Chapter 706

2. Something which in firm or action resembles the common hammer ; as: (a) That part of a clock which strikes upon the bell to indicate the hour . (b) The padded mallet of a piano, which strikes the wires, to produce the tones . (c) (Anat.) The malleus . See under Ear . (Gun.) That part of a gunlock which strikes the percussion cap, or firing pin; the cock; formerly, however, a piece of steel covering the pan of a flintlock musket and struck by the flint of the cock to ignite the priming . (e) Also, a person of thing that smites or shatters; as, St. Augustine was the hammer of heresies.

He met the stern legionaries [of Rome] who had been the "massive iron hammers " of the whole earth. J. H. Newman.

Atmospheric hammer , a dead-stroke hammer in which the spring is formed by confined air. -- Drop hammer , Face hammer , etc. See under Drop , Face , etc. -- Hammer fish . See Hammerhead . -- Hammer hardening , the process of hardening metal by hammering it when cold. -- Hammer shell (Zo\'94l.) , any species of Malleus , a genus of marine bivalve shells, allied to the pearl oysters, having the wings narrow and elongated, so as to give them a hammer-shaped outline; -- called also hammer oyster . -- To bring to the hammer , to put up at auction.

Hammer <Xpage=666>

Ham"mer , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Hammered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Hammering .] 1. To beat with a hammer; to beat with heavy blows; as, to hammer iron .

2. To form or forge with a hammer; to shape by beating. " Hammered money."

Dryden.

3. To form in the mind; to shape by hard intellectual labor; -- usually with out .

Who was hammering out a penny dialogue. Jeffry.

Hammer <Xpage=666>

Ham"mer , v. i. 1. To be busy forming anything; to labor hard as if shaping something with a hammer.

Whereon this month I have hammering . Shak.

2. To strike repeated blows, literally or figuratively.

Blood and revenge are hammering in my head. Shak.

Hammerable <Xpage=666>

Ham"mer*a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being formed or shaped by a hammer.

Sherwood.

Hammer-b</</m <Xpage=666>

Ham"mer-b<?/<?/m` (?) , n. (Cothic Arch.) A member of one description of roof truss, called hammer-beam truss , which is so framed as not to have a tiebeam at the top of the wall. Each principal has two hammer-beams, which occupy the situation, and to some extent serve the purpose, of a tiebeam.

Hammercloth <Xpage=666>

Ham"mer*cloth` (?; 115) , n. [Prob. fr. D. hemel heaven, canopy, tester (akin to G. himmel , and perh. also to E. heaven ) + E. cloth ; or perh. a corruption of hamper cloth .] The cloth which covers a coach box.

Hammer-dressed <Xpage=666>

Ham"mer-dressed` (?) , a. Having the surface roughly shaped or faced with the stonecutter's hammer; -- said of building stone.

Hammerer <Xpage=666>

Ham"mer*er (?) , n. One who works with a hammer.

Hammer-harden <Xpage=666>

Ham"mer-hard`en (?) , v. t. To harden, as a metal, by hammering it in the cold state.

Hammerhead <Xpage=666>

Ham"mer*head` (?) , n. 1. (Zo\'94l.) A shark of the genus Sphyrna or Zyg\'91na , having the eyes set on projections from the sides of the head, which gives it a hammer shape. The Sphyrna zyg\'91na is found in the North Atlantic. Called also hammer fish , and balance fish .

<page="667"> Page 667

2. (Zo\'94l.) A fresh-water fish; the stone-roller.

3. (Zo\'94l.) An African fruit bat ( Hypsignathus monstrosus ); -- so called from its large blunt nozzle.

Hammerkop <Xpage=667>

Ham"mer*kop (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A bird of the Heron family; the umber.

Hammer-less <Xpage=667>

Ham"mer-less , a. (Firearms) Without a visible hammer; -- said of a gun having a cock or striker concealed from sight, and out of the way of an accidental touch.

Hammerman <Xpage=667>

Ham"mer*man (?) , n. ; pl. Hammermen (<?/) . A hammerer; a forgeman.

Hammochrysos <Xpage=667>

Ham`mo*chry"sos (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/; <?/, <?/, sand + chryso`s gold.] A stone with spangles of gold color in it.

Hammock <Xpage=667>

Ham"mock (?) , n. [A word of Indian origin: cf. Sp. hamaca . Columbus, in the Narrative of his first voyage, says: "A great many Indians in canoes came to the ship to-day for the purpose of bartering their cotton, and hamacas , or nets, in which they sleep."] 1. A swinging couch or bed, usually made of netting or canvas about six feet wide, suspended by clews or cords at the ends.

2. A piece of land thickly wooded, and usually covered with bushes and vines. Used also adjectively; as, hammock land . [Southern U. S.]

Bartlett.

Hammock nettings (Naut.) , formerly, nets for stowing hammocks; now, more often, wooden boxes or a trough on the rail, used for that purpose.

Hamose, Hamous <Xpage=667>

Ha*mose" (?) , Ha"mous (?) , [L. hamus hook.] (Bot.) Having the end hooked or curved.

Hamper <Xpage=667>

Ham"per (?) , n. [Contr. fr. hanaper .] A large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles; as, a hamper of wine; a clothes hamper ; an oyster hamper , which contains two bushels.

Hamper <Xpage=667>

Ham"per , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Hampered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Hampering .] To put in a hamper.

Hamper <Xpage=667>

Ham"per , v. t. [OE. hamperen , hampren , prob. of the same origin as E. hamble .] To put a hamper or fetter on; to shackle; to insnare; to inveigle; hence, to impede in motion or progress; to embarrass; to encumber. " Hampered nerves."

Blackmore.

A lion hampered in a net. L'Estrange.

They hamper and entangle our souls. Tillotson.

Hamper <Xpage=667>

Ham"per , n. [See Hamper to shackle.] 1. A shackle; a fetter; anything which impedes.

W. Browne.

2. (Naut.) Articles ordinarily indispensable, but in the way at certain times.

Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Top hamper (Naut.) , unnecessary spars and rigging kept aloft.

Hamshackle <Xpage=667>

Ham"shac`kle (?) , v. t. [ Ham + shackle .] To fasten (an animal) by a rope binding the head to one of the fore legs; as, to hamshackle a horse or cow ; hence, to bind or restrain; to curb.

Hamster <Xpage=667>

Ham"ster (?) , n. [G. hamster .] (Zo\'94l.) A small European rodent ( Cricetus frumentarius ). It is remarkable for having a pouch on each side of the jaw, under the skin, and for its migrations. <-- often kept as a pet -->

Hamstring <Xpage=667>

Ham"string` (?) , n. (Anat.) One of the great tendons situated in each side of the ham, or space back of the knee, and connected with the muscles of the back of the thigh.

Hamstring <Xpage=667>

Ham"string` , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Hamstrung ; p. pr. & vb. n. Hamstringing . See String .] To lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee; to hough; hence, to cripple; to incapacitate; to disable.

So have they hamstrung the valor of the subject by seeking to effeminate us all at home. Milton.

Hamular <Xpage=667>

Ham"u*lar (?) , a. Hooked; hooklike; hamate; as, the hamular process of the sphenoid bone .

Hamulate <Xpage=667>

Ham"u*late (?) , a. Furnished with a small hook; hook-shaped.

Gray.

Hamule <Xpage=667>

Ham"ule (?) , n. [L. hamulus .] A little hook.

Hamulose <Xpage=667>

Ham"u*lose" (?) , a. [L. hamulus , dim. of hamus a hook.] Bearing a small hook at the end.

Gray.

Hamulus <Xpage=667>

Ham"u*lus (?) , n. ; pl. Hamuli (<?/) . [L., a little hook.] 1. (Anat.) A hook, or hooklike process.

2. (Zo\'94l.) A hooked barbicel of a feather.

Han <Xpage=667>

Han (?) , contr. inf. & plural pres. of Haven . To have; have. [Obs.]

Piers Plowman.

Him thanken all, and thus they han an end. Chaucer.

Hanap <Xpage=667>

Han"ap (?) , n. [F. hanap . See Hanaper .] A rich goblet, esp. one used on state occasions. [Obs.]

Hanaper <Xpage=667>

Han"a*per (?) , n. [LL. hanaperium a large vase, fr. hanaus vase, bowl, cup (whence F. hanap ); of German origin; cf. ONG. hnapf , G. napf , akin to AS. hn\'91p cup, bowl. Cf. Hamper , Nappy , n. ] A kind of basket, usually of wickerwork, and adapted for the packing and carrying of articles; a hamper.

Hanaper office , an office of the English court of chancery in which writs relating to the business of the public, and the returns to them, were anciently kept in a hanaper or hamper.

Blackstone.

Hance <Xpage=667>

Hance (?) , v. t. [See Enhance .] To raise; to elevate. [Obs.]

Lydgate.

Hance, Hanch <Xpage=667>

Hance (?) , Hanch (?) , [See Hanse .] 1. (Arch.) See Hanse .

2. (Naut.) A sudden fall or break, as the fall of the fife rail down to the gangway.

Hand <Xpage=667>

Hand (?) , n. [AS. hand , hond ; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand , OHG. hant , Dan. haand , Icel. h\'94nd , Goth. handus , and perh. to Goth. hinpan to seize (in comp.). Cf. Hunt .] 1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus .

2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand ; as: (a) A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey . (b) An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute hand of a clock .

3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.

4. Side; part; direction, either right or left.

On this hand and that hand , were hangings. Ex. xxxviii. 15.

The Protestants were then on the winning hand . Milton.

5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.

He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator. Addison.

6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.

To change the hand in carrying on the war. Clarendon.

Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand . Judges vi. 36.

7. An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as, a deck hand ; a farm hand ; an old hand at speaking.

A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands , as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for. Locke.

I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile. Hazlitt.

8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad or running hand . Hence, a signature.

I say she never did invent this letter; This is a man's invention and his hand . Shak.

Some writs require a judge's hand . Burril.

9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; -- usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand one year's tribute."

Knolles.

Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the goverment of Britain. Milton.

10. Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to buy at first hand , that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand , that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new .

11. Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand , where there is small dispatch."

Bacon.

12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once ; as: (a) (Card Playing) The quota of cards received from the dealer . (b) (Tobacco Manuf.) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.

13. (Firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.

&hand; Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as: (a) Activity; operation; work; -- in distinction from the head , which implies thought, and the heart , which implies affection. "His hand will be against every man." Gen. xvi. 12. (b) Power; might; supremacy; -- often in the Scriptures. "With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you." Ezek. xx. 33. (c) Fraternal feeling; as, to give, or take, the hand ; to give the right hand . (d) Contract; -- commonly of marriage; as, to ask the hand ; to pledge the hand .

&hand; Hand is often used adjectively or in compounds (with or without the hyphen), signifying performed by the hand ; as, hand blow or hand -blow, hand gripe or hand -gripe: used by , or designed for , the hand ; as, hand ball or hand ball, hand bow, hand fetter, hand grenade or hand -grenade, hand gun or hand gun, hand loom or hand loom, hand mill or hand organ or hand organ, hand saw or hand saw, hand -weapon: measured or regulated by the hand ; as, hand breadth or hand's breadth, hand gallop or hand -gallop. Most of the words in the following paragraph are written either as two words or in combination.

Hand bag , a satchel; a small bag for carrying books, papers, parcels, etc. -- Hand basket , a small or portable basket. -- Hand bell , a small bell rung by the hand; a table bell. Bacon . -- Hand bill , a small pruning hook. See 4th Bill . -- Hand car . See under Car . -- Hand director (Mus.) , an instrument to aid in forming a good position of the hands and arms when playing on the piano; a hand guide. -- Hand drop . See Wrist drop . -- Hand gallop . See under Gallop . -- Hand gear (Mach.) , apparatus by means of which a machine, or parts of a machine, usually operated by other power, may be operated by hand. -- Hand glass . (a) A glass or small glazed frame, for the protection of plants. (b) A small mirror with a handle. -- Hand guide . Same as Hand director (above). -- Hand language , the art of conversing by the hands, esp. as practiced by the deaf and dumb; dactylology. -- Hand lathe . See under Lathe . -- Hand money , money paid in hand to bind a contract; earnest money. -- Hand organ (Mus.) , a barrel organ, operated by a crank turned by hand. -- Hand plant . (Bot.) Same as Hand tree (below). -- Hand rail , a rail, as in staircases, to hold by. Gwilt . -- Hand sail , a sail managed by the hand. Sir W. Temple . -- Hand screen , a small screen to be held in the hand. -- Hand screw , a small jack for raising heavy timbers or weights; (Carp.) a screw clamp. -- Hand staff ( pl. Hand staves ), a javelin. Ezek. xxxix. 9. -- Hand stamp , a small stamp for dating, addressing, or canceling papers, envelopes, etc. -- Hand tree (Bot.) , a lofty tree found in Mexico ( Cheirostemon platanoides ), having red flowers whose stamens unite in the form of a hand. -- Hand vise , a small vise held in the hand in doing small work. Moxon . -- Hand work , &or; Handwork , work done with the hands, as distinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork. -- All hands , everybody; all parties. -- At all hands , On all hands , on all sides; from every direction; generally. -- At any hand , At no hand , in any (or no) way or direction; on any account; on no account. "And therefore at no hand consisting with the safety and interests of humility." Jer. Taylor . -- At first hand , At second hand . See def. 10 (above). -- At hand . (a) Near in time or place; either present and within reach, or not far distant. "Your husband is at hand ; I hear his trumpet." Shak . (b) Under the hand or bridle. [Obs.] "Horses hot at hand ." Shak . -- At the hand of , by the act of; as a gift from. "Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?" Job ii. 10. -- Bridle hand . See under Bridle . -- By hand , with the hands, in distinction from instrumentality of tools, engines, or animals; as, to weed a garden by hand ; to lift, draw, or carry by hand . -- Clean hands , freedom from guilt, esp. from the guilt of dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking. "He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." Job xvii. 9. -- From hand to hand , from one person to another. -- Hand in hand . (a) In union; conjointly; unitedly. Swift . (b) Just; fair; equitable.

As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand comparison. Shak.