Search the Dictionary

Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



1,055 words match “AMERICAN”

MONK n. 2 definitions
A South American monkey (Pithecia monachus); also applied to other species, as Cebus xanthocephalus.
MONKEY-POT n.
The fruit of two South American trees (Lecythis Ollaria, and L. Zabucajo), which have for their fruit large, pot-shaped, woody capsules containing delicious nuts, and opening almost explosively by a circular lid at the top. Vases and pots are made of this capsule.
MONTESSORI METHOD n.
for training feeble-minded children, and dating back especially to the work of the French-American physician Edouard O. Seguin (1812- 80).
MOON-EYE n.
Any species of American fresh-water fishes of the genus Hyodon, esp. H. tergisus of the Great Lakes and adjacent waters.
MOONFISH n.
An American marine fish (Vomer setipennis); -- called also bluntnosed shiner, horsefish, and sunfish.
MOOSE n.
A large cervine mammal (Alces machlis, or A. Americanus), native of the Northern United States and Canada. The adult male is about as large as a horse, and has very large, palmate antlers. It closely resembles the European elk, and by many zoölogists is considered the same species. See Elk. Moose bird (Zoöl.), the Cana…
MORGAN n.
One of a celebrated breed of American trotting horses; -- so called from the name of the stud from which the breed originated in Vermont.
MORPHO n.
Any one of numerous species of large, handsome, tropical American butterflies, of the genus Morpho. They are noted for the very brilliant metallic luster and bright colors (often blue) of the upper surface of the wings. The lower surface is usually brown or gray, with eyelike spots.
MOUND n.
Same as Mound maker (below). -- Mound builders (Ethnol.), the tribe, or tribes, of North American aborigines who built, in former times, extensive mounds of earth, esp. in the valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Formerly they were supposed to have preceded the Indians, but later investigations go to show that…
MOUNTAIN a.
elope (Zoöl.), the goral. -- Mountain ash (Bot.), an ornamental tree, the Pyrus (Sorbus) Americana, producing beautiful bunches of red berries. Its leaves are pinnate, and its flowers white, growing in fragrant clusters. The European species is the P. aucuparia, or rowan tree. -- Mountain barometer, a portable barome…
MOURNING a.
note. Called also Carolina dove. See Illust. under Dove. -- Mourning warbler (Zoöl.), an American ground warbler (Geothlypis Philadelphia). The male has the head, neck, and chest, deep ash-gray, mixed with black on the throat and chest; other lower parts are pure yellow.
MOUSE n. 2 definitions
amily Muridæ. The common house mouse (Mus musculus) is found in nearly all countries. The American white-footed, or deer, mouse (Hesperomys leucopus) sometimes lives in houses. See Dormouse, Meadow mouse, under Meadow, and Harvest mouse, under Harvest.
MUD n.
oat used in deredging. -- Mud cat. See Catfish. -- Mud crab (Zoöl.), any one of several American marine crabs of the genus Panopeus. -- Mud dab (Zoöl.), the winter flounder. See Flounder, and Dab. -- Mud dauber (Zoöl.), a mud wasp. -- Mud devil (Zoöl.), the fellbender. -- Mud drum (Steam Boilers), a drum beneath…
MUDFISH n.
The South American lipedosiren, and the allied African species (Protopterus annectens). See Lipedosiren.
MULLEIN n.
olly leaves, is Verbascum Thapsus. Moth mullein. See under Moth. -- Mullein foxglove, an American herb (Seymeria macrophylla) with coarse leaves and yellow tubular flowers with a spreading border. -- Petty mullein, the cowslip. Dr. Prior.
MULLET n.
species are Mugil capito of Europe, and M. cephalus which occurs both on the European and American coasts.
MUMMICHOG n.
Any one of several species of small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus, and of allied genera; the killifishes; -- called also minnow. [Written also mummychog, mummachog.]
MUSK n.
rs, and leaves smelling strongly of musk. -- Musk tortoise, Musk turtle (Zoöl.), a small American fresh-water tortoise (Armochelys, or Ozotheca, odorata), which has a distinct odor of musk; -- called also stinkpot.
MUSKELLUNGE n.
A large American pike (Esox nobilitor) found in the Great Lakes, and other Northern lakes, and in the St. Lawrence River. It is valued as a food fish. [Written also maskallonge, maskinonge, muskallonge, muskellonge, and muskelunjeh.]
MUSKOGEES n.
A powerful tribe of North American Indians that formerly occupied the region of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. They constituted a large part of the Creek confederacy. [Written also Muscogees.]
← Previous Page 27 of 53 Next →