S (continued 15)
Reading edition
1. A Hindoo clerk or accountant. [India]
2. A district or province; a circar. [India]
3. The government; the supreme authority of the state. [India]
SIRDAR Sir*dar", n Etym: [Hind. & Per. sardar a chief, general; sar the head, top + dar holding, possessing.]
Defn: A native chief in Hindostan; a headman. Malcom.
SIRE Sire, n. Etym: [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
1. A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [Obs.] Pain and distress, sickness and ire, And melancholy that angry sire, Be of her palace senators. Rom. of R.
2. A tittle of respect formerly used in speaking to elders and superiors, but now only in addressing a sovereign.
3. A father; the head of a family; the husband. Jankin thet was our sire [i.e., husband]. Chaucer. And raise his issue, like a loving sire. Shak.
4. A creator; a maker; an author; an originator. [He] was the sire of an immortal strain. Shelley.
5. The male parent of a beast; — applied especially to horses; as, the horse had a good sire.
Note: Sire is often used in composition; as in grandsire, grandfather; great-grandsire, great-grandfather.
SIRE Sire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sired; p. pr. & vb. n. Siring.]
Defn: To beget; to procreate; — used of beasts, and especially of stallions.
SIREDON Si*re"don, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larval form of any salamander while it still has external gills; especially, one of those which, like the axolotl (Amblystoma Mexicanum), sometimes lay eggs while in this larval state, but which under more favorable conditions lose their gills and become normal salamanders. See also Axolotl.
SIREN Si"ren, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. sirène.]
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: One of three sea nymphs, — or, according to some writers, of two, — said to frequent an island near the coast of Italy, and to sing with such sweetness that they lured mariners to destruction. Next where the sirens dwell you plow the seas; Their song is death, and makes destruction please. Pope.
2. An enticing, dangerous woman. Shak.
3. Something which is insidious or deceptive. Consumption is a siren. W. Irving.
4. A mermaid. [Obs.] Shak.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any long, slender amphibian of the genus Siren or family Sirenidæ, destitute of hind legs and pelvis, and having permanent external gills as well as lungs. They inhabit the swamps, lagoons, and ditches of the Southern United States. The more common species (Siren lacertina) is dull lead-gray in color, and becames two feet long.
6. Etym: [F. sirène, properly, a siren in sense 1.] (Acoustics)
Defn: An instrument for producing musical tones and for ascertaining the number of sound waves or vibrations per second which produce a note of a given pitch. The sounds are produced by a perforated rotating disk or disks. A form with two disks operated by steam or highly compressed air is used sounding an alarm to vessels in fog. [Written also sirene, and syren.]
SIREN Si"ren, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a siren; bewitching, like a siren; fascinating; alluring; as, a siren song.
SIRENE Si*rene", n.
Defn: See Siren, 6.
SIRENIA Si*re"ni*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of large aquatic herbivorous mammals, including the manatee, dugong, rytina, and several fossil genera.
Note: The hind limbs are either rudimentary or wanting, and the front ones are changed to paddles. They have horny plates on the front part of the jaws, and usually flat-crowned molar teeth. The stomach is complex and the intestine long, as in other herbivorous mammals. See Cetacea (b).
SIRENIAN Si*re"ni*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of Sirenia.
SIRENICAL Si*ren"ic*al, a.
Defn: Like, or appropriate to, a siren; fascinating; deceptive. Here's couple of sirenical rascals shall enchant ye. Marton.
SIRENIZE Si"ren*ize, v. i.
Defn: To use the enticements of a siren; to act as a siren; to fascinate.
SIRIASIS Si*ri"a*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) A sunstroke. (b) The act of exposing to a sun bath. [Obs.] Cf. Insolation.
SIRIUS Sir"i*us, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Astron.)
Defn: The Dog Star. See Dog Star.
SIRKEER Sir"keer, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of Asiatic cuckoos of the genus Taccocua, as the Bengal sirkeer (T. sirkee).
SIRLOIN Sir"loin`, n. Etym: [A corruption of surloin. Not so called because this cut of beaf was once jocosely knighted (dubbed Sir Loin) by an English king, as according to a popular story.]
Defn: A loin of beef, or a part of a loin. [Written also surloin.]
SIRNAME Sir"name`, n.
Defn: See Surname.
SIROC Si"roc, n.
Defn: See Sirocco. [Poetic] Emerson.
SIROCCO Si*roc"co, n.; pl. Siroccos(). Etym: [It. sirocco, scirocco, Ar. shorug, fr. sharq the rising of the sun, the east, fr, sharaca to rise as the sun. Cf. Saracen.]
Defn: An oppressive, relaxing wind from the Libyan deserts, chiefly experienced in Italy, Malta, and Sicily.
SIRRAH Sir"rah, n. Etym: [Probably from Icel. sira, fr. F. sire. See Sir.]
Defn: A term of address implying inferiority and used in anger, contempt, reproach, or disrespectful familiarity, addressed to a man or boy, but sometimes to a woman. In sililoquies often preceded by ah. Not used in the plural. "Ah, sirrah mistress." Beau & Fl. Go, sirrah, to my cell. Shak.
SIRT Sirt, n. Etym: [See Syrt.]
Defn: A quicksand. [Obs.]
SIRUP; SYRUP Sir"up Syr"up, n. Etym: [F. sirop (cf. It. siroppo, Sp. jarabe, jarope, LL. siruppus, syrupus), fr. Ar. sharab a drink, wine, coffee, sirup. Cf. Sherbet.]
1. A thick and viscid liquid made from the juice of fruits, herbs, etc., boiled with sugar.
2. A thick and viscid saccharine solution of superior quality (as sugarhouse sirup or molasses, maple sirup); specifically, in pharmacy and often in cookery, a saturated solution of sugar and water (simple sirup), or such a solution flavored or medicated. Lucent sirups tinct with cinnamon. Keats. Mixing sirup. See the Note under Dextrose.
SIRUPED; SYRUPED Sir"uped, Syr"uped, a.
Defn: Moistened, covered, or sweetened with sirup, or sweet juice.
SIRUPY; SYRUPY Sir"up*y, Syr"up*y, a.
Defn: Like sirup, or partaking of its qualities. Mortimer.
SIRVENTE Sir`vente", n. Etym: [F. sirvente, fr. Pr. sirventes, sirventesc, originally, the poem of, or concerning, a sirvent, fr. sirvent, properly, serving, n., one who serves (e. g., as a soldier), fr. servir to serve, L. servire.]
Defn: A peculiar species of poetry, for the most part devoted to moral and religious topics, and commonly satirical, — often used by the troubadours of the Middle Ages.
SIS Sis, n.
Defn: A colloquial abbreviation of Sister.
SIS Sis, n.
Defn: Six. See Sise. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SISAL GRASS; SISAL HEMP Si*sal" grass`, Si*sal" hemp`,
Defn: The prepared fiber of the Agave Americana, or American aloe, used for cordage; — so called from Sisal, a port in Yucatan. See Sisal hemp, under Hemp.
SISCOWET Sis"co*wet, n. Etym: [OF American Indian origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, fat variety of the namaycusa found in Lake Superior; - - called also siskawet, siskiwit.
SISE Sise, n. Etym: [From Assize.]
Defn: An assize. [Obs.]
SISE Sise, n. Etym: [See Sice.]
Defn: Six; the highest number on a die; the cast of six in throwing dice. In the new casting of a die, when ace is on the top, sise must needs be at the bottom. Fuller.
SISEL Sis"el, n. Etym: [Cf. G. ziesel. Cf. Zizel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The suslik.
SISER Si"ser, n.
Defn: Cider. See Sicer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SISERARA; SISERARY Sis"e*ra*ra, Sis"e*ra*ry, n.
Defn: A hard blow. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
SISKIN Sis"kin, n. Etym: [Dan. sisgen; cf. Sw. siska, G. zeisig, D. sijsje; of Slav. origin; cf. Pol. czy.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small green and yellow European finch (Spinus spinus, or Carduelis spinus); — called also aberdevine. (b) The American pinefinch (S. pinus); — called also pine siskin. See Pinefinch.
Note: The name is applied also to several other related species found in Asia and South America. Siskin green, a delicate shade of yellowish green, as in the mineral torbernite.
SISKIWIT Sis"ki*wit, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The siscowet.
SISMOGRAPH Sis"mo*graph, n.
Defn: See Seismograph.
SISMOMETER Sis*mom"e*ter, n.
Defn: See Seismometer.
SISS Siss, v. i. Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. D. sissen, G. zischen.]
Defn: To make a hissing sound; as, a flatiron hot enough to siss when touched with a wet finger. [Colloq. U. S.; Local, Eng.]
SISS Siss, n.
Defn: A hissing noise. [Colloq. U. S.]
SISSOO Sis*soo", n. Etym: [Hind. sis.] (Bot.)
Defn: A leguminous tree (Dalbergia Sissoo) of the northern parts of India; also, the dark brown compact and durable timber obtained from it. It is used in shipbuilding and for gun carriages, railway ties, etc.
SIST Sist, v. t. Etym: [L. sistere to bring to a stand, to stop.]
1. (Scots Law)
Defn: To stay, as judicial proceedings; to delay or suspend; to stop.
2. To cause to take a place, as at the bar of a court; hence, to cite; to summon; to bring into court. [Scot.] Some, however, have preposterously sisted nature as the first or generative principle. Sir W. Hamilton.
SIST Sist, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: A stay or suspension of proceedings; an order for a stay of proceedings. Burril.
SISTER Sis"ter, n. Etym: [OE. sister, fr. Icel. systir; also suster, from AS. sweostor, sweoster, swuster, akin to OFries. sweester, suster, LG. süster, suster, D. zuster, OS. & OHG. swestar, G. schwester, Icel. systir, Sw. syster, Dan. söster, Goth. swistar, Lith. ses, Russ. sestra, Pol. siostra, L. soror, Skr. svasr. sq. root298. Cf. Cousin.]
1. A female who has the same parents with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case, she is more definitely called a half sister. The correlative of brother. I am the sister of one Claudio. Shak.
2. A woman who is closely allied to, or assocciated with, another person, as in the sdame faith, society, order, or community. James ii. 15.
3. One of the same kind, or of the same condition; — generally used adjectively; as, sister fruits. Pope. Sister Block (Naut.), a tackle block having two sheaves, one above the other. — Sister hooks, a pair of hooks fitted together, the shank of one forming a mousing for the other; — called also match hook. — Sister of charity, Sister of mercy. (R. C. Ch.) See under Charity, and Mercy.
SISTER Sis"ter, v. t.
Defn: To be sister to; to resemble closely. [Obs.] Shak.
SISTERHOOD Sis"ter*hood, n. Etym: [Sister + hood.]
1. The state or relation of being a sister; the office or duty of a sister. She . . . abhorr'd Her proper blood, and left to do the part Of sisterhood, to do that of a wife. Daniel.
2. A society of sisters; a society of women united in one faith or order; sisters, collectively. "A sisterhood of holy nuns." Shak. The fair young flowers . . . a beauteous sisterhood. Bryant.
SISTERING Sis"ter*ing, a.
Defn: Contiguous. [Obs.] Shak.
SISTER-IN-LAW Sis"ter-in-law`, n; pl. Sisters-in-law(
Defn: The sister of one's husband or wife; also, the wife of one's brother; sometimes, the wife of one's husband's or wife's brother.
SISTERLY Sis"ter*ly, a.
Defn: Like a sister; becoming a sister, affectionate; as, sisterly kindness; sisterly remorse. Shak.
SISTINE Sis"tine, a.Etym: [It. sistino.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Pope Sixtus. Sistine chapel, a chapel in the Vatican at Rome, built by Pope Sixtus IV., and decorated with frescoes by Michael Angelo and others.
SISTREN Sis"tren, n. pl.
Defn: Sisters. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SISTRUM Sis"trum, Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument consisting of a thin metal frame, through which passed a number of metal rods, and furnished with a handle by which it was shaken and made to rattle. It was peculiarly Egyptian, and used especially in the worship of Isis. It is still used in Nubia.
SISYPHEAN Sis`y*phe"an, a.
Defn: Relating to Sisyphus; incessantly recurring; as, Sisyphean labors.
SISYPHUS Sis"y*phus, n. Etym: [L. Sisyphus, Sisyphus, fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A king of Corinth, son of Æolus, famed for his cunning. He was killed by Theseus, and in the lower world was condemned by Pluto to roll to the top of a hill a huge stone, which constantly rolled back again, making his task incessant.
SIT Sit,
Defn: obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Sit, for sitteth.
SIT Sit, v. i. [imp. Sat (Sate, archaic); p. p. Sat (Sitten, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Sitting.] Etym: [OE. sitten, AS. sittan; akin to OS. sittian, OFries. sitta, D. zitten, G. sitzen, OHG. sizzen, Icel. sitja, SW. sitta, Dan. sidde, Goth. sitan, Russ. sidiete, L. sedere, Gr. sad. sq. root154. Cf. Assess,Assize, Cathedral, Chair, Dissident, Excise, Insidious, Possess, Reside, Sanhedrim, Seance, Seat, n., Sedate, 4th Sell, Siege, Session, Set, v. t., Sizar, Size, Subsidy.]
1. To rest upon the haunches, or the lower extremity of the trunk of the body; — said of human beings, and sometimes of other animals; as, to sit on a sofa, on a chair, or on the ground. And he came and took the book put of the right hand of him that sate upon the seat. Bible (1551) (Rev. v. 7.) I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner. Shak.
2. To perch; to rest with the feet drawn up, as birds do on a branch, pole, etc.
3. To remain in a state of repose; to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition. And Moses said to . . . the children of Reuben, Shall your brothren go to war, and shall ye sit here Num. xxxii. 6. Like a demigod here sit I in the sky. Shak.
4. To lie, rest, or bear; to press or weigh; — with on; as, a weight or burden sits lightly upon him. The calamity sits heavy on us. Jer. Taylor.
5. To be adjusted; to fit; as, a coat sts well or ill. This new and gorgeous garment, majesty, Sits not so easy on me as you think. Shak.
6. To suit one well or ill, as an act; to become; to befit; — used impersonally. [Obs.] Chaucer.
7. To cover and warm eggs for hatching, as a fowl; to brood; to incubate. As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not. Jer. xvii. 11.
8. To have position, as at the point blown from; to hold a relative position; to have direction. Like a good miller that knows how to grind, which way soever the wind sits. Selden. Sits the wind in that quarter Sir W. Scott.
9. To occupy a place or seat as a member of an official body; as, to sit in Congress.
10. To hold a session; to be in session for official business; — said of legislative assemblies, courts, etc.; as, the court sits in January; the aldermen sit to-night.
11. To take a position for the purpose of having some artistic representation of one's self made, as a picture or a bust; as, to sit to a painter. To sit at, to rest under; to be subject to. [Obs.] "A farmer can not husband his ground so well if he sit at a great rent". Bacon. — To sit at meat or at table, to be at table for eating. — To sit down. (a) To place one's self on a chair or other seat; as, to sit down when tired. (b) To begin a siege; as, the enemy sat down before the town. (c) To settle; to fix a permanent abode. Spenser. (d) To rest; to cease as satisfied. "Here we can not sit down, but still proceed in our search." Rogers. — To sit for a fellowship, to offer one's self for examination with a view to obtaining a fellowship. [Eng. Univ.] — To sit out. (a) To be without engagement or employment. [Obs.] Bp. Sanderson. (b) To outstay. — To sit under, to be under the instruction or ministrations of; as, to sit under a preacher; to sit under good preaching. — To sit up, to rise from, or refrain from, a recumbent posture or from sleep; to sit with the body upright; as, to sit up late at night; also, to watch; as, to sit up with a sick person. "He that was dead sat up, and began to speak." Luke vii. 15.
SIT Sit, v. t.
1. To sit upon; to keep one's seat upon; as, he sits a horse well. Hardly the muse can sit the headstrong horse. Prior.
2. To cause to be seated or in a sitting posture; to furnish a seat to; — used reflexively. They sat them down to weep. Milton. Sit you down, father; rest you. Shak.
3. To suit (well or ill); to become. [Obs. or R.]
SITE Site, n. Etym: [L. situs, fr. sinere, situm, to let, p. p. situs placed, lying, situate: cf. F. site. Cf. Position.]
1. The place where anything is fixed; situation; local position; as, the site of a city or of a house. Chaucer.
2. A place fitted or chosen for any certain permanent use or occupation; as, a site for a church.
3. The posture or position of a thing. [R.] The semblance of a lover fixed In melancholy site. Thomson.
SITED Sit"ed, a.
Defn: Having a site; situated. [Obs.] [The garden] sited was in fruitful soil. Chaucer.
SITFAST Sit"fast`, a. Etym: [Sit + fast.]
Defn: Fixed; stationary; immovable. [R.] 'T is good, when you have crossed the sea and back, To find the sitfast acres where you left them. Emerson.
SITFAST Sit"fast`, n. (Far.)
Defn: A callosity with inflamed edges, on the back of a horse, under the saddle.
SITH Sith, prep., adv., & conj. Etym: [See Since.]
Defn: Since; afterwards; seeing that. [Obs.] We need not fear them, sith Christ is with us. Latimer. Sith thou art rightful judge. Chaucer.
SITH; SITHE Sith, Sithe, n. Etym: [AS.
Defn: Time. [Obs.] Chaucer. And humbly thanked him a thousand sithes. Spenser.
SITHE Sithe, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sigh.]
Defn: To sigh.
Note: [A spelling of a corrupt and provincial pronunciation.]
SITHE Sithe, n.
Defn: A scythe. [Obs.] Milton.
SITHE Sithe, v. t.
Defn: To cut with a scythe; to scythe. [Obs.]
SITHED Sithed, a.
Defn: Scythed. [Obs.] T. Warton.
SITHEMAN Sithe"man, n.
Defn: A mower. [Obs.] Marston.
SITHEN Sith"en, adv. & conj. Etym: [See Since.]
Defn: Since; afterwards. See 1st Sith. [Obs.] Fortune was first friend and sithen foe. Chaucer.
SITHENCE; SITHENS Sith"ence, Sith"ens, adv. & conj.
Defn: Since. See Sith, and Sithen. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
SITHTHEN Sith"then, adv. & conj.
Defn: See Sithen. [Obs.] Siththen that the world began. Chaucer.
SITOLOGY Si*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: A treatise on the regulation of the diet; dietetics. [Written also sitiology.]
SITOPHOBIA Si`to*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A version to food; refusal to take nourishment. [Written also sitiophobia.]
SITTEN Sit"ten, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Sit, for sat.
SITTER Sit"ter, n.
1. One who sits; esp., one who sits for a portrait or a bust.
2. A bird that sits or incubates.
SITTINE Sit"tine, a. Etym: [NL. sitta the nuthatch, from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the family Sittidæ, or nuthatches.
SITTING Sit"ting, a.
Defn: Being in the state, or the position, of one who, or that which, sits.
SITTING Sit"ting, n.
1. The state or act of one who sits; the posture of one who occupies a seat.
2. A seat, or the space occupied by or allotted for a person, in a church, theater, etc.; as, the hall has 800 sittings.
3. The act or time of sitting, as to a portrait painter, photographer, etc.
4. The actual presence or meeting of any body of men in their seats, clothed with authority to transact business; a session; as, a sitting of the judges of the King's Bench, or of a commission. The sitting closed in great agitation. Macaulay.
5. The time during which one sits while doing something, as reading a book, playing a game, etc. For the understanding of any one of St. Paul's Epistles I read it all through at one sitting. Locke.
6. A brooding over eggs for hatching, as by fowls. The male bird . . . amuses her [the female] with his songs during the whole time of her sitting. Addison. Sitting room, an apartment where the members of a family usually sit, as distinguished from a drawing-room, parlor, chamber, or kitchen.
SITUATE; SITUATED Sit"u*ate, Sit"u*a`ted, a. Etym: [LL. situatus, from situare to place, fr. L. situs situation, site. See Site.]
1. Having a site, situation, or location; being in a relative position; permanently fixed; placed; located; as, a town situated, or situate, on a hill or on the seashore.
2. Placed; residing. Pleasure situate in hill and dale. Milton.
Note: Situate is now less used than situated, but both are well authorized.
SITUATE Sit"u*ate, v. t.
Defn: To place. [R.] Landor.
SITUATION Sit`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. situatio: cf. F. situation.]
1. Manner in which an object is placed; location, esp. as related to something else; position; locality site; as, a house in a pleasant situation.
2. Position, as regards the conditions and circumstances of the case. A situation of the greatest ease and tranquillity. Rogers.
3. Relative position; circumstances; temporary state or relation at a moment of action which excites interest, as of persons in a dramatic scene. There's situation for you! there's an heroic group! Sheridan.
4. Permanent position or employment; place; office; as, a situation in a store; a situation under government.
Syn. — State; position; seat; site; station; post; place; office; condition; case; plight. See State.
SITUS Si"tus, n. Etym: [L., situation.] (Bot.)
Defn: The method in which the parts of a plant are arranged; also, the position of the parts. Henslow.
SITZ BATH Sitz" bath`. Etym: [G. sitzbad.]
Defn: A tub in which one bathes in a sitting posture; also, a bath so taken; a hip bath.
SIVA Si"va, n. Etym: [Skr. Civa, properly, kind, gracious.] (Hindoo Myth.)
Defn: One of the triad of Hindoo gods. He is the avenger or destroyer, and in modern worship symbolizes the reproductive power of nature.
SIVAN Si"van, n. Etym: [Heb. sivan.]
Defn: The third month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year; — supposed to correspond nearly with our month of June.
SIVATHERIUM Siv`a*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., from E. Siva + Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of very large extinct ruminants found in the Tertiary formation of India. The snout was prolonged in the form of a proboscis. The male had four horns, the posterior pair being large and branched. It was allied to the antelopes, but very much larger than any exsisting species.
SIVER Siv"er, v. i.
Defn: To simmer. [Obs.] Holland.
SIVVENS Siv"vens (, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Sibbens.
SIWIN Si"win, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Sewen.
SIX Six, a. Etym: [AS. six, seox, siex; akin to OFries. sex, D. zes, OS. & OHG. sehs, G. sechs, Icel., Sw., & Dan. sex, Goth. saíhs, Lith. szeszi, Russ. sheste, Gael. & Ir. se, W. chwech, L. sex, Gr. shesh, Skr. shash. sq. root304. Cf. Hexagon, Hexameter, Samite, Senary, Sextant, Sice.]
Defn: One more than five; twice three; as, six yards. Six Nations (Ethnol.), a confederation of North American Indians formed by the union of the Tuscaroras and the Five Nations. — Six points circle. (Geom.) See Nine points circle, under Nine.
SIX Six, n.
1. The number greater by a unit than five; the sum of three and three; six units or objects.
2. A symbol representing six units, as 6, vi., or VI. To be at six and seven or at sixes and sevens, to be in disorder. Bacon. Shak. Swift.
SIXFOLD Six"fold`, a. Etym: [AS. sixfealand.]
Defn: Six times repeated; six times as much or as many.
SIX-FOOTER Six"-foot`er, n.
Defn: One who is six feet tall. [Colloq. U.S.]
SIXPENCE Six"pence, n.; pl. Sixpences (.
Defn: An English silver coin of the value of six pennies; half a shilling, or about twelve cents.
SIXPENNY Six"pen`ny, a.
Defn: Of the value of, or costing, sixpence; as, a sixpenny loaf.
SIXSCORE Six"score`, a. & n. Etym: [Six + score, n.]
Defn: Six times twenty; one hundred and twenty.
SIX-SHOOTER Six"-shoot`er, n.
Defn: A pistol or other firearm which can be fired six times without reloading especially, a six-chambered revolver. [Colloq. U.S.]
SIXTEEN Six"teen`, a. Etym: [AS. sixt, sixt. See Six, and Ten, and cf. Sixty.]
Defn: Six and ten; consisting of six and ten; fifteen and one more.
SIXTEEN Six"teen`, n.
1. The number greater by a unit than fifteen; the sum of ten and six; sixteen units or objects.
2. A symbol representing sixteen units, as 16, or xvi.
SIXTEENMO Six*teen"mo, n.; pl. Sixteenmos (.
Defn: See Sextodecimo.
SIXTEENTH Six"teenth`, a. Etym: [From Sixteen: cf. AS. sixteó.]
1. Sixth after the tenth; next in order after the fifteenth.
2. Constituting or being one of sixteen equal parts into which anything is divided. Sixteenth note (Mus.), the sixteenth part of a whole note; a semiquaver.
SIXTEENTH Six"teenth`, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by sixteen; one of sixteen equal parts of one whole.
2. The next in order after the fifteenth; the sixth after the tenth.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: An interval comprising two octaves and a second. Moore (Encyc. of Music.)
SIXTH Sixth, a. Etym: [From Six: cf. AS. sixta, siexta.]
1. First after the fifth; next in order after the fifth.
2. Constituting or being one of six equal parts into which anything is divided.
SIXTH Sixth, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by six; one of six equal parts which form a whole.
2. The next in order after the fifth.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: The interval embracing six diatonic degrees of the scale.
SIXTHLY Sixth"ly, adv.
Defn: In the sixth place. Bacon.
SIXTIETH Six"ti*eth, a. Etym: [As. sixtiogoedha, sixtigoedha.]
1. Next in order after the fifty-ninth.
2. Constituting or being one one of sixty equal parts into which anything is divided.
SIXTIETH Six"ti*eth, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by sixty; one of sixty equal parts forming a whole.
2. The next in order after the fifty-ninth; the tenth after the fiftieth.
SIXTY Six"ty, a. Etym: [AS. siextig; akin to G. sechzig, Goth. saíhs tigjus. See Six, Ten, and cf. Sixteen.]
Defn: Six times ten; fifty-nine and one more; threescore.
SIXTY Six"ty, n.; pl. Sixties (.
1. The sum of six times ten; sixty units or objects.
2. A symbol representing sixty units, as 60, lx., or LX.
SIXTY-FOURTH Six`ty-fourth", a.
Defn: Constituting or being one of sixty-four equal parts into which a thing is divided. Sixty-fourth note (Mus.), the sixty-fourth part of a whole note; a hemi-demi-semiquaver.
SIZABLE Siz"a*ble, a.
1. Of considerable size or bulk. "A sizable volume." Bp. Hurd.
2. Being of reasonable or suitable size; as, sizable timber; sizable bulk. Arbuthnot.
SIZAR Si"zar, n.
Defn: One of a body of students in the universities of Cambridge (Eng.) and Dublin, who, having passed a certain examination, are exempted from paying college fees and charges. A sizar corresponded to a servitor at Oxford. The sizar paid nothing for food and tuition, and very little for lodging. Macaulay.
Note: They formerly waited on the table at meals; but this is done away with. They were probably so called from being thus employed in distributing the size, or provisions. See 4th Size, 2.
SIZARSHIP Si"zar*ship, n.
Defn: The position or standing of a sizar.
SIZE Size, n. Etym: [See Sice, and Sise.]
Defn: Six.
SIZE Size, n. Etym: [OIt. sisa glue used by painters, shortened fr. assisa, fr. assidere, p. p. assiso, to make to sit, to seat, to place, L. assidere to sit down; ad + sidere to sit down, akin to sedere to sit. See Sit, v. i., and cf. Assize, Size bulk.]
1. A thin, weak glue used in various trades, as in painting, bookbinding, paper making, etc.
2. Any viscous substance, as gilder's varnish.
SIZE Size, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sized; p. pr. & vb. n. Sizing.]
Defn: To cover with size; to prepare with size.
SIZE Size, n. Etym: [Abbrev. from assize. See Assize, and cf. Size glue.]
1. A settled quantity or allowance. See Assize. [Obs.] "To scant my sizes." Shak.
2. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)
Defn: An allowance of food and drink from the buttery, aside from the regular dinner at commons; — corresponding to battel at Oxford.
3. Extent of superficies or volume; bulk; bigness; magnitude; as, the size of a tree or of a mast; the size of a ship or of a rock.
4. Figurative bulk; condition as to rank, ability, character, etc.; as, the office demands a man of larger size. Men of a less size and quality. L'Estrange. The middling or lower size of people. Swift.
5. A conventional relative measure of dimension, as for shoes, gloves, and other articles made up for sale.
6. An instrument consisting of a number of perforated gauges fastened together at one end by a rivet, — used for ascertaining the size of pearls. Knight. Size roll, a small piese of parchment added to a roll. — Size stick, a measuring stick used by shoemakers for ascertaining the size of the foot.
Syn. — Dimension; bigness; largeness; greatness; magnitude.
SIZE Size, v. t.
1. To fix the standard of. "To size weights and measures." [R.] Bacon.
2. To adjust or arrange according to size or bulk. Specifically: (a) (Mil.) To take the height of men, in order to place them in the ranks according to their stature. (b) (Mining) To sift, as pieces of ore or metal, in order to separate the finer from the coarser parts.
3. To swell; to increase the bulk of. Beau. & Fl.
4. (Mech.)
Defn: To bring or adjust anything exactly to a required dimension, as by cutting. To size up, to estimate or ascertain the character and ability of. See 4th Size, 4. [Slang, U.S.] We had to size up our fellow legislators. The Century.
SIZE Size, v. i.
1. To take greater size; to increase in size. Our desires give them fashion, and so, As they wax lesser, fall, as they size, grow. Donne.
2. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)
Defn: To order food or drink from the buttery; hence, to enter a score, as upon the buttery book.
SIZED Sized, a.
1. Adjusted according to size.
2. Having a particular size or magnitude; — chiefly used in compounds; as, large-sized; common-sized.
SIZEL Si"zel, n.
Defn: Same as Scissel, 2.
SIZER Siz"er, n.
1. See Sizar.
2. (Mech.) (a) An instrument or contrivance to size articles, or to determine their size by a standard, or to separate and distribute them according to size. (b) An instrument or tool for bringing anything to an exact size.
SIZINESS Siz"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being sizy; viscousness.
SIZING Siz"ing, n.
1. Act of covering or treating with size.
2. A weak glue used in various trades; size.
SIZING Siz"ing, n.
1. The act of sorting with respect to size.
2. The act of bringing anything to a certain size.
3. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)
Defn: Food and drink ordered from the buttery by a student.
SIZY Siz"y, a. Etym: [From 2d Size.]
Defn: Sizelike; viscous; glutinous; as, sizy blood. Arbuthnot.
SIZZLE Siz"zle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sizzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sizzling.] Etym: [See Siss.]
Defn: To make a hissing sound; to fry, or to dry and shrivel up, with a hissing sound. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.] Forby.
SIZZLE Siz"zle, n.
Defn: A hissing sound, as of something frying over a fire. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]
SIZZLING Siz"zling, a. & n.
Defn: from Sizzle.
SKADDLE Skad"dle, n. Etym: [Dim. of scath.]
Defn: Hurt; damage. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ray.
SKADDLE Skad"dle, a.
Defn: Hurtful. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ray.
SKADDON Skad"don, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larva of a bee. [Prov. Eng.]
SKAG Skag, n. (Naut.)
Defn: An additional piece fastened to the keel of a boat to prevent lateral motion. See Skeg.
SKAIN Skain, n.
Defn: See Skein. [Obs.]
SKAIN Skain, n.
Defn: See Skean. Drayton.
SKAINSMATE Skains"mate`, n. Etym: [Perhaps originally, a companion in winding thread (see Skein), or a companion in arms, from skain a sword (see Skean).]
Defn: A messmate; a companion. [Obs.] Scurvy knave! I am none of his firt-gills; I am none of his skainsmates. Shak.
SKAITH Skaith, n.
Defn: See Scatch. [Scot.]
SKALD Skald, n.
Defn: See 5th Scald.
SKALDIC Skald"ic, a.
Defn: See Scaldic. Max Müller.
SKALL Skall, v. t.
Defn: To scale; to mount. [Obs.]
SKAR; SKARE Skar, Skare, a. Etym: [From the root of scare.]
Defn: Wild; timid; shy. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
SKART Skart, n. Etym: [Cf. Scarf a cormorant.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The shag. [Prov. Eng.]
SKAT Skat (skät), n. [G., fr. It. scartare to discard.]
1. A three-handed card game played with 32 cards, of which two constitute the skat (sense 2), or widow. The players bid for the privilege of attempting any of several games or tasks, in most of which the player undertaking the game must take tricks counting in aggregate at least 61 (the counting cards being ace 11, ten 10, king 4, queen 3, jack 2). The four jacks are the best trumps, ranking club, spade, heart, diamond, and ten outranks king or queen (but when the player undertakes to lose all the tricks, the cards rank as in whist). The value of hands depends upon the game played, trump suit, points taken, and number of matadores.
2. (Skat) A widow of two cards.
SKATE Skate, n. Etym: [D. schaats. Cf. Scatches.]
Defn: A metallic runner with a frame shaped to fit the sole of a shoe, — made to be fastened under the foot, and used for moving rapidly on ice. Batavia rushes forth; and as they sweep, On sounding skates, a thousand different ways, In circling poise, swift as the winds, along, The then gay land is maddended all to joy. Thomson. Roller skate. See under Roller.
SKATE Skate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skated; p. pr. & vb. n. Skating.]
Defn: To move on skates.
SKATE Skate, n. Etym: [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten, meer-schatten, L. squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of large, flat elasmobranch fishes of the genus Raia, having a long, slender tail, terminated by a small caudal fin. The pectoral fins, which are large and broad and united to the sides of the body and head, give a somewhat rhombic form to these fishes. The skin is more or less spinose.
Note: Some of the species are used for food, as the European blue or gray skate (Raia batis), which sometimes weighs nearly 200 pounds. The American smooth, or barn-door, skate (R. lævis) is also a large species, often becoming three or four feet across. The common spiny skate (R. erinacea) is much smaller. Skate's egg. See Sea purse. — Skate sucker, any marine leech of the genus Pontobdella, parasitic on skates.
SKATER Skat"er, n.
1. One who skates.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of hemipterous insects belonging to Gerris, Pyrrhocoris, Prostemma, and allied genera. They have long legs, and run rapidly over the surface of the water, as if skating.
SKATOL Ska"tol, n. Etym: [Gr. -ol.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A constituent of human fæces formed in the small intestines as a product of the putrefaction of albuminous matter. It is also found in reduced indigo. Chemically it is methyl indol, C9H9N.
SKAYLES Skayles, n.
Defn: [sq. root159.] Skittles. [Obs.]
SKEAN Skean, n. Etym: [Ir sgian; akin to Gael. sgian, W. ysgien a large knife, a scimiter.]
Defn: A knife or short dagger, esp. that in use among the Highlanders of Scotland. [Variously spelt.] "His skean, or pistol." Spenser.
SKEDADDLE Ske*dad"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skedaddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Skedaddling.] Etym: [Of uncertain etymology.]
Defn: To betake one's self to flight, as if in a panic; to flee; to run away. [Slang, U. S.]
SKEE Skee, n. Etym: [Dan. ski; Icel. ski a billet of wood. See Skid.]
Defn: A long strip of wood, curved upwards in front, used on the foot for sliding.
SKEED Skeed, n.
Defn: See Skid.
SKEEL Skeel, n. Etym: [Icel. skj a pail, bucket.]
Defn: A shallow wooden vessel for holding milk or cream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Grose.
SKEELDUCK; SKEELGOOSE Skeel"duck`, Skeel"goose`, n. Etym: [See Sheldrake.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common European sheldrake. [Prov. Eng.]
SKEET Skeet, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.)
Defn: A scoop with a long handle, used to wash the sides of a vessel, and formerly to wet the sails or deck.
SKEG Skeg, n. Etym: [Prov. E., also a stump of a branch, a wooden peg; cf. Icel. sk a wood, Sw. skog. Cf. Shaw.]
1. A sort of wild plum. [Obs.] Holland.
2. pl.
Defn: A kind of oats. Farm. Encyc.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: The after part of the keel of a vessel, to which the rudder is attached.
SKEGGER Skeg"ger, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The parr. Walton.
SKEIN Skein, n. Etym: [OE. skeyne, OF. escaigne, F. écagne, probably of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. sgainne, Gael. sgeinnidh thread, small twine; or perhaps the English word is immediately from Celtic.]
1. A quantity of yarn, thread, or the like, put up together, after it is taken from the reel, — usually tied in a sort of knot.
Note: A skein of cotton yarn is formed by eighty turns of the thread round a fifty-four inch reel.
2. (Wagon Making)
Defn: A metallic strengthening band or thimble on the wooden arm of an axle. Knight.
SKEIN Skein, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A flight of wild fowl (wild geese or the like). [Prov. Eng.]
SKEINE Skeine, n.
Defn: See Skean.
SKELDER Skel"der, v. t. & i. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: To deceive; to cheat; to trick. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
SKELDER Skel"der, n.
Defn: A vagrant; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
SKELDRAKE; SKIELDRAKE Skel"drake`, or Skiel"drake`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The common European sheldrake. (b) The oyster catcher.
SKELET Skel"et, n.
Defn: A skeleton. See Scelet.
SKELETAL Skel"e*tal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the skeleton.
SKELETOGENOUS Skel`e*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Skeleton + -genous.]
Defn: Forming or producing parts of the skeleton.
SKELETOLOGY Skel`e*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Skeleton + -logy.]
Defn: That part of anatomy which treats of the skeleton; also, a treatise on the skeleton.
SKELETON Skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Anat.) (a) The bony and cartilaginous framework which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal.
Note: [See Illust. of the Human Skeleton, in Appendix.] (b) The more or less firm or hardened framework of an invertebrate animal.
Note: In a wider sense, the skeleton includes the whole connective- tissue framework with the integument and its appendages. See Endoskeleton, and Exoskeleton.
2. Hence, figuratively: (a) A very thin or lean person. (b) The framework of anything; the principal parts that support the rest, but without the appendages. The great skeleton of the world. Sir M. Hale.
(c) The heads and outline of a literary production, especially of a sermon.
SKELETON Skel"e*ton, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, a skeleton; consisting merely of the framework or outlines; having only certain leading features of anything; as, a skeleton sermon; a skeleton crystal. Skeleton bill, a bill or draft made out in blank as to the amount or payee, but signed by the acceptor. [Eng.] — Skeleton key, a key with nearly the whole substance of the web filed away, to adapt it to avoid the wards of a lock; a master key; — used for opening locks to which it has not been especially fitted. — Skeleton leaf, a leaf from which the pulpy part has been removed by chemical means, the fibrous part alone remaining. — Skeleton proof, a proof of a print or engraving, with the inscription outlined in hair strokes only, such proofs being taken before the engraving is finished. — Skeleton regiment, a regiment which has its complement of officers, but in which there are few enlisted men. — Skeleton shrimp (Zoöl.), a small crustacean of the genus Caprella. See Illust. under Læmodipoda.
SKELETONIZE Skel"e*ton*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skeletonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Skeletonizing.]
Defn: To prepare a skeleton of; also, to reduce, as a leaf, to its skeleton. Pop. Sci. Monthly.
SKELETONIZER Skel"e*ton*i`zer, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any small moth whose larva eats the parenchyma of leaves, leaving the skeleton; as, the apple-leaf skeletonizer.
SKELLUM Skel"lum, n. Etym: [Dan. schelm, fr. G. schelm.]
Defn: A scoundrel. [Obs. or Scot.] Pepys. Burns.
SKELLY Skel"ly, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Dan. skele, Sw. skela.]
Defn: To squint. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
SKELLY Skel"ly, n.
Defn: A squint. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
SKELP Skelp, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. skelp to kick severely, to move rapidly; Gael. sgealp, n., a slap with the palm of the hand, v., to strike with the palm of the hand.]
1. A blow; a smart stroke. [Prov. Eng.] Brockett.
2. A squall; also, a heavy fall of rain. [Scot.]
SKELP Skelp, v. t.
Defn: To strike; to slap. [Scot.] C. Reade.
SKELP Skelp, n.
Defn: A wrought-iron plate from which a gun barrel or pipe is made by bending and welding the edges together, and drawing the thick tube thus formed.
SKELTER Skel"ter, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Helter-skelter.]
Defn: To run off helter-skelter; to hurry; to scurry; — with away or off. [Colloq.] A. R. Wallace.
SKEN Sken, v. i.
Defn: To squint. [Prov. Eng.]
SKENE Skene, n.
Defn: See Skean. C. Kingsley.
SKEP Skep, n. Etym: [Icel. skeppa a measure, bushel; cf. Gael. sgeap a basket, a beehive.]
1. A coarse round farm basket. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Tusser.
2. A beehive. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
SKEPTIC Skep"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. skeptiko`s thoughtful, reflective, fr. ske`ptesqai to look carefully or about, to view, consider: cf. L. scepticus, F. sceptique. See Scope.] [Written also sceptic.]
1. One who is yet undecided as to what is true; one who is looking or inquiring for what is true; an inquirer after facts or reasons.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: A doubter as to whether any fact or truth can be certainly known; a universal doubter; a Pyrrhonist; hence, in modern usage, occasionally, a person who questions whether any truth or fact can be established on philosophical grounds; sometimes, a critical inquirer, in opposition to a dogmatist. All this criticism [of Hume] proceeds upon the erroneous hypothesis that he was a dogmatist. He was a skeptic; that is, he accepted the principles asserted by the prevailing dogmatism: and only showed that such and such conclusions were, on these principles, inevitable. Sir W. Hamilton.
3. (Theol.)
Defn: A person who doubts the existence and perfections of God, or the truth of revelation; one who disbelieves the divine origin of the Christian religion. Suffer not your faith to be shaken by the sophistries of skeptics. S. Clarke.
Note: This word and its derivatives are often written with c instead of k in the first syllable, — sceptic, sceptical, scepticism, etc. Dr. Johnson, struck with the extraordinary irregularity of giving c its hard sound before e, altered the spelling, and his example has been followed by most of the lexicographers who have succeeded him; yet the prevalent practice among English writers and printers is in favor of the other mode. In the United States this practice is reversed, a large and increasing majority of educated persons preferring the orthography which is most in accordance with etymology and analogy.
Syn. — Infidel; unbeliever; doubter. — See Infidel.
SKEPTIC; SKEPTICAL Skep"tic, Skep"tic*al, a. Etym: [Written also sceptic, sceptical.]
1. Of or pertaining to a sceptic or skepticism; characterized by skepticism; hesitating to admit the certainly of doctrines or principles; doubting of everything.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: Doubting or denying the truth of revelation, or the sacred Scriptures. The skeptical system subverts the whole foundation of morals. R. Hall. — Skep"tac*al*ly, adv. — Skep"tic*al*ness, n.
SKEPTICISM Skep"ti*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. scepticisme.] [Written also scepticism.]
1. An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty. That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and confusion, which is the result of skepticism. Hune.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: The doctrine that no fact or principle can be certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be established on philosophical grounds; critical investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive assumption or assertion of certain principles.
3. (Theol.)
Defn: A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or of the being, perfections, or truth of God. Let no . . . secret skepticism lead any one to doubt whether this blessed prospect will be realized. S. Miller.
SKEPTICIZE Skep"ti*cize, v. i.
Defn: To doubt; to pretend to doubt of everything. [R.] To skepticize, where no one else will . . . hesitate. Shaftesbury.
SKERRY Sker"ry, n.; pl. Skerries. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. sker, Sw. skär, Dan. ski. Cf. Scar a bank.]
Defn: A rocky isle; an insulated rock. [Scot.]
SKETCH Sketch, n. Etym: [D. schets, fr. It. schizzo a sketch, a splash (whence also F. esquisse; cf. Esquisse.); cf. It. schizzare to splash, to sketch.]
Defn: An outline or general delineation of anything; a first rough or incomplete draught or plan of any design; especially, in the fine arts, such a representation of an object or scene as serves the artist's purpose by recording its chief features; also, a preliminary study for an original work.
Syn. — Outline; delineation; draught; plan; design. — Sketch, Outline, Delineation. An outline gives only the bounding lines of some scene or picture. A sketch fills up the outline in part, giving broad touches, by which an imperfect idea may be conveyed. A delineation goes further, carrying out the more striking features of the picture, and going so much into detail as to furnish a clear conception of the whole. Figuratively, we may speak of the outlines of a plan, of a work, of a project, etc., which serve as a basis on which the subordinate parts are formed, or of sketches of countries, characters, manners, etc., which give us a general idea of the things described. Crabb.
SKETCH Sketch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sketched; p. pr. & vb. n. Sketching.] Etym: [Cf D. schetsen, It. schizzare. See Sketch, n.]
1. To draw the outline or chief features of; to make a rought of.
2. To plan or describe by giving the principal points or ideas of.
Syn. — To delineate; design; draught; depict.
SKETCH Sketch, v. i.
Defn: To make sketches, as of landscapes.
SKETCHBOOK Sketch"book`, n.
Defn: A book of sketches or for sketches.
SKETCHER Sketch"er, n.
Defn: One who sketches.
SKETCHILY Sketch"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a sketchy or incomplete manner. "Sketchily descriptive." Bartlett.
SKETCHINESS Sketch"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being sketchy; lack of finish; incompleteness.
SKETCHY Sketch"y, a.
Defn: Containing only an outline or rough form; being in the manner of a sketch; incomplete. The execution is sketchy throughout; the head, in particular, is left in the rough. J. S. Harford.
SKEW Skew, adv. Etym: [Cf. D. scheef. Dan. ski, Sw. skef, Icel. skeifr, G. schief, also E. shy, a. & v. i.]
Defn: Awry; obliquely; askew.
SKEW Skew, a.
Defn: Turned or twisted to one side; situated obliquely; skewed; — chiefly used in technical phrases. Skew arch, an oblique arch. See under Oblique. — Skew back. (Civil Engin.) (a) The course of masonry, the stone, or the iron plate, having an inclined face, which forms the abutment for the voussoirs of a segmental arch. (b) A plate, cap, or shoe, having an inclined face to receive the nut of a diagonal brace, rod, or the end of an inclined strut, in a truss or frame. — Skew bridge. See under Bridge, n. — Skew curve (Geom.), a curve of double curvature, or a twisted curve. See Plane curve, under Curve. — Skew gearing, or Skew bevel gearing (Mach.), toothed gearing, generally resembling bevel gearing, for connecting two shafts that are neither parallel nor intersecting, and in which the teeth slant across the faces of the gears. — Skew surface (Geom.), a ruled surface such that in general two successive generating straight lines do not intersect; a warped surface; as, the helicoid is a skew surface. — Skew symmetrical determinant (Alg.), a determinant in which the elements in each column of the matrix are equal to the elements of the corresponding row of the matrix with the signs changed, as in (1), below. (1) 0 2 -3-2 0 53 -5 0 (2) 4 -1 71 8 -2-7 2 1
Note: This requires that the numbers in the diagonal from the upper left to lower right corner be zeros. A like determinant in which the numbers in the diagonal are not zeros is a skew determinant, as in (2), above.
SKEW Skew, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A stone at the foot of the slope of a gable, the offset of a buttress, or the like, cut with a sloping surface and with a check to receive the coping stones and retain them in place.
SKEW Skew, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewing.]
1. To walk obliquely; to go sidling; to lie or move obliquely. Child, you must walk straight, without skewing. L'Estrange.
2. To start aside; to shy, as a horse. [Prov. Eng.]
3. To look obliquely; to squint; hence, to look slightingly or suspiciously. Beau & Fl.
SKEW Skew, v. t. Etym: [See Skew, adv.]
1. To shape or form in an oblique way; to cause to take an oblique position.
2. To throw or hurl obliquely.
SKEWBALD Skew"bald`, a.
Defn: Marked with spots and patches of white and some color other than black; — usually distinguished from piebald, in which the colors are properly white and black. Said of horses.
SKEWER Skew"er, n. Etym: [Probably of Scand, origin; cf. Sw. & Dan. skifer a slate. Cf. Shuver a fragment.]
Defn: A pin of wood or metal for fastening meat to a spit, or for keeping it in form while roasting. Meat well stuck with skewers to make it look round. Swift.
SKEWER Skew"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skewered; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewering.]
Defn: To fasten with skewers.
SKI Ski, n.
Defn: Same as Skee.
SKIAGRAPH; SKIAGRAPHY Ski"a*graph, n. Ski*ag"ra*phy, n., etc.
Defn: See Sciagraph, Sciagraphy, etc.
SKIASCOPE; SCIASCOPE Ski"a*scope, Sci"a*scope, n. [Gr. a shadow + -scope.] (Med.)
Defn: A device for determining the refractive state of the eye by observing the movements of the retinal lights and shadows. — Ski*as"co*py (#), Ski*as"co*py (#), n.
SKID Skid, n. Etym: [Icel. ski a billet of wood. See Shide.] [Written also skeed.]
1. A shoe or clog, as of iron, attached to a chain, and placed under the wheel of a wagon to prevent its turning when descending a steep hill; a drag; a skidpan; also, by extension, a hook attached to a chain, and used for the same purpose.
2. A piece of timber used as a support, or to receive pressure. Specifically: (a) pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Large fenders hung over a vessel's side to protect it in handling a cargo. Totten. (b) One of a pair of timbers or bars, usually arranged so as to form an inclined plane, as form a wagon to a door, along which anything is moved by sliding or rolling. (c) One of a pair of horizontal rails or timbers for supporting anything, as a boat, a barrel, etc.
SKID Skid, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skidded; p. pr. & vb. n. Skidding.]
1. To protect or support with a skid or skids; also, to cause to move on skids.
2. To check with a skid, as wagon wheels. Dickens.
SKIDDAW Skid"daw`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The black guillemot. [Prov. Eng.]
SKIDDER Skid"der, n. One that skids; one that uses a skid; specif.: (Logging) (a) One that skids logs. (b) An engine for hauling the cable used in skidding logs. (c) The foreman of a construction gang making a skid road.
SKIDPAN Skid"pan`, n.
Defn: See Skid, n., 1. [Eng.]
SKID ROAD Skid road. (Logging) (a) A road along which logs are dragged to the skidway or landing; - - called also travois, or travoy, road. (b) A road having partly sunken transverse logs (called skids) at intervals of about five feet.
SKIED Skied,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Sky, v. t.
SKIEY Ski"ey, a.
Defn: See Skyey. Shelley.
SKIFF Skiff, n. Etym: [F. esquif, fr. OHG. skif, G. schiff. See Ship.]
Defn: A small, light boat. The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff. Milton. Skiff caterpillar (Zoöl.), the larva of a moth (Limacodes scapha); — so called from its peculiar shape.
SKIFF Skiff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skiffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skiffing.]
Defn: To navigate in a skiff. [R.]
SKIFFLING Skif"fling, n. (Quarrying)
Defn: Rough dressing by knocking off knobs or projections; knobbing.
SKILDER Skil"der, v. i.
Defn: To beg; to pilfer; to skelder. [Prov. Eng.& Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
SKILFUL Skil"ful, a.
Defn: See Skilful.
SKILL Skill, n. Etym: [Icel. skil a distinction, discernment; akin to skilja to separate, divide, distinguish, Sw. skilja,. skille to separate, skiel reason, right, justice, Sw. skäl reason, Lith. skelli to cleave. Cf. Shell, Shoal, a multitude.]
1. Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause. [Obs.] Shak. "As it was skill and right." Chaucer. For great skill is, he prove that he wrought. Chaucer. [For with good reason he should test what he created.]
2. Knowledge; understanding. [Obsoles.] That by his fellowship he color mightskill of any wight. Spenser. Nor want we skill or art. Milton.
3. The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc. Phocion, . . . by his great wisdom and skill at negotiations, diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens. Swift. Where patience her sweet skill imparts. Keble.
4. Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address. [Obs.] Richard . . . by a thousand princely skills, gathering so much corn as if he meant not to return. Fuller.
5. Any particular art. [Obs.] Learned in one skill, and in another kind of learning unskillful. Hooker.
Syn. — Dexterity; adroitness; expertness; art; aptitude; ability. — Skill, Dexterity, Adroitness. Skill is more intelligent, denoting familiar knowledge united to readiness of performance. Dexterity, when applied to the body, is more mechanical, and refers to habitual ease of execution. Adroitness involves the same image with dexterity, and differs from it as implaying a general facility of movement (especially in avoidance of danger or in escaping from a difficalty). The same distinctions apply to the figurative sense of the words. A man is skillful in any employment when he understands both its theory and its practice. He is dexterous when he maneuvers with great lightness. He is adroit in the use od quick, sudden, and well- directed movements of the body or the mind, so as to effect the object he has in view.
SKILL Skill, v. t.
Defn: To know; to understand. [Obs.] To skill the arts of expressing our mind. Barrow.
SKILL Skill, v. i.
1. To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance. [Obs.] I can not skill of these thy ways. Herbert.
2. To make a difference; to signify; to matter; — used impersonally. Spenser. What skills it, if a bag of stones or gold About thy neck do drown thee Herbert. It skills not talking of it. Sir W. Scott.
SKILLED Skilled, a.
Defn: Having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in its application; familiarly acquainted with; expert; skillful; — often followed by in; as, a person skilled in drawing or geometry.
SKILLET Skil"let, n. Etym: [OF. escuelette, dim. of escuelle a porringer, F. ecuelle, fr. L. scutella, dim. of scutra, scuta, a dish. Cf. Scuttle a basket.]
Defn: A small vessel of iron, copper, or other metal, with a handle, used for culinary purpose, as for stewing meat.
SKILLFUL Skill"ful, a. Etym: [Written also skilful.]
1. Discerning; reasonable; judicious; cunning. [Obs.] "Of skillful judgment." Chaucer.
2. Possessed of, or displaying, skill; knowing and ready; expert; well-versed; able in management; as, a skillful mechanic; — often followed by at, in, or of; as, skillful at the organ; skillful in drawing. And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentations to wailing. Amos v. 16.
Syn. — Expert; skilled; dexterous; adept; masterly; adroit; clever; cunning. — Skill"ful*ly, adv. — Skill"ful*ness, n.
SKILLIGALEE Skil`li*ga*lee", n.
Defn: A kind of thin, weak broth or oatmeal porridge, served out to prisoners and paupers in England; also, a drink made of oatmeal, sugar, and water, sometimes used in the English navy or army. [Written also skilligolee, skillygalee, etc.]
SKILLING Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. Sheeling.]
Defn: A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage. [Prov. Eng.]
SKILLING Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Sw. & Dan. See Shilling.]
Defn: A money od account in Sweden, Norwey, Denmark, and North Germany, and also a coin. It had various values, from three fourths of a cent in Norway to more than two cents in Lübeck.
SKILL-LESS Skill"-less, a.
Defn: Wanting skill. Shak.
SKILTS Skilts, n. pl.
Defn: A kind of large, coarse, short trousers formerly worn. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.
SKILTY Skil"ty, n.
Defn: The water rail. [Prov. Eng.]
SKIM Skim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimming.] Etym: [Cf. Sw. skymma to darken. sq. root158. See Scum.]
1. To clear (a liquid) from scum or substance floating or lying thereon, by means of a utensil that passes just beneath the surface; as, to skim milk; to skim broth.
2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream.
3. To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of. Homer describes Mercury as flinging himself from the top of Olympus, and skimming the surface of the ocean. Hazlitt.
4. Fig.: To read or examine superficially and rapidly, in order to cull the principal facts or thoughts; as, to skim a book or a newspaper.
SKIM Skim, v. i.
1. To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface. Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain, Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main. Pope.
2. To hasten along with superficial attention. They skim over a science in a very superficial survey. I. Watts.
3. To put on the finishing coat of plaster.
SKIM Skim, a.
Defn: Contraction of Skimming and Skimmed. Skim coat, the final or finishing coat of plaster. — Skim colter, a colter for paring off the surface of land. — Skim milk, skimmed milk; milk from which the cream has been taken.
SKIM Skim, n.
Defn: Scum; refuse. Bryskett.
SKIMBACK Skim"back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The quillback. [Local, U.S.]
SKIMBLE-SCAMBLE Skim"ble-scam`ble, a. Etym: [A reduplication of scamble.]
Defn: Rambling; disorderly; unconnected. [Colloq.] Such a deal of skimble-scamble stuff. Shak.
SKIMITRY Skim"i*try, n.
Defn: See Skimmington.
SKIMMER Skim"mer, n.
1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus Rhynchops, allied to the terns, but having the lower mandible compressed and much longer than the upper one. These birds fly rapidly along the surface of the water, with the lower mandible immersed, thus skimming out small fishes. The American species (R. nigra) is common on the southern coasts of the United States. Called also scissorbill, and shearbill.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, as the sea clams, and large scallops.
SKIMMERTON Skim"mer*ton, n.
Defn: See Skimmington.
SKIMMING Skim"ming, n.
1. The act of one who skims.
2. That which is skimmed from the surface of a liquid; — chiefly used in the plural; as, the skimmings of broth.
SKIMMINGLY Skim"ming*ly, adv.
Defn: In a skimming manner.
SKIMMINGTON Skim"ming*ton, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain. Perhaps the name of some notorius scold.]
Defn: A word employed in the phrase, To ride Skimmington; that is to ride on a horse with a woman, but behind her, facing backward, carrying a distaff, and accompanied by a procession of jeering neighbors making mock music; a cavalcade in ridicule of a henpecked man. The custom was in vogue in parts of England.
SKIMP Skimp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimped; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimping.] Etym: [Cf. Skinch, Scamp, v. t.]
1. To slight; to do carelessly; to scamp. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]
2. To make insufficient allowance for; to scant; to scrimp. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]
SKIMP Skimp, v. i.
Defn: To save; to be parsimonious or niggardly. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]
SKIMP Skimp, a.
Defn: Scanty. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]
SKIN Skin, n. Etym: [Icel. skinn; akin to Sw. skinn, Dan. skind, AS. scinn, G. schined to skin.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The external membranous integument of an animal.
Note: In man, and the vertebrates generally, the skin consist of two layers, an outer nonsensitive and nonvascular epidermis, cuticle, or skarfskin, composed of cells which are constantly growing and multiplying in the deeper, and being thrown off in the superficial, layers; and an inner sensitive, and vascular dermis, cutis, corium, or true skin, composed mostly of connective tissue.
2. The hide of an animal, separated from the body, whether green, dry, or tanned; especially, that of a small animal, as a calf, sheep, or goat.
3. A vessel made of skin, used for holding liquids. See Bottle, 1. "Skins of wine." Tennyson.
4. The bark or husk of a plant or fruit; the exterior coat of fruits and plants.
5. (Naut.) (a) That part of a sail, when furled, which remains on the outside and covers the whole. Totten. (b) The covering, as of planking or iron plates, outside the framing, forming the sides and bottom of a vessel; the shell; also, a lining inside the framing. Skin friction, Skin resistance (Naut.), the friction, or resistance, caused by the tendency of water to adhere to the immersed surface (skin) of a vessel. — Skin graft (Surg.), a small portion of skin used in the process of grafting. See Graft, v. t., 2. — Skin moth (Zoöl.), any insect which destroys the prepared skins of animals, especially the larva of Dermestes and Anthrenus. — Skin of the teeth, nothing, or next to nothing; the least possible hold or advantage. Job xix. 20. — Skin wool, wool taken from dead sheep.
SKIN Skin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinning.]
1. To strip off the skin or hide of; to flay; to peel; as, to skin an animal.
2. To cover with skin, or as with skin; hence, to cover superficially. It will but skin and film the ulcerous place. Shak.
3. To strip of money or property; to cheat. [Slang]
SKIN Skin, v. i.
1. To become covered with skin; as, a wound skins over.
2. To produce, in recitation, examination, etc., the work of another for one's own, or to use in such exercise cribs, memeoranda, etc., which are prohibited. [College Cant, U.S.]
SKINBOUND Skin"bound`, a.
Defn: Having the skin adhering closely and rigidly to the flesh; hidebound. Skinbound disease. (Med.) See Sclerema neonatorum, under Sclerema.
SKINCH Skinch, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Skinched; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinching.] Etym: [Cf. Scant.]
Defn: To give scant measure; to squeeze or pinch in order to effect a saving. [Prev. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]
SKIN-DEEP Skin"-deep`, a.
Defn: Not deeper than the skin; hence, superficial. Lowell.
SKINFLINT Skin"flint`, n. Etym: [Skin + flint.]
Defn: A penurious person; a miser; a niggard. Sir W. Scott.
SKINFUL Skin"ful, n.; pl. Skinfuls (.
Defn: As much as a skin can hold.
SKINK Skink, n. Etym: [L. scincus, Gr. [Written also scink.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of regularly scaled harmless lizards of the family Scincidæ, common in the warmer parts of all the continents.
Note: The officinal skink (Scincus officinalis) inhabits the sandy plains of South Africa. It was believed by the ancients to be a specific for various diseases. A common slender species (Seps tridactylus) of Southern Europe was formerly believed to produce fatal diseases in cattle by mere contact. The American skinks include numerous species of the genus Eumeces, as the blue-tailed skink (E. fasciatus) of the Eastern United States. The ground skink, or ground lizard (Oligosoma laterale) inhabits the Southern United States.
SKINK Skink, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skinked; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinking.] Etym: [Icel. skenja; akin to Sw. skäka, Dan. skienke, AS. scencan, D. & G. schenken. As. scencan is usually derived from sceonc, sceanc, shank, a hollow bone being supposed to have been used to draw off liquor from a cask. sq. root161. See Shank, and cf. Nunchion.]
Defn: To draw or serve, as drink. [Obs.] Bacchus the wine them skinketh all about. Chaucer. Such wine as Ganymede doth skink to Jove. Shirley.
SKINK Skink, v. i.
Defn: To serve or draw liquor. [Obs.]
SKINK Skink, n.
Defn: Drink; also, pottage. [Obs.] Bacon.
SKINKER Skink"er, n.
Defn: One who serves liquor; a tapster.
SKINLESS Skin"less, a.
Defn: Having no skin, or a very thin skin; as, skinless fruit.
SKINNER Skin"ner, n.
1. One who skins.
2. One who deals in skins, pelts, or hides.
SKINNINESS Skin"ni*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being skinny.
SKINNY Skin"ny, a.
Defn: Consisting, or chiefly consisting, of skin; wanting flesh. "Her skinny lips." Shak. He holds him with a skinny hand. Coleridge.
SKIP Skip, n. Etym: [See Skep.]
1. A basket. See Skep. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
2. A basket on wheels, used in cotton factories.
3. (Mining)
Defn: An iron bucket, which slides between guides, for hoisting mineral and rock.
4. (Sugar Manuf.)
Defn: A charge of sirup in the pans.
5. A beehive; a skep.
SKIP Skip, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Skipping.] Etym: [OE. skippen, of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. skopa run, skoppa to spin like a top, OSw. & dial. Sw. skimmpa to run, skimpa, skompa, to hop, skip; or Ir. sgiob to snatch, Gael. sgiab to start or move suddenly, to snatch, W. ysgipio to snatch.]
1. To leap lightly; to move in leaps and hounds; — commonly implying a sportive spirit. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play Pope. So she drew her mother away skipping, dancing, and frisking fantastically. Hawthorne.
2. Fig.: To leave matters unnoticed, as in reading, speaking, or writing; to pass by, or overlook, portions of a thing; — often followed by over.
SKIP Skip, v. t.
1. To leap lightly over; as, to skip the rope.
2. To pass over or by without notice; to omit; to miss; as, to skip a line in reading; to skip a lesson. They who have a mind to see the issue may skip these two chapters. Bp. Burnet.
3. To cause to skip; as, to skip a stone. [Colloq.]
SKIP Skip, n.
1. A light leap or bound.
2. The act of passing over an interval from one thing to another; an omission of a part.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: A passage from one sound to another by more than a degree at once. Busby. Skip kennel, a lackey; a footboy. [Slang.] Swift. — Skip mackerel. (Zoöl.) See Bluefish, 1.
SKIPJACK Skip"jack`, n.
1. An upstart. [Obs.] Ford.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An elater; a snap bug, or snapping beetle.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name given to several kinds of a fish, as the common bluefish, the alewife, the bonito, the butterfish, the cutlass fish, the jurel, the leather jacket, the runner, the saurel, the saury, the threadfish, etc.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: A shallow sailboat with a rectilinear or V-shaped cross section.
SKIPPER Skip"per, n.
1. One who, or that which, skips.
2. A young, thoughtless person. Shak.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The saury (Scomberesox saurus).
4. The cheese maggot. See Cheese fly, under Cheese.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of small butterflies of the family Hesperiadæ; — so called from their peculiar short, jerking flight.
SKIPPER Skip"per, n. Etym: [D. schipper. See Shipper, and Ship.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The master of a fishing or small trading vessel; hence, the master, or captain, of any vessel.
2. A ship boy. [Obs.] Congreve.
SKIPPET Skip"pet, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skip, E. skipper. See Ship.]
1. A small boat; a skiff. [Obs.] A little skippet floating did appear. Spenser.
2. A small round box for keeping records. [Obs.]
SKIPPINGLY Skip"ping*ly, adv.
Defn: In a skipping manner; by skips, or light leaps.
SKIRL Skirl, v. t.& i. Etym: [Of Scand. origin, and originally the same word as E. shrill.]
Defn: To utter in a shrill tone; to scream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
SKIRL Skirl, n.
Defn: A shrill cry or sound. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
SKIRLCOCK Skirl"cock`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The missel thrush; — so called from its harsh alarm note. [Prev. Eng.]
SKIRLCRAKE Skirl"crake`, n.
Defn: The turnstone. [Prev. Eng.]
SKIRLING Skirl"ing, n.
Defn: A shrill cry or sound; a crying shrilly; a skirl. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott. When the skirling of the pipes cleft the air his cold eyes softened. Mrs. J. H. Ewing.
SKIRLING Skirl"ing, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small trout or salmon; — a name used loosely. [Prov. Eng.]
SKIRMISH Skir"mish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skirmished; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirmishing.] Etym: [OE. skirmishen, scarmishen, OF. escremir, eskermir, to fence, fight, F. escrimer, of German origin; cf. OHG. scirmen to protect, defend, G. schirmen, OHG. scirm, scerm, protection, shield, G. schirm; perhaps akin to Gr. Scaramouch, Scrimmage.]
Defn: To fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a skirmish or skirmishes; to act as skirmishers.
SKIRMISH Skir"mish, n.Etym: [OE. scarmishe, scrymishe. See Skirmish, v. i.]
1. A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of troops.
2. A slight contest. They never meet but there's a skirmish of wit. Shak.
SKIRMISHER Skir"mish*er, n.
Defn: One who skirmishes. Specifically: pl. (Mil.)
Defn: Soldiers deployed in loose order, to cover the front or flanks of an advancing army or a marching column.
SKIRR Skirr, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Scur, Scurry.]
Defn: To ramble over in order to clear; to scour. [Archaic] Shak.
SKIRR Skirr, v. i.
Defn: To scour; to scud; to run. [Archaic]
SKIRR Skirr, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tern. [Prov. Eng.]
SKIRRET Skir"ret, n. Etym: [A corrupted form equivalent to sugarwort.] (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Sium, or Pimpinella, Sisarum). It is a native of Asia, but has been long cultivated in Europe for its edible clustered tuberous roots, which are very sweet.
SKIRRHUS Skir"rhus, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Scirrhus.
SKIRT Skirt, n. Etym: [OE. skyrt, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. skyrta a shirt, Sw. skört a skirt, skjorta a shirt. See Shirt.]
1. The lower and loose part of a coat, dress, or other like garment; the part below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat, a dress, or a mantle.
2. A loose edging to any part of a dress. [Obs.] A narrow lace, or a small skirt of ruffled linen, which runs along the upper part of the stays before, and crosses the breast, being a part of the tucker, is called the modesty piece. Addison.
3. Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything "Here in the skirts of the forest." Shak.
4. A petticoat.
5. The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals. Dunglison.
SKIRT Skirt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skirted; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirting.]
1. To cover with a skirt; to surround. Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold. Milton.
2. To border; to form the border or edge of; to run along the edge of; as, the plain was skirted by rows of trees. "When sundown skirts the moor." Tennyson.
SKIRT Skirt, v. t.
Defn: To be on the border; to live near the border, or extremity. Savages . . . who skirt along our western frontiers. S. S. Smith.
SKIRTING Skirt"ing, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A skirting board. [R.]
2. Skirts, taken collectivelly; material for skirts. Skirting board, the board running around a room on the wall next the floor; baseboard.
SKIT Skit, v. t. Etym: [Prov. E. skitto slide, as adj., hasty, precipitate, of Scand. origin, and akin to E. shoot, v.t.; cf. Icel. skyti, skytja, skytta, a marksman, shooter, skjota to shoot, skuta a taunt. sq. root159. See Shoot.]
Defn: To cast reflections on; to asperse. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Crose.
SKIT Skit, n.
1. A reflection; a jeer or gibe; a sally; a brief satire; a squib. Tooke. A similar vein satire upon the emptiness of writers is given in his "Tritical Essay upon the Faculties of the Human Mind;" but that is a mere skit compared with this strange performance. Leslie Stephen.
2. A wanton girl; a light wench. [Obs.]
SKITTER Skit"ter, v. t. [Cf. Skit, v. t.]
Defn: To move or pass (something) over a surface quickly so that it touches only at intervals; to skip.
The angler, standing in the bow, 'skitters' or skips the spoon over the surface. James A. Henshall.
SKITTER Skit"ter, v. i.
Defn: To pass or glide lightly or with quick touches at intervals; to skip; to skim.
Some kinds of ducks in lighting strike the water with their tails first, and skitter along the surface for a feet before settling down. T. Roosevelt.
SKITTISH Skit"tish, a. Etym: [See Skit, v. t.]
1. Easily frightened; timorous; shy; untrustworthy; as, a skittish colt. "A restiff, skittish jade." L'Estrange.
2. Wanton; restive; freakish; volatile; changeable; fickle. "Skittish Fortune's hall." Shak. — Skit"tish*ly, adv. — Skit"tish*ness, n.
SKITTLE Skit"tle, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the game of skittles. Skittle alley, an alley or court in which the game of skittles is played. — Skittle ball, a disk or flattish ball of wood for throwing at the pins in the game of skittles.
SKITTLE-DOG Skit"tle-dog`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The piked dogfish.
SKITTLES Skit"tles, n. pl. Etym: [Of Scand. origin. sq. root159. See Shoot, v. t., and cf. Shuttle, Skit, v. t.]
Defn: An English game resembling ninepins, but played by throwing wooden disks, instead of rolling balls, at the pins.
SKITTY Skit"ty, n. Etym: [Cf. Skittish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rail; as, the water rail (called also skitty cock, and skitty coot); the spotted crake (Porzana maruetta), and the moor hen. [Prov. Eng.]
SKIVE Skive, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skifa a shaving, slice, E. shive, sheave.]
Defn: The iron lap used by diamond polishers in finishing the facets of the gem.
SKIVE Skive, v. t.
Defn: To pare or shave off the rough or thick parts of (hides or leather).
SKIVER Skiv"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Skewer, Shiver a fragment.]
1. An inferior quality of leather, made of split sheepskin, tanned by immersion in sumac, and dyed. It is used for hat linings, pocketbooks, bookbinding, etc.
2. The cutting tool or machine used in splitting leather or skins, as sheepskins.
SKIVING Ski"ving, n.
1. The act of paring or splitting leather or skins.
2. A piece made in paring or splitting leather; specifically, the part from the inner, or flesh, side.
SKLAYRE Sklayre, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schleier.]
Defn: A vell. [Obs.]
SKLERE Sklere, v. t.
Defn: To shelter; to cover. [Obs.]
SKOLECITE; SKOLEZITE Skol"e*cite, Skol"e*zite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Scolecite.
SKONCE Skonce, n.
Defn: See Sconce.
SKOPSTER Skop"ster, n.
Defn: The saury. [Prov. Eng.]
SKOPTSY Skop*tsy", n. pl.
Defn: See Raskolnik.
SKORODITE Skor"o*dite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Scorodite.
SKOUT Skout, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A guillemot.
SKOWITZ Sko"witz, n. Etym: [Nisqually (American Indian) name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The silver salmon.
SKREEN Skreen, n. & v.
Defn: See Screen. [Obs.]
SKRIKE Skrike, v. i. & t.
Defn: To shriek. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SKRIKE Skrike, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The missel thrush. [Prov. Eng.]
SKRIMMAGE Skrim"mage, n.
Defn: See Scrimmage.
SKRIMP Skrimp, v. t.
Defn: See Scrimp.
SKRINGE Skringe, v. i.
Defn: See Scringe.
SKRITE Skrite, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The skrike. [Prov. Eng.]
SKUA Sku"a, n. Etym: [Icel. sk, sk.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any jager gull; especially, the Megalestris skua; — called also boatswain.
SKUE Skue, a. & n.
Defn: See Skew.
SKULK Skulk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skulked; p. pr. & vb. n. Skulking.] Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. skulke to spare or save one's self, to play the truant, Sw. skolka to be at leisure, to shirk, Icel. skolla. Cf. Scowl.]
Defn: To hide, or get out of the way, in a sneaking manner; to lie close, or to move in a furtive way; to lurk. "Want skulks in holes and crevices." W. C. Bryant. Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. Dryden.
SKULK Skulk, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skollr, skolli, a fox, and E. skulk, v.i.]
Defn: A number of foxes together. Wright.
SKULK; SKULKER Skulk, Skulk"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, skulks.
SKULKINGLY Skulk"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a skulking manner.
SKULL Skull, n. Etym: [See School a multitude.]
Defn: A school, company, or shoal. [Obs.] A knavish skull of boys and girls did pelt at him. Warner. These fishes enter in great flotes and skulls. Holland.
SKULL Skull, n. Etym: [OE. skulle, sculle, scolle; akin to Scot. skull, skoll, a bowl, Sw. skalle skull, skal a shell, and E. scale; cf. G. hirnschale, Dan. hierneskal. Cf. Scale of a balance.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The skeleton of the head of a vertebrate animal, including the brain case, or cranium, and the bones and cartilages of the face and mouth. See Illusts. of Carnivora, of Facial angles under Facial, and of Skeleton, in Appendix.
Note: In many fishes the skull is almost wholly cartilaginous but in the higher vertebrates it is more or less completely ossified, several bones are developed in the face, and the cranium is made up, wholly or partially, of bony plates arranged in three segments, the frontal, parietal, and occipital, and usually closely united in the adult.
2. The head or brain; the seat of intelligence; mind. Skulls that can not teach, and will not learn. Cowper.
3. A covering for the head; a skullcap. [Obs. & R.] Let me put on my skull first. Beau & Fl.
4. A sort of oar. See Scull. Skull and crossbones, a symbol of death. See Crossbones.
SKULLCAP Skull"cap`, n.
1. A cap which fits the head closely; also, formerly, a headpiece of iron sewed inside of a cap for protection.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the labiate genus Scutellaria, the calyx of whose flower appears, when inverted, like a helmet with the visor raised.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Lophiomys. Mad-dog skullcap (Bot.), an American herb (Scetellaria lateriflora) formerly prescribed as a cure for hydrophobia.
SKULLFISH Skull"fish`, n.
Defn: A whaler's name for a whale more than two years old.
SKULPIN Skul"pin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Sculpin.
SKUN Skun, n. & v.
Defn: See Scum.
SKUNK Skunk, n. Etym: [Contr. from the Abenaki (American Indian) seganku.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of American musteline carnivores of the genus Mephitis and allied genera. They have two glands near the anus, secreting an extremely fetid liquid, which the animal ejects at pleasure as a means of defense.
Note: The common species of the Eastern United States (Mephitis mephitica) is black with more or less white on the body and tail. The spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), native of the Southwestern United States and Mexico, is smaller than the common skunk, and is variously marked with black and white. Skunk bird, Skunk blackbird (Zoöl.), the bobolink; — so called because the male, in the breeding season, is black and white, like a skunk. — Skunk cabbage (Bot.), an American aroid herb (Symplocarpus foetidus) having a reddish hornlike spathe in earliest spring, followed by a cluster of large cabbagelike leaves. It exhales a disagreeable odor. Also called swamp cabbage. — Skunk porpoise. (Zoöl.) See under Porpoise.
SKUNK Skunk, v. t.
Defn: In games of chance and skill: To defeat (an opponent) (as in cards) so that he fails to gain a point, or (in checkers) to get a king. [Colloq.
Defn: U. S.]
SKUNKBALL Skunk"ball`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The surf duck.
SKUNKHEAD Skunk"head`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The surf duck. (b) A duck (Camptolaimus Labradorus) which formerly inhabited the Atlantic coast of New England. It is now supposed to be extinct. Called also Labrador duck, and pied duck.
SKUNKISH Skunk"ish, a.
Defn: Like the skunk, especially in odor.
SKUNKTOP Skunk"top`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The surf duck.
SKUNKWEED Skunk"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Skunk cabbage.
SKURRY Skur"ry, n. & v.
Defn: See Scurry.
SKUTE Skute, n. Etym: [Icel. sk; akin to Sw. skuta, Dan. skude, D. schuit, Lg. schüte, and E. schoot, v.t.]
Defn: A boat; a small vessel. [Obs.] Sir R. Williams.
SKUTTERUDITE Skut"ter*ud*ite, n. Etym: [From Skuttertid, in Norway, whence it is ibtained.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a bright metallic luster and tin-white to pale lead-gray color. It consist of arsenic and cobalt.
SKY Sky, n.; pl. Skies. Etym: [OE. skie a cloud, Icel. sk; akin to Sw. & Dan. sky; cf. AS. sc, sc, shadow, Icel. skuggi; probably from the same root as E. scum. sq. root158. See Scum, and cf. Hide skin, Obscure.]
1. A cloud. [Obs.] [A wind] that blew so hideously and high, That it ne lefte not a sky In all the welkin long and broad. Chaucer.
2. Hence, a shadow. [Obs.] She passeth as it were a sky. Gower.
3. The apparent arch, or vault, of heaven, which in a clear day is of a blue color; the heavens; the firmament; — sometimes in the plural. The Norweyan banners flout the sky. Shak.
4. The wheather; the climate. Thou wert better in thy grave than to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies. Shak.
Note: Sky is often used adjectively or in the formation of self- explaining compounds; as, sky color, skylight, sky-aspiring, sky- born, sky-pointing, sky-roofed, etc. Sky blue, an azure color. — Sky scraper (Naut.), a skysail of a triangular form. Totten. — Under open sky, out of doors. "Under open sky adored." Milton.
SKY Sky, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skied or Skyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skying.]
1. To hang (a picture on exhibition) near the top of a wall, where it can not be well seen. [Colloq.] Brother Academicians who skied his pictures. The Century.
2. To throw towards the sky; as, to sky a ball at cricket. [Colloq.]
SKY-BLUE Sky"-blue, a.
Defn: Having the blue color of the sky; azure; as, a sky-blue stone. Wordsworth.
SKYED Skyed, a.
Defn: Surrounded by sky. [Poetic & R.] "The skyed mountain." Thomson.
SKYE TERRIER Skye" ter"ri*er. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Terrier.
SKYEY Sky"ey, a.
Defn: Like the sky; ethereal; being in the sky. "Skyey regions." Thackeray. Sublime on the towers of my skyey bowers, Lightning, my pilot, sits. Shelley.
SKY-HIGH Sky"-high`
Defn: , adv. & a. Very high. [Colloq.]
SKYISH Sky"ish, a.
Defn: Like the sky, or approaching the sky; lofty; ethereal. [R.] Shak.
SKYLARK Sky"lark`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lark that mounts and sings as it files, especially the common species (Alauda arvensis) found in Europe and in some parts of Asia, and celebrated for its melodious song; — called also sky laverock. See under Lark.
Note: The Australian skylark (Cincloramphus cantillans) is a pipit which has the habit of ascending perpendicularly like a skylark, but it lacks the song of a true lark. The Missouri skylark is a pipit (Anthus Spraguei) of the Western United States, resembling the skylark in habit and song.
SKYLARKING Sky"lark"ing, n.
Defn: The act of running about the rigging of a vessel in sport; hence, frolicking; scuffing; sporting; carousing. [Colloq.]
SKYLIGHT Sky"light`, n.
Defn: A window placed in the roof of a building, in the ceiling of a room, or in the deck of a ship, for the admission of light from above.
SKYMAN Sky"man, n.; pl. -men.
Defn: An aëronaut. [Slang]
SKY PILOT Sky pilot. (Aëronautics)
Defn: A person licensed as a pilot. [Slang]
SKYROCKET Sky"rock`et, n.
Defn: A rocket that ascends high and burns as it flies; a species of fireworks.
SKYSAIL Sky"sail, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The sail set next above the royal. See Illust. under Sail.
SKYSCRAPER Sky"scrap`er, n. (a) (Naut.) (1) A skysail of a triangular form. [Rare] (2)
Defn: A name for the one of the fancy sails alleged to have been sometimes set above the skysail. [Obs.] (b) A very tall building. (c) Hence, anything usually large, high, or excessive. [Slang or Colloq.]
SKYWARD Sky"ward, a. & adv.
Defn: Toward the sky.
SLAB Slab, n. Etym: [OE. slabbe, of uncertain origin; perhaps originally meaning, a smooth piece, and akin to slape, Icel. sleipr slippery, and E. slip, v. i.]
1. A thin piece of anything, especially of marble or other stone, having plane surfaces. Gwilt.
2. An outside piece taken from a log or timber in sawing it into boards, planks, etc.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wryneck. [Prov. Eng.]
4. (Naut.)
Defn: The slack part of a sail. Slab line (Naut.), a line or small rope by which seamen haul up the foot of the mainsail or foresail. Totten.
SLAB Slab, a. Etym: [Cf. Gael. & Ir. slaib mud, mire left on a river strand, and E. slop puddle.]
Defn: Thick; viscous. [Obs.] Make the gruel thick and slab. Shak.
SLAB Slab, n.
Defn: That which is slimy or viscous; moist earth; mud; also, a puddle. [Obs.] Evelyn.
SLABBER Slab"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slabbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slabbering.] Etym: [OE. slaberen; akin to LG. & D. slabbern, G. schlabbern, LG. & D. slabben, G. schlabben, Icel. slafra. Cf. Slaver, Slobber, Slubber.]
Defn: To let saliva or some liquid fall from the mouth carelessly, like a child or an idiot; to drivel; to drool. [Written also slaver, and slobber.]
SLABBER Slab"ber, v. t.
1. To wet and foul spittle, or as if with spittle. He slabbered me over, from cheek to cheek, with his great tongue. Arbuthnot.
2. To spill liquid upon; to smear carelessly; to spill, as liquid foed or drink, in careless eating or drinking. The milk pan and cream pot so slabbered and tost That butter is wanting and cheese is half lost. Tusser.
SLABBER Slab"ber, n.
Defn: Spittle; saliva; slaver.
SLABBER Slab"ber, n. Etym: [See 1st Slab.] (Mach.) (a) A saw for cutting slabs from logs. (b) A slabbing machine.
SLABBERER Slab"ber*er, n.
Defn: One who slabbers, or drools; hence, an idiot.
SLABBERY Slab"ber*y, a.
Defn: Like, or covered with, slabber or slab; slippery; sloppy.
SLABBINESS Slab"bi*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being slabby.
SLABBING Slab"bing, a. Etym: [See 1st Slab.]
Defn: Adapted for forming slabs, or for dressing flat surfaces. Slabbing machine, a milling machine.
SLABBY Slab"by, a. [Compar. Slabbier; superl. Slabbiest.] Etym: [See Slab, a.]
1. Thick; viscous. They present you with a cup, and you must drink of a slabby stuff. Selden.
2. Sloppy; slimy; miry. See Sloppy. Gay.
SLAB-SIDED Slab"-sid`ed, a.
Defn: Having flat sides; hence, tall, or long and lank. [Colloq. U. S.]
SLACK Slack, n. Etym: [Cf. Slag.]
Defn: Small coal; also, coal dust; culm. Raymond.
SLACK Slack, n. Etym: [Icel. slakki a slope on a mountain edge.]
Defn: A valley, or small, shallow dell. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
SLACK Slack, a. [Compar. Slacker; superl. Slackest.] Etym: [OE. slak, AS. sleac; akin to OS. slak, OHG. slah, Prov. G. schlack, Icel. slakr, Sw. slak; cf. Skr. srsj to let loose, to throw. Cf. Slake.]
Defn: Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly extended; as, a slack rope.
2. Weak; not holding fast; as, a slack hand. Milton.
3. Remiss; backward; not using due diligence or care; not earnest or eager; as, slack in duty or service. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness. 2 Pet. iii. 9.
4. Not violent, rapid, or pressing; slow; moderate; easy; as, business is slack. "With slack pace." Chaucer. Cslack southwest, at midnight was becalmed. Milton. Slack in stays (Naut.), slow in going about, as a ship. — Slack water, the time when the tide runs slowly, or the water is at rest; or the interval between the flux and reflux of the tide. — Slack-water navigation, navigation in a stream the depth of which has been increased, and the current diminished, by a dam or dams.
Syn. — Loose; relaxed; weak; remiss; backward; abated; diminished; inactive; slow; tardy; dull.
SLACK Slack, adv.
Defn: Slackly; as, slack dried hops.
SLACK Slack, n.
Defn: The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it; as, the slack of a rope or of a sail.
SLACK; SLACKEN Slack, Slack"en, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slacked, Slackened (; p. pr. & vb. n. Slacking, Slackening.] Etym: [See Slack, a.]
1. To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather.
2. To be remiss or backward; to be negligent.
3. To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake; as, lime slacks.
4. To abate; to become less violent. Whence these raging fires Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. Milton.
5. To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as, a current of water slackens.
6. To languish; to fail; to flag.
7. To end; to cease; to desist; to slake. [Obs.] That through your death your lineage should slack. Chaucer. They will not of that firste purpose slack. Chaucer.
SLACK; SLACKEN Slack, Slack"en, v. t.
1. To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage. Wycklif (Acts xxvii. 40)
2. To neglect; to be remiss in. [Obs.] Shak. Slack not the pressage. Dryden.
3. To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake; as, to slack lime.
4. To cause to become less eager; to repress; to make slow or less rapid; to retard; as, to slacken pursuit; to slacken industry. "Rancor for to slack." Chaucer. I should be grieved, young prince, to think my presence Unbent your thoughts, and slackened 'em to arms. Addison. In this business of growing rich, poor men should slack their pace. South. With such delay Well plased, they slack their course. Milton.
5. To cause to become less intense; to mitigate; to abate; to ease. To respite, or deceive, or slack thy pain Of this ill mansion. Milton. Air-slacked lime, lime slacked by exposure to the air, in consequence of the absorption of carton dioxide and water, by which it is converted into carbonate of lime and hydrate of lime.
SLACKEN Slack"en, n. (Metal.)
Defn: A spongy, semivitrifled substance which miners or smelters mix with the ores of metals to prevent their fusion. [Written also slakin.]
SLACKLY Slack"ly, adv.
Defn: In a slack manner. Trench.
SLACKNESS Slack"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being slack.
SLADE Slade, n. Etym: [AS. sl.]
1. A little dell or valley; a flat piece of low, moist ground. [Obs.] Drayton.
2. The sole of a plow.
SLAG Slag, n. Etym: [Sw. slagg, or LG. slacke, whence G. schlacke; originally, perhaps, the splinters struck off from the metal by hammering. See Slay, v. t.]
1. The dross, or recrement, of a metal; also, vitrified cinders.
2. The scoria of a volcano. Slag furnace, or Slag hearth (Metal.), a furnace, or hearth, for extracting lead from slags or poor ore. — Slag wool, mineral wool. See under Mineral.
SLAGGY Slag"gy, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to slag; resembling slag; as, slaggy cobalt.
SLAIE Slaie, n. Etym: [See Sley.]
Defn: A weaver's reed; a sley.
SLAKE Slake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaking.] Etym: [OE. slaken to render slack, to slake, AS. sleacian, fr. sleac slack. See Slack, v. & a.]
1. To allay; to quench; to extinguish; as, to slake thirst. "And slake the heavenly fire." Spenser. It could not slake mine ire nor ease my heart. Shak.
2. To mix with water, so that a true chemical combination shall take place; to slack; as, to slake lime.
SLAKE Slake, v. i.
1. To go out; to become extinct. "His flame did slake." Sir T. Browne.
2. To abate; to become less decided. [R.] Shak.
3. To slacken; to become relaxed. "When the body's strongest sinews slake." [R.] Sir J. Davies.
4. To become mixed with water, so that a true chemical combination takes place; as, the lime slakes. Slake trough, a trough containing water in which a blacksmith cools a forging or tool.
SLAKELESS Slake"less, a.
Defn: Not capable of being slaked.
SLAKIN Slak"in, n. (Metal.)
Defn: Slacken.
SLAM Slam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Slamming.] Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. slamra, slambra, sl, Norw. slemba, slemma, dial. Sw. slämma.]
1. To shut with force and a loud noise; to bang; as, he slammed the door.
2. To put in or on some place with force and loud noise; — usually with down; as, to slam a trunk down on the pavement.
3. To strike with some implement with force; hence, to beat or cuff. [Prov. Eng.]
4. To strike down; to slaughter. [Prov. Eng.]
5. To defeat (opponents at cards) by winning all the tricks of a deal or a hand. Hoyle. To slam to, to shut or close with a slam. "He slammed to the door." W. D. Howells.
SLAM Slam, v. i.
Defn: To come or swing against something, or to shut, with sudden force so as to produce a shock and noise; as, a door or shutter slams.
SLAM Slam, n.
1. The act of one who, or that which, slams.
2. The shock and noise produced in slamming. The slam and the scowl were lost upon Sam. Dickens.
3. (Card Playing)
Defn: Winning all the tricks of a deal.
4. The refuse of alum works. [Prov. Eng.]
SLAM-BANG Slam"-bang`, adv.
Defn: With great violence; with a slamming or banging noise. [Colloq.]
SLAMKIN; SLAMMERKIN Slam"kin, Slam"mer*kin, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schlampe, schlamp, dim. schlämpchen; schlampen to dangle, to be slovenly in one's dress.]
Defn: A slut; a slatternly woman. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
SLANDER Slan"der, n. Etym: [OE. sclandere, OF. esclandre, esclandle, escandre, F. esclandre, fr. L. scandalum, Gr. skand to spring, leap. See Scan, and cf. Scandal.]
1. A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another. Whether we speak evil of a man to his face or behind his back; the former way, indeed, seems to be the most generous, but yet is a great fault, and that which we call "reviling;" the latter is more mean and base, and that which we properly call "slander", or "Backbiting." Tillotson. [We] make the careful magistrate The mark of slander. B. Jonson.
2. Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium. Thou slander of thy mother's heavy womb. Shak.
3. (Law)
Defn: Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny. See the Note under Defamation. Burril.
SLANDER Slan"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slandered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slandering.]