1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of ruminants of the genus Ovis, native of the higher mountains of both hemispheres, but most numerous in Asia.
Note: The domestic sheep (Ovis aries) varies much in size, in the length and texture of its wool, the form and size of its horns, the length of its tail, etc. It was domesticated in prehistoric ages, and many distinct breeds have been produced; as the merinos, celebrated for their fine wool; the Cretan sheep, noted for their long horns; the fat-tailed, or Turkish, sheep, remarkable for the size and fatness of the tail, which often has to be supported on trucks; the Southdowns, in which the horns are lacking; and an Asiatic breed which always has four horns.
2. A weak, bashful, silly fellow. Ainsworth.
3. pl.
Defn: Fig.: The people of God, as being under the government and protection of Christ, the great Shepherd. Rocky mountain sheep.(Zoöl.) See Bighorn. — Maned sheep. (Zoöl.) See Aoudad. — Sheep bot (Zoöl.), the larva of the sheep botfly. See Estrus. — Sheep dog (Zoöl.), a shepherd dog, or collie. — Sheep laurel (Bot.), a small North American shrub (Kalmia angustifolia) with deep rose-colored flowers in corymbs. — Sheep pest (Bot.), an Australian plant (Acæna ovina) related to the burnet. The fruit is covered with barbed spines, by which it adheres to the wool of sheep. — Sheep run, an extensive tract of country where sheep range and graze. — Sheep's beard (Bot.), a cichoraceous herb (Urospermum Dalechampii) of Southern Europe; — so called from the conspicuous pappus of the achenes. — Sheep's bit (Bot.), a European herb (Jasione montana) having much the appearance of scabious. — Sheep pox (Med.), a contagious disease of sheep, characterixed by the development of vesicles or pocks upon the skin. — Sheep scabious. (Bot.) Same as Sheep's bit. — Sheep shears, shears in which the blades form the two ends of a steel bow, by the elasticity of which they open as often as pressed together by the hand in cutting; — so called because used to cut off the wool of sheep. — Sheep sorrel. (Bot.), a prerennial herb (Rumex Acetosella) growing naturally on poor, dry, gravelly soil. Its leaves have a pleasant acid taste like sorrel. — Sheep's-wool (Zoöl.), the highest grade of Florida commercial sponges (Spongia equina, variety gossypina). — Sheep tick (Zoöl.), a wingless parasitic insect (Melophagus ovinus) belonging to the Diptera. It fixes its proboscis in the skin of the sheep and sucks the blood, leaving a swelling. Called also sheep pest, and sheep louse. — Sheep walk, a pasture for sheep; a sheep run. — Wild sheep. (Zoöl.) See Argali, Mouflon, and Oörial.
SHEEPBACKSheep"back`, n. (Geol.)
Defn: A rounded knoll of rock resembling the back of a sheep. — produced by glacial action. Called also roche moutonnée; — usually in the plural.
SHEEPBERRYSheep"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The edible fruit of a small North American tree of the genus Viburnum (V. Lentago), having white flowers in flat cymes; also, the tree itself. Called also nannyberry.
SHEEPBITESheep"bite`, v. i.
Defn: To bite or nibble like a sheep; hence, to practice petty thefts. [Obs.] Shak.
SHEEPBITERSheep"bit`er, n.
Defn: One who practices petty thefts. [Obs.] Shak. There are political sheepbiters as well as pastoral; betrayers of public trusts as well as of private. L'Estrange.
SHEEPCOT; SHEEPCOTESheep"cot`, Sheep"cote`, n.
Defn: A small inclosure for sheep; a pen; a fold.
SHEEP-FACEDSheep"-faced`, a.
Defn: Over-bashful; sheepish.
SHEEPFOLDSheep"fold`, n.
Defn: A fold or pen for sheep; a place where sheep are collected or confined.
SHEEP-HEADEDSheep"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Silly; simple-minded; stupid. Taylor (1630)
SHEEPHOOKSheep"hook`, n.
Defn: A hook fastened to pole, by which shepherds lay hold on the legs or necks of their sheep; a shepherd's crook. Dryden.
SHEEPISHSheep"ish, a.
1. Of or pertaining to sheep. [Obs.]
2. Like a sheep; bashful; over-modest; meanly or foolishly diffident; timorous to excess. Wanting change of company, he will, when he comes abroad, be a sheepish or conceited creature. Locke. — Sheep"ish*ly, adv. — Sheep"ish*ness, n.
SHEEPMASTERSheep"mas`ter, n.
Defn: A keeper or feeder of sheep; also, an owner of sheep. 2 Kings iii. 4.
SHEEPRACKSheep"rack`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The starling.
SHEEP'S-EYESheep's"-eye`, n.
Defn: A modest, diffident look; a loving glance; — commonly in theplural.I saw her just now give him the languishing eye, as they call it; . .. of old called the sheep's-eye. Wycherley.
SHEEP'S-FOOTSheep's-foot`, n.
Defn: A printer's tool consisting of a metal bar formed into a hammer head at one end and a claw at the other, — used as a lever and hammer.
SHEEPSHANKSheep"shank`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A hitch by which a rope may be temporarily shortened.
SHEEPSHEAD Sheeps"head` (, n. Etym: [So called because of the fancied resemblance of its head and front teeth to those of a sheep.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large and valuable sparoid food fish (Archosargus, orDiplodus, probatocephalus) found on the Atlantic coast of the UnitedStates. It often weighs from ten to twelve pounds.
Note: The name is also locally, in a loose way, applied to various other fishes, as the butterfish, the fresh-water drumfish, the parrot fish, the porgy, and the moonfish.
SHEEP-SHEARERSheep"-shear`er, n.
Defn: One who shears, or cuts off the wool from, sheep.
SHEEP-SHEARINGSheep"-shear`ing, n.
1. Act of shearing sheep.
2. A feast at the time of sheep-shearing. Shak.
SHEEPSKINSheep"skin`, n.
1. The skin of a sheep; or, leather prepared from it.
2. A diploma; — so called because usually written or printed on parchment prepared from the skin of the sheep. [College Cant]
SHEEPSPLITSheep"split`, n.
Defn: A split of a sheepskin; one of the thin sections made by splitting a sheepskin with a cutting knife or machine.
SHEEPYSheep"y, a.
Defn: Resembling sheep; sheepish. Testament of Love.
SHEERSheer, a. Etym: [OE. shere, skere, pure, bright, Icel. sk; akin toskirr, AS. scir, OS. skiri, MHG. schir, G. schier, Dan. sk, Sw. skär,Goth. skeirs clear, and E. shine. sq. root157. See Shine, v. i.]
1. Bright; clear; pure; unmixed. "Sheer ale." Shak. Thou sheer, immaculate, and silver fountain. Shak.
2. Very thin or transparent; — applied to fabrics; as, sheer muslin.
3. Being only what it seems to be; obvious; simple; mere; downright; as, sheer folly; sheer nonsense. "A sheer impossibility." De Quincey. It is not a sheer advantage to have several strings to one's bow. M. Arnold.
4. Stright up and down; vertical; prpendicular. A sheer precipice of a thousand feet. J. D. Hooker. It was at least Nine roods of sheer ascent. Wordsworth.
SHEERSheer, adv.
Defn: Clean; quite; at once. [Obs.] Milton.
SHEERSheer, v. t. Etym: [See Shear.]
Defn: To shear. [Obs.] Dryden.
SHEERSheer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sheered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sheering.] Etym:[D. sheren to shear, cut, withdraw, warp. See Shear.]
Defn: To decline or deviate from the line of the proper course; to turn aside; to swerve; as, a ship sheers from her course; a horse sheers at a bicycle. To sheer off, to turn or move aside to a distance; to move away. — To sheer up, to approach obliquely.
SHEERSheer, n.
1. (Naut.) (a) The longitudinal upward curvature of the deck, gunwale, and lines of a vessel, as when viewed from the side. (b) The position of a vessel riding at single anchor and swinging clear of it.
2. A turn or change in a course. Give the canoe a sheer and get nearer to the shore. Cooper.
3. pl.
Defn: Shears See Shear. Sheer batten (Shipbuilding), a long strip of wood to guide the carpenters in following the sheer plan. — Sheer boom, a boom slanting across a stream to direct floating logs to one side. — Sheer hulk. See Shear hulk, under Hulk. — Sheer plan, or Sheer draught (Shipbuilding), a projection of the lines of a vessel on a vertical longitudinal plane passing through the middle line of the vessel. — Sheer pole (Naut.), an iron rod lashed to the shrouds just above the dead-eyes and parallel to the ratlines. — Sheer strake (Shipbuilding), the strake under the gunwale on the top side. Totten. — To break sheer (Naut.), to deviate from sheer, and risk fouling the anchor.
SHEERLYSheer"ly, adv.
Defn: At once; absolutely. [Obs.]
SHEERWATERSheer"wa`ter, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The shearwater.
SHEET Sheet, n. Etym: [OE. shete, schete, AS. sc, sc, fr. sceát a projecting corner, a fold in a garment (akin to D. schoot sheet, bosom, lap, G. schoss bosom, lap, flap of a coat, Icel. skaut, Goth. skauts the hem of a garment); originally, that which shoots out, from the root of AS. sceótan to shoot. sq. root159. See Shoot, v. t.]
Defn: In general, a large, broad piece of anything thin, as paper, cloth, etc.; a broad, thin portion of any substance; an expanded superficies. Specifically: (a) A broad piece of cloth, usually linen or cotton, used for wrapping the body or for a covering; especially, one used as an article of bedding next to the body. He fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners. Acts x. 10, 11. If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me In one of those same sheets. Shak.
(b) A broad piece of paper, whether folded or unfolded, whether blank or written or printed upon; hence, a letter; a newspaper, etc. (c) A single signature of a book or a pamphlet; in pl., the book itself. To this the following sheets are intended for a full and distinct answer. Waterland.
(d) A broad, thinly expanded portion of metal or other substance; as, a sheet of copper, of glass, or the like; a plate; a leaf. (e) A broad expanse of water, or the like. "The two beautiful sheets of water." Macaulay. (f) A sail. Dryden. (g) (Geol.) An extensive bed of an eruptive rock intruded between, or overlying, other strata.
2. Etym: [AS. sceáta. See the Etymology above.] (Naut.) (a) A rope or chain which regulates the angle of adjustment of a sail in relation in relation to the wind; — usually attached to the lower corner of a sail, or to a yard or a boom. (b) pl.
Defn: The space in the forward or the after part of a boat where there are no rowers; as, fore sheets; stern sheets.
Note: Sheet is often used adjectively, or in combination, to denote that the substance to the name of which it is prefixed is in the form of sheets, or thin plates or leaves; as, sheet brass, or sheet-brass; sheet glass, or sheet-glass; sheet gold, or sheet-gold; sheet iron, or sheet-iron, etc. A sheet in the wind, half drunk. [Sailors' Slang] — Both sheets in the wind, very drunk. [Sailors' Slang] — In sheets, lying flat or expanded; not folded, or folded but not bound; — said especially of printed sheets. — Sheet bend (Naut.), a bend or hitch used for temporarily fastening a rope to the bight of another rope or to an eye. — Sheet lightning, Sheet piling, etc. See under Lightning, Piling, etc.
SHEETSheet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sheeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sheeting.]
1. To furnish with a sheet or sheets; to wrap in, or cover with, a sheet, or as with a sheet. "The sheeted dead." "When snow the pasture sheets." Shak.
2. To expand, as a sheet. The star shot flew from the welkin blue, As it fell from the sheeted sky. J. R. Drake. To sheet home (Naut.), to haul upon a sheet until the sail is as flat, and the clew as near the wind, as possible.
SHEET ANCHOR Sheet" an"chor. Etym: [OE. scheten to shoot, AS. sceótan; cf. OE. shoot anchor. See Shoot, v. t.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A large anchor stowed on shores outside the waist of a vessel; — called also waist anchor. See the Note under Anchor.
2. Anything regarded as a sure support or dependence in danger; the best hope or refuge.
SHEET CABLESheet" ca"ble. (Naut.)
Defn: The cable belonging to the sheet anchor.
SHEET CHAINSheet" chain". (Naut.)
Defn: A chain sheet cable.
SHEETFULSheet"ful, n.; pl. Sheetfuls (.
Defn: Enough to fill a sheet; as much as a sheet can hold.
SHEETINGSheet"ing, n.
1. Cotton or linen cloth suitable for bed sheets. It is sometimes made of double width.
2. (Hydraul. Engin.)
Defn: A lining of planks or boards (rarely of metal) for protecting an embankment.
3. The act or process of forming into sheets, or flat pieces; also, material made into sheets.
SHEIK Sheik, n. Etym: [Ar. sheikh, shaykh, a venerable old man, a chief, fr. shakha to grow or be old.]
Defn: The head of an Arab family, or of a clan or a tribe; also, the chief magistrate of an Arab village. The name is also applied to Mohammedan ecclesiastics of a high grade. [Written also scheik, shaik, sheikh.]
SHEIL; SHEILINGSheil, Sheil"ing, n.
Defn: See Sheeling.
SHEKELShek"el, n. Etym: [Heb. shegel, fr. shagal to weigh.]
1. An ancient weight and coin used by the Jews and by other nations of the same stock.
Note: A common estimate makes the shekel equal in weight to about 130 grains for gold, 224 grains for silver, and 450 grains for copper, and the approximate values of the coins are (gold) $5.00, (silver) 60 cents, and (copper half shekel), one and one half cents.
2. pl.
Defn: A jocose term for money.
SHEKINAHShe*ki"nah, n. Etym: [Heb Talmud shekinah, fr. shakan to inhabit.]
Defn: The visible majesty of the Divine Presence, especially when resting or dwelling between the cherubim on the mercy seat, in the Tabernacle, or in the Temple of Solomon; — a term used in the Targums and by the later Jews, and adopted by Christians. [Written also Shechinah.] Dr. W. Smith (Bib. Dict.)
SHELD Sheld, a. Etym: [OE., fr. sheld a shield, probably in allusion to the ornamentation of shields. See Shield.]
Defn: Variegated; spotted; speckled; piebald. [Prov. Eng.]
SHELDAFLE; SHELDAPLESheld"a*fle, Sheld"a*ple, n. Etym: [Perhaps for sheld dapple. Cf.Sheldrake.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A chaffinch. [Written also sheldapple, and shellapple.]
SHELDFOWLSheld"fowl`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common sheldrake. [Prov. Eng.]
SHELDRAKEShel"drake`, n. Etym: [Sheld + drake.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of large Old World ducks of the genus Tadorna and allied genera, especially the European and Asiatic species. (T. cornuta, or tadorna), which somewhat resembles a goose in form and habit, but breeds in burrows.
Note: It has the head and neck greenish black, the breast, sides, and forward part of the back brown, the shoulders and middle of belly black, the speculum green, and the bill and frontal bright red. Called also shelduck, shellduck, sheldfowl, skeelduck, bergander, burrow duck, and links goose.
Note: The Australian sheldrake (Tadorna radja) has the head, neck, breast, flanks, and wing coverts white, the upper part of the back and a band on the breast deep chestnut, and the back and tail black. The chestnut sheldrake of Australia (Casarca tadornoides) is varied with black and chestnut, and has a dark green head and neck. The ruddy sheldrake, or Braminy duck (C. rutila), and the white-winged sheldrake (C. leucoptera), are related Asiatic species.
2. Any one of the American mergansers.
Note: The name is also loosely applied to other ducks, as the canvasback, and the shoveler.
SHELDUCKShel"duck`, n. Etym: [Sheld variegated + duck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sheldrake. [Written also shellduck.]
SHELF Shelf, n.; pl. Shelves. Etym: [OE. shelfe, schelfe, AS. scylfe; akin to G. schelfe, Icel. skjalf. In senses 2 & 3, perhaps a different word (cf. Shelve, v. i.).]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A flat tablet or ledge of any material set horizontally at a distance from the floor, to hold objects of use or ornament.
2. A sand bank in the sea, or a rock, or ledge of rocks, rendering the water shallow, and dangerous to ships. On the tawny sands and shelves. Milton. On the secret shelves with fury cast. Dryden.
3. (Mining)
Defn: A stratum lying in a very even manner; a flat, projecting layer of rock.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: A piece of timber running the whole length of a vessel inside the timberheads. D. Kemp. To lay on the shelf, to lay aside as unnecessary or useless; to dismiss; to discard.
SHELFYShelf"y, a.
1. Abounding in shelves; full of dangerous shallows. "A shelfy coast." Dryden.
2. Full of strata of rock. [Obs.] The tillable fields are in some places . . . so shelfy that the corn hath much ado to fasten its root. Carew.
SHELL Shell, n. Etym: [OE. shelle, schelle, AS. scell, scyll; akin to D. shel, Icel. skel, Goth. skalja a tile, and E. skill. Cf. Scale of fishes, Shale, Skill.]
1. A hard outside covering, as of a fruit or an animal. Specifically: (a) The covering, or outside part, of a nut; as, a hazelnut shell. (b) A pod. (c) The hard covering of an egg. Think him as a serpent's egg, . . . And kill him in the shell. Shak. (d) (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of mollusks, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates. In some mollusks, as the cuttlefishes, it is internal, or concealed by the mantle. Also, the hard covering of some vertebrates, as the armadillo, the tortoise, and the like. (e) (Zoöl.) Hence, by extension, any mollusks having such a covering.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A hollow projectile, of various shapes, adapted for a mortar or a cannon, and containing an explosive substance, ignited with a fuse or by percussion, by means of which the projectile is burst and its fragments scattered. See Bomb.
3. The case which holds the powder, or charge of powder and shot, used with breechloading small arms.
4. Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in; as, the shell of a house.
5. A coarse kind of coffin; also, a thin interior coffin inclosed in a more substantial one. Knight.
6. An instrument of music, as a lyre, — the first lyre having been made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell. When Jubal struck the chorded shell. Dryden.
7. An engraved copper roller used in print works.
8. pl.
Defn: The husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is often used as a substitute for chocolate, cocoa, etc.
9. (Naut.)
Defn: The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve.
10. A light boat the frame of which is covered with thin wood or withpaper; as, a racing shell. Message shell, a bombshell inside of whichpapers may be put, in order to convey messages.— Shell bit, a tool shaped like a gouge, used with a brace inboring wood. See Bit, n., 3.— Shell button. (a) A button made of shell. (b) A hollow buttonmade of two pieces, as of metal, one for the front and the other forthe back, — often covered with cloth, silk, etc.— Shell cameo, a cameo cut in shell instead of stone.— Shell flower. (Bot.) Same as Turtlehead.— Shell gland. (Zoöl.) (a) A glandular organ in which therudimentary shell is formed in embryonic mollusks. (b) A glandularorgan which secretes the eggshells of various worms, crustacea,mollusks, etc.— Shell gun, a cannon suitable for throwing shells.— Shell ibis (Zoöl.), the openbill of India.— Shell jacket, an undress military jacket.— Shell lime, lime made by burning the shells of shellfish.— Shell marl (Min.), a kind of marl characterized by an abundanceof shells, or fragments of shells.— Shell meat, food consisting of shellfish, or testaceous mollusks.Fuller.— Shell mound. See under Mound.— Shell of a boiler, the exterior of a steam boiler, forming a caseto contain the water and steam, often inclosing also flues and thefurnace; the barrel of a cylindrical, or locomotive, boiler.— Shell road, a road of which the surface or bed is made of shells,as oyster shells.— Shell sand, minute fragments of shells constituting aconsiderable part of the seabeach in some places.
SHELLShell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shelling.]
1. To strip or break off the shell of; to take out of the shell, pod, etc.; as, to shell nuts or pease; to shell oysters.
2. To separate the kernels of (an ear of Indian corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk.
3. To throw shells or bombs upon or into; to bombard; as, to shell a town. To shell out, to distribute freely; to bring out or pay, as money. [Colloq.]
SHELLShell, v. i.
1. To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc.
2. To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk; as, nuts shell in falling.
3. To be disengaged from the ear or husk; as, wheat or rye shells in reaping.
SHELLAC; SHELL-LAC Shel"lac`, Shell"-lac`, n. Etym: [Shell + lac a resinous substance; cf. D. shellak, G. schellack.]
Defn: See the Note under 2d Lac.
SHELLAPPLEShell"ap`ple, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Sheldafle.
SHELLBARKShell"bark`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of hickory (Carya alba) whose outer bark is loose and peeling; a shagbark; also, its nut.
SHELLEDShelled, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a shell.
SHELLERShell"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, shells; as, an oyster sheller; a corn sheller.
SHELLFISHShell"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any aquatic animal whose external covering consists of a shell, either testaceous, as in oysters, clams, and other mollusks, or crustaceous, as in lobsters and crabs.
SHELLINGShell"ing, n.
Defn: Groats; hulled oats. Simmonds.
SHELL-LESSShell"-less
Defn: , a. Having no shell. J. Burroughs.
SHELLPROOFShell"proof`, a.
Defn: Capable of resisting bombs or other shells; bombproof.
SHELLWORKShell"work`, n.
Defn: Work composed of shells, or adorned with them. Cotgrave.
SHELLYShell"y, a.
Defn: Abounding with shells; consisting of shells, or of a shell."The shelly shore." Prior.Shrinks backward in his shelly cave. Shak.
SHELTER Shel"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. scheltrun, shiltroun, schelltrome, scheldtrome, a guard, squadron, AS. scildtruma a troop of men with shields; scild shield + truma a band of men. See Shield, n.]
1. That which covers or defends from injury or annoyance; a protection; a screen. The sick and weak the healing plant shall aid, From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade. Pope.
2. One who protects; a guardian; a defender. Thou [God] hast been a shelter for me. Ps. lxi. 3.
3. The state of being covered and protected; protection; security. Who into shelter takes their tender bloom. Young. Shelter tent,a small tent made of pieces of cotton duck arranged to button together. In field service the soldiers carry the pieces.
Syn. — Asylum; refuge; retreat; covert; sanctuary; protection; defense; security.
SHELTERShel"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sheltered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sheltering.]
1. To be a shelter for; to provide with a shelter; to cover from injury or annoyance; to shield; to protect. Those ruins sheltered once his sacred head. Dryden. You have no convents . . . in which such persons may be received and sheltered. Southey.
2. To screen or cover from notice; to disguise. In vain I strove to cheek my growing flame, Or shelter passion under friendship's name. Prior.
3. To betake to cover, or to a safe place; — used reflexively. They sheltered themselves under a rock. Abp. Abbot.
SHELTERShel"ter, v. i.
Defn: To take shelter.There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat, Shelters in cool.Milton.
SHELTERLESSShel"ter*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of shelter or protection.Now sad and shelterless perhaps she lies. Rowe.
SHELTERYShel"ter*y, a.
Defn: Affording shelter. [R.]
SHELTIE; SHELTYShel"tie, Shel"ty, n.
Defn: A Shetland pony.
SHELVEShelve, v. t.
1. To furnish with shelves; as, to shelve a closet or a library.
2. To place on a shelf. Hence: To lay on the shelf; to put aside; to dismiss from service; to put off indefinitely; as, to shelve an officer; to shelve a claim.
SHELVEShelve, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shelved; p. pr. & vb. n. Shelving.] Etym:[Perhapss originally from the same source as shallow, but influencedby shelf a ledge, a platform.]
Defn: To incline gradually; to be slopping; as, the bottom shelves from the shore.
SHELVINGShelv"ing, a.
Defn: Sloping gradually; inclining; as, a shelving shore. Shak."Shelving arches." Addison.
SHELVINGShelv"ing, n.
1. The act of fitting up shelves; as, the job of shelving a closet.
2. The act of laying on a shelf, or on the shelf; putting off or aside; as, the shelving of a claim.
3. Material for shelves; shelves, collectively.
SHELVYShelv"y, a.
Defn: Sloping gradually; shelving.The shore was shelving and shallow. Shak.
SHEMITEShem"ite, n.
Defn: A descendant of Shem.
SHEMITIC; SHEMITISHShem*it"ic, Shem"i*tish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Shem, the son of Noah, or his descendants.See Semitic.
SHEMITISMShem"i*tism, n.
Defn: See Semitism.
SHENDShend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shent; p. pr. & vb. n. Shending.] Etym:[AS. scendan to disgrace, bring to shame, from sceand, sceond,disgrace, dishonor, shame; akin to G. schande, Goth. skanda. SeeShame, n.]
1. To injure, mar, spoil, or harm. [Obs.] "Loss of time shendeth us." Chaucer. I fear my body will be shent. Dryden.
2. To blame, reproach, or revile; to degrade, disgrace, or put to shame. [Archaic] R. Browning. The famous name of knighthood foully shend. Spenser. She passed the rest as Cynthia doth shend The lesser stars. Spenser.
SHENDFULShend"ful, a.
Defn: Destructive; ruinous; disgraceful. [Obs.] — Shend"ful*ly, adv.[Obs.] Fabyan.
SHENDSHIPShend"ship, n.
Defn: Harm; ruin; also, reproach; disgrace. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SHENTShent,
Defn: obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Shend, for shendeth. Chaucer.
SHENTShent, v. t.
Defn: To shend. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SHEOLShe"ol, n. Etym: [Heb. sh.]
Defn: The place of departed spirits; Hades; also, the grave.For thou wilt not leave my soul to sheel. Ps. xvi. 10. (Rev. Ver.)
SHEPENShep"en, n.
Defn: A stable; a shippen. [Obs.]The shepne brenning with the blacke smoke. Chaucer.
SHEPHERD Shep"herd, n. Etym: [OE. schepherde, schephirde, AS. sceáphyrde; sceáp sheep + hyrde, hirde, heorde, a herd, a guardian. See Sheep, and Herd.]
1. A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep, esp. a flock grazing at large.
2. The pastor of a church; one with the religious guidance of others. Shepherd bird (Zoöl.), the crested screamer. See Screamer. — Shepherd dog (Zoöl.), a breed of dogs used largely for the herding and care of sheep. There are several kinds, as the collie, or Scotch shepherd dog, and the English shepherd dog. Called also shepherd's dog. — Shepherd dog, a name of Pan. Keats. — Shepherd kings, the chiefs of a nomadic people who invaded Egypt from the East in the traditional period, and conquered it, at least in part. They were expelled after about five hundred years, and attempts have been made to connect their expulsion with narrative in the book of Exodus. — Shepherd's club (Bot.), the common mullein. See Mullein. — Shepherd's crook, a long staff having the end curved so as to form a large hook, — used by shepherds. — Shepherd's needle (Bot.), the lady's comb. — Shepherd's plaid, a kind of woolen cloth of a checkered black and white pattern. — Shephered spider (Zoöl.), a daddy longlegs, or harvestman. — Shepherd's pouch, or Shepherd's purse (Bot.), an annual cruciferous plant (Capsella Bursapastoris) bearing small white flowers and pouchlike pods. See Illust. of Silicle. — Shepherd's rod, or Shepherd's staff (Bot.), the small teasel.
SHEPHERDShep"herd, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shepherded; p. pr. & vb. n.Shepherding.]
Defn: To tend as a shepherd; to guard, herd, lead, or drive, as ashepherd. [Poetic]White, fleecy clouds . . .Shepherded by the slow, unwilling wind. Shelley.
SHEPHERDESSShep"herd*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who tends sheep; hence, a rural lass.She put herself into the garb of a shepherdess. Sir P. Sidney.
SHEPHERDIAShep*her"di*a, n.; pl. Shepherdias. Etym: [NL. So called from JohnShepherd, an English botanist.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs having silvery scurfy leaves, and belonging to the same family as Elæagnus; also, any plant of this genus. See Buffalo berry, under Buffalo.
SHEPHERDISHShep"herd*ish, n.
Defn: Resembling a shepherd; suiting a shepherd; pastoral. Sir T.Sidney.
SHEPHERDISMShep"herd*ism, n.
Defn: Pastoral life or occupation.
SHEPHERDLINGShep"herd*ling, n.
Defn: A little shepherd.
SHEPHERDLYShep"herd*ly, a.
Defn: Resembling, or becoming to, a shepherd; pastoral; rustic. [R.]Jer. Taylor.
SHEPSTERShep"ster, n.
Defn: A seamstress. [Obs.] Caxton.
SHERARDIZESher"ard*ize, v. t. [From Sherard Cowper-Coles, the inventor.](Metal.)
Defn: To subject to the process of vapor galvanizing (which see, below).
SHERBETSher"bet, n. Etym: [Ar. sherbet, shorbet, sharbat, properly, onedrink or sip, a draught, beverage, from shariba to drink. Cf. Sorbet,Sirup, Shrub a drink.]
1. A refreshing drink, common in the East, made of the juice of some fruit, diluted, sweetened, and flavored in various ways; as, orange sherbet; lemon sherbet; raspberry sherbet, etc.
2. A flavored water ice.
3. A preparation of bicarbonate of soda, tartaric acid, sugar, etc., variously flavored, for making an effervescing drink; — called also sherbet powder.
SHERDSherd, n.
Defn: A fragment; — now used only in composition, as in potsherd.See Shard.The thigh . . . which all in sherds it drove. Chapman.
SHEREEF; SHERIFSher"eef, Sher"if, n. Etym: [Ar. sherif noble, holy, n., a prince.]
Defn: A member of an Arab princely family descended from Mohammed through his son-in-law Ali and daughter Fatima. The Grand Shereef is the governor of Mecca.
SHERIATSher"i*at, n. Etym: [Turk. sheri 'at]
Defn: The sacred law of the Turkish empire.
SHERIFF Sher"iff, n. Etym: [OE. shereve, AS. scir-ger; scir a shire + ger a reeve. See Shire, and Reeve, and cf. Shrievalty.]
Defn: The chief officer of a shire or county, to whom is intrusted the execution of the laws, the serving of judicial writs and processes, and the preservation of the peace.
Note: In England, sheriffs are appointed by the king. In the United States, sheriffs are elected by the legislature or by the citizens, or appointed and commissioned by the executive of the State. The office of sheriff in England is judicial and ministerial. In the United States, it is mainly ministerial. The sheriff, by himself or his deputies, executes civil and criminal process throughout the county, has charge of the jail and prisoners, attends courts, and keeps the peace. His judicial authority is generally confined to ascertaining damages on writs of inquiry and the like. Sheriff, in Scotland, called sheriff depute, is properly a judge, having also certain ministerial powers. Sheriff clerk is the clerk of the Sheriff's Court in Scotland. Sheriff's Court in London is a tribunal having cognizance of certain personal actions in that city. Wharton, Tomlins. Erskine.
SHERIFFALTY; SHERIFFDOM; SHERIFFRY; SHERIFFSHIP; SHERIFFWICKSher"iff*al*ty, Sher"iff*dom, Sher"iff*ry, Sher"iff*ship,Sher"iff*wick, n.
Defn: The office or jurisdiction of sheriff. See Shrievalty.
SHERNShern, n.
Defn: See Shearn. [Obs.]
SHERRISSher"ris, n.
Defn: Sherry. [Obs.] Shak.
SHERRY Sher"ry, n. Etym: [So called from Xeres, a Spanish town near Cadiz, x in Spanish having been formerly pronounced like sh in English.]
Defn: A Spanish light-colored dry wine, made in Andalusia. As prepared for commerce it is colored a straw color or a deep amber by mixing with it cheap wine boiled down. Sherry cobbler, a beverage prepared with sherry wine, water, lemon or orange, sugar, ice, etc., and usually imbided through a straw or a glass tube.
SHERRYVALLIES Sher"ry*val`lies, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Sp. zaraquelles wide breeches or overalls.]
Defn: Trousers or overalls of thick cloth or leather, buttoned on the outside of each leg, and generally worn to protect other trousers when riding on horseback. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
SHET Shet, v. t. & i. [imp. Shet. (Obs. Shette (); p. pr. Shet; p. pr. & vb. n. Shetting.]
Defn: To shut. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Chaucer.
SHETEShete, v. t. & i.
Defn: To shoot. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SHETHSheth, n.
Defn: The part of a plow which projects downward beneath the beam, for holding the share and other working parts; — also called standard, or post.
SHETLAND PONYShet"land po"ny.
Defn: One of a small, hardy breed of horses, with long mane and tail, which originated in the Shetland Islands; a sheltie.
SHEWShew, v. t. & i.
Defn: See Show.
SHEWShew, n.
Defn: Show. [Obs. except in shewbread.]
SHEWBREADShew"bread`.
Defn: See Showbread.
SHEWELShew"el, n.
Defn: A scarecrow. [Obs.] Trench.
SHEWERShew"er, n.
Defn: One who shews. See Shower.
SHEWNShewn,
Defn: p. p. of Shew.
SHIAHShi"ah, n.
Defn: Same as Shiite.
SHIBBOLETH Shib"bo*leth, n. Etym: [Heb. shibboleth an ear of corn, or a stream, a flood.]
1. A word which was made the criterion by which to distinguish the Ephraimites from the Gileadites. The Ephraimites, not being able to pronounce sh, called the word sibboleth. See Judges xii. Without reprieve, adjudged to death, For want of well pronouncing shibboleth. Milton.
Defn: Also in an extended sense. The th, with its twofold value, is . . . the shibboleth of foreigners. Earle.
2. Hence, the criterion, test, or watchword of a party; a party cry or pet phrase.
SHICERShi"cer (shi"ser), n. [Prob. fr. G. scheisser one who dungs.](Mining)
Defn: An unproductive mine; a duffer. [Australia]
SHIDE Shide, n. Etym: [OE. shide, schide, AS. scide; akin to OHG. scit, G. scheit, Icel. ski, and E. shed, v.t.]
Defn: A thin board; a billet of wood; a splinter. [Prov. Eng.]
SHIEShie, v. t.
Defn: See Shy, to throw.
SHIEDShied,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Shy.
SHIELShiel, n.
Defn: A sheeling. [Scot.] Burns.
SHIELD Shield, n. Etym: [OE. sheld, scheld, AS. scield, scild, sceld, scyld; akin to OS. scild, OFries. skeld, D. & G. schild, OHG. scilt, Icel. skjöldr, Sw. sköld, Dan. skiold, Goth. skildus; of uncertain origin. Cf. Sheldrake.]
1. A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm, — formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body. See Buckler. Now put your shields before your hearts and fight, With hearts more proof than shields. Shak.
2. Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection. "My council is my shield." Shak.
3. Figuratively, one who protects or defends. Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Gen. xv. 1.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: In lichens, a Hardened cup or disk surrounded by a rim and containing the fructification, or asci.
5. (Her.)
Defn: The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings in coats of arms. Cf. Lozenge. See Illust. of Escutcheon.
6. (Mining & Tunneling)
Defn: A framework used to protect workmen in making an adit under ground, and capable of being pushed along as excavation progresses.
7. A spot resembling, or having the form of, a shield. "Bespotted as with shields of red and black." Spenser.
8. A coin, the old French crown, or écu, having on one side the figure of a shield. [Obs.] Chaucer. Shield fern (Bot.), any fern of the genus Aspidium, in which the fructifications are covered with shield-shaped indusia; — called also wood fern. See Illust. of Indusium.
SHIELDShield, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shielded; p. pr. & vb. n. Shielding.]Etym: [AS. scidan, scyldan. See Shield, n.]
1. To cover with, or as with, a shield; to cover from danger; to defend; to protect from assault or injury. Shouts of applause ran ringing through the field, To see the son the vanquished father shield. Dryden. A woman's shape doth shield thee. Shak.
2. To ward off; to keep off or out. They brought with them their usual weeds, fit to shield the cold to which they had been inured. Spenser.
3. To avert, as a misfortune; hence, as a supplicatory exclamation,forbid! [Obs.]God shield that it should so befall. Chaucer.God shield I should disturb devotion! Shak.
SHIELD-BEARERShield"-bear`er, n.
1. One who, or that which, carries a shield.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any small moth of the genus Aspidisca, whose larva makes a shieldlike covering for itself out of bits of leaves.
SHIELDDRAKEShield"drake`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sheldrake.
SHIELDLESSShield"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of a shield, or of protection.— Shield"less*ly, adv.— Shield"less*ness, n.
SHIELDTAILShield"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of small burrowing snakes of the family Uropeltidæ, native of Ceylon and Southern Asia. They have a small mouth which can not be dilated.
SHIELINGShiel"ing, n.
Defn: A hut or shelter for shepherds of fishers. See Sheeling.[Scot.]
SHIFT Shift, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Shifting.] Etym: [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. skifa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.]
1. To divide; to distribute; to apportion. [Obs.] To which God of his bounty would shift Crowns two of flowers well smelling. Chaucer.
2. To change the place of; to move or remove from one place to another; as, to shift a burden from one shoulder to another; to shift the blame. Hastily he schifte him[self]. Piers Plowman. Pare saffron between the two St. Mary's days, Or set or go shift it that knowest the ways. Tusser.
3. To change the position of; to alter the bearings of; to turn; as, to shift the helm or sails. Carrying the oar loose, [they] shift it hither and thither at pleasure. Sir W. Raleigh.
4. To exchange for another of the same class; to remove and to put some similar thing in its place; to change; as, to shift the clothes; to shift the scenes. I would advise you to shift a shirt. Shak.
5. To change the clothing of; — used reflexively. [Obs.] As it were to ride day and night; and . . . not to have patience to shift me. Shak.
6. To put off or out of the way by some expedient. "I shifted him away." Shak. To shift off, to delay; to defer; to put off; to lay aside. — To shift the scene, to change the locality or the surroundings, as in a play or a story. Shift the scene for half an hour; Time and place are in thy power. Swift.
SHIFTShift, v. i.
1. To divide; to distribute. [Obs.] Some this, some that, as that him liketh shift. Chaucer.
2. To make a change or changes; to change position; to move; to veer; to substitute one thing for another; — used in the various senses of the transitive verb. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slippered pantaloon. Shak. Here the Baillie shifted and fidgeted about in his seat. Sir W. Scott.
3. To resort to expedients for accomplishing a purpose; to contrive; to manage. Men in distress will look to themselves, and leave their companions to schift as well as they can. L'Estrange.
4. To practice indirect or evasive methods. All those schoolmen, though they were exceeding witty, yet better teach all their followers to shift, than to resolve by their distinctions. Sir W. Raleigh.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: To slip to one side of a ship, so as to destroy the equilibrum; — said of ballast or cargo; as, the cargo shifted.
SHIFTShift, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel skipti. See Shift, v. t.]
1. The act of shifting. Specifically: (a) The act of putting one thing in the place of another, or of changing the place of a thing; change; substitution. My going to Oxford was not merely for shift of air. Sir H. Wotton. (b) A turning from one thing to another; hence, an expedient tried in difficalty; often, an evasion; a trick; a fraud. "Reduced to pitiable shifts." Macaulay. I 'll find a thousand shifts to get away. Shak. Little souls on little shifts rely. Dryden.
2. Something frequently shifted; especially, a woman's under-garment; a chemise.
3. The change of one set of workmen for another; hence, a spell, or turn, of work; also, a set of workmen who work in turn with other sets; as, a night shift.
4. In building, the extent, or arrangement, of the overlapping of plank, brick, stones, etc., that are placed in courses so as to break joints.
5. (Mining)
Defn: A breaking off and dislocation of a seam; a fault.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: A change of the position of the hand on the finger board, in playing the violin. To make shift, to contrive or manage in an exigency. "I shall make shift to go without him." Shak. [They] made a shift to keep their own in Ireland. Milton.
SHIFTABLEShift"a*ble, a.
Defn: Admitting of being shifted.
SHIFTERShift"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, shifts; one who plays tricks or practices artifice; a cozener. 'T was such a shifter that, if truth were known, Death was half glad when he had got him down. Milton.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: An assistant to the ship's cook in washing, steeping, and shifting the salt provisions.
3. (Mach.) (a) An arrangement for shifting a belt sidewise from one pulley to another. (b) (Knitting Mach.) A wire for changing a loop from one needle to another, as in narrowing, etc.
SHIFTINESSShift"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being shifty.Diplomatic shiftiness and political versatility. J. A. Syminds.
SHIFTINGShift"ing, a.
1. Changing in place, position, or direction; varying; variable; fickle; as, shifting winds; shifting opinions or principles.
2. Adapted or used for shifting anything. Shifting backstays (Naut.), temporary stays that have to be let go whenever the vessel tacks or jibes. — Shifting ballast, ballast which may be moved from one side of a vessel to another as safety requires. — Shifting center. See Metacenter. — Shifting locomotive. See Switching engine, under Switch.
SHIFTINGLYShift"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a shifting manner.
SHIFTLESSShift"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of expedients, or not using successful expedients; characterized by failure, especially by failure to provide for one's own support, through negligence or incapacity; hence, lazy; improvident; thriftless; as, a shiftless fellow; shiftless management. — Shift"less*ly, adv. — Shift"less*ness, n.
SHIFTYShift"y, a.
Defn: Full of, or ready with, shifts; fertile in expedients orcontrivance. Wright.Shifty and thrifty as old Greek or modern Scot, there were few thingshe could not invent, and perhaps nothing he could not endure. C.Kingsley.
SHIITE; SHIAH Shi"ite, Shi"ah, n. Etym: [Ar. shi'aia follower of the sect of Ali, fr. shi'at, shi'ah, a multitude following one another in pursuit of the same object, the sect of Ali, fr. sha'a to follow.]
Defn: A member of that branch of the Mohammedans to which the Persians belong. They reject the first three caliphs, and consider Ali as being the first and only rightful successor of Mohammed. They do not acknowledge the Sunna, or body of traditions respecting Mohammed, as any part of the law, and on these accounts are treated as heretics by the Sunnites, or orthodox Mohammedans.
SHIKAREE; SHIKARIShi*ka"ree, Shi*ka"ri n. Etym: [Hind.]
Defn: A sportsman; esp., a native hunter. [India]
SHILFShilf, n. Etym: [CF. G. shilf sedge.]
Defn: Straw. [Obs.]
SHILLShill, v. t.
Defn: To shell. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
SHILLShill, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Sheal.]
Defn: To put under cover; to sheal. [Prov.ng.] Brockett.
SHILLALAH; SHILLELAHShil*la"lah, Shil*le"lah, n.
Defn: An oaken sapling or cudgel; any cudgel; — so called fromShillelagh, a place in Ireland of that name famous for its oaks.[Irish] [Written also shillaly, and shillely.]
SHILLINGShil"ling, n. Etym: [OE. shilling, schilling, AS. scilling; akin toD. schelling, OS. & OHG. scilling, G. schilling, Sw. & Dan. skilling,Icel. skillingr, Goth. skilliggs, and perh. to OHG. scellan to sound,G. schallen.]
1. A silver coin, and money of account, of Great Britain and its dependencies, equal to twelve pence, or the twentieth part of a pound, equivalent to about twenty-four cents of the United States currency.
2. In the United States, a denomination of money, differing in value in different States. It is not now legally recognized.
Note: Many of the States while colonies had issued bills of credit which had depreciated in different degrees in the different colonies. Thus, in New England currency (used also in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida), after the adoption of the decimal system, the pound in paper money was worth only $3.333, and the shilling 16 Am. Cyc.
3. The Spanish real, of the value of one eight of a dollar, or 12 York shilling. Same as Shilling, 3.
SHILL-I-SHALL-I; SHILLY-SHALLY Shill"-I-shall`-I, Shil"ly-shal`ly, adv. Etym: [A reduplication of shall I.]
Defn: In an irresolute, undecided, or hesitating manner.I am somewhat dainty in making a resolution, because when I make it,I keep it; I don't stand shill-I-shall-I then; if I say 't, I'll do't. Congreve.
SHILLY-SHALLYShil"ly-shal`ly, v. i.
Defn: To hesitate; to act in an irresolute manner; hence, to occupy one's self with trifles.
SHILLY-SHALLYShil"ly-shal`ly, n.
Defn: Irresolution; hesitation; also, occupation with trifles. She lost not one of her forty-five minutes in picking and choosing, - - no shilly-shally in Kate. De Quincey.
SHILOH Shi"loh (shi\'b6lo), n. Etym: [Heb. shiloh, literally, quiet, rest, fr. shalah to rest.] (Script.)
Defn: A word used by Jacob on his deathbed, and interpreted variously, as "the Messiah," or as the city "Shiloh," or as "Rest."
SHILYShi"ly, adv.
Defn: See Shyly.
SHIMShim, n.
1. A kind of shallow plow used in tillage to break the ground, and clear it of weeds.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A thin piece of metal placed between two parts to make a fit.
SHIMMER Shim"mer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shimmered; p. pr. & vb. n. Shimmering.] Etym: [OE. schimeren, AS. scimerian; akin to scimian, sciman, to glitter, D. schemeren, G. schimmern, Dan. skimre, Sw. skimra, AS. scima a light, brightness, Icel. skima, Goth. skeima a torch, a lantern, and E. shine. sq. root157. See Shine, v. i.]
Defn: To shine with a tremulous or intermittent light; to shine faintly; to gleam; to glisten; to glimmer. The shimmering glimpses of a stream. Tennyson.
SHIMMERShim"mer, n.
Defn: A faint, tremulous light; a gleaming; a glimmer. TWo silver lamps, fed with perfumed oil, diffused . . . a trembling twilight-seeming shimmer through the quiet apartment. Sir W. Scott.
SHIMMERINGShim"mer*ing, n.
Defn: A gleam or glimmering. "A little shimmering of a light."Chaucer.
SHIMMYShim"my, n.
Defn: A chemise. [Colloq.]
SHINShin, n. Etym: [OE. shine, schine, AS. scina; akin to D. scheen, OHG.scina, G. schiene, schienbein, Dan. skinnebeen, Sw. skenben. Cf.Chine.]
1. The front part of the leg below the knee; the front edge of the shin bone; the lower part of the leg; the shank. "On his shin." Chaucer.
2. (Railbroad)
Defn: A fish plate for rails. Knight. Shin bone (Anat.), the tibia. — Shin leaf (Bot.), a perennial ericaceous herb (Pyrola elliptica) with a cluster of radical leaves and a raceme of greenish white flowers.
SHINShin, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Shinning.]
1. To climb a mast, tree, rope, or the like, by embracing it alternately with the arms and legs, without help of steps, spurs, or the like; — used with up; as, to shin up a mast. [Slang]
2. To run about borrowing money hastily and temporarily, as for the payment of one's notes at the bank. [Slang, U.S.] Bartlett.
SHINShin, v. t.
Defn: To climb (a pole, etc.) by shinning up. [Slang]
SHINDLEShin"dle, n. Etym: [See 2d Shingle.]
Defn: A shingle; also, a slate for roofing. [Obs.] Holland.
SHINDLEShin"dle, v. t.
Defn: To cover or roof with shindles. [Obs.]
SHINDYShin"dy, n.; pl. Shindies. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain; cf. Shinney,Shinty.]
1. An uproar or disturbance; a spree; a row; a riot. [Slang] Thackeray.
2. Hockey; shinney. Bartlett.
3. A fancy or liking. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.
SHINE Shine, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shone ( (archaic Shined (); p. pr. & vb. n. Shining.] Etym: [OE. shinen, schinen, AS. scinan; akin to D. schijnen, OFries. skina, OS. & OHG. scinan, G. scheinen, Icel.skina, Sw. skina, Dan. skinne, Goth. skeinan, and perh. to Gr. Sheer pure, and Shimmer.]
1. To emit rays of light; to give light; to beam with steady radiance; to exhibit brightness or splendor; as, the sun shines by day; the moon shines by night. Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine. Shak. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Cghrist. 2 Cor. iv. 6. Let thine eyes shine forth in their full luster. Denham.
2. To be bright by reflection of light; to gleam; to be glossy; as, to shine like polished silver.
3. To be effulgent in splendor or beauty. "So proud she shined in her princely state." Spenser. Once brightest shined this child of heat and air. Pope.
4. To be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished; to exhibit brilliant intellectual powers; as, to shine in courts; to shine in conversation. Few are qualified to shine in company; but it in most men's power to be agreeable. Swift. To make, or cause, the face to shine upon, to be propitious to; to be gracious to. Num. vi. 25.
SHINEShine, v. t.
1. To cause to shine, as a light. [Obs.] He [God] doth not rain wealth, nor shine honor and virtues, upon men equally. Bacon.
2. To make bright; to cause to shine by reflected light; as, in hunting, to shine the eyes of a deer at night by throwing a light on them. [U. S.] Bartlett.
SHINEShine, n.
1. The quality or state of shining; brightness; luster, gloss;polish; sheen.Now sits not girt with taper's holy shine. Milton.Fair opening to some court's propitious shine. Pope.The distant shine of the celestial city. Hawthorne.
2. Sunshine; fair weather. Be it fair or foul, or rain or shine. Dryden.
3. A liking for a person; a fancy. [Slang, U.S.]
4. Caper; antic; row. [Slang] To cut up shines, to play pranks. [Slang, U.S.]
SHINEShine, a. Etym: [AS. scin. See Shine, v. i.]
Defn: Shining; sheen. [Obs.] Spenser.
SHINERShin"er, n.
Defn: That which shines. Specifically: (a) A luminary. (b) A bright piece of money. [Slang] Has she the shiners, d' ye think Foote. black eye. (c) (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small freshwater American cyprinoid fishes, belonging to Notropis, or Minnilus, and allied genera; as the redfin (Notropis megalops), and the golden shiner (Notemigonus chrysoleucus) of the Eastern United States; also loosely applied to various other silvery fishes, as the dollar fish, or horsefish, menhaden, moonfish, sailor's choice, and the sparada. (d) (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common Lepisma, or furniture bug. Blunt-nosed shiner(Zoöl.), the silver moonfish.
SHINESSShi"ness, n.
Defn: See Shyness.
SHINGLE Shin"gle, n. Etym: [Prob. from Norw. singl, singling, coarse gravel, small round stones.] (Geol.)
Defn: Round, water-worn, and loose gravel and pebbles, or a collection of roundish stones, such as are common on the seashore and elsewhere.
SHINGLE Shin"gle, n. Etym: [OE. shingle, shindle, fr. L. scindula, scandula; cf. scindere to cleave, to split, E. shed, v.t., Gr.
1. A piece of wood sawed or rived thin and small, with one end thinner than the other, — used in covering buildings, especially roofs, the thick ends of one row overlapping the thin ends of the row below. I reached St. Asaph, . . . where there is a very poor cathedral church covered with shingles or tiles. Ray.
2. A sign for an office or a shop; as, to hang out one's shingle. [Jocose, U. S.] Shingle oak (Bot.), a kind of oak (Quercus imbricaria) used in the Western States for making shingles.
SHINGLEShin"gle, v. t. [imp. &. p. p. Shingled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shingling.]
1. To cover with shingles; as, to shingle a roof. They shingle their houses with it. Evelyn.
2. To cut, as hair, so that the ends are evenly exposed all over the head, as shingles on a roof.
SHINGLEShin"gle, v. t.
Defn: To subject to the process of shindling, as a mass of iron from the pudding furnace.
SHINGLERShin"gler, n.
1. One who shingles.
2. A machine for shingling puddled iron.
SHINGLES Shin"gles, n. Etym: [OF. cengle a girth, F. sangle, fr. L. cingulum a girdle, fr. cingere to gird. Cf. Cincture, Cingle, Surcingle.] (Med.)