C (continued 5)

3. (Med. & Surg.)

Defn: A patient under treatment; an instance of sickness or injury; as, ten cases of fever; also, the history of a disease or injury. A proper remedy in hypochondriacal cases. Arbuthnot.

4. (Law)

Defn: The matters of fact or conditions involved in a suit, as distinguished from the questions of law; a suit or action at law; a cause. Let us consider the reason of the case, for nothing is law that is not reason. Sir John Powell. Not one case in the reports of our courts. Steele.

5. (Gram.)

Defn: One of the forms, or the inflections or changes of form, of a noun, pronoun, or adjective, which indicate its relation to other words, and in the aggregate constitute its declension; the relation which a noun or pronoun sustains to some other word. Case is properly a falling off from the nominative or first state of word; the name for which, however, is now, by extension of its signification, applied also to the nominative. J. W. Gibbs.

Note: Cases other than the nominative are oblique cases. Case endings are terminations by which certain cases are distinguished. In old English, as in Latin, nouns had several cases distinguished by case endings, but in modern English only that of the possessive case is retained. Action on the case (Law), according to the old classification (now obsolete), was an action for redress of wrongs or injuries to person or property not specially provided against by law, in which the whole cause of complaint was set out in the writ; — called also trespass on the case, or simply case. — All a case, a matter of indifference. [Obs.] "It is all a case to me." L'Estrange. — Case at bar. See under Bar, n. — Case divinity, casuistry. — Case lawyer, one versed in the reports of cases rather than in the science of the law. — Case stated or agreed on (Law), a statement in writing of facts agreed on and submitted to the court for a decision of the legal points arising on them. — A hard case, an abandoned or incorrigible person. [Colloq.] — In any case, whatever may be the state of affairs; anyhow. — In case, or In case that, if; supposing that; in the event or contingency; if it should happen that. "In case we are surprised, keep by me." W. Irving. — In good case, in good condition, health, or state of body. — To put a case, to suppose a hypothetical or illustrative case.

Syn. — Situation, condition, state; circumstances; plight; predicament; occurrence; contingency; accident; event; conjuncture; cause; action; suit.

CASE Case, v. i.

Defn: To propose hypothetical cases. [Obs.] "Casing upon the matter." L'Estrange.

CASEATION Ca`se*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. caséation. See Casein.] (Med.)

Defn: A degeneration of animal tissue into a cheesy or curdy mass.

CASE-BAY Case"-bay`, n. (Arch.) (a) The space between two principals or girders. (b) One of the joists framed between a pair of girders in naked flooring.

CASEHARDEN Case"hard`en, v. t.

1. To subject to a process which converts the surface of iron into steel.

2. To render insensible to good influences.

CASEHARDENED Case"hard`ened, a.

1. Having the surface hardened, as iron tools.

2. Hardened against, or insusceptible to, good influences; rendered callous by persistence in wrongdoing or resistance of good influences; — said of persons.

CASEHARDENING Case"hard`en*ing, n.

Defn: The act or process of converting the surface of iron into steel. Ure.

Note: Casehardening is now commonly effected by cementation with charcoal or other carbonizing material, the depth and degree of hardening (carbonization) depending on the time during which the iron is exposed to the heat. See Cementation.

CASEIC Ca"se*ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. caséique, fr. L. caseus cheese.]

Defn: OF or pertaining to cheese; as, caseic acid.

CASEIN Ca"se*in, n. Etym: [Cf. F. caséine, fr. L. caseur cheese. Cf. Cheese.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A proteid substance present in both the animal and the vegetable kingdom. In the animal kindom it is chiefly found in milk, and constitutes the main part of the curd separated by rennet; in the vegetable kingdom it is found more or less abundantly in the seeds of leguminous plants. Its reactions resemble those of alkali albumin. [Written also caseine.]

CASE KNIFE Case" knife`.

1. A knife carried in a sheath or case. Addison.

2. A large table knife; — so called from being formerly kept in a case.

CASEMATE Case"mate, n. Etym: [F. casemate, fr. It. casamatta, prob. from casa house + matto, f. matta, mad, weak, feeble, dim. from the same source as E. -mate in checkmate.]

1. (Fort.)

Defn: A bombproof chamber, usually of masonry, in which cannon may be placed, to be fired through embrasures; or one capable of being used as a magazine, or for quartering troops.

2. (Arch.)

Defn: A hollow molding, chiefly in cornices.

CASEMATED Case"ma`ted, a.

Defn: Furnished with, protected by, or built like, a casemate. Campbell.

CASEMENT Case"ment, n. Etym: [Shortened fr. encasement. See Incase 1st Case, and cf. Incasement.] (Arch.)

Defn: A window sash opening on hinges affixed to the upright side of the frame into which it is fitted. (Poetically) A window. A casement of the great chamber window. Shak.

CASEMENTED Case"ment*ed, a.

Defn: Having a casement or casements.

CASEOSE Ca"se*ose, n. [Casein + -ose.] (Physiol.Chem.)

Defn: A soluble product (proteose) formed in the gastric and pancreatic digestion of casein and caseinogen.

CASEOUS Ca"se*ous, a. Etym: [L. caseus. Cf. Casein.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, cheese; having the qualities of cheese; cheesy. Caseous degeneration, a morbid process, in scrofulous or consumptive persons, in which the products of inflammation are converted into a cheesy substance which is neither absorbed nor organized.

CASERN Ca"sern, n. Etym: [F. caserne.]

Defn: A lodging for soldiers in garrison towns, usually near the rampart; barracks. Bescherelle.

CASE SHOT Case" shot`. (Mil.)

Defn: A collection of small projectiles, inclosed in a case or canister.

Note: In the United States a case shot is a thin spherical or oblong cast-iron shell containing musket balls and a bursting charge, with a time fuse; — called in Europe shrapnel. In Europe the term case shot is applied to what in the United States is called canister. Wilhelm.

CASE SYSTEM Case system. (Law)

Defn: The system of teaching law in which the instruction is primarily a historical and inductive study of leading or selected cases, with or without the use of textbooks for reference and collateral reading.

CASEUM Ca"se*um, n. Etym: [L. caseus cheese.]

Defn: Same as Casein.

CASEWORM Case"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A worm or grub that makes for itself a case. See Caddice.

CASH Cash, n. Etym: [F. caisse case, box, cash box, cash. See Case a box.]

Defn: A place where money is kept, or where it is deposited and paid out; a money box. [Obs.] This bank is properly a general cash, where every man lodges his money. Sir W. Temple. £20,000 are known to be in her cash. Sir R. Winwood.

2. (Com.) (a) Ready money; especially, coin or specie; but also applied to bank notes, drafts, bonds, or any paper easily convertible into money. (b) Immediate or prompt payment in current funds; as, to sell goods for cash; to make a reduction in price for cash. Cash account (Bookkeeping), an account of money received, disbursed, and on hand. — Cash boy, in large retail stores, a messenger who carries the money received by the salesman from customers to a cashier, and returns the proper change. [Colloq.] — Cash credit, an account with a bank by which a person or house, having given security for repayment, draws at pleasure upon the bank to the extent of an amount agreed upon; — called also bank credit and cash account. — Cash sales, sales made for ready, money, in distinction from those on which credit is given; stocks sold, to be delivered on the day of transaction.

Syn. — Money; coin; specie; currency; capital.

CASH Cash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Casing.]

Defn: To pay, or to receive, cash for; to exchange for money; as, cash a note or an order.

CASH Cash, v. t. Etym: [See Cashier.]

Defn: To disband. [Obs.] Garges.

CASH Cash, n.sing & pl.

Defn: A Chinese coin.

Note: The cash (Chinese tsien) is the only current coin made by the chinese government. It is a thin circular disk of a very base alloy of copper, with a square hole in the center. 1,000 to 1,400 cash are equivalent to a dollar.

CASHBOOK Cash"book, n. (Bookkeeping)

Defn: A book in which is kept a register of money received or paid out.

CASHEW Ca*shew", n. Etym: [F. acajou, for cajou, prob. from Malay kayu tree; cf. Pg. acaju, cf. Acajou.] (Bot.)

Defn: A tree (Anacardium occidentale) of the same family which the sumac. It is native in tropical America, but is now naturalized in all tropical countries. Its fruit, a kidney-shaped nut, grows at the extremity of an edible, pear-shaped hypocarp, about three inches long. Casbew nut, the large, kidney-shaped fruit of the cashew, which is edible after the caustic oil has been expelled from the shell by roasting the nut.

CASHIER Cash*ier", n. Etym: [F. caissier, fr. caisse. See Cash.]

Defn: One who has charge of money; a cash keeper; the officer who has charge of the payments and receipts (moneys, checks, notes), of a bank or a mercantile company.

CASHIER Cash*ier", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cahiered; p. pr. &vb. n. Cashiering.] Etym: [Earlier cash, fr. F. casser to break, annul, cashier, fr. L. cassare, equiv. to cassum reddere, to annul; cf. G. cassiren. Cf. Quash to annul, Cass.]

1. To dismiss or discard; to discharge; to dismiss with ignominy from military service or from an office or place of frust. They have cashiered several of their followers. Addison. He had insolence to cashier the captain of the lord lieutenant's own body guard. Macaulay.

2. To put away or reject; to disregard. [R.] Connections formed for interest, and endeared By selfish views, [are] censured and cashiered. Cowper. They absolutely cashier the literal express sense of the words. Sowth.

CASHIERER Cash*ier"er, n.

Defn: One who rejects, discards, or dismisses; as, a cashierer of monarchs. [R.] Burke.

CASHIER'S CHECK Cash*ier's" check. (Banking)

Defn: A check drawn by a bank upon its own funds, signed by the cashier.

CASHMERE Cash"mere, n.

1. A rich stuff for shawls, acaris, etc., originally made in Cashmere from the soft wool found beneath the hair of the goats of Cashmere, Thibet, and the Himalayas. Some cashmere, of fine quality, is richly embroidered for sale to Europeans.

2. A dress fabric made of fine wool, or of fine wool and cotton, in imitation of the original cashmere. Cashmere shawl, a rich and costly shawl made of cashmere; — other called camel's-hair shawl.

CASHMERETTE Cash`me*rette", n.

Defn: A kind of dress goods, made with a soft and glossy surface like cashmere.

CASHOO Ca*shoo", n. Etym: [F. cachou, NL. catechu, Cochin-Chin. cay cau from the tree called mimosa, or areca catechu. Cf. Catechu.]

Defn: See Catechu.

CASH RAILWAY Cash railway.

Defn: A form of cash carrier in which a small carrier or car travels upon a kind of track.

CASH REGISTER Cash register.

Defn: A device for recording the amount of cash received, usually having an automatic adding machine and a money drawer and exhibiting the amount of the sale.

CASING Cas"ing, n.

1. The act or process of inclosing in, or covering with, a case or thin substance, as plaster, boards, etc.

2. An outside covering, for protection or ornament, or to precent the radiation of heat.

3. An inclosing frame; esp. the framework around a door or a window. See Case, n., 4.

CASINGS Ca"sings, n. pl.

Defn: Dried dung of cattle used as fuel. [Prov. Eng.] Waterland.

CASINO Ca*si"no, n.; pl. E. Casinos, It. Casini. Etym: [It. casino, dim. of casa house, fr. L. casa cottage. Cf. Cassing.]

1. A small country house.

2. A building or room used for meetings, or public amusements, for dancing, gaming, etc.

3. A game at cards. See Cassino.

CASK Cask, n. Etym: [Sp. casco potsherd, skull, helmet, prob. fr. cascar to break, fr. L. Quassure to break. Cf. Casque, Cass.]

1. Same as Casque. [Obs.]

2. A barrel-shaped vessel made of staves headings, and hoops, usually fitted together so as to hold liquids. It may be larger or smaller than a barrel.

3. The quantity contained in a cask.

4. A casket; a small box for jewels. [Obs.] Shak.

CASK Cask, v. t.

Defn: To put into a cask.

CASKET Cas"ket, n. Etym: [Cf. F. casquet, dim. of casque belmet, fr. Sp. casco.]

1. A small chest or box, esp. of rich material or ornamental character, as for jewels, etc. The little casket bring me hither. Shak.

2. A kind of burial case. [U. S.]

3. Anything containing or intended to contain something highly esteemed; as: (a) The body. (Shak). (b) The tomb. (Milton). (c) A book of selections. [poetic] They found him dead . . . an empty casket. Shak.

CASKET Cas"ket, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A gasket. See Gasket.

CASKET Cas"ket, v. t.

Defn: To put into, or preserve in, a casket. [Poetic] "I have casketed my treasure." Shak.

CASQUE Casque, n. Etym: [F. casque, fr. Sp. casco See Cask.]

Defn: A piece of defensive or ornamental armor (with or without a vizor) for the head and neck; a helmet. His casque overshadowed with brilliant plumes. Prescott.

CASS Cass, v. t. Etym: [F. casser, LL. cassare, fr. L. cassus empty, hollow, and perhaps influenced by L. quassare to shake, shatter, v. intens. of quatere to shake. Cf. Cashier, v. t., Quash, Cask.]

Defn: To render useless or void; to annul; to reject; to send away. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleing.

CASSADA Cas"sa*da, n.

Defn: See Cassava.

CASSAREEP Cas"sa*reep, n.

Defn: A condiment made from the sap of the bitter cassava (Manihot utilissima) deprived of its poisonous qualities, concentrated by boiling, and flavored with aromatics. See Pepper pot.

CASSATE Cas"sate, v. t. Etym: [LL. cassare. See Cass.]

Defn: To render void or useless; to vacate or annul. [Obs.]

CASSATION Cas*sa"tion, n. Etym: [F. cassation. See Cass.]

Defn: The act of annulling. A general cassation of their constitutions. Motley. Court of cassation, the highest court of appeal in France, which has power to quash (Casser) or reverse the decisions of the inferior courts.

CASSAVA Cas"sa*va, n. Etym: [F. cassave, Sp. cazabe, fr. kasabi, in the language of Hayti.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A shrubby euphorbiaceous plant of the genus Manihot, with fleshy rootstocks yielding an edible starch; — called also manioc.

Note: There are two species, bitter and sweet, from which the cassava of commerce is prepared in the West Indies, tropical America, and Africa. The bitter (Manihot utilissima) is the more important; this has a poisonous sap, but by grating, pressing, and baking the root the poisonous qualities are removed. The sweet (M. Aipi) is used as a table vegetable.

2. A nutritious starch obtained from the rootstocks of the cassava plant, used as food and in making tapioca.

CASSAVA WOOD Cas"sa*va wood`. (Bot.)

Defn: A West Indian tree (Turpinia occidentalis) of the family Staphyleaceæ.

CASSEL BROWN; CASSEL EARTH Cas"sel brown, Cas"sel earth .

Defn: A brown pigment of varying permanence, consisting of impure lignite. It was found originally near Cassel (now Kassel), Germany.

CASSE PAPER Cas"se Pa"per. Etym: [F. papier cassé. See Cass.]

Defn: Broken paper; the outside quires of a ream.

CASSEROLE Cas"se*role n. Etym: [F. a saucepan, dim. from casse a basin.]

1. (Chem.)

Defn: A small round dish with a handle, usually of porcelain.

2. (Cookery)

Defn: A mold (in the shape of a hollow vessel or incasement) of boiled rice, mashed potato or paste, baked, and afterwards filled with vegetables or meat.

CASSE-TETE Casse`-tête", n. [F., fr. casser to breal (see 2d Quash) + tête head.]

Defn: A small war club, esp. of savages; — so called because of its supposed use in crushing the skull.

CASSETTE Cas`sette", n. [F., prop., a casket, dim. of casse a case. See lst Case.]

Defn: Same as Seggar.

CASSIA Cas"sia, n. Etym: [L. cassia and casia, Gr. qetsi\'beh, fr. qatsa' to cut off, to peel off.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of leguminous plants (herbs, shrubs, or trees) of many species, most of which have purgative qualities. The leaves of several species furnish the senna used in medicine.

2. The bark of several species of Cinnamommum grown in China, etc.; Chinese cinnamon. It is imported as cassia, but commonly sold as cinnamon, from which it differs more or less in strength and flavor, and the amount of outer bark attached.

Note: The medicinal "cassia" (Cassia pulp) is the laxative pulp of the pods of a leguminous tree (Cassia fistula or Pudding-pipe tree), native in the East Indies but naturalized in various tropical countries. Cassia bark, the bark of Cinnamomum Cassia, etc. The coarser kinds are called Cassia lignea, and are often used to adulterate true cinnamon. — Cassia buds, the dried flower buds of several species of cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia, atc..). — Cassia oil, oil extracted from cassia bark and cassia buds; — called also oil of cinnamon.

CASSICAN Cas"si*can, n. Etym: [NL. cassicus helmeted, fr. L. cassis a belmet.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American bird of the genus Cassicus, allied to the starlings and orioles, remarkable for its skillfully constructed and suspended nest; the crested oriole. The name is also sometimes given to the piping crow, an Australian bird.

CASSIDEOUS Cas*sid"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. Cassis helmet.] (Bot.)

Defn: Helmet-shaped; — applied to a corolla having a broad, helmet- shaped upper petal, as in aconite.

CASSIDONY Cas"si*do*ny, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. cassidonium, F. Cassidoine. See Chalcedony.] (Bot.) (a) The French lavender (Lawandula Stachas). (b) The goldilocks (Chrysocoma linosyris) and perhaps other plants related to the genus Gnaphalium or cudweed.

CASSIMERE Cas"si*mere, n. Etym: [Cf. F. casimir, prob. of the same origin as E. cashmere. Cf. Kerseymere.]

Defn: A thin, twilled, woolen cloth, used for men's garments. [Written also kerseymere.]

CASSINETTE Cas`si*nette", n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. casinete, G. cassinet.]

Defn: A cloth with a cotton wart, and a woof of very fine wool, or wool and silk.

CASSINIAN OVALS Cas*sin"i*an o"vals. (Math.)

Defn: See under Oval.

CASSINO Cas*si"no, n. Etym: [It. casino a small house, a gaming house. See asing.]

Defn: A game at cards, played by two or more persons, usually for twenty-one points. Great cassino, the ten of diamonds. — Little cassino, the two of spades.

CASSIOBERRY Cas"si*o*ber`ry, n. Etym: [NL. cassine, from the language of the Florida Indians.]

Defn: The fruit of the Viburnum obovatum, a shrub which grows from Virginia to Florida.

CASSIOPEIA Cas`si*o*pe"ia, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Astron.)

Defn: A constellation of the northern hemisphere, situated between Capheus and Perseus; — so called in honor of the wife of Cepheus, a fabuolous king of Ethiopia. Cassiopeia's Chair, a group of six stars, in Cassiopeia, somewhat resembling a chair.

CASSITERITE Cas*sit"er*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: Native tin dioxide; tin stone; a mineral occurring in tetragonal crystals of reddish brown color, and brilliant adamantine luster; also massive, sometimes in compact forms with concentric fibrous structure resembling wood (wood tin), also in rolled fragments or pebbly (Stream tin). It is the chief source of metallic tin. See Black tin, under Black.

CASSIUS Cas"sius, n. Etym: [From the name of the discoverer, A. Cassius, a German physician of the 17th centry.]

Defn: A brownish purple pigment, obtained by the action of some compounds of tin upon certain salts of gold. It is used in painting and staining porcelain and glass to give a beautiful purple color. Commonly called Purple of Cassius.

CASSOCK Cas"sock, n. Etym: [F. casaque, fr. It. casacca, perh. fr. L. casa cottage, in It., house; or of Slavic origin.]

1. A long outer garment formerly worn by men and women, as well as by soldiers as part of their uniform.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: A garment resembling a long frock coat worn by the clergy of certain churches when officiating, and by others as the usually outer garment.

CASSOCKED Cas"socked, a.

Defn: Clothed with a cassock.

CASSOLETTE Cas`so*lette", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: a box, or vase with a perforated cover to emit perfumes.

CASSONADE Cas`son*ade", n. Etym: [F., fr. casson, for caisson a large chest. This sugar comes from Brazil in large chests.]

Defn: Raw sugar; sugar not refined. Mc Elrath.

CASSOWARY Cas"so*wa*ry, n.; pl. Cassowaries. Etym: [Malay kasuari.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large bird, of the genus Casuarius, found in the east Indies. It is smaller and stouter than the ostrich. Its head is armed with a kind of helmet of horny substance, consisting of plates overlapping each other, and it has a group of long sharp spines on each wing which are used as defensive organs. It is a shy bird, and runs with great rapidity. Other species inhabit New Guinea, Australia, etc.

CASSUMUNAR; CASSUMUNIAR Cas`su*mu"nar, Cas`su*mu"ni*ar, n. Etym: [Hind.] (Med.)

Defn: A pungent, bitter, aromatic, gingerlike root, obtained from the East Indies.

CAST Cast, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cast; p. pr. & vb. n. Casting.] Etym: [Cf. Dan. kastw, Icel. & Sw. kasta; perh. akin to L. gerer to bear, carry. E. Jest.]

1. To send or drive by force; to throw; to fling; to hurl; to impel. Uzziash prepared . . . slings to cast stones. 2 Chron. xxvi. 14 Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. Acts. xii. 8 We must be cast upon a certain island. Acts. xxvii. 26.

2. To direct or turn, as the eyes. How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! Shak.

3. To drop; to deposit; as, to cast a ballot.

4. To throw down, as in wrestling. Shak.

5. To throw up, as a mound, or rampart. Thine enemies shall cast a trench [bank] about thee. Luke xix. 48.

6. To throw off; to eject; to shed; to lose. His filth within being cast. Shak. Neither shall your vine cast her fruit. Mal. iii. 11 The creatures that cast the skin are the snake, the viper, etc. Bacon.

7. To bring forth prematurely; to slink. Thy she-goats have not cast their young. Gen. xxi. 38.

8. To throw out or emit; to exhale. [Obs.] This . . . casts a sulphureous smell. Woodward.

9. To cause to fall; to shed; to reflect; to throw; as, to cast a ray upon a screen; to cast light upon a subject.

10. To impose; to bestow; to rest. The government I cast upon my brother. Shak. Cast thy burden upon the Lord. Ps. iv. 22.

11. To dismiss; to discard; to cashier. [Obs.] The state can not with safety casthim.

12. To compute; to reckon; to calculate; as, to cast a horoscope. "Let it be cast and paid." Shak. You cast the event of war my noble lord. Shak.

13. To contrive; to plan. [Archaic] The cloister . . . had, I doubt not, been cast for [an orange- house]. Sir W. Temple.

14. To defeat in a lawsuit; to decide against; to convict; as, to be cast in damages. She was cast to be hanged. Jeffrey. Were the case referred to any competent judge, they would inevitably be cast. Dr. H. More.

15. To turn (the balance or scale); to overbalance; hence, to make preponderate; to decide; as, a casting voice. How much interest casts the balance in cases dubious! South.

16. To form into a particular shape, by pouring liquid metal or other material into a mold; to fashion; to found; as, to cast bells, stoves, bullets.

17. (Print.)

Defn: To stereotype or electrotype.

18. To fix, distribute, or allot, as the parts of a play among actors; also to assign (an actor) for a part. Our parts in the other world will be new cast. Addison. To cast anchor (Naut.) Se under Anchor. — To cast a horoscope, to calculate it. — To cast a horse, sheep, or other animal, to throw with the feet upwards, in such a manner as to prevent its rising again. — To cast a shoe, to throw off or lose a shoe, said of a horse or ox. — To cast aside, to throw or push aside; to neglect; to reject as useless or inconvenient. — To cast away. (a) To throw away; to lavish; to waste. "Cast away a life" Addison. (b) To reject; to let perish. "Cast away his people." Rom. xi. 1. "Cast one away." Shak. (c) To wreck. "Cast away and sunk." Shak. — To cast by, to reject; to dismiss or discard; to throw away. — To cast down, to throw down; to destroy; to deject or depress, as the mind. "Why art thou cast down. O my soul" Ps. xiii. 5. — To cast forth, to throw out, or eject, as from an inclosed place; to emit; to send out. — To cast in one's lot with, to share the fortunes of. — To cast in one's teeth, to upbraid or abuse one for; to twin. — To cast lots. See under Lot. — To cast off. (a) To discard or reject; to drive away; to put off; to free one's self from. (b) (Hunting) To leave behind, as dogs; also, to set loose, or free, as dogs. Crabb. (c) (Naut.) To untie, throw off, or let go, as a rope. — To cast off copy, (Print.), to estimate how much printed matter a given amount of copy will make, or how large the page must be in order that the copy may make a given number of pages. — To cast one's self on or upon to yield or submit one's self unreservedly to. as to the mercy of another. — To cast out, to throy out; to eject, as from a house; to cast forth; to expel; to utter. — To cast the lead (Naut.), to sound by dropping the lead to the botton. — To cast the water (Med.), to examine the urine for signs of disease. [Obs.]. — To cast up. (a) To throw up; to raise. (b) To compute; to reckon, as the cost. (c) To vomit. (d) To twit with; to throw in one's teeth.

CAST Cast, v. i.

1. To throw, as a line in angling, esp, with a fly hook.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: To turn the head of a vessel around from the wind in getting under weigh. Weigh anchor, cast to starboard. Totten.

3. To consider; to turn or revolve in the mind; to plan; as, to cast about for reasons. She . . . cast in her mind what manner of salution this should be. Luke. i. 29.

4. To calculate; to compute. [R.] Who would cast and balance at a desk. Tennyson.

5. To receive form or shape in a mold. It will not run thin, so as to cast and mold. Woodward.

6. To warp; to become twisted out of shape. Stuff is said to cast or warp when . . . it alters its flatness or straightness. Moxon.

7. To vomit. These verses . . . make me ready to cast. B. Jonson.

CAST Cast,

Defn: 3d pres. of Cast, for Casteth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CAST Cast, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel., Dan., & Sw. kast.]

1. The act of casting or throwing; a throw.

2. The thing thrown. A cast of dreadful dust. Dryden.

3. The distance to which a thing is or can be thrown. "About a stone's cast." Luke xxii. 41.

4. A throw of dice; hence, a chance or venture. An even cast whether the army should march this way or that way. Sowth. I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die. Shak.

5. That which is throw out or off, shed, or ejected; as, the skin of an insect, the refuse from a hawk's stomach, the excrement of a earthworm.

6. The act of casting in a mold. And why such daily cast of brazen cannon. Shak.

7. An impression or mold, taken from a thing or person; amold; a pattern.

8. That which is formed in a mild; esp. a reproduction or copy, as of a work of art, in bronze or plaster, etc.; a casting.

9. Form; appearence; mien; air; style; as, a pecullar cast of countenance. "A neat cast of verse." Pope. An heroic poem, but in another cast and figure. Prior. And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought. Shak.

10. A tendency to any color; a tinge; a shade. Gray with a cast of green. Woodward.

11. A chance, opportunity, privilege, or advantage; specifically, an opportunity of riding; a lift. [Scotch] We bargained with the driver to give us a cast to the next stage. Smollett. If we had the cast o' a cart to bring it. Sir W. Scott.

12. The assignment of parts in a play to the actors.

13. (Falconary)

Defn: A flight or a couple or set of hawks let go at one time from the hand. Grabb. As when a cast of falcons make their flight. Spenser.

14. A stoke, touch, or trick. [Obs.] This was a cast of Wood's politics; for his information was wholly false. Swift.

15. A motion or turn, as of the eye; direction; look; glance; squint. The cast of the eye is a gesture of aversion. Bacon. And let you see with one cast of an eye. Addison. This freakish, elvish cast came into the child's eye. Hawthorne.

16. A tube or funnel for conveying metal into a mold.

17. Four; that is, as many as are thrown into a vessel at once in counting herrings, etc; a warp.

18. Contrivance; plot, design. [Obs.] Chaucer. A cast of the eye, a slight squint or strabismus. — Renal cast (Med.), microscopic bodies found in the urine of persons affected with disease of the kidneys; — so called because they are formed of matter deposited in, and preserving the outline of, the renal tubes. — The last cast, the last throw of the dice or last effort, on which every thing is ventured; the last chance.

CASTALIAN Cas*ta"li*an, a. Etym: [L. Castalius]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Castalia, a mythical fountain of inspiration on Mt. Parnassus sacred to the Muses. Milton.

CASTANEA Cas*ta"ne*a, n. Etym: [L., a chestnut, fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of nut-bearing trees or shrubs including the chestnut and chinquapin.

CASTANET Cas"ta*net, n.

Defn: See Castanets.

CASTANETS Cas"ta*nets, n. pl. Etym: [F. castagnettes, Sp. castañetas, fr. L. castanea (Sp. castaña) a chestnut. So named from the resemblance to two chestnuts, or because chestnuts were first used for castanets. See Chestnut.]

Defn: Two small, concave shells of ivory or hard wood, shaped like spoons, fastened to the thumb, and beaten together with the middle finger; — used by the Spaniards and Moors as an accompaniment to their dance and guitars.

Note: The singular, castanet, is used of one of the pair, or, sometimes, of the pair forming the instrument. The dancer, holding a castanet in each hand, rattles then to the motion of his feet. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

CASTAWAY Cast"a*way, n.

1. One who, or that which, is cast away or shipwrecked.

2. One who is ruined; one who has made moral shipwreck; a reprobate. Lest . . . when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor. ix. 27.

CASTAWAY Cast"a*way, a.

Defn: Of no value; rejected; useless.

CASTE Caste, n. Etym: [Pg. casta race, lineage, fr. L. castus pure, chaste: cf. F. caste, of same origin.]

1. One of the hereditary classes into which the Hindoos are divided according to the laws of Brahmanism.

Note: The members of the same caste are theoretically of equal rank, and same profession or occupation, and may not eat or intermarry with those not of their own caste. The original are four, viz., the Brahmans, or sacerdotal order; the Kshatriyas, or soldiers and rulers; the Vaisyas, or husbandmen and merchants; and the Sudras, or laborers and mechanics. Men of no caste are Pariahs, outcasts. Numerous mixed classes, or castes, have sprung up in the progress of time.

2. A separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly hold intercourse among themselves. The tinkers then formed an hereditary caste. Macaulay. To lose caste, to be degraded from the caste to which one has belonged; to lose social position or consideration.

CASTELLAN Cas"tel*lan, n. Etym: [OF. castelain, F. châtelain, L. castellanus pertaining to a castle, an occupant of a caste, LL., a governor of a castle, fr. L. catellum castle, citadel, dim. of castrum fortifled place. See Castle, and cf. Chatelaine.]

Defn: A goveror or warden of a castle.

CASTELLANY Cas"tel*la*ny, n.; pl. Castellanies. Etym: [LL. castellania.]

Defn: The lordship of a castle; the extent of land and jurisdiction appertaining to a castle.

CASTELLATED Cas"tel*la`ted, a. Etym: [LL. castellatus, fr. castellare. See Castle.]

1. Inclosed within a building; as, a fountain or cistern castellated. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. Furnished with turrets and battlements, like a castle; built in the style of a castle.

CASTELLATION Cas`tel*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. castellation, fr. castellare, fr. L. castellum. See Castle.]

Defn: The act of making into a castle.

CASTER Cast"er, n.

1. One who casts; as, caster of stones, etc. ; a caster of cannon; a caster of accounts.

2. A vial, cruet, or other small vessel, used to contain condiments at the table; as, a set of casters.

3. A stand to hold a set of cruets.

4. A small wheel on a swivel, on which furniture is supported and moved.

CASTIGATE Cas"ti*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Castigated; p. pr. & vb. n. Castigating.] Etym: [L. castigatus, p. p. of castigare to correct, punish; castus pure, chaste + agere to move, drive. See Caste, and cf. Chasten.]

1. To punish by stripes; to chastise by blows; to chasten; also, to chastise verbally; to reprove; to criticise severely.

2. To emend; to correct. [Obs.]

CASTIGATION Cas`ti*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. catigatio.]

1. Corrective punishment; chastisement; reproof; pungent criticism. The keenest castigation of her slanderers. W. Irving.

2. Emendation; correction. [Obs.]

CASTIGATOR Cas`ti*ga"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who castigates or corrects.

CASTIGATORY Cas`ti*ga*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. castigatorius.]

Defn: Punitive in order to amendment; corrective.

CASTIGATORY Cas"ti*ga*to*ry, n.

Defn: An instrument formerly used to punish and correct arrant scolds; — called also a ducking stool, or trebucket. Blacktone.

CASTILE SOAP Cas"tile soap". Etym: [From Castile, or Castilia, a province in Spain, from which it originally came.]

Defn: A kind of fine, hard, white or mottled soap, made with olive and soda; also, a soap made in imitation of the above-described soap.

CASTILIAN Cas*til"ian, n. Etym: [Sp. castellano, from Castila, NL. Castilia, Castella. Castile, which received its name from the castles erected on the frontiers as a barrier against the Moors.]

1. An inhabitant or native of Castile, in Spain.

2. The Spanish language as spoken in Castile.

CASTILLAN Cas*til"lan, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Castile, in Spain.

CASTING Cast"ing, n.

1. The act of one who casts or throws, as in fishing.

2. The act or process of making cast or impressions, or of shaping metal or plaster in a mold; the act or the process of pouring molten metal into a mold.

3. That which is cast in a mold; esp. the mass of metal so cast; as, a casting in iron; bronze casting.

4. The warping of a board. Brande & C.

5. The act of casting off, or that which is cast off, as skin, feathers, excrement, etc. Casting of draperies, the proper distribution of the folds of garments, in painting and sculpture. — Casting line (Fishing), the leader; also, sometimes applied to the long reel line. Casting net, a net which is cast and drawn, in distinction from a net that is set and left. — Casting voice, Casting vote, the decisive vote of a presiding officer, when the votes of the assembly or house are equally divided. "When there was an equal vote, the governor had the casting voice." B. Trumbull. — Casting weight, a weight that turns a balance when exactly poised.

CAST IRON Cast" i`ron.

Defn: Highly carbonized iron, the direct product of the blast furnace; — used for making castings, and for conversion into wrought iron and steel. It can not be welded or forged, is brittle, and sometimes very hard. Besides carbon, it contains sulphur, phosphorus, silica, etc.

CAST-IRON Cast"-i`ron, a.

Defn: Made of cast iron. Hence, Fig.: like cast iron; hardy; unyielding.

CASTLE Cas"tle, n. Etym: [AS. castel, fr. L. castellum, dim. of castrum a fortified place, castle.]

1. A fortified residence, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a fortress. The house of every one is to him castle and fortress, as well for his defense againts injury and violence, as for his repose. Coke. Our castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn. Shak.

Note: Originally the mediæval castle was a single strong tower or keep, with a palisaded inclosure around it and inferior buidings, such as stables and the like, and surrounded by a moat; then such a keep or donjon, with courtyards or baileys and accessory buildings of greater elaboration a great hall and a chapel, all surrounded by defensive walls and a moat, with a drawbridge, etc. Afterwards the name was retained by large dwellings that had formerly been fortresses, or by those which replaced ancient fortresses. A Donjon or Keep, an irregular building containing the dwelling of the lord and his family; B C Large round towers ferming part of the donjon and of the exterior; D Square tower, separating the two inner courts and forming part of the donjon; E Chapel, whose apse forms a half-round tower, F, on the exterior walls; G H Round towers on the exterior walls; K Postern gate, reached from outside by a removable fight of steps or inclined plane for hoisting in stores, and leading to a court, L (see small digagram) whose pavement is on a level with the sill of the postern, but below the level of the larger court, with which it communicates by a separately fortified gateway; M Turret, containing spiral stairway to all the stories of the great tower, B, and serving also as a station for signal fire, banner, etc.; N Turret with stairway for tower, C; O Echauguettes; P P P Battlemants consisting of merlons and crenels alternately, the merlons being pierced by loopholes; Q Q Machicolations (those at Q defend the postern K); R Outwork defending the approach, which is a road ascending the hill and passing under all four faces of the castle; S S Wall of the outer bailey. The road of approach enters the bailey at T and passes thence into the castle by the main entrance gateway (which is in the wall between, and defended by the towers, C H) and over two drawbridges and through fortified passages to the inner court.

2. Any strong, imposing, and stately mansion.

3. A small tower, as on a ship, or an elephant's back.

4. A piece, made to represent a castle, used in the game of chess; a rook. Castle in the air, a visionary project; a baseless scheme; an air castle; — sometimes called a castle in Spain (F. Château en Espagne).

Syn. — Fortress; fortification; citadel; stronghold. See Fortress.

CASTLE Cas"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Castled (. p. pr. & vb. n. Castling.] (Chess)

Defn: To move the castle to the square next to king, and then the king around the castle to the square next beyond it, for the purpose of covering the king.

CASTLEBUILDER Cas"tle*build`er, n.

Defn: Fig.: one who builds castles in the air or forms visionary schemes. — Cas"tle*build`ing, n.

CASTLED Cas"tled, a.

Defn: Having a castle or castles; supporting a castle; as, a castled height or crag.

2. Fortified; turreted; as, castled walls.

CASTLE-GUARD Cas"tle-guard`, n.

1. The guard or defense of a castle.

2. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A tax or imposition an a dwelling within a certain distance of a castle, for the purpose of maintaining watch and ward in it; castle-ward.

3. A feudal tenure, obliging the tenant to perform service within the realm, without limitation of time.

CASTLERY Cas"tle*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. castelerie. See Castle.]

Defn: The government of a castle. Blount.

CASTLET Cas"tlet, n.

Defn: A small castle. Leland.

CASTLEWARD Cas"tle*ward`, n.

Defn: Same as Castleguard.

CASTLING Cast"ling, n.

Defn: That which is cast or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. Sir T. Browne.

CASTLING Cas"tling, n. (Chess)

Defn: A compound move of the king and castle. See Castle, v. i.

CAST-OFF Cast"-off`, a.

Defn: Cast or laid aside; as, cast-off clothes.

CASTOR Cas"tor, n. Etym: [L. castor the beaver, Gr.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of rodents, including the beaver. See Beaver.

2. Castoreum. See Castoreum.

3. A hat, esp. one made of beaver fur; a beaver. I have always been known for the jaunty manner in which I wear my castor. Sir W. Scott.

4. A heavy quality of broadcloth for overcoats.

CASTOR Cast"or, n.

Defn: See Caster, a small wheel.

CASTOR Cas"tor, n. Etym: [L.] (Astron.)

Defn: the northernmost of the two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, the other being Pollux.

CASTOR; CASTORITE Cas"tor, Cas"tor*ite, n. Etym: [The minerals castor and pollux were so named because found together on the island of Elba. See Castor and Pollux.] (Min.)

Defn: A variety of the mineral called petalite, from Elba.

CASTOR AND POLLUX Cas"tor and Pol"lux. Etym: [Castor and Pollux were twin sons of Jupiter and Leda.] (Naut.)

Defn: See Saint Elmo's fire, under Saint.

CASTOR BEAN Cas"tor bean". (Bot.)

Defn: The bean or seed of the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi.)

CASTOREUM Cas*to"re*um, n. Etym: [L. See Castor.]

Defn: A peculiar bitter orange-brown substance, with strong, penetrating odor, found in two sacs between the anus and external genitals of the beaver; castor; — used in medicine as an antispasmodic, and by perfumers.

CASTORIN Cas"to*rin, n. Etym: [From 1st Castor.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline substance obtained from castoreum.

CASTOR OIL Cas"tor oil.

Defn: A mild cathartic oil, expressed or extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi. When fresh the oil is inodorus and insipid. Castor-oil plant. Same as Palma Christi.

CASTRAMETATION Cas`tra*me*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. castramétation, fr. L. castra camp + metari to measure off, fr. meta limit.] (Mil.)

Defn: The art or act of encamping; the making or laying out of a camp.

CASTRATE Cas"trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Castrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Castrating.] Etym: [L. castrarus, p; p. of castrare to castrate, asin to Skr. çastra knife.]

1. To deprive of the testicles; to emasculate; to geld; to alter.

2. To cut or take out; esp. to remove anything erroneous, or objectionable from, as the obscene parts of a writing; to expurgate. My . . . correspondent . . . has sent me the following letter, which I have castrated in some places. Spectator.

CASTRATION Cas*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. castratio; cf. F. castration.]

Defn: The act of castrating.

CASTRATO Cas*tra"to, n. Etym: [L., properly p. p. of castrare. See Castrate.]

Defn: A male person castrated for the purpose of improving his voice for singing; an artificial, or male, soprano. Swift.

CASTREL Cas"trel, n. Etym: [Cf. F. crécerelle, cristel, OF. crecel, cercele. Cf. Kestrel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Kestrel.

CASTRENSIAL Cas*tren"sial, a. Etym: [L. castrensis, fr. castra camp.]

Defn: Belonging to a camp. Sir T. Browne.

CASTRENSIAN Cas*tren"sian, a.

Defn: Castrensial. [R.]

CAST STEEL Cast" steel".

Defn: See Cast steel, under Steel.

CASUAL Cas"u*al, a. Etym: [OE. casuel, F. casuel, fr. L. casualis, fr. casus fall, accident, fr. cadere to fall. See Case.]

1. Happening or coming to pass without design, and without being foreseen or expected; accidental; fortuitous; coming by chance. Casual breaks, in the general system. W. Irving.

2. Coming without regularity; occasional; incidental; as, casual expenses. A constant habit, rather than a casual gesture. Hawthorne.

Syn. — Accidental; fortutious; incidental; occasional; contingent; unforeseen. See Accidental.

CASUAL Cas"u*al, n.

Defn: One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.

CASUALISM Cas"u*al*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine that all things exist or are controlled by chance.

CASUALIST Cas"u*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in casualism.

CASUALLY Cas"u*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Without design; accidentally; fortuitously; by chance; occasionally.

CASUALNESS Cas"u*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being casual.

CASUALTY Cas"u*al*ty, n.; pl. Casualties. Etym: [F. casualité, LL. casualitas.]

1. That which comes without design or without being foreseen; contingency. Losses that befall them by mere casualty. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Any injury of the body from accident; hence, death, or other misfortune, occasioned by an accident; as, an unhappy casualty.

3. pl. (Mil. & Naval)

Defn: Numerical loss caused by death, wounds, discharge, or desertion. Casualty ward, A ward in a hospital devoted to the treatment of injuries received by accident.

Syn. — Accident; contingency; fortuity; misfortune.

CASUARINA Cas`u*a*ri"na, n. Etym: [NL., supposed to be named from the resemblance of the twigs to the feathers of the cassowary, of the genus Casuarius.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of leafles trees or shrubs, with drooping branchlets of a rushlike appearance, mostly natives of Australia. Some of them are large, producing hard and heavy timber of excellent quality, called beefwood from its color.

CASUIST Cas"u*ist, n. Etym: [L. casus fall, case; cf. F. casuiste. See Casual.]

Defn: One who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry. The judment of any casuist or learned divine concerning the state of a man's soul, is not sufficient to give him confidence. South.

CASUIST Cas"u*ist, v. i.

Defn: To play the casuist. Milton.

CASUISTIC; CASUISTICAL Cas`u*is"tic, Cas`u*is"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to casuists or casuistry.

CASUISTRY Cas"u*ist*ry, a.

1. The science or doctrine of dealing with cases of conscience, of resolving questions of right or wrong in conduct, or determining the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what a man may do by rules and principles drawn from the Scriptures, from the laws of society or the church, or from equity and natural reason; the application of general moral rules to particular cases. The consideration of these nice and puzzling question in the science of ethics has given rise, in modern times, to a particular department of it, distinguished by the title of casuistry. Stewart. Casuistry in the science of cases (i.e., oblique deflections from the general rule). De Quincey.

2. Sophistical, equivocal, or false reasoning or teaching in regard to duties, obligations, and morals.

CASUS Ca"sus, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: An event; an occurrence; an occasion; a combination of circumstances; a case; an act of God. See the Note under Accident. Casus belli, an event or combination of events which is a cause war, or may be alleged as a justification of war. — Casus fortuitus, an accident against which due prudence could not have provided. See Act of God, under Act. — Casus omissus, a case not provided for by the statute.

CAT Cat, n. Etym: [AS. cat; akin to D. & Dan. kat, Sw. kett, Icel. köttr, G. katze, kater, Ir. Cat, W. cath, Armor. kaz, LL. catus, Bisc. catua, NGr cot, Turk. kedi, Ar. qitt; of unknown origin. CF. Ketten.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal of various species of the genera Felis and Lynx. The domestic cat is Felis domestica. The European wild cat (Felis catus) is much larger than the domestic cat. In the United States the name wild cat is commonly applied to the bay lynx (Lynx rufus) See Wild cat, and Tiger cat.

Note: The domestic cat includes many varieties named from their place of origin or from some peculiarity; as, the Angora cat; the Maltese cat; the Manx cat.

Note: The word cat is also used to designate other animals, from some fancied resemblance; as, civet cat, fisher cat, catbird, catfish shark, sea cat.

2. (Naut.) (a) A strong vessel with a narrow stern, projecting quarters, and deep waist. It is employed in the coal and timber trade. (b) A strong tackle used to draw an anchor up to the cathead of a ship. Totten.

3. A double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.), having six feet, of which three rest on the ground, in whatever position in is placed.

4. An old game; (a) The game of tipcat and the implement with which it is played. See Tipcat. (c) A game of ball, called, according to the number of batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc.

5. A cat o' nine tails. See below. Angora cat, blind cat, See under Angora, Blind. — Black cat the fisher. See under Black. — Cat and dog, like a cat and dog; quarrelsome; inharmonius. "I am sure we have lived a cat and dog life of it." Coleridge. — Cat block (Naut.), a heavy iron-strapped block with a large hook, part of the tackle used in drawing an anchor up to the cathead. — Cat hook (Naut.), a strong hook attached to a cat block. — Cat nap, a very short sleep. [Colloq.] — Cat o' nine tails, an instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a handle; — formerly used to flog offenders on the bare back. — Cat's cradle, game played, esp. by children, with a string looped on the fingers so, as to resemble small cradle. The string is transferred from the fingers of one to those of another, at each transfer with a change of form. See Cratch, Cratch cradle. — To let the cat out of the bag, to tell a secret, carelessly or willfully. [Colloq.] — Bush cat, the serval. See Serval.

CAT Cat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. tted; p. pr. & vb. n. Catting.] (Naut.)

Defn: To bring to the cathead; as, to cat an anchor. See Anchor. Totten.

CATA Cat"a. Etym: [Gr. kata`.]

Defn: The Latin and English form of a Greek preposition, used as a prefix to signify down, downward, under, against, contrary or opposed to, wholly, completely; as in cataclysm, catarrh. It sometimes drops the final vowel, as in catoptric; and is sometimes changed to cath, as in cathartic, catholic.

CATABAPTIST Cat`a*bap"tist, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + aptist. See Baptist.] (Eccl.)

Defn: One who opposes baptism, especially of infants. [Obs.] Featley.

CATABASION Cat`a*ba"sion, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: A vault under altar of a Greek church.

CATABIOTIC Cat`a*bi*ot"ic, a.

Defn: Aee under Force.

CATACAUSTIC Cat`a*caus"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + caustic.] (Physics)

Defn: Relating to, or having the properties of, a caustic curve formed by reflection. See Caustic, a. Nichol.

CATACAUSTIC Cat`a*caus"tic, n. (Physics)

Defn: A caustic curve formed by reflection of light. Nichol.

CATACHRESIS Cat`a*chre"sis, n. Etym: [L. fr. Gr. (Rhel.)

Defn: A figure by which one word is wrongly put for another, or by which a word is wrested from its true signification; as, "To take arms against a sea of troubles. " Shak. "Her voice was but the shadow of a sound." Young.

CATACHRESTIC; CATACHRESTICAL Cat`a*chres"tic, Cat"a*chres"tic*al, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or in the manner of, a catachresis; wrested from its natural sense or form; forced; far-fatched. — Cat`a*chres"tic*al*ly, adv. [A] catachrestical and improper way of speaking. Jer. Taylor.

CATACLASM Cat"a*clasm, n. [Gr. ; down + to break.]

Defn: A breaking asunder; disruption.

CATACLYSM Cat"a*clysm, n. Etym: [L. cataclysmos, Gr. cataclysme.]

1. An extensive overflow or sweeping flood of water; a deluge.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Any violent catastrophe, involving sudden and extensive changes of the earth's surface.

CATACLYSMAL; CATACLYSMIC Cat`a*clys"mal, Cat"a*clys"mic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a cataclysm.

CATACLYSMIST Cat`a*clys"mist, n.

Defn: One who believes that the most important geological phenomena have been produced by cataclysms.

CATACOMB Cat"a*comb, n. Etym: [It. catacomba, fr. L. catacumba perh. from Gr.

Defn: A cave, grotto, or subterraneous place of large extent used for the burial of the dead; — commonly in the plural.

Note: The terms is supposed to have been applied originally to the tombs under the church of St. Sebastain in Rome. The most celebrated catacombs are those near Rome, on the Appian Way, supposed to have been the place or refuge and interment of the early Chrictians; those of Egypt, extending for a wide distance in the vicinity of Cairo; and those of Paris, in abandoned stone quarries, excavated under a large portion of the city.

CATACOUSTIC Cat`a*cous"tic, n. Etym: [Pref. cata _ acoustics: cf. F. caraconstique.] (Physics)

Defn: That part of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds or echoes See Acoustics. Hutton.

CATACROTIC Cat`a*crot"ic, a. [Cata- + Gr. a beating.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Designating, pertaining to, or characterized by, that form of pulse tracing, or sphygmogram, in which the descending portion of the curve is marked by secondary elevations due to two or more expansions of the artery in the same beat. — Ca*tac"rotism (#), n.

CATADICROTISM Cat`a*di"cro*tism, n. [Cata-+ dicrotism.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Quality or state of being catacrotic. — Cat`a*di*crot"ic (#), a.

CATADIOPTRIC; CATADIOPTRICAL Cat`a*di*op"tric, Cat`a*di*op"tric*al, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + dioptric: cf. F. catadioptrique.] (Physics)

Defn: Pertaining to, produced by, or involving, both the reflection and refraction of light; as, a catadioptric light. Hutton.

CATADIOPTRICS Cat`a*di*op"trics, n.

Defn: The science which treats of catadioptric phenomena, or of the used of catadioptric instruments.

CATADROME Cat"a*drome, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. A race course.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A machine for raising or lowering heavy weights.

CATADROMOUS Ca*tad"ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the lowest inferior segment of a pinna nearer the rachis than the lowest superior one; — said of a mode of branching in ferns, and opposed to anadromous.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Living in fresh water, and going to the sea to spawn; — opposed to anadromous, and of the eel.

CATAFALCO Cat`a*fal"co, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: See Catafalque.

CATAFALQUE Cat"a*falque`, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. catafalco, scaffold, funeral canopy; of uncertain origin; cf. Sp. catafalso, cadahalso, cadalso, Pr. casafalc, OF. chafaut. Cf. Scaffold.]

Defn: A temporary structure sometimes used in the funeral solemnities of eminent persons, for the public exhibition of the remains, or their conveyance to the place of burial.

CATAGMATIC Cat`*ag*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. catagmatique.] (Med.)

Defn: Having the quality of consolidating broken bones.

CATAIAN Ca*ta"ian, n.

Defn: A native of Cathay or China; a foreigner; — formerly a term of reproach. Shak.

CATALAN Cat"a*lan, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Catalonia. — n.

Defn: A native or inbabitant of Catalonia; also, the language of Catalonia. Catalan furnace, Catalan forge (Metal.), a kind of furnace for producing wrought iron directly from the ore. It was formerly much used, esp. in Catalonia, and is still used in some parts of the United States and elsewhere.

CATALECTIC Cat`a*lec"tic, a. Etym: [L. catalecticus, Gr.

1. (Pros.)

Defn: Wanting a syllable at the end, or terminating in an imperfect foot; as, a catalectic verse.

2. (Photog. & Chem.)

Defn: Incomplete; partial; not affecting the whole of a substance. Abney.

CATALEPSY; CATALEPSIS Cat"a*lep`sy, Cat`a*lep"sis, n. Etym: [NL. catalepsis, fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A sudden suspension of sensation and volition, the body and limbs preserving the position that may be given them, while the action of the heart and lungs continues.

CATALEPTIC Cat`a*lep"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, catalepsy; affected with catalepsy; as, a cataleptic fit.

CATALLACTA Cat`al*lac"ta, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Catallactics.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Protozoa, of which Magosphæra is the type. They exist both in a myxopod state, with branched pseudopodia, and in the form of ciliated bodies united in free, spherical colonies.

CATALLACTICS Cat`al*lac"tics n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The science of exchanges, a branch of political economy.

CATALOG Cat"a*log, n. & v.

Defn: Catalogue.

CATALOGIZE Cat"a*lo*gize, v. t.

Defn: To insert in a catalogue; to register; to catalogue. [R.] Coles.

CATALOGUE Cat"a*logue, n. Etym: [F., fr. catalogus, fr. Gr.

Defn: A list or enumeration of names, or articles arranged methodically, often in alphabetical order; as, a catalogue of the students of a college, or of books, or of the stars. Card catalogue, a catalogue, as of books, having each item entered on a separate card, and the cards arranged in cases by subjects, or authors, or alphabetically. — Catalogue raisonné Etym: [F.], a catalogue of books, etc., classed according to their subjects. Syn. — List; roll; index; schedule; enumeration; inventory. See List.

CATALOGUE Cat"a*logue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catalogued; p. pr. & vb. n. Cataloguing.]

Defn: To make a list or catalogue; to insert in a catalogue.

CATALOGUER Cat"a*log`uer, n.

Defn: A maker of catalogues; esp. one skilled in the making of catalogues.

CATALPA Ca*tal"pa, n. Etym: [From the language of the Indians of Carolina, where Catesby discovered this tree in the year 1726.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of American and East Indian trees, of which the best know species are the Catalpa bignonioides, a large, ornamental North American tree, with spotted white flowers and long cylindrical pods, and the C. speciosa, of the Mississipi valley; — called also Indian bean.

CATALYSIS Ca*tal"y*sis, n.; pl. Catalyse. Etym: [ML., fr. Gr.

1. Dissolution; degeneration; decay. [R.] Sad catalysis and declension of piety. Evelyn.

2. (Chem.) (a) A process by which reaction occurs in the presence of certain agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere contact. It is now believed that such reactions are attended with the formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by alternate composition and decomposition the agent is apparenty left unchanged; as, the catalysis of making ether from alcohol by means of sulphuric acid; or catalysis in the action of soluble ferments (as diastase, or ptyalin) on starch. (b) The catalytic force.

CATALYTIC Cat`a*ly"tic, a.

Defn: Relating to, or causing, catalysis. "The catalytic power is ill understood." Ure. Catalytic force, that form of chemical energy formerly supposed to determine catalysis.

CATALYTIC Cat`a*lyt"ic, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An agent employed in catalysis, as platinum black, aluminium chloride, etc.

CATAMARAN Cat`a*ma*ran", n. Etym: [The native East Indian name.]

1. A kind of raft or float, consisting of two or more logs or pieces of wood lashed together, and moved by paddles or sail; — used as a surf boat and for other purposes on the coasts of the East and West Indies and South America. Modified forms are much used in the lumber regions of North America, and at life-saving stations.

2. Any vessel with twin hulls, whether propelled by sails or by steam; esp., one of a class of double-hulled pleasure boats remarkable for speed.

3. A kind of fire raft or torpedo bat. The incendiary rafts prepared by Sir Sidney Smith for destroying the French flotilla at Boulogne, 1804, were called catamarans. Knight.

4. A quarrelsome woman; a scold. [Colloq.]

CATAMENIA Cat`a*me"nia, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The monthly courses of women; menstrual discharges; menses.

CATAMENIAL Cat`a*me"ni*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to the catamenia, or menstrual discharges.

CATAMITE Cat"a*mite, n. Etym: [L. Catamitus, an old form of Ganymedes Ganymede, Gr.

Defn: A boy kept for unnatural purposes.

CATAMOUNT Cat"a*mount, n. Etym: [Cat + mount; cf. Sp. gato mentes mountain cat.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The cougar. Applied also, in some parts of the United States, to the lynx.

CATANADROMOUS Cat"a*nad`ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Ascending and descending fresh streams from and to the sea, as the salmon; anadromous. [R.]

CATAPASM Cat"a*pasm, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc. Dunglison.

CATAPELTIC Cat`a*pel"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a catapult.

CATAPETALOUS Cat`a*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + petalous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their bases, as in the mallow.

CATAPHONIC Cat`a*phon"ic, a.

Defn: Of or relating to cataphonics; catacoustic.

CATAPHONICS Cat`a*phon"ics, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + phonic: cf. F. cataphonique.] (Physics)

Defn: That branch of acoustics which treats of reflested sounds; catacoustics.

CATAPHRACT Cat"a*phract, n. Etym: [L. cataphractes, Gr.

1. (Mil. Antiq.)

Defn: Defensive armor used for the whole body and often for the horse, also, esp. the linked mail or scale armor of some eastern nations.

2. A horseman covered with a cataphract. Archers and slingers, cataphracts, and spears. Milton.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The armor or plate covering some fishes.

CATAPHRACTED Cat"a*phract`ed, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Covered with a cataphract, or armor of plates, scales, etc.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, etc.

CATAPHRACTIC Cat`a*phrac"tic, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cataphract.

CATAPHYSICAL Cat`a*phys"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + physical.]

Defn: Unnatural; contrary to nature. [R.] Some artists . . . have given to Sir Walter Scott a pile of forehead which is unpleassing and cataphysical. De Quincey.

CATAPLASM Cat"a*plasm, n. Etym: [L. cataplasma, Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A soft and moist substance applied externally to some part of the body; a poultice. Dunglison.

CATAPLEXY Cat"a*plex`y, n. [Gr. amazement: cf. Apoplexy.] (Med.)

Defn: A morbid condition caused by an overwhelming shock or extreme fear and marked by rigidity of the muscles. — Cat`a*plec"tic (#), a.

CATAPUCE Cat"a*puce, n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)

Defn: Spurge. [Obs.]

CATAPULT Cat"a*pult, n. Etym: [L. catapulta, Gr.

1. (Mil. Antiq.)

Defn: An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.

2. A forked stick with elasti band for throwing small stones, etc.

CATARACT Cat"a*ract, n. Etym: [L. cataracta, catarracles, a waterfall, Gr.

1. A great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall.

2. (Surg.)

Defn: An opacity of the crystalline lens, or of its capsule, which prevents the passage of the rays of light and impairs or destroys the sight.

3. (Mach.)

Defn: A kind of hydraulic brake for regulating the action of pumping engines and other machines; — sometimes called dashpot.

CATARACTOUS Cat`a*rac"tous, a.

Defn: Of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract.

CATARRH Ca*tarrh", n. Etym: [L. catarrhus, Gr. Stream.] (Med.)

Defn: An inflammatory affection of any mucous membrane, in which there are congestion, swelling, and an altertion in the quantity and quality of mucus secreted; as catarrh of the stomach; catarrh of the bladder.

Note: In America, the term catarrh is applied especially to a chronic inflammation of, and hypersecretion fron, the membranes of the nose or air passages; in England, to an acute influenza, resulting a cold, and attended with cough, thirst, lassitude, and watery eyes; also, to the cold itself.

CATARRHAL Ca*tarrh"al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, produced by, or attending, catarrh; of the nature of catarrh.

CATARRHINE Cat"ar*rhine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Catarrhina, a division of Quadrumana, including the Old World monkeys and apes which have the nostrils close together and turned downward. See Monkey.

CATARRHOUS Ca*tarrh"ous, a.

Defn: Catarrhal. [R.]

CATASTALTIC Cat`a*stal"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Checking evacutions through astringent or styptic qualities.

CATASTASIS Ca*tas"ta*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Rhet.)

Defn: That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The state, or condition of anything; constitution; habit of body.

CATASTERISM Ca*tas"ter*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A placing among the stars; a catalogue of stars. The catasterisms of Eratosthenes. Whewell.

CATASTROPHE Ca*tas"tro*phe, n. Etym: [L. catastropha, Gr.

1. An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence, sudden calamity; great misfortune. The strange catastrophe of affairs now at London. Bp. Buret. The most horrible and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet saw. Woodward.

2. The final event in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denouement, as a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: A violent and widely extended change in the surface of the earth, as, an elevation or subsidence of some part of it, effected by internal causes. Whewell.

CATASTROPHIC Cat`a*stroph"ic, a.

Defn: Of a pertaining to a catastrophe. B. Powell.

CATASTROPHISM Ca*tas"tro*phism, n. (Geol.)

Defn: The doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; — opposed to the doctrine of uniformism.

CATASTROPHIST Ca*tas"tro*phist, n. (Geol.)

Defn: One who holds the theory or catastrophism.

CATAWBA Ca*taw"ba, n.

1. A well known light red variety of American grape.

2. A light-colored, sprightly American wine from the Catawba grape.

CATAWBAS Ca*taw"bas, n. pl.

Defn: ; sing. Catawba. (Ethnol.) An appalachian tribe of Indians which originally inhabited the regions near the Catawba river and the head waters of the Santee.

CATBIRD Cat"bird, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American bird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis), allied to the mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.

CATBOAT Cat"boat`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as possible, carring a sail extended by a graff and long boom. See Illustration in Appendix.

CATCALL Cat"call`, n.

Defn: A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise. Upon the rising of the curtain. I was very much surprised with the great consort of catcalls which was exhibited. Addison.

CATCH Catch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caught or Catched (; p. pr. & vb. n. Catching. Catched is rarely used.] Etym: [OE. cacchen, OF. cachier, dialectic form of chacier to hunt, F. chasser, fr. (assumend) LL. captiare, for L. capture, V. intens. of capere to take, catch. See Capacious, and cf. Chase, Case a box.]

1. To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; as, to catch a ball.

2. To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief. "They pursued . . . and caught him." Judg. i. 6.

3. To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.

4. Hence: To insnare; to entangle. "To catch him in his words". Mark xii. 13.

5. To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody. "Fiery thoughts . . . whereof I catch the issue." Tennyson.

6. To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.

7. To engage and attach; to please; to charm. The soothing arts that catch the fair. Dryden.

8. To get possession of; to attain. Torment myself to catch the English throne. Shak.

9. To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure; as, to catch the spirit of an occasion; to catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.

10. To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.

11. To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train. To catch fire, to become inflamed or ignited. — to catch it to get a scolding or beating; to suffer punishment. [Colloq.] — To catch one's eye, to interrupt captiously while speaking. [Colloq.] "You catch me up so very short." Dickens. — To catch up, to snatch; to take up suddenly.

CATCH Catch, v. i.

1. To attain possession. [Obs.] Have is have, however men do catch. Shak.

2. To be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.

3. To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.

4. To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate. Does the sedition catch from man to man Addison. To catch at, to attempt to seize; to be egger to get or use. "[To] catch at all opportunities of subverting the state." Addison. — To catch up with, to come up with; to overtake.

CATCH Catch, n.

1. Act of seizing; a grasp. Sir P. Sidney.

2. That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.

3. The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch. [Archaic] Addison. The common and the canon law . . . lie at catch, and wait advantages one againt another. T. Fuller.

4. That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish. Hector shall have a great catch if he knock out either of your brains. Shak.

5. Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony. [Colloq.] Marryat.

6. pl.

Defn: Passing opportunities seized; snatches. It has been writ by catches with many intervals. Locke.

7. A slight remembrance; a trace. We retain a catch of those pretty stories. Glanvill.

8. (Mus.)

Defn: A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.

CATCHABLE Catch"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being caught. [R.]

CATCH-BASIN Catch"-ba`sin, n.

Defn: A cistern or vault at the point where a street gutter discharges into a sewer, to oatch bulky matters which would not pass readly throught the sewer. Knight.

CATCH CROP Catch crop.

Defn: Any crop grown between the rows of another crop or intermediate between two crops in ordinary rotation in point of time. — Catch"- crop`ping, n.

Radishes . . . are often grown as a catch crop with other vegetables. L. H. Bailey.

CATCHDRAIN Catch"drain`, n.

Defn: A dich or drain along the side of a hill to catch the surface water; also, a ditch at the side of a canal to catch the surplus water.

CATCHER Catch"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, catches.

2. (Baseball)

Defn: The player who stands behind the batsman to catch the ball.

CATCHFLY Catch"fly, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts, covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. The species of Silene are examples of the catchfly.

CATCHING Catch"ing a.

1. Infections; contagious.

2. Captavating; alluring.

CATCHING Catch"ing, n.

Defn: The act of seizing or taking hold of Catching bargain (Law), a bargain made with an heir expectant for the purchase of his expectancy at an inadequate price. Bouvier.

CATCH-MEADOW Catch"-mead`ow, n.

Defn: meadow irrigated by water from a spring or rivulet on the side of hill.

CATCHMENT Catch"ment, n.

Defn: A surface of ground on which water may be caught and collected into a reservoir.

CATCHPENNY Catch"pen*ny, a.

Defn: Made or contrived for getting small sums of money from the ignorant or unwary; as, a catchpenny book; a catchpenny show. — n.

Defn: Some worthless catchpenny thing.

CATCHPOLL Catch"poll`, n. Etym: [OF. chacepol, chacipol.]

Defn: A bailiff's assistant.

CATCH TITLE Catch title.

Defn: A short expressive title used for abbreviated book lists, etc.

CATCHUP; CATSUP Catch"up, Cat"sup, n. Etym: [Probably of East Indian origin, because it was originally a kind of East Indian pickles.]

Defn: A table sauce made from mushrooms, tomatoes, walnuts, etc. [Written also ketchup.]

CATCHWATER Catch"wa`ter, n.

Defn: A ditch or drain for catching water. See Catchdrain.

CATCHWEED Catch"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Cleavers.

CATCHWEIGHT Catch"weight`, adv. (Horseracing)

Defn: Without any additional weight; without being handicapped; as, to ride catchweight.

CATCHWORD Catch"word`, n.

1. Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.

2. (Print.)

Defn: The first word of any page of a book after the first, inserted at the right hand bottom corner of the preceding page for the assistance of the reader. It is seldom used in modern printing.

3. A word or phrase caught up and repeated for effect; as, the catchword of a political party, etc.

CATCHWORK Catch"work`, n.

Defn: A work or artificial watercourse for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.

CATCHY Catch"y, a.

1. Apt or tending to catch the fancy or attention; catching; taking; as, catchy music.

2. Tending to catch or insnare; entangling; — usually used fig.; as, a catchy question.

3. Consisting of, or occuring in, disconnected parts or snatches; changeable; as, a catchy wind.

It [the fox's scent] is . . . flighty or catchy, if variable. Encyc. of Sport.

CATE Cate, n.

Defn: Food. [Obs.] See Cates.

CATECHETIC; CATECHETICAL Cat`e*chet"ic, Cat`e*chet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Catechise.]

Defn: Relating to or consisting in, asking questions and receiving answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching. Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. Addison.

CATECHETICALLY Cat`e*chet"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a catechetical manner; by question and answer.

CATECHETICS Cat`e*chet"ics, n.

Defn: The science or practice of instructing by questions and answers.

CATECHIN Cat"e*chin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: One of the tannic acids, extracted from catechu as a white, crystaline substance; — called also catechuic acid, and catechuin.

CATECHISATION Cat`e*chi*sa"tion, n. Etym: [LL. catechizatio.]

Defn: The act of catechising.

CATECHISE Cat"e*chise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catechised; p. pr. & vb. n. Catechising.] Etym: [L. catechizare, Gr.

1. To instruct by asking questions, receiving answeres, and offering explanations and corrections, — esp. in regard to points of religious faith.

2. To question or interrogate; to examine or try by questions; — sometimes with a view to reproof, by eliciting from a person answers which condemn his own conduct. Swift.

CATECHISER Cat"e*chi`ser, n.

Defn: One who catechises.

CATECHISM Cat"e*chism, n. Etym: [L. catechismus, fr. Gr. See Catechise.]

1. A form of instruction by means of questions answers.

2. A book containing a summary of principles, especially of religious doctrine, reduced to the form of questions and answers. The Jews, even till this day, have their catechisms. Hooker. The Larger Catechism, The Shorter Catechism. See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.

CATECHISMAL Cat`e*chis"mal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a catechism, having the form of questions and answers; catechical.

CATECHIST Cat"e*chist, n. Etym: [L. catechista, fr. Gr.]

Defn: One who instructs by question and answer, especially in religions matters.

CATECHISTIC; CATECHISTICAL Cat`e*chis"tic, Cat`e*chis"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a catechist or to a catechism. Dr. H. More.

CATECHIZE Cat"e*chize, v. t.

Defn: See Catechise.

CATECHU Cat"e*chu, n. Etym: [See Cashoo.] (Chem.)

Defn: A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia catechu, and several other plants growing in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names terra japonica, cutch, gambier, etc. Ure. Dunglison.

CATECHUIC Cat`e*chu"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to catechu or its derivatives. See catechin.

CATECHUMEN Cat"e*chu`men, n. Etym: [L. catechunenus, Gr. Catechise.] (Eccl.)

Defn: One who is receiving rudimentary instruction in the doctrines of Christianity; a neophyte; in the primitive church, one officially recognized as a Christian, and admitted to instruction preliminary to admission to full membership in the church.

CATECHUMENATE Cat`e*chu"men*ate, n.

Defn: The state or condition of a catechumen or the time during which one is a catechumen.

CATECHUMENICAL Cat`e*chu*men"i*cal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to catechumens; as, catechumenical instructions.

CATECHUMENIST Cat`e*chu"men*ist, n.

Defn: A catechumen. Bp. Morton.

CATEGOREMATIC Cat`e*gor`e*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Category.] (Logic.)

Defn: Capable of being employed by itself as a term; — said of a word.

CATEGORICAL Cat`e*gor"ic*al, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a category.

2. Not hypothetical or relative; admitting no conditions or exceptions; declarative; absolute; positive; express; as, a categorical proposition, or answer. The scriptures by a multitude of categorical and intelligible decisions . . . distinguish between the things seen and temporal and those that are unseen and eternal. I. Taylor.

CATEGORICALLY Cat`e*gor"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Absolutely; directly; expressly; positively; as, to affirm categorically.

CATEGORICALNESS Cat`e*gor"ic*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being categorical, positive, or absolute. A. Marvell.

CATEGORIST Cat"e*go*rist, n.

Defn: One who inserts in a category or list; one who classifies. Emerson.

CATEGORIZE Cat"e*go*rize, v. t.

Defn: To insert in a category or list; to class; to catalogue.

CATEGORY Cat"e*go*ry, n.; pl. Categories Etym: [L. categoria, Gr.

1. (Logic.)

Defn: One of the highest classes to which the objects of knowledge or thought can be reduced, and by which they can be arranged in a system; an ultimate or undecomposable conception; a predicament. The categories or predicaments — the former a Greek word, the latter its literal translation in the Latin language — were intended by Aristotle and his followers as an enumeration of all things capable of being named; an enumeration by the summa genera i.e., the most extensive classes into which things could be distributed. J. S. Mill.

2. Class; also, state, condition, or predicament; as, we are both in the same category. There is in modern literature a whole class of writers standing within the same category. De Quincey.

CATEL Cat"el, n. Etym: [See Chattel.]

Defn: Property; — often used by Chaucer in contrast with rent, or income. "For loss of catel may recovered be, But loss of tyme shendeth us," quod he. Chaucer.

CATELECTRODE Cat`e*lec"trode, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + elecrode.] (Physics)

Defn: The negative electrode or pole of a voltaic battery. Faraday.

CATELECTROTONIC Cat`e*lec`tro*ton"ic, a. (Physics)

Defn: Relating to, or characterized by, catelectrotonus.

CATELECTROTONUS Cat`e*lec*trot"o*nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Electro-) + (Physics)

Defn: The condition of increased irritability of a nerve in the region of the cathode or negative electrode, on the passage of a current of electricity through it.

CATENA Ca*te"na, n.; pl. Catene. Etym: [L., a chain.]

Defn: A chain or series of things connected with each other. I have . . . in no case sought to construct those catenæ of games, which it seems now the fashion of commentators to link together. C. J. Ellicott.

CATENARY; CATENARIAN Cat"e*na*ry, Cat`e*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. catenarius, fr. catena a chain. See Chain.]

Defn: Relating to a chain; like a chain; as, a catenary curve.

CATENARY Cat"e*na*ry, n.; pl. Catenaries (. (Geol.)

Defn: The curve formed by a rope or chain of uniform density and perfect flexibility, hanging freely between two points of suspension, not in the same vertical line.

CATENATE Cat"e*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catenated; p. pr. & vb. n. Catenating.] Etym: [L. catenatus, p. p. of catenare, fr. catena chain. See Chain.]

Defn: To connect, in a series of links or ties; to chain. E. Darwin.

CATENATION Cat`e*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. catenatio.]

Defn: Connection of links or union of parts, as in a chain; a regular or connected series. See Concatenation. Sir T. Browne.

CATENULATE Ca*ten"u*late, a. Etym: [L. catenuia, dim. of catena chain.]

1. Consisting of little links or chains.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Chainlike; — said both or color marks and of indentations when arranged like the links of a chain, as on shells, etc.

CATER Ca"ter, n. Etym: [OE. catour purchaser, caterer, OF. acator, fr. acater, F. acheter, to buy, provide, fr. LL. accaptare; L. ad + captare to strive, to seize, intens, of capere to take, seize. Cf. Acater, Capacious.]

Defn: A provider; a purveyor; a caterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CATER Ca"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Catered; p. pr. & vb. n. Catering.] Etym: [From Cater, n.]

1. To provide food; to buy, procure, or prepare provisions. [He] providently caters for the sparrow. Shak.

2. By extension: To supply what is needed or desired, at theatrical or musical entertainments; — followed by for or to.

CATER Ca"ter, n. Etym: [F. quatre four.]

Defn: The four of cards or dice.

CATER Ca"ter, v. t.

Defn: To cut diagonally. [Obs.] Halliwell.

CATERAN Cat"e*ran, n. Etym: [Gael. ceatharnach. Cf. Kern Irish foot soldier.]

Defn: A Highland robber: a kind of irregular soldier. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

CATER-CORNERED Ca"ter-cor"nered, a. Etym: [Cf. Cater to cut diagonally.]

Defn: Diagonal. [Colloq.]

CATER-COUSIN Ca"ter-cous`in, n.

Defn: A remote relation. See Quater-cousin. Shak.

CATERER Ca"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who caters. The little fowls in the air have God for Their provider and caterer. Shelton.

CATERESS Ca"ter*ess, n.

Defn: A woman who caters. Milton.

CATERPILLAR Cat"er*pil`lar, n. Etym: [OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr. OF. chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte, she-cat, fem. of chat, L. catus + L. pilosus hairy, or F. pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus hair. See Cat, and Pile hair.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars. Caterpillar catcher, or Caterpillar eater (Zoöl.), a bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars. The name is also given to several other birds. — Caterpillar hunter (Zoöl.), any species of beetles of the genus Callosoma and other allied genera of the family Carabidæ which feed habitually upon caterpillars.

CATERWAUL Cat"er*waul, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caterwauled; p. pr. & vb. n. Caterwauling.] Etym: [Cat + waul, wawl, to cry as a cat.]

Defn: To cry as cats in rutting time; to make a harsh, offensive noise. Coleridge.

CATERWAUL Cat"er*waul, n.

Defn: A caterwauling.

CATERWAULING Cat"er*waul`ing, n.

Defn: The cry of cats; a harsh, disagreeable noise or cry like the cry of cats. Shak.

CATERY Ca"ter*y, n. Etym: [See Cater, n.]

Defn: The place where provisions are deposited. [Obs.]

CATES Cates, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Acates, and see Cater, n.]

Defn: Provisions; food; viands; especially, luxurious food; delicacies; dainties. Shak. Cates for which Apicius could not pay. Shurchill. Choicest cates and the fiagon's best spilth. R. Browning.

CAT-EYED Cat"-eyed`, a.

Defn: Having eyes like a cat; hence, able to see in the dark.

CATFALL Cat"fall`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A rope used in hoisting the anchor to the cathead. Totten.

CATFISH Cat"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A name given in the United States to various species of siluroid fishes; as, the yellow cat (Amiurus natalis); the bind cat (Gronias nigrilabrus); the mud cat (Pilodictic oilwaris), the stone cat (Noturus flavus); the sea cat (Arius felis), etc. This name is also sometimes applied to the wolf fish. See Bullhead.

CATGUT Cat"gut`, n. Etym: [Cat + gut.]

1. A cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals, esp. of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, etc.

2. A sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices.

CATHARINE WHEEL Cath"a*rine wheel`.

Defn: See catherine wheel.

CATHARIST Cath"a*rist, n. Etym: [LL. catharista, fr. Gr.

Defn: One aiming at or pretending to a greater purity of like than others about him; — applied to persons of various sects. See Albigenses.

CAT-HARPIN Cat"-harp`in, n.

Defn: See Cat-harping.

CAT-HARPING Cat"-harp`ing n. (Naut.)

Defn: One of the short ropes or iron cramps used to brace in the shrouds toward the masts so a to give freer sweep to the yards.

CATHARSIS Ca*thar"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Cathartic.] (Med.)

Defn: A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc.

CATHARTIC; CATHARICAL Ca*thar"tic, Ca*thar"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. chaste.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool; purgative.

2. Of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as cathartic acid.

CATHARTIC Ca*thar"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A medicine that promotes alvine discharges; a purge; a purgative of moderate activity.

Note: The cathartics are more energetic and certain in action that the laxatives, which simply increase the tendency to alvine evacuation; and less powerful and irritaint that the drastic purges, which cause profuse, repeated, and watery evacuations. — Ca*thar"tic*al*ly, adv. — Ca*thar"tic*al*ness, n.

CATHARTIN ca*thar"tin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The bitter, purgative principle of senna. It is a glucoside with the properties of a weak acid; — called also cathartic acid, and cathartina.

CATHAY Ca*thay", n.

Defn: China; — an old name for the Celestial Empire, said have been introduced by Marco Polo and to be a corruption of the Tartar name for North China (Khitai, the country of the Khitans.) Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay. Tennyson.

CATHEAD Cat"head`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A projecting piece of timber or iron near the bow of vessel, to which the anchor is hoisted and secured.

CATHEDRA Cath"e*dra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Chair.]

Defn: The official chair or throne of a bishop, or of any person in high authority. Ex cathedra Etym: [L., from the chair], in the exercise of one's office; with authority. The Vatican Council declares that the Pope, is infallible "when he speaks ex cathedra." Addis & Arnold's Cath. Dict.

CATHEDRAL Ca*the"dral, n. Etym: [LL. cathedralis (sc. ecclesia): cf. F. cathédrale. See Cathedra.]

Defn: The principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the bishop has his official chair (Cathedra) or throne.

CATHEDRAL Ca*the"dral, a. Etym: [LL. cathedralis: cf. F. cathédral.]

1. Pertaining to the head church of a diocese; as, a cathedral church; cathedral service.

2. Emanating from the chair of office, as of a pope or bishop; official; authoritative. Now, what solemnity can be more required for the pope to make a cathedral determination of an article! Jer. Taylor.

3. Resembling the aisles of a cathedral; as, cathedral walks. Pope.

CATHEDRALIC Cath`e*dral"ic, a.

Defn: Cathedral. [R.]

CATHEDRATED Cath`e*dra"ted, a. Etym: [From Cathedra.]

Defn: Relating to the chair or office of a teacher. [Obs.]

CATHERETIC Cath`e*ret"ic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A mild kind caustic used to reduce warts and other excrescences. Dunglison.

CATHERINE WHEEL Cath"er*ine wheel`. Etym: [So called from St. Catherine of Alexandria, who is represented with a wheel, in allusion to her martyrdom.]

1. (Geoth.Arth.)

Defn: Same as Rose window and Wheel window. Called also Catherine- wheel window.

2. (Pyrotechny)

Defn: A revolving piece of fireworks resembling in form the window of the same name. [Written also Catharine wheel.]

CATHETER Cath"e*ter, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The name of various instruments for passing along mucous canals, esp. applied to a tubular instrument to be introduced into the bladder through the urethra to draw off the urine. Eustachian catheter. See under Eustachian. — Prostatic catheter, one adapted for passing an enlarged prostate.

CATHETERISM; CATHETERIZATION Cath"e*ter*ism, Cath`e*ter*i*za"tion, n. (Med.)

Defn: The operation of introducing a catheter.

CATHETERIZE Cath"e*ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catheterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Catheterizing.] (Med.)

Defn: To operate on with a catheter. Dunglison.

CATHETOMETER Cath`e*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [From Gr. -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for the accurate measurement of small differences of height; esp. of the differences in the height of the upper surfaces of two columns of mercury or other fluid, or of the same column at different times. It consists of a telescopic leveling apparatus (d), which slides up or down a perpendicular metallic standard very finely graduated (bb). The telescope is raised or depressed in order to sight the objects or surfaces, and the differences in vertical height are thus shown on the graduated standard. [Written also kathetometer.]

CATHETUS Cath"e*tus, n.; pl. catheti. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Catheter.] (Geom.)

Defn: One line or radius falling perpendicularly on another; as, the catheti of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that include the right angle. Barlow.

CATHODE Cath"ode, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)

Defn: The part of a voltaic battery by which the electric current leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the negative pole; — opposed to anode. Faraday. Cathode ray (Phys.), a kind of ray generated at the cathode in a vacuum tube, by the electrical discharge.

CATHODIC Ca*thod"ic, a. (Physiol.)

Defn: A term applied to the centrifugal, or efferent course of the nervous infuence. Marshall Hall.

CATHODOGRAPH; CATHODEGRAPH Ca*thod"o*graph, n. Also Ca*thod"e*graph. [Cathode + -graph.] (Physics)

Defn: A picture produced by the Röntgen rays; a radiograph.

CAT-HOLE Cat"-hole`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: One of two small holes astern, above the gunroom ports, through which hawsers may be passed.

CATHOLIC Cath"o*lic, a. Etym: [L. catholicus, Gr. solid: cf. F. catholique.]

1. Universal or general; as, the catholic faith. Men of other countries [came] to bear their part in so great and catholic a war. Southey.

Note: This epithet, which is applicable to the whole Christian church, or its faith, is claimed by Roman Catholics to belong especially to their church, and in popular usage is so limited.

2. Not narrow-minded, partial, or bigoted; liberal; as, catholic tastes.

3. Of or pertaining to, or affecting the Roman Catholics; as, the Catholic emancipation act. Catholic epistles, the espistles of the apostles which are addressed to all the faithful, and not to a particular church; being those of James, Peter, Jude, and John.

CATHOLIC Cath"o*lic, n.

1. A person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by all parts of the orthodox Christian church.

2. An adherent of the Roman Catholic church; a Roman Catholic. Old Catholic, the name assumed in 1870 by members of the Roman Catholic church, who denied the ecumenical character of the Vatican Council, and Rejected its decrees, esp. that concerning the infallibility of the pope, as contrary to the ancient Catholic faith.

CATHOLICAL Ca*thol"i*cal, a.

Defn: Catholic. [Obs.]

CATHOLICISM Ca*thol"i*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. catholicisme.]

1. The state or quality of being catholic or universal; catholicity. Jer. Taylor.

2. Liberality of sentiment; breadth of view.

3. The faith of the whole orthodox Christian church, or adherence thereto.

4. The doctrines or faith of the Roman Catholic church, or adherence thereto.

CATHOLICITY Cath`o*lic"i*ty, n.

1. The state or quality of being catholic; universality.

2. Liberality of sentiments; catholicism.

3. Adherence or conformity to the system of doctrine held by all parts of the orthodox Christian church; the doctrine so held; orthodoxy.

4. Adherence to the doctrines of the church of Rome, or the doctrines themselves.

CATHOLICIZE Ca*thol"i*cize, v. t. & i.

Defn: To make or to become catholic or Roman Catholic.

CATHOLICLY Cath"o*lic*ly, adv.

Defn: In a catholic manner; generally; universally. Sir L. Cary.

CATHOLICNESS Cath"o*lic*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being catholic; universality; catholicity.

CATHOLICON Ca*thol"i*con, n. Etym: [Gr. Catholic.] (Med.)

Defn: A remedy for all diseases; a panacea.

CATHOLICOS Ca*thol"i*cos, n. Etym: [NL. See Catholic.] (Eccl.)

Defn: The spiritual head of the Armenian church, who resides at Etchmiadzin, Russia, and has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over, and consecrates the holy oil for, the Armenians of Russia, Turkey, and Persia, including the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Sis.

Note: The Patriarch of Constantinople is the civil head of the Armenians in Turkey.

CATILINARIAN Cat`i*li*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Catilinarius.]

Defn: Pertaining to Catiline, the Roman conspirator; resembling Catiline's conspiracy.

CATION Cat"i*on, n. Etym: [Gr. p. pr. of (Chem.)

Defn: An electro-positive substance, which in electro-decomposition is evolved at the cathode; — opposed to anion. Faraday.

CATKIN Cat"kin, n. Etym: [Cat + -kin.] (Bot.)

Defn: An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. — so called from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of Ament.

CATLIKE Cat"like`, a.

Defn: Like a cat; stealthily; noiselessly.

CATLING Cat"ling, n. Etym: [Cat + -ing.]

1. A little cat; a kitten. "Cat nor catling." Drummond.

2. Catgut; a catgut string. [R.] Shak.

3. (Surg.)

Defn: A double-edged, sharp-pointed dismembering knife. [Spelt also catlin.] Crobb.

CATLINITE Cat"lin*ite, n. Etym: [From George Catlin, an American traveler.]

Defn: A red clay from the Upper Missouri region, used by the Indians for their pipes.

CATNIP; CATMINT Cat"nip`, Cat"mint`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A well-know plant of the genus Nepeta (N. Cataria), somewhat like mint, having a string scent, and sometimes used in medicine. It is so called because cats have a peculiar fondness for it.

CATO-CATHARTIC Cat`o-ca*thar"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. Cathartic.] (Med.)

Defn: A remedy that purges by alvine discharges.

CATONIAN Ca*to"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Catonionus.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the stern old Roman, Cato the Censor; severe; inflexible.

CAT O' NINE TAILS Cat" o' nine" tails`.

Defn: See under Cat.

CATOPRON Ca*top"ron, n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Catopter.

CATOPTER; CATOPTRON Ca*top"ter, Ca*top"tron, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A reflecting optical glass or instrument; a mirror. [Obs.]

CATOPTRIC; CATOPTRICAL Ca*top"tric, Ca*top"tric*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Catopter.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to catoptrics; produced by reflection. Catoptric light, a light in which the rays are concentrated by reflectors into a beam visible at a distance.

CATOPTRICS Ca*top"trics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. catoptrique. See Catropric.] (Physics)

Defn: That part of optics which explants the properties and phenomena of reflected light, and particularly that which is reflected from mirrors or polished bodies; —- formerly caled anacamptics.

CATOPTROMANCY Ca*top"tro*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy. See Catopter.] (Antiq.)

Defn: A species of divination, which was perforned by letting down a mirror into water, for a sick person to look at his face in it. If his countenance appeared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill omen; if fresh and healthy, it was favorable.

CATPIPE Cat`pipe", n.

Defn: See Catcall.

CAT-RIGGED Cat"-rigged`, a.

Defn: Rigged like a catboat.

CAT-SALT Cat"-salt`, n.

Defn: A sort of salt, finely granulated, formed out of the bittern or leach brine.

CAT'S-EYE Cat's"-eye`, n. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of quartz or chalcedony, exhibiting opalescent reflections from within, like the eye of a cat. The mane is given to other gems affording like effects, esp. the chrysoberyl.

CAT'S-FOOT Cat's`-foot, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Nepeta Glechoma) of the same genus with catnip; ground ivy.

CAT-SILVER Cat"-sil`ver, n.

Defn: Mica. [Archaic]

CATSKILL PERIOD Cats"kill pe`ri*od. (Geol.)

Defn: The closing subdivision of the Devonian age in America. The rocks of this period are well developed in the Catskill mountains, and extend south and west under the Carboniferous formation. See the Diagram under Geology.

CATSO Cat"so, n.; pl. Catsos. Etym: [It. cazzo.]

Defn: A base fellow; a rogue; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

CAT'S-PAW Cat's"-paw`, n.

1. (Naut.) (a) A light transitory air which ruffles the surface of the water during a calm, or the ripples made by such a puff of air. (b) A particular hitch or turn in the bight of a rope, into which a tackle may be hooked.

2. A dupe; a tool; one who, or that which, is used by another as an instrument to a accomplish his purposes.

Note: In this sense the term refers to the fable of the monkey using the cat's paw to draw the roasting chestnuts out of the fire.

CAT'S-TAIL Cat's"-tail, n.

Defn: See Timothy, Cat-tail, Cirrus.

CATSTICK Cat"stick`, n.

Defn: A stick or club employed in the game of ball called cat or tipcat. Massinger.

CATSTITCH Cat"stitch, v. t. (Needlework)

Defn: To fold and sew down the edge of with a coarse zigzag stitch.

CATSUP Cat"sup, n.

Defn: Same as Catchup, and Ketchup.

CAT-TAIL Cat"-tail, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A tall rush or flag (Typha latifolia) growing in marshes, with long, glat leaves, and having its flowers in a close cylindrical spike at the top of the stem. The leaves are frequently used for seating chairs, making mats, etc. See Catkin.

Note: The lesser cat-tail is Typha angustifolia.

CATTISH Cat"tish, a.

Defn: Catlike; feline Drummond.

CATTLE Cat"tle, n. pl. Etym: [OE. calet, chatel, goods, property, OF. catel, chatel, LL. captale, capitale, goods, property, esp. cattle, fr. L. capitals relating to the head, chief; because in early ages beasts constituted the chief part of a man's property. See Capital, and cf. Chattel.]

Defn: Quadrupeds of the Bovine family; sometimes, also, including all domestic quadrupeds, as sheep, goats, horses, mules, asses, and swine. Belted cattle, Black cattle. See under Belted, Black. — Cattle guard, a trench under a railroad track and alongside a crossing (as of a public highway). It is intended to prevent cattle from getting upon the track. — cattle louse (Zoöl.), any species of louse infecting cattle. There are several species. The Hæmatatopinus eurysternus and H. vituli are common species which suck blood; Trichodectes scalaris eats the hair. — Cattle plague, the rinderpest; called also Russian cattle plague. — Cattle range, or Cattle run, an open space through which cattle may run or range. [U. S.] Bartlett. — Cattle show, an exhibition of domestic animals with prizes for the encouragement of stock breeding; — usually accompanied with the exhibition of other agricultural and domestic products and of implements.