Chapter I: W. W (10)

Defn: Of or pertaining to milk; procured from sour milk or whey; as, lactic acid; lactic fermentation, etc. Lactic acid (Physiol. Chem.), a sirupy, colorless fluid, soluble in water, with an intensely sour taste and strong acid reaction. There are at least three isomeric modifications all having the formula C3H6O3. Sarcolactic or paralactic acid occurs chiefly in dead muscle tissue, while ordinary lactic acid results from fermentation. The two acids are alike in having the same constitution (expressed by the name ethylidene lactic acid), but the latter is optically inactive, while sarcolactic acid rotates the plane of polarization to the right. The third acid, ethylene lactic acid, accompanies sarcolactic acid in the juice of flesh, and is optically inactive. -- Lactic ferment, an organized ferment (Bacterium lacticum or lactis), which produces lactic fermentation, decomposing the sugar of milk into carbonic and lactic acids, the latter, of which renders the milk sour, and precipitates the casein, thus giving rise to the so- called spontaneous coagulation of milk. -- Lactic fermentation. See under Fermentation.

LACTIDE Lac"tide, n. Etym: [Lactic + anhydride.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white, crystalline substance, obtained from also, by extension, any similar substance.

LACTIFEROUS Lac*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [l. lac, lactis, milk + -ferous: cf. F. lactifère.]

Defn: Bearing or containing milk or a milky fluid; as, the lactiferous vessels, cells, or tissue of various vascular plants.

LACTIFIC; LACTIFICAL Lac*tif"ic, Lac*tif"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + facere to make.]

Defn: Producing or yielding milk.

LACTIFUGE Lac"ti*fuge, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + fugare to expel.] (Med.)

Defn: A medicine to check the secretion of milk, or to dispel a supposed accumulation of milk in any part of the body.

LACTIM Lac"tim, n. Etym: [Lactic + imido.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of a series of anhydrides resembling the lactams, but of an imido type; as, isatine is a lactim. Cf. Lactam.

LACTIMIDE Lac*tim"ide, n. Etym: [Lactic + imide.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white, crystalline substance obtained as an anhydride of alanine, and regarded as an imido derivative of lactic acid.

LACTIN Lac"tin, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactine. Cf. Galactin.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: See Lactose.

LACTOABUMIN Lac`to*a*bu"min, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. albumin.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: The albumin present on milk, apparently identical with ordinary serum albumin. It is distinct from the casein of milk.

LACTOBUTYROMETER Lac`to*bu`ty*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. butyrometer.]

Defn: An instrument for determining the amount of butter fat contained in a given sample of milk.

LACTODENSIMETER Lac`to*den*sim"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. densimeter.]

Defn: A form of hydrometer, specially graduated, for finding the density of milk, and thus discovering whether it has been mixed with water or some of the cream has been removed.

LACTOMETER Lac*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + meter: cf. F. lactomètre. Cf. Galactometer.]

Defn: An instrument for estimating the purity or richness of milk, as a measuring glass, a specific gravity bulb, or other apparatus.

LACTONE Lac"tone, n. (Chem.)

Defn: One of a series of organic compounds, regarded as anhydrides of certain hydroxy acids. In general, they are colorless liquids, having a weak aromatic odor. They are so called because the typical lactone is derived from lactic acid.

LACTONIC Lac*ton"ic, a. Etym: [From Lactone.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, lactone.

LACTONIC Lac*ton"ic, a. Etym: [From Lactose.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained by the oxidation of milk sugar (lactose).

LACTOPROTEIN Lac`to*pro"te*in, n. Etym: [L.lac, lactis,milk + E. protein.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A peculiar albuminous body considered a normal constituent of milk.

LACTORY Lac"to*ry, a.

Defn: Lactiferous. [Obs.] "Lactory or milky plants." Sir T. Browne.

LACTOSCOPE Lac"to*scope, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis + scope.]

Defn: An instrument for estimating the amount of cream contained in milk by ascertaining its relative opacity.

LACTOSE Lac"tose`, n.

1. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: Sugar of milk or milk sugar; a crystalline sugar present in milk, and separable from the whey by evaporation and crystallization. It has a slightly sweet taste, is dextrorotary, and is much less soluble in water than either cane sugar or glucose. Formerly called lactin.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: See Galactose.

LACTUCA Lac*tu"ca, n. Etym: [L., lettuce. See Lettuce.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of composite herbs, several of which are cultivated foe salad; lettuce.

LACTUCARIUM Lac`tu*ca"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. lactuca lettuce.]

Defn: The inspissated juice of the common lettuce, sometimes used as a substitute for opium.

LACTUCIC Lac*tu"cic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the juice of the Lactuca virosa; -- said of certain acids.

LACTUCIN Lac*tu"cin, n. Etym: [From Lactuca: cf. F. lactucine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white, crystalline substance, having a bitter taste and a neutral reaction, and forming one of the essential ingredients of lactucarium.

LACTUCONE Lac*tu"cone, n. Etym: [From Lactuca.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white, crystalline, tasteless substance, found in the milky sap of species of Lactuca, and constituting an essential ingredient of lactucarium.

LACTURAMIC Lac`tu*ram"ic (, a. Etym: [Lactic + urea + amic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an organic amido acid, which is regarded as a derivative of lactic acid and urea.

LACTYL Lac"tyl, n. Etym: [Lactic + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: An organic residue or radical derived from lactic acid.

LACUNA La*cu"na, n.; pl. L. Lacunæ; E. Lacunas. Etym: [L., ditch, pit, lake, orig., anything hollow. See Lagoon.]

1. A small opening; a small pit or depression; a small blank space; a gap or vacancy; a hiatus.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: A small opening; a small depression or cavity; a space, as a vacant space between the cells of plants, or one of the spaces left among the tissues of the lower animals, which serve in place of vessels for the circulation of the body fluids, or the cavity or sac, usually of very small size, in a mucous membrane.

LACUNAL; LACUNAR La*cu"nal, La*cu"nar, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or having, lacunæ; as, a lacunar circulation.

LACUNAR La*cu"nar, n.; pl. E. Lacunars, L. Lacunaria. Etym: [L.] (Arch.) (a) The ceiling or under surface of any part, especially when it consists of compartments, sunk or hollowed without spaces or bands between the panels. Gwilt (b) One of the sunken panels in such a ceiling.

LACUNE La*cune", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A lacuna. [R.] Landor.

LACUNOSE; LACUNOUS Lac"u*nose`, La*cu"nous, a. Etym: [L. lacunosus full of holes or hollows; cf. F. lacuneux. See Lacuna.] (Biol.)

Defn: Furrowed or pitted; having shallow cavities or lacunæ; as, a lacunose leaf.

LACUSTRAL; LACUSTRINE La*cus"tral, La*cus"trine, a. Etym: [L. lacus lake: cf. F. lacustral, lacustre.]

Defn: Found in, or pertaining to, lakes or ponds, or growing in them; as, lacustrine flowers. Lacustrine deposits (Geol.), the deposits which have been accumulated in fresh-water areas. -- Lacustrine dwellings. See Lake dwellings, under Lake.

LACWORK Lac"work`, n.

Defn: Ornamentation by means of lacquer painted or carved, or simply colored, sprinkled with gold or the like; -- said especially of Oriental work of this kind.

LAD Lad, obs. p. p.

Defn: of Lead, to guide Chaucer.

LAD Lad, n. Etym: [OE. ladde, of Celtic origin; cf. W. , Ir. lath. (. Cf. Lass.]

1. A boy; a youth; a stripling. "Cupid is a knavish lad." Shak. There is a lad here, which hath fire barley loaves and two small fishes. John vi. 9.

2. A companion; a comrade; a mate. Lad's love. (Bot.) See Boy's love, under Boy.

LADANUM Lad"a*num, n. Etym: [L. ladanum, ledanum, Fr. (ladan, laden. Cf. Laudanum.]

Defn: A gum resin gathered from certain Oriental species of Cistus. It has a pungent odor and is chiefly used in making plasters, and for fumigation. [Written also labdanum.]

LADDE Lad"de, obs. imp.

Defn: of Lead, to guide. Chaucer.

LADDER Lad"der, n. Etym: [OE. laddre, AS. hl, hl; akin to OFries. hladder, OHG.leitara, G. leiter, and from the root of E. lean, v. (Lean, v. i., and cf. Climax.]

1. A frame usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened cross strips or rounds forming steps. Some the engines play, And some, more bold, mount ladders to the fire. Dryden.

2. That which resembles a ladder in form or use; hence, that by means of which one attains to eminence. Lowliness is young ambition's ladder. Shak. Fish ladder. See under Fish. -- Ladder beetle (Zoöl.), an American leaf beetle (Chrysomela scalaris). The elytra are silvery white, striped and spotted with green; the under wings are rose-colored. It feeds upon the linden tree. -- Ladder handle, an iron rail at the side of a vertical fixed ladder, to grasp with the hand in climbing. -- Ladder shell (Zoöl.), a spiral marine shell of the genus Scalaria. See Scalaria.

LADDIE Lad"die, n.

Defn: A lad; a male sweetheart. [Scot.]

LADE Lade, v. t. [imp. Laded; p. p. Laded, Laded (; p. pr. & vb. n. Lading.] Etym: [AS. hladan to heap, load, draw (water); akin to D. & G. laden to load, OHG. hladan, ladan, Icel. hla, Sw. ladda, Dan. lade, Goth. afhlapan. Cf. Load, Ladle, Lathe for turning, Last a load.]

1. To load; to put a burden or freight on or in; -- generally followed by that which receives the load, as the direct object. And they laded their asses with the corn. Gen. xlii. 26.

2. To throw in out. with a ladle or dipper; to dip; as, to lade water out of a tub, or into a cistern. And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, Saying, he'll lade it dry to have his way. Shak.

3. (Plate Glass Manuf.)

Defn: To transfer (the molten glass) from the pot to the forming table.

LADE Lade, v. i. Etym: [See Lade, v. t.]

1. To draw water. [Obs.]

2. (Naut.)

Defn: To admit water by leakage, as a ship, etc.

LADE Lade, n. Etym: [Prov. E., a ditch or drain. Cf. Lode, Lead to conduct.]

1. The mouth of a river. [Obs.] Bp. Gibson.

2. A passage for water; a ditch or drain. [Prov. Eng.]

LADEMAN Lade"man, n.

Defn: One who leads a pack horse; a miller's servant. [Obs. or Local]

LADEN Lad"en, p. & a.

Defn: Loaded; freighted; burdened; as, a laden vessel; a laden heart. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity. Is. i. 4. A ship laden with gold. Shak.

LADIED La"died, a.

Defn: Ladylike; not rough; gentle. [Obs.] "Stroked with a ladied land." Feltham.

LADIES' EARDROPS La"dies' ear`drops`. (Bot.)

Defn: The small-flowered Fuchsia (F. coccinea), and other closely related species.

LADIFY La"di*fy, v. t. Etym: [Lady + -fy.]

Defn: To make a lady of; to make ladylike. [Obs.] Massinger.

LADIN La*din", n. Etym: [From L. Latinus Latin. See Latin]

Defn: A Romansch dialect spoken in some parts of Switzerland and the Tyrol.

LADING Lad"ing, n.

1. The act of loading.

2. That which lades or constitutes a load or cargo; freight; burden; as, the lading of a ship. Bill of lading. See under Bill.

LADINO La*di"no, n.; pl. Ladinos. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: One of the half-breed descendants of whites and Indians; a mestizo; -- so called throughout Central America. They are usually of a yellowish orange tinge. Am. Cyc.

LADKIN Lad"kin, n.

Defn: A little lad. [R.] Dr. H. More.

LADLE La"dle, n. Etym: [AS.hlædel, fr. hladan to load, drain. See Lade, v. t.]

1. A cuplike spoon, often of large size, with a long handle, used in lading or dipping. When the materials of glass have been kept long in fusion, the mixture casts up the superfluous salt, which the workmen take off with ladles. Boyle.

2. (Founding)

Defn: A vessel to carry liquid metal from the furnace to the mold.

3. The float of a mill wheel; -- called also ladle board.

4. (Gun.) (a) An instrument for drawing the charge of a cannon. (b) A ring, with a handle or handles fitted to it, for carrying shot. Ladle wood (Bot.), the wood of a South African tree (Cassine Colpoon), used for carving.

LADLE La"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ladled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ladling.]

Defn: To take up and convey in a ladle; to dip with, or as with, a ladle; as, to ladle out soup; to ladle oatmeal into a kettle.

LADLEFUL La"dle*ful, n.; pl. Ladlefuls (.

Defn: A quantity sufficient to fill a ladle.

LADRONE La*drone", n. Etym: [Sp. ladron, L. latro servant, robber, Gr. (

Defn: A robber; a pirate; hence, loosely, a rogue or rascal.

LADY La"dy, n.; pl. Ladies. Etym: [OE. ladi, læfdi, AS. hl, hl; AS. hlaf loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E. dairy. See Loaf, and cf. Lord.]

1. A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household. Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest thou The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady. Wyclif (Gen. xvi. 8.).

2. A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a feminine correlative of lord. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make thee lady. Shak.

3. A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart. The soldier here his wasted store supplies, And takes new valor from his lady's eyes. Waller.

4. A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl. The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but not by right.

5. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman.

6. A wife; -- not now in approved usage. Goldsmith.

7. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster; -- so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. It consists of calcareous plates. Ladies' man, a man who affects the society of ladies. -- Lady altar, an altar in a lady chapel. Shipley. -- Lady chapel, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. -- Lady court, the court of a lady of the manor. -- Lady crab (Zoöl.), a handsomely spotted swimming crab (Platyonichus ocellatus) very common on the sandy shores of the Atlantic coast of the United States. -- Lady fern. (Bot.) See Female fern, under Female, and Illust. of Fern. -- Lady in waiting, a lady of the queen's household, appointed to wait upon or attend the queen. -- Lady Mass, a Mass said in honor of the Virgin Mary. Shipley. Lady of the manor, a lady having jurisdiction of a manor; also, the wife of a manor lord. Lady's maid, a maidservant who dresses and waits upon a lady. Thackeray. -- Our Lady, the Virgin Mary.

LADY La"dy, a.

Defn: Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike. "Some lady trifles." Shak.

LADYBIRD La"dy*bird`, n. Etym: [Equiv. to, bird of Our Lady.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of small beetles of the genus Coccinella and allied genera (family Coccinellidæ); -- called also ladybug, ladyclock, lady cow, lady fly, and lady beetle. Coccinella seplempunctata in one of the common European species. See Coccinella.

Note: The ladybirds are usually more or less hemispherical in form, with a smooth, polished surface, and often colored red, brown, or black, with small spots of brighter colors. Both the larvæ and the adult beetles of most species feed on aphids, and for this reason they are very beneficial to agriculture and horticulture.

LADYBUG La"dy*bug`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Ladybird.

LADYCLOCK La"dy*clock`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Ladyrird.

LADY DAY La"dy` day

Defn: The day of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25. See Annunciation.

LADY DAY La"dy` Day` (da).

Defn: The day of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25. See Annunciation.

LADYFISH La"dy*fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A large, handsome oceanic fish (Albula vulpes), found both in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; -- called also bonefish, grubber, French mullet, and macabé. (b) A labroid fish (Harpe rufa) of Florida and the West Indies.

LADYHOOD La"dy*hood, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being a lady; the personality of a lady.

LADY-KILLER La"dy-kill`er, n.

Defn: A gallant who captivates the hearts of women. "A renowned dandy and lady-killer." Blackw. Mag.

LADY-KILLING La"dy-kill`ing, n.

Defn: The art or practice of captivating the hearts of women. Better for the sake of womankind that this dangerous dog should leave off lady-killing. Thackeray.

LADYKIN La"dy*kin, n. Etym: [Lady + -kin.]

Defn: A little lady; -- applied by the writers of Queen Elizabeth's time, in the abbreviated form Lakin, to the Virgin Mary.

Note: The diminutive does not refer to size, but is equivalent to "dear." Brewer.

LADYLIKE La"dy*like`, a.

1. Like a lady in appearance or manners; well-bred. She was ladylike, too, after the manner of the feminine gentility of those days. Hawthorne.

2. Becoming or suitable to a lady; as, ladylike manners. "With fingers ladylike." Warner.

3. Delicate; tender; feeble; effeminate. Too ladylike a long fatigue to bear. Dryden.

LADYLIKENESS La"dy*like`ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being ladylike.

LADYLOVE La"dy*love`, n.

Defn: A sweetheart or mistress.

LADY'S BEDSTRAW La"dy's bed"straw`, (Bot.)

Defn: The common bedstraw (Galium verum); also, a slender-leaved East Indian shrub (Pharnaceum Mollugo), with white flowers in umbels.

LADY'S BOWER La"dy's bow"er. (Bot.)

Defn: A climbing plant with fragrant blossoms (Clematis vitalba).

Note: This term is sometimes applied to other plants of the same genus.

LADY'S CLOTH La"dy's cloth`

Defn: A kind of broadcloth of light weight, used for women's dresses, cloaks, etc.

LADY'S COMB La"dy's comb", (Bot.)

Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Scandix Pecten-Veneris), its clusters of long slender fruits remotely resembling a comb.

LADY'S CUSHION La"dy's cush"ion, (Bot.)

Defn: An herb growing in dense tufts; the thrift (Armeria vulgaris).

LADY'S FINGER La"dy's fin"ger,

1. pl. (Bot.)

Defn: The kidney vetch.

2. (Cookery)

Defn: A variety of small cake of about the dimensions of a finger.

3. A long, slender variety of the potato.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the branchiæ of the lobster.

LADY'S GARTERS La"dy's gar"ters. (Bot.)

Defn: Ribbon grass.

LADY'S HAIR La"dy's hair". (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Briza (B. media); a variety of quaking grass.

LADYSHIP La"dy*ship, n.

Defn: The rank or position of a lady; -- given as a title (preceded by her or your.) Your ladyship shall observe their gravity. B. Jonson.

LADY'S LACES La"dy's la"ces. (Bot.)

Defn: A slender climbing plant; dodder.

LADY'S LOOKING-GLASS La"dy's look"ing-glass`. (Bot.)

Defn: See Venus's looking-glass, under Venus.

LADY'S MANTLE La"dy's man"tle. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of rosaceous herbs (Alchemilla), esp. the European A. vulgaris, which has leaves with rounded and finely serrated lobes.

LADY'S SEAL La"dy's seal".(Bot.) (a) The European Solomon's seal (Polygonatum verticillatum). (b) The black bryony (Tamus communis).

LADY'S SLIPPER La"dy's slip"per. (Bot.)

Defn: Any orchidaceous plant of the genus Cypripedium, the labellum of which resembles a slipper. Less commonly, in the United States, the garden balsam (Impatiens Balsamina).

LADY'S SMOCK La"dy's smock". (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Cardamine (C. pratensis); cuckoo flower.

LADY'S THIMBLE La"dy's thim"ble. (Bot.)

Defn: The harebell.

LADY'S THUMB La"dy's thumb". (Bot.)

Defn: An annual weed (Polygonum Persicaria), having a lanceolate leaf with a dark spot in the middle.

LADY'S TRACES; LADIES' TRESSES; LADIES TRESSES La"dy's tra"ces, La"dies' tress"es. (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to several species of the orchidaceous genus Spiranthes, in which the white flowers are set in spirals about a slender axis and remotely resemble braided hair.

LAELAPS Læ"laps, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ( (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of huge, carnivorous, dinosaurian reptiles from the Cretaceous formation of the United States. They had very large hind legs and tail, and are supposed to have been bipedal. Some of the species were about eighteen feet high.

LAEMMERGEYER Laem"mer*gey`er, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Lammergeir.

LAEMODIPOD Læ*mod"i*pod, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Læmodipoda.

LAEMODIPODA Læ`mo*dip"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of amphipod Crustacea, in which the abdomen is small or rudimentary and the legs are often reduced to five pairs. The whale louse, or Cyamus, and Caprella are examples.

LAEMODIPODOUS Læ`mo*dip"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Læmodipoda.

LAETERE SUNDAY Læ*te"re Sun"day

Defn: . The fourth Sunday of Lent; -- so named from the Latin word Lætare (rejoice), the first word in the antiphone of the introit sung that day in the Roman Catholic service.

LAEVIGATE Læv"i*gate, a. Etym: [See Levigate.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having a smooth surface, as if polished.

LAEVO- Læ"vo-

Defn: . A prefix. See Levo.

LAEVOROTATORY Læ"vo*ro"ta*to*ry, a.

Defn: Same as Levorotatory. Cf. Dextrorotatory.

LAEVULOSE Læv"u*lose`, n. (Chem.)

Defn: See Levulose.

LAFAYETTE La`fa`yette", n. (Zoöl.) (a) The dollar fish. (b) A market fish, the goody, or spot (Liostomus xanthurus), of the southern coast of the United States.

LAFT Laft, obs. p. p.

Defn: of Leave. Chaucer.

LAFTE Laf"te, obs. imp.

Defn: of Leave. Chaucer.

LAG Lag, a. Etym: [Of Celtic origin: cf. Gael. & Ir. lagweak, feeble, faint, W. llag, llac, slack, loose, remiss, sluggish; prob. akin to E. lax, languid.]

1. Coming tardily after or behind; slow; tardy. [Obs.] Came too lag to see him buried. Shak.

2. Last; long-delayed; -- obsolete, except in the phrase lag end. "The lag end of my life." Shak.

3. Last made; hence, made of refuse; inferior. [Obs.] "Lag souls." Dryden.

LAG Lag, n.

1. One who lags; that which comes in last. [Obs.] "The lag of all the flock." Pope.

2. The fag-end; the rump; hence, the lowest class. The common lag of people. Shak.

3. The amount of retardation of anything, as of a valve in a steam engine, in opening or closing.

4. A stave of a cask, drum, etc.; especially (Mach.), one of the narrow boards or staves forming the covering of a cylindrical object, as a boiler, or the cylinder of a carding machine or a steam engine.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Graylag. Lag of the tide, the interval by which the time of high water falls behind the mean time, in the first and third quarters of the moon; -- opposed to priming of the tide, or the acceleration of the time of high water, in the second and fourth quarters; depending on the relative positions of the sun and moon. -- Lag screw, an iron bolt with a square head, a sharp-edged thread, and a sharp point, adapted for screwing into wood; a screw for fastening lags.

LAG Lag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Lagging.]

Defn: To walk or more slowly; to stay or fall behind; to linger or loiter. "I shall not lag behind." Milton.

Syn. -- To loiter; linger; saunter; delay; be tardy.

LAG Lag, v. t.

1. To cause to lag; to slacken. [Obs.] "To lag his flight." Heywood.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: To cover, as the cylinder of a steam engine, with lags. See Lag, n., 4.

LAG Lag, n.

Defn: One transported for a crime. [Slang, Eng.]

LAG Lag, v. t.

Defn: To transport for crime. [Slang, Eng.] She lags us if we poach. De Quincey.

LAGAN La"gan, n. & v.

Defn: See Ligan.

LAGARTO La*gar"to, n. Etym: [See Alligator.]

Defn: An alligator. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

LAGENA La*ge"na, n.; pl. L. Lagenæ, E. Lagenas. Etym: [L., a flask; cf. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The terminal part of the cochlea in birds and most reptiles; an appendage of the sacculus, corresponding to the cochlea, in fishes and amphibians.

LAGENIAN La*ge"ni*an, a. Etym: [See Lagena.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like, or pertaining to, Lagena, a genus of Foraminifera having a straight, chambered shell.

LAGENIFORM La*ge"ni*form, a. Etym: [See Lagena, and -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Shaped like a bottle or flask; flag-shaped.

LAGER La"ger, n.

Defn: Lager beer.

LAGER BEER La"ger beer`. Etym: [G. lager bed, storehouse + bier beer. See Lair, and Beer.]

Defn: Originally a German beer, but now also made in immense quantities in the United States; -- so called from its being laid up or stored for some months before use.

LAGER WINE La"ger wine`

Defn: . Wine which has been kept for some time in the cellar. Simmonds.

LAGGARD Lag"gard, a. Etym: [Lag + -ard.]

Defn: Slow; sluggish; backward.

LAGGARD Lag"gard, n.

Defn: One who lags; a loiterer.

LAGGER Lag"ger, n.

Defn: A laggard.

LAGGING Lag"ging, n.

1. (Mach.)

Defn: The clothing (esp., an outer, wooden covering), as of a steam cylinder, applied to prevent the radiation of heat; a covering of lags; -- called also deading and cleading.

2. Lags, collectively; narrow planks extending from one rib to another in the centering of arches.

LAGGINGLY Lag"ging*ly, adv.

Defn: In a lagging manner; loiteringly.

LAGLY Lag"ly, adv.

Defn: Laggingly. [Prov. Eng.]

LAGNIAPPE; LAGNAPPE La*gniappe, La*gnappe", n. [Etym. uncertain.]

Defn: In Louisiana, a trifling present given to customers by tradesmen; a gratuity.

Lagniappe . . .is something thrown in, gratis, for good measure. Mark Twain.

LAGOMORPH Lag"o*morph, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Lagomorpha.

LAGOMORPHA Lag`o*mor"pha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of rodents, including the hares. They have four incisors in the upper jaw. Called also Duplicidentata.

LAGOON La*goon", n. Etym: [It. or Sp. laguna, L. lacuna ditch, pool, pond,lacus lake. See Lake, and cf. Lacuna.] [Written also lagune.]

1. A shallow sound, channel, pond, or lake, especially one into which the sea flows; as, the lagoons of Venice.

2. A lake in a coral island, often occupying a large portion of its area, and usually communicating with the sea. See Atoll. Lagoon island, a coral island consisting of a narrow reef encircling a lagoon.

LAGOPHTHALMIA; LAGOPHTHALMOS Lag`oph*thal"mi*a, Lag`oph*thal"mos, n. Etym: [NL. lagophtalmia, fr. Gr. lagw`s hare + 'ofqalmo`s eye; -- so called from the notion that a hare sleeps with his eyes open.] (Med.)

Defn: A morbid condition in which the eye stands wide open, giving a peculiar staring appearance.

LAGOPOUS La*go"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having a dense covering of long hair, like the foot of a hare.

LAGTHING Lag"thing, n. [Norw. lagting, lagthing; lag company, society (akin to E. law, lay) + ting, thing, parliament. See Thing.]

Defn: See Legislatature, below.

LAGUNE La*gune", n.

Defn: See Lagoon.

LAIC; LAICAL La"ic, La"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. laicus: cf. F. laïque. See Lay laic.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a layman or the laity. "Laical literature." Lowell. An unprincipled, unedified, and laic rabble. Milton.

LAIC La"ic, n.

Defn: A layman. Bp. Morton.

LAICALITY La"ic*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being laic; the state or condition of a layman.

LAICALLY La"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: As a layman; after the manner of a layman; as, to treat a matter laically.

LAID Laid, imp. & p. p.

Defn: of Lay. Laid paper, paper marked with parallel lines or water marks, as if ribbed, from parallel wires in the mold. It is called blue laid, cream laid, etc., according to its color.

LAIDLY Laid"ly, a.

Defn: Ugly; loathsome. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] This laidly and loathsome worm. W. Howitt.

LAIN Lain, p. p.

Defn: of Lie, v. i.

LAINERE Lain"ere, n.

Defn: See Lanier. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LAIR Lair, n. Etym: [OE. leir, AS. leger; akin to D. leger, G. lager couch, lair, OHG. laga, Goth. ligrs, and to E. lie. See Lie to be prostrate, and cf. Layer, Leaguer.]

1. A place in which to lie or rest; especially, the bed or couch of a wild beast.

2. A burying place. [Scot.] Jamieson.

3. A pasture; sometimes, food. [Obs.] Spenser.

LAIRD Laird, n. Etym: [See Lord.]

Defn: A lord; a landholder, esp. one who holds land directly of the crown. [Scot.]

LAIRDSHIP Laird"ship, n.

Defn: The state of being a laird; an estate; landed property. [Scot.] Ramsay.

LAISM La"ism, n.

Defn: See Lamaism. [R.]

LAISSEZ FAIRE Lais`sez" faire". Etym: [F., let alone.]

Defn: Noninterference; -- an axiom of some political economists, deprecating interference of government by attempts to foster or regulate commerce, manufactures, etc., by bounty or by restriction; as, the doctrine of laissez faire; the laissez faire system government.

LAITY La"i*ty, n. Etym: [See Lay, a.]

1. The people, as distinguished from the clergy; the body of the people not in orders. A rising up of the laity against the sacerdotal caste. Macaulay.

2. The state of a layman. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

3. Those who are not of a certain profession, as law or medicine, in distinction from those belonging to it.

LAKAO La*ka"o, n.

Defn: Sap green. [China]

LAKE Lake, n. Etym: [F. laque, fr. Per. See Lac.]

Defn: A pigment formed by combining some coloring matter, usually by precipitation, with a metallic oxide or earth, esp. with aluminium hydrate; as, madder lake; Florentine lake; yellow lake, etc.

LAKE Lake, n. Etym: [Cf. G. laken.]

Defn: A kind of fine white linen, formerly in use. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LAKE Lake, v. i. Etym: [AS. lacan, læcan, to spring, jump, lac play, sport, or fr. Icel. leika to play, sport; both akin to Goth. laikan to dance. sq. root120. Cf. Knowledge.]

Defn: To play; to sport. [Prov. Eng.]

LAKE Lake, n. Etym: [AS. lac, L. lacus; akin to AS. lagu lake, sea, Icel. lögr; OIr. loch; cf. Gr. Loch, Lough.]

Defn: A large body of water contained in a depression of the earth's surface, and supplied from the drainage of a more or less extended area.

Note: Lakes are for the most part of fresh water; the salt lakes, like the Great Salt Lake of Utah, have usually no outlet to the ocean. Lake dwellers (Ethnol.), people of a prehistoric race, or races, which inhabited different parts of Europe. Their dwellings were built on piles in lakes, a short distance from the shore. Their relics are common in the lakes of Switzerland. -- Lake dwellings (Archæol.), dwellings built over a lake, sometimes on piles, and sometimes on rude foundations kept in place by piles; specifically, such dwellings of prehistoric times. Lake dwellings are still used by many savage tribes. Called also lacustrine dwellings. See Crannog. -- Lake fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of dipterous flies of the genus Chironomus. In form they resemble mosquitoes, but they do not bite. The larvæ live in lakes. -- Lake herring (Zoöl.), the cisco (Coregonus Artedii). -- Lake poets, Lake school, a collective name originally applied in contempt, but now in honor, to Southey, Coleridge, and Wordsworth, who lived in the lake country of Cumberland, England, Lamb and a few others were classed with these by hostile critics. Called also lakers and lakists. -- Lake sturgeon (Zoöl.), a sturgeon (Acipenser rubicundus), of moderate size, found in the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. It is used as food. -- Lake trout (Zoöl.), any one of several species of trout and salmon; in Europe, esp. Salmo fario; in the United States, esp. Salvelinus namaycush of the Great Lakes, and of various lakes in New York, Eastern Maine, and Canada. A large variety of brook trout (S. fontinalis), inhabiting many lakes in New England, is also called lake trout. See Namaycush. -- Lake whitefish. (Zoöl.) See Whitefish. -- Lake whiting (Zoöl.), an American whitefish (Coregonus Labradoricus), found in many lakes in the Northern United States and Canada. It is more slender than the common whitefish.

LAKE-DWELLER Lake"-dwell`er, n.

Defn: See Lake dwellers, under Lake.

LAKELET Lake"let, n.

Defn: A little lake. Southey.

LAKER Lak"er, n. One that is connected with a lake or lakes, as in habitation, toil, etc.: (a) One of the poets of the Lake school. See Lake poets, under Lake, n. (b) (Zoöl.) A fish living in, or taken from, a lake, esp. the namaycush. (c) A lake steamer or canal boat.

The bridge tender . . . thought the Cowies "a little mite" longer than that laker. The Century.

LAKEWEED Lake"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The water pepper (Polygonum Hydropiper), an aquatic plant of Europe and North America.

LAKH Lakh, n.

Defn: Same as Lac, one hundred thousand.

LAKIN La"kin, n.

Defn: See Ladykin.

LAKKE Lak"ke, n. & v.

Defn: See Lack. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LAKY Lak"y, a.

Defn: Pertaining to a lake. Sir W. Scott.

LAKY Lak"y, a. Etym: [From Lake the pigment.]

Defn: Transparent; -- said of blood rendered transparent by the action of some solvent agent on the red blood corpuscles.

LALLATION Lal*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. lallare to sing lalla, or lullaby: cf. F. lallation.]

Defn: An imperfect enunciation of the letter r, in which it sounds like l.

LALO La"lo, n.

Defn: The powdered leaves of the baobab tree, used by the Africans to mix in their soup, as the southern negroes use powdered sassafras. Cf. Couscous.

LAM Lam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lamming.] Etym: [Icel. lemja to beat, or lama to bruise, both fr. lami, lama, lame. See Lame.]

Defn: To beat soundly; to thrash. [Obs. or Low] Beau. & Fl.

LAMA La"ma, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Llama.

LAMA La"ma, n. Etym: [Thibet. blama (pronounced lä''ma) a chief, a high priest.]

Defn: In Thibet, Mongolia, etc., a priest or monk of the belief called Lamaism. The Grand Lama, or Dalai Lama Etym: [lit., Ocean Lama], the supreme pontiff in the lamaistic hierarchy. See Lamaism.

LAMAIC La"ma*ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Lamaism.

LAMAISM La"ma*ism, n.

Defn: A modified form of Buddhism which prevails in Thibet, Mongolia, and some adjacent parts of Asia; -- so called from the name of its priests. See 2d Lama.

LAMAIST; LAMAITE La"ma*ist, La"ma*ite n.

Defn: One who believes in Lamaism.

LAMAISTIC La`ma*is"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Lamaism.

LAMANTIN La*man"tin, n. Etym: [F. lamantin, lamentin, prob. from the name of the animal in the Antilles. Cf. Manater.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The manatee. [Written also lamentin, and lamantine.]

LAMARCKIAN La*marck"i*an, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or involved in, the doctrines of Lamarckianism.

LAMARCKIANISM La*marck"i*an*ism, n. (Biol.)

Defn: Lamarckism.

LAMARCKISM La"marck"ism, n. Etym: [From Lamarck, a distinguished French naturalist.] (Biol.)

Defn: The theory that structural variations, characteristic of species and genera, are produced in animals and plants by the direct influence of physical environments, and esp., in the case of animals, by effort, or by use or disuse of certain organs.

LAMASERY La"ma*ser*y, n. Etym: [See 2d Lama.]

Defn: A mo

LAMB Lamb, n. Etym: [AS. lamb; akin to D. & Dan. lam, G. & Sw. lamm, OS., Goth., & Icel. lamb.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The young of the sheep.

2. Any person who is as innocent or gentle as a lamb.

3. A simple, unsophisticated person; in the cant of the Stock Exchange, one who ignorantly speculates and is victimized. Lamb of God, The Lamb (Script.), the Jesus Christ, in allusion to the paschal lamb. The twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev. xxi. 14. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John i. 29. -- Lamb's lettuce (Bot.), an annual plant with small obovate leaves (Valerianella olitoria), often used as a salad; corn salad. [Written also lamb lettuce.] -- Lamb's tongue, a carpenter's plane with a deep narrow bit, for making curved grooves. Knight. -- Lamb's wool. (a) The wool of a lamb. (b) Ale mixed with the pulp of roasted apples; -- probably from the resemblance of the pulp of roasted apples to lamb's wool. [Obs.] Goldsmith.

LAMB Lamb, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lambed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lambing.]

Defn: To bring forth a lamb or lambs, as sheep.

LAMBALE Lamb"ale`, n.

Defn: A feast at the time of shearing lambs.

LAMBASTE Lam*baste", v. t. Etym: [Lam + baste to beat.]

Defn: To beat severely. [Low] Nares.

LAMBATIVE Lam"ba*tive, a. Etym: [L. lambere to lick. See Lambent.]

Defn: Taken by licking with the tongue. "Sirups and lambative medicines." Sir T. Browne.

LAMBATIVE Lam"ba*tive, n.

Defn: A medicine taken by licking with the tongue; a lincture. Wiseman.

LAMBDA Lamb"da, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. The name of the Greek letter

2. (Anat.)

Defn: The point of junction of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures of the skull. Lambda moth (Zoöl.), a moth so called from a mark on its wings, resembling the Greek letter lambda (

LAMBDACISM Lamb"da*cism, n. Etym: [L. lambdacismus, Gr. la`mbda the letter lambda (

1. A fault in speaking or in composition, which consists in too frequent use of the letter l, or in doubling it erroneously.

2. A defect in pronunciation of the letter l when doubled, which consists in giving it a sound as if followed by y, similar to that of the letters lli in billion.

3. The use of the sound of l for that of r in pronunciation; lallation; as, Amelican for American.

LAMBDOID Lamb"doid, a. Etym: [Gr. la`mbda the letter lambda (e"i^dos shape.]

Defn: Shaped like the Greek letter lambda (as, the lambdoid suture between the occipital and parietal bones of the skull.

LAMBDOIDAL Lamb*doid"al, a.

Defn: Same as Lambdoid.

LAMBENT Lam"bent, a. Etym: [L. lambens, -enlis, p. pr. of lambere to lick; akin to lap. See Lap to drink by licking.]

1. Playing on the surface; touching lightly; gliding over. "A lambent flame." Dryden. "A lambent style." Beaconsfield.

2. Twinkling or gleaming; fickering. "The lambent purity of the stars." W. Irving.

LAMBERT PINE Lam"bert pine`. Etym: [So called from Lambert, an English botanist.] (Bot.)

Defn: The gigantic sugar pine of California and Oregon (Pinus Lambertiana). It has the leaves in fives, and cones a foot long. The timber is soft, and like that of the white pine of the Eastern States.

LAMBKILL Lamb"kill`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A small American ericaceous shrub (Kalmia angustifolia); -- called also calfkill, sheepkill, sheep laurel, etc. It is supposed to poison sheep and other animals that eat it at times when the snow is deep and they cannot find other food.

LAMBKIN Lamb"kin, n.

Defn: A small lamb.

LAMBLIKE Lamb"like, a.

Defn: Like a lamb; gentle; meek; inoffensive.

LAMBOYS Lam"boys, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. F. lambeau. Cf. Label.] (Anc. Armor)

Defn: Same as Base, n., 19.

LAMBREQUIN Lam"bre*quin, n. Etym: [F. Cf. Lamboys, Label.]

1. A kind of pendent scarf or covering attached to the helmet, to protect it from wet or heat.

2. A leather flap hanging from a cuirass. Wilhelm.

3. A piece of ornament drapery or short decorative hanging, pendent from a shelf or from the casing above a window, hiding the curtain fixtures, or the like.

LAMBSKIN Lamb"skin`, n.

1. The skin of a lamb; especially, a skin dressed with the wool on, and used as a mat. Also used adjectively.

2. A kind of woolen.

LAMBSKINNET Lamb"skin`net", n.

Defn: See Lansquenet.

LAMB'S-QUARTERS Lamb's-quar"ters, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to several plants of the Goosefoot family, sometimes used as pot herbs, as Chenopodium album and Atriplex patulsa.

LAMDOIDAL Lam*doid"al, a.

Defn: Lambdoid. [R.]

LAME Lame, a. [Compar. Lamer; superl. Lamest.] Etym: [OE. lame, AS. lama; akin to D. lam, G. lahm,OHG., Dan., & Sw. lam, Icel. lami, Russ. lomate to break, lomota rheumatism.]

1. (a) Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a lame leg, arm, or muscle. (b) To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. "Lame of one leg." Arbuthnot. "Lame in both his feet." 2 Sam. ix. 13. "He fell, and became lame." 2 Sam. iv. 4.

2. Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect. "A lame endeavor." Barrow. O, most lame and impotent conclusion! Shak. Lame duck (stock Exchange), a person who can not fulfill his contracts. [Cant]

LAME Lame, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Laming.]

Defn: To make lame. If you happen to let child fall and lame it. Swift.

LAMEL Lam"el, n.

Defn: See Lamella.

LAMELLA La*mel"la, n.; pl. L. Lamellæ, E. Lamellas. Etym: [L. lamella, dim. of lamina plate, leaf, layer: cf. F. lamelle. Cf. Lamina, Omelet.]

Defn: a thin plate or scale of anything, as a thin scale growing from the petals of certain flowers; or one of the thin plates or scales of which certain shells are composed.

LAMELLAR; LAMELLARLY Lam"el*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lamellaire.]

Defn: Flat and thin; lamelliform; composed of lamellæ. -- Lam"el*lar*ly, adv.

Defn: In thin plates or scales.

LAMELLARY Lam"el*la*ry, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to lamella or to lamellæ; lamellar.

LAMELLATE; LAMELLATED Lam"el*late, Lam"el*la`ted, a. Etym: [See Lamella.]

Defn: Composed of, or furnished with, thin plates or scales. See Illust. of Antennæ.

LAMELLIBRANCH La*mel"li*branch, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Lamellibranchia. Also used adjectively.

LAMELLIBRANCHIA; LAMELLIBRANCHIATA La*mel`li*bran"chi*a, La*mel`li*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See lamella, and Branchia, Branchiate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A class of Mollusca including all those that have bivalve shells, as the clams, oysters, mussels, etc.

Note: They usually have two (rarely but one) flat, lamelliform gills on each side of the body. They have an imperfectly developed head, concealed within the shell, whence they are called Acephala. Called also Conchifera, and Pelecypoda. See Bivalve.

LAMELLIBRANCHIATE Lam`el*li*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having lamellar gills; belonging to the Lamellibranchia. -- n.

Defn: One of the Lamellibranchia.

LAMELLICORN La*mel"li*corn, a. Etym: [Lamella + L. cornu a horn: cf. F. lamellicorne. See Lamella.] (Zoöl.) (a) Having antennæ terminating in a group of flat lamellæ; -- said of certain coleopterous insects. (b) Terminating in a group of flat lamellæ; -- said of antennæ. -- n.

Defn: A lamellicorn insect.

LAMELLICORNIA La*mel`li*cor"ni*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Lamellicorn.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of lamellicorn, plant-eating beetles; -- called also Lamellicornes.

LAMELLIFEROUS Lam`el*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Lamella + -ferous: cf. F. lamellifère.]

Defn: Bearing, or composed of, lamellæ, or thin layers, plates, or scales; foliated.

LAMELLIFORM La*mel"li*form, a. Etym: [Lamella + -form : cf. F. lamelliforme.]

Defn: Thin and flat; scalelike; lamellar.

LAMELLIROSTRAL Lam`el*li*ros"tral, a. Etym: [Lamella + rostral : cf. F. lamellirostre.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a lamellate bill, as ducks and geese.

LAMELLIROSTRES La*mel`li*ros"tres, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Lamella, and Rostrum.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of birds embracing the Anseres and flamingoes, in which the bill is lamellate.

LAMELLOSE Lam"el*lose`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lamelleux.]

Defn: Composed of, or having, lamellæ; lamelliform.

LAMELY Lame"ly, adv. Etym: [See Lame.]

Defn: An a lame, crippled, disabled, or imperfect manner; as, to walk lamely; a figure lamely drawn.

LAMENESS Lame"ness, n.

Defn: The condition or quality of being lame; as, the lameness of an excuse or an argument.

LAMENT La*ment", v. i. Etym: [F. lamenter, L. lamentari, fr. lamentum a lament.]

Defn: To express or feel sorrow; to weep or wail; to mourn. Jeremiah lamented for Josiah. 2 Chron. xxxv. 25. Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice. John xvi. 20.

LAMENT La*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lamented; p. pr. & vb. n. Lamenting.]

Defn: To mourn for; to bemoan; to bewail. One laughed at follies, one lamented crimes. Dryden.

Syn. -- To deplore; mourn; bewail. See Deplore.

LAMENT La*ment", n. Etym: [L. lamentum. Cf. Lament, v.]

1. Grief or sorrow expressed in complaints or cries; lamentation; a wailing; a moaning; a weeping. Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Milton.

2. An elegy or mournful ballad, or the like.

LAMENTABLE Lam"en*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. lamentabilis : cf. F. lamentable.]

1. Mourning; sorrowful; expressing grief; as, a lamentable countenance. "Lamentable eye." Spenser.

2. Fitted to awaken lament; to be lamented; sorrowful; pitiable; as, a lamentable misfortune, or error. "Lamentable helplessness." Burke.

3. Miserable; pitiful; paltry; -- in a contemptuous or Bp. Stillingfleet. -- Lam"en*ta*ble*ness, n. -- Lam"en*ta*bly, adv.

LAMENTATION Lam`en*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. lamentation, L. lamentatio.]

1. The act of bewailing; audible expression of sorrow; wailing; moaning. In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping Matt. ii. 18.

2. pl. (Script.)

Defn: A book of the Old Testament attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, and taking its name from the nature of its contents.

LAMENTED La*ment"ed, a.

Defn: Mourned for; bewailed. This humble praise,lamented shade ! receive. Pope.

LAMENTER La*ment"er (, n.

Defn: One who laments.

LAMENTIN La*men"tin, n.

Defn: See Lamantin.

LAMENTING La*ment"ing, n.

Defn: Lamentation. Lamentings heard i' the air. Shak.

LAMENTINGLY La*ment"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a lamenting manner.

LAMES Lames, n. pl. Etym: [F. lame a thin plate, L. lamina.] (Armor)

Defn: Small steel plates combined together so as to slide one upon the form a piece of armor.

LAMETTA La*met"ta, n. Etym: [Cf. It. lametta, dim of lama a thin plate.]

Defn: Foil or wire made of gold, silver, or brass. De Colange.

LAMIA La"mi*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: A monster capable of assuming a woman's form, who was said to devour human beings or suck their blood; a vampire; a sorceress; a with.

LAMINA Lam"i*na, n.; pl. L. Lamella.

1. A thin plate or scale; a laying over another; -- said of thin plates or platelike substances, as of bone or minerals.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: The blade of a leaf; the broad, expanded portion of a petal or sepal of a flower. Gray.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A thin plate or scale; specif., one of the thin, flat processes composing the vane of a feather.

LAMINABILITY Lam`i*na*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being laminable.

LAMINABLE Lam"i*na*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being split into laminæ or thin plates, as mica; capable of being extended under pressure into a thin plate or strip. When a body can be readily extended in all directions under the hammer, it is said to be malleable; and when into fillets under the rolling press, it is said to be laminable. Ure.

LAMINAR; LAMINAL Lam"i*nar, Lam"i*nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. laminaire. See Lamina]

Defn: In, or consisting of, thin plates or layers; having the form of a thin plate or lamina.

LAMINARIA Lam`i*na"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Lamina.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of great seaweeds with long and broad fronds; kelp, or devil's apron. The fronds commonly grow in clusters, and are sometimes from thirty to fifty feet in length. See Illust. of Kelp.

LAMINARIAN Lam`i*na"ri*an, a.

Defn: Pertaining to seaweeds of the genus Laminaria, or to that zone of the sea (from two to ten fathoms in depth) where the seaweeds of this genus grow.

LAMINARITE Lam"i*na*rite, n. Etym: [See Lamina.] (Paleon.)

Defn: A broad-leafed fossil alga.

LAMINARY Lam"i*na*ry, a.

Defn: Laminar.

LAMINATE Lam"i*nate, a. Etym: [See Lamina.]

Defn: Consisting of, or covered with, laminæ, or thin plates, scales, or layers, one over another; laminated.

LAMINATE Lam"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Laminating.] Etym: [See Lamina.]

1. To cause to separate into thin plates or layers; to divide into thin plates.

2. To form, as metal, into a thin plate, as by rolling.

LAMINATE Lam"i*nate, v. i.

Defn: To separate into laminæ.

LAMINATED Lam"i*na`ted, a.

Defn: Laminate. Laminated arch (Arch.), a timber arch made of layers of bent planks secured by treenails.

LAMINATING Lam"i*na`ting, a.

Defn: Forming, or separating into, scales or thin layers.

LAMINATION Lam`i*na"tion, n.

Defn: The process of laminating, or the state of being laminated.

LAMINIFEROUS Lam`i*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Lamina + -ferous.]

Defn: Having a structure consisting of laminæ, or thin layers.

LAMINIPLANTAR Lam`i*ni*plan"tar, a. Etym: [Lamina + L. planta sole of the foot.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the tarsus covered behind with a horny sheath continuous on both sides, as in most singing birds, except the larks.

LAMINITIS Lam`i*ni"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Lamina, and -itis.] (Far.)

Defn: Inflammation of the laminæ or fleshy plates along the coffin bone of a horse; founder. Youatt.

LAMISH Lam"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat lame. Wood.

LAMM Lamm, v. t.

Defn: See Lam.

LAMMAS Lam"mas, n. Etym: [AS. hlammesse, hlafmæsse, loaf mass, bread feast, or feast of first fruits; hlaf loaf + mæsse mass. See Loaf, and Mass religious service.]

Defn: The first day of August; -- called also Lammas day, and Lammastide.

LAMMERGEIR; LAMMERGEIER Lam"mer*geir, Lam"mer*gei`er, n. Etym: [G. lämmergeier; lamm, pl. lämmer, lamb + geier vulture.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A very large vulture (Gypaëtus barbatus), which inhabits the mountains of Southern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. When full- grown it is nine or ten feet in extent of wings. It is brownish black above, with the under parts and neck rusty yellow; the forehead and crown white; the sides of the head and beard black. It feeds partly on carrion and partly on small animals, which it kills. It has the habit of carrying tortoises and marrow bones to a great height, and dropping them on stones to obtain the contents, and is therefore called bonebreaker and ossifrage. It is supposed to be the ossifrage of the Bible. Called also bearded vulture and bearded eagle. [Written also lammergeyer.]

LAMNUNGUIA Lam*nun"gui*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. lamina a scale + unguis a nail.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Hyracoidea.

LAMP Lamp, n.Etym: [OE. (with excrescent p), fr. F. lame, L. lamina. See Lamina.]

Defn: A thin plate or lamina. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LAMP Lamp, n. Etym: [F. lampe, L. lampas, -adis, fr. Gr. Lampad, Lantern.]

1. A light-producing vessel, instrument or apparatus; especially, a vessel with a wick used for the combustion of oil or other inflammable liquid, for the purpose of producing artificial light.

2. Figuratively, anything which enlightens intellectually or morally; anything regarded metaphorically a performing the uses of a lamp. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. cxix. 105. Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appeared. Cowper.

3. (Elec.)

Defn: A device or mechanism for producing light by electricity. See Incandescent lamp, under Incandescent. Æolipile lamp, a hollow ball of copper containing alcohol which is converted into vapor by a lamp beneath, so as to make a powerful blowpipe flame when the vapor is ignited. Weale. -- Arc lamp (Elec.), a form of lamp in which the voltaic arc is used as the source of light. -- Dëbereiner's lamp, an apparatus for the instantaneous production of a flame by the spontaneous ignition of a jet of hydrogen on being led over platinum sponge; -- named after the German chemist Döbereiner, who invented it. Called also philosopher's lamp. -- Flameless lamp, an aphlogistic lamp. -- Lamp burner, the part of a lamp where the wick is exposed and ignited. Knight. -- Lamp fount, a reservoir for oil, in a lamp. -- Lamp jack. See 2d Jack, n., 4 (l) & (n). -- Lamp shade, a screen, as of paper, glass, or tin, for softening or obstructing the light of a lamp. -- Lamp shell (Zoöl.), any brachiopod shell of the genus Terebratula and allied genera. The name refers to the shape, which is like that of an antique lamp. See Terebratula. -- Safety lamp, a miner's lamp in which the flame is surrounded by fine wire gauze, preventing the kindling of dangerous explosive gases; -- called also, from Sir Humphry Davy the inventor, Davy lamp. -- To smell of the lamp, to bear marks of great study and labor, as a literary composition.

LAMPAD Lam"pad, n. Etym: [Gr. Lamp.]

Defn: A lamp or candlestick. [R.] By him who 'mid the golden lampads went. Trench.

LAMPADIST Lam"pa*dist, n. Etym: [Gr. Lamp.] (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: One who gained the prize in the lampadrome.

LAMPADROME Lam"pa*drome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: A race run by young men with lighted torches in their hands. He who reached the goal first, with his torch unextinguished, gained the prize.

LAMPAS Lam"pas, n. Etym: [F. lampas.]

Defn: An inflammation and swelling of the soft parts of the roof of the mouth immediately behind the fore teeth in the horse; -- called also lampers.

LAMPATE Lam"pate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lampate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A supposed salt of lampic acid. [Obs.]

LAMPBLACK Lamp"black`, n. Etym: [Lamp + black.]

Defn: The fine impalpable soot obtained from the smoke of carbonaceous substances which have been only partly burnt, as in the flame of a smoking lamp. It consists of finely divided carbon, with sometimes a very small proportion of various impurities. It is used as an ingredient of printers' ink, and various black pigments and cements.

LAMPER EEL Lam"per eel`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Lamprey.

LAMPERN Lam"pern, n. Etym: [See Lamprey.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The river lamprey (Ammocoetes, or Lampetra, fluviatilis).

Note: The name is also applied to other river lampreys.

LAMPERS Lam"pers, n.

Defn: See Lampas.

LAMPIC Lam"pic, a. Etym: [F. lampique, fr. lampe lamp. See Lamp.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or produced by, a lamp; -- formerly said of a supposed acid.

LAMPING Lamp"ing, a.

Defn: Shining; brilliant. [Obs.] "Lamping eyes." Spenser.

LAMPLESS Lamp"less, a.

Defn: Being without a lamp, or without light; hence, being without appreciation; dull. Your ladies' eyes are lampless to that virtue. Beau. & Fl.

LAMPLIGHT Lamp"light`, n.

Defn: Light from a lamp. This world's artificial lamplights. Owen Meredith.

LAMPLIGHTER Lamp"light`er, n.

1. One who, or that which, lights a lamp; esp., a person who lights street lamps.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The calico bass.

LAMPOON Lam*poon", n. Etym: [F. lampon a drinking song, fr. lampons let us drink, -- the burden of such a song, fr. lamper to guzzle, to drink much and greedily; of German origin, and akin to E. lap to drink. Prob. so called because drinking songs often contain personal slander or satire.]

Defn: A personal satire in writing; usually, malicious and abusive censure written only to reproach and distress. Like her who missed her name in a lampoon, And grieved to find herself decayed so soon. Dryden.

LAMPOON Lam*poon", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lampooned; p. pr. & vb. n. Lampooning.]

Defn: To subject to abusive ridicule expressed in writing; to make the subject of a lampoon. Ribald poets had lampooned him. Macaulay.

Syn. -- To libel; defame; satirize; lash.

LAMPOONER Lam*poon"er, n.

Defn: The writer of a lampoon. "Libelers, lampooners, and pamphleteers." Tatler.

LAMPOONRY Lam*poon"ry, n.

Defn: The act of lampooning; a lampoon, or lampoons.

LAMP-POST Lamp"-post`, n.

Defn: A post (generally a pillar of iron) supporting a lamp or lantern for lighting a street, park, etc.

LAMPREL Lam"prel, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Lamprey.