Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 49 of 60)

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 49 of 60)

6. Uncompounded; pure; unmixed. Simple ideas are opposed to complex, and single to compound. I. Watts.

7. Not deceitful or artful; honest; sincere. I speak it with a single heart. Shak.

8. Simple; not wise; weak; silly. [Obs.] He utters such single matter in so infantly a voice. Beau & Fl. Single ale, beer, or drink, small ale, etc., as contrasted with double ale, etc., which is stronger. [Obs.] Nares. -- Single bill (Law), a written engagement, generally under seal, for the payment of money, without a penalty. Burril. -- Single court (Lawn Tennis), a court laid out for only two players. -- Single-cut file. See the Note under 4th File. -- Single entry. See under Bookkeeping. -- Single file. See under 1st File. -- Single flower (Bot.), a flower with but one set of petals, as a wild rose. -- Single knot. See Illust. under Knot. -- Single whip (Naut.), a single rope running through a fixed block.

SINGLE Sin"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Singled; p. pr. & vb. n. Singling.]

1. To select, as an individual person or thing, from among a number; to choose out from others; to separate. Dogs who hereby can single out their master in the dark. Bacon. His blood! she faintly screamed her mind Still singling one from all mankind. More.

2. To sequester; to withdraw; to retire. [Obs.] An agent singling itself from consorts. Hooker.

3. To take alone, or one by one. Men . . . commendable when they are singled. Hooker.

SINGLE Sin"gle, v. i.

Defn: To take the irrregular gait called single-foot;- said of a horse. See Single-foot. Many very fleet horses, when overdriven, adopt a disagreeable gait, which seems to be a cross between a pace and a trot, in which the two legs of one side are raised almost but not quite, simultaneously. Such horses are said to single, or to be single-footed. W. S. Clark.

SINGLE Sin"gle, n.

1. A unit; one; as, to score a single.

2. pl.

Defn: The reeled filaments of silk, twisted without doubling to give them firmness.

3. A handful of gleaned grain. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

4. (Law Tennis)

Defn: A game with but one player on each side; -- usually in the plural.

5. (Baseball)

Defn: A hit by a batter which enables him to reach first base only.

SINGLE-ACTING Sin"gle-act`ing, a.

Defn: Having simplicity of action; especially (Mach.), acting or exerting force during strokes in one direction only; -- said of a reciprocating engine, pump, etc.

SINGLE-BREASTED Sin"gle-breast`ed, a.

Defn: Lapping over the breast only far enough to permit of buttoning, and having buttons on one edge only; as, a single-breasted coast.

SINGLE-FOOT Sin"gle-foot`, n.

Defn: An irregular gait of a horse; -- called also single-footed pace. See Single, v. i. Single-foot is an irregular pace, rather rare, distinguished by the posterior extremities moving in the order of a fast walk, and the anterior extremities in that of a slow trot. Stillman (The Horse in Motion.)

SINGLE-HANDED Sin"gle-hand"ed, a.

Defn: Having but one hand, or one workman; also, alone; unassisted.

SINGLE-HEARTED Sin"gle-heart"ed, a.

Defn: Having an honest heart; free from duplicity. -- Sin"gle-heart"ed*ly, adv.

SINGLE-MINDED Sin"gle-mind"ed, a.

Defn: Having a single purpose; hence, artless; guileless; single- hearted.

SINGLENESS Sin"gle*ness, n.

1. The quality or state of being single, or separate from all others; the opposite of doubleness, complication, or multiplicity.

2. Freedom from duplicity, or secondary and selfish ends; purity of mind or purpose; simplicity; sincerity; as, singleness of purpose; singleness of heart.

SINGLES Sin"gles, n. pl.

Defn: See Single, n., 2.

SINGLESTICK Sin"gle*stick`, n. (a) In England and Scotland, a cudgel used in fencing or fighting; a backsword. (b) The game played with singlesticks, in which he who first brings blood from his adversary's head is pronounced victor; backsword; cudgeling.

SINGLE-SURFACED Sin"gle-sur"faced, a.

Defn: Having one surface; -- said specif. of aëroplanes or aërocurves that are covered with fabric, etc., on only one side.

SINGLET Sin"glet, n.

Defn: An unlined or undyed waistcoat; a single garment; -- opposed to doublet. [Prov. Eng.]

SINGLE TAX Sin"gle tax`. (Pol. Econ.)

Defn: A tax levied upon land alone, irrespective of improvements, -- advocated by certain economists as the sole source of public revenue.

Whatever may be thought of Henry George's single-tax theory as a whole, there can be little question that a relatively higher assessment of ground rent, with corresponding relief for those who have made improvements, is a much-needed reform. A. T. Hadley.

SINGLETON Sin"gle*ton, n.

Defn: In certain games at cards, as whist, a single card of any suit held at the deal by a player; as, to lead a singleton.

SINGLETREE Sin"gle*tree`, n. Etym: [Cf. Swingletree.]

Defn: The pivoted or swinging bar to which the traces of a harnessed horse are fixed; a whiffletree.

Note: When two horses draw abreast, a singletree is fixed at each end of another crosspiece, called the doubletree.

SINGLY Sin"gly, adv.

1. Individually; particularly; severally; as, to make men singly and personally good.

2. Only; by one's self; alone. Look thee, 't is so! Thou singly honest man. Shak.

3. Without partners, companions, or associates; single-handed; as, to attack another singly. At omber singly to decide their doom. Pope.

4. Honestly; sincerely; simply. [R.] Johnson.

5. Singularly; peculiarly. [Obs.] Milton.

SING-SING Sing"-sing`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The kob.

SINGSONG Sing"song`, n.

1. Bad singing or poetry.

2. A drawling or monotonous tone, as of a badly executed song.

SINGSONG Sing"song`, a.

Defn: Drawling; monotonous.

SINGSONG Sing"song`, v. i.

Defn: To write poor poetry. [R.] Tennyson.

SINGSPIEL Sing"spiel`, n. [G.; singen to sing + spiel to play.] (Music)

Defn: A dramatic work, partly in dialogue and partly in song, of a kind popular in Germany in the latter part of the 18th century. It was often comic, had modern characters, and patterned its music on folk song with strictly subordinated accompaniment.

SINGSTER Sing"ster, n.

Defn: A songstress. [Obs.] Wyclif.

SINGULAR Sin"gu*lar, a. Etym: [OE. singuler, F. singulier, fr. L. singularius, singularis, fr. singulus single. See Single, a.]

1. Separate or apart from others; single; distinct. [Obs.] Bacon. And God forbid that all a company Should rue a singular man's folly. Chaucer.

2. Engaged in by only one on a side; single. [Obs.] To try the matter thus together in a singular combat. Holinshed.

3. (Logic)

Defn: Existing by itself; single; individual. The idea which represents one . . . determinate thing, is called a singular idea, whether simple, complex, or compound. I. Watts.

4. (Law)

Defn: Each; individual; as, to convey several parcels of land, all and singular.

5. (Gram.)

Defn: Denoting one person or thing; as, the singular number; -- opposed to dual and Ant: plural.

6. Standing by itself; out of the ordinary course; unusual; uncommon; strange; as, a singular phenomenon. So singular a sadness Must have a cause as strange as the effect. Denham.

7. Distinguished as existing in a very high degree; rarely equaled; eminent; extraordinary; exceptional; as, a man of singular gravity or attainments.

8. Departing from general usage or expectations; odd; whimsical; -- often implying disapproval or consure. His zeal None seconded, as out of season judged, Or singular and rash. Milton. To be singular in anything that is wise and worthy, is not a disparagement, but a praise. Tillotson.

9. Being alone; belonging to, or being, that of which there is but one; unique. These busts of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind. Addison. Singular point in a curve (Math.), a point at which the curve possesses some peculiar properties not possessed by other points of the curve, as a cusp point, or a multiple point. -- Singular proposition (Logic), a proposition having as its subject a singular term, or a common term limited to an individual by means of a singular sign. Whately. -- Singular succession (Civil Law), division among individual successors, as distinguished from universal succession, by which an estate descended in intestacy to the heirs in mass. -- Singular term (Logic), a term which represents or stands for a single individual.

Syn. -- Unexampled; unprecedented; eminent; extraordinary; remarkable; uncommon; rare; unusual; peculiar; strange; odd; eccentric; fantastic.

SINGULAR Sin"gu*lar, n.

1. An individual instance; a particular. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

2. (Gram)

Defn: The singular number, or the number denoting one person or thing; a word in the singular number.

SINGULARIST Sin"gu*lar*ist, n.

Defn: One who affects singularity. [Obs.] A clownish singularist, or nonconformist to ordinary usage. Borrow.

SINGULARITY Sin`gu*lar"i*ty, n.; pl. Singularities. Etym: [L. singularitas: cf. F. singularité.]

1. The quality or state of being singular; some character or quality of a thing by which it is distinguished from all, or from most, others; peculiarity. Pliny addeth this singularity to that soil, that the second year the very falling down of the seeds yieldeth corn. Sir. W. Raleigh. I took notice of this little figure for the singularity of the instrument. Addison.

2. Anything singular, rare, or curious. Your gallery Have we passed through, not without much content In many singularities. Shak.

3. Possession of a particular or exclusive privilege, prerogative, or distinction. No bishop of Rome ever took upon him this name of singularity [universal bishop]. Hooker. Catholicism . . . must be understood in opposition to the legal singularity of the Jewish nation. Bp. Pearson.

4. Celibacy. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

SINGULARIZE Sin"gu*lar*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make singular or single; to distinguish. [R.]

SINGULARLY Sin"gu*lar*ly, adv.

1. In a singular manner; in a manner, or to a degree, not common to others; extraordinarily; as, to be singularly exact in one's statements; singularly considerate of others. "Singularly handsome." Milman.

2. Strangely; oddly; as, to behave singularly.

3. So as to express one, or the singular number.

SINGULT Sin"gult, n.Etym: [L. singultus.]

Defn: A sigh or sobbing; also, a hiccough. [Obs.] Spenser. W. Browne.

SINGULTOUS Sin*gul"tous, a. (Med.)

Defn: Relating to, or affected with, hiccough. Dunglison.

SINGULTUS Sin*gul"tus, n. Etym: [L.] (Med.)

Defn: Hiccough.

SINIC Sin"ic, a. [See Sinologue.] (Ethnol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Chinese and allied races; Chinese.

SINICAL Sin"i*cal, a. Etym: [From Sine.] (Trig.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a sine; employing, or founded upon, sines; as, a sinical quadrant.

SINICISM Sin"i*cism, n. (Ethnol.)

Defn: Anything peculiar to the Chinese; esp., a Chinese peculiarity in manners or customs.

SINIGRIN Sin"i*grin, n. Etym: [From NL. Sinapis nigra.] (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside found in the seeds of black mustard (Brassica nigra, formerly Sinapis nigra) It resembles sinalbin, and consists of a potassium salt of myronic acid.

SINISTER Sin"is*ter, a. Etym: [Accented on the middle syllable by the older poets, as Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden.] Etym: [L. sinister: cf. F. sinistre.]

1. On the left hand, or the side of the left hand; left; -- opposed to dexter, or right. "Here on his sinister cheek." Shak. My mother's blood Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister Bounds in my father's Shak.

Note: In heraldy the sinister side of an escutcheon is the side which would be on the left of the bearer of the shield, and opposite the right hand of the beholder.

2. Unlucky; inauspicious; disastrous; injurious; evil; -- the left being usually regarded as the unlucky side; as, sinister influences. All the several ills that visit earth, Brought forth by night, with a sinister birth. B. Jonson.

3. Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest; corrupt; as, sinister aims. Nimble and sinister tricks and shifts. Bacon. He scorns to undermine another's interest by any sinister or inferior arts. South. He read in their looks . . . sinister intentions directed particularly toward himself. Sir W. Scott.

4. Indicative of lurking evil or harm; boding covert danger; as, a sinister countenance. Bar sinister. (Her.) See under Bar, n. -- Sinister aspect (Astrol.), an appearance of two planets happening according to the succession of the signs, as Saturn in Aries, and Mars in the same degree of Gemini. -- Sinister base, Sinister chief. See under Escutcheon.

SINISTER-HANDED Sin"is*ter-hand"ed, a.

Defn: Left-handed; hence, unlucky. [Obs.] Lovelace.

SINISTERLY Sin"is*ter*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sinister manner. Wood.

SINISTRAD Sin"is*trad, adv. Etym: [L. sinistra the left hand + ad tp.] (Anat. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Toward the left side; sinistrally.

SINISTRAL Sin"is*tral, a.

1. Of or pertaining to the left, inclining to the left; sinistrous; - - opposed to dextral.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the whorls of the spire revolving or rising to the left; reversed; -- said of certain spiral shells.

SINISTRALITY Sin`is*tral"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sinistral.

SINISTRALLY Sin"is*tral*ly, adv.

Defn: Toward the left; in a sinistral manner. J. Le Conte.

SINISTRIN Sin"is*trin, n. Etym: [L. sinister left.] (Chem.)

Defn: A mucilaginous carbohydrate, resembling achroödextrin, extracted from squill as a colorless amorphous substance; -- so called because it is levorotatory.

SINISTRORSAL Sin`is*tror"sal, a. Etym: [L.sinistrorsus, sinistroversus, turned toward the left side; sinister left + vertere, vortere, versum, vorsum, to turn.]

Defn: Rising spirally from right to left (of the spectator); sinistrorse.

SINISTRORSE Sin"is*trorse`, a. Etym: [See Sinistrolsal.]

Defn: Turning to the left (of the spectator) in the ascending line; - - the opposite of dextrorse. See Dextrorse.

SINISTROUS Sin"is*trous, a. Etym: [See Sinister.]

1. Being on the left side; inclined to the left; sinistral. "Sinistrous gravity." Sir T. Browne.

2. Wrong; absurd; perverse. A knave or fool can do no harm, even by the most sinistrous and absurd choice. Bentley.

SINISTROUSLY Sin"is*trous*ly, adv.

1. In a sinistrous manner; perversely; wrongly; unluckily.

2. With a tendency to use the left hand. Many, in their infancy, are sinistrously disposed, and divers continue all their life left-handed. Sir T. Browne.

SINK Sink, v. i. [imp. Sunk, or (Sank (); p. p. Sunk (obs. Sunken, -- now used as adj.); p. pr. & vb. n. Sinking.] Etym: [OE. sinken, AS. sincan; akin to D. zinken, OS. sincan, G. sinken, Icel. sökkva, Dan. synke, Sw. sjunka, Goth. siggan, and probably to E. silt. Cf. Silt.]

1. To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink; the sun sinks in the west. I sink in deep mire. Ps. lxix. 2.

2. To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the surface; to penetrate. The stone sunk into his forehead. 1 San. xvii. 49.

3. Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to enter completely. Let these sayings sink down into your ears. Luke ix. 44.

4. To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fall slowly, as so the ground, from weakness or from an overburden; to fail in strength; to decline; to decay; to decrease. I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak. He sunk down in his chariot. 2 Kings ix. 24. Let not the fire sink or slacken. Mortimer.

5. To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height. The Alps and Pyreneans sink before him. Addison.

Syn. -- To fall; subside; drop; droop; lower; decline; decay; decrease; lessen.

SINK Sink, v. t.

1. To cause to sink; to put under water; to immerse or submerge in a fluid; as, to sink a ship. [The Athenians] fell upon the wings and sank a single ship. Jowett (Thucyd.).

2. Figuratively: To cause to decline; to depress; to degrade; hence, to ruin irretrievably; to destroy, as by drowping; as, to sink one's reputation. I raise of sink, imprison or set free. Prior. If I have a conscience, let it sink me. Shak. Thy cruel and unnatural lust of power Has sunk thy father more than all his years. Rowe.

3. To make (a depression) by digging, delving, or cutting, etc.; as, to sink a pit or a well; to sink a die.

4. To bring low; to reduce in quantity; to waste. You sunk the river repeated draughts. Addison.

5. To conseal and appropriate. [Slang] If sent with ready money to buy anything, and you happen to be out of pocket, sink the money, and take up the goods on account. Swift.

6. To keep out of sight; to suppress; to ignore. A courtly willingness to sink obnoxious truths. Robertson.

7. To reduce or extinguish by payment; as, to sink the national debt.

SINK Sink, n.

1. A drain to carry off filthy water; a jakes.

2. A shallow box or vessel of wood, stone, iron, or other material, connected with a drain, and used for receiving filthy water, etc., as in a kitchen.

3. A hole or low place in land or rock, where waters sink and are lost; -- called also sink hole. [U. S.] Sink hole. (a) The opening to a sink drain. (b) A cesspool. (c) Same as Sink, n., 3.

SINKER Sink"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, sinks. Specifically: (a) A weight on something, as on a fish line, to sink it. (b) In knitting machines, one of the thin plates, blades, or other devices, that depress the loops upon or between the needles. Dividing sinker, in knitting machines, a sinker between two jack sinkers and acting alternately with them. -- Jack sinker. See under Jack, n. -- Sinker bar. (a) In knitting machines, a bar to which one set of the sinkers is attached. (b) In deep well boring, a heavy bar forming a connection between the lifting rope and the boring tools, above the jars.

SINKING Sink"ing, a & n.

Defn: from Sink. Sinking fund. See under Fund. -- Sinking head (Founding), a riser from which the mold is fed as the casting shrinks. See Riser, n., 4. -- Sinking pump, a pump which can be lowered in a well or a mine shaft as the level of the water sinks.

SINLESS Sin"less, a.

Defn: Free from sin. Piers Plowman. -- Sin"less*ly, adv. -- Sin"less*ness, n.

SINNER Sin"ner, n.

Defn: One who has sinned; especially, one who has sinned without repenting; hence, a persistent and incorrigible transgressor; one condemned by the law of God.

SINNER Sin"ner, v. i.

Defn: To act as a sinner. [Humorous] Whether the charmer sinner it or saint it. Pope.

SINNERESS Sin"ner*ess, n.

Defn: A woman who sins. [Obs.]

SINNET Sin"net, n.

Defn: See Sennit .

SINOLOGICAL Sin`o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Sinilogue.]

Defn: Relating to the Chinese language or literature.

SINOLOGIST Si*nol"o*gist, n.

Defn: A sinilogue.

SINOLOGUE Sin"o*logue, n. Etym: [From L. Sinae, an Oriental people mentioned by Ptolemy, or Ar. Sin China or the Chinese + Gr. theologue: cf. F. sinologue.]

Defn: A student of Chinese; one versed in the Chinese language, literature, and history.

SINOLOGY Si*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. sinologie.]

Defn: That branch of systemized knowledge which treats of the Chinese, their language, literature, etc.

SINOPER Sin"o*per, n. (Min.)

Defn: Sinople.

SINOPIA; SINOPIS Si*no"pi*a, Si*no"pis, n.

Defn: A red pigment made from sinopite.

SINOPITE Sin"o*pite, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. sinopis (sc. terra), a red earth or ocher found in Sinope, a town in Paphlagoma, on the Black Sea, Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A brickred ferruginous clay used by the ancients for red paint.

SINOPLE Sin"o*ple, n. (Min.)

Defn: Ferruginous quartz, of a blood-red or brownish red color, sometimes with a tinge of yellow.

SINOPLE Sin"o*ple, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. sinopis. See Sinople a mineral.] (Her.)

Defn: The tincture vert; green.

SINQUE Sinque, n.

Defn: See Cinque. [Obs.] Beau & Fl.

SINSRING Sins"ring, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Banxring.

SINTER Sin"ter, n. Etym: [G. Cf. Cinder.] (Min.)

Defn: Dross, as of iron; the scale which files from iron when hammered; -- applied as a name to various minerals. Calcareous sinter, a loose banded variety of calcite formed by deposition from lime-bearing waters; calcareous tufa; travertine. -- Ceraunian sinter, fulgurite. -- Siliceous sinter, a light cellular or fibrous opal; especially, geyserite (see Geyserite). It has often a pearly luster, and is then called pearl sinter.

SINTO; SINTU; SINTOISM; SINTOIST Sin"to, or Sin"tu, Sin"to*ism, Sin"to*ist.

Defn: See Shinto, etc.

SINTOC Sin"toc, n.

Defn: A kind of spice used in the East Indies, consisting of the bark of a species of Cinnamomum. [Written also sindoc.]

SINUATE Sin"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. sinuatus, p. p. of sinuare to wind, bend, fr. sinus a bend.]

Defn: Having the margin alternately curved inward and outward; having rounded lobes separated by rounded sinuses; sinuous; wavy.

SINUATE Sin"u*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sinuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Sinuating.]

Defn: To bend or curve in and out; to wind; to turn; to be sinusous. Woodward.

SINUATED Sin"u*a`ted, a.

Defn: Same as Sinuate.

SINUATION Sin`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. sinuatio.]

Defn: A winding or bending in and out.

SINUOSE Sin"u*ose`, a.

Defn: Sinuous. Loudon.

SINUOSITY Sin`u*os"i*ty, n.; pl. Sinuosities. Etym: [Cf. F. sinuosité.]

1. Quality or state of being sinuous.

2. A bend, or a series of bends and turns; a winding, or a series of windings; a wave line; a curve. A line of coast certainly amounting, with its sinuosities, to more than 700 miles. Sydney Smith.

SINUOUS Sin"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. sinuosus, fr. sinus a bent surface, a curve: cf. F. sinueux. See Sinus.]

Defn: Bending in and out; of a serpentine or undulating form; winding; crooked. -- Sin"u*ous*ly, adv. Streaking the ground with sinuous trace. Milton. Gardens bright with sinuous rills. Coleridge.

SINUPALLIATE Si`nu*pal"li*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a pallial sinus. See under Sinus.

SINUS Si"nus, n.; pl. L. Sinus, E. Sinuses. Etym: [L., a bent surface, a curve, the folds or bosom of a garment, etc., a bay. Cf. Sine, n.]

1. An opening; a hollow; a bending.

2. A bay of the sea; a recess in the shore.

3. (Anat. & Zoöl.)

Defn: A cavity; a depression. Specifically: (a) A cavity in a bone or other part, either closed or with a narrow opening. (b) A dilated vessel or canal.

4. (Med.)

Defn: A narrow, elongated cavity, in which pus is collected; an elongated abscess with only a small orifice.

5. (Bot.)

Defn: A depression between adjoining lobes.

Note: A sinus may be rounded, as in the leaf of the white oak, or acute, as in that of the red maple. Pallial sinus. (Zoöl.) See under Pallial. -- Sinus venosus. Etym: [L., venous dilatation.] (Anat.) (a) The main part of the cavity of the right auricle of the heart in the higher vertebrates. (b) In the lower vertebrates, a distinct chamber of the heart formed by the union of the large systematic veins and opening into the auricle.

SINUSOID Si"nus*oid, n. Etym: [Sinus + -oid.] (Geom.)

Defn: The curve whose ordinates are proportional to the sines of the abscissas, the equation of the curve being y = a sin x. It is also called the curve of sines.

SINUSOIDAL Si`nus*oid"al, a. (Geom.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a sinusoid; like a sinusoid.

SIOGOON Sio"goon, n.

Defn: See Shogun.

SIOGOONATE Sio*goon"ate, n.

Defn: See Shogunate.

SIOUX Sioux, n. sing. & pl. (Ethnol.)

Defn: See Dakotas.

SIOUX STATE Sioux State.

Defn: North Dakota; -- a nickname.

SIP Sip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Sipping.] Etym: [OE. sippen; akin to OD. sippen, and AS. s to sip, suck up, drink. See Sup, v. t.]

1. To drink or imbibe in small quantities; especially, to take in with the lips in small quantities, as a liquid; as, to sip tea. "Every herb that sips the dew." Milton.

2. To draw into the mouth; to suck up; as, a bee sips nectar from the flowers.

3. To taste the liquor of; to drink out of. [Poetic] They skim the floods, and sip the purple flowers. Dryden.

SIP Sip, v. i.

Defn: To drink a small quantity; to take a fluid with the lips; to take a sip or sips of something. [She] raised it to her mouth with sober grace; Then, sipping, offered to the next in place. Dryden.

SIP Sip, n.

1. The act of sipping; the taking of a liquid with the lips.

2. A small draught taken with the lips; a slight taste. One sip of this Will bathe the drooping spirits in delight Beyond the bliss of dreams. Milton. A sip is all that the public ever care to take from reservoirs of abstract philosophy. De Quincey.

SIPAGE Sip"age, n.

Defn: See Seepage. [Scot. & U.S.]

SIPE Sipe, v. i.

Defn: See Seep. [Scot. & U.S.]

SIPHILIS Siph"i*lis, n. (Med.)

Defn: Syphilis.

SIPHOID Si"phoid, n. Etym: [L. sipho a siphon + -oid: cf. F. vase siphoïde.]

Defn: A siphon bottle. See under Siphon, n.

SIPHON Si"phon, n. Etym: [F. siphon, L. sipho, -onis, fr. Gr.

1. A device, consisting of a pipe or tube bent so as to form two branches or legs of unequal length, by which a liquid can be transferred to a lower level, as from one vessel to another, over an intermediate elevation, by the action of the pressure of the atmosphere in forcing the liquid up the shorter branch of the pipe immersed in it, while the continued excess of weight of the liquid in the longer branch (when once filled) causes a continuous flow. The flow takes place only when the discharging extremity of the pipe ia lower than the higher liquid surface, and when no part of the pipe is higher above the surface than the same liquid will rise by atmospheric pressure; that is, about 33 feet for water, and 30 inches for mercury, near the sea level.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the tubes or folds of the mantle border of a bivalve or gastropod mollusk by which water is conducted into the gill cavity. See Illust. under Mya, and Lamellibranchiata. (b) The anterior prolongation of the margin of any gastropod shell for the protection of the soft siphon. (c) The tubular organ through which water is ejected from the gill cavity of a cephaloid. It serves as a locomotive organ, by guiding and confining the jet of water. Called also siphuncle. See Illust. under Loligo, and Dibranchiata. (d) The siphuncle of a cephalopod shell. (e) The sucking proboscis of certain parasitic insects and crustaceans. (f) A sproutlike prolongation in front of the mouth of many gephyreans. (g) A tubular organ connected both with the esophagus and the intestine of certain sea urchins and annelids.

3. A siphon bottle. Inverted siphon, a tube bent like a siphon, but having the branches turned upward; specifically (Hydraulic Engineering), a pipe for conducting water beneath a depressed place, as from one hill to another across an intervening valley, following the depression of the ground. -- Siphon barometer. See under Barometer. -- Siphon bottle, a bottle for holding aërated water, which is driven out through a bent tube in the neck by the gas within the bottle when a valve in the tube is opened; -- called also gazogene, and siphoid. -- Siphon condenser, a condenser for a steam engine, in which the vacuum is maintained by the downward flow of water through a vertical pipe of great height. -- Siphon cup, a cup with a siphon attached for carrying off any liquid in it; specifically (Mach.), an oil cup in which oil is carried over the edge of a tube in a cotton wick, and so reaches the surface to be lubricated. -- Siphon gauge. See under Gauge. -- Siphon pump, a jet pump. See under Jet, n.

SIPHON Si"phon, v. t. (Chem.)

Defn: To convey, or draw off, by means of a siphon, as a liquid from one vessel to another at a lower level.

SIPHONAGE Si"phon*age, n.

Defn: The action of a siphon.

SIPHONAL Si"phon*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a siphon; resembling a siphon. Siphonal stomach (Zoöl.), a stomach which is tubular and bent back upon itself, like a siphon, as in the salmon.

SIPHONARID Si`pho*na"rid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of limpet-shaped pulmonate gastropods of the genus Siphonaria. They cling to rocks between high and low water marks and have both lunglike organs and gills. -- Si`pho*na"rid, a.

SIPHONATA Si`pho*na"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tribe of bivalve mollusks in which the posterior mantle border is prolonged into two tubes or siphons. Called also Siphoniata. See Siphon, 2 (a), and Quahaug.

SIPHONATE Si"phon*ate, a.

1. Having a siphon or siphons.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Siphonata.

SIPHONET Si"phon*et, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the two dorsal tubular organs on the hinder part of the abdomen of aphids. They give exit to the honeydew. See Illust. under Aphis.

SIPHONIA Si*pho"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: A former name for a euphorbiaceous genus (Hevea) of South American trees, the principal source of caoutchouc.

SIPHONIATA Si*pho`ni*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Siphonata.

SIPHONIC Si*phon"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a siphon.

SIPHONIFER Si*phon"i*fer, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. sipho, -onis, siphon + ferre to bear.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any cephalopod having a siphonate shell.

SIPHONIFEROUS Si"phon*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Siphon + -ferous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Siphon-bearing, as the shell of the nautilus and other cephalopods.

SIPHONIUM Si*pho"ni*um, n.; pl. Siphonia. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Siphon.] (Anat.)

Defn: A bony tube which, in some birds, connects the tympanium with the air chambers of the articular piece of the mandible.

SIPHONOBRANCHIATA Si`pho*no*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Siphon, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tribe of gastropods having the mantle border, on one or both sides, prolonged in the form of a spout through which water enters the gill cavity. The shell itself is not always siphonostomatous in this group.

SIPHONOBRANCHIATE Si`pho*no*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a siphon, or siphons, to convey water to the gills; belonging or pertaining to the Siphonobranchiata. -- n.

Defn: One of the Siphonobranchiata.

SIPHONOGLYPHE Si`pho*nog"ly*phe, n. Etym: [Siphon + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gonidium.

SIPHONOPHORA Si`pho*noph"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of pelagic Hydrozoa including species which form complex free-swimming communities composed of numerous zooids of various kinds, some of which act as floats or as swimming organs, others as feeding or nutritive zooids, and others as reproductive zooids. See Illust. under Physallia, and Porpita.

SIPHONOPHORAN Si`pho*noph"o*ran, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Siphonophora. -- n.

Defn: One of the Siphonophora.

SIPHONOPHORE Si*phon"o*phore, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Siphonophora.

SIPHONOPODA Si`pho*nop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Siphon, and -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Scaphopoda including those in which the foot terminates in a circular disk.

SIPHONOSTOMATA Si`pho*no*stom"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Siphon, and Stoma.] (Zoöl.) (a) A tribe of parasitic copepod Crustacea including a large number of species that are parasites of fishes, as the lerneans. They have a mouth adapted to suck blood. (b) An artificial division of gastropods including those that have siphonostomatous shells.

SIPHONOSTOMATOUS Si`pho*no*stom"a*tous, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Having the front edge of the aperture of the shell prolonged in the shape of a channel for the protection of the siphon; -- said of certain gastropods. (b) Pertaining to the Siphonostomata.

SIPHONOSTOME Si`pho*nos"tome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) Any parasitic entomostracan of the tribe Siphonostomata. (b) A siphonostomatous shell.

SIPHORHINAL Si`pho*rhi"nal, a. Etym: [Siphon + rhinal.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having tubular nostrils, as the petrels.

SIPHORHINIAN Si`pho*rhin"i*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A siphorhinal bird.

SIPHUNCLE Si"phun`cle, n. Etym: [L. siphunculus, sipunculus, dim. of sipho. See Siphon.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The tube which runs through the partitions of chambered cephalopod shells.

SIPHUNCLED Si"phun`cled, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a siphuncle; siphunculated.

SIPHUNCULAR Si*phun"cu*lar, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the siphuncle.

SIPHUNCULATED Si*phun"cu*la`ted, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a siphuncle. Huxley.

SIPID Sip"id, a. Etym: [See Insipid, Sapid.]

Defn: Having a taste or flavorl savory; sapid. [Obs.] Cockeram.

SIPPER Sip"per, n.

Defn: One whi sips.

SIPPET Sip"pet, n. Etym: [See Sip, Sop.]

Defn: A small sop; a small, thin piece of toasted bread soaked in milk, broth, or the like; a small piece of toasted or fried bread cut into some special shape and used for garnishing. Your sweet sippets in widows' houses. Milton.

SIPPLE Sip"ple, v. i. Etym: [Freq. of sip.]

Defn: To sip often. [Obs. or Scot.]

SIPPLING Sip"pling, a.

Defn: Sipping often. [Obs.] "Taken after a sippling sort." Holland.

SIPUNCULACEA Si*pun`cu*la"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Sipunculus, the typical genus. See Siphuncle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A suborder of Gephyrea, including those which have the body unarmed and the intestine opening anteriorly.

SIPUNCULOID Si*pun"cu*loid, a. Etym: [NL. Sipunculus, the typical genus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the Sipunculoidea. -- n.

Defn: One of the Sipunculoidea.

SIPUNCULOIDEA Si*pun`cu*loi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.) (a) Same as Gephyrea. (b) In a restricted sense, same as Sipunculacea.

SI QUIS Si` quis". Etym: [L., if any one (the first words of the notice in Latin).] (Ch. of Eng.)

Defn: A notification by a candidate for orders of his intention to inquire whether any impediment may be alleged against him.

SIR Sir, n. Etym: [OE. sire, F. sire, contr. from the nominative L. senior an elder, elderly person, compar. of senex,senis, an aged person; akin to Gr. sana, Goth. sineigs old, sinista eldest, Ir. & Gael. sean old, W. hen. Cf. Seignior, Senate, Seneschal, Senior, Senor, Signor, Sire, Sirrah.]

1. A man of social authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; -- in this sense usually spelled sire. [Obs.] He was crowned lord and sire. Gower. In the election of a sir so rare. Shak.

2. A title prefixed to the Christian name of a knight or a baronet. Sir Horace Vere, his brother, was the principal in the active part. Bacon.

3. An English rendering of the LAtin Dominus, the academical title of a bachelor of arts; -- formerly colloquially, and sometimes contemptuously, applied to the clergy. Nares. Instead of a faithful and painful teacher, they hire a Sir John, which hath better skill in playing at tables, or in keeping of a garden, than in God's word. Latimer.

4. A respectful title, used in addressing a man, without being prefixed to his name; -- used especially in speaking to elders or superiors; sometimes, also, used in the way of emphatic formality. "What's that to you, sir" Sheridan.

Note: Anciently, this title, was often used when a person was addressed as a man holding a certain office, or following a certain business. "Sir man of law." "Sir parish priest." Chaucer. Sir reverance. See under Reverence, n.

SIRASKIER Si*ras"kier, n.

Defn: See Seraskier.

SIRASKIERATE Si*ras"kier*ate, n.

Defn: See Seraskierate.

SIRBONIAN Sir*bo"ni*an, a.

Defn: See Serbonian.

SIRCAR Sir*car", n. Etym: [Hind. & Per. sarkar a superintendant, overseer, chief; Per. sar the head + kar action, work.]

1. A Hindoo clerk or accountant. [India]

2. A district or province; a circar. [India]

3. The government; the supreme authority of the state. [India]

SIRDAR Sir*dar", n Etym: [Hind. & Per. sardar a chief, general; sar the head, top + dar holding, possessing.]

Defn: A native chief in Hindostan; a headman. Malcom.

SIRE Sire, n. Etym: [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]

1. A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [Obs.] Pain and distress, sickness and ire, And melancholy that angry sire, Be of her palace senators. Rom. of R.

2. A tittle of respect formerly used in speaking to elders and superiors, but now only in addressing a sovereign.

3. A father; the head of a family; the husband. Jankin thet was our sire [i.e., husband]. Chaucer. And raise his issue, like a loving sire. Shak.

4. A creator; a maker; an author; an originator. [He] was the sire of an immortal strain. Shelley.

5. The male parent of a beast; -- applied especially to horses; as, the horse had a good sire.

Note: Sire is often used in composition; as in grandsire, grandfather; great-grandsire, great-grandfather.

SIRE Sire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sired; p. pr. & vb. n. Siring.]

Defn: To beget; to procreate; -- used of beasts, and especially of stallions.

SIREDON Si*re"don, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larval form of any salamander while it still has external gills; especially, one of those which, like the axolotl (Amblystoma Mexicanum), sometimes lay eggs while in this larval state, but which under more favorable conditions lose their gills and become normal salamanders. See also Axolotl.

SIREN Si"ren, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. sirène.]

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: One of three sea nymphs, -- or, according to some writers, of two, -- said to frequent an island near the coast of Italy, and to sing with such sweetness that they lured mariners to destruction. Next where the sirens dwell you plow the seas; Their song is death, and makes destruction please. Pope.

2. An enticing, dangerous woman. Shak.

3. Something which is insidious or deceptive. Consumption is a siren. W. Irving.

4. A mermaid. [Obs.] Shak.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any long, slender amphibian of the genus Siren or family Sirenidæ, destitute of hind legs and pelvis, and having permanent external gills as well as lungs. They inhabit the swamps, lagoons, and ditches of the Southern United States. The more common species (Siren lacertina) is dull lead-gray in color, and becames two feet long.

6. Etym: [F. sirène, properly, a siren in sense 1.] (Acoustics)

Defn: An instrument for producing musical tones and for ascertaining the number of sound waves or vibrations per second which produce a note of a given pitch. The sounds are produced by a perforated rotating disk or disks. A form with two disks operated by steam or highly compressed air is used sounding an alarm to vessels in fog. [Written also sirene, and syren.]

SIREN Si"ren, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a siren; bewitching, like a siren; fascinating; alluring; as, a siren song.

SIRENE Si*rene", n.

Defn: See Siren, 6.

SIRENIA Si*re"ni*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of large aquatic herbivorous mammals, including the manatee, dugong, rytina, and several fossil genera.

Note: The hind limbs are either rudimentary or wanting, and the front ones are changed to paddles. They have horny plates on the front part of the jaws, and usually flat-crowned molar teeth. The stomach is complex and the intestine long, as in other herbivorous mammals. See Cetacea (b).

SIRENIAN Si*re"ni*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Sirenia.

SIRENICAL Si*ren"ic*al, a.

Defn: Like, or appropriate to, a siren; fascinating; deceptive. Here's couple of sirenical rascals shall enchant ye. Marton.

SIRENIZE Si"ren*ize, v. i.

Defn: To use the enticements of a siren; to act as a siren; to fascinate.

SIRIASIS Si*ri"a*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) A sunstroke. (b) The act of exposing to a sun bath. [Obs.] Cf. Insolation.

SIRIUS Sir"i*us, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Astron.)

Defn: The Dog Star. See Dog Star.

SIRKEER Sir"keer, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of Asiatic cuckoos of the genus Taccocua, as the Bengal sirkeer (T. sirkee).

SIRLOIN Sir"loin`, n. Etym: [A corruption of surloin. Not so called because this cut of beaf was once jocosely knighted (dubbed Sir Loin) by an English king, as according to a popular story.]

Defn: A loin of beef, or a part of a loin. [Written also surloin.]

SIRNAME Sir"name`, n.

Defn: See Surname.

SIROC Si"roc, n.

Defn: See Sirocco. [Poetic] Emerson.

SIROCCO Si*roc"co, n.; pl. Siroccos(). Etym: [It. sirocco, scirocco, Ar. shorug, fr. sharq the rising of the sun, the east, fr, sharaca to rise as the sun. Cf. Saracen.]

Defn: An oppressive, relaxing wind from the Libyan deserts, chiefly experienced in Italy, Malta, and Sicily.

SIRRAH Sir"rah, n. Etym: [Probably from Icel. sira, fr. F. sire. See Sir.]

Defn: A term of address implying inferiority and used in anger, contempt, reproach, or disrespectful familiarity, addressed to a man or boy, but sometimes to a woman. In sililoquies often preceded by ah. Not used in the plural. "Ah, sirrah mistress." Beau & Fl. Go, sirrah, to my cell. Shak.

SIRT Sirt, n. Etym: [See Syrt.]

Defn: A quicksand. [Obs.]

SIRUP; SYRUP Sir"up Syr"up, n. Etym: [F. sirop (cf. It. siroppo, Sp. jarabe, jarope, LL. siruppus, syrupus), fr. Ar. sharab a drink, wine, coffee, sirup. Cf. Sherbet.]

1. A thick and viscid liquid made from the juice of fruits, herbs, etc., boiled with sugar.

2. A thick and viscid saccharine solution of superior quality (as sugarhouse sirup or molasses, maple sirup); specifically, in pharmacy and often in cookery, a saturated solution of sugar and water (simple sirup), or such a solution flavored or medicated. Lucent sirups tinct with cinnamon. Keats. Mixing sirup. See the Note under Dextrose.

SIRUPED; SYRUPED Sir"uped, Syr"uped, a.

Defn: Moistened, covered, or sweetened with sirup, or sweet juice.

SIRUPY; SYRUPY Sir"up*y, Syr"up*y, a.

Defn: Like sirup, or partaking of its qualities. Mortimer.

SIRVENTE Sir`vente", n. Etym: [F. sirvente, fr. Pr. sirventes, sirventesc, originally, the poem of, or concerning, a sirvent, fr. sirvent, properly, serving, n., one who serves (e. g., as a soldier), fr. servir to serve, L. servire.]

Defn: A peculiar species of poetry, for the most part devoted to moral and religious topics, and commonly satirical, -- often used by the troubadours of the Middle Ages.

SIS Sis, n.

Defn: A colloquial abbreviation of Sister.

SIS Sis, n.

Defn: Six. See Sise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SISAL GRASS; SISAL HEMP Si*sal" grass`, Si*sal" hemp`,

Defn: The prepared fiber of the Agave Americana, or American aloe, used for cordage; -- so called from Sisal, a port in Yucatan. See Sisal hemp, under Hemp.

SISCOWET Sis"co*wet, n. Etym: [OF American Indian origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large, fat variety of the namaycusa found in Lake Superior; - - called also siskawet, siskiwit.

SISE Sise, n. Etym: [From Assize.]

Defn: An assize. [Obs.]

SISE Sise, n. Etym: [See Sice.]

Defn: Six; the highest number on a die; the cast of six in throwing dice. In the new casting of a die, when ace is on the top, sise must needs be at the bottom. Fuller.

SISEL Sis"el, n. Etym: [Cf. G. ziesel. Cf. Zizel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The suslik.

SISER Si"ser, n.

Defn: Cider. See Sicer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SISERARA; SISERARY Sis"e*ra*ra, Sis"e*ra*ry, n.

Defn: A hard blow. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SISKIN Sis"kin, n. Etym: [Dan. sisgen; cf. Sw. siska, G. zeisig, D. sijsje; of Slav. origin; cf. Pol. czy.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small green and yellow European finch (Spinus spinus, or Carduelis spinus); -- called also aberdevine. (b) The American pinefinch (S. pinus); -- called also pine siskin. See Pinefinch.

Note: The name is applied also to several other related species found in Asia and South America. Siskin green, a delicate shade of yellowish green, as in the mineral torbernite.

SISKIWIT Sis"ki*wit, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The siscowet.

SISMOGRAPH Sis"mo*graph, n.

Defn: See Seismograph.

SISMOMETER Sis*mom"e*ter, n.

Defn: See Seismometer.

SISS Siss, v. i. Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. D. sissen, G. zischen.]

Defn: To make a hissing sound; as, a flatiron hot enough to siss when touched with a wet finger. [Colloq. U. S.; Local, Eng.]

SISS Siss, n.

Defn: A hissing noise. [Colloq. U. S.]

SISSOO Sis*soo", n. Etym: [Hind. sis.] (Bot.)

Defn: A leguminous tree (Dalbergia Sissoo) of the northern parts of India; also, the dark brown compact and durable timber obtained from it. It is used in shipbuilding and for gun carriages, railway ties, etc.

SIST Sist, v. t. Etym: [L. sistere to bring to a stand, to stop.]

1. (Scots Law)

Defn: To stay, as judicial proceedings; to delay or suspend; to stop.

2. To cause to take a place, as at the bar of a court; hence, to cite; to summon; to bring into court. [Scot.] Some, however, have preposterously sisted nature as the first or generative principle. Sir W. Hamilton.

SIST Sist, n. (Scots Law)

Defn: A stay or suspension of proceedings; an order for a stay of proceedings. Burril.

SISTER Sis"ter, n. Etym: [OE. sister, fr. Icel. systir; also suster, from AS. sweostor, sweoster, swuster, akin to OFries. sweester, suster, LG. süster, suster, D. zuster, OS. & OHG. swestar, G. schwester, Icel. systir, Sw. syster, Dan. söster, Goth. swistar, Lith. ses, Russ. sestra, Pol. siostra, L. soror, Skr. svasr. sq. root298. Cf. Cousin.]

1. A female who has the same parents with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case, she is more definitely called a half sister. The correlative of brother. I am the sister of one Claudio. Shak.

2. A woman who is closely allied to, or assocciated with, another person, as in the sdame faith, society, order, or community. James ii. 15.

3. One of the same kind, or of the same condition; -- generally used adjectively; as, sister fruits. Pope. Sister Block (Naut.), a tackle block having two sheaves, one above the other. -- Sister hooks, a pair of hooks fitted together, the shank of one forming a mousing for the other; -- called also match hook. -- Sister of charity, Sister of mercy. (R. C. Ch.) See under Charity, and Mercy.

SISTER Sis"ter, v. t.

Defn: To be sister to; to resemble closely. [Obs.] Shak.

SISTERHOOD Sis"ter*hood, n. Etym: [Sister + hood.]

1. The state or relation of being a sister; the office or duty of a sister. She . . . abhorr'd Her proper blood, and left to do the part Of sisterhood, to do that of a wife. Daniel.

2. A society of sisters; a society of women united in one faith or order; sisters, collectively. "A sisterhood of holy nuns." Shak. The fair young flowers . . . a beauteous sisterhood. Bryant.

SISTERING Sis"ter*ing, a.

Defn: Contiguous. [Obs.] Shak.

SISTER-IN-LAW Sis"ter-in-law`, n; pl. Sisters-in-law(

Defn: The sister of one's husband or wife; also, the wife of one's brother; sometimes, the wife of one's husband's or wife's brother.

SISTERLY Sis"ter*ly, a.

Defn: Like a sister; becoming a sister, affectionate; as, sisterly kindness; sisterly remorse. Shak.

SISTINE Sis"tine, a.Etym: [It. sistino.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Pope Sixtus. Sistine chapel, a chapel in the Vatican at Rome, built by Pope Sixtus IV., and decorated with frescoes by Michael Angelo and others.

SISTREN Sis"tren, n. pl.

Defn: Sisters. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SISTRUM Sis"trum, Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Mus.)

Defn: An instrument consisting of a thin metal frame, through which passed a number of metal rods, and furnished with a handle by which it was shaken and made to rattle. It was peculiarly Egyptian, and used especially in the worship of Isis. It is still used in Nubia.

SISYPHEAN Sis`y*phe"an, a.

Defn: Relating to Sisyphus; incessantly recurring; as, Sisyphean labors.

SISYPHUS Sis"y*phus, n. Etym: [L. Sisyphus, Sisyphus, fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: A king of Corinth, son of Æolus, famed for his cunning. He was killed by Theseus, and in the lower world was condemned by Pluto to roll to the top of a hill a huge stone, which constantly rolled back again, making his task incessant.

SIT Sit,

Defn: obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Sit, for sitteth.

SIT Sit, v. i. [imp. Sat (Sate, archaic); p. p. Sat (Sitten, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Sitting.] Etym: [OE. sitten, AS. sittan; akin to OS. sittian, OFries. sitta, D. zitten, G. sitzen, OHG. sizzen, Icel. sitja, SW. sitta, Dan. sidde, Goth. sitan, Russ. sidiete, L. sedere, Gr. sad. sq. root154. Cf. Assess,Assize, Cathedral, Chair, Dissident, Excise, Insidious, Possess, Reside, Sanhedrim, Seance, Seat, n., Sedate, 4th Sell, Siege, Session, Set, v. t., Sizar, Size, Subsidy.]

1. To rest upon the haunches, or the lower extremity of the trunk of the body; -- said of human beings, and sometimes of other animals; as, to sit on a sofa, on a chair, or on the ground. And he came and took the book put of the right hand of him that sate upon the seat. Bible (1551) (Rev. v. 7.) I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner. Shak.

2. To perch; to rest with the feet drawn up, as birds do on a branch, pole, etc.

3. To remain in a state of repose; to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition. And Moses said to . . . the children of Reuben, Shall your brothren go to war, and shall ye sit here Num. xxxii. 6. Like a demigod here sit I in the sky. Shak.

4. To lie, rest, or bear; to press or weigh; -- with on; as, a weight or burden sits lightly upon him. The calamity sits heavy on us. Jer. Taylor.

5. To be adjusted; to fit; as, a coat sts well or ill. This new and gorgeous garment, majesty, Sits not so easy on me as you think. Shak.

6. To suit one well or ill, as an act; to become; to befit; -- used impersonally. [Obs.] Chaucer.

7. To cover and warm eggs for hatching, as a fowl; to brood; to incubate. As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not. Jer. xvii. 11.

8. To have position, as at the point blown from; to hold a relative position; to have direction. Like a good miller that knows how to grind, which way soever the wind sits. Selden. Sits the wind in that quarter Sir W. Scott.

9. To occupy a place or seat as a member of an official body; as, to sit in Congress.

10. To hold a session; to be in session for official business; -- said of legislative assemblies, courts, etc.; as, the court sits in January; the aldermen sit to-night.

11. To take a position for the purpose of having some artistic representation of one's self made, as a picture or a bust; as, to sit to a painter. To sit at, to rest under; to be subject to. [Obs.] "A farmer can not husband his ground so well if he sit at a great rent". Bacon. -- To sit at meat or at table, to be at table for eating. -- To sit down. (a) To place one's self on a chair or other seat; as, to sit down when tired. (b) To begin a siege; as, the enemy sat down before the town. (c) To settle; to fix a permanent abode. Spenser. (d) To rest; to cease as satisfied. "Here we can not sit down, but still proceed in our search." Rogers. -- To sit for a fellowship, to offer one's self for examination with a view to obtaining a fellowship. [Eng. Univ.] -- To sit out. (a) To be without engagement or employment. [Obs.] Bp. Sanderson. (b) To outstay. -- To sit under, to be under the instruction or ministrations of; as, to sit under a preacher; to sit under good preaching. -- To sit up, to rise from, or refrain from, a recumbent posture or from sleep; to sit with the body upright; as, to sit up late at night; also, to watch; as, to sit up with a sick person. "He that was dead sat up, and began to speak." Luke vii. 15.

SIT Sit, v. t.

1. To sit upon; to keep one's seat upon; as, he sits a horse well. Hardly the muse can sit the headstrong horse. Prior.

2. To cause to be seated or in a sitting posture; to furnish a seat to; -- used reflexively. They sat them down to weep. Milton. Sit you down, father; rest you. Shak.

3. To suit (well or ill); to become. [Obs. or R.]

SITE Site, n. Etym: [L. situs, fr. sinere, situm, to let, p. p. situs placed, lying, situate: cf. F. site. Cf. Position.]

1. The place where anything is fixed; situation; local position; as, the site of a city or of a house. Chaucer.

2. A place fitted or chosen for any certain permanent use or occupation; as, a site for a church.

3. The posture or position of a thing. [R.] The semblance of a lover fixed In melancholy site. Thomson.

SITED Sit"ed, a.

Defn: Having a site; situated. [Obs.] [The garden] sited was in fruitful soil. Chaucer.

SITFAST Sit"fast`, a. Etym: [Sit + fast.]

Defn: Fixed; stationary; immovable. [R.] 'T is good, when you have crossed the sea and back, To find the sitfast acres where you left them. Emerson.

SITFAST Sit"fast`, n. (Far.)

Defn: A callosity with inflamed edges, on the back of a horse, under the saddle.

SITH Sith, prep., adv., & conj. Etym: [See Since.]

Defn: Since; afterwards; seeing that. [Obs.] We need not fear them, sith Christ is with us. Latimer. Sith thou art rightful judge. Chaucer.

SITH; SITHE Sith, Sithe, n. Etym: [AS.

Defn: Time. [Obs.] Chaucer. And humbly thanked him a thousand sithes. Spenser.

SITHE Sithe, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sigh.]

Defn: To sigh.

Note: [A spelling of a corrupt and provincial pronunciation.]

SITHE Sithe, n.

Defn: A scythe. [Obs.] Milton.

SITHE Sithe, v. t.

Defn: To cut with a scythe; to scythe. [Obs.]

SITHED Sithed, a.

Defn: Scythed. [Obs.] T. Warton.

SITHEMAN Sithe"man, n.

Defn: A mower. [Obs.] Marston.

SITHEN Sith"en, adv. & conj. Etym: [See Since.]

Defn: Since; afterwards. See 1st Sith. [Obs.] Fortune was first friend and sithen foe. Chaucer.

SITHENCE; SITHENS Sith"ence, Sith"ens, adv. & conj.

Defn: Since. See Sith, and Sithen. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

SITHTHEN Sith"then, adv. & conj.

Defn: See Sithen. [Obs.] Siththen that the world began. Chaucer.

SITOLOGY Si*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: A treatise on the regulation of the diet; dietetics. [Written also sitiology.]

SITOPHOBIA Si`to*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A version to food; refusal to take nourishment. [Written also sitiophobia.]

SITTEN Sit"ten, obs.

Defn: p. p. of Sit, for sat.

SITTER Sit"ter, n.

1. One who sits; esp., one who sits for a portrait or a bust.

2. A bird that sits or incubates.

SITTINE Sit"tine, a. Etym: [NL. sitta the nuthatch, from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the family Sittidæ, or nuthatches.

SITTING Sit"ting, a.

Defn: Being in the state, or the position, of one who, or that which, sits.

SITTING Sit"ting, n.

1. The state or act of one who sits; the posture of one who occupies a seat.

2. A seat, or the space occupied by or allotted for a person, in a church, theater, etc.; as, the hall has 800 sittings.

3. The act or time of sitting, as to a portrait painter, photographer, etc.

4. The actual presence or meeting of any body of men in their seats, clothed with authority to transact business; a session; as, a sitting of the judges of the King's Bench, or of a commission. The sitting closed in great agitation. Macaulay.

5. The time during which one sits while doing something, as reading a book, playing a game, etc. For the understanding of any one of St. Paul's Epistles I read it all through at one sitting. Locke.

6. A brooding over eggs for hatching, as by fowls. The male bird . . . amuses her [the female] with his songs during the whole time of her sitting. Addison. Sitting room, an apartment where the members of a family usually sit, as distinguished from a drawing-room, parlor, chamber, or kitchen.

SITUATE; SITUATED Sit"u*ate, Sit"u*a`ted, a. Etym: [LL. situatus, from situare to place, fr. L. situs situation, site. See Site.]

1. Having a site, situation, or location; being in a relative position; permanently fixed; placed; located; as, a town situated, or situate, on a hill or on the seashore.

2. Placed; residing. Pleasure situate in hill and dale. Milton.

Note: Situate is now less used than situated, but both are well authorized.

SITUATE Sit"u*ate, v. t.

Defn: To place. [R.] Landor.

SITUATION Sit`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. situatio: cf. F. situation.]

1. Manner in which an object is placed; location, esp. as related to something else; position; locality site; as, a house in a pleasant situation.

2. Position, as regards the conditions and circumstances of the case. A situation of the greatest ease and tranquillity. Rogers.

3. Relative position; circumstances; temporary state or relation at a moment of action which excites interest, as of persons in a dramatic scene. There's situation for you! there's an heroic group! Sheridan.

4. Permanent position or employment; place; office; as, a situation in a store; a situation under government.

Syn. -- State; position; seat; site; station; post; place; office; condition; case; plight. See State.

SITUS Si"tus, n. Etym: [L., situation.] (Bot.)

Defn: The method in which the parts of a plant are arranged; also, the position of the parts. Henslow.

SITZ BATH Sitz" bath`. Etym: [G. sitzbad.]

Defn: A tub in which one bathes in a sitting posture; also, a bath so taken; a hip bath.

SIVA Si"va, n. Etym: [Skr. Civa, properly, kind, gracious.] (Hindoo Myth.)

Defn: One of the triad of Hindoo gods. He is the avenger or destroyer, and in modern worship symbolizes the reproductive power of nature.

SIVAN Si"van, n. Etym: [Heb. sivan.]

Defn: The third month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year; -- supposed to correspond nearly with our month of June.

SIVATHERIUM Siv`a*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., from E. Siva + Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of very large extinct ruminants found in the Tertiary formation of India. The snout was prolonged in the form of a proboscis. The male had four horns, the posterior pair being large and branched. It was allied to the antelopes, but very much larger than any exsisting species.

SIVER Siv"er, v. i.

Defn: To simmer. [Obs.] Holland.

SIVVENS Siv"vens (, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Sibbens.

SIWIN Si"win, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Sewen.

SIX Six, a. Etym: [AS. six, seox, siex; akin to OFries. sex, D. zes, OS. & OHG. sehs, G. sechs, Icel., Sw., & Dan. sex, Goth. saíhs, Lith. szeszi, Russ. sheste, Gael. & Ir. se, W. chwech, L. sex, Gr. shesh, Skr. shash. sq. root304. Cf. Hexagon, Hexameter, Samite, Senary, Sextant, Sice.]

Defn: One more than five; twice three; as, six yards. Six Nations (Ethnol.), a confederation of North American Indians formed by the union of the Tuscaroras and the Five Nations. -- Six points circle. (Geom.) See Nine points circle, under Nine.

SIX Six, n.

1. The number greater by a unit than five; the sum of three and three; six units or objects.

2. A symbol representing six units, as 6, vi., or VI. To be at six and seven or at sixes and sevens, to be in disorder. Bacon. Shak. Swift.

SIXFOLD Six"fold`, a. Etym: [AS. sixfealand.]

Defn: Six times repeated; six times as much or as many.

SIX-FOOTER Six"-foot`er, n.

Defn: One who is six feet tall. [Colloq. U.S.]

SIXPENCE Six"pence, n.; pl. Sixpences (.

Defn: An English silver coin of the value of six pennies; half a shilling, or about twelve cents.

SIXPENNY Six"pen`ny, a.

Defn: Of the value of, or costing, sixpence; as, a sixpenny loaf.

SIXSCORE Six"score`, a. & n. Etym: [Six + score, n.]

Defn: Six times twenty; one hundred and twenty.

SIX-SHOOTER Six"-shoot`er, n.

Defn: A pistol or other firearm which can be fired six times without reloading especially, a six-chambered revolver. [Colloq. U.S.]

SIXTEEN Six"teen`, a. Etym: [AS. sixt, sixt. See Six, and Ten, and cf. Sixty.]

Defn: Six and ten; consisting of six and ten; fifteen and one more.

SIXTEEN Six"teen`, n.

1. The number greater by a unit than fifteen; the sum of ten and six; sixteen units or objects.

2. A symbol representing sixteen units, as 16, or xvi.

SIXTEENMO Six*teen"mo, n.; pl. Sixteenmos (.

Defn: See Sextodecimo.

SIXTEENTH Six"teenth`, a. Etym: [From Sixteen: cf. AS. sixteó.]

1. Sixth after the tenth; next in order after the fifteenth.

2. Constituting or being one of sixteen equal parts into which anything is divided. Sixteenth note (Mus.), the sixteenth part of a whole note; a semiquaver.

SIXTEENTH Six"teenth`, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by sixteen; one of sixteen equal parts of one whole.

2. The next in order after the fifteenth; the sixth after the tenth.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: An interval comprising two octaves and a second. Moore (Encyc. of Music.)

SIXTH Sixth, a. Etym: [From Six: cf. AS. sixta, siexta.]

1. First after the fifth; next in order after the fifth.

2. Constituting or being one of six equal parts into which anything is divided.

SIXTH Sixth, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by six; one of six equal parts which form a whole.

2. The next in order after the fifth.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: The interval embracing six diatonic degrees of the scale.

SIXTHLY Sixth"ly, adv.

Defn: In the sixth place. Bacon.

SIXTIETH Six"ti*eth, a. Etym: [As. sixtiogoedha, sixtigoedha.]

1. Next in order after the fifty-ninth.

2. Constituting or being one one of sixty equal parts into which anything is divided.

SIXTIETH Six"ti*eth, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by sixty; one of sixty equal parts forming a whole.

2. The next in order after the fifty-ninth; the tenth after the fiftieth.

SIXTY Six"ty, a. Etym: [AS. siextig; akin to G. sechzig, Goth. saíhs tigjus. See Six, Ten, and cf. Sixteen.]

Defn: Six times ten; fifty-nine and one more; threescore.

SIXTY Six"ty, n.; pl. Sixties (.

1. The sum of six times ten; sixty units or objects.

2. A symbol representing sixty units, as 60, lx., or LX.

SIXTY-FOURTH Six`ty-fourth", a.

Defn: Constituting or being one of sixty-four equal parts into which a thing is divided. Sixty-fourth note (Mus.), the sixty-fourth part of a whole note; a hemi-demi-semiquaver.

SIZABLE Siz"a*ble, a.

1. Of considerable size or bulk. "A sizable volume." Bp. Hurd.

2. Being of reasonable or suitable size; as, sizable timber; sizable bulk. Arbuthnot.

SIZAR Si"zar, n.

Defn: One of a body of students in the universities of Cambridge (Eng.) and Dublin, who, having passed a certain examination, are exempted from paying college fees and charges. A sizar corresponded to a servitor at Oxford. The sizar paid nothing for food and tuition, and very little for lodging. Macaulay.

Note: They formerly waited on the table at meals; but this is done away with. They were probably so called from being thus employed in distributing the size, or provisions. See 4th Size, 2.

SIZARSHIP Si"zar*ship, n.

Defn: The position or standing of a sizar.

SIZE Size, n. Etym: [See Sice, and Sise.]

Defn: Six.

SIZE Size, n. Etym: [OIt. sisa glue used by painters, shortened fr. assisa, fr. assidere, p. p. assiso, to make to sit, to seat, to place, L. assidere to sit down; ad + sidere to sit down, akin to sedere to sit. See Sit, v. i., and cf. Assize, Size bulk.]

1. A thin, weak glue used in various trades, as in painting, bookbinding, paper making, etc.

2. Any viscous substance, as gilder's varnish.

SIZE Size, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sized; p. pr. & vb. n. Sizing.]

Defn: To cover with size; to prepare with size.

SIZE Size, n. Etym: [Abbrev. from assize. See Assize, and cf. Size glue.]

1. A settled quantity or allowance. See Assize. [Obs.] "To scant my sizes." Shak.

2. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)

Defn: An allowance of food and drink from the buttery, aside from the regular dinner at commons; -- corresponding to battel at Oxford.

3. Extent of superficies or volume; bulk; bigness; magnitude; as, the size of a tree or of a mast; the size of a ship or of a rock.

4. Figurative bulk; condition as to rank, ability, character, etc.; as, the office demands a man of larger size. Men of a less size and quality. L'Estrange. The middling or lower size of people. Swift.

5. A conventional relative measure of dimension, as for shoes, gloves, and other articles made up for sale.

6. An instrument consisting of a number of perforated gauges fastened together at one end by a rivet, -- used for ascertaining the size of pearls. Knight. Size roll, a small piese of parchment added to a roll. -- Size stick, a measuring stick used by shoemakers for ascertaining the size of the foot.

Syn. -- Dimension; bigness; largeness; greatness; magnitude.

SIZE Size, v. t.

1. To fix the standard of. "To size weights and measures." [R.] Bacon.

2. To adjust or arrange according to size or bulk. Specifically: (a) (Mil.) To take the height of men, in order to place them in the ranks according to their stature. (b) (Mining) To sift, as pieces of ore or metal, in order to separate the finer from the coarser parts.

3. To swell; to increase the bulk of. Beau. & Fl.

4. (Mech.)

Defn: To bring or adjust anything exactly to a required dimension, as by cutting. To size up, to estimate or ascertain the character and ability of. See 4th Size, 4. [Slang, U.S.] We had to size up our fellow legislators. The Century.

SIZE Size, v. i.

1. To take greater size; to increase in size. Our desires give them fashion, and so, As they wax lesser, fall, as they size, grow. Donne.

2. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)

Defn: To order food or drink from the buttery; hence, to enter a score, as upon the buttery book.

SIZED Sized, a.

1. Adjusted according to size.

2. Having a particular size or magnitude; -- chiefly used in compounds; as, large-sized; common-sized.

SIZEL Si"zel, n.

Defn: Same as Scissel, 2.

SIZER Siz"er, n.

1. See Sizar.

2. (Mech.) (a) An instrument or contrivance to size articles, or to determine their size by a standard, or to separate and distribute them according to size. (b) An instrument or tool for bringing anything to an exact size.

SIZINESS Siz"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sizy; viscousness.

SIZING Siz"ing, n.

1. Act of covering or treating with size.

2. A weak glue used in various trades; size.

SIZING Siz"ing, n.

1. The act of sorting with respect to size.

2. The act of bringing anything to a certain size.

3. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)

Defn: Food and drink ordered from the buttery by a student.

SIZY Siz"y, a. Etym: [From 2d Size.]

Defn: Sizelike; viscous; glutinous; as, sizy blood. Arbuthnot.

SIZZLE Siz"zle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sizzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sizzling.] Etym: [See Siss.]

Defn: To make a hissing sound; to fry, or to dry and shrivel up, with a hissing sound. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.] Forby.

SIZZLE Siz"zle, n.

Defn: A hissing sound, as of something frying over a fire. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]

SIZZLING Siz"zling, a. & n.

Defn: from Sizzle.

SKADDLE Skad"dle, n. Etym: [Dim. of scath.]

Defn: Hurt; damage. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ray.

SKADDLE Skad"dle, a.

Defn: Hurtful. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ray.

SKADDON Skad"don, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larva of a bee. [Prov. Eng.]

SKAG Skag, n. (Naut.)

Defn: An additional piece fastened to the keel of a boat to prevent lateral motion. See Skeg.

SKAIN Skain, n.

Defn: See Skein. [Obs.]

SKAIN Skain, n.

Defn: See Skean. Drayton.

SKAINSMATE Skains"mate`, n. Etym: [Perhaps originally, a companion in winding thread (see Skein), or a companion in arms, from skain a sword (see Skean).]

Defn: A messmate; a companion. [Obs.] Scurvy knave! I am none of his firt-gills; I am none of his skainsmates. Shak.

SKAITH Skaith, n.

Defn: See Scatch. [Scot.]

SKALD Skald, n.

Defn: See 5th Scald.

SKALDIC Skald"ic, a.

Defn: See Scaldic. Max Müller.

SKALL Skall, v. t.

Defn: To scale; to mount. [Obs.]

SKAR; SKARE Skar, Skare, a. Etym: [From the root of scare.]

Defn: Wild; timid; shy. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKART Skart, n. Etym: [Cf. Scarf a cormorant.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The shag. [Prov. Eng.]

SKAT Skat (skät), n. [G., fr. It. scartare to discard.]

1. A three-handed card game played with 32 cards, of which two constitute the skat (sense 2), or widow. The players bid for the privilege of attempting any of several games or tasks, in most of which the player undertaking the game must take tricks counting in aggregate at least 61 (the counting cards being ace 11, ten 10, king 4, queen 3, jack 2). The four jacks are the best trumps, ranking club, spade, heart, diamond, and ten outranks king or queen (but when the player undertakes to lose all the tricks, the cards rank as in whist). The value of hands depends upon the game played, trump suit, points taken, and number of matadores.

2. (Skat) A widow of two cards.

SKATE Skate, n. Etym: [D. schaats. Cf. Scatches.]

Defn: A metallic runner with a frame shaped to fit the sole of a shoe, -- made to be fastened under the foot, and used for moving rapidly on ice. Batavia rushes forth; and as they sweep, On sounding skates, a thousand different ways, In circling poise, swift as the winds, along, The then gay land is maddended all to joy. Thomson. Roller skate. See under Roller.

SKATE Skate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skated; p. pr. & vb. n. Skating.]

Defn: To move on skates.

SKATE Skate, n. Etym: [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten, meer-schatten, L. squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of large, flat elasmobranch fishes of the genus Raia, having a long, slender tail, terminated by a small caudal fin. The pectoral fins, which are large and broad and united to the sides of the body and head, give a somewhat rhombic form to these fishes. The skin is more or less spinose.

Note: Some of the species are used for food, as the European blue or gray skate (Raia batis), which sometimes weighs nearly 200 pounds. The American smooth, or barn-door, skate (R. lævis) is also a large species, often becoming three or four feet across. The common spiny skate (R. erinacea) is much smaller. Skate's egg. See Sea purse. -- Skate sucker, any marine leech of the genus Pontobdella, parasitic on skates.

SKATER Skat"er, n.

1. One who skates.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of hemipterous insects belonging to Gerris, Pyrrhocoris, Prostemma, and allied genera. They have long legs, and run rapidly over the surface of the water, as if skating.

SKATOL Ska"tol, n. Etym: [Gr. -ol.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A constituent of human fæces formed in the small intestines as a product of the putrefaction of albuminous matter. It is also found in reduced indigo. Chemically it is methyl indol, C9H9N.

SKAYLES Skayles, n.

Defn: [sq. root159.] Skittles. [Obs.]

SKEAN Skean, n. Etym: [Ir sgian; akin to Gael. sgian, W. ysgien a large knife, a scimiter.]

Defn: A knife or short dagger, esp. that in use among the Highlanders of Scotland. [Variously spelt.] "His skean, or pistol." Spenser.

SKEDADDLE Ske*dad"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skedaddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Skedaddling.] Etym: [Of uncertain etymology.]

Defn: To betake one's self to flight, as if in a panic; to flee; to run away. [Slang, U. S.]

SKEE Skee, n. Etym: [Dan. ski; Icel. ski a billet of wood. See Skid.]

Defn: A long strip of wood, curved upwards in front, used on the foot for sliding.

SKEED Skeed, n.

Defn: See Skid.

SKEEL Skeel, n. Etym: [Icel. skj a pail, bucket.]

Defn: A shallow wooden vessel for holding milk or cream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Grose.

SKEELDUCK; SKEELGOOSE Skeel"duck`, Skeel"goose`, n. Etym: [See Sheldrake.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common European sheldrake. [Prov. Eng.]

SKEET Skeet, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.)

Defn: A scoop with a long handle, used to wash the sides of a vessel, and formerly to wet the sails or deck.

SKEG Skeg, n. Etym: [Prov. E., also a stump of a branch, a wooden peg; cf. Icel. sk a wood, Sw. skog. Cf. Shaw.]

1. A sort of wild plum. [Obs.] Holland.

2. pl.

Defn: A kind of oats. Farm. Encyc.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: The after part of the keel of a vessel, to which the rudder is attached.

SKEGGER Skeg"ger, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The parr. Walton.

SKEIN Skein, n. Etym: [OE. skeyne, OF. escaigne, F. écagne, probably of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. sgainne, Gael. sgeinnidh thread, small twine; or perhaps the English word is immediately from Celtic.]

1. A quantity of yarn, thread, or the like, put up together, after it is taken from the reel, -- usually tied in a sort of knot.

Note: A skein of cotton yarn is formed by eighty turns of the thread round a fifty-four inch reel.

2. (Wagon Making)

Defn: A metallic strengthening band or thimble on the wooden arm of an axle. Knight.

SKEIN Skein, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A flight of wild fowl (wild geese or the like). [Prov. Eng.]

SKEINE Skeine, n.

Defn: See Skean.

SKELDER Skel"der, v. t. & i. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: To deceive; to cheat; to trick. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SKELDER Skel"der, n.

Defn: A vagrant; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SKELDRAKE; SKIELDRAKE Skel"drake`, or Skiel"drake`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The common European sheldrake. (b) The oyster catcher.

SKELET Skel"et, n.

Defn: A skeleton. See Scelet.

SKELETAL Skel"e*tal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the skeleton.

SKELETOGENOUS Skel`e*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Skeleton + -genous.]

Defn: Forming or producing parts of the skeleton.

SKELETOLOGY Skel`e*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Skeleton + -logy.]

Defn: That part of anatomy which treats of the skeleton; also, a treatise on the skeleton.

SKELETON Skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Anat.) (a) The bony and cartilaginous framework which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal.

Note: [See Illust. of the Human Skeleton, in Appendix.] (b) The more or less firm or hardened framework of an invertebrate animal.

Note: In a wider sense, the skeleton includes the whole connective- tissue framework with the integument and its appendages. See Endoskeleton, and Exoskeleton.

2. Hence, figuratively: (a) A very thin or lean person. (b) The framework of anything; the principal parts that support the rest, but without the appendages. The great skeleton of the world. Sir M. Hale.

(c) The heads and outline of a literary production, especially of a sermon.

SKELETON Skel"e*ton, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, a skeleton; consisting merely of the framework or outlines; having only certain leading features of anything; as, a skeleton sermon; a skeleton crystal. Skeleton bill, a bill or draft made out in blank as to the amount or payee, but signed by the acceptor. [Eng.] -- Skeleton key, a key with nearly the whole substance of the web filed away, to adapt it to avoid the wards of a lock; a master key; -- used for opening locks to which it has not been especially fitted. -- Skeleton leaf, a leaf from which the pulpy part has been removed by chemical means, the fibrous part alone remaining. -- Skeleton proof, a proof of a print or engraving, with the inscription outlined in hair strokes only, such proofs being taken before the engraving is finished. -- Skeleton regiment, a regiment which has its complement of officers, but in which there are few enlisted men. -- Skeleton shrimp (Zoöl.), a small crustacean of the genus Caprella. See Illust. under Læmodipoda.

SKELETONIZE Skel"e*ton*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skeletonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Skeletonizing.]

Defn: To prepare a skeleton of; also, to reduce, as a leaf, to its skeleton. Pop. Sci. Monthly.

SKELETONIZER Skel"e*ton*i`zer, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small moth whose larva eats the parenchyma of leaves, leaving the skeleton; as, the apple-leaf skeletonizer.

SKELLUM Skel"lum, n. Etym: [Dan. schelm, fr. G. schelm.]

Defn: A scoundrel. [Obs. or Scot.] Pepys. Burns.

SKELLY Skel"ly, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Dan. skele, Sw. skela.]

Defn: To squint. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

SKELLY Skel"ly, n.

Defn: A squint. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKELP Skelp, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. skelp to kick severely, to move rapidly; Gael. sgealp, n., a slap with the palm of the hand, v., to strike with the palm of the hand.]

1. A blow; a smart stroke. [Prov. Eng.] Brockett.

2. A squall; also, a heavy fall of rain. [Scot.]

SKELP Skelp, v. t.

Defn: To strike; to slap. [Scot.] C. Reade.

SKELP Skelp, n.

Defn: A wrought-iron plate from which a gun barrel or pipe is made by bending and welding the edges together, and drawing the thick tube thus formed.

SKELTER Skel"ter, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Helter-skelter.]

Defn: To run off helter-skelter; to hurry; to scurry; -- with away or off. [Colloq.] A. R. Wallace.

SKEN Sken, v. i.

Defn: To squint. [Prov. Eng.]

SKENE Skene, n.

Defn: See Skean. C. Kingsley.

SKEP Skep, n. Etym: [Icel. skeppa a measure, bushel; cf. Gael. sgeap a basket, a beehive.]

1. A coarse round farm basket. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Tusser.

2. A beehive. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKEPTIC Skep"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. skeptiko`s thoughtful, reflective, fr. ske`ptesqai to look carefully or about, to view, consider: cf. L. scepticus, F. sceptique. See Scope.] [Written also sceptic.]

1. One who is yet undecided as to what is true; one who is looking or inquiring for what is true; an inquirer after facts or reasons.

2. (Metaph.)

Defn: A doubter as to whether any fact or truth can be certainly known; a universal doubter; a Pyrrhonist; hence, in modern usage, occasionally, a person who questions whether any truth or fact can be established on philosophical grounds; sometimes, a critical inquirer, in opposition to a dogmatist. All this criticism [of Hume] proceeds upon the erroneous hypothesis that he was a dogmatist. He was a skeptic; that is, he accepted the principles asserted by the prevailing dogmatism: and only showed that such and such conclusions were, on these principles, inevitable. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. (Theol.)

Defn: A person who doubts the existence and perfections of God, or the truth of revelation; one who disbelieves the divine origin of the Christian religion. Suffer not your faith to be shaken by the sophistries of skeptics. S. Clarke.

Note: This word and its derivatives are often written with c instead of k in the first syllable, -- sceptic, sceptical, scepticism, etc. Dr. Johnson, struck with the extraordinary irregularity of giving c its hard sound before e, altered the spelling, and his example has been followed by most of the lexicographers who have succeeded him; yet the prevalent practice among English writers and printers is in favor of the other mode. In the United States this practice is reversed, a large and increasing majority of educated persons preferring the orthography which is most in accordance with etymology and analogy.

Syn. -- Infidel; unbeliever; doubter. -- See Infidel.

SKEPTIC; SKEPTICAL Skep"tic, Skep"tic*al, a. Etym: [Written also sceptic, sceptical.]

1. Of or pertaining to a sceptic or skepticism; characterized by skepticism; hesitating to admit the certainly of doctrines or principles; doubting of everything.

2. (Theol.)

Defn: Doubting or denying the truth of revelation, or the sacred Scriptures. The skeptical system subverts the whole foundation of morals. R. Hall. -- Skep"tac*al*ly, adv. -- Skep"tic*al*ness, n.

SKEPTICISM Skep"ti*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. scepticisme.] [Written also scepticism.]

1. An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty. That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and confusion, which is the result of skepticism. Hune.

2. (Metaph.)

Defn: The doctrine that no fact or principle can be certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be established on philosophical grounds; critical investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive assumption or assertion of certain principles.

3. (Theol.)

Defn: A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or of the being, perfections, or truth of God. Let no . . . secret skepticism lead any one to doubt whether this blessed prospect will be realized. S. Miller.

SKEPTICIZE Skep"ti*cize, v. i.

Defn: To doubt; to pretend to doubt of everything. [R.] To skepticize, where no one else will . . . hesitate. Shaftesbury.

SKERRY Sker"ry, n.; pl. Skerries. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. sker, Sw. skär, Dan. ski. Cf. Scar a bank.]

Defn: A rocky isle; an insulated rock. [Scot.]

SKETCH Sketch, n. Etym: [D. schets, fr. It. schizzo a sketch, a splash (whence also F. esquisse; cf. Esquisse.); cf. It. schizzare to splash, to sketch.]

Defn: An outline or general delineation of anything; a first rough or incomplete draught or plan of any design; especially, in the fine arts, such a representation of an object or scene as serves the artist's purpose by recording its chief features; also, a preliminary study for an original work.

Syn. -- Outline; delineation; draught; plan; design. -- Sketch, Outline, Delineation. An outline gives only the bounding lines of some scene or picture. A sketch fills up the outline in part, giving broad touches, by which an imperfect idea may be conveyed. A delineation goes further, carrying out the more striking features of the picture, and going so much into detail as to furnish a clear conception of the whole. Figuratively, we may speak of the outlines of a plan, of a work, of a project, etc., which serve as a basis on which the subordinate parts are formed, or of sketches of countries, characters, manners, etc., which give us a general idea of the things described. Crabb.

SKETCH Sketch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sketched; p. pr. & vb. n. Sketching.] Etym: [Cf D. schetsen, It. schizzare. See Sketch, n.]

1. To draw the outline or chief features of; to make a rought of.

2. To plan or describe by giving the principal points or ideas of.

Syn. -- To delineate; design; draught; depict.

SKETCH Sketch, v. i.

Defn: To make sketches, as of landscapes.

SKETCHBOOK Sketch"book`, n.

Defn: A book of sketches or for sketches.

SKETCHER Sketch"er, n.

Defn: One who sketches.

SKETCHILY Sketch"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sketchy or incomplete manner. "Sketchily descriptive." Bartlett.

SKETCHINESS Sketch"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sketchy; lack of finish; incompleteness.

SKETCHY Sketch"y, a.

Defn: Containing only an outline or rough form; being in the manner of a sketch; incomplete. The execution is sketchy throughout; the head, in particular, is left in the rough. J. S. Harford.

SKEW Skew, adv. Etym: [Cf. D. scheef. Dan. ski, Sw. skef, Icel. skeifr, G. schief, also E. shy, a. & v. i.]

Defn: Awry; obliquely; askew.

SKEW Skew, a.

Defn: Turned or twisted to one side; situated obliquely; skewed; -- chiefly used in technical phrases. Skew arch, an oblique arch. See under Oblique. -- Skew back. (Civil Engin.) (a) The course of masonry, the stone, or the iron plate, having an inclined face, which forms the abutment for the voussoirs of a segmental arch. (b) A plate, cap, or shoe, having an inclined face to receive the nut of a diagonal brace, rod, or the end of an inclined strut, in a truss or frame. -- Skew bridge. See under Bridge, n. -- Skew curve (Geom.), a curve of double curvature, or a twisted curve. See Plane curve, under Curve. -- Skew gearing, or Skew bevel gearing (Mach.), toothed gearing, generally resembling bevel gearing, for connecting two shafts that are neither parallel nor intersecting, and in which the teeth slant across the faces of the gears. -- Skew surface (Geom.), a ruled surface such that in general two successive generating straight lines do not intersect; a warped surface; as, the helicoid is a skew surface. -- Skew symmetrical determinant (Alg.), a determinant in which the elements in each column of the matrix are equal to the elements of the corresponding row of the matrix with the signs changed, as in (1), below. (1) 0 2 -3-2 0 53 -5 0 (2) 4 -1 71 8 -2-7 2 1

Note: This requires that the numbers in the diagonal from the upper left to lower right corner be zeros. A like determinant in which the numbers in the diagonal are not zeros is a skew determinant, as in (2), above.

SKEW Skew, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A stone at the foot of the slope of a gable, the offset of a buttress, or the like, cut with a sloping surface and with a check to receive the coping stones and retain them in place.

SKEW Skew, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewing.]

1. To walk obliquely; to go sidling; to lie or move obliquely. Child, you must walk straight, without skewing. L'Estrange.

2. To start aside; to shy, as a horse. [Prov. Eng.]

3. To look obliquely; to squint; hence, to look slightingly or suspiciously. Beau & Fl.

SKEW Skew, v. t. Etym: [See Skew, adv.]

1. To shape or form in an oblique way; to cause to take an oblique position.

2. To throw or hurl obliquely.

SKEWBALD Skew"bald`, a.

Defn: Marked with spots and patches of white and some color other than black; -- usually distinguished from piebald, in which the colors are properly white and black. Said of horses.

SKEWER Skew"er, n. Etym: [Probably of Scand, origin; cf. Sw. & Dan. skifer a slate. Cf. Shuver a fragment.]

Defn: A pin of wood or metal for fastening meat to a spit, or for keeping it in form while roasting. Meat well stuck with skewers to make it look round. Swift.

SKEWER Skew"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skewered; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewering.]

Defn: To fasten with skewers.

SKI Ski, n.

Defn: Same as Skee.

SKIAGRAPH; SKIAGRAPHY Ski"a*graph, n. Ski*ag"ra*phy, n., etc.

Defn: See Sciagraph, Sciagraphy, etc.

SKIASCOPE; SCIASCOPE Ski"a*scope, Sci"a*scope, n. [Gr. a shadow + -scope.] (Med.)

Defn: A device for determining the refractive state of the eye by observing the movements of the retinal lights and shadows. -- Ski*as"co*py (#), Ski*as"co*py (#), n.

SKID Skid, n. Etym: [Icel. ski a billet of wood. See Shide.] [Written also skeed.]

1. A shoe or clog, as of iron, attached to a chain, and placed under the wheel of a wagon to prevent its turning when descending a steep hill; a drag; a skidpan; also, by extension, a hook attached to a chain, and used for the same purpose.

2. A piece of timber used as a support, or to receive pressure. Specifically: (a) pl. (Naut.)

Defn: Large fenders hung over a vessel's side to protect it in handling a cargo. Totten. (b) One of a pair of timbers or bars, usually arranged so as to form an inclined plane, as form a wagon to a door, along which anything is moved by sliding or rolling. (c) One of a pair of horizontal rails or timbers for supporting anything, as a boat, a barrel, etc.

SKID Skid, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skidded; p. pr. & vb. n. Skidding.]

1. To protect or support with a skid or skids; also, to cause to move on skids.

2. To check with a skid, as wagon wheels. Dickens.

SKIDDAW Skid"daw`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The black guillemot. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIDDER Skid"der, n. One that skids; one that uses a skid; specif.: (Logging) (a) One that skids logs. (b) An engine for hauling the cable used in skidding logs. (c) The foreman of a construction gang making a skid road.

SKIDPAN Skid"pan`, n.

Defn: See Skid, n., 1. [Eng.]

SKID ROAD Skid road. (Logging) (a) A road along which logs are dragged to the skidway or landing; - - called also travois, or travoy, road. (b) A road having partly sunken transverse logs (called skids) at intervals of about five feet.

SKIED Skied,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Sky, v. t.

SKIEY Ski"ey, a.

Defn: See Skyey. Shelley.

SKIFF Skiff, n. Etym: [F. esquif, fr. OHG. skif, G. schiff. See Ship.]

Defn: A small, light boat. The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff. Milton. Skiff caterpillar (Zoöl.), the larva of a moth (Limacodes scapha); -- so called from its peculiar shape.

SKIFF Skiff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skiffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skiffing.]

Defn: To navigate in a skiff. [R.]

SKIFFLING Skif"fling, n. (Quarrying)

Defn: Rough dressing by knocking off knobs or projections; knobbing.

SKILDER Skil"der, v. i.

Defn: To beg; to pilfer; to skelder. [Prov. Eng.& Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

SKILFUL Skil"ful, a.

Defn: See Skilful.

SKILL Skill, n. Etym: [Icel. skil a distinction, discernment; akin to skilja to separate, divide, distinguish, Sw. skilja,. skille to separate, skiel reason, right, justice, Sw. skäl reason, Lith. skelli to cleave. Cf. Shell, Shoal, a multitude.]

1. Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause. [Obs.] Shak. "As it was skill and right." Chaucer. For great skill is, he prove that he wrought. Chaucer. [For with good reason he should test what he created.]

2. Knowledge; understanding. [Obsoles.] That by his fellowship he color mightskill of any wight. Spenser. Nor want we skill or art. Milton.

3. The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc. Phocion, . . . by his great wisdom and skill at negotiations, diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens. Swift. Where patience her sweet skill imparts. Keble.

4. Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address. [Obs.] Richard . . . by a thousand princely skills, gathering so much corn as if he meant not to return. Fuller.

5. Any particular art. [Obs.] Learned in one skill, and in another kind of learning unskillful. Hooker.

Syn. -- Dexterity; adroitness; expertness; art; aptitude; ability. -- Skill, Dexterity, Adroitness. Skill is more intelligent, denoting familiar knowledge united to readiness of performance. Dexterity, when applied to the body, is more mechanical, and refers to habitual ease of execution. Adroitness involves the same image with dexterity, and differs from it as implaying a general facility of movement (especially in avoidance of danger or in escaping from a difficalty). The same distinctions apply to the figurative sense of the words. A man is skillful in any employment when he understands both its theory and its practice. He is dexterous when he maneuvers with great lightness. He is adroit in the use od quick, sudden, and well- directed movements of the body or the mind, so as to effect the object he has in view.

SKILL Skill, v. t.

Defn: To know; to understand. [Obs.] To skill the arts of expressing our mind. Barrow.

SKILL Skill, v. i.

1. To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance. [Obs.] I can not skill of these thy ways. Herbert.

2. To make a difference; to signify; to matter; -- used impersonally. Spenser. What skills it, if a bag of stones or gold About thy neck do drown thee Herbert. It skills not talking of it. Sir W. Scott.

SKILLED Skilled, a.

Defn: Having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in its application; familiarly acquainted with; expert; skillful; -- often followed by in; as, a person skilled in drawing or geometry.

SKILLET Skil"let, n. Etym: [OF. escuelette, dim. of escuelle a porringer, F. ecuelle, fr. L. scutella, dim. of scutra, scuta, a dish. Cf. Scuttle a basket.]

Defn: A small vessel of iron, copper, or other metal, with a handle, used for culinary purpose, as for stewing meat.

SKILLFUL Skill"ful, a. Etym: [Written also skilful.]

1. Discerning; reasonable; judicious; cunning. [Obs.] "Of skillful judgment." Chaucer.

2. Possessed of, or displaying, skill; knowing and ready; expert; well-versed; able in management; as, a skillful mechanic; -- often followed by at, in, or of; as, skillful at the organ; skillful in drawing. And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentations to wailing. Amos v. 16.

Syn. -- Expert; skilled; dexterous; adept; masterly; adroit; clever; cunning. -- Skill"ful*ly, adv. -- Skill"ful*ness, n.

SKILLIGALEE Skil`li*ga*lee", n.

Defn: A kind of thin, weak broth or oatmeal porridge, served out to prisoners and paupers in England; also, a drink made of oatmeal, sugar, and water, sometimes used in the English navy or army. [Written also skilligolee, skillygalee, etc.]

SKILLING Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. Sheeling.]

Defn: A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage. [Prov. Eng.]

SKILLING Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Sw. & Dan. See Shilling.]

Defn: A money od account in Sweden, Norwey, Denmark, and North Germany, and also a coin. It had various values, from three fourths of a cent in Norway to more than two cents in Lübeck.

SKILL-LESS Skill"-less, a.

Defn: Wanting skill. Shak.

SKILTS Skilts, n. pl.

Defn: A kind of large, coarse, short trousers formerly worn. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.

SKILTY Skil"ty, n.

Defn: The water rail. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIM Skim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimming.] Etym: [Cf. Sw. skymma to darken. sq. root158. See Scum.]

1. To clear (a liquid) from scum or substance floating or lying thereon, by means of a utensil that passes just beneath the surface; as, to skim milk; to skim broth.

2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream.

3. To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of. Homer describes Mercury as flinging himself from the top of Olympus, and skimming the surface of the ocean. Hazlitt.

4. Fig.: To read or examine superficially and rapidly, in order to cull the principal facts or thoughts; as, to skim a book or a newspaper.

SKIM Skim, v. i.

1. To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface. Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain, Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main. Pope.

2. To hasten along with superficial attention. They skim over a science in a very superficial survey. I. Watts.

3. To put on the finishing coat of plaster.

SKIM Skim, a.

Defn: Contraction of Skimming and Skimmed. Skim coat, the final or finishing coat of plaster. -- Skim colter, a colter for paring off the surface of land. -- Skim milk, skimmed milk; milk from which the cream has been taken.

SKIM Skim, n.

Defn: Scum; refuse. Bryskett.

SKIMBACK Skim"back`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The quillback. [Local, U.S.]

SKIMBLE-SCAMBLE Skim"ble-scam`ble, a. Etym: [A reduplication of scamble.]

Defn: Rambling; disorderly; unconnected. [Colloq.] Such a deal of skimble-scamble stuff. Shak.

SKIMITRY Skim"i*try, n.

Defn: See Skimmington.

SKIMMER Skim"mer, n.

1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus Rhynchops, allied to the terns, but having the lower mandible compressed and much longer than the upper one. These birds fly rapidly along the surface of the water, with the lower mandible immersed, thus skimming out small fishes. The American species (R. nigra) is common on the southern coasts of the United States. Called also scissorbill, and shearbill.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, as the sea clams, and large scallops.

SKIMMERTON Skim"mer*ton, n.

Defn: See Skimmington.

SKIMMING Skim"ming, n.

1. The act of one who skims.

2. That which is skimmed from the surface of a liquid; -- chiefly used in the plural; as, the skimmings of broth.

SKIMMINGLY Skim"ming*ly, adv.

Defn: In a skimming manner.

SKIMMINGTON Skim"ming*ton, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain. Perhaps the name of some notorius scold.]

Defn: A word employed in the phrase, To ride Skimmington; that is to ride on a horse with a woman, but behind her, facing backward, carrying a distaff, and accompanied by a procession of jeering neighbors making mock music; a cavalcade in ridicule of a henpecked man. The custom was in vogue in parts of England.

SKIMP Skimp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimped; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimping.] Etym: [Cf. Skinch, Scamp, v. t.]

1. To slight; to do carelessly; to scamp. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

2. To make insufficient allowance for; to scant; to scrimp. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]

SKIMP Skimp, v. i.

Defn: To save; to be parsimonious or niggardly. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

SKIMP Skimp, a.

Defn: Scanty. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

SKIN Skin, n. Etym: [Icel. skinn; akin to Sw. skinn, Dan. skind, AS. scinn, G. schined to skin.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The external membranous integument of an animal.

Note: In man, and the vertebrates generally, the skin consist of two layers, an outer nonsensitive and nonvascular epidermis, cuticle, or skarfskin, composed of cells which are constantly growing and multiplying in the deeper, and being thrown off in the superficial, layers; and an inner sensitive, and vascular dermis, cutis, corium, or true skin, composed mostly of connective tissue.

2. The hide of an animal, separated from the body, whether green, dry, or tanned; especially, that of a small animal, as a calf, sheep, or goat.

3. A vessel made of skin, used for holding liquids. See Bottle, 1. "Skins of wine." Tennyson.

4. The bark or husk of a plant or fruit; the exterior coat of fruits and plants.

5. (Naut.) (a) That part of a sail, when furled, which remains on the outside and covers the whole. Totten. (b) The covering, as of planking or iron plates, outside the framing, forming the sides and bottom of a vessel; the shell; also, a lining inside the framing. Skin friction, Skin resistance (Naut.), the friction, or resistance, caused by the tendency of water to adhere to the immersed surface (skin) of a vessel. -- Skin graft (Surg.), a small portion of skin used in the process of grafting. See Graft, v. t., 2. -- Skin moth (Zoöl.), any insect which destroys the prepared skins of animals, especially the larva of Dermestes and Anthrenus. -- Skin of the teeth, nothing, or next to nothing; the least possible hold or advantage. Job xix. 20. -- Skin wool, wool taken from dead sheep.

SKIN Skin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinning.]

1. To strip off the skin or hide of; to flay; to peel; as, to skin an animal.

2. To cover with skin, or as with skin; hence, to cover superficially. It will but skin and film the ulcerous place. Shak.

3. To strip of money or property; to cheat. [Slang]

SKIN Skin, v. i.

1. To become covered with skin; as, a wound skins over.

2. To produce, in recitation, examination, etc., the work of another for one's own, or to use in such exercise cribs, memeoranda, etc., which are prohibited. [College Cant, U.S.]

SKINBOUND Skin"bound`, a.

Defn: Having the skin adhering closely and rigidly to the flesh; hidebound. Skinbound disease. (Med.) See Sclerema neonatorum, under Sclerema.

SKINCH Skinch, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Skinched; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinching.] Etym: [Cf. Scant.]

Defn: To give scant measure; to squeeze or pinch in order to effect a saving. [Prev. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

SKIN-DEEP Skin"-deep`, a.

Defn: Not deeper than the skin; hence, superficial. Lowell.

SKINFLINT Skin"flint`, n. Etym: [Skin + flint.]

Defn: A penurious person; a miser; a niggard. Sir W. Scott.

SKINFUL Skin"ful, n.; pl. Skinfuls (.

Defn: As much as a skin can hold.

SKINK Skink, n. Etym: [L. scincus, Gr. [Written also scink.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of regularly scaled harmless lizards of the family Scincidæ, common in the warmer parts of all the continents.

Note: The officinal skink (Scincus officinalis) inhabits the sandy plains of South Africa. It was believed by the ancients to be a specific for various diseases. A common slender species (Seps tridactylus) of Southern Europe was formerly believed to produce fatal diseases in cattle by mere contact. The American skinks include numerous species of the genus Eumeces, as the blue-tailed skink (E. fasciatus) of the Eastern United States. The ground skink, or ground lizard (Oligosoma laterale) inhabits the Southern United States.

SKINK Skink, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skinked; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinking.] Etym: [Icel. skenja; akin to Sw. skäka, Dan. skienke, AS. scencan, D. & G. schenken. As. scencan is usually derived from sceonc, sceanc, shank, a hollow bone being supposed to have been used to draw off liquor from a cask. sq. root161. See Shank, and cf. Nunchion.]

Defn: To draw or serve, as drink. [Obs.] Bacchus the wine them skinketh all about. Chaucer. Such wine as Ganymede doth skink to Jove. Shirley.

SKINK Skink, v. i.

Defn: To serve or draw liquor. [Obs.]

SKINK Skink, n.

Defn: Drink; also, pottage. [Obs.] Bacon.

SKINKER Skink"er, n.

Defn: One who serves liquor; a tapster.

SKINLESS Skin"less, a.

Defn: Having no skin, or a very thin skin; as, skinless fruit.

SKINNER Skin"ner, n.

1. One who skins.

2. One who deals in skins, pelts, or hides.

SKINNINESS Skin"ni*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being skinny.

SKINNY Skin"ny, a.

Defn: Consisting, or chiefly consisting, of skin; wanting flesh. "Her skinny lips." Shak. He holds him with a skinny hand. Coleridge.

SKIP Skip, n. Etym: [See Skep.]

1. A basket. See Skep. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. A basket on wheels, used in cotton factories.

3. (Mining)

Defn: An iron bucket, which slides between guides, for hoisting mineral and rock.

4. (Sugar Manuf.)

Defn: A charge of sirup in the pans.

5. A beehive; a skep.

SKIP Skip, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Skipping.] Etym: [OE. skippen, of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. skopa run, skoppa to spin like a top, OSw. & dial. Sw. skimmpa to run, skimpa, skompa, to hop, skip; or Ir. sgiob to snatch, Gael. sgiab to start or move suddenly, to snatch, W. ysgipio to snatch.]

1. To leap lightly; to move in leaps and hounds; -- commonly implying a sportive spirit. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play Pope. So she drew her mother away skipping, dancing, and frisking fantastically. Hawthorne.

2. Fig.: To leave matters unnoticed, as in reading, speaking, or writing; to pass by, or overlook, portions of a thing; -- often followed by over.

SKIP Skip, v. t.

1. To leap lightly over; as, to skip the rope.

2. To pass over or by without notice; to omit; to miss; as, to skip a line in reading; to skip a lesson. They who have a mind to see the issue may skip these two chapters. Bp. Burnet.

3. To cause to skip; as, to skip a stone. [Colloq.]

SKIP Skip, n.

1. A light leap or bound.

2. The act of passing over an interval from one thing to another; an omission of a part.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: A passage from one sound to another by more than a degree at once. Busby. Skip kennel, a lackey; a footboy. [Slang.] Swift. -- Skip mackerel. (Zoöl.) See Bluefish, 1.

SKIPJACK Skip"jack`, n.

1. An upstart. [Obs.] Ford.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An elater; a snap bug, or snapping beetle.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A name given to several kinds of a fish, as the common bluefish, the alewife, the bonito, the butterfish, the cutlass fish, the jurel, the leather jacket, the runner, the saurel, the saury, the threadfish, etc.

4. (Naut.)

Defn: A shallow sailboat with a rectilinear or V-shaped cross section.

SKIPPER Skip"per, n.

1. One who, or that which, skips.

2. A young, thoughtless person. Shak.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The saury (Scomberesox saurus).

4. The cheese maggot. See Cheese fly, under Cheese.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of small butterflies of the family Hesperiadæ; -- so called from their peculiar short, jerking flight.

SKIPPER Skip"per, n. Etym: [D. schipper. See Shipper, and Ship.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: The master of a fishing or small trading vessel; hence, the master, or captain, of any vessel.

2. A ship boy. [Obs.] Congreve.

SKIPPET Skip"pet, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skip, E. skipper. See Ship.]

1. A small boat; a skiff. [Obs.] A little skippet floating did appear. Spenser.

2. A small round box for keeping records. [Obs.]

SKIPPINGLY Skip"ping*ly, adv.

Defn: In a skipping manner; by skips, or light leaps.

SKIRL Skirl, v. t.& i. Etym: [Of Scand. origin, and originally the same word as E. shrill.]

Defn: To utter in a shrill tone; to scream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKIRL Skirl, n.

Defn: A shrill cry or sound. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKIRLCOCK Skirl"cock`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The missel thrush; -- so called from its harsh alarm note. [Prev. Eng.]

SKIRLCRAKE Skirl"crake`, n.

Defn: The turnstone. [Prev. Eng.]

SKIRLING Skirl"ing, n.

Defn: A shrill cry or sound; a crying shrilly; a skirl. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott. When the skirling of the pipes cleft the air his cold eyes softened. Mrs. J. H. Ewing.

SKIRLING Skirl"ing, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small trout or salmon; -- a name used loosely. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIRMISH Skir"mish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skirmished; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirmishing.] Etym: [OE. skirmishen, scarmishen, OF. escremir, eskermir, to fence, fight, F. escrimer, of German origin; cf. OHG. scirmen to protect, defend, G. schirmen, OHG. scirm, scerm, protection, shield, G. schirm; perhaps akin to Gr. Scaramouch, Scrimmage.]

Defn: To fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a skirmish or skirmishes; to act as skirmishers.

SKIRMISH Skir"mish, n.Etym: [OE. scarmishe, scrymishe. See Skirmish, v. i.]

1. A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of troops.

2. A slight contest. They never meet but there's a skirmish of wit. Shak.

SKIRMISHER Skir"mish*er, n.

Defn: One who skirmishes. Specifically: pl. (Mil.)

Defn: Soldiers deployed in loose order, to cover the front or flanks of an advancing army or a marching column.

SKIRR Skirr, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Scur, Scurry.]

Defn: To ramble over in order to clear; to scour. [Archaic] Shak.

SKIRR Skirr, v. i.

Defn: To scour; to scud; to run. [Archaic]

SKIRR Skirr, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tern. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIRRET Skir"ret, n. Etym: [A corrupted form equivalent to sugarwort.] (Bot.)

Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Sium, or Pimpinella, Sisarum). It is a native of Asia, but has been long cultivated in Europe for its edible clustered tuberous roots, which are very sweet.

SKIRRHUS Skir"rhus, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Scirrhus.

SKIRT Skirt, n. Etym: [OE. skyrt, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. skyrta a shirt, Sw. skört a skirt, skjorta a shirt. See Shirt.]

1. The lower and loose part of a coat, dress, or other like garment; the part below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat, a dress, or a mantle.

2. A loose edging to any part of a dress. [Obs.] A narrow lace, or a small skirt of ruffled linen, which runs along the upper part of the stays before, and crosses the breast, being a part of the tucker, is called the modesty piece. Addison.

3. Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything "Here in the skirts of the forest." Shak.

4. A petticoat.

5. The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals. Dunglison.

SKIRT Skirt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skirted; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirting.]

1. To cover with a skirt; to surround. Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold. Milton.

2. To border; to form the border or edge of; to run along the edge of; as, the plain was skirted by rows of trees. "When sundown skirts the moor." Tennyson.

SKIRT Skirt, v. t.

Defn: To be on the border; to live near the border, or extremity. Savages . . . who skirt along our western frontiers. S. S. Smith.

SKIRTING Skirt"ing, n.

1. (Arch.)

Defn: A skirting board. [R.]

2. Skirts, taken collectivelly; material for skirts. Skirting board, the board running around a room on the wall next the floor; baseboard.

SKIT Skit, v. t. Etym: [Prov. E. skitto slide, as adj., hasty, precipitate, of Scand. origin, and akin to E. shoot, v.t.; cf. Icel. skyti, skytja, skytta, a marksman, shooter, skjota to shoot, skuta a taunt. sq. root159. See Shoot.]

Defn: To cast reflections on; to asperse. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Crose.

SKIT Skit, n.

1. A reflection; a jeer or gibe; a sally; a brief satire; a squib. Tooke. A similar vein satire upon the emptiness of writers is given in his "Tritical Essay upon the Faculties of the Human Mind;" but that is a mere skit compared with this strange performance. Leslie Stephen.

2. A wanton girl; a light wench. [Obs.]

SKITTER Skit"ter, v. t. [Cf. Skit, v. t.]

Defn: To move or pass (something) over a surface quickly so that it touches only at intervals; to skip.

The angler, standing in the bow, 'skitters' or skips the spoon over the surface. James A. Henshall.

SKITTER Skit"ter, v. i.

Defn: To pass or glide lightly or with quick touches at intervals; to skip; to skim.

Some kinds of ducks in lighting strike the water with their tails first, and skitter along the surface for a feet before settling down. T. Roosevelt.

SKITTISH Skit"tish, a. Etym: [See Skit, v. t.]

1. Easily frightened; timorous; shy; untrustworthy; as, a skittish colt. "A restiff, skittish jade." L'Estrange.

2. Wanton; restive; freakish; volatile; changeable; fickle. "Skittish Fortune's hall." Shak. -- Skit"tish*ly, adv. -- Skit"tish*ness, n.

SKITTLE Skit"tle, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the game of skittles. Skittle alley, an alley or court in which the game of skittles is played. -- Skittle ball, a disk or flattish ball of wood for throwing at the pins in the game of skittles.

SKITTLE-DOG Skit"tle-dog`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The piked dogfish.

SKITTLES Skit"tles, n. pl. Etym: [Of Scand. origin. sq. root159. See Shoot, v. t., and cf. Shuttle, Skit, v. t.]

Defn: An English game resembling ninepins, but played by throwing wooden disks, instead of rolling balls, at the pins.

SKITTY Skit"ty, n. Etym: [Cf. Skittish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A rail; as, the water rail (called also skitty cock, and skitty coot); the spotted crake (Porzana maruetta), and the moor hen. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIVE Skive, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skifa a shaving, slice, E. shive, sheave.]

Defn: The iron lap used by diamond polishers in finishing the facets of the gem.

SKIVE Skive, v. t.

Defn: To pare or shave off the rough or thick parts of (hides or leather).

SKIVER Skiv"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Skewer, Shiver a fragment.]

1. An inferior quality of leather, made of split sheepskin, tanned by immersion in sumac, and dyed. It is used for hat linings, pocketbooks, bookbinding, etc.

2. The cutting tool or machine used in splitting leather or skins, as sheepskins.

SKIVING Ski"ving, n.

1. The act of paring or splitting leather or skins.

2. A piece made in paring or splitting leather; specifically, the part from the inner, or flesh, side.

SKLAYRE Sklayre, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schleier.]

Defn: A vell. [Obs.]

SKLERE Sklere, v. t.

Defn: To shelter; to cover. [Obs.]

SKOLECITE; SKOLEZITE Skol"e*cite, Skol"e*zite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Scolecite.

SKONCE Skonce, n.

Defn: See Sconce.

SKOPSTER Skop"ster, n.

Defn: The saury. [Prov. Eng.]

SKOPTSY Skop*tsy", n. pl.

Defn: See Raskolnik.

SKORODITE Skor"o*dite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Scorodite.

SKOUT Skout, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A guillemot.

SKOWITZ Sko"witz, n. Etym: [Nisqually (American Indian) name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The silver salmon.

SKREEN Skreen, n. & v.

Defn: See Screen. [Obs.]

SKRIKE Skrike, v. i. & t.

Defn: To shriek. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SKRIKE Skrike, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The missel thrush. [Prov. Eng.]

SKRIMMAGE Skrim"mage, n.

Defn: See Scrimmage.

SKRIMP Skrimp, v. t.

Defn: See Scrimp.

SKRINGE Skringe, v. i.

Defn: See Scringe.

SKRITE Skrite, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The skrike. [Prov. Eng.]

SKUA Sku"a, n. Etym: [Icel. sk, sk.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any jager gull; especially, the Megalestris skua; -- called also boatswain.

SKUE Skue, a. & n.

Defn: See Skew.

SKULK Skulk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skulked; p. pr. & vb. n. Skulking.] Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. skulke to spare or save one's self, to play the truant, Sw. skolka to be at leisure, to shirk, Icel. skolla. Cf. Scowl.]

Defn: To hide, or get out of the way, in a sneaking manner; to lie close, or to move in a furtive way; to lurk. "Want skulks in holes and crevices." W. C. Bryant. Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. Dryden.

SKULK Skulk, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skollr, skolli, a fox, and E. skulk, v.i.]

Defn: A number of foxes together. Wright.

SKULK; SKULKER Skulk, Skulk"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, skulks.

SKULKINGLY Skulk"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a skulking manner.

SKULL Skull, n. Etym: [See School a multitude.]

Defn: A school, company, or shoal. [Obs.] A knavish skull of boys and girls did pelt at him. Warner. These fishes enter in great flotes and skulls. Holland.

SKULL Skull, n. Etym: [OE. skulle, sculle, scolle; akin to Scot. skull, skoll, a bowl, Sw. skalle skull, skal a shell, and E. scale; cf. G. hirnschale, Dan. hierneskal. Cf. Scale of a balance.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The skeleton of the head of a vertebrate animal, including the brain case, or cranium, and the bones and cartilages of the face and mouth. See Illusts. of Carnivora, of Facial angles under Facial, and of Skeleton, in Appendix.

Note: In many fishes the skull is almost wholly cartilaginous but in the higher vertebrates it is more or less completely ossified, several bones are developed in the face, and the cranium is made up, wholly or partially, of bony plates arranged in three segments, the frontal, parietal, and occipital, and usually closely united in the adult.

2. The head or brain; the seat of intelligence; mind. Skulls that can not teach, and will not learn. Cowper.

3. A covering for the head; a skullcap. [Obs. & R.] Let me put on my skull first. Beau & Fl.

4. A sort of oar. See Scull. Skull and crossbones, a symbol of death. See Crossbones.

SKULLCAP Skull"cap`, n.

1. A cap which fits the head closely; also, formerly, a headpiece of iron sewed inside of a cap for protection.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the labiate genus Scutellaria, the calyx of whose flower appears, when inverted, like a helmet with the visor raised.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Lophiomys. Mad-dog skullcap (Bot.), an American herb (Scetellaria lateriflora) formerly prescribed as a cure for hydrophobia.

SKULLFISH Skull"fish`, n.

Defn: A whaler's name for a whale more than two years old.

SKULPIN Skul"pin, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Sculpin.

SKUN Skun, n. & v.

Defn: See Scum.

SKUNK Skunk, n. Etym: [Contr. from the Abenaki (American Indian) seganku.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of American musteline carnivores of the genus Mephitis and allied genera. They have two glands near the anus, secreting an extremely fetid liquid, which the animal ejects at pleasure as a means of defense.

Note: The common species of the Eastern United States (Mephitis mephitica) is black with more or less white on the body and tail. The spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), native of the Southwestern United States and Mexico, is smaller than the common skunk, and is variously marked with black and white. Skunk bird, Skunk blackbird (Zoöl.), the bobolink; -- so called because the male, in the breeding season, is black and white, like a skunk. -- Skunk cabbage (Bot.), an American aroid herb (Symplocarpus foetidus) having a reddish hornlike spathe in earliest spring, followed by a cluster of large cabbagelike leaves. It exhales a disagreeable odor. Also called swamp cabbage. -- Skunk porpoise. (Zoöl.) See under Porpoise.

SKUNK Skunk, v. t.

Defn: In games of chance and skill: To defeat (an opponent) (as in cards) so that he fails to gain a point, or (in checkers) to get a king. [Colloq.

Defn: U. S.]

SKUNKBALL Skunk"ball`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The surf duck.

SKUNKHEAD Skunk"head`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The surf duck. (b) A duck (Camptolaimus Labradorus) which formerly inhabited the Atlantic coast of New England. It is now supposed to be extinct. Called also Labrador duck, and pied duck.

SKUNKISH Skunk"ish, a.

Defn: Like the skunk, especially in odor.

SKUNKTOP Skunk"top`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The surf duck.

SKUNKWEED Skunk"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Skunk cabbage.

SKURRY Skur"ry, n. & v.

Defn: See Scurry.

SKUTE Skute, n. Etym: [Icel. sk; akin to Sw. skuta, Dan. skude, D. schuit, Lg. schüte, and E. schoot, v.t.]

Defn: A boat; a small vessel. [Obs.] Sir R. Williams.

SKUTTERUDITE Skut"ter*ud*ite, n. Etym: [From Skuttertid, in Norway, whence it is ibtained.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a bright metallic luster and tin-white to pale lead-gray color. It consist of arsenic and cobalt.

SKY Sky, n.; pl. Skies. Etym: [OE. skie a cloud, Icel. sk; akin to Sw. & Dan. sky; cf. AS. sc, sc, shadow, Icel. skuggi; probably from the same root as E. scum. sq. root158. See Scum, and cf. Hide skin, Obscure.]

1. A cloud. [Obs.] [A wind] that blew so hideously and high, That it ne lefte not a sky In all the welkin long and broad. Chaucer.

2. Hence, a shadow. [Obs.] She passeth as it were a sky. Gower.

3. The apparent arch, or vault, of heaven, which in a clear day is of a blue color; the heavens; the firmament; -- sometimes in the plural. The Norweyan banners flout the sky. Shak.

4. The wheather; the climate. Thou wert better in thy grave than to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies. Shak.

Note: Sky is often used adjectively or in the formation of self- explaining compounds; as, sky color, skylight, sky-aspiring, sky- born, sky-pointing, sky-roofed, etc. Sky blue, an azure color. -- Sky scraper (Naut.), a skysail of a triangular form. Totten. -- Under open sky, out of doors. "Under open sky adored." Milton.

SKY Sky, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skied or Skyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skying.]

1. To hang (a picture on exhibition) near the top of a wall, where it can not be well seen. [Colloq.] Brother Academicians who skied his pictures. The Century.

2. To throw towards the sky; as, to sky a ball at cricket. [Colloq.]

SKY-BLUE Sky"-blue, a.

Defn: Having the blue color of the sky; azure; as, a sky-blue stone. Wordsworth.

SKYED Skyed, a.

Defn: Surrounded by sky. [Poetic & R.] "The skyed mountain." Thomson.

SKYE TERRIER Skye" ter"ri*er. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Terrier.

SKYEY Sky"ey, a.

Defn: Like the sky; ethereal; being in the sky. "Skyey regions." Thackeray. Sublime on the towers of my skyey bowers, Lightning, my pilot, sits. Shelley.

SKY-HIGH Sky"-high`

Defn: , adv. & a. Very high. [Colloq.]

SKYISH Sky"ish, a.

Defn: Like the sky, or approaching the sky; lofty; ethereal. [R.] Shak.

SKYLARK Sky"lark`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A lark that mounts and sings as it files, especially the common species (Alauda arvensis) found in Europe and in some parts of Asia, and celebrated for its melodious song; -- called also sky laverock. See under Lark.

Note: The Australian skylark (Cincloramphus cantillans) is a pipit which has the habit of ascending perpendicularly like a skylark, but it lacks the song of a true lark. The Missouri skylark is a pipit (Anthus Spraguei) of the Western United States, resembling the skylark in habit and song.

SKYLARKING Sky"lark"ing, n.

Defn: The act of running about the rigging of a vessel in sport; hence, frolicking; scuffing; sporting; carousing. [Colloq.]

SKYLIGHT Sky"light`, n.

Defn: A window placed in the roof of a building, in the ceiling of a room, or in the deck of a ship, for the admission of light from above.

SKYMAN Sky"man, n.; pl. -men.

Defn: An aëronaut. [Slang]

SKY PILOT Sky pilot. (Aëronautics)

Defn: A person licensed as a pilot. [Slang]

SKYROCKET Sky"rock`et, n.

Defn: A rocket that ascends high and burns as it flies; a species of fireworks.

SKYSAIL Sky"sail, n. (Naut.)

Defn: The sail set next above the royal. See Illust. under Sail.

SKYSCRAPER Sky"scrap`er, n. (a) (Naut.) (1) A skysail of a triangular form. [Rare] (2)

Defn: A name for the one of the fancy sails alleged to have been sometimes set above the skysail. [Obs.] (b) A very tall building. (c) Hence, anything usually large, high, or excessive. [Slang or Colloq.]

SKYWARD Sky"ward, a. & adv.

Defn: Toward the sky.

SLAB Slab, n. Etym: [OE. slabbe, of uncertain origin; perhaps originally meaning, a smooth piece, and akin to slape, Icel. sleipr slippery, and E. slip, v. i.]

1. A thin piece of anything, especially of marble or other stone, having plane surfaces. Gwilt.

2. An outside piece taken from a log or timber in sawing it into boards, planks, etc.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The wryneck. [Prov. Eng.]

4. (Naut.)

Defn: The slack part of a sail. Slab line (Naut.), a line or small rope by which seamen haul up the foot of the mainsail or foresail. Totten.

SLAB Slab, a. Etym: [Cf. Gael. & Ir. slaib mud, mire left on a river strand, and E. slop puddle.]

Defn: Thick; viscous. [Obs.] Make the gruel thick and slab. Shak.

SLAB Slab, n.

Defn: That which is slimy or viscous; moist earth; mud; also, a puddle. [Obs.] Evelyn.

SLABBER Slab"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slabbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slabbering.] Etym: [OE. slaberen; akin to LG. & D. slabbern, G. schlabbern, LG. & D. slabben, G. schlabben, Icel. slafra. Cf. Slaver, Slobber, Slubber.]

Defn: To let saliva or some liquid fall from the mouth carelessly, like a child or an idiot; to drivel; to drool. [Written also slaver, and slobber.]

SLABBER Slab"ber, v. t.

1. To wet and foul spittle, or as if with spittle. He slabbered me over, from cheek to cheek, with his great tongue. Arbuthnot.

2. To spill liquid upon; to smear carelessly; to spill, as liquid foed or drink, in careless eating or drinking. The milk pan and cream pot so slabbered and tost That butter is wanting and cheese is half lost. Tusser.

SLABBER Slab"ber, n.

Defn: Spittle; saliva; slaver.

SLABBER Slab"ber, n. Etym: [See 1st Slab.] (Mach.) (a) A saw for cutting slabs from logs. (b) A slabbing machine.

SLABBERER Slab"ber*er, n.

Defn: One who slabbers, or drools; hence, an idiot.

SLABBERY Slab"ber*y, a.

Defn: Like, or covered with, slabber or slab; slippery; sloppy.

SLABBINESS Slab"bi*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being slabby.

SLABBING Slab"bing, a. Etym: [See 1st Slab.]

Defn: Adapted for forming slabs, or for dressing flat surfaces. Slabbing machine, a milling machine.

SLABBY Slab"by, a. [Compar. Slabbier; superl. Slabbiest.] Etym: [See Slab, a.]

1. Thick; viscous. They present you with a cup, and you must drink of a slabby stuff. Selden.

2. Sloppy; slimy; miry. See Sloppy. Gay.

SLAB-SIDED Slab"-sid`ed, a.

Defn: Having flat sides; hence, tall, or long and lank. [Colloq. U. S.]

SLACK Slack, n. Etym: [Cf. Slag.]

Defn: Small coal; also, coal dust; culm. Raymond.

SLACK Slack, n. Etym: [Icel. slakki a slope on a mountain edge.]

Defn: A valley, or small, shallow dell. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

SLACK Slack, a. [Compar. Slacker; superl. Slackest.] Etym: [OE. slak, AS. sleac; akin to OS. slak, OHG. slah, Prov. G. schlack, Icel. slakr, Sw. slak; cf. Skr. srsj to let loose, to throw. Cf. Slake.]

Defn: Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly extended; as, a slack rope.

2. Weak; not holding fast; as, a slack hand. Milton.

3. Remiss; backward; not using due diligence or care; not earnest or eager; as, slack in duty or service. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness. 2 Pet. iii. 9.

4. Not violent, rapid, or pressing; slow; moderate; easy; as, business is slack. "With slack pace." Chaucer. Cslack southwest, at midnight was becalmed. Milton. Slack in stays (Naut.), slow in going about, as a ship. -- Slack water, the time when the tide runs slowly, or the water is at rest; or the interval between the flux and reflux of the tide. -- Slack-water navigation, navigation in a stream the depth of which has been increased, and the current diminished, by a dam or dams.

Syn. -- Loose; relaxed; weak; remiss; backward; abated; diminished; inactive; slow; tardy; dull.

SLACK Slack, adv.

Defn: Slackly; as, slack dried hops.

SLACK Slack, n.

Defn: The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it; as, the slack of a rope or of a sail.

SLACK; SLACKEN Slack, Slack"en, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slacked, Slackened (; p. pr. & vb. n. Slacking, Slackening.] Etym: [See Slack, a.]

1. To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather.

2. To be remiss or backward; to be negligent.

3. To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake; as, lime slacks.

4. To abate; to become less violent. Whence these raging fires Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. Milton.

5. To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as, a current of water slackens.

6. To languish; to fail; to flag.

7. To end; to cease; to desist; to slake. [Obs.] That through your death your lineage should slack. Chaucer. They will not of that firste purpose slack. Chaucer.

SLACK; SLACKEN Slack, Slack"en, v. t.

1. To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage. Wycklif (Acts xxvii. 40)

2. To neglect; to be remiss in. [Obs.] Shak. Slack not the pressage. Dryden.

3. To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake; as, to slack lime.

4. To cause to become less eager; to repress; to make slow or less rapid; to retard; as, to slacken pursuit; to slacken industry. "Rancor for to slack." Chaucer. I should be grieved, young prince, to think my presence Unbent your thoughts, and slackened 'em to arms. Addison. In this business of growing rich, poor men should slack their pace. South. With such delay Well plased, they slack their course. Milton.

5. To cause to become less intense; to mitigate; to abate; to ease. To respite, or deceive, or slack thy pain Of this ill mansion. Milton. Air-slacked lime, lime slacked by exposure to the air, in consequence of the absorption of carton dioxide and water, by which it is converted into carbonate of lime and hydrate of lime.

SLACKEN Slack"en, n. (Metal.)

Defn: A spongy, semivitrifled substance which miners or smelters mix with the ores of metals to prevent their fusion. [Written also slakin.]

SLACKLY Slack"ly, adv.

Defn: In a slack manner. Trench.

SLACKNESS Slack"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slack.

SLADE Slade, n. Etym: [AS. sl.]

1. A little dell or valley; a flat piece of low, moist ground. [Obs.] Drayton.

2. The sole of a plow.

SLAG Slag, n. Etym: [Sw. slagg, or LG. slacke, whence G. schlacke; originally, perhaps, the splinters struck off from the metal by hammering. See Slay, v. t.]

1. The dross, or recrement, of a metal; also, vitrified cinders.

2. The scoria of a volcano. Slag furnace, or Slag hearth (Metal.), a furnace, or hearth, for extracting lead from slags or poor ore. -- Slag wool, mineral wool. See under Mineral.

SLAGGY Slag"gy, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to slag; resembling slag; as, slaggy cobalt.

SLAIE Slaie, n. Etym: [See Sley.]

Defn: A weaver's reed; a sley.

SLAKE Slake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaking.] Etym: [OE. slaken to render slack, to slake, AS. sleacian, fr. sleac slack. See Slack, v. & a.]

1. To allay; to quench; to extinguish; as, to slake thirst. "And slake the heavenly fire." Spenser. It could not slake mine ire nor ease my heart. Shak.

2. To mix with water, so that a true chemical combination shall take place; to slack; as, to slake lime.

SLAKE Slake, v. i.

1. To go out; to become extinct. "His flame did slake." Sir T. Browne.

2. To abate; to become less decided. [R.] Shak.

3. To slacken; to become relaxed. "When the body's strongest sinews slake." [R.] Sir J. Davies.

4. To become mixed with water, so that a true chemical combination takes place; as, the lime slakes. Slake trough, a trough containing water in which a blacksmith cools a forging or tool.

SLAKELESS Slake"less, a.

Defn: Not capable of being slaked.

SLAKIN Slak"in, n. (Metal.)

Defn: Slacken.

SLAM Slam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Slamming.] Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. slamra, slambra, sl, Norw. slemba, slemma, dial. Sw. slämma.]

1. To shut with force and a loud noise; to bang; as, he slammed the door.

2. To put in or on some place with force and loud noise; -- usually with down; as, to slam a trunk down on the pavement.

3. To strike with some implement with force; hence, to beat or cuff. [Prov. Eng.]

4. To strike down; to slaughter. [Prov. Eng.]

5. To defeat (opponents at cards) by winning all the tricks of a deal or a hand. Hoyle. To slam to, to shut or close with a slam. "He slammed to the door." W. D. Howells.

SLAM Slam, v. i.

Defn: To come or swing against something, or to shut, with sudden force so as to produce a shock and noise; as, a door or shutter slams.

SLAM Slam, n.

1. The act of one who, or that which, slams.

2. The shock and noise produced in slamming. The slam and the scowl were lost upon Sam. Dickens.

3. (Card Playing)

Defn: Winning all the tricks of a deal.

4. The refuse of alum works. [Prov. Eng.]

SLAM-BANG Slam"-bang`, adv.

Defn: With great violence; with a slamming or banging noise. [Colloq.]

SLAMKIN; SLAMMERKIN Slam"kin, Slam"mer*kin, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schlampe, schlamp, dim. schlämpchen; schlampen to dangle, to be slovenly in one's dress.]

Defn: A slut; a slatternly woman. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SLANDER Slan"der, n. Etym: [OE. sclandere, OF. esclandre, esclandle, escandre, F. esclandre, fr. L. scandalum, Gr. skand to spring, leap. See Scan, and cf. Scandal.]

1. A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another. Whether we speak evil of a man to his face or behind his back; the former way, indeed, seems to be the most generous, but yet is a great fault, and that which we call "reviling;" the latter is more mean and base, and that which we properly call "slander", or "Backbiting." Tillotson. [We] make the careful magistrate The mark of slander. B. Jonson.

2. Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium. Thou slander of thy mother's heavy womb. Shak.

3. (Law)

Defn: Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny. See the Note under Defamation. Burril.

SLANDER Slan"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slandered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slandering.]

1. To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of by false tales maliciously told or propagated; to calumniate. O, do not slander him, for he is kind. Shak.

2. To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts. Tax not so bad a voice To slander music any more than once. Shak.

Syn. -- To asperse; defame; calumniate; vilify; malign; belie; scandalize; reproach. See Asperse.

SLANDERER Slan"der*er, n.

Defn: One who slanders; a defamer; a calumniator. Jer. Taylor.

SLANDEROUS Slan"der*ous, a.

1. Given or disposed to slander; uttering slander. "Slanderous tongue." Shak.

2. Embodying or containing slander; calumnious; as, slanderous words, speeches, or reports. -- Slan"der*ous*ly, adv. -- Slan"der*ous*ness, n.

SLANG Slang,

Defn: imp. of Sling. Slung. [Archaic]

SLANG Slang, n.

Defn: Any long, narrow piece of land; a promontory. [Local, Eng.] Holland.

SLANG Slang, n. Etym: [Cf. Sling.]

Defn: A fetter worn on the leg by a convict. [Eng.]

SLANG Slang, n. Etym: [Said to be of Gypsy origin; but probably from Scand., and akin to E. sling; cf. Norw. sleng a slinging, an invention, device, slengja to sling, to cast, slengja kjeften (literally, to sling the jaw) to use abusive language, to use slang, slenjeord (ord = word) an insulting word, a new word that has no just reason for being.]

Defn: Low, vulgar, unauthorized language; a popular but unauthorized word, phrase, or mode of expression; also, the jargon of some particular calling or class in society; low popular cant; as, the slang of the theater, of college, of sailors, etc.

SLANG Slang, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slanged; p. pr. & vb. n. Slanging.]

Defn: To address with slang or ribaldry; to insult with vulgar language. [Colloq.] Every gentleman abused by a cabman or slanged by a bargee was bound there and then to take off his coat and challenge him to fisticuffs. London Spectator.

SLANGINESS Slang"i*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being slangy.

SLANGOUS Slan"gous, a.

Defn: Slangy. [R.] John Bee.

SLANG-WHANGER Slang"-whang`er, n. Etym: [Slang + whang to beat.]

Defn: One who uses abusive slang; a ranting partisan. [Colloq. or Humorous] W. Irving.

SLANGY Slang"y, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to slang; of the nature of slang; disposed to use slang. [Written also slangey.]

SLANK Slank,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Slink.

SLANT Slant, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slanting.] Etym: [OE. slenten to slope, slide; cf. Sw. slinta to slide.]

Defn: To be turned or inclined from a right line or level; to lie obliquely; to slope. On the side of younder slanting hill. Dodsley.

SLANT Slant, v. t.

Defn: To turn from a direct line; to give an oblique or sloping direction to; as, to slant a line.

SLANT Slant, n.

1. A slanting direction or plane; a slope; as, it lies on a slant.

2. An oblique reflection or gibe; a sarcastic remark. Slant or wind, a local variation of the wind from its general direction.

SLANT Slant, a. Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. slant. See Slant, v. i.]

Defn: Inclined from a direct line, whether horizontal or perpendicular; sloping; oblique. "The slant lightning." Milton.

SLANTING Slant"ing, a.

Defn: Oblique; sloping. -- Slant"ing*ly, adv.

SLANTWISE; SLANTLY Slant"wise`, Slant"ly, adv.

Defn: In an inclined direction; obliquely; slopingly.

SLAP Slap, n. Etym: [OE. slappe; akin to LG. slappe, G. schlappe; probably of imitative origin.]

Defn: A blow, esp. one given with the open hand, or with something broad.

SLAP Slap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Slapping.]

Defn: To strike with the open hand, or with something broad.

SLAP Slap, adv. Etym: [Cf. LG. slap, G. schlapp. See Slap, n.]

Defn: With a sudden and violent blow; hence, quickly; instantly; directly. [Colloq.] "The railroad cars drive slap into the city." Thackeray.

SLAPDASH Slap"dash`, adv. Etym: [Slap + dash.]

1. In a bold, careless manner; at random. [Colloq.]

2. With a slap; all at once; slap. [Colloq.] Prior.

SLAPDASH Slap"dash`, v. t.

Defn: To apply, or apply something to, in a hasty, careless, or rough manner; to roughcast; as, to slapdash mortar or paint on a wall, or to slapdash a wall. [Colloq.] Halliwell.

SLAPE Slape, a. Etym: [Icel. sleipr slippery; akin to E. slip.]

Defn: Slippery; smooth; crafty; hypocritical. [Prov. Eng.] Slape ale, plain ale, as opposed to medicated or mixed ale. [Prov. Eng.]

SLAPEFACE Slape"face`, n.

Defn: A soft-spoken, crafty hypocrite. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SLAPJACK Slap"jack`, n.

Defn: A flat batter cake cooked on a griddle; a flapjack; a griddlecake. [Local, U.S.]

SLAPPER Slap"per, n.

1. One who, or that which, slaps.

2. Anything monstrous; a whopper. [Slang] Grose.

SLAPPER; SLAPPING Slap"per, Slap"ping, a.

Defn: Very large; monstrous; big. [Slang.]

SLASH Slash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Slashing.] Etym: [OE. slaschen, of uncertain origin; cf. OF. esclachier to break, esclechier, esclichier, to break, and E. slate, slice, slit, v. t.]

1. To cut by striking violently and at random; to cut in long slits.

2. To lash; to ply the whip to. [R.] King.

3. To crack or snap, as a whip. [R.] Dr. H. More.

SLASH Slash, v. i.

Defn: To strike violently and at random, esp. with an edged instrument; to lay about one indiscriminately with blows; to cut hastily and carelessly. Hewing and slashing at their idle shades. Spenser.

SLASH Slash, n.

1. A long cut; a cut made at random.

2. A large slit in the material of any garment, made to show the lining through the openings.

3. Etym: [Cf. Slashy.] pl.

Defn: Swampy or wet lands overgrown with bushes. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.

SLASHED Slashed, a.

1. Marked or cut with a slash or slashes; deeply gashed; especially, having long, narrow openings, as a sleeve or other part of a garment, to show rich lining or under vesture. A gray jerkin, with scarlet and slashed sleeves. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Divided into many narrow parts or segments by sharp incisions; laciniate.

SLASHER Slash"er, n. (Textile Manuf.)

Defn: A machine for applying size to warp yarns.

SLASH PINE Slash" pine". (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of pine tree (Pinus Cubensis) found in Southern Florida and the West Indies; -- so called because it grows in "slashes."

SLASHY Slash"y, a. Etym: [Cf. Sw. slaska to dabble in water. Cf. Slush.]

Defn: Wet and dirty; slushy. [Prov. Eng.]

SLAT Slat, n. Etym: [CF. Slot a bar.]

Defn: A thin, narrow strip or bar of wood or metal; as, the slats of a window blind.

SLAT Slat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slatting.] Etym: [OE. slatten; cf. Icel. sletta to slap, to dab.]

1. To slap; to strike; to beat; to throw down violently. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] How did you kill him Slat[t]ed his brains out. Marston.

2. To split; to crack. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

3. To set on; to incite. See 3d Slate. [Prov. Eng.]

SLATCH Slatch, n. Etym: [See Slack.] (Naut.) (a) The period of a transitory breeze. (b) An interval of fair weather. (c) The loose or slack part of a rope; slack.

SLATE Slate, n. Etym: [OE. slat, OF. esclat a shiver, splinter, F. éclat, fr. OF. esclater to shiver, to chip, F. éclater, fr. OHG. sliezen to tear, slit, split, fr. slizan to slit, G. schleissen. See Slit, v. t., and cf. Eclat.]

1. (Min.)

Defn: An argillaceous rock which readily splits into thin plates; argillite; argillaceous schist.

2. Any rock or stone having a slaty structure.

3. A prepared piece of such stone. Especially: (a) A thin, flat piece, for roofing or covering houses, etc. (b) A tablet for writing upon.

4. An artificial material, resembling slate, and used for the above purposes.

5. A thin plate of any material; a flake. [Obs.]

6. (Politics)

Defn: A list of candidates, prepared for nomination or for election; a list of candidates, or a programme of action, devised beforehand. [Cant, U.S.] Bartlett. Adhesive slate (Min.), a kind of slate of a greenish gray color, which absorbs water rapidly, and adheres to the tongue; whence the name. -- Aluminous slate, or Alum slate (Min.), a kind of slate containing sulphate of alumina, -- used in the manufacture of alum. -- Bituminous slate (Min.), a soft species of sectile clay slate, impregnated with bitumen. -- Hornblende slate (Min.), a slaty rock, consisting essentially of hornblende and feldspar, useful for flagging on account of its toughness. -- Slate ax or axe, a mattock with an ax end, used in shaping slates for roofs, and making holes in them for the nails. -- Slate clay (Geol.), an indurated clay, forming one of the alternating beds of the coal measures, consisting of an infusible compound of alumina and silica, and often used for making fire bricks. Tomlinson. -- Slate globe, a globe the surface of which is made of an artificial slatelike material. -- Slate pencil, a pencil of slate, or of soapstone, used for writing on a slate. -- Slate rocks (Min.), rocks which split into thin laminæ, not necessarily parallel to the stratification; foliated rocks. -- Slate spar (Min.), a variety of calcite of silvery white luster and of a slaty structure. -- Transparent slate, a plate of translucent material, as ground glass, upon which a copy of a picture, placed beneath it, can be made by tracing.

SLATE Slate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slated; p. pr. & vb. n. Slating.]

1. To cover with slate, or with a substance resembling slate; as, to slate a roof; to slate a globe.

2. To register (as on a slate and subject to revision), for an appointment. [Polit. Cant]

SLATE Slate, v. t. Etym: [Cf. AS. slæting a privilege of hunting.]

Defn: To set a dog upon; to bait; to slat. See 2d Slat, 3. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] [Written also slete.] Ray.

SLATE-COLOR Slate"-col`or.

Defn: A dark bluish gray color.

SLATE-GRAY Slate"-gray`, a.

Defn: Of a dark gray, like slate.

SLATER Slat"er, n.

Defn: One who lays slates, or whose occupation is to slate buildings.

SLATER Slat"er, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any terrestrial isopod crustacean of the genus Porcellio and allied genera; a sow bug.

SLATING Slat"ing, n.

1. The act of covering with slate, slates, or a substance resembling slate; the work of a slater.

2. Slates, collectively; also, material for slating.

SLATT Slatt, n. Etym: [See Slat a strip of board.]

Defn: A slab of stone used as a veneer for coarse masonry. Knight.

SLATTER Slat"ter, v. i. Etym: [E. slat to throw or dash about.]

Defn: To be careless, negligent, or aswkward, esp. with regard to dress and neatness; to be wasteful. Ray.

SLATTERN Slat"tern, n.

Defn: A woman who is negligent of her dress or house; one who is not neat and nice.

SLATTERN Slat"tern, a.

Defn: Resembling a slattern; sluttish; slatterny. "The slattern air." Gay.

SLATTERN Slat"tern, v. t.

Defn: To consume carelessly or wastefully; to waste; -- with away. [R.] Chesterfield.

SLATTERNLINESS Slat"tern*li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slatternly; slovenliness; untidiness.

SLATTERNLY Slat"tern*ly, a.

Defn: Resembling a slattern; sluttish; negligent; dirty. -- adv.

Defn: In a slatternly manner.

SLATTERPOUCH Slat"ter*pouch`, n.

Defn: A dance or game played by boys, requiring active exercise. [Obs.] Gayton.

SLATTING Slat"ting,

Defn: Slats, collectively.

SLATTING Slat"ting, n.

Defn: The violent shaking or flapping of anything hanging loose in the wind, as of a sail, when being hauled down.

SLATY Slat"y, a. Etym: [From Slate.]

Defn: Resembling slate; having the nature, appearance, or properties, of slate; composed of thin parallel plates, capable of being separated by splitting; as, a slaty color or texture. Slaty cleavage (Min.), cleavage, as of rocks, into thin leaves or plates, like those of slate; -- applied especially to those cases in which the planes of cleavage are not parallel to the planes of stratification. It is now believed to be caused by the compression which the strata have undergone. -- Slaty gneiss (Min.), a variety of gneiss in which the scales of mica or crystals of hornblende, which are usually minute, form thin laminæ, rendering the rock easily cleavable.

SLAUGHTER Slaugh"ter, n. Etym: [OE. slautir, slaughter, slaghter, Icel. slatr slain flesh, modified by OE. slaught, slaht, slaughter, fr. AS. sleaht a stroke, blow; both from the root of E. slay. See Slay, v. t., and cf. Onslaught.]

Defn: The act of killing. Specifically: (a) The extensive, violent, bloody, or wanton destruction of life; carnage. On war and mutual slaughter bent. Milton.

(b) The act of killing cattle or other beasts for market.

Syn. -- Carnage; massacre; butchery; murder; havoc.

SLAUGHTER Slaugh"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slaughtered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaughtering.]

1. To visit with great destruction of life; to kill; to slay in battle. Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes Savagely slaughtered. Shak.

2. To butcher; to kill for the market, as beasts.

SLAUGHTERER Slaugh"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who slaughters.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE Slaugh"ter*house`, n.

Defn: A house where beasts are butchered for the market.

SLAUGHTERMAN Slaugh"ter*man, n.; pl. Slaughtermen (.

Defn: One employed in slaughtering. Shak.

SLAUGHTEROUS Slaugh"ter*ous, a.

Defn: Destructive; murderous. Shak. M. Arnold. -- Slaugh"ter*ous*ly, adv.

SLAV Slav, n.;pl. Slavs. Etym: [A word originally meaning, intelligible, and used to contrast the people so called with foreigners who spoke languages unintelligible to the Slavs; akin to OSlav. slovo a word, slava fame, Skr. çru to hear. Cf. Loud.] (Ethnol.)

Defn: One of a race of people occupying a large part of Eastern and Northern Europe, including the Russians, Bulgarians, Roumanians, Servo-Croats, Slovenes, Poles, Czechs, Wends or Sorbs, Slovaks, etc. [Written also Slave, and Sclav.]

SLAVE Slave, n.

Defn: See Slav.

SLAVE Slave, n. Etym: [Cf. F. esclave, D. slaaf, Dan. slave, sclave, Sw. slaf, all fr. G. sklave, MHG. also slave, from the national name of the Slavonians, or Sclavonians (in LL. Slavi or Sclavi), who were frequently made slaves by the Germans. See Slav.]

1. A person who is held in bondage to another; one who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who is held as a chattel; one who has no freedom of action, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another. thou our slave, Our captive, at the public mill our drudge Milton.

2. One who has lost the power of resistance; one who surrenders himself to any power whatever; as, a slave to passion, to lust, to strong drink, to ambition.

3. A drudge; one who labors like a slave.

4. An abject person; a wretch. Shak. Slave ant (Zoöl.), any species of ants which is captured and enslaved by another species, especially Formica fusca of Europe and America, which is commonly enslaved by Formica sanguinea. -- Slave catcher, one who attempted to catch and bring back a fugitive slave to his master. -- Slave coast, part of the western coast of Africa to which slaves were brought to be sold to foreigners. -- Slave driver, one who superintends slaves at their work; hence, figuratively, a cruel taskmaster. -- Slave hunt. (a) A search after persons in order to reduce them to slavery. Barth. (b) A search after fugitive slaves, often conducted with bloodhounds. -- Slave ship, a vessel employed in the slave trade or used for transporting slaves; a slaver. -- Slave trade, the busines of dealing in slaves, especially of buying them for transportation from their homes to be sold elsewhere. -- Slave trader, one who traffics in slaves.

Syn. -- Bond servant; bondman; bondslave; captive; henchman; vassal; dependent; drudge. See Serf.

SLAVE Slave, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaving.]

Defn: To drudge; to toil; to labor as a slave.

SLAVE Slave, v. t.

Defn: To enslave. Marston.

SLAVEBORN Slave"born`, a.

Defn: Born in slavery.

SLAVEHOLDER Slave"hold`er, n.

Defn: One who holds slaves.

SLAVEHOLDING Slave"hold`ing, a.

Defn: Holding persons in slavery.

SLAVEOCRACY Slave*oc"ra*cy, n.

Defn: See Slavocracy.

SLAVER Slav"er, n.

1. A vessel engaged in the slave trade; a slave ship.

2. A person engaged in the purchase and sale of slaves; a slave merchant, or slave trader. The slaver's hand was on the latch, He seemed in haste to go. Longfellow.

SLAVER Slav"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slavered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slavering.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. slafra. See Slabber.]

1. To suffer spittle, etc., to run from the mouth.

2. To be besmeared with saliva. Shak.

SLAVER Slav"er, v. t.

Defn: To smear with saliva issuing from the mouth; to defile with drivel; to slabber.

SLAVER Slav"er, n.

Defn: Saliva driveling from the mouth. Of all mad creatures, if the learned are right, It is the slaver kills, and not the bite. Pope.

SLAVERER Slav"er*er, n.

Defn: A driveler; an idiot.

SLAVERING Slav"er*ing, a.

Defn: Drooling; defiling with saliva. -- Slav"er*ing*ly, adv.

SLAVERY Slav"er*y, n.; pl. Slaveries. Etym: [See 2d Slave.]

1. The condition of a slave; the state of entire subjection of one person to the will of another. Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, slavery, said I, still thou art a bitter draught! Sterne. I wish, from my soul, that the legislature of this state [Virginia] could see the policy of a gradual abolition of slavery. It might prevent much future mischief. Washington.

2. A condition of subjection or submission characterized by lack of freedom of action or of will. The vulgar slaveries rich men submit to. C. Lever. There is a slavery that no legislation can abolish, -- the slavery of caste. G. W. Cable.

3. The holding of slaves.

Syn. -- Bondage; servitude; inthrallment; enslavement; captivity; bond service; vassalage.

SLAVEY Slav"ey, n.

Defn: A maidservant. [Colloq. & Jocose Eng.]

SLAVIC Slav"ic, a.

Defn: Slavonic. -- n.

Defn: The group of allied languages spoken by the Slavs.

SLAVISH Slav"ish, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to slaves; such as becomes or befits a slave; servile; excessively laborious; as, a slavish life; a slavish dependance on the great. -- Slav"ish*ly, adv. -- Slav"ish*ness, n.

SLAVISM Slav"ism, n.

Defn: The common feeling and interest of the Slavonic race.

SLAVOCRACY Slav*oc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Slave + -cracy, as in democracy.]

Defn: The persons or interest formerly representing slavery politically, or wielding political power for the preservation or advancement of slavery. [U. S.]

SLAVONIAN; SLAVONIC Sla*vo"ni*an, Sla*von"ic, a.

1. Of or pertaining to Slavonia, or its inhabitants.

2. Of or pertaining to the Slavs, or their language.

SLAVONIAN Sla*vo"ni*an, n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Slavonia; ethnologically, a Slav.

SLAVOPHIL; SLAVOPHILE Slav"o*phil, Slav"o*phile, n. Etym: [Slavic + Gr.

Defn: One, not being a Slav, who is interested in the development and prosperity of that race.

SLAW Slaw, n. Etym: [D. sla, contr. fr. salade, OD. salaet, salad. See Salad.]

Defn: Sliced cabbage served as a salad, cooked or uncooked.

SLAW; SLAWEN Slaw, Slaw"en, obs.

Defn: p. p. of Slee, to slay. With a sword drawn out he would have slaw himself. Wyclif (Acts xvi. 27.)

SLAY Slay, v. t. [imp. Slew; p. p. Slain; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaying.] Etym: [OE. slan, sl, sleen, slee, AS. sleán to strike, beat, slay; akin to OFries. sla, D. slaan, OS. & OHG. slahan, G. schlagen, Icel. sla, Dan. slaae, Sw. sl, Goth. slahan; perhaps akin to L. lacerare to tear to pieces, Gr. lacerate. Cf. Slaughter, Sledge a hammer, Sley.]

Defn: To put to death with a weapon, or by violence; hence, to kill; to put an end to; to destroy. With this sword then will I slay you both. Chaucer. I will slay the last of them with the sword. Amos ix. 1. I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk. Shak.

Syn. -- To kill; murder; slaughter; butcher.

SLAYER Slay"er, n.

Defn: One who slays; a killer; a murderer; a destrroyer of life.

SLAZY Sla"zy, a.

Defn: See Sleazy.

SLE Sle, v. t.

Defn: To slay. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEAVE Sleave, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. slöif, a knot loop, Sw. slejf, G. schleife a knot, silding knot, and E. slip, v.i.] (a) The knotted or entangled part of silk or thread. (b) Silk not yet twisted; floss; -- called also sleave silk. Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care. Shak.

SLEAVE Sleave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sleaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleaving.]

Defn: To separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of threads; to sley; -- a weaver's term.

SLEAVED Sleaved, a.

Defn: Raw; not spun or wrought; as, sleaved thread or silk. Holinshed.

SLEAZINESS Slea"zi*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being sleazy.

SLEAZY Slea"zy, a. Etym: [Cf. G. schleissig worn out, threadbare, from schleissen to slit, split, decay, or E. leasy.]

Defn: Wanting firmness of texture or substance; thin; flimsy; as, sleazy silk or muslin. [Spelt also slazy.]

SLED Sled, n. Etym: [Akin to D. slede, G. schlitten, OHG. slito, Icel. sle, Sw. släde, Dan. sl, and E. slide, v. See Slide, and cf. Sledge a vehicle, Sleigh.]

1. A vehicle on runners, used for conveying loads over the snow or ice; -- in England called sledge.

2. A small, light vehicle with runners, used, mostly by young persons, for sliding on snow or ice.

SLED Sled, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sledded; p. pr. & vb. n. Sledding.]

Defn: To convey or transport on a sled; as, to sled wood or timber.

SLEDDING Sled"ding, n.

1. The act of transporting or riding on a sled.

2. The state of the snow which admits of the running of sleds; as, the sledding is good.

SLEDGE Sledge, n. Etym: [Perhaps from sleds, pl. of sled, confused with sledge a hammer. See Sled, n.]

1. A strong vehicle with low runners or low wheels; or one without wheels or runners, made of plank slightly turned up at one end, used for transporting loads upon the snow, ice, or bare ground; a sled.

2. A hurdle on which, formerly, traitors were drawn to the place of execution. [Eng.] Sir W. Scott.

3. A sleigh. [Eng.]

4. A game at cards; -- called also old sledge, and all fours.

SLEDGE Sledge, v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Sledged; p. pr. & vb. n. Sledging.]

Defn: To travel or convey in a sledge or sledges. Howitt.

SLEDGE Sledge, n. Etym: [AS. slecge,from sleán to strike, beat. See Slay, v. t.]

Defn: A large, heavy hammer, usually wielded with both hands; -- called also sledge hammer. With his heavy sledge he can it beat. Spenser.

SLEE Slee, v. t. Etym: [See Slay.]

Defn: To slay. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEEK Sleek, a. [Compar. Sleeker; superl. Sleekest.] Etym: [OE. slik; akin to Icel. slikr, and OE. sliken to glide, slide, G. schleichen, OHG. slihhan, D. slik, slijk, mud, slime, and E. slink. Cf. Slick, Slink.]

1. Having an even, smooth surface; smooth; hence, glossy; as, sleek hair. Chaucer. So sleek her skin, so faultless was her make. Dryden.

2. Not rough or harsh. Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek. Milton.

SLEEK Sleek, adv.

Defn: With ease and dexterity. [Low]

SLEEK Sleek, n.

Defn: That which makes smooth; varnish. [R.]

SLEEK Sleek, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sleeked;p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeking.]

Defn: To make even and smooth; to render smooth, soft, and glossy; to smooth over. Sleeking her soft alluring locks. Milton. Gentle, my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks. Shak.

SLEEKLY Sleek"ly, adv.

Defn: In a sleek manner; smoothly.

SLEEKNESS Sleek"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sleek; smoothness and glossiness of surface.

SLEEKY Sleek"y, a.

1. Of a sleek, or smooth, and glossy appearance. Thomson.

2. Fawning and deceitful; sly. [Scot.]

SLEEP Sleep, obs.

Defn: imp. of Sleep. Slept. Chaucer.

SLEEP Sleep, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slept; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeping.] Etym: [OE. slepen, AS. sl; akin to OFries. sl, OS. slapan, D. slapen, OHG. slafan, G. schlafen, Goth. sl, and G. schlaff slack, loose, and L. labi to glide, slide, labare to totter. Cf. Lapse.]

1. To take rest by a suspension of the voluntary exercise of the powers of the body and mind, and an apathy of the organs of sense; to slumber. Chaucer. Watching at the head of these that sleep. Milton.

2. Figuratively: (a) To be careless, inattentive, or uncouncerned; not to be vigilant; to live thoughtlessly. We sleep over our happiness. Atterbury.

(b) To be dead; to lie in the grave. Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1 Thess. iv. 14.

(c) To be, or appear to be, in repose; to be quiet; to be unemployed, unused, or unagitated; to rest; to lie dormant; as, a question sleeps for the present; the law sleeps. How sweet the moonlight sleep upon this bank! Shak.

SLEEP Sleep, v. t.

1. To be slumbering in; -- followed by a cognate object; as, to sleep a dreamless sleep. Tennyson.

2. To give sleep to; to furnish with accomodations for sleeping; to lodge. [R.] Blackw. Mag. To sleep away, to spend in sleep; as, to sleep away precious time. -- To sleep off, to become free from by sleep; as, to sleep off drunkeness or fatigue.

SLEEP Sleep, n. Etym: [AS. sl; akin to OFries. sl, OS. slap, D. slaap, OHG. slaf, G. schlaf, Goth. sl. See Sleep, v. i.]

Defn: A natural and healthy, but temporary and periodical, suspension of the functions of the organs of sense, as well as of those of the voluntary and rational soul; that state of the animal in which there is a lessened acuteness of sensory perception, a confusion of ideas, and a loss of mental control, followed by a more or less unconscious state. "A man that waketh of his sleep." Chaucer. O sleep, thou ape of death. Shak.

Note: Sleep is attended by a relaxation of the muscles, and the absence of voluntary activity for any rational objects or purpose. The pulse is slower, the respiratory movements fewer in number but more profound, and there is less blood in the cerebral vessels. It is susceptible of greater or less intensity or completeness in its control of the powers. Sleep of plants (Bot.), a state of plants, usually at night, when their leaflets approach each other, and the flowers close and droop, or are covered by the folded leaves.

Syn. -- Slumber; repose; rest; nap; doze; drowse.

SLEEP-AT-NOON Sleep"-at-noon", n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Tragopogon pratensis) which closes its flowers at midday; a kind of goat's beard. Dr. Prior.

SLEEP-CHARGED Sleep"-charged`, a.

Defn: Heavy with sleep.

SLEEPER Sleep"er, n.

1. One who sleeps; a slumberer; hence, a drone, or lazy person.

2. That which lies dormant, as a law. [Obs.] Bacon.

3. A sleeping car. [Colloq. U.S.]

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal that hibernates, as the bear.

5. (Zoöl.) (a) A large fresh-water gobioid fish (Eleotris dormatrix). (b) A nurse shark. See under Nurse.

SLEEPER Sleep"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Norw. sleip a sleeper (a timber), as adj., slippery, smooth. See Slape.]

Defn: Something lying in a reclining posture or position. Specifically: -- (a) One of the pieces of timber, stone, or iron, on or near the level of the ground, for the support of some superstructure, to steady framework, to keep in place the rails of a railway, etc.; a stringpiece. (b) One of the joists, or roughly shaped timbers, laid directly upon the ground, to receive the flooring of the ground story. [U.S.] (c) (Naut.) One of the knees which connect the transoms to the after timbers on the ship's quarter. (d) (Naut. ) The lowest, or bottom, tier of casks.

SLEEPFUL Sleep"ful, a.

Defn: Strongly inclined to sleep; very sleepy. -- Sleep"ful*ness, n.

SLEEPILY Sleep"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sleepy manner; drowsily.

SLEEPINESS Sleep"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sleepy.

SLEEPING Sleep"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Sleep. Sleeping car, a railway car or carrriage, arranged with apartments and berths for sleeping. -- Sleeping partner (Com.), a dormant partner. See under Dormant. -- Sleeping table (Mining), a stationary inclined platform on which pulverized ore is washed; a kind of buddle.

SLEEPISH Sleep"ish, a.

Defn: Disposed to sleep; sleepy; drowsy. Your sleepish, and more than sleepish, security. Ford.

SLEEPLESS Sleep"less, a.

1. Having no sleep; wakeful.

2. Having no rest; perpetually agitated. "Biscay's sleepless bay." Byron. -- Sleep"less*ly, adv. -- Sleep"less*ness, n.

SLEEPMARKEN Sleep"mark`en, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See 1st Hag, 4.

SLEEPWAKER Sleep"wak`er, n.

Defn: On in a state of magnetic or mesmeric sleep.

SLEEPWAKING Sleep"wak`ing, n.

Defn: The state of one mesmerized, or in a partial and morbid sleep.

SLEEPWALKER Sleep"walk`er, n.

Defn: One who walks in his sleep; a somnambulist.

SLEEPWALKING Sleep"walk`ing, n.

Defn: Walking in one's sleep.

SLEEPY Sleep"y, a. [Compar. Sleepier; superl. Sleepiest.] Etym: [AS. sl. See Sleep, n.]

1. Drowsy; inclined to, or overcome by, sleep. Shak. She waked her sleepy crew. Dryden.

2. Tending to induce sleep; soporiferous; somniferous; as, a sleepy drink or potion. Chaucer.

3. Dull; lazy; heavy; sluggish. Shak. 'Tis not sleepy business; But must be looked to speedily and strongly. Shak.

4. Characterized by an absence of watchfulness; as, sleepy security. Sleepy duck (Zoöl.), the ruddy duck.

SLEEPYHEAD Sleep"y*head`, n.

1. A sleepy person. To bed, to bed, says Sleepyhead. Mother Goose.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ruddy duck.

SLEER Sle"er, n.

Defn: A slayer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEET Sleet, n. (Gun.)

Defn: The part of a mortar extending from the chamber to the trunnions.

SLEET Sleet, n. Etym: [OE. sleet; akin to MHG. sl, sl hailstone, G. schlosse; of uncertain origin.]

Defn: Hail or snow, mingled with rain, usually falling, or driven by the wind, in fine particles.

SLEET Sleet, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sleeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeting.]

Defn: To snow or hail with a mixture of rain.

SLEETCH Sleetch, n. Etym: [Cf. Slush, Slutch.]

Defn: Mud or slime, such as that at the bottom of rivers. [Scot.]

SLEETINESS Sleet"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being sleety.

SLEETY Sleet"y, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to sleet; characterized by sleet; as, a sleety storm; sleety weather.

SLEEVE Sleeve, n.

Defn: See Sleave, untwisted thread.

SLEEVE Sleeve, n. Etym: [OE. sleeve, sleve, AS. sl, sl; akin to sl to put on, to clothe; cf. OD. sloove the turning up of anything, sloven to turn up one's sleeves, sleve a sleeve, G. schlaube a husk, pod.]

1. The part of a garment which covers the arm; as, the sleeve of a coat or a gown. Chaucer.

2. A narrow channel of water. [R.] The Celtic Sea, called oftentimes the Sleeve. Drayton.

3. (Mach.) (a) A tubular part made to cover, sustain, or steady another part, or to form a connection between two parts. (b) A long bushing or thimble, as in the nave of a wheel. (c) A short piece of pipe used for covering a joint, or forming a joint between the ends of two other pipes. Sleeve button, a detachable button to fasten the wristband or cuff. -- Sleeve links, two bars or buttons linked together, and used to fasten a cuff or wristband. -- To laugh in the sleeve, to laugh privately or unperceived, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at; that is, perhaps, originally, by hiding the face in the wide sleeves of former times. -- To pin, or hang, on the sleeve of, to be, or make, dependent upon.

SLEEVE Sleeve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sleeved; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeving.]

Defn: To furnish with sleeves; to put sleeves into; as, to sleeve a coat.

SLEEVED Sleeved, a.

Defn: Having sleeves; furnished with sleeves; -- often in composition; as, long-sleeved.

SLEEVEFISH Sleeve"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A squid.

SLEEVEHAND Sleeve"hand`, n.

Defn: The part of a sleeve nearest the hand; a cuff or wristband. [Obs.] Shak.

SLEEVELESS Sleeve"less, a. Etym: [AS. sl.]

1. Having no sleeves.

2. Wanting a cover, pretext, or palliation; unreasonable; profitless; bootless; useless. [Obs.] Shak. The vexation of a sleeveless errand. Bp. Warburton.

SLEID Sleid, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sleided; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleiding.] Etym: [See Sley.]

Defn: To sley, or prepare for use in the weaver's sley, or slaie. Shak.

SLEIGH Sleigh, a.

Defn: Sly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEIGH Sleigh, n. Etym: [Cf. D. & LG. slede, slee, Icel. sle. See Sled.]

Defn: A vehicle moved on runners, and used for transporting persons or goods on snow or ice; -- in England commonly called a sledge. Sleigh bell, a small bell attached either to a horse when drawing a slegh, or to the sleigh itself; especially a globular bell with a loose ball which plays inside instead of a clapper.

SLEIGHING Sleigh"ing, n.

1. The act of riding in a sleigh.

2. The state of the snow or ice which admits of running sleighs.

SLEIGHT Sleight, n. Etym: [OE. sleighte, sleihte, sleithe, Icel. sl (for sl) slyness, cunning, fr. sl (for sl) sly, cunning. See Sly.]

1. Cunning; craft; artful practice. [Obs.] "His sleight and his covin." Chaucer.

2. An artful trick; sly artifice; a feat so dexterous that the manner of performance escapes observation. The world hath many subtle sleights. Latimer.

3. Dexterous practice; dexterity; skill. Chaucer. "The juggler's sleight." Hudibras. Sleight of hand, legerdemain; prestidigitation.

SLEIGHTFUL Sleight"ful, a.

Defn: Cunning; dexterous. [Obs.]

SLEIGHTLY Sleight"ly, adv.

Defn: Cunningly. [Obs.] Huloet.

SLEIGHTY Sleight"y, a.

Defn: Cunning; sly. [Obs.] Huloet.

SLENDER Slen"der, a. [Compar. Slenderer; superl. Slenderest.] Etym: [OE. slendre, sclendre, fr. OD. slinder thin, slender, perhaps through a French form; cf. OD. slinderen, slidderen, to creep; perh. akin to E. slide.]

1. Small or narrow in proportion to the length or the height; not thick; slim; as, a slender stem or stalk of a plant. "A slender, choleric man." Chaucer. She, as a veil down to the slender waist, Her unadorned golden tresses wore. Milton.

2. Weak; feeble; not strong; slight; as, slender hope; a slender constitution. Mighty hearts are held in slender chains. Pope. They have inferred much from slender premises. J. H. Newman. The slender utterance of the consonants. J. Byrne.

3. Moderate; trivial; inconsiderable; slight; as, a man of slender intelligence. A slender degree of patience will enable him to enjoy both the humor and the pathos. Sir W. Scott.

4. Small; inadequate; meager; pitiful; as, slender means of support; a slender pittance. Frequent begging makes slender alms. Fuller.

5. Spare; abstemious; frugal; as, a slender diet. The good Ostorius often deigned To grace my slender table with his presence. Philips.

6. (Phon.)

Defn: Uttered with a thin tone; -- the opposite of broad; as, the slender vowels long e and i. -- Slen"der*ly, adv. -- Slen"der*ness, n.

SLENT Slent, n. & v.

Defn: See Slant. [Obs.]

SLEP Slep, obs.

Defn: imp. of Sleep. Slept. Chaucer.

SLEPEZ Sle*pez", n. Etym: [Russ. sliepets'.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A burrowing rodent (Spalax typhlus), native of Russia and Asia Minor. It has the general appearance of a mole, and is destitute of eyes. Called also mole rat.

SLEPT Slept,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Sleep.

SLEUTH Sleuth, n. Etym: [Icel. sloedh. See Slot a track.]

Defn: The track of man or beast as followed by the scent. [Scot.] Halliwell.

SLEUTHHOUND Sleuth"hound`, n. Etym: [See Sleuth, and cf. Slothound.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A hound that tracks animals by the scent; specifically, a bloodhound. [Spelt variously slouthhound, sluthhound, etc.]

SLEW Slew,

Defn: imp. of Slay.

SLEW Slew, v. t.

Defn: See Slue.

SLEWED Slewed, a.

Defn: Somewhat drunk. [Slang]

SLEWTH Slewth, n.

Defn: Sloth; idleness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEY Sley, n. Etym: [AS. sl, fr. sleán to strike. See Slay, v. t.]

1. A weaver's reed. [Spelt also slaie.]

2. A guideway in a knitting machine. Knight.

SLEY Sley, v. t.

Defn: To separate or part the threads of, and arrange them in a reed; -- a term used by weavers. See Sleave, and Sleid.

SLIBBER Slib"ber, a.

Defn: Slippery. [Obs.] Holland.

SLICE Slice, n. Etym: [OE. slice, sclice, OF. esclice, from esclicier, esclichier, to break to pieces, of German origin; cf. OHG. slizan to split, slit, tear, G. schleissen to slit. See Slit, v. t.]

1. A thin, broad piece cut off; as, a slice of bacon; a slice of cheese; a slice of bread.

2. That which is thin and broad, like a slice. Specifically: (a) A broad, thin piece of plaster. (b) A salver, platter, or tray. [Obs.] (c) A knife with a thin, broad blade for taking up or serving fish; also, a spatula for spreading anything, as paint or ink. (d) A plate of iron with a handle, forming a kind of chisel, or a spadelike implement, variously proportioned, and used for various purposes, as for stripping the planking from a vessel's side, for cutting blubber from a whale, or for stirring a fire of coals; a slice bar; a peel; a fire shovel. [Cant] (e) (Shipbuilding) One of the wedges by which the cradle and the ship are lifted clear of the building blocks to prepare for launching. (f) (Printing) A removable sliding bottom to galley. Slice bar, a kind of fire iron resembling a poker, with a broad, flat end, for stirring a fire of coals, and clearing it and the grate bars from clinkers, ashes, etc.; a slice.

SLICE Slice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sliced; p. pr. & vb. n. Slicing.]

1. To cut into thin pieces, or to cut off a thin, broad piece from.

2. To cut into parts; to divide.

3. To clear by means of a slice bar, as a fire or the grate bars of a furnace.

SLICER Sli"cer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, slices; specifically, the circular saw of the lapidary.

SLICH; SLICK Slich, Slick, n. (Metal.)

Defn: See Schlich.

SLICK Slick, a. Etym: [See Sleek.]

Defn: Sleek; smooth. "Both slick and dainty." Chapman.

SLICK Slick, v. t.

Defn: To make sleek or smoth. "Slicked all with sweet oil." Chapman.

SLICK Slick, n. (Joinery)

Defn: A wide paring chisel.

SLICKEN Slick"en, a.

Defn: Sleek; smooth. [Prov. Eng.]

SLICKENS Slick"ens, n. Etym: [Cf. Slick, n.] (Mining)

Defn: The pulverized matter from a quartz mill, or the lighter soil of hydraulic mines. [Local, U. S.]

SLICKENSIDES Slick"en*sides`, n.

1. The smooth, striated, or partially polished surfaces of a fissure or seam, supposed to have been produced by the sliding of one surface on another.

2. A variety of galena found in Derbyshire, England.

SLICKER Slick"er, n.

Defn: That which makes smooth or sleek. Specifically: (a) A kind of burnisher for leather. (b) (Founding) A curved tool for smoothing the surfaces of a mold after the withdrawal of the pattern.

SLICKER Slick"er, n.

Defn: A waterproof coat. [Western U.S.]

SLICKING Slick"ing, n.

1. The act or process of smoothing.

2. pl. (Min.)

Defn: Narrow veins of ore.

SLICKNESS Slick"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being slick; smoothness; sleekness.

SLID Slid,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Slide.

SLIDDEN Slid"den,

Defn: p. p. of Slide.

SLIDDER Slid"der, v. t. Etym: [AS. sliderian. See Slide, v. t.]

Defn: To slide with interruption. [Obs.] Dryden.

SLIDDER; SLIDDERLY; SLIDDERY Slid"der, Slid"der*ly, Slid"der*y, a. Etym: [AS. slidor. See Slide, v. t.]

Defn: Slippery. [Obs.] To a drunk man the way is slidder. Chaucer.

SLIDE Slide, v. t. [imp. Slid; p. p. Slidden, Slid; p. pr. & vb. n. Slidding.] Etym: [OE. sliden, AS. slidan; akin to MHG. sliten, also to AS. slidor slippery, E. sled, Lith. slidus slippery. Cf. Sled.]

1. To move along the surface of any body by slipping, or without walking or rolling; to slip; to glide; as, snow slides down the mountain's side.

2. Especially, to move over snow or ice with a smooth, uninterrupted motion, as on a sled moving by the force of gravity, or on the feet. They bathe in summer, and in winter slide. Waller.

3. To pass inadvertently. Beware thou slide not by it. Ecclus. xxviii. 26.

4. To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance; as, a ship or boat slides through the water. Ages shall slide away without perceiving. Dryden. Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole. Pope.

5. To slip when walking or standing; to fall. Their foot shall slide in due time. Deut. xxxii. 35.

6. (Mus.)

Defn: To pass from one note to another with no perceptible cassation of sound.

7. To pass out of one's thought as not being of any consequence. [Obs. or Colloq.] With good hope let he sorrow slide. Chaucer. With a calm carelessness letting everything slide. Sir P. Sidney.

SLIDE Slide, v. t.

1. To cause to slide; to thrust along; as, to slide one piece of timber along another.

2. To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip; as, to slide in a word to vary the sense of a question.

SLIDE Slide, n. Etym: [AS. slide.]

1. The act of sliding; as, a slide on the ice.

2. Smooth, even passage or progress. A better slide into their business. Bacon.

3. That on which anything moves by sliding. Specifically: (a) An inclined plane on which heavy bodies slide by the force of gravity, esp. one constructed on a mountain side for conveying logs by sliding them down. (b) A surface of ice or snow on which children slide for amusement.

4. That which operates by sliding. Specifically: (a) A cover which opens or closes an aperture by sliding over it. (b) (Mach.) A moving piece which is guided by a part or parts along which it slides. (c) A clasp or brooch for a belt, or the like.

5. A plate or slip of glass on which is a picture or delineation to be exhibited by means of a magic lantern, stereopticon, or the like; a plate on which is an object to be examined with a microscope.

6. The descent of a mass of earth, rock, or snow down a hill or mountain side; as, a land slide, or a snow slide; also, the track of bare rock left by a land slide.

7. (Geol.)

Defn: A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure. Dana.

8. (Mus.) (a) A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below. (b) An apparatus in the trumpet and trombone by which the sounding tube is lengthened and shortened so as to produce the tones between the fundamental and its harmonics.

9. (Phonetics)

Defn: A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.

10. (Steam Engine) (a) Same as Guide bar, under Guide. (b) A slide valve. Slide box (Steam Engine), a steam chest. See under Steam. -- Slide lathe, an engine lathe. See under Lathe. -- Slide rail, a transfer table. See under Transfer. -- Slide rest (Turning lathes), a contrivance for holding, moving, and guiding, the cutting tool, made to slide on ways or guides by screws or otherwise, and having compound motion. -- Slide rule, a mathematical instrument consisting of two parts, one of which slides upon the other, for the mechanical performance of addition and subtraction, and, by means of logarithmic scales, of multiplication and division. -- Slide valve. (a) Any valve which opens and closes a passageway by sliding over a port. (b) A particular kind of sliding valve, often used in steam engines for admitting steam to the piston and releasing it, alternately, having a cuplike cavity in its face, through which the exhaust steam passes. It is situated in the steam chest, and moved by the valve gear. It is sometimes called a D valve, -- a name which is also applied to a semicylindrical pipe used as a sliding valve. In the illustration, a is the cylinder of a steam engine, in which plays the piston p; b the steam chest, receiving its supply from the pipe i, and containing the slide valve s, which is shown as admitting steam to one end of the cylinder through the port e, and opening communication between the exhaust passage f and the port c, for the release of steam from the opposite end of the cylinder.

SLIDEGROAT Slide"groat, n.

Defn: The game of shovelboard. [Obs.]

SLIDER Slid"er, a.

Defn: See Slidder. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLIDER Slid"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, slides; especially, a sliding part of an instrument or machine.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The red-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys rugosa). [Local, U. S. ] Slider pump, a form of rotary pump.

SLIDEWAY Slide"way`, n.

Defn: A way along which something slides.

SLIDING Slid"ing, a.

1. That slides or slips; gliding; moving smoothly.

2. Slippery; elusory. [Obs.] That sliding science hath me made so bare. Chaucer. Sliding friction (Mech.), the resistance one body meets with in sliding along the surface of another, as distinguished from rolling friction. -- Sliding gunter (Naut.), a topmast arranged with metallic fittings so as to be hoisted and lowered by means of halyards. -- Sliding keel (Naut), a movable keel, similar to a centeboard. -- Sliding pair. (Mech.) See the Note under Pair, n., 7. -- Sliding rule. Same as Slide rule, under Slide, n. -- Sliding scale. (a) A scale for raising or lowering imposts in proportion to the fall or rise of prices. (b) A variable scale of wages or of prices. (c) A slide rule. -- Sliding ways (Naut.), the timber guides used in launching a vessel.

SLIDOMETER Sli*dom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Slide + -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for indicating and recording shocks to railway cars occasioned by sudden stopping.

SLIGHT Slight, n.

Defn: Sleight. Spenser.

SLIGHT Slight, v. t. Etym: [Cf. D. slechten to level, to demolish.]

1. To overthrow; to demolish. [Obs.] Clarendon.

2. To make even or level. [Obs.] Hexham.

3. To throw heedlessly. [Obs.] The rogue slighted me into the river. Shak.

SLIGHT Slight, a. [Compar. Slighter; superl. Slightest.] Etym: [OE. sli, sleght, probably from OD. slicht, slecht, simple, plain, D. slecht; akin to OFries. sliucht, G. schlecht, schlicht, OHG. sleht smooth, simple, Icel. sl smooth, Sw. slät, Goth. slaíhts; or uncertain origin.]

1. Not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe; weak; gentle; -- applied in a great variety of circumstances; as, a slight (i. e., feeble) effort; a slight (i. e., perishable) structure; a slight (i. e., not deep) impression; a slight (i. e., not convincing) argument; a slight (i. e., not thorough) examination; slight (i. e., not severe) pain, and the like. "At one slight bound." Milton. Slight is the subject, but not so the praise. Pope. Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds. Locke.

2. Not stout or heavy; slender. His own figure, which was formerly so slight. Sir W. Scott.

3. Foolish; silly; weak in intellect. Hudibras.

SLIGHT Slight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slighting.]

Defn: To disregard, as of little value and unworthy of notice; to make light of; as, to slight the divine commands. Milton. The wretch who slights the bounty of the skies. Cowper. To slight off, to treat slightingly; to drive off; to remove. [R.] -- To slight over, to run over in haste; to perform superficially; to treat carelessly; as, to slight over a theme. "They will but slight it over." Bacon.

Syn. -- To neglect; disregard; disdain; scorn. -- Slight, Neglect. To slight is stronger than to neglect. We may neglect a duty or person from inconsiderateness, or from being over- occupied in other concerns. To slight is always a positive and intentional act, resulting from feelings of dislike or contempt. We ought to put a kind construction on what appears neglect on the part of a friend; but when he slights us, it is obvious that he is our friend no longer. Beware . . . lest the like befall . . . If they transgress and slight that sole command. Milton. This my long-sufferance, and my day of grace, Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste. Milton.

SLIGHT Slight, n.

Defn: The act of slighting; the manifestation of a moderate degree of contempt, as by neglect or oversight; neglect; indignity.

Syn. -- Neglect; disregard; inattention; contempt; disdain; scorn; disgrace; indignity; disparagement.

SLIGHT Slight, adv.

Defn: Slightly. [Obs. or Poetic] Think not so slight of glory. Milton.

SLIGHTEN Slight"en, v. t.

Defn: To slight. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SLIGHTER Slight"er, n.

Defn: One who slights.

SLIGHTFUL Slight"ful, a.

Defn: See Sleightful. [Obs.]

SLIGHTING Slight"ing, a.

Defn: Characterized by neglect or disregard.

SLIGHTINGLY Slight"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a slighting manner.

SLIGHTLY Slight"ly, adv.

1. In a slight manner.

2. Slightingly; negligently. [Obs.] Shak.

SLIGHTNESS Slight"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slight; slenderness; feebleness; superficiality; also, formerly, negligence; indifference; disregard.

SLIGHTY Slight"y, a.

Defn: Slight. [Obs.] Echard.

SLIK Slik, a. Etym: [See Such.]

Defn: Such. [Obs. or Scot.]

Note: Used by Chaucer as of the Northern dialect.

SLIKENSIDES Slik"en*sides`, n.

Defn: Same as Slickensides.

SLILY Sli"ly, adv.

Defn: See Slyly. South.

SLIM Slim, a. [Compar. Slimmer; superl. Slimmest.] Etym: [Formerly, bad, worthless, weak, slight, awry, fr. D. slim; akin to G. schlimm, MHG. slimp oblique, awry; of uncertain origin. The meaning of the English word seems to have been influenced by slender.]

1. Worthless; bad. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. Weak; slight; unsubstantial; poor; as, a slim argument. "That was a slim excuse." Barrow.

3. Of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length; slender; as, a slim person; a slim tree. Grose.

SLIME Slime, n. Etym: [OE. slim, AS. slim; akin to D. slijm, G. schleim, MHG. slimen to make smooth, Icel. slim slime, Dan. sliim; cf. L. limare to file, polish, levis smooth, Gr. limus mud.]

1. Soft, moist earth or clay, having an adhesive quality; viscous mud. As it [Nilus] ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain. Shak.

2. Any mucilaginous substance; any substance of a dirty nature, that is moist, soft, and adhesive.

3. (Script.)

Defn: Bitumen. [Archaic] Slime had they for mortar. Gen. xi. 3.

4. pl. (Mining)

Defn: Mud containing metallic ore, obtained in the preparatory dressing. Pryce.

5. (Physiol.)

Defn: A mucuslike substance which exudes from the bodies of certain animals. Goldsmith. Slime eel. (Zoöl.) See 1st Hag, 4. -- Slime pit, a pit for the collection of slime or bitumen.

SLIME Slime, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sliming.]

Defn: To smear with slime. Tennyson.

SLIMILY Slim"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a slimy manner.

SLIMINESS Slim"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slimy.

SLIMLY Slim"ly, adv.

Defn: In a state of slimness; in a slim manner; slenderly.

SLIMNESS Slim"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slim.

SLIMSY Slim"sy, a.

Defn: Flimsy; frail. [Colloq. U.S.]

SLIMY Slim"y, a. [Compar. Slimier; superl. Slimiest.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to slime; resembling slime; of the nature of slime; viscous; glutinous; also, covered or daubed with slime; yielding, or abounding in, slime. Slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea. Coleridge.

SLINESS Sli"ness, n.

Defn: See Slyness.

SLING Sling, n. Etym: [OE. slinge; akin to OD. slinge, D. slinger, OHG. slinga; cf. OF. eslingue, of German origin. See Sling, v. t.]

1. An instrument for throwing stones or other missiles, consisting of a short strap with two strings fastened to its ends, or with a string fastened to one end and a light stick to the other. The missile being lodged in a hole in the strap, the ends of the string are taken in the hand, and the whole whirled rapidly round until, by loosing one end, the missile is let fly with centrifugal force.

2. The act or motion of hurling as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke. The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Shak. At one sling Of thy victorius arm, well-pleasing Son. Milton.

3. A contrivance for sustaining anything by suspension; as: (a) A kind of hanging bandage put around the neck, in which a wounded arm or hand is supported. (b) A loop of rope, or a rope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel, bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering. (c) A strap attached to a firearm, for suspending it from the shoulder. (d) (Naut.) A band of rope or iron for securing a yard to a mast; -- chiefly in the plural. Sling cart, a kind of cart used to transport cannon and their carriages, large stones, machines, etc., the objects transported being slung, or suspended by a chain attached to the axletree. -- Sling dog, one of a pair of iron hooks used as part of a sling. See def. 3 (b) above.

SLING Sling, v. t. [imp. Slung, Archaic Slang (; p. p. Slung; p. pr. & vb. n. Slinging.] Etym: [AS. slingan; akin to D. slingeren, G. schlingen, to wind, to twist, to creep, OHG. slingan to wind, to twist, to move to and fro, Icel. slyngva, slöngva, to sling, Sw. slunga, Dan. slynge, Lith. slinkti to creep.]

1. To throw with a sling. "Every one could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss." Judg. xx. 16.

2. To throw; to hurl; to cast. Addison.

3. To hang so as to swing; as, to sling a pack.

4. (Naut)

Defn: To pass a rope round, as a cask, gun, etc., preparatory to attaching a hoisting or lowering tackle.

SLING Sling, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schlingen to swallow.]

Defn: A drink composed of spirit (usually gin) and water sweetened. sling.

SLINGER Sling"er, n.

Defn: One who slings, or uses a sling.

SLINK Slink, v. t. [imp. Slunk, Archaic Slank (; p. p. Slunk; p. pr. & vb. n. Slinking.] Etym: [AS. slincan; probably akin to G. schleichen, E. sleek. See Sleek, a.]

1. To creep away meanly; to steal away; to sneak. "To slink away and hide." Tale of Beryn. Back to the thicket slunk The guilty serpent. Milton. There were some few who slank obliquely from them as they passed. Landor.

2. To miscarry; -- said of female beasts.

SLINK Slink, v. t.

Defn: To cast prematurely; -- said of female beasts; as, a cow that slinks her calf.

SLINK Slink, a.

1. Produced prematurely; as, a slink calf.

2. Thin; lean. [Scot.]

SLINK Slink, n.

1. The young of a beast brought forth prematurely, esp. a calf brought forth before its time.

2. A thievish fellow; a sneak. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SLINKY Slink"y, a.

Defn: Thin; lank. [Prov. Eng. & U. S.]

SLIP Slip, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Slipping.] Etym: [OE. slippen; akin to LG. & D. slippen, MHG. slipfen (cf. Dan. slippe, Sw. slippa, Icel. sleppa), and fr. OE. slipen, AS. slipan (in comp.), akin to G. schleifen to slide, glide, drag, whet, OHG. slifan to slide, glide, make smooth, Icel. slipa to whet; cf. also AS. sl, Goth. sliupan, OS. slopian, OHG. sliofan, G. schliefen, schl, which seem to come from a somewhat different root form. Cf. Slope, n.]

1. To move along the surface of a thing without bounding, rolling, or stepping; to slide; to glide.

2. To slide; to lose one's footing or one's hold; not to tread firmly; as, it is necessary to walk carefully lest the foot should slip.

3. To move or fly (out of place); to shoot; -- often with out, off, etc.; as, a bone may slip out of its place.

4. To depart, withdraw, enter, appear, intrude, or escape as if by sliding; to go or come in a quiet, furtive manner; as, some errors slipped into the work. Thus one tradesman slips away, To give his partner fairer play. Prior. Thrice the flitting shadow slipped away. Dryden.

5. To err; to fall into error or fault. There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart. Ecclus. xix. 16. To let slip, to loose from the slip or noose, as a hound; to allow to escape. Cry, "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war. Shak.

SLIP Slip, v. t.

1. To cause to move smoothly and quickly; to slide; to convey gently or secretly. He tried to slip a powder into her drink. Arbuthnot.

2. To omit; to loose by negligence. And slip no advantage That my secure you. B. Jonson.

3. To cut slips from; to cut; to take off; to make a slip or slips of; as, to slip a piece of cloth or paper. The branches also may be slipped and planted. Mortimer.

4. To let loose in pursuit of game, as a greyhound. Lucento slipped me like his greyhound. Shak.

5. To cause to slip or slide off, or out of place; as, a horse slips his bridle; a dog slips his collar.

6. To bring forth (young) prematurely; to slink. To slip a cable. (Naut.) See under Cable. -- To slip off, to take off quickly; as, to slip off a coat. -- To slip on, to put on in haste or loosely; as, to slip on a gown or coat.

SLIP Slip, n. Etym: [AS. slipe, slip.]

1. The act of slipping; as, a slip on the ice.

2. An unintentional error or fault; a false step. This good man's slip mended his pace to martyrdom. Fuller.

3. A twig separated from the main stock; a cutting; a scion; hence, a descendant; as, a slip from a vine. A native slip to us from foreign seeds. Shak. The girlish slip of a Sicilian bride. R. Browning.

4. A slender piece; a strip; as, a slip of paper. Moonlit slips of silver cloud. Tennyson. A thin slip of a girl, like a new moon Sure to be rounded into beauty soon. Longfellow.

5. A leash or string by which a dog is held; -- so called from its being made in such a manner as to slip, or become loose, by relaxation of the hand. We stalked over the extensive plains with Killbuck and Lena in the slips, in search of deer. Sir S. Baker.

6. An escape; a secret or unexpected desertion; as, to give one the slip. Shak.

7. (Print.)

Defn: A portion of the columns of a newspaper or other work struck off by itself; a proof from a column of type when set up and in the galley.

8. Any covering easily slipped on. Specifically: (a) A loose garment worn by a woman. (b) A child's pinafore. (c) An outside covering or case; as, a pillow slip. (d) The slip or sheath of a sword, and the like. [R.]

9. A counterfeit piece of money, being brass covered with silver. [Obs.] Shak

10. Matter found in troughs of grindstones after the grinding of edge tools. [Prov. Eng.] Sir W. Petty.

11. Potter's clay in a very liquid state, used for the decoration of ceramic ware, and also as a cement for handless and other applied parts.

12. A particular quantity of yarn. [Prov. Eng.]

13. An inclined plane on which a vessel is built, or upon which it is hauled for repair.

14. An opening or space for vessels to lie in, between wharves or in a dock; as, Peck slip. [U. S.]

15. A narrow passage between buildings. [Eng.]

16. A long seat or narrow pew in churches, often without a door. [U. S.]

17. (Mining.)

Defn: A dislocation of a lead, destroying continuity. Knight.

18. (Engin.)

Defn: The motion of the center of resistance of the float of a paddle wheel, or the blade of an oar, through the water horozontally, or the difference between a vessel's actual speed and the speed which she would have if the propelling instrument acted upon a solid; also, the velocity, relatively to still water, of the backward current of water produced by the propeller.

19. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish, the sole.

20. (Cricket)

Defn: A fielder stationed on the off side and to the rear of the batsman. There are usually two of them, called respectively short slip, and long slip. To give one the slip, to slip away from one; to elude one. -- Slip dock. See under Dock. -- Slip link (Mach.), a connecting link so arranged as to allow some play of the parts, to avoid concussion. -- Slip rope (Naut.), a rope by which a cable is secured preparatory to slipping. Totten. -- Slip stopper (Naut.), an arrangement for letting go the anchor suddenly.

SLIPBOARD Slip"board`, n.

Defn: A board sliding in grooves.

SLIPCOAT CHEESE Slip"coat` cheese".

Defn: A rich variety of new cheese, resembling butter, but white. Halliwell.

SLIPES Slipes, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Slip, v.]

Defn: Sledge runners on which a skip is dragged in a mine.

SLIPKNOT Slip"knot`, n.

Defn: knot which slips along the rope or line around which it is made.

SLIP-ON Slip"-on`, n.

Defn: A kind of overcoat worn upon the shoulders in the manner of a cloak. [Scot.]

SLIPPAGE Slip"page, n.

Defn: The act of slipping; also, the amount of slipping.

SLIPPER Slip"per, n.

1. One who, or that which, slips.

2. A kind of light shoe, which may be slipped on with ease, and worn in undress; a slipshoe.

3. A kind of apron or pinafore for children.

4. A kind of brake or shoe for a wagon wheel.

5. (Mach.)

Defn: A piece, usually a plate, applied to a sliding piece, to receive wear and afford a means of adjustment; -- also called shoe, and gib. Slipper animalcule (Zoöl.), a ciliated infusorian of the genus Paramecium. -- Slipper flower.(Bot.) Slipperwort. -- Slipper limpet, or Slipper shell (Zoöl.), a boat shell.

SLIPPER Slip"per, a. Etym: [AS. slipur.]

Defn: Slippery. [Obs.] O! trustless state of earthly things, and slipper hope Of mortal men. Spenser.

SLIPPERED Slip"pered, a.

Defn: Wearing slippers. Shak.

SLIPPERILY Slip"per*i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a slippery manner.

SLIPPERINESS Slip"per*i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being slippery.

SLIPPERNESS Slip"per*ness, n.

Defn: Slipperiness. [Obs.]

SLIPPERWORT Slip"per*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Calceolaria.

SLIPPERY Slip"per*y, a. Etym: [See Slipper, a.]

1. Having the quality opposite to adhesiveness; allowing or causing anything to slip or move smoothly, rapidly, and easily upon the surface; smooth; glib; as, oily substances render things slippery.

2. Not affording firm ground for confidence; as, a slippery promise. The slippery tops of human state. Cowley.

3. Not easily held; liable or apt to slip away. The slippery god will try to loose his hold. Dryden.

4. Liable to slip; not standing firm. Shak.

5. Unstable; changeable; mutable; uncertain; inconstant; fickle. "The slippery state of kings." Denham.

6. Uncertain in effect. L'Estrange.

7. Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals. Shak. Slippery elm. (Bot.) (a) An American tree (Ulmus fulva) with a mucilagenous and slightly aromatic inner bark which is sometimes used medicinally; also, the inner bark itself. (b) A malvaceous shrub (Fremontia Californica); -- so called on the Pacific coast.

SLIPPINESS Slip"pi*ness, n.

Defn: Slipperiness. [R.] "The slippiness of the way." Sir W. Scott.

SLIPPY Slip"py, a. Etym: [AS. slipeg.]

Defn: Slippery.

SLIPSHOD Slip"shod`, a.

1. Wearing shoes or slippers down at the heel. The shivering urchin bending as he goes, With slipshod heels. Cowper.

2. Figuratively: Careless in dress, manners, style, etc.; slovenly; shuffling; as, slipshod manners; a slipshod or loose style of writing. Thy wit shall ne'er go slipshod. Shak.

SLIPSHOE Slip"shoe`, n.

Defn: A slipper. Halliwell.

SLIPSKIN Slip"skin`, a.

Defn: Evasive. [Obs.] Milton.

SLIPSLOP Slip"slop`, n. Etym: [A reduplication of slop.]

Defn: Weak, poor, or flat liquor; weak, profitless discourse or writing.

SLIPSTRING Slip"string`, n.

Defn: One who has shaken off restraint; a prodigal. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

SLIPTHRIFT Slip"thrift`, n.

Defn: A spendthrift. [Obs.]

SLISH Slish, n. Etym: [A corruption of slash.]

Defn: A cut; as, slish and slash. [Colloq.] Shak.

SLIT Slit, obs.

Defn: 3d. pers. sing. pres. of Slide. Chaucer.

SLIT Slit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slit or Slitted (; p. pr. & vb. n. Slitting.] Etym: [OE. slitten, fr. sliten, AS. stitan to tear; akin to D. slijten to wear out, G. schleissen to slit, split, OHG. slizan to split, tear, wear out, Icel. stita to break, tear, wear out, Sw. slita, Dan. slide. Cf. Eclat, Slate, n., Slice.]

1. To cut lengthwise; to cut into long pieces or strips; as, to slit iron bars into nail rods; to slit leather into straps.

2. To cut or make a long fissure in or upon; as, to slit the ear or the nose.

3. To cut; to sever; to divide. [Obs.] And slits the thin-spun life. Milton.

SLIT Slit, n. Etym: [AS. slite.]

Defn: A long cut; a narrow opening; as, a slit in the ear. Gill slit. (Anat.) See Gill opening, under Gill.

SLITHER Slith"er, v. i. Etym: [Cf. G. schlittern, LG. schliddern. See Slide.]

Defn: To slide; to glide. [Prov. Eng.]

SLIT-SHELL Slit"-shell", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Pleurotomaria, a genus of beautiful, pearly, spiral gastropod shells having a deep slit in the outer lip. Many fossil species are known, and a few living ones are found in deep water in tropical seas.

SLITTER Slit"ter, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, slits.

SLITTING Slit"ting, a. & n.

Defn: from Slit. Slitting file. See Illust. (i) of File. -- Slitting mill. (a) A mill where iron bars or plates are slit into narrow strips, as nail rods, and the like. (b) A machine used by lapidaries for slicing stones, usually by means of a revolving disk, called a slicer, supplied with diamond powder. -- Slitting roller, one of a pair of rollers furnished with ribs entering between similar ribs in the other roller, and cutting like shears, -- used in slitting metals.

SLIVE Slive, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Slip.]

Defn: To sneak. [Prov. Eng.]

SLIVE Slive, v. t. Etym: [OE. sliven to split, cleave, AS. slifan.]

Defn: To cut; to split; to separate. [Obs.] Holland.

SLIVER Sliv"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slivered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slivering.] Etym: [See Slive, v. t.]

Defn: To cut or divide into long, thin pieces, or into very small pieces; to cut or rend lengthwise; to slit; as, to sliver wood. Shak. They 'll sliver thee like a turnip. Sir W. Scott.

SLIVER Sliv"er, n.

1. A long piece cut ot rent off; a sharp, slender fragment; a splinter.

2. A strand, or slender roll, of cotton or other fiber in a loose, untwisted state, produced by a carding machine and ready for the roving or slubbing which preceeds spinning.

3. pl.

Defn: Bait made of pieces of small fish. Cf. Kibblings. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.

SLOAKAN Sloak"an, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A species of seaweed. [Spelled also slowcawn.] See 3d Laver.

SLOAM Sloam, n. (Mining)

Defn: A layer of earth between coal seams.

SLOAT Sloat, n. Etym: [See Slot a bar.]

Defn: A narrow piece of timber which holds together large pieces; a slat; as, the sloats of a cart.

SLOBBER Slob"ber, v. t. & i.

Defn: See Slabber.

SLOBBER Slob"ber, n.

1. See Slabber.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A jellyfish. [Prov. Eng.]

3. pl. (Vet.)

Defn: Salivation.

SLOBBERER Slob"ber*er, n.

1. One who slobbers.

2. A slovenly farmer; a jobbing tailor. [Prov. Eng.]

SLOBBERY Slob"ber*y, a.

Defn: Wet; sloppy, as land. Shak.

SLOCK; SLOCKEN Slock, Slock"en, v. t.

Defn: To quench; to allay; to slake. See Slake. [Obs. or Scot.]

SLOCKING Slock"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Slock. Slocking stone, a rich piece of ore displayed in order to tempt persons to embark in a mining enterprise.

SLOE Sloe, n. Etym: [OE. slo, AS. sla; akin to D. slee, G. schlehe, OHG. sl$ha, Dan. slaaen, Sw. sl, perhaps originally, that which blunts the teeth, or sets them on edge (cf. Slow); cf. Lith. sliwa a plum, Russ. sliva.] (Bot.)

Defn: A small, bitter, wild European plum, the fruit of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa); also, the tree itself.

SLOG Slog, v. t. & i. [Cf. Slug, v. t.]

Defn: To hit hard, esp. with little attention to aim or the like, as in cricket or boxing; to slug. [Cant or Slang]

SLOGAN Slo"gan, n. Etym: [Gael. sluagh-ghairm, i.e., an army cry; sluagh army + gairm a call, calling.]

Defn: The war cry, or gathering word, of a Highland clan in Scotland; hence, any rallying cry. Sir W. Scott.

SLOGGER Slog"ger, n.

Defn: A hard hitter; a slugger. [Cant or Slang] T. Hughes.

SLOGGY Slog"gy, a.

Defn: Sluggish. [Obs.] Somnolence that is sloggy slumbering Chaucer.

SLOKE Sloke, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Sloakan.

SLOO; SLUE Sloo, or Slue, n.

Defn: A slough; a run or wet place. See 2d Slough, 2.

SLOOM Sloom, n.

Defn: Slumber. [Prov. Eng.]

SLOOMY Sloom"y, a.

Defn: Sluggish; slow. [Prov. Eng.]

SLOOP Sloop, n.Etym: [D. sloep, of uncertain origin. Cf. Shallop.] (Naut.)

Defn: A vessel having one mast and fore-and-aft rig, consisting of a boom-and-gaff mainsail, jibs, staysail, and gaff topsail. The typical sloop has a fixed bowsprit, topmast, and standing rigging, while those of a cutter are capable of being readily shifted. The sloop usually carries a centerboard, and depends for stability upon breadth of beam rather than depth of keel. The two types have rapidly approximated since 1880. One radical distinction is that a slop may carry a centerboard. See Cutter, and Illustration in Appendix. Sloop of war, formerly, a vessel of war rigged either as a ship, brig, or schooner, and mounting from ten to thirty-two guns; now, any war vessel larger than a gunboat, and carrying guns on one deck only.

SLOP Slop, n. Etym: [OE. sloppe a pool; akin to As. sloppe, slyppe, the sloppy droppings of a cow; cf. AS. sl to slip, and E. slip, v.i. Cf. Cowslip.]

1. Water or other liquid carelessly spilled or thrown aboyt, as upon a table or a floor; a puddle; a soiled spot.

2. Mean and weak drink or liquid food; -- usually in the plural.

3. pl.

Defn: Dirty water; water in which anything has been washed or rinsed; water from wash-bowls, etc. Slop basin, or Slop bowl, a basin or bowl for holding slops, especially for receiving the rinsings of tea or coffee cups at the table. -- Slop molding (Brickmaking), a process of manufacture in which the brick is carried to the drying ground in a wet mold instead of on a pallet.

SLOP Slop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slopped; p. pr. & vb. n. Slopping.]

1. To cause to overflow, as a liquid, by the motion of the vessel containing it; to spill.

2. To spill liquid upon; to soil with a liquid spilled.

SLOP Slop, v. i.

Defn: To overflow or be spilled as a liquid, by the motion of the vessel containing it; -- often with over.

SLOP Slop, n. Etym: [AS. slop a frock or over-garment, fr. sl to slip, to slide; akin to Icel sloppr a thin garment; cf. OHG. slouf a garment. Cf. Slip, v. i.]

1. Any kind of outer garment made of linen or cotton, as a night dress, or a smock frock. [Obs.] Halliwell.

2. A loose lower garment; loose breeches; chiefly used in the plural. "A pair of slops." Sir P. Sidney. There's a French salutation to your French slop. Shak.

3. pl.

Defn: Ready-made clothes; also, among seamen, clothing, bedding, and other furnishings.

SLOPE Slope, n. Etym: [Formed (like abode fr. abide) from OE. slipen. See Slip, v. i.]

1. An oblique direction; a line or direction including from a horizontal line or direction; also, sometimes, an inclination, as of one line or surface to another.

2. Any ground whose surface forms an angle with the plane of the horizon. buildings the summit and slope of a hill. Macaulay. Under the slopes of Pisgah. Deut. iv. 49. (Rev. Ver.).

Note: A slope, considered as descending, is a declivity; considered as ascending, an acclivity. Slope of a plane (Geom.), the direction of the plane; as, parallel planes have the same slope.

SLOPE Slope, a.

Defn: Sloping. "Down the slope hills." Milton. A bank not steep, but gently slope. Bacon.

SLOPE Slope, adv.

Defn: In a sloping manner. [Obs.] Milton.

SLOPE Slope, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sloped; p. pr. & vb. n. Sloping.]

Defn: To form with a slope; to give an oblique or slanting direction to; to direct obliquely; to incline; to slant; as, to slope the ground in a garden; to slope a piece of cloth in cutting a garment.

SLOPE Slope, v. i.

1. To take an oblique direction; to be at an angle with the plane of the horizon; to incline; as, the ground slopes.

2. To depart; to disappear suddenly. [Slang]

SLOPENESS Slope"ness, n.

Defn: State of being slope. Sir H. Wotton.

SLOPEWISE Slope"wise`, adv.

Defn: Obliquely. [Obs.] Carew.

SLOPING Slop"ing, a.

Defn: Inclining or inclined from the plane of the horizon, or from a horizontal or other right line; oblique; declivous; slanting. -- Slop"ing*ly, adv. The sloping land recedes into the clouds. Cowper.

SLOPPINESS Slop"pi*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sloppy; muddiness.

SLOPPY Slop"py, a. [Compar. Sloppier; superl. Sloppiest.] Etym: [From Slop.]

Defn: Wet, so as to spatter easily; wet, as with something slopped over; muddy; plashy; as, a sloppy place, walk, road.

SLOPSELLER Slop"sell`er, n.

Defn: One who sells slops, or ready-made clothes. See 4th Slop, 3.

SLOPSHOP Slop"shop`, n.

Defn: A shop where slops. or ready-made clothes, are sold.

SLOPWORK Slop"work`, n.

Defn: The manufacture of slops, or cheap ready-made clothing; also, such clothing; hence, hasty, slovenly work of any kind. No slopwork ever dropped from his [Carlyle's] pen. Froude.

SLOPY Slop"y, a.

Defn: Sloping; inclined.

SLOSH; SLOSHY Slosh, Slosh"y.

Defn: See Slush, Slushy.

SLOT Slot, n. Etym: [LG. & D. slot a lock, from a verb meaning to close., to shut, D. sluiten; akin to G. schliessen, OHG. sliozan, OFries. sl, and probably to L. claudere. Cf. Close, Sluice.]

1. A broad, flat, wooden bar; a slat or sloat.

2. A bolt or bar for fastening a door. [Prov. Eng.]

3. A narrow depression, perforation, or aperture; esp., one for the reception of a piece fitting or sliding in it.

SLOT Slot, v. t. Etym: [See Slot a bar.]

Defn: To shut with violence; to slam; as, to slot a door. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SLOT Slot, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. sl, and E. sleuth.]

Defn: The track of a deer; hence, a track of any kind. Milton. As a bloodhound follows the slot of a hurt deer. Sir W. Scott.

SLOTH Sloth, n. Etym: [OE. slouthe, sleuthe, AS. sl, fr. slaw slow. See Slow.]

1. Slowness; tardiness. These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome. Shak.

2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness; idleness. [They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth. Milton. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears. Franklin.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of arboreal edentates constituting the family Bradypodidæ, and the suborder Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see Illust. of Edentata), and the ears and tail are rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and Mexico.

Note: The three-toed sloths belong to the genera Bradypus and Arctopithecus, of which several species have been described. They have three toes on each foot. The best-known species are collared sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), and the ai (Arctopitheus ai). The two- toed sloths, consisting the genus Cholopus, have two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot. The best-known is the unau (Cholopus didactylus) of South America. See Unau. Another species (C. Hoffmanni) inhabits Central America. Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths. Australian, or Native sloth (Zoöl.), the koala. -- Sloth animalcule (Zoöl.), a tardigrade. -- Sloth bear (Zoöl.), a black or brown long-haired bear (Melursus ursinus, or labiatus), native of India and Ceylon; -- called also aswail, labiated bear, and jungle bear. It is easily tamed and can be taught many tricks. -- Sloth monkey (Zoöl.), a loris.

SLOTH Sloth, v. i.

Defn: To be idle. [Obs.] Gower.

SLOTHFUL Sloth"ful, a.

Defn: Addicted to sloth; inactive; sluggish; lazy; indolent; idle. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Prov. xviii. 9. -- Sloth"ful*ly, adv. -- Sloth"ful*ness, n.

SLOTHHOUND Sloth"hound`, n. Etym: [See Slot a track, and cf. Sleuthhound.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Sleuthhound.

SLOT MACHINE Slot" ma*chine".

Defn: A machine the operation of which is started by dropping a coin into a slot, for delivering small articles of merchandise, showing one's weight, exhibiting pictures, throwing dice, etc.

SLOTTED Slot"ted, a.

Defn: Having a slot.

SLOTTING Slot"ting, n.

Defn: The act or process of making slots, or mortises.

SLOUCH Slouch, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. sla slouching felloew, and E. slack, slug, a lazy fellow.]

1. A hanging down of the head; a drooping attitude; a limp appearance; an ungainly, clownish gait; a sidewise depression or hanging down, as of a hat brim.

2. An awkward, heavy, clownish fellow. [Colloq.] Slouth hat, a soft, limp hat of unstiffened cloth or felt.

SLOUCH Slouch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slouched; p. pr. & vb. n. Slouching.]

1. To droop, as the head.

2. To walk in a clumsy, lazy manner. [Colloq.]

SLOUCH Slouch, v. t.

Defn: To cause to hang down; to depress at the side; as, to slouth the hat.

SLOUCHING Slouch"ing, a.

Defn: Hanging down at the side; limp; drooping; without firmness or shapeliness; moving in an ungainly manner.

SLOUCHY Slouch"y, a.

Defn: Slouching. [Colloq.]

SLOUGH Slough, a.

Defn: Slow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLOUGH Slough, n. Etym: [OE. slogh, slough, AS. sloh a hollow place; cf. MHG. sluch an abyss, gullet, G. schlucken to swallow; also Gael. & Ir. sloc a pit, pool. ditch, Ir. slug to swallow. Gr.

1. A place of deep mud or mire; a hole full of mire. Chaucer. He's here stuck in a slough. Milton.

2. [Pronounced sloo.]

Defn: A wet place; a swale; a side channel or inlet from a river.

Note: [In this sense local or provincial; also spelt sloo, and slue.] Slough grass (Bot.), a name in the Mississippi valley for grasses of the genus Muhlenbergia; -- called also drop seed, and nimble Will.

SLOUGH Slough, obs.

Defn: imp. of Slee, to slay. Slew. Chaucer.

SLOUGH Slough, n. Etym: [OE. slugh, slouh; cf. MHG. sl the skin of a serpent, G. schlauch a skin, a leather bag or bottle.]

1. The skin, commonly the cast-off skin, of a serpent or of some similar animal.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The dead mass separating from a foul sore; the dead part which separates from the living tissue in mortification.

SLOUGH Slough, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sloughed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sloughing.] (Med.)

Defn: To form a slough; to separate in the form of dead matter from the living tissues; -- often used with off, or away; as, a sloughing ulcer; the dead tissues slough off slowly.

SLOUGH Slough, v. t.

Defn: To cast off; to discard as refuse. New tint the plumage of the birds, And slough decay from grazing herds. Emerson.

SLOUGHING Slough"ing, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The act of casting off the skin or shell, as do insects and crustaceans; ecdysis.

SLOUGHY Slough"y, a.

Defn: Full of sloughs, miry.

SLOUGHY Slough"y, a.

Defn: Resembling, or of the nature of, a slough, or the dead matter which separates from living flesh.

SLOVEN Slov"en, n. Etym: [D. slaf careless, negligent, a sloven; akin to LG. sluf slovenly.]

Defn: A man or boy habitually negligent of neathess and order; -- the correlative term to slattern, or slut. Pope. He became a confirmed sloven. Macaulay.

SLOVENLINESS Slov"en*li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slovenly.

SLOVENLY Slov"en*ly, a.

1. Having the habits of a sloven; negligent of neatness and order, especially in dress. A slovenly, lazy fellow, bolling at his ease. L'Estrange.

2. Characteristic of a solven; lacking neatness and order; evincing negligence; as, slovenly dress.

SLOVENLY Slov"en*ly, adv.

Defn: a slovenly manner.

SLOVENNESS Slov"en*ness, n.

Defn: Slovenliness. [Obs.] Fuller.

SLOVENRY Slov"en*ry, n.

Defn: Slovenliness. [Obs.] Shak.

SLOW Slow, obs.

Defn: imp. of Slee, to slay. Slew. Chaucer.

SLOW Slow, a. [Compar. Slower; superl. Slowest.] Etym: [OE. slow, slaw, AS. slaw; akin to OS. sl blunt, dull, D. sleeuw, slee, sour, OHG. sl blunt, dull, Icel. sl, sl, Dan. slöv, Sw. slö. Cf. Sloe, and Sloth.]

1. Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as, a slow stream; a slow motion.

2. Not happening in a short time; gradual; late. These changes in the heavens, though slow, produced Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast. Milton.

3. Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue. Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slow To guard their shore from an expected foe. Dryden.

4. Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive. He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding. Prov. xiv. 29.

5. Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow.

6. Not advancing or improving rapidly; as, the slow growth of arts and sciences.

7. Heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull. [Colloq.] Dickens. Thackeray.

Note: Slow is often used in the formation of compounds for the most part self-explaining; as, slow-gaited, slow-paced, slow-sighted, slow-winged, and the like. Slow coach, a slow person. See def.7, above. [Colloq.] -- Slow lemur, or Slow loris (Zoöl.), an East Indian nocturnal lemurine animal (Nycticebus tardigradus) about the size of a small cat; -- so called from its slow and deliberate movements. It has very large round eyes and is without a tail. Called also bashful Billy. -- Slow match. See under Match.

Syn. -- Dilatory; late; lingering; tardy; sluggish; dull; inactive. -- Slow, Tardy, Dilatory. Slow is the wider term, denoting either a want of rapid motion or inertness of intellect. Dilatory signifies a proneness to defer, a habit of delaying the performance of what we know must be done. Tardy denotes the habit of being behind hand; as, tardy in making up one's acounts.

SLOW Slow, adv.

Defn: Slowly. Let him have time to mark how slow time goes In time of sorrow. Shak.

SLOW Slow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Slowing.]

Defn: To render slow; to slacken the speed of; to retard; to delay; as, to slow a steamer. Shak.

SLOW Slow, v. i.

Defn: To go slower; -- often with up; as, the train slowed up before crossing the bridge.

SLOW Slow, n.

Defn: A moth. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

SLOWBACK Slow"back`, n.

Defn: A lubber; an idle fellow; a loiterer. [Old Slang] Dr. Favour.

SLOWH Slowh, obs.

Defn: imp. of Slee,to slay. Chaucer.

SLOWHOUND Slow"hound`, n.

Defn: A sleuthhound. [R.]

SLOWLY Slow"ly, adv.

Defn: In a slow manner; moderately; not rapidly; not early; not rashly; not readly; tardly.

SLOWNESS Slow"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slow.

SLOWS Slows, n. (Med.)

Defn: Milk sickness.

SLOW-WITTED Slow"-wit`ted, a.

Defn: Dull of apprehension; not possessing quick intelligence.

SLOWWORM Slow"worm`, n. Etym: [AS. slawyrm; the first part is probably akin to sleán to strike, the reptile being supposed to be very poisonous. See Slay, v. t., and Worm.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A lecertilian reptile; the blindworm.

SLOYD Sloyd, n. [Written also slojd, and sloid.] [Sw. slöjd skill, dexterity, esp. skilled labor, hence, manufacture, wood carving.]

Defn: Lit., skilled mechanical work, such as that required in wood carving; trade work; hence, a system (usually called the sloyd system) of manual training in the practical use of the tools and materials used in the trades, and of instruction in the making and use of the plans and specifications connected with trade work. The sloyd system derives its name from the fact that it was adopted or largely developed from a similar Swedish system, in which wood carving was a chief feature. Its purpose is not only to afford practical skill in some trade, but also to develop the pupils mentally and physically.

SLUB Slub, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: A roll of wool slightly twisted; a rove; -- called also slubbing.

SLUB Slub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slubbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Slubbing.]

Defn: To draw out and twist slightly; -- said of slivers of wool.

SLUBBER Slub"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slubbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slubbering.] Etym: [Cf. Dan. slubbreto swallow, to sup up, D. slobberen to lap, to slabber. Cf. Slabber.]

1. To do lazily, imperfectly, or coarsely. Slubber not business for my sake. Shak.

2. To daub; to stain; to cover carelessly. There is no art that hath more . . . slubbered with aphorisming pedantry than the art of policy. Milton.

SLUBBER Slub"ber, n.

Defn: A slubbing machine.

SLUBBERDEGULLION Slub"ber*de*gul`lion, n. Etym: [Slubber + Prov. E. gullion a wretch.]

Defn: A mean, dirty wretch. [Low]

SLUBBERINGLY Slub"ber*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a slovenly, or hurried and imperfect, manner. [Low] Drayton.

SLUBBING Slub"bing, a. & n.

Defn: from Slub. Slubbing billy, or Slubbing machine, the machine by which slubs are formed.

SLUDGE Sludge, n. Etym: [CF. Slush.]

1. Mud; mire; soft mud; slush. Mortimer. Tennyson.

2. Small floating pieces of ice, or masses of saturated snow. Kane.

3. (Mining)

Defn: See Slime, 4. Sludge hole, the hand-hole, or manhole, in a steam boiler, by means of which sediment can be removed.

SLUDGE ACID Sludge acid.

Defn: Impure dark-colored sulphuric acid that has been used in the refining of petroleum.

SLUDGER Slud"ger, n.

Defn: A bucket for removing mud from a bored hole; a sand pump.

SLUDGER Sludg"er, n.

Defn: A shovel for sludging out drains, etc.

SLUDY Slud"y, a.

Defn: Miry; slushy.

SLUE Slue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slued (; p. pr. & vb. n. Sluing (.] Etym: [Prov. E. slew to turn round, Scot. to lean or incline to a side; cf. Icel. sn to turn, bend.] [Written also slew.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: To turn about a fixed point, usually the center or axis, as a spar or piece of timber; to turn; -- used also of any heavy body.

2. In general, to turn about; to twist; -- often used reflexively and followed by round. [Colloq.] They laughed, and slued themselves round. Dickens.

SLUE Slue, v. i.

Defn: To turn about; to turn from the course; to slip or slide and turn from an expected or desired course; -- often followed by round.

SLUE Slue, n.

Defn: See Sloough, 2. [Local]

SLUG Slug, n. Etym: [OE. slugge slothful, sluggen to be slothful; cf. LG. slukk low-spirited, sad, E. slack, slouch, D. slak, slek, a snail.]

1. A drone; a slow, lazy fellow; a sluggard. Shak.

2. A hindrance; an obstruction. [Obs.] Bacon.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of terrestrial pulmonate mollusks belonging to Limax and several related genera, in which the shell is either small and concealed in the mantle, or altogether wanting. They are closely allied to the land snails.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any smooth, soft larva of a sawfly or moth which creeps like a mollusk; as, the pear slug; rose slug.

5. A ship that sails slowly. [Obs.] Halliwell. His rendezvous for his fleet, and for all slugs to come to, should be between Calais and Dover. Pepys.

6. Etym: [Perhaps a different word.]

Defn: An irregularly shaped piece of metal, used as a missile for a gun.

7. (Print.)

Defn: A thick strip of metal less than type high, and as long as the width of a column or a page, -- used in spacing out pages and to separate display lines, etc. Sea slug. (Zoöl.) (a) Any nudibranch mollusk. (b) A holothurian. -- Slug caterpillar. Same as Slugworm.

SLUG Slug, v. i.

Defn: To move slowly; to lie idle. [Obs.] To slug in sloth and sensual delight. Spenser.

SLUG Slug, v. t.

Defn: To make sluggish. [Obs.] Milton.

SLUG Slug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Slugging.]

1. To load with a slug or slugs; as, to slug a gun.

2. To strike heavily. [Cant or Slang]

SLUG Slug, v. i.

Defn: To become reduced in diameter, or changed in shape, by passing from a larger to a smaller part of the bore of the barrel; -- said of a bullet when fired from a gun, pistol, or other firearm.

SLUGABED Slug"a*bed`, n.

Defn: One who indulges in lying abed; a sluggard. [R.] "Fie, you slugabed!" Shak.

SLUGGARD Slug"gard, n. Etym: [Slug + -ard.]

Defn: A person habitually lazy, idle, and inactive; a drone. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; considered her ways, and be wise. Prov. vi. 6.

SLUGGARD Slug"gard, a.

Defn: Sluggish; lazy. Dryden.

SLUGGARDIZE Slug"gard*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make lazy. [R.] Shak.

SLUGGARDY Slug"gard*y, n. Etym: [OE. sloggardye.]

Defn: The state of being a sluggard; sluggishness; sloth. Gower. Idleness is rotten sluggardy. Chaucer.

SLUGGER Slug"ger, n.

Defn: One who strikes heavy blows; hence, a boxer; a prize fighter. [Cant or Slang]

SLUGGING MATCH Slug"ging match. (a) A boxing match or prize fight marked rather by heavy hitting than skill. [Cant or Slang] (b) A ball game, esp. a baseball game, in which there is much hard hitting of the ball. [Slang, U. S.]

SLUGGISH Slug"gish, a.

1. Habitually idle and lazy; slothful; dull; inactive; as, a sluggish man.

2. Slow; having little motion; as, a sluggish stream.

3. Having no power to move one's self or itself; inert. Matter, being impotent, sluggish, and inactive, hath no power to stir or move itself. Woodward. And the sluggish land slumbers in utter neglect. Longfellow.

4. Characteristic of a sluggard; dull; stupid; tame; simple. [R.] "So sluggish a conceit." Milton.

Syn. -- Inert; idle; lazy; slothful; indolent; dronish; slow; dull; drowsy; inactive. See Inert. -- Slug"gish*ly, adv. -- Slug"gish*ness, n.

SLUGGY Slug"gy, a.

Defn: Sluggish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLUG-HORN Slug"-horn`, a.

Defn: An erroneous form of the Scotch word slughorne, or sloggorne, meaning slogan.

SLUGS Slugs, n. pl. (Mining)

Defn: Half-roasted ore.

SLUGWORM Slug"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any caterpillar which has the general appearance of a slug, as do those of certain moths belonging to Limacodes and allied genera, and those of certain sawflies.

SLUICE Sluice, n. Etym: [OF. escluse, F. écluse, LL. exclusa, sclusa, from L. excludere, exclusum, to shut out: cf. D. sluis sluice, from the Old French. See Exclude.]

1. An artifical passage for water, fitted with a valve or gate, as in a mill stream, for stopping or regulating the flow; also, a water gate of flood gate.

2. Hence, an opening or channel through which anything flows; a source of supply. Each sluice of affluent fortune opened soon. Harte. This home familiarity . . . opens the sluices of sensibility. I. Taylor.

3. The stream flowing through a flood gate.

4. (Mining)

Defn: A long box or trough through which water flows, -- used for washing auriferous earth. Sluice gate, the sliding gate of a sluice.

SLUICE Sluice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sluiced; p. pr. & vb. n. Sluicing.]

1. To emit by, or as by, flood gates. [R.] Milton.

2. To wet copiously, as by opening a sluice; as, to sluice meadows. Howitt. He dried his neck and face, which he had been sluicing with cold water. De Quincey.

3. To wash with, or in, a stream of water running through a sluice; as, to sluice eart or gold dust in mining.

SLUICEWAY Sluice"way`, n.

Defn: An artificial channel into which water is let by a sluice; specifically, a trough constructed over the bed of a stream, so that logs, lumber, or rubbish can be floated down to some convenient place of delivery.

SLUICY Slui`cy, a.

Defn: Falling copiously or in streams, as from a sluice. And oft whole sheets descend of sluicy rain. Dryden.

SLUM Slum, n. Etym: [CF. Slump, n.]

1. A foul back street of a city, especially one filled with a poor, dirty, degraded, and often vicious population; any low neighborhood or dark retreat; -- usually in the plural; as, Westminster slums are haunts for theives. Dickens.

2. pl. (Mining)

Defn: Same as Slimes.

SLUMBER Slum"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slumbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slumbering.] Etym: [OE. slombren, slumberen, slumeren, AS. slumerian, fr. sluma slumber; akin to D. sluimeren to slumber, MHG. slummern, slumen, G. schlummern, Dan. slumre, Sw. slumra, Goth. slawan to be silent.]

1. To sleep; especially, to sleep lightly; to doze. Piers Plowman. He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Ps. cxxi. 4.

2. To be in a state of negligence, sloth, supineness, or inactivity. "Why slumbers Pope" Young.

SLUMBER Slum"ber, v. t.

1. To lay to sleep. [R.] Wotton.

2. To stun; to stupefy. [Obs.] Spenser.

SLUMBER Slum"ber, n.

Defn: Sleep; especially, light sleep; sleep that is not deep or sound; repose. He at last fell into a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night. Bunyan. Fast asleep It is no matter; Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber. Shak. Rest to my soul, and slumber to my eyes. Dryden.

SLUMBERER Slum"ber*er, n.

Defn: One who slumbers; a sleeper.

SLUMBERINGLY Slum"ber*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a slumbering manner.

SLUMBERLESS Slum"ber*less, a.

Defn: Without slumber; sleepless.

SLUMBEROUS Slum"ber*ous, a.

1. Inviting slumber; soporiferous. "Pensive in the slumberous shade." Pope.

2. Being in the repose of slumber; sleepy; drowsy. His quiet and almost slumberous countenance. Hawthorne.

SLUMBERY Slum"ber*y, a.

Defn: Sleepy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLUMBROUS Slum"brous, a.

Defn: Slumberous. Keats.

SLUMGUM Slum"gum`, n.

Defn: The impure residue, consisting of cocoons, propolis, etc., remaining after the wax is extracted from honeycombs.

SLUMMING Slum"ming, vb. n.

Defn: Visiting slums.

SLUMP Slump, n. Etym: [Cf. D. slomp a mass, heap, Dan. slump a quantity, and E. slump, v.t.]

Defn: The gross amount; the mass; the lump. [Scot.]

SLUMP Slump, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Lump; also Sw. slumpa to bargain for the lump.]

Defn: To lump; to throw into a mess. These different groups . . . are exclusively slumped together under that sense. Sir W. Hamilton.

SLUMP Slump, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slumped; p. pr. & vb. n. Slumping.] Etym: [Scot. slump a dull noise produced by something falling into a hole, a marsh, a swamp.]

Defn: To fall or sink suddenly through or in, when walking on a surface, as on thawing snow or ice, partly frozen ground, a bog, etc., not strong enough to bear the person. The latter walk on a bottomless quag, into which unawares they may slump. Barrow.

SLUMP Slump, n.

1. A boggy place. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. The noise made by anything falling into a hole, or into a soft, miry place. [Scot.]

SLUMPY Slump"y, a.

Defn: Easily broken through; boggy; marshy; swampy. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] Bartlett.

SLUNG Slung,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Sling. Slung shot, a metal ball of small size, with a string attached, used by ruffians for striking.

SLUNK Slunk,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Slink.

SLUR Slur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slurred; p. pr. & vb. n. Slurring.] Etym: [Cf. OE. sloor mud, clay, Icel. sl, slo, to trail or drag one's self along, D. sleuren, sloren, to train, to drag, to do negligently and slovenly, D. sloor, sloerie, a sluttish girl.]

1. To soil; to sully; to contaminate; to disgrace. Cudworth.

2. To disparage; to traduce. Tennyson.

3. To cover over; to disguise; to conceal; to pass over lightly or with little notice. With periods, points, and tropes, he slurs his crimes. Dryden.

4. To cheat, as by sliding a die; to trick. [R.] To slur men of what they fought for. Hudibras.

5. To pronounce indistinctly; as, to slur syllables.

6. (Mus.)

Defn: To sing or perform in a smooth, gliding style; to connect smoothly in performing, as several notes or tones. Busby.

7. (Print.)

Defn: To blur or double, as an impression from type; to mackle.

SLUR Slur, n.

1. A mark or stain; hence, a slight reproach or disgrace; a stigma; a reproachful intimation; an innuendo. "Gaining to his name a lasting slur." South.

2. A trick played upon a person; an imposition. [R.]

3. (Mus.)

Defn: A mark, thus [&upslur; or ], connecting notes that are to be sung to the same syllable, or made in one continued breath of a wind instrument, or with one stroke of a bow; a tie; a sign of legato.

4. In knitting machines, a contrivance for depressing the sinkers successively by passing over them.

SLURRED Slurred, a. (Mus.)

Defn: Marked with a slur; performed in a smooth, gliding style, like notes marked with a slur.

SLUSH Slush, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. slaska to paddle in water, slask wet, filth.] [Written also slosh.]

1. Soft mud.

2. A mixture of snow and water; half-melted snow.

3. A soft mixture of grease and other materials, used for lubrication.

4. The refuse grease and fat collected in cooking, especially on shipboard.

5. (Mach.)

Defn: A mixture of white lead and lime, with which the bright parts of machines, such as the connecting rods of steamboats, are painted to be preserved from oxidation.

SLUSH Slush, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Slushing.]

1. To smear with slush or grease; as, to slush a mast.

2. To paint with a mixture of white lead and lime.

SLUSHY Slush"y, a.

Defn: Abounding in slush; characterized by soft mud or half-melted snow; as, the streets are slushy; the snow is slushy. "A dark, drizzling, slushy day." Blackw. Mag.

SLUT Slut, n. Etym: [OE. slutte; cf. OD. slodde a slut, Icel. slöttr a heavy, loglike fellow, slota to droop.]

1. An untidy woman; a slattern. Sluts are good enough to make a sloven's porridge. Old Proverb.

2. A servant girl; a drudge. [Obs.] Our little girl Susan is a most admirable slut, and pleases us mightly, doing more service than both the others. Pepys.

3. A female dog; a bitch.

SLUTCH Slutch, n. Etym: [CF. Sludge.]

Defn: Slush. [Prov. Eng.]

SLUTCHY Slutch"y, a.

Defn: Slushy. [Prov. Eng.] Pennant.

SLUTHHOUND Sluth"hound`, n.

Defn: Sleuthhound.

SLUTTERY Slut"ter*y, n.

Defn: The qualities and practices of a slut; sluttishness; slatternlines. Drayton.

SLUTTISH Slut"tish, a.

Defn: Like a slut; untidy; indecently negligent of cleanliness; disorderly; as, a sluttish woman. Why is thy lord so slutish, I thee pray. Chaucer. An air of liberal, though sluttish, plenty, indicated the wealthy farmer. Sir W. Scott. -- Slut"tish*ly, adv. -- Slut"tish*ness, n.

SLY Sly, a. [Compar. Slier or Slyer; superl. Sliest or Slyest.] Etym: [OE. sli, slegh, sleih, Icel sl, for sl; akin to Sw. slug, Dan. slu, LG. slou, G. schlau; probably to E. slay, v.t.; cf. G. verschlagen sly. See Slay, v. t., and cf. Sleight.]

1. Dexterous in performing an action, so as to escape notice; nimble; skillful; cautious; shrewd; knowing; -- in a good sense. Be ye sly as serpents, and simple as doves. Wyclif (Matt. x. 16). Whom graver age And long experience hath made wise and sly. Fairfax.

2. Artfully cunning; secretly mischievous; wily. For my sly wiles and subtle craftiness, The litle of the kingdom I possess. Spenser.

3. Done with, and marked by, artful and dexterous secrecy; subtle; as, a sly trick. Envy works in a sly and imperceptible manner. I. Watts.

4. Light or delicate; slight; thin. [Obs.] By the sly, or On the sly, in a sly or secret manner. [Colloq.] "Gazed on Hetty's charms by the sly." G. Eliot. -- Sly goose (Zoöl.), the common sheldrake; -- so named from its craftiness.

Syn. -- Cunning; crafty; subtile; wily. See Cunning.

SLY Sly, adv.

Defn: Slyly. [Obs. or Poetic] Spenser.

SLYBOOTS Sly"boots`, n.

Defn: A humerous appellation for a sly, cunning, or waggish person. Slyboots was cursedly cunning to hide 'em. Goldsmith.

SLYLY Sly"ly, adv.

Defn: In a sly manner; shrewdly; craftily. Honestly and slyly he it spent. Chaucer.

SLYNESS Sly"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sly.

SLYPE Slype, n. Etym: [Cf. D. sluipen to sneak.] (Arch.)

Defn: A narrow passage between two buildings, as between the transept and chapter house of a monastery. [Eng.]

SMACK Smack, n. Etym: [D. smak; akin to LG. smack, smak, Dan. smakke, G. schmacke, F. semaque.] (Naut.)

Defn: A small sailing vessel, commonly rigged as a sloop, used chiefly in the coasting and fishing trade.

SMACK Smack, n. Etym: [OE. smak, AS. ssm taste, savor; akin to D. smaak, G. geschmack, OHG. smac; cf. Lith. smagus pleasant. Cf. Smack, v. i.]

1. Taste or flavor, esp. a slight taste or flavor; savor; tincture; as, a smack of bitter in the medicine. Also used figuratively. So quickly they have taken a smack in covetousness. Robynson (More's Utopia). They felt the smack of this world. Latimer.

2. A small quantity; a taste. Dryden.

3. A loud kiss; a buss. "A clamorous smack." Shak.

4. A quick, sharp noise, as of the lips when suddenly separated, or of a whip.

5. A quick, smart blow; a slap. Johnson.

SMACK Smack, adv.

Defn: As if with a smack or slap. [Colloq.]

SMACK Smack, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Smacking.] Etym: [OE. smaken to taste, have a taste, -- from the noun; cf. AS. smecan taste; akin to D. smaken, G. schmecken, OHG. smechen to taste, smachschmatzen to smack the lips, to kiss with a sharp noise, MHG. smatzen, smackzeen), Icel smakka to taste, Sw. smaka, Dan. smage. See 2d Smack, n.]

1. To have a smack; to be tinctured with any particular taste.

2. To have or exhibit indications of the presence of any character or quality. All sects, all ages, smack of this vice. Shak.

3. To kiss with a close compression of the lips, so as to make a sound when they separate; to kiss with a sharp noise; to buss.

4. To make a noise by the separation of the lips after tasting anything.

SMACK Smack, v. t.

1. To kiss with a sharp noise; to buss.

2. To open, as the lips, with an inarticulate sound made by a quick compression and separation of the parts of the mouth; to make a noise with, as the lips, by separating them in the act of kissing or after tasting. Drinking off the cup, and smacking his lips with an air of ineffable relish. Sir W. Scott.

3. To make a sharp noise by striking; to crack; as, to smack a whip. "She smacks the silken thong." Young.

SMACKING Smack"ing, n.

Defn: A sharp, quick noise; a smack. Like the faint smacking of an after kiss. Dryden.

SMACKING Smack"ing, a.

Defn: Making a sharp, brisk sound; hence, brisk; as, a smacking breeze.

SMALL Small, a. [Compar. Smaller; superl. Smallest.] Etym: [OE. small, AS. sm$l; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali smal cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr.

1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river. To compare Great things with small. Milton.

2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.

3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean. A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the reatest man. Carlyle.

4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. Shak.

5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. "A still, small voice." 1 Kings xix. 12. Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially of persons. "His quests, great and small." Chaucer. -- Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon. -- Small beer. See under Beer. -- Small coal. (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. Gay. (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening. -- Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size. -- Small fruits. See under Fruit. -- Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper. -- Small hours. See under Hour. -- Small letter. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a. -- Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 2 -- Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7. -- Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat. -- Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M`Culloch.

SMALL Small, adv.

1. In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly. [Obs.] "I wept but small." Chaucer. "It small avails my mood." Shak.

2. Not loudly; faintly; timidly. [Obs. or Humorous] You may speak as small as you will. Shak.

SMALL Small, n.

1. The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.

2. pl.

Defn: Smallclothes. [Colloq.] Hood. Dickens.

3. pl.

Defn: Same as Little go. See under Little, a.

SMALL Small, v. t.

Defn: To make little or less. [Obs.]

SMALLAGE Small"age, n. Etym: [Small + F. ache smallage. See Ach parsley.] (Bot.)

Defn: A biennial umbelliferous plant (Apium graveolens) native of the seacoats of Europe and Asia. When deprived of its acrid and even poisonous properties by cultivation, it becomes celery.

SMALLCLOTHES Small"clothes`, n. pl.

Defn: A man's garment for the hips and thighs; breeches. See Breeches.

SMALLISH Small"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat small. G. W. Cable.

SMALLNESS Small"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being small.

SMALLPOX Small"pox`, n. Etym: [Small + pox, pocks.] (Med.)

Defn: A contagious, constitutional, febrile disease characterized by a peculiar eruption; variola. The cutaneous eruption is at first a collection of papules which become vesicles (first flat, subsequently umbilicated) and then pustules, and finally thick crusts which slough after a certain time, often leaving a pit, or scar.

SMALLS Smalls, n. pl.

Defn: See Small, n., 2, 3.

SMALLSWORD Small"sword`, n.

Defn: A light sword used for thrusting only; especially, the sword worn by civilians of rank in the eighteenth century.

SMALLY Smal"ly, adv.

Defn: In a small quantity or degree; with minuteness. [R.] Ascham.

SMALT Smalt, n. Etym: [It. smalto, LL. smaltum; of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. smalz grease, butter, G. schmalz grease, OHG. smelzan to melt, G. schmelzen. See Smelt, v. t., and cf. Amel, Enamel.]

Defn: A deep blue pigment or coloring material used in various arts. It is a vitreous substance made of cobalt, potash, and calcined quartz fused, and reduced to a powder.

SMALT-BLUE Smalt"-blue`, a.

Defn: Deep blue, like smalt.

SMALTINE; SMALTITE Smalt"ine, Smalt"ite, n. Etym: [See Smalt.] (Min.)

Defn: A tin-white or gray mineral of metallic luster. It is an arsenide of cobalt, nickel, and iron. Called also speiskobalt.

SMARAGD Smar"agd, n. Etym: [L. smaragdus. See Emerald.]

Defn: The emerald. [Obs.] Bale.

SMARAGDINE Sma*rag"dine, a. Etym: [L. smaragdinus, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to emerald; resembling emerald; of an emerald green.

SMARAGDITE Sma*rag"dite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. smaragdite; -- so called from its emerald-green color. See Smaragd.] (Min.)

Defn: A green foliated kind of amphibole, observed in eclogite and some varietis of gabbro.

SMART Smart, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smarted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smarting.] Etym: [OE. smarten, AS. smeortan; akin to D. smarten, smerten, G. schmerzen, OHG. smerzan, Dan. smerte, SW. smärta, D. smart, smert, a pain, G. schmerz, Ohg. smerzo, and probably to L. mordere to bite; cf. Gr. m to rub, crush. Cf. Morsel.]

1. To feel a lively, pungent local pain; -- said of some part of the body as the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart. Chaucer. Shak.

2. To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to suffer; to feel the sting of evil. No creature smarts so little as a fool. Pope. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it. Prov. xi. 15.

SMART Smart, v. t.

Defn: To cause a smart in. "A goad that . . . smarts the flesh." T. Adams.

SMART Smart, n. Etym: [OE. smerte. See Smart, v. i.]

1. Quick, pungent, lively pain; a pricking local pain, as the pain from puncture by nettles. "In pain's smart." Chaucer.

2. Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction. To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart. Milton. Counsel mitigates the greatest smart. Spenser.

3. A fellow who affects smartness, briskness, and vivacity; a dandy. [Slang] Fielding.

4. Smart money (see below). [Canf]

SMART Smart, a. [Compar. Smarter; superl. Smartest.] Etym: [OE. smerte. See Smart, v. i.]

1. Causing a smart; pungent; pricking; as, a smart stroke or taste. How smart lash that speech doth give my conscience. Shak.

2. Keen; severe; poignant; as, smart pain.

3. Vigorous; sharp; severe. "Smart skirmishes, in which many fell." Clarendon.

4. Accomplishing, or able to accomplish, results quickly; active; sharp; clever. [Colloq.]

5. Efficient; vigorous; brilliant. "The stars shine smarter." Dryden.

6. Marked by acuteness or shrewdness; quick in suggestion or reply; vivacious; witty; as, a smart reply; a smart saying. Who, for the poor renown of being smart Would leave a sting within a brother's heart Young. A sentence or two, . . . which I thought very smart. Addison.

7. Pretentious; showy; spruce; as, a smart gown.

8. Brisk; fresh; as, a smart breeze. Smart money. (a) Money paid by a person to buy himself off from some unpleasant engagement or some painful situation. (b) (Mil.) Money allowed to soldiers or sailors, in the English service, for wounds and injures received; also, a sum paid by a recruit, previous to being sworn in, to procure his release from service. (c) (Law) Vindictive or exemplary damages; damages beyond a full compensation for the actual injury done. Burrill. Greenleaf. -- Smart ticket, a certificate given to wounded seamen, entitling them to smart money. [Eng.] Brande & C.

Syn. -- Pungent; poignant; sharp; tart; acute; quick; lively; brisk; witty; clever; keen; dashy; showy. -- Smart, Clever. Smart has been much used in New England to describe a person who is intelligent, vigorous, and active; as, a smart young fellow; a smart workman, etc., conciding very nearly with the English sense of clever. The nearest approach to this in England is in such expressions as, he was smart (pungent or witty) in his reply, etc.; but smart and smartness, when applied to persons, more commonly refer to dress; as, a smart appearance; a smart gown, etc.

SMARTEN Smart"en, v. t.

Defn: To make smart or spruce; -- usually with up. [Colloq.] She had to go and smarten herself up somewhat. W. Black.

SMARTLE Smar"tle, v. i.

Defn: To waste away. [Prov. Eng.]

SMARTLY Smart"ly, adv.

Defn: In a smart manner.

SMARTNESS Smart"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being smart.

SMARTWEED Smart"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An acrid plant of the genus Polygonum (P. Hydropiper), which produces smarting if applied where the skin is tender.

SMASH Smash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smashed (; p. pr. & vb. n. Smashing.] Etym: [Cf. Sw. smisk a blow, stroke, smiska to strike, dial. Sw. smaske to kiss with a noise, and E. smack a loud kiss, a slap.]

Defn: To break in pieces by violence; to dash to pieces; to crush. Here everything is broken and smashed to pieces. Burke.

SMASH Smash, v. i.

Defn: To break up, or to pieces suddenly, as the result of collision or pressure.

SMASH Smash, n.

1. A breaking or dashing to pieces; utter destruction; wreck.

2. Hence, bankruptcy. [Colloq.]

SMASHER Smash"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, smashes or breaks things to pieces.

2. Anything very large or extraordinary. [Slang]

3. One who passes counterfeit coin. [Cant, Eng.]

SMATCH Smatch, n. Etym: [OE. smach, smak. See Smack taste.]

Defn: Taste; tincture; smack. [Obs.] Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it. Shak.

SMATCH Smatch, v. i.

Defn: To smack. [Obs.] Banister (1578).

SMATTER Smat"ter, v. i. Etym: [OE. smateren to make a noise; cf. Sw. smattra to clatter, to crackle, G. schmettern to dash, crash, to warble, quaver.]

1. To talk superficially or ignorantly; to babble; to chatter. Of state affairs you can not smatter. Swift.

2. To have a slight taste, or a slight, superficial knowledge, of anything; to smack.

SMATTER Smat"ter, v. t.

1. To talk superficially about.

2. To gain a slight taste of; to acquire a slight, superficial knowledge of; to smack. Chaucer.

SMATTER Smat"ter, n.

Defn: Superficial knowledge; a smattering.

SMATTERER Smat"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who has only a slight, superficial knowledge; a sciolist.

SMATTERING Smat"ter*ing, n.

Defn: A slight, superficial knowledge of something; sciolism. I had a great desire, not able to attain to a superficial skill in any, to have some smattering in all. Burton.

SMEAR Smear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smeared; p. pr. & vb. n. Smearing.] Etym: [OE. smeren, smerien, AS. smierwan, smyrwan, fr. smeoru fat, grease; akin to D. smeren, OHG. smirwen, G. schmieren, Icel. smyrja to anoint. See Smear, n.]

1. To overspread with anything unctuous, viscous, or adhesive; to daub; as, to smear anything with oil. "Smear the sleepy grooms with blood." Shak.

2. To soil in any way; to contaminate; to pollute; to stain morally; as, to be smeared with infamy. Shak.

SMEAR Smear, n. Etym: [OE. smere,. smeoru fat, grease; akin to D. smeer, G. schmeer, OHG. smero, Icel. smjör, Sw. & Dan. smör butter, Goth. smaír fatness, smarna dung; cf. Lith. smarsas fat. Cf. Smirch.]

1. A fat, oily substance; oinment. Johnson.

2. Hence, a spot made by, or as by, an unctuous or adhesive substance; a blot or blotch; a daub; a stain. Slow broke the morn, All damp and rolling vapor, with no sun, But in its place a moving smear of light. Alexander Smith.

SMEARCASE Smear"case`, n. [G. schmierkäse; schmier grease (or schmieren to smear) + käse cheese.]

Defn: Cottage cheese. [Local, U. S.]

SMEAR DAB Smear" dab". (Zoöl.)

Defn: The sand fluke (b). [Prov. Eng.]

SMEARED Smeared, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the color mark ings ill defined, as if rubbed; as, the smeared dagger moth (Apatela oblinita).

SMEARY Smear"y, a.

Defn: Tending to smear or soil; adhesive; viscous. Rowe.

SMEATH Smeath, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The smew. [Prov. Eng.]

SMECTITE Smec"tite, n. Etym: [G. smectit, fr. Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A hydrous silicate of alumina, of a greenish color, which, in certain states of humidity, appears transparent and almost gelatinous.

SMEE Smee, n. Etym: [Cf. Smew.] (Zoöl.) (a) The pintail duck. (b) The widgeon. (c) The poachard. (d) The smew. [Prov. Eng.]

SMEETH Smeeth, v. t. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: To smoke; to blacken with smoke; to rub with soot. [Obs.]

SMEETH Smeeth, v. t. Etym: [OE. sme, AS. sm. See Smooth.]

Defn: To smooth. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SMEGMA Smeg"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: The matter secreted by any of the sebaceous glands. Specifically: (a) The soapy substance covering the skin of newborn infants. (b) The cheesy, sebaceous matter which collects between the glans penis and the foreskin.

SMEGMATIC Smeg*mat"ic, a.

Defn: Being of the nature of soap; soapy; cleansing; detersive.

SMEIR Smeir, n.

Defn: A salt glaze on pottery, made by adding common salt to an earthenware glaze.

SMELL Smell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelled, Smelt (; p. pr. & vb. n. Smelling.] Etym: [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG. smellen, smelen, smölen, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D. smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. Smell, n.]

1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell; to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities; to obtain the scent of; as, to smell a rose; to smell perfumes.

2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; -- often with out. "I smell a device." Shak. Can you smell him out by that Shak.

3. To give heed to. [Obs.] From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors. Latimer. To smell a rat, to have a sense of something wrong, not clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.] -- To smell out, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]

SMELL Smell, v. i.

1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; -- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of musk.

2. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savor; as, a report smells of calumny. Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft. Milton.

3. To exercise the sense of smell. Ex. xxx. 38.

4. To exercise sagacity. Shak.

SMELL Smell, n. Etym: [OE. smel, smil, smul, smeol. See Smell, v. t.] (Physiol.)

1. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory nerves. See Sense.

2. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor; scent; fragrance; perfume; as, the smell of mint. Breathing the smell of field and grove. Milton. That which, above all others, yields the sweetest smell in the air, is the violent. Bacon.

Syn. -- Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.

SMELLER Smell"er, n.

1. One who smells, or perceives by the sense of smell; one who gives out smell.

2. The nose. [Pugilists' Slang]

SMELL-FEAST Smell"-feast`, n.

1. One who is apt to find and frequent good tables; a parasite; a sponger. The epicure and the smell-feast. South.

2. A feast at which the guests are supposed to feed upon the odors only of the viands.

SMELLING Smell"ing, n.

1. The act of one who smells.

2. The sense by which odors are perceived; the sense of smell. Locke. Smelling bottle, a small bottle filled with something suited to stimulate the sense of smell, or to remove faintness, as spirits of ammonia.

SMELLING SALTS Smell"ing salts.

Defn: An aromatic preparation of carbonate of ammonia and, often, some scent, to avoid or relieve faintness, headache, or the like.

SMELL-LESS Smell"-less, a.

Defn: Destitute of smell; having no odor. Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint. Beau & Fl.

SMELT Smelt, imp. & p. p.

Defn: of Smell.

SMELT Smelt, n. Etym: [AS. smelt, smylt; akin to Dan. smelt.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of small silvery salmonoid fishes of the genus Osmerus and allied genera, which ascend rivers to spawn, and sometimes become landlocked in lakes. They are esteemed as food, and have a peculiar odor and taste.

Note: The most important species are the European smelt (Osmerus eperlans) (called also eperlan, sparling, and spirling), the Eastern American smelt (O. mordax), the California smelt (O. thalichthys), and the surf smelt (Hypomesus olidus). The name is loosely applied to various other small fishes, as the lant, the California tomcod, the spawn eater, the silverside.

2. Fig.: A gull; a simpleton. [Obs.] eau & Fl. Sand smelt (Zoöl.), the silverside.

SMELT Smelt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smelting.] Etym: [Of foreign origin; cf. Sw. smälta, D. smelten, Dan. smelte, Icel. smelta, G. schmelzen OHG. smelzan, smelzen; probably akin to Gr. Enamel, Melt, Mute, v. i., Smalt.] (Metal.)

Defn: To melt or fuse, as, ore, for the purpose of separating and refining the metal; hence, to reduce; to refine; to flux or scorify; as, to smelt tin.

SMELTER Smelt"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, smelts.

SMELTERY Smelt"er*y, n.

Defn: A house or place for smelting.

SMELTIE Smelt"ie, n.

Defn: A fish, the bib. [Prov. Eng.]

SMELTING Smelt"ing,

Defn: a. & n. from Smelt. Smelting furnace (Metal.), a furnace in which ores are smelted or reduced.

SMERK Smerk, n. & v.

Defn: See Smirk.

SMERK; SMERKY Smerk, Smerk"y, a.

Defn: Smart; jaunty; spruce. See Smirk, a. [Obs.] So smerk, so smooth, his pricked ears. Spenser.

SMERLIN Smer"lin, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small loach.

SMEW Smew, n. Etym: [Perhaps for ice-mew.] (Zoöl.) (a) small European merganser (Mergus albellus) which has a white crest; -- called also smee, smee duck, white merganser, and white nun. (b) The hooded merganser. [Local, U.S.]

SMICKER Smick"er, v. i. Etym: [Akin to Sw. smickra to flatter, Dan. smigre, and perhaps to G. schmeicheln, and E. smile. Cf. Smicker, a.]

Defn: To look amorously or wantonly; to smirk.

SMICKER Smick"er, a. Etym: [AS. smicere tasteful, trim. See Smicker, v.]

Defn: Amorous; wanton; gay; spruce. [Obs.]

SMICKERING Smick"er*ing, n.

Defn: Amorous glance or inclination. [Obs.] "A smickering to our young lady." Dryden.

SMICKET Smick"et, n. Etym: [Dim. of smock.]

Defn: A woman's under-garment; a smock. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Johnson.

SMICKLY Smick"ly, adv.

Defn: Smugly; finically. [Obs.] Ford.

SMIDDY Smid"dy, n. Etym: [See Smithy.]

Defn: A smithy. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SMIFT Smift, n.

Defn: A match for firing a charge of powder, as in blasting; a fuse.

SMIGHT Smight, v. t.

Defn: To smite. [Obs.] Spenser.

SMILACIN Smil"a*cin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. similacine. See Smilax.] (Chem.)

Defn: See Parrilin.

SMILAX Smi"lax, n. Etym: [L., bindweed, Gr. (Bot.) (a) A genus of perennial climbing plants, usually with a prickly woody stem; green brier, or cat brier. The rootstocks of certain species are the source of the medicine called sarsaparilla. (b) A delicate trailing plant (Myrsiphyllum asparagoides) much used for decoration. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope.

SMILE Smile, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Smiling.] Etym: [OE. smilen; akin to Dan. smile, Sw. smila, MHG. smielen, smieren, L. mirari to wonder at, Skr. smi to smile; and probably to E. smicker. sq. root173. Cf. Admire, Marvel, Smirk.]

1. To express amusement, pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness, by the features of the face; to laugh silently. He doth nothing but frown . . . He hears merry tales and smiles not. Shak. She led to see the doughty hero slain. Pope. When last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled. Byron.

2. To express slight contempt by a look implying sarcasm or pity; to sneer. 'T was what I said to Craggs and Child, Who praised my modesty, and smiled. Pope.

3. To look gay and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy; as, smiling spring; smilimg plenty. The desert smiled, And paradise was opened in the wild. Pope.

4. To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance; -- often with on; as, to smile on one's labors.

SMILE Smile, v. t.

1. To express by a smile; as, to smile consent; to smile a welcome to visitors.

2. To affect in a certain way with a smile. [R.] And sharply smile prevailing folly dead. Young.

SMILE Smile, n. Etym: [CF. Dan. smiil, Sw. smil. See Smile, v. i.]

1. The act of smiling; a peculiar change or brightening of the face, which expresses pleasure, moderate joy, mirth, approbation, or kindness; -- opposed to frown. Sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles: for smiles from reason flow. Milton.

2. A somewhat similar expression of countenance, indicative of satisfaction combined with malevolent feelings, as contempt, scorn, etc; as, a scornful smile.

3. Favor; countenance; propitiousness; as, the smiles of Providence. "The smile of heaven." Shak.

4. Gay or joyous appearance; as, the smiles of spring. The brightness of their [the flowers'] smile was gone. Bryant.

SMILELESS Smile"less, a.

Defn: Not having a smile.

SMILER Smil"er, n.

Defn: One who smiles. Tennyson.

SMILET Smil"et, n.

Defn: A little smile. [R.] Those happy smilets That played on her ripe lip. Shak.

SMILINGLY Smil"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a smiling manner. Shak.

SMILINGNESS Smil"ing*ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being smiling. And made despair a smilingness assume. Byron.

SMILODON Smi"lo*don, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: An extinct genus of saber-toothed tigers. See Mach.

SMILT Smilt, v. i.

Defn: To melt. [Obs.] Mortimer.

SMINTHURID Smin*thu"rid, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous small species of springtails, of the family Sminthurid, -- usually found on flowers. See Illust. under Collembola.

SMIRCH Smirch, v. t. Etym: [From the root of smear.]

Defn: To smear with something which stains, or makes dirty; to smutch; to begrime; to soil; to sully. I'll . . . with a kind of umber smirch my face. Shak.

SMIRCH Smirch, n.

Defn: A smutch; a dirty stain.

SMIRK Smirk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smirked; p. pr. & vb. n. Smirking.] Etym: [OE. smirken, ASS. smercian, smearcian; cf. MHG. smieren, smielen, to smile. See Smile, v. i.]

Defn: To smile in an affected or conceited manner; to smile with affected complaisance; to simper.

SMIRK Smirk, n.

Defn: A forced or affected smile; a simper. The bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered. Sir W. Scott.

SMIRK Smirk, a.

Defn: Nice,; smart; spruce; affected; simpering. "So smirk, so smooth." Spenser.

SMIRKINGLY Smirk"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: With smirking; with a smirk.

SMIRKY Smirk"y, a.

Defn: Smirk; smirking.

SMIT Smit, rare

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Smite. Spenser. Smit with the beauty of so fair a scene. Cowper.

SMIT Smit, obs.

Defn: 3d. pers. sing. pres. of Smite. Chaucer.

SMITE Smite, v. t. [imp. Smoth, rarely Smit (; p. p. Smitten, rarely Smit, or Smote; p. pr. & vb. n. Smiting.] Etym: [AS. smitan to smite, to soil, pollute; akin to OFries. smita to smite, LG. smiten, D. smijten, G. schmeissen, OHG. smizan to smear, stroke, OSw. & dial. Sw. smita to smite, Dan. smiide to throw, Goth. bismeitan, to anoint, besmear; cf. Skr. m to be fat. The original sense seems to have been, to daub on, to smear. Cf. Smut.]

1. To strike; to inflict a blow upon with the hand, or with any instrument held in the hand, or with a missile thrown by the hand; as, to smite with the fist, with a rod, sword, spear, or stone. Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matt. v. 39. And David . . . took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead. 1 Sam. xvii. 49.

2. To cause to strike; to use as an instrument in striking or hurling. Profpesy, and smite thine hands together. Ezek. xxi. 14. Saul . . . smote the javelin into the wall. 1 Sam. xix. 10.

3. To destroy the life of by beating, or by weapons of any kind; to slay by a blow; to kill; as, to smite one with the sword, or with an arrow or other instrument.

4. To put to rout in battle; to overthrow by war.

5. To blast; to destroy the life or vigor of, as by a stroke or by some visitation. The flax and the barely was smitten. Ex. ix. 31.

6. To afflict; to chasten; to punish. Let us not mistake God's goodness, nor imagine, because he smites us, that we are forsaken by him. Wake.

7. To strike or affect with passion, as love or fear. The charms that smite the simple heart. Pope. Smith with the love of sister arts we came. Pope. To smite off, to cut off. -- To smite out, to knock out, as a tooth. Exod,xxi.27. -- To smite with the tongue, to reproach or upbarid; to revile. [Obs.] Jer. xviii. 18.

SMITE Smite, v. i.

Defn: To strike; to collide; to beat. [Archaic] The heart meleth, and the knees smite together. Nah. ii. 10.

SMITE Smite, n.

Defn: The act of smiting; a blow.

SMITER Smit"er, n.

Defn: One who smites. I give my back to the smiters. Isa. l. 6.

SMITH Smith, n. Etym: [AS. smi; akin to D. smid, G. schmied, OHG. smid, Icel. smi, Dan. & Sw. smed, Goth. smi (in comp.); cf. Gr.

1. One who forgess with the hammer; one who works in metals; as, a blacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, and the like. Piers Plowman. Nor yet the smith hath learned to form a sword. Tate.

2. One who makes or effects anything. [R.] Dryden.

SMITH Smith, v. t. Etym: [AS. smi. See Smith, n.]

Defn: To beat into shape; to fprge. [Obs.] Chaucer. What smith that any [weapon] smitheth. Piers Plowman.

SMITHCRAFT Smith"craft`, n.

Defn: The art or occupation of a smith; smithing. [R.] Sir W. Raleigh.

SMITHER Smith"er, n.

1. Light, fine rain. [Prov. Eng.]

2. pl.

Defn: Fragments; atoms; finders. [Prov. Eng.] Smash the bottle to smithers. Tennyson.

SMITHEREENS Smith`er*eens", n. pl.

Defn: Fragments; atoms; smithers. [Colloq.] W. Black.

SMITHERY Smith"er*y, n.; pl. -ies (.

1. The workshop of a smith; a smithy or stithy.

2. Work done by a smith; smithing. The din of all his smithery may some time or other possibly wake this noble duke. Burke.

SMITHING Smith"ing, n.

Defn: The act or art of working or forging metals, as iron, into any desired shape. Moxon.

SMITHSONIAN Smith*so"ni*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Englishman J.L.M. Smithson, or to the national institution of learning which he endowed at Washington, D.C.; as, the Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Reports. -- n.

Defn: The Smithsonian Institution.

SMITHSONITE Smith"son*ite, n. Etym: [See Smithsonian.] (Min.)

Defn: Native zinc carbonate. It generally occurs in stalactitic, reniform, or botryoidal shapes, of a white to gray, green, or brown color. See Note under Calamine.

SMITHY Smith"y, n. Etym: [AS. smi, fr. smi; akin to D. smidse, smids, OHG. smitta, G. schmiede, Icel. smi. See Smith, n.]

Defn: The workshop of a smith, esp. a blacksmith; a smithery; a stithy. [Written also smiddy.] Under a spreading chestnut tree The village smithy stands. Lonfellow.

SMITT Smitt, n. Etym: [CF. G. schmitz a stain, schmitzen besmear. See Smite, v. t.]

Defn: Fine clay or ocher made up into balls, used for marking sheep. [Eng.] Woodsward.

SMITTEN Smit"ten,

Defn: p. p. of Smite.

SMITTLE Smit"tle, v. t. Etym: [Freq. fr. OE. smitten to befoul. See Smite, v. t.]

Defn: To infect. [Prov. Eng.]

SMITTLE Smit"tle, n.

Defn: Infection. [Pov. Eng.] Wright.

SMITTLE; SMITTLISH Smit"tle, Smit"tlish, a.

Defn: Infectious; catching. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] H. Kingsley.

SMOCK Smock, n. Etym: [AS. smoc; akin to OHG. smocho, Icel. smokkr, and from the root of AS. sm to creep, akin to G. schmiegen to cling to, press close. MHG. smiegen, Icel. smj to creep through, to put on a garment which has a hole to put the head through; cf. Lith. smukti to glide. Cf. Smug, Smuggle.]

1. A woman's under-garment; a shift; a chemise. In her smock, with head and foot all bare. Chaucer.

2. A blouse; a smoock frock. Carlyle.

SMOCK Smock, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a smock; resembling a smock; hence, of or pertaining to a woman. Smock mill, a windmill of which only the cap turns round to meet the wind, in distinction from a post mill, whose whole building turns on a post. -- Smock race, a race run by women for the prize of a smock. [Prov. Eng.]

SMOCK Smock, v. t.

Defn: To provide with, or clothe in, a smock or a smock frock. Tennyson.

SMOCK-FACED Smock"-faced`, a.

Defn: Having a feminine countenance or complexion; smooth-faced; girlish. Fenton.

SMOCK FROCK Smock" frock`.

Defn: A coarse frock, or shirt, worn over the other dress, as by farm laborers. Macaulay.

SMOCKLESS Smock"less, a.

Defn: Wanting a smock. Chaucer.

SMOKABLE Smok"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being smoked; suitable or ready to be smoked; as, smokable tobacco.

SMOKE Smoke, n. Etym: [AS. smoca, fr. smeócan to smoke; akin to LG. & D. smook smoke, Dan. smög, G. schmauch, and perh. to Gr. smaugti to choke.]

1. The visible exhalation, vapor, or substance that escapes, or expelled, from a burning body, especially from burning vegetable matter, as wood, coal, peat, or the like.

Note: The gases of hydrocarbons, raised to a red heat or thereabouts, without a mixture of air enough to produce combustion, disengage their carbon in a fine powder, forming smoke. The disengaged carbon when deposited on solid bodies is soot.

2. That which resembles smoke; a vapor; a mist.

3. Anything unsubstantial, as idle talk. Shak.

4. The act of smoking, esp. of smoking tobacco; as, to have a smoke. [Colloq.]

Note: Smoke is sometimes joined with other word. forming self- explaining compounds; as, smoke-consuming, smoke-dried, smoke- stained, etc. Smoke arch, the smoke box of a locomotive. -- Smoke ball (Mil.), a ball or case containing a composition which, when it burns, sends forth thick smoke. -- Smoke black, lampblack. [Obs.] -- Smoke board, a board suspended before a fireplace to prevent the smoke from coming out into the room. -- Smoke box, a chamber in a boiler, where the smoke, etc., from the furnace is collected before going out at the chimney. -- Smoke sail (Naut.), a small sail in the lee of the galley stovepipe, to prevent the smoke from annoying people on deck. -- Smoke tree (Bot.), a shrub (Rhus Cotinus) in which the flowers are mostly abortive and the panicles transformed into tangles of plumose pedicels looking like wreaths of smoke. -- To end in smoke, to burned; hence, to be destroyed or ruined; figuratively, to come to nothing.

Syn. -- Fume; reek; vapor.

SMOKE Smoke, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smoked; p. pr. & vb n. Smoking.] Etym: [AS. smocian; akin to D. smoken, G. schmauchen, Dan. smöge. See Smoke, n.]

1. To emit smoke; to throw off volatile matter in the form of vapor or exhalation; to reek. Hard by a cottage chimney smokes. Milton.

2. Hence, to burn; to be kindled; to rage. The anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke agains. that man. Deut. xxix. 20.

3. To raise a dust or smoke by rapid motion. Proud of his steeds, he smokes along the field. Dryden.

4. To draw into the mouth the smoke of tobacco burning in a pipe or in the form of a cigar, cigarette, etc.; to habitually use tobacco in this manner.

5. To suffer severely; to be punished. Some of you shall smoke for it in Rome. Shak.

SMOKE Smoke, v. t.

1. To apply smoke to; to hang in smoke; to disinfect, to cure, etc., by smoke; as, to smoke or fumigate infected clothing; to smoke beef or hams for preservation.

2. To fill or scent with smoke; hence, to fill with incense; to perfume. "Smoking the temple." Chaucer.

3. To smell out; to hunt out; to find out; to detect. I alone Smoked his true person, talked with him. Chapman. He was first smoked by the old Lord Lafeu. Shak. Upon that . . . I began to smoke that they were a parcel of mummers. Addison.

4. To ridicule to the face; to quiz. [Old Slang]

5. To inhale and puff out the smoke of, as tobacco; to burn or use in smoking; as, to smoke a pipe or a cigar.

6. To subject to the operation of smoke, for the purpose of annoying or driving out; -- often with out; as, to smoke a woodchuck out of his burrow.

SMOKE BALL Smoke ball.

Defn: Same as Puffball.

SMOKE-DRY Smoke"-dry`, v. t.

Defn: To dry by or in smoke.

SMOKEHOUSE Smoke"house`, n.

Defn: A building where meat or fish is cured by subjecting it to a dense smoke.

SMOKEJACK Smoke"jack`, n.

Defn: A contrivance for turning a spit by means of a fly or wheel moved by the current of ascending air in a chimney.

SMOKELESS Smoke"less, a.

Defn: Making or having no smoke. "Smokeless towers." Pope.

SMOKELESS POWDER Smoke"less pow"der.

Defn: A high-explosive gunpowder whose explosion produces little, if any, smoke.

SMOKER Smok"er, n.

1. One who dries or preserves by smoke.

2. One who smokes tobacco or the like.

3. A smoking car or compartment. [U. S.]

SMOKESTACK Smoke"stack`, n.

Defn: A chimney; esp., a pipe serving as a chimney, as the pipe which carries off the smoke of a locomotive, the funnel of a steam vessel, etc.

SMOKILY Smok"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a smoky manner.

SMOKINESS Smok"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being smoky.

SMOKING Smok"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Smoke. Smoking bean (Bot.), the long pod of the catalpa, or Indian-bean tree, often smoked by boys as a substitute for cigars. -- Smoking car, a railway car carriage reserved for the use of passengers who smoke tobacco.

SMOKY Smok"y, a. [Compar. Smokier; superl. Smokiest.]

1. Emitting smoke, esp. in large quantities or in an offensive manner; fumid; as, smoky fires.

2. Having the appearance or nature of smoke; as, a smoky fog. "Unlustrous as the smoky light." Shak.

3. Filled with smoke, or with a vapor resembling smoke; thick; as, a smoky atmosphere.

4. Subject to be filled with smoke from chimneys or fireplace; as, a smoky house.

5. Tarnished with smoke; noisome with smoke; as, smoky rafters; smoky cells.

6. Suspicious; open to suspicion. [Obs.] Foote. Smoky quartz (Min.), a variety of quartz crystal of a pale to dark smoky-brown color. See Quartz.

SMOLDER; SMOULDER Smol"der, Smoul"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smoldered or Smouldered; p. pr. & vb. n. Smoldering or Smouldering.] Etym: [OE. smolderen; cf. Prov. G. smölen, smelen, D. smeulen. Cf. Smell.]

1. To burn and smoke without flame; to waste away by a slow and supressed combustion. The smoldering dust did round about him smoke. Spenser.

2. To exist in a state of suppressed or smothered activity; to burn inwardly; as, a smoldering feud.

SMOLDER; SMOULDER Smol"der, Smoul"der, v. t.

Defn: To smother; to suffocate; to choke. [Obs.] Holinshed. Palsgrave.

SMOLDER; SMOULDER Smol"der, Smoul"der, n.

Defn: Smoke; smother. [Obs.] The smolder stops our nose with stench. Gascoigne.

SMOLDERING; SMOULDERING Smol"der*ing, Smoul"der*ing, a.

Defn: Being in a state of suppressed activity; quiet but not dead. Some evil chance Will make the smoldering scandal break and blaze. Tennyson.

SMOLDERINGNESS; SMOULDERINGNESS Smol"der*ing*ness, Smoul"der*ing*ness, n.

Defn: The state of smoldering.

SMOLDRY; SMOULDRY Smol"dry, Smoul"dry, a.

Defn: Smoldering; suffocating; smothery. [Obs.] A flaming fire ymixt with smoldry smoke. Spenser.

SMOLT Smolt, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young salmon two or three years old, when it has acquired its silvery color.

SMOOCH Smooch, v. t.

Defn: See Smutch.

SMOOR Smoor, v. t. Etym: [AS. smorian; akin to D. & LG. smoren, G. schmoren to stew. Cf. Smother.]

Defn: To suffocate or smother. [Written also smore.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir T. More. Burns.

SMOOTH Smooth, a. [Compar. Smoother; superl. Smoothest.] Etym: [OE. smothe, smethe, AS. smeedhe, smoeedte, where e, oe, come from an older o; cf. LG. smöde, smöe, smödig; of uncertain origin.]

1. Having an even surface, or a surface so even that no roughness or points can be perceived by the touch; not rough; as, smooth glass; smooth porcelain. Chaucer. The outlines must be smooth, imperceptible to the touch, and even, without eminence or cavities. Dryden.

2. Evenly spread or arranged; sleek; as, smooth hair.

3. Gently flowing; moving equably; not ruffled or obstructed; as, a smooth stream.

4. Flowing or uttered without check, obstruction, or hesitation; not harsh; voluble; even; fluent. The only smooth poet of those times. Milton. Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full-resounding line. Pope. When sage Minerva rose, From her sweet lips smooth elocution flows. Gay.

5. Bland; mild; smoothing; fattering. This smooth discourse and mild behavior oft Conceal a traitor. Addison.

6. (Mech. & Physics)

Defn: Causing no resistance to a body sliding along its surface; frictionless.

Note: Smooth is often used in the formation of selfexplaining compounds; as, smooth-bodied, smooth-browed, smooth-combed, smooth- faced, smooth-finished, smooth-gliding, smooth-grained, smooth- leaved, smooth-sliding, smooth-speaking, smooth-woven, and the like.

Syn. -- Even; plain; level; flat; polished; glossy; sleek; soft; bland; mild; soothing; voluble; flattering; adulatory; deceptive.

SMOOTH Smooth, adv.

Defn: Smoothly. Chaucer. Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep. Shak.

SMOOTH Smooth, n.

1. The act of making smooth; a stroke which smooths. Thackeray.

2. That which is smooth; the smooth part of anything. "The smooth of his neck." Gen. xxvii. 16.

SMOOTH Smooth, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smoothed (smoothd); p. pr. & vb. n. Smoothing.] Etym: [OE. smothen, smethen, AS. smeedhian; cf. LG. smöden. See Smooth, a.]

Defn: To make smooth; to make even on the surface by any means; as, to smooth a board with a plane; to smooth cloth with an iron. Specifically: -- (a) To free from obstruction; to make easy. Thou, Abelard! the last sad office pay, And smooth my passage to the realms of day. Pope.

(b) To free from harshness; to make flowing. In their motions harmony divine So smooths her charming tones that God's own ear Listens delighted. Milton.

(c) To palliate; to gloze; as, to smooth over a fault. (d) To give a smooth or calm appearance to. Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm. Milton.

(e) To ease; to regulate. Dryden.

SMOOTH Smooth, v. i.

Defn: To flatter; to use blandishment. Because I can not flatter and speak fair, Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog. Shak.

SMOOTHBORE Smooth"bore`, a. (Gun.)

Defn: Having a bore of perfectly smooth surface; -- distinguished from rifled. -- n.

Defn: A smoothbore firearm.

SMOOTH-CHINNED Smooth"-chinned`, a.

Defn: Having a smooth chin; beardless. Drayton.

SMOOTHEN Smooth"en, v. t.

Defn: To make smooth. [Obs.]

SMOOTHER Smooth"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, smooths.

SMOOTHING Smooth"ing, a. & n.

Defn: fr. Smooth, v. Smoothing iron, an iron instrument with a polished face, for smoothing clothes; a sadiron; a flatiron. -- Smoothing plane, a short, finely set plane, for smoothing and finishing work.

SMOOTHLY Smooth"ly, adv.

Defn: In a smooth manner.

SMOOTHNESS Smooth"ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being smooth.

SMOOTH-SPOKEN Smooth"-spo`ken, a.

Defn: Speaking smoothly; plausible; flattering; smooth-tongued.

SMOOTH-TONGUED Smooth"-tongued`, a.

Defn: Having a smooth tongue; plausible; flattering.

SMORE Smore, v. t.

Defn: To smother. See Smoor. [Obs.] Some dying vomit blood, and some were smored. Du Bartas.

SMORZANDO; SMORSATO Smor*zan"do, Smor*sa"to, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: Growing gradually fainter and softer; dying away; morendo.

SMOTE Smote,

Defn: imp. (and rare p. p.) of Smite.

SMOTERLICH Smo"ter*lich, a. Etym: [CF. Smut.]

Defn: Dirty foul. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SMOTHER Smoth"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smothered; p. pr. & vb. n. Smothering.] Etym: [OE. smotheren; akin to E. smoor. See Smoor.]

1. To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent breathing; to suffocate; as, to smother a child.

2. To affect as by suffocation; to stife; to deprive of air by a thick covering, as of ashes, of smoke, or the like; as, to smother a fire.

3. Hence, to repress the action of; to cover from public view; to suppress; to conceal; as, to smother one's displeasure.

SMOTHER Smoth"er, v. i.

1. To be suffocated or stifled.

2. To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder.

SMOTHER Smoth"er, n. Etym: [OE. smorther. See Smother, v. t.]

1. Stifling smoke; thick dust. Shak.

2. A state of suppression. [Obs.] Not to keep their suspicions in smother. Bacon. Smother fly (Zoöl.), an aphid.

SMOTHERED MATE Smoth"ered mate. (Chess)

Defn: Checkmate given when movement of the king is completely obstructed by his own men.

SMOTHERINESS Smoth"er*i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being smothery.

SMOTHERINGLY Smoth"er*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a smothering manner.

SMOTHERY Smoth"er*y, a.

Defn: Tending to smother; stifling.

SMOUCH Smouch, v. t. Etym: [Akin to smack.]

Defn: To kiss closely. [Obs.] P. Stubbes.

SMOUCH Smouch, v. t. Etym: [See Smutch.]

Defn: To smutch; to soil; as, to smouch the face.

SMOUCH Smouch, n.

Defn: A dark soil or stain; a smutch.

SMOULDER Smoul"der, v. i.

Defn: See Smolder.

SMOULDRY Smoul"dry, a.

Defn: See Smoldry.

SMUDGE Smudge, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. smuds smut, E. smutch, or smoke.]

1. A suffocating smoke. Grose.

2. A heap of damp combustibles partially ignited and burning slowly, placed on the windward side of a house, tent, or the like, in order, by the thick smoke, to keep off mosquitoes or other insects. [U. S.] Bartlett.

3. That which is smeared upon anything; a stain; a blot; a smutch; a smear.

SMUDGE Smudge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smudged; p. pr. & vb. n. Smudging.]

1. To stifle or smother with smoke; to smoke by means of a smudge.

2. To smear; to smutch; to soil; to blacken with smoke.

SMUDGINESS Smudg"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being smudged, soiled, or blurred. C. A. Young.

SMUG Smug, a. Etym: [Of. Scand. or Low German origin; cf. LG. smuck, G. schmuck, Dan. smuk, OSw. smuck, smöck, and E. smock, smuggle; cf. G. schmuck ornament. See Smock.]

Defn: Studiously neat or nice, especially in dress; spruce; affectedly precise; smooth and prim. They be so smug and smooth. Robynson (More's Utopia). The smug and scanty draperies of his style. De Quincey. A young, smug, handsome holiness has no fellow. Beau & Fl.

SMUG Smug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Smugging.]

Defn: To make smug, or spruce. [Obs.] Thus said, he smugged his beard, and stroked up fair. Dryton.

SMUGGLE Smug"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smuggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Smuggling.] Etym: [Of Low German or Scand. origin; cf. LG. smuggeln, D. smokkelen, G. schmuggeln, Dan. smugle, Sw. smyga to introduce or convey secretly, Dan. i smug secretly, D. smuigen to eat in secret, AS. smgan to creep. See Smock.]

1. To import or export secretly, contrary to the law; to import or export without paying the duties imposed by law; as, to smuggle lace.

2. Fig.: To convey or introduce clandestinely.

SMUGGLE Smug"gle, v. i.

Defn: To import or export in violation of the customs laws.

SMUGGLER Smug"gler, n.

1. One who smuggles.

2. A vessel employed in smuggling.

SMUGLY Smug"ly, adv.

Defn: In a smug manner. [R.] Gay.

SMUGNESS Smug"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being smug.

SMUT Smut, n. Etym: [Akin to Sw. smuts, Dan. smuds, MHG. smuz, G. schmutz, D. smet a spot or stain, smoddig, smodsig, smodderig, dirty, smodderen to smut; and probably to E. smite. See Smite, v. t., and cf. Smitt, Smutch.]

1. Foul matter, like soot or coal dust; also, a spot or soil made by such matter.

2. (Mining)

Defn: Bad, soft coal, containing much earthy matter, found in the immediate locality of faults.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: An affection of cereal grains producing a swelling which is at length resolved into a powdery sooty mass. It is caused by parasitic fungi of the genus Ustilago. Ustilago segetum, or U. Carbo, is the commonest kind; that of Indian corn is Ustilago maydis.

4. Obscene language; ribaldry; obscenity. He does not stand upon decency . . . but will talk smut, though a priest and his mother be in the room. Addison. Smut mill, a machine for cleansing grain from smut.

SMUT Smut, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smutting.]

1. To stain or mark with smut; to blacken with coal, soot, or other dirty substance.

2. To taint with mildew, as grain. Bacon.

3. To blacken; to sully or taint; to tarnish.

4. To clear of smut; as, to smut grain for the mill.

SMUT Smut, v. i.

1. To gather smut; to be converted into smut; to become smutted. Mortimer.

2. To give off smut; to crock.

SMUTCH Smutch, n. Etym: [Prob. for smuts. See Smut, n.]

Defn: A stain; a dirty spot. B. Jonson.

SMUTCH Smutch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smutched; p. pr. & vb. n. Smutching.]

Defn: To blacken with smoke, soot, or coal. [Written also smooch.] B. Jonson.

SMUTCHIN Smutch"in, n.

Defn: Snuff. [Obs.] Howell.

SMUTTY Smut"ty, a. [Compar. Smuttier; superl. Smuttiest.]

1. Soiled with smut; smutted.

2. Tainted with mildew; as, smutty corn.

3. Obscene; not modest or pure; as, a smutty saying. The smutty joke, ridiculously lewd. Smollett. -- Smut"ti*ly, adv. -- Smut"ti*ness, n.

SMYRNIOT Smyr"ni*ot, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Smyrna. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Smyrna.

SNACK Snack, n. Etym: [See Snatch, v. t.]

1. A share; a part or portion; -- obsolete, except in the colloquial phrase, to go snacks, i. e., to share. At last he whispers, "Do, and we go snacks." Pope.

2. A slight, hasty repast. [Colloq.]

SNACKET Snack"et, n.

Defn: See Snecket. [Prov. Eng.]

SNACOT Snac"ot, n. Etym: [Said to be corrupted fr. NL. syngnathus, fr. Gr. sy`n together + gna`qos jaw, because the jaws can be only slightly separated.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A pipefish of the genus Syngnathus. See Pipefish.

SNAFFLE Snaf"fle, n. Etym: [D. snavel a beak, bill, snout; akin to G. schnabel, OHG. snabul,. sneb, snebbe, OFries. snavel mouth, Dan. & Sw. snabel beak, bill, Lith. snapas, and to E. snap, v. See Snap, and cf. Neb.]

Defn: A kind of bridle bit, having a joint in the part to be placed in the mouth, and rings and cheek pieces at the ends, but having no curb; -- called also snaffle bit.

SNAFFLE Snaf"fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snaffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Snaffling.]

Defn: To put a snaffle in the mouth of; to subject to the snaffle; to bridle.

SNAG Snag, n. Etym: [Prov. E., n., a lump on a tree where a branch has been cut off; v., to cut off the twigs and small branches from a tree, of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. snaigh, snaidh, to cut down, to prune, to sharpen, p. p. snaighte, snaidhte, cut off, lopped, Ir. snaigh a hewing, cutting.]

1. A stump or base of a branch that has been lopped off; a short branch, or a sharp or rough branch; a knot; a protuberance. The coat of arms Now on a naked snag in triumph borne. Dryden.

2. A tooth projecting beyond the rest; contemptuously, a broken or decayed tooth. Prior.

3. A tree, or a branch of a tree, fixed in the bottom of a river or other navigable water, and rising nearly or quite to the surface, by which boats are sometimes pierced and sunk.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the secondary branches of an antler. Snag boat, a steamboat fitted with apparatus for removing snags and other obstructions in navigable streams. [U.S.] -- Snag tooth. Same as Snag, 2. How thy snag teeth stand orderly, Like stakes which strut by the water side. J. Cotgrave.

SNAG Snag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Snagging.]

1. To cut the snags or branches from, as the stem of a tree; to hew roughly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. To injure or destroy, as a steamboat or other vessel, by a snag, or projecting part of a sunken tree. [U. S.]

SNAGGED Snag"ged, a.

Defn: Full of snags; snaggy.

SNAGGY Snag"gy, a.

1. Full of snags; full of short, rough branches or sharp points; abounding with knots. "Upon a snaggy oak." Spenser.

2. Snappish; cross; ill-tempered. [Prov. Eng.]

SNAIL Snail, n. Etym: [OE. snaile, AS. sn, snegel, sn; akin to G. schnecke, OHG. snecko, Dan. snegl, Icel. snigill.]

1. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous species of terrestrial air-breathing gastropods belonging to the genus Helix and many allied genera of the family Helicidæ. They are abundant in nearly all parts of the world except the arctic regions, and feed almost entirely on vegetation; a land sanil. (b) Any gastropod having a general resemblance to the true snails, including fresh-water and marine species. See Pond snail, under Pond, and Sea snail.

2. Hence, a drone; a slow-moving person or thing.

3. (Mech.)

Defn: A spiral cam, or a flat piece of metal of spirally curved outline, used for giving motion to, or changing the position of, another part, as the hammer tail of a striking clock.

4. A tortoise; in ancient warfare, a movable roof or shed to protect besiegers; a testudo. [Obs.] They had also all manner of gynes [engines] . . . that needful is [in] taking or sieging of castle or of city, as snails, that was naught else but hollow pavises and targets, under the which men, when they fought, were heled [protected], . . . as the snail is in his house; therefore they cleped them snails. Vegetius (Trans.).

5. (Bot.)

Defn: The pod of the sanil clover. Ear snail, Edible snail, Pond snail, etc. See under Ear, Edible, etc. -- Snail borer (Zoöl.), a boring univalve mollusk; a drill. -- Snail clover (Bot.), a cloverlike plant (Medicago scuttellata, also, M. Helix); -- so named from its pods, which resemble the shells of snails; -- called also snail trefoil, snail medic, and beehive. -- Snail flower (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Phaseolus Caracalla) having the keel of the carolla spirally coiled like a snail shell. -- Snail shell (Zoöl.), the shell of snail. -- Snail trefoil. (Bot.) See Snail clover, above.

SNAILFISH Snail"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Sea snail (a).

SNAIL-LIKE Snail"-like`, a.

Defn: Like or suiting a snail; as, snail-like progress.

SNAIL-LIKE Snail"-like`, adv.

Defn: In the manner of a snail; slowly.

SNAIL-PACED Snail"-paced`, a.

Defn: Slow-moving, like a snail. Bid the snail-paced Ajax arm for shame. Shak.

'SNAILS 'Snails, interj.

Defn: God's nails, or His nails, that is, the nails with which the Savior was fastened to the cross; -- an ancient form of oath, corresponding to 'Od's bodikins (dim. of body, i.e., God's dear body). Beau & Fl.

SNAKE Snake, n. Etym: [AS. snaca; akin to LG. snake, schnake, Icel. snakr, sn, Dan. snog, Sw. snok; of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent, whether harmless or venomous. See Ophidia, and Serpent.

Note: Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the larger number are harmless to man. Blind snake, Garter snake, Green snake, King snake, Milk snake, Rock snake, Water snake, etc. See under Blind, Garter, etc. -- Fetich snake (Zoöl.), a large African snake (Python Sebæ) used by the natives as a fetich. -- Ringed snake (Zoöl.), a common European columbrine snake (Tropidonotus natrix). -- Snake eater. (Zoöl.) (a) The markhoor. (b) The secretary bird. -- Snake fence, a worm fence (which see). [U.S.] -- Snake fly (Zoöl.), any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Rhaphidia; -- so called because of their large head and elongated neck and prothorax. -- Snake gourd (Bot.), a cucurbitaceous plant (Trichosanthes anguina) having the fruit shorter and less snakelike than that of the serpent cucumber. -- Snake killer. (Zoöl.) (a) The secretary bird. (b) The chaparral cock. -- Snake moss (Bot.), the common club moss (Lycopodium clavatum). See Lycopodium. -- Snake nut (Bot.), the fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Ophiocaryon paradoxum) of Guiana, the embryo of which resembles a snake coiled up. -- Tree snake (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees, especially those of the genus Dendrophis and allied genera.

SNAKE Snake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Snaking.]

1. To drag or draw, as a snake from a hole; -- often with out. [Colloq. U.S.] Bartlett.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: To wind round spirally, as a large rope with a smaller, or with cord, the small rope lying in the spaces between the strands of the large one; to worm.

SNAKE Snake, v. i.

Defn: To crawl like a snake.

SNAKEBIRD Snake"bird`, n. Etym: [So named from its snakelike neck.] (Zoöl.)

1. Any one of four species of aquatic birds of the genus Anhinga or Plotus. They are allied to the gannets and cormorants, but have very long, slender, flexible necks, and sharp bills.

Note: The American species (Anhinga, or Plotus, anhinga) inhabits the Southern United States and tropical America; -- called also darter, and water turkey. The Asiatic species (A. melanogaster) is native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Two other species inhabit Africa and Australia respectively.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The wryneck.

SNAKEFISH Snake"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The band fish. (b) The lizard fish.

SNAKEHEAD Snake"head`, n.

1. A loose, bent-up end of one of the strap rails, or flat rails, formerly used on American railroads. It was sometimes so bent by the passage of a train as to slip over a wheel and pierce the bottom of a car.

2. (Bot.) (a) The turtlehead. (b) The Guinea-hen flower. See Snake's-head, and under Guinea.

SNAKENECK Snake"neck`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The snakebird, 1.

SNAKEROOT Snake"root`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any one of several plants of different genera and species, most of which are (or were formerly) reputed to be efficacious as remedies for the bites of serpents; also, the roots of any of these.

Note: The Virginia snakeroot is Aristolochia Serpentaria; black snakeroot is Sanicula, esp. S. Marilandica, also Cimicifuga racemosa; Seneca snakeroot is Polygala Senega; button snakeroot is Liatris, also Eryngium; white snakeroot is Eupatorium ageratoides. The name is also applied to some others besides these.

SNAKE'S-HEAD Snake's"-head`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The Guinea-hen flower; -- so called in England because its spotted petals resemble the scales of a snake's head. Dr. Prior. Snake's-head iris (Bot.), an iridaceous plant (Hermodactylus tuberosus) of the Mediterranean region. The flowers slightly resemble a serpent's open mouth.

SNAKESTONE Snake"stone`, n.

1. A kind of hone slate or whetstone obtained in Scotland.

2. (Paleon.)

Defn: An ammonite; -- so called from its form, which resembles that of a coiled snake.

SNAKE'S-TONGUE Snake's-tongue`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Adder's-tongue.

SNAKEWEED Snake"weed`, n. (Bot.) (a) A kind of knotweed (Polygonum Bistorta). (b) The Virginia snakeroot. See Snakeroot.

SNAKEWOOD Snake"wood`, n. (Bot.) (a) An East Indian climbing plant (Strychnos colubrina) having a bitter taste, and supposed to be a remedy for the bite of the hooded serpent. (b) An East Indian climbing shrub (Ophioxylon serpentinum) which has the roots and stems twisted so as to resemble serpents. (c) Same as Trumpetwood. (d) A tropical American shrub (Plumieria rubra) which has very fragrant red blossoms. (e) Same as Letterwood.

SNAKISH Snak"ish, a.

Defn: Having the qualities or characteristics of a snake; snaky.

SNAKY Snak"y, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a snake or snakes; resembling a snake; serpentine; winding. The red light playing upon its gilt and carving gave it an appearance of snaky life. L. Wallace.

2. Sly; cunning; insinuating; deceitful. So to the coast of Jordan he directs His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles. Milton.

3. Covered with serpents; having serpents; as, a snaky rod or wand. Dryden. That snaky-headed, Gorgon shield. Milton.

SNAP Snap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Snapping.] Etym: [LG. or D. snappen to snap up, to snatch; akin to G. schnappen, MHG. snaben, Dan. snappe, and to D. snavel beak, bill. Cf. Neb, Snaffle, n.]

1. To break at once; to break short, as substances that are brittle. Breaks the doors open, snaps the locks. Prior.

2. To strike, to hit, or to shut, with a sharp sound.

3. To bite or seize suddenly, especially with the teeth. He, by playing too often at the mouth of death, has been snapped by it at last. South.

4. To break upon suddenly with sharp, angry words; to treat snappishly; -- usually with up. Granville.

5. To crack; to cause to make a sharp, cracking noise; as, to snap a whip. MacMorian snapped his fingers repeatedly. Sir W. Scott.

6. To project with a snap. To snap back (Football), to roll the ball back with the foot; -- done only by the center rush, who thus delivers the ball to the quarter back on his own side when both sides are ranged in line. -- To snap off. (a) To break suddenly. (b) To bite off suddenly.

SNAP Snap, v. i.

1. To break short, or at once; to part asunder suddenly; as, a mast snaps; a needle snaps. But this weapon will snap short, unfaithful to the hand that employs it. Burke.

2. To give forth, or produce, a sharp, cracking noise; to crack; as, blazing firewood snaps.

3. To make an effort to bite; to aim to seize with the teeth; to catch eagerly (at anything); -- often with at; as, a dog snapsat a passenger; a fish snaps at the bait.

4. To utter sharp, harsh, angry words; -- often with at; as, to snap at a child.

5. To miss fire; as, the gun snapped.

SNAP Snap, n. Etym: [Cf. D. snap a snatching. See Snap, v. t.]

1. A sudden breaking or rupture of any substance.

2. A sudden, eager bite; a sudden seizing, or effort to seize, as with the teeth.

3. A sudden, sharp motion or blow, as with the finger sprung from the thumb, or the thumb from the finger.

4. A sharp, abrupt sound, as that made by the crack of a whip; as, the snap of the trigger of a gun.

5. A greedy fellow. L'Estrange.

6. That which is, or may be, snapped up; something bitten off, seized, or obtained by a single quick movement; hence, a bite, morsel, or fragment; a scrap. He's a nimble fellow, And alike skilled in every liberal science, As having certain snaps of all. B. Jonson.

7. A sudden severe interval or spell; -- applied to the weather; as, a cold snap. Lowell.

8. A small catch or fastening held or closed by means of a spring, or one which closes with a snapping sound, as the catch of a bracelet, necklace, clasp of a book, etc.

9. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A snap beetle.

10. A thin, crisp cake, usually small, and flavored with ginger; -- used chiefly in the plural.

11. Briskness; vigor; energy; decision. [Colloq.]

12. Any circumstance out of which money may be made or an advantage gained. [Slang] Snap back (Football), the act of snapping back the ball. -- Snap beetle, or Snap bug (Zoöl.), any beetle of the family Elateridæ, which, when laid on its back, is able to leap to a considerable height by means of a thoracic spring; -- called also snapping beetle. -- Snap flask (Molding), a flask for small work, having its sides separable and held together by latches, so that the flask may be removed from around the sand mold. -- Snap judgment, a judgment formed on the instant without deliberation. -- Snap lock, a lock shutting with a catch or snap. -- Snap riveting, riveting in which the rivets have snapheads formed by a die or swaging tool. -- Snap shot, a quick offhand shot, without deliberately taking aim.

SNAPDRAGON Snap"drag`on, n.

1. (Bot.) (a) Any plant of the scrrophulariaceous genus Antirrhinum, especially the cultivated A. majus, whose showy flowers are fancifully likened to the face of a dragon. (b) A West Indian herb (Ruellia tuberosa) with curiously shaped blue flowers.

2. A play in which raisins are snatched from a vessel containing burning brandy, and eaten; also, that which is so eaten. See Flapdragon. Swift.

SNAPE Snape, v. t. (Shipbuilding)

Defn: To bevel the end of a timber to fit against an inclined surface.

SNAPHANCE Snap"hance`, n. Etym: [D. snaphaan a gun, originally, the snapping cock of a gun. See Snap, and Hen.]

1. A spring lock for discharging a firearm; also, the firearm to which it is attached. [Obs.]

2. A trifling or second-rate thing or person. [Obs.]

SNAPHEAD Snap"head`, n.

Defn: A hemispherical or rounded head to a rivet or bolt; also, a swaging tool with a cavity in its face for forming such a rounded head.

SNAPPER Snap"per, n.

1. One who, or that which, snaps; as, a snapper up of trifles; the snapper of a whip.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of large sparoid food fishes of the genus Lutjanus, abundant on the southern coasts of the United States and on both coasts of tropical America.

Note: The red snapper (Lutjanus aya, or Blackfordi) and the gray, or mangrove, snapper (L. griseus) are large and abundant species. The name is loosely applied to various other fishes, as the bluefish, the rosefish, the red grouper, etc. See Rosefish.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A snapping turtle; as, the alligator snapper.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The green woodpecker, or yaffle.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A snap beetle.

SNAPPING Snap"ping,

Defn: a. & n. from Snap, v. Snapping beetle. (Zoöl.) See Snap beetle, under Snap. -- Snapping turtle. (Zoöl.) (a) A large and voracious aquatic turtle (Chelydra serpentina) common in the fresh waters of the United States; -- so called from its habit of seizing its prey by a snap of its jaws. Called also mud turtle. (b) See Alligator snapper, under Alligator.

SNAPPISH Snap"pish, a.

1. Apt to snap at persons or things; eager to bite; as, a snapping cur.

2. Sharp in reply; apt to speak angrily or testily; easily provoked; tart; peevish. The taunting address of a snappish missanthrope. Jeffrey. -- Snap"pish*ly, adv. -- Snap"pish*ness, n.

SNAPPY Snap"py, a.

Defn: Snappish. [Colloq.]

SNAPSACK Snap"sack`, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. snappsäck, G. schnappsack.]

Defn: A knapsack. [Obs.] South.

SNAPSHOT; SNAP SHOT Snap"shot`, n.

1. Commonly Snap shot. (a) A quick offhand shot, made without deliberately taking aim over the sights. (b) (Photog.) Act of taking a snapshot (in sense 2).

2. An instantaneous photograph made, usually with a hand camera, without formal posing of, and often without the foreknowledge of, the subject.

SNAPWEED Snap"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Impatiens.

SNAR Snar, v. i. Etym: [Akin to LG. & OD. snarren, G. schnarren, E. snore. See Snore, and cf. Snarl to growl.]

Defn: To snarl. [Obs.] Spenser.

SNARE Snare, n. Etym: [AS. sneara cord, a string; akin to D. snoer, G. schnur, OHG. snour a cord, snarahha a noose, Dan. snare, Sw. & Icel. snara, Goth. sn a basket; and probably also to E. needle. See Needle, and cf. Snarl to entangle.]

1. A contrivance, often consisting of a noose of cord, or the like, by which a bird or other animal may be entangled and caught; a trap; a gin.

2. Hence, anything by which one is entangled and brought into trouble. If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed, Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee. Shak.

3. The gut or string stretched across the lower head of a drum.

4. (Med.)

Defn: An instrument, consisting usually of a wireloop or noose, for removing tumors, etc., by avulsion. Snare drum, the smaller common military drum, as distinguished from the bass drum; -- so called because (in order to render it more resonant) it has stretched across its lower head a catgut string or strings.

SNARE Snare, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snared; p. pr. & vb. n. Snaring.]

Defn: To catch with a snare; to insnare; to entangle; hence, to bring into unexpected evil, perplexity, or danger. Lest that too heavenly form . . . snare them. Milton. The mournful crocodile With sorrow snares relenting passengers. Shak.

SNARER Snar"er, n.

Defn: One who lays snares, or entraps.

SNARL Snarl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snarled; p. pr. & vvb. n. Snarling.] Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: To form raised work upon the outer surface of (thin metal ware) by the repercussion of a snarling iron upon the inner surface.

SNARL Snarl, v. t. Etym: [From Snare, v. t.]

1. To entangle; to complicate; to involve in knots; as, to snarl a skein of thread. "Her snarled hair." Spenser.

2. To embarrass; to insnare. [The] question that they would have snarled him with. Latimer.

SNARL Snarl, n.

Defn: A knot or complication of hair, thread, or the like, difficult to disentangle; entanglement; hence, intricate complication; embarrassing difficulty.

SNARL Snarl, v. i. Etym: [From Snar.]

1. To growl, as an angry or surly dog; to gnarl; to utter grumbling sounds. "An angry cur snarls while he feeds." Dryden & Lee.

2. To speak crossly; to talk in rude, surly terms. It is malicious and unmanly to snarl at the little lapses of a pen, from which Virgil himself stands not exempted. Dryden.

SNARL Snarl, n.

Defn: The act of snarling; a growl; a surly or peevish expression; an angry contention.

SNARLER Snarl"er, n.

Defn: One who snarls; a surly, growling animal; a grumbling, quarrelsome fellow.

SNARLER Snarl"er, n.

Defn: One who makes use of a snarling iron.

SNARLING Snarl"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Snarl, v. Snarling iron, a tool with a long beak, used in the process of snarling. When one end is held in a vise, and the shank is struck with a hammer, the repercussion of the other end, or beak, within the article worked upon gives the requisite blow for producing raised work. See 1st Snarl.

SNARY Snar"y, a. Etym: [From Snare.]

Defn: Resembling, or consisting of, snares; entangling; insidious. Spiders in the vault their snary webs have spread. Dryden.

SNAST Snast, n. Etym: [Cf. Snite, v. t.]

Defn: The snuff, or burnt wick, of a candle. [Obs.] Bacon.

SNATCH Snatch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snatched; p. pr. & vb. n. Snatching.] Etym: [OE. snachen, snechen; akin to D. snakken to gasp, to long (for), to desire. Cf. Snack, n., Sneck.]

1. To take or seize hastily, abruptly, or without permission or ceremony; as, to snatch a loaf or a kiss. When half our knowledge we must snatch, not take. Pope.

2. To seize and transport away; to rap. "Snatch me to heaven." Thomson.

Syn. -- To twitch; pluck; grab; catch; grasp; gripe.

SNATCH Snatch, v. i.

Defn: To attempt to seize something suddenly; to catch; -- often with at; as, to snatch at a rope.

SNATCH Snatch, n.

1. A hasty catching or seizing; a grab; a catching at, or attempt to seize, suddenly.

2. A short period of vigorous action; as, a snatch at weeding after a shower. Tusser. They move by fits and snatches. Bp. Wilkins.

3. A small piece, fragment, or quantity; a broken part; a scrap. We have often little snatches of sunshine. Spectator. Leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. Shak.

SNATCH BLOCK Snatch block (Naut.),

Defn: a kind of block with an opening in one side to receive the bight of a rope.

SNATCHER Snatch"er, n.

Defn: One who snatches, or takes abruptly.

SNATCHINGLY Snatch"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: By snatching; abruptly.

SNATH Snath, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. sni to cut, to mow, sn a bite, bit snip.]

Defn: The handle of a scythe; a snead. [Variously written in England snead, sneed, sneath, sneeth, snathe, etc.; in Scotland written sned.]

SNATH Snath (snath), n. [Cf. AS. sniðan to cut, to mow, snaed a bite, bit, snip.]

Defn: The handle of a scythe; a snead. [Variously written in England snead, sneed, sneath, sneeth, snathe, etc.; in Scotland written sned.]

SNATHE Snathe, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Icel. snei to cut into alices, sni to cut; akin to AS. besn, sni, G. schneiden, OHG. snidan, Goth. snei to cut, to reap, and E. snath, snithe.]

Defn: To lop; to prune. [Prov. Eng.]

SNATTOCK Snat"tock, n. Etym: [See Snathe.]

Defn: A chip; a alice. [Prov. Eng.] Gayton.

SNAW Snaw, n.

Defn: Snow. [Obs. or Scot.] Burns.

SNEAD Snead, n. Etym: [See Snatch.]

1. A snath.

2. A line or cord; a string. [Prov. Eng.]

SNEAK Sneak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sneaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Sneaking.] Etym: [OE. sniken, AS. snican to creep; akin to Dan. snige sig; cf. Icel. snikja to hanker after.]

1. To creep or steal (away or about) privately; to come or go meanly, as a person afraid or ashamed to be seen; as, to sneak away from company. imp. & p. p. "snuck" is more common now, but not even mentioned here. In MW10, simply "sneaked or snuck" You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. Dryden.

2. To act in a stealthy and cowardly manner; to behave with meanness and servility; to crouch.

SNEAK Sneak, v. t.

Defn: To hide, esp. in a mean or cowardly manner. [Obs.] "[Slander] sneaks its head." Wake.

SNEAK Sneak, n.

1. A mean, sneaking fellow. A set of simpletons and superstitious sneaks. Glanvill.

2. (Cricket)

Defn: A ball bowled so as to roll along the ground; -- called also grub. [Cant] R. A. Proctor.

SNEAK-CUP Sneak"-cup`, n.

Defn: One who sneaks from his cups; one who balks his glass. [Obs.] Shak.

SNEAK CURRENT Sneak current. (Elec.)

Defn: A current which, though too feeble to blow the usual fuse or to injure at once telegraph or telephone instruments, will in time burn them out.

SNEAKER Sneak"er, n.

1. One who sneaks. Lamb.

2. A vessel of drink. [Prov. Eng.] A sneaker of five gallons. Spectator.

SNEAKINESS Sneak"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being sneaky.

SNEAKING Sneak"ing, a.

Defn: Marked by cowardly concealment; deficient in openness and courage; underhand; mean; crouching. -- Sneak"ing*ly, adv. -- Sneak"ing*ness, n.

SNEAKSBY Sneaks"by, n.

Defn: A paltry fellow; a sneak. [Obs.] "Such a bashful sneaksby." Barrow.

SNEAKY Sneak"y, n.

Defn: Like a sneak; sneaking.

SNEAP Sneap, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Icel. sneypa to dishonor, disgrace, chide, but also E. snip, and snub.]

1. To check; to reprimand; to rebuke; to chide. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

2. To nip; to blast; to blight. [Obs.] Biron is like an envious, sneaping frost. Shak.

SNEAP Sneap, n.

Defn: A reprimand; a rebuke. [Obs.] My lord, I will not undergo this sneap without reply. Shak.

SNEATH; SNEATHE Sneath, Sneathe, n.

Defn: See Snath.

SNEB Sneb, v. t. Etym: [See Snib.]

Defn: To reprimand; to sneap. [Obs.] "Scold and sneb the good oak." Spenser.

SNECK Sneck, v. t. Etym: [See Snatch.]

Defn: To fasten by a hatch; to latch, as a door. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Sneck up, be silent; shut up; hold your peace. Shak.

SNECK Sneck, n.

Defn: A door latch. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Sneck band, a latchstring. Burns. -- Sneck drawer, a latch lifter; a bolt drawer; hence, a sly person; a cozener; a cheat; -- called also sneckdraw. -- Sneck drawing, lifting the latch.

SNECKET Sneck"et, n.

Defn: A door latch, or sneck. [Prov. Eng.]

SNED Sned, v. t.

Defn: To lop; to snathe. [Prov. Eng.]

SNED; SNEED Sned, Sneed, n.

Defn: See Snath.

SNEER Sneer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sneered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sneering.] Etym: [OE. sneren, Dan. sn to snarl or grin (like a dog); cf. Prov. E. sneer to grin, sner to snort, snert to sneer at. See Snore, v. i.]

1. To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression.

2. To inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively. I could be content to be a little sneared at. Pope.

3. To show mirth awkwardly. [R.] Tatler.

Syn. -- To scoff; gibe; jeer. -- Sneer, Scoff, Jeer. The verb to sneer implies to cast contempt indirectly or by covert expressions. To jeer is stronger, and denotes the use of several sarcastic reflections. To scoff is stronger still, implying the use of insolent mockery and derision. And sneers as learnedly as they, Like females o'er their morning tea. Swift. Midas, exposed to all their jeers, Had lost his art, and kept his ears. Swift. The fop, with learning at defiance, Scoffs at the pedant and science. Gay.

SNEER Sneer, v. t.

1. To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person. Congreve. "A ship of fools," he sneered. Tennyson.

2. To treat with sneers; to affect or move by sneers. Nor sneered nor bribed from virtue into shame. Savage.

SNEER Sneer, n.

1. The act of sneering.

2. A smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt. "Who can refute a sneer" Raley.

SNEERER Sneer"er, n.

Defn: One who sneers.

SNEERFUL Sneer"ful, a.

Defn: Given to sneering. [Obs.]

SNEERINGLY Sneer"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sneering manner.

SNEEZE Sneeze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sneezed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sneezing.] Etym: [OE. snesen; of uncertain origin; cf. D. snuse to sniff, E. neese, and AS. fneósan.]

Defn: To emit air, chiefly through the nose, audibly and violently, by a kind of involuntary convulsive force, occasioned by irritation of the inner membrane of the nose. Not to be sneezed at, not to be despised or contemned; not to be treated lightly. [Colloq.] "He had to do with old women who were not to be sneezed at." Prof. Wilson.

SNEEZE Sneeze, n.

Defn: A sudden and violent ejection of air with an audible sound, chiefly through the nose.

SNEEZEWEED Sneeze"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A yellow-flowered composite plant (Helenium autumnale) the odor of which is said to cause sneezing.

SNEEZEWOOD Sneeze"wood`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The wood of a South African tree. See Neishout.

SNEEZEWORT Sneeze"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A European herbaceous plant (Achillea Ptarmica) allied to the yarrow, having a strong, pungent smell.

SNEEZING Sneez"ing, n. (Physiol.)

Defn: The act of violently forcing air out through the nasal passages while the cavity of the mouth is shut off from the pharynx by the approximation of the soft palate and the base of the tongue.

SNELL Snell, a. Etym: [AS. snell; akin to D. snel, G. schnell, OHG. snel, Icel. snjallr valiant.]

Defn: Active; brisk; nimble; quick; sharp. [Archaic or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] That horny-handed, snell, peremptory little man. Dr. J. Brown.

SNELL Snell, n.

Defn: A short line of horsehair, gut, etc., by which a fishhook is attached to a longer line.

SNET Snet, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schnitt that which is cut, fr. schneiden to cut, E. snath.]

Defn: The fat of a deer. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SNET Snet, v. t. Etym: [See Snot.]

Defn: The clear of mucus; to blow. [Obs.] "Snetting his nose." Holland.

SNEW Snew, v. i.

Defn: To snow; to abound. [Obs.] It snewed in his house of meat and drink. Chaucer.

SNIB Snib, v. t. Etym: [OE. snibben; cf. Dan. snibbe, and E. snub, v. t.]

Defn: To check; to sneap; to sneb. [Obs.] Him would he snib sharply for the nones. Chaucer.

SNIB Snib, n.

Defn: A reprimand; a snub. [Obs.] Marston.

SNICK Snick, n. Etym: [Prov. E. snick a notch; cf. Icel. snikka nick, cut.]

1. A small cut or mark.

2. (Cricket)

Defn: A slight hit or tip of the ball, often unintentional.

3. (Fiber)

Defn: A knot or irregularity in yarn. Knight.

4. (Furriery)

Defn: A snip or cut, as in the hair of a beast. Snick and snee Etym: [cf. D. snee, snede, a cut], a combat with knives. [Obs.] Wiseman.

SNICK Snick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snicked; p. pr. & vb. n. Snicking.]

1. To cut slightly; to strike, or strike off, as by cutting. H. Kingsley.

2. (Cricket)

Defn: To hit (a ball) lightly. R. A. Proctor.

SNICK Snick, n. & v. t.

Defn: See Sneck. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Snick up, shut up; silenced. See Sneck up, under Sneck. Give him money, George, and let him go snick up. Beau & Fl.

SNICKER Snick"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snickered; p. pr. & vb. n. Snickering.] Etym: [Cf. D. snikken to sob, to sigh.] [Written also snigger.]

1. To laugh slyly; to laugh in one's sleeve.

2. To laugh with audible catches of voice, as when persons attempt to suppress loud laughter.

SNICKER Snick"er, n.

Defn: A half suppressed, broken laugh. [Written also snigger.]

SNIDE Snide, a.

Defn: Tricky; deceptive; contemptible; as, a snide lawyer; snide goods. [Slang]

SNIDER RIFLE; SNIDER Sni"der ri"fle, or Sni"der, n. (Mil.)

Defn: A breech-loading rifle formerly used in the British service; -- so called from the inventor.

SNIFF Sniff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sniffed or Snift; p. pr. & vb. n. Sniffing.] Etym: [OE. sneven; akin to snivel, snuff; cf. Dan. snive to sniff. See Snuff, v. t.]

Defn: To draw air audibly up the nose; to snuff; -- sometimes done as a gesture of suspicion, offense, or contempt. So ye grow squeamish, gods, and sniff at heaven. M. Arnold.

SNIFF Sniff, v. t.

1. To draw in with the breath through the nose; as, to sniff the air of the country.

2. To perceive as by sniffing; to snuff, to scent; to smell; as, to sniff danger.

SNIFF Sniff, n.

Defn: The act of sniffing; perception by sniffing; that which is taken by sniffing; as, a sniff of air.

SNIFFING Sniff"ing, n. (Physiol.)

Defn: A rapid inspiratory act, in which the mouth is kept shut and the air drawn in through the nose.

SNIFFLE Snif"fle, v. i. Etym: [Freq. of sniff. See Snivel.]

Defn: To snuffle, as one does with a catarrh. [Prov. Eng.]

SNIFT Snift, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Snifting.] Etym: [From Sniff.]

1. To snort. [Obs.] "Resentment expressed by snifting." Johnson.

2. To sniff; to snuff; to smell. It now appears that they were still snifing and hankering after their old quarters. Landor.

SNIFT Snift, n.

1. A moment. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. Slight snow; sleet. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SNIFTING Snift"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Snift. Snifting valve, a small valve opening into the atmosphere from the cylinder or condenser of a steam engine, to allow the escape of air when the piston makes a stroke; -- so called from the noise made by its action.

SNIG Snig, v. t. Etym: [See Snick a small cut.]

Defn: To chop off; to cut. [Prov. Eng.]

SNIG Snig, v. i. Etym: [See Sneak.]

Defn: To sneak. [Prov. Eng.]

SNIG; SNIGG Snig, Snigg, n. Etym: [Cf. Sneak.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small eel. [Prov. Eng.]

SNIGGER Snig"ger, v. i.

Defn: See Snicker. Thackeray.

SNIGGER Snig"ger, n.

Defn: See Snicker. Dickens.

SNIGGLE Snig"gle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sniggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sniggling().] Etym: [See Snig a kind of eel.]

Defn: To fish for eels by thrusting the baited hook into their holes or hiding places. Walton.

SNIGGLE Snig"gle, v. t.

Defn: To catch, as an eel, by sniggling; hence, to hook; to insnare. Beau & Fl.

SNIP Snip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Snipping.] Etym: [D. snippen; akin to G. schnippen.]

Defn: To cut off the nip or neb of, or to cut off at once with shears or scissors; to clip off suddenly; to nip; hence, to break off; to snatch away. Curbed and snipped in my younger years by fear of my parents from those vicious excrescences to which that age was subject. Fuller. The captain seldom ordered anything out of the ship's stores . . . but I snipped some of it for my own share. De Foe.

SNIP Snip, n.

1. A single cut, as with shears or scissors; a clip. Shak.

2. A small shred; a bit cut off. Wiseman.

3. A share; a snack. [Obs.] L'Estrange

4. A tailor. [Slang] Nares. C. Kingsley.

5. Small hand shears for cutting sheet metal.

SNIPE Snipe, n. Etym: [OE. snipe; akin to D. snep, snip, LG. sneppe, snippe, G. schnepfe, Icel. snipa (in comp.), Dan. sneppe, Sw. snäppa a sanpiper, and possibly to E. snap. See Snap, Snaffle.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of limicoline game birds of the family Scolopacidæ, having a long, slender, nearly straight beak.

Note: The common, or whole, snipe (Gallinago coelestis) and the great, or double, snipe (G. major), are the most important European species. The Wilson's snipe (G. delicata) (sometimes erroneously called English snipe) and the gray snipe, or dowitcher (Macrohamphus griseus), are well-known American species.

2. A fool; a blockhead. [R.] Shak. Half snipe, the dunlin; the jacksnipe. -- Jack snipe. See Jacksnipe. -- Quail snipe. See under Quail. -- Robin snipe, the knot. -- Sea snipe. See in the Vocabulary. -- Shore snipe, any sandpiper. -- Snipe hawk, the marsh harrier. [Prov. Eng.] -- Stone snipe, the tattler. -- Summer snipe, the dunlin; the green and the common European sandpipers. -- Winter snipe. See Rock snipe, under Rock. -- Woodcock snipe, the great snipe.

SNIPEBILL Snipe"bill`, n.

1. A plane for cutting deep grooves in moldings.

2. A bolt by which the body of a cart is fastened to the axle. [Local, U.S.]

SNIPEFISH Snipe"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The bellows fish. (b) A long, slender deep-sea fish (Nemichthys scolopaceus) with a slender beak.

SNIPPACK Snip"pack, n. Etym: [Cf. Snipe.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common snipe. [Prov. Eng.]

SNIPPER Snip"per, n.

Defn: One who snips.

SNIPPER-SNAPER Snip"per-snap`er, n.

Defn: A small, insignificant fellow. [Colloq.]

SNIPPET Snip"pet, n.

Defn: A small part or piece. To be cut into snippets and shreds. F. Harrison.

SNIPPETY Snip"pet*y, a.

Defn: Ridiculously small; petty. "Snippety facts." London Spectator.

SNIP-SNAP Snip"-snap`, n. Etym: [Reduplication of snap.]

Defn: A tart dialogue with quick replies. [R.] Pope.

SNIP-SNAP Snip"-snap`, a.

Defn: Quick; short; sharp; smart. Shak.

SNIPY Snip"y, a.

Defn: Like a snipe.

SNITE Snite, n.

Defn: A snipe. [Obs. or Scot.] Carew.

SNITE Snite, v. t. Etym: [Icel. snifa. See Snout.]

Defn: To blow, as the nose; to snuff, as a candle. [Obs. or Scot.]

SNITHE; SNITHY Snithe, Snith"y, a. Etym: [AS. sni to cut. See Snathe.]

Defn: Sharp; piercing; cutting; -- applied to the wind. [Prov. Eng.]

SNIVEL Sniv"el, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sniveled or Snivelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sniveling or Snivelling.] Etym: [OE. snivelen, snevelen, snuvelen, freg. of sneven. See Sniff, and cf. Snuffle.]

1. To run at the nose; to make a snuffling noise.

2. To cry or whine with snuffling, as children; to cry weakly or whiningly. Put stop to thy sniveling ditty. Sir W. Scott.

SNIVEL Sniv"el, n. Etym: [AS. snofel. Cf. Snivel, v. i.]

Defn: Mucus from the nose; snot.

SNIVELER Sniv"el*er, n. Etym: [Written also sniveller.]

Defn: One who snivels, esp. one who snivels habitually.

SNIVELY Sniv"el*y, a.

Defn: Running at the nose; sniveling pitiful; whining.

SNOB Snob, n. Etym: [Icel. snapr a dolt, impostor, charlatan. Cf. Snub.]

1. A vulgar person who affects to be better, richer, or more fashionable, than he really is; a vulgar upstart; one who apes his superiors. Thackeray. Essentially vulgar, a snob. -- a gilded snob, but none the less a snob. R. G. White.

2. (Eng. Univ.)

Defn: A townsman. [Canf]

3. A journeyman shoemaker. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

4. A workman who accepts lower than the usual wages, or who refuses to strike when his fellows do; a rat; a knobstick. Those who work for lower wages during a strike are called snobs, the men who stand out being "nobs" De Quincey.

SNOBBERY Snob"ber*y, n.

Defn: The quality of being snobbish; snobbishness.

SNOBBISH Snob"bish, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a snob; characteristic of, or befitting, a snob; vulgarly pretentious. -- Snob"bish*ly, adv.

SNOBBISHNESS Snob"bish*ness, n.

Defn: Vulgar affectation or ostentation; mean admiration of mean things; conduct or manners of a snob.

SNOBBISM Snob"bism, n.

Defn: Snobbery.

SNOBBY Snob"by, a.

Defn: Snobbish. [R.] E. B. Ramsay.

SNOBLING Snob"ling, n.

Defn: A little snob. [Jocose] Thackeray.

SNOBOCRACY Snob*oc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Snob + -cracy, as in aristocracy, mobocracy.]

Defn: Snobs, collectively. [Hybrid & Recent] C. Kingsley.

SNOD Snod, n. Etym: [See Snood.]

Defn: A fillet; a headband; a snood. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SNOD Snod, a. Etym: [Scot. snod to prune, put in order.]

Defn: Trimmed; smooth; neat; trim; sly; cunning; demure. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SNOFF Snoff, n. Etym: [Cf. Snuff.] (Mining)

Defn: A short candle end used for igniting a fuse. Raymond.

SNOOD Snood, n. Etym: [AS. sn. Cf. Snare.]

1. The fillet which binds the hair of a young unmarried woman, and is emblematic of her maiden character. [Scot.] And seldom was a snood amid Such wild, luxuriant ringlets hid. Sir W. Scott.

2. A short line (often of horsehair) connecting a fishing line with the hook; a snell; a leader.

SNOOD Snood, v. t.

Defn: To bind or braid up, as the hair, with a snood. [Scot.]

SNOODED Snood"ed, a.

Defn: Wearing or having a snood. "The snooded daughter." Whittier.

SNOOK Snook, v. i. Etym: [Prov. E. snook to search out, to follow by the scent; cf. Sw. snoka to lurk, LG. snöggen, snuckern, snökern, to snuffle, to smell about, to search for.]

Defn: To lurk; to lie in ambush. [Obs.]

SNOOK Snook, n. Etym: [D. snoek.] (Zoöl.) (a) A large perchlike marine food fish (Centropomus undecimalis) found both on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of tropical America; -- called also ravallia, and robalo. (b) The cobia. (c) The garfish.

SNOOZE Snooze, n. Etym: [Scot. snooze to sleep; cf. Dan. & Sw. snus snuff.]

Defn: A short sleep; a nap. [Colloq.]

SNOOZE Snooze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snoozed; p. pr. & vb. n. Snoozing.]

Defn: To doze; to drowse; to take a short nap; to slumber. [Colloq.]

SNORE Snore, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snored; p. pr. & vb. n. Snoring.] Etym: [OE. snoren, AS. snora a snoring; akin to LG. snoren, snorken, snurken, to snore, D. snorken, G. schnarchen to snore, schnarren to rattle, MHG. snarren, Sw. snarka to snore, Icel. snarka to sputter, fizzle. Cf. Snarl to growl, Sneer, Snort. See Snoring.]

Defn: To breathe with a rough, hoarse, nasal voice in sleep.

SNORE Snore, n.

Defn: A harsh nasal noise made in sleep.

SNORER Snor"er, n.

Defn: One who snores.

SNORING Snor"ing, n. (Physiol.)

Defn: The act of respiring through the open mouth so that the currents of inspired and expired air cause a vibration of the uvula and soft palate, thus giving rise to a sound more or less harsh. It is usually unvoluntary, but may be produced voluntarily.

SNORT Snort, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Snorting.] Etym: [OE. snorten; akin to snoren. See Snore.]

1. To force the air with violence through the nose, so as to make a noise, as do high-spirited horsed in prancing and play. Fairfax.

2. To snore. [R.] "The snorting citizens." Shak.

3. To laugh out loudly. [Colloq.] Halliwell.

SNORT Snort, n.

Defn: The act of snorting; the sound produced in snorting.

SNORT Snort, v. t.

Defn: To expel throught the nostrils with a snort; to utter with a snort. Keats.

SNORTER Snort"er, n.

1. One who snorts.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The wheather; -- so called from its cry. [Prov. Eng.]

SNOT Snot, n. Etym: [AS. snot; akin to D. snot, LG. snotte, Dan. snot, and to E. snout. See Snout.]

1. Mucus secreted in, or discharged from, the nose. [Low]

2. A mean, insignificant fellow. [Low]

SNOT Snot, v. t.

Defn: To blow, wipe, or clear, as the nose.

SNOTTER Snot"ter, v. i. Etym: [From Snot.]

Defn: To snivel; to cry or whine. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

SNOTTER Snot"ter, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.)

Defn: A rope going over a yardarm, used to bend a tripping line to, in sending down topgallant and royal yards in vessels of war; also, the short line supporting the heel of the sprit in a small boat.

SNOTTERY Snot"ter*y, n.

Defn: Filth; abomination. [Obs.] To purge the snottery of our slimy time. Marston.

SNOTTY Snot"ty, a.

Defn: Foul with snot; hence, mean; dirty. -- Snort"ti*ly, adb. -- Snot"ti*ness, n.

SNOUT Snout, n. Etym: [OE. snoute, probably of Scand, or Low German origin; cf. LG. snute, D. snuit, G. schnauze, Sw. snut, snyte, Dan. snude, Icel. sn to blow the nose; probably akin to E. snuff, v.t. Cf. Snite, Snot, Snuff.]

1. The long, projecting nose of a beast, as of swine.

2. The nose of a man; -- in contempt. Hudibras.

3. The nozzle of a pipe, hose, etc.

4. (Zoöl.) (a) The anterior prolongation of the head of a gastropod; -- called also rostrum. (b) The anterior prolongation of the head of weevils and allied beetles. Snout beetle (Zoöl.), any one of many species of beetles having an elongated snout and belonging to the tribe Rhynchophora; a weevil. -- Snout moth (Zoöl.), any pyralid moth. See Pyralid.

SNOUT Snout, v. t.

Defn: To furnish with a nozzle or point.

SNOUTY Snout"y, a.

Defn: Resembling a beast's snout. The nose was ugly, long, and big, Broad and snouty like a pig. Otway.

SNOW Snow, n. Etym: [LG. snaue, or D. snaauw, from LG. snau a snout, a beak.] (Naut.)

Defn: A square-rigged vessel, differing from a brig only in that she has a trysail mast close abaft the mainmast, on which a large trysail is hoisted.

SNOW Snow, n. Etym: [OE. snow, snaw, AS. snaw; akin to D. sneeuw, OS. & OHG. sneo, G. schnee, Icel. snær, snjor, snajar, Sw. snö, Dan. snee, Goth. snaiws, Lith. snëgas, Russ. snieg', Ir. & Gael. sneachd, W. nyf, L. nix, nivis, Gr. acc. ni`fa, also AS. sniwan to snow, G. schneien, OHG. sniwan, Lith. snigti, L. ningit it snows, Gr. ni`fei, Zend snizh to snow; cf. Skr. snih to be wet or sticky. sq. root172.]

1. Watery particles congealed into white or transparent crystals or flakes in the air, and falling to the earth, exhibiting a great variety of very beautiful and perfect forms.

Note: Snow is often used to form compounds, most of which are of obvious meaning; as, snow-capped, snow-clad, snow-cold, snow-crowned, snow-crust, snow-fed, snow-haired, snowlike, snow-mantled, snow- nodding, snow-wrought, and the like.

2. Fig.: Something white like snow, as the white color (argent) in heraldry; something which falls in, or as in, flakes. The field of snow with eagle of black therein. Chaucer. Red snow. See under Red. Snow bunting. (Zoöl.) See Snowbird, 1. -- Snow cock (Zoöl.), the snow pheasant. -- Snow flea (Zoöl.), a small black leaping poduran (Achorutes nivicola) often found in winter on the snow in vast numbers. -- Snow flood, a flood from melted snow. -- Snow flower (Bot.), the fringe tree. -- Snow fly, or Snow insect (Zoöl.), any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Boreus. The male has rudimentary wings; the female is wingless. These insects sometimes appear creeping and leaping on the snow in great numbers. -- Snow gnat (Zoöl.), any wingless dipterous insect of the genus Chionea found running on snow in winter. -- Snow goose (Zoöl.), any one of several species of arctic geese of the genus Chen. The common snow goose (Chen hyperborea), common in the Western United States in winter, is white, with the tips of the wings black and legs and bill red. Called also white brant, wavey, and Texas goose. The blue, or blue-winged, snow goose (C. coerulescens) is varied with grayish brown and bluish gray, with the wing quills black and the head and upper part of the neck white. Called also white head, white-headed goose, and bald brant. -- Snow leopard (Zool.), the ounce. -- Snow line, lowest limit of perpetual snow. In the Alps this is at an altitude of 9,000 feet, in the Andes, at the equator, 16,000 feet. -- Snow mouse (Zoöl.), a European vole (Arvicola nivalis) which inhabits the Alps and other high mountains. -- Snow pheasant (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large, handsome gallinaceous birds of the genus Tetraogallus, native of the lofty mountains of Asia. The Himalayn snow pheasant (T.Himalayensis) in the best-known species. Called also snow cock, and snow chukor. -- Snow partridge. (Zoöl.) See under Partridge. -- Snow pigeon (Zoöl.), a pigeon (Columba leuconota) native of the Himalaya mountains. Its back, neck, and rump are white, the top of the head and the ear coverts are black. -- Snow plant (Bot.), a fleshy parasitic herb (Sarcodes sanguinea) growing in the coniferous forests of California. It is all of a bright red color, and is fabled to grow from the snow, through which it sometimes shoots up.

SNOW Snow, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snowed (; p. pr. & vb. n. Snowing.]

Defn: To fall in or as snow; -- chiefly used impersonally; as, it snows; it snowed yesterday.

SNOW Snow, v. t.

Defn: To scatter like snow; to cover with, or as with, snow. Donne. Shak.

SNOWBALL Snow"ball`, n.

1. A round mass of snow pressed or roller together, or anything resembling such a mass.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: The Guelder-rose. Snowball tree (Bot.), the Guelder-rose.

SNOWBALL Snow"ball`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snowballed; p. pr. & vb. n. Snowballing.]

Defn: To pelt with snowballs; to throw snowballs at.

SNOWBALL Snow"ball`, v. i.

Defn: To throw snowballs.

SNOW BANNER Snow banner.

Defn: A bannerlike stream of snow blown into the air from a mountain peak, often having a pinkish color and extending horizontally for several miles across the sky.

SNOWBERRY Snow"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A name of several shrubs with white berries; as, the Symphoricarpus racemosus of the Northern United States, and the Chiococca racemosa of Florida and tropical America. Creeping snowberry. (Bot.) See under Creeping.

SNOWBIRD Snow"bird, n. (Zoöl.) (a) An arctic finch (Plectrophenax, or Plectrophanes, nivalis) common, in winter, both in Europe and the United States, and often appearing in large flocks during snowstorms. It is partially white, but variously marked with chestnut and brown. Called also snow bunting, snowflake, snowfleck, and snowflight. (b) Any finch of the genus Junco which appears in flocks in winter time, especially J. hyemalis in the Eastern United States; -- called also blue snowbird. See Junco. (c) The fieldfare. [Prov. Eng.]

SNOW-BLIND Snow"-blind`, a.

Defn: Affected with blindness by the brilliancy of snow. -- Snow"-blind`ness, n.

SNOW-BOUND Snow"-bound`, a.

Defn: Enveloped in, or confined by, snow. Whittier.

SNOW-BROTH Snow"-broth`, n.

Defn: Snow and water mixed, or snow just melted; very cold liquor. Shak.

SNOWCAP Snow"cap`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A very small humming bird (Microchæra albocoronata) native of New Grenada.

Note: The feathers of the top of the head are white and snining, the body blue black with a purple and bronzy luster. The name is applied also to Microchæra parvirostris of Central America, which is similar in color.

SNOW-CAPPED Snow"-capped`, a.

Defn: Having the top capped or covered with snow; as, snow-capped mountains.

SNOWDRIFT Snow"drift`, n.

Defn: A bank of drifted snow.

SNOWDROP Snow"drop`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A bulbous plant (Galanthus nivalis) bearing white flowers, which often appear while the snow is on the ground. It is cultivated in gardens for its beauty. Snowdrop tree. See Silver-bell tree, under Silver, a.

SNOWFLAKE Snow"flake`, n.

1. A flake, or small filmy mass, of snow.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Snowbird, 1.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to several bulbous plants of the genus Leucoium (L. vernum, æstivum, etc.) resembling the snowdrop, but having all the perianth leaves of equal size.

SNOWFLECK Snow"fleck`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Snowbird, 1.

SNOWL Snowl, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hooded merganser. [Local, U.S.]

SNOWLESS Snow"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of snow.

SNOWPLOW; SNOWPLOUGH Snow"plow`, Snow"plough`, n.

Defn: An implement operating like a plow, but on a larger scale, for clearing away the snow from roads, railways, etc.

SNOWSHED Snow"shed, n.

Defn: A shelter to protect from snow, esp. a long roof over an exposed part of a railroad.

SNOWSHOE Snow"shoe`, n.

Defn: A slight frame of wood three or four feet long and about one third as wide, with thongs or cords stretched across it, and having a support and holder for the foot; -- used by persons for walking on soft snow.

SNOWSHOEING Snow"shoe`ing, n.

Defn: Traveling on snowshoes.

SNOWSHOER Snow"sho`er, n.

Defn: One who travels on snowshoes; an expert in using snowshoes. W. G. Beers.

SNOWSLIP Snow"slip`, n.

Defn: A large mass or avalanche of snow which slips down the side of a mountain, etc.

SNOWSTORM Snow"storm`, n.

Defn: A storm with falling snow.

SNOW-WHITE Snow"-white`, a.

Defn: White as snow; very white. "Snow-white and rose-red" Chaucer.

SNOWY Snow"y, a.

1. White like snow. "So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows." Shak.

2. Abounding with snow; covered with snow. "The snowy top of cold Olympus." Milton.

3. Fig.: Pure; unblemished; unstained; spotless. There did he lose his snowy innocence. J. Hall (1646). Snowy heron (Zoöl.), a white heron, or egret (Ardea candidissima), found in the Southern United States, and southward to Chili; -- called also plume bird. -- Snowy lemming (Zoöl.), the collared lemming (Cuniculus torquatus), which turns white in winter. -- Snowy owl (Zoöl.), a large arctic owl (Nyctea Scandiaca, or N. nivea) common all over the northern parts of the United States and Europe in winter time. Its plumage is sometimes nearly pure white, but it is usually more or less marked with blackish spots. Called also white owl. -- Snowy plover (Zoöl.), a small plover (Ægialitis nivosa) of the western parts of the United States and Mexico. It is light gray above, with the under parts and portions of the head white.

SNUB Snub, v. i. Etym: [Cf. D. snuiven to snort, to pant, G. schnauben, MHG. snuben, Prov. G. schnupfen, to sob, and E. snuff, v.t.]

Defn: To sob with convulsions. [Obs.] Bailey.

SNUB Snub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snubbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Snubbing.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. ssnubba to snub, chide, Sw. snubba, Icel. snubbottr snubbed, nipped, and E. snib.]

1. To clip or break off the end of; to check or stunt the growth of; to nop.

2. To check, stop, or rebuke, with a tart, sarcastic reply or remark; to reprimand; to check. J. Foster.

3. To treat with contempt or neglect, as a forward or pretentious person; to slight designedly. To snub a cable or rope (Naut.), to check it suddenly in running out. Totten.

SNUB Snub, n.

1. A knot; a protuberance; a song. [Obs.] [A club] with ragged snubs and knotty grain. Spenser.

2. A check or rebuke; an intended slight. J. Foster. Snub nose, a short or flat nose. -- Snub post, or Snubbing post (Naut.), a post on a dock or shore, around which a rope is thrown to check the motion of a vessel.

SNUB-NOSED Snub"-nosed`, a.

Defn: Having a short, flat nose, slightly turned up; as, the snub- nosed eel. Snub-nosed cachalot (Zoöl.), the pygmy sperm whale.

SNUDGE Snudge, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Snug.]

Defn: To lie snug or quiet. [Obs.] Herbert.

SNUDGE Snudge, n.

Defn: A miser; a sneaking fellow. [Obs.]

SNUFF Snuff, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schnuppe candle snuff, schnuppen to snuff a candle (see Snuff, v. t., to snuff a candle), or cf. Snub, v. t.]

Defn: The part of a candle wick charred by the flame, whether burning or not. If the burning snuff happens to get out of the snuffers, you have a chance that it may fall into a dish of soup. Swift.

SNUFF Snuff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snuffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Snuffing.] Etym: [OE. snuffen. See Snuff of a candle Snuff to sniff.]

Defn: To crop the snuff of, as a candle; to take off the end of the snuff of. To snuff out, to extinguish by snuffing.

SNUFF Snuff, v. t.Etym: [Akin to D. snuffen, G. schnupfen, schnuppen, to snuff, schnupfen a cold in the head, schnuppen to snuff (air), also, to snuff (a candle). Cf. Sniff, Snout, Snub, v. i.]

1. To draw in, or to inhale, forcibly through the nose; to sniff. He snuffs the wind, his heels the sand excite. Dryden.

2. To perceive by the nose; to scent; to smell.

SNUFF Snuff, v. i.

1. To inhale air through the nose with violence or with noise, as do dogs and horses. Dryden.

2. To turn up the nose and inhale air, as an expression of contempt; hence, to take offense. Do the enemies of the church rage and snuff Bp. Hall.

SNUFF Snuff, n.

1. The act of snuffing; perception by snuffing; a sniff.

2. Pulverized tobacco, etc., prepared to be taken into the nose; also, the amount taken at once.

3. Resentment, displeasure, or contempt, expressed by a snuffing of the nose. [Obs.] Snuff dipping. See Dipping, n., 5. -- Snuff taker, one who uses snuff by inhaling it through the nose. -- To take it in snuff, to be angry or offended. Shak. -- Up to snuff, not likely to be imposed upon; knowing; acute. [Slang]

SNUFFBOX Snuff"box`, n.

Defn: A small box for carrying snuff about the person.

SNUFFER Snuff"er, n.

1. One who snuffs.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common porpoise.

SNUFFERS Snuff"ers, n. pl.

Defn: An instrument for cropping and holding the snuff of a candle.

SNUFFINGLY Snuff"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a snuffing manner.

SNUFFLE Snuf"fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snuffled(); p. pr. & vb. n. Snuffling.] Etym: [Freq. of snuff, v.i.; akin to LG. snuffeln, G. schnüffeln, D. snuffeln, Dan. snövle. Cf. Sniffle.]

Defn: To speak through the nose; to breathe through the nose when it is obstructed, so as to make a broken sound. One clad in purple Eats, and recites some lamentable rhyme . . . Snuffling at nose, and croaking in his throat. Dryden.

SNUFFLE Snuf"fle, n.

1. The act of snuffing; a sound made by the air passing through the nose when obstructed. This dread sovereign, Breath, in its passage, gave a snort or snuffle. Coleridge.

2. An affected nasal twang; hence, cant; hypocrisy.

3. pl.

Defn: Obstruction of the nose by mucus; nasal catarrh of infants or children. [Colloq.]

SNUFFLER Snuf"fler, n.

Defn: One who snuffles; one who uses cant.

SNUFFY Snuff"y, a.

1. Soiled with snuff.

2. Sulky; angry; vexed. [Obs. or Scot.] Jamieson.

SNUG Snug, a. [Compar. Snugger; superl. Snuggest.] Etym: [Prov. E. snug tight, handsome; cf. Icel. snöggr smooth, ODan. snög neat, Sw. snugg.]

1. Close and warm; as, an infant lies snug.

2. Close; concealed; not exposed to notice. Lie snug, and hear what critics say. Swift.

3. Compact, convenient, and comfortable; as, a snug farm, house, or property.

SNUG Snug, n. (Mach.)

Defn: Same as Lug, n., 3.

SNUG Snug, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Snugging().]

Defn: To lie close; to snuggle; to snudge; -- often with up, or together; as, a child snugs up to its mother.

SNUG Snug, v. t.

1. To place snugly. [R.] Goldsmith.

2. To rub, as twine or rope, so as to make it smooth and improve the finish.

SNUGGERY Snug"ger*y, n.; pl. Snuggeries (.

Defn: A snug, cozy place. [Colloq.] Dickens.

SNUGGLE Snug"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snuggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Snuggling.] Etym: [Freq. of snug.]

Defn: To move one way and the other so as to get a close place; to lie close for comfort; to cuddle; to nestle.

SNUGLY Snug"ly, adv.

Defn: In a snug manner; closely; safely.

SNUGNESS Snug"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being snug.

SNY Sny, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. snua to turn.]

Defn: An upward bend in a piece of timber; the sheer of a vessel.

SNYING Sny"ing, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A curved plank, placed edgewise, to work in the bows of a vessel. R. H. Dana, Jr.

SO So, adv. Etym: [OE. so, sa, swa, AS. swa; akin to OFries, sa, s, D. zoo, OS. & OHG. s, G. so, Icel. sva, sv, svo, so, Sw. s, Dan. saa, Goth. swa so, sw as; cf. L. suus one's own, Skr. sva one's own, one's self. sq. root192. Cf. As, Custom, Ethic, Idiom, Such.]

1. In that manner or degree; as, indicated (in any way), or as implied, or as supposed to be known. Why is his chariot so long in coming Judges v. 28.

2. In like manner or degree; in the same way; thus; for like reason; whith equal reason; -- used correlatively, following as, to denote comparison or resemblance; sometimes, also, following inasmuch as. As a war should be undertaken upon a just motive, so a prince ought to consider the condition he is in. Swift.

3. In such manner; to such degree; -- used correlatively with as or that following; as, he was so fortunate as to escape. I viewed in may mind, so far as I was able, the beginning and progress of a rising world. T. Burnet. He is very much in Sir Roger's esteem, so that he lives in the family rather as a relation than dependent. Addison.

4. Very; in a high degree; that is, in such a degree as can not well be expressed; as, he is so good; he planned so wisely.

5. In the same manner; as has been stated or suggested; in this or that condition or state; under these circumstances; in this way; -- with reflex reference to something just asserted or implied; used also with the verb to be, as a predicate. Use him [your tutor] with great respect yourself, and cause all your family to do so too. Locke. It concerns every man, with the greatest seriousness, to inquire into those matters, whether they be so or not. Tillotson. He is Sir Robert's son, and so art thou. Shak.

6. The case being such; therefore; on this account; for this reason; on these terms; -- used both as an adverb and a conjuction. God makes him in his own image an intellectual creature, and so capable of dominion. Locke. Here, then, exchange we mutually forgiveness; So may the guilt of all my broken vows, My perjuries to thee, be all forgotten. Rowe.

7. It is well; let it be as it is, or let it come to pass; -- used to express assent. And when 't is writ, for my sake read it over, And if it please you, so; if not, why, so. Shak. There is Percy; if your father will do me any honor, so; if not, let him kill the next Percy himself. Shak.

8. Well; the fact being as stated; -- used as an expletive; as, so the work is done, is it

9. Is it thus do you mean what you say -- with an upward tone; as, do you say he refuses So [Colloq.]

10. About the number, time, or quantity specified; thereabouts; more or less; as, I will spend a week or so in the country; I have read only a page or so. A week or so will probably reconcile us. Gay.

Note: See the Note under Ill, adv. So . . . as. So is now commonly used as a demonstrative correlative of as when it is the puprpose to emphasize the equality or comparison suggested, esp. in negative assertions, and questions implying a negative answer. By Shakespeare and others so . . . as was much used where as . . . as is now common. See the Note under As, 1. So do, as thou hast said. Gen. xviii. 5. As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. Ps. ciii. 15. Had woman been so strong as men. Shak. No country suffered so much as England. Macaulay. -- So far, to that point or extent; in that particular. "The song was moral, and so far was right." Cowper. -- So far forth, as far; to such a degree. Shak. Bacon. -- So forth, further in the same or similar manner; more of the same or a similar kind. See And so forth, under And. -- So, so, well, well. "So, so, it works; now, mistress, sit you fast." Dryden. Also, moderately or tolerably well; passably; as, he succeeded but so so. "His leg is but so so." Shak. -- So that, to the end that; in order that; with the effect or result that. -- So then, thus then it is; therefore; the consequence is.

SO So, conj.

Defn: Provided that; on condition that; in case that; if. Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose play upon the earth, so truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Milton.

SO So, interj.

Defn: Be as you are; stand still; stop; that will do; right as you are; -- a word used esp. to cows; also used by sailors.

SOAK Soak, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Soaking.] Etym: [OE. soken, AS. socian to sioak, steep, fr. s, s, to suck. See Suck.]

1. To cause or suffer to lie in a fluid till the substance has imbibed what it can contain; to macerate in water or other liquid; to steep, as for the purpose of softening or freshening; as, to soak cloth; to soak bread; to soak salt meat, salt fish, or the like.

2. To drench; to wet thoroughly. Their land shall be soaked with blood. Isa. xxiv. 7.

3. To draw in by the pores, or through small passages; as, a sponge soaks up water; the skin soaks in moisture.

4. To make (its way) by entering pores or interstices; -- often with through. The rivulet beneath soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow. Sir W. Scott.

5. Fig.: To absorb; to drain. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

SOAK Soak, v. i.

1. To lie steeping in water or other liquid; to become sturated; as, let the cloth lie and soak.

2. To enter (into something) by pores or interstices; as, water soaks into the earth or other porous matter.

3. To drink intemperately or gluttonously. [Slang]

SOAKAGE Soak"age, n.

Defn: The act of soaking, or the state of being soaked; also, the quantity that enters or issues by soaking.

SOAKER Soak"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, soaks.

2. A hard drinker. [Slang] South.

SOAKING Soak"ing, a.

Defn: Wetting thoroughly; drenching; as, a soaking rain. -- Soak"ing*ly, adv.

SOAKY Soak"y, a.

Defn: Full of moisture; wet; soppy.

SOAL Soal, n.

1. The sole of a shoe. [Obs. or R.]

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Sole, the fish. [Obs.]

SOAL Soal, n. Etym: [AS. sol mire. Cf. Sully.]

Defn: A dirty pond. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SOAM Soam, n.

Defn: A chain by which a leading horse draws a plow. Knight.

SOAP Soap, n. Etym: [OE. sope, AS. sape; akin to D. zeep, G. seife, OHG. seifa, Icel. sapa, Sw. s, Dan. s, and perhaps to AS. sipan to drip, MHG. sifen, and L. sebum tallow. Cf. Saponaceous.]

Defn: A substance which dissolves in water, thus forming a lather, and is used as a cleansing agent. Soap is produced by combining fats or oils with alkalies or alkaline earths, usually by boiling, and consists of salts of sodium, potassium, etc., with the fatty acids (oleic, stearic, palmitic, etc.). See the Note below, and cf. Saponification. By extension, any compound of similar composition or properties, whether used as a cleaning agent or not.

Note: In general, soaps are of two classes, hard and soft. Calcium, magnesium, lead, etc., form soaps, but they are insoluble and useless. The purifying action of soap depends upon the fact that it is decomposed by a large quantity of water into free alkali and an insoluble acid salt. The first of these takes away the fatty dirt on washing, and the latter forms the soap lather which envelops the greasy matter and thus tends to remove it. Roscoe & Schorlemmer. Castile soap, a fine-grained hard soap, white or mottled, made of olive oil and soda; -- called also Marseilles, or Venetian, soap. -- Hard soap, any one of a great variety of soaps, of different ingredients and color, which are hard and compact. All solid soaps are of this class. -- Lead soap, an insoluble, white, pliable soap made by saponifying an oil (olive oil) with lead oxide; -- used externally in medicine. Called also lead plaster, diachylon, etc. -- Marine soap. See under Marine. -- Pills of soap (Med.), pills containing soap and opium. -- Potash soap, any soap made with potash, esp. the soft soaps, and a hard soap made from potash and castor oil. -- Pumice soap, any hard soap charged with a gritty powder, as silica, alumina, powdered pumice, etc., which assists mechanically in the removal of dirt. -- Resin soap, a yellow soap containing resin, -- used in bleaching. -- Silicated soap, a cheap soap containing water glass (sodium silicate). -- Soap bark. (Bot.) See Quillaia bark. -- Soap bubble, a hollow iridescent globe, formed by blowing a film of soap suds from a pipe; figuratively, something attractive, but extremely unsubstantial. This soap bubble of the metaphysicians. J. C. Shairp. -- Soap cerate, a cerate formed of soap, olive oil, white wax, and the subacetate of lead, sometimes used as an application to allay inflammation. -- Soap fat, the refuse fat of kitchens, slaughter houses, etc., used in making soap. -- Soap liniment (Med.), a liniment containing soap, camphor, and alcohol. -- Soap nut, the hard kernel or seed of the fruit of the soapberry tree, -- used for making beads, buttons, etc. -- Soap plant (Bot.), one of several plants used in the place of soap, as the Chlorogalum pomeridianum, a California plant, the bulb of which, when stripped of its husk and rubbed on wet clothes, makes a thick lather, and smells not unlike new brown soap. It is called also soap apple, soap bulb, and soap weed. -- Soap tree. (Bot.) Same as Soapberry tree. -- Soda soap, a soap containing a sodium salt. The soda soaps are all hard soaps. -- Soft soap, a soap of a gray or brownish yellow color, and of a slimy, jellylike consistence, made from potash or the lye from wood ashes. It is strongly alkaline and often contains glycerin, and is used in scouring wood, in cleansing linen, in dyehouses, etc. Figuratively, flattery; wheedling; blarney. [Colloq.] -- Toilet soap, hard soap for the toilet, usually colored and perfumed.

SOAP Soap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soaped; p. pr. & vb. n. Soaping.]

1. To rub or wash over with soap.

2. To flatter; to wheedle. [Slang]

SOAPBERRY TREE Soap"ber`ry tree`. (Bot.)

Defn: Any tree of the genus Sapindus, esp. Sapindus saponaria, the fleshy part of whose fruit is used instead of soap in washing linen; -- also called soap tree.

SOAPFISH Soap"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any serranoid fish of the genus Rhypticus; -- so called from the soapy feeling of its skin.

SOAPINESS Soap"i*ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being soapy.

SOAPROOT Soap"root`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A perennial herb (Gypsophila Struthium) the root of which is used in Spain as a substitute for soap.

SOAPSTONE Soap"stone`, n.

Defn: See Steatite, and Talc.

SOAPSUDS Soap"suds`, n. pl.

Defn: Suds made with soap.

SOAPWORT Soap"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A common plant (Saponaria officinalis) of the Pink family; -- so called because its bruised leaves, when agitated in water, produce a lather like that from soap. Called also Bouncing Bet.

SOAPY Soap"y, a. [Compar. Soapier; superl. Soapiest.]

1. Resembling soap; having the qualities of, or feeling like, soap; soft and smooth.

2. Smeared with soap; covered with soap.

SOAR Soar, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Soared; p. pr. & vb. n. Soaring.] Etym: [F. s'essorer to soar, essorer to dry (by exposing to the air), fr. L. ex out + aura the air, a breeze; akin to Gr.

1. To fly aloft, as a bird; to mount upward on wings, or as on wings. Chaucer. When soars Gaul's vulture with his wings unfurled. Byron.

2. Fig.: To rise in thought, spirits, or imagination; to be exalted in mood. Where the deep transported mind may soar. Milton. Valor soars above What the world calls misfortune. Addison.

SOAR Soar, n.

Defn: The act of soaring; upward flight. This apparent soar of the hooded falcon. Coleridge.

SOAR Soar, a.

Defn: See 3d Sore. [Obs.]

SOAR Soar, a.

Defn: See Sore, reddish brown. Soar falcon. (Zoöl.) See Sore falcon, under Sore.

SOARING Soar"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Soar. -- Soar"ing*ly, adv.

SOAVE So*a"ve, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: Sweet.

SOAVEMENTE So*a`ve*men"te, adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: Sweetly.

SOB Sob, v. t. Etym: [See Sop.]

Defn: To soak. [Obs.] Mortimer.

SOB Sob, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sobbing.] Etym: [OE. sobben; akin to AS. seófian, siófian, to complain, bewail, seófung, siófung, sobbing, lamentation; cf. OHG. s, s, to sigh, MHG. siuften, siufzen, G. seufzen, MHG. s a sigh, properly, a drawing in of breath, from s to drink, OHG. s. Cf. Sup.]

Defn: To sigh with a sudden heaving of the breast, or with a kind of convulsive motion; to sigh with tears, and with a convulsive drawing in of the breath. Sobbing is the same thing [as sighing], stronger. Bacon. She sighed, she sobbed, and, furious with despair. She rent her garments, and she tore her hair. Dryden.

SOB Sob, n.

1. The act of sobbing; a convulsive sigh, or inspiration of the breath, as in sorrow. Break, heart, or choke with sobs my hated breath. Dryden.

2. Any sorrowful cry or sound. The tremulous sob of the complaining owl. Wordsworth.

SOBBING Sob"bing, n.

Defn: A series of short, convulsive inspirations, the glottis being suddenly closed so that little or no air enters into the lungs.

SOBER Sober, a. [Compar. Soberer; superl. Soberest.] Etym: [OE. sobre, F. sobre, from L. sobrius, probably from a prefix so- expressing separation + ebrius drunken. Cf. Ebriety.]

1. Temperate in the use of spirituous liquors; habitually temperate; as, a sober man. That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name. Bk. of Com. Prayer.

2. Not intoxicated or excited by spirituous liquors; as, the sot may at times be sober.

3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with passion; exercising cool, dispassionate reason; self-controlled; self- possessed. There was not a sober person to be had; all was tempestuous and blustering. Druden. No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck. Dryden.

4. Not proceeding from, or attended with, passion; calm; as, sober judgment; a man in his sober senses.

5. Serious or subdued in demeanor, habit, appearance, or color; solemn; grave; sedate. What parts gay France from sober Spain Prior. See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby. Pope. Twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad. Milton.

Syn. -- Grave; temperate; abstinent; abstemious; moderate; regular; steady; calm; quiet; cool; collected; dispassionate; unimpassioned; sedate; staid; serious; solemn; somber. See Grave.

SOBER So"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sobered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sobering.]

Defn: To make sober. There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again. Pope.

SOBER So"ber, v. i.

Defn: To become sober; -- often with down. Vance gradually sobered down. Ld. Lytton.

SOBERIZE So"ber*ize, v. t. & i.

Defn: To sober. [R.] Crabbe.

SOBERLY So"ber*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sober manner; temperately; cooly; calmly; gravely; seriously.

SOBERLY So"ber*ly, a.

Defn: Grave; serious; solemn; sad. [Obs.] [He] looked hollow and thereto soberly. Chaucer.

SOBER-MINDED So"ber-mind`ed, a.

Defn: Having a disposition or temper habitually sober. -- So"ber-mind`ed*ness, n.

SOBERNESS So"ber*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sober.

SOBOLES Sob"o*les, n. Etym: [L., a short.] (Bot.) (a) A shoot running along under ground, forming new plants at short distances. (b) A sucker, as of tree or shrub.

SOBOLIFEROUS Sob`o*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. soboles + -ferous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Producing soboles. See Illust. of Houseleek.

SOBRANJE So*bran"je, n. [Bulgarian, lit., assembly.]

Defn: The unicameral national assembly of Bulgaria, elected for a term of five years by universal suffrage of adult males.

SOBRIETY So*bri"e*ty, n. Etym: [L. sobrietas: cf. F. sobriété. See Sober.]

1. Habitual soberness or temperance as to the use of spirituous liquors; as, a man of sobriety. Public sobriety is a relative duty. Blackstone.

2. Habitual freedom from enthusiasm, inordinate passion, or overheated imagination; calmness; coolness; gravity; seriousness; as, the sobriety of riper years. Mirth makes them not mad, Nor sobriety sad. Denham.

Syn. -- Soberness; temperance; abstinence; abstemiousness; moderation; regularity; steadness; calmness; coolness; sober-mindeness; sedateness; staidness; gravity; seriousness; solemnity.

SOBRIQUET So`bri`quet" (so`bre`kay"), n.Etym: [F. sobriquet, OF. soubzbriquet, soubriquet, a chuck under the chin, hence, an affront, a nickname; of uncertain origin; cf. It. sottobecco a chuck under the chin.]

Defn: An assumed name; a fanciful epithet or appellation; a nickname. [Sometimes less correctly written soubriquet.]

SOC Soc (sôk), n. Etym: [AS. s the power of holding court, sway, domain, properly, the right of investigating or seeking; akin to E. sake, seek. Sake, Seek, and cf. Sac, and Soke.] [Written also sock, and soke.]

1. (O. Eng. Law) (a) The lord's power or privilege of holding a court in a district, as in manor or lordship; jurisdiction of causes, and the limits of that jurisdiction. (b) Liberty or privilege of tenants excused from customary burdens.

2. An exclusive privilege formerly claimed by millers of grrinding all the corn used within the manor or township which the mill stands. [Eng.] Soc and sac (O. Eng. Law), the full right of administering justice in a manor or lordship.

SOCAGE Soc"age, n.Etym: [From Soc; cf. LL. socagium.] (O.Eng. Law)

Defn: A tenure of lands and tenements by a certain or determinate service; a tenure distinct from chivalry or knight's service, in which the obligations were uncertain. The service must be certain, in order to be denominated socage, as to hold by fealty and twenty shillings rent. [Written also soccage.]

Note: Socage is of two kinds; free socage, where the services are not only certain, but honorable; and villein socage, where the services, though certain, are of a baser nature. Blackstone.

SOCAGER Soc"a*ger, n. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A tennant by socage; a socman.

SO-CALLED So"-called`, a.

Defn: So named; called by such a name (but perhaps called thus with doubtful propriety).

SOCIABILITY So`cia*bil"i*ty, n.Etym: [Cf. F. sociabilité.]

Defn: The quality of being sociable; sociableness.

SOCIABLE So"cia*ble, a.Etym: [F., fr. L. sociabilis, fr. sociare to associate, fr. socius a companion. See Social.]

1. Capable of being, or fit to be, united in one body or company; associable. [R.] They are sociable parts united into one body. Hooker.

2. Inclined to, or adapted for, society; ready to unite with others; fond of companions; social. Society is no comfort to one not sociable. Shak. What can be uneasy to this sociable creature than the dry, pensive retirements of solitude South.

3. Ready to converse; inclined to talk with others; not taciturn or reserved.

4. Affording opportunites for conversation; characterized by much conversation; as, a sociable party.

5. No longer hostile; friendly. [Obs.] Beau & Fl. Sociable bird, or Sociable weaver (Zoöl.), a weaver bird which builds composite nests. See Republican, n., 3. (b).

Syn. -- Social; companionable; conversible; friendly; familiar; communicative; accessible.

SOCIABLE So"cia*ble, n.

1. A gathering of people for social purposes; an informal party or reception; as, a church sociable. [Colloq. U. S.]

2. A carriage having two double seats facing each other, and a box for the driver. Miss Edgeworth.

SOCIABLENESS So"cia*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being sociable.

SOCIABLY So"cia*bly, adv.

Defn: In a sociable manner.

SOCIAL So"cial, a. Etym: [L. socialis, from socius a companion; akin to sequi to follow: cf. F. social. See Sue to follow.]

1. Of or pertaining to society; relating to men living in society, or to the public as an aggregate body; as, social interest or concerns; social pleasure; social benefits; social happiness; social duties. "Social phenomena." J. S. Mill.

2. Ready or disposed to mix in friendly converse; companionable; sociable; as, a social person.

3. Consisting in union or mutual intercourse. Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not Social communication. Milton.

4. (Bot.)

Defn: Naturally growing in groups or masses; -- said of many individual plants of the same species.

5. (Zoöl.) (a) Living in communities consisting of males, females, and neuters, as do ants and most bees. (b) Forming compound groups or colonies by budding from basal processes or stolons; as, the social ascidians. Social science, the science of all that relates to the social condition, the relations and institutions which are involved in man's existence and his well- being as a member of an organized community; sociology. It concerns itself with questions of the public health, education, labor, punishment of crime, reformation of criminals, and the like. -- Social whale (Zoöl.), the blackfish. -- The social evil, prostitution.

Syn. -- Sociable; companionable; conversible; friendly; familiar; communicative; convival; festive.

SOCIALISM So"cial*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. socialisme.]

Defn: A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor. In popular usage, the term is often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme. See Communism, Fourierism, Saint-Simonianism, forms of socialism. [Socialism] was first applied in England to Owen's theory of social reconstruction, and in France to those also of St. Simon and Fourier . . . The word, however, is used with a great variety of meaning, . . . even by economists and learned critics. The general tendency is to regard as socialistic any interference undertaken by society on behalf of the poor, . . . radical social reform which disturbs the present system of private property . . . The tendency of the present socialism is more and more to ally itself with the most advanced democracy. Encyc. Brit. We certainly want a true history of socialism, meaning by that a history of every systematic attempt to provide a new social existence for the mass of the workers. F. Harrison.

SOCIALIST So"cial*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. socialiste.]

Defn: One who advocates or practices the doctrines of socialism.

SOCIALIST; SOCIALISTIC So"cial*ist, So`cial*is"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, socialism.

SOCIALITY So`ci*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. socialisté, L. socialitas.]

Defn: The quality of being social; socialness.

SOCIALIZE So"cial*ize, v. t.

1. To render social.

2. To subject to, or regulate by, socialism.

SOCIALLY So"cial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a social manner; sociably.

SOCIALNESS So"cial*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being social.

SOCIATE So"ci*ate, a. Etym: [L. sociatus, p. p. of sociare to associate, fr. socius companion.]

Defn: Associated. [Obs.]

SOCIATE So"ci*ate, n.

Defn: An associate. [Obs.] As for you, Dr. Reynolds, and your sociates. Fuller.

SOCIATE So"ci*ate, v. i.

Defn: To associate. [Obs.] Shelford.

SOCIETARIAN So*ci`e*ta"ri*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to society; social. The all-sweeping besom of societarian reformation. Lamb.

SOCIETARY So*ci"e*ta*ry, a.

Defn: Societarian. [R.]

SOCIETY So*ci"e*ty, n.; pl. Societies. Etym: [L. societas, fr. socius a companion: cf. F. société. See Social.]

1. The relationship of men to one another when associated in any way; companionship; fellowship; company. "Her loved society." Milton. There is society where none intrudes By the deep sea, and music in its roar. Byron.

2. Connection; participation; partnership. [R.] The meanest of the people and such as have the least society with the acts and crimes of kings. Jer. Taylor.

3. A number of persons associated for any temporary or permanent object; an association for mutual or joint usefulness, pleasure, or profit; a social union; a partnership; as, a missionary society.

4. The persons, collectively considered, who live in any region or at any period; any community of individuals who are united together by a common bond of nearness or intercourse; those who recognize each other as associates, friends, and acquaintances.

5. Specifically, the more cultivated portion of any community in its social relations and influences; those who mutually give receive formal entertainments. Society of Jesus. See Jesuit. -- Society verses Etym: [a translation of F. vers de société], the lightest kind of lyrical poetry; verses for the amusement of polite society.

SOCINIAN So*cin"i*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Socinus, or the Socinians.

SOCINIAN So*cin"i*an, n.

Defn: One of the followers of Socinus; a believer in Socinianism.

SOCINIANISM So*cin"i*an*ism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: The tenets or doctrines of Faustus Socinus, an Italian theologian of the sixteenth century, who denied the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the personality of the Devil, the native and total depravity of man, the vicarious atonement, and the eternity of future punishment. His theory was, that Christ was a man divinely commissioned, who had no existence before he was conceived by the Virgin Mary; that human sin was the imitation of Adam's sin, and that human salvation was the imitation and adoption of Christ's virtue; that the Bible was to be interpreted by human reason; and that its language was metaphorical, and not to be taken literally.

SOCINIANIZE So*cin"i*an*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Socinianized; p. pr. & vb. n. Socinianizing.]

Defn: To cause to conform to Socinianism; to regulate by, or imbue with, the principles of Socinianism.

SOCIOLOGIC; SOCIOLOGICAL So`ci*o*log"ic, So`ci*o*log"ic*al a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to sociology, or social science. -- So`ci*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

SOCIOLOGIST So`ci*ol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One who treats of, or devotes himself to, the study of sociology. J. S. Mill.

SOCIOLOGY So`ci*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. socius a companion + -logy.]

Defn: That branch of philosophy which treats of the constitution, phenomena, and development of human society; social science. H. Spencer.

SOCK Sock, n. Etym: [F. soc, LL. soccus, perhaps of Celtic origin.]

Defn: A plowshare. Edin. Encyc.

SOCK Sock, n. Etym: [OE. sock, AS. socc, fr. L. soccus a kind of low- heeled, light shoe. Cf. Sucket.]

1. The shoe worn by actors of comedy in ancient Greece and Rome, -- used as a sumbol of comedy, of the comic drams, as distinguished from tragedy, which is symbolized by the buskin. Great Fletcher never treads in buskin here, Nor greater Jonson dares in socks appear. Dryden.

2. A knit or woven covering for the foot and lower leg; a stocking with a short leg.

3. A warm inner sole for a shoe. Simmonds.

SOCKDOLAGER Sock*dol"a*ger, n. Etym: [A corruption of doxology.] [Written also sockdologer.]

1. That which finishes or ends a matter; a settler; a poser, as a heavy blow, a conclusive answer, and the like. [Slang, U.S.]

2. (Angling)

Defn: A combination of two hooks which close upon each other, by means of a spring, as soon as the fish bites. [U. S.]

SOCKET Sock"et, n. Etym: [OE. soket, a dim. through OF. fr. L. soccus. See Sock a covering for the foot.]

1. An opening into which anything is fitted; any hollow thing or place which receives and holds something else; as, the sockets of the teeth. His eyeballs in their hollow sockets sink. Dryden.

2. Especially, the hollow tube or place in which a candle is fixed in the candlestick. And in the sockets oily bubbles dance. Dryden. Socket bolt (Mach.), a bolt that passes through a thimble that is placed between the parts connected by the bolt. -- Socket chisel. Same as Framing chisel. See under Framing. -- Socket pipe, a pipe with an expansion at one end to receive the end of a connecting pipe. -- Socket pole, a pole armed with iron fixed on by means of a socket, and used to propel boats, etc. [U.S.] -- Socket wrench, a wrench consisting of a socket at the end of a shank or rod, for turning a nut, bolthead, etc., in a narrow or deep recess.

SOCKETED Sock"et*ed, a.

Defn: Having a socket. Dawkins.

SOCKLESS Sock"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of socks or shoes. B. & Fl.

SOCKY Sock"y, a.

Defn: Wet; soaky. [Prov. Eng.]

SOCLE So"cle, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. socculus, dim. of soccus. See Sock a covering for the foot. Cf. Zocco.] (Arch.) (a) A plain block or plinth forming a low pedestal; any base; especially, the base of a statue, column, or the like. See Plinth. (b) A plain face or plinth at the lower part of a wall. Oxf. Gloss.

SOCMAN Soc"man, n.; pl. Socmen. Etym: [See Socage.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: One who holds lands or tenements by socage; a socager. Cowell.

SOCMANRY Soc"man*ry, n. (O.E. Law)

Defn: Tenure by socage.

SOCOME Soc"ome, n. Etym: [AS. socen, socn, searching, or the right of searching, the lord's court. See Soc.] (O.Eng. Law)

Defn: A custom of tenants to grind corn at the lord's mill. Cowell.

SOCOTRINE Soc"o*trine, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Socotra, an island in the Indian Ocean, on the east coast of Africa. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Socotra.

SOCRATIC; SOCRATICAL So*crat"ic, So*crat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. Socraticus, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Socrates, the Grecian sage and teacher. (b. c. 469-399), or to his manner of teaching and philosophizing.

Note: The Socratic method of reasoning and instruction was by a series of questions leading the one to whom they were addressed to perceive and admit what was true or false in doctrine, or right or wrong in conduct.

SOCRATICALLY So*crat"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In the Socratic method.

SOCRATISM Soc"ra*tism, n.

Defn: The philosophy or the method of Socrates.

SOCRATIST Soc"ra*tist, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A disciple or follower of Socrates.

SOD Sod, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The rock dove. [Prov. Eng.]

SOD Sod, obs.

Defn: imp. of Seethe.

SOD Sod, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. sode, D. zode, OD. sode, soode, OFries. satha, and E. seethe. So named from its sodden state in wet weather. See Seethe.]

Defn: That stratum of the surface of the soil which is filled with the roots of grass, or any portion of that surface; turf; sward. She there shall dress a sweeter sod Than Fancy's feet have ever trod. Collins.

SOD Sod, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sodden; p. pr. & vb. n. Sodding.]

Defn: To cover with sod; to turf.

SODA So"da, n. Etym: [It., soda, in OIt., ashes used in making glass, fr. L. solida, fem. of solidus solid; solida having probably been a name of glasswort. See Solid.] (Chem.) (a) Sodium oxide or hydroxide. (b) Popularly, sodium carbonate or bicarbonate. Caustic soda, sodium hydroxide. -- Cooking soda, sodium bicarbonate. [Colloq.] -- Sal soda. See Sodium carbonate, under Sodium. -- Soda alum (Min.), a mineral consisting of the hydrous sulphate of alumina and soda. -- Soda ash, crude sodium carbonate; -- so called because formerly obtained from the ashes of sea plants and certain other plants, as saltwort (Salsola). See under Sodium. -- Soda fountain, an apparatus for drawing soda water, fitted with delivery tube, faucets, etc. -- Soda lye, a lye consisting essentially of a solution of sodium hydroxide, used in soap making. -- Soda niter. See Nitratine. -- Soda salts, salts having sodium for the base; specifically, sodium sulphate or Glauber's salts. -- Soda waste, the waste material, consisting chiefly of calcium hydroxide and sulphide, which accumulates as a useless residue or side product in the ordinary Leblanc process of soda manufacture; -- called also alkali waste. -- Soda water, originally, a beverage consisting of a weak solution of sodium bicarbonate, with some acid to cause effervescence; now, in common usage, a beverage consisting of water highly charged with carbon dioxide (carbonic acid). Fruit sirups, cream, etc., are usually added to give flavor. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. -- Washing soda, sodium carbonate. [Colloq.]

SODAIC So*da"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, soda. "Sodaic powder." Ure.

SODALITE So"da*lite, n. Etym: [Soda + -lite: cf. F. sodalithe.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a white to blue or gray color, occuring commonly in dodecahedrons, also massive. It is a silicate of alumina and soda with some chlorine.

SODALITY So*dal"i*ty, n.; pl. Sodalities. Etym: [L. sodalitas, fr. sodalis a comrade.]

1. A fellowship or fraternity; a brotherhood.

2. (R.C.Ch.)

Defn: Specifically, a lay association for devotion or for charitable purposes.

SODAMIDE Sod*am"ide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A greenish or reddish crystalline substance, NaNH2, obtained by passing ammonia over heated sodium.

SODDEN Sod"den, a. [p. p. of Seethe.]

Defn: Boiled; seethed; also, soaked; heavy with moisture; saturated; as, sodden beef; sodden bread; sodden fields.

SODDEN Sod"den, v. i.

Defn: To be seethed; to become sodden.

SODDEN Sod"den, v. t.

Defn: To soak; to make heavy with water.

SODDEN-WITTED Sod"den-wit`ted, a.

Defn: Heavy; dull. Shak.

SODDY Sod"dy, a. Etym: [From Sod.]

Defn: Consisting of sod; covered with sod; turfy. Cotgrave.

SODER Sod"er, n. & v. t.

Defn: See Solder.

SODGER So"dger, n. & v. i.

Defn: Var. of Soldier. [Dial. or Slang]

SODIC So"dic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to sodium; containing sodium.

SODIO- So"di*o-. (Chem.)

Defn: A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting the presence of sodium or one of its compounds.

SODIUM So"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr.E. soda.] (Chem.)

Defn: A common metallic element of the alkali group, in nature always occuring combined, as in common salt, in albite, etc. It is isolated as a soft, waxy, white, unstable metal, so readily oxidized that it combines violently with water, and to be preserved must be kept under petroleum or some similar liquid. Sodium is used combined in many salts, in the free state as a reducer, and as a means of obtaining other metals (as magnesium and aluminium) is an important commercial product. Symbol Na (Natrium). Atomic weight 23. Specific gravity 0.97. Sodium amalgam, an alloy of sodium and mercury, usually produced as a gray metallic crystalline substance, which is used as a reducing agent, and otherwise. -- Sodium bicarbonate, a white crystalline substance, HNaCO3, with a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate. It is found in many mineral springs and also produced artificially,. It is used in cookery, in baking powders, and as a source of carbonic acid gas (carbon dioxide) for soda water. Called also cooking soda, saleratus, and technically, acid sodium carbonate, primary sodium carbonate, sodium dicarbonate, etc. -- Sodium carbonate, a white crystalline substance, Na2CO3.10H2O, having a cooling alkaline taste, found in the ashes of many plants, and produced artifically in large quantities from common salt. It is used in making soap, glass, paper, etc., and as alkaline agent in many chemical industries. Called also sal soda, washing soda, or soda. Cf. Sodium bicarbonate, above and Trona. Sodium chloride, common, or table, salt, NaCl. -- Sodium hydroxide, a white opaque brittle solid, NaOH, having a fibrous structure, produced by the action of quicklime, or of calcium hydrate (milk of lime), on sodium carbonate. It is a strong alkali, and is used in the manufacture of soap, in making wood pulp for paper, etc. Called also sodium hydrate, and caustic soda. By extension, a solution of sodium hydroxide.

SODIUM SULPHATE So"di*um sul"phate.

Defn: A salt well known as a catharic under the name of Glauber's salt, which term is properly applied to the hydrate, Na2SO4.10H2O.

SODOMITE Sod"om*ite, n.

1. An inhabitant of Sodom.

2. One guilty of sodomy.

SODOMITICAL Sod`om*it"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, sodomy. -- Sod`om*it"ic*al*ly, adv.

SODOMY Sod"om*y, n. Etym: [From Sodom. a country mentioned in the Bible: cf. F. sodomite.]

Defn: Carnal copulation in a manner against nature; buggery. Gen. xix. 5.

SOE Soe, n. Etym: [Scot. sae, say, saye; cf. Icel. sar a large cask, Sw. s a tub.]

Defn: A large wooden vessel for holding water; a cowl. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Dr. H. More.

SOEVER So*ev"er.

Defn: A word compounded of so and ever, used in composition with who, what, where, when, how, etc., and indicating any out of all possible or supposable persons, things, places, times, ways, etc. It is sometimes used separate from the pronoun or adverb. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. Luke xii. 48. What great thing soever a man proposed to do in his life, he should think of achieving it by fifty. Sir W. Temple.

SOFA So"fa, n.; pl. Sofas. Etym: [Ar. soffah, from saffa to dispose in order: cf. F. sofa, It.sofà.]

Defn: A long seat, usually with a cushioned bottom, back, and ends; - - much used as a comfortable piece of furniture. Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round. Cowper. Sofa bed, a sofa so contrived that it may be extended to form a bed; -- called also sofa bedstead.

SOFFIT Sof"fit, n. Etym: [It. soffitta, soffitto, fr. soffiggere to hide, properly, to fix or fasten under, L. suffigere to fasten beneath or below; sub under, beneath + figere to fix, faste: cf. F. soffite.] (Arch.)

Defn: The under side of the subordinate parts and members of buildings, such as staircases, entablatures, archways, cornices, or the like. See Illust. of Lintel.

SOFI So"fi, n.; pl. Sofis (.

Defn: Same as Sufi.

SOFISM So"fism, n.

Defn: Same as Sufism.

SOFT Soft, a. [Compar. Softer; superl. Softest.] Etym: [OE. softe, AS. s, properly adv. of s, adj.; akin to OS. safto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.]

1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also, malleable; -- opposed to Ant: hard; as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal.

2. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin. They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses. Matt. xi. 8.

3. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines. "The soft, delicious air." Milton.

4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent contrast; as, soft hues or tints. The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable. Sir T. Browne.

5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music. Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman. Shak. Soft were my numbers; who could take offense Pope.

6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind. I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's; Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine. Shak. The meek or soft shall inherit the earth. Tyndale.

7. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes. A soft answer turneth away wrath. Prov. xv. 1. A face with gladness overspread, Soft smiles, by human kindness bred. Wordsworth.

8. Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak. A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering. Jer. Taylor.

9. Gentle in action or motion; easy. On her soft axle, white she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air along. Milton.

10. Weak in character; impressible. The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's. Glanvill.

11. Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.] He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad. Burton.

12. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.

13. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.

14. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing.

15. (Phonetics) (a) Applied to a palatal, a sibilant, or a dental consonant (as g in gem, c in cent, etc.) as distinguished from a guttural mute (as g in go, c in cone, etc.); -- opposed to hard. (b) Belonging to the class of sonant elements as distinguished from the surd, and considered as involving less force in utterance; as, b, d, g, z, v, etc., in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc. Soft clam (Zoöl.), the common or long clam (Mya arenaria). See Mya. -- Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal. -- Soft crab (Zoöl.), any crab which has recently shed its shell. -- Soft dorsal (Zoöl.), the posterior part of the dorsal fin of fishes when supported by soft rays. -- Soft grass. (Bot.) See Velvet grass. -- Soft money, paper money, as distinguished from coin, or hard money. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Soft mute. (Phonetics) See Media. -- Soft palate. See the Note under Palate. -- Soft ray (Zoöl.), a fin ray which is articulated and usually branched. -- Soft soap. See under Soap. -- Soft-tack, leavened bread, as distinguished from hard-tack, or ship bread. -- Soft tortoise (Zoöl.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.

SOFT Soft, n.

Defn: A soft or foolish person; an idiot. [Colloq.] G. Eliot.

SOFT Soft, adv.

Defn: Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly. Chaucer. A knight soft riding toward them. Spenser.

SOFT Soft, interj.

Defn: Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast. Soft, you; a word or two before you go. Shak.

SOFTA Sof"ta, n. Etym: [Corruption of Per. s one who burns, is ardent or zealous.]

Defn: Any one attached to a Mohammedan mosque, esp. a student of the higher branches of theology in a mosque school. [Written also sophta.]

SOFTEN Sof"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Softened; p. pr. & vb. n. Softening.]

Defn: To make soft or more soft. Specifically: -- (a) To render less hard; -- said of matter. Their arrow's point they soften in the flame. Gay.

(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable. Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe. Rambler.

(c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault. (d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage. Music can soften pain to ease. Pope. (e) To make calm and placid. All that cheers or softens life. Pope.

(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality. He bore his great commision in his look, But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke. Dryden.

(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture. (h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury. (i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice.

SOFTEN Sof"ten, v. i.

Defn: To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate.

SOFTENER Sof"ten*er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, softens. [Written also, less properly, softner.]

SOFTENING Sof"ten*ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Soften, v. Softening of the brain, or Cerebral softening (Med.), a localized softening of the brain substance, due to hemorrhage or inflammation. Three varieties, distinguished by their color and representing different stages of the morbid process, are known respectively as red, yellow, and white, softening.

SOFT-FINNED Soft"-finned`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the fin rays cartilaginous or flexible; without spines; -- said of certain fishes.

SOFT-HEADED Soft"-head`ed, a.

Defn: Weak in intellect.

SOFT-HEARTED Soft"-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Having softness or tenderness of heart; susceptible of pity or other kindly affection; gentle; meek. -- Soft"-heart`ed*ness, n.

SOFTISH Soft"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat soft. De Witt Clinton.

SOFTLING Soft"ling, n.

Defn: A soft, effeminate person; a voluptuary. [R.] Bp. Woolton. .

SOFTLY Soft"ly, adv.

Defn: In a soft manner.

SOFTNER Soft"ner, n.

Defn: See Softener.

SOFTNESS Soft"ness, n. Etym: [AS. s, s.]

Defn: The quality or state of being soft; -- opposed to Ant: hardness, and used in the various specific senses of the adjective.

SOFT-SHELL; SOFT-SHELLED Soft"-shell`, Soft"-shelled`, a.

Defn: Having a soft or fragile shell. Soft-shell clam (Zoöl.), the long clam. See Mya. -- Soft-shelled crab. (Zoöl.) See the Note under Crab, 1. -- Soft-shelled turtle. (Zoöl.) Same as Soft tortoise, under Soft.

SOFT-SPOKEN Soft"-spo`ken, a.

Defn: Speaking softly; having a mild or gentle voice; hence, mild; affable.

SOFT STEEL Soft steel.

Defn: Steel low in carbon; mild steel; ingot iron.

SOGER So"ger, n. & v. i.

Defn: Var. of Soldier. [Dial. or Slang] R. H. Dana, Jr.

SOGGINESS Sog"gi*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being soggy; soddenness; wetness.

SOGGY Sog"gy, a. [Compar. Soggier; superl. Soggiest.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. söggr damp, wet, or E. soak.]

Defn: Filled with water; soft with moisture; sodden; soaked; wet; as, soggy land or timber.

SOHO So*ho", interj.

Defn: Ho; -- a word used in calling from a distant place; a sportsman's halloo. Shak.

SOI-DISANT Soi`-di`sant", a. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Calling himself; self-styled; pretended; would-be.

SOIL Soil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Soiling.] Etym: [OF. saoler, saouler, to satiate, F. soûler, L. satullare, fr. satullus, dim. of satur sated. See Satire.]

Defn: To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an inclosure, with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture; hence (such food having the effect of purging them), to purge by feeding on green food; as, to soil a horse.

SOIL Soil, n. Etym: [OE. soile, F. sol, fr. L. solum bottom, soil; but the word has probably been influenced in form by soil a miry place. Cf. Saloon, Soil a miry place, Sole of the foot.]

1. The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them.

2. Land; country. Must I thus leave thee, Paradise thus leave Thee, native soil Milton.

3. Dung; fæces; compost; manure; as, night soil. Improve land by dung and other sort of soils. Mortimer. Soil pipe, a pipe or drain for carrying off night soil.

SOIL Soil, v. t.

Defn: To enrich with soil or muck; to manure. Men . . . soil their ground, not that they love the dirt, but that they expect a crop. South.

SOIL Soil, n. Etym: [OF. soil, souil, F. souille, from OF. soillier, F. souiller. See Soil to make dirty.]

Defn: A marshy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for refuge; hence, a wet place, stream, or tract of water, sought for by other game, as deer. As deer, being stuck, fly through many soils, Yet still the shaft sticks fast. Marston. To take soil, to run into the mire or water; hence, to take refuge or shelter. O, sir, have you taken soil here It is well a man may reach you after three hours' running. B. Jonson.

SOIL Soil, v. t.Etym: [OE. soilen, OF. soillier, F. souiller, (assumed) LL. suculare, fr. L. sucula a little pig, dim. of sus a swine. See Sow, n.]

1. To make dirty or unclean on the surface; to foul; to dirty; to defile; as, to soil a garment with dust. Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained. Milton.

2. To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully. Shak.

Syn. -- To foul; dirt; dirty; begrime; bemire; bespatter; besmear; daub; bedaub; stain; tarnish; sully; defile; pollute.

SOIL Soil, v. i.

Defn: To become soiled; as, light colors soil sooner than dark ones.

SOIL Soil, n. Etym: [See Soil to make dirty, Soil a miry place.]

Defn: That which soils or pollutes; a soiled place; spot; stain. A lady's honor . . . will not bear a soil. Dryden.

SOILINESS Soil"i*ness, n.

Defn: Stain; foulness. [R.] Bacon.

SOILLESS Soil"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of soil or mold.

SOIL PIPE Soil pipe.

Defn: A pipe or drain for carrying off night soil.

SOILURE Soil"ure, n. Etym: [OF. soillure, F. souillure. See Soil to make dirty.]

Defn: Stain; pollution. Shak. Then fearing rust or soilure, fashioned for it A case of silk. Tennyson.

SOILY Soil"y, a.

Defn: Dirty; soiled. [Obs.] Fuller.

SOIREE Soi`ree", n. Etym: [F., fr. soir evening, fr. L. serus late, serum late time. Cf. Serenade.]

Defn: An evening party; -- distinguished from levee, and matinée.

SOJA So"ja (so"ja or so"ya), n. (Bot.)

Defn: An Asiatic leguminous herb (Glycine Soja) the seeds of which are used in preparing the sauce called soy.

SOJER So"jer, n. & v. i.

Defn: Var. of Soldier. [Dial. or Slang]

SOJOURN So"journ, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sojourned; p. pr. & vb. n. Sojourning.] Etym: [OE. sojornen, sojournen, OF. sojorner, sejorner, F. séjourner, fr. L. sub under, about + diurnus belonging to the day. See Journal, Diurnal.]

Defn: To dwell for a time; to dwell or live in a place as a temporary resident or as a stranger, not considering the place as a permanent habitation; to delay; to tarry. Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there. Gen. xii. 30. Home he goeth, he might not longer sojourn. Chaucer. The soldiers first assembled at Newcastle, and there sojourned three days. Hayward.

SOJOURN So"journ, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. sujurn, sujur, sejor, F. séjour. See Sojourn, v. i.]

Defn: A temporary residence, as that of a traveler in a foreign land. Though long detained In that obscure sojourn. Milton.

SOJOURNER So"journ*er, n.

Defn: One who sojourns. We are strangers before thee, and sojourners. 1. Chron. xxix. 15.

SOJOURNING So"journ*ing, n.

Defn: The act or state of one who sojourns.

SOJOURNMENT So"journ*ment, n.

Defn: Temporary residence, as that of a stranger or a traveler. [R.]

SOKE Soke, n.

1. (Eng. Law)

Defn: See Soc.

2. One of the small territorial divisions into which Lincolnshire, England, is divided.

SOKEMAN Soke"man, n.

Defn: See Socman.

SOKEMANRY Soke"man*ry, n.

Defn: See Socmanry.

SOKEN Sok"en, n. Etym: [Cf. Socome.]

1. A toll. See Soc, n., 2. [Obs.] Great sooken had this miller, out of doubt. Chaucer.

2. A district held by socage.

SOKO So"ko, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An African anthropoid ape, supposed to be a variety of the chimpanzee.

SOL Sol, n. Etym: [L.]

1. The sun.

2. (Alchem.)

Defn: Gold; -- so called from its brilliancy, color, and value. Chaucer.

SOL Sol, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.) (a) A syllable applied in solmization to the note G, or to the fifth tone of any diatonic scale. (b) The tone itself.

SOL Sol, n. Etym: [See Sou.]

1. A sou.

2. A silver and gold coin of Peru. The silver sol is the unit of value, and is worth about 68 cents.

SOLA So"la, a. Etym: [L., fem. of solus.]

Defn: See Solus.

SOLA So"la, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Bot.)

Defn: A leguminous plant (Æschynomene aspera) growing in moist places in Southern India and the East Indies. Its pithlike stem is used for making hats, swimming-jackets, etc. [Written also solah, shola.]

SOLACE Sol"ace, n. Etym: [OF. solas, ssoulaz, L. solacium, solatium, fr. solari to comfort, console. Cf. Console, v. t.]

1. Comfort in grief; alleviation of grief or anxiety; also, that which relieves in distress; that which cheers or consoles; relief. In business of mirth and of solace. Chaucer. The proper solaces of age are not music and compliments, but wisdom and devotion. Rambler.

2. Rest; relaxation; ease. [Obs.] To make his steed some solace. Chaucer.

Syn. -- Comfort; consolation; alleviation; relief.

SOLACE Sol"ace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Solacing.] Etym: [OF. solacier, soulacier, F. solacier, LL. solatiare. See Solace, n.]

1. To cheer in grief or under calamity; to comfort; to relieve in affliction, solitude, or discomfort; to console; -- applied to persons; as, to solace one with the hope of future reward.

2. To allay; to assuage; to soothe; as, to solace grief.

Syn. -- To comfort; assuage; allay. See Comfort.

SOLACE Sol"ace, v. i.

Defn: To take comfort; to be cheered. Shak.

SOLACEMENT Sol"ace*ment, n.

Defn: The act of solacing, or the state of being solaced; also, that which solaces. [R.]

SOLACIOUS So*la"cious, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. solacieux.]

Defn: Affording solace; as, a solacious voice. [Obs.] Bale.

SOLANACEOUS Sol`a*na"ceous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to plants of the natural order Solanaceæ, of which the nightshade (Solanum) is the type. The order includes also the tobacco, ground cherry, tomato, eggplant, red pepper, and many more.

SOLAND So"land, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A solan goose.

SOLANDER So*lan"der, n.

Defn: See Sallenders.

SOLAN GOOSE So"lan goose`. Etym: [Icel. s; akin to Norw. sula.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common gannet.

SOLANIA So*la"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Chem.)

Defn: Solanine.

SOLANICINE So*lan"i*cine, n. Etym: [See Solanine.] (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid produced by the action of hydrochloric acid on solanidine, as a tasteless yellow crystalline substance.

SOLANIDINE So*lan"i*dine, n. Etym: [See Solanine.] (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid produced by the decomposition of solanine, as a white crystalline substance having a harsh bitter taste.

SOLANINE Sol"a*nine, n. Etym: [L. solanum nightshade.] (Chem.)

Defn: A poisonous alkaloid glucoside extracted from the berries of common nightshade (Solanum nigrum), and of bittersweet, and from potato sprouts, as a white crystalline substance having an acrid, burning taste; -- called also solonia, and solanina.

SOLANO So*la"no, Etym: [Sp., fr. L. solanussc. ventus), from sol the sun.]

Defn: A hot, oppressive wind which sometimes blows in the Mediterranean, particularly on the eastern coast of Spain.

SOLANOID Sol"a*noid, a. Etym: [Solanum + -oid.] (Med.)

Defn: Resembling a potato; -- said of a kind of cancer.

SOLANUM So*la"num, n. Etym: [L., nightshade.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants comprehending the potato (S. tuberosum), the eggplant (S. melongena, and several hundred other species; nightshade.

SOLAR So"lar, n. Etym: [OE. soler, AS. solere, L. solarium, from sol the sun. See Solar, a.]

Defn: A loft or upper chamber; a garret room. [Obs.] [Written also soler, solere, sollar.] Oxf. Gloss.

SOLAR So"lar, a. Etym: [L. solaris, fr. sol the sun; akin to As. s, Icel. s, Goth. sauil, Lith. saule, W. haul,. sul, Skr. svar, perhaps to E. sun:F. solaire. Cf. Parasol. Sun.]

1. Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from the sun; as, the solar system; solar light; solar rays; solar influence. See Solar system, below.

2. (Astrol.)

Defn: Born under the predominant influence of the sun. [Obs.] And proud beside, as solar people are. Dryden.

3. Measured by the progress or revolution of the sun in the ecliptic; as, the solar year.

4. Produced by the action of the sun, or peculiarly affected by its influence. They denominate some herbs solar, and some lunar. Bacon. Solar cycle. See under Cycle. -- Solar day. See Day, 2. -- Solar engine, an engine in which the energy of solar heat is used to produce motion, as in evaporating water for a steam engine, or expanding air for an air engine. -- Solar flowers (Bot.), flowers which open and shut daily at certain hours. -- Solar lamp, an argand lamp. -- Solar microscope, a microscope consisting essentially, first, of a mirror for reflecting a beam of sunlight through the tube, which sometimes is fixed in a window shutter; secondly, of a condenser, or large lens, for converging the beam upon the object; and, thirdly, of a small lens, or magnifier, for throwing an enlarged image of the object at its focus upon a screen in a dark room or in a darkened box. -- Solar month. See under Month. -- Solar oil, a paraffin oil used an illuminant and lubricant. -- Solar phosphori (Physics), certain substances, as the diamond, siulphide of barium (Bolognese or Bologna phosphorus), calcium sulphide, etc., which become phosphorescent, and shine in the dark, after exposure to sunlight or other intense light. -- Solar plexus (Anat.), a nervous plexus situated in the dorsal and anterior part of the abdomen, consisting of several sympathetic ganglia with connecting and radiating nerve fibers; -- so called in allusion to the radiating nerve fibers. -- Solar spots. See Sun spots, under Sun. -- Solar system (Astron.), the sun, with the group of celestial bodies which, held by its attraction, revolve round it. The system comprises the major planets, with their satellites; the minor planets, or asteroids, and the comets; also, the meteorids, the matter that furnishes the zodiacal light, and the rings of Saturn. The satellites that revolve about the major planets are twenty-two in number, of which the Earth has one (see Moon.), Mars two, Jupiter five, Saturn nine, Uranus four, and Neptune one. The asteroids, between Mars and Jupiter, thus far discovered (1900), number about five hundred, the first four of which were found near the beginning of the century, and are called Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta.

Note: The principal elements of the major planets, and of the comets seen at more than one perihelion passage, are exhibited in the following tables: -- I. -- Major Planets. Symbol.Name.Mean distance -- that of the Earth being unity.Period in days.Eccentricity.Inclination of orbit.Diameter in miles II. -- Periodic Comets. Name.Greatest distance from sun.Least distance from sun.Inclination of orbit.Perihelion passage. º min 54 Encke's3.314.100.34212 541885.2 -- Solar telegraph, telegraph for signaling by flashes of reflected sunlight. -- Solar time. See Apparent time, under Time.

SOLARIUM So*la"ri*um, n.; pl. Solaria. Etym: [L. See Solar, n.]

1. An apartment freely exposed to the sun; anciently, an apartment or inclosure on the roof of a house; in modern times, an apartment in a hospital, used as a resort for convalescents.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of handsome marine spiral shells of the genus Solarium and allied genera. The shell is conical, and usually has a large, deep umbilicus exposing the upper whorls. Called also perspective shell.

SOLARIZATION So`lar*i*za"tion, n. (Photog.)

Defn: Injury of a photographic picture caused by exposing it for too long a time to the sun's light in the camera; burning; excessive insolation.

SOLARIZE So"lar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solarized; p. pr. & vb. n. Solarizing.] (Photog.)

Defn: To injure by too long exposure to the light of the sun in the camera; to burn.

SOLARIZE So"lar*ize, v. i. (Photog.)

Defn: To become injured by undue or too long exposure to the sun's rays in the camera.

SOLAR MYTH So"lar myth.

Defn: A myth which essentially consists of allegory based upon ideas as to the sun's course, motion, influence, or the like.

SOLAR PARALLAX Solar parallax.

Defn: The parallax of the sun, that is, the angle subtended at the sun by the semidiameter of the earth. It is 8."80, and is the fundamental datum.

SOLARY So"la*ry, a.

Defn: Solar. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SOLAS Sol"as, n.

Defn: Solace. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SOLATIUM So*la"ti*um, n. Etym: [L. See Solace, n.]

Defn: Anything which alleviates or compensates for suffering or loss; a compensation; esp., an additional allowance, as for injured feelings.

SOLD Sold,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Sell.

SOLD Sold, n. Etym: [F. solde. See Soldier, and cf. Sou.]

Defn: Solary; military pay. [Obs.] Spenser.

SOLDAN Sol"dan, n.Etym: [OE. soudan, F. soudan, from the Arabic. See Sultan.]

Defn: A sultan. [Obs.] Milton.

SOLDANEL Sol"da*nel, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Soldanella, low Alpine herbs of the Primrose family.

SOLDANRIE Sol"dan*rie, n.

Defn: The country ruled by a soldan, or sultan. [Poet.] Sir W. Scott.

SOLDER Sol"der, n. Etym: [Formerly soder; F. soudure, OF. soudeure, fr. OF. & F. souder to solder, L. solidare to fasten, to make solid. See Solid, and cf. Sawder.]

Defn: A metal or metallic alloy used when melted for uniting adjacent metallic edges or surfaces; a metallic coment. Hence, anything which unites or cements. Hard solder, a solder which fuses only at a red heat, as one composed of zinc and copper, or silver and copper, etc. -- Soft solder, a solder fusible at comparatively low temperatures; as, plumbers' solder, consisting of two parts lead and one part tin, is a soft solder.

SOLDER Sol"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soldered; p. pr. & vb. n. Soldering.] Etym: [Formerlysoder. See Solder, n.]

1. To unite (metallic surfaces or edges) by the intervention of a more fusible metal or metallic alloy applied when melted; to join by means of metallic cement.

2. To mend; to patch up. "To solder up a broken cause." Hooker.

SOLDERER Sol"der*er, n.

Defn: One who solders.