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The Waldenses; -- so called from their peculiary cut or marked sabots, or shoes.

ions. Sir T. Browne. A time of insecurity, when interests of all sorts become objects of speculation. Burke.

e; communicate. [Obs.] Intelligent of seasons. Milton. Which are to France the spies and speculations Intelligent of our state. Shak.

lessness; the quality of being unprofitable; unprofitableness; as, the inutility of vain speculations and visionary projects.

A peculiar method of transformation, in which a figure is replaced by its inverse figure. Propositions that are true for the original figure thus furnish new propositions that are true in the inverse figure. See Inverse figures, under Inverse.

A peculiar substance obtained from the thyroid gland, containing from nine to ten per cent of iodine.

A mode of speaking peculiar to the Irish; an Hibernicism.

ast furnace, being run into molds, called pigs. -- Reduced iron. See under Reduced. -- Specular iron. See Hematite. -- Too many irons in the fire, too many objects requiring the attention at once. -- White iron. See Cast iron (above). -- Wrought iron (Metal.), the purest form of iron commonly known in the arts, co…

A peculiarity in the design of bas-relief by which the heads of human figures are kept at the same height from the ground, whether the personages are seated, standing, or mounted on horseback; -- called also isokephaleia.

A word, phrase, or idiom, peculiar to the Italians; an Italicism.

A phrase or idiom peculiar to the Italian language; to Italianism.

ck-with-a-lantern, Jack-o'-lantern. (a) An ignis fatuus; a will-o'-the-wisp. "[Newspaper speculations] supplying so many more jack-o'-lanterns to the future historian." Lowell. (b) A lantern made of a pumpkin so prepared as to show in illumination the features of a human face, etc. -- Yellow Jack (Naut.), the yellow f…

soned debtor was, on certain conditions, allowed to go at large. Abbott. -- Jail lock, a peculiar form of padlock; -- called also Scandinavian lock.

A quality, idiom, or peculiarity characteristic of the Japanese or their products, esp. in art.

A shrubby plant of the genus Jasminum, bearing flowers of a peculiarly fragrant odor. The J. officinale, common in the south of Europe, bears white flowers. The Arabian jasmine is J. Sambac, and, with J. angustifolia, comes from the East Indies. The yellow false jasmine in the Gelseminum sempervirens (see Gelsemium). S…

A manner of acting or of writing peculiar to, or characteristic of, Dr. Johnson. [Written also Johnsonism.]

bases of the front wings. During the summer and autumn, in the evening, the males make a peculiar, loud, shrill sound, resembling the combination Katy-did, whence the name.

ble of carrying but one person, who sits amidships and uses a double-bladed paddle. It is peculiar to the Eskimos and other Arctic tribes.

projecting ridge along the middle of a flat or curved surface. Bilge keel (Naut.), a keel peculiar to ironclad vessels, extending only a portion of the length of the vessel under the bilges. Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- False keel. See under False. -- Keel boat. (a) A covered freight boat, with a keel, but no sails, used on W…

cters make their appearance in consequence of a secondary adaptation of the embryo to the peculiar conditions of its environment; -- distinguished from palingenesis. [Written also cænogenesis.]