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A platform of a staircase where the stair turns back in exactly the reverse direction of the lower flight. See Quarterpace.

The region back of the knee joint; the popliteal space; the hock.

A hold in which an arm of one contestant is held twisted and bent behind his back by his opponent.

One of the great tendons situated in each side of the ham, or space back of the knee, and connected with the muscles of the back of the thigh.

fire through the vent to the charge; as, the gun hangs fire; hence, to hesitate, to hold back as if in suspense.

ing vein. -- Hanging sleeves. (a) Strips of the same stuff as the gown, hanging down the back from the shoulders. (b) Loose, flowing sleeves. -- Hanging stile. (Arch.) (a) That stile of a door to which hinges are secured. (b) That upright of a window frame to which casements are hinged, or in which the pulleys for sa…

in the imperative form used as an interjection, Hark! listen.] Hudibras. Hark away! Hark back! Hark forward! (Sporting), cries used to incite and guide hounds in hunting. -- To hark back, to go back for a fresh start, as when one has wandered from his direct course, or made a digression. He must have overshot the mar…

curiously marked with red, black, and gray. -- Harlequin cabbage bug. (Zoöl.) See Calicoback. -- Harlequin caterpillar. (Zoöl.), the larva of an American bombycid moth (Euchætes egle) which is covered with black, white, yellow, and orange tufts of hair. -- Harlequin duck (Zoöl.), a North American duck (Histrionicus…

, of a man or a horse; hence, in general, armor. At least we 'll die witch harness on our back. Shak.

mark of black on each side, and the face and throat black. Called also saddler, and saddleback. The immature ones are called bluesides. -- Harp shell (Zoöl.), a beautiful marine gastropod shell of the genus Harpa, of several species, found in tropical seas. See Harpa.

supported by material gradually decreasing in hardness to the unaltered soft steel at the back.

oser to the wind, in order to get farther away from anything; hence, to withdraw; to draw back.

The band at each end of the back of a book.

ubdue; to cause to pass away; to cure; -- said of a disease or a wound. I will heal their backsliding. Hos. xiv. 4.

g.] Half heck, the lower half of a door. -- Heck board, the loose board at the bottom or back of a cart. -- Heck box or frame, that which carries the heck in warping.

der of fishes having an incomplete or reduced branchial apparatus. It includes the sticklebacks, the flutemouths, and Fistularia.

wood warbler (Dendroica occidentalis), having the head yellow, the throat black, and the back gray, with black streaks.

Having the first and second toes turned backward, as in the trogons.

Having the skin adhering so closely to the ribs and back as not to be easily loosened or raised; -- said of an animal.

To keep back or behind; to prevent from starting or moving forward; to check; to retard; to obstruct; to bring to a full stop; - - often followed by from; as, an accident hindered the coach; drought hinders the growth of plants; to hinder me from going. Them that were entering in ye hindered. Luke xi. 52. I hinder you…