Lateral cleavage (Crystallog.), cleavage parallel to the lateral
planes. -- Lateral equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree.
[Obs.] -- Lateral line (Anat.), in fishes, a line of sensory organs
along either side of the body, often marked by a distinct line of
color. -- Lateral pressure or stress (Mech.), a pressure or stress at
right angles to the length, as of a beam or bridge; -- distinguished
from longitudinal pressure or stress. -- Lateral strength (Mech.),
strength which resists a tendency to fracture arising from lateral
pressure. -- Lateral system (Bridge Building), the system of horizontal
braces (as between two vertical trusses) by which lateral stiffness is
secured.
Lat`er*al"i*ty (?), n. The state or condition of being lateral.
Lat"er*al*ly (?), adv. By the side; sidewise; toward, or from, the
side.
Lat"er*an (?), n. The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church
being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all
churches in the Catholic world.
The name is said to have been derived from that of the Laterani family,
who possessed a palace on or near the spot where the church now stands.
In this church several ecclesiastical councils, hence called Lateran
councils, have been held.
Lat"ered (?), a. Inclined to delay; dilatory. [Obs.] "When a man is too
latered." Chaucer.
Lat`er*i*fo"li*ous (?), a. [L. latus, lateris, side + folium leaf: cf.
F. latérifolié.] (Bot.) Growing from the stem by the side of a leaf;
as, a laterifolious flower.
Lat"er*ite (?), n. [L. later brick, tile: cf. F. latérite.] (Geol.) An
argillaceous sandstone, of a red color, and much seamed; -- found in
India.
Lat`er*it"ic (?), a. Consisting of, containing, or characterized by,
laterite; as, lateritic formations.
Lat"er*i"tious (?), a. [L. lateritius, fr. later a brick.] Like bricks;
of the color of red bricks.
Lateritious sediment (Med.), a sediment in urine resembling brick dust,
observed after the crises of fevers, and at the termination of gouty
paroxysms. It usually consists of uric acid or urates with some
coloring matter.
||La"tes (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a fish of the Nile.] (Zoöl.) A genus
||of large percoid fishes, of which one species (Lates Niloticus)
||inhabits the Nile, and another (L. calcarifer) is found in the Ganges
||and other Indian rivers. They are valued as food fishes.
||
La*tes"cence (?), n. A slight withdrawal from view or knowledge. Sir W.
Hamilton.
La*tes"cent (?), a. [L. latescens, -entis, p. pr. of latescere to be
concealed, fr. latere to be hid.] Slightly withdrawn from view or
knowledge; as, a latescent meaning. Sir W. Hamilton.
Late"wake` (?), n. See Lich wake, under Lich.
Late"ward (?), a. & adv. Somewhat late; backward. [Obs.] "Lateward
lands." Holland.
||La"tex (?), n. [L.] (Bot.) A milky or colored juice in certain plants
||in cavities (called latex cells or latex tubes). It contains the
||peculiar principles of the plants, whether aromatic, bitter, or acid,
||and in many instances yields caoutchouc upon coagulation.
||
Lath (?), n.; pl. Laths (#). [OE. laththe, latthe, latte, AS. lætta;
akin to D. lat, G. latte, OHG. latta; cf. W. llath a rod, staff, yard.
Cf. Lattice, Latten.] A thin, narrow strip of wood, nailed to the
rafters, studs, or floor beams of a building, for the purpose of
supporting the tiles, plastering, etc. A corrugated metallic strip or
plate is sometimes used.
Lath brick, a long, slender brick, used in making the floor on which
malt is placed in the drying kiln. Lath nail a slender nail for
fastening laths.
Lath (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lathed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lathing.] To
cover or line with laths.
Lathe (?), n. [AS. lð. Of. uncertain origin.] Formerly, a part or
division of a county among the Anglo-Saxons. At present it consists of
four or five hundreds, and is confined to the county of Kent. [Written
also lath.] Brande & C.
Lathe (?), n. [OE. lathe a granary; akin to G. lade a chest, Icel.
hlaða a storehouse, barn; but cf. also Icel. löð a smith's lathe.
Senses 2 and 3 are perh. of the same origin as lathe a granary, the
original meaning being, a frame to hold something. If so, the word is
from an older form of E. lade to load. See Lade to load.] 1. A granary;
a barn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Mach.) A machine for turning, that is, for shaping articles of
wood, metal, or other material, by causing them to revolve while acted
upon by a cutting tool.
3. The movable swing frame of a loom, carrying the reed for separating
the warp threads and beating up the weft; -- called also lay and
batten.
Blanchard lathe, a lathe for turning irregular forms after a given
pattern, as lasts, gunstocks, and the like. -- Drill lathe, or Speed
lathe, a small lathe which, from its high speed, is adapted for
drilling; a hand lathe. -- Engine lathe, a turning lathe in which the
cutting tool has an automatic feed; -- used chiefly for turning and
boring metals, cutting screws, etc. -- Foot lathe, a lathe which is
driven by a treadle worked by the foot. -- Geometric lathe. See under
Geometric -- Hand lathe, a lathe operated by hand; a power turning
lathe without an automatic feed for the tool. -- Slide lathe, an engine
lathe. -- Throw lathe, a small lathe worked by one hand, while the
cutting tool is held in the other.
<! p. 833 !>
Lath"er (l"r), n. [AS. leáðor niter, in leáðorwyrt soapwort; cf. Icel.
lauðr; perh. akin to E. lye.] 1. Foam or froth made by soap moistened
with water.