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A person who bargains closely, especially, one who cheats in bargains; a swinder; also, a cheating gamester. Sharpers, as pikes, prey upon their own kind. L'Estrange.

or pare off from the surface of a body with a razor or other edged instrument; to cut off closely, as with a razor; as, to shave the beard.

wers, or star showers. These bodies, before encountering the earth, were moving in orbits closely allied to the orbits of comets. See Leonids, Perseids. (b) (Bot.) The American cowslip (Dodecatheon Meadia). See under Cowslip. -- Shooting stick (Print.), a tapering piece of wood or iron, used by printers to drive up th…

A woman who is closely allied to, or assocciated with, another person, as in the sdame faith, society, order, or community. James ii. 15.

Having the skin adhering closely and rigidly to the flesh; hidebound. Skinbound disease. (Med.) See Sclerema neonatorum, under Sclerema.

A cap which fits the head closely; also, formerly, a headpiece of iron sewed inside of a cap for protection.

ch the shell is either small and concealed in the mantle, or altogether wanting. They are closely allied to the land snails.

destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent breathing; to suffocate; as, to smother a child.

To kiss closely. [Obs.] P. Stubbes.

In a snug manner; closely; safely.

Applied to a compound word whose parts are closely united and form an unbroken word; -- opposed to hyphened.

d fruit of a small tree (Anona muricata) of the West Indies; also, the tree itself. It is closely allied to the custard apple.

A small European herring (Clupea sprattus) closely allied to the common herring and the pilchard; -- called also garvie. The name is also applied to small herring of different kinds.

To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.

The adult male of the red deer (Cervus elaphus), a large European species closely related to the American elk, or wapiti.

equality of opportunity, as compulsory state insurance, old-age pensions, etc., answering closely to socialism of the chair.

y position so as to be moved with difficulty; to cling; to abide; to cleave; to be united closely. A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov. xviii. 24. I am a kind of bur; I shall stick. Shak. If on your fame our sex a bolt has thrown, 'T will ever stick through malice of your own. Young.

To arrange anything compactly in; to fill, by packing closely; as, to stow a box, car, or the hold of a ship.

To squeeze; to press closely. Evander with a close embrace Strained his departing friend. Dryden.

Tight; close; closely fitting. Shak.