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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



229 words match “VULGAR”

GROUNDSEL n.
An annual composite plant (Senecio vulgaris) one of the most common, and widely distributed weeds on the globe.
GUSTABLE a.
Capable of being tasted; tastable. This position informs us of a vulgar error, terming the gall bitter; whereas there is nothing gustable sweeter. Harvey.
HACK a.
Hackneyed; hired; mercenary. Wakefield. Hack writer, a hack; one who writes for hire. "A vulgar hack writer." Macaulay.
HAKE n.
adoid fishes, of the genera Phycis, Merlucius, and allies. The common European hake is M. vulgaris; the American silver hake or whiting is M. bilinearis. Two American species (Phycis chuss and P. tenius) are important food fishes, and are also valued for their oil and sounds. Called also squirrel hake, and codling.…
HALIBUT n.
A large, northern, marine flatfish (Hippoglossus vulgaris), of the family Pleuronectidæ. It often grows very large, weighing more than three hundred pounds. It is an important food fish. [Written also holibut.]
HARICOT n.
The ripe seeds, or the unripe pod, of the common string bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), used as a vegetable. Other species of the same genus furnish different kinds of haricots.
HART-TONGUE; HART'S-TONGUE n.
A common British fern (Scolopendrium vulgare), rare in America.
HAWFINCH n.
The common European grosbeak (Coccothraustes vulgaris); -- called also cherry finch, and coble.
HEALALL n.
A common herb of the Mint family (Brunela vulgaris), destitute of active properties, but anciently thought a panacea.
HEATH n.
A low shrub (Erica, or Calluna, vulgaris), with minute evergreen leaves, and handsome clusters of pink flowers. It is used in Great Britain for brooms, thatch, beds for the poor, and for heating ovens. It is also called heather, and ling.
HERCULES n.
A variety of the common gourd (Lagenaria vulgaris). Its fruit sometimes exceeds five feet in length. (c) The Angelica tree. See under Angelica. -- Hercules powder, an explosive containing nitroglycerin; -- used for blasting.
HOP n.
ree of the genus Ostrya (O.Virginica) the American ironwood; also, a European species (O. vulgaris). -- Hop moth (Zoöl.), a moth (Hypena humuli), which in the larval state is very injurious to hop vines. -- Hop picker, one who picks hops. -- Hop pole, a pole used to support hop vines. -- Hop tree (Bot.), a small Am…
HOREHOUND n.
A plant of the genus Marrubium (M. vulgare), which has a bitter taste, and is a weak tonic, used as a household remedy for colds, coughing, etc. [Written also hoarhound.] Fetid horehound, or Black horehound, a disagreeable plant resembling horehound (Ballota nigra). -- Water horehound, a species of the genus Lycopus,…
IDIOT n.
stinguished from the educated; an ignoramus. [Obs.] Christ was received of idiots, of the vulgar people, and of the simpler sort, while he was rejected, despised, and persecuted even to death by the high priests, lawyers, scribes, doctors, and rabbis. C. Blount.
IMPERFECT a.
Imperfect power (Math.), a number which can not be produced by taking any whole number or vulgar fraction, as a factor, the number of times indicated by the power; thus, 9 is a perfect square, but an imperfect cube. -- Imperfect tense (Gram), a tense expressing past time and incomplete action.
INCONY a.
Unlearned; artless; pretty; delicate. [Obs.] Most sweet jests! most incony vulgar wit! Shak.
INDIAN n.
taste like cucumbers. -- Indian currant (Bot.), a plant of the genus Symphoricarpus (S. vulgaris), bearing small red berries. -- Indian dye, the puccoon. -- Indian fig. (Bot.) (a) The banyan. See Banyan. (b) The prickly pear. -- Indian file, single file; arrangement of persons in a row following one after another,…
IRRATIONAL a.
Not capable of being exactly expressed by an integral number, or by a vulgar fraction; surd; -- said especially of roots. See Surd.
JACCHUS n.
The common marmoset (Hapale vulgaris). Formerly, the name was also applied to other species of the same genus.
JACK KETCH n.
hered many brave and noble victims, and whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odious office. Macaulay.
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