Rule of three. (Arith.) See under Rule, n.
Three"-coat` (?), a. (Arch.) Having or consisting of three coats; —
applied to plastering which consists of pricking-up, floating, and a
finishing coat; or, as called in the United States, a scratch coat,
browning, and finishing coat.
Three"-cor`nered (?), a. 1. Having three corners, or angles; as, a
three-cornered hat.
2. (Bot.) Having three prominent longitudinal angles; as, a
three-cornered stem.
Three"-deck`er (?), n. (Naut.) A vessel of war carrying guns on three
decks.
Three"-flow`ered (?), a. (Bot.) Bearing three flowers together, or only
three flowers.
Three"fold` (?), a. [OE. þreofald; cf. AS. þrfeald.] Consisting of
three, or thrice repeated; triple; as, threefold justice.
A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Eccl. iv. 12.
Three"-hand`ed (?), a. Said of games or contests where three persons
play against each other, or two against one; as, a three-handed game of
cards.
{ Three"-leafed` (?), Three"-leaved` (?), } a. (Bot.) (a) Producing
three leaves; as, three-leaved nightshade. (b) Consisting of three
distinct leaflets; having the leaflets arranged in threes.
Three-leaved nightshade. See Trillium.
Three"-lobed` (?), a. Having three lobes.
Three-lobed leaf (Bot.), a leaf divided into three parts, the sinuses
extending not more than half way to the middle, and either the parts of
the sinuses being rounded.
Three"-nerved` (?), a. Having three nerves.
Three-nerved leaf (Bot.), a leaf having three distinct and prominent
ribs, or nerves, extending from the base.
Three"-part`ed (?), a. Divided into, or consisting of, three parts;
tripartite.
Three-parted leaf (Bot.), a leaf divided into three parts down to the
base, but not entirely separate.
Three"pence (?), n. A small silver coin of three times the value of a
penny. [Eng.]
Three"pen*ny (?), a. Costing or worth three pence; hence, worth but
little; poor; mean.
Three"-pile` (?), n. An old name for the finest and most costly kind of
velvet, having a fine, thick pile.