2. [F. tors, torse, twisted.] (Geom.) A developable surface. See under
Developable.
Tor"sel (?), n. (Carp.) A plate of timber for the end of a beam or
joist to rest on. Gwilt
Tor`si*bil"l*ty (?), n. The tendency, as of a rope, to untwist after
being twisted.
Tor"sion (?), n. [F., fr. LL. torsio, fr. L. torquere, tortum, to
twist. See Torture.] 1. The act of turning or twisting, or the state of
being twisted; the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of a
lateral force tending to turn one end or part of it about a
longitudinal axis, while the other is held fast or turned in the
opposite direction.
2. (Mech.) That force with which a thread, wire, or rod of any
material, returns, or tends to return, to a state of rest after it has
been twisted; torsibility.
Angle of torsion (of a curve) (Geom.), the indefinitely small angle
between two consecutive osculating planes of a curve of double
curvature. — Moment of torsion (Mech.) the moment of a pair of equal
and opposite couples which tend to twist a body. — Torsion balance
(Physics.), an instrument for estimating very minute forces, as
electric or magnetic attractions and repulsions, by the torsion of a
very slender wire or fiber having at its lower extremity a horizontal
bar or needle, upon which the forces act. — Torsion scale, a scale for
weighing in which the fulcra of the levers or beams are strained wires
or strips acting by torsion.
Tor"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to torsion; resulting from
torsion, or the force with which a thread or wire returns to a state of
rest after having been twisted round its axis; as, torsional force.
Torsk (?), n. [Dan.; akin to Icel. þorskr a codfish, G. dorsch.]
(Zoöl.) (a) The cusk. See Cusk. (b) The codfish. Called also tusk.
Tor"so (?), n.; pl. E. Torsos (#), It. Torsi (#). [It. torso, probably
fr. L. thyrsus a stalk, stem, thyrsus, Gr. &?;; cf. OHG. torso, turso,
a stalk, stem, G. dorsche a cabbage stalk. Cf. Thyrsus, Truss.] The
human body, as distinguished from the head and limbs; in sculpture, the
trunk of a statue, mutilated of head and limbs; as, the torso of
Hercules.
Tort (?), n. [F., from LL. tortum, fr. L. tortus twisted, crooked, p.
p. of torqure to twist, bend. See Torture.] 1. Mischief; injury;
calamity. [Obs.]
That had them long opprest with tort.
Spenser.
2. (Law) Any civil wrong or injury; a wrongful act (not involving a
breach of contract) for which an action will lie; a form of action, in
some parts of the United States, for a wrong or injury.
||Executor de son tort. See under Executor. — Tort feasor (Law), a
||wrongdoer; a trespasser. Wharton.
||
Tort, a. Stretched tight; taut. [R.]
Yet holds he them with tortestrein.
Emerson.
Tor"ta (?), n. [Cf. Sp. torta a cake.] (Metal.) a flat heap of moist,
crushed silver ore, prepared for the patio process.
Tor"teau (?), n.; pl. Torteaus (#). [Of. torteau, tortel, from L.
tortus twisted. See Tort.] (Her.) A roundel of a red color.
Tor`ti*col"lis (?), n. [F. toricolis; L. torquere, tortum, to twist +
collum the neck.] (Med.) See Wryneck.
Tor"tile (?), a. [L. tortilis, fr. torquere, tortum, to twist: cf. F.
tortile.] Twisted; wreathed; coiled.
Tor*til"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being tortile, twisted, or
wreathed.
||Tor*til"la (?), n. [Sp.] An unleavened cake, as of maize flour, baked
||on a heated iron or stone.
||
Tor"tion (?), n. [LL. tortio. See Torsion.] Torment; pain. [Obs.]
Bacon.
Tor"tious (?), a. [From Tort.] 1. Injurious; wrongful. [Obs.] "Tortious
power." Spenser.
2. (Law) Imploying tort, or privat injury for which the law gives
damages; involing tort.
Tor"tious*ly, adv. (Law) In a tortous manner.
Tor"tive (?), a. [L. tortus, p. p. of torquere to twist, wind.]
Twisted; wreathed. Shak.
Tor"toise (?), n. [OE. tortuce, fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus
isted, crooked, contorted, p. p. of torquere, tortum, to wind; cf. F.
tortue tortoise, LL. tortuca, tartuca, Pr. tortesa crookedness, tortis
crooked. so called in allusion to its crooked feet. See Torture.] 1.
(Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of reptiles of the order
Testudinata.
The term is applied especially to the land and fresh-water species,
while the marine species are generally called turtles, but the terms
tortoise and turtle are used synonymously by many writers. see
Testudinata, Terrapin, and Turtle.