Definitions
ludwigia: (n) A genus of about 75 species of aquatic plants with a cosmopolitan but mainly tropical distribution.
versorium: (n) A needle constructed out of metal which is allowed to pivot freely on a pedestal. The metal needle would be attracted to charged bodies brought near it, turning towards the charged object. It was developed in 1600 by William Gilbert, physician to Queen Elizabeth I. It is the first known electrical device, and since it is able to distinguish between charged and non-charged objects, it is an example of a class of devices known as electroscopes.
circumferentor: (n) 1. In Surveying: An instrument consisting of a flat brass bar with sights at the ends and a circular brass box in the middle, containing a magnetic needle, which plays over a graduated circle; the whole being supported on a staff or tripod.
2. An instrument for measuring the circumference of a wheel; a tire-measurer, tire-circle.
nonius: (n) 1. A device consisting of a series of concentric arcs engraved on a quadrant, used for the accurate measurement of angles, altitudes, and heights. Also (in full nonius quadrant): the quadrant itself; also called pantometer.
2. Designating or relating to techniques in which two offset series of rods or lines are brought into alignment.
ethmoid bone: (n) A square-shaped cellular bone, situated between the two orbits, at the root of the nose, containing many perforations, through which the olfactory nerves pass to the nose.
Anaximanderian: (adj) 1. Adhering to the opinions of Anaximander.
(n) 2. An adherent of Anaximander.
judder: (v) To shake violently, especially of the mechanism in cars, cameras, etc.; also of the voice in singing, to oscillate between greater and less intensity.
calenture: (n) 1. A disease incident to sailors within the tropics, characterized by delirium in which the patient, it is said, fancies the sea to be green fields, and desires to leap into it.
2. Fever; burning passion, ardour, zeal, heat, glow.
fléchette: (n) A missile resembling a dart, dropped from aircraft.
linstock: (n) A staff about three feet long, having a pointed foot to stick in the deck or ground, and a forked head to hold a lighted match.
runcible: (adj) A nonsense word used by Edward Lear in runcible cat, hat, etc., and especially in runcible spoon, in later use applied to a kind of fork used for pickles, etc., curved like a spoon and having three broad prongs of which one has a sharp edge.
orlop: (n) 1. Nautical: A platform covering the hold of a ship and forming the lowest deck, esp. in a ship of more than three decks. Also 'orlop deck'. Originally the orlop was not technically referred to as a ‘deck’; if a ship had two complete floors they were called orlop and deck; if three floors, they were orlop, and lower and upper deck; if four floors, they were orlop, and lower, middle, and upper deck. Occasionally orlop was used in the general sense of ‘deck’, and applied in the plural to both (or all) the decks of a ship.
2. A raised edge on a sheet of lead, bent over the edge of an adjoining sheet in making a joint.
versorium: (n) A needle constructed out of metal which is allowed to pivot freely on a pedestal. The metal needle would be attracted to charged bodies brought near it, turning towards the charged object. It was developed in 1600 by William Gilbert, physician to Queen Elizabeth I. It is the first known electrical device, and since it is able to distinguish between charged and non-charged objects, it is an example of a class of devices known as electroscopes.
circumferentor: (n) 1. In Surveying: An instrument consisting of a flat brass bar with sights at the ends and a circular brass box in the middle, containing a magnetic needle, which plays over a graduated circle; the whole being supported on a staff or tripod.
2. An instrument for measuring the circumference of a wheel; a tire-measurer, tire-circle.
nonius: (n) 1. A device consisting of a series of concentric arcs engraved on a quadrant, used for the accurate measurement of angles, altitudes, and heights. Also (in full nonius quadrant): the quadrant itself; also called pantometer.
2. Designating or relating to techniques in which two offset series of rods or lines are brought into alignment.
ethmoid bone: (n) A square-shaped cellular bone, situated between the two orbits, at the root of the nose, containing many perforations, through which the olfactory nerves pass to the nose.
Anaximanderian: (adj) 1. Adhering to the opinions of Anaximander.
(n) 2. An adherent of Anaximander.
judder: (v) To shake violently, especially of the mechanism in cars, cameras, etc.; also of the voice in singing, to oscillate between greater and less intensity.
calenture: (n) 1. A disease incident to sailors within the tropics, characterized by delirium in which the patient, it is said, fancies the sea to be green fields, and desires to leap into it.
2. Fever; burning passion, ardour, zeal, heat, glow.
fléchette: (n) A missile resembling a dart, dropped from aircraft.
linstock: (n) A staff about three feet long, having a pointed foot to stick in the deck or ground, and a forked head to hold a lighted match.
runcible: (adj) A nonsense word used by Edward Lear in runcible cat, hat, etc., and especially in runcible spoon, in later use applied to a kind of fork used for pickles, etc., curved like a spoon and having three broad prongs of which one has a sharp edge.
orlop: (n) 1. Nautical: A platform covering the hold of a ship and forming the lowest deck, esp. in a ship of more than three decks. Also 'orlop deck'. Originally the orlop was not technically referred to as a ‘deck’; if a ship had two complete floors they were called orlop and deck; if three floors, they were orlop, and lower and upper deck; if four floors, they were orlop, and lower, middle, and upper deck. Occasionally orlop was used in the general sense of ‘deck’, and applied in the plural to both (or all) the decks of a ship.
2. A raised edge on a sheet of lead, bent over the edge of an adjoining sheet in making a joint.