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space between vertical plates, sometimes nearly surrounding the furnace and ash pit, and serving to support the boiler; -- called also water leg.

Tending, or serving, to liberate. [R.]

serving an independent sovereign or master; bound by a feudal tenure; obliged to be faithful and loyal to a superior, as a vassal to his lord; faithful; loyal; as, a liege man; a liege subject.

A tough band or plate of dense, fibrous, connective tissue or fibrocartilage serving to unite bones or form joints.

A median process of the labium, at the under side of the mouth in insects, and serving as a tongue.

A strip forming the woven border or selvedge of cloth, particularly of broadcloth, and serving to strengthen it; hence, a strip of cloth; a fillet. " Gartered with a red and blue list. "

The uniform clothing issued by feudal superiors to their retainers and serving as a badge when in military service.

Serving to measure or ascertain chemical equivalents; stoichiometric. [R.]

Serving to assist childbirth. Cudworth.

albatross. -- Man-of-war hawk (Zoöl.), the frigate bird. -- Man-of-war's man, a sailor serving in a ship of war. -- Portuguese man-of-war (Zoöl.), any species of the genus Physalia. See Physalia.

A solider serving on shipboard; a sea soldier; one of a body of troops trained to do duty in the navy.

A fixed object serving for guidance, as of a ship, a traveler, a surveyor, etc.; as, a seamark, a landmark.

ids, which discharge, through minute orifices in the edges of the lids, a fatty secretion serving to lubricate the adjacent parts.

A contrivance for preserving a record of music, by recording the action of the keys of a musical instrument when played upon.

A thin layer or fold of tissue, usually supported by a fibrous network, serving to cover or line some part or organ, and often secreting or absorbing certain fluids.

Serving to preserve remembrance; commemorative; as, a memorial building. There high in air, memorial of my name, Fix the smooth oar, and bid me live to fame. Pope.

Belonging to a retinue or train of servants; performing servile office; serving. Two menial dogs before their master pressed. Dryden.

Of or pertaining to mental culture; serving to improve or strengthen the mind. [R.]

Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid; hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.

The quality or state of deserving well or ill; desert. Here may men see how sin hath his merit. Chaucer. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought For things that others do; and when we fall, We answer other's merits in our name. Shak.