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ing to ornament; characterized by ornament; beautifying; embellishing. Some think it most ornamental to wear their bracelets on their wrists; others, about their ankles. Sir T. Browne.

By way of ornament.

A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic pavements. Fairholt.

alve mollusk of the genus Haliotis. The shell is lined with mother-of-pearl, and used for ornamental purposes; the sea-ear. Several large species are found on the coast of California, clinging closely to the rocks.

Anything that enters into a work of art without being indispensably necessary, as mere ornamental parts. Elmes.

pe and America. The larva feeds on nettles. Admiral shell (Zoöl.), the popular name of an ornamental cone shell (Conus admiralis). Lord High Admiral, a great officer of state, who (when this rare dignity is conferred) is at the head of the naval administration of Great Britain.

One of the ornamental tags, cords, or loops on some military and naval uniforms.

An ornamental evergreen shrub (Rhamnus alaternus) belonging to the buckthorns.

A soft ornamental terra-cotta pottery, sold in the biscuit state for decorating.

A small ornamental building with seats, or an arched seat, in a pleasure ground; a garden bower. Cowper.

An ornamental shrub (Hibiscus Syriacus) of the Mallow family.

A genus of ornamental annual plants (Amaranthus) of many species, with green, purplish, or crimson flowers.

An ornamental appendage of wood at the ship's stern, usually spreading like a fan and curved like a bird's feather. Audsley.

A small ornamental piece of embroidery worn on albs and some other ecclesiastical vestments.

The cultivation of trees and shrubs, chiefly for timber or for ornamental purposes.

Dress; clothes; headdress; anything which dresses or adorns; esp., ornamental clothing. Earth in her rich attire. Milton. I 'll put myself in poor and mean attire. Shak. Can a maid forget her ornament, or a bride her attire Jer. ii. 32.

An ornamental covering, as of carpet or leather, for a bench or form.

An ornamental circlet, of glass, gold, silver, or other material, worn by women in India and Africa, and in some other countries, upon the wrist or ankle; a ring bracelet. Bangle ear, a loose hanging ear of a horse, like that of a spaniel.

t erroneously used for baton, a mark of illegitimacy. See Baton. -- Bar tracery (Arch.), ornamental stonework resembling bars of iron twisted into the forms required. -- Blank bar (Law). See Blank. -- Case at bar (Law), a case presently before the court; a case under argument. -- In bar of, as a sufficient reason a…

A piece of defensive (or, sometimes, ornamental) armor for a horse's neck, breast, and flanks; a barb. [Often in the pl.]