Search the Dictionary

An instrument formerly used to punish and correct arrant scolds; -- called also a ducking stool, or trebucket. Blacktone.

k. Castle in the air, a visionary project; a baseless scheme; an air castle; -- sometimes called a castle in Spain (F. Château en Espagne).

A variety of the mineral called petalite, from Elba.

Australia. Some of them are large, producing hard and heavy timber of excellent quality, called beefwood from its color.

game of tipcat and the implement with which it is played. See Tipcat. (c) A game of ball, called, according to the number of batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc.

hite flowers and long cylindrical pods, and the C. speciosa, of the Mississipi valley; -- called also Indian bean.

s prepared by Sir Sidney Smith for destroying the French flotilla at Boulogne, 1804, were called catamarans. Knight.

tes, scales, etc.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, etc.

aulic brake for regulating the action of pumping engines and other machines; -- sometimes called dashpot.

One of the tannic acids, extracted from catechu as a white, crystaline substance; -- called also catechuic acid, and catechuin.

es, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent…

r, purgative principle of senna. It is a glucoside with the properties of a weak acid; -- called also cathartic acid, and cathartina.

The principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the bishop has his official chair (Cathedra) or throne.

Same as Rose window and Wheel window. Called also Catherine- wheel window.

and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. -- so called from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of Ament.

ria), somewhat like mint, having a string scent, and sometimes used in medicine. It is so called because cats have a peculiar fondness for it.

A stick or club employed in the game of ball called cat or tipcat. Massinger.

which suck blood; Trichodectes scalaris eats the hair. -- Cattle plague, the rinderpest; called also Russian cattle plague. -- Cattle range, or Cattle run, an open space through which cattle may run or range. [U. S.] Bartlett. -- Cattle show, an exhibition of domestic animals with prizes for the encouragement of sto…

short caulis or stem, esp. the rudimentary stem seen in the embryo of seed; -- otherwise called a radicle.

s reflected or refracted by another surface are tangents. Caustic curves and surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by reflection, and diacaustic when formed by refraction.