COUVADE, k[=oo]-väd', _n._ a custom among savages in many parts of the
world for the father to take to his bed at the birth of a child, and submit
to certain restrictions of food, &c. [Erroneously attributed to the
Basques; the O. Fr. _couvade_, from _couver_, to hatch, never having had
this special meaning.]
COVE, k[=o]v, _n._ a small inlet of the sea: a bay: a cavern or rocky
recess: (_archit._) a concave arch or vault.--_v.t._ to overarch, and thus
form a hollow.--_adj._ COVED, formed with an arch.--_n._ COVE'LET, a small
cove. [A.S. _cófa_, a room; Ice. _kofi_, Ger. _koben_.]
COVE, k[=o]v, _n._ (_slang_) a fellow, a customer:--_fem._ COV'ESS--_dim._
COV'EY. [Prob. conn. with CHAP.]
COVEN, k[=o]v'en, _n._ a muster of witches.--_n._ COV'ENTREE, a point of
muster before a Scottish mansion.
COVENANT, kuv'e-nant, _n._ a mutual agreement: the writing containing the
agreement: an engagement entered into between God and a person or a
people--the _Old Covenant_, the Jewish dispensation; the _New Covenant_,
the new relation to God opened up by Jesus Christ.--_v.i._ to enter into an
agreement: to contract or bargain.--_n._ COV'ENANT-BREAK'ER, one who
violates a covenant.--_adj._ COV'ENANTED, holding a position under a
covenant or contract.--_ns._ COVENANTEE', the person to whom a covenant is
made; COV'ENANTER (usually in Scot. COVENANT'ER), one who signed or adhered
to the _Scottish National Covenant_ of 1638--the _Solemn League and
Covenant_ of 1643 was in effect an international treaty between Scotland
and England for securing civil and religious liberty; COV'ENANTOR, that
party to a covenant who subjects himself to the penalty of its
breach.--COVENANT OF GRACE, REDEMPTION, that by which life is freely
offered to sinners on condition of faith in Christ; COVENANT OF WORKS, that
made with Adam as federal representative of the human race on condition of
obedience. [O. Fr.,--L. _con_, together, and _ven[=i]re_, to come.]
COVENT, kov'ent, _n._ (_Shak._) a convent.
COVENTRY, kuv'ent-ri, _n._--in phrase, TO SEND TO COVENTRY = to shut a man
out of any special society.
COVER, kuv'[.e]r, _v.t._ to hide: to clothe: to extend over: to brood or
sit on: to be sufficient for: to protect: to table a coin of equal value in
wagering: to copulate with--esp. of a stallion: to screen: to aim directly
at.--_v.i._ to spread over so as to conceal something: to lay a table for a
meal: to put one's hat on.--_n._ that which protects: undergrowth, thicket,
concealing game, &c.: the table requisites for one person--plate, knife,
fork, napkin, &c.: deceitfulness: a swindler's confederate.--_adj._
COV'ERED, intended or used for shelter or concealment: roofed over: with
the hat on.--_ns._ COVER'ED-WAY; COV'ERT-WAY (_fort._), a path about thirty
feet wide outside the ditch of a fort, and so far sunk below the crest of
the glacis as to afford cover or shelter to the soldiers; COVER'ING,
anything that covers.--_adj._ COV'ERT, covered: concealed: secret.--_n._ a
place that covers or affords protection.--_ns._ COV'ERT-COAT, a short light
overcoat; COV'ERT-COAT'ING, cloth for such.--_adv._ COV'ERTLY, in a covered
or concealed manner.--_n._ COV'ERTURE, covering, shelter: (_law_) the
condition of a married woman as legally under the protection of her
husband.--COVER INTO, to transfer into; COVER SHORTS, to buy in such stocks
as have been sold short, in order to meet one's engagements, &c.; COVER THE
BUCKLE, to execute a difficult step in dancing. [Fr. _couvrir_ (It.
_coprire_)--L. _co-oper[=i]re_--_con_, and _oper[=i]re_, to cover.]
COVERLET, kuv'[.e]r-let, _n._ a bedcover.--Also COV'ERLID. [Fr.
_couvrelit_, _couvre_, _lit_--L. _lectum_, a bed.]
COVET, kuv'et, _v.t._ to desire or wish for eagerly: to wish for what is
unlawful.--_v.i._ to desire (with _for_).--_adjs._ COV'ETABLE;
COV'ETED.--_adv._ COV'ETINGLY.--_ns._ COV'ETISE (_obs._), covetousness:
ardent desire; COV'ETIVENESS (_obs._), acquisitiveness.--_adj._ COV'ETOUS,
inordinately desirous: avaricious.--_adv._ COV'ETOUSLY.--_n._
COV'ETOUSNESS. [O. Fr. _coveiter_ (Fr. _convoiter_)--L.
_cupiditat-em_--_cup[)e]re_, to desire.]
COVEY, kuv'i, _n._ a brood or hatch of partridges: a small flock of
birds--said of game: a party, a set. [O. Fr. _covée_--L. _cub[=a]re_, to
lie down.]
COVIN, kuv'in, _n._ a compact: a conspiracy.--_adjs._ COV'INOUS, COV'ENOUS,
deceitful. [O. Fr. _covin_--Late L. _convenium_--L. _convena_, a
meeting--_con_, together, _ven[=i]re_, to come.]
COVING, k[=o]'ving, _n._ the projection of upper stories over lower: the
vertical sides connecting the jambs with the breast of a fireplace. [See
COVE.]
COW, kow, _n._ the female of the bovine animals: the female of certain
other animals, as the elephant, &c.--older plurals, _Kine_ and _Kye_, the
latter now only Scotch.--_ns._ COW'-BANE, the water-hemlock, often
destructive to cattle; COW'-BERR'Y, the red whortleberry; COW'-BIRD,
-BUNT'ING, an American starling which accompanies cattle, and drops its
eggs into other birds' nests; COW'-BOY, a boy who has the care of cows:
(_U.S._) a man who has the charge of cattle on a ranch; COW'-CALF, a female
calf; COW'-CATCH'ER (_U.S._), an apparatus on the front of railway engines
to throw off obstacles; COW'-CHER'VIL, -PARS'LEY, -WEED, an umbelliferous
European plant of the hedges and woods; COW'FEEDER, a dairyman, cowherd;
COW'-GRASS, the zigzag clover: a variety of red clover; COW'-HEEL, an
ox-foot stewed to a jelly; COW'HERD, one who herds cows; COW'HIDE, the hide
of a cow: the hide of a cow made into leather: a coarse whip made of
twisted strips of cowhide.--_v.t._ to whip with a cowhide.--_n._
COW'-HOUSE, a place in which cows are stalled, a byre.--_adj._ COW'ISH,
like a cow: (_Shak._) cowardly.--_ns._ COW'-LEECH, a cow-doctor; COW'LICK,
a tuft of turned-up hair on the forehead; COW'-PARS'NIP, an umbelliferous
plant, used as food for hogs and cattle; COW'-PLANT, a perennial plant of
Ceylon, with a milky juice; COW'-POX, a disease which appears in pimples on
the teats of the cow, the matter thereof used for vaccination; COW'-TREE, a
South American tree that produces a nourishing fluid resembling milk;
COW'-WHEAT, a genus of annual plants, with yellow flowers and seeds
somewhat like grains of wheat. [A.S. _cú_, pl. _cý_; Ger. _kuh_; Sans.
_go_.]
COW, kow, _v.t._ to subdue: keep under: to dishearten.--_adjs._ COWED,
depressed; COW'ISH (_Shak._), easily cowed, timorous: mean. [Perh. from
Ice. _kúga_; Dan. _kue_, to subdue.]
COWAN, kow'an, _n._ (_Scot._) a mason who never served an apprenticeship:
one who tries to enter a mason's lodge, or the like, surreptitiously.
COWARD, kow'ard, _n._ a faint-hearted person: one without courage.--_v.t._
to intimidate.--_adjs._ COW'ARD, COW'ARDLY, afraid of danger: timid:
mean.--_ns._ COW'ARDICE, want of courage: timidity.--COW'ARDREE (_Spens._);
COW'ARDLINESS.--_adv._ COW'ARDLY.--_n._ COW'ARDSHIP (_Shak._), the quality
of being a coward. [O. Fr. _couard_ (It. _codardo_)--L. _cauda_, a tail.]
COWDIE-GUM, -PINE; COWRIE-PINE. See KAURI.
COWER, kow'er, _v.i._ to sink down through fear, &c.: to crouch, for
protection or in fear.--_adv._ COW'ERINGLY. [Cf. Ice. _kúra_, Dan. _kure_,
to lie quiet.]
COWHAGE, kow'[=a]j, _n._ the hairs of the pods of a tropical climbing plant
of the bean family, administered as a mechanical vermifuge, the pods
themselves or the plant. [Hind. _kaw[=a]nch_, _ko[=a]nch_.]
COWL, kowl, _n._ a cap or hood: a monk's hood: the badge of monkhood: a
monk: a cover for a chimney.--_v.t._ to make a monk of: to cover like a
cowl.--_adj._ COWLED, wearing a cowl. [A.S. _cufle_; Ice. _cofl_; akin to
L. _cucullus_, hood.]
COWL-STAFF, kowl'-staf, _n._ (_Shak._) a staff or pole on which a basket or
vessel is supported between two persons. [O. Fr. _cuvele_--L. _cupella_,
dim. of _cupa_, a cask, and staff.]
COWRIE, COWRY, kow'ri, _n._ a large genus of Gasteropods, including over a
hundred species, some of which are familiar as decorative objects, and as a
medium of exchange with uncivilised peoples. [Hindi _kaur[=i]_.]
COWSLIP, kow'slip, _n._ a beautiful and fragrant species of primrose,
common in English pastures.--_adj._ COW'SLIP'D, covered with cowslips.
[A.S. _cú_, cow, _slyppe_, perh. cow-dung.]
COXCOMB, koks'k[=o]m, _n._ a strip of red cloth notched like a cock's comb,
which professional fools used to wear: a fool: a fop.--_adjs._
COXCOM'BICAL, COXCOM'ICAL, foppish: vain.--_n._ COXCOMBICAL'ITY.--_adv._
COXCOM'BICALLY.--_n._ COX'COMBRY, the manner of a coxcomb. [COCKSCOMB.]
COXINESS, koks'i-nes, _n._ state of being cocksy, bumptiousness.
COXSWAIN, COCKSWAIN, kok'sw[=a]n, or kok'sn, _n._ a seaman who steers a
boat, and under the superior officer takes charge of it. [COCK, a boat, and
SWAIN.]
COY, koy, _adj._ modest: bashful: shy.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) to caress:
(_Shak._) to disdain.--_adj._ COY'ISH, somewhat coy.--_adv._
COY'ISHLY.--_n._ COY'ISHNESS.--_adv._ COY'LY.--_n._ COY'NESS. [Fr.
_coi_--L. _quietus_, quiet.]
COYOTE, ko-y[=o]t'e, _n._ a prairie wolf, abundant in Mexico and Texas.
[Mex. _coyotl_.]
COYPU, koi'p[=oo], _n._ a large rodent in the porcupine section of the
order, common in South America--living in burrows near water, feeding on
aquatic plants. [Native name.]
COYSTREL, COYSTRIL. Same as COISTRIL.
COZ, kuz, _n._ a contraction of COUSIN.
COZE, k[=o]z, _n._ (_Jane Austen_) a cosy chat.
COZEN, kuz'n, _v.t._ to flatter: to cheat.--_ns._ COZ'ENAGE, the practice
of cheating: deceit; COZ'ENER. [Perh. from Fr. _cousiner_, to claim kindred
for one's own advantage, play the parasite--_cousin_, a cousin.]
COZIER, COSIER, k[=o]'zi-[.e]r, _n._ a cobbler. [O. Fr. _cousere_--L.
_consu[)e]re_, to sew together.]
COZY. See COSY.
CRAB, krab, _n._ a popular name applied to any of the short-tailed division
of decapod crustaceans: a sign in the zodiac: a portable winch: a
sour-tempered person: the lowest throw at hazard--two aces.--_adj._
CRABB'ED, ill-natured: harsh: rough: difficult, perplexing.--_adv._
CRABB'EDLY.--_n._ CRABB'EDNESS.--_adj._ CRAB'-FACED, having a sour, peevish
countenance.--_n._ CRAB'ITE, a fossil crab or crayfish.--_adj._ CRAB'-LIKE,
moving like a crab.--_n._ CRAB'-LOUSE, a crab-shaped louse infesting the
hair of the pubis, &c.--_n.pl._ CRAB'S'-EYES, the scarlet seeds of an East
Indian bead-tree: a concretion of carbonate of lime in the stomach of the
cray-fish.--_v.i._ CRAB'-S[=I]'DLE, to go sideways like a crab.--_n.pl._
CRAB'-YAWS, a name applied to the tumours of framboesia on the soles and
palms.--CATCH A CRAB, in rowing, to sink the oar too deeply in the water:
to miss the water altogether in making the stroke. [A.S. _crabba_; Ger.
_krabbe_.]
CRAB, krab, CRAB-APPLE, krab'-ap-l, _n._ a wild bitter apple.--_ns._
CRAB'-STICK, a stick made out of the crab-tree; CRAB'-TREE, the tree that
bears crab-apples.--_adj._ like a crab-tree, crooked. [Perh. conn. with
CRABBED.]
CRAB-OIL, CRAB-WOOD. See CARAPA.
CRABRO, kr[=a]'br[=o], _n._ the typical genus of _Crabronidæ_, a family of
fossorial hymenopters: a hornet. [L.]
CRACK, krak, _v.i._ to utter a sharp sudden sound: to split: to boast: to
chat.--_v.t._ to produce a sudden noise: to break into chinks: to split: to
break partially or wholly: to open (a bottle).--_n._ a sudden sharp
splitting sound: a chink: a flaw: a blow, a smack: friendly chat: (_slang_)
housebreaking: a craze: one who has a craze: a pert boy.--_adj._ (_coll._)
excellent.--_n._ CRACK'-BRAIN, a crazy person.--_adjs._ CRACK'-BRAINED;
CRACKED, rent: damaged: crazy.--_ns._ CRACK'ER, one who or that which
cracks: a boaster, a lie: the pin-tail duck: (_U.S._) a thin crisp biscuit:
a bonbon, or a small firework, exploding when pulled asunder: (_U.S._) a
poor white; CRACK'-HALT'ER, CRACK'-HEMP (_Shak._), CRACK'-ROPE, one likely
to be hanged.--_adj._ CRACK'-JAW, of a word, hard to pronounce.--_ns._
CRACKS'MAN, a burglar; CRACK'-TRYST, one who breaks an engagement.--CRACK
CREDIT, to destroy one's credit; CRACK TRYST, to break an engagement; CRACK
UP, to praise. [A.S. _cracian_, to crack; cf. Dut. _kraken_, Gael. _crac_.]
CRACK, krak, _n._ (_Scot._) a moment, an instant.
CRACKLE, krak'l, _v.i._ to give out slight but frequent cracks.--_n._ the
giving out of slight cracks.--_ns._ CRACK'LIN, a kind of china-ware,
purposely cracked in the kiln as an ornament; CRACK'LING, the rind of roast
pork: (_pl._) skinny parts of suet without tallow: three stripes of velvet
worn on the sleeves of students at St John's College, Cambridge.--_adj._
CRACK'LY, brittle.--_n._ CRACK'NEL, a light, brittle biscuit: (_pl._)
pieces of fat pork fried crisp.
CRACOVIAN, kra-k[=o]'vi-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Cracow_.--_ns._
CRACOVIENNE', a graceful Polish dance, resembling the mazourka: the music
for such; CRAC'OWE, a long-toed boot fashionable under Richard II.
CRADLE, kr[=a]'dl, _n._ a bed or crib in which children are rocked:
(_fig._) infancy: the place where one is born and brought up: a frame in
which anything is imbedded: a case for a broken limb: a frame under a ship
for launching it: a box on rockers for washing auriferous dirt.--_v.t._ to
lay or rock in a cradle: to nurture.--_adj._ CR[=A]'DLED, laid in a
cradle.--_ns._ CR[=A]'DLE-SCYTHE, a broad scythe used in a cradle for
cutting grain; CR[=A]'DLE-WALK, an avenue arched over with trees;
CR[=A]'DLING.--FROM THE CRADLE, from birth, from the first. [A.S. _cradol_;
ety. obscure.]
CRAFT, kraft, _n._ cunning: artifice: dexterity: art: trade: occupation:
small ships.--_v.i._ to exercise one's craft (_Shak._, _Cor._, IV. vi.
118).--_adv._ CRAFT'ILY.--_n._ CRAFT'INESS.--_adj._ CRAFT'LESS, free from
craft.--_ns._ CRAFTS'MAN, one engaged in a craft; CRAFTS'MANSHIP,
CRAFT'MANSHIP; CRAFTS'MASTER, one skilled in a craft.--_adj._ CRAFT'Y,
having skill: cunning: deceitful. [A.S. _cræft_; Ger. _kraft_, power.]
CRAG, krag, _n._ a rough steep rock or point: (_geol._) a bed of gravel
mixed with shells.--_adjs._ CRAG'GED, CRAG'GY, full of crags or broken
rocks: rough: rugged.--_ns._ CRAG'GEDNESS, CRAG'GINESS; CRAGS'MAN, one
skilled in climbing rocks. [W. _craig_, a rock, _car-eg_, a stone; Gael.
_creag_, _carraig_.]
CRAG, CRAGGE, krag, _n._ the neck.--Scotch forms, CRAIG, CRAIG'IE. [Cf.
Dut. _kraag_, Ger. _kragen_, the neck.]
CRAKE, kr[=a]k, _v.i._ to utter a cry like a crow, &c.--_n._ CRAKE'-BERR'Y,
the crow-berry.
CRAKE, kr[=a]k, _n._ a crow, raven, corncrake: (_obs._) a boast. [See
CORNCRAKE.]
CRAM, kram, _v.t._ to press close: to stuff: to fill to superfluity:
(_slang_) to make believe false or exaggerated tales: to teach for a
special examination, only giving instruction useful for passing that
examination.--_v.i._ to eat greedily: to get up a subject by cram:--_pr.p._
cram'ming; _pa.p._ crammed.--_n._ a crush: (_slang_) a lie: information
that has been crammed: the system of cramming.--_adjs._ CRAM'-FULL;
CRAM'MABLE; CRAMMED.--_n._ CRAM'MER, one who prepares students for
examination by cramming them. [A.S. _crammian_; Ice. _kremja_, to squeeze;
Dan. _kramme_, to crumple.]
CRAMBO, kram'bo, _n._ a game in which one gives a word to which another
finds a rhyme: rime.--_ns._ CRAM'BOCLINK, -JINGLE, riming. [Prob. from L.
_crambe repetita_, cabbage served up again.]
CRAMBUS, kram'bus, _n._ a genus of pyralid moths, the veneers or
grass-moths--family _Crambidæ_, subfamily _Crambinæ_. [Gr. _krambos_, dry.]
CRAME, kr[=a]m, _n._ (_Scot._) a booth for selling goods.
CRAMOISY, kram'oiz-i, CRAMESY, kram'ez-i, _adj._ and _n._ crimson. [See
CRIMSON.]
CRAMP, kramp, _n._ an involuntary and painful contraction of a voluntary
muscle or group of muscles: restraint: a piece of iron bent at the ends,
for holding together wood, stone, &c.: a tool used by carpenters and
others, having a movable part which can be screwed tight so as to press
things together.--_adj._ hard to make out (used of handwriting): cramped:
narrow.--_v.t._ to affect with spasms: to confine: to hinder: to fasten
with a cramp-iron.--_ns._ CRAMP'BARK, the popular American name of the
medicinal _Viburnum Oxycoccus_; CRAMP'-BONE, the patella of the sheep, an
old charm for cramp; CRAMP'-FISH, the electric ray or torpedo;
CRAMP'-[=I]'RON, a piece of metal bent at both ends for binding things
together; CRAMP'ON, a grappling-iron: a pointed plate for the foot in
hill-climbing; CRAMP'-RING, a ring formerly blessed by the sovereign on
Good-Friday against cramp and the falling sickness.--_adj._ CRAMP'Y,
affected or diseased with cramp: producing cramp.--BATHER'S CRAMP, the
popular name for paralysis attacking a person while bathing; WRITER'S
CRAMP, or _Scrivener's palsy_, a common disease affecting those in the
habit of constant writing, the muscles refusing to obey only on attempting
to write. [O. Fr. _crampe_; cf. Dut. _kramp_, Ger. _krampf_.]
CRAN, kran, _n._ a measure of capacity in Scotland for herrings when just
taken out of the net. It amounts to 37½ imperial gallons, and comprises
about 750 herrings on an average.--COUP THE CRAN (_Scot._), to be upset.
[Prob. from Gael. _crann_, a measure.]
CRANBERRY, kran'ber-i, _n._ a genus of small evergreen shrubs growing in
peaty bogs and marshy grounds: the berry much used for tarts. [For
_crane-berry_; a late word; origin obscure; cf. Ger. _kranbeere_ or
_kranich-beere_.]
CRANCH. Same as CRAUNCH.
CRANE, kr[=a]n, _n._ a large wading bird, with long legs, neck, and bill: a
bent pipe for drawing liquor out of a cask: a machine for raising heavy
weights--both named from their likeness to the bird.--_v.t._ to raise with
a crane.--_v.i._ to stretch out the neck: to pull up before a jump.--_ns._
CRAN'AGE, the use of a crane: the price paid for the use of it; CRANE'-FLY,
a genus of dipterous insects, nearly allied to the gnats, with very long
legs.--_adj._ CRANE'-NECKED.--_n._ CRANE'S'-BILL, the Geranium, from a
lengthened appendage of the seed-vessel. [A.S. _cran_; Ger. _kranich_, W.
_garan_.]
CRANE. Same as CRANIUM.
CRANIUM, kr[=a]'ni-um, _n._ the skull: the bones enclosing the
brain.--_adj._ CR[=A]'NIAL, pertaining to the cranium.--_n._ CRANIOG'NOMY,
cranial physiognomy.--_adj._ CRANIOLOG'ICAL.--_ns._ CRANIOL'OGIST, one
skilled in craniology; CRANIOL'OGY, the study of skulls: phrenology;
CRANIOM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the skull; CRANIOM'ETRY, the
measurement of skulls; CRANINOS'COPIST, a phrenologist; CRANIOS'COPY,
phrenology; CRANIOT'OMY (_obstetrics_), the act of breaking down the head
of the foetus. [Low L. _cranium_--Gr. _kranion_, from _kar[=e]_, the head.]
CRANK, krangk, _n._ a crook or bend: a conceit in speech: a whim: (_mach._)
a lever or arm on a shaft, driven by hand or by a connecting-rod, its
object being to convert reciprocating motion into rotary motion.--_v.i._ to
move in a zizag manner.--_v.t._ to shape like a crank: to provide with a
crank.--_adj._ crooked: crabbed: loose or slack.--_adv._ CRANK'ILY.--_n._
CRANK'INESS.--_adj._ CRANK'Y, crooked: infirm: full of whims: cross. [M. E.
_kranke_--A.S. _crincan_, to yield; cf. Ger. _krank_.]