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ock (Naut.), a heavy iron-strapped block with a large hook, part of the tackle used in drawing an anchor up to the cathead. -- Cat hook (Naut.), a strong hook attached to a cat block. -- Cat nap, a very short sleep. [Colloq.] -- Cat o' nine tails, an instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line…

A tall rush or flag (Typha latifolia) growing in marshes, with long, glat leaves, and having its flowers in a close cylindrical spike at the top of the stem. The leaves are frequently used for seating chairs, making mats, etc. See Catkin.

ine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.

imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.

A work or artificial watercourse for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.

btained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia catechu, and several other plants growing in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names terra japonica, cutch, gambier, etc. Ure. Dunglison.

Growing immediately on a caulis; of or pertaining to a caulis.

To cry like a crow, rook, or raven. Rising and cawing at the gun's report. Shak.

An instrument for drawing lines through a point, or lines converging to a center.

The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from the seed by threshing and winnowing, etc. So take the corn and leave the chaff behind. Dryden. Old birds are not caught with caff. Old Proverb.

A series of things linked together; or a series of things connected and following each other in succession; as, a chain of mountains; a chain of events or ideas.

An ornamental stitch like the links of a chain; -- used in crocheting, sewing, and embroidery.

Finely prepared chalk, used as a drawing implement; also, by extension, a compound, as of clay and black lead, or the like, used in the same manner. See Crayon. Black chalk, a mineral of a bluish color, of a slaty texture, and soiling the fingers when handled; a variety of argillaceous slate. -- By a long chalk, by a…

A subdivision of the Quaternary age immediately following the Glacial period; -- so named from beds near Lake Champlain.

A cock, so called from the clearness or loundness of his voice in crowing.

Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive. Characteristic clearness of temper. Macaulay.

Finely prepared charcoal in small sticks, used as a drawing implement. Animal charcoal, a fine charcoal prepared by calcining bones in a closed vessel; -- used as a filtering agent in sugar refining, and as an absorbent and disinfectant. -- Charcoal blacks, the black pigment, consisting of burnt ivory, bone, cock, pea…

nt in writing, from the sovereign power of a state or country, executed in due form, bestowing rights, franchises, or privileges. The king [John, a.d. 1215], with a facility somewhat suspicious, signed and sealed the charter which was required of him. This famous deed, commonly called the "Great Charter," either grante…

To follow as if to catch; to pursue; to compel to move on; to drive by following; to cause to fly; -- often with away or off; as, to chase the hens away. Chased by their brother's endless malice from prince to prince and from place to place. Knolles.

, as the cud; to champ, as the bit. The trampling steed, with gold and purple trapped, Chawing the foamy bit, there fiercely stood. Surrey.