The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1750
Tow (?) , n. [OE. tow , AS. tow , akin to OD. touw , Icel. <?/ a tuft of wool for spinning; cf. E. taw , v.t.] The coarse and broken part of flax or hemp, separated from the finer part by the hatchel or swingle.
Tow <Xpage=1522>
Tow , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Towed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Towing .] [OE. towen , to<?/en; akin to OFries. toga to pull about, OHG. zog\'d3n, Icel. toga , AS. toh line a towline, and AS.te\'a2n to draw, p.p. getogen . See Tug ] To draw or pull through the water, as a vessel of any kind, by means of a rope.
<page="1523"> Page 1523
Tow <Xpage=1523>
Tow (?) , n. [Cf. Icel. taug a rope, from the same root as E. tow , v. t. ] 1. A rope by which anything is towed; a towline, or towrope.
2. The act of towing, or the state of being towed;-chiefly used in the phrase, to take in tow , that is to tow.
3. That which is towed, or drawn by a towline, as a barge, raft, collection of boats, ect.
Towage <Xpage=1523>
Tow"age (?) , n. [From Tow , v. .cf. F. touage .] 1. The act of towing.
2. The price paid for towing.
Towall <Xpage=1523>
Tow"all (?) , n. A towel. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Toward, Towards <Xpage=1523>
To"ward , To"wards (?) , prep. [AS. <?/ impending, imminent, future, toward, <?/ towards. See To , and - ward , wards .] 1. In the direction of; to.
He set his face toward the wilderness. Num. xxiv. 1.
The waves make towards \'b6 the pebbled shore. Shak.
2. With direction to, in a moral sense; with respect or reference to; regarding; concerning.
His eye shall be evil toward his brother. Deut. xxviii. 54.
Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. Acts xxiv. 16.
3. Tending to; in the direction of; in behalf of.
This was the first alarm England received towards any trouble. Clarendom.
4. Near; about; approaching to.
I am toward nine years older since I left you. Swift.
Toward, Towards <Xpage=1523>
To"ward , To"wards adv. Near; at hand; in state of preparation.
Do you hear sught, sir, of a battle toward ? Shak.
We have a trifling foolish banquet Towards . Shak.
Toward <Xpage=1523>
To"ward (?) , a. [AS. <?/. See Toward , prep. ] 1. Approaching; coming near. "His toward peril."
Spenser.
2. Readly to do or learn; compliant with duty; not froward; apt; docile; tractable; as, a toward youth .
3. Ready to act; forward; bold; valiant.
Why, that is spoken like a toward prince. Shak.
Towardliness <Xpage=1523>
To"ward*li*ness (?) , n. The quality or state of being towardly; docility; tractableness.
The beauty and towardliness of these children moved her brethren to envy. Sir W. Raleigh.
Towardly <Xpage=1523>
To"ward*ly , a. Same as Toward , a. , 2.
He's towardly and will come on apace. Dryden.
Towardness <Xpage=1523>
To"ward*ness , n. Quality or state of being toward.
Towards <Xpage=1523>
To"wards (<?/) , prep. & adv. See Toward .
Towboat <Xpage=1523>
Tow"boat` (?) , n. 1. A vessel constructed for being towed, as a canal boat.
2. A steamer used for towing other vessels; a tug.
Towel <Xpage=1523>
Tow"el (?) , n. [OE. towaille , towail , F. touaille , LL. toacula , of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. dwahila , swahilla , G. zwehle , fr. OHG. dwahan to wash; akin to D. dwaal a towel, AS. þwe\'a0n to wash, OS. thwahan , Icel. þv&amac; , Sw. tv\'86 , Dan. toe , Goth. þwahan . Cf. Doily .] A cloth used for wiping, especially one used for drying anything wet, as the person after a bath.
Towel gourd (Bot.) , the fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant Luffa \'92gyptiaca ; also, the plant itself. The fruit is very fibrous, and, when separated from its rind and seeds, is used as a sponge or towel. Called also Egyptian bath sponge , and dishcloth .
Towel <Xpage=1523>
Tow"el , v. t. To beat with a stick. [Prov. Eng.]
Toweling <Xpage=1523>
Tow"el*ing , n. Cloth for towels, especially such as is woven in long pieces to be cut at will, as distinguished from that woven in towel lengths with borders, etc. [Written also towelling .]
Tower <Xpage=1523>
Tow"er (?) , n. [OE. tour , tor , tur , F. tour , L. turris ; akin to Gr. <?/; cf. W. twr a tower, Ir. tor a castle, Gael. torr a tower, castle. Cf. Tor , Turret .] 1. (Arch.) (a) A mass of building standing alone and insulated, usually higher than its diameter, but when of great size not always of that proportion. (b) A projection from a line of wall, as a fortification, for purposes of defense, as a flanker, either or the same height as the curtain wall or higher. (c) A structure appended to a larger edifice for a special purpose, as for a belfry, and then usually high in proportion to its width and to the height of the rest of the edifice; as, a church tower .
2. A citadel; a fortress; hence, a defense.
Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. Ps. lxi. 3.
3. A headdress of a high or towerlike form, fashionable about the end of the seventeenth century and until 1715; also, any high headdress.
Lay trains of amorous intrigues In towers , and curls, and periwigs. Hudibras.
4. High flight; elevation. [Obs.]
Johnson.
Gay Lussac's tower (Chem.) , a large tower or chamber used in the sulphuric acid process, to absorb (by means of concentrated acid) the spent nitrous fumes that they may be returned to the Glover's tower to be reemployed. See Sulphuric acid , under Sulphuric , and Glover's tower , below. -- Glover's tower (Chem.) , a large tower or chamber used in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, to condense the crude acid and to deliver concentrated acid charged with nitrous fumes. These fumes, as a catalytic, effect the conversion of sulphurous to sulphuric acid. See Sulphuric acid , under Sulphuric , and Gay Lussac's tower , above. -- Round tower . See under Round , a. -- Shot tower . See under Shot . -- Tower bastion (Fort.) , a bastion of masonry, often with chambers beneath, built at an angle of the interior polygon of some works. -- Tower mustard (Bot.) , the cruciferous plant Arabis perfoliata . -- Tower of London , a collection of buildings in the eastern part of London, formerly containing a state prison, and now used as an arsenal and repository of various objects of public interest.
Tower <Xpage=1523>
Tow"er (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. towered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. towering .] To rise and overtop other objects; to be lofty or very high; hence, to soar.
On the other side an high rock towered still. Spenser.
My lord protector's hawks do tower so well. Shak.
Tower <Xpage=1523>
Tow"er , v. t. To soar into. [Obs.]
Milton.
Towered <Xpage=1523>
Tow"ered (?) , a. Adorned or defended by towers.
Towered cities please us then. Milton.
Towering <Xpage=1523>
Tow"er*ing (?) , a. 1. Very high; elevated; rising aloft; as, a towering height .
Pope.
2. Hence, extreme; violent; surpassing.
A man agitated by a towering passion. Sir W. Scott.
Towery <Xpage=1523>
Tow"er*y (?) , a. Having towers; adorned or defended by towers. [R.] " Towery cities ."
Pope.
Tow-head <Xpage=1523>
Tow"-head` (?) , n. 1. An urchin who has soft, whitish hair. [Colloq.]
2. (Zo\'94l.) The hooded merganser. [ Local, U.S. ]
Towhee <Xpage=1523>
To*whee" (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The chewink.
Towilly <Xpage=1523>
To*wil"ly (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The sanderling; -- so called from its cry. [Prov. Eng.]
Towline <Xpage=1523>
Tow"line` (?) , n. [AS. tohline . See Tow , v. t. , and Line . ] (Naut.) A line used to tow vessels; a towrope.
Town <Xpage=1523>
Town (?) , n. [OE. toun , tun , AS. tun inclosure, fence, village, town; akin to D. tuin a garden, G. zaun a hadge, fence, OHG. zun , Icel. tun an inclosure, homestead, house, Ir. & Gael. dun a fortress, W. din . Cf. Down , adv. & prep. , Dune , tine to inclose.] 1. Formerly: (a) An inclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor. [Obs.] (b) The whole of the land which constituted the domain. [Obs.] (c) A collection of houses inclosed by fences or walls. [Obs.]
Palsgrave.
2. Any number or collection of houses to which belongs a regular market, and which is not a city or the see of a bishop. [Eng.]
Johnson.
3. Any collection of houses larger than a village, and not incorporated as a city; also, loosely, any large, closely populated place, whether incorporated or not, in distinction from the country, or from rural communities.
God made the country, and man made the town . Cowper.
4. The body of inhabitants resident in a town; as, the town voted to send two representatives to the legislature; the town voted to lay a tax for repairing the highways .
5. A township; the whole territory within certain limits, less than those of a country. [U.S.]
6. The court end of London;-commonly with the .
7. The metropolis or its inhabitants; as, in winter the gentleman lives in town ; in summer, in the country .
Always hankering after the diversions of the town . Addison.
Stunned with his giddy larum half the town . Pope.
&hand; The same form of expressions is used in regard to other populous towns.
8. A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard. [Prov. Eng.& Scot.]
&hand; Town is often used adjectively or in combination with other words; as, town clerk, or town -clerk; town -crier, or town crier; town hall, town -hall, or town hall; town house, town house, or town -house.
Syn. -- Village; hamlet. See Village .
Town clerk , an office who keeps the records of a town, and enters its official proceedings. See Clerk . -- Town cress (Bot.) , the garden cress, or peppergrass. Dr. Prior . -- Town house . (a) A house in town, in distinction from a house in the country. (b) See Townhouse . -- Town meeting , a legal meeting of the inhabitants of a town entitled to vote, for the transaction of public bisiness. [U.S.] -- Town talk , the common talk of a place; the subject or topic of common conversation.
Town-crier <Xpage=1523>
Town"-cri`er (?) , n. A town officer who makes proclamations to the people; the public crier of a town.
Towned <Xpage=1523>
Towned (?) , a. Having towns; containing many towns. [Obs.]
Hakluyt.
Townhall <Xpage=1523>
Town"hall` (?) , n. A public hall or building, belonging to a town, where the public offices are established, the town council meets, the people assemble in town meeting, etc.
Townhouse <Xpage=1523>
Town"house` (?) , n. A building devoted to the public used of a town; a townhall.
<-- 2. a house in the city, usu. said of a second residence belonging to one who has a permanent residence elsewhere, as in the countryside. = town house (b)
3. Row House. -->
Townish <Xpage=1523>
Town"ish , a Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of a town; like the town. [R.]
Turbervile.
Townless <Xpage=1523>
Town"less , a. Having no town.
Howell.
Townlet <Xpage=1523>
Town"let (?) , n. A small town.
North Brit. Rev.
Townsfolk <Xpage=1523>
Towns"folk` (?) , n. The people of a town; especially, the inhabitants of a city, in distinction from country people; townspeople.
Township <Xpage=1523>
Town"ship (?) , n. 1. The district or territory of a town.
&hand; In the United States, many of the States are divided into townships of five, six, seven, or perhaps ten miles square, and the inhabitants of such townships are invested with certain powers for regulating their own affairs, such as repairing roads and providing for the poor. The township is subordinate to the county.
2. In surveys of the public land of the United States, a division of territory six miles square, containing 36 sections.
3. In Canada, one of the subdivisions of a county.
Townsman <Xpage=1523>
Towns"man (?) , n. ; pl. Townsmen (-m e n) .
1. An inhabitant of a town; one of the same town with another.
Pope.
2. A selectman, in New England. See Selectman .
Townpeople <Xpage=1523>
Town"peo`ple (?) , n. The inhabitants of a town or city, especially in distinction from country people; townsfolk.
Townward, Townwards <Xpage=1523>
Town"ward , Town"wards (?) , (?) , adv. Toward a town.
Longfellow.
Towpath <Xpage=1523>
Tow"path` (?) , n. A path traveled by men or animals in towing boats; -- called also towing path .
Towrope <Xpage=1523>
Tow"rope` (?) , n. A rope used in towing vessels.
Towser <Xpage=1523>
Tow"ser (?) , n. [See Touse to pull about. ] A familiar name for a dog. [ Written also Towzer . ]
Towy <Xpage=1523>
Tow"y (?) , a. Composed of, or like, tow.
Tox</mia <Xpage=1523>
Tox*<?/"mi*a (?) , a. [NL.,fr.Gr.<?/ poison + <?/ blood.] (Med.) Blood poisoning. See under Blood .
Toxic, Toxical <Xpage=1523>
Tox"ic , Tox"ic*al (?) , a. [L. toxicum poison, originally, a poison in which arrows were dipped, Gr. <?/ (sc. <?/) poison for smearing arrows with, fr. <?/ of or for the bow, from <?/ bow, arrow. Cf. Intoxicate .] Of or pertaining to poison; poisonous; as, toxic medicines .
Toxicant <Xpage=1523>
Tox"i*cant (?) , n. A poisonous agent or drug, as opium; an intoxicant.
Toxicological <Xpage=1523>
Tox`i*co*log"ic*al (?) , a. [Cf.F. toxicologique . ] Of or pertaining to toxicology. -- Tox`i*co*log"ic*al*ly , adv.
Toxicologist <Xpage=1523>
Tox`i*col"o*gist (?) , n. One versed in toxicology; the writer of a treatise on poisons.
Toxicology <Xpage=1523>
Tox`i*col"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr.<?/ poison + <?/;cf.F. toxicologie . See Toxic . ] The science which treats of poisons, their effects, antidotes, and recignition; also, a discourse or treatise on the science.
Toxicomania <Xpage=1523>
Tox`i*co*ma"ni*a (?) , n. [See. Toxic , and Mania .] 1. (Med.) Toxiphobia.
A. S. Taylor.
2. (Med.) An insane desire for intoxicating or poisonous drugs, as alcohol or opium.
B. W. Richardson.
Toxifera <Xpage=1523>
Tox*if"e*ra (?) , n.pl. [NL.,fr.Gr.<?/ a bow+L. ferre to bear.] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Toxoglossa .
Toxin, Toxine <Xpage=1523>
Tox"in , Tox"ine (?) , n. [Gr.<?/. See Toxic . ] A poisonous product formed by pathogenic bacteria<--, or plants or animals -->, as a toxic proteid or poisonous ptomaine.
Toxiphobia <Xpage=1523>
Tox`i*pho"bi*a (?) , n. [NL.,fr.Gr.<?/ poison + <?/ fear.] (Med.) An insane or greatly exaggerated dread of poisons.
Toxodon <Xpage=1523>
Tox"o*don (?) , n. [Gr.<?/ a bow + <?/,<?/, a tooth.] (Paleon.) A gigantic extinct herbivorous mammal from South America, having teeth bent like a bow. It is the type of the order Toxodonta.
Toxodonta <Xpage=1523>
Tox`o*don"ta (?) , n.pl. [NL.] (Paleon.) An extinct order of Mammalia found in the South American Tertiary formation. The incisor teeth were long and curved and provided with a persistent pulp. They are supposed to be related both to the rodents and ungulates. Called also Toxodontia .
Toxoglossa <Xpage=1523>
Tox`o*glos"sa (?) , n.pl. [NL.,fr.Gr.<?/ a bow + <?/ tongue.] (Zo\'94l.) A division of marine gastropod mollusks in which the radula are converted into poison fangs. The cone shells ( Conus ), Pleurotoma, and Terebra, are examples. See Illust . of Cone , n. , 4, Pleurotoma , and Terebra .
Toxophilite <Xpage=1523>
Tox*oph"i*lite (?) , n. [Gr. to`xon a bow + filei^n to love.] A lover of archery; one devoted to archery.
Toxotes <Xpage=1523>
Tox"o*tes (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ an archer.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of fishes comprising the archer fishes. See Archer fish .
Toy <Xpage=1523>
Toy (?) , n. [D. tuid tools, implements, stuff, trash, speel tuig playthings, toys; akin to G. zeug stuff, materials, MNG. zuic , Icel. tygi gear; all ultimately from the root of E. tug , v.t.; cf.G. zeugen to beget, MHG. ziugen to beget, make ready, procure. See Tug , v. t. ]
1. A plaything for children; a bawble.
Cowper.
2. A thing for amusement, but of no real value; an article of trade of little value; a trifle.
They exchange for knives, glasses, and such toys , great abundance of gold and pearl. Abr. Abbot.
3. A wild fancy; an odd conceit; idle sport; folly; trifling opinion.
To fly about playing their wanton toys . Spenser.
What if a toy take'em in the heels now, and they all run away. Beau. &Fl.
Nor light and idle toys my lines may vainly swell. Drayton.
4. Amorous dalliance; play; sport; pastime.
Milton.
To dally thus with death is no fit toy . Spenser.
5. An old story; a silly tale.
Shak.
6. [Probably the same word.] A headdress of linen or woolen, that hangs down over the shoulders, worn by old women of the lower classes; -- called also toy mutch . [Scot.] "Having, moreover, put on her clean toy , rokelay, and scarlet plaid."
Sir W. Scott.
Toy <Xpage=1523>
Toy , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. toyed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. toying .] To dally amorously; to trifle; to play.