5. Any coating considered as resembling fur; as: (a) A coat of morbid matter collected on the tongue in persons affected with fever. (b) The soft, downy covering on the skin of a peach. (c) The deposit formed on the interior of boilers and other vessels by hard water.
6. (Her.)
Defn: One of several patterns or diapers used as tinctures. There are nine in all, or, according to some writers, only six. See Tincture.
FURFur, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to furs; bearing or made of fur; as, a fur cap; the fur trade. Fur seal (Zoöl.) one of several species of seals of the genera Callorhinus and Arclocephalus, inhabiting the North Pacific and the Antarctic oceans. They have a coat of fine and soft fur which is highly prized. The northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) breeds in vast numbers on the Prybilov Islands, off the coast of Alaska; — called also sea bear.
FURFur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Furred; p. pr. & vb. n. Furring.]
1. To line, face, or cover with fur; as, furred robes. "You fur your gloves with reason." Shak.
2. To cover with morbid matter, as the tongue.
3. (Arch.) To nail small strips of board or larger scantling upon, in order to make a level surface for lathing or boarding, or to provide for a space or interval back of the plastered or boarded surface, as inside an outer wall, by way of protection against damp. Gwill.
FURACIOUSFu*ra"cious, a. Etym: [L. furax, -racis thievish, from fur thief.]
Defn: Given to theft; thievish. [Obs.]
FURACITYFu*rac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. furacitas.]
Defn: Addictedness to theft; thievishness. [Obs.]
FURBELOW Fur"be*low, n. Etym: [Prov. F. farbala, equiv. to F. falbala, It. falbalà.]
Defn: A plaited or gathered flounce on a woman's garment.
FURBELOWFur"be*low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Furbelowed; p. pr. & vb. n.Furbelowing.]
Defn: To put a furbelow on; to ornament.
FURBISHFur"bish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Furbished; p. pr. & vb. n. Furbishing.]Etym: [OE. forbischen, OF. forbir, furbir, fourbir, F. fourbir, fr.OHG. furban to clean. See -ish.]
Defn: To rub or scour to brightness; to clean; to burnish; as, to furbish a sword or spear. Shak. Furbish new the name of John a Gaunt. Shak.
FURBISHABLEFur"bish*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being furbished.
FURBISHERFur"bish*er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fourbisseur.]
Defn: One who furbishes; esp., a sword cutler, who finishes sword blades and similar weapons.
FURCATE; FURCATEDFur"cate, Fur"ca*ted, a. Etym: [L. furca fork. See Fork.]
Defn: Forked; branching like a fork; as, furcate twigs.
FURCATIONFur*ca"tion, n.
Defn: A branching like a. fork.
FURCIFEROUS Fur*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. furcifer yoke bearer, scoundrel; furca fork, yoke, fork-shaped instrument of punishment + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Rascally; scandalous. [R.] "Furciferous knaves." De Quincey.
FURCULAFur"cu*la, n. Etym: [L., a forked prop, dim. of furca a fork.](Anat.)
Defn: A forked process; the wishbone or furculum.
FURCULARFur"cu*lar, a.
Defn: Shaped like a fork; furcate.
FURCULUMFur"cu*lum, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. furca a fork.] (Anat.)
Defn: The wishbone or merrythought of birds, formed by the united clavicles.
FURDLEFur"dle, v. t. Etym: [See Fardel, and cf. Furl.]
Defn: To draw up into a bundle; to roll up. [Ods.]
FURFURFur"fur, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Scurf; dandruff.
FURFURACEOUSFur"fu*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [L. furfuraceus.]
Defn: Made of bran; like bran; scurfy.
FURFURANFur"fu*ran, n. Etym: [L. furfur bran.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, oily substance, C4H4O, obtained by distilling certain organic substances, as pine wood, salts of pyromucic acid, etc.; — called also tetraphenol.
FURFURATIONFur"fu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. furfur bran, scurf.]
Defn: Falling of scurf from the head; desquamation.
FURFURINEFur"fu*rine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline base, obtained indirectly from furfurol.
FURFUROLFur"fu*rol, n. Etym: [L. furfur bran + oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless oily liquid, C4H3O.CHO, of a pleasant odor, obtained by the distillation of bran, sugar, etc., and regarded as an aldehyde derivative of furfuran; — called also furfural.
FURFUROUSFur"fu*rous, a.
Defn: Made of bran; furfuraceous. [R.] "Furfurous bread." SydneySmith.
FURIALFu"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. furialis: cf. OF. furial.]
Defn: Furious; raging; tormenting. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FURIBUNDALFu`ri*bun"dal, a. Etym: [L. furibundus, fr. furere to rage.]
Defn: Full of rage. [Obs.] G. Harvey.
FURIESFu"ries, n. pl.
Defn: See Fury, 3.
FURILEFu"rile, n. Etym: [Furfurol + benzile.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow, crystalline substance, (C4H3O)2.C2O2, obtained by the oxidation of furoin. [Written also furil.]
FURILICFu*ril"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, furile; as, furilic acid.
FURIOSOFu"ri*o"so, a.& adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: With great force or vigor; vehemently.
FURIOUS Fu"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. furiosus, fr. furia rage, fury: cf. F. furieux. See Fury.]
1. Transported with passion or fury; raging; violent; as, a furious animal.
2. Rushing with impetuosity; moving with violence; as, a furious stream; a furious wind or storm.
Syn.— Impetuous; vehement; boisterous; fierce; turbulent; tumultuous;angry; mad; frantic; frenzied.— Fu"ri*ous*ly, adv.— Fu"ri*ous*ness, n.
FURLFurl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Furld; p. pr. & vb. n. Furling.] Etym:[Contr. fr. furdle, fr. fardel bundle: cf. F. ferler to furl, OF.fardeler to pack. See Furdle, Fardel, and cf. Farl.]
Defn: To draw up or gather into close compass; to wrap or roll, as a sail, close to the yard, stay, or mast, or, as a flag, close to or around its staff, securing it there by a gasket or line. Totten.
FURLONG Fur"long, n. Etym: [OE. furlong, furlang, AS. furlang, furlung, prop., the length of a furrow; furh furrow + lang long. See Furrow, and Long, a.]
Defn: A measure of length; the eighth part of a mile; forty rods; two hundred and twenty yards.
FURLOUGH Fur"lough, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. D. verlof, fr. a prefix akin to E. for + the root of E. lief, and akin to Dan. forlov, Sw. förlof, G. verlaub permission. See Life, a.] (Mil.)
Defn: Leave of abserice; especially, leave given to an offcer or soldier to be absent from service for a certain time; also, the document granting leave of absence.
FURLOUGHFur"lough, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Furloughed (; p. pr. & vb. n.Furloughing.] (Mil.)
Defn: To furnish with a furlough; to grant leave of absence to, as to an offcer or soldier.
FURMONTY; FURMITYFur"mon*ty, Fur"mi*ty n.
Defn: Same as Frumenty.
FURNACE Fur"nace, n. Etym: [OE. fornais, forneis, OF. fornaise, F. fournaise, from L. fornax; akin to furnus oven, and prob. to E. forceps.]
1. An inclosed place in which heat is produced by the combustion of fuel, as for reducing ores or melting metals, for warming a house, for baking pottery, etc.; as, an iron furnace; a hot-air furnace; a glass furnace; a boiler furnace, etc.
Note: Furnaces are classified as wind or air. furnaces when the fire is urged only by the natural draught; as blast furnaces, when the fire is urged by the injection artificially of a forcible current of air; and as reverberatory furnaces, when the flame, in passing to the chimney, is thrown down by a low arched roof upon the materials operated upon.
2. A place or time of punishment, affiction, or great trial; severe experience or discipline. Deut. iv. 20. Bustamente furnace, a shaft furnace for roasting quicksilver ores. — Furnace bridge, Same as Bridge wall. See Bridge, n., 5. — Furnace cadmiam or cadmia, the oxide of zinc which accumulates in the chimneys of furnaces smelting zinciferous ores. Raymond. — Furnace hoist (Iron Manuf.), a lift for raising ore, coal, etc., to the mouth of a blast furnace.
FURNACEFur"nace, n.
1. To throw out, or exhale, as from a furnace; also, to put into a furnace. [Obs. or R.] He furnaces The thick sighe from him. Shak.
FURNIMENTFur"ni*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fourniment. See Furnish.]
Defn: Furniture. [Obs.] Spenser.
FURNISH Fur"nish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Furnished; p. pr. & vb. n. Furnishing.] Etym: [OF. furnir, fornir, to furnish, finish, F. fournir; akin to Pr. formir, furmir, fromir, to accomplish, satisfy, fr. OHG. frumjan to further, execute, do, akin to E. frame. See Frame, v. t., and - ish.]
1. To supply with anything necessary, useful, or appropriate; to provide; to equip; to fit out, or fit up; to adorn; as, to furnish a family with provisions; to furnish one with arms for defense; to furnish a Cable; to furnish the mind with ideas; to furnish one with knowledge or principles; to furnish an expedition or enterprise, a room or a house. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. iii. 17,
2. To offer for use; to provide (something); to give (something); to afford; as, to furnish food to the hungry: to furnish arms for defense. Ye are they . . . that furnish the drink offering unto that number. Is. lxv. 11. His writings and his life furnish abundant proofs that he was not a man of strong sense. Macaulay.
FURNISHFur"nish, n.
Defn: That which is furnished as a specimen; a sample; a supply.[Obs.] Greene.
FURNISHERFur"nish*er, n.
Defn: One who supplies or fits out.
FURNISHMENTFur"nish*ment, n.
Defn: The act of furnishing, or of supplying furniture; also, furniture. [Obs.] Daniel.
FURNITUREFur"ni*ture, n. Etym: [F. fourniture. See Furnish, v. t.]
1. That with which anything is furnished or supplied; supplies;outfit; equipment.The form and all the furniture of the earth. Tillotson.The thoughts which make the furniture of their minds. M. Arnold.
2. Articles used for convenience or decoration in a house or apartment, as tables, chairs, bedsteads, sofas, carpets, curtains, pictures, vases, etc.
3. The necessary appendages to anything, as to a machine, a carriage, a ship, etc. (a) (Naut.) The masts and rigging of a ship. (b) (Mil.) The mountings of a gun. (c) Builders' hardware such as locks, door and window trimmings. (d) (Print) Pieces of wood or metal of a lesser height than the type, placed around the pages or other matter in a form, and, with the quoins, serving to secure the form in its place in the chase.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: A mixed or compound stop in an organ; — sometimes called mixture.
FUROINFu"ro*in, n. Etym: [See Furfurol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, crystalline substance, C10H8O4, from furfurol.
FUROREFu*ro"re, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: Excitement; commotion; enthusiasm.
FURRIERFur"ri*er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fourreur.]
Defn: A dealer in furs; one who makes or sells fur goods.
FURRIERYFur"ri*er*y, n.
1. Furs, in general. Tooke.
2. The business of a furrier; trade in furs.
FURRINGFur"ring, n.
1. (Carp.) (a) The leveling of a surface, or the preparing of an air space, by means of strips of board or of larger pieces. See Fur, v. t., 3. (b) The strips thus laid on.
2. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: Double planking of a ship's side.
3. A deposit from water, as on the inside of a boiler; also, the operation of cleaning away this deposit.
FURROW Fur"row, n. Etym: [OE. forow, forgh, furgh, AS. furh; akin to D. voor, OHG. furuh, G. furche, Dan. fure, Sw. f, Icel. for drain, L. porca ridge between two furrows.]
1. A trench in the earth made by, or as by, a plow.
2. Any trench, channel, or groove, as in wood or metal; a wrinkle on the face; as, the furrows of age. Farrow weed a weed which grows on plowed land. Shak. — To draw a straight furrow, to live correctly; not to deviate from the right line of duty. Lowell.
FURROWFur"row, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Furrowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Furrowing.]Etym: [From Furrow, n.; cf. AS. fyrian.]
1. To cut a furrow in; to make furrows in; to plow; as, to furrow the ground or sea. Shak.
2. To mark with channels or with wrinkles. Thou canst help time to furrow me with age. Shak. Fair cheeks were furrowed with hot tears. Byron.
FURROWYFur"row*y, a.
Defn: Furrowed. [R.] Tennyson.
FURRYFur"ry, a. Etym: [From Fur.]
1. Covered with fur; dressed in fur. "Furry nations." Thomson.
2. Consisting of fur; as, furry spoils. Dryden.
3. Resembling fur.
FURTHERFur"ther, adv. Etym: [A comparative of forth; OE. further, forther,AS. fur, far; akin to G. fürder. See Forth, adv.]
Defn: To a greater distance; in addition; moreover. See Farther.Carries us, I know not how much further, into familiar company. M.Arnold.They sdvanced us far as Eleusis and Thria; but no further. Jowett(Thucyd. ).Further off, not so near; apart by a greater distance.
FURTHERFur"ther, a. compar. [Positive wanting; superl. Furthest.]
1. More remote; at a greater distance; more in advance; farther; as, the further end of the field. See Farther.
2. Beyond; additional; as, a further reason for this opinion; nothing further to suggest.
Note: The forms further and farther are in general not differentiated by writers, but further is preferred by many when application to quantity or degree is implied.
FURTHERFur"ther", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Furthered; p. pr. & vb. n.Furthering.] Etym: [OE. furthren, forthren, AS. fyredhran,fyredhrian. See Further, adv.]
Defn: To help forward; to promote; to advance; to forward; to help orassist.This binds thee, then, to further my design. Dryden.I should nothing further the weal public. Robynsom (More's Utopia).
FURTHERANCEFur"ther*ance, n.
Defn: The act of furthering or helping forward; promotion;advancement; progress.I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for yourfurthersnce and joy of faith. Phil. i. 25.Built of furtherance and pursuing, Not of spent deeds, but of doing.Emerson.
FURTHERERFur"ther*er, n.
Defn: One who furthers. or helps to advance; a promoter. Shak.
FURTHERMOREFur"ther*more", adv.
Defn: or conj. Moreover; besides; in addition to what has been said.
FURTHERMOSTFur"ther*most", a.
Defn: Most remote; furthest.
FURTHERSOMEFur"ther*some, a.
Defn: Tending to further, advance, or promote; helpful; advantageous.[R.]You will not find it furthersome. Carlyle.
FURTHESTFur"thest, a.
Defn: superl. Most remote; most in advance; farthest. See Further, a.
FURTHESTFur"thest, adv.
Defn: At the greatest distance; farthest.
FURTIVE Fur"tive, a. Etym: [L. furtivus, fr. furtum theft, fr. fur thief, akin to ferre to bear: cf. F. furtif. See Fertile.]
Defn: Stolen; obtained or characterized by stealth; sly; secret; stealthy; as, a furtive look. Prior. A hasty and furtive ceremony. Hallam.
FURTIVELYFur"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: Stealthily by theft. Lover.
FURUNCLE Fu"run*cle, n. Etym: [L. furunculus a petty thief, a boil, dim. of fur thief: cf. F. furoncle.] (Med.)
Defn: A superficial, inflammatory tumor, suppurating with a central core; a boil.
FURUNCULARFu*run"cu*lar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a furuncle; marked by the presence of furuncles.
FURYFu"ry, n. Etym: [L. fur.]
Defn: A thief. [Obs.]Have an eye to your plate, for there be furies. J. Fleteher.
FURY Fu"ry, n.; pl. Furies. Etym: [L. furia, fr. furere to rage: cf. F. furie. Cf. Furor.]
1. Violent or extreme excitement; overmastering agitation or enthusiasm. Her wit began to be with a divine fury inspired. Sir P. Sidney.
2. Violent anger; extreme wrath; rage; — sometimes applied to inanimate things, as the wind or storms; impetuosity; violence. "Fury of the wind." Shak. I do oppose my patience to his fury. Shak.
3. pl. (Greek Myth.) The avenging deities, Tisiphone, Alecto, and Megæra; the Erinyes or Eumenides. The Furies, they said, are attendants on justice, and if the sun in heaven should transgress his path would punish him. Emerson.
4. One of the Parcæ, or Fates, esp. Atropos. [R.] Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears, And slits the thin- spun life. Milton.
5. A stormy, turbulent violent woman; a hag; a vixen; a virago; a termagant.
Syn. — Anger; indignation; resentment; wrath; ire; rage; vehemence; violence; fierceness; turbulence; madness; frenzy. See Anger.
FURZEFurze, n. Etym: [OE. firs, As. fyrs.] (Bot.)
Defn: A thorny evergreen shrub (Ulex Europæus), with beautiful yellow flowers, very common upon the plains and hills of Great Britain; — called also gorse, and whin. The dwarf furze is Ulex nanus.
FURZECHATFurze"chat", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The whinchat; — called also furzechuck.
FURZELINGFurze"ling, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An English warbler (Melizophilus provincialis); — called also furze wren, and Dartford warbler.
FURZENFurz"en, a.
Defn: Furzy; gorsy. [Obs.] Holland.
FURZYFurz"y, a. a.
Defn: bounding in, or overgrown with, furze; characterized by furze.Gay.
FUSAIN Fu"sain", n. Etym: [F., the spindle tree; also, charcoal made from it.] (Eine Arts) (a) Fine charcoal of willow wood, used as a drawing implement. (b) A drawing made with it. See Charcoal, n. 2, and Charcoal drawing, under Charcoal.
FUSAROLE Fu"sa*role, n. Etym: [F. fusarolle, fr. It. fusaruolo, fr. fuso spindle, shaft of a column. See Fusee a conical wheel.] (Arch.)
Defn: A molding generally placed under the echinus or quarter round of capitals in the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders of architecture.
FUSCATION Fus*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. fuscare, fuscatum, to make dark, fr. fuscus dark.]
Defn: A darkening; obscurity; obfuscation. [R.] Blount.
FUSCINFus"cin, n. Etym: [L. fuscus dark-colored, tawny.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A brown, nitrogenous pigment contained in the retinal epithelium; a variety of melanin.
FUSCINEFus"cine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A dark-colored substance obtained from empyreumatic animal oil.[R.]
FUSCOUSFus"cous, a. Etym: [L. fuscus.]
Defn: Brown or grayish black; darkish. Sad and fuscous colors, as black or brown, or deep purple and the like. Burke.
FUSEFuse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fused (fuzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Fusing.]Etym: [L. fusus, p. p. of fundere to pour, melt, cast. See Foundo tocast, and cf. Futile.]
1. To liquefy by heat; to render fiuid; to dissolve; to melt.
2. To unite or blend, as if melted together. Whose fancy fuses old and new. Tennyson.
FUSEFuse, v. i.
1. To be reduced from a solid to a Quid state by heat; to be melted; to melt.
2. To be blended, as if melted together. Fusing point, the degree of temperature at which a substance melts; the point of fusion.
FUSE Fuse, n. Etym: [For fusee, fusil. See 2d Fusil.] (Gunnery, Mining, etc.)
Defn: A tube or casing filled with combustible matter, by means of which a charge of powder is ignited, as in blasting; — called also fuzee. See Fuze. Fuse hole, the hole in a shell prepared for the reception of the fuse. Farrow.
FUSEEFu*see", n. Etym: [See 2d Fusil, and cf. Fuse, n.]
1. A flintlock gun. See 2d Fusil. [Obs.]
2. A fuse. See Fuse, n.
3. A kind of match for lighting a pipe or cigar. (Railroad)
Defn: A small packet of explosive material with wire appendages allowing it to be conveniently attached to a railroad track. It will explode with a loud report when run over by a train, and is used to provide a warning signal to the engineer.
FUSEEFu*see", n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: The track of a buck. Ainsworth.
FUSEE Fu*see", n. Etym: [F. fusée a spindleful, fusee, LL. fusata, fr. fusare to use a spindle, L. fusus spindle.] (a) The cone or conical wheel of a watch or clock, designed to equalize the power of the mainspring by having the chain from the barrel which contains the spring wind in a spiral groove on the surface of the cone in such a manner that the diameter of the cone at the point where the chain acts may correspond with the degree of tension of the spring. (b) A similar wheel used in other machinery.
FUSEL; FUSEL OILFu"sel, n., Fu"sel oil. Etym: [G. fusel bad liquor.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hot, acrid, oily liquid, accompanying many alcoholic liquors (as potato whisky, corn whisky, etc.), as an undesirable ingredient, and consisting of several of the higher alcohols and compound ethers, but particularly of amyl alcohol; hence, specifically applied to amyl alcohol.
FUSELAGEFu"se*lage, n. (Aëronautics)
Defn: An elongated body or frame of an aëroplane or flying machine; sometimes, erroneously, any kind of frame or body. Many aëroplanes have no fuselage, properly so called.
FUSE PLUG; FUZE PLUGFuse, or Fuze, plug .
1. (Ordnance)
Defn: A plug fitted to the fuse hole of a shell to hold the fuse.
2. A fusible plug that screws into a receptacle, used as a fuse in electric wiring.
FUSIBILITYFu"si*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fusibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being fusible.
FUSIBLEFu"si*ble, a. Etym: [F. fusible. See Fuse, v. t.]
Defn: CapabIe of being melted or liquefied. Fusible metal, any alloy of different metals capable of being easily fused, especially an alloy of five parts of bismuth, three of lead, and two of tin, which melts at a temperature below that of boiling water. Ure. — Fusible plug (Steam Boiler), a piece of easily fusible alloy, placed in one of the sheets and intended to melt and blow off the steam in case of low water.
FUSIFORMFu"si*form, a. Etym: [L. fusus spindle + -form: cf. F. fusiforme.]
Defn: Shaped like a spindle; tapering at each end; as, a fusiform root; a fusiform cell.
FUSIL Fu"sil, a. Etym: [L. fusilis molten, fluid, fr. fundere, fusum, to pour, cast. See Fuse, v. t.]
1. Capable of being melted or rendered fluid by heat; fusible. [R.] "A kind of fusil marble" Woodward.
2. Running or flowing, as a liquid. [R.] "A fusil sea." J. Philips.
3. Formed by melting and pouring into a mold; cast; founded. [Obs.] Milton.
FUSILFu"sil, n. Etym: [F. fusil, LL. fosile a steel for kindling fire,from L. focus hearth, fireplace, in LLL. fire. See Focus, and cf.Fusee a firelock.]
Defn: A light kind of flintlock musket, formerly in use.
FUSILFu"sil, n. Etym: [See 3d Fusee.] (Her.)
Defn: A bearing of a rhomboidal figure; — named from its shape, which resembles that of a spindle.
Note: It differs from a lozenge in being longer in proportion to its width.
FUSILEFu"sile, a.
Defn: Same as Fusil, a.
FUSILEER; FUSILIER Fu"sil*eer", Fu"sil*ier", n. Etym: [F. fusilier, fr. fusil.] (Mil.) (a) Formerly, a soldier armed with a fusil. Hence, in the plural: (b) A title now borne by some regiments and companies; as, "The Royal Fusiliers," etc.
FUSILLADE Fu"sil*lade", n. Etym: [F. fusillade, cf. It. fucilata. See Fusil a firelock.] (Mil.)
Defn: A simultaneous discharge of firearms.
FUSILLADEFu"sil*lade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fusillader; p. pr. & vb. n.Fusillading.]
Defn: To shoot down of shoot at by a simultaneous discharge of firearms.
FUSION Fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. fusio, fr. fundere, fusum to pour, melt: cf. F. fusion. See Fuse, v. t., aud cf, Foison.]
1. The act or operation of melting or rendering fluid by heat; the act of melting together; as, the fusion of metals.
2. The state of being melted or dissolved by heat; a state of fluidity or flowing in consequence of heat; as, metals in fusion.
3. The union or blending together of things, as, melted together. The universal fusion of races, languages, and customs . . . had produced a corresponding fusion of creeds. C. Kingsley. Watery fusion (Chem.) the melting of certain crystals by heat in their own water of crystallization.
4. (Biol.)
Defn: The union, or binding together, of adjacent parts or tissues.
FUSOME Fu"some, a. Etym: [AS. f to hasten, fr. f ready, prompt, quick; akin to OS. f, OHG. funs, Icel. fuss willing; prob. from the root of E. find.]
Defn: Handy; reat; handsome; notable. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
FUSSFuss, n. Etym: [Cf. Fusome.]
1. A tumult; a bustle; unnecessary or annoying ado about trifles. Byron. Zealously, assiduously, and with a minimum of fuss or noise Carlyle.
2. One who is unduly anxious about trifles. [R.] I am a fuss and I don't deny it. W. D. Howell.
FUSSFuss, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fussed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fussing.]
Defn: To be overbusy or unduly anxious about trifles; to make a bustle or ado. Sir W. Scott.
FUSSILYFuss"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fussy manner. Byron.
FUSSINESSFuss"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being fussy.
FUSSYFuss"y, a. [Compar. Fussier; superl Fussiest.]
Defn: Making a fuss; disposed to make an unnecessary ado about trifles; overnice; fidgety. Not at all fussy about his personal appearance. R. G. White.
FUSTFust, n. Etym: [OF. fust, F. f, fr. L. fustis stick staff.] (Arch.)
Defn: The shaft of a column, or trunk of pilaster. Gwilt.
FUST Fust, n. Etym: [OF. fust cask, F. f cask, taste or smell of the caak, fustiness, cf. sentir le f to taste of the cask. See 1st Fust.]
Defn: A strong, musty smell; mustiness.
FUSTFust, v. i.
Defn: To become moldy; to smell ill. [Obs.]
FUSTEDFust"ed, a.
Defn: Moldy; ill-smelling. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
FUSTERICFus"ter*ic, n.
Defn: The coloring matter of fustet. Ure.
FUSTET Fus"tet, n. Etym: [F. fustet (cf. Sp. & Pg. fustete), LL. fustetus, fr. L. fustis stick, in LL., tree, See 1st Fust, and cf. Fustic.]
Defn: The wood of the Rhus Cptinus or Venice sumach, a shrub of Southern Europe, which yields a fine orange color, which, however, is not durable without a mordant. Ure.
FUSTIANFus"tian, n. Etym: [OE. fustan, fustian, OF. fustaine, F. futaine,It. fustagno, fr. LL. fustaneum, fustanum; cf. Pr. fustani, Sp.fustan. So called from Fustat, i. e., Cairo, where it was made.]
1. A kind of coarse twilled cotton or cotton and linen stuff, including corduroy, velveteen, etc.
2. An inflated style of writing; a kind of writing in which high- sounding words are used,' above the dignity of the thoughts or subject; bombast. Claudius . . . has run his description into the most wretched fustian. Addison.
FUSTIANFus"tian, a.
1. Made of fustian.
2. Pompous; ridiculously tumid; inflated; bombastic; as, fustian history. Walpole.
FUSTIANISTFus"tian*ist, n.
Defn: A writer of fustian. [R.] Milton.
FUSTICFus"tic, n. Etym: [F. fustoc, Sp. fustoc. Cf. Fustet.]
Defn: The wood of the Maclura tinctoria, a tree growing in the West Indies, used in dyeing yellow; — called also old fustic. [Written also fustoc.]
Note: Other kinds of yellow wood are often called fustic; as that of species of Xanthoxylum, and especially the Rhus Cotinus, which is sometimes called young fustic to distinguish it from the Maclura. See Fustet.
FUSTIGATEFus"ti*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. fustigare, fr. fustis stick. See 1stFust.]
Defn: To cudgel. [R.] Bailey.
FUSTIGATIONFus"ti*ga"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fustigation.]
Defn: A punishment by beating with a stick or club; cudgeling.This satire, composed of actual fustigation. Motley.
FUSTILARIANFus"ti*la"ri*an, n. Etym: [From Fusty.]
Defn: A low fellow; a stinkard; a scoundrel. [Obs.] Shak.
FUSTILUG; FUSTILUGS Fus"ti*lug` (, Fus"ti*lugs`, n. Etym: [Fusty + lug someting heavy, to be drawn or carried.]
Defn: A gross, fat, unwieldy person. [Obs.] F. Junius.
FUSTINESSFus"ti*ness, n.
Defn: A fusty state or quality; moldiness; mustiness; an ill smell from moldiness.
FUSTYFusty, a. [Compar. Fustier; superl Fustiest.] Etym: [See 2d Fust.]
1. Moldy; musty; ill-smelling; rank. "A fusty plebeians." Shak.
2. Moping. [Archaic] A melancholy, fusty humor. Pepys.
FUSUREFu"sure, n. Etym: [L. fusura, fr. fundere, fusum. See Fuse, v. t.]
Defn: Act of fusing; fusion. [R.]
FUTCHELFutch"el, n.
Defn: The jaws between which the hinder end of a carriage tongue is inserted. Knight.
FUTHORC; FUTHORKFu"thorc Fu"thork, n. [Written also futharc, futhark.]
Defn: The Runic alphabet; — so called from the six letters f, u, þ (th), o (or a), r, c (=k).
The letters are called Runes and the alphabet bears the name Futhorc from the first six letters. I. Taylor.
The spelling futharc represents most accurately the original values of these six Runic letters.
FUTILE Fu"tile, a. Etym: [L. futilis that easily pours out, that easily lets loose, vain, worthless, from the root of fundere to pour out: cf. F. futile. See Fuse, v. t.]
1. Talkative; loquacious; tattling. [Obs.] Talkers and futile persons. Bacon.
2. Of no importance; answering no useful end; useless; vain; worthless. "Futile theories." I. Taylor. His reasoning . . . was singularly futile. Macaulay.
FUTILELYFu"tile*ly, adv.
Defn: In a futile manner.
FUTILITYFu"til`i*ty, n. Etym: [L. futilitas: cf. F. futilité.]
1. The quality of being talkative; talkativeness; loquaciousness; loquacity. [Obs.]
2. The quality of producing no valuable effect, or of coming to nothing; uselessness. The futility of this mode of philosophizing. Whewell.
FUTILOUSFu"til*ous, a.
Defn: Futile; trifling. [Obs.]
FUTTOCKFu"ttock, n. Etym: [Prob. corrupted fr. foothook.] (Naut.)
Defn: One of the crooked timbers which are scarfed together to form the lower part of the compound rib of a vessel; one of the crooked transverse timbers passing across and over the keel. Futtock plates (Naut.), plates of iron to which the dead-eyes of the topmast rigging are secured. — Futtock shrouds, short iron shrouds leading from the upper part of the lower mast or of the main shrouds to the edge of the top, or through it, and connecting the topmast rigging with the lower mast. Totten.
FUTURABLEFu"tur*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being future; possible to occur. [R.]Not only to things future, but futurable. Fuller.
FUTURE Fu"ture, a. Etym: [F. futur, L. futurus, used as fut. p. of esse to be, but from the same root as E. be. See Be, v. i.]
Defn: That is to be or come hereafter; that will exist at any time after the present; as, the next moment is future, to the present. Future tense (Gram.), the tense or modification of a verb which expresses a future act or event.
FUTUREFu"ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. futur. See Future, a.]
1. Time to come; time subsequent to the present (as, the future shall be as the present); collectively, events that are to happen in time to come. "Lay the future open." Shak.
2. The possibilities of the future; — used especially of prospective success or advancement; as, he had great future before him.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: A future tense. To deal in futures, to speculate on the future values of merchandise or stocks. [Brokers' cant]
FUTURELESSFu"ture*less, a.
Defn: Without prospect of betterment in the future. W. D. Howells.
FUTURELYFu"ture*ly, adv.
Defn: In time to come. [Obs.] Raleigh.
FUTURISMFu"tur*ism, n. (Painting)
Defn: A movement or phase of post-impressionism (which see, below).
FUTURISTFu"tur*ist, n.
1. One whose chief interests are in what is to come; one who anxiously, eagerly, or confidently looks forward to the future; an expectant.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: One who believes or maintains that the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Bible is to be in the future.
FUTURITIALFu`tu*ri"tial, a.
Defn: Relating to what is to come; pertaining to futurity; future.[R.]
FUTURITIONFu`tu*ri"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. futurition.]
Defn: The state of being future; futurity. [R.] Nothing . . . can have this imagined futurition, but as it is decreed. Coleridge.
FUTURITYFu*tu"ri*ty, n.; pl. Futurities (.
1. State of being that is yet to come; future state.
2. Future time; time to come; the future.
3. Event to come; a future event. All futurities are naked before the All-seeing Eye. South.
FUZEFuze, n.
Defn: A tube, filled with combustible matter, for exploding a shell, etc. See Fuse, n. Chemical fuze, a fuze in which substances separated until required for action are then brought into contact, and uniting chemically, produce explosion. — Concussion fuze, a fuze ignited by the striking of the projectile. — Electric fuze, a fuze which is ignited by heat or a spark produced by an electric current. — Friction fuze, a fuze which is ignited by the heat evolved by friction. — Percussion fuze, a fuze in which the ignition is produced by a blow on some fulminating compound. — Time fuze, a fuze adapted, either by its length or by the character of its composition, to burn a certain time before producing an explosion.
FUZZFuzz, v. t.
Defn: To make drunk. [Obs.] Wood.
FUZZFuzz, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. fuzzy that ravels (of silk or cotton),D. voos spongy, fungous, G. faser filament. E. feaze to untwist.]
Defn: Fine, light particles or fibers; loose, volatile matter. Fuzz ball, a kind of fungus or mushroom, which, when pressed, bursts and scatters a fine dust; a puffball.
FUZZFuzz, v. i.
Defn: To fly off in minute particles.
FUZZLE Fuz"zle, v. t. Etym: [Cf. LG. fuseln to drink common liquor, fr. fusel bad liquor.]
Defn: To make drunk; to intoxicate; to fuddle. [Obs.] Burton.
FUZZYFuzz"y, a. Etym: [See Fuzz, n.]
1. Not firmly woven; that ravels. [Written also fozy.] [Prov. Eng.]
2. Furnished with fuzz; having fuzz; like fuzz; as, the fuzzy skin of a peach.
-FY -fy. Etym: [Through French verbs in -fier, L. -ficare, akin to facere to do, make. See Fact.]
Defn: A suffix signifying to make, to form into, etc.; as, acetify, amplify, dandify, Frenchify, etc.
FYFy, interj. Etym: [See Fie, interj.]
Defn: A word which expresses blame, dislike, disapprobation, abhorrence, or contempt. See Fie.
FYKEFyke, n. Etym: [D. fuik a bow net.]
Defn: A long bag net distended by hoops, into which fish can pass easily, without being able to return; — called also fyke net. Cozzens.
FYLLOTFyl"lot, n. Etym: [Prov. fr. AS. fy, fierf, feówerf. See Four, andFoot, n.]
Defn: A rebated cross, formerly used as a secret emblem, and a common ornament. It is also called gammadion, and swastika.
FYRD; FYRDUNGFyrd, Fyr"dung (, n. Etym: [AS.; akin to E. fare, v. i.] (Old. Eng.Hist.)
Defn: The military force of the whole nation, consisting of all menable to bear arms.The national fyrd or militia. J. R. Green.
FYTTEFytte, n.
Defn: See Fit a song. [Archaic]
1. G is the seventh letter of the English alphabet, and a vocal consonant. It has two sounds; one simple, as in gave, go, gull; the other compound (like that of j), as in gem, gin, dingy. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 231-6, 155, 176, 178, 179, 196, 211, 246.
Note: The form of G is from the Latin, in the alphabet which it first appeared as a modified form of C. The name is also from the Latin, and probably comes to us through the French. Etymologically it is most closely related to a c hard, k y, and w; as in corn, grain, kernel; kin L. genus, Gr. garden, yard; drag, draw; also to ch and h; as in get, prehensile; guest, host (an army); gall, choler; gust, choose. See C.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: G is the name of the fifth tone of the natural or model scale; — called also sol by the Italians and French. It was also originally used as the treble clef, and has gradually changed into the character represented in the margin. See Clef. G# (G sharp) is a tone intermediate between G and A.
GABGab, n. Etym: [Cf. Gaff.] (Steam Engine)
Defn: The hook on the end of an eccentric rod opposite the strap.See. Illust. of Eccentric.
GAB Gab, n. Etym: [OE. gabbe gabble, mocking, fr. Icel. gabb mocking, mockery, or OF. gab, gabe; perh. akin to E. gape, or gob. Cf. Gab, v. i., Gibber.]
Defn: The mouth; hence, idle prate; chatter; unmeaning talk; loquaciousness. [Colloq.] Gift of gab, facility of expression. [Colloq.]
GAB Gab, v. i. Etym: [OE. gabben to jest, lie, mock, deceive, fr. Icel. gabba to mock, or OF. gaber. See 2d Gab, and cf. Gabble.]
1. To deceive; to lie. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To talk idly; to prate; to chatter. Holinshed.
GABARAGEGab"ar*age, n.
Defn: A kind of coarse cloth for packing goods. [Obs.]
GABARDINE; GABERDINE Gab`ar*dine", Gab`er*dine" (, n. Etym: [Sp. gabardina; cf. It. gavardina, OF. galvardine, calvardine, gavardine, galeverdine; perh. akin to Sp. & OF. gaban a sort of cloak or coat for rainy weather, F. caban great coat with a hood and sleeves, It. gabbano and perh. to E. cabin.]
Defn: A coarse frock or loose upper garment formerly worn by Jews; a mean dress. Shak.
GABBERGab"ber, n.
1. A liar; a deceiver. [Obs.]
2. One addicted to idle talk.
GABBLEGab"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gabbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Gabbling.]Etym: [Freq. of gab. See Gab, v. i.]
1. To talk fast, or to talk without meaning; to prate; to jabber. Shak.
2. To utter inarticulate sounds with rapidity; as, gabbling fowls. Dryden.
GABBLEGab"ble, n.
1. Loud or rapid talk without meaning. Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud Among the builders. Milton.
2. Inarticulate sounds rapidly uttered; as of fowls.
GABBLERGab"bler, n.
Defn: One who gabbles; a prater.
GABBROGab"bro, n. Etym: [It.] (Geol.)
Defn: A name originally given by the Italians to a kind of serpentine, later to the rock called euphotide, and now generally used for a coarsely crystalline, igneous rock consisting of lamellar pyroxene (diallage) and labradorite, with sometimes chrysolite (olivine gabbro).
GABEL Ga"bel, n. Etym: [F. gabelle, LL. gabella, gabulum, gablum; of uncertain origin. Cf.Gavel tribute.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A rent, service, tribute, custom, tax, impost, or duty; anexcise. Burrill.He enables St. Peter to pay his gabel by the ministry of a fish. Jer.Taylor.
GABELERGa"bel*er, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A collector of gabels or taxes.
GABELLEGa`belle", n. Etym: [F. See Gabel.]
Defn: A tax, especially on salt. [France] Brande & C.
GABELLEMANGa*belle"man, n.
Defn: A gabeler. Carlyle.
GABERDINEGab`er*dine", n.
Defn: See Gabardine.
GABER-LUNZIEGab"er-lun`zie, n. Etym: [Gael. gabair talker + lunndair idler.]
Defn: A beggar with a wallet; a licensed beggar. [Scot.] Sir W.Scott.
GABERTGab"ert, n. Etym: [Cf.F.gabare, Arm. kobar, gobar.]
Defn: A lighter, or vessel for inland navigation. [Scot.] Jamieson.
GABION Ga"bi*on, n.Etym: [F., from It. gabbione a large cage, gabion, from gabbia cage, L. cavea. See Cage.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A hollow cylinder of wickerwork, like a basket without a bottom. Gabions are made of various sizes, and filled with earth in building fieldworks to shelter men from an enemy's fire.
2. (Hydraul. Engin.)
Defn: An openwork frame, as of poles, filled with stones and sunk, to assist in forming a bar dyke, etc., as in harbor improvement.
GABIONADEGa`bi*on*ade", n. Etym: [F. gabionnade.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A traverse made with gabions between guns or on their flanks, protecting them from enfilading fire.
2. A structure of gabions sunk in lines, as a core for a sand bar in harbor improvements.
GABIONAGEGa"bi*on*age, n. Etym: [F. gabionnage.] (Mil.)
Defn: The part of a fortification built of gabions.
GABIONEDGa"bi*oned, p. a.
Defn: Furnished with gabions.
GABIONNADEGa`bion`nade", n.
Defn: See Gabionade.
GABLEGa"ble, n.
Defn: A cable. [Archaic] Chapman.
GABLE Ga"ble, n. Etym: [OE. gable, gabil, F. gable, fr. LL. gabalum front of a building, prob. of German or Scand. origin; cf. OHG. gibil, G. giebel gable, Icel. gafl, Goth. gibla pinnacle; perh. akin to Gr. cephalic, or to G. gabel fork, AS. geafl, E. gaffle, L. gabalus a kind of gallows.] (Arch.) (a) The vertical triangular portion of the end of a building, from the level of the cornice or eaves to the ridge of the roof. Also, a similar end when not triangular in shape, as of a gambrel roof and the like. Hence: (b) The end wall of a building, as distinguished from the front or rear side. (c) A decorative member having the shape of a triangular gable, such as that above a Gothic arch in a doorway. Bell gable. See under Bell. — Gable roof, a double sloping roof which forms a gable at each end. — Gable wall. Same as Gable (b). — Gable window, a window in a gable.
GABLETGa"blet, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A small gable, or gable-shaped canopy, formed over a tabernacle, niche, etc.
GABLOCKGab"lock, n. Etym: [See Gavelock.]
Defn: A false spur or gaff, fitted on the heel of a gamecock. Wright.
GABYGa"by, n. Etym: [Icel. gapi a rash, reckless man. Cf. Gafe.]
Defn: A simpleton; a dunce; a lout. [Colloq.]
GAD Gad, n. Etym: [OE. gad, Icel. gaddr goad, sting; akin to Sw. gadd sting, Goth. gazds, G. gerte switch. See Yard a measure.]
1. The point of a spear, or an arrowhead.
2. A pointed or wedge-shaped instrument of metal, as a steel wedge used in mining, etc. I will go get a leaf of brass, And with a gad of steel will write these words. Shak.
3. A sharp-pointed rod; a goad.
4. A spike on a gauntlet; a gadling. Fairholt.
5. A wedge-shaped billet of iron or steel. [Obs.] Flemish steel . . . some in bars and some in gads. Moxon.
6. A rod or stick, as a fishing rod, a measuring rod, or a rod used to drive cattle with. [Prov. Eng. Local, U.S.] Halliwell. Bartlett. Upon the gad, upon the spur of the moment; hastily. [Obs.] "All this done upon the gad!" Shak.
GADGad, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gadded; p. pr. & vb. n. Gadding.] Etym:[Prob. fr. gad, n., and orig. meaning to drive about.]
Defn: To walk about; to rove or go about, without purpose; hence, to run wild; to be uncontrolled. "The gadding vine." Milton. Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way Jer. ii. 36.
GADABOUTGad"a*bout`, n.
Defn: A gadder [Colloq.]
GADBEEGad"bee`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The gadfly.
GADDERGad"der, n.
Defn: One who roves about idly, a rambling gossip.
GADDINGGad"ding, a. & n.
Defn: Going about much, needlessly or without purpose.Envy is a gadding passion, and walketh the streets. Bacon.The good nuns would check her gadding tongue. Tennyson.Gadding car, in quarrying, a car which carries a drilling machine soarranged as to drill a line of holes.
GADDINGLYGad"ding*ly, adv.
Defn: In a roving, idle manner.
GADDISHGad"dish, a.
Defn: Disposed to gad.— Gad"dish*nes, n. "Gaddishness and folly." Abp. Leighton.
GADE Gade, n. Etym: [Cf. Cod the fish.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small British fish (Motella argenteola) of the Cod family. (b) A pike, so called at Moray Firth; — called also gead. [Prov. Eng.]
GADERE; GADREGad"er*e, Gad"re (, v. t. & i.
Defn: To gather. [Obs.] Chaucer.
GADFLYGad"fly`, n.; pl. Gadflies. Etym: [Gad + fly.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any dipterous insect of the genus Oestrus, and allied genera of botflies.
Note: The sheep gadfly (Oestrus ovis) deposits its young in the nostrils of sheep, and the larvæ develop in the frontal sinuses. The common species which infests cattle (Hypoderma bovis) deposits its eggs upon or in the skin where the larvæ or bots live and produce sores called wormels. The gadflies of the horse produce the intestinal parasites called bots. See Botfly, and Bots. The true horseflies are often erroneously called gadflies, and the true gadflies are sometimes incorrectly called breeze flies. Gadfly petrel (Zoöl.), one of several small petrels of the genus Oestrelata.
GADHELICGadhel"ic (gal"îk), a. Etym: [See Gaelic.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to that division of the Celtic languages, which includes the Irish, Gaelic, and Manx. J. Peile.
GADICGad"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the cod (Gadus); — applied to an acid obtained from cod-liver oil, viz., gadic acid.
GADITANIANGad`i*ta`ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Gaditanus, fr. Gades Cadiz.]
Defn: Of or relating to Cadiz, in Spain.— n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Cadiz.
GADLINGGad"ling, n. Etym: [Gad, n. + -ling.] (Mediæval Armor) [R.]
Defn: See Gad, n., 4.
GADLINGGad"ling, a. Etym: [See Gad, v. i.]
Defn: Gadding about. [Obs.]
GADLINGGad"ling, n.
Defn: A roving vagabond. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
GADMANGadman, n.
Defn: A gadsman.
GADOID Ga"doid, a. Etym: [NL. gadus cod + -oid: cf. F. gadoïde gadoid, Gr. gade.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the family of fishes (Gadidæ) which includes the cod, haddock, and hake. — n.
Defn: One of the Gadidæ. [Written also gadid.]
GADOLINIAGad`o*lin"i*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Gadolinite.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare earth, regarded by some as an oxide of the supposed element gadolinium, by others as only a mixture of the oxides of yttrium, erbium, ytterbium, etc.
GADOLINICGad`o*lin"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to or containing gadolinium.
GADOLINITEGad"o*lin*ite, n. Etym: [Named after Gadolin, a Russian chemist.](Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a nearly black color and vitreous luster, and consisting principally of the silicates of yttrium, cerium, and iron.
GADOLINIUMGad`o*lin"i*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Gadolinite.] (Chem.)
Defn: A supposed rare metallic element, with a characteristic spectrum, found associated with yttrium and other rare metals. Its individuality and properties have not yet been determined.
GADSMANGads"man, n.
Defn: One who uses a gad or goad in driving.
GADUINGad"u*in, n.Etym: [NL. gadus codfish.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow or brown amorphous substance, of indifferent nature, found in cod-liver oil.
GADWALLGad"wall, n. Etym: [Gad to walk about + well.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large duck (Anas strepera), valued as a game bird, found in the northern parts of Europe and America; — called also gray duck. [Written also gaddwell.]
GAEKWAR Gaek"war, n. [Also Gaikwar, Guicowar.] [Marathi gaekwar, prop., a cowherd.]
Defn: The title of the ruling Prince of Baroda, in Gujarat, inBombay, India.
GAELGael, n.sing. & pl. Etym: [See Gaelic.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: A Celt or the Celts of the Scotch Highlands or of Ireland; now esp., a Scotch Highlander of Celtic origin.
GAELICGael"ic, a. Etym: [Gael. Gàidhealach, Gaelach, from Gàidheal, Gael, aScotch Highlander.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Gael, esp. to the Celtic Highlanders ofScotland; as, the Gaelic language.
GAELICGael"ic, n. Etym: [Gael. Gaelig, Gàilig.]
Defn: The language of the Gaels, esp. of the Highlanders of Scotland.It is a branch of the Celtic.
GAFF Gaff, n. Etym: [OE. gaffe, F. gaffe an iron hook with which seamen pull great fishes into their ships; cf. Ir. gaf, gafa hook; perh. akin to G. gabel fork, Skr. gabhasti. CF. Gaffle, Gable.]
1. A barbed spear or a hook with a handle, used by fishermen in securing heavy fish.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The spar upon which the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail is extended.
3. Same as Gaffle, 1. Wright.
GAFFGaff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gaffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Gaffing.]
Defn: To strike with a gaff or barbed spear; to secure by means of a gaff; as, to gaff a salmon.
GAFFER Gaf"fer, n. Etym: [Possibly contr. fr. godfather; but prob. fr. gramfer for grandfather. Cf. Gammer.]
1. An old fellow; an aged rustic. Go to each gaffer and each goody. Fawkes.
Note: Gaffer was originally a respectful title, now degenerated into a term of familiarity or contempt when addressed to an aged man in humble life.
2. A foreman or overseer of a gang of laborers. [Prov. Eng.]
GAFFLEGaf"fle, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. geafl fork, LG., D., Sw., & Dan. gaffel,G. gabel, W. gafl, Ir. & Gael. gabhal. Cf. Gaff.]
1. An artificial spur or gaff for gamecocks.
2. A lever to bend crossbows.
GAFF-TOPSAILGaff`-top"sail, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A small triangular sail having its foot extended upon the gaff and its luff upon the topmast.
GAGGag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Gagging.] Etym:[Prob. fr. W. cegio to choke or strangle, fr. ceg mouth, opening,entrance.]
1. To stop the mouth of, by thrusting sometimes in, so as to hinder speaking; hence, to silence by authority or by violence; not to allow freedom of speech to. Marvell. The time was not yet come when eloquence was to be gagged, and reason to be hood winked. Maccaulay.
2. To pry or hold open by means of a gag. Mouths gagged to such a wideness. Fortescue (Transl. ).
3. To cause to heave with nausea.
GAGGag, v. i.
1. To heave with nausea; to retch.
2. To introduce gags or interpolations. See Gag, n., 3. [Slang] Cornill Mag.
GAGGag, n.
1. Sometimes thrust into the mouth or throat to hinder speaking.
2. A mouthful that makes one retch; a choking bit; as, a gag of mutton fat. Lamb.
3. A speech or phrase interpolated offhand by an actor on the stage in his part as written, usually consisting of some seasonable or local allusion. [Slang] Gag rein (Harness), a rein for drawing the bit upward in the horse's mouth. — Gag runner (Harness), a loop on the throat latch guiding the gag rein.
GAGATEGag"ate (; 48), n. Etym: [L. gagates. See Jet a black mineral.]
Defn: Agate. [Obs.] Fuller.
GAGEGage, n. Etym: [F. gage, LL. gadium, wadium; of German origin; cf.Goth. wadi, OHG. wetti, weti, akin to E. wed. See Wed, and cf. Wage,n.]
1. A pledge or pawn; something laid down or given as a security for the performance of some act by the person depositing it, and forfeited by nonperformance; security. Nor without gages to the needy lend. Sandys.
2. A glove, cap, or the like, cast on the ground as a challenge to combat, and to be taken up by the accepter of the challenge; a challenge; a defiance. "There I throw my gage." Shak.
GAGE Gage, n. Etym: [So called because an English family named Gage imported the greengage from France, in the last century.]