Chapter 936

Maiden assize (Eng. Law) , an assize which there is no criminal prosecution; an assize which is unpolluted with blood. It was usual, at such an assize, for the sheriff to present the judge with a pair of white gloves. Smart . -- Maiden name , the surname of a woman before her marriage. -- Maiden pink . (Bot.) See under Pink . -- Maiden plum (Bot.) , a West Indian tree ( Comocladia integrifolia ) with purplish drupes. The sap of the tree is glutinous, and gives a persistent black stain. -- Maiden speech , the first speech made by a person, esp. by a new member in a public body. -- Maiden tower , the tower most capable of resisting an enemy. <-- maiden voyage. first regular service voyage of a ship -->

Maiden <Xpage=883>

Maid"en , v. t. To act coyly like a maiden; -- with it as an indefinite object.

For had I maiden'd it, as many use. Loath for to grant, but loather to refuse. Bp. Hall.

Maidenhair <Xpage=883>

Maid"en*hair` (?) , n. (Bot.) A fern of the genus Adiantum ( A. pedatum ), having very slender graceful stalks. It is common in the United States, and is sometimes used in medicine. The name is also applied to other species of the same genus, as to the Venus-hair.

Maiden grass , the smaller quaking grass. -- Maiden tree . See Ginkgo .

Maidenhead <Xpage=883>

Maid"en*head (?) , n. [See Maidenhood .] 1. The state of being a maiden; maidenhood; virginity.

Shak.

2. The state of being unused or uncontaminated; freshness; purity. [Obs.]

The maidenhead of their credit. Sir H. Wotton.

3. The hymen, or virginal membrane.

Maidenhood <Xpage=883>

Maid"en*hood (?) , n. [AS. m\'91gdenh\'bed . See Maid , and -hood .] 1. The state of being a maid or a virgin; virginity.

Shak.

2. Newness; freshness; uncontaminated state.

The maidenhood Of thy fight. Shak.

Maidenlike <Xpage=883>

Maid"en*like` (?) , a. Like a maiden; modest; coy.

Maidenliness <Xpage=883>

Maid"en*li*ness (?) , n. The quality of being maidenly; the behavior that becomes a maid; modesty; gentleness.

Maidenly <Xpage=883>

Maid"en*ly , a. Like a maid; suiting a maid; maiden-like; gentle, modest, reserved.

Must you be blushing ? . . . What a maidenly man-at-arms are you become ! Shak.

Maidenly <Xpage=883>

Maid"en*ly , adv. In a maidenlike manner. " Maidenly demure."

Skelton.

Maidenship <Xpage=883>

Maid"en*ship , n. Maidenhood. [Obs.]

Fuller.

Maidhood <Xpage=883>

Maid"hood (?) , n. [AS. m\'91g<?/h\'bed . See Maid , and -hood .] Maidenhood.

Shak.

Maidmarian <Xpage=883>

Maid`ma"ri*an (?) , n. [ Maid + Marian , relating to Mary , or the Virgin Mary .] 1. The lady of the May games; one of the characters in a morris dance; a May queen. Afterward, a grotesque character personated in sports and buffoonery by a man in woman's clothes.

2. A kind of dance.

Sir W. Temple.

Maidpale <Xpage=883>

Maid"pale` (?) , a. Pale, like a sick girl.

Shak.

Maidservant <Xpage=883>

Maid"serv`ant (?) , n. A female servant.

Maid's hair <Xpage=883>

Maid's" hair` (?) . (Bot.) The yellow bedstraw ( Galium verum ).

Maieutic, Maieutical <Xpage=883>

Ma*ieu"tic (?) , Ma*ieu"tic*al (?) , a. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ midwife.] 1. Serving to assist childbirth.

Cudworth.

2. Fig. : Aiding, or tending to, the definition and interpretation of thoughts or language.

Payne.

Maieutics <Xpage=883>

Ma*ieu"tics (?) , n. The art of giving birth ( i. e. , clearness and conviction) to ideas, which are conceived as struggling for birth.

Payne.

Maiger <Xpage=883>

Mai"ger (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The meagre.

Maigre <Xpage=883>

Mai"gre (?) , a. [F. See Meager .] Belonging to a fast day or fast; as, a maigre day .

Walpole.

Maigre food (R. C. Ch.) , food allowed to be eaten on fast days.

<page="884"> Page 884

Maihem <Xpage=884>

Mai"hem (?) , n. See Maim , and Mayhem .

Maikel <Xpage=884>

Mai*kel" (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A South American carnivore of the genus Conepatus , allied to the skunk, but larger, and having a longer snout. The tail is not bushy.

Maikong <Xpage=884>

Mai*kong" (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A South American wild dog ( Canis cancrivorus ); the crab-eating dog.

Mail <Xpage=884>

Mail (?) , n. A spot. [Obs.]

Mail <Xpage=884>

Mail , n. [F. maille , OF. also maaille , LL. medalia . See Medal .] 1. A small piece of money; especially, an English silver half-penny of the time of Henry V. [Obs.] [Written also maile , and maille .]

2. Rent; tribute. [Obs., except in certain compounds and phrases, as blackmail, mails and duties, etc.]

Mail and duties (Scots Law) , the rents of an estate, in whatever form paid.

Mail <Xpage=884>

Mail , n. [OE. maile , maille , F. maille a ring of mail, mesh, network, a coat of mail, fr. L. macula spot, a mesh of a net. Cf. Macle , Macula , Mascle .] 1. A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used especially for defensive armor.

Chaucer.

Chain mail , Coat of mail . See under Chain , and Coat .

2. Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering.

3. (Naut.) A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.

4. (Zo\'94l.) Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.

We . . . strip the lobster of his scarlet mail . Gay.

Mail <Xpage=884>

Mail , v. t. 1. To arm with mail.

2. To pinion. [Obs.]

Mail <Xpage=884>

Mail , n. [OE. male bag, OF. male , F. malle bag, trunk, mail, OHG. malaha , malha , wallet; akin to D. maal , male ; cf. Gael. & Ir. mala , Gr. <?/ hide, skin.] 1. A bag; a wallet. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

2. The bag or bags with the letters, papers, papers, or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail matter.

There is a mail come in to-day, with letters dated Hague. Tatler.

3. That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received through the post office.

4. A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried. [Obs.]

Sir W. Scott.

Mail bag , a bag in which mailed matter is conveyed under public authority. -- Mail boat , a boat that carries the mail. -- Mail catcher , an iron rod, or other contrivance, attached to a railroad car for catching a mail bag while the train is in motion. -- Mail guard , an officer whose duty it is to guard the public mails. [Eng.] -- Mail train , a railroad train carrying the mail.

Mail <Xpage=884>

Mail , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mailed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mailing .] To deliver into the custody of the postoffice officials, or place in a government letter box, for transmission by mail; to post; as, to mail a letter . [U. S.]

&hand; In the United States to mail and to post are both in common use; as, to mail or post a letter. In England post is the commoner usage.

Mailable <Xpage=884>

Mail"a*ble (?) , a. Admissible lawfully into the mail. [U.S.]

Mailclad <Xpage=884>

Mail"clad` (?) , a. Protected by a coat of mail; clad in armor.

Sir W. Scott.

Mailed <Xpage=884>

Mailed (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Protected by an external coat, or covering, of scales or plates.

Mailed <Xpage=884>

Mailed , a. [See 1st Mail .] Spotted; speckled.

Mailing <Xpage=884>

Mail"ing (?) , n. [Scot., fr. mail tribute, rent. See 2d Mail .] A farm. [Scot.]

Sir W. Scott.

Mail-shell <Xpage=884>

Mail"-shell` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A chiton.

Maim <Xpage=884>

Maim (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Maimed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Maiming .] [OE. maimen , OF. mahaignier , mehaignier , meshaignier , cf. It. magagnare , LL. mahemiare , mahennare ; perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Armor. mac'ha<?/a to mutilate, m\'bec'ha to crowd, press; or cf. OHG. mang<?/n to lack, perh. akin to E. mangle to lacerate. Cf. Mayhem .] 1. To deprive of the use of a limb, so as to render a person on fighting less able either to defend himself or to annoy his adversary.

By the ancient law of England he that maimed any man whereby he lost any part of his body, was sentenced to lose the like part. Blackstone.

2. To mutilate; to cripple; to injure; to disable; to impair.

My late maimed limbs lack wonted might. Spenser.

You maimed the jurisdiction of all bishops. Shak.

Syn. -- To mutilate; mangle; cripple.

Maim <Xpage=884>

Maim , n. [Written in law language maihem , and mayhem .] [OF. mehaing . See Maim , v. ] 1. The privation of the use of a limb or member of the body, by which one is rendered less able to defend himself or to annoy his adversary.

2. The privation of any necessary part; a crippling; mutilation; injury; deprivation of something essential. See Mayhem .

Surely there is more cause to fear lest the want there of be a maim than the use of it a blemish. Hooker.

A noble author esteems it to be a maim in history that the acts of Parliament should not be recited. Hayward.

Maimedly <Xpage=884>

Maim"ed*ly (?) , adv. In a maimed manner.

Maimedness <Xpage=884>

Maim"ed*ness , n. State of being maimed.

Bolton.

Main <Xpage=884>

Main (?) , n. [F. main hand, L. manus . See Manual .] 1. A hand or match at dice.

Prior. Thackeray.

2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.]

Shak.

3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard.

4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought."

Thackeray.

5. A main-hamper. [Obs.]

Ainsworth.

Main <Xpage=884>

Main , n. [AS. m\'91gen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan , Icel. megin , and to E. may , v. <?/. See May , v. ] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.]

There were in this battle of most might and main . R. of Gl.

He 'gan advance, With huge force, and with importable main . Spenser.

2. The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing. [Obs., except in special uses.]

Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main , and to use the other two . . . but as supporters. Bacon.

3. Specifically: (a) The great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc. ; the high sea; the ocean. "Struggling in the main ." Dryden . (b) The continent, as distinguished from an island; the mainland. "Invaded the main of Spain." Bacon . (c) principal duct or pipe, as distinguished from lesser ones; esp. (Engin.) , a principal pipe leading to or from a reservoir; as, a fire main .

Forcing main , the delivery pipe of a pump. -- For the main , &or; In the main , for the most part; in the greatest part. -- With might and main , &or; With all one's might and main , with all one's strength; with violent effort.

With might and main they chased the murderous fox. Dryden.

Main <Xpage=884>

Main (?) , a. [From Main strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine , magne , great, L. magnus . Cf. Magnate .] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.]

That current with main fury ran. Daniel.

2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] "The main abyss."

Milton.

3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man untruth." Sir W. Scott .

4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.

Our main interest is to be happy as we can. Tillotson.

5. Important; necessary. [Obs.]

That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring. Milton.

By main force , by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force .

That Maine which by main force Warwick did win. Shak.

-- By main strength , by sheer strength; as, to lift a heavy weight by main strength . -- Main beam (Steam Engine) , working beam. -- Main boom (Naut.) , the boom which extends the foot of the mainsail in a fore and aft vessel. -- Main brace . (a) (Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf. Counter brace . (b) (Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard. -- Main center (Steam Engine) , a shaft upon which a working beam or side lever swings. -- Main chance . See under Chance . -- Main couple (Arch.) , the principal truss in a roof. -- Main deck (Naut.) , the deck next below the spar deck; the principal deck. -- Main keel (Naut.) , the principal or true keel of a vessel, as distinguished from the false keel.

Syn. -- Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.

Main <Xpage=884>

Main , adv. [See Main , a. ] Very extremely; as, main heavy . "I'm main dry." Foote . [Obs. or Low]

Maine <Xpage=884>

Maine (?) , n. One of the New England States.

Maine law , any law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages, esp. one resembling that enacted in the State of Maine.

Main-gauche <Xpage=884>

Main`-gauche" (m&acr;N`g&omac;sh") , n. [F., the left hand.] (Ancient Armor) The dagger held in the left hand, while the rapier is held in the right; -- used to parry thrusts of the adversary's rapier.

Main-hamper <Xpage=884>

Main"-ham`per (?) , n. [F. main hand (see Main a hand at dice) + E. hamper .] A hamper to be carried in the hand; a hand basket used in carrying grapes to the press.

Mainland <Xpage=884>

Main"land` (?) , n. The continent; the principal land; -- opposed to island , or peninsula .

Dryden.

After the two wayfarers had crossed from the peninsula to the mainland . Hawthorne.

Mainly <Xpage=884>

Main"ly (?) , adv. [From main strong. See Main strength.] Very strongly; mightily; to a great degree. [Obs.]

Bacon. Shak.

Mainly <Xpage=884>

Main"ly , adv. [From main principal, chief.] Principally; chiefly.

Mainmast <Xpage=884>

Main"mast` (?) , n. (Naut.) The principal mast in a ship or other vessel.

Mainor <Xpage=884>

Main"or (?) , n. [Anglo-Norm. meinoure , OF. manuevre . See Maneuver .] (O. Eng. Law) A thing stolen found on the person of the thief.

&hand; A thief was said to be "taken with the mainor ," when he was taken with the thing stolen upon him, that is, in his hands .

Wharton. Bouvier.

Mainpernable <Xpage=884>

Main"per*na*ble (?) , a. [OF. main hand + pernable , for prenable , that may be taken, pregnable. See Mainpernor .] (Law) Capable of being admitted to give surety by mainpernors; able to be mainprised.

Mainpernor <Xpage=884>

Main"per*nor (?) , n. [OF. main hand + pernor , for preneor , a taker, F. preneur , fr. prendre to take.] (Law) A surety, under the old writ of mainprise, for a prisoner's appearance in court at a day.

&hand; Mainpernors differ from bail in that a man's bail may imprison or surrender him before the stipulated day of appearance; mainpernors can do neither; they are bound to produce him to answer all charges whatsoever.

Blackstone.

Mainpin <Xpage=884>

Main"pin (?) , n. (Vehicles) A kingbolt.

Mainprise <Xpage=884>

Main"prise (?) , n. [F. main hand + prise a taking, fr. prendre , p. p. pris to take, fr. L. prehendere , prehensum .] (Law) (a) A writ directed to the sheriff, commanding him to take sureties, called mainpernors , for the prisoner's appearance, and to let him go at large. This writ is now obsolete. Wharton . (b) Deliverance of a prisoner on security for his appearance at a day.

Mainprise <Xpage=884>

Main"prise , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mainprised (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mainprising .] (Law) To suffer to go at large, on his finding sureties, or mainpernors, for his appearance at a day; -- said of a prisoner.

Mains <Xpage=884>

Mains (?) , n. [Scot. See Manse .] The farm attached to a mansion house. [Scot.]

Mainsail <Xpage=884>

Main"sail` (?) , n. (Naut.) The principal sail in a ship or other vessel.

[They] hoised up the mainsail to the wind. Acts xxvii. 40.

&hand; The mainsail of a ship is extended upon a yard attached to the mainmast, and that of a sloop or schooner upon the boom.

Mainsheet <Xpage=884>

Main"sheet` (?) , n. (Naut.) One of the ropes by which the mainsail is hauled aft and trimmed.

Mainspring <Xpage=884>

Main"spring` (?) , n. The principal or most important spring in a piece of mechanism, especially the moving spring of a watch or clock or the spring in a gunlock which impels the hammer. Hence: The chief or most powerful motive; the efficient cause of action.

Mainstay <Xpage=884>

Main"stay` (?) , n. 1. (Naut.) The stay extending from the foot of the foremast to the maintop.

2. Main support; principal dependence.

The great mainstay of the Church. Buckle.

Mainswear <Xpage=884>