Set hammer. (a) A hammer the head of which is not tightly fastened upon
the handle, but may be reversed. Knight. (b) A hammer with a concave
face which forms a die for shaping anything, as the end of a bolt,
rivet, etc. -- Set line, a line to which a number of baited hooks are
attached, and which, supported by floats and properly secured, may be
left unguarded during the absence of the fisherman. -- Set nut, a jam
nut or lock nut. See under Nut. -- Set screw (Mach.), a screw,
sometimes cupped or printed at one end, and screwed through one part,
as of a machine, tightly upon another part, to prevent the one from
slipping upon the other. -- Set speech, a speech carefully prepared
before it is delivered in public; a formal or methodical speech.
Set, n. 1. The act of setting, as of the sun or other heavenly body;
descent; hence, the close; termination. "Locking at the set of day."
Tennyson.
The weary sun hath made a golden set.
Shak.
2. That which is set, placed, or fixed. Specifically: -- (a) A young
plant for growth; as, a set of white thorn. (b) That which is staked; a
wager; a venture; a stake; hence, a game at venture. [Obs. or R.]
We will in France, by God's grace, play a set Shall strike his
father's crown into the hazard.
Shak.
That was but civil war, an equal set.
Dryden.
(c) (Mech.) Permanent change of figure in consequence of excessive
strain, as from compression, tension, bending, twisting, etc.; as, the
set of a spring.
(d) A kind of punch used for bending, indenting, or giving shape to,
metal; as, a saw set.
(e) (Pile Driving) A piece placed temporarily upon the head of a pile
when the latter cannot be reached by the weight, or hammer, except by
means of such an intervening piece. [Often incorrectly written sett.]
(f) (Carp.) A short steel spike used for driving the head of a nail
below the surface.
3. [Perhaps due to confusion with sect, sept.] A number of things of
the same kind, ordinarily used or classed together; a collection of
articles which naturally complement each other, and usually go
together; an assortment; a suit; as, a set of chairs, of china, of
surgical or mathematical instruments, of books, etc. [In this sense,
sometimes incorrectly written sett.]
4. A number of persons associated by custom, office, common opinion,
quality, or the like; a division; a group; a clique. "Others of our
set." Tennyson.
This falls into different divisions, or sets, of nations connected
under particular religions.
R. P. Ward.