Chapter 290

Cob (?) , n. [Cf. AS. cop , copp , head, top, D. kop , G. kopf , kuppe , LL. cuppa cup (cf. E. brainpan ), and also W. cob tuft, spider, cop , copa , top, summit, cobio to thump. Cf. Cop top, Cup , n. ] 1. The top or head of anything. [Obs.]

W. Gifford.

2. A leader or chief; a conspicuous person, esp. a rich covetous person. [Obs.]

All cobbing country chuffs, which make their bellies and their bags their god, are called rich cobs . Nash.

3. The axis on which the kernels of maize or indian corn grow. [U. S.]

4. (Zo\'94l.) A spider; perhaps from its shape; it being round like a head.

5. (Zo\'94l.) A young herring.

B. Jonson.

6. (Zo\'94l.) A fish; -- also called miller's thumb .

7. A short-legged and stout horse, esp. one used for the saddle. [Eng.]

8. (Zo\'94l.) A sea mew or gull; esp., the black-backed gull ( Larus marinus ). [Written also cobb .]

9. A lump or piece of anything, usually of a somewhat large size, as of coal, or stone.

10. A cobnut; as, Kentish cobs . See Cobnut . [Eng.]

11. Clay mixed with straw. [Prov. Eng.]

The poor cottager contenteth himself with cob for his walls, and thatch for his covering. R. Carew.

12. A punishment consisting of blows inflicted on the buttocks with a strap or a flat piece of wood.

Wright.

13. A Spanish coin formerly current in Ireland, worth abiut 4s. 6d. [Obs.]

Wright.

Cob coal , coal in rounded lumps from the size of an egg to that of a football; -- called also cobbles . Grose . -- Cob loaf , a crusty, uneven loaf, rounded at top. Wright. -- Cob money , a kind of rudely coined gold and silver money of Spanish South America in the eighteenth century. The coins were of the weight of the piece of eight, or one of its aliquot parts.

Cob <Xpage=271>

Cob , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cobbed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cobbing .] 1. To strike [Prov. Eng.]

Halliwell.

2. (Mining) To break into small pieces, as ore, so as to sort out its better portions.

Raymond.

3. (Naut.) To punish by striking on the buttocks with a strap, a flat piece of wood, or the like.

Cob\'91a <Xpage=271>

Co*b\'91"a (?) , n. [Named after D. Cobo , a Spanish botanist.] A genus of climbing plants, native of Mexico and South America. C. scandens is a consrvatory climber with large bell-shaped flowers.

Cobalt <Xpage=271>

Co"balt (?; 277, 74) , n. [G. kobalt , prob. fr. kobold , kobel , goblin, MHG. kobolt ; perh. akin to G. koben pigsty, hut, AS. cofa room, cofgodas household gods, Icel. kofi hut. If so, the ending -old stands for older -walt , -wald , being the same as -ald in E. herald and the word would mean ruler or governor in a house , house spirit , the metal being so called by miners, because it was poisonous and troublesome. Cf. Kobold , Cove , Goblin .] 1. (Chem.) A tough, lustrous, reddish white metal of the iron group, not easily fusible, and somewhat magnetic. Atomic weight 59.1. Symbol Co.

&hand; It occurs in nature in combination with arsenic, sulphur, and oxygen, and is obtained from its ores, smaltite, cobaltite, asbolite, etc. Its oxide colors glass or any flux, as borax, a fine blue, and is used in the manufacture of smalt. It is frequently associated with nickel, and both are characteristic ingredients of meteoric iron.

2. A commercial name of a crude arsenic used as fly poison.

Cobalt bloom . Same as Erythrite . -- Cobalt blue , a dark blue pigment consisting of some salt of cobalt, as the phosphate, ignited with alumina; -- called also cobalt ultramarine , and Thenard's blue . -- Cobalt crust , earthy arseniate of cobalt. -- Cobalt glance . (Min.) See Cobaltite . -- Cobalt green , a pigment consisting essentially of the oxides of cobalt and zinc; -- called also Rinman's green . -- Cobalt yellow (Chem.) , a yellow crystalline powder, regarded as a double nitrite of cobalt and potassium.

Cobaltic <Xpage=271>

Co*balt"ic (?; 74) , a. [Cf. F. cobaltique .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, cobalt; -- said especially of those compounds in which cobalt has higher valence; as, cobaltic oxide .

Luteo-cobaltic compounds (Chem.) , an extensive series of complex yellow compounds of ammonia and cobaltic salts. -- Roseo-cobaltic compounds (Chem.) , an extensive series of complex red compounds of cobalt and ammonia. Modifications of these are the purpureo-cobaltic compounds .

Cobaltiferous <Xpage=271>

Co`balt*if"er*ous (?) , a. [ Cobalt + -ferous .] (Min.) Containing cobalt.

Cobaltine, Cobaltite <Xpage=271>

Co"balt*ine (?) , Co"balt*ite (?) n. (Min.) A mineral of a nearly silver-white color, composed of arsenic, sulphur, and cobalt.

Cobaltous <Xpage=271>

Co*balt"ous (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, cobalt; -- said esp. of cobalt compounds in which the metal has its lower valence.

Cobaltous chloride , a crystalline compound, CoCl2 , of a pale rose color when hydrous, blue when dehydrated. Its solution is used for a sympathetic ink, the writing being nearly colorless when dried in the air, owing to absorbed moisture, and becoming bright blue when warmed.

Cobbing <Xpage=271>

Cob"bing (?) , a. Haughty; purse-proud. See Cob , n. , 2. [Obs.]

Withals (1608).

Cobble <Xpage=271>

Cob"ble (?) , n. A fishing boat. See Coble .

Cobble <Xpage=271>

Cob"ble , n. [From Cob a lump. See Cob , n. , 9, and cf. Copple , Copplestone .] 1. A cobblestone. "Their slings held cobbles round."

Fairfax.

2. pl. Cob coal. See under Cob .

Cobble <Xpage=271>

Cob"ble (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cobbled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cobbling (?) .] [OF. cobler , copler , to join or knit together, couple, F. coupler , L. copulare to couple, join. Cf. Couple , n. & v. t. ] 1. To make or mend coarsely; to patch; to botch; as, to cobble shoes . Shak.

"A cobbled saddle." Thackeray.

2. To make clumsily. " Cobbled rhymes."

Dryden.

3. To pave with cobblestones.

Cobbler <Xpage=271>

Cob"bler (?) , n. 1. A mender of shoes.

Addison.

2. A clumsy workman.

Shak.

3. A beverage. See Sherry cobbler , under Sherry .

Cobbler fish (Zo\'94l.) , a marine fish ( Blepharis crinitus ) of the Atlantic. The name alludes to its threadlike fin rays.

Cobblestone <Xpage=271>

Cob"ble*stone` (?) , n. A large pebble; a rounded stone not too large to be handled; a small boulder; -- used for paving streets and for other purposes.

Cobby <Xpage=271>

Cob"by (?) , a. [From Cob , n. ] 1. Headstrong; obstinate. [Obs.]

Brockett.

2. Stout; hearty; lively. [Obs.]

Cobelligerent <Xpage=271>

Co`bel*lig"er*ent (?) , a. Carryng on war in conjunction with another power.

Cobelligerent <Xpage=271>

Co`bel*lig"er*ent , n. A nation or state that carries on war in connection with another.

Cobia <Xpage=271>

Co"bi*a (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) An oceanic fish of large size ( Elacate canada ); the crabeater; -- called also bonito , cubbyyew , coalfish , and sergeant fish .

Cobiron <Xpage=271>

Cob"i`ron (?) , n. [From Cob the top.] An andiron with a knob at the top.

Bacon.

Cobishop <Xpage=271>

Co`bish"op (?) , n. A joint or coadjutant bishop.

Ayliffe.

Coble <Xpage=271>

Co"ble (?) , n. [AS. cuopel ; cf. W. ceubal skiff, ferryboat.] A flat-floored fishing boat with a lug sail, and a drop rudder extending from two to four feet below the keel. It was originally used on the stormy coast of Yorkshire, England.

Cobnut <Xpage=271>

Cob"nut` (?) , n. 1. (Com.) A large roundish variety of the cultivated hazelnut.

2. A game played by children with nuts.

Coboose <Xpage=271>

Co*boose" (?) , n. See Caboose .

Cobourg <Xpage=271>

Co"bourg (?) , n. [Named from the town of Coburg in Germany.] A thin worsted fabric for women's dresses.

Cobra <Xpage=271>

Co"bra (?) , n. See Copra .

Cobra <Xpage=271>

Co"bra , n. The cobra de capello.

Cobra de capello <Xpage=271>

Co"bra de ca*pel"lo (?) . [Pg., serpent of the hood.] (Zo\'94l.) The hooded snake ( Naia tripudians ), a highly venomous serpent inhabiting India.<-- now Naja -->

Cobstone <Xpage=271>

Cob"stone` (?) , n. Cobblestone. [Prov. Eng.]

Cobswan <Xpage=271>

Cob"swan` (?) , n. A large swan.

B. Jonson.

Cobwall <Xpage=271>

Cob"wall` (?) , n. [ Cob clay mixed with straw + wall .] A wall made of clay mixed with straw.

Cobweb <Xpage=271>

Cob"web` (?) , n. [ Cob a spider + web .] 1. The network spread by a spider to catch its prey.

2. A snare of insidious meshes designed to catch the ignorant and unwary.

I can not but lament thy splendid wit Entangled in the cobwebs of the schools. Cowper.

3. That which is thin and unsubstantial, or flimsy and worthless; rubbish.

The dust and cobwebs of that uncivil age. Sir P. Sidney.

4. (Zo\'94l.) The European spotted flycatcher.

Cobweb lawn , a fine linen, mentioned in 1640 as being in pieces of fifteen yards.

Beck. Draper's Dict.

Such a proud piece of cobweb lawn . Beau. & Fl.

Cobweb micrometer , a micrometer in which threads of cobwed are substituted for wires.

Cobwebbed <Xpage=271>

Cob"webbed` (?) , a. Abounding in cobwebs. "The cobwebbed cottage."

Young.

Cobwebby <Xpage=271>

Cob"web`by (?) , a. Abounding in cobwebs, or any fine web; resembling a cobweb.

Cobwork <Xpage=271>

Cob"work` (?) , a. Built of logs, etc., laid horizontally, with the ends dovetailed together at the corners, as in a log house; in marine work, often surrounding a central space filled with stones; as, a cobwork dock or breakwater .

Coca <Xpage=271>

Co"ca (?) , n. [Sp., fr. native name.] The dried leaf of a South American shrub ( Erythroxylon Coca ). In med., called Erythroxylon .

&hand; Coca leaves resemble tea leaves in size, shape, and odor, and are chewed (with an alkali) by natives of Peru and Bolivia to impart vigor in prolonged exertion, or to sustain strength in absence of food.

Mexican coca , an American herb ( Richardsonia scabra ), yielding a nutritious fodder. Its roots are used as a substitute for ipecacuanha.

Cocagne <Xpage=271>

Coc*agne" (?) , n. [F. cocagne , pays de cocagne ; of uncertian origin, cf. Prov. F. couque cake, Catal. coca , L. coquere to cook; as if the houses in this country were covered with cakes. Cf. Cook , Cockney .] 1. An imaginary country of idleness and luxury.

2. The land of cockneys; cockneydom; -- a term applied to London and its suburbs.

Smart.

Cocaine <Xpage=271>

Co"ca*ine (?) , n. (Chem.) A powerful alkaloid, C17H21NO4 , obtained from the leaves of coca. It is a bitter, white, crystalline substance, and is remarkable for producing local insensibility to pain.

Cocciferous <Xpage=271>

Coc*cif"er*ous (?) , a. [L. coccum a berry + -ferous . See Coccus .] Bearing or producing berries; bacciferous; as, cocciferrous trees or plants .

Coccinella <Xpage=271>

Coc`ci*nel"la (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. coccineus scarlet-colored. See Cochoneal .] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of small beetles of many species. They and their larv\'91 feed on aphids or plant lice, and hence are of great benefit to man. Also called ladybirds and ladybugs .

Coccobacterium <Xpage=271>

Coc`co*bac*te"ri*um (?) , n. ; pl. Coccobacteria (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ a grain + NL. bacterium . So called from its round shape.] (Biol.) One of the round variety of bacteria, a vegetable organism, generally less than a thousandth of a millimeter in diameter.

Coccolite <Xpage=271>

Coc"co*lite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a grain, seed + -lite : cf. F. coccalite .] (Min.) A granular variety of pyroxene, green or white in color.

Coccolith <Xpage=271>

Coc"co*lith (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a grain, seed + -lith .] (Biol.) One of a kind of minute, calcareous bodies, probably vegetable, often abundant in deep-sea mud.

Coccosphere <Xpage=271>

Coc"co*sphere (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a grain, seed + E. sphere .] (Biol.) A small, rounded, marine organism, capable of braking up into coccoliths.

Coccosteus <Xpage=271>

Coc*cos"te*us (?) , n. [NL., from Gr. <?/ grain, seed + <?/ bone.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of Devonian ganoid fishes, having the broad plates about the head studded with berrylike tubercles.

Cocculus Indicus <Xpage=271>

Coc"cu*lus In"di*cus (?) , n. [NL. cocculus (dim. of L. coccum kermes berry) + L. Indicus of India.] (Bot.) The fruit or berry of the Anamirta Cocculus , a climbing plant of the East Indies. It is a poisonous narcotic and stimulant.

Coccus <Xpage=271>

Coc"cus (?) , n. ; pl. Cocci (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ grain, seed. See Cochineal .] 1. (Bot.) One of the separable carpels of a dry fruit.

2. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of hemipterous insects, including scale insects, and the cochineal insect ( Coccus cacti ).

3. (Biol.) A form of bacteria, shaped like a globule.

Coccygeal <Xpage=271>

Coc*cyg"e*al (?) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the coccyx; as, the coccygeal vertebr\'91 .

Coccygeal glands (Zo\'94l.) , glands situated at the base of the tail of birds. They secrete the oil with which the plumage is dressed.

Coccygeous <Xpage=271>

Coc*cyg"e*ous (?) , a. Coccygeal. [R.]

Coccyx <Xpage=271>

Coc"cyx (?) , n. ; pl. L. Coccyges (#) . [L., cuckoo, Gr. <?/, cuckoo, coccyx. So called from its resemblance to the beak of a cuckoo.] (Anat.) The end of the vertebral column beyond the sacrum in man and tailless monkeys. It is composed of several vertebr\'91 more or less consolidated.

Cochineal <Xpage=271>

Coch"i*neal (?; 277) , [Sp. cochinilla , dim. from L. coccineus , coccinus , scarlet, fr. coccum the kermes berry, G. <?/ berry, especially the kermes insect, used to dye scarlet, as the cohineal was formerly supposed to be the grain or seed of a plant, and this word was formerly defined to be the grain of the Quercus coccifera ; but cf. also Sp. cochinilla wood louse, dim. of cochina sow, akin to F. cochon pig.] A dyestuff consisting of the dried bodies of females of the Coccus cacti , an insect native in Mexico, Central America, etc., and found on several species of cactus, esp. Opuntia cochinellifera .

&hand; These insects are gathered from the plant, killed by the application of heat, and exposed to the sun to dry. When dried they resemble small, rough berries or seeds, of a brown or purple color, and form the cochineal of the shops, which is used for making carmine, and also as a red dye.

&hand; Cochineal contains as its essential coloring matter carminic acid , a purple red amorphous substance which yields carmine red .

Cochineal fig <Xpage=271>

Coch"i*neal fig (?) , (Bot.) A plant of Central and Southern Anerica, of the Cactus familly, extensively cultivated for the sake of the cochineal insect, which lives on it.

Cochin fowl <Xpage=271>

Co"chin fowl` (?) , (Zo\'94l.) A large variety of the domestic fowl, originally from Cochin China (Anam).

Cochlea <Xpage=271>

Coch"le*a (?) , n. [L., a snail, or snail shell, Gr. <?/ a snail, fr. <?/ a shellfish with a spiral shell.] (Anat.) An appendage of the labyrinth of the internal ear, which is elongated and coiled into a spiral in mammals. See Ear .

Cochlear <Xpage=271>

Coch"le*ar (?) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the cochlea.

Cochleare <Xpage=271>

Coch`le*a"re (?) , n. [L.] 1. A spoon.

Andrews.

2. (Med) A spoonful.

Dungleson.

Cocleariform <Xpage=271>

Coc`le*ar"i*form (?) , a. [ Cochleare + -form .] Spoon-shaped.

Cochleary <Xpage=271>

Coch"le*a*ry (?) , a. [L. cochlearum penfor snails (meaning formerly given, snail shell ). See Cjchlea .] Same as Cochleate .

Cochleate, Cochleated <Xpage=271>

Coch"le*ate (?) , Coch"le*a`ted (?) , a. [L. cochleatus spiral or screw-formed. See Cochlea .] Having the form of a snail shell; spiral; turbinated.

Cock <Xpage=271>

Cock (?) , n. [AS. coc ; of unkown origin, perh. in imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. Chicken .] 1. The male of birds, particulary of gallinaceous or domestic fowls.

2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock.

Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks ! Shak.

3. A chief man; a leader or master. [Humorous]

Sir Andrew is the cock of the club, since he left us. Addison.

4. The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning; cockcrow. [Obs.]

He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock . Shak.

5. A faucet or valve.

&hand; Jonsons says, "The handly probably had a cock on the top; things that were contrived to turn seem anciently to have had that form, whatever was the reason." Skinner says, because it used to be constructed in forma crit\'91 galli , i.e., in the form of a cock's comb.

6. The style of gnomon of a dial.

Chambers.

7. The indicator of a balance.

Johnson.

8. The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of a balance in a clock or watch.

Knight.