Definitions
Oct. 29th, 2007 06:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwynhefarcaryatid: (n) A female figure used as a column to support an entablature.
telamon: (n) A figure of a man used as a column to support an entablature or other structure.
damson: (n) 1. A small plum, black or dark purple, the fruit of Prunus communis or domestica, variety damascena, which was introduced in very early times into Greece and Italy from Syria.
2. The tree which bears this: also damson tree.
strop: (n) As a mass noun: belligerence, peevishness (rare). As a count noun: a fit of temper; a sulk.
comper / compère: (v) To act as the organizer or general director of a musical or vaudeville entertainment; now esp. one whose role in an entertainment on the stage, radio, etc., is to introduce the performers to the audience and provide a linking commentary between the acts.
sump: (n) 1. A marsh, swamp, morass; (now dial.) a dirty pool or puddle.
2. A pit or well for collecting water or other fluid; spec. a cesspool; a pond or well from which sea-water is collected for salt-manufacture. Also figuratively.
3. In Mining: A pit or well sunk at the bottom of an engine shaft to collect the water of the mine.
4. A depression in the bottom of the crankcase of an internal-combustion engine, which serves as a reservoir of lubricating oil.
5. In Metallurgy: A pit of stone or metal at a furnace to collect the metal at the first fusion.
6. In Mining: Applied locally to various kinds of drifts or pits; also, ‘the part of a judd of coal first brought down’
kaolin: (n) A fine white clay produced by the decomposition of feldspar, used in the manufacture of porcelain; first employed by the Chinese, but subsequently obtained also in Cornwall, Saxony, France (near Limoges), United States, etc.
barton: (n) 1. A threshing-floor.
2. A farm-yard.
3. A demesne farm; the demesne lands of a manor, not let out to tenants, but retained for the lord's own use.
4. An enclosure for poultry, a pen.
5. Used to translate the Latin cavædium: The inner court of a Roman house.
pangolin: (n) Any of several mammals constituting the order Pholidota and family Manidae, comprising insectivorous animals of southern Asia and Africa that have a body covered with large horny scales, a small head with an elongated snout, a long sticky tongue for catching ants and termites, and a tapering tail; (originally) spec. the South-East Asian species Manis javanica. Also called scaly anteater.
pelisse: (n) 1. An ecclesiastical cassock.
2. A fur-lined mantle or cloak, esp. a waist-length one forming part of a hussar's uniform.
3. A woman's long cloak, with armhole slits and a shoulder cape or hood, often made of a rich fabric; (later also) a long fitted coat of similar style.
4. An outer garment for a child, to be worn outdoors.
pomander: (n) 1. A container for a pomander (sense 3). Originally: a case in which a pomander was carried, usually a hollow ball of gold, silver, ivory, etc., often in the shape of an apple or orange. Later also: a small perforated (usually ceramic or metal) container filled with pot-pourri or some other aromatic substance and hung in a wardrobe, placed on a dressing table, etc.
2. A book containing a collection of prayers, secrets, poems, etc.
3. Originally: a mixture of aromatic substances, usually made into a ball, and carried in a small box or bag (see sense 1) in the hand or pocket, or suspended by a chain from the neck or waist, esp. as protection against infection or unpleasant smells (now hist.). Later also: a piece of fruit (esp. an orange) stuck with cloves and usually tied with ribbon, which may be hung in a wardrobe, used as a decoration, etc.
4. Something scented, or having a sweet smell.
meretricious: (adj) 1. Of, relating to, or befitting a prostitute; having the character of a prostitute.
2. Alluring by false show; showily or superficially attractive but having in reality no value or integrity.
telamon: (n) A figure of a man used as a column to support an entablature or other structure.
damson: (n) 1. A small plum, black or dark purple, the fruit of Prunus communis or domestica, variety damascena, which was introduced in very early times into Greece and Italy from Syria.
2. The tree which bears this: also damson tree.
strop: (n) As a mass noun: belligerence, peevishness (rare). As a count noun: a fit of temper; a sulk.
comper / compère: (v) To act as the organizer or general director of a musical or vaudeville entertainment; now esp. one whose role in an entertainment on the stage, radio, etc., is to introduce the performers to the audience and provide a linking commentary between the acts.
sump: (n) 1. A marsh, swamp, morass; (now dial.) a dirty pool or puddle.
2. A pit or well for collecting water or other fluid; spec. a cesspool; a pond or well from which sea-water is collected for salt-manufacture. Also figuratively.
3. In Mining: A pit or well sunk at the bottom of an engine shaft to collect the water of the mine.
4. A depression in the bottom of the crankcase of an internal-combustion engine, which serves as a reservoir of lubricating oil.
5. In Metallurgy: A pit of stone or metal at a furnace to collect the metal at the first fusion.
6. In Mining: Applied locally to various kinds of drifts or pits; also, ‘the part of a judd of coal first brought down’
kaolin: (n) A fine white clay produced by the decomposition of feldspar, used in the manufacture of porcelain; first employed by the Chinese, but subsequently obtained also in Cornwall, Saxony, France (near Limoges), United States, etc.
barton: (n) 1. A threshing-floor.
2. A farm-yard.
3. A demesne farm; the demesne lands of a manor, not let out to tenants, but retained for the lord's own use.
4. An enclosure for poultry, a pen.
5. Used to translate the Latin cavædium: The inner court of a Roman house.
pangolin: (n) Any of several mammals constituting the order Pholidota and family Manidae, comprising insectivorous animals of southern Asia and Africa that have a body covered with large horny scales, a small head with an elongated snout, a long sticky tongue for catching ants and termites, and a tapering tail; (originally) spec. the South-East Asian species Manis javanica. Also called scaly anteater.
pelisse: (n) 1. An ecclesiastical cassock.
2. A fur-lined mantle or cloak, esp. a waist-length one forming part of a hussar's uniform.
3. A woman's long cloak, with armhole slits and a shoulder cape or hood, often made of a rich fabric; (later also) a long fitted coat of similar style.
4. An outer garment for a child, to be worn outdoors.
pomander: (n) 1. A container for a pomander (sense 3). Originally: a case in which a pomander was carried, usually a hollow ball of gold, silver, ivory, etc., often in the shape of an apple or orange. Later also: a small perforated (usually ceramic or metal) container filled with pot-pourri or some other aromatic substance and hung in a wardrobe, placed on a dressing table, etc.
2. A book containing a collection of prayers, secrets, poems, etc.
3. Originally: a mixture of aromatic substances, usually made into a ball, and carried in a small box or bag (see sense 1) in the hand or pocket, or suspended by a chain from the neck or waist, esp. as protection against infection or unpleasant smells (now hist.). Later also: a piece of fruit (esp. an orange) stuck with cloves and usually tied with ribbon, which may be hung in a wardrobe, used as a decoration, etc.
4. Something scented, or having a sweet smell.
meretricious: (adj) 1. Of, relating to, or befitting a prostitute; having the character of a prostitute.
2. Alluring by false show; showily or superficially attractive but having in reality no value or integrity.
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Date: 2007-10-30 12:56 am (UTC)And also, to sharpen a razor, or the leather strap on which they are sharpened
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Date: 2007-10-30 01:01 am (UTC)