Chapter LI: Part 51

Hornet fly (Zoˆl.), any dipterous insect of the genus Asilus, and allied genera, of which there are numerous species. They are large and fierce flies which capture bees and other insects, often larger than themselves, and suck their blood. Called also hawk fly, robber fly. -- To stir up a hornet's nest, to provoke the attack of a swarm of spiteful enemies or spirited critics. [Colloq.]

Horn"fish` (?), n. [AS. hornfisc.] (Zoˆl.) The garfish or sea needle.

Horn"foot` (?), a. Having hoofs; hoofed.

Horn"i*fy (?), v. t. [Horn + -fy.] To horn; to cuckold. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Horn"ing, n. Appearance of the moon when increasing, or in the form of a crescent. J. Gregory.

Letters of horning (Scots Law), the process or authority by which a person, directed by the decree of a court of justice to pay or perform anything, is ordered to comply therewith. Mozley & W.

Horn"ish, a. Somewhat like horn; hard.

||Hor*ni"to (?), n. [A dim. fr. Sp. horno oven, L. furnus. See ||Furnace.] (Geol.) A low, oven-shaped mound, common in volcanic ||regions, and emitting smoke and vapors from its sides and summit. ||Humboldt.

Horn"less (?), a. Having no horn.

Horn"-mad` (?), a. Quite mad; -- raving crazy.

Did I tell you about Mr. Garrick, that the town are horn-mad after?

Gray.

Hor"no*tine (?), n. [L. hornotinus of this year.] (Zoˆl.) A yearling; a bird of the year.

Horn"owl` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Horned Owl.

Horn"pike` (?), n. The garfish. [Prov. Eng.]

Horn"pipe` (?), n. (Mus.) (a) An instrument of music formerly popular in Wales, consisting of a wooden pipe, with holes at intervals. It was so called because the bell at the open end was sometimes made of horn. (b) A lively tune played on a hornpipe, for dancing; a tune adapted for such playing.

Many a hornpipe he tuned to his Phyllis.

Sir W. Raleigh.

(c) A dance performed, usually by one person, to such a tune, and popular among sailors.

Horn"pout` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Horned pout, under Horned.

Horn"snake` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A harmless snake (Farancia abacura), found in the Southern United States. The color is bluish black above, red below.

Horn"stone` (?), n. (Min.) A siliceous stone, a variety of quartz, closely resembling flint, but more brittle; -- called also chert.

Horn"tail` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any one of family (UroceridÊ) of large hymenopterous insects, allied to the sawflies. The larvÊ bore in the wood of trees. So called from the long, stout ovipositors of the females.

Horn"work` (?), n. (Fort.) An outwork composed of two demibastions joined by a curtain. It is connected with the works in rear by long wings.

Horn"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) An aquatic plant (Ceratophyllum), with finely divided leaves.

Horn"wrack` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A bryozoan of the genus Flustra.

Horn"y (?), a. [Compar. Hornier (?); superl. Horniest.] 1. Having horns or hornlike projections. Gay.

2. Composed or made of horn, or of a substance resembling horn; of the nature of horn. "The horny . . . coat of the eye." Ray.

3. Hard; callous. "His horny fist." Dryden.

Horn"y-hand`ed (?), a. Having the hands horny and callous from labor.

Horn"y*head` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any North American river chub of the genus Hybopsis, esp. H. biguttatus.

Ho*rog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?; hour + -graphy: cf. F. horographie.] 1. An account of the hours. Chaucer.

2. The art of constructing instruments for making the hours, as clocks, watches, and dials.

Hor"o*loge (?), n. [OE. horologe, orloge, timepiece, OF. horloge, orloge, oriloge, F. horloge, L. horologium, fr. Gr. &?;; &?; hour + &?; to say, tell. See Hour, and Logic.] 1. A servant who called out the hours. [Obs.]

2. An instrument indicating the time of day; a timepiece of any kind; a watch, clock, or dial. Shak.

Ho*rol"o*ger (?), n. A maker or vender of clocks and watches; one skilled in horology.

Hor`o*log"ic*al (?), a. [L. horologicus, Gr. &?;.] Relating to a horologe, or to horology.

Hor`o*lo`gi*og"ra*pher (?), n. [See Horologiography.] A maker of clocks, watches, or dials.

Hor`o*lo`gi*o*graph"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to horologiography. Chambers.

Hor`o*lo`gi*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?; horologe + -graphy.] 1. An account of instruments that show the hour.

2. The art of constructing clocks or dials; horography.

Ho*rol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in horology.

Ho*rol"o*gy (?), n. [See Horologe.] The science of measuring time, or the principles and art of constructing instruments for measuring and indicating portions of time, as clocks, watches, dials, etc.

Ho*rom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; hour + -meter.] An instrument for measuring time.

Hor`o*met"ric*al (?), a. Belonging to horometry.

Ho*rom"e*try (?), n. [Cf. F. horomÈtrie. See Horometer.] The art, practice, or method of measuring time by hours and subordinate divisions. "The horometry of antiquity." Sir T. Browne.

Ho*rop"ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; boundary + &?; one who looks.] (Opt.) The line or surface in which are situated all the points which are seen single while the point of sight, or the adjustment of the eyes, remains unchanged.

The sum of all the points which are seen single, while the point of
sight remains unchanged, is called the horopter.

J. Le Conte.

Hor`op*ter"ic (?), a. (Opt.) Of or pertaining to the horopter.

Hor"o*scope (?), n. [F. horoscope, L. horoscopus, fr. Gr. &?;, adj., observing hours or times, esp. observing the hour of birth, n., a horoscope; &?; hour + &?; to view, observe. See Hour, and -scope.] 1. (Astrol.) (a) The representation made of the aspect of the heavens at the moment of a person's birth, by which the astrologer professed to foretell the events of the person's life; especially, the sign of the zodiac rising above the horizon at such a moment. (b) The diagram or scheme of twelve houses or signs of the zodiac, into which the whole circuit of the heavens was divided for the purposes of such prediction of fortune.

2. The planisphere invented by Jean Paduanus.

3. A table showing the length of the days and nights at all places. Heyse.

{ Hor"o*sco`per (?), Ho*ros"co*pist (?), } n. One versed in horoscopy; an astrologer.

Ho*ros"co*py (?), n. 1. The art or practice of casting horoscopes, or observing the disposition of the stars, with a view to prediction events.

2. Aspect of the stars at the time of a person's birth.

Hor*ren"dous (?), a. [L. horrendus.] Fearful; frightful. [Obs.] I. Watts.

Hor"rent (?), a. [L. horrens, p. pr. of horrere to bristle. See Horror.] Standing erect, as bristles; covered with bristling points; bristled; bristling.

Rough and horrent with figures in strong relief.

De Quincey.

With bright emblazonry and horrent arms.

Milton.

Hor"ri*ble (?), a. [OE. horrible, orrible, OF. horrible, orrible, F. horrible, fr. L. horribilis, fr. horrere. See Horror.] Exciting, or tending to excite, horror or fear; dreadful; terrible; shocking; hideous; as, a horrible sight; a horrible story; a horrible murder.

A dungeon horrible on all sides round.

Milton.

Syn. -- Dreadful; frightful; fearful; terrible; awful; terrific; shocking; hideous; horrid.

Hor"ri*ble*ness, n. The state or quality of being horrible; dreadfulness; hideousness.

The horribleness of the mischief.

Sir P. Sidney.

Hor"ri*bly, adv. In a manner to excite horror; dreadfully; terribly.

Hor"rid (?), a. [L. horridus. See Horror, and cf. Ordure.] 1. Rough; rugged; bristling. [Archaic]

Horrid with fern, and intricate with thorn.

Dryden.

2. Fitted to excite horror; dreadful; hideous; shocking; hence, very offensive.

Not in the legions Of horrid hell.

Shak.

The horrid things they say.

Pope.

Syn. -- Frightful; hideous; alarming; shocking; dreadful; awful; terrific; horrible; abominable.

Hor"rid*ly, adv. In a horrid manner. Shak.

Hor"rid*ness, n. The quality of being horrid.

Hor*rif"ic (?), a. [L. horrifieus; horrere to be horrible + -ficare (in comp.) to make: cf. F. horrifique. See Horror, - fy.] Causing horror; frightful.

Let . . . nothing ghastly or horrific be supposed.

I. Taylor.

Hor`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. That which causes horror. [R.] Miss Edgeworth.

Hor"ri*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Horrified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Horrifying (?).] [L. horrificare. See Horrific.] To cause to feel horror; to strike or impress with horror; as, the sight horrified the beholders. E. Irving.

Hor*rip`i*la"tion (?), n. [L. horripilatio, fr. horripilare to bristle; horrere to bristle + pilus the hair: cf. F. horripilation.] (Med.) A real or fancied bristling of the hair of the head or body, resulting from disease, terror, chilliness, etc.

Hor*ris"o*nant (?), a. Horrisonous. [Obs.]

Hor*ris"o*nous (?), a. [L. horrisonus; horrere to be horrible + sonus a sound.] Sounding dreadfully; uttering a terrible sound. [Obs.] Bailey.

Hor"ror (?), n. [Formerly written horrour.] [L. horror, fr. horrere to bristle, to shiver, to tremble with cold or dread, to be dreadful or terrible; cf. Skr. h&?;sh to bristle.] 1. A bristling up; a rising into roughness; tumultuous movement. [Archaic]

Such fresh horror as you see driven through the wrinkled waves.

Chapman.

2. A shaking, shivering, or shuddering, as in the cold fit which precedes a fever; in old medical writings, a chill of less severity than a rigor, and more marked than an algor.

3. A painful emotion of fear, dread, and abhorrence; a shuddering with terror and detestation; the feeling inspired by something frightful and shocking.

How could this, in the sight of heaven, without horrors of
conscience be uttered?

Milton.

4. That which excites horror or dread, or is horrible; gloom; dreariness.

Breathes a browner horror on the woods.

Pope.

The horrors, delirium tremens. [Colloq.]

<! p. 707 !>

Hor"ror-stick`en (?), a. Struck with horror; horrified.

Blank and horror-stricken faces.

C. Kingsley.

Hor"ror-struck` (?), a. Horror- stricken; horrified. M. Arnold.

||Hors` de com`bat" (?). [F.] Out of the combat; disabled from ||fighting.

Horse (hÙrs), n. [AS. hors; akin to OS. hros, D. & OHG. ros, G. ross, Icel. hross; and perh. to L. currere to run, E. course, current Cf. Walrus.] 1. (Zoˆl.) A hoofed quadruped of the genus Equus; especially, the domestic horse (E. caballus), which was domesticated in Egypt and Asia at a very early period. It has six broad molars, on each side of each jaw, with six incisors, and two canine teeth, both above and below. The mares usually have the canine teeth rudimentary or wanting. The horse differs from the true asses, in having a long, flowing mane, and the tail bushy to the base. Unlike the asses it has callosities, or chestnuts, on all its legs. The horse excels in strength, speed, docility, courage, and nobleness of character, and is used for drawing, carrying, bearing a rider, and like purposes.

Many varieties, differing in form, size, color, gait, speed, etc., are known, but all are believed to have been derived from the same original species. It is supposed to have been a native of the plains of Central Asia, but the wild species from which it was derived is not certainly known. The feral horses of America are domestic horses that have run wild; and it is probably true that most of those of Asia have a similar origin. Some of the true wild Asiatic horses do, however, approach the domestic horse in several characteristics. Several species of fossil (Equus) are known from the later Tertiary formations of Europe and America. The fossil species of other genera of the family EquidÊ are also often called horses, in general sense.

2. The male of the genus horse, in distinction from the female or male; usually, a castrated male.

3. Mounted soldiery; cavalry; -- used without the plural termination; as, a regiment of horse; -- distinguished from foot.

The armies were appointed, consisting of twenty-five thousand horse
and foot.

Bacon.

4. A frame with legs, used to support something; as, a clotheshorse, a sawhorse, etc.

5. A frame of timber, shaped like a horse, on which soldiers were made to ride for punishment.

6. Anything, actual or figurative, on which one rides as on a horse; a hobby.

7. (Mining) A mass of earthy matter, or rock of the same character as the wall rock, occurring in the course of a vein, as of coal or ore; hence, to take horse -- said of a vein -- is to divide into branches for a distance.

8. (Naut.) (a) See Footrope, a. (b) A breastband for a leadsman. (c) An iron bar for a sheet traveler to slide upon. (d) A jackstay. W. C. Russell. Totten.

Horse is much used adjectively and in composition to signify of, or having to do with, a horse or horses, like a horse, etc.; as, horse collar, horse dealer or horse&?;dealer, horsehoe, horse jockey; and hence, often in the sense of strong, loud, coarse, etc.; as, horselaugh, horse nettle or horse-nettle, horseplay, horse ant, etc.

Black horse, Blood horse, etc. See under Black, etc. -- Horse aloes, caballine aloes. -- Horse ant (Zoˆl.), a large ant (Formica rufa); -- called also horse emmet. -- Horse artillery, that portion of the artillery in which the cannoneers are mounted, and which usually serves with the cavalry; flying artillery. -- Horse balm (Bot.), a strong-scented labiate plant (Collinsonia Canadensis), having large leaves and yellowish flowers. -- Horse bean (Bot.), a variety of the English or Windsor bean (Faba vulgaris), grown for feeding horses. -- Horse boat, a boat for conveying horses and cattle, or a boat propelled by horses. -- Horse bot. (Zoˆl.) See Botfly, and Bots. -- Horse box, a railroad car for transporting valuable horses, as hunters. [Eng.] -- Horse breaker or trainer, one employed in subduing or training horses for use. -- Horse car. (a) A railroad car drawn by horses. See under Car. (b) A car fitted for transporting horses. -- Horse cassia (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Cassia Javanica), bearing long pods, which contain a black, catharic pulp, much used in the East Indies as a horse medicine. -- Horse cloth, a cloth to cover a horse. -- Horse conch (Zoˆl.), a large, spiral, marine shell of the genus Triton. See Triton. -- Horse courser. (a) One that runs horses, or keeps horses for racing. Johnson. (b) A dealer in horses. [Obs.] Wiseman. -- Horse crab (Zoˆl.), the Limulus; -- called also horsefoot, horsehoe crab, and king crab. -- Horse crevallÈ (Zoˆl.), the cavally. -- Horse emmet (Zoˆl.), the horse ant. -- Horse finch (Zoˆl.), the chaffinch. [Prov. Eng.] -- Horse gentian (Bot.), fever root. -- Horse iron (Naut.), a large calking iron. -- Horse latitudes, a space in the North Atlantic famous for calms and baffling winds, being between the westerly winds of higher latitudes and the trade winds. Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- Horse mackrel. (Zoˆl.) (a) The common tunny (Orcynus thunnus), found on the Atlantic coast of Europe and America, and in the Mediterranean. (b) The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). (c) The scad. (d) The name is locally applied to various other fishes, as the California hake, the black candlefish, the jurel, the bluefish, etc. -- Horse marine (Naut.), an awkward, lubbery person; one of a mythical body of marine cavalry. [Slang] -- Horse mussel (Zoˆl.), a large, marine mussel (Modiola modiolus), found on the northern shores of Europe and America. -- Horse nettle (Bot.), a coarse, prickly, American herb, the Solanum Carolinense. -- Horse parsley. (Bot.) See Alexanders. -- Horse purslain (Bot.), a coarse fleshy weed of tropical America (Trianthema monogymnum). -- Horse race, a race by horses; a match of horses in running or trotting. -- Horse racing, the practice of racing with horses. -- Horse railroad, a railroad on which the cars are drawn by horses; -- in England, and sometimes in the United States, called a tramway. -- Horse run (Civil Engin.), a device for drawing loaded wheelbarrows up an inclined plane by horse power. -- Horse sense, strong common sense. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Horse soldier, a cavalryman. -- Horse sponge (Zoˆl.), a large, coarse, commercial sponge (Spongia equina). -- Horse stinger (Zoˆl.), a large dragon fly. [Prov. Eng.] -- Horse sugar (Bot.), a shrub of the southern part of the United States (Symplocos tinctoria), whose leaves are sweet, and good for fodder. -- Horse tick (Zoˆl.), a winged, dipterous insect (Hippobosca equina), which troubles horses by biting them, and sucking their blood; -- called also horsefly, horse louse, and forest fly. -- Horse vetch (Bot.), a plant of the genus Hippocrepis (H. comosa), cultivated for the beauty of its flowers; -- called also horsehoe vetch, from the peculiar shape of its pods. -- Iron horse, a locomotive. [Colloq.] -- Salt horse, the sailor's name for salt beef. -- To look a gift horse in the mouth, to examine the mouth of a horse which has been received as a gift, in order to ascertain his age; -- hence, to accept favors in a critical and thankless spirit. Lowell. -- To take horse. (a) To set out on horseback. Macaulay. (b) To be covered, as a mare. (c) See definition 7 (above).

Horse (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Horsed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Horsing.] [AS. horsion.] 1. To provide with a horse, or with horses; to mount on, or as on, a horse. "Being better horsed, outrode me." Shak.

2. To sit astride of; to bestride. Shak.

3. To cover, as a mare; -- said of the male.

4. To take or carry on the back; as, the keeper, horsing a deer. S. Butler.

5. To place on the back of another, or on a wooden horse, etc., to be flogged; to subject to such punishment.

Horse, v. i. To get on horseback. [Obs.] Shelton.

Horse"back` (?), n. 1. The back of a horse.

2. An extended ridge of sand, gravel, and bowlders, in a half-stratified condition. Agassiz.

On horseback, on the back of a horse; mounted or riding on a horse or horses; in the saddle.

The long journey was to be performed on horseback.

Prescott.

Horse`-chest"nut (?), n. (Bot.) (a) The large nutlike seed of a species of ∆sculus (∆. Hippocastanum), formerly ground, and fed to horses, whence the name. (b) The tree itself, which was brought from Constantinople in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and is now common in the temperate zones of both hemispheres. The native American species are called buckeyes.

Horse"-drench` (?), n. 1. A dose of physic for a horse. Shak.

2. The appliance by which the dose is administered.

Horse"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) The moonfish (Selene setipinnis). (b) The sauger.

Horse"flesh` (?), n. 1. The flesh of horses.

The Chinese eat horseflesh at this day.

Bacon.

2. Horses, generally; the qualities of a horse; as, he is a judge of horseflesh. [Colloq.]

Horseflesh ore (Min.), a miner's name for bornite, in allusion to its peculiar reddish color on fresh facture.

Horse"fly` (?), n.; pl. Horseflies (&?;). 1. (Zoˆl.) Any dipterous fly of the family TabanidÊ, that stings horses, and sucks their blood.

Of these flies there are numerous species, both in Europe and America. They have a large proboscis with four sharp lancets for piercing the skin. Called also breeze fly. See Illust. under Diptera, and Breeze fly.

2. (Zoˆl.) The horse tick or forest fly (Hippobosca).

Horse"foot` (?), n.; pl. Horsefeet (#). 1. (Bot.) The coltsfoot.

2. (Zoˆl.) The Limulus or horseshoe crab.

Horse" Guards` (?). (Mil.) A body of cavalry so called; esp., a British regiment, called the Royal Horse Guards, which furnishes guards of state for the sovereign.

The Horse Guards, a name given to the former headquarters of the commander in chief of the British army, at Whitehall in London.

Horse"hair` (?), n. A hair of a horse, especially one from the mane or tail; the hairs of the mane or tail taken collectively; a fabric or tuft made of such hairs.

Horsehair worm (Zoˆl.), the hair worm or gordius.

Horse"head` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The silver moonfish (Selene vomer).

Horse"hide` (?), n. 1. The hide of a horse.

2. Leather made of the hide of a horse.

Horse"-jock`ey (?), n. 1. A professional rider and trainer of race horses.

2. A trainer and dealer in horses.

Horse"knop` (?), n. (Bot.) Knapweed.

Horse"laugh` (?), n. A loud, boisterous laugh; a guffaw. Pope.

Horse"-leech` (?), n. 1. (Zoˆl.) A large blood-sucking leech (HÊmopsis vorax), of Europe and Northern Africa. It attacks the lips and mouths of horses.

2. A farrier; a veterinary surgeon.

Horse"-leech`er*y (?), n. The business of a farrier; especially, the art of curing the diseases of horses.

Horse"-lit`ter (?), n. A carriage hung on poles, and borne by and between two horses. Milton.

Horse"man (?), n.; pl. Horsemen (&?;). 1. A rider on horseback; one skilled in the management of horses; a mounted man.

2. (Mil.) A mounted soldier; a cavalryman.

3. (Zoˆl.) (a) A land crab of the genus Ocypoda, living on the coast of Brazil and the West Indies, noted for running very swiftly. (b) A West Indian fish of the genus Eques, as the light-horseman (E. lanceolatus).

Horse"man*ship, n. The act or art of riding, and of training and managing horses; manege.

Horse"mint` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) A coarse American plant of the Mint family (Monarda punctata). (b) In England, the wild mint (Mentha sylvestris).

Horse"nail` (?), n. A thin, pointed nail, with a heavy flaring head, for securing a horsehoe to the hoof; a horsehoe nail.

Horse"play` (?), n. Rude, boisterous play.

Too much given to horseplay in his raillery.

Dryden.

Horse"pond` (?), n. A pond for watering horses.

Horse" pow`er (?). 1. The power which a horse exerts.

2. (Mach.) A unit of power, used in stating the power required to drive machinery, and in estimating the capabilities of animals or steam engines and other prime movers for doing work. It is the power required for the performance of work at the rate of 33,000 English units of work per minute; hence, it is the power that must be exerted in lifting 33,000 pounds at the rate of one foot per minute, or 550 pounds at the rate of one foot per second, or 55 pounds at the rate of ten feet per second, etc.

The power of a draught horse, of average strength, working eight hours per day, is about four fifths of a standard horse power.

Brake horse power, the net effective power of a prime mover, as a steam engine, water wheel, etc., in horse powers, as shown by a friction brake. See Friction brake, under Friction. -- Indicated horse power, the power exerted in the cylinder of an engine, stated in horse powers, estimated from the diameter and speed of the piston, and the mean effective pressure upon it as shown by an indicator. See Indicator. -- Nominal horse power (Steam Engine), a term still sometimes used in England to express certain proportions of cylinder, but having no value as a standard of measurement.

3. A machine worked by a horse, for driving other machinery; a horse motor.

Horse"-rad`ish (?), n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Nasturtium (N. Armoracia), allied to scurvy grass, having a root of a pungent taste, much used, when grated, as a condiment and in medicine. Gray.

Horse-radish tree. (Bot.) See Moringa.

Horse"rake` (?), n. A rake drawn by a horse.

Horse"shoe` (?), n. 1. A shoe for horses, consisting of a narrow plate of iron in form somewhat like the letter U, nailed to a horse's hoof.

2. Anything shaped like a horsehoe.

3. (Zoˆl.) The Limulus or horsehoe crab.

Horsehoe head (Med.), an old name for the condition of the skull in children, in which the sutures are too open, the coronal suture presenting the form of a horsehoe. Dunglison. -- Horsehoe magnet, an artificial magnet in the form of a horsehoe. -- Horsehoe nail. See Horsenail. -- Horsehoe nose (Zoˆl.), a bat of the genus Rhinolophus, having a nasal fold of skin shaped like a horsehoe.

Horse"shoe`ing (?), n. The act or employment of shoeing horses.

Horse"sho`er (?), n. One who shoes horses.

Horse"tail` (?), n. 1. (Bot.) A leafless plant, with hollow and rushlike stems. It is of the genus Equisetum, and is allied to the ferns. See Illust. of Equisetum.

2. A Turkish standard, denoting rank.

Commanders are distinguished by the number of horsetails carried before them. Thus, the sultan has seven, the grand vizier five, and the pashas three, two, or one.

Shrubby horsetail. (Bot.) See Joint-fir.

Horse"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) A composite plant (Erigeron Canadensis), which is a common weed.

Horse"whip` (?), n. A whip for horses.

Horse"whip`, v. t. To flog or chastise with a horsewhip.

Horse"wom`an (?), n.; pl. Horsewomen (&?;). A woman who rides on horseback.

Horse"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A West Indian tree (Calliandra latifolia) with showy, crimson blossoms.

Horse"worm` (?), n. The larva of a botfly.

Hors"i*ness (?), n. 1. The condition or quality of being a horse; that which pertains to a horse. Tennyson.

2. Fondness for, or interest in, horses.

Hors"ly (?), a. Horselike. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Hors"y (?), a. Pertaining to, or suggestive of, a horse, or of horse racing; as, horsy manners; garments of fantastically horsy fashions. [Colloq.]

Hor*ta"tion (?), n. [L. hortatio, fr. hortari to incite, exhort, fr. hori to urge.] The act of exhorting, inciting, or giving advice; exhortation. [R.]

Hor"ta*tive (?), a. [L. hortativus.] Giving exhortation; advisory; exhortative. Bullokar.

<! p. 708 !>

Hor"ta*tive (?), n. An exhortation. [Obs.]

Hor"ta*to*ry (?), a. [L. hortatorius.] Giving exhortation or advise; encouraging; exhortatory; inciting; as, a hortatory speech. Holland.

Hor*ten"sial (?), a. [L. hortensius, hortensis, fr. hortus garden; akin to E. yard an inclosure.] Fit for a garden. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Hor"ti*cul`tor (?), n. [NL., fr. L. hortus garden + cultor a cultivator, colere to cultivate.] One who cultivates a garden.

Hor`ti*cul"tur*al (?), a. [Cf. F. horticultural.] Of or pertaining to horticulture, or the culture of gardens or orchards.

Hor"ti*cul`ture (?), n. [L. hortus garden + cultura culture: cf. F. horticulture. See Yard an inclosure, and Culture.] The cultivation of a garden or orchard; the art of cultivating gardens or orchards.

Hor`ti*cul"tur*ist (?), n. One who practices horticulture.

Hor"tu*lan (?), a. [L. hortulanus; hortus garden.] Belonging to a garden. [Obs.] Evelyn.

||Hor"tus sic"cus (?). [L., a dry garden.] A collection of specimens of ||plants, dried and preserved, and arranged systematically; an ||herbarium.

Hort"yard (?), n. An orchard. [Obs.]

Ho*san"na (h*zn"n), n.; pl. Hosannas (- nz). [Gr. &?;, fr. Heb. hsh'h nnsave now, save, we pray, hsha' to save (Hiphil, a causative form, of ysha') + n, a particle.] A Hebrew exclamation of praise to the Lord, or an invocation of blessings. "Hosanna to the Highest." Milton.

Hosanna to the Son of David.

Matt. xxi. 9.

Hose (hz), n.; pl. Hose, formerly Hosen (h"z'n). [AS. hose; akin to D. hoos, G. hose breeches, OHG. hosa, Icel. hosa stocking, gather, Dan. hose stocking; cf. Russ. koshulia a fur jacket.] 1. Close-fitting trousers or breeches, as formerly worn, reaching to the knee.

These men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats,
and their other garments.

Dan. iii. 21.

His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk
shank.

Shak.

2. Covering for the feet and lower part of the legs; a stocking or stockings.

3. A flexible pipe, made of leather, India rubber, or other material, and used for conveying fluids, especially water, from a faucet, hydrant, or fire engine.

Hose carriage, cart, or truck, a wheeled vehicle fitted for conveying hose for extinguishing fires. -- Hose company, a company of men appointed to bring and manage hose in the extinguishing of fires. [U.S.] -- Hose coupling, coupling with interlocking parts for uniting hose, end to end. -- Hose wrench, a spanner for turning hose couplings, to unite or disconnect them.

Ho"sen (?), n. pl. See Hose. [Archaic]

Ho"sier (?), n. One who deals in hose or stocking, or in goods knit or woven like hose.

Ho"sier*y (?), n. 1. The business of a hosier.

2. Stockings, in general; goods knit or woven like hose.

Hos"pice (?), n. [F., fr. L. hospitium hospitality, a place where strangers are entertained, fr. hospes stranger, guest. See Host a landlord.] A convent or monastery which is also a place of refuge or entertainment for travelers on some difficult road or pass, as in the Alps; as, the Hospice of the Great St. Bernard.

Hos"pi*ta*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. hospitable, LL. hospitare to receive as a guest. See Host a landlord.] 1. Receiving and entertaining strangers or guests with kindness and without reward; kind to strangers and guests; characterized by hospitality. Shak.

2. Proceeding from or indicating kindness and generosity to guests and strangers; as, hospitable rites.

To where you taper cheers the vale With hospitable ray.

Goldsmith.

Hos"pi*ta*ble*ness, n. The quality of being hospitable; hospitality. Barrow.

Hos"pi*ta*bly, adv. In a hospitable manner.

Hos"pi*tage (?), n. [LL. hospitagium, for L. hospitium. See Hospice.] Hospitality. [Obs.] Spenser.

Hos"pi*tal (?), n. [OF. hospital, ospital, F. hÙpital, LL. hospitale (or perh. E. hospital is directly from the Late Latin), from L. hospitalis relating to a guest, hospitalia apartments for guests, fr. hospes guest. See Host a landlord, and cf. Hostel, Hotel, Spital.] 1. A place for shelter or entertainment; an inn. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. A building in which the sick, injured, or infirm are received and treated; a public or private institution founded for reception and cure, or for the refuge, of persons diseased in body or mind, or disabled, infirm, or dependent, and in which they are treated either at their own expense, or more often by charity in whole or in part; a tent, building, or other place where the sick or wounded of an army cared for.

Hospital ship, a vessel fitted up for a floating hospital. -- Hospital Sunday, a Sunday set apart for simultaneous contribution in churches to hospitals; as, the London Hospital Sunday.

Hos"pi*tal, a. [L. hospitalis: cf. OF. hospital.] Hospitable. [Obs.] Howell.

Hos"pi*tal*er (?), n. [Written also hospitaller.] [F. hospitalier. See Hospital, and cf. Hostler.] 1. One residing in a hospital, for the purpose of receiving the poor, the sick, and strangers.

2. One of an order of knights who built a hospital at Jerusalem for pilgrims, A. D. 1042. They were called Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and after the removal of the order to Malta, Knights of Malta.

Hos"pi*tal*ism (?), n. (Med.) A vitiated condition of the body, due to long confinement in a hospital, or the morbid condition of the atmosphere of a hospital.

Hos`pi*tal"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Hospitalities (#). [L. hospitalitas: cf. F. hospitalitÈ.] The act or practice of one who is hospitable; reception and entertainment of strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.

Given to hospitality.

Rom. xii. 13.

And little recks to find the way to heaven By doing deeds of
hospitality.

Shak.

Hos"pi*tal*ize (?), v. t. (Med.) To render (a building) unfit for habitation, by long continued use as a hospital.

Hos"pi*tate (?), v. i. [L. hospitatus, p. p. of hospitari to be a guest, fr. hospes guest.] To receive hospitality; to be a guest. [Obs.] Grew.

Hos"pi*tate, v. t. To receive with hospitality; to lodge as a guest. [Obs.] Cockeram.

||Hos*pi"ti*um (?), n. [L. See Hospice.] 1. An inn; a lodging; a ||hospice. [Obs.]

2. (Law) An inn of court.

||Hos"po*dar` (?), n. [A Slav. word; cf. Russ. gospodare lord, master.] ||A title borne by the princes or governors of Moldavia and Wallachia ||before those countries were united as Roumania.

Host (hst), n. [LL. hostia sacrifice, victim, from hostire to strike.] (R. C. Ch.) The consecrated wafer, believed to be the body of Christ, which in the Mass is offered as a sacrifice; also, the bread before consecration.

In the Latin Vulgate the word was applied to the Savior as being an offering for the sins of men.

Host, n. [OE. host, ost, OF. host, ost, fr. L. hostis enemy, LL., army. See Guest, and cf. Host a landlord.] 1. An army; a number of men gathered for war.

A host so great as covered all the field.

Dryden.

2. Any great number or multitude; a throng.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God.

Luke ii. 13.

All at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils.

Wordsworth.

Host, n. [OE. host, ost, OF. hoste, oste, F. hÙte, from L. hospes a stranger who is treated as a guest, he who treats another as his guest, a hostl prob. fr. hostis stranger, enemy (akin to E. guest a visitor) + potis able; akin to Skr. pati master, lord. See Host an army, Possible, and cf. Hospitable, Hotel.] One who receives or entertains another, whether gratuitously or for compensation; one from whom another receives food, lodging, or entertainment; a landlord. Chaucer. "Fair host and Earl." Tennyson.

Time is like a fashionable host, That slightly shakes his parting
guest by the hand.

Shak.

Host, v. t. To give entertainment to. [Obs.] Spenser.

Host, v. i. To lodge at an inn; to take up entertainment. [Obs.] "Where you shall host." Shak.

Hos"tage (?), n. [OE. hostage, OF. hostage, ostage, F. Ùtage, LL. hostaticus, ostaticum, for hospitaticum, fr. L. hospes guest, host. The first meaning is, the state of a guest, hospitality; hence, the state of a hostage (treated as a guest); and both these meanings occur in Old French. See Host a landlord.] A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released.

Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we
fight.

Shak.

He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune.

Bacon.

Hos"tel (?), n. [OE. hostel, ostel, OF. hostel, ostel, LL. hospitale, hospitalis, fr. L. hospitalis. See Hospital, and cf. Hotel.] 1. An inn. [Archaic] Poe.

So pass I hostel, hall, and grange.

Tennyson.

2. A small, unendowed college in Oxford or Cambridge. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Hos"tel*er (?), n. [See Hostel, and cf. Hostler.] 1. The keeper of a hostel or inn.

2. A student in a hostel, or small unendowed collede in Oxford or Cambridge. [Obs.] Fuller.

Hos"tel*ry (?), n. [OE. hostelrie, hostelrye, ostelrie, OF. hostelerie, fr. hostel. See Hostel.] An inn; a lodging house. [Archaic] Chaucer. "Homely brought up in a rude hostelry." B. Jonson.

Come with me to the hostelry.

Longfellow.

Host"ess (?), n. [OE. hostesse, ostesse. See Host a landlord.] 1. A female host; a woman who hospitably entertains guests at her house. Shak.

2. A woman who entertains guests for compensation; a female innkeeper. Shak.

Host"ess-ship, n. The character, personality, or office of a hostess. Shak.

Hos"tie (?), n. [F. See 1st Host.] The consecrated wafer; the host. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

Hos"tile (?), a. [L. hostilis, from hostis enemy: cf. F. hostile. See Host an army.] Belonging or appropriate to an enemy; showing the disposition of an enemy; showing ill will and malevolence, or a desire to thwart and injure; occupied by an enemy or enemies; inimical; unfriendly; as, a hostile force; hostile intentions; a hostile country; hostile to a sudden change.

Syn. -- Warlike; inimical; unfriendly; antagonistic; opposed; adverse; opposite; contrary; repugnant.

Hos"tile, n. An enemy; esp., an American Indian in arms against the whites; -- commonly in the plural. [Colloq.] P. H. Sheridan.

Hos"tile*ly, adv. In a hostile manner.

Hos*til"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Hostilities (#). [L. hostilitas: cf. F. hostilitÈ.] 1. State of being hostile; public or private enemy; unfriendliness; animosity.

Hostility being thus suspended with France.

Hayward.

2. An act of an open enemy; a hostile deed; especially in the plural, acts of warfare; attacks of an enemy.

We have showed ourselves generous adversaries . . . and have
carried on even our hostilities with humanity.

Atterbury.

He who proceeds to wanton hostility, often provokes an enemy where
he might have a friend.

Crabb.

Syn. -- Animosity; enmity; opposition; violence; aggression; contention; warfare.

Hos"til*ize (?), v. t. To make hostile; to cause to become an enemy. [Obs.] A. Seward.

Host"ing (?), n. [From Host an army.] [Obs.] 1. An encounter; a battle. "Fierce hosting." Milton.

2. A muster or review. Spenser.

Hos"tler (?), n. [OE. hosteler, osteler, innkeeper, OF. hostelier, F. hÙtelier. See Hostel, and cf. Hospitaler, Hosteler.] 1. An innkeeper. [Obs.] See Hosteler.

2. The person who has the care of horses at an inn or stable; hence, any one who takes care of horses; a groom; - - so called because the innkeeper formerly attended to this duty in person.

3. (Railroad) The person who takes charge of a locomotive when it is left by the engineer after a trip.

Host"less (?), a. Inhospitable. [Obs.] "A hostless house." Spenser.

Host"ry (?), n. [OE. hosterie, osterie, OF. hosterie. See Host a landlord.] 1. A hostelry; an inn or lodging house. [Obs.] Marlowe.

2. A stable for horses. [Obs.] Johnson.

Hot (?), imp. & p. p. of Hote. [Obs.] Spenser.

Hot (?), a. [Compar. Hotter (?); superl. Hottest (?).] [OE. hot, hat, AS. ht; akin to OS. ht, D. heet, OHG. heiz, G. heiss, Icel. heitr, Sw. het, Dan. heed, hed; cf. Goth. heit fever, hais torch. Cf. Heat.] 1. Having much sensible heat; exciting the feeling of warmth in a great degree; very warm; -- opposed to cold, and exceeding warm in degree; as, a hot stove; hot water or air. "A hotvenison pasty." Shak.

2. Characterized by heat, ardor, or animation; easily excited; firely; vehement; passionate; violent; eager.

Achilles is impatient, hot, and revengeful.

Dryden.

There was mouthing in hot haste.

Byron.

3. Lustful; lewd; lecherous. Shak.

4. Acrid; biting; pungent; as, hot as mustard.

Hot bed (Iron Manuf.), an iron platform in a rolling mill, on which hot bars, rails, etc., are laid to cool. -- Hot wall (Gardening), a wall provided with flues for the conducting of heat, to hasten the growth of fruit trees or the ripening of fruit. -- Hot well (Condensing Engines), a receptacle for the hot water drawn from the condenser by the air pump. This water is returned to the boiler, being drawn from the hot well by the feed pump. -- In hot water (Fig.), in trouble; in difficulties. [Colloq.]

Syn. -- Burning; fiery; fervid; glowing; eager; animated; brisk; vehement; precipitate; violent; furious; ardent; fervent; impetuous; irascible; passionate; hasty; excitable.

Hot"bed` (?), n. 1. (Gardening) A bed of earth heated by fermenting manure or other substances, and covered with glass, intended for raising early plants, or for nourishing exotics.

2. A place which favors rapid growth or development; as, a hotbed of sedition.

Hot" blast` (?). See under Blast.

Hot"-blood`ed (?), a. Having hot blood; excitable; high-spirited; irritable; ardent; passionate.

Hot"-brained` (?), a. Ardent in temper; violent; rash; impetuous; as, hot-brained youth. Dryden.

{ Hotch"pot` (?), Hotch"potch` (?), } n. [F. hochepot, fr. hocher to shake + pot pot; both of Dutch or German origin; cf. OD. hutspot hotchpotch, D. hotsen, hutsen, to shake. See Hustle, and Pot, and cf. Hodgepodge.] 1. A mingled mass; a confused mixture; a stew of various ingredients; a hodgepodge.

A mixture or hotchpotch of many tastes.

Bacon.

2. (Law) A blending of property for equality of division, as when lands given in frank-marriage to one daughter were, after the death of the ancestor, blended with the lands descending to her and to her sisters from the same ancestor, and then divided in equal portions among all the daughters. In modern usage, a mixing together, or throwing into a common mass or stock, of the estate left by a person deceased and the amounts advanced to any particular child or children, for the purpose of a more equal division, or of equalizing the shares of all the children; the property advanced being accounted for at its value when given. Bouvier. Tomlins.

This term has been applied in cases of salvage. Story. It corresponds in a measure with collation in the civil and Scotch law. See Collation. Bouvier. Tomlins.

Hot"coc`kles (?), n. [Hot + cockle, cockle being perh. corrupt. fr. knuckle. Cf. F. main chaude (lit., hot hand) hotcockles.] A childish play, in which one covers his eyes, and guesses who strikes him or his hand placed behind him.

Hote (?), v. t. & i. [pres. & imp. Hatte (?), Hot (&?;), etc.; p. p. Hote, Hoten (&?;), Hot, etc. See Hight, Hete.] 1. To command; to enjoin. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

2. To promise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

3. To be called; to be named. [Obs.]

There as I was wont to hote Arcite, Now hight I Philostrate, not
worth a mite.

Chaucer.

Ho*tel" (?), n. [F. hÙtel, OF. hostel. See Hostel.] 1. A house for entertaining strangers or travelers; an inn or public house, of the better class.

2. In France, the mansion or town residence of a person of rank or wealth.

||HÙtel`-de-ville" (?), n. [F.] A city hall or townhouse.

||HÙtel`-Dieu" (?), n. [F.] A hospital.

Hot"en (?), p. p. of Hote.

Hot"foot` (?), adv. In haste; foothot. [Colloq.]

Hot"-head` (?), n. A violent, passionate person; a hasty or impetuous person; as, the rant of a hot-head.

Hot"-head`ed, a. Fiery; violent; rash; hasty; impetuous; vehement. Macaulay.

Hot"house` (?), n. 1. A house kept warm to shelter tender plants and shrubs from the cold air; a place in which the plants of warmer climates may be reared, and fruits ripened.

2. A bagnio, or bathing house. [Obs.] Shak.

3. A brothel; a bagnio. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

4. (Pottery) A heated room for drying green ware.

<! p. 709 !>

Hot"-liv`ered (?), a. Of an excitable or irritable temperament; irascible. Milton.

Hot"ly, adv. [From Hot, a.] 1. In a hot or fiery manner; ardently; vehemently; violently; hastily; as, a hotly pursued.

2. In a lustful manner; lustfully. Dryden.

Hot"-mouthed` (?), a. Headstrong.

That hot-mouthed beast that bears against the curb.

Dryden.

Hot"ness, n. 1. The quality or state of being hot.

2. Heat or excitement of mind or manner; violence; vehemence; impetuousity; ardor; fury. M. Arnold.

Hot"press` (?), v. t. To apply heat to, in conjunction with mechanical pressure, for the purpose of giving a smooth and glossy surface, or to express oil, etc.; as, to hotpress paper, linen, etc.

Hot"pressed` (?), a. Pressed while heat is applied. See Hotpress, v. t.

Hot"-short` (?), a. (Metal.) More or less brittle when heated; as, hot-short iron.

Hot"-spir`it*ed (?), a. Having a fiery spirit; hot-headed.

Hot"spur` (?), n. [Hot + spur.] A rash, hot-headed man. Holinshed.

{ Hot"spur`, Hot"spurred` (?) }, a. Violent; impetuous; headstrong. Spenser. Peacham.

Hot"ten*tot (?), n. [D. Hottentot; -- so called from hot and tot, two syllables of frequent occurrence in their language. Wedgwood.] 1. (Ethnol.) One of a degraded and savage race of South Africa, with yellowish brown complexion, high cheek bones, and wooly hair growing in tufts.

2. The language of the Hottentots, which is remarkable for its clicking sounds.

Hottentot cherry (Bot.), a South African plant of the genus Cassine (C. maurocenia), having handsome foliage, with generally inconspicuous white or green flowers. Loudon. -- Hottentot's bread. (Bot.) See Elephant's foot (a), under Elephant.

Hot"ten*tot*ism (?), n. A term employed to describe one of the varieties of stammering. Tylor.

Hou"dah (?), n. See Howdah.

Hough (?), n. Same as Hock, a joint.

Hough, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Houghed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Houghing.] Same as Hock, to hamstring.

Hough, n. [Cf. D. hak. Cf. Hack.] An adz; a hoe. [Obs.] Bp. Stillingfleet.

Hough, v. t. To cut with a hoe. [Obs.] Johnson.

Hou"let (?), n. (Zoˆl.) An owl. See Howlet.

Hoult (?), n. A piece of woodland; a small wood. [Obs.] See Holt.

Hound (?), n. [OE. hound, hund, dog, AS. hund; akin to OS. & OFries. hund, D. hond, G. hund, OHG. hunt, Icel. hundr, Dan. & Sw. hund, Goth. hunds, and prob. to Lith. sz&?;, Ir. & Gael. cu, L. canis, Gr. &?;, &?;, Skr. Ávan. &radic;229. Cf. Canine, Cynic, Kennel.] 1. (Zoˆl.) A variety of the domestic dog, usually having large, drooping ears, esp. one which hunts game by scent, as the foxhound, bloodhound, deerhound, but also used for various breeds of fleet hunting dogs, as the greyhound, boarhound, etc.

Hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs.

Shak.

2. A despicable person. "Boy! false hound!" Shak.

3. (Zoˆl.) A houndfish.

4. pl. (Naut.) Projections at the masthead, serving as a support for the trestletrees and top to rest on.

5. A side bar used to strengthen portions of the running gear of a vehicle.

To follow the hounds, to hunt with hounds.

Hound, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Hounding.] 1. To set on the chase; to incite to pursuit; as, to hounda dog at a hare; to hound on pursuers. Abp. Bramhall.

2. To hunt or chase with hounds, or as with hounds. L'Estrange.

Hound"fish (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any small shark of the genus Galeus or Mustelus, of which there are several species, as the smooth houndfish (G. canis), of Europe and America; -- called also houndshark, and dogfish.

The European nursehound, or small-spotted dogfish, is Scyllium canicula; the rough houndfish, or large-spotted dogfish, is S. catulus. The name has also sometimes been applied to the bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), and to the silver gar.

Hound"ing, n. 1. The act of one who hounds.

2. (Naut.) The part of a mast below the hounds and above the deck.

Hound's"-tongue` (?), n. [AS. hundes tunge.] (Bot.) A biennial weed (Cynoglossum officinale), with soft tongue-shaped leaves, and an offensive odor. It bears nutlets covered with barbed or hooked prickles. Called also dog's-tongue.

Houp (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Hoopoe. [Obs.]

Hour (?), n. [OE. hour, our, hore, ure, OF. hore, ore, ure, F. heure, L. hora, fr. Gr. &?;, orig., a definite space of time, fixed by natural laws; hence, a season, the time of the day, an hour. See Year, and cf. Horologe, Horoscope.] 1. The twenty-fourth part of a day; sixty minutes.

2. The time of the day, as expressed in hours and minutes, and indicated by a timepiece; as, what is the hour? At what hour shall we meet?

3. Fixed or appointed time; conjuncture; a particular time or occasion; as, the hour of greatest peril; the man for the hour.

Woman, . . . mine hour is not yet come.

John ii. 4.

This is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Luke xxii. 53.

4. pl. (R. C. Ch.) Certain prayers to be repeated at stated times of the day, as matins and vespers.

5. A measure of distance traveled.

Vilvoorden, three hours from Brussels.

J. P. Peters.

After hours, after the time appointed for one's regular labor. -- Canonical hours. See under Canonical. -- Hour angle (Astron.), the angle between the hour circle passing through a given body, and the meridian of a place. -- Hour circle. (Astron.) (a) Any circle of the sphere passing through the two poles of the equator; esp., one of the circles drawn on an artificial globe through the poles, and dividing the equator into spaces of 15∞, or one hour, each. (b) A circle upon an equatorial telescope lying parallel to the plane of the earth's equator, and graduated in hours and subdivisions of hours of right ascension. (c) A small brass circle attached to the north pole of an artificial globe, and divided into twenty- four parts or hours. It is used to mark differences of time in working problems on the globe. -- Hour hand, the hand or index which shows the hour on a timepiece. -- Hour line. (a) (Astron.) A line indicating the hour. (b) (Dialing) A line on which the shadow falls at a given hour; the intersection of an hour circle which the face of the dial. -- Hour plate, the plate of a timepiece on which the hours are marked; the dial. Locke. -- Sidereal hour, the twenty-fourth part of a sidereal day. -- Solar hour, the twenty- fourth part of a solar day. -- The small hours, the early hours of the morning, as one o'clock, two o'clock, etc. -- To keep good hours, to be regular in going to bed early.

Hour"glass` (?), n. An instrument for measuring time, especially the interval of an hour. It consists of a glass vessel having two compartments, from the uppermost of which a quantity of sand, water, or mercury occupies an hour in running through a small aperture unto the lower.

A similar instrument measuring any other interval of time takes its name from the interval measured; as, a half-hour glass, a half-minute glass. A three-minute glass is sometimes called an egg-glass, from being used to time the boiling of eggs.

Hou"ri (?), n.; pl. Houris (#). [Per. hr, hr, hr; akin to Ar. hr, pl. of ahwar beautiful-eyed, black-eyed.] A nymph of paradise; -- so called by the Mohammedans.

Hour"ly (?), a. Happening or done every hour; occurring hour by hour; frequent; often repeated; renewed hour by hour; continual.

In hourly expectation of a martyrdom.

Sharp.

Hour"ly, adv. Every hour; frequently; continually.

Great was their strife, which hourly was renewed.

Dryden.

Hours (?), n. pl. [A translation of L. Horae (Gr. &?;). See Hour.] (Myth.) Goddess of the seasons, or of the hours of the day.

Lo! where the rosy-blosomed Hours, Fair Venus' train, appear.

Gray.

Hous"age (?), n. [From House.] A fee for keeping goods in a house. [R.] Chambers.

House (?), n.; pl. Houses (#). [OE. hous, hus, AS. h&?;s; akin to OS. & OFries. h&?;s, D. huis, OHG. h&?;s, G. haus, Icel. h&?;s, Sw. hus, Dan. huus, Goth. gudh&?;s, house of God, temple; and prob. to E. hide to conceal. See Hide, and cf. Hoard, Husband, Hussy, Husting.] 1. A structure intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but especially, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, a mansion.

Houses are built to live in; not to look on.

Bacon.

Bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench Are from their hives
and houses driven away.

Shak.

2. Household affairs; domestic concerns; particularly in the phrase to keep house. See below.

3. Those who dwell in the same house; a household.

One that feared God with all his house.

Acts x. 2.

4. A family of ancestors, descendants, and kindred; a race of persons from the same stock; a tribe; especially, a noble family or an illustrious race; as, the house of Austria; the house of Hanover; the house of Israel.

The last remaining pillar of their house, The one transmitter of
their ancient name.

Tennyson.

5. One of the estates of a kingdom or other government assembled in parliament or legislature; a body of men united in a legislative capacity; as, the House of Lords; the House of Commons; the House of Representatives; also, a quorum of such a body. See Congress, and Parliament.

6. (Com.) A firm, or commercial establishment.

7. A public house; an inn; a hotel.

8. (Astrol.) A twelfth part of the heavens, as divided by six circles intersecting at the north and south points of the horizon, used by astrologers in noting the positions of the heavenly bodies, and casting horoscopes or nativities. The houses were regarded as fixed in respect to the horizon, and numbered from the one at the eastern horizon, called the ascendant, first house, or house of life, downward, or in the direction of the earth's revolution, the stars and planets passing through them in the reverse order every twenty- four hours.

9. A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece.

10. An audience; an assembly of hearers, as at a lecture, a theater, etc.; as, a thin or a full house.

11. The body, as the habitation of the soul.

This mortal house I'll ruin, Do CÊsar what he can.

Shak.

12. [With an adj., as narrow, dark, etc.] The grave. "The narrow house." Bryant.

House is much used adjectively and as the first element of compounds. The sense is usually obvious; as, house cricket, housemaid, house painter, housework.