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Devil's hand (Zoöl.), the common British starfish (Asterias rubens); -- also applied to a sponge with stout branches. [Prov. Eng., Irish & Scot.] -- Devil's riding-horse (Zoöl.), the American mantis (Mantis Carolina). -- The Devil's tattoo, a drumming with the fingers or feet. "Jack played the Devil's tattoo on the do…

See Disponge. [Obs.]

diseased part) with a liquid substance, as with spirit, oil, etc., by means of a cloth or sponge.

A genus of elegant, glassy sponges, consisting of interwoven siliceous fibers, and growing in the form of a cornucopia; -- called also Venus's flower-basket.

An order of sponges having a fibrous skeleton, including the commercial sponges.

r shell (Zoöl.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form. -- Finger sponge (Zoöl.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches. -- Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger. -- Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife. To burn one's fingers. See under Burn. -- To…

To apply a warm lotion to; to bathe with a cloth or sponge wet with warm water or medicated liquid.

A remarkable vitreous sponge, of the genus Hyalonema, first brought from Japan. It has a long stem, consisting of a bundle of long and large, glassy, siliceous fibers, twisted together.

erk of assize and judge's officers, when there are no offenders to be executed. -- Glove sponge (Zoöl.), a fine and soft variety of commercial sponges (Spongia officinalis). -- To be hand and glove with, to be intimately associated or on good terms with. "Hand and glove with traitors." J. H. Newman. -- To handle wit…

An order of sponges, having simple siliceous spicules and keratose fibers; -- called also Keratosilicoidea.

A coarse American commercial sponge (Spongia dura).

Belonging to the Hexactinellinæ, a group of sponges, having six-rayed siliceous spicules.

orse sense, strong common sense. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Horse soldier, a cavalryman. -- Horse sponge (Zoöl.), a large, coarse, commercial sponge (Spongia equina). -- Horse stinger (Zoöl.), a large dragon fly. [Prov. Eng.] -- Horse sugar (Bot.), a shrub of the southern part of the United States (Symplocos tinctoria), whose…

A genus of hexactinelline sponges, having a long stem composed of very long, slender, transparent, siliceous fibres twisted together like the strands of a color. The stem of the Japanese species (H. Sieboldii), called glass-rope, has long been in use as an ornament. See Glass-rope.

An order of vitreous sponges, having glassy six-rayed, siliceous spicules; -- called also Hexactinellinæ.

o absorb; to suck or take in; to receive as by drinking; as, a person imbibes drink, or a sponge imbibes moisture.

An order of sponges having a skeleton composed of hornlike fibers. It includes the commercial sponges.

A tough, horny animal substance entering into the composition of the skeleton of sponges, and other invertebrates; -- called also keratode.

on of a flame by the spontaneous ignition of a jet of hydrogen on being led over platinum sponge; -- named after the German chemist Döbereiner, who invented it. Called also philosopher's lamp. -- Flameless lamp, an aphlogistic lamp. -- Lamp burner, the part of a lamp where the wick is exposed and ignited. Knight. --…

applied to various animals which make burrows in stone, as many bivalve mollusks, certain sponges, annelids, and sea urchins. See Lithodomus.