Search the Dictionary

An ornamental bordering or framelike decoration around the sides and top of a door, window, or fireplace. The top piece is called the traverse and the side pieces the ascendants.

The frontlet, or head armor, of a horse. [Written also champfrain and chamfrain.]

A light wine, of several kinds, originally made in the province of Champagne, in France.

r; a difference; novelty; variety; as, a change of seasons. Our fathers did for change to France repair. Dryden. The ringing grooves of change. Tennyson.

n lines each, and a concluding stanza. -- each of these six parts ending with a common refrain. -- Gregorian chant. See under Gregorian.

A pair of Straps, with stirrups, joined at the top and fastened to the pommel or the frame of the saddle, after they have been adjusted to the convenience of the rider. [Written also chaplet.]

An organized branch of some society or fraternity as of the Freemasons. Robertson.

, 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 granted or secured…

he principles of a political party in England (1838-48), which contended for universal suffrage, the vote by ballot, annual parliaments, equal electoral districts, and other radical reforms, as set forth in a document called the People's Charter.

ry; esp. La Grande Chartreuse, mother house of the order, in the mountains near Grenoble, France.

A rectangular iron frame in which pages or columns of type are imposed.

A traversing base frame, or movable railway, along which the carriage of a barbette or casemate gum moves backward and forward. [See Gun carriage.]

se of punishment or reformation; to punish, as with stripes. How fine my master is! I am afraid He will chastise me. Shak. I am glad to see the vanity or envy of the canting chemists thus discovered and chastised. Boyle.

A castle or a fortress in France.

The killing of a person in an affray, in the heat of blood, and while under the influence of passion, thus distinguished from chance- medley or killing in self-defense, or in a casual affray. Burrill.

Brigands in bands, who, about 1793, pillaged, burned, and killed in parts of France; -- so called because they used to burn the feet of their victims to extort money.

An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture. When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Dryden.

A small downy-leaved tree (Anona Cherimolia), with fragrant flowers. It is a native of Peru.

ackheart, black Tartarian, oxheart, morelle or morello, May-duke (corrupted from Médoc in France). (b) The wild cherry; as, prunus serotina (wild black cherry), valued for its timber; P. Virginiana (choke cherry), an American shrub which bears astringent fruit; P. avium and P. Padus, European trees (bird cherry).…

nd chest of an organ. Bomb chest, See under Bomb. -- Chest of drawers, a case or movable frame containing drawers.