Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
deathwatches

more about deathwatches

deathwatches


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wood  \Wood\,  n.  [OE.  wode,  wude,  AS  wudu,  wiodu  akin  to  OHG. 
  witu,  Icel.  vi?r,  Dan.  &  Sw  ved  wood,  and  probably  to  Ir  & 
  Gael.  fiodh  W.  gwydd  trees,  shrubs.] 
  1.  A  large  and  thick  collection  of  trees;  a  forest  or  grove; 
  --  frequently  used  in  the  plural. 
 
  Light  thickens,  and  the  crow  Makes  wing  to  the  rooky 
  wood.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  The  substance  of  trees  and  the  like  the  hard  fibrous 
  substance  which  composes  the  body  of  a  tree  and  its 
  branches,  and  which  is  covered  by  the  bark;  timber.  ``To 
  worship  their  own  work  in  wood  and  stone  for  gods.'' 
  --Milton. 
 
  3.  (Bot.)  The  fibrous  material  which  makes  up  the  greater 
  part  of  the  stems  and  branches  of  trees  and  shrubby 
  plants,  and  is  found  to  a  less  extent  in  herbaceous  stems. 
  It  consists  of  elongated  tubular  or  needle-shaped  cells  of 
  various  kinds,  usually  interwoven  with  the  shinning  bands 
  called  silver  grain. 
 
  Note:  Wood  consists  chiefly  of  the  carbohydrates  cellulose 
  and  lignin,  which  are  isomeric  with  starch. 
 
  4.  Trees  cut  or  sawed  for  the  fire  or  other  uses. 
 
  {Wood  acid},  {Wood  vinegar}  (Chem.),  a  complex  acid  liquid 
  obtained  in  the  dry  distillation  of  wood,  and  containing 
  large  quantities  of  acetic  acid;  hence  specifically, 
  acetic  acid.  Formerly  called  {pyroligneous  acid}. 
 
  {Wood  anemone}  (Bot.),  a  delicate  flower  ({Anemone  nemorosa}) 
  of  early  spring;  --  also  called  {windflower}.  See  Illust. 
  of  {Anemone}. 
 
  {Wood  ant}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  large  ant  ({Formica  rufa})  which 
  lives  in  woods  and  forests,  and  constructs  large  nests. 
 
  {Wood  apple}  (Bot.).  See  {Elephant  apple},  under  {Elephant}. 
 
 
  {Wood  baboon}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  drill. 
 
  {Wood  betony}.  (Bot.) 
  a  Same  as  {Betony}. 
  b  The  common  American  lousewort  ({Pedicularis 
  Canadensis}),  a  low  perennial  herb  with  yellowish  or 
  purplish  flowers. 
 
  {Wood  borer}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  The  larva  of  any  one  of  numerous  species  of  boring 
  beetles,  esp.  elaters,  longicorn  beetles, 
  buprestidans,  and  certain  weevils.  See  {Apple  borer}, 
  under  {Apple},  and  {Pine  weevil},  under  {Pine}. 
  b  The  larva  of  any  one  of  various  species  of 
  lepidopterous  insects,  especially  of  the  clearwing 
  moths,  as  the  peach-tree  borer  (see  under  {Peach}), 
  and  of  the  goat  moths. 
  c  The  larva  of  various  species  of  hymenopterous  of  the 
  tribe  Urocerata.  See  {Tremex}. 
  d  Any  one  of  several  bivalve  shells  which  bore  in  wood, 
  as  the  teredos,  and  species  of  Xylophaga. 
  e  Any  one  of  several  species  of  small  Crustacea,  as  the 
  {Limnoria},  and  the  boring  amphipod  ({Chelura 
  terebrans}). 
 
  {Wood  carpet},  a  kind  of  floor  covering  made  of  thin  pieces 
  of  wood  secured  to  a  flexible  backing,  as  of  cloth. 
  --Knight. 
 
  {Wood  cell}  (Bot.),  a  slender  cylindrical  or  prismatic  cell 
  usually  tapering  to  a  point  at  both  ends  It  is  the 
  principal  constituent  of  woody  fiber. 
 
  {Wood  choir},  the  choir,  or  chorus,  of  birds  in  the  woods. 
  [Poetic]  --Coleridge. 
 
  {Wood  coal},  charcoal;  also  lignite,  or  brown  coal. 
 
  {Wood  cricket}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  small  European  cricket 
  ({Nemobius  sylvestris}). 
 
  {Wood  culver}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  wood  pigeon. 
 
  {Wood  cut},  an  engraving  on  wood;  also  a  print  from  such  an 
  engraving. 
 
  {Wood  dove}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  stockdove. 
 
  {Wood  drink},  a  decoction  or  infusion  of  medicinal  woods. 
 
  {Wood  duck}  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  A  very  beautiful  American  duck  ({Aix  sponsa}).  The 
  male  has  a  large  crest,  and  its  plumage  is  varied  with 
  green,  purple,  black,  white,  and  red.  It  builds  its 
  nest  in  trees,  whence  the  name  Called  also  {bridal 
  duck},  {summer  duck},  and  {wood  widgeon}. 
  b  The  hooded  merganser. 
  c  The  Australian  maned  goose  ({Chlamydochen  jubata}). 
 
  {Wood  echo},  an  echo  from  the  wood. 
 
  {Wood  engraver}. 
  a  An  engraver  on  wood. 
  b  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  of  several  species  of  small  beetles 
  whose  larv[ae]  bore  beneath  the  bark  of  trees,  and 
  excavate  furrows  in  the  wood  often  more  or  less 
  resembling  coarse  engravings;  especially,  {Xyleborus 
  xylographus}. 
 
  {Wood  engraving}. 
  a  The  act  or  art  engraving  on  wood;  xylography. 
  b  An  engraving  on  wood;  a  wood  cut;  also  a  print  from 
  such  an  engraving. 
 
  {Wood  fern}.  (Bot.)  See  {Shield  fern},  under  {Shield}. 
 
  {Wood  fiber}. 
  a  (Bot.)  Fibrovascular  tissue. 
  b  Wood  comminuted,  and  reduced  to  a  powdery  or  dusty 
  mass. 
 
  {Wood  fretter}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  numerous  species  of 
  beetles  whose  larv[ae]  bore  in  the  wood,  or  beneath  the 
  bark,  of  trees. 
 
  {Wood  frog}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  common  North  American  frog  ({Rana 
  sylvatica})  which  lives  chiefly  in  the  woods,  except 
  during  the  breeding  season.  It  is  drab  or  yellowish  brown, 
  with  a  black  stripe  on  each  side  of  the  head. 
 
  {Wood  germander}.  (Bot.)  See  under  {Germander}. 
 
  {Wood  god},  a  fabled  sylvan  deity. 
 
  {Wood  grass}.  (Bot.)  See  under  {Grass}. 
 
  {Wood  grouse}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  The  capercailzie. 
  b  The  spruce  partridge.  See  under  {Spruce}. 
 
  {Wood  guest}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  ringdove.  [Prov.  Eng.] 
 
  {Wood  hen}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  Any  one  of  several  species  of  Old  World  short-winged 
  rails  of  the  genus  {Ocydromus},  including  the  weka  and 
  allied  species. 
  b  The  American  woodcock. 
 
  {Wood  hoopoe}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  several  species  of  Old 
  World  arboreal  birds  belonging  to  {Irrisor}  and  allied 
  genera.  They  are  closely  allied  to  the  common  hoopoe,  but 
  have  a  curved  beak,  and  a  longer  tail. 
 
  {Wood  ibis}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  several  species  of  large 
  long-legged,  wading  birds  belonging  to  the  genus 
  {Tantalus}.  The  head  and  neck  are  naked  or  scantily 
  covered  with  feathers.  The  American  wood  ibis  ({Tantalus 
  loculator})  is  common  in  Florida. 
 
  {Wood  lark}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  small  European  lark  ({Alauda 
  arborea}),  which  like  the  skylark,  utters  its  notes 
  while  on  the  wing.  So  called  from  its  habit  of  perching  on 
  trees. 
 
  {Wood  laurel}  (Bot.),  a  European  evergreen  shrub  ({Daphne 
  Laureola}). 
 
  {Wood  leopard}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  European  spotted  moth  ({Zeuzera 
  [ae]sculi})  allied  to  the  goat  moth.  Its  large  fleshy 
  larva  bores  in  the  wood  of  the  apple,  pear,  and  other 
  fruit  trees. 
 
  {Wood  lily}  (Bot.),  the  lily  of  the  valley. 
 
  {Wood  lock}  (Naut.),  a  piece  of  wood  close  fitted  and 
  sheathed  with  copper,  in  the  throating  or  score  of  the 
  pintle,  to  keep  the  rudder  from  rising. 
 
  {Wood  louse}  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  Any  one  of  numerous  species  of  terrestrial  isopod 
  Crustacea  belonging  to  {Oniscus},  {Armadillo},  and 
  related  genera.  See  {Sow  bug},  under  Sow,  and  {Pill 
  bug},  under  {Pill}. 
  b  Any  one  of  several  species  of  small  wingless, 
  pseudoneuropterous  insects  of  the  family  {Psocid[ae]}, 
  which  live  in  the  crevices  of  walls  and  among  old 
  books  and  papers.  Some  of  the  species  are  called  also 
  {book  lice},  and  {deathticks},  or  {deathwatches}. 
 
  {Wood  mite}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  numerous  small  mites  of 
  the  family  {Oribatid[ae]}.  They  are  found  chiefly  in 
  woods,  on  tree  trunks  and  stones. 
 
  {Wood  mote}.  (Eng.  Law) 
  a  Formerly,  the  forest  court. 
  b  The  court  of  attachment. 
 
  {Wood  nettle}.  (Bot.)  See  under  {Nettle}. 
 
  {Wood  nightshade}  (Bot.),  woody  nightshade. 
 
  {Wood  nut}  (Bot.),  the  filbert. 
 
  {Wood  nymph}.  a  A  nymph  inhabiting  the  woods;  a  fabled 
  goddess  of  the  woods;  a  dryad.  ``The  wood  nymphs,  decked 
  with  daisies  trim.''  --Milton. 
  b  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  one  of  several  species  of  handsomely 
  colored  moths  belonging  to  the  genus  {Eudryas}.  The 
  larv[ae]  are  bright-colored,  and  some  of  the  species, 
  as  {Eudryas  grata},  and  {E.  unio},  feed  on  the  leaves 
  of  the  grapevine. 
  c  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  one  of  several  species  of  handsomely 
  colored  South  American  humming  birds  belonging  to  the 
  genus  {Thalurania}.  The  males  are  bright  blue,  or 
  green  and  blue. 
 
  {Wood  offering},  wood  burnt  on  the  altar. 
 
  We  cast  the  lots  .  .  .  for  the  wood  offering.  --Neh. 
  x.  34. 
 
  {Wood  oil}  (Bot.),  a  resinous  oil  obtained  from  several  East 
  Indian  trees  of  the  genus  {Dipterocarpus},  having 
  properties  similar  to  those  of  copaiba,  and  sometimes 
  substituted  for  it  It  is  also  used  for  mixing  paint.  See 
  {Gurjun}. 
 
  {Wood  opal}  (Min.),  a  striped  variety  of  coarse  opal,  having 
  some  resemblance  to  wood. 
 
  {Wood  paper},  paper  made  of  wood  pulp.  See  {Wood  pulp}, 
  below. 
 
  {Wood  pewee}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  North  American  tyrant  flycatcher 
  ({Contopus  virens}).  It  closely  resembles  the  pewee,  but 
  is  smaller. 
 
  {Wood  pie}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  black  and  white  woodpecker, 
  especially  the  European  great  spotted  woodpecker. 
 
  {Wood  pigeon}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  Any  one  of  numerous  species  of  Old  World  pigeons 
  belonging  to  {Palumbus}  and  allied  genera  of  the 
  family  {Columbid[ae]}. 
  b  The  ringdove. 
 
  {Wood  puceron}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  plant  louse. 
 
  {Wood  pulp}  (Technol.),  vegetable  fiber  obtained  from  the 
  poplar  and  other  white  woods,  and  so  softened  by  digestion 
  with  a  hot  solution  of  alkali  that  it  can  be  formed  into 
  sheet  paper,  etc  It  is  now  produced  on  an  immense  scale. 
 
 
  {Wood  quail}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  several  species  of  East 
  Indian  crested  quails  belonging  to  {Rollulus}  and  allied 
  genera,  as  the  red-crested  wood  quail  ({R.  roulroul}),  the 
  male  of  which  is  bright  green,  with  a  long  crest  of  red 
  hairlike  feathers. 
 
  {Wood  rabbit}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  cottontail. 
 
  {Wood  rat}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  several  species  of  American 
  wild  rats  of  the  genus  {Neotoma}  found  in  the  Southern 
  United  States;  --  called  also  {bush  rat}.  The  Florida  wood 
  rat  ({Neotoma  Floridana})  is  the  best-known  species. 
 
  {Wood  reed  grass}  (Bot.),  a  tall  grass  ({Cinna  arundinacea}) 
  growing  in  moist  woods. 
 
  {Wood  reeve},  the  steward  or  overseer  of  a  wood.  [Eng.] 
 
  {Wood  rush}  (Bot.),  any  plant  of  the  genus  {Luzula}, 
  differing  from  the  true  rushes  of  the  genus  {Juncus} 
  chiefly  in  having  very  few  seeds  in  each  capsule. 
 
  {Wood  sage}  (Bot.),  a  name  given  to  several  labiate  plants  of 
  the  genus  {Teucrium}.  See  {Germander}. 
 
  {Wood  screw},  a  metal  screw  formed  with  a  sharp  thread,  and 
  usually  with  a  slotted  head,  for  insertion  in  wood. 
 
  {Wood  sheldrake}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  hooded  merganser. 
 
  {Wood  shock}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  fisher.  See  {Fisher},  2. 
 
  {Wood  shrike}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  numerous  species  of  Old 
  World  singing  birds  belonging  to  {Grallina}, 
  {Collyricincla},  {Prionops},  and  allied  genera,  common  in 
  India  and  Australia.  They  are  allied  to  the  true  shrikes, 
  but  feed  upon  both  insects  and  berries. 
 
  {Wood  snipe}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  The  American  woodcock. 
  b  An  Asiatic  snipe  ({Gallinago  nemoricola}). 
 
  {Wood  soot},  soot  from  burnt  wood. 
 
  {Wood  sore}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  {Cuckoo  spit},  under  {Cuckoo}. 
 
  {Wood  sorrel}  (Bot.),  a  plant  of  the  genus  Oxalis  ({Oxalis 
  Acetosella}),  having  an  acid  taste.  See  Illust.  a  of 
  {Shamrock}. 
 
  {Wood  spirit}.  (Chem.)  See  {Methyl  alcohol},  under  {Methyl}. 
 
 
  {Wood  stamp},  a  carved  or  engraved  block  or  stamp  of  wood, 
  for  impressing  figures  or  colors  on  fabrics. 
 
  {Wood  star}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  several  species  of  small 
  South  American  humming  birds  belonging  to  the  genus 
  {Calothorax}.  The  male  has  a  brilliant  gorget  of  blue, 
  purple,  and  other  colors. 
 
  {Wood  sucker}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  yaffle. 
 
  {Wood  swallow}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  numerous  species  of  Old 
  World  passerine  birds  belonging  to  the  genus  {Artamus}  and 
  allied  genera  of  the  family  {Artamid[ae]}.  They  are  common 
  in  the  East  Indies,  Asia,  and  Australia.  In  form  and 
  habits  they  resemble  swallows,  but  in  structure  they 
  resemble  shrikes.  They  are  usually  black  above  and  white 
  beneath. 
 
  {Wood  tapper}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  woodpecker. 
 
  {Wood  tar}.  See  under  {Tar}. 
 
  {Wood  thrush},  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  An  American  thrush  ({Turdus  mustelinus})  noted  for  the 
  sweetness  of  its  song.  See  under  {Thrush}. 
  b  The  missel  thrush. 
 
  {Wood  tick}.  See  in  Vocabulary. 
 
  {Wood  tin}.  (Min.).  See  {Cassiterite}. 
 
  {Wood  titmouse}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  goldcgest. 
 
  {Wood  tortoise}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  sculptured  tortoise.  See 
  under  {Sculptured}. 
 
  {Wood  vine}  (Bot.),  the  white  bryony. 
 
  {Wood  vinegar}.  See  {Wood  acid},  above. 
 
  {Wood  warbler}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  Any  one  of  numerous  species  of  American  warblers  of 
  the  genus  {Dendroica}.  See  {Warbler}. 
  b  A  European  warbler  ({Phylloscopus  sibilatrix});  -- 
  called  also  {green  wren},  {wood  wren},  and  {yellow 
  wren}. 
 
  {Wood  worm}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  larva  that  bores  in  wood;  a  wood 
  borer. 
 
  {Wood  wren}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  The  wood  warbler. 
  b  The  willow  warbler. 




more about deathwatches