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A genus of airbreathing mollusks, including the common garden slugs. They have a small rudimentary shell. The breathing pore is on the right side of the neck. Several species are troublesome in gardens. See Slug.

A weapon of war, consisting of a pole armed with an axhead at its end, formerly used by the Scotch Highlanders.

To soften by kneading or stirring with some thinner substance. [R.]

The act of softening by mixing with a thinner substance; the formation of ingredients into a mass for pills or plasters. [R.]

One who, or that which, malaxates; esp., a machine for grinding, kneading, or stirring into a pasty or doughy mass. [R.]

The pharynx of a rotifer. It usually contains four horny pieces. The two central ones form the incus, against which the mallei, or lateral ones, work so as to crush the food.

The bone of either the upper or the under jaw.

The principal maxillary bone; the maxilla.

Having the form, or structure, of a maxilla.

One of the mouth appendages of Crustacea, situated next behind the maxillæ. Crabs have three pairs, but many of the lower Crustacea have but one pair of them. Called also jawfoot, and foot jaw.

Pertaining to the maxilla and mandible; as, the maxillo- mandibular nerve.

Pertaining to the maxillary and palatine regions of the skull; as, the maxillo-palatine process of the maxilla. Also used as n.

Pertaining to the maxillary and turbinal regions of the skull. -- n.

lished principle or proposition; a condensed proposition of important practical truth; an axiom of practical wisdom; an adage; a proverb; an aphorism. 'T is their maxim, Love is love's reward. Dryden.

A kind of machine gun; -- named after its inventor, Hiram S. Maxim.

A gold coin of Bavaria, of the value of about 13s. 6d. sterling, or about three dollars and a quarter.

The act or process of increasing to the highest degree. Bentham.

To increase to the highest degree. Bentham.

e; -- opposed to Ant: minimum. Good legislation is the art of conducting a nation to the maximum of happiness, and the minimum of misery. P. Colquhoun. Maximum thermometer, a thermometer that registers the highest degree of temperature attained in a given time, or since its last adjustment.

The middle segment of the thorax in insects. See Illust. of Coleoptera.