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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



1,000+ words match “SPECIES”

HORNBLENDE n.
brown, variety of amphibole. (See Amphibole.) It belongs to the aluminous division of the species, and is also characterized by its containing considerable iron. Also used as a general term to include the whole species. Hornblende schist (Geol.), a hornblende rock of schistose structure.
HORNED a.
, having a pair of triangular horns arising from the eyelids. -- Horned grebe (Zoöl.), a species of grebe (Colymbus auritus), of Arctic Europe and America, having two dense tufts of feathers on the head. -- Horned horse (Zoöl.), the gnu. -- Horned lark (Zoöl.), the shore lark. -- Horned lizard (Zoöl.), the horned t…
HORNET n.
A large, strong wasp. The European species (Vespa crabro) is of a dark brown and yellow color. It is very pugnacious, and its sting is very severe. Its nest is constructed of a paperlike material, and the layers of comb are hung together by columns. The American white- faced hornet (V. maculata) is larger and has simil…
HORSE-CHESTNUT n. 2 definitions
The large nutlike seed of a species of Æsculus (Æ. Hippocastanum), formerly ground, and fed to horses, whence the name.
HOUNDFISH n.
Any small shark of the genus Galeus or Mustelus, of which there are several species, as the smooth houndfish (G. canis), of Europe and America; -- called also houndshark, and dogfish.
HOUSTONIA n.
biaceous herbs, having tetramerous salveform blue or white flower. There are about twenty species, natives of North America. Also, a plant of this genus.
HOWLER n. 2 definitions
Any South American monkey of the genus Mycetes. Many species are known. They are arboreal in their habits, and are noted for the loud, discordant howling in which they indulge at night.
HUCKLEBERRY n. 2 definitions
The edible black or dark blue fruit of several species of the American genus Gaylussacia, shrubs nearly related to the blueberries (Vaccinium), and formerly confused with them. The commonest huckelberry comes from G. resinosa.
HUMBLE a. 5 definitions
. . . religion we can never hope to be a happy nation. Washington. Humble plant (Bot.), a species of sensitive plant, of the genus Mimosa (M. sensitiva). -- To eat humble pie, to endure mortification; to submit or apologize abjectly; to yield passively to insult or humilitation; -- a phrase derived from a pie made of…
HUMMING n. 2 definitions
mily Trochilidæ, of which over one hundred genera are known, including about four hundred species. They are found only in America and are most abundant in the tropics. They are mostly of very small size, and are not for their very brilliant colors and peculiar habit of hovering about flowers while vibrating their wings…
HUMPBACK n. 4 definitions
Any whale of the genus Megaptera, characterized by a hump or bunch on the back. Several species are known. The most common ones in the North Atlantic are Megaptera longimana of Europe, and M. osphyia of America; that of the California coasts is M. versabilis.
HYALONEMA n.
, siliceous fibres twisted together like the strands of a color. The stem of the Japanese species (H. Sieboldii), called glass-rope, has long been in use as an ornament. See Glass-rope.
HYALOPHANE n.
A species of the feldspar group containing barium. See Feldspar.
HYBRID n. 2 definitions
The offspring of the union of two distinct species; an animal or plant produced from the mixture of two species. See Mongrel.
HYBRIDIZABLE a.
g subjected to a hybridizing process; capable of producing a hybrid by union with another species or stock. Hybridizable genera are rarer than is generally supposed, even in gardens where they are so often operated upon, under circumstances most favorable to the production of hybrids. J. D. Hooker.
HYDRACTINIAN n.
Any species or marine hydroids, of the genus Hydractinia and allied genera. These hydroids form, by their rootstalks, a firm, chitinous coating on shells and stones, and esp. on spiral shells occupied by hermit crabs. See Illust. of Athecata.
HYDRANGEA n.
arge heads of showy flowers, white, or of various colors. H. hortensis, the common garden species, is a native of China or Japan.
HYDROMETRIC; HYDROMETRICAL a. 3 definitions
Made by means of an hydrometer; as, hydrometric observations. Hydrometric pendulum, a species of hydrometer consisting of a hollow ball of ivory or metal suspended by a treated from the center of a graduated quadrant, and held in a stream to measure the velocity of the water by the inclination given to the thread; a ki…
HYDROPIPER n.
A species (Polygonum Hydropiper) of knotweed with acrid foliage; water pepper; smartweed.
HYENA n.
Any carnivorous mammal of the family Hyænidæ, of which three living species are known. They are large and strong, but cowardly. They feed chiefly on carrion, and are nocturnal in their habits. [Written also hyæna.]
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