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Vile; mean; low; vulgar; contemptible. "A scurvy trick." Ld. Lytton. That scurvy custom of taking tobacco. Swift. [He] spoke spoke such scurvy and provoking terms. Shak.

The customary certificate of national character which neutral merchant vessels are bound to carry in time of war; a passport for a vessel and cargo.

An officer of the customs whose business it is to search ships, merchandise, luggage, etc.

To fit for any use by time or habit; to habituate; to accustom; to inure; to ripen; to mature; as, to season one to a climate.

Accustomed to sit much or long; as, a sedentary man. "Sedentary, scholastic sophists." Bp. Warburton.

Henry II, one only, and that the inferior species [of villeins], existed . . . But by the customs of France and Germany, persons in this abject state seem to have been called serfs, and distinguished from villeins, who were only bound to fixed payments and duties in respect of their lord, though, as it seems, without a…

Appearing or blossoming later in the season than is customary with allied species.

pecifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop. Others, pampered in their shameless pride, Are served in plate and in their chariots ride. Dryden.

A number of persons associated by custom, office, common opinion, quality, or the like; a division; a group; a clique. "Others of our set." Tennyson. This falls into different divisions, or sets, of nations connected under particular religions. R. P. Ward.

Naut.), to knock a cask to pieces and pack the staves. -- To shake hands, to perform the customary act of civility by clasping and moving hands, as an expression of greeting, farewell, good will, agreement, etc. -- To shake out a reef (Naut.), to untile the reef points and spread more canvas. -- To shake the bells.…

ve to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer. The necessity of being so sharp and exacting. Swift.

son or thing seeing or beholding; as, to show a house; show your colors; shopkeepers show customers goods (show goods to customers). Go thy way, shew thyself to the priest. Matt. viii. 4. Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise Magnificence; and what can heaven show more Milton.

issued against the deposit of silver coin, and is not legal tender, but is receivable for customs, taxes, and all public dues.

Anything peculiar to the Chinese; esp., a Chinese peculiarity in manners or customs.

n of jeering neighbors making mock music; a cavalcade in ridicule of a henpecked man. The custom was in vogue in parts of England.

To import or export in violation of the customs laws.

Liberty or privilege of tenants excused from customary burdens.

A custom of tenants to grind corn at the lord's mill. Cowell.

One who makes speeches; one accustomed to speak in a public assembly.

ntity. -- To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring, the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a man to throw up the sponge to fate." Lowell. -- Vegetable sp…