Sisterhooks.
Sister, sis′tėr,n.a female born of the same parents: a female closely allied to or associated with another.—adj.closely related, akin.—v.t.andv.i.to resemble closely: to be a sister to: to be allied.—ns.Sis′terhood, state of being a sister, the duty of a sister: a society of females, a community of women living together under a religious rule, and with a common object for their united life;Sis′ter-hook, in a ship's rigging, one of a pair of hooks fitting closely together and working on the same axis—alsoClip-hookandClove-hook;Sis′ter-in-law, a husband's or wife's sister, or a brother's wife.—adjs.Sis′terless, having no sister;Sis′ter-like,Sis′terly, like or becoming a sister: kind: affectionate. [A.S.sweostor; Dut.zuster, Ger.schwester.]
Sistine, sis′tin,adj.pertaining to a pope of the name ofSixtus, esp. Sixtus IV. (1471-84) and Sixtus V. (1585-90)—alsoSix′tine.—Sistine Chapel, the Pope's chapel in the Vatican, built in 1473 by Sixtus IV., covered with magnificent frescoes by Michael Angelo and the great Florentine masters;Sistine Madonna, orMadonna of San Sisto, a famous painting by Raphael Santi, now at Dresden, representing the Virgin and Child in glory, St Sixtus on the left, St Barbara on the right, and two cherubs below.
Sistrum, sis′trum,n.a form of rattle used in ancient Egypt in connection with the worship of Isis.
Sisyphean, sis-i-fē′an,adj.relating to Sisyphus: incessantly recurring. [FromSisyphus, a king of Corinth, who was condemned in Tartarus to roll to the top of a hill a huge stone, which constantly rolled down again, making his task incessant.]
Sit, sit,v.i.to rest on the haunches: to perch, as birds: to rest: to remain, abide: to brood: to occupy a seat, esp. officially: to be officially engaged: to blow from a certain direction, as the wind: to be worn, to fit, to be becoming: to take an attitude of readiness, or for any special purpose: to hold a deliberative session.—v.t.to keep a seat, or good seat, upon: to seat, place on a seat:—pr.p.sit′ting;pa.t.andpa.p.sat.—n.a subsidence of the roof of a coal-mine: (slang) a situation.—adj.Sit′-fast, fixed, stationary.—n.a callosity of the skin under the saddle, often leading to ulcer.—ns.Sit′ter;Sit′ting, state of resting on a seat: a seat, a special seat allotted to a seat-holder, at church, &c.; also the right to hold such: the part of the year in which judicial business is transacted: the act or time of resting in a posture for a painter to take a likeness: an official meeting to transact business: uninterrupted application to anything for a time: the time during which one continues at anything: a resting on eggs for hatching, the number hatched at one time;Sit′ting-room, the parlour or most commonly used room in many houses.—Sit down, to take a seat: to pause, rest: to begin a siege;Sit loose, orloosely, to be careless or indifferent;Sit on, orupon, to hold an official inquiry regarding: (slang) to repress, check;Sit out, to sit, or to sit apart, during: to await the close of;Sit under, to be in the habit of hearing the preaching of;Sit up, to raise the body from a recumbent to a sitting position: to keep watch during the night (with). [A.S.sittan; Ger.sitzen, L.sedēre.]
Sitar, sit′ar,n.an Oriental form of guitar.
Site, sīt,n.the place where anything is set down or fixed: situation: a place chosen for any particular purpose: posture.—adj.Sī′ted(Spens.), placed, situated. [Fr.,—L.situs—situm, pa.p. ofsinĕre, to set down.]
Sith, sith,adv.,prep., andconj.since—(obs.)Sith′ence,Sith′ens. [M. E.sithen—A.S.síth thám, after that, also writtensiththan. Cf.Since.]
Sithe, sīth,n.(Spens.) time. [A.S.síth, time.]
Sithe, sīth,n.(Shak.) a scythe.—v.t.(Shak.) to cut with a scythe.
Sithe, sīth,n.(Spens.) a sigh.
Sitology, sī-tol′ō-ji,n.the science of the regulation of diet.—AlsoSitiol′ogy. [Gr.sitos, food,logia—legein, to say.]
Sitophobia, sī-tō-fō′bi-a,n.morbid aversion to food. [Gr.sitos, food,phobia, fear.]
Sitta, sit′a,n.the genus of nut-hatches.—adj.Sit′tine. [Gr.sittē, a woodpecker.]
Situate,-d, sit′ū-āt, -ed,adj.set or permanently fixed: placed with respect to other objects: residing.—ns.Situā′tion, the place where anything is situated: position: temporary state: condition: any group of circumstances, a juncture: a critical point in the action of a play or the development the plot of a novel: office, employment;Sī′tus, site: the proper place of an organ, &c.: locality in law. [Low L.situatus—L.situĕre, to place.]
Sitz-bath, sitz′-bäth,n.a hip-bath: a tub adapted for such. [Ger.sitz-bad.]
Sium, sī′um,n.a genus of umbelliferous plants—the water-parsnips. [Gr.sion.]
Siva, sē′va,n.the third god of the Hindu Trimúrti or triad, representing the principle of destruction and of reproduction.—adj.Sivaist′ic.—n.Si′vaite. [Sans.çiva, happy.]
Sivan, siv′an,n.the third month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, answering to part of May and June. [Heb.]
Sivatherium, siv-a-thē′ri-um,n.a very large fossil ruminant found in India.
Six, siks,adj.andn.five and one: a figure denoting six units (6, or vi.): a playing-card with six spots, the face of a die bearing six spots, or that die itself: beer sold at six shillings a barrel, small beer: (pl.) in hymnology, a quatrain in trochaic measure, the lines of three feet or six syllables.—adj.Six′fold, folded or multiplied six times.—ns.Six′footer, a person six feet high;Six′pence, a silver coin=six pence.—adj.Six′penny, worth sixpence: cheap, worthless.—ns.Six′-shoot′er, a six-chambered revolver;Sixte, a parry in which the hand is on guard opposite the right breast, the point of the sword raised and moved a little to the right.—adjs.andns.Six′teen, six and ten;Six′teenth, the sixth after the tenth.—adj.Sixth, the last of six: the ordinal of six.—n.the sixth part: (mus.) an interval of four tones and a semitone, or six intervals.—adv.Sixth′ly, in the sixth place.—Sixth hour, noon-tide.—Be at sixes and sevens, to be in disorder;Long sixes, candles weighing six to the pound, about 8 inches long;Short sixes, candles weighing six to the pound, about 4 inches long. [A.S.siex; Ger.sechs, Gael.se; also L.sex, Gr.hex, Sans.shash.]
Sixteenmo=Sexto-decimo(q.v.).
Sixty, siks′ti,adj.andn.six times ten.—adj.andn.Six′tieth, the sixth tenth: the ordinal of sixty. [A.S.sixtig.]
Sizar, sī′zar,n.the name of an order of students at Cambridge and Dublin—from the allowance of victuals made to them from the college buttery.—n.Sī′zarship. [Size, fixed quantity.]
Size, sīz,n.extent of volume or surface: magnitude: an allotted portion: (pl.) allowances (Shak.).—v.t.to arrange according to size: at Cambridge, to buy rations at a certain fixed rate: to measure.—v.i.to increase in size.—adjs.Sī′zable,Size′able, of suitable size: of considerable size or bulk;Sized, having a particular size.—ns.Sī′zer, one who, or that which, sizes or measures, a kind of gauge;Sī′zing, act of sorting articles according to size, esp. crushed or stamped ores in mining: an order for extra food from a college buttery.—Size up, to measure, consider carefully. [Contr. ofassize(q.v.).]
Size, sīz,Sizing,sī′zing,n.a kind of weak glue, used as varnish: any gluey substance.—v.t.to cover with size.—adj.Sized, having size in its composition.—n.Sī′ziness.—adj.Sī′zy, size-like: glutinous.
Sizel=Scissel(q.v.).
Sizzle, siz′l,v.i.to make a sound as if frying.—n.a hissing sound; extreme heat.—n.Sizz′ling, a hissing.
Skain=Skein(q.v.).
Skainsmate, skānz′māt,n.(Shak.) a companion, a scapegrace.
Skald,n.=Scald, a poet.
Skat, skat,n.a game played with thirty-two cards as in Piquet, and said to have been invented in 1817 in Altenburg. Each of three players receives ten cards, the two others being laid aside (hence the name from O. Fr.escart, laying aside).
Skate, skāt,n.a kind of sandal or frame of wood on a steel blade for moving on ice.—v.i.to slide on, skates.—ns.Skā′ter;Skā′ting;Skā′ting-rink. [Dut.schaats; cf. also Dan.sköite.]
Skate, skāt,n.the popular name of several species of Ray, esp. those of the familyRaiidæand genusRaia, with greatly extended pectoral fins. [Ice.skata—Low L.squatus—L.squatina; cf.Shad.]
Skathe. Same asScathe.
Skaw, skä,n.a promontory.—AlsoScaw. [Ice.skagi—skaga, to jut out.]
Skean, skēn,n.a dagger.—n.Skean-dhu(skēn′-dōō),the knife stuck in the stocking of the Highland dress. [Gael,sgian, a knife.]
Skeary, skē′ri, a dial. form ofscary.
Skedaddle, skē-dad′l,v.t.(prov.) to spill, scatter.—v.i.(coll.) to scamper off.—n.a scurrying off. [Ety. unknown. Prob. conn. somehow withshed—A.S.sceádan, to pour.]
Skee, skē,n.a wooden runner for sliding down a declivity.—v.i.to slide on skees. [Dan.ski—Ice.skídh.]
Skeel, skēl,n.(Scot.) a milking-pail, a washing-tub. [Scand., Ice.skjóla.]
Skeely, skē′li,adj.(Scot.) skilful.
Skeesicks, skē′ziks,n.(U.S.) a rascal.
Skeeter, skē′tėr,n.a mosquito.
Skeg, skeg,n.a stump, branch: the after-part of a ship's keel.
Skeg, skeg,n.a wild-plum.
Skein, skān,n.a knot or number of knots of thread or yarn. [O. Fr.escagne, from Celt.; cf. Ir.sgainne, a skein.]
Skelder, skel′dėr,v.i.andv.t.to practise begging: to swindle.
Skeleton, skel′e-tun,n.the bones of an animal separated from the flesh and preserved in their natural position: the framework or outline of anything: a very lean and emaciated person: a very thin form of light-faced type.—adj.pertaining to a skeleton—alsoSkel′etal.—ns.Skeletog′eny(-toj′-);Skeletog′raphy;Skeletol′ogy.—v.t.Skel′etonise, to reduce to a skeleton.—n.Skel′eton-key, a key for picking locks, without the inner bits.—Skeleton in the cupboard,closet,house, &c., some hidden domestic source of sorrow or shame. [Gr.skeleton(sōma), a dried (body)—skeletos, dried—skellein, to dry, to parch.]
Skelloch, skel′oh,v.i.(Scot.) to cry out with a shrill voice.—n.a squeal.
Skellum, skel′um,n.(Scot.) a ne'er-do-well. [Dut.schelm, a rogue.]
Skelly, skel′i,v.i.(Scot.) to squint. [Cf. Dan.skele, Sw.skela, Ger.schielen, to squint.]
Skelp, skelp,v.t.(Scot.) to slap.—v.i.to move briskly along, to bound along.—n.a slap: a heavy fall of pelting rain: a large portion.—adj.Skelp′ing, very big or full. [Gael.sgealp, a slap.]
Skelter, skel′tėr,v.i.to hurry or dash along.
Skep, skep,n.a grain-basket, or beehive made of straw or wicker-work.—n.Skep′ful, as much as a skep will hold. [A.S.scep—Scand., Ice.skeppa.]
Skeptic=Sceptic;Skepsis=Scepsis.
Skerry, sker′i,n.a rocky isle. [Ice.sker.]
Sketch, skech,n.a first draft of any plan or painting: an outline, a short and slightly constructed play, essay, &c.: a short dramatic scene for representation by two persons: an artist's preliminary study of a work to be elaborated.—v.t.to make a rough draft of: to draw the outline: to give the principal points of.—v.i.to practise sketching.—adj.Sketch′able, capable of being sketched effectively.—ns.Sketch′book, a blank book used for sketching by an artist or writer: a printed volume of literary sketches;Sketch′er, one who sketches.—adv.Sketch′ily.—n.Sketch′iness.—adj.Sketch′y, containing a sketch or outline: incomplete, slight. [Dut.schets, It.schizzo—L.schedium—schedius, made off-hand—Gr.schedios, sudden.]
Skew, skū,adj.oblique: intersecting a road, river, &c. not at right angles, as a bridge.—adv.awry: obliquely.—v.t.to turn aside.—n.a deviation, a mistake: a squint: (archit.) the sloping top of a buttress slanting off against a wall.—ns.Skew′-arch, an arch standing obliquely on its abutments;Skew′-back(archit.), the course of masonry on the top of an abutment with a slope for the base of the arch to rest against.—adj.Skew′-bald, spotted irregularly, piebald.—n.Skew′-bridge, a bridge having its arch or arches set obliquely on its abutments, as when a railway crosses a road, &c., at an oblique angle.—adjs.Skewed, distorted;Skew-gee′(coll.), crooked.—n.Skew′-wheel, a bevel-wheel with teeth formed obliquely on the rim. [Old Dut.schūwen(Dut.schuwen); Ger.scheuen, to shun; cf.Shy.]
Skewer, skū′ėr,n.a pin of wood or iron for keeping meat in form while roasting.—v.t.to fasten with skewers. [Prov. Eng.skiver, prob. the same asshiver, a splinter of wood.]
Skiascopy, skī′a-skō-pi,n.the shadow-test for measuring the refraction of an eye.—AlsoScī′ascopy. [Gr.skia, a shadow,skopein, to view.]
Skid, skid,n.a piece of timber hung against a ship's side to protect it from injury: a sliding wedge or drag to check the wheel of a wagon on a steep place: a slab put below a gun to keep it off the ground.—v.t.to check with a skid.—v.i.to slide along without revolving.—n.Skid′der, one who uses a skid. [Scand., Ice.skídh; A.S.scíd, a piece split off.]
Skiey, skī′i,adj.Same asSkyey.
Skiff, skif,n.a small light boat. [A doublet ofship.]
Skiff, skif,adj.(prov.) distorted: awkward.
Skill, skil,n.knowledge of anything: dexterity in practice.—v.i.to understand, to be dexterous in: to make a difference, to signify.—adj.Skil′ful, having or displaying skill: dexterous.—adv.Skil′fully.—n.Skil′fulness.—adjs.Skilled, having skill: skilful: expert;Skil′less(Shak.), wanting skill, artless. [Scand., as Ice.skil, a distinction,skilja, to separate.]
Skillet, skil′et,n.a small metal vessel with a long handle, used for boiling water, in cooking, &c. [Prob. from O. Fr.escuellette, dim ofescuelle(Fr.écuelle)—L.scutella, dim. ofscutra, a dish.]
Skilligalee, skil-i-ga-lē′,n.thin watery soup.—AlsoSkilligolee′,Skill′y. [Ety. dub.]
Skilling, skil′ing,n.a small coin formerly current in North Germany and Scandinavia, in value from ¼d. to 1d. [Dan.]
Skilts, skilts,n.pl.short loose trousers.
Skilvings, skil′vingz,n.pl.(prov.) the rails of a cart.
Skim, skim,v.t.to clear off scum: to take off by skimming: to brush the surface of lightly.—v.i.to pass over lightly: to glide along near the surface: to become coated over:—pr.p.skim′ming;pa.t.andpa.p.skimmed.—n.the act of skimming: what is skimmed off.—ns.Skim′mer, a utensil for skimming milk: a bird that skims the water;Skim′-milk, skimmed milk: milk from which the cream has been skimmed;Skim′ming, the act of taking off that which floats on the surface of a liquid, as cream: that which is taken off, scum.—adv.Skim′mingly, by skimming along the surface. [Scum.]
Skimble-skamble, skim′bl-skam′bl,adj.wandering, wild, rambling, incoherent.—adv.in a confused manner. [A reduplication ofscamble.]
Skimmington, skim′ing-ton,n.a burlesque procession intended to ridicule a henpecked husband: a riot generally.—AlsoSkim′ington,Skim′merton,Skim′itry. [Ety. unknown.]
Skimp, skimp,v.t.to give scanty measure, to stint: to do a thing imperfectly.—v.i.to be parsimonious.—adj.scanty, spare.—adj.Skim′ping, sparing: meagre: done inefficiently.—adv.Skim′pingly.—adj.Skim′py. [A variant ofscamp.]
Skin, skin,n.the natural outer covering of an animal body: a hide: the bark or rind of plants, &c.: the inside covering of the ribs of a ship: a drink of whisky hot.—v.t.to cover with skin: to cover the surface of: to strip the skin from, to peel: to plunder, cheat: to answer an examination paper, &c., by unfair means.—v.i.to become covered with skin: to sneak off:—pr.p.skin′ning;pa.t.andpa.p.skinned.—adj.Skin′-deep, as deep as the skin only: superficial.—ns.Skin′flint, one who takes the smallest gains: a very niggardly person;Skin′ful, as much as one can hold, esp. of liquor.—adj.Skin′less, having no skin, or a very thin one.—ns.Skin′ner;Skin′niness.—adjs.Skin′ny, consisting of skin or of skin only: wanting flesh;Skin′-tight, fitting close to the skin.—n.Skin′-wool, wool pulled from the skin of a dead sheep.—By, orWith,the skin of one's teeth, very narrowly;Clean skins, unbranded cattle;Save one's skin, to escape without injury. [A.S.scinn; Ice.skinn, skin, Ger.schinden, to flay.]
Skink, skingk,n.drink.—v.i.andv.t.to serve drink.—n.Skink′er, one who serves drink, a tapster.—adj.Skink′ing(Scot.), thin, watery. [A.S.scencan, to pour out drink; Ger.schenken.]
Skink, skingk,n.an African lizard. [L.scincus—Gr.skingkos, the adda.]
Skink, skingk,n.(Scot.) a shin-bone of beef, soup made from such. [Cf. Dut.schonk, a bone; cf.Shank.]
Skio, skyō,n.in Orkney, a fisherman's hut.—AlsoSkeo. [Norw.skjaa, a shed.]
Skip, skip,v.i.to leap: to bound lightly and joyfully: to pass over.—v.t.to leap over: to omit:—pr.p.skip′ping;pa.t.andpa.p.skipped.—n.a light leap: a bound: the omission of a part: the captain of a side at bowls and curling: a college servant.—ns.Skip′jack, an impudent fellow: the blue-fish, saurel, &c.;Skip′-ken′nel, one who has to jump the gutters, a lackey;Skip′per, one who skips: a dancer: (Shak.) a young thoughtless person: a hesperian butterfly.—adj.Skip′ping, flighty, giddy.—adv.Skip′pingly, in a skipping manner: by skips or leaps.—n.Skip′ping-rope, a rope used in skipping. [Either Celt., according to Skeat, from Ir.sgiob, to snatch, Gael.sgiab, to move suddenly, W.ysgipio, to snatch away; or Teut., conn. with Ice.skopa, to run.]
Skip, skip,n.an iron box for raising ore running between guides, or in inclined shafts fitted with wheels to run on a track, a mine-truck.
Skipetar, skip′e-tär,n.an Albanian: the Albanian language. [Albanianskipetar, a mountaineer.]
Skipper, skip′ėr,n.the master of a merchant-ship.—Skipper's daughters, white-topped waves. [Dut.schipper; Dan.skipper.]
Skipper, skip′ėr,n.a barn, a shed in which to shelter for the night.—v.i.to shelter in such a place.—n.Skipp′er-bird, a tramp. [Prob. W.ysguber, a barn.]
Skippet, skip′et,n.(Spens.) a small boat. [Dim. of A.S.scip, ship.]
Skippet, skip′et,n.a round flat box for holding a seal, which used to be attached to the parchment by ribbons passing through the lid.
Skirl, skirl,v.t.andv.i.(Scot.) to shriek shrilly.—n.a shrill cry.—n.Skir′ling, a shrill sound.
Skirmish, skėr′mish,n.an irregular fight between two small parties: a contest.—v.i.to fight slightly or irregularly.—ns.Skir′misher, a soldier belonging to troops dispersed to cover front or flank, and prevent surprises;Skir′mishing. [O. Fr.escarmouche—Old High Ger.skerman,scirman, to fight.]
Skirr, skėr,v.t.(Shak.) to ramble over, to scour.—v.i.to run in haste. [Scurry.]
Skirret, skir′et,n.an edible water-parsnip: a perennial plant, native to China and Japan. [Sugar-root.]
Skirt, skėrt,n.the part of a garment below the waist: a woman's garment like a petticoat: the edge of any part of the dress: border: margin: extreme part.—v.t.to border: to form the edge of.—v.i.to be on the border: to live near the extremity.—ns.Skirt′-danc′ing, a form of ballet-dancing in which the flowing skirts are waved about in the hands;Skir′ter, a huntsman who dodges his jumps by going round about;Skir′ting, strong material made up in lengths for women's skirts: skirting-board;Skir′ting-board, the narrow board next the floor round the walls of a room.—Divided skirt, a skirt in the form of loose trousers. [Scand., Ice.skyrta, a shirt. A doublet ofshirt.]
Skit, skit,n.any sarcastic squib, lampoon, or pamphlet. [Ice.skúti, a taunt.]
Skite, skīt,v.i.(Scot.) to glide or slip—alsoSkyte.—n.a sudden blow: a trick.—vs.i.Skit, to leap aside: to caper;Skit′ter, to skim lightly over: to void thin excrement: to draw a baited hook along the surface of water. [Scand., Sw.skutta, to leap,skjuta, to shoot.]
Skittish, skit′ish,adj.unsteady, light-headed, easily frightened: hasty, volatile, changeable: wanton.—adv.Skitt′ishly.—n.Skitt′ishness. [Skite.]
Skittles, skit′lz,n.pl.a game of ninepins in which a flattened ball or thick rounded disc is thrown to knock down the pins—played in aSkitt′le-all′ey, or-ground. In American Bowls, the game is played with ten pins arranged in the form of a triangle, the missile being rolled along a carefully constructed wooden floor.—v.t.Skitt′le, to knock down.—nSkitt′le-ball, the ball thrown in playing at skittles. [A variant ofshittleorshuttle.]
Skiver, skī′vėr,n.a kind of leather made of split sheep-skins, used for bookbinding, &c.—n.a machine for skiving leather.—v.t.Skive, to cut, pare off.—n.Skī′ving, the act of skiving: a piece skived off—of leather, usually on the flesh side. [From root ofshive,shiver.]
Skiver, skī′vėr,v.t.(prov.) to run through, to skewer.
Skivie, skiv′i,adj.(Scot.) deranged: askew.
Sklent, a Scotch form ofslant.
Skoal, skōl,interj.hail! a friendly exclamation of salutation before drinking, &c. [Ice.skál; Norw.skaal, a bowl, Sw.skål.]
Skolion, skō′li-on,n.a short drinking-song in ancient Greece, taken up by the guests in turn:—pl.Skō′lia. [Gr.]
Skrimmage. Same asScrimmage.
Skryer, skrī′ėr,n.one who uses the divining-glass.
Skua, skū′a,n.a bird of the familyLaridæ, esp. the Great Skua (Stercorarius catarrhactes), a rapacious bird about two feet long, the plumage predominantly brown, breeding in the Shetlands.—n.Skū′a-gull. [Norw.]
Skue, skū, an obsolete form ofskew.
Skug,Scug, skug,n.(prov.) shelter.—v.t.to shelter: to expiate.—n.Skug′gery,Scug′gery, secrecy.—adjs.Skug′gy,Scug′gy, shady. [Ice.skuggi, a shade.]
Skug, skug,n.(prov.) a squirrel.
Skulduddery. SeeSculduddery.
Skulk, skulk,v.i.to sneak out of the way: to lurk.—ns.Skulk,Skulk′er, one who skulks.—adv.Skulk′ingly.—n.Skulk′ing-place. [Scand., as in Dan.skulke, to sneak; conn. with Ice.skjöl, cover, hiding-place; also with Eng.scowl.]
Skull, skul,n.the bony case that encloses the brain: the head, the sconce, noddle: a crust formed on the ladle, &c., by the partial cooling of molten metal: in armour, the crown of the head-piece: (Scot.) a shallow, bow-handled basket.—n.Skull′cap, a cap which fits closely to the head: the sinciput.—adj.Skull′-less.—Skull and cross-bones, a symbolic emblem of death and decay. [Ice.skál, a shell; conn. withshellandscale, a thin plate.]
Skulpin=Sculpin.
Skunk, skungk,n.a small North American carnivorous quadruped allied to the otter and weasel, defending itself by emitting an offensive fluid: a low fellow: (U.S.) a complete defeat.—v.t.to inflict such.—ns.Skunk′-bird,-black′bird, the male bobolink in full plumage. [Indianseganku.]
Skupshtina, skoopsh′ti-na,n.the national assembly of Servia, having one chamber and 178 deputies, three-fourths elected and one-fourth nominated by the crown.—Great Skupshtina, specially elected for discussing graver questions.
Skurry=Scurry.
Sky, skī,n.the apparent canopy over our heads: the heavens: the weather: the upper rows of pictures in a gallery.—v.t.to raise aloft, esp. to hang pictures above the line of sight.—adjs.Sky′-blue, blue like the sky;Sky′-born, of heavenly birth.—n.Sky′-col′our, the colour of the sky.—adjs.Sky′-col′oured, blue, azure;Skyed, surrounded by sky;Sky′ey, like the sky: ethereal;Sky′-high, very high;Sky′ish(Shak.), like or approaching the sky, lofty.—n.Sky′lark, a species of lark that mounts high towards the sky and sings on the wing.—v.i.to engage in any kind of boisterous frolic.—ns.Sky′larking, running about the rigging of a ship in sport: frolicking;Sky′-light, a window in a roof or ceiling towards the sky for the admission of light;Sky′line, the horizon;Sky′-par′lour, a lofty attic;Sky′-pī′lot, a clergyman.—adj.Sky′-plant′ed, placed in the sky.—n.Sky′-rock′et, a rocket that ascends high towards the sky and burns as it flies.—v.i.to move like a sky-rocket, to rise and disappear as suddenly.—ns.Sky′sail, the sail above the royal;Sky′scape, a view of a portion of the sky, or a picture of the same;Sky′-scrāp′er, a sky-sail of a triangular shape: anything shooting high into the sky.—adj.Sky′-tinc′tured, of the colour of the sky.—adv.Sky′ward, toward the sky. [Ice.ský, a cloud; akin to A.S.scúa, Gr.skia, a shadow.]
Skye, skī,n.for Skye terrier. [SeeTerrier.]
Skyr, skir,n.curds. [Ice.]
Skyrin, skī′rin,adj.(Scot.) shining, showy.
Slab, slab,n.a thin slip of anything, esp. of stone, having plane surfaces: a piece sawed from a log.—v.t.to cut slabs from, as a log.—adj.Slab′-sid′ed, having long flat sides, tall and lank.—n.Slab′stone, flagstone. [Scand., Ice.sleppa, to slip, Norw.sleip, a slab of wood.]
Slab, slab,adj.thick.—n.mud.—adj.Slab′by, muddy. [Celt., Ir., and Gael.slaib, mud.]
Slabber, slab′ėr,v.i.to slaver: to let the saliva fall from the mouth: to drivel.—v.t.to wet with saliva.—n.Slabb′erer.—adj.Slabb′ery.—n.Slabb′iness.—adj.Slabb′y. [Allied to Low Ger. and Dut.slabbern; imit. Doubletslaver.]
Slack, slak,adj.lax or loose: not firmly extended or drawn out: not holding fast, weak: not eager or diligent, inattentive: not violent or rapid, slow.—adv.in a slack manner: partially: insufficiently.—n.that part of a rope, belt, &c. which is slack or loose: a period of inactivity: a slack-water haul of a net.—vs.i.Slack,Slack′en, to become loose or less tight: to be remiss: to abate: to become slower: to fail or flag.—v.t.to make less tight: to loosen: to relax: to remit: to abate: to withhold: to use less liberally: to check: (B.) to delay.—v.t.Slack′-bake, to half-bake.—adj.—Slack′-hand′ed, remiss.—n.Slack′-jaw(slang), impudent talk.—adv.Slack′ly.—n.Slack′ness.—adj.—Slack′-salt′ed, insufficiently salted.—n.Slack′-wa′ter, ebb-tide: slow-moving water, as that above a dam.—adj.pertaining to slack-water.—Slack away, to ease off freely;Slack-in-stays, slow in going about, of a ship;Slack off, to ease off;Slack up, to ease off: to slow. [A.S.sleac; Sw.slak, Ice.slakr.]
Slack, slak,n.coal-dross. [Ger.schlacke.]
Slack, slak,n.(Scot.) a cleft between hills: a common: a boggy place. [Scand., Ice.slakki, a hill-slope.]
Slade, slād,n.a little valley or dell; a piece of low, moist ground. [A.S.slæd, a plain; prob. Celt., Ir.slad.]
Slade, slād,n.a peat-spade.
Slae, a Scotch form of sloe.
Slag, slag,n.vitrified cinders from smelting-works, &c.: the scoriæ of a volcano.—v.i.to cohere into slag.—adj.Slag′gy, pertaining to, or like, slag. [Sw.slagg; cf. Ger.schlacke, dross.]
Slain, slān,pa.p.of slay.
Slaister, slās′tėr,n.(Scot.) a slobbery mess, slovenly work.—v.t.to bedaub.—v.i.to slabber: to move about in a dirty, slovenly manner.—adj.Slais′tery. [Prob. Sw.slaska, to dabble, slask, wet.]
Slake, slāk,v.t.to quench: to extinguish: to mix with water: to make slack or inactive.—v.i.to go out: to become extinct.—adj.Slake′less, that cannot be slaked: inextinguishable. [A.S.sleacian, to grow slack—sleccan, to make slack—sleac, slack.]
Slake, slāk,n.a channel through a swamp or morass: slime. [Ice.slakki, a hill-slope.]
Slake, slāk,v.t.(Scot.) to besmear.—n.a slabbery daub. [Prob. conn. with Ice.sleikja, to lick; Ger.schlecken, to lick.]
Slam, slam,v.t.orv.i.to shut with violence and noise: to throw down with violence: to win all the tricks in a card-game:—pr.p.slam′ming;pa.t.andpa.p.slammed.—n.the act of slamming: the sound so made: the winning of all the tricks at whist, &c. [Scand., Norw.slemma, Ice.slamra.]
Slam, slam,n.an old card-game.
Slam, slam,n.a shambling fellow. [Cf. Dut.slomp, Ger.schlampe.]
Slamkin, slam′kin,n.a loose 18th-century women's morning-gown.—AlsoSlam′merkin.
Slander, slan′dėr,n.a false or malicious report: malicious defamation by words spoken: calumny.—v.t.to defame: to calumniate.—n.Slan′derer.—adj.Slan′derous, given to, or containing, slander: calumnious.—adv.Slan′derously.—n.Slan′derousness, the state or quality of being slanderous. [O. Fr.esclandre—L.scandalum—Gr.skandalon.]
Slang, slang,n.a conventional tongue with many dialects, which are, as a rule, unintelligible to outsiders, such as Gypsy, Canting or Flash, Back-slang, and Shelta or Tinkers' Talk: any kind of colloquial and familiar language serving as a kind of class or professional shibboleth.—adj.pertaining to slang.—v.i.to use slang, and esp. abusive language.—v.t.to scold.—adv.Slang′ily.—n.Slang′iness.—adj.Slang′ular, slangy.—v.i.Slang′-whang, to talk slangily or boisterously.—n.Slang′-whang′er, an abusive and wordy fellow.—adj.Slang′y. [Explained by Skeat as Scand., Norw.sleng, a slinging, a device, a burthen of a song,slengja, to sling. Leland boldly makes it Romany, and orig. applied to everything relating to shows—in Hindustani,Swangi, also oftenSlangi.]
Slang, slang,n.a narrow strip of land.—AlsoSlank′et.Slang, slang,n.(slang) a counterfeit weight or measure: a travelling show, or a performance of the same: a hawker's license: a watch-chain: (pl.) convicts' leg-irons.
Slant, slant,adj.sloping: oblique: inclined from a direct line—alsoSlan′ting.—n.a slope: a gibe: (slang) a chance.—v.i.to turn in a sloping direction.—v.i.to slope, to incline towards: (Scot.) to exaggerate, to lie.—adj.Slantendic′ūlar, oblique: indirect.—advs.Slan′tingly, in a slanting direction: with a slope or inclination;Slant′ly,Slant′wise, in a sloping, oblique, or inclined manner.—Slant-of-wind, a transitory breeze of favourable wind. [Scand., Sw.slinta, to slide.]
Slap, slap,n.a blow with the hand or anything flat.—v.t.to give a slap to:—pr.p.slap′ping;pa.t.andpa.p.slapped.—adv.with a slap: suddenly, violently.—adj.(slang) first-rate.—adv.Slap′-bang, violently, all at once.—adj.dashing, violent.—n.a cheap eating-house.—adv.Slap′-dash, in a bold, careless way.—adj.off-hand, rash.—n.rough-cast harling: carelessly done work.—v.t.to do anything in a hasty, imperfect manner: to rough-cast with mortar.—n.Slap′per(slang), anything big of its kind.—adjs.Slap′ping, very large;Slap′-up, excellent, very grand. [Allied to Low Ger.slapp, Ger.schlappe; imit.]
Slap, slap,n.(Scot.) a gap in a fence: a narrow cleft between hills.—v.t.to break an opening in.
Slape, slāp,adj.(prov.) slippery, crafty. [Ice.sleipr, sleppr, slippery—slípa, to be smooth.]
Slapjack=Flapjack(q.v.).
Slash, slash,v.t.to cut by striking with violence and at random: to make long cuts: to ornament by cutting slits in the cloth in order to show some fine material underneath.—v.i.to strike violently and at random with an edged instrument: to strike right and left: to move rapidly.—n.a long cut: a cut at random: a cut in cloth to show colours underneath: a stripe on a non-commissioned officer's sleeve: a clearing in a wood.—adj.Slashed, cut with slashes: gashed.—ns.Slash′er, anything which slashes;Slash′ing, a slash in a garment: the felling of trees as a military obstacle, also the trees so felled.—adj.cutting mercilessly, unsparing: dashing: very big, slapping. [O. Fr.eslecher, to dismember—Old High Ger.slīzan, to split.]
Slash, slash,v.i.(Scot.) to work in wet.—n.a large quantity of watery food, as broth, &c.—adj.Slash′y, dirty, muddy. [Sw.slaska, dabble—slask, wet.]
Slat, slat,v.t.to strike, beat.—v.i.to flap violently.—n.a sudden sharp blow. [Scand., Ice.sletta, to slap, Norw.sletta, to cast.]
Slat, slat,n.a thin piece of stone, a slate: a strip of wood.—adj.made of slats.—adj.Slat′ted, covered with slats. [O. Fr.esclat—Old High Ger.slīzan, to slit.]
Slatch, slach,n.the slack of a rope: an interval of fair weather: a short breeze. [Slack.]
Slate, slāt,n.a highly metamorphosed argillaceous rock, fine-grained and fissile, and of a dull blue, gray, purple, or green colour—used in thin slabs of small size for ordinary roofs, and in larger slabs for dairy-fittings, wash-tubs, cisterns, tables, &c., and when polished for writing-slates and 'black-boards:' a piece of slate for roofing, or for writing upon: a preliminary list of candidates before a caucus.—adj.bluish-gray, slate-coloured.—v.t.to cover with slate: to enter on a slate.—ns.Slate′-axe, a slater's tool, a sax;Slate′-clay, a fissile shale.—adjs.Slā′ted, covered with slates;Slate′-gray, of a light slate colour.—ns.Slate′-pen′cil, a cut or turned stick of soft slate, or of compressed moistened slate-powder, for writing on slate;Slā′ter;Slā′tiness, the quality of being slaty;Slā′ting, the act of covering with slates: a covering of slates: materials for slating.—adj.Slā′ty, resembling slate: having the nature or properties of slate. [O. Fr.esclat—Old High Ger.slīzan, Ger.schleissen, to split.]
Slate, slāt,v.t.to abuse, criticise severely: (prov.) to set a dog at.—n.Slā′ting, a severe criticism. [A.S.slítan, to slit.]
Slater, slā′tėr,n.a terrestrial oniscid isopod, as the commonPorcellio scaber.
Slather, slath′ėr,n.(slang) a large quantity.
Slattern, slat′ėrn,n.a woman negligent of her dress: an untidy woman.—v.i.Slatt′er(prov.), to be untidy or slovenly.—n.Slatt′ernliness.—adj.Slatt′ernly, like a slattern: negligent of person: slovenly: dirty: sluttish.—adv.negligently: untidily.—adj.Slatt′ery(prov.) wet. [Fromslatter, a freq. ofslat, to strike (q.v.).]
Slaughter, slaw′tėr,n.a killing: a great destruction of life: carnage: butchery.—ns.Slaugh′terer;Slaugh′terhouse, a place where beasts are killed for the market;Slaugh′terman, a man employed in killing or butchering animals.—adj.Slaugh′terous, given to slaughter: destructive: murderous.—adv.Slaugh′terously. [Prob. Ice.slátr, butchers' meat, whenceslátra, to slaughter cattle. The A.S. issleaht—sleán, to slay.]
Slav,Slave, släv,n.one belonging to any of the Slavonic groups of Aryans—Bulgarians, Czechs, Poles, Russians, Servians, Wends, &c.—adj.Slav′ic. [SloveneorSlovane, from Polishslovo, a word, thus meaning the people who spoke intelligibly, as distinguished from their neighbour,Niemets, the German, lit. the dumb man. Miklosich considers both to be tribal names.]
Slave, slāv,n.a captive in servitude: any one in bondage: a serf: one who labours like a slave: a drudge: one wholly under the will of another: one who has lost all power of resistance.—v.i.to work like a slave: to drudge.—adj.Slave′-born, born in slavery.—ns.Slave′-drī′ver, one who superintends slaves at their work;Slave′-fork, a long and heavy branch into the forked end of which a slave's neck is fixed to prevent his escaping from the slave-trader's gang.—adj.Slave′-grown, grown on land worked by slaves.—ns.Slave′-hold′er, an owner of slaves;Slave′-hold′ing;Slave′-hunt, a hunt after runaway slaves;Slā′ver, a ship employed in the slave-trade;Slā′very, the state of being a slave: serfdom: the state of being entirely under the will of another: bondage: drudgery;Slave′-ship, a ship used for transporting slaves.—n.pl.Slave′-states, those states of the American Union which maintained domestic slavery before the Civil War—Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee.—ns.Slave′-trade, the trade of buying and selling slaves;Slave′-trā′der, a trader in slaves;Slā′vey(slang), a domestic drudge, a maid-servant.—adj.Slā′vish, of or belonging to slaves: becoming slaves: servile: mean: base: laborious.—adv.Slā′vishly.—ns.Slā′vishness;Slāvoc′racy, slave-owners collectively, or their interests, &c.;Slā′vocrat, a member of the slavocracy. [O. Fr.esclave—Mid. High Ger.slave(Ger.sclave), fromSlav, above.]
Slaver, slav′ėr,n.spittle or saliva running from the mouth.—v.i.to let the saliva run out of the mouth.—v.t.to smear with saliva.—n.Slav′erer.—adv.Slav′eringly, in a slavering manner.—adj.Slav′ery, slabbery. [Slabber.]
Slavonic, sla-von′ik,adj.of or belonging to theSlavs, or their language—alsoSclavon′ic,Slavō′nian,Sclavō′nian.—vs.t.Slavon′icise,Slav′onise, to render Slavonic in character, language, &c.—ns.Slav′ophil, one devoted to promoting the interests of the Slavonic peoples;Slav′ophilism, Slavophil feelings and aims;Slav′ophōbist, one who dreads the growth of Slav influence.
Slaw, slaw,n.sliced cabbage eaten as a salad. [Dut.slaa.]
Slay, slā,v.t.to strike: to kill: to put to death: to destroy:—pa.t.slew (slōō);pa.p.slain (slān).—n.Slay′er. [A.S.sleán; Ice.slá, Goth.slahan, Ger.schlagen, to strike.]
Sleave, slēv,n.the ravelled, knotty part of silk thread: (Shak.) floss-silk.—v.t.to separate, as threads:—pr.p.sleav′ing;pa.p.sleaved. [Cf. Dan.slöife, a loose knot, Sw.slejf, a knot of ribbon, Ger.schleife, a loop.]
Sleazy, slā′zi, or slē′zi,adj.thin and flimsy.—n.Slea′ziness. [Prob. Ger.schleissig, worn out, readily split—schleissen, to split.]
Sled, sled,Sledge, slej,n.a carriage with runners made for sliding upon snow: a sleigh: anything dragged without wheels along the ground.—v.t.andv.i.to convey, or to travel, in a sled.—p.adj.Sled′ded(Shak.), sledged.—ns.Sled′ding, the act of transporting on a sled;Sledge′-chair, a chair mounted on runners for ice. [Ice.sledhi; from a root seen in A.S.slídan, to slide.]
Sledge, slej,n.an instrument for striking: a large heavy hammer used chiefly by ironsmiths. [A.S.slecg—sleán, to strike, slay (cf. Ger.schlägel, a beater—schlagen).]
Sleek, slēk,adj.smooth: glossy: soft, not rough: insinuating, plausible: dexterous.—v.t.to make smooth or glossy: to calm or soothe.—v.i.to glide.—advs.Sleek,Slick, neatly.—v.t.Sleek′en, to make smooth or sleek.—ns.Sleek′er,Slick′er, a tool for dressing the surface of leather.—adj.Sleek′-head′ed, having a smooth head.—n.Sleek′ing, the act of making smooth.—adj.Sleek′it(Scot.), having a smooth skin: sly, cunning, fair-spoken.—adv.Sleek′ly.—ns.Sleek′ness;Sleek′-stone, a smooth stone used for polishing anything.—adj.Sleek′y, smooth: sly, untrustworthy. [Scand., Ice.slíkr, sleek; cf. Dut.slijk, Ger.schlick, grease.]
Sleep, slēp,v.i.to take rest by relaxation: to become unconscious: to slumber: to rest: to be motionless or inactive: to remain unnoticed: to live thoughtlessly: to be dead: to rest in the grave:—pa.t.andpa.p.slept.—n.the state of one who, or that which, sleeps: slumber: rest: the dormancy of some animals during winter: (bot.) nyctitropism.—n.Sleep′er, one who sleeps: a horizontal timber supporting a weight, rails, &c.—adv.Sleep′ily.—n.Sleep′iness.—p.adj.Sleep′ing, occupied with, or for, sleeping: dormant.—n.the state of resting in sleep: (Shak.) the state of being at rest or in abeyance.—ns.Sleep′ing-car,-carriage, a railway-carriage in which passengers have berths for sleeping in;Sleep′ing-draught, a drink given to bring on sleep;Sleep′ing-part′ner(seePartner).—adj.Sleep′less, without sleep: unable to sleep.—adv.Sleep′lessly.—ns.Sleep′lessness;Sleep′-walk′er, one who walks while asleep: a somnambulist;Sleep′-walking.—adj.Sleep′y, inclined to sleep: drowsy: dull: lazy.—n.Sleep′yhead, a lazy person.—On sleep(B.), asleep. [A.S.slǽpan—slǽp; Ger.schlaf, Goth.sleps.]
Sleet, slēt,n.rain mingled with snow or hail.—v.i.to hail or snow with rain mingled.—n.Sleet′iness.—adj.Sleet′y. [Scand., Norw.sletta, sleet.]
Sleeve, slēv,n.the part of a garment which covers the arm: a tube into which a rod or other tube is inserted.—v.t.to furnish with sleeves.—ns.Sleeve′-band(Shak.), the wristband;Sleeve′-butt′on, a button or stud for the wristband or cuff.—adjs.Sleeved, furnished with sleeves;Sleeve′less, without sleeves.—ns.Sleeve′-link, two buttons, &c., joined by a link for holding together the two edges of the cuff or wristband;Sleeve′-nut, a double-nut for attaching the joint-ends of rods or tubes;Sleeve′-waist′coat,Sleeved′-waist′coat, a waistcoat with long sleeves, worn by porters, boots, &c.—Hang on the sleeve, to be dependent on some one;Have in one's sleeve, to have in readiness for any emergency;Laugh in one's sleeve, to laugh behind one's sleeve, to laugh privately or unperceived;Leg-of-mutton sleeve, a woman's sleeve full in the middle, tight at arm-hole and wrist. [A.S.sléfe,sléf, a sleeve—slúpan, to slip; cog. with Ger.schlauf.]
Sleezy=Sleazy(q.v.).
Sleided, slād′ed,adj.(Shak.) unwoven. [Sley.]
Sleigh, slā,n.same asSled.—ns.Sleigh′-bell, a small bell attached to a sleigh or its harness;Sleigh′ing, the act of riding in a sleigh or sled.
Sleight, slīt,n.cunning: dexterity: an artful trick.—n.Sleight′-of-hand, legerdemain. [Ice.slægth, cunning,slægr, sly.]
Slender, slen′dėr,adj.thin or narrow: feeble: inconsiderable: simple: meagre, inadequate, poorly furnished.—adv.Slen′derly.—n.Slen′derness. [Old Dut.slinder, thin,slinderen, to drag; cf. Ger.schlendern, to saunter.]
Slept, slept,pa.t.andpa.p.ofsleep.
Sleuth-hound, slōōth′-hownd,n.a dog that tracks game by the scent, a blood-hound. [Slot.]
Slew, slōō,pa.t.ofslay.
Sley, slā,n.the reed of a weaver's loom. [A.S.slǽ—sleán, to strike.]
Slice, slīs,v.t.to slit or divide into thin pieces.—n.a thin broad piece: a broad knife for serving fish.—n.Slī′cer, one who, or that which, slices: a broad, flat knife. [O. Fr.esclice—Old High Ger.slīzan, to split.]
Slick, slik,adj.smooth: smooth-tongued: dexterous in movement or action.—adv.in a smooth manner, deftly. [Sleek]
Slick, slik,n.ore finely powdered. [Ger.schlich.]
Slickensides, slik′en-sīdz,n.the smooth, polished, or striated, and generally glazed surfaces of joints and faults in rocks, considered to have been produced by the friction of the two surfaces during the movement of the rock.—adj.Slick′ensided. [Sleek.]
Slid, slid,pa.t.andpa.p.ofslide.
Slidden, slid′n,pa.p.ofslide.
Slidder, slid′ėr,v.i.to slip, slide.—adj.Slidd′ery, slippery. [A.S.sliderian, to slip,slidor, slippery:—slídan, to slide.]