List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Caprin, Caprine. See Capric.

Caprine, kap′rin, adj. like a goat.

Capriole, kap′ri-ōl, n. a caper: a leap without advancing.—v.i. to leap: to caper. [O. Fr. capriole—It. capriola—L. caper, capra, a goat.]

Capsicum, kap′si-kum, n. a tropical plant or shrub, from which cayenne pepper is made.—n. Cap′sicine, the active principle of capsicum. [From L. capsa, a case, its berries being contained in pods or capsules—capĕre, to take, hold.]

Capsize, kap-sīz′, v.t. to upset.—v.i. to be upset. [Ety. dub.; Prof. Skeat suggests Sp. cabezar, to nod, pitch.]

Capstan, kap′stan, n. an upright machine turned by spokes so as to wind upon it a cable which draws something, generally the anchor, on board ship. [Fr. cabestan, capestan, through Low L. forms from L. capĕre, to take, hold.]

Capsule, kap′sūl, n. the seed-vessel of a plant: a small dish.—adjs. Cap′sular, Cap′sulary, hollow like a capsule: pertaining to a capsule; Cap′sulate, -d, enclosed in a capsule. [Fr.,—L. capsula, dim. of capsa, a case—capĕre, to hold.]

Captain, kap′tān, or kap′tin, n. a head or chief officer: the commander of a troop of horse, a company of infantry, or a ship: the overseer of a mine: the leader of a team or club: the head-boy of a school.—v.t. to lead.—ns. Cap′taincy, the rank or commission of a captain; Cap′tain-gen′eral, chief commander of an army; Cap′tainship, Cap′tainry (obs.), rank or condition of a captain: skill in commanding. [O. Fr. capitaine—Low L. capitaneus, chief—L. caput, head.]

Caption, kap′shun, n. the act of taking: an arrest: (Eng. law) the formal title of indictments and depositions which shows the authority under which it is executed or taken: in Scotland, prior to 1837, the name given to the formal warrant to apprehend a debtor or other defaulting obligant, which was given in the Bill Chamber after letters of horning had been executed.—adj. Cap′tious, ready to catch at faults or take offence: critical: peevish.—adv. Cap′tiously.—n. Cap′tiousness. [L. captionem—capĕre, to take.]

Captivate, kap′tiv-āt, v.t. to charm: to engage the affections.—adj. Cap′tivāting, having power to engage the affections. [See Captive.]

Captive, kap′tiv, n. one taken: a prisoner of war: one kept in bondage.—adj. taken, or kept prisoner in war; charmed or subdued by anything.—ns. Cap′tivaunce (Spens.), captivity; Captiv′ity; Cap′tor, one who takes a prisoner or a prize; Cap′ture, the act of taking: the thing taken: an arrest.—v.t. to take as a prize: to take by force. [L. captivus—capĕre, captum.]

Capuccio, ka-pōōch′i-o, n. (Spens.) a hood. [It.]

Capuche, ka-pūsh′, n. a hood, esp. that worn by the Capuchins.—n. Capuchin, (kap′ū-chin or kap-ōō-shēn′), a Franciscan monk, so called from the hood he wears: a hooded pigeon. [Fr. capucin, It. cappucino, a small cowl—Low L. cappa. See Cap, Cape.]

Capul. See Caple.

Caput, käp′ut, n. a head.—Caput mortuum, the residuum after distillation: worthless residue.

Capybara, kap-i-bär′a, n. the largest of rodent quadrupeds, native to South America, allied to the guinea-pig. [Brazilian.]

Car (old form Carr), kär, n. a vehicle moved on wheels, applied to very various forms—a large and splendid vehicle, as a triumphal car, a funeral car, the two-wheeled Irish jaunting-car; in Birmingham, a four-wheeled cab, as opposed to a hansom (cab); in America, applied to all vehicles for railway travelling, as passenger-car, palace-car, freight-car, &c.; in England, applied only to the carriages of street tramways: a railway carriage: (poet.) a chariot: the part of a balloon in which the aeronauts sit.—n. Car′man, a man who drives a car or cart: a carter. [O. Fr. car—Low L. carra, carrus, itself a Celt. word, seen in Ir. carr, Bret. karr.]

Carabine. Sec Carbine.

Caracal, kar′a-kal, n. the Persian lynx. [Fr., prob. Turk. qara, qulaq, black ear.]

Caracara, kar-a-kar′a, n. a popular name for the South American Polyborinæ, a sub-family of Falconidæ, resembling the vultures. [Imit.]

Carack. See Carrack.

Caracole, kar′a-kōl, n. the half-turn or wheel made by a horseman: a winding stair.—v.i. to turn half-round, as cavalry in wheeling: to prance about.—p.adj. Car′acoling. [Fr. caracole—It. caracollo—Sp. caracol, the spiral shell of a snail.]

Caract, kar′akt, n. mark: sign: character (q.v.).

Carafe, ka-raf′, n. a water-bottle for the table, [Fr. carafe, prob. from Ar. gharafa, to draw water.]

Carambola, ka-ram′bō-la, n. the acrid pulpy fruit of a small East Indian tree, used for tarts, &c.: the tree itself.

Carambole. See Carom.

Caramel, kar′a-mel, n. a dark-brown substance produced by the action of heat on sugar, used in colouring whisky, wines, &c.: a kind of confection, usually of chocolate, sugar, and butter.—Also Car′omel. [Fr.—Sp. caramelo; further origin dubious.]

Carapa, kar′a-pa, n. a genus of tropical trees of natural order Meliaceæ, a South American species yielding the useful carap-oil or crab-oil. [Caraipi, the native Guiana name.]

Carapace, kar′a-pās, n. the shell of the crab, tortoise, &c.—adj. Carapā′cial. [Fr.—Sp. carapacho.]

Carat, kar′at, n. a weight of 4 grains: a proportional measure of 1⁄24 in stating the fineness of gold. [Fr.,—Ar. qīrāt, perh. from Gr. keration, a seed or bean used as a weight.]

Carauna, ka-raw′na, n. an aromatic resinous substance yielded by a tree on the Amazon, formerly used in plasters.—Also Caran′na.

Caravan, kar′a-van, n. a company of travellers associated together for security in crossing the deserts in the East: a company of people: a large close carriage, or any kind of house on wheels.—ns. Caravaneer′, the leader of a caravan; Caravan′sary, Caravan′sera, a kind of unfurnished inn where caravans stop. [Pers. kārwānsarāī—kārwān, caravan, sarāi, inn.]

Caravel, kar′av-el, n. a kind of light sailing-vessel. [Fr.,—It. caravelia; cf. Low L. carabus, Gr. karabos, a bark.]

Caraway, kar′a-wā, n. a plant with aromatic seeds, used as a tonic and condiment.—n. Car′away-seed. [Prob. through Sp. from Ar. karwiyā; cf. Gr. karon.]

Carbazotic, kar-bā-zot′ik, adj. consisting of carbon and azote.

Carbide. See Carbon.

Carbine, kär′bīn, n. a short light musket—also Car′abine.—ns. Carbineer′, Carabineer′, a soldier armed with a carbine. [Fr. carabine, O. Fr. calabrin, a carbineer—calabre, a machine for casting stones—Low L. chadabula, Gr. katabolē, overthrow. Thus Diez; Littré thinks calabrin from Calabrian.]

Carbolic acid, kar-bol′ik as′id, n. an acid produced from coal-tar, used as a disinfectant. [L. carbo, coal.]

Carbon, kär′bon, n. an elementary substance, widely diffused, of which pure charcoal is an example.—n. Car′bide, a compound of carbon with a metal, formerly called Car′buret.—adjs. Carbonā′ceous, Carbon′ic, pertaining to or composed of carbon.—n. Car′bonate, a salt formed by the union of carbonic acid with a base.—adjs. Car′bonated, combined or impregnated with carbonic acid; Carbonif′erous, producing carbon or coal.—n. Carbonisā′tion—v.t. Car′bonise, to make into carbon.—Carbonic acid, an acid formed of carbon and oxygen, generally gaseous, and evolved by respiration and combustion. [Fr. carbone—L. carbon-em, coal.]

Carbonado, kär-bon-ā′do, n. (obs.) a piece of meat cut crossways for broiling on coals.—v.t. to cut crossways for broiling: to slash. [Sp. carbonada.]

Carbonari, kär-bon-är′i, n.pl. members of a secret society in Italy at the beginning of this century, founded to help forward a republican government.—n. Carbonar′ism. [It., lit. 'charcoal burners.']

Carboy, kar′boi, n. a large bottle of green or blue glass, protected with a frame of basket-work or wood, used for holding sulphuric acid or the like. [Pers. qarābah.]

Carbuncle, kär′bung-kl, n. a fiery-red precious stone: an inflamed ulcer: a pimple on the nose.—adjs. Car′buncled, set with the gem carbuncle; afflicted with carbuncles: having red inflamed spots; Carbun′cular, belonging to or like a carbuncle: red: inflamed. [L. carbunculus, dim. of carbo, a coal.]

Carburet, same as Carbide (q.v. under Carbon).—adj. Car′buretted.—n. Carburet′ter, or Carburet′tor, an apparatus for charging gases with carbon.

Carcajou, kär′ka-jōō, n. the American wolverine.

Carcake, kar′kāk, n. a kind of cake for Shrove Tuesday. [Scot.—A.S. caru, grief, and Cake.]

Carcanet, kär′ka-net, n. a collar of jewels. [Carcan, an obsolete word for an iron collar used for punishment—Low L. carcannum, from Teut.]

Carcass, Carcase, kär′kas, n. a dead body or corpse, no longer used of the human body: the framework of anything: a ruin: a kind of bombshell. [Fr. carcasse, a skeleton (It. carcasso, a quiver), prob. from Late Gr. tarkasion, which is perh. the Pers. tarkash, a quiver.]

Carcinology, kär-si-nol′ō-ji, n. that department of zoology which treats of crabs and other crustaceans.—adj. Carcinolog′ical.—n. Carcinol′ogist. [Gr. karkinos, a crab, logia-legein, to speak.]

Carcinoma, kar-si-nōma, n. a cancer (see Cancer).—adj. Carcinō′matous.—n. Carcinō′sis, the growth and development of cancer. [Gr.]

Card, kärd, n. a piece of pasteboard marked with figures for playing a game, or with a person's address upon it: a note.—ns. Card′-board, a stiff, finely finished pasteboard; Card′-case, a case for carrying visiting-cards; Card′-sharp′er, one who cheats at cards; Card′-tā′ble, a table for playing cards on.—A knowing card (slang), one who is wide awake; A sure card, an undertaking which will be sure to succeed.—Have the cards in one's hands, to have everything under one's control; House of cards, something flimsy or unsubstantial; On the cards, likely to turn up; Play one's cards well, or badly, to make, or not to make, the best of one's chances; Show one's cards, to expose one's secrets or designs; Speak by the card, to speak with elegance and to the point; Throw up the cards, to give in: to confess defeat. [Fr. carte—L. charta, Gr. chartēs, paper. Carte is a doublet.]

Card, kärd, n. an instrument for combing wool or flax.—v.t. to comb wool, &c.—n. Card′er, one who has to do with carding wool. [Fr. carde—L. carduus, a thistle.]

Cardamine, kär′da-mīn, n. a genus of cress, including the cuckoo-flower or lady's smock, &c. [Gr. kardaminē—kardamon, cress.]

Cardamom, kär′da-mom, n. the capsules of certain tropical plants, which form an aromatic, pungent spice. [L. cardamomum—Gr. kardamōmon.]

Cardecu, kar′de-kū, n. (obs.) an old French silver coin. [Fr. quart d'écu, quarter of a crown.]

Cardiac, kär′di-ak, adj. belonging to the heart: cordial, reviving—also Cardiac′al.—ns. Car′diac, a disease of the heart: a cordial; Car′dialgy, Cardial′gia, an uneasy sensation or burning pain at the upper orifice of the stomach, apparently at the heart—hence called heartburn; Car′diograph, an apparatus for recording by a tracing—Car′diogram—the movements of the heart; Car′dioid, a geometrical curve, so called from its heart-like form; Cardīt′is, inflammation of the heart. [L.—Gr. kardiakos—kardia, the heart.]

Cardigan, kar′de-gan, n. a knitted woollen jacket, named from the Crimean hero, the Earl of Cardigan (1797-1868).

Cardinal, kär′din-al, adj. denoting that on which a thing hinges or depends: principal; of a deep scarlet colour, like a cardinal's cassock.—n. one of the seventy princes of the church constituting the sacred college at Rome, to whom pertains the right of electing a new pope: a short cloak, formerly worn by ladies.—ns. Car′dinalate, Car′dinalship, the office or dignity of a cardinal; Car′dinal-bird, a species of grosbeak, one of the finest song-birds of America, probably so called from its red plumage.—adv. Car′dinally, fundamentally: (Shak., Measure for Measure, II. i. 81) carnally.—Cardinal flower (see Lobelia); Cardinal numbers, numbers expressing how many; Cardinal points, the four chief points of the compass—north, south, east, and west; Cardinal virtues, justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude, so called because the whole of human nature was supposed to hinge or turn upon them—the natural as distinguished from the theological virtues. [Fr.—L. cardinalis—cardo, cardinis, a hinge.]

Cardoon, kar-dōōn′, n. a perennial plant, the prickly artichoke of the Mediterranean region.—Also Chardoon′. [O. Fr.,—L. carduus, a thistle.]

Carduus, kar′dū-us, n. (Shak.) a thistle.—n. Cardō′phagus, a thistle-eater, a donkey. [L.,—Gr. kardos, thistle; phagos, eater.]

Care, kār, n. anxiety, heedfulness: charge, oversight: the object of anxiety.—v.i. to be anxious: to be inclined: to have regard.—adjs. Care′-crazed (Shak.), crazed or broken with care and solicitude; Care′ful, full of care: heedful: (B.) anxious: (Spens.) dreadful.—adv. Care′fully.—n. Care′fulness.—adj. Care′less, without care: heedless, unconcerned.—ns. Care′lessness; Care′-tak′er, one put in charge of anything, esp. of an Irish farm from which a tenant has been evicted.—adj. Care′worn, worn or vexed with care.—Take care, to be careful or cautious; Take care of, to look after with care. [A.S. caru; Goth. kara, sorrow; Ice. kæra, to lament; Celt. car, care; allied to L. carus, dear.]

Careen, ka-rēn′, v.t. to lay a ship on her side to repair her bottom and keel.—v.i. of a ship, to move with an inclination to one side.—n. the position of a ship laid on one side.—n. Careen′age, a place where ships are careened: the cost of careening. [Fr. carène—L. carina, the bottom of a ship, the keel.]

Career, ka-rēr′, n. a racecourse: a race: course of action: manner of life; v.i. to gallop: to move or run rapidly. [Fr. carrière, a racecourse. See Car.]

Carême, kar-ām′, n. Lent. [Fr.]

Caress, ka-res′, v.t. to treat with affection: to fondle: to embrace.—n. any act or expression of affection. [Fr. caresser—It. carezza, an endearment; Low L. caritia—L. carus, dear.]

Caret, kā′ret, n. a mark, ^, used in writing when a word is left out. [L. caret, there is wanting.]

Carex, kā′reks, n. a genus of plants including the sedges. [L. carex, reed-grass, sedge.]

Carfax, -fox, kär′faks, -foks, n. a place where four roads meet—now used only of particular examples, as at Oxford. [Fr.—L. quadrifurc-us, four-forked.]

Cargo, kär′go, n. what a ship carries: its load. [Sp., from root of Car.]

Cargoose, kar′gōōs, n. the crested grebe. [Scand.; Ice. kjarr, copse wood, and Goose.]

Cariacou, kar′i-a-kōō, n. the Virginian deer of North America.—Also Car′jacou.

Cariama, kär-i-ä′ma, n. a South American bird of prey of large size. [Braz. cariama.]

Carib, kar′ib, n. one of a native race inhabiting parts of Central America and the north of South America—also Car′ibbee.—adj. Caribbē′an.

Caribou, kar-i-bōō′, n. the American reindeer. [Can.Fr.]

Caricature, kar′i-ka-tūr, n. a likeness of anything so exaggerated or distorted as to appear ridiculous.—v.t. to turn into ridicule by overdoing a likeness: to burlesque. Formerly spelt Caricatū′ra.—n. Caricatur′ist, one who caricatures. [It. caricatura—carricare, to load, from root of Car.]

Caries, kā′ri-ēz, n. rottenness or decay of a bone.—adj. Cā′rious, decayed. [L.]

Carillon, kar′il-yong, n. a suite of musical bells for playing tunes: the melody played on these. [Fr.,—Low L. quadrilion-em, a quaternary, because carillons were formerly rung on four bells.]

Carinate, kar′i-nāt, p.adj. keel-shaped: having a prominence on the outer surface. [L. carinatus—carina, a keel.]

Cariole, Carriole, kar′i-ōl, n. a small open carriage: a light cart. [Fr. carriole—root of Car.]

Cark, kärk, n. (arch.) care, anxiety, or solicitude.—v.t. to burden, harass.—v.i. to be anxious.—adj. Cark′ing, distressing, causing anxiety. [A.S. cearig, careful, anxious—caru, cearu, care. See Care.]

Carl, kärl, n. a husbandman, a clown: a churl: (Scot.) a niggard.—ns. Car′line, an old woman: a witch; Car′lot (Shak.), a churl, peasant. [Scand., Ice. karl, a man, a male. See Churl.]

Carline, kar′lin, n. a genus of plants closely allied to the true thistles. [From a legend that an angel showed the root of one to Charlemagne as a remedy for a plague.]

Carlist, kar′list, n. a supporter of the claims of the Spanish pretender Don Carlos de Bourbon (1788-1855), second son of Charles IV., and his representatives, as against Queen Isabella, daughter of Ferdinand VII., and her descendants.—n. Car′lism, devotion to the Carlist cause.

Carlock, kar′lok, n. a Russian isinglass obtained from the bladder of the sturgeon. [Russ.]

Carlovingian, kär-lo-vin′ji-an, adj. relating to a dynasty of Frankish kings, so called from Carl the Great or Charlemagne (742-814).

Carlylese, kar-līl′ēz, n. the vigorous, irregular, hypermetaphorical literary style and phraseology peculiar to Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881).—adjs. Carlyl′esque, Carlyl′ēan.—n. Carlyl′ism.

Carmagnole, kar′man-yōl, n. a. popular song and dance of the French Revolution: a kind of jacket worn by revolutionists at that time, with short skirts, a broad collar and lapels, and several rows of buttons. [Prob. from Carmagnola in Piedmont.]

Carmelite, kär′mel-īt, n. a monk of the order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Syria, founded there about 1156, made a mendicant order in 1247—the habit brown, with white cloak and scapular, hence the Carmelites were popularly known as the White Friars: a monk or nun of discalced or reformed branch established by St Teresa—the barefooted Carmelites: a variety of pear; a fine woollen stuff like beige.

Carminative, kar-min′a-tiv, adj. a medicine to relieve flatulence and pain in the bowels, such as cardamoms, peppermint, ginger, and other stimulating aromatics. [L. carmināre, to card—carmen, a card for wool.]

Carmine, kär′mīn, n. the red colouring principle obtained from the cochineal insect. [Fr. or Sp. carmin—Sp. carmesí, crimson—Ar. qirmazi, crimson. Same root as Crimson.]

Carnage, kär′nāj, n. (obs.) a heap of slain: slaughter. [Fr.,—It. carnaggio, carnage—L. caro, carnis, flesh.]

Carnal, kär′nal, adj. fleshly: sensual: unspiritual: (Shak.) murderous, flesh-eating.—v.t. and v.i. to convert into flesh, to become fleshy.—v.t. Car′nalise, to make carnal: to debase carnally:—pr.p. cär′nalīsing; pa.p. cär′nalīsed.—ns. Car′nalist, a sensualist: a worldling; Carnal′ity state of being carnal.—adv. Car′nally,—adjs. Car′nal-mind′ed, worldly-minded; Car′neous, Carnose′, fleshy: of or like flesh.—n. Car′nifex, executioner.—adj. Carnific′ial.—n. Carnos′ity, a fleshy excrescence growing in and obstructing any part of the body. [L. carnalis—caro, carnis, flesh.]

Carnallite, kär′nal-īt, n. a milk-white or pinkish hydrous chloride of potassium and magnesium found in the salt-mines of Stassfurt in Prussia. [Named from the mineralogist Von Carnall (1804-74).]

Carnation, kar-nā′shun, n. flesh-colour: one of the finest of florists' flowers, a double-flowering variety of the clove pink, and existing only in a state of cultivation.—adj. Carnā′tioned, having a flesh-like colour. [L. carnatio, fleshiness.]

Carnauba, kär-nä-ōō′ba, n. a Brazilian palm yielding a yellowish wax: the wax—also Brazilian wax. [Braz.]

Carnelian, kar-nē′li-an, n. the name given to the finer varieties of chalcedony, blood-red or flesh-colour, reddish-brown, reddish-white, or yellow, more rarely milk-white.—Also Cornē′lian.

Carnival, kär′ni-val, n. a feast observed by Roman Catholics just before the fast of Lent: any season of revelry or indulgence: riotous feasting, merriment, or amusement. [It. carnevale—Low L. carnelevarium, apparently from L. carnem levare, to put away flesh.]

Carnivora, kar-niv′ō-ra, n.pl. order of flesh-eating animals.—n. Car′nivore, a carnivorous animal.—adj. Carniv′orous, flesh-eating.—adv. Carniv′orously.—n. Carniv′orousness. [L. caro, carnis, flesh, vorus, devouring.]

Carny, Carney, kär′ni, v.t. (prov.) to coax, wheedle.—v.i. to act in such a way.—n. flattery.

Carob, kar′ob, n. the algaroba or locust-tree, a tree of the order Leguminosæ, native to the Mediterranean countries. [Through Fr. from Ar. kharrūbah.]

Caroche, ka-rōsh′, n. a coach or carriage. [Fr.,—It. caraccio, carro—L. carrus, car.]

Carol, kar′ol, n. a song of joy or praise.—v.i. to sing a carol: to sing or warble.—v.t. to praise or celebrate in song:—pr.p. car′olling; pa.p. car′olled.—n. Car′olling, the act of the verb to carol. [O. Fr. carole; It. carola, orig. a ring-dance; acc. to Diez, a dim. of L. chorus.]

Carolingian, kar-ō-lin′ji-an, adj. Same as Carlovingian (q.v.).

Carolus, kar′ol-us, n. a gold coin of the time of Charles I.—adj. Car′oline, belonging to the time of Charles. [L. Carolus, Charles.]

Carom, kar′om, n. an abbreviation for Carambole, the same as Cannon in billiards.

Carotid, ka-rot′id, adj. relating to the two great arteries of the neck. [Gr. karōtides—karos, sleep, the ancients supposing that deep sleep was caused by compression of them.]

Carouse, kar-owz′, n. a drinking-bout: a noisy revel.—v.i. to hold a drinking-bout: to drink freely and noisily.—ns. Carous′al, a carouse: a feast; Carous′er, one who carouses.—adv. Carous′ingly. [O. Fr. carous, Fr. carrousse—Ger. gar aus, quite out!—that is, empty the glass.]

Carousel, kar-ōō′zel, n. a tilting match or tournament, to which were added games, shows, and allegorical representations. [Fr.]

Carp, kärp, v.i. to catch at small faults or errors (with at).—ns. Carp′er, one who carps or cavils; Carp′ing, cavilling: fault-finding.—adv. Carp′ingly. [Most prob. Scand., Ice. karpa, to boast, modified in meaning through likeness to L. carpĕre, to pluck, deride.]

Carp, kärp, n. a fresh-water fish common in ponds. [O. Fr. carpe—Low L. carpa, prob. Teut.]

Carpal, kär′pal, adj. pertaining to the wrist. [Gr. karpos, the wrist.]

Carpel, kär′pel, n. a modified leaf forming the whole or part of the pistil of a flower.—adj. Car′pellary. [Gr. karpos, fruit.]

Carpenter, kär′pent-ėr, n. a worker in timber as used in building houses, ships, &c.—v.i. to do the work of a carpenter.—ns. Car′penter-bee, a bee that excavates its nest in wood; Car′pentry, the trade or work of a carpenter, [O. Fr. carpentier—Low L. carpentarius—carpentum, a car, from root of Car.]

Carpet, kär′pet, n. the woven or felted covering of floors, stairs, &c.—v.t. to cover with a carpet:—pr.p. car′peting; pa.p. car′peted.—ns. Car′pet-bag, a travelling-bag, so called because usually made of carpeting; Car′pet-bag′ger, one who comes to a place for political or other ends, carrying his whole property qualification for citizenship with him in his carpet-bag; Car′pet-beat′ing, the removing of dust from carpets by beating; Car′pet-bed′ding, a system of horticulture in which plants are arranged in mosaic or geometrical designs; Car′peting, material of which carpets are made: carpets in general; Car′pet-knight, one dubbed a knight by mere court favour, not on account of his military exploits—hence an effeminate person; Car′pet-mong′er (Shak.), an effeminate person; Car′pet-rod, one of the narrow rods used to keep a stair carpet in its place.—On the carpet, under discussion. [O. Fr. carpite (Fr. carpette)—Low L. carpeta, a coarse fabric made from rags pulled to pieces—L. carpĕre, to pluck.]

Carpolite, kär′po-līt, n. fruit petrified or converted into stone.—n. Carpol′ogy, the part of botany which treats of the structure of fruits and seeds. [Gr. karpos, fruit, lithos, a stone, logos, a discourse.]

Carrack, kar′rak, n. a large ship of burden, which is also fitted for fighting.—Also Car′ack. [O. Fr. carraque—Low L. carraca. Ety. dub.]

Carrageen, kar-ra-gēn′, n. Carrageen moss, or Irish moss—marine alga, common on the British coasts, used for making a highly digestible soup and a kind of blanc-mange, as well as size. [From Carragheen, near Waterford in Ireland, where it is found abundantly.]

Carrat. Same as Carat.

Carraway. Same as Caraway.

Carriage, kar′ij, n. act or cost of carrying: a vehicle for carrying: behaviour: bearing: (Shak.) burden: (B.) baggage.—adj. Carr′iageable, that may be conveyed in carriages.—ns. Carr′iage-com′pany, or -peo′ple, people who keep their carriages; Carr′iage-drive, a road for carriages through parks, &c.; Carr′iage-horse, a horse that draws a carriage.—Carriage and pair, a turn-out of a carriage and two horses; Carriage free, tree of charge for carrying. [See Carry.]

Carrick-bend, kar′ik-bend, n. (naut.), a kind of knot, formed on a bight by putting the end of a rope over its standing part, and then passing it. [Perh. conn. with Carrack, and the root of Bind.]

Carriole. See Cariole.

Carrion, kar′i-un, n. the dead and putrid body or flesh of any animal: anything vile.—adj. relating to, or feeding on, putrid flesh.—n. Carr′ion-crow, a species of crow which feeds on carrion, small animals, &c. [Fr. carogne—Low L. caronia—L. caro, carnis, flesh.]

Carritch, kar′itch, n. (Scot.) a corrupted form of the word catechism.—n. Carr′iwitchet, a quibble.

Carronade, kar-un-ād′, n. a short cannon of large bore, first made at Carron in Scotland.

Carron-oil, kar′on-oil, n. a liniment composed of linseed-oil and lime-water. [From its use for burns at Carron Ironworks in Stirlingshire.]

Carrot, kar′ut, n. a genus of Umbelliferæ, having a tapering root of a reddish or yellowish colour: the root itself, which is edible and sweet.—adj. Carr′oty, carrot-coloured, applied to the hair. [Fr. carotte—L. carota.]

Carry, kar′i, v.t. to convey or bear: to lead or transport: to take by force: to effect: to behave or demean: (of money) to be sufficient for a certain purpose: to gain the election of a candidate: to get a bill passed by a majority.—v.i. (of a gun, &c.) to reach, indicating the range of its shot:—pr.p. carr′ying; pa.p. carr′ied.—n. the distance a golf-ball goes when struck till it touches the ground: range: the portage of a boat: land across which a boat has to be carried between one navigable stream and another: the position of 'carry arms,' &c.: (prov.) the sky, cloud-drift.—ns. Carr′ier, one who carries, esp. for hire; Carr′y-all, a light, four-wheeled, one-horsed carriage; Carr′ying, the act of one who carries; Carr′y-tale (Shak.), a tale-bearer.—Carry all before one, to bear down all obstacles; Carry away, to carry off: to excite the feelings: to transport; Carry off, to cause the death of: to gain, to win, as a prize: to cause to pass muster, to make to pass by assurance or dissimulation; Carry on, to promote: to continue: to behave in a certain fashion (a term of mild reprobation); Carry one's point, to overrule objections in favour of one's plan; Carry out, to accomplish fully: to carry out for burial; Carry out one's bat (cricket), to leave the wickets without having been put out; Carry over, to induce to join the other party; Carry the day, or Carry it, to be successful: to win the day; Carry through, to succeed in accomplishing; Carry too far, to exceed reasonable limits; Carry up, to continue a building to a certain height: to trace back; Carry weight, to possess authority: to have force.—Be carried, to be highly excited: to have the head turned. [O. Fr. carier,—Low L. carricāre, to cart—L. carrus, a car.]

Carse, kärs, n. in Scotland, a stretch of alluvial land along the banks of some rivers. [Scot.; perh. from an obsolete word car, a fen; cf. Dan. kjær.]

Cart, kärt, n. a two-wheeled vehicle without springs, used for farm purposes, and for conveying heavy loads.—v.t. to convey in a cart: to carry publicly in a cart as a punishment—formerly done to bawds.—ns. Cart′age, the act or cost of carting; Cart′er, one who drives a cart; Cart′-horse, a horse used for drawing a cart; Cart′-house, a shed for keeping carts; Cart′-load, as much as a cart can carry; Cart's-tail, the hind part of a cart; Cart′way, a road or way by which carts may pass; Cart′wright, a carpenter who makes carts; T′-cart, a four-wheeled open phaeton, seated for four, its ground-plan resembling a T—see also Dog-cart, Mail-cart, Tax-cart, &c.—Put the cart before the horse, to reverse the natural order of things.—Village Cart, an uncovered two-wheeled carriage for one horse, with a low body and one seat; Whitechapel cart, or Chapel cart, a light two-wheeled spring-cart much used by butchers in delivering goods to their customers. [Ety. uncertain; from A.S. cræt, or Ice. kartr.]

Carte, kärt, n. the fourth position of the wrist in fencing. [Fr. quart—L. quartus, fourth.]

Carte, kärt, n. a bill of fare: (Scot.), a playing-card: short for carte-de-visite.—ns. Carte-blanche′, a blank paper, duly signed, and given to a person, to be filled up at his pleasure; Carte-de-visite′, a small photographic portrait pasted on a card; Cart′el, a challenge: an agreement for exchange of prisoners; a card with writing on it.—Have carte-blanche, to have a commission to act with full discretionary powers. [Fr.,—L. charta. See Card.]

Cartesian, kar-tē′zhi-an, adj. relating to the French philosopher René Descartes (1596-1650), or his philosophy.—Cartesian devil, diver, or bottle-imp, a scientific toy named after Descartes, illustrating the principle of specific gravity.

Carthamine, kär′tha-min, n. a dye obtained in crystals by a chemical process from safflower. [Low L. carthamus—Ar. qartum, saffron.]

Carthusian, kar-thū′zi-an, n. one of an order of monks founded by St Bruno in 1086, noted for their strictness: a scholar of the Charterhouse School.—adj. of or pertaining to the order. [L. Cartusianus—Catorissium, Chatrousse, a village in Dauphiné, near which their first monastery was founded.]

Cartilage, kär′ti-lāj, n. in vertebrate animals, a firm elastic substance, of a pearly whiteness, presenting to the unaided eye a uniform and homogeneous appearance: gristle.—adj. Cartilagi′nous, pertaining to or consisting of cartilage, gristly. [Fr.,—L. cartilago; cog. with crates, Gr. kartalos.]

Cartography, kar-tog′ra-fi, n. the art of preparing charts or maps. [L. charta, chart, map, and Gr. graphia, graph-ein, to write.]

Cartomancy, kär′tō-man-si, n. a divination by playing-cards. [Low L. carta, a card, Gr. manteia, divination.]

Carton, kär′ton, n. a thin pasteboard, a box made from such: a small disc within the bull's-eye of the target, a shot that strikes this.—ns. Car′tonnage, pasteboard: the outer covering of a mummy; Car′ton-pierre′, statuary pasteboard, a kind of papier-maché. [Fr. See Cartoon.]

Cartoon, kär-tōōn′, n. a preparatory drawing on strong paper to be transferred to frescoes, tapestry, &c.: any large sketch or design on paper, esp. a representation of current events in a comic paper.—v.t. to make a cartoon or working design: to caricature by a cartoon.—n. Cartoon′ist, one who makes cartoons. [Fr. carton (It. cartone), augmentative of Carte.]

Cartouche, kär-tōōsh′, n. a case for holding cartridges: formerly a case containing bullets to be discharged from a mortar, but now merely a waterproof canvas case for holding the cartridges of a field battery, one to each ammunition-box: (archit.) an ornament resembling a scroll of paper with the ends rolled up: an oval figure on ancient Egyptian monuments or papyri enclosing characters expressing royal or divine names.—Also Cartouch′. [Fr.,—It. cartoccio—L. charta, paper.]

Cartridge, kär′trij, n. a case made of paper, pasteboard, metal, &c., containing the charge for a gun—Blank′-car′tridges contain powder only; Ball′-cartridges contain a bullet as well.—ns. Car′tridge-bag, a bag of flannel, merino, &c., for holding a charge for a cannon; Car′tridge-belt, a belt having pockets for cartridges; Car′tridge-box, a small box for holding cartridges, carried by soldiers; Car′tridge-pā′per, a light-coloured, strong paper, originally manufactured for making cartridges. [A corr. of Cartouche.]

Cartulary, kär′tū-lar-i, n. a register-book of a monastery, &c.: one who kept the records: the place where the register is kept. [Low L. chartularium—L. chartula, a document—charta, paper.]

Carucate, kar′u-kāt, n. originally an amount of land such as one team of oxen could plough in a season.—n. Car′ucage, a tax on the carucate, first imposed by Richard I. in 1198. [Low L. carrucāta, ploughland—carruca, plough, from root of Car.]

Caruncle, kar-unk′l, n. a small fleshy excrescence, as the wattles of the turkey-cock.—adjs. Carun′cular, Carun′culate, Carun′culous. [Fr.—L. caruncula.]

Carus, kä′rus, n. complete insensibility. [Gr. karos, stupor.]

Carve, kärv, v.t. to cut into forms, devices, &c.: to make or shape by cutting: to cut up (meat) into slices or pieces: to apportion or distribute: (Shak.) to speak with suavity.—v.i. to exercise the trade of a sculptor.—p.adj. Carv′en, carved.—ns. Carv′er, one who carves: a sculptor: a carving-knife; Carv′ing, the act or art of carving, a branch of sculpture usually performed on wood or ivory: the device or figure carved: the act or art of cutting up meat at table.—Carve out, to hew out: to gain by one's exertions.—Cut and carve, to refine. [A. S. ceorfan, to cut; Dut. kerven; Ger. kerben, to notch.]

Carvel, kär′vel, n. older form of Caravel.—adj. Car′vel-built, as distinguished from clinker-built (q.v. under Clink).

Carvy, kär′vi′, n. Scotch form of Caraway.

Caryatid, kar-i-at′id, n. a female figure used instead of a column to support an entablature:—pl. Caryat′ides.—adjs. Caryat′ic, Caryat′idal, Caryatidē′an, Caryatid′ic. [Gr. Karyatides.]

Caryophyllaceous, kar-i-ō-fi-lā′shi-us, adj. belonging to the natural order Caryophyllaceæ;, applied esp. to flowers having five petals with long claws, as in the clove-pink. [Gr. karyophyllon, the clove-pink.]

Cascabel, kas′ka-bel, n. the whole rear part behind the base-ring of a cannon. [Sp.]

Cascade, kas-kād′, n. a waterfall: a trimming of lace or other material in a loose wavy fall.—v.i. to fall in cascades. [Fr.,—It.—L. cadĕre, to fall.]

Cascara, kas′ka-ra, n. the Cascara sagrada, a Californian bark used as a tonic aperient: the Cascara amarga, a bitter Honduras bark.—n. Cascarill′a, the aromatic bitter bark of the West Indian Croton Eleuteria. [Sp.]

Casco, kas′kō, n. a form of boat used at Manila for lading and unlading ships.

Case, kās, n. a covering, box, or sheath: a set: an outer coating for walls: in bookbinding, the boards and back, separate from the book: the frame in which a compositor has his types before him while at work.—v.t. to supply with a case.—n. Case′-bott′le, a bottle made to fit into a case with others.—v.t. Case′-hard′en, to convert the surface of certain kinds of malleable iron goods into steel, thereby making them harder, less liable to rust, and capable of taking on a better polish.—ns. Case′-hard′ening; Case′-knife, a large knife kept in a case; Case′maker, one who makes cases or covers for books; Case′ment, the case or frame of a window: a window that opens on hinges: a hollow moulding.—adj. Case′mented, having casements.—ns. Case′-shot, canister-shot, an artillery projectile for use at close quarters; Case′-worm, the caddice; Cas′ing, the act of the verb Case: an outside covering of any kind, as of boards, plaster, &c. [O. Fr. casse—L. capsa—capĕre, to take.]

Case, kās, n. that which falls or happens, event: particular state or condition—'in good case' = well off: subject of question or inquiry: an instance of disease: a person under medical treatment: a legal statement of facts: (gram.) the inflection of nouns, &c.—Case of conscience (see Conscience).—In any case, at all events: at any rate; In case, in the event that; In case to, in fit condition for; Make out one's case, to give good reasons for one's statements or position; Put the case, to suppose an instance: to take for example; The case, the fact, the reality. [O. Fr. cas—L. casus, from cadĕre, to fall.]

Casein, Caseine, kā′sē-in, n. an organic substance, contained in milk and cheese.—adjs. Cā′sēic; Cā′sēous, pertaining to cheese. [Fr.,—L. caseus, cheese.]

Casemate, kās′māt, n. any bomb-proof vaulted chamber, even when merely used as quarters for the garrison: (orig.) a loopholed gallery, from which the garrison of a fort could fire upon an enemy who had obtained possession of the ditch.—adj. Case′mated. [Fr.; der. uncertain.]

Caseous. See Casein.

Casern, ka-sėrn′, n. a lodging for troops in a town: a barrack. [Fr.,—Sp. caserna—casa, a house.]

Cash, kash, n. coin or money: ready money.—v.t. to turn into or exchange for money: to pay money for.—ns. Cash′-account′, an account to which nothing is carried but cash: a form of account with a bank, by which a person is entitled to draw out sums as required by way of loan to a stipulated amount—also called Cash′-cred′it; Cash′-book, a book in which an account is kept of the receipts and disbursements of money; Cashier′, a cash-keeper: one who has charge of the receiving and paying of money; Cash′-pay′ment, payment in ready money; Cash′-rail′way, a mechanical device adopted in large shops and warehouses for the interchange of cash between the counters and the cash-desk.—Hard cash, ready money; Out of cash, or In cash, without or with money: out of, or in, pocket. [A doublet of Case, a box—O. Fr. casse, a box.]

Cashew, ka-shōō′, n. a spreading tree of no great height, in both the East and West Indies, the fruit of which is a kidney-shaped nut at the end of a pear-shaped fleshy stalk, the kernel of this nut and the fleshy stalk (called the Cashew′-app′le) being both used as food. [Fr. acajou—Brazilian acajoba.]

Cashier, kash-ēr′, v.t. to dismiss from a post in disgrace: to discard or put away: to annul.—ns. Cashier′er, one who cashiers; Cashier′ing, a punishment for officers in the army and navy, severer than dismissal, inasmuch as it disqualifies from entering the public service in any capacity; Cashier′ment, dismissal. [Dut. casseren, to cashier—L. cassāre, cassus, void, empty.]

Cashmere, kash′mēr, n. a rich kind of shawl made from the Cashmere goat: any similar shawl.

Casino, kas-ē′nō, n. a room for public dancing: a card-game. [It.; from L. casa, a cottage.]

Cask, kask, n. a hollow round vessel for holding liquor, made of staves bound with hoops: a measure of capacity: (obs.) a casque,—v.t. to put in a cask. [Fr. casque—Sp. casco, skull, helmet, cask.]

Casket, kask′et, n. a little cask or case: a small case for holding jewels, &c.: (U.S.) a coffin. [Ety. uncertain; hardly a dim. of Cask.]

Casque, Cask, kask, n. a cover for the head: a helmet. [A doublet of Cask.]

Cassandra, kas-an′dra, n. a daughter of Priam, king of Troy, beloved by Apollo, who gave her the gift of prophecy, but not of being believed—hence any one who takes gloomy views of the political or social future.

Cassareep, kas′a-rēp, n. a sauce or condiment made from the juice of the cassava, the chief ingredient in the West Indian pepper-pot.

Cassation, kas-sā′shun, n. the act of making null or void: (French law) the act of annulling the decision of a court or judicial tribunal—hence Court of Cassation, the supreme tribunal. [Low L. cassation-em—cassāre, to bring to nought.]

Cassava, kas-sä′va, n. the West Indian name of the manioc, and the starch produced from it, called Brazilian Arrowroot, or Tapioca.

Casserole, kas′e-rōl, n. a stew-pan: the outer part of several dressed dishes. [Fr.]

Cassia, kash′ya, n. a coarser kind of cinnamon—also Cass′ia-bark: the tree which yields the foregoing: a fragrant plant mentioned in Ps. xlv. 8 (Heb. qeçî'ôth, prob. the Ind. orris or costus): a genus of shrubs of the bean family (Leguminosæ), the leaves of several species yielding senna, while the drug known as cassia fistula or purging cassia is derived from the pod of Cassia fistula, the bark of which is used in tanning. [L. casia—Gr. kasia—Heb.]