LINCH, linsh, _n._ a ridge of land, a boundary, a cliff.--_n._ LINCH'ET, a
terrace seen on the slopes of the chalk, oolitic, and liassic escarpments
in Bedfordshire, Somerset, &c. [A.S. _hlinc_, a ridge of land.]
LINCHPIN, linsh'pin, _n._ a pin used to keep the wheel of a carriage on the
axle-tree. [Properly _linspin_, 'axle-pin'--obs. _linse_, axle, and _pin_.]
LINCOLN-GREEN, lingk'un-gr[=e]n, _n._ the colour of cloth made formerly at
_Lincoln_: the cloth itself.
LINCTURE, lingk't[=u]r, _n._ medicine to be sucked up.--Also LINC'TUS. [L.
_ling[)e]re_, _linctum_, to lick.]
LINDEN, lin'den, _n._ the lime-tree. [A.S. _linden_--_lind_; cf. Ice.
_lind_, Ger. _linde_.]
LINE, l[=i]n, _v.t._ to cover on the inside: to pad: to impregnate:
(_Shak._) to aid.--_n._ LIN'ING. [M. E. _linen_, to cover, perh. orig. with
linen--obs. _line_, linen--A.S. _lín_--L. _linum_.]
LINE, l[=i]n, _n._ a thread of linen or flax: a slender cord: (_math._)
that which has length without breadth or thickness: an extended stroke: a
straight row: a cord extended to direct any operations: outline: a series
or succession, as of progeny: a series of steamers, &c., plying
continuously between places: a railroad: a telegraph wire between stations:
an order given to an agent for goods, such goods received, the stock on
hand of any particular goods: a mark or lineament, hence a characteristic:
a rank: a verse: a short letter or note: a trench: limit: method: the
equator: lineage: direction: occupation: the regular infantry of an army:
the twelfth part of an inch: (_pl._) marriage-lines, a marriage
certificate: a certificate of church membership: military works of
defence.--_v.t._ to mark out with lines: to cover with lines: to place
along by the side of for guarding: to give out for public singing, as a
hymn, line by line: (_rare_) to delineate, paint: to measure.--_n._
LIN'E[=A]GE, descendants in a line from a common progenitor: race:
family.--_adj._ LIN'EAL, of or belonging to a line: composed of lines: in
the direction of a line: descended in a direct line from an ancestor.--_n._
LINEAL'ITY.--_adv._ LIN'EALLY.--_n._ LIN'EAMENT, feature: distinguishing
mark in the form, esp. of the face.--_adj._ LIN'EAR, of or belonging to a
line: consisting of, or having the form of, lines: straight.--_adv._
LIN'EARLY.--_adjs._ LIN'E[=A]TE, -D, marked longitudinally with depressed
lines.--_ns._ LINE'[=A]TION (same as DELINEATION); LINE'-ENGRAV'ING, the
process of engraving in lines, steel or copperplate engraving.--_n.pl._
LINE'-FISH, those taken with the line, as cod, halibut, &c.--_adj._
LIN'EOLATE, marked with fine or obscure lines.--_ns._ LIN'ER, a vessel
belonging to a regular line or series of packets; LINES'MAN (_mil._), a
private in the line; LINE'-STORM, an equinoctial storm.--LINEAR
PERSPECTIVE, that part of perspective which regards only the positions,
magnitudes, and forms of the objects delineated.--EQUINOCTIAL LINE, the
celestial equator: the terrestrial equator; FRAUNHOFER'S LINES, the dark
lines observed crossing the sun's spectrum at right angles to its
length--from the Bavarian optician, Joseph von _Fraunhofer_ (1787-1826);
GIVE LINE, from angling, to allow a person apparent freedom, so as to gain
him at last; SHIP OF THE LINE (see SHIP). [A.S. _líne_--L.
_linea_--_linum_, flax.]
LINEN, lin'en, _n._ cloth made of lint or flax: underclothing, particularly
that made of linen: articles of linen, or of linen and cotton--table-linen,
bed-linen, body-linen.--_adj._ made of flax: resembling linen cloth.--_n._
LIN'EN-DRAP'ER, a merchant who deals in linens. [Properly an adj. with
suffix _-en_--A.S. _lín_--L. _linum_, flax; Gr. _linon_.]
LING, ling, _n._ a fish resembling the cod, so called from its lengthened
form. [A.S. _lang_, long.]