The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1911
Xy"loid (?) , a. [ Xyl o- + -oid .] Resembling wood; having the nature of wood.
Xyloidin <Xpage=1671>
Xy*loid"in (?) , n. [ Xyl o- + -oid .] (Chem.) A substance resembling pyroxylin, obtained by the action of nitric acid on starch; -- called also nitramidin .
Xylol <Xpage=1671>
Xy"lol (?) , n. [ Xyl o- + L. ol eum oil.] (Chem.) Same as Xylene .
Xylonite <Xpage=1671>
Xy"lon*ite (?) , n. See Zylonite .
Xylophaga <Xpage=1671>
Xy*loph"a*ga (?) , n. [NL. See Xylophagous .] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of marine bivalves which bore holes in wood. They are allied to Pholas.
Xylophagan <Xpage=1671>
Xy*loph"a*gan (?) , n. [See Xylophagous .] (Zo\'94l.) (a) One of a tribe of beetles whose larv\'91 bore or live in wood. (b) Any species of Xylophaga. (c) Any one of the Xylophagides.
Xylophagides <Xpage=1671>
Xy`lo*phag"i*des (?) , n. pl. [See Xylophagous .] (Zo\'94l.) A tribe or family of dipterous flies whose larv\'91 live in decayed wood. Some of the tropical species are very large.
Xylophagous <Xpage=1671>
Xy*loph"a*gous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ eating wood; xy`lon wood + <?/ to eat.] (Zo\'94l.) (a) Eating, boring in, or destroying, wood; -- said especially of certain insect larv\'91, crustaceans, and mollusks. (b) Of or pertaining to the genus Xylophaga.
Xylophilan <Xpage=1671>
Xy*loph"i*lan (?) , n. [See Xylophilous .] (Zo\'94l.) One of a tribe of beetles ( Xylophili ) whose larv\'91 live on decayed wood.
Xylophilous <Xpage=1671>
Xy*loph"i*lous (?) , a. [ Xylo- + Gr. filei^n to love.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the xylophilans.
Xylophone <Xpage=1671>
Xy"lo*phone (?) , n. [ Xylo- + Gr. fwnh` sound.]
1. (Mus.) An instrument common among the Russians, Poles, and Tartars, consisting of a series of strips of wood or glass graduated in length to the musical scale, resting on belts of straw, and struck with two small hammers. Called in Germany strohfiedel , or straw fiddle .
2. An instrument to determine the vibrative properties of different kinds of wood.
Knight.
Xyloplastic <Xpage=1671>
Xy`lo*plas"tic (?) , a. [ Xylo- + -plastic .] (Technol.) Formed of wood pulp by molds; relating to casts made of wood pulp in molds.
Xylopyrography <Xpage=1671>
Xy`lo*py*rog"ra*phy (?) . n. [ Xylo- + Gr. <?/, <?/, fire + -graphy .] The art or practice of burning pictures on wood with a hot iron; -- called also poker painting . See Poker picture , under Poker . <-- also, wood burning. -->
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Xyloquinone <Xpage=1672>
Xy`lo*qui"none (?) , n. [ Xyl ene + quinone .] (Chem.) Any one of a group of quinone compounds obtained respectively by the oxidation of certain xylidine compounds. In general they are yellow crystalline substances.
Xylorcin <Xpage=1672>
Xy*lor"cin (?) , n. [ Xyl ene + orcin .] (Chem.) A derivative of xylene obtained as a white crystalline substance which on exposure in the air becomes red; -- called also betaorcin .
Xylostein <Xpage=1672>
Xy*los"te*in (?) , n. [ Xylo- + Gr. <?/ bone.] (Chem.) A glucoside found in the poisonous berries of a species of honeysuckle ( Lonicera xylosteum ), and extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance.
Xytotile <Xpage=1672>
Xy"to*tile (?) , n. Same as Parkesine .
Xylotrya <Xpage=1672>
Xy*lo"try*a (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. xy`lon wood + <?/ to rub, wear out.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of marine bivalves closely allied to Teredo, and equally destructive to timber. One species ( Xylotrya fimbriata ) is very common on the Atlantic coast of the United States.
Xylyl <Xpage=1672>
Xy"lyl (?) , n. [ Xylo- + -yl .] (Chem.) Any one of three metameric radicals which are characteristic respectively of the three xylenes.
Xylylene <Xpage=1672>
Xy"lyl*ene (?) , n. (Chem.) Any one of three metameric radicals, CH2.C6H4.CH2 , derived respectively from the three xylenes. Often used adjectively; as, xylylene alcohol .
Xyridaceous <Xpage=1672>
Xyr`i*da"ceous (?) , a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a natural order ( Xyride\'91 ) of endogenous plants, of which Xyris is the type.
Xyris <Xpage=1672>
Xy"ris (?) , n. [L., a kind of Iris, Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ a razor.] (Bot.) A genus of endogenous herbs with grassy leaves and small yellow flowers in short, scaly-bracted spikes; yellow-eyed grass. There are about seventeen species in the Atlantic United States.
Xyst, Xystus <Xpage=1672>
Xyst (?) , Xys"tus (?) , n. [L. xystus , Gr. <?/, from <?/ to scrape, polish; -- so called from its smooth and polished floor.] (Anc. Arch.) A long and open portico, for athletic exercises, as wrestling, running, etc., for use in winter or in stormy weather.
Xystarch <Xpage=1672>
Xyst"arch (?) , n. [L. xystarches , Gr. <?/, <?/ a xyst + <?/ to rule.] (Gr. Antiq.) An office<?/ having the superintendence of the xyst.
Dr. W. Smith.
Xyster <Xpage=1672>
Xys"ter (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ a scraper.] (Surg.) An instrument for scraping bo<?/es.
Y.
Y <Xpage=1672>
Y (?) . Y, the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet, at the beginning of a word or syllable, except when a prefix (see Y-), is usually a fricative vocal consonant; as a prefix, and usually in the middle or at the end of a syllable, it is a vowel. See Guide to Pronunciation , §§ 145, 178-9, 272.
It derives its form from the Latin Y, which is from the Greek <?/, originally the same letter as V. Etymologically, it is most nearly related to u , i , o , and j . g ; as in full , fill , AS. fyllan ; E. crypt , grotto ; young , juvenile ; day , AS. d\'91g . See U , I , and J , G .
&hand; Y has been called the Pythagorean letter , because the Greek letter <UPSILON/ was taken represent the sacred triad, formed by the duad proceeding from the monad; and also because it represents the dividing of the paths of vice and virtue in the development of human life.
Y <Xpage=1672>
Y (?) , n. ; pl. Y's (<?/) or Ys . Something shaped like the letter Y ; a forked piece resembling in form the letter Y . Specifically: (a) One of the forked holders for supporting the telescope of a leveling instrument, or the axis of a theodolite; a wye. (b) A forked or bifurcated pipe fitting. (c) (Railroads) A portion of track consisting of two diverging tracks connected by a cross track.
Y level (Surv.) , an instrument for measuring differences of level by means of a telescope resting in Y 's. -- Y moth (Zo\'94l.) , a handsome European noctuid moth Plusia gamma ) which has a bright, silvery mark, shaped like the letter Y , on each of the fore wings. Its larva, which is green with five dorsal white species, feeds on the cabbage, turnip, bean, etc. Called also gamma moth , and silver Y .
Y <Xpage=1672>
Y (?) , pron. I. [Obs.]
King Horn. Wyclif.
Y-, ∨ I- <Xpage=1672>
Y- (?) , ∨ I- . [OE. y- , i- , AS. ge- , akin to D. & G. ge- , OHG. gi- , ga- , Goth. ga- , and perhaps to Latin con -; originally meaning, together. Cf. Com- , Aware , Enough , Handiwork , Ywis .] A prefix of obscure meaning, originally used with verbs, adverbs, adjectives, nouns, and pronouns. In the Middle English period, it was little employed except with verbs, being chiefly used with past participles, though occasionally with the infinitive Ycleped , or yclept , is perhaps the only word not entirely obsolete which shows this use.
That no wight mighte it see neither y heere. Chaucer.
Neither to ben y buried nor y brent. Chaucer.
&hand; Some examples of Chaucer's use of this prefix are; i be, i been, i caught, y come, y do, i doon, y go, i proved, y wrought. It i nough, e nough, it is combined with an adjective. Other examples are in the Vocabulary.
Spenser and later writers frequently employed this prefix when affecting an archaic style, and sometimes used it incorrectly.
Ya <Xpage=1672>
Ya (?) , adv. Yea. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Yacare <Xpage=1672>
Yac"a*re` (?) , n. [See Jacare .] (Zo\'94l.) A South American crocodilian ( Jacare sclerops ) resembling the alligator in size and habits. The eye orbits are connected together, and surrounded by prominent bony ridges. Called also spectacled alligator , and spectacled cayman . [Written also jacare .]
&hand; The name is also applied to allied species.
Yacca <Xpage=1672>
Yac"ca (?) , n. (Bot.) A West Indian name for two large timber trees ( Podocarpus coriaceus , and P. Purdicanus ) of the Yew family. The wood, which is much used, is pale brownish with darker streaks.
Yacht <Xpage=1672>
Yacht (?) , n. [D. jagt , jacht ; perhaps properly, a <?/hase, hunting, from. jagen to chase, hunt, akin to G. jagen , OHG. jag<?/n , of uncertain origin; or perhaps akin to OHG. g\'behi quick, sudden (cf. Gay ).] (Naut.) A light and elegantly furnished vessel, used either for private parties of pleasure, or as a vessel of state to convey distinguished persons from one place to another; a seagoing vessel used only for pleasure trips, racing, etc.
Yacht measurement . See the Note under Tonnage , 4.
Yacht <Xpage=1672>
Yacht , v. i. To manage a yacht; to voyage in a yacht.
Yachter <Xpage=1672>
Yacht"er (?) , n. One engaged in sailing a jacht.
Yachting <Xpage=1672>
Yacht"ing , n. Sailing for pleasure in a yacht.
Yachtman <Xpage=1672>
Yacht"man (?) , n. See Yachtsman .
Yachtsman <Xpage=1672>
Yachts"man (?) , n. ; pl. Yachtsmen (<?/) . One who owns or sails a yacht; a yachter.
Yaf <Xpage=1672>
Yaf (?) , obs. imp. of Give . [AS. geaf , imp. of giefan to give. See Give ] Gave. See Give .
Chaucer.
Yaffingale <Xpage=1672>
Yaf"fin*gale (?) , n. [See Yaffle , and cf. Nightingale .] (Zo\'94l.) The yaffle. [Prov. Eng.]
Yaffle <Xpage=1672>
Yaf"fle (?) , n. [Probably imitative of its call or cry.] (Zo\'94l.) The European green woodpecker ( Picus, ∨ Genius, viridis ). It is noted for its loud laughlike note. Called also eccle , hewhole , highhoe , laughing bird , popinjay , rain bird , yaffil , yaffler , yaffingale , yappingale , yackel , and woodhack .
Yager <Xpage=1672>
Ya"ger (?; 277) , n. [G. j\'84ger a hunter, from jagen to chase, hunt.] (Mil.) In the German army, one belonging to a body of light infantry armed with rifles, resembling the chasseur of the French army. [Written also jager .]
Yaguarundi <Xpage=1672>
Ya`gua*run"di (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Jaguarondi . [Written also yaguarondi , and yagouarondi .]
Yajur-Veda <Xpage=1672>
Yaj"ur-Ve"da (?) , n. [Skr. yajur-v<?/da .] See Veda .
Yak <Xpage=1672>
Yak (?) , n. [Thibetan gyag .] (Zo\'94l.) A bovine mammal ( Po\'89phagus grunnies ) native of the high plains of Central Asia. Its neck, the outer side of its legs, and its flanks, are covered with long, flowing, fine hair. Its tail is long and bushy, often white, and is valued as an ornament and for other purposes in India and China. There are several domesticated varieties, some of which lack the mane and the long hair on the flanks. Called also chauri gua , grunting cow , grunting ox , sarlac , sarlik , and sarluc .
Yak lace , a coarse pillow lace made from the silky hair of the yak.
Yakamilk <Xpage=1672>
Yak"a*milk (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Trumpeter , 3 (a) .
Yakare <Xpage=1672>
Yak"a*re` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Yacare .
Yakin <Xpage=1672>
Ya"kin (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A large Asiatic antelope ( Budorcas taxicolor ) native of the higher parts of the Himalayas and other lofty mountains. Its head and neck resemble those of the ox, and its tail is like that of the goat. Called also budorcas .
Yakoots <Xpage=1672>
Ya*koots" (?) , n. pl. ; sing. Yakoot (<?/) . (Ethnol.) A nomadic Mongolian tribe native of Northern Siberia, and supposed to be of Turkish stock. They are mainly pastoral in their habits. [Written also Yakuts .]
Yaksha <Xpage=1672>
Yak"sha (?) , n. [Skr.] (Hindoo Myth.) A kind of demigod attendant on Kuvera, the god of wealth.
Yalah <Xpage=1672>
Ya"lah (?) , n. The oil of the mahwa tree.
Yam <Xpage=1672>
Yam (?) , n. [Pg. inhame , probably from some native name.] (Bot.) A large, esculent, farinaceous tuber of various climbing plants of the genus Dioscorea ; also, the plants themselves. Mostly natives of warm climates. The plants have netted-veined, petioled leaves, and pods with three broad wings. The commonest species is D. sativa , but several others are cultivated.
Chinese yam , a plant ( Dioscorea Batatas ) with a long and slender tuber, hardier than most of the other species. -- Wild yam . (a) A common plant ( Dioscorea villosa ) of the Eastern United States, having a hard and knotty rootstock. (b) An orchidaceous plant ( Gastrodia sesamoides ) of Australia and Tasmania.
Yama <Xpage=1672>
Ya"ma (?) , n. [Skr. yama a twin.] (Hindoo Myth.) The king of the infernal regions, corresponding to the Greek Pluto, and also the judge of departed souls. In later times he is more exclusively considered the dire judge of all, and the tormentor of the wicked. He is represented as of a green color, with red garments, having a crown on his head, his eyes inflamed, and sitting on a buffalo, with a club and noose in his hands.
Yamma <Xpage=1672>
Yam"ma (?) , n. [See Llama .] (Zo\'94l.) The llama.
Yamp <Xpage=1672>
Yamp (?) , n. (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant ( Carum Gairdneri ); also, its small fleshy roots, which are eaten by the Indians from Idaho to California.
Yang <Xpage=1672>
Yang (?) , n. [Of imitative origin.] The cry of the wild goose; a honk.
Yang <Xpage=1672>
Yang , v. i. To make the cry of the wild goose.
Yank <Xpage=1672>
Yank (?) , n. [Cf. Scot. yank a sudden and severe blow.] A jerk or twitch. [Colloq. U. S.]
Yank <Xpage=1672>
Yank , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Yanked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Yanking .] To twitch; to jerk. [Colloq. U. S.]
Yank <Xpage=1672>
Yank , n. An abbreviation of Yankee . [Slang]
Yankee <Xpage=1672>
Yan"kee (?) , n. [Commonly considered to be a corrupt pronunciation of the word English , or of the French word Anglais , by the native Indians of America. According to Thierry, a corruption of Jankin , a diminutive of John , and a nickname given to the English colonists of Connecticut by the Dutch settlers of New York. Dr. W. Gordon ("Hist. of the Amer. War," ed, 1789, vol. i., pp. 324, 325) says it was a favorite cant word in Cambridge, Mass., as early as 1713, and that it meant excellent ; as, a yankee good horse, yankee good cider, etc. Cf. Scot yankie a sharp, clever, and rather bold woman, and Prov. E. bow- yankees a kind of leggins worn by agricultural laborers.] A nickname for a native of citizen of New England, especially one descended from old New England stock; by extension, an inhabitant of the Northern States as distinguished from a Southerner; also, applied sometimes by foreigners to any inhabitant of the United States.
From meanness first this Portsmouth Yankey rose, And still to meanness all his conduct flows. Oppression, A poem by an American (Boston, 1765).
Yankee <Xpage=1672>
Yan"kee , a. Of or pertaining to a Yankee; characteristic of the Yankees.
The alertness of the Yankee aspect. Hawthorne.
Yankee clover . (Bot.) See Japan clover , under Japan .
Yankee-Doodle <Xpage=1672>
Yan`kee-Doo"dle (?) , n. 1. The name of a tune adopted popularly as one of the national airs of the United States.
2. Humorously, a Yankee.
We might have withheld our political noodles From knocking their heads against hot Yankee-Doodles . Moore.
Yankeeism <Xpage=1672>
Yan"kee*ism (?) , n. A Yankee idiom, word, custom, or the like.
Lowell.
Yaourt <Xpage=1672>
Yaourt (?) , n. [Turk. yoghurt .] A fermented drink, or milk beer, made by the Turks. <-- now yoghurt-->
Yap <Xpage=1672>
Yap (?) , v. i. [Icel. gj\'belpa ; akin to yelp . Cf. Yaup .] To bark; to yelp.
L'Estrange.
Yap <Xpage=1672>
Yap (?) , n. A bark; a yelp.
Yapock <Xpage=1672>
Ya"pock (?; 277) , n. [Probably from the river Oyapok , between French Guiana and Brazil.] (Zo\'94l.) A South American aquatic opossum ( Chironectes variegatus ) found in Guiana and Brazil. Its hind feet are webbed, and its fore feet do not have an opposable thumb for climbing. Called also water opossum . [Written also yapack .]
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Yapon <Xpage=1673>
Ya"pon (?; 277) , n. (Bot.) Same as Yaupon .
Yarage <Xpage=1673>
Yar"age (?; 48) , n. [See Yare , a. ] (Naut.) The power of moving, or being managed, at sea; -- said with reference to a ship.
Sir T. North.
Yard <Xpage=1673>
Yard (?) , n. [OE. yerd , AS. gierd , gyrd , a rod, <?/tick, a measure, a yard; akin to OFries. ierde , OS. gerda , D. garde , G. gerte , OHG. gartia , gerta , gart , Icel. gaddr a goad, sting, Goth. gazds , and probably to L. hasta a spear. Cf. Gad , n. , Gird , n. , Gride , v. i. , Hastate .]