Chapter CDXXVI: Prologue (77)

SPROUT Sprout, v. t.

1. To cause to sprout; as, the rain will sprout the seed.

2. To deprive of sprouts; as, to sprout potatoes.

SPROUT Sprout, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. sprote a sprout, sprig; akin to Icel. sproti, G. sprosse. See Sprout, v. i.]

1. The shoot of a plant; a shoot from the seed, from the stump, or from the root or tuber, of a plant or tree; more rarely, a shoot from the stem of a plant, or the end of a branch.

2. pl.

Defn: Young coleworts; Brussels sprouts. Johnson. Brussels sprouts (Bot.) See under Brussels.

SPRUCE Spruce, n. Etym: [OE. Spruce or Pruse, Prussia, Prussian. So named because it was first known as a native of Prussia, or because its sprouts were used for making, spruce beer. Cf. Spruce beer, below, Spruce, a.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Any coniferous tree of the genus Picea, as the Norway spruce (P. excelsa), and the white and black spruces of America (P. alba and P. nigra), besides several others in the far Northwest. See Picea.

2. The wood or timber of the spruce tree.

3. Prussia leather; pruce. [Obs.] Spruce, a sort of leather corruptly so called for Prussia leather. E. Phillips. Douglas spruce (Bot.), a valuable timber tree (Pseudotsuga Douglasii) of Northwestern America. -- Essence of spruce, a thick, dark-colored, bitterish, and acidulous liquid made by evaporating a decoction of the young branches of spruce. -- Hemlock spruce (Bot.), a graceful coniferous tree (Tsuga Canadensis) of North America. Its timber is valuable, and the bark is largely used in tanning leather. -- Spruce beer. Etym: [G. sprossenbier; sprosse sprout, shoot (akin to E. sprout, n.) + bier beer. The word was changed into spruce because the beer came from Prussia (OE. Spruce), or because it was made from the sprouts of the spruce. See Sprout, n., Beer, and cf. Spruce, n.] A kind of beer which is tinctured or flavored with spruce, either by means of the extract or by decoction. -- Spruce grouse. (Zoöl.) Same as Spruce partridge, below. -- Spruce leather. See Spruce, n., 3. -- Spruce partridge (Zoöl.), a handsome American grouse (Dendragapus Canadensis) found in Canada and the Northern United States; -- called also Canada grouse.

SPRUCE Spruce, a. [Compar. Sprucer; superl. Sprucest] Etym: [Perhaps fr. spruce a sort of leather from Prussia, which was an article of finery. See Spruce, n.]

1. Neat, without elegance or dignity; -- formerly applied to things with a serious meaning; now chiefly applied to persons. "Neat and spruce array." Remedy of Love.

2. Sprightly; dashing. [Obs.] "Now, my spruce companions." Shak. He is so spruce that he can never be genteel. Tatler.

Syn. -- Finical; neat; trim. See Finical. -- Sruce"ly, adv. -- Spruce"ness, n.

SPRUCE Spruce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spruced; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprucing.]

Defn: To dress with affected neatness; to trim; to make spruce.

SPRUCE Spruce, v. i.

Defn: To dress one's self with affected neatness; as, to spruce up.

SPRUE Sprue, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

1. (Founding) (a) Strictly, the hole through which melted metal is poured into the gate, and thence into the mold. (b) The waste piece of metal cast in this hole; hence, dross.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Same as Sprew.

SPRUG Sprug, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. sprug up to dress neatly, sprag to prop, a., lively.]

Defn: To make smart. [Obs.]

SPRUNG Sprung,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Spring.

SPRUNG Sprung, a. (Naut.)

Defn: Said of a spar that has been cracked or strained.

SPRUNT Sprunt, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sprout, v. i.]

Defn: To spring up; to germinate; to spring forward or outward. [Obs.] To sprunt up, to draw one's self up suddenly, as in anger or defiance; to bristle up. [Local, U.S.]

SPRUNT Sprunt, n.

1. Anything short and stiff. [Obs.]

2. A leap; a spring. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

3. A steep ascent in a road. [Prov. Eng.]

SPRUNT Sprunt, a.

Defn: Active; lively; vigorous. [Obs.] Kersey.

SPRUNTLY Sprunt"ly, adv.

Defn: In a sprunt manner; smartly; vigorously; youthfully. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SPRY Spry, a. [Compar. Sprier or Spryer (; superl. Spriest or Spryest.] Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. sprygg lively, skittish, and E. sprag.]

Defn: Having great power of leaping or running; nimble; active. [U.S. & Local Eng.] She is as spry as a cricket. S. Judd (Margaret). If I'm not so large as you, You are not so small as I, And not half so spry. Emerson.

SPUD Spud, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. spyd a spear.]

1. A sharp, narrow spade, usually with a long handle, used by farmers for digging up large-rooted weeds; a similarly shaped implement used for various purposes. My spud these nettles from the stone can part. Swyft.

2. A dagger. [Obs.] olland.

3. Anything short and thick; specifically, a piece of dough boiled in fat. [Local, U.S.]

SPUE Spue, v. t. & i.

Defn: See Spew.

SPUILZIE Spuil"zie, n.

Defn: See Spulzie.

SPUKE Spuke, n.

Defn: See Spook.

SPULLER Spul"ler (, n. [For spooler.] Etym: [See Spool.]

Defn: One employed to inspect yarn, to see that it is well spun, and fit for the loom. [Prov. Eng.]

SPULZIE Spul"zie, n. Etym: [Cf. Spoil.]

Defn: Plunder, or booty. [Written also spuilzie, and spulye.] Sir W. Scott.

SPUME Spume, n. Etym: [L. spuma. Cf. Pumice, Spoom.]

Defn: Frothy matter raised on liquids by boiling, effervescence, or agitation; froth; foam; scum. Materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fiery spume. Milton.

SPUME Spume, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Spuming.] Etym: [L. spumare.]

Defn: To froth; to foam.

SPUMEOUS Spume"ous, a.

Defn: Spumous. [Obs.] r. H. More.

SPUMESCENCE Spu*mes"cence, n. Etym: [See Spumescent.]

Defn: The state of being foamy; frothiness.

SPUMESCENT Spu*mes"cent, a. Etym: [L. spumescens, p.pr. of spumescere to grow foamy, from spuma foam.]

Defn: Resembling froth or foam; foaming.

SPUMID Spum"id, a. Etym: [L. spumidis.]

Defn: Spumous; frothy. [Obs.]

SPUMIFEROUS Spu*mif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. spumifier; spuma foam + ferra bear.]

Defn: Producing foam.

SPUMINESS Spum"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or condition of being spumy; spumescence.

SPUMOUS; SPUMY Spum"ous, Spum"y, a. Etym: [L. spumosus, spuma foam: cf. F. spumeux.]

Defn: Consisting of, containing, or covered with, froth, scum, or foam; frothy; foamy. The spumous and florid state of the blood. Arbuthnot. The spumy waves proclaim the watery war. Dryden.

SPUN Spun,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Spin. Spun hay, hay twisted into ropes for convenient carriage, as on a military expedition. -- Spun silk, a cheap article produced from floss, or short-fibered, broken, and waste silk, carded and spun, in distinction from the long filaments wound from the cocoon. It is often mixed with cotton. -- Spun yarn (Naut.), a line formed of two or more rope-yarns loosely twisted.

SPUNGE Spunge (spûnj), n.

Defn: A sponge. [Obs.]

SPUNK Spunk (spûnk), n. Etym: [Gael. spong, or Ir. sponc, tinder, sponge; cf. AS. sponge a sponge (L. spongia), spon a chip. Cf. Sponge, Punk.] [Written also sponk.]

1. Wood that readily takes fire; touchwood; also, a kind of tinder made from a species of fungus; punk; amadou. Sir T. Browne.

2. An inflammable temper; spirit; mettle; pluck; as, a man of spunk. [Colloq.] A lawless and dangerous set, men of spunk, and spirit, and power, both of mind and body. Prof. Wilson.

SPUNKY Spunk"y, a. [Compar. Spunkier; superl. Spunkiest.]

Defn: Full of spunk; quick; spirited. [Colloq.]

SPUR Spur, n. Etym: [See Sparrow.] (Zoöl.) (a) A sparrow. [Scot.] (b) A tern. [Prov. Eng.]

SPUR Spur, n. Etym: [OE. spure, AS. spura, spora; akin to D. spoor, G. sporn, OHG. sporo, Icel. spori, Dan. spore, Sw. sporre, and to AS. spor a trace, footstep, spyrian to trace, track, examine, and E. spurn. sq. root171. Cf. Sparrow, Spere, Spoor, Spurn.]

1. An implement secured to the heel, or above the heel, of a horseman, to urge the horse by its pressure. Modern spurs have a small wheel, or rowel, with short points. Spurs were the badge of knighthood. And on her feet a pair of spurs large. Chaucer.

2. That which goads to action; an incitement. Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights and live laborious days. Milton.

3. Something that projects; a snag.

4. One of the large or principal roots of a tree. Shak.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs of certain burds, on the legs of insects, etc.; especially, the spine on a cock's leg.

6. A mountain that shoots from any other mountain, or range of mountains, and extends to some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.

7. A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale, to strip off the blubber.

8. (Carp.)

Defn: A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.

9. (Arch.) (a) The short wooden buttress of a post. (b) A projection from the round base of a column, occupying the angle of a square plinth upon which the base rests, or bringing the bottom bed of the base to a nearly square form. It is generally carved in leafage.

10. (Bot.) (a) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur. Gray. (b) Ergotized rye or other grain. [R.]

11. (Fort.)

Defn: A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.

12. (Shipbuilding) (a) A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side. (b) A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam can not be placed. Spur fowl (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Asiatic gallinaceous birds of the genus Galloperdix, allied to the jungle fowl. The males have two or more spurs on each leg. -- Spur gear (Mach.), a cogwheel having teeth which project radially and stand parallel to the axis; a spur wheel. -- Spur gearing, gearing in which spur gears are used. See under Gearing. -- Spur pepper. (Bot.) See the Note under Capsicum. -- Spur wheel. Same as Spur gear, above.

SPUR Spur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurred; p. pr. & vb. n. Spurring.]

1. To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or goad; as, to spur a horse.

2. To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to stimulate; to instigate; to impel; to drive. Love will not be spurred to what it loathes. Shak.

3. To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.

SPUR Spur, v. i.

Defn: To spur on one's horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit. "Now spurs the lated traveler." Shak. The Parthians shall be there, And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear. Dryden. The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster. Macaulay. Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves. Grew.

SPURGALL Spur"gall`, n.

Defn: A place galled or excoriated by much using of the spur.

SPURGALL Spur"gall`, v. t.

Defn: To gall or wound with a spur.

SPURGE Spurge, v. t. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: To emit foam; to froth; -- said of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [Obs.] W. Cartright.

SPURGE Spurge, n. Etym: [OF. espurge, F. épurge, from OF. espurgier to purge, L. expurgare. See Expurgate, Purge.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Euphobia. See Euphorbia. Spurge flax, an evergreen shrub (Daphne Gnidium) with crowded narrow leaves. It is native of Southern Europe. -- Spurge laurel, a European shrub (Daphne Laureola) with oblong evergreen leaves. -- Spurge nettle. See under Nettle. -- Spurge olive, an evergreen shrub (Daphne oleoides) found in the Mediterranean region.

SPURGEWORT Spurge"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any euphorbiaceous plant. Lindley.

SPURGING Spur"ging, n. Etym: [See 2d Spurge.]

Defn: A purging. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SPURIOUS Spu"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. spurius.]

1. Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; false; adulterate.

2. Not legitimate; bastard; as, spurious issue. "Her spurious firstborn." Milton. Spurious primary, or Spurious quill (Zoöl.), the first, or outer, primary quill when rudimentary or much reduced in size, as in certain singing birds. -- Spurious wing (Zoöl.), the bastard wing, or alula.

Syn. -- Counterfeit; false; adulterate; supposititious; fictitious; bastard. -- Spu"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Spu"ri*ous*ness, n.

SPURLESS Spur"less, a.

Defn: Having no spurs.

SPURLING Spur"ling, n. Etym: [See Sparling.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tern. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.

SPURLING-LINE Spur"ling-line`, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. spurling the rut of a wheel, a cart rut, AS. spor a track, trace, E. spoor. Scot. spurl to sprawl.] (Naut.)

Defn: The line which forms the communication between the steering wheel and the telltale.

SPURN Spurn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurned; p. pr. & vb. n. Spurning.] Etym: [OE. spurnen to kick against, to stumble over, AS. spurnan to kick, offend; akin to spura spur, OS. & OHG. spurnan to kick, Icel. spyrna, L. spernere to despise, Skr. sphur to jerk, to push. sq. root171. See Spur.]

1. To drive back or away, as with the foot; to kick. [The bird] with his foot will spurn adown his cup. Chaucer. I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Shak.

2. To reject with disdain; to scorn to receive or accept; to treat with contempt. What safe and nicely I might well delay By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn. Shak. Domestics will pay a more cheerful service when they find themselves not spurned because fortune has laid them at their master's feet. Locke.

SPURN Spurn, v. i.

1. To kick or toss up the heels. The miller spurned at a stone. Chaucer. The drunken chairman in the kennel spurns. Gay.

2. To manifest disdain in rejecting anything; to make contemptuous opposition or resistance. Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image. Shak.

SPURN Spurn, n.

1. A kick; a blow with the foot. [R.] What defence can properly be used in such a despicable encounter as this but either the slap or the spurn Milton.

2. Disdainful rejection; contemptuous tratment. The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes. Shak.

3. (Mining)

Defn: A body of coal left to sustain an overhanding mass.

SPURNER Spurn"er, n.

Defn: One who spurns.

SPURN-WATER Spurn"-wa`ter, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A channel at the end of a deck to restrain the water.

SPURRED Spurred, a.

1. Wearing spurs; furnished with a spur or spurs; having shoots like spurs.

2. Affected with spur, or ergot; as, spurred rye. Spurred corolla (Bot.), a corolla in which there are one or more petals with a spur.

SPURRER Spur"rer, n.

Defn: One who spurs.

SPURREY Spur"rey, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Spurry.

SPURRIER Spur"ri*er, n.

Defn: One whose occupation is to make spurs. B. Jonson. "The saddlers and spurriers would be ruined by thousands." Macaulay.

SPUR-ROYAL Spur"-roy`al, n.

Defn: A gold coin, first made in the reign of Edward IV., having a star on the reverse resembling the rowel of a spur. In the reigns of Elizabeth and of James I., its value was fifteen shillings. [Written also spur-rial, and spur-ryal.]

SPURRY Spur"ry, n. Etym: [D. or OF. spurrie; cf. G. spergel, NL. spergula.] (Bot.)

Defn: An annual herb (Spergula arvensis) with whorled filiform leaves, sometimes grown in Europe for fodder. [Written also spurrey.] Sand spurry (Bot.), any low herb of the genus Lepigonum, mostly found in sandy places.

SPUR-SHELL Spur"-shell`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of handsome gastropod shells of the genus Trochus, or Imperator. The shell is conical, with the margin toothed somewhat like the rowel of a spur.

SPURT Spurt, v. i. Etym: [Written also spirt, and originally the same word as sprit; OE. sprutten to sprout, AS. spryttan. See Sprit, v. i., Sprout, v. i.]

Defn: To gush or issue suddenly or violently out in a stream, as liquor from a cask; to rush from a confined place in a small stream or jet; to spirt. Thus the small jet, which hasty hands unlock, Spurts in the gardener's eyes who turns the cock. Pope.

SPURT Spurt, v. t.

Defn: To throw out, as a liquid, in a stream or jet; to drive or force out with violence, as a liquid from a pipe or small orifice; as, to spurt water from the mouth.

SPURT Spurt, n.

1. A sudden or violent ejection or gushing of a liquid, as of water from a tube, orifice, or other confined place, or of blood from a wound; a jet; a spirt.

2. A shoot; a bud. [Obs.] Holland.

3. Fig.: A sudden outbreak; as, a spurt of jealousy. Spurt grass (Bot.), a rush fit for basket work. Dr. Prior.

SPURT Spurt, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. sprette a spurt, spring, run, spretta to sprit, spring.]

Defn: A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space. The long, steady sweep of the so-called "paddle" tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt. T. Hughes.

SPURT Spurt, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spurted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spurting.]

Defn: To make a sudden and violent exertion, as in an emergency.

SPURTLE Spur"tle, v. t. Etym: [Freq. of spurt.]

Defn: To spurt or shoot in a scattering manner. [Obs.] Drayton.

SPURWAY Spur"way`, n. Etym: [Prov. E. spoor a track, trace (AS. spor) + way.]

Defn: A bridle path. [R.]

SPUR-WINGED Spur"-winged`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having one or more spurs on the bend of the wings. Spur-winged goose (Zoöl.), any one of several species of long-legged African geese of the genus Plectropterus and allied genera, having a strong spur on the bend of the wing, as the Gambo goose (P. Gambensis) and the Egyptian, or Nile, goose (Alopochen Ægyptiaca). -- Spur-winged plover (Zoöl.), an Old World plover (Hoplopterus spinosus) having a sharp spur on the bend of the wing. It inhabits Northern Africa and the adjacent parts of Asia and Europe.

SPUT Sput, n. (Steam Boiler)

Defn: An annular reënforce, to strengthen a place where a hole is made.

SPUTATION Spu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. sputare to spit, v. intens. fr. spuere to spit: cf. F. sputation.]

Defn: The act of spitting; expectoration. Harvey.

SPUTATIVE Spu"ta*tive, a.

Defn: Inclined to spit; spitting much. Sir H. Wotton.

SPUTE Spute, v. t. Etym: [Abbrev. from dispute.]

Defn: To dispute; to discuss. [Obs.] Wyclif.

SPUTTER Sput"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sputtered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sputtering.] Etym: [From the root of spout or spit to eject from the mputh. Cf. Splutter.]

1. To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.

2. To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so rapidly as to emit saliva. They could neither of them speak their rage, and so fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting apples. Congreve.

3. To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering. Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame. Dryden.

SPUTTER Sput"ter, v. t.

Defn: To spit out hastily by quick, successive efforts, with a spluttering sound; to utter hastily and confusedly, without control over the organs of speech. In the midst of caresses, and without the last pretend incitement, to sputter out the basest accusations. Swift.

SPUTTER Sput"ter, n.

Defn: Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech.

SPUTTERER Sput"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who sputters.

SPUTUM Spu"tum, n.; pl. Sputa. Etym: [L., from spuere, sputum, to spit.]

Defn: That which is expectorated; a salival discharge; spittle; saliva.

SPY Spy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spied; p. pr. & vb. n. Spying.] Etym: [OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. épier, OHG. speh, G. spähen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spa(Espy, v.t., Aspect, Auspice, Circumspect, Conspicuouc, Despise, Frontispiece, Inspect, Prospect, Respite, Scope, Scecimen, Spectacle, Specter, Speculate, Spice, Spite, Suspicion.]

Defn: To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see. One in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration. Swift.

2. To discover by close search or examination. Look about with yout eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England. Latimer.

3. To explore; to view; inspect; and examine secretly, as a country; -- usually with out. Moses sent to spy Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. Num. xxi. 32.

SPY Spy, v. i.

Defn: To search narrowly; to scrutinize. It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses. Shak.

SPY Spy, n.; pl. Spies. Etym: [See Spy, v., and cf. Espy, n.]

1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others. "These wretched spies of wit." Dryden.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp, territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works, ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to communicate such intelligence to the proper officer. Spy money, money paid to a spy; the reward for private or secret intelligence regarding the enemy. -- Spy Wednesday (Eccl.), the Wednesday immediately preceding the festival of Easter; -- so called in allusion to the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.

Syn. -- See Emissary, and Scout.

SPYBOAT Spy"boat`, n.

Defn: A boat sent to make discoveries and bring intelligence. Arbuthnot.

SPYGLASS Spy"glass, n.

Defn: A small telescope for viewing distant terrestrial objects.

SPYISM Spy"ism

Defn: , n. Act or business of spying. [R.]

SPYNACE; SPYNE Spy"nace, Spyne, n. (Naut.)

Defn: See Pinnace, n., 1 (a).

SQUAB Squab, a. Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. sqvabb a soft and fat body, sqvabba a fat woman, Icel. kvap jelly, jellylike things, and and E. quab.]

1. Fat; thick; plump; bulky. Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice. Betterton.

2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon. King.

SQUAB Squab, n.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A neatling of a pigeon or other similar bird, esp. when very fat and not fully fledged.

2. A person of a short, fat figure. Gorgonious sits abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. Cowper.

3. A thickly stuffed cushion; especially, one used for the seat of a sofa, couch, or chair; also, a sofa. Punching the squab of chairs and sofas. Dickens. On her large squab you find her spread. Pope.

SQUAB Squab, adv. Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. squapp, a word imitative of a splash, and E. squab fat, unfledged.]

Defn: With a heavy fall; plump. [Vulgar] The eagle took the tortoise up into the air, and dropped him down, squab, upon a rock. L'Estrange.

SQUAB Squab, v. i.

Defn: To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke. [Obs.]

SQUABASH Squa*bash", v. t.

Defn: To crush; to quash; to squash. [Colloq. or Slang, Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

SQUABBISH Squab"bish, a.

Defn: Thick; fat; heavy.

SQUABBLE Squab"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squabbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Squabbling.] Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. skvabbel a dispute, skvappa to chide.]

1. To contend for superiority in an unseemly maner; to scuffle; to struggle; to wrangle; to quarrel.

2. To debate peevishly; to dispute. The sense of these propositions is very plain, though logicians might squabble a whole day whether they should rank them under negative or affirmative. I. Watts.

Syn. -- To dispute; contend; scuffle; wrangle; quarrel; struggle.

SQUABBLE Squab"ble, v. t. (Print.)

Defn: To disarrange, so that the letters or lines stand awry or are mixed and need careful readjustment; -- said of type that has been set up.

SQUABBLE Squab"ble, n.

Defn: A scuffle; a wrangle; a brawl.

SQUABBLER Squab"bler, n.

Defn: One who squabbles; a contentious person; a brawler.

SQUABBY Squab"by, a.

Defn: Short and thick; suqabbish.

SQUAB-CHICK Squab"-chick`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young chicken before it is fully fledged. [Prov. Eng.]

SQUACCO Squac"co, n.; pl. Squaccos (. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A heron (Ardea comata) found in Asia, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe.

SQUAD Squad, n. Etym: [F. escouade, fr. Sp. escuadra, or It. squadra, (assumed) LL. exquadrare to square; L. ex + quadra a square. See Square.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: A small party of men assembled for drill, inspection, or other purposes.

2. Hence, any small party.

SQUAD Squad, n.

Defn: Sloppy mud. [Prov. Eng.] Tennyson.

SQUADRON Squad"ron, n. Etym: [F. escadron, formerly also esquadron, or It. squadrone. See Squad.]

1. Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square. [R.] Those half-rounding quards Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined. Milton.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A body of cavarly comparising two companies or troops, and averging from one hundred and twenty to two hundred men.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer; as, the North Atlantic Squadron. Totten. Flying squadron, a squadron of observation or practice, that cruises rapidly about from place to place. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

SQUADRONED Squad"roned, a.

Defn: Formed into squadrons, or squares. [R.] Milton.

SQUAIL Squail, v. i.

Defn: To throw sticls at cocks; to throw anything about awkwardly or irregularly. [Prov. Eng.] Southey.

SQUAIMOUS Squai"mous, a.

Defn: Squeamish. [Obs.]

SQUALI Squa"li, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. squalus a kind of sea fish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The suborder of elasmobranch fishes which comprises the sharks.

SQUALID Squal"id, a. Etym: [L. squalidus, fr. squalere to be foul or filthy.]

Defn: Dirty through neglect; foul; filthy; extremely dirty. Uncomed his locks, and squalid his attrie. Dryden. Those squalid dens, which are the reproach of large capitals. Macaulay.

SQUALIDITY Squa*lid"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. squaliditas.]

Defn: The quality or state of being squalid; foulness; filthiness.

SQUALIDLY Squal"id*ly, adv.

Defn: In a squalid manner.

SQUALIDNESS Squal"id*ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being squalid.

SQUALL Squall, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. sqval an impetuous running of water, sqvalregn a violent shower of rain, sqala to stream, to gush.]

Defn: A sudden violent gust of wind often attended with rain or snow. The gray skirts of a lifting squall. Tennyson. Black squall, a squall attended with dark, heavy clouds. -- Thick squall, a black squall accompanied by rain, hail, sleet, or snow. Totten. -- White squall, a squall which comes unexpectedly, without being marked in its approach by the clouds. Totten.

SQUALL Squall, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Squalling.] Etym: [Icel. skvala. Cf. Squeal.]

Defn: To cry out; to scream or cry violently, as a woman frightened, or a child in anger or distress; as, the infant squalled.

SQUALL Squall, n.

Defn: A loud scream; a harsh cry. There oft are heard the notes of infant woe, -The short, thick sob, loud scream, and shriller squall. Pope.

SQUALLER Squall"er, n.

Defn: One who squalls; a screamer.

SQUALLY Squall"y, a.

1. Abounding with squalls; disturbed often with sudden and violent gusts of wind; gusty; as, squally weather.

2. (Agric.)

Defn: Interrupted by unproductive spots; -- said of a flied of turnips or grain. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

3. (Weaving)

Defn: Not equally good throughout; not uniform; uneven; faulty; -- said of cloth.

SQUALODON Squa"lo*don, n. Etym: [NL. Squalus a genus of sharks + Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of fossil whales belonging to the Phocodontia; -- so called because their are serrated, like a shark's.

SQUALODONT Squa"lo*dont, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to Squalodon.

SQUALOID Squa"loid, a. Etym: [NL. Squalus a genus of sharks (fr. L. squalus a kind of sea fish) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to a shark or sharks.

SQUALOR Squa"lor, n. Etym: [L., fr. squalere to be foul or filthy.]

Defn: Squalidness; foulness; filthness; squalidity. The heterogenous indigent multitude, everywhere wearing nearly the same aspect of squalor. Taylor. To bring this sort of squalor among the upper classes. Dickens.

SQUAM Squam, n. [From Squam, shortened fr. Annisquam, name of a village on the coast of Massachusetts.]

Defn: An oilskin hat or southwester; -- a fisherman's name. [U. S.]

SQUAMA Squa"ma, n.; pl. Squamæ. Etym: [L. a scale.] (Med.)

Defn: A scale cast off from the skin; a thin dry shred consisting of epithelium.

SQUAMACEOUS Squa*ma"ceous, a.

Defn: Squamose.

SQUAMATA Squa*ma"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. squamatus scaly.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of edentates having the body covered with large, imbricated horny scales. It includes the pangolins.

SQUAMATE; SQUAMATED Squa"mate, Squa"ma*ted, a. Etym: [L. squamatus.]

Defn: Same as Squamose.

SQUAMDUCK Squam"duck`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The American eider duck. [Local, U.S.]

SQUAME Squame, n. Etym: [L. squama scale.]

1. A scale. [Obs.] "iron squames." Chaucer.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The scale, or exopodite, of an antenna of a crustacean.

SQUAMELLA Squa*mel"la, n.; pl. Squamellæ. Etym: [NL., dim. fr. L. squama a scale.] (Bot.)

Defn: A diminutive scale or bractlet, such as those found on the receptacle in many composite plants; a palea.

SQUAMELLATE Squa*mel"late, a.

Defn: Furnished or covered with little scales; squamulose.

SQUAMIFORM Squa"mi*form, a.Etym: [L. squama a scale + -form.]

Defn: Having the shape of a scale.

SQUAMIGEROUS Squa*mig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. squamiger; squama a scale + gerere to bear.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Bearing scales.

SQUAMIPEN Squam"i*pen ( or ), n. ;pl. Squamipennes. Etym: [L. squama a scale + penna a fin: cf. F. squamipenne.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of a group of fishes having the dorsal and anal fins partially covered with scales.

Note: They are compressed and mostly, bright-colored tropical fishes, belonging to Chætodon and allied genera. Many of them are called soral fishes, and angel fishes.

SQUAMOID Squa"moid, a. Etym: [L. squama scale + -oid.]

Defn: Resembling a scale; also, covered with scales; scaly.

SQUAMOSAL Squa*mo"sal, a. (Anat.) (a) Scalelike; squamous; as, the squamosal bone. (b) Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone. -- n.

Defn: The squamous part of the temporal bone, or a bone correspondending to it, under Temporal.

SQUAMOSE; SQUAMOUS Squa*mose" or, Squa"mous, Etym: [L. squamosus, fr. squama a scale: cf. F. squameux.]

1. Covered with, or consisting of, scales; resembling a scale; scaly; as, the squamose cones of the pine; squamous epithelial cells; the squamous portion of the temporal bone, which is so called from a fancied resemblance to a scale.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone; squamosal.

SQUAMOZYGOMATIC Squa`mo*zyg`o*mat"ic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to both the squamosal and zygomatic bones; -- applied to a bone, or a center of ossification, in some fetal skulls. -- n.

Defn: A squamozygomatic bone.

SQUAMULA Squam"u*la ( or ), n.; pl. Squamulæ. Etym: [L., dim. of squama a scale.] (Bot.)

Defn: One of the little hypogynous scales found in the flowers of grasses; a lodicule.

SQUAMULATE Squam"u*late, a.

Defn: Same as Squamulose.

SQUAMULE Squam"ule, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Squamula.

SQUAMULOSE Squam"u*lose`, a.

Defn: Having little scales; squamellate; squamulate.

SQUANDER Squan"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squandered; p. pr. & vb. n. Squandering.] Etym: [Cf. Scot. squatter to splash water about, to scatter, to squander, Prov. E. swatter, Dan. sqvatte, Sw. sqvätta to squirt, sqvättra to squander, Icel. skvetta to squirt out, to throw out water.]

1. To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.] Our squandered troops he rallies. Dryden.

2. To spend lavishly or profusely; to spend prodigally or wastefully; to use without economy or judgment; to dissipate; as, to squander an estate. The crime of squandering health is equal to the folly. Rambler.

Syn. -- To spend; expend; waste; scatter; dissipate.

SQUANDER Squan"der, v. i.

1. To spend lavishly; to be wasteful. They often squandered, but they never gave. Savage.

2. To wander at random; to scatter. [R.] The wise man's folly is anatomized Even by squandering glances of the fool. Shak.

SQUANDER Squan"der, n.

Defn: The act of squandering; waste.

SQUANDERER Squan"der*er, n.

Defn: One who squanders.

SQUANDERINGLY Squan"der*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a squandering manner.

SQUARE Square, n. Etym: [OF. esquarre, esquierre, F. équerre a carpenter's square (cf. It. squadra), fr. (assumed) LL. exquadrare to make square; L. ex + quadrus a square, fr. quattuor four. See Four, and cf. Quadrant, Squad, Squer a square.]

1. (Geom.) (a) The corner, or angle, of a figure. [Obs.] (b) A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right angles.

2. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as: (a) A square piece or fragment. He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches. Sir W. Scott.

(b) A pane of glass. (c) (Print.) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; -- used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers. (d) (Carp.) One hundred superficial feet.

3. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets. The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town. Addison.

4. (Mech. & Joinery)

Defn: An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc.

5. Hence, a pattern or rule. [Obs.]

6. (Arith. & Alg.)

Defn: The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8 × 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a2 + 2ab + b2.

7. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule. [Obs.] They of Galatia [were] much more out of square. Hooker. I have not kept my square. Shak.

8. (Mil.)

Defn: A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron. "The brave squares of war." Shak.

9. Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level. We live not on the square with such as these. Dryden.

10. (Astrol.)

Defn: The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate. [Obs.]

11. The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel. [R.]

12. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered. [Obs.] Shak. Geometrical square. See Quadrat, n., 2. -- Hollow square (Mil.), a formation of troops in the shape of a square, each side consisting of four or five ranks, and the colors, officers, horses, etc., occupying the middle. -- Least square, Magic square, etc. See under Least, Magic, etc. -- On the square, or Upon the square, in an open, fair manner; honestly, or upon honor. [Obs. or Colloq.] -- On, or Upon, the square with, upon equality with; even with. Nares. -- To be all squares, to be all settled. [Colloq.] Dickens. -- To be at square, to be in a state of quarreling. [Obs.] Nares. -- To break no square, to give no offense; to make no difference. [Obs.] -- To break squares, to depart from an accustomed order. To see how the squares go, to see how the game proceeds; -- a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chessboard being formed with squares. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

SQUARE Square, a.

1. (Geom.)

Defn: Having four equal sides and four right angles; as, a square figure.

2. Forming a right angle; as, a square corner.

3. Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a square frame.

4. Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just. She's a most truimphant lady, if report be square to her. Shak.

5. Rendering equal justice; exact; fair; honest, as square dealing.

6. Even; leaving no balance; as, to make or leave the accounts square.

7. Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous. By Heaven, square eaters. More meat, I say. Beau. & Fl.

8. (Naut.)

Defn: At right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; -- said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.

Note: Square is often used in self-explaining compounds or combination, as in square-built, square-cornered, square-cut, square- nosed, etc. Square foot, an area equal to that of a square the sides of which are twelwe inches; 144 square inches. -- Square knot, a knot in which the terminal and standing parts are parallel to each other; a reef knot. See Illust. under Knot. -- Square measure, the measure of a superficies or surface which depends on the length and breadth taken conjointly. The units of square measure are squares whose sides are the linear measures; as, square inches, square feet, square meters, etc. -- Square number. See square, n., 6. -- Square root of a number or quantity (Math.), that number or quantity which, multiplied by itself produces the given number or quantity. -- Square sail (Naut.), a four-sided sail extended upon a yard suspended by the middle; sometimes, the foresail of a schooner set upon a yard; also, a cutter's or sloop's sail boomed out. See Illust of Sail. -- Square stern (Naut.), a stern having a transom and joining the counter timbers at an angle, as distinguished from a round stern, which has no transom. -- Three-square, Five-square, etc., having three, five, etc., equal sides; as, a three-square file. -- To get square with, to get even with; to pay off. [Colloq.]

SQUARE Square, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squared; p. pr. & vb. n. Squaring.] Etym: [Cf. OF. escarrer, esquarrer. See Square, n.]

1. To form with four sides and four right angles. Spenser.

2. To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces; as, to square mason's work.

3. To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard. Shak.

4. To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; to fit; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others. Square my trial To my proportioned strength. Milton.

5. To make even, so as leave no remainder of difference; to balance; as, to square accounts.

6. (Math.)

Defn: To multiply by itself; as, to square a number or a quantity.

7. (Astrol.)

Defn: To hold a quartile position respecting. The icy Goat and Crab that square the Scales. Creech.

8. (Naut.)

Defn: To place at right angles with the keel; as, to square the yards. To square one's shoulders, to raise the shoulders so as to give them a square appearance, -- a movement expressing contempt or dislike. Sir W. Scott. -- To square the circle (Math.), to determine the exact contents of a circle in square measure. The solution of this famous problem is now generally admitted to be impossible.

SQUARE Square, v. i.

1. To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to conform or agree; to suit; to fit. No works shall find acceptamce . . . That square not truly with the Scripture plan. Cowper.

2. To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel. [Obs.] Are you such fools To square for this Shak.

3. To take a boxing attitude; -- often with up, sometimes with off. [Colloq.] Dickens.

SQUARELY Square"ly, adv.

Defn: In a square form or manner.

SQUARENESS Square"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being square; as, an instrument to try the squareness of work.

SQUARER Squar"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, squares.

2. One who squares, or quarrels; a hot-headed, contentious fellow. [Obs.] Shak.

SQUARE-RIGGED Square"-rigged` (skwâr"rîgd`), a. (Naut.)

Defn: Having the sails extended upon yards suspended horizontally by the middle, as distinguished from fore-and-aft sails; thus, a ship and a brig are square-rigged vessels.

SQUARE-TOED Square"-toed` (-tod`), n.

Defn: Having the toe square. Obsolete as fardingales, ruffs, and square-toed shoes. V. Knox.

SQUARE-TOES Square"-toes`, n.

Defn: A precise person; -- used contemptuously or jocularly. Thackeray.

SQUARISH Squar"ish, a.

Defn: Nearly square. Pennant.

SQUARROSE Squar*rose" ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. squarrosus (perhaps) scurfy, scabby.]

Defn: Ragged or full of lose scales or projecting parts; rough; jagged; as: (a) (Bot. & Zoöl.) Consisting of scales widely divaricating; having scales, small leaves, or other bodies, spreading widely from the axis on which they are crowded; -- said of a calyx or stem. (b) (Bot.)

Defn: Divided into shreds or jags, raised above the plane of the leaf, and not parallel to it; said of a leaf. (c) (Zoöl.) Having scales spreading every way, or standing upright, or at right angles to the surface; -- said of a shell. Squarrose- slashed (Bot.), doubly slashed, with the smaller divisions at right angles to the others, as a leaf. Landley.

SQUARROSO-DENTATE Squar*ro`so-den"tate, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the teeth bent out of the plane of the lamina; -- said of a leaf.

SQUARROUS Squar"rous ( or ), a.

Defn: Squarrose.

SQUARRULOSE Squar"ru*lose`, a. Etym: [Dim. of squarrose.] (Bot.)

Defn: Somewhat squarrose; slightly squarrose. Gray.

SQUASH Squash, n. Etym: [Cf. Musquash.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American animal allied to the weasel. [Obs.] Goldsmith.

SQUASH Squash, n. Etym: [Massachusetts Indian asq, pl. asquash, raw, green, immaturate, applied to fruit and vegetables which were used when green, or without cooking; askutasquash vine apple.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.

Note: The species are much confused. The long-neck squash is called Cucurbita verrucosa, the Barbary or China squash, C. moschata, and the great winter squash, C. maxima, but the distinctions are not clear. Squash beetle (Zoöl.), a small American beetle (Diabrotica, or Galeruca vittata) which is often abundant and very injurious to the leaves of squash, cucumber, etc. It is striped with yellow and black. The name is applied also to other allied species. -- Squash bug (Zoöl.), a large black American hemipterous insect (Coreus, or Anasa, tristis) injurious to squash vines.

SQUASH Squash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Squashing.] Etym: [OE. squashen, OF. escachier, esquachier, to squash, to crush, F. écacher, perhaps from (assumed) LL. excoacticare, fr. L. ex + coactare to constrain, from cogere, coactum, to compel. Cf. Cogent, Squat, v. i.]

Defn: To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.

SQUASH Squash, n.

1. Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of pease. Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy; as a squash is before 't is a peascod. Shak.

2. Hence, something unripe or soft; -- used in contempt. "This squash, this gentleman." Shak.

3. A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies. Arbuthnot. My fall was stopped by a terrible squash. Swift.

SQUASHER Squash"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, squashes.

SQUASHINESS Squash"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being squashy, or soft.

SQUASHY Squash"y, a.

Defn: Easily squashed; soft.

SQUAT Squat, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The angel fish (Squatina angelus

SQUAT Squat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Squatting.] Etym: [OE. squatten to crush, OF. esquater, esquatir (cf. It. quatto squat, cowering), perhaps fr. L. ex + coactus, p. p. cogere to drive or urge together. See Cogent, Squash, v. t.]

1. To sit down upon the hams or heels; as, the savages squatted near the fire.

2. To sit close to the ground; to cower; to stoop, or lie close, to escape observation, as a partridge or rabbit.

3. To settle on another's land without title; also, to settle on common or public lands.

SQUAT Squat, v. t.

Defn: To bruise or make flat by a fall. [Obs.]

SQUAT Squat, a.

1. Sitting on the hams or heels; sitting close to the ground; cowering; crouching. Him there they found, Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve. Milton.

2. Short and thick, like the figure of an animal squatting. "The round, squat turret." R. Browning. The head [of the squill insect] is broad and squat. Grew.

SQUAT Squat, n.

1. The posture of one that sits on his heels or hams, or close to the ground.

2. A sudden or crushing fall. [Obs.] erbert.

3. (Mining) (a) A small vein of ore. (b) A mineral consisting of tin ore and spar. Halliwell. Woodward. Squat snipe (Zoöl.), the jacksnipe; -- called also squatter. [Local, U.S.]

SQUATEROLE Squat"er*ole, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The black-bellied plover.

SQUATTER Squat"ter, n.

1. One who squats; specifically, one who settles unlawfully upon land without a title. In the United States and Australia the term is sometimes applied also to a person who settles lawfully upon government land under permission and restrictions, before acquiring title. In such a tract, squatters and trespassers were tolerated to an extent now unknown. Macaulay.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Squat snipe, under Squat. Squatter sovereignty, the right claimed by the squatters, or actual residents, of a Territory of the United States to make their own laws. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.

SQUATTY Squat"ty, a.

Defn: Squat; dumpy. J. Burroughs.

SQUAW Squaw, n. Etym: [Massachusetts Indian squa, eshqua; Narragansett squâws; Delaware ochqueu, and khqueu; used also in compound words (as the names of animals) in the sense of female.]

Defn: A female; a woman; -- in the language of Indian tribes of the Algonquin family, correlative of sannup. Old squaw. (Zoöl.) See under Old.

SQUAWBERRY Squaw"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A local name for the partridge berry; also, for the deerberry. [U. S.]

SQUAWK Squawk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squawked; p. pr. & vb. n. Squawking.] Etym: [See Squeak.]

Defn: To utter a shrill, abrupt scream; to squeak harshly. Squawking thrush (Zoöl.), the missel turush; -- so called from its note when alarmed. [Prov. Eng.]

SQUAWK Squawk, n.

1. Act of squawking; a harsh squeak.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The American night heron. See under Night. Squawk duck (Zoöl.), the bimaculate duck (Anas glocitans). It has patches of reddish brown behind, and in front of, each eye. [Prov. Eng.]

SQUAWL Squawl, v. i.

Defn: See Squall.

SQUAW MAN Squaw man.

Defn: A white man who has married an Indian squaw; sometimes, one who has gained tribal rights by such a marriage; -- often a term of contempt. [Western U. S.]

SQUAWROOT Squaw"root`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A scaly parasitic plant (Conopholis Americana) found in oak woods in the United States; -- called also cancer root.

SQUAW VINE Squaw vine. (Bot.)

Defn: The partridge berry (Mitchella repens).

SQUAWWEED Squaw"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The golden ragwort. See under Ragwort.

SQUEAK Squeak, v. i. [imp.& p. p. Squaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Squeaking.] Etym: [Probably of imitative origin; cf. Sw. sqväka to croak, Icel. skvakka to give a sound as of water shaken in a bottle.]

1. To utter a sharp, shrill cry, usually of short duration; to cry with an acute tone, as an animal; or, to make a sharp, disagreeable noise, as a pipe or quill, a wagon wheel, a door; to creak. Who can endure to hear one of the rough old Romans squeaking through the mouth of an eunuch Addison. Zoilus calls the companions of Ulysses the "squeaking pigs" of Homer. Pope.

2. To break silence or secrecy for fear of pain or punishment; to speak; to confess. [Colloq.] If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him. Dryden.

SQUEAK Squeak, n.

Defn: A sharp, shrill, disagreeable sound suddenly utered, either of the human voice or of any animal or instrument, such as is made by carriage wheels when dry, by the soles of leather shoes, or by a pipe or reed.

SQUEAKER Squeak"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, squeaks.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Australian gray crow shrile (Strepera anaphonesis); -- so called from its note.

SQUEAKINGLY Squeak"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a squeaking manner.

SQUEAL Squeal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Squealing.] Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. sqväla, Norw. skvella. Cf. Squeak, Squall.]

1. To cry with a sharp, shrill, prolonged sound, as certain animals do, indicating want, displeasure, or pain.

2. To turn informer; to betray a secret. [Slang]

SQUEAL Squeal, n.

Defn: A shrill, somewhat prolonged cry.

SQUEALER Squeal"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, squeals.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The European swift. (b) The harlequin duck. (c) The American golden plover.

SQUEAMISH Squeam"ish, a. Etym: [OE. squaimous, sweymous, probably from OE. sweem, swem, dizziness, a swimming in the head; cf. Icel. svemr a bustle, a stir, Norw. sveim a hovering about, a sickness that comes upon one, Icel. svimi a giddiness, AS. swimi. The word has been perhaps confused witrh qualmish. Cf. Swim to be dizzy.]

Defn: Having a stomach that is easily or nauseated; hence, nice to excess in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to be offended at trifling improprieties. Quoth he, that honor's very squeamish That takes a basting for a blemish. Hudibras. His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain The men of squeamish taste to entertain. Southern. So ye grow squeamish, Gods, and sniff at heaven. M. Arnold.

Syn. -- Fastidious; dainty; overnice; scrupulous. See Fastidious. -- Squeam"ish*ly, adv. -- Squeam"ish*ness, n.

SQUEAMOUS Squeam"ous, a.

Defn: Squeamish. [Obs.]

SQUEASINESS Squea"si*ness, n.

Defn: Queasiness. [Obs.]

SQUEASY Squea"sy, a.

Defn: Queasy; nice; squeamish; fastidious; scrupulous. [Obs.] Bp. Earle.

SQUEEGEE Squee"gee, n.

Defn: Same as Squilgee.

SQUEEGEE ROLLER Squeegee roller.

Defn: A small India-rubber roller with a handle, used esp. in printing and photography as a squeegee.

SQUEEZE Squeeze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squeezed; p. pr. & vb. n. Squeezing.] Etym: [OE. queisen, AS. cwesan, cwysan, cwisan, of uncertain origin. The s- was probably prefixed through the influence of squash, v.t.]

1. To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.

2. Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass; to crush. In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden. L'Estrange.

3. To force, or cause to pass, by compression; often with out, through, etc.; as, to squeeze water through felt.

Syn. -- To compress; hug; pinch; gripe; crowd.

SQUEEZE Squeeze, v. i.

Defn: To press; to urge one's way, or to pass, by pressing; to crowd; -- often with through, into, etc.; as, to squeeze hard to get through a crowd.

SQUEEZE Squeeze, n.

1. The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure.

2. A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as pulp, from an inscription on stone.

SQUEEZER Squeez"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, squeezes; as, a lemon squeezer.

2. (Forging) (a) A machine like a large pair of pliers, for shingling, or squeezing, the balls of metal when puddled; -- used only in the plural. (b) A machine of several forms for the same purpose; -- used in the singular.

SQUEEZING Squeez"ing, n.

1. The act of pressing; compression; oppression.

2. pl.

Defn: That which is forced out by pressure; dregs.

3. Same as Squeeze, n., 2.

SQUELCH Squelch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squelched; p. pr. & vb. n. Squelching.] Etym: [Cf. prov. E. quelch a blow, and quel to crush, to kill.]

Defn: To quell; to crush; to silence or put down. [Colloq.] Oh 't was your luck and mine to be squelched. Beau. & Fl. If you deceive us you will be squelched. Carlyle.

SQUELCH Squelch, n.

Defn: A heavy fall, as of something flat; hence, also, a crushing reply. [Colloq.] Hudibras.

SQUETEAGUE Sque*teague" (skwe*teg"), n. Etym: [from the North American Indian name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American sciænoid fish (Cynoscion regalis), abundant on the Atlantic coast of the United States, and much valued as a food fish. It is of a bright silvery color, with iridescent reflections. Called also weakfish, squitee, chickwit, and sea trout. The spotted squeteague (C. nebulosus) of the Southern United States is a similar fish, but the back and upper fins are spotted with black. It is called also spotted weakfish, and, locally, sea trout, and sea salmon.

SQUIB Squib, n. Etym: [OE. squippen, swippen, to move swiftky, Icel. svipa to swoop, flash, dart, whip; akin to AS. swipian to whip, and E. swift, a. See Swift, a.]

1. A little pipe, or hollow cylinder of paper, filled with powder or combustible matter, to be thrown into the air while burning, so as to burst there with a crack. Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze. Waller. The making and selling of fireworks, and squibs . . . is punishable. Blackstone.

2. (Mining)

Defn: A kind of slow match or safety fuse.

3. A sarcastic speech or publication; a petty lampoon; a brief, witty essay. Who copied his squibs, and reëchoed his jokes. Goldsmith.

4. A writer of lampoons. [Obs.] The squibs are those who in the common phrase of the world are called libelers, lampooners, and pamphleteers. Tatler.

5. A paltry fellow. [Obs.] Spenser.

SQUIB Squib, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squibbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Squibbing.]

Defn: To throw squibs; to utter sarcatic or severe reflections; to contend in petty dispute; as, to squib a little debate. [Colloq.]

SQUID Squid, n. Etym: [Cf. Squirt.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of ten-armed cephalopods having a long, tapered body, and a caudal fin on each side; especially, any species of Loligo, Ommastrephes, and related genera. See Calamary, Decacerata, Dibranchiata.

Note: Some of these squids are very abundant on the Atlantic coast of North America, and are used in large quantities for bait, especially in the cod fishery. The most abundant of the American squids are the northern squid (Ommastrephes illecebrosus), ranging from Southern New England to Newfoundland, and the southern squid (Loligo Pealii), ranging from Virginia to Massachusetts.