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in color from the rest of the plumage; -- said of birds. Masked ball, a ball in which the dancers wear masks. -- Masked battery (Mil.), a battery so placed as not to be seen by an enemy until it opens fire. H. L. Scott. -- Masked crab (Zoöl.), a European crab (Corystes cassivelaunus) with markings on the carapace som…

er, mirth, gladness, or delight; as, merry jest. "Merry wind and weather." Spenser. Merry dancers. See under Dancer. -- Merry men, followers; retainers. [Obs.] His merie men commanded he To make him bothe game and glee. Chaucer. -- To make merry, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to feast with mirth. Judg. ix. 27.…

A morris dancer. [Obs.]

A Moorish dance, usually performed by a single dancer, who accompanies the dance with castanets.

One who mumms, or makes diversion in disguise; a masker; a buffon. Jugglers and dancers, antics, mummers. Milton.

metimes seen in hothouses. It has curious flowers which have some resemblance to a ballet dancer, whence the popular name. Called also dancing girls. -- Opera glass, a short telescope with concave eye lenses of low power, usually made double, that is, with a tube and set of glasses for each eye; a lorgnette; -- so cal…

To perform a pirouette; to whirl, like a dancer.

A ropedancer's balancing pole. Johnson.

One who dresses showily; a prinker. "A pranker or a dancer." Burton.

A dance having five figures, in common time, four couples of dancers being in each set.

The leader of a circle of dancers; hence, the leader of a number of persons acting together; the leader of a herd of animals. A primacy of order, such an one as the ringleader hath in a dance. Barrow.

A ropedancer.

ith the hand or with any instrument or missile. He at Philippi kept His sword e'en like a dancer; while I struck The lean and wrinkled Cassius. Shak.

Sword dance. (a) A dance in which swords are brandished and clashed together by the male dancers. Sir W. Scott. (b) A dance performed over swords laid on the ground, but without touching them. -- Sword fight, fencing; a combat or trial of skill with swords; swordplay. -- Sword grass. (Bot.) See Gladen. -- Sword kno…

at, or overcoat; -- said to be so named after a celebrated Italian family of professional dancers. He ought certainly to exchange his taglioni, or comfortable greatcoat, for a cuirass of steel. Sir W. Scott.

A female dancer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

One who trips or supplants; also, one who walks or trips nimbly; a dancer.

llowed by a drop upon the heel. The original form, owning to the positions assumed by the dancers, is offensively suggestive. Similar dances are the bunny hug and grizzly bear, so called in allusion to the movements and the positions assumed by the partners in dancing.

Not arrayed in the dress of a morris dancer. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.