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Any detached mass of masonry, whether insulated or supporting one side of an arch or lintel, as of a bridge; the piece of wall between two openings.

A detachable share at the extreme front end of the plow body.

number required. -- Strategic position (Mil.), a position taken up by an army or a large detachment of troops for the purpose of checking or observing an opposing force.

cularly into the navy. I have misused the king's press. Shak. Press gang, or Pressgang, a detachment of seamen under the command of an officer empowered to force men into the naval service. See Impress gang, under Impress. -- Press money, money paid to a man enlisted into public service. See Prest money, under Prest,…

A detached work with two embankments with make a salient angle. It is raised before the curtain on the counterscarp of the place. Formerly called demilune and half-moon.

That which is raveled out; esp., a thread detached from a texture.

State of being current; currency; popularity. it is impossible for detached papers to have a general run, or long continuance, if not diversified with humor. Addison.

Something scraped off; hence, a small piece; a bit; a fragment; a detached, incomplete portion. I have no materials -- not a scrap. De Quincey.

Permanently attached; -- said of the gonophores of certain hydroids which never became detached.

A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of troops.

overing a joint, or forming a joint between the ends of two other pipes. Sleeve button, a detachable button to fasten the wristband or cuff. -- Sleeve links, two bars or buttons linked together, and used to fasten a cuff or wristband. -- To laugh in the sleeve, to laugh privately or unperceived, especially while appa…

Detached; separated; -- a term indicating that every note is to be performed in a distinct and pointed manner.

Sprain fracture (Med.), the separation of a tendon from its point of insertion, with the detachment of a shell of bone to which the tendon is attached.

Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech.

A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer; as, the North Atlantic Squadron. Totten. Flying squadron, a squadron of observation or practice, that cruises rapidly about from place to place. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

To set with detached ornaments or prominent objects; to set thickly, as with studs. The sloping sides and summits of our hills, and the extensive plains that stretch before our view, are studded with substantial, neat, and commodious dwellings of freemen. Bp. Hobart.

To cause to take a strategic position; as, he threw a detachment of his army across the river.

The detachable or movable fore part of a gunstock, lying beneath the barrel or barrels, and forming a hold for the left hand.

The pieces, or chips, detached in the process of turning from the material turned.

y the afterbirth, or placenta, being situated over the mouth of the womb so as to require detachment before the child can be born. -- Un`a*void"a*ble*ness, n. -- Un`a*void"a*bly, adv.