Thomas Davidson

“ Cat, kat, n. a common domestic animal kept to devour mice: a spiteful woman: a movable pent-house used for their protection by besiegers: a double tripod with six legs: a piece of wood tapering at each end, struck with the Cat-stick in the game of tip-cat, this game itself: short for the Cat-o'-nine′-tails, an instrument of punishment consisting of a whip with nine tails or lashes, with three or four knots on each, once used in the army and navy.—v.t. to raise the anchor to the cathead.—ns. ”

“ Cat′ling, a little cat, a kitten: the downy moss on some trees, like the fur of a cat: (Shak.) a lute-string; Cat′mint, a perennial plant resembling mint, said to be so called from the fondness cats have for it; Cat's′-crā′dle, a game played by children, two alternately taking from each other's fingers an intertwined cord, so as always to maintain a symmetrical figure; Cat's′-eye, a beautiful variety of quartz, so called from the resemblance which the reflection of light from it bears to the light that seems to emanate from the eye of a cat; Cat's-foot, a plant, called also Ground-ivy ”

“ Cast′ing-weight, the weight which makes the balance cast or turn when exactly poised.—adj. Cast′-off, laid aside or rejected.—n. anything thrown aside.—n. Cast′-steel, steel that has been melted, cast into ingots, and rolled out into bars.—Cast about, to contrive, to look about, to search for, as game: (B.) to turn, to go round; Cast a nativity, to make an astrological calculation; Cast anchor, to moor a ship; Cast an eye, a glance, to look at; Cast a thing in one's teeth, to bring a reproach against some one; Cast away, to wreck, to waste ”

“ Card′-board, a stiff, finely finished pasteboard; Card′-case, a case for carrying visiting-cards; Card′-sharp′er, one who cheats at cards; Card′-tā′ble, a table for playing cards on.—A knowing card (slang) , one who is wide awake; A sure card, an undertaking which will be sure to succeed.—Have the cards in one's hands, to have everything under one's control; House of cards, something flimsy or unsubstantial; On the cards, likely to turn up; Play one's cards well, or badly, to make, or not to make, the best of one's chances; Show one's cards, to expose one's secrets or designs ”

“ Cash′-book, a book in which an account is kept of the receipts and disbursements of money; Cashier′, a cash-keeper: one who has charge of the receiving and paying of money; Cash′-pay′ment, payment in ready money; Cash′-rail′way, a mechanical device adopted in large shops and warehouses for the interchange of cash between the counters and the cash-desk.—Hard cash, ready money; Out of cash, or In cash, without or with money: out of, or in, pocket. [A doublet of Case, a box—O. Fr. casse, a box.] ”

“ Cardinal virtues, justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude, so called because the whole of human nature was supposed to hinge or turn upon them—the natural as distinguished from the theological virtues. ”

“ Catas′trophist, a holder of the foregoing, as opposed to the uniformitarian theory. [Gr., kata, down, strephein, to turn.]
Catawba, ka-taw′ba, n. a light sparkling wine, produced from a grape of the same name, first found on the banks of the Catawba River in Carolina.
Cat-bird. See Cat.
Cat-call. See Cat.
Catch, kach, v.t. to take hold of: to apprehend or understand: to seize after pursuit: to trap or ensnare: to take a disease by infection: to take up anything by sympathy or imitation.—v.i. to be contagious: to be entangled or fastened in anything;—pa.t. ”

“ College cap, the so-called square mortarboard, or trencher-cap, worn at English colleges.—Percussion cap, a small copper cylinder, closed at one end, for conveniently holding the detonating powder which is exploded by the act of percussion in percussion-arms.—Set one's cap at, of a woman, to set herself to captivate a man's fancy.—The cap fits, the allusion hits or suits ”

“ Cat′-sil′ver, a variety of silvery mica; Cat's′-meat, horses' flesh, or the like, sold for cats by street dealers; Cat's′-paw (naut.) , a light breeze: the dupe or tool of another—from the fable of the monkey who used the paws of the cat to draw the roasting chestnuts out of the fire; Cat's′-tail, a catkin: a genus of aquatic plants of the reed kind, the leaves of which are sometimes used for making mats, seating chairs, &c.: a kind of grass.—adj. ”

“ Carapa, kar′a-pa, n. a genus of tropical trees of natural order Meliaceæ, a South American species yielding the useful carap-oil or crab-oil. [Caraipi, the native Guiana name.]
Carapace, kar′a-pās, n. the shell of the crab, tortoise, &c.—adj. Carapā′cial. [Fr.—Sp. carapacho.]
Carat, kar′at, n. a weight of 4 grains: a proportional measure of 1⁄24 in stating the fineness of gold. [Fr.,—Ar. qīrāt, perh. from Gr. keration, a seed or bean used as a weight.] ”

“ Carry the day, or Carry it, to be successful: to win the day; Carry through, to succeed in accomplishing; Carry too far, to exceed reasonable limits; Carry up, to continue a building to a certain height: to trace back ”

“ Casket, kask′et, n. a little cask or case: a small case for holding jewels, &c.: (U.S.) a coffin. [Ety. uncertain; hardly a dim. of Cask.]
Casque, Cask, kask, n. a cover for the head: a helmet. [A doublet of Cask.]
Cassandra, kas-an′dra, n. a daughter of Priam, king of Troy, beloved by Apollo, who gave her the gift of prophecy, but not of being believed—hence any one who takes gloomy views of the political or social future.
Cassareep, kas′a-rēp, n. a sauce or condiment made from the juice of the cassava, the chief ingredient in the West Indian pepper-pot. ”

“ Carrion, kar′i-un, n. the dead and putrid body or flesh of any animal: anything vile.—adj. relating to, or feeding on, putrid flesh.—n. Carr′ion-crow, a species of crow which feeds on carrion, small animals, &c. [Fr. carogne—Low L. caronia—L. caro, carnis, flesh.]
Carritch, kar′itch, n. (Scot.) a corrupted form of the word catechism.—n. Carr′iwitchet, a quibble.
Carronade, kar-un-ād′, n. a short cannon of large bore, first made at Carron in Scotland. ”

“ Carry weight, to possess authority: to have force.—Be carried, to be highly excited: to have the head turned. [O. Fr. carier,—Low L. carricāre, to cart—L. carrus, a car.]
Carse, kärs, n. in Scotland, a stretch of alluvial land along the banks of some rivers. [Scot.; perh. from an obsolete word car, a fen; cf. Dan. kjær.]
Cart, kärt, n. a two-wheeled vehicle without springs, used for farm purposes, and for conveying heavy loads.—v.t. to convey in a cart: to carry publicly in a cart as a punishment—formerly done to bawds.—ns. Cart′age, the act or cost of carting; Cart′er, one who drives a cart ”

“ Car′pet-bag, a travelling-bag, so called because usually made of carpeting; Car′pet-bag′ger, one who comes to a place for political or other ends, carrying his whole property qualification for citizenship with him in his carpet-bag; Car′pet-beat′ing, the removing of dust from carpets by beating; Car′pet-bed′ding, a system of horticulture in which plants are arranged in mosaic or geometrical designs; Car′peting, material of which carpets are made: carpets in general; Car′pet-knight, one dubbed a knight by mere court favour, not on account of his military exploits—hence an effeminate person ”

“ Capric, kap′rik, adj. in Capric acid, a fatty acid obtained from butter, &c., having a slightly goat-like smell.—ns. Cap′rin, Cap′rine, a compound of capric acid and glycerine found in butter. [L. caper, a goat.]
Caprice, ka-prēs′, n. a change of humour or opinion without reason: a freak: changeableness.—ns. Capriccio (ka-prēt′cho) , a sportive motion: (mus.) a species of free composition, not subject to rule as to form or figure ”

“ Cassia, kash′ya, n. a coarser kind of cinnamon—also Cass′ia-bark: the tree which yields the foregoing: a fragrant plant mentioned in Ps. xlv. 8 (Heb. qeçî'ôth, prob. the Ind. orris or costus) : a genus of shrubs of the bean family (Leguminosæ) , the leaves of several species yielding senna, while the drug known as cassia fistula or purging cassia is derived from the pod of Cassia fistula, the bark of which is used in tanning. [L. casia—Gr. kasia—Heb.]
Cassimere, kas-i-mēr′, n. a twilled cloth of the finest wools.—Also Kerseymere′. [Corr. of Cashmere.]
Cassino, kas-sē′no, n. a game at cards. ”

“ Cat′-eyed, having eyes like a cat: able to see in the dark.—n. Cat′gut, a kind of cord made from the intestines of animals, and used as strings for violins, harps, guitars, &c., the cords of clock-makers, &c.: the violin or other stringed instrument: a coarse corded cloth.—adj. Cat′-hammed, with thin hams like a cat's.—ns. Cat′head, one of two strong beams of timber projecting from the bow of a ship, on each side of the bowsprit, through which the ropes pass by which the anchor is raised ”

“ Speak by the card, to speak with elegance and to the point; Throw up the cards, to give in: to confess defeat. [Fr. carte—L. charta, Gr. chartēs, paper. Carte is a doublet.]
Card, kärd, n. an instrument for combing wool or flax.—v.t. to comb wool, &c.—n. Card′er, one who has to do with carding wool. [Fr. carde—L. carduus, a thistle.]
Cardamine, kär′da-mīn, n. a genus of cress, including the cuckoo-flower or lady's smock, &c. [Gr. kardaminē—kardamon, cress.] ”

“ Can′vas-back, a North American duck, very good eating, its back ashy white, crossed by broken, zigzag, dark lines; Can′vas-climb′er (Shak.) , a sailor; Can′vas-stretch′er, a wooden frame on which canvas is stretched for oil-painting; Can′vas-work, embroidery upon cloth over which canvas has been laid to guide the stitches: an embroidery in Berlin wool on silk canvas with plush-stitch.—Under canvas, having the sails unfurled, under sail: living in tents. ”

“ Capsicum, kap′si-kum, n. a tropical plant or shrub, from which cayenne pepper is made.—n. Cap′sicine, the active principle of capsicum. [From L. capsa, a case, its berries being contained in pods or capsules—capĕre, to take, hold.]
Capsize, kap-sīz′, v.t. to upset.—v.i. to be upset. [Ety. dub.; Prof. Skeat suggests Sp. cabezar, to nod, pitch.]
Capstan, kap′stan, n. an upright machine turned by spokes so as to wind upon it a cable which draws something, generally the anchor, on board ship. [Fr. cabestan, capestan, through Low L. forms from L. capĕre, to take, hold.] ”

“ Car′dialgy, Cardial′gia, an uneasy sensation or burning pain at the upper orifice of the stomach, apparently at the heart—hence called heartburn; Car′diograph, an apparatus for recording by a tracing—Car′diogram—the movements of the heart; Car′dioid, a geometrical curve, so called from its heart-like form; Cardīt′is, inflammation of the heart. ”

“ Catch′word, among actors, the last word of the preceding speaker—the cue: the word at the head of the page in a dictionary or encyclopædia: the first word of a page given at the bottom of the preceding page: any word or phrase taken up and repeated as the watchword or symbol of a party.—adj. Catch′y, attractive, deceptive, readily caught up, as an air, &c., fitful.—Catch at, to snatch at; Catch fire, to become ignited, to be inspired by passion or zeal; Catch hold of, to seize ”

“ Car′bide, a compound of carbon with a metal, formerly called Car′buret.—adjs. Carbonā′ceous, Carbon′ic, pertaining to or composed of carbon.—n. Car′bonate, a salt formed by the union of carbonic acid with a base.—adjs. Car′bonated, combined or impregnated with carbonic acid; Carbonif′erous, producing carbon or coal.—n. Carbonisā′tion—v.t. Car′bonise, to make into carbon.—Carbonic acid, an acid formed of carbon and oxygen, generally gaseous, and evolved by respiration and combustion. [Fr. carbone—L. carbon-em, coal.] ”

“ Catalogue, kat′a-log, n. a list of names, books, &c.—v.t. to put in a catalogue:—pr.p. cat′aloguing; pa.p. cat′alogued.—v.t. Cat′aloguise. [Fr.—Late L.—Gr. katalogos, from kata, down, legein, to choose.]
Catalpa, kat-al′pa, n. a genus of hardy trees native to the United States and Japan, marked by a low habit, profuse blossoms, and long cigar-like pendent pods.—The common Catalpa, known also as the Bean-tree, Catawba, Indian bean, and Cigar-tree, yields a durable wood; as also the western Catalpa or Shawnee wood. [From the native Ind. name.] ”

“ Cap′riform, goat-shaped. [L. caprificus, the wild fig—caper, a goat, and ficus, a fig.]
Caprin, Caprine. See Capric.
Caprine, kap′rin, adj. like a goat.
Capriole, kap′ri-ōl, n. a caper: a leap without advancing.—v.i. to leap: to caper. [O. Fr. capriole—It. capriola—L. caper, capra, a goat.] ”

“ Carib, kar′ib, n. one of a native race inhabiting parts of Central America and the north of South America—also Car′ibbee.—adj. Caribbē′an.
Caribou, kar-i-bōō′, n. the American reindeer. [Can.Fr.]
Caricature, kar′i-ka-tūr, n. a likeness of anything so exaggerated or distorted as to appear ridiculous.—v.t. to turn into ridicule by overdoing a likeness: to burlesque. Formerly spelt Caricatū′ra.—n. Caricatur′ist, one who caricatures. [It. caricatura—carricare, to load, from root of Car.] ”

“ Carburet′ter, or Carburet′tor, an apparatus for charging gases with carbon.
Carcajou, kär′ka-jōō, n. the American wolverine.
Carcake, kar′kāk, n. a kind of cake for Shrove Tuesday. [Scot.—A.S. caru, grief, and Cake.]
Carcanet, kär′ka-net, n. a collar of jewels. [Carcan, an obsolete word for an iron collar used for punishment—Low L. carcannum, from Teut.]
Carcass, Carcase, kär′kas, n. a dead body or corpse, no longer used of the human body: the framework of anything: a ruin: a kind of bombshell. ”

“ Carnos′ity, a fleshy excrescence growing in and obstructing any part of the body. [L. carnalis—caro, carnis, flesh.]
Carnallite, kär′nal-īt, n. a milk-white or pinkish hydrous chloride of potassium and magnesium found in the salt-mines of Stassfurt in Prussia. [Named from the mineralogist Von Carnall (1804-74) .]
Carnation, kar-nā′shun, n. flesh-colour: one of the finest of florists' flowers, a double-flowering variety of the clove pink, and existing only in a state of cultivation.—adj. Carnā′tioned, having a flesh-like colour. [L. carnatio, fleshiness.] ”