Search the Dictionary

by the buoyancy of air heated by a fire; a fire balloon; -- so called from two brothers, Stephen and Joseph Montgolfier, of France, who first constructed and sent up a fire balloon.

An act for the attainment of an object; a step in the execution of a plan or purpose. To make a move. (a) To take some action. (b) To move a piece, as in a game. -- To be on the move, to bustle or stir about. [Colloq.]

Not to step out enough to the one hand or the other; as, a horse narrows. Farrier's Dict.

The upright post about which the steps of a circular staircase wind; hence, in stairs having straight flights, the principal post at the foot of a staircase, or the secondary ones at the landings. See Hollow newel, under Hollow.

ed by order of the court, for the plaintiff, notwithstanding a verdict for the defendant. Stephen.

The board which receives the ends of the steps in a staircase.

Of or pertaining to a stepmother; suitable to, or in the manner of, a stepmother. Derham.

rs to an observer at any point on the earth except the poles and the equator. -- Oblique step (Mil.), a step in marching, by which the soldier, while advancing, gradually takes ground to the right or left at an angle of about 25º. It is not now practiced. Wilhelm. -- Oblique system of coördinates (Anal. Geom.), a sys…

To meet in the way. [Obs.] Not to stir a step to obviate any of a different religion. Fuller.

A device for recording the length and rapidity of stride and the number of steps taken by a walker.

" issued the period 1833 -- 1841. Shipley. -- Oxford tie, a kind of shoe, laced on the instep, and usually covering the foot nearly to the ankle.

A pace; a step, as in a dance. Chaucer.

To advance through all the steps or stages necessary to validity or effectiveness; to be carried through a body that has power to sanction or reject; to receive legislative sanction; to be enacted; as, the resolution passed; the bill passed both houses of Congress.

Proceeding step by step; advancing cautiously. [R.] That pedetentous pace and pedetentous mind in which it behooves the wise and virtuous improver to walk. Sydney Smith.

An instrument for including the number of steps in walking, and so ascertaining the distance passed over. It is usually in the form of a watch; an oscillating weight by the motion of the body causes the index to advance a certain distance at each step.

ngs. This arrangement permits the feet to accomodate themselves to obstacles even such as steps or stairs. The pedrail was invented by one B. J. Diplock of London, Eng.

A step; a degree; esp. in the slang phrase "To take one down peg." To screw papal authority to the highest peg. Barrow. And took your grandess down a peg. Hudibras. Peg ladder, a ladder with but one standard, into which cross pieces are inserted. -- Peg tankard, an ancient tankard marked with pegs, so as divide the li…

An out-of-door flight of steps, as in a garden, leading to a terrace or to an upper story; -- usually applied to mediævel or later structures of some architectural pretensions.

(Dancing) A fancy step executed by jumping and striking the legs together; as, to cut a pigeonwing.

Of or pertaining to a pilgrim, or pilgrims; making pilgrimages. "With pilgrim steps." Milton. Pilgrim fathers, a name popularly given to the one hundred and two English colonists who landed from the Mayflower and made the first settlement in New England at Plymouth in