Chapter 1747

Fish torpedo , a spindle-shaped, or fish-shaped, self-propelling submarine torpedo. -- Spar torpedo , a canister or other vessel containing an explosive charge, and attached to the end of a long spar which projects from a ship or boat and is thrust against an enemy's ship, exploding the torpedo. -- Torpedo boat , a vessel adapted for carrying, launching, operating, or otherwise making use of, torpedoes against an enemy's ship. <-- Espec., a small, fast boat with tubes for launching torpedoes --> -- Torpedo nettings , nettings made of chains or bars, which can be suspended around a vessel and allowed to sink beneath the surface of the water, as a protection against torpedoes.

Torpedo <Xpage=1520>

Tor*pe"do , v. t. to destroy by, or subject to the action of, a torpedo.

London Spectator.

<-- Fig. To destroy, cause to halt, or prevent from being accomplished; -- used esp. with reference to a plan or an enterprise, halted by some action before the plan is put into execution. -->

Torpent <Xpage=1520>

Tor"pent (?) , a. [L. torpens , p. pr. of torpere to be numb.] Having no motion or activity; incapable of motion; benumbed; torpid. [Obs.]

Evelyn.

Torpescence <Xpage=1520>

Tor*pes"cence (?) , n. The quality or state or being torpescent; torpidness; numbness; stupidity.

Toppescent <Xpage=1520>

Top*pes"cent (?) , a. [L. torpescens , p. pr. of torpescere to grow stiff, numb, or torpid, incho. fr. torpere . See Torpid .] Becoming torpid or numb.

Shenstone.

Torpid <Xpage=1520>

Tor"pid (?) , a. [L. torpidus , fr. torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid; of uncertain origin.] 1. Having lost motion, or the power of exertion and feeling; numb; benumbed; as, a torpid limb .

Without heat all things would be torpid . Ray.

2. Dull; stupid; sluggish; inactive.

Sir M. Hale.

Torpidity <Xpage=1520>

Tor*pid"i*ty (?) , n. Same as Torpidness .

Torpidly <Xpage=1520>

Tor"pid*ly (?) , adv. In a torpid manner.

Torpidness <Xpage=1520>

Tor"pid*ness , n. The qualityy or state of being torpid.

Torpify <Xpage=1520>

Tor"pi*fy (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Torpified (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Torpifying . (<?/) .] [L. torpere to be torpid + -fy .] To make torpid; to numb, or benumb.

Torpitude <Xpage=1520>

Tor"pi*tude (?) , n. Torpidness. [Obs.] "In a kind of torpitude , or sleeping state."

Derham.

Torpor <Xpage=1520>

Tor"por (?) , n. [L., from torpere , to be torpid.]

1. Loss of motion, or of the motion; a state of inactivity with partial or total insensibility; numbness.

2. Dullness; sluggishness; inactivity; as, a torpor of the mental faculties .

Torporific <Xpage=1520>

Tor`por*if"ic (?) , a. [L. torpor torpor + facere to make.] Tending to produce torpor.

Torquate <Xpage=1520>

Tor"quate (?) , a. [L. torquatus wearing a collar.] (Zo\'94l.) Collared; having a torques, or distinct colored ring around the neck.

torquated <Xpage=1520>

tor"qua*ted (?) , a. [L. Torqyatus .] Having or wearing a torque, or neck chain.

Torque <Xpage=1520>

Torque (?) , n. [L. torques a twisted neck chain, fr. torquere to twist.] 1. A collar or neck chain, usually twisted, especially as worn by ancient barbaric nations, as the Gauls, Germans, and Britons.

2. [L. torquere to twist.] (Mech.) That which tends to produce torsion; a couple of forces.

J. Thomson.

3. (Phys. Science) A turning or twisting; tendency to turn, or cause to turn, about an axis.

Torqued <Xpage=1520>

Torqued (?) , a. [L. torquere to twist, to turn, to wind.] 1. Wreathed; twisted. [R.]

2. (Her.) Twisted; bent; -- said of a dolphin haurient, which forms a figure like the letter S.

Torques <Xpage=1520>

Tor"ques (?) , n. [L., a necklace. See Torque , 1.] (Zo\'94l.) A cervical ring of hair or feathers, distinguished by its color or structure; a collar.

Torrefaction <Xpage=1520>

Tor`re*fac"tion (?) , n. [L. torrefacere , torrefactum , to torrefy: cf. F. torr \'82 faction . See Torrefy .] The act or process of torrefying, or the state of being torrefied.

Bp. Hall.

Torrefy <Xpage=1520>

Tor"re*fy (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Torrefied (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Torrefying .] [L. torrere to parch + -fy : cf. F. torr \'82 fier , L. torrefacere .] [Written also torrify .] 1. To dry by a fire.

Sir T. Browne.

2. (Metal.) To subject to scorching heat, so as to drive off volatile ingredients; to roast, as ores.

3. (Pharm.) To dry or parch, as drugs, on a metallic plate till they are friable, or are reduced to the state desired.

Torrent <Xpage=1520>

Tor"rent (?) , n. [F., fr. L. torrens , -entis , fr. torrens burning, roaring, boiling, p. pr. of torrere to dry by heat, to burn. See Torrid .] 1. A violent stream, as of water, lava, or the like; a stream suddenly raised and running rapidly, as down a precipice.

The roaring torrent is deep and wide. Longfellow.

2. Fig.: A violent or rapid flow; a strong current; a flood; as, a torrent of vices; a torrent of eloquence .

At length, Erasmus, that great injured name, . . . Stemmed the wild torrent of a barbarous age. Pope.

Torrent <Xpage=1520>

Tor"rent , a. [See Torrent , n. ] Rolling or rushing in a rapid stream. "Waves of torrent fire."

Milton.

Torrential, Torrentine <Xpage=1520>

Tor*ren"tial (?) , Tor*ren"tine (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a torrent; having the character of a torrent; caused by a torrent . [R.]

Torricellian <Xpage=1520>

Tor`ri*cel"li*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to Torricelli , an Italian philosopher and mathematician, who, in 1643, discovered that the rise of a liquid in a tube, as in the barometer, is due to atmospheric pressure. See Barometer .

Torricellian tube , a glass tube thirty or more inches in length, open at the lower end and hermetically sealed at the upper, such as is used in the barometer. -- Torricellian vacuum (Physics) , a vacuum produced by filling with a fluid, as mercury, a tube hermetically closed at one end, and, after immersing the other end in a vessel of the same fluid, allowing the inclosed fluid to descend till it is counterbalanced by the pressure of the atmosphere, as in the barometer.

Hutton.

Torrid <Xpage=1520>

Tor"rid (?) , a. [L. torridus , fr. torrere to parch, to burn, akin to E. Thist : cf. F. torride . See Thirst .] 1. Parched; dried with heat; as, a torrid plain or desert . "Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil."

Milton.

2. Violenty hot; drying or scorching with heat; burning; parching. " Torrid heat."

Milton.

Torrid zone (Geog.) , that space or board belt of the earth, included between the tropics, over which the sun is vertical at some period of every year, and the heat is always great.

Torridity <Xpage=1520>

Tor*rid"i*ty (?) , n. Torridness. [R.]

Torridness <Xpage=1520>

Tor"rid*ness (?) , n. The quality or state of being torrid or parched.

Torril <Xpage=1520>

Tor"ril (?) , n. A worthless woman; also, a worthless horse. [Prov. Eng.]

Halliwell.

Torrock <Xpage=1520>

Tor"rock (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A gull. [Prov. Eng.]

Torsal <Xpage=1520>

Tor"sal (?) , n. (Carp.) A torsel.

Knight.

Torse <Xpage=1520>

Torse (?) , n. [OF., fr. OF. & F. tors , torse , twisted, wreathed, p. p. of tordre to twist, L. torquere . See Torture .]

1. (Her.) A wreath.

2. [F. tors , torse , twisted.] (Geom.) A developable surface. See under Developable .

Torsel <Xpage=1520>

Tor"sel (?) , n. (Carp.) A plate of timber for the end of a beam or joist to rest on.

Gwilt

Torsibillty <Xpage=1520>

Tor`si*bil"l*ty (?) , n. The tendency, as of a rope, to untwist after being twisted.

Torsion <Xpage=1520>

Tor"sion (?) , n. [F., fr. LL. torsio , fr. L. torquere , tortum , to twist. See Torture .] 1. The act of turning or twisting, or the state of being twisted; the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of a lateral force tending to turn one end or part of it about a longitudinal axis, while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction.

2. (Mech.) That force with which a thread, wire, or rod of any material, returns, or tends to return, to a state of rest after it has been twisted; torsibility.

Angle of torsion (of a curve) (Geom.) , the indefinitely small angle between two consecutive osculating planes of a curve of double curvature. -- Moment of torsion (Mech.) the moment of a pair of equal and opposite couples which tend to twist a body. -- Torsion balance (Physics.) , an instrument for estimating very minute forces, as electric or magnetic attractions and repulsions, by the torsion of a very slender wire or fiber having at its lower extremity a horizontal bar or needle, upon which the forces act. -- Torsion scale , a scale for weighing in which the fulcra of the levers or beams are strained wires or strips acting by torsion.

Torsional <Xpage=1520>

Tor"sion*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to torsion; resulting from torsion, or the force with which a thread or wire returns to a state of rest after having been twisted round its axis; as, torsional force .

Torsk <Xpage=1520>

Torsk (?) , n. [Dan.; akin to Icel. &thorn;orskr a codfish, G. dorsch .] (Zo\'94l.) (a) The cusk. See Cusk . (b) The codfish. Called also tusk .

Torso <Xpage=1520>

Tor"so (?) , n. ; pl. E. Torsos (#) , It. Torsi (#) . [It. torso , probably fr. L. thyrsus a stalk, stem, thyrsus, Gr. <?/; cf. OHG. torso , turso , a stalk, stem, G. dorsche a cabbage stalk. Cf. Thyrsus , Truss .] The human body, as distinguished from the head and limbs; in sculpture, the trunk of a statue, mutilated of head and limbs; as, the torso of Hercules .

Tort <Xpage=1520>

Tort (?) , n. [F., from LL. tortum , fr. L. tortus twisted, crooked, p. p. of torqure to twist, bend. See Torture .] 1. Mischief; injury; calamity. [Obs.]

That had them long opprest with tort . Spenser.

2. (Law) Any civil wrong or injury; a wrongful act (not involving a breach of contract) for which an action will lie; a form of action, in some parts of the United States, for a wrong or injury.

Executor de son tort . See under Executor . -- Tort feasor (Law) , a wrongdoer; a trespasser.

Wharton.

Tort <Xpage=1520>

Tort , a. Stretched tight; taut. [R.]

Yet holds he them with tortest rein. Emerson.

Torta <Xpage=1520>

Tor"ta (?) , n. [Cf. Sp. torta a cake.] (Metal.) a flat heap of moist, crushed silver ore, prepared for the patio process.

Torteau <Xpage=1520>

Tor"teau (?) , n. ; pl . Torteaus (#) [Of. torteau , tortel , from L. tortus twisted. See Tort .] (Her.) A roundel of a red color.

Torticollis <Xpage=1520>

Tor`ti*col"lis (?) , n. [F. toricolis ; L. torquere , tortum , to twist + collum the neck.] (Med.) See Wryneck .

Tortile <Xpage=1520>

Tor"tile (?) , a. [L. tortilis , fr. torquere , tortum , to twist: cf. F. tortile .] Twisted; wreathed; coiled.

Tortility <Xpage=1520>

Tor*til"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being tortile, twisted, or wreathed.

Tortilla <Xpage=1520>

Tor*til"la (?) , n. [Sp.] An unleavened cake, as of maize flour, baked on a heated iron or stone.

Tortion <Xpage=1520>

Tor"tion (?) , n. [LL. tortio . See Torsion .] Torment; pain. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Tortious <Xpage=1520>

Tor"tious (?) , a. [From Tort .] 1. Injurious; wrongful. [Obs.] " Tortious power."

Spenser.

2. (Law) Imploying tort, or privat injury for which the law gives damages; involing tort.

Tortiously <Xpage=1520>

Tor"tious*ly , adv. (Law) In a tortous manner.

Tortive <Xpage=1520>

Tor"tive (?) , a. [L. tortus , p.p. of torquere to twist, wind.] Twisted; wreathed.

Shak.

Tortoise <Xpage=1520>

Tor"toise (?) , n. [OE. tortuce , fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus isted, crooked, contorted, p.p. of torquere , tortum , to wind; cf. F. tortue tortoise, LL. tortuca , tartuca , Pr. tortesa crookedness, tortis crooked. so called in allusion to its crooked feet. See Torture .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of reptiles of the order Testudinata.

&hand; The term is applied especially to the land and fresh-water species, while the marine species are generally called turtles , but the terms tortoise and turtle are used synonymously by many writers. see Testudinata , Terrapin , and Turtle .

2. (Rom. Antiq.) Same as Testudo , 2.

Box tortoise , Land tortoise , etc. See under Box , Land , etc. -- Painted tortoise . (Zo\'94l.) See Painted turtle , under Painted . -- Soft-shell tortoise . (Zo\'94l.) See Trionyx . -- Spotted tortoise . (Zo\'94l.) A small American fresh-water tortoise ( Chelopus, &or; Nanemys, quttatus ) having a blackish carapace on which are scattered round yellow spots. -- Tortoise beetle (Zo\'94l.) , any one of numerous species of small tortoise-shaped beetles. Many of them have a brilliant metallic luster. the larv\'91 feed upon the leaves of various plants, and protect themselves beneath a mass of dried excrement held over the back by means of the caudal spines. The golden tortoise beetle ( Cassida aurichalcea ) is found on the morning-glory vine and allied plants. -- Tortoise plant . (Bot.) See Elephant's foot , under Elephant . -- Tortoise shell , the substance of the shell or horny plates of several species of sea turtles, especially of the hawkbill turtle. It is used in inlaying and in the manufacture of various ornamental articles. -- Tortoise-shell butterfly (Zo\'94l.) , any one of several species of handsomely colored butterflies of the genus Aglais , as A. Milberti , and A. urtic\'91 , both of which, in the larva state, feed upon nettles. -- Tortoise-shell turtle (Zo\'94l.) , the hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill .

<-- tortoise-shell, adj. having a color like that aof a toroise's shell, black with white and orange spots; -- used mostly to describe cats of that color. n. a tortoise-shell cat. -->

Tortricid <Xpage=1520>

Tor"tri*cid (?) , a. [See Tortrix .] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to Tortix, or the family Tortricid\'91 .

Tortrix <Xpage=1520>

Tor"trix (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. torquere , tortum , to twist.] 1. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of small moths of the family Tortricid\'91 , the larv\'91 of which usually roll up the leaves of plants on which they live; -- also called leaf roller .

2. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of tropical short-tailed snakes, which are not venomous. One species ( Tortrix scytal \'91) is handsomely banded with black, and is sometimes worn alive by the natives of Brazil for a necklace.

<page="1521"> Page 1521

Tortulous <Xpage=1521>

Tor"tu*lous (?) , a. (Nat. Hist.) Swelled out at intervals like a knotted cord.

Tortuose <Xpage=1521>

Tor"tu*ose` (?) , a. [See Tortuous.] Wreathed; twisted; winding.

Loudon

Tortuoslty <Xpage=1521>

Tor`tu*os"l*ty (?) , n. [L. tortuositas : cf. F. tortuosite .] the quality or state of being tortuous.

Tortuous <Xpage=1521>

Tor"tu*ous (?) , a. [OE. tortuos , L. tortuosus , fr. tortus a twisting, winding, fr. torquere , tortum , to twist: cf. F. tortueux . See Torture.] 1. Bent in different directions; wreathed; twisted; winding; as, a tortuous train ; a tortuous train; a tortuous leaf or corolla .

The badger made his dark and tortuous hole on the side of every hill where the copsewood grew thick. Macaulay.

2. Fig.: Deviating from rectitude; indirect; erroneous; deceitful.

That course became somewhat less tortuous , when the battle of the Boyne had cowed the spirit of the Jakobites. Macaulay.

3. Injurious: tortious. [Obs.]

4. (Astrol.) Oblique; -- applied to the six signs of the zodiac (from Capricorn to Gemini) which ascend most rapidly and obliquely. [Obs.]

Skeat.

Infortunate ascendent tortuous . Chaucer.

-- Tor"tu*ous*ly , adv. -- Tor"tu*ous*ness , n.

Torturable <Xpage=1521>

Tor"tur*a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being tortured.

Torture <Xpage=1521>

Tor"ture (?) , n. [F.,fr.L. tortura , fr. torquere , tortum , to twist, rack, torture; probably akin to Gr. tre`pein to turn, G. drechsein to turn on a lathe, and perhaps to E. queer . Cf. Contort , Distort , Extort , Retort , Tart , n. , Torch , Torment , Tortion , Tort , Trope. ] 1. Extreme pain; anguish of body or mind; pang; agony; torment; as, torture of mind .

Shak.

Ghastly spasm or racking torture .

Milton.

2. Especially, severe pain inflicted judicially, either as punishment for a crime, or for the purpose of extorting a confession from an accused person, as by water or fire, by the boot or thumbkin, or by the rack or wheel.

3. The act or process of torturing.

Torture , whitch had always been deciared illegal, and which had recently been declared illegal even by the servile judges of that age, was inflicted for the last time in England in the month of May, 1640. Macaulay.

Torture <Xpage=1521>