4. (Gun.) (a) An instrument for drawing the charge of a cannon. (b) A
ring, with a handle or handles fitted to it, for carrying shot.
Ladle wood (Bot.), the wood of a South African tree (Cassine Colpoon),
used for carving.
La"dle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ladled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ladling
(?).] To take up and convey in a ladle; to dip with, or as with, a
ladle; as, to ladle out soup; to ladle oatmeal into a kettle.
La"dle*ful (?), n.; pl. Ladlefuls (&?;). A quantity sufficient to fill
a ladle.
La*drone" (?), n. [Sp. ladron, L. latro servant, robber, Gr. (&?;) a
servant.] A robber; a pirate; hence, loosely, a rogue or rascal.
La"dy (l"d), n.; pl. Ladies (-dz). [OE. ladi, læfdi, AS. hlfdige,
hlfdie; AS. hlf loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E.
dairy. See Loaf, and cf. Lord.]
1. A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a
mistress; the female head of a household.
Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest
thou? The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady.
Wyclif (Gen. xvi. 8.).
2. A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a
feminine correlative of lord. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell.
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make
thee lady.
Shak.
3. A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman
to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart.
The soldier here his wasted store supplies, And takes new valor
from his lady's eyes.
Waller.
4. A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title
prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank
than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl.
The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but
not by right.
5. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the
feminine correlative of gentleman.