1. A frame or machine of wood or other material, in which a weaver
forms cloth out of thread; a machine for interweaving yarn or threads
into a fabric, as in knitting or lace making.
Hector, when he sees Andromache overwhelmed with terror, sends her
for consolation to the loom and the distaff.
Rambler.
2. (Naut.) That part of an oar which is near the grip or handle and
inboard from the rowlock. Totten.
Loom, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Loomed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Looming.] [OE.
lumen to shine, Icel. ljoma; akin to AS. leóma light, and E. light; or
cf. OF. lumer to shine, L. luminare to illumine, lumen light; akin to
E. light. √122. See Light not dark.] 1. To appear above the
surface either of sea or land, or to appear enlarged, or distorted and
indistinct, as a distant object, a ship at sea, or a mountain, esp.
from atmospheric influences; as, the ship looms large; the land looms
high.
Awful she looms, the terror of the main.
H. J. Pye.
2. To rise and to be eminent; to be elevated or ennobled, in a moral
sense.
On no occasion does he [Paul] loom so high, and shine so
gloriously, as in the context.
J. M. Mason.
Loom, n. The state of looming; esp., an unnatural and indistinct
appearance of elevation or enlargement of anything, as of land or of a
ship, seen by one at sea.
Loom"-gale` (?), n. A gentle gale of wind.
Loom"ing, n. The indistinct and magnified appearance of objects seen in
particular states of the atmosphere. See Mirage.
Loon (?), n. [Scot. loun, lown, loon; akin to OD. loen a stupid man;
prob. for an older lown, and akin to E. lame.] A sorry fellow; a
worthless person; a rogue.
Loon, n. [For older loom, Icel. l&?;mr; akin to Dan. & Sw. lom.]
(Zoöl.) Any one of several aquatic, wed-footed, northern birds of the
genus Urinator (formerly Colymbus), noted for their expertness in
diving and swimming under water. The common loon, or great northern
diver (Urinator imber, or Colymbus torquatus), and the red-throated
loon or diver (U. septentrionalis), are the best known species. See
Diver.
Loon"y (?), a. See Luny.
Loop (lp), n. [G. luppe an iron lump. Cf. Looping.] (Iron Works) A mass
of iron in a pasty condition gathered into a ball for the tilt hammer
or rolls. [Written also loup.]
Loop, n. [Cf. Ir. & Gael. lub loop, noose, fold, thong, bend, lub to
bend, incline.] 1. A fold or doubling of a thread, cord, rope, etc.,
through which another thread, cord, etc., can be passed, or which a
hook can be hooked into; an eye, as of metal; a staple; a noose; a
bight.
That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop To hang a doubt on.
Shak.