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Any edentate animal if the family Dasypidæ, peculiar to America. The body and head are incased in an armor composed of small bony plates. The armadillos burrow in the earth, seldom going abroad except at night. When attacked, they curl up into a ball, presenting the armor on all sides. Their flesh is good food. There a…

A peculiar transparent worm of the genus Sagitta, living at the surface of the sea. See Sagitta.

One peculiarly dexterous and tasteful in almost any employment, as an opera dancer, a hairdresser, a cook.

A peculiar acrid and bitter oil, obtained from wood soot.

A form of micrococcus, found in putrid meat infusions, occurring in peculiar masses, each of which is inclosed in a hyaline capsule and contains a large number of spherical micrococci.

Something peculiar to Asia or the Asiatics.

A quadruped of the genus Equus (E. asinus), smaller than the horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray and long ears. The tame or domestic ass is patient, slow, and sure-footed, and has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. There are several species of wild asses which are swift-footed.

The peculiar bitter substance, soft or liquid, and of a yellow color, produced when meat, bread, gum, sugar, starch, and the like, are roasted till they turn brown.

A peculiar species of rhyme, in which the last accented vowel and those which follow it in one word correspond in sound with the vowels of another word, while the consonants of the two words are unlike in sound; as, calamo and platano, baby and chary. The assonance is peculiar to the Spaniard. Hallam.…

Pertaining to the peculiar species of rhyme called assonance; not consonant.

A variety of chorea, marked by peculiar tremors of the fingers and toes.

lities as were characteristic of the Athenians; classical; refined. Attic base (Arch.), a peculiar form of molded base for a column or pilaster, described by Vitruvius, applied under the Roman Empire to the Ionic and Corinthian and "Roman Doric" orders, and imitated by the architects of the Renaissance. -- Attic faith…

The practice or peculiar cleverness of attorneys.

The peculiar sensation, as of a light vapor, or cold air, rising from the trunk or limbs towards the head, a premonitory symptom of epilepsy or hysterics. Electric ~, a supposed electric fluid, emanating from an electrified body, and forming a mass surrounding it, called the electric atmosphere. See Atmosphere, 2.…

Of, belonging to, or peculiar to, autumn; as, an autumnal tint; produced or gathered in autumn; as, autumnal fruits; flowering in autumn; as, an autumnal plant. Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks In Vallombrosa. Milton.

Bachelorhood; also, a manner or peculiarity belonging to bachelors. W. Irving.

A peculiar marine worm. See Enteropneusta, and Tornaria.

of being bald; as, baldness of the head; baldness of style. This gives to their syntax a peculiar character of simplicity and baldness. W. D. Whitney.

mber. -- Balloon net, a variety of woven lace in which the weft threads are twisted in a peculiar manner around the warp.

A variety of paralysis, peculiar to India and the Malabar coast; -- considered by many to be the same as beriberi in chronic form.