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ly or unexpectedly. -- To fall astern (Naut.), to move or be driven backward; to be left behind; as, a ship falls astern by the force of a current, or when outsailed by another. -- To fall away. (a) To lose flesh; to become lean or emaciated; to pine. (b) To renounce or desert allegiance; to revolt or rebel. (c) To r…

march side by side. Brande & C. --Indian file, or Single file, a line of men marching one behind another; a single row. -- On file, preserved in an orderly collection. -- Rank and file. (a) The body of soldiers constituing the mass of an army, including corporals and privates. Wilhelm. (b) Those who constitute the bu…

ly; to complete. "The bliss that fills up all the mind." Pope. "And fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ." Col. i. 24.

A dull old fellow; a person behind the times, over- conservative, or slow; -- usually preceded by old. [Written also fogie and fogey.] [Colloq.] Notorious old bore; regular old fogy. Thackeray.

To go or come after; to move behind in the same path or direction; hence, to go with (a leader, guide, etc.); to accompany; to attend. It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. Shak.

In the part that precedes or goes first; -- opposed to aft, after, back, behind, etc.

of anything; not to let slip an opportunity. Time is painted with a lock before and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for when it is once past, there is no recalling it. Swift. On occasion's forelock watchful wait. Milton.

den. I swell my preface into a volume, and make it formidable, when you see so many pages behind. Drydn.

Out of the neighborhood of; lessening or losing proximity to; leaving behind; by reason of; out of; by aid of; -- used whenever departure, setting out, commencement of action, being, state, occurrence, etc., or procedure, emanation, absence, separation, etc., are to be expressed. It is construed with, and indicates, th…

The margin of the head, behind the bill of birds, often bearing rigid bristles.

To strangle with the garrote; hence, to seize by the throat, from behind, with a view to strangle and rob.

One who seizes a person by the throat from behind, with a view to strangle and rob him.

hen they seek to extricate themselves. -- Gill opening, or Gill slit (Anat.), an opening behind and below the head of most fishes, and some amphibians, by which the water from the gills is discharged. In most fishes there is a single opening on each side, but in the sharks and rays there are five, or more, on each sid…

s, fulcra on the fins, and a bony skeleton, with the vertebræ convex in front and concave behind, forming a ball and socket joint. See Ganoidel.

as a loosely fitted plug, which is driven through a pipe by the pressure of the contents behind the plug to clear away obstructions.

Large; considerable; portly; as, a goodly number. Goodly and great he sails behind his link. Dryden.

Worthy of gratulation. [Obs.] There's more behind that is more gratulate. Shak.

e light received from the latter back through a hole in its center to the eyepiece placed behind it. -- Gregorian year, the year as now reckoned according to the Gregorian calendar. Thus, every year, of the current reckoning, which is divisible by 4, except those divisible by 100 aud not by 400, has 366 days; all othe…

or barrel closed at one end, in which the projectile is placed, with an explosive charge behind, which is ignited by various means. Muskets, rifles, carbines, and fowling pieces are smaller guns, for hand use, and are called small arms. Larger guns are called cannon, ordnance, fieldpieces, carronades, howitzers, etc.…

A hold in which one arm is thrust under the corresponding arm of the opponent, generally behind, and the hand placed upon the back of his neck. In the full nelson both hands are so placed.