4. (Naut.) A projection on each side of the shank of an anchor, to
secure the stock in place.
Check nut, Jam nut, Lock nut, a nut which is screwed up tightly against
another nut on the same bolt or screw, in order to prevent accidental
unscrewing of the first nut. -- Nut buoy. See under Buoy. -- Nut coal,
screened coal of a size smaller than stove coal and larger than pea
coal; -- called also chestnut coal. - - Nut crab (Zoöl.), any leucosoid
crab of the genus Ebalia as, Ebalia tuberosa of Europe. -- Nut grass
(Bot.), a plant of the Sedge family (Cyperus rotundus, var. Hydra),
which has slender rootstocks bearing small, nutlike tubers, by which
the plant multiplies exceedingly, especially in cotton fields. -- Nut
lock, a device, as a metal plate bent up at the corners, to prevent a
nut from becoming unscrewed, as by jarring. -- Nut pine. (Bot.) See
under Pine. -- Nut rush (Bot.), a genus of cyperaceous plants (Scleria)
having a hard bony achene. Several species are found in the United
States and many more in tropical regions. -- Nut tree, a tree that
bears nuts. -- Nut weevil (Zoöl.), any species of weevils of the genus
Balaninus and other allied genera, which in the larval state live in
nuts.
Nut, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nutted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nutting.] To
gather nuts.
Nu"tant (?), a. [L. nutans, p. pr. of nutare to nod, v. intens. fr.
nuere (in comp.) to nod; cf. Gr. &?;.] Nodding; having the top bent
downward.
Nu*ta"tion (?), n. [L. nutatio a nodding, fr. nutare to nod: cf. F.
nutation.]