Search the Dictionary

Water breaking in upon the miners at their work; -- so called among tin miners. [Prov. Eng.]

Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift.

Having a tail like that of a swallow; hence, like a swallow's tail in form; having narrow and tapering or pointed skirts; as, a swallow- tailed coat.

One who swallows; also, a glutton. Tatler.

The European sapphirine gurnard (Trigla hirundo). It has large pectoral fins.

A swallow-tailed coat. This Stultz coat, a blue swallowtail, with yellow buttons. Thackeray.

m officinale) of the Milkweed family, at one time used in medicine; -- also called white swallowwort. African swallowwort, a plant of the genus Stapelia.

A towel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

udas and the murderers of Christ were saved. So called from the founder of the sect, Ucke Wallis, a native of Friesland. Eadie.

The spotted flycatcher; -- so called from the white color of the under parts. [Prov. Eng.]

Same as Whetile.

The golden oriole.

The yaffle. [Written also woodwale, and woodwele.]

To beat down; to overthrow. [Obs.] The King of Scots . . . sore abated the walls. Edw. Hall.

To swallow up; to engulf; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to use up; to include. "Dark oblivion soon absorbs them all." Cowper. The large cities absorb the wealth and fashion. W. Irving.

Capable of being absorbed or swallowed up. Kerr.

Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive. Absorbent ground (Paint.), a ground prepared for a picture, chiefly with distemper, or water colors, by which the oil is absorbed, and a brilliancy is imparted to the colors.

Swallowing, engrossing; as, an absorbing pursuit. -- Ab*sorb"ing, adv.

A written or printed notice to be posted, as on a wall; a poster; a placard.

Inability to swallow.