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l before the principal performance; a prelude; hence, an introductory essay or exercise. "Domestic prolusions." Thackeray. Her presence was in some measure a restraint on the worthy divine, whose prolusion lasted. Sir W. Scott.

scheme, plan, design, or undertaking; the prosecution of war. Keeping a sharp eye on her domestics . . . in prosecution of their various duties. Sir W. Scott.

ud." Chapman. "Proud titles." Shak. " The proud temple's height." Dryden. Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proud Are mantled with a golden cloud. Keble.

Dry food for domestic animals, as hay, straw, corn, oats, or a mixture of ground grain; feed. "Hay or other provender." Mortimer. Good provender laboring horses would have. Tusser.

eserving, either dried or in sirup. Prune tree. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Prunus (P. domestica), which produces prunes. (b) The West Indian tree, Prunus occidentalis. -- South African prune (Bot.), the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis).

A young hen, or female of the domestic fowl. Pullet sperm, the treadle of an egg. [Obs.] Shak.

An instrument consisting of a woodmen bar, with a row of upright pegs set in it, used by domestic weavers to keep the warp of a proper width, and prevent tangling when it is wound upon the beam of the loom.

Of or pertaining to the Rasores, or gallinaceous birds, as the peacock, domestic fowl, patridge, and the like.

The transfer of one's business, or of one's domestic belongings, from one location or dwelling house to another; -- in the United States usually called a move. It is an English proverb that three removes are as bad as a fire. J. H. Newman.

Hence, a servant, not a domestic, but occasionally attending and wearing his master's livery. Cowell.

crooked spine and limbs, depressed ribs, enlarged and spongy articular epiphyses, tumid abdomen, and short stature, together with clear and often premature mental faculties. The essential cause of the disease appears to be the nondeposition of earthy salts in the osteoid tissues. Children afflicted with this malady sta…

The lower part of the abdomen. [Obs.] Shak. Arch rim (Phonetics), the line between the gums and the palate. -- Rim-fire cartridge. (Mil.) See under Cartridge. -- Rim lock. See under Lock.

- Rock pigeon (Zoöl.), the wild pigeon (Columba livia) Of Europe and Asia, from which the domestic pigeon was derived. See Illust. under Pigeon. -- Rock pipit. (Zoöl.) See the Note under Pipit. -- Rock plover. (Zoöl.) (a) The black-bellied, or whistling, plover.

The male of the domestic fowl; a cock. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

The male of the domestic fowl; a cock. [U.S.] Nor, when they [the Skinners and Cow Boys] wrung the neck of a rooster, did they trouble their heads whether he crowed for Congress or King George. W. Irving.

A European gold wasp (Chrysis ignita) which has the under side of the abdomen bright red, and the other parts deep bluish green with a metallic luster. The larva is parasitic in the nests of other wasps and of bees.

A variety of the domestic pigeon, having a ruff of its neck.

which is unusually small, as compared with others of its kind; -- applied particulary to domestic animals.

An accumulation of adherent, partly fused material forming a shelf, or dome-shaped obstruction, above the tuyères in a blast furnace.

Given to making objections; captious. [Obs.] Equality of two domestic powers Breed scrupulous faction. Shak.