Es`cri*toire" (?), n. [OF. escritoire, F. écritoire, LL. scriptorium, fr. L. scriptorius belonging to writing, fr. sribere to write. See Script, and cf. Scrutoire.] A piece of furniture used as a writing table, commonly with drawers, pigeonholes, and the like; a secretary or writing desk.
Es`cri*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to an escritoire.
Es*crod" (?), n. See Scrod, a young cod.
{ Es*crol", Es*croll" } (?), n. [See Escrow, Scroll.] 1. A scroll. [Obs.]
2. (Her.) (a) A long strip or scroll resembling a ribbon or a band of parchment, or the like, anciently placed above the shield, and supporting the crest. (b) In modern heraldry, a similar ribbon on which the motto is inscribed.
Es"crow (?), n. [OF. escroe, escroue, a roll of writings, bond. See Scroll.] (Law) A deed, bond, or other written engagement, delivered to a third person, to be held by him till some act is done or some condition is performed, and then to be by him delivered to the grantee. Blackstone.
Es"cu*age (?; 48), n. [OF. escuage, F. écuage, from OF. escu shield, F. écu. See Esquire.] (Feud. Law) Service of the shield, a species of knight service by which a tenant was bound to follow his lord to war, at his own charge. It was afterward exchanged for a pecuniary satisfaction. Called also scutage. Blackstone.
Es`cu*la"pi*an (?), n. Æsculapian.
Es`cu*la"pi*us (?), n. Same as Æsculapius.
Es"cu*lent (?), a. [L. esculentus, fr. escare to eat, fr. esca food, fr. edere to eat: cf. F. esculent. See Eat.] Suitable to be used by man for food; eatable; edible; as, esculent plants; esculent fish.
Esculent grain for food.
Sir W. Jones.
Esculent swallow (Zoöl.), the swallow which makes the edible bird's-nest. See Edible bird's- nest, under Edible.
Es"cu*lent, n. Anything that is fit for eating; that which may be safely eaten by man.
Es*cu"lic (?), a. [From NL. Aesculus, the generic name of the horse-chestnut, fr. L. aesculus a kind of oak.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, the horse-chestnut; as, esculic acid.
Es*cu"lin (?), n. [See Esculic.] (Chem.) A glucoside obtained from the Æsculus hippocastanum, or horse-chestnut, and characterized by its fine blue fluorescent solutions. [Written also æsculin.]
Es*cu"ri*al (?), n. [Prop. Sp. escorial, i. e., a hill or heap of rubbish, earth, and stones brought out of a mine, fr. escoria dross of metal, L. scoria, fr. Gr. &?;. Cf. Scoria.] A palace and mausoleum of the kings of Spain, being a vast and wonderful structure about twenty-five miles northwest of Madrid.
The ground plan is said to be in the form of a gridiron, the structure being designed in honor of St. Lawrence, who suffered martyrdom by being broiled on a gridiron; but the resemblance is very slight. It is nearly square, inclosing several courts, and has a projecting mass which stands for the handle.
Es*cutch"eon (?), n. [OF. escusson, F. écusson, from OF. escu shield, F. écu. See Esquire, Scutcheon.] 1. (Her.) The surface, usually a shield, upon which bearings are marshaled and displayed. The surface of the escutcheon is called the field, the upper part is called the chief, and the lower part the base (see Chiff, and Field.). That side of the escutcheon which is on the right hand of the knight who bears the shield on his arm is called dexter, and the other side sinister.
The two sides of an escutcheon are respectively designated as dexter and sinister, as in the cut, and the different parts or points by the following names: A, Dexter chief point; B, Middle chief point; C, Sinister chief point; D, Honor or color point; E, Fesse or heart point; F, Nombrill or navel point; G, Dexter base point; H, Middle base point; I, base point.
2. A marking upon the back of a cow's udder and the space above it (the perineum), formed by the hair growing upward or outward instead of downward. It is esteemed an index of milking qualities. C. L. Flint.
3. (Naut.) That part of a vessel's stern on which her name is written. R. H. Dane, Jr.
4. (Carp.) A thin metal plate or shield to protect wood, or for ornament, as the shield around a keyhole.
5. (Zoöl.) The depression behind the beak of certain bivalves; the ligamental area.
Escutcheon of pretense, an escutcheon used in English heraldry to display the arms of the bearer's wife; -- not commonly used unless she an heiress. Cf. Impalement.
Es*cutch"eoned (?), a. Having an escutcheon; furnished with a coat of arms or ensign. Young.
Ese (?), n. Ease; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Es`em*plas"tic (?), a. [Gr. 'es into, to + "en one + plastiko`s molded, formed. See Plastic.] Shaped into one; tending to, or formative into, unity. [R.] Coleridge.
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Es"er*ine (?; 104), n. [From native name of the Calabar bean: cf. F. ésérine.] (Chem.) An alkaloid found in the Calabar bean, and the seed of Physostigma venenosum; physostigmine. It is used in ophthalmic surgery for its effect in contracting the pupil.
E*sex"u*al (?), a. [Pref. e- + sexual.] (Biol.) Sexless; asexual.
Es*guard" (?), n. [Cf. OF. esgart regard, F. égard. See Guard.] Guard. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
{ Es"kar (?), or Es"ker }, n. (Geol.) See Eschar.
Es"ki*mo (?), n.; pl. Eskimos (#). [Originally applied by the Algonquins to the Northern Indians, and meaning eaters of raw flesh.] (Ethnol.) One of a peculiar race inhabiting Arctic America and Greenland. In many respects the Eskimos resemble the Mongolian race. [Written also Esquimau.]
Eskimo dog (Zoöl.), one of a breed of large and powerful dogs used by the Eskimos to draw sledges. It closely resembles the gray wolf, with which it is often crossed.