Chapter 876

Lames (?) , n. pl. [F. lame a thin plate, L. lamina .] (Armor) Small steel plates combined together so as to slide one upon the form a piece of armor.

Lametta <Xpage=826>

La*met"ta (?) , n. [Cf. It. lametta , dim of lama a thin plate.] Foil or wire made of gold, silver, or brass.

De Colange.

Lamia <Xpage=826>

La"mi*a (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/.] (Class. Myth.) A monster capable of assuming a woman's form, who was said to devour human beings or suck their blood; a vampire; a sorceress; a with.

Lamina <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*na (?) , n. ; pl. L. Lamella . 1. A thin plate or scale; a laying over another; -- said of thin plates or platelike substances, as of bone or minerals .

2. (Bot.) The blade of a leaf; the broad, expanded portion of a petal or sepal of a flower.

Gray.

3. (Zo\'94l.) A thin plate or scale; specif., one of the thin, flat processes composing the vane of a feather.

Laminability <Xpage=826>

Lam`i*na*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being laminable.

Laminable <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*na*ble (?) , a. Capable of being split into lamin\'91 or thin plates, as mica; capable of being extended under pressure into a thin plate or strip.

When a body can be readily extended in all directions under the hammer, it is said to be malleable; and when into fillets under the rolling press, it is said to be laminable .

Ure.

Laminar, Laminal <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*nar (?) , Lam"i*nal (?) , a. [Cf. F. laminaire . See Lamina ] In, or consisting of, thin plates or layers; having the form of a thin plate or lamina.

Laminaria <Xpage=826>

Lam`i*na"ri*a (?) , n. [NL. See Lamina .] (Bot.) A genus of great seaweeds with long and broad fronds; kelp, or devil's apron. The fronds commonly grow in clusters, and are sometimes from thirty to fifty feet in length. See Illust . of Kelp .

Laminarian <Xpage=826>

Lam`i*na"ri*an (?) , a. Pertaining to seaweeds of the genus Laminaria, or to that zone of the sea (from two to ten fathoms in depth) where the seaweeds of this genus grow.

Laminarite <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*na*rite (?) , n. [See Lamina .] (Paleon.) A broad-leafed fossil alga.

Laminary <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*na*ry (?) , a. Laminar.

Laminate <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*nate (?) , a. [See Lamina .] Consisting of, or covered with, lamin\'91, or thin plates, scales, or layers, one over another; laminated.

Laminate <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*nate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Laminated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Laminating (?) .] [See Lamina .] 1. To cause to separate into thin plates or layers; to divide into thin plates.

2. To form, as metal, into a thin plate, as by rolling.

<-- 3. To form by uniting two or more layers (in sheet form) of a material, so that the layers are bonded tightly.

4. (With material as object) To unite (layers in sheet form) by bonding, so as to create a single object with multiple layers. -->

Laminate <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*nate , v. i. To separate into lamin\'91.

Laminated <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*na`ted (?) , a. Laminate.

Laminated arch (Arch.) , a timber arch made of layers of bent planks secured by treenails.

Laminating <Xpage=826>

Lam"i*na`ting (?) , a. Forming, or separating into, scales or thin layers.

Lamination <Xpage=826>

Lam`i*na"tion (?) , n. The process of laminating, or the state of being laminated.

Laminiferous <Xpage=826>

Lam`i*nif"er*ous (?) , a. [ Lamina + -ferous .] Having a structure consisting of lamin\'91, or thin layers.

Laminiplantar <Xpage=826>

Lam`i*ni*plan"tar (?) , a. [ Lamina + L. planta sole of the foot.] (Zo\'94l.) Having the tarsus covered behind with a horny sheath continuous on both sides, as in most singing birds, except the larks.

Laminitis <Xpage=826>

Lam`i*ni"tis (?) , n. [NL. See Lamina , and -itis .] (Far.) Inflammation of the lamin\'91 or fleshy plates along the coffin bone of a horse; founder.

Youatt.

Lamish <Xpage=826>

Lam"ish (?) , a. Somewhat lame.

Wood.

Lamm <Xpage=826>

Lamm (?) , v. t. See Lam .

Lammas <Xpage=826>

Lam"mas (?) , n. [AS. hl\'bemmesse , hl\'befm\'91sse , loaf mass, bread feast, or feast of first fruits; hl\'bef loaf + m\'91sse mass. See Loaf , and Mass religious service.] The first day of August; -- called also Lammas day , and Lammastide .

Lammergeir, Lammergeier <Xpage=826>

Lam"mer*geir (?) , Lam"mer*gei`er (?) , n. [G. l\'84mmergeier ; lamm , pl. l\'84mmer , lamb + geier vulture.] (Zo\'94l.) A very large vulture ( Gypa\'89tus barbatus ), which inhabits the mountains of Southern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. When full-grown it is nine or ten feet in extent of wings. It is brownish black above, with the under parts and neck rusty yellow; the forehead and crown white; the sides of the head and beard black. It feeds partly on carrion and partly on small animals, which it kills. It has the habit of carrying tortoises and marrow bones to a great height, and dropping them on stones to obtain the contents, and is therefore called bonebreaker and ossifrage . It is supposed to be the ossifrage of the Bible. Called also bearded vulture and bearded eagle . [Written also lammergeyer .]

Lamnunguia <Xpage=826>

Lam*nun"gui*a (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. L. lamina a scale + unguis a nail.] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Hyracoidea .

Lamp <Xpage=826>

Lamp (?) , n. [OE. (with excrescent p ), fr. F. lame , L. lamina . See Lamina .] A thin plate or lamina. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Lamp <Xpage=826>

Lamp (?) , n. [F. lampe , L. lampas , -adis , fr. Gr. <?/ , <?/, torch, fr. <?/ to give light, to shine. Cf. Lampad , Lantern .] 1. A light-producing vessel, instrument or apparatus; especially, a vessel with a wick used for the combustion of oil or other inflammable liquid, for the purpose of producing artificial light. <-- needs modernization for electric lamps! See def. 3 -->

2. Figuratively, anything which enlightens intellectually or morally; anything regarded metaphorically a performing the uses of a lamp.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. cxix. 105.

Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appeared. Cowper.

3. (Elec.) A device or mechanism for producing light by electricity. See Incandescent lamp , under Incandescent .

\'92olipile lamp , a hollow ball of copper containing alcohol which is converted into vapor by a lamp beneath, so as to make a powerful blowpipe flame when the vapor is ignited. Weale . -- Arc lamp (Elec.) , a form of lamp in which the voltaic arc is used as the source of light. -- D\'89bereiner's lamp , an apparatus for the instantaneous production of a flame by the spontaneous ignition of a jet of hydrogen on being led over platinum sponge; -- named after the German chemist D\'94bereiner , who invented it. Called also philosopher's lamp . -- Flameless lamp , an aphlogistic lamp. -- Lamp burner , the part of a lamp where the wick is exposed and ignited. Knight . -- Lamp fount , a reservoir for oil, in a lamp. -- Lamp jack . See 2d Jack , n. , 4 (l) & (n) . -- Lamp shade , a screen, as of paper, glass, or tin, for softening or obstructing the light of a lamp. -- Lamp shell (Zo\'94l.) , any brachiopod shell of the genus Terebratula and allied genera. The name refers to the shape, which is like that of an antique lamp. See Terebratula . -- Safety lamp , a miner's lamp in which the flame is surrounded by fine wire gauze, preventing the kindling of dangerous explosive gases; -- called also, from Sir Humphry Davy the inventor, Davy lamp . -- To smell of the lamp , to bear marks of great study and labor, as a literary composition.

Lampad <Xpage=826>

Lam"pad (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ , <?/. See Lamp .] A lamp or candlestick. [R.]

By him who 'mid the golden lampads went. Trench.

Lampadist <Xpage=826>

Lam"pa*dist (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/, <?/, torch. See Lamp .] (Gr. Antiq.) One who gained the prize in the lampadrome.

Lampadrome <Xpage=826>

Lam"pa*drome (?) , n. [Gr. <?/; <?/, <?/, torch + <?/ course, race, fr. <?/ to run.] (Gr. Antiq.) A race run by young men with lighted torches in their hands. He who reached the goal first, with his torch unextinguished, gained the prize.

Lampas <Xpage=826>

Lam"pas (?) , n. [F. lampas .] An inflammation and swelling of the soft parts of the roof of the mouth immediately behind the fore teeth in the horse; -- called also lampers .

Lampate <Xpage=826>

Lam"pate (?) , n. [Cf. F. lampate .] (Chem.) A supposed salt of lampic acid. [Obs.]

Lampblack <Xpage=826>

Lamp"black` (?) , n. [ Lamp + black .] The fine impalpable soot obtained from the smoke of carbonaceous substances which have been only partly burnt, as in the flame of a smoking lamp. It consists of finely divided carbon, with sometimes a very small proportion of various impurities. It is used as an ingredient of printers' ink, and various black pigments and cements.

Lamper eel <Xpage=826>

Lam"per eel` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) See Lamprey .

Lampern <Xpage=826>

Lam"pern (?) , n. [See Lamprey .] (Zo\'94l.) The river lamprey ( Ammoc\'d2tes, &or; Lampetra, fluviatilis ).

&hand; The name is also applied to other river lampreys.

Lampers <Xpage=826>

Lam"pers (?) , n. See Lampas .

Lampic <Xpage=826>

Lam"pic (?) , a. [F. lampique , fr. lampe lamp. See Lamp .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or produced by, a lamp; -- formerly said of a supposed acid.

Lamping <Xpage=826>

Lamp"ing (?) , a. Shining; brilliant. [Obs.] " Lamping eyes."

Spenser.

Lampless <Xpage=826>

Lamp"less , a. Being without a lamp, or without light; hence, being without appreciation; dull.

Your ladies' eyes are lampless to that virtue. Beau. & Fl.

Lamplight <Xpage=826>

Lamp"light` (?) , n. Light from a lamp.

This world's artificial lamplights . Owen Meredith.

Lamplighter <Xpage=826>

Lamp"light`er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, lights a lamp; esp., a person who lights street lamps.

2. (Zo\'94l.) The calico bass.

Lampoon <Xpage=826>

Lam*poon" (?) , n. [F. lampon a drinking song, fr. lampons let us drink, -- the burden of such a song, fr. lamper to guzzle, to drink much and greedily; of German origin, and akin to E. lap to drink. Prob. so called because drinking songs often contain personal slander or satire.] A personal satire in writing; usually, malicious and abusive censure written only to reproach and distress.

Like her who missed her name in a lampoon , And grieved to find herself decayed so soon. Dryden.

Lampoon <Xpage=826>

Lam*poon" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lampooned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lampooning .] To subject to abusive ridicule expressed in writing; to make the subject of a lampoon.

Ribald poets had lampooned him. Macaulay.

Syn. -- To libel; defame; satirize; lash.

Lampooner <Xpage=826>

Lam*poon"er (?) , n. The writer of a lampoon. "Libelers, lampooners , and pamphleteers."

Tatler.

Lampoonry <Xpage=826>

Lam*poon"ry (?) , n. The act of lampooning; a lampoon, or lampoons.

Lamp-post <Xpage=826>

Lamp"-post` (?) , n. A post (generally a pillar of iron) supporting a lamp or lantern for lighting a street, park, etc.

Lamprel <Xpage=826>

Lam"prel (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Lamprey .

Lamprey <Xpage=826>

Lam"prey (?) , n. ; pl. Lampreys (#) . [OE. lampreie , F. lamproie , LL. lampreda , lampetra , from L. lambere to lick + petra rock, stone. The lampreys are so called because they attach themselves with their circular mouths to rocks and stones, whence they are also called rocksuckers . See Lap to drink, Petrify .] (Zo\'94l.) An eel-like marsipobranch of the genus Petromyzon , and allied genera. The lampreys have a round, sucking mouth, without jaws, but set with numerous minute teeth, and one to three larger teeth on the palate (see Illust . of Cyclostomi ). There are seven small branchial openings on each side. [Written also lamper eel , lamprel , and lampron .]

<page="827"> Page 827

&hand; The common or sea lamprey of America and Europe ( Petromyzon marinus ), which in spring ascends rivers to spawn, is considered excellent food by many, and is sold as a market fish in some localities. The smaller river lampreys mostly belong to the genus Ammoc\'d2les , or Lampetra , as A. fluviatilis , of Europe, and A. \'91pypterus of America. All lampreys attach themselves to other fishes, as parasites, by means of the suckerlike mouth.

Lampron <Xpage=827>

Lam"pron (?) , n. [Cf. OE. lampreon . See Lamprey .] (Zo\'94l.) See Lamprey .

Lampyrine <Xpage=827>

Lam*py"rine (?) , n. [See Lampyris .] (Zo\'94l.) An insect of the genus Lampyris, or family Lampyrid\'91 . See Lampyris .

Lampyris <Xpage=827>

Lam*py"ris (?) , n. [L., glowworm, Gr. (<?/).] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of coleopterous insects, including the glowworms.

Lanarkite <Xpage=827>

Lan"ark*ite (?) , n. [From Lanark shire, a county in Scotland.] (Min.) A mineral consisting of sulphate of lead, occurring either massive or in long slender prisms, of a greenish white or gray color.

Lanary <Xpage=827>

La"na*ry (?) , n. [L. lanaria , fr. lanarius belonging to wool, lana wool.] A place for storing wool.

Lanate, Lanated <Xpage=827>

La"nate (?) , La"na*ted (?) , [L. lanatus , fr. lana wool, down.] Wooly; covered with fine long hair, or hairlike filaments.

Lacashire boiler <Xpage=827>

La"ca*shire boil"er (?) . A steam boiler having two flues which contain the furnaces and extend through the boiler from end to end.

Lacasterian <Xpage=827>

La`cas*te"ri*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the monitorial system of instruction followed by Joseph Lancaster , of England, in which advanced pupils in a school teach pupils below them.

Lance <Xpage=827>

Lance (?) , n. [OE. lance , F. lance , fr . L. lancea ; cf. Gr. <?/. Cf. Launch .] 1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and often decorated with a small flag; also, a spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.

A braver soldier never couched lance . Shak.

2. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.

3. (Founding) A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell.

4. (Mil.) An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.

5. (Pyrotech.) One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure.

Free lance , in the Middle Ages, and subsequently, a knight or roving soldier, who was free to engage for any state or commander that purchased his services; hence, a person who assails institutions or opinions on his own responsibility without regard to party lines or deference to authority. -- Lance bucket (Cavalry) , a socket attached to a saddle or stirrup strap, in which to rest the but of a lance. -- Lance corporal , same as Lancepesade . -- Lance knight , a lansquenet. B. Jonson . -- Lance snake (Zo\'94l.) , the fer-de-lance. -- Stink-fire lance (Mil.) , a kind of fuse filled with a composition which burns with a suffocating odor; -- used in the counter operations of miners. To break a lance , to engage in a tilt or contest.

Lance <Xpage=827>

Lance , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lanced (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lancing (?) .] 1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.

Seized the due victim, and with fury lanced Her back. Dryden.

2. To open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or an abscess .

3. To throw in the manner of a lance. See Lanch .

Lance fish <Xpage=827>

Lance" fish` (?) . (Zo\'94l.) A slender marine fish of the genus Ammodytes , especially Ammodytes tobianus of the English coast; -- called also sand lance .

Lancegay, Lancegaye <Xpage=827>

Lance"gay` , Lance"gaye` (?) , n. [OF. lancegaie , corrupted from the same source as E. assagai , under the influence of F. lance lance. See Assagai .] A kind of spear anciently used. Its use was prohibited by a statute of Richard II.

Nares.

In his hand a launcegay , A long sword by his side. Chaucer.

Lancelet <Xpage=827>

Lance"let (?) , n. [ Lance + -let .] (Zo\'94l.) A small fishlike animal ( Amphioxus lanceolatus ), remarkable for the rudimentary condition of its organs. It is the type of the class Leptocardia. See Amphioxus , Leptocardia .

Lancely <Xpage=827>

Lance"ly , a. Like a lance. [R.] Sir P. Sidney .

Lanceolar <Xpage=827>

Lan"ce*o*lar (?) , a. [L. lanceola a little lance, dim. of lancea lance: cf. F. lanc\'82olaire .] (Bot.) Lanceolate.

Lanceolate, Lanceolated <Xpage=827>

Lan"ce*o*late (?) , Lan"ce*o*la`ted (?) a. [L. lanceolatus : cf. F. lanc\'82ol<?/ . See Lanceolar .] (Bot. & Zo\'94l.) Rather narrow, tapering to a point at the apex, and sometimes at the base also; as, a lanceolate leaf .

Lancepesade <Xpage=827>

Lance`pe*sade" (?) , n. [F. lancepessade , lanspessade , anspessade , It. lancia spezzata a broken lance or demilance, a demilance roan, a light horseman, bodyguard.] An assistant to a corporal; a private performing the duties of a corporal; -- called also lance corporal .

Lancer <Xpage=827>

Lan"cer (?) , n. [Cf. F. lancier .] 1. One who lances; one who carries a lance; especially, a member of a mounted body of men armed with lances, attached to the cavalry service of some nations.

Wilhelm.

2. A lancet. [Obs.]