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chad |
6 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Shad \Shad\ (sh[a^]d), n. sing. & pl [AS. sceadda a kind of fish, akin to Prov. G. schade; cf Ir & Gael. sgadan a herring, W. ysgadan herrings; all perhaps akin to E. skate a fish.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of food fishes of the Herring family. The American species ({Clupea sapidissima}), which is abundant on the Atlantic coast and ascends the larger rivers in spring to spawn, is an important market fish. The European allice shad, or alose ({C. alosa}), and the twaite shad. ({C. finta}), are less important species. [Written also {chad}.] Note: The name is loosely applied, also to several other fishes, as the gizzard shad (see under {Gizzard}), called also {mud shad}, {white-eyed shad}, and {winter shad}. {Hardboaded}, or {Yellow-tailed}, {shad}, the menhaden. {Hickory}, or {Tailor}, {shad}, the mattowacca. {Long-boned shad}, one of several species of important food fishes of the Bermudas and the West Indies, of the genus {Gerres}. {Shad bush} (Bot.), a name given to the North American shrubs or small trees of the rosaceous genus {Amelanchier} ({A. Canadensis}, and {A. alnifolia}) Their white racemose blossoms open in April or May when the shad appear, and the edible berries (pomes) ripen in June or July, whence they are called Juneberries. The plant is also called {service tree}, and {Juneberry}. {Shad frog}, an American spotted frog ({Rana halecina}); -- so called because it usually appears at the time when the shad begin to run in the rivers. {Trout shad}, the squeteague. {White shad}, the common shad. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Chad \Chad\, n. See {Shad}. [Obs.] From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Chad adj : of or relating to or characteristic of the Republic of Chad or its people or language; "the Chadian desert"; "Chad soldiers"; "Chadian folktales" [syn: {Chad}, {Chadian}] n 1: a landlocked desert republic in north-central Africa; was under French control until 1960 [syn: {Chad}, {Tchad}] 2: a family of Afroasiatic tonal languages (mostly two tones) spoken in the regions west and south of Lake Chad in north central Africa [syn: {Chad}, {Chadic}, {Chadic language}] From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]: chad /chad/ n. 1. [common] The perforated edge strips on printer paper, after they have been separated from the printed portion. Also called {selvage}, {perf}, and {ripoff}. 2. The confetti-like paper bits punched out of cards or paper tape; this has also been called `chaff', `computer confetti', and `keypunch droppings'. It's reported that this was very old Army slang, and has been occasionally sighted since (in directions for punched-card vote tabulators) long after it passed out of live use among computer programmers in the late 1970s. This sense of `chad' returned to the mainstream during the finale of the hotly disputed U.S. presidential election in 2000 via stories about the Florida vote recounts. There is an urban legend that `chad' (sense 2) derives from the Chadless keypunch (named for its inventor), which cut little u-shaped tabs in the card to make a hole when the tab folded back rather than punching out a circle/rectangle; it was clear that if the Chadless keypunch didn't make them then the stuff that other keypunches made had to be `chad'. However, serious attempts to track down Chadless" as a personal name or U.S. trademark have failed, casting doubt on this etymology - and the U.S. Patent Classification Systenm uses chadless" (small c) as an adjective, suggesting that chadless" derives from chad" and not the other way around There is another legend that the word was originally acronymic, standing for "Card Hole Aggregate Debris", but this has all the earmarks of a {backronym}. It has also been noted that the word chad" is Scots dialect for gravel, but nobody has proposed ant plausible reason that card chaff should be thought of as gravels. From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: chad/chad/ (Or selvage" /sel'v*j/ (sewing and weaving), "{perf}", "perfory", "snaf"). 1. The perforated edge strips on paper for {sprocket feed} printers, after they have been separated from the printed portion. The term {perf} may also refer to the perforations themselves, rather than the chad they produce when torn. [Why "snaf"?] 2. (Or "chaff", "computer confetti", "keypunch droppings") The confetti-like bits punched out of {punched cards} or {paper tape} which collected in the {chad box}. One of the {Jargon File}'s correspondents believed that chad" derived from the {chadless keypunch}. [{Jargon File}] (1997-07-18) From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Chad Chad:Geography Location: Central Africa, south of Libya Map references: Africa Area: total area: 1.284 million sq km land area: 1,259,200 sq km comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of California Land boundaries: total 5,968 km Cameroon 1,094 km Central African Republic 1,197 km Libya 1,055 km Niger 1,175 km Nigeria 87 km Sudan 1,360 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad; Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains an airfield in the disputed area; demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria Climate: tropical in south, desert in north Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad) Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 36% forest and woodland: 11% other: 51% Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping Note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel Chad:People Population: 5,586,505 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (female 1,198,619; male 1,267,470) 15-64 years: 54% (female 1,563,678; male 1,456,481) 65 years and over: 2% (female 71,971; male 28,286) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 2.18% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 42.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 20.26 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 129.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.19 years male: 40.04 years female: 42.38 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.33 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian Ethnic divisions: north and center: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou Hadjerai Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou Baguirmi Boulala Zaghawa and Maba) south: non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye Mbaye Goulaye Moundang, Moussei, Massa) nonindigenous 150,000, of whom 1,000 are French Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs, animism 25% Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken Literacy: age 15 and over has the ability to read and write in French and Arabic (1990 est.) total population: 30% male: 42% female: 18% Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture 85% (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) Chad:Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form: Republique du Tchad local short form: Tchad Digraph: CD Type: republic Capital: N'Djamena Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha, Biltine Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai Salamat Tandjile Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day 11 August (1960) Constitution: 22 December 1989 (suspended 3 December 1990); Provisional National Charter 1 March 1991 is in effect (note - the constitutional commission, which was drafting a new constitution to submit to transitional parliament for ratification in April 1994, failed to do so but expects to submit a new draft to the parliament before the end of April 1995) Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: universal at age NA Executive branch: chief of state: President Lt Gen. Idriss DEBY, since 4 December 1990 (after seizing power on 3 December 1990 - transitional government's mandate expires April 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April 1995) cabinet: Council of State; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral National Consultative Council (Conceil National Consultatif): elections, formerly scheduled for April 1995, were postponed by mutual agreement of the parties concerned until some time prior to April 1996; elections last held 8 July 1990; the National Consultative Council was disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by the Provisional Council of the Republic having 30 members appointed by President DEBY on 8 March 1991; this in turn, was replaced by a 57-member Higher Transitional Council (Conseil Superieur de Transition) elected by a specially convened Sovereign National Conference on 6 April 1993 Judicial branch: Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), former dissident group Idriss DEBY, chairman note: President DEBY, who promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by April 1994, subsequently twice postponed these initiatives, first until April 1995 and again until sometime before April 1996; there are numerous dissident groups and at least 45 opposition political parties Other political or pressure groups: NA Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB BDEAC CEEAC ECA, FAO, FZ G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC UN UNCTAD UNESCO, UNIDO UPU, WCL, WHO WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Saleh AHMAT chancery: 2002 R Street NW Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence E. POPE II embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] (51) 62 18, (51) 40 09, (51) 47 59 FAX: [235] (51) 33 72 Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France Economy Overview: Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil, conflict with Libya, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s. More than 80% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food credits, given chronic shortages in several regions. Of all the Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite an increase in external financial aid and favorable price increases for cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to dampen economic enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers and public sector salaries. Oil production in the Lake Chad area remains a distant prospect and the subsistence-driven economy probably will continue to limp along in the near term. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $530 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -4.1% (1992) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $120 million expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $104 million (1992 est.) Exports: $190 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon Imports: $261 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; note - excludes military equipment partners: US France, Nigeria, Cameroon External debt: $492 million (December 1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 2.7% (1992 est.); accounts for nearly 15% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 40,000 kW production: 80 million kWh consumption per capita: 13 kWh (1993) Industries: cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes Agriculture: accounts for about 45% of GDP; largely subsistence farming; cotton most important cash crop; food crops include sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, camels; self-sufficient in food in years of adequate rainfall Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $198 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $80 million Currency: 1 CFA franc CFAF = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs CFAF per US$1 - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990) note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948 Fiscal year: calendar year Chad:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 31,322 km paved: bituminous 263 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 7,069 km earth 23,990 km Inland waterways: 2,000 km navigable Ports: none Airports: total: 66 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 23 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 17 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21 Chad:Communications Telephone system: NA telephones; primitive system local: NA intercity: fair system of radio communication stations for intercity links international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: NA note - limited TV service; many facilties are inoperative televisions: NA Chad:Defense Forces Branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,307,210; males fit for military service 679,640; males reach military age (20) annually 54,945 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $74 million, 11.1% of GDP (1994)
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