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One of the microsporic siliceous spicules which occur abundantly in the texture of sponges, and are sometimes found fossil, as in flints.

t in the Corinthian capital resembling the stalk of a plant, from which the volutes and helices spring.

The headquarters of the police force of any precinct.

t.), a rope secured at the ends to the heads of the foremast and mainmast with thimbles spliced to its bight into which the stay tackles hook.

A slice of beef, broiled, or cut for broiling; -- also extended to the meat of other large animals; as, venison steak; bear steak; pork steak; turtle steak.

hall stick. Shak. If on your fame our sex a bolt has thrown, 'T will ever stick through malice of your own. Young.

A piece of rope spliced into a circular wreath, and put round a block for hanging it.

es and allied genera. These sponges have a fine and compact texture, and contain minute siliceous spicules.

dge, most commonly of a bishop or his chancellor, especially a deputy who grants marriage licenses. [Eng.]

great draughts; to swallow greedily. Well-dressed people, of both sexes, . . . devouring sliced beef, and swilling pork, and punch, and cider. Smollett.

Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency. "Take thy swing." Dryden. To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle to the full swing of his genius. Burke. Full swing. See under Full. -- Swing beam (Railway Mach.), a crosspiece sustaining the car body, and so suspended from the framing of a truck that it…

lly bright-colored, with yellow bands, and hover around plants. The larvæ feed upon plant lice, and are, therefore, very beneficial to agriculture.

Confidence; reliance. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. Tack of a flag (Naut.), a line spliced into the eye at the foot of the hoist for securing the flag to the halyards. -- Tack pins (Naut.), belaying pins; -- also called jack pins. -- To haul the tacks aboard (Naut.), to set the courses. -- To hold tack, to last or hold ou…

A rope spliced to the strap of a block, by which it may be lashed to anything.

odated with rooms and meals; an inn; a hotel; especially, in modern times, a public house licensed to sell liquor in small quantities.

An East Indian carnivore (Mydaus meliceps) allied to the badger, and noted for the very offensive odor that it emits, somewhat resembling that of a skunk. It is a native of the high mountains of Java and Sumatra, and has long, silky fur. Called also stinking badger, and stinkard.

ke terrible. [Obs.] If the law, instead of aggravating and terrifying sin, shall give out license, it foils itself. Milton.

A division of Spongiæ in which the spicules are siliceous and have four branches diverging at right angles. Called also Tetractinellinæ.

A police station. [India] Kipling.

A picture (as of a slice of wood) obtained by first wetting the object slightly with hydrochloric or dilute sulphuric acid, then taking an impression with a press, and next strongly heating this impression.