Y-level
Y-level, Y-moth. See Y.
English · e-38700-9767 · brief source recordHistorical source · 1908
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 178
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
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Page 178 of 179Y-pointing
Y-pointing, i-point′ing, adj. (Milt.) pointing, looking up into the air. [An erroneous formation, as the prefix y- was confined to the past participle, and then, too, only or nearly always to words of Anglo-Saxon origin.
English · e-38700-9794Y-ravish
Y-ravish, i-rav′ish, v.t. (Shak.) to ravish. [An erroneous formation. Cf. Y-pointing.]
English · e-38700-9795 · brief source recordY-track
Y-track. See Y.
English · e-38700-9797 · brief source recordY-wis
Y-wis, i-wis′, adv. (Spens.) certainly, truly. [Cf. Iwis.]
English · e-38700-9808 · brief source recordYacca
Yacca, yak′a, n. a kind of evergreen in the West Indies.
English · e-38700-9691 · brief source recordYacht
Yacht, yot, n. a sailing or steam vessel, elegantly fitted up for pleasure-trips or racing, or as a vessel of state.—v.i. to sail in a yacht.—adj. Yacht′-built, built on the model of a yacht.—ns. Yacht′-club, a club of y
English · e-38700-9692Yaff
Yaff, yaf, v.i. (Scot.) to bark like a snarling dog.
English · e-38700-9693 · brief source recordYaffingale
Yaffingale, yaf′ing-gāl, n. (Tenn.) the green woodpecker. [From Prov. Eng. yaffle (and under the influence of nightingale), from the sound.]
English · e-38700-9694Yager
Yager, yā′gėr, n. formerly one of various bodies of light infantry in German armies, largely recruited from foresters, now one of various corps of infantry or cavalry, generally riflemen.—Also Jä′ger. [Ger. jäger, a hunt
English · e-38700-9695Yagger
Yagger, yag′ėr, n. (Scot.) a peddler, a stroller. [Dut. jager, a huntsman—jagen, to hunt.]
English · e-38700-9696 · brief source recordYahoo
Yahoo, ya-hōō′, n. a name given by Swift in Gulliver's Travels to a class of animals which have the forms of men but the understanding and passions of the lowest brutes: a despicable character.
English · e-38700-9697Yahveh
Yahveh, yä-vā′=Jehovah.—n. Yah′vist=Jehovist.
English · e-38700-9698 · brief source recordYak
Yak, yak, n. a species of ox found in Tibet, and domesticated there, covered all over with a thick coat of long silky hair, that of the lower parts hanging down almost to the ground. [Tibetan.]
English · e-38700-9699Yakut
Yakut, ya-kōōt′, n. a member of a mixed Turkish race in Siberia, in the Lena district.
English · e-38700-9700 · brief source recordYald
Yald, Yauld, yäld, adj. (Scot.) active, supple.
English · e-38700-9701 · brief source recordYam
Yam, yam, n. a large root like the potato growing in tropical countries. [Port. inhame.]
English · e-38700-9702 · brief source recordYama
Yama, yam′a, n. in Hindu mythology, the first mortal progenitor of the human race. [Sans.]
English · e-38700-9703 · brief source recordYamadou
Yamadou, yam′a-dōō, n. an oil from the yellow-nutmeg.
English · e-38700-9704 · brief source recordYammer
Yammer, yam′ėr, v.i. to lament, wail: to whine.—n. Yamm′ering. [A.S. geómerian—geómor, sad.]
English · e-38700-9705 · brief source recordYamun
Yamun, yä′mun, n. the office and residence of a mandarin. [Chin.]
English · e-38700-9706 · brief source recordYank
Yank, yangk, v.t. to carry, move with a jerk (with out, over).—n. (Scot.) a blow, buffet.—n. Yank′er (Scot.), a rap: a big lie.—adj. Yank′ing (Scot.), active: (U.S.) pulling, jerking.—n. Yank′ie (Scot.), a scold: an impu
English · e-38700-9707Yankee
Yankee, yang′kē, n. a citizen of the New England States in America: an inhabitant of the United States—also Yank (coll.).—ns. Yank′eedom, the country inhabited by Yankees: Yankees generally; Yank′ee-Doo′dle, a Yankee, fr
English · e-38700-9708Yap
Yap, yap, v.i. (prov.) to yelp, bark constantly.—n. a yelp: a cur.—n. Yap′ster, a dog.
English · e-38700-9709 · brief source recordYapok
Yapok, Yapock, yap′ok, n. the S. Amer. water-opossum. [From the river Oyapok, in French Guiana.]
English · e-38700-9710 · brief source recordYapon
Yapon, yä′pon, n. a bushy evergreen shrub of the holly family, native to the S.E. coasts of the U.S., its leaves yielding the medicinal 'black drink' of the Indians.—Also Yau′pon, Yu′pon. [Most prob. Amer. Ind.]
English · e-38700-9711Yapp
Yapp, yap, n. a kind of limp leather binding in which the cover overlaps the edge of the book.
English · e-38700-9712 · brief source recordYard
Yard, yärd, n. an English measure of 3 feet or 36 inches: a long beam on a mast for spreading square sails: the penis.—ns. Yard′-arm, either half of a ship's yard (right or left) from the centre to the end; Yard′stick, a
English · e-38700-9713Yard
Yard, yärd, n. an enclosed place, esp. near a building, as 'prison-yard,' or where any special work is carried on, as 'brick-yard,' 'wood-yard,' 'dock-yard,' 'navy-yard:' a garden.—v.t. to enclose in a yard.—ns. Yard′age
English · e-38700-9714Yare
Yare, yār, adj. ready: dexterous: quick: easily handled, manageable.—adv. Yare′ly (Shak.), promptly: dexterously: skilfully. [A.S. gearu, gearo, ready, prompt; Dut. gaar, dressed, Ger. gar, wholly.]
English · e-38700-9715Yarn
Yarn, yärn, n. spun thread: one of the threads of a rope: a sailor's story (spun out to some length), a story generally.—v.i. to tell stories. [A.S. gearn, thread; Ice. and Ger. garn.]
English · e-38700-9716Yarpha
Yarpha, yär′fa, n. peaty soil in Shetland.
English · e-38700-9717 · brief source recordYarr
Yarr, yär, n. (prov.) the corn spurry.
English · e-38700-9718 · brief source recordYarrish
Yarrish, yär′ish, adj. (prov.) having a rough, dry taste.
English · e-38700-9719 · brief source recordYarrow
Yarrow, yar′ō, n. the plant milfoil. [A.S. gearuwe; Ger. garbe.]
English · e-38700-9720 · brief source recordYashmak
Yashmak, yash′mak, n. the double veil worn by Moslem women in public, the eyes only being uncovered. [Ar.]
English · e-38700-9721 · brief source recordYasht
Yasht, yäsht, n. in the Zend-Avesta, one of a collection of hymns and prayers.
English · e-38700-9722 · brief source recordYataghan
Yataghan, yat′a-gan, n. a long Turkish dagger, without guard, usually curved. [Turk.]
English · e-38700-9723 · brief source recordYate
Yate, yāt, n. (Spens.) a gate.
English · e-38700-9724 · brief source recordYaud
Yaud, yäd, n. Scotch form of jade.
English · e-38700-9725 · brief source recordYaup
Yaup, yäp, n. (prov.) the blue titmouse.
English · e-38700-9726 · brief source recordYaup
Yaup, yäp, v.i. (Scot.) to be hungry.—adj. hungry.
English · e-38700-9727 · brief source recordYaw
Yaw, yaw, v.i. to move unsteadily: (naut.) to deviate temporarily or to turn out of the line of her course, as a ship.—n. a deviation from the course. [Scand., cf. Norw. gaga, to bend back, Ice. gagr, bent back.]
English · e-38700-9728Yawl
Yawl, yawl, v.i. to howl. [Cf. Gowl.]
English · e-38700-9729 · brief source recordYawl
Yawl, yawl, n. a ship's small boat, generally with four or six oars: a small fishing-boat: a small sailing-boat with jigger and curtailed mainboom. [Dut. jol. Cf. Jollyboat.]
English · e-38700-9730Yawn
Yawn, yawn, v.i. to open the jaws involuntarily from drowsiness: to gape: to gape with astonishment.—n. the opening of the mouth from drowsiness.—adj. Yawn′ing, gaping: opening wide: drowsy.—n. act of opening wide or gap
English · e-38700-9731Yaws
Yaws, yaws, n. a tropical epidemic and contagious disease of the skin—also Frambœsia, Button scurvy, Verruga Peruviana, Buba or Boba, Patta, Tetia, &c.—adj. Yaw′ey, pertaining to the yaws. [African yaw, a raspberry.]
English · e-38700-9732Yclept
Yclept, or Ycleped, i-klept′, pa.p. (obs.) called. [Clepe.]
English · e-38700-9734 · brief source recordYe
Ye, yē, pron. the nom. pl. of the 2d person—in old English ye was always used as a nominative, and you as a dative or accusative, as in the English Bible. [M. E. ye, ȝe, nom.; your, ȝour, gen.; you, ȝou, yow, dat. and ac
English · e-38700-9735Yea
Yea, yā, adv. yes: verily.—adj. (B.) true.—n. an affirmative vote. [A.S. geá; Dut. and Ger. ja, Ice. já. Cf. Yes.]
English · e-38700-9736 · brief source recordYead
Yead, Yede, yēd, v.i. (Spens.) to go: to march:—pr.p. yead′ing; pa.p. yōde. [A.S. eode, went, pa.t. of gán, to go.]
English · e-38700-9737 · brief source recordYean
Yean, yēn, v.t. to bring forth young.—n. Yean′ling (Shak.), the young of a sheep: a lamb. [A.S. éanian, to bring forth—eacen, pregnant.]
English · e-38700-9738Year
Year, yēr, n. a period of time determined by the revolution of the earth in its orbit, and embracing the four seasons, popularly a period beginning with 1st January and ending with 31st December, consisting of 365 days (
English · e-38700-9739Yearn
Yearn, yėrn, v.i. to feel earnest desire: to feel uneasiness, as from longing or pity.—n. Yearn′ing, earnest desire, tenderness, or pity.—adj. longing.—adv. Yearn′ingly. [A.S. giernan, giernian, to desire—georn, desirous
English · e-38700-9740Yearn
Yearn, yėrn, v.i. and v.t. (Shak.) to grieve. [M. E. ermen—A.S. yrman, to vex—earm, poor.]
English · e-38700-9741 · brief source recordYearn
Yearn, yėrn, v.t. (Spens.) to earn.
English · e-38700-9742 · brief source recordYearn
Yearn, yėrn, v.i. to curdle, as milk—also Earn.—n. Yearn′ing, rennet.
English · e-38700-9743 · brief source recordYeast
Yeast, yēst, n. the froth of malt liquors in fermentation: the vegetable growth to which fermentation is due, of value in brewing, baking, &c.: (Shak.) spume or foam of water.—v.i. to ferment.—ns. Yeast′iness, the state
English · e-38700-9744Yeld
Yeld, yeld, adj. (Scot.) barren, not giving milk. [A variant of geld.]
English · e-38700-9745 · brief source recordYeldring
Yeldring, yel′dring, n. the same as Yowley.—Also Yel′drock.
English · e-38700-9746 · brief source recordYelk
Yelk. Same as Yolk.
English · e-38700-9747 · brief source recordYell
Yell, yel, v.i. to howl or cry out with a sharp noise: to scream from pain or terror.—v.t. to utter with a yell.—n. a sharp outcry.—n. Yell′ing.—v.i. Yell′och (Scot.), to yell.—n. a yell. [A.S. gellan, gyllan; Ger. gelle
English · e-38700-9748Yellow
Yellow, yel′ō, adj. of a bright gold colour.—n. a bright golden colour: (pl.) the peach-yellows (see Peach): (Shak.) jaundice in horses.—v.t. to make yellow.—v.i. to become yellow.—adjs. Yell′ow-backed, -bell′ied, -bille
English · e-38700-9749Yelp
Yelp, yelp, v.i. to utter a sharp bark.—n. a sharp, quick cry or bark.—n. Yelp′er. [A.S. gilpan, to boast, exult; Ice. giálpa, to yelp.]
English · e-38700-9750Yen
Yen, yen, n. a Japanese gold or silver coin, used as the monetary unit since 1871, and now equivalent to about 2s. 0½d. of our money. [Jap.,—Chin. yuen, round, a dollar.]
English · e-38700-9751Yeoman
Yeoman, yō′man, n. in early English history, a common menial attendant, but after the fifteenth century, one of a class of small freeholders, forming the next grade below gentlemen: a man of small estate, any small farme
English · e-38700-9752Yerba
Yerba, yer′ba, n. the Paraguay tea or maté. [Sp.,—L. herba.]
English · e-38700-9753 · brief source recordYerk
Yerk, yėrk, v.t. to throw or thrust with a sudden, quick motion, to jerk: (obs.) to beat, rouse, excite (Scot.): to bind or tie with a jerk. [Akin to jerk.]
English · e-38700-9754Yes
Yes, yes, adv. ay: a word of affirmation or consent. [A.S. gise, gese—geá, yea, sý, let it be.]
English · e-38700-9755 · brief source recordYester
Yester, yes′tėr, adj. relating to yesterday: last.—n. Yes′terday, the day last past.—adv. on the day last past.—ns. Yes′tereve, -n, Yes′terevening, the evening last past; Yes′termorn, Yes′termorning, the morning last pas
English · e-38700-9756Yet
Yet, yet, adv. in addition: besides: at the same time: up to the present time: hitherto: even: however.—conj. nevertheless: however. [A.S. git, gita; Ger. jetz.]
English · e-38700-9757Yett
Yett, yet, n. (Scot.) a gate, door—another term of yate, itself a dialectal form of gate.
English · e-38700-9758 · brief source recordYeve
Yeve, yēv, v.t. to give:—pa.p. (Spens.) Yev′en.
English · e-38700-9759 · brief source recordYew
Yew, ū, n. a tree of genus Taxus—natural order Taxaceæ, itself a suborder of Coniferæ—widely diffused over the whole northern parts of the world, with narrow lanceolate or linear leaves (in Europe long planted in graveya
English · e-38700-9760Yex
Yex, yeks, v.i. (prov.) to hiccup.—n. a hiccup.
English · e-38700-9761 · brief source recordYggdrasil
Yggdrasil, ig′dra-sil, n. (Scand. myth.) the ash-tree binding together heaven, earth, and hell, and extending its branches over the whole world and above the heavens—according to Vigfusson and Powell, not a primitive Sca
English · e-38700-9762Yiddish
Yiddish, yid′ish, n. a strange compound of very corrupt Hebrew and ancient or provincial German spoken by the commoner Jews—extensively in the East End of London.—ns. Yid, Yidd′isher, a Jew. [Ger. jüdisch, Jewish.]
English · e-38700-9763Yield
Yield, yēld, v.t. to resign: to grant: to give out: to produce: to allow.—v.i. to submit: to comply with: to give place.—n. amount yielded: product.—adj. Yield′able, that may be yielded: inclined to yield.—ns. Yield′able
English · e-38700-9764Yill
Yill, yil, n. (Scot.) ale. [Ale.]
English · e-38700-9765 · brief source recordYite
Yite, yīt, n. (prov.) the yellow-bunting.—Also Yoit.
English · e-38700-9766 · brief source recordYo
Yo, yō, interj. expressive of effort, &c.—Yo-ho, in order to call attention.
English · e-38700-9768 · brief source recordYodel
Yodel, Yodle, yō′dl, v.t. and v.i. to sing, changing frequently from the ordinary voice to falsetto and back again after the manner of the mountaineers of the Tyrol.—n. a song sung in this fashion—also Jō′del.—ns. Yō′del
English · e-38700-9769Yoga
Yoga, yō′ga, n. a system of Hindu philosophy showing the means of emancipation of the soul from further migrations.—ns. Yō′gi, a Hindu ascetic who practises the yoga system, consisting in the withdrawal of the senses fro
English · e-38700-9770Yoicks
Yoicks, yō′iks, interj. an old fox-hunting cry.—v.t. Yō′ick, to urge on by this cry.
English · e-38700-9771 · brief source recordYojana
Yojana, yō′ja-na, n. an Indian measure of distance, usually about five miles.—Also Yō′jan.
English · e-38700-9772 · brief source recordYoke
Yoke, yōk, n. that which joins together: the frame of wood joining oxen for drawing together: any similar frame, as one for carrying pails: (prov.) a chain of hills: a stretch of work—e.g. from meal-time to meal-time: a
English · e-38700-9773Yokel
Yokel, yō′kl, n. a country bumpkin.—adj. Yō′kelish. [Ety. dub.; but cf. Gawk and Gowk.]
English · e-38700-9774 · brief source recordYolding
Yolding, Yoldring. Same as Yowley.
English · e-38700-9775 · brief source recordYolk
Yolk, yōk, Yelk, yelk, n. the yellow part of an egg: the vitellus of a seed: wool-oil.—adjs. Yolked, having a yolk; Yolk′y, like yolk. [A.S. geoloca, geoleca—geolo, yellow.]
English · e-38700-9776Yon
Yon, yon, Yonder, yon′dėr, adv. at a distance within view.—adj. being at a distance within view. [A.S. geon; Goth. jains (masc.), jaina (fem.), Ger. jen-er, that.]
English · e-38700-9777Yond
Yond, yond, adj. (Spens.) furious, mad—apparently a mere coinage from the foregoing.
English · e-38700-9778 · brief source recordYoni
Yoni, yō′nē, n. the pudendum muliebre, the symbol under which Sakti is worshipped in India.
English · e-38700-9779 · brief source recordYonker
Yonker=Younker (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9780 · brief source recordYoop
Yoop, yoop, n. a word imitative of a sobbing sound.
English · e-38700-9781 · brief source recordYore
Yore, yōr, n. in old time. [A.S. geára, formerly, gen. pl. of gár, a year.]
English · e-38700-9782 · brief source recordYorker
Yorker, york′ėr, n. a term in cricket applied to a ball pitched to a point directly under the batsman's bat—formerly called tice from entice. [Prob. from Yorkshire, but history quite unknown.]
English · e-38700-9783Yorkish
Yorkish, york′ish, adj. pertaining to the county or city of York: adhering to the House of York in the Wars of the Roses.—n. York′ist, one of this party.—Yorkshire grit, a grit from Yorkshire used for polishing; Yorkshir
English · e-38700-9784You
You, ū, pron. 2d pers. pron. pl., but also used as singular.—pron.pl. You′-uns, a provincial form for you, you ones.—You're another, the vulgar form of tu quoque, effective in vituperation, but not an argument. [A.S. eów
English · e-38700-9785Young
Young, yung, adj. not long born: in early life: in the first part of growth: vigorous: relating to youth: junior, the younger of two persons having the same name: inexperienced: newly arrived—in Australia.—n. the offspri
English · e-38700-9786Younker
Younker, yung′kėr, n. a young person: (Shak.) a simpleton: (Spens.) a young gentleman or knight. [Old Dut. joncker (Dut. jonker), from jonk-heer, 'young master' or 'lord;' Ger. junker.]
English · e-38700-9787Your
Your, ūr, pron. poss. of you: belonging to you: (Shak.) used to denote a class or species well known, the use implying something of contempt.—Yourn (prov.), yours. [A.S. eówer. Cf. Ye.]
English · e-38700-9788Yours
Yours, ūrz, pron. poss. of you, not followed by a noun: used in many idiomatic senses, as e.g. 'you and yours,' your family, property, 'yours of yesterday,' your letter, &c.—Yours faithfully, sincerely, truly, &c., Yours
English · e-38700-9789Yourself
Yourself, ūr-self′, pron. your own self or person:—pl. Yourselves′.
English · e-38700-9790 · brief source recordYouth
Youth, yōōth, n. state of being young: early life: a young person: young persons taken together: (Shak.) recentness, freshness.—adj. Youth′ful, pertaining to youth or early life: young: suitable to youth: fresh: buoyant,
English · e-38700-9791Yowl
Yowl, yowl, v.i. to cry mournfully, as a dog: to yell, bawl.—n. a distressed cry.—n. Yowl′ing, a howling. [M. E. yowlen—Ice. gaula, to howl; cf. Scot. gowl and Eng. yell.]
English · e-38700-9792Yowley
Yowley, yow′li, n. the yellow-bunting.—Also Yel′dring, Yel′drock, Yor′ling, &c. [A.S. geolu, yellow.]
English · e-38700-9793 · brief source recordYslaked
Yslaked, an obsolete pa.p. of slake.
English · e-38700-9796 · brief source recordYtterbium
Ytterbium, i-ter′bi-um, n. an element discovered by Marignac in gadolinite.
English · e-38700-9798 · brief source recordYttrium
Yttrium, it′ri-um, n. a rare metal obtained as a blackish-gray powder, and contained in a few minerals in which there are usually also present compounds of one or more other rare metals, such as cerium, didymium, erbium,
English · e-38700-9799Yucca
Yucca, yuk′a, n. a genus of plants of natural order Liliaceæ, natives of Mexico, &c., some cultivated in gardens on account of the singularity and splendour of their appearance.—Yucca gloriosa, a native of Virginia, but
English · e-38700-9800Yuck
Yuck, yuk, v.i. (prov.) to itch.—n. the itch.—adj. Yuck′y, itchy.
English · e-38700-9801 · brief source recordYucker
Yucker, yuk′ėr, n. the American flicker or golden-winged woodpecker.
English · e-38700-9802 · brief source recordYufts
Yufts, yufts, n. Russia leather.
English · e-38700-9803 · brief source recordYuga
Yuga, yōō′ga, n. one of the Hindu ages of the world.—Also Yug. [Sans.]
English · e-38700-9804 · brief source recordYulan
Yulan, yōō′lan, n. a Chinese magnolia, with large white flowers. [Chin.]
English · e-38700-9805 · brief source recordYule
Yule, yool, n. the season or feast of Christmas.—n. Yule′tide, the time or season of Yule or Christmas.—Yule log, the block of wood cut down in the forest, then dragged to the house, and set alight in celebration of Chri
English · e-38700-9806Yunx
Yunx, yungks, n. the wry-neck.
English · e-38700-9807 · brief source recordZ
Z, the twenty-sixth and last letter in our alphabet, is derived through the Greek zeta, from zayin, the seventh Semitic letter—its sound a voiced sibilant, either a voiced s as in 'zeal,' or a voiced sh as in 'azure.'—Th
English · e-38700-9809Zabian
Zabian, zā′bi-an, adj. and n. the same as Sabian.—ns. Zā′baism, Zā′bism, the doctrines esp. of the Pseudo-Zabians, or Syrian Zabians (in Haurân, Edessa, Bagdad), remnants of the ancient Syrian but Hellenised heathens, fr
English · e-38700-9810Zabra
Zabra, zä′bra, n. a small vessel on the Spanish coast. [Sp.]
English · e-38700-9811 · brief source recordZabrus
Zabrus, zā′brus, n. a large genus of caraboid beetles. [Gr. zabros, gluttonous.]
English · e-38700-9812 · brief source recordZadkiel
Zadkiel, zad′ki-el, n. the name assumed by Richard James Morrison (1794-1874), the compiler of a popular astrological almanac, a retired commander in the royal navy, a Hebraist, mathematician, astronomer, and a real beli
English · e-38700-9813Zaffre
Zaffre, Zaffer, zaf′ėr, n. the impure oxide obtained by partially roasting cobalt ore previously mixed with two or three times its weight of fine sand. [Fr. zafre, of Ar. origin.]
English · e-38700-9814Zalophus
Zalophus, zal′ō-fus, n. a genus of otaries or eared seals. [Gr. za-, intens., lophos, a crest.]
English · e-38700-9815 · brief source recordZambomba
Zambomba, tham-bom′ba, n. a simple Spanish musical instrument made by stretching a piece of parchment over a wide-mouthed jar and inserting a stick in it which is rubbed with the fingers.
English · e-38700-9816Zamia
Zamia, zā′mi-a, n. a genus of palm-like trees or low shrubs of the order Cycadaceæ—some species yield an edible starchy pith. [L. zamia, a dead fir-cone—Gr. zēmia, damage.]
English · e-38700-9817Zamindar
Zamindar=Zemindar (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9818 · brief source recordZamouse
Zamouse, za-moos′, n. the short-horned buffalo of West Africa.
English · e-38700-9819 · brief source recordZampogna
Zampogna, tsam-pō′nya, n. the Italian bagpipe. [It.]
English · e-38700-9820 · brief source recordZander
Zander, zan′dėr, n. the European pike-perch.—Also San′der and Zant. [Ger.]
English · e-38700-9821 · brief source recordZanella
Zanella, zā-nel′a, n. a mixed twilled fabric for covering umbrellas.
English · e-38700-9822 · brief source recordZanje
Zanje, than′hē, n. an irrigating canal.—n. Zanjē′ro, one who superintends the distribution of such water. [Sp. Amer.]
English · e-38700-9823 · brief source recordZante
Zante, zan′te, n. the same as Zan′te-wood, the wood of the smoke-tree, from Zante, one of the principal Ionian Islands: satin-wood.—n. Zan′tiote, a native of Zante.—Zante currant, the small seedless fruit of a Zante grap
English · e-38700-9824Zany
Zany, zā′ni, n. a merry-andrew: a buffoon.—v.t. to play the zany to.—n. Zā′nyism, condition or habits of a buffoon. [Fr. zani—It. zani, a corr. of Giovanni, John. Cf. the similar use of the names John and Jack.]
English · e-38700-9825Zaporogian
Zaporogian, zā-pō-rō′ji-an, adj. pertaining to those Little Russian or Ukraine Cossacks who dwelt near the Porogi or falls of the Dnieper.—n. one of the foregoing.
English · e-38700-9826Zapotilla
Zapotilla, zap-ō-til′a, n. the same as Sapodilla.
English · e-38700-9827 · brief source recordZaptieh
Zaptieh, zap′ti-ā, n. a Turkish policeman.—Also Zab′tieh.
English · e-38700-9828 · brief source recordZarape
Zarape, za-rä′pe, n. the same as Serape.
English · e-38700-9829 · brief source recordZarathustrian
Zarathustrian, zar-a-thōōs′tri-an, adj. and n.=Zoroastrian.—Zarathus′trianism, Zarathus′trism=Zoroastrianism; Zarathus′tric=Zoroastric.
English · e-38700-9830Zaratite
Zaratite, zar′a-tīt, n. a hydrous carbonate of nickel, found usually as an incrustation on chromite. [From Zarate, a Spaniard.]
English · e-38700-9831Zareba
Zareba, zā-rē′ba, n. in the Soudan, a stockade, thorn-hedge, &c. against wild animals or enemies, a fortified camp generally.—Also Zaree′ba, Zere′ba, Zeri′ba.
English · e-38700-9832Zarf
Zarf, zärf, n. an ornamental holder for a hot coffee-cup.—Also Zurf. [Ar. zarf, a vessel.]
English · e-38700-9833 · brief source recordZarnich
Zarnich, zär′nik, n. a native sulphide of arsenic, orpiment, realgar.—Also Zar′nec. [Ar. zernikh—Gr. arsenikon, arsenic.]
English · e-38700-9834Zarzuela
Zarzuela, thär-thōō-ā′la, n. a kind of operetta or vaudeville—named from the royal residence of La Zarzuela in Spain.
English · e-38700-9835 · brief source recordZastruga
Zastruga, zas-trōō′ga, n. one of a series of long parallel snow-ridges on the open wind-swept plains of Russia. [Russian.]
English · e-38700-9836Zati
Zati, zä′ti, n. the capped macaque of India and Ceylon.
English · e-38700-9837 · brief source recordZax
Zax, zaks, n. a slaters' hammer.—Also Sax (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9838 · brief source recordZea
Zea, zē′a, n. a cereal having monœcious flowers. The only species is Z. mays, the well-known maize or Indian corn. [Gr.]
English · e-38700-9839Zeal
Zeal, zēl, n. boiling or passionate ardour for anything: enthusiasm.—n. Zeal′ant (Bacon), a zealot or enthusiast.—adj. Zeal′less, wanting zeal.—ns. Zealot (zel′ot), one full of zeal: an enthusiast: a fanatic: one of a fa
English · e-38700-9840Zebec
Zebec, Zebeck=Xebec (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9841 · brief source recordZebra
Zebra, zē′bra, n. a generic name given to the group of striped Equidæ—all of which are peculiar to the African continent—and thus including the Dauw or Burchell's Zebra, the Quagga, and the true or Mountain Zebra.—n. Zē′
English · e-38700-9842Zebu
Zebu, zē′bū, n. the humped domestic ox of India (or Brahminy bull), a kind of ox very nearly allied to the common ox, diffused over India, China, the east coast of Africa, &c. [Fr. zébu, the whimsical name taken by Buffo
English · e-38700-9843Zebub
Zebub, zē′bub, n. an Abyssinian fly hurtful to cattle, similar to the tsetse. [Ar. zubāb, a fly.]
English · e-38700-9844 · brief source recordZecchino
Zecchino, tsek-kē′nō, n. a Venetian gold coin, the same as the sequin (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9845 · brief source recordZechstein
Zechstein, zek′stīn, n. a deposit of calcareous rock which covers the Kupfer-schiefer. [Ger.,—zeche, a mine, stein, a stone.]
English · e-38700-9846Zed
Zed, zed, n. the letter Z, also called zee and izzard: a bar of metal of form similar to the letter Z.
English · e-38700-9847 · brief source recordZedoary
Zedoary, zed′ō-ā-ri, n. certain species of curcuma, natives of India, China, &c., whose root-stocks (rhizomes) are aromatic, bitter, pungent, and tonic, and used for similar purposes with ginger—a powerful sudorific. [Ar
English · e-38700-9848Zein
Zein, zē′in, n. a proteid found in Indian corn. [Zea.]
English · e-38700-9849 · brief source recordZeitgeist
Zeitgeist, tsīt′gīst, n. the spirit of the age. [Ger.]
English · e-38700-9850 · brief source recordZel
Zel, zel, n. a form of Oriental cymbal. [Pers. zil.]
English · e-38700-9851 · brief source recordZelotypia
Zelotypia, zel-ō-tip′i-a, n. morbid zeal in the prosecution of any project or cause. [Gr. zēlotypia, jealousy, zēlos, zeal, typtein, to strike.]
English · e-38700-9852Zemindar
Zemindar, zem-in-dar′, n. under the Mogul emperors of India, the farmer of revenue from land held in common by the cultivators, as responsible for the revenue—now the actual native proprietor paying revenue direct, and n
English · e-38700-9853Zemstvo
Zemstvo, zems′tvō, n. in Russia, a district and provincial assembly to which the administration of the economic affairs of the district and the province was committed in 1866, but whose rights were much curtailed in 1890
English · e-38700-9854Zenana
Zenana, ze-nä′na, n. the apartments in which Indian women are secluded, corresponding to the harem in Arabic-speaking Moslem lands.—Zenana mission, a mission to Hindu women, necessarily conducted by women. [Pers. zanāna—
English · e-38700-9855Zend
Zend, zend, n. the ancient East-Iranian and purely Aryan language, in which the Zend-Avesta was long orally preserved and at last written—closely related to the Vedic Sanskrit.—Zend-Avesta, the ancient sacred writings of
English · e-38700-9856Zendik
Zendik, zen′dik, n. an unbeliever in revealed religion in the East, one who practises magic. [Ar. zendīq.]
English · e-38700-9857 · brief source recordZenith
Zenith, zen′ith, n. that point of the heavens which is exactly overhead—i.e. in line with the spectator's position and the centre of the earth (it is thus the upper pole of the spectator's horizon, as the nadir is the un
English · e-38700-9858Zeolite
Zeolite, zē′ō-līt, n. the common name of a large group of minerals often called the Zeolitic family—they are all soluble in acids, and most of them gelatinise in acids in consequence of silica being set free.—adjs. Zeoli
English · e-38700-9859Zephyr
Zephyr, zef′ir, n. the west wind: a soft, gentle breeze: thin light worsted or woollen yarn, also a close-fitting jersey or undergarment made of such: anything very light and fine of its kind.—Zephyr cloth, a thin, finel
English · e-38700-9860Zerda
Zerda, zer′da, n. a small African fox, a fennec.
English · e-38700-9861 · brief source recordZereba
Zereba=Zareba (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9862 · brief source recordZero
Zero, zē′ro, n. cipher: nothing: the point from which the reckoning begins on scales, such as those of the barometer, &c. [Fr.,—Ar. sifr. Doublet cipher.]
English · e-38700-9863Zerumbet
Zerumbet, zē-rum′bet, n. an East Indian drug, the cassumunar—sometimes for the round zedoary.
English · e-38700-9864 · brief source recordZest
Zest, zest, n. something that gives a relish: relish. [Fr. zeste, skin of an orange or lemon used to give a flavour—L. schistus—Gr. schistos, cleft, divided—schizein, to cleave.]
English · e-38700-9865Zeta
Zeta, zē′ta, n. a small closet or parlour, the sexton's room over the porch of a church. [Gr. diaita, a dwelling.]
English · e-38700-9866 · brief source recordZetetic
Zetetic, zē-tet′ik, adj. proceeding by inquiry.—n. a seeker, the name taken by some of the Pyrrhonists. [Gr. zētētikos—zētein, to seek.]
English · e-38700-9867Zeuglodon
Zeuglodon, zūg′lō-don, n. a fossil whale-like mammal, so named by Owen from the yoke-like double-rooted formation of its cheek teeth.—adj. and n. Zeug′lodont.—n.pl. Zeuglodon′tia, a suborder of Cetacea, represented by th
English · e-38700-9868Zeugma
Zeugma, zūg′ma, n. (gram.) a figure by which an adjective or verb which agrees with a nearer word is, by way of supplement, referred also to another more remote, whether grammatically corresponding or not.—adj. Zeugmat′i
English · e-38700-9869Zeus
Zeus, zūs, n. the greatest of the national deities of Greece, son of Cronos (Saturn) and Rhea, brother of Poseidon (Neptune), Hades (Pluto), Hestia (Vesta), Demeter (Ceres), and Hera (Juno). His consort was Hera; his sup
English · e-38700-9870Zeuxite
Zeuxite, zūks′īt, n. a ferriferous tourmaline. [Gr.,—zeuxis, joining—zeugnunai, to yoke.]
English · e-38700-9871 · brief source recordZiamet
Ziamet, zi-ä′met, n. a large military fief under the Turkish feudal system. [Turk.]
English · e-38700-9872 · brief source recordZibeline
Zibeline, zib′e-lin, adj. pertaining to the sable.—n. the fur of the sable. [Sable.]
English · e-38700-9873 · brief source recordZibet
Zibet, zib′et, n. an Asiatic or Indian civet. [Civet.]
English · e-38700-9874 · brief source recordZiganka
Ziganka, zi-gan′ka, n. a Russian country-dance, the music for such, usually quick, with a drone bass. [Russ.]
English · e-38700-9875 · brief source recordZigzag
Zigzag, zig′zag, n. a short, sharp turning.—adj. having short, sharp turns, bent from side to side.—v.t. to form with short turns:—pr.p. zig′zagging; pa.p. zig′zagged.—adv. with frequent sharp turns—also Zig′zaggy.—n. Zi
English · e-38700-9876Zillah
Zillah, zil′a, n. the technical name for the administrative districts into which British India is divided, each of which has in the older provinces a Collector (or Collector and Magistrate combined), a Sessions Judge, &c
English · e-38700-9877Zimb
Zimb, zimb, n. an Abyssinian dipterous insect, like the tsetse, hurtful to cattle. [Ar. zimb, a fly.]
English · e-38700-9878 · brief source recordZimbi
Zimbi, zim′bi, n. a money-cowry. [East Ind.]
English · e-38700-9879 · brief source recordZiment-water
Ziment-water, zi-ment′-wa′tėr, n. water found in copper-mines.
English · e-38700-9880 · brief source recordZimocca
Zimocca, zi-mok′a, n. a fine quality of bath-sponge.
English · e-38700-9881 · brief source recordZinc
Zinc, zingk, n. a bluish-white metal, breaking with a crystalline fracture—when chemically pure it is malleable and ductile at ordinary temperature, but ordinary zinc is so only at temperatures above 212° Fahr.—v.t. to c
English · e-38700-9882Zincali
Zincali, zin′ka-li, n. a name in Spain for the Gipsies, akin to Zingaro (q.v.).
English · e-38700-9883 · brief source recordZinckenite
Zinckenite, zing′ken-īt, n. a grayish mineral consisting of the sulphides of antimony and lead. [Named from the German metallurgist Zincken (1790-1862).]
English · e-38700-9884Zinco
Zinco, zing′kō, n. a familiar abbreviation for zincograph.—v.i. to produce a plate for printing by the zincographic process.
English · e-38700-9885Zincode
Zincode, zing′kōd, n. the negative pole of a voltaic battery: the anode of an electrolytic cell.
English · e-38700-9886 · brief source recordZincography
Zincography, zing-kog′ra-fi, n. a process of etching on zinc (or copper) by which black and white pictures of all kinds can be reproduced as surface-blocks for printing by the ordinary letterpress process—in the etching
English · e-38700-9887Zingaro
Zingaro, zing′ga-rō, n. a name in Italy for the Gipsies;—pl. Zing′ari, Zing′ane.—Also Zing′ano. [Cf. the Ger. Zigeuner, Czech Cingán or Cigán, Magyar Cigány.]
English · e-38700-9888Zingel
Zingel, zing′el, n. a fish of the perch family, found in the Danube. [Ger.]
English · e-38700-9889 · brief source recordZingiberaceæ
Zingiberaceæ, zin′ji-be-rā′sē-ē, n.pl. a natural order of about 470 species of perennial tropical herbs, with horizontal thickened root-stock and cone-like inflorescence—the typical genus Zin′giber.—adjs. Zingiberā′ceous
English · e-38700-9890Zinke
Zinke, tsing′ke, n. an old wind instrument like a cornet, of wood or horn, with seven finger-holes. [Ger.]
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