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A kind of toy or rude musical instrument, as a tube inside of which is a stretched string made to vibrate by singing or humming into the tube.

A primitive Chinese instrument of the cittern kind, with from five to twenty-five silken strings. Riemann.

dark red dried juice of certain plants, used variously in tanning, in dyeing, and as an astringent in medicine.

A small violin. "A dancing master's kit." Grew. Prince Turveydrop then tinkled the strings of his kit with his fingers, and the young ladies stood up to dance. Dickens.

wood or other material covered with paper or cloth, for flying in the air at the end of a string.

A string that draws together a purse or bag. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

us.) A Turkish instrument of music, with a hollow body covered with skin, over which five strings are stretched. [Written also kussir.]

That which binds or holds, especially by being interwoven; a string, cord, or band, usually one passing through eyelet or other holes, and used in drawing and holding together parts of a garment, of a shoe, of a machine belt, etc. His hat hung at his back down by a lace. Chaucer. For striving more, the more in laces st…

In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.

The string that fastens a shoe; a shoestring.

Not strict or stringent; not exact; loose; weak; vague; equivocal. The discipline was lax. Macaulay. Society at that epoch was lenient, if not lax, in matters of the passions. J. A. Symonds. The word "æternus" itself is sometimes of a lax signification. Jortin.

t of loosening or opening the intestines, and relieving from constipation; -- opposed to astringent. -- n. (Med.)

a stratum; a layer; as, a lay of stone or wood. Addison. A viol should have a lay of wire strings below. Bacon.

, a question so framed as to guide the person questioned in making his reply. -- Leading strings, strings by which children are supported when beginning to walk. -- To be in leading strings, to be in a state of infancy or dependence, or under the guidance of others. -- Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driv…

A string with a loop at the end for lifting warp threads, in a loom.

A string-course or horizontal suit of moldings, such as the base moldings of a building. Oxf. Gloss.

uminous earth of a grayish yellow color; sphragide; -- formerly sold as medicine, having astringent properties. -- Lemnian reddle, a reddle of firm consistence and deep red color; -- used by artificers in coloring.

A thread or string for tying the blood vessels, particularly the arteries, to prevent hemorrhage.

linen thread or string; a slender, strong cord; also, a cord of any thickness; a rope; a hawser; as, a fishing line; a line for snaring birds; a clothesline; a towline. Who so layeth lines for to latch fowls. Piers Plowman.

ylin, and is used largely in dyeing. An extract from this wood is used in medicine as an astringent. Also called Campeachy wood, and bloodwood.