  these  seven  six  are 
visible  ;  the  disappearance  of  the  seventh  is  ac- 
counted for  in  various  ways.  They  are  sisters  of 
the  Hyades. 

Pleiosaurus.  [Gr.  vXetov,  more,  ffavpos,  a 
lizard.]  (Geol.)  A  marine  reptile,  intermediate 
between  plesiosaurus  and  ichthyosaurus. 

Pleistocene.    (Eocene.) 


Plenarty.  [L.  plenita,  -tern,  fulness.]  The 
state  of  a  church  when  full,  having  an  incumbent; 
as  opposed  to  Avoidance. 

Pleonasm.  [Gr.  irAeoj/ao>ios,  excess.]  \.(Rhet.) 
Any  redundant  phrase  or  expression.  2.  (Med.) 
Overgrowth  in  quantity  or  in  number  of  parts. 

Pleroma.    (Valentinians.) 

Plesiosaurus.  [Gr.  irA.rjo-ios,  near  to,  ffavpos, 
a  lizard,  i.e.  more  like  a  reptile  than  is  ichthyo- 
saurus.] (Geol.)  A  singular  gen.  of  fossil  sea- 
reptiles.  Remains  occur  in  the  Lias,  Oolite, 
and  Cretaceous  strata. 

Plethora.  [Gr.  TrAr/flcopTj,  7rA^0a>,  /  am  full.] 
(Med. )  Redundancy  of  blood,  general  or  local. 

Pleurae.  [Gr.  ir\evpdi,  rib,  side,]  (Anat.) 
Two  independent  serous  sacs,  inclosing  the 
whole  of  each  lung,  except  where  the  vessels 
enter ;  and  reflected  upon  the  inner  surface  of 
the  chest. 

Pleurisy.  [Gr.  irXeupms.]  (Med.)  Inflamma- 
tion of  the  pleura ;  Pleuro-pneumonia,  of  the 
pleura  and  lungs  [irvev/jLoves]  together. 

Pleuronectidae.  [Gr.  ir\evpd,  rib,  side,  vfix«>> 
I  swim.]  (Ichth.)  Fam.  of  salt-water  fishes, 
ord.  Anacanthini,  found  on  all  coasts.  One 
side  is  brown,  or  mottled,  resembling  the 
sea-bottom  on  which  they  live,  the  other  is 
white ;  the  spine  being  wrung  round  near  the 
head,  bringing  both  eyes  on  the  upper  side ;  e.g. 
flounder  and  turbot. 

Pleuro-pneumonia.     (Pleurisy.) 

Plevin.  [Fr.  plevine.]  An  obsolete  word, 
denoting  a  warrant  of  assurance. 

Plexus.  [L.  plecto,  I  plait,  braid.]  (Anat.) 
Portions  of  nerves,  or  of  vessels,  interwoven. 

Plinth.  [Gr.  ir\ivQos,  a  brick.]  (Arch. )  The 
projecting  face  at  the  bottom  of  a  wall  imme- 
diately above  the  ground. 

Pliocene.     (Eocene.) 

Plot.  (Geom.)  To  draw  to  scale,  particularly 
the  plan  of  a  field  or  other  area  that  has  been 
surveyed. 

Plotting.  ( Mil. )  Laying  down  on  paper  with 
the  aid  of  instruments  the  observations  which 
have  been  taken  in  surveying. 

Plough  Monday.  Anciently,  Monday  after 
Epiphany,  first  day  of  work  after  Christmas 
holidays. 

Plumassier.  [Fr.]  A  dealer  in  feathers  [Fr. 
plume,  L.  pluma]. 

Pliimatella.  [L.  pluma,  down.]  (Zool).  Lopho- 
pus  [Gr.  \6<(>os,  crest,  irovs,  foot] ;  the  first  dis- 
covered Polyzoon,  very  common  fresh-water 
mollusc,  with  plume-like  tentacles  visible  to  the 
naked  eye.  Class  P61yz5a. 

Plumbago.  [L.  plumbum,  lead.]  Black  lead 
as  used  in  pencils.  It  is  a  form  of  carbon. 

Plumbing.  [L.  plumbum,  lead.]  The  art  of 
working  in  lead,  as  laying  lead  pipes,  etc. 

Plumbism.  [L.  plumbum,  lead.]  (Med.)  Lead- 
poisoning  ;  aggregate  of  symptoms  arising  from 
handling  lead  preparations. 

Plummer-block.     A  pillow-block  (q.  v. ). 

Plumming.  [Eng.  plumb-line,  from  L.  plum- 
bum, lead.]  Finding  by  means  of  a  compass 
which  way  a  lode  inclines,  where  to  sink  an  air- 
shaft,  etc. 


PLUM 


384 


POIN 


Plumule.  [L.  plumula,  dim.  of  pliima,  a  soft 
feather,  down.]  (Bot.}  The  rudimentary  stem 
of  the  embryo  plant ;  the  rudimentary  root  being 
a  radicle  [radlcula,  rootlet,  dim.  of  radix]. 

Plunger.  (Mech.)  A  solid  cylinder  used  in 
forcing-pumps,  etc.,  instead  of  a  piston  and 
piston-rod. 

Plurality.  In  Eccl.  Law,  the  holding  of 
more  than  one  benefice ;  the  holder  being  a 
Pluralist. 

Plurative.  In  Log.,  =  more  than  not.  (i) 
"Men  are  mortal,"  i.e.  all  men,  is  a  universal 
proposition.  (2)  "  Men  have  made  great  dis- 
coveries," i.e.  some  men,  is  particular.  (3) 
"Men  are  prejudiced,"  i.e.  more  [plures]  than 
not — more  than  half— are  prejudiced,  is  plura- 
tive.  From  two  P.  as  premisses — though  not 
universals,  but  particulars — a  particular-conclu- 
sion may  sometimes  be  drawn  ;  thus,  "  Five- 
sixths  of  the  army  were  Persians  ;  five-sixths  of 
the  army  fled  :  therefore  some  Persians  fled." 
(Vide  Archbishop  Thomson's  Laws  of  Thought.} 

Plush.  [Fr.  plucher.]  1.  A  stuff  with  a 
velvety  nap  on  one  side.  2.  (Naut.}  Grog  is 
served  out  in  a  tot  or  toit  (a  cup  rather  under 
half  a  pint),  so  that  there  is  an  overplus  from  each 
mess,  which,  under  the  name  of  P.,  is  given  to 
the  cook  of  the  day  for  his  trouble. 

Pluto.  [Gr.  ir\ovT(av,  wealthy.]  (Myth.}  The 
name  of  Hades,  as  lord  of  the  treasures  of  the 
under  world. 

Plutonic.    (Igneous;  Neptunian  rocks.) 

Plutus.  [Gr.  TrAouTos,  wealth.]  (Myth.}  In 
the  Hesiodic  theogony,  the  giver  of  wealth  to  all 
whom  he  approaches.  His  wish,  it  is  said,  was 
to  befriend  only  the  wise  and  good  ;  but  Zeus 
blinded  him,  that  he  might  bestow  his  gifts  at 
random. 

Pluviale.  [L.]  A  cope,  used  originally  as  a 
defence  against  rain. 

Pluviometer.  [L.  pluvia,  rain,  Gr.  nerpov, 
measure.]  A  rain-gauge. 

Ply.  [Fr.  pli,  a  fold.]  A  fold  or  thickness 
of  web,  as  a  three-ply  carpet,  which  consists  of 
three  cloths  woven  together. 

Ply,  To.  (Naut.}  1.  To  carry  for  hire  on 
short  trips.  2.  To  work  to  windward.  To  P. 
an  oar,  to  row. 

Plymouth  Brethren.  A  name  applied  to  a 
body  of  Christians,  who  admit  the  title  only 
as  describing  their  individual  state,  maintaining 
that  they  exist  only  to  protest  against  sectarianism. 
Some  among  them  lay  stress  on  the  doctrine  of 
a  community  of  goods. 

Pneumatic  action.  [Gr.  wtv^rtKos,  belonging 
to  wind  (vvfv/jLa).]  In  an  organ,  lightens  the 
touch  by  the  liberation  of  compressed  air,  which 
then  rushes  into  a  small  bellows  placed  near  the 
key. 

Pneumatics,  [Gr,  irvev/xfiTt/cJ?,  belonging  to 
wind,  air  (irvev^a),]  The  doctrine  of  the  equili- 
brium of  elastic  fluids, 

Pneumatic  trough,  A  small  tank  fitted  with 
a  shelf,  used  for  collecting  guses  [Gr,  irj/cujucrra] 
over  water  or  mercury, 

Pneumatomachi.  [Gr.  Trveuna.rnndxoi.]  (EccL 
Hist.}  A  name  of  reproach  for  those  who,  in 


the  fourth  and  fifth  centuries,  denied  the  divinity 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  (Macedonians.) 

Pneumatosis.  [Gr.  Trvet^uciTaxm,  inflation.'} 
(Med.)  A  collection  of  air  in  the  cellular  mem- 
brane. (Emphysema. ) 

Pnyx.  [Gr.  wv^.]  In  ancient  Athens,  the 
place  for  the  popular  assembly,  on  sloping 
ground  to  the  west  of  Areopagus.  The  Bema, 
or  tribune  on  the  north  side,  faced  the  Acropolis, 
and  commanded  a  view  of  the  sea  in  the  rear. 

P.O.     ( Naut. )     Petty  officer. 

Poak.  The  waste  from  the  preparation  of 
skins. 

Poblados.  [Sp.]  Inhabited  regions  of  S. 
America,  as  distinguished  from  those  uninhabited, 
Des  Poblados. 

Poco  curante.  [It.]  One  who  cares  little. 
A  devil-may-care. 

Podagra.     [Gr.]     Gout  in  the  feet. 

Podesta.  [It. ,  from  L.  potestas,  power. ~\  The 
chief  magistrate  of  the  Italian  cities  in  the 
Middle  Ages. 

Podoscaph.  [Gr.  irovs,  iro86s,  a  foot,  <TKo<f>o9, 
a  ship.]  Small  boats  worn  on  the  feet,  for 
walking  on  water. 

Poe.  (Native  name.)  A  food  made  of  the 
baked  roots  of  the  taro  plant,  used  in  the  Sand- 
wich Islands. 

Poecile.  [Gr.  17  irouti\Tit  sc.  <TTod.]  A  portico 
or  hall  at  Athens,  adorned  with  paintings  by 
PolygnStus,  representing  the  battle  of  Marathon. 

Poeta  nascitur,  non  fit.  [L.]  A  poet  is  born, 
not  made. 

Poetaster.  [Fr.  poetastre.]  A  petty  poet, 
a  pitiful  writer  of  verses. 

Poetical  metaphor.    (Metaphor.) 

Poet-Laureate.  [L.  laureatus,  crottmed  with 
laurel.]  Most  European  sovereigns  have  assumed 
the  right  of  nominating  a  court  poet ;  the  first 
example  being  that  of  Petrarch,  made  P.-L.  at 
Rome.  In  England,  Poeta  Laureatus  was 
originally  a  graduate  in  rhetoric ;  one  such 
would  be  made  King's  L.  The  P.-L.  is  an 
officer  of  the  royal  household,  in  the  Lord 
Chamberlain's  department. 

Poignard.  [Fr. ,  from  poing,  the fist ',  L.  pugnus.  ] 
A  kind  of  dagger. 

Point  [L.  punctum];  P.  of  sight;  Project- 
ing P.  1.  A  mark  of  position  which  has  no 
magnitude.  2.  Used  in  several  connexions 
with  a  meaning  plain  from  the  context ;  as,  zero 
point,  equinoctial  point,  point  of  contrary 
flexure,  etc.  (For  P.  of  sight,  or  Projecting  P.  t 
vide  Perspective.) 

Point,  Principal. 

Point.    (Switch.)     (Accidental  point.) 

Point  d'appui.  [Fr.,  support,  from  appuyer, 
L.  appodiare.]  1.  (Mil.}  The  place  in  an  align- 
ment (q.v.}  upon  which  any  military  formation 
is  executed.  2.  Generally,  a  fulcrum,  point  of 
support. 

Pointed  architecture.  The  styles  of  architec- 
ture in  which  the  pointed  or  two-centred  Arch  is 
systematically  used,  in  contrast  with  the  Roman- 
esque styles,  which  are  marked  by  the  use  of  the 
round  arch.  (Geometrical  style.) 

Point-lace,    Lace  wrought  with  a  needle* 


POIS 


385 


POL! 


Poison.  [Fr.,  from  L.  potio,  -nem,  a  drink.'] 
Any  substance  which,  through  the  blood,  has  a 
noxious  or  deadening  action  upon  living  beings 
is  :  1.  Irritant — exerting  a  direct  local  action 
upon  the  stomach,  if  it  gets  so  far ;  as  arsenic. 
2.  Narcotic — causing  paralysis  of  the  brain ;  as 
morphia.  3.  Narcotico-acrid — first  irritant,  then 
acting  on  the  nervous  system ;  as  strychnine, 
some  fungi,  etc. 

Poisson  d'Avril.  [Fr.  (i)  mackerel^  (2)  April 
fool.]  Of  explanations  offered,  Littre  does  not 
mention  any,  probably  thinking  none  satisfactory. 

Poitrinal.  (Mil.)  Armcrar  for  a  horse's  chest 
[Fr.  poitrine], 

Polacca,  or  Polonaise.  (Music. )  1.  A  Polish 
national  dance,  in  f  time,  of  slow  movement. 
2.  A  melody  more  or  less  similar  in  character. 

Polacre.  (Naut.)  A  Mediterranean  ship  or 
brig,  without  tops  or  cross-trees. 

Polar  axis;  P.  circles ;  P.  clock ;  P.  co-ordinates ; 
P.  distance ;  P.  forces.  (Geog.}  The  Polar  axis 
of  an  equatorial  instrument  is  that  axis  of  rotation 
which,  by  adjustment,  is  made  parallel  to  the 
earth's  axis.  P.  circles,  the  Arctic  and  Antarctic 
circles,  i.e.  parallels  of  latitude  whose  angular 
distances  from  the  Poles  are  the  same  as  the 
obliquity  of  the  ecliptic,  viz.  about  23°  28'.  P. 
clock,  an  instrument  for  telling  the  time  of  day 
by  observing  the  direction  of  the  plane  of  polariza- 
tion of  the  scattered  sunlight  from  the  regions 
near  the  Pole.  P.  distance,  the  distance  of  a  star 
from  either  Pole,  measured  along  a  declination 
circle.  P.  forces  are  conceived  to  act  with  equal 
intensity  in  opposite  directions  at  the  ends  of  an 
axis  of  molecules.  (For  P.  co-ordinates,  vide 
Kadins-vector.) 

Polaris.     (North  star.) 

Polariscope.  An  instrument  for  polarizing 
light  and  analyzing  it  when  polarized. 

Polarity.  [L.  polus,  the  pole.}  That  condition 
of  a  body  in  virtue  of  which  it  exhibits  opposite 
properties  or  powers  in  two  opposite  parts  or 
directions. 

Polarization  [L.  polus,  the  North  Pole}-, 
Angle  of  P. ;  Circular  P. ;  Elliptical  P. ;  Plane 
of  P.;  P.  of  light;  Plane  P.  When  a  ray  of 
light  passes  through  a  crystal  of  Iceland-spar  it 
is  in  general  divided  into  two  rays,  each  of  which 
has  certain  characteristic  properties,  in  virtue  of 
which  they  are  said  to  consist  of  polarized  light. 
One  of  these  properties  is  that  a  ray  of  polarized 
light  will  not  pass  through  a  second  crystal  of 
Iceland-spar  held  in  certain  definite  positions. 
Any  process  by  which  light  acquires  these  pro- 
perties is  the  Polarization  of  light.  When  light 
is  reflected  at  a  certain  angle  (which  in  the  case 
of  glass  is  54°  35')  it  becomes  polarized  ;  this 
angle  is  the  Angle  of  P.  The  properties  of 
polarized  light  can  be  deduced  with  great  exact- 
ness from  the  supposition  that  the  undulatory 
motion  of  the  ether  takes  place  in  such  a  way 
that  its  particles  move  in  parallel  lines  at  right 
angles  to  the  direction  in  which  the  light  is  pro- 
pagated ;  such  light  is  said  to  be  in  a  state  of 
Plane  P.  A  plane  at  right  angles  to  the  direc- 
tion of  the  vibration  is  the  Plane  of  P.  If  two 
rays  of  plane  polarized  light  combine  under 


certain  circumstances,  the  particles  move  in 
circles  or  ellipses  (having  their  major  axes  parallel 
to  each  other)  in  planes  at  right  angles  to  the 
direction  in  which  the  light  is  propagated  ;  such 
light  is  in  a  state  of  Circular,  or  Elliptical,  P. 

Polarizer.  The  part  of  a  polariscope  which 
polarizes  light ;  it  may  be  a  surface  from  which 
light  is  reflected  at  the  polarizing  angle,  or  a 
portion  of  a  doubly  refracting  crystal  by  passing 
through  which  the  light  is  polarized. 

Polders.  [D.]  Non-tidal  marshes  in  the  Low 
Countries,  artificially  drained  by  a  series  of  canals 
at  successively  higher  levels,  by  which  they  are 
also  irrigated  when  required. 

Poldway.     Coarse  sacking. 

Pole  [L.  polus,  a  pole,  the  N.  Pole} ;  Magnetic  P. 

1.  (Geog.)     One  of  the  points  in  which  the  axis 
of  rotation  meets  the  surface  of  the  earth.     2. 
(Astron.)     One  of  the  points  vertically  over  the 
poles  of  the  earth,  round  which  the  great  sphere 
seems   to  revolve.      3.    (Geom.)      One  of  the 
extremities  of  the  diameter  drawn  at  right  angles 
to  the  plane  of  a  circle  on  a  sphere  (also  -vide 
Eadius-vector).     4.  (Phys.)  One  of  the  opposite 
points  in  which  a  polar  force  is  exerted  ;  as  the 
poles  of  a  battery,  of  a  magnet,  etc.  ( P'or  Magnetic 
P.,  vide  Magnetic  battery.)     5.  Of  the  face  of  a 
crystal,  the  end  of  that  radius  of  the  sphere  of  pro- 
jection which  is  drawn  at  right  angles  to  the  face. 

Polecat.  [D.  pool-kat,  O.Fr.  pulent,  pullent, 
stinking.]  (Zool.)  Putdrius  fcetidus  ;  an  animal 
of  the  weasel  kind  (Mustelidoe),  about  two  feet 
long,  dark  brown  on  back,  lighter  beneath.  Ord. 
Carnivora.  I.q.  Fitchett,  or  Foumart  (?  foul 
marten). 

Polemarch.  [Gr.  vo\ffj.apxos,  a  chief  in  war.} 
A  name  for  military  commanders  generally.  At 
Athens,  the  P.  was  the  third  of  the  nine  Archons. 

Polenta.  \L,.,  pearl  barley.}  An  Italian  dish, 
of  boiled  chestnut  or  maize-flour. 

Pole-star.    (North  star.) 

Police  Gazette.  A  j  our nal  containing  the  names 
of  prisoners  convicted  of  crime,  of  absconders,  of 
persons  for  whom  search  is  being  made,  as  well 
as  deserters  from  the  army.  (Hue  and  Cry.) 

Policy.  1.  Applied  to  life  insurances,  this  word 
is  said  to  be  a  corr.  of  the  Gr  TTO\VTTTVXOV, 
or  tablet  folded  into  many  leaves,  used  when 
the  Diptych  was  too  small.  It  is  found  in 
the  transitional  forms  puleticum  and  pollegium. 

2.  (Naut.)     The  written  contract  of  insurance 
against   sea-risks.      Interest  P.,  where  the  in- 
surer has  an  assignable,    Wager  P.,  where   he 
has  no  substantial,  interest  in  the  thing  insured. 
Open  P.,  where  the  amount  of  interest  is  not 
specified,  but  has  to  be  ascertained  in  case  of  a 
loss.      Valued  P.,  where  the  goods  or   ship  is 
insured  for  a  specific  amount. 

Poling.  Stirring  molten  copper  with  a  pole  of 
green  wood,  to  purify  it  of  oxygen. 

Polis.    (Phratry.) 

Politesse.     [Fr.]     Politeness. 

Political  economy.  [Gr.  iroXlriKos,  of  or 
belonging  to  the  State,  oiKovojUta,  house-manage- 
ment.] The  science  which  seeks  to  determine 
the  nature  and  properties  of  the  forces  which  act 
on  the  social  faculties  of  man,  so  far  as  the 


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results  of  these  may  be  estimated  by  some  re- 
cognized standard  of  value.  It  deals,  therefore, 
with  laws  which  are  beyond  the  control  of  the 
human  will,  and  with  consequences  which  follow 
inevitably  from  those  laws.  The  modern  system 
of  political  economy  must  be  ascribed  to  Adam 
Smith,  whose  Wealth  of  Nations  was  published 

Pollack.  (Ichth.}  Fish  of  the  cod  tribe, 
olive-brown  back,  white  sides,  yellow-mottled. 
British  seas.  Merluccius  pollachius,  fam. 
Gadidse,  ord.  An&canthini,  sub-class  Tel£ostei. 

Pollard.  [Cf.  D.  polle,  head.'}  1.  (Zoo!.) 
A  stag  that  has  cast  his  horns.  2.  The  chub, 
or  sometimes  the  miller's  thumb  ;  large-headed. 
3.  A  mixture  of  bran  and  meal.  4.  A  tree  which 
has  been  foiled,  or  had  its  head  cut  off. 

Polled  cattle.  {Cf.  D.  polle,  head.}  Hornless 
cattle. 

Pollen.  {L.,  fine  flour,  or  dust.]  (Bot.)  The 
fertilizing  powder  emitted  by  the  anthers. 

Poll-evil.  In  a  horse,  a  painful  swelling  on 
the  poll,  fluctuating  to  the  touch  ;  from  the  head 
suddenly  lifted  and  struck  against  a  beam,  etc., 
or  from  straining  against  the  halter. 

Pollicitation.  [L.  pollicitationem,  from  polli- 
citari,  to  promise.]  In  Civil  Law,  a  promise 
which  has  not  been  accepted  by  the  person  to 
whom  it  is  made. 

Poll  tax.  A  tax  levied  on  the  heads  (polls) 
or  persons  of  all  members  of  the  State,  with  the 
exception  of  the  very  poorest. 

Pollux,    (Castor  and  Pollux.) 

Polo.  An  Eastern  game,  much  played  in 
Tartary ;  introduced  into  England  in  1872,  by 
some  Indian  officers  ;  may  be  described  as  hockey 
played  on  horseback. 

Polonaise.    (Polacca.) 

Polony.  (From  Bologna,  in  Italy.)  A  dry 
sausage  made  of  meat  partly  cooked. 

Poltergeist.  [Ger.]  A  hobgoblin,  supposed  to 
show  his  presence  by  the  clattering  of  pots  and 
pans. 

Poltroon.  [Fr.  poltron  ;  connected  by  some 
with  Eng.  bolster,  as  denoting  one  who  lies 
lazily  in  bed ;  but  by  others  referred  to  L. 
pollice  truncus,  one  maimed  in  the  thumb,  in 
order  to  disqualify  himself  for  military  service.] 
A  coward,  a  dastard. 

Polverine.  [It.  polverino,  powder.]  The 
ashes  of  a  plant  brought  from  the  Levant,  used 
for  making  white  glass. 

Poly-.     [Gr.  iro\vs,  many,  much.] 

Polyarchy.  [Gr.  iro\vapxia.]  The  rule  of 
many  (whether  nobles  or  commoners) ;  as 
opposed  to  Monarchy. 

Polychromy.  [Gr.  iroAuxpw/uos,  of  many 
colours.}  (Arch.}  The  employment  of  colour 
in  adorning  the  surface  of  buildings  or  works 
of  art. 

Polygamia.  [Gr.  iroAtJs,  many,  7oi/ioy,  mar- 
riage.] (Bot.}  Linnaean  class  xxii.  ;  plants  in 
which  the  spec,  have  male,  female,  and  her- 
maphrodite flowers  on  the  same  or  different 
individuals. 

Polygastrica.  [Gr.  iro\vs,  many,  ycurr^p, 
7oo-T6pos,  the  belly.]  I.q.  Infusoria  (q.v.}. 


Polyglot.  [Gr.  irohvyXwTTos,  many-tongued.] 
A  word  generally  applied  to  Bibles  printed  with 
the  text  in  various  languages.  (Hexapla.) 
Thus  the  edition  of  Cardinal  Ximenes,  called 
Complutensian,  as  printed  at  Complutum,  or 
Alcala,  in  Spain,  has  the  text  in  four  languages. 
Among  such  editions  are  also  the  Plantin 
(Antwerp,  1572);  the  Polyglot  of  De  Sacy 
(Paris,  1645) ;  the  English,  or  Walton's  Poly- 
glot (1657).  Hutter's  Polyglot  (Nuremberg, 
1599)  contains  twelve  languages. 

Polygon  [Gr.  iro\vyuvos,  having  many  angles] ; 
Eegular  P.  A  plafie  figure  having  more  than 
four  sides  and  angles ;  it  is  Regular  when 
its  has  equal  sides  and  angles ;  it  is  called 
pentagon,  hexagon,  octagon,  decagon,  etc., 
when  it  has  respectively  five  [wo/re],  six  [e£], 
eight  [OKT(!)],  ten  [SeVca],  etc.,  sides. 

Polygonal  numbers.  If  an  arithmetical  series 
whose  first  term  is  unity  be  written  down,  and 
the  sum  of  the  first  two,  first  three,  first  four, 
etc.,  terms  be  taken,  these  sums  are  a  series  of 
P.  N.  ;  the  order  being  two  more  than  the 
common  difference  of  the  arithmetic  series. 
Thus,  if  the  series  is  I,  5,  9,  13,  17,  etc.,  the 
corresponding  polygonal  numbers  are  6,  15,  28, 
45,  etc. ;  and  as  the  common  difference  of  the 
arithmetical  series  is  4,  the  P.  N.  are,  in  this 
case,  hexagonal  (4  +  2  =  6). 

Polygon  of  forces.  If  any  number  of  forces 
act  on  a  particle,  and  lines  be  drawn  parallel 
and  proportionate  to  the  forces,  each  line  from 
the  end  of  the  one  drawn  before  it,  and  in  the 
same  direction  as  the  force  acts,  the  line  required 
to  make  the  figure  a  complete  polygon  represents 
the  resultant  of  the  forces ;  this  proposition  is 
called  the  P.  of  F. 

Polygraph.  [Gr.  iro\vypa<$)6s,  writing  much,] 
An  instrument  for  multiplying  copies  of  a  writing. 

Polyhedron.  [Gr.  iro\veSpos,  having  many 
sides.]  A  solid  bounded  by  many  plane  faces  ; 
a  Tetrahedron  is  contained  by  four  equilateral 
triangles ;  a  Hexahedron,  or  cube,  by  six  squares  ; 
an  Octahedron,  by  eight  equilateral  triangles ;  a 
Dodecahedron,  by  twelve  regular  pentagons  ;  an 
Icosahedron,  by  twenty  equilateral  triangles. 
These  five  are  the  regular  solids  or  bodies,  or 
Platonic  bodies.  [TeT/>a-,  four;  «•'£,  six;  o/crttf, 
eight ;  5c65eica,  twelve;  ttitoai,  twenty.} 

Polyhymnia.  [Gr.  iro\v-v/jivia.]  (Myth.)  The 
Muse  of  lyric  poetry. 

Polymerism.  [Gr.  iroK-us,  many,  pfpos,  part.  ] 
(Chem.)  The  principle  by  which  a  series  of 
chemical  compounds  exists  having  a  common 
formula. 

Polymorphic  genera.  [Gr.  iro\v-nop<f>os,  multi- 
form.] (Zoo/.)  Protean  G.  ;  those  G.  in  which 
individual  differences  exist  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  make  the  determination  of  species  and 
varieties  almost  impossible ;  e.g.  the  snail 
(Helix). 

Polymorphism.  [Gr.  iroX&s,  many,  nop<p-f)t 
form.]  (Crystallog.)  The  case,  of  rare  occur- 
rence, in  which  a  substance  crystallizes  in  more 
than  two  different  systems. 

Polyonymy.    (Metaphor.) 

Polype.     (Zool.)     The  Polyzoa  and  Ccelente- 


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387 


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rata  are  frequently  thus  termed ;  the  name 
properly  belongs  to  the  Actinozoa ;  e.g.  sea- 
anemones. 

Polypide.  (Polypus.)  The  separate  zooid  of 
a  Polyz5on. 

Polypite.  [Formed  from  Gr.  iro\v-irovs,  many- 
footed,  polypus.  ]  The  separate  zooid  of  a  Hydro- 
z5on. 

Polyptycha,  plu.  [Gr.  iroXv-n-rvx05)  having 
many  tablets.}  1.  Account -books,  registers ; 
especially,  2,  Eccl.  registers  of  goods  belonging 
to  churches,  with  copies  of  charters,  etc.  (Policy.) 

Polypus.  [Gr.  iro\v-irovs,  many -footed.'}  (Polype; 
Octopus.) 

Polystyle.  [Gr.  iro\6ffrv\os.]  (Arch.)  A 
building  with  many  columns. 

Polysyndeton.     (Asyndeton.) 

Polysynthetic.     (Agglomerative  languages.) 

Polysyntheton.     (Asyndeton.) 

Polytechnic  School.  [Gr.  iro\vrexvos,  with 
many  arts. ,]  (Hist.)  A  school,  so  called,  was 
set  up  in  Paris,  in  1794,  by  a  decree  of  the 
National  Convention.  By  Napoleon  Bonaparte 
it  was  converted  into  a  school  of  preparation 
for  the  artillery  and  for  civil  and  military 
engineering. 

Polytheism.    (Monotheism.) 

Polytype.  [Gr.  iro\vs,  many,  r^iros,  a  type.} 
A  fac-simile  copy  in  metal  of  an  engraved  block, 
matter  in  type,  etc.,  for  printing  from. 

Polyzoa.  [Gr.  irohvfaos,  properly  long-lived, 
but  here  consisting  of  many  animals.}  Bryozoa 
[fipvov,  a  kind  of  mossy  seaweed,  &ov,  an 
animaf] ;  applied  by  Busk,  after  Thompson, 
to  the  lowest  class  of  molluscoids,  as  Flustra, 
sea-mats,  and  Plumatella,  the  other  classes 
being  Brachiopoda,  or  Palliobranchiata,  and 
Tunicata. 

Pomace.  [L.  pomum,  an  apple.}  Apples  or 
similar  fruit  crushed  by  grinding.  (Pommage.) 

Pomander.  [Corr.  from  Fr.  pomme  d'ambre, 
apple  of  amber.}  A  round  box  containing  per- 
fumes, formerly  carried  by  ladies. 

Pome.  [L.  p5mum.]  (JBot.)  A  fruit,  like 
apple,  pear  ;  the  pulpy  mass  made  of  calyx  with 
epicarp  and  mesocarp  ;  the  endocarp  being  scaly 
with  separate  seed-cells.  (Pomum,  though  often 
transl.  apple,  is  =  fruit  generally. ) 

Pomey.  [Fr.  pomme,  an  apple.}  (Her.}  A 
green  roundlet  or  disc. 

Pommage,  Pummice.  [Fr.  pomme,  an  apple, 
L.  pomum,  a  fruit.}  The  pulp  of  apples  crushed 
for  making  cider.  (Pomace.) 

Pommee.  [Fr.  pomme,  an  apple.}  (Her.") 
Having  the  ends  terminated  in  knobs  like  apples. 

Pommel.  [Fr.  pommeau.]  1.  The  knob  on 
a  sword-hilt.  2.  The  protuberant  part  of  a 
saddle-bow. 

Pomcerium.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Ant.,  a  space 
of  ground,  within  and  without  the  walls  of  a 
city,  kept  clear  of  buildings  by  virtue  of  special 
consecration. 

Pomona.  [L.]  The  old  Italian  goddess  of 
fruit  trees  and  fruit.  (Vertumnus.) 

Pompadour.     (Rose  de  Pompadour.) 

Pompet,  Pumpet.  [O.Fr.  pompette.]  In 
Printing,  a  ball,  formerly  used  for  inking  types. 


Pompholyx.  [Gr.  iro^Xv^,  a  bubble.} 
Flowers  of  zinc.  (Flowers  of  sulphur.) 

Pomum  Adami.     (Adam's  apple.) 

Poncho.  [Sp.]  A  cloak  worn  by  Spanish- 
Americans,  like  a  blanket  having  in  the  middle 
a  hole  for  the  head. 

Ponderanda  sunt  testimonia,  non  numeranda. 
[L.]  Testimonies  should  be  weighed,  not  counted, 
the  quality  being  of  the  first  importance. 

Pone,  more  correctly  written  Paune.  Food 
consisting  of  Indian  meal  made  into  dough  and 
baked  ;  so  called  by  American  Indians.  To  be 
distinguished  from  the  Asiatic  Pan,  which  is  also 
sometimes  written  paivn. 

Pongee.     A  poor  kind  of  Indian  silk. 

Pons  Asinorum.  [L.]  The  asses'  bridge; 
a  name  given  to  the  fifth  proposition  of  the 
first  book  of  Euclid,  as  being  the  first  difficulty 
met  with  ;  and  perhaps  from  its  figure. 

Pontac.  (From  Pontac,  in  S.  France.)  A 
kind  of  constantia  made  at  the  Cape. 

Pontec.  [Fr.  pontil.]  An  iron  instrument 
for  holding  glass  in  the  process  of  manufacture. 

Pontiff.  [L.  pontifex.]  The  highest  sacerdotal 
title  of  the  ancient  Romans.  The  chief  of  the 
pontiffs  was  styled  Pontifex  Maximus.  The 
word  has  nothing  to  do,  as  was  supposed,  with 
the  making  of  bridges  (pontes  facere),  but  is 
only  another  form  of  pompifex,  the  orderer  of 
processions  and  other  religious  rites.  The  title 
is  now  given  to  the  pope  only. 

Pontifical.  [L.  pontificalis,  from  pontifex,  a 
Latin  form  of  pompifex,  one  who  arranges  pomps, 
i.e.  processions  or  ceremonies.]  In  the  Latin 
Church,  a  book  containing  the  ceremonies  relat- 
ing to  bishops  and  prelates. 

Pontoon.  [Fr.  ponton,  L.  pontonem.]  1. 
(Naut.}  A  large,  flat-bottomed  boat,  fitted 
with  cranes,  etc.,  for  careening  vessels.  2. 
Portable  boats  for  making  temporary  bridges. 
3.  (Mil.)  A  boat,  cask,  or  cylindrical  metal 
vessel ;  one  of  the  floating  piers  of  a  portable 
military  bridge  for  the  passage  of  rivers ;  each 
raft  being  completed  and  joined  to  the  next  one 
by  baulks  (q.v. )  and  chesses  (q.v,). 

Pood.  A  weight  of  forty  Russian  pounds,  = 
36*114  English  pounds  avoirdupois. 

Poojah.  [Hind.]  Ceremonial  prayer  before 
an  image. 

Pooler.    An  instrument  to  stir  a  tan-vat. 

Poonac.     Cocoa-nut  oil-cake. 

Poonwood.  An  E. -Indian  wood,  light  and 
porous,  used  for  ship-building. 

Poop.  [L.  puppis.]  (Naut.)  The  highest 
and  aftermost  part  of  the  hull.  P.  or  P.-deck. 
(Decks.)  P. -lantern,  distinguishing  mark  ol 
flag-ship  at  night.  P.  -royal,  a  short  deck  above 
the  aftermost  part  of  the  P.-deck  in  the  largest 
French  and  Spanish  men-of-war,  called  also 
Top-gallant  P. 

Pooped.  (Naut.)  Caught  by  a  sea  which 
breaks  over  the  stern,  when  running  before  the 
wind. 

Poor  laws.  Laws  for  the  relief  of  the  poor. 
By  those  of  Elizabeth,  the  poor  were  entitled  tc 
relief  in  the  parish  where  they  had  their  Settle- 
ment. By  the  amended  law  of  1833,  the  smaller 


POOR 


388 


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parishes  were  classified  into  unions,  each  ad- 
ministered by  a  board  of  guardians  of  the  poor, 
subject  to  the  rules  of  the  Poor  Law  Board. 
The  funds  needed  are  raised  by  poor  rates, 
assessed  on  the  ratable  value  of  real  property. 
(Overseers  of  the  poor.) 

Poor  rates.    (Pauperism;  Poor  laws.) 

Pope  Joan.  A  woman  who  was  supposed  by 
some  to  have  been  elected  pope  on  the  death 
of  Leo  IV.,  A.D.  855.  The  story  has  been  dealt 
with  effectually  by  Dr.  Dollinger  in  his  Papst- 
Fabeln. 

Popinjay.  [Ar.  balbarga,  parrot;  cf.  Fr. 
papegai,  Sp.  papagayo,  It.  pappagallo,  parrot.] 
(Ornith.)  1.  Green  woodpecker ;  length  about 
thirteen  inches,  plumage  mainly  green  and 
scarlet.  Europe  and  Asia.  Picus  viridis,  gen. 
Plcus,  fam.  Picidae,  ord.  Plcarise.  2.  Collo- 
quially, the  parrot. 

Popish  Plot.    (Meal-Tub  Plot,) 

Poplin.  [Fr.  popeline.]  A  stuff  made  of  silk 
and  worsted. 

Popliteal,  Poplitio,  Having  to  do  with  the 
knee  [L.  poplitem]. 

Popliteal  region  or  space.  (Med.)  That 
behind  the  knee-joint  [L.  poplitem,  the  ham  of 
the  knee], 

Poppyheads.  (Arch.}  The  carved  finials  on 
the  upright  ends  of  stalls  or  seats  in  churches 
are  sometimes  so  called. 

Populus.    (Phratry;  Plebs.) 

Populus  vult  decipl:  deciplatur.  [L.]  The 
people  like  to  be  fooled:  let  them  be  so. 

Porbeagle.  [Perhaps  connected  with  Prov. 
pore,  and  Fr.  barbillon,  spec,  of  sharks.}  (Ichth.) 
A  spec,  of  shark,  Lamna  cornubica.  Also 
written  Probeagle. 

Porcelain.  [It.  porcellana.]  A  translucent 
substance  composed  of  kaolin  and  peh-tun-tze 
(qq.v.).  (Paste.) 

Porism.  [Gr.  ir 6 oia /JLO.,  a  corollary.]  A  pro- 
position affirming  the  possibility  of  finding  such 
conditions  as  will  render  a  certain  problem 
capable  of  innumerable  solutions.  Euclid  wrote 
three  books  of  porisms,  which  are  lost,  and  the 
question  what  he  meant  by  a  P.  has  been  much 
discussed. 

Porphyrogenitus.  [Gr.  iropQvpoyfvvrjTos.]  One 
born  in  the  purple,  i.e.  in  an  apartment  of  the 
palace  lined  with  porphyry.  A  term  in  the 
Byzantine  court  for  a  child  bom  to  the  reigning 
emperor. 

Porphyry.  [Gr.  iroptyvpa,  purple,  i.e.  the  red 
of  Egyptian  porphyry.]  (Geol.)  1.  Strictly,  a 
felspathic  rock  with  crystals  of  felspar.  2.  Any 
rock  in  which  crystals  are  embedded  in  a  com- 
pact base  ;  e.g.  porphyritic  granite,  porphyritic 
trap,  augite  porphyry,  etc. 

Porporino.  [It.]  A  mixture  of  quicksilver, 
tin,  and  sulphur,  formerly  used  instead  of  gold 
in  painting. 

Porrigo.  [L.,  scurf.]  (Med.)  Ringworm,  a 
pustular  and  contagious  affection  of  the  scalp. 

Port.  (A-beam.)  P.  the  helm,  =  put  the  tiller 
towards  the  left  side  of  the  vessel. 

Portage.  A  carrying  place  over  land  between 
navigable  waters  or  along  the  banks  of  rivers, 


round  waterfalls  or  rapids,  etc.  ;  a  word  uni- 
versal in  N.  America. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Portate.  [L.  portatus,  carried.]  (Her.)  Borne 
not  erect  but  athwart  an  escutcheon. 

Portcullis.  [Fr.  porte-coulisse,  a  sliding-gate.] 
(Mil.)  Strong  iron  grating  with  projecting 
points  along  the  bottom,  sliding  in  grooves  in 
the  gateway  of  a  castle,  through  which  it  can  be 
dropped  when  necessary. 

Porte,  The  Sublime.  The  official  title  of  the 
Turkish  government ;  said  to  be  derived  from 
Bab  Humayoon,  a  gate  of  the  palace  at  Broussa. 
(Seraglio.) 

Porte  cochere.  [Fr.]  Gate  for  carriage- 
entrance,  by  a  road  leading  through  the  front  of 
the  house  to  the  back. 

Portefeuille.    [Fr.]    A  Portfolio. 

Portemonnaie.  [Fr.]  A  pocket-book  for 
carrying  money  ;  a  purse. 

Porteous  Kiots,  in  Edinburgh,  1736.  After 
the  execution  of  Wilson,  a  smuggler,  the  mob, 
sympathizing,  attacked  the  soldiers  with  stones. 
Captain  P.,  firing  upon  them,  was  tried  and 
condemned  to  death.  Reprieved  by  Queen 
Caroline,  he  was  hung  by  the  mob.  P.  R. 
were  made  interesting  by  Sir  Walter  Scott's 
Heart  of  Midlothian. 

Portfire.  (Mil.)  A  composition  of  fine  gun- 
powder pressed  into  a  paper  tube,  used  as  a 
match  for  firing  guns. 

Portfolio.  [L.  L.  portlforium  ;  a  small  book  of 
prayers,  which  may  easily  be  carried  out  of  doors, 
portari  foras.]  Often,  bymeton.,  =  secretary- 
ship. 

Portiere.  [Fr.]  A  curtain  filling  a  doorway, 
or  dividing  two  rooms. 

Portltores.    (Publicans.) 

Portland  stone.    (Bath-stone.) 

Portland  vase.  A  cinerary  urn,  found  in  a 
tomb  arbitrarily  assigned  to  the  Emperor  Alex- 
ander Severus.  It  passed  from  the  possession 
of  the  Barberini  at  Rome  into  that  of  the  Port- 
land family,  who  in  1810  placed  it  in  the  British 
Museum.  It  was  found  about  1550  in  a  sarco- 
phagus in  the  sepulchral  Monte  del  Grano,  near 
Rome.  It  consists  of  two  layers  of  glass,  the 
upper  one  white,  the  lower  dark  blue,  cut 
(cameo-fashion)  into  a  design  of  seven  figures. 
It  originally  belonged  to  the  Barberini  family. 
It  has  been  copied  by  Tassie  in  plaster  of  Paris, 
and  by  Wedgwood  in  jasper. 

Portlast,  or  Portoise.  (Naut.)  The  gun- 
wale (q.v.). 

Portmen.  (Naut.)  1.  Inhabitants  •  of  the 
Cinque  Ports.  2.  Spanish  burgesses. 

Portreeve,  or  Portgrave.  [A.S.]  The  chief 
magistrate  in  the  ancient  English  seaports. 

Port  Eoyalists.  Members  of  the  Convent  of 
the  Port  Royal  des  Champs.  The  house  was 
suppressed  _  by  Louis  XIV.  as  a  stronghold  of 
the  Jansenists.  Among  the  distinguished  men 
connected  with  it  are  Pascal,  Arnauld,  and 
Tillemont.  The  school-books  published  by 
the  Port  Royalists  long  maintained  their  repu- 
tation. 

Ports.  [L.  porta,  a  door,  or  opening.]  (Naut.) 
Square  holes  in  a  ship's  side,  for  firing  guns 


POSE 


389 


POTM 


through  or  loading  a  cargo.  Gunroom  P.  are 
in  the  stern  ;  Bridle  P. ,  in  the  bows. 

Pose.  [Fr.,  placed.}  (Her.}  Standing  still 
with  all  his  feet  on  the  ground. 

Position ;  Angle  of  P. ;  Geometry  of  P. ;  P. 
micrometer.  A  rule  for  solving  certain  arith- 
metical questions  in  which  an  assumed  number 
(or  numbers)  is  used  instead  of  the  unknown.*-  of 
algebra.  The  Angle  of  P.  is  the  angle  made  with 
a  fixed  line  by  the  line  joining  two  neighbouring 
stars.  The  angle  of  P.  in  the  case  of  double  stars 
and  the  like  is  measured  by  a  P.  micrometer. 
(For  Geometry  of  P.,  vide  Geometry.) 

Positive.  A  photograph  corresponding  in  its 
lights  and  shades  with  the  original,  instead  of 
their  being  reversed  as  in  a  negative. 

Positive  electricity  is  the  electricity  which  a 
body  contains  above  its  natural  quantity. 

Positive  quantity;  P.  sign.  In  Algeb.,  a 
quantity  affected  with  the  Positive  sign,  or  sign 
of  addition  ( + )  5  as,  +  ab.  (For  P.  crystal, 
P.  eye-piece,  vide  Crystal ;  Eye-glass.) 

Positivism.    (Positivists.) 

Positivists.  The  followers  of  Auguste  Comte, 
the  founder  of  a  philosophy  called  Positivism, 
which  limits  itself  strictly  to  human  experience, 
and  therefore  ignores  the  life  to  come  and  the 
relations  of  man  with  God.  For  practical  pur- 
poses the  school  is  merely  negative. 

Posse  comitatus  (i.e.  cum  potestate).  In  Law, 
the  power  of  the  county,  which  the  sheriff  may 
raise  in  case  of  riot  or  other  opposition  to  the 
course  of  justice. 

Possession.     (Obsession.) 

Possidentis  in  aequali  jure  melior  est  con- 
ditio.  (Leg.)  When  the  rights  of  plaintiff  and 
of  defendant  are  equal,  the  latter  is  considered 
to  have  the  better  case. 

Possunt,  quia  posse  vldentur.  [L.]  Lit.  they 
are  able,  because  they  seem  to  be  able ;  they  suc- 
ceed who  are  credited  with  probability  of  success. 

Post.     A  large  kind  of  writing-paper. 

Postal.     In  America,  a  post-card. 

Post-captain.  Formerly,  title  of  a  naval  cap- 
tain of  three  years'  standing.  Disused. 

Posted.  (Naut.)  Promoted  to  the  rank  of 
captain  R.N.  A  term  no  longer  in  use. 

Posted-up.  Well-informed  ;  a  metaphor  from 
commercial  activity. 

Post-entry.  In  Com.,  a  supplemental  entry 
made  by  a  merchant  who  finds  that  his  entry  of 
goods  already  weighed  and  measured  is  too 
small. 

Postern.  [Fr.  poterne,  formerly  posterne,  L. 
posterula,  a  secret  passage.}  (Mil.}  Covered 
passage  leading  under  a  rampart  from  its  terre- 
plein  to  the  ditch  in  front. 

Post  hoc.    [L.]     After  this. 

Post  hoc,  ergo  propter  hoc.  [L.,  after  this  ; 
so  owing  to  this.}  The  assumption  of  cause  and 
effect,  where  there  may  be  only  sequence. 

Posticum.     (Naos.) 

Postil.  [Said  to  be  from  L.  post  ill-a,  after 
them.}  (Eccl.)  A  homily  or  sermon  delivered 
after  and  upon  a  lesson  from  Scripture. 

Postlimmium,  or  Jus  postliminii.  1.  In  the 
Middle  Ages,  the  act  by  which  a  citizen,  de- 


parting to  another  land,  reserved  his  rights  in 
his  own  country  for  resumption  on  his  return. 
2.  In  National  and  Civil  Law,  the  right  by 
which  prisoners  of  war  regain  their  freedom  on 
the  ending  of  hostilities. 

Postmaster.  At  Merton  College,  Oxford,  a 
scholar  ;  corr.  of  portionista,  one  who  has  a 
share  [L.  portio]  of  the  endowment. 

Post  meridiem.     [L.]     P.m.;  afternoon. 

Post-mill.  A  windmill  standing  on  a  post,  so 
that  it  can  be  turned  round. 

Post-mortem  examination.  [L.]  An  exami- 
nation of  the  body  after  death. 

Post-note.  In  America,  a  bank-note  intended 
to  be  transmitted  to  a  distant  place  by  mail, 
payable  to  "order  ;  "  not,  like  a  bank-note,  to 
"  bearer." — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Post-obit.  [L.  post  obitum,  after  death.}  A 
bond  given  to  secure  a  sum  of  money  on  the 
death  of  some  given  person. 

Post  prandium.  [L.]  After  dinner  ;  thus,  a 
post-prandium  speech. 

Postscenium.  [L.]  (Arch.)  The  part  of  a 
theatre  behind  the  scenes. 

Postscriptum.  [L.,  written  after.}  A  post- 
script ;  abbrev.,  P.S. 

Post  tenebras  lux.  [L.,  after  darkness,  light, ,] 
After  a  storm,  a  calm. 

Postumiana  imperia.  [L.]  A  phrase  with 
the  same  meaning  as  Manliana  imperia. 

Potash,  Potassa.  [Eng.  pot  ash.]  (Chem.) 
Oxide  of  potassium.  Caustic  potash  is  hydrate 
of  potassium.  The  commercial  potashes  are 
impure  carbonate  of  potash,  obtained  from  wood 
ashes  by  lixiviation  and  evaporation. 

Potassium.  A  soft,  silvery-white  metal,  ob- 
tained horn  potash. 

Potato-stones.     (Geode.) 

Poteen.  [Ir.  poitin,  a  small  pot.}  Irish 
whisky  illicitly  distilled. 

Potent.  (Her. )  A  fur  covered  with  small  T 
figures,  like  a  crutch  [Fr.  potence],  ranged  in 
lines.  When  the  heads  of  each  line  of  crutches 
touch  those  of  the  next  line,  it  is  called  counter- 
potent. 

Potential.  [L.  potentia,  force.}  The  work 
required  to  move  a  unit  of  mass  from  a  certain 
point  to  an  infinite  distance  against  the  attraction 
of  a  body  is  the  P.  of  the  body  on  that  point. 
If  the  mass  of  each  particle  of  the  body  be 
divided  by  its  distance  from  the  point,  their  sum 
is  the  P.  of  the  body  at  the  point. 

Potential,  Electrical.  [L.  potentia,  power.} 
The  degree  of  electrical  tension  at  any  point, 
depending  on  the  amount  of  electricity  there 
relatively  to  that  at  adjacent  points. 

Potential  qualities.  In  scholastic  philosophy, 
qualities  existing  in  a  body  in  potentia  only, 
without  any  actual  development. 

Potichomanie.  [Fr.  potiche,  a  porcelain  vase, 
manie,  mania.}  The  process  of  coating  the 
inside  of  glass  vessels  with  engravings  or  paint- 
ings, to  make  them  look  like  painted  china. 

Pot-metal.  1.  A  kind  of  stained  glass,  the 
colours  of  which  are  incorporated  with  it  while 
fused.  2.  A  poor  kind  of  brass  used  for  casting 
cocks,  etc. 


POTO 


390 


Potoroo,  Pottoroo.  Native  name  for  a  small 
marsupial,  the  kangaroo  rat  ( Hypsiprymnus 
minor) ;  brownish  black  ;  a  little  more  than  two 
feet  long,  including  the  tail.  Australia. 

Pot-paper.  Paper  fifteen  inches  by  twelve 
and  a  half. 

Potteries,  The.  A  populous  district,  about  = 
forty-eight  square  miles,  of  which  Burslem  may 
be  taken  as  the  centre,  at  which  place  Wedg- 
wood was  born,  1 730. 

Potting.     Putting  sugar  in  casks  for  draining. 

Pot-waller,  Pot-walloper,  Pot-wabbler.  Before 
the  Reform  Act  of  1832,  in  constituencies  such 
as  Ilchester,  Old  Sarum,  etc. ;  one  who  proved 
himself  a  housekeeper,  and  so  an  elector,  by 
boiling  a  pot  over  a  fireplace  erected  in  the  air  ; 
to  "  wallop  "  meaning  to  sway,  to  move  to  and 
fro  like  boiling  water. 

Pouch.  [Cf.  Fr.  poche,  A.S.  pocca,  Eng. 
pocket ',  etc.]  (Mil.)  A  leather  case  in  which 
ammunition  or  percussion  caps  are  carried  and 
kept  dry. 

Pouches.  (Naut.)  1.  Small  compartments  in 
the  hold,  for  stowing  corn,  etc.  2.  Bulkheads  to 
prevent  grain,  or  such  like  cargo,  from  shifting. 

Poudrette.  [Dim.  of  Fr.  poudre,  powder.] 
Dried  nightsoil  mixed  with  earth  and  used  for 
manure. 

Pouldron.  [(?)  Fr.  epaule,  shoulder.}  (Mil.) 
Shoulder-piece  of  a  set  of  armour. 

Poulpe.  [Fr.,  from  polypus  (q.v.).]  (Argo- 
nauta ;  Octopus.) 

Pounce.  [Fr.  pouce,  pumice.]  Powdered 
sandarach,  used  to  prevent  ink  from  spreading 
on  paper. 

Pound.  [Akin  to  L.  pondus,  weight.]  1.  The 
pound  avoirdupois  is  the  British  standard  unit  of 
mass  ;  the  quantity  of  matter  in  any  body  is  one 
P.  avoirdupois  when  in  a  perfectly  just  balance 
it  would  exactly  counterpoise  a  certain  lump  of 
platinum,  kept  in  the  Exchequer  Office,  called  the 
standard  P.  2.  A  P.  troy  (which  is  the  same  as 
a  P.  in  apothecaries'  weight)  is  \^\  of  a  P.  avoir- 
dupois. 3.  A  piece  of  money,  of  gold,  of  a 
certain  degree  of  fineness  (viz.  22  carats),  1869 
of  which  weigh  forty  pounds  troy.  4.  The  P. 
now  common  in  Germany  is  half  a  kilogramme. 
5.  Nearly  every  principal  city  in  Europe  had 
its  own  P. ;  thus  at  Amsterdam  it  was  7636,  at 
Cologne  7218,  at  Madrid  6544,  at  Paris  7561, 
at  Venice  7368,  English  grains ;  and  in  some 
cities  two  or  three  different  pounds  were  used 
for  different  purposes,  as  at  Amsterdam  and 
Venice. 

Pound.  (Naut.)  Water  fenced  so  as  to  keep 
fish  from  getting  away.  Pound-and-pint  idler, 
the  purser. 

Pour  comble  de  bonheur.  [Fr.]  To  complete 
one's  happiness  or  luck. 

Pour  encourager  les  autres.  [Fr.]  To  en- 
courage the  rest. 

Pourparler.    [Fr.]    A  parley,  or  consultation. 

Pourparty.  [Fr.  pour,  /br,  parti, part,  party,] 
(Leg.)  A  divided  share. 

Pour  passer  le  temps.  [Fr.]  By  way  of 
pastime,  or  of  killing  time. 

Powder,  To.     In  Naut.  slang,  to  salt  slightly. 


Powder  ing-tub,  pickling-tub.  Powder-monkey, 
the  boy  who  carried  cartridges  ;  now  P.-man. 

Power.  [Fr.  pouvoir.]  1.  (Algeb.)  The 
result  of  multiplying  a  number  by  itself  two 
or  more  times  ;  so  the  fourth  power  of  5,  or 
54,  is  5  x  5  X  5  X  5,  or  625.  2.  (Meek.)  The 
work  done  by  an  agent  at  the  driving  point 
of  a  machine.  3.  The  agent  that  does  the 
work;  as  steam-P.,  water-P.,  etc.  4.  (Optics.) 
The  degree  of  magnification  produced  by  a 
lens,  microscope,  etc.  A  P.-loom  is  a  loom 
driven  by  steam  or  water  power.  (For  Horse-P., 
vide  Horse-power;  for  Mechanical  P.,  vide 
Mechanical.) 

Power  of  attorney.  In  Law,  an  instrument 
by  which  a  party  empowers  another  to  act -for 
him,  either  generally  or  for  a  specified  purpose. 

Pow-wow.  1.  The  name  given  by  the  early 
chronicles  to  the  feasts,  dances,  and  other  public 
doings  of  the  Red  men,  preliminary  to  a  grand 
hunt,  a  council,  a  war  expedition,  and  the  like  ; 
and  so,  2,  in  political  talk,  any  noisy  meeting, 
with  more  of  clamour  than  of  counsel. — Bart- 
lett's  Americanisms. 

Poy.  [Akin  to  poise,  L.  pensare,  to  weigh.] 
A  rope-dancer's  pole. 

Poyal.  [Sp.]  A  striped  stuff  for  covering 
chairs,  etc. 

Poyning's  Law.  Known  also  as  the  Statute  of 
Drogheda.  An  act  of  the  Irish  Parliament,  1495, 
containing  provisions  for  the  orderly  government 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Pale,  and  for  strength- 
ening the  power  of  the  Crown. 

Pozzolana.  Volcanic  ashes  (from  Pozzuoli,  in 
Italy),  used  for  making  a  kind  of  mortar  which 
hardens  under  water. 

Praam.     (Pram.) 

Praeconization.  [L.  prgec5nem,  a  crier, 
herald.]  A  summoning,  a  general  publishing; 
a  "  call  of  the  House  "  of  Convocation. 

Praecordia.     [L.]     The  parts  about  the  heart. 

Praedial  tithe.    (Tithes.) 

Praefect.  [L.  prsefectus,  set  over.]  (Rom. 
Hist.)  The  title  of  certain  superior  officers  in 
their  own  departments.  Among  them  were  (i) 
the  P.  of  the  city,  who  had  the  Imperium  during 
the  absence  of  the  consuls  from  Rome ;  (2)  the 
Prcetorian  P.,  who  commanded  the  Praetorian 
cohorts;  (3)  the  Prafectus  Vigilum,  or  captain 
of  the  Roman  night-watch ;  and  others.  The 
Governor  of  Egypt  was  also  called  P. 

Prselector.  [L.]  A  reader  or  lecturer,  in  the 
universities  or  elsewhere,  his  lectures  being 
called  prselections. 

Praemunlre.  (Leg.)  1.  A  kind  of  contempt 
against  the  king,  with  severe  penalties  attached. 
2.  The  writ  Prsemoneri  facias,  i.e.  cause  the 
offender  to  be  warned  to  appear.  Several 
statutes  of  P.  have  been  passed — to  restrain 
Romish  clergy,  to  enforce  oaths  of  allegiance 
or  supremacy,  etc. 

Praendmen.  [L.]  Among  the  Latins,  the 
name  which  distinguished  the  individual  from 
his  gens  or  clan  and  his  family,  the  former  of 
these  two  coming  between  the  prsenomen  and 
the  latter  which  was  called  the  cognomen. 
Sometimes  a  fourth  name,  called  agnomen, 


391 


PRED 


marked  some  characteristic  feature  or  fact.  Thus 
in  Publius  Cornelius  Scipio  Barbatus,  Publius  is 
the  praenomen,  Cornelius  the  gentile,  and  Scipio 
the  family  name,  the  agnomen  Barbatus  dis- 
tinguishing him  by  his  beard.  So  Fr.  prenom, 
Christian  name. 

Prae-raphaelite.  In  Painting,  a  term  applied 
to  a  modern  revival  of  the  art  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  before  the  time  of  Raphael.  Its  main 
principle  is  said  to  be  a  faithful  representation  of 
all  natural  forms. 

Prerogative  Court.  (Court,  Christian;  Pre- 
rogative Court.) 

Praetexta.    (Toga.) 

Praetor.  [L.,  one  who  goes  before.]  The 
original  title  of  the  Roman  Consuls.  The  office 
specially  so  called  was,  according  to  Livy, 
instituted  after  the  election  of  the  first  plebeian 
consul,  the  patricians  refusing  to  ratify  the 
election  unless  a  prsetor  and  two  curule  sediles 
were  elected  by  way  of  compensation  out  of  their 
own  body.  A  century  later,  a  second  P.  was 
appointed  to  judge  in  suits  between  Roman 
citizens  and  foreigners,  and  was  hence  called  P. 
Peregrinus,  the  former  being  now  called  P. 
Urbanus.  Two  more  were  added  subsequently 
for  Sicily  and  Sardinia  and  for  Spain.  (Curule 
magistracies.) 

Praetorian  cohorts.  (Rom.  Hist.}  A  body  of 
guards,  instituted  by  Octavius  (Augustus),  in 
nine  cohorts,  three  of  which  were  stationed 
in  Rome.  Tiberius  brought  them  all  to  Rome, 
and  placed  them  in  a  permanent  camp.  Their 
constitution  was  entirely  altered  by  Severus  j 
they  were  deprived  of  their  privileges  by  Diocle- 
tian, and  suppressed  by  Constantine. 

Preetorium.  [L.]  The  head-quarters  of  the 
Praetor. 

Praetor  Peregrinus.    (Praetor.) 

Praetor  ITrbanus.    (Praetor.) 

Pragmatic  Sanction.  In  the  later  Roman 
empire,  a  public  or  solemn  constitution,  dis- 
tinguished from  the  simple  rescript  referring  to 
a  particular  case.  Among  the  important  instru- 
ments which  have  borne  this  name  are  the 
ordinance  of  Charles  VII.,  assuring  the  liberties 
of  the  Gallican  Church,  and  the  Pragmatic  Sanc- 
tion of  the  Emperor  Charles  VI.,  which  caused 
the  Bavarian  war  of  succession,  1 740. 

Frahu.  [A  Malay  word.]  (Naut.)  Larger 
Malay  war-ship,  from  55  to  156  feet  long, 
manned  by  76  to  96  rowers,  and  40  to  60  fighting 
men,  carrying  small  brass  guns,  and  very  swift. 

Prakrit.  A  later  form  of  Sanskrit,  spoken  by 
the  general  body  of  the  people.  It  thus  became 
the  source  of  the  modern  Indian  vernaculars. 

Pram,  or  Praam.  (Naut.)  Dutch  and  Baltic 
lighters.  Some,  mounting  heavy  guns,  were 
used  by  the  French  for  harbour  defence. 

Pramantha.    (Promethean.) 

Pratique.  [Fr.]  (Naut.)  Licence  to  trade 
or  land,  after  quarantine,  or  on  production  of  a 
clean  bill  of  health. 

Praxeans.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Praxeas,  who,  in  the  second  century,  put  forth 
the  opinions  of  the  Monarehians,  Sabellians,  and 
Patripassians. 

26 


Praying  insects.     (Mantis.) 

Praying-wheel.  An  instrument  used  by 
Buddhists  for  the  mechanical  offering  of  prayers. 
The  wheel  revolves  with  the  wind  or  is  turned 
by  the  hand  or  by  water-power,  and  as  the 
written  prayers  come  round,  they  are  supposed 
to  count  as  offered  by  the  writer  or  the  owner. 
Prayers  on  strips  of  parchment  are  fastened  to  the 
twigs  of  bushes  and  trees,  for  the  same  purpose. 

Pre-adamites.  Eastern  legends  speak  of 
nations  existing  before  the  creation  of  Adam, 
and  of  dynasties  of  kings  who  ruled  over 
them. 

Prebend.  [L.  praebenda,  to  be  given.]  The 
share  of  the  estate  of  a  cathedral  or  collegiate 
church  to  be  received  by  a  prebendary. 

Prebendary.     (Prebend.) 

Precentor.  [L.  prsecentor.]  The  leader  of  a 
choir.  In  most  cathedrals  of  the  Old  Founda- 
tion, the  P.  ranked  next  to  the  dean.  In 
the  more  modern  foundations,  the  P.  is  usually 
a  minor  canon. 

Preceptories.  Benefices  held  by  Knights 
Templars,  who  were  created  by  the  Grand 
Master  Praceptores  Templi.  It  is  said  that 
there  were  sixteen  P.  in  this  country.  Similar 
foundations  among  the  Knights  Hospitallers 
were  called  Commanderies. 

Precession  [from  L.  precessum,  sup.  of  precedo, 
I  go  before} ;  P.  of  the  equinoxes ;  Luni-solar  P. ; 
Planetary  P.  A  slow  movement  of  the  axis  of 
the  earth,  in  virtue  of  which  the  points  of  inter- 
section of  the  equator  and  the  ecliptic  (the 
equinoxes)  move  in  the  direction  opposite  to  that 
of  the  sun's  proper  motion  at  the  rate  of  about 
50"  a  year.  It  is  therefore  called  the  Precession 
of  the  equinoxes.  It  is  due  mainly  to  the  fact 
that  the  attractions  of  the  sun  and  moon  on  the 
earth  do  not  pass  accurately  through  its  centre. 
The  part  of  the  whole  phenomenon  due  to  this 
cause  is  therefore  called  the  Luni-solar  P. ;  a 
small  part  of  it  is  due  to  the  attraction  of  the 
planets,  which  produces  a  very  slow  oscillation 
of  the  plane  of  the  ecliptic,  and  is  called  the 
Planetary  P. 

Precious  metals.  A  general  name  for  gold 
and  silver. 

Precipitate.  [L.  precipitatum,  sup.  of  pre- 
cipitare,  to  throw  down  headlong.]  (Chem.) 
Any  substance  thrown  down  to  the  bottom  of 
a  solution  by  the  addition  of  another  liquor. 
Red  precipitate,  mercuric  oxide.  White  precipi- 
tate, an  ammoniacal  chloride  of  mercury. 

Precis.  [Fr.]  A  precise  [L.  praecisus,  cut 
do^vn],  i.e.  abridged  statement  or  summary  j 
an  abstract. 

Predicable.  [L.  praedicabilis,  that  may  be  said 
of  anything.]  (Log.)  Any  term  which  may 
be  applied  to  explain  other  terms.  The  notions 
expressed  by  such  terms  are  the  results  of  the 
process  called  abstraction.  The  terms  them- 
selves are  distributed  under  five  classes — genus, 
species,  difference,  property,  and  accident. 

Predicaments.  (Log.)  General  heads, 
summa  genera,  under  which  all  terms  may  be 
arranged.  Also  called  Categories. 

Predicate.     (Log.)     In    a   proposition,    the 


FRED 


392 


PRES 


term  which  is  affirmed  or  denied  of  the  subject. 
(Predicate.) 

Predorsal.  [L.  prse,  before,  dorsum,  the  back.\ 
(Anat. )  Situated  in  front  of  the  back. 

Predy,  or  Priddy.  (Naut.)  Get  ready  [Fr. 
pret,  L.  prsestus]. 

Pre-emption  [L.  prse,  before,  emptio,  -onem, 
a  buying},  or  Prerogative  of  purveyance.  1.  A 
right  of  the  Crown  to  buy  up,  at  an  appraised 
valuation,  before  others,  and  without  the  owner's 
consent,  provisions,  etc.,  for  the  king's  needs; 
and  to  impress  carriages  and  horses  for  the  king's 
business  on  the  public  roads.  2.  A  term  now 
used  in  a  few  instances;  as  of  the  right  some- 
times given  in  a  mortgage-deed  to  the  mortgagee, 
of  having  the  refusal,  if  the  property  should  be 
sold. 

Preen.  [O.E.  preon,  a  bodkin.}  A  forked 
instrument  used  in  dressing  cloth. 

Pre-existence.  In  Philosophy,  the  idea, 
insisted  on  by  Plato,  that  the  human  soul  has 
existed  in  former  conditions  before  being  joined 
with  the  body.  He  argued  especially  from  the 
rapidity  with  which  children  learn,  and  which 
could  only  be  explained  as  an  effect  of  reminis- 
cence, or  Anamnesis.  This  notion  is  propounded 
by  Wordsworth  in  his  Ode  on  the  Recollections  of 
Childhood. 

Prefect.    (Praefect;  Prefets.) 

Prefets.  [Fr.]  Local  officers  of  departments 
and  cities  in  France,  with  powers  exceeding 
those  of  our  sheriffs,  the  arrondissements  or 
districts  of  departments  being  under  Sous-prefets 
appointed  by  the  prefets. 

Prefix.  [L.  prsefixus,  fixed  before.}  (Gram.} 
The  first  element  in  a  compound  word,  as  is  pre 
in  prefix.  (Affix.) 

Prefloration.  [L.  prse,  before,  flor-em,  a 
flower.}  A  term  preferred  by  many  botanists  to 
.Estivation,  expressing  the  condition  of  the  floral 
members  in  the  flower-bud,  before  the  expan- 
sion of  the  flower. — Bettany,  Practical  Botany. 
(Prefoliation.) 

Prefoliation.  [L.  prae,  before,  folium,  leaf.} 
A  term  preferred  by  many  botanists  to  Vernation, 
as  expressing  the  condition  of  leaves  in  the  leaf- 
bud  before  its  expansion,  their  mode  of  folding, 
etc.  (Prefloration.) 

Pregnant  instance.  Evidence  or  argument  im- 
plying more  than  appears  on  its  surface. 

Prehistoric  archaeology  is  divided  as  to  pe- 
riods :  1.  Archceolithic  [Gr.  apxaios,  ancient, 
going  back  to  the  beginning,  \t6os,  stone},  =  that 
of  the  Tertiary  (Mortillet) ;  with  a  problematic 
variety  of  stone  implement  fashioned  by  fire  and 
breakage  rougher  than  the  chipping  which  cha- 
racterizes the  age.  2.  Paleolithic  [ira\ai6s, 
ancient},  =  that  of  the  Drift ;  age  of  chipped 
tools,  with  the  mammoth,  cave-bear,  woolly- 
haired  rhinoceros.  3.  Neolithic  [i/eos,  new}, 
—  later  Stone  age,  of  ground  and  polished 
weapons  and  instruments,  gold  ornaments.  4. 
Bronze  age,  —  of  bronze  used  for  arms  and  all 
cutting  instruments.  5.  Iron  age,  =  of  iron 
instead  of  bronze  for  arms,  knives,  and  bronze 
for  ornament  only.  But  the  ages  of  stone,  of 
bronze,  and  of  iron  were,  in  different  places,  co- 


existent. Indeed,  in  some  countries  the  stone 
age  still  continues,  the  people  being  unacquainted 
with  the  use  of  metal.  (See  Lubbock,  Pre- 
historic Arch&ology.) 

Prelate.  [L.  prselatus,  preferred.}  (Eccl.) 
A  term  denoting  the  order  of  bishops,  and  in- 
cluding, in  the  Latin  Church,  those  who  have 
episcopal  rank. 

Prelumbar.  [L.  lumbus,  a  loin.}  (Anat.) 
Situated  in  front  of  the  loins. 

Premices.    [L.  prlmitise.]    (Eccl.)  Firstfruits. 

Premier  coup.  [Fr.,  first  stroke.}  (Alia 
prima.) 

Premisses.  [L.  prsemissa,  sent  before.}  (Log.) 
The  two  propositions  or  antecedents  in  a  Syllo- 
gism, from  which  the  conclusion  or  consequence 
follows. 

Premonstratensians.  Regular  canons,  insti- 
tuted 1 1 20,  by  St.  Norbert  (whence  also  called 
Norbertines),  at  Premonstratum  [L. ,  pointed  out, 
it  was  said,  by  the  Virgin],  in  Picardy.  They 
were  also  called  White  Canons,  from  the  colour 
of  their  dress. 

Prendre  la  lune  avec  les  dents.  [Fr. ,  to  seize 
the  moon  with  one's  teeth.}  To  perform  or  at- 
tempt to  perform  impossibilities. 

Prepense.  [L.  prae,  before,  pendo,  I  weigh.} 
In  Law,  an  epithet  to  malice,  denoting  its 
deliberateness. 

Prepotent.  (Biol.)  Inherently,  antecedently 
efficacious  ;  e.g.  the  pollen  of  a  distinct  variety 
may  have  a  P.  effect  over  a  flower's  own  pollen. 

Pre-raphaelite.    (Pre-raphaelite.) 

Prerogative  Court.  [Lit.  having,  L.  prsero- 
gativa,  preference. ~\  The  court  which  had  the 
jurisdiction  now  transferred  to  the  Court  of 
Probate. 

Prerogative  of  purveyance.     (Pre-emption.) 

Presanctified,  Mass  of  the.  In  the  Eastern 
and  Latin  Churches,  a  Mass  in  which  the  ele- 
ments used  have  been  consecrated  in  a  previous 
Mass.  (Liturgy.) 

Presbyopia.  [Gr.  irpfo-fivs,  an  old  man,  &ty, 
the  eye.}  Long-sightedness,  inability  to  discern 
objects  as  closely  as  in  former  years.  (Long- 
sighted eye.) 

Presbyterians.  (Eccl.)  The  name  given  to 
those  who  reject  episcopal  government  in  the 
Church. 

Presbyters.  [Gr.  Trpeffpbrepos,  elder.}  An 
order  of  ministers  in  the  Christian  Church,  men- 
tioned in  the  New  Testament  as  being  charged 
with  the  care  of  distinct  congregations. 

Presbytery.  [Gr.  irpfo-0vTfp"ii<6s,  belonging  to 
the  elders.}  (Arch.)  The  space  between  the 
altar  and  the  easternmost  stalls  of  the  choir, 
answering  to  the  Solea  of  the  ancient  basilicas. 

Prescriptive.  [L.  prgescriptio,  a  prescribing 
(Leg.)  for  title,  or  the  right  so  acquired.]  Ac- 
quired by  or  consisting  in  immemorial  use. 

Presently.  [Fr.  presentement.]  Matt.  xxi.  19 
[Gr.  Trapaxp^fJM]  and  elsewhere  in  the  Bible, 
immediately. 

Presentoir.  [Fr.]  A  shallow  cup  with  a  tall 
and  rich  stem. 

Present  value.  The  sum  of  money  reckoned 
at  an  agreed  rate  of  interest  which  must  be  paid 


PRES 


393 


PRIM 


down  in  lieu  of  a  sum  that  becomes  due  at  a 
certain  future  time.  If,  as  in  payments  con- 
nected with  life  assurance,  the  future  payment  is 
contingent,  the  present  value  is  the  sum  above 
determined,  multiplied  by  the  probability  of  the 
contingency. 

Press-gang.  A  name  denoting  the  detach- 
ments of  seamen  in  the  royal  navy  who  were 
formerly  empowered  to  seize  on  any  seafaring 
men  in  time  of  war,  and  compel  them  to  serve 
on  board  the  king's  ships. 

Pressure.  (Mech.)  1.  A  force  counteracted 
by  another  force  or  forces  so  that  no  motion  is 
produced.  2.  A  stress  or  distributed  force  so 
exerted  as  to  cause  compression ;  as  atmospheric 
pressure,  fluid  pressure,  etc. 

Prest.  \Cf.  Fr.  pret,  ready,  formerly  prest, 
L.  praestus.]  (Naut.)  Quick,  ready,  etc. 
Prest  man,  one  willing  to  enlist  for  a  stipulated 
sum  ',  opposed  to  Pressed  man.  (Press-gang.) 

Prester  John.  A  mysterious  personage,  said 
to  have  lived  in  the  twelfth  century,  as  the  Chris- 
tian king  of  an  immense  empire  in  Asia,  being 
at  the  same  time  a  priest.  Some  have  supposed 
that  he  was  Joyhoul  Wang  Khan,  who  was 
killed  in  a  battle  with  Gengis  Khan,  1203.  It  is 
also  said  that  the  name  Prester  John  was  applied 
in  the  West  to  a  dynasty  of  Tartar  sovereigns. 

Prestidigitation,  meaning  leger-de-main, 
seems  to  be  a  corr.  of  Prestigiation  [L.  prses- 
tigiae],  suggested  by  It.  presto,  ready,  and  L. 
digitus,  finger. 

Prestige.  [Fr.]  Lit.  the  repute  of  skilful 
jugglery,  or  prestidigitation,  or,  more  correctly, 
prestigiation. 

Prest  money.  Money  paid  to  men  on  enlisting, 
because  they  thereby  hold  themselves  prest,  i.e. 
ready  to  march  at  command. 

Presto.  [L.  praesto,  at  hand,  ready.]  In 
Music,  fast.  P.  assai,  very  fast.  Prestissimo, 
very  fast  indeed. 

Presumptions,  Doctrine  of.  Another  name  for 
circumstantial  evidence. 

Pretender.  (Eng.  Hist.}  The  name  applied 
to  the  princes  of  the  Stuart  family  who  laid 
claim  to  the  English  Crown  after  the  revolution 
of  1688.  The  line  was  closed  (1807)  with  the 
death  of  the  Cardinal  of  York,  who  styled  him- 
self Henry  IX. 

Preterist.  [L.  prseteritus,  past.]  1.  One  who 
lives  in  the  past  rather  than  in  the  present.  2. 
One  who  regards  the  Apocalypse  as  a  series  of 
predictions  which  have  been  already  fulfilled. 

Preux  chevalier.     [Fr.]    A  gallant  knight. 

Prevent.  [L.  praevenio,  I  go  before.]  1.  To 
anticipate,  as  in  Ps.  cxix.  148,  and  passim. 
2.  To  assist,  as  in  Collect,  "Prevent  us,  O 
Lord,"  etc.  ;  to  go  before  and  clear  the  way. 

Preventer.  (Naut.)  A  strengthener,  or  ad- 
ditional rope,  etc.,  used  to  assist  the  ordinary 
ones. 

Previous  question,  Moving  the.  In  the  House 
of  Commons,  a  method  of  avoiding  a  direct  vote 
Aye  or  No,  or  amendment.  The  Speaker  is 
about  to  put  a  question  to  the  vote ;  but  a  mem- 
ber may  raise  the  question  whether  it  is  desirable 
to  decide  one  way  or  the  other.  This  latter 


becomes  a  previous  question,  taking  precedence 
of  the  main  question,  and  the  Speaker  must  put 
it  to  the  House,  "  That  the  question  be  now 
put."  By  negativing  this,  the  House  shelves 
the  question  for  that  day.  Affirming  this,  the 
House  must  at  once  vote  Aye  or  No,  without 
amendment,  debate,  or  adjournment. 

Priam.     (Paris,  Judgment  of.) 

Prick,  To.  (Naut.)  To  P.  a  sail,  to  stitch 
down  the  centre  of  a  seam.  To  P.  for  a  soft 
plank,  to  choose  one  to  sleep  upon.  P.  her  off, 
to  find  and  mark  a  vessel's  position  upon  a  chart. 

Pricket  (?)  =  having  pointed  horns.  (Deer, 
Stages  of  growth,  of.) 

Prickly  heat.  Popular  name  of  Lichen  tropi- 
cus  (q.v.). 

Prick-song.  Music  written,  not  extemporane- 
ous ;  notes  having  been  originally  [L.  puncta] 
points  ;  cf.  counterpoint. 

Priddy.     (Predy.) 

Pride's  Purge.    (Long  Parliament.) 

Priedieu.  [Fr.,  pray  God.]  A  kind  of  desk 
at  which  to  kneel. 

Priest.  [Gr.  irpeo-flvrepos.]  A  later  form  of 
the  word  Presbyter. 

Prill.  [Fr.  briller,  to  shine.]  1.  A  solid 
piece  of  virgin  metal  in  a  mine.  2.  The  button 
of  metal  from  an  assay.  » 

Prillion.  [Fr.  brillant,  shining.\  Tin  ex- 
tracted from  the  slag. 

Prima  donna.  The  first  female  singer  at  the 
Italian  Opera. 

Prima  facie.    [L.]    At  first  sight. 

Primage.  An  allowance  paid  to  the  seamen 
and  master  of  a  ship  by  the  shipper  or  consignee, 
for  the  loading  of  goods. 

Primary  assemblies.  (Hist.)  Assemblies  in 
which  every  citizen  has  the  right  of  speaking  and 
voting,  as  distinguished  from  representative  par- 
liaments, which  are  Secondary  assemblies.  Such 
assemblies  are  necessarily  practicable  only  in 
small  states,  as  in  the  ancient  Greek  republics. 

Primary  colour.  [L.  primarius,  principal.] 
One  of  the  three  primary  colour-sensations,  viz. 
red,  green,  or  violet.  The  popular  notion  that 
the  primary  colours  are  red,  yellow,  and  blue, 
is  erroneous  as  to  mixtures  of  light,  though  it 
has  a  certain  approximate  truth  with  regard  to 
pigments. 

Primary  rocks.  [L.  primarius,  of  the  first 
order.]  In  the  early  days  of  Geol.,  =  non- 
fossiliferous,  opposed  to  Secondary  or  fossili- 
ferous.  Now  the  Paleozoic  are  =  Primary,  being 
the  first  met  with  in  the  ascending  scale.  The 
actual  primitive  rocks  are  not  supposed  to  exist 
now,  having  been  all  worn  away  or  altered. 

Primate.  [L.  primas,  primatis.]  A  prelate 
of  superior  dignity.  The  Archbishop  of  York  is 
P.  of  England,  and  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury  P.  of  all  England. 

Primates.  [L.  prlmatem,  principal.]  (Zool.) 
The  highest  class  of  mammals  next  below  man 
(if  he  is  not  included),  having  pectoral  mammae 
(except  the  aye-aye),  and  opposable  thumbs  on 
one  pair  at  least  of  the  limbs  ;  as  monkeys  and 
lemurs.  Linnaeus  includes  men  (Bimana)  and 
bats  (Cheiroptera). 


PRIM 


394 


PRIS 


Prime.  1.  (Mech.)  A  steam-engine  is  said 
to  P.  when  water  passes  from  the  boiler  into  the 
cylinder  along  with  the  steam.  2.  (Eccl.) 
(Canonical  hours.) 

Prime  meridian;  P.  mover;  P.  number;  P. 
vertical.  Prime  meridian,  or  First  meridian. 
(Meridian.)  P.  mover,  an  engine  which  serves 
to  transfer  energy  from  those  bodies  which 
naturally  develop  it,  to  those  by  whose  means  it 
is  to  be  employed  ;  as  the  steam-engine,  which 
transfers  the  energy  of  steam  to  the  machinery 
of  a  cotton-mill,  etc.  P.  number,  one  which 
cannot  be  resolved  into  factors  less  than  itself ; 
as  17,  23,  29,  etc.  P.  vertical,  a  vertical  circle 
at  right  angles  to  the  meridian  ;  it  passes  through 
the  zenith  and  through  the  east  and  west  points 
of  the  horizon. 

Primer.  [L.  primarius.]  A  book  of  primary 
or  elementary  instruction.  A  primer  of  the  Salis- 
bury Use  was  printed  in  1527.  Primers  may  at 
first  have  been  mere  spelling-books  for  children, 
but  the  lessons  were  taken  from  the  office-books 
of  the  Church.  In  course  of  time,  they  came  to 
be  Prayer-books,  containing  different  selections 
according  to  the  choice  of  the  compiler.  King 
Henry  VIII.'s  P.,  published  in  1545,  was  one  of 
many  such  books  which  appeared  in  his  reign 
and  in  those  of  Edward  VI.  and  Elizabeth. 

Primer,  Long;  Great  P.  Two  kinds  of  type, 
as— 

oxford,     Oxford, 

respectively. 

Primer  seisin.      [Norm.    Fr.]    The  ancient 
prerogative  by  which  the  Crown  possessed,  for  a 
year,   the    lands    and   tenements    of    which  a 
tenant-in-chief  died  seised,  if  the  heir  was  of 
full  age,  and  if  not,  until  he  was  of  age. 
Prime  staff.    (Clog  almanack.) 
Priming.    The  first  colour  laid  on  canvas  as 
a  ground . 

Priming  and  lagging  of  the  tides.  The  varia- 
tions in  defect  and  excess  of  the  interval  between 
two  successive  high  tides  from  its  mean  value. 

Primltise.  [L.]  Firstfruits,  which  amongst 
all  ancient  peoples  were  set  apart  as  devoted  to 
the  deity.  (Premices.) 

Primitive   circle.      In  the  projection  of  the 
sphere,  the  circle  on  whose  plane,  produced   if 
necessary,    the  surface   of  the  sphere  is  repre 
sented  ;  the  plane  is  the  plane  of  projection. 
Primitive  Methodists.    (Banters.) 
Primordial.  [L.  primordium,  a  first  beginning.] 
( Geol. )    A  name  given  to  a  zone,  in  the  Lower 
Silurian,    once    thought    to    have    the    oldest 
fossils. 

Primrose.  Properly  the  daisy,  whose  name 
has  nothing  to  do  with  rose.  It  is  really  the 
primirole  [Fr.  primiverole,  It.  prima  verola, 
dim.  of  prima  vera,  the  early  spring],  Primirole 
became  Anglicized  first  into  primerole,  then  into 
primrose. 

Primum  mobile.  [L.,  the  first  thing  that  can 
be  set  in  motion.]  In  the  Ptolemaic  astronomy, 
the  outermost,  generally  reckoned  the  ninth, 
sphere  of  the  heavens  ;  by  revolving  round  the 
earth,  which  was  placed  in  its  centre,  it  gave 


motion  to  the  other  spheres  (viz.  those  of  the 
sun,  of  the  moon,  of  each  of  the  five  planets, 
and  of  the  fixed  stars),  to  which  the  heavenly 
Dodies  wese  supposed  to  be  fastened. 

Primus  inter  pares.     [L.]    First  among  peers. 

Prince  of  the  Captivity.     (^Echmalotarch.) 

Princeps  Senatus.  [L.]  The  first,  or  chief, 
n  the  Roman  senate.  This  title  served  as  the 
foundation  of  the  imperial  authority  of  Octavius 
[Augustus)  and  his -successors. 

Prince's  metal.  An  alloy,  composed  of  three 
parts  of  copper  to  one  of  zinc ;  in  imitation  of 
Told  ;  also  called  Prince  Rupert1  s  metal. 

Prince's  wood.  A  W. -Indian  wood,  like  satin- 
wood,  but  darker. 

Princettas.  A  worsted  fabric,  sometimes  with 
a  cotton  warp. 

Principal  axis.  If  a  body  is  made  to  rotate, 
and  then  withdrawn  from  the  action  of  all  ex- 
ternal forces,  the  axis  of  rotation  will,  in  general, 
be  continually  shifting  within  the  body ;  but 
there  are,  at  least,  three  lines  at  right  angles  to 
each  other,  round  either  of  which  it  will  continue 
to  rotate,  if  the  rotation  is  communicated  to  it 
round  that  line.  These  three  lines  are  called 
principal  axes,  or  axes  of  permanent  rotation. 

Principals.  (Arch.)  The  assemblage  of 
timbers  forming  the  support  of  a  roof. 

Princlpes.     (Hastati.) 

Princlpia.  {L.,  beginnings,  principles.']  The 
shortened  title  by  which  Newton's  great  work, 
Philosophies  Naturalis  Principia  Mathematica,  is 
known  ;  the  publication  of  which,  in  1687,  is 
the  most  remarkable  epoch  in  the  history  of 
science. 

Princlpiis  obsta.  [L.,  meet  things  at  the  out- 
set (Ovid).]  Make  a  stand  against  the  beginnings 
of  actions,  habits,  etc.,  if  you  would  avoid  evil 
results.  A  stitch  in  time  saves  nine. 

Prink.  [Akin  to  prank.]  To  dress  for  show, 
or  in  a  foppish  and  finical  manner. 

Prisage.  In  O.E.  usage,  the  right  of  taking 
for  the  revenue  two  tuns  of  wine  out  of  twenty 
from  every  ship  importing  twenty  tuns  or  more 
into  England. 

PriscSlianists.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  the  followers 
of  Priscillian,  a  Spanish  bishop,  put  to  death  in 
A.D.  382,  by  Maximus,  tyrant  of  Gaul.  Their 
opinions  are  said  to  have  been  Manichsean. — 
Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity,  bk.  ii. 

ch.  4. 

Prism  [Gr.  irpiff^a,  a  thing  sawn,  a  prism] ; 
Achromatic  P. ;  Nicol's  P.  1.  (Geom.)  A  solid 
whose  sides  are  parallelograms  and  ends  similar 
and  equal  figures  in  parallel  planes.  2.  ( Optics. ) 
A  wedge-shaped  piece  of  glass.  When  a  ray  of 
sunlight  passes  through  such  a  prism,  it  is  bent 
from  its  original  direction  and  decomposed  into 
several  coloured  rays.  An  Achromatic  P.  con- 
sists of  two  prisms  of  different  kinds  of  glass 
(e.g.  crown-glass  and  flint-glass)  joined  together, 
with  their  edges  turned  opposite  ways,  and  with 
angles  so  adjusted  with  reference  to  their  re- 
fractive indices,  that  a  ray  of  light  passing  through 
them,  though  bent  from  its  original  direction,  is 
not  decomposed  into  rays  of  coloured  light.  A 
NicoFs  P.  is  an  instrument  that  can  be  used 


PRIS 


395 


PROC 


either  as  a  polarizer  of  light  or  an  analyser  of 
light  already  polarized.  If  a  ray  of  light  is 
made  to  pass  through  a  crystal  of  Iceland- 
spar,  two  polarized  rays  with  different  re- 
fractive indices  are  obtained  ;  but  if  it  is  cut 
at  a  suitable  angle,  and  the  parts  joined  by  a 
layer  of  Canada  balsam — a  transparent  substance, 
with  a  refractive  index  intermediate  to  those  of 
the  two  rays — one  of  the  polarized  rays  is  in- 
ternally reflected,  and  only  one  polarized  ray 
gets  through.  Such  a  crystal,  properly  mounted, 
is  a  Nicolas  P. 

Prismatic  system.  (Crystallog.}  Consists  of 
those  crystals  which  have  three  rectangular  axes 
and  three  unequal  parameters ;  when  transparent, 
they  are  optically  biaxal ;  as  topaz. 

Prismoid.  [Gr.  n-pta/iia,  a  prism,  €?5os,  appear- 
ance.] A  solid,  whose  ends  are  quadrilateral 
figures  in  parallel  planes,  and  sides  trapezoids. 

Prismoidal  formula.  A  rule  for  calculating 
the  volume  of  a  prismoid.  The  calculation  of 
the  volumes  of  railway  cuttings  and  embank- 
ments depends  on  this  formula. 

Privateer.    (Letters  of  marque.) 

"  Privilege !  Privilege  ! "  The  loud  cry  raised 
at  Charles  I.,  as  he  returned  from  the  House  of 
Commons,  January  4,  1642,  whither  he  had  gone 
in  person  to  arrest  five  members. 

Privileged  copyholds.  (Leg. )  A  superior  kind 
of  copyhold,  commonly  known  as  customary  free- 
hold, the  tenant  holding  by  copy  of  court  roll, 
and  not  at  the  will  of  the  lord. 

Privllegium  clericale.  [L.L.]  (Benefit  of 
clergy.) 

Privy  Chamber,  Gentlemen  of  the.  The  officers 
of  the  royal  household. 

Privy  Seal,  Lord.  The  officer  of  State  who 
has  charge  of  the  privy  seal  of  the  sovereign, 
used  for  pardons,  charters,  etc.,  before  they 
come  to  the  Great  Seal.  (Chancellor,  3.) 

P.R.N.  (Med.}  —  [L.]  pro  re  nata,  according  to 
the  occasion. 

Proa,  Flying.  A  narrow  canoe,  about  thirty 
feet  long  and  three  wide,  used  in  the  Eastern 
seas,  and  constructed  on  the  principle  of  an  out- 
rigger. (Prahu.) 

Pro  aris  et  focis.  [L.,  for  our  altars  and 
hearths.}  For  God  and  our  country. 

Probabilism.  [L.  probabilis,  likely. 1  (Theol.) 
The  theory  which  regards  it  as  allowable  to 
follow  a  probable  opinion  on  doubtful  points, 
even  though  another  should  be  more  probable. — 
Hallam,  Literature  of  Europe ,pt.  iii.  ch.  4  §  13. 

Probabilists.  Those  who  maintain  the  theory 
of  Probabilism. 

Probability ;  Calculus  of  P. ;  Theory  of  P.  A 
numerical  estimate  of  our  judgment  as  to  the 
happening  of  an  event.  If  we  reduce  all  events 
of  the  same  kind  to  a  certain  number  of  cases, 
which  in  the  existing  state  of  our  knowledge  (or 
ignorance)  we  judge  equally  possible,  and 
determine  the  number  of  cases  favourable  to  the 
happening  of  the  event ;  the  ratio  of  this  number 
to  the  whole  number  of  possible  cases  is  the 
probability  of  the  happening  of  the  event.  If  we 
throw  a  die,  there  are  six  possible  cases,  all,  as 
far  as  we  know,  equally  probable.  The  proba- 


bility that  either  three  or  four  will  turn  up  is 
therefore  \  or  \ ;  as  there  are  two  favourable 
cases  out  of  six.  The  rules  for  calculating  P.  in 
various  cases,  and  the  investigation  of  those  rules, 
form  the  Calculus  of  probabilities,  or  the  Theory 
of  probabilities. 

Probable  error.  From  numerous  measures  of 
a  given  magnitude  —  all  being  made  under 
equally  favourable  circumstances,  e.g.  by  the 
same  observer  with  the  same  instrument — a  cer- 
tain number  can  be  calculated  in  regard  to  which 
it  can  be  affirmed  that  it  is  an  even  chance,  that 
the  error  in  any  one  measure  is  less  than  that 
number,  whether  in  excess  or  defect.  This  num- 
ber is  the  P.  E.  of  the  measures  individually ;  it 
serves — amongst  other  things — as  a  test  of  the 
degree  of  accuracy  attained  under  the  circum- 
stances. 

Probable  life.      (Expectation  of  life.) 

Probang.  (Med.)  A  flexible  piece  of  whale- 
bone with  rounded  end,  e.g.  of  sponge,  to  force 
down  anything  stuck  in  the  gullet. 

Probate  of  a  will.  In  Law,  the  exhibiting  of  a 
will  by  the  executor  before  the  proper  court,  this 
court  being  the  High  Court  of  Justice  in  the 
Judicature  Act,  1873. 

Probeagle.    ( Porbeagle. ) 

Problem.    (Proposition.) 

Pro  bono  publico.    [L.]    For  the  public  weal. 

Proboscidea.  [Gr.  irpofioo-itts,  -t5os,  elephant's 
trunk,  from  irp6,  before,  &6<rK<a,  I  feed,  e?5os, 
kind.]  (Zoo/.)  The  eighth  order  of  mammals, 
consisting  of  the  two  spec,  of  elephants. 

Process.  [L.  prScessus,  Cels.]  (Anat.)  A 
protuberance,  eminence  of  a  bone  or  of  any  other 
part. 

Proces  verbal.  [Fr.]  (Leg.}  An  authentic 
minute  of  an  official  act,  or  statement  of  facts. 

Proconsul.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Hist.,  an  officer 
with  consular  command,  but  without  the  office, 
which  he  may  have  filled  during  the  previous 
year.  The  provinces  at  first  governed  by  Praetors 
were  afterwards  put  under  proconsuls  and  pro- 
praetors, who  entered  on  their  government  imme- 
diately after  the  expiration  of  their  office  as 
consuls  or  praetors. 

Procris,  Kephalos  (Cephalus)  and.  A  well- 
known  pair  in  Myth.,  Procris,  whose  name 
signifies  the  sprinkled  dew-drops,  being  the 
daughter  of  Herse,  the  dew,  and  Kephalos,  the 
head  of  the  sun,  who  unwittingly  slew  her  with 
his  spear;  as  the  sun  dries  up  the  dew,  which 
he  is  said  to  love. 

Procrustes,  Bed  of.  In  Gr.  Myth.,  a  bed  to 
which  the  robber  Procrustes  [Gr.  irpoKpovffT^s, 
the  stretcher]  adapted  the  limbs  of  his  victims  by 
force.  Hence  an  instrument  of  torture. 

Proctors.  [L.  procurator.]  1.  In  the  English 
universities,  two  Masters  of  Arts,  who  serve  as 
the  chief  magistrates  of  the  university  police, 
and  with  legislative  authority.  2.  In  Convoca- 
tion, the  representatives  of  the  clergy  ;  so  called 
as  having  been  entrusted  with  the  assessment  of 
taxes  granted  by  that  body.  3.  In  the  Eccl. 
courts,  pleaders  who  conduct  causes  for  payment. 

Procuration.  [L.  procurationem,  a  taking 
care  of.~\  A  pecuniary  composition  from  an 


PROC 


396 


PROP 


incumbent,  instead  of  the  provision  due  to  an 
ordinary  when  holding  a  visitation.     (Synodals.) 

Procurator.  [L.]  (Hist.)  A  Roman  magis- 
trate, who  looked  to  the  revenue  of  a  province, 
and  to  suits  in  connexion  with  it.  Sometimes 
he  also  governed  the  province,  as  Pontius  Pilate 
governed  Judsea ;  in  which  case  he  could  inflict 
the  penalty  of  death. 

Procurator,  Fiscal.  The  public  prosecutor  of 
the  inferior  courts  of  Scotland. 

Procureur-General.  Under  the  Fr.  monarchy, 
the  public  advocate  'of  the  Crown. 

Prodigy.  [L.  prodigium.]  Among  the  Romans, 
any  strange  or  inexplicable  event  or  phenomenon, 
all  such  being  regarded  as  signs  of  the  will  of 
the  gods. 

Prodomus.  [Gr.  irp6$ofjLos.]  (Arch.)  The  same 
as  the  Pronaos.  (Naos.) 

Proem.  [Gr.  -rrpooi/juov,  an  opening,  from  ofytos, 
a  path.}  The  Greek  term  synonymous  with  the 
Latin  preface. 

Pro  et  contra,  Pro  et  con.  [L.,  for  and 
against.}  On  both  sides. 

Profanum  vulgus.  [L.,  the  common  herd 
(Horace).]  Lit.  the  crowd  who  stand  in  front  of 
the  temple,  and  are  not  admitted  within  it. 

Profile.  [Fr.  profil,  from  It.  proffilo.] 
(Fortif.)  A  section  made  by  a  vertical  plane 
at  right  angles  through  the  direction  of  the 
works.  When  the  cutting  plane  strikes  at  an 
oblique  angle,  it  is  simply  a  section. 

Pro  forma.    [L.,  for  form's  sake.}    Formally. 

Profound  Doctor.    (Doctor.) 

Prognathous,  PrognatMc.    (Orthognathic.) 

Progresses.  [L.  progressus,  a  going  forward.} 
In  the  O.E.  phrase,  the  State  journeys  of  royal 
personages. 

Progression,  Arithmetical;  Geometrical  P.; 
Harmonical  P.  A  series  of  numbers  are  in 
Arithmetical  progression  when  each  is  greater 
(or  less)  than  the  one  before  it  by  a  constant 
difference  ;  as  7,  10,  13,  16,  etc.  ;  in  Geometri- 
cal P.  when  each  is  obtained  from  the  one  before 
it  by  multiplying  it  by  a  constant  number  (or 
fraction) ;  as  5,  15,45,  135,  etc.  ;  in  Harmonical 
P.  when  any  three  consecutive  'numbers  are  such 
that  the  first  has  to  the  third  the  same  ratio  as 
the  excess  of  the  first  above  the  second  has  to 
that  of  the  second  above  the  third  ;  as  f ,  I ,  f ,  f , 
etc.  When  strings,  in  other  respects  alike,  have 
their  lengths  in  harmonic  P. ,  the  frequencies  of 
their  vibrations — on  which  the  pitches  of  their 
tones  depend — are  in  arithmetical  P. 

Progressive  atrophy.    Fatty  degeneration. 

Pro  hac  vice.  [L.,  for  this  turn.}  For  this 
time. 

Prohibition.  [L.  prohibltionem,  a  hindering.} 
(Leg.)  A  writ  to  forbid  any  court  from  pro- 
ceeding in  a  cause  then  depending,  on  suggestion 
that  the  cause  does  not  properly  belong  to  that 
court. 

Projectile.  [L.  projectum,  sup.  of  projicio,  / 
cast  forth.}  (Mil.)  Shot  or  bullet  fired  from 
any  firearm. 

Projection.  (Globular  projection ;  Gnomonical 
projection ;  Mercator's  projection ;  etc.) 

Prolate  spheroid.    (Ellipsoid.) 


ProlegSmena.  [Gr.,  things  said  before.}  1.  A 
prefatory  dissertation  prefixed  to  a  work  ;  or  2, 
an  introductory  treatise  on  a  subject  to  be  dealt 
with  at  length  hereafter. 

Prolepsis.  [Gr.,  an  anticipation.}  (Rhet.)  A 
figure  by  which  the  speaker  anticipates  objections 
to  his  arguments. 

Proleptic.  [Gr.  irpo\T\imK6s.}  1.  Anticipative 
historically;  e.g.  "the  Duke  of  Wellington,  at 
Assaye,"  etc.,  is  said  proleptically,  for  he  was 
not  then  D.  of  W.  2.  In  point  of  thought,  and 
by  way  of  presentiment  as  opposed  to  experience. 

Proletarians.  [L.  proletarius.]  (Rom.  Hist.) 
In  the  constitution  ascribed  to  Servius  Tullius, 
citizens  who,  being  unable  to  pay  for  admission 
into  the  lowest  class,  could  offer  only  their 
children  for  the  service  of  the  state.  Hence, 
generally,  the  destitute.  (Capite  censi.) 

Prolocutor.  [L. ,  not  in  class,  sense  of  advocate y 
but = speaker. }  The  president  of  the  Lower  House 
of  Convocation  of  Canterbury. 

Prologue.  [Gr.  irp6\oyos.}  1.  In  the  early 
Greek  dramatists,  all  before  the  first  chorus  ; 
afterwards,  2,  a  monologue,  or  an  address  to 
the  audience,  introductory  of  the  main  action  of 
the  play.  (Epilogue.) 

Promethean.  Relating  to  Prometheus,  in  Gr. 
Myth.,  the  being  who  gave  men  fire,  and  thus 
raised  them  from  the  lowest  depths  of  misery. 
For  thus  aiding  them  he  was  chained  on  the 
crags  of  Caucasus,  where  an  eagle  gnawed  his 
liver.  By  the  Greeks  the  word  was  supposed  to 
denote  forethought  [irpo,  before,  ftTj-ns,  wisdom}, 
and  accordingly  they  invented  Epimetheus,  as  an 
embodiment  of  after-thought.  (Pandora's  box.) 
But  it  only  reproduces  the  Hindu  Pramantha,  or 
wooden  churn  for  kindling  fire  from  dried  pieces 
of  wood.  — Cox,  Mythology  of  the  Aryan  Nations^ 

Prometheus.    (Promethean.) 

Promptuary.  [L.  promptuarium,  from  promo, 
/  draw,  a  store  from  which  things  may  be 
drawn.}  Any  summary  or  handbook  in  which 
subjects  are  arranged  so  as  to  be  ready  for  use. 

Pronaos.  [Gr.]  (Arch.)  The  front  porch  of 
a  temple.  The  same  as  the  Narthex  of  the  early 
Christians.  (Naos.) 

Pronator  muscles.  [L.  pr5no,  I  bend  for- 
ward.} (Anat.)  Those  which  turn  the  palm  of 
the  hand  downwards ;  Supinator,  upwards 
[suplno,  I  lay  backwards}. 

Proof.  [A.S.  profian,  to  prove.}  A  trial  im- 
pression from  types,  taken  for  corrections  ;  called 
also  proof-sheets.  Engravers^  proofs  are  the  first 
impressions  taken  from  a  plate,  as  being  in- 
spected by  the  engraver.  India  proofs  are  those 
taken  upon  India  paper.  Proofs  before  letters 
are  those  taken  before  any  writing  is  engraved 
upon  the  plate. 

Proof  spirit.  A  mixture  of  pure  alcohol  and 
water  in  the  proportion  by  weight  of  100  parts 
of  alcohol  to  103*09  of  water. 

Propaedeutics.  [Gr.  irpoTraiSevu,  I  instruct 
beforehand.}  A  word  applied  in  Germany  to 
preliminary  instruction  in  any  art  or  science. 

Propaganda.  [L.]  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  congre- 
gation de  propaganda  Jide,  as  a  missionary  society 


PROP 


397 


PROS 


in  the  interests  of  Latin  Christianity,  was  estab- 
lished at  Rome  by  Gregory  XV.,  in  1622.  The 
word  is  often  used  to  denote  associations  for 
spreading  hurtful  opinions. 

Propemptikon.  [Gr.,  from  TrpoWjUTrw,  I  send 
forward.]  A  poem  addressed  to  one  about  to 
set  out  on  a  journey. 

Proper.  (Her. )  Having  its  own  [Fr.  propre] 
natural  colour. 

Proper  motion.  Of  the  sun  or  planets,  that  by 
which  they  change  their  apparent  positions  rela- 
tively to  the  fixed  stars  ;  the  sun  s  P.  M.  takes 
place  along  the  ecliptic  in  the  opposite  direction 
to  the  diurnal  motion  of  the  heaven,  and  in  the 
same  direction  as  that  of  the  earth's  actual  rota- 
tion, viz.  from  west  to  east ;  a  planet's  P.  M. 
is  direct  when  in  the  same  direction  with,  and 
retrograde  when  in  the  opposite  direction  to, 
that  of  the  sun. 

Properties.  In  the  language  of  the  theatre,  = 
all  accessories  to  scenic  illusion ;  costume, 
scene-paintings,  machinery,  etc. 

Property.  (Log.)  A  predicable  denoting 
something  involved  in  the  essence  of  the  species, 
as  rationality  in  man. 

Prophesy ;  Prophet.  [Gr.  irpoQ-fims.]  A 
prophet  is  (i)  properly  one  who  speaks  for  or 
in  the  name  of  another.  This  is  the  highest 
meaning  of  the  word  in  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments. "Thou,  child,  shalt  be  called  the 
prophet  of  the  Highest."  It  is  also  used  (2)  to 
denote  the  foretelling  of  events  still  future  ;  and 
(3)  the  working  of  wonders:  "After  his  death 
his  body  prophesied  ; "  (4)  a  state  of  excite- 
ment or  ecstasy  ( I  Sam.  x. ) ;  (5)  singing  to 
musical  instruments  (i  Chron.  xxv.  3) ;  (6)  the 
exercise  of  superhuman  knowledge  (Matt.  xxvi. 
68) ;  (7)  the  extraordinary  gift,  so  named,  in  the 
Acts  and  in  the  Epistles  of  St.  Paul. 

Prophesyings.  Religious  exercises  of  the 
clergy,  temp.  Queen  Elizabeth,  ' '  clerical  meet- 
ings "  in  market  towns,  for  exposition  [Gr.  trpo- 
4>?)r€la]  of  Scripture,  under  a  moderator ;  abused, 
and,  under  Canon  LXXIL,  restrained. 

Prophylactic.  [Gr.  irpo<f>v\aKrtK6st  from  vpo<pv- 
\d<T(T<0,  I  keep  guard  before.]  (Afed.)  Precaution- 
ary, preventative ;  e.g.  belladonna  is  P.  against 
scarlatina.  Subst.,  Prophylaxis. 

Propolis.  [Gr.  irpoiroXis,  (i)  space  in  front  of 
a  town,  (2)  propolis. ]  Reddish-brown,  aromatic, 
gummy  substance,  collected  from  wild  poplar 
and  other  trees,  with  which  bees  close  up  crevices 
in  their  hives  and  strengthen  the  margins  of  the 
cells  of  the  comb. 

Proportion.  [L.  proportionem.]  The  relation 
existing  between  four  magnitudes  when  the  ratio 
of  the  first  to  the  second  equals  that  of  the  third 
to  the  fourth  ;  the  first  and  fourth  magnitudes 
are  the  extreme,  the  second  and  third  the  mean, 
terms  of  the  P. 

Proportional ;  P.  compasses ;  Directly  P. ; 
Fourth  P.;  Inversely  P.;  P.  logarithms;  Mean 
P.;  Beciprocally  P. ;  Third  P.  Of  two  variable 
magnitudes,  the  first  is  Proportional,  or  Directly 
P. ,  to  the  second :  when  any  two  values  of 
the  former  have  to  each  other  the  same  ratio  as 
that  of  the  corresponding  values  of  the  latter ; 


thus,  at  a  given  time  and  place  the  length  of  a 
man's  shadow  is  proportional  to  his  height, 
because  the  ratio  of  the  heights  of  any  two  men 
is  the  same  as  that  of  the  lengths  of  their 
shadows.  They  are  Inversely  or  Reciprocally 
P.  when  the  ratio  of  the  first  to  the  second  value 
of  the  former  magnitude  equals  that  of  the 
second  to  the  first  value  of  the  latter  magnitude  ; 
as  in  equal  triangles  the  base  is  reciprocally  P. 
to  the  height.  If  three  magnitudes  are  given, 
a  Fourth  P.  will  be  such  that  the  first  bears 
to  the  second  the  same  ratio  that  the  third 
bears  to  the  fourth.  If  three  magnitudes  are 
given,  the  first  bears  to  the  second  the  same  ratio 
that  the  second  bears  to  the  Third  P.  If  two 
magnitudes  are  given,  the  first  bears  to  the 
Mean  P.  the  same  ratio  that  the  M.  P.  bears  to 
the  second.  P.  compasses  are  so  constructed 
that  lines  measured  by  them  from  a  plan  are 
transferred  to  the  copy  lengthened  or  shortened 
in  a  fixed  proportion.  P.  logarithms  are  logistic 
logarithms  (q.v.~). 

Proposition.  [L.  propositio,  -nem,  a  setting 
forth.]  1.  In  Log.,  an  indicative  sentence,  that 
is,  one  which  affirms  or  denies,  consisting  of  a 
Subject  and  Predicate  connected  by  the  Copula. 
(Syllogism.)  2.  (Geom.)  The  statement  of  a 
fact  proposed  to  be  proved  or  of  a  construction 
proposed  to  be  made.  In  the  former  case  the 
proposition  is  a  theorem  ;  as,  "  Any  two  sides  of 
a  triangle  are  greater  than  the  third."  In  the 
latter,  a  problem;  as,  "  On  a  given  straight  line 
to  make  an  equilateral  triangle." 

Propraetor.  [L.]  A  Roman  magistrate  stand- 
ing to  the  prsetor  in  the  relation  of  the  proconsul 
to  the  consul.  Under  the  empire,  the  imperial 
provinces  were  under  propraetors ;  those  of  the 
senate  under  proconsuls.  (Proconsul.) 

Proprement  dit.     [Fr.]    Properly  so  called. 

Proprio  motu.  [L.,  of  his  (or  her)  own  move- 
ment.] Spontaneously. 

Propter  vitam  Vivendi  perdere  causas.  [L.] 
For  the  sake  of  life  to  throw  away  all  inducements 
to  life. 

Pro  pudor.    [L.]    Shame  I 

Propylaea.  [Gr.  irpoirfaaia,  before  the  gate.] 
Any  entrance  to  a  temple ;  but,  more  par- 
ticularly, the  approach  to  the  Acropolis  of 
Athens.  The  Athenian  propylaea  were  finished 
in  the  time  of  Pericles,  B.  c.  432. 

Pro  rata.     [L.]    In  proportion. 

Pro  re  nata.  [L. ,  according  to  the  case  arising ; 
lit.  the  thing  born.]  As  need  requires. 

Pro  salute  anlmae.  [L.]  For  the  safety  or 
saving  of  his  soul — a  phrase  used  in  Eccl. 
courts. 

Pros  and  cons.  Arguments  for  [L.  pro]  and 
against  [contra]. 

Proscenium.  [Gr.  irpooK^viov.]  In  the  Greek 
theatre,  the  whole  space  between  the  scena 
[ffK7]vft],  i.e.  the  wall  by  which  the  back  side  of 
the  wall  was  closed,  and  the  orchestra  (q.v.); 
what  we  should  call  the  stage. 

Proscription.  [L.  proscriptionem,  from  pro, 
before,  and  scribo,  I  write.]  In  Rom.  Hist.,  the 
setting  forth  on  a  list  the  names  of  outlawed 
persons;  as  the  proscription  of  the  triumvirs 


PROS 


398 


PROT 


Octavius,  Antony,  and  Lepidus,  in  which  Cicero 
was  killed. 

Proselyte.  [Gr.  irpofffavros,  one  who  comes  as 
a  stranger.}  A  term  applied  by  the  Jews,  after 
they  became  connected  with  the  Greeks,  to 
foreigners  who  embraced  Judaism.  The  P.  of 
the  gate  renounced  idolatry  ;  the  P.  of  righteous- 
ness submitted  to  circumcision. 

Proserpine.    (Eleusinian  Mysteries.) 

Proses,  Prosse.  [L.  prosa,  i.e.  oratio,  collat. 
form  of  prorsa,  straightforward,  continuous.'}  In 
the  Roman  Church,  hymns  sung — from  latter  end 
of  the  ninth  century — after  the  Gradual ;  called 
therefore  Sequenlia  also.  Riming,  but  not 
scanning  ;  e.g.  Stabat  Mater. 

Prosody.  [Gr.  vpocrySia.]  The  science  which 
treats  of  the  laws  of  harmony,  accent,  and 
quantity,  whether  in  prose  or  verse. 

Prosopography.  [Gr.  -irp6<T<airov,  a  figure, 
ypfyu),  I  describe.]  (Rhet.}  The  description  of 
animated  objects. 

Prosopolepsy.  [Gr.  irpoarwiroX^ia,  from 
irp6<r<i>irov,  a  face  or  person,  and  Af)i|/is,  a  taking.'] 
Respect  of  persons  ;  partiality.  (Person.) 

Prosopopoeia.  [Gr.  irpoaairoiroiia,  from  irp6ffa>- 
TTOV,  a  figure,  and  iroi4<a,  I  make.]  (Rhet.)  An 
address  to  inanimate  things  as  though  they  had 
life  and  power  of  hearing. 

Prosphonesis.  [Gr.]  K  Bidding  prayer  (q.v.}; 
frequent  examples  occur  in  the  ancient  Liturgies. 

Prostate.  [Gr.  irpoffrarfu,  I  stand  before.] 
(Anat.}  A  compact,  chestnut-shaped,  glandular 
body,  in  males,  situated  just  below  the  neck  of 
the  bladder. 

Prosthaphseresis.  [A  word  made  up  of  the  Gr. 
irp6<rBet  in  front  of,  and  a<patpf<rts,  subtraction.'} 
(Astron.)  A  term  used  by  old  astronomical 
writers  to  signify  the  difference  between  the  true 
and  mean  motion,  or  the  true  and  mean  place  of 
a  planet,  or  the  quantity  which  must  be  taken 
from  or  added  to  the  mean  anomaly  in  order  to 
get  the  true  anomaly. 

Prosthesis.     (Hetaplasm.) 

Prostyle.  [Gr.  Trp6<rTv\os.]  (Arch.}  A  temple 
with  a  row  of  detached  columns  supporting  the 
pediment  on  its  front  elevation. 

Prosyllogism.  (Log.)  A  syllogism  essential 
to  the  proof  of  another  syllogism.  The  word  is 
used  also  in  the  sense  of  Enthymeme. 

Prot-,  Proto-.  [Gr.  vpuros,  first.}  (Chem.} 
A  prefix  to  chemical  names,  having  the  same 
force  as  mon-,  mono-  (q.v.). 

Protamoeba.    (Amoeba.) 

Protandrous,  or  (more  correctly)  PrSterandrous 
flowers.  [Gr.  irpuros,  first,  irpdrtpos,  former, 
prior.]  (Bot.}  Those  in  which  the  anthers 
are  developed  before  the  pistil.  Protogynous,  or 
Proterogy  nous  flowers,  those  in  which  the  reverse 
is  the  case. 

Pro  tanto.  [L. ,  for  so  much.]  So  far  as  some- 
thing named  is  concerned. 

Protasis.  [Gr.,  a  stretching  forth.}  In  Gram, 
and  Rhet.,  the  hypothetical  or  limiting  clause  of 
a  sentence,  answered  by  the  apoddsis. 

Protected  states  (in  India).  Certain  native 
states,  as  the  dominion  of  the  Nizam,  etc. ,  which, 
keeping  their  independence,  subject  to  certain 


limitations,    are     guaranteed     by    the    British 
Government  against  external  attacks,  etc. 

Protector.  [L.,  a  defender.]  (Hist.}  This 
title  has  been  borne  by  three  English  states- 
men :  (i)  Richard,  Duke  of  York,  1453;  (2) 
Duke  of  Somerset,  1548;  (3)  Oliver  Cromwell, 

!653- 

Protege.  [Fr.]  Lit.  one  who  is  protected; 
hence  a  favourite  of  one  high  in  society.  Fern., 
Protegee. 

Pro  tempore.  [L.]  For  the  time.  In  shortened 
form,  pro  tem. 

Proterandrous  flowers.     (Protandrous.) 

Proterogy nous  flowers.     (Protandrous.) 

Protest.  (Araut.)  Formal  declaration,  in 
writing,  properly  attested,  by  the  master  and 
others  of  a  ship's  crew,  to  the  effect  that  damage 
sustained  by  the  ship  was  not  caused  by  their 
negligence  or  misconduct. 

Protestants.  [L.  protestor,  /  bear  witness. ,] 
(Eccl.  Hist.}  1.  Properly  those  who,  in  1529, 
protested  against  an  edict  of  the  Diet,  at  Spires, 
which  postponed  the  settlement  of  religious 
differences  to  the  meeting  of  a  General  Council  at 
some  indefinite  time.  The  P.  insisted  that  the 
General  Council  should  be  summoned  at  once. 
Hence,  2,  generally,  those  who  protest  against 
the  doctrines  or  discipline  of  the  Latin  Church. 

Proteus.  [Gr.]  Any  one  who  easily  changes 
his  opinions  or  his  practice  is  so  called,  from  the 
Greek  sea-god,  who  had  the  power  of  changing 
his  shape  at  his  will,  until  he  had  exhausted  his 
powers'of  transformation. 

Proteus  anguineus.  [Aug.  L.,  snake-like.] 
Amphibian  inhabiting  underground  pools ; 
about  twelve  inches  long  ;  nearly  white,  with 
scarlet  external  gills,  rudimentary  eyes,  and  four 
legs.  Central  Europe.  Fam.  Protei'dse,  ord. 
Urodela.  (Proteus.) 

Proteus  animalcule.     (Amoeba.) 

Protevangellon.  [Gr.  vpurov  fvayy&tov,  a 
first  Gospel.}  1.  A  Gospel  of  the  birth  of  the 
B.  V.  Mary,  and  of  our  Lord,  attributed  to  St. 
James.  (Pseudo-Gospels.)  2.  A  rudimentary 
Gospel ;  one  by  anticipation ;  e.g.  in  the  types 
of  the  Old  Testament. 

Prothe'sis.  [Gr.,  a  placing  before.]  In  the 
Eastern  Church,  the  apse  of  the  right  aisle,  where 
the  Credence  table  is  placed. 

Prothonotary,  more  properly  Protonotary. 
[L.L.  prSto-notarius,  first  secretary.]  In  the 
Greek  Church,  the  chief  secretary  of  the  Patriarch 
of  Constantinople.  In  the  papal  court,  the 
college  of  twelve  apostolic  notaries  register  all 
the  solemn  acts  of  the  Church. 
Proto-.  [Gr.  irpSrros,  first.] 
Protocol.  [L.  protocollum,  a  word  made  up 
of  Gr.  irpuros,  first,  and  Ko\\a,  glue.  ]  In  Fr. 
usage,  the  technical  words  of  legal  documents  ; 
in  German,  the  rough  draft  of  an  instrument. 
The  latter  is  the  frequent  diplomatic  sense  of 
the  term. 

Protogynous  flowers.     (Protandrous.) 
Protonotary.    (Prothonotary.) 
Protoplasm.     [Gr.    irp&ros,  first,    irXAff^a,    a 
thing  formed.]     The  physical  basis  of  life,   "in 
its  simplest  condition  a  mere  formless  slime,  but 


PROT 


399 


PSEU 


differing  from  dead  matter  in  possessing  the 
qualities  of  irritability,  of  spontaneous  move- 
ment, of  assimilation  of  foreign  substances,  and 
of  self-multiplication." 

Prototype.    (Archetype.) 

Protozoa.  [Gr.  irpwros,  first,  £wov,  an  animal.] 
(Zool.)  Sub-kingd.  of  invertebrates,  contain- 
ing the  lowest  animal  organisms,  composed  of 
jelly-like  sarcode,  destitute  of  definite  parts 
or  body-cavity,  mostly  aquatic,  and  minute, 
though  sometimes  forming  large  colonies,  as 
sponges. 

Protozoic.  [Gr.  irpwros,  first,  fa-fi,  life.'] 
(Geol.)  A  name  proposed  by  Warburton,  in 
1843,  f°r  trie  Cambrian  and  Silurian,  but  not 
widely  adopted. 

Protract.  [L.  protraho,  /  lengthen  out.] 
(Math.}  1.  To  draw  to  scale.  2.  To  draw  an 
angle  with  the  aid  of  a  protractor  (q.v.). 

Protractor.  (Math.)  An  instrument  for  draw- 
ing angles  of  any  required  number  of  degrees. 

Proud  flesh.  [Cf.  Fr.  preux,  £**//<*«/.]  Coarse, 
luxuriant  granulations,  in  wounds,  ulcerated 
surfaces. 

Provencal  language.  The  language  of  the 
Troubadours,  one  of  the  Romance  dialects  which 
sprang  up  on  the  decline  of  the  literary  Latin. 

Proven9al  poetry.    (Troubadours;  Trouveres.) 

Province.  [L.  provincia,  an  abbrev.  form 
of  providentia,  meaning  originally  a  duty,  or 
matter  entrusted  to  a  person.]  In  Rom.  Hist., 
a  conquered  country  administered  by  a  Roman 
officer  commissioned  for  the  purpose. 

Provinces,  Roman.  To  the  time  of  the  battle 
of  Actium  (B.C.  31),  the  Roman  provinces  were: 
Sicily  ;  Sardinia  and  Corsica  ;  hither  and  further 
Spain  ;  hither  Gaul ;  Gallia  Narbonensis  ;  Illy- 
rium  ;  Macedonia ;  Achaia ;  Asia  ;  Cilicia  ; 
Syria  ;  Bithym'a  and  Pontus  ;  Cyprus  ;  Africa ; 
Cyrene  and  Crete ;  Numidia ;  Mauretania. 
Some  were  subsequently  added  ;  and  the  number 
was  also  increased  by  the  subdivision  of  old 
provinces. 

Pro  vlrili  (sc.  parte).  [I,.,  for  his  part  as  a 
man.]  To  the  utmost. 

Provision.  [L.  provisio,  -nem,  forethought.] 
A  suspension,  by  the  popes,  of  the  right  of 
patronage  of  benefices  in  England,  that  they 
might  provide  for  their  own  foreign  nominees. 

Provisions  of  Oxford.    (Oxford,  Provisions  of.) 

Proviso.  (Naut.)  A  stern-rope  fastened  to 
the  shore. 

Provisors,  Statutes  of.  (Hist.)  Statutes 
passed  in  the  reigns  of  Edward  L,  Edward  III., 
and  Richard  II.,  to  check  the  papal  claims  of 

Eresentation  to  ecclesiastical  benefices  in  Eng- 
md.     (Provision.) 

Provost.  [L.  praepositus,  one  set  over.]  1. 
In  Scotland,  a  mayor.  2.  In  some  colleges,  the 
head  ;  in  some  cathedrals,  the  dean  ;  sometimes 
also  answering  to  chancellor  ;  sometimes,  before 
the  Reformation,  to  archdeacon. 

Provost-marshal.  (Mil.}  The  officer  who  is 
the  head  of  the  police  of  a  garrison  or  camp, 
having,  previous  to  the  Army  Discipline  and 
Regulation  Act,  1879,  power  of  summarily 
punishing  soldiers  or  camp  followers  detected  in 


the  actual  commission  of  crime  ;  but  now  only 
of  arresting  and  detaining  for  trial.  He  exe- 
cutes punishments  awarded  by  a  court-martial. 

Prow.  [Fr.  proue,  L.  and  Gr.  prora.] 
(Naut.}  1.  The  foremost  end  of  a  vessel.  2. 
The  beak  of  a  xebec,  or  felucca. 

Proxenos.  [Gr.]  In  Gr.  Hist.,  any  citizen 
of  a  state  who  guarded  in  his  own  city  the 
interests  of  citizens  of  another  state.  If  ap- 
pointed by  the  latter,  he  was  called  P.  If  he 
took  the  charge  on  himself,  he  was  Rthe"l8-P. 

Proximus  ardet  Ucalegon.  [L.]  Your 
nearest  neighboiir,  Ucalegon,  is  on  fire  (Virgil), 
=  Look  out  !  danger  is  coming  very  close  to 
you.  (Tua  res  agitur.) 

Proxy.    (Parliament,  Privilege  of;  Peer.) 

Prud'hommes.  [L.  prudentes  homines, 
prudent  men.]  In  Fr.  Hist.,  citizens  chosen  to 
serve  in  municipal  tribunals  possessing  an  equit- 
able or  conciliatory  jurisdiction. 

Prunella.  [Dim.  from  L.  pruina,  hoar-frost.] 
Fused  nitre  in  cakes  or  balls  (because  nitre  is 
found  as  a  white  incrustation  on  the  ground). 

Prunella,  Prunello.  [Fr.  prunelle,  a  sloe.]  A 
smooth  woollen  stuff  (from  its  dark  colour). 

Prunello.  [Fr.  prunelle,  dim.  of  prune,  a 
plum]  A  kind  of  dried  plum. 

Prurigo.  [L.,  itching.]  A  papular  affection 
of  the  skin,  with  intense  itching  ;  not  contagious. 

Prussian  blue.  A  pigment  consisting  of 
prussic  acid  combined  with  iron. 

Prussia  acid.  Hydrocyanic  acid  (formerly 
obtained  from  Prussian  blue). 

Prytanes.  [Gr.  irpvravtis]  The  presidents 
of  the  Athenian  Senate,  holding  office  for  one- 
tenth  part  of  the  year,  the  Prytanes  being  fifty  in 
number,  and  the  whole  senate,  all  the  members 
of  which  presided  in  rotation,  being  500. 

Prytaneum.  [Gr.  vpvravflov.]  In  a  Greek 
city,  the  home  of  the  community,  where  the 
Prytanes  assembled,  and  where  the  sacred  fire 
was  always  kept  burning  as  on  the  hearths  of 
private  houses. 

Psalm.     In  Ps.  Ixxxi.  2,  a.  psaltery  (q.v.). 

Psaltery.  [Gr.  I//OATTJPJOJ/,  a  stringed  instru- 
ment.] 1.  In  I  Sam.  x.  5  and  elsewhere,  in  Heb. 
nebel,  a  kind  of  lyre  or  harp  with  ten  strings,  in 
the  shape  of  an  earthern  wine-&?//&  [nebel]  ; 
i.e.  somewhat  conical;  i.q.  "psalm"  in  Ps. 
Ixxxi.  2.  2.  The  dulcimer,  or  Sautryt  a  corr. 
of  P. 

Pseudepigraphy.  [Gr.  tyevSeTriypaQos,  falsely 
inscribed]  The  assigning  false  names  of  authors 
to  works. 

Pseudo-.  [Gr.  i//eu5«,  I  deceive.]  False,  decep- 
tive. 

Pseudo-bulb,    (Bulb.) 

Pseudo-dipteral.  [Gr.  i//eu5^s,  false,  S/Trrepoy, 
with  two  wings]  (Arch.)  A  building  with 
sufficient  space  between  the  wall  and  the  columns 
in  front  of  it  for  two  rows  of  columns,  there 
being  only  one. 

Pseudo-Gospels.  [Gr.  tj>eu5^s,  false.]  Pre- 
tended Gospels  of  St.  Joseph,  St.  James,  St. 
Paul  ;  the  Epistle  of  Christ  to  Abgarus,  etc. 

Pseudomorph.     [Gr.  ^€u5o>,  I  deceive, 


.]     Any  mineral  that  has  taken  the  place 


PSEU 


400 


PUDD 


and  shape  of  another  mineral,  by  the  agency  of 
infiltrating  water,  etc. 

Pseudonym.  [Gr.  ^v^vv^os,  falsely  named.} 
In  Lit.,  a  false  name  assumed  by  a  writer. 
Those  who  write  under  a  fanciful  name,  as  the 
"  Letters  of  Junius,"  are,  properly,  anonymous 

Pseu'd6p5dla.  [Gr.  ^ev8fo  false,  TTOUS,  -foos,  a 
foot.}  Extensions  of  protoplasm  for  the  purpose 
of  grasping  or  moving  about.  (Protoplasm.) 

Psilanthropists.  [Gr.  \l/i\6s,  mere,  fodpomos, 
man.]  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Those  who  hold  that 
Jesus  Christ  was  an  ordinary  man. 

Psittaci.  [Gr.  ^irraKos, parrot,  foreign  word.] 
(Ornithology.) 

Psoas  muscle.  [Gr.  ^6a.}  (Anat.)  A  large 
muscle  upon  the  fore  part  and  sides  of  the 
lumbar  vertebrae. 

PsSphidae.  [Gr.  ijxtyos,  noise. 1  (Ornith.) 
Trumpeters  ;  fam.  and  gen.  of  gregarious  birds. 
Amazon  valley  only.  Though  able  to  fly,  each 
spec,  appears  to  have  its  range  defined  by  a 
river,  as  agami  (P.  crepitans)  q.v.t  by  Rio 
Negro.  Ord.  Grallae. 

Psora.    (Itch.) 

Psoriasis.  [Gr.  ^upida-ts,  tywpidw,  1  have  the 
itch.}  (Med.)  A  skin-disease,  exhibiting  rough, 
patchy  or  continuous  scales,  with  chaps  and 
fissures. 

Psychi.  [Gr.]  This  word  means  strictly  the 
breath;  hence  the  soul.  The  well-known  tale 
of  Psyche  and  Eros  (Amor),  related  in  the 
Golden  Ass  of  Apuleius,  belongs  to  the  class  of 
stories  which  includes  Beauty  and  the  Beast. 
Psyche  is  told  by  her  sisters  that  she  is  married 
to  a  monster.  Holding  a  lamp  to  see,  she  finds 
her  husband  surpassingly  beautiful,  but  a  drop  of 
oil  falling  on  him  awakens  him,  and  he  vanishes 
away ;  nor  is  she  reunited  to  him  until  after  a 
very  long  and  painful  search. 

Psychology.  [Gr.  \J/vx^»  life,  *6yos,  discourse.] 
A  term  synonymous  with  mental  philosophy ; 
but  sometimes  limited  to  the  classification  of  the 
phenomena  presented  by  the  lower  faculties  of 
the  mind.  (Association.) 

Psychrometer.  [Gr.  i|/uxp<fc,  cold,  perpov, 
measure.}  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
tension  of  the  aqueous  vapour  in  the  atmo- 
sphere. 

Ptannic  [Gr.  -jimp/ju^s,  Trralpu,  I  sneeze}, 
or  Sternutatory.  Causing  to  sneeze. 

Fteraspis.  [Gr.  imp6v,  a  -wing,  aa-iris,  a 
shield}  (Geol.)  The  oldest  known  fish,  small, 
with  long  body-shield,  found  in  the  Lower 
Ludlow  strata. 

Pterichthys.  [Gr.  vrep6v,  a  wing,  IxQvs,  a 
fish.}  (Geol.)  A  fossil  fish,  with  long  body- 
shield  and  movable  side-spines,  found  by  Hugh 
Miller  in  the  Old  Red  Sandstone. 

Ptero-.    [Gr.  Trrep6v.]    With  wings,  fins. 

Pterodactyle,  Wing-finger.  [Gr.  irrepov,  wing, 
Sa.KT-vXos,  finger,  toe.}  (Geol.)  An  extraordinary 
gen.  of  fossil  lizards,  with  bat-like  wings 
attached  to  the  fifth  finger.  Lias,  Oolite 
(especially  Solenhofen),  chalk. 

Pteromys.  [Gr.  TTTC/^J/,  wing,  IAVS,  mouse.] 
(Flying  squirrel.) 


Fteropoda,  Pteropods.  [Gr.  irrepS-irovs,  wing- 
foot.}  (Zool.)  Class  of  molluscs,  small,  with 
wing-like  fins ;  some  with,  some  without,  shells  ; 
the  chief  food  of  the  whale.  All  open  seas. 

Ptisan,  Tisane.  (Med.)  Any  decoction  like 
barley-water  [Gr.  wrlffavri],  with  little  or  no 
medicinal  agent ;  ptisanarium  oryzse  (Horace, 
Sat.  ii.  3),  rice-broth. 

Ptolemaic  system.  The  system  of  astronomy 
which  received  its  full  development  at  the  hands 
of  Claudius  Ptolemseus,  in  the  second  century  of 
our  era,  and  which  regarded  the  earth  as  the 
stationary  centre  about  which  the  sun  and  stars 
performed  their  revolutions.  (Heliocentric 
theory.) 

Ptyaline.     A  supposed  animal  matter  found  t 
in  saliva  [Gr.  -irrva\ov].     Ptyalism,  salivation. 

Pubescent.  [Lq.  L.  pubes,  adj.]  (Sot.) 
Covered  with  soft  down. 

Publicans.  [L.  publicani,  from  publicum,  the 
treasury  of  the  patricians.]  The  farmers  of  the 
public  revenues  at  Rome.  They  formed  two 
distinct  classes — the  farmers-general  being  men 
of  high  rank  and  importance,  while  their  deputies 
[portitores,  toll-gatherers,  strictly,  at  a  sea-port, 
portus]  were  of  an  inferior  grade  and  of  very 
doubtful  reputation.  It  is  of  the  latter  that 
the  New  Testament  speaks  under  the  title  of 
telSnai. 

Public  Safety,  Commtttee  of.  (Fr.  Hist.)  A 
body  formed  (1793)  out  of  the  Revolutionary 
Convention.  It  came  to  an  end  in  1794,  on 
the  introduction  of  the  New  Constitution. 
(Assembly.) 

Public  Weal,  War  of  the.  (Fr.  Hist.)  The 
contest  between  the  feudal  nobles  and  the 
Crown,  which  ended  in  the  defeat  of  the  con- 
federation called  the  League  of  the  Public  Weal, 
by  Louis  XL,  1472. 

Public  Worship  Eegulation  Act,  of  37  and  38 
Viet.  It  provides  for  the  appointment  of  a 
Judge  of  the  Provincial  Court  of  Canterbury  and 
York,  invested  with  the  duties  also  of  the  Official 
Principal  of  the  Arches  Court  of  Canterbury  ;  to 
try  alleged  offences  against  the  laws  of  public 
worship  :  but  this  Act  does  not  interfere  with 
the  Church  Discipline  Act  of  1840. 

Puccoon.    (Blood-root.) 

PuceUe,  la  [Fr.],  Pucella,  la  [It].  The 
Maid ;  i.e.  of  Orleans,  Jean  Dare. 

Puck.  (Myth.}  The  "merry  wanderer  of 
the  night"  (Shakespeare,  Midsummer- Night's 
Dream).  The  name  is  traced  to  the  Slav,  bog, 
deity,  Eng.  bogy  ;  the  connexion  of  which  with 
bug  is  attested  by  the  expression  bug-bear,  for 
any  object  which  scares  or  terrifies.  (Bogy.) 

Pudding-stone.  (Geol.)  A  conglomerate  of 
water- worn  pebbles,  cemented  by  siliceous,  argil- 
laceous, ferruginous,  or  calcareous  paste ;  e.g. 
Hertfordshire  P.  has  siliceous  cement. 

Pudding-time.  Dinner-time,  pudding  being 
formerly  the  first  dish. 

Puddle.  Earth  prepared  as  an  impervious 
lining  for  canals  and  ponds. 

Puddling.  1.  The  process  of  melting  cast 
iron  in  a  reverberatory  furnace  and  stirring  i* 
to  get  rid  of  the  carbon  in  making  wrought  iron. 


FUEL 


401 


PURG 


2.  Making  impervious  to  water  by  means  of 
clay. 

Puellis  idoneus.    [L.]  A  ladies'  man  (Horace). 

Puer.  Dogs'  dung  used  in  preparing  skins  for 
tanning. 

Puff-birds.     (Bucconidae.) 

Puffin.  [Fr.]  (Ornith.)  Marine  rock-bird; 
length  about  twelve  inches  ;  plumage  black  and 
white ;  bill  large,  with  orange  stripes.  North 
of  tropics.  Gen.  Fratercula,  fam.  Alcidse,  ord. 
Ansdres. 

Puffs.     In  a  horse.     (Spavin.) 

Puggaree.  [Hind.]  A  white  covering  for 
the  hat,  for  the  sake  of  coolness. 

Pug-mill.  A  mill  for  grinding  and  mixing 
clay  (called  pugging}. 

Puisne  Judge.  [Fr.  puine,  O.Fr.  puisne,  L. 
protnatus,  born  after ;  younger,  hence  inferior.'] 
A  term  applied  to  the  judges  who  are  not  Chief 
Justices  or  Chief  Barons. 

Pull-away  boys.    I.q.  kroomen  (q.v.). 

Pulley.  A  wheel  capable  of  turning  round  an 
axle  which  may  have  a  fixed  or  movable  bearing  ; 
the  rim  of  the  wheel  is  properly  shaped  to  carry 
a  rope  or  band  by  which  force  may  be  trans- 
mitted. When  two  or  more  pulleys  are  com- 
bined, they  form  a  system  of  pulleys. 

Pull  foot,  To.     (Naut.)     To  run,  to  hurry. 

Pulmonary.  [L.  pulmo,  pulmonis,  a  lung.} 
Relating  to  the  lungs. 

Pulping.  Removing  the  pulp,  or  aril,  from 
coffee  berries. 

Pulpltum.  [L.]  In  the  Greek  theatre,  where 
the  actors  stood  when  they  spoke,  or  \ayiiov,  the 
speaking-place,  was  the  part  of  the  proscenium 
nearest  the  orchestra. 

Pulque.  [Sp.]  A  kind  of  wine  made  from 
the  American  aloe  in  Mexico. 

Pulses.  [L.  pulsus,  a  pushing,  a  beating  of 
the  pulse. ,]  Undulations,  or  vibrations  (q.v.). 

Pultaceous.  Like  pap  [L.  pultem]  in  con- 
sistency. 

Pulteney  guinea,  The.    (Nil  conscire  sibi.) 

Pulu.  (Native  name.)  A  kind  of  cotton 
from  the  Sandwich  Islands. 

Pulverulent.  [L.  pulverulentus,  covered  with 
dust  (pulvis).]  (Bot.)  Having  a  powdery  ap- 
pearance ;  e.g.  the  mullein  Verbascum  pulveru- 
lentum. 

Pulvlnated.  [L.  pulvlnar,  a  pillow.}  (Arch.} 
A  term  denoting  a  swelling  in  any  part  of  an 
Order,  as  that  of  the  frieze  in  the  modern  Ionic. 

Pulwar.     (Naut.)     Ganges  passage-boat. 

Pumice-stone.  [L.  pumex,  pumicis.]  (Geol.)  A 
felspathic  lava,  light,  grey,  rough,  fibrous,  spongy 
from  the  action  of  the  escaping  steam  ;  chemically 
agreeing  with  obsidian  (q.v.). 

Pummice.    (Pommage.) 

Pump.  (Chain-pump;  Forcing-pump;  Suc- 
tion, etc. ) 

Pumpernickel.  [Ger.]  Westphalian  bran- 
bread  (so  called  in  contempt). 

Punch.  A  small,  powerful  cart-horse,  for 
which  Suffolk  was  once  noted  ;  now  superseded 
by  larger  breed,  sometimes  called,  incorrectly, 
by  the  same  name. 

Punch.      [L.    pungo,   /  puncture.}    A  steel 


implement  for  stamping  or  cutting  out  holes  in 
metal. 

Punch  and  Judy.  A  popular  puppet-show. 
The  common  notion,  that  it  is  so  called  from 
Pontius  (Pilate)  and  Judas  (Iscariot),  is  rejected 
by  Mr.  Skeat,  who  traces  Punch,  as  a  shortened 
form  of  Punchinello,  to  the  L.  pullus,  the  young 
of  anything  ;  Judy  coming,  as  he  supposes,  from 
Judith,  once  a  common  female  name. 

Puncheon.  A  measure  of  capacity ;  84  gallons 
=  one  puncheon  of  wine. 

Pundit.     (Pandits.) 

Pundum.     Piny  varnish  (q.v. ). 

Punlca  fides.  [L.]  The  faith  of  Cartha- 
ginians, who  were  supposed  to  be  systematically 
false,  as  were  the  Athenians ;  hence  also 
'ATTIK$J  iriffris,  Attic  faith. 

Punic  language.  The  language  of  the  Car- 
thaginians, differing  little  from  the  Hebrew. 

Punic  Wars.  The  wars  between  Rome  and 
Carthage,  beginning  B.C.  264,  and  ending  with 
the  destruction  of  Carthage,  147.  The  Second 
Punic  War  (B.C.  218-202)  is  also  known  as  the 
Hannibalian  War. 

Punkah.  [Hind,  pankha,  a  fan.}  A  large  fan 
worked  by  a  cord. 

Punt.  [A.S.]  (Naut.}  Flat-bottomed  boat 
propelled  by  puoys,  or  quants,  i.e.  long  poles 
with  a  triangular  block  near  the  bottom,  to  pre- 
vent their  sinking  in  the  mud  ;  or  by  halers,  or 
spreaders,  with  a  splayed  iron  fork  at  the  foot. 

Puny  Judge.    (Puisne  Judge.) 

Puoy.    (Punt.) 

Pupa.  [L.,  a  doll.}  (Entom.)  1.  The  last 
stage  but  one  of  an  insect ;  sometimes  called 
Aureliaoi  Chrysalis  when  quiescent,  and  Nympha 
when  active.  2.  Gen.  of  land-snails  ;  so  named 
from  shape  of  shell.  Pulmoniferous  molluscs, 
fam.  Helicidse. 

Pupipara.  [L.  pupa,  a  pupa,  pario,  /  bring 
forth.}  (Entom.)  Applied  to  insects  which  do 
not  produce  their  young  till  advanced  to  the 
pupa  stage  ;  as  the  forest  fly. 

Pupivora.  [L.  pupa,  a  pupa,  voro,  I  devour.} 
(Entom. )  Tribe  of  hymenopterous  insects  whose 
larvae  are.  parasitic  within  the  larvae  and  pupae 
of  other  insects  ;  as  the  ichneumons. 

Purana.  [Skt.,  a  poem.}  The  Hindu  sacred 
books,  containing  the  explanation  of  the  Shaster. 
They  belong  probably  to  the  earlier  centuries  of 
the  Christian  era. 

Purbeck  marble.  (Geol.)  A  beautiful  building- 
stone  formed  of  Paludinae,  from  the  P.  beds,  i.e. 
well  developed  in  the  Isle  of  P.  ;  a  group  of  fresh- 
water strata,  usually  referred  to  the  Upper  Oolite, 
but  by  some  to  the  Neocomian  rocks  (q.v.). 

Pur  cellaine.     (Purslane. ) 

Purchase.  [Fr.  pourchasser,  to  pursue  eagerly, 
to  chase,  i.e.  L.  captiare.]  In  New  Testament, 
to  acquire  [Gr.  KraaBai,  irepiiroie'iffOai]  ;  never  to 
biiy. 

Purfling.  [O.Fr.  pourfiler.]  Decorating 
with  a  wrought  or  flowered  border. 

Purgatory.  [L.  purgatorius,  pttrifying.}  In 
the  theology  of  the  Latin  Church,  a  place  for 
the  infliction  of  temporal  punishment  for  sins  on 
those  who  die  in  the  grace  of  God. 


PURI 


402 


PYRE 


Puriform.  (Med.)  In  the  form  of  pus  [L. 
pus,  puris]. 

Purim.  [Heb.,  lots.}  A  movable  feast  of  the 
Jews,  commemorating  their  deliverance  from  the 
wiles  and  stratagems  of  Haman,  as  recorded  in 
the  Book  of  Esther  (ix.  24),  he  "had  cast  Pur, 
that  is,  the  lot,  ...  to  destroy  them." 

Purism.  Affectation  of  purity,  especially  in 
writing. 

Puritans.  In  Eng.  Hist.,  a  name  generally 
applied  to  dissenters  from  the  Church  of  England, 
in  the  reigns  of  Elizabeth,  James  I.,  and  Charles 
I.  (Cathari.) 

Purl.  [Contracted  from  Eng.  purple.]  1.  An 
inversion  of  stitches  in  knitting,  giving  a  ribbed 
appearance.  2.  A  kind  of  hot  spiced  beer. 

Purlieu.  [Fr.  pur,  pure,  lieu,  place.}  1.  The 
ground  near  a  royal  palace,  made  pure  or  free 
from  the  forest  laws.  2.  The  outer  portion,  or 
environs,  of  any  place. 

Purlin.  [Of  uncertain  origin.]  (Arch.)  A 
horizontal  timber  lying  on  the  principal  rafters 
of  a  roof,  to  lessen  the  strain  on  the  common 
rafters. 

Purple  of  Cassius.    (Cassius,  Purple  of.) 

Purple  wood.  A  Brazilian  wood,  chiefly  used 
for  ramrods  and  decorative  veneering. 

Purpure.  [L.  purpura.]  (Her.}  The  purple 
colour  in  coats  of  arms,  represented  in  engraving 
by  lines  sloping  downward  from  the  sinister  to  the 
dexter  side. 

Purree.    (Indian  red.) 

Purser  (Naut.),  now  Paymaster.  The  officer 
having  charge  of  provisions,  etc.,  on  board 
ship,  having  little  to  do  with  money  matters. 
S\'s  dip,  the  smallest  dip  candle.  PSs  grins, 
sneers.  P.' s  name,  assumed  name.  PS s pound, 
seven-eighths  of  imperial  pound. 

Purslane,  Purcellaine.  A  succulent  annual, 
Portulaca  oleracea  ;  a  pot-herb,  once  used  in 
soups  and  salads,  now  neglected. 

Pursuer.  In  Scotland,  the  plaintiff;  so  exactly 
the  Gr.  6  SIUIKWV. 

Pursuivants.    (College  of  Heralds.) 

Purtenance.  Exod.  xii.  9 ;  inner  parts,  entrails. 

Purveyance.  [Fr.  pourvoir,  L.  providere,  to 
provide.]  A  former  privilege  of  the  English 
kings,  which  enabled  the  officers  of  the  royal 
household  to  take  corn  and  cattle  for  the  use  of 
the  sovereign,  and  to  employ  beasts  of  burden  in 
his  service.  Payments  were  made  in  tallies  on 
the  exchequer,  and  were  precarious  and  often 
long  in  arrear.  The  burdens  of  the  system  were 
thus  felt  to  be  very  heavy.  (Pre-emption.) 

Pus.  [L.]  (Med.)  Thick  yellow  fluid,  pro- 
duct of  inflammation  resulting  in  suppuration. 

Push.  In  popular  language,  small  boil ;  cf. 
pus  (?). 

Pustule.  [L.  pustula,  from  pus.]  (Med.) 
Pimple,  small  boil,  pock. 

Put  and  call.    (Puts.) 

Putchuck.  A  root  from  Scinde,  used  in  China 
for  incense. 

Putlog.  In  building,  the  holes  left  in  walls 
for  the  use  of  workmen  in  raising  scaffolding,  the 
logs  or  beams  of  the  scaffold  being  put  or  laid  in 
them. 


Puts.  When  stocks  are  thought  to  be  going 
down,  and  a  small  operation  without  much  risk 
is  desired,  a  small  sum  is  given  for  the  privilege 
of  delivering  a  small  amount  of  stock  at  a  certain 
price  ;  e.g.  cash  price  of  Erie  being  57  per  cent. , 
a  speculator  would  give  fifty  dollars  to  "put," 
or  deliver,  100  shares  at  56 \  say  in  ten  days. 
He  can  only  lose  his  fifty  dollars  if  the  market 
should  go  up,  but  if  it  goes  down  to  56,  he  gets 
his  money  back,  and  all  that  is  below  is  so  much 
profit. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Putty.  [Fr.  potee.]  A  mixture  of  linseed 
oil  and  whitening.  Ptitty  pcnvder  is  burnt  di- 
oxide of  tin,  used  for  polishing  metals  and  glass. 

Pyaemia.  [Gr.  irvov,pus,  aT/j.a,  blood.}  (Med.) 
Blood-poisoning,  a  diseased  condition  of  blood, 
supposed  to  be  owing  to  the  absorption  of  pus, 
or  other  septic  fluid. 

Pye.    (Pie.) 

Pygarg.  [Gr.  irvy-apyos,  white-rump,  Heb. 
dishon  (Deut.  xiv.  5),  the  leaper.}  (Bibl.) 
Probably  addax,  a  large  antelope  with  twisted 
horns.  Sub-fam.  ftryginse,  fam.  Bovidse. 

Pygmalion.  [Gr.  niry/ioAiW]  A  king  of 
Cyprus,  who,  falling  in  love  with  an  ivory  statue 
which  he  had  made,  prayed  to  Aphrodite  to 
endow  it  with  life.  Aphrodite  did  so,  and  the 
vivified  statue  became  his  wife. 

Pygmy.  [Gr.  irvyfj.aios,  from  irvyn-f),  a  cubit.} 
A  being  of  a  cubit's  height.  The  Iliad  speaks 
of  a  face  of  pygmies  perpetually  at  war  with 
cranes.  Some  supposed  them  to  live  in  Ethiopia  ; 
others  in  India.  The  Dwergar,  or  dwarfs,  of  the 
Northmen,  were  probably  Esquimaux. 

Pykar.  (Naut.)  A  small  vessel,  temp. 
Edward  III. 

Pyke,  To.  (Naut.}  To  haul  on  a  wind.  To 
P.  off,  to  go  away  noiselessly. 

Pylades  and  Orestes.  A  pair  of  inseparable 
friends.  Orestes  was  the  son  of  Agamemnon  and 
of  Clytemnestra,  whom,  by  the  help  of  Pylades, 
he  murdered. 

PylagSras.  [Gr. ;  so  called  from  the  gathering 
of  the  Amphictyons  at  Pyl?e  or  Thermopylae.] 
The  second  of  the  two  deputies  sent  by  each 
Greek  city  of  the  confederacy  to  the  Amphi- 
ctyonie  Council,  the  other  being  the  Hieromne- 
mon. 

Pylorus.  [Gr.  irv\(ap6s,  (i)  a  gate-keeper,  (2) 
pylorus.}  (Anat.)  The  small  end  of  the  stomach, 
or  opening  into  the  duodenum,  which  entrance 
it  as  it  were  guards. 

Pyramid.  [Gr.  Trupa^fs,  a  pyramid ;  (?)  an 
Egypt,  word.]  A  solid  whose  base  is  a  recti- 
lineal figure,  and  whose  sides  are  triangles  having 
a  common  vertex. 

Pyramidal  system.  (Crystallog.)  Consists  of 
those  crystals  which  have  three  rectangular  axes, 
and  two  of  their  three  parameters  equal ;  as  ido- 
crase,  copper  pyrites,  etc.  When  transparent, 
they  are  optically  uniaxal. 

Pyrethrum.  [Gr.  vvpfQpov.}  (Bot.)  Feverfew, i.e. 
febrifuge,  allied  to  chamomile,  ord.  Compositae; 
a  gen.  of  perennial  plants.  In  waste  places  of 
Britain,  and  many  other  parts  of  Europe. 

Pyretics.  (Med.)  Medicines  for  the  cure  of 
fever  [Gr.  irvper6s]. 


PYRE 


403 


QUAD 


Pyretology.    (Med.)    The  theory  of  fever  [Gr. 


Pyrheliometer.  [Gr.  irvp,fire,  $)\ios,  the  sun, 
pfTpov,  measure.'}  An  instrument  for  measuring 
the  sun's  radiant  heat. 

Pyriphlegethon.     (Phlegethon.) 

Pyrites.  [Gr.  vvpirrts  \iOos,  a  stone  that  strikes 
fire.'}  (Min.)  1.  Sulphide  of  iron,  anciently  used 
for  strike-a-lights  ;  now,  2,  =  a  group  of 
minerals,  compounds  of  metals  (iron,  copper) 
with  sulphur,  which  in  decomposing  give  out 
considerable  heat. 

Pyro-.  [Gr.  irvp,  irvpts,  fire.]  A  prefix  show- 
ing that  the  composition  of  any  chemical  sub- 
stance has  been  altered  by  heat. 

Pyrogenous.  [Gr.  irvp,  fire,  yiyvopat,  I  become.] 
(Geol.)  I.q.  igneous. 

Pyroligneous  acid.  [Gr.  irvp,  fire,  L.  lignum, 
wood.]  Impure  acetic  acid  obtained  by  the  dry 
distillation  of  wood. 

Pyrometer.  [Gr.  irvp,  vvp6s,fire,  pfrpov,  mea- 
sure.] An  instrument  for  measuring  temperatures 
above  the  range  of  a  mercurial  thermometer. 

Pyrophorus.  [Gr.  vvpo<p6pos,  fire-bearing.] 
Any  substance  which  takes  fire  when  exposed  to 
the  air. 

Pyroscope.  [Gr.  irvp,  fire,  ovcoWw,  I  view.] 
An  instrument  for  measuring  the  intensity  of 
radiant  heat. 

Pyrosis.  [Gr.  vvpwffis,  a  burning,  from  irvp6w, 
I  set  on  fire.]  (Med.)  Waterbrash,  a  vomiting 
of  a  thin,  watery  liquid. 

Pyrotechnics.  [From  Gr.  irvp,  irvp6s,  fire,  and 
rfxvi},  art.]  The  art  of  making  fireworks. 

Pyroxene.  [Gr.  irvp,fire,  |eVos,  strange.]  I.q. 
augite  (q.v.). 

Pyroxylin,  [Gr.  -irvp,  fire,  |t$\oj>,  wood.]  Gun- 
cotton. 

Pyrrhic  dance.  A  warlike  dance,  said  to  have 
been  invented  by  Pyrrhus  (Neoptolemos),  for 
the  funeral  games  of  his  father  Achilles. 

Pyrrhic  foot.  (Pros.)  One  of  two  short  syl- 
lables used  in  the  P.  war-song  ;  e.g.  duce. 

Pyrrhic  victory.     Pyrrhus,  King  of  Epirus 


(Epeiros),  is  said  to  have  exclaimed  after  the 
battle  of  Ascalum,  "Another  such  victory,  and 
we  are  lost. "  The  story  is  worthless ;  but  the 
phrase  has  come  to  denote  successes  obtained  at 
too  great  a  cost. 

PyrrhSnists.  (Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Pyrrhon,  a  philosopher  of  Elis,  and  disciple  of 
Anaxarchus,  in  the  fourth  century  B.C.  ;  noted 
for  his  singular  scepticism. 

Pyro-electricity.  [Gr.  irvp,  fire,  and  electricity.] 
Electricity  developed  by  heat. 

Pythagoreans.  (Hist.)  The  followers  of  the 
Samian  Pythagoras,  called  the  first  of  the  Greek 
philosophers.  His  lifetime  is  uncertain.  He  is 
said  to  have  resolved  all  philosophy  into  the  re- 
lations of  numbers,  God  being  the  original  unity  ; 
and  to  have  drawn  up  a  table  of  opposites  [Gr. 
cu/TiffToixla.]— odd  and  even,  one  and  many,  etc., 
which  points  to  a  system  of  dualism.  (Ahriman ; 
Metempsychosis.) 

Pythagorean  system.  (Astron.)  A  name 
sometimes  given  to  the  true  or  Copernican  system 
of  the  heavens,  though  it  is  not  in  any  degree 
probable  that  Pythagoras  taught  that  the  earth 
revolves  round  the  sun,  or  that  it  rotates  on  its 
own  axis. 

Pythia.  [Gr.]  The  priestess  of  the  Delphian 
oracle  of  Apollo. 

Pythian  games,  (Hist.)  The  great  Greek 
festival,  held  in  every  fifth  year  at  Delphi. 

Python.  [Gr.]  1.  (Myth.)  A  dragon  slain 
at  Delphi  by  Apollo,  and  said  to  have  been  left 
to  rot  [Gr.  vvQfiv,  L.  putere],  in  order  to  explain 
the  name,  which  reappears  in  that  of  the  serpent 
Fafnir,  the  dragon  of  the  Glistering  Heath,  in 
the  Volstmga Saga.  (Sagas.)  2.  (Zool.)  Gen.  of 
large  snake  with  rudimentary  hind  legs,  giving 
its  name  to  fam.  Pythonidse ;  not  venomous, 
killing  prey  by  constriction.  India,  Borneo,  and 
adjacent  islands. 

Pyx.  [Gr.  irv^is,  a^box.]  1.  In  the  Latin 
Church,  a  vessel  in  which  the  host  is  kept.  2. 
A  box  for  holding  a  sample  coin  to  be  assayed 
before  issue. 


Q.  As  an  abbrev. ,  stands  for  L.  quintus  ;  it 
also  denotes  question,  Qy.  query;  Q.E.D. 
stands  for  the  Latin  words,  Quod  erat  demon- 
strandum, -which  was  to  be  shown,  as  in  the  pro- 
positions of  Euclid.  (Qnirites.) 

Q.A.B.,  Queen  Anne's  Bounty.  The  produce 
of  the  firstfruits  and  tenths  due  to  the  Crown, 
made  over  by  Queen  Anne  to  the  Bounty  Board 
(q.v.),  for  augmentation  of  poor  livings. 

Quad.  In  Oxford  and  elsewhere,  a  colloquial 
term  for  the  quadrangles  in  colleges,  etc. 

Quade.  (Naut.)  Unsteady,  shifty  ;  as  Quade 
wind. 

Quadragesima.  [L.,  fortieth.]  The  Lenten 
season,  as  consisting  of  about  forty  days ;  hence 
Fr.  careme. 


Quadrant.  [L.  quadrantem,  a  fottrth  part.] 
(Math.)  1.  A  fourth  part  of  a  circle.  2.  An 
instrument  not  differing  materially  from  a 
sextant. 

Quadrant,  Mural.  (Math.)  An  ancient  as- 
tronomical instrument,  superseded  by  the  mural 
circle. 

Quadrantal  triangle.  (Math.)  A  spherical 
triangle,  one  of  whose  sides  is  a  quadrant. 

Quadrat.  [Fr.,  from  L.  quadratus,  squared.] 
In  Printing,  a  piece  of  type-metal  cast  lower 
than  the  types,  so  as  to  leave  a  blank  in  printing. 
(Quads.) 

Quadrate.  [L.  quadratus,  squared."]  (Her.) 
Square.  A  cross-qiiadrate  is  a  cross  having  a 
small  square  described  in  each  of  its  angles,  so 


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404 


QUAR 


that  it  looks  as  if  its  centre  were  covered  by  a 
square. 

Quadratic  equation.  One  in  which  the  high- 
est power  of  the  unknown  quantity  is  its  square ; 
as,  o-2+  I'jx  —  60  =  0. 

Quadrature.  [L.  quadratura,  a  squaring.}  1. 
(Geom.)  The  process  of  finding  a  square  whose 
area  equals  that  of  a  figure  bounded  wholly  or 
partly  by  a  curved  line  ;  as  the  quadrature  of 
the  circle.  2.  (Astron.)  The  moon  is  in  quad- 
rature when  her  longitude  differs  from  that  of 
the  sun  by  90°. 

Quadrifid.  [L.  quadrifidus,  fottr-cloven.] 
(Bot.)  Divided  half-way  from  the  margin  to  the 
base  into  four  clefts,  as  a  Q.  perianth ;  or  into 
four  segments,  as  a  Q.  leaf. 

Quadrilateral.  [L.  quadriiate'rus,  of  four 
sides.}  1.  A  name  applied  to  countries  forming  a 
sort  of  square,  guarded  by  four  fortresses,  as  the 
Q.  of  Peschiera,  Verona,  Legnano,  and  Mantua. 
2.  (Geom.)  A  plane  figure  bounded  by  four 
straight  lines.  If  no  two  sides  are  parallel,  it  is 
a  Trapezium ;  if  it  has  only  one  pair  of  sides 
parallel,  it  is  a  Trapezoid;  if  it  has  two  pairs  of 
parallel  sides,  a  Parallelogram,  which  is  a  rect- 
angle or  oblong  when  its  angles  are  right  angles, 
and  a  square  if  the  four  sides  are  equal  and 
the  angles  right  angles ;  if  the  four  sides  are 
equal  but  the  angles  not  right  angles,  it  is  a 
Rhombus.  (Rhomboid.) 

Quadrireme.  [L.  quadriremis,  from  quatuor, 
and  remus,  an  oar.]  In  ancient  Hist.,  a  war- 
ship, with  four  banks  of  oars.  (Quinquereme ; 
Trireme.) 

Quadrivial.  \Cf.  quadrivium.]  Having  four 
ways  meeting  in  a  point. 

Quadrivium.  [L.]  (Schol.)  The  four  lesser 
arts — arithmetic,  astronomy,  music,  geometry. 
— Hallam,  Lit.  Hist.,  pt.  i.  ch.  i.  §  3.  (Trivium.) 

Quadroon.  [L.  quatuor,  four,  through  Fr. 
quarteron,  quateron,  Sp.  cuarteron.]  The  off- 
spring of  a  white  and  a  mulatto,  i.e.  one  having 
one  black  grandparent,  or  one-fourth  black 
blood.  (Mulatto.) 

Quadrumana.  [L.  quatuor,  four,  manus, 
hand.}  (Zool.)  Four-handed,  as  apes ;  the 
opposable  thumb  is  sometimes  wanting  to  the 
fore  limbs. 

Quadruple  Alliance.    (Triple  Alliance.) 

Quads  and  Spaces.  In  Printing,  type-metal 
cast  lower  than  types,  and  used  as  blanks,  for 
filling  out  lines,  ajid_  to  place  between  words, 
viz.  jf  en,  0  em,  BUI  two-em,  BBS!  three-em 
quads  ;  and  |  hair,  |  five-to-em,  \  four-to-em, 
and  i  three-to-em  spaces.  (Em ;  Quadrat.) 

Quae  caret  5ra  cruore  nostro?  [L.]  What 
country  is  without  our  blood?  (Where  have  we 
not  bled  and  suffered  ?). 

Quae  cum  ita  sint.    [L.]     This  being  so. 

Quaestor.  [L.]  In  ancient  Rome,  officers  of 
two  kinds:  (i)  Q.  classici,  collectors  of  revenue; 
(2)  Q.  parricidii,  public  accusers  in  criminal  cases. 

Quail-land.    (Ortygian  shore.) 

Quaker.     In  Naut.  slang,  a  sham  gun. 

Quakers,  or  Friends.  The  followers  of  George 
Fox,  who,  in  the  seventeenth  century,  asserted 
that  the  operation  of  religion  on  the  heart  was 


independent  of  all  ritual  observances,  and  who 
therefore  reject  sacraments,  and  have  no  order  of 
ministers.  They  have  also  persistently  refused 
to  take  oaths  in  courts  of  justice. 

Qualis  rex,  talis  grex.  [L.,  as  is  the  king,  such 
are  his  people.]  Like  master,  like  man. 

Qualitative  analysis.  [L.  qualitas,  quality.] 
(Analysis.) 

Quality.  [L.  qualitas,  from  qualis,  of  what 
sort.}  (Log.)  The  character  of  a  Proposition, 
as  affirmative  or  negative. 

Quality  of  a  musical  note.  Its  peculiar  charac- 
ter, depending  on  the  harmonics  which  coexist 
with  the  fundamental  tone,  and  their  relative 
intensities. 

Quamdiu  se  bene  gesserit.  [L.]  So  long  as 
he  shall  behave  well ;  applied  to  those  who  hold 
office  during  good  conduct. 

Quandoque  bonus  dormitat  Homerus.  (Ali- 
quando  bonus.) 

Quant.  [(?)  L.  contus,  a  pole.}  (Naut.)  1. 
A  punting-pole.  (Punt.)  2.  A  small  piece  of 
board  at  the  foot  of  a  leaping-pole.  3.  A  long 
pole  used  for  pushing  a  barge  along. 

Quantitative  analysis.  [L.  quantitas,^#a«/*Vj/.] 
(Analysis.) 

Quantity.  [L.  quantitas,  from  quantus,  how 
great}  (Log.)  The  character  of  a  proposition 
according  to  the  extent  to  which  the  predicate  is 
affirmed  or  denied  of  the  subject.  If  it  be  ex- 
tended to  the  whole  subject,  the  proposition  is 
universal ;  otherwise  it  is  particular.  (Prosody.) 

Quantity  of  heat.     (Thermal  unit.) 

Quantity  of  matter.    Mass  (q.v. ). 

Quantity  of  motion.     Momentum  (q.v.). 

Quantum  mutatus  ab  illo !  [L.]  flow  changed 
from  his  old  self!  (Virgil) ;  said  of  Hector  after 
his  death. 

Quantum  sufficit.  [L.,  as  much  as  suffices.] 
In  sufficient  quantity. 

Quantum  valeat.  [L.]  For  what  it  may  be 
worth. 

Quaquaversal  strata  (Geol.)  =  dipping  on  ail 
sides  [L.  quaqua,  wheresoever,  versus,  adv., 
towards]  ;  now  termed  Periclinal  (q.v.). 

Quarantine.  [It.  quaranto,  forty.]  1.  In 
Law,  the  forty  days  during  which  a  widow  is  by 
Magna  Charta  entitled  to  remain  in  her  hus- 
band's chief  messuage  after  his  death,  for  the 
resignment  of  her  dower.  2.  (Naut. )  The  time, 
now  variable,  during  which  a  vessel  arriving 
from  an  infected  port  is  not  allowed  to  com- 
municate with  the  shore.  (Truce  of  God.) 

Quare  impedit?  [L.,  wherefore  does hin- 
der?] The  ordinary  action  in  Law,  to  establish 
a  patron's  disputed  right  to  present  to  a  benefice. 

Quarles's  emblems.  A  set  of  designs  illus- 
trating verses  by  Francis  Quarles  (1592-1644). 
The  plates  and  plan  of  the  work  seem  to  have 
been  borrowed  from  the  "  Pia  Desideria"  of 
Hermann  Hugo,  a  Jesuit  of  Brussels. 

Quarrel.  [L.L.  quadrellus,  Fr.  carreau.]  In 
mediaeval  warfare,  the  arrow  or  bolt  for  the 
cross-bow  ;  so  called  from  its  four-sided  head. 

Quarrel,  Quarry.  [Fr.  carre,  L.  quadratus, 
square.]  1.  A  diamond-shaped  pane  of  glass. 
2.  A  glazier's  diamond 


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Quartan.  [L.  quartanus.]  (Med.)  Occurring 
every  fourth  day  ;  quartanS,  sc.  febris,  fever  of 
which  the  paroxysms  occur  every  fourth  day  ; 
tertian  [tertiana],  every  third  day ;  so  quintan 
[quintana],  every  fifth  day. 

Quartation.  [Fr.,  from  L.  quartus,  fourth.] 
(Chem.)  Making  an  alloy  of  three  parts  of 
silver  and  one  of  gold,  and  then  dissolving  the 
silver  by  nitric  acid,  so  that  the  remaining  fourth 
is  pure  gold. 

Quarter.  1.  (Arith.)  Twenty-eight  pounds 
avoirdupois  are  a  Q.,  viz.  of  a  hundredweight. 
2.  Sixty-four  gallons,  or  eight  bushels,  are  a  Q. , 
viz.  of  a  ton  of  grain.  3.  (Astron.)  A  Q.  is  a 
fourth  part  of  the  moon's  monthly  course ;  as 
when  she  is  in  her  third  Q. 

Quarter.  1.  (Mil.)  (i)  To  quarter  troops  is 
to  give  them  billets  on  the  inhabitants  of  a 
town  ;  (2)  officers'  barracks  are  called  quarters  ; 
(3)  to  give  Q.,  to  spare  the  life  of  a  conquered 
enemy  [(?)  as  being  =  to  keep  within  bounds  ; 
or  (?)  Q.  as  =  friendliness.  De  Brieux  says  Q. 
is  portion  of  pay,  promised  as  ransom].  2. 
(Naut. )  From  45°  abaft  the  beam  to  the  stern. 
Q.-boat,  one  hung  over  the  quarter.  Q.-deck. 
(Decks.)  Q.-galley,  a  Barbary  cruiser.  Q.- 
master,  petty  officer,  whose  duty  it  is  to  assist 
the  master  and  mates  in  their  duties. 

Quarter-guard.  (Mil.)  One  posted  in  front 
of  each  encamped  regiment. 

Quartering  arms.  (Her.)  The  arranging  of 
various  coats  of  arms  in  squares  or  quarters 
on  one  escutcheon,  so  as  to  show  the  alliances 
of  one  family  with  the  heiresses  of  others.  Each 
of  these  squares  is  called  a  quartering. 

Quartermaster.  (Mil.)  An  officer  in  the 
army  who  has  charge  of  the  barracks  and  stores, 
and  the  issue  of  clothing,  fuel,  food,  and  ammu- 
nition. 

Quartermaster-general.  (Mil.)  Staff  officer 
in  charge  of  the  marching,  embarkation,  and 
quartering  of  troops  ;  together  with  all  matters 
relating  to  military  science  and  topography. 

Quarter-pierced,  Cross.  (Her. )  A  cross  from 
which  the  middle  has  been  removed,  so  as  to 
leave  a  square  hole. 

Quarter-staff.  Old  weapon  about  the  height 
of  a  man,  consisting  of  a  tough  thick  stick, 
which  was  held  by  the  centre. 

Quarter-tones.  (Music.)  A  word  often  used 
loosely  for  any  interval  less  than  a  semi-tone. 

Quarto.  [L.  quartus,  fourth.}  A  book  com- 
posed of  sheets  folded  so  as  to  make  four  leaves. 

Quartodecimans.  [L.  quartus  decimus,  four- 
teenth.] In  Eccl.  Hist.,  those  who  celebrated 
Easter  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  Paschal 
moon,  instead  of  on  the  Sunday  following. 
This  was  the  practice  of  the  Eastern  Christians. 

Quartz.  [Ger.  term.]  (Geol.)  A  crystallized 
variety  of  silica  (q.v.)',  clear,  transparent  Q.  is 
rock-crystal ;  purple,  amethyst;  brown,  cairn- 
gorm. Common  in  veins  and  nests  in  many 
metamorphic  rocks. 

Quartzite.  (Geol.)  A  granular  variety  of 
quartz ;  sandstones  altered  by  pressure  and  heat 
assume  the  aspect  of  quartz;  usually  meta- 
morphic. 


Quasi.  [L.]  As  though ,  as  it  were ;  as  in  the 
phrase,  Quasi  in  loco  parentis,  as  it  were  in  the 
place  of  a  parent. 

Quasimodo.  [L.]  In  the  calendar  of  the 
Roman  Church,  the  First  Sunday  after  Easter  ; 
so  called  from  the  first  words  of  the  Introit.  It 
is  also  known  as  Dominica  in  Albis,  as,  then, 
those  who  had  been  baptized  on  Easter  Sunday 
deposited  their  white  robes  in  the  sacristy. 

Quass.  [Russ.  kwass.]  A  thin  sour  beer 
made  with  rye  or  barley  meal. 

Quassia  chips.  A  bitter  extensively  used  in 
Europe ;  the  wood  of  Q.  excelsa,  a  tree  of 
Trop.  America  ;  its  medicinal  virtues  first  made 
known  by  a  negro,  "  Quassy." 

Quaternary.  [L.  quaternarius,  i.e.  niime'rus, 
the  number  4.]  (Geol.)  Post-Tertiary,  all  above 
the  Tertiaries. 

Quaternion.  [L.  quaternionem,  from  quaterni, 
sets  of  four.]  A  group  of  four  words,  phrases, 
or  the  like.  (Triads.) 

Quatrain.  [It.  quattrino.]  A  stanza  of  four 
verses,  the  rime  being  usually  alternate ;  but 
sometimes  the  first  and  fourth,  and  the  second 
and  third,  rime  together. 

QuatrefoiL  [L.  quatuor,  and  folium,  a  leaf.} 
(Arch.)  In  tracery,  a  figure  with  four  cusps. 
Also,  as  an  ornament,  a  conventional  flower  with 
four  leaves. 

Quattro  occhi,  A.  [It.]  Of  two  persons  only  ; 
said  of  a  dinner,  conversation,  etc.  ;  lit.  with 
four  eyes.  A  tfre-a-tfre. 

Quatuor  maria.  [L.]  The  four  seas ;  i.e. 
those  around  Great  Britain. 

Queche.     (Naut.)     Small  Portuguese  smack. 

Queen  Anne's  Bounty.     (Q.A.B.) 

Queen-post.  (Arch. )  A  suspending  post  in  a 
trussed  roof,  resting  on  the  tie-beam,  and  sup- 
porting the  principal  rafters. 

Queen's  counsel.  (Leg.)  The  standing  counsel 
of  the  Crown.  As  the  Crown  is  the  nominal 
prosecutor  in  criminal  proceedings,  barristers 
who  have  received  the  appointment  of  Queen's 
cdunsel  cannot  appear  in  any  cause  against  the 
Crown,  or  defend  a  prisoner  without  a  licence. 

Queen's  messenger.  Generally  an  officer 
retired  from  the  army  or  navy,  entrusted  with 
the  conveyance  and  delivery  of  State  documents. 

Queen's  metal.  (Chem.)  An  alloy  of  nine 
parts  of  tin  and  one  part  of  antimony,  of 
bismuth,  and  of  lead. 

Queen's  ware.  An  improved  cream  ware 
made  by  Wedgwood,  in  1759;  named  after 
Queen  Charlotte. 

Queen's  yellow.  A  sulphate  of  mercury,  used 
as  a  pigment. 

Quern  Deus  vult  perdere  prius  dementat 
[L.]  Whom  the  god  "wishes  to  ruin  he  first 
maddens ;  a  phrase  applied  to  cases  of  what 
is  called  judicial  madness. 

Quern  Di  diligunt  adolescens  moritur.  [L.] 
He  whom  the  gods  love  dies  young  (Plautus). 
Transl.  from  the  Gr.  "Qv  of  0eoi  <(>t\ovaiv  OTTO- 
QvflffKGi  veos. 

Quercitron.  [Fr.,  from  L.  quercus,  oak,  citrus, 
citron  tree.}  The  bark  of  the  black  oak,  used  in 
tanning  and  in  dyeing  yellow. 


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Quern.  [A.S.  cweorn,  akin  to  corn,  grain, 
etc.]  A  machine  for  grinding.  Frodi's  quern 
(Myth.)  is  the  inexhaustible  source  of  wealth, 
producing  meal  without  being  replenished. 

Que  savons  nous.    [Fr.]    As  far  as  we  know. 

Question.  [L.  questionem,  an  inquiring  or 
search.']  The  judicial  term  for  the  application  of 
+orture  to  prisoners. 

Question,  Begging  the.    (Petitio  principii.) 

Question,  Previous.  (Previous  question,  Moving 
the.) 

Questmen.  [Quest,  i.e.  inquiry.]  Formerly 
assistants  to  the  churchwardens;  anciently 
summoned  by  the  bishop  as  "  Synod 's-men," 
corr.  into  sidesmen,  to  give  information  as  to 
parishes  and  clergy. 

Quia  emptores.  [L.]  The  statute  18  Edward 
I.,  which  forbade  Subinfeudation ;  so  named 
from  the  words  with  which  it  begins. 

Quick.  In  the  Bible,  always  ==  living  [A.S. 
cwic] ;  so  a  quick  hedge,  i.e.  growing,  as  dis- 
tinct from  palings  ;  cut  to  the  quick,  fM«r£silver. 

Quicken,  To.  (Naut.)  To  give  a  greater 
curve  in  building  a  ship. 

Quicken  tree.     (Rowan.) 

Quick  fence.     (Quick.) 

Quicklime.  [Eng.  quick,  living."]  (Chem.) 
Oxide  of  calcium,  a  caustic  substance  obtained 
by  burning  limestone. 

Quicksand.  Moving,  unsolid  sand,  mixed 
with  water,  and  such  as  will  not  support  the 
weight  of  a  man  attempting  to  pass  over  it. 

Quickwork.  (Naut.)  1.  The  immersed 
part  of  a  loaded  ship.  2.  (Spirkitting.) 

Quicquid  agunt  homines  .  .  .  nostri  est 
farrago  libelli.  [L.]  Men's  doings,  all  of 
them,  make  up  the  medley  of  my  little  book. 

Quicquid  plant  at  ur  solo,  solo  cedit.  [L.] 
In  Law  :  whatever  is  annexed  to  the  soil,  goes 
with  the  soil ;  upon  this  the  law  of  fixtures  is 
founded.  (Buta  caesa.) 

Quiddity.  [L.  quidditas,  from  quid,  what."] 
That  which  answers  to  the  question,  What  is 
this  ? — the  essence  of  a  thing. 

Quid  leges,  sine  mdribus  Vanse,  proficiunt? 
[L.]  What  good  can  laws  alone  effect,  which 
without  morals  are  useless?  (Horace). 

Quid  non  mortalia  pectora  cogls,  Auri  sacra 
fames  1  [L.  ]  To  what  crimes  cannot  the  cursed 
hunger  for  gold  drive  men  ?  (Virgil). 

Quidnunc.  [L.,  what  now?}  A  collector 
of  news,  a  gossip,  or  tattler. 

Quidquid  delirant  reges,  plectuntur  Achivi. 
[L.]  Kings  go  astray,  and  their  subjects  pay 
the  penalty  (Horace). 

Quieta  non  movere.  [L.]  Make  no  stir 
when  things  are  still. 

Quietists.    (Mystics.) 

Qui  facit  per  alium  facit  per  se.  [L.,  he  who 
acts  through  another  acts  himself.'}  A  man 
cannot  free  himself  from  guilt  by  using  another 
as  his  agent ;  a  man  is  responsible  for  his  ser- 
vant's negligence. 

Quignon's  Breviary.    (Breviary  of  Quignon.) 

Qui  laborat  orat.  [L.,  he  who  labours  prays.} 
Work  is  worship. 

Quill,    [Ger.  kiel.]    A  piece  of  reed  on  which 


is  wound  the  thread  that  forms  the  woof  of 
cloth. 

Quilling.  A  narrow  border  of  lace,  etc., 
folded  like  a  row  of  quills. 

Quinate.    (Palmate  leaf.) 

Quincunx.  [L.]  1.  Properly,  any  five  ob- 
jects which  occupy  the  corners  of  a  square  and 
the  point  of  intersection  of  the  diagonals.  2. 
The  arrangement  of  troops,  or  other  objects,  in 
a  triangular  figure  of  five  divisions  on  each  side. 

Quindecemvlri.  [L.,  fifteen  men.}  (Hist.) 
Roman  magistrates,  charged  with  the  care  of 
the  Sibylline  books  (q.v.). 

Quinoa  of  Peru.  A  goosefoot,  q.v.  (Cheno- 
podium  Quinoa) ;  ripening  at  a  height  of  nearly 
13,000  feet;  the  great  article  of  agriculture  in 
S.  Peru ;  yielding  abundant  seeds  of  the  size 
of  millet,  used  much  as  rice  is  used  in  India  ; 
and  from  which  an  agreeable  beer  is  obtained. 

Quinquageslma.  \L.,  fiftieth.}  In  the  Eccl. 
calendar,  the  Seventh  Sunday  before  Easter ; 
so  called  as  falling  about  fifty  days  before  it. 

Quinquarticular  Controversy.  (Eccl.  Hist.) 
That  between  Arminians  and  Calvinists  upon 
the  five  points  [L.  quinque  articuli]  of:  (i) 
Particular  election  ;  (2)  particular  redemption  ; 
(3)  moral  inability  in  a  fallen  state ;  (4)  irresis- 
tible grace  ;  (5)  final  perseverance  of  the  saints. 

Quinquennalia.  [L.]  Games  or  festivals 
celebrated  every  five  years  [quinque  anni]. 

Quinquereme.  [L.  quinqueremis.]  Roman 
war-ships,  with  five  banks  of  oars.  (Quadrireme  ; 
Trireme.) 

Quinquertium.     (Pentathlon.) 

Quinsy.  [It.  squinanzia,  Gr.  Kwdyxn,  do%- 
throttling.}  (Med.)  Inflammation  of  the  tonsils. 

Quinta.     [Sp.]    A  country-seat,  villa. 

Quintain.  1.  A  wooden  post  set  up  for  military 
exercises,  sometimes  turning  on  a  pivot.  2.  An 
O.E.  game.  A  board,  hanging  like  a  sign- 
board, is  tilted  at  by  a  rider,  who  has  to  strike 
it  before  a  balancing  weight,  hanging  opposite  to 
the  board,  has  time  to  swing  round  and  strike  him. 

Quintal.  [Fr.  quintal,  Ar.  quintar,  a  htm- 
dredweight.}  One  hundred  kilogrammes,  nearly 
equal  to  two  hundredweights. 

Quintan.     (Quartan.) 

Quintessence.  [L.  quinta  essentia.]  The 
fifth  essetice,  requiring  five  processes  for  extrac- 
tion ;  the  extremes!  possible  concentration  ;  a 
term  of  the  old  chemists,  or  rather  alchemists. 

Quinzaine.  The  fourteenth  day  after  a  feast. 
(Octave.) 

Qui  pro  quo,  or  Quid  pro  quo.  [L.]  A  phrase 
used  by  the  French  to  denote  the  error  of  mis- 
taking one  thing  for  another ;  in  England, 
usually  to  signify  an  equivalent. 

Quire.  [Fr.  cahier,  copy-book.'}  Twenty-four 
sheets  of  paper. 

Quirites.  A  people  whose  name  is  joined 
with  that  of  the  Romans  in  the  phrase  P.R.Q., 
populus  Romanus  Quirites.  They  may  have 
belonged  to  a  town  called  Cures  or  Quirium; 
but  the  fact  cannot  be  proved.  Some  trace  the 
name  to  the  word  curis,  a  spear. 

Quis  custodiet  ipsos  custodes.  [L.]  Who 
shall  guard  the  keepers  themselves  ?  (Juvenal). 


QUIS 


407 


RACK 


Quis  expedivit  psittaoo  suum 
Who  got  out  of  the  parrot  that  ' '  HOI.V  d'ye  do  ?  " 
of  his  ?  the  answer  being  hunger  /  which  makes 
poets  also  sing  (Persius,  Prologue  to  Sat.). 

Quisque  suos  patimur  manes.  [L.]  We 
suffer,  every  one  of  ust  our  lower-world  punish- 
ments. 

Quis  tulerit  Gracchos  de  seditione  que- 
rentes.  [L.]  Who  can  put  up -with  complaints 
about  sedition  from  the  Gracchi  ?  (these  being 
supposed  to  be  notoriously  seditious  them- 
selves). 

Qui  tarn  action.  In  Law,  a  popular  action, 
in  which  one  part  of  the  penalty  recovered  is 
given  to  the  king,  the  poor,  or  to  some  public 
use  ;  brought  by  one,  qui  tarn  pro  domino  rege, 
quam  pro  se  ipso  .  .  .  sequitur,  who  sues  as 
well  for  the  king  as  for  himself. 

Quit-rent.  A  small  rent  payable  by  tenants 
of  old  manors,  by  which  they  go  quiet  [O.Fr. 
quite,  discharged,  free,  L.  quietum]. 

Quittor.  In  a  horse,  chronic  abscess  of  the 
foot. 

Qui  vive  ?  [Fr.,  lit.  who  lives  ?  i.e.  is  moving?] 
With  the  French,  =  Who  goes  there  ?  of  our 
sentries. 

Quixotism,  or  Quixotry.  A  word  generally 
used  to  denote  absurd  or  extravagant  actions 
done  from  a  sense  of  duty,  like  those  of  Don 
Quixote  in  the  great  romance  of  Cervantes. 

Quocunque  modo.  [L.,  by  whatever  means.} 
In  some  way  or  other. 

Quocunque  nomine  gaudes.  [L. ,  in  whatever 
name  you  rejoice. ~\  Whatever  may  be  your 
name. 

Quoddy.  A  kind  of  scaled  herring,  cured  in 
N.  America. 


Quod  erat  demonstrandum.    (Q.) 

Quod  erat  faciendum.  [L.]  Which  was  to 
be  done;  appended  to  problems  under  the 
initial  letters  Q.E.F. 

Quod  fieri  non  deb  ait,  factum  valet.  [L.] 
What  ought  not  to  have  been  done  is  valid  when 
done  (as  in  the  case  of  marriage  at  an  illegal 
age). 

Quod  ubique,  quod  semper,  quod  ab  omnibus. 
(Vincentian  rule.) 

Quoin.  [Fr.  coin,  Gr.  ywvla,  an  angle.~\ 
1.  (Arch.)  An  angle  of  a  building.  2.  In 
Printing,  a  wedge  for  securing  pages  in  the  chase. 

Quorum.  [L.,  of  whom.}  A  term  derived 
from  the  words  of  the  Latin  form  of  commission 
to  justices  of  the  peace,  "Quorum  unum  A.  B. 
esse  volumus,"  of  whom  we  will  A.  B.  to  be  one. 
Hence  two  or  more  persons,  when  the  presence 
of  more  than  one  is  needed,  may  be  said  to 
constitute  a  quorum. 

Quorum  pars  magna  fui.  [L.,  lit.  of  which 
(persons,  or  things,  or  times)  /  was  an  important 
element. 

Quo  semel  est  imbuta  recens,  servabit  odorem 
Testa  diu.  [L.,  the  jar  will  long  keep  the 
odour  which  it  received  when  new  (Horace).] 
Early  impressions  are  lasting. 

Quotation.  In  Printing,  a  piece  of  hollow 
type-metal,  lower  than  type,  used  in  the  blank 
spaces  at  the  beginning  and  end  of  chapters,  etc. 

Quot  homines,  tot  sententiae.  [L.]  As  many 
opinions  as  men. 

Quot  servi,  tot  hostes.  [L.]  All  your  slaves 
may  prove  your  enemies ;  as  many  enemies  as 
servants. 

Quum  tails  sis,  utinam  noster  esses.  [L.] 
(Tails  quuxn  sis,  utinam  noster  esses.) 


R.  As  an  abbrev. ,  stands  for  Rex  or  Regina, 
king  or  queen ;  in  medical  prescriptions  for 
R£cip£  [L.,  take} ;  in  the  Naut.  muster-book, 
R.  denotes  run,  placed  against  the  names  of 
deserters,  and  of  those  who  have  missed  three 
musters ;  R.  P.  for  Respublica,  republic. 

Rab.     A  rod  used  in  mixing  hair  with  mortar. 

Rabbet.  [Fr.  rabot,  a  plane.}  1.  A  sloping 
cut  made  on  the  edge  of  a  board  so  that  it  may 
form  a  joint  with  another  board  similarly  cut  by 
sapping.  2.  A  rectangular  groove  cut  along  the 
edge  of  a  board  to  receive  a  corresponding  pro- 
jection upon  the  edge  of  another  board. 

Rabbeting.  [Fr.  rabot,  a  plane.}  (Arch.) 
A  process  in  wood  answering  to  joggling  in 
stone.  (Joggle-joints.) 

Rabbinism.  The  body  of  the  doctrine  of  the 
rabbis,  contained  in  the  Talmud  and  other  books. 

Rabble.  A  tool  used  to  stir  the  melted  iron 
in  puddling.  (Rab.) 

Rabies.  [L.,  rage,  madness.]  I.q.  hydro- 
phobia. 

Raca.     [Syr.,  vanity,  or  folly.}     A  word  by 

27 


which  the  Jews  expressed  vehement  indignation. 
(Anathema;  Maran-atha.) 

Race.  (Naut. )  A  strong  and  dangerous  cur- 
rent producing  overfalls. 

Eace,  of  ginger,  etc.   [L.  radix.]  (Bot.)  Kroot. 

Raceme.  [L.  racemus,  a  bunch,  chister.~\  (Bot.) 
A  spike-like  inflorescence,  differing  from  a  true 
spike  in  having  each  flower  upon  a  small  foot- 
stalk ;  e.g.  the  currant  blossom. 

Rachis.  [Gr.  {>dxis,  spine.}  1.  (Bot.)  The 
axis  of  inflorescence ;  the  stem  which  supports 
the  flowering  head.  In  ferns,  the  divisions  of 
the  petiole  of  the  leaves.  2,  The  shaft  of  a 
feather. 

Rachitis  [Gr.,  from  ^xis>  Me  spine},  some- 
times Rickets  (q.v).  Inflammation  of  the  spine. 

Rack.  [A.S.  rsecan,  to  stretch  out.}  1.  (Mech.) 
A  straight  bar  furnished  with  teeth  to  work  with 
a  toothed  wheel  or  pinion.  2.  An  instrument  of 
torture,  always  illegal  in  this  country. 

Backing.  1.  Washing  ores  on  an  inclined 
frame  called  a  rack.  2.  Drawing  off  wine,  etc., 
from  the  lees. 


RACK 


408 


RAIA 


Racking  a  tackle,  orlanniard.  (Naut.)  Fasten- 
ing two  running  parts  together,  with  a  seizing 
called  racking,  so  as  to  stop  it  from  rendering 
(q.v.). 

Back-punch.     Punch  made  with  arrack. 

Back-rent.  (Leg.}  A  rent  raised  as  nearly 
as  possible  to  the  full  annual  value  of  the 
premises. 

Back-saw.    A  saw  with  wide  teeth. 

Bacoon.      (Zool.)      Procyon,  an  animal  with 

frey  fur,  somewhat  like  a  small  fox.  America, 
am.  Procyonidse,  ord.  Carmvora. 

Bacovians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  Unitarians  of 
Poland;  so  called  from  the  city  of  Racow, 
where  Jacobus  a  Senna  erected  for  them,  in 
1600,  a  seminary,  in  which  the  Racovian  Cate- 
chism, drawn  up  by  Soclnus,  was  published. 

Saddle,  To.     (Naut.)     To  interlace. 

Baddock,  Buddock  (from  its  red,  ruddy, 
breast).  (Ornith.)  Robin  redbreast,  Sylvia 
rubecula,  fam.  Sylvndse,  ord.  Passeres. 

Radiant.  [L.  radius,  a  ray.~\  (Her.}  Having 
rays  proceeding  from  it. 

Badiant  heat.    (Badiation.) 

Badiata.  [L.,  provided  with  rays,  or  spokes. "\ 
(Zool.}  Cuvier's  lowest  animal  kingdom,  named 
from  the  radiated  form  of  some  of  its  consti- 
tuents, as  sea-urchins  and  star-fish  (Echlnoder- 
mata).  These  are  now  reckoned  as  Annulo'ida, 
or  Echmozoa  [Gr.  ^x^os»  a  hedgehog,  {wav,  an 
animal],  with  ScolecTda.  [a-Kcfo.?;!,  a  rvorm],  i.e. 
Entozoa  \ivr6s,  within,  &ov,  an  animal],  Roti- 
fera,  and  some  others.  Cuvier's  Polyzoa  are 
placed  among  mollusca,  as  Molluscoidea ;  the 
Protozoa  form  a  sub-kingd.  by  themselves ;  the 
remainder  form  the  sub-kingd.  Coelenterata. 

Badiation.  [L.  rSdiati5nem,  an  emission  of 
beams  of  light.}  Consists  in  the  transmission  of 
energy  from  one  body  to  another  by  propagation 
through  an  intervening  medium  in  such  a  way 
that  the  progress  of  the  transmitted  energy  may 
be  traced  after  it  has  left  the  first  body  and 
before  it  reaches  the  second  ;  travelling  through 
the  medium  with  a  certain  velocity,  and  leaving 
the  medium  behind  it  in  the  condition  in  which 
it  found  it :  thus  light  radiates  from  a  luminous 
body,  and  heat,  when  transmitted  in  like  manner, 
is  radiant  heat. 

Radical.  [L.  radix,  radlcis,  a  root."]  (Chem.} 
A  salt  R.  is  a  simple  body  which  with  hydrogen 
forms  an  acid,  or  with  metals  a  salt.  A  com- 
pound R.  is  a  compound  which  takes  the  place 
of  a  metal  in  chemical  combinations  ;  these  are 
met  with  chiefly  in  organic  chemistry. 

Badical  metaphor.    (Metaphor.) 

Badical  quantity;  B.  sign.  (Math.)  The 
Radical  sign  is  the  sign  which  indicates  that  a  cer- 
tain root  is  to  be  extracted.  A  R.  quantity  is  a 
number  or  algebraical  expression  with  the  radical 
sign  prefixed  ;  thus,  ^157  is  a  radical  quantity, 
the  radical  sign  ( nj) — originally  r,  for  radix, 
root — prefixed  to  157  signifying  that  the  square 
root  is  to  be  extracted,  so  that  */i$7  denotes 
an  incommensurable  number  whose  square  is  157, 
and  which  is  very  nearly  equal  to  1 2 '53. 

Badical  reformers.  In  Eng.  Hist.,  an  indefi- 
nite name  applied  to  politicians  who  are  sup- 


posed to  wish  for  the  rooting  out  of  the  evils 
which  affect  the  commonwealth. 

Radicle.     (Plumule.) 

Badiometer.  [A  word  coined  from  L.  radius, 
a  ray  of  the  sun,  and  Gr.  fierpov,  measure.]  An 
instrument  for  showing  repulsion  by  radiation.  A 
glass  bulb  about  three  inches  in  diameter  has  in 
it  a  fine  glass  stem,  with  a  disc  of  pith  at  each 
end,  suspended  by  a  cocoon  fibre.  If  a  hot 
body  is  placed  outside  the  bulb  near  one  of  the 
discs  a  convexion  current  is  set  up  and  the  disc 
is  attracted.  If  now  the  air  is  progressively  ex- 
hausted, the  attraction,  though  enfeebled,  con- 
tinues ;  but  when  the  exhaustion  becomes  very 
perfect,  as  when  its  pressure  is  decidedly  below 
that  of  a  millimetre  of  mercury,  repulsion  takes 
place.  The  object  of  the  instrument  is  to  show 
this  repulsion.  Several  explanations  of  this  un- 
expected phenomenon  have  been  proposed.  The 
instrument  is  made  in  a  variety  of  forms.  Called 
also,  from  its  inventor,  Crookes's  radiometer,  and 
sometimes  a  Light-mill. 

Radius.     (Ulna.) 

Badius-vector.  [L.  vector,  one  that  carries. ,] 
(Math.}  If  we  suppose  a  line  to  revolve  round 
one  end,  its  other  end  may  be  made  to  trace  out 
any  curve  provided  its  length  is  duly  altered  ; 
such  a  line  is  the  R.-V.  of  the  point  which 
describes  the  curve.  The  fixed  point  is  \h&  pole. 
The  position  of  the  moving  point  at  any  instant 
is  defined  by  the  length  of  the  R.-V.  and  the 
angle  between  it  and  a  fixed  line  ;  these  are  the 
polar  co-ordinates  of  the  point.  In  Astron., 
the  R.-V.  of  a  planet  (or  satellite)  is  the  line 
joining  its  centre  to  that  of  the  sun  (or  primary). 

Badix.  [L.,  root.']  (Math.)  The  number 
which  serves  as  the  base  of  a  system  of  numbers ; 
thus  10  is  the  radix  or  base  of  the  ordinary 
system  of  numeration. 

Baffaelle  china,  Raffaelle  ware.     (Faience.) 

Baft.  [Akin  to  rafter.}  1.  (Mil.)  A  floating 
bridge  of  casks  or  boats,  for  conveying  troops  and 
guns  across  rivers.  2.  (Nattt.)  A  number  of 
timbers,  casks,  or  other  buoyant  objects,  lashed 
together  so  as  to  make  a  kind  of  float.  R.  -dog, 
a  broad  piece  of  iron  with  the  ends  pointed,  and 
bent  to  a  right  angle,  used  to  fasten  a  raft  to- 
gether. R.-port,  a  square  hole  in  the  stem  or 
stern,  for  loading  or  unloading  a  timber-ship. 

Bafts  of  the  Mississippi,  when  flooded  in 
spring-time.  Accumulations  in  certain  spots  of 
an  immense  number  of  trees  torn  up  and  carried 
down ;  one  has  been  known  no  less  than  ten 
miles  in  length.  (Floating  islands.) 

Bag,  Boach  (probably  corr.  from  Roche,  rock}, 
Bagstone.  (Gaol.)  A  coarse  limestone,  easily 
breaking  under  frost,  etc. ,  with  ragged  fracture. 

Bag-bolt.  An  iron  pin  with  barbs  on  its  shank 
to  hold  it  tight. 

Bagman  Boll.  A  name,  of  uncertain  origin, 
denoting  the  instrument  by  which  the  Scottish 
nobility  and  gentry  subscribed  allegiance  to 
Edward  I.,  in  1296. 

Bagule,  Baguly.  (Her.)  Ragged,  like  the 
trunk  of  a  tree  having  its  boughs  lopped  off. 

Baiah,  Bayah.  [Turk,  raia,  a  flock,  a  dog 
of  a  Christian.]  Mussulman  name  for  Christian 


RAID 


409 


RANG 


inhabitants  of  Turkey,  who  pay  the  capitation 
tax. 

Raid  of  Ruthven.  A  conspiracy  of  the  Earl 
of  Gowrie  and  others  against  James  VI.  of 
Scotland,  afterwards  James  I.  of  England, 

1583- 

Raiidae.  [L.  raia,  the  ray.'}  (Ichth.)  Fam. 
of  fish  of  sub-ord.  B&toidei  (rays),  without 
serrated  caudal  spine.  Temperate  and  tropical 
latitudes.  Ord.  Plagiostomata,  sub-class  Chon- 
dropte"rygii. 

Rail  (from  its  cry).  (Ornith.)  Fam.  of 
wading-birds ;  Rallidse.  Universally  distributed. 
Ord.  Grallse. 

Railroad  nomenclature  in  U.S.  Railway 
and  R.  station  are,  in  U.S.,  railroad  and  A'. 
depdt ;  engine-driver  and  stoker  are  engineer 
and  fireman;  carriage  and  luggage-van  are 
passenger-car  and  baggage-car ;  goods  train  is 
freight  train ;  line,  siding,  crossing  plate, 
points,  are  track,  turn-out,  frog,  switches. — 
Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Railway  mania.  The  excessive  speculation 
in  the  earlier  days  of  railway  construction  in 
this  country. 

Rainbow;  Lunar  R.;  Primary  R.;  Secondary 
R. ;  Spurious  R. ;  Supernumerary  R.  (Phys.) 
The  coloured  arch  seen  when  the  sunlight  falls 
on  a  spray  of  water,  and  particularly  on  a 
shower  of  rain  ;  it  is  due  to  the  sunlight  under- 
going internal  reflexion  within  the  spherical 
drops  of  rain.  The  Primary  rainbow  is  pro- 
duced by  the  rays  that  are  reflected  once  within 
the  rain-drop;  the  Secondary  R.,  which  is  exter- 
nal to  the  primary,  by  those  which  have  been 
reflected  twice  within  the  rain-drop.  As 
coloured  lights  tend  to  produce  arches  of 
different  radii,  the  colours  are  separated  in 
much  the  same  way  as  when  sunlight  passes 
through  a  glass  prism  ;  within  the  primary  and 
without  the  secondary  rainbow  are  often  seen  a 
succession  of  red  arches  with  intermediate 
colours ;  these  are  the  Spurious  or  Supernu- 
merary R.  A  Lunar  R.  is  formed  by  moon- 
light in  the  same  way  that  an  ordinary  rainbow 
is  formed  by  sunlight ;  but  its  colours  are  fainter, 
and  it  is  much  more  rarely  seen. 

Rain  cats  and  dogs.  Sailors  say,  "The  cat 
has  a  gale  of  wind  in  her  tail ;  "  and  in  old 
German  paintings  the  wind  is  represented  as  the 
head  of  a  dog  or  a  wolf.  Hence  ' '  to  rain  cats 
and  dogs"  denotes  a  downpour  of  rain  with  a 
violent  wind. 

Rain-gauge.  An  instrument  for  measuring 
the  depth  of  the  rainfall. 

Raised  beaches.     (Beaches.) 

Raison  d'etre.  [Fr.]  Lit.  the  reason  of  the 
existence  of  a  thing ;  the  purpose  it  is  intended 
to  fulfil ;  the  reason  why  it  is  what  it  is. 

Raja.  [From  Skt.  raj,  to  shine,  akin  to  L. 
rex,  regis,  a  king.]  The  title  of  the  hereditary 
Hindu  princes,  belonging,  or  supposed  to  belong, 
to  the  Kshatrya  or  warrior  Caste. 

Rake.  (Naut.}  1.  The  projection  of  both 
ends  of  the  ship's  body  away  from  the  keel.  2. 
The  inclination  of  masts  forward  or  aft.  8.  To 
R.  a  shipt  to  fire  along  her  whole  length. 


Rake,  Rake  vein.  [Ger.  ragen,  to  jut  otit] 
(Gcol.)  An  oblique  vein  of  ore. 

Raki.     A  common  Russian  brandy. 

Rakish  vessel.  (Naut.)  One  appearing 
formidable  or  suspicious,  and  a  swift  sailer. 

Rakshasas.  Evil  spirits  of  Hind.  Myth. 
Their  chief  was  Ravana,  who  stole  away  Sita 
the  wife  of  Rama.  (Ramayana,) 

Rallentando.     (Ritenuto.) 

Ralph  Roister  Doister.  The  oldest  English 
comedy,  written  by  Nicholas  Udall,  Head-Master 
of  Eton  College,  who  died  1564.  It  gives  a 
picture  of  contemporaneous  London  citizen  life. 

Ram,  generally  called  Battering-ram.  1. 
(Mil.}  It  consisted  of  a  large  beam  of  wood 
shod  with  a  piece  of  heavy  metal  in  the  shape 
of  a  ram's  head,  for  breaking  down  walls ; 
usually  suspended  by  ropes  or  chains  in  a  roofed 
frame  borne  on  wheels,  and  impelled  by  the 
protected  soldiers  inside  giving  it  a  swinging 
motion.  2.  (Naut.)  The  offensive  prow  of  an 
armour-clad  ship  of  war.  (Steam-ram.) 

Ramadan.  The  Mohammedan  Lent,  begin- 
ning with  the  new  moon  of  the  ninth  month  of 
the  year,  and  ending  on  the  day  preceding  the 
great  festival  of  Bairam. 

Ramayana.  [Skt.,  the  career  of  Rama.]  A 
great  Hindu  epic  poem,  describing  the  life  of 
Rama  and  his  wife  Sita,  and  his  expedition  to 
Ceylon  to  rescue  her  from  the  tyrant  Ravana. 

Ram  down  cartridge.  (Mil.}  The  old  word 
of  command  used  in  charging  any  muzzle-loaded 
musket. 

Ramequins,  Rammekins.  [Ger.  rahm,  cream, 
and  -chen,  a  dim.  suffix  (Littre).]  An  old 
word  lately  revived,  meaning  a  fondue. 

Ramists.  (Hist.)  The  followers  of  Pierre  de la 
Ramee,  Latinized  Ramus,  professor  of  rhetoric 
and  philosophy  at  Paris,  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
II.  He  was  killed  in  the  Massacre  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew. His  system  was  opposed  to  the 
Aristotelian  logic. 

Rampant.  [Fr.  ramper,  to  climb.'}  (Her.} 
Standing  upright,  with  the  feet  in  the  attitude 
of  an  animal  climbing, 

Rampart.  [Fr.  rempart  ;  se  remparer,  to 
fortify  one's  self.]  (Fortif.)  Mass  of  earth  in- 
closjng  a  fortified  place,  to  protect  the  interior 
and  to  give  the  guns  of  the  defenders  a  command 
over  the  besiegers. 

Rampe.  \?v.,  flight  of  stairs,  ascent,  ramper, 
to  creep.]  (Fortif.}  Gentle  earthen  ascent  used 
along  the  interior  slope  of  a  rampart. 

Ranch.  [Sp.  rancho,  originally  a  mess-room.] 
In  Sp.  Amer.,  a  rude  hut,  lodgings  for  herdsmen, 
etc.,  at  night ;  farming  establishment  with  many 
such  huts  ;  hacienda  [landed  estate]  being  a  culti- 
vated farm,  with  good  house. 

Rand.  [Ger.  rand,  a  rim.]  A  thin  inner 
sole  for  a  shoe. 

Randan.  (Nattt.)  Rowing  with  a  bow  and 
a  stroke  oar  and  a  pair  of  sculls  between  them. 

Random.  [O.E.  randon.]  (Min.)  The  depth 
below  a  given  surface  in  mining. 

Range,  To.  (Naut. )  To  sail  parallel  and  near 
to  anything. 

Ranger.    (Regarder.) 


RANK 


Bank,  in  Army  and  Navy. 

1.  Admiral  of  the  fleet      ranks  with  Field-marshal. 

2.  Admiral 

3.  Vice-admiral 

4.  Rear-admiral 

5.  Captain  of  the  fleet 

6.  Commodore 


7    Captain  of  3  years 
8.'  Captain  under  3  years 


or  to      Ditto. 


Q.  Commander  ranks  jun 

to.  Lieutenant  of  8  years  ranks  with  Major 


Lieutenant-general. 

Major-general. 

Brigadier-general. 

Colonel. 
Lieutenant-colonel. 


Captain. 
Lieutenant. 
Second  lieutenant. 


11.  Lieutenant  under  8  years 

12.  Sub-lieutenant 

13.  Midshipman 

Banters.  (Hist.)  Seceders  of  the  Wesleyan 
connexion,  on  the  ground  that  the  latter  lacked 
earnestness  in  street  and  field  preaching.  In 
England,  the  Primitive  Methodists  are  called 
Ranters. 

Kanz  des  vaches.  [Fr.,  Ger.  kuhreigen,  kuh- 
reihen,  the  call  to  the  cows.'}  The  tunes  used  by 
Swiss  herdsmen  in  driving  their  cattle  to  and 
from  pasture. 

Bapaces.  [L.,  rapacious.'}  (Ornith.)  I.g. 
Acctpitres  (q.v.). 

Bape.  [Perhaps  akin  to  rope,  like  the  Gr. 
ffxoivos,  which  is  both  a  rope  and  a  measure  of 
length."}  1.  A  territorial  division.  Sussex  is  the 
only  county  divided  into  rapes,  each  containing 
three  or  four  hundreds.  The  Norw.  repp  de- 
notes a  parish  district.  2.  The  refuse  of  raisins 
after  making  wine. 

Bap-full,  Keep  her.  (Naut.)  An  order  =  do 
not  let  her  sails  shake. 

Baphe.  [Gr.  parf,  a  seam.'}  1.  (Anat.)  A 
central  raised  line,  looking  as  if  the  parts  had 
been  sewn  together.  2.  (Sot.)  Line  of  commu- 
nication between  the  hilum  and  chalaza. 

Bapier.  [A  word  introduced  from  Spain.] 
A  long  narrow  sword  with  a  straight  handle. 

Bapparee.  A  term  common  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  denoting  a  wild  Irish  plunderer,  gene- 
rally armed  with  a  rapary,  or  half-pike. 

Bappee.  [Fr.  raper,  from  raper,  to  grate.\  A 
strong,  dark  snuff. 

Kapprochement.  [Fr.]  The  drawing  nearer 
to  each  other  ;  the  beginning  of  a  better  under- 
standing. 

Baptores.  [L.,  snatchers.}  (Ornith.)  I.q. 
Acdpitres  (q.v.). 

Bara  avis  in  terris  nigroque  simillima  cygno 
[L.]  A  very  rare  bird,  most  like  a  blach  swan 
(Ovid) — which  was  not  then  known  to  exist. 

Bascal  deer,  or  other  animals.  Lean,  worth- 
less ones.  [R.  =  refuse  scrapings  •  cf.  amongs 
other  forms,  It.  raschiare,  to  scrape,  as  if  from 
L.  rasiculare,  dim.  of  rado,  sup.  rasum.] 

Basee.  [Fr.  rasee,  scraped  or  shaved  down 
L.  rasus.]  (Naut.)  A  line-of-battle  ship  cu 
down  a  deck,  or  having  her  upper  works  reduced 
Baskolniks.  [Russ.,  schismatics."}  Dissenter: 
from  the  Greek  Church  in  Russia,  calling  them 
selves  Starowerzi,  Orthodox.  Their  difference 
seem  to  be  confined  to  outward  forms  and  dis 
cipline. 

Basores.    [L.,  scrapers^   (Ornith.)    (Gallinse. 
Basp.     [O.K.  raspe.]     A  coarse  file. 
Bat.    (Naut.)     1.  A  machine  concealed  in  an 
insured  vessel,  and  worked  by  her  motion,  wit 


RATT 

tie  criminal  purpose  to  scuttle  and  sink  her,  and 
o  secure  the  premium.  2.  A  current  chafing 
he  cable  against  sharp  rocks. 

Ratafia.      [Malay  arak,  arrack,    tafia,  white 
rum.  ]     A  kind  of  liqueur. 

Batchet  [Fr.  rochet];  B.-wheel.     A  Ratchet- 
wheel  has  teeth  of  which  the  one  face  is  in  the 
[irection  of  a  radius  and  the  other  slightly  in- 
lined  to  the  circumference.     Let  a  rod  move 
jackward  about  one  end,  and  to  the  other  let  an 
arm  or  link  be  loosely  attached,  an  end  of  which 
•ests  on  the  top  of  the  wheel ;  when  the  rod 
moves  back,  the  end  of  the  link  slides  over  a 
evel  face  of  the  tooth  and  falls  on  to  the  level 
ace  of  the  next  tooth  ;  but  when  the  rod  moves 
"or ward,  the  end  of  the  link  presses  against  the 
upright  face  of  the  tooth,  and  thus  drives  the 
wheel :  the  arm  or  link  is  called  a  Ratchet,  and 
sometimes  a  Paul  or  a  Click.     A  link  or  arm 
capable  of  moving  round  a  fixed  point  near  the 
op  of  the  wheel,  which  allows  the  level  face  of 
he  tooth   to   slide   under   it,    but   by   pressing 
against  the  upright  face  of  the  tooth  detains  the 
wheel  if  it  attempt  to  turn  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion, is  a  Detent,  but  it  is  also  called  a  R. 

Bate.  (Naut.)  The  old  classes  into  which 
men-of-war  were  divided  were :  First- R.,  100 
yuns  and  upwards,  ranging  from  42-pounders  on 
lower  deck  to  6-pounders  on  quarter-deck, 
carrying  850  men  or  more.  Second- R.,  90  to  100 
guns.  Third-R.,  80  to  84  guns,  the  smallest 
line-of-battle  ship.  Fourth-R.,  60  to  74  guns. 
Fifth-R.,  32  to  40  guns,  or  even  60  guns. 
Sixth- JR.,  carrying  any  lower  number,  or  none, 
but  commanded  by  a  captain.  '  Sloops,  ships 
commanded  by  a  commander. 

Batio.  [L.  rationem,  a  reckoning,  a  relation- 
ship.] The  relation  which  one  magnitude  bears 
to  another  of  the  same  kind  in  respect  of  quan- 
tity ;  thus  a  distance  of  five  miles  bears  to  a 
distance  of  two  and  three  quarter  miles  the  ratio 
of  20  to  ii.  The  first  term  is  the  antecedent, 
the  second  the  consequent. 

Ratiocination.        [L.     ratiocinatiSnem,    from 
ratio,  reason.]     The  act  or  process  of  deducing 
conclusions  from  premisses. 
Rationalists.     (Supranaturalists.) 
Batio  ultima  regum.   [L.]    The  last  argument 
of  kings  ;  i.e.  war. 

Batitae.  [L.  ratltus,  provided  with  a  raft, 
ratis.]  (Ornith.)  Birds  without  a  keel  to  the 
breast-bone ;  running-birds  which  cannot  fly,  as 
the  ostrich. 

Batlines,  or  Batlings.  (Naut.)  Small  lines 
fastened  across  the  shrouds,  like  rungs  of  a 
ladder,  parallel  with  the  deck. 

Battan.  [Malay  rotan.]  The  tough  stem  of 
an  Indian  plant  resembling  cane.  (Calamus.) 

Batteen.  [Fr.  ratine.]  A  thick  twilled 
woollen  stuff. 

Battinet.     A  thin  kind  of  ratteen. 
Battle.     The   sound  of   air  gurgling   in   the 
windpipe,  which,  especially  at  death,  the  lungs 
have  not  power  to  send  out. 

Battle  down  rigging,  or  Battle  the  shrouds,  To. 
(Naut.)  To  fix  the  ratlines  parallel  with  the 
deck. 


RAUC 


411 


KECO 


Raucity.  [L.  raucitatem.]  (Med.)  Hoarseness. 
Havana.    (Rakshasas.) 

Ravelin.  [Fr.,  from  It.  rivellino.]  (Mil.) 
Salient  work,  having  two  faces  sometimes  ter- 
minated by  flanks,  placed  in  front  of  the  curtain 
at  the  counterscarp  of  the  main  ditch  of  a  for- 
tress. 

Ravenna,  Exarchate  of.    (Exarch.) 
Ravensduck.     [Ger.   rabentuch,  from   raben, 
raven,  tuch,  cloth.}     A  kind  of  sail-cloth  (from 
its  colour). 

Ray.     [L.   radius,  a  staff,  spoke  of  a  wheel.] 
1.    (Geom.)    Any  one    of    a    number  of    lines 
diverging   from    a    point.      2.  (Phys.)     A  line 
along  which  light  or  radiant  heat  is  propagated. 
Rayah.    ( Raiah ;  Ryot. ) 
Razor-bill.      (Ornith.)     Spec,  of   auk,  Alca 
tarda,  resembling  the  common  guillemot.    (Guil- 
lemot.) 

Razor-shells.   (Zool.)    Nearly  oblong  bivalves; 
edible.     Temperate  and  tropical  seas.     Burrows 
in  the  sand.     Fam.  Solenidae,  class  ConchlfSra. 
Razzia.     [It.,  from  Ar.]    A  plundering  incur- 
sion, a  raid. 

Reach,  To.  (Naut.)  To  stand  off  and  on  ;  to 
sail  by  the  wind  on  one  tack. 

Reaction.  I.  (Math.)  When  two  bodies  (A  and 
B)  act  on  each  other  the  action  is  mutual ;  if 
the  force  exerted  by  A  on  B  is  regarded  as  the 
action,  the  force  exerted  by  B  on  A  is  the 
R.  In  most  cases  there  is  some  obvious  reason 
for  regarding  one  of  the  forces  as  the  action  ; 
thus  when  a  horse  draws  a  cart,  the  force 
exerted  by  the  horse  on  the  cart  would  be  called 
the  action,  that  exerted  by  the  cart  on  the  horse 
the  R.  2.  ( Chem. )  The  changes  produced  by  the 
mutual  action  of  two  substances  on  each  other. 

Reader.  One  who  corrects  the  proof-sheets 
of  a  printed  book. 

Reading  in.  In  the  Church  of  England,  the 
reading  of  Morning  and  Evening  Prayer,  and  of 
the  Thirty-nine  Articles,  by  a  newly  appointed 
incumbent. 

Reagent.  [L.  re-,  again,  ag£re,  to  act.'}  (Chem.} 
A  substance  used  to  discover  the  presence  of  other 
bodies  in  a  compound,  by  the  chemical  reaction 
which  takes  place. 

Reaggravation.  In  the  usage  of  the  Latin 
Church,  the  final  admonition  issued  before  ex- 
communication. 

Real.  [Sp.,  =  L.  regalis,  royal.}  The  legal 
money  of  account  in  Spain  ;  twenty  reals  equal 
one  duro  or  hard  dollar. 

Realgar.     [Sp.  rejalgar,  from  Ar.  rahdj-algar 
cavern  powder,  because   it  was   obtained   from 
silver-mines.]     (Chem.)     Bisulphide  of  arsenic, 
a  brilliant  red  pigment. 
Realists.    (Nominalists.) 
Reaming.    [Ger.  raumen,  to  dear  away.]    En 
larging  a  hole  in  metal. 
Rear-admiral.     (Rank.) 

Rearmouse,  Reremouse.  [O.E.  hrere-mus,  id.t 
hreran,  flutter  ;  cf.  flitter-mouse.]     The  bat. 
Rebate.     (Rabbet.) 

Rebec,  Rebeck.  [Ar.  rabab  (Littre).]  (Poet. 
A  viol ;  properly  a  three-stringed  instrument, 
Arabian  or  Turkish,  introduced  by  the  Moors 


nto  Spain  ;  played  with  a  bow  (Childe  Harold, 
I.  xlvi.). 

Rebecca  riots  broke  out  in  Wales,  1843,  hav- 
ng  for  their  object  the  abolition  of  tolls,  the 
destruction  of  turnpikes,  and  the  "  possession 
of  the  gate,"  like  the  "seed  of"  R.  !  (Gen. 
xxiv.  60). 

Rebellion,  The  Great.  (Eng.  Hist.}  A  name 
"or  the  revolt  of  the  Long  Parliament  against  the 
authority  of  Charles  I. 

Re-biting.  Restoring  worn  lines  in  an  engraved 
Dlate  by  acids. 

Rebus.  1.  The  representation  of  letters  and 
syllables  by  signs,  as  an  eye  and  a  ton  for 
Eyeton.  The  word  is  said  to  have  been  sug- 
gested by  squibs  or  satires  "de  rebus  quse 
jeruntur."  2.  (Her.}  A  coat  of  arms  which 
bears  an  allusion  to  the  name  of  the  owner,  as 
three  cups  for  Butler. 

Receiver.  1.  (Chem.}  A  vessel  for  receiving 
and  condensing  the  product  of  distillation.  2. 
The  glass  vessel  from  which  the  air  is  exhausted 
by  an  air-pump,  and  in  which  experiments  on 
a  vacuum  are  made. 

Recess  of  the  Empire.  (Hist.}  The  judicial 
name  for  the  decrees  of  the  German  Diet — per- 
haps as  being  pronounced  when  the  diet  was 
about  to  recede  or  separate. 

Rechabites.  (Jewish  Hist.}  The  followers  of 
Jonadab  the  son  of  Rechab,  who  charged  them 
to  plant  no  vines,  drink  no  wine,  and  build  no 
houses  (Jer.  xxxv.  6,  7). 

Rechauffage.  [Fr.]  A  warming  up,  or  a 
dressing  up  of  what  is  old. 

Recherche.    [Fr.]    Refiried ;  lit.  sought  afresh. 
In  Eng.  exquisite. 
Recipe.    (R.) 

Reciprocal.  [L.  reciprocus,  returning,  re- 
ciprocal.] (Arith.)  When  the  product  of  two 
numbers  is  unity,  either  is  the  R.  of  the  other  ; 
thus,  j,  is  the  R.  of  20. 

Recitative.  [It.  recitativo,  L.  rgcito,  I  recite.] 
Musical  recitation  or  declamation,  without  refer- 
ence to  time  or  rhythmical  melody  ;  existing  in 
Greek  music,  and  revived  it  is  said  by  Rinuccini, 
1594;  used  to  express  some  passion  or  relate 
some  event,  etc. ,  often  introductory  to  amelody  ; 
e.g.  "There  were  shepherds,"  in  the  Messiah. 

Reciting  note.  In  chanting,  the  first  note  of 
each  half  or  strain  of  a  chant ;  that  on  which 
syllables  few  or  many,  according  to  the  length 
of  the  half- verse,  are  sung.  (Mediation.) 

Reckon.  [A.  S.  recnan.]  As  in  Rom.  viii.  18  ; 
infer  surely  [Gr.  \oyi£o/j.at]. 

Reckoning,  ship's,  To  make  a.  (Naut.}  To 
ascertain  her  position  by  combining  her  known 
direction  and  distance  run  since  the  last  obser- 
vation, and  correcting  this  by  an  observation. 
Dead-reckoning,  when  uncorrected  by  observa- 
tion. 

Recluse.  The  general  term  for  all  persons 
dwelling  in  religious  houses.  (Coenobites ;  Her- 
mit.) 

Recognition.     In  Scot.  Law,  the  preliminary 

examination  of  witnesses,  in  order  to  determine 

whether  there  is  a  case  for  trial  or  commitment. 

Recollects  [Fr.,  L.  recollectus,  gathered  up,  as 


RECO 


412 


REDD 


for  religious  meditation]  were,  like  the  Obser- 
vants, a  reformed  body  of  the  Franciscan  order. 
(Orders,  Mendicant.) 

Beconnaissance.  [Fr.,  examination,  from  re- 
connaitre,  to  explore.}  (Mil.)  Examination  of 
any  theatre  of  operations  with  the  view  of  making 
accurate  plans  of  the  ground,  together  with 
written  reports  on  its  capabilities  for  military 
movements. 

Beconnoitre,  (Mil.)  To  make  a  reconnais- 
sance (q.v.). 

Becorder.  1.  At  first  probably,  persons  to 
whose  remembrance  or  record  of  what  had 
taken  place  in  judicial  proceedings  the  law  gave 
credit,  owing  to  their  official  or  personal  dignity. 
2.  The  chief  judicial  officer  in  a  borough  pos- 
sessing the  jurisdiction  of  a  court  of  record.  3. 
A  musical  instrument,  like  a  flageolet,  now  out 
of  use. 

Becrudescence.    [L.  recrudesce,  I  break  open 
afresh,  said  of  wounds.]     (Med.)     The  breaking 
open  afresh  of  wounds. 
Bectangle.    (Quadrilateral.) 
Beatification.     [L.   rectus,   right,    face're,    to 
make.]     1.    Refining   by  repeated   distillation. 
Rectified   spirits,   spirits   fifty  per  cent,    above 
proof.      2.    (Math.)     The   determination  of  a 
straight  line  of  the  same  length  as  the  arc  of  a 
curve  included  between  given  points. 

Rectilineal,  or  Bectilinear,  [L.  recti-llneus.] 
Consisting  of  or  bounded  by  straight  lines. 

Becto;  Verso.  In  early  printed  books,  the 
rz^/z/-hand  and  the  /<?/?-hand  pages  ;  R.  the  first 
page  of  the  leaf  lying  open,  V.  the  page  of  the 
leaf  when  turned  ;  R.  being  the  only  numbered 
pages. 

Bector.  [L.  rector,  sc.  ecclesise,  ruler  of  the 
church.]  (Eccl.)  Properly  the  person,  or  parson, 
who  has  charge  of  a  parish  church  and  is  pos- 
sessed of  the  great  tithes ;  but  as  these  were 
before  the  Reformation  often  appropriated  by 
religious  societies,  the  latter  appointed  a  vicar, 
with  the  small  tithes  as  his  remuneration. 

Bectum.  (Anat.)  Termination  of  the  large  in- 
testine, which  is  comparatively  straight\^L.  rectus]. 
Bectus in  curia.  [L.,  right  in  the  court. ,]  (Leg.) 
One  who  comes  out  of  court  with  clean  hands. 

Becuperative.  [L.  re'ciipero,  I  regain.]  (Med.) 
Effective  towards  recovery. 

Becurring  series.  (Arith.)  One,  each  of 
whose  terms  equals  a  fixed  number  of  preceding 
terms  each  multiplied  by  a  certain  constant; 
thus,  i,  5,  17.  53,  161,  etc.,  is  a  R.  S.,  for  any 
term  equals  the  excess  of  four  times  the  term 
before  it  above  three  times  the  term  but  one 
before  it ;  as,  161  =  4  X  53  —  3  X  17. 

Becursant.  [L.  recursantem,  part,  of  recursare, 
to  run  back.}  (Her.)  Of  an  eagle;  displayed 
with  its  back  towards  the  spectator. 

Becusants.  [L.  recusantes.]  In  Eng.  Hist., 
those  who  refused  to  acknowledge  the  royal 
supremacy  in  matters  ecclesiastical. 

Bedacteur.    [Fr.  ]    Editor  of  a  newspaper,  etc. 

Bedan.    [Fr.,  originally  a  toothed  work,  and 

spelt  Redent}     (Mil.)     Work  consisting  of  two 

faces,  forming  together  a  salient  angle,  and  open 

at  the  gorge. 


Bedargue.  [L.  redargue're,  from  re-,  red-, 
back,  arguere,  to  charge  with,  accuse]  To  argue 
against,  to  refute. 

Bed  Book  of  the  Exchequer.  A  register,  giving 
the  names  of  all  who  held  lands  per  baroniam 
under  Henry  II. 

Bed  Cross  Knight.  An  impersonation  of  Holi- 
ness, bk.  i.,  Faery  Queene ;  the  true  Saint 
George,  or  knightly  England,  doing  battle  for 
Una,  "a  lovely  ladie,"  i.e.  Truth  (see  canto 
x.  61). 

Bedemptorist.  (Eccl.)  A  religious  order,  also 
called  Liguorists,  as  founded  by  Liguori,  in 
Naples,  in  1732  ;  but  styling  themselves  members 
of  the  order  of  the  Holy  Redeemer.  Their 
chief  work  is  education. 

Bedintegration.  [L.  redintegratio,  -nem,  a 
renewal,  a  restoration.}  In  Moral  Phil.,  a  name 
proposed  for  what  is  generally  known  as  Associa- 
tion. "Thoughts  which  have  at  any  time,  recent 
or  remote,  stood  to  each  other  in  the  relation  of 
coexistence,  or  immediate  consecution,  do,  when 
severally  reproduced,  tend  to  reproduce  each 
other." — Fleming's  Student"1  s  Moral  Phil.,  p.  47. 

Bedolet  lucernam.  [L.]  It  smells  of  the  lamp; 
said  of  work  done  in  the  late  hours  of  the  night. 

Bed  orpiment.  Another  name  for  realgar  (q.v. ). 
(Orpiment.) 

Bedoubt.  [Fr.  redoute,  from  It.  ridotto.] 
(Mil.)  Any  closed  fortification,  the  parapet  of 
which  nowhere  forms  re-entering  angles  ;  gene- 
rally constructed  on  a  small  polygon.  (Beduit.) 

Bedshank.  (Ornith.)  Cosmopolitan  gen.  of 
wading-bird.  Totanius,  fam.  Scolopacidse,  ord. 
Grallse. 

Bedshort.    Brittle  when  red  hot. 

Bed  snow.  An  appearance  due  to  the  presence 
of  Protococcus  nivalis,  one  of  the  simplest  forms 
of  plant-life. 

Bed  spider.  (Entom.)  Erythrseus  telarius, 
spec,  of  mite  (Acarus),  troublesome  in  green- 
houses. 

Bed  tape.  An  excessive  stiffness  in  the  man- 
agement of  official  concerns  ;  servile  adherence  to 
precedent  and  to  routine.  (Circumlocution  Office.) 

Beductio  ab  absurdum,  [L.]  In  Geom.,  the 
proving  of  a  proposition  by  showing  that  the 
maintenance  of  the  contrary  is  an  absurdity. 

Beduction.  [L.  reductionem,  a  bringing 
\  down.]  1.  (Arith.)  The  process  of  expressing 
in  assigned  units  a  quantity  given  in  other  units  ; 
as  the  reduction  of  753  half-crowns  to  £  s.  d. 
2.  (Astron.)  The  process  of  applying  to  the 
place  of  the  observed  heavenly  body  as  read  off 
on  the  instruments  (supposed  perfect  and  in  per- 
fect adjustment),  five  distinct  and  independent 
corrections,  viz.  those  for  refraction,  parallax, 
aberration,  precession,  and  nutation.  3.  ( Chem. ) 
The  separation  of  a  metal  from  the  substances 
with  which  it  is  chemically  combined. 
^ Beduit  (same  word  as  Redoubt;  origin  L. 
reductus,  drawn  back).  (Mil.)  Inner  fortifica- 
tion for  prolonging  the  defence  and  securing  the 
retreat  of  the  defenders  when  its  outer  work  has 
been  taken. 

Beduplication.  [L.  reduplicationem,  a  dou- 
bling.] (Lang.)  The  repetition  of  a  sound  in 


REDW 


413 


REFR 


consecutive  syllables.  In  the  earliest  forms  of 
speech  most  words  exhibited  this  characteristic, 
which  is  seen  in  such  words  as  titillate,  cachinna- 
tion. 

Bed  wolf.  (Zoo!.)  Canis  Mexicanus  (Lin- 
naeus), C.  jiibatus  (Cuvier) ;  Agouara-gouarou, 
great  fox ;  Azara /  cinnamon-coloured,  short 
black  mane  along  back ;  solitary.  Marshes  of 
Trop.  America. 

Eeed.  1.  In  Music,  a  strip  of  metal  or  wood, 
formerly  of  reed,  set  vibrating  by  a  current  of 
air ;  not  itself  producing  sound,  but  dividing  the 
current  into  a  succession  of  rapid  puffs,  which 
produce  sound  ;  e.g.  oboe,  clarionet.  A  striking 
R.  beats  against  its  seat,  as  in  organ  generally ; 
^.free  R.,  as  in  harmonium,  passes  in  and  out  of 
the  opening.  2.  A  frame  of  parallel  flat  strips 
of  wood  through  which  the  warp-threads  pass  in 
weaving. 

Beef.  [Formerly  riff,  akin  to  rift.'}  A  line  of 
rocks  lying  just  above  or  just  below  the  surface 
of  the  sea. 

Keef  of  a  sail.  (Naut.}  A  portion  of  the 
sail  which  can  be  drawn  together  by  small 
cords.  R.-points,  reducing  the  size  of  the  sail. 
R. -lines,  lines  passed  through  the  eyelet-holes 
of  the  reef  and  over  the  head  of  the  sail,  to  aid 
sailors  when  reefing.  R.-band,  a  strip  of  canvas 
running  across  the  sail  to  strengthen  it  where 
the  eyelet-holes  are.  Close-reefed,  with  all  the 
reefs  of  the  topsails  taken  in.  Reefers,  midship- 
men. 

Re-entering.  Cutting  deeper  the  lines  of  an 
engraving  which  are  too  faint. 

Be-entering  angle.  1.  (Math.}  An  angle  of 
a  polygon  which,  measured  internally,  exceeds 
two  right  angles.  2.  (Fortif. )  One  which  recedes 
inwards  towards  a  fort  from  the  surrounding 
country. 

Beeve.  [A.  S.  gerefa.  ]  A  general  title  for  a 
ruler  or  governor ;  still  found  in  sheriff,  or  shire- 
reeve,  portreeve,  etc. 

Beeve.     (Zool.)     Female  of  Ruff(q.v.}. 

Beeve,  To.  (Naut.)  To  pass  the  end  of  a 
rope  through  a  block,  etc.  To  unreeve,  to  take  it 
out. 

Befectory.  [L.L.  refectorium,  from  reficio 
me,  /  refresh  myself J\  In  the  conventual  life, 
the  rooms  where  meals  are  taken  by  all  together. 

Referendaries.  [L.  referendus,  to  be  referred.] 
(Hist.)  Officers  whose  duty  it  was  to  draw  up 
and  despatch  diplomas  and  charters. 

Beflecting  circle.  (Math.)  An  instrument 
constructed  on  the  same  principle  as  a  sextant, 
but  such  that  angles  can  be  read  on  it  round  the 
whole  circumference  of  a  circle  from  o°  up  to 
360°,  instead  of  only  from  o°  up  to  about  120°. 

Reflector.  The  mirror  of  a  reflecting  tele- 
scope. 

Reflex.  [L.  reflexus.]  Illuminated  by  light 
reflected  from  another  part  of  the  same  picture. 

Beflex,  or  Excito-xnotory,  action.  (Physiol.) 
1.  When  an  afferent  nerve  stimulated  produces 
motion  in  a  muscle  supplied  by  an  efferent,  the 
mind  taking  no  part ;  e.g.  coughing,  swallowing 
(see  Carpenter's  Mental  Physiology,  pp.  46,  et 
seqq.}.  2.  Similarly,  action,  not  produced  by 


volition  or  emotion,  but  by  prepossessed  mind ; 
e.g.  an  acted  dream. 

Beflexion  [L.  reflexionem,  a  bending  back} ; 
Law  of  B.  The  return  of  rays  of  light,  heat, 
etc. ,  from  the  surface  on  which  they  strike.  The 
Law  of  R.  is  the  following  : — If  a  perpendicular 
to  the  surface  is  drawn  from  the  point  of  inci- 
dence, the  incident  and  reflected  rays  are  in  the 
same  plane  with  the  perpendicular  and  are 
equally  inclined  to  it  on  opposite  sides ;  or,  the 
angles  of  incidence  and  reflexion  are  equal. 

Befocillate.  [L.  refocillare,  from  re-,  again, 
focillare,  to  revive  by  -warmth,  focus,  a  heart  h!\ 
To  refresh,  strengthen. 

Reformatio  Legum  Ecclesiastical-urn.  [L.]  A 
revision,  by  Cranmer,  A.D.  1552,  of  Eccl. 
law,  with  fifty-one  titles,  after  the  manner  of 
Justinian's /?*£?.$•/;  an  attempt  to  accommodate 
the  Canon  laws,  or  to  substitute  better ;  never 
enacted. — Blunt,  Reformation. 

Beformed  Presbytery.     (Macmillanites.) 

Reformers.  (Calvinists;  Lutherans;  Syncre- 
tists;  Zuinglians.) 

Befraction  [L.  refractiSnem,  a  breaking  off\ ; 
Angle  of  B. ;  Astronomical  B. ;  Atmospheric  B. ; 
Conical  B. ;  Double  B. ;  Extraordinary  B. ;  Index 
of  B. ;  Law  of  B. ;  Ordinary  B. ;  Terrestrial  B. 
The  change  in  the  direction  of  a  ray  of  light 
when  it  passes  out  of  vacuum  into  a  transparent 
medium ;  it  also  takes  place  when  light  passes 
from  one  medium  into  another,  and  when  the 
density  of  the  same  medium  varies.  If  a  perpen- 
dicular to  the  surface  of  the  medium  is  drawn 
from  the  point  of  incidence,  the  incident  and 
refracted  rays  are  in  the  same  plane  with  and  on 
opposite  sides  of  it,but  the  refracted  ray  is  inclined 
to  it  at  a  less  angle  than  the  incident  ray ;  the 
former  of  these  angles  is  the  Angle  of  R. ,  the 
latter  the  angle  of  incidence.  The  Law  of  R.  is 
the  fact  that  the  sine  of  the  angle  of  incidence 
bears  a  constant  ratio  to  the  sine  of  the  angle  of 
R. ;  the  numerical  value  of  that  constant  for  a 
given  medium  when  the  light  passes  out  of 
vacuum  into  the  medium  is  the  Index  of  R.,  or 
the  Refractive  index,  of  that  medium.  In  most 
crystallized  media  the  incident  ray  is  divided 
into  two  refracted  rays,  of  which  in  some  crystals 
one  and  in  others  both  are  refracted  according  to 
a  law  more  complicated  than  that  above  stated  ; 
this  is  Double  R.  If  the  ray  is  refracted  accord- 
ing to  the  law  above  stated,  it  undergoes  Ordi- 
nary R.,  if  not,  Extraordinary  R.  In  some 
crystals,  when  the  ray  enters  them  in  a  certain 
determinate  direction,  it  forms  a  conical  surface 
of  rays  instead  of  only  two  rays  ;  this  is  Conical 
R.  When  a  ray  of  light  from  a  heavenly  body 
passes  into  the  atmosphere,  it  undergoes  refrac- 
tion, and  consequently  the  heavenly  body  ap- 
pears nearer  the  zenith  than  its  true  position; 
this  is  Atmospheric  R.,  or  Astronomical  R.  At- 
mospheric R.  also  occurs  in  the  case  of  light 
coming  from  distant  terrestrial  objects  on  account 
of  variations  in  the  density  of  the  intervening 
air  ;  this  is  Terrestrial  R. 

Refractive  index.     (Befraction.) 

Befractory.  [L.  refractarius,  stttbbom.] 
(Chem.)  Difficult  to  fuse  by  heat. 


REFR 


414 


REIG 


Eefrain.  [O.Fr.  refrainer,  L.  refringere,  to 
breakup.}  (Music.)  The  burden  of  a  song, 
the  phrase  or  verse,  which,  recurring,  breaks  it 
into  equal  parts. 

Befresher.  In  Law,  an  additional  fee  paid  to 
a  counsel  when  a  cause  is  not  heard  in  the  term 
for  which  it  was  set  down. 

Eefresliment  Sunday.  Mid-Lent  Sunday, 
the  Fourth  Sunday  in  Lent ;  the  Gospel  being 
John  vi.  i,  etc.  (Simnel  bread.) 

Befrigeratory.  [L.  refrlgeratorius,  cooling.'} 
A  vessel  of  cold  water  for  condensing  the  vapours 
from  a  still. 

Eefuge,  Cities  of.  In  Jewish  Hist.,  six  cities 
to  which  those  might  fly  who  had  caused  acci- 
dental homicide.  The  deliberate  murderer  was 
to  be  handed  over  to  the  avenger  of  blood. 
— Josh.  xx. 

Be  galantuomo.  [It.]  A  title  sometimes 
applied  to  the  King  of  Italy,  as  a  gallant  leader 
and  statesman. 

Begale  [L.],  i.e.  jus.  The  royal  right  by 
which  kings  of  France  enjoyed  the  revenues  and 
patronage  of  bishoprics. 

Begal  fishes.    (Boyal  fishes.) 

Begalia.  [L.,  royal  things.}  In  Eng.  Hist., 
the  royal  insignia  and  Crown  jewels. 

Begals.  Small  portable  organs  used  in  the 
Middle  Ages,  often  represented  in  paintings  as 
carried  by  angels  or  saints. 

Begard,  Court  of.    (Forest  courts.) 

Begardant.  '[Fr.,  looking  at. ~\  (Her.)  Looking 
back  towards  the  sinister  side  of  the  escutcheon. 

Begarder.  The  old  title  for  the  ranger  of  a 
forest. 

Begelation.  [L.  r^gelatiSnem,  in  a  new 
sense,  =  freezing  again,  not  its  proper  sense  of 
thawing.]  When  two  pieces  of  ice  with  mois- 
tened surfaces  are  placed  in  contact,  they  become 
cemented  by  the  freezing  of  the  film  of  water 
between  them,  even  when  the  surrounding 
medium  has  a  temperature  above  32°  Fahr.  ;  this 
is  the  R.  of  ice,  or  Regelation. 

Begent,  The  Good.  Name  sometimes  given  to 
the  Earl  of  Murray,  prime  minister  and  adviser 
of  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  1561. 

Begent  Masters.  Formerly  in  universities,  a 
term  for  graduates  privileged  to  give  public  lec- 
tures in  the  schools,  and  bound  to  deliver  such 
within  a  certain  period  after  their  degree. 
(Faculty.) 

Begest.  [L.  regesta,  things  recorded.}  A 
record ;  hence  the  altered  form  registrum,  Fr. 
regitre,  register. 

Begifuglum.  [L.,  the  king's  flight.]  In 
Rom.  Hist.,  a  festival  said  to  have  been  insti- 
tuted to  commemorate  the  expulsion  of  Tar- 
quinius  Superbus.  (Sibylline  books.) 

Begister,  To.  [L.  regesta,  things  recorded.}  To 
correspond  in  relative  position,  line  for  line,  as 
the  columns  or  pages  of  a  printed  sheet. 

Begister,  Lord,  or  Lord  Clerk  Begister.  A 
Scottish  State  officer  who  has  charge  of  the 
archives,  and  is  thus  called  also  Gustos  Rolu- 
lorum. 

Begister  of  voice.  [L.L.  registrum.]  Its 
compass  :  Lower  R.,  or  Chest  voice,  that  which 


comes  out  freely  and  naturally  ;  Upper  R.,  Fal- 
setto, or  Head  voice,  produced  by  strained  con- 
traction of  the  glottis,  is  of  a  higher  pitch,  flute- 
like,  but  not  so  open  and  impressive  j  Middle 
R. ,  such  notes  of  chest  voice  as  may  be  produced 
by  falsetto. 

Begister-ship.  A  Spanish  galleon  or  plate- 
vessel. 

Begium  Donum.  [L.,  royal  gift.}  (Hist.) 
A  yearly  grant  of  money  for  maintaining  the 
Presbyterian  clergy  in  Ireland,  instituted  in 
1690  by  William  III. 

Begius  morbus.  [L.,  the  king's  evil.}  Scro- 
fula, which  was  supposed  to  be  cured  by  the 
touch  of  the  king's  hand. 

Begius  professors.  [L.]  In  the  universities 
of  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  the  professors  whose 
chairs  were  founded  by  Henry  VIII. 

Beglets.  [Fr.  reglette,  dim.  of  regie,  a  rule.} 
In  Printing,  thin  parallel  wooden  furniture 
(q.v.\  made  to  the  thickness  of  any  type  from 
pearl  upward,  to  separate  the  lines  of  type  more 
widely. 

Begrating,  or  Forestalling.  An  offence  of 
the  common  law,  that  of  buying  or  getting  into 
one's  hands  at  a  fair  or  market  any  provisions, 
corn,  or  other  dead  victual,  with  the  intention  of 
selling  the  same  there,  or  within  four  miles,  at  a 
higher  price  :  he  who  does  this  thing  being  a 
Regrator.  (To  regrate  is  to  scrape  or  dress 
cloth,  etc.,  so  as  to  sell  it  again.) — Brown,  Law 
Dictionary. 

Regular  solid.    (Polyhedron.) 

Begulars.  [L.  regula,  a  rule.}  In  the  Latin 
Church,  those  who  bind  themselves  to  the  vows 
of  poverty,  chastity,  and  obedience,  under  a  fixed 
rule,  as  of  St.  Benedict,  or  any  other ;  as  opposed 
to  Seculars,  for  instance  parish  priests,  who  live 
in  the  world  and  are  bound  only  to  celibacy. 

Begular  body.    (Polyhedron.) 

Begular  system.  (Crystallog.)  The  octahe- 
dral system  (q.v.). 

Begulating  Act,  1773,  of  Lord  North's  Minis- 
try, made  important  changes  in  the  government 
of  India.  The  Presidency  of  Bengal  was  to 
exercise  a  control  over  the  other  possessions  of 
the  East  India  Company  ;  the  chief  to  be  styled 
Governor-general,  and  to  be  assisted  by  four 
councillors;  a  Supreme  Court  of  Judicature, 
independent  of  G.-G.,  to  be  established  at  Cal- 
cutta, having  a  chief  justice  and  three  inferior 
judges  ;  Warren  Hastings  appointed  G.-G.  for 
five  years. 

Begulus.  [L.,  a  little  king.}  (Chem.)  The 
pure  metal  which  in  the  melting  of  ores  falls  to 
the  bottom  of  the  crucible. 

Begur.  The  name  of  the  cotton-growing  soil 
of  India. 

Beichofsrath.    (Aulic  Council.) 

Beichskammergericht.     (Aulio  Council.) 

Beichsrath.  [Ger.,  council  of  the  kingdom.} 
The  German  Parliament.  (Aulic  Council.) 

Beichstadt.  [Ger.]  A  free  city  of  the  em- 
pire. (Hanseatic  League.) 

Reichstag.     (Diet.) 

Beign  of  Terror.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  the  term 
applied  to  the  period  of  the  worst  excesses  of 


REIM 


415 


REMP 


the  first  revolution.  It  may  be  set  down  roughly 
as  the  time  between  October,  1793,  when  the 
Girondists  fell,  to  July,  1794,  when  Robespierre 
and  his  associates  were  put  to  death. 

Keim.  A  strip  of  ox-hide  used  for  twisting 
into  ropes,  etc. 

Reinecke  Fuchs.  A  popular  German  epic 
poem,  first  known  in  a  Low-German  version  in 
the  fifteenth  century,  relating  the  adventures  of 
the  fox  scheming  his  way  to  favour  at  the  court 
of  the  lion  by  sheer  cunning  and  hypocrisy. 
The  poem  is  thus  a  satire  on  the  intrigues  and 
the  iniquities  of  courts. 

Re  iufecta.  [L.,  the  thing  being  unfinished. ,] 
Without  accomplishing  a  purpose  intended.  In 
Gr.,  &irpaKToi. 

Beinforce  a  gun.  In  Eng.  formerly,  and  in 
America  now,  to  strengthen  it  about  the  breech. 

Reis,  Bais,  or  Bas.  [Ar.,  head,  or  prince.]  A 
general  title  of  dignity  given  to  captains  of  ships, 
etc.  Sometimes  joined  with  Effendi,  and  thus  a 
tautology. 

Belters.  German  cavalry  of  the  fourteenth 
and  fifteenth  centuries. 

Kelapsed.  [L.  relapsus,  part,  of  relabor,  I  fall 
back.]  A  term  denoting  those  who  have  fallen 
back  into  errors  previously  abjured.  (Mon- 
tanists;  Novatians.) 

Belapsing  fever,  once  known  as  Five-day  F. , 
Seven-day  F,,  Mild  yellow  F.  (Med.)  A  con- 
tinued F.,  chiefly  epidemic,  attacking  the  ill 
fed,  marked  by  abrupt  relapses  ;  one  of  the  con- 
tinued fevers  known  in  this  country,  the  others 
being  typhus  and  typhoid. 

Relative  keys.  (Music. )  If  any  note  of  the 
common  chord  of  a  key  occurs  in  the  scale  of 
another  key,  the  former  is  said  to  be  related  to 
the  latter.  Thus  to  the  key  of  F  major,  the 
keys  of  G  minor,  A  minor,  Bj?  major,  C  major, 
and  D  minor  are  related. 

Belative  pronoun.  In  Gram.,  a  part  of  speech 
which  may  represent  any  noun  or  pronoun,  and 
makes  the  clause  which  it  introduces  practically 
adjectival. 

Belative  terms.  (Log.)  Words  implying  a 
relation,  as  father  and  son,  king  and  subject. 
(Correlation.) 

Belay.  A  magnet  which  transmits  the  circuit 
current  to  a  local  battery,  called  the  relay 
battery. 

Relevant.  [Fr.]  Pertaining  to,  properly 
applicable  to,  an  argument,  etc. 

Belief.    (Mezzo-relievo.) 

Belief.  [Fr.  relief,  L.  releVare,  to  raise  up.] 
1.  Of  a  fortification,  the  total  height  from  the 
bottom  of  a  ditch  to  the  top  of  the  parapet.  2. 
Those  of  the  guard  who  go  round  to  change 
sentries. 

Relief  Church.    (Marrow  Controversy.) 

Belief  Synod.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  body  of  Pres- 
byterians, who,  protesting  against  the  mode  in 
which  lay  patronage  was  exercised  in  the  Estab- 
lished Church,  set  up  the  Secession  Church  and 
the  Relief,  1752. 

Beiiglo  Laici,  The  Religion  of  a  Layman. 
Bryden's  work,  exhibiting  the  struggles  which 
ended  in  his  becoming  a  Roman  Catholic. 


Beligio  loci.  [L.]  The  religion  of  the  place. 
The  special  feelings  of  awe  or  of  affection  called 
forth  by  any  particular  spot. 

Beligio  Medici,  published  1642.  A  kind  of 
confession  of  faith,  with  which  other  matters  are 
intermixed,  by  Sir  Thomas  Browne,  physician, 
antiquary,  and  philosopher,  of  Norwich. 

Beligiosorum,  De  Asportatis.  One  of  the 
chief  of  the  statutes  intended  to  check  the 
aggressions  of  the  papacy,  35  Edward  I.,  which 
forbids  "alien  priors"  assessing  taxes  or  with- 
drawing money  on  that  head  out  of  England. — 
Brown,  Law  Dictionary.  (Provisors;  Prae- 
munire.) 

Beligious  Orders.     (Orders,  Beligious.) 

Beliquary.  A  receptacle  for  relics,  generally 
of  small  size  ;  as  distinguished  from  a  case  [Fr. 
chasse],  which  may  contain  a  whole  body. 

Beliquiae.     [L.]     Remains  of  the  dead,  relics. 

Belume.  [O.Fr.  relumer,  to  light  again.} 
To  rekindle. 

Bema,  or  Beuxne.  [(?)  Gr.  /iev/ia,  stream, 
flood.}  The  tide. 

Bern  acu  tetigisti.  [L. ,  lit.  thou  hast  touched 
the  matter  with  a  needle-point  (Plautus).]  You 
have  hit  the  nail  on  the  head. 

Remainder.  (Leg.)  A  remnant  of  an  estate 
in  land,  depending  upon  a  particular  prior  estate, 
created  at  the  same  time  and  by  the  same  instru- 
ment, and  limited  to  arise  immediately  on  the 
determination  of  that  estate.  Kent. 

Bemauet.  [L.,  it  remains  behind.]  (Leg.)  A 
name  given  to  causes,  the  trial  of  which  is 
deferred  from  one  sitting  to  another. 

Bemberge.  (Naut.)  An  O.  E.  war-vessel, 
long  and  narrow,  and  propelled  with  oars. 

Remblai.     (Deblai.) 

Remembrancers.  Certain  officers  of  the  Court 
of  Exchequer,  and  of  some  corporations,  with 
various  functions. 

Remiges.  [L.,  rowers.]  (Ornith.)  The  quill 
feathers  of  a  bird's  wing. 

Reminiscence.     (Pre-existence.) 

Remoboth.     (Sarabaites.) 

Remonstrance,  The.  (Hist.)  A  document, 
recapitulating  the  grievances  of  the  kingdom, 
presented  to  Charles  L,  November,  1641. 

Remonstrants.     ( Arminians. ) 

Remora.  [L.,  (i)  delay,  (2)  the  fish  echeneis, 
Gr.,  ship-stopping.]  Ech£neis  [Gr.  ^xe-irjfs, 
from  ex*"*  to  hold,  vavs,  a  ship],  Sucking-fish, 
(fchth.)  Various  spec,  of  marine  fish  with  lami- 
nated cartilaginous  plate  on  its  head,  by  which 
it  adheres  to  external  objects,  as  the  bottoms 
of  ships,  producing  a  vacuum  by  erecting  the 
laminae  ;  fabled  thus  to  stop  ships,  hence  its 
Gr.  and  L.  names.  The  spec,  vary  in  size, 
from  eight  inches  to  two  feet.  Gen.  NaucrStes 
[cauKpaTTjs,  from  vavs,  a  ship,  Kpareu,  to  hold], 
fam.  Scombridae,  ord.  Acanthopterygii,  sub-class 
Teleostel. 

Remount.  (Mil. )  Horse  supplied  for  train- 
ing for  the  cavalry  service. 

Remphan.  A  god  woi-shipped  by  the  Israel- 
ites in  the  wilderness,  the  name  being  probably 
an  Egypt,  equivalent  substituted  by  the  Sep 
tuagint  for  Chiun,  or  the  Dog-star. 


REMP 


416 


RESG 


Bemplissage.  [Fr.,  from  remplier,  to  fill  up.} 
1.  (Music.)  Intermediate  parts.  2.  Generally, 
as  to  literary  style,  mere  padding. 

Renaissance.  [Fr.,  a  revival,  renewal.]  (Arch.) 
A  name  for  the  style  which  sought  to  reproduce 
the  forms  of  Greek  or  so-called  classical  orna- 
mentation. The  growth  of  this  style  may  have 
been  a  consequence  of  the  revival  of  letters,  but 
it  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  movements  which 
ended  in  the  Reformation.  The  term  itself  has 
been  very  loosely  used  to  denote  various  styles, 
which  have  very  little  in  common.  Many  Re- 
naissance buildings  are  classical  only  in  their 
details,  their  form  and  spirit  being  entirely 
Gothic,  as  the  Church  of  St.  Eustace,  Paris,  and 
of  the  Annunziata  at  Genoa. 

Renal  (Anat.)  Pertaining  to  the  kidneys 
[L.  renes]. 

Renardus  Vulpes.    (Reinecke  Fuchs.) 

Render,  To.  (Naut.)  To  yield  to  force 
applied. 

Rendering.  [Fr.  rendre.]  Boiling  down  and 
clarifying. 

Renegade.    (Runagate.) 

Reniform.  [L.  renes,  kidneys,  forma,  shape. ] 
(Anat.,  Bot.,  Mm.)  Kidney-shaped ;  so,  e.g. 
the  leaf-blades  of  some  plants  are  called. 

Rennet.  [A.S.  rennan,  to  curdle.}  The  pre- 
pared inner  surface  of  the  calf  s  fourth  stomach 
for  curdling  milk. 

Rentes.  [Fr.]  The  Fr.  equivalent  to  our 
Government  Funds  [L.  rendlta,  rent],  rendere 
being  a  nasalized  form  of  reddere. 

Rentier.  [Fr.]  One  who  has  an  income  from 
stocks,  or  Rentes. 

Rep.  A  kind  of  stuff  having  a  fine  cord-like 
substance. 

Repeater.  A  watch  that  strikes  the  hours  at 
the  touch  of  a  spring. 

Repeating  decimal.     (Decimal.) 

Repeat  signals,  To.  (Naut.)  To  hoist  on 
another  vessel  the  admiral's  signals,  so  as  to 
transmit  them  to  distant  vessels. 

Repertory.  [L.  repertorium,  from  reperio, 
7  open.]  A  storehouse ;  a  place  where  things 
stowed -away  can  easily  be  found,  as  an  index. 

Repetend.    (Decimal.) 

Replevin.  In  Law,  a  personal  action  which 
lies  to  try  the  validity  of  a  distress,  or  to  recover 
goods  unlawfully  distrained.  (Distress.) 

Replica.  [It.]  A  copy  of  a  painting,  made 
by  the  painter  of  the  original  picture. 

Replum.  [L.,  a  central  rail  against  which 
folding  doors  both  close,  repleo,  I  fill  up. ~\  (Bot.) 
The  partition  through  the  length  of  the  fruit  of 
Crucifers,  to  which  the  seeds  are  attached  ;  e.g. 
wallflower. 

Reporting  progress.  If,  in  a  Committee  of 
the  (whole)  House  of  Commons,  a  debate  be 
not  finished,  or  matters  referred  to  it  not  fully 
considered,  the  Chairman  "  is  directed  to  report 
progress,  and  ask  leave  to  sit  again."  In  the 
Lords,  when  any  peer  moves  that  the  House  be 
"resumed,"  the  Chairman  of  Committees  moves 
that  "  the  House  be  in  Committee  on  a  future 
day." 

Repousse.    [Fr.,  pushed  back.]     Ornamental 


metal  work  in  relief,  produced  by  beating  the 
metal  from  the  back. 

Reprisal.     (Marque,  Letters  of.) 

Reprobation.  [L.  reprobatio,  -nem,  disap- 
proval, rejection.]  (Theol.)  A  term  denoting 
the  Supralapsarian  theory  respecting  the  destiny 
of  man.  (Sublapsarians.) 

Reprove.  Job  vi.  25  ;  disprove  [L.  reprobare, 
/  reject], 

Repsilver.  [Reapsilver.]  Money  paid  for- 
merly by  tenants  to  be  quit  of  the  service  of 
reaping  the  lord's  corn  or  grain. 

Reptilia,  Reptiles.  [L.,  creeping,  repo,  / 
creep.]  (Herpetology.) 

Republicans.  In  the  politics  of  the  United 
States,  those  who  resisted  the  extension  of 
slavery ;  the  pro-slavery  party  being  styled 
Democrats. 

Request,  Letters  of.  An  instrument  by  which 
an  inferior  ecclesiastical  judge,  waiving  his  own 
right,  remits  a  case  to  the  judge  of  a  superior 
court  for  determination  ;  under  the  Statute  of 
Citations,  23  Henry  VIII. 

Requests,  Court  of.  1.  A  court  of  equity, 
inferior  to  the  Court  of  Chancery  ;  abolished  in 
the  time  of  Charles  I.  2.  Local  courts  for  the 
recovery  of  small  demands ;  now  superseded  by 
the  County  courts. 

Requiem.  1.  In  the  Latin  Church,  a  Mass 
for  the  repose  of  the  dead ;  so  called  from  the 
prayer,  "  Requiem  seternam  dona  eis,  Domine," 
Lord,  grant  them  eternal  rest.  2.  Incorrectly, 
a  musical  performance  in  honour  of  illustrious 
men  deceased. 

Requiescat  in  pace.  [L.]  May  he  r&t  in 
peace ;  appended  to  epitaphs  under  the  initial 
letters  R.I.P. 

Requisition.  (Mil.)  The  enforcement  of  sup- 
plies from  the  inhabitants  of  a  country.  (Indent.) 

Reredos.  [Fr.  arriere-dos,  from  L.  dorsum, 
the  back.]  (Arch.)  A  screen  behind  an  altar. 
In  Winchester,  Durham,  and  St.  Albans,  these 
screens  are  magnificent,  but  so  large  as  to  inter- 
fere with  the  general  view  of  the  choir. 

Rereward.  Numb.  x.  25,  and  elsewhere ; 
rear-ward,  i.e.  rear-guard. 

Res  angusta  domi.  [L.]  Stinted  means  at 
home  ;  poverty  (Juvenal). 

Resch  Glutha.    (JEchmalotarch.) 

Rescissory  Act.     (Covenanters.) 

Reseda.  [L.  resedo,  /  assuage,  heal*]  (Bot.) 
Rocket ;  herbaceous  plant ;  several  spec.  ;  typ. 
of  ord.  Resedaceoe ;  R.  odorata,  mignonette,  a 
popular  garden  annual. 

Reservation.  [L.  reservationem.]  In  the 
Latin  Church,  the  retention  of  the  consecrated 
host  for  subsequent  administration. 

Reserve.  [L.  reserve,  I  keep  back.]  (Theol.) 
The  system  which  would  set  before  the  people 
only  such  truths  as  they  are  considered  able  to 
comprehend  or  receive  to  their  benefit.  Also 
called  the  Economy.  (Arcani  Discipline.) 

Reset  of  theft.  The  Scottish  term  for  the 
receiving  of  stolen  goods,  knowing  them  to  be 
stolen. 

Res  gestae.  [L.,  things  done.]  Transactions, 
exploits. 


KESI 


417 


RETI 


Residuary  legatee.  In  Law,  the  person  to 
whom,  after  other  bequests  specified,  the  residue 
of  an  estate  is  bequeathed. 

Besilience.  [L.  resilio,  /  spring  back.  ]  The 
power  of  a  body  to  recover  its  form  when 
strained ;  measured  by  the  product  of  the 
greatest  strain  it  can  undergo  with  safety  arid 
the  mean  force  (or  stress)  required  to  produce 
that  strain. 

Resinous  electricity.  Negative  electricity 
(because  excited  by  rubbing  resinous  bodies). 

Eesipiscence.  [L.  resipiscentia,  from  resipisco, 
/  recover  sense.  ]  Wisdom  gained  by  experience  ; 
repentance. 

Resist.  (Ghent.)  A  substance  used  to  prevent 
a  dye  from  colouring  any  but  the  required 
parts. 

Resistance,  Solid  of  least.  The  solid  of  revo- 
lution which,  standing  on  a  given  circular  base 
and  having  a  given  height,  will  in  moving  through 
a  fluid  in  the  direction  of  its  axis  experience  the 
least  resistance. 

Resolution  [L.  resolutio,  -nem,  a  loosening] ; 
R.  of  a  force ;  R.  of  a  nebula ;  R.  of  a  velocity. 
To  find  two  forces  (or  velocities)  equivalent  to  a 
single  force  (or  velocity)  is  to  find  the  Resolution 
of  that  force  or  velocity.  When  certain  nebulae 
are  examined  through  a  very  powerful  telescope, 
they  are  found  to  consist  of  a  congeries  of  dis- 
tinct points  of  light ;  this  is  the  R.  of  such 
nebulce. 

Resolution  of  a  discord.  (Music. )  The  move- 
ment upwards  or  downwards  of  a  discordant 
note,  by  which  a  discord  is  resolved  into  a  con- 
cord ;  indicating  the  particular  place  to  which 
the  discordant  note  must  move. 

Resonance.  [L.  resonantia,  an  echo.]  The 
prolongation  or  strengthening  of  a  sound  by 
the  sympathetic  vibration  of  bodies  other  than 
that  which  produces  the  sound. 

Resonator.  [L.  resono,  act.  and  neut.,  1  re- 
echo.] A  small  hollow  globe  of  thin  brass  or 
glass,  made  of  such  dimensions  that  the  air  with- 
in it  may  vibrate  sympathetically  in  unison 
with  some  definite  tone.  By  means  of  a  set  of 
resonators,  a  musical  note  can  be  analysed  audibly 
into  a  fundamental  tone  and  the  harmonics 
which  give  it  its  quality,  each  R.  strengthening 
one  particular  harmonic. 

Respectant.     (Her.}    Aspectant. 

Respice,  aspice,  prosplce.  [L.]  Look  back, 
look  on,  look  forward  (St.  Bernard).  (Norns.) 

Respice  finem.  [L.]  Look  to  the  end  (of  an 
undertaking  before  you  begin  it). 

Respirator.  [L.  resplrare,  to  breathe  out.'] 
A  fine  network  covering  for  the  mouth  to  breathe 
through. 

Respond.  [L.  respondeo,  7 answer.]  (Arch.} 
A  half  pillar  or  pier  attached  to  a  wall,  and 
supporting  an  arch. 

Responds,  Responsories.  [L.  respondeo,  / 
answer. ,]  In  Preface  to  Prayer-book,  certain 
responses,  or  suffrages,  which,  in  the  unreformed 
ritual,  "  broke  the  continual  course  of  the  read- 
ing of  the  Scriptures." 

Responsible  government.  The  government 
of  the  country,  as  in  England,  by  executive 


ministers,  responsible  to  Parliament,  the  members 
of  which  are  responsible  to  their  constituencies. 

Responsories,  or  Responds.  In  the  offices  of 
the  Latin  Church,  short  verses  from  Scripture, 
repeated  as  verse  and  response,  after  the  Lessons 
at  Matins. 

Restaurateur.  [Fr.]  One  who  restores  or 
refreshes,  the  keeper  of  a  house  of  public  enter- 
tainment. 

Rest-harrow.  (Bot.)  A  wayside  plant 
(Ononis  [Gr.  ovuvts]  arvensis),  with  tough  often 
thorny  branches  and  pink,  pea-shaped  flowers. 
Ord.  Leguminosse. 

Restitution,  Writ  of.  In  Law,  a  writ  issued 
when  judgment  has  been  reversed,  to  make  up 
what  the  defendant  has  lost  by  the  effect  of  the 
judgment  so  reversed. 

Restitution  of  Conjugal  Rights.  The  name 
of  a  suit  to  compel  cohabitation,  if  refused  ; 
brought  by  either  a  husband  or  a  wife  against 
the  other  in  the  Court  of  Divorce  and  Matri- 
monial Causes. 

Restoration,  The.  In  Eng.  Hist.,  a  term 
especially  applied  to  the  re-establishment  of 
monarchy  after  the  Commonwealth,  by  the 
restoration  of  Charles  II. 

Restriction  of  cash  payments.  A  power  of 
issuing  notes  for  which  the  holder  cannot 
demand  gold  in  exchange.  This  power  was 
granted  to  the  Bank  of  England  in  1797,  and 
resumed  in  1820. 

Restuation.  The  opposite  process  to  Eshia- 
tion  [L.  sestuatiSnem,  a  singeing  up\  excitement 
or  agitation  (as  of  a  fluid). 

Resultant.    (Composition  of  forces.) 

Resume.    [Fr.]  A  recapitulation,  or  summary. 

Resumption  of  cash  payments.  (Restriction 
of  cash  payments.) 

Ret,  To.    (Naut.}   To  soak  or  rot  timber,  etc. 

Retable.  (Eccl.  Arch.}  A  shelf  or  ledge 
behind  an  altar,  for  holding  lights  or  vases. 
Wrongly  called  Superaltar,  which  is  properly 
a  stone  let  into  a  wooden  frame  and  constituting 
the  upper  surface  of  the  altar  itself. 

Retainer.  [L.  retineo,  /  keep  back.]  1.  In 
O.  E.  Law,  a  servant  wearing  his  master's  badge 
or  livery,  and  attending  him  when  called  on  to 
do  so  ;  a  relic  of  the  times  of  private  wars. 
(Truce  of  God.)  2.  A  fee  to  a  barrister,  securing 
his  services  or  preventing  their  being  secured 
by  others. 

Retaining  fee.    (Retainer,  2.) 

Retaining  wall.  A  wall  designed  to  support 
the  pressure  of  a  bank  of  earth  abutting  on  it. 

Retiarians.  [L.  retiarii,  from  rete,  a  net.] 
A  class  of  Roman  gladiators,  armed  with  a 
trident  and  net.  (Mirmillones.) 

Retiary.  (Entom. )  A  spider,  as  acting  like 
Retiarians,  and  catching  by  means  of  a  net. 

Reticulated  veins.  (Bot.}  (Parallel-veined 
leaves.) 

Reticulated  work.  (Arch.}  Masonry  in 
which  the  s'zones  are  laid  lozenge-wise,  like  the 
meshes  of  a  net. 

Reticulum.  [L.Jittlenet]  (Anat.)  The  second 
stomach  of  a  ruminant,  having  honey  comb -like 
cells  on  the  inner  surface. 


RETI 


418 


RHEU 


BStina.  [It.,  a  dim.  formed  from  L.  rete,  a 
net.]  (Anat.)  A  netlike  continuation  and 
expansion  of  the  optic  nerve  at  the  back  of  the 
eye  ;  the  seat  of  vision. 

Betort.  A  vessel  used  in  distilling  by  heat. 
It  consists  of  a  bulb,  with  a  long  neck  bent  over 
[L.  retortus,  bent  back\  to  enter  a  receiver. 

Betractor  muscle  [L.  r£traho,  /  draw  back] 
(Anat.)  draws  back  that  to  which  it  is  attached. 

Betreat.  (Mil.)  Beating  of  infantry  drums 
or  sounding  of  cavalry  trumpets  every  sunset. 

Betreat  of  the  ten  thousand.  The  celebrated 
march  of  the  Greeks,  under  Xenophon,  from  the 
field  of  Kunaxa  (where  Cyrus  fell  in  his  attempt 
to  dethrone  his  brother  Artaxerxes,  B.C.  401) 
to  Kotyora  on  the  southern  coast  of  the  Black 
Sea. 

Retrenchment.  [Fr.  retranchement,  retrancher, 
to  intrench.]  (Mil.)  Any  earthwork  thrown  up 
to  cover  from  attack  and  to  give  the  defenders 
an  advantage  over  assailants. 

Betrograde  motion  of  a  planet.  (Proper 
motion.) 

Betroversion.    (Anteversion.) 

Betting  (i.e.  rolling).  Steeping  flax  to  separate 
the  fibres  from  the  woody  parts. 

Return.  1.  (Arch.)  A  moulding  or  wall 
continued  in  a  different  direction  from  that 
originally  taken  by  the  body  returned.  2.  (Fortif. ) 
The  termination  of  zigzag  trenches  which  are 
slightly  thrown  back  and  used  as  receptacles 
for  tools.  3.  Military  or  other  documents  con- 
taining information  drawn  up  according  to  form. 

Bevalenta  Arabica.  An  empirical  diet  for 
invalids,  a  preparation  of  lentil,  or  "ervum 
lens  ; "  a  slight  transposition  of  letters  affording 
a  pun  on  re,  again,  valeo,  I  am  well. 

Beveille.  [Fr.  reveiller,  to  awake,  L.  re, 
exvigilare.]  (Mil.)  Beating  of  drums  at  daybreak 
where  troops  are  quartered,  to  wake  up  the 
garrison. 

Beveillon.  [Fr.]  In  France,  a  festive  gather- 
ing at  Christmas ;  once  connected  with  the 
midnight  Mass  of  Christmas  Eve. 

Bevels,  Master  of  the.  The  officer,  called 
also  Lord  of  Misrule,  who  in  royal  and  great 
houses  presided  over  the  Christmas  entertain- 
ments. They  seem  to  disappear  at  the  end  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  (Fools,  Feast  of.) 

Bevenons  a  nos  moutons.  [Fr.,  let  us  go  back 
to  our  sheep,  i.e.  our  subject.]  In  a  French  farce, 
Patelin,  Guillaume,  a  draper,  is  robbed  of  some 
sheep  by  his  shepherd,  Agnelet,  and  of  some 
cloth  by  P.,  an  advocate.  At  the  trial  of  A., 
G.  recognizes  in  A.'s  advocate  the  thief  P.,  and, 
confusedly  mixing  up  in  his  answers  cloth  and 
sheep,  is  recalled  by  the  judge,  who  says, 
"Revenons,"  etc. 

Beverberatory  furnace.  [L.  reverberare,  to 
reflect.}  A  furnace  with  a  low  roof,  so  that  the 
flame  in  passing  the  chimney  is  reflected  down 
on  the  hearth  where  the  materials  are  placed. 

Beverse  fire.  (Mil.)  The  trajectory  of  an 
enemy's  shot  when  received  in  rear  by  troops. 

Beyerse  flank.  (Mil.)  Opposite  extremity 
of  a  line  of  soldiers  to  that  which  is  guiding  its 
march. 


Beversion.  [L.  leVersionem,  a  returning.] 
1.  In  Law,  the  reversion  of  an  estate  to  the 
grantor  or  his  heirs,  after  the  grant  is  deter- 
mined. 2.  (Phys.)  The  reappearance  of  ap- 
parently lost  characteristics  of  a  perhaps  very 
remote  progenitor.  (Atavism.) 

Bevetment.  [Fr.  revetement,  from  revetir, 
to  clothe.]  (Mil.)  Facing  to  earthworks,  com- 
posed of  sods,  gabions,  fascines,  sand-bags,  or 
brickwork,  to  support  the  earth  in  a  steeper 
position  than  it  would  otherwise  assume. 

Bevocare  gradum.  [L.]  To  recall  or  retrace 
a  step. 

Revolution.     (Stroke.) 

Bevue.  [Fr.]  In  France,  a  kind  of  burlesque 
at  the  end  of  the  year,  at  which  the  political 
events  of  the  year  are  reviewed  in  a  jocular  vein, 
with  accompaniments  of  scenery  and  comic 
songs. 

Beynard  the  Fox.    (Beinecke  Fuchs.) 

Bex  convlvii.  [L.]  The  king  or  master  of  a 
feast.  (Symposiarch.) 

Bex  vini.     [L.]    The  same  as  Bex  convivii. 

Bhabdomancy.  [Gr.  ba^So^afreia.]  Divina- 
tion by  means  of  a  rod  [£a'05os].  The  practice  of 
it  is  described  by  Sir  W.  Scott,  in  the  Antiquary. 

Bhadamanthys.     (Osiris.) 

Bhaetic  formation.  (Geol.)  The  beds  between 
the  Trias  and  Lias,  formerly  referred  to  the  latter 
in  England  and  to  the  former  in  Germany  ;  well 
developed  in  the  Rhoetian  Alps ;  contain  some 
remarkable  bone-beds,  with  the  earliest  mam- 
malian remains  (Microlestes) ;  known  also  as 
Penarth  beds. 

Rhampsinltos,  The  Treasures  of.  A  story  told, 
by  Herodotus,  of  an  Egyptian  king  whom  he  so 
names.  The  tale  is  essentially  that  of  the  Master 
Thief,  which  is  common  to  most  of  the  Aryan 
languages.  Among  the  Greeks  the  Master 
Thief  was  Hermes. 

Bhapsodists.  [Gr.  /ia^SJs,  from  bdirrv,  I  sew, 
or  stitch,  and  <j58^j,  a  song.]  A  name  for  the 
minstrels  who  recited  the  Homeric  poems  in 
Greece,  more  especially  before  these  were  com- 
mitted to  writing. 

Bhapsody.  [Gr.  /5cn//o>5/a,  a  stitching  of  songs 
together.]  1.  In  Music,  fragmentary,  irregular 
composition.  2.  In  a  general  sense,  ' '  any  number 
of  parts  joined  together,  without  necessary  de- 
pendence or  natural  connexion  "  (Johnson) ;  as 
"  a  R.  of  words  "  (Shakespeare) ;  "  a  R.  of  diffi- 
culties "  (Hammond). 

Bhemish  Bible.    (Bible,  English.) 

Bheometer.  [Gr.  beos,  a  stream,  nerpov, 
measure.]  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
velocity  of  electric  currents. 

Bheostat.  [Gr.  btos,  a  stream,  ffrarAs,  fixed.] 
An  instrument  for  increasing  or  diminishing  the 
electrical  resistance  of  a  circuit. 

Rhetoric.  [Gr.  byropiicf),  sc.  Tfxv"n-]  Properly 
the  art  of  prose  composition  in  general,  but 
usually  applied  to  the  art  of  addressing  public 
assemblies  in  set  speeches. 

Bheum.  (Bot.)  Technical  name  of  the  gen. 
familiarly  known  as  rhubarb  [Gr.  fin;  or  pa], 
from  the  river  Rha,  in  Pontus,  on  whose  banks  it 
grows. 


RHEU 


419 


RIFL 


Rheum.      [Gr.    /Jefyia,   (i)   that  "which  flews, 
(2)  rheum.']     (Med.)     Increased  discharge  from 
mucous  membrane,  or  glands  ;  defluxion. 
Rhimer.     (Rimer,  Thomas  the.) 
Ehinal.     Pertaining  to  the  nose  [Gr.  fris,  f>Iv6s]. 
Ehine,  Confederation  of  the.     (ffist.)    A  con- 
federation  of  certain   German  princes  who,  in 
1806,  placed  themselves  under  the  protection  of 
the  French  Emperor  Napoleon. 

Rhmophonia.  [Gr.  <j><i>vf},  the  voice.'}  Sneaking 
through  the  nose  [f>is,  f>lv6s]. 

Rhizome.  [Gr.  fifana,  a  mass  of  roots, ,] 
(Bot.)  A  creeping  procumbent  root-stock,  send- 
ing out  roots  downwards  and  leaves  upwards  ; 
e.g.  iris. 

Rhodian  ware.    So  called.     (Persian  ware.) 
Ehodium.      [Gr.    f>6$ov,   rose,   from  the  rose 
colour  of  its  salts.]     (Min.)    A  very  hard,  re- 
fractory metal. 

Ehodomontade.  Bragging  bluster,  from  Ro- 
domont,  a  boastful  personage  in  the  Orlando 
Furioso,  by  Ariosto.  The  name  is  thought  by 
some  to  be  connected  with  the  name  Rhada- 
manthys.  (Osiris.) 

Rhomb  [Gr.  f>6fj.ftos,  a  spinning  motion,  a 
rhomb} ;  Fresnel's  R.  A  plane  figure  with  four 
equal  sides,  but  having  angles  which  are  not 
right  angles.  Fresnel's  R.,  a  parallelepiped  of 
glass  whose  ends  are  inclined  to  two  of  the  sides 
at  angles  of  about  54^°,  which  has  the  following 
property : — A  ray  of  light  entering  the  R.  in  a 
direction  at  right  angles  to  one  end  will  emerge 
in  a  direction  at  right  angles  to  the  opposite  end 
after  two  internal  reflexions  ;  if  the  incident  ray  is 
plane  polarized  in  a  plane  inclined  at  half  a  right 
angle  to  the  plane  of  reflexion,  the  emergent  ray 
will  be  circularly  polarized. 

Ehombic  system.  (Crystallog.)  The  pris- 
matic system  (q.v.). 

Rhombohedral  system.  (Crystallog.)  Consists 
of  crystals  having  three  axes  equally  inclined  to 
each  other,  and  three  equal  parameters ;  when 
transparent  they  are  optically  uniaxal,  having 
the  optic  axis  equally  inclined  to  the  three  axes ; 
as  Iceland-spar. 

Bhombohedron.  [Gr.  f>6n&os,  a  rhomb,  e'Spa, 
a  base.]  A  solid  contained  by  six  equal  rhombs. 

Rhomboid.  [Gr.  f>6[j.0os,  rhomb,  elSos,  appear- 
ance.]  (Math.}  A  parallelogram  whose  angles 
are  not  right  angles,  nor  all  its  sides  equal. 
(Quadrilateral.) 

Ehopalic  verse.  One  with  words  increasingly 
long  towards  the  end,  as  a  club  [Gr.  f>6va\ov]  is 
thicker  towards  the  end  ;  as,  "  Si  sedes  liceat 
contingere  caelicolarum. " 

Rhot-amenti.     (Osiris.) 

Rhumb,  or  Rhomb  [*>.forming,  with  meridian, 
two  sides  of  a  rhomb,  Gr.  $>6p.&os].  A  Rhumb- 
line  is  the  prolongation  of  any  of  the  lines  on 
the  compass,  other  than  those  showing  the  four 
cardinal  points,  which  last  represent  the  meridian 
and  parallel  of  latitude.  Line  of  rhumbs,  the 
eight  points  of  one  quarter  of  the  compass-card  set 
off  upon  its  chord  by  striking  consecutive  circles 
through  them  from  the  extremity  of  the  chord* 

Rhumb-line.     (Loxodromic  curve.) 

Rhythm  of  the  heart.    (Diastole.) 


Ribald.     (Ribaudequin.) 

Ribaudequin.  [L.L.  nbandequinus,  perhaps 
from  riband,  ribald,  a  name  denoting  the  lower 
classes  of  foot-soldiers.]  In  mediaeval  warfare, 

cart  armed  with  spikes,  and  furnished  with 
small  cannon. 

Bibbon,  Eiband.  [Fr.  ruban.]  (Her.}  A 
diminutive  of  the  bend,  being  one-sixth  its  size. 
Blue  ribbon  [Fr.  cordon  bleu],  the  ribbon  sus- 
pending the  badge  of  the  order  of  the  Garter. 
Red  ribbon,  the  ribbon  suspending  the  badge  of 
the  order  of  the  Bath. 

Eibes.  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants,  and  the 
only  one,  of  ord.  Grossularise  ;  including  the 
various  kinds  of  currant  and  gooseberry,  together 
with  many  ornamental  shrubs. 

Eibs,  False,  or  Floating.  (Anat.)  In  man 
there  are  twelve  ribs  on  each  side  :  the  first,  or 
upper,  seven,  being  more  directly  connected 
through  intervening  cartilages  with  the  sternum, 
or  breast-bone,  than  the  remainder,  are  called 
the  Vertebro-sternal  or  True  R.  ;  the  other  five 
are  known  as  False  R.,  and  of  these  the  last  two, 
being  quite  free  at  their  anterior  extremities,  are 
called  Floating  R. 

Eice-paper.  A  thin  delicate  paper  made  from 
the  pith  of  a  Chinese  plant. 

Richard  Roe.     (John  Doe.) 

Eickets.  [Corr.  of  Rachitis  (q.v.),  with 
meaning  somewhat  altered.  ]  A  disease,  mostly 
in  children,  known  by  large  head,  tumid  belly, 
distortion  of  the  spine  and  other  bones,  from 
deficiency  of  hardening  matter  in  the  bones ; 
allied  to  scrofula. 

Eicochet  fire.  [Fr.  ricocher,  to  ricochet; 
origin  unknown;  but  see  Littre.]  (Mil.) 
When,  the  charge  being  small  and  elevation 
slight,  the  shot  from  a  gun  makes  several  bounds 
during  its  course.  Employed  principally  for  dis- 
mounting the  guns  along  a  rampart. 

Eiddle.  [O.E.  hriddel,  id.,  hridrian,  to  sift.} 
(Agr.)  A  sieve. 

Eide  a-port  last,  To.  (Naut.)  To  do  so  with 
the  lower  yards  on  the  gunwale. 

Eideau,  Lever  le.  The  French  term  for  draw- 
ing up  the  curtain  at  the  beginning  of  a  play. 
Tirez  le  rideati  =  drop  the  curtain. 

Eider.  1.  An  additional  clause  to  a  Bill 
passing  through  Parliament,  or  to  a  resolution 
put  before  a  meeting,  or  in  a  deed.  2.  (Math.) 
A  proposition  or  theorem  of  minor  importance, 
solved  by  the  aid  of  one  or  more  of  Euclid.  3. 
(Geol.)  A  mass  of  rock  dividing  a  vein  into 
two  parts. 

Ridge-work.  (Agr.)  A  system  of  irrigation 
in  which  the  land  is  laid  in  ridges  with  a  feeder, 
or  float,  along  the  top  of  each,  to  distribute  the 
water,  and  a  drain  between  each  pair  to  carry  it 
off. 

Ridings.  The  three  divisions  of  the  county  of 
York,  the  word  being  a  corr.  of  trithings 
or  triding,  the  third  part.  In  the  Domesday 
Survey,  the  word  is  applied  to  Lincolnshire  also. 

Rifacimento.  [It.]  A  making,  or  dressing, 
up  again  of  old  things. 

Rifler.  In  the  language  of  hawking,  a  hawk 
that  catches  its  prey  by  the  feathers  only. 


RIGG 


420 


ROCH 


Kigg,  i.e.  ridge  (?).     (Stetch.) 
Rigging.      (Af'auf.)     All  ropes  or  chains  used 
about  the  masts,  yards,  or  sails.     Standing  R.  is 
opposed  to  Running  R.,  or  that  which  is  used  to 
set  the  sails,  trim  the  yards,  etc. 

Eight.   (ATaut.)    To  R.,  to  regain  a  horizontal 
position.  R.  the  helm,  put  it  amidships.   R.  sail- 
ing, sailing  due  N.,  S.,  E.,  or  W.     R.  vp  and 
down,  no  wind  at  all. 
Bight  angle.    (Angle.) 

Rigid  body.     A  collection  of  particles  whose 
mutual  distances  are  unchanged  by  the  forces 
applied  to  them. 
Rigor.    (Algor.) 
Rig  Veda.    (Veda.) 

Rilievo.  [It.,  from  L.  relevare,  to  lift  up.]  A 
word  used  to  denote  carvings  in  relief.  (Mezzo- 
relievo.) 

Rimer,  Thomas  the.  In  Scottish  tradition,  a 
poet,  known  also  as  Thomas  of  Ercildoune,  or 
True  Thomas,  as  having  predicted,  it  is  said,  the 
accidental  death  of  Alexander  III.,  1283; 
supposed  author  of  Sir  Tristrem,  a  romance  of 
the  Arthur  cycle,  edited  by  Sir  W.  Scott,  1804. 
Rim  stock.  (Clog  almanack.) 
Ring-bone,  and  Side-bone.  In  a  horse,  bony 
growths  about  the  joints  of  the  os  coronse  ;  R. 
when  on  the  side  of  the  os  suffraginis,  S.  when 
on  that  of  the  os  pedis,  or  coffin-bone. 

Ringent  flower.  [L.  ringor,  /  open  the  mouth 
wide.]  (Bot.)  A  labiate  with  lips  widely  sepa- 
rated ;  e.g.  Lamium,  or  dead-nettle. 

Ringer.    A  miner's  crowbar  (from  the  sound). 
Rings,  Fairy.     (Fairy  rings. ) 
Ring-tail.      (Naut.)     A    kind    of  studding- 
sail,  hoisted  perpendicularly  to  the  after  edge 
of  a  boomsail. 

Ringworm.  Popular  name  for  porngo  (q.v.). 
Riot  Act.  Passed  by  Parliament  for  the  pre- 
vention of  tumultuous  assemblies ;  after  the 
reading  of  which  to  a  mob  by  a  civil  magistrate, 
if  they  do  not  disperse,  troops  may  fire  upon 
them  until  they  have  brought  them  to  order. 

Rippers,  or  Ripiers.  [L.  riparius,  freqtienting 
river-banks  ;  and  cf.  Riviera  (q.v.}\  Coast-men 
who  hawk  fish  inland. 

Rippling.  [Ger.  riffeln,  to  hatchel.]  Remov- 
ing the  seeds  from  the  stalks  of  flax  with  a  wire 
comb  called  a  ripple. 

Ripsaw,  Rippingsaw.  A  handsaw  with  coarse 
teeth,  used  for  cutting  wood  in  the  direction  of 
the  fibre. 

Rishis,  The  Seven.  In  Skt.  Myth.,  the  seven 
sages  who  were  thought  to  live  in  the  seven 
stars  of  the  constellation  called  by  us  the  Great 
Bear.  But  these  stars  had  been  originally  called 
the  Seven  Rikshas,  or  Shiners,  a  word  probably 
akin  to  the  Gr.  &pKros  and  the  L.  ursa  ;  and 
thus,  when  this  name  was  gradually  restricted  to 
the  bear,  the  seven  shiners  became  seven  bears, 
with  Arcturus  [aptcrovpos]  for  their  bearward.  In 
India  the  word  was  confounded  with  rishi,  wise, 
and  the  seven  stars  became  the  abode  of  seven 
sages  or  poets,  who  reappear  as  the  Seven  Wise 
Men  of  Greece,  the  Seven  Champions  of  Chris- 
tendom, the  Seven  Sleepers,  etc. 
Rlsus  sardonlcus.  (Med.)  A  convulsive, 


horrible  grin,  chiefly  in  tetanus  and  inflamed 
liaphragm  [2apS6vios  "ycAws]  ;  perhaps  pointing 
to  the  idea  of  the  Sardinian  ranunculus,  and  the 
face  of  the  eater  screwed  up  ;  but  the  earlier 
Gr.  aa.ptd.viov  ye\ai>,  to  laugh  bitterly,  is  from 
ffatpu,  (Tap5a£w,  /  grin.  It  is  not  clear  from 
what  source  medicine  derives  the  term. 

Ritenuto  [It.],  Rit.  (Music.)  Holding  back, 
slackening  the  time,  for  a  few  notes,  while 
Rallentando,  slackening,  isof  a  longer  passage. 

Ritornello.  [It.,  from  ritornare,  to  return.] 
(Music.)  1.  Properly  a  short,  instrumental  repe- 
tition of  the  ending  of  a  song.  2.  An  interlude. 

River-terraces.  (Geol.)  Level  terraces  of 
sand,  gravel,  etc.,  at  the  slopes  of  most  inland 
valleys  ;  evidences  of  former  fresh- water  levels, 
when  the  valley,  not  yet  alluvial  land,  was  occu- 
pied by  a  lake  at  the  height  of  the  R. 

Rivet.  [Fr.]  A  pin  or  bolt  clinched  at  both 
ends. 

Riviera,  The.  [It.,  coast,  sea-shore.]  The  sea- 
coast  from  Cannes  to  Spezzia.  R.  di  Ponente, 
i.e.  of  the  setting  sun,  is  from  Genoa,  westwards  ; 
R.  di  Levante,  i.e.  of  the  rising  sun,  from  G. 
eastwards.  (Corniche.) 

Eix-dollar.     (Dollar.) 

Roach  of  a  sail.  (Nauf.)  The  curvature  in 
the  lower  part  of  an  upper  squaresail. 

Road,  or  Roadstead.  (Naut.)  An  anchorage 
off  shore,  where  a  well-found  vessel  can  ride  out 
a  gale. 

Road-metal.  Broken  stones  for  macadamized 
roads. 

Roadster,  or  Roader.  (Naut.)  A  coasting- 
vessel  which  lies  up  in  a  roadstead  during 
adverse  winds  and  tides. 

Roan.  [Fr.  rouan,  roan-coloured.]  An  imita- 
tion of  morocco,  for  bookbinding,  made  from 
sheepskins. 

Roaring.  In  a  horse,  a  disease  of  the  air- 
passages,  caused  by  "(J)  inflammation,  which  has 
left  a  thickening  or  ulceration  of  the  mucous 
membrane,  or  a  fungous  growth  from  it ;  (2) 
paralysis  of  the  muscles;  (3)  alteration  of  the 
shape  of  the  cartilages  of  the  larynx,  produced 
by  tight  reining." — Stonehenge,  The  Horse  in 
the  Stable  and  in  the  Field,  p.  486. 

Roaring  forties.  Popular  name  with  sailors 
for  the  stormy  seas  between  40°  and  50°  N.  lati- 
tude. 

Roast-beef  dress.  In  Naut.  slang,  full  uni- 
form. 

Roasting.  (Chem.)  Heating  so  as  to  drive 
off  the  volatile  parts. 

Rob.  [Ar.  robb.]  The  juice  of  ripe  fruit 
boiled  down  to  the  consistency  of  syrup. 

Robands,  Robbens.     (Rope-bands.) 

Robin  Hood  and  Little  John.  Outlaws  or 
freebooters  of  the  time  of  Richard  I.  Some  of 
the  incidents  related  of  Robin  Hood  (Locksley) 
by  Walter  Scott  in  his  Ivanhoe,  belong  to  popu- 
lar European  romance,  and  reappear  in  the  story 
of  William  of  Cloudesley,  Tell,  and  other 
mythical  heroes. 

Roborant.  [L.  r5borantem.]  (Med.)  Strength- 
ening medicine. 

Rochdale   school  =  co-operation ;    of  which 


ROCH 


421 


ROMA 


the  first  example  was  the  Equitable  Pioneers' 
Co-operative  Store,  founded  at  Rochdale  by  a 
few  poor  flannel-weavers,  circ.  1844 ;  their 
capital  of  ,£28  producing  in  sixteen  years  more 
than  /i  20,000. 

Rochelle  salt.  (From  Rochelle,  in  France.) 
A  tartrate  of  soda  and  potash,  used  in  Seidlitz 
powders. 

Roches  moutonnees.  [Fr.]  (Geol.)  Sheep- 
like  rocks,  in  the  Alps  and  elsewhere;  pro- 
jections worn  by  glacier  action,  and  like  sheep's 
backs. 

Rochet.  [Fr.,  It.  rochetta.]  A  linen  gar- 
ment worn  by  bishops  under  the  Chimere. 

Rock.  In  Geol.,  includes  all  substances  of 
which  the  earth's  crust  is  composed  ;  clay,  sand, 
earth,  as  well  as  stones. 

Rock-crystal.    (Quarts.) 

Rocket-boat.  (ATaut.)  A  flat-bottomed  boat 
fitted  for  firing  rockets. 

Rock  harmonicon.  (Music.}  An  instrument 
composed  of  pieces  of  clinkstone,  or  phonolite, 
of  different  lengths,  placed  over  a  sounding- 
board,  and  struck  by  hammers  held  in  the  hand. 

Rockingham  Ministry.  From  March  to  R.'s 
death  in  July,  1782,  succeeded  North's,  after 
the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  ;  made  up  of  equal 
numbers  of  old  or  "Revolution"  Whigs,  and 
those  Whigs  who  had  followed  Chatham  ;  with 
the  Tory  Lord  Chancellor  Thurlow. 

Rockingham  ware.  A  brown  stone  ware 
made  on  an  estate  of  the  Marquis  of  R.,  at 
Swinton.  Other  pottery  and  porcelain  were 
made  there.  Mark,  a  griffin,  the  R.  crest. 

Rocking-stones,  or  Loggans.  (GeoL)  Blocks 
weatherworn,  and  poised  so  finely  as  to  oscillate, 
by  a  little  force ;  chiefly  granitic ;  some  seem  to  be 
artificial.  The  harder  masses  of  granite,  remain- 
ing when  denudation,  acting  along  the  fissures 
due  to  consolidation,  has  removed  the  rest,  leave 
tors  and  sometimes  poised  stones. 

Rock-oil.     (Petroleum  springs.) 

Rock-rose,  or  Cistus.  (Bof.)  A  gen.  of 
exogenous  shrubs  or  herbaceous  plants,  with 
shpwy  red,  yellow,  or  white  flowers  ;  typ.  of 
ord.  Cistacese  ;  many  of  S.  Europe  and  the 
Levant  are  resinous,  yielding  ladanum.  The 
wild  yellow  R.  is  Helianthemum  vulgare. 

Rock-salt.  Common  salt,  chloride  of  sodium, 
in  rock-masses.  Geol.  position  various,  the 
R.-S.  of  Cheshire  and  Worcestershire  is  in  the 
New  Red  Sandstone.  In  Poland  and  Spain, 
R.-S.  is  cretaceous. 

Roooa.  [Braz.  urucu.]  The  reddish  pulp  of 
the  fruit  which  yields  annatto. 

Rococo.  [Fr.  rocaille,  rockwork  (Littre).]  A 
name  given  to  the  very  debased  ornament  and 
decoration  in  Arch.,  furniture,  china,  etc. ,  which 
succeeded  the  first  revival  of  It.  Arch. ;  utterly 
devoid  of  principle  or  of  taste. 

Rodentia.  [L.,  gnawing  animals.]  (ZooL) 
The  tenth  class  of  mammals,  characterized 
specially  by  continually  growing  incisors,  which 
by  continual  attrition  constantly  preserve  a 
sharp  edge  ;  as  rats,  rabbits,  beavers. 

Roderick,  the  last  of  the  Goths.  (Pillars  of 
Heracles.) 


Roe,  Roebuck.  [Heb.  tzebi  (Deut.  xii.  15, 
etc.),  the  beauteous  one.]  (Bibl.)  The  gazello. 
Sub-fam.  Gazellmse,  fam.  Bovidse. 

Roebins.     (Rope-bands.) 

Roe-stone.     (Oolite.) 

Rogation  days.  [L.  rogationem,  an  entreaty.] 
Monday,  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  before  Ascen- 
sion Day ;  so  called  from  the  Litanies  which 
were  recited  by  clergy  and  people  in  public  pro- 
cession. 

Roger.     (Jolly.) 

Rogue's  march.  Tune  only  played  on  the 
drums  and  fifes,  when  a  soldier  is  being  drummed 
out  of  the  army  for  some  disgraceful  conduct. 

Rogue's  yarn.  (Naut.)  Formerly  a  yarn 
twisted  contrary  to  the  rest,  in  the  centre  of 
each  strand  of  rope  used  in  the  navy ;  tarred  in 
white,  and  white  in  tarred,  rope.  Now  a  thread 
of  worsted,  of  a  different  colour  for  each  royal 
dockyard.  (Royal.) 

Rois  d'Yvetot.  [Fr.]  So  the  lords  of  Yvetot, 
in  Normandy,  are  called  in  old  chronicles ;  it 
is  not  clear  why.  Now  the  name  means  an 
imaginary  burlesque  potentate.  With  Beranger 
he  is  =  a  very  good  little  king. 

Rois  Faineants.  [Fr.,  do-nothing  kings.] 
(Hist.)  A  name  for  the  later  degenerate 
princes  of  the  Merovingian  dynasty,  finally  dis- 
possessed by  Pepin,  A.D.  752. 

Roland.  In  the  Carolingian  tradition,  a 
Paladin  of  Charles  the  Great,  who  fell  in  the 
battle  of  Roncesvalles,  and  whose  exploits  are 
celebrated  in  the  Orlando  Furioso  of  Ariosto. 

Roland  for  an  Oliver,  A.  (A  Roland  for  an 
Oliver.) 

Role.  [In  Fr.,  a  roll,  L.  rotulus,  dim.  of  rota, 
a  wheel.]  The  part  assigned  to  an  actor  in  a 
drama.  Hence  the  part  taken  by  any  one  in 
any  line  of  action. 

Rolfganger.  Rolf  (Rollo),  the  Norwegian 
conqueror  of  Normandy,  A.D.  876,  was  so  called 
because  he  was  obliged,  it  is  said,  always  to 
go  on  foot,  no  horse  being  able  to  bear  his 
weight. 

Roll.  (Geol.)  Said  of  a  set  of  strata  bent 
into  numerous  troughs  and  ridges,  or  into  un- 
dulations ;  sometimes  an  elevated  fold  of  rock  is 
pushed  forward  and  over,  so  that  the  strata  are 
said  to  be  in-verted. 

Roller.     (Surg. )     A  long  broad  bandage. 

Roller-bolt.  The  bar  in  a  carriage  to  which 
the  traces  are  attached. 

Rollers.  (Naut.)  Large  ocean- waves,  rising 
from  five  to  fifteen  feet  above  the  ordinary 
height,  which  precede  the  northers  of  the 
Atlantic. 

Rolling  tackles.  (Naut.)  Those  which  hin- 
der the  yards  from  swaying  when  the  ship 
rolls. 

Rolls,  Master  of  the.  A  high  officer  of  the 
Court  of  Chancery,  ranking  next  to  the  Lord 
Chancellor.  He  holds  his  office  for  life,  and  is 
so  styled  as  being  keeper  of  the  records  of 
Chancery.  (Register,  Lord.) 

Romagna.  A  part  of  the  Papal  States  (q.v.), 
made  up  of  the  four  northern  legations  of 
Bologna,  Ferrara,  Forli,  and  Ravenna ;  annexed 


ROMA 


422 


ROSE 


formally  to  the  kingdom  of  Sardinia,  1860,  and 
now  part  of  the  kingdom  of  Italy. 

Romaic.  A  name  sometimes  applied  to  the 
language  of  the  modern  Greeks,  who  called  them- 
selves Romans,  by  a  tradition  which  has  sur- 
vived the  overthrow  of  the  Eastern  empire. 

Bomal.  [Hind,  rumal,  a  handkerchief.}  An 
Indian  silken  fabric. 

Bomance.  [Fr.  roman,  It.  romanzo.J  1.  A 
general  name  for  works  of  fiction  in  prose  or 
verse,  from  the  Bomance  languages,  in  which 
they  were  first  chiefly  written  and  circulated. 
2.  (Music.)  A  simple  rhythmical  melody,  suit- 
able to  a  story  of  romance. 

Bomance  languages.  Languages  which  are 
modifications  of  the  old  Italian  dialects.  These 
are  the  languages  of  Spain,  Portugal,  Italy, 
France,  Wallachia,  and  the  Orisons  of  Switzer- 
land. The  Proven9al,  spoken  by  the  Trouba- 
dours, is  now  a  patois. 

Boman  cement.  A  kind  of  hydraulic  cement, 
hardening  under  water. 

Bomancero.  The  Spanish  term  for  a  collec- 
tion of  national  ballads  and  romances. 

Bomanese  language.  The  language  ^of  the 
Wallachians,  who  call  themselves  Romani,  or 
subjects  of  the  old  empire. 

Bomanesque.  Decoration  with  fantastic  re- 
presentations of  animals  and  foliage  (admired  in 
the  time  of  the  lower  Roman  empire). 

Bomanesque  styles.  (Arch.)  The  styles 
which  employed  the  arch  and  the  entablature 
together,  gradually  reducing  the  latter  to  the 
form  of  a  capital.  The  introduction  of  shafts, 
running  up  from  the  piers  and  dividing  the  upper 
stories  into  compartments,  marked  the  point  ol 
transition  from  the  Romanesque  to  the  principle 
of  the  Gothic  styles.  (Geometrical  style.) 

Boman  ochre.  A  rich  orange-yellow  pig- 
ment. 

Bomany.  The  language  spoken  by  the  gypsies 
is  sometimes  so  called. 

Bomanzieri.  In  It.  Lit.,  poets  who  treated 
chiefly  of  the  exploits  of  Charlemagne  and  his 
Paladins.  The  earliest  of  these  poets  belongs  to 
the  latter  part  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

Bomaunt  of  the  Eose.  A  translation  by 
Chaucer — some  say  by  another — of  the  first  par 
of  a  famous  and  very  popular  French  allegory 
Le  Roman  de  la  Rose,  of  which  the  first  par 
was  by  Guillaume  de  Lorris,  and  the  latter  by 
Jean  de  Cheun. 

Bombowline,  or  Bumbowline.  (Naut. )  Con 
demned  rope,  canvas,  etc. 

Borne-scot.  A  tax  on  houses  in  England 
formerly  paid  to  the  Roman  court ;  called  also 
Rome-feoh  and  Peter's  pence. 

Bondeau.  [Fr.  rond,  round.]  1.  In  Fr.  poetry 
a  little  poem  of  thirteen  lines,  of  which  eigh 
have  one  rime,  and  five  another,  divided  intc 
three  unequal  strophes ;  the  two  or  three  firs 
words  of  the  first  line  serving  as  the  burden,  am 
recurring  after  the  eighth  and  thirteenth  lines 
Hence,  2,  in  Music,  ( I )  Rondo,  a  light  composition 
of  three  or  more  strains,  the  first  closing  in  th< 
original  key,  the  others  recurring,  by  easy  modu 
lation,  to  the  first  strain ;  and  (2)  more  gene 


ally,  any  light  piece  in  which  the  subject  recurs 
requently. 

Bonde  bosse.  [Fr.,  a  rotmd  swelling.}  Sculp- 
ured  objects  in  their  full  forms,  as  opposed  to 
hose  in  relief. 

Bood.    [A.S.  rod,  a  rod  o* pole.]   The  crucifix, 
with  the  images  of  the  Virgin  and  St.  John.  The 
tructure  on  which  it  is  placed  is  called  the  rood- 
oft.     Most  of  these  were  destroyed  at  the  Refor- 
mation ;  but  some  fine  specimens  remain,  as  at 
~harlton-upon-Otmoor. 
Bood-loft.    (Bood.) 

Boof.  [O.E.  hrof.]  (Geol.)  The  rock  im- 
mediately overlying  a  bed  of  coal. 

Boof  of  the  World.  Local  name  for  highest 
>art  of  Pamir  table-land,  15,000  to  16,000  feet 
ligh,  in  Central  Asia. 

Boom,  Boomer,  or  Going-room.  (Arant.) 
Did  term  for  sailing  away  from  the  wind. 

Boosa  oil.  A  volatile  oil  used  for  adulterating 
otto  of  roses  ;  also  called  oil  of  geranium. 

Boost.  [Icel.  rost.]  (Naut.)  A  strong  tide 
or  current,  especially  in  a  narrow  channel,  as 
between  the  Orkney  and  Shetland  Isles. 

Boot  and  Branch  Bill.  A  Bill  for  entire 
abolition  of  episcopacy  and  of  cathedral  bodies ; 
introduced  into  the  House  of  Commons,  May, 
1641,  passed  September,  1642,  and,  after  four 
months,  adopted  by  the  House  of  Lords. 

Boot-fallen.  (Agr.)  The  condition  of  crops 
when  their  roots  fail  to  act  properly. 

Bope-bands  (pronounced  Roebins).  (Naut.) 
Small  lines  fastening  the  head  of  a  sail  to  its 
yard. 

Bopes.     (Araut.)    All  cordage  above  an  inch 
in  circumference,  used  in  rigging  a  vessel. 
Boric  figure.    (Breath  figure.) 
Borqual.     [Sw.    rcer,    a  tube,   hval,   -whale.} 
(Zool. )    Piked  whale,  B&lanoptera  ;  the  largest 
cetacean,  sometimes  a  hundred  feet  long,  with 
dorsal  fin,  skin  furrowed  ;  fierce,  and  of  small 
value.     Temperate  and  cold  latitudes. 

Bosaceous  corollas.  (Bot. )  Like  those  of  the 
rose  tribe,  having  five  spreading  petals,  without 
claws ;  e.g.  strawberry. 

Bosaniline.  [Rose  and  aniline (y.v.).]  (Chem.) 
An  aniline  dye,  from  which  magenta  is  de- 
rived. 

Bosary.  [L.L.  rosarium,  a  chaplet.]  In  the 
Latin  Church,  a  devotional  practice,  in  which 
the  Lord's  Prayer  is  said  fifteen  times,  and  the 
Ave  Maria  150  times  ;  but  as  the  computation  is 
made  by  means  of  Beads,  the  string  of  beads 
has  come  to  be  popularly  called  a  R.,  which 
consists  of  fifteen  decades,  or  three  chaplets  of 
five  decades  each. 
Bosch-galuth.  (JEchmalotarch.) 
Boscius.  A  Roman  comic  actor,  friend  of 
Cicero,  so  celebrated  that  his  name  has  become 
a  proverb  for  excellence  in  dramatic  art. 

Bose  de  Pompadour.  (Bot.)  A  delicate  rose 
colour,  named  after  the  Marchioness  de  Pom- 
padour, mistress  of  Louis  XV.  ;  also  called 
Bose  du  Barn,  after  the  Countess  du  Barri. 

Bose-noble.      A  gold  coin  of   the  reign  of 
Edward  III.,  valued  at  6s.  Sd. 
Bose  of  Jericho.  (Anastatica.)  (Bot.)  The  name 


ROSE 


423 


ROUN 


is  also  applied  to  a  mesembryanthemum,  the 
capsules  of  which  have  hygrometric  properties. 

Roseola.  [L. ,  dim.  coined  from  rosdus,  rosy.] 
(Med. }  Rose-rash  (from  its  colour),  an  affection 
of  the  skin,  in  patches  ;  generally  a  symptom  of 
some  constitutional  irritation. 

Roses,  White  and  Red.  (Eng.  Hist.}  The 
emblems  or  tokens  of  the  houses  of  York  which 
had  the  white,  and  of  Lancaster  which  had  the 
red  rose.  The  Wars  of  the  Roses,  after  lasting 
for  more  than  thirty  years,  were  ended  by  the 
victory  of  Henry  Tudor  over  Richard  III.,  on 
Bosworth  Field.  Henry  united  both  the  titles  in 
his  own  person — that  of  Lancaster  through  his 
mother,  that  of  York  as  having  married  the 
daughter  of  Edward  IV. 

Rosetta  Stone.  A  celebrated  stone,  discovered 
at  Rosetta,  in  Egypt,  and  now  in  the  British 
Museum.  It  exhibits  three  inscriptions  :  (i)  in 
the  sacred  character  called  hieroglyphics ;  (2)  in 
the  enchorial,  or  popular,  a  modification  of  the 
hieroglyphics ;  and  (3)  in  Greek.  The  means 
were  thus  furnished  for  attempting  the  task  of 
deciphering  the  Egyptian  hieroglyphics ;  and 
this  task  was  undertaken  by  Young  and  Cham- 
pollion. 

Rosetta  wood.  A  hard  Indian  wood  of  a 
dark  orange  colour. 

Rose  window.  (Arch.}  A  circular  window, 
with  geometrical  or  flowing  tracery  ramifying 
from  the  centre.  Sometimes  called  Marigold 
•window  and  St.  Catherine's  wheel. 

Rosicrucians.  In  i6ioa  treatise  appeared  in 
Germany,  entitled  The  Discovety  of  the  Brother- 
hood of  the  Honourable  Order  of  the  Rosy  Cross. 
It  is  ascribed  to  a  Lutheran  clergyman,  Valentine 
Andrea.  This  was  followed  by  a  swarm  of 
tracts  on  the  subject,  leading  people  to  suppose 
that  the  members  were  sworn  to  keep  the 
existence  of  the  fraternity  a  secret  for  a  century 
after  its  foundation,  and  that  they  were  to  meet 
secretly  once  a  year.  Hence  they  were  thought 
to  have  a  connexion  with  the  Freemasons;  but 
there  is  no  evidence  that  the  society  ever  existed. 
The  title  became  a  term  denoting  every  kind  of 
occult  and  magical  science  and  practice ;  and  the 
Rosicrucians  were  confounded  with  Cabalists 
(Cabala),  Illuminati,  etc. 

Rosiere.  [Tr.]  The  girl  who  wins  the  rose 
of  the  village  for  good  conduct.  (Golden  rose.) 

Rossing.  Removing  the  rough,  scaly  sub- 
stance (of  bark). 

Rosso  antico.  [It.,  red  antique.]  (Geol.}  A 
name  for  the  red  porphyry  of  Egypt. 

Roster.  [(?)  Corn  of  register.]  (Mil.}  Register 
of  the  names  of  officers  or  soldiers  in  succession 
for  duty. 

Rostra.  [L.,  beaks.]  The  stage  of  the 
Roman  forum,  from  which  the  orators  addressed 
the  people ;  so  called  as  being  decorated  with 
the  beaks  of  vessels  taken  from  the  enemy. 

Rota,  [It.]  An  ecclesiastical  court  at  Rome, 
dealing  with  suits  of  appeal. 

Rota  Club.  Founded  by  James  Harrington, 
contemporary  of  Milton  j  a  society  of  "  philoso- 
phical republicans,  who  met  for  the  discussion 
of  their  theories ;  .  .  .  the  Girondins  of  our 

28 


English  Revolution." — T.  Shaw,  Student's  Eng. 
Lit.,  p  221. 

Rotation  of  crops.  (Agr.)  Such  a  sequence 
of  them  as  will  rest  the  land  and  obviate  year- 
long fallows  ;  e.g.  the  four-course  shift  of  (i) 
turnips  ;  (2)  spring  wheat  or  barley  ;  (3)  clover 
and  rye-grass  ;  (4)  oats  or  wheat. 

Rotatory  engine.  A  steam-engine  in  which 
rotation  is  produced  by  the  direct  action  of  the 
steam,  without  the  use  of  the  reciprocating 
motion  of  the  piston.  The  aeolipile  is  a  very 
simple  kind  of  R.  E. 

Rother.     (Rudder.) 

Rother-beasts.  [O.E.  hrufter,  neat  cattle.] 
Horned  cattle,  black  cattle. 

Rotifera.  [L.  rota,  a  wheel,  fero,  I  carry.] 
(Zoo/.)  Wheel-animalcules,  minute  aquatic 
Annuloida,  mostly  free-swimming,  with  ciliated 
disc,  by  which  they  swim,  and  sweep  food  into 
their  mouths.  By  some  reckoned  among 
Annelids,  sub-kingd.  Aunul5sa. 

Rotten-stone.  ( Geol. )  A  soft  stone,  used  for 
polishing  and  grinding  ;  chiefly  aluminous,  with 
silica  and  carbonaceous  matter  ;  a  decomposition 
of  impure  limestone  by  carbonated  water. 

Roturier.  [Fr.,  L.  ruptura,  a  breaking  up  of 
ground  for  cultivation.]  A  plebeian.  (Churl.) 

Rouble.  [Russ.  rublyn.]  A  Russian  silver 
coin,  worth  about  $s.  2d.  ;  100  copecks  =  i 
rouble. 

Roue.  [Fr.,  lit.  one  broken  on  a  wheel.]  A 
name  applied  to  the  unprincipled  and  profligate 
companions  of  the  regent  Duke  of  Orleans, 
1715-1723  ;  hence  any  unprincipled  person,  as 
deserving  to  be  placed  on  the  wheel  (Littre). 

Rouen  ware.  1.  Blue,  and  polychrome; 
characteristic  decoration  of  the  latter,  a  cornu- 
copia with  bright  flowers.  Manufactory  estab- 
lished sixteenth  century.  2.  A  kind  of  thick 
porcelain  was  also  made  at  R. 

Rouge.  [Fr. ,  red.  ]  A  cosmetic  for  reddening 
the  cheeks  or  lips. 

Rouge  croix.  (Her. )  One  of  the  .pursuivants, 
named  from  the  red  cross  [Fr.  rouge  croix]  of 
St.  George. 

Rouge  et  noir.  [Fr. ,  red  and  black.  ]  A  game 
at  cards,  played  on  a  table  marked  with  red-and- 
black  compartments. 

Rough  riders.  (Mil.}  Cavalry  soldiers  who 
break  in  the  troop  horses. 

Roulade.  [Fr.  rouler,  to  wheel.]  (Music.}  A 
florid  passage,  a  run  of  many  notes  sung  on  one 
syllable. 

Rounoe.  [Perhaps  from  Fr.  ranch e,  a  round \ 
a  rack.]  In  Printing,  the  apparatus  by  which 
the  paper  to  be  printed  is  run  under  the  platen 
and  out  again. 

Round  churches.  Four  churches  in  England — 
St.  Sepulchre,  Cambridge,  the  Temple  Church 
in  London,  St.  Sepulchre  at  Northampton,  and 
Little  Maplestead,  have  round  naves,  suggested 
by  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  at 
Jerusalem. 

Roundel.  [Fr.  rondelle.]  A  small  circular 
shield  borne  by  foot-soldiers  in  the  fourteenth 
and  fifteenth  centuries. 

Roundelay,  Roundel.     I.q.  Rondeau;   also  a 


ROUN 


424 


RUDD 


simple  rustic  melody  to  which  a  R.  might  be 
sung. 

Boundheads.  The  cavaliers  in  the  civil  war 
so  named  the  Puritans,  it  is  said,  from  the  close 
black  skull-cap  which  they  wore  ;  but  perhaps 
from  their  custom  of  having  their  hair  cut  close 
to  the  head. 

Round-house,  (Naut.)  1.  (Deck-house.)  2. 
Also  the  square  cabin  on  the  quarter-deck, 
having  the  poop  for  a  roof,  sometimes  called 
the  coach  in  men-of-war;  it  has  a  passage  all 
round  it.  3.  A  lock-up  in  a  village  or  small 
town. 

Boundlet.  (Her.)  A  small  round  figure  borne 
as  a  charge. 

Bounds  of  the  galley.  In  Naut.  parlance, 
open  expressions  of  disapproval  by  one's  ship- 
mates. 

Bound  Table,  Knights  of  the.  An  association 
of  knights  brought  together  by  Arthur,  for  the 
quest  of  the  Holy  Grail.  (Arthur,  King; 
Sangreal.) 

Boup.    1.  In  Scotland,  an  auction ;  lit.  a  crying 
out  \cf.  Ger.  rufen,  to  call}.     2.   (Pip.) 
Boust.     (Boost.) 

Boute.  [Fr.,  L.  rupta,  sc.  via,  a  cross-road.} 
(Mil.}  The  order  for  troops  marching,  with 
times  and  places  of  halting,  by  which  the  civil 
authorities  are  required  to  provide  facilities  of 
transport  and  billets. 

Boute-marching.  (Mil.)  The  exercising 
along  a  road  of  troops  carrying  the  full  com- 
plement of  kit,  inuring  them  to  fatigue,  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  them  in  efficiency. 

Bove.  1.  A  roll  of  wool  drawn  out  and 
slightly  twisted,  for  spinning  into  thread  or  yarn. 
2.  (Naut.)  (Beeve.) 

Boving.     (Bove.)    Forming  roves,  or  slubs. 
Bowan,  Fowler's  service,  Quicken  tree.    (Bot. ) 
The  mountain  ash,  Pyrus  aucuparia  [L.  auceps, 
a  fowler} ;  ord.  Rosaceae. 

Bowel.  [Fr.  rouelle,  from  L.  rotula,  a  little 
wheel.}  The  wheel  of  a  spur. 

Bowel,  Bowelling.  (Vet.  Surg.)  A  kind  of 
seton,  now  but  little  used  ;  a  circular  piece  of 
leather,  two  or  three  inches  in  diameter,  with  a 
hole  in  the  middle,  placed  under  the  skin  of  the 
horse. 

Bowlocks.  (Want.)  Spaces  in  a  boat's  gun- 
wale for  the  oars  to  work  in. 

Boxburgh  Club.  A  club  formed  in  commemora- 
tion of  John,  third  Duke  of  Roxburgh,  whose 
library,  when  sold,  realized  enormous  prices. 
One  of  the  members  was  called  upon  each  year 
to  print,  at  his  own  cost,  some  rare  book,  of 
which  only  impressions  enough  for  the  club 
were  struck  off. 

Boyal.  Paper,  usually  twenty  by  twenty-five 
inches  or  more. 

Boyal.     (Naut.)     1.  R.-sail,  a  light  sail  set 
above  the  top-gallant,  and  formerly  called  top- 
gallant-R.     2.   R.-yard,  the    fourth    from    the 
deck,  on  which  the  R.-sail  is  set. 
Boyal  Academy.     (Academy.) 
Boyal  dockyards,    The.      In  England  these 
are  Deptford,  Woolwich,  Chatham,   Sheerness, 
Portsmouth,  Devonport,  and  Pembroke. 


Boyal  domain.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  the  domain  of 
:he  Carolingian  kings,  which,  in  the  reign  of 
Louis  d'Outremer,  A.D.  936-954,  was  narrowed 
to  the  city  of  Laon  and  a  small  surrounding 
district,  the  result  of  the  growing  power  of  the 
great  dukes  and  counts  who  were  nominally 
their  vassals. 

Boyal  fishes,  i.e.  at  common  law,  the  property 
of  the  Crown  :  the  whale  and  the  sturgeon, 
when  thrown  on  shore,  or  caught  near  the 
coast ;  but  this  right  is  subject  to  local  modifica- 
tions. 

Boyal  Institution.  A  corporation  founded  by 
Count  Rumford,  in  1 800,  for  promoting  dis- 
coveries and  spreading  a  taste  for  science 
amongst  the  public  generally.  Its  celebrity  is 
in  great  measure  owing  to  Sir  Humphry  Davy 
and  Faraday. 

Boyal  Society.  A  philosophical  society,  or- 
ganized  1660,  and  constituted  a  body  politic  by 
Charles  II.,  in  1662. 

Bubble.  [Fr.  rabascher,  to  rumble,  rattle 
(Wedgwood).]  (Geol.)  Accumulations  of  angular 
rock-fragment ;  the  result  of  whatever  cause, 
drift,  frost,  etc. 

Bubble-work.  (Arch. )  Coarse  walling,  com- 
posed of  rough %tones  of  various  sizes  and  shapes, 
embedded  in  mortar. 

Bubellite.    (Tourmaline.) 

Bubeolae.  [Dim.  coined  from  rubeus,  red, 
reddish.}  (Med.)  Measles. 

Bubezahl.  (Myth.)  A  spirit  of  the  Riesen- 
'  in  Germany,  answering  to  the  English 


Bubicon,  Passing  the.  A  phrase  denoting  the 
taking  of  a  decisive  step,  the  Rubicon  being,  it 
was  supposed,  a  small  stream  forming  the  fron- 
tier of  his  province,  which  Caesar  is  said  to  have 
crossed,  B.C.  49,  and  so  declared  himself  in  open 
opposition  to  Pompeius. 

Bubidium.  A  silvery  alkaline  metal,  distin- 
guished by  giving  two  brilliant  red  [L.  riibidus] 
lines  under  spectrum  analysis. 

Bubrlca.  [L.]  Red  earth;  and  so  the  title 
of  a  law,  and  (Eccl.)  of  a  direction,  as  being 
written  or  printed  in  red  ink  ;  hence  rubric 
=  order  of  the  Liturgy. 

Buby.  [Fr.  rubis,  from  L.  ruber,  red.}  1.  A 
name  applied  by  lapidaries  to  several  stones, 
distinguished  by  their  colours,  the  scarlet- 
coloured  being  called  Spinelle  R.,  the  pale  or 
rose- red  Balais  or  Balas  R.  2.  A  kind  of  type, 
as — 

London. 

Buche,     [Fr.]    A  kind  of  plaited  or  goffered 

Budder.  \Cf.  Ger.  ruder,  L.  aratrum,  Gr. 
&porpov,  fper/jL6s.]  (Naut.)  R.  bands,  or  braces, 
the  hinges  on  which  it  hangs.  R.  case,  or 
trunk,  a  wooden  casing  through  which  the 
rudder  stock  and  head  pass.  R.-chains  fasten 
the  R.  to  the  stern  to  prevent  its  loss  if  un- 
shipped. R.-head,  upper  part  of  the  stock. 
R. -pintles,  the  hooks  which  fit  into  the  braces. 
R.-rake,  aftermost  part  of  R.  R. -stock,  its  main 
piece. 


RUDD 


425 


RUTI 


Rudder-bands.  Acts  xxvii.  40.  Ships  were 
steered  anciently — (?)  up  to  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury, as  in  some  countries  in  modern  times  also 
— not  by  hinged  rudders,  but  by  two  paddles, 
one  on  each  quarter ;  these,  when  not  used, 
were  lifted  out  of  the  water  and  secured  by 
lashings,  or  rudder-bands.  ( Cf.  Eur. ,  Hel. ,  1 536 ; 
and  so  in  the  Bayeux  Tapestry.) 

Buddie.  [Welsh  rhuddell.]  Red  ochre. 
(Haematite.) 

Ruddock.     (Haddock.) 

Eudenture.  [Fr.,  from  L.  rudens,  a  rope.'] 
(Arch.)  The  rope-shaped  ornament  with  which 
the  lower  parts  of  the  flutings  of  columns  are 
often  filled. 

Budis  indigestaque  moles.  [L.]  A  rude  and 
undigested  mass  ;  said  of  confused  or  ill-arranged 
matter,  as  in  a  book. 

Budolphine  Tables.  Astronomical  tables  com- 
puted by  Kepler  on  the  observations  of  Tycho 
Brahe.  So  called  in  honour  of  the  Emperor 
Rudolph  II.,  who  on  Tycho's  death  in  1601 
undertook  the  cost  of  their  preparation.  They 
are  the  first  tables  calculated  on  the  hypothesis 
that  the  planets  move  in  elliptic  orbits. 

Buff.  (Ornith.)  Gen.  and  spec,  of  wading- 
bird,  about  twelve  inches  long ;  male  develops 
large  purple-black  chestnut-barred  ruff  in  breed- 
ing season ;  the  hen  is  called  the  Reeve.  N. 
Europe,  N.  Asia,  Hindustan.  Machetes  [Gr., 
a  fighter}  pugnax,  fam.  Scolopacidae,  ord. 
Grallse. 

Euffle  of  drums.  (Mil.)  A  gentle  continuous 
roll  on  the  drums  of  a  regiment. 

Rufflers.  In  Naut.  slang,  beggars  who  pre- 
tend that  they  have  served  in  the  wars. 

Rugging.  A  coarse  cloth  for  wrapping 
blankets. 

Eule.  [A.S.  regol,  L.  regula.]  1.  In  Law, 
an  order  of  the  superior  courts  of  common  law. 
2.  (Red.)  (Begulars.) 

Eule  of  three.  (Arith.)  The  rule  for  finding 
a  fourth  proportional  to  three  given  numbers. 

Eules  of  the  road.  (Naut.)  Those  by  which 
it  is  determined  which  of  two  vessels  is  to  give 
way  to  the  other  :  e.g.  a  steamer  gives  way  to  a 
sailing-vessel ;  a  sailing-vessel  running  free,  to 
one  sailing  near  the  wind  ;  one  on  the  port,  to 
one  on  the  starboard  tack. 

Eumble.  1.  A  revolving  cask  used  to  polish 
small  articles  by  their  mutual  friction.  2.  A 
box  behind  a  carriage,  with  a  seat  above  it. 

Bumbling  drain.  One  made  by  throwing 
loose  rubble  stones  into  the  trench. 

Bumbo.  In  Naut.  language,  rope  stolen  from 
a  royal  dockyard. 

Bumbowline.    (Bombowline.) 

Bumen.  [L.,  throat,  gullet.]  (Anat.)  The 
cud,  or  first  stomach  of  a  ruminant. 

Bummantia  [L.],  Euminants.  (Zool.)  Those 
mammals  of  the  ord.  Ungiilata  (hoofed  animals) 
which  chew  the  cud ;  i.q.  Pecora  of  Linnaeus. 

Eummage.  (Naut.)  1.  Search  by  officers 
of  customs  for  contraband.  2.  Contraband 
goods  found  concealed. 

Bummer.     [Ger.  romer.]     A  drinking-cup. 

Bump,  The.     (Long  Parliament.) 


Bunagate.  [Fr.  renegat,  from  L.  renegare, 
to  deny]  A  vagabond  ;  one  who  apostatizes  ; 
a  renegade. 

Buncinate  leaf.  [L.  runclna,  a  plane,  a  large 
saw.]  (Bot.)  Having  curved  indentation,  and 
lateral  lobes  turned  backwards;  e.g.  dande- 
lion. 

Bunes.  The  letters  of  the  Futhorc,  or  alpha- 
bet of  the  Gothic  tribes,  obtained  by  them  from 
the  Greeks  of  the  Greek  colonies  on  the  shores 
of  the  Black  Sea. 

Bung.  [Ger.  runge,  a  short  thick  bar.]  One 
of  the  rounds  of  a  ladder. 

Bunner.  1.  One  of  the  curved  pieces  on 
which  a  sledge  slides.  2.  A  channel  on  the  top 
of  a  mould  into  which  the  molten  metal  is 
poured. 

Running-part  of  a  tackle.    (Standing-part.) 

Bunning  title.  The  title  of  a  book  as  printed 
on  the  top  of  each  page. 

Bupee.  [Skt.  rupuya,  from  rupa,  shape ;  and 
according  to  Panini,  =  struck  with  the  shape  of 
a  man ;  very  important,  as  giving  a  very  early 
date  to  coinage  with  human  figure  impressed, 
(see  Chambers's  Encyclopedia,  s.v.}.]  A  silver 
coin  weighing  180  grains,  of  which  165  are  pure 
silver,  and  worth  about  is.  iod. ;  this  is  the 
Company's  R. ,  which  is  of  the  same  weight  and 
purity  as  the  Madras  R.  ;  the  Sicca  R.  is  worth 
a  fifteenth  part  more,  i.e.  about  2s.  Lac,  Lakh, 
100,000  rupees.  Crore,  100  lakhs,  or  10,000,000 
rupees. 

Eupert's  drop  (from  Prince  Rupert).  A  glass 
drop  with  a  long  tail,  which  bursts  into  frag- 
ments when  the  tail  is  broken. 

Euptuary.  One  not  of  noble  blood,  a  Bo- 
turier. 

Bural  dean.  (Eccl.)  An  officer,  not  having 
jurisdiction,  who  within  a  certain  district  gathers 
information  for  the  bishop  as  to  the  conduct  of 
the  clergy,  condition  of  ecclesiastical  buildings, 
etc.,  the  opinion  of  the  clergy  as  expressed  in 
meetings. 

Euse  de  guerre.  [Fr.,  a  trick  of  war.]  A 
stratagem. 

Bus  in  urbe.  [L.]  Country  in  town;  said 
of  situations  which  are  thought  to  have  the 
advantages  of  both. 

Eusma.  [Turk,  khyryzma.]  A  compound  of 
iron  and  quicklime,  used  as  a  depilatory. 

Bussia  leather  (made  in  Russia).  A  soft 
leather  scented  with  an  oil  obtained  from  birch 
bark. 

Bustem.  In  Pers.  Myth.,  a  hero  who  slays 
Isfendyar  by  casting  a  thorn  into  the  one  spot 
where  he  is  vulnerable. 

Buta  caesa,  or  Buta  et  caesa.  [L.]  In  Rom. 
Law,  things  dug  up,  and  things  cut  down,  which 
were  movable  and  not  fixtures,  and  therefore  did 
not  pass  with  the  land  sold.  (Quicquid  planta- 
tur  solo.) 

Euta-muraria.  [L.]  (Bot.)  Wall-rue,  ord. 
Rutaceae.  (Asplenium.) 

ButheniunL  A  hard  grey  metal,  extracted 
from  platinum  ore. 

Butilate.  [L.  rutilare,  to  shine.]  To  emit 
rays  of  light. 


RYEH 


426 


SACK 


Eye-House  Plot,  (Eng.  Hist.)  A  plot— so 
called  from  the  intention  of  carrying  it  into 
execution  at  the  Rye  House,  near  Newmarket— 
for  seizing  Charles  II.,  and  so  bringing  about  the 
redress  of  grievances.  For  his  share  in  this 


conspiracy,  Lord  William  Russell  was  executed, 
July,  1683. 

Kyot.  [Ar.,  a  serf,  or  peasant.}  The  culti- 
vators of  the  soil  in  India.  In  the  Turkish 
empire  they  are  called  Rayahs. 


s. 


S.  A  letter  common  to  all  languages.  As  an 
abbrev.,  it  stands  for  L.  sacrum  [sacred],  sibi 
[for  himself,  herself,  etc.],  socius  [fellow], 
society,  solo,  south,  etc. 

Sabaism.  [Heb.  sabaoth,  army  or  host  of 
heaven.]  The  worship  of  the  heavenly  bodies  ; 
a  religion  which  had  its  special  stronghold  in 
Chaldea,  the  birthland  of  astronomy. 

Sabaoth.    (Sabaism.) 

Sabbatarians.  (Eccl  Hist.)  Various  sects 
have  been  so  called  ;  among  these  certain  Ana- 
baptists in  the  sixteenth  century,  who  kept  the 
Jewish  sabbath. 

Sabbath  day's  journey.  Acts  i.  12 ;  2000 
cubits,  or  about  six  furlongs,  from  the  wall  of 
Jerusalem ;  in  compliance,  according  to  Jewish 
doctors,  with  the  injunction  of  Exod.  xvi.  29, 
"  Let  no  man  go  out  of  his  place  on  the  seventh 
day "  (to  gather  manna)  ;  taken  in  connexion 
with  the  definition  of  "suburbs,"  or  pasture- 
grounds,  in  Numb.  xxxv.  5. 

Sabbatians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  In  the  fourth 
century,  the  followers  of  Sabbatius,  a  Novatian 
bishop. 

Sabbatical  year.  By  the  Jews  every  seventh 
year  was  so  called,  according  to  the  commands 
given  in  Exod.  xxiii.  10  j  Lev.  xxv.  3,  20. 
(Jubilee  year.) 

Sabbatic  river.    (Intermittent  springs.) 

Sabellians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Sabellius  in  the  third  century,  who  regarded  the 
Father  as  the  sole  Person,  and  the  Son  and  the 
Holy  Spirit  as  attributes  or  emanations  from 
Him.  This  scheme  has  been  known  in  later 
times  as  that  of  the  Modal  Trinity.  The 
followers  of  Praxeas,  who  adopted  these  views, 
asserted  that  the  Father  had  united  to  Himself 
the  human  nature  of  Christ,  and  were  hence 
called  Monarchians ;  while,  as  holding  that  the 
Father  suffered  in  the  death  of  Christ,  they  were 
called  Patripassians. 

Sabians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  Christian  sect,  known 
also  as  Christians  of  St.  John. 

Sabica,  Savicu  wood.  A  Cuban  timber,  used 
for  shipbuilding. 

Sable.  [O.Fr.  for  the  animal  called  the  sable.  ] 
(Her.)  The  black  colour  in  coats  of  arms,  re- 
presented in  engraving  by  vertical  and  horizontal 
lines  crossing  each  other. 

Sable  iron.  A  superior  kind  of  Russian  iron, 
originally  stamped  with  the  figure  of  a  sable. 

Sabot.     [Fr.]    A  wooden  shoe. 

Sabre.  [Fr.]  (Mil.)  Broad,  heavy-bladed 
sword  worn  by  cavalry. 

Sabretasche.      [Sabre     (g.v.),    Ger.    tasche, 


pocket.]  (Mil.)  Flat  leather  case  for  holding 
papers,  suspended  with  the  sword  on  the  left 
side  by  horsemen. 

Sabulous.  [L.  sabulosus,  from  sabiilum, 
coarse  sand.]  (Med.)  Said  of  sandy,  gritty 
deposits  in  the  urine. 

Sac.  [L.  saccus,  a  sack,  bag.]  (Anat.)  Any 
small  cavity  in  the  body,  pouch,  bag,  cyst. 

Saccharoid.  [Gr.  aaKxapov,  sugar;  an 
Eastern  word.]  (Geol.)  In  texture  like  loaf- 
sugar  ;  as  white  statuary  marble. 

Saccharometer.  [Gr.  (rdttxa-pw,  sugar,  /jicrpov, 
measure.]  An  instrument  for  ascertaining  the 
quantity  of  sugar  in  a  solution.  The  common 
S.  is  a  kind  of  hydrometer,  the  reading  depend- 
ing on  the  specific  gravity  of  the  solution.  In 
the  polarizing  S.  the  determination  is  made  by 
observing  the  angle  through  which  the  solution 
will  turn  the  plane  of  polarization  of  a  ray  of 
polarized  light  transmitted  through  it. 

Sachentege.  A  very  heavy  instrument,  "which 
two  or  three  men  had  enough  to  do  to  carry,  .  .  . 
fastened  to  a  beam,  having  a  sharp  iron  to  go 
round  a  man's  throat  and  neck,  so  that  he 
might  no  ways  sit,  nor  lie,  nor  sleep,  but  he 
must  bear  all  that  iron." — English  Chronicle. 

Sachet.  [Fr.]  A  bag  or  packet  containing  scent. 

Sack.  [L.  saccus,  a  bag.]  Of  wool,  26 
stones,  or  364  Ibs.  ;  of  flour,  280  Ibs. 

Sackbut  (Dan.  iii.),  or  Sabeca  [lit.  elder  wood, 
because  made  of  it].  1.  Some  kind  of  harp, 
probably  Egyptian  ;  sabeca,  L.  sambuca,  Eng. 
sackbut,  being  different  forms  of  some  Oriental 
word.  2.  But  the  Eng.  S.  was  a  kind  of  trom- 
bone, a  bass  trumpet  with  a  slide. 

Sacrament.  [L.  sacramentum.]  1.  Properly 
the  military  oath  of  obedience  to  their  general 
taken  by  the  Roman  soldiers.  Hence,  2,  (Ecci. ) 
Baptism,  in  which  the  neophyte  bound  himself 
to  the  service  of  God.  The  term  is  now  applied 
to  Baptism  and  the  Eucharist,  as  being,  both, 
outward  signs  of  inward  grace. 

Sacramentary.  Anciently,  in  the  Latin 
Church,  a  book  containing  the  Collects,  Pre- 
faces, and  Canon  of  the  Mass.  The  most  im- 
portant sacramentaries  are  those  of  Leo  and 
Gelasius  in  the  fifth,  and  of  Gregory  the  Great 
in  the  sixth,  centuries. 

Sacred  College.  The  College  of  Cardinals  at 
Rome.  (Cardinal.) 

Sacred  Wars.  In  Gr.  Hist.,  the  name  given 
to  three  wars  :  the  first  said  to  have  been  waged 
against  the  people  of  Kirrha  in  the  time  of  Solon  ; 
the  second  between  the  Thebans  and  Phokians, 
357-346  B.C.  ;  the  third,  339  B.C. 


SACK 


427 


SAKE 


Sacrlficati.  [L.]  Christians  who  repented, 
having  sacrificed  to  idols,  to  avoid  condemnation 
at  a  heathen  tribunal.  Called  also  Thurificati, 
having  offered  incense. 

Sacring  bell,  or  Sanctus  bell.  In  the  Latin 
Church,  a  bell  used  in  Mass  at  the  time  of  the 
elevation. 

Sacristan.  [L.L.  sacristanus.]  The  person 
to  whose  charge  the  vestments  used  in  divine 
service  are  committed.  The  word  is  now  cor- 
rupted to  Sexton. 

Sacrum,  Os  sacrum.  [L.,  sacred  bone  ;  accord- 
ing to  the  rabbis,  because  containing  the  germ  of 
the  future  body  ;  others  say  as  being  connected 
with  sacrifice.]  (Anal.}  The  triangular  bone 
at  the  lower  part  of  the  vertebral  column,  the 
key-stone  of  the  pelvic  arch,  wedged  in  between 
the  ossa  innominata. 

Sacti  In  Hind.  Myth.,  the  female  power  of 
the  universe,  as  distinguished  from  the  male 
power,  Siva.  The  word  is  the  same  as  Suttee. 
(Trimurtee.) 

Sadder.  [Pers.]  A  summary  of  portions  of 
the  Zend-Avesta.  The  book  is  of  very  doubtful 
date. 

Saddleback.  In  popular  language,  =  anti- 
dinal strata  (q.v.). 

Saddlebow.  [O.E.  sadelboga.]  The  arch  in 
front  of  a  saddle. 

Sadducees.  A  religious  school  among  the 
Jews,  which  allowed  authority  to  the  written 
Law  only,  and  none  to  the  oral  law  ;  hence 
they  denied  the  future  life,  on  the  ground  that 
the  written  Law  was  silent  on  the  subject. 
They  are  said  by  some  to  be  so  named  from 
Zadok,  a  disciple  of  Antigonus  of  Socho.  Others 
regard  the  word  as  denoting  the  Hghteotis. 

Safe-conduct.  Either  a  guard  or  a  written 
warrant,  protecting  a  person  in  an  enemy's 
country. 

Safety-lamp.     (Davy  lamp ;  Geordy  lamp.) 

Safety-valve.  A  valve  in  the  boiler  of  a 
steam-engine :  (i)  external,  held  down  by  a  regu- 
lated force  so  as  to  open  when  the  steam  pressure 
exceeds  a  certain  amount,  and  thus  both  relieve 
the  pressure  and  give  notice  to  the  engine-man ; 
(2)  internal,  to  relieve  the  pressure  of  the  ex- 
ternal air  by  letting  in  air  when  the  cooling 
of  the  steam  produces  a  vacuum  within  the 
boiler. 

Safflower.  [Eng.  saffron  and  flower.]  The 
dried  flowers  of  bastard  saffron,  used  as  a  dye- 
stuff. 

Saffron.  [It.  zafferano.]  Cant.  iv.  14  ;  Crocus 
sativus,  Ar.  kurkum,  the  sweet-smelling  dried 
stigmas  of  which  are  used  for  perfume,  season- 
ing, etc. 

Sagas.  [A  Teut.  and  Scand.  word,  akin  to 
sagen,  to  say]  Ancient  works  giving  the  mythi- 
cal and  the  early  historical  traditions  of  Northern 
Europe.  Among  the  mythical  sagas  the  most 
important  are  the  Voluspa,  Hervarar,  Vohunga, 
and  Vilkina  or  Wilkina,  with  the  saga  of  Ragnar 
Lodbrog.  Many  of  the  historical  sagas  are  col- 
lected in  the  Heimskringla  of  Snorro  Sturleson. 

Sagathy.  [Fr.  sagatis.]  A  mixed  stuff  of 
silk  and  cotton,  also  called  Sayettc. 


Sage,  or  Sage-brush.  (Hot.)  A  general  name 
in  some  of  the  western  states  of  N.  America 
for  some  spec,  of  Artemisia,  which  impart  a 
greyish  appearance  to  large  tracts  of  country. 

Sagene.  The  Russian  fathom ;  it  equals  three 
arshines,  i.e.  about  seven  English  feet. 

Sagger.  [Corr.  from  safeguard.]  A  pot  in 
which  fine  earthenware  is  baked. 

Sago.     [Malay  sagu.]     A  kind  of  granulated 
starch,   prepared  from  the  pith  of  several  E. 
Indian  palms,  and  used  as  food. 

Sails.  (Naut.)  Square-S.,  courses,  topsails, 
topgallant-sails,  royals,  and  skysails.  Fore-and- 
aft  S.,  jibs,  staysails,  trysails,  boom,  main,  and 
fore  sails,  spanker  or  driver  (on  the  mizzen),  gaff 
topsails,  studding-sails,  and  the  flying-kites. 
Sheer-S.  (Driftsail.)  Litg-S.,  nearly  square, 
set  on  a  slanting  yard,  not  suspended  from  the 
middle,  and  with  the  longer  arm  the  higher. 

Sainfoin.  [Fr.,  from  L.  sanum  foenum,  sound 
hay.]  (Bot.)  Common,  wild,  clover-like  plant, 
Onobrychis  sativa,  ord.  Leguminaceae,  cultivated 
as  fodder  [Gr.  dvofipvxts]. 

St.  Andrew's  cross.    (Cross.) 

St.  Anthony's  cross.     (Cross.) 

St.  Anthony's  fire.  Erysipelas  (q.v.),  believed 
to  have  been  miraculously  healed  by  him. 

St.  Cuthbert's  beads.  In  N.  England,  joints 
of  the  stems  of  encrinites,  formerly  pierced  for 
rosaries  (see  Marmion,  canto  ii.  ib). 

St.  Elmo's  fire.     (Elmo,  Fire  of  St.) 

St.  James,  Liturgy  of.     (Liturgy.) 

St.  John,  Liturgy  of.     (Liturgy.) 

St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  Knights  of.  (Orders, 
Keligious.) 

St.  John's  bread.    (Algaroba.) 

St.  Luke's  summer.  The  fine  weather  fre- 
quently occurring  about  October  18 ;  so  St. 
Martin's  summer,  in  the  Mediterranean,  about 
November  u. 

St.  Martin's  summer.     (St.  Luke's  summer.) 

St.  Simonians.  (Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Claude  Henri,  Count  of  St.  Simon  (1760-1825), 
who  wished  to  set  up  a  theocratic  government, 
in  which  all  property  should  be  held  in  common. 

St.  Sophia.  The  Church  of,  at  Constant*, 
nople,  is  now  a  mosque.  It  was  built  by  Jus- 
tinian, and  dedicated,  A.D.  537,  in  the  name  of 
the  Holy  and  Eternal  Wisdom,  Gr.  ayia  2o<p/a, 
which  answers  to  the  Logos  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. The  Latin  term,  Sancta  Sophia,  which 
translates  0710  2o0fa,  came  to  be  taken  as  the 
name  of  a  human  person,  and  St.  Sophia  was 
said  to  have  been  martyred  along  with  her  three 
daughters,  Fides,  Spes,  Caritas,  Faith,  Hope, 
Charity. 

St.  Vitus's  dance.  1.  Now  i.q.  chSrea  (q.v.), 
but  originally,  2,  dancing  mania  (q.v.),  or  tar- 
antism  ;  so  called  from  pilgrimages,  in  Swabia,  to 
the  chapel  of  St.  Weit. 

Saints,  Island  of  the.  Ireland,  which  re- 
ceived Christianity  from  Palladius  in  the  fourth 
century  and  from  St.  Patrick  in  the  fifth  cen- 
tury. Her  schools  were  the  resort  of  foreigners  ; 
amongst  her  missionaries  was  St.  Columba, 
Apostle  of  the  Hebrides,  540-615. 

Saker.     (Musket.) 


SALA 


428 


SAMA 


Salaam.  [Heb.  shalom,  salem,  peace.}  The 
ordinary  salutation  in  Eastern  countries. 

Salade.  [Sp.  celada,  L.  coelata,  carved  helmet.] 
Metal  head-covering,  shaped  like  a  sou'-wester, 
worn  by  archers  early  in  the  fifteenth  century. 

Saladier.  Crescent-shaped  plate  for  salad 
[It.  salata]. 

Salamander.  [Gr.  craXa/jLavSpa.]  (Zool.)  1. 
Lizard-like  amphibian,  as  the  newt,  or  water- 
salamander  (Triton),  with  compressed  tail ; 
land-salamanders  (Salamandra)  have  round  tails. 
Central  and  S.  Europe  and  N.  Africa.  Ord. 
Urodelse.  2.  A  fabulous  creature  which  was 
supposed  to  be  able  to  live  in  fire. 

Sal  ammoniac.  [L.  sal,  sail.]  (Chem.)  Chlo- 
ride of  ammonium. 

Sal  Atticum.  [L.,  attic  salt.]  The  brilliant 
wit  of  Athenian  writers. 

Salep.  [Ar.  sahleb.]  A  substance  prepared 
from  the  root  of  several  kinds  of  orchis,  used  as 
food  or  for  making  a  drink  like  tea. 

Salic  law.  (Hist.)  The  law  of  the  Salian 
Franks,  who  held  the  country  between  the  Meuse 
and  the  Rhine.  It  was  reformed  by  Charles  the 
Great  (Charlemagne),  798.  It  especially  pro- 
vides that  no  Salic  land  shall  pass  into  the  hands 
of  females ;  but  the  extent  of  these  lands  has 
been  a  subject  of  keen  controversy.  To  this 
rule,  however,  has  been  ascribed  the  exclusion 
of  females  from  the  French  crown.  The  claim 
of  Edward  III.  was  barred  only  by  this  law. 
Hence  arose  the  Hundred  Years'  War  between 
England  and  France.  (Bretigny,  Peace  of.) 

Salicylic  acid.  An  acid  prepared  from  the 
bark  of  a  kind  of  willow  [L.  salix]. 

Salient.  (Her.)  Springing  forward  [L. 
salientem]. 

Salient  angle.  (Fortif.)  One  in  which  the 
works  project  towards  the  country. 

Salinas.  [L.  sallnge,  salt-works.]  In  S. 
America,  once  sea-reaches  and  lagoons,  now 
great  plains  and  elevations,  with  white  saline 
incrustation. 

Salivary  glands.  [L.  saliva,  spittle.]  (Anat.) 
Three  pairs  of  G. :  (i)  Parotid  [Gr.  iraptaris,  from 
Trapa,  near,  o3s,  ur6s,  the  ear] ;  (2)  Sub- 
maxillary,  sub  maxilla  [L.,  under  the  jaw-bone]  ; 
(3)  Sub-lingtial,  sub  lingua  {imder  the  tongue]. 
Each  conveys  into  the  mouth  secretions  which, 
mixed  with  those  of  the  follicles  of  the  mucous 
membrane,  constitute  saliva. 

Salivation.  An  abnormally  abundant  flow  of 
saliva,  generally  by  the  action  of  mercury  on  the 
parotid  glands,  sometimes  spontaneous. 

Salle-a-manger.  [Fr.,  a  room  for  eating.']  A 
dining-room. 

Sallenders.     (Mallenders.) 

Sallet-herbs.  [Fr.  salade,  from  It.  salata, 
or  insalata,  salted.]  Herbs  for  salad. 

Sallyport.  (Fortif.)  1.  Opening  cut  in  a 
parapet  for  a  passage  through  it,  generally  barri- 
caded by  a  strong  door.  2.  A  gate  from  which 
sallies  [Fr.  saillie]  are  made. 

Salmagundi.  [Fr.  salmigondis.]  A  dish  made 
of  chopped  meat  and  pickled  herring,  with  oil, 
vinegar,  pepper,  and  onions. 

Salmasius.     (Def ensio  populi  Anglican!.) 


Salmon  peal,  S.  peel.     (Grilse.) 

Saloop,  or  Sassafras  tea.  With  milk  and  sugar, 
a  drink  still  sold  to  the  working  classes  in  the 
early  morning  in  London.  (Sassafras.) 

Sal  prunella.  (Chem.)  Fused  nitre  in  cakes 
or  balls. 

Sal  soda.  [L.  sal,  salt,  and  soda.]  (Chem.) 
Impure  carbonate  of  soda. 

Salsola.  [L.  salsus,  salted.]  (Bot.)  A  gen. 
of  plants,  ord.  Chenopodiaceae,  many  spec,  of 
which  yield  kelp  and  barilla. 

Salt.  [L.  sal,  salt.  ]  Any  chemical  compound 
of  an  acid  and  a  base. 

Saltant.  [L.  saltantem,  dancing.}  (Her.) 
Springing  forward. 

Salt-box.  (Naut.)  Box  under  the  charge  of 
the  cabin-door  sentry,  and  containing  great-gun 
ammunition  for  instant  use. 

Salt-cake.  Crude  sulphate  of  sodium,  obtained 
in  the  manufacture  of  soda  (carbonate  of  sodium) 
by  heating  salt  mixed  with  oil  of  vitriol. 

Salt-cat.  A  mixture  of  salt  and  lime  for 
pigeons.  Other  ingredients  are  sometimes 
added. 

Salt-eel.     In  Naut.  slang,  a  rope's  end. 

Salterns.     Salt-works. 

Saltigrades.  [L.  saltus,  a  leap,  gradior,  J 
proceed.]  (Entom.)  Tribe  of  spiders  which 
spring  upon  their  prey. 

Saltire,  Saltier.  [Fr.  sautoir.]  (Her.)  An 
ordinary  consisting  of  a  cross  in  the  form  X, 
otherwise  called  St.  Andrew 's  cross. 

Salt  of  lemons.     (Lemons,  Salt  of.) 

Salus  populi  suprema  lex.  [L.]  The  wdfare 
of  the  people  is  the  supreme  law,  in  the  sense  that 
everything  else  is  to  be  subordinated  to  this  end. 

Salva  dignitate.     [L.]    Saving  his  dignity. 

Salvage.  [L.  salvus,  safe.]  (Naut.)  1.  An 
allowance  to  those,  other  than  the  crew,  who 
rescue  a  ship  or  goods  from  the  perils  of  the  sea 
or  from  enemies.  2.  The  goods,  or  thing  saved. 

Salvo  jure.     [L.]    Saving  his  right. 

Sal  volatile.  (Chem.)  Carbonate  of  am- 
monia. 

Salvo  pudore.  [L.]  Without  offence  to 
modesty. 

Salvum  fac  regem.  [L.]  God  save  the  king. 
Salvam  fac  reginam,  God  save  the  queen. 

Salzkammergut.  [Ger.,  salt -exchequer  pro- 
perty.] A  name  given  to  a  district  forming  the 
south-west  angle  of  Upper  Austria,  wedged  in 
between  Salzburg  and  Styria,  traversed  by  the 
river  Traun,  about  250  square  miles  ;  its  springs 
and  mines  yielding  an  enormous  supply  of  salt ; 
a  Government  monopoly.  Called  also  Austrian 
Switzerland. 

Samakeen.     (Naut.)   Turkish  coasting- vessel. 

Samanaeans.  Indian  philosophers  who  are 
specially  distinguished  from  the  Brahmans  by 
those  who  mention  them.  The  name  seems  to 
be  found  in  the  Hind,  schamman,  a  sage,  in  the 
Cha-men  of  the  Chinese,  and  the  Sammon- 
lodom  of  Siam. 

Samara.  [L.,  seed  of  the  elm.]  (Bot.)  An 
indehiscent  fruit,  producing  a  membranous  wing- 
like  expansion  from  its  back  or  end  ;  e.g.  maple, 
sycamore. 


SAMA 


429 


SANG 


Samaritans.  In  Jewish  Hist.,  properly  the 
people  of  Samaria,  a  city  built  by  Omri,  father 
of  Ahab.  Generally,  the  population  of  the 
northern  part  of  Palestine  after  the  Captivity, 
which,  as  being  greatly  mixed  with  foreigners, 
was  looked  down  upon  by  the  people  of  Judaea. 

Sama  Veda.    (Veda.) 

Sambuca.     (Sackbut.) 

Sambucco.     (Naut. )    An  Arabian  pinnace. 

Samian  ware.  A  lustrous  ware  (like  dull-red 
sealing-wax)  with  relief  ornaments,  originally 
made  in  Samos,  afterwards  in  Italy,  Gaul,  Ger- 
many ;  found  throughout  the  Roman  empire. 
(Aretine  ware.) 

Saxniel.  [Turk,  sam-yeli,  from  Ar.  samm, 
poison,  Turk,  yel,  wind.}  A  hot,  destructive 
wind  blowing  from  the  desert.  (Simoom.) 

Samite.  [L.,  Gr.  e|cfyuToy,  from  e£»  •»'•*> 
HITOS,  thread.}  A  kind  of  silk  stuff,  geneially 
adorned  with  gold. 

Sammarinesi.  Inhabitants  of  the  republic  of 
San  Marino,  in  Italy. 

Sammuramit.    (Semiramis  and  Kinus.) 

Samoyeds.  (Geog.)  Tribes  inhabiting  part  of 
the  coasts  of  the  Arctic  Ocean. 

Samp.  [N.-Amer.  Ind.  sapac,  softened.]  A 
kind  of  porridge  made  of  bruised  maize. 

Sampaan,  or  Sampan.  (Naut.)  A  Chinese 
hatch-boat,  used  for  passenger  traffic,  and  also 
as  a  dwelling  by  Tartar  families. 

Samphire,  Sea  samphire  (i.e.  St.  Pierre,  St. 
Peter's  plant).  (Bot.)  Crithmum  [Gr.  KpiQ/j.oi/] 
maritimum,  an  aromatic  plant,  on  seaside  rocks  ; 
ord.  Umbelliferse ;  a  favourite  ingredient  in 
pickles,  and  used  medicinally. 

SampL  An  old  Phoenician  letter,  retained 
in  Greek  as  a  numeral  =  900.  (For  its  history 
and  changes,  see  Taylor's  History  of  the  Al- 
phabet. ) 

Samshtu  [Chin.,  thrice-fired.}  A  spirituous 
drink,  distilled  from  water  in  which  boiled  rice 
has  been  long  fermented. 

Samson's-post.  (Naut.)  A  movable  post,  to 
which  a  leading,  or  snatch,  block  is  fastened, 
enabling  more  men  to  haul  on  a  rope. 

Sanchoniathon.  A  writer  who  is  said  to  have 
lived  in  the  time  of  Semiramis.  The  frag- 
ments which  bear  his  name  are  late  forgeries. 

Sancta  sanctSrum.  [L.]  Holy  of  holies. 
Hence  sanctum  is  used  to  denote  any  place 
strictly  set  apart,  and  not  open  to  strangers. 

Sanctorale.  [Eccl.  L.]  A  book  containing 
lives  of  saints.  (Acta  Sanctorum.) 

Sanctus.    (Ter-Sanctus.) 

Sanctus  bell.     (Sacring  bell.) 

Sancus.     (Semo  Sancus.) 

Sandal.  (Naut. )  An  open  vessel  of  Barbary, 
long  and  narrow,  and  having  two  masts. 

Sandalwood.  [Ar.  zandal.]  An  odoriferous 
wood,  the  produce  of  several  spec,  of  Santalum, 
Sandalwort ;  trees  or  shrubs  of  Asia,  Australia, 
Pacific  Isles. 

Sandarach.  [Gr.  tracSapci/crj,  realgar,  red  sttl- 
phuret  of  arsenic,  Skt.  sindura.]  A  transparent 
African 'resin,  used  for  varnish,  etc.  (Pounce.) 

Sand-bath.  A  box  of  hot  sand,  used  by  chemists 
for  heating  vessels,  etc. 


Sand-blindness.  An  affection,  in  which  small 
particles  appear  to  fly  before  the  eyes. 

Sand-crack.  A  crack  in  the  thinnest  part  of  the 
hoof  of  a  horse ;  one  cause  of  which  is  excessive 
dryness. 

Sandemanians.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  a  small  sect, 
who  are  called  in  Scotland  Glassites,  from  John 
Glass,  who,  in  1727,  denounced  all  Church 
establishments,  and  formed  his  followers  after 
what  he  regarded  as  the  primitive  model.  In 
1755,  the  letters  of  his  son-in-law,  Robert 
Sandeman,  led  to  the  formation  of  similar  bodies 
in  London  and  elsewhere.  The  Sandemanians 
do  not  acknowledge  the  name. 

Sanderling.  (Ornith.)  Ruddy  plover ;  wading- 
bird  about  eight  inches  long.  Everywhere  but 
Australia.  Gen.  and  spec.  Calidris,  fam.  Scolo- 
pacidoe,  ord.  Grallse. 

Sanders,  Ked  sanders.  (Bot.)  Red  sandal- 
wood. 

Sandhi.  [Skt.,  a  binding,  from  sam,  together, 
dha,  to  place.]  The  symphonic  system  in  San- 
skrit grammar, relating  to  words  in  that  language. 
(Assimilation.) 

Sandiver.  [Fr.  sel  de  verre,  salt  of  glass.] 
(Glass-gall.) 

Sandstone.  (Geol.)  Sand  consolidated  by 
pressure,  or  cemented  by  oxide  of  iron,  clay, 
etc.  !^.,  limestone,  clay,  are  the  three  great 
divisions  of  sedimentary  rock-masses. 

Sand-strake.     (Garboard-strake.) 

Sand-warpt.  ( Naut. )  1.  Left  on  a  shoal  by  the 
tide.  2.  Striking  on  a  shoal  at  half-flood.  (Warp.) 

Sane  memory.  In  Law,  in  making  contracts, 
in  commission  of  crime,  etc.,  that  essential  of 
sound  '  mind  and  clear  recollection  which 
infants,  idiots,  lunatics,  the  childish,  have  not. 

Sangaree.  [Sp.  sangria,  blood-letting.]  A 
beverage  of  red  wine,  lemon,  and  water  (from 
its  colour). 

Sangfroid.  [Fr.,  L.  sanguis  frigidus.]  Cold 
blood.  Hence  coolness,  assurance. 

Sangreal.  In  the  Arthurian  legend,  the 
platter,  or  dish,  in  which  the  Saviour  ate  the  Pass- 
over before  his  passion,  and  in  which  Joseph  uf 
Arimathaea  gathered  up  the  drops  of  blood  which 
fell  from  His  side  when  pierced  by  the  cen- 
turion's spear.  On  this  sustenance  alone  Joseph 
was  nourished  through  his  imprisonment  of  forty- 
two  years  ;  and  when,  having  been  brought  by 
him  to  Britain,  this  vessel  was  shrined  in  a 
magnificent  temple,  it  supplied  to  all  the  most 
delicious  food,  and  preserved  them  in  perpetual 
youth.  It  was  afterwards  lost,  and  the  search 
for  it  became  the  great  work  of  the  knights  of 
King  Arthur's  Round  Table.  Lancelot  all  but 
succeeded  in  the  quest,  which  was  at  length 
achieved  by  his  son,  the  prince  Sir  Galahad. 
The  name  is  said  to  be  made  up  of  the  two  words, 
sang  real,  which  are  declared  to  mean  real  blood, 
although  they  should  mean  royal  blood ;  but  the 
second  word  is  the  L.L.  gradale,  L.  crater,  Gr. 
KpaT-fip,  a  cup  (Skeat,  Etym.  Eng.  Diet.). 

Sanguine.  [L.  sanguineus,  bloody}  (Her.)  The 
blood-red  colour  in  coats  of  arms,  represented  in 
engraving  by  diagonal  lines  crossing  each  other. 

Sanguisuges.     [L.  sangui-suga,  a  bloodsucker] 


SANH 


43° 


SART 


(Zool.)  1,  Leeches.  2.  IIe_mipterous  insects; 
as  the  bed-bug  (Cimex  lectularius). 

Sanhedrim,  more  properly  Sanhedrin.  [A 
Hebraized  form  of  the  Gr.  ffw&punr,  a  council.'} 
The  highest  judicial  tribunal  among  the  Jews, 
consisting  of  seventy-one  members,  including  the 
high  priest. 

Sanhita.     (Veda.) 

Sanies.     (Ichor.) 

Sanio-purulent.  (Med. )  Having  a  combina- 
tion of  sanies  and  pus. 

Sanjak.  The  Turkish  word  for  a  standard. 
The  Sanjak  sherif  is  the  S.  of  the  prophet. — 
Finlay,  Hist,  of  Greece,  v.  250. 

Sans-culottes.  [Fr.]  A  contemptuous  name, 
denoting  the  beggary  of  those  who  go  with  their 
legs  bare  ;  applied  to  the  Jacobins  of  the  French 
Revolution,  but  afterwards  assumed  by  them- 
selves as  a  title  of  honour.  In  the  new  calendar 
the  five  supernumerary  days  were  called  Sans- 
culottides. 

Sans-facon.    [Fr.]     Without  ceremony. 

Sanskrit.  The  name,  meaning  lit.  polished, 
of  the  ancient  language  of  the  Hindus,  which 
ceased  to  be  spoken  in  the  fourth  century  B.C. 
The  attention  of  European  scholars  was  drawn 
to  it  by  Sir  W.  Jones.  The  consequences  of  his 
discovery  have  been  most  important.  (Com- 
parative grammar;  Comparative  mythology; 
Prakrit;  Veda.) 

Sans  peur  et  sans  reproche.  [Fr.]  Without 
fear  and  'without  reproach.  Said  of  the 
Chevalier  Bayard  (1476-1524). 

Sans  phrase  [Fr.]  =  in  few  words ;  going 
straight  to  the  point,  perhaps  somewhat 
bluntly. 

Sans-souci.  [Fr.,  without  care.]  Free  and 
easy. 

Santaline.  [Fr.]  (Chem.)  The  colouring 
matter  of  red  sanders.  (Sanders.) 

Santonine.  [Gr.  (ravrdviov,  wormwood]  The 
bitter  principle  of  wormwood,  obtained  from  the 
flower-heads  of  some  of  the  Artemisias ;  a  most 
powerful  anthelmintic. 

Sap.  [Fr.  sape,  L.  sappa,  a  pick,  in  Isidore 
of  Seville  (Brachet).]  (Mil.)  Trench  covered 
on  one  side  by  gabions,  by  which  a  fortress  is 
approached  for  purposes  of  attack.  S. -faggot  is 
a  short  fascine  for  placing  between  gabions.  S.- 
roller  is  a  large  gabion  filled  with  fascines,  for 
rolling  on  the  ground  and  protecting  the  sapper 
working  behind  it. 

Sapan  wood.  [Malay  sapang.]  A  red  dye- 
wood  from  Siam,  Pegu,  etc. 

Sap  green.  A  water-colour,  made  from  the 
juice  of  buckthorn  berries. 

Saphena,  Saphenous  veins.  [Gr.  aaQ-nvfo,  clear, 
distinct.}  (Anat.)  The  two  long,  important  sub- 
cutaneous veins,  extending  from  the  foot  to  the 
groin. 

Sapiens  dominabitur  astris.  [L.]  The  wise 
man  will  rule  the  stars  ;  said  of  those  who  rise 
above  astrological  or  other  superstitions. 

Sapientia  supplet  aetatem.  (Malitia  snpplet 
aetatem.) 

Sapor.    [L.]     Taste. 

Sapphic.     The  name  of  a  Greek  stanza,  or 


strophe,  supposed  to  have  been  invented  by 
Sappho,  consisting  of  three  verses  of  eleven 
syll.,  followed  by  an  Adonic  verse  of  five  syll., 
a  dactyl  and  a  spondee. 

Sapphire.  [Gr.  adirfyeipos]  In  the  breastplate 
of  Aaron,  Exod.  xxviii.  1 8,  and  of  Rev.  xxi. 
19;  probably  Lapis  lazuli  (q.v.).  (Sapphire  is 
pure  alumina,  mostly  blue,  sometimes  colour- 
less.) 

Sapsago.  [Ger.  schabzieger,  from  schaben,  to 
scrape,  zieger,  whey.]  A  dark -green  Swiss  cheese. 

Sarabaites.  Ancient  Eastern  monks,  who  are 
supposed  to  be  the  same  with  the  Remoboth 
mentioned  by  St.  Jerome. 

Saraband.  [Sp.  zarabanda.]  1.  A  stately 
Spanish  dance,  with  castanets,  in  triple  time,  of 
Moorish  origin.  2.  Music  for  the  S.,  or  of  a 
similar  kind  ;  e.g.  those  of  J.  S.  Bach,  Handel. 

Saragossa,  Maid  of.  [Sp.  Zaragoza,  L. 
Caesar-Augusta.]  Angostina,  the  life  and  soul 
of  the  city,  when  besieged  by  the  French,  and 
taken,  1809,  after  a  most  heroical  defence. 

Saranyu.     (Erinyes,  The  avenging.) 

Sarcocolla.  [Gr.  <rop|,  ffapKos,  flesh,  KO\\U, 
glue.]  A  gum-resin  from  Arabia  and  Persia. 

Sarcode.  [Gr.  o-opK-ciSrjs,  flesh-like]  (Pro- 
toplasm.) 

Sarcoma.  [Gr.  <rdpK(ana,  a  fleshy  excrescence.] 
A  fleshy,  painless,  moderately  firm  tumour. 

Sarcophagus.  [Gr.  <rapKo<pdyos,  from  <rdp£, 
flesh,  <payew,  to  eat]  A  stone  coffin.  The  stone 
of  Assos,  in  Asia  Minor,  used  for  such  coffins, 
was  supposed  to  corrode  bodies  entirely  in  forty 
days  ;  hence  the  name. 

Sarcotic  [Gr.  aapnuriKos,  from  crapKoa),  I  make 
fleshy],  or  Incarnative.  (Med.)  Helping  the 
flesh  to  grow. 

Sard,  Sardius.    [Gr.  ffdpSios.]     (Chalcedony.) 

Sardius.  Of  Rev.  xxi.  20 ;  fine  carnelian. — 
King's  Precious  Stones. 

Sardonic  laughter.     (Risus  sardonicus.) 

Saree.  [Hind.]  An  embroidered  scarf  ol 
gauze  or  silk. 

Sargasso,  Gulf-weed,  Tropic  grape.  (Bof.) 
Sargassum  vulgare,  ord.  Alga ;  a  seaweed, 
growing  in  immense  fields  in  some  parts  of 
the  Atlantic,  Pacific,  and  Indian  Oceans ;  the 
S.  Sea  is  where  the  Gulf  Stream  sends  off  its 
more  southern  branch  towards  the  Azores. 

Barking.  Thin  boards  for  putting  under 
slates,  etc. 

Sarong.    A  kirtle  worn  by  Eastern  women. 

Saros.  A  name  which  the  Chaldeans  are 
supposed  to  have  given  to  a  period  of  223  luna- 
tions, or  1 8  years  10  days,  after  which  eclipses 
recur  in  nearly  the  same  order  and  magnitude. 

Sarpedon.  [Gr.]  In  the  tale  of  Troy,  a 
Lycian  chief  slain  by  Patroclus.  The  carrying 
of  his  body  to  his  home  by  Sleep  and  Death 
(Hypnos  and  Thanatos)  has  furnished  a  subject 
for  well-known  sculptures.  (Hermes.) 

Sartorius  [L.  sartor,  a  tailor],  Tailor's  muscle. 
(Anat.)  A  muscle  of  the  thigh,  serving  to 
throw  one  leg  across  the  other. 

Sartor  Eesartus  ( The  Tailor  Re-stitched).  By 
Thomas  Carlyle,  professing  to  review  a  German 
work  on  dress,  attacks  the  garb  of  falsehood 


SARU 


SAXI 


and  unreality  by  which  true  ideas  are  often 
overlaid  in  human  life. 

Sarum  Use.     (Use.) 

Sash.  (Mil.)  Scarf  worn  round  the  waist  or 
over  the  shoulder  by  combatant  officers,  origin- 
ally intended  for  carrying  the  wearer  in  when 
wounded. 

Sasine  and  livery.     (Seisin,  Livery  of.) 

Sassafras.  [L.  saxifragus,  rock-breaking.}  (Bot.) 
A  gen.  of  Lauraceae,  trees ;  of  which  S.  off  icinale 
is  a  native  of  N.  America.  The  root,  wood, 
and  bark  have  stimulant  and  sudorific  proper- 
ties :  of  the  leaves,  young  shoots,  and  fruits 
various  medicinal  and  other  preparations  are 
made.  (Saloop;  Saxifrage.) 

Sassanides.  A  dynasty  of  Persian  kings, 
founded  by  Ardshir  (Artaxerxes),  A.D.  226. 

Sassenach.  The  name  by  which  the  Teutonic 
conquerors  of  the  British  Islands  were  known  to 
the  Celtic  inhabitants,  the  Saxons  being  those 
with  whom  they  were  most  in  contact. 

Sassoline.  [Fr.  sassolin.]  Native  boracic 
acid. 

Sat  cito,  si  sat  tuto.  [L.]  Quick  enough,  if 
safe  enough. 

Satellite.  [L.  sStellitem,  an  attendant.}  A 
small  or  secondary  planet  revolving  round  a 
larger  or  primary  planet ;  as  the  moon  round 
the  earth. 

Satin-wood.  (Bot.)  A  lemon-coloured  wood 
from  India,  taking  a  lustrous  finish,  and  used 
chiefly  for  veneering. 

Satire.  [L.  satira,  a  word  of  uncertain 
origin.]  At  first  a  poem  full  of  miscellaneous 
matter  without  orderly  method  ;  but  afterwards, 
a  composition  chastising  or  ridiculing  vice. 

Satis,  superque.  [L.]  Enough,  and  more 
(than  enough). 

Sativa,  fern,  of  L.  adj.  satlvus.  In  Bot.,  cul- 
tivated; opposed  to  Agrestis,  wild. 

Sat  pulchra,  si  sat  bona.  [L.,  fair  enough,  if 
good  enough.}  Handsome  is  that  handsome 
does. 

Satrap.  [Gr.  carpair-ris,  supposed  to  be  the 
same  as  the  Pers.  schah -del-ban,  the  king's  door- 
keeper.} The  title  of  provincial  governors  in 
the  ancient  Persian  kingdom. 

Satsuma  ware.  A  yellowish-white  Japanese 
fayence,  slightly  rose-tinted,  with  the  glaze 
slightly  crackled,  and  decorated  with  flowers 
and  landscapes.  (Crackle.) 

Saturation.  [L.  saturatio,  -nem.]  (Chem.) 
The  combination  of  two  substances  in  such  pro- 
portion that  no  more  of  either  will  enter  into 
the  combination. 

Saturn.     (Planet.) 

Saturn.  [L.  Saturnus,  Sseturnus,  akin  to  sero, 
satum,  /  sow.}  An  Italian  god  of  seed-time 
and  harvest.  His  wife  was  named  Ops,  wealth 
or  plenty.  By  late  poets  he  was  identified  with 
the  Greek  Kronos,  Cronus,  with  which  he  has 
nothing  in  common. 

Saturnalia.  [L.]  The  feast  of  Saturn,  in 
which  a  large  amount  of  licence  was  allowed, 
slaves  being  waited  on  at  table  by  their  masters. 
Hence  any  time  of  wild  and  furious  merriment. 
(Fools,  Feast  of.) 


Satyr.  [Heb.  sa'ir  (Isa.  xiii.  21),  the  hairy 
one.}  (Bibl.)  Probably  some  large  kind  of  ape. 

Satyric  drama.  In  the  Greek  theatre,  a  semi- 
burlesque  piece  presented  after  the  performance 
of  the  regular  dramatic  Trilogy.  The  foui 
formed  the  Tetralogy. 

Saucisson.  [Fr.,  a  sausage,  saucisse,  L.  sal- 
sitia.]  (Mil.)  Hose  of  coarse  cloth,  about  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  for  conveying  the 
train  of  powder  to  the  charge  of  a  mine. 

Sauerkraut.  [Ger.,  sour  cabbage.}  Cabbage 
salted  and  allowed  to  ferment. 

Saunders  blue.  [Fr.  cendres  bleues,  blue 
ashes.}  (Ultramarine.) 

Saunterer.  Properly  one  who  has  performed 
the  pilgrimage  to  the  Holy  Land  [L.  Sancta 
Terra].  Hence  a  wanderer,  or  vagabond. 

Sauna,  Saurians.  [Gr.  oravpos,  a  lizard.}  (Zool.) 

1.  Lizards  (Lacertilia)  and  crocodiles  (Loricata). 

2.  Any  reptile  externally  like  a  lizard. 
Sauropsida,  Sauropsidans.  [Gr.  <ravpos,  lizard, 

otyts,  appearance.}  A  name  for  the  combined 
classes  of  birds  and  reptiles. 

Sauterelle.  [Fr.,  a  grasshopper.}  An  instru- 
ment used  by  stone-cutters  and  carpenters  in 
measuring  angles. 

Sautry.    A  dulcimer.     (Psaltery.) 

Sauve  qui  peut.  [Fr.]  Let  him  save  himself 
who  can ;  said  to  troops  utterly  defeated,  as  (it 
is  alleged)  by  Napoleon  after  the  last  charge  at 
Waterloo. 

Savanna.  [W.-Ind.  savana.]  An  open  plain 
or  meadow,  without  wood.  The  S.  is  not  a 
prairie  ;  it  is  a  level  tract  of  land,  one  or  two 
feet  lower  than  the  level  land  about  it — (?)  the 
basin  of  a  former  lake,  filled  up  by  soil  and 
vegetable  matter — clothed  in  perpetual  verdure, 
abounding  in  flowers  ;  except  in  winter,  when  it 
is  under  water.  The  Prairie  differs  not  from 
other  land  except  in  the  absence  of  timber, 
supposed  to  have  been  previously  destroyed. — 
Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Savants.     [Fr.,  L.  sapientes.]     Learned  men. 

Save-all,  or  Water-sail.  (Naut.)  One  set 
below  the  lower  studding-sail. 

Saveloy,  or  Cervelat.  [It.  cervellata.]  A  kind 
of  sausage,  properly  made  with  brains  [It.  cer- 
vello,  L.  cerebellum]. 

Savicu  wood.     (Sabica.) 

Savitar.  In  Hind.  Myth.,  the  golden-handed 
sun. 

Savoir-faire.  [Fr.,  to  know  (how)  to  do.}  The 
power  of  contriving  and  executing  successfully. 
"To  have  one's  wits  about  one." 

Savoir-vivre.  [Fr.]  Good  breeding,  good 
manners. 

Savoy  Conference.  Held  at  the  Savoy  Palace, 
London,  1661,  between  twelve  bishops,  with 
others,  and  certain  Presbyterians,  to  ascertain 
what  concessions,  as  to  the  Liturgy,  would  con- 
ciliate the  latter. 

Sawyer's  dog.  An  iron  bar  turned  down  at 
each  end  for  driving  into  two  contiguous  beams 
of  wood  and  clamping  them  tightly  together. 

Saxifrage.  [L.  saxifragus,  breaking  rocks.} 
1.  A  name  given  to  many  plants  supposed  to 
possess  the  power  of  splitting  rocks,  like  the 


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Snake  leaves  of  Teutonic  and  Indian  stories, 
and  the  Sesame  of  the  Arabian  tale.  The  colour 
is  blue,  yellow,  red,  or  white,  from  the  different 
hues  of  the  lightning,  and  from  these  the  notion 
of  Saxifras  plants  is  derived.  (Sassafras.)  2. 
(Bot.)  A  large  gen.  of  the  ord.  Saxifragaceae  ; 
most  of  them  being  dwarf  herbs,  with  tufted 
foliage,  and  panicles  of  white,  yellow^  or  red 
flowers;  many  being  natives  of  Britain,  and 
cultivated  to  decorate  rockeries,  etc. 

Saxon  architecture.  A  name  sometimes  used 
to  denote  the  architecture  of  England  before 
the  Norman  Conquest.  It  was  a  form  of 
Romanesque.  (Pointed  architecture.) 

Saxon  blue.  A  solution  of  indigo  in  sulphuric 
acid,  used  for  dyeing.  Saxon,  green  is  produced 
by  dyeing  with  yellow  upon  a  ground  of  Saxon 
blue. 

Sayette.     (Sagathy.) 

Sbirri.     [It.]    The  police  of  Italy. 

Scab.    (Mange.) 

Scabies.    (Itch.) 

Scad.  (Ichth.)  Horse-mackarel,  Trachurus 
trachurus  [Gr.  rpdx-ovpos,  from  rpox^s,  rough, 
ovpd,  tail].  Fam.  Carangidse,  ord.  Acantho- 
pterygii,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Scaglidla.  [It.]  (Arch.)  A  composition  of 
gypsum,  or  sulphate  of  lime,  sometimes  called 
Mischia,  from  the  colours  employed  in  it  to 
imitate  marble. 

Scald.  [Norse  skalld.]  A  poet,  or  bard.  In 
the  ancient  literature  of  N.  Europe,  poems, 
whose  writers  are  known,  are  said  to  be  written 
by  scalds.  When  their  authors  are  unknown, 
they  are  called  Eddas.  (Edda.) 

Scaldings !  (Naut.)  Get  out  of  the  way! 
Used  by  a  man  with  a  load. 

Scale.  [L.  scala,  staircase,  ladder.]  1.  A 
graduated  line,  used  to  show  the  distance  of  a 
movable  point  from  a  fixed  point ;  as  the  scale 
of  a  thermometer.  2.  A  graduated  line  show- 
ing the  proportion  between  a  picture  and  the 
thing  it  represents ;  as  the  scale  attached  to  a 
plan.  3.  The  ratio  of  a  distance  on  a  map  to 
the  same  distance  on  the  ground  ;  as  the  scale 
of  an  inch  to  the  mile.  4.  The  radix  or  base  of 
a  numerical  system  ;  as  the  decimal  scale.  (For 
Scale  of  colour,  vide  Colour.) 

Scaleboard.  A  thin  slip  of  wood  used  by 
printers  for  filling  up  gaps  in  a  page  of  type. 

Scalene  triangle.     (Triangle.) 

Scalenus.  [Gr.  ffKa\r)i>6s,  halting,  unequal.'} 
(Anat.)  A  muscle  of  the  neck  which  bends  the 
head  and  neck. 

Scalled  head.  Popular  name  for  a  variety  of 
Eczema  of  the  scalp. 

Scallop.  [Fr.  escalope,  shell.]  (Zoo!.)  Gen. 
of  free  bivalve  mollusc,  swimming  by  the  rapid 
opening  and  closing  of  its  shell.  Fam.  Ostreidze, 
class  Conchifera. 

Scalloping.  Cutting  the  edge  of  anything 
into  segments  of  circles,  so  as  to  be  like  a  scallop- 
shell. 

Scalpel.  [L.  scalpellum,  from  scalpo,  /  cut, 
scrape.]  (Surg. )  Knife  used  in  dissection. 

Scalprum.  [L.,  a  chisel.]  (Anat.)  The  cut- 
ting edge  of  incisor  teeth. 


Scamars.  A  tribe  of  robbers  who  existed,  in 
Thrace  down  to  the  eighth  century. — Finlay, 
Hist,  of  Greece,  i.  408. 

Scammatha.     (Niddin.) 

Scammony.  [Gr.  ffKo.^<avla.]  (Med.)  A  pur- 
gative ;  the  gum-resin  of  the  root  of  Convolvulus 
scammonia,  of  the  Levant. 

Scampavia.  (Naut.)  A  war-boat  of  Naples 
and  Sicily,  ranging  up  to  150  feet  in  length, 
carrying  a  brass  six-pounder  forward,  and  pro- 
pelled by  sweeps  and  sails. 

Scandalum  magnatum.  In  Law,  an  action 
for  words  in  derogation  of  a  peer,  judge,  or 
other  great  officer  of  the  kingdom,  which  need 
not  be  actionable  in  the  case  of  other  persons. 
The  last  action  of  this  kind  was  brought  in  the 
reign  of  Anne. 

Scansores.  [L.]  (Ornith.)  Climbing-birds, 
as  woodpeckers,  sub-ord.  of  Picariae.  Other- 
wise, group  of  birds  characterized  by  having 
two  toes  directed  forward  and  two  backward ; 
as  woodpeckers,  parrots,  toucans. 

Scantling.  [Fr.  echantillon,  a  pattern  or 
sample]  1.  The  dimensions  of  a  piece  of 
timber  in  breadth  and  thickness.  2.  A  piece  of 
timber  less  than  five  inches  square. 

Scape.  [L.  scapus,  a  shaft,  stalk;  cf.  Gr. 
ffKairos,  Dor.  for  (rKrjirrpov.  ]  (Bot.)  A  leafless 
flower-stalk  ;  e.g.  hyacinth. 

Scapement,  Scape-wheel.     (Escapement.) 

Scaphism.  [Fr.  scaphisme,  Gr.  ffKa0eva>, 
/  lay  in  a  trough.]  A  Persian  punishment,  by 
which  criminals  were  confined  in  a  hollow  tree 
till  they  died. 

Scaphoid.      Shaped  like  a  boat  [Gr.  <r/ca(/>os]. 

Scappling.  [L.  scaber,  rough.]  Reducing 
(stone)  to  a  straight  surface  without  working  it 
smooth. 

Scapula.  [L.]  Shoulder-blade;  a  flat  tri- 
angular bone,  extending  at  the  back  and  the  side 
from  the  first  to  about  the  seventh  rib. 

Scapulars,  [L.  scapulae,  shoulder-blades.] 
(Wings.) 

Scapulary.  [L.  scapulae,  the  shoulders.]  In 
the  dress  of  the  monastic  orders,  two  bands  of 
woollen  stuff,  one  crossing  the  back  or  shoulders, 
the  other  the  stomach. 

Scar.  [Sw.  skar.]  Abrupt  precipice  of  broken 
rock ;  e.g.  Scar-borough.  Scar-limestone ',  i.q. 
mountain  limestone. 

Scarabaeus.  [L.,  Gr.  ffudpafros,  and  K&pa- 
)8os,  a  beetle ;  in  Skt.  garabha  is  a  locust,  akin 
to  Ger.  krebs,  Eng.  crab.]  A  well-known 
emblem  in  Egyptian  architecture,  and  also  worn 
as  an  amulet.  As  the  beetle,  represented  by  it, 
lays  its  eggs  in  a  ball  of  earth,  the  Egyptians 
may  have  seen  in  this  a  sign  of  the  world  or 
universe  as  instinct  with  life. 

Scaramouch.  [It.  scaramuccio,  skirmish.]  In 
the  old  Italian  comedy,  a  braggadocio,  always 
beaten  by  Harlequin. 

Scarfing.  (Arch.)  The  formation  of  a  beam 
out  of  two, pieces  of  timber.  The  joint  thus 
formed  is  a  Scarf-joint. 

Scarf-skin.    (Cuticle.) 

Scarify.  [L.  scSriflco,  Gr.  a-Kapi^dofjMi,  I- draw 
with  a  ffKdpltpos,  etching  tool.]  1.  (Med.)  To 


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make  incisions  in  the  skin,  especially  in  cupping. 
2.  (Agr.)  To  tear  up  the  surface  soil  with  an 
implement  (scarifier)  having  triangular  teeth  set 
horizontally  at  the  lower  end  of  curved,  vertical, 
iron  rods. 

Scarious.  [Fr.  scarieux.]  Thin,  dry,  shri- 
velled. 

Scarlet  rod.  The  gentleman  usher  of  the 
order  of  the  Bath  (from  his  wand  of  office). 

Scarpe,  Scrape.  [Fr.  echarpe,  a  scarf.}  (Her.} 
The  diminutive  of  the  bend  sinister,  being  one- 
half  its  size. 

Scarus.  [L.,  Gr.  <TK&pos.]  (Ichth.)  Parrot- 
fish  ;  gen.  of  fish,  so  called  from  colouring  and 
parrot-bill  shape  of  teeth.  S.  cretensis  (Medi- 
terranean), highly  esteemed  by  ancients.  Fam. 
Labridse,  ord.  Acanthopterygii,  sub-class  Tele- 
ostei. 

Scatches.  [D.  schaats,  a  skate.'}  Stilts  for 
walking  over  dirty  places  with. 

Scauper.  A  tool  with  a  semicircular  face  for 
scooping  out  the  spaces  between  the  lines  of  an 
engraving. 

Scavenger's  daughter.  [Corr.  from  Skevington's 
daughter]  An  instrument  of  torture  invented 
by  Sir  W.  Skevington.  (Maiden.) 

Scazonic.  [Gr.  fficdfav,  limping.}  An  iambic 
verse  with  a  spondee  or  trochee  in  the  sixth  or 
last  foot.  I.q.  Choliambic. 

'Scend,  Send,  To.  (Aaut.)  To  rise,  ascend, 
after  pitching. 

Scenography.  [Gr.  ffK-qvoypafyia,  scene-paint- 
ing.} The  art  of  perspective. 

Schatzuma  ware.     (Satsuma  ware.) 

Schechmah.     [Heb.j    (Shechinah.) 

Scheiks.  Hereditary  Arab  chiefs.  The  highest 
among  them,  being  descendants  of  Mohammed, 
are  called  Sherifs.  (Mufti.) 

Schemer.  (Naut.)  The  person  in  charge  of 
the  hold  in  a  North-Sea  ship. 

Schenk  beer.  [Ger.  schenken,  to  pour  out.] 
A  mild  German  beer,  not  made  to  be  kept,  but 
to  be  poured  out  at  once. 

Scherzo.  [It.,  jest,  sport,  Ger.  scherz.]  A 
bright,  merry  movement  in  a  sonata. 

Schiedam.  Hollands  gin,  much  of  which  is 
made  at  Schiedam. 

Schilling.  [Ger.]  In  Hamburg  and  Liibeck 
the  currency  is  twelve  pfennings,  equal  to  one 
schilling,  sixteen  schillings  being  equal  to  one 
mark ;  the  (Cologne)  markweight  of  fine  silver 
(3608  grains)  being  coined  into  thirty-four  marks 
currency.  This,  however,  is  the  old  reckoning. 
(Mark.) 

Schism  Act,  13  Anne,  required  from  eveiy 
master  of  a  public  or  private  school,  and  every 
teacher,  a  declaration  of  conformity  to  the 
Church  and  a  licence  from  the  bishop  ;  repealed, 
5  George  I. 

Schist.  [Gr.  extras,  split,  divisible.}  (Geol.) 
Fissile  rocks,  greatly  metamorphosed,  and 
having  irregular  cleavage  ;  e.g.  mica-schist. 

SchHch.  [Ger.]  The  ore  of  a  metal,  espe- 
cially gold,  pulverized  and  prepared  for  further 
working. 

Schmelze.  [Ger.,  smelting.}  Coloured  glass 
fused  so  as  to  resemble  precious  stones. 


Schnapps.     Hollands  gin. 

Scholastic  philosophy.  (Nominalists;  Real- 
ists; Schoolmen;  Scotists ;  Thomists.) 

Scholiast.  A  commentator  [Gr.  o^oA.mo'Tijs]  ; 
writer  of  a  a-^Kiov  [L.  scholium],  a  comment,  a 
short  note. 

Scholium.  [Gr.  a-^Xiov,  an  interpretation, 
comment.}  A  remark  added  in  some  cases  to  a 
mathematical  proposition,  or  treatise ;  as  the 
S.  generale  at  the  end  of  the  Principia. 

Schoolmaster  abroad.  A  phrase  sometimes 
used  to  denote  the  exposure  of  ignorance,  in 
order  to  frighten  those  who  have  a  vested  in- 
terest in  it. 

Schoolmen.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  a  name  given  to 
a  class  of  learned  men  who  first  attempted  to 
form  a  systematic  theology.  The  father  of  the 
Schoolmen  was  perhaps  John  Scotus  Erigena,  i.e. 
a  native  of  Ireland,  in  the  ninth  century  ;  but  the 
scholastic  philosophy  did  not  attain  its  full  power 
before  the  century  which  produced  Roscelinus, 
Abelard,  and  Peter  Lombard,  the  great  Nomi- 
nalists of  the  second  era.  To  the  first  era 
belonged  Berenger,  Lanfranc,  Anselm,  and  Hil- 
debert.  The  third  period  is  marked  by  the 
introduction  of  the  writings  of  Arabian  philo- 
sophers into  Europe,  and  was  rendered  illustrious 
by  the  names  of  Albert  the  Great,  Thomas 
Aquinas,  and  Duns  Scotus,  the  followers  of  the 
two  latter  being  known  respectively  as  Thomists 
and  Scotists.  In  the  fourth  and  last  period  of 
the  scholastic  philosophy,  William  of  Ockham 
secured  the  ascendancy  of  the  Nominalists  with 
some  modifications  of  their  old  system. 

Schooner.  (Naut.)  Strictly,  a  two-masted 
fore-and-aft  vessel,  without  tops ;  but  used  for 
any  two-masted  fore-and-aft  vessel.  A  topsail 
S.  is  one  having  one  or  more  square  topsails. 
There  are  also  three-masted  schooners.  When 
the  first  schooner  was  launched,  1713,  a  by- 
stander, it  is  said,  exclaimed,  "  How  she  scoons 
(skims,  glides  along)  ! "  and  the  builders  replied, 
"Ascoonerletherbe." 

Schuyt.  (Naut.)  A  small  galliot-rigged 
Dutch  vessel,  used  in  river  traffic  and  the  Eng- 
lish trade. 

Sciagraphy.  The  art  of  delineating  shadows 
[Gr.  CTKidypaQia]. 

^  Sciatica.  [Gr.  urxmSi/cJs,  belonging  to  the  hip 
(iffxtov)-]  (Med.)  Neuralgia  of  the  great 
sciatic  nerve,  which  extends  from  the  inner 
portion  of  the  buttock  along  the  back  of  the 
thigh  to  the  ham  ;  also,  inaccurately,  applied 
to  all  rheumatic  affections  about  the  hip-joint. 

Scientia,  Contrariorum  eadem  est.  A  maxim 
of  the  Schoolmen ;  i.e.  we  never  really  know 
what  a  thing  is,  unless  we  are  also  able  to  give 
a  sufficient  account  of  its  opposite.  (See  Mill, 
System  of  Logic :  On  Fallacies. ) 

Scientia  popinse.  [L.,  the  science  of  the  cook- 
shop.  ]  The  art  of  cookery. 

Scientific  frontier.  (Mil.)  One  commanding 
the  natural  features  of  a  country,  with  possession 
of  its  chain  of  fortresses,  towns,  passes,  and  fords ; 
having  easy  communication  in  rear,  strong  line 
of  defence  when  invaded,  and  power  of  subject- 
ing its  front. 


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Scilicet.  [L.]  That  is  to  say  ;  i.e.  scire  licet, 
one  may  know. 

Scimitar.  [Perhaps  from  Pers.  schimschir.] 
(Mil.)  Turkish  sword,  with  its  cutting  edge 
made  very  convex. 

Sciolist     [L.     sciolus],    Sciolous.      Knowing 
many  things,  but  superficially  only  ;  a  smatterer. 
Sciomancy.     [Gr.  <r/cta,  shade,  fiai/reia,  divina- 
tion^    Divination  by  means  of  shadows. 

Scire  facias.  [L.,  make  it  known.}  In  Law, 
a  judicial  writ  founded  upon  some  matter  of 
record,  calling  upon  a  person  to  show  why  the 
party  bringing  it  should  not  have  the  advantage 
of  the  record ;  e.g.  if  it  is  sought  to  repeal  letters 
patent. 

Scirrhus.  [Gr.  tncTpos,  (i) stucco,  (2)  scirrhus.} 
(Med.)  A  cancerous  tumour,  indolent,  hard, 
fibrous. 

Scissel.  [L.  scissilis,  easily  cut.}  Clippings 
of  metal,  especially  the  slips  out  of  which  discs 
of  metal  have  been  punched  for  coinage. 

Sciuridae,    Sciurines.      (Zoo/.)     The    squirrel 
tribe,  including  flying  S.  and  marmots. 
Sclero-.     [Gr.  ffK\f\p6s,  hard.} 
Sclerotic.      [Gr.     <TK\tip6s,    hard.}      (Anat.) 
The  white  of  the  eye  ;  one  of  the  coats  of  the 
eye  ;  a  strong,  dense,  opaque,  fibrous  structure, 
covered  by  the  conjunctiva. 
Sclerotomy.     Incision  of  the  sclerotic  (q.v.). 
Scobs.   [L.  scobio.]   Scrapings  of  ivory,  metals, 
etc. 

Scolopacldae.  [Gr.  ffKo\6ira£,  or  -6ira£,  snipe, 
or  woodcock.}  (Ornith.)  Fam.  of  wading-birds, 
as  snipes.  Cosmopolitan.  Ord.  Grallse. 

Scolopendra.  [Gr.  tr/coA.rfjrci'Spa.]  (Zool.} 
The  centipede.  British  spec,  are  harmless  ;  trop. 
spec,  (twelve  inches  or  more  long)  dangerous. 
Ord.  Chllopoda,  class  Myriopoda. 

Sconce.  [Ger.  schanze,  bulwark.}  A  kind  of 
candlestick. 

Sconce,  Squinch.     (Arch.)     A  small  arch  in 
the  angles  of  towers,  etc.,  to  support  the  alternate 
sides  of  octagonal  buildings  above  them. 
-scope.     [Gr.  o-KoWw,  1  look  at,  behold.} 
Scorbutus,  popularly  Scurvy.     [L.  form  of  the 
D.  word  scheurbuik.]     (Med. )     A  disease,  once 
very  fatal  in  our  navy,  brought  about  by  pro- 
longed abstinence  from  vegetables  ;  marked  by 
extreme  debility,  melancholy,  by  petechitz  (y.v.), 
diarrhoea,  hemorrhage. 

Score.  [A.S.  scor,  notch  line.}  A  copy  of 
a  musical  composition,  vocal  or  instrumental, 
with  parts  for  each  voice  or  instrument. 

Scoriae.  [L.,  Gr.  aKupia,  dirty  refuse.}  Vol- 
canic ashes,  cinders,  or  the  slag  rejected  after 
the  reduction  of  metallic  ores. 

Scorpion.  [L.  scorpionem,  Gr.  aKopirios.} 
A  lobster-like  venomous  insect,  sometimes  nine 
or  ten  inches  long.  Fam.  Scorpionidse,  class 
Arachnida,  sub-kingd.  Annulosa. 

Scot  and  lot.  [A.S.  sceat,  part,  or  portion.} 
A  phrase  denoting  the  payment  of  parochial 
rates.  Hence  scot-free  is  one  who  is  not  bound 
so  to  contribute. 

Scotch,  pebbles.  Agates,  from  the  amygdaloids 
of  Ochill  Hills,  Sidlaw  Hills,  etc. ;  quarried,  or 
found  among  debris. 


Scotia.  [Gr.  <T/C<*TJOS,  dark.}  (Arch.)  A 
iiollow  moulding,  chiefly  used  between  the  tori 
in  the  bases  of  columns. 

Scotists.     (Schoolmen.) 

Scourge  of  God.  Attila,  King  or  Leader  of  the 
Huns  (died  453) ;  so  called  by  the  Christian 
world  of  that  time. 

Scout.  [O.Fr.  escoute,  L.  auscultare,  to  listen.} 
(Mil.)  Cavalry  soldiers  sent  out  beyond  the 
outposts  to  obtain  intelligence  of  an  enemy's 
movements. 

Scow.  [D.  schouw.]  (Naut.)  A  large 
flat-bottomed  boat.  S.-banker,  (i)  he  who 
works  a  scow  ;  (2)  a  lubberly  fellow. 

Scrabble.  [Akin  to  scrape,  scribble,  etc.]  1. 
(Naut.)  A  badly  written  log ;  one  scribbled^  as 
it  were.  2.  To  make  marks  upon  a  wall ;  as  in 
I  Sam.  xxi.  13. 

Scrape.    (Scarpe.) 

Scraper.  (Naut.)  1.  A  triangular  iron  for 
scraping  spars,  etc.  2.  A  cocked  hat. 

Scrap  iron.  Waste  clippings  and  scraps  of 
wrought  iron. 

Scratch  brush.  A  bundle  of  fine  wires,  tied 
in  the  middle  so  as  to  form  a  brush  at  each  end, 
used  for  scratching  and  cleaning  metals  before 
they  are  plated. 

Screen.  [A.S.  serin,  (?)  sceran,  to  divide.} 
(Agr. )  A  large  oblong  sieve.  To  S.  gravel  or 
coal,  etc.,  to  pass  it  through  a  screen  set  in  a 
slanting  position. 

Screen,  Rood.    (Rood-loft.) 

Screw  [a  word  common  to  many  Aryan 
languages];  Female  S.;  Micrometers.  A  well- 
known  instrument,  consisting  of  a  cylinder  round 
which  runs  a  projection  or  thread  at  a  constant 
inclination  ;  it  commonly  works  in  the  cylindri- 
cal cavity  of  a  nut,  on  the  inner  surface  of  which 
is  cut  a  groove  to  receive  the  thread  ;  the  cavity 
and  the  groove  are  the  Female  S.  A  screw 
carefully  cut  and  provided  with  a  properly 
graduated  head  is  a  Micrometer  S.  ;  its  advance 
in  a  fixed  nut  is  a  very  accurate  means  of 
measuring  small  distances.  (For  Endless  S.^ 
vide  Endless  band ;  for  Right-handed  and  Left- 
handed  S.,  vide  Helix;  for  S.-jack,  vide  Jack.) 

Screw-propeller.  (Naut.)  Slightly  twisted 
fans  driving  a  ship  forward  by  their  rotation  on 
a  principle  similar  to  that  by  which  wind  causes 
the  sails  of  a  windmill  to  rotate. 

Scribbet.  [L.  scribere,  to  write.}  A  painter's 
pencil. 

Scribbling.     The  first  rough  carding  of  wool. 

Scribendi  cacoetb.es.  [L.]  The  itch  of 
writing. 

Scriber.  A  sharp  tool  used  by  joiners  in 
marking  planks,  etc. 

Scribes.  [L.  scriba,  a  writer.}  Among  the 
Jews,  the  expounders  of  the  Law,  in  commen- 
taries known  as  Midrashim,  i.e.  searchings. 
Starting  with  extreme  reverence  for  the  letter  of 
the  Law,  they  came  to  insist  on  the  paramount 
authority  of  its  interpreters.  Hence  the  refer- 
ences in  the  Gospels  to  the  sayings  of  the  men 
of  old  time  as  overriding  the  Law.  (Tabellions.) 

Scribing.  [L.  scribere,  to  write.}  Fitting  two 
pieces  of  board  together,  especially  in  such  a 


SCRI 


435 


SEAS 


way  that  their  fibres  are  perpendicular  to  each 
other  (because  the  wood  is  marked  before 
cutting  it). 

Scrine.  [L.  scrinium.]  A  case  for  keeping 
papers  or  books,  a  shrine. 

Script.  [L.  scriptum,  written.]  A  kind  of 
type  in  imitation  of  handwriting,  as — 


Scriptorium.  In  the  conventual  life  of  the 
Middle  Ages,  was  the  room  devoted  to  making 
copies  of  the  Bible,  or  parts  of  it ;  the  illumina- 
tion of  missals,  etc. 

Scrivello.  An  elephant's  tusk  weighing  less 
than  eighteen  pounds. 

Scriveners,  Money.  In  O.E.  usage,  persons 
who  received  money  to  place  it  out  at  interest, 
and  supplied  to  borrowers  money  on  security. 

Scrivener's  palsy,  popular  term  for  Writer's 
spasm.  A  form  of  paralysis,  affecting  princi- 
pally the  muscles  of  the  thumb  and  forefinger,  to 
which  persons  who  write  very  much  are  liable. 

Scrofula.  [L.  scrofulae,  swollen  glands,  to 
which  it  was  said  that  the  sow  (scrofa)  is  subject ; 
ff.  Gr.  x°'P«5ej;  but  see  Liddell.]  Constitu- 
tional disease,  with  tendency  to  deposit  tubercle. 

Scroll.  [Fr.  escrol.]  (Arch.}  The  volute  of 
the  Ionic  and  Corinthian  capital. 

Scroll-head.    (Fiddle.) 

bcrovies.  (Naut.)  Worthless  men  shipped 
by  crimps  as  A.  B.  's. 

Screws.  A  currier's  clippings  from  skins 
(from  their  curling  into  scrolls). 

Scud.  [Probably  akin  to  shoot.']  The  lower 
drift-clouds.  To  S.,  to  run  before  the  wind. 

Sculls.  (Naut.)  Short  oars,  the  handles  of 
which,  when  shipped,  just  overlap  amidships,  so 
that  they  can  be  used  by  one  man.  To  scull, 
(i)  to  row  with  sculls,  (2)  to  propel  a  boat  by 
a  single  oar  shipped  over  the  stern. 

Scumbling  (from  scum).  Blending  tints  by 
means  of  a  semi-transparent  neutral  colour,  swept 
over  them  with  a  nearly  dry  brush. 

Scuppers  (probably  from  scoop).  (Naut.}  1. 
Metal-lined  holes  cut  through  a  ship's  side  to 
carry  off  water  from  the  decks  into  the  sea.  2. 
Their  locality,  i.e.  the  angle  between  the  deck 
and  bulwarks ;  as,  he  rolled  into  the  lee  scuppers. 

Scurvy.     (Scorbutus.) 

Scutage,  or  Escuage.  [L.  scutum,  a  shield."} 
(Hist.)  A  commutation  paid  by  military  tenants 
for  personal  service  in  foreign  wars. 

Scutcheon  (from  escutcheon).  1.  (Her.)  (Es- 
cutcheon.) 2.  The  brass  plate  which  surrounds 
a  key-hole. 

Scutching.  [Gael,  sgoch,  to  cut.]  Beating  so 
as  to  separate  the  fibre. 

Scuttle.  [O.Fr.  escoutille,  from  ecouter,  to 
listen,  a  place  or  aperture  for  hearing.]  (Naut.) 
1.  A  small  port  in  a  vessel's  side.  2.  A  small 
hatchway.  To  S.,  to  cut  or  bore  holes  in  a 
ship  below  water.  S.,  or  S.-butt,  a  water-cask, 
lashed,  and  having  a  square  hole  cut  in  its  head, 
through  which  to  get  the  water  out.  S. -hatch, 
lid  or  covering  of  a  scuttle. 


Scylla.  [Gr.  <r/cuA\a.]  (Myth.)  1.  A  daughter 
of  Nisus,  who  cut  off  the  purple  lock  of  hair, 
he  Palladium  of  Megara,  from  her  father's  head, 
and  so  betrayed  the  city  to  Minos  (Menu).  2. 
[n  the  Odyssey,  a  monster  with  six  mouths, 
launting  the  Italian  coast,  and  swallowing  ship- 
wrecked seamen,  like  the  neighbouring  Chary - 
Ddis.  Hence  the  proverb  which  speaks  of  those 
who  wish  to  avoid  the  latter,  as  falling  into  the 
aws  of  the  former.  (Incidit.) 

Scytale.  [Gr.  O-/CI/TOA.TJ.]  (ffist.)  An  instru- 
ment by  which  the  Spartans  sent  orders  to 
officers  serving  abroad.  A  parchment  was  rolled 
round  a  rod,  and  unwound  by  another  rod  in  the 
officer's  possession. 

Scythian  lamb.     (Barometz  fern.) 

Sea-biscuit.    (Cocket-bread.) 

Sea-breeze.  A  breeze  blowing  from  the  sea 
nland. 

Sea-brief.  (Naut.)  A  document  specifying 
the  nature  and  quantity  of  a  cargo,  its  place  of 
origin  and  destination. 

Sea-cunny.  (ATaut.)  The  steersman  of  an 
E. -Indian  country  vessel  manned  by  Lascars. 

Sea-gate,  or  S.-gait.     (Gate.) 

Sea-horse,  Hippocampus.  [Gr.  wnnfoo/xTros, 
the  fish-tailed  horse  on  which  the  sea-gods  rode.] 
(Ichth.)  Gen.  of  small  fish  with  bony  covering, 
prehensile  tail,  horse-like  head.  One  spec,  found 
on  British  coasts,  more  in  Mediterranean  Sea  and 
Atlantic ;  most  in  Indian  and  Pacific  Oceans. 
Fam.  Syngnathidse  [ovv,  together,  yv'aQos,  jaw], 
ord.  Lophobranchii,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Seal,  Great.  The  Great  Seal  of  England, 
kept  by  the  Lord  Chancellor. 

Seal,  Privy.  The  personal  seal  of  the  sove- 
reign. 

Sealed  books.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Copies  of  the 
Prayer-book  of  1662,  issued  under  the  Great 
Seal  of  England  to  all  cathedral  and  collegiate 
churches,  the  Courts  of  Westminster,  and  the 
Tower  of  London,  to  ensure  the  preservation  of 
the  text  in  its  integrity.  These  books  were  com- 
pared, before  issue,  with  the  book  annexed  to 
the  Act  13  and  14  Carolus  II. 

Sealing  of  ulcers.  (Surg.)  The  exclusion  of 
air  during  granulation,  by  soap-plaster  and 
oiled  silk. 

Seam.  (Geol.)  A  bed,  as  distinguished  from 
a  vein,  of  coal,  etc. 

Seaman.  (A.B. ;  landsman ;  Ordinary  sea- 
man.) 

Seamanship.  The  art  of  rigging  and  working 
a  ship,  distinguished  from  the  science  of  Naviga- 
tion. 

Sea-marks.   Landmarks,  etc.,  noted  on  charts. 

Sea-monsters.     Lam.  iv.  3.     (Whale.) 

Seance.  [Fr.]  A  sitting,  or  session,  as  of  a 
public  body. 

Sea-pen.    Popular  name  for  Fennatulida  [L. 
pennatiilus,  dim.  of  pennatus,  feathered],  fam. 
of    feather-like   corals,    ord.    Alcyonaria.       P, 
phosphorea  is  common  on  N. -British  coast. 
Search.     (Naut )    (Visitation  and  search.) 
Searment.    Another  form  of  cerement.    (Cere.) 
Sea-serpent.     [L.    serpentem,   a  serpent,   i.e. 
the  creeping  one.]  (Zool.)   Hydrophidse,  or  veno- 


SEAS 


436 


SEIG 


mous  sea-snakes,  ranging  to  ten  feet  in  length  ; 
abound  in  the  Indian  and  Chinese  seas.  The 
ereat  sea-serpent,  ranging,  it  is  said,  to  600  feet 
in  length,  has  hitherto,  whenever  thoroughly 
investigated,  proved  a  delusion. 

Sea-slugs.     (Zool.)      Opisthobranchtata,    ord. 
of  molluscs.     (Malacology.) 
Sea-swallow.     ( Sternidae. ) 
Seat  of  eggs.     Lq.  Clutch. 

Sea-trumpet.     (Conch-shell.) 
Sebaceous.     [L.  sebum,  suet.]     Fatty.     (Adi- 
pose tissue.) 

Sebastianists.  Believers  in  the  survival  of 
Sebastian,  King  of  Portugal,  after  the  battle  of 
Alcazarquiver,  1578.  Such  believers  have  been 
found  down  to  the  present  centuiy.  The  like 
belief  has  prevailed  about  Harold  of  England, 
and  many  others.  The  epitaph  of  Arthur  says, 
"  Hie  iacet  Arthurus,  Rex  quondam  rexque 
futurus.  ' 

Sebat.  Zech.  i.  7 ;  fifth  month  of  civil, 
eleventh  of  ecclesiastical,  Jewish  year  ;  January 
— February. 

Secant.  1.  A  straight  line  cutting  [L.  sgcan- 
tem]  a  curve  in  two  or  more  points.  2.  One  of 
the  trigonometrical  functions  (q.v.). 

Secco.  [It.]  A  kind  of  fresco  painting  in 
which  the  colours  look  dry  and  sunken,  being 
absorbed  into  the  plaster. 

Secession  Church.  (Marrow  Controversy ; 
Belief  Synod.) 

Secle.     (Secular  games.) 

Secondaries.  1.  The  inferior  members  of 
cathedrals,  as  vicars-choral,  etc.  2.  In  Myth., 
beings  who  reflect  the  greatness  of  others  with 
whom  they  are  closely  related,  as  Phaethon  of 
Helios,  Telemachos  of  Odysseus  (or  Ulysses), 
and  Patroklos  of  Aohilles. 

Secondary  assemblies.    (Primary  assemblies.) 

Secondary  circle.  A  great  circle  passing 
through  the  poles  of  a  given  great  circle. 

Secondary  colours.  [L.  secundarius,  from 
secundus,  second.]  Colours  derived  from  the 
mixture  of  two  primary  colours. 

Secondary  fever.  (Med.)  That  arising  after 
a  crisis  or  some  critical  effort ;  e.g.  the  discharge 
of  morbid  matter. 

Secondary  planet.    A  Satellite. 

Secondary  rocks.    (Primary  rocks.) 

Second  intention.     (Intention.) 

Second  Pointed  style.     (Geometrical  style.) 

Seconds.    A  coarse  kind  of  flour. 

Secos.     (Adytum.) 

Section.  [L.  sectionem,  a  cutting.'}  The 
figure  that  would  be  obtained  by  cutting  a  solid 
body  by  a  plane ;  as  a  conic  S.  or  a  S.  of  a 
building. 

Sector.  [L.,  one  who  cuts.]  The  part  of  a 
circle  included  between  two  radii.  (For  Zenith 
S. ,  vide  Zenith. ) 

Secular  [L.  ssecularis,  from  sgeculum,  an  age]  ; 
S.  inequality.  Going  on  from  age  to  age  ;  as 
the  secular  cooling  of  the  earth.  A  Secular 
inequality  in  a  planetary  motion  results  from  the 
gradual  accumulation  of  the  effects  of  shorter 
variations  which  do  not  exactly  compensate  for 
each  other ;  thus  the  eccentricities  of  the  orbits 


of   Jupiter  and  Saturn  are  subject  to  a  S.    I. 
which  will  go  through  all  its  changes  in  a  period 
not  less  than  about  70,000  years. 
Secular  clergy.     (Regulars.) 
Secular  games.     In  Rom.  Hist.,  games  cele- 
brated once  in  each  soeculum,  or  siecle  of  100,  or 
perhaps  1 10  years.     Sometimes  the  interval  was 
shortened. 

Secular  poem.  A  poem  recited  at  the  Secular 
games,  as  the  Carmen  Sceculare  of  Horace. 

Seculars.     (Regulars.) 

Secundines.  (Med.)  Placenta  (q.v.),  or  after- 
birth. 

Secundum  artem.  [L.]  According  to  art ;  skil- 
fully. 

Secundum  quid.  In  Phil.,  =  reiativeiv ; 
with  reference  to  a  certain  thing  ;  e.g.  when 
a  house  is  on  fire,  to  throw  valuables  out  of 
the  window  would  be  not  a  voluntary  act  sim- 
pliciter,  but  secundum  quid. 

Secures.     (Fasces  and  secures.) 

Secure  you.  Matt,  xxviii.  14 ;  not  make  you 
safe,  but  make  you  free  from  anxiety  [L.  secures, 
i.e.  sine  cura,  Gr.  a/j.fplfj.vovs]. 

SecutSres.  [L.,  followers. ,]  The  opponents  of 
the  Retiarians  in  the  gladiatorial  shows.  Some 
take  the  word  also  to  mean  those  who  follow  to 
take  the  place  of  gladiators  already  slaughtered. 
(Mirmillones.) 

Sedan  chair.  A  covered  chair  borne  on  poles 
by  two  men  (first  made  at  Sedan,  in  France). 

Sedilia.  [L.]  Seats  of  the  officiating  priests, 
placed  generally  on  the  south  side  of  the 
chancel. 

Sedimentary  rocks  [L.  sedimentum,  a  settling 
down]  —  formed  out  of  matter  settled  in  water  ; 
e.g.  clay,  sandstone. 

Sedum,  Stonecrop.  [L.  sgdeo,  I  sit;  as  if  sit- 
ting close,  holding  fast.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of 
plants,  ord.  Crassulaceae,  having  numerous  spec. ; 
with  fleshy,  roundish  leaves,  and  starlike  flowers, 
commonly  yellow,  sometimes  white  or  blue  ; 
found  in  dry,  barren,  rocky  places  of  temperate 
regions. 

Seed  lao.    (Lac.) 

Seerhand.  An  Indian  muslin,  which  retains  its 
clearness  when  washed. 

Sefatians.    (Separatists.) 

Beggar.     (Sagger.) 

Segment.  [L.  secamentum,  a  cutting,  carving.  ] 
(Math.}  A  part  cut  off;  as  of  a  circle  by  a 
straight  line,  or  of  a  sphere  by  a  plane. 

Segmental  arch.    (Arch.) 

Segreant.  (Her. )  Spreading  its  wings  as  if 
about  to  fly. 

Segregation.  [L.  segregatidnem,  from  se-,  a 
part,  gregem,  a  flock.]  A  separation  of  parts; 
as  of  crystals  from  the  mass. 

Seicentisti.  The  name  by  which  the  Italians 
speak  of  their  own  writers  of  the  seventeenth 
centuiy.  As  their  repute  was  less  than  that  of 
their  predecessors,  the  word  came  to  denote 
general  inferiority  in  taste  and  language. 

Seigniorage.  [Fr.,  from  L.  senior,  older] 
The  charge  made  by  Government  for  paying 
the  expenses  of  coining  metal,  the  coin  being 
thus  made  more  valuable  than  bullion. 


SEIG 


437 


SENS 


Seigniory.  [Fr.  seigneurie.]  (Feud.}  A  manor 
or  lordship. 

Seine.  [Fr.,  from  L.  sagena,  Gr.  aayjjvii,  a 
net.]  A  large  net  for  catching  fish. 

Seirens.  [Gr.  Sciprjyes.]  (Myth.}  Nymphs 
who,  by  charming  mariners  with  their  song,  drew 
them  on  into  shoals  and  reefs,  and  caused 
their  destruction.  Odysseus  (Ulysses)  escapes 
them  by  stuffing  his  sailors'  ears  with  wax,  and 
having  himself  bound  to  the  mast. 

Seisachtheia.  [Gr.,  a  shaking  off  of  burdens^ 
In  Athen.  Hist.,  an  ordinance  by  which  Solon 
relieved  the  misery  of  the  poorer  Attic  freemen. 
It  consisted  in  the  removal  of  the  marks  of  Eu- 
patrid  ownership  of  land,  and  in  lessening  the 
amount  of  produce  or  money  hitherto  exacted 
from  the  tenants,  the  payment  now  taking  the 
form  of  rent.  This  is  the  account  given  by  Solon 
himself.  Later  writers  introduced  into  it  many 
new  features,  which  they  explained  in  detail. 

Seisin,  Livery  of.  The  formal  delivery  of  the 
possession  of  land,  now  accomplished  by  con- 
veyance. (Livery.) 

Seismochronograph.  [Gr.  ffeia^s,  an  earth- 
quake, xpdvos,  time,  ypd<pu),  I  describe^  A  kind 
of  seismometer  (q.v.). 

Seismograph.  [Gr.  aeia/jios,  an  earthquake, 
ypd<peiv,  to  •write.'}  An  instrument  for  registering 
the  intensity  of  earthquake  shocks. 

Seismology.  [Gr.  adapts,  an  earthquake.] 
The  theory  of  earthquakes ;  their  nature,  force, 
direction,  recurrence,  etc. 

Seismometer.  [Gr.  aeiarfs,  an  earthqtiake, 
H&pov,  a  measure.]  An  instrument  for  determin- 
ing the  circumstances  of  an  earthquake  ;  as  di- 
rection of  commotion  or  shock,  kind  of  shock,  etc. 

Seize,  To.  (Naut.)  To  fasten  two  ropes,  or 
parts  of  one  rope,  together,  by  winding  cord  or 
line  (seizings)  round  them. 

Sejant.  (Her.)  Sitting  [Fr.  scant]  on  its  hind 
legs. 

Selection,  Natural.     (Evolution.) 

Selene.     (Endymion,  Sleep  of.) 

Selenium.  [Gr.  ae^vtj,  the  moon.]  An  ele- 
ment of  a  brown  colour,  resembling  sulphur  in 
its  properties. 

Selenography.  [Gr.  a€\-fjvij,  the  moon,  ypd<t>a>, 
I  describe.]  A  description  of  the  surface  of  the 
moon. 

Self-coloured.  Of  a  uniform  quiet  or  neutral 
tint. 

Seljuks.  A  dynasty  of  Seljukian  Turks, 
founded  in  Persia,  under  Togrul  Beg,  1039. 

Seltzer  water.  An  effervescing  mineral  water 
(from  Seltzer,  in  Germany). 

Selvage.  [Perhaps  from  se/f&nd  edge,  as  being 
itself  its  own  border.]  The  edge  of  any  stuft, 
woven  so  as  to  prevent  ravelling. 

Selvagee.  (Naut.)  A  hank  or  untwisted 
skein  of  yarn  bound  round  with  twine,  etc. 

Semaphore.  [Made  up,  improperly,  of  arj/j.a, 
a  sign,  and  </>e/>&>,  /  bear,  which  should  have 
made  semato-phore.  ]  (Mil.)  Consisting  of  an  up- 
right post  and  two  movable  arms,  conspicuously 
placed,  by  which  signals  may  be  transmitted  in 
the  day-time  to  distant  stations.  A  kind  of  S. 
with  lights  is  used  on  railways. 


Semble.  In  Law,  for  ce  semble  [Fr.,  as  it  seems}; 
=  as  we  may  pretty  safely  assume ;  although  it 
has  not  been  positively  decided. 

Semele.  [Gr.]  (Myth.)  The  mother  of 
Dionysos  or  Bacchus.  (Bacchanalian.) 

Semi-Arians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Arians,  who  de- 
nied the  Homoousion  of  the  Nicene  Creed,  but 
admitted  the  Homoiousion. 

Semi-Pelagianism.     (Pelagians.) 

Semiramis  and  Nmus.  Mythical  founders  of 
the  Assyrian  empire.  The  Assyrian  form  of 
Semiramis  is  Sammuramit. 

Semitertian  fever.  (Med.)  One  having  two 
paroxysms  on  each  alternate  day,  and  one  only 
in  the  interval. 

Semitic  languages.  The  family  of  languages 
composed  of  the  Aramaic,  Hebraic,  and  Arabian 
dialects.  (Chaldee  language ;  Peschito.) 

Semolina.  [It.  semolino,  dim.  of  semola,  bran.} 
The  fine  hard  parts  of  wheat  rounded  by  the 
action  of  the  millstones. 

Semo  Sancus.  [L.  semen,  seed,  sancio,  I  bind 
religiously.]  (Myth.)  An  ancient  Roman  or 
Sabine  god.  The  two  names  seem  to  have  be- 
longed originally  to  two  distinct  gods,  Semo 
being  the  guardian  of  sown  crops  (Saturn),  and 
Sancus,  presiding  over  oaths  and  covenants,  and 
answering  to  the  Zeus  Horkios  and  Pistios  of 
the  Greeks. 

Semper  idem,  Semper  eadem.  [L.]  Always 
the  same. 

Sempervivum.  [L.,  always  living.]  (Bot.) 
A  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Crassulaceae,  to  which 
common  houseleek  belongs. 

Sempiternal.  [L.  sempiternus.]  Of  continu- 
ous and  permanent  duration. 

Sempster.  [Corr.  of  seamster.]  Formerly — 
besides  its  meaning  of  a  worker  with  the  needle 
— a  dealer  in  sewn  goods,  a  linen-draper. 

Sempstresses'  palsy  or  cramp.  In  which  the 
power  of  using  the  needle  is  lost. 

Senate  of  Lilliput.  Title  of  imperfect  reports 
of  some  discussions  of  the  House  of  Commons, 
with  feigned  names,  or  single  initials,  for 
speakers  ;  between  the  accession  of  the  Georges 
and  the  appearance  of  the  great  journals. 

Send.     (Natit.)     ('Seend.) 

Sendal.  [O.Fr.  cendal.]  A  light  fabric  of 
silk  or  thread. 

Senegal.  A  dark -red  gum  like  gum-arabic, 
found  near  the  river  Senegal,  in  Africa. 

Seneschal.  [O.G.  senescale,  Fr.  senechal.] 
A  French  title,  answering  to  that  of  steward,  or 
high  steward,  in  England. 

Seniores  prior es.     [L.]    Elders  first. 

Senlac,  Battle  of.  Commonly  known  as  the 
battle  of  Hastings. 

Sennit.  [From  seven  and  knit.]  Plaited  straw 
or  palm  leaves  for  making  hats. 

Sensational  school.  The  school  of  thinkers 
who  have  adopted  the  doctrine  of  Locke,  that  all 
ideas  are  derived  from  experience,  through  the 
senses  and  through  reflexion  on  that  which  the 
senses  reveal  to  us.  (Ideology.) 

Sensitivity.  In  Moral  Phil.,  i.q.  Feeling,  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  three  manifestations  of  con- 
sciousness. (Cognition.) 


SENS 


438 


SERB 


Sensitize.  To  prepare  paper,  etc.,  for  photo- 
graphy by  making  it  sensitive  to  the  action  of 
light. 

Sensorimotor  action.  Instinctive  actions  re- 
sulting from  sensation ;  e.g.  the  closing  of  the 
eyes  in  a  bright  light. 

Sensdrium.  [LateL.]  (Physio L)  The  central 
common  seat  of  consciousness  ;  the  aggregate  of 
sense-ganglia,  through  which  we  are  conscious  of 
external  sense-impressions. 

Sensualism.  The  name  given  to  the  philosophy 
of  Condillac,  who  thought  that  he  was  following 
out  the  principles  of  Locke  to  their  legitimate 
consequences.  (Association ;  Ideology ;  Sensa- 
tional school ) 

Senza.  [It.  (the  L.  sine),  without]  As  in 
Music,  S.  fiori,  S.  replica,  S.  tempo,  without  orna- 
ments, without  repetition,  not  in  definite  time. 

Sepals.  [L.  sepio,  /  inclose]  (Bot.)  The 
modified  leaves  which  make  up  the  calyx. 

Separatists,  or  Motazalites.  The  Mohammedan 
followers  of  Wasel  Ibn  Orta,  who  not  long  after 
the  death  of  Mohammed  denied  the  chief  points 
of  his  faith.  They  were  especially  opposed  by 
the  Sefatians ;  so  called  as  maintaining  the 
eternal  attributes  of  God. 

Sepia.  [L. ,  Gr.  fryiria,  cuttle-fish]  A  pigment, 
used  as  a  water-colour  ;  prepared  from  the  secre- 
tion of  a  peculiar  organ,  the  ink-bag,  of  cuttle- 
fishes ;  insoluble  in  water,  but  very  diffusible. 
Indian  ink  is  made  of  the  dry  sediment.  Treated 
with  caustic  potash,  it  yields  the  brown  pigment, 
S.  proper. 

Sepoys.  [Hind,  sipahi,  a  soldier.  ]  The  native 
troops  of  the  British  army  in  India.  The  word 
is  another  form  of  the  Turk,  spahi,  sipahi. 

Septarian  nodules,  Septarium.  (Fissures-of- 
retreat;  Nodule.) 

Septembrists.  (Fr.  Hist]  The  name  given 
to  those  who  took  part  in  the  horrible  massacres 
which  took  place  in  Paris  in  September,  1 792. 

Septennial  Act.  The  Act  of  George  L,  ex- 
tending the  duration  of  Parliament  for  seven 
years,  unless  previously  dissolved.  (Triennial 
Act.) 

Septfoil.  [L.  septem  folia,  seven  leaves] 
(Bot.)  Tormentilla  officinalis ;  a  plant  having 
astringent  roots,  used  in  tanning  and  dyeing. 

Septicidal  dehiscence.  [L.  septum,  an  inclo- 
sure,  csedo,  I  cut.}  (Bot.)  When  dissepiments 
divide  into  two  plates,  and  compound  fruit  is 
again  resolved  into  its  original  carpels ;  e.g. 
capsule  of  thorn-apple.  Septifrdgal  [frango,  7 
breaK\,  when  the  dissepiments  remain  attached 
to  the  centre,  the  fruit  dehiscing  by  dorsal 
suture  ;  e.g.  capsule  of  colchicum. 

Septuagesima.  [L.,  seventieth]  The  Third 
Sunday  before  Lent.  (Quinquagesima.) 

Septuagint.  [L.  septuaginta,  seventy]  The 
name  given  to  the  Greek  translation  of  the  Old 
Testament  made  at  Alexandria  for  the  Jews  of 
Egypt,  who  had  lost  the  use  of  the  Hebrew 
language.  The  story  ran  that  seventy  trans- 
lators were  shut  up  in  separate  cells  by  Ptolemy 
Philadelphos,  and  that  their  seventy  versions 
;il I  agreed  to  a  letter.  It  is  supposed,  however, 
that  the  translation  is  the  work  not  only  of 


different  hands  but  of  different  times.  The 
Septuagint  contains  the  Apocryphal  books, 
which  are  therefore  included  by  the  Latin 
Church  in  the  Canon  of  Scripture.  The  Old 
Testament  quotations  in  the  New  Testament 
are  usually  given  from  the  Septuagint. 

Septum.  [L.,  anything  inclosed]  1.  (Anat.) 
A  wall  separating  two  cavities.  2.  (Arch.)  The 
inclosure  of  the  chancel,  as  marked  by  the  can- 
celli,  or  rails.  (Dissepiment.)  3.  (Chem.)  A 
membrane  or  other  substance  used  as  a  partition 
between  two  liquids  or  gases. 

Sepulchre,  Hospitallers  of  the  Holy.  An 
order  of  knights,  instituted  in  Palestine  and 
afterwards  transferred  to  France. 

Sequela.  [L.,  a  consequence]  (Med.)  A 
morbid  affection  consequent  upon  a  preceding 
one.  Something  left  behind  by  an  illness  ;  e.g. 
kidney  mischief,  after  scarlatina. 

Sequence.  [L.  sequentia,  a  following]  In 
Music,  a  progression  of  similar  chords  or  inter- 
vals, ascending  or  descending.  (Proses.) 

Sequestration.  [L.  sequestrationem,  a  placing 
in  the  hands  of  a  third  party]  A  reservation 
by  the  bishop  from  the  profits  of  a  living  for 
supply  of  the  cure  when  void  by  death,  or  to 
satisfy  the  debts  of  the  incumbent,  and  under 
other  circumstances. 

Sequin,  Zecchino.  [From  Ar.  sekkah,  a  die,  or 
stamp]  A  gold  coin  of  Italy  and  Turkey  ;  not 
of  uniform  value ;  the  Venetian  S.  is  worth 
about  gs.  6d. 

Sequitur.     [L.,  it  follows]    A  consequence. 

Seraglio.  [It.,  a  dim.  form  of  the  Oriental 
serai.]  The  palace  of  the  Turkish  sultan  in 
Constantinople.  Its  chief  gate  is  called  Babi  Hu- 
mayun,  or  Sublime  Gate.  Hence  Sublime  Porte, 
as  the  official  name  for  the  Turkish  Government. 

Serai.  [Pers.]  A  hall  of  a  palace,  an  inn, 
as  in  caravan-serai,  Caravansary. 

Serang.     (Naut]     Lascar's  boatswain. 

Sera  nunquam  est  ad  bonds  mores  via.  [L., 
the  way  to  good  manners  is  never  too  late.]  It  is 
never  too  late  to  mend. 

Serape.     [Sp.]     A  shawl  worn  by  Mexicans. 

Serapeum.  A  splendid  temple  of  the  Egyp- 
tian god  Serapis  at  Alexandria,  destroyed  by 
order  of  the  Emperor  Theodosius,  A.D.  390. 

Seraphic  Doctor.     (Doctor.) 

Seraphim,  or  Jesus,  Order  of  the.  A  Swedish 
order  of  knighthood,  instituted  1334. 

Seraphine.  [Hob.,  seraph]  Precursor  of  the 
harmonium,  but  coarse  in  tone,  and  much 
inferior  to  it. 

Seraphs,  Seraphim.  [Heb.]  In  the  angelic 
hierarchy  of  the  Jews,  the  angels  of  the  highest 
order,  immediately  surrounding  the  divine 
throne. 

Serapis.  A  Gr.  corr.  of  the  Egypt.  Osir-hapi, 
or  the  dead  Apis,  the  living  Apis  being  known  as 
Hapi-anch.  (Apis.) — Brown,  Great  Dionysiak 
Myth.,  \.  198  ;  ii.  122. 

Seraskier.  [Pers.  ser,  head,  Ar.  'asker,  army] 
With  the  Turks,  a  general  commanding  a  separate 
army  ;  a  commander-in- chief,  or  minister  of  war. 

Serbonian  Bog.  A  marsh  or  lake  in  Egypt 
near  the  borders  of  Judaea. 


SERF 


439 


SETS 


Serf.     (Helots;  Peonage;  Ryot;  Villein.) 

Serge.  [Fr.,  from  L.  sericus,  silken.]  A 
twilled  stuff,  the  warp  of  which  is  worsted  and 
the  weft  wool. 

Seriatim.  [L.]  Severally,  one  by  one  ;  as 
in  the  delivery  of  judgments  by  judges. 

Series.  [L.]  (Math. )  A  succession  of  num- 
bers, each  of  which  is  related  to  the  one  before 
it  according  to  some  determinate  rule ;  as  a 
geometrical  series  or  progression.  (Progression.) 

Serjeant.  [Fr.  sergent,  from  L.  servien,  -tern, 
serving.}  1.  In  the  army,  a  non-commissioned 
officer,  of  higher  rank  than  a  corporal.  2. 
The  Common  §.,  a  judicial  officer  of  the  corpo- 
ration of  the  City  of  London.  3.  S.-at-law,  a 
lawyer  of  the  degree  above  a  barrister.  The 
degree  is  now  no  longer  conferred.  4.  S.-at- 
arms;  in  old  usage,  an  attendant  on  the  sove- 
reign or  on  the  Lord  High  Steward  when 
sitting  in  judgment  on  a  traitor,  etc. 

Serjeanty,  Grand  and  Petty.  Feudal  tenures, 
that  of  Grand  S.  being  when  a  tenant  holds  land 
of  the  king  by  service,  as  in  war,  to  be  per- 
formed in  his  own  person  ;  Petty  S.  being  where 
the  owner  has  to  provide  some  small  thing,  as  a 
sword  or  spear,  etc. 

Sermo  pedester.  [L.]  A  plain  style  of  writ- 
ing ;  prosaic,  without  poetic  flights. 

Seroon.  [Sp.  seron,  a  pannier.]  In  Com.,  a 
weight  varying  with  the  substance  to  which  it  is 
applied. 

Serpent.  A  wooden  instrument,  compass 
about  two  octaves,  used  in  Gregorian  music,  in 
Roman  Catholic  Churches,  precursor  of  the 
powerful  instrument  used  in  bands,  which  latter 
is  nearly  superseded  by  the  ophicleide. 

Serpentine,  i.e.  spotted,  veined,  in  appearance 
like  a  serpent's  skin.  (Geol.)  A  metamorphic 
rock,  of  silica  +  magnesia  ;  green,  black,  red. 

Serpents,  Fiery.  [Heb.  hannchashim  hassra- 
phim  (Numb.  xxi. ),  id.]  (Bibl.)  Unidentified. 

Serpiginous.  [L.  serpo,  /  creep.]  (Med.} 
Spreading  slowly  over  the  surface  of  the  skin. 

Serpula.  [L.,  a  little  snake,  serpo,  1  creep.] 
(Zoo/.)  (Tubicolae.) 

Serrate.    (Crenate.) 

Serum.     (Crassamentum.) 

Servabit  odorem,  or  Quo  semel  est  imbuta 
rScens,  servabit  odorem  Testa  diu.  [L.,  a  jar 
will  long  preserve  the  smell  with  which  it  was 
once  impregnated  when  new  (Horace).]  Early 
impressions  last  long. 

Serval.  (Zoo/.)  Felis  serval,  Leopardus  S., 
spotted  tiger-cat,  about  three  feet  long,  tail  in- 
clusive. S.  Africa. 

Serve,  To.  (Naut.)  To  wind  spun-yarn, 
etc.,  round  a  rope,  or  cable. 

Servetists.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Michael  Servetus,  burnt  at  Geneva,  through  the 
treachery  of  Calvin,  1553. 

Service.  1.  (Music.)  A  musical  setting  of 
the  Canticles,  Gloria,  etc.,  and  other  words  sung 
by  the  choir.  2.  (Naut.)  Spun-yarn  wound 
round  a  rope  with  a  serving-board  or  mallet. 

Service  [L.  sorbus],  or  Sorb.  (Bot.)  Wild  S. 
tree,  Pyrus  tormmalis(good  against  colic,  tormina, 
plu.J.  Ord.  Rosaceae  ;  growing  in  hedges,  and 

29 


in  Middle  and  S.  Europe ;  having  valuable 
heavy  wood. 

Service,  To  see.  Actual  performance  of  mili- 
tary duty  before  an  enemy. 

Service-pipe.  A  pipe  connecting  a  main  (as 
of  gas  or  water)  with  the  house. 

Serviette.     [Fr.]    A  table-napkin. 

Servile  War.  In  Rom.  Hist.,  the  revolt  of 
the  gladiators,  slaves,  and  oppressed  labourers, 
under  Spartacus,  against  their  masters,  B.C. 
73-72.  f 

Servites.  Servants  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  ;  an 
order  under  the  Augustinian  rule,  established  in 
Tuscany,  1233. 

Servum  pecus.  [L.]  Slavish  cattle  (Horace) ; 
said  of  fawners  and  flatterers.  . 

Servus  Servorum  Dei.  [L.]  Servant  of  the 
servants  of  God  ;  a  title  assumed  by  Gregory  the 
Great,  and  retained  by  all  succeeding  pontiffs. 

Sesame.     (Saxifrage.) 

Sesamoid.  (Med.)  Like  small  seeds  or  grains, 
lit.  of  sesdme  (q.v. ). 

S  esostr  is.     (Tosorthrus. ) 

Sesqui-.  [L.  sesqui,  one  and  a  half.]  A 
prefix  denoting  that  one  and  a  half  equivalent 
of  the  substance  to  the  name  of  which  it  is 
prefixed  are  combined  with  one  equivalent  of 
the  other  substance  mentioned  ;  as  sesquioxide  of 

,  which  contains  one  and  a  half  equivalent 

of  oxygen  to  one  of . 

Sesquialtera.  [L.,  one  and  a  half}  In  an 
organ,  a  stop  containing  from  two  to  five  ranks 
of  pipes ;  used  to  give  brilliancy  in  playing 
voluntaries,  etc. 

Sesquiplicate.  [From  L.  sesquiplex,  half  as, 
much  again;  but  with  altei-ed  meaning.]  If 
the  squares  of  two  numbers  have  the  same  ratio 
as  that  of  the  cubes  of  two  other  numbers,  the 
former  numbers  are  said  to  be  in  the  S.  ratio 
of  the  latter ;  thus,  when  Newton  proves  that 
Kepler's  law  for  the  periodic  times  of  planets 
follows  from  the  law  of  gravity,  he  says,  "  The 
periodic  times  of  bodies  moving  in  ellipses  are 
in  the  sesquiplicate  ratio  of  the  major  axes. " 

Sessile.  [L.  sessilis,  low-growing,  from  sedeo, 
1  sit.]  (Bot.)  Not  having  a  stalk,  or  having 
a  short  one ;  like  the  acorn  of  the  durmast 
oak. 

Sesterce.  [L.  sestertius,  originally  semister- 
tius,  or  the  equivalent  of  two  asses  and  a  half.] 
An  old  Roman  coin,  about  twopence  of  our 
money.  The  sestertium  was  =  1000  sesterces. 

Sethians.  (Eccl.)  An  Egyptian  sect  of  the 
second  century,  which  maintained  the  identity 
of  Jesus  Christ  with  Seth,  the  son  of  Adam. 

Seton.  [L.  seta,  a  bristle.]  (Surg.)  A 
twist,  e.g.  of  silk,  drawn  with  a  flat  needle 
through  a  fold  of  the  skin ;  to  keep  an  open- 
wound.  (Bowel.) 

Setose.  (Bot.)  Covered  with  bristles  [L. 
setae],  or  thick  stiff  hairs  ;  as  the  stems  of  many 
brambles. 

Set-screw.  (Meek.)  A  bolt  on  which  is  cut 
a  screw,  which  takes  so  firm  a  hold  of  the  sub- 
stances to  be  joined  that  a  nut  is  not  required. 
It  is  used,  in  fact,  like  a  small  carpenter's  screw* 
Called  also  a  tap-bolt. 


SETT 


440 


SHAG 


Sett.  A  piece  placed  on  the  head  of  a  pile 
that  the  hammer  may  reach  it. 

Settee.  1.  A  seat  with  back  and  arms,  wide 
enough  for  several  people.  2.  (Natit.)  A 
single-decked,  sharp-pro  wed  Mediterranean 
vessel,  lateen-rigged,  and  without  topmasts. 

Setting  the  Thames  on  fire.  Doing  some 
wonderful  act,  or  showing  extraordinary  power. 
Thames  is  thought  by  some  to  be  here  the 
word  temse  (a  sieve),  the  rim  of  which  might  be 
set  on  fire  by  an  active  workman  ;  as  the  Seine 
also  may  be  both  the  river  and  a  fishing-net. 
But  this  seems  very  doubtful. 

Setting  up.     Putting  into  type  for  printing. 

Settlement.  In  Law,  the  right  to  parochial 
relief  acquired  by  the  pauper  in  the  parish  or  dis- 
trict to  which  he  legally  belongs.  (Poor  laws.) 

Settlement,  Act  of.  The  Statute  of  William 
III.,  vesting  the  succession  to  the  Crown,  after 
the  death  without  issue  of  William  III.  and  of 
Anne,  in  the  princess  Sophia,  granddaughter  of 
James  L,  and  the  heirs  of  her  body  being 
Protestants. 

Seven  Bishops,  The  trial  of  the,  June  29,  1688. 
That  of  Archbishop  Sancroft,  Bishops  Lloyd  of 
St.  Asaph,  Turner  of  Ely,  Lake  of  Chichester, 
Ken  of  Bath  and  Wells,  White  of  Peterborough, 
Trelawney  of  Bristol,  for  refusing  to  cause  their 
clergy  to  read,  in  divine  service,  James  II. 's 
Declaration  for  Liberty  of  Conscience,  under 
which  it  was  attempted  to  establish  the  Roman 
faith. 

Seven  Champions  of  Christendom.  (Rishis, 
The  Seven.) 

Seven  deadly  sins.  In  Med.  Theol. — taking 
Spenser's  account,  Faery  Queene,  bk.  i.  canto 
iv. — Falsehood,  idleness,  gluttony,  fornication, 
avarice,  envy,  wrath  ;  another  list  is — Pride, 
covetousness,  lust,  gluttony,  anger,  envy,  sloth ; 
but  the  enumeration  is  worthless. 

Seven  hills  of  Borne.  Palatine,  Capitoline, 
Esquiline,  Coelian,  Aventine,  Quirinal,  Viminal. 
There  was  an  earlier  tradition  of  seven  hills,  of 
which  the  names  are  given  as  Palatium,  Velia, 
Cermalus,  Caslius,  Fagutal,  Oppius,  Cispius. 

Seven  principal  virtues.  The  three  theological 
(q.v.)  with  the  four  cardinal  (q.v.)  are  so  termed  ; 
but  the  enumeration  is  without  value. 

Seven  Rishis.     (Rishis,  The  Seven.) 

Seven  Sleepers.     (Rishis,  The  Seven.) 

Seven  Wise  Meii  of  Greece.  (Rishis,  The 
Seven.) 

Seven  works  of  mercy.  1.  Corporal:  "Seven 
works  are  usually  assigned  to  mercy  .  .  .  (i) 
to  feed  the  hungry;  (2)  to  give  drink  to  the 
thirsty  ;  (3)  clothes  to  the  naked  ;  (4)  to  redeem 
captives ;  (5)  to  visit  the  sick  ;  (6)  to  entertain 
strangers  ;  (7)  to  bury  the  dead. "  2.  Spiritual : 

Counsel,  rebuke,  instruct  in  wisdom's  way, 
Console,  forgive,  endure  unmoved,  and  pray. 

Bishop  Andrewes,  Devotions. 
(See  also  Faery  Queene,  bk.  i.  x.  36.) 

Seven  Years'  War.  (Hist.)  A  war  between 
Austria  and  Prussia  and  the  allies  on  either 
side,  1756-1763,  remarkable  chiefly  for  the  cam- 
paigns of  Frederick  II.  j  ended  by  the  peace  of 
Hubertsburg. 


Sevres.  China  made  at  S. ;  of  soft  porcelain 
alone,  vieux  Sevres,  before  1769  ;  of  hard  porce/- 
lain  subsequently. 

Sewed,  Sued.  [O.Fr.  essuier,  L.  easiccare, 
to  drain  dry.]  (Naut.)  A  ship  resting  on  the 
ground  through  the  water  falling  is  said  to  be 
sewed. 

Sewer.  [Of  uncertain  origin.]  One  who 
directed  the  arrangement  of  dishes  on  the  table  ; 
originally  one  who  tasted,  made  trial  of  [Fr. 
essayeur]  each  dish  to  prove  that  there  was  no 
poison  in  it.  (Skeat  prefers  to  derive  from 
sew,  originally  meaning  juice,  then  sauce,  etc.  ; 
A.S.  seaw.) 

Sexagesima.  [L.,  sixtieth.]  The  Eighth 
Sunday  before  Easter.  (Quinquagesima.) 

Sexagesimal.  [L.  sexagesimus,  sixtieth] 
Proceeding  by  sixties  ;  as  the  S.  division  of  the 
angle  or  of  the  hour  into  minutes  and  seconds. 

Sext.     (Canonical  hours.) 

Sextant  [L.  sextantem,  a  sixth  part] ;  Hadley's 
S. ;  Pocket-S.  1.  A  sixth  part  of  a  circle.  2. 
For  the  exact  measurement  of  the  angle  sub- 
tended at  the  eye  of  the  observer  by  the  line 
joining  two  distant  points,  an  instrument 
mounted  on  a  stand  is  commonly  required  ;  but 
in  the  case  of  Hadley's  S.  (which  is  often  called 
simply  a  Sextant),  by  the  use  of  mirrors  properly 
attached  to  the  instrument,  the  stand  is  dispensed 
with,  and  the  instrument  is  merely  held  in  the 
hand  ;  it  is,  therefore,  adapted  for  making 
astronomical  observations  at  sea.  A  Pocket-S. 
is  a  small  sextant  with  certain  unessential  varia- 
tions in  the  arrangements  of  its  parts,  the  varia- 
tions being  designed  to  increase  its  portability. 

Sexton.    (Sacristan.) 

Seyd,  Syud.    (Cid ;  Sherif.) 

Sfregazri.  [It.  sfregare,  to  rub.]  A  kind  <,f 
glazing  made  by  drawing  the  finger  over  the 
canvas. 

Sfnmato.    [It.,  smoked]   Misty  in  appearance. 

Sgraffiato  ware.  [It.,  painted  in  a  kind  of 
sgraffito  (q.v.).']  Ware  decorated  by  scratchings 
in  engobe  (q.v.). 

Sgraffito.  [It.,  scratched.]  1.  Formed  by 
scratching  away  a  white  surface  so  as  to  show 
the  dark  ground  underneath.  2.  As  noun,  a 
scratched  inscription. 

Shabraque.  [Ger.  schabracke,  housing] 
(Mil.)  Embroidered  saddle-cloth  worn  on  the 
horses  of  mounted  officers. 

Shaft.  [A.S.  sceaft.]  1.  (Arch.)  The  column 
between  the  base  and  the  capital.  2.  (Mech.) 
An  axle  carrying  wheels  or  other  rotating  pieces 
which  convey  and  distribute  energy  from  the 
prime  mover.  An  axis  is  the  general  and  scien- 
tific term  ;  shaft  the  millwright's  general  term, 
and  spindle  his  term  for  a  smaller  shaft.  Axle  is 
the  wheelwright's  word  ;  and  arbor  the  watch- 
maker's. 3.  In  Mining,  a  well-like  excavation 
for  reaching  ore  and  bringing  it  to  the  surface. 

Shag.  [A.S.  sceacga,  a  bush  of  hair.]  1. 
Cloth  with  a  long  coarse  nap.  2.  Strong  dark 
tobacco  cut  into  fine  threads. 

Shagreen.  [Turk,  saghri,  a  horse's  back]  An 
untanned  leather  covered  with  small  granula- 
tions, produced  by  pressing  small  seeds  into  it 


SHAH 


441 


SHEE 


while  moist,  scraping  off  when  dry  the  ridges 
thus  formed,  and  raising  the  hollows  into  relief 
by  soaking.  Originally  of  skin  of  horse  or  ass ; 
then  of  shark. 

Shah.     The  King  of  Persia.     (Padishah.) 

Shahnamah.  [Pers.,  The  Book  of  Kings. ~\ 
The  Persian  Epic  of  Firdusi,  written  about 
A.D.  1000. 

Shake,  To.  (Naut.)  To  cast  off  fastenings. 
To  S.  in  the  wind,  to  come  so  near  that  the  sails 
shiver.  Shaking  a  cloth  in  the  wind,  being 
rather  tipsy.  Shakings,  canvas,  cordage,  or 
other  refuse,  used  for  oakum  or  paper-making. 

Shakers.  (EccL  Hist.)  A  body  of  seceders 
from  the  Society  of  Friends,  or  Quakers.  Now 
found  chiefly  in  America.  So  called  from  the 
contortions  of  their  bodies  during  worship. 

Shale.  [Ger.  schalen,  to,  peel,  shell.}  (Geol.) 
Consolidated  mud,  generic  name  for  laminated 
argillaceous  rocks,  easily  pulverized  j  bitumi- 
nous S.  passes  into  coal. 

Shalli.  A  twilled  cloth  of  the  wool  of  the 
Angora  goat. 

Shalloon.  A  worsted  stuff  first  made  at 
Chalons,  in  France. 

Shallop,  Shalloop,  or  Sloop.  [Fr.  chaloupe.] 
(Naut.)  1.  A  small  fishing- vessel  having  only  a 
fore -and -main  lugsail.  2.  A  large,  heavy,  open 
boat,  with  one  mast,  boom  mainsail,  and  jib 
foresail.  3.  A  small  row-boat  for  one  or  two 
men. 

Shallow-waisted.  (Naut.)  Flush-decked. 
(Decks.) 

Shamanism.  The  name  for  the  religions  of 
many  barbarous  tribes,  including  the  Finnish, 
as  far  as  the  Pacific  Ocean.  (Samanseans.) 

Shambles.  [A.S.  sceamel,  a  bench.}  Platforms 
left  in  a  mine  to  receive  the  ore,  which  is  thrown 
from  one  of  them  to  another  till  it  reaches  the 
surface. 

Shamefacedness.  I  Tim.  ii.  9 ;  "  shame- 
faced "  is  a  corr.  of  shamefast,  A.  S.  scamfoest, 
from  scamu,  shame,  and  faest,  fast,  i.e.  firm. 
The  confusion  easily  arose  from  the  fact  of 
shame  showing  itself  in  the  face.  The  proper 
spelling  appears  in  the  Revised  Version. 

Shammy.  Soft  pliant  leather  originally  made 
from  the  skin  of  the  chamois. 

Shamoying  (from  chamois  leather,  which 
is  thus  prepared).  Preparing  leather  with  oil 
instead  of  astringent  bark. 

Shank.  [A.S.  scanc.]  1.  In  Printing,  the 
body  of  a  type.  2.  A  large  ladle  used  in 
founding. 

Shanty.  [ Amer.  ;  a  corr.  of  Fr.  chantier, 
originally  a  wooden  horse  (L.  cantherius,  a  pack- 
horse}  on  which  carpenter's  work  is  done  ;  then 
a  hut  in  a  dockyard  ;  then  the  yard  itself.]  A 
mean  cabin  or  shed  ;  a  hut  such  as  a  settler  or 
backwoodsman  first  constructs,  of  logs. 

Shard-borne.  Borne  on  shards,  or  on  wings 
like  shards  (i.e.  fragments  of  earthen  vessels  or 
shells). 

Share.  [O.E.  scear,  id.,  sceran,  to  divide.} 
(Agr. )  That  part  of  the  plough  which  cuts  the 
soil  in  a  horizontal  plane. 

Sharon,  Rose  of.     Cant.  ii.  I  ;  probably  nar- 


cissus, abundant  on  the  plain  of  S.,  between 
Joppa  and  Csesarea,  if  this  is  the  S.  intended. 
Another  S.,  which  means  plain,  or  field,  is  be- 
tween Mount  Tabor  and  the  Sea  of  Tiberias 
(Speaker's  Commentary). 

Shaster,  more  properly  Sastra.  The  Hindu 
name  for  books  explaining  the  Vedas  by  sasta, 
science.  (Purana. ) 

-shaw.  [A.S.  sceagor.]  (Geog.)  A  shady 
place,  a  wood ;  e.g.  Brad-shaw  (see  Taylor's 
Words  and  Places]. 

Shawm.  Precursor  of  the  modern  clarionet. 
(Chalumeau.) 

Shea.  A  butter  obtained  from  an  African 
tree. 

Shear.  [From  a  root  meaning  division;  cf. 
share  (q.v.),  sheer,  shire,  shore,  shard,  sherd, 
shred.]  (Mech.)  1.  A  tangential  stress  which 
tends  to  separate  a  body  by  making  its  two 
parts  slide  one  upon  the  other  in  opposite  di- 
rections. 2.  A  contrivance  for  lifting  heavy 
weights,  consisting  of  two  or  more  spars  lashed 
together  at  the  top,  and  furnished  with  the 
necessary  tackle.  3.  Plu.,  a  cutting  instrument, 
as  a  large  pair  of  scissors. 

Shear-hog,  Shearling.  (Sheep,  Stages  of 
growth  of.) 

Shear-hooks.  (Naut.)  Sickles  formerly  at- 
tached to  the  yardarms,  to  cut  an  enemy's 
rigging. 

Shear-steel.  A  highly  wrought  steel  for 
making  shears,  scythes,  etc. 

Sheath-bill.  (Ornith.)  Gen.  (two  spec.)  and 
fam.  of  wading -birds,  about  fifteen  inches  long  ; 
white,  with  horny  sheath  protecting  nostrils. 
Antarctic  islands.  Gen.  Chionis,  fam.  Chio- 
nldidse,  ord.  Grallse. 

Sheave.  1.  (Mech.)  The  wheel  of  a  pulley 
which  works  in  a  block,  and  carries  the  rope  on 
its  rim.  2.  (Naut.)  (i)  Wheel  of  a  block,  etc. 
(2)  The  number  of  tiers  in  cables,  or  hawsers, 
when  coiled.  S.-hole,  (i)  that  in  which  a 
sheave  is  fitted ;  (2)  the  groove  through  which 
a  rope  is  rove  in  a  block. 

Shechinah,  Shekinah.  [Heb. , presence  of  God.] 
In  Old  Testament,  the  glory  resting  on  the 
tabernacle,  or  before  the  people. 

Sheep,  Stages  of  growth  of.  Wether  and 
ram  (or  tup)  lambs  become  Hogs,  Hoggerels, 
Hoggets,  or  Tags,  as  soon  as  the  next  year's 
lambs  begin  to  fall ;  on  shearing  they  become 
Shear-hogs,  Shearlings,  Dinmonts,  Tups,  or  Two- 
toothed  Tags,  as  the  case  may  be.  After  the 
next  shearing  the  wether  is  termed  a  Four-toothed 
wether,  or  7wo-shear  hog,  and  so  on.  Rams  (or 
tups)  also  are  distinguished  by  the  number  of 
their  annual  shearings.  The  corresponding 
stages  in  the  females  are  (i)  Ewe  lamb,  Girnmer 
L.,  or  E.  tag.  (2)  Shearling  E.,  Two-toothed 
E.,  or  Thaive.  (3)  Thaive,  Two-shear  £.,  or 
G.,  or  Four-toothed  E.  (4)  Three-shear.  (5) 
Full-moiithed.  The  E.,  on  losing  her  teeth,  is 
termed  a  Crone.  But  names  vary  locally. 

Sheepmaster.  2  Kings  iii.  4.  Master  here  is 
owner.  So  beemaster,  etc. 

Sheepshank.  (Naut.)  A  contrivance  to 
shorten  a  rope  in  the  middle  temporarily,  by 


SHEE 


442 


SHIP 


doubling  it  and  knotting  each  end  of  the  doubled 
part  in  a  peculiar  way. 

Sheer,  (Naut.)  1.  The  curve  in  a  vessel  s 
length.  2.  The  position  in  which  a  vessel  at 
single  anchor  is  kept  to  prevent  her  fouling  it. 
To  break  S.,  to  shift  from  that  position.  S.-hulk, 
an  old  vessel  fitted  with  sheers  (q.v.),  etc. 
Sheering;  sailing  in  a  wavy  line.  S.-mast,  a 
pair  of  sheers  in  which  a  fore-and-aft  mainsail 
works  instead  of  being  hoisted  on  a  mast. 

Sheers.  (Naut.}  Two  or  more  spars  set  up 
at  an  angle,  lashed  together  near  their  upper 
ends,  and  supported  by  guys.  Used  to  lift 
weights,  rig  masts,  etc. 

Sheet.  (Naut. )  A  rope  or  chain  attached  to 
the  lower  corner  or  corners  of  a  sail,  to  regulate 
its  position. 

Sheet  anchor.    (Anchors.) 

Sheik.     (Scheiks.) 

Sheikh-ul-Islam.     (Mufti.) 

Sheldonian  Theatre.  The  building  at  Oxford 
answering  to  the  Senate  House  at  Cambridge  ; 
so  called  from  Gilbert  Sheldon,  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  who  built  it. 

Sheldrake.  [Sheld,  i.e.  spotted;  perhaps  akin 
to  A.S.  scylan,  from  skel,  to  distinguish.} 
(Ornith.)  S  he  Id-drake ;  spec,  of  variegated 
wild  duck,  twenty-four  to  twenty-seven  inches 
long ;  builds  in  rabbit-holes.  Gen.  T&dorna, 
fam.  Anatidse,  ord.  Anseres. 

Shellac.     (Lac.) 

Shelling.  Groats  (because  the  husk  or  shell 
is  removed). 

Shell-jacket.  (Mil.)  Uniform  coat  only 
reaching  to  the  waist. 

Shelter-trench.  (Mil. )  Slight  earthen  para- 
pet thrown  up  from  a  shallow  ditch ;  a  hasty 
and  temporary  cover  to  troops  from  the  fire  of 
an  enemy. 

Sheminith.  In  title  of  Ps.  vi.,  xii.,  both  peni- 
tential ;  the  eighth  or  octave  ;  i.e.  probably 
with  bass  voice  or  accompaniments. 

Sheol.  Hidden;  Heb.  equivalent  of  the  Gr. 
Hades,  the  abode  of  the  departed. 

Shepherd  kings.  Ancient  kings  ruling  in 
Egypt,  sometimes  called  Hycsos.  They  are 
supposed  to  have  been  expelled  on  the  rise  of 
the  eighteenth  dynasty,  about  B.C.  1625. 

Shepherd's  Calendar.  Edmund  Spenser's 
series  of  pastorals,  divided  into  twelve  monthly 
parts — the  scenery,  climate,  names,  English — in 
which,  as  in  Virgil's  Bucolics,  questions  of 
morality  and  State  are  treated  in  idyllic  dialogue  j 
with  praises  of  living  persons. 

Shepherd's-purse.  (Sot.)  A  common  weed, 
Capsella  bursa  pastoris,  ord.  Crucife'rse ;  an 
annual,  abundant  in  our  gardens  and  corn-fields ; 
one  of  the  few  plants  found  almost  all  over  the 
world. 

Sherbet  [Ar.,  a  draught.]  A  perfumed 
lemonade  used  in  the  East. 

Sherif.  [Ar.,  lord,  or  master.]  One  who  is 
descended  from  Mohammed  through  his  daughter 
Fatima,  the  wife  of  AH.  The  Sherifs  are  also 
called  Emir  and  Seyd,  or  Syud,  and  have  the 
right  of  wearing  the  green  turban.  (Scheiks.) 

Sheriff,    [Originally  shire-reeve,  =  vice-comes. 


or  deputy  of  the  earl.]     The  chief  officer  in  each 
county  ;  the  bailiff  of  the  Crown. 

Shewbread.  In  Jewish  Hist.,  the  name 
given  to  the  twelve  loaves  of  bread,  one  for 
each  of  the  tribes,  which  were  placed  every 
sabbath  "on  the  pure  table  before  the  Lord," 
to  be  eaten  there,  and  only  by  the  priests. 

Shiahs,  Shias.  Mohammedans  who  consider 
Ali,  the  fourth  caliph,  as  the  rightful  successor 
of  the  prophet,  and  look  on  his  predecessors, 
Abubekr,  Omar,  and  Othman,  as  usurpers. 
The  Persians  generally  belong  to  this  body. 
Their  opponents  are  called  Sonnites  or  Sun- 
niahs. 

Shibah.     (Naut.)     A  small  Indian  vessel. 

Shibboleth.  1.  A  Hebrew  word  [(i)  an  ear 
of  corn,  (2)  a  stream},  used  by  Jephthah  (Judg. 
xii.  6)  to  distinguish  from  his  own  men,  who 
pronounced  the  sound  sh,  the  Ephraimites, 
who,  sounding  only  s,  said  sibboleth.  Hence, 
2,  the  test-word  of  any  party. 

Shield-ship.  (Naut. )  One  having  a  massive 
iron  shield,  or  shields,  to  protect  its  heavy  gun, 
or  guns.  S.  tower  or  turret,  an  armoured  re- 
volving turret  to  protect  guns. 

Shieve,  To.  (Naut.)  1.  To  have  headway. 
2.  To  row  the  wrong  way  to  assist  in  steering. 

Shifting.  (Naut.)  S.  a  tackle,  moving  the 
blocks  further  apart ;  called  also  fleeting.  S. 
backstays  or  preventers,  those  that  can  be 
moved  from  one  side  of  a  ship  to  the  other. 
S.  ballast,  moving  pigs  of  iron,  bags  of  sand,  etc., 
to  trim  the  ship.  Also  applied  to  "  live  lumber," 
i.e.  live  stock,  and  human  beings  who  do  not 
form  part  of  the  crew.  S.  boards,  bulkheads 
running  the  length  of  a  hold. 

Shift  the  helm.  (Naut.)  An  order  to  move 
it  from  port  to  starboard,  or  vice  versa. 

Shiites.     (Sunnites.) 

Shiggaion.  In  title  of  Ps.  vii.,  probably  =  a 
lyrical  composition  expressing  mental  excitement 
(Speaker's  Commentary). 

Shillelah.  An  oaken  cudgel  (from  the  Irish 
forest  of  Shillelah). 

Shilling,  Taking  the.  Until  very  lately,  = 
enlisting ;  from  the  shilling  given  to  the  recruit 
on  the  occasion.  But  no  money  passes  to  the 
recruit  now,  since  the  Army  Discipline  and 
Regulation  Act,  1879. 

Shim.  1.  A  kind  of  hoe.  2.  A  thin  slip  of 
metal  placed  between  two  parts  to  make  a  fit. 

Shingle.  [Ger.  schindel.]  A  thin  plank  with 
one  end  thicker  than  the  other,  used  for  roofing. 

Shingle  beaches.     (Beaches. ) 

Shingles.    (Herpes.) 

Shingle-tramper.  In  Naut.  slang,  a  coast- 
guard man. 

Shingling.  Hammering  puddled  iron  to  make 
it  into  blooms. 

Shin-plaster.  In  America,  slang  for  paper- 
money. 

Shin  up,  To.  (Naut.)  To  climb  up  a  rope  or 
spar  by  griping  it  with  hands  and  legs. 

Ship.  [A  word  containing  the  root  of  shape, 
A.S.  sceapan,  scippan,  Ger.  schafifen,  Gr. 
(T/caTTTw,  (r/ca<f>os,  skiff,  etc.]  In  Naut.  lan- 
guage, strictly,  a  three-masted,  square-rigged 


SHIP 


443 


SHUS 


vessel.  S.-breaker,  one  who  buys  old  vessels, 
and  takes  them  to  pieces.  S.  -broker,  an  agent 
between  shipowners,  merchants,  etc.  S. -chan- 
dler, one  who  supplies  sea-stores.  S.-con- 
troller,  the  charterer  or  freighter.  S.  cut  down 
(Easee.)  S. -keeper,  (i)  a  stay-aboard  officer; 
(2)  the  man  in  charge  of  a  vessel,  whose 
crew  is  not  on  board.  S.-lord,  old  name 
for  a  shipowner.  S.-man,  the  master  of  a 
barge.  S.-man 's  card,  (i)  a  chart ;  (2)  the 
compass  card.  S.-master,  the  master,  or 
captain.  S.  raised  upon,  one  having  had  her 
upper  works  heightened.  Ship's  husband.  (Hus- 
band.) S.-sloop,  a  twenty-four-gun,  or  smaller, 
man-of-war,  commanded  by  a  captain. 

Ship  money.  (Eng.  Hist.)  A  tax  imposed  by 
Charles  I.  without  authority  of  Parliament ;  and 
the  discontent  thus  caused  led,  with  other  things, 
to  the  civil  war.  The  maritime  and  perhaps 
some  of  the  inland  counties  had  in  remote  times 
been  taxed  for  the  support  of  the  navy  in  cases 
of  emergency  or  invasion.  But  this  assessment 
was  made  on  all  counties  ;  it  was  not  for  the 
support  of  the  navy,  or  of  the  navy  only ;  and 
it  was  believed  to  be  imposed  with  the  view  of 
curtailing  the  national  liberties  by  raising  taxes 
without  the  consent  of  the  governed. 

Ship's  husband.    (Husband.) 

Ship-worm.    (Teredo.) 

Shiremote.  In  O.E.  Law,  the  meeting  of  the 
shire,  or  the  sheriff's  court. 

Shirred.  [O.Ger.  shirren,  to  prepare.]  Having 
bands  of  elastic,  etc. ,  inserted  between  the  faces 
of  the  stuff,  as  in  a  pair  of  braces. 

Shirt  of  need.  In  the  Middle  Ages,  a  garment 
called  by  the  Germans  noth  hemd,  supposed  to 
make  the  wearer  invulnerable.  (Tarnkappe.) 

Shittahtree(Isa.  xli.  19),  Shittimwood(Exod. 
xxvi.,  xxx vi.).  An  acacia,  largest  timber  tree 
of  the  Arabian  desert ;  having  hard  brownish 
wood,  and  yielding  gum-arabic. 

Shiver.     (Naut)    I.q.  sheave  (q.v.). 

ShoaL  [Akin  to  shallow,  shelf,  etc.]  A 
shallow  place,  or  sandbank. 

Shoddy.  A  fibrous  material  obtained  by  tear- 
ing to  pieces  old  woollen  goods. 

Shoepack.  A  moccasin  made  of  tanned 
leather,  with  the  black  side  in. 

Shogoon.     (Tycoon.) 

Shook.  A  set  of  staves  for  making  a  barrel,  or 
of  boards  for  a  sugar-box. 

Shoot.  In  Mining,  a  vein  of  ore  running  in 
the  same  direction  as  the  strata  in  which  it  occurs. 

Shoot,  To.  (Naut.)  S.  the  compass,  to  go 
wide  of  the  mark.  S.  the  sun,  take  an  obser- 
vation. 

Shooting  star.  A  small  body  which,  coming 
out  of  space  into  the  atmosphere,  is  ignited  by 
the  heat  developed  by  the  check  to  its  motion 
caused  by  the  resistance  of  the  air.  (Meteoric 
shower.) 

Shooting-stick.  A  tapering  piece  of  wood  or 
iron,  used  by  printers  to  drive  up  the  quoins  in 
the  chase. 

Shorling.  The  fleece  shorn  from  a  living  sheep. 

Short  boards  or  tacks.  Short  runs,  or  legs, 
made  successively  in  tacking. 


Shorter  Catechism.    (Catechism.) 

Short-service.  (Naut.)  That  which  protects 
a  small  part  of  a  hemp  cable.  (Service,  2.) 

Short-sighted  eye.  One  which  has  too  great  a 
refractive  power,  and  brings  rays  from  a  distant 
object  to  convergence  in  front  of  the  retina  ;  it 
cannot,  therefore,  see  such  objects  distinctly, 
though  they  are  clearly  discerned  by  the  human 
eye  in  its  ordinary  state. 

Shoshannim.  In  title  of  Ps.  xlv.,  Ixix.,  Ixxx. ; 
lilies ;  the  name  of  a  melody  (?)  or  metaph. 
(?)  =  bridesmaids  ;  a  melody  fit  for  nuptials. 

Shot  silk.  Silk  having  the  warp-threads  all  of 
one  colour  and  the  weft  of  another. 

Shoulder  angle.  (Mi!. )  That  formed  by  the 
meeting  of  a  face  and  a  flank  of  a  bastion. 

Shoulder-of-mutton  sail.  (Nattt.)  A  trian- 
gular sail,  like  the  mainsail  of  a  'Mudian  (q.v.). 

Shoulders.    (Under  setters.) 

Shout.  [D.  schuyt.]  (Naut.)  A  light  and 
nearly  flat-bottomed  fen-boat. 

Shoute-men.     (Naut.)    Thames  lightermen. 

Shovel-board.  At  which,  according  to  Macau- 
lay,  the  squire  and  his  chaplain  played  together 
on  wet  days — "a  game  played  on  a  long  board, 
by  sliding  metal  pieces  at  a  mark." — Johnson's 
Dictionary. 

Shoveller.  (Ornith.)  Gen.  of  wild  duck, 
with  bill  broadening  at  tip.  Gen.  Spatula,  fam. 
Anatida;,  ord.  Anseres. 

Shrapnel  shell  (General  S.,  of  R.  A.,  inventor), 
or  Spherical  case-shot.  (Mil.)  Thin  shell  filled 
with  musket-balls  mixed  with  a  bursting  charge  of 
powder,  having  a  short  fuze  for  bursting  it  before 
the  completion  of  its  range. 

Shrike  (from  its  shrieking).  (Ornith.)  Fam. 
of  dentirostral  birds  ;  rapacious ;  e.g.  common 
butcher-bird.  Almost  cosmopolitan,  except 
Central  and  S.  America.  Lanndse,  ord.  Pas- 
seres. 

Shrinkage.  [A.  S.  scrincan,  to  contract.]  Con- 
traction of  heated  metals,  castings,  etc.,  on 
cooling. 

Shrinking  head.  A  supply  of  molten  metal 
connected  with  a  mould  for  making  good  the 
loss  caused  by  shrinkage  as  the  casting  cools. 

Shrink-on,  To.  To  place  on  a  cylindrical 
body,  as  a  cannon,  a  heated  metal  hoop,  which, 
when  cool,  has  a  diameter  slightly  less  than  that 
of  the  cylinder ;  the  fit  is  tight  when  the  ring  is 
hot,  and  consequently  when  it  is  cool  it  grasps 
the  cylinder  with  a  great  force,  due  to  its  ten- 
dency to  contract. 

Shroff.     [Ar.j     A  banker  or  money-changer. 

Shroud-rope.  (Naut.)  Hawser-laid  rope  of 
extra  quality. 

Shrouds.    (Crouds.) 

Shrouds.  [A.S.  scriid  shroud,  screade,  shred.] 
(Nattt.)  Those  ropes  by  which  lateral  support 
is  given  to  a  mast,  or  to  the  bowsprit.  S. -stopper. 
(Stopper.)  S. -trucks.  (Truck.) 

Shude.  [Ger.  scheiden,  to  separate.]  Rice 
husks,  etc. ,  for  adulterating  oil-cake. 

Shumac.  [Ar.  summak,  from  samaka,  to  be 
long.]  Fustet  (q.v.). 

Shushan-eduth.  In  title  of  Ps.  Ix. ;  the  lily  of 
testimony.  (Shoshannim.) 


SHUT 


444 


SIGN 


Shut  [A.S.  scythan,  to  shut.}  The  line  of 
closure  where  two  pieces  of  metal  are  welded 
together.  Cold  shut  is  the  imperfect  junction 
caused  by  insufficient  heat  in  either  piece  of  metal. 

Shuttle.  [A.S.  scyttel,  from  sceotan,  to  shoot.} 
An  instrument  used  in  weaving  for  shooting  the 
thread  of  the  woof  backwards  and  forwards  be- 
tween the  threads  of  the  warp. 

Shwan  pan.    The  Chinese  Abacus. 

Sialagogue.  [Gr.  <ria\ov,  saliva,  ayayds,  a 
guide.}  (Med.)  Any  medicine  which  increases 
the  flow  of  saliva. 

Sialous.     (Med. )     Having  saliva  [Gr.  <rla\ov}. 

Sibilant.  [L.  sibilantem.]  A  letter  uttered 
with  a  hissing  sound,  as  s. 

Sibyl.  [Gr.  2t/3t/AAa.  ]  A  prophetess,  as  the 
sibyl  of  Cumse,  in  the  JEneid.  Ten  sibyls  are 
named  by  some  authors. 

Sibylline  books.  Books  which  were  supposed 
to  contain  the  fortunes  of  the  Roman  state. 
These  were  brought  by  the  sibyl  to  Tarquin  the 
Proud,  who  refused  them  at  the  price  asked. 
Having  burnt  six,  the  sibyl  asked  the  same 
price  for  the  remaining  three.  The  king  then 
bought  them,  and  they  were  kept  in  the  temple 
of  the  Capitoline  Jupiter.  A  similar  tale  is  told 
of  a  Hindu  king. 

Sic.  [L.,  thus.}  A  word  used  by  writers,  when 
quoting,  to  draw  attention  to  blunders  in  the 
writing  or  printing,  especially  to  such  as  seem  to 
be  the  result  of  culpable  ignorance  or  negligence. 

Sicca.    (Rupee.) 

Siccum  lumen.  [L.,  dry  light.}  In  the  Ba- 
conian philosophy,  the  handling  of  questions 
without  prejudice  or  partiality,  thus  placing 
them  in  a  light  free  of  all  distorting  vapour. 

Sicilian  Vespers.  (Hist.)  The  massacre  of 
the  French  soldiers  and  subjects  of  Charles  of 
Anjou  in  Sicily,  in  1282,  is  called  by  this  name. 
On  the  expulsion  of  Charles,  the  Sicilians  placed 
themselves  under  the  protection  of  the  King  of 
Aragon. 

Sicilies,  The  Two.  Sicilia  Citeriore,  S.  on 
this  side,  with  reference  to  Naples,  =  about 
one-third  of  Italy ;  and  S.  Ulteriore,  or  the  I. 
of  Sicily. 

Sic  itur  ad  astra.  [L.]  Thus  it  is  gone  to  the 
stars  ;  such  is  the  path  to  immortality. 

Sick  Man,  The.  The  Sultan  of  the  Ottoman 
Turks.  So  called  by  the  Emperor  Nicholas,  in 
a  conversation  with  Sir  H.  Seymour,  April, 
1853,  with  reference  to  a  proposed  division  of 
effects. 

Sic  sedebat.  [L.]  So  he  used  to  sit ;  on 
statues. 

Sic  transit  gloria  mundi.  [L.]  So  passes 
away  the  world's  glory.  The  pope,  at  his  coro- 
nation, is  thus  addressed  by  a  clerk  ot  the 
chapel,  who  holds  in  his  hand  a  stick  with 
lighted  tow. 

Sic  utere  tuo,  ut  alienum  ne  laedas.  [L.]  In 
Law,  so  use  what  is  thine  own,  as  not  to  injure 
that  -which  is  another's.  This  maxim  is  the  only 
limitation  upon  the  enjoyment  of  a  tenant  in  fee 
simple  ;  so  in  the  case  of  mines,  it  is  sometimes 
an  entire  denial  of  the  right  of  enjoyment. — 
Brown,  Law  Dictionary. 


Sic  volo,  sic  jubeo.  [L.,  so  I  will  and  com- 
mand.} A  despotic  command.  (Stet  pro  ra- 
tione  voluntas.) 

Sic  volumus.  [L.]  So  we  will  it;  of  arbitrary 
decisions. 

Sic  vos  non  vobis.  [L.]  So  ye  not  for  your- 
selves (Virgil).  A  phrase  for  work  in  which 
the  workman's  reward  goes  to  others. 

Side-arms.  (Mil.)  The  sword  or  bayonet 
carried  at  a  soldier's  side. 

Side-bone.     In  a  horse.     (King-bone.) 

Side-lever.  The  part  of  a  marine  steam- 
engine  corresponding  to  the  beam  in  the  ordinary 
stationary  steam-engine. 

Sidereal  clock  [L.  sldere'us,  belonging  to  the 
stars}  ;  S.  day ;  S.  time ;  S.  year.  Sidereal 
time  is  time  reckoned  by  the  diurnal  motion  of 
the  stars,  or  more  strictly  by  that  of  the  (mean) 
first  point  of  Aries,  just  as  ordinary  (mean)  time 
is  kept  by  the  motion  of  the  (mean)  sun.  A  S. 
clock  is  regulated  to  show  the  sidereal  time  of 
any  instant :  e.g.  it  shows  3  hrs.  when  the  first 
point  of  Aries  is  45°  or  3  hrs.  west  of  the 
meridian.  (For  S.  day,  -vide  Day ;  for  S.  year, 
vide  Year.) 

Siderography.  [Gr.  o-i'Srj/w,  iron,  ypdQeco,  1 
draw.}  A  process  of  copying  an  engraved  steel 
plate  by  first  rolling  over  it,  when  hardened,  a 
soft-steel  cylinder,  and  then  rolling  the  cylinder, 
when  hardened,  over  a  soft-steel  plate. 

Sideroscope.  [Gr.  atiripos,.  iron,  ffKvxtv,  I 
view.}  An  instrument  for  revealing  the  presence 
of  iron  in  any  substance  by  means  of  magnetic 
needles. 

Sidesmen.  Men  appointed  to  assist  church- 
wardens. Canon  XC.,  1603,  "  Side-men,  or 
Assistants."  (Questmen.) 

Siena,  Terra  di  sienna,  Raw  sienna.  A 
brownish-yellow  earth  from  Sienna,  in  Italy, 
used  as  a  water-colour.  Burnt  sienna  is  of  a 
deep  orange  tint,  and  is  made  by  burning  raw 
sienna.  (Ochres.) 

Sierra.  [Sp.,  L.  serra,  a  saw.}  The  Spanish 
name  for  a  chain  of  hills,  properly  with  jagged 
summits,  as  the  Sierra  Nevada,  or  snowy 
range. 

Siesta.  [Sp.,  a  sitting  down.}  The  Spanish 
name  for  the  rest  taken  within  doors  during  the 
heat  of  the  day. 

Sight.  (Mil.)  A  piece  of  metal  secured  to 
the  upper  side  of  the  barrel  of  any  firearm,  for 
assisting  the  aim  and  showing  the  extent  of 
range. 

Slgillaria.  ( Geol. )  A  gen.  of  fossil  tree-stems, 
with  leaf-scars,  like  impressions  of  a  seal  [L. 
sigillum] ;  characteristic  of  Carboniferous  system. 

Sign,  Algebraical.  A  symbol  denoting  a  cer- 
tain operation  performed  on  or  relation  between 
other  symbols  denoting  numbers  ;  thus,  +  is 
the  sign  of  addition,  —  of  subtraction,  =  of 
equality,  etc.  j  as,  5  4-  7  =  12,  and  8  —  3=5, 
etc. 

Signature.  [L.L.  signatura,  a  sealing,  mark- 
ing.} 1.  In  Music,  the  flats  and  sharps  placed 
after  the  clef,  and  indicating  the  key.  2.  In 
Printing,  a  small  letter,  or  sometimes  number, 
placed  at  the  foot  of  the  first  sheet  or  section — 


SIGN 


445 


SIMP 


which  generally  contains  sixteen  pages — of  any 
book. 

Signatures,  Doctrine  of.  This  term  denotes 
the  old  notion  that  natural  substances  indicate, 
by  their  outward  form  or  colour,  the  diseases  for 
which  they  may  be  used  as  remedies.  Thus 
turmeric,  being  yellow,  must  cure  jaundice,  etc. 

Signet,  Privy.  1.  One  of  the  royal  seals,  for 
private  letters  and  grants  under  the  sign-manual, 
kept  by  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Home 
Department.  2.  In  Scotland,  the  signet 
authenticates  royal  letters  and  writs  for  pur- 
poses of  justice.  Hence  the  title,  Clerks  or 
Writers  to  the  S. 

Significavit  [L.]  (Leg.)  A  clause  in  a 
writ,  or  the  writ  itself,  wherein  a  judge  or  other 
competent  authority  has  signified  to  the  king 
that  the  person  against  whom  the  writ  has  been 
directed  was  manifestly  contumacious,  openly 
disobeying  an  order  of  the  court. 

Sign-manual.  The  royal  signature,  super- 
scribed on  bills  of  grants  and  letters  patent, 
which  are  then  sealed  with  the  privy  Signet  or 
the  Great  Seal. 

Signs  of  the  Zodiac.     (Zodiac.) 

Sigurd.  The  great  hero  of  the  Volsunga 
Saga,  and  the  Nibelungen-lied. 

Silentiary.  [L.  silentiarius,  from  silentium, 
silence.}  In  Rom.  Hist.,  one  whose  duty  it  was 
to  maintain  silence  in  the  imperial  palace.  In 
the  Latin  empire  the  cabinet  secretaries  were  so 
called. 

Silenus.  [Gr.  2,l\v)vos,  akin  to  Seirens.] 
(Gr.  Myth.)  The  foster-father  of  Dionysos  (Bac- 
chus), usually  represented  as  riding  on  an  ass, 
with  a  pitcher  in  his  hand,  and  as  endowed  with 
prophetic  powers. 

Silhouette.  1.  A  profile,  or  shadow-outline 
of  the  human  figure,  filled  in  with  a  dark  colour, 
the  shadows,  etc.,  being  indicated  by  the  help  of 
some  shining  material ;  practised  by  the  an- 
cients also  ;  e.g.  the  monochromes  on  Etruscan 
vases.  2.  Profiles  cut  out  of  black  paper.  S., 
the  name  of  a  very  economical  minister  of 
finance  in  France,  1759,  became  by  melon.,  = 
something  plain  and  cheap. 

Silica,  Silicic  acid.  [L.  silicem,  a  flint,  of 
which  it  is  the  essential  constituent.]  A  com- 
pound of  oxygen  with  silicium,  or  silicon  ;  the 
most  abundant  of  the  solid  constituents  of  the 
earth.  Quartz,  chalcedony,  opal,  flint,  jasper, 
are  its  chief  varieties  ;  and  silica  is  also  widely 
distributed  as  a  constituent  in  minerals,  as  fel- 
spar, etc. 

Silicates.  [L.  silicem,  a  flint.'}  Compounds  of 
silica  with  certain  bases ;  e.g.  all  forms  of  clay, 
felspar,  hornblende,  mica,  serpentine,  etc.,  are 
compounds  of  this  kind. 

Silicium,  Silicon.  [L.  silicem,  flint. 1  An 
element,  the  chief  constituent  of  flint. 

Slliqua  [L.],  Silique.  (Bot.)  The  long  podlike 
fruit  of  crucifers,  having  a  dissepiment  to  which 
the  seeds  are  attached ;  e.g.  wallflower.  (Eeplum.) 
Silicle  [siliciila],  a  small  siliqua  j  e.g.  garden 
cress. 

Silk  gown.  In  legal  language,  a  Queen's 
counsel ;  so  called  as  wearing  a  silk  gown. 


Silly  season.  The  season  in  which  newspaper 
writers  are  supposed  to  indulge  in  silly  writing, 
from  the  lack  of  matter  of  a  better  sort,  caused 
by  the  recess  of  Parliament  and  by  general 
holiday-making. 

Silt.  Miscellaneous  matter  (argil.,  calc.),  de- 
posited by  standing  or  running  water  ;  perhaps 
the  thing  sited  ;  to  sile  being  to  strain  ;  the  sedi- 
ment. 

Silurian  system.  (Geol.)  Sir  R.  Murchison's 
name  for  the  grey  wacke  series ;  a  large,  enor- 
mously thick  division  of  Palaeozoic  rocks,  below 
the  Old  Red  Sandstone  and  above  the  Cam- 
brian ;  studied  by  him  in  the  parts  of  Wales  and 
England  which  are  =  British  kingdom  of  the 
Siltires. 

Silurldae.  [L.  silurus,  probably  the  sheat- 
fish,  <rl\ovpos.']  (Ichth.)  Fam.  of  fish  divided 
into  eight  sub-fams.  and  seventeen  groups  ;  fresh 
and  salt  water,  without  scales,  and  with  bar- 
bules  ;  as  the  sheat-fish,  or  sly  silurus.  Tem- 
perate and  tropical  rivers  and  coasts.  Ord. 
Physostomi,  sub-class  Teleostei. 

Silver  Age.     (Ages,  The  four.) 

Silverling.     Isa.  vii.  23  ;  small  silver  coin. 

Silvictura,  or  Forestry.  The  cultivation  and 
management  of  forest  trees. 

Simeon  Stylites.     (Stylites.) 

Simlidse.  [L.  simia,  ape,  from  slmus  (Gr. 
alpd?),  flat-nosed.'}  (Zool.)  The  anthropoid 
apes,  i.e.  the  most  human-like  of  the  monkey 
tribe ;  as  the  gorilla.  Trop.  W.  Africa,  Sumatra, 
Borneo,  etc.,  and  Assam  to  S.  China. 

Similar  figures.  (Math.)  Alike  in  form  but 
different  in  magnitude  ;  thus  two  plane  recti- 
lineal figures  are  similar  when  their  angles  are 
equal,  each  to  each,  and  when  the  sides  about 
equal  angles  are  proportional. 

Similar  motion.     (Music.)     (Motion.) 

Simile.  [L.,  like.]  In  Rhet.,  a  comparison, 
a  metaphor  drawn  out. 

Similla  similibus  curantur.  [L.]  Things 
are  cured  by  their  likes  ;  the  principle  of  homoeo- 
pathy. 

Similor.  [L.  similis,  like,  Fr.  or,  gold.]  An 
alloy  of  copper  and  zinc,  resembling  gold. 

Simious.    Ape-like.     (Simiidae.) 

Simnel  bread.  [L.L.  simnellus.]  Fine  wheat- 
flour  cake  eaten  on  Simnel  Sunday,  the  Fourth 
Sunday  in  Lent,  or  Refreshment  Sunday  (q.v.). 

Simonians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Simon  Magus,  Acts  viii. 

Si  monumentum  requiris,  circumsplce.  [L.] 
If  you  want  a  monument  (for  him)  look  round ; 
from  Wren's  epitaph  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral. 

Simony.  In  Law,  an  unlawful  contract  for 
presenting  a  clergyman  to  a  benefice.  The  word 
refers  to  Simon  Magus,  Acts  viii.  ;  but  our  laws 
are  directed  against  offences  unlike  those  which 
are  ascribed  to  him. 

Simoom.  [Ar.  samum,  from  samm,  poison.] 
A  wind  heated  and  dried  by  blowing  over  the 
parched  deserts  of  Africa,  Arabia,  etc.  The 
Khamseen  of  Syria,  the  Samiel  of  the  Turks,  and 
the  Sirocco  and  Sorana  of  other  countries. 

Simous.    (Simiidae.)     Flat-nosed. 

Simple  homage.     (Homage.) 


SIMP 


446 


SITO 


Simplex  munditiis.  [L.]  Simple  in  thy  or- 
naments (Horace).  "Plain  in  thy  neatness" 
(Milton). 

Simulacrum.  [L.,  a  likeness,  image. 1  1.  The 
form  or  image  of  something,  as  presented  to  the 
mind.  2.  (With  the  idea  of  imitation,  unreality) 
a  shadow,  semblance,  false  idea.  So  the  Gr. 
fft<a\ov,  in  both  senses. 

Sinaitic  Codex.     (Abbreviations ;  Codex.) 

Sinapism.  [Gr.  ffivavur^s,  trtvmrt,  mustard.'] 
A  mustard  poultice. 

Sinciput.  [L.  semi,  half,  caput,  the  head.] 
Fore  part  of  the  head,  from  the  eyes  to  the 
coronal  suture. 

Sine.    (Trigonometrical  function.) 

Sinecure.  1.  A  benefice  'without  cure  [L.  sine 
cura]  of  souls.  2.  Any  salaried  office  with  no 
work  attached. 

Sine  dia.  [L.,  without  (naming)  a  day.]  In- 
definitely. 

Sine  qua  non.  [L.,  without  which  not.]  An 
indispensable  condition. 

Singers  of  Germany.  This  term  includes  the 
Minnesingers;  but  is  more  especially  used  to 
denote  the  meistersingers,  or  mastersingers,  of 
Germany,  who  became  known  in  the  fourth 
century,  and  were  incorporated  by  Charles  IV., 
in  1378,  under  the  title  of  Meistergenossen- 
schaft. 

Singhala.  One  of  the  native  names  for  Ceylon. 
Adj.,  Singhalese. 

Single.  In  the  language  of  hawking,  a  hawk's 
talon. 

Singles.  The  reeled  filaments  of  silk,  twisted 
to  give  them  firmness. 

Single-Speech  Hamilton.  William  Gerard 
Hamilton  (1729-1796)  was  so  known  from  the 
extraordinary  impression  made  by  the  first  and 
almost  the  only  speech  which  he  made  in  Parlia- 
ment. 

Singletree,  corr.  of  Swingletrt*.  [A.S. 
swingan,  to  swing.]  The  cross-piece  to  which 
the  traces  of  a  horse  are  fastened. 

Single,  A  fine  tea  with  large  flat  leaves  not 
much  rolled. 

Singular  point.  (Math.)  A  point  on  a  curve 
possessing  some  property  distinguishing  it  from 
the  other  points  of  the  curve  ;  as  a  point  of 
contrary  flexure  where  the  direct'o  < 
ture  changes,  .1  multiple  point  through  wLi;  a  I  wo 
or  more  branches  of  the  curve  pass. 

Singultus.     [L.]      (Med.)     Hiccough. 

Sinister.  [L.,  on  the  left  hand.]  1.  Unlucky, 
unpropitious,  according  to  Greek  usage,  the 
Greek  augur  having  his  face  to  the  north.  The 
Roman  looked  south.  Both  regarded  the  evil 
omens  as  coming  from  the  west.  2.  (Her.}  The 
left-hand  side  of  an  escutcheon,  which  is,  of 
course,  to  the  right  hand  of  a  person  facing  it. 

Sinking  fund.  A  fund  for  reducing  the  capital 
of  the  public  debt.  It  has  been  found  that 
there  is  no  effectual  method  of  doing  this  except 
by  an  excess  of  revenue  over  expenditure,  the 
excess  being  employed  for  the  extinction  of  a 
portion  of  the  debt,  and  not  to  a  separate  fund 
accumulating  at  compound  interest. 

Sinnet.    (Sennit. ) 


Si  non  e  vero,  e  ben  trovato.  [It.]  If  it  be  not 
true,  it  is  well  made  up  ;  said  of  plausible  stories. 

Sinter.     (Calc-sinter.) 

Sintoos.  In  Japan,  the  adherents  of  the  Sin- 
syn,  or  ancient  religion  of  the  country,  before 
the  introduction  of  Buddhism. 

Sipahi.    (Sepoys.) . 

Siphon.  [Gr.  ffltyuv,  any  kind  of  tube,  a 
siphon.}  1.  (Mech.)  A  bent  tube  for  conveying 
a  liquid  over  the  edge  of  a  vessel  containing  it 
into  another  vessel  at  a  lower  level.  2.  (Zoo/.) 
(i)  The  tube  running  through  the  chambered 
shell  of  a  mollusc.  (2)  That  formed  by  the 
mantle  of  certain  univalve  and  bivalve  molluscs. 
(3)  The  mouth  (Latreille)  of  some  insects. 

Siphunculated.  Having  a  little  siphon,  or 
spout. 

Si  quis.  [L.]  A  notice,  read  in  his  parish 
church,  that  A  B  desires  ordination,  and  that 
if  any  one  knows  of  any  impediment,  he  should 
declare  it  then,  or  acquaint  the  bishop. 

Sirat,  Al.    (Al-sirat.) 

Sir  Charles  Orandison.  An  ideal  portrait,  in 
S.  Richardson's  novel  so  named,  of  the  com- 
bination of  moral  and  religious  perfection  with 
social  graces  and  accomplishments. 

Sirdar.    [Pers.  and  Hind.]    A  chief. 

Siren,  Sirenia.  [Gr.  o^4\v]  1.  The  sixth 
ord.  of  mammals.  (Manatidae.)  2.  Gen.  of  am- 
phibians, like  eels,  but  with  front  legs.  S.E.  of 
U.S.,  America.  Ord.  Urodela. 

Siren.  [Gr.  SetpV,  «  siren,  its  sound  being 
like  a  clear,  sweet  voice.]  1.  In  Myth.,  Seirens- 
2.  (Music.}  An  ingenious  invention  of  M.  de 
la  Tour  ;  an  instrument  which  determines  the 
number  of  aerial  vibrations  corresponding  to  a 
note  of  any  given  pitch. 

Slrius.  [L.,  Gr.  fftiptos.']  (Astron.)  The 
Dog-star  (q.v.). 

Sirocco.  [It.  scirocco,  from  Ar.  shark,  sun- 
rise] An  oppressive,  relaxing  wind  blowing 
in  Italy,  etc.,  from  the  Libyan  deserts.  (Simoom.) 

Si  Romse  sitis  Romano  vivite  more.  [L.]  Do 
at  Rome  as  the  Romans  do;  lit.  survey  in 
Roman  fashion. 

Sir  Roger  de  Coverley.  Type,  very  admirably 
drawn,  of  the  old-fashioned  country  gentleman  ; 
in  the  Spectator. 

Sirventes.    (Troubadours.) 

Sisal  grass.  (Bot.)  The  dressed  fibre  of  the 
American  aloe,  imported  from  Sisal,  in  Yucatan, 
and  used  for  cordage. 

Siste,  viator  !  [L.]  Stop,  wayfarer  /  a  com- 
mon beginning  for  epitaphs. 

Sistrum.  [Gr.  fff'urrpov,  from  aeiw,  I  shake.] 
An  Egyptian  timbrel,  which  the  priests  of  Isis 
shook  at  her  festivals. 

Sisyphus.  [Gr.  crlavfyos,  redupl.  form  of 
ffo$6s,  the  wise  man.]  In  Gr.  Myth.,  a  being 
who  is  condemned  to  roll  daily  to  the  top  of  a 
hill  a  huge  stone,  which  immediately  rolls  down 
again.  The  stone  is  the  orb  of  the  sun,  which 
no  sooner  reaches  the  zenith  in  its  ascent  from 
the  horizon  than  it  sinks  down  to  it  again. 

Sita.     (Rakshasas.) 

Sitomania.  Insanity  [Gr.  navia,  madness]  ac. 
companied  by  rejection  Qifood  [OTTOS], 


SITT 


447 


SLEE 


Sit  tibi  terra  levis.  [L.]  Light  be  the  earth 
upon  thee ;  often  put  on  epitaphs,  under  the 
initial  letters  S.T.T.L. 

Sittidae.  [(?)  From  their  cry ;  cf.  Gr.  ffirra, 
a  cry  of  drovers  to  their  flocks.  ]  (Ornith. )  Nut- 
hatches ;  fam.  of  tenuirostral  climbing-birds, 
with  only  one  posterior  toe,  climbing  upwards 
or  downwards  indifferently,  making  no  use  of 
tail  in  climbing.  N.  Europe,  and  N.  America, 
Asia,  and  Australia ;  only  one  spec,  in  Europe, 
slate-coloured  back,  salmon-coloured  belly,  Sitta 
caesia,  gen.  Sitta,  fam.  Sittidae,  ord.  Passeres. 

Sitz-bath.  [Ger.  sitzbad.]  A  tub  for  bathing 
in  a  sitting  posture. 

Siva.     (Mahadeva.) 

Si  vales,  bene  est :  ego  quoque  valeo.  [L.]  If 
you  are  well,  it  is  good :  I  too  am  -well ;  often 
prefixed  to  old  Roman  letters,  under  the  initials 
S.V.B.E.E.Q.V. 

Sivan.  Esth.  viii.  9  ;  ninth  month  of  civil,  third 
month  of  ecclesiastical,  Jewish  year  ;  May — June. 

Si  vis  pacem,  para  bellum.  [L.]  If  thou 
wishest  peace,  make  ready  for  war. 

Six  Acts,  The,  November,  1819,  after  the 
Peterloo  Massacre  (q.v.),  had  reference  to  (i) 
delay  of  trial  for  misdemeanour  ;  (2)  prevention 
of  training  in  arms  and  military  evolutions  ;  (3) 
blasphemous  and  seditious  publications  ;  (4)  the 
seizing  of  arms  in  disturbed  districts  ;  (5)  regu- 
lation, by  a  required  stamp  and  otherwise,  of 
certain  publications  ;  (6)  seditious  assemblies. 

Six  Articles,  Statute  of  the.  A  Bill  passed  by 
the  Parliament,  1539,  at  the  instance  of  Henry 
VIII.,  enforcing  doctrines  and  practices  not 
acceptable  to  the  reforming  parties,  while  those 
who  would  be  disposed  to  accept  them  refused  to 
admit  the  royal  supremacy.  The  Act  thus  told 
against  all  sides  equally. 

Six-upon-four.  (Naut.)  Reduced  allowance, 
six  men  being  put  on  the  rations  of  four.  Six- 
water  grog,  six  parts  water,  etc. ,  to  one  part 
rum,  given  as  a  punishment,  instead  of  the  usual 
four-water  grog. 

Sizars.  The  lowest  class  of  students  at  Cam- 
bridge ;  so  termed  from  the  sizings  or  rations  of 
bread,  meat,  etc.,  allowed  free  to  them. 

Size.  [Welsh  syth.]  A  weak  glue  used  by 
paperhangers,  bookbinders,  painters,  etc. 

Sizel.    (Scissel.) 

Skald.     (Scald.) 

Skate-lurker.  (Naut.)  A  beggar  dressed  as 
and  pretending  to  be  a  sailor. 

Skelp.  The  rolled  metal  from  which  a  gun- 
barrel  is  made. 

Skew-arch ;  S.-bridge.  An  arch  whose  shape  is 
obtained  from  that  of  a  common  arch  by  distort- 
ing it  in  a  horizontal  plane,  so  that  the  space  it 
covers  between  the  abutments  is  no  longer  a 
rectangle,  but  a  parallelogram  whose  angles 
differ  more  or  less  from  a  right  angle.  A  S.  - 
bridge  is  built  with  a  skew-arch,  and  is  com- 
monly used  when  a  railway  passes  under  or  over 
a  road,  canal,  etc.,  whose  direction  is  not  at 
right  angles  to  that  of  the  railway. 

Skid.  A  shoe  for  fastening  the  wheel  of  a 
waggon,  so  as  to  prevent  its  turning  in  descending 
a  hill. 


Skidbladnir.  In  Teut.  Myth.,  a  ship  capable 
of  holding  all  the  .^Esir,  or  gods  of  Valhalla, 
and  also  of  being  folded  up  like  a  handkerchief. 
It  is  the  same  as  the  ships  of  the  Phoeakians 
(Phaeacians),  which  go  straight  to  their  mark 
without  helm,  sails,  or  mariners,  and  which  are, 
in  short,  the  clouds. 

Skiff.  (Ship.)  1.  Any  small  boat.  2.  A 
sailing-vessel  carrying  a  fore-and-aft  mainsail, 
jib  foresail,  and  jib,  and  having  no  topmast. 

Skillet.  [O.Fr.  escuellette,  L.  scutella,  dim. 
of  scutra,  a  dish.]  A  small  iron  vessel  for  heat- 
ing water. 

Skilly.     Slang  term  for  weak  oatmeal  gruel. 

Skimmington,  To  ride.  A  phrase  of  un- 
known origin  ;  said  of  a  man  who,  having  been 
beaten  by  his  wife,  is  made  to  ride  on  a  horse 
behind  a  woman,  with  a  distaff  in  his  hand.  It 
is  sometimes  written  Skimatry  and  Skimmerton. 

Skin.  (Naut.)  The  inner  planking.  S.  of  a 
sat/,  that  part  of  a  sail  which  is  outside  when 
it  is  furled.  To  S.  tip  a  sail  in  the  bunt,  give 
it  a  smooth  skin  by  furling  it  well  up  on  the 
yard. 

Skipetar.  The  name  by  which  the  Albanians, 
or  Arnauts,  are  called  among  themselves. — 
Finlay,  Hist,  of  Greece,  i.  335. 

Skive.  The  iron  lap  in  which  a  diamond  is 
held  during  the  finishing  of  its  facets. 

Skiver.  [Ger.  schiefer,  a/lake.]  A  poor  leather 
made  of  split  sheepskin,  used  for  lining  hats,  etc. 

Skow.     (Scow.) 

Skuld.     (Norns.) 

Skunk.  [Contracted  from  Abenaki  seganku.] 
(Zoo/.)  Mephitis,  the  most  offensive  of  the 
weasel  tribe'  (Mustelidae) ;  about  the  size  of  a 
cat ;  when  irritated  or  alarmed,  it  squirts  over 
its  assailant  a  foetid  liquid,  secreted  by  special 
glands  near  the  root  of  the  tail.  America. 

Skysail.  (Naut.)  That  above  the  royal.  S.- 
mast,  either  the  top  of  royal-mast,  or  a  sliding 
gunter,  i.e.  a  small  spar  rigged  abaft  the  mast. 

Sky-scraper.  (Naut.)  A  triangular  sail  above 
the  skysail.  Where  squaresails  are  set  above 
a  skysail,  they  are  called,  first,  moonsail,  second, 
star-gazer,  etc. 

Slacken,  Slakin.  [Ger.  schlacke,  dross.] 
Spongy,  half-vitrified  substances  mixed  with  ores 
to  prevent  their  fusion. 

Slag.  [Ger.  schlacke.]  The  vitrified  cinders 
of  a  blasting  furnace. 

Slashed.  Having  long  slits,  through  which 
may  be  seen  the  under  vesture. 

Slat.  A  narrow,  flat  piece  of  wood,  as  the 
cross-bars  of  a  chair. 

Slavonic  languages.  The  dialects  of  Lithuania, 
Russia,  and  Poland. 

Sleave  silk.  [Ger.  schleife,  knot.]  Raw, 
untwisted  silk,  as  used  for  weaving. 

Sleep.    (Naut.)     (Asleep.) 

Sleeper.  1.  (Arch.)  A  timber  or  plate,  under 
the  floor  of  a  building,  on  which  the  joists  rest. 
2.  {Mil.)  In  gunnery,  joists  forming  the  frame- 
work of  a  gun  platform  in  the  direction  of  its 
length,  and  across  which  the  planks  are  laid. 

Sleep  of  plants.  The  folding  up  of  their  leaves, 
mostly  by  night.  (Irritability  of  plants.) 


SLEI 


448 


SMUT 


Sleipnir.  In  Teut.  Myth.,  the  eight-footed 
white  horse  of  Odin. 

Sleuth-hound,  Slouth-H.,  Sluth-H.  [Scand., 
sleuth,  track  known  by  scents,  O.N.  slo«,  track, 
path,  Gael,  slaod,  trail  along  the  ground 
(Wedgwood).]  (Zool.)  A  keen-scented  dog,  as 
the  bloodhound,  hunting  by  the  sleuth,  or  slot. 

Sleying.  Parting  the  threads  to  arrange  them 
in  a  sley,  or  reed.  (Reed.) 

Slide-rest.  The  part  of  a  lathe  in  which  the 
cutting  tool  can  be  held,  instead  of  being  held  by 
the  hand. 

Slide-valve.  A  dish-shaped  rectangular  piece, 
with  an  accurately  plane  surface,  which  is  caused 
by  the  eccentric  to  slide  in  the  steam-chest  of  a 
steam-engine,  so  as  to  open  and  shut  alternately 
the  passages  or  ports  by  which  the  steam  enters 
the  cylinder. 

Sliding-keel.  (Naut.)  Planks,  or  plates  of 
metal,  making  a  false  keel,  but  so  constructed 
that,  on  touching  the  ground,  etc.,  they  slide  up 
through  the  keel. 

Sliding-rule,  or  Slide-rule.  (Math.)  A  rule 
used  for  gauging,  etc.,  furnished  with  one  or 
more  graduated  slips,  which  are  capable  of 
sliding  in  grooves  cut  in  the  body  of  the  rule  ;  by 
properly  adjusting  these  slides  to  the  length, 
breadth,  etc.,  of  surfaces  or  solids,  their  areas, 
volumes,  etc.,  are  obtained  by  merely  reading 
the  graduations. 

SUding-scale.     In  Finance,  the  regulation  of 
prices,  by  varying  the  rates  of  taxation  on  im- 
ports in  proportion  to  the  price  at  which  the 
same  articles  produced  at  home  are  offered  for 
,  sale. 

Slime.  Gen.  xi.  3  ;  Heb.  chemer,  bitumen.  So 
in  the  building  of  Babylon  they  used  aa<pa\T(p 
8epfj.j)  (Herod.,  i.  179). 

Slip.  In  Keramics,  is  potter's  clay  of  the 
consistence  of  cream  ;  called  also  Slop. 

Slipped.  (Her.}  Severed  from  the  branch,  as 
slips  are  taken  from  a  plant. 

Slit-and-tail  bandage.  (Surg.)  The  strips 
or  tails  of  one  part  passing  through  holes  in 
another  part. 

Slogan.  [Gael.]  The  war-cry  of  a  Scottish 
clan. 

Sloop.  A  vessel  similar  to  a  cutter,  but  the 
bowsprit  is  not  a  running  one,  and  the  jib  is  set 
on  a  stay.  In  N.  America,  it  sets  on  by  a  main- 
sail and  jib  foresail.  S.  in  navy.  (Bate.) 

Slop.     (Slip.) 

Slot.  (Mech.)  A  mortise  or  slit  cut  in  a 
plate  of  metal  to  receive  a  key -bolt  or  other  part 
of  a  machine. 

Slot.     (Sleuth-hound.) 

Slouth-hound.     (Sleuth-hound.) 

Slow-worm.      (?)    The     creeping    worm    \cf.m 
Ger.  blindschleiche,  schleichen,  to  creep  (Wedg- 
wood);    ei  in  Ger.  being  often  =  o  in  Eng.]. 
(Blind-worm.)  ^  Others  take  it  as  the  slaying- 
worm  [A.S.  sla-waurm], 

Slubbing.  Drawing  out  and  slightly  twisting 
(wool). 

Slugs.  (Mi!.)  Small  pieces  of  lead,  of  irre- 
gular shape,  fired  from  a  musket  at  short  range, 
to  give  a  jagged  wound. 


Sluice.  [A  word  common  to  many  European 
languages,  derived,  perhaps,  from  L.  exclusa  ; 
sc.  aqua,  water  s/mt  out.]  A  flood-gate,  a  vent 
for  water. 

Slur.  \Cf.  L.G.  sluren,  to  ivabble,  and  other 
cognate  words  (vide  Wedgwood).]  (Music.) 
A  curved  line  over  two  or  more  notes  to  be 
played  legato. 

Slush.  A  mixture  of  white  lead  and  lime,  with 
which  the  bright  parts  of  machinery  are  painted 
to  keep  them  from  rusting. 

Sluth-hound.    (Sleuth-hound.) 

Smack.  (Natit.)  Merchant  or  passenger 
vessels  ranging  to  200  tons,  generally  cutter- 
rigged. 

Smalcald,  League  of.  A  combination  of  Pro- 
testant princes  of  Germany,  1 530,  to  support  the 
cause,  generally,  against  Charles  V.  ;  but 
especially  to  prevent  the  assembling  of  any 
Council  professing  to  represent  the  whole 
Church,  unless  independently  of  papal  in- 
fluence. 

Small  arms.  (MIL)  Every  kind  of  firearm 
which  can  be  carried  by  hand. 

Smalt.  [Ger.  smalte.]  A  deep  blue  glass 
coloured  with  oxide  of  cobalt,  and  used,  when 
powdered,  in  paper-staining. 

Smart  money.  Previous  to  the  Army  Discipline 
and  Regulation  Act,  1879,  a  fine  of  20?.  levied 
by  a  J.  P.  on  a  recruit  who  desires  release  from 
his  engagement  between  the  time  of  being 
enlisted  and  of  being  attested.  Enlistment  now 
follows  upon  attestation ;  and  the  recruit  may, 
within  three  months,  be  discharged  on  payment 
of  £  i  o.  ( Chest  of  Chatham. ) 

Smectymnuus.  In  Eng.  Hist.,  the  title  of  a 
work  against  episcopacy,  published  soon  after 
the  assembling  of  the  Long  Parliament.  It  was 
formed  by  putting  together  the  first  letters  of  the 
Christian  and  surnames  of  the  authors — Stephen 
Marshall,  Edmund  Calamy,  Thomas  Young, 
Matthew  Newcomen,  and  William  Spurstow. 

Smeir.  [Ger.  schmier,  grease.]  A  kind  of 
half-glazing,  made  by  adding  salt  to  earthenware 
glazes. 

Smelting.  [Ger,  schmelzen,  to  smelL]  Melting 
in  a  furnace,  so  as  to  purify. 

Smilax.  [L.,  Gr.  <r/u\o{,  bindweed;  but  in 
Greek  a  name  of  other  very  different  plants  also.] 
(Bot.)  A  gen.  of  half-shrubby  exogens,  mostly 
climbers,  ord.  Smilacese.  In  temperate  and 
tropical  parts  of  Asia  and  America.  The  rhizomes 
of  several  yield  sarza,  or  sarsaparilla.  Some 
have  fleshy,  nutritious  tubers. 

Smitt.  [Ger.  schmitze,  from  schmitzen,  to 
besmear. ~\  Fine  ochre  in  balls,  used  for  marking 
sheep. 

Smock-mill.  A  windmill  of  which  only  the 
cap  turns  round  to  meet  the  wind. 

Smoke-box.  (Mech.)  The  part  of  a  locomo- 
tive engine  in  which  the  smoke  collects  from  the 
fire- tubes  before  it  goes  up  the  chimney. 

Smoke-sail,  Grime-sail.    (Ghrime-sail.) 

SmritJ.    (Veda.) 

Smug-boat.  (Naut.)  One  smuggling  opium 
into  China. 

Smut,    Bunt,  or    Pepper-brand.      (Bol.)     A 


SNAF 


449 


SOLA 


fungus  in  corn  [L.  uredo  foetida],  contained  in 
the  body  of  the  grain,  dispersed  in  grinding,  and 
perpetuating  the  disease. 

Snaffle.  [Ger.  schnabel,  a  snout.}  A  bit 
jointed  in  the  middle. 

Snap,  Scotch.  In  Scotch  melodies,  and  imi- 
tations of  them;  when  a  semiquaver  at  the 
beginning  of  a  bar  is  followed  by  a  dotted  quaver ; 
the  emphasis  thus  rapidly  thrown  on  to  the 
second  longer  note  gives  spirit  to  the  tune. 

Snaphance.  [Dan.  snaphane,  D.  snaphaan.] 
A  spring-lock  for  discharging  a  firearm ;  hence 
the  firearm  itself. 

Snarling.  Forming  raised  work  on  metal  by 
the  rebound  of  one  end  of  a  fixed  tool,  the 
other  end  of  which  is  struck  with  a  hammer. 

Snatch.  (Naut.)  An  open  groove  for  leading 
a  rope.  S.  -block,  a  single  iron-bound  block  with 
an  opening  in  one  side  above  the  sheave,  so 
that  a  rope  can  be  placed  in  it  without  being 
rove  ;  called  also  notch-block. 

Snood.  [O.E.  snod.]  A  fillet  worn  by 
Scottish  maidens. 

Snow.  [From  Ger.  snau,  schnau,  snout,  or 
beak.}  (Naut.)  A  brig  with  the  boom-mainsail 
set  on  a  mast  close  abaft  the  mainmast. 

Snow-line.  (Geol.)  The  line  of  altitude 
above  which  snow  is  always  found  on  mountains. 

Snow-shoe.  An  open  framework  attached  to 
the  sole,  for  walking  on  snow. 

Soap-stone,  or  Steatite.  [Gr.  orlop,  oWa-roy, 
suet.]  (Geolg.)  A  hydrated  silicate  of  magnesia, 
greasy,  yielding  to  the  nail. 

Soare,  i.e.  of  sorrel  colour  (?).  (Deer,  Stages  of 
growth  of.) 

Sobole.  [L.  soboles,  a  sprout.}  (Bot.)  A 
creeping,  rooting  stem. 

Sobriquet.  [Fr.]  A  nickname  ;  said  by  some 
to  be  derived  from  L.  subridentem,  one  smiling, 
by  others  from  Gr.  vftpiffTiit6v,  insulting. 

Socage.  [A.S.  soc,  sway.}  In  O.E.  Law,  a 
tenure  of  lands  by  a  determinate  service. 

Socialists.  A  name  lately  applied  especially 
to  the  followers  of  Robert  Owen,  of  Lanark, 
who  made  community  of  property  a  necessary 
condition  of  political  improvement. 

Social  War.  1.  In  Gr.  Hist.,  a  war  between 
Athens  and  the  chief  cities  in  her  confederation, 
B.C.  357-355.  2.  In  Rom.  Hist.,  a  struggle  on 
the  part  of  the  Italians  for  the  privileges  of 
Roman  citizenship,  B.C.  91-88. 

Societe  anonyme.  In  France,  a  joint-stock 
company. 

Socinians.  The  followers  of  Soclnus,  uncle 
and  nephew,  who,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  main- 
tained opinions  in  most  points  resembling  those 
of  the  Arians.  There  seems  to  have  been  no 
organized  body  during  their  lifetime  ;  but  after 
their  death  their  views  were  adopted  by  many 
communities,  especially  in  Poland. 

Sociology.  [L.  socius,y^//tw,  Gr.  \6yos.}  A 
barbarous  word,  sometimes  used  to  denote  the 
philosophical  or  religious  system  of  the  Posi- 
tivists. 

Sock.  [L.  soccus,  akin  to  Eng.  sack.}  1. 
The  shoe  worn  by  the  Roman  comedians.  2. 
Comedy  itself.  (Buskin,) 


Socratic.  Anything  belonging  to  the  system 
of  Socrates  ;  but  more  especially  to  his  method 
of  reaching  conclusions  by  means  of  question 
and  answer. 

Soda.  [It.,  from  L.  salsus,  salted.]  (Chan.) 
Oxide  of  sodium.  Cazistic  soda  is  hydrate  of 
soda.  Soda  ash.  is  the  commercial  name  of 
crude  carbonate  of  sodium,  obtained  from 
black-ash  (q.v.)  by  lixiviation  and  evaporation. 
The  residue,  a  mixture  of  unburnt  coal  and 
oxysulphide  of  calcium,  is  called  soda  waste. 

Sodium.  A  very  soft,  light,  silvery  metal 
obtained  from  soda. 

Sodom,  Vine  of.  Deut.  xxxii.  32  ;  probably 
a  colocynth,  Citrullus  colocynthus,  growing  near 
the  Dead  Sea ;  which  is  the  same,  probably,  as 
the  wild  gourd  of  2  Kings  iv.  39,  which  was 
"death  in  the  pot."  The  apples  of  Sodom  of 
Strabo,  Tacitus,  Josephus,  resemble  oranges, 
but  their  rind  covers  only  dark,  ashlike  contents 
and  seeds.  Like  the  oak-apples,  they  are  the 
work  of  insects. 

Soffarides.  A  Persian  dynasty,  which  sup- 
planted that  of  the  Taherites  in  872,  and  lasted 
for  thirty  years. 

Soffit.  [Fr.  soffite,  It.  soffitta.]  (Arch.)  The 
same  as  Intrados. 

Sons.  [Pers.,  probably  a  corr.  of  Gr.  <rJ0os, 
wise.]  A  title  of  the  Dervishes.  (Sufism.)  The 
kings  of  the  dynasty  preceding  that  which  now 
occupies  the  Persian  throne  were  also  so  called. 
(Soofls.)  The  system  of  the  Sofis  seems  to  have 
many  points  of  likeness  with  that  of  the  Quietists. 

Soft  paste.    (Paste.) 

Soft  tack,  Soft  tommy.  In  Naut.  slang,  loaf- 
bread. 

Soi-disant.  [Fr.,  L.  se  dicentem.]  Self-styled; 
pretending. 

^Soil,  To.  [Fr.  soul,  satiated,  O.Fr.  saoul,  L. 
satullus.]  (Agr.)  To  feed  animals  with  cut- 
green  food  indoors  ;  to  feed  highly. 

Soiree.  [Fr.,  from  soir,  evening.]  An  evening 
party. 

Soit  fait  comme  il  est  desire.  (La  royne  le 
veult.) 

Solander,  Solan  goose.     I.q.  gannet  (q.v.). 

Solano.  [Sp.,  from  L.  solanus  ventus,  wind 
of  the  sun.]  An  oppressive  east  wind  blowing 
in  Spain. 

Solano'id.  In  shape  or  consistency  like  a 
potato  (Solanum  tuberosum). 

Solanum.  (Bot.)  Nightshade,  a  very  exten- 
sive gen.  of  plants,  mostly  narcotic  and  poison- 
ous. Ord.  Solanese,  including  S.  tuberosum 
(potato) ;  common  and  woody  and  other  night- 
shades, egg-plants,  tomato,  etc. 

Solar.  [L.  solarium,  from  sol,  the  sun.]  A 
room  into  which  the  sun  shines.  In  the 
domestic  architecture  of  the  Middle  Ages,  a  room 
built  over  the  great  hall  of  a  house. 

Solarization.  [L.  Solaris,  belonging  to  the  sun] 
Too  long  exposure  of  a  photograph  to  the  light 
while  being  taken. 

Solar  plexus.    (Sympathetic  system.) 

Solar  spots;  S.  system;  S.  time.  (Astron.) 
Solar  spots  are  black  spots,  surrounded  with  a 
less  dark  space,  observable  from  time  to  time  on 


SOLD 


45° 


SONA 


the  surface  of  the  sun.  The  S.  system  is  the 
sun,  with  the  planets,  their  attendant  satellites, 
and  the  asteroids,  which  circle  round  it.  Solar 
time  is  either  apparent  or  mean  (Time).  (For 
S.  cycle,  S.  day,  vide  Cycle ;  Day ;  etc. ). 

Soldan.    (Sultan.) 

Solder.  [O.Fr.  solider,  to  solidify.'}  (Chem.) 
An  alloy  of  three  parts  of  lead  and  one  of  tin. 
Fine  solder,  used  for  tinning  copper,  contains 
two  parts  of  tin  and  one  of  lead.  Hard  solder, 
used  for  brazing,  is  an  alloy  of  brass  and  zinc. 

Soldier's  wind.  In  Naut.  parlance,  one  which 
serves  either  way. 

Solea.  [L.]  (Arch.)  The  part  of  the  Roman 
basilica  answering  to  the  Presbytery  in  more 
modern  churches. 

Solecism.  [Gr.  ffo\oiKurp.ds.]  1.  Incorrect 
speaking,  as  regards  the  use  of  sentences ;  Bar- 
barism [j8a/>/3apto>«k]  being  a  faulty  use  of  words. 
2.  Metaph.,  an  error  against  good  breeding, 
manners  ;  said  to  have  meant,  originally,  a  corr. 
of  pure  Attic  by  the  colonists  of  Soli  in  Cilicia  j 
but  (?). 

Solenhofen.  (Geol.)  Lithographic  stone  ;  Ba- 
varia ;  a  famous  fossiliferous  limestone ;  fine- 
grainedjhomogeneous,  stratification  very  parallel ; 
valuable  in  lithography.  Upper  Oolite. 

Solenoid.  [Gr.  au>xi\v,  channel,  eftos,  form.] 
A  spiral  coil,  having  one  end  turned  back  so  as 
to  form  the  axis  of  the  spiral,  used  in  electrical 
experiments. 

Sol-fa.  (Music. )  A  general  name  for  the  notes 
of  the  scale ;  e.g.  tonic  sol-fa.  Guido  Aretino,  a 
Benedictine  monk  in  the  earlier  part  of  the 
eleventh  century,  is  said  to  have  formed  a  new 
system  of  solfeggio,  having  observed  the  fitness 
of  certain  opening  sounds  of  each  half-line  of  a 
hymn  to  St.  John,  which  ran  thus  :  "  UT  queant 
laxis  RE  sonare  fibris  MIra  gestorum  FAmuli 
tuorum  SOLve  polluti  LAbii  reatum  SAncte 
Johannes."  Do  was  substituted  for  Ut ;  Si  was 
perhaps  suggested  by  "  Sancte  Johannes,"  or 
was  changed  from  sa  in  "Sancte." 

Sol-faing.  The  system  of  singing  which  em- 
ploys the  names  of  notes  instead  of  words. 
(Sol-fa.) 

Solfatara.  [It.  solfare,  to  fumigate  with  sul- 
phur.') A  volcanic  vent,  from  which  sulphur 
and  sulphureous,  watery,  and  acid  vapours  are 
emitted. 

Solfeggi.  ( Music. )  Exercises  in  sol-faing (q.  v.). 

Solicitor-general.  A  law  officer  of  the  Crown, 
who  holds  by  patent  and  ranks  next  to  the 
Attorney-general. 

Solicitors.  Persons  admitted  to  practise  in  the 
Court  of  Chancery ;  formerly  styled  attorneys  in 
the  courts  of  common  law. 

Solid  angle.  (Math. )  The  angle  formed  by 
the  meeting  of  three  or  more  plane  angles  at  a 
point  ;  as  the  apex  of  a  pyramid. 

Soli  Deo  gloria.    [L.]     Glory  to  God  alone. 

Solid  of  least  resistance.  (Resistance,  Solid  of 
least.) 

Solid  of  revolution.  A  solid  of  the  same  form 
as  the  space  traced  out  by  a  plane  figure  during 
its  revolution  round  an  axis  in  its  plane ;  as  a 
cone,  which  is  traced  out  by  the  revolution  of  a 


right-angled  triangle  round  one  of  the  sides  con- 
taining the  right  angle. 

Solifidians.  [L.  solus,  alone,  fides,  faith] 
Those  who  maintain  that  men  are  justified  by 
faith  only  without  works.  (Antinomians.) 

Solitudinem  faciunt,  pacem  appellant.  [L.] 
They  make  a  solitude,  and  call  it  peace  (Tacitus). 

Solmisation.    I.q.  Sol-faing  (q.v.). 

Solomon's  seal.  1.  Pcntalpha  (q.v.).  2.  (Bot.) 
A  gen.  of  liliaceous  but  not  bulbous  plants  ;  Poly- 
gonatum  [Gr.  iro\vy6vaTos,  many-knotted]  multi- 
florum  being  the  most  frequent  spec,  in  England. 

Solstitial  colure;  S.  points.  (Astron.)  The 
points  of  the  ecliptic  90°  east  and  west  of  the 
first  point  of  Aries ;  the  sun  is  in  the  former 
point  at  the  midsummer  of  the  northern  hemi- 
sphere, and  is  then  at  his  greatest  distance  north 
of  the  equinoctial ;  he  is  in  the  latter  point  at  mid- 
winter, and  is  then  at  his  greatest  distance  south 
of  the  equinoctial.  (For  S.  colure,  vide  Colure.) 

Solus  Deus  haeredem,  sc.  facit.  [L.]  God  alone 
makes  an  heir-at-law;  a  maxim  in  Law :  man  may 
make  a  devisee,  but  circumstances  beyond  his 
control  help  to  make  his  heir-at-law  at  the  time 
of  his  death. 

Solvitur  ambulando.  [L.]  The  difficulty  "  is 
solved  by  walking  ;  "  i.e.  the  theoretical  difficulty 
is  got  over  by  actual  trial.  An  allusion  to  a  very 
old  fallacy  of  Zeno  of  Elea,  mentioned  by  Ari- 
stotle. Achilles,  though  going  ten  times  as  fast 
as  the  tortoise,  will  never  overtake  him,  if  he 
give  him  a  start  of  T'g  of  the  course  ;  because  by 
the  time  A.  shall  have  run  that  -}5,  T.  will  still  be 
ahead  by  -}$  of  that  -fa,  i.e.  TJ5;  when  A.  shall 
have  run  that  T(\5,  T.  will  be  ahead  by  f^ ;  there- 
fore A.  will  never  overtake  T.  The  answer  is 
(i)  Solvitur,  etc.  ;  actual  trial  proves  that  A. 
will  overtake,  and  where  ;  I  being  =  ^  (2) 
Logically,  the  major  premiss,  in  which  it  is 
assumed  that  the  sum  of  an  infinite  series  is 
infinite,  is  false. 

Solvuntur  risu  tabulae.  [L.]  The  indictment 
is  quashed  with  a  laugh  (Horace). 

Soma.     A  Japanese  trading-junk. 

Soma.  The  drink  which  reinvigorates  the 
Vedic  or  Hindu  gods,  as  the  Nectar  refreshes  the 
deities  of  Olympus. 

Soma-,  Somato-.  [Gr.  <T«M«,  o-cfyurroy,  the 
body.] 

Sombrero.  [Sp.,  from  sombra,  shade.]  A 
broad-brimmed  hat. 

Sompnour,  or  Sumner  (i.e.  Summoner). 
Formerly,  an  officer  in  the  dreaded  ecclesiastical 
courts,  whose  duty  it  was  to  summon  those  who 
had  offended  against  the  Canon  laws. 

Sonata.  [It. 'sonare,  to  sound.]  (Music.)  At 
first,  a  musical  composition  of  but  one  movement, 
an  air  set  instrumentally.  Then,  of  more  elegant 
character,  were  the  S.  di  Chiesa,  Church  S., 
slow  and  solemn ;  and  S.  di  Camera,  Chamber 
S.,  admitting  airs  such  as  the  Allemande,  Sara- 
bande,  etc.  Now  a  S.  has  generally  a  first  move- 
ment, allegro ;  a  second,  the  slow  movement ; 
and  a  final  allegro,  of  light  character.  Some- 
times a  fourth  movement  is  interposed,  a  scherzo, 
or  minuet  and  trio,  between  the  slow  movement 
and  the  final  allegro. 


SOND 


451 


SOUT 


Sonderbund.  [Ger.,  a  separate  leagtte]  A 
name  given  to  the  league  of  the  seven  Catholic 
cantons  of  Switzerland  against  the  Federal  Diet, 
1846.  The  league  was  dissolved  in  1847. 

Sonnites.     (Shiahs.) 

Sonometer.  [L.  sonus,  sound,  fi^rpov,  measure.] 
(Phys.)  An  instrument  employed  for  the  de- 
termination of  the  frequency  of  vibration  of  a 
note  of  given  pitch,  consisting  of  a  catgut  of 
metallic  wire  stretched  by  a  weight  passing  over 
a  pulley,  and  furnished  with  a  movable  bridge, 
which  can  be  adjusted  till  the  string  yields  a  note 
of  any  required  pitch ;  the  frequency  can  then 
be  calculated  from  the  weight  and  the  observed 
length  of  the  string  from  its  fixed  end  to  the 
bridge. 

Sonorous  figures.    (Nodal  figures.) 

Sons  and  Daughters  of  Liberty,  Societies  of. 
After  Townsend's  imposts  on  tea,  glass,  and 
paper,  1 767  ;  refused  to  use  imported  goods ; 
they  were  first  set  up  in  Massachusetts,  after- 
wards numerous  in  other  colonies. 

Soocey.  A  striped  Indian  fabric  of  silk  and 
cotton. 

Soofis,  or  Sofis.  A  dynasty  of  kings  ruling  in 
Persia,  founded  by  Ismael  Shah  Sufi,  1502. 

Soojee.     Coarsely  ground  Indian  wheat. 

Soorma.  An  Indian  cosmetic  for  the  eyelids, 
made  of  antimony. 

Sopbis.     (Sufism.) 

Sophism.    (Fallacy.) 

Sophist.  [Gr.  o-o^iVrrjs,  from  <ro</>i£«,  I  make 
wise  or  skilled.]  1.  Any  one  who  is  master  in 
his  craft.  2.  The  class  of  teachers  of  youth  in 
Athens  and  other  Greek  cities.  3.  Persons 
accused  of  maintaining  in  their  own  interests 
systems  of  philosophy  which  they  know  to  be 
false.  Hence,  4,  cheats  and  tricksters  in  matters 
of  opinion. 

Sorana.     (Simoom.) 

Sorb.     (Service.) 

Sorbonist.    A  doctor  of  the  Sorbonne. 

Sorbonne.  A  college  at  Paris  for  the  study  of 
theology,  founded  1253  by  Robert  of  Sorbonne 
in  Champagne.  It  attained  its  greatest  celebrity 
in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries. 

Sori,  i.e.  heaps.  [Gr.  ff<ap6s,  a  heap.}  (Bot.) 
The  small  clusters  of  spore-cases  upon  the  backs 
of  the  fronds  of  ferns. 

Sdrlcidae.  [L.  soricem,  shrew-mouse.]  (Zoo!.) 
Shrews,  shrew-mice ;  fam.  of  Insectivora,  not 
to  be  confounded  with  mice,  or  dormice,  which 
are  rodents ;  Sorex  Etruscus,  two  inches  and  a 
half  long,  tail  inclusive,  is  the  smallest  known 
mammal.  S.  are  found  everywhere,  except  S. 
America,  W.  Indies,  the  Australian  district,  and 
Polynesia. 

Sorites.  [Gr.  fftapflr^s,  from  ffupts,  a  heap.] 
(Log.)  A  mode  of  stating  a  series  of  syllogisms, 
in  which  the  conclusion  of  the  last  is  a  premiss 
of  the  next  one,  as  A  =  B,  B  =  C,  C  =  D  ; 
therefore  A  =  D. 

Soritic.     (Sorites.) 

Sorosis.  [Gr.  <rap6s,  a  heap.]  (Bot.)  The 
fleshy  consolidation  of  many  flowers,  seed-vessels, 
and  their  receptacles;  as  pine-apple,  bread- 
fruit. 


Sorrel  (Pfrom  the  colour).  (Deer,  Stages  of 
growth  of.) 

Sortes  Bibllcae,  Homericae,  Sanctorum,  Vir- 
gilianae,  etc.  [L.]  Divination  practised  by  open- 
ing the  pages  of  the  book  at  random,  and  using 
the  passage  which  first  meets  the  eye  as  applying 
to  the  question  or  case  to  be  determined. 

Sortie.  [Fr.,  from  sortir,  to  go  out.]  (Mil.) 
1.  A  body  of  soldiers  occasionally  sallying  out  of 
a  besieged  town  to  interrupt  the  attack.  2.  A 
sally. 

Sortilege.  [L.  sortilggus,  gathering  lots.} 
Divination  by  drawing  lots. 

Sotadic  verse.  So  called  as  used  by  the 
Athenian  comic  poet  Sotades.  (Palindromic 
verse.) 

SoterI515gy.  [Gr.  o-wrTj/jia,  safety,  \6yos,  dis- 
course.] A  term  denoting  (i)  treatises  on  the 
preservation  of  health,  (2)  the  doctrine  of  salva- 
tion by  Jesus  Christ. 

Sotbic,  or  Sothiac,  period.  (Sothis,  Egyptian 
name  for  Dog-star. )  A  period  of  4  X  305^,  or 
1461  years  of  365  days.  The  ancient  Egyptians 
used  an  official  year  of  365  days,  though  they 
knew  that  the  actual  length  of  the  year  is  about 
365^  days,  and  consequently  that  their  official 
year  would  not  continue  in  a  constant  relation  to 
the  seasons  ;  they  therefore  deduced  the  S.  P.,  in 
which  their  official  year  passed  through  all  its 
relations  to  the  seasons. 

Sdtto  voce  [It.  sotto,  prep.,  under,  voce,  voice], 
or  Soltovoce.     Speaking  softly,  in  an  undertone. 
Sou,  or  Sol.    (Livre.) 

Souchong.     [Chin,   se   ou   chong,    small  good 
quality.]     A  fine  black  tea. 
Soul-shot.     (Mortuary.) 

Sound  dues.  Duties  formerly  levied  by  Den- 
mark on  vessels  entering  the  Baltic.  These 
duties  were  done  away  in  1857,  for  a  sum  of 
more  than  three  millions  sterling  paid  to  Den- 
mark by  Great  Britain,  Russia,  Prussia,  and 
other  states. 

Sounding.  (Afauf.)  Ascertaining  the  depth 
of  water  and  nature  of  the  bottom  by  means  of 
a  lead  and  line.  Soundings,  not  deeper  than 
loo  fathoms. 

Sounites,  Sonnites.     (Shiahs.) 
Sour-bread.     (Adansonia. ) 
Sourkrout.     (Sauerkraut.) 
Soutane.     [From  L.  subtus,  under  (Littre).] 
The  French  word  for  a  cassock. 

Southcottians.  The  followers  of  Joanna 
Southcott,  born  at  Gittisham,  Devon,  1750. 
Having  for  years  claimed  for  herself  a  divine 
mission,  she  at  last,  in  1814,  announced  herself  as 
about  to  become  the  mother  of  the  approaching 
Shiloh.  She  died  in  the  same  yqar ;  but  her 
disciples  for  the  most  part  were  not  undeceived. 
Southern  Alps.  A  lofty  range  in  New  Zealand : 
in  the  North  Island,  nearly  10,000  feet  high  ; 
while  in  South  Island  Mount  Cook  reaches 
13,000,  and  Mount  Tyndall  1 1,000  feet.  Eternal 
snow,  with  glaciers. 

Southern  Cross.  (Aslron.)  A  cross-shaped 
constellation  of  the  southern  hemisphere. 

Southing.  1.  In  Navigation,  the  difference 
of  latitude  made  by  a  vessel  to  the  southward. 


SOUT 


452 


SPEC 


2.    The  time   at  which  the  moon  passes    the 
meridian. 

South  Sea  Bubble.     (South  Sea  Company.) 

South  Sea  Company.  A  joint-stock  company 
formed,  in  1711,  of  the  proprietors  of  certain 
Government  debts,  with  special  privileges  for 
trading  to  the  South  Seas  in  consideration  of 
facilities  promised  to  the  Government  in  the 
negotiation  of  loans.  In  1720  the  company 
proposed  to  negotiate  all  the  public  debts  at 
certain  rates.  The  rivalry  thus  caused  with  the 
Bank  of  England  was  such  that  by  midsum- 
mer the  company's  stock  had  reached  1000. 
Other  stocks  rose  in  the  like  way,  and  a  vast 
number  of  schemes  were  set  afloat.  The  com- 
pany became  alarmed,  and  fixed  the  rate  of 
dividend  for  twelve  years.  But  the  tide  had 
turned,  and  by  the  end  of  September  the  stock 
had  sunk  to  130.  The  misery  caused  by  the 
collapse  was  great,  and  the  project  of  1720  be- 
came known  in  history  as  "  The  Bubble." 

South-wester.  (Araut.)  A  waterproof  hat,  con- 
structed to  shoot  the  water  clear  of  one's  back.. 

Sow.  •  The  main  channel  from  a  smelting  fur- 
nace to  the  bed  of  sand  used  for  casting ;  the 
small  channels  being  called  pigs,  whence  is 
derived  the  term  pig  iron. 

Sowar.  [Hind.]  (Mil.)  Native  cavalry 
soldier  in  India. 

Sow-bread.  The  turnip-like,  acrid,  partly 
subterranean  stem  of  the  cyclamen,  eaten  greedily 
by  swine. 

Sowens,  Sowins.  Explained  by  some  as  the 
fine  powder  produced  by  husking  or  making 
grist  of  oats. 

Soy.  A  Japanese  fish  sauce,  made  of  the  soy 
bean. 

Spa.  By  meton.  often  =  a  place  frequented 
on  account  of  its  mineral  springs  ;  from  Spa,  a 
town  in  Belgium,  known  as  a  watering-place 
from  the  fourteenth  century. 

Space.  [L.  spatium.]  1.  In  Printing,  the 
interval  between  lines  or  words.  2.  A  piece  of 
metal  lower  than  the  types,  used  for  filling  such 
interval. 

Spadassin.  [Fr.,  It.  spadaccino.]  A  fighter, 
a  bravo,  bully. 

Spade,  Spayed.    (Deer,  Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Spadix.  [L.  spadix,  in  class.  L.  is  a  broken- 
off  palm  branch  with  fruit.]  (Bot.)  An  axis 
bearing  numerous  closely  packed  sessile  flowers, 
inclosed  within  a  spathe  [Gr.  <rir$.0i),  any  broad 
blade],  as  in  arums. 

Spahi.    (Sepoys.) 

Spandrel.  [It.  spandgre,  L.  expandgre,  to 
spread.]  (Arch.)  The  space  on  the  flanks  or 
haunches  of  an  arch,  above  the  intrados,  but  not 
extending  above  the  crown  of  the  arch. 

Spanish  black.  A  black  pigment  made  of 
burnt  cork. 

Spanish  ferreto.  A  reddish-brown  pigment, 
obtained  by  calcining  copper  and  sulphur  in 
closed  vessels. 

Spanish  main.  Connected  with  the  history  of 
buccaneering  in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries  ;  the  mainland  from  the  Orinoco  to  the 
Isthmus  of  Darien. 


Spanish  red.     A  rich  warm  ochre. 

Spanish,  stripes.     A  woollen  fabric. 

Spanish  white.     Purified  and  powdered  chalk. 

Spanker.    (Sails.) 

Spanner.  [Ger.]  A  tool  for  tightening  the 
nuts  on  screws. 

Span-roof.     (Compass-roof.) 

Sparable  (i.e.  sparrow-bill).  A  nail  used  in 
shoemaking  (from  the  shape). 

Spar-deck.  (Naut.)  1.  (Decks.)  2.  Applied 
to  the  upper  deck  of  a  flush-decked,  two-banked 
vessel.  3.  The  forecastle  gangways  and  quarter- 
deck of  a  deep-waisted  vessel. 

Sparrow-hawk.     (Musket.) 

Sparse.  [L.  sparsus,  scattered.]  (Bot.)  Not 
opposite  nor  alternate,  and  in  no  apparent 
regular  order  ;  as  branches,  leaves,  etc. 

Sparterie.  [Sp.  esparto,  grass-hemp.]  Plaited 
work  of  Spanish  grass. 

Spartiates.     (Ferioecians.) 

Spat.    Spawn  of  shellfish,  especially  of  oysters. 

Spathe.    (Spadix.) 

Spatula.  [L. ,  any  broad,  flat  instrument.  ]  An 
instrument  for  depressing  the  tongue,  spreading 
ointment,  etc.  Spatulate  (Bot.),  shaped  like  a 
spatula. 

Spavin.  [Fr.  epervin.]  Bone  S.,  in  horses, 
a  bony  enlargement  towards  the  inside  of  the 
hock,  at  the  head  of  the  shank-bone,  or  between 
some  of  the  small  bones  of  the  hock.  Bog  S. ,  or 
Blood  S. ,  an  inflammation  of  the  synovial  mem- 
brane between  the  tibia  and  astragalus,  with  ex- 
cessive secretion,  apt  to  attack  young,  weak,  or 
overworked  horses.  Thorough-pin,  a  similar 
affection,  sometimes  coexisting  lower  down. 
Capped  hock  and  Capulet  or  Capped  elbo^v,  in- 
flammation on  the  cap  of  elbow  or  hock,  from  a 
bruise.  Windgalls,  or  Puffs,  similar  enlarge- 
ments, permanent  in  fore  and  hind  legs  of  most 
hardworked  horses.  (See  Stonehenge,  The 
Horse  in  the  Stable  and  in  the  Field,  p.  468. ) 

Spay.     To  destroy  the  ovary  \cf.  L.  spado], 

Speaker.  The  presiding  officer  in  each  of  the 
Houses  of  Parliament.  In  the  House  of  Lords 
the  office  is  filled  by  the  Lord  Chancellor.  In 
the  Lower  House  the  S.  is  elected  by  the  Com- 
mons. He  can  vote  only  in  committees,  or 
when  the  votes  on  a  division  are  equal ;  and  he 
then  gives  a  casting  vote.  Among  other  powers, 
he  has  that  of  issuing  writs  for  new  elections 
during  a  recess. 

Speaker  leaves  the  chair.  In  House  of  Com- 
mons, that  the  House  may  go  into  a  Committee 
of  the  whole  House,  presided  over  by  a  Chair- 
man of  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means.  The 
order  of  the  day  having  been  read,  the  S.  puts 
the  question,  "  That  I  do  now  leave  the  chair." 
If  this  be  agreed  to,  the  S.  leaves  the  chair,  the 
mace  is  removed,  and  the  Committee  begins  its 
sitting. 

Special  pleader.  One  who  draws  common 
law  pleadings,  without  being  either  an  attorney 
or  a  barrister. 

Special  verdict.  A  General  V.  is  one  deli- 
vered  by  the  jury  in  general  words  with  the 
issue.  Guilty  or  Not  Guilty.  By  a  Special  V. 
the  jury  declare  they  find  the  special  facts 


SPEC 


453 


SPHE 


proved,  but  add  that  they  do  not  know  on  which 
side,  upon  the  facts,  they  ought  to  find  the  issue. 

Specie.     [L.  species.]     Coined  metal. 

Species.     In  Log.     (Difference.) 

Specific  gravity.  (Chem.)  The  weight,  bulk 
for  bulk,  of  solids  and  of  liquids  compared 
with  water ;  and  of  gases  compared  with  air. 
(Density.) 

Specific  heat  of  a  substance  is  the  quantity 
of  heat  required  to  raise  a  unit  of  its  mass  one 
degree  of  temperature,  and  the  measurement 
may  be  taken  on  the  supposition  that  the  volume 
of  the  substance  continues  constant,  or  that  it 
continues  under  a  constant  pressure. 

Spectatum  veniunt,  venlunt  spectentur  ut  ipsse. 
[L.]  They  (the  women)  come  to  see  and  to  be 
seen  (Ovid). 

Spectroscope.  [L.  spectrum,  Gr.  cvcoWw,  7 
view.]  An  instrument  for  examining  and  com- 
paring the  spectra  of  different  kinds  of  light. 

Spectrum  [L.,  an  image} ;  Chemical  S. ;  Chro- 
matic 8. ;  Ocular  S. ;  Solar  8. ;  Thermal  S. 
(Phys.)  The  totality  of  the  rays  emitted  from  a 
source  of  light  to  a  point  or  small  space,  and 
separated  (or  dispersed)  by  passage  through  a 
prism  of  glass  or  other  refracting  medium.  When 
the  source  is  the  sun,  the  spectrum  thus  obtained 
is  the  Solar  S.  The  rays  separated  by  the  prism 
have  the  properties  of  light  and  colour,  heat,  and 
chemical  action,  but  in  different  degrees  accord- 
ing to  their  different  degrees  of  refrangibility  ; 
and  this  fact  is  conveniently  described  by  saying 
that  there  are  three  distinct  kinds  of  rays,  com- 
posing respectively  the  Chromatic  S.,  the  Ther- 
mal S.,  and  the  Chemical  S.  The  chromatic  S. 
occupies  the  middle  position,  the  rays  at  the  red 
end  being  the  least,  those  at  the  violet  end  the 
most,  refrangible,  the  maximum  of  light  being  in 
the  yellow  rays  ;  the  thermal  S.  begins  beyond 
the  red  end  and  ceases  near  the  violet  end,  the 
maximum  of  heat  being  outside  of  the  chromatic 
S.,  at  the  red  end  ;  the  chemical  S.  begins  in 
the  green  rays  and  ends  beyond  the  violet  rays, 
the  maximum  being  in  the  violet  rays,  but  it  is 
intense  outside  of  the  chromatic  S.  The  Ocidar 
S.  is  the  faint  image  seen  when  the  eye,  having 
been  fixed  on  a  small  object  of  a  bright  colour, 
is  turned  away  to  a  white  surface  ;  the  image  has 
a  colour  complementary  to  that  of  the  object. 

Spectrum  analysis.  The  analysis  of  light  by 
means  of  the  spectrum  produced  by  a  prism.  It 
has  been  shown  that  when  a  vapour  sufficiently 
heated  emits  light  of  a  certain  refrangibility,  the 
vapour  at  a  lower  temperature  absorbs,  i.e.  refuses 
to  transmit,  light  of  the  same  degree  of  refrangi- 
bility. This  principle  serves  to  explain  the  dark 
lines  of  the  solar  spectrum.  Thus,  a  certain  line 
(D)  has  exactly  the  same  degree  of  refrangibility 
as  the  light  emitted  from  incandescent  vapour  of 
sodium ;  it  is,  therefore,  inferred  that  incan- 
descent sodium  exists  in  the  solar  atmosphere, 
and  stops  the  equivalent  rays  emitted  by  the 
more  intensely  heated  body  of  the  sun.  A  simi- 
lar process  can  be  applied  to  the  other  dark  lines 
of  the  solar  and  stellar  spectra,  and  thus  some 
knowledge  of  the  elements  composing  those 
bodies  is  arrived  at. 


Specular  iron  ore.     (Haematite.) 

Speculum  [L.,  a  mirror]  ;  8.  metal.  A  re- 
flector, particularly  the  reflector  of  a  reflecting 
telescope.  Specula  are  made  of  a  peculiar  com- 
bination of  metals  (two  parts  of  copper  and  one 
of  tin),  which  is  susceptible  of  a  very  high  polish, 
and  is  called  S.  metal. 

Sped.  In  Judg.  v.  30,  is  an  instance  of  the 
original  meaning,  to  succeed.  Skeat  refers  to 
spowan,  to  succeed  [A.S.  sped,  haste,  success]. 

Speed-cone.  (Mech.)  A  shaft  running  at  a 
constant  speed  is  enabled  to  drive  a  machine  at 
different  speeds  by  means  of  two  sets  of  pulleys, 
those  in  each  set  being  arranged  in  steps,  with 
diameters  so  chosen  that  the  same  band  can 
work  the  different  pairs  of  pulleys,  so  that  a 
small  pulley  on  the  shaft  drives  a  large  one  on 
the  machine,  or  a  large  pulley  on  the  shaft 
drives  a  small  one  on  the  machine  ;  either  set  of 
pulleys  is  a  speed-cone  ;  called  also  Speed-pulley. 

Speedwell.    (Veronica.) 

Spelicans.    (Spilikin.) 

Spelt,  Spalt.  [Ger.  spalt,  from  spalten,  to 
split.]  (Bot.)  A  grain,  TritTcum  spelta ;  so 
called  from  the  deep  splits  or  cuts  of  the 
ears. 

Spelter.     [Ger.  spiauter.]     Commercial  zinc. 

Spencer.  (Naut.)  1.  A  trysail.  (Sails.) 
2.  A  fore-and-aft  sail  set  with  a  gaff,  and  used 
instead  of  main-topmast  and  mizzen  staysails. 

Spencer  (from  Lord  Spencer).  A  short  over- 
jacket. 

Sperm-,  Spermato-.  [Gr.  o-vepfia,  a-irep/jLaros, 
seed.] 

Spermaceti.  [Gr.  oWpjua,  seed,  KTJTOS,  a  sea- 
monster.]  A  white,  brittle,  fatty  substance  ob- 
tained from  the  head  of  the  sperm-whale. 

Spero  meliora.     [L.]     /  hope  better  things. 

Speronara.  (Naut.)  A  stouter-built  scam- 
pavia  (q.v.). 

Spetches.  Waste  pieces  of  hide  for  making 
glue. 

Sphacelated.  (Med. )  Affected  with  sphacelus 
[Gr.  ff<f)dK€\os],  gangrene,  mortification. 

Sphenoid  bone.  [Gr.  <r$T)voeti)T)s,  of  the  shape 
of  a  wedge,  atyj]v,  <r<fyf)i>os.]  (Anat.)  A  bone  at 
the  anterior  part  of  the  base  of  the  skull,  which 
wedges  together  all  the  other  cranial  bones. 

Sphere  [Gr.  <r(/>cupa,  a  globe,  sphere] ;  Doctrine 
of  the  S. ;  Great  8. ;  Oblique  8. ;  Parallel  8. ;  S. 
of  projection;  Right  8.  The  solid  generated 
by  the  revolution  of  a  circle  round  a  diameter. 
The  appearance  presented  by  the  heavens  to  a 
spectator  is  that  of  a  sphere,  in  the  centre  of 
which  he  stands,  half  of  which  is  hidden  by  his 
horizon,  and  which  turns  round  a  diameter  pass- 
ing through  the  poles  once  in  twenty-four  hours, 
carrying  with  it  the  stars,  which  seem  to  be 
bright  points  fixed  on  its  surface.  Astronomers 
find  it  convenient  to  speak  of  this  appearance  as 
if  it  were  real,  and  they  call  it  the  Sphere,  or 
the  Great  sphere.  When  one  pole  is  overhead,  it 
is  a  Parallel  S.  ;  when  on  the  horizon,  a  Right 
S.  ;  when  in  any  other  position,  an  Oblique  S. 
The  Doctrine  of  the  S.  is  the  science  of  the  re- 
lations between  the  circles  drawn  on  the  great 
S.,  their  points  of  intersection  and  the  arcs  be- 


SPHE 


454 


SPIR 


tween  them;  as  the  equator,  ecliptic,  poles, 
equinoctial  points,  etc.  In  Crystallog.,  the 
S  of  projection  is  described  within  a  crystal 
with  any  point  as  centre  and  any  radius  ;  the 
faces  of  the  crystal  are  referred  to  it,  by  lines 
drawn  at  right  angles  to  them  from  its  sentre. 

Spherical  excess  [Gr.  ff<t>aipii<6s,  spherical} ; 
8.  geometry ;  S.  sector ;  S.  segment ;  S.  triangle ; 
S.  trigonometry.  The  portion  of  the  surface  of 
a  sphere  inclosed  by  arcs  (each  less  than  a  semi- 
circle) of  three  great  circles  is  a  Spherical  tri- 
angle. The  relations  between  the  sides  and 
angles  of  spherical  triangles  is  the  subject  of 
S.  geometry ;  those  between  the  trigonometrical 
functions  of  the  sides  and  angles,  of  S.  trigono- 
metry. The  excess  of  the  sum  of  the  three 
angles  of  a  spherical  triangle  above  two  right 
angles  is  its  S.  excess.  A  S.  segment  is  the  part 
of  a  sphere  cut  off  by  a  plane ;  a  S.  sector  is  the 
part  of  a  sphere  inclosed  within  a  conical  surface 
whose  vertex  is  at  the  centre. 

Spherics.  [Gr.  <r<paipiK6s,  spherical.'}  Sphe- 
rical geometry  and  trigonometry. 

Spheroid.  [Gr.  fftyaipa,  sphere,  flSos,  form.'} 
1.  A  body  nearly  spherical.  2,  An  ellipsoid  of 
revolution  (q.v. ). 

Spheroidal  state.  The  condition  of  a  drop  of 
liquid  when  thrown  upon  a  surface  having  a  high 
temperature,  in  which  case  the  liquid  does  not 
wet  the  surface,  but  takes  a  spheroidal  form, 
moves  about,  and  gradually  evaporates  without 
boiling. 

Spherometer.  [Gr.  ffQcupa,  a  ball,  fuerpov, 
measure.]  An  instrument  for  measuring  with 
great  exactness  the  thickness  of  a  plate  or  the 
curvature  of  a  lens. 

Sphincter.  [Gr.  ff^tyKT^p,  afylyyu,  7  bind 
tight.}  (Anat. )  A  circular  muscle  which  con- 
stricts orifices ;  as  S.  ani. 

Sphinx.  [Gr.]  \.(Myth.)  A  being  who  plagues 
the  Thebans  with  drought  and  the  maladies 
caused  by  drought,  and  who  propounds  riddles 
which  none  can  solve  except  (Edipus.  These 
riddles  are  the  mutterings  of  the  thunder ;  and 
the  Sphinx,  whose  name  describes  her  as  binding 
fast  [Gr.  <r<f>iyy<a,  /  bind  tight},  is  the  same  as 
Ahi,  the  throttling  snake,  and  Vritra,  the  thief, 
the  great  enemy  of  Indra.  2.  (Zool.)  Gen.  of 
moths  (Hawkmoths). 

Sphygmo-  [Gr.  ctyvyprfs,  the  pulse} ;  Sphygmo- 
graph.  (Med. )  An  instrument  which  registers 
the  force  and  extent  of  pulsations. 

Spiccato.    (Staccato.) 

Spick  and  span.  New  as  a  spike  or  nail  just 
made,  or  a  chip  [Icel.  spann]  just  cut  off. 

Spider.  (Naut. )  An  iron  outrigger  for  keep- 
ing a  block  clear  of  a  vessel's  side.  S.-hoop, 
an  iron  hoop  round  a  mast,  fitted  with  shackles, 
or  belaying-pins. 

Spider-shell.  (Zool.}  Ptgroceras  [Gr.  irreptv, 
iving,  Ktpas,  horn}  ;  gen.  of  molluscs  with  shell 
of  a  somewhat  spider-like  form.  The  common  S. 
(P.  lambis)  is  three  or  four  inches  long,  mottled 
chestnut  and  white  with  orange  streaks.  Chinese 
and  Indian  seas.  Fam.  Strombldee,  ord.  Pros5- 
branchiata,  class  Gasteropoda. 

Spigot.    [Welsh  yspigawd,  from  yspig,  spike.} 


A  peg  used  to  close  a  faucet,  or  a  small  hole  in 
a  cask. 

Spike  [cf.  Ger.  spick,  L.  spica,  and  spike]  a 
gun.  (Mil.)  To  render  it  unserviceable  for  the 
time,  by  inserting  into  the  vent  a  steel  pin  with 
side  springs,  which,  when  inserted,  open  out- 
wards to  the  shape  of  an  arrow-head,  which  can- 
not be  released.  A  long  nail  is  used  as  a 
substitute. 

Spike.  [L.  spica,  an  ear  of  corn.'}  (Bot.} 
Any  inflorescence  of  sessile  flowers  along  one 
axis;  as  corn.  (Inflorescence.) 

Spikenard.  Mark  xiv.  3  ;  John  xii.  3  ;  Nardo- 
stachys  jatamansi,  ord.  Valerinaceae  j  the  nardus 
of  classical  antiquity. 

Spilikin.  One  of  a  number  of  small  thin 
pieces  of  wood,  or  other  material,  for  playing 
the  game  of  spilikins.  These,  each  one  marked 
with  a  number,  are  thrown  together  in  a  heap 
on  a  table ;  and  each  player  in  turn  tries  to 
remove,  with  a  knitting-needle  or  similar  in- 
strument, what  he  can  without  shaking  any  of 
the  rest.  The  game  is  won  by  the  highest 
score. 

Spill  a  sail,  To.  (Naut.}  To  shiver  it,  before 
furling  or  reefing.  Spilling-lines,  those  used  to 
prevent  a  sail  bellying. 

Spllus.  [Gr.  (nriAos,  a  spot,  stain.]  I.q.  ncevus 
(q.v.). 

Spina  Christi.    (Christ's  thorn.) 

Spindle.  1.  A  millwright's  term  for  a  small 
shaft  (q.v.).  2.  The  solid  formed  by  the  revolu- 
tion of  an  arc  round  its  chord. 

Spine.  [L.  spina,  a  thorn.]  A  hardened  leaf- 
stalk, stipule,  abortive  branch,  or  any  other  pro- 
cess into  the  composition  of  which  woody  tissue 
enters. — Treas.  Bot. 

Spinet.  [It.  spinetta,  from  the  plectra  or 
thorns  (L.  spinae)  by  means  of  which  the  strings 
were  sounded.]  An  old  musical  instrument,  like 
a  harpsichord,  but  smaller. 

Spinozism.  The  philosophy  of  Benedict  Spi- 
noza, a  Jew  of  Amsterdam,  born  1634 ;  based 
on  the  proposition  that  "  There  can  be  no  sub- 
stance but  God,  and  nothing  can  be  conceived 
without  God." 

Spiraea.  [Gr.  <nreipa/ct.]  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of 
plants,  of  which  one  spec,  is  our  meadow-sweet, 
S.  ulmaria,  or  queen  of  the  meadows,  a  tall 
plant,  with  fragrant  yellowish-white  flowers, 
ord.  Rosacese. 

Spiral.  [L.  spira,  a  coil,  Gr.  <nre?po.]  (Math.) 
The  curve  traced  out  by  a  point  moving  in  some 
specified  way  along  a  line  which  revolves  round 
a  fixed  point ;  as  the  S.  of  Archimedes,  which  is 
traced  out  by  a  point  moving  uniformly  along  a 
line  which  revolves  uniformly  round  a  fixed 
point. 

Spire.  [L.  spira.]  (Arch.)  A  sharp-pointed 
covering  forming  the  roof  of  a  tower,  and  often 
carried  to  a  great  height.  (Broach  spires.) 

Spirit-level.  A  glass  tube,  whose  axis  is  very 
slightly  curved,  nearly  filled  with  spirit,  for 
showing  the  true  horizontal  line  by  the  central 
position  of  an  air-bubble  on  its  upper  side. 

Spirit  of  hartshorn.  (Chem.)  Impure  car- 
bonate of  ammonia.  (Hartshorn.) 


SPIR 


455 


SPRI 


Spirit  of  salt.  (Chem.)  Hydrochloric  acid, 
as  being  obtained  from  salt. 

Spirit  of  turpentine.  (Chem.)  An  inflam- 
mable oil  distilled  from  turpentine. 

Spirit  of  wine.  (Ghent.)  Pure  alcohol,  first 
obtained  from  wine. 

Spirkitting.  (Naiit.)  In  a  man-of-war,  the 
inner  planking  between  the  port-holes ;  in  a  mer- 
chantman, that  between  the  upper  deck  and  the 
plank-sheer. 

Spirula.  [L.,  dim.  of  spira,  coil.}  (Zool.) 
Fam.  and  gen.  of  cephalopod,  having  internal 
chambered  cell. 

Spissitude.  [L.  spissitudo,  thickness.]  The 
denseness  or  compactness  of  substances  which 
are  neither  solid  nor  liquid. 

Spit.  [A.S.]  (Agr.)  A  spade,  in  the  terms 
spitful,  one  spit  deep,  etc. 

Splanchno-.     [Gr.  air\dyxva,  bowels.'] 

Splay  (shortened  from  display).  (Arch.)  The 
slanting  expansion  of  windows  internally,  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  more  light.  Very  com- 
mon in  Romanesque  buildings,  where  the  outer 
aperture  is  small,  or  Sconce  [Fr.  escoinson]. 

Spleen.  [Gr.  ffir^v.]  (Anat.)  A  spongy, 
highly  vascular  organ,  in  the  left  hypochondriac 
region,  between  the  diaphragm  and  the  stomach  ; 
not  secretive ;  probably  regulating,  under  changes 
of  condition,  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the 
blood. 

Spleenwort.  (Bot.)  A  name  given  to  the  gen. 
Asplenium  [Gr.  rd  a.<nr\-i)vov},  a  gen.  of  poly- 
podiaceous  ferns  ;  from  a  supposed,  but  in  reality 
fanciful,  potency  in  affections  of  the  spleen  [L. 
splen]. 

Splendour,  Sun  in  his.  (Her.)  The  sun  bear- 
ing a  human  face  and  surrounded  with  rays. 

Splent.     (Splint.) 

Splice.  To  connect  beams,  etc.,  by  means  of 
overlapping  parts  bolted  together. 

Splice  the  mainbrace,  To.  In  Naut.  slang,  to 
serve  out  an  extra  allowance  of  grog. 

Splint,  Splent.  A  hard,  laminated  coal,  inter- 
mediate between  cannel  and  pit-coal ;  Glasgow, 
N.  and  S.  Stafford. 

Splint-bone.  1.  T.q.  Fibula  (g.v.)— being  like 
a  splint,  a  thin  piece  of  wood,  etc.,  used,  in 
treating  fractures,  to  keep  a  part  in  position.  2. 
Splint,  in  horses,  any  bony  growth  from  the 
cannon-bone.  (Gannon.) 

Splinter-bar.  1.  A  cross-bar  in  a  coach,  which 
supports  the  springs.  2,  The  bar  to  which  the 
single-tree  is  attached. 

Splinter-proof.  (Mil.)  Traverse  place  be- 
tween any  two  guns  of  a  battery,  to  cover  the 
artillerymen  working  them. 

Spoffish.  A  local  word  denoting  overmuch 
activity  in  matters  of  no  moment. 

Spoken  for.     Cant.  viii.  8  ;  asked  in  marriage. 

Spokeshave.  A  knife  for  trimming  the  spokes 
of  wheels  and  other  curved  work. 

Spolia  opima.  [L.,  rich  spoils.}  Arms,  etc., 
taken  by  a  Roman  general  from  the  enemy's 
general  on  the  field  of  battle. 

Spondee.  [L.  spondeus,  Gr.  <mw8^,  a  libation.} 
In  Gr.  and  L.  poetry,  a  metrical  foot,  in  which 
both  the  syllables  are  long  ;  so  called  from  its 

30 


slow    movement,    which    made  it   suitable  for 
hymns  recited  during  the  offering  up  of  a  sacrifice. 

Spondyle.  [Gr.  ff<f>6vSv\os,  and  popularly 
<nr6v$v\os.}  (Anat.)  A  vertebra. 

Spong.  A  narrow  strip  of  inclosed  land, 
especially  by  the  roadside. 

SpongiopUeine.  [Gr.  ffiroyytd,  a  sponge,  and 
ir1\os,  felt.]  A  fabric  the  inside  of  which  is 
felt — made  of  sponge  and  wool — and  the  outside 
a  coating  of  caoutchouc. 

Sponson,  or  Wing.  (Naut.)  The  projection 
of  the  deck,  or  platform  fore  and  aft  of  paddle- 
boxes.  S.-rim,  or  W.-wale,  its  outer  edge. 

Sponsors.  [L.  sponsor,  a  surety.}  (EccL) 
Those  who,  in  the  name  of  an  infant,  make 
profession  of  the  Christian  faith  at  its  baptism. 
(Fide-jussores.) 

Spontaneous  combustion  of  the  human  body. 
One  supposed,  in  a  few  cases,  to  have  arisen  out 
of  long  excessive  drinking  of  spirits  ;  believed 
in  during  last  century ;  now  proved  to  be  im- 
possible. 

Spool.  [Ger.  spule.]  A  kind  of  reel  for 
winding  thread  on. 

Spoor.     [D.  ;  cf.  Ger.  spur,  trace.}     (Slot.) 

Sporadic  disease.  [Gr.  tnropds,  scattered, 
sporadic.]  Occurring  in  single  instances ;  op- 
posed to  Epidemic  (q.v.). 

Sporangium.  [Gr.  ayyeiov,  a  vessel,  capsule  of 
a  plant.}  (Bot.)  The  case  in  which  spores  are 
formed. 

Spores.  [Gr.  (nropo,  a  sowing.}  (Bot.)  The 
reproductive  particles  of  flowerless  plants — e.g- 
fungi,  algae — analogous  to  seed  ;  they  do  not 
contain  an  embryo,  but  are  merely  cellular. 

Sporran.  [Gael,  sporan.]  A  leather  pouch 
worn  in  front  of  the  kilt  by  Highlanders. 

Sportula.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Hist.,  the  dole 
received  by  poor  Clients  from  rich  Patrons.  It  was 
first  in  kind,  and  was  carried  away  in  a  wicker 
basket,  but  was  afterwards  commuted  for  money. 

Spotted  fever.  (Med.)  Continued  fever,  with 
eruption. 

Spotted  metal,  or  Metal.  Of  organ  pipes,  a 
mixture  of  tin  and  lead. 

S.P.Q.R.  The  abbrev.  form  of  the  phrase, 
S£natus  populusque  Romanus,  the  Senate  and 
people  of  Rome. 

Sprays.  Side  channels  for  distributing  the 
molten  metal  in  all  parts  of  a  mould  (from  being 
shaped  like  a  spi-ay  of  a  tree). 

Spreader.     (Punt.) 

Sprechery.  Movables  of  a  poor  kind,  gained 
chiefly  by  plunder  on  a  march.  —  Scott, 
Wauerley. 

Spring,  Bearing.  The  spring  interposed  be- 
tween the  carriage  frame  and  the  axle-box  of  a 
railway  carriage. 

Springe.  A  noose  which  catches  birds,  etc., 
by  springing  up.  • 

Spring-halt.     (String-halt.) 

Spring-ring.  (Mech.)  A  flat  split  ring  which, 
when  not  under  pressure,  is  very  slightly  spiral, 
and  with  a  small  interval  at  the  split ;  when 
placed  round  a  piston  within  a  cylinder,  it 
becomes  perfectly  round,  and  pressing  against 
the  sides  of  the  cylinder  enables  the  piston  to 


SPRI 


456 


STAC 


work  air-tight  without  packing.  A  kind  of 
S.-R.  serves  as  a  washer. 

Springs,  Artesian.    (Artesian  wells.) 

Sprit.  [A.S.  spreot.]  (AW.)  A  small  spar 
crossing  a  sail  diagonally  from  the  mast  to  the 
upper  aftermast  corner.  S. -sails,  (i)  those 
extended  on  a  sprit;  (2)  a  squaresail  formerly 
set  on  a  bowsprit-yard.  S.-S.  topsail,  formerly 
set  on  a  jibboom-yard. 

Spruce.  A  decoction  of  the  shoots  of  the 
spruce  [O.E.  Pruse,  Prussian]  fir. 

Sprue.  [Ger.  spriihen,  to  throw  off  sparks.} 
The  entrance  to  a  channel  called  the  gate  through 
which  molten  metal  is  poured  into  a  mould. 

Spud.  [Dan.  spyd,  spear.}  A  chisel-shaped 
tool  with  a  long  handle,  for  destroying  weeds. 

Spur.  (Geog.}  A  portion  of  a  range  of  hills 
or  mountains  jutting  out  at  right  angles  to  the 
general  direction  of  the  range. 

Spurge.  (Bot.}  Euphorbia  ;  a  gen.  of  plants, 
type  of  the  large  ord.  Euphorbiacese,  to  which 
belong  manioc,  caoutchouc.  Almost  all  have 
acrid,  milky  juice.  (Euphorbus,  a  Greek  phy- 
sician.) 

Spurrey,  Common,  or  Yarr.  (Bot.}  A  weed 
of  gravelly  corn-fields  and  light  soils  ;  Spergula 
arvensis ;  ord.  Caryophyllaceae.  One  variety, 
cultivated  in  Holland  and  elsewhere  in  sandy 
districts  on  the  Continent,  yields  excellent  food 
for  cattle. 

Spur-royal.  A  gold  coin  of  Edward  IV., 
having  on  the  reverse  a  star  like  the  rowel  of  a 
spur.  In  later  reigns  its  value  was  i$s. 

Spurs,  Batlle  of  the.  A  battle  fought,  August 
1 6,  1513,  between  the  French,  and  the  English 
under  Henry  VIII.  ;  so  called  because  the 
French  are  said  to  have  used  their  spurs  more 
than  their  swords. 

Spur-wheel.  (Mech.}  A  toothed  wheel  of 
the  ordinary  construction,  viz.  in  which  the 
teeth  are  placed  radially. 

Spy  (i.e.  espy,  Fr.  espier,  L.  specere).  As  in 
Exod.  ii.  n,  is  very  often  simply  to  see,  to 
discover  by  seeing  ;  without  any  idea  of  secrecy. 

Squad.  [Fr.  escouade,  another  form  being 
escadre  (squadron).]  (Mil.)  1.  Small  number 
of  soldiers  formed  up  for  drill.  2.  The  part  of 
a  company  under  charge  of  one  non-commis- 
sioned officer. 

Squadron.  [Fr.  escadre,  L.  acies  quadrata,  a 
square  body  of  soldiers.]  1.  (Mil.}  A  body  of 
cavalry  consisting  of  two  troops.  2.  (Naut.} 
A  group  of  ships  of  war  less  than  a  whole 
fleet. 

Squall,  White.  (Naut.}  One  which  occurs 
in  clear  weather,  and  gives  no  warning  of  its 
approach  but  by  the  white  foam  it  raises.  • 

Squama.     [L.]     (Zool.)    A  fish-scale. 

Squamose.  [L.  squamosus,  from  squama,  a 
scale.}  (Anat.)  1.  Scaly,  like  a  fish.  2.  Having 
edges  overlapping,  like  scales. 

Square.  1.  In  Printing,  a  number  of  lines 
forming  a  square  portion  of  a  column.  2.  An 
instrument  formed  of  two  pieces  of  wood  fas- 
tened at  right  angles,  used  by  joiners,  etc.,  for 
testing  square  work.  3.  (Mil.)  To  form  S.,  an 
infantry  evolution  for  the  purpose  of  resisting 


cavalry  ;  the  centre  being  hollow,  and  the  sides 
four  deep,  facing  outwards. 

Square ;  S.  root.  (Math.}  To  square  a  num- 
ber is  to  multiply  it  by  itself ;  the  S.  root  of  a 
number  is  one  which  produces  the  number  when 
multiplied  by  itself;  thus,  the  square  of  5  is  5  x  5, 
or  25  ;  the  square  root  of  25  is  5.  (Quadri- 
lateral.) 

Square-prismatic  system.  (Cry stall og.}  The 
pyramidal  system  (q.v. ). 

Square-rigged.  (Naut.)  Having  square  lower 
sails  on  every  mast. 

Squaresail.  (Naut.)  That  set  on  the  fore- 
yard  of  a  schooner,  or  the  spread -yard  of  a  cutter. 
S. -sails,  (i)  the  courses  (q.v.)',  (2)  any  four- 
cornered  sail  set  on  a  yard  suspended  by  the 
middle. 

Square  yards,  To.  (Naut.)  To  -place  them 
horizontally  at  right  angles  to  the  keel. 

Squaring  the  circle.  (Math.)  The  problem 
of  finding  the  side  of  a  square  equal  in  area  to  a 
circle  of  given  radius.  It  is  understood  that  the 
solution  is  to  be  obtained  either  by  elementary 
geometry,  or  is  to  be  expressed  arithmetically  by 
commensurable  numbers  :  under  these  conditions 
the  problem  is  insoluble.  Two  squares  can, 
however,  be  determined,  one  greater  and  the 
other  less  than  the  circle,  whose  areas  differ  by 
less  than  any  assigned  quantity,  however  small 
— by  a  quantity  bearing,  for  instance,  a  ratio 
to  one  of  the  squares  less  than  the  ratio  of  one 
square  inch  to  a  million  square  miles. 

Squaw.  [Algonkin  Ind.]  An  Indian  woman. 
— Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Squid.  (Ichth.)  Penfish,  Calamary,  Teuthtdce 
[Gr.  revOis,  a  cuttle-fish,  or  squid} ;  fam.  of  mol- 
luscs, with  pen-shaped  internal  shell. 

Squinancy.    (Quinsy.) 

Squinch.    Another  name  for  Pendentive. 

Sruti.     (Veda.) 

S.S.,  Collar  of.  Composed  of  a  series  of  S.'s  in 
gold,  either  linked  or  set  in  close  order ;  the 
ends  brought  together  by  a  buckle,  from  which 
hangs  a  jewel.  Such  collars  have  been  much 
worn  by  officers  of  State,  by  gentlemen  of  various 
ranks  ;  now  worn,  with  distinctions,  by  a  L.C.J., 
L.C.B.,  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  heralds,  ser- 
geants-at-arms ;  occurring  frequently  in  monu- 
ments. Of  a  Lancastrian  character,  but  not 
satisfactorily  explained.  (For  different  conjec- 
tures, see  Chambers's  Encyclopedia. } 

Stabat  Mater.  [L.]  The  first  words  of  a 
hymn  on  the  grief  of  the  Virgin  mother  as  she 
stood  by  the  cross  of  Christ.  Said  to  have  been 
written  by  Jacopone  da  Todi,  in  the  fourteenth 
century. 

Staccato.  [It.,  detached}  (Mttsic.)  Means 
that  notes  are  to  be  sung  or  played  in  a  detached, 
somewhat  abrupt,  manner.  Spiccato  [It,  un- 
hooked} is  not  quite  so  abrupt ;  in  violin  music, 
means  to  be  played  with  the  point  of  the  bow. 

Stacte.  [Gr.  O-TOKT^,  trickling  oil.}  Exod. 
xxx.  34  ;  the  gum  of  the  Sty  rax  officinale,  a 
beautiful  shrub  of  the  Levant,  Italy,  Greece ; 
having  blossoms  like  those  of  the  orange. 
(Storax.) 

Stactometer.     [Gr.  ffrcucros,  dropping, 


STAD 


457 


STAP 


measure.]  A  glass  instrument  for  measuring 
the  number  of  drops  in  a  given  quantity  of  a 
fluid. 

Stadium.  ["Gr.  trrdSiov.]  1.  An  open  space 
for  the  celebration  of  games,  surrounded  by  seats 
in  tiers  for  the  spectators,  as  at  Olympia,  etc. 
2,  A  Greek  measure  of  length,  containing  606 
feet  9  inches  English. 

Stadtholder.  [D.  stadthouder,  city -holder.'} 
Originally  the  title  of  the  commander-in-chief  of 
the  army  of  the  United  Netherlands.  William 
IV.,  Prince  of  Orange,  1747,  was  the  first  here- 
ditary stadtholder.  In  1814  the  head  of  the 
house  of  Orange  received  the  title  of  king. 

Staff.  (Mil.)  All  officers  performing  such 
duties  with  troops  as  are  not  included  in 
regimental  duty.  Divided  into  general,  personal, 
and  regimental,  S. 

Staff-captains.     (Naut.)     Masters  of  the  fleet. 

Staff  College.  A  school  of  instruction  for 
officers  who  wish  to  be  placed  on  the  staff  of  the 
British  army.  Founded  1858.  The  number  of 
students  is  thirty. 

Staff-commanders.  (Naut. )  Masters  of  fifteen 
years. 

Staggard.     (Deer,  Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Staggers.  1.  A  disease  of  the  horse  and  some 
other  animals,  causing  them  to  fall  suddenly ; 
a  kind  of  apoplexy ;  sometimes  from  overfeeding. 
2.  Wild,  strange  behaviour. 

Stagmoid.     Like  a  drop  [Gr.  ffrdy/j.a]. 

Stagyrite,  The.  Aristotle,  born  at  Stageira, 
in  Chalcidice,  B.C.  384.  The  correct  spelling 
would  be  Stageirite. 

Stahlianism,  or  Animism.  Dr.  Stahl's  system 
of  medicine ;  the  anima,  or  soul,  by  erroneous 
or  wrong  action,  being  supposed  to  originate 
disease.  One  of  mild  laxatives,  chiefly  with 
bleeding,  plethora  being  supposed  a  chief  cause 
of  disease ;  to  the  neglect  of  chemistry,  as  a 
medical  agent.  (Stahl,  author  of  the  theory  of 
phldgiston  (q.v.),  Prussian  physician,  died  A.D. 

I734-) 

Stalls.  [Ger.  stiel.]  The  handle  of  a  broom, 
rake,  etc. 

Staithe.  A  line  of  rails  at  the  end  of  a  railway, 
for  discharging  coals,  etc.,  into  vessels. 

Stake.     A  small  anvil. 

Stalactite  (i),  Stalagmite  (2).  [Gr.  o-raXcWw, 
I  let  drip ;  (i)  being  an  active  derivative,  (2)  pas- 
sive.] (Geol.)  (i)  Conical  icicle-shaped  concre- 
tions from  the  roofs  ;  (2)  cones,  ribs,  or  layers 
on  the  floors  and  walls,  of  calcareous  caverns, 
caused  by  dropping  and  dribbling  of  water  con- 
taining carbonate  of  calcium.  Sometimes  (i) 
and  (2)  meet,  forming  pillars. 

Stal-boat.  (A7aut.)  A  fishing-boat,  temp. 
Elizabeth. 

Stallage.  In  Law,  a  duty  paid  for  setting  up 
movable  stalls  or  stables  in  a  market  or  fair. 
When  the  stalls  are  fixed,  the  duty  is  termed 
Pickage. 

Stalls.  [A.S.]  (Arch.']  Raised  seats  on  each 
side  of  the  choir  of  a  church.  (Sedilia.) 

Stamen.  [L.,  (i)  warp  of  the  loom  ;  (2) 
stamen.]  (Bot.)  The  male  organ  of  a  flower, 
consisting  of  a  filament  or  stalk,  and  anther, 


which  contains  the  pollen.  A  sterile  S.  belongs 
to  the  series  of  stamens,  but  has  not  pollen. 

Stamina.  [Plu.  of  L.  stamen,  a  thread  of  the 
distaff.]  1.  (Bot.)  A  fibre  of  a  plant,  or  of 
wood.  Hence,  2,  elementary  principles,  natural 
vigour. 

Stammel.  [O.Fr.  estamette,  a  coarse  woollen 
cloth.]  1.  A  fine  worsted.  2.  A  pale  scarlet 
colour. 

Stamp  Act,  American.  One  of  the  proximate 
causes  of  the  American  Revolution,  a  scheme  of 
internal  taxation,  passed  by  the  Grenville  Minis- 
try, 1764,  repealed  by  the  Rockingham  Ministry 
next  year. 

Stampede.  [Sp.  estampado,  a  stamping  of 
feet.]  1.  A  general  scamper  of  animals,  on  the 
Western  prairies,  usually  from  fright.  2.  From 
animals,  the  term  is  transferred  to  men. — Bart- 
lett's  Americanisms. 

Stamping.  [Ger.  stampfen.]  Crushing  with  a 
heavy  hammer,  as  ore  in  a  stamping-mill. 

Standard,  or  Vexillum.  (Papilionaceous 
plants.) 

Standard,  Battle  of  the.  (Eng.  Hist.)  A 
battle  fought  near  Northallerton,  Yorkshire, 
August  22,  1138,  at  which  the  Archbishop  of 
York  brought  forward  a  consecrated  standard. 
The  Scotch  were  entirely  defeated. 

Standard,  Koyal.  A  flag  bearing  the  arms  of 
England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  quartered. 

Stand  by !  (Naut.)  Get  ready  !  S.  B.  a  rope  I 
take  hold  of  it ! 

Standing  army.  One  raised  and  kept  ready 
for  service  both  at  home  or  abroad  under  the 
immediate  command  of  the  sovereign  ;  the  per- 
mission of  Parliament,  being  by  law  necessary,  is 
renewed  yearly.  (Army  Discipline  and  Kegula- 
tion  Act.) 

Standing-jib.  (Naut.)  The  innermost  jib,  or 
jib  proper. 

Standing-part  of  a  tackle,  or  rope.  (Naut.) 
The  part  which  is  made  fast  to  the  mast,  deck, 
or  block  ;  in  opposition  to  the  Running-part. 

Standing  rigging.  (Naut.)  Shrouds,  stays, 
etc. 

Standish.  [Eng.  stand  and  dish.]  An  ink- 
stand surrounded  with  a  flat  dish  for  pens,  etc. 

Stand  of  arms.  (Mil.)  The  complete  weapons 
of  each  individual  soldier. 

Stanhope.  (From  Lord  Stanhope.)  A  kind 
of  light  gig. 

Stanislaus,  St.,  Order  of.  (Hist.)  A  Polish 
order  of  knighthood,  founded  1765. 

Stannaries.  [L.  stannum,  tin.]  Tin-mines, 
or  royal  rights  pertaining  thereto. 

Stannary  courts.  [L.  stannum,  tin.]  Courts 
in  Devon  and  Cornwall  for  administering  justice 
among  persons  employed  in  tin-mines. 

Stannic  acid.  An  acid  formed  from  tin  [L. 
stannum].  Its  salts  are  called  stannates. 

Stannotype.  [L.  stannum,  tin,  Gr.  TVTTOS, 
type.]  A  photograph  taken  on  a  tin  plate. 

Stapes.  (Anat.)  One  of  the  bones  of  the 
internal  ear,  shaped  like  a  stirrup  [stapes]. 

Staphyle.  [Gr.  ffra<pv\4i,  (i)  a  bunch  of 
grapes,  (2)  uvula.]  The  uvula.  Staphylotomy, 
amputation  of  the  uvula. 


STAP 


458 


STAY 


Staphyloma.  [Gr.  <rra^\^a.}  A  grape- 
shaped  protrusion  of  the  outer  surface  of  the 
eye;  or  of  the  iris,  or  of  the  cornea,  the  result 
of  destructive  inflammation. 

Staple.  (Staples.)  1.  The  thread  or  pile  of 
wool,  cotton,  or  flax.  2.  A  ventilating  shaft 
sunk  from  the  workings  on  one  seam  to  those  on 
a  lower  one. 

Staples.  Certain  products  in  the  supply  of 
which  this  country  was  supposed  to  have  special 
advantages.  Thus  wool  and  hides  were  staples 
of  agricultural  produce.  The  market  for  staples 
was  carefully  regulated.  The  word  is  said  to  be 
derived  from  O.Fr.  estape,  a  mart  for  wine. 
The  superintendence  of  the  trade  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  Mayor  of  the  Staple. 

Starboard.    (A-beam.) 

Starboard  the  helm.    (Helm.) 

Starbolins.  (Naut.)  The  starboard  watch. 
Larbolins,  the  port  or  larboard  watch. 

Star  Chamber,  Court  of.  A  court  so  called,  in 
the  opinion  of  some,  from  the  ornaments  on  the 
ceiling  of  the  chamber  in  which  it  once  sat ;  ac- 
cording to  others,  from  the  Jewish  bonds  (Starrs) 
deposited  in  it.  Notices  of  it  go  back  to  the 
reign  of  Edward  III.  The  court  acted  by  bill 
and  information,  and  without  jury.  It  was  sup- 
pressed in  the  reign  of  Charles  I. 

Stare  super  antlquas  vias.  [L.,  to  stand  on 
the  old  paths.}  To  oppose  novelties  (Jer.  vi.  16). 

Star  fort.  (Mil.)  Closed  work  of  which  the 
parapet  takes  the  usual  representation  of  a  star, 
with  several  acute  salients  and  obtuse  re-entrants. 

Star  of  India.  An  order  of  knighthood,  in- 
stituted 1861,  for  conferring  honour  on  eminent 
natives  of  India,  and  on  Englishmen  who  have 
distinguished  themselves  in  the  administration  of 
that  country. 

Starost.  A  Polish  title  for  the  possessors  of 
certain  castles  and  estates  called  Starostics.  The 
tenure  was  commonly  renewed  by  the  Crown  to 
the  heirs  of  the  tenant  on  his  demise. 

Starowerzi.     (Easkolniks.) 

Starrs.  [Heb.]  Name  for  bonds  deposited, 
by  permission  of  "William  I.,  in  a  chamber  of 
Westminster  Palace ;  hence  called  Star  Cham- 
ber.— Green's  Hist,  of  the  English  People  >  p.  83. 

Stars  and  Bars.  The  flag  of  the  late  Southern 
Confederacy. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Stars  and  Stripes.  Flag  of  the  U.S.  ;  adopted 
by  Act  of  Congress,  June  14,  1777  :  "Resolved 
that  the  flag  of  the  thirteen  United  Colonies  be 
thirteen  stripes  alternately  red  and  white  ;  that 
the  Union  be  thirteen  stars,  white  in  a  blue  field, 
representing  a  new  constellation." — Bartlett's 
A  mericanisms. 

Statant.  [O.Fr.,  from  L.  stare,  to  stand.} 
(Her.)  Standing  still,  with  all  its  feet  on  the 
ground. 

Stater.  [Gr.  ffrar^p.]  An  ancient  Greek  coin, 
the  value  of  which  varied  in  the  different  Greek 
cities. 

State  rights.  The  rights  reserved  by  the  sepa- 
rate states  of  the  American  Union,  when  they 
surrendered  certain  prerogatives  of  independent 
states  to  the  central  authority  of  the  confederacy. 
The  conflict  between  these  two  interests  led  ulti- 


mately to  the  war  of  secession,  which  ended  in 
the  overthrow  of  the  Confederate  states  of  the 
South  in  1865-66. 

State-room.  (Naut.)  A  small  sleeping-cabin 
or  berth. 

States-General.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  assemblies,  first 
called,  1302 ;  discontinued,  1614 ;  summoned 
again  in  1789.  They  had,  it  seems,  no  proper 
jurisdiction ;  and  their  convocation  by  Louis  XVI. 
led  immediately  to  the  Revolution. 

Statesman.  In  the  mountainous  country  of 
N.  England,  a  yeoman  ;  an  old-fashioned  kind 
of  proprietor  farming  his  own  land,  a  link  be- 
tween landowner  and  tenant-farmer. 

States  of  matter.  (Phys.)  The  solid,  liquid, 
and  gaseous  forms  of  the  same  substance  j  as 
ice,  water,  steam. 

Static  electricity  is  that  developed  on  the 
surface  of  bodies. 

Statics.  [Gr.  ffrariK6s,  causing  to  stand,  from 
T]  ffraTiK-f),  statics.}  The  science  which  treats  of 
the  conditions  under  which  forces  acting  on 
bodies  balance  each  other. 

Station.  [L.  stationem,  residence.}  (Bot.  and 
Zool.)  A  continuous  district,  inhabited  by  any 
given  animal  or  plant.  It  may  be  coextensive 
with  a  habitat  (q.v.). 

Station.  Any  military  post  held  permanently 
by  troops. 

Stationary  engine.     (Steam-engine.) 

Stationers'  Hall.  The  hall  of  the  Stationers' 
Company,  which  was  formed  into  a  guild  early 
in  the  fifteenth  century.  The  present  duties  of 
the  company  are  chiefly  to  enter  the  titles  of  all 
new  publications  on  their  books,  and  to  register 
assignments  of  copyrights. 

Stationery.  A  term  now  denoting  usually  all 
materials  needed  for  or  connected  with  writing. 
Formerly  the  terms  stationer  and  bookseller 
were  nearly  synonymous. 

Stations.  [L.  stationes.]  1.  In  the  Latin 
Church,  places  where,  in  processions,  Mass  is 
said,  the  reference  being  to  the  stations  at 
Rome.  2.  A  form  of  devotion  founded  on  the 
events  of  the  Passion.  The  stations,  originally 
seven,  are  now  fourteen  in  number.  They  are 
also  called  Via  Crucis,  the  way  of  the  Cross. 

Stat  magni  nominis  umbra.  [L.,  he  stands 
the  shadow  of  a  great  name.}  He  has  survived 
his  greatness. 

Statu  quo,  Status  quo.  [L.]  The  name  of  a 
treaty  which  leaves  the  belligerents  in  possession 
of  all  that  each  held  at  the  beginning  of  the  war ; 
more  fully,  status  quo  ante  bellum. 

Statute  of  Drogheda.    (Foyning's  Law.) 

Statutes  of  Limitations.  Acts  of  Parliament 
which  prescribe  the  limits  within  which  actions 
must  be  commenced  for  the  recovery  of  any- 
thing ;  e.g.  actions  on  simple  contracts,  for  suits 
by  the  Crown,  of  ejectment,  etc.  So  two  years  is 
the  L.  of  action  for  a  slander,  six  for  libel,  etc. 

Statutes  of  Provisors.    (Provisors,  Statutes  of.) 

Stave  (another  form  of  staff).  (Music.)  The 
five  parallel  lines  on  which  the  notes  are  placed. 

Stay.  (Naut.)  A  rope  extending  from  the 
top  of  a  mast  forward,  to  give  it  support.  Back- 
stays are  led  aft  to  a  ship's  sides  abaft  the 


STAY 


459 


STEG 


shrouds.  Spring-stays  are  extra  stays  nearly 
parallel  with  the  stays,  to  give  extra  support. 
Stays  are  named  after  the  mast  they  support,  as 
Mainstay.  S.  of  steamer,  an  iron  bar  between 
the  paddle-beam  knees.  Staysail,  a  three-cor- 
nered sail  set  on  a  stay  which  is  called  a  Stay- 
sail-S. 

Stay.  (Meek.)  Long  tie-bars  connecting  the 
ends  of  cylindrical  boilers  and  other  structures,  to 
enable  them  to  resist  the  pressure  of  the  steam. 

Stay,  To.  (Naut.)  To  tack,  i.e.  to  come  head 
to  wind,  and  fill  on  the  other  tack.  A  vessel 
misses  stays  when,  instead  of  filling  on  the  other 
tack,  she  falls  back.  In  stays,  or  hove  in  stays, 
in  the  act  of  staying. 

Steady  the  helm,  To.  (Naut.)  To  keep  on  the 
same  course. 

Steam  [A.S.  stem];  Anhydrous  8.;  Dry  S. ; 
High-pressure  S. ;  Low-pressure  S. ;  Saturated 
S. ;  Superheated  S. ;  Surcharged  S.  Low-pressure 
steam  exerts  a  pressure  not  greatly  exceeding 
that  of  the  atmosphere  ;  High-pressure  S.  exerts 
a  pressure  that  commonly  equals  that  of  several 
atmospheres,  e.g.  four  or  six,  say  60  or  90 
pounds  per  square  inch.  Saturated  S.  is  steam 
formed  in  contact  with  its  water— it  then  has  the 
greatest  density  it  can  attain  at  the  given  tem- 
perature. If  the  steam  is  separated  from  its 
water  and  heated  in  a  given  space,  it  is  Dry  or 
Anhydrous  S.  ;  such  steam,  separated  from  the 
boiler  and  heated  in  a  .distinct  vessel,  is  also 
called  Surcharged  or  Superheated  S. 

Steam-chest  The  space  or  box  adjacent  to 
the  cylinder,  kept  always  full  of  steam,  and  from 
\vhich  steam  is  admitted  into  the  cylinder  through 
the  steam-ports  by  the  motion  of  the  slide-valve, 
due  to  the  action  of  the  eccentric ;  called  also 
the  Valve-chest. 

Steam-engine  ;  Beam  E.  ;  Condensing  E. ; 
High-pressure  E. ;  Locomotive  E. ;  Low-pressure 
E. ;  Marine  E. ;  Non-condensing  E. ;  Oscillating 
E. ;  Stationary  E.  An  engine  driven  by  steam 
pressure.  There  are  many  kinds  of  steam-en- 
gines. Of  these  we  may  notice  the  following  : — 
The  Condensing  engine,  in  which  the  waste 
steam  is  condensed,  so  that  the  piston  moves 
with  the  steam  on  one  side  and  a  vacuum  on  the 
other  ;  such  engines  were  commonly  worked  by 
steam  of  low  pressure,  and  are  often  called  Low- 
pressure  engines.  In  a  Non-condensing  E.,  the 
waste  steam  is  driven  into  the  air ;  it  must  be 
worked,  therefore,  by  steam  of  high  pressure, 
and  is  a  High-pressure  E.  Steam  of  high  pres- 
sure is,  however,  often  used  to  work  condensing 
engines.  There  are  also  Stationary  E.,  com- 
monly working  by  condensation  ;  Locomotive  E. , 
which  are  non-condensing;  and  Marine  E., 
which  are  modified  stationary  engines.  In  the 
Beam  E.  the  piston  communicates  motion  at 
one  end  to  a  large  lever  or  beam,  the  other  end 
of  which  works  a  pump,  or  by  means  of  a  crank 
gives  a  continuous  rotation  to  the  main  shaft ; 
in  an  Oscillating  E.  the  cylinder  is  capable  of  a 
small  oscillating  movement  sufficient  to  enable 
the  crank  to  be  turned  directly  by  the  piston-rod. 

Steam-frigate.  (Naut.}  An  armed  steam- 
ship, commanded  by  a  captain. 


Steam-gauge.  A  kind  of  manometer  (q.v.) 
for  measuring  the  steam  pressure  in  the  boiler. 

Steam-hammer.  (Mech.)  A  hammer  consist- 
ing of  a  steam  cylinder  and  piston  placed  verti- 
cally over  an  anvil,  and  rising  and  falling  by 
steam-power. 

Steam-jacket.  A  casing  put  round  cylinders, 
steam-pipes,  etc.,  and  filled  with  steam  to  keep 
the  interior  body  from  cooling. 

Steam-pipe.  A  pipe  for  carrying  steam  from 
the  boiler  to  the  cylinder. 

Steam-ports.  The  passages  through  which 
steam  is  admitted  into  the  cylinder  from  the 
steam -chest. 

Steam-ram.  A  war-ship  fitted  with  a  ram,  i.e. 
a  projecting  prow  under  the  water-line,  for  pierc- 
ing an  enemy's  vessel. 

Steam  sloop-of-war.  One  commanded  by  a 
commander. 

Steam-whistle.  A  whistle  in  which  sound  is 
produced  by  turning  a  jet  of  steam  through  a 
narrow  annular  aperture  against  the  edge  of  a 
hollow  hemisphere  placed  above  it. 

Stearine.  [Gr.  trrc'ap,  tallow.}  A  constituent 
of  animal  fat,  to  which  it  gives  solidity. 

Steatite.     (Soap-stone.) 

Steatornith.id.8e.  [Gr.  (rreap,  -a.ros,fat,  opvis, 
-iQos,  bird.}  (Ornith.)  A  fam.  of  birds  consisting 
of  one  gen. ,  containing  one  spec,  the  Guacharo, 
or  Trinidad  goat-sucker,  a  mottled  brown  bird, 
flecked  with  diamond-shaped  white  spots.  It 
lives  gregariously  in  caverns,  and  is  distinguished 
from  true  goat-suckers  by  not  being  entirely  (and 
perhaps  not  at  all)  insectivorous.  Much  valued 
for  its  fat  by  the  Indians,  but  superstitiously 
dreaded  for  its  weird  habits.  Venezuela,  Bogota, 
Trinidad.  Ord.  Plcarue. 

Steatosis.  [Gr.  oWop,  -OTOJ,  fat,  suet.} 
(Med.)  Fatty  degeneration. 

Steelyard.  A  balance,  the  beam  of  which  is 
divided  into  two  unequal  arms  by  the  fixed  point 
round  which  it  turns.  The  long  arm  is  properly 
graduated ;  the  body  to  be  weighed  is  hung  at 
the  end  of  the  short  arm,  and  counterpoised  by 
a  movable  weight  properly  placed  on  the  long 
arm ;  the  reading  of  the  long  arm  gives  the 
required  weight. 

Steelyard,  Merchants  of  the.  (Hist.)  A 
company  of  foreign  merchants  in  London,  to 
whom  Henry  III.,  1232,  assigned  the  steel- 
yard, that  is,  the  balance  by  which  a  single 
standard  weight  is  employed  for  determining 
the  weight  of  bodies. 

Steening,  or  Steining.  (Arch.)  The  stone  or 
brick  wall  with  which  the  sides  of  a  well  are 
lined. 

Steer.    [O.E.  steor,  styre.]  A  young  bullock. 

Steerage.  (Naut.)  1.  Steering.  2.  The 
space  immediately  below  the  quarter-deck,  and 
before  the  main  cabin  bulkhead.  3.  The  be- 
tween-decks  just  before  the  gun  bulkhead.  4. 
The  admiral's  cabin  on  the  middle  deck  of  a 
three-decker  has  been  so  called.  S.  passengers, 
third-class  P. 

Steering-sail.     I.q.  sttidding-sail  (q.v.}. 

Steganography.       [Gr.     a-reyavos,     covered^ 
a,  I  write. \     The  art  of  writing  in  ciphers 


STEI 


460 


STET 


intelligible  only  to  those  who  are  corresponding 
with  each  other. 

Steinbock.    (Ibex.) 

Steining.    (Steening.) 

Stella.  So  styled  by  Dean  Swift,  who  exerted 
a  kind  of  enchantment  over  her ;  Esther  John- 
son, a  beautiful,  highly  gifted  young  girl,  a 
dependent  in  the  family  of  Sir  W.  Temple  ;  she 
died  January,  1727-28.  (Vanessa.) 

Stella  [L.,  star},  Stellated  bandage.  (Med.) 
One  with  turnings  crossed  like  X. 

Stellaria.  [Formed  from  L.  Stella,  a  star.} 
(Bot.)  A  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Caryophyllacese, 
to  which  belong  stitchwort,  or  satin-flower,  S. 
holostea  [Gr.  6\dffreov,  which  means  all  of  bone, 
was  probably  some  kind  of  plantain],  with  deli- 
cate white  flowers  ;  and  chickweed,  a  common 
weed. 

Stellionate,  [L.  stellionatus,  perhaps  from 
stellio,  a  lizard ;  hence  a  slippery  or  crafty  per- 
son.] In  Rom.  Law,  fraud  committed  by  false 
sales,  or  sales  under  false  pretences,  as  by  selling 
the  same  thing  to  two  purchasers.  Six  spec,  of 
Stellionate  were  defined. 

Stelography.  [Gr.  <rr-f]\7j,  a  post,  or  pillar, 
ypd(J)(a,  I  write,}  An  incorrect  word,  used  to 
denote  the  art  of  making  inscriptions  on  pillars. 

Stem.  1.  (Gram.}  The  radical  part  of  a 
word,  to  which  are  added  the  forms  imposed  by 
inflexion  or  conjugation.  2.  (Naut.}  The  fore- 
most timber  in  a  ship,  to  which  the  bow  plank- 
ing is  fastened ;  it  is  scarfed  into  the  keel, 
from  which  it  extends  upwards,  supporting  the 
bowsprit. 

Stemmata  quid  faclunt?  [L.,  what  do 
garlands  (hung  upon  ancestral  images)  effect  ? 
(Juvenal).]  What  is  the  good  of  mere  pedigree  ? 

Stemple.  [Ger.  stempel.]  A  wooden  cross- 
bar in  the  shaft  of  a  mine. 

Stencil.  [Ger.  stanze,  a  stamp  for  embossed 
work.}  A  thin  perforated  plate,  which  is  laid 
flat  and  brushed  over  with  colour  so  as  to  mark 
the  surface  underneath. 

Stenography.  [Gr.  orej/Js,  close,  jpdtyw,  I 
write. }  The  art  of  shorthand . 

Stentorian  voice.  A  voice  like  that  of  Stentor, 
the  herald  of  the  Achaians  in  the  Iliad,  which 
was  as  loud  as  that  of  fifty  men. 

Step.  (Mech.)  1.  The  bearing  against  which 
a  pivot  presses  endwise.  2.  The  gun-metal 
lining  of  the  bearing  in  which  a  journal  turns,  and 
which  shields  the  bearing  from  wear  by  being 
worn  itself.  3.  (Naut.}  A  large  block  of  tim- 
ber fixed  upon  the  kelson,  and  fitted  to  receive 
the  heel  of  a  mast.  To  S.  a  mast,  to  erect,  and 
secure  it  in  the  step. 

Stephen,  Palace  of  St.  Built  about  1135  ;  re- 
built by  Edward  III.,  1347  ;  became  the  seat  of 
the  Parliaments,  1552  ;  destroyed  by  fire,  1834. 

Steppes.  [Russ.]  (Geog.}  Extensive  plains 
not  at  a  great  elevation  above  the  sea  ;  as  the 
steppes  of  Russia,  Siberia,  and  Turkestan. 

-ster.  A  suffix,  the  A.S.  es-tre,  denoting  an 
agent;  as  in  spin-ster,  malt-ster,  Brew-ster, 
Baxter  (bake-ster),  etc. 

Stercoraceous.  [L.  stercus,  stercoris,  dung.} 
(Mcd.)  Fcecal. 


Stere.     [Gr.  ffrepeos,  solid.}     A  cubic  metre. 

Stereochromy.  [Gr.  o-Tepets,  hard,  XP&W 
colour.}  Wall-painting  in  water-colours,  in 
which  the  picture  is  fixed  and  vitrified  by  being 
sprinkled  with  diluted  fluoric  acid. 

Stereograpbic  projection  of  the  circles  of  a 
sphere  is  a  perspective  representation  of  them  on 
a  great  circle,  the  eye  or  projecting  point  being 
in  one  of  the  poles  of  that  circle. 

Stereography.  [Gr.  oreped*,  solid,  ypd<pco,  I 
draw.}  The  art  of  drawing  the  forms  of  solids 
upon  a  plane. 

Stereometry.  [Gr.  arfpco^rpla.}  The  art  of 
measuring  solids,  particularly  of  finding  their 
cubical  contents. 

Stereoscope.  [Gr.  (rrcpfo's,  solid,  <r/coW«,  / 
view.}  A  well-known  toy  in  which  two  pictures 
of  an  object  are  arranged  so  that  one  is  seen  by 
the  right,  the  other  by  the  left,  eye  of  the  spec- 
tator, the  result  being  that  he  sees  but  one  image 
of  the  object,  and  that  as  if  it  were  solid. 

Stereoscopic.  [Gr.  ffrepe6s,  solid,  <r/co7re«,  1 
behold.}  Of  or  belonging  to  a  Stereoscope. 

Stereotomy.  [Gr.  o-repcJs,  solid,  TO^,  a  cut- 
ting^ The  art  of  cutting  bodies,  particularly 
masses  of  stone,  into  any  required  form. 

Stereotyping.  [Gr.  arepets,  hard,  rviros,  type.} 
Making  a  solid  plate  of  type  by  taking  a  plaster 
cast  of  the  type  set  up  in  the  common  way,  and 
then  pouring  melted  type-metal  on  this  cast. 

Sterling.  The  legal  description  of  English 
current  coin,  derived  probably  from  Easterling, 
the  popular  name  of  the  Baltic  and  German 
traders.  The  silver  penny  was  first  called 
easterling. 

Stern-board.  (Naut.)  A  run  or  leg  made 
stern-first. 

Sternhold  and  Hopkins.  Authors  of  the 
metrical  version  of  the  Psalms,  made  in  the 
reign  of  Edward  VI.,  for  which  the  version  of 
Brady  and  Tate  was  substituted. 

Sternidae.  (Ornith.)  Terns,  Sea-sw allows ; 
gen.  of  swallow-like  gulls.  Cosmopolitan.  Fam. 
Laridae,  ord.  Anse"res. 

Stern-post.  (Naut.)  The  aftermost  timber 
in  a  ship  ;  it  supports  the  rudder. 

Stern-sheets.  (Naut. )  The  part  of  a  boat  aft 
of  the  rowers,  fitted  with  seats  for  passengers. 

Sternum.  [Gr.  artpvov,  the  breast.}  (Anat.) 
The  breast-bone  ;  flat,  narrow,  at  the  fore  part  of 
the  thorax,  and  with  which  the  ribs  articulate. 

Sternutation.  [L.  sternuto,  / sneeze.}  Sneez 
ing.  Sternutative,  Sternutatory,  substances  caus- 
ing to  sneeze.  (Ptannic.) 

Stertor,  Stertorous  breathing.  [L.  sterto,  7 
snore^\  A  rough,  hoarse  noise  (not  snoring,  which 
is  confined  to  the  nose,  but)  extending  to  the 
throat ;  a  condition  of  disease  indicating  apo- 
plexy, or  epilepsy,  or  narcotic  poisoning,  or 
injury  of  the  head  ;  often  mistaken,  very  unfor- 
tunately, for  a  sign  of  drunkenness. 

Stet.  [L.]  Let  it  stand ;  i.e.  upon  second 
thoughts,  let  the  words,  the  paragraph,  etc., 
stand,  though  crossed  out ;  generally  a  direction 
to  printers. 

Stetch,  Stitch.  (Agr.)  A  system  of  boughts, 
or  bouts,  in  ploughing.  (Bought.) 


STET 


461 


STON 


Stethoscope.  [Or.  ffr^Bos,  the  breast, 
I  look  at.]  (Med.)  A  slender  cylinder,  generally 
of  wood,  seven  to  twelve  inches  long,  which 
conveys  sounds  from  the  thorax  or  other  cavities 
to  the  ear  in  auscultation. 

Stet  pro  ratione  voluntas.  [L.,  let  the  -will 
go  for  the  reason  (Juvenal).]  Give  unquestioning 
obedience. 

Stevedore.     (Stivadore.) 

Steward.  [A.S.  stiward,  the  warder  of  the 
sty,  as  Howard  was  originally  hog-ward,  the 
swine-keeper.}  In  Feud.  Law,  the  deputy  of 
the  lord  in  the  manor  court. 

Steward,  Lord  High.  Formerly,  the  first 
officer  of  the  Crown  in  England.  The  dignity 
is  now  revived  only  for  coronations  or  the  trial 
of  peers. 

Sthenic  diseases.  [Gr.  <r0eVos,  strength.]  (Med.) 
Accompanied  with  morbid  increase  of  action  in 
the  heart  and  arteries. 

Stiacciato.  [It.]  A  kind  of  carving  in  very 
low  relief. 

Stibium.    Antimony. 

Stichometry.  [Gr.  ffrlxos,  a  row,  perpov, 
measure.}  Measurement  of  the  length  of  a  book 
by  the  number  of  lines  contained  in  it. 

Stick  lac.    (Lao.) 

Stiff.  (Naut. )  Not  easy  to  capsize  ;  the  op- 
posite of  Crank. 

Stifle.  [Ger.  stiefel.]  (Anaf.)  In  the  horse, 
a  joint  formed  by  the  union  of  the  lower  end  of 
the  thigh-bone  with  the  upper  end  of  the  tibia, 
and  the  back  of  the  patella,  Stifle-bone,  or  knee- 
pan  ;  the  articulation,  really,  of  the  knee. 

Stigma.  [Gr.,  mark,  spot.]  1.  (Bot.)  The 
viscid  upper  end  of  the  style,  which  receives  the 
pollen.  2.  Stigmata  is  used  to  mean  marks  in  the 
body,  like  those  of  Christ  upon  the  cross,  which 
have  been  reproduced  in  the  hands,  in  some 
few  cases,  under  the  all-controlling  power  of  a 
"  dominant  idea,"  viz.  the  desire  to  possess  these 
marks.  (See  Carpenter's  Mental  Physiology.)  The 
word  is  taken  from  the  ffrlyuara  of  Gal.  vi.  17. 

Stigmaria.  [Gr.  orfy/Ao,  a  prick,  a  mark.] 
(Geol.)  Root-stems  of  stgillaria  (q.v.),  pitted 
with  marks  of  attached  radicles.  Carboniferous 
system. 

Stigmata.    (Stigma.) 

Stigmatization.  The  branding  of  slaves. 
(Stigma.) 

Stillicide.  [L.  stillicidium,  a  falling  by •  drops.] 
(Med: )  A  morbid  trickling  of  tears.  (Epiphora.) 

Still  life.  Inanimate  objects ;  as  fruit,  flowers, 
furniture. 

Stilted  arch.     (Arch.) 

Stllum,  or  Stylum,  verte're,  [L.]  To  turn  the 
style,  or  pen,  generally  of  iron,  used  by  the 
Romans  for  writing  on  wax  tablets  ;  i.e.  to  erase 
with  the  broad  upper  end  what  has  been  written ; 
and  so  =  to  correct  and  improve  what  one  has 
said. — Horace,  Sat.  i.  IO,  72. 

Stink-stone,  Swine-stone.  (Geol.}  Foetid  lime- 
stone, which,  when  rubbed  or  knocked,  smells 
of  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

Stipes.  [L.  stipes,  a  trunk,  post.]  (Bot.)  The 
stalk  of  a  mushroom  ;  also  of  the  fronds  of  ferns. 

Stippling.     [D.  stippelen,  to  dot.]    The  use  of 


small  dots  instead  of  lines  generally  in  engrav- 
ing or  miniature-painting. 

Stipule.  [L.  stipula,  blade,  stem.]  (Bot.)  The 
leafy  or  membranous  processes  sometimes  arising 
from  the  base  of  a  leaf. 

Stirk,  Sturck,  Sturk.  [O.E.  styrc,  a  small 
steer  (?).]  A  young  ox  or  heifer  (Scotland). 

Stirpes,  Per  (i),  Per  capita  (2).  In  Law,  (i)  a 
reckoning  by  families,  not  (2)  by  the  number  of 
individuals  ;  said  of  the  "taking  of  property  (i) 
by  representation,  in  opposition  to  (2)  in  one's 
own  right  as  a  principal"  (Brown,  Law  Dic- 
tionary). If  A  leave  money  to  his  sons,  B,  C, 
and  D,  of  whom  C  dies  in  his  father's  lifetime, 
C's  children  (whatever  their  number),  dividing 
equally  between  them  their  father's  portion, 
would  be  receiving  per  stirpes,  not  per  capita. 

Stirrups.  (Naut.}  Ropes  having  one  end 
nailed  to  the  yard,  and  the  other  fitted  with  an 
eye  through  which  the  foot '-ropes  are  rove. 

Stitch.    (Stetch.) 

Stithy,     pod.  stedhi,  anvil. ~\     An  anvil. 

Stivadore,  or  Stevedore.  [L.  stipatorem,  sti- 
pare,  to  stuff,  cram,  press  together]  In  merchant 
shipping,  the  officer  who  superintends  the  stowage 
of  ships. 

Stiver.    A  Dutch  coin,  =  English  halfpenny. 

Stoat  (Zool.)  is  commonly  a  synonym  for 
weasel ;  but  denotes  more  properly  the  larger 
variety,  which  affords  the  fur  called  ermine. 

Stochastic.  [Gr.  ffToxayriK6s,  capable  of  hitting 
a  mark.]  Able  to  conjecture,  conjectural. 

Stockade.  (Mil.)  Closed  work  of  stout 
timbers  placed  touching  each  other,  pierced 
with  musketry  loopholes. 

Stock  and  fluke.  In  Naut.  language,  the 
whole  of  a  thing. 

Stock  of  an  anchor.  (Natit.)  A  cross-beam 
of  wood  or  iron,  secured  to  the  top  of  the  shank 
at  right  angles  with  the  flukes. 

Stocks.  Red  and  grey  bricks  used  for  the  out- 
side of  buildings. 

Stoics.  (Hist.)  A  well-known  body  of  Greek 
philosophers  ;  so  called  from  the  Stoa,  or  porch, 
in  Athens,  where  their  founder,  Zenon  (Zeno), 
B.  c.  300,  gave  his  lectures ;  noted  for  the  austere 
severity  of  their  system.  They  were  especially 
opposed  to  the  Epicureans. 

Stoke-hole.  The  space  in  front  of  the  furnace 
where  the  stoker  stands. 

Stole.  [Gr.  a"ro\4\,  a  piece  of  a  dress,  a  robe.] 
(Eccl.)  A  narrow  band,  worn  pendant  by  priests 
in  front  over  both  shoulders,  by  deacons  over  the 
left  shoulder  only  in  front  and  behind.  In  the 
Eastern  Church,  the  deacon's  stole  is  marked 
with  the  words  "  Hagios,  Hagios,  H agios " 
(Ter-Sanctus),  and  is  called  Orarium. 

Stomacher.  [Gr.  <Tr6^axos,  throat.]  Isa.  iii. 
24 ;  a  part  of  the  dress  of  a  woman,  worn  on 
the  throat  and  over  the  bosom  ;  or  an  ornament 
only,  in  the  same  place. 

Stomach-piece.     (Apron.) 

Stomata.  [Gr.,  plu.  Qi,fr&fjMtamoUth.]  (Bot.) 
Minute  openings  in  the  epidermis  of  leaves 
(principally) ;  breathing-pores. 

Stonacre.  (Naut.)  A  sloop -rigged  vessel, 
used  for  carrying  stones  on  the  Severn. 


STON 


462 


STRE 


Stone.  A  weight  of  fourteen  pounds;  but 
the  London  butcher's  stone  is  eight  pounds. 

Stone  Age.    (Prehistoric  archaeology.) 

Stonecrop.    (Sedum.) 

Stonefield  slate.  (Geol.)  A  Lower  Oolite  fissile 
limestone,  used  for  roofing-stone  (not  real  slate) 
in  Oxfordshire;  famous  for  its  fossil  mammals 
(amphitherium,  etc.). 

Stool.  (Natit.)  A  smaller  chain  wale  or 
channel  abaft  the  chief  one,  to  which  back- 
stays are  made  fast. 

Stopped  diapason.  (Music.)  An  organ  stop, 
stopped  or  covered  at  the  top,  generally  of 
wood,  of  the  same  pitch  as  the  open  D.,  but 
softer  in  tone,  the  pipes  also  being  only  half 
the  length.  (Diapason.)  The  pipe  being 
stopped  at  the  top  causes  the  air  to  rebound 
and  produce  a  tone  an  octave  lower  than  it 
would  otherwise. 

Stopper.  (Naut.)  Stopper  of  the  anchor,  a 
strong  rope  to  steady  the  anchor  when  sus- 
pended from  the  cat-head.  S.  of  the  cable,  or 
Deck-S.,  a  rope  made  with  a  knot  at  one  end, 
and  lashed  to  the  cable,  the  other  end  being 
fastened  to  a  ring  in  the  deck,  to  hold  or  S. 
the  cable.  Dog-S.  (fastened  to  mainmast)  and 
Wing-S.  (fastened  to  side-beams)  answer  a  simi- 
lar purpose.  Rigging-S.,  a  rope  fastened  above 
and  below  a  fracture,  to  prevent  the  rigging 
giving  way. 

Stopping  out.  Stopping  up  some  of  the  lines 
in  an  etched  plate  with  a  composition,  to  keep 
out  the  acid,  while  the  other  lines  are  being 
deepened  by  it. 

Storax.  [Gr.  (rrrfpaf,  L.  stjhrax.]  1.  Ecclus. 
xxiv.  15;  the  gum  of  Styrax  offlclnale  (stacte). 
2.  The  S.  of  commerce,  produced  by  the  Liquid- 
ambar  styraciflora,  ord.  Balsam. 

Storm,  Magnetic.  The  cause — whatever  it 
may  be — of  the  accidental  variations  in  the 
direction  of  the  magnetic  needle,  which  occur 
from  time  to  time.  The  needle  is  observed  to 
make  deflexions  to  the  right  and  left  with  great 
rapidity,  at  a  rate  comparable  to  that  of  ordinary 
telegraphic  signalling. 

Storm-drum.  (Naut.)  A  canvas  cylinder, 
three  feet  in  diameter  and  three  feet  high,  hoisted 
as  a  warning. 

Storm-dust.    (Meteoric  dust.) 

Storm-jib.  (Naut.)  1.  A  small  jib  in  cutters, 
etc.  2.  The  innermost  jib  of  a  ship. 

Storm-kite.  (Naut.)  One  used  for  carrying 
a  rope  from  a  stranded  vessel  to  the  shore,  or 
vice  versd. 

Storm-sail.  (Naut.)  One  of  extra  strength 
and  reduced  size. 

Storm-trysail.  (Naut.)  A  fore-and-aft  sail 
set  on  a  gaff,  but  without  a  boom ;  only  used  in 
bad  weather. 

Storthing.     The  Parliament  of  Norway. 

Story  of  the  Seven  Sages.    (Fanchatantra.) 

Stot.  [Sw.  stut,  a  bull,  D.  stooten,  to  push, 
to  butt.]  A  young  bullock,  i.e.  one  under  two 
years  old. 

Stoup,  Holy  water.  [A.S.  stoppa.]  In  the 
Latin  Church,  the  holy  water  basin  placed  at 
the  entrance  of  churches. 


Stover.  [O.Fr.  estover,  provisions.]  (Agr.) 
Hay  made  of  sainfoin  and  the  like. 

Stowaway.  One  who,  wishing  to  get  out  of  a 
country,  hides  in  a  vessel  about  to  sail,  hoping 
to  lie  hid  until  it  is  too  late  to  put  back. 

Strabismus.     [Gr.  <rr pa #  10-^65.]    A  squinting. 

Straduarius.    Meton.  for  a  violin.     (Amati.) 

Straight  arch.  (Arch.}  An  arch  of  which  the 
extrados  is  straight,  but  the  joints  of  which  are 
laid  concentrically,  as  in  a  common  arch. 

Strain.  (Phys.)  The  amount  of  elongation, 
compression,  or  distortion  produced  by  the 
action  of  forces  on  a  body. 

Straitness.  Deut.  xxviii. ;  Jer.  xix. ;  scarcity, 
famine. 

Strake.  (Naut.)  A  single  breadth  of  plank 
extending  throughout  a  vessel's  length. 

Strangles.  A  contagious  disorder  of  horses, 
with  cough,  sore  throat,  and  eruption  in  the 
jaw. 

Strangury.  [Gr.  ffrpayyovpia,  o-rpayyw,  I  bind 
tight,  obpov,  urine.]  Painful  discharge  of  urine 
in  small  quantities. 

Strap.    A  band.     (Band.) 

Strappado.  [O.Sp.  estrapada.]  A  military 
punishment,  in  which  the  offender  was  drawn 
to  the  top  of  a  beam,  and  then  allowed  to  fall 
suddenly. 

Strapwork.  (Arch.)  An  ornament  consisting 
of  a  narrow  fillet  or  band  folded,  crossed,  and 
interlaced,  chiefly  found  in  work  of  the  fifteenth 
and  sixteenth  centuries. 

Strass  (from  the  inventor).  A  colourless 
glass,  the  base  of  all  artificial  gems. 

Strategy.  [Gr.  (rrpariiyia,  generalship.'}  The 
science  of  combination  before  reaching  the 
presence  of  an  antagonist,  by  which  an  army 
shall  have  the  advantage  on  coming  into  contact. 

Strath.  [Gael.,  Welsh  ystrad.]  In  Scotland, 
the  name  of  large  valleys  forming  the  water- 
course of  rivers,  after  which  they  are  called. 

Stratigraphy.  [L.  stratus,  spread  out  flat, 
Gr.  ypa.<pa>,  I  write.]  In  Geol.,  that  department 
which  arranges  the  rocks  of  the  earth's  crust  in 
the  order  of  their  appearance,  and  explains  how 
that  sequence  arose. 

Stratus.  [L.,  spread  out  flat.  ~\  A  dense  hori- 
zontal cloud,  commonly  resting  on  the  surface 
of  the  land. 

Stream-anchor.    (Anchors.) 

Stream-cable.     (Cable.) 

Stream  the  buoy.  (Naut.')  Drop  it  over- 
board astern,  so  that  it  may  not  foul  the  buoy- 
rope  as  it  sinks  to  the  bottom. 

Strelitz.  [Russ.]  A  soldier  of  the  ancient 
Muscovite  militia,  which,  as  interfering  with  the 
action  of  the  Imperial  Government,  was  dis- 
solved by  Peter  the  Great,  after  their  revolt  in 
1698.  The  Strelitzy  may  be  compared  with  the 
Janissaries. 

Stress.  (Phys.)  The  force  exerted  between 
contiguous  bodies  or  parts  of  bodies,  and  dis- 
tributed over  the  surfaces  of  contact  of  the  bodies 
between  which  it  acts ;  particularly  the  internal 
force  called  into  play  when  a  body  undergoes 
any  kind  of  strain. 

Stretcher.     I.  (Arch.)    A  stone  or  brick  which 


STRE 


463 


STUR 


lies  with  its  longest  dimensions  parallel  to  the 
length  of  the  wall  (a  header  being  one  at  right 
angles),  the  course  in  which  the  materials  are 
so  laid  being  called  the  stretching  course.  2. 
(Naut.)  Pieces  of  wood  placed  across  the 
bottom  of  a  boat,  for  the  rowers  to  press 
against  with  their  feet. 

Stretching  course.    (Stretcher.) 

Stria.  [L.,  a  groove.}  (Nat.  Hist.)  A  streak. 
Adj.,  Striate,  Striated. 

Striae.  [L.]  (Zool.)  Furrows,  channels,  as 
in  the  striated  whales. 

Striation.  [L.  stria,  a  groove.}  (Geol.)  Parallel 
lines  or  scorings  in  mountains  at  the  sides  of 
valleys  ;  caused  by  the  grinding  against  them 
of  stones,  etc. ,  carried  down  by  glaciers ;  also 
scratchings  on  the  stones  and  boulders. 

Strickle.  An  instrument  to  strike  grain  level 
with  the  top  of  the  measure. 

Stricture.  [L.  strictura,  a  contracting.} 
(Med.)  A  morbid  contraction,  especially  of  the 
urethra  ;  but  also  of  other  mucous  canals,  e.g. 
oesophagus,  intestine. 

Strigae.  [L.,  furrows.]  (Arch.)  The  flu  tings 
of  a  column. 

Strigidae.  [L.  strigem,  owl,  Gr.  ffrpiyt,  from 
ffrplfa,  =  rptfa,  to  screech.}  (Ornith.)  Owls; 
fam.  of  nocturnal  birds  of  prey.  Cosmopolitan. 
Ord.  Acclpltres. 

Strigil.  [L.  strigilis,  from  stringo,  I  scrape.} 
An  instrument  for  scraping  the  skin  at  the 
bath. 

Strike.    (Geol.)    (Dip,  2.) 

Strike,  To.  (Naut.)  1.  To  lower  anything, 
as  a  flag  or  an  upper  mast  (Acts  xxvii.  17).  2.  A 
ship  strikes,  if  she  touches  the  bottom,  however 
slightly. 

Strike.  Part  of  the  machinery  of  trades- 
unions.  When  the  workmen  combine  to  refuse 
work,  it  is  called  a  S.  When  the  masters  re- 
fuse to  allow  them  to  work  unless  certain  terms 
are  agreed  to,  it  is  a  Lockout. 

String-course.  (Arch.)  Any  narrow  course 
of  stone  or  brick  work  in  a  wall,  of  slight  pro- 
jection. 

String-halt,  popularly  Spring-halt.  In  horses, 
a  sudden  catching  up  of  one  or  both  hind  legs. 

Strip  a  mast,  To.    (Naut.)    To  clear  it  of 
rigging- 
Strip  leaf.    Tobacco   leaves  packed  without 
the  stalks. 

Stripped  to  the  girt-line.  (Naut.)  With  all 
the  rigging  and  furniture  off  the  masts. 

Strobile,  Strobil.  [Gr.  <TTp6&l\os,  (i)  anything 
twisted,  (2)  a  fir-cone.}  1.  (Bot.)  A  multiple 
fruit,  as  that  of  the  hop  or  pine,  in  the  form  of 
a  cone.  2.  (Physiol.)  An  individual  producing, 
non-sexually,  individuals  differing  from  itself; 
as  the  tapeworm. 

Strocal.  A  shovel  for  filling  the  boiling  pots 
with  the  materials  for  glass. 

Stroke.  (Mech.)  The  movement  of  the  piston 
of  a  steam-engine  through  the  length  of  the 
cylinder ;  it  is  either  an  up-stroke  or  a  down- 
stroke  :  a  double  stroke — up  and  down — is  a 
revolution. 

Stroma.      [Gr.   ffrp&na,  the  thing  spread,    a 


couch.}     (Anat.)    The  basis  which  supports  the 
active  elements  of  an  organ. 

Strombidae,  Strombus.  [Gr.  a-rpon&os,  spiral 
shell,  ffrpeQw,  I  twist.}  Wing- shells ;  fam.  of 
univalve  molluscs.  Trop.  and  warm  seas. 
Class  Gasteropoda. 

Strong-back.  (Naut.)  1.  I.q.  Samson' s-post 
(q.v.).  2.  A  timber  over  the  windlass  to  clear  it 
of  the  turns  of  a  chain-cable. 

Strontium.  (Min,)  A  yellowish-white  metal 
obtained  from  strontianite  (a  mineral  found  at 
Strontian,  in  Scotland).  Strontia  is  oxide  of 
strontium. 

Strophe.  [Gr.,  a  turning.}  A  division  of  a 
Greek  choral  ode,  answering  roughly  to  our 
stanza.  At  the  end  of  the  strophe  the  singers 
turned  and  went  in  the  other  direction,  singing 
the  antistrophe.  When  the  course  ended  with  a 
single  stanza,  the  latter  was  called  the  epode. 

Strouding.  Coarse  blanketing  for  making 
strouds,  garments  worn  by  N.- American  Indians. 

Struma.  [L.,  the  thing  piled  up,  a  tumour, 
from  struo,  I  pile  up.}  I.q.  scrofula. 

Strumosis  (coined  from  struma).  Formation 
of  tubercle. 

Strut.  (Arch.)  A  piece  of  timber,  some- 
times called  a  brace,  placed  obliquely  at  the  foot 
of  a  King-post  or  Queen-post,  to  support  a  rafter. 

Struthiones.  [L.  struthionem,  ostrich,  used 
as  =  struthio-camelus,  ffrpovdio-Kd/j.r}\os,  bird- 
camel.}  (Ornith.)  An  ord.  of  running-birds, 
unable  to  fly,  R&titae  ;  e.g.  ostrich. 

Struthionidae.  (Struthiones.)  Ostriches;  fam. 
of  birds,  two  gen.  :  Struthio,  Africa ;  Rhea,  S. 
America.  Ord.  Struthiones. 

Strychnos.  [Gr.  ffrpvxvos,  with  the  Greeks, 
nightshade.}  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  tropical  climbing 
shrubs  or  trees,  ord.  Loganiaceae  j  to  which 
belongs  S.  nux  vomica,  a  native  of  India.  Its 
essential  alkaloid  is  strychnine. 

S.T.T.L.    (Sit  tibi  terra  levis.) 

Stub  out,  To.    (Agr.)    (Tiller,  To.) 

Stucco.  [It.]  A  fine  plaster,  used  for  deco- 
rating and  facing  walls. 

Studding-,  or  Stud-,  or  Scudding-  sails.  (Naut. ) 
Those  set  on  the  sides  of  squaresails,  on  a  yard 
and  boom. 

Stufa.  [It.,  hot-house,  steam-bath}  A  jet  of 
steam,  such  as  issues  from  fissures  in  volcanic 
regions,  often  at  a  temperature  above  the  boiling 
point  of  water. 

Stuffing-box.  (Mech.)  A  cylindrical  space 
through  which  a  piston-rod  (or  other  moving 
part)  passes  ;  and  filled  with  a  packing  so  as  to 
allow  the  rod  to  move  freely  and  yet  to  prevent 
the  escape  of  steam  (or  water). 

Stupe.  [L.  stupa,  tow.]  (Med.)  Flax,  cloth, 
tow,  etc.,  dipped  in  hot  medicaments  and  wrung 
out,  for  application  to  a  part  in  pain. 

Sturck,  Sturk.     (Stirk.) 

Sturdy,  or  Oid.  A  disease  of  sheep,  owing  to 
a  hydatid  floating  within  a  membranous  sac,  in 
the  brain,  sometimes  the  size  of  a  nut ;  produced 
by  ova  of  the  tapeworm,  taken  up  in  feeding. 
It  may  be  safely  extracted. 

Sturionidse.  [L.L.  sturiSnem,  the  sturgeon, 
O.E.  styria,  styriga,  Ger.  stor,  Sw.  storia.] 


STUR 


464 


SUBJ 


(fchth)  Gen.  of  fish,  St^trgeons ;  some  spec, 
twelve  to  fifteen  feet  long,  ganoid  plates  on  head, 
and  rows  of  the  same  on  body.  Northern 
regions  ;  they  ascend  rivers  to  spawn.  Fam. 
Acipensendse  [L.  acipenser,  the  sturgeon},  ord. 
Chondrostel,  sub-class  Ganoidel 

Sturnld®.  [L.  sturnus,  starling.}  (Ormth.) 
Starlings ;  fam.  of  birds  peculiar  to  E.  hemi- 
sphere, but  not  found  in  Australian  mainland. 
Ord.  Passeres  (Sturnoid). 

Stygian.   Belonging  to  or  relating  to  the  Styx. 

Style.  [Gr.  <rn»Aos,  a  pillar}  1.  The  gnomon, 
(q.v.)  of  a  sun-dial.  2.  (Bat.)  The  stalk  of  the 
stigma,  an  upward  prolongation  of  the  ovary  ;  it 
is  not  an  essential  part,  and  is  sometimes  absent. 

Style  [L.  stylus,  Gr.  o-rOAos] ;  Change  of  S. ; 
New  S. ;  Old  S.  A  mode  of  reckoning  time.  In 
Old  Style  the  year  began  on  March  25,  and  its 
length  was  reckoned  as  that  of  the  Julian  year, 
viz.  365  days,  with  an  additional  day  every  fourth 
year  ;  in  New  Style  the  year  begins  on  January 
i,  and  its  length  is  reckoned  according  to  the 
Gregorian  reformation,  by  which  three  of  the 
additional  days  are  dropped  out  every  four  hun- 
dred years.  The  Change  of  S.,  i.e.  from  old  to 
new,  was  made  in  England  as  follows :— The 
year  1751,  which  began  on  March  25,  was 
shortened  by  a  quarter,  and  1752  began  on 
January  I  following  ;  the  eleven  days  by  which 
the  Julian  reckoning  had  become  too  long  were 
struck  out  in  September,  1752,  the  days  of  that 
month  being  numbered  consecutively  I,  2,  14, 
15,  etc.  ;  i.e.  the  change  of  style  took  place  after 
September  2,  1752. 

Stylites,  Stylite  saints.  [Gr.  <rrv\(Tw,  from 
<rrv\os,  a  pillar.}  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Pillared  saints, 
that  is,  devotees  who  dwelt  on  the  summits  of 
columns  in  Syria  and  Egypt.  Such  was  Simeon 
Stylites,  in  the  fifth  century. 

Stylobate.  [Gr.  o-Tu\o/3aT7js,  the  foot  of  a 
column}  (Arch}  The  uninterrupted  base  be- 
low the  pedestals  of  a  range  of  columns. 

Styloid.  Shaped  like  a  style  [Gr.  <rr£Aos],  or 
pen. 

Styptic.  [Gr.  orrvirriK^s,  <7Tt5</>o>,  7  contract.} 
(Med.)  Astringent,  stopping  bleeding. 

Stythe.    (Fire-damp.) 

Styx.  [Gr.  <nt£,  horror.}  (Myth.)  One  of 
the  ten  arms  or  branches  of  the  ocean  stream 
which  girdled  the  earth.  It  was  also  said  to  be 
one  of  the  rivers  of  the  unseen  land  of  the  dead. 
(Acheron;  Cocytus ;  Lethe;  Fhlegethon.) 

Sua  si  bona  norint,  felloes.  [L.]  Happy,  if 
only  they  knew  their  own  blessings. 

Suave  rnari  magno.  [L.]  The  first  words  of 
the  opening  of  the  second  book  of  the  Latin  poet 
Lucretius,  De  Rerum  Naturd;  of  which  this  is 
the  general  sense.  "It  is  a  delightful  thing, 
while  the  great  sea  rages,  to  watch  from  the 
land  another  struggling  with  the  waves :  not 
because  this  is  in  itself  a  delight :  yet  it  is  a 
delight  to  watch  calamities  from  which  you  feel 
yourself  safe.  So  to  look  on  a  battle  from  some 
safe  point  of  view.  But  nothing  is  more  delight- 
ful than,  from  some  serene  stronghold  of  know- 
ledge, to  look  down  upon  the  wanderings  and 
errors  of  other  men,  and  their  efforts  after  mere 


wealth  and  power,  rather  than  knowledge  and  a 
quiet  mind." 

Suaviter  in  modo,  fortlter  in  re.  [L.]  Gently 
in  manner,  stoutly  in  action. 

Sub.  [L.,  under.]  1.  In  composition,  is  often  = 
somewhat ;  as  sub-acute  pain,  which  is  less  than 
acute  ;  sub-angular,  as  applied  to  rocks,  etc.  2. 
(Chem.)  Prefixed  to  the  name  of  a  salt,  denotes 
a  decrease  of  the  element  thus  marked  ;  as  a  sub- 
sulphide,  which  contains  less  sulphur  than  the 
sulphide. 

Subacnte  diseases.  Of  which  the  fever  is  less 
than  acute. 

Subaerial.     (Edlian  accumulations.) 

Subahdar.  The  Hindu  name  for  the  governor 
of  a  sitbah  or  province.  In  the  Indian  army  it 
denotes  an  officer  ranking  as  captain  in  European 
companies.  (Nawab.) 

Subaltern.  [L.  subalternus,  sttbordinate.}  1. 
(Mil.)  Any  commissioned  officer  in  the  army 
under  the  rank  of  captain.  2.  (Log.)  Par- 
ticular propositions  in  their  relation  to  Univer- 
sal proposition. 

Subarration.  [L.  sub  arrha,  under  earnest 
money.}  Betrothal  by  the  bestowal  of  marriage 
gifts  or  tokens,  as  rings,  etc.,  upon  the  woman. 

Subchelate.     Somewhat  chelate  (q.v.). 

Subcontrary.  1.  (Geom.)  (i)  Two  similar  tri- 
angles having  one  angle  of  the  one  superimposed 
on  an  equal  angle  of  the  other,  but  so  that  the 
bases  are  not  parallel,  but  are  in  subcontrary 
positions.  (2)  When  an  oblique  cone  has  a  cir- 
cular base,  all  sections  parallel  to  the  base  are 
circular,  and  it  has  also  a  second  set  of  parallel 
circular  sections  ;  any  section  of  the  one  set  is 
subcontrary  to  any  one  of  the  other  set.  2. 
(Log.)  A  term  expressing  the  opposition  be- 
tween two  propositions,  one  of  which  is  a  par- 
ticular affirmative,  the  other  a  particular  negative. 

Subcutaneous.     Under  the  skin  [L.  sub  cute]. 

Subdeacon.  In  the  early  Christian  Church, 
officers  employed  in  subordination  to  the  deacons. 
In  the  Latin  Church  they  were  not  considered  to 
be  in  holy  orders  until  the  thirteenth  century. 
The  office  is  not  retained  in  the  English  Church. 

Sub  dio,  or  Sub  Jove.     [L.]     In  the  open  air. 

Subdominant.  [L.  sub,  under,  dominantem, 
governing.}  (Music.)  The  fifth  below  or  fourth 
above  the  key-note,  either  as  being  the  note  be- 
low the  dominant  or  as  being  a  governing  note, 
but  in  a  less  degree. 

Subduplicate  ratio.  (Math.)  Of  two  numbers, 
the  ratio  of  their  square  roots. 

Subinfeudation.  In  Feud.  Law,  the  creation 
of  a  subordinate  tenancy  by  a  tenant,  to  be  held 
of  himself  and  not  of  the  lord. 

Subject.  [L.  subjectus,  thrown  under.}  (Log.) 
In  a  proposition,  the  term  of  which  anything  is 
affirmed  or  denied,  i.e.  predicated.  (Predicate.) 

Subjective  and  objective.  In  Phil.,  words 
denoting  the  distinction  between  the  person 
forming  the  conception  of  an  object,  and  the 
object  of  which  the  conception  is  formed, — 
in  Sir  W.  Hamilton's  language,  the  former  be- 
longing to  the  Ego,  the  latter  to  the  Non-ego. 

Sub  judice  Us  est.  [L.]  The  matter  is  be/or 
the  judge,  is  undecided  (Horace) 


SUBL 


465 


succ 


Sublapsarians,  or  Infralapsarians.  [L.  sub  or 
infra,  under,  lapsus,  a  fall.]  Most  divines  of  the 
reformed  Churches  have  held  that  God  permitted 
the  fall  of  man  without  absolutely  determining 
it ;  a  doctrine  which  has  been  termed  Sublapsa- 
rian,  in  opposition  to  the  high  Calvinistic  or 
Siipralapsarian  view. 

Sub-lieutenant.     (Bank.) 

Sublimate.  (Chem.)  The  product  of  sublima- 
tion, which  consists  in  raising  [L.  sublimis,  high] 
a  substance  into  vapour  by  heat,  and  then  con- 
densing it.  Corrosive  sublimate  is  mercuric 
chloride. 

Sublime  Porte,     (Seraglio.) 

Sublition.  [L.  sublinere,  to  lay  on  as  a  ground 
colour.]  The  act  of  laying  a  ground  colour 
under  the  more  perfect  colour. 

Sublittoral.  [L.  sub,  littus,  littoris,  the  shore.] 
Under  the  shore. 

Subluxation.  [L.  luxationem,  a  dislocating] 
(Med.)  Partial  dislocation. 

Submarine  forests.  (Geol.)  In  several  places 
along  the  British  coasts  ;  generally  beds  of  peat, 
or  semi-lignite,  with  roots  and  trunks  of  oak, 
Scotch  fir,  alder,  yew,  etc.,  overlain  by  many 
feet  of  marine  silt;  showing  (i)  formation  at  a 
higher  level  than  present  sea-board ;  then  (2) 
submersion ;  and  (3)  re-elevation ;  the  flora  the 
same  as  that  now  existing. 

SnbmentaL  (Med.)  Under  the  chin  [L.  sub 
mento]. 

Submission  of  the  Clergy,  Statute  of,  A.D. 
1534,  embodied  the  S.  made  by  Convocation,  two 
years  before,  that  they  would  promulgate  no  new 
Canon  without  the  king's  licence;  and  their 
desire  for  a  revision  of  existing  Canons  by  thirty- 
two  men,  sixteen  being  taken  from  the  Houses 
of  Parliament,  and  sixteen  being  clergy. 

Subnormal.  [L.  sub,  norma,  a  rule.]  (Math.} 
The  part  of  the  axis  of  a  curve  intercepted  be- 
tween the  ordinate  and  normal  drawn  at  any 
point. 

Subpoena.  [L.,  under  penalty.]  In  Law, 
writs  carrying  penalties  for  neglect.  They 
may  simply  order  the  appearance  of  a  witness, 
or  enjoin  him  to  produce  books  or  papers. 

Subrogation.  [L.  subrogati5nem.]  In  Law, 
the  substitution  of  one  person  for  another  in  the 
exercise  of  rights.  Hence  a  Surrogate. 

Sub  rosa.  [L.,  under  the  rose.]  Secretly, 
confidentially. 

Subsellium,  plu.  Subsellia.  [L.]  (Eccl.  Arch.} 
The  long  seats  in  the  stalls  of  chancels  or  choirs ; 
also  known  as  Misereres. 

Subeidia,  plu.     [L.]    Helps,  aids. 

Subsidy.  [L.  subsidium,  an  aid.]  (Eng.  Hist.} 
An  extraordinary  grant  to  the  sovereign,  made 
by  authority  of  Parliament,  and  levied  on  the 
estates  of  those  who  were  liable  to  them ;  fre- 
quently in  quantity  on  all  goods,  as  a  tenth, 
fifteenth,  etc. ;  sometimes  only  on  particular 
goods,  as  the  ninth  sheep,  lamb,  or  fleece.  In 
course  of  time  the  S.  came  to  be  regarded  as  a 
land  tax. 

Sub  silentio.    [L.,  in  silence.]     Unnoticed. 

Substance.  [L.  substantia,  the  L,  equivalent 
of  Gr.  ovffia,  essence.]  In  Log.,  according  to 


some,  the  collection  or  synthesis  of  attributes. 
(Nominalists;  Realists.) 

Substantive  colours.  Those  which  require  no 
mordant  to  fix  them. 

Subsumption.  [L.  sub,  sumptionem,  a  taking.  ] 
The  act  of  subsuming,  or  including  under  an- 
other. In  Log.,  the  minor  clause  or  premiss  of 
a  Syllogism. 

Subtangent.  [L.  sub,  tangentem,  touching.] 
(Math.)  The  part  of  the  axis  of  a  curve  inter- 
cepted between  the  ordinate  and  tangent  drawn 
at  any  point. 

Subtend.  [L.  subtendo,  I  extend  underneath.] 
(Math.)  If  there  are  three  points — A,  B,  and  C— 
the  angle  between  the  lines  AB  and  AC  is  the 
angle  subtended  at  the  point  A  by  the  line  BC. 

Subtense  of  an  arc.  [L.  subtendo,  /  extend 
underneath.]  Its  chord. 

Subtle  Doctor.    (Doctor.) 

Subtonic,  or  Leading  note.  (Music.)  The  note 
which  is  a  semi-tone  below  the  tonic ,  the  seventh 
in  the  scale,  insensibly  leading  to  and  suggest- 
ing the  tonic,  or  eighth. 

Subulate  leaf.  [L.  subula,  an  awl]  Awl- 
shaped,  narrow  and  tapering  to  a  very  fine 
point ;  e.g.  leaves  of  furze. 

Succades.     [L.  succus,/«zV<?.]     Sweetmeats. 

Succedaneum.  [L.,  a  thing  subsisted.]  In 
dentistry,  an  amalgam  for  the  cavities  of  the 
teeth. 

Succentor.  [L.  sub,  cantor,  a  singer.]  In  a 
cathedral,  deputy  of  precentor ;  originally  the 
leader  of  the  singing  on  the  opposite  side  to 
the  P. 

Succession,  Apostolical.  (TheoL)  The  al- 
leged unbroken  succession  of  priests  in  the 
Church  by  regular  ordination  from  the  apostles 
to  the  present  time.  In  the  theory  of  the  Latin 
Church,  all  bodies  in  which  this  succession  has 
been  broken  have  neither  Church  nor  sacra- 
ments. 

Succession,  War  of  the.  Two  wars  in  modern 
European  history  are  known  by  this  name  :  ( I ) 
that  of  the  Spanish  succession,  1702-13;  (2)  that 
of  the  Austrian  succession,  ended  by  the  Peace 
of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  1748. 

Succession  duty.  A  tax  imposed  on  succes- 
sion to  property,  real  or  personal,  according  to 
its  value  and  to  the  relation  of  the  successor  to 
the  testator  or  predecessor. 

Succinic  acid.  An  acid  obtained  from  amber 
[L.  succmum]. 

Succory.    (Chicory.) 

Succotash.  [N.-Amer.  Ind.  msickquatash, 
corn  boiled  whole.]  Green  maize  and  beans 
boiled  together. 

Succubi.  [L.]  A  term  used  in  the  Middle 
Ages  to  denote  the  female  devils  with  which 
wizards  were  thought  to  have  intercourse,  the 
incubi  being  the  male  devils  to  which  witches 
were  supposed  to  submit  themselves. 

Succursal.  [Fr.  succursale,  L.  succurro,  2 
help]  1.  (Eccl.}  A  church  established  to  succour 
a  parochial  church  ;  in  other  words,  to  serve  as 
a  chapel  of  ease.  2.  A  branch  establishment. 

Succussion.  [L.  succussio,  succutio,  /  shake 
up.]  (Med.}  A  shaking  of  the  patient's  body, 


SUCR 


466 


SUOV 


to  ascertain  by  the  sound  the  existence  of  fluid 
within  the  body. 

Sucrose.     [Fr.  sucre,  sugar.'}    Cane-sugar. 

Suction-chamber  ;S.-pipe;  S.-pump.  (Mech.)  In 
the  Suction-pump  water  is  raised  simply  by  the 
atmospheric  pressure  on  the  water  in  the  well : 
on  the  up-stroke  a  vacuum  is  formed  in  the  barrel 
or  S.-chamber,  into  which  water  is  forced  up  by 
atmospheric  pressure  along  the  S.-pipe;  on  the 
down-stroke  a  valve  at  the  top  of  the  suction- 
pipe  prevents  the  water  from  running  back  into 
the  well ;  it  therefore  forces  its  way  through  a 
valve  in  the  piston  into  the  space  above,  and  at 
the  next  stroke  is  lifted  to  the  spout. 

Siidanrina  [L.,  sweatings,  coined  from  sudo,  / 
sweat],  or  Miliary  eruption  [milium,  millet  seed}. 
(Med.)  Vesicular  disorder  of  the  skin,  caused  by 
copious  perspiration. 

Sudder.  [Hind,  sudr,  eminence.'}  A  term 
applied  in  India  chiefly  to  courts  of  high  criminal 
and  civil  jurisdiction,  called  Sudder  adawlut. 

Sudra.    (Caste.) 

Suffetes.  (Hist.)  The  highest  magistrates 
of  the  Carthaginian  republic,  answering  in 
name  to  the  Hebrew  shofetim,  judges. 

Suffix.     (Affix.) 

Suffragan.  [L.  suffragium,  a  vote.}  (Eccl.)  1. 
The  bishop  of  a  diocese  in  reference  to  his 
metropolitan.  2.  The  term  is  also  applied 
to  bishops  appointed  to  assist  a  bishop  in  his 
diocese.  (Chorepiscopus.) 

Suffrage.  [L.  suffragium.]  A  vote  given  in 
deciding  some  disputed  question,  in  election  to 
some  office,  etc.  Suffrages,  in  public  worship, 
versicles  with  their  responses  ;  as  in  the  Litany, 
and  after  the  Creed  in  Morning  and  Evening 
Prayer,  and  elsewhere. 

Suffraginous.  Belonging  to  the  knee-joint 
[L.  suffragmem]  of  a  beast. 

Sufi.     (Soofis.) 

Sufism.  A  kind  of  mysticism,  within  the 
Mohammedan  communion ;  the  sufl  being  a 
kind  of  superior  fakir  [Ar.  soufi,  wise,  re- 
ligious ;  (?)  souf,  wool,  i.e.  not  silk  for  gar- 
ments ;  or  (?)  cf.  <ro<i>6s,  clever,  skilled  (Littre)]. 
During  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries 
Persia  was  governed  by  a  dynasty  of  Sophis, 
Sufis,  or  Soofis. 

Sugar  of  lead.  Acetate  of  lead  (from  its  taste). 

Suggestio  falsi.  [L.]  The  suggestion  of  a 
falsehood  without  actually  putting  it  into  words. 
(Suppressio  veri.) 

Suggillation.  [L.  sugillo,  /  beat  black  and 
blue.]  (Med.)  A  black-and-blue  mark,  bruise. 

Sui  generis.  [L. ,  of  its  own  kind.  ]  Peculiar, 
rare. 

Suktas.    (Veda.) 

Sulcus.  [L.,  a  furrow.]  (Anat.)  A  groove 
on  the  surface  of  a  bone. 

Sulky.  A  light  two-wheeled  carriage  for  one 
person  alone. 

Sulphur.  [L.  sulfur.]  A  brittle  yellow  in- 
flammable element.  Its  compounds  with  another 
element  are  called  sulphides  or  sulphurets. 

Sulphuric  acid  contains  one  equivalent  of 
sulphur  to  three  of  oxygen,  and  forms  salts 
called  sulphates. 


Sulphurous  acid  contains  one  equivalent  of 
sulphur  to  two  of  oxygen,  and  forms  salts  called 
sulphites. 

Sulphur  showers  are  composed  of  yellow 
pollen  blown  from  pine-forests. 

Sultan.  [Ar.]  A  title  of  many  Mohammedan 
princes,  the  Grand  Sultan  being  called  Padishah. 

Sum  [L.  summa,  the  total]-,  Algebraical  8. 
The  result  of  adding  together  two  or  more 
numbers.  In  forming  the  Algebraical  sum  of 
several  numbers,  each  has  its  proper  sign  pre- 
•fixed,  whether  positive  or  negative ;  the  difference 
is  then  found  between  the  arithmetical  sum  of 
the  positive  numbers  and  that  of  the  negative 
numbers,  and  this  difference,  with  the  positive  or 
negative  sign  prefixed,  is  the  required  algebraical 
sum  ;  thus  the  algebraical  sum  of  7  —  10  —  1 1  4- 
22  —  31  is  —23.  This  generalized  use  of  the 
word  sum  is  of  great  importance  in  the  enuncia- 
tion of  general  theorems. 

Summa  theologies.  [L.,  the  sum  of  theology.'} 
As  encyclopaedic  treatise  on  theology,  drawn  up 
by  Thomas  Aquinas,  the  Angelic  Doctor,  whose 
followers  were  known  as  Thomists. 

Summum  bonum.     [L.]     The  chief  good. 

Summum  jus,  summa  injuria.  [L.]  The  strictest 
/aw  may  cause  the  worst  injury  j  lit.  highest 
right,  highest  wrong. 

Sumner.    (Sompnour.) 

Sump.  [Ger.  sumpf,  a  swamp.]  1.  A  pit  at  the 
bottom  of  a  mine  for  collecting  the  water  to  be 
pumped  out.  2.  A  round  stone-pit  lined  with 
clay  for  receiving  metal  at  its  first  fusion. 

Sumpsimus.     (Mumpsimus.) 

Sumpter.  [Fr.  sommier,  from  somme,  saume, 
salma,  sagma,  Gr.  aayp.a,  pack,  pack-saddle.]  A 
pack-horse,  mule,  etc. 

Sumpter-mule.  (Mil.)  Carries  provisions  for 
troops  on  the  march. 

Sumptuary  laws.  Laws  designed  to  restrain 
the  expenditure  of  citizens.  JSo  such  laws  re- 
main in  this  country.  The  S.  L.  regulating  the 
wages  of  labour  and  the  dress  of  the  peasantry 
held  their  ground  longest. 

Sun  and  planet  wheel.  (Meek.)  A  combina- 
tion for  converting  the  reciprocating  motion  of 
the  beam  of  the  steam-engine  into  the  circular 
motion  of  the  fly-wheel.  The  sun-wheel  is  on 
the  axle  of  the  fly-wheel,  the  planet-wheel  on 
the  connecting  rod,  the  teeth  of  the  former 
working  with  those  of  the  latter  j  and  their 
centres  are  connected  by  a  link  to  prevent  dis- 
placement. 

Sundew.     (Drosera.) 

Suni.     (Sonnites.) 

Sunn.  An  E.-Indian  hemp,  called  also  brown 
or  Madras  hemp. 

Sunniah.     (Shiahs.) 

Sunnites.  [Ar.  sunna,  ctistom.]  So  called  as 
assigning  equal  authority  with  the  Coran  to 
tradition,  which  was  first  unwritten,  the  Shiahs, 
or  Shiites,  upholding  the  exclusive  authority  of 
the  Coran. 

Sunt  lacrymee  rerum,  et  mentem  mortalia 
tangunt.  [L.]  Life  has  its  sorrows,  and  the 
heart  is  totiched  by  our  (common)  mortality. 

Suovetaurllia.     [L.]     In  Rom.  Hist.,  a  quin- 


SUPE 


467 


SURV 


quennial  sacrifice,  consisting  of  a  sow  [sus],  a 
sheep  [ovis],  and  a  bull  [taurusj. 

Super  altar.     (Ketable.) 

Supercargo.  In  a  merchant-ship,  the  officer 
superintending  the  commercial  transactions  of 
the  voyage. 

Superciliary.  (Anat.)  Pertaining  to  the  eye- 
brow [L.  siipercilium]. 

Supererogation.  [L.  supererogare,  to  pay  over 
and  above.]  Properly,  a  donation  to  soldiers 
above  their  pay.  The  Latin  Church  maintains 
that  all  good  works  done  by  holy  men  over  and 
beyond  the  standard  necessary  to  be  reached 
for  their  own  salvation,  pass  into  a  common 
treasury,  and  become  profitable  to  those  who 
are  less  advanced. 

Superfetation.  [L.  foetus,  offspring.]  (Med.) 
Coexistence  of  two  foetuses,  of  different  ages. 

Superior  planet.     (Planet.) 

Supernaculum.  A  monkish  word,  composed 
of  L.  super,  above,  or  on,  and  Ger.  nagel,  a  nail ; 
used  by  topers  to  denote  a  practice  in  drinking, 
which  showed  that  the  vessel  was  completely 
drained  out. 

Supernatant  part  of  a  ship.    (Dead- works.) 

Superphosphate.  [L.  super,  over,  and  phos- 
phate.] (Chem.)  A  phosphate  containing  the 
greatest  possible  amount  of  phosphoric  acid. 
S.  of  lime  is  a  manure  made  by  treating  ground 
bones,  etc.,  with  phosphoric  acid. 

Supinator  muscles.     (Fronator  muscles.) 

Supines.  [L.  supmus,  on  the  back.]  In  Gram., 
a  name  denoting  two  cases  of  verbal  nouns,  the 
accusative  expressing  a  purpose,  the  ablative 
describing  a  mode. 

Supplejack.  A  walking-cane  made  from  an 
American  plant. 

Supplication  of  Beggars.  By  Fish,  lawyer  of 
Gray's  Inn,  1528;  i.e.  S.  of  lepers  and  other 
sick,  that  the  money  wasted  in  monasteries  may 
be  spent  upon  them  ;  a  most  outspoken  satire 
upon  the  old  doctrines,  especially  purgatory. 
Answered  by  Sir  T.  More's  Supplication  of  Souls  ; 
i.e.  S.  that  Christian  people  would  not  leave  off 
praying  for  them  ;  denying  the  truth  of  the 
attack,  and  endeavouring  to  establish  the 
doctrine. 

Supporters.  (Her.)  Figures  standing  on  the 
scroll,  placed  on  each  side  of  the  shield,  as  if  to 
support  it. 

Suppository.  [L.  suppositorius,  placed  under- 
neath.] (Med.]  Solid  medicine  for  introduction 
into  the  body  otherwise  than  at  the  mouth. 

Suppressio  veri.  [L.]  The  suppression  of 
truth.  When  it  is  combined  with  the  Suggestio 
falsi,  oratory  has  reached  its  worst  form. 

Supralapsarians.     (Sublapsarians.) 

Supranaturalists.  [L.  supra,  above,  natura, 
nature.]  A  term  used  in  Germany  to  distin- 
guish those  who  are  opposed  to  the  Rationalists  ; 
i.e.  to  those  who  exclude  all  supernatural  opera- 
tions or  manifestations  in  religion. 

Suprarenal.  (Med.]  Above  the  kidneys  [L. 
renes]  ;  Surrenal,  below  them. 

Supremacy,  Act  of,  A.D.  1534,  26  Henry 
VIII.,  declared  the  king  "the  only  supreme  head 
on  earth  of  the  Church  of  England,"  compelling 


beneficed  ecclesiastics,  and  laymen  holding  office 
under  the  Crown,  to  abjure  the  spiritual  as  well 
as  the  temporal  jurisdiction  of  Rome. 

Supremacy,  Oath  of.  An  oath  denying  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  pope  in  this  country. 

Supremacy,  Papal.  The  theory  that  the 
Bishop  of  Rome  has  an  inherent  jurisdiction  over 
all  powers  ecclesiastical  and  laic. 

Supremacy,  Royal.  In  Eng.  Hist.,  a  term 
used  to  denote  the  authority  of  the  Crown  over 
all  causes  and  persons  ecclesiastical,  and  thus  to 
deny  the  right  of  any  foreign  jurisdiction,  as  that 
of  the  pope,  within  the  realm. 

Suras.  The  Arabic  name  for  the  chapters  of 
the  Goran,  each  sura  being  held  to  be  sepa- 
rately revealed. 

Sural.  (Anat.)  Pertaining  to  the  calf  [L. 
sura]  of  the  leg. 

Surbase.  (Arch.)  The  cornice  of  the 
Dado. 

Surcingle.  [O.E.  sursengle,  O.Fr.  sursangle, 
from  L.  super,  over,  cingulum,  a  girdle.]  1.  A 
girth  which  passes  over  any  thing  laid  on  a  horse's 
back,  to  secure  it.  2.  (EccL)  The  girdle  or 
waistband  of  a  cassock. 

Surcoat.  [Fr.  sur,  over,  and  coat.]  A  silk 
overcoat,  to  protect  a  knight's  armour. 

Surculation.  [L.  surculus,  a  shoot.]  The  art 
or  act  of  pruning. 

Surd.  [L.,  surdus,  deaf.]  A  root  which  can- 
not be  expressed  as  a  commensurable  number ; 
as,  J2. 

Surface  of  revolution.  (Math.)  The  surface 
of  the  solid  space  traced  out  by  the  revolution  of 
a  plane  area  round  an  axis  in  its  plane ;  as  a 
cone  by  a  right-angled  triangle  revolving  round 
its  perpendicular ;  an  anchor-ring  by  a  circle, 
round  an  axis  which  does  not  cut  it,  etc. 

Surmounted.  (Arch.)  Said  of  an  arch  or  door 
rising  higher  than  a  semicircle. 

Surplusage.  1.  In  Law,  matter  irrelevant  to 
a  case.  2.  In  disbursements,  not  explained  by 
the  returns  of  the  accountant. 

Surrenal.     (Suprarenal.) 

Surrogate.     (Subrogation.) 

Sursum  corda.  [L.]  These  Latin  words  are 
translated  in  the  English  Communion  Office  by 
the  words,  "  Lift  up  your  hearts." 

Surveillance.  [Fr.,  from  L.  super,  and 
vigilare,  to  watch.]  Inspection,  watching. 

Survey;  Trigonometrical  S.  The  determina- 
tion of  the  relative  positions  of  the  remarkable 
points  in  a  tract  of  ground,  the  situation  of 
buildings,  direction  of  roads  and  streams, 
boundaries  of  woods,  fields,  etc.,  and  the 
delineation  of  their  projection  on  a  horizontal 
plane.  In  a  Trigonometrical  S.  the  relative 
positions  of  the  principal  points  of  a  large  tract 
of  country  are  determined  by  applying  the  rules 
of  trigonometry  to  calculate  their  mutual  distances 
by  means  of  accurately  observed  angles,  and 
a  measured  base.  (Cadastral  survey  ;  Geodesic 
line;  Triangulation.) 

Survival  of  the  fittest.  In  the  Darwinian 
philosophy,  the  permanence,  arising  from 
natural  selection,  of  certain  types  of  animal  and 
vegetable  life  ;  while  others  die  out  to  whose 


SURV 


468 


SYCA 


continued  existence  surrounding  circumstances 
are  unfavourable. 

Survivorship.  In  life  annuities,  a  reversionary 
benefit  contingent  on  some  life  surviving  some 
other  life  or  lives,  or  on  lives  falling  according 
to  some  assigned  order. 

Sus  Minervam.  [L.]  A  pig  (teaching) 
Minerva. 

Suspending  power.  A  power  claimed  by 
Charles  II.  as  inherent  in  the  Crown,  and  used 
for  mitigating  the  severity  of  the  Act  of  Uni- 
formity, 1663. 

Suspension.  [L.  suspensionem.J  (Eccl)  The 
withdrawal  from  the  incumbent  of  the  tempora- 
lities of  his  benefice,  and  of  the  right  of  exercis- 
ing his  spiritual  office,  for  offences  of  which  he 
may  have  been  found  guilty  by  an  ecclesiastical 
court. 

Suspension  bridge.  A  bridge  in  which  the 
roadway  is  suspended  by  rods  from  strong  chains 
resting  on  piers  of  masonry,  and  having  their 
ends  firmly  fixed  in  the  earth. 

Sussex  marble.  Petworth  marble,  a  fresh- 
water shell  (Paludina)  limestone ;  Wealden  (q.v.). 

Susurration.  [L.  susurrare,  to  whisper.}  A 
soft  murmur,  whispering. 

Sutler.  [Ger.  sudler,  a  dabbler,  daub.\  (Mil.) 
Camp-follower  who  provides  troops  with  eat- 
ables and  drinkables. 

Sutra.    (Veda.) 

Suttee  (more  properly  Sati,  akin  to  Skt.  sacti, 
holy).  A  term  applied  to  Hindu  widows,  who 
submitted  to  be  burnt  with  the  bodies  of  their 
husbands.  The  custom,  which  has  long  been 
abolished  in  all  English  territory,  has  been  proved 
to  rest  on  a  mistranslation,  probably  designed, 
of  a  verse  in  the  Rig  Veda.  (Sacti.) 

Suture.  [L.  sutura,  a  stitching.}  1.  (Surg.) 
The  stitching  of  a  wound.  2.  (Anat.)  Articu- 
lation of  bones,  e.g.  those  of  the  skull,  by  inden- 
tation, or  serrated  margins. 

Suum  cuique  tribuito.  [L.]  Give  each  man 
his  own. 

Swage.    A  tool  used  in  shaping  metal-work. 

Swainmote,  Sweinmote.  In  Eng.  forest  law, 
a  court  held,  before  the  verderers  as  judges,  by 
the  steward  of  the  court,  three  times  a  year. 

Swan.  [Heb.  tinshemeth  (Lev.  xi.  18).]  (Bibl.) 
Probably  the  purple  water-hen  (Porphyrio  anti- 
quorum),  or  the  sacred  ibis  (q.v.). 

Swarga.  In  Hind.  Myth.,  the  heaven  of 
Indra. 

Swash-buckler.  A  braggadocio,  or  bully.  To 
swash  is  to  strike  hard  ;  cf.  sway,  swagger. 

Swastika.  The  mystic  Cross  of  four  L's,  or 
reversed  Z's,  found  as  a  mark  on  porcelain  and 
pottery,  and  otherwise,  from  China  to  Peru. 

Swath,  Swathe.  [A.S.  swaSu.]  (Agr.)  A 
row  of  mown  grass,  or  corn. 

Sweating  sickness,  Sudor  Anglicus,  Upheme'ra 
sudatoria  or  maligna.  Sudden  violent  fever, 
with  nausea,  thirst,  delirium  (?  a  modification  of 
Plague) ;  very  fatal,  and  frequently  within  three 
or  four  hours ;  end  of  the  fifteenth  and  begin- 
ning of  the  sixteenth  centuries ;  said  to  have 
first  appeared  with  the  landing  of  the  Earl  of 
Richmond's  army,  Milford  Haven,  A.D.  1485. 


Swedenborgians.  Those  who  adopt  the  mys- 
tical theology  of  Swedenborg,  a  Swedish  noble- 
man, who  died  in  London  in  1772.  They  also 
call  themselves  the  New  Church,  and  the  New 
Jerusalem  Church. 

Sweep.  A  movable  template  for  making 
moulds  in  sand,  etc. 

Sweeps.     (Naut.)     Large  oars  used  for  ships. 

Sweep-washing.  Extracting  the  residuum  of 
precious  metal  from  the  sweepings,  etc.,  of  gold 
or  silver  refineries. 

Sweet-bread.     (Thymus  gland.) 

Sweet-flag.     (Calamus.) 

Sweet-gale.    (Myrica.) 

Sweinmote.    (Swainmote.) 

Swerga.    (Swarga.) 

Swift,  To.  (Naut.)  1.  To  tighten  the  shrouds 
by  drawing  the  port  and  starboard  shrouds  in- 
board with  a  strong  tackle  fastened  about  eight 
feet  up  them.  2.  To  pass  a  rope  over  the  ends 
of  all  the  capstan  bars,  and  haul  it  taut.  To  S. 
a  ship,  (i)  to  pass  cables  round  her ;  (2)  to 
bring  her  aground,  or  careen  her. 

Swifters.  (Naut. )  The  first  pair  of  shrouds  ; 
not  confined,  as  the  rest  are,  to  cat-harpings 
(q.v.). 

Swine-stone.     (Stink-stone.) 

Swingle.  [Ger.  schwengel,  a  swing-beam.} 
1.  A  long  knife-shaped  piece  of  wood  for  beat- 
ing flax  so  as  to  separate  the  coarse  part  or 
swingling  tow.  2.  The  part  of  a  flail  which 
strikes  the  grain. 

Swingletree.    (Singletree.) 

Switch,  or  Point.  (Mech.)  A  movable  rail 
of  the  same  dimensions  as  an  ordinary  rail,  but 
tapering  off  at  one  end  ;  by  means  of  a  pair  of 
switches  the  direction  of  the  motion  of  a  train 
can  be  changed,  and  the  train  transferred  from 
one  pair  of  rails  to  another. 

Swivel.  (Mech.)  A  piece  fastened  to  another 
body  by  a  pin,  so  as  to  turn  round  freely  though 
the  body  is  fixed. 

Swivel-gun.  ( Mil. )  Turning  on  a  pivot,  and 
thus  occupying  little  space  ;  used  in  the  bow  or 
stern  on  board  ship  or  in  boats. 

Sword,  Order  of  the.  A  Swedish  order  of 
knighthood,  instituted  by  Gustavus  Vasa. 

Swordfish.  (Ichth.)  Gen.  and  spec,  of  sea-fish, 
ten  or  twelve  feet  long,  and  sometimes  longer ; 
bluish-black  back,  silvery  belly,  upper  jaw 
elongated  into  swordlike  form,  nearly  a  third 
of  whole  length.  Mediterranean,  and  between 
tropics ;  one  spec,  has  been  found  off  Britain 
and  northward.  Fam.  Xiphndse,  ord.  Acantho- 
ptgrygii,  sub-class  Tele'ostei. 

Sword  of  State,  The  sword  with  which  the 
English  sovereign  is  girt  at  his  coronation,  the 
three  swords  carried  before  him  being  the  Cur- 
tana,  or  pointless  sword  of  mercy,  and  the 
swords  of  spiritual  and  temporal  justice. 

Suzerain.    (Feudal  system.) 

Sybarite.  [Gr.  2uj8apfT7js.]  1.  Properly  an 
inhabitant  of  Sybaris,  a  Greek  colony  on  the 
Tarentine  gulf,  in  Italy,  which  isj  said  to  have 
become  enfeebled  by  luxury.  Hence,  2,  any 
voluptuary. 

Sycamine.     [Gr.  eri/Ka^os.]    Luke  xvii.  6;  a 


SYCO 


469 


SYN^E 


mulberry,  both  black  and  while,  MSrus  nigra  and 
alba,  being  common  in  Palestine  ;  the  Mulberry 
of  2  Sam.  v.  23  being  (?)  a  kind  of  balsam ;  or 
(?)  aspen ;  or,  (?)  according  to  LXX. ,  pear  tree. 
Sycomore.  [Gr.  avKa^opfa.]  I  Chron.  xxvii. 
28  ;  Ps.  Ixxviii.  47  ;  not  our  S.,  but  the  fig- 
mulberry  (Ficus  sycamorus),  a  fig  tree,  allied  to 
the  banyan  ;  valuable  evergreen  timber  tree, 
yielding  a  small  sweet  fig. 

Sycophant.  [Gr.  <TvKo<f>a.vn\s,  said  to  be  from 
ffvKov,  a  Jig,  and  (palvw,  I  disclose]  1.  This 
word  was  said  to  denote  one  who  at  Athens 
gave  information  against  those  who  exported  figs 
in  defiance  of  the  law  which  forbade  it.  Hence, 
2,  informers  or  false  accusers  generally.  From 
their  cringing  demeanour  the  word  has  now 
come  to  denote,  3,  mean  flatterers. 

Syenite.  (Geol.)  A  granitic  rock,  quartz  + 
felspar  +  hornblende.  Syene,  Upper  Egypt. 

Syllabarium.  A  table  of  the  indivisible  syl- 
labic symbols  used  in  the  Japanese  and  other 
languages  instead  of  letters. 

Syllepsis.  [Gr.  <ru\\Tj\|/ty,  a  taking  together.} 
(Gram.)  The  agreement  of  an  adjective  with 
the  gender  of  one  only  of  two  nouns  with  which 
it  is  linked. 

SyllSgism.  [Gr.  <rv\\oyiff/j.6s,  a  gathering 
together]  (Log.)  An  argument  stated  in  the 
form  of  three  Propositions,  the  conclusion  fol- 
lowing necessarily  from  the  two  Premisses 
(Whately)  ;  the  general  proposition  being  in 
accordance  with  facts,  and  the  minor  premiss 
stating  some  point  of  agreement  or  difference 
ascertained  by  actual  search  (Mill). 

Sylph.  [Gr.  <ri\<p"n,  an  insect  or  grub.]  The 
Bosicrucian  term  for  spirits  of  the  air. 

Sylva,  Evelyn's,  A  Discourse  of  Forest  Trees, 
etc.,  published  1664.  A  treatise  by  John  Evelyn, 
of  Wotton,  scholar,  philosopher,  author,  and  a 
very  perfect  country  gentleman  (1620-1706)  ; 
one  of  the  founders  of  gardening,  etc. ;  to  which, 
and  to  his  example,  this  country  is  indebted  for 
its  fine  abundant  timber. 

SylviidsB.  [L.  silva,  woodland.]  (Ornith.) 
Warblers ;  large  fam.  of  small  birds,  as  hedge- 
sparrow,  nightingale,  golden-crested  wren. 
Universally  distributed,  except  south-west  of 
S.  America.  Ord.  Passeres. 

Symbol.  [Gr.  av/j.&o\ov,  a  sign.]  (Math.)  A 
note  or  character  indicating  a  quantity  or  opera- 
tion ;  thus,  in  a  +  b  the  characters  a  and  b 
denote  quantities,  the  note  +  an  operation,  viz. 
the  addition  of  the  quantities. 

Symbolism.  [Gr.  ffv^o\ov.]  The  system 
which  found  a  symbolical  meaning  in  every  part 
of  the  ecclesiastical  ritual  and  architecture. — 
Didron,  Iconographie  Chretienne  ;  Durandus, 
Rationale  Divinorum  Officiorum. 

Symbolum.  [Gr.  ov^oKov,  a  sign,  or  mark.] 
1.  A  treaty  or  agreement.  Hence  a  profession 
of  faith,  or  creed,  especially  the  Apostles' Creed, 
to  which  the  story  related  by  Rufinus  says  that 
each  of  the  apostles  contributed  [<rv/j.ftd\\6iv,  to 
throw  together]  a  proposition.  2.  Any  outward 
sign  or  emblem.  Hence  the  elements  in  the 
Eucharist  are  so  called,  as  representing  the 
body  and  blood  of  Christ. 


Symmetry.  [Gr.  o-uju/terp/o.]  1.  (G'eom.)  A 
:urve  is  symmetrical  to  an  axis  when  all  straight 
lines  at  right  angles  to  the  axis  which  meet  the 
curve  in  one  point  meet  it  also  in  a  second,  and 
he  two  points  are  equally  distant  from  the  axis 
but  on  opposite  sides  of  it ;  so  of  a  surface  with 
reference  to  a  plane,  etc.  2.  Algebraic  expres- 
sions are  symmetrical  when  one  can  be  derived 
from  another  by  interchange  of  letters ;  as, 
be  —  a?,  ca  —  t>2,  ab  —  c2,  where  the  second  is 
derived  from  the  first  by  interchanging  a  and  b, 
and  the  third  from  the  second  by  interchanging 
b  and  c.  3.  In  crystals,  if  one  of  the  faces  have 
given  parameters,  other  faces  will  occur  having 
equal  parameters  differently  arranged,  and  it 
may  be  with  one  or  more  of  their  signs  changed  : 
such  faces  are  symmetrical. 

Sympathetic  ink.  An  ink,  the  writing  in 
which  is  invisible  till  warmed  or  treated  with 
chemicals. 

Sympathetic  system,  or  Ganglionic.  One  of 
ganglionic  centres  and  nerve-trunks,  scattered 
through  different  parts  of  the  body,  but  mutually 
connected  with  each  other ;  the  principal  centres 
being  two  great  semilunar  "ganglia"  in  the 
abdominal  cavity  near  the  spine,  from  which  the 
solar  plexus,  a  series  of  trunks  and  branches,  is 
distributed  to  the  muscular  walls  of  the  intes- 
tinal canal  and  the  various  glandular  organs 
connected  with  it.  (Vide  Carpenter's  Mental 
Physiology,  p.  125.) 

Sympathetic  tone;  S.  vibration.  (Music.} 
When  a  portion  of  the  atmosphere  is  in  such  a 
state  of  vibration  as  to  transmit  a  loud  sound, 
and  there  is  within  it  a  chord  (or  other  body) 
capable  of  vibrating  either  accurately  or  very 
nearly  so  with  the  same  frequency,  the  chord 
or  body  makes  S.  vibrations  and  produces  a 
S.  tone. 

Sympathy  of  clocks.  When  two  clocks  are 
placed  near  each  other,  and  rest  in  some  degree 
on  the  same  support,  they  will  sometimes  keep 
time  together  for  several  days  without  varying  a 
second,  though  they  might  have  differed  con- 
siderably if  otherwise  situated  ;  the  fact  that  the 
vibrations  of  the  pendulums  control  each  other 
is  the  sympathy  of  the  clocks. 

Sympiesometer.  [Gr.  o'v/j.-irifffis,  a  pressing 
together,  fierpov,  measure.]  An  instrument  for 
showing  the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere,  in 
which  the  movements  showing  the  variations  of 
pressure  have  a  much  wider  range  than  in  the 
mercurial  barometer.  It  consists  of  a  bent  glass 
tube  about  eighteen  inches  long,  with  a  chamber 
at  top  containing  air,  and  an  open  cistern  below 
containing  glycerine  or  sulphuric  acid ;  it  is 
graduated  by  comparison  with  a  standard  baro- 
meter. It  is  very  quick  in  its  indications,  and 
portable,  but  not  suited  for  exact  observation. 

Symposiarch.  [Gr.  (rvfjuroa'iapxos,  from  arvfjurd- 
aiov,  a  drinking  together,  and  &pxu)  I  rule]  In 
ancient  usage,  the  master  of  a  feast,  sometimes 
called  Basileus,  and  Architriklmos  (John  ii.  8). 

Synaeresis.  [Gr.  owofpctro,  a  taking  together, .] 
In  Gram.,  the  contraction  of  two  syllables  into 
one  by  the  formation  of  a  diphthong.  Called  also 
Crasis  [a  mingling],  (Metaplasm.) 


SYNA 


470 


SYSS 


Synallagmatic.  [Gr.  ffvva\\ay^ariK6s.]  Ef- 
fected by  mutual  contract;  entailing  mutual 
obligation. 

Synakepha.  [Gr.  avvaXoiQ-h,  a-  melting  to- 
gether.] In  Gr.  and  L.  prosody,  the  running  of 
the  last  syllable  of  a  word  ending  with  a  vowel 
into  the  first  syllable  of  the  next  also  beginning 
with  a  vowel. 

Synaxis.  [Gr.  <rvva£is,  an  assembly.]  1.  The 
assembling  of  Christian  persons  for  the  reception 
of  the  Holy  Communion ;  and  so,  2,  the  Holy 
Communion  itself. 

Syncarpous  fruit.  [Gr.  crvv,  together,  KapirSs, 
fruit]  (Bot.)  Having  the  carpels  united  into 
an  undivided  body^ ;  e.g.  orange. 

Syncategorematic.  [Gr.  ffvyKar-nyopij/ji.aTiK6s.} 
In  Log. ,  words  which  form  only  part  of  a  term. 
Such  are  adverbs,  prepositions,  and  nouns  in  the 
oblique  cases. 

Synchronism.  [Gr.  <rvv,  together,  xpcWs, 
time.}  A  representation  in  one  picture  of  events 
occurring  at  different  times. 

Synchronize.  [Gr.  awxpovifa,  I  am  contem- 
porary with]  To  happen  at  the  same  point  or 
duration  of  time.  Thus  the  Reformation  syn- 
chronized with  the  revival  of  learning. 

Synchysis.  [Gr.  avyxvffis>  from  a"6v,  with, 
and  x«">  /  pour.}  A  confusion,  as  of  humours 
in  the  eye,  or  of  words  in  a  sentence. 

Synclinal.     (Anticlinal  line.) 

Syncopation.  [Gr.  <rvyKOTr'f),  a  cutting  up.] 
In  Music,  an  irregularity  of  rhythm,  by  which 
the  last  note  of  one  bar  is  tied  to  the  first  of  the 
next ;  the  occurrence  of  accented  notes  in  an 
unaccented  part  of  the  bar.  (Driving  notes.) 

Syncope  [Gr.  avyKoiri),  swoon},  or  Tainting 
fit.  1.  (Med.)  Temporary  arrest  or  diminution 
of  the  circulation  of  the  blood,  with  suspension 
of  the  breathing  and  of  the  functions  of  the 
nervous  system.  2.  In  Gr.,  Metaplasm. 

Syncretism.  [Gr.  <rvyKpT)Tur/j.6s.}  The  blend- 
ing of  the  opinions  of  different  philosophical 
schools  into  one  system.  The  party  of  Pico 
della  Mirandola,  Bessarion,  and  others  in  the 
time  of  the  Renaissance,  are  called  Syncretists ;  a 
name  which  is  also  given,  in  Eccl.  Hist.,  to  the 
followers  of  George  Calixtus,  who,  in  the  six- 
teenth century,  tried  to  form  a  scheme  for  uniting 
all  bodies  of  Christians.  ' 

Syncretists.    (Syncretism.) 

Syndesmosis.  [Gr.  <rt}v5eer/*oj,  a  bond.]  (Surg.) 
The  union  of  one  bone  with  another  by  a 
ligament  [(rrfj/Seoyios]. 

Syndic.  [Gr.  (7ifi/5r«:os,  from  8//oj,  justice.]  A 
title  often  given  to  municipal  and  other  officers, 
as  the  syndics  of  cities  in  Provence  and  Lan- 
guedoc,  who  acted  as  agents  of  the  munici- 
pality. 

Syndicate.  To  S.  a  commercial  project  is  to 
place  the  affairs  under  the  management  of  a 
committee. 

Synecdoche.  [Gr.]  (Rhet.)  The  putting  of 
the  whole  for  a  part,  or  of  a  part  for  the  whole 
(Trope.) 

Syneidesis.    (Synteresis.) 

Synergists.  [Gr.  avvepyds,  working  together] 
A  Lutheran  party  of  the  sixteenth  century,  which 


asserted  the  need  of  the  co-operation  of  the 
human  will  to  render  divine  grace  effectual. 
(Pelagians.) 

Syngenesia.  [Gr.  <rvv,  together,  yevevts,  origin.} 
In  the  Linnsean  system,  class  xix.,  and  coexten- 
sive with  Compositae. 

Synizesis.  [Gr.  ffwlfyo-ts,  a  settlement^  as 
of  a  building  on  the  ground.]  1,  In  Gr.,  the 
melting  of  two  vowels  into  one.  2.  (Med.)  A 
term  applied  to  the  obliteration  of  the  pupil  of 
the  eye. 

Synochus,  Synocha.  With  older  medical 
writers,  inflammatory  fever,  which  is  continuous 
[Gr.  ffvvoxos}. 

Synod.  [Gr.  ffvvatios,  an  assembly.]  A  general 
term  for  meetings  of  ecclesiastical  persons. 

Synodals.  1.  A  small  payment  from  the  clergy 
to  the  bishop,  sometimes  to  the  archdeacon  ; 
probably  paid  originally  at  the  time  of,  but  not 
on  account  of,  the  bishop's  synod.  2.  In  Pre- 
face "Concerning  the  Service  of  the  Church," 
recitals,  in  parish  churches,  of  the  provincial 
constitutions. 

Synodic  period.  [Gr.  vvvotios,  a  meeting,  a 
conjunction  of  the  sun  and  moon.]  Of  the 
moon,  the  time  which  elapses  from  her  leaving 
conjunction  with  the  sun  to  her  returning  to  it 
again. 

Synod's-men.     (Questmen.) 

Synonyms.  [Gr.  avy^o/jLos,  from  crvv,  with, 
and  ovo/jia,  a  name.]  Words  of  the  same  lan- 
guage which  agree  in  meaning.  (Metaphor.) 

Synoptic  Gospels.  A  name  used  to  denote  the 
first  three  Gospels,  as  having  generally  the  same 
succession  of  events,  in  distinction  from  the 
fourth,  in  which  the  sequence  is  different. 

Synovia  [Gr.  crvv,  with,  $6v,  an  egg],  Joint- 
oil.  The  pale  yellow  viscous  fluid  by  which  the 
joints  of  animals  are  lubricated. 

Syntax.  [Gr.  <riWa|is,  an  arranging.]  In 
Gram,  and  Rhet.,  the  disposition  of  words  and 
clauses  in  a  sentence  in  the  arrangements 
proper  to  the  language  to  which  the  words 
belong. 

Synteresis.  In  Moral  Phil.,  a  name  given  to 
that  close  watching  and  conservation  [Gr.  avv- 
T-fipi)(ris}  of  first  moral  principles,  which  is  the 
office  of  conscience  in  its  character  of  lawgiver, 
and  as  distinguished  from  Syneidesis,  which  is 
the  joint -knowledge  [cfweiSijcrts]  of  the  moral 
law  and  of  some  particular  action,  which  is  the 
office  of  conscience  as  judge.  (Fleming's  Student's 
Moral  Phil.,  p.  153.) 

Synthermal.  [Gr.  Bep^,  heat]  Of  equal 
heat. 

Synthesis.  [Gr.  crvvQecns,  a  placing  together.] 
1.  (Log.)  The  combination  of  separate  elements 
of  thought  into  a  whole,  as  of  species  into 
genera.  2.  ^irg.)  The  uniting  of  divided 
parts.  3.  (Anat.)  The  connexion  of  the  bones 
in  the  skeleton.  4.  (Phys.)  The  uniting  of 
elements  to  form  a  compound  ;  the  opposite  to 
Analysis. 

Syrtis^    [Gr.  crvpns.}    A  quicksand. 

Syssitia.  [Gr.  crvcrcriTia,  a  messing  together] 
In  Gr.  Hist.,  an  institution  chiefly  of  the  Doric 
states,  which  compelled  the  male  freemen  to 


SYST 


471 


TACE 


have  their  meals  in  common  messes  instead  of 
their  own  houses.  (Pheiditia.) 

Systaltic  action.     (Diastole.) 

Systatic  letters.  [Gr.  avffra.riK6s.]  (Eccl.) 
Commendatory,  introductory  \avvt 'ffTrjfJu,  Rom. 
xvi.  i].  (Litterae  formatae.) 

System.  [Gr.  fftWrjjuo.]  (Crystallog.)  Any 
one  of  the  six  classes  into  which  crystals  are 
divided  with  reference  to  their  axes  and  para- 
meters ;  as  the  Octahedral,  Pyramidal,  Rhombohe- 
dral,  Prismatic,  Oblique  prismatic,  Doubly  oblique 
prismatic  (vide  these  names  respectively). 

System,  Alternate.  (Agr.)  That  under  which 
succulent-leaved  crops  alternate  with  white-straw 


crops,  as  (i)  turnips,  (2)  wheat,  (3)  beans,  (4) 
wheat. 

System,  Convertible.  (Agr.)  That  under 
which  land  is  tilled  for  a  period,  and  then  for  a 
period  sown  with  grass,  manured,  and  fed  by 
cattle. 

Systole.  [Gr.,  a  contraction.'}  1.  In  Pros.,  a 
licence  which  shortens  a  long  syllable.  2.  (Dia- 
stole.) 

Syud.    (Seyd.) 

Syzygy.  [Gr.  <rv£vyta,  union,  a  yoking  to- 
gether.} (Astron.)  A  point  of  an  orbk  at 
which  conjunction  or  opposition  takes  place ; 
used  chiefly  of  the  moon,  as  by  Newton. 


T. 


T.  A  letter  belonging  to  the  class  called 
mutes,  and  largely  interchangeable  in  many 
languages.  As  a  L.  abbrev.,  T.  stands  for 
Titus  Ti.  for  Tiberius. 

Taal,  or  Tale.  [Malay.]  A  Chinese  coin, 
worth  about  a  dollar  and  a  half.  Also,  a 
weight. 

Tabard.  [L.L.  tabardus,  O.Fr.  tabar,  a  cloak, 
of  green  baize  (Littre).]  A  kind  of  tunic  em- 
blazoned with  armorial  bearings,  and  generally 
open  at  the  sides,  worn  by  heralds  on  State 
occasions.  Also  an  academic  gown. 

Tabaret.  [Fr.  tabouret,  a  stool.]  A  stout 
satin-striped  silk,  for  covering  chairs,  etc. 

Tabbinet.    A  more  delicate  kind  of  tabby  (q.v.). 

Tabby.  [Pers.  utabi.]  A  thick  watered  silk, 
used  by  bookbinders. 

Tabefaction.  [L.  tabefactus,  melted,  dissolved.] 
(Med.)  A  wasting  away  of  the  body. 

Tabellions.  [L.  tabelliones,  from  tabella, 
dim.  of  tabula,  the  tablet  on  which  they  wrote.] 
(Rom.  Hist.)  The  notaries,  who  had  been 
known  as  scribes  in  the  times  of  the  republic, 
were  so  called  under  the  empire. 

Tabering.  Nahum  ii.  7 ;  beating  themselves 
(a  stronger  word  than  tap  ;  cf.  tabour,  tambour, 
TuiTTo),  etc. ;  onomatop.). 

Tabes.  [L.]  (Med.)  A  wasting  away.  Tabifict 
causing  T. 

Tablature.  [L.  tabula,  a  writing-tablet.] 
(Music.)  The  signs  and  characters  used  in  music 
generally,  but  especially  the  old  mode  of  notation 
for  instruments  of  the  lute  kind,  and  for  some 
wind  instruments. 

Table.     A  flat  circular  sheet  of  crown-glass. 

Table;  Tabulate.  [L.  tabula.]  1.  A  list  of 
facts  of  one  kind  arranged  in  a  form  adapted  for 
reference ;  as  a  table  of  specific  gravities,  etc. 
2.  A  list  of  the  successive  values  of  a  function 
arranged  in  order  of  the  successive  values  of  the 
independent  variable;  as  a  table  of  logarithms, 
which  gives  the  values  of  log.  x  for  all  values  of 
x  within  given  limits,  as  from  i  to  10,000 ;  a 
table  of  sines,  which  gives  the  values  of  sin.  6  for 
(say)  every  minute  from  o°  up  to  90°  ;  there  are 
likewise  tables  of  refraction,  lunar  tables,  etc. 

31 


A  function  whose  successive  values  have  been 
calculated  and  arranged  on  a  table  is  said  to  have 
been  Tabulated. 

Table-cloth.  Name  given  to  the  white  cloud 
which  frequently  rests  over  Table  Mountain,  near 
Cape  Town. 

Table  d'hote.  [Fr.]  A  dinner  at  which 
the  host  or  landlord  of  an  inn  is  supposed  to 
preside. 

Table  diamond.  A  diamond  cut  with  two 
principal  faces,  or  Tables. 

Table-land.  (Geog.)  A  plain  at  a  great  height 
above  the  sea-level  j  as  the  table-land  of  Bavaria, 
of  Mysore,  etc. 

Table-turning.  The  alleged  turning  of  tables 
independently  of  physical  agency. 

Table-wise.  Said  of  the  Altar  or  Communion 
Table,  placed  in  the  body  of  the  church,  with 
the  ends  east  and  west. 

Taboo.  Among  the  South  Sea  Islanders  and 
others,  a  religious  interdict,  which  prevents  all 
approach  to  particular  spots  or  persons. — Tylorr 
Primitive  Culture. 

Tabor.  [From  Ar.  tambur.]  A  small  drum  ; 
generally  one  hung  round  the  neck.  (Tambour.) 

Taborites.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Those  among  the 
followers  of  John  Huss  who  after  his  death 
ranged  themselves  under  the  standard  of  John 
Ziska,  were  so  called  from  Tabor,  a  hill  in  Bohe- 
mia. After  a  long  struggle,  a  portion  of  them 
formed  themselves  into  the  society  called  Bohe- 
mian Brethren  (q.v.). 

Tabouret,  Droit  de.  [Fr.]  In  Fr.  Hist.,  the 
right  possessed  by  certain  persons  of  being 
seated  at  certain  times  in  the  presence  of  royalty. 

Tabret.  A  kind  of  small  drum,  or  tambourine, 
or  timbrel.  (Tambour.) 

Tabula  rasa.  [L.]  With  the  Romans,  a  tablet 
of  wax,  smoothed  for  fresh  writing ;  and  so 
metaph.  a  wiping  out  of  the  past,  and  starting 
fresh.  Often  used  to  denote  the  condition  of  the 
human  mind  before  it  has  received  any  im- 
pressions. 

Tacamahao.  The  resin  of  the  balsam  poplar 
(tacamahac  tree)  and  other  American  trees. 

Tacent,  satis  laudant.    [L.,  lit.  they  are.  silent ', 


TACH 


472 


TALL 


and  thus  praise  sufficiently.  ]    They  have  no  fault 
to  find,  and  that  is  praise  enough  from  them. 

laches  of  gold.  Exod.  xxvi.  6,  etc.  ;  plu.  of 
tache,  a  catch,  clasp,  to  unite  opposite  loops  ; 
probably  that  which  tacks,  or  joins  [Fr.  attacher]. 

Tachometer.  [Gr.  rd^os,  swiftness^  nerpov, 
measure.]  An  instrument  for  measuring  velocity ; 
as  of  a  machine,  of  running  water,  etc. 

Tack.  (Naut.)  1.  A  rope  for  making  fast  the 
lower  weather  corner  of  a  course,  or  staysail, 
when  the  wind  is  not  at  right  angles  with  a 
vessel's  course.  2.  Studding-sail  T.  hauls  out 
the  lower  outer-clue  to  its  boom-end.  3.  Jib  T., 
or  a  fore-and-aft  sail  T.,  confines  its  forward 
lower  end  amidships.  4.  A  vessel  sails  on  the 
T.  of  the  side  from  which  the  wind  blows.  5. 
To  T.  (Stay,  To.)  6.  Soft  T.  (Soft  tack.) 

Tacking.  (Leg.)  A  union  of  securities,  all 
to  be  redeemed  before  an  intermediate  purchaser 
can  interpose  his  claim. 

Tackle.  (Naut.)  A  system  of  pulleys. 
Ground- T.,  anchors,  cables,  etc. 

Tactics.  [Gr.  TO  To/cri/cd",  military  tactics.'] 
Science  of  adapting  ground  and  performing 
military  evolutions  in  the  presence  of  an 
enemy. 

Tadpole.  [Lit.  the/00/  (L.  pullus,  Gr.  irS>\os) 
or  offspring  of  a  toad.}  (Zool.)  The  young  of 
batrachians,  especially  of  frogs,  in  its  first  state 
from  the  spawn. 

Taedium  vitae.  The  L.  phrase  equivalent  to 
Fr.  ennui,  weariness  of  life. 

Taenla.  [Gr.  raivia,  a  ribbon.]  1.  (Arch.} 
The  lintel  above  the  architrave  which  separates 
it  from  the  frieze,  in  the  Doric  Order.  2.  (Zool.) 
Tapeworm;  ord.  of  Scolecida  (Annuloida),  a 
minute,  rounded  annuloid,  adhering  by  booklets 
or  suckers  to  the  interior  of  the  alimentary  canal 
of  warm-blooded  animals,  and  extending  itself, 
by  budding,  to  the  length  of,  sometimes,  several 
yards. 

Taffety,  Taffeta.  [Pers.  taftah,  woven.]  A  fine 
smooth  watered  silk  stuff.  (Tabaret ;  Tabby.) 

Taffirail,  or  Tafferel.  [D.  tafereel,  from  tafel, 
table]  (Naut. )  The  upper  works  at  the  stern. 

Tafia.     [Malay.]    White  rum. 

Tag.    (Sheep,  Stages  of  growth  of. ) 

Tagliacottian  operation.  In  Surg.,  a  method 
of  restoring  lost  noses,  devised  by  the  Italian 
surgeon  Tagliacozzi,  or  Taliacotius  (1546-1599). 

Tagus.  [Gr.Tcryck.]  In  Gr.  Hist.,  a  president, 
as  of  the  Thessalian  confederacy. 

Taherites.  A  Persian  dynasty  which  had  ruled 
for  half  a  century,  when  it  was  supplanted  by 
the  Soffarides. 

Tail.  [O.Fr.,  from  tailler,  to  cut]  (Leg.) 
Limitation;  abridgment.  Blackstone  defines 
an  estate  in  tail  as  an  abridged  or  reduced  fee, 
limited  to  certain  heirs,  other  heirs  being  ex- 
cluded. 

Tailing.  1.  The  lighter  parts  of  grain  win- 
nowed out.  2.  The  refuse  of  stamped  ore,  after- 
wards dressed  again. 

TaiUe.  In  O.Fr.  Law,  any  imposition  levied 
by  the  king  or  any  other  lord  on  his  subjects. 

Tailor's  muscle.    (Sartorius.) 


Tailpiece.  1.  In  Printing,  an  ornament  at  the 
end  of  a  book  or  chapter,  to  fill  up  the  page.  2. 
(Music.}  Of  a  violin,  that  piece,  generally  of 
ebony,  to  which  the  strings  of  the  violin  are 
fastened. 

Tail-race.    (Mill-dam.) 

Tails,  Pacha  of  one,  two,  three.     (Pasha.) 

Tailscommon.     Washed  lead  ore. 

Tailzie,  or  Entail.  In  Scot.  Law,  any  deed 
which  cuts  off  the  legal  course  of  succession  and 
substitutes  an  arbitrary  one. 

Take.  In  Printing,  the  quantity  of  copy  taken 
in  hand  by  a  compositor  at  once. 

Take  a  departure.  (Naut.)  To  ascertain  a 
vessel's  position  by  means  of  the  bearings  and 
position  of  a  known  object. 

Talapoins.  The  Siamese  title  for  the  priests 
of  Fo ;  called  in  Tartary  Lamas,  and  by  Euro- 
peans Bonzes. 

Talbotype  (invented  by  Talbot).     (Calotype.) 

Talc.  [Pers.  talcq.]  (Mm.)  A  mineral  allied 
to  soap-stone,  entering  into  several  crystalline 
rocks  (talc-schist,  protogine),  almost  entirely 
silica  +  magnesia;  silvery  white,  greenish- 
white,  green  ;  soft ;  greasy  to  touch  ;  generally 
massive  ;  when  in  thin  plates,  subtranslucent ; 
fissile,  not  elastic.  French  chalk  is  powdered 
talc.  Mica  (quite  a  different  mineral)  is  called 
"  tale  "  in  commerce. 

Talent.  [Gr.  rd\avroi>.]  A  Greek  weight, 
equal  to  that  of  sixty  minae  ;  but  varying  in  value 
in  different  cities.  The  Attic  talent  was  equal 
to  nearly  ,£200  ;  the  ^ginetan  to  ^"331. 

Tale  of  a  Tub  (in  which  Peter,  Martin,  Jack, 
represent  the  Roman  Church,  Luther,  Calvin).  A 
satire  written  by  Dean  Swift,  exhibiting  mediaeval 
corruption,  and  the  various  results  of  the  Re- 
formation;  to  divert  the  followers  of  Hobbes 
from  injuring  the  vessel  of  the  State  j  as  a  tub  is 
thrown  out  to  divert  a  whale. 

Tales,  Praying  a.  When  the  number  of  a  jury 
is  reduced  by  challenges,  either  party  may  pray 
for  a  supply  of  such  men  [L.  tales]  as  are  sum- 
moned on  the  first  pannel  to  supply  the  de- 
ficiency. 

Talionis,  Lex  [L.]  The  law  of  exact  retalia- 
tion,  as  in  the  Mosaic  Law :  Exod.  xxi.  24 ; 
Lev.  xxiv.  20;  Deut.  xix.  21. 

Talipes.  [Coined  from  talus,  an  ankle,  and 
pes,  afoot.}  (Med.)  Clubfoot. 

Talisman.  [Ar.,  dual  of  the  noun  telesm.]  A 
figure  cut  in  stone  or  other  material,  and  sup- 
posed to  possess  various  virtues,  as  of  averting 
disease.  (Palladium.) 

Talis  quum  sis,  utmam  noster  esses.  [L.] 
Since  you  are  such  (as  you  are),  would  that  you 
were  ours  (or  with  us). 

Tallage.  In  O.E.  Law,  a  general  name  for  all 
taxes.  (Taille.) 

Tall  ship.  (Naut.)  A  square-rigged  vessel 
with  topmasts. 

Tally,  To.     (Naut.)     To  haul  the  sheets  aft. 

Tally  ho  !  A  cry  of  encouragement  to  hounds, 
on  the  fox  being  viewed.  [(?)  A  corr.  of  the 
Fr.  "a  luij,  ho!  ho!  &  luij,"  mentioned  by 
Dame  Juliana  Berners  (fifteenth  century)  as  a 
hunting  cry.]  (Yoicks!) 


TALL 


473 


TAOU 


Tally  trade.  A  system  of  trading  carried  on 
in  London  and  elsewhere,  by  which  shopkeepers 
furnish  articles  on  credit  to  their  customers,  the 
latter  paying  the  price  by  weekly  or  monthly 
instalments.  The  effect  of  the  system  is  most 
mischievous. 

Talmud.  The  traditionary  law  of  the  Jews. 
The  word  is  derived  from  the  Heb.  lamad,  he 
taught.  The  Talmud,  therefore,  is  a  book  con- 
taining doctrines  and  duties  taught  to  the  Jews 
by  their  authorized  teachers,  or  rabbis.  There 
are  two  Talmuds,  (i)  of  Jerusalem,  (2)  of  Baby- 
lon, besides  the  Targums,  i.e.  commentaries  of 
Jonathan  ben  Uzziel,  about  B.C.  30,  and  of  Onkelos 
on  the  Pentateuch,  in  the  first  century  of  our 
era.  The  Talmud  of  Jerusalem  consists  of  two 
parts:  (i)  the  Mischna,  or  text,  supposed  to 
have  been  compiled  in  the  second  century  B.C., 
and  (2)  the  Gemara,  or  commentary  on  the 
Mischna.  The  Talmud  of  Babylon  is  practically 
a  commentary,  designed  to  supply  the  defects  of 
the  Jerusalem  Talmud,  and  is  generally  preferred 
to  it.  The  legends,  anecdotes,  or  sayings  in  the 
Talmud  illustrative  of  the  Law  are  called  Ha- 
gada,  while  the  word  Halaka  denotes  the 
decisions  of  Talmudists  on  disputed  questions. 
(Cabala.) 

Talon.     [Fr.]     (Arch.}    The  same  as  Ogee. 

Talookdar.  In  India,  the  holder  of  a  talook, 
or  district  less  than  that  of  a  Zemindar,  with 
certain  proprietary  rights,  not  exactly  defined. 

Talpidee.  [L.  talpa,  mole.]  (Zool.)  The 
mole  fam.  N.  hemisphere.  Ord.  Insectivora. 

Talus.  [L.,  the  ankle,  ankle-bone.]  1.  (Anat.} 
Sometimes  =  astrag&lus  (q.v.).  2.  (Geol.) 
The  sloping  heap  of  fragments  at  the  base  of  a 
rock. 

Tambour.  [Fr.,  Pers.  tambur.]  (Mil.} 1.  Large 
drum.  (Tabor.)  2.  Inclosure  of  palisades  or 
stockade  work  of  any  form  that  may  be  required 
to  afford  defence,  sometimes  with  a  ditch  and 
banquette. 

Tammany.  A  term  assumed  by  a  branch  of 
the  democratic  party  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
sometimes  called  S.  Tammany,  from  a  distin- 
guished Indian  Delaware  chief,  Tamendry,  who 
in  old  age  called  a  council  to  appoint  a  suc- 
cessor ;  but  why  his  name  was  chosen  is  not 
known. 

Tammuz.  In  Syr.  Myth. ,  a  name  of  the  sun- 
god  ;  also  called  Adonai,  Gr.  Adonis,  or  lord. 
The  Greek  form  of  Tammuz  is  Athamas. 

Tammuz.  Tenth  month  of  civil,  fourth  of  ec- 
clesiastical, Jewish  year  ;  June — July. 

Tammy.  [Fr.  tamis,  a  sieve. \  A  highly 
glazed  woollen  stuff  for  covering  sieves. 

Tamp.  [Fr.  tampon,  a  bung,  stopper.]  (Mil.} 
To  close  with  materials  the  gallery  of  a  mine  or 
a  hole  bored  for  blasting  after  the  charge  has 
been  lodged  in  the  chamber. 

Tan.  [Armor,  tann,  oak.]  The  bruised  bark 
of  oak  or  other  trees,  used  for  tanning. 

Tangent  [L.  tangentem,  touching]  •  T.-plane. 
(Math.)  A  line  drawn  to  meet  a  curve  and 
not  cutting  it,  though  produced ;  or,  more 
exactly,  drawn  to  meet  it  in  two  coincident 
points  j  as  curved  lines  have  tangent  lines, 


so  curved  surfaces  have  T.  -planes.  (Trigono- 
metrical function.) 

Tangential  force.  (Math.)  A  force  acting  on 
a  revolving  body  in  a  direction  tangential  to  its 
path,  and  causing  its  velocity  to  vary  from  point 
to  point. 

Tangent  sailing.     (Great-circle  sailing.) 

Tangent-scale.  (Mil.)  Sliding  bar  in  rear  of 
the  vent  of  a  gun,  by  which  any  requisite  eleva- 
tion before  firing  can  be  attained. 

Tanhauser.  In  German  mediaeval  tradition,  a 
knight  who  is  enticed  by  Venus  into  her  cave  in 
the  Horselberg,  i.e.  the  hill  of  Horsel  or  Ursula. 
Making  his  escape,  he  seeks  absolution  from 
Urban  IV.,  who  .tells  him  that  there  is  no  more 
chance  of  forgiveness  for  him  than  there  is  for 
the  budding  of  the  staff  in  his  hand.  Tanhaiiser 
returned  to  the  cave  ;  the  staff  budded  ;  but  the 
knight  was  sought  in  vain.  In  its  main  features 
this  story  is  the  same  as  that  of  Thomas  the 
Rimer,  who  is  allured  by  the  fairy  queen  to  her 
home  in  Ercildoune,  in  which  the  name  Ursula 
again  appears. 

Tanistry.  [Gael,  tanais-teachd.]  The  Irish 
name  for  a  custom  of  descent,  defined  as  "  de- 
scent from  the  oldest  and  worthiest  of  the 
blood."  The  custom  itself  may  be  found  in 
most  conditions  of  society  in  which  circum- 
stances render  the  inheritance  of  minors  or  in- 
competent persons  dangerous. 

Tanka.  (Naut.)  A  Chinese  covered  boat 
worked  by  women,  for  conveying  passengers  to 
or  from  vessels. 

Tannin,  Tannic  acid.  (From  tan.)  (Chem.) 
The  astringent  principle  of  oak  bark,  nut-galls, 
etc. 

Tansy.  [Fr.  tanasie,  Gr.  a.6avaala,  immor- 
tality.] (Bot.)  Common  native  perennial ; 
bitter,  aromatic,  medicinal.  Tanacetum  vulgare, 
ord.  Compositse.  Growing  in  fields,  by  road- 
sides, etc. ,  in  temperate  districts. 

Tantalize.  This  verb,  meaning  to  baulk  or 
disappoint  at  the  very  moment  of  fruition,  is 
formed  from  the  name  of  Tantalus,  who  in  the 
old  Gr.  Myth,  stands  in  a  lake,  the  waters  of 
which  retreat  from  him  and  turn  to  slime  when 
he  stoops  to  drink,  and  under  branches  laden 
with  fruits,  which  wither  when  he  puts  forth  his 
hand  to  grasp  them.  Some  said  that  he  was  so 
punished  because  he  served  up  the  body  of  his  son 
Pelops  at  the  banquet-table  of  the  gods  ;  others 
because  he  stole  Nectar  and  Ambrosia  and  gave 
them  to  his  people.  The  myth  expresses  the  action 
of  the  sun  in  times  of  great  heat  and  drought. 

Tantalum.  [L.  Tantalus,  a  king  of  Phrygla.  ] 
A  rare  metal,  obtained  as  a  black  powder. 

Tanti.  L.  genitive  of  price,  worth  while  ; 
generally  used  with  a  negation,  as  "non  tanti," 
hardly  "tanti." 

Tantivy.  [Onomatop.]  1.  The  note  of  the 
hunting-horn.  2.  At  full  speed. 

Taut  mieux.  [Fr.,  L.  tanto  melius.]  So 
much  the  better. 

Tant  pis.  [Fr.,  L.  tanto  pejus.]  So  much  the 
worse. 

Tantum  non.     [L.]     Only  not ;  all  but. 

Taouism.     The  rationalism  or  ethical  system 


TAP 


474 


TAST 


of  the  Chinese  Lao-Tse,  a  contemporary  of 
Confucius.  (Confucianism.) 

Tap.  1.  A  short  pipe  for  drawing  liquor.  2. 
(Surg.)  To  pierce— the  abdomen,  chest,  etc. — 
for  removing  fluid  accumulated  in  the  serous 
cavities.  3.  A  conical  screw  made  of  hardened 
steel  for  cutting  screws  in  nuts. 

Tap-bolt.     A  set-screw  (q.v.). 

Taper.  [A.S.]  (Sot.)  A  term  denoting 
parts  the  opposite  of  angular. 

Tapestry  carpet.  A  two-ply  carpet,  the  pattern 
of  which  is  produced  by  printing  the  warp  or 
woof  before  weaving. 

Tapioca.    (Cassava.) 

Taplings.  The  thongs  coupling  the  pieces  of 
a  flail. 

Tapnet.  A  rush  basket  in  which  figs  are  im- 
ported. 

Tappet.  (Mech.)  A  cam  on  an  axle  that  lifts 
a  vertical  bar  or  stamper,  and  then  lets  it  fall ; 
called  also  a  Wiper. 

Tappit-hen.  A  crested  hen.  A  drinking-cup  ; 
so  called  from  the  shape  of  the  knob  on  the  lid. 

Tap  the  admiral,  To.  In  Naut.  slang,  to 
draw  spirits  from  the  cask  in  which  his  corpse  is 
being  brought  home.  Hence,  to  drink  anything, 
however  bad. 

Tara,  Tarah,  Taragh.  A  hill  in  Meath,  where, 
up  to  the  close  of  the  sixth  century,  the  inaugu- 
ration of  the  Irish  kings  is  said  to  have  taken 
place  ;  kings,  clergy,  and  bards  assembling 
every  third  year,  and  electing  a  supreme  ruler. 

Tarantism.  (?)  Because  appearing  in  Taranto 
and  S.  Italy  generally ;  or  from  the  poison  of 
the  tarantula  spider,  common  in  Taranto. 
(Chorea.) 

Tarantula.  A  Neapolitan  dance,  rapid,  in  f 
time  generally ;  the  perspiring  induced  by  it 
being  intended  to  cure  the  bite  of  the  tarantula 
spider.  (Tarantism.) 

Taraxacum  dandelion,  i.e.  dent  du  lion.  (Bot.) 
A  gen.  of  Composite,  of  which  the  root-stock  is 
extensively  used  in  medicine  as  an  aperient  and 
tonic,  especially  in  liver  complaints.  [The  word 
is  traced  by  M.  Devic,  with  some  likelihood,  to 
the  Ar.  tarachaquun,  wild  chicory  (Littre).] 

Tar-brush,  A  touch  of  the.  In  Naut.  slang, 
(i)  black  blood  in  the  veins;  (2)  seamanlike 
skill  in  officers. 

Tardigrada,  Tardigrades.  [L.,  slow-paced,  tar- 
dus,  sloiv,  gradior,  1  walk.}  (Zool.)  A  fam.  (i.q. 
Bradypodidse,  sloths)  of  ord.  Edentata  (q.v.). 

Tare.  [Fr. ;  said  to  be  an  Ar.  word.]  A  de- 
duction made  from  the  weight  of  a  parcel  of 
goods  on  account  of  the  weight  of  the  chest  or 
package  containing  them.  (Tret.) 

Tares.  Matt.  xiii.  25  [Gr.  £i£di>ia]  ;  darnel  is 
meant  (Lolium  ternulentum). 

Targum.     (Talmud.) 

Tarlatan,  [Fr.  tarlatane.]  A  thin  transparent 
muslin. 

Tarnkappe.  In  Northern  Myth.,  the  cap 
which,  like  the  helmet  of  Hades,  makes  the 
wearer  invisible. 

Tarpaulin.  (Naut.)  Canvas  dressed  with 
paint,  tar,  or  oil.  Sailors'  waterproof  clothes 
are  called  tarpaulins,  or  'paulins. 


Tarpeian  Rock.  At  Rome  ;  so  called,  it  is 
said,  because  Tarpeia,  who  betrayed  the  city  to 
the  Sabines,  was  there  crushed  by  the  shields 
which  they  threw  on  her,  she  having  bargained 
for  what  they  bore  on  their  left  arms,  that  is, 
their  bracelets. 

Tarquin  the  Proud.     (Sibylline  books.) 

Tarragon.  (Bot.)  A  herb,  Artemisia  dra- 
cunculus,  ord.  Compositse  ;  D.  corr.  into  Tar- 
ragon. A  perennial  native  of  Siberia,  natur- 
alized ;  the  leaves  are  a  ingredient  in  T. 
vinegar. 

Tarras,  Terras.  [Ger.  trass.]  A  kind  of 
hydraulic  cement  used  in  Holland. 

Tarrock.  (Ornith.)  Young  of  kittiwake 
(q.v.). 

Tarsel,  Tercel,  Tiercel.  [Fr.  tiercelot,  L.  ter- 
tiplus,  a  third  part  from  its  sire.}  (Ornith.)  The 
mature  male  of  the  peregrine  falcon.  The  red 
T.  and  red  F.  are  the  immature  male  and  female 
respectively.  Falco  peregrinus,  gen.  Falco, 
sub-fam.  Falconinae,  fam.  Falcdnidse,  ord. 
Accipitres. 

Tarshish.  The  district  of  Southern  Spain, 
known  to  the  Greeks  as  Tartessos,  with  which 
an  important  trade  was  carried  on  from  Palestine, 
ships  of  sufficient  burden  to  undertake  the 
voyage  being  called  ' '  ships  of  Tarshish, "  as  we 
speak  of  an  E.-Indiaman. 

Tarsia,  Tarsiatura.  [It.]  A  mosaic  wood- 
work much  practised  in  Italy  in  the  fifteenth 
century,  representing  landscapes,  flowers,  etc. 

Tarsus.  [GY.fra.pa6s,Jflatofthefoot.}  (Anal.) 
The  collection  of  seven  small  bones  between  the 
tibia  and  metatarsus ;  the  instep,  or  first  part  of 
the  foot.  In  birds,  sometimes,  the  third  seg- 
ment of  the  leg  ;  in  insects,  the  fifth  principal 
segment. 

Tartan.  [Fr.  tiretaine,  linsey-woolsey.} 
Woollen  cloth  covered  with  cross-bars  of  different 
colours. 

Tartan.  (Naut.)  A  Mediterranean  coaster, 
lateen-rigged,  with  one  mast  and  a  bowsprit. 

Tartar.  [From  Gr.  rdprapos.]  (Cheni.)  Im- 
pure bitartrate  of  potash,  deposited  as  a  crust  in 
wine-casks.  When  purified,  it  is  called  cream  of 
71  Salt  of  T.  is  carbonate  of  potash.  T.  emetic 
is  tartrate  of  potash  and  antimony.  The  acid 
derived  from  tartar  is  tartaric  acid,  the  salts  of 
which  are  called  tartrates. 

Tartarian  lamb.     (Barometz  fern.) 

Tartarus.  [Gr.  Tdprapos.]  In  Gr.  Myth.,  the 
abode  of  the  wicked  dead.  The  word  denotes 
constant  disturbance  (cf.  Gr.  rapda-va),  I  disturb}. 

Tartuffe.  [Fr.  Tartufe.]  The  chief  character 
in  Moliere's  comedy  of  this  name,  which  is  said 
to  be  taken  from  the  It.  tartuffoli,  truffles. 
Tartuffe  is  a  mean  parasite,  from  whom  Bicker- 
staff  obtained  the  idea  of  Mawworm,  in  his 
play  of  the  Hypocrite. 

Tasco.  A  kind  of  clay  for  making  melting- 
pots. 

Tasking.  (Nattt.)  Examining  a  ship's 
timbers. 

Tasting  timber.  (Natit.)  Chipping  and  boring 
it,  to  try  its  quality. 

Tasto.      [It.]     Feeling,  touch;  and  so  (i)  a 


TATE 


475 


TELE 


pianoforte  key  ;  (2)  the  touch  of  a  piano  or 
organ.  T.  solo,  a  direction  to  play  a  part  in 
unison,  without  accompanying  chords. 

Tate  and  Brady.  T.  poet-laureate  (died  1715), 
and  B.  chaplain  to  William  and  Mary  ;  authors 
of  the  metrical  version  of  the  Psalms,  which  sup- 
planted that  of  Sternhold  and  Hopkins  (q.v.). 

Tatta,  Tattee.  In  Hindu  usage,  a  bamboo 
frame  or  trellis  covered  with  khus-khus  grass, 
over  which  water  is  poured  from  the  outside,  to 
cool  the  air  as  it  enters  the  house.  (Vittie 
vayr.) 

Tatterdemalion.    A  ragged  fellow. 

Tattoo.  (Mil.}  Summons  to  all  soldiers  to 
return  to  their  quarters,  given  every  night  by 
drum  and  fife,  preceded  and  followed  by  bugle- 
calls  ;  these  latter  are  the  "  first "  and  "  second  " 
posts. 

Taut.    ( Naut. )     Tight. 

Tautegorical.  [Gr.  ravr6,  for  rb  ai>r6,  the  same, 
ayopfiw,  I  speak.}  A  word  coined  to  express 
the  opposite  of  Allegory. 

Tavernicus.  [Deriv.  uncertain.]  The  third 
officer  of  State  in  the  Hungarian  kingdom,  after 
the  Palatine  and  the  Ban  of  Croatia. 

Taverns,  Three.  In  Acts  xxviii.  15  rafapvuiv 
is  a  Grecized  form  of  the  L.  tabernae,  i.e.  shops. 

.Tawing.  [O.E.  tawian,  to  prepare.}  Pre- 
paring the  skins  of  sheep,  lambs,  etc.,  as  white 
leather. 

Taxaceae.  [L.  taxus,  a  yew.}  (Bot.)  The 
yew  tribe,  an  ord.  of  Gymnogens  (q.v.). 

Tax-cart.  A  light  spring- cart  (taxed  at  a  low 
rate). 

Taxidermy.  [Gr.  rd£is,  arrangement,  Septet, 
skin.}  The  preparation,  arrangement,  and  pre- 
servation of  the  skin=  of  animals. 

Taxing-masters.  In  Law,  certain  officers  in 
the  courts,  appointed  to  examine  the  claims  of 
solicitors,  and  to  strike  out  such  items  as  they 
think  proper  to  disallow  ;  or,  as  it  is  termed,  to 
tax  the  costs.  ( Allocator.) 

Taxology,  Taxonomy.  Systematic  arrange- 
ment [Gr.  rd£is],  or  classification,  of  plants. 

Tazza.  [It.]  A  flat,  shallow  vase,  with  a  foot 
and  handles. 

Teache.     A  boiler  used  in  sugar-making. 

Team.  (A7aut.)  Vessels  blockading  a  port 
are  said  to  be  in  a.  team.  T.-boat,  a  paddle-wheel 
ferry-boat  worked  by  horses. 

Tea-poy.  An  ornamental  table  with  a  lifting 
top,  inclosing  caddies  for  tea. 

Tearless  battle.  A  battle  won  by  the  Spartan 
king,  Archidamos,  B.C.  368;  so  called  because 
10,000  Arcadians  are  said  to  have  been  slain 
without  the  loss  of  a  man  on  the  Spartan  side. 

Teasing,  Teaselling.  Raising  a  nap  on  cloth  by 
scratching  it  with  teazels  (q.v.}. 

Tea-waggon.  In  Naut.  slang,  an  E. -India- 
man. 

Teazel.  (Bot.)  Used  in  dressing  broadcloth, 
the  flower  of  fuller's  teazel,  Dipsacus  [Gr.  5tya- 
KOS]  fullonum,  ord.  Dipsaceae  ;  cultivated  in  north 
and  west  of  England ;  the  rigid,  acuminate 
hooked  bracts  serve  to  raise  the  nap. 

Tebeth.     (Thebet.) 

Technical  education.     [Gr.  rexvucts,  artistic.} 


That  of  artisans,  whose  knowledge  is  general!) 
confined  to  a  few  mechanical  details  in  all  that 
concerns  their  trade,  the  materials  with  which  it 
has  to  do,  the  results  accomplished  in  England 
and  elsewhere,  etc.  ;  the  object  being  to  bring 
about  a  more  intelligent  interest  in  their  work, 
and  a  spirit  of  invention  and  enterprise,  as  well 
as  mechanical  excellence. 

Technology.  [Gr.  rexjuXoyfo,  from  r4xrn» 
art,  \6yos,  discourse.}  1.  A  philosophical 
account  of  the  useful  arts.  2.  An  explanation 
of  art  terms. 

Tecum.     (Tucum.) 

Tedding  hay.  [Probably  Ger.  zetten,  =  Ger. 
zetteln,  to  scatter  in  small  quantities.  ]  Making 
hay,  tossing  and  spreading  it. 

Tedesca,  Alia.  [It.]  (Music.)  In  the  German 
style. 

Tedge.  (Founding.)  The  pipe  through  which 
molten  metal  is  poured  into  a  mould. 

Tedium  vitee.     (Taedium  vitae.) 

Teel  seed.  A  kind  of  sesame  yielding  a  sub- 
stitute for  olive  oil. 

Teetotal.  The  term  appears  to  have  been 
first  popularized  by  Joseph  Turner,  an  artisan 
of  Preston,  who,  at  a  temperance  meeting  in 
the  autumn  of  1833,  asserted  that  "  nothing  but 
te-te-total  would  do."  The  expression  was  at 
once  and  universally  adopted  by  total  abstainers. 
— Daily  Telegraph,  September  5,  1882. 

Teian  Poet,  The.  Anacreon,  Greek  lyrical 
poet ;  born  at  Teos,  a  seaport  town  of  Ionia, 
circ.  B.C.  560. 

Teil  [L.  tilia,  lime},  Isa.  vi.  13 ;  Terebinth 
[Gr.  TtpefrivQos),  or  Turpentine  [corr.  of  Fr.  tere- 
binthine],  Ecclus.  xxiv.  16.  In  Heb.  elah,  mis- 
translated oak,  which  it  resembles ;  the  Pis- 
tacia  terebinthus  of  the  Levant ;  deciduous, 
many-branched,  sometimes  of  considerable  size  ; 
incisions  in  the  bark  yield  an  agreeable  balsam, 
turpentine — not  that  yielded  by  the  fir. 

Teinds.  In  Scotland,  tithes;  both  words 
meaning  tenths. 

Telamones,     (Caryatides.) 

Teleology.  [Gr.  re\os,  re'Aeoy,  end,  \6yos, 
discourse.}  The  doctrine  of  the  final  causes  of 
things  ;  i.e.  of  the  purpose  of  the  Creator. 

Teleosaurus.  [Gr.  rcAeos,  perfect,  <ravpo$,  a 
lizard.}  (Geol.)  A  gen.  of  fossil  saurian 
reptiles,  resembling  the  gavial.  Lias  and 
Oolite. 

Teleostel.  (Ichth.)  Sub-class  of  fish,  com- 
prising those  with  endo-skeletons  of  bone-like 
substance,  occasionally  of  true  bone. 

Telephassa.  [Gr.,  she  who  shines  from  far.} 
(Myth.)  The  mother  of  Cadmus  and  Europa, 
who,  vainly  seeking  her  daughter,  dies  on  the 
plains  of  Thessaly. 

Telepheian  wounds.  Incurable  wounds,  from 
the  wounds  received  by  Telephus  from  Achilles, 
who  alone  could  cure  them. 

Telephone.  [Gr.  TTJA.€,  far  off,  <f>uvf],  sotmd.) 
An  instrument  for  reproducing  the  pitch,  quality, 
and  relative  intensity  of  sounds  at  a  place  dis- 
tant from  that  at  which  the  sounds  are  uttered. 
Its  action  depends  on  the  fact  that  a  succession 
of  electric  waves  can  be  sent  along  a  wire  from 


TELE 


476 


TEND 


the  transmitting  end  exactly  corresponding  to 
the  aerial  vibration,  which  produce  the  sensation 
of  sound,  and  therefore  capable  of  reproducing 
similar  aerial  vibrations,  at  the  receiving  end. 

Telerpeton.  [Gr.  rf\eos,  perfect,  kpirtrdv,  a 
reptile,  i.e.  very  like  lizards.]  (Geol.)  A  gen. 
of  small  fossil  reptiles.  Triassic  sandstones  of 
Elgin. 

Telescope  [Gr.  rijAeoWiros,  far-seeing} ;  Achro- 
matic T. ;  Astronomical  T. ;  Galilean  T. ;  New- 
tonian T.;  Beflecting  T.;  Befracting  T.;  Ter- 
restrial T.  An  instrument  for  obtaining  a  clear 
view  of  distant  objects.  It  consists  essentially  of 
a  large  curved  mirror  (or  speculum)  or  else  of  a 
lens  (or  object-glass),  which  forms  an  image  of 
the  object  in  its  focus,  and  a  lens  or  combination 
of  lenses  (the  eye-piece),  through  which  the 
image  is  viewed  and  by  which  it  is  magnified. 
The  Refracting  7\  has  an  object-glass,  and  the 
earliest  form  of  it  is  the  Galilean  T.  ;  in  the 
Reflecting  T.  a  speculum  is  used,  and  one  of  its 
earliest  forms  is  the  Newtonian  T.  In  the 
Achromatic  T.  the  object-glass  is  made  of  two 
lenses  of  different  kinds  of  glass,  to  prevent 
the  separation  of  the  light  into  rays  of  different 
colours,  which  would  occur  if  a  single  lens  were 
used.  (Achromatic.)  In  the  Astronomical  T. 
an  eye-piece  of  two  lenses  is  used,  which  leaves 
the  image  inverted.  In  the  Terrestrial  T.  an 
eye-piece  of  four  lenses  is  commonly  used,  for 
obtaining  an  erect  image  and  a  larger  field  of 
view.  There  are  many  other  kinds  of  telescopes, 
which  in  many  cases  are  named  after  their  de- 
signers, as  the  Gregorian  T.,  the  Herschellian  T., 
etc. 

Telescopic  star.  A  star  so  small  as  to  be 
visible  only  through  a  telescope.  Telescopic 
stars  are  of  all  magnitudes  below  the  seventh. 

Telestic.  [Gr.  reAeo-TtKos,  fit  for  finishing.'} 
A  piece  of  poetry,  of  \vhich  the  last  letters  of 
every  line,  taken  consecutively,  make  a  word  or 
a  sentence.  (Acrostic.) 

Tellurian.  [L.  tellurem,  the  earth.]  An  ap- 
paratus for  showing  the  movements  of  the  earth 
and  moon  relatively  to  the  sun. 

Tellurium.  [L.  tellurem,  the  earth.']  A  bright 
grey  metal. 

Telonai.    (Publicans.) 

Tema.  [It.,  L.  thema,  Gr.  flf/we,  theme,  of  an 
argument.]  In  Music,  a  theme,  subject. 

Tempera  [It.],  or  Distemper.  A  preparation 
of  some  opaque  colouring  with  size,  for  painting 
walls,  ceilings,  etc. 

Temperament.  [L.  tempgramentum,  propor- 
tionate mixture.]  (Music.)  A  system  of  com- 
promise in  the  division  of  the  octave  in  keyed 
instruments  ;  e.g.  piano,  whose  sounds  are 
fixed.  This  is  made  necessary  by  the  same 
notes  serving  both  as  flats  and  as  sharps.  In 
Equal  T.,  theoretically  adopted  in  the  piano, 
the  twelve  intervals  in  an  octave  are  all  of  the 
same  length,  and  no  key  has  an  advantage  over 
the  rest ;  in  the  Unequal  T.  some  scales  are 
more  in  tune  than  others.  (Wolf  intervals.) 

Temperate  zone.     (Zone.) 

Temperature.  [L.  temperatura,  temperament^ 
The  state  of  a  body,  as  to  its  being  sensibly  hot 


or  cold,  which  state  is  measured  by  a  thermo- 
meter. 

Tempering;  Tempering  colour.  The  process 
of  inducing  flexibility  in  steel  by  reducing  its 
hardness,  which  is  done  by  heating  it  to  a  de- 
finite degree  and  then  cooling  it  slowly — the 
process  of  cooling  being  performed  in  different 
ways,  according  to  circumstances.  The  degree 
of  heat  is  judged  of  by  the  colour  of  a  thin  film 
of  oxide  of  iron  formed  on  the  steel ;  thus  the 
colour  is  faint  yellow  at  430°  Fahr.,  purple  at 
530°  Fahr.,  etc.  These  are  the  7\  colours. 

Templars,  Knights.  One  of  the  military  re- 
ligious orders,  founded  in  the  twelfth  century  for 
the  protection  of  pilgrims  to  Palestine,  and  the 
recovery  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  from  the  Sara- 
cens. Their  rules  agreed  generally  with  the 
Benedictine.  The  Templars  made  the  Mosque 
of  Omar,  known  as  the  Khubbet-es-Sakrah,  or 
Dome  of  the  Rock,  their  church,  and  called  it 
the  Temple  of  the  Lord.  The  order  was  sup- 
pressed by  Clement  V.,  with  great  cruelty  and 
injustice,  in  the  fourteenth  century. 

Template.    (Templet.) 

Temple.  Part  of  a  loom  used  for  stretching  the 
web  transversely. 

Templet.  1.  A  short  piece  of  timber  placed 
in  a  wall  under  the  end  of  a  girder,  to  distribute 
the  pressure  more  equally.  2.  One  of  a  pair  of 
boards  with  circular  edges,  for  describing  the 
pattern  of  the  tooth  of  a  wheel ;  when  one  is 
made  to  roll  on  the  other,  a  point  on  its  edge 
describes  the  required  line.  3.  Pattern  of  a 
window,  etc.,  cut  out  on  paper. 

Tempera  mutantur,  nos  et  mutamur  in  illis. 
[L.]  Times  are  changed,  and  we  with  them 
(Horace). 

Tempus  edax  rerum.  [L.]  Time,  the  de- 
vour er  of  things. 

Tenacity.  [L.  tenacitatem,  from  tenax,  teneo, 
I  hold.]  The  resistance  offered  by  a  body  to 
separation  by  forces  tending  to  stretch  it. 

Tenaille.  [Fr.  tenailles,  pincers,  L.  tenacu- 
lum  and  -la.]  (Mil.)  Work  in  the  ditch,  of  a 
re-entering  form,  between  the  flanks  and  curtain 
of  the  enceinte. 

Tenancy  by  sufferance.  The  continuance  of  a 
tenancy  after  the  expiration  of  the  term  by  the 
tenant  without  agreement  or  disagreement  on 
the  part  of  the  owner. 

Tenancy  in  common  (Leg.)  is  when  property 
is  given  or  conveyed  to  two  or  more  persons  in 
undivided  shares,  each  share  being  distinct  in 
title.  In  such  cases  there  is  no  right  of  survi- 
vorship. 

Tenant  right.  The  alleged  right  of  the  tenant, 
on  the  expiration  of  his  lease,  to  compensation 
for  improvements  which  add  to  the  letting  value 
of  the  property.  This  question  has  acquired  its 
chief  prominence  in  Ireland. 

Tend,  To.  (Naut.)  To  T.  a  ship,  to  keep  the 
cable  clear  of  the  anchor  while  she  is  tending,  i.e. 
swinging  with  the  tide. 

Tender.  (Naut.)  A  small  vessel  attending 
on  a  larger  one. 

Tendon.  [L.  tendo,  /  stretch.]  (Anat.) 
White  shining  fibrous  tissue,  by  which  muscles 


TENE 


477 


TERM 


are  attached  to  bones  and  to  other  parts  which 
it  is  their  office  to  move.  T.  Achillis  passes 
from  the  muscles  of  the  calf  of  the  leg  to  the 
heel. 

Tenebrse.  [L.,  darkness.}  In  the  Latin 
Church,  the  Office  of  Matins  in  the  last  three 
days  of  the  Holy  Week,  at  which  a  triangular 
candlestick  with  fifteen  lights  is  used,  one  being 
extinguished  after  each  psalm,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  last,  which  is  held  behind  the  altar 
and  brought  back,  in  token  of  the  Resurrection. 

TenebrosL  [It.,  gloomy. \  A  school  of  artists 
founded  by  Caravaggio,  remarkable  for  bold 
effects  of  light  and  shade. 

Teneriffe.  A  wine  resembling  Madeira,  made 
in  the  Canary  Islands. 

Tenesmus.  [Gr.  Teivffffi.ds,from.re{i>a>,7 stretch."] 
(Med.)  A  straining  to  relieve  the  bowels,  when 
it  is  not  needed ;  involuntary,  and  owing  to 
some  local  irritation. 

Tenne.  [Sp.  tanetto,  a  chestnut.}  (Her.]  The 
orange  or  tawny  colour  in  coats  of  arms,  repre- 
sented in  engraving  by  vertical  lines  crossed  by 
lines  sloping  downward  from  the  sinister  to  the 
dexter  side. 

Tennis.  [Fr.  tenez,  hold,  or  take  it.}  A  game 
in  which  a  ball  is  kept  in  motion  by  striking  it 
with  rackets. 

Tenon.  1.  (Araut.)  The  square  heel  of  a 
mast,  which  fits  into  the  step.  2.  The  end 
of  a  timber  for  mortising  into  another  one. 
(Mortise.) 

Tenonto-.  [Gr.  r4vuvt  rev6vros,  a  sinew, 
tendon.} 

Tenor  C.  1.  (Music.)  The  lower  C  of  the  tenor 
roice.  2.  The  lowest  string  of  the  tenor  violin. 
3.  Tenor  bell.  (Bell-ringing.) 

Tenor  clef  has  the  C  placed  on  the  fourth 
line  of  the  stave  ;  as  the  Alto  clef  has  the  C 
placed  on  the  third  line. 

Tension.  [L.  tensionem,  a  stretching}  1. 
The  force  with  which  a  stretched  body  endea- 
vours to  recover  its  shape.  2.  The  elastic  force 
or  pressure  of  a  vapour,  measured  by  the  height 
of  the  column  of  mercury  which  it  will  support ; 
thus  the  T.  of  vapour  of  water  at  212°  is  thirty 
inches. 

Tent.  [L.  tendo,  I  stretch^  In  Surg.,  a  plug 
or  roll  of  lint  for  dilating  wounds  and  preventing 
too  rapid  healing. 

Tentacle.  [L.  tento,  I  feel.}  (Zool.)  A  flex- 
ible or  jointed  organ  with  which  to  explore  or 
seize;  especially  the  longer  arms  of  decapod 
cuttlefish,  and  the  filamentous  appendages  to 
the  heads  of  annelids. 

Tenter.  [Fr.  tendre,  to  stretch.}  A  frame  for 
stretching  cloth  by  hooks  called  tenter-hooks, 
so  that  it  may  dry  even  and  square. 

Tentmakers.  Acts  xviii.  3  ;  makers  of  port- 
able tents  for  soldiers  and  travellers  and  for 
harvest -gatherers  on  the  plains  of  Cilicia,  from 
the  soft  under  hair  of  the  goats  of  Cilicia. 
Chrysostom,  in  a  monastery  near  Antioch,  was 
for  four  years  a  T. 

Tentorium.  [L.,  a  tent.}  (Anat.)  A  process 
of  the  dura  mater,  separating  the  cerebrum  from 
the  cerebellum. 


Tenui  Minerva.     (Minerva.) 

Tenure.  [From  L.  ten£o,  I  hold.}  In  Feud. 
Law,  the  relation  between  lord  and  vassal  with 
respect  to  lands,  all  landowners  being  vassals  of 
the  Crown,  on  the  theory  that  the  sovereign  was 
the  only  landowner.  The  chief  lay  tenures 
were  of  four  kinds:  (i)  by  knight  service,  (2) 
in  free  socage,  (3)  in  pure  villeinage,  (4)  in 
villein  socage. 

Tenuto.  [It.]  (Music.)  Held  down;  the 
finger  not  to  be  taken  up  from  the  notes. 

Tephach.  [Heb.]  A  Jewish  measure  of 
length  ;  a  handbreadth  ;  metaph.  Ps.  xxxix.  5. 

Tephromancy.  [Gr.  re'tym,  ashes,  and  ^uoj/re/a.] 
Divination  by  the  figures  assumed  by  red-hot 
cinders. 

Ter-,  Tri-.  (Chem.)  A  prefix  denoting  that 
a  salt  contains  three  [L.  ter,  Gr.  rpis,  thrice} 
atoms  of  the  elements  thus  marked  ;  as  a  ter- 
chloride,  tri-sulphide,  which  contain  three  atoms 
of  chlorine,  sulphur,  in  each  molecule. 

Terai.  The  belt  of  jungle-land  at  the  base  of 
high  mountain  ranges,  especially  of  the  Hima- 
layas. These  belts  are  wonderfully  fertile,  but 
are  also  hot -beds  of  fever. 

Teraphim.  [Heb.]  Images  connected  with 
magical  rites,  and  consulted  by  the  Israelites 
for  oracular  answers,  but  apparently  not  wor- 
shipped. 

Teratology.  [Gr.  repos,  rcparos,  a  prodigy.} 
The  history  of  monstrosities,  malformations,  in 
organic  nature. 

Terbium.     (Yttrium.) 

Tercel.     (TarseL) 

Terebinth.     (Teil.) 

Terebratulidae,  [L.  terebra,  a  borer, ,]  (Lamp- 
shells.) 

Teredo.  [L.,  piercer,  from  tero,  /  pierce.} 
Ship-worm;  bivalve  mollusc,  boring  holes  in 
timber.  Fam.  Pholadidae,  class  Conchife'ra. 
(Pholas.) 

Teres  atque  rStundus.  [L.,  smooth  and 
round.}  Well-finished,  complete,  as  a  perfect 
character  (Hor.,  Sat.,  ii.  7,  86). 

Term.  [L.  terminus,  a  boundary.}  1.  (Geom.) 
A  boundary.  2.  (Algeb.)  One  of  the  members 
of  an  algebraical  expression  or  of  a  proportion. 
3.  In  Logic.  (Categorematic ;  Syncategore- 
matic.) 

Termagant  The  Romance  and  German 
poets  of  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries 
supposed  this  to  be  a  Saracenic  deity,  and 
coupled  the  name  with  that  of  (Mohammed) 
Mahound.  It  is  really  a  corr.  of  the  Greek  Tris- 
megistos,  thrice-greatest,  an  epithet  of  Hermes. 
The  word  has  passed  into  the  meaning  boisterous, 
noisy,  violent. — Grimm,  Teutonic  Mythology, 
vol.  i.  p.  150. 

Terminalia.  [L.]  (Hist.)  A  festival  cele- 
brated by  the  Romans  yearly  in  honour  of  Ter- 
minus, the  god  of  boundaries,  the  Zeus  Horios 
of  the  Greeks.  (Herculean.) 

Terminology.  [A  word  coined  from  L.  terminus, 
term,  and  Gr.  \dyos,  discourse.}  The  doctrine  of 
terms ;  or  a  treatise  on  terms ;  or,  sometimes, 
the  terms  themselves. 

Terminus.     (Terminalia.) 


TERM 


478 


TETR 


Terminus  a  quo.  [L.]  A  starting-point,  the 
Terminus  ad  quern  being  the  end  or  goal. 

Termites.  [L.  termitem,  a  bough  cut  o/.\ 
(Entom.)  White  ants;  small,  soft-bodied  neu- 
ropterous  insects  (not  true  ants,  which  are 
hymenopterous),  forming  large  communities,  and 
inhabiting  mounds  sometimes  five  feet  high  and 
as  hard  as  stone.  They  are  very  destructive, 
and  will  eat  away  the  whole  inside  of  a  wooden 
beam  or  piece  of  furniture  without  any  apparent 
external  injury. 
Tern.  (Sternidae.) 
Ternate  leaf.  [L.  terni,  three  each.}  (Bot.) 
One  divided  into  three  leaflets ;  e.g.  clover. 

Terra  cotta.  [It.]  Baked  clay  for  statues, 
earthenware,  etc. 

Terras  filius.  [L.,  a  son  of  the  earth.]  A 
phrase  denoting  men  of  low  birth,  answering 
to  the  modern  gentlemen  of  the  pavement, 
(Hidalgo.) 

Terras  motus.     [L.]    An  earthquake. 
Terra  firma.     [L.]     Solid  ground. 
Terra  incognita.     [L.]     Unknown  land. 
Terra  Japonica.    [L.,  Japanese  earth.}    Cate- 
chu (formerly  supposed  to  be  an  earth). 

Terrapene,  Terrapin.  (Zoo!.)  Fresh-water 
tortoises,  Emydidae  [Gr.  tufa],  with  a  horny 
beak  and  jointed  breastplate.  America  and 
Europe.  The  name  is  loosely  given  to  many 
edible  kinds. 

Terra  verde.  [It.]  An  olive-green  earth  used 
as  a  pigment. 

Terreplein.  [Fr.,  platform}  (Mil.}  The 
upper  surface  of  a  rampart  behind  the  parapet ; 
sometimes  any  level  piece  of  ground. 

Terret.  A  ring  on  a  saddle  for  the  driving 
reins  to  pass  through. 
Terre  verte.  (Terra  verde.) 
Terrier.  [L.L.  terrarium,  from  terra,  earth.} 
In  Feud.  Law,  an  enumeration  of  lands  and 
tenements  held  in  a  manor,  with  their  extent, 
the  names  of  the  tenants,  and  the  services  due 
from  each.  By  Canon  LXXXVL,  a  T.  of  glebe 
lands,  etc.,  of  every  parish  is  to  be  made  and  laid 
up  in  the  bishop's  registry.  (The  terrier  dog  is 
so  named  as  being  used  for  drawing  foxes  when 
they  take  to  earth  on  being  hunted. ) 

Terror,  Reign  of.  In  Fr.  Hist.,  a  name  given 
to  the  worst  time  of  the  Revolution,  generally 
reckoned  from  October,  1793,  to  the  fall  of 
Robespierre  and  his  fellow -Terrorists,  in  July, 
1794. 

Ter-Sanctus.    (Trisagion.) 
Tertian.    (Quartan.) 

Tertiaries.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Societies  follow- 
ing the  third  rule  of  St.  Francis  (Franciscans), 
seemingly  connected  with  the  Beghards  and 
Fraticelli. 

Tertiary  colours.  [L.  tertiarius,  from  tertius, 
third.}  Colours  derived  from  the  mixture  of 
two  secondaries.  They  are  citrine,  russet,  and 
olive. 

Tertiary  system,  or  Cainozoic  (GeoL),  =  all 
the  regular  strata  and  sedimentary  accumula- 
tions which  lie  between  the  chalk  and  the  begin- 
ning of  the  boulder,  or  drift,  formation.  (Eocene : 
Neozoic.) 


Tertullianists.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Montanists  of 
the  school  of  Tertullian,  in  the  second  century. 

Terza  rima.  [It.,  triple  rime.}  A  measure 
used  by  the  Troubadours  and  adopted  by  the 
early  Italian  poets.  The  rimes  are  so  interlaced 
throughout  the  poem,  that  there  is  no  pause  till 
the  end  of  it.  The  Divina  Commedia  of  Dante 
is  written  in  this  metre. 

Terzones.     (Troubadou  s.) 

Terzuolo.    (Musket) 

Tessellated.  [L.  tessellatus.]  (Her.)  Formed 
of  squares  of  different  colours. 

Tessellated  pavement.  [L.  tessella,  dim.  of 
tessera.]  (Arch.)  A  pavement  formed  of  small 
square  pieces  of  stone  called  tesserce,  generally  of 
different  colours  and  with  a  central  subject. 

Tessera.  [L.]  1.  A  six-sided  die,  used  as  a 
ticket  or  tally,  and  also  for  setting  military 
watches  at  night,  the  tessera  being  passed  from 
one  centurion  to  another.  Hence,  2,  a  watch- 
word. 

Tesseral  system  [L.  tessera,  a  square  piece  of 
stone,  wood];  Tessular  system.  (Crystallog.) 
The  octahedral  system  (q.v.). 

Test.  [L.  testa,  an  earthen  vessel.}  A  cupel 
(q.v.). 

Test  Act,  25  Charles  II.,  obliged  all  officers, 
civil  and  military,  as  well  as  members  of  corpo- 
rations, to  receive  the  Holy  Communion  in  the 
English  Church ;  and  to  declare  against  tran- 
substantiation. 

Testaments,  Old  and  New,  are  really  the 
O.  and  N.  Covenants,  Settlements;  T.  being 
used  as  =  solemn,  duly  attested  declaration. 
See  note  on  Heb.  ix.  in  Norris's  Notes  on 
the  New  Testament,  and  refer  to  Revised 
translation. 

Tester.  [O.Fr.  teste,  head.}  A  flat  canopy 
over  a  bed. 

Tester  (from  the  head,  O.Fr.  teste,  impressed 
on  it).  An  old  coin,  worth  sixpence. 

Test-paper.  Paper  impregnated  with  some 
reagent  for  detecting  the  presence  of  certain 
substances.  (Litmus.) 

Test-tube.  A  tube  for  holding  liquids  to  be 
tested. 

Testudo.  [L.,  a  tortoise.}  In  Rom.  Hist.,  a 
contrivance  for  attacking  fortified  places.  The 
soldiers  placed  their  shields  so  as  to  form  a  pent- 
house, which  threw  off  the  missiles  showered 
down  upon  them. 

Tetanus.  [Gr.  T  craves,  convulsive  tension} 
(Med. )  Spasm,  more  or  less  violent,  of  the  muscles 
of  voluntary  motion.  Lockjaw,  when  of  the 
muscles  of  the  jaw  or  throat.  Traumatic  T., 
when  arising  from  bodily  injury  \rpa.vnariK6s, 
having  to  do  with  a  wound  (rpavjua)]. 

Tete-a-tete.  [Fr.,  L.  testa.]  Head  to  head; 
a  conference  between  two  persons.  In  It.  a 
quatro  occhi. 

Tete-de-pont.  [Fr.,  head  of  bridge}  (Mil.) 
Work  thrown  up  to  cover  a  bridge  and  the  com- 
munications across  a  river. 

Tetemontee.  [Fr.J  A  head  that  has  been  turned. 

Tetr-,  Tetra-.      (Chem.)     A   prefix  denoting 

hat  a  salt  contains  four   [Gr.    rerpdicis,  four 

times}  atoms  of  the  element  thus  marked  ;  as  a 


TETR 


479 


THEI 


tztr-oxide,  tetra-fluoride,  which  contain  four  atoms 
of  oxygen,  fluorine,  in  each  molecule. 

Tetrachord.  [Gr.  rerpdxopSos,  four-stringed.'] 
(Music.)  1.  (Diatonic  scales.)  2.  A  series  of 
four  notes  in  the  scale ;  such  as  that  which, 
occurring  twice,  constitutes  the  major  scale  j 
so,  in  C,  from  C  to  F,  and  from  G  to  C. 

Tetradactyle.  [Gr.  rerpa.SdKTv\os,  four-fin- 
gered.} (Zool. )  Four-toed  j  as  the  dog's  hind 
foot. 

Tetraeteris.  [Gr.]  (Chron.)  A  cycle  of 
four  years,  attributed  to  Solon,  for  equalizing 
the  lunar  with  the  solar  year,  by  means  of  inter- 
calated months. 

Tetragon.  [Gr.  rfrpdywos,  four- angled. ~\  A 
quadrilateral  figure. 

Tetragrammaton.  [Gr.,  of  four  letters}  In 
Hebrew,  the  sacred  name  JeHoVaH. 

Tetrahedron.    (Polyhedron.) 

Tetralogy.   [Gr.  r€rpa\oyia.]   (Satyric  drama.) 

Tetrameter.  In  Gr.  poetry,  a  verse  of  four 
measures  [reTpd/j.GTpos]  ;  in  some  cases,  of  four 
single  feet ;  in  others,  of  four  double  feet. 

Tetramorph.  [Gr.  rerpd/j-optpos,  four -shaped.} 
A  figure  uniting  attributes  said  to  be  those  of 
the  evangelists  (a  man,  lion,  bull,  and  eagle), 
and  standing  on  winged  fiery  wheels. 

Tetraonidae.  [L.  t£traonem,  Gr.  Tfrpdwv, 
probably  bird  of  the  grouse  kind}  (Ornith.) 
Grouse,  partridge,  etc. ;  fam.  of  birds  found 
everywhere  except  south-west  of  S.  America,  and 
Polynesia.  Ord.  Galllnae. 

Tetrapla.  [Gr.  rerpmrxdos,  fourfold.}  The 
Bible  of  Origen,  as  at  first  completed,  in  four 
versions,  viz.  that  of  the  Septuagint,  with  those 
of  Aquila,  Symmachus,  and  Theodotion. 
(Hexapla.) 

Tetrapod.  [Gr.  Terpdirovs,  -irotios.  ]  Four-footed. 

Tetrapolitan  Confession.  A  confession,  differ- 
ing slightly  from  the  Augsburg  Confession,  drawn 
up,  1530,  by  the  four  towns,  Lindau,  Constance, 
Strasburg,  and  Memmingen. 

Tetraptera.  [Gr.  rerpd-irrepos,  four-winged.} 
(Entom.)  Name  given  by  some  authorities  to 
four-winged  insects. 

Tetrarch.  [Gr.  rerpdpx"ns.]  Properly  the 
governor  of  the  fourth  part  of  any  country  ;  often 
used  for  a  subordinate  prince  without  reference 
to  its  etymological  meaning. 

Tetrastich.  [Gr.  Terpdo-nxos,  in  four  rows} 
A  stanza  of  four  verses. 

Tetrastyle.  [Gr.  TfrpdffrvXos.]  (Arch.)  A 
doorway  with  four  columns  in  front. 

Tetter.  [A.  S.  teter  ;  cf.  Fr.  dartre,  which  has 
the  same  meaning.]  (Med.)  A  general  name  for 
eruptive  affections  of  the  cuticle. 

Teutbldae.     (Squid.) 

Teutonic  languages.  The  dialects  belonging 
to  the  High  and  Low  German,  and  Scandinavian 
branches  of  the  Aryan  family  of  languages. 

Teutonic  Order.  The  Teutonic  Knights  of  the 
Hospital  of  St.  Mary  in  Jerusalem.  This  order, 
founded  by  some  charitable  burghers  of  Liibeck 
and  Bremen  during  the  siege  of  Acre  in  the 
Third  Crusade,  1189-91,  rose  to  eminence  under 
the  fourth  grand  master,  Herman  of  Salza.  The 
order  was  then  transferred  to  the  Baltic.  In 


1525  Albert  of  Brandenburg  renounced  the 
title  of  grand  master  for  that  of  Duke  of  Eastern 
Prussia,  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the  modern 
kingdom  of  Prussia. 

Tewel.  [Fr.  tuyau,  pipe.}  An  iron  pipe  in  a 
forge  to  receive  the  pipe  of  the  bellows.  ' 

Textus  Eeceptus.  [L.,  the  received  text.}  The 
ordinary  text  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 
That  of  the  New  Testament  is  the  Elzevir  edition 
published  at  Leyden,  in  1624.  This  text  agreed 

fenerally  with  that  of  Beza,  who  closely  followed 
tephens,  and  Stephens  followed  the  fifth  edition 
of  Erasmus,  except  in  the  Apocalypse,  where  he 
sometimes  made  use  of  the  Complutensian. 
Hence  the  received  text  resolves  itself  at  last 
into  the  Erasmian  and  the  Complutensian. 
(Erasmus's  Paraphrase.) 

Thaborites.     (Taborites.) 

Thaive.     (Sheep,  Stages  of  growth  of.) 

Thalamus  [L.,  bed,  Gr.  6d\aiJ.os],  or  Torus 
[L.,  bed}.  (Bot.)  The  growing  point  of  a  flower, 
in  which  the  carpels  are. 

Thaler.     (Dollar.) 

Thalia.  [Gr.  6d\eta,  blooming.}  In  the 
Hesiodic  theogony,  one  of  the  Muses,  after- 
wards held  to  be  the  Muse  of  comedy. 

Thallium.  [Gr.  6a\\6s,  a  young  shoot.} 
(Chem.)  A  lead-like  metal  discovered  by  the 
bright  green  line  which  it  gives  under  spectrum 
analysis. 

Thallogens  [Gr.  6a\\6s,  a  young  shoot,  and 
yewda),  I  produce}  (Bot.)  —  cryptogams  of 
very  simple  structure,  fungi,  lichens,  algae. 

Thallus.  [Gr.  6a\\6s,  a  young  shoot}  (Bot.) 
In  cryptogamic  botany,  cellular  expansion  with- 
out any  axis  ;  e.g.  lichen. 

Thammuz.    (Tammuz.) 

Thanato-.    [Gr.  Qo.va.ros,  death.} 

Thane.  [A.S.  thegn.]  A  general  name  for 
the  old  nobility  of  England,  the  highest  being 
the  immediate  thanes  or  ministers  of  the  king. 
(Baron.) 

Thanet  sands.  (GeoL)  Marine  Tertiary  sands 
below  the  Woolwich  beds,  and  lying  on  the  chalk, 
well  seen  and  thickest  in  the  Isle  of  Thanet. 

Thaumatrope.     (Phenakistoscope.) 

Thaumaturgus.  [Gr.  Qav^arovpy^s.}  Miracle- 
worker.  Subst.,  'lhaumaturgy. 

Theatines.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  community  of 
Regular  clerks,  founded  1524,  by  Cajetan  of 
Thiene. 

Thebaid.  The  heroic  poem  of  Statins,  written 
in  the  first  century  of  our  era,  and  relating  the 
mythical  civil  war  of  Thebes  between  the  sons  of 
CEdipus.  The  word  is  also  used  to  denote  the 
region  of  the  Egyptian  Thebes,  known  as  the 
city  of  the  hundred  gates. 

Theban  year.  (Chron.)  The  Egyptian  year 
of  365  days  6  hrs. 

Thebet.  Esth.  ii.  16  ;  fourth  month  of  civil, 
tenth  of  ecclesiastical,  Jewish  year  ;  December — 
January. 

Theftbote.  [Bote,  compensation,  =  boot.} 
(Leg.)  The  compensation  of  a  felony,  by 
receiving  back  the  stolen  goods  from  the  thief, 
or  a  compensation  for  them. 

Theine.     (Caffeine.) 


THEM 


480 


THER 


Themis.  [Gr.]  In  the  Iliad,  the  goddess  of 
law  and  order,  who  summons  the  council  of  the 
gods.  She  is  the  mother  of  the  Hesperides. 

Theobromine.    (Cacao.) 

Theocracy.  [Gr.  OeoKparla.]  The  govern- 
ment of  a  state  immediately  by  God,  as  that  of 
the  Israelites  before  the  establishment  of  the 
monarchy. 

Theocrasy.  [Gr.  OeoKpcuria,  from  Beds,  and 
Kpaffis,  mixture."}  In  ancient  philosophy,  a  term 
denoting  the  blending  of  the  human  soul  with 
the  divine  Spirit  in  contemplation.  It  is  the 
modern  Quietism.  (Mystics.) 

Theodicaea.  A  word  made  up  by  Leibnitz 
from  Gr.  6e6s  and  Si'/rcuos,  just,  and  used  as  the 
title  of  his  work,  published  in  1710,  with  the  de- 
sign of  proving  that  of  all  possible  schemes  for  the 
government  of  the  world,  the  one  adopted  is  the 
best.  This  opinion  is  commonly  known  as 
Optimism,  its  opposite  being  Pessimism. 

Theodolite.  [Of  doubtful  origin  ;  said  to  have 
been  coined  from  Gr.  6fdo/j.ai,  I  view,  and  $6\os, 
stratagem  !]  (Math.)  A  surveying  instrument  for 
measuring  angles ;  consisting  essentially  of  a 
telescope  and  two  graduated  circles,  one  vertical 
and  the  other  horizontal.  It  is  mounted  on  a 
tripod,  and  can  be  accurately  adjusted  by  levels,  so 
that  the  observer  can  read  off  the  angle  of  vertical 
elevation  of  a  point  and  the  horizontal  angle  be- 
tween two  points,  i.e.  the  projection  on  a  horizon- 
tal plane  of  the  angle  subtended  at  the  centre  of 
the  instrument  by  the  line  joining  the  two  points. 

Theodosians.  Followers  of  the  Monophysite 
Theodosius,  in  the  sixth  century. 

Theodotians.     (Melchisedekians.) 

Theogony.  [Gr.  Qeoyovia.]  A  history  of  the 
relationship  and  descent  of  the  gods,  with  a  de- 
scription of  their  functions.  Such  is  the  theogony 
of  Hesiod. 

Theological  virtues.  In  Roman  Catholic 
theology  these  are  four  Cardinal  (q.v.)  virtues; 
but  a  prior  division  is  that  of  (i)  T.  V.,  faith, 
hope,  charity;  and  (2)  Moral,  or  Cardinal,  = 
those  which  do,  and  those  which  do  not,  "im- 
mediately regard  God." 

Theopaschites.  [Gr.  0e<k,  and  ird<rx<*,  J  suffer.] 
(Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of  Peter,  a  usurping 
Bishop  of  Antioch,  who  in  the  fourth  century  ex- 
pressed strong  Monophysite  opinions. 

Theophany.  [Gr.  Oeotydveia.]  A  word  denoting 
divine  manifestations  to  human  eyes. 

Theophilanthropists.  (Fr.  Hist.)  A  society 
so  styled  itself  which,  when  Christianity  had 
been  suppressed  by  the  Convention,  wished  to  set 
up  a  new  religion  in  its  place.  They  had  the 
use  of  ten  churches,  but  being  deprived  of  these 
in  1802,  they  soon  ceased  to  exist. 

Theopneustic.  [Gr.  eeorrvcvvros.]  Relating  to 
divine  inspiration. 

Theorbo.  [It.  tiorba.]  (Music.}  A  large  lute 
used  for  accompanying  voices  ;  seventeenth  cen- 
tury ;  of  Italian  origin  probably.  An  archlute 
was  a  T.  with  two  sets  of  strings,  one  for  the 
bass. 

Theorem.  [Gr.  flccoprj/ta.]  A  truth  in  science 
proposed  for  demonstration. 

Theoric    fund.     [Gr.    T&  Owpiitd,    money  for 


sights.]  At  Athens,  the  surplus  of  revenue  after 
charges  of  ordinary  expenditure  was  set  aside  as 
a  fund  to  enable  all  citizens  to  be  present  gra- 
tuitously at  the  great  dramatic  festivals.  This 
fund  could  not  be  diverted  to  purposes  cf  war. 

Theosophists.  [Gr.  Oe4o-o<pos,  wise  in  the  things 
of  God.  ]  A  name  applied  by  some  to  the  Mystics, 
as  believing  themselves  to  possess  an  extra- 
ordinary knowledge  of  the  divine  nature  by 
direct  inspiration. 

Theosophy.  A  professed  knowledge  of  divine 
things  [Gr.  Qfoaotyia],  derived  from  spiritual  in- 
tuition or  communication  of  God  ;  not  philoso- 
phically by  dialectic  method,  nor  theologically 
by  revelation. 

Theotokos.     (Deipara.) 

Therapeutae.  [Gr.  Oepaircvrai,  servants.]  1. 
A  Jewish  sect,  resembling  the  Essenes.  2. 
Christian  ascetics  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Alex- 
andria. 

Therapeutics.  [Gr.  Qepa.ir€vriK6s,  tending  to 
heal]  That  branch  of  medicine  which  has  to  do 
with  restoration  to  health. 

Thermal  unit.  [Gr.  0e0u<fe,  hot.]  (Math.] 
When  equal  quantities  of  the  same  substance  in 
the  same  state  are  acted  on  by  heat  so  that  the 
same  effect  is  produced,  the  quantities  of  heat 
are  equal  from  whatever  sources  the  heat  may 
come.  The  quantity  of  heat  required  to  change  a 
given  weight  (as  one  pound)  of  ice  at  the  freezing 
point  into  water  at  the  freezing  point,  is  a  T.  U.  ; 
the  quantity  of  heat  required  to  raise  a  pound  of 
water  from  o°  C.  to  i°  C.  is  another  T.  U. 

Thermic  fever.  [Gr.  Of  puts,  hot]  (Med.)  A 
name  sometimes  given  to  the  sunstroke. 

Thermidor.  In  the  Revolutionary  French 
calendar,  the  eleventh  month,  beginning  July 
19  and  ending  August  17.  In  1794  it  was 
signalized  by  the  fall  of  the  Terrorists,  (Terror, 
Reign  of.) 

Thermobarometer.  [Gr.  OcppAs,  hot,  pdpos, 
iveight,  fjLfrpov,  measure.  ]  A  hypsometer  (qsv.  ). 

Thermodynamics.  [Gr.  expo's,  hot,  5u»>a,ui/c<fe, 
able.]  The  science  which  treats  of  the  efficiency 
of  heat-engines  and  of  heat  as  a  form  of  energy, 
tracing  its  sensible  effects  to  movements  of  the 
molecules  of  bodies  ;  also  of  the  mechanical 
effects  due  to  heat,  and  of  the  heat  produced 
by  mechanical  agents. 

Thermo-electricity.  [Gr.  Bfpnts,  hot,  and 
electricity.]  Electricity  developed  by  the  action 
of  heat. 

Thermography.  [Gr.  eep/j.Ss,  hot,  ypd<petv,  to 
write.]  A  method  of  copying  an  engraving  on  a 
metal  plate  by  the  radiation  of  heat. 

Thermometer  [Gr.   Otprfs,  hot,  pcrov    mea- 


sure] ;  Air  T.  ;  Centigrade  T.  ;  Differential  T.  ; 
Fahrenheit's  T.;  Maximum  T.  ;  Metallic  T.; 
Minimum  T.  ;  Eeaumer's  T.  An  instrument  for 
measuring  variations  of  temperature  ;  this  is  done 
by  observing  the  expansion  and  contraction  of 
mercury,  spirits  of  wine,  or  other  suitable  liquid, 
inclosed  in  a  glass  bulb  ending  in  a  tube  of  very 
fine  bore  ;  the  fixed  points  of  the  scale  attached 
are  the  temperatures  of  melting  ice  (freezing 
point)  and  of  steam  under  a  pressure  of  about 
thirty  inches  of  mercury  (boiling  point).  In 


THER 


481 


THOR 


Fahrenheit's  T.  the  distance  between  these 
points  is  divided  into  1 80  equal  parts,  called 
degrees,  freezing  point  being  marked  32°, 
and  boiling  point  212°;  in  the  Centigrade  71 
the  former  is  marked  o°,  the  latter  100° ;  while 
in  Reaumer's  the  former  is  o°,  the  latter  80°.  In 
an  Air  T.  the  scale  of  temperature  is  determined 
by  the  expansion  of  air  under  a  constant  pres- 
sure. A  Differential  T.  consists  of  two  bulbs  on 
a  level  connected  by  a  bent  tube  containing  a 
coloured  liquid ;  if  the  bulbs  are  at  different 
temperatures,  the  unequal  expansion  of  the  air 
causes  the  liquid  to  stand  at  different  levels  in 
the  bent  tube,  and  supplies  an  accurate  measure 
of  the  difference  between  the  temperature  of  two 
neighbouring  bodies.  In  the  Metallic  T.  (Bre- 
guet's)  change  of  temperature  is  indicated  by  a 
ribbon  of  different  metals  formed  into  a  spiral 
whose  unequal  expansion  or  contraction  causes 
it  to  coil  or  uncoil  when  its  temperature  changes. 
Maximum  and  Minimum  T.  register  the  highest 
and  lowest  temperatures  that  have  occurred 
during  a  given  time. 

Thermomultiplier.     A  thermopile  (g.v.). 

Thermopile.  An  instrument  for  measuring 
minute  degrees  of  temperature.  It  consists  of  a 
number  of  short  pieces  of  antimony  and  bismuth 
joined  end  to  end,  forming,  for  instance,  a  zigzag. 
When  the  upper  joints  are  exposed  to  a  source 
of  heat  and  the  ends  of  the  zigzag  are  joined  by 
a  wire,  a  current  circulates  whose  intensity  is  pro- 
portioned to  the  heat  and  is  measured  by  the 
deflection  of  the  needle  of  a  galvanometer. 

Thermoscope.  [Gr.  6epfj.6s,  hot,  o-KoWw,  I  view.'] 
An  instrument  for  measuring  the  effects  of  heat ; 
as  a  thermopile  or  a  differential  thermometer. 

Thermotics.  [Gr.  Oep/uw,  or  perhaps  fle^uow,  / 
make  hot.'}  The  body  of  doctrines  respecting 
heat  which  have  been  established  on  proper 
scientific  grounds. 

Theroid  [Gr.  QypoeiS-fjs]  idiocy.  When  the 
appearance  [e75os]  and  habit  are  like  those  of  a 
beast  [6-fjp]. 

Thersites.  [Gr.]  In  the  Iliad,  a  deformed 
and  noisy  Achaian,  whom  Odysseus  (Ulysses) 
smites  for  his  plain  speaking.  Hence  any  inso- 
lent railer. 

Theseus,  Temple  of.  The  only  temple  of 
ancient  Athens  which  still  remains  almost  un- 
injured, perhaps  from  the  fact  that  it  was  in  the 
Middle  Ages  consecrated  as  a  Christian  Church. 

Thesmophoria.  [Gr.]  At  Athens  and  else- 
where, the  festival  of  Demeter,  surnamed  Thes- 
mophoros,  or  the  lawgiver.  (Eleusinian 
Mysteries.) 

Thesmothetae.     (Archons.) 

Thespian  art.  The  tragic  or  dramatic  art  is 
sometimes  so  called,  from  Thespis,  an  Athenian, 
who,  in  the  sixth  century  B.C.,  first  gave  it  some 
definite  form. 

Thetes.  [Gr.]  In  Athenian  Hist.,  a  class  of 
tenants  or  occupiers  of  land,  called  also  Hekte- 
morians,  as  paying  to  the  owner  one-sixth  por- 
tion [rb  l/fTTjMop'0'']  of  the  yearly  produce. 

Thetis.  [Gr.]  (Myth.)  One  of  the  Nereids, 
who  becomes  the  wife  of  Peleus  and  the  mother 
of  Achilles.  (Paris,  Judgment  of.) 


Thibet  cloth.  A  goat's-hair  fabric  resembling 
camlet. 

Thick  and  dry  for  weighing.  (Naut.)  An 
order  to  clap  on  nippers  closely,  at  starting  the 
anchor. 

Thick-and-thin  block.    Fiddle-block.     (Fiddle.) 

Thill.  [A.S.  Jnlle,  a  beam,  a  stake.]  The 
draught-tree  of  a  cart  or  waggon. 

Thiller,  Thill-horse.  The  horse  between  the 
shafts,  or  next  the  thill  (q.v.). 

Thimble.  (Naut.)  A  ring  with  its  outer  side 
concave,  to  bind  a  rope  round.  T.-eyes,  holes 
in  iron  plates  to  reeve  ropes  through. 

Thing.  In  the  old  Swedish  and  cognate  lan- 
guages, a  popular  judicial  or  legislative  as- 
sembly. The  Icelandic  althing,  or  general 
parliament,  met  in  the  Thingvalla. 

Thinga-men.     (House-carls.) 

Thingvalla.     (Thing.) 

Thin  plates,  Colours  of.     (Colour.) 

Third  Order.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Secular  associates, 
not  bound  by  vows,  attached  to  most  of  the 
Religious  Orders.  (Tertiaries.) 

Third  Pointed  style.     (Geometrical  style.) 

Thirlage.  In  Scot.  Law,  the  right,  con- 
ferred, by  law  or  contract,  on  the  owner  of  a 
mill,  to  compel  the  tenants  of  a  certain  district 
to  grind  all  their  grain  at  his  mill. 

Thirty  Tyrants.  1.  At  Athens,  at  the  close  of 
the  Peloponnesian  War,  for  one  year,  a  body  of 
rulers  who  upset  the  constitution  of  the  city  ; 
and,  2,  "by  an  idle  and  defective  parallel,"  a 
crowd  of  usurpers,  "nineteen  in  number,  start- 
ing up  in  every  province  of  the  Roman  empire," 
in  the  reign  of  Gallienus,  A.D.  253-268 
(Gibbon). 

Thirty  Years'  War.  (Hist.}  A  name  given 
to  a  series  of  wars  between  the  Protestant  and 
Catholic  leagues  in  Germany,  from  the  insurrec- 
tion of  the  Bohemians  in  16 18,  to  the  Peace  of 
Westphalia,  1648. 

Thistle  of  St.  Andrew.  An  old  Scottish  order 
of  knighthood,  revived  by  James  V.  of  Scotland, 
in  1540;  by  James  II.,  in  1687  ;  and  by  Queen 
Anne,  1703. 

Thmei.  An  Egyptian  goddess,  often  repre- 
sented in  the  hands  of  the  statues  of  kings.  The 
Heb.  Thummim  is  supposed  to  be  the  plural  of 
the  name. 

Tholes,  Thole-pins,  or  Thowels.  (Naut.)  Pins 
placed  in  the  gunwale  of  a  boat  for  oars  to  work 
between  or  on,  instead  of  rowlocks. 

Tholus.  [Gr.  06\os.]  (Arch.)  A  building  of 
circular  form,  or  the  roof  of  such  a  building. 

Thomaeans,  or  Thomites.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The 
Christians  of  St.  Thomas,  on  the  Malabar  coast 
of  India,  are  sometimes  so  called. 

Thomas  the  Rimer.    (Tanhaiiser.) 

Thomists.     (Schoolmen.) 

Thoorgum.     ( Tycoon. ) 

Thor.  In  Teut.  Myth.,  a  son  of  Odin,  or 
Woden,  the  supreme  god,  and  of  his  wife  Freya. 
The  name  is  a  form  of  the  word  Thunor, 
thtmder  ;  hence  Thunres-daeg,  our  Thursday. 
Thor  is  especially  known  as  Miolnir,  the  ham- 
merer, or  poundtr. 

Thorax,   or  Chest.      [Gr.   Qwpa$,    breastplate, 


THOR 


482 


THYR 


thorax.}  (Anat.)  That  which  lies  between  the 
neck  and  the  abdomen  ;  the  upper  of  the  two 
divisions  of  the  body,  containing  the  heart  and 
lungs.  In  insects,  the  second  segment.  Tho- 
racic  (hut,  a  small  duct,  which  conveys  the  con- 
tents of  the  lacteals  and  absorbents  into  the 
blood. 

Thorium,  Thorinum.  (Chevt.)  A  heavy  grey 
metal  obtained  from  thorite  (a  Norwegian  earth, 
named  from  the  god  Thor). 

Thorney  Island.  Ancient  name  of  a  part  of 
Westminster,  including  the  site  of  the  abbey, 
adjoining  the  Thames,  covered  with  brushwood, 
and  surrounded  by  a  branch  of  the  river. 

Thorough,  The.  (Hist. )  The  name  given  by 
Strafford,  in  his  correspondence  with  Archbishop 
Laud,  to  his  design  of  establishing  an  absolute 
monarchy  in  this  country  by  means  of  a  military 
force. 

Thorough  bass.  (Music.)  1.  Commonly,  but 
wrongly,  used  as  =  science  of  harmony.  2.  A 
bass  part,  with  figures  added,  indicating  the  har- 
monies ;  a  kind  of  musical  shorthand.  (Figured 
bass.) 

Thorough-brace.  A  leather  strap  supporting 
the  body  of  a  carriage. 

Thorough-bred  horse  may  be  defined,  per 
accident,  as  one  whose  sire  and  dam  are  both  in 
the  Racing  Calendar, 

Thorough-pin.    In  a  horse.     (Spavin.) 

Thoth,  Taout.  An  Egyptian  deity,  represented 
as  a  human  figure  with  the  head  of  a  lamb  or 
ibis,  and  venerated  as  the  inventor  of  writing. 

Thought,  To  take,  i  Sam.  ix.  5  ;  Matt.  vi. 
25,  etc.  ;  Gr.  ^  /iepiyunijo-TjTe,  retains  its  earlier 
meaning  (to  be  over-anxious,  worried),  which 
survives  ir  some  parts  of  England. 

Thousand  and  One  Nights.  The  title  of  the 
tales  more  commonly  known  as  the  Arabian 
Nights1  Tales,  derived  from  the  Persian  collection 
called  Hegar  Afzaneh  (the  Thousand  Fanciful 
Tales),  which  is  at  least  as  old  as  the  ninth  cen- 
tury, and  is  itself  obtained  from  earlier  models. 

Thowels.    (Tholes.) 

Thrall.  [A.S.  thral.]  One  who  has  no  civil 
rights  in  relation  to  his  master,  a  bondman. 
(Helots;  Peonage;  Eyot ;  Villein.) 

Three-centred  arch.    (Arch.) 

Three  Chapters.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  An  ordinance 
of  the  Emperor  Justinian,  condemning  certain 
works  of  Theodore  of  Mopsuestia,  Theodoret 
of  Cyprus,  and  Ibas  of  Edessa,  on  the  ground  of 
their  Nestorianism.— Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin 
Christianity,  bk.  iii.  ch.  4.  (Nestorians.) 

Three  Dons.    (Three  Kings'  Day.) 

Three  Kings'  Day.  Dreikonigstag,  Twelfth 
Day  in  Germany  ;  the  legend  being  that  the 
Magi  were  three  kings,  and  worshipped  Christ 
on  that  day.  Their  traditional  names  are  Caspar, 
Melchipr,  and  Balthazar.  Three  Kings,  or  Three 
Tons,  i.e.  Dons,  is  sometimes  the  sign  of  an  inn. 

Three  sheets  in  the  wind.  In  Naut.  slang, 
reeling  drunk. 

Three  Tons.    (Three  Kings'  Day.) 

Threnody.  [Gr.  0pi^a5fo.]  A  dirge,  funeral 
song.  ^ 

Thrift.    (Rot.)    A  native  plant,  common  on 


muddy  and  rocky  sea-shores,  banks  of  estuaries  ; 
found  frequently  on  high  mountains  ;  cultivated 
as  an  edging  for  its  rose-coloured  flowers.  Ar- 
meria  maritima,  ord.  Plumbagineoe. 

Throat.  (Naut.)  I.q.  jaw  of  gaff  (q.v.). 
T.-halliards,  those  for  hoisting  the  jaw  end  of 
the  gaff. 

Thropple.     In  a  horse,  the  windpipe. 

Throttle- valve.  (Mech.)  A  valve  in  the 
steam-pipe  for  regulating  the  supply  of  steam  to 
the  cylinder  ;  under  the  control  of  the  governor 
it  moves  so  as  to  enlarge  or  contract  the  free 
space  according  as  the  main  shaft  is  moving 
below  or  above  its  just  rate. 

Throwing.  [A.S.  thrawan,  to  twist.]  1. 
Twisting  into  a  thread  (as  silk).  2.  Shaping 
roughly  on  a  potter's  wheel. 

Thrum.  [Ger.  trumm.]  An  end  of  a  weaver's 
thread,  a  tuft. 

Thrum,  To.    (Pothering.) 

Thrush.     (Mcd.)     (Aphthae.) 

Thrush,  Trush.  In  horses,  ulceration  of  the 
sensitive  surfaces  within  the  frog ;  from  various 
causes. 

Thugs.  [From  the  Hind,  verb  thugna,  to 
deceive.]  An  association  of  thieves  and  mur- 
derers, which  has  long  existed  in  India,  but  has 
been  extirpated  in  all  British  territories.  The 
special  object  of  their  worship  was  the  goddess 
Bhowani,  the  Vedic  Bhuvani,  a  name  from  the 
same  root  as  the  Gr.  Phusis,  nahtre. 

Thule.  A  name  given  by  ancient  writers  to 
some  land  lying  north  of  Great  Britain,  which 
may  be  Iceland.  (Atlantis,  New.) 

Thummim.     (Thmei.) 

Thundering  Legion.  In  the  expedition  ot 
Marcus  AntSnmus  against  the  Marcomanni,  A.D. 
174,  a  Roman  legion,  whose  prayer  for  rain  is 
said  to  have  brought  down  the  storm  which 
threw  the  enemy  into  confusion. 

Thunor.    (Thor.) 

Thurificati.     (Sacrificati.) 

Thurl.  [O.E.  thyrl,  from  thyrhel,  drilled 
through.]  A  long  adit  in  a  coal-pit,  or  a  passage 
between  two  adits. 

Thursday.    (Thor.) 

Thwarting.     (Athwart.) 

Thwarts.  (Naut.)  The  seats  across  a  boat 
for  the  rowers.  T.-marks  to  a  harbour,  two 
points  on  land,  which  being  kept  in  a  line  point 
out  a  channel. 

Thyine-wood.  [Gr.  £v\ov  Qvlvov.]  The  citron- 
wood  of  the  Romans ;  of  the  N.-African  0via, 
Callitris  quaclrivalvis,  allied  to  the  cypress ; 
very  beautiful  and  durable,  much  prized  in  all 
times  for  works  of  art. 

Thymus  gland.  [Gr.  05,uoy.]  One  of  the 
sweet-breads  of  calf  and  lamb  ;  so  called  from 
its  likeness  to  a  bunch  of  thyme ;  a  temporary 
ductless  gland,  in  front  of  the  lungs,  diminishing 
or  disappearing  with  age. 

Thyroid,  properly  Thyreoid,  cartilage.  [Gr. 
0upeoe/5TJs.]  (Anat.)  The  upper  and  anterior  part 
of  the  larynx  ;  when  prominent,  Adam's  apple  ; 
like  a  shield  [flupeos].  T.  gland  is  in  front  and 
at  the  side  of  the  larynx  ;  ductless  ;  its  function 
but  little  understood.  (Bronchocele.) 


THYR 


483 


TIMO 


Thyrsus.  [Gr.  8vpffos.}  A  staff  intwined  with 
ivy,  and  borne  by  the  Bacchanals  in  the  orgies 
of  Bacchus.  (Bacchanalian. ) 

Thysanoptera.     (Hemiptera.) 

Tiara.  [L.  tiaras]  1.  The  Persian  head-dress, 
worn  by  the  great  king.  2.  The  mitre  of  the  pope, 
which  was  at  first  a  round  high  cap.  The  first 
gold  circle  was  added  by  Nicholas  I.,  the  second 
by  Boniface  VIII.,  and  the  third  by  Urban  V. 

Tibia.  [L.,  shin-bone.}  1.  (Anat.)  The  bone 
of  the  leg,  between  the  knee  and  the  ankle,  by 
the  side  of  which  the  fibula  (q.v.)  is  fixed.  2. 
(Music.)  A  pipe,  flute,  originally  made  of  bone, 
the  commonest  musical  instrument  of  the  Greeks 
and  the  Romans.  It  regulated  the  dance  at 
sacrifices,  festivals,  the  rowing  of  the  trireme, 
sometimes  also  the  march  of  troops  to  battle 
(Herod.,  i.  17).  T.  dextra,  played  with  the 
right  hand,  bass  ;  T.  sTnistra,  with  the  left, 
treble.  Tibia  pares  \equal\,  both  treble  or  both 
bass,  impares  [unequal},  one  of  each. 

Tic  douloureux.  [Fr. ,  painful  spasm.']  Neur- 
algia of  the  trifacial  nerve. 

Ticking.  1.  A  closely  woven  cloth  for  bed- 
ticks.  2.  The  best  kind  of  artist's  canvas. 

Tide  [A.  S.  ti'd,  Ger.  zeit,  time]  ;  Atmospheric 
T. ;  T.-day ;  Derivative  T. ;  Primary  T. ;  T.-wave. 
The  periodical  variations  in  the  height  of  the 
surface  of  the  sea  at  any  given  place  depending 
on  the  relative  position  of  the  moon  and  in  a 
less  degree  of  the  sun.  The  T.-wave  is  the 
joint  result  due  to  the  coexistence  of  the  waves 
produced  by  the  action  of  the  sun  and  moon. 
Speaking  with  respect  to  the  ocean  generally,  it 
is  a  very  flat  wave,  with  two  crests  about  180° 
of  longitude  apart :  this  is  the  Primary  T.  ;  the 
Derivative  tides  are  those  experienced  near  shore, 
in  channels,  rivers,  etc.,  where  the  primary  T. 
is  modified  by  the  form  of  the  channel  and  its 
bottom,  and  the  movement  of  the  water  partakes 
of  the  nature  of  a  current  as  well  as  of  an  oscil- 
lation. The  T.-day  is  the  interval  between  two 
successive  arrivals  at  the  same  place  of  the  same 
crest  of  the  tide,  i.e.  between  one  high  tide  and 
the  next  high  tide  but  one.  The  Atmospheric  T. 
consists  of  elevations  and  depressions  of  the 
atmosphere  analogous  to  those  of  the  ocean  tides, 
and  produced  in  a  like  manner. 

Tide-gauge.  A  contrivance  for  registering 
continuously  the  height  of  the  tido  at  every 
instant  in  the  course  of  the  day. 

Tierce.    (Canonical  hours.) 

Tiercel.    (Tarsel.) 

Tiers  Etat.  [Fr.]  Under  the  Ancien  regime, 
the  third  branch,  or  commonalty,  in  the  French 
Estates,  or  Parliament,  the  other  two  being  the 
nobles  and  the  clergy. 

Tiffany.     A  fine  thin  silk. 

Tig.    (Tyg.) 

Tiles,  Encaustic.  [Gr.  tyKavarriKfa,  having  to 
do  rvith  burning  in.}  Tiles  with  figures  of  dif- 
ferent coloured  clays  indented  on  their  surface, 
and  finally  exposed  to  an  intense  heat  for  sixty 
hours. 

Tlliaceae.  (Bot.)  A  nat.  ord.  of  plants,  of 
which  the  only  British  gen.  is  [L.]  Tilia,  lime  or 
linden  tree. 


Till.     (Boulder-clay.) 

Tiller,  To.  [A.S.  telgian,  to  branch.]  (Agr.) 
To  sprout  from  the  base  of  the  slem  ;  spoken  of 
wheat,  etc. 

Tiller,  (Naut.)  The  bar  fitted  to  the  rudder- 
head,  and  by  which  it  is  moved.  T.-head,  the 
end  furthest  from  the  rudder. 

Tilsit,  Treaty  of.     (Tugendbui  d.) 

Tilt.  [A.S.  teld,  a  tent ;  cf.  Ger.  zelt.]  (Agr.) 
The  cloth,  or  canvas  cover,  for  a  stack,  cart,  or 
waggon. 


[A.S.  til*,  id.,  tilian,  to  till.}  (Agr.) 
1.  The  depth  of  soil  cultivated  or  fit  for  culti- 
vation. 2.  The  condition  into  which  1  is 
brought  by  cultivation. 

Tilt-hammer.  A  heavy  hammer  used  in  forg- 
ing ;  it  turns  round  an  axle  at  one  end  and  is 
lifted  by  a  projection  or  cam  on  the  axle  of  a 
wheel,  which  on  working  clear  of  the  hammer 
allows  it  to  fall  on  to  the  mass  on  the  anvil. 

Timbers.     (Naut.)     A  ship's  ribs. 

Timber  trees.  In  Law,  generally  speaking, 
=  oak,  ash,  elm. 

Timbre.  [Probably  L.  tympanum,  a  drum.} 
The  quality  of  a  note.  (Duality  of  a  musical 
note.) 

Timbre,  Timber.  [Fr.  timbre,  Ger.  zimmer.] 
A  package  of  small  skins,  containing  a  fixed 
number. 

Time ;  Absolute  T. ;  Apparent  solar  T. ;  Astro- 
nomical T. ;  Civil  T. ;  Equation  of  T. ;  Local  T. ; 
Mean  solar  T. ;  Relative  T. ;  Sidereal  T.  Abso- 
lute time  is  duration,  and  flows  on  uniformly  ; 
Relative  T.  is  a  measure  of  duration  effected  by 
a  comparison  of  motions,  so  that  two  portions 
of  time  are  equal  in  which  two  exactly  similar 
movements  occur.  The  larger  units  are  deter- 
mined by  the  seeming  motions  of  the  stars  and 
sun  ;  the  movements  which  measure  the  smaller 
portions  of  time  and  serve  to  subdivide  the 
larger  units  are  the  oscillations  of  a  pendulum 
or  the  vibrations  of  a  spring.  Apparent  solar 
T.,  or  Apparent  7\,  is  time  measured  by  the 
motion  of  the  apparent  (i.e.  the  actual)  sun; 
Mean  solar  T.,  or  Mean  T.,  by  that  of  the  mean 
sun  ;  Sidereal  T. ,  by  that  of  the  first  point  of 
Aries.  Local  T.  is  the  mean,  or  apparent,  or 
sidereal  time  reckoned  at  any  station  with  refer- 
ence to  the  transits  of  the  mean  sun,  or  of  the 
apparent  sun,  or  of  the  first  point  of  Aries,  at 
that  station.  Civil  T.  is  reckoned  from  mid- 
night, Astronomical  T.  from  the  following  noon  ; 
thus,  7th  September,  nine  o'clock  a.m.  civil 
time,  =  September,  six  days  twenty-one  hours 
astronomical  time.  (For  Equation  of  T.t  vide 
Equation  ;  also  vide  Day  and  Year.) 

Time-keeper.  An  accurate  clock  or  chrono- 
meter. 

Timeo  Danaos,  et  dona  ferentes.  [L.]  1  fear 
the  Greeks  even  ivhen  bringing  us  presents  (and 
am  against  receiving  this  wooden  horse)  (Virgil) ; 
i.e.  one  suspects  the  gifts  and  kindness  coming 
suddenly  from  those  who  have  hitherto  acted  so 
differently. 

Timocracy.  [Gr.  Tl^oKparla.}  A  Greek  term 
denoting  two  kinds  of  political  constitution:  1, 
that  of  Aristotle,  in  which  property  is  the  quali- 


TIMO 


484 


TODB 


fication  for  office  ;  and  2,  the  T.  of  Plato,  in 
which  the  best  of  the  citizens  struggle  for  pre- 
eminence. 

Timonier.  [L.  temonem,  beam,  pole  of  a  car- 
riage, etc.]  (Naut.)  1.  The  helmsman.  2.  A 
man,  on  the  look-out,  to  direct  the  helmsman. 

Tin.  [Fr.  etain,  L.  stannum.]  A  white  metal. 
The  tin  of  which  kettles,  etc.,  are  made  is  tin 
plate,  consisting  of  sheet  iron  coated  with  tin. 
Block  tin  is  coarse  tin  cast  into  blocks.  Grain 
tin  is  fine  crystalline  tin  in  small  fragments. 
Tin-stone  is  native  dioxide  of  tin ;  when  found 
washed  down  in  alluvial  soils,  it  is  called  stream 
tin.  Tin-foil  is  tin  beaten  out  into  thin  leaves. 
Tin  prepare  liquor  is  stannate  of  sodium,  used  in 
preparing  calico  for  the  dye.  Tin-salt  is  dichlo- 
ride  of  tin,  a  mordant  (q.v.). 

Tincal.   [Hind,  tincar.]  (Chem.)  Crude  borax. 

Tinchell.  [Gael,  timchioll,  a  circuit.]  In  the 
Scottish  Highlands,  the  inclosing  of  game  by  a 
circle  of  sportsmen,  for  the  purpose  of  a  Battue. 

Tincture.  [L.  tinctura,  a  dyeing]  (Her.} 
The  colour  of  a  shield  or  its  bearings. 

Tindal.     (Naut.)     Lascar  boatswain's  mate. 

Tine.  [O.E.,  tooth  of  a  harrow,  etc. ;  cf.  Ger. 
zahn,  tooth.]  (Antlers.) 

Tinnitus  aurlura.  [L.,  ringing  in  the  ears] 
(Med.)  Arising  from  various  causes ;  some- 
times unimportant,  sometimes  a  prelude  to 
entire  deafness. 

Tinto.    A  red  Madeira  wine. 

Tint-tool.  A  kind  of  graving  tool  for  cutting 
lines  of  a  certain  breadth  on  copper  or  wood. 

Tipping  all  nines,  or  Tipped  the  nines.  In 
Naut.  language,  foundering  or  foundered  from 
press  of  sail. 

Tipping  the  grampus.  In  Naut.  slang,  ducking 
a  man  for  sleeping  on  his  watch. 

Tipstaff.  The  name  for  the  constables  in 
attendance  on  the  courts  of  Chancery  and  Com- 
mon Law. 

Tirailleurs.  [Fr.]  French  'sharpshooters,  or 
skirmishers. 

Tirocinium.  [L.]  1.  First  military  service, 
military  rawness,  the  condition  of  a  tiro  [L.,  a 
raw  recruit].  Hence,  2,  a  first  beginning,  an 
early  effort. 

T-iron.  Rolled  iron  bars,  whose  cross  section 
is  shaped  like  a  T. 

Tironian  notes.  The  old  Roman  shorthand, 
said  to  have  been  brought  from  Greece  by  Tiro, 
the  freedman  of  Cicero. 

Tirshatha.  The  title  of  the  governor  of  Judsea 
under  foreign  rulers. 

Tisane.     (Ptisan.) 

Tisri.  Post- Babylonian  name  for  Ethanim 
(q.v.). 

Titanium.  [L.  and  Gr.  Titan.]  A  deep-blue 
metal,  very  hard  and  refractory. 

Titans.  [Gr.  TfTawr.]  (Myth.)  The  children 
of  OuSrnos  (Uranus)  and  Ge,  heaven  and  earth. 
Among  these  was  Kronos  (Cronus),  the  father  of 
Zeus,  or  Jupiter.  At  the  close  of  their  war  with 
Zeus,  they  were  thrust  down  into  Tartarus. 

Tithes.  [A.S.  teotha,  tenth]  Anciently  pay- 
able:— Prcedial  [L.  praedium,  an  estate],  of  things 
arising  immediately  out  of  the  ground  :  grain, 


fruits,  herbs.  Mixed,  of  things  nourished  by  the 
earth  :  colts,  calves,  pigs,  lambs,  chickens,  milk, 
cheese,  eggs.  Personal,  of  profits  arising  from 
labour  and  trade.  Great  tithes  are  of  corn,  hay, 
wood  ;  Small  T.,  of  the  other  prsedial  T., 
together  with  mixed  and  personal.  Modus 
decimandi,  or  Modus,  is  a  local  special  manner 
of  tithing,  e.g.  a  sum  of  money  paid  annually  per 
acre,  or  a  less  amount  given  in  tithe,  and  part 
in  labour,  etc.  Composition  [L.  compositio, 
settlement  of  a  difference],  the  purchasing,  by  a 
single  sum,  of  exemption  from  tithe.  Commu- 
tation (q.v.},  an  exchanging  of  tithes  for  a  rent- 
charge. 

Tithonic.  [L.  tithonius.]  Belonging  to  Titho- 
nus,  husband  of  Eos  (Aurora,  the  dawn). 
(Actinic  rays.) 

Titmarsh,  Michael  Angelo,  Norn  de  plume  of 
William  Makepeace  Thackeray. 

Titration.  [Fr.  titre,  a  standard]  Analysis  by 
means  of  solutions  of  a  fixed  standard  strength. 

Titular.  [L.  titulus,  a  title]  In  Eccl.  usage, 
one  invested  with  the  title  to  a  benefice,  the 
implied  meaning  being  generally  that  he  has  the 
title  and  nothing  more. 

Titular  bishops.  1.  Bishops  without  special 
jurisdiction.  2.  Bishops  who  are  called  bishops 
in  partibus,  sc.  infidelium,  their  titles  belonging 
to  countries  possessed  by  heretics  or  heathens. 

Tivy.  Quickly ;  abbrev.  of  tantivy,  the  note 
of  a  hunting-horn. 

Tmesis.  [Gr.,  a  cutting]  In  Gr.,  the  separa- 
tion of  a  compound  word  into  two  parts  by 
interposing  a  word  between  them ;  as  in  to  us 
ward. 

Toad-stone.  [Ger.  todt-stein,  dead,  i.e.  useless, 
stone]  (Geol.)  Beds  and  dykes  of  basalt,  in 
Derbyshire  limestone.  Local  name. 

Tobacco  charts.  In  Naut.  language,  untrust- 
worthy charts. 

Tobine.  [Ger.  tobin.]  A  stout  twilled  silk 
used  for  dresses. 

Tobogan,  Tarbogan.  A  sleigh  used  in  Canada 
and  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  drawn  by 
dogs,  for  travelling  over  snow  ;  made  of  thin 
boards,  ten  or  twelve  feet  long,  and  from  twelve 
to  fifteen  inches  broad.  Smaller  ones,  from  five 
to  eight  feet  long,  are  also  used  in  Canada  for 
sliding  down  hill  over  snow. — Bartlett's  Ameri- 
canisms. 

To-brake.  The  preterite  of  the  O.E.  verb  to- 
brcak,  used  in  Judg.  ix.  53. 

Toccata.  [It.  toccare,"/^  touch,  play  itpon] 
(Music.}  1.  A  prelude.  2.  A  fantasia. 

Tocher  (akin  to  dcnver}.  In  Scot.  Law,  a  term 
for  a  father's  marriage  portion  to  a  daughter  at 
the  time  of  marriage. 

Tocsin.  [Fr.  toquer,  to  touch,  sin,  L.  signum, 
in  mediaeval  sense  of  bell  (Littre).]  An  alarm- 
bell. 

Tod.  [Cf.  Ger.  zote,  a  knot  or  ball  of  wool] 
1.  A  bush ;  e.g.  ivy  tod.  2.  Of  wool,  twenty- 
eight  pounds.  3.  A  fox,  perhaps  as  if  =  bushy- 
tailed. 

Tod-boat.  (Naut.)  Broad,  flat,  Dutch  fishing- 
boat. 

Toddy.    The  fermented  juice  of  the  palin  tree. 


TOFT 


485 


TONS 


-toft.  In  Geog.,  a  Norse  word,  meaning  an 
inclosure,  a  tuft  of  trees. 

Toga.  [L.]  A  loose  woollen  garment,  worn 
by  Romans  generally,  hence  called  gens  togata, 
toga-clad  people.  Usually  white  ;  but  of  a  dark 
colour  in  mourning.  The  toga  prcetexta,  worn 
by  magistrates  and  others,  had  a  broad  purple 
border.  The  toga  virtlis,  which  had  no  border, 
was  put  on  by  boys  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 

Toggle.  (Naut.)  A  strong  wooden  pin  for 
securing  a  tackle,  etc. 

Tohu  bohu.  The  Hebrew  words  in  Gen.  i.  2, 
denoting  that  the  earth  was  "without  form  and 
void."  Sometimes  used  to  express  chaos  gene- 
rally. 

Toilinette.  [Fr.]  Cloth  the  weft  of  which  is 
woollen  yarn,  and  the  warp  cotton  and  silk. 

Toise.  [Fr. ,  L.  tensa ;  the  distance  between 
the  outstretched  arms.]  The  old  French  T. 
was  divided  into  six  feet,  and  each  foot  into 
twelve  inches ;  its  length  was  76736  English 
inches  ;  the  T.  Usuelle  is  two  metres,  or  78742 
English  inches. 

Toison  d'Or.  [Fr.,  L.  tonsionem,  a  shearing, 
aurum,  gold.~\  Golden  Fleece. 

Tokay.  An  aromatic  wine,  made  at  Tokay, 
in  Hungary. 

Token.  [A.S.  tacen.]  1.  Ten  quires  of  paper. 
A  white  token  is  two  hundred  and  fifty  sheets  of 
paper,  printed  on  both  sides.  2.  A  piece  of 
metal,  issued  for  currency,  usually  impressed 
with  the  name  of  the  party  sssuing  it,  who  was 
bound  to  redeem  it  for  lawful  coin  of  the  realm. 

Tolbooth.     (Tolsey.) 

Tolerance.  [L.  tolerantia,  endurance.}  (Med.) 
The  ability,  in  a  diseased  person,  to  bear  strong 
medicines. 

Toleration  Act,  I  William  and  Mary,  exempted 
those  taking  the  new  oaths  of  allegiance  and 
supremacy,  and  making  the  required  declaration 
against  popery,  from  the  penalties  incurred  by 
absence  from  church  and  by  holding  unlawful 
conventicles  ;  allowed  Quakers  to  make  affirma- 
tion in  certain  cases  ;  but  did  not  relax  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Corporation  and  Test  Acts.  Those 
who  denied  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  were 
excluded  from  its  operation. 

Tollendi,  Per  modum.  (Log.)  By  a  method 
of  exhaustion.  (Exhaustion,  Method  of.) 

Tolsey.  An  O.E.  name  for  a  place  where  tolls 
were  assessed  or  collected.  The  word  tolbooth 
had  probably  the  same  origin. 

Tolu.  The  resinous  product  of  a  spec. ,  Tolui- 
ferum,  of  Myrospermum,  a  gen.  of  tropical 
American  trees  or  shrubs,  of  the  fam.  Legumi- 
nosoe. 

Tolutation.  An  obsolete  word,  denoting  a 
pacing  or  ambling  motion,  from  L.  tolutim,  on  a 
trot. 

Tomahawk.  [Atner.]  A  kind  of  hatchet 
thrown  as  a  weapon  by  the  N.-American  Indians. 

Tombac.  [Malay  tambaga,  copper.}  An  alloy 
like  brass,  but  containing  more  zinc.  White 
tombac  contains  arsenic  as  well. 

Tom  Cox's  traverse.  In  Naut.  language,  up 
one  hatchway  and  down  another,  much  talk  and 
little  work. 


Tom  Pepper.     In  Naut.  language,  a  liar. 

-tomy.     [Gr.  ro^.]     Cutting. 

Ton.  [A.S.  tunne.]  1.  A  weight  of  20 
hundredweights  or  2240  pounds.  2.  A  ton  of 
tonnage  is  a  certain  number  of  cubic  feet  of  the 
space  which  a  vessel  has  disposable  for  stowage  ; 
it  is  frequently  reckoned  at  thirty-five  cubic  feet,  •• 
that  being  assumed  as  the  volume  of  a  ton  of 
sea-water  ;  sometimes  at  forty  cubic  feet. 

Tonality.  (Music.)  Not  easily  defined,  is 
the  characteristic  of  modern  as  distinguished 
from  ancient  music,  which  arises  from  its  being 
written  in  definite  keys,  and  from  the  definite- 
ness  of  the  diatonic  scale. 

Tonbridge  ware  (made  at  Tonbr-idge  Wells]. 
Wooden  articles  decorated  with  tesselated 
veneers  of  various  coloured  woods. 

Tondino.  [It.]  (Arch.}   The  same  as  Astragal. 

Tone  [Gr.  r6vos,  a  tone,  from  rciva,  I  stretch} ; 
Fundamental  T.  A  musical  sound  incapable  of 
resolution,  and  resulting  from  a  simple  vibration. 
Suppose  a  stretched  string  to  make  any  number 
(say  264)  of  complete  vibrations  a  second  ;  if  its 
length  were  reduced  to  a  half,  a  third,  a  fourth, 
etc.,  other  things  remaining  the  same,  it  will 
make  528,  792,  1056,  etc.,  vibrations  a  second  : 
the  tone  corresponding  to  the  264  vibrations 
is  the  Fundamental  T.  of  the  string ;  those 
corresponding  to  the  others  (viz.  the  octave,  the 
fifth  above  the  octave,  the  second  octave,  etc.) 
are  the  Harmonics,  i.e.  the  acute  harmonics, 
or  harmonic  overtones,  of  the  fundamental 
tone. 

Tones,  Gregorian.  Ecclesiastical  chants ; 
said  to  have  been  introduced  into  the  Latin 
Church  by  Pope  Gregory  the  Great,  in  the  sixth 
century.  They  belong  probably  to  much  more 
ancient  times. 

Tonga.     (Tonquin  bean.) 

Tonic.  [Gr.  TOVOS,  tone,  note.]  1.  (Med.)  A 
strengthening  medicine.  2.  (Music.)  The  key- 
note. Tonic  Sol-fa  is  a  simplification  of  the 
writing  of  music  by  the  use  of  letters  denoting 
sounds,  and  of  strokes,  commas,  colons,  denoting 
time  ;  instead  of  the  ordinary  notation. 

Tonnage.  (Naut.)  A  ship's  admeasurement. 
(Ton.) 

Tonnage  and  poundage.  (Eng.  Hist.)  Duties 
granted  by  Parliament  to  the  Crown,  the  former 
on  wines,  the  latter  on  all  other  kinds  of  mer- 
chandise. By  Charles  I.  they  were  collected  for 
fifteen  years  on  his  own  authority — a  right  which 
he  was  compelled  to  surrender.  They  are  now 
merged  in  the  general  customs  duties. 

Tonquin  bean.  The  Coumarouna  odorata  of 
French  Guiana,  belonging  to  the  ord.  Legumi- 
nosse  ;  a  large  forest  tree.  The  fruit  is  an  oblong 
hard  drupe,  the  kernel  of  which  yields  the 
sweet  scent  used  by  perfumers. 

Tonsils.  [L.  tonsillae.]  Two  suboval,  complex 
glands,  one  on  each  side  of  the  fauces,  secreting 
a  kind  of  saliva  ;  imperfectly  understood. 

Tonsure.  [L.  tonsura,  from  tondeo,  /  shave.] 
(Eccl.)  The  shaven  crown  of  persons  in  holy 
orders,  representing,  it  is  supposed,  the  crown 
of  thorns.  The  tonsure  of  St.  Paul,  used  in  the 
Eastern  Church,  differs  from  that  of  St.  Peter, 


TONT 


486 


TORS 


or  the  Latin,  in  going  across  the  whole  front  of 
the  head  from  ear  to  ear. 

Tontine.  A  method  of  raising  annuities  on 
the  joint  lives  of  a  number  of  subscribers,  devised 
by  one  Tonti,  in  the  seventeenth  century,  the 
principle  being  that  the  subscribers  receive  an 
annuity  in  proportion  to  their  shares,  with  a  right 
of  survivorship,  the  last  receiving  such  a  pro- 
portion of  the  whole  sum  as  may  have  been 
determined  at  the  time  of  the  creation  of  the 
tontine. 

Toon-wood.  A  coarse  reddish  wood,  used  in 
India  for  furniture. 

Toothed  wheels  (Mech.)  are  set  on  parallel 
axles,  and  either  is  capable  of  driving  the  other 
by  means  of  projections  or  teeth  cut  on  their 
circumferences. 

Tooth-shell.    (Limpet.) 

Top.  (Naut.)  A  platform  at  the  head  of  a 
tower  mast.  T.  -armour,  a  fencing  on  the  after 
side,  about  three  feet  high,  covered  with  red 
baize  or  canvas  painted  red.  T.-armings, 
hammocks  stowed  in  the  rigging,  to  protect  rifle- 
men. T.  a  yard,  or  boom,  to  raise  one  end  by 
halliards.  T.-castles,  a  kind  of  wooden  castle  at 
the  masthead,  in  ancient  ships. 

Toparchy.  [Gr.  roTrapxia,  from  T^TTOS,  a  place, 
and  #pxw>  ^  rule.}  (Hist.}  A  state  consisting 
of  only  a  few  cities  or  towns. 

Top-armour,  (ATaut.)  A  railing  on  the  top, 
supported  by  stanchions  and  equipped  with 
netting. 

Topaz.  Of  Rev.  xxi.  20  [roird£iov],  =  the 
peridot  and  (modern)  chrysolite,  the  former 
being  the  greener  variety. 

Tope.  [Pali  thupa,  Skt.  stupa,  accumulation  ; 
and  so  nearly  =  L.  tumulus.]  Buddhistic  monu- 
ment, for  preservation  of  relics ;  height  from  a 
few  feet  to  300  feet ;  in  Ceylon,  China,  Thibet, 
etc.  The  oldest  are  cupola-shaped  ;  on  many 
are  parasol-shaped  structures,  one  above  another, 
and  on  the  top  of  all  is  some  metal  ornament ; 
their  use  and  meaning  somewhat  obscure. 

Tope.  1.  (Zool.)  Galeus  canis  [Gr.  ya\e<is]  ; 
a  small  spec,  of  shark.  Fam.  Galeidze.  2. 
(Naut.)  A  small  Chinese  junk. 

Top-gallant,  in  Cotton  MSS.  Top  garland. 
(Naut.)  T.-G.  forecastle.  (Decks.)  T.-G.  mast. 
(Mast.)  T.-G.  sails.  Squaresails  set  on  T.-G. 
mast. 

Top-hamper.  (Naut.)  1.  Any  necessary 
weight  on  deck,  or  about  the  masts  and  rigging. 
2.  Flying-kites  and  their  gear. 

Tophet.  [Heb.]  A  garden  of  the  Jewish 
kings,  denied  by  sacrifices  to  Moloch.  The 
name  is  by  some  derived  from  the  Heb.  toph, 
a  drum,  drums  being  used  to  drown  the  cries 
of  the  human  victims  offered  to  the  god. 

Topiary  art.  [L.  topiaria,  sc.  ars.j  The  art 
of  gardening,  particularly  of  trimming  trees  into 
fantastic  shapes. 

Topics.  [Gr.  roirifrrf?,  from  rfaos,  a  place.] 
(Rhet.)  General  truths  relating  to  the  various 
subjects,  in  art,  science,  jurisprudence,  etc., 
which  may  be  dealt  with  by  the  orator.  These 
were  committed  to  memory,  and  the  speaker 
was  thus  supposed  to  be  furnished  with  a  store 


of  commonplaces,  from  which  he  could  be  at  no 
loss  to  draw.  Many  of  these  T.  are  practically 
Axioms. 

Top-lantern,  or  Top-light.  (Naut.)  One  in 
the  after  part  of  the  top  in  a  flag  or  pennant 
ship. 

Topmast.    (Mast.) 

Toppings.  That  which  comes  from  the  hemp 
in  hatch elling. 

Top-ropes.  (Naut. )  Those  by  which  the  top- 
mast, or  topgallant-mast,  or  topgallant-yard,  is 
raised  and  lowered. 

Topsails.  (Naut.)  Those  set  on  a  topmast. 
(Mast.) 

Toque.    [Fr.,  It.  tocca.]    A  sort  of  head-dress. 

Torah.  [Heb.,  teaching.)  The  traditional 
interpretation  of  the  Mosaic  Law,  uniting  the 
statute  law  and  the  prophetic  words  of  Jehovah. 

Toreutic.  [Gr.  ropevrtK 6s.]  Highly  finished. 
Specially  applied  to  carvings  in  hard  wood, 
ivory,  etc. 

Tormina.  [L.  neut.  plu.,  =  the  twisting  things, 
torqueo,  I  twist,  torture.}  (Med.)  Griping  pains. 

Tornado.  [Sp.,  from  tornor,  to  turn.}  A 
violent  wind  of  short  duration,  arising  suddenly 
from  the  shore  and  veering  round  from  all  points 
of  the  compass. 

Torpedo.  [L.,  from  torpeo,  I  am  numb.] 
1.  (Ichth.)  Fam.  of  marine  fish;  rays  with 
electric  organ.  Temperate  and  tropical  latitudes. 
Fam^  Torpedinidse,  sub-ord.  Batoiddi,  ord. 
Plagiostomata,  sub-class  Chondropte"rygii.  2. 
(Mil.)  Submarine  mine,  either  stationary  or 
floating,  for  destroying  ships  passing  over  them. 

Torque.     (Torques.) 

Torqued.  [L.  torquere,  to  twist.]  (Her.)  A 
dolphin  twisted  into  the  form  S. 

Torques.  [L.]  A  chain  or  collar  of  metal 
ringlets  interlaced  with  each  other,  and  worn 
round  the  neck,  specially  by  the  Gauls.  From 
depriving  one  of  their  chiefs  of  his  collar, 
T.  Manlius  was  surnamed  Torquatus,  B.C.  361. 
(S.S.,  Collar  of.) 

Torricellian  tube  (Torricelli,  Ital.,  1608-1647; 
successor  of  Galileo  at  Florence) ;  T.  vacuum. 
The  glass  tube  containing  mercury  which  is  the 
essential  part  of  the  barometer.  The  T.  vacuum 
is  the  space  in  the  tube  above  the  mercury, 
which  in  a  good  instrument  is  devoid  of  air,  and 
contains  nothing  but  the  vapour  of  mercury. 

Torrid  zone.     (Zone.) 

Tors  \cf.  Mount  Taurus,  L,  turris,  Gr.  rvpffis, 
a  tou>er]  are  the  harder  portions  of  granite  after 
weathering;  remaining  more  or  less  exactly 
posed  above  one  another. 

Torse.     [O.Fr.]     (Her.)    A  wreath. 

Torsion ;  Angle  of  T. ;  T.  balance.  1.  The 
act  of  twisting  [L.  torsionem].  2.  The  resist- 
ance offered  by  the  elasticity  of  a  body  to  its 
being  twisted,  and  so  the  force  with  which  a 
twisted  thread  or  wire  tends  to  recover  its  form. 
If  a  thin  thread  or  wire  is  held  at  one  end  and 
twisted  by  a  couple  (two  equal  opposite  forces 
acting  at  opposite  ends  of  an  arm),  the  angle 
through  which  the  arm  of  the  couple  turns  before 
it  is  balanced  by  the  elasticity  of  torsion  is  the 
Angle  of  T.  In  a  T.  balance  the  in  tensity  of  a 


TORS 


487 


TOWE 


small  force  or  couple  is  estimated  by  observing 
the  angle  of  torsion  of  a  standard  thread  or  wire  j 
used  in  electrical  measurements. 

Torsion  balance.     (Torsion.) 

Torso.  [It.,  L.  thyrsus,  a  stem,  a  staff,}  A 
broken  statue,  exhibiting  only  the  trunk  of  the 
figure. 

Tort  [Fr.,  wrong}  (Leg.)  has  been  defined  as 
a  wrong  or  injury  that  is  independent  of  con- 
tract;  e.g.  the  invasion  of  a  right,  the  breach 
or  neglect  of  a  duty,  public  or  private ;  as  by 
waste,  nuisance,  libel,  etc. 

Torteau.     [O.Fr.]     A  red  roundlet  or  disc. 

Torticollis.  [L.  torquere,  to  tivist,  collum, 
the  neck.}  (Med.)  Wry-neck.  A  rheumatic 
affection  of  the  muscles  of  the  neck. 

Tortilla.  [Sp.]  A  thin  unleavened  cake  of 
maize  flour. 

Tortoise-shell  turtle.  [Fr.  tortue,  Sp.  tortuga, 
from  its  twisted  feet.]  (Chelonidse.) 

Tortuous.  (Math.)  A  curve  in  which,  any 
four  consecutive  points  being  taken,  the  fourth 
does  not  lie  in  the  same  plane  as  the  first  three, 
is  T.  The  thread  of  a  screw  is  a  T.  curve. 
Such  a  curve  is  often  called  a  curve  of  double 
curvature. 

Torus.  [L.,  a  swelling,  a  couch.}  1.  (Arch.) 
A  moulding  on  the  bases  of  columns,  with  a 
semicircular  profile.  2.  (Thalamus.) 

Tory.  In  the  time  of  Charles  II.,  this  name 
was  applied  to  bog-trotting  plunderers  and  to 
popish  outlaws,  otherwise  called  Whiteboys, 
who  found  refuge  in  the  bogs  of  Ireland. 
Hence  it  was  used  to  denote  those  who  would 
not  vote  for  excluding  a  Roman  Catholic 
prince  from  the  throne  (Macaulay,  Hist,  of 
England,  vol.  i.  ch.  3).  It  thus  came  to  desig- 
nate generally  the  party  which  desires  to  uphold, 
so  far  as  may  be  possible,  without  change,  the 
existing  order  of  things.  The  word  is  a  corr. 
of  the  Ir.  toiridhe,  or  tor,  a  pursuer  (Skeat). 
(Abhorrers.) 

Tosh,  To.  In  Naut.  parlance,  to  steal  copper 
from  a  ship's  bottom  or  dockyard  store. 

Tosorthrus.  The  Egyptian  name  of  the  sove- 
reign or  sovereigns  known  to  Europeans  under 
the  name  Sesostris.  From  the  accounts  of 
Herodotus,  Manetho,  and  Diodorus,  it  seems 
impossible  to  say  when  he  reigned.  The  date  of 
the  Sesostris  of  Manetho  differs  from  that  of  the 
S.  of  Herodotus  by  about  2000  years.  Accord- 
to  Herodotus,  he  was  a  conqueror  who  subdued 
both  Assyria  and  Asia  Minor. 

Tossing,  Tozing.  A  process  consisting  in  sus- 
pending ores  by  shaking  them  violently  in  water. 

Tot,  or  Tott.  (Naut.)  A  drinking- vessel, 
holding  rather  less  than  half  a  pint. 

Totem.  A  corr.  of  an  Algonkin  word,  mean- 
ing "that  which  peculiarly  belongs  to  him;" 
the  family  mark  or  coat  of  arms  of  the  N.- 
American Indians  ;  some  quadruped,  bird,  etc. 
— Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Totidem  verbis.  [L.,  in  so  many  words.}  An 
exact  report. 

Totis  viribus.     [L.]     With  all  his  strength. 

Toto  caelo.  [L.,  by  the  whole  heaven.}  Wide 
asunder  as  the  poles. 

32 


Totus  mundus  agit  histrionem.  [L.,  all  the 
world  acts  the  player}  "All  the  world's  a 
stage."  "The  Globe  Theatre,"  at  which 
Shakespeare's  plays  were  first  acted,  was  so 
called  from  its  sign,  a  figure  of  Atlas  supporting 
a  globe,  under  which  was  written  "  Totus,"  etc. 
— Mrs.  Boger,  Southwark  and  its  Story,  p.  126. 

Toucan.  [Sp.  tucas,  tulcan.]  (Ornith.)  A 
fam.  of  birds,  Rhamphastidae  [Gr.  fia.fji.tyos,  beak} ; 
plumage  coloured  in  patches ;  bills  huge  and 
often  bright-coloured.  Forests  of  Trop.  America. 
Ord.  Plcarioe. 

Touch.     (Bell-ringing.) 

Touching.  (Naut.)  Said  of  sails  beginning 
to  shiver. 

Touch-needle.  A  small  bar  of  gold  or  silver, 
alloyed  in  some  known  proportions  with  copper, 
for  trying  the  purity  of  gold  or  silver  articles  by 
comparison  of  the  streaks  made  by  them  on  the 
piece  of  hard  black  stone  called  touchstone. 

Touchstone.     (Basanite.) 

Toupet.  [Fr.]  A  tuft  of  hair  worn  on  the 
top  of  the  forehead  ;  a  small  wig  for  concealing 
partial  baldness. 

Touraco,  Crested.     (Opisthocomi.) 

Tourbillon.  [Fr.,  a  whirlwind.}  A  firework 
which  turns  round  in  the  air  so  as  to  look  like  a 
scroll  of  fire. 

Tour  de  force.  [Fr.]  A  feat  of  strength,  a 
clever  thing. 

Tourmaline.  [Fr.,  (?)  a  Cingalese  word 
(Littre).]  Silicate  of  alumina  and  iron,  with 
boracic  acid  ;  prismatic,  varying  in  colour  from 
black  to  green  and  red  ;  clear  or  opaque,  wide- 
spread in  granitic  rocks,  and  of  many  varieties,, 
of  which  the  red,  Rubellite,  is  a  valuable  gem. 

Tourn.  An  O.E.  word,  denoting  the  circuit 
made  twice  yearly  by  the  sheriff,  for  the  purpose 
of  holding  in  each  hundred  the  Court-leet  of  the 
county. 

Tournaments.     (Jousts.) 

Tourniquet.  [Fr.,  a  turnstile,  L.L.  tomico, 
I  turn  in  a  lathe. }  (Surg. )  A  bandage  tightened 
by  a  screw  pressing  upon  some  point  in  which  it 
is  desired  to  stop  hemorrhage. 

Tous-les-mois.  [Fr.,  all  the  months,  i.e.  avail- 
able all  the  year  round. )  A  kind  of  arrowroot, 
from  the  tubers  of  some  S.- American  spec,  of 
canna. 

Toussaint,  La.     [Fr.]    All  Saints'  Day. 

Tout  ensemble.    [Fr.]   The  general  appearance* 

Tout  le  monde.  [Fr.]  Ihe  whole  world ; 
everybody. 

Tout  vient  a  qui  sait  attendre.  [Fr.]  Every- 
thing comes  to  him  who  knows  how  to  wait. 

Towel.  A  word  found  in  most  of  the  Teu- 
tonic and  Romance  dialects,  in  widely  varying 
forms,  all  containing  a  root  denoting  washing. 
(Dowlas.) 

Tower  bastion.  (Mil.)  Masonry  fort  placed 
in  the  inner  line  of  fortification  on  the  capitals  of 
the  polygon,  to  increase  the  defence  by  guns 
sheltered  in  its  casemates. 

Towers,  Bound.  In  Ireland,  cylindrical  edi- 
fices, from  eighty  to  a  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
high,  with  a  door  eight  or  ten  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  with  narrow  openings  at  the  top. 


TOWN 


TRAN 


Dr  Petrie  (Eccles.  Arch,  of  Ireland,  i.  12)  be- 
lieves that  they  are  simply  detached  Campaniles 
of  churches,  built  so  as  to  be  available  for  de- 
fence. There  are  sixty-two  such  towers  in  Ire- 
land, and  two  in  Scotland— at  Aberaethy  and 
Brechin. 

Town.  Originally  an  inclosure  ;  a  farmhouse 
with  its  buildings.  In  Wyclifs  Bible,  the  pro- 
digal goes  into  the  T.  to  feed  swine.  (Tun.) 

Town-major.  (Mil.)  An  officer  performing 
in  an  open  town  the  duties  of  a  fort-major 

Toxicology.  [Gr.  To£ucck,  i.e.  <f>dpnaucov,  poison, 
belonging  to  a  bow,  prison  for  arrows.]  (Med. ) 
Science  of  poisons,  their  action,  results  post- 
mortem, methods  of  detection,  etc. 

Trabaccolo.  (Aaut.)  An  Adriatic  merchant- 
vessel. 

Trabea.  [L.]  A  toga  ornamented  with 
purple  horizontal  stripes,  worn  by  the  Consuls  in 
public  solemnities ;  and  by  equites  (perhaps 
also  by  Augurs).  Hence  the  badge  of  the 
equestrian  order.  The  toga  of  the  Roman 
emperors  was  wholly  of  purple. 

Trabeated.  [L.  trabs,  trabem,  a  beam.]  (Arch.) 
Furnished  with  an  entablature. 

Tracery,  Window.  (Arch.)  A  term  applied 
to  the  figures  in  the  heads  of  windows,  in  which 
the  lights  and  figures  are  combined  by  label 
and  arch,  with  Mnllions  instead  of  portions  of 
wall,  the  Spandrels  also  being  pierced.  (Plate 
tracery.) 

Trachea.  [Gr.  rpdx«*a,  fern,  of  rpdxvs,  rough.] 
(Anat.)  The  windpipe,  the  tube  which  opens 
through  the  larynx  into  the  throat,  by  which  the 
lungs  communicate  with  the  air. 

Trachelo-.     [Gr.  rpaxTjAo?,  the  throat,  neck.] 

Trachytes  [Gr.  rpdxvs,  rough],  or  Greystones. 
(Geol.)  Rough-feeling,  greyish  varieties  of  lava, 
consisting  of  entangled  crystals  of  felspar. 

Track-boat,  Treck-boat.  (A'out.)  One  dragged 
on  a  canal  or  narrow  stream. 

Tractarians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  Those  who  took 
part  in  the  theological  movement,  which  defi- 
nitely took  shape  at  Oxford  in  1833  >  so  called 
from  the  Tracts  for  the  Times,  which  began  to 
appear  in  that  year,  and  ended  in  1841,  with 
Tract  xc. 

Traction,  Angle  of;  T.-engine.  The  angle 
made  with  the  road  by  the  direction  of  the  force 
which  draws  a  body  along  the  road;  a  T.- 
engine  is  a  locomotive  for  drawing  waggons 
along  a  highway. 

Tractoration.     Use  of  metallic  tractors  (g.v.). 

Trade,  Board  of.  A  branch  of  the  Privy 
Council,  established  under  Charles  II.,  as  the 
Committee  of  the  Privy  C,  for  trade  and  planta- 
tions. Its  powers  of  late  years  have  been  much 
enlarged. 

Tradescantia.  (Bot.)  A  gen.  of  lily-like  plants 
belonging  to  the  Commelynaceae,  of  which  the 
common  spiderwort  is  one  kind.  A  term  inte- 
resting as  preserving  the  name  of  the  Tradescants 
— the  father  a  travelled  naturalist  and  antiquary, 
gardener  to  Charles  I.,  whose  collection  formed 
the  nucleus  of  the  Ashmolean  Museum  ;  the  son 
also  a  travelled  naturalist. 


Trades-union.  An  arrangement  or  combina- 
tion entered  into  by  the  workmen  of  particular 
trades  or  manufactures,  to  regulate  the  price  and 
the  hours  of  labour,  and  sometimes  the  number 
of  workmen  engaged  by  an  employer ;  recognized 
by  law. 

Trade- wind  (from  the  use  of  such  winds  to 
traders).  A  gentle  current  of  air  in  the  equa- 
torial regions,  whose  general  direction  is  from 
N.E.  to  S.W.  north  of  the  equator,  and  S.E. 
to  N.W.  south  of  the  equator. 

Tragacanth,  Gum  dragon.  [Gr.  rpayaKayBa.] 
An  African  gum,  used  for  stiffening  crape,  etc., 
obtained  from  several  kinds  of  astragalus. 

Tragedy.  [Gr.  rpaytp&la.]  A  drama  with  a 
catastrophe,  exhibited  first  at  the  Greek  festivals 
of  Dionysus  (Bacchus),  and  said  to  be  so  named 
from  the  goat  [rpdyos]  then  offered  to  that  god. 
(Theoric  fund.) 

Trabit  sua  quamqne  voluptas.  [L.]  Every 
man  follows  his  own  likings  (Virgil). 

Trail.  ( Mil.)  1.  Strong  beam  of  a  field  gun- 
carriage,  which  supports  it  on  the  ground  in  rear 
whilst  being  fired,  and  by  which  it  is  limbered  up 
for  transport.  2.  Horizontal  position  of  a  mus- 
ket, carried  down  at  arm's  length. 

Trailbaston,  Justices  of.  In  O.E.  Law,  an 
itinerant  court,  set  up  under  Edward  I.,  for  the 
summary  punishment  of  disturbers  of  the  peace, 
etc.  So  named,  perhaps,  from  the  staves  [O.Yr. 
baston]  which  the  marshals  of  the  court  carried 
or  trailed  after  them. 

Train-band.  A  kind  of  militia  formerly  exist- 
ing in  London  for  the  protection  of  the  city. 

Train-oil.     Whale-oil. 

Trait-d'-union.     [Fr.]    A  hyphen  (q.v.\ 

Tram.  [L.  trama,  weft]  A  silk  thread  formed 
of  two  or  more  threads  twisted  together,  and 
used  for  the  wefts  of  the  best  velvets  and  silks. 

Trambling.  Washing  (tin  ore)  with  a  shovel 
in  a  frame. 

Trammel.  [Fr.  tramail.]  (Afech.)  An  instru- 
ment in  which  are  two  grooves  at  right  angles  to 
each  other,  used  in  connexion  with  a  rod  in  which 
are  two  projecting  points  and  a  pencil  point,  all 
capable  of  adjustment ;  when  the  rod  moves 
with  a  projecting  point  in  each  groove,  the 
pencil  point  traces  out  an  ellipse. 

Tramontane.     (Ultramontane.) 

Trankeh,  or  Trankies.  (Naut.)  A  large  boat 
of  the  Persian  Gulf. 

Transcendental.  [L.  transcendentem,  climbing 
beyond]  In  the  philosophy  of  Kant,  that  which 
can  be  determined  a  priori  in  regard  to  the 
fundamental  principles  of  all  human  knowledge. 

Transcendental  function.  (Math.)  One  that 
cannot  be  expressed  in  finite  terms  by  powers 
or  the  sum  of  powers  of  the  variable ;  thus,  a*, 
log.  .r,  sin.  JT,  are  transcendental  functions  of  x, 
while  oar4  +  bx~  is  an  algebraical  function  of  jr. 

Transepts.  [L.  trans,  across,  septum,  an  in- 
closed space]  (Arch.)  The  arms  of  the  cross  on 
which  the  plan  of  cruciform  churches  is  laid  out. 

Transform.  [L.  trans,  beyond,  forma,  farm] 
(Math.)  To  express  the  same  thing  in  a  dif- 
ferent form  ;  thus,  given  the  equation  to  a  curve 
referred  to  one  set  of  co-ordinates,  to  express  the 


TRAN 


489 


TREE 


equation  to  the  same  curve  referred  to  another 
set  of  co-ordinates  is  to  T.  the  co-ordinates. 

Transit  [L.  transitus,  a  passing  across}  ;  T. 
circle ;  Inferior  T. ;  T.  instrument ;  Lower  T. ; 
Superior  T. ;  Upper  T.  1.  The  passage  of  an  in- 
ferior planet,  Mercury  or  Venus,  over  the  sun's 
disc.  2.  The  passage  of  a  heavenly  body  across 
the  meridian  of  a  station ;  the  station  being  in  the 
northern  (southern)  hemisphere,  if  it  take  place 
between  the  pole  and  the  south  (north)  point  of 
the  horizon,  it  is  a  Superior  or  Upper  T.,  or 
simply  a  T.  ;  if  between  the.  pole  and  the  north 
(south)  point  of  the  horizon,  it  is  an  Inferior  or 
Lower  T.  A  T.  instrument  is  an  astronomical 
telescope  mounted  so  as,  after  adjustment,  to 
move  in  the  plane  of  the  meridian ;  it  is  used 
for  observing  transits  of  the  heavenly  bodies  ;  it 
is  one  of  the  principal  instruments  of  a  fixed 
observatory.  A  T.  circle  combines  in  one  the 
transit  instrument  and  the  mural  circle  (q.v.). 

Transition  system.  In  Geol.,  a  word  once  used 
for  carboniferous  limestone,  etc. ,  as  marking  the 
T.  from  the  non-fossiliferous  to  the  fossiliferous. 

Transliterate.  [L.  trans,  across,  litera,  letter.] 
To  give  the  words  of  one  language  in  the  alphabet 
of  another  ;  as  Gr.  wd.fj.vt)<ns,  anamnesis. 

Transmew.  [Fr.  transmuer,  from  L.  transmu- 
tare.]  To  transmute. 

Transom.  [L.  transtrum,  a  cross-beam.']  (Arch.) 
A  horizontal  bar  across  a  window,  or  across  the 
lights  separated  by  the  Mullions. 

Transpadane.  [L.  transpadanus.]  Beyond  the 
river  Po. 

Transpose.  [L.  transpono,  I  transfer.]  (Algeb.) 
To  remove  a  quantity  from  one  side  of  an  equa- 
tion to  the  other. 

Transubstantiation.  [L.  trans,  and  substantia, 
substance.]  The  doctrine  of  the  Latin  Church 
that  in  the  Eucharist  the  substance  of  the  bread 
and  wine  is  replaced  by  the  substance  of  the 
body  and  blood  of  Christ.  (Consubstantiation.) 

Transversal.  [L.  trans,  and  versus,  turned.] 
(Math. )  A  line  which  cuts  a  system  of  lines  ; 
as  that  which  cuts  the  three  sides  (one  or  more 
produced)  of  a  triangle. 

Transverse  axis;  T.  vibration.  (Math.)  Of 
ellipse  or  hyperbola,  the  line  passing  through 
their  foci,  and  with  respect  to  which  they  are 
symmetrical.  (For  T.  vibration,  vide  Vibration.) 

Transvolation.  [L.  trans,  across,  volare,  to 
fly.]  A  flying  beyond  or  across. 

Trapezium.     (Quadrilateral.) 

Trapezoid.    (Quadrilateral.) 

Trappists.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  religious  order, 
founded  1 140  by  a  count  of  Perche,  in  the  valley 
of  La  Trappe,  and  revived  by  the  Abbe  de  Ranee 
in  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.  The  rule  is  singu- 
larly austere. 

Trap-rocks.  [Sw.  trappa,  a  stair.]  (Gcol.) 
Rocks  spread  out  in  flat,  j/r/>-like  masses  by 
successive  volcanic  eruptions ;  some  hard  and 
crystalline,  basalts,  greenstones,  clinkstones, 
felstones,  etc.  ;  some  soft  and  earthy,  clay- 
stones,  trap-tuffs.  Used  generally  for  any 
igneous  rock  indeterminate  at  first  sight. 

Trash.  [Ger.  dreschen,  to  thrash.]  Loppings 
of  trees,  bruised  sugar-canes,  etc. 


Traumatic.  [Gr.  rpav/jLariK^s.]  Relating  to, 
caused  by,  wounds. 

Trave.  [L.  trSbem,  a  beam.]  A  wooden  frame 
to  hold  a  horse  whilst  being  shod.  (Trevis.) 

Traveller.  (Naut.)  An  iron  hoop,  or  ring, 
running  on  spars,  stays,  etc.,  to  carry  a  sail,  etc. 

Travelling  beacb.es.     (Raised  beaches.) 

Traverse.  [L.  transversus,  turned  across, 
placed  athwart.]  1.  (Leg.)  In  pleading,  signifies 
a  denial  of  some  material  allegation  of  fact  in 
the  plaintiff's  declaration  or  statement  of  claim. 
2.  To  take  the  bearings  and  distances  along 
roads  and  boundaries  with  an  instrument ; 
for  the  purpose  of  plotting  (q.v.)  their  outlines 
upon  paper.  3.  (Mil.)  Mound  of  earth  placed 
generally  across  the  terreplein  of  a  rampart,  to 
prevent  the  effect  of  ricochet  fire  (q.v. ). 

Traverses.  (Naut. )  Tacks,  or  legs.  (Tom  Cox's 
traverse.) 

Traverse  sailing.  (Naut.)  Combining  a  ship's 
irregular  or  zigzag  courses  (due  to  contrary 
winds  or  other  causes),  so  as  to  obtain  the 
net  result. 

Traversing  platform.  (Mil.)  For  sea  batteries, 
a  movable  rest  for  gun-carriages,  which,  by 
means  of  runners  and  a  revolving  frame,  com- 
mands a  large  arc  of  a  circle. 

Travertine.  (Geol.)  A  white  calcareous  rock, 
deposited  from  water  holding  lime  in  solution  ; 
e.g.  that  of  the  Anio  at  Tibur  ;  Travertinus  lapis, 
i.e.  Tiburtlnus,  stone  of  Tibur,  Tivoli. 

Travesty.  [L.  tra,  trans,  beyond,  vestire,  to 
clothe^\  A  disguise  ;  an  absurd  representation 
or  misrepresentation  of  a  thing. 

Trawl.  1.  A  kind  of  drag-net  for  catching 
fish  that  live  near  the  bottom.  2.  A  long  line 
having  short  lines  with  baited  hooks  attached 
to  it. 

Tread.  The  upper  surface  of  a  banquette,  on 
which  one  may  stand. 

Tread  of  a  ship  or  keel.  (Naut.)  Its  length 
on  the  keel. 

Treason,  Misprision  of.  The  bare  knowledge 
and  concealment  of  treason,  without  any  consent 
to  it,  such  consent  making  the  party  a  principal 
traitor. 

Treasure.  In  Myth.,  the  precious  things  be- 
longing to  the  Dawn-maiden,  lost  or  stolen,  and 
recovered  and  taken  back ;  as  of  Helen,  Bryn- 
hild,  etc.  The  legends  of  the  Argonauts,  of  the 
Trojan  War,  of  the  Volsunga  Saga,  the  Nibe- 
lungen-lied,  relate  to  this  subject. 

Treasurer,  Lord  High.  Formerly  the  third 
great  officer  of  the  Crown.  The  office  is  now 
executed  by  the  five  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
Treasury. 

Treasure  trove.  [Fr.  tresor  trouve,  treasure 
found.]  Money,  coin,  gold,  silver,  plate,  or 
bullion,  found  hidden  in  the  earth,  the  owner 
being  unknown  ;  which  belongs  to  the  king,  or, 
in  certain  cases,  by  grant  or  prescription,  to  the 
lord  of  the  manor ;  if  found  on  the  earth  or  in 
the  sea,  to  the  finder,  if  no  owner  appears.  The 
duty  of  investigating  cases  of  treasure  trove 
belonged  to  the  Coroner.  The  Treasury  has  now 
power  to  remit  the  Crown's  rights. 

Trebuchet.     [Fr.,   L.L.    trabutium.]    In  the 


TREE 


490 


TRIG 


Middle  Ages,  an  engine  for  throwing  stones,  fiery 
materials,  or  other  projectiles,  by  means  of 
counterpoise,  the  sling  for  holding  the  projectile 
being  fixed  at  the  long  end  of  a  lever,  while  a 
heavy  weight  was  fastened  at  the  short  end. 

Trebucket.    (Trebuchet.) 

Treck-boat.    (Track-boat.) 

Treck-schuyt.  (Naut.)  Dutch  canal-boat, 
carrying  goods  and  passengers. 

Tree.  Acts  v.  30  ;  in  its  older  sense  of  timber, 
as  well  as  growing  tree ;  so  axle-tree,  boot-tree, 
tree-nail,  saddle-tree. 

Tree-nails.  Pegs  of  hard  wood,  to  join  tim- 
bers, etc.  (Corr.  into  trenail,  pron.  trennel.) 

Trench.  [Fr.  trancher,  to  cut.}  (Mil.} 
Ditch,  with  the  materials  dug  out  of  it  formed 
into  a  covering  parapet  in  front. 

Trenchmore.  A  popular  English  dance,  lively 
and  somewhat  boisterous  j  sixteenth  and  seven- 
teenth centuries. 

Trend.  ( Geog. )  To  tend,  to  lie  in  any  particular 
direction  ;  as  of  a  coast-line  or  line  of  hills. 

Trent,  Council  of.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  Council 
summoned  by  Paul  III.,  in  1545,  and  continued 
in  twenty-five  sessions  to  1563.  Its  most  im- 
portant decrees  deal  with  subjects  involved  in 
the  controversies  occasioned  by  the  Reformation. 

Trental.  [L.L.  trentale,  from  L.  triginta, 
thirty.}  In  the  Latin  Church,  a  Mass  said 
within  thirty  days  of  a  person's  death. 

Trepan.  [Gr.  rpijirat/ov,  an  auger,  a  trepan, 
Tpvirdcn,  I  bore.}  Circular  saw  for  perforating 
the  skull,  to  relieve  pressure  on  the  brain. 

Trepang.    ( Holothuro'idea. ) 

Trephine.  An  improved  form  of  the  trepan 
(q.v.) 

Trepidation  of  the  fixed  stars.  (Astron.)  An 
imaginary  movement  of  the  sphere  of  the  fixed 
stars,  in  virtue  of  which  it  was  supposed  that 
the  equinoctial  points  described  circles  of  about 
8°  in  radius  about  fixed  points  ;  invented  by  an 
Arabian  astronomer  (Arzachel)  to  account  for 
the  apparent  changes  in  the  position  of  the 
stars,  which  he  thought  were  not  sufficiently 
accounted  for  by  a  uniform  precession  of  the 
equinoctial  points. 

Tressure.  A  bordering  like  an  orle  (q.v.},  but 
only  half  its  width.  It  may  be  double  or  even 
treble. 

Trestle-trees.  (Naut.)  Two  strong  bars  of 
wood  on  each  side  of  a  masthead,  supporting 
the  tops,  upper  mast,  and  cross-trees. 

Tret.  [Perhaps  from  L.  tritus,  part,  of  t£ro, 
/  rub  away.]  In  Com.,  an  allowance  of  four 
pounds  out  of  every  104  pounds  on  certain  goods 
which  are  liable  to  waste  from  dust,  etc.  (Tare.) 

Trevat  A  tool  for  cutting  the  pile  threads  of 
velvet. 

Trevis  (a  misspelling  for  traverse),  or  Break. 
(Farr.)  For  performing  any  operation  ;  a 
framework  of  four  strong  posts,  braced  together 
with  transverse  bars  ;  within  which  the  horse, 
secured  by  broad  bands,  is  placed.  (Trave.) 

Trews:    Trousers. 

Tria  capita.  In  Rom.  Law,  the  three  chief 
things  of  civil  or  political  life — libertas,  clvitas, 
familia;  liberty,  citizenship,  family  rights. 


Triads.  [Gr.  rpids,  rpidtios.]  Poetical  his- 
tories of  the  Welsh  bards,  thrown  into  the  form 
of  triplets.  They  are  probably  not  older  than 
the  reign  of  Edward  I.  (Quaternion.) 

Tria  juncta  in  uno.  [L.]  Three  joined 'in  one  ; 
as  in  a  political  coalition.  The  motto  of  the 
Isle  of  Man. 

Trial  by  jury.    (Jury,  Trial  by.) 

Triangle.  [L.  triangulum  and  -lus.]  (Math.) 
A  plane  figure  bounded  by  three  straight  lines. 
Triangles  are  classified  as  Scalene  [Gr.  aKo.\t)v6s, 
limping,  uneven},  having  no  two  sides  equal ; 
Isosceles  [i<ro(r/ceA.ifjs],  having  two  sides  equal ; 
Equilateral,  having  three  sides  equal :  and  as 
Acute-angled,  having  three  acute  angles  ;  Right- 
angled,  having  one  right  angle  ;  Obtuse-angled, 
having  one  obtuse  angle.  (Spherical  excess.) 

Triangulation.  (Math.}  The  determination 
of  each  line  and  angle  of  the  series  or  network 
of  triangles  whose  angular  points  are  the  prin- 
cipal stations  of  the  survey  of  an  extensive  tract 
of  country  ;  as  the  T.  of  the  Ordnance  Survey. 

Triarii.    (Hastati) 

Triassic  system.  [Gr.  rpids,  a  set  of  three  ;  cf. 
Dyas.]  (Geol.)  The  oldest  of  the  Mesozoic  de- 
posits ;  a  Ger.  term,  the  three  main  groups  being, 
as  developed  in  Europe,  descendingly :  1.  Keuper, 
saliferous  marls  and  grits.  2.  Muschelkalk  (q.v.). 
3.  Bunter  sandstein,  variegated  sandstone. 

Tribasic  acid.  [Gr.  rpis,  thrice,  fidvis,  a  base.} 
(Chem.)  Any  acid  containing  three  atoms  of 
hydrogen  in  its  composition. 

Tribolet.  [Fr.  triboulet.]  1.  A  goldsmith's 
tool,  used  in  making  rings.  2.  A  steel  cylinder, 
round  which  metal  is  bent  to  form  tubes. 

Tribometer.  [Gr.  rpifia,  I  rub,  /j-erpov, 
measure.]  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
amount  of  friction  between  metals. 

Tribrach.  [Gr.  Tpiftp&xvs.]  (Music. )  A  me- 
trical foot  of  three  [rpeis]  syllables,  all  short 
[Ppaxvs]  5  as  regere,  Pamela. 

Tribune.  [L.  tribunus.]  Properly  the  magis- 
trate of  a  tribe.  1.  The  plebeian  tribunes  at 
Rome  were  the  protectors  of  the  plebs,  or 
commons,  against  the  patricians,  being  in  their 
own  persons  sacred  and  inviolable.  2.  The 
military  tribunes  were  officers  sometimes  elected 
with  consular  power  instead  of  Consuls.  3.  The 
legionary  tribunes  were  the  chief  officers  of  the 
legion  under  the  consuls.  4.  In  Mod.  Fr.  usage, 
the  T.  is  the  pulpit  from  which  members  of  the 
Assemblies  make  their  speeches. 

Tribus  Anticyris  caput  insanabile.  [L.,  not 
to  be  cured  by  the  hellebore  of  three  Anticyras 
(Horace).]  Utterly  mad.  (Naviget  Anticyram.) 

Triceps.  [L.,  three -headed.'}  (Anat.)  A 
muscle  arising  by  three  heads. 

Trichiasis.  [Gr.  rplxiaais,  TP?XIOJ/,  a  lilth 
hair.}  (Med.)  A  diseased  introversion  of  the 
lashes  which  sweep  over  the  eyeball. 

Trichina  splralis.  [Gr.  -rpix^os,  of  hair, 
L.  spira,  a  c oil.}  (Zool.)  A  kind  of  threadworm, 
Nematoda  [i/TjyUor-ciSTjy,  thread-like],  sub-kingd. 
Annuloida.  The  muscles  of  some  animals, 
especially  of  the  pig,  are  liable  to  contain  large 
numbers  encysted. 

Trichmiasis.     A  disease,  generally  fatal,  some- 


TRIG 


491 


TRIP 


what  like  rheumatic  fever  in  its  symptoms ; 
arising  from  the  presence  of  Trichina  spirdlis 
(q.v.\. 

Tricho-.     [Gr.  rpix">  TP*x5i  threefold.'] 

Trichoid.  [Gr.  Tpjxo€t5lta  fr°m  fy<£»  Tp"lX^s) 
hair.}  Resembling  hair. 

Trichoclasia,  [Gr.  rptx^s,  a  hair,  K\S.cris,  a 
breaking.}  Brittleness  of  hair,  owing  to  a  disease. 

Trichoptera.  [Gr.  0pi|,  rpix°si  a  hair,  irrfp6v, 
a  wing.}  Name  given  by  some  authorities  to 
the  Phryganeidae,  caddisflies,  as  a  separate  ord. 

Trichotomy.  [Gr.  rpi'xa,  in  three  parts,  rep.w, 
I  cut.}  A  triple  division.  (Dichotomy.) 

Trick-track.  A  game  resembling  backgam- 
mon. 

Triclinic  system.  [Gr.  rpts,  thrice,  K\ivu,  I 
make  to  slant.}  (Crystal log.}  The  Doubly 
oblique  prismatic  system  (q.v.}. 

Triclinium.  [L.]  1.  In  Rom.  Ant.,  a  couch 
(usually  for  three  persons)  for  reclining  at  a  meal. 
2.  The  room  in  which  such  couches  were  laid. 

Tridentine.  Belonging  to  Tridentum,  or 
Trent.  The  Tridentine  decrees  are  the  decrees 
of  the  Council  of  Trent  (1545-1563),  defining 
the  doctrines  of  the  Latin  Church  with  reference 
to  the  positions  of  the  Reformers. 

Tridings,  Trithings.     (Ridings.) 

Triennial  Act.  A  Statute  of  William  and 
Mary,  ordaining  that  no  Parliament  should  last 
longer  than  three  years.  By  the  Septennial  Act 
of  George  I.,  the  period  was  extended  to  seven 
years. 

Trierarchy.  [Gr.  rptT/papx"*-]  (Hist.}  The 
duty  imposed  on  the  wealthier  Athenian  citizens 
of  tatting  out  ships  of  war  [rpi-fjpfis]  for  the  use 
of  the  state.  (Liturgy.) 

Triers.  Thirty-five  commissioners,  appointed 
by  Cromwell's  Government,  to  judge  of  the  fit- 
ness of  any  one  presented  to  any  benefice  or 
public  lecture,  by  inquiring  into  his  spiritual 
state,  his  conversion,  etc. 

Trifacial.  [L.  tres,  three,  fades,/^^.]  (Anat.) 
The  fifth  pair  of  nerves,  each  of  which  is  dis- 
tributed to  the  face  in  three  branches — the 
ophthalmic,  the  superior  maxillary,  and  the  in- 
ferior maxillary. 

Trifid.  [L.  trifidus,  three-cloven,  findo,  / 
cleave.}  (Bot.)  Split  half-way  into  three  parts. 

Triforium.  [L.]  (Arch.}  An  arched  story, 
between  the  pier  arches  and  the  Clerestory  of  a 
building. 

Trigesimo  secundo.  In  Printing,  the  L.  term, 
expressed  by  the  form  32mo,  the  paper  being 
folded  so  as  to  make  thirty-two  pages  in  the 
sheet. 

Triglyph.  [Gr.  rpiy\v(pos,  thrice-cloven.} 
(Arch.}  In  the  Doric  frieze,  a  moulding  con- 
sisting of  two  whole  and  two  half  channels, 
separated  by  flat  spaces  called  femora. 

Trigonometrical  function ;  T.  lines.  (Math.) 
If  an  angle  is  supposed  to  be  at  the  base  of  a 
right-angled  triangle,its  trigonometrical  functions 
are  the  ratios  of  the  sides  ;  viz.  the  sine,  the  ratio 
of  perpendicular  to  hypotenuse  ;  the  tangent, 
the  ratio  of  perpendicular  to  base ;  the  secant, 
the  ratio  of  hypotenuse  to  base  ;  the  cosine, 
cotangent,  cosecant,  are  the  same  function  of  the 


complement  of  the  angle.  The  definitions  apply 
strictly  to  an  acute  angle  only,  but  they  admit  of 
extension  to  angles  of  all  magnitudes.  There  is 
another  and  an  older  way  of  defining  these 
functions,  according  to  which  they  are  treated  as 
lines,  and  called  the  T.  lines. 

Trigonometry  [Gr.  rpiywov,  a  triangle, 
juerpoj/,  measure} ;  Plane  T. ;  Spherical  T.  The 
science  of  solving  triangles,  i.e.  of  calculating 
from  given  parts  (sides  or  angles)  of  any  triangles 
the  remaining  parts  ;  Plane  or  Spherical  T., 
according  as  the  triangle  is  plane  or  spherical. 
Plane  T.  comprises  the  algebraical  properties  of 
angles,  and  their  trigonometrical  functions. 

Trigraph.    The  same  as  Triphthong. 

Trilingual.  [L,  tri-,  and  lingua,  a  tongue.} 
In  three  languages  ;  e.g.  the  inscription  on  the 
Rosetta  Stone. 

Triliteral.  [L.  tri-,  three,  litera,  a  letter.} 
Combining  three  letters,  as  the  roots  of  the 
Semitic  languages.  (Biliteral.) 

Trilithon.  [Gr.  rpets,  three,  \i8os,  a  stone.} 
(Arch&ol.)  A  group  of  stones,  two  uprights 
and  a  transom  ;  e.g.  Stonehenge. 

Trilobite.  [Gr.  rpi\o&os,  three-lobed,  the  body 
being  divided  lengthwise  by  two  furrows.]  (Geol.} 
Extinct  fossil  crustacean,  with  numerous  genera ; 
from  the  Cambrian,  through  Silurian  and  Devo- 
nian, to  the  Carboniferous ;  related  to  the 
isopods  (woodlouse,  etc.) ;  formerly  thought  to 
be  Entomostracan. 

Trilogy.  [Gr.  rptAoyfa.]  In  the  Greek  drama, 
three  plays,  each  distinct,  but  forming  a  series,  as 
treating  of  one  subject.  (Satyric  drama.) 

Trimeter.  In  class,  poetry,  a  verse  of  three 
measures  [Gr.  rpi^frpos] ;  in  some  cases,  of  three 
single  feet ;  in  others,  as  in  the  iambic  trimeter, 
of  three  double  feet. 

Trimetric  system.  [Gr.  rpeTs,  three,  /teVpov, 
measure, ,]  (Crystallog.)  The  Prismatic  system 
(q.v.\. 

Trimmer.  (Arch.}  A  word  now  denoting  a 
piece  of  timber,  framed  at  right  angles  to  the 
joists  opposite  to  chimneys  or  the  well-boles  of 
stairs,  for  receiving  the  ends  of  joists  intercepted 
by  the  opening. 

Trimurtee,  Trimurtti.    (Mahadeva. ) 

Trinitarians.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  A  religious  order, 
founded  1198,  under  the  pontificate  of  Innocent 
III.,  for  the  purpose  of  ransoming  captives  taken 
by  the  Moors  and  other  infidels. 

Trinity  House,  Corporation  of,  Tower  Hill. 
Chief  of  three  British  boards,  the  other  two 
having  jurisdiction  in  Scotland  and  Ireland  ; 
providing,  out  of  dues  levied  on  passing  ships, 
all  lights,  beacons,  buoys,  for  England,  Wales, 
Channel  Islands,  Gibraltar,  Heligoland  ;  formed 
under  Henry  VII.,  incorporated  by  Henry 
VIII.  ;  composed  of  retired  commanders  of 
R.N.  and  of  the  merchant  service  ;  the  working 
members,  Elder  Brethren,  elected  from  the 
honorary,  Younger  Brethren. 

Trinoda  Necessitas.     (Bocland.) 

Trinomial.  (Binomial  theorem.)  An  alge- 
braical sum  of  three  [Gr.  rpeTs]  terms ;  as, 
a  +  xy—z. 

Triphthong.      In  Gr.,  a  composite  sound  of 


TRIP 


492 


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three  vowels,  as  a  diphthong  is  of  two  ;  as  the 
Ger.  aeu.  There  is  no  such  sound  in  English. 

Tripitaka,  i.e.  the  Three  Baskets.  The  sacred 
canon  of  the  Buddhists.  It  contains:  (i)  all 
that  refers  to  morality  (Vinaya) ;  (2)  the  sutras, 
or  discourses  of  Buddha;  (3)  works  treating 
of  dogmatic  philosophy  or  metaphysics.  (2)  and 
(3)  are  sometimes  comprehended  under  the  name 
of  Dharma,  or  law.— Max  Muller,  Chips,  etc., 
.vol.  i.  196. 

Triple  Alliance.  (Hist.')  1.  An  alliance 
(i 668)  between  England,  Holland,  and  Sweden, 
for  the  purpose  of  foiling  the  designs  of  Louis 
XIV.  on  the  Spanish  Netherlands.  2.  An 
alliance  between  England,  France,  and  Holland, 
against  the  policy  of  Cardinal  Alberoni  in  Spain 
(1717).  The  Pretender  was  to  quit  France,  Dun- 
kirk to  be  demolished  ;  Protestant  succession 
guaranteed  in  England,  and  that  of  the  Duke  of 
Orleans  in  France.  After  the  adhesion  of  the 
emperor,  this  league  became  the  Quadruple 
Alliance. 

Triplet.  1.  In  Poetry,  three  verses  riming 
together ;  as  in  Tennyson's  Two  Voices.  2. 
(Music.)  In  common  time,  three  notes  grouped 
together,  a  3  being  placed  over  them  ;  sung 
or  played  as  one  of  the  single  parts  in  the  whole 
measure. 

Tripod.  [Gr.  rpiirovs,  TpiVoSos,  three-footed '.] 
A  three-legged  stand  for  an  astronomical  or  sur- 
veying instrument. 

Tripoli.  A  kind  of  rotten-stone,  first  brought 
from  Tripoli. 

Triptolemus.  [Gr.  rpnn6\f^os.'\  In  Gr. 
Myth.,  a  son  of  Keleos,  King  of  Eleusis,  who 
received  from  Demeter  corn  wherewith  to  sow  the 
whole  earth.  Hence  one  eminently  skilled  in 
agriculture.  (Eleusinian  Mysteries.) 

Triptote.  [Gr.  rptirTUTos.}  In  Gram.,  a  noun 
with  three  cases  only  ;  as  L.  vis,  in  sing. 

Triptych.  [Gr.  Tpiirriixos.]  A  picture  with  two 
hanging  doors  by  which  it  can  be  closed  in  front. 

Triquetrous.  [L.  triquetrus.]  (Bot.)  Three- 
edged,  trigonal. 

Trireme.  [L.  trlremis,  Gr.  rpi^s.}  In 
Ancient  Hist.,  a  war-vessel  with  three  banks  of 
oars.  (Quadrireme.) 

Trisaglon.  [Gr. ,  thrice  holy.']  The  repetition 
of  the  words,  Gr.*A7ios,  uyios,  ayios  :  L.  Sanctus, 
sanctus,  sanctus ;  Eng.  Holy,  holy,  holy;  in 
the  doxology  following  the  Preface  in  the  Eucha- 
ristic  Office.  In  Eastern  Liturgies,  the  hymn 
"  Holy  God,  Holy  Mighty  One,  Holy  Immortal 
One." 

Trisection  [L.  tres,  three,  sectionen,  a  cttt- 
/«/§•];  T.  of  the  angle.  (Math.}  Division  into 
three  equal  parts.  In  the  problem  of  the  Tri- 
section of  the  angle,  i.e.  of  any  given  angle,  it  is 
understood  that  the  trisection  is  to  be  performed 
by  the  rules  of  elementary  geometry  ;  under 
which  restriction  the  problem  does  not  admit  of 
solution. 

Trismus.  [Gr.  rpivrfs,  a  grinding  of  the 
teeth.}  (Med.)  Tetanus  affecting  the  muscles  of 
the  jaw. 

Trismus  infantum  or  nascentium.  Lock- 
jaw of  newly  born  children,  mainly  from  impure 


atmosphere ;  frequent  and  fatal  in  W.  Indies 
and  in  other  parts  of  the  tropics. 

Trithings,  Tridings.     (Hidings.) 

Tritogeneia.     (Triton.) 

Triton.  [Gr.]  (Myth.}  An  inhabitant  of 
the  sea.  The  word  reappears  in  Tritogeneia  as 
an  epithet  of  Minerva. 

Trium  literarum  homo.  [L.]  A  man  (with 
a  name  of)  three  letters;  i.e.  fur,  a  thief,  a  rascal. 

Triumph.  [L.  triumphus,  probably  same  as 
Gr.  6pia/j.f$os,  a  hymn  to  Bacchus,  sung  in  pro- 
cession.] The  solemn  entry  of  a  victorious 
general  into  the  city,  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  four 
horses,  which  took  him  along  the  Via  Sacra,  or 
Sacred  Way,  to  the  Capitol,  where  he  offered 
sacrifice  in  the  temple  of  Jupiter.  (Ovation.) 

Triumvirate.  In  Rom.  Hist.,  a  coalition  of 
three  of  the  most  powerful  citizens,  (i)  B.C. 
60,  between  J.  Caesar,  Pompeius,  and  Crassus  ; 
(2)  between  Octavius,  Lepidus,  and  Antonius, 
B.C.  43.  (Proscription.) 

Triumvirate  Ministry,  1763.  That  of  Gren- 
ville,  as  First  Lord  of  the  Treasury,  with  Egre- 
mont  and  Halifax  as  Secretaries  of  State. 

Trivium.  [L.  trivius,  of  three  ways.}  (Schol.} 
The  mediaeval  name  for  the  three  liberal  arts — 
grammar,  rhetoric,  and  logic.  (Quadrivium.) 

Trocar,  Trochar.  [(?)  Fr.  trois  quarts.]  (Surg.) 
A  three-sided,  pointed  instrument,  for  tapping  in 
dropsy  ;  having  a  perforator  and  a  canula  (q.v.). 

Trochee.  [Gr.  6  rpoxdios,  sc.  TTOVS.]  In  Pros. , 
a  foot  consisting  of  a  long  followed  by  a  short 
syllable. 

Trochilidae.  (Trochilus.)  (Ornith.)  Humming- 
birds ;  fam.  of  birds,  more  than  a  hundred  gen., 
with  filamentous  tongues,  mostly  very  small,  and 
bright-plumaged.  American  continent,  and  a 
few  islands.  Ord.  Plcarise. 

Trochilus.  [Gr.  rpoxtAoy,  probably  a  kind  of 
wren.]  (Ornith.)  Humming-bird.  (Trochilidap.) 

Trochlear.  (Anat.)  1.  Pulley- shaped.  2. 
Acting  like  a  p^^lIey  [L.  trochlea,  Gr.  rpoxi^ea]. 

Trochoid.  (Cycloid.)  (Math.}  If  the  describing 
point  is  within  (not  on)  the  circumference  of  the 
rolling  circle,  it  traces  out  a  T.  [Gr.  rpoxoeti-fis, 
like  a  wheel}. 

Trochoid.  [Gr.  rpoxos,  a  wheel}  (Anat.}  As 
T.  articulation,  in  which  one  bone  rotates  upon 
another. 

Trolley.  [Akin  to  roll,  roller]  A  truck  for 
carrying  railway  materials. 

Trollop.  [Fr.  troll,  to  roll,  stroll.}  A  vagrant, 
a  woman  loosely  dressed,  a  slattern. 

Trolls.  In  Teut.  Myth.,  a  race  of  beings 
engaged  in  a  perpetual  struggle  with  men,  in 
which,  in  spite  of  their  vast  bodily  powers,  they 
are  always  defeated. 

Trombone.  [Fr.,  It.  tromba,  trumpet.'}  (Mttsic.) 
1.  A  large  powerful  instrument  of  the  trumpet 
kind,  with  a  sliding  tube  ;  compass  rather  more 
than  two  octaves.  2.  A  powerful,  full-toned  reed 
stop  in  an  organ  ;  of  eight  feet  or  sixteen  feet 
on  the  manuals,  sixteen  feet  or  thirty-two  feet 
on  the  pedals. 

Troop.  [L.L.  troppus.]  (Mil.)  Company  of 
cavalry.  Trooper,  a  cavalry  soldier. 

Troop  the  colours.     A  military  display    on 


TROP 


493 


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important  occasions  at  the  time  of  guard  mount- 
ing, when  the  colours  are  paraded  with  band 
playing  along  the  front  of  the  troops. 

Trope.  [Gr.  rpAiros,  a  turning .]  (Rhet.)  A 
general  term  for  any  forms  of  expression  not 
identical  with  but  derived  from  the  primary 
signification  ;  as  Allegory,  Metaphor,  etc. 

Trophonius.  [Gr.  rpo$<avios.}  (Myth.)  A 
son  of  Erginos,  King  of  Orchomenos.  With  his 
brother  Agamedes,  he  built  the  temple  of  Apollo 
at  Delphi.  He  had  a  temple  at  Lebadea, 
with  a  cave  into  which  persons  descended  who 
wished  to  consult  him.  The  impressions  re- 
ceived were  so  terrible  that  the  visitor  was 
supposed  to  remain  oppressed  with  melancholy 
for  the  rest  of  his  life.  Hence  it  was  said  of 
serious  men,  that  they  looked  as  if  they  had 
come  out  of  the  cave  of  Trophonius. 

Tropical.     (Kyriological.) 

Tropical  year.     (Year.) 

Tropics.  [Gr.  6  rpoiriitts,  the  tropical  circle.] 
1.  (Astron.)  The  two  parallels  of  declination 
passing  through  the  solstitial  points  and  called 
respectively  the  Tropic  of  Cancer  (north)  and  of 
Capricorn  (south).  2.  (Geog.)  The  two  parallels 
of  latitude  situated  with  respect  to  the  equator 
in  the  same  way  that  the  celestial  tropics  are  to 
the  equinoctial.  3.  The  regions  lying  within 
the  tropics,  the  Torrid  zone. 

Troppo.  [It.,  L.L.  troppus.]  (Music.)  Too 
much.  Non  troppo,  not  too  much. 

Tros,  Tyriusve,  mihi  nullo  discrimine  agetur. 
[L.,  Irojan,  or  Tyrian,  I  "will  treat  them  all 
with  perfect  impartiality, ,]  Difference  of  na- 
tionality, creed,  etc.,  should  not  be  allowed  to 
create  a  prejudice  (Virgil  ?). 

Troth.  As  in  the  Marriage  Service  ;  the  same 
word  as  truth. 

Troubadours.  [It.  trovatore,  from  trovar,  Fr. 
trouver,  to  find,  like  the  Gr.  iroirjr-^s,  from 
iroieiv,  to  make,  and  the  O.E.  maker.}  Poets 
who  from  the  eleventh  to  the  thirteenth  cen- 
turies wrote  in  the  Langue  d'oc,  out  of  love  of 
their  art,  the  gay  science.  Their  compositions 
are  classified  under  the  heads  of  terzones,  or 
contests  between  minstrels  ;  sirventes,  pieces  on 
martial  or  serious  subjects  ;  chansons,  or  short 
lyrical  songs ;  together  with  serenades,  pastou- 
relles,  etc.  Court  attendants  [ministeriales, 
menestrels,  minstrels}  and  others  who  sang  for 
hire  were  called  jongleurs,  i.e.  jociilatores, 
festers  ;  whence  the  word  juggler. 

Trou-de-loup.  [Fr.,  wolfs  hole.}  (Mil.) 
Obstacle  formed  to  break  the  regular  formation 
of  troops  ;  a  hole  in  the  ground,  shaped  like  an 
inverted  cone  six  feet  deep  and  the  same  in 
width,  with  a  stake  planted  in  the  bottom. 

Trough.  (Naut.)  A  small  boat,  broad  at 
both  ends. 

Trouvaille.  [Fr.]  A  godsend.  In  Gr.,  her- 
maion.  (Hermes.) 

Trouveres,  or  Trouveurs.  This  form  of  the 
word  Troubadours  distinguishes  the  vernacular 
poets  of  Northern  France  who  spoke  the  Langue 
d'oyl,  from  those  of  Provence  who  used  the 
Langue  d'oc.  They  flourished  chiefly  in  the  age 
of  Charlemagne.  (Paladins;  Troubadours.) 


Trow.  (ATauf.)  1.  A  clinker-built,  flat-floored 
Severn  barge.  2.  A  kind  of  double  boat  closed 
at  the  ends,  used  for  spearing  salmon  on  the 
Tyne. 

Troy  weight.  [(?)  Troy  novant,  the  monkish 
name  of  London  ;  (?)  corr.  of  le  roy,  pondus 
regis,  the  standard  pound ;  (?)  not  probably 
Troyes,  in  France.]  The  weight  by  which  gold, 
silver,  and  jewels  are  weighed ;  the  grain  troy 
is  i-7oooth  part  of  a  pound  avoirdupois  ;  24 
grains  make  one  pennyweight,  480  an  ounce, 
and  5760  a  pound  troy. 

Truce,  or  Peace,  of  God.  A  suspension  of 
arms,  imposed  by  the  Church  during  the  Middle 
Ages,  on  persons  engaged  in  private  wars.  The 
truce  accepted  by  the  barons  of  Aquitaine  and 
France  in  1041  was  to  last  for  four  days  of  each 
week.  The  Quarantine  of  Philip  Augustus  re- 
strained the  family  of  an  injured  person  from 
beginning  hostilities  until  after  forty  days  from 
the  commission  of  the  act  complained  of. — 
Milman,  Hist,  of  Latin  Christianity,  bk.  viii. 
ch.  6. 

Trucidation.  [L.  trucidationem.]  The  act  of 
killing  [trucidare,  to  kill}. 

Truck.  (NaTit.)  T.  of  a  mast  or  flagstaff, 
a  circular  piece  of  wood  at  the  upper  end,  usually 
having  two  sheaves,  through  which  signal-hal- 
liards are  rove.  T.  for  pair  leaders,  bull's-eye 
(q.v.),  but  scored  to  fit  the  shrouds  to  which 
they  are  sized.  T.  of  a  jaw-rope.  (Gaff.) 

Truckle.     (Coracle.) 

Truck  system.  [Fr.  troc,  barter.}  The  pay- 
ment of  wages,  wholly  or  partly,  in  articles  of 
consumption. 

True  water.  (Naut.)  Its  true  depth. 
,  Truffles.  [Fr.  truffe,  L.  tuber.]  (Bot.)  1. 
All  fungi,  belonging  to  the  nat.  ords.  Hypoggei 
and  Tuberacei.  2.  The  T.  of  commerce  all 
belong  to  the  gen.  Tuber ;  the  English  princi- 
pally to  T.  sestivum,  the  French  to  T.  melano- 
spermum  ;  buried  in  the  soil  of  woods,  princi- 
pally, but  by  no  means  solely,  beechwoods. 

Trumpeter.  1.  (Psophidae.)  2.  A  toy  variety 
of  the  domestic  pigeon. 

Truncated.  [L.  truncatus,  lopped,  part,  of 
trunco.]  Having  its  top  cut  off;  in  most  cases 
by  a  plane  parallel  to  the  base  ;  as  a  truncated 
cone. 

Truncation.  [L.  truncationem.]  A  lopping 
off,  or  maiming.  In  Min.,  the  replacement  of 
an  edge  by  a  plane  equally  inclined  to  the 
adjoining  faces. 

Trundle.     A  lantern-wheel  (q.v.). 

Trundle-head.  (Naut.)  A  second  head  tc 
the  capstan  on  the  lower  deck. 

Trunking.  Extracting  metallic  ores  from  the 
mud  in  which  they  are  contained  (in  a  trttnk,  or 
cisterns). 

Trunnion.  [Fr.  trognon,  core  of  a  fruit,  leafless 
cabbage-stalk  (Wedgwood).]  1.  (Meek.)  An  axle, 
or  gudgeon,  one  on  each  side  of  the  cylinder  of 
an  oscillating  steam-engine,  by  which  it  is  sup- 
ported and  on  which  it  turns.  2.  (Mil.)  Pro- 
jecting arm  on  each  side  of  a  gun,  by  which  it  is 
secured  and  supported  in  its  carriage. 

Truss.  [Fr.  trousse,]  1.  (Arch.)  The  collection 


TRYA 


494 


TULL 


of  timbers  forming  one  of  the  chief  supports  in  a 
roof,  so  framed  as  to  strengthen  each  other  and 
to  prevent  any  distortion  from  the  weight  lying 
upon  them.  2.  A  triangular  or  polygonal  frame 
of  bars  rendered  rigid  by  stays  and  braces,  so  that 
its  form  is  made  incapable  of  change  by  the 
turning  of  the  bars  about  their  joints.  3.  T.  of 
straw  is  thirty-six  pounds.  4.  Of  new  hay,  sixty 
pounds.  5.  Of  old  hay,  fifty-six  pounds. 

Try  a  ship,  To.  (Naut.)  To  keep  her  head  to 
the  sea  in  a  gale. 

Trysail.    (Storm-trysail;  Sails.) 

Tryst.  [Akin  to  trust.]  An  appointment  to 
meet,  or  the  place  of  meeting.  Hence  to  keep 
tryst  or  to  break  it.  In  Scotland,  =  a  fair,  as 
Falkirk  tryst,  etc. 

Trythings.    (Ridings.) 

Tschernibog.  [Slav.]  The  black  god,  or  god 
of  darkness,  as  opposed  to  Bjelbog,  the  pale  or 
•white  god.  (Ahriman;  Balder.) 

Tschudic  or  Chudic  languages.  The  dialects 
of  the  Finnic  class,  spoken  by  the  Lapps  and 
Finns ;  the  other  three  branches  being  the  Ugric, 
Bulgaric,  and  Permic. 

Tsetse  (Glossinia  morsitans).  (Entom.}  A 
dipterous  insect  of  S.  Africa,  rather  larger  than 
a  housefly  J  its  bite  almost  certain  death  to  ox, 
sheep,  horse,  dog ;  harmless  to  man,  goat,  ass, 
antelope,  pig,  wild  animals,  and  the  unweaned 
calf. 

T.-square.  A  flat  thin  rule  or  Made  fixed  at 
right  angles  to  a  shorter  and  thicker  piece  or 
stock ;  the  stock  being  pressed  against  the  side 
of  a  drawing-board  the  instrument  can  be  shifted 
backward  and  forward  so  that  with  the  blade 
the  draughtsman  can  rule  any  number  of  lines 
at  right  angles  to  either  edge  of  the  board  ;  and 
if  the  board  is  a  true  rectangle,  he  can  draw  two 
systems  of  parallel  lines  at  right  angles  to  each 
other  with  the  T.  -square. 

Tua  res  agitur,  paries  cum  proximus  ardet. 
[L.]  You  are  concerned  when  the  party  wall 
next  to  you  is  on  fire.  (Proximus.) 

Tubbing.  A  lining  of  timber  or  metal  round 
the  shafts  of  a  mine  (from  the  shape). 

Tubecasts.  (Med.)  Microscopic  moulds, 
found  in  the  urine  of  renal  disease. 

Tuber.  \L.,a  su<elling^  (Bot.)  A  thickened 
underground  stem"  with  buds,  from  which  new 
plants  are  produced  ;  and,  generally,  abundant 
amylaceous  deposit ;  e.g.  potato,  Jerusalem 
artichoke,  arrowroot. 

Tubercle.  [L.  tuberciilum,  (i)  a  small  swelling, 
(2}  tubercle.]  (Med.)  A  morbid  granular  deposit, 
on  lungs,  brain,  abdomen,  etc.,  destroying  the 
tissue  affected. 

Tublcolee.  [L.  tubus,  a  tube,  colo,  7  inhabit.] 
(Zoo!.)  Annelids  protected  by  a  tube,  either 
secreted  or  constructed  from  foreign  substances ; 
as  serptila. 

Tubingen  school  A  name  denoting  the  theo- 
logical writers  of  the  University  of  Tubingen, 
noted  chiefly  for  their  opposition  to  all  mystical 
interpretations  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 
— Mackay,  The  Tubingen  School  and  its  Antece- 
dents. 

Tubular  boiler,    (Mech.)    A  boiler  such  as 


that  of  an  ordinary  locomotive  engine  ;  the  fire 
is  at  one  end,  the  smoke-box  and  chimney  at  the 
other ;  the  connexion  is  made  by  a  large  number 
of  tubes  surrounded  by  the  water,  which  is  most 
effectually  heated  by  the  heated  air,  gases,  etc., 
passing  through  them  to  the  chimney. 

Tubular  bridge.  A  bridge  consisting  essen- 
tially of  piers  of  masonry  supporting  a  huge 
lintel  made  on  the  plan  of  a  flanged  beam  or 
girder,  not  in  one  piece,  but  built  up  of  bars  and 
plates  of  iron  riveted  together.  Instead,  however, 
of  the  flanges  being  connected  by  a  single  web 
in  the  middle,  the  connexion  is  made  by  two 
webs,  one  on  each  side ;  the  whole,  therefore, 
takes  the  form  of  a  tube,  and  within  the  tube  is 
the  roadway.  There  are  numerous  unessential 
modifications  of  this  kind  of  bridge. 

Tubulure.  [L.  tubiilus,  a  small  tube.]  (Chem.) 
A  short  ttibular  opening  at  the  top  of  a  retort. 

Tub-wheel.     A  kind  of  turbine  (q.v.). 

Tuck.  (Naut.)  The  after  part  of  a  ship, 
immediately  below  the  stern  or  counter. 

Tuck.  \Cf.  Bret,  tach,  a  nail,  Icel.  taka,  to 
take,  to  puncture  (Skeat's  Etym.  Diet.,  s.v. 
"  Attach  ").]  A  long  rapier. 

Tucket.  Slight  flourish  on  a  trumpet  [It. 
toccata]. 

Tuck-net.  A  small  net  used  to  take  fish  from 
a  larger  one. 

Tucum.  (Native  name.)  A  fine  strong  fibre 
obtained  from  a  Brazilian  palm. 

Tudor  rose,  or  Flower.  (Arch. )  A  flat  flower, 
on  an  upright  stalk,  often  seen  in  Perpendicular 
or  Continuous  English  work. 

Tuesday.  The  third  day  of  the  week,  named 
after  the  god  Tuisco,  whose  name  is  the  same  as 
the  Greek  Zeus.  (Tyr.) 

Tufa,  or  Tuft.  [It.  tufo,  porous  ground.'}  1. 
Volcanic  T. ;  a  rock  formed  of  volcanic  ashes 
and  scoriae,  with  felspathic  cement.  2.  Calc- 
tuft  (q.v.). 

Tuft-hunter.  One  who  runs  after  great  people, 
a  hanger-on,  a  toady.  Undergraduate  noble- 
men at  Oxford,  till  lately,  wore  a  gold  tuftt  or 
tassel,  on  a  square  cap  of  black  velvet. 

Tugendbund.  [Ger.,  union  of  virtue.]  A 
Prussian  association  formed  after  the  Treaty  of 
Tilsit,  in  1807,  for  the  general  improvement  of 
the  country  and  to  enable  it  the  better  to  with- 
stand the  schemes  of  the  French  Emperor 
Napoleon. 

Tuileries.  [Fr.,  tileworks,  from  the  site  on 
which  it  was  built.]  A  palace  of  the  kings  of 
France  in  Paris,  begun  by  Catherine  de'  Medici, 
1564,  completed  by  Louis  XIII.  It  has  been 
sacked  in  1792,  1830,  1848,  and  a  large  part  of 
it  was  destroyed  by  the  Commune  in  1871. 

Tula  metal.  (Made  at  Tula,  in  Russia.)  An 
alloy  of  silver,  copper,  and  lead. 

Tulipomania.  A  passion  for  tulips  ;  in  Hol- 
land, 1637,  one  bulb,  "Viceroy,"  fetched 
4203  florins  ;  for  "  Semper  Augustus  "  consider- 
ably more  was  offered.  At  a  sale  in  Croydon 
,£100  was  given  for  "Fanny  Kemble."  (See 
Flower  Garden  Quarterly  Review  >  1842.) 

Tulle.  (First  made  at  Tulle,  in  France.)  A 
kind  of  silk  open  work  or  lace. 


TULW 


495 


TWAY 


Tulwar.  Indian  sword,  with  a  curved  blade 
and  a  round  metal  plate  as  guard  to  the  pommel. 

Tumbler  (from  falling  into  its  place).  That 
part  of  a  lock  which,  until  lifted  by  the  key,  holds 
the  shot  bolt  in  its  place. 

Tumbrel,  Tumbril.  [A.  S.  tumbian,  to  tumble  ; 
cf.  Fr.  tombereau,  from  tomber,  to  fall.}  1. 
(Agr.)  A  heavy,  broad-wheeled,  one-horsed 
cart,  the  body  of  which  is  so  made  as  to  turn 
vertically  on  the  axle  when  required,  and  to 
shoot  the  load  out  behind.  2.  (Mil.)  Am- 
munition cart  which  accompanies  guns  into 
action,  with  the  requirements  for  immediate 
expenditure. 

Tumulus.    (Barrow.) 

Tun.  [A.  S.  tun.  ]  Formerly  an  inclosure  with 
gates,  within  which  a  country  house,  with  hall, 
chapel,  bowers,  i.e.  ladies'  sleeping-chambers, 
outbuildings,  etc. ,  was  guarded ;  whence  Town 
(q.v.). 

Tun.  [A.S.  tunne,  a  barrel^  A  liquid  measure 
of  four  hogsheads,  or  252  gallons.  A  T.  of  red 
Spanish  wine  is  210  gallons. 

Turibridge  ware.    (Tonbridge  ware.) 

Tundra.  The  vast  Siberian  plains,  beyond  the 
tree-growing  zone. — Hartwig,  Polar  World. 

Tu  ne  cede  mails,  sed  contra  audentior  ito. 
[L.]  Yield  not  to  evils,  but  go  boldly  to  meet  them 
(Virgil). 

Tungsten.  [Sw.  tung,  heavy,  sten,  stone.']  A 
hard  white  brittle  metal.  Tungstate  of  soda 
renders  fabrics  uninflammable.  Muslin  soaked 
in  a  solution  of  twenty  parts  of  this  salt  with 
three  of  phosphate  of  soda  in  a  hundred  parts 
of  water  may  be  ironed  and  prepared  for  wear, 
and  is  then  only  charred  by  fire. 

Tungula.  (Natit.)  A  small  boat  of  Borneo 
and  the  Moluccas. 

Tunicata.  [L.]  (Zool.)  Ascidioiida,  class  of 
molluscoids,  provided  with  tunics,  i.e.  soft, 
tough  investments,  except  one  spec.  A  cylinder 
in,  and  diverging  rays  at  the  end  of,  their  larval 
tails  have  been  compared  to  the  notochord  in 
vertebrates  and  the  tail  in  fishes  ;  hence  some, 
classing  them  with  or  next  to  V.,  have  drawn 
conclusions  favourable  to  the  evolution  theory. 

Tunicated.  [L.  tunicatus,  tunica,  an  under- 
garment.,]  (Anat.  and  Bot.}  Covered  with  a 
membrane. 

Tunicle.  [L.  tumcula,  a  small  tunic.}  In 
the  Latin  Church,  a  close-fitting  linen  vestment, 
formerly  worn  by  deacons,  now  by  bishops  under 
the  dalmatic,  and  by  subdeacons. 

Tunnel.  [O.Fr.  tonnel,  a  tun.}  A  level  passage 
driven  at  right  angles  to  the  veins  of  ore  which 
are  to  be  reached. 

Tunnel-kiln.  A  lime-kiln  in  which  coal  is 
burned,  as  distinguished  from  a  flame-kiln,  in 
which  wood  or  peat  is  used. 

Tunnel-net.  [O.Fr.  tonnel,  a  tun.}  A  net  with 
a  wide  mouth  at  one  end  and  narrow  at  the  other. 

Tu  quoque.  [L.,  thou  too.}  The  retort  per- 
sonal. 

Turanian  languages.  (Agglutinative  lan- 
guages.) 

Turbary.  The  right  of  cutting  turf  on  another 
man's  ground. 


Turbeth,  Turbith,  Turpeth  mineral  (from  re- 
sembling the  powdered  root  of  the  turpeth  plant). 
(Chetn.)  A  yellow  sulphate  of  mercury. 

Turbination.  [L.  turbmati5nem.]  The  art  of 
spinning  or  whirling  ;  as  of  a  top. 

Turbine.  A  horizontal  water-wheel  with  a 
vertical  axis,  driven  by  a  vortex  [L.  turbinem], 
i.e.  receiving  and  discharging  water; in  all  direc- 
tions round  the  axis. 

Turbmldse,  Turbines.  [L.  turbinem,  whirling 
top.}  (Ostr.)  Top-shells,  including  Trochi  [Gr. 
Tpox6s>  running  hoop},  prosobranchiate  gastero- 
pods.  Cosmopolitan.  T.  zlzyphlnus  \£i&fyov, 
jujube-tree},  in  familiar  use  as  ornaments. 

Turk.  In  Collect  for  Good  Friday,  =  whole 
Mohammedan  world  ;  so  powerful  was  the  im- 
pression still  remaining  with  regard  to  the  T. 

Turmeric.  [Fr.  terre  merit e,  a  valuable 
powder.}  A  yellow  root  used  as  a  dye- stuff, 
and  in  curry  powder.  The  common  T.  is  cul- 
tivated all  over  India ;  Curcuma  longa,  ord. 
Zingiberacese. 

Turning.     [L.  tornare.]    Rounding  in  a  lathe. 

Turnsole.  [Fr.  tournesol,  from  the  plant's 
turning  to  the  sun.]  (Litmus.) 

Turn-table.  ( Mech. )  A  circular  platform  on 
which  rails  are  laid,  pivotted  in  a  pit  below  the 
rails,  supported  on  wheels  or  rollers  near  its 
circumference,  and  capable  of  being  turned  by 
appropriate  machinery,  for  moving  a  railway 
carriage  from  one  line  of  rails  to  another. 

Turpentine.  [L.  terebinthmus,  belonging  to 
the  terebinth  tree.]  A  resinous  substance, 
chiefly  obtained  from  coniferous  trees.  Bor- 
deaux tiirpentine  comes  from  the  cluster  pine ; 
Chian  turpentine,  from  the  turpentine  tree ; 
Strasburg  turpentine,  from  the  silver  fir ;  Venice 
turpentine,  from  the  larch. 

Turpentine  tree.     (Teil.) 

Turret-ship.  (Naut.)  One  fitted  with  one 
or  more  armoured,  revolving  turrets,  in  which 
she  carries  guns. 

Turtle,  Green.    (Chelonidse.) 

Tussap,  Tussore  silk.  A  coarse  dark  Indian 
silk,  obtained  from  a  wild  silkworm. 

Tussis.  [L.,  a  cough.}  (Med.)  Jussicular,  per- 
taining to  a  slight  coitgh  [L.  tussicula]. 

Tutenag.  [Ar.  toutiya,  tutty,  Pers.  nak,  like.~\ 
1.  Chinese  copper,  an  alloy  of  copper,  zinc,  and 
nickel.  2.  Zinc. 

Tutor.  In  Gal.  iv.  2,  a  guardian,  without  any 
idea  of  teaching.  Revised  Version  has  "guar- 
dians and  stewards"  instead  of  "tutors  and 
governors." 

Tutoyer.  [Fr.]  To  thee-thou  any  one  ;  as  in 
speaking  to  little  children,  to  intimate  friends, 
or  to  inferiors. 

Tutty.  [Ar.  toutiya.]  (Chem.)  Impure 
oxide  of  zinc. 

Tutwork.     Miners'  work  done  by  the  piece. 

Tuyere,  Tweer. '  [Fr.,  akin  to  tuyau,  a  pipe 
tube,  L.  tubellus,  dim.  of  tiibus.]  A  conical 
tube  through  which  the  blast  of  air  is  forced 
from  the  blowers  into  the  blast  furnace. 

Twain-cloud.     Cumulo-stratus.     (Cumulus.) 

Twankay.     The  poorest  kind  of  green  tea. 

Tway-blade,  i.e.  two-leaf.      [Cf.  Get.   blatt, 


TWEE 


496 


ULEM 


leaf,  Gr.  irXa^s,  flat.}  (Bot.)  Native  plant,  in 
woods  and  pastures  (Listera  ovata),  ord.  Orchid - 
acese,  with  two  large  opposite  ovate  leaves  and 
a  raceme  of  small  green  flowers. 

Tweed.  A  light  twilled  woollen  or  cotton 
stuff  for  coats,  etc. 

'Tween  or  'Twixt  decks.  (Naut.)  The  deck 
below  the  gun-deck. 

Twelfth  Day.  The  Feast  of  the  Epiphany, 
being  the  twelfth  day,  exclusive,  after  Christmas 
Day. 

Twelve  Tables,  Laws  of  the.     (Decemvirs.) 

Twice-laid  rope.  (Naut.)  Rope  made  from 
strands  of  old  rope. 

Twilight  of  the  gods.     (Woden.) 

Twilled.  Covered  with  diagonal  lines  pro- 
duced by  causing  the  weft-thread  to  pass  over 
one  and  under  two  or  more  warp-threads. 

Twilly.  A  revolving  cylinder  covered  with 
long  iron  spikes,  for  cleansing  and  loosening 
wool. 

Twin  crystals ;  T.  axis ;  T.  plane.  Two  crys- 
tals joined  together  in  such  a  way  that  one 
would  come  into  the  position  of  the  other  by 
revolving  it  through  two  right  angles  round  an 
axis,  the  T.  axis,  perpendicular  to  a  plane,  the 
T.  plane,  which  either  is  or  may  be  a  face  of 
either  crystal. 

Twin  screw.  (Naut,}  A  vessel  fitted  with  two 
screw-propellers  worked  by  separate  engines. 

Twist.     Closely  twisted  strong  sewing  silk. 

Twitch.  To  keep  horses  quiet  for  minor 
operations  :  a  strong  stick,  with  a  hole  pierced 
at  the  end,  through  which  a  loop  of  strong  cord 
is  passed ;  this,  having  been  passed  over  the  upper 
lip,  is  twisted,  causing  pain.  (Barnacles.) 

Two-centred  arch.     (Arch.) 

Two-handed  fellows.  (Naut.}  Both  seamen 
and  soldiers,  or  artificers. 

Tycoon,  Shogoon.  [Jap.  shiogun.]  The  tem- 
poral (the  Mikado  being  the  spiritual)  ruler  of 


Japan.  He  stood  to  the  M.  in  the  relation  of 
the  mayor  of  the  palace  to  the  Merovingian 
kings,  wielding  all  power,  and  falling  back  for 
his  authority  upon  a  M.,  or  emperor,  secluded 
from  public  observation.  The  office  has  been 
abolished  by  a  recent  revolution  (Dick son's 
Japan).  (Major-domo.)  The  proper  title  of  the 
Tycoon  is  Tkoorgum* 

Tye.  (Naut.)  The  upper  part  of  the  jeers. 
(Halliards.) 

Tyg,  Tig.  A  coarse  earthenware  drinking- 
vessel,  with  two  or  more  handles. 

Tymoom.     (Naut.)     A  Chinese  river-boat. 

Tymp.  A  space  in  the  lower  part  of  a  blast 
furnace  for  clearing  out  the  hearth. 

Tympan.  [Gr.  'rbp.ira.vov,  a  kettle-drum,]  A 
frame  on  which  blank  sheets  are  laid  to  be 
printed. 

Tympanum.  [L.,  a  drum.}  (Anat.)  The 
middle  ear. 

Tyne,  or  Tine  (q.v.).     (Antlers.) 

Type-metal.  [Gr.  rviros,  type.}  An  alloy  of 
lead  and  antimony,  for  making  printing  type. 

Type  of  Constans.     (Ecthesis;  Henotioon.) 

Typhon,  Typhron.  [Gr.]  In  Myth.,  a  giant 
described  as  breathing  fire,  or  as  a  destructive 
hurricane. 

Typhoon.  [Gr.  rv^av.]  A  tempest  or  hurri- 
cane of  great  violence,  which  sometimes  rages  in 
the  seas  of  S.  China. 

Tyr.  In  Teut.  Myth.,  the  sun-god,  whose 
name  answers  to  that  of  the  Vedic  Dyu,  from 
the  root  div,  to  shine.  The  name  survives  in 
A.S.  Tiwesdaeg,  Tuesday,  and  in  the  names  of 
places,  as  Tewesley,  Tewing. 

Tyrian  purple.  (Common  purple;  Murex 
trunculus.) 

Tything-man.  (Hist.)  The  constable  or 
peace  officer  in  a  tything,  or  tenth  part  of  a 
hundred.  (Frankpledge.) 


IT.  A  letter  long  identified  with  V,  but  now 
used  as  a  vowel,  V  being  used  as  a  consonant. 
But  although  the  character  V  was  originally 
written  with  the  same  sign  as  the  vowel  U,  it 
was  by  the  ancients  themselves  considered  essen- 
tially different,  as  were  also  the  consonant  i  (j) 
and  the  vowel  i. 

Ubi  jus,  ibi  remedium.  [L.]  A  maxim  in 
Law  :  -where  there  is  a  right  there  is  a  remedy  ; 
therefore  equity  intervenes  where,  from  some 
technical  defect,  common  law  does  not  avail. 

Ubiquitarians,  Ubiquists.  [L.  ubique,  every- 
where.] A  name  applied  to  those  Lutherans 
who  hold  that  the  body  of  Christ  is  present  in 
the  Eucharist  by  the  ubiquity  or  omnipresence 
of  His  humanity. 

Ubi  tu  Caius,  ego  Caia.  [L.]  With  the  Ro- 
mans, the  community  of  goods  between  husband 
and  wife  was  expressed  by  the  offer  of  fire  and 


water  to  the  wife  at  her  first  coming  into  her 
husband's  house,  and  by  the  words  "  Ubi  tu," 
etc.  :  i.e.  Where  thou  art  master,  1  am  mistress ; 
or  rather,  Where  thou  art  father,  I  am  mother 
(caius  being  connected  with  root  ga,  as  in  Gr. 
76700,  yevj/do),  etc.). 

Udaller.  [Dan.  odel.]  A  cognate  form  of 
the  Gothic  and  Frankish  alod  ;  a  proprietor  of 
lands  in  freehold. 

Uekewallists.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  Rigid  Anabap- 
tists, the  followers  of  the  Frieslander  Ueke 
Wallis. 

Uhlan.  [Said  to  be  from  Turk,  oglan,  a  youth, 
lad.}  (Mil.)  Lancer  light  cavalry  soldier  of  the 
German  army. 

Ukase.  [Russ.]  An  ordinance  of  the  Rus- 
sian czar. 

Ulema.  [Turk.,  learned  man.}  The  college 
of  the  Turkish  hierarchy,  consisting  of  the  Imams, 


ULIT 


497 


UNDE 


Muftis,  and  Cadis,  or  admistrators  of  justice. 
(Alcaide.) 

Ulitis.  {Med.)  Inflammation  of  the  gum 
[Gr.  ov\ov\. 

Ullage.  [O.Fr.  eullage,  eullier,  to  Jill  up  a 
cask  to  the  bung  (Skeat).]  (Naut.)  The  residue 
left  in  a  leaky  or  partly  used  cask  or  package. 
Ullaged,  damaged,  short  in  contents. 

Ulloa,  Circle  of.  A  measurement  of  the  meri- 
dian taken  in  Peru  by  Don  Antonio  Ulloa,  a 
Spanish  mathematician  (1716-1795). 

Ulna.  [L.,  Gr.  wAeVr;.]  (Anat.)  The  larger 
of  the  two  bones  of  the  forearm,  the  smaller 
being  the  radius.  Adj.,  Ulnar. 

Ulnagers.  [L.  ulna,  an  ell.]  (Hist.)  In  the 
Middle  Ages,  officers  appointed  in  each  consider- 
able port,  to  certify  the  length  and  quality  of 
each  piece  of  cloth  of  twenty-four  yards  or  ells — 
these  terms  being  then  synonymous — and  thus  to 
protect  the  purchaser  against  fraudulent  dealers 
in  foreign  imported  goods. 

Ulster  custom,  or  Tenant-right  system.  Gives 
undisturbed  possession  of  a  holding,  as  long  as 
rent  is  paid  ;  entitles  to  compensation  for  un- 
exhausted improvements  ;  and  gives  liberty  to 
sell  the  "good  will  "  of  a  farm  for  what  it  will 
fetch  in  the  market. 

Ulster  Rebellion  (1641-1649).  That  of  Roger 
More,  Sir  Phelim  O'Neil,  and  other  Irish  chief- 
tains. An  attempt  to  seize  Dublin  Castle  failed ; 
but  a  general  rising  in  U.  taking  place,  the 
country  was  wasted,  towns  were  taken,  many 
new  settlers  put  to  death,  and  many  thousands 
of  lives  lost.  In  1649  Cromwell  arrived  as 
Lord-Lieutenant  and  Commander-in-Chief  in 
Ireland. 

Ulster  Settlement  (1611).  James  I.'s  scheme 
for  its  colonization.  Lots  of  1000,  1500,  2000 
acres  were  arranged.  A  new  order,  that  of 
baronets,  was  created.  For  every  patent  ,£1000 
was  paid,  and  the  duty  added  of  supporting 
thirty  foot-soldiers. 

Ultima  ratio.   [L.]    The  last  device  or  resource. 

Ultimate  analysis.  Resolution  of  a  substance 
into  its  elements. 

Ultimate  ends.  In  Moral  Phil.,  are :  1,  U. 
simplicitery  i.e.  that  which  is  aimed  at  for  its 
own  sake  only,  and  never  regarded  as  a  means 
to  another  end  ;  and,  2,  U.  secundum  quid,  i.e, 
the  last  aimed  at  in  a  series  of  actions. 

Ultimate  ratio.  (Math.)  The  limit  of  the  ratio 
of  two  variables.  (Limit.) 

Ultima  Thule.     (Thule.) 

Ultimatum.     [L.I    A  final  proposal. 

Ultramarine.  [L.  ultra  mar£,  beyond  the  sea.] 
A  blue  pigment  obtained  by  calcining  and 
grinding  lapis  lazuli,  originally  brought  from 
beyond  the  sea,  from  Asia. 

Ultramontane.  [L.  ultra  monies,  beyond  the 
mountains^  (Eccl.)  Those  who  maintain  the 
most  advanced  theory  of  papal  supremacy  are 
so  called,  because  the  theologians  of  Italy,  the 
country  beyond  the  Alps,  were  considered  more 
favourable  to  high  papal  doctrine  than  the  cis- 
montane  doctors  of  France  and  Germany. 

Ultra  vires.  [L.,  beyond  the  power.]  Any 
person,  committee,  court,  etc.,  is  said  to  have 


acted  U.  V.  when  exceeding,  however  uninten- 
tionally, his  or  its  authority. 

Ulysses.  [Gr.  'O8v<r<revs.]  The  hero  of  the 
Odyssey.  The  name  is  supposed  to  represent 
the  Skt.  Ulukshaya,  the  Gr.  evpvKp^iuv,  wide- 
ruling. 

Umbel.  [L.  umbella,  a  little  shadow,  dim.  of 
umbra.]  (Bot.)  An  inflorescence  having  flower- 
stalks  springing  from  one  centre,  each  bearing 
a  single  flower ;  e.g.  ivy,  carrot,  parsnip. 

Umbelliferae ;  Umbellatse.  (Bot.)  A  large 
nat.  ord.  of  exogens,  whose  inflorescence  is 
always  an  umbel ;  some  poisonous,  as  hemlock  ; 
others  esculent,  as  carrot,  parsnip,  celery ;  some 
aromatic,  as  caraway,  coriander,  etc. 

Umber.  An  olive-brown  earth  from  Umbria, 
in  Italy,  used  as  a  pigment.  Burnt  umber  is  a 
reddish  brown,  and  is  made  by  burning  raw 
umber. 

Umbilical.  (Anat.)  Pertaining  to  the  navel 
[L.  umbilicus]. 

Umbra.  [L.,  a  shadow.]  1.  A  Roman  con- 
temptuous epithet  for  the  uninvited  attendants 
or  companions  of  invited  guests.  2.  (Penumbra.) 

Una.  [L.,  one."]  In  Spenser's  Faery  Queene, 
a  maiden  in  whom  Truth  (as  being  one)  is 
personified,  and  who,  attended  by  a  lion,  goes  in 
search  of  St.  George,  and  finally  leads  him  by 
the  house  of  Holiness,  to  Eden.  (Bed  Cross 
Knight.) 

Unaker.   American  kaolin  (Cherokee  nations). 

Unam  sanctam.  [L.]  Title  of  a  bull  of  Pope 
Boniface  VIII.,  1302,  asserting  that  to  believe 
every  human  being  to  be  subject  to  the  Pontiff 
of  Rome  is  a  thing  necessary  to  salvation. 

Unaneled.  [A.S.  ele,  oil.]  Not  having  re- 
ceived extreme  unction.  (Unhouseled.) 

Unau.  (Zool )  The  two-toed  sloths,  Chdlapus. 
Trop.  America.  Fam.  Bradypodidae,  ord. 
Edentata. 

Unavoce.    [L.,  with  one  voice.  \    Unanimously. 

Unbend,  To.     (Naut.)     To  loose,  or  untie. 

Unca.     (Inca.) 

Uncial  letters.  Letters  intermediate  between 
capitals  and  small  characters,  in  old  MSS. ;  so 
called,  perhaps,  from  their  size,  the  L.  uncialis 
denoting  the  twelfth  part  of  a  foot,  an  inch. 

Unclaimed.    (Derelict.) 

Uncle  Sam.  The  cant  or  vulgar  name  for  the 
U.S.  Government,  sometimes  called  Brother 
Jonathan.  Mr.  Samuel  Wilson,  immediately 
after  the  last  declaration  of  war  with  England, 
was  inspector  of  certain  army  provisions.  A 
workman,  not  knowing  the  meaning  of  the  new 
signature  U.S.  upon  certain  casks,  supposed  it 
to  stand  for  "  Uncle  Sam  ;  "  and  the  joke  passed 
current. — Bartlett's  Americanisms. 

Unconformable  strata.  (Geol.)  (Conformable 
strata.) 

Unconscious  cerebration.  Mental  operation 
during  sleep,  or  while  the  mind  is  engrossed  by 
other  and  entirely  different  thoughts  ;  known 
afterwards  only,  and  by  its  results.  (See 
Carpenter's  Mental  Physiology. ) 

Undergird.  Acts  xxvii.  17  ;  to  pass  ropes 
round  the  ship,  so  as  to  strengthen  her. 

Underground  railroad,     The  means  of  con- 


UNDE 


498 


UNIT 


veyance  by  which  fugitive  slaves  escaped  to  the 
free  states  and  Canada.— Bartlett's  American- 
isms. 

Underground  railway.  A  term  denoting  rail- 
ways carried  through  or  about  great  cities,  where 
the  way  must  for  the  most  part  be  tunnelled. 

Under-layer.  A  vertical  shaft  sunk  to  cut  an 
underlying  lode  at  any  required  depth. 

Underlying.    Inclined  to  the  perpendicular. 

Undersetters  (i  Kings  vii.  30),  or  Shoulders. 
Brackets  or  bars,  or  some  kind  of  pedestal. 

Undershot-wheel.    (Water-wheel.) 

Under  way.  (Naut.)  Fairly  started  by  the 
motive  power. 

Under  weigh.  (Nattt.)  The  anchor  started, 
and  the  ship  ready  to  be  got  under  way  (q.v.). 

Underwriter.  One  who,  in  return  for  a 
premium  received,  makes  himself  responsible 
for  the  payment  of  a  certain  sum  in  the  event  of 
the  loss  of  a  ship  or  of  damage  to  it  at  sea. 
The  practice  of  underwriting,  nominally  by 
individuals,  who  really  formed  a  joint-stock 
company,  owed  its  origin  to  the  excessively 
high  rates  of  insurance  charged  by  the  only  two 
companies  which,  previous  to  1824,  were  allowed 
by  charter  to  grant  marine  insurances.  The 
underwriters,  who  then  took  off  much  or  most  of 
their  business,  became  known  as  Lloyd's. 

Undines.  [L.  unda,  a  wave.}  The  Cabalistic 
name  for  the  water-spirits,  called  by  the  Greeks 
Naiads,  Nereids,  and  Nymphs.  To  this  class 
belong  the  nix  of  the  northern  English  counties, 
and  the  Scottish  kelpie. 

Undulation;  Undulatory theory.     (Wave.) 

Unequal.  Ezek.  xviii.  25  ;  as  frequently  in 
early  writers,  unjust,  unfair.  Equal,  y«.r/,  fair. 

Unequal  temperament.  (Music.)  (Tempera- 
ment.) 

Un  fait  accompli.  [Fr.,  an  accomplished  fact.] 
Done,  and  not  to  be  undone. 

Unguibus  et  rostro.  [L.,  with  cla'ws  and 
beak.}  Tooth  and  nail. 

Unguiculate.  [L.  ungmculus,  dim.  of  unguis, 
a  nail.}  (Sot.)  Furnished  with  a  claw ;  as  the 
petals  of  a  pink. 

Ungulata.  [L.,  provided  with  hoofs  (ungulce).] 
(Zool.)  Animals  with  hoofs,  the  seventh  ord.  of 
mammals,  containing  those  most  useful  to  man  ; 
as  among  Pachydermata,  the  pig;  among 
Solidungula,  or  S5lipedes,  the  horse ;  among 
Ruminantia,  the  sheep.  In  some  systems,  as 
Cuyier's,^  these  three  sections— Pachydermata, 
Solidungula,  and  Ruminantia — form  separate 
orders,  and  P.  includes  the  elephants,  now 
usually  classed  as  Proboscidea, 

Unguled.  [L.  ungiila,  a  hoof.}  (Her.)  Having 
hoofs  or  claws  of  a  different  colour  from  the 
body. 

Unhouseled.  .Without  having  received  the 
&?ww/[A.S.  husel],  the  Holy  Eucharist.  (Un- 
aneled.) 

Uniat.  A  term  applied  in  the  Latin  Church 
to  Eastern  Christians  who  acknowledge  the 
papal  supremacy. 

Unicameral.  Having  only  one  [L.  unus] 
legislative  chamber  [camera]. 

Unicorn.    [L.  uni-cornis,  from  unus,  one,  and 


cornu,  horn.}  1.  (Bibl.)  Reem  [Heb.],  a  large, 
wild,  bovine  animal.  2.  (Her.)  A  fabulous 
animal,  with  the  feet  and  legs  of  a  deer,  the  tail 
of  a  lion,  the  body  and  head  of  a  horse,  from 
the  forehead  of  which  a  single  horn  projects. 

Unicorn,  Sea.     (Narwhal.) 

Unifilar.  [L.  unus,  one,  filum,  a  thread.}  Of 
a  single  thread. 

Unifilar  magnetometer.  An  instrument  whose 
essential  part  is  a  magnet  suspended  by  a  single 
thread  [L.  unum  filum],  for  determining  the 
horizontal  intensity  of  terrestrial  magnetism. 

Uniformitarians  (Geol.)  regard  the  existing 
natural  agencies  as  quite  competent  to  have 
effected  all  the  successive  changes  which  the 
earth's  surface  appears  to  have  undergone. 
Catastrophists  think  they  could  not  have  been 
effected  without  convulsions  and  catastrophes 
[Gr.  KaraffrpoQ-f),  an  overturning  for  which 
existing  nature  seems  unable  to  supply  effective 
causes. 

Uniformity,  Acts  of,  i.e.  to  secure  uniformity 
in  public  worship  :  1549  and  1562,  Edward  VI.  ; 
1559,  Elizabeth  ;  1662,  Charles  II., — this  last 
being  in  operation  now;  amended,  1872. 

Uniform  motion  or  velocity.  That  of  a  body 
which  describes  equal  distances  in  equal  times. 

Unigenitus.  [L.,  only  begotten^  Title  of  the 
bull  of  Clement  XL,  September,  1713,  con- 
demning Jansenist  opinions,  as  expressed  in 
Quesnel's  Reflexions  Morales. 

Unio  margaritiferus.     (Mussel,  Pearl.) 

Union.  [Eccl.  L.  unio,  unity •.]  In  Eng.  Hist., 
the  union  of  the  crowns  of  Scotland  and  England 
in  the  person  of  James  I.  The  union  of  the  two 
kingdoms  was  effected  by  the  Statute  of  1706, 
under  Anne.  The  union  of  Ireland  with  Great 
Britain  was  carried  into  effect  in  1800. 

Union,  Hypostatical.    (Hypostatic  union.) 

Union  Jack.  The  national  flag  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  consisting  of  the  red  cross 
of  St.  George,  the  red  diagonal  cross  of  St. 
Patrick,  and  the  white  diagonal  cross  of  St. 
Andrew,  all  on  a  blue  ground. 

Unison.  [L.  unisonus,  having  erne  and  the 
same  sound.]  (Music.}  1.  Two  tones  are  in  U. 
when  they  are  produced  by  the  same  number  of 
vibrations  per  second.  2.  Music  in  octaves, 
played  or  sung,  is  also  said  to  be  in  U. 

Unit.  [L.  unitas,  oneness.']  The  magnitude 
by  reference  to  which  other  magnitudes  are 
expressed  numerically.  In  England,  the  funda- 
mental U.  of  distance,  time,  and  mass  are  the 
yard,  the  mean  solar  second,  and  the  pound 
avoirdupois  ;  other  units  are  derived  from  them 
according  to  tables  of  weights  and  measures,  as 
inches  and  miles,  hours  and  minutes,  ounces  and 
hundredweights,  etc. 

United  Bohemians.     (Bohemian  Brethren.) 

United  Brethren.  The  same  as  Bohemian 
Brethren. 

United  Presbyterian  Church.  (Marrow  Con- 
troversy.) 

Unit  jar.  A  small  insulated  Leyden  jar 
placed  between  the  electric  machine  and  the 
battery,  so  that  its  discharges  show  the  amount 
of  electricity  passing. 


UNIV 


499 


URSI 


Univalve.  [L.  unus,  one,  valvse,  folding 
doors.}  (Ostr.)  Possessing  one  valve,  or  door  ; 
applied  to  shells  composed  of  one  piece,  as  the 
whelk's. 

Universal  Doctor.     (Doctor.) 

Universalists.  (EccL  Hist.)  A  name  some- 
times applied  to  Arminians,  as  holding  that  the 
grace  of  God  is  given  to  all  men  without  favour 
or  reserve ;  their  opponents,  the  Calvinists, 
being  called  Particularists.  But,  generally,  to 
those  who  believe  in  the  ultimate  recovery  of  all. 

Universal  joint.  (Mech.)  A  joint  enabling 
the  rotation  of  one  axle  to  communicate  rotation 
to  a  second  axle  whose  direction  intersects  that 
of  the  former  at  any  given  angle  ;  the  ends  of 
the  axles  open  out  into  forks,  one  of  which  is 
fastened  by  loose  rivets  to  the  ends  of  one  arm 
of  a  cross,  the  other  in  like  manner  to  the  ends 
of  the  other  arm  of  the  cross. 

Universal  language.  Any  scheme  for  a 
system  of  writing  which  will  be  universally  in- 
telligible. This  system  must  consist  of  signs  for 
all  conceivable  things  ;  it  implies,  therefore,  that 
the  framers  of  it  have  mastered  the  whole  of 
human  knowledge,  and  can  sit  in  judgment  on  it. 
It  may  be  supposed  that  not  much  has  been  done 
towards  the  realizing  of  such  schemes. 

Universal  proposition.  [L.  umversalis.]  In 
Log.,  a  proposition  which  has  the  subject  dis- 
tributed, that  is,  applied  to  all  possible  members 
of  the  class  ;  as  "  All  men  are  mortal,"  mortality 
being  here  predicated  of  all  men  without  ex- 
ception. (Quantity.) 

Univocals.  [L.  unus,  one,  vox,  voice."]  In 
the  Aristotelian  logic  of  the  schools,  generic 
words,  Predicable  of  many  species.  (School- 
men.) 

Unknown,  The  great.  Sir  Walter  Scott,  for 
some  years  after  the  appearance,  in  1814,  of 
Waverley. 

Unmoor,  To.     To  weigh  anchor. — Falconer. 

Unmoored.     (Naut.)     Lying  at  single  anchor. 

Unnerving  a  horse's  foot.  Dividing  the  nerves 
distributed  to  it,  in  navicular  disease. 

Unpaid,  The  tgreat.  A  familiar  phrase,  de- 
noting the  body  of  magistrates  who  are  not 
stipendiary. 

Unready,  Ethelred  the.  The  Un-rede,  or 
•wanting  in  counsel,  rather  than  Ethel-rede,  or 
noble  in  counsel. 

Unreason,  Abbot  of.  (Abbot  of  Misrule; 
Eevels,  Master  of  the.) 

Unreeve.     (Reeve,  To.) 

Unrove  his  life-line,  He  has.  In  Naut.  slang, 
he  is  dead. 

Unstratified  rocks.    I.q.  igneous,  amorphous. 

Upadana.  In  Buddhist  theology,  the  attach- 
ment to  existence,  which,  with  Karma,  work,  is 
the  source  from  which  all  beings  have  assumed 
their  present  form.  According  to  this  theology, 
the  business  of  man  is  to  uproot  this  upadana, 
and  so  attain  a  perfect  calm  in  which  he  ceases 
to  be  conscious  of  being,  this  calm  being  called 
Nirvana. 

Upanishads.     (Veda.) 

Upas  of  Java.  (Bot.)  Antiaris  toxicaria  [L. 
toxicum,  poison] ;  ord.  Artocarpese,  a  tree  allied 


to  the  fig,  having  poisonous  secretion ;  in  no  way 
connected  with  the  poisoned  valley  of  Java,  in 
which  carbonic  acid  gas,  fatal  to  all  life,  is  con- 
tinually emitted.  The  frequent  rhetorical  allu- 
sion to  the  "  deadly  upas  tree  "  is,  therefore, 
ridiculous. 

Upchurch  ware.  A  fine  pottery,  ornamented 
with  dots  or  lines,  usually  of  a  blue-black  ;  and 
made  near  U.,  on  the  Medway,  during  the 
Roman  occupation. 

Upper  case.  In  Printing,  capitals,  etc.  (as 
distinguished  from  small-letter  types)  ;  kept  in 
the  upper  case. 

Upper  masts.  {Naut. )  Top,  top -gallant,  and 
royal  masts.  All  above  the  royals  are  called 
poles. 

Ups%t  price.  In  auctions,  the  price  at  which 
goods  are  started  by  the  auctioneer,  and  under 
which  they  cannot  be  sold. 

Up  with  the  helm.  (Naut.}  Bring  the  rudder 
to  leeward. 

U.R.  Written  upon  the  voting-tablets  at  the 
Roman  comitia,  is  Uti  rogas,  as  yoit  propose  ;  i.e. 
1  vote  for  ;  A.  being  for  antique,  /  reject,  I  vote 
against. 

Urali.     (Woorali.) 

Uranium.  [L.  uranus,  Gr.  ovpav6s,  the 
heaven.~\  A  malleable  steel- white  metal,  whose 
compounds  are  used  in  glass -staining,  etc. 

Uranography.  A  description  of  the  heavens 
[Gr.  ovpavoypa<f)ta]. 

Uranus.     (Planet.) 

Urban  Dean.     (Decani.) 

Urbi  et  orbi.  [L.,  to  the  city  and  to  the  world.} 
Papal  decrees,  thus  addressed,  are  held  to  be 
promulgated  to  all  the  various  churches,  and  are 
thenceforth  binding. 

Urbino  ware.  Majolica  made  or  decorated  at 
or  near  Urbino,  in  Italy,  from  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, but  none  identified  before  1530.  The 
Raffaelle  ware  is  decorated  with  copies  from  the 
designs  of  R. 

Urea.     (Naut. )     An  armed  Spanish  fly-boat. 

Urceolate.  [L.  urcgolus,  dim.  of  urceus,  a 
pitcher.]  (Bot.)  Contracted  at  the  mouth  ;  e.g. 
the  corolla  of  some  heaths. 

Ure.  [O.Fr.  eiir,  L.  augurium.]   Use,  practice. 

Urim  and  Thummim.  The  word  Urim  is 
the  plu.  of  the  Heb.  aur,  a  light ;  whence  it 
has  come  to  signify  fire.  Thummim,  the  plu. 
of  thorn,  or  tarn,  means  fulness  or  perfection. 
The  Septuagint  renders  the  words  by  S^Aoxns 
and  a\i]Qfia,  manifestation  and  truth.  The  U. 
and  Th.  are  described  as  the  precious  stones  on 
the  high  priest's  breastplate,  which  were  sup- 
posed to  make  known  the  divine  will  by  casting 
an  extraordinary  lustre. 

Urodela.  [Gr.  ovpd,  a  tail,  877X0?,  visible.] 
(Zoo/.)  The  second  ord.  of  amphibians,  tailed 
batrachians  ;  as  newts. 

Urry.  [Ir.  uireach.]  (GeoL)  A  blue  or 
black  clay  near  a  vein  of  coal. 

Ursa  Major.     (Rishis,  The  Seven.) 

Ursldae.  [L.  ursus,  bear.}  (Zoo!.)  The  bear 
fam.,  typ.  Plantigrades  (q.v.).  Absent  from  Trop. 
and  S.  Africa ;  not  found  in  Australia.  Ord. 
Carnivora. 


URSU 


500 


VACU 


Ursulines.  (Eccl.  Hist. )  An  ordei  of  nuns, 
instituted  in  the  sixteenth  century,  devoted 
especially  to  education. 

Urtlca.  [L.,  nettle.}  (hot.)  U.  dioica,  the 
common  stinging-nettle.  Type  of  ord.  Urticese. 

Urticaria.  [L.  urtica,  a  nettle.}  (Med.)  Nettle- 
rash,  a  common  form  of  eruption  on  the  skin, 
acute  or  chronic,  always  connected  with  some 
derangement  of  the  digestive  organs. 

Use.  [L.  usus.]  (Eccl.)  The  mode  of  per- 
forming the  divine  offices  in  churches,  and  more 
especially  of  celebrating  the  Eucharist.  These 
Uses  varied  at  different  times  and  in  different 
dioceses.  The  most  important  English  Use 
was  that  of  Sarum,  instituted  by  Osmund, 
bishop  of  that  see  in  1078.  This  Use  was  gene- 
rally adopted  in  England,  Wales,  and  Iftland ; 
and  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury  thus  received  the 
title  of  precentor  of  the  college  of  bishops. 
There  were  also  the  Uses  of  York,  Bangor, 
Hereford,  and  Lincoln  ;  but  their  differences 
were  slight,  being  confined  in  some  cases  to 
musical  notation. 

Use,  in  Law,  is  a  word,  whose  history  must 
be  studied  in  law-books,  and  cannot  be  given 
concisely.  Originally  it  was  simply  =  the 
benefit  or  beneficial  ejijoyment  of  land  ;  an 
ecclesiastical  invention,  as  is  generally  believed  ; 
out  of  which  arose  many  advantages,  immuni- 
ties, abuses.  Eventually  it  became  =  seisin  or 
legal  estate.  Charitable  uses  are  enumerated  in 
Statute  43  Elizabeth,  and  these  now,  in  accord- 
ance with  its  spirit,  include  all  gifts  in  aid  of 
religion,  of  education,  of  the  poor,  of  the 
young  who  need  help  in  life,  of  public  utility 
or  order  or  improvement,  etc.  ;  so  long  as  the 
U.  be  not  Superstitious,  e.g.  Masses  for  the 
dead. 

Usequebaugh.  [Ir.  uisge  beathe,  water  of  life, 
L.  aqua  vitae.]  A  compound  distilled  spirit, 
something  like  whisky,  made  in  Ireland  and 
Scotland.  (Acheron.) 

Usque  ad  nauseam.  [L.,  even,  to  nausea^ 
Repulsively ;  till  one  is  sick. 

Usucapio.  [L.]  In  Rom.  Law,  ownership 
acquired  by  long  use  or  possession. 


Usufruct.  [L.  usufructus.]  (Leg.}  The  right 
of  enjoying  the  profits  of  a  thing  belonging  to 
another,  without  impairing  the  substance. 

Usury.  In  Luke  xix.  23  [Gr.  crvv  r6ncf],  has 
the  meaning  of  interest  [L.  usura],  simply. 

Utile  dulci,  Omne  tulit  punctum,  qui  miscuit. 
[L.]  He  is  in  favour  with  every  one  who  has 
combined  the  useful  and  the  pleasant ;  lit.  he  has 
carried  every  vote ;  punctum,  a  point  or  dot  in  a 
waxen  tablet,  made  as  the  sign  of  a  vote. 

Utility,  Doctrine  of.  That  of  Hume,  in  his 
Inquiry  concerning  the  Principles  of  Morals, 
1751  >  the  foundation  of  his  moral  system  ;  viz. 
that  is  virtuous  which  is  useful  or  agreeable  to 
the  person  himself  or  to  others  ;  usefulness  being 
only  a  tendency  to  a  certain  end,  and  that  end 
the  happiness  both  of  ourselves  and  of  others, 
with  whom  we  have  necessarily  a  fellow-feeling ; 
and  all  this,  looking  no  further  than  this  pre- 
sent life. 

Uti  possidetis.  [L. ,  as  you  possess.}  A  phrase 
denoting  a  treaty  which  leaves  the  parties  in 
the  position  which  they  occupy  at  the  moment. 
(Status  quo  ante.) 

Utopia.  A  word  coined  by  Sir  Thomas  More 
[from  Gr.  ov,  not,  and  T&TOS,  a  place}  for  an 
imaginary  island  which  has  a  perfect  government 
and  society.  More's  Utopia  was  published  in 
1516.  The  word  Utopian  is  now  practically 
synonymous  with  unpractical  or  impracticable. 

Utraquists.  [L.  uterque,  both.}  Those  who 
insisted  on  communion  in  both  kinds  were  so 
termed  in  the  Council  of  Prague,  1421. 

Utricle.  [L.  utnculus,  dim.  of  uter,  a  bag,  a 
skin.}  (Anat.  and  Bot.)  Often  used  as  =  a 
saclike  part ;  e.g.  upper  part  of  the  vestibule  of 
the  internal  ear. 

Uttar.    (Attar.) 

Uvea.  [L.  uva,  a  grape.}  (Anat.}  The 
posterior  surface  of  the  iris,  thickly  coated  with 
pigment,  and  somewhat  like  the  skin  of  a  black 
grape: 

Uvula.  [L.,  dim.  of  uva,  a  grape.}  A  small 
fleshy  process  depending  from  the  middle  of  the 
soft  palate,  and  hanging  over  the  base  of  the 
tongue. 


V. 


V.  A  vocal  corresponding  to  the  aspirate 
F,  and  representing  in  many  words  the  Greek 
digamma.  As  a  Roman  numeral,  V,  being  not 
reaHy  the  letter  V,  but  the  half  of  X,  stands  for 
5,  V  for  5000.  As  an  abbrev.,  V.  stands  for  vir, 
vixit,  vale,  verba,  etc. 

Vaccary.  [L.  vacca,  a  cow.}  A  cow-house  or 
pasture. 

Vaccine,  Vaccination.    (Cow-pox.) 

Vaccinia.     [L.  vacca,  a  cow.}    Cow-pox. 

Vacuum  [L.  vacuus,  empty] ;  V.-gauge.  1. 
A  space  empty  of  matter.  2,  A  space  inclosed 
by  a  vessel  from  which  the  air,  or  other  gas, 


has  been  in  great  part  withdrawn;  as  the 
V.  in  the  receiver  of  an  air-pump,  the 
Torricellian  V.,  etc.  (Torricellian  tube.)  A 
V.-gauge  is  an  instrument  for  measuring  the 
pressure  of  the  attenuated  vapour  within  the 
condenser  of  a  steam-engine,  of  the  air  within 
the  receiver  of  an  air-pump,  etc. 

Vacuum,  Nature  abhors  a.  An  unfortunate 
saying  of  (?)  Aristotle,  in  explanation  of  pheno- 
mena really  due  to  atmospheric  pressure. 

Vacuum-pan.  A  closed  vessel  used  in  making 
sugar,  for  evaporating  syrup  at  a  lower  tem- 
perature than  the  ordinary  boiling  point  (by 


VADE 


VANE 


the  production  of   a  partial    vacuum   in    the 
pan). 

Vade  in  pace.  [L.,  go  in  peace.]  In  mon- 
astic houses,  the  form  of  dismissal  after  sentence 
to  culprits  found  guilty  of  grave  offences.  (For 
the  use  which  Sir  W.  Scott  made  of  this  custom, 
see  his  Marmion.) 

Vade  mecum.  [L.,  go  with  me.~\  Any  port- 
able book  or  manual  may  be  so  called. 

Vae  victis  !     [L.]     Woe  to  the  conquered! 

Vagabond,  in  Bible,  has  no  moral  connota- 
tion ;  and  is  simply  =  wanderer,  fugitive  ;  or,  as 
in  Acts  xix.  13,  itinerant  [Gr.  ir€piepxofj.fv<at>]. 

Vagina.  [L.,  sheath.}  (Anat.  and  Bot.)  Vari- 
ously applied  to  sheath-like  tubes  or  passages. 

Vagus,  or  Par  vagum.     (Nerves.) 

Vair.  [Fr.,  a  squirrel's  ftir.}  (Her.)  A 
fur  formed  of  small  bell-shaped  pieces  of  blue 
and  silver  alternately,  arranged  in  lines  so  that 
the  base  of  each  silver  bell  is  opposite  to  the 
base  of  a  blue  bell.  Cotintervair  has  the  base 
of  each  bell  opposite  to  the  base  of  a  bell  of 
like  colour. 

Vaisya.     (Caste.) 

Vakeel.  In  E.  Indies,  native  attorney,  agent 
in  things  diplomatic. 

Vakka.  (Naut.)  A  large  outrigged  canoe 
of  the  Friendly  Isles. 

Valeat  quantum  (valere  potest).  [L.]  Let 
it  count  for  what  (it  is  worth). 

Valencia.  A  fabric  having  the  weft  of  wool 
and  the  warp  of  silk  or  cotton. 

Valenciennes  (from  the  town  in  France).  A 
lace  with  a  hexagon  mesh  of  two  threads  partly 
twisted  and  plaited,  the  pattern  being  worked 
in  the  net. 

Valentine's  Day.  February  14,  which  bears 
the  name  of  Valentine,  a  presbyter,  said  to  have 
been  beheaded  at  Rome  under  Claudius ;  but 
it  is  not  easy  to  find  in  his  life  any  reasons  which 
connect  him  with  the  special  associations  of  the 
day. 

Valentinians.  (Eccl.  Hist.}  The  followers 
of  the  Egyptian  Valentmus,  who  in  the  second 
century  put  forth  an  elaborate  Gnostic  system 
of  JEons,  composing  a  complete  deity,  which  he 
termed  Pleroma,  fulness,  or  plenitude.  Their 
morality  resembled  that  of  the  Carpocratians. 

Valerian.  (Bot.)  Of  Pharmacy,  Vaieriana 
officinalis,  a  native  plant,  with  tall  stems,  pin- 
nate leaves,  and  umbels  of  white  flowers  ;  the 
red  V. ,  common  on  old  garden  walls,  in  quar- 
ries, etc.,  is  Centranthus  ruber. 

Valesians.  An  obscure  sect  of  the  third 
century,  mentioned  by  Epiphanius. 

Valetudinarian.  Lit.  that  which  relates  to 
health  [L.  valetudmem],  but  applied  generally  to 
weak  or  bad  health.  Hence  one  who  is  weakly 
or  infirm,  or  seeking  to  regain  health. 

Valhalla.  (Myth.)  The  heaven  in  which 
Woden  and  the  ^Esir  dwell,  with  the  Valkyries, 
whose  office  it  is  to  conduct  thither  the  souls  of 
heroes  slain  in  battle. 

Valinch.  A  tube  for  drawing  liquors  from 
a  cask  by  the  bung-hole. 

Valise.  [Fr.  valise,  a  saddle-bag.]  A  port- 
manteau. 


Valkyries.  In  the  Myth,  of  N.  Europe, 
maidens  who  dwell  with  the  y£sir  in  Valhalla, 
and  who,  as  corse-choosers,  lead  to  the  home 
of  the  gods  the  souls  of  those  who  fall  in  battle. 
Also  called  Oska-maer,  Wish-maidens.  (Houri; 
Wish.) 

Vallauris  ware.  An  elegant  pottery  modelled 
from  the  antique,  made  at  V.,  near  Cannes. 

Valonia.  [It.  vallonea,  from  Gr.  ftdhavos, 
an  acorn.]  A  kind  of  acorn  imported  from  the 
Levant,  and  used  in  tanning. 

Valor  Ecclesiasticus.    (Liber  Regis.) 

Valued  policy.  (Naut.)  One  in  which  a 
ship  or  goods  are  insured  for  a  fixed  sum. 

Valve.  [L.  valvae,  plu.,  folding  doors.]  1. 
(Anat.)  A  membrane  opening  to  admit  the 
passage  of  blood,  and  closing  to  prevent  its 
reflux.  Valvular,  consisting  of,  pertaining  to, 
valves.  2.  (Bot.)  One  of  the  divisions  of  any 
dehiscent  body. 

Valve  [L.  valvse,  the  leaves  of  a  folding 
door}-,  Ball-V.;  Butterfly-V. ;  Clack-V. ;  Disc- 
V.;  Flap-V. ;  Lift-V.;  Puppet-V.  A  small 
door  for  regulating  the  entrance  and  exit  of 
fluids  in  steam  and  water  engines.  A  Clack,  or 
Flap,  or  Butterfly,  V.  turns  round  a  hinge,  being 
lifted  by  the  fluid  and  falling  into  its  place  when 
the  pressure  is  withdrawn.  A  Disc-  V.  is  a  cir- 
cular disc  of  indiarubber  secured  by  a  bolt  in  the 
centre  ;  it  is  opened  and  closed  against  a  grating 
by  the  yielding  of  the  indiarubber  to  fluid 
pressure.  A  Lift  or  Puppet  V.  is  a  circular  disc 
of  metal  with  a  bevelled  edge,  which  fits  a  cir- 
cular metal  seating ;  it  is  lifted  by  the  fluid 
pressure  and  falls  into  its  seat  when  the  pressure 
is  withdrawn.  A  Ball-  V.  is  simply  a  metal  ball, 
with  a  properly  formed  seating  and  guides  ;  it 
acts  like  a  lift-valve. 

Valve-chest.    (Steam-chest.) 

Vambrace,  Vambrance.  [Fr.  avant,  before, 
bras,  arm.]  Armour  for  the  arms. 

Vamp.  [Fr.  avant  pied,  before  foot.]  The 
upper  leather  of  a  shoe. 

Vampire.  [Ger.  vampyr.]  A  blood-sucking 
spectre,  resembling  the  Lamiae  and  the  Lemures. 
The  name  seems  to  be  of  Slavonic  origin. 

Vamplate.  [Fr.  avant,  before,  and  Eng. 
plate.]  Armour  for  the  hand,  a  gauntlet. 

Vanadium  (from  Vanadis,  a  Scandinavian 
goddess).  A  silvery  brittle  metal. 

Vandyke.  A  scalloped  cape  for  the  neck, 
as  seen  in  portraits  painted  by  Vandyke  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  I. 

Vandyke  brown  (supposed  to  be  used  by 
Vandyke).  A  semi-transparent  brown  pigment, 
obtained  from  a  kind  of  peat. 

Vane.  [A.S.  fana,  a  flag.]  (Naut.)  A 
piece  of  bunting  extended  on  a  revolving  piece 
of  wood  at  the  masthead,  to  show  the  direction 
of  the  wind.  A  distinguishing  V.  shows  to 
which  division  of  the  fleet  a  vessel  belongs.  Dog- 
vanes,  pieces  of  cork  with  feathers  stuck  round 
them,  and  strung  upon  twine,  usually  fastened 
to  the  top  of  a  half-pike  on  the  weather  side  of 
the  quarter-deck. 

Vanessa.  So  styled  by  Dean  Swift,  who 
exerted  a  kind  of  enchantment  over  her  as  he 


VANE 


502 


VASS 


had  done  over  Stella ;  Hester  Vanhomrigh,  the 
daughter  of  a  London  merchant,  who  died  of  a 
broken  heart,  1723.  (Stella.) 

Vanessa,  i.e.  Phanessa  (from  Phanes,  a  mystic 
divinity  in  the  Orphic  rites,  known  also  as 
Eros).  (Entom.^  Gen.  of  butterfly,  brightly 
coloured ;  as  the  Peacock  B.  Fam.  Nymphalidse. 

Vang.  (Nattt.)  A  rope  leading  to  either  side 
of  a  ship  from  the  outer  end  of  a  gaff. 

Vanilla.  [Sp.  vainilla,  a  small  pod.'}  The 
thin  podlike  capsule  of  a  Trop.  American  plant, 
Vanilla  planifolia,  used  in  flavouring  confection- 
ary, etc. 

Vanishing  fraction.  An  algebraical  fraction 
whose  numerator  and  denominator  are  both 
functions  of  one  variable,  and  become  zero  for 

the  same  value  of  that  variable  ;    as,    -j— — -> 

in  which  the  numerator  and  denominator  both 
become  zero  when  x  becomes  equal  to  a ;  the 

value  of  the  fraction  is  then  — . 

Vanishing  point;  V.  line.  That  point  to 
which  the  perspective  representations  of  a  group 
of  parallel  lines  all  converge.  The  V.  line  of  a 
group  of  parallel  planes  is  the  line  to  which 
their  perspective  representations  all  converge. 

Vanning.  [L.  vannus,  a  winncnmng  fan.} 
Washing  a  small  portion  of  ore  in  a  shovel. 

Vantbrace.    The  same  as  Vambrace. 

Vapour.  [L.  vapor,  steam.}  A  substance  in 
a  gaseous  form,  which  at  ordinary  temperatures 
appears  as  solid  or  liquid.  The  distinction 
between  gases  and  vapours  is  conventional,  the 
terms  being  used  according  to  the  state  of  the 
substance  at  ordinary  temperatures, 

Vapours.  A  nearly  obsolete  term  for  a  disease 
of  nervous  debility ;  hypochondriacal,  with 
hallucinations. 

Varangians.  The  Greek  name  for  the  Teu- 
tonic guards  of  the  Byzantine  emperor,  probably 
being,  like  the  modern  Oriental  Feringi,  a 
transliteration  of  Franks. 

Varanidae.  (Zool.)  Water-lizards.  Africa  and 
the  East,  including  Australia. 

Vare,  Vare,  redde  legumes!  [L.,  Varus,  give 
me  back  my  legions  /]  The  exclamation  of  the 
Emperor  Augustus,  after  the  destruction  of  the 
legions  under  Varus  by  Arminius  (Herman), 
A.D.  9. 

Variable;  Dependent  V.;  Independent  V. 
When  one  magnitude  is  a  function  of  a  second, 
both  are  Variables ;  but  the  former  is  the  De- 
pendent, the  latter  the  Independent,  variable. 
Thus  if  0  =  ax3  4-  bx,  x  and  2  are  both  variables  ; 
but  as  the  variations  in  z  are  supposed  to  be 
produced  by  arbitrary  variations  in  x,  the  former 
is  the  dependent,  the  latter  the  independent, 
variable. 

Variables.  In  Naut.  language,  those  parts  of 
the  sea  where  steady  winds  are  not  expected. 

Variable  star.  (Ash-on.)  A  fixed  star,  whose 
brightness  changes  periodically  or  otherwise. 

Variant.  Of  a  word,  one  outwardly  like, 
and  from  the  same  root ;  so  to  fleet  is  a  V.  of 
to  float.  A  doublet  being  one  from  the  same 


root,  not  outwardly  like  but  having  undergone 
some  literal  changes  ;  so  chattels  and  cattle,  fabric 
and  forge,  Fr.  on  and  homme,  etc. 

Variation;  Calculus  of  V.;  V.  compass;  V. 
of  the  moon ;  V.  of  the  needle ;  Periodic  V. ; 
Secular  V.  (Math.)  The  Calctdus  of  varia- 
tions is  a  kind  of  differential  calculus,  in  which  • 
the  same  quantity  is  considered  as  an  inde- 
pendent variable  in  two  or  more  distinct  points 
of  view ;  e.g.  the  variation  may  take  place 
not  only  from  one  point  to  another  on  a  given 
curve,  but  also  from  one  point  to  another  on 
a  neighbouring  curve.  The  V.  of  the  needle  is 
the  magnetic  declination  at  a  given  place.  A 
V.  compass  is  a  needle  mounted  so  as  to  show 
the  magnetic  declination.  The  V.  of  the  moon 
is  an  inequality  in  her  longitude,  due  to  the  dif- 
ference between  the  forces  with  which  the  sun 
attracts  the  earth  and  moon  ;  it  depends  on 
twice  the  difference  between  her  longitude  and 
the  sun's,  vanishing  at  syzygies  and  quadratures, 
and  being  greatest  at  points  about  midway  be- 
tween them.  The  Periodic  variations  in  the 
elliptic  elements  of  a  planet's  orbit  are  those 
which,  produced  by  the  disturbing  attraction  of 
another  planet,  are  nearly  compensated  in  one 
revolution  of  the  disturbing  or  disturbed  body ; 
the  accumulation  of  the  uncompensated  residues 
of  the  periodic  variations  make  up  the  secular 
variations  or  inequalities. 

Variety.  Varieties,  with  Darwin  and  others, 
are  species  in  process  of  formation  ;  incipient 
species  ;  when  rendered  very  distinct  from  each 
other,  they  take  the  rank  of  Species ;  and  this 
apparently  is  all  that  can  be  said  by  way  of 
definition. 

Variola.  [L.  varius,  variegated.}  (Med.) 
Small-pox. 

Variorum  editions.  Certain  editions  of  classical 
writers,  published  chiefly  in  Holland,  in  the 
seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries,  with  notes 
of  numerous  or  various  commentators. 

Varium  et  mutabile  semper  Femlna.  [L.] 
Woman  is  always  aflckle  and  changeable  thing. 

Varix.  [L.]  A  dilated  vein.  Adj.,  Varicose. 
(Aneurism.) 

Varlet.  [O.Fr.]  An  attendant  or  servant. 
A  low  fellow  or  rascal. 

Varnish  (probably  another  fonn  of  burnish 
(q.v.),  but  traced  by  Sir  G.  C.  Lewis,  Astronomy 
of  the  Ancients,  ch.  iii.  sec.  14,  to  Berenice, 
queen  of  Ptolemy  Euergetes,  King  of  Egypt,  in 
the  third  century  B.C.).  A  fluid  which,  spread 
on  a  solid  surface  and  dried,  leaves  a  coating 
impervious  to  air  and  moisture. 

Variina.  The  oldest  Hindu  god  of  the  heaven, 
whose  name  answers  to  the  Greek  Ouranos, 
Uranus. 

Varvel.  [Fr.  vervelle.]  Rings  on  a  hawk's 
leg,  bearing  the  owner's  name. 

Vaso-motor  system  of  nerves.  (Anat.)  That 
distributed  on  the  walls  of  the  arteries ;  an  im- 
portant branch  of  the  Sympathetic  (q.v.),  or 
ganglionic,  system. 

Vassal.  JFr.,  derived  by  Sir  F.  Palgrave  from 
Welsh  gwas,  a  yottng  man  or  page.}  One  who 
holds  a  Fief  of  a  superior  lord.  (Feudal  system.) 


VAST 


503 


VEND 


'Vast!    (Avast!) 

Vate  sacro,  Carent  quia.  Many  great  men 
and  great  deeds  have  died  out  of  men's  know- 
ledge, because  they  had  not  the  sacred  bard  to 
immortalize  them  (Horace). 

Vathek.  The  History  of  the  Caliph  V.,  pub- 
lished 1784,  by  \V.  Beckford  (1759-1844),  in 
perfect  French.  An  Arabian  tale ;  short,  sar- 
castic, of  great  imaginative  power.  A  haughty, 
sensual,  cruel  monarch,  abjuring  his  faith,  offers 
allegiance  to  Eblis,  in  the  hope  of  gaining  the 
throne  of  the  pre-adamite  sultans ;  descends  into 
hell,  etc.  (Eblis.) 

Vatican.  The  palace  of  the  popes  in  Rome, 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Tiber  ;  the  richest,  per- 
haps, in  the  world  in  works  of  art,  antiquities, 
etc. 

Vatican  Codex.     (Codex.) 

Vaudeville  (i.e.  like  the  old  country  songs 
of  Vau-de-vire,  in  Normandy,  light  and  satiri- 
cal). Light  songs,  consisting  of  several  couplets 
and  a  refrain  ;  introduced  into  theatrical  pieces  ; 
known,  in  time,  as  Lais  des  Vaux  de  Vire  and 
Virelais.  Hence  plays  having  frequent  vaude- 
villes were  called  V.,  and  sometimes  Virelais. 
(See  Stainer  and  Barrett,  Dictionary  of  Music.'] 
(Mime.) 

Vaudois.  (Hist.}  The  inhabitants  of  some 
Alpine  valleys  in  Piedmont,  from  which  they 
were  expelled  in  the  seventeenth  century.  They 
returned  and  recovered  their  old  homes  by  force. 
(Waldenses.) 

Vaurien.  [Fr.  vaut,  L.  valet,  he  is  worth, 
rien  representing  L.  rem,  a  thing,  the  neg.  ne 
being  omitted  before  the  verb,  and  the  full 
phrase  being  II  ne  vaut  rien.]  One  who  is 
worth  nothing,  a  scamp. 

Vavassor.  A  word  of  uncertain  origin,  but 
probably  connected  with  Vassal.  In  France,  a 
general  name  for  the  immediate  vassals  of  the 
higher  nobles,  the  chdtelains  being  vavassors 
with  castles  or  fortified  houses. 

Ve-adar.     (Adar.) 

Veda,  [Skt.,  knowledge.]  The  collective 
sacred  literature  of  the  Hindus.  The  name 
comes  from  the  same  source  which  gives  the 
Gr.  oTSo,  /  know,  the  L.  vidi,  /  have  seen,  and 
the  Eng.  wit.  There  are  four  Vedas :  the  Rig 
Veda,  Yajur  Veda,  Sama  Veda,  and  Atharva 
Veda.  Each  of  these  is  a  Sanhita,  or  complete 
collection  ;  and  these  are  commented  upon  in 
the  Brahmanas,  Suktas,  Upanishads,  Vedangas, 
and  other  scholia.  The  whole  literature  falls 
into  two  great  classes :  ( I )  Sruti,  revelation  ; 
(2)  Smriti,  tradition;  the  latter  containing  the 
Sutras,  or  Vedangas,  elaborate  treatises  on 
Vedic  pronunciation,  metre,  grammar,  astro- 
nomy, and  ceremonial. 

Vedangas.    (Veda.) 

Vedanta.  A  Hindu  sect,  professing  to  find 
in  the  Rig  Veda  a  philosophy  which  much  re- 
sembles the  Quietism  of  European  thinkers. 
(Mystics.) 

Vedette.  [Fr.,  from  It.  vedetta,  a  watch- 
tower^  (Mil.)  Cavalry  sentry  belonging  to 
troops  stationed  at  the  outposts. 

Veer.    [Fr.  virer,  to  turn  about.     So  Vire  ! 

33 


about!}  (Naut.)  1.  To  let  or  pay  out,  as  a 
cable.  2.  To  turn,  or  change.  3.  I.q.  to  wear, 
to  come  on  to  the  opposite  tack  by  putting  the 
vessel's  head  away  from  the  wind ;  opposed  to 
tacking.  The  wind  veers  when  it  goes  with  the 
sun  ;  backs,  when  against  it. 

Vegetable  brimstone.     The  yellow  dust  of  the 
spore-cases  of  more  than  one  kind  of  lycopo- 
dium,  used  in  theatres,  etc. 
Vegetable  butter.    (Avocado  pear.) 
Vegetable  ivory.    The  kernels  of  the  nuts — 
the  Corrozzo  nuts  of  commerce — of  a  very  beau- 
tiful S. -American  palm,  the  Phytelephas  macro- 
carpa ;  each  nut  about  the  size  of  a  bantam's 

egg- 
Vegetarianism.  The  theory  that  vegetable 
diet  alone  is  the  proper  human  diet. 

Vehicle.  [L.'  vehiculum,  a  carriage^}  1. 
(Med. )  Any  substance  for  taking  medicine  in. 
2.  A  liquid  with  which  the  pigments  are  mixed 
for  painting. 

Vehmic  courts.  [Ger.  vehmgerichte.]  Ger- 
man criminal  courts  of  justice  during  the  Middle 
Ages.  In  the  thirteenth  century  they  were 
modelled  on  the  system  of  a  secret  organization, 
their  chief  seat  being  Westphalia. 

Vein.     (Artery.) 

Veldt.  [D.,  same  word  as  field.]  In  S. 
Africa ;  wide,  open,  far-stretching  grass-land, 
uncultivated,  uninclosed. 

Velitation.  [L.  velitati5nem,  from  velites, 
light-armed  soldiers.  ]  Skirmishing.  A  dispute 
or  contest. 

Velites.  [L.]  The  light-armed  infantry  be- 
longing to  a  Roman  Legion. 

Velleity.  [Fr.  velleite,  from  a  supposed  L. 
velleitas,  from  velle,  to  wish."]  Imperfect  or 
incomplete  volition  ;  desire  scarcely  passing 
into  will. 

Vellicate.  [L.  vellicatum,  sup.  of  veilicare, 
freq.  of  vellere,  to  pluck.}  To  twitch,  to  make 
to  twitch  convulsively. 

Velocipede.  [L.  velox,  swift,  pedem,  a  foot.}. 
A  light  carriage  propelled  by  the  feet  of  the  rider 
acting  on  cranks. 

Velocity.  [L.  vel5cita,  -tern,  swiftness.'}  (Math.} 
The  rate  of  motion,  uniform  when  the  rate  is 
constant,  variable  when  the  rate  varies ;  the 
rate  at  any  instant  being  the  number  of  feet 
(or  other  unit)  that  would  be  described  in  a 
second  (or  other  unit)  if  from  that  instant  the 
body  continued  to  move  uniformly.  (Uniform 
motion.) 

Velvet  cork.  The  best  kind  of  cork  bark, 
soft  and  smooth. 

Velveteen.  [Fr.  velvantine.]  A  cotton  cloth 
in  imitation  of  velvet. 

Venation.  [L.  vena,  a  vein.~\  (Bot.}  The 
distribution  of  veins  in  leaves.  (Parallel-veined 
leaves.) 

Vendemiaire.  [Fr.,  from  L.  vindemia,  vint- 
age.} The  first  month  of  the  French  Republican! 
calendar,  beginning  at  the  autumnal  equinox 
and  ending  thirty  days  later.  In  this  calendar 
the  year  was  divided  into  twelve  months  of 
thirty  days,  with  five  additional  days  for  festi- 
vals, and  every  fourth  year  six.  The  months 


VENE 


504 


VERM 


were  divided  into  decades,  and  the  days  into 
ten  hours  of  a  hundred  minutes  each.  The 
months  were  named  from  the  botanical  or  agri- 
cultural characteristics  of  each,  their  names 
being  consecutively  Vendemiaire,  Brumaire, 
Frimaire,  Nivose,  Pluviose,  Ventose,  Germinal, 
Floreal,  Prairial,  Messidor,  Thermidor  (or  Fer- 
vidor),  and  Fructidor.  This  absurd  scheme 
was  set  aside  by  Napoleon,  who  restored  the 
old  calendar  in  1806. 

Veneering.  [Ger.  furnieren,  to  furnish.} 
Overlaying  a  coarse  wood  with  thin  leaves  or 
veneers  of  superior  material.  , 

Venery.  [Fr.  venerie,  L.  venari,  to  hunt.} 
The  highest  branch  of  the  art  of  hunting. 

Venery,  Beasts  of.  The  hart,  hare,  wild  boar, 
and  wolf;  as  distinguished  from  beasts  of  the 
chase,  which  are  the  buck,  doe,  roe,  fox,  and 
marten. 

Venesection.  [L.  vena,  a  vein,  s£co,  /  cut.} 
Blood-letting. 

Venetian  school.  A  school  of  painting  marked 
by  the  beauty  of  its  colouring.  (Its  head  was 
Titian,  a  Venetian,  born  1477.) 

Venetian  swell  (i.e.  like  a  V.  blind).  Inclos- 
ing the  swell  organ,  is  a  series  of  shutters  opened 
and  closed  by  a  pedal. 

Veni,  vidi,  vici.  [L.,  I  came,  saw,  and  con- 
quered.'} Many  accounts  are  given  of  the  origin 
of  this  phrase,  which  has  been  attributed  to 
Julius*  Caesar. 

Venial  sins.  [L.  venia,  pardon.}  In  the 
Latin  Church,  such  sins  as  do  not  place  the 
doer  out  of  a  state  of  grace.  (Mortal  sins.) 

Venison.  Gen.  xxv.,  xxvii.  ;  retains  the  first 
meaning  of  the  word  ;  i.e.  flesh  taken  in  hunting 
[Fr.  venaison,  L.  venationem]. 

Vent.  [Fr.  vent,  -wind.}  (Mil.}  Aperture 
through  which  the  charge  of  a  gun  is  fired  ; 
when  a  match  was  used,  called  the  Touch-hole. 
"  Serving  "  the  V. — in  muzzle-loading  guns — is 
the  stopping  the  V.  by  means  of  the  thumb  or  a 
vent-server,  while  the  gun  is  being  sponged  out 
and  loaded. 

Ventail.  [Fr.  ventaille,  venter,  to  blow  fresh.} 
That  part  of  the  visor  of  a  helmet  which  may  be 
lifted  up,  for  freer  admission  of  air. 

Venter.  [L.,  womb}  In  Law,  =  maternal 
parentage ;  so  first  or  second  V.  =  first  or 
second  marriage. 

Ventricle.  [L.  ventriculus,  dim.  of  venter, 
belly.}  (Anat.)  Small  cavity;  applied,  espe- 
cially, to  the  heart. 

Ventriloquist.  [L.  venter,  belly,  loquor,  7 
speak.}  One  who  is  said  to  be  able  to  make  his 
voice  sound  as  if  it  came  from  points  distant 
from  himself ;  an  effect  supposed  to  be  produced 
by  his  speaking  from  his  stomach. 

Venus.  [L.,  from  a  root  which  in  Skt  is 
van,  to  desire,  love,  or  favour,  and  which  gives 
A.S.  wynn,  pleasure,  the  Ger.  wonne,  and  the 
Eng.  winsome.}  The  Italian  goddess  of  love, 
afterwards  identified  with  the  Greek  Aphrodite. 
(Paris,  Judgment  of.) 
Venus.  (Planet.) 

Veratrine.  A  vegetable  alkaloid,  obtained 
from  hellebore  [L.  veratrum]. 


Verbatim  et  literatim.  [L.]  Word  for  word 
and  letter  for  letter. 

Verbum  sap.,  i.e.  s&pienti.  [L.,  a  word  to  the 
wise.}  A  little  hint  for  those  who  are  sensible 
enough  to  need  nothing  more. 

Verde  antique.  [Fr.,  i.e.  prized  by  the  ancient 
Romans.]  1.  Green  porphyry,  felspathic  with 
felspar  -crystals.  2.  Serpentine  mixed  with 
limestone  is  sometimes  so  called. 

Verdict  [L.L.  verdictum,  veredictum,  a  thing 
truly  said}  is  General,  when  in  general  words 
with  the  issue,  as  guilty  or  not ;  Special,  when 
the  jury  find  the  facts  of  the  case  to  be-proved, 
but  do  not  know  on  which  side  to  find,  being 
ignorant  on  some  points  of  law  ;  Privy,  when, 
the  judge  having  left  or  adjourned  the  court, 
the  jury,  desiring  to  be  liberated,  are  allowed  to 
give  their  V.  privily  to  the  judge,  the  V.  to  be 
legal  only  when  given  out  publicly. 

Verdigris.  [L.  viride  aeris,  green  of  copper.] 
(Chem.}  Diacetate  of  copper,  a  poisonous  green 
pigment. 

Verditer.  [Fr.  vert  de  terre,  earth-green.}  A 
blue  pigment  made  by  decomposing  nitrate  of 
copper  with  chalk.  Green  verditer  is  formed  by 
sulphate  of  copper  and  sea-salt. 

Verdoy.  [Fr.  verdoye.]  (Her.}  Charged 
with  leaves. 

Verge.  [Fr.,  a  rod.}  The  spindle  of  a  watch- 
balance. 

Vergeboard.     (Bargeboard.) 

Vergette.     \Yi.,  a  brush.}     (Pallet.) 

Verglas.  [A  word  made  up  of  verre,  glass, 
glace,  ice.}  Glazed  frost. 

Veridical.  [L.  veridicus.]  Truth-telling; 
truthful. 

Verisimilitude.  [L.  verisimilitude.]  Likeness 
to  truth  ;  probability,  likelihood. 

Veritas,  Amicus  Plato,  sed  magis  arnica.  [L., 
Plato  is  dear ;  the  truth  is  much  dearer.}  No 
personal,  private,  considerations  may  have  any 
weight  when  it  is  a  question  of  truth. 

Veritas,  Bureau.     The  French  Lloyd's  (q.v.}. 

Veritas  odium  pant.  [L.]  Truth  breeds 
hatred. 

Verjuice.  [Fr.  verjus,  vert,  green,  L.  jus, 
juice. ,]  The  juice  of  crab  apples,  sour  grapes, 
etc. 

Vermicelli.  [It.,  small  worms, .]  A  small 
kind  of  macaroni. 

Vermicular  motion.  A  peristaltic  (q.v.}  move- 
ment ;  one  continued  throughout  the  moving 
body,  from  one  part  to  that  immediately  next 
it ;  like  that  of  a  worm  [L.  vermis  ;  dim.  ver- 
miculus]. 

Venniculate.  [L.  vermiciilatus.]  To  inlay; 
to  arrange  work  so  that  it  shall  look  as  if  eaten 
into  and  tracked  by  worms.  Such  work,  in 
Arch.,  is  called  vermiculated,  or  vermicular, 
from  L.  vermis,  a  worm. 

Vermiculation.  [L.  vermiculus,  dim.  of 
vermis,  a  worm.}  In  masonry,  a  pattern  giving 
the  appearance  of  a  worm-eaten  substance. 

Vermifuge.  [L.  vermis,  a  worm,  fugo,  2 
banish}  I.q.  anthelmintic  (q.v.). 

Vermilion.  [Fr.  vermilion,  vermeil,  from  L. 
vermiculus,  a  little  worm.}  Mercuric  sulphide,  a 


VERN 


505 


VESP 


bright  red  pigment  (from  its  resemblance  to  the 
dye  obtained  from  the  kermes  insect). 

Vernal  equinox.     (Equinox.) 

Vernation.  [L.  vernus,  belonging  to  spring.] 
(Bot.)  The  arrangement  of  young  leaves  in  their 
leaf-bud.  Aestivation  [aestivus,  belonging  to  sum- 
mer], the  arrangement  of  the  parts  of  a  flower 
before  they  expand.  (Prefloration ;  Prefoliation.) 

Vernier.  (Pierre  V.,  inventor,  Brussels,  1631.) 
A  graduated  slip  attached  to  an  index  and  sliding 
with  it  along  a  scale,  for  reading  a  fractional 
part  of  the  smallest  division  of  the  scale  with 
much  greater  accuracy  than  could  be  obtained 
by  actual  mechanical  subdivision. 

Veronica.  [A  word  said  to  be  coined  from 
L.  vera,  true,  and  Gr.  fiKwv,  a  likeness,  but  it 
may  be  a  corr.  of  Gr.  Berenike,  Berenice. 
(Varnish.)]  1.  A  saint  of  this  name,  it  is  said, 
put  a  handkerchief  to  the  face  of  the  Saviour 
as  He  was  led  away  to  crucifixion,  and  thus 
obtained  a  true  likeness.  The  relic  is  still 
exhibited  at  Rome.  2.  In  Bot.,  the  name  de- 
notes the  Speedwell,  a  gen.  of  plants  with 
numerous  spec.,  ord.  Scrophularineae,  including 
common  S.  (V.  officinalis),  abundant  in  Britain, 
with  pale  blue  corolla  ;  brooklime,  etc. 

Verriere.  In  Keramics,  a  bowl  with  scal- 
loped edges,  to  lay  glasses  in. 

Verrucose.  [L.  verrucosus,  verruca,  a  wart.] 
(Anat.  and  Bot. )  Having  warts. 

Versailles,  Palace  of.  Built  by  Louis  XIV., 
King  of  France,  1661-72  ;  attacked  by  the  mob, 
1789.  The  King  of  Prussia  proclaimed  Ger- 
manic Emperor  in  the  great  hall,  1871. 

Vers  de  societe.  Mediocre  verses  (Littre), 
written  for  drawing-room  entertainment. 

Versicles.  [L.  versiculi,  little  verses.]  (Eccl.} 
Short  sentences  recited  by  the  minister,  to  which 
the  people  reply  by  similar  sentences  called 
Responses. 

Verso.  [L.  versus,  turned  over.]  The  left- 
hand  page  in  printing. 

Verst,  Werst.  A  Russian  measure  of  itinerary 
length,  =  n66£  yards  ;  about  two-thirds  of  an 
English  mile,  a  little  more  than  a  French  kilo- 
metre. Russian  versta,  from  verstati,  to  mea- 
sure. 

Vert.  [Fr.]  (Her.}  The  green  colour  in 
coats  of  arms,  represented  in  engraving  by  lines 
sloping  downward  from  the  dexter  to  the  sinister 
side. 

Vertebrate,  Vertebrates.      [L.  vertebra,  pro- 
vided with  joints,  specially  in  backbone,  verto 
furn.]      (Zoo/.)     That    sub-kingd.     of    animals 
which  consists  of — 

I.  Ichthyopsida,  characterized  by,  among  other 
things,  the  possession  of  temporary  or 
permanent  gills,  and  containing 

(1)  Fishes, 

(2)  Amphibians. 

II.  SauropsTda,  characterized  by,  among  other 
things,  the  total  absence  of  gills,  and  by 
the  head  being  jointed  on  a  single  con- 
dyle,  and  containing 

(1)  Birds, 

(2)  Reptiles. 

III.  Mammalia,  characterized  by,  among  other 


things,  the  possession  of  milk  glands, 
and  by  the  head  being  jointed  on  two 
condyles. 

The  general  name  is  due  to  the  possession  of  a 
vertebral  or  spinal  column,  rudimentary  or 
developed. 

Vertex.  [L.]  1.  The  angular  point  of  a 
triangle,  pyramid,  etc.,  opposite  to  the  base. 
2.  The  point  of  a  symmetrical  curve  or  surface 
on  which  it  is  cut  by  the  axis ;  as  the  V.  of  a 
parabola. 

Vertical  circle;  V.  elevation;  V.  limb;  V. 
line ;  V.  plane  ;  Prime  V.  The*  Vertical  line  at 
any  place  is  the  line  drawn  in  the  direction  of 
the  plumb-line  at  that  place.  Any  plane  contain- 
ing the  vertical  line  is  a  V.  plane.  The  angle  of 
V.  elevation  of  a  point  is  the  angle  on  a  vertical 
plane  between  a  line  drawn  from  the  point  to 
the  eye  of  the  observer  and  the  horizontal  line. 
The  V.  limb  of  a  surveying  or  astronomical  in- 
strument is  a  graduated  arc,  capable  of  adjust- 
ment into  a  vertical  plane,  on  which  angles  of 
vertical  elevations  can  be  measured.  A  V.  circle 
is  a  circle  of  the  great  sphere  whose  plane  is 
vertical.  The  Prime  V.  is  the  vertical  circle  at 
right  angles  to  the  meridian,  and  therefore  pass- 
ing through  the  east  and  west  points  of  the 
horizon. 

Vertical  plane.  In  Perspective,  the  plane 
passing  through  the  point  of  sight,  parallel  to 
the  plane  of  the  picture. 

Verticel  [L.  verticillus,  the  whorl  of  a  spindle], 
or  Whorl.  (Bot. )  The  development  of  three  or 
more  leaves  or  other  organs  upon  the  same  plane  ; 
e.g.  woodruff,  bedstraw.  Adj.,  Verticillate. 

Vertigo.  [L.]  Dizziness,  swimming  in  the 
head,  supposed  to  arise  from  irregular  supply  of 
blood,  excessive  or  defective,  to  the  brain. 

Vertumnus.  A  Latin  deity  worshipped  as 
concerned  with  everything  relating  to  change, 
whether  in  the  seasons  or  in  commerce,  etc.  He 
is  called  the  husband  of  Pomona,  the  goddess  of 
fruits  and  harvest.  The  name  is  a  participial 
form  of  the  verb  verto,  I  turn. 

Verve.  [Fr.,  L.  verva,  a  sculpttired  ram's 
head  (?  Littre).]  Animation,  spirit,  chiefly  such 
as  inspires  artists. 

Vesical.  (Med.)  Pertaining  to  the  bladder 
[L.  vesica]. 

Vesica  piscis.  [L.]  An  oval  emblem,  gene- 
rally pointed  at  either  end,  often  used  for  the 
seals  of  religious  houses,  or  to  inclose  figures  of 
Jesus  Christ  (Ichthys)  or  of  the  saints. 

Vesicle.  [L.  ves:cula.]  (Anat.  and  Bot.}  A 
small  bladder-like  cavity. 

Vesicular.  (Geol.)  Cellular,  full  of  little 
cavities,  like  some  kinds  of  lava. 

Vesper.  [L.]  The  evening  star,  called  by 
the  Greeks  Hesperos.  Hence  Hesperian  as  a 
name  for  Italy,  which  to  the  Greeks  was  the 
western  land.  (Hesperides.) 

Vespers.    (Canonical  hours.) 

Vespers,  Sicilian.     (Sicilian  Vespers.) 

Vespertillonidae.  [L.  vespertllio,  bat,  vesper, 
evening.}  (Zool.)  Large  and  universally  dis- 
tributed fam.  of  insectivorous  bats,  frequently 
large-eared. 


VESP 


506 


VIET 


Vespiary.  [L.  vespa,  a  wasp.}  (Entom.) 
Wasps'  nest. 

Vespidse.  [L.  vespa,  a  wasp.}  (Entom.) 
Wasps;  fam.  of  hymenopterous  insects,  some 
social,  others  solitary. 

Vestal.  [L.  Vestalis.]  Relating  to  Vesta,  the 
Latin  goddess  of  the  hrarth,  where  the  sacred 
fire  was  never  allowed  to  die  out,  and  the 
guardian  of  household  purity  and  truth.  This 
fire  on  the  public  hearth  was  guarded  by  the 
Vestal  virgins,  who  are  said  to  have  been  insti- 
tuted by  Numa  Pompilius.  This  goddess  was 
called  by  the  Greeks  Hestia. 

Vestigia  nulla  retrorsum.  [L.J  J\o  tracks  oj 
any  going  back  ;  that  is,  all  tracks  pointing  to  the 
lion's  den,  a  sign  of  fatal  danger. 

Vestment.     (Chasuble.) 

Vestry.  [L.  vestiarium,  from  vestis,  a  gar- 
ment.} 1.  The  robing-room  attached  to  a  church, 
for  the  clergy.  As  this  room  is  used  for  meet- 
ings of  the  parishioners,  the  word  is  applied,  2, 
to  the  parishioners  so  assembled ;  an  order  by 
the  V.  meaning  an  order  by  the  ratepayers. 

Veterinary.  [L.  vetermarius.]  A  cattle- doc- 
tor, one  who  attends  any  kind  of  carrying  or 
drawing  animal,  veterina  [as  if  veheterina,  L. 
veho,  I  carry}. 

Vetitum  nefas.  [L.,  the  forbidden  impiety.} 
The  sin  which  has  been  a  special  subject  of 
law  ;  i.e.  idol-worship  among  the  Jews. 

Vetiver.    (Vittie  vayr.) 

Veto.  [L.,  I  forbid.}  The  word  by  which  the 
Roman  tribunes  of  the  people  exercised  their 
power  of  intercession,  by  which  they  could  arrest 
the  action  of  public  magistrates  or  the  passing 
of  ordinances  by  the  senate. 

Vettura.  [It.,  from  L.  vectura,  a  conveying, 
a  riding.}  A  carriage. 

Vetturino.     [It.]    The  driver  of  a  Vettura. 

Vetus  Itala.    (Italic  Version.) 

Vexata  quaestio.  [L.,  a  vexed  question.}  A 
disputed  point. 

Vexillum.     (Papilionaceous  plants.) 

Via  Crucis.     (Stations.) 

Via  media.     [L.]    A  middle  way. 

Viaticum.  \L.,  food  for  a  journey.}  In  the 
Latin  Church,  the  Eucharist  as  administered  to 
the  dying. 

Vibices.  [L.  vibex,  -icis,  a  weal.}  (Med.) 
Large  purple  spots  or  streaks  in  the  skin,  like 
the  marks  of  a  whip. 

Vibration  [L.  vibrationem] ;  Amplitude  of  V. ; 
Longitudinal  V. ;  Phase  of  V. ;  Transversal  V. 
1.  The  backward  and  forward  movement  of  a 
body  ;  as  of  a  pendulum.  2.  The  backward  and 
forward  movement  of  a  particle  of  a  medium  or 
body  transmitting  or  producing  a  wave-motion. 
3.  The  movement  of  the  body  itself;  as  of  a 
musical  string  when  producing,  or  of  the 
atmosphere  when  transmitting,  a  sound.  The 
Amplitude  of  V.  is  the  extreme  distance  described 
by  a  vibrating  particle.  (For  Phase  of  V.,  vide 
Phase.)  When  the  particles  move  in  the  line  of 
the  propagation  of  the  wave — as  in  the  case 
of  air  transmitting  sound — the  vibrations  are 
longitudinal ;  when  the  motion  takes  place  in  a 
plane  at  right  angles  to  the  direction  of  propaga- 


tion—as  in  the  case  of  the  ether  transmitting 
light—the  vibrations  are  transversal. 

Vicar.     (Hector.) 

Vicar-Apostolic.  In  the  Latin  Church,  a 
person  in  episcopal  orders,  authorized  by  the  pope 
to  exercise  his  office  in  countries  where  there 
is  no  organized  establishment  of  the  Roman 
obedience. 

Vicar-General.  An  ecclesiastical  officer,  assist- 
ing the  bishop  in  ecclesiastical  causes,  in  visita- 
tions ;  "much  the  same  as  the  chancellor" 
(Hook's  Church  Dictionary}. 

Vicar  of  Bray.  A  phrase  sometimes  used  to 
denote  those  who  are  supposed  to  retain  pre- 
ferments by  complying  with  all  changes  required 
of  them,  after  the  fashion  of  the  Vicar  of  Bray, 
who  stuck  to  his  place  during  the  reigns  of  the 
later  Stuarts  and  of  William  III.,  or,  as  others 
say,  during  those  of  Henry  VIII.,  Edward  VI., 
Mary,  and  Elizabeth. 

Vicars-Choral.  Originally  deputies,  now 
assistants,  of  canons  in  collegiate  churches,  in 
such  duties  as  require  knowledge  of  music. 

Vicars  of  the  Empire.  (Hist.)  The  repre- 
sentatives of  the  emperor.  The  King  of  the 
Romans  was  perpetual  vicar,  when  there  was 
one.  When  there  was  not,  the  office  was  shared 
by  the  Elector  of  Saxony  in  the  two  Saxon 
circles,  and  in  the  rest  of  the  empire  by  the 
electors  palatine,  and  of  Bavaria.  , 

Vice-admiral.     (Rank. ) 

Vice  versa.  [L.,  in  turn.}  Turn  about ;  the 
turn  being  changed. 

Vicinage.  [O.Fr.  veisinage,  from  L.  vlcinus, 
neighbouring. }  Neighbourhood. 

Vicious  circle.  In  Log.,  an  argument  which 
comes  round  to  the  point  from  which  it  started, 
thus  proving  nothing  and  explaining  nothing. 
Thus,  as  all  conceivable  arguments  must  start 
from  the  proposition,  expressed  or  understood, 
"  I  am  a  conscious  thinker,"  attempts  to  explain 
the  action  of  the  mind  as  a  secretion  from  matter 
are  arguments  in  a  V.  C. 

Victoria  (from  Queen  Victoria).  A  low  four- 
wheeled  open  carriage. 

Victoria  cross.  A  British  military  and  naval 
decoration,  instituted  1856,  expressly  as  a  re- 
ward for  personal  bravery  in  face  of  the  enemy. 

Victrix  causa  Diis  placuit,  sed  victa  Catoni. 
[L.]  The  gods  love  the  winning,  but  Cato  loves 
the  losing,  side  (Lucan). 

Vidame.  [Fr.,  from  L.L.  vice-dommus.]  In 
Fr.  Feud,  usage,  an  officer  representing  the 
bishop.  (Viscount.) 

Videlicet.  [L.,  for  viclere  licet,  yoti  may  see.} 
Namely  ;  abbrev.  into  viz. 

Video  meliora  proboque,  Deteriora  sequor. 
[L. ,  /  see  and  approve  the  better,  but  follow  the 
worse.}  The  frequent  contrast  between  pro- 
fession and  practice. 

Vidette.    (Vedette.) 

Vidimus.  [L.,  we  have  seen.}  Of  business 
transacted,  is  "  we  have  examined  and  ap- 
proved." 

Vidonia,     A  tart  white  wine  from  Teneriflfe. 

Vi  et  armis.  [L.,  by  force  and  arms.}  By 
main  force. 


VIEW 


507 


VI RT 


Viewer.     The  superintendent  of  a  coal-mine. 

Vifgage.  In  Law,  the  opposite  of  mortgage. 
(Gage.) 

Vigesimo-quarto.  The  L.  words  used  to 
denote,  in  printing,  a  sheet  folded  in  twenty-four 
pages  ;  usually  expressed  by  the  term  241110. 

Vigilantibus,  non  dormientibus,  eequitas  sub- 
venit.  [L.]  A  maxim  in  Law  :  equity  comes  to 
the  help  of  those  who  are  awake,  not  those  who 
sleep  ;  men  must  be  alive  to  the  assertion  of  their 
claims,  etc.,  or  they  will  lose  them.  (Laches.) 

Vigils.    (Dedication,  Feast  of ;  Evens.) 

Vignette.  [Fr.,  a  little  vine.}  1.  (Arch.}  A 
running  ornament  of  leaves  and  tendrils,  in 
hollow  mouldings  or  casements  of  Decorated  and 
Perpendicular  Gothic.  2.  In  ancient  MSS.,  a 
capital  letter  ornamented  with  tendrils  ;  and  so 
any  similar  ornament  on  a  page  or  elsewhere ; 
as  a  head,  flower,  etc.  3.  From  the  absence  of 
a  definite  border  has  come  the  recent  use  of  V. 
in  engravings,  photography,  etc.  4.  Any  kind 
of  printer's  ornaments,  such  as  flowers,  -vine 
tendrils,  head  and  tail  pieces,  etc. 

Vikings.  [Icel.  vik,  a  creek.}  The  Norse 
name  for  the  Sea-kings,  whose  assaults  on  this 
country  began  in  the  ninth  century. 

Vile  body.  Phil.  iii.  21  ;  of  little  worth,  com- 
paratively [L.  vilis,  Gr.  <TS>fM  rvjs  raireij/itxrfws, 
lit.  body  of  our  humiliation}. 

Vilipend.  [L.  vllipendere,  from  vilis,  cheap^ 
poor,  pendo,  I  weigh.}  To  regard  as  worthless, 
to  slight,  despise. 

Villein.  [L.L.  villanus.]  1.  A  peasant  attached 
to  the  villa  or  house  of  the  feudal  lord  ;  some 
belonging  to  the  soil,  like  the  Laconian  Helots, 
others  to  the  person  of  their  master,  and  there- 
fore liable  to  be  sold  at  any  time  as  slaves. 
(Thrall.)  2.  Hence,  from  the  poverty  and  worth- 
lessness  of  their  condition,  the  word  came  to 
denote  immoral  and  wicked  men. 

Villi.  [L.,  tufts  of  hair.}  (Anat.)  Minute 
vascular  processes,  of  velvety  appearance,  on  the 
surface  of  certain  membranes,  especially  of  the 
small  intestine,  where  they  promote  the  absorption 
of  chyle. 

Villotte.  [Fr.]  An  old  name  for  the  first 
harmonized  secular  pieces  of  music,  which  were 
vil  and  unrefined,  as  compared  with  the  strict- 
ness of  church  music. 

Villous.  1.  Covered  with  villi  [L.].  2.  (Bot.) 
Covered  with  long,  soft  hair. 

Vinaigrette.  [Fr.]  A  small  bottle  or  box, 
used  for  holding  aromatic  vinegar. 

Vinatico.     A  coarse  mahogany  from  Madeira. 

Vinaya.    (Tripitaka.) 

Vincentian  rule.  A  test  of  theological  truth 
laid  down  by  Vincent  of  Lerins,  in  the  fifth 
century,  in  the  maxim,  "Quod  ubique,  quod 
semper,  quod  ab  omnibus  traditum,"  meaning 
that  no  dogma  is  of  authority  unless  it  has  been 
handed  down  in  the  Christian  Church,  always, 
everywhere,  and  by  all. 

Vincible  ignorance.  [L.  vincibilis,  that  may 
be  mastered^}  In  Moral  Phil.,  is  said  to  be 
affected  or  wilful,  when  perversely  rejecting  the 
means  of  knowledge ;  supine  or  crass,  when  in- 
dolently neglecting  them.  (Invincible  ignorance.) 


Vinegar  plant.  During  acetous  fermentation 
of  liquids,  certain  layers  are  formed,  of  delicate 
interlaced  threads,  sometimes  followed  by  a 
crop  of  Penicillium  glaucum,  a  fungous  mass, 
which  in  some  way  much  aids  the  conversion  of 
sugar  and  water  into  vinegar.  This  method  of 
producing  vinegar  is  much  used. 

Viol  d'amour.  [Fr.]  (Music.)  1.  Rather  larger 
than  the  violin,  and  now  obsolete,  employed 
both  catgut  and  metal  strings ;  the  latter  placed 
under  the  finger-board,  and  sounding  only  by 
sympathy.  2.  An  organ  stop  so  called,  of 
similar  quality  to  the  gamba  (q.v.).  Viole,  like 
vielle,  a  hurdy-gurdy,  is  the  Med.  L.  vittila, 
vltella,  a  viol. 

Viol  di  gamba.     (Gamba.) 

Violet- wood.     (Kingwood.) 

Violoncello.  [It.,  dim.  of  violone,  double  bass- 
viol}  (Music.}  The  lowest  bass  stringed  in- 
strument, generally,  in  the  orchestra ;  having 
four  gut  strings,  all  tuned  a  fifth  apart. 

Violone.     [It.]     Double  bass. 

Viper.  [Old  Testament,  eph'eh  (Job.  xx.  1 6, 
etc.),  New  Testament,  dchidna.]  (Bibl.)  Acts 
xxviii.  3  ;  a  Maltese  snake  (CorSnella  Irevis) 
which  can  hang  on  by  its  teeth.  Fam.  Colu- 
bridse. 

Virago.  Originally,  as  always  in  Latin,  an 
heroic  woman  ;  now  a  rough,  violent  woman. 

Virelay.    (Vaudeville.) 

Vires  acquirit  eundo.  [L.]  It  gains  strength 
in  movement ;  said  of  Rumour. 

Virgidemiarum  Liber.  [A  coined  L.  word,  = 
a  collection  of  rods ;  virga,  a  rod,  vindemia, 
vintage.}  Six  books  of  satires ;  attacking,- 
especially,  literary  vices  and  affectations  ;  illus- 
trating contemporary  manners  ;  by  the  learned 
and  patient  Bishop  Joseph  Hall  (1574-1656)  ; 
rated  highly  by  Pope,  not  so  highly  by  Hallam. 

Virgil,  The  Scottish.  George  Buchanan,  an 
elegant  writer  of  Latin  poetry  and  prose  (died 
1582). 

Virginal.  [(?)  L.  virgmalis,  maidenly.}  A 
spinet  (q.v.),  which  latter  title  superseded  the 
former. 

Virole.     [Fr.]     (Her.)     The  ring  of  a  bugle. 

Virtual ;  V.  focus ;  V.  moment ;  V.  velocities  ; 
V.  velocity  ;  V.  work.  (Math.)  If  the  point  of 
application  of  a  force  receives  a  small  displace- 
ment, the  part  of  it  which  is  in  the  line  of  action 
of  the  force  is  the  V.  velocity  of  the  point ;  the 
product  of  the  force  into  the  virtual  velocity  of 
its  point  of  application  is  the  V.  moment  or 
V.  work  of  the  force.  The  principle  of  V.  velo- 
cities is  the  fundamental  condition  of  the  equi- 
librium of  bodies  ;  viz.  that  when  a  body  or 
system  is  in  equilibrium  under  the  action  of  any 
forces,  and  it  receives  any  small  displacement 
consistent  with  the  connexion  of  the  parts,  the 
algebraical  sum  of  the  virtual  moments  of  the 
forces  is  zero.  (For  V.  focus,  vide  Focus.) 

Virtuoso.  [It.]  One  devoted  to  virtu;  i.e. 
one  skilled  in  the  fine  arts,  or  having  taste  in 
curiosities,  etc.  Often  used  ironically. 

Virtus  est  medium  vitiorum.  [L.]  Virtue  is 
a  mean  between  two  extremes  or  vices  (Horace). 

Virtutem   incolumem    odlmus,    Sublatam   ex 


VIRU 


508 


VOLA 


Sculis  quaerlmus  invldi.  [L.]  True  worth,  ^vhen 
safe  with  us,  we  dislike ;  -when  taken  away  from 
our  sight  we  seek  for  it  grudging  its  loss  (Horace) 
Virus.  [L.,  poison.]  (Med.)  The  inappre 
ciable  principle  in  the  secretion  of  infectious 
disease,  which  communicates  that  disease ;  Venom 
being  a  natural  secretion. 

Viscount.  Properly  vice-comes,  the  delegate 
of  a  count.  In  England,  the  title  of  the  sheriff 
of  a  county.  It  is  the  latest  title  of  honour  in 
the  English  peerage,  being  first  conferred  by 
Henry  VI.,  in  1440.  (Vidame.) 

Viscous.  A  mass  is  V.  when  it  is  capable  of 
a  slow  continuous  change  of  form  without  dis- 
ruption of  its  parts  ;  the  word  commonly  implies 
that  the  substance  is  sticky  [L.  viscdsus]. 

Viscus  (more  commonly  plu.,  viscera}.  [L.] 
(Med.)  Used  of  any  internal  organ  of  the  body. 

Vis  inertiae.    (Inertia.) 

Vision  [L.  visionem,  a  seeing] ;  Direct  V.  ; 
Reflected  V. ;  Kefracted  V.  When  a  body  is  seen 
by  rays  coming  from  it  directly,  it  is  seen  by 
Direct  V. ;  when  by  rays  that  have  undergone 
reflexion  or  refraction,  it  is  seen  by  Reflected  or 
Refracted  V. 

Vision,  Beatific.  (Theol.)  The  sight  or  appre- 
hension of  God  which  the  faithful  enjoy  in  heaven. 

Visitation  and  search.  (Nattt.)  An  examina- 
tion to  which  all  merchant-vessels  are  subject  on 
the  part  of  a  duly  commissioned  war- vessel  of  a 
belligerent  state.  • 

Vis  major.  [L.]  In  Law,  some  outward 
force  which  man  could  not  have  foreseen  or  pro- 
vided against.  (Force  majeure.) 

Vis  medicatrix  naturae.  [L.]  The  healing 
power  of  nattire. 

Visual  angle ;  V.  ray.  [L.  vlsualis,  relating 
to  the  sight.]  A  line  drawn  direct  to  the  eye 
from  a  point  seen  by  it  is  a  Visual  ray  ;  the  angle 
between  the  visual  rays  of  the  extreme  points  of 
a  body  is  the  V.  angle,  or  the  angle  which  the 
body  subtends  at  the  eye. 

Vis  vitae.     [L.]     Vital  power. 

Vis  viva  [L.,  living  force] ;  Principle  of  Vis 
vitae.  The  Vis  viva,  or  Kinetic  energy,  of  a  system 
is  half  the  sum  of  the  products  formed  by  multi- 
plying the  mass  of  each  particle  by  the  square  of 
its  velocity.  The  Principle  of  V.  V.  is  the  fact 
that  in  the  motion  of  any  material  system  the 
change  of  V.  V.  in  a  given  time  equals  the 
work  done  in  the  same  time  by  the  forces  acting 
on  the  system. 

Vita(que)  mancipio  nulli  datur,  omnibus  usu. 
[L.]  Life  is  given  to  all  in  tenancy,  to  none  as  a 
freehold  (Lucretius). 

Vitellary.  [L.  vitellus,  yolk.]  The  white  of 
an  egg,  as  containing  the  yolk. 

Vitreous  electricity.  [L.  vitrgus,  glassy.] 
Positive  electricity  (because  it  is  excited  by 
rubbing  glass  with  silk,  etc.). 

Vitrify.  [L.  vitrum,  glass,  facere,  to  make.] 
To  convert  into  glass. 

Vitriol  [L.  vitrum,  glass.]  1.  Sulphuric  acid, 
also  called  oil  of  vitriol.  Hence  applied,  2,  to  sul- 
phates, as  blue  vitriol,  green  vitriol,  white  vitriol, 
the  respective  sulphates  of  copper,  iron,  zinc. 

Vitruvian.    Of   or  relating   to  Vitruvius,  a 


Roman     architect,    a    contemporary    of   Julius 
Coesar  and  Augustus. 

Vittate.  [L.  vittatus,  bound  with  a  fillet.] 
(Bot.)  Striped  lengthwise. 

Vittie  vayr.  (Bot.)  The  Tamil  name _for  the 
fibrous  roots  of  the  khur-khur  (Andropogdn  mu- 
ricatus),  which  contain  a  pleasantly  odorous  oil. 
Vituligo.  [L.  vitulus,  a  calf.]  (Med.}  A 
disease  of  the  skin,  giving  it  a  white  veal-like 
appearance,  from  loss  of  pigment. 

Viivandiere.  [Fr.,  from  It.  vivandiere,  L.L. 
vivenda,  victuals,  whence  viande.]  Female 
sutler,  who  carries  liquor  for  French  troops. 

Viva  voce.     [L.]     By  word  of  mouth. 

Vivendi  modus.  [L.  ]  The  measure  of  living, 
with  reference  to  its  end,  which  is  old  age  or 
death  (Cicero,  De  Sen.).  The  phrase  modus 
vivendi  is  now  often  used  to  denote  the  tacit 
compromise  by  which  differences  of  opinion  are, 
to  whatever  extent,  disregarded  in  order  to 
promote  peace  and  co-operation  among  men  of 
different  schools  of  thought. 

VTvere  convenienter  naturae.  [L.]  To  live  in 
agreement  with  nature  ;  i.e.  with  universal 
nature  ;  the  ethical  formula  of  the  Stoics. 

Viverrldae.  [L.  viverra,j^rr^.]  (Zool.)  Fam. 
of  carnivora,  mostly  small ;  as  civets,  ichneumons ; 
but  not  ferrets,  which  are  Mustelidse.  Africa, 
S.  Asia,  and  adjacent  islands. 

Vives,  Fives.  [Corr.  of  Fr.  avives,  meaning 
the  same.]  In  horses,  an  affection  somewhat  like 
strangles  (q.v.),  but  chronic,  and  affecting  older 
horses. 

Vive  valeque.     [L.]    Live  and  be  strong. 

Vivier.  [L.  vivarium,  a  place  for  keeping 
game  alive.]  (Naut.)  A  French  fishing-boat, 
fitted  with  a  well  amidships  for  keeping  fish 
alive. 

Vivisection.  [L.  vivus,  living,  se"ctionem,  a 
czttting.]  The  dissection  of  a  living  animal,  in 
physiological  experiment. 

Vizier,  Vizir.  [Ar.,  a  porter.]  A  humble  title 
for  the  chief  officers  in  Mohammedan  states.  In 
the  Turkish  empire,  the  councillors  of  the  Divan 
are  all  vizirs,  the  chief  among  them  being  called 
vizir  azem,  or  grand  vizir. 

Vocal  flames,  Singing  flames.  Flames  in- 
closed within  a  tube,  made  to  vibrate  regularly, 
and  so  to  produce  a  musical  note. 

Voce  di  testa.  [It]  1.  Head  voice,  the  higher 
range  ;  the  lower  being  V.  di  petto,  chest  voice. 
2.  Falsetto. 

Vogue  la  Galere.     (Galere.) 

Voided.  [Fr.  vide,  emptied.'}  (Her.]  Having 
he  inner  part  cut  away,  so  as  to  leave  merely 
i  narrow  border. 

Voider.     (Flanche.) 

Voir  dire.  [O.Fr.,  L.  vere  dicgre,  to  say  truly.] 
Leg.)  Denotes  an  oath  by  which  a  witness  is 
•equired  to  make  true  answers  in  reference  to 
matters  inquired  of,  to  ascertain  his  interest  in 
he  cause  as  affecting  his  competency. 

Volant.     [Fr.]     (Her.)     Flying. 

Volante.  [Sp.,  a  flyer.]  A  heavy  two- wheeled 
carriage  used  in  Cuba. 

Volatile.  [L.  volatilis,  fleeting.]  Wasting 
way  on  exposure  to  the  atmosphere. 


VOLC 


509 


VULN 


Volcanic  rocks,  or  Ejectamenta  [L.,  things  cast 
otit]  (Geol.),  =  lava,  basaltic  lava,  trachyte,  ob- 
sidian, pumice,  tufa,  scoriae,  and  several  others ; 
mostly  composed  of  felspar  and  augite. 

Vole.    (Arvicola.) 

Volenti  non  fit  injuria.  [L.]  In  Law:  no 
wrong  is  done  to  any  one  if  that  person  consents 
to  the  thing  done  ;  so  one  party  to  a  contract  may 
break  it,  if  he  have  the  consent  of  the  other. 

Volique.  (Naut.)  A  small  boat  used  in  Asia 
Minor. 

Volkslied.   [Ger.,  foWs  song.]    Popular  song. 

Volsunga  Saga.     (Sagas.) 

Volt.  (From  Volta,  the  Italian  electrician, 
1745-1826.)  The  unit  of  electro-motive  force. 
It  is  equal  to  -^-^  of  one  horse-power,  i.e.  to 
rather  more  than  forty-four  pounds  of  energy. 

Volta  [It.,  turn,  time.}  (Music.)  Una  V., 
once;  V.S.,  volta  subito,  turn  over  the  leaf 
quickly. 

Voltaic  arc.  A  luminous  arch  formed  by  the 
passage  of  a  voltaic  current  between  two  carbon 
points. 

Voltaic  electricity  (discovered  by  Volta). 
Electricity  developed  by  means  of  chemical 
action. 

Voltaic  pile.  A  battery  consisting  of  alternate 
discs  of  two  metals,  as  silver  and  zinc,  with  cloth 
moistened  by  acid  between  each  pair. 

Volume.  [L.  volumen,  the  thing  rolled]  The 
cubic  contents  of  a  body ;  as  the  V.  of  a  sphere. 

Volumetric  analysis.  [Eng.  volume,  and  Gr. 
perpoif,  measure.]  Analysis  performed  by 
measured  volumes  of  standard  solutions  of 
reagents.  This  determines  the  quantity  as  well 
as  the  nature  of  the  substances  present. 

Voluspa  Saga.  A  short  Saga,  which  gives 
both  a  cosmogony  and  a  Theogony.  The  word 
means  the  spa,  or  prophecy,  of  Vola,  the  in- 
spired or  mad  prophetess  (compare  Eng.  fool 
and  folly). 

Volute.  [L.  volvo,  7  roll.]  (Arch.)  The 
spiral  scroll  on  each  side  of  the  capital  of  the 
Ionic  order. 

Volvox.  [L.  volvo,  7  rotate.]  (Physiol.)  A 
microscopic  rotating  organism,  variously  referred 
to  Protozoa  (q.v.)  or  to  Prdtophyta  [Gr.  vpuros, 
first,  <f>vTov,  a  plant],  i.e.  the  lowest  vegetables, 
or(Haeckel)  to  an  intermediate  kingd.,  Regnum 
protisticum  [L. ,  a  kingdom,  Gr.  irp&riaTos, 
first  of  all],  containing  doubtful  organisms. 

Vomer.  [L.,  ploughshare.]  (Anat.)  One  of 
the  bones  of  the  cranium  ;  a  thin  quadrilateral 
plate  forming  a  considerable  part  of  the  middle 
partition  of  the  nose. 

Vomica.  [L.,  a  sore,  an  encysted  tumour.] 
(Med.)  A  cavity  in  the  lungs,  containing  puru- 
lent matter. 

Vomitoria.     [L.]    (Arch.)    The  openings  or 


doors  in  ancient  theatres  or  amphitheatres,  for 
the  ingress  and  egress  of  the  public. 

Vorant.  [L.  vorantem.]  (Her.)  Devouring 
or  swallowing. 

Vortex.  [L.,  anything  whirled  round,  a 
whirlpool.]  A  stream  which  either  returns  into 
itself  or  moves  in  a  spiral  course  towards  or  from 
an  axis. 

Vortices,  Theory  of.  (Astron.)  The  hypo- 
thesis of  Descartes,  that  the  planets  are  carried 
round  the  sun  by  a  vortex  of  a  fine  and  subtile 
kind  of  matter,  whose  motion  keeps  up  theirs. 
Though  weighted  with  many  difficulties,  the 
theory  was  once  very  famous,  and  almost  uni- 
versally received. 

Voto,  Ex.  [L.]  An  ex-voto  gift  is  one  vowed, 
devoted,  either  before  or  after  recovery  from 
illness,  escape  from  accident,  etc.  (see  Horace, 
Od.  i.  v.).  The  practice  is  common  in  the 
Roman  communion. 

Voussoirs.  [Fr.]  The  wedge-shaped  stones  by 
which  an  arch  is  formed.  (Extrados ;  Intrados. ) 

Vowel.  [L.  vocalis,  vocal.]  In  Gram.,  a 
letter  which  may  be  pronounced  alone  ;  a  diph- 
thong consisting  of  two  vowels  whose  sounds 
are  regarded  as  running  into  one  another. 

Vox  et  praeterea  nlhll.  [L.]  A  voice  and 
nothing  more. 

Vox  nihili.  (Gram.)  An  expression  =  no 
such  word,  but  only  a  mere  conjecture,  or  a 
false  reading,  or  an  error  of  some  sort.  For  an  ex- 
ample, vide  Abacot.  So  Collimation  (q.v.)  is  not 
really  a  word,  but  should  have  been  Collineation. 
Examples  abound  in  the  Supplices  of  ^schylus. 

Vox  populi,  vox  Dei.  [L.]  The  voice  of  the 
people  is  the  voice  of  God. 

Vritra.    (Indra.) 

Vulcan,  Vulcanus.  (Myth.)  The  Latin  god  of 
fire.  The  name  is  akin  to  the  Skt.  ulka,  a  fire- 
brand, and  the  L.  fulgere,  to  glisten,  and  fulgur, 
lightning. 

Vulcanists.  In  Geol.,  upholders  of  the 
Huttonian  theory  (q.v.) ;  opponents  of  the 
Neptunian  or  Wernerian  (q.v.)  theory. 

Vulcanized  indiarubber.  Indiarubber  com- 
bined with  sulphur,  and  thus  rendered  tougher 
and  less  affected  by  heat  or  cold. 

Vulgar  tongue.  The  vernacular  ;  belonging 
to  the  people  [L.  vulgaris]. 

Vulgate.  [L.  vulgata,  sc.  editio,  an  edition 
for  common  use.]  The  name  given  to  the  Latin 
translation  of  the  Scriptures,  most  of  which  is 
the  work  of  St.  Jerome. 

Vulnerary.  [L.  vulngrarius,  belonging  to 
•wounds.]  1.  Useful  in  healing  wounds.  2, 
Subst.,  any  plant  or  unguent,  etc.,  so  used. 

Vulning.  [L.  vulnus,  wound]  Wounding 
itself.  Vulned  signifies  wounded  by  some  other 
animal. 


w 


510 


WARD 


W. 


W.  Derives  its  English  name  from  the  fact  of 
the  letter  V  being  identical  with  U  in  the  Latin. 

Wacke.  [Ger.  term.]  (Geol.)  An  earthy 
variety  of  trap-rock,  argillaceous,  greenish-grey  ; 
but  the  term  is  not  strictly  defined. 

Wad,  Wadd.  (Chem.)  1.  Plumbago.  2.  An 
earthy  oxide  of  manganese. 

Wadding.  Sheets  of  corded  cotton,  for  pad- 
ding garments,  etc. 

Wadset.  [L.  vadem,  a  surety.]  In  Scot.  Law, 
a  method  of  mortgaging  landed  property,  now 
obsolete. 

Waft.  (Naut.)  Any  flag  tied  together  at  the 
head  and  centre,  slightly  rolled  up  lengthways, 
and  hoisted  in  various  positions  aft.  Hoisted 
on  the  flagstaff,  or  half-way  up  the  peak,  it 
means  "a  man  overboard;"  at  the  peak,  "I 
wish  to  speak  you  ;  "  at  the  masthead,  it  recalls 
boats,  or  as  may  have  been  directed. 

Wager  of  battle.  The  usage  of  deciding  a 
civil  suit  by  judicial  combat ;  abolished  in  1818. 

Waggon-roofed.  (Arch.)  Having  a  roof 
shaped  like  a  waggon. 

Wahabees.  In  Islam,  the  followers  of  Abd- 
el-Wahab,  who,  in  the  eighteenth  century,  raised 
a  strong  protest  against  the  corruptions  of  Mo- 
hammedanism. Like  Mohammed  himself,  they 
spread  their  opinions  by  force  as  well  as  by  per- 
suasion. Like  the  Western  Puritans,  they 
opposed  themselves  to  all  splendour  and  luxury, 
and  forbade  tobacco-smoking,  as  Mohammed  had 
forbidden  wine.  The  sect  is  still  powerful,  and 
may  become  more  formidable. 

Wainamoinen,  Epic  of.     (Kalewala.) 

Wainscot.  [D.  wagen-schot,  wag,  a  wall, 
scot  or  schot,  like  Ger.  scheit,  split-timber,  as  if 
=  wall-boards.]  1.  In  the  building  trade,  a 
foreign  kind  of  oak,  which  works  very  freely 
under  the  tool,  formerly  used  in  panelling.  2. 
Any  imitation  of  it. 

Waist.  (Naut.)  Generally  speaking,  the 
space  between  quarter-deck  and  forecastle. 

Waits,  also  Waightes.  [Cf.  Ger.  wacht,  a 
watching,  walking.  ]  1.  A  name  given  to  different 
classes  of  musical  watchmen,  employed  in  towns 
and  in  kings'  households  at  different  times  of 
English  history.  2.  A  kind  of  shawm  used  once 
by  serenaders.  3.  Music  played  in  the  streets 
on  the  nights  of  Christmas  holidays. 

Waiwode.  In  the  Turkish  empire,  the  go- 
vernor of  a  small  province  or  town. 

Wakes.    (Dedication,  Feast  of.) 

Waldenses.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  The  followers  of 
Peter  Waldo,  a  merchant  of  Lyons,  who  in  the 
twelfth  century  felt  himself  called  upon  to  preach 
the  pure  doctrines  of  the  Bible.  They  are  to 
be  distinguished  from  the  Vaudois  on  the  one 
hand,  and  from  the  Albigenses  on  the  other. 
(Petrobrusians.) 

Waldgraf,    Waldgrave.     [Ger.]     Under    the 
empire,  the  head  forest-keeper,  the  wildgrave. 
Wale-,  or  Wall-,  knot.    (Naut.)    A  large  knot 


made  by  interlacing  the  untwisted  strands  at  the 
end  of  a  rope. 

Wales.  (Naut.)  Extra  broad  and  bulging 
strakes  (q.v.).  La.  Bends. 

Walhalla.     (Valhalla.) 

Wali.     [Ar.  ouali.]     Prefect,  governor. 

Walling-wax.  A  composition  used  for  mak- 
ing a  wall  round  a  plate,  for  holding  the  acid 
used  in  etching. 

Walloons.  [One  of  many  German  names 
denoting  foreigners;  cf.  Wales,  Wallachia,  Wal- 
lenstadt,  Wallingford,  etc.]  (Geog.)  The  people 
of  the  part  of  Flanders  lying  between  the  Scheldt 
and  the  Lys. 

Wall-piece.  (Mil.)  Large  kind  of  firearm, 
from  its  clumsiness  used  only  from  behind  the 
walls  of  a  fortification. 

Walpurgis  Night.  The  night  of  the  feast  of 
Walburga,  niece  of  Boniface,  or  Winfrid,  the 
Apostle  of  the  Germans.  On  this  night  the 
witches  were  supposed  to  hold  high  festival  on 
the  summit  of  the  Brocken  in  the  Harz  Moun- 
tains. 

Wambeys.     (Gambeson.) 

Wampum.  [N.-Amer.  Ind.,  from  wompi, 
white.'}  Shells  and  shell-beads,  used  by  the 
N.- American  Indians  as  money,  and  in  making 
ornamental  belts  and  strings. 

Wandering  Jew.  A  legendary  being  who  is 
said  to  be  sentenced  to  wander  over  the  earth 
till  the  second  advent,  for  reviling  Jesus  on  the 
way  to  His  crucifixion.  The  attribute  of  constant 
wandering  is  common  in  all  mythology. 

Wane.  Cloud,  intermediate  between  cirrus 
and  stratus.  (Cirrus.) 

Wangan.     (Naut.)     A  Maine  provision -boat. 

Wanghee.     [Chin,  wang,  yellow,  hee,  a  root. 
A  tough  cane,  said  to  be  the  root  of  the  narrow] 
leaved  bamboo. 

Wapenshaw.  A  show  of  weapons,  or  of  the 
military  power  of  a  house  or  family,  made  at  cer- 
tain seasons. — Sir  W.  Scott,  Old  Mortality. 

Wapentake.  [A.S.  wsepentac.]  A  territorial 
division,  still  retained  in  Yorkshire  ;  standing  in 
the  place  of  the  division  into  Hundreds. 

War,  Private.     (Truce  of  God.) 

Warburtonian  Lecture.  Founded  by  Bishop 
W.  (died  A.D.  1779),  for  the  defence  of  revela- 
tion by  the  argument  of  prophecy  fulfilled. 

War-caperer,     In  Naut.  parlance,  a  privateer. 

Ward.  [O.E.  weard,  guard.}  1.  In  Feud. 
Law,  the  being  or  condition  of  the  king's 
tenants-in-chief  during  their  nonage.  2.  A 
projecting  ridge  inside  a  lock,  to  prevent  the  use 
of  any  key  not  having  the  corresponding  notch. 

Warden,  Lord,  of  the  Cinque  Ports.  This 
office  was  conferred  by  William  the  Conqueror 
on  the  Constable  of  Dover  Castle.  It  is  now 
practically  a  sinecure.  (Cinque  ports.) 

Wardian  case.  (From  the  inventor,  Ward.) 
A  closely  glazed  case  for  growing  delicate  plants 
in  large  towns,  etc. 


WARD 


WATE 


Ward-room  officers.  (Naut.}  Those  messing 
in  the  W.-R.,  viz.  commander,  lieutenants, 
master,  chaplain,  surgeon,  paymaster,  marine 
officers,  and  assistant-surgeons. 

Warehouseman.  A  wholesale  dealer  in  Man- 
chester or  woollen  goods. 

Warlock.  [A.S.  waerloga,  one  "who  breaks 
faith,  a  wicked  one,  a  liar  (Latham).]  A  wizard, 
sprite. 

Warm  colours.  Colours  having  yellow  or  a 
yellowish  red  for  a  basis. 

Warp.  [A.S.  wearp.]  1.  The  threads  which 
are  stretched  lengthways  in  the  loom,  and  crossed 
by  the  woof.  Warping  is  the  running  yarn  off 
the  reels  to  be  tarred.  2.  (Naut.}  A  rope  or 
light  hawser  used  to  -warp  or  move  a  vessel 
from  one  berth  to  another,  etc.,  by  making  the 
warp  fast  to  a  fixed  object,  and  hauling  on  it 
from  the  vessel.  3.  A  cast  lamb  ;  one  born  pre- 
maturely. 4.  (Geog.)  Tidal  accumulation  of 
marine  silt,  e.g.  west  of  the  Humber,  more  than 
300  square  miles  in  extent.  5.  (Agr.)  To  flood 
land  by  means  of  a  tidal  river,  in  order  to  fer- 
tilize it  by  the  deposition  of  mud. 

Warrant.  [Containing  root  of  Ger.  ge- 
wahren.]  (Naut.)  A  writ  of  authority,  inferior  to 
a  commission.  Brown  paper  W.,  one  given  by 
a  captain,  and  which  he  can  cancel.  IV.  officers, 
masters,  surgeons,  pursers,  boatswains,  gunners, 
carpenters,  etc. 

Warrant  officer.  (Mil.)  One  who  ranks  be- 
tween a  commissioned  and  a  non-commissioned 
officer.  (Conductor ;  Master-gunner.) 

Warrener.  The  keeper  of  a  warren,  a  place 
for  guarding  wild  animals  [from  O.H.G.  waron, 
A.S.  warian,  to  ware,  to  be  carefttlof]. 

Wash.  The  fermented  liquor  from  which 
spirit  is  distilled. 

Washer.  [Perhaps  a  corr.  of  watcher ;  of  the 
ring  called  a  guard. ]  (Mech.)  A  flat  ring  of  an 
elastic  substance  interposed  between  the  nut  and 
the  body  through  which  the  bolt  passes  ;  the  nut 
being  screwed  down,  the  elasticity  of  the  washer 
neutralizes  its  tendency  to  turn  on  the  bolt  when 
the  body  is  subjected  to  vibratory  movements. 

Wash-leather.  Split  sheepskins  dressed  with 
oil  in  imitation  of  chamois  leather  (used  for 
cleaning  plate,  etc.). 

WassaiL  [A.  S.  wes-hal,  be  in  health  ;  health 
to  thee.]  An  old  drinking  salutation.  Hence  the 
wassail-bowl  carried  round  on  New  Year's  Eve. 

Wastrel  children.  Street  Arabs,  neglected 
children  of  great  towns.  W.,  originally  =  waste, 
uninclosed  ground ;  now  obsolete. 

Watch.  [Akin  to  wake.}  (Naut.)  1.  A 
ship's  company  is  divided  for  ordinary  deck 
duty  into  two  parties,  called  Starboard  W.  and 
Port  W.,  which  are  subdivided  into  first  and 
second  ;  officers  are  divided  into  three  watches. 
Anchor  W.,  a  quarter  watch,  kept  on  deck  when 
at  single  anchor.  2.  The  periods  of  time  during 
which  a  W.  remains  on  deck,  viz.  four  hours 
each,  divided  by  half-hourly  bells,  one  for  first 
half-hour,  two  for  the  next,  and  so  on  up  to 
eight  bells.  Dog  W.,  from  4  to  8  p.m.,  is 
divided  into  two  watches  of  two  hours  each,  so 
as  to  have  a  different  night- W.  every  twenty-four 


hours.  First  W.,  8  p.m.  to  midnight.  Middle 
W.,  from  midnight  to  4  a.m.  Morning  W., 
from  4  a.m.  to  8  a.m.  3.  A  buoy  floating  on 
the  surface  is  said  to  ivatch. 

Waterbrash.  (Med.)  Pyrosis,  a  thin  watery 
vomit ;  tasteless  or  acrid. 

Water-carrier.  In  some  Southern  countries, 
water  is  carried  about  by  porters  in  skins  or 
other  vessels,  such  carriers  being  known  in 
India  by  the  name  bhisti. 

Water-gall.  1.  A  secondary  or  outer  rainbow. 
2.  Prismatically  coloured  patches,  produced  by 
refraction  of  the  sun's  rays  through  floating 
particles  of  ice. 

.Water-gas.  An  illuminating  gas  obtained  by 
passing  steam  over  ignited  carbon  and  so  de- 
composing it. 

Water-gauge.  An  instrument  for  ascertaining 
the  level  of  the  water  in  the  boiler  of  a  steam- 
engine. 

Water-gilding.  Gilding  metallic  surfaces  by 
coating  them  with  gold  amalgam,  and  then 
driving  off  the  mercury  by  heat. 

Water-glass.  A  soluble  silicate,  used  for 
covering  surfaces  with  a  durable  glassy  coat. 

Watering.  Wetting  and  calendering  as  cloth, 
so  as  to  give  a  lustrous  appearance  in  wavy  lines. 

Waterlandians.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  A  body  of 
Dutch  Anabaptists ;  so  called  from  Waterland, 
a  district  in  N.  Holland.  They  used  the  con- 
fession of  faith  drawn  up  for  them  in  1 580  by 
John  de  Ries. 

Water-logged.  (Naut.)  Full  of  water,  but 
floating. 

Water-mark.  A  mark  wrought  into  paper  to 
show  the  quality,  maker,  etc. 

Water-ousel.  [O.Fr.  oisel,  =  Fr.  oiseau,  bird, 
L.  L.  aucellus,  avicellus,  L.  avis,  a  bird.}  ( Ornith.) 
Dipper ;  gen.  of  bird,  Cinclus,  runs  at  bottom 
of  streams.  N.  hemisphere  and  Andes.  Fam. 
Cinclidse,  ord.  Passeres. 

Water-power.  The  energy  or  power  of  falling 
water  applied  to  turn  machinery. 

Water-sail.  (Naut.)  A  small,  fair-weather 
sail,  set  below  the  lower  studding-sail,  or  the 
driver-boom. 

Waterscape.  [Eng.  water,  and  A.S.  scipe, 
equivalent  to  the  termination  -ship.]  In  Art, 
a  sea-view. 

Water-shed.  [Ger.  wasser-scheide,  "water- 
parting,  shed  representing  the  Gr.  axifa, 
<E-<TX&-OV,  to  cttt.}  In  Geog.,  the  dividing  line 
between  the  river-basins  or  drainage  areas  of  a 
country. 

Water-slain.  (Agr.)  Land  too  soaked  to 
produce  a  proper  crop. 

Water-spout.  A  column  of  water  consisting 
of  large  drops  like  a  dense  rain,  much  agitated 
and  descending  or  ascending  with  a  spiral 
motion ;  carried  along  at  the  same  time  hori- 
zontally, and  accompanied  in  general  by  a  sound 
like  that  of  the  dashing  of  waves. 

Water-table.    (Dripstone.) 

Water-ways.  (Naut.)  Deck-planks  wrought 
next  to  the  timbers,  and  serving  as  gutters  to 
carry  water  off  the  deck  to  the  scuppers. 

Water-wheel.      (Mech.)      A    wheel    set    in 


WATL 


512 


WEEK 


motion  by  moving  water,  and  driving  a  train 
of  machinery ;  it  may  be  either  an  Undershot, 
Overshot,  or  Breast  wheel.  The  undershot- 
wheel  is  driven  by  the  impulse  of  the  moving 
water  against  the  float-boards  ;  in  the  overshot- 
wheel  the  water  flows  from  above  into  buckets, 
thereby  overweighing  the  wheel  on  one  side 
and  causing  it  to  turn  ;  in  the  breast-wheel  the 
\vater  flows  into  buckets  on  the  lower  part  of 
the  wheel,  and  is  kept  from  flowing  out  of  them 
by  a  curved  trough  or  breast,  within  which  the 
buckets  move,  until  they  have  passed  the  lowest 
point. 

Watling  Street.  An  ancient  road  connecting 
Dover  with  Cardigan.  By  sailors  in  the  Middle 
Ages  it  was  used  to  denote  the  Milky  Way.  It 
is  the  path  of  the  Wsetlinga;  but  who  these 
were  is  not  known. 

Wattling.  [A.S.  watel,  hurdle. ]  Inter- 
weaving twigs. 

Wave;  Frequency  of  W. ;  Front  of  W. ;  Length 
of  W.;  Period  of  W.;  W.  surface;  W.  theory; 
Velocity  of  W.  A  vibratory  motion  transmitted 
through  a  medium,  each  particle  of  which 
vibrates,  and  in  doing  so  causes  the  particle  in 
front  of  it  to  vibrate  in  like  manner  ;  so  that  a 
state  of  displacement  travels  on  continually 
without  limit,  while  the  motion  of  each  particle 
is  a  small  or  at  least  limited  vibration.  If  we 
suppose  the  motion  to  be  transmitted  along  a 
tube,  there  will 'be  at  any  instant  two  points  in 
its  length  the  particles  between  which  will  have 
simultaneously  the  various  velocities  which  each 
of  them  has  successively  :  the  distance  between 
these  points  is  the  Length  of  the  W.  ;  the  point 
furthest  from  the  origin  is  the  Front  of  the  W.  ; 
the  distance  passed  over  by  the  front  in  a  unit 
of  time  is  the  Velocity  of  the  W.  ;  the  time  in 
which  one  particle  makes  its  vibration  is  the 
Period  of  the  W.  ;  the  number  of  vibrations 
made  in  the  unit  of  time  is  the  Frequency ;  the 
length,  period,  frequency,  and  velocity  being 
independent  of  the  amplitude  of  the  vibration. 
If  we  suppose  the  wave  transmitted  in  all  direc- 
tions through  a  medium,  the  front  of  the  wave 
will  be  a  surface,  in  most  cases  a  spherical 
surface,  with  its  centre  in  the  origin  of  disturb- 
ance. The  theory  that  light  is  due  to  the 
vibrations  of  the  ether  is  the  W.  theory  or 
Undulatory  theory  of  light ;  when  light  passes 
through  a  biaxal  crystal,  the  form  of  the  front 
of  the  wave  is  that  of  a  complicated  surface 
called  the  W.  surface.  (Vibration.) 

Wave  offering.  Among  the  Jews,  an  offering 
waved  by  the  priest,  as  a  sign  that  it  might  be 
eaten  by  the  worshippers,  such  offerings  as  were 
heaved  being  appropriated  to  the  priests. 

Waveson.    ( Flotsam. ) 

Wax-end.  A  thread  pointed  with  a  bristle 
and  covered  with  shoemaker's  wax,  used  in  sew- 
ing leather. 

Waxing  kernels.  [A.S.  weaxan,  to  increase.] 
Small  tumours  formed  by  enlarged  lymphatic 
glands. 

Wayland  Smith,  popularly  W.  S.'s  Cave.  A 
noted  cromlech  (q.v.)  at  Ashdown,  Berks. 

Waymarks.    Jer.  xxxi.  21  [Heb.  tsiyun,  trans- 


lated title  in  2  Kings  xxiii.  17]  ;  small  stono 
pillars.  Way  and  "high  heaps"  =  pillars  and 
signposts. 

Waywarden.     The  surveyor  of  a  road. 

Weald,  The.  [A.S.,  =  forest.}  Country  be- 
tween the  N.  and  S.  Downs,  being  the  chief  area 
of  the  W.  or  Wealden  group ;  clays,  shales,  sand- 
stones, lignite,  shelly  limestones,  etc.  ;  formed  in 
old  lakes  or  estuary  of  a  great  river  running  west 
to  east. 

Wealden.     (Weald,  The.) 

Wealth,  a  lengthened  form  of  Weal  [A.S. 
wela].  General  well-being.  So  in  the  Litany 
of  the  English  Church.  In  2  Chron.  i.  n 
riches  and  wealth  =  money,  with  happiness, 
freedom  from  care. 

Wealth  of  Nations,  i.e.  Labour.  Adam  Smith's 
work,  1776,  the  first  great  statement  of  the 
principles  of  political  economy,  which  David 
Hume  had  taught  in  his  Political  Discourses, 
1752. 

Wear,  To.     (Naut.)     (Veer.) 

Weasand.  [A.S.  wasend.]  (Anat.)  The 
windpipe,  or  trachea  (Skeat). 

Weasel.     (Stoat.) 

Weather.  (Naut.)  The  side  nearest  the 
wind.  Opposed  to  Lee  (q.v.).  W.  tide,  opposite 
of  Lee  tide  (q.v.).  W.  gage.  (Gage.) 

Weather-moulding.  (Arch.)  A  label  or 
Dripstone  over  a  door  or  window,  to  prevent  the 
dripping  of  water. 

Web.  The  thin  plate  connecting  the  flanges 
of  a  flanged  beam. 

Webbing.  [Eng.  web,  weave.]  A  strong 
hempen  fabric  two  or  three  inches  wide. 

Weber.  The  old  name  for  an  Ampere,  z>. 
the  unit  of  electrical  current,  from  Ampere,  the 
French  electrician  (1775-1836).  It  is  the  current 
that  one  Volt  can  send  through  one  Ohm,  or 
unit  of  electrical  resistance,  which  is  represented 
by  the  resistance  of  a  column  of  mercury  of  one 
square  millimetre  in  section,  at  a  temperature 
of  o°  C.,  and  of  a  length  of  105  centimetres 
nearly.  The  unit  of  electrical  quantity  is  called 
a  Coulomb,  from  the  French  electrician  so 
named  (1736-1806).  It  is  the  quantity  of 
electricity  conveyed  in  one  second  by  one  unit  of 
electrical  current,  or  ampere. 

Wedge.  [A.S.  wecg.]  1.  A  triangular  prism. 
2.  A  triangular  prism  of  iron  or  other  material, 
two  of  whose  faces  are  inclined  at  a  small  angle, 
capable,  when  driven  by  a  succession  of  blows, 
of  separating  two  masses  that  are  held  together 
by  great  forces ;  its  action  depending  mainly 
on  impact  and  friction,  i.e.  the  impact  drives  the 
wedge  forward,  the  friction  prevents  its  return. 

Wedging.  Cutting  clay  into  wedges,  and 
working  it  by  dashing  them  together  to  expel 
air,  etc. 

Wedgwood  ware.  Josiah  \Vedgwood,  of 
Burslem  (died  1795),  made  many  improvements 
in  terra  cotta  and  stoneware  ;  a  special  instance 
is  his  Jasper  ware  (q.v.)  with  reliefs  in  white, 
and  also  Queen's  ware  and  Portland  vase. 

Wedmore,  Peace  of.     (Danelagh.) 

Wednesday.     (Woden.) 

Weeks,  Feast  of.    (Pentecost.) 


WEEP 


513 


WHAL 


Weeping-holes.  Those  left  in  retaining  -walls 
(q.v.}  to  drain  the  earth  behind. 

Weever.  [Cf.  Fr.  vive.]  (fchth.)  Sting- 
fish,  Sting-bull,  Sea-adder,  Sea-viper,  Sea-cat; 
lesser  and  greater  W.  (Trachinus  vipera,  T. 
draco)  ;  two  spec,  of  salt-water  bottom  fish, 
five  inches  and  fifteen  inches  long  respectively, 
with  sharp  spines  on  the  back  and  gill -cover, 
inflicting  dangerous  wounds.  British  coasts. 
Fam.  Trachimdse,  ord.  Acanthopterygii,  sub- 
class Teleostei. 

Weevils.  [A.S.  wifel  ;  cf.  Ger.  wiebel.] 
(Entom.)  Rhyncophora  [Gr.  pu7Xos»  a  snout, 
4>ope'«,  I  -wear]  (long-snouted]  ;  tetramerous 
beetles.  Larvae  very  destructive  of  most  vege- 
table substances. 

Weft.     (Waft;  Woof.) 

Weigh,  To.  ( Naut. )  To  lift  or  move,  to  raise 
up. 

Weight-board.  Clay  intersecting  a  vein  in 
mining. 

Weigh-bridge.  A  machine  on  which  loaded 
carts  are  placed  to  determine  the  weight  of  the 
contents. 

Weight  [Akin  to  L.  vectus,  part,  of  vgho,  / 
tarry]  1.  A  mass  by  which,  as  a  standard,  the 
quantity  of  matter  in  other  bodies  is  ascertained. 

2.  Quantity  of  matter  measured  by  the  balance. 

3.  The  force  exerted   by  gravity    on   a  given 
quantity  of  matter.     4.  The  force  or  resistance 
which  ft  is  the  purpose  of  a  machine  to  over- 
come. 

Weight,  Combination ;  Theoretical  W.  When 
numerous  fallible  measures  of  a  quantity  have 
been  made,  the  best  value  obtainable  from  the 
measures  is  found  by  multiplying  each  measure 
by  a  certain  number  and  dividing  the  sum  of  the 
products  by  the  sum  of  the  multipliers  :  these 
multipliers  are  the  Combination  weights.  If  the 
combination  weights  are  made  inversely  propor- 
tional to  the  squares  of  the  probable  errors,  they 
are  the  Theoretical  weights. 

Weird  sisters.  (Myth.)  Beings  concerned 
in  the  inevitable  ordering  of  human  things. 
(Noras.) 

Weld.  [Ger.  wau.]  (Bot.}  A  plant  yielding 
a  yellow  dye  (Reseda  luteola).  ("Reseda. ) 

Welding.  [Ger.  wellen,  to  -wave,  to  boil.} 
Joining  two  pieces  of  iron,  etc.,  by  hammering 
them  together  when  heated  almost  to  fusion. 

Welk.  A  tubercular  protuberance,  generally 
on  the  face  [(?)  cf,  weal,  the  mark  of  a  stripe,  and 
A.S.  hwele,  putrefaction],  or  because  resembling 
a  whelk. 

Well.  (Naut.}  1.  A  compartment  in  the  hold, 
in  which  the  pumps  work.  Brake  of  the  W., 
handle  of  pump.  To  sound  the  IV.,  to  ascer- 
tain the  depth  of  water  in  it.  2.  A  water-tight 
compartment  in  a  boat  or  smack,  to  keep  fish 
alive  in. 

Welsh  harp.  1.  One  adopted  in  early  times 
from  the  Irish,  but  strung  with  gut  and  hair  in- 
stead of  metal.  2.  The  modern  W.  H. 

Welt.  [Welsh  gvvald,  a  hem]  A  narrow 
strip  of  leather  between  the  upper  leather  and 
sole  of  a  shoe. 

Wench.     2  Sam.  xvii.  17;  simply  maidservant 


[O.E.  wenchel,  an  infant,  a  child,  afterwards  a 
girl].  The  word  still,  in  some  parts  of  England, 
is  quite  free  from  any  moral  connotation. 

Wend,  To  (the  past  tense  is  went).  (Naut.) 
Of  a  course,  to  pursue  it ;  of  a  ship  or  boat,  to 
reverse  its  position. 

Wendish  language.  An  Aryan  dialect  spoken 
in  Lusatia. 

Wentle-trap.  [Ger.  wendel-treppe,  winding 
staircase.]  (Zool.)  Scalaria  [L.,  staircase]  ;  gen. 
of  mollusc,  with  spiral  shell  traversed  by  ribs, 
which  in  the  precious  W.  (S.  pretiosa)  seem  to  be 
the  only  bond  of  the  successive  whorls.  Indian 
and  Chinese  seas.  Fam.  Turrltellidae,  class 
Gasteropoda. 

Werdand.     (Norns.) 

Werewolves.  In  Myth.,  men  in  the  form  of 
wolves,  which  they  assume  at  night  or  when  at 
a  distance  from  human  habitations.  Their  con- 
dition is  called  Lycanthropy  (q.v.}. 

Wergild.  [A.S.,  fine-payment.]  The  com- 
pensation paid  in  money  to  the  injured  man 
or  to  his  kinsmen  for  injuries  done  to  his 
body,  commonly  called  the  were.  That  of  the 
eorl  was  usually  six  times  that  of  the  ceorl,  or 
churl. 

Wernerian.     (Huttonian.) 

Werst.     (Verst.) 

Wesleyans,  Wesleyan  Methodists.  The  fol- 
lowers of  John  Wesley,  whose  society  had  its 
origin  at  Oxford,  in  1729.  The  systematic  ar- 
rangement of  their  work  gained  for  them  the 
name  of  Methodists,  in  allusion  to  the  Metho- 
dici,  a  class  of  physicians  at  Rome  who  prac- 
tised only  by  theory.  The  society  became 
ultimately  nonconformist. 

Western  empire.  The  name  given  to  the 
western  portion  of  the  Roman  empire  after  it 
was  divided,  by  the  will  of  Theodosius,  A.D.  395, 
between  his  sons  Honorius  and  Arcadius. 

Westminster  Assembly.  Held  on  July  I, 
1643  ;  convoked  by  an  ordinance  of  Lords  and 
Commons,  to  consider  Church  doctrine  and 
government.  The  W.  A.  drew  up  the  W.  Con- 
fession, or  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Kirk  of 
Scotland,  and  the  National  Covenant. 

Westminster  Confession.  (Confession  of 
Faith.) 

Westphalia,  Peace  of.     (Thirty  Years'  War.) 

West  Point.  A  fortress  built  during  the  War 
of  Independence,  site  of  the  U.S.  Military 
Academy,  on  right  bank  of  River  Hudson,  fifty- 
two  miles  north  of  New  York. 

Wey.  [A.S.  wJege  (Skeat).]  Of  wool,  13 
stones,  or  182  pounds. 

Whale.  [Heb.  tannen  (Dragon).]  (Bibl.} 
Used  loosely  of  monstrous,  especially  of  aquatic, 
animals  ;  but  in  Lam.  iv.  3,  "  sea-monsters  " 
(Authorized  Version)  are  distinctly  cetaceans,  or 
sirenians. 

Whale-boat.  (Natit.}  One  sharp  at  both 
ends  and  very  strongly  built ;  it  varies  in  length 
from  twenty-six  to  fifty-six  feet,  and  in  beam 
from  four  to  ten  feet,  and  is  used  for  harpooning 
whales  from. 

Whalebone.  A  firm  elastic  substance  from 
the  upper  jaw  of  the  whale. 


WHAR 


WHIT 


Wharfag-a.  The  fee  paid  for  landing  goods 
on  a  wharf,  or  for  shipping  them  off  it. 

Wharp.  A  fine  sand  from  the  banks  of  the 
Trent,  used  for  polishing. 

Whatnot  (from  its  holding  odds  and  ends). 
(Etagere.) 

Wheel.  [A.S.  hweol.]  (Miut.)  One  fitted 
with  a.  barrel  or  axle,  round  which  the  tiller  ropes 
(or  chains)  work,  and  the  revolutions  of  which 
thus  regulate  the  position  of  the  rudder. 

Wheel,  Potter's.  A  wooden  disc  revolving  on 
the  top  of  a  vertical  shaft,  for  shaping  clay. 

Wheel-barometer.  A  weather-glass.  (Baro- 
meter.) 

Wheel-lock.  (Mil. )  Ancient  method  of  firing 
by  a  wheel  and  chain  acting  on  a  spring,  which, 
on  the  wheel  revolving,  struck  fire  from  the  flint 
and  ignited  the  priming. 

Wheel  of  life.    (Phenakistoscope.) 

Wheft.    (Waft.) 

Wherry.  [Icel.  hverfr,  crank,  lightly  built 
(Skeat).]  (Afaut.)  1.  A  light  row-boat.  2.  A 
decked  boat  used  on  the  coasts  of  the  United 
Kingdom  for  fishing.  3.  A  boat  of  burden  on 
the  rivers  of  the  east  coast,  rigged  with  a  large 
pole-mast,  on  which  is  set  an  enormous  gaffsail. 
It  is  as  large  as  sixty  tons  burthen,  is  worked 
by  one  or  two  men,  draws  very  little  water, 
requires  very  little  wind,  and  will  sail  almost 
into  the  wind's  eye. 

Whiffletree.    (Singletree.) 

Whiggamore.    (Whigs.) 

Whigs.  (Eng.  Hist. )  The  name  of  a  politi- 
cal party,  first  employed  in  the  time  of  Charles 
II.,  and  afterwards  assumed  by  those  who  were 
most  active  in  placing  William  III.  on  the 
throne.  The  origin  of  the  name  is  doubtful. 
Defoe  refers  it  to  a  drink  composed  of  water  and 
sour  milk  ;  Bishop  Burnet  to  a  word  used  in 
driving  horses  in  Scotland,  the  drivers  being 
hence  called  Whiggamore s .  (Abhorrers  ;  Tory.) 

Whim,  Whim-gin,  Whimsey.  (Aleck.')  A 
large  capstan  or  windlass  worked  by  horse  or 
steam  power,  for  raising  ore,  etc. ,  from  mines. 

Whimple.  To  draw  down,  as  a  veil. 
(Wimple.) 

Whimwham  (a  reduplication  of  whim}.  A 
trifle,  trinket,  gimcrack. 

Whin,  Whinstone.  With  Scotch  miners,  i.q. 
Greenstone,  and  less  strictly  any  hard,  resisting 
rock. 

Whip.  (Afattf.)  A  rope  passing  through  a 
single  block,  to  hoist  by. 

Whips,  Whippers-in.  In  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, those  who  hunt  up  members  when  special 
votes  are  needed. 

Whirl-bone.  In  the  hinder  quarters  of  the 
horse,  the  hip-joint,  or  round. 

Whirling-table.  (Afech.)  An  apparatus  for 
exhibiting  the  properties  of  central  forces  ;  con- 
sisting essentially  of  a  flat  wheel,  by  whose  rota- 
tion a  very  rapid  rotation  is  communicated  to 
a  second  wheel,  on  which  the  phenomena  in 
question  are  exhibited. 

Whirlpool.  In  the  margin  of  Job  xli.  I ;  re- 
tains an  earlier  meaning  of  large  whale,  or  sea- 
monster. 


Whirlwind.  A  storm  in  which  the  wind 
moves  rapidly  in  a  circle  whose  centre  moves 
forward. 

Whisk.     A  cooper's  plane. 

Whiskey,  Timwhiskey.  Light  one-horse  car- 
riage. 

Whisky  War.  An  attack  made  by  some 
women  a  few  years  ago,  in  a  village  of  Ohio, 
upon  the  public-houses,  the  spirits  being  thrown 
into  the  streets,  to  remove  temptation  from  their 
husbands  ;  out  of  which  sprang  the  American 
Women's  Temperance  Christian  Union  ;  and 
the  Blue  Ribbon  movement  of  1878. 

Whispering  gallery.  A  gallery  surrounding 
a  dome  and  exhibiting  at  any  one  point  the  phe- 
nomenon of  concentration  by  reflexion  of  sound- 
waves that  have  been  emitted  at  the  opposite 
point  ;  so  that  low  articulate  sounds  are  heard 
across  the  dome  that  would  not,  under  ordinary 
circumstances,  be  audible  at  the  same  distance 
in  the  open  air. 

White  ant.    (Termites.) 

Whitebait.  (Ichth.)  True  character  much 
disputed,  whether  (Giinther,  1880)  the  fry  of 
many  spec,  (intermixed  with  sticklebacks,  Gas- 
terosteus)  or  (Wood,  1871)  an  independent  spec. 
of  the  herring  tribe  ;  Cliipea  alba,  fam.  Clu- 
peidte,  ord.  Physostomi,  sub-class  Teleostel. 

Whiteboy.  1.  Originally  a  petted  favourite. 
2.  A  name,  in  later  years,  by  way  of  euphemism, 
assumed  by  or  given  to  perpetrators  of  agrarian 
outrages  in  Ireland.  —  Trench,  Select  Glossary. 
(Tory.) 

White  Canons.    (Premonstratensians.) 

White  Eagle,  Order  of  the.  A  Polish  order  of 
knighthood,  instituted,  1325,  by  Vladislas  V. 

White  elephant.  An  elephant  of  a  whitish 
colour,  rarely  found,  and  offered  as  presents  to 
sovereigns,  etc.  ;  useless  if  offered  to  those  who 
cannot  use  or  keep  them.  Hence  a  burdensome 
or  perplexing  gift.  The  King  of  Assam  is  called 
Lord  of  the  White  Elephant,  his  subjects  not 
being  allowed  to  own  white  elephants. 

White  feather.  A  white  feather  in  the  tail  of 
a  game-cock  was  taken  as  a  sign  that  he  was  not 
of  a  true  game  breed.  Hence  to  show  the  white 
feather  is  to  betray  cowardice. 

Whitefieldian  Methodists.  Methodists  who 
followed  George  Whitefiejd,  a  friend  and  for  a 
time  a  fellow-labourer  of  John  Wesley.  (Wes- 
ley ans.) 

White  Friars.    (Carmelites.) 

Whitehall.  A  palace  which  became  royal 
property  by  a  deed  of  resignation  from  Cardinal 
Wolsey  to  Henry  VIII.,  1530,  up  to  which  time, 
since  1248,  it  had  been  known  as  York  Place, 
the  town  residence  of  the  Archbishops  of  York. 
The  old  banqueting-hall  was  burnt  1619  ;  the 
structure  of  Inigo  Jones  was  completed  1622. 
Destroyed  by  fire  1698,  the  banqueting-hall, 
through  which  Charles  I.  passed  to  his  execution, 
being  preserved,  and  turned  into  a  royal  chapel 


White  horse,  Scouring  of  the.  The  ceremony 
of  cleaning  out  the  gigantic  figure  of  a  horse  cut 
out  by  the  Danes  on  the  turf  of  the  Berkshire 
downs.  —  Tom  Brown's  School-Day:. 


WHIT 


WIPE 


White  House.  The  official  residence  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  at  Washing- 
ton. 

White  Penitents.    (Penitents.) 

Whitesmith.  One  who  works  in  white  or 
tinned  iron. 

White  squall.     (Squall,  White.) 

White  staff.  The  wand  of  the  Lord  High 
Treasurer. 

Whiting.     Ground  and  purified  chalk. 

Whitleather  (i.e.  white  leather).  A  pliable 
leather  dressed  with  alum,  salt,  etc. 

Whitlow.  [(?)  From  an  older  form,  whickflaw, 
a  flaw  or  sore  about  the  quick  of  the  nail.] 
(Med.)  A  painful  inflammation,  tending  to  sup- 
puration, of  the  finger  or  toe,  generally  of  the 
last  phalanx. 

Whitsunday.  The  Seventh  Sunday,  or  fif- 
tieth day,  inclusive*!  after  Easter,  so  correspond- 
ing with  Pentecost.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
Whitsunday  is  White  Sunday,  so  called  from 
the  white  robes  of  the  persons  baptized  on  that 
day.  The  earliest  known  form  of  the  word  is 
hwita  Sunnen-dag,  which  is  found  in  the  old 
English  Chronicle  under  the  year  1067.  See  the 
letters  of  Professor  Skeat  and  Mr.  Evan  Daniel 
in  the  Guardian  for  November  29,  1882. 

Wholesome  ship.  (Naut.)  One  that  will  try 
(q.v.),  hull,  and  ride  well. 

Whorl.    (Vertical.) 

Why-not.  A  violent  step  taken  without  rea- 
son given. 

When  the  Church 
Was  taken  with  a  why-not  in  the  lurch. 

Butler,  Hudibras. 

Wigwam.  [A  corr.  of  the  N.-Amer.  Ind. 
word  for  house  or  abode.]  An  Indian  cabin  or 
hut. 

Wilkina,  Vilkina,  Saga.    (Sagas.) 

Willis's  Booms.     (Almack's.) 

Will-o'-the-wisp.    (Ignis  fatuus.) 

Willow.  [Corr.  from  winnow.]  (Mech.)  A 
conical  wheel  covered  with  spikes,  revolving 
within  a  box  studded  with  similar  spikes,  for 
opening  and  cleansing  cotton. 

Willy.  (Mech.)  A  machine  like  a  willow,  for 
cleansing  wool.  (Willow.) 

Wilton  carpet  (from  the  town).  A  carpet 
woven  with  loops  which  are  afterwards  cut  open 
into  an  elastic  velvet  pile. 

Wimple.  [Fr.  guimpe,  from  O.H.G.  wim- 
pal.]  1.  In  Isa.  iii.  22  ;  a  veil,  shawl.  2,  A 
covering  of  silk  or  linen,  for  the  neck,  chin,  and 
cheeks,  formerly  worn  by  women  generally,  and 
still  retained  by  those  of  religious  communities 
in  the  Latin  Church. 

Winch.  [A.S.  wince.]  A  handle  for  turning 
an  axle,  grindstone,  coffee-mill,  etc. 

Winchester  bushel.  The  Winchester  measure 
of  capacity,  of  2150*42  cubic  inches,  which 
long  held  its  ground  against  the  Windsor,  or 
royal,  bushel.  It  is  still  used  in  the  United 
States. 

Wincing-machine.  [A.S.  wince,  a  winch.] 
A  kind  of  reel  for  lowering  cloth  into  a  dyer's 
vat. 

Wind,     A  word  common  to  many  Aryan  lan- 


guages, denoting  air  in  motion.  Each  wind  had 
at  first  its  special  name.  Thus  Boreas  was  the 
north,  Auster  and  Notos  the  south,  Eurus  the 
east,  Zephyr  the  west  wind.  They  had  also 
names  according  to  the  strength  with  which  they 
blew  :  the  lighter  puffing  breezes  being  called  in 
Skt.  Pavana,  in  Or.  Pan,  in  L.  Favomus  (per- 
haps Faunus) ;  the  stronger  winds  were  repre- 
sented by  Hermes  and  Orpheus.  (.ZEolian;  Euro- 
clydon. ) 

Wind,  To.     (Naut.)     (Wend,  To.) 

Windage.  (Mil.)  The  excess  of  the  dia- 
meter of  the  bore  of  a  gun  over  the  diameter  of 
the  shot. 

Wind  and  water,  Between.  (Naut.)  On  the 
water-line.  In  speaking  of  gates,  posts,  etc., 
on  the  ground-line. 

Windgall.     In  a  horse.     (Spavin.) 

Windlass.  [Cf.  D.  windaas.]  1.  An  axle 
turned  by  a  winch  or  by  levers,  for  raising  a 
weight  that  hangs  from  the  end  of  a  rope  which 
is  gradually  wound  on  to  the  axle.  (Differential.) 
2.  (Naut.)  A  machine  resembling  a  horizontal 
capstan,  in  the  fore  part  of  a  ship,  by  which  she 
can  ride ;  used  for  raising  the  cable. 

Windlestraws.  [A.S.  windel-streow,  straw 
for  plaiting,  windan,  to  wind.]  (Agr.)  Bents. 

Windrow.  To  arrange  in  lines  or  windrows, 
as  newly  cut  hay. 

Wind-sail.  (Naut.)  A  canvas  funnel  to  con- 
vey fresh  air  below. 

Windsor  bushel.    (Winchester  bushel.) 

Windsor  Castle.  A  royal  palace,  begun  by 
William  the  Conqueror,  who  held  his  court  there, 
1070.  St.  George's  Chapel  was  begun  by  Edward 
IV.,  and  completed  by  Henry  VIII. 

Windsor  chair.  A  strong,  plain,  polished 
wooden  chair,  with  the  seat  hollowed  out. 

Windward.     I.q.  weather  (q.v.). 

Wing.  1.  (Mil.)  The  two  halves  of  which 
any  body  of  troops  are  composed.  2.  The  bul- 
lion shoulder  ornaments  formerly  worn  by 
grenadiers  and  light  infantry.  3.  (Naut.) 
The  part  of  the  orlop-deck  and  hold  next  the 
ship's  side.  (Sponson.) 

Wings.  (Ornith.)  The  wing  of  the  bird 
being  constructed  on  the  same  fundamental  plan 
as  the  human  arm,  we  employ  the  terms  by 
which  the  arm  is  described,  in  designating  the 
feathers  of  the  wing.  The  Primaries,  then,  are 
those  long  quill  feathers  which  spring  from  the 
fingers,  the  Secondaries  spring  from  the  wrist-end 
of  the  forearm,  the  Tertiaries  from  its  elbow-end  ; 
these  together  form  the  Remiges  [L.  for  rowers]. 
The  Scapulars  cover  the  upper  bone  of  the 
arm  and  the  shoulder-blade  [L.  scapula] ;  the 
Atiila,  or  bastard  wing,  is  carried  on  a  rudi- 
mentary "  thumb  "  (sometimes  provided  with  a 
claw)  at  the  wrist.  The  Wing  coverts  (greater, 
less,  and  under)  are  those  which  cover  the  bases 
of  the  quill  feathers. 

Wing-shells.    (Aviculidse.) 

Winter-proud.  (Agr.)  Having  too  forward 
or  rank  a  growth  for  winter. 

Winze.  In  Mining,  a  small  ventilating  shaft 
sunk  from  one  level  to  another. 

Wiper.    A  Cam.    (Tappet.) 


WIRE 


516 


WORK 


Wirepuller.  The  comparatively  unseen,  but 
really  efficient,  agent  in  some  practical  matter. 

Wireworms.  (Entom.)  Larvae  of  the  spring 
beetles,  ElateridEe  [Gr.  <?Aa-Hjp,  one  that  drives  or 
impels], 

Wisby,  Ordinances  of.  A  code  of  maritime 
law  ;  so  named  from  Wisby,  a  town  in  the  Isle 
of  Gothland  ;  compiled  chiefly  from  the  laws  of 
Oleron,  before  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century. 
(Amalfian  Code ;  Oleron,  Laws  of.) 

Wisdom  teeth.  [L.  denies  sapientise.]  (Anat.) 
The  third  or  hindmost  molars;  because,  1, 
not  appearing  before  nearly  adult  age,  generally 
from  the  eighteenth  to  the  twentieth  year  ;  or  2, 
(?)  cf.  Gr.  Qpaffrripts  and  yvd>^ovfs  otiovres,  teeth 
that  mark  or  tell  the  age. 

Wise  Men  of  Greece,  The  Seven.  (Rishis, 
The  Seven.) 

Wish.  In  Teut.  Myth.,  the  embodiment  of 
actual  enjoyment  as  distinguished  from  mere 
longing.  In  the  Edda,  the  word  occurs  in  the 
form  Oski.  Hence  oska-stein,  a  wishing-stone  ; 
oska-byrr  [Gr.  1n.p.tvos  ofipos],  a  fair  breeze,  i.e. 
such  a  wind  as  a  man  may  wish  for ;  oska-barn, 
a  wish-child. 

Wish-maidens.     (Valkyries.) 

Witana-gemot.  [A.  S. ,  the  meeting  of  the  wise 
men.}  The  English  national  assembly  before 
the  Norman  Conquest. 

Withdrawal  of  a  juror.  A  means  of  stopping 
a  trial,  when  it  is  desired  to  do  so,  without 
carrying  it  as  to  a  decision ;  the  complete 
number  of  jurors  being  essentially  necessary. 
Matters  then  remain  just  where  they  were  before 
the  trial  began. 

Withers.  [A.S.  wiSer,  Ger.  wider-rist,  withers, 
acting  against,  Ger.  wider,  the  weight  of  the 
carriage,  etc.]  Of  a  horse,  the  junction  of  the 
shoulder-bones  at  the  bottom  of  the  neck  and 
mane. 

Withershins.  In  Scotland  this  word,  the 
Ger.  wieder-schein,  or  reflexion  in  the  water, 
is  or  was  used  to  denote  the  wrong  way  of 
going  round  a  person  who  was  to  be  restored  to 
health  from  sickness.  The  leech  moved  from 
east  to  west,  according  to  the  course  of  the  sun. 
The  opposite  movement  was  unlucky. 

Without  prejudice.  (Leg.)  When  a  difference 
has  arisen  between  two  parties,  and  a  proposal 
is  made  by  one  to  the  other  with  a  view  to  com- 
promise, the  stipulation  that  it  is  made  without 
prejudice  means  that,  if  the  attempt  should  fall 
through,  no  prejudicial  use  is  to  be  made  of  the 
admitted  evidence. 

Wittenagemote.     (Witana-gemot.) 

Woad,  Woold,  Weld,  Dyer's  woad.  [A.  S.  wad.  ] 
(Bot.)  Isatis  tinctoria,  ord.  Cruciferse ;  formerly 
much  cultivated  in  Britain  for  the  blue  dye 
obtained  from  the  leaves,  with  which  the  ancient 
Britons  are  said  to  have  painted  themselves; 
important  before  the  introduction  of  indigo. 

Woden.  In  Teut.  Myth.,  the  king  or  father 
of  gods  and  men.  The  name  survives  in  our 
Wednesday.  Woden  was  to  reign  in  Asgard,  or 
the  home  of  the  ^Esir  (Asuras),  until  the  twilight 
of  the  gods  should  bring  the  present  order  of 
things  to  an  end. 


Wold.  [A.S.  weald,  wald,  forest.}  1.  Plain, 
open  country.  2.  (Geol.)  Wolds  and  downs  = 
the  hills  of  the  chalk  country  of  Yorkshire,  Lin- 
colnshire, and  Norfolk. 

Wolf  intervals.  (Music.)  In  organs,  the  bad 
fifths  and  thirds  in  keys — such  as  Afr,  D  b — on 
which  the  imperfections  are  thrown,  when  an 
organ  is  tuned  from  C  on  the  unequal  tempera- 
ment ;  so  called  from  a  sort  of  howling  effect. 
(Temperament.) 

Wolfram.  [Ger.]  An  ore  of  tungsten  and 
iron. 

Wombat.  (?  Native  name.)  (Zool.)  Aztstralian 
badger,  Phascolomys  [Gr.  <pdffKu\os,  leathern 
bag,  pus,  mouse}  ;  a  gen.  of  marsupial  rodents, 
about  the  size  of  a  badger,  heavily  built,  with 
mottled -grey  fur. 

Wonderful  Doctor.     (Doctor.) 

Wonders  of  the  world.  Seven  buildings  were 
included  under  this  title — the  Egyptian  pyra- 
mids, the  temple  of  Artemis  at  Ephesus,  the 
Colossus  of  Rhodes,  the  hanging  gardens  of 
Babylon,  the  mausoleum  of  Artemisia,  the  statue 
of  the  Olympian  Zeus  by  Pheidias,  and  the 
Rhodian  pharos  or  watch-tower.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  the  number  was  suggested  by  that  of 
the  wise  men,  or  of  the  stars  of  the  Great  Bear. 
(Rishis,  The  Seven.) 

Woodmote.     (Forest  courts.) 

Woodruff,  Woodroof.  [Possibly  from  wood, 
i.e.  forest,  and  ruft,  i.e.  verticel  (Skeat).]  (Bot.) 
Asperula ;  a  gen.  of  plants,  ord.  Rubiacese. 
Sweet  IV.,  A.  odorata,  a  native  perennial,  in 
shady  woods,  white-flowered,  with  whorled 
leaves,  scented  like  hay.  (Coumarin;  Maitrank.) 

Wood's  halfpence.     (Drapier's  Letters.) 

Woof.  [A.S.  wefan,  to  weave.}  The  threads 
which  cross  the  warp  from  side  to  side. 

Woolfell  (written  also  Woolfel).  [From  wool 
and  fell,  L.  pellis,  a  skin.}  A  skin  with  the 
wool  on  it. 

Woolsack.  The  seat  of  the  Lord  Chancellor 
in  the  House  of  Lords ;  said  to  be  so  called 
as  having  been  at  first  simply  a  square  bag  of 
wool. 

Woolstapler.  [Ger.  stapel,  a  mast.}  A  dealer 
in  wcol,  or  a  sorter  of  wools.  (Staples.) 

Woolstock.  A  heavy  wooden  hammer  used 
in  fulling  cloth. 

Woolwich  and  Reading  beds.  (Geol.)  Tertiary 
clays  and  sands,  between  theThanet  sands  and  the 
London  clay,  and  extending  into  France,  fargile 
plastique,  etc. ;  of  fresh- water  or  estuarine  origin  ; 
the  upper  beds  become  the  Oldhaven  formation 
in  the  I.  of  Thanet. 

Woorali.     (Curari.) 

Work ;  Unit  of  W.  The  result  of  exerting  a 
force  whose  point  of  application  moves  wholly 
or  partly  in  the  direction  of  the  force.  A  Unit  of 
W.  is  the  work  done  when  a  force  of  one  unit 
acts  at  a  point  which  moves  through  a  unit  of 
distance  in  the  direction  of  the  force.  (Foot- 
pound.) 

Working  party.  (Mil.)  Troops  told  off  either 
from  the  engineers  or  infantry,  for  digging  mili- 
tary works,  provided  with  pick-axes,  shovels, 
and  rammers. 


WORK 


517 


XYST 


Work  up  the  dead  horse,  To.  (Advance 
money.) 

Worm  (from  its  shape).  A  spiral  metallic 
pipe  placed  in  a  tub  of  water,  to  condense  the 
vapour  which  passes  through  it  from  the  still. 

Worm  and  wheel.   (Mech. )  An  endless  screw. 

Wormwood.    (Artemisia.) 

Worsted.  (From  Worsted,  a  village  in  Norfolk.) 
Well-twisted  yarn  spun  of  wool  with  a  long 
staple,  which  has  been  combed  to  lay  the  fibres 
parallel. 

Wort.  [A.S.  wyrt.]  1.  Herb,  plant;  very 
common  in  composition,  as  spleen-wort,  birth- 
wort,  etc.  2.  Decoction  of  barley. 

Worthies  of  England.  The  work  of  a  quaint 
old  writer,  Thomas  Fuller,  chaplain  to  the 
royalist  forces  in  the  Civil  War. 

WoulfFs  bottle.  A  bottle  with  several  necks, 
used  by  chemists  (from  the  inventor). 

Wourali.    (Curari.) 

Wove  paper.  Writing-paper  having  an  even 
surface  without  lines  or  water-mark. 

Wrack-grass.    (Zostera.) 

Wraith.  An  apparition ;  formerly  supposed 
to  be  that  of  a  guardian  angel.  The  word  in 
Scotland  was  spelt  warth,  which  brings  us  to 
"ward,  guard  (Skeat). 

Wranglers.  A  name  (derived  probably  from 
the  obsolete  public  disputations  of  candidates 
for  degrees)  applied  at  Cambridge  to  those  who 
are  placed  in  the  first  class  of  honours  in  the 
final  mathematical  examinations. 

Wreath.  [A.S.  wrsedh.]  The  circlet  on 
which  the  crest  stands,  formed  of  two  twisted 
silk  cords,  one  tinctured  as  the  principal  metal 


in  the  escutcheon,  the  other  as  the  principal 
colour. 

Wreck.  [Ger.  wrecken,  to  wrack.}  The 
vessel  in  which  dres  are  washed  for  the  third 
time. 

Wrench.  [Allied  to  wring,  A.S.  wringan,  to 
strain.}  A  tool  for  tightening  nuts,  etc. 

Wrest.  [A.S.  wreestan,  to  wrest.}  A  key  to 
tighten  the  strings  of  the  harp,  piano,  etc.  ;  the 
badge  of  a  minstrel's  profession  in  feudal  times. 

Wretchlessness.  In  Art.  xvii.,  "  On  Predesti- 
nation ;  "  a  corr.  of  recklessness. 

Writers  to  the  Signet.     (Signet,  Privy.) 

Wrongous  Imprisonment  Act,  or  Scotch  Habeas 
Corpus,  1701,  extends  to  Scotland  the  same 
protection  which  the  Habeas  Corpus  gives  in 
England. 

W.S.     Writer  to  the  Signet.    (Abbreviations.) 

Wurtemberg  Confession.  A  Protestant  con- 
fession of  faith,  drawn  up  at  Wurtemberg,  in 
I5.S2- 

Wyatt's  Rebellion.  In  February,  1554;  that 
of  Sir  Thomas  Wyatt  (executed)  and  the  men 
of  Kent ;  to  resist  the  marriage  of  Queen  Mary 
with  Philip  of  Spain. 

Wyclif  s  Bible.     (Bible,  English.) 

Wye,  or  Y.  (Mech.)  One  of  the  supports  of 
the  axle  of  a  transit  telescope,  theodolite  tele- 
scope, etc. ;  so  called  from  its  shape. 

Wynd.  [A.S.  windan,  to  wind  or  turn.}  A 
narrow  lane  or  alley. — Scott,  Fair  Maid  of 
Perth. 

Wyvern.  [O.Fr.  vivre,  a  -viper.}  (Her.}  An 
heraldic  animal,  in  the  form  of  a  two-legged 
dragon. 


X,    As  a  Roman  numeral,  denotes  10. 

Xanth-,  Xantho-.     [Gr.  £av66s,  yellow.} 

Xantheine.  [Gr.  |ai>0<fe,  yellow.}  The  yellow 
colouring  matter  of  flowers. 

Xanthous.  [Gr.  (av0<fc,  yellow.}^  (Etkn.) 
Fair-haired  ;  Melanic,  dark-haired  \jjie\as,  black, 
gen.  fiut \avos]. 

Xebec,  or  Zebeo.  [An  Ar.  word.]  (Naut.) 
A  small  three-masted  Mediterranean  vessel,  with 
a  very  projecting  bow  and  overhanging  stern, 
generally  equipped  as  a  corsair ;  a  Barbary 
xebec  was  square-rigged  on  the  foremast. 

Xeres.  Wine  from  Xeres,  in  Spain  ;  sherris, 
sherry. 

Xeringue.    A  kind  of  caoutchouc. 


XSro-.    [Gr.  fats,  dry.} 

Xeque.  The  Sp.  form  of  the  Ar.  Scheik. 

Xiphias.  [Gr.  £  <J>ios,  id.,  |i</>os,  a  sword.} 
(Swordfish.) 

Xylography.  [Gr.  £t5Aoi>,  -wood,  ypdtw,  I 
write,  or  draw.}  The  art  of  engraving  on 
wood. 

Xylonite.  [Gr.  £v\ov,  wood.]  Celluloid  or 
solidified  gun-cotton.  Used  for  making  billiard- 
balls,  etc. 

Xystus.  [Gr.  gwnfc,  polished.}  A  covered 
colonnade  ;  so  called  from  the  smoothness  of  its 
floor  ;  used  by  the  Greeks  as  a  training-place 
for  wrestlers. 


5i8 


YGGD 


Y. 


T.  1.  With  V  and  S,  makes  up  the  three 
letters  represented  by  the  Greek  digamma.  2. 

/TTT—p   \ 

Yacca-wood  (from  name  of  tree).  A  pale- 
brown  W.-Indian  wood,  used  for  cabinet-work. 

Yagers.  [Ger.  jagers,  hunters.]  In  the 
German  army,  light  infantry  armed  with  rifles. 

Yahoos.  The  name  under  which  men  are 
degraded  to  the  rank  of  filthy  brutes  in  the 
fictitious  country  of  the  Houyhnhnms,  which 
Gulliver  visited  in  .his  last  voyage ;  where  the 
reasoning  and  ruling  beings  are  the  horses. 

Yajur  Veda.    (Veda.) 

Yam.  [Probably  an  African  word.]  Article 
of  food  in  tropical  countries,  the  tuberous  root 
of  Dioscorea,  a  twining  shrub,  type  of  ord. 
Dioscoreacese.  D.  alata,  common  W.-Indian 
yam  ;  its  tubers  weigh  sometimes  thirty  pounds. 
It  resembles  the  potato. 

Yankee.  The  form  assumed  by  the  word  Eng- 
lish as  pronounced  by  the  Indians  of  N.  America. 

Yarabatana,  (Mil.)  An  air-gun  used  by 
the  Indians  in  S.  America  for  projecting  small 
arrows  through  a  tube. 

Yard.  [A.S.  gyrd,  a  rod.]  1.  The  funda- 
mental English  unit  of  length  ;  it  is  the  distance 
between  two  marks  on  a  certain  bar  kept  in  the 
Exchequer  Office  in  London,  when  the  tempera- 
ture is  62°  Fahr.  2.  (Naut.)  A  long  spar  sus- 
pended from  a  mast  to  spread  a  sail.  Y.-arms, 
its  extremities.  Y.-arm  and  Y.-arm,  said  of 
two  vessels  close  alongside.  Cross-jack  Y.,  that 
on  the  foremast  of  a  fore-and-aft  schooner. 

Yarr.    (Spurrey,  Common.) 

Yataghan.  (Mil.)  Long  Turkish  dagger 
with  metal  scabbard,  worn  in  the  belt. 

Yaw.  (Naut. )  Temporary  deviation  of  a  vessel 
from  its  right  course. 

Yawl.  [D.  jol;  cf.  jolly-boat.]  (Naut.}  1.  A 
man-of-war's  boat,  like  a  pinnace,  but  smaller. 
2.  A  carvel-built  vessel,  like  a  cutter,  but  having 
a  jigger  lugsail.  3.  A  small  fishing- vessel. 

Yaws.  (Med.)  Frambcesia  [Fr.  framboise,  a 
raspberry],  a  skin-disease  marked  by  raspberry- 
like  excrescences;  endemic  in  some  tropical 
countries. 

Y-cleped,  Y-clept.  [A.S.  geclipod,  part,  of 
cleopian,  to  call.]  Called,  named. 

Yean.  [A.S.  eanian.J  To  bring  forth  young ; 
to  lamb. 

Yeanling  (from  yean}.  The  young  of  a  sheep, 
or  lamb. 

Year;  Anomalistic  Y. ;  Bissextile  Y.;  Chris- 
tian Y. ;  Civil  Y. ;  Common  Y. ;  Gregorian  Y. ; 
Julian  Y. ;  Leap  Y. ;  Lunar  Y. ;  Sidereal  Y. ; 
Solar  Y.;  Tropical  Y.  [A.S.  gear;  cf.  Gr. 
upas,  8>pa.]  An  interval  of  time  determined  by 
the  proper  motion  of  the  sun,  i.e.  by  the  revo- 
lution of  the  earth  in  her  orbit.  The  Sidereal 
Y.  is  the  interval  between  two  successive  re- 
turns of  the  sun  to  the  same  point  of  space, 
its  length  being  365  days  6  hrs.  9  mins.  9-6 
sees,  mean  solar  units.  The  Anomalistic  Y. 


is  the  interval  between  two  successive  returns 
of  the  earth  to  perihelion,  its  length  being  365 
days  6  hrs.  13  mins.  49^3  sees,  mean  solar 
units.  The  Tropical  K,  called  also  a  Solar  Y., 
is  the  interval  between  two  successive  returns 
of  the  sun  to  the  first  point  of  Aries,  its  length 
being  365  days  5  hrs.  48  mins.  497  sees, 
mean  solar  units.  The  Civil  Y.  is  that  adopted 
in  common  life  for  the  computation  of  time  ; 
it  consists  of  365  days,  with  an  additional  day 
added  now  and  then  to  keep  it  right  with  the 
tropical  year,  which  regulates  the  seasons  ;  the 
year  in  which  the  additional  day  is  inserted  is  the 
Bissextile  or  Leap  Y.  A  Common  Y.  is  a  year  of 
365  days  ;  a  Lunar  Y.  is  twelve  lunar  months. 
(For  Gregorian  and  Julian  K,  vide  Calendar.) 
The  Christian  Y.  begins  with  Advent. 

Year-books.  The  oldest  extant  English  re- 
ports, from  Edward  II.  to  Henry  VIII.  inclu- 
sive ;  but  not  without  interruptions. 

Yellow  admiral.  (Naut.)  A  retired  post- 
captain  who,  not  having  served  his  time  as  such, 
cannot  be  promoted  to  flag  rank. 

Yellow  arsenic.     (Orpiment.) 

Yellow  flag.  (Naut.)  Signal  of  quarantine. 
A  black  disc  or  square  in  its  centre  means 
plague  or  other  disease  on  board. 

Yellowing.  (Naut.)  Passing  over  captains 
at  a  flag  promotion. 

Yellowstone  National  Park.  An  area  of  3575 
square  miles  (i.e.  a  little  larger  than  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk)  about  the  sources  of  the  Yellow 
River,  in  Montana  and  Wyoming ;  withdrawn 
by  U.S.  Congress,  February,  1872,  "from  set- 
tlement, occupancy,  or  sale,"  and  set  apart  as  a 
public  park  for  the  people  for  ever.  General 
elevation,  7000  to  8000  feet,  with  mountains 
10,000  to  12,000  feet  ;  and  having  deep  gorges, 
snowy  sierras,  great  lakes,  and  geysers. 

Yeoman.  (Naut.)  The  man  in  charge  of  a 
storeroom. 

Yeoman  of  the  guard.  [Cf.  Ger.  gau,  country 
district.]  1.  (Mil.)  One  of  a  corps  in  attendance 
on  the  sovereign,  instituted  A.D.  1485,  officered, 
with  the  exception  of  the  commander,  who  is  a 
nobleman,  by  retired  officers  from  the  army. 
2,  Y,  in  north  of  England,  i.q.  statesman  (q.v.). 

Yeoman's  service.  As  in  Hamlet,  act  v.  sc.  2  ; 
the  faithful  service  in  war  rendered  by  the 
yeomen  or  small  freeholders :  the  mass  of  the 
infantry  being  composed  of  "good  yeomen" 
(Henry  V.,  act  iii.  sc.  i).  "  The  middle  people 
of  England  make  good  soldiers,  which  the  pea- 
sants of  France  do  not  :  .  .  .  and  herein  the 
device  of  King  Henry  VII.  was  profound  .  .  . 
to  keep  the  plough  in  the  hands  of  the  owners  " 
(Bacon's  Essays :  Of  Kingdoms  and  Estates). 

Yezdigird,  Era  of.  An  era  beginning  June 
16,  632. 

Yezldis.    (Jezids.) 

Yggdrasil.  In  Teut.  and  Scand.  Myth.,  the 
ash  tree  which  has  its  roots  in  Niflheim,  the 
home  of  the  clouds  or  mists,  and  whose  branches 


YOIC 


519 


ZERE 


embrace  the  whole  world.  The  origin  of  the 
name  is  disputed. 

Yoicks!  A  cry  of  encouragement  to  fox- 
hounds while  drawing  ;  (?)  a  corr.  of  Fr.  oyez  ! 
oyez  !  i.e.  listen  to  the  dogs.  Dame  Juliana 
Berners  mentions,  in  her  Book  of  Hunting  (fif- 
teenth century),  the  cry,  "Oyez,  oyez  a  Be- 
mounde,"  the  name  of  a  hound.  (Tally  ho !) 

Young  England.  A  name  of  the  last  genera- 
tion, designating  those  who,  mostly  young  men 
of  culture  and  position,  looking  down  upon 
commercial  tastes  and  employments,  affected  or 
seemed  to  affect  a  return  to  mediseval  manners. 


Yow-yow.     A  smaller  sampaan  (q.v.). 

Yttrium,  Terbium,  Erbium.  Rare  metals  found 
at  Ytterby,  in  Sweden. 

Yucca  (its  name  in  St.  Domingo).  (Bot.} 
A  gen.  of  Liliacese;  N.  and  S.  America.  Y. 
gloriosa  is  common  Adam's  needle,  cultivated 
in  England,  having  sword-shaped  evergreen 
leaves,  and  a  large  branching  panicle  of  whitish 
flowers. 

Yugs.     (Jogues.) 

Yule.  [A.S.  iula.]  The  Scotch  name  for 
Christmas. 


z. 


Z,  A  letter  representing  the  sounds  ds  or  ts, 
and  therefore  a  double  letter. 

Zabaism.     (Sabaism.) 

Zaffre.  [Ar.  saphre,  sapphire.]  (Chem.)  An 
impure  oxide  of  cobalt,  used  in  making  smalt. 

Zaim.  A  Turkish  chief  of  a  mounted  militia 
bearing  the  same  name. 

Zany.  [It.  zanni  =  Giovanni,  merry  John  ; 
cf.  merry- Andrew.]  A  buffoon. 

Zaphara.    (Zaffre.) 

Zarnich.     (Orpiment.) 

Zax.  [A.S.  seax,  a  knife.]  A  tool  for  cutting 
slate. 

Zea.  [Gr.  £eia,  some  kind  of  barley]  (Bot.} 
Maize ;  a  gen.  of  plants,  probably  American. 
Certainly  cultivated  by  the  Indians  when  the 
New  World  was  discovered.  Ord.  Graminacese. 
Common  M.,  or  Indian  corn,  is  Z.  mays,  the 
most  productive  of  cereals,  much  grown  in  S. 
Europe.  (Hominy.) 

Zealots.  [Gr.  CrjAamif.]  A  Jewish  sect,  of 
the  Maccabean  age,  specially  vehement  in  their 
defence  of  the  Law.  (Canaanite.) 

Zebec.    (Xebec.) 

Zebu.  (Zool.)  Bos  Indicus ;  the  humped 
cattle  of  E.  Africa,  India,  China ;  various 
breeds,  ranging  from  about  two  feet  high  to  the 
full  size  of  the  ordinary  ox. 

Zecchino.     (Sequin.) 

Zechstein.  [Ger. ,  mine-stcne;  cf.  zax.  ]  ( Geol. ) 
To  be  cut  through  before  the  copper  slate  is 
reached  ;  the  equivalent  of  the  limestone  of  the 
Permian  age,  in  north  of  England.  (Zax.) 

Zedoary.  A  fragrant,  bitter,  aromatic  stimu- 
lant, from  the  root  of  the  Curcuma  zerumbet, 
of  the  E.  Indies.  Ord.  Zingiberacese.  Given 
in  cramp,  colic,  torpor,  etc.  Called  also  the 
broad-leaved  turmeric. 

Zeit-geist.     [Ger.]     Spirit  of  the  age. 

Zemindars.  [Hind.,  from  Pers.  zemin,  land] 
The  great  landowners  of  the  Mogul  empire.  The 
nature  of  their  tenure  has  been  much  disputed. 

Zenana.  A  Pers.  word,  probably  the  same 
as  the  Gr.  ywaiK&v,  the  part  of  the  house  set 
apart  for  the  women.  (Harem.) 

Zend-Avesta.    The  sacred  books  embodying 

34 


the  religious  system  of  Zoroaster,  avesta  mean- 
ing a  settled  text.  (Ahriman.) 

Zendiks.  In  Arabia,  a  name  given  to 
atheists  or  sorcerers. 

Zendism.  The  same  as  Zoroastrianism,  or 
the  religion  of  Zoroaster.  (Ahriman.) 

Zenith;  Z.  distance;  Z.  sector;  Z.  telescope. 
(A  corr.  of  Ar.  sanit,  road,  tract,  whence  also 
Azimuth.)  The  point  vertically  overhead,  in  which 
the  plumb-line  produced  would  meet  the  great 
sphere.  The  Z.  distance  of  a  heavenly  body  is 
its  angular  distance  from  the  Z.  measured  along 
a  vertical  circle.  A  Z.  sector  is  a  telescope 
furnished  with  an  arc  of  a  few  degrees  very 
exactly  graduated,  and  mounted  so  as  to  measure 
the  meridian-Z.  distances  of  stars  near  the  Z. 
of  the  station  ;  the  positions  of  such  stars  are 
very  little  affected  by  atmospheric  refraction, 
and  are  therefore  proper  to  be  used  for  the 
very  accurate  determination  of  the  latitude  of 
the  station.  A  Z.  telescope  is  capable  of  being 
set  to  any  Z.  distance  and  of  turning  round  a 
long  and  very  firm  vertical  axis ;  in  the  focus 
are  the  usual  five  wires  and  a  micrometer  wire 
capable  of  reading  up  to  (say)  45' ;  two  stars  are 
used  that  come  on  to  the  meridian  nearly 
together  and  on  opposite  sides  of  the  zenith  ; 
the  instrument  is  reversed  between  the  two 
observations,  and  the  latitude  is  inferred  from 
the  difference  of  the  readings  and  the  known 
north  polar  distances  of  the  stars. 

Zeolites.  [Gr.  £e'«,  /  boil,  \lOos,  a  stone.} 
(Geol.}  Hydrated  silicates  of  alumina;  e.g. 
natrolite,  mesotype,  etc.,  found  in  the  cavities  of 
volcanic  rocks. 

Zephyr.  The  west  wind ;  so  called  as  blow- 
ing from  the  west,  the  land  of  darkness,  the 
Gr.  £e<f>vpos  being  akin  to  £6<f>os,  yvtifyos,  Kvefyas, 
vf^\t],  L.  nubes,  words  denoting  gloom,  mist, 
and  cloud. 

Zephyr  cloth.  A  light  waterproof  material 
made  in  Belgium. 

Zerda.     (Lycaon.) 

Zereth.  [Heb.]  A  Jewish  measure  of  length  ; 
a  span,  between  the  extremities  of  the  extended 
hand. 


ZERN 


520 


ZOST 


Zernabog,  Zernebock.    (Tschernibog.) 

Zero.  [It.  zefiro,  Ar.  sifr,  cipher.}  The  point 
from  which  a  graduation  begins  ;  as  the  zero  or 
zero-point  of  a  thermometer. 

Zest.  [Fr.  zeste,  from  Gr.  <rx«<TT(fc,  cut, 
cloven.}  1.  A  piece  of  orange  or  lemon  peel, 
used  for  flavouring  liquor.  Hence,  2,  relish, 
enthusiasm. 

Zetetic.  [Gr.  ^T-nrt^s,  from  frTt-w,  to  seek.} 
Advancing  by  inquiry. 

Zeus  Horios.     (Terminalia.) 

Zens  Horkios.     (Semo  Sancus.) 

Zeus  Fistios.    (Semo  Sancus.) 

Ziega.  [Ger.  zieger.]  Curd  made  with 
acetic  acid  after  rennet  has  ceased  to  coagulate 
the  milk. 

Zif.  [Heb.,  blossom.}  I  Kings  vi.  37  ;  eighth 
month  of  civil,  second  of  ecclesiastical,  Jewish 
year  ;  April — May. 

Zillah.  [Hind,  zila.]  In  India,  the  district 
of  a  commissioner  or  circuit  judge. 

Zincode.  [Zinc,  and  Gr.  oSos,  away.}  (Chem.) 
The  positive  pole  of  a  galvanic  battery. 

Zincography.  [Zinc,  and  Gr.  ypdtyw,  / 
write,  or  draw. }  Engraving  on  zinc  in  the  style 
of  woodcuts. 

Ziogoon.    (Tycoon.) 

Zirconium.  A  very  rare  metal,  obtained  as  a 
black  powder  from  zircon  (native  name  of  a 
Cingalese  earth). 

Zither.  [Ger.,  Gr.  Ktfi&pa,  guitar.}  A  flat 
stringed  instrument,  with  twenty-eight  brass 
strings,  played  with  the  right  thumb,  a  plectrum 
bringing  out  the  melody. 

Zizel.  (Zoo!.)  The  pouched  marmot,  a 
rodent,  differing  from  the  marmot  proper,  in 
having  cheek-pouches,  and  in  not  being  gre- 
garious. N.  hemisphere.  SpermophTlus  [Gr. 
oWpjuo,  seed,  <£>jA.€«,  I  love},  fam.  Sciuridae. 

Zoanthidae.  [Gr.  ($>ov,  an  animal,  &v9os,  a 
flower.'}  (Zoo/.}  Fam.  of  polypes,  comprising 
the  black  corals  and  madrepores. 

Zoanthropy.  [Gr.  £uov,  an  animal,  &v6pcairos, 
a  man.]  A  name  devised  for  the  madness  which 
sometimes  makes  men  fancy  themselves  changed 
into  brute  animals. 

Zodiac.  [Gr.  fySicutds,  belonging  to  animals  ; 
6  £a>8(OK(fc,  sc.  KVK\OS,  the  zodiac,  circle. ,]  (Astron. ) 
A  belt  or  zone  in  the  heavens,  whose  general  direc- 
tion is  that  of  the  ecliptic,  and  within  which  the 
sun,  moon,  and  planets  have  their  proper  motions ; 
the  stars  within  the  belt  are  divided  into  twelve 
constellations,  the  Ram,  the  Bull,  the  Twins, 
etc.,  which  are  more  commonly  known  by  their 
Latin  names,  Aries,  Taurus,  Gemini,  etc.  In 
the  time  of  the  Greek  astronomers  the  sun 
entered  Aries  at  about  the  time  of  the  vernal 
equinox ;  but  now,  in  consequence  of  precession, 
he  is  not  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  bright  star 
of  the  Ram  (a  Arietis)  till  towards  the  end  of 
April ;  the  vernal  equinox  is,  however,  still 
called  the  First  point  of  Aries. 

Zodiacal  light.  A  light  of  a  lenticular  shape, 
seen  after  sunset  in  the  months  of  March,  April, 
and  May ;  extending  not  less  than  40°  from  the 
"Miquely  upward,  and  following  the  general 
of  the  ecliptic. 


sun  obli 
course 


Zoetrope.  [Gr.  &ov,  a  living  thing,  rpfirw, 
I  turn.}  A  contrivance  for  producing  the  appear- 
ance of  motion  in  figures  by  rotating  plates. 
(Anorthoscope.) 

Zohak.  In  the  Shahnamah  of  Firdusi,  a 
tyrant  who  has  serpents  growing  from  his 
shoulders,  and  who  is  slain  by  Feridun.  The 
name  is  a  contraction  from  the  Zend  Azi-dahaka, 
the  biting  snake,  representing  the  Vedic  Ahi 
(Vritra)  and  Dahak,  the  biter  [Gr.  SO.KVW,  to 
bite}. 

Zohar.  [Heb.,  splendour.}  A  cabalistic  com- 
mentary on  the  Pentateuch,  of  uncertain  date, 
but  supposed  to  be  of  great  antiquity.  (Talmnd.) 

Zoilism.  Captious  criticism,  like  that  of 
Zoilus,  a  Greek  rhetorician  of  the  fourth 
century  B.C. 

Zollverein.  [Ger.,  toll-union.}  A  fiscal  union 
of  German  states,  formed  at  Munich,  August  23, 
1837,  and  greatly  enlarged  in  1866. 

Zona.  [L.,  Gr.  £wvi),  a  girdle.}  (Med.)  I.q. 
Herpes  zoster,  or  shingles. 

Zonar.  [Gr.  favdptov,  dim.  of  £WT?>  a  girdle.  ~\ 
A  distinguishing  belt  worn  by  non-Mohammedans 
in  the  Levant. 

Zone.  [Gr.  &VT],  girdle,  zone.}  1.  (Math.} 
A  portion  of  a  surface  of  revolution,  as  of  a 
sphere,  included  between  two  planes  at  right 
angles  to  its  axis.  2.  (Geog.)  Portions  of  the 
earth's  surface  bounded  by  the  Arctic  and  Ant- 
arctic circles  and  by  the  tropics  of  Cancer  and 
Capricorn :  they  are  five  in  number,  viz.  an 
Arctic  and  an  Antarctic  Z.,  extending  about 
23°  28'  from  the  North  and  South  Poles,  at  any 
place  within  which  there  will  be  certain  days  on 
which  the  sun  does  not  rise  and  others  on  which 
he  does  not  set ;  a  Torrid  Z.,  extending  23°  28' 
on  either  side  of  the  equator,  at  every  place 
within  which  the  sun  is  vertically  overhead  at 
midday  twice  a  year ;  and  two  intermediate 
Temperate  zones,  one  in  the  northern,  the  other 
in  the  southern  hemisphere. 

Zone;  Z.  circle;  Axis  of  Z.  (Crystallog.} 
When  three  or  more  faces  of  a  crystal  have 
their  poles  in  a  great  circle  of  the  sphere  of  pro- 
jection, they  form  a  Z.  ;  the  great  circle  is  the 
Z.  circle ;  the  diameter  at  right  angles  to  the 
plane  of  the  Z.  circle  is  the  Axis  of  the  Z. 

Zone  of  variable  temperature.  The  sun  is 
found  to  affect  rocks  to  a  depth  of  about  ninety 
feet ;  and  this  upper  ninety  feet  is  known  as  the 
Z.  of  V.  T. 

Zoo-.     [Gr.  {wo-t  living.} 

Zooids.  [Gr.  fuo-ctS^s,  animal-like.}  (Biol.} 
Organisms  more  or  less  dependent  upon  the 
parent  organism,  produced  by  gemmation,  or 
fission  ;  as  the  separated  portions  of  hydra. 

Zoophytes.  [Gr.  fad-<pi>Toi/,  an  animal-plant. } 
(Zoo/.)  General  name  for  plant-like  animals ;  as 
sponges  (Protozoa),  corals  and  sea-anemones 
(Coelenterata),  and  sea-mats  (Polyzoa), 

Zoroaster.    ( Ahriman. ) 

Zoster.     (Herpes  zoster.) 

Zostera.  [Gr.  COHTTTJP,  a  girdle.}  (Bot.) 
Wrack-grass;  a  submersed  marine  plant,  Z. 
marina,  ord.  Naiadaceze.  Its  ribbon-like  stems 
used  as  beds,  and  in  packing  glass. 


ZOST 


ZYZI 


Zosterites.  Fossil  impressions  of  zostcra 
(y.v.)  ;  in  the  Devonian  system. 

Zouaves.  Light  infantry  in  the  French  army  ; 
said  to  be  so  called  from  a  tribe  of  that  name  in 
Algeria,  and  originally  raised  in  that  country, 
but"  now  exclusively  recruited  in  France. 

Zounds.  A  corr.  of  the  phrase  God's  wounds, 
as  S'death  and  S 'blood  are  corr.  of  God's  death 
and  God's  blood. 

Zuchetto.  [It.]  (Eccl.)  In  the  Latin  Church, 
a  skull-cap,  that  of  a  bishop  being  purple,  that 
of  the  pope  white. 

Zuinglians.  In  Eccl.  Hist.,  the  followers  of 
Zuinglius,  the  most  advanced  of  the  Reformers 
of  the  age  of  Luther.  (Lutherans.) 

Zumbra.     (Naut.)     A  Spanish  skiff  or  yawl. 

Zunu,    Goitred  sheep  of   Angola;  a  breed 


with  a  roll  of  fat  at  the  back  of  the  head,  and 
another  on  the  throat,  like  a  goitre ;  ears, 
back,  and  upper  half  of  tail  light  brown,  other- 
wise white.  W.  coast  of  Africa.  Ovis 
Steatlmon  [Gr,  ffreap,  -O.TOS,  fat]. 

Zymo-.     [Gr.  Cu/io-,  leavening,] 

Zymometer.  [Gr.  ^i],  leaven,  nerpetit,  to 
measure.]  An  instrument  for  measuring  the 
degree  of  fermentation  by  means  of  the  heat 
developed. 

Zymotic  diseases.  [Gr.  £v/j.wTiK6s,  causing  to 
ferment,  £vn-r\,  leaven.]  (Afcd.)  Diseases  caused 
apparently  by  some  virus  received  into  the  body 
and  spreading  by  a  kind  of  fermentation  ;  e.g. 
small-pox,  measles,  scarlatina,  influenza,  typhus, 
and  many  others. 

Zyziphus.     (Spina  Christ!.) 


THE   END. 


L  I  T  E  :R  A  IR,  ^     E  V  E  3NT  T  . 


HISTORY 

OF  THE 

PEOPLE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

From  the  Revolution  to  the  Civil  War. 

By  JOHN    BACH    McMASTER. 

"  It  is  a  glad,  yet  strange,  surprise  to  find  that  a  task  which  was  looming  up  for  a  proper  workman  has 
already  been  undertaken  and  nearly  completed  by  one  who  is  unknown  to  letters  until  he  asks  the  American 
public  to  examine  his  pages  and  decide  whether  they  are  worthy  of  the  place  which  they  aim  to  occupy  in 
the  annals  of  the  nation.  .  .  .  Heretofore  the  story  of  the  nation's  inception  and  growth  has  been  frequently 
described,  but  has  never  been  made  interesting.  Mr.  McMaster  not  only  descriaes  events  and  people  with 
remarkable  felicity,  but  has  the  power  to  lead  the  reader  on  from  point  to  point,  so  that  his  pages  have  the 
swiftly-moving  panoramic  attraction  which  one  feels  in  a  railway-train,  as  it  brings  new  scenes  every 
moment  to  the  eye."—  Boston  Herald. 

"  It  is  a  storehouse  of  facts  concerning  the  life,  feelings,  and  limitations  of  the  people,  attractively 
grouped,  and  stated  with  precision  and  masculine  energy.  .  .  .  Bids  fair  to  be  the  authoritative  history 
of  the  United  States  for  the  period  which  it  covers."  —  The  Nation, 

"  No  one  can  linger  long  over  this  volume  without  perceiving  that  we  have  in  it  a  fresh  and  valuable 
addition  to  our  national  literature,  which  calls  for  immediate  recognition.  The  plan  on  which  the  work  is 
constructed  is  similar  to  that  of  which  the  late  lamented  Mr.  Green  made  such  brilliant  use  in  his  '  History 
of  the  English  People.'  .  .  .  This  truly  admirable  scheme  promises  to  be  carried  out,  if  we  may  judge 
by  this  first  volume,  with  an  amplitude  of  research  and  thoroughness  of  scholarship  which  will  give  weight 
to  the  author's  views,  and  a  vigor  and  picturesqueness  of  style  which  will  give  them  currency."  —  Boston 
Journal. 

"  A  history  that  is  flavorless  and  colorless  may  make  no  enemies,  but  it  will  find  few  readers.  Mr. 
McMaster  will  provoke  criticism,  but  that  will  be  no  evidence  that  he  is  a  partisan  or  a  bigot.  There  will 
be  no  question  that  he  has  rescued  from  oblivion  a  vast  mass  of  those  interesting  data  which,  small  in  them- 
selves, are  of  the  greatest  value  in  reflecting  the  actual  condition  of  a  people  at  a  given  time."  —  New  York 
Journal  of  Commerce. 

"  His  theme  is  an  important  one,  and  we  congratulate  him  on  his  success.  His  style  is  interesting  and 
lively,  and  he  gives  such  a  graphic  picture  of  our  forefathers  that  it  is  a  pleasure  to  follow  him.  The  social 
life  of  our  ancestors  is  so  quaintly  interesting  and  so  widely  different  from  the  life  of  to-day  that  the  chapters 
devoted  to  its  description  can  not  fail  to  entertain,  if  only  by  the  marked  contrast  exhibited.  .  .  .  The 
author  has  one  great  quality,  and  that  is  the  power  to  arrange  his  ideas  and  marshal  his  facts.  It  has  rarely 
been  our  province  to  notice  a  book  with  so  many  excellences  and  so  few  defects."  —  New  York  Herald. 

"  He  carries  out  in  a  complete,  vivid,  and  delightful  way,  his  promise  to  describe  the  dress,  the  occupa- 
tions, the  amusements,  the  literary  canons  of  the  several  epochs  comprehended  within  the  scope  of  his  sur- 
vey. .  .  .  The  cardinal  qualities  cf  style,  lucidity,  animation,  and  energy,  are  everywhere  present.  Sel- 
dom, indeed,  has  a  book  in  which  matter  of  substantial  value  has  been  so  happily  united  to  attractiveness 
of  form  been  offered  by  an  American  author  to  his  fellow-citizens."  —  New  York  Sun. 

"  His  work,  if  the  succeeding  volumes  are  of  a  piece  with  this,  will  not  be  merely  the  most  instructive 
of  American  histories,  but  a  valuable  contribution  to  narrative  literature.  His  subject  all  historians  may 
envy  him  ;  his  information  indicates  diligent  and  well-directed  preparation  ;  his  style  is  always  clear,  often 
picturesque,  and  sometimes  eloquent."  —  New  York  World. 

"In  compact,  crisp,  concentrated  statement,  we  have  the  events  of  the  first  century  of  our  national 
existence  vividly  portrayed.  The  procession  of  events  is  marshaled  with  care,  and  it  moves  along  smoothly 
and  even  brilliantly  in  the  easy  flow  and  apt  statement  of  the  well-fortified  writer.  "  —  Boston  Commonwealth. 

"  His  style  is  clear  and  vigorous,  if  not  always  condensed.  He  has  the  faculty  of  felicitous  comparison 
and  contrast  in  a  marked  degree.  Whatever  may  be  said  in  criticism  of  it,  no  one  will  impute  to  it  dullness 
in  any  part.  He  has  the  faculty  of  enchaining  the  attention  and  of  holding  it."  —  Boston  Gazette. 

"Not  since  Macaulay's  famous  third  chapter  on  the  state  of  England  in  1685  has  there  been  published 
a  piece  of  historical  writing  showing  a  wider  range  of  information,  a  surer  literary  touch,  than  the  first 
chapter  of  Mr.  McMaster's."  —  The  Examiner. 

"  It  differs  from  any  work  of  the  kind  yet  attempted  in  that  it  relates  specifically  to  the  industry,  customs, 
social  conditions,  and  progress  of  the  people,  instead  of  making  them  matters  merely  incidental  to  the 
political  narrative."  —  Christian  at  Work. 

"  The  narrative  style,  colored  but  not  strained,  spirited  but  with  no  attempt  at  eloquence,  and  free  from 
rhetorical  faults,  is  particularly  attractive."  —  The  Evangelist. 

"The  author,  with  well-chosen  words,  and  in  picturesque  style,  presents  a  succession  of  living  pictures, 
showing  us  just  how  life  went  on  day  by  day,  how  people  occupied  themselves,  and  what  they  thought. 
All  this  is  real  history.  It  makes  fascinating  reading.  Not  the  first  or  the  faintest  shadow  of  dullness  is 
to  be  found  on  any  of  these  pages.  .  .  .  One  great  charm  of  the  book  consists  in  its  artistic  grouping  of 
topics  and  of  facts.  The  pictures  explain  and  complete  each  other.  There  is  a  wonderful  combination  of 
colors,  and  of  light  and  shade,  the  effect  of  which  can  be  seen  only  by  those  who  read  and  see  the  whole." 
—  The  Churchman. 


To  be  completed  in  five  volumes.   Volume  I  now  ready.   Octavo,  cloth,  gilt  top. 

Price,  $2.50. 

D.  APPLETON   &   CO.,   Publishers,   I,  3,  &   5   Bond   Street,   New  York. 


A  SUMPTUOUS  LIBRARY  EDITION  OF  THE  LIFE  AND  WORKS 
OF  WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT,  EDITED  BY  PARKE  GODWIN, 
ELEGANTLY  PRINTED.  IN  LARGE  TYPE,  WITH  WIDE  MARGINS, 
IN  HANDSOME  SQUARE  OCTAVO  VOLUMES.  Now  ready: 

I. 

A  BIOGRAPHY  OF 
WILLIAM  CULLEN   BRYANT, 

With  Extracts  from  his  Private   Correspondence. 

BY  PARKE  GODWIN. 

Containing  a  full  account,  from  authentic  sources,  of  the  poet's  ancestry ;  of  his  boy- 
hood among  the  Hampshire  hills ;  of  his  early  poems ;  of  his  ten  years'  life  as  a  country 
lawyer;  of  his  long  editorial  career  in  New  York;  of  his  intercourse  with  contempo- 
raries ;  of  his  travels  abroad  and  at  home  ;  of  the  origin  of  many  of  his  poems ;  of  his 
political  opinions ;  of  his  speeches  and  addresses  ;  and  of  the  honors  he  received. 


With  two  Portraits  on  Steel :  one  from  a  Painting  by  Morse,  taken  when  Mr.  Bryant 
was  in  his  thirty-first  year  ;  and  one  from  a  Photograph  by  Sarony,  taken  in  1873. 

In  two  volumes,  square  8vo,  cloth,  gilt  top.   Price,  $6.00. 


II. 

THE  POETICAL  WORKS  OF 
WILLIAM   CULLEN   BRYANT. 

EDITED  BY  PARKE  GODWIN, 

In  two  volumes,  square  8vo,  uniform  with  the  "  Biography,"  cloth,  gilt  top. 

Price,  $600. 

This  is  a  wholly  new  and  exhaustive  edition  of  Bryant's  Poetical  Works,  printed  with 
unusual  elegance.  It  contains  :  1.  All  Mr.  Bryant's  poems  that  have  hitherto  appeared, 
with  his  latest  corrections.  2.  Sixty  or  more  never  before  collected,  including  some  thirty 
beautiful  hymns,  and  a  companion  piece  to  "  Sella  "  and  "  The  Little  People  of  the  Snow." 
3.  Copious  notes  by  Parke  Godwin,  giving  various  changes  in  the  more  important  poems, 
an  account  of  their  origin,  and  other  interesting  information. 


TO   BE   FOLLOWED,    IN   UNIFORM   STYLE,    BY 

ORATIONS    AND    ADDRESSES.      In  one  volume. 
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New  York:  D.  APPLETON  &  CO.,  1,  3,  &  5  Bond  Street. 


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By,  HENRY  J.   NICOLL. 


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"  The  plan  adopted  in  this  book  has  been  to  deal  solely  with  the  very  greatest  names 
in  the  several  departments  of  English  literature — with  those  writers  whose  works  are 
among  the  most  imperishable  glories  of  Britain,  and  with  whom  it  is  a  disgrace  for  even 
the  busiest  to  remain  unacquainted." — From  Preface. 

"  We  can  warmly  recommend  this  excellent  manual." — St.  James's  Gazette. 

"  The  '  Landmarks  of  English  Literature '  is  a  work  of  exceptional  value.  It  reveals 
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"  Mr.  Nicoll  is  not  ambitious,  save  to  state  things  precisely  as  they  are,  to  give  the 
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ment that  can  not  be  overpraised.  He  writes  out  of  a  full  mind,  and  yet  he  writes  on  a 
level  with  the  ordinary  intelligence." — New  York  Times. 

"  It  would  be  hard  to  find  anywhere  an  example  of  a  more  pithy,  compact,  yet  at- 
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duodecimo  of  460  pages." — New  York  Home  Journal. 

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ton Gazette. 

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tions have  been  judicious." — Chicago  Tribune. 

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"  Mr.  George  Bancroft,  in  his  eighty-second  year — an  age  which  few  men  reach,  and 
at  which  few  of  those  who  do  reach  it  retain  the  disposition  or  the  capacity  for  protracted 
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and  their  causes,  would  have  reflected  honor  upon  his  prime.  His  '  History  of  the  For- 
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erature of  singular  value  and  importance."— Boston  Journal 

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THE  HOUSEHOLD  BOOK  OF  POETRY.  Edited  by  CHARLES 
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THE  HISTORY  OF 
ENGLAND  IN  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURY. 

BY 

WILLIAM   E.  H.  LECKY,  M.  A. 


VOLUMES  III  AND  IV,  EXTENDING  FROM  THE  ACCESSION  OF  GEORGE 
III  TO  1784,  THE  OPENING  YEAR  OF  PITT'S  FIRST   MINISTRY, 
AND    COVERING    THE     PERIOD    OF    THE     AMERICAN 
REVOLUTION.       PUBLISHED     BY    ARRANGE- 
MENT WITH  THE  AUTHOR. 


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years  that  the  relation  of  the  Crown  to  a  Ministry  representing  the  House  of  Commons 
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most  potent  and  exemplary  activity,  of  the  Middlesex  election  in  which  Wilkes  played  a 
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revolutions.  The  affairs  of  the  East  India  Company  were  administered  by  Clive,  and  the 
vast  accessions  of  territory  in  Bengal  were  supplemented  by  those  resulting  from  the  war 
with  Hyder  Ali.  In  America  the  discontent  of  the  thirteen  colonies  had  ripened  into 
open  revolt,  and  all  the  phases  of  the  contest  are  exhibited  in  these  volumes,  up  to  the 
last  year  of  exhaustion  and  inaction  which  preceded  the  final  peace.  Simultaneous  with 
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Ireland,  which  culminated  in  the  demand  for  legislative  independence.  All  of  these 
topics  are  carefully  discussed  by  Mr.  Lecky,  and  the  spirit  which  he  evinces  is  so  candid 
and  impartial  that  his  conclusions  will  be  listened  to  with  attention  and  respect,  even 
where  they  run  counter  to  the  reader's  individual  opinions  and  predilections." — New 
York  Sun. 

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fest endeavor  to  be  strictly  accurate  and  impartial,  which  were  strongly  marked  char- 
acteristics of  the  earlier  volumes,  are  dominant  features  also  in  these.  His  work,  so  far 
as  it  has  progressed,  will  be  by  common  consent  awarded  its  place  as  the  most  important 
and  impartial  history  of  the  period." — Boston  Journal. 

"  The  two  new  volumes  of  Lecky's  '  History  of  England  '  will  prove  of  special  interest 
to  Americans,  as  they  cover  the  period  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  treat  of  states- 
men, soldiers,  authors,  and  philosophers,  whose  memories  are  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of 
the  American  people.  His  history  of  this  period  will  present  many  points  of  interest 
when  compared  with  that  of  the  American  historian  Bancroft,  whose  latest  work,  by  a 
happy  coincidence,  is  simultaneously  published  with  Mr.  Lecky's."—  Chicago  Journal. 


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HISTORY  OF  THE  RISE  AND  INFLUENCE  OF 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  R 


•PIRIT  OF  NATIONALISM  IN  EUROPE. 


BY 


WILLIAM   E.  H.  LECKY,  M.A. 


2  vols.,  small  8 vo.    -      •      -    Cloth,  $4.OO;  half  calf,  extra,  $6.00. 

The  Nation. 

"  Mr.  Lecky  is  an  exceedingly  intelligent,  cultivated,  and  accomplished  man, 
of  quick  and  true  perception,  of  boundless  and  well-digested  reading,  of  swift 
and  vigorous  reasoning  power,  of  singular  liberality  and  candor.  He  is  intel- 
lectual, and  at  the  same  time  enthusiastic;  broad  without  being  shallow,  and 
rapid  without  noise.  A  man  of  earnest  conviction,  he  is  entirely  free  from 
bigotry ;  as  an  historian  he  is  almost  faultless,  and  as  a  critic  he  is  without  a 
peer.  His  book  is  animated  by  a  vital  idea  which  gave  it  birth,  and  which 
quickens  every  paragraph  to  the  end ;  but  the  idea  is  too  large  and  luminous  to 
have  the  character  of  a  dogma.  The  work  will  no  doubt  be  extensively  read. 
The  wealth  of  its  contents,  and  the  singular  grace  of  its  style,  always  flowing, 
often  picturesque,  sometimes  burning  with  suppressed  eloquence,  will  insure  a 
multitude  of  admirers.  We  hope  they  will." 

Chicago  Home  Circle. 

"  Mr.  Lecky  launches  out  upon  his  subject  with  a  majesty  and  confidence 
which  prove  him  equal  to  the  task.  He  handles  nice  distinctions  which  other 
writers  on  similar  subjects  have  found  it  convenient  to  shun.  It  is  not  often 
that  we  meet  so  close  and  strong  a  reasoner.  Independent  and  just  himself  in 
the  exercise  and  expression  of  thought,  he  grants  the  same  privilege  to  others. 
He  is  a  dangerous  opponent,  for  he  argues  from  primary  principles ;  but  it  is 
not  so  much  his  object  to  get  the  better  of  his  opponent  as  to  get  at  the  truth ; 
and  this  is  his  power.  No  one  will  regret  a  perusal  of  this  great  work." 

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many  interesting  and  illustrative  facts,  cited  from  every  department  of  human 
knowledge." 

Cincinnati  Western  Christian  Advocate. 

"  It  is  a  comprehensive  and  philosophic  delineation  of  rational  developments 
and  triumphs  in  Europe,  especially  since  the  Eeformation.  It  is  a  production 
of  great  ability,  evincing  extensive  research  and  careful  analysis  of  historic  facts 
and  their  causes." 


D.  APPLETON  &  CO.,  Publishers,  1,  3,  &  5  Bond  Street,  New  York. 


HISTORY  OF 
EUROPEAN   MORALS, 

FROM  AUGUSTUS  TO  CHARLEMAGNE. 

BY 

WILLIAM   E.  H.  LECKY,  M.  A. 


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"  It  has  been  subjected  to  such  critical  attack,  and  sustained  by  such  able 
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restricted  but  important  province,  and  will  long  be  quoted  for  its  thoroughness 
in  opening  a  study  which,  though  touched  by  other  writers,  never  before  had 
such  exhaustive  consideration.  Those  who  have  not  read  it  will  find  their  study 
of  it  richly  rewarded." — Albany  Evening  Times. 

"In  his  methods,  Mr.  Lecky  is  a  model  of  clearness  and  force.  Holding 
firmly  the  doctrine  of  evolution  in  morals,  he  finds  the  origin  of  typical  vices 
and  virtues  in  the  ideal  standards  of  the  people,  tracing  the  specific  virtues  and 
vices  of  each  epoch  considered  to  the  special  characteristics  of  a  preceding 
epoch,  which  have  been  handed  down  as  ideals.  That  his  conclusions  do  not 
command  universal  acceptance  is  undoubtedly  true,  but  they  do  command  re- 
spect wherever  honest  thought  and  faithful  labor,  in  search  after  truth,  are 
appreciated." — Detroit  Free  Press. 

"  There  is  a  vast  fund  of  information  in  the  work,  which  the  student  of  the 
broad  theme  that  it  treats  will  find  of  great  interest,  and  one  to  which  he  may 
refer,  as  occasion  requires,  with  a  certainty  of  finding  something  to  the  point. 
The  volumes  are  arranged  with  foot-notes,  giving  authorities,  references,  and 
quotations." — Evening  Wisconsin. 

"  The  controversial  part  of  the  first  chapter  having  given  rise  to  a  good  deal 
of  discussion,  and  to  some  little  acrimony  of  feeling,  perhaps,  the  author  has 
softened  it  by  the  omission  of  a  few  lines,  and  strengthened  his  position  by  the 
insertion  of  some  brief  passages,  explaining  the  meaning,  or  enforcing  it." — 
New  York  Evening  Post. 

u  The  excellence  of  this  work  is  already  attested,  and  it  has  long  ago  been 
considered  a  standard.  The  controversial  portion  of  the  work  is  clear  in  its 
statements,  and  so  masterly  in  its  handling  of  the  salient  points  that  none  but 
an  exceedingly  obtuse  person  could  fail  to  catch  the  full  force  of  the  argument 
presented.  The  author's  object  is  to  trace  the  changes  that  have  taken  place  in 
moral  standard  and  moral  type  through  the  different  ages,  and  he  concerns  him- 
self mostly  with  the  period  between  Augustus  and  Charlemagne."— Indianapolis 
Journal. 


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THE  LEADERS  OF 
PUBLIC  OPINION  IN  IRELAND: 

SWIFT,  FLOOD,  GRATTAN,  O'CONNELL, 

BY 

WILLIAM   E.  H.  LECKY,  M.  A. 


1  vol.,  12mo.      -      - -      -      Cloth,  $1.75. 

"A  writer  of  Lecky's  mind,  with  his  rich  imagination,  his  fine  ability  to  appre- 
ciate imagination  in  others,  and  his  disposition  to  be  himself  an  orator  upon  the 
written  page,  could  hardly  have  found  a  period  in  British  history  more  harmo- 
nious with  his  literary  style  than  that  which  witnessed  the  rise,  the  ripening, 
and  the  fall  of  the  four  men  whose  impress  upon  the  development  of  the  national 
spirit  of  Ireland  was  not  limited  by  the  local  questions  whose  discussion  con- 
stituted their  fame.  Especially  has  O'Connell  found  in  Mr.  Lecky  a  fond  biog- 
rapher, and  a  most  conscientious  and  impartial  judge.  The  volume  is  elegant 
and  brilliant  in  style,  and  treats  with  equal  ability  and  warmth  the  three  other 
men  whose  names  appear  with  that  of  O'Connell." — New  York  Evening  Post. 

"  Mr.  Lecky,  while  feeling  strongly,  writes  with  judicial  calmness ;  a  foreigner 
could  not  be  more  impartial.  His  paper  upon  Swift  is  charming  merely  as  a 
literary  study,  but  it  is  even  more  valuable  for  the  light  it  throws  upon  the 
genuine  patriotism  of  the  unhappy  dean.  Mr.  Lecky,  indeed,  has  all  the  quali- 
ties of  a  biographer,  and  his  sketches  of  Grattan  and  Flood  are  quite  striking 
in  their  keen  analogies.  It  is  for  O'Connell,  however,  that  he  has  reserved  his 
best  work,  and  we  especially  commend  this  portion  of  the  book." — New  York 
Christian  Union. 

"To  those  who  know  anything  of  Mr.  Lecky  as  a  writer,  it  is  not  necessary 
to  say  that  this  volume  is  full  of  careful  research,  presented  in  correct,  clear, 
and  often  beautiful  language.  The  same  finished,  graceful  style  which  distin- 
guishes the  historian  of  *  Rationalism '  and  of  *  European  Morals '  gives  its  charm 
to  this  slighter  work.  Mr.  Lecky  discusses  Irish  opinion  with  all  the  enthusiasm 
of  a  Nationalist,  not  in  the  vulgar  sense  of  that  term,  but  as  one  animated  by  a 
deep  and  passionate  love  of  country.  At  the  same  time,  his  work  is  altogether 
free  from  prejudices  of  sect  or  party.  His  study  of  the  past  and  present  of 
Irish  public  life  is  both  interesting  and  valuable." — London  Standard. 

"These  sketches  are  very  well  done  indeed.  They  are  bright,  vigorous, 
sympathetic,  and  laudatory,  but  always  with  discernment.  The  faults  of  his 
leaders  are  neither  concealed  nor  defended." — London  Observer. 

"  A  very  instructive  little  book,  furnished  with  an  important  preface,  which 
would  be  useful  as  a  separate  pamphlet,  but  which  is  far  more  useful  as  show- 
ing the  necessity  of  examining  present  difficulties  by  the  light  of  such  historical 
researches  as  appear  in  Mr.  Lecky's  eloquent  and  impartial  volume." — London 
Examiner. 


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ERRORS  IN  THE  USE  OF  ENGLISH. 

By  the  late  WILLIAM  B.  HODGSON,  LL.  D.,  Professor  of  Political  Economy  in  the 
University  of  Edinburgh.  American  revised  edition.  12mo,  cloth,  $1.50. 

"This  posthumous  work  of  Dr.  Hodgson  deserves  a  hearty  welcome,  for  it  is  sure  to  do  good  service 
for  the  object  it  has  in  view  —  improved  accuracy  in  the  use  of  the  English  language.  .  .  .  Perhaps  it» 
chief  use  will  be  in  very  distinctly  proving  with  what  wonderful  carelessness  or  incompetency  the  Eng- 
lish language  is  generally  written.  For  the  examples  of  error  here  brought  together  are  not  picked  from 
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many  of  our  best-known  authors  and  publications."—  The  Academy. 

THE  ORTHOEPIST: 

A  Pronouncing  Manual,  containing  about  Three  Thousand  Five  Hundred  Words, 
including  a  Considerable  Number  of  the  Names  of  Foreign  Authors,  Artists, 
etc.,  that  are  often  mispronounced.  By  ALFRED  AYRES.  18mo,  cloth,  extra, 
$1.00. 

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master  that  of  our  tongue.  The  mere  labor  of  examining  a  heavy  dictionary  prevents  many  from  being 
accurate.  This  little  book  ought  to  be  on  every  library-table.  It  undoubtedly  gives  the  pronunciations 
accepted  by  the  best  speakers."—^.  T.  Christian  Advocate. 

THE  VERBALIST  : 

A  Manual  devoted  to  Brief  Discussions  of  the  Right  and  the  Wrong  Use  of  Words, 
and  to  some  other  Matters  of  Interest  to  those  who  would  Speak  and  Write  with 
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"  A  great  deal  that  is  worth  knowing,  and  of  which  not  even  all  educated  people  are  aware,  is  to  be  learned 
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and  which  has  had  an  exceptionally  large  sale,  on  account  of  its  usefulness  and  of  the  good  judgment  dis- 
played in  its  decisions  of  knotty  points  in  pronunciation.  His  later  volume  may  be  looked  upon  as  sup- 
plementary to  that,  since  it  endeavors  to  point  out  the  correct  use  of  words  and  phrase  s,  in  speaking  and 
writing,  and  throws  out  innumerable  suggestions  that  may  prove  valuable  even  to  those  who  are  the  best 
informed  and  most  correct  in  their  habits  of  speech."  —  Utica  Morning  Herald. 


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THE  RHYMESTER; 

Or,  THE  RULES  OF  RHYME.  A  Guide  to  English  Versification.  With  a  Dictionary 
of  Rhymes,  an  Examination  of  Classical  Measures,  and  Comments  upon  Burlesque, 
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by  Arthur  Penn.  Uniform  with  "  The  Verbalist."  18mo,  cloth,  gilt  or  red 
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w  i"Te?  ?La  dozfn  Jeare  ago'  the  late  Tom  Hood<  al80  a  P°et'  and  the  son  of  a  P°e^  Pushed  'The 
Kules  of  Khyme'  of  which  we  have  a  substantial  reprint  in  'The  Rhymester'  with  additions  and  side- 
lights from  its  American  editor,  Arthur  Penn.  The  example  of  Hood's  great  father  in  his  matchless 
melodies,  his  own  skill  as  a  cunning  versifier,  and  the  accomplished  editing  of  Mr  Penn  have  made  this 
—  The  tCWT6fUl  gUide  t0  English  versification»  th«  m°st  useful  one,  indeed,  that  we  are  acquainted  with." 


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•a* 


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