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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



439 words match “AFRIC”

NEISHOUT n.
The mahogany-like wood of the South African tree Pteroxylon utile, the sawdust of which causes violent sneezing (whence the name). Also called sneezewood.
NITER; NITRE n.
orny shrubs bearing edible berries, and growing in the saline plains of Asia and Northern Africa.
NUBIAN a.
Of or pertaining to Nubia in Eastern Africa. -- n.
NUMIDIAN a.
Of or pertaining to ancient Numidia in Northern Africa. Numidian crane. (Zoöl.) See Demoiselle, 2.
OAK n.
arts of North America, a very few barely reaching the northern parts of South America and Africa. Many of the oaks form forest trees of grand proportions and live many centuries. The wood is usually hard and tough, and provided with conspicuous medullary rays, forming the silver grain.
OBEY v.
To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by. My will obeyed his will. Chaucer. Afric and India shall his power obey. Dryden.
OBI n.
A species of sorcery, probably of African origin, practiced among the negroes of the West Indies. [Written also obe and obeah.] De Quincey. B. Edwards.
OPENBILL n.
two parts of the bill touch only at the base and tip. One species inhabits India, another Africa. Called also open- beak. See Illust. (m), under Beak.
ORDEAL n.
under Calabar. -- Ordeal root (Bot.) the root of a species of Strychnos growing in West Africa, used, like the ordeal bean, in trials for witchcraft. -- Ordeal tree (Bot.), a poisonous tree of Madagascar (Tanghinia, or Cerbera, venenata). Persons suspected of crime are forced to eat the seeds of the plumlike fruit,…
ORYX n.
A genus of African antelopes which includes the gemsbok, the leucoryx, the bisa antelope (O. beisa), and the beatrix antelope (O. beatrix) of Arabia.
OSTRICH n.
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.
OUREBI n.
A small, graceful, and swift African antelope, allied to the klipspringer.
OUTSPAN v.
To unyoke or disengage, as oxen from a wagon. [S. Africa]
OXBIRD n.
An African weaver bird (Textor alector).
OXPECKER n.
An African bird of the genus Buphaga; the beefeater.
OYSTER n.
r oyster (Zoöl.), any species of the genus Etheria, and allied genera, found in rivers of Africa and South America. They are irregular in form, and attach themselves to rocks like oysters, but they have a pearly interior, and are allied to the fresh-water mussels. -- Oyster bed, a breeding place for oysters; a place i…
PAARD n.
The zebra. [S. Africa]
PALAVER n.
In Africa, a parley with the natives; a talk; hence, a public conference and deliberation; a debate. This epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers. Carlyle.
PALLAH n.
A large South African antelope (Æpyceros melampus). The male has long lyrate and annulated horns. The general color is bay, with a black crescent on the croup. Called also roodebok.
PALM n.
-- Palm oil, a vegetable oil, obtained from the fruit of several species of palms, as the African oil palm (Elæis Guineensis), and used in the manufacture of soap and candles. See Elæis. -- Palm swift (Zoöl.), a small swift (Cypselus Btassiensis) which frequents the palmyra and cocoanut palms in India. Its peculiar ne…
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