Hot bed (Iron Manuf.), an iron platform in a rolling mill, on which hot
bars, rails, etc., are laid to cool. -- Hot wall (Gardening), a wall
provided with flues for the conducting of heat, to hasten the growth of
fruit trees or the ripening of fruit. -- Hot well (Condensing Engines),
a receptacle for the hot water drawn from the condenser by the air
pump. This water is returned to the boiler, being drawn from the hot
well by the feed pump. -- In hot water (Fig.), in trouble; in
difficulties. [Colloq.]
Syn. -- Burning; fiery; fervid; glowing; eager; animated; brisk;
vehement; precipitate; violent; furious; ardent; fervent; impetuous;
irascible; passionate; hasty; excitable.
Hot"bed` (?), n. 1. (Gardening) A bed of earth heated by fermenting
manure or other substances, and covered with glass, intended for
raising early plants, or for nourishing exotics.
2. A place which favors rapid growth or development; as, a hotbed of
sedition.
Hot" blast` (?). See under Blast.
Hot"-blood`ed (?), a. Having hot blood; excitable; high-spirited;
irritable; ardent; passionate.
Hot"-brained` (?), a. Ardent in temper; violent; rash; impetuous; as,
hot-brained youth. Dryden.
{ Hotch"pot` (?), Hotch"potch` (?), } n. [F. hochepot, fr. hocher to
shake + pot pot; both of Dutch or German origin; cf. OD. hutspot
hotchpotch, D. hotsen, hutsen, to shake. See Hustle, and Pot, and cf.
Hodgepodge.] 1. A mingled mass; a confused mixture; a stew of various
ingredients; a hodgepodge.
A mixture or hotchpotch of many tastes.
Bacon.
2. (Law) A blending of property for equality of division, as when lands
given in frank-marriage to one daughter were, after the death of the
ancestor, blended with the lands descending to her and to her sisters
from the same ancestor, and then divided in equal portions among all
the daughters. In modern usage, a mixing together, or throwing into a
common mass or stock, of the estate left by a person deceased and the
amounts advanced to any particular child or children, for the purpose
of a more equal division, or of equalizing the shares of all the
children; the property advanced being accounted for at its value when
given. Bouvier. Tomlins.
This term has been applied in cases of salvage. Story. It corresponds
in a measure with collation in the civil and Scotch law. See Collation.
Bouvier. Tomlins.
Hot"coc`kles (?), n. [Hot + cockle, cockle being perh. corrupt. fr.
knuckle. Cf. F. main chaude (lit., hot hand) hotcockles.] A childish
play, in which one covers his eyes, and guesses who strikes him or his
hand placed behind him.
Hote (?), v. t. & i. [pres. & imp. Hatte (?), Hot (&?;), etc.; p. p.
Hote, Hoten (&?;), Hot, etc. See Hight, Hete.] 1. To command; to
enjoin. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.