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Having the form of half of a circle. Addison. Semicircular canals (Anat.), certain canals of the inner ear. See under Ear.

leathern bottle, as the dilated end of a vessel or duct; especially the dilations of the semicircular canals of the ear.

A projecting part of a building, esp. of a church, having in the plan a polygonal or semicircular termination, and, most often, projecting from the east end. In early churches the Eastern apse was occupied by seats for the bishop and clergy. Hence:

wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed.

s in a room, and projecting outward from the wall, either in a rectangular, polygonal, or semicircular form; -- often corruptly called a bow window.

A tube or duct; as, the alimentary canal; the semicircular canals of the ear. Canal boat, a boat for use on a canal; esp. one of peculiar shape, carrying freight, and drawn by horses walking on the towpath beside the canal. Canal lock. See Lock.

An ecclesiastical vestment or cloak, semicircular in form, reaching from the shoulders nearly to the feet, and open in front except at the top, whereit is united by a band or clasp. It is worn in processions and on some other occasions. Piers plowman. A hundred and sixty priests all in their copes. Bp. Burnet.…

e attached the upper shrouds. At the head of lower masts in large vessels, they support a semicircular platform called the "top."

oöl.), a mole cricket. -- Fan light (Arch.), a window over a door; -- so called from the semicircular form and radiating sash bars of those windows which are set in the circular heads of arched doorways. -- Fan shell (Zoöl.), any shell of the family Pectinidæ. See Scallop, n., 1. -- Fan tracery (Arch.), the decorati…

alf the ordinary price; or a price much reduced. -- Half round. (a) (Arch.) A molding of semicircular section. (b) (Mech.) Having one side flat and the other rounded; -- said of a file. -- Half shift (Mus.), a position of the hand, between the open position and the first shift, in playing on the violin and kindred in…

A semicircular place, as a semicircular arena, or room, or part of a room. The collections will be displayed in the hemicycle of the central pavilion. London Academy.

Any surface of semicircular or segmental form; especially, the piece of wall between the curves of a vault and its springing line.

ng in incoördination of movement. It is supposed to depend upon a morbid condition of the semicircular canals of the internal ear. Named after Ménière, a French physician.

entury, characterized by great massiveness, simplicity, and strength, with the use of the semicircular arch, heavy round columns, and a great variety of ornaments, among which the zigzag and spiral or cable-formed ornaments were prominent.

A semicircular projection made at the shoulder of a bastion for the purpose of covering the retired flank, -- found in old fortresses.

wn and measuring angles on paper, used in drawing or in plotting. It is of various forms, semicircular, rectangular, or circular.

The plunger of a hydraulic press. Ram's horn. (a) (Fort.) A low semicircular work situated in and commanding a ditch. [Written also ramshorn.] Farrow. (b) (Paleon.) An ammonite.

A tool with a semicircular edge, -- used by engravers to clear away the spaces between the lines of an engraving. Fairholt.

Semicircular. Shak.

A semicircular hollow or opening among trees or hills. Wordsworth.