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An animal or plant which is much below the ordinary size of its species or kind; especially, a diminutive human being.

Like a dwarf; below the common stature or size; very small; petty; as, a dwarfish animal, shrub. -- Dwarf"ish*ly, adv. -- Dwarf"ish*ness, n.

An apparatus for measuring force or power; especially, muscular effort of men or animals, or the power developed by a motor, or that required to operate machinery.

The Chinese yellow antelope (Procapra gutturosa), a remarkably swift-footed animal, inhabiting the deserts of Central Asia, Thibet, and China.

That which resembles in shape or position the ear of an animal; any prominence or projection on an object, -- usually one for support or attachment; a lug; a handle; as, the ears of a tub, a skillet, or dish. The ears of a boat are outside kneepieces near the bow. See Illust. of Bell.

A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth of a fox. Macaulay. They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths. Holland.

A parasite of man and of many domestic and wild animals, forming compound cysts or tumors (called hydatid cysts) in various organs, but especially in the liver and lungs, which often cause death. It is the larval stage of the Tænia echinococcus, a small tapeworm peculiar to the dog.

One of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom. By many writers it was formerly included in the Radiata. [Written also Echinoderma.]

result of wise and economical adaptation in the author, whether human or divine; as, the animal or vegetable economy; the economy of a poem; the Jewish economy. The position which they [the verb and adjective] hold in the general economy of language. Earle. In the Greek poets, as also in Plautus, we shall see the econ…

A manikin, or image, representing an animal, especially man, with the skin removed so that the muscles are exposed for purposes of study.

The external skin or outer layer of an animal or plant, this being formed in an animal from the epiblast. See Illust. of Blastoderm.

Any parasite which lives on the exterior of animals; -- opposed to endoparasite. -- Ec`to*par`a*sit"ic, a.

No longer capable of producing young, as an animal, or fruit, as the earth; hence, worn out with age; exhausted of energy; incapable of efficient action; no longer productive; barren; sterile. Effete results from virile efforts. Mrs. Browning If they find the old governments effete, worn out, . . . they may seek new on…

A simple cell, from the development of which the young of animals are formed; ovum; germ cell.

The natural process of formation or assimilation, performed by the living organs in animals and vegetables, by which a crude substance is changed into something of a higher order; as, the elaboration of food into chyme; the elaboration of chyle, or sap, or tissues.

ectricity. (h) Organic electricity, that which is developed in organic structures, either animal or vegetable, the phrase animal electricity being much more common.

The recognition by an animal body of the electrical condition of external objects.

That phase of mesmerism or animal magnetism, the phenomena of which are supposed to be produced by a form of electricity.

A method of determining the presence or absence of life in an animal organism with a current of electricity, by noting the presence or absence of muscular contraction.

of certain electric currents supposed by some physiologists to circulate in the nerves of animals.