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A foot consisting of four syllables: either two long and two short, -- that is, a spondee and a pyrrhic, in which case it is called the greater Ionic; or two short and two long, -- that is, a pyrrhic and a spondee, in which case it is called the smaller Ionic.

Wearisome; tedious; disagreeable or troublesome by reason of long continuance or repetition; as, irksome hours; irksome tasks. For not to irksome toil, but to delight, He made us. Milton.

nigra); -- so called from the resemblance of its knobbed head to an iron ball fixed on a long handle. Dr. Prior.

Not according to reason; absurd; foolish. It seemed utterly irrational any longer to maintain it. I. Taylor.

in, which inclines the person to scratch the part affected. My mouth hath itched all this long day. Chaucer.

A genus of chilognathous myriapods. The body is long and round, consisting of numerous smooth, equal segments, each of which bears two pairs of short legs. It includes the galleyworms. See Chilognatha.

Any of several wading birds belonging to the genus Jacana and several allied genera, all of which have spurs on the wings. They are able to run about over floating water weeds by means of their very long, spreading toes. Called also surgeon bird.

gman. [Eng.] The manor of Tyburn was formerly held by Richard Jaquett, where felons for a long time were executed; from whence we have Jack Ketch. Lloyd's MS., British Museum. [Monmouth] then accosted John Ketch, the executioner, a wretch who had butchered many brave and noble victims, and whose name has, during a cent…

in which the feathers of the neck form a hood, -- whence the name. The wings and tail are long, and the beak moderately short.

To exhaust by overdriving or long-continued labor of any kind; to tire or wear out by severe or tedious tasks; to harass. The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, . . . checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after. Locke.

iculation. Arethuss arose . . . From rock and from jag. Shelley. Garments thus beset with long jags. Holland.

and force them to disgorge their prey. The two middle tail feathers are usually decidedly longer than the rest. Called also boatswain, and marline-spike bird. The name is also applied to the skua, or Arctic gull (Megalestris skua).

A South American wild cat (Felis jaguarondi), having a long, slim body and very short legs. Its color is grayish brown, varied with a blackish hue. It is arboreal in its habits and feeds mostly on birds.

Long poles, topped with wisps of straw, used as landmarks and signals. Farrow.

Discordant sound; wrangling. The musical jangle of sleigh bells. Longfellow.

A long pole on two wheels, used in hauling logs. [Scot.] Jamieson.

In deep well boring, a device resembling two long chain links, for connecting a percussion drill to the rod or rope which works it, so that the drill is driven down by impact and is jerked loose when jammed.

A poisonous serpent of Brazil (Bothrops jararaca), about eighteen inches long, and of a dusky, brownish color, variegated with red and black spots.

y, or in a harsh and noisy manner. The noisy jay, Jargoning like a foreigner at his food. Longfellow.

chief; an earl; in English history, one of the leaders in the Danish and Norse invasions. Longfellow.