3. To attempt to gain; to solicit; to seek.They might almost seem to have courted the crown of martyrdem.Prescott.Guilt and misery . . . court privacy and silitude. De Quincey.
4. To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract. A well-worn pathway courted us To one green wicket in a privet hedge. Tennyson.
COURTCourt, v. i.
1. To play the lover; to woo; as, to go courting.
COURT-BARONCourt"-bar`on (-br`n), n. (Law)
Defn: An inferior court of civil jurisdiction, attached to a manor, and held by the steward; a baron's court; — now fallen into disuse.
COURTBREDCourt"bred` (-brd`), a.
Defn: Bred, or educated, at court; polished; courtly.
COURT-CRAFTCourt"-craft` (krt"krft`), n.
Defn: The artifices, intrigues, and plottings, at courts.
COURT-CUPBOARDCourt"-cup`board (-kb`brd), n.
Defn: A movable sideboard or buffet, on which plate and other articles of luxury were displayed on special ocasions. [Obs.] A way with the joint stools, remove the court-cupboard, look to the plate. Shak.
COURTELLECourtelle n.
Defn: a wool-like fabric.[WordNet 1.5]
COURTEOUS Cour"te*ous (kr"t-s; 277), a. Etym: [OE. cortais, corteis, cortois, rarely corteous, OF. corties, corteis, F. courtois. See Court.]
Defn: Of courtlike manners; pertaining to, or exxpressive of, courtesy; characterized by courtesy; civil; obliging; well bred; polite; affable; complaisant. A patient and courteous bearing. Prescott. His behavior toward his people is grave and courteous. Fuller.
COURTEOUSLYCour"te*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a courteous manner.
COURTEOUSNESSCour"te*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being courteous; politeness; courtesy.
COURTEPYCour"te*py (kr"t-p), n. Etym: [D. kort short + pije a coarse cloth.]
Defn: A short coat of coarse cloth. [Obs.]Full threadbare was his overeste courtepy. Chaucer.
COURTERCourt"er (krt"r), n.
Defn: One who courts; one who plays the lover, or who solicits in marriage; one who flatters and cajoles. Sherwood.
COURTESAN Cour"te*san (kr"t-zn; 277), n. Etym: [F. courtisane, fr. courtisan courtier, It. cortigiano; or directly fr. It. cortigiana, or Sp. cortesana. See Court.]
Defn: A woman who prostitutes herself for hire; a prostitute; aharlot.Lasciviously decked like a courtesan. Sir H. Wotton.
COURTESANSHIPCour"te*san*ship, n.
Defn: Harlotry.
COURTESY Cour"te*sy (kr"t-s), n.; pl. Courtesies (-s. Etym: [OE. cortaisie, corteisie, courtesie, OF. curteisie, cortoisie, OF. curteisie, cortoisie, F. courtoisie, fr. curteis, corteis. See Courteous.]
1. Politeness; civility; urbanity; courtliness. And trust thy honest-offered courtesy, With oft is sooner found in lowly sheds, With smoky rafters, than in tapestry walls And courts of princes, where it first was named, And yet is most pretended. Milton. Pardon me, Messer Claudio, if once more I use the ancient courtesies of speech. Longfellow.
2. An act of civility or respect; an act of kindness or favor performed with politeness. My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you. Shak.
3. Favor or indulgence, as distinguished from right; as, a title given one by courtesy. Courtesy title, a title assumed by a person, or popularly conceded to him, to which he has no valid claim; as, the courtesy title of Lord prefixed to the names of the younger sons of noblemen.
Syn.— Politiness; urbanity; civility; complaisance; affability;courteousness; elegance; refinement; courtliness; good breeding. SeePoliteness.
COURTESYCourte"sy (krt"s), n. Etym: [See the preceding word.]
Defn: An act of civility, respect, or reverence, made by women, consisting of a slight depression or dropping of the body, with bending of the kness. [Written also curtsy.] The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual. Golgsmith.
COURTESYCourte"sy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Courtesied (-sd);; p. pr. & vb. n.Courtesyng.]
Defn: To make a respectful salutation or movement of respect; esp. (with reference to women), to bow the body slightly, with bending of the knes.
COURTESYCourte"sy, v. t.
Defn: To treat with civility. [Obs.]
COURTHOUSECourt"house`, n.
1. A house in which established courts are held, or a house appropriated to courts and public meetings. [U.S.]
2. A county town; — so called in Virginia and some others of the Southern States. Providence, the county town of Fairfax, is unknown by that name, and passes as Fairfax Court House. Barlett.
COURTIERCourt"ier (krt"yr), n. Etym: [From Court.]
1. One who is in attendance at the court of a prince; one who has anappointment at court.You know I am no courtier, nor versed in state affairs. Bacon.This courtier got a frigate, and that a company. Macualay.
2. One who courts or solicits favor; one who flatters. There was not among all our princes a greater courtier of the people than Richard III. Suckling.
COURTIERYCourt"ier*y (-), n.
Defn: The manners of a courtier; courtliness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
COURT-LEETCourt"-leet` (-lt`), n. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A court of record held once a year, in a particular hundred, lordship, or manor, before the steward of the leet. Blackstone.
COURTLIKECourt"like` (-lk`), a.
Defn: After the manner of a court; elegant; polite; courtly.
COURTLINESSCourt"li*ness (-l-ns), n. Etym: [From Courtly.]
Defn: The quality of being courtly; elegance or dignity of manners.
COURTLINGCourt"ling (-lng), n. Etym: [Court + -ling.]
Defn: A sycophantic courtier. B. Jonson.
COURTLYCourt"ly (-l), a. Etym: [From Court.]
1. Relating or belonging to a court.
2. Elegant; polite; courtlike; flattering. In courtly company or at my beads. Shak.
3. Disposed to favor the great; favoring the policy or party of the court; obsequious. Macualay.
COURTLYCourt"ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of courts; politely; gracefully; elegantly.They can produce nothing so courtly writ. Dryden
COURT-MARTIALCourt`-mar"tial (krt`mr"shal), n.; pl. Courts-martial (k.
Defn: A court consisting of military or naval officers, for the trial of one belonging to the army or navy, or of offenses against military or naval law.
COURT-MARTIAL Court`-mar"tial, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Court-martialed (-shald); p. pr. & vb. n. Court-martialing.]
Defn: To subject to trial by a court-martial.
COURT-PLASTERCourt"-plas`ter (krt"pls`tr), n.
Defn: Sticking plaster made by coating taffeta or silk on one side with some adhesive substance, commonly a mixture of isinglass and glycerin.
COURTSHIPCourt"ship (krt"shp), n.
1. The act of paying court, with the intent to solicit a favor. Swift.
2. The act of wooing in love; solicitation of woman to marriage. This method of courtship, [by which] both sides are prepared for all the matrimonial adventures that are to follow. Goldsmith.
3. Courtliness; elegance of manners; courtesy. [Obs.] Trim gallants, full of courtship and of state. Shak.
4. Court policy; the character of a courtier; artifice of a court; court-craft; finesse. [Obs.] She [the Queen] being composed of courtship and Popery. Fuller.
COURT TENNISCourt" ten"nis (krt" tn"ns).
Defn: See under Tennis.
COURTYARDCourt"yard (krt"yrd`), n.
Defn: A court or inclosure attached to a house.
COUSCOUSCous"cous` (ks"ks`), n.
Defn: A kind of food used by the natives of Western Africa, made of millet flour with flesh, and leaves of the baobab; — called also lalo.
COUSCOUSOUCous`cou*sou" (ks`k-s"), n.
Defn: A favorite dish in Barbary. See Couscous.
COUSIN Cous"in (kz"'n), n. Etym: [F. cousin, LL. cosinus, cusinus, contr. from L. consobrinus the child of a mother's sister, cousin; con- + sobrinus a cousin by the mother's side, a form derived fr. soror (forsosor) sister. See Sister, and cf. Cozen, Coz.]
1. One collaterally related more remotely than a brother or sister; especially, the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt.
Note: The children of brothers and sisters are usually denominated first cousins, or cousins-german. In the second generation, they are called second cousins. See Cater-cousin, and Quater-cousin. Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son, A cousin-german to great Priam's seed. Shak.
2. A title formerly given by a king to a nobleman, particularly to those of the council. In English writs, etc., issued by the crown, it signifies any earl. My noble lords and cousins, all, good morrow. Shak.
COUSINCous"in, n.
Defn: Allied; akin. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COUSINAGECous"in*age (-j), n. Etym: [F. cousinage, OF., also, cosinage. Cf.Cosinage, Cozenage.]
Defn: Relationship; kinship. [Obs.] Wyclif.
COUSIN-GERMANCous"in-ger"man (-jr"man), n. Etym: [Cousin + german closely akin.]
Defn: A first cousin. See Note under Cousin, 1.
COUSINHOODCous"in*hood (-hd), n.
Defn: The state or condition of a cousin; also, the collective body of cousins; kinsfolk.
COUSINLYCous"in*ly, a.
Defn: Like or becoming a cousin.
COUSINRYCous"in*ry (kz"'n-r), n.
Defn: A body or collection of cousins; the whole number of persons who stand in the relation of cousins to a given person or persons.
COUSINSHIPCous"in*ship, n.
Defn: The relationship of cousins; state of being cousins; cousinhood. G. Eliot.
COUSSINET Cous"si*net` (ks"s-nt`), n. Etym: [F., dim. of coussin cushion. See Cushionet.] (Arch.) (a) A stone placed on the impost of a pier for receiving the first stone of an arch. (b) That part of the Ionic capital between the abacus and quarter round, which forms the volute. Gwilt.
COUTEAUCou*teau" (k-t"), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A knife; a dagger.
COUTHCouth (kth), imp. & p. p. of Can. Etym: [See Can, and cf. Uncouth.]
Defn: Could; was able; knew or known; understood. [Obs.] Above all other one Daniel He loveth, for he couth well Divine, that none other couth; To him were all thing couth, As he had it of God's grace. Gower.
COUVADECou`vade" (k`vd"), n. Etym: [F., fr. couver. See Covey.]
Defn: A custom, among certain barbarous tribes, that when a woman gives birth to a child her husband takes to his bed, as if ill. The world-wide custom of the couvade, where at childbirth the husband undergoes medical treatment, in many cases being put to bed for days. Tylor.
COUVEUSECou`veuse", n. [F.] (Med.)
Defn: An incubator for sickly infants, esp. those prematurely born.
COVARIANTCo*va"ri*ant (k-v"r-ant), n. (Higher Alg.)
Defn: A function involving the coefficients and the variables of a quantic, and such that when the quantic is lineally transformed the same function of the new variables and coefficients shall be equal to the old function multiplied by a factor. An invariant is a like function involving only the coefficients of the quantic.
COVE Cove (kv), n. Etym: [AS. cofa room; akin to G. koben pigsty, orig., hut, Icel kofi hut, and perh. to E. cobalt.]
1. A retired nook; especially, a small, sheltered inlet, creek, or bay; a recess in the shore. Vessels which were in readiness for him within secret coves and nooks. Holland.
2. A strip of prairie extending into woodland; also, a recess in the side of a mountain. [U.S.]
3. (Arch.) (a) A concave molding. (b) A member, whose section is a concave curve, used especially with regard to an inner roof or ceiling, as around a skylight.
COVECove, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coved (kvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Coving.](Arch.)
Defn: To arch over; to build in a hollow concave form; to make in theform of a cove.The mosques and other buildings of the Arabians are rounded intodomes and coved roofs. H. Swinburne.Coved ceiling, a ceiling, the part of which next the wail isconstructed in a cove.— Coved vault, a vault composed of four coves meeting in a centralpoint, and therefore the reverse of a groined vault.
COVECove, v. t. Etym: [CF. F. couver, It. covare. See Covey.]
Defn: To brood, cover, over, or sit over, as birds their eggs. [Obs.] Not being able to cove or sit upon them [eggs], she [the female tortoise] bestoweth them in the gravel. Holland.
COVECove, n. Etym: [A gypsy word, covo that man, covi that woman.]
Defn: A boy or man of any age or station. [Slang]There's a gentry cove here. Wit's Recreations (1654).Now, look to it, coves, that all the beef and drink Be not filchedfrom us. Mrs. Browning.
COVELLINE; COVELLITE Co*vel"line (k-vl"ln), Co*vel"lite (-lt), n. Etym: [After Covelli, the discoverer.] (Min.)
Defn: A native sulphide of copper, occuring in masses of a dark blue color; — hence called indigo copper.
COVENABLECov"e*na*ble (kv"-n-b'l), a. Etym: [OF. covenable, F. convenable. SeeCovenant.]
Defn: Fit; proper; suitable. [Obs.] "A covenable day." Wyclif (Mark vi. 21).
COVENABLYCov"e*na*bly (kv"-n-bly), adv.
Defn: Fitly; suitably. [Obs.] "Well and covenably." Chaucer.
COVENANT Cov"e*nant (kv"-nant), n. Etym: [OF. covenant, fr. F. & OF. convenir to agree, L. convenire. See Convene.]
1. A mutual agreement of two or more persons or parties, or one of the stipulations in such an agreement. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant. 1 Sam. xviiii. 3. Let there be covenants drawn between us. Shak. If we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe covenants As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Shak.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: An agreement made by the Scottish Parliament in 1638, and by the English Parliament in 1643, to preserve the reformed religion in Scotland, and to extirpate popery and prelacy; — usually called the "Solemn League and Covenant." He [Wharton] was born in the days of the Covenant, and was the heir of a covenanted house. Macualay.
3. (Theol.)
Defn: The promises of God as revealed in the Scriptures, conditioned on certain terms on the part of man, as obedience, repentance, faith, etc. I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Gen. xvii. 7.
4. A solemn compact between members of a church to maintain its faith, discipline, etc.
5. (Law) (a) An undertaking, on sufficient consideration, in writing and under seal, to do or to refrain from some act or thing; a contract; a stipulation; also, the document or writing containing the terms of agreement. (b) A form of action for the violation of a promise or contract under seal.
Syn. — Agreement; contract; compact; bargain; arrangement; stipulation. — Covenant, Contract, Compact, Stipulation. These words all denote a mutual agreement between two parties. Covenant is frequently used in a religious sense; as, the covenant of works or of grace; a church covenant; the Solemn League and Covenant. Contract is the word most used in the business of life. Crabb and Taylor are wrong in saying that a contract must always be in writing. There are oral and implied contracts as well as written ones, and these are equally enforced by law. In legal usage, the word covenant has an important place as connected with contracts. A compact is only a stronger and more solemn contract. The term is chiefly applied to political alliances. Thus, the old Confederation was a compact between the States. Under the present Federal Constitution, no individual State can, without consent of Congress, enter into a compact with any other State or foreign power. A stipulation is one of the articles or provisions of a contract.
COVENANTCov"e*nant (kv"-nnt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Covenanted; p. pr. & vb. n.Covenanting.]
Defn: To agree (with); to enter into a formal agreement; to bind one's self by contract; to make a stipulation. Jupiter covenanted with him, that it should be hot or cold, wet or dry, . . . as the tenant should direct. L'Estrange. And they covenanted with him for thyrty pieces of silver. Matt. xxvi. 15.
Syn.— To agree; contract; bargain; stipulate.
COVENANTCov"e*nant, v. t.
Defn: To grant or promise by covenant.My covenant of peace that I covenanted with you. Wyclif.
COVENANTEECov`e*nan*tee" (kv`-nan-t"), n. (Law)
Defn: The person in whose favor a covenant is made.
COVENANTERCov"e*nant*er (kv"-nnt-r), n.
1. One who makes a covenant.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who subscribed and defended the "Solemn League andCovenant." See Covenant.
COVENANTINGCov"e*nant*ing, a.
Defn: Belonging to a covenant. Specifically, belonging to the ScotchCovenanters.Be they covenanting traitors, Or the brood of false Argyle Aytoun.
COVENANTORCov"e*nant*or` (-r`), n. (Law)
Defn: The party who makes a covenant. Burrill.
COVENOUSCov"e*nous (kv"-ns), a.
Defn: See Covinous, and Covin.
COVENTCov"ent (kv"ent), n. Etym: [OF. covent, F. couvent. See Convent.]
Defn: A convent or monastery. [Obs.] Bale. Covent Garden, a large square in London, so called because originally it was the garden of a monastery.
COVENTRYCov"en*try (kv"en-tr), n.
Defn: A town in the county of Warwick, England. To send to Coventry,to exclude from society; to shut out from social intercourse, as forungentlemanly conduct.— Coventry blue, blue thread of a superior dye, made at Coventry,England, and used for embroidery.
COVER Cov"er (kv"r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered (-rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Covering.] Etym: [OF. covrir, F. couvrir, fr. L. cooperire; co- + operire to cover; probably fr. ob towards, over + the root appearing in aperire to open. Cf. Aperient, Overt, Curfew.]
1. To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth.
2. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak. And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throune. Milton. All that beauty than doth cover thee. Shak.
3. To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon (one's self); as, he covered himself with glory. The powers that covered themselves with everlasting infamy by the partition of Poland. Brougham.
4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the snemy were covered from our sight by the woods. A cloud covered the mount. Exod. xxiv. 15. In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame. Milton.
5. To brood or sit on; to incubate. While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . . diverts her with his songs. Addison.
6. To overwhelm; to spread over. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen. Ex. xiv. 28.
7. To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat. His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round. Cowley.
8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit."Blessed is he whose is covered." Ps. xxxii. 1.
9. To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses.
10. To put the usual covering or headdress on. Cover thy head . . . ; nay, prithee, be covered. Shak.
11. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as. a horse covers a mare; — said of the male. To cover ground or distance, to pass over; as, the rider covered the ground in an hour. — To cover one's short contracts (Stock Exchange), to buy stock when the market rises, as a dealer who has sold short does in order to protect himself. — Covering party (Mil.), a detachment of troops sent for the protection of another detachment, as of men working in the trenches. — To cover into, to transfer to; as, to cover into the treasury.
Syn.— To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.
COVERCov"er (kv"r), n.
1. Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book.
2. Anything which weils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloack. "Under cover of the night." Macualay. A hendsome cover for imperfections. Collier.
3. Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover. Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst his army was under cover, they might be forced to retire. Clarendon.
4. (Huntig)
Defn: The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.
5. That portion of a slate, tile, or shingle, which is hidden by the overlap of the course above. Knight.
6. (Steam Engine)
Defn: The lap of a slide valve.
7. Etym: [Cf. F. couvert.]
Defn: A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests. To break cover, to start from a covert or lair; — said of game. — Under cover, in an envelope, or within a letter; — said of a written message. Letters . . . dispatched under cover to her ladyship. Thackeray.
COVERCov"er, v. i.
Defn: To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet. [Obs.]Shak.
COVERAGECov"er*age, n.
Defn: The aggregate of risks covered by the terms of a contract of insurance.
COVERCHIEFCov"er*chief (chf), n. Etym: [See Kerchef.]
Defn: A covering for the head. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COVERCLE Cov"er*cle (kv"r-k'l), n. Etym: [OF. covercle, F. couvercle, fr. L. coöperculum fr. coöperire. See cover]
Defn: A small cover; a lid. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
COVER CROPCov"er crop.
Defn: A catch crop planted, esp. in orchards. as a protection to the soil in winter, as well as for the benefit of the soil when plowed under in spring.
COVEREDCov"ered (kv"rd), a.
Defn: Under cover; screened; sheltered; not exposed; hidden. Covered way (Fort.), a corridor or banquette along the top of the counterscarp and covered by an embankment whose slope forms the glacis. It gives the garrisonn an open line of communication around the works, and a standing place beyond the ditch. See Illust. of Ravelin.
COVERERCov"er*er (-r), n.
Defn: One who, or that which, covers.
COVERINGCov"er*ing, n.
Defn: Anything which covers or conceals, as a roof, a screen, awrapper, clothing, etc.Noah removed the covering of the ark. Gen. viii. 13.They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have nocovering in the cold. Job. xxiv. 7.A covering over the well's mouth. 2 Sam. xvii. 19.
COVERLET Cov"er*let (kv"r-lt), n. Etym: [F. couvre-lit; couvrir to cover + lit bed, fr. L. lectus bed. See Cover.]
Defn: The uppermost cover of a bed or of any piece of furniture. Lay her in lilies and in violets . . . And odored sheets and arras coverlets. Spenser.
COVERLIDCov"er*lid (-ld), n.
Defn: A coverlet.All the coverlid was clocth of gold. Tennyson.
COVER-POINTCov"er-point` (-point!), n.
Defn: The fielder in the games of cricket and lacrosse who supports "point."
COVERSED SINE Co*versed" sine (k-vrst" sn`). Etym: [Co- (=co- in co- sine) + versed sine.] (Geom.)
Defn: The versed sine of the complement of an arc or angle. SeeIllust. of Functions.
COVER-SHAMECov"er-shame` (-shm`), n.
Defn: Something used to conceal infamy. [Obs.] Dryden.
COVERSIDECov"er*side`, n.
Defn: A region of country having covers; a hunting country.
COVERTCov"ert (kv"rt), a. Etym: [OF. covert, F. couvert, p. p. of couvrir.See Cover, v. t.]
1. Covered over; private; hid; secret; disguised. How covert matters may be best disclosed. Shak. Whether of open war or covert guile. Milton
2. Sheltered; not open or exposed; retired; protected; as, a covert nook. Wordsworth. Of either side the green, to plant a covert alley. Bacon.
3. (Law)
Defn: Under cover, authority or protection; as, a feme covert, a married woman who is considered as being under the protection and control of her husband. Covert way, (Fort.) See Covered way, under Covered.
Syn. — Hidden; secret; private; covered; disguised; insidious; concealed. See Hidden.
COVERTCov"ert, n. Etym: [OF. See Covert, a.]
1. A place that covers and protects; a shelter; a defense. A tabernacle . . . for a covert from storm. Is. iv. 6. The highwayman has darted from his covered by the wayside. Prescott.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. couverte.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the special feathers covering the bases of the quills of the wings and tail of a bird. See Illust. of Bird.
COVERT BARONCov"ert bar`on (br`n). (Law)
Defn: Under the protection of a husband; married. Burrill.
COVERTLYCov"ert*ly, adv.
Defn: Secretly; in private; insidiously.
COVERTNESSCov"ert*ness (kv"rt-ns), n.
Defn: Secrecy; privacy. [R.]
COVERTURECov"er*ture (kv"r-tr; 135), n. Etym: [OF. coverture,F.couverture.]
1. Covering; shelter; defence; hiding. Protected by walls or other like coverture. Woodward. Beatrice, who even now Is couched in the woodbine coverture. Shak.
2. (Law)
Defn: The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her husband, and therefore called a feme covert, or femme couverte.
COVETCov"et (kv"t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered; p. pr. & vb. n.Coveting.] Etym: [OF. coveitier, covoitier, F. convoiter, from aderivative fr. L. cupere to desire; cf. Skr. kup to become excited.Cf. Cupidity.]
1. To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of; — used in agood senCovet earnestly the best gifts. 1. Cor. xxii. 31.If it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive.Shak.
2. To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden). Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Ex. xx. 17.
Syn: To long for; desire; hanker after; crave.
COVETCov"et, v. i.
Defn: To have or indulge inordinate desire. Which [money] while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith. 1 Tim. vi. 10.
COVETABLECov"et*a*ble (kv"t—b'l), a.
Defn: That may be coveted; desirable.
COVETERCov"et*er (-r), n.
Defn: One who covets.
COVETISE Cov"et*ise (-s), n. Etym: [OF. coveitise, F. convoitise. See Covet, v. t. ]
Defn: Avarice. [Obs.] Spenser.
COVETIVENESSCov"et*ive*ness (-v-), n. (Phren.)
Defn: Acquisitiveness.
COVETOUSCov"et*ous (kv"t-s), a. Etym: [OF. coveitos, F. convoiteux. SeeCovet, v. t.]
1. Very desirous; eager to obtain; — used in a good sense. [Archaic] Covetous of wisdom and fair virtue. Shak. Covetous death bereaved us all, To aggrandize one funeral. Emerson.
2. Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (esp. money); avaricious; — in a bad sense. The covetous person lives as if the world were madealtogether for him, and not he for the world. South.
Syn.— Avaricious; parsimonious; penurious; misrely; niggardly. SeeAvaricious.
COVETOUSLYCov"et*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a covetous manner.
COVETOUSNESSCov"et*ous*ness, n.
1. Strong desire. [R.] When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness. Shak.
2. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; excessive desire for riches or money; — in a bad sense. Covetousness, by a greed of getting more, deprivess itself of the true end of getting. Sprat.
Syn.— Avarice; cupidity; eagerness.
COVEYCov"ey (kv"), n. Etym: [OF. cov, F. couv, fr. cover, F. couver, tosit or brood on, fr. L. cubare to lie down; cf. E. incubate. SeeCubit, and cf. Cove to brood.]
1. A brood or hatch of birds; an old bird with her brood of young; hence, a small flock or number of birds together; — said of game; as, a covey of partridges. Darwin.
2. A company; a bevy; as, a covey of girls. Addison.
COVEYCov"ey, v. i.
Defn: To brood; to incubate. [Obs.][Tortoises] covey a whole year before they hatch. Holland.
COVEYCov"ey, n.
Defn: A pantry. [Prov. Eng.] Parker.
COVINCov"in (kv"n), n. Etym: [OF. covine, covaine, fr. covenir to agree.See Covenant.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A collusive agreement between two or more persons to prejudice a third.
2. Deceit; fraud; artifice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COVING Cov"ing, n. (Arch.) (a) A cove or series of coves, as the concaved surface under the overhang of a projecting upper story. (b) The splayed jambs of a flaring fireplace.
COVINOUSCov"in*ous (kv"n-s), a. (Law)
Defn: Deceitful; collusive; fraudulent; dishonest.
COWCow (kou), n. Etym: [See Cowl a hood.]
Defn: A chimney cap; a cowl
COW Cow, n.; pl. Cows (kouz); old pl. Kine (k. Etym: [OE. cu, cou, AS. c; akin to D. koe, G. kuh, OHG. kuo, Icel. k, Dan. & Sw. ko, L. bos ox, cow, Gr. g. sq. root223. Cf. Beef, Bovine, Bucolic, Butter, Nylghau.]
1. The mature female of bovine animals.
2. The female of certain large mammals, as whales, seals, etc.
COWCow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowed (koud);; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowing.]Etym: [Cf. Icel. kuga, Sw. kufva to check, subdue, Dan. kue. Cf.Cuff, v. t.]
Defn: To depress with fear; to daunt the spirits or courage of; tooverawe.To vanquish a people already cowed. Shak.THe French king was cowed. J. R. Green.
COWCow, n. Etym: [Prob. from same root as cow, v.t.] (Mining)
Defn: A wedge, or brake, to check the motion of a machine or car; a chock. Knight.
COWAGECow"age (kou1j), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cowhage.
COWALKERCo`walk"er, n.
Defn: A phantasmic or "astral" body deemed to be separable from the physical body and capable of acting independently; a doppelgänger.
COWANCow"an (kou"an), n. Etym: [Cf. OF. couillon a coward, a cullion.]
Defn: One who works as a mason without having served a regular apprenticeship. [Scot.]
Note: Among Freemasons, it is a cant term for pretender, interloper.
COWARD Cow"ard (kou"rd), a. Etym: [OF. couard, coard, coart, n. and adj., F. couard, fr. OF. coe, coue, tail, F. queue (fr. L. coda, a form of cauda tail) + -ard; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf. Cue, Queue, Caudal.]
1. (Her.)
Defn: Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; — said of a lion.
2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly. Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak.
3. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, basefear or timidity.He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Shak.Invading fears repel my coward joy. Proir.
COWARDCow"ard, n.
Defn: A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; apoltroon.A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden.
Syn.— Craven; poltroon; dastard.
COWARDCow"ard, v. t.
Defn: To make timoroys; to frighten. [Obs.]That which cowardeth a man's heart. Foxe.
COWARDICECow"ard*ice (-s), n. Etym: [F. couardise, fr. couard. See Coward.]
Defn: Want of courage to face danger; extreme timidity;pusillanimity; base fear of danger or hurt; lack of spirit.The cowardice of doing wrong. Milton.Moderation was despised as cowardice. Macualay.
COWARDIECow"ard*ie (kou"rd-), n. Etym: [OF. couardie.]
Defn: Cowardice. [Obs.]
COWARDISHCow"ard*ish, a.
Defn: Cowardly. [Obs.] " A base and a cowardish mind." Robynson(More's Utopia).
COWARDIZECow"ard*ize (-, v. t.
Defn: To render cowardly. [Obs.]God . . . cowardizeth . . . insolent spirits. Bp. Hall.
COWARDLINESSCow"ard*li*ness (-l-ns), n.
Defn: Cowardice.
COWARDLYCow"ard*ly, a.
1. Wanting courage; basely or weakly timid or fearful; pusillanimous; spiritless. The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle. Shak.
2. Proceeding from fear of danger or other consequences; befitting a coward; dastardly; base; as, cowardly malignity. Macualay. The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face. Burke.
Syn. — Timid; fearful; timorous; dastardly; pusillanimous; recreant; craven; faint-hearted; chicken-hearted; white-livered.
COWARDLYCow"ard*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a coward. Spenser.
COWARDSHIPCow"ard*ship, n.
Defn: Cowardice. [Obs.] Shak.
COWBANECow"bane` (kou"bn`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A poisonous umbelliferous plant; in England, the Cicuta virosa; in the United States, the Cicuta maculata and the Archemora rigida. See Water hemlock.
COWBERRYCow"ber`ry (-br`r), n.; pl. Cowberries (-r. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Vaccinium (V. Vitis-id), which bears acid red berries which are sometimes used in cookery; — locally called mountain cranberry.
COWBIRDCow"bird` (-brd`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cow blackbird (Molothrus ater), an American starling. Like the European cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds; — so called because frequently associated with cattle.
COWBLAKESCow"blakes` (-blks`), n. pl.
Defn: Dried cow dung used as fuel.[Prov. Eng.] Simmonds.
COWBOYCow"boy` (-boi`), n.
1. A cattle herder; a drover; specifically, one of an adventurous class of herders and drovers on the plains of the Western and Southwestern United States.
2. One of the marauders who, in the Revolutionary War infested the neutral ground between the American and British lines, and committed depredations on the Americans.
COWCATCHERCow"catch`er (-kch`r), n.
Defn: A strong inclined frame, usually of wrought-iron bars, in front of a locomotive engine, for catching or throwing off obstructions on a railway, as cattle; the pilot. [U.S.]
COWDIECow"die (kou"d), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Kauri.
COWERCow"er (-r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cowered (-rd);p. pr. & vb. n.Cowering.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. kera to doze, liequiet, Sw. kura, Dan.kure, G. kauern to cower, W. cwrian.]
Defn: To stoop by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; hence, toquail; to sink through fear.Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire. Dryden.Like falcons, cowering on the nest. Goldsmith.
COWERCow"er (kou"r), v. t.
Defn: To cherish with care. [Obs.]
COWFISH Cow"fish` (-fch`), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The grampus. (b) A California dolphin (Tursiops Gillii). (c) A marine plectognath fish (Ostracoin quadricorne, and allied species), having two projections, like horns, in front; — called also cuckold, coffer fish, trunkfish.
COWHAGECow"hage (kou"hj), n. Etym: [Cf. Hind. kaw, ko.] (Bot.)
Defn: A leguminous climbing plant of the genus Mucuna, having crooked pods covered with sharp hairs, which stick to the fingers, causing intolerable itching. The spiculæ are sometimes used in medicine as a mechanical vermifuge. [Written also couhage, cowage, and cowitch.]
COWHEARTEDCow"heart`ed (-hrt`d), a.
Defn: Cowardly. The Lady Powis . . . patted him with her fan, and called him a cowhearted fellow. R. North.
COWHERDCow"herd` (-hrd`), n. Etym: [AS. c; c cow + hyrde a herder.]
Defn: One whose occupation is to tend cows.
COWHIDECow"hide` (-hd`), n.
1. The hide of a cow.
2. Leather made of the hide of a cow.
3. A coarse whip made of untanned leather.
COWHIDECow"hide`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowhided; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowhiding.]
Defn: To flog with a cowhide.
COWISHCow"ish (kou"sh), a. Etym: [From Cow, v. t.]
Defn: Timorous; fearful; cowardly. [R.] Shak.
COWISHCow"ish, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Peucedanum Cous) with edible tuberous roots, found in Oregon. [Written also cous.]
COWITCHCow"itch (kou"ch; 224), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cowhage.
COWL Cowl (koul), n. Etym: [AS cuhle, cugle, cugele; cf. dial. G. kogel, gugel, OF. coule, goule; all fr. LL. cuculla, cucullus, fr. L. cucullus cap, hood; perh. akin to celare to conceal, cella cell. Cf. Cucullate.]
1. A monk's hood; — usually attached to the gown. The nname was also applied to the hood and garment together. What differ more, you cry, than crown and cowl Pope.
2. A cowl-shaped cap, commonly turning with the wind, used to improve the draft of a chimney, ventilatingshaft, etc.
3. A wire cap for the smokestack of a locomotive.
COWLCowl, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. cuvele, cuvel, dim. of F. cuve tub, vat, fr.L. cupa. See Cup.]
Defn: A vessel carried on a pole between two persons, for conveyance of water. Johnson.
COWLEDCowled (kould), a.
Defn: Wearing a cowl; hooded; as, a cowled monk. "That cowled churchman." Emerson.
COWLEECHCow"leech` (kou"lch`), n. Etym: [2d cow + leech a physician.]
Defn: One who heals disease of cows; a cow doctor.
COWLEECHINGCow"leech`ing, n.
Defn: Healing the distemper of cows.
COWLICKCow"lick` (-lk`), n.
Defn: A tuft of hair turned up or awry (usually over the forehead), as if licked by a cow.
COWLIKECow"like` (-lk`), a.
Defn: Resembling a cow.With cowlike udders and with oxlike eyes. Pope.
COWLSTAFFCowl"staff` (koul"stf`), n. Etym: [Cowl a vessel + staff.]
Defn: A staff or pole on which a vessel is supported between two persons. Suckling.
COWORKERCo`work"er (k`wrk"r), n.
Defn: One who works with another; a co
COW PARSLEYCow" pars`ley (kou` prs`l). (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant of the genus Chærophyllum (C. temulum and C. sylvestre).
COW PARSNIPCow" pars`nip (-np). (Bot.)
Defn: A coarse umbelliferous weed of the genus Heracleum (H. sphondylium in England, and H. lanatum in America).
COWPEACow"pea` (-p`), n.
Defn: The seed of one or more leguminous plants of the genus Dolichos; also, the plant itself. Many varieties are cultivated in the southern part of the United States.
COWPER'S GLANDSCow"per's glands` (kou"prz glndz`). Etym: [After the discoverer,William Cowper, an English surgeon.] (Anat.)
Defn: Two small glands discharging into the male urethra.
COW-PILOTCow"-pi`lot (kou"p`lt), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A handsomely banded, coral-reef fish, of Florida and the WestIndies (Pomacentrus saxatilis); — called also mojarra.
COWPOCKCow"pock` (-pk`), n.
Defn: See Cowpox. Dunglison.
COWPOXCow"pox` (—pks`), n. (Med.)
Defn: A pustular eruptive disease of the cow, which, when communicated to the human system, as by vaccination, protects from the smallpox; vaccinia; — called also kinepox, cowpock, and kinepock. Dunglison.
COWQUAKECow"quake` (-kwk`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants (Briza); quaking grass.
COWRIECow"rie (-r), n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Kauri.
COWRIE; COWRYCow"rie Cow"ry (kou"r), n.; pl. Cowries (-r. Etym: [Hind. kaur.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine shell of the genus Cypræa.
Note: There are numerous species, many of them ornamental. FormerlyC. moneta and several other species were largely used as money inAfrica and some other countries, and they are still so used to someextent. The value is always trifling, and varies at different places.
COWSLIPCow"slip` (-slp`), n. Etym: [AS. c, c, prob. orig., cow's droppings.Cf. Slop, n.] (Bot.)
1. A common flower in England (Primula veris) having yellow blossoms and appearing in early spring. It is often cultivated in the United States.
2. In the United States, the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), appearing in wet places in early spring and often used as a pot herb. It is nearer to a buttercup than to a true cowslip. See Illust. of Marsh marigold. American cowslip (Bot.), a pretty flower of the West (Dodecatheon Meadia), belonging to the same order (Primulaceæ) with the English cowslip. — French cowslip (Bot.), bear's-ear (Primula Auricula).
COWSLIPPEDCow"slipped` (-slpt`), a.
Defn: Adorned with cowslips. "Cowslipped lawns." Keats.
COW'S LUNGWORTCow's" lung"wort` (kouz" lng"wrt`).
Defn: Mullein.
COW TREECow" tree` (kou" tr`). Etym: [Cf. SP. palo de vaca.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree (Galactodendron utile or Brosimum Galactodendron) of South America, which yields, on incision, a nourishing fluid, resembling milk.
COWWEEDCow"weed" (-wEd`),, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Cow parsley.
COWWHEATCow"wheat` (-hwt`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A weed of the genus Melampyrum, with black seeds, found onEuropean wheatfields.
COXCox (kks), n. Etym: [OE. cokes. Cf. Coax.]
Defn: A coxcomb; a simpleton; a gull. [Obs.]Go; you're a brainless cox, a toy, a fop. Beau. & Fl.
COXACox"a (kks"), n. Etym: [L., the hip.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The first joint of the leg of an insect or crustacean.
COXALGIA; COXALGYCox*al"gi*a (-l"j-), Cox"al`gy (kks"l`j), n. Etym: [NL. coxalgia, fr.L. coxa hip. + Gr. coxalgie.] (Med.)
Defn: Pain in the hip.
COXCOMBCox"comb` (kks"km`), n. Etym: [A corrupted spelling of cock's comb.]
1. (a) A strip of red cloth notched like the comb of a cock, which licensed jesters formerly wore in their caps. (b) The cap itself.
2. The top of the head, or the head itself. We will belabor you a little better, And beat a little more care into your coxcombs. Beau & Fl.
3. A vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments; a fop. Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy Of powdered coxcombs at her levee. Goldsmith. Some are bewildered in the maze of schools, And some made coxcombs, nature meant but fools. Pope.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several plants of different genera, but particularly to Celosia cristata, or garden cockscomb. Same as Cockscomb.
COXCOMBICALCox*comb"ic*al (kks-km"-kal), a.
Defn: Befitting or indicating a coxcomb; like a coxcomb; foppish;conceited.— Cox*comb"ic*al*ly, adv.Studded all over in coxcombical fashion with little brass nails. W.Irving.
COXCOMBLYCox"comb"ly (kks"km`l), a.
Defn: like a coxcomb. [Obs.] "You coxcombly ass, you!" Beau & Fl.
COXCOMBRYCox"comb`ry (-r), n.
Defn: The manners of a coxcomb; foppishness.
COXCOMICALCox*com"ic*al (kks-km"-kal), a.
Defn: Coxcombical. [R.]
COXCOMICALLYCox*com"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Conceitedly. [R.]
COXSWAINCox"swain` (kk"swn, Colloq. kk"s'n), n.
Defn: See Cockswain.
COYCoy (koi), a. Etym: [OE. coi quiet, still, OF. coi, coit, fr.L.quietus quiet, p. p. of quiescere to rest, quie rest; prob. akin toE. while. See While, and cf. Quiet, Quit, Quite.]
1. Quiet; still. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; — usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry. Coy, and difficult to win. Cowper. Coy and furtive graces. W. Irving. Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed, Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest. Goldsmith.
3. Soft; gentle; hesitating. Enforced hate, Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee. Shak.
Syn.— Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.
COYCoy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coyed (koid); p. pr. & vb. n. Coying.]
1. To allure; to entice; to decoy. [Obs.] A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets. Bp. Rainbow.
2. To caress with the hand; to stroke. Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy. Shak.
COYCoy, v. i.
1. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. [Obs.] Thus to coy it, With one who knows you too! Rowe.
2. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.] If he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home. Shak.
COYISHCoy"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat coy or reserved. Warner.
COYLYCoy"ly, adv.
Defn: In a coy manner; with reserve.
COYNESSCoy"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being coy; feigned o When the kind nymph would coyness feign, And hides but to be found again. Dryden.
Syn.— Reserve; shrinking; shyness; backwardness; modesty; bashfulness.
COYOTECoy"o*te (k"-t or k"t), n. Etym: [Spanish Amer., fr. Mexican coyotl.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A carnivorous animal (Canis latrans), allied to the dog, found in the western part of North America; — called also prairie wolf. Its voice is a snapping bark, followed by a prolonged, shrill howl.
COYOTE STATECoyote State.
Defn: South Dakota; — a nickname.
COYOTILLOCo`yo*til"lo, n. [Mex. Sp. dim. See Coyote.]
Defn: A low rhamnaceous shrub (Karwinskia humboldtiana) of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its berries are said to be poisonous to the coyote.
COYPUCoy"pu (koi"p), n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American rodent (Myopotamus coypus), allied to the beaver. It produces a valuable fur called nutria. [Written also coypou.]
COYSTRELCoys"trel (kois"trl), n.
Defn: Same as Coistril.
COZCoz (kz), n.
Defn: A contraction of cousin. Shak.
COZENCoz"en (kz"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cozened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n.Cozening (-'n-ng). ] Etym: [From cousin, hence, literally, to deceivethrough pretext of relationship, F. cousiner.]
Defn: To cheat; to defrand; to beguile; to deceive, usually by smallarts, or in a pitiful way.He had cozened the world by fine phrases. Macualay.Children may be cozened into a knowledge of the letters. Locke.Goring loved no man so well but that he would cozen him, and exposehim to public mirth for having been cozened. Clarendon.
COZENCoz"en, v. i.
Defn: To deceive; to cheat; to act deceitfully.Some cogging,cozening slave. Shak.
COZENAGECoz"en*age (-j), n. Etym: [See Cozen, and cf. Cousinage.]
Defn: The art or practice of cozening; artifice; fraud. Shak.
COZENERCoz"en*er (kz"'n-r), n.
Defn: One who cheats or defrauds.
COZIERCo*zier (k"zhr), n.
Defn: See Cosier.
COZILYCo"zi*ly (k"z-l), adv.
Defn: Snugly; comfortably.
COZINESSCo"zi*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being cozy.
COZY Co"zy (k"z), a. [Compar. Cozier (-z-r); superl. Coziest.] Etym: [Cf. Scot. cosie, cozie, prob. from Gael. cosach abounding in hollows, or cosagach full of holes or crevices, snug, sheltered, from cos a hollow, a crevice.]
1. Snug; comfortable; easy; contented. [Written also cosey and cosy.]
2. Etym: [Cf. F. causer to chat, talk.]
Defn: Chatty; talkative; sociable; familiar. [Eng.]
COZYCo"zy, n. Etym: [See Cozy,a.]
Defn: A wadded covering for a teakettle or other vessel to keep the contents hot.
CRABCrab (krb), n. Etym: [AS. crabba; akin to D. krab, G. krabbe, krebs,Icel. krabbi, Sw. krabba, Dan. krabbe, and perh. to E. cramp. Cf.Crawfish.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the brachyuran Crustacea. They are mostly marine, and usually have a broad, short body, covered with a strong shell or carapace. The abdomen is small and curled up beneath the body.
Note: The name is applied to all the Brachyura, and to certain Anomura, as the hermit crabs. Formerly, it was sometimes applied to Crustacea in general. Many species are edible, the blue crab of the Atlantic coast being one of the most esteemed. The large European edible crab is Cancer padurus. Soft-shelled crabs are blue crabs that have recently cast their shells. See Cancer; also, Box crab, Fiddler crab, Hermit crab, Spider crab, etc., under Box, Fiddler. etc.
2. The zodiacal constellation Cancer.
3. Etym: [See Crab, a.] (Bot.)
Defn: A crab apple; — so named from its harsh taste. When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl, Then nightly sings the staring owl. Shak.
4. A cudgel made of the wood of the crab tree; a crabstick. [Obs.] Garrick.
5. (Mech.) (a) A movable winch or windlass with powerful gearing, used with derricks, etc. (b) A form of windlass, or geared capstan, for hauling ships into dock, etc. (c) A machine used in ropewalks to stretch the yarn. (d) A claw for anchoring a portable machine. Calling crab. (Zoöl.) See Fiddler., n., 2. — Crab apple, a small, sour apple, of several kinds; also, the tree which bears it; as, the European crab apple (Pyrus Malus var.sylvestris); the Siberian crab apple (Pyrus baccata); and the American (Pyrus coronaria). — Crab grass. (Bot.) (a) A grass (Digitaria, or Panicum, sanguinalis); — called also finger grass. (b) A grass of the genus Eleusine (E. Indica); — called also dog's-tail grass, wire grass, etc. — Crab louse (Zoöl.), a species of louse (Phthirius pubis), sometimes infesting the human body. — Crab plover (Zoöl.), an Asiatic plover (Dromas ardeola). — Crab's eyes, or Crab's stones, masses of calcareous matter found, at certain seasons of the year, on either side of the stomach of the European crawfishes, and formerly used in medicine for absorbent and antacid purposes; the gastroliths. — Crab spider (Zoöl.), one of a group of spiders (Laterigradæ); — called because they can run backwards or sideways like a crab. — Crab tree, the tree that bears crab applies. — Crab wood, a light cabinet wood obtained in Guiana, which takes a high polish. McElrath. — To catch a crab (Naut.), a phrase used of a rower: (a) when he fails to raise his oar clear of the water; (b) when he misses the water altogether in making a stroke.
CRABCrab (krb), v. t.
1. To make sour or morose; to embitter. [Obs.] Sickness sours or crabs our nature. Glanvill.
2. To beat with a crabstick. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.
CRABCrab, v. i. (Naut.)
Defn: To drift sidewise or to leeward, as a vessel. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
CRABCrab, a. Etym: [Prob. from the same root as crab, n.]
Defn: Sour; rough; austere.The crab vintage of the neighb'ring coast. Dryden.
CRABBEDCrab"bed (krb"bd), a. Etym: [See Crab,n.]
1. Characterized by or manifesting, sourness, peevishness, or moroseness; harsh; cross; cynical; — applied to feelings, disposition, or manners. Crabbed age and youth can not live together. Shak.
2. Characterized by harshness or roughness; unpleasant; — applied to things; as, a crabbed taste.
3. Obscure; difficult; perplexing; trying; as, a crabbed author. "Crabbed eloquence." Chaucer. How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose. Milton.
4. Cramped; irregular; as, crabbed handwriting.— Crab"bed*ly, adv.— Crab"bed*ness, n.
CRABBERCrab"ber (krb"br), n.
Defn: One who catches crabs.
CRABBINGCrab"bing, n.
1. The act or art of catching crabs.
2. (Falconry)
Defn: The foghting of hawks with each other.
3. (Woolem Manuf.)
Defn: A process of scouring clocth be
CRABBISHCrab"bish (krb"bsh), a.
Defn: Somewhat sour or cross.The wips of the most crabbish Satyristes. Decker.
CRABBYCrab"by (-b), a.
Defn: Crabbed; difficult, or perplexing. "Persius is crabby, because ancient." Marston.
CRABEATER Crab"eat`er (krb"t`r), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The cobia. (b) An etheostomoid fish of the southern United States (Hadropterus nigrofasciatus). (c) A small European heron (Ardea minuta, and other allied species).
CRABERCra"ber (kr"br), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The water rat. Walton.
CRABFACEDCrab"faced` (krb"fst`), a.