Y (w). Y, the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet, at the beginning of a word or syllable, except when a prefix (see Y-), is usually a fricative vocal consonant; as a prefix, and usually in the middle or at the end of a syllable, it is a vowel. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 145, 178-9, 272.
It derives its form from the Latin Y, which is from the Greek , originally the same letter as V. Etymologically, it is most nearly related to u, i, o, and j. g; as in full, fill, AS. fyllan; E. crypt, grotto; young, juvenile; day, AS. dæg. See U, I, and J, G.
Y has been called the Pythagorean letter, because the Greek letter was taken represent the sacred triad, formed by the duad proceeding from the monad; and also because it represents the dividing of the paths of vice and virtue in the development of human life.
Y (w), n.; pl. Y's (wz) or Ys. Something shaped like the letter Y; a forked piece resembling in form the letter Y. Specifically: (a) One of the forked holders for supporting the telescope of a leveling instrument, or the axis of a theodolite; a wye. (b) A forked or bifurcated pipe fitting. (c) (Railroads) A portion of track consisting of two diverging tracks connected by a cross track.
Y level (Surv.), an instrument for measuring differences of level by means of a telescope resting in Y's. -- Y moth (Zoöl.), a handsome European noctuid moth Plusia gamma) which has a bright, silvery mark, shaped like the letter Y, on each of the fore wings. Its larva, which is green with five dorsal white species, feeds on the cabbage, turnip, bean, etc. Called also gamma moth, and silver Y.
Y (), pron. I. [Obs.] King Horn. Wyclif.
{ Y- (?), or I- }. [OE. y-, i-, AS. ge-, akin to D. & G. ge-, OHG. gi-, ga- , Goth. ga-, and perhaps to Latin con-; originally meaning, together. Cf. Com-, Aware, Enough, Handiwork, Ywis.] A prefix of obscure meaning, originally used with verbs, adverbs, adjectives, nouns, and pronouns. In the Middle English period, it was little employed except with verbs, being chiefly used with past participles, though occasionally with the infinitive Ycleped, or yclept, is perhaps the only word not entirely obsolete which shows this use.
That no wight mighte it see neither yheere.
Chaucer.
Neither to ben yburied nor ybrent.
Chaucer.
Some examples of Chaucer's use of this prefix are; ibe, ibeen, icaught, ycome, ydo, idoon, ygo, iproved, ywrought. It inough, enough, it is combined with an adjective. Other examples are in the Vocabulary.
Spenser and later writers frequently employed this prefix when affecting an archaic style, and sometimes used it incorrectly.
Ya (yä), adv. Yea. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Yac"a*re` (yk"*r`), n. [See Jacare.] (Zoöl.) A South American crocodilian (Jacare sclerops) resembling the alligator in size and habits. The eye orbits are connected together, and surrounded by prominent bony ridges. Called also spectacled alligator, and spectacled cayman. [Written also jacare.]
The name is also applied to allied species.
Yac"ca (yk"k), n. (Bot.) A West Indian name for two large timber trees (Podocarpus coriaceus, and P. Purdicanus) of the Yew family. The wood, which is much used, is pale brownish with darker streaks.
Yacht (yt), n. [D. jagt, jacht; perhaps properly, a chase, hunting, from. jagen to chase, hunt, akin to G. jagen, OHG. jagn, of uncertain origin; or perhaps akin to OHG. ghi quick, sudden (cf. Gay).] (Naut.) A light and elegantly furnished vessel, used either for private parties of pleasure, or as a vessel of state to convey distinguished persons from one place to another; a seagoing vessel used only for pleasure trips, racing, etc.
Yacht measurement. See the Note under Tonnage, 4.
Yacht, v. i. To manage a yacht; to voyage in a yacht.
Yacht"er (-r), n. One engaged in sailing a jacht.
Yacht"ing, n. Sailing for pleasure in a yacht.
Yacht"man (?), n. See Yachtsman.
Yachts"man (?), n.; pl. Yachtsmen (&?;). One who owns or sails a yacht; a yachter.
Yaf (?), obs. imp. of Give. [AS. geaf, imp. of giefan to give. See Give] Gave. See Give. Chaucer.
Yaf"fin*gale (?), n. [See Yaffle, and cf. Nightingale.] (Zoöl.) The yaffle. [Prov. Eng.]
Yaf"fle (?), n. [Probably imitative of its call or cry.] (Zoöl.) The European green woodpecker (Picus, or Genius, viridis). It is noted for its loud laughlike note. Called also eccle, hewhole, highhoe, laughing bird, popinjay, rain bird, yaffil, yaffler, yaffingale, yappingale, yackel, and woodhack.
Ya"ger (?; 277), n. [G. jäger a hunter, from jagen to chase, hunt.] (Mil.) In the German army, one belonging to a body of light infantry armed with rifles, resembling the chasseur of the French army. [Written also jager.]
Ya`gua*run"di (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as Jaguarondi. [Written also yaguarondi, and yagouarondi.]
||Yaj"ur-Ve"da (yj"ûr-v`d or -v`d), n. [Skr. yajur- vda.] See Veda.
Yak (yk), n. [Thibetan gyag.] (Zoöl.) A bovine mammal (Poëphagus grunnies) native of the high plains of Central Asia. Its neck, the outer side of its legs, and its flanks, are covered with long, flowing, fine hair. Its tail is long and bushy, often white, and is valued as an ornament and for other purposes in India and China. There are several domesticated varieties, some of which lack the mane and the long hair on the flanks. Called also chauri gua, grunting cow, grunting ox, sarlac, sarlik, and sarluc.
Yak lace, a coarse pillow lace made from the silky hair of the yak.
Yak"a*milk (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Trumpeter, 3 (a).
Yak"a*re` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as Yacare.
Ya"kin (?), n. (Zoöl.) A large Asiatic antelope (Budorcas taxicolor) native of the higher parts of the Himalayas and other lofty mountains. Its head and neck resemble those of the ox, and its tail is like that of the goat. Called also budorcas.
Ya*koots" (?), n. pl.; sing. Yakoot (&?;). (Ethnol.) A nomadic Mongolian tribe native of Northern Siberia, and supposed to be of Turkish stock. They are mainly pastoral in their habits. [Written also Yakuts.]
||Yak"sha (?), n. [Skr.] (Hindoo Myth.) A kind of demigod attendant on Kuvera, the god of wealth.
Ya"lah (?), n. The oil of the mahwa tree.
Yam (ym), n. [Pg. inhame, probably from some native name.] (Bot.) A large, esculent, farinaceous tuber of various climbing plants of the genus Dioscorea; also, the plants themselves. Mostly natives of warm climates. The plants have netted-veined, petioled leaves, and pods with three broad wings. The commonest species is D. sativa, but several others are cultivated.
Chinese yam, a plant (Dioscorea Batatas) with a long and slender tuber, hardier than most of the other species. -- Wild yam. (a) A common plant (Dioscorea villosa) of the Eastern United States, having a hard and knotty rootstock. (b) An orchidaceous plant (Gastrodia sesamoides) of Australia and Tasmania.
||Ya"ma (?), n. [Skr. yama a twin.] (Hindoo Myth.) The king of the infernal regions, corresponding to the Greek Pluto, and also the judge of departed souls. In later times he is more exclusively considered the dire judge of all, and the tormentor of the wicked. He is represented as of a green color, with red garments, having a crown on his head, his eyes inflamed, and sitting on a buffalo, with a club and noose in his hands.
Yam"ma (?), n. [See Llama.] (Zoöl.) The llama.
Yamp (?), n. (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant (Carum Gairdneri); also, its small fleshy roots, which are eaten by the Indians from Idaho to California.
Yang (?), n. [Of imitative origin.] The cry of the wild goose; a honk.
Yang, v. i. To make the cry of the wild goose.
Yank (?), n. [Cf. Scot. yank a sudden and severe blow.] A jerk or twitch. [Colloq. U. S.]
Yank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Yanked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Yanking.] To twitch; to jerk. [Colloq. U. S.]