Ves"pi*a*ry (?), n. [L. vespa a wasp.] A nest, or habitation, of
insects of the wasp kind.
Ves*pil"lo (?), n.; pl. Vespilloes (#). [L.] (Rom. Antiq.) One who
carried out the dead bodies of the poor at night for burial.
Like vespilloes or grave makers.
Sir T. Browne.
Ves"sel, n. [OF. vessel, veissel, vaissel, vaissiel, F. vascellum, dim.
of vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel. Cf. Vascular, Vase.] 1. A hollow or
concave utensil for holding anything; a hollow receptacle of any kind,
as a hogshead, a barrel, a firkin, a bottle, a kettle, a cup, a bowl,
etc.
[They drank] out of these noble vessels.
Chaucer.
2. A general name for any hollow structure made to float upon the water
for purposes of navigation; especially, one that is larger than a
common rowboat; as, a war vessel; a passenger vessel.
[He] began to build a vessel of huge bulk.
Milton.
3. Fig.: A person regarded as receiving or containing something; esp.
(Script.), one into whom something is conceived as poured, or in whom
something is stored for use; as, vessels of wrath or mercy.
He is a chosen vessel unto me.
Acts ix. 15.
[The serpent] fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom To enter.
Milton.
4. (Anat.) Any tube or canal in which the blood or other fluids are
contained, secreted, or circulated, as the arteries, veins, lymphatics,
etc.
5. (Bot.) A continuous tube formed from superposed large cylindrical or
prismatic cells (tracheæ), which have lost their intervening
partitions, and are usually marked with dots, pits, rings, or spirals
by internal deposition of secondary membranes; a duct.
Acoustic vessels. See under Acoustic. — Weaker vessel, a woman; — now
applied humorously. "Giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker
vessel." 1 Peter iii. 7. "You are the weaker vessel." Shak.
Ves"sel, v. t. To put into a vessel. [Obs.] Bacon.
Ves"sel*ful (?), n.; pl. Vesselfuls (&?;). As much as a vessel will
hold; enough to fill a vessel.
{ Ves"ses (?), Ves"sets (?), } n. A kind of worsted; also, a worsted
cloth. [Prov. Eng.]
{ Ves"sic*non (?), Ves"sig*non (?), } n. [F. vessigon, fr. L. vesica a
bladder, blister.] (Far.) A soft swelling on a horse's leg; a windgall.
Vest (?), n. [L. vestis a garment, vesture; akin to Goth. wasti, and E.
wear: cf. F. veste. See Wear to carry on the person, and cf. Divest,
Invest, Travesty.]
1. An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a
vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe.
In state attended by her maiden train, Who bore the vests that holy
rites require.
Dryden.