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A zitherlike musical instrument, provided with dampers which, when depressed, deaden some strings, leaving free others that form a chord.

d or help; helping; aiding; assisting; subsidiary; as auxiliary troops. Auxiliary scales (Mus.), the scales of relative or attendant keys. See under Attendant, a. -- Auxiliary verbs (Gram.). See Auxiliary, n., 3.

ave strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as, the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the suit; this scheme will not avail; medicines will not avail to check the disease. "What signs avail " Milton. Words avail very little with me, young man. Sir W. Scott.…

According to the laws of averages; as, the loss must be made good by average contribution.

Odd; having no fellow; not one of a pair; single; as, the azygous muscle of the uvula.

A hoop suspended by an elastic strap, in which a young child may be held secure while amusing itself by jumping on the floor.

orest or prairie fire to burn only against the wind, so that when the two fires meet both must go out for lack of fuel.

In England, a stick with a basket handle, used in rustic amusements; also, the game in which the stick is used. Also called singlestick. Halliwell.

A musical wind instrument, now used chiefly in the Highlands of Scotland.

e officer, or from imprisonment, by becoming surely for his appearance in court. The bail must be real, substantial bondsmen. Blackstone. A. and B. were bail to the arrest in a suit at law. Kent.

portion; to counterpoise, counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize. One expression . . . must check and balance another. Kent.

y a parapet; as, a balcony in front of a window. Also, a projecting gallery in places of amusement; as, the balcony in a theater.

To keep steady; to steady, morally. 'T is charity must ballast the heart. Hammond.

A perennial herbaceous plant of almost treelike size (Musa sapientum); also, its edible fruit. See Musa.

A number of musicians who play together upon portable musical instruments, especially those making a loud sound, as certain wind instruments (trumpets, clarinets, etc.), and drums, or cymbals.

A fabric made in Manilla from the older leaf sheaths of the abaca (Musa textilis).

A species of very large rat (Mus giganteus), found in India and Ceylon. It does much injury to rice fields and gardens.

The conductor of a musical band.

ulder and across the breast under the left arm. Originally it was used for supporting the musket and twelve cases for charges, but later only as a cartridge belt.

A musical stringed instrument, similar in form to a guitar; a pandore.