Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Y p. 1532the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet, derives its form from the Greek Υ, whence it is called, in French and Spanish, the “Greek I.” At the beginning of words or syllables, except when used…Y, n. p. 1532One of the forked pieces which support the pivots of a transit instrument, of the telescope of a theodolite, and the like; a wye;—so called from its form. See WYE. 2. (Railways.) A portion of track…Yäc'cä-wood, n. p. 1532An ornamental wood from Jamaica, of a pale brown color, with streaks of hazel-brown.Yacht, n. p. 1532(Naut.) A light and elegantly furnished vessel, used either for private parties of pleasure, or as a vessel of state to convey princes, &c., from one place to another; a sea-going vessel used only…Yacht'er, n. p. 1532One engaged in sailing a yacht.Yacht'ing, n. p. 1532Sailing on pleasure excursions in a yacht.Yacht'ing, a. p. 1532Relating to yachts and their use; as, a yachting excursion.Ya'ger, n. p. 1532(Mil.) One belonging to a body of light infantry armed with rifles. [Written also jager.]Yäk, n. p. 1532(Zoöl.) A ruminant mammal of the bovine tribe; Poëphagus grunniens; the grunting ox of Tartary; the sarlac or sarlyk.Yăm, n. p. 1532(Bot.) A large, esculent tuber or root of various climbing plants, of the genus Dioscorea, growing in tropical climates, and forming, when roasted or boiled, a wholesome, palatable, and nutritious…Yā'má, n. p. 1532(Hindoo Myth.) The judge and ruler of the departed; the Hindu Pluto, or king of the infernal regions : originally conceived of as one of the first pair from whom the human race is descended, and the…Yānk, v. t. p. 1532To give a throwing or jerking motion to; to twitch strongly; to jerk. [Colloq. U. S.]Yănk, n. p. 1532A jerk or twitch. [Colloq. U. S.] 2. A Yankee. [Colloq. and vulgar.]Yăn'kee, n. p. 1532A citizen of New England; also, a citizen of the Northern States, or a citizen of the United States;—a cant name, with a tinge of reproach in it, applied by foreigners to all inhabitants of the…Yăn'o-līte, n. p. 1532(Min.) The same as AXINITE, q.v.Yaourt, n. p. 1532A fermented drink or milk-beer made by the Turks. Johnston. Simmonds.Yăp, v. i. p. 1532To bark; to yelp. L’Estrange.Yā'pon or Yă'pon, n. p. 1532(Bot.) The Ilex cassine, a shrub growing in the south-eastern parts of the United States, the leaves of which are used in making tea, and also as a medicine.Yār'age, n. p. 1532(Naut.) (a.) The power of moving or being managed at sea;—said with reference to a ship. (b.) Furniture; equipage; tackling. [Obs.] He might, with his light ships, well manned with watermen, turn and…Yārd, n. p. 1532A measure of length, equaling three feet, or thirty-six inches, being the standard of English and American measure. 2. A long piece of timber, as a rafter, and the like. [Obs.] Oxf. Gloss. 3. The…Yärd, n. p. 1532An inclosure; usually, a small, inclosed place in front of or around a house or barn; as, a court-yard; a cow-yard; a barn-yard. Liberty of the yard, a liberty, granted to persons imprisoned for…Yärd, v. t. p. 1532To confine cattle to the yard; to shut up in a yard; as, to yard cows.Yärd'-ärm, n. p. 1532(Naut.) Either half of a ship's yard, from the center or mast to the end. ☞ Ships are said to be yard-arm and yard-arm when so near as to touch, or interlock their yards.Yärd'ful, n. p. 1532As much as a yard will contain; enough to fill a yard.Yärd'-länd, n. p. 1532A measure of land of uncertain quantity, varying from fifteen to forty acres. [Obs.]Yärd'-stick, n. p. 1532A stick three feet in length, used as a measure of cloth, and the like.Yärd'-wänd, n. p. 1532A measure of a yard; a yard-stick.Yāre, a. p. 1532Ready; dexterous; eager; lively; quick. [Obs.] Be yare in thy preparation. Shak.Yâre'ly, adv. p. 1532In a yare manner; readily; promptly; quickly; dexterously; skillfully. [Obs.] Shak.Yärk, v. t. p. 1532To yerk or jerk. See YERK. [Prov. Eng.]Yärn, n. p. 1532Spun wool; woolen thread; also, thread of other materials, as of cotton, flax, hemp, or silk; material spun and prepared for weaving. 2. (Rope-making.) One of the threads of which a rope is composed.…Yärn'en, a. p. 1532Made of yarn; consisting of yarn. “A pair of yarnen stocks.” [Obs.] Turberville.Yär'-nŭt, n. p. 1532See YER-NUT.Yärr, v. i. p. 1532To growl or snarl as a dog. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Yär'rish, a. p. 1532Having a rough, dry taste. [Prov. Eng.]Yär'rōw, n. p. 1532(Bot.) A composite plant (Achillea millefolium), having a strong odor and pungent taste. It is a native of Europe, where it is used as a vulnerary, and is common in the United States; the milfoil. It…Yăt’/a-ghăn, n. p. 1532A long Turkish dagger. See ATAGHAN.Yāte, n. p. 1532A gate. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Spenser.Yaulp or Yaup, v. i. p. 1532To cry out like a child; to yelp. [Rare.] [Scot. and U. S.] [Written also yaup. ]Yaup'er, n. p. 1532One who, or that which, yaups.Yau'pon, n. p. 1532See YAPON.Yaw, v. i. p. 1532To rise in blisters, breaking in white froth, as cane-juice in the sugar-works. 2. [Prov. Ger. gagen, to rock, gageln, to totter, shake.] (Naut.) To steer wild, or out of the line of her course, as a…Yaw, n. p. 1532(Naut.) A movement of a vessel by which she temporarily alters her course; deviation from the right way in steering.Yawd, n. p. 1532A jade; an old horse or mare. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.Yawl, n. p. 1532(Naut.) A small ship's-boat, usually rowed by four or six oars. [Written also yaul.]Yăwl, v. i. p. 1532To cry out like a dog; to yell. “There howling Scyllas yawling round about.”Yawn, v. i. p. 1533To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness, dullness, or fatigue; to gape; to oscillate. “The lazy, yawning drone.” Shak. And while above he spends his breath, The yawning audience nod…Yawn, n. p. 1533A deep and involuntary inspiration, with a pretty wide opening of the mouth, followed by a prolonged and more or less sonorous expiration; oscitation; a gaping. One person yawning in company will…Yawn'ing-ly, adv. p. 1533In a yawning manner.Yăwp, v. i. p. 1533To yawp or yelp. See YAUP.Yaws, n. p. 1533(Med.) A disease of the Antilles and of Africa, characterized by tumors, of a contagious character, which, in shape and appearance, resemble strawberries or raspberries. These tumors ulcerate and are…Y̆-cleped′, p. p. p. 1533Called; named;—obsolete, except in burlesque or humorous writings. But come, thou goddess fair and free, In heaven ycleped Euphrosyne. Milton.Yē, pron. p. 1533The nominative plural of the second person;—sometimes inaccurately used as the objective. “I will receive ye.” Milton. But ye are washed; but ye are sanctified. 1 Cor. vi. 11.Yea (yā or yĕ), adv. p. 1533Yes; ay. See YES. Let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay. Matt. v. 37. Yea sometimes introduces a subject, with the sense of indeed, verily, truly, it is so. “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not…Yēad, v. i. p. 1533To go; to march; to proceed. [Obs.] In other pace than forth he yode, Returned Lord Marmion. W. Scott. Years yead away and faces fair deflower. Drant.Yēan, v. t. & i. p. 1533To bring forth young, as a goat or sheep; to lamb. Shak.Yeān'ling, n. p. 1533The young of sheep; a lamb. Shak.Year, n. p. 1533The time of the apparent revolution of the sun through the ecliptic; the period occupied by the earth in making its revolution around the sun; also, a period more or less nearly agreeing with this…Yēar'-book, n. p. 1533A book published yearly; any annual report or summary of the statistics or facts of a year, designed to be used as a reference book; as, the Congregational Year-book. 2. (Eng. Law.) A book containing…Yēared, a. p. 1533Containing years; having existed or continued many years; full of years; aged. [Obs.]