CLASTIC, klas'tik, _adj._ breaking into fragments, fragmental. [Gr.
_klastos_--_klan_, to break.]
CLATCH, klach, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to daub.--_n._ mire, anything for daubing.
CLATCH, klach, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to finish carelessly, to botch.--_n._ a
piece of work spoiled or botched.
CLATCH, klach, _n._ (_Scot._) a kind of gig.
CLATHRATE, klath'r[=a]t, _adj._ latticed--also CLATH'ROID.--_adjs._
CLATH'ROSE, crossed by deep rectangular furrows; CLATH'RULATE, finely
clathrate. [L. _clath-r[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to furnish with a lattice--Gr.
_kl[=e]thra_, a lattice.]
CLATTER, klat'[.e]r, _n._ a repeated rattling noise: a repetition of
abrupt, sharp sounds: noisy talk: (_Burns_) gossip.--_v.i._ to make
rattling sounds: to rattle with the tongue: to talk fast and idly.--_v.t._
to strike so as to produce a rattling.--_adv._ CLATT'ERINGLY. [Acc. to
Skeat, _clatter_ = _clacker_, a freq. of CLACK.]
CLAUDE LORRAINE GLASS, _n._ a convex mirror, usually coloured, employed for
viewing landscape. [Named after the painter _Claude Lorraine_ (1600-82).]
CLAUDIAN, klaw'di-an, _adj._ pertaining to the Roman emperors of the
_Claudian_ gens (Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero), or their period
(14-68 A.D.).
CLAUDICATION, klaw-di-k[=a]'shun, _n._ a halting, a limp. [L.,--_claudus_,
lame.]
CLAUGHT, kläht, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to snatch.--_n._ a hold, catch. [Cf.
CLEEK.]
CLAUSE, klawz, _n._ a sentence or part of a sentence: an article or part of
a contract, will, &c.--_adj._ CLAUS'ULAR, pertaining to, or consisting of,
a clause or clauses. [Fr. _clause_--L. _clausus_--_claud[)e]re_, to shut.]
CLAUSTRAL, klaws'tral, _adj._ cloistral, secluded, pertaining to a
claustrum.--_ns._ CLAUSTR[=A]'TION, the act of shutting in a cloister;
CLAUSTROPH[=O]'BIA, a morbid dread of confined places.--_adj._
CLAUSTROPHOB'IC.
CLAUSTRUM, klaws'trum, _n._ a thin layer of gray matter in the substance of
the hemispheres of the brain:--_pl._ CLAUS'TRA. [L.]
CLAUT, klat, _n._ a kind of rake: (_Scot._) what is raked, a
rakeful.--_v.t._ to scratch, claw.--_n.pl._ CLATS, slops.--_adj._ CLAT'TY,
dirty. [Perh. conn. with CLAW.]
CLAVATE, -D, kl[=a]'v[=a]t, -ed, _adj._ (_bot._) club-shaped: gradually
thickening to the top.--_n._ CLAV[=A]'TION, articulation in a
socket.--_adjs._ CLAV'ELLATE, having club-shaped processes; CLAV'IFORM, in
the form of a club.--_n._ CLAV'IGER, a club-bearer.--_adj._ CLAVIG'EROUS,
club-bearing. [From L. _clava_, a club.]
CLAVE, kl[=a]v, _pa.t._ of CLEAVE.
CLAVECIN, klav'e-sin, _n._ a harpsichord.--_n._ CLAV'ECINIST (_Browning_),
a player on the clavecin. [Fr. _clavecin_--L. _clavis_, a key.]
CLAVER, kl[=a]'v[.e]r, _n._ idle talk, gossip.--_v.i._ to talk idly.
[Scotch; der. uncertain; cf. Gael. _clabaire_.]
CLAVICHORD, klav'i-kord, _n._ an obsolete musical instrument, of the same
form as the _Harpsichord_ and _Spinet_.--_n._ CLAV'IHARP, a harp struck
with keys like a piano. [L. _clavis_, a key, _chorda_, a string.]
CLAVICLE, klav'i-kl, _n._ an important part of the pectoral girdle of
vertebrates, best known in the collar-bone of man and in the merry-thought
of birds--also CLAVIC'ULA.--_adj._ CLAVIC'ULAR. [Fr. _clavicule_--L.
_clavicula_, dim. of _clavis_, a key.]
CLAVICORN, klav'i-korn, _adj._ having clavate antennæ.--_n._ a member of
the _Clavicornia_, a group of _Coleoptera_ or beetles. [L. _clava_, a club,
_cornu_, a horn.]
CLAVIER, kla-v[=e]r', _n._ the keyboard of a musical instrument: a stringed
instrument, esp. the pianoforte. [Fr.,--L. _clavis_, a key.]
CLAVIS, kl[)a]'vis, _n._ a key, hence a clue or aid for solving problems,
interpreting a cipher, &c.:--_pl._ CL[=A]'VES.--_n._ CLAV'IGER, one who
keeps a key, a custodian.--_adj._ CLAVIG'EROUS, keeping keys. [L., a key.]
CLAW, klaw, _n._ the hooked nail of a beast or bird: the whole foot of an
animal with hooked nails: anything like a claw: an instrument shaped like a
claw.--_v.t._ to scratch or tear as with the claws or nails: to scrape; to
seize: (_fig._) to flatter, fawn on.--_n._ CLAW'BACK, a toady,
flatterer.--_adj._ CLAWED, having claws.--_ns._ CLAW-HAMM'ER, a hammer with
one part of the head divided into two claws, with which to extract nails;
CLAW'-HAMM'ER-COAT, a facetious name for a dress-coat.--_adj._
CLAW'LESS.--CLAW ME AND I'LL CLAW THEE, favour me and I shall do you good
in return. [A.S. _clawu_; cog. with Ger. _klaue_; akin to CLEAVE, to
stick.]
CLAY, kl[=a], _n._ a tenacious ductile earth: earth in general: the human
body: short for clay-pipe, a tobacco-pipe made of baked clay.--_v.t._ to
purify with clay, as sugar.--_adjs._ CLAY'-BRAINED (_Shak._), stupid;
CLAY'-COLD, cold as clay, lifeless.--_n._ CLAY'-EAT'ER, one addicted to
chewing a fatty clay--in Brazil and elsewhere.--_adjs._ CLAYED, clay-like;
CLAY'EY, made of clay: covered with clay.--_n._ CLAY'-GROUND, ground
consisting mainly of clay.--_adj._ CLAY'ISH, of the nature of clay.--_ns._
CLAY'-MARL, a whitish chalky clay; CLAY'-MILL, a mill for preparing clay;
CLAY'-SLATE, an argillaceous rock, splitting readily into thin sheets;
CLAY'STONE, one of the concretionary nodules in alluvial deposits.--WET
ONE'S CLAY, to drink. [A.S. _clæg_; cf. Dan. _klæg_, Ger. _klei_.]
CLAYMORE, kl[=a]'m[=o]r, _n._ a large sword formerly used by the Scottish
Highlanders, the old Celtic one-handed, two-edged longsword, now applied
inaccurately to the basket-hilted sword of the officers of Highland
regiments. [Gael. _claidheamh-mor_--Gael. and Ir. _claidheamh_, sword,
_mor_, great.]
CLEAN, kl[=e]'n, _adj._ free from dirt, stain, or whatever defiles: pure:
guiltless: neat: complete.--_adv._ quite: entirely: cleverly.--_v.t._ to
make clean, or free from dirt.--_ns._ CLEAN'OR, that which cleans;
CLEAN'ING, the act of making clean.--_adj._ CLEAN'-LIMBED, having
well-proportioned limbs: smart.--_n._ CLEAN'LINESS.--_adj._ CLEAN'LY, clean
in habits or person: pure: neat.--_adv._ in a cleanly manner.--_n._
CLEAN'NESS.--_adj._ CLEAN'-TIM'BERED (_Shak._), well-proportioned.--CLEAN
BILL OF HEALTH (see BILL OF HEALTH).--HAVE CLEAN HANDS, to be free from the
guilt of wrong-doing.--MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF, to own up frankly, to
confess fully; SHOW A CLEAN PAIR OF HEELS, to escape by running.--THE CLEAN
THING, the right thing to do. [A.S. _cl['æ]ne_; W., Gael. _glan_, shine,
polish; Ger. _klein_, small.]
CLEANSE, klenz, _v.t._ to make clean or pure.--_adj._ CLEANS'ABLE.--_ns._
CLEANS'ER, one who, or that which, cleanses; CLEANS'ING, purification.
CLEAR, kl[=e]r, _adj._ pure, bright, undimmed: free from obstruction or
difficulty: plain, distinct: without blemish, defect, drawback, or
diminution: conspicuous: transparent.--_adv._ in a clear manner: plainly:
wholly: quite.--_v.t._ to make clear: to empty: to free from obscurity,
obstruction, or guilt: to free, acquit, or vindicate; to leap, or pass by
or over; to make profit: to settle a bill.--_v.i._ to become clear: to grow
free, bright, or transparent.--_ns._ CLEAR'AGE, a piece of land cleared;
CLEAR'ANCE, act of clearing: removal of hinderances: a certificate that a
ship has been cleared at the custom-house--that is, has satisfied all
demands and procured permission to sail.--_adjs._ CLEAR'-EYED,
clear-sighted, discerning; CLEAR'-HEAD'ED, having a clear understanding,
sagacious.--_ns._ CLEAR'ING, the act of making clear: a tract of land
cleared of wood, &c., for cultivation: a method by which bankers exchange
cheques and drafts, and arrange the differences; CLEAR'ING-HOUSE, a place
in London where such clearing business is done; CLEAR'ING-NUT, the seed of
_Strychnos potatorum_, used in the East Indies for clearing muddy
water.--_adv._ CLEAR'LY, in a clear manner: distinctly.--_ns._ CLEAR'NESS;
CLEAR'-OBSCURE' (see CHIAROSCURO).--_adj._ CLEAR'-SIGHT'ED, having
clearness of sight: discerning.--_ns._ CLEAR'-SIGHT'EDNESS;
CLEAR'-STARCH'ER, a laundress; CLEAR'-STARCH'ING, the act of stiffening
linen with clear starch; CLEAR-STORY (see CLERESTORY).--CLEAR OUT, to be
off; CLEAR THE WAY, to make the way open; CLEAR UP, to become clear. [Fr.
_clair_--L. _clarus_, clear.]
[Illustration]
CLEAT, kl[=e]t, _n._ a wedge: a piece of wood nailed across anything to
keep it in its place or give it an additional strength: a piece of wood
fastened on parts of a ship, and having holes or recesses for fastening
ropes.--_v.t._ to strengthen with a cleat. [From a supposed A.S. _cléat_;
cf. Dut. _kloot_; Dan. _klode_; Ger. _kloss_.]
CLEAVE, kl[=e]v, _v.t._ to divide, to split: to separate with violence: to
go through: to pierce.--_v.i._ to part asunder: to crack:--_pr.p._
cleav'ing; _pa.t._ cl[=o]ve or cleft; _pa.p._ clov'en or cleft.--_adj._
CLEAV'ABLE, capable of being cleft.--_ns._ CLEAV'AGE, a condition of rocks
in which they split easily into thin plates; CLEAV'ER, one who or that
which cleaves: a butcher's chopper; CLEAV'ERS, CLIV'ERS,
goose-grass--_Galium aperine_, diuretic and sudorific.--_adj._ CLEAV'ING,
splitting. [A.S. _cleófan_; cog. with Ger. _klieben_.]
CLEAVE, kl[=e]v, _v.i._ to stick or adhere: to unite:--_pr.p._ cleav'ing;
_pa.t._ cleaved or cl[=a]ve; _pa.p._ cleaved.--_n._ CLEAV'ING, the act of
adhering. [A.S. _clifian_; cog. with Ger. _kleben_, Dut. _kleven_.]
CLECHÉ, klesh'[=a], _adj._ (_her._) voided or hollowed throughout, as a
cross showing only a narrow bolder. [Fr.]
CLECK, klek, _v.t._ to hatch.--_n._ CLECK'ING, a brood. [Scot.,--Ice.
_klekja_; cf. Dan. _klække_, to hatch.]
CLEDDYO, kled'y[=o], _n._ an antique leaf-shaped bronze Celtic sword. [W.
_cleddeu_, _cleddyf_; L. _gladius_.]
CLEEK, kl[=e]k, _n._ a large hook for catching hold of something, used in
fishing, &c.: an iron-headed golf-club: a peg.--_v.t._ to seize, snatch.
[M. E. _kleken_; perh. related to CLUTCH.]
CLEF, klef, _n._ a musical character placed on the staff by which the
absolute pitch of the notes is fixed. [Fr., from L. _clavis_; Gr. _kleis_,
a key.]
CLEFT, kleft, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of CLEAVE.
CLEFT, kleft, _n._ an opening made by cleaving or splitting: a crack,
fissure, or chink.--Also CLIFT (_B._). [Cf. Ger. _kluft_, Dan. _klyft_, a
hole.]
CLEFT-PALATE. See PALATE.