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The solid piston of a force pump; the instrument by which water is forced in a pump.

An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of heavenly bodies, now superseded by the sextant; -- called also cross- staff. Brande & C.

made by another; the false making or material alteration of or addition to a written instrument for the purpose of deceit and fraud; as, the forgery of a bond. Bouvier.

An instrument consisting consisting of a handle with a shank terminating in two or more prongs or tines, which are usually of metal, parallel and slightly curved; -- used from piercing, holding, taking up, or pitching anything.

An instrument used to raise and support the tongue during the cutting of the frænum.

Done by the hand, without support, or the guidance of instruments; as, free-hand drawing. See under Drawing.

(H. coronarium); -- called also garland honeysuckle. -- French horn, a metallic wind instrument, consisting of a long tube twisted into circular folds and gradually expanding from the mouthpiece to the end at which the sound issues; -- called in France cor de chasse. -- French leave, an informal, hasty, or secret dep…

ece of wire, or other material fixed across the finger board of a guitar or a similar instrument, to indicate where the finger is to be placed.

ne, an electrical machine, generating electricity by friction. -- Friction meter, an instrument for measuring friction, as in testing lubricants. -- Friction powder, Friction composition, a composition of chlorate of potassium, antimony, sulphide, etc, which readily ignites by friction. -- Friction primer, Friction…

To soften and make of even thickness by rubbing, as with pumice stone or a blunt instrument. Frizzing machine. (a) (Fabrics) A machine for frizzing the surface of cloth. (b) (Wood Working) A bench with a revolving cutter head slightly protruding above its surface, for dressing boards.

lack, without the formation of hoarfrost. -- Frost bearer (Physics), a philosophical instrument illustrating the freezing of water in a vacuum; a cryophous. -- Frost grape (Bot.), an American grape, with very small, acid berries. -- Frost lamp, a lamp placed below the oil tube of an Argand lamp to keep the oil limpi…

and lying as near the wind as poesible. -- Full band (Mus.), a band in which all the instruments are employed. -- Full binding, the binding of a book when made wholly of leather, as distinguished from half binding. -- Full bottom, a kind of wig full and large at the bottom. -- Full brother or sister, a brother or s…

Same as Frumenty.

A pointed or wedge-shaped instrument of metal, as a steel wedge used in mining, etc. I will go get a leaf of brass, And with a gad of steel will write these words. Shak.

An instrument for ascertaining the quality of milk (i.e., its richness in cream) by determining its specific gravity; a lactometer.

An instrument or apparatus for measuring the intensity of an electric current, usually by the deflection of a magnetic needle. Differential galvanometer. See under Differental, a. -- Sine galvanometer, Cosine galvanometer, Tangent galvanometer (Elec.), a galvanometer in which the sine, cosine, or tangent respectively,…

An instrument or apparatus for detecting the presence of electrical currents, especially such as are of feeble intensity.

To play for a stake or prize; to use cards, dice, billiards, or other instruments, according to certain rules, with a view to win money or other thing waged upon the issue of the contest; to gamble.

ollar affixed to a post and tightened by a screw until life become extinct; also, the instrument by means of which the punishment is inflicted.

An instrument for viewing or examining the interior of the stomach.