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magnet so drawn that any point in it is tangential with the direction of a short compass needle held at that point. Faraday. -- Line of life (Palmistry), a line on the inside of the hand, curving about the base of the thumb, supposed to indicate, by its form or position, the length of a person's life. -- Line of lin…

A piece of magnetic iron ore possessing polarity like a magnetic needle. See Magnetite.

g the system. -- Local attraction (Magnetism), an attraction near a compass, causing its needle to deviate from its proper direction, especially on shipboard. -- Local battery (Teleg.), the battery which actuates the recording instruments of a telegraphic station, as distinguished from the battery furnishing a curren…

Having impaired polarity; -- applied to a compass needle. [Colloq.] Like mad, like a mad person; in a furious manner; as, to run like mad. L'Estrange. -- To run mad. (a) To become wild with excitement. (b) To run wildly about under the influence of hydrophobia; to become affected with hydrophobia. -- To run mad after…

erties of the magnet, or corresponding properties; as, a magnetic bar of iron; a magnetic needle.

sm, the magnetic force exerted by the earth, and recognized by its effect upon magnetized needles and bars.

To communicate magnetic properties to; as, to magnetize a needle.

disturb; to render uneasy; to interfere with; to vex. They have molested the church with needless opposition. Hooker.

. The females have a proboscis containing, within the sheathlike labium, six fine, sharp, needlelike organs with which they puncture the skin of man and animals to suck the blood. These bites, when numerous, cause, in many persons, considerable irritation and swelling, with some pain. The larvæ and pupæ, called wiggler…

Like a needle or needles; as, a needly horn; a needly beard. R. D. Blackmore.

A needle. [Obs.] Shak.

oisting from the gunwale to the rigging to hinder an enemy from boarding. Totten. Netting needle, a kind of slender shuttle used in netting. See Needle, n., 3.

A tendency in the end of a magnetic needle to point to the north. Faraday.

A mark [thus ---, or ÷]; -- so called as resembling a needle. In old MSS. or editions of the classics, it marks suspected passages or readings.

Anything so constructed or manufactured (in needlework, carpentry, metal work, etc.) as to show openings through its substance; work that is perforated or pierced.

Anxious in an excessive or needless degree. -- O"ver*anx"ious*ly, adv.

A metallic disk, attached to a strap, and worn the palm of the hand, -- used to push the needle through the canvas, in sewing sails, etc.

l; to place so as to be parallel to, or to conform in direction with, something else. The needle . . . doth parallel and place itself upon the true meridian. Sir T. Browne.

An instrument similar to a mariner's compass, but without magnetic needles, and having two sight vanes by which bearings are taken, esp. such as cannot be taken by the compass.

The needle furze. See under Needle.