The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

Chapter 748

Chapter 7482,711 wordsPublic domain

Horned bee (Zo\'94l.) , a British wild bee ( Osmia bicornis ), having two little horns on the head. -- Horned dace (Zo\'94l.) , an American cyprinoid fish ( Semotilus corporialis ) common in brooks and ponds; the common chub. See Illust . of Chub . -- Horned frog (Zo\'94l.) , a very large Brazilian frog ( Ceratophrys cornuta ), having a pair of triangular horns arising from the eyelids. -- Horned grebe (Zo\'94l.) , a species of grebe ( Colymbus auritus ), of Arctic Europe and America, having two dense tufts of feathers on the head. -- Horned horse (Zo\'94l.) , the gnu. -- Horned lark (Zo\'94l.) , the shore lark. -- Horned lizard (Zo\'94l.) , the horned toad. -- Horned owl (Zo\'94l.) , a large North American owl ( Bubo Virginianus ), having a pair of elongated tufts of feathers on the head. Several distinct varieties are known; as, the Arctic, Western, dusky, and striped horned owls , differing in color, and inhabiting different regions; -- called also great horned owl , horn owl , eagle owl , and cat owl . Sometimes also applied to the long-eared owl . See Eared owl , under Eared . -- Horned poppy . (Bot.) See Horn poppy , under Horn . -- Horned pout (Zo\'94l.) , an American fresh-water siluroid fish; the bullpout. -- Horned rattler (Zo\'94l.) , a species of rattlesnake ( Crotalus cerastes ), inhabiting the dry, sandy plains, from California to Mexico. It has a pair of triangular horns between the eyes; -- called also sidewinder . -- Horned ray (Zo\'94l.) , the sea devil. -- Horned screamer (Zo\'94l.) , the kamichi. -- Horned snake (Zo\'94l.) , the cerastes. -- Horned toad (Zo\'94l.) , any lizard of the genus Phrynosoma , of which nine or ten species are known. These lizards have several hornlike spines on the head, and a broad, flat body, covered with spiny scales. They inhabit the dry, sandy plains from California to Mexico and Texas. Called also horned lizard . -- Horned viper . (Zo\'94l.) See Cerastes .

Hornedness <Xpage=706>

Horn"ed*ness (?) , n. The condition of being horned.

Hornel <Xpage=706>

Horn"el (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The European sand eel. [Scot.]

Horner <Xpage=706>

Horn"er (?) , n. 1. One who works or deal in horn or horns. [R.]

Grew.

2. One who winds or blows the horn. [Obs.]

Sherwood.

3. One who horns or cuckolds. [Obs.]

Massinger.

4. (Zo\'94l.) The British sand lance or sand eel ( Ammodytes lanceolatus ).

Hornet <Xpage=706>

Hor"net (?) , n. [AS. hyrnet ; akin to OHG. hornaz , hornuz , G. horniss ; perh. akin to E. horn , and named from the sound it makes as if blowing the horn; but more prob. akin to D. horzel , Lith. szirszone , L. crabo .] (Zo\'94l.) A large, strong wasp. The European species ( Vespa crabro ) is of a dark brown and yellow color. It is very pugnacious, and its sting is very severe. Its nest is constructed of a paperlike material, and the layers of comb are hung together by columns. The American white-faced hornet ( V. maculata ) is larger and has similar habits.

Hornet fly (Zo\'94l.) , any dipterous insect of the genus Asilus , and allied genera, of which there are numerous species. They are large and fierce flies which capture bees and other insects, often larger than themselves, and suck their blood. Called also hawk fly , robber fly . -- To stir up a hornet's nest , to provoke the attack of a swarm of spiteful enemies or spirited critics. [Colloq.]

Hornfish <Xpage=706>

Horn"fish` (?) , n. [AS. hornfisc .] (Zo\'94l.) The garfish or sea needle.

Hornfoot <Xpage=706>

Horn"foot` (?) , a. Having hoofs; hoofed.

Hornify <Xpage=706>

Horn"i*fy (?) , v. t. [ Horn + - fy .] To horn; to cuckold. [Obs.]

Beau. & Fl.

Horning <Xpage=706>

Horn"ing , n. Appearance of the moon when increasing, or in the form of a crescent.

J. Gregory.

Letters of horning (Scots Law) , the process or authority by which a person, directed by the decree of a court of justice to pay or perform anything, is ordered to comply therewith.

Mozley & W.

Hornish <Xpage=706>

Horn"ish , a. Somewhat like horn; hard.

Hornito <Xpage=706>

Hor*ni"to (?) , n. [A dim. fr. Sp. horno oven, L. furnus . See Furnace .] (Geol.) A low, oven-shaped mound, common in volcanic regions, and emitting smoke and vapors from its sides and summit.

Humboldt.

Hornless <Xpage=706>

Horn"less (?) , a. Having no horn.

Horn-mad <Xpage=706>

Horn"-mad` (?) , a. Quite mad; -- raving crazy.

Did I tell you about Mr. Garrick, that the town are horn-mad after? Gray.

Hornotine <Xpage=706>

Hor"no*tine (?) , n. [L. hornotinus of this year.] (Zo\'94l.) A yearling; a bird of the year.

Hornowl <Xpage=706>

Horn"owl` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Horned Owl .

Hornpike <Xpage=706>

Horn"pike` (?) , n. The garfish. [Prov. Eng.]

Hornpipe <Xpage=706>

Horn"pipe` (?) , n. (Mus.) (a) An instrument of music formerly popular in Wales, consisting of a wooden pipe, with holes at intervals. It was so called because the bell at the open end was sometimes made of horn. (b) A lively tune played on a hornpipe, for dancing; a tune adapted for such playing.

Many a hornpipe he tuned to his Phyllis. Sir W. Raleigh.

(c) A dance performed, usually by one person, to such a tune, and popular among sailors.<-- = sailor's hornpipe -->

Hornpout <Xpage=706>

Horn"pout` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Horned pout , under Horned .

Hornsnake <Xpage=706>

Horn"snake` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A harmless snake ( Farancia abacura ), found in the Southern United States. The color is bluish black above, red below.

Hornstone <Xpage=706>

Horn"stone` (?) , n. (Min.) A siliceous stone, a variety of quartz, closely resembling flint, but more brittle; -- called also chert .

Horntail <Xpage=706>

Horn"tail` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of family ( Urocerid\'91 ) of large hyminopterous insects, allied to the sawflies. The larv\'91 bore in the wood of trees. So called from the long, stout ovipositors of the females.

Hornwork <Xpage=706>

Horn"work` (?) , n. (Fort.) An outwork composed of two demibastions joined by a curtain. It is connected with the works in rear by long wings.

Hornwort <Xpage=706>

Horn"wort` (?) , n. (Bot.) An aquatic plant ( Ceratophyllum ), with finely divided leaves.

Hornwrack <Xpage=706>

Horn"wrack` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A bryozoan of the genus Flustra .

Horny <Xpage=706>

Horn"y (?) , a. [ Compar. Hornier (?) ; superl. Horniest .] 1. Having horns or hornlike projections.

Gay.

2. Composed or made of horn, or of a substance resembling horn; of the nature of horn. "The horny . . . coat of the eye."

Ray.

3. Hard; callous. "His horny fist."

Dryden.

Horny-handed <Xpage=706>

Horn"y-hand`ed (?) , a. Having the hands horny and callous from labor.

Hornyhead <Xpage=706>

Horn"y*head` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any North American river chub of the genus Hybopsis , esp. H. biguttatus .

Horography <Xpage=706>

Ho*rog"ra*phy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ hour + -graphy : cf. F. horographie .] 1. An account of the hours.

Chaucer.

2. The art of constructing instruments for making the hours, as clocks, watches, and dials.

Horologe <Xpage=706>

Hor"o*loge (?) , n. [OE. horologe , orloge , timepiece, OF. horloge , orloge , oriloge , F. horloge , L. horologium , fr. Gr. <?/; <?/ hour + <?/ to say, tell. See Hour , and Logic .] 1. A servant who called out the hours. [Obs.]

2. An instrument indicating the time of day; a timepiece of any kind; a watch, clock, or dial.

Shak.

Horologer <Xpage=706>

Ho*rol"o*ger (?) , n. A maker or vender of clocks and watches; one skilled in horology.

Horological <Xpage=706>

Hor`o*log"ic*al (?) , a. [L. horologicus , Gr. <?/.] Relating to a horologe, or to horology.

Horologiographer <Xpage=706>

Hor`o*lo`gi*og"ra*pher (?) , n. [See Horologiography .] A maker of clocks, watches, or dials.

Horologiographic <Xpage=706>

Hor`o*lo`gi*o*graph"ic (?) , a. Of or pertaining to horologiography.

Chambers.

Horologiography <Xpage=706>

Hor`o*lo`gi*og"ra*phy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ horologe + -graphy .] 1. An account of instruments that show the hour.

2. The art of constructing clocks or dials; horography.

Horologist <Xpage=706>

Ho*rol"o*gist (?) , n. One versed in horology.

Horology <Xpage=706>

Ho*rol"o*gy (?) , n. [See Horologe .] The science of measuring time, or the principles and art of constructing instruments for measuring and indicating portions of time, as clocks, watches, dials, etc.

Horometer <Xpage=706>

Ho*rom"e*ter (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ hour + -meter .] An instrument for measuring time.

Horometrical <Xpage=706>

Hor`o*met"ric*al (?) , a. Belonging to horometry.

Horometry <Xpage=706>

Ho*rom"e*try (?) , n. [Cf. F. horom\'82trie . See Horometer .] The art, practice, or method of measuring time by hours and subordinate divisions. "The horometry of antiquity."

Sir T. Browne.

Horopter <Xpage=706>

Ho*rop"ter (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ boundary + <?/ one who looks.] (Opt.) The line or surface in which are situated all the points which are seen single while the point of sight, or the adjustment of the eyes, remains unchanged.

The sum of all the points which are seen single, while the point of sight remains unchanged, is called the horopter . J. Le Conte.

Horopteric <Xpage=706>

Hor`op*ter"ic (?) , a. (Opt.) Of or pertaining to the horopter.

Horoscope <Xpage=706>

Hor"o*scope (?) , n. [F. horoscope , L. horoscopus , fr. Gr. <?/, adj., observing hours or times, esp. observing the hour of birth, n. , a horoscope; <?/ hour + <?/ to view, observe. See Hour , and -scope .] 1. (Astrol.) (a) The representation made of the aspect of the heavens at the moment of a person's birth, by which the astrologer professed to foretell the events of the person's life; especially, the sign of the zodiac rising above the horizon at such a moment. (b) The diagram or scheme of twelve houses or signs of the zodiac, into which the whole circuit of the heavens was divided for the purposes of such prediction of fortune.

2. The planisphere invented by Jean Paduanus.

3. A table showing the length of the days and nights at all places.

Heyse.

Horoscoper, Horoscopist <Xpage=706>

Hor"o*sco`per (?) , Ho*ros"co*pist (?) , n. One versed in horoscopy; an astrologer.

Horoscopy <Xpage=706>

Ho*ros"co*py (?) , n. 1. The art or practice of casting horoscopes, or observing the disposition of the stars, with a view to prediction events.

2. Aspect of the stars at the time of a person's birth.

Horrendous <Xpage=706>

Hor*ren"dous (?) , a. [L. horrendus .] Fearful; frightful. [Obs.]

I. Watts.

Horrent <Xpage=706>

Hor"rent (?) , a. [L. horrens , p.pr. of horrere to bristle. See Horror .] Standing erect, as bristles; covered with bristling points; bristled; bristling.

Rough and horrent with figures in strong relief.

De Quincey.

With bright emblazonry and horrent arms. Milton.

Horrible <Xpage=706>

Hor"ri*ble (?) , a. [OE. horrible , orrible , OF. horrible , orrible , F. horrible , fr. L. horribilis , fr. horrere . See Horror .] Exciting, or tending to excite, horror or fear; dreadful; terrible; shocking; hideous; as, a horrible sight; a horrible story; a horrible murder.

A dungeon horrible on all sides round. Milton.

Syn. -- Dreadful; frightful; fearful; terrible; awful; terrific; shocking; hideous; horrid.

Horribleness <Xpage=706>

Hor"ri*ble*ness , n. The state or quality of being horrible; dreadfulness; hideousness.

The horribleness of the mischief. Sir P. Sidney.

Horribly <Xpage=706>

Hor"ri*bly , adv. In a manner to excite horror; dreadfully; terribly.

Horrid <Xpage=706>

Hor"rid (?) , a. [L. horridus . See Horror , and cf. Ordure .] 1. Rough; rugged; bristling. [Archaic]

Horrid with fern, and intricate with thorn. Dryden.

2. Fitted to excite horror; dreadful; hideous; shocking; hence, very offensive.

Not in the legions Of horrid hell. Shak.

The horrid things they say. Pope.

Syn. -- Frightful; hideous; alarming; shocking; dreadful; awful; terrific; horrible; abominable.

Horridly <Xpage=706>

Hor"rid*ly , adv. In a horrid manner.

Shak.

Horridness <Xpage=706>

Hor"rid*ness , n. The quality of being horrid.

Horrific <Xpage=706>

Hor*rif"ic (?) , a. [L. horrifieus ; horrere to be horrible + -ficare (in comp.) to make: cf. F. horrifique . See Horror , -fy .] Causing horror; frightful.

Let . . . nothing ghastly or horrific be supposed. I. Taylor.

Horrification <Xpage=706>

Hor`ri*fi*ca"tion (?) , n. That which causes horror. [R.]

Miss Edgeworth.

Horrify <Xpage=706>

Hor"ri*fy (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Horrified (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Horrifying (?) .] [L. horrificare . See Horrific .] To cause to feel horror; to strike or impress with horror; as, the sight horrified the beholders .

E. Irving.

Horripilation <Xpage=706>

Hor*rip`i*la"tion (?) , n. [L. horripilatio , fr. horripilare to bristle; horrere to bristle + pilus the hair: cf. F. horripilation .] (Med.) A real or fancied bristling of the hair of the head or body, resulting from disease, terror, chilliness, etc.

Horrisonant <Xpage=706>

Hor*ris"o*nant (?) , a. Horrisonous. [Obs.]

Horrisonous <Xpage=706>

Hor*ris"o*nous (?) , a. [L. horrisonus ; horrere to be horrible + sonus a sound.] Sounding dreadfully; uttering a terrible sound. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Horror <Xpage=706>

Hor"ror (?) , n. [Formerly written horrour .] [L. horror , fr. horrere to bristle, to shiver, to tremble with cold or dread, to be dreadful or terrible; cf. Skr. h<?/sh to bristle.] 1. A bristling up; a rising into roughness; tumultuous movement. [Archaic]

Such fresh horror as you see driven through the wrinkled waves. Chapman.

2. A shaking, shivering, or shuddering, as in the cold fit which precedes a fever; in old medical writings, a chill of less severity than a rigor , and more marked than an algor .

3. A painful emotion of fear, dread, and abhorrence; a shuddering with terror and detestation; the feeling inspired by something frightful and shocking.

How could this, in the sight of heaven, without horrors of conscience be uttered? Milton.

4. That which excites horror or dread, or is horrible; gloom; dreariness.

Breathes a browner horror on the woods. Pope.

The horrors , delirium tremens. [Colloq.]

<page="707"> Page 707

Horror-sticken <Xpage=707>

Hor"ror-stick`en (?) , a. Struck with horror; horrified.

Blank and horror-stricken faces. C. Kingsley.

Horror-struck <Xpage=707>

Hor"ror-struck` (?) , a. Horror-stricken; horrified.

M. Arnold.

Hors de combat <Xpage=707>

Hors` de com`bat" (?) . [F.] Out of the combat; disabled from fighting. <-- = out of action -->

Horse <Xpage=707>

Horse (?) , n. [AS. hors ; akin to OS. hros , D. & OHG. ros , G. ross , Icel. hross ; and perh. to L. currere to run, E. course , current Cf. Walrus .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) A hoofed quadruped of the genus Equus ; especially, the domestic horse ( E. caballus ), which was domesticated in Egypt and Asia at a very early period. It has six broad molars, on each side of each jaw, with six incisors, and two canine teeth, both above and below. The mares usually have the canine teeth rudimentary or wanting. The horse differs from the true asses, in having a long, flowing mane, and the tail bushy to the base. Unlike the asses it has callosities, or chestnuts, on all its legs. The horse excels in strength, speed, docility, courage, and nobleness of character, and is used for drawing, carrying, bearing a rider, and like purposes.

&hand; Many varieties, differing in form, size, color, gait, speed, etc., are known, but all are believed to have been derived from the same original species. It is supposed to have been a native of the plains of Central Asia, but the wild species from which it was derived is not certainly known. The feral horses of America are domestic horses that have run wild; and it is probably true that most of those of Asia have a similar origin. Some of the true wild Asiatic horses do, however, approach the domestic horse in several characteristics. Several species of fossil ( Equus ) are known from the later Tertiary formations of Europe and America. The fossil species of other genera of the family Equid\'91 are also often called horses , in general sense.

2. The male of the genus horse, in distinction from the female or male; usually, a castrated male.

3. Mounted soldiery; cavalry; -- used without the plural termination; as, a regiment of horse ; -- distinguished from foot .

The armies were appointed, consisting of twenty-five thousand horse and foot. Bacon.

4. A frame with legs, used to support something; as, a clothes horse , a saw horse , etc.

5. A frame of timber, shaped like a horse, on which soldiers were made to ride for punishment.

6. Anything, actual or figurative, on which one rides as on a horse; a hobby.

7. (Mining) A mass of earthy matter, or rock of the same character as the wall rock, occurring in the course of a vein, as of coal or ore; hence, to take horse -- said of a vein -- is to divide into branches for a distance.