List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Cluck, kluk, n. the call of a hen to her chickens: any similar sound.—v.i. to make the sound of a hen when calling on her chickens.—n. Cluck′ing, the noise made by a hen when calling her chickens.—adj. that clucks. [From the sound, like Dut. klokken, Ger. glucken, Dan. klukke.]

Clue, klōō (see Clew).—adj. Clue′less, without trace.

Clumber, klumb′ėr, n. a kind of spaniel. [Clumber, in Notts, a seat of the Duke of Newcastle.]

Clump, klump, n. a thick, short, shapeless piece of anything: a cluster of trees or shrubs: a thick sole put on in addition.—v.i. to walk heavily.—v.t. to put in a clump.—n.pl. Clumps, a parlour game of question and answer—also Clubs.—adj. Clump′y, abounding in clumps: heavy. [Prob. Scand.; Dan. klump, a lump. Cf. Ger. klump, and Club.]

Clumsy, klum′zi, adj. shapeless: ill-made: unwieldy: awkward: ungainly.—adj. Clum′sily.—n. Clum′siness. [M. E. clomsen, to be stiff or benumbed; most prob. Scand.; allied to Clamp.]

Clunch, klunsh, n. the miner's name for tough indurated clay, sometimes found in the coal-measures. [Ety. dub.; prob. related to Clump.]

Clung, klung, pa.t. and pa.p. of Cling.

Clunk, klungk, n. the sound of a liquid coming out of a bottle when the cork has been quickly drawn.—v.i. to make such a sound. [Scot.; from the sound.]

Clupeoid, klōō′pē-oid, n. a kind of herring. [L. clupea, a kind of fish.]

Cluster, klus′tėr, n. a number of things of the same kind growing or joined together: a bunch: a mass: a crowd.—v.i. to grow or gather into clusters.—v.t. to collect into clusters; to cover with clusters.—adjs. Clus′tered, grouped; Clus′tering, Clus′tery.—Clustered column, a pier which consists of several columns or shafts clustered together. [A.S. clyster; Low Ger. kluster; cf. Clot.]

Clutch, kluch, v.t. to close the hand: to carry off: to hold firmly: to seize or grasp.—n. a grasp; seizure.—n.pl. Clutch′es, the hands or paws: cruelty: rapacity. [M. E. cloche, cloke, claw; prob. allied to M. E. clechen—A.S. gelæccan. Cf. Latch.]

Clutch, kluch, n. (prov.) a brood of chickens, a 'sitting' of eggs.—v.t. to hatch.

Clutter, klut′ėr, n. confusion: stir: noise.—v.i. to crowd together: to go about noisily.—v.t. to pack. [A variant of Clatter.]

Cly, klī, v.t. (slang) to seize, steal.—ns. Cly′-fak′er, a pickpocket; Cly′-fak′ing, pocket-picking. [Prob. related to Claw; referred by some to Dut. kleed, a garment, 'to fake a cly' = to take a garment.]

Clypeus, klip′ē-us, n. the shield-like part of an insect's head.—adjs. Clyp′ēal, Clyp′ēate, Clyp′ēiform, in the shape or form of a shield. [L. clipeus, clypeus, a shield.]

Clyster, klis′tėr, n. a liquid injected into the intestines to wash them out.—n. Clys′ter-pipe (Shak.), a pipe or syringe for injecting a clyster. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. klyzein, to wash out.]

Cnida, knī′da, n. one of the thread-cells of the Cœlenterata, whence is their power of stinging:—pl. Cnī′dæ. [Late L.,—Gr. knidē, a nettle.]

Co., kō, an abbreviation for Company.

Co-, kō, a common prefix, signifying jointness, accompaniment, connection. [L. cum, with.]

Coach, kōch, n. a large, close, four-wheeled carriage: a private tutor: a professional trainer in athletics.—v.t. to carry in a coach: to tutor, instruct, prepare others for, as an examination or a rowing contest, &c.—v.t. to study under a tutor.—ns. Coach′-box, the seat on which the driver of a coach sits; Coach′dog, a spotted dog, kept chiefly as an attendant on coaches, called also Dalmatian Dog; Coach′ee, Coach′y, a coachman; Coach′-fell′ow, a yoke-fellow, comrade; Coach′-hire, money paid for the use of a hired coach; Coach′-horse, a horse used for drawing a coach; Coach′-house, a house to keep a coach in; Coach′ing, travelling by coach: tutoring: instruction; Coach′man, the driver of a coach; Coach′-off′ice, a booking-office for passengers and parcels by stage-coach; Coach′-stand, a place where coaches stand for hire; Coach′-wheel; Coach′-whip.—adj. Coach′y, pertaining to a coach. [Fr. coche—Hung. kocsi (pron. kot′shi), from Kocs, a place south of Komorn.]

Coact, kō-akt′, v.i. (Shak.) to act together.—adj. Coact′ive (Shak.), acting together.—n. Coactiv′ity.

Coact, kō-akt′, v.t. to compel.—n. Coac′tion, compulsion.—adj. Coact′ive, compulsory. [L. cogĕre, coactum, to compel.]

Coadjacent, kō-ad-jās′ent, adj. contiguous.—n. Coadjac′ency. [Co- and Adjacent.]

Coadjutant, kō-ad-jōō′tant, or ko-ad′joo-tant, adj. mutually helping or assisting.—n. one of several who help another.—ns. Coadju′tor, a helper or assistant: an associate:—fem. Coadju′tress, Coadju′trix; Coadju′torship. [L. co, with, adjutor, a helper—ad, to, juv-āre, to help.]

Coadunate, kō-ad′ū-nāt, v.t. to unite: to combine.—n. Coadunā′tion.—adj. Coad′unātive. [Co-, and L. adunāre, -ātum, to unite.]

Co-agency, kō-ā′jen-si, n. agency with another.—n. Co-ā′gent, one acting with another.

Coagulate, kō-ag′ū-lāt, v.t. to make to curdle or congeal.—v.i. to curdle or congeal.—adj. clotted: congealed.—n. Coagulabil′ity.—adj. Coag′ulable.—ns. Coagū′lant, a substance which causes coagulation, as rennet; Coagulā′tion.—adjs. Coag′ulātive; Coag′ulātory.—n. Coag′ulum, what is coagulated. [L. coagulāre, -ātum, co-, together, ag-ĕre, to drive.]

Coaita, kō-ī′ta, n. a small South American monkey—the red-faced Spider Monkey.

Coal, kōl, n. a solid, black, combustible substance used for fuel, dug out of the earth: cinder.—v.i. to take in coal.—v.t. to supply with coal.—n. Coal′-bed, a stratum of coal.—adj. Coal′-black, black as coal, very black.—ns. Coal′-box, a box for holding coal; Coal′-brass, a name applied to the pyrites in the coal-measures; Coal′field, a field or district containing coal strata; Coal′-fish, a fish of the cod family, so named from the black colour of its back; Coal′-gas, the mixture of gases produced by the destructive distillation of coal, chiefly carburetted hydrogen—giving the gaslight in common use; Coal′-heav′er, one employed in carrying coal; Coal′-house, a covered-in place for keeping coal; Coal′man, one who has to do with coals; Coal′-mas′ter, the owner or lessee of a coalfield; Coal′-meas′ure, a measure by which the quantity of coal is ascertained: (pl.) the group of carboniferous strata in which coal is found (geol.); Coal′-mine, Coal′-pit, a pit or mine from which coal is dug; Coal′-own′er, one who owns a colliery; Coal′-plant, a fossil plant of the carboniferous strata; Coal′-scutt′le, a vessel for holding coal; Coal′-tar, or Gas-tar, a thick, black, opaque liquid which condenses in the pipes when coal or petroleum is distilled; Coal′-trim′mer, one who stores or shifts coal on board vessels; Coal′-whip′per, one employed in unloading coal from vessels at anchor to barges which convey it to the wharves.—adj. Coal′y, of or like coal.—Coaling station, a port at which steamships take in coal; Coal-scuttle bonnet, a woman's bonnet, shaped like a coal-scuttle upside down.—Blind or Anthracite coal, that which does not flame when kindled; Bituminous coal, that which does; Brown coal (see Brown); Caking coal, a bituminous coal which cakes or fuses into one mass in the fire; Cannel or Parrot coal (see Cannel); Cherry or Soft coal, coal breaking off easily into small, irregular cubes, having beautiful shining lustre; Splint, Hard, or Block coal, plentiful in Scotland, hard, breaking into cuboidal blocks.—Blow the coals, to excite passion; Carry coals to Newcastle, to take a thing where it is least needed; Haul over the coals, reprimand—from the discipline applied to heretics; Heap coals of fire on the head, to excite remorse by returning good for evil (Rom. xii. 20). [A.S. col; cog. with Ice. kol, Ger. kohle.]

Coalesce, kō-al-es′, v.i. to grow together or unite into one body: to associate.—adj. Coales′cent, uniting.—n. Coales′cence, union. [L. coalescĕre, co-, together, and alescĕre, to grow up.]

Coalition, kō-al-ish′un, n. act of coalescing, or uniting into one body: a union of persons, states, &c., which agree to sink their differences and act in common: alliance.—v.i. Cō′alise, to make an alliance.—n. Coali′tionist, one of a coalition.

Coamings, kōm′ingz, n.pl. (naut.) raised work about the edges of the hatches of a ship to prevent the water from running into the apartments below. [Der. unknown.]

Coaptation, ko-ap-tā′shun, n. adaptation of parts to each other. [L.]

Coarb. See Comarb.

Coarctate, kō-ark′tāt, adj. compressed.—n. Coarctā′tion. [L. coartāre, -ātum, to compress together.]

Coarse, kōrs, adj. rough: rude: uncivil: vulgar: harsh: gross.—adj. Coarse′-grained, coarse in the grain, as wood: (fig.) inelegant, gross.—adv. Coarse′ly.—v.t. Coars′en, to make coarse.—n. Coarse′ness.—adj. Coars′ish, somewhat coarse. [From phrase 'in course,' hence ordinary.]

Coast, kōst, n. side or border of land next the sea: the seashore: limit or border of a country.—v.i. to sail along or near a coast: to travel downhill on a bicycle with the feet on the foot-rests.—v.t. to sail by or near to.—ns. Coast′er, a vessel that sails along the coast; Coast′-guard, a body of men organised to act as a guard along the coast, originally intended to prevent smuggling.—adj. Coast′ing, keeping near the coast: trading between ports in the same country.—n. the act of sailing, or of trading, along the coast: advances towards acquaintance, courtship: riding downhill on a bicycle with the feet up.—ns. Coast′-line, the line or boundary of a coast: shore-line; Coast′-wait′er, a custom-house officer who waits upon and superintends the cargoes of vessels engaged in the coasting trade.—advs. Coastward, -s, toward the coast; Coast′wise, along the coast.—adj. carried on along the coast. [O. Fr. coste (Fr. côte)—L. costa, a rib, side.]

Coat, kōt, n. a kind of outer garment: the hair or wool of a beast: vesture or habit: any covering: a garment worn by women and children, and hanging from the waist downwards: a membrane or layer, such as paint, &c.: a coat of arms.—v.t. to clothe: to cover with a coat or layer.—ns. Coat′-arm′our, coat of arms: armorial devices; Coat′-card, a card bearing the representation of a coated figure, the king, queen, or knave—now, less correctly, called Court-card; Coatee′, a close-fitting coat with short tails; Coat′ing, a covering: cloth for coats.—Coat of arms, the family insignia embroidered on the surcoat worn over the hauberk, or coat of mail: the heraldic bearings of a gentleman; Coat of mail, a piece of armour for the upper part of the body, made of metal scales or rings linked one with another.—Turn one's coat, to change one's principles, or to turn from one party to another. [O. Fr. cote (Fr. cotte)—Low L. cottus, cotta, a tunic; the further ety. is uncertain.]

Coati, kō-ä′ti, or kō′a-ti, n. an American plantigrade carnivorous mammal allied to the raccoons.—Also Coä′ti-mun′di. [Tupi.]

Coax, kōks, v.t. to persuade by fondling or flattery: to humour or soothe: to pet.—ns. Coax, Coax′er, one who coaxes.—adv. Coax′ingly. [M. E. cokes, a simpleton; of obscure origin.]

Co-axial, kō-ak′si-al, adj. having the same axis.—adv. Coax′ially.

Cob, kob, n. a head of maize: a short-legged strong horse for heavy weights: a male swan—also Cob′-swan.—ns. Cob′loaf, a large loaf: (Shak.) an expression of contempt; Cob′nut, a large variety of the hazel-nut: a game played by children with nuts. [Prob. conn. with Cop.]

Cob, kob, n. a kind of composition of clay and straw for building.—n. Cob′-wall, a wall built of this.

Cob, kob, v.t. to strike, to thump the buttocks.

Cobalt, kō′bawlt, n. a metal the ores of which are sparingly distributed—in the metallic state found in meteoric stones or aerolites, generally occurring combined with arsenic: a blue pigment, prepared from the foregoing—also Cō′balt-blue.—adj. of this deep-blue colour.—adjs. Cobalt′ic; Cobaltif′erous.—n. Cō′baltite, a sulpharsenide of cobalt. [Ger. kobalt, from kobold, a demon, a nickname given by the German miners, because they supposed it to be a mischievous and hurtful metal.]

Cobble, kob′l, n. a stone worn smooth by water.—n. Cobb′le-stone, a rounded stone used in paving.—v.t. to pave with such. [Ety. dub.]

Cobble, kob′l, v.t. to patch up or mend coarsely, as shoes.—ns. Cobb′ler, one who cobbles or mends shoes: a drink made up of wine, sugar, &c., and sucked through a straw; Cobbler's punch, a warm drink made of beer, with the addition of spirit, sugar, and spice. [Der. unknown.]

Co-belligerent, kō-be-lij′e-rent, adj. and n. co-operating in warfare.

Coble, Cobble, kob′l, n. a small flat-bottomed fishing-boat. [Cf. W. ceubal, a hollow trunk, a boat.]

Cobra, Cobra da capello, kō′bra da ka-pel′o, n. a poisonous snake, native of the East Indies, which dilates the back and sides of the neck so as to resemble a hood. [Port., lit. 'snake of the hood.']

Coburg, kō′burg, n. a thin fabric of worsted with cotton or silk, twilled on one side. [Coburg, a town in Germany.]

Cobweb, kob′web, n. the spider's web or net: any snare or device intended to entrap: anything flimsy or easily broken: anything that obscures.—n. Cobweb′bery.—adj. Cob′webby. [Prob. shortened from M. E. atter-cop-web—A.S. átor, poison, and coppa—W. cop, a head, tuft. See also Web.]

Coca, kō′ka, n. a shrub of six or eight feet high, of which the leaves furnish an important narcotic and stimulant.—ns. Cocaine (kō′kä-in), a local anæsthetic made from coca-leaves, and much used in dentistry and surgical operations; Cocainisā′tion.—v.t. Cō′cainise.—n. Cō′cainism, a morbid condition induced by over-use of cocaine. [Sp.,—Peruv.]

Cocagne, Cocaigne. Same as Cockaigne.

Cocciferous, kok-sif′ėr-us, adj. berry-bearing. [L. coccum (—Gr. kokkos), a berry, and ferre, to bear.]

Coccolite, kok′ō-līt, n. a variety of pyroxene: a small rounded body found in deep-sea mud.—Also Cocc′olith. [Gr. kokkos, a berry, lithos, a stone.]

Coccus, kok′us, n. one of the carpels or seed-vessels of a dry fruit: (zool.) a genus of insects in the order Hemiptera, and type of a family including many forms injurious to plants, and a few others useful to man.—n. Cocc′ulus, a tropical genus of climbing plants (Menispermaceæ).—Cocculus Indicus, a drug consisting of the dried fruit of Anamirta cocculus, having narcotic and poisonous properties—yielding picrotoxin. [L.,—Gr. kokkos, a berry.]

Coccyx, kok′siks, n. (anat.) the lower bone of the vertebral column:—pl. Coc′cyges.—adjs. Coccyg′ēal, Coccyg′ian. [Gr. kokkyx, the cuckoo, from its bill.]

Coch, koch, n. (Spens.). Same as Coach.

Cochin, kō′chin, n. a large-sized variety of the domestic hen, with feathered legs, full breast, small tail.—n. Cō′chin-chin′a, a large-sized hen originally from Cochin-China.—adj. Cō′chin-Chinese′.

Cochineal, koch′i-nēl, n. a scarlet dye-stuff consisting of the dried bodies of certain insects gathered from the cactus plant in Mexico, the West Indies, &c.: the insect itself. [Sp. cochinilla, dim. of L. coccinus—Gr. kokkos, a berry, as the cochineal was formerly supposed to be the berry or seed of the plant.]

Cochlea, kok′le-a, n. a spiral-shaped shell, esp. the snail-shell: (anat.) the spiral cavity of the ear.—adjs. Cochlear′iform; Coch′leary, Coch′leāte, Coch′leāted, twisted. [L.,—Gr. kochlias, a snail.]

Cock, kok, n. the male of birds, particularly of the domestic fowl: the time of cock-crowing: a weathercock: a plucky chap, a term of familiarity, as 'Old cock:' a strutting chief or leader: anything set erect: a tap for liquor: part of the lock of a gun, held back by a spring, which, when released by the trigger, produces the discharge.—v.t. to set erect or upright: to set up, as the hat: to draw back the cock of a gun: to turn up to one side: to tilt up knowingly, inquiringly, or scornfully.—v.i. to strut: to swagger.—ns. Cockāde′, a knot of ribbons or something similar worn on the hat as a badge; Cockalō′rum, a bumptious little person: a boy's game; Cock′-broth, the broth made from a boiled cock; Cock′chafer, the May-bug, an insect of a pitchy-black colour, most destructive to vegetation; Cock′-crow, -ing, early morning, the time at which cocks crow.—adj. Cocked, set erect: turned up at one side.—ns. Cock′er, one who follows cock-fighting: a small dog of the spaniel kind employed by sportsmen in pheasant and woodcock shooting; Cock′erel, a young cock: a young man—also Cock′le, whence Cock′le-brained, foolish; Cock′-eye, a squinting eye: the loop by which a trace is attached to the whipple-tree.—adj. Cock′-eyed.—ns. Cock′-fight, -ing, a fight or contest between game-cocks: a fight; Cock′-horse, a child's rocking-horse.—adj. prancing, proud.—adv. properly a-cock-horse = on cock-horse, on horseback: exultingly.—ns. Cock′laird (Scot.), a yeoman; Cock′loft, the room in a house next the roof; Cock′-match, a cock-fight; Cock′pit, a pit or enclosed space where game-cocks fought: a room in a ship-of-war for the wounded during an action; Cock′roach, the common black beetle; Cocks′comb, the comb or crest on a cock's head: a fop: the name of various plants; Cock′shut (Shak.), twilight, probably referring to the time when poultry are shut up; Cock′-shy, a free throw at a thing, as for amusement.—adj. Cock′-sure, quite sure, often without cause.—n. Cock′swain (see Coxswain).—adjs. Cock′sy, Cox′y, bumptious.—n. Cock′tail, a racing horse that is not thoroughbred: one who apes the gentleman: (U.S.) a drink of spirits flavoured with various ingredients.—adjs. Cock′tailed, having the tail cocked or tilted up; Cock′y, impudent.—ns. Cock′y-leek′y, soup made of a fowl boiled with leeks; Cock′yolly, a nursery or pet name for a bird.—Cock-a-doodle-doo, the cry of the cock; Cock-a-hoop, a phrase expressing reckless exultation; Cock and pie, used as an exclamation (see Pie, 2); Cocked hat, the old-fashioned three-cornered hat, the triangular pointed hat worn as part of some full-dress uniforms: a note folded into a three-cornered shape; Cock of the walk, chief of a set; Cock's-foot grass, a genus of grasses very abundant in Britain, and furnishing an important part of both natural and artificial pastures; Cock the eye (coll., humorous), to wink.—A cock-and-bull story, an incredible tale.—Full-cock, when the cock of a gun is drawn full back: when a tap is full open; Half-cock, the position of the cock of a gun when drawn back half the whole distance.—Knock into a cocked hat, 'to lick out of shape:' to give a profound beating. [A.S. coc; Ice. kokkr.]

Cock, kok, n. a small pile of hay.—adj. Cocked, heaped up in cocks. [Sw. koka, a lump of earth; Dut. kogel; Ger. kugel, a ball.]

Cock, kok, n. (Shak.) a cock-boat. Now Cock-boat.

Cock, perversion of the word God.—Cock and pie (see Pie, 2).

Cock-a-bon′dy, kok-a-bon′di, n. a fly for angling. [A corr. of Welsh coch a bon ddu, red, with black stem.]

Cockaigne, Cockayne, kok-ān′, n. an imaginary country of luxury and delight. [Ety. dub.; Fr. cocagne, acc. to some from L. coquĕre, to cook.]

Cockatoo, kok-a-tōō′, n. a popular name for several genera and species of parrots. [Malay, kakatúa, prob. from its cry.]

Cockatrice, kok′a-trīs, n. a fabulous monster like a serpent, often confounded with the Basilisk (q.v.), and regarded as possessing similar deadly powers. [O. Fr. cocatrice.]

Cock-boat, kok′-bōt, n. a small ship's boat: a small frail boat. [See Cog, a small boat.]

Cocker, kok′ėr, v.t. to pamper: to fondle: to indulge. [Ety. dub.; cf. Dut. kokelen, O. Fr. coqueliner, to dandle.]

Cockernony, kok′ėr-non-i, n. (Scot.) the gathering of a young woman's hair, when it is wrapped up in a band or fillet, commonly called a 'snood' (Jamieson).

Cocket, kok′et, n. the custom-house official seal: a document given by the officers of the custom-house to merchants, as a warrant that their goods are duly entered: the office where such goods are entered. [Perh. a corr. of the words quo quietus.]

Cockle, kok′l, n. a troublesome weed among corn, with a purple flower. [A.S. coccel.]

Cockle, kok′l, n. a large and typical genus of bivalve molluscs, having a thick, ribbed, heart-shaped, equal-valved shell.—adj. Cock′led, shelled like a cockle.—ns. Cock′le-hat, a hat bearing a scallop-shell, the badge of a pilgrim; Cock′le-shell, the shell of a cockle: a frail boat.—The cockles of the heart, the heart itself. [Fr. coquille—Gr. kongchylion—kongchē, a cockle.]

Cockle, kok′l, v.i. to pucker into wrinkles or ridges.—v.t. to cause to pucker.

Cockle, kok′l, n. the fire-chamber of an air-stove.

Cockney, kok′ne, n. (Shak.) an affected, effeminate person, knowing the manners of the town, but a stranger to what every child else knows: a townsman as opposed to a countryman: one born in London, but strictly in a particular part of London.—ns. Cock′neydom, the domain of Cockneys; Cockneyficā′tion.—v.t. Cock′neyfy, to make Cockney.—adj. Cock′neyish.—n. Cock′neyism, the dialect or manners of a Cockney.—The Cockney school, a school of writers belonging to London, who flourished in the first half of the nineteenth century. [M. E. coken-ey, prob. lit. 'cock's egg;' cf. Fr. coco, an egg, a darling, a chap. Others would connect with Fr. coquin, a rogue—L. coquus, a cook.]

Coco, Cocoa, kō′kō, n. a palm-tree growing in tropical countries, and producing the coco-nut.—ns. Cō′co-nut, Cō′coa-nut, the well-known fruit of the coco-palm: (slang) a man's head. [Port. and Sp. coco, a bugbear; applied to the nut from the three marks at the end of it, which form a grotesque face.]

Cocoa, kō′kō, n. the seed of the cacao or chocolate tree: a beverage made from the seeds crushed and ground. [A corr. of Cacao.]

Cocoon, ko-kōōn′, n. the silken sheath spun by the larvæ of many insects in passing into the pupa or resting stage.—n. Cocoon′ery, a place for keeping silkworms when feeding and spinning cocoons. [Fr. cocon, from coque, a shell—L. concha, a shell.]

Coction, kok′shun, n. the act of boiling or cooking.—adj. Coc′tile, baked: hardened by fire, as a brick. [L. coquĕre, coctum, to boil, to cook.]

Cod, kod, Codfish, kod′fish, n. a species of fish much used as food, found in the northern seas.—ns. Cod′-fisher; Cod′-fish′ery; Cod′-fish′ing; Cod′ling, a small cod.—Cod-liver oil, a medicinal oil extracted from the fresh liver of the common cod. [Ety. dub.]

Cod, kod, n. a husk or shell containing seeds: the scrotum.—adjs. Cod′ded, enclosed in a cod; Cod′ding (Shak.), wanton.—n. Cod′-piece, a baggy appendage worn in front of the tight hose of the middle ages. [A.S. codd, a small bag.]

Cod, kod, n. (Scot.), a pillow. [Old Dan. kodde, Ice. koddi, a pillow.]

Cod, kod, n. (slang) applied to persons, with various meanings: a joke.—v.t. to impose on. [Ety. dub.; conn. with Codger.]

Coddle, kod′l, v.t. to pamper: to fondle: to parboil.—n. an effeminate person. [Ety. dub.]

Code, kōd, n. a collection or digest of laws: a system of rules and regulations: a system of signs used in the army.—ns. Codificā′tion; Codi′fīer, Cod′ist, one who codifies.—v.t. Cod′ify, to put into the form of a code: to digest: to systematise:—pr.p. cod′ifying; pa.p. cod′ified.—Code telegram, a telegram whose text in itself has no meaning, but where the words are merely arbitrary symbols for other words known to the receiver.—The Code, esp. the rules and regulations regarding government schools and teachers. [Fr. code—L. codex.]

Codex, kō′deks, n. a code: a manuscript volume:—pl. Codices (kod′i-sēz). [L. codex or caudex, the trunk of a tree, a set of tablets, a book.]

Codger, koj′ėr, n. a mean fellow: an old person: a chap. [Prob. a variant of Cadger.]

Codicil, kod′i-sil, n. a short writing or note added as a supplement to a will.—adj. Codicill′ary. [L. codicillus, dim. of codex.]

Codilla, kō-dil′a, n. the coarsest part of hemp or flax, sorted out and separated from the rest. [Dim. of It. coda—L. cauda, a tail.]

Codille, kō-dil, n. a term at ombre when the player gets fewer tricks than one of his opponents. [Fr.]

Codling, kod′ling, Codlin, kod′lin, n. a variety of apple.—n. Cod′lin-moth, the moth whose larvæ cause the 'worm-eaten' apples which fall prematurely off. [Ety. dub.]

Coefficient, kō-ef-fish′ent, n. that which acts together with another thing: (math.) the numerical or literal factor prefixed to an unknown quantity in any algebraic term.—n. Coeffi′ciency.—adv. Coeffi′ciently.

Coehorn, Cohorn, kō′horn, n. a small mortar for throwing grenades. [From Baron van Coehoorn (1641-1704).]

Cœlenterata, sē-len-ter-ā′ta, n. the technical name for the second lowest alliance of many-celled animals—radially symmetrical, without any body-cavity distinct from the alimentary tube.—adj. Cœlen′terāte. [Gr. koilos, hollow, and enteron, intestine.]

Cœliac, sē′li-ak, adj. relating to the belly. [L. cœliacus—Gr. koilia, the belly.]

Coemption, ko-emp′shun, n. the purchasing of the whole of a commodity: in Roman law, a mode of marriage under the fiction of a mutual sale. [Co-, and L. emĕre, to buy.]

Cœnesthesis, sē-nes-thē′sis, n. the general bodily consciousness. [Gr. koinos, common, aisthēsis, perception.]

Cœnobite, Cenobite, sen′o-bīt, n. a monk who lives along with others of a like mind with himself, in contradistinction to anchorites or hermits.—adjs. Cœnobit′ic, -al; Cenobit′ic, -al.—ns. Cœn′obitism, Cen′obitism; Cœnō′bium, a religious community. [Gr. koinobion—koinos, common, and bios, life.]

Coequal, ko-ē′kwal, adj. equal with another person or thing: of the same rank or dignity.—n. one of the same rank.—n. Coequal′ity.—adv. Coē′qually.

Coerce, kō-ėrs′, v.t. to restrain by force: to compel.—adj. Coer′cible.—adv. Coer′cibly.—ns. Coer′cion, restraint: government by force; Coer′cionist.—adj. Coer′cive, having power to coerce: compelling.—adv. Coer′cively.—n. Coer′civeness. [L. coercēre—co-, together, arcēre, to shut in.]

Co-essential, kō-es-sen′shal, adj. partaking of the same essence.—n. Co-essential′ity.

Coetaneous, kō-ē-tān′e-us, adj. of the same age: contemporary. [Co-, and L. ætas, ætatis, age.]

Co-eternal, kō-ē-tėr′nal, adj. equally eternal with another.—adv. Co-eter′nally.—n. Co-eter′nity.

Coeval, kō-ē′val, adj. of the same age.—n. one of the same age: a contemporary. [L. coævus, co-, together, and ævum, age.]

Co-exist, kō-egz-ist′, v.i. to exist at the same time.—n. Co-exist′ence.—adj. Co-exist′ent.

Co-extend, kō-eks-tend′, v.i. to extend equally with.—n. Co-exten′sion.—adj. Co-exten′sive.

Coff, kof, v.t. (Scot.) to buy.—pa.p. Coft.

Coffee, kof′ē, n. a drink made from the seeds of the coffee-tree, a native of Arabia: the powder made by roasting and grinding the seeds.—ns. Coff′ee-bean, the seed of the coffee-plant; Coff′ee-berr′y, the fruit of the coffee-tree; Coff′ee-bug, the Lecanium coffeæ, destructive to the coffee-plant; Coff′ee-cup, a cup for coffee; Coff′ee-house, a house where coffee and other refreshments are sold; Coff′ee-mill, a small mill or machine for grinding coffee-beans; Coff′ee-pot, a pot or vessel in which coffee is prepared and served; Coff′ee-room, a room in a hotel where coffee and other refreshments are served. [Turk. qahveh—Ar. qahwah, orig. meaning wine.]

Coffer, kof′ėr, n. a chest for holding money or treasure: (pl.) the whole wealth of a person: a deep panel in a ceiling.—v.t. to hoard up.—n. Coff′erdam, a water-tight structure used in engineering for excluding the water from the foundations of bridges, quay walls, &c., so as to allow of their being built dry.—adj. Coff′ered. [O. Fr. cofre, a chest—L. cophinus, a basket—Gr. kophinos.]

Coffin, kof′in, n. the coffer or chest in which a dead body is enclosed.—v.t. to place within a coffin.—n. Coff′in-ship, a ship that is unsound, and likely to prove fatal to those in it.—Drive a nail in one's coffin, to do something tending to hasten death or ruin. [O. Fr. cofin—L. cophinus—Gr. kophinos.]

Coffle, kof′l, n. a gang, esp. of slaves. [Ar. qāfilah, a caravan.]

Cog, kog, v.t. to cheat or deceive: to wheedle: to cog dice is to manipulate them so that they may fall in a given way.—n. the act of cheating: deception.—p.adj. Cog′ging, cheating. [No doubt from the succeeding word.]

Cog, kog, n. a catch or tooth on a wheel.—v.t. to fix teeth in the rim of a wheel: to stop a wheel by putting a block before it:—pr.p. cog′ging; pa.p. cogged.—n. Cog′-wheel, a toothed wheel, whose teeth fit into and move another. [M. E. cogge; ety. dub.; cf. Sw. kugge.]

Cog, kog, n. formerly a large ship of burden or for war: a small boat: a cock-boat. [M. E. cogge, perh. from O. Fr. cogue, a ship. Cf. Dan. kogge, kog; Ice. kuggi.]

Cogent, kō′jent, adj. powerful: convincing.—ns. Cō′gence, Cō′gency, convincing power.—adv. Cō′gently. [L. cogĕre, co-, together, agĕre, to drive.]

Coggie, Cogie, kog′i, n. (Scot.) a small wooden bowl.—Also Cog. [Dim. of Cogue (q.v.).]

Coggle, kog′gl, v.i. to be unsteady.—n. a cobble, a round stone.—adv. Cog′gly (Scot.), shaky. [Cf. Ger. kugel, and Dut. kogel.]

Cogitate, koj′i-tāt, v.i. to turn a thing over in one's mind: to meditate: to ponder.—adj. Cog′itable, capable of being thought.—n. Cogitā′tion, deep thought: meditation.—adj. Cog′itātive, having the power of thinking: given to cogitating. [L. cogitāre, -ātum, to think deeply, co-, together, and agitāre, to put a thing in motion.]

Cognac, kō′nyak, n. an excellent quality of French brandy, so called because much of it is made near the town Cognac, in Charente.

Cognate, kog′nāt, adj. of the same family, kind, or nature: related or allied to.—n. one related by blood, a kinsman: a person related to another through the mother, as distinguished from an agnate, one related through the father.—n. Cognā′tion. [L. cognatus—co-, together, (g)nasci, (g)natus, to be born.]

Cognition, kog-nish′un, n. certain knowledge: apprehension.—adj. Cog′nisable, that may be known or understood: that may be judicially investigated.—adv. Cog′nisably.—ns. Cog′nisance, Cog′nizance, knowledge or notice, judicial or private: observation: jurisdiction: that by which one is known, a badge.—adj. Cog′nisant, having cognisance or knowledge of.—v.t. Cog′nise, to become conscious of.—adj. Cog′nitive, capable of, or pertaining to, cognition.—Have cognisance of, to have knowledge of. [L., from cognoscĕre, cognitum—co-, together, and noscĕre, gnoscĕre, to know.]

Cognomen, kog-nō′men, n. a surname: a nickname: a name: the last of the three names of an individual among the Romans, indicating the house or family to which he belonged.—adj. Cognom′inal, like-named: relating to a cognomen.—v.t. Cognom′inate, to name.—n. Cognominā′tion. [L.,—co-, together, nomen, gnomen, a name—noscĕre, gnoscĕre, to know.]

Cognosce, kog-nos′, v.t. (Scots law) to examine: to give judgment: to declare to be an idiot.—adj. Cognos′cible. [L. cognoscĕre—co-, together, and noscĕre, to know.]

Cognoscente, ko-nyo-shent′e, n. one professing a critical knowledge of works of art, and of a somewhat more pretentious character than amateurs:—pl. Cognoscenti (ko-nyo-shent′ē). [It.,—L. cognoscĕre.]

Cognovit, kog-nō′vit, n. (law) an acknowledgment by the defendant in an action that the plaintiff's cause is just. [L. cognovit actionem, he has confessed the action.]

Cogue, Cog, kōg, n. (Scot.) a round wooden vessel for holding milk. [Ety. dub.]

Cohabit, kō-hab′it, v.i. to dwell together as husband and wife, often of persons not married.—ns. Cohab′itant, one dwelling with others; Cohabitā′tion. [L. cohabitāre—co-, together, habitāre, to dwell.]

Co-heir, kō-ār′, n. a joint heir:—fem. Co-heir′ess.

Cohere, kō-hēr′, v.i. to stick together: to follow in proper connection: to be consistent.—ns. Coher′ence, a sticking together: a consistent connection between several parts: congruity; Coher′ency.—adj. Coher′ent, sticking together: connected: consistent in thought or speech.—adv. Coher′ently.—n. Coher′er, an apparatus for the reception of the waves in 'wireless' telegraphy.—adj. Cohē′sible, capable of cohesion.—n. Cohē′sion, the act of sticking together: a form of attraction by which particles of bodies stick together: logical connection.—adj. Cohē′sive, having the power of cohering: tending to unite into a mass.—adv. Cohē′sively.—ns. Cohē′siveness, Cohesibil′ity. [L. cohærēre, cohæsum, co-, together, and hærēre, to stick.]

Cohort, kō′hort, n. among the Romans, a body of soldiers from 300 to 600 in number, forming a tenth part of a legion: a band of armed men: any band of men. [Fr.,—L. cohors, an enclosed place, a multitude enclosed, a company of soldiers.]

Cohortative, kō-hor′ta-tiv, adj. encouraging.—n. in Heb. grammar, a lengthened form of the imperfect—also Paragogic future. [See Paragoge.]

Coif, koif, n. a covering for the head, esp. the close-fitting cap of white lawn or silk originally worn by serjeants-at-law: a covering for the head worn by women.—v.t. to provide with a coif: to dress (the hair).—ns. Coiff′eur, a hairdresser; Coiff′ure, a head-dress. [Fr. coiffe—Low L. cofia, a cap, perh. Old High Ger. chuppha, a cap, Ger. kopf.]

Coign, koin, n. a corner or external angle: a corner-stone: a wedge.—Coign of vantage, a position of advantage, either for seeing or acting. [Coin.]

Coil, koil, v.t. to wind in rings as a rope, a serpent, &c.: to twist: to entangle.—v.i. to twist one's self.—n. a rope which has been gathered into rings: one of the rings into which a rope is gathered: a wire wound spirally to conduct electricity.—Coil up, of a serpent, to get into a position for springing: to gather into a ball. [O. Fr. coillir (Fr. cueillir)—L. colligĕre—col, together, legĕre, to gather.]

Coil, koil, n. tumult: hubbub: noise: fuss.—Mortal coil, the toil and trouble of human life. [Der. unknown; prob. Celt.; Gael. and Ir. goill, war.]

Coin, koin, n. (Shak.) a corner-stone: a piece of metal legally stamped and current as money.—v.t. to convert a piece of metal into money: to stamp; to make, invent, fabricate: (fig.) to make into.—ns. Coin′age, the act of coining money: the currency: the pieces of metal coined: the invention, or fabrication, of something new: what is invented; Coin′er, one who coins money: a maker of counterfeit coins: an inventor; Coin′ing, minting: invention.—Coin money, to make money rapidly.—Pay a man in his own coin, to give tit for tat: to give as good as one got. [Fr. coin, a wedge, also the die to stamp money—L. cuneus, a wedge.]

Coincide, kō-in-sīd′, v.i. to fall in with, or agree, in opinion: to correspond: to be identical.—ns. Coin′cidence, act or condition of coinciding: the occurrence of an event at the same time as another event, without any apparent connection; Coin′cidency.—adjs. Coin′cident, Coincident′al.—adv. Coin′cidently. [L. co-, together, incidĕre—in, in, cadĕre, to fall.]

Co-inhere, kō-in-hēr′, v.i. to inhere together.—n. Co-inher′ence.

Co-inheritor, kō-in-her′it-or, n. a joint heir.—n. Co-inher′itance.

Co-instantaneous, kō-in-stan-tān′e-us, adj. exactly simultaneous.—ns. Co-instantanē′ity, Co-instantan′eousness.—adv. Co-instantan′eously.

Coir, koir, n. the strong fibre of the husk of the coco-nut, used for making door-mats. [Malay, kāyar, cord—kāyaru, to be twisted.]

Coistril, kois′tril, n. a groom: (Shak.) a knave. [See Custrel.]

Coition, kō-ish′un, n. sexual intercourse. [L. coitio—co-, together, īre, ītum, to go.]

Cojoin, kō-join′, v.t. (Shak.). Same as Conjoin.

Coke, kōk, n. a form of fuel obtained by the heating of coal in confined spaces whereby its more volatile constituents are driven off.—v.t. to make into coke. [Ety. dub.; not before 17th century.]

Col, kol, n. (geog.) a depression or pass in a mountain-range. [Fr.,—L. collum, a neck.]

Colander, Cullender, kul′end-ėr, n. a vessel having small holes in the bottom, used as a strainer in cookery.—ns. Colā′tion, Col′ature, straining. [L. colāre, to strain—colum, a strainer.]

Colbertine, kol′ber-tin, n. a kind of lace, so called after Jean Baptiste Colbert (1619-83), Minister of Finance to Louis XIV., a great patron of the arts.

Colcannon, kol-kan′on, n. an Irish dish, being a stew of pounded cabbage and potatoes with butter. [Cole, cabbage; cannon unknown.]

Colchicum, kol′chi-kum, n. a genus of Liliaceæ—the meadow saffron, its corm or seed used for gout and rheumatism. [L.,—Gr. colchicon, meadow saffron—Colchicus, relating to Colchis, the native country of the sorceress Medea.]

Colcothar, kol′kō-thar, n. a dark-red iron peroxide formed by calcining copperas.

Cold, kōld, adj. the opposite of hot: shivering: without passion or zeal: spiritless: unfriendly: indifferent: reserved.—n. a relative want of sensible heat: the feeling or sensation caused by the absence of heat: coldness: a spell of cold weather: a disease caused by cold, a catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs, usually accompanied by hoarseness and coughing: catarrh: chillness.—adj. Cold′-blood′ed, having cold blood, as fishes: without feeling: hard-hearted—of persons or actions.—adv. Cold′-blood′edly.—ns. Cold′-blood′edness; Cold′-Chis′el, a strong and finely-tempered chisel for cutting cold metal, as distinguished from a blacksmith's chisel for cutting hot iron; Cold′-cream, the name applied to a creamy ointment, usually made of almond-oil, spermaceti, white wax, and rose-water, used as a cooling dressing for the skin.—adjs. Cold′-heart′ed, wanting feeling: indifferent; Cold′ish, somewhat cold.—adv. Coldly.—ns. Cold′ness; Cold′-pig (coll.), the application of cold water to wake a person.—adj. Cold′-short, brittle when cold: (fig.) of the temper.—ns. Cold′-wat′er, water at its natural temperature; Cold′-without′, brandy with cold water and no sugar.—Cold as charity, a proverbial phrase expressing ironically great coldness or indifference.—Catch cold, Take cold, to acquire the malady—a cold.—Give the cold shoulder, to show indifference: to give a rebuff.—In cold blood, with deliberate intent, not under the influence of passion.—Leave out in the cold, to neglect, ignore.—Throw cold water on, to discourage. [A.S. ceald; Scot, cauld, Ger. kalt; cog. also with Eng. cool, Ice. kala, to freeze, L. gelidus—gelu, frost.]

Cole, kōl, n. a general name for all sorts of cabbage.—ns. Cole′-garth, a cabbage garden; Cole′-seed, the seed of rape; Cole′-wort, a species of cabbage. [A.S. cáwel; Ger. kohl, Scot. kail; all from L. colis, caulis, a stem, esp. of cabbage; cf. Gr. kaulos.]

Coleoptera, kol-e-op′tėr-a, n.pl. an order of insects having two pairs of wings, the outer pair being hard or horny, serving as wing-cases for the true wings: the beetles.—adjs. Coleop′teral, Coleop′terous.—n. Coleop′terist. [Gr. koleos, a sheath, and pteron (pl. ptera), a wing.]