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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



218 words match “AFRICAN”

GALAGO n.
A genus of African lemurs, including numerous species.
GEMSBOK n.
A South African antelope (Oryx Capensis), having long, sharp, nearly straight horns.
GIANT a.
e sometimes used in churches to contain holy water. -- Giant heron (Zoöl.), a very large African heron (Ardeomega goliath). It is the largest heron known. -- Giant kettle, a pothole of very large dimensions, as found in Norway in connection with glaciers. See Pothole. -- Giant powder. See Nitroglycerin. -- Giant pu…
GIRAFFE n.
An African ruminant (Camelopardalis giraffa) related to the deers and antelopes, but placed in a family by itself; the camelopard. It is the tallest of animals, being sometimes twenty feet from the hoofs to the top of the head. Its neck is very long, and its fore legs are much longer than its hind legs.…
GNU n.
One of two species of large South African antelopes of the genus Catoblephas, having a mane and bushy tail, and curved horns in both sexes. [Written also gnoo.]
GOLD n.
ting involucral scales, the Helichrysum Stoechas of Southern Europe. There are many South African species of the same genus. -- Gold foil, thin sheets of gold, as used by dentists and others. See Gold leaf. -- Gold knobs or knoppes (Bot.), buttercups. -- Gold lace, a kind of lace, made of gold thread. -- Gold latte…
GOLDEN a.
so Toison d'Or. -- Golden grease, a bribe; a fee. [Slang] -- Golden hair (Bot.), a South African shrubby composite plant with golden yellow flowers, the Chrysocoma Coma-aurea. -- Golden Horde (Hist.), a tribe of Mongolian Tartars who overran and settled in Southern Russia early in the 18th century. -- Golden Legend,…
GOLIATH BEETLE n.
Any species of Goliathus, a genus of very large and handsome African beetles.
GONAKIE n.
An African timber tree (Acacia Adansonii).
GRAPPLE n.
grappling iron. The iron hooks and grapples keen. Spenser. Grapple plant (Bot.), a South African herb (Herpagophytum leptocarpum) having the woody fruits armed with long hooked or barbed thorns by which they adhere to cattle, causing intense annoyance. -- Grapple shot (Life-saving Service), a projectile, to which are…
GREEGREE; GRIGRI n.
An African talisman or Gri'gri' charm. A greegree man, an African magician or fetich priest.
GREEN a.
a carbonate of copper, used as a pigment. See Greengill. -- Green monkey (Zoöl.) a West African long-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus callitrichus), very commonly tamed, and trained to perform tricks. It was introduced into the West Indies early in the last century, and has become very abundant there. -- Green salt of M…
GRENADIER n.
A bright-colored South African grosbeak (Pyromelana orix), having the back red and the lower parts black.
GRIMME n.
A West African antelope (Cephalophus rufilotus) of a deep bay color, with a broad dorsal stripe of black; -- called also conquetoon.
GROUND n.
eads, and made into necklaces by the natives. -- Ground pig (Zoöl.), a large, burrowing, African rodent (Aulacodus Swinderianus) about two feet long, allied to the porcupines but with harsh, bristly hair, and no spines; -- called also ground rat. -- Ground pigeon (Zoöl.), one of numerous species of pigeons which live…
GRYSBOK n.
A small South African antelope (Neotragus melanotis). It is speckled with gray and chestnut, above; the under parts are reddish fawn.
GUERNSEY LILY n.
A South African plant (Nerine Sarniensis) with handsome lilylike flowers, naturalized on the island of Guernsey.
GUEVI n.
One of several very small species and varieties of African antelopes, of the genus Cephalophus, as the Cape guevi or kleeneboc (C. pyg. mæa); -- called also pygmy antelope.
GUIB n.
A West African antelope (Tragelaphus scriptus), curiously marked with white stripes and spots on a reddish fawn ground, and hence called harnessed antelope; -- called also guiba.
GUINEA n.
eats by dropping counterfeit guineas. [Obs.] Gay. -- Guinea fowl, Guinea hen (Zoöl.), an African gallinaceous bird, of the genus Numida, allied to the pheasants. The common domesticated species (N. meleagris), has a colored fleshy horn on each aide of the head, and is of a dark gray color, variegated with small white…
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