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the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. A piece of steel three fingers thick. Bp. Wilkins.

The Spanish half real, or one sixteenth of a dollar, -- so called in Pennsylvania and the adjacent States. [Obs.]

ome cases, to manifest a friendly design by exhibiting a white flag. -- To hang the flag half-mast high or half-staff, to raise it only half way to the mast or staff, as a token or sign of mourning. -- To strike, or lower, the flag, to haul it down, in token of respect, submission, or, in an engagement, of surrender.…

Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat.

s Linum, esp. the L. usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from the seed.

t the fifth of a mile. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Within a flight-shot it inthe valley. Evelyn. Half a flight-shot from the king's oak. Sir W. Scott.

ch or congregation; considered in their relation to the pastor, or minister in charge. As half amazed, half frighted all his flock. Tennyson.

The half of a sword blade or foil blade nearest the point; -- opposed to forte. [Written also faible.]

ating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; -- opposed to against. We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 2 Cor. xiii. 8. It is for the general good of human society, and consequently of particular persons, to be true a…

To foretell; to predict. [Obs.] My mother was half a witch; never anything that she forespake but came to pass. Beau. & Fl.

The gibbet. [Obs.] Bp. Butler. Fork beam (Shipbuilding), a half beam to support a deck, where hatchways occur. -- Fork chuck (Wood Turning), a lathe center having two prongs for driving the work. -- Fork head. (a) The barbed head of an arrow. (b) The forked end of a rod which forms part of a knuckle joint. -- In for…

One of the half ribs against the walls in a ceiling vaulted with ribs.

The stronger part of the blade of a sword; the part of half nearest the hilt; -- opposed to foible.

A plant of the genus Mirabilis. There are about half a dozen species, natives of the warmer parts of America. The common four- o'clock is M. Jalapa. Its flowers are white, yellow, and red, and open toward sunset, or earlier in cloudy weather; hence the name. It is also called marvel of Peru, and afternoon lady.…

A name formerly given in New England to the Spanish half real, a silver coin worth six and a quarter cents.

The beginning. "Summer's front." Shak. Bastioned front (Mil.), a curtain connerting two half bastions. -- Front door, the door in the front wall of a building, usually the principal entrance. -- Front of fortification, the works constructed upon any one side of a polygon. Farrow. -- Front of operations, all that par…

-- Full binding, the binding of a book when made wholly of leather, as distinguished from half binding. -- Full bottom, a kind of wig full and large at the bottom. -- Full brother or sister, a brother or sister having the same parents as another. -- Full cry (Hunting), eager chase; -- said of hounds that have caught…

A die; a half-round set hammer, used for forming grooves and spreading iron; -- called also a creaser.

A Venetian coin, worth about three English farthings, or one and a half cents. [Obs.]

g by a regular curve or surface; protuberant; convex; as, the moon is gibbous between the half-moon and the full moon. The bones will rise, and make a gibbous member. Wiseman.