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A stringed instrument formerly much in use. It consists of four parts, namely, the table or front, the body, having nine or ten ribs or "sides," arranged like the divisions of a melon, the neck, which has nine or ten frets or divisions, and the head, or cross, in which the screws for tuning are inserted. The strings ar…

Same as Mameluke.

The portions of the Mass usually set to music, considered as a musical composition; -- namely, the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei, besides sometimes an Offertory and the Benedictus. Canon of the Mass. See Canon. -- High Mass, Mass with incense, music, the assistance of a deacon, subdeacon…

owerfully drastic. -- May beetle, May bug (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of large lamellicorn beetles that appear in the winged state in May. They belong to Melolontha, and allied genera. Called also June beetle. -- May Day, the first day of May; -- celebrated in the rustic parts of England by the crowning of a…

To make better; to improve; to ameliorate; to soften; to make more tolerable. Nature by art we nobly meliorate. Denham. The pure and bening light of revelation has had a meliorating influence on mankind. Washington.

al character of majolica, but less brilliantly decorated, esp. such pottery without tin enamel, but painted and glazed.

Giving milk; -- now applied only to beasts. "Milch camels." Gen. xxxii. "Milch kine." Shak.

bling caoutchouc in elasticity and softness. See Caoutchouc, and Elaterite. -- Mineral chameleon (Chem.) See Chameleon mineral, under Chameleon. -- Mineral charcoal. See under Charcoal. -- Mineral cotton. See Mineral wool (below). -- Mineral green, a green carbonate of copper; malachite. -- Mineral kingdom (Nat. S…

animal kingdom, including the classes Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, PteropodaScaphopoda, and Lamellibranchiata, or Conchifera. These animals have an unsegmented bilateral body, with most of the organs and parts paired, but not repeated longitudinally. Most of them develop a mantle, which incloses either a branchial or a pu…

An order of lamellibranchs having but one muscle for closing the shell, as the oyster.

tive pheasant. (Zoöl.) See Leipoa. -- Native rabbit (Zoöl.), an Australian marsupial (Perameles lagotis) resembling a rabbit in size and form. -- Native sloth (Zoöl.), the koala. -- Native thrush (Zoöl.), an Australian singing bird (Pachycephala olivacea); -- called also thickhead. -- Native turkey (Zoöl.), the Aus…

By name; particularly; namely. [Obs.] Spelman.

A large Asiatic antelope (Boselaphus, or Portax, tragocamelus), found in Northern India. It has short horns, a black mane, and a bunch of long hair on the throat. The general color is grayish brown. [Written also neelghau, nilgau, and nylghaie.]

A cruciferous herb (Camelina sativa).

he ordinance of times. Shak. Walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Luke i. 6.

dant in the Tertiary formation of the Rocky Mountains. It is more or less related to the camel, hog, and deer.

A large bird of the genus Struthio, of which Struthio camelus of Africa is the best known species. It has long and very strong legs, adapted for rapid running; only two toes; a long neck, nearly bare of feathers; and short wings incapable of flight. The adult male is about eight feet high.

Applied over the glaze; -- said of enamel paintings, which sometimes are seen to project from the surface of the ware. (b) Suitable for applying upon the glaze; -- said of vitrifiable colors used in ceramic decoration.

A thin leaf of metal, as for use in gilding or enameling, or to show through a translucent medium.

A rounded, nipplelike hill or peak; anything resembling a nipple in shape; a mamelon. Macaulay.