List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Cot, kot, n. a small dwelling, a cottage.—ns. Cot′-folk (Scot.), cottars; Cot′-house, a house occupied by a cottar; Cot′-land, land belonging to a cottage; Cot′-quean (Shak.), a man who busies himself with women's affairs.—adj. Cot′ted, lined with cots.—n. Cot′-town, a number of cot-houses. [A.S. cot; cf. Ice. kot, Dut. kot.]

Cot, kot, n. a small bed: a swinging bed of canvas, suspended from the beams of a ship, for the officers: a bed for a child, a crib. [Anglo-Ind.—Hind. khāt.]

Cot, kot, n. a small boat. [Ir.]

Co-tangent, kō-tan′jent, n. the tangent of the complement of an angle.

Cote, kōt, n. a cot: a place for animals, as dove-cote or dove-cot, sheep-cote. [A.S. cote. Cf. Cot (1).]

Cote, kōt, v.t. to pass by: to outstrip, leave behind. [Der. obscure; perh. conn. with Coast.]

Cotemporaneous, -temporary. Same as Contemporaneous, -temporary.

Co-tenant, kō-ten′ant, n. one who is a tenant along with another.—n. Co-ten′ancy.

Coterie, kō′te-rē, n. a number of persons meeting familiarly for social, literary, or other purposes. [Fr.; orig. a number of peasants obtaining a joint tenure of land from a lord—Low L. cota, a hut. See Cot.]

Coterminous. Same as Conterminous.

Cothurn, kō′thurn, Cothurnus, kō-thur′nus, n. a buskin or high boot laced in front, worn in tragic performances. [L. cothurnus—Gr. kothornos.]

Coticular, ko-tik′ū-lar, adj. pertaining to whetstones. [L.]

Co-tidal, kō-tīd′al, adj. noting an equality in the tides, applied to lines on a chart or map passing through places that have high tide at the same time.

Cotillion, ko-til′yun, Cotillon, ko-ti′yong, n. a brisk dance by eight persons. [Fr.,—cotte, a coat—Low L. cotta, a tunic. See Coat.]

Cotinga, kō-ting′ga, n. a genus of passerine birds of bright plumage, represented by six species in central and in tropical South America. [Native name.]

Cotise, Cottise, kō′tis, n. (her.) one of the diminutives of the bend (q.v.).—v.t. to border a bend, &c., with cotises, barrulets, &c. [Fr. cotice; origin obscure.]

Cotoneaster, kō-tō-ni-as′tėr, n. a genus of shrubs or small trees, closely allied to the hawthorn and medlar. [Formed from L. cotonea, quince.]

Cotswold, kots′wold, n. a breed of sheep.—Cotswold lions, sheep.

Cotta, kot′a, n. a surplice. [Low L. cotta.]

Cottabus, kot′a-bus, n. an amusement in ancient Greece among young men, consisting in throwing wine into a vessel, success at which betokened fortune in love. [L.,—Gr. kottabos.]

Cottage, kot′āj, n. a small dwelling-house, esp. of labourers, varying greatly in size, appearance, and comfort: a country residence.—adj. Cott′aged, covered with cottages.—n. Cott′ager, one who dwells in a cottage, esp. of labourers.—Cottage allotments, pieces of land allotted to cottagers to be cultivated as gardens; Cottage piano, a small upright piano. [See Cot.]

Cottar, Cotter, kot′ėr, n. (Scot.) a peasant occupying a cot or cottage for which he has to give labour.—ns. Cott′ier, a cottar: an Irish tenant; Cott′ierism, the cottier system of land tenure.

Cotter, kot′ėr, n. a pin or wedge for fastening and tightening. [Origin obscure.]

Cotton, kot′n, n. a soft substance like fine wool, got from the pods of the cotton-plant: cloth made of cotton.—adj. made of cotton.—v.t. to provide with cotton.—v.i. to agree: to be attached to (the connection of the intransitive meanings is unknown).—ns. Cottonade′, a name given to an inferior kind of cotton cloth; Cott′on-gin, a machine for separating the seeds from the fibre of cotton; Cott′on-grass, a genus of Cyperaceæ in which the perigone or covering of united bracts, which in this order enclose the ripening ovary, is developed into long, silky, or cottony hairs; Cottonoc′racy, the cotton planting or the cotton manufacturing interest; Cott′on-plant, one of various plants of the genus Gossypium, natural order Malvaceæ, yielding the textile substance cotton; Cott′on-press, a press for compressing cotton into bales; Cott′on-seed, the seed of the cotton-plant, yielding a valuable oil; Cott′on-spin′ner, one who spins cotton, or employs those who do; Cott′on-tail, the ordinary United States rabbit; Cott′on-this′tle, a strong thistle covered with a cottony down; Cott′on-tree, the American cotton-wood: the Indian Bombax malabaricum; Cott′on-weed, cudweed or everlasting; Cott′on-wood, any one of several American species of poplar; Cott′on-wool, cotton in its raw or woolly state.—adj. Cott′ony, like cotton: soft: downy. [Fr. coton—Ar. qutun.]

Cotyle, kot′i-lē, n. an ancient Greek drinking-cup: (zool.) a cup-like cavity:—pl. Cot′ylæ, or Cot′yles.—adj. Cotyl′iform. [Gr.]

Cotyledon, kot-i-lē′don, n. (bot.) the term applied to the seed-leaves of the embryo: the seed-leaf.—adjs. Cotylē′donary; Cotylē′donous, pertaining to or having cotyledons or seed-lobes; Cot′yloid, cup-shaped. [L.,—Gr. kotylēdōn—kotylē, a cup.]

Coucal, kōō′kal, n. a genus of common bush-birds in Africa and India.

Couch, kowch, v.t. to lay down on a bed, &c.: to lower: to level: to arrange in language, to express: to depress or remove a cataract in the eye.—v.i. to lie down for the purpose of sleep, concealment, &c.: to bend or stoop in reverence.—n. any place for rest or sleep: a bed: the lair of a wild beast.—adj. Couch′ant, couching or lying down: (her.) of a beast lying down with his head up.—ns. Couch′-fell′ow, Couch′-mate, a bed-fellow; Couching.—Couch a spear, to fix it in its rest at the side of the armour. [Fr. coucher, to lie down—L. collocāre, to place—com, together, locus, a place.]

Couch, kowch, Couch-grass, kowch′-gras, n. a grass of the same genus with wheat, but a widespread and troublesome weed. [A variant of Quitch.]

Couchee, kōō′shā, n. an evening party or reception. [Fr. couché. See Couch.]

Cougar, kōō′gar, n. an American animal, same as the puma. [Fr. couguar, from native name.]

Cough, kof, n. an effort of the lungs to throw off injurious matter, accompanied by a harsh sound, proceeding from the throat.—v.i. to make this effort.—v.t. to expel from the throat or lungs by a cough.—ns. Cough′-drop, -loz′enge, a sweetmeat taken to cure coughing; Cough′er; Cough′ing,—Cough down, to drown a speaker's voice by coughing, so that he must stop. [M. E. coughen; cf. Dut. kuchen, Ger. keuchen, keichen, to gasp.]

Could, kood, pa.t. of Can. [M. E. coude, couth—A.S. cúðe for cunðe, was able; l is inserted from the influence of would and should.]

Coulée, kōō-lā′, or kōō′li, n. a ravine, esp. one worn out by water. [Fr.,—couler, to flow.]

Couleur, kool′ār, n. French word for Colour.—n. Coul′eur-de-rose′, rose colour.—adv. in a favourable light: fanciful.

Coulisse, kōō-lis′, n. a piece of grooved wood, as the slides in which the side-scenes of a theatre run—hence, the side-scene of a theatre. [Fr.,—couler, to glide, to flow—L. colāre, to flow.]

Couloir, kool-wär, n. a gully filled with snow. [Fr.]

Coulomb, koo-lom′, n. the unit of quantity in measuring current electricity: the quantity furnished by a current of one ampere in one second. [From the French physicist, C. A. de Coulomb (1736-1806).]

Coulter. See Colter.

Coumarine, koo′ma-rin, n. a crystalline compound obtained in Tonka beans, &c.—also Cu′marin.—adjs. Cou′maric, Coumaril′ic.

Council, kown′sil, n. an assembly called together for deliberation or advice: the body of men constituting such an assembly: the body of men directing the affairs of the city: an assembly of ecclesiastics met to regulate doctrine or discipline (diocesan, provincial, national, general, or œcumenical).—ns. Coun′cil-board, the board or table round which a council meets for deliberation: the council itself; Coun′cil-cham′ber, the room where a council is held; Coun′cillor, a member of a council, esp. of a common council; Coun′cil-man, a member of a municipal council.—Council of war, a conference of military or naval officers called to meet and consult with the commander.—General council, one called by an invitation to the church at large, also Œcumenical, if received by the Catholic Church in general—as the first seven, 325-787.—In council, in the council-chamber: in giving advice.—Privy-council (see Privy). [Fr. concile—L. concilium.]

Counsel, kown′sel, n. consultation: deliberation: advice: plan: purpose: one who gives counsel, a barrister or advocate.—v.t. to give advice: to warn:—pr.p. coun′selling; pa.p. coun′selled.—n. Coun′sel-keep′er (Shak.), one who can keep counsel or a secret.—adjs. Coun′sel-keep′ing (Shak.), keeping counsel or secrets; Coun′sellable, that may be counselled.—ns. Coun′sellor, one who counsels: a barrister; Coun′sellorship.—Counsel of perfection, a declaration of our Lord's, not absolutely imperative, but commended as the means of reaching greater perfection; Keep counsel, to keep a secret; King's counsel (K.C.), a barrister-at-law appointed by letters-patent—the office is honorary, but gives the right of precedence in all the courts. [Fr. conseil—L. consilium, advice—consulĕre, to consult.]

Count, kownt, n. on the Continent, a title of nobility equal in rank to an English earl:—fem. Count′ess, the wife of a count or earl (fem. of earl).—ns. Count′ship, a count's dignity or domain (also used as a title); Coun′ty, a portion of a country separated for the administration of justice: a shire; Coun′ty-fam′ily, a family of the nobility or gentry (Coun′ty-people), with estates and a seat in the county. [O. Fr. conte—L. comes, comitis, a companion, con, with, īre, itum, to go.]

Count, kownt, v.t. to number, sum up: to ascribe: esteem: consider.—v.i. to add to or increase a number by being counted to it: to depend.—n. act of numbering: the number counted: a particular charge in an indictment.—adj. Count′able, capable of being counted.—ns. Count′er, he who or that which counts: that which indicates a number: a piece of metal, &c., used in reckoning: a table on which money is counted or goods laid; Count′ing-house, Count′ing-room, the house or room in which merchants keep their accounts and transact business.—adj. Count′less, that cannot be counted: innumerable.—n. Count′-wheel, a wheel with notched edge controlling the stroke of a clock in sounding the hours. [O. Fr. cunter (Fr. compter)—L. computāre.]

Countenance, kown′ten-ans, n. the face: the expression of the face: appearance.—v.t. to favour or approve.—n. Coun′tenancer.—Change countenance, to change the expression of the face; His countenance fell, he became dejected or angry; In countenance, unabashed—opp. to Out of countenance. [O. Fr. contenance—L. continentia, restraint, demeanour—L. continēre, to contain.]

Counter, kown′tėr, adv. against: in opposition.—adj. contrary: opposite.—n. that which is counter of opposite: (mus.) the voice-part set in immediate contrast with the air: (fencing) a parry in which one foil follows the other in a small circle: the part of a horse's breast between the shoulders and under the neck: (naut.) the part of a ship between the water-line and the knuckle of the stern.—v.t. Counteract′, to act counter or in opposition to: to hinder or defeat.—n. Counterac′tion.—adj. Counteract′ive, tending to counteract.—n. one who or that which counteracts.—adv. Counteract′ively.—ns. Coun′ter-ag′ent, anything which counteracts; Coun′ter-approach′, a work thrown up outside a besieged place to command or check the approaches of the besieger; Coun′ter-attrac′tion, attraction in an opposite direction.—adj. Coun′ter-attract′ive, attracting in an opposite direction.—v.t. Counterbal′ance, to balance by weight on the opposite side: to act against with equal weight, power, or influence.—ns. Coun′terbalance, an equal weight, power, or agency working in opposition; Coun′terbase (see Contrabass); Coun′ter-batt′ery (mil.), a battery erected to oppose another; Coun′ter-blast, something done in opposition to another thing; Coun′ter-bond, a bond to protect from contingent loss one who has given bond for another.—v.t. Coun′ter-brace (naut.), to brace or fasten (the head-yards and after-yards) in opposite ways.—n. the lee-brace of the fore-topsail-yard.—n. Coun′terbuff, a stroke that stops motion or causes a recoil.—v.t. to drive back by such.—ns. Coun′ter-cast (Spens.), a contrary cast, counterplot, trick; Coun′ter-cast′er (Shak.), one who casts accounts: a book-keeper—used in contempt; Coun′ter-change, (Shak.), exchange, reciprocation.—p.adj. Coun′terchanged′, exchanged: (her.) intermixed or set one against the other, as the colours of the field and charge.—n. Coun′ter-charge, a charge brought forward in opposition to another charge.—v.t. Coun′tercharm, to destroy or dissolve the effects of another charm.—n. that which destroys the effects of another charm.—v.t. Coun′ter-check, to check by some obstacle: to rebuke.—ns. Counter-check′, a check in opposition to another: a rebuke; Counter-claim, kown′tėr-klām, n. a cross-demand brought forward as a partial or complete set-off against another claim.; Coun′ter-curr′ent, a current flowing in an opposite direction; Coun′ter-drain, a drain alongside a canal, &c., to carry off water oozing out.—v.t. Coun′terdraw, to trace on oiled paper or other transparent material.—ns. Coun′ter-ev′idence, evidence brought forward in opposition to other evidence; Coun′terfoil, the corresponding part of a bank cheque, &c., retained by the giver; Coun′ter-force, an opposing force; Coun′ter-fort (fort.), a buttress, or arch behind the revetments or retaining walls of the ditches of permanent fortifications; Coun′ter-gauge, an adjustable scribing gauge for marking the measurements of a mortise on a piece to be tenoned; Coun′ter-guard (fort.), an outwork consisting of two lines of rampart running parallel to the faces of the bastion, to guard the bastion from being breached; Coun′ter-in′fluence, an opposing influence; Coun′ter-irr′itant, an agent or substance applied to the skin so as to redden, to vesicate, or to produce pustules, &c.; Coun′ter-irritā′tion, an artificial irritation produced in one part of the body to act in opposition to and remove already existing irritation; Coun′terlight (paint.), a light opposite to any object, disturbing the effect of its light.—v.i. Coun′termarch, to march back or in a direction contrary to a former one.—n. a marching backward or in a direction different from a former one: (mil.) an evolution by which a body of men change front, and still retain the same men in the front rank: change of measures.—n. Coun′termark, an additional mark put on a bale of goods belonging to several merchants, so that it may not be opened except in the presence of all the owners: a mark put on standard metal by the London Goldsmiths' Company in addition to the artificer's: an artificial cavity made in the teeth of horses to disguise their age.—v.t. Coun′termine, to make a mine in opposition to: to oppose by means of a countermine: (fig.) to frustrate by secret working:—pr.p. countermin′ing; pa.p. countermined′.—ns. Coun′ter-mine (mil.), a mine or chamber excavated by the besieged to counteract or destroy the mines made by the besiegers: (fig.) any means of counteraction; Coun′ter-mō′tion, an opposite motion; Coun′ter-move, -move′ment, a contrary move, movement.—v.t. Coun′termure, to fortify a wall with another wall.—ns. Coun′ter-ō′pening, an aperture or vent on the opposite side, or in a different place; Coun′ter-pace, a step in opposition to another, a contrary measure.—adj. Coun′ter-paled (her.), divided equally, as an escutcheon, first palewise, then by a line fesswise, with two tinctures countercharged.—ns. Coun′ter-parole′, a word in addition to the password; Coun′terpart, the part that answers to another part: that which fits into or completes another, having the qualities which another lacks, and so an opposite.—adj. Coun′ter-pass′ant (her.), denoting two animals in a coat of arms represented as passing each other the contrary way.—n. Coun′terplea, a replication to a plea or request.—v.t. Counterplead′, to plead the contrary of; Coun′terplot′, to plot against in order to frustrate another plot:—pr.p. counterplot′ting; pa.p. counterplot′ted.—n. a plot or stratagem opposed to another plot.—v.t. Coun′terpoise, to poise or weigh against or on the opposite side: to act in opposition to with equal effect.—n. an equally heavy weight in the other scale—(Spens.) Coun′terpoys.—ns. Coun′ter-pois′on, a poison used as the antidote of another; Coun′ter-pres′sure, opposing pressure; Coun′ter-proof, an inverted impression obtained from a newly printed proof of an engraving, by laying it, while the ink is still wet, upon plain paper, and passing it through the press; Coun′ter-revolū′tion, a subsequent revolution counteracting the effect of a previous; Coun′ter-roll, a copy of the rolls relating to appeals, inquests, &c., serving as a check on another's roll; Coun′ter-round, a body of officers which goes to inspect the rounds.—adj. Coun′tersā′lient (her.), salient in opposite directions.—n. Coun′terscarp (fort.), the side of the ditch nearest to the besiegers and opposite to the scarp.—v.t. Counterseal′ (Shak.), to seal along with others.—ns. Coun′ter-secur′ity, security given to one who has become surety for another; Coun′ter-sense, an interpretation contrary to the real sense.—v.t. Countersign′, to sign on the opposite side of a writing: to sign in addition to the signature of a superior, to attest the authenticity of a writing.—ns. Coun′tersign, a military private sign or word, which must be given in order to pass a sentry: a counter-signature; Coun′ter-sig′nal, a signal used as an answer Countersink. to another; Coun′ter-sig′nature, a name countersigned to a writing.—v.t. Coun′tersink, to bevel the edge of a hole, as for the head of a screw-nail (a a in fig.)—it is usually done by a Countersink-bit (b in fig.) in a brace.—ns. Coun′ter-stand, opposition, resistance; Coun′ter-state′ment, a statement in opposition to another statement; Coun′ter-stroke (Spens.), a stroke given in return for another stroke; Coun′ter-tal′ly, a tally serving as a check to another; Coun′ter-ten′or, name applied to alto when sung by a male voice (so called because a contrast to tenor); Coun′ter-time, the resistance of a horse that interrupts his cadence and the measure of his manège: resistance, opposition; Coun′terturn, a turn in a play different from what was expected.—v.t. Countervail′, to be of avail against: to act against with equal effect: to be of equal value to: to compensate [Counter and Avail].—n. Coun′ter-view, an opposing view: a posture in which two persons face each other: opposition: contrast.—v.t. Coun′ter-vote, to vote in opposition to; Coun′ter-weigh, to weigh against, counterbalance.—ns. Coun′ter-weight, a weight in an opposite scale.—v.i. Coun′ter-wheel, to wheel in an opposite direction.—n. Coun′ter-work, a work raised in opposition to another.—v.t. to work in opposition to.—p.adj. Coun′ter-wrought. [Fr.,—L. contra, against.]

Counter, kown′tėr, n. (Spens.) encounter.—v.t. to encounter: to contradict.

Counterfeit, kown′tėr-fit, -fēt, v.t. to imitate: to copy without authority: to forge.—n. something false or copied, or that pretends to be true and original.—adj. pretended: made in imitation of: forged: false.—n. Coun′terfeiter, one who counterfeits.—adv. Coun′terfeitly, in a counterfeit manner: falsely.—n. Coun′ter-fes′ance (Spens.), act of counterfeiting: forgery. [O. Fr. contrefet, from contrefaire, to imitate—L. contra, against, facĕre, to do.]

Countermand, kown-tėr-mand′, v.t. to give a command in opposition to one already given: to revoke.—n. a revocation of a former order.—adj. Countermand′able. [O. Fr. contremander—L. contra, against, and mandāre, to order.]

Counterpane, kown′tėr-pān, n. a coverlet for a bed, stitched or woven in squares.—Older form Coun′terpoint. [A corr. of O. Fr. contrepointe, which is a corr. of coultepointe—L. culcita puncta, a stitched pillow or cover. See Quilt.]

Counterpoint, kown′tėr-point, n. (mus.) the art of combining melodies: the setting of a harmony of one or more parts to a melody: the art of composition.—adj. Contrapunt′al.—n. Contrapunt′ist. [Fr.,—contre, against, point, a point.]

Country, kun′tri, n. a rural region as distinct from a town: a tract of land: the land in which one was born, or in which one resides.—adj. belonging to the country: rustic: rude.—p.adj. Coun′trified.—v.t. Coun′trify, to make rustic.—ns. Coun′try-box, a country-house; Coun′try-dance, a dance practised by country people: a dance in which an indefinite number of couples can take part, the gentlemen being arranged at the commencement on one side, and the ladies on the other.—n.pl. Coun′try-folk, the inhabitants of the country.—ns. Coun′try-house, -seat, the residence of a country gentleman; Coun′tryman, one who lives in the country: a farmer: one born in the same country with another; Coun′try-side, a district or part of the country; Coun′try-woman, a woman who dwells in the country: a woman born in the same country.—Country cousin, a relative from the country, unaccustomed to town sights or manners; Country gentleman, a landed proprietor who resides on his estate in the country; Country town, a small town in a rural district, depending on the agricultural industry of the surrounding country.—Go to the country, in parliamentary usage, to appeal to the feeling of the community by a general election. [O. Fr., contrée—Low L. contrata, contrada, an extension of L. contra, over against.]

County. See Count (1).

Coup, kōō, n. a blow, stroke, a successful hit: (billiards) the act of putting a ball in a pocket without having hit another ball.—Coup d'état, a sudden or violent stroke of state policy, as that by which Louis Napoleon subverted the constitution (Dec. 2, 1851); Coup de grâce, the finishing blow by which a tortured man is put out of pain, any decisive stroke generally; Coup de main, a sudden and overpowering attack; Coup de maître, a master-stroke; Coup de théâtre, a sudden and sensational turn in a piece: Coup d'œil, a general view of a scene or subject taken in at a glance. [Fr.,—L.,—colaphos, a blow.]

Coup, kowp, v.t. to exchange or barter.—n. Coup′er, a dealer. [Scot., from Ice., kaupa, to buy.]

Coup, kowp, v.t. to overturn. [Scot.; perh. originally the same word as Cope.]

Coupé, kōō-pā, n. the front part of a French stagecoach: a four-wheeled carriage seated for two inside, with a separate seat for the driver: the front compartment of a railway carriage.—adj. Couped (her.), cut evenly off, as the head or limb of an animal. [Fr. couper, to cut.]

Coupee, koo-pē′, n. in dancing, a salute to a partner, while resting on one foot and swinging the other backward or forward. [Fr.,—couper, to cut.]

Couple, kup′l, n. that which joins two things together: two of a kind joined together, or connected: two: one pair at a dance: a pair: esp. of married or betrothed persons: (statics) a pair of equal forces acting on the same body in opposite and parallel directions.—v.t. to join together.—v.i. to pair sexually.—ns. Coup′lement, union: a couple; Coup′ler, one who or that which couples or unites; Coup′let, two lines of verse that rhyme with each other; Coup′ling, that which connects, an appliance for transmitting motion in machinery; Coup′ling-box, the box or ring of metal connecting the contiguous ends of two lengths of shafts; Coup′ling-pin, a pin or bolt used in coupling machinery.—adj. Well-coupled, of a horse, well formed at the part where the back joins the rump. [O. Fr. cople—L. copula.]

Coupon, kōō′pong, n. a billet, check, or other slip of paper cut off from its counterpart: one of a series of tickets which are vouchers that certain payments will be made or services be performed, at various times or places, in consideration of money paid: a dividend or interest warrant presented for payment by holders of debentures. [Fr.,—couper, to cut off.]

Coupure, koo-pūr′, n. an entrenchment made by the besieged behind a breach: a passage cut to facilitate sallies. [Fr.,—couper, to cut.]

Courage, kur′āj, n. the quality that enables men to meet dangers without fear: bravery: spirit.—interj. take courage!—adj. Courā′geous, full of courage: brave.—adv. Courā′geously.—n. Courā′geousness.—Dutch courage, a fictitious courage induced by drinking; Pluck up one's courage, to nerve one's self to something daring; The courage of one's convictions, courage to act up to or consistently with one's opinions. [O. Fr. corage (Fr. courage), from L. cor, the heart.]

Courant, kōō-ränt′, adj. (her.) in a running attitude.—ns. Courante′, Courant′, an old dance with a kind of gliding step. [See Current.]

Courap, koo-rap′, n. an itching skin disease, common in India, with eruptions on face, breast, groin, &c.

Courb, kōōrb, v.i. (Shak.) to bend, stoop to supplicate.—adj. (Shak.) bent. [Fr.,—L. curvāre, to bend.]

Courbaril, koor′ba-ril, n. gum animé.

Courbette. Same as Curvet. [Fr.,—It. corvetta.]

Coure, obsolete form of Cower.

Courier, kōō′ri-ėr, n. a runner: a messenger: a state messenger: a travelling attendant: a frequent title of newspapers. [Fr.,—L. currĕre, to run.]

Course, kōrs, n. the act of running: the road or tract on which one runs: the direction pursued: a voyage: a race: regular progress from point to point: habitual method of procedure: a prescribed series, as of lectures, &c.: each of the successive divisions of a meal, as dinner: conduct: a range of bricks or stones on the same level in building: (naut.) one of the sails bent to a ship's lower yards, as the main-sail, called the main-course, the fore-sail or fore-course, and the cross-jack or mizzen-course: (pl.) the menses.—v.t. to run, chase, or hunt after.—v.i. to move with speed, as in a race or hunt.—ns. Cours′er, a runner: a swift horse: one who courses or hunts; Cours′ing, hunting with greyhounds; Cours′ing-joint, a joint between two courses of masonry.—In course, in regular order: (coll.) of course; Of course, by natural consequence, or by settled rule. [Fr. cours—L. cursus, from currĕre, cursum, to run.]

Court, kōrt, n. a space enclosed: a space surrounded by houses: the palace of a sovereign: the body of persons who form his suite or council: attention: civility, as 'to pay court:' (law) the hall of justice; the judges and officials who preside there: any body of persons assembled to decide causes, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical.—v.t. to pay attentions to: to woo: to solicit: to seek.—ns. Court′-bar′on, the assembly of freehold tenants of a manor under a lord; Court′-card (see Coat-card); Court′-cup′board (Shak.), a movable cupboard or sideboard on which plate was displayed; Court′-day, a day on which a judicial court sits; Court′-dress, the special regulation costume worn on state or ceremonious occasions; Court′-dress′er, a flatterer.—adj. Courteous (kurt′yus), of court-like manners: polite: respectful: obliging.—adv. Courteously (kurt′-).—ns. Courteousness, (kurt′-); Court′-fool, a fool or jester, formerly kept at court for amusement; Court′-guide, a guide to, or directory of, the names and residences of the nobility in a town; Court′-hand, a modification of the Norman handwriting, as distinguished from the modern or Italian handwriting, in use in the English law-courts from the 16th century to the reign of George II.; Court′-house, a building where the law-courts are held; Court′ier, one who frequents courts or palaces: one who courts or flatters; Court′ierism, the behaviour or practices of a courtier.—adv. Court′ierly.—ns. Court′ing, paying addresses to a woman, wooing; (Spens.) attendance at court; Court′-leet, a court of record held in a manor before the lord or his steward; Court′let, a petty court.—adj. Court′-like, courtly: polite.—ns. Court′liness; Court′ling, a hanger-on at court.—adj. Court′ly, having manners like those at a court: elegant.—ns. Court′-mar′tial, a court held by officers of the army or navy for the trial of offences against military or naval laws:—pl. Courts′-mar′tial; one improvised in time of war round an upturned drum for summary judgment is a Drumhead court-martial; Court′-plas′ter, sticking-plaster made of silk, originally applied as patches on the face by ladies at court; Court′-roll, the record of a court of justice; Court′ship, courtly behaviour: the act of wooing with intention to marry; Court′-sword, a light dress-sword worn as part of court-dress; Court′yard, a court or enclosed ground before a house.—Court holy water, empty compliments: (obs.) flattery. [O. Fr. cort (Fr. cour)—Low L. cortis, a courtyard—L. cors, cohors, an enclosure; akin to Gr. chortos, an enclosed place, L. hortus, a garden. See Yard.]

Courtesan, -zan, kōrt′e-zan, or kurt′e-zan, n. a court-mistress: a woman of the town, a whore. [Fr.,—It. cortigiana.]

Courtesy, kort′e-si, or kurt′e-si, n. courtliness: elegance of manner: an act of civility or respect: a curtsy: (law) the life interest which the surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.—v.i. to make a curtsy.—pr.p. court′esying; pa.p. court′esied.—n.pl. Court′esy-tī′tles, titles really invalid, but allowed by the usage of society—as to children of peers. [O. Fr. courtoisie.]

Couscous, kus′kus, n. an African dish of granulated flour steamed over broth. [Ar. kuskus.]

Cousin, kuz′n, n. formerly a kinsman generally; now, the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt: a term used by a sovereign in addressing another, or to one of his own noblemen: something kindred or related to another.—ns. Cous′in-ger′man, a first cousin: something closely related; Cous′inhood, Cous′inship.—adj. Cous′inly, like, or having the relation of, a cousin.—n. Cous′inry, cousins collectively.—First cousins, children of brothers and sisters—also called Cousins-german, Full cousins; First cousin once removed, the son or daughter of a cousin-german—sometimes loosely called Second cousin; Second cousins, the children of first cousins. [Fr.,—L. consobrinus—con, sig. connection, and sobrinus for sororinus, applied to the children of sisters—soror, a sister.]

Couteau, koo-tō′, n. a large knife.—Couteau de chasse, a hunting-knife. [Fr.]

Couter, kōō′tėr, n. (slang) a sovereign. [Said to be from Gipsy cuta, a gold piece.]

Couth, kōōth (Spens.), obsolete pa.t. of Can. [See Could.]

Couthie, kōōth′i, adj. friendly, kindly. [Scot.]

Couvade, kōō-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, kōv, 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, kōv, n. (slang) a fellow, a customer:—fem. Cov′ess—dim. Cov′ey. [Prob. conn. with Chap.]

Coven, kōv′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 venīre, 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′ėr, 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-operīre—con, and operīre, to cover.]

Coverlet, kuv′ėr-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—cupĕre, 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. cubāre, 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, venīre, to come.]

Coving, kō′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′āj, 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. kawānch, koānch.]

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 kaurī.]

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′kōm, 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′swān, 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-yōt′e, n. a prairie wolf, abundant in Mexico and Texas. [Mex. coyotl.]

Coypu, koi′pōō, 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.