Man"tel (?), n. [The same word as mantle a garment; cf. F. manteau de
cheminée. See Mantle.] (Arch.) The finish around a fireplace, covering
the chimney-breast in front and sometimes on both sides; especially, a
shelf above the fireplace, and its supports. [Written also mantle.]
Man"tel*et (?), n. [F., dim. of manteau, OF. mantel. See Mantle.] 1.
(a) A short cloak formerly worn by knights. (b) A short cloak or mantle
worn by women.
A mantelet upon his shoulders hanging.
Chaucer.
2. (Fort.) A musket-proof shield of rope, wood, or metal, which is
sometimes used for the protection of sappers or riflemen while
attacking a fortress, or of gunners at embrasures; -- now commonly
written mantlet.
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Man"tel*piece` (?), n. Same as Mantel.
Man"tel*shelf` (?), n. The shelf of a mantel.
Man"tel*tree` (?), n. (Arch.) The lintel of a fireplace when of wood,
as frequently in early houses.
Man"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; prophetic.] Of or pertaining to divination, or
to the condition of one inspired, or supposed to be inspired, by a
deity; prophetic. [R.] "Mantic fury." Trench.
Man*til"la (?), n. [Sp. See Mantle.] 1. A lady's light cloak of cape of
silk, velvet, lace, or the like.
2. A kind of veil, covering the head and falling down upon the
shoulders; -- worn in Spain, Mexico, etc.
||Man"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a prophet.] (Zoöl.) Any one of
||numerous species of voracious orthopterous insects of the genus
||Mantis, and allied genera. They are remarkable for their slender
||grotesque forms, and for holding their stout anterior legs in a
||manner suggesting hands folded in prayer. The common American species
||is M. Carolina.
Mantis shrimp. (Zoöl.) See Sguilla.
Man*tis"pid (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any neuropterous insect of the genus
Mantispa, and allied genera. The larvæ feed on plant lice. Also used
adjectively. See Illust. under Neuroptera.
Man*tis*sa (?), n. [L., an addition, makeweight; of Tuscan origin.]
(Math.) The decimal part of a logarithm, as distinguished from the
integral part, or characteristic.
Man"tle (?), n. [OE. mantel, OF. mantel, F. manteau, fr. L. mantellum,
mantelum, a cloth, napkin, cloak, mantle (cf. mantele, mantile, towel,
napkin); prob. from manus hand + the root of tela cloth. See Manual,
Textile, and cf. Mandil, Mantel, Mantilla.]
1. A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an enveloping robe;
a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering or concealing envelope.
[The] children are clothed with mantles of satin.
Bacon.
The green mantle of the standing pool.
Shak.
Now Nature hangs her mantle green On every blooming tree.
Burns.