The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1745
Tooth"ful (?) , a. Toothsome. [Obs.]
Toothing <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"ing , n. 1. The act or process of indenting or furnishing with teeth.
2. (Masonry) Bricks alternately projecting at the end of a wall, in order that they may be bonded into a continuation of it when the remainder is carried up.
Toothing plane , a plane of which the iron is formed into a series of small teeth, for the purpose of roughening surfaces, as of veneers.
Toothless <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"less , a. Having no teeth.
Cowper.
Toothlet <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"let (?) , n. A little tooth, or like projection.
Toothleted <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"let*ed , a. Having a toothlet or toothlets; as, a toothleted leaf . [Written also toothletted .]
Toothpick <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"pick` (?) , n. A pointed instument for clearing the teeth of substances lodged between them. <-- esp., a slim sliver of wood, about two inches in length, tapering to a point at both ends, and used for removing food particles from between the teeth after a meal. -->
Toothpicker <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"pick`er (?) , n. A toothpick. [Obs.]
Shak.
Toothshell <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"shell" (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any species of Dentalium and allied genera having a tooth-shaped shell. See Dentalium .
Toothsome <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"some (?) , a. Grateful to the taste; palable. -- Tooth"some*ly , adv. -- Tooth"some*ness , n.
Though less toothsome to me, they were more wholesome for me. Fuller.
Toothwort <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"wort` (?) , n. (Bot.) A plant whose roots are fancied to resemble teeth, as certain plants of the genus Lathr\'91a , and various species of Dentaria . See Coralwort .
Toothy <Xpage=1518>
Tooth"y (?) , a. Toothed; with teeth. [R] Croxall .
Toozoo <Xpage=1518>
Too*zoo" (?) , n. The ringdove. [Prov. Eng.]
Top <Xpage=1518>
Top (?) , n. [CF. OD. dop , top , OHG., MNG., & dial. G. topf ; perhaps akin to G. topf a pot.] 1. A child's toy, commonly in the form of a conoid or pear, made to spin on its point, usually by drawing off a string wound round its surface or stem, the motion being sometimes continued by means of a whip.
2. (Rope Making) A plug, or conical block of wood, with longitudital grooves on its surface, in which the strands of the rope slide in the process of twisting.
Top <Xpage=1518>
Top (?) , n. [AS. top ; akin to OFries. top a tuft, D. top top, OHG. zopf end, tip, tuft of hair, G. zopf tuft of hair, pigtail, top of a tree, Icel. toppr a tuft of hair, crest, top, Dan. top , Sw. topp pinnacle, top; of uncertain origin. Cf. Tuft .] 1. The highest part of anything; the upper end, edge, or extremity; the upper side or surface; summit; apex; vertex; cover; lid; as, the top of a spire; the top of a house; the top of a mountain; the top of the ground.
The star that bids the shepherd fold, Now the top of heaven doth hold. Milton.
2. The utmost degree; the acme; the summit.
The top of my ambition is to contribute to that work. Pope.
3. The highest rank; the most honorable position; the utmost attainable place; as, to be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school .
And wears upon hisbaby brow the round And top of sovereignty. Shak.
4. The chief person; the most prominent one.
Other . . . aspired to be the top of zealots. Milton.
5. The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head. "From top to toe"
Spenser.
All the stored vengeance of Heaven fall On her ungrateful top ! Shak.
6. The head, or upper part, of a plant.
The buds . . . are called heads, or tops , as cabbageheads. I. Watts.
7. (Naut.) A platform surrounding the head of the lower mast and projecting on all sudes. It serves to spead the topmast rigging, thus strengheningthe mast, and also furnishes a convenient standing place for the men aloft.
Totten.
8. (Wool Manuf.) A bundle or ball of slivers of comkbed wool, from which the noils, or dust, have been taken out.
9. Eve; verge; point. [R.] "He was upon the top of his marriage with Magdaleine."
Knolles.
10. The part of a cut gem between the girdle, or circumference, and the table, or flat upper surface.
Knight.
11. pl. Top-boots. [Slang]
Dickens.
&hand; Top is often used adjectively or as the first part of compound words, usually self-explaining; as, top stone, or top stone; top -boots, or top boots; top soil, or top -soil.
Top and but (Shipbuilding) , a phrase used to denote a method of working long tapering planks by bringing the but of one plank to the top of the other to make up a constant breadth in two layers. -- Top minnow (Zo\'94l.) , a small viviparous fresh-water fish ( Gambusia patruelis ) abundant in the Southern United States. Also applied to other similar species.
Top <Xpage=1518>
Top , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Topped (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Topping .] 1. To rise aloft; to be eminent; to tower; as, lofty ridges and topping mountains .
Derham.
2. To predominate; as, topping passions . "Influenced by topping uneasiness."
Locke.
3. To excel; to rise above others.
But write thy, and top . Dryden.
Top <Xpage=1518>
Top , v. t. 1. To cover on the top; to tip; to cap; -- chiefly used in the past participle.
Like moving mountains topped with snow. Waller.
A mount Of alabaster, topped with golden spires. Milton.
2. To rise above; to excel; to outgo; to surpass.
Topping all others in boasting. Shak.
Edmund the base shall top the legitimate. Shak.
3. To rise to the top of; to go over the top of.
But wind about till thou hast topped the hill. Denham.
4. To take off the or upper part of; to crop.
Top your rose trees a little with your knife. Evelyn.
5. To perform eminently, or better than before.
From endeavoring universally to top their parts, they will go universally beyond them. Jeffrey.
6. (Naut.) To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end becomes higher than the other.
To top off , to complete by putting on, or finishing, the top or uppermost part of; as, to top off a stack of hay; hence, to complete; to finish; to adorn. <-- (b) to completely fill (an almost full tank) by adding more of the liquid it already contains.-->
Toparch <Xpage=1518>
To"parch (?) , n. [L. toparcha , Gr. <?/; <?/ a place + <?/ to govern, to rule.] The ruler or principal man in a place or country; the governor of a toparchy.
The prince and toparch of that country. Fuller.
Toparchy <Xpage=1518>
To"parch*y (?) , n. ; pl. Toparchies (#) . [L. toparchia , Gr. <?/. See Toparch .] A small state, consisting of a few cities or towns; a petty country governed by a toparch; as, Judea was formerly divided into ten toparchies .
Fuller.
Top-armor <Xpage=1518>
Top"-ar`mor (?) , n. (Naut.) A top railing supported by stanchions and equipped with netting.
Topau <Xpage=1518>
To"pau (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The rhinocerous bird (a) .
Topaz <Xpage=1518>
To"paz (?) , n. [OE. topas , F. topaze , L. topazos , or topazion , a kind of precious stone, Gr. to`pazos , topa`zion ; possibly akin to Skr. tap to glow (cf. Tepid ). According to some, the name is from Topazos , a small island in the Red Sea, where the Romans obtained a stone which they called by this name, but which is the chrysolite of the moderns.] 1. (Min.) A mineral occurring in rhombic prisms, generally yellowish and pellucid, also colorless, and of greenesh, bluish, or brownish shades. It sometimes occurs massive and opaque. It is a fluosilicate of alumina, and is used as a gem.
2. (Zo\'94l.) Either one of two species of large, brilliantly colored humming birds of the Topaza , of South America and the West Indies.
&hand; The two tail feathers next to the central ones are much longer that the rest, curved, and crossed. The Throat is metallic yellowish-green, with a tint like topaz in the center, the belly is bright crimson, the back bright red. Called also topaz hummer .
False topaz . (Min.) See the Note under Quartz .
Topazolite <Xpage=1518>
To*paz"o*lite (?) , n. [ Topaz + -lite ; cf. F. topazolithe .] (Min.) A topaz-yellow variety of garnet.
Top-block <Xpage=1518>
Top"-block` (?) , n. (Naut.) A large ironbound block strapped with a hook, and, when used, hung to an eyebolt in the cap, -- used in swaying and lowering the topmast.
Totten.
Top-boots <Xpage=1518>
Top"-boots (?) , n. pl. High boots, having generally a band of some kind of light-colored leather around the upper part of the leg; riding boots.
Top-chain <Xpage=1518>
Top"-chain` (?) , n. (Naut.) A chain for slinging the lower yards, in time of action, to prevent their falling, if the ropes by which they are hung are shot away.
Top-cloth <Xpage=1518>
Top"-cloth (?) , n. (Naut.) A piece of canvas used to cover the hammocks which are lashed to the top in action to protect the topmen.
Topcoat <Xpage=1518>
Top"coat` (?) , n. An outer coat; an overcoat.
Top-drain <Xpage=1518>
Top"-drain` (?) , v. t. To drain the surface of, as land; as, to top-drain a field or farm .
Top-draining <Xpage=1518>
Top"-drain`ing , n. The act or practice of drining the surface of land.
Top-dress <Xpage=1518>
Top"-dress` (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Top-dressed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Top-dressing .] To apply a surface dressing of manureto,as land.
Top-dressing <Xpage=1518>
Top"-dress`ing , n. The act of applying a dressing of manure to the surface of land; also, manure so applied.
Tope <Xpage=1518>
Tope (?) , n. [Probably from Skr. st <?/ pa a tope, astupa, through Prakrin tp <?/ po .] A moundlike Buddhist sepulcher, or memorial monument. often erected over a Buddhish relic.
Tope <Xpage=1518>
Tope , n. [Tamil t <?/ ppu .] A grove or clumb of trees; as, a toddy tope . [India]
Whitworth.
Tope <Xpage=1518>
Tope , n. 1. (Zo\'94l.) A small shark or dogfish ( Galeorhinus, ∨ Galeus, galeus ), native of Europe, but found also on the coasts of California and Tasmania; -- called also toper , oil shark , miller's dog , and penny dog .
2. (Zo\'94l.) The wren. [Prov. Eng.]
Tope <Xpage=1518>
Tope , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Toped (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Toping .] [F. t⊚per to cover a stake in playing at dice, to accept an offer, t⊚pe agreed !; -- perhaps imitative of the sound of striking hands on concluding a bargain. From being used in English as a drinking term, probably at first in accepting a toast.] To drink hard or frequently; to drink strong or spiritous liquors to excess.
If you tope in form, and treat. Dryden.
Toper <Xpage=1518>
To"per (?) , n. One who topes, or drinks frequently or to excess; a drunkard; a sot.
Topet <Xpage=1518>
Top"et (?) , n. [F. toupet tuft. See Touper .] (Zo\'94l.) The European crested titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]
Topful <Xpage=1518>
Top"ful (?) , a. Full to the top, ore brim; brimfull. " Topful of direst cruelty."
Shak.
[He] was so topful of himself, that he let it spill on all the company. I. Watts.
Topgallant <Xpage=1518>
Top`gal"lant (?) , a.
1. (Naut.) Situated above the topmast and below the royal mast; designatb, or pertaining to, the third spars in order from the deck; as, the topgallant mast, yards, braces, and the like . See Illustration of Ship .
2. Fig.: Highest; elevated; splendid. "The consciences of topgallant sparks."
L'Estrange.
Topgallant breeze , a breeze in which the topgallant sails may properly be carried.
Topgallant <Xpage=1518>
Top`gal"lant , n. 1. (Naut.) A topgallant mast or sail.
2. Fig.: Anything elevated or splendid.
Bacon.
Toph <Xpage=1518>
Toph (?) , n. [L. tophus , tofus , tufa, or tuft. Cf. Tufa , Tofus , Tophus .] (Min.) kind of sandstone.
Tophaceous <Xpage=1518>
To*pha"ceous (?) , a. [L. tophaceus , tofaceus .] Gritty; sandy; rough; stony.
Top-hamper <Xpage=1518>
Top"-ham`per (?) , n. (Naut.) The upper rigging, spars, etc., of a ship. [Written also top hamper .]
All the ships of the fleet . . . were so encumbered with tophamper , so overweighted in proportion to their draught of water, that they could bear but little canvas, even with smooth seas and light and favorable winds. Motley.
Top-heavy <Xpage=1518>
Top"-heav`y (?) , a. Having the top or upper part too heavy for the lower part.
Sir H. Wotton.
Tophet <Xpage=1518>
To"phet (?) , n. [Heb. t \'d3 phet , literally, a place to be spit upon, an abominable place, fr. t <?/ ph to spit out.] A place lying east or southeast of Jerusalem, in the valley of Hinnom. [Written also Topheth .]
And he defiled Topheth , which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom. 2 Kings xxiii. 10.
&hand; It seems to have been at first part of the royal garden, but it was afterwards defiled and polluted by the sacrifices of Baal and the fires of Moloch, and resounded with the cries of burning infants. At a later period, its altars and high places were thrown down, and all the filth of the city poured into it, until it became the abhorrence of Jerusalem, and, in symbol, the place where are wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence And black Gehenna called, the type of hell. Milton.
Tophin <Xpage=1518>
Toph"in (?) , n. (Min.) Same as Toph .
<page="1519"> Page 1519
Tophus <Xpage=1519>
To"phus (?) , n. ; pl. Tophi (#) . [NL.: cf. F. tophus a mineral concretion in the joint. See Toph .] [Written also tofus .] 1. (Med.) One of the mineral concretions about the joints, and in other situations, occurring chiefly in gouty persons. They consist usually of urate of sodium; when occurring in the internal organs they are also composed of phosphate of calcium.
2. (Min.) Calcareous tufa.
Topiarian <Xpage=1519>
Top`i*a"ri*an (?) , a. [See Toplary .] Of or pertaining to the ornamental cutting and trimming of trees, hedges, etc.; practicing ornamental gardening. [R.] "The topiarian artist."
Sir W. Scott.
All the pedantries of the topiarian art. C. Kingsley.
Topiary <Xpage=1519>
Top"i*a*ry (?) , a. [L. topiarius belonging to ornamental gardening, fr. topia (sc. opera ) ornamental gardening, fr. Gr. <?/ a place.] Of or pertaining to ornamental gardening; produced by cutting, trimming, etc.; topiarian.
Topiary work , arbors, shrubbery, hedges, or the like, cut and trimmed into fanciful forms, as of animals, building, etc.
Topic <Xpage=1519>
Top"ic (?) , n. [F. topiques , pl., L. topica the title of a work of Aristotle, Gr. topika` , fr. topiko`s of or for place, concerning to`poi , or commonplaces, fr. to`pos a place.] (a) One of the various general forms of argument employed in probable as distinguished from demonstrative reasoning, -- denominated by Aristotle to`poi (literally, places), as being the places or sources from which arguments may be derived, or to which they may be referred; also, a prepared form of argument, applicable to a great variety of cases, with a supply of which the ancient rhetoricians and orators provided themselves; a commonplace of argument or oratory. (b) pl. A treatise on forms of argument; a system or scheme of forms or commonplaces of argument or oratory; as, the Topics of Aristotle .
These topics , or loci, were no other than general ideas applicable to a great many different subjects, which the orator was directed to consult. Blair.
In this question by [reason] I do not mean a distinct topic , but a transcendent that runs through all topics . Jer. Taylor.
2. An argument or reason. [Obs.]
Contumacious persons, who are not to be fixed by any principles, whom no topics can work upon. Bp. Wilkins.
3. The subject of any distinct portion of a discourse, or argument, or literary composition; also, the general or main subject of the whole; a matter treated of; a subject, as of conversation or of thought; a matter; a point; a head.
4. (Med.) An external local application or remedy, as a plaster, a blister, etc. [Obsoles.]
Wiseman.
Topic <Xpage=1519>
Top"ic , a. Topical.
Drayton. Holland.
Topical <Xpage=1519>
Top"ic*al (?) , a. [Cf. F. topique , LL. topicus , Gr. <?/. See Topic , n. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a place; limited; logical application; as, a topical remedy; a topical claim or privilege .
2. (Rhet. & logic) Pertaining to, or consisting of, a topic or topics; according to topics.
3. Resembling a topic, or general maxim; hence, not demonstrative, but merely probable, as an argument.
Evidences of fact can be no more than topical and probable.
Sir M. Hale.
Topically <Xpage=1519>
Top"ic*al*ly , adv. In a topical manner; with application to, or limitation of, a particular place or topic.
Topknot <Xpage=1519>
Top"knot` (?) , n. 1. A crest or knot of feathers upon the head or top, as of a bird; also, an orgamental knot worn on top of the head, as by women.
A great, stout servant girl, with cheeks as red as her topknot . Sir W. Scott.
2. (Zo\'94l.) A small Europen flounder ( Rhoumbus punctatus ). The name is also applied to allied species.
Topless <Xpage=1519>
Top"less , a. Having no top, or no visble fop; hence, fig.: very lofty; supreme; unequaled. " The topless Apennines." " Topless fortunes."
Beau. & Fl.
<-- braless!-->
Top-light <Xpage=1519>
Top"-light` (?) , n. (Naut.) A lantern or light on the top of a vessel.
Topman <Xpage=1519>