Shrimper - Shunless

Prev Next

2. Figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; -- in contempt.
[ Webster]

This weak and writhled shrimp. Shak.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Opossum shrimp . (Zoöl.) See under . -- Coloq. Spector shrimp , or Coloq. Skeleton shrimp (Zoöl.), any slender amphipod crustacean of the genus Caprella and allied genera. See Illust. under . -- Coloq. Shrimp catcher (Zoöl.), the little tern (Sterna minuta). -- Coloq. Shrimp net , a dredge net fixed upon a pole, or a sweep net dragged over the fishing ground.
[ Webster]

Shrimper (?), n. One who fishes for shrimps.
[ Webster]

Shrine (shrīn), n. [OE. schrin, AS. scrīn, from L. scrinium a case, chest, box.] 1. A case, box, or receptacle, especially one in which are deposited sacred relics, as the bones of a saint.
[ Webster]

2. Any sacred place, as an altar, tromb, or the like.
[ Webster]

Too weak the sacred shrine guard. Byron.
[ Webster]

3. A place or object hallowed from its history or associations; as, a shrine of art.
[ Webster]

4. Short for Coloq. Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine , a secret fraternal organization professedly originated by one Kalif Alu, a son-in-law of Mohammed, at Mecca, in the year of the Hegira 25 (about 646 a. d.) In the modern order, established in the United States in 1872, only Knights Templars or thirty-second degree Masons are eligible for admission, though the order itself is not Masonic. A member of the order is popularly called a Shriner, and the order itself is sometimes called the Shriners.
[Webster Suppl. +PJC]

Shrine, v. t. To enshrine; to place reverently, as in a shrine. “Shrined in his sanctuary.” Milton.
[ Webster]

Shriner (shrīnẽr), n. a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. See .
[PJC]

Shrink (?), v. i. [imp. Shrank (?) or Shrunk (?) p. p. Shrunk or Shrunken (�), but the latter is now seldom used except as a participial adjective; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrinking.] [OE. shrinken, schrinken, AS. scrincan; akin to OD. schrincken, and probably to Sw. skrynka a wrinkle, skrynkla to wrinkle, to rumple, and E. shrimp, n. & v., scrimp. CF. .] 1. To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted.
[ Webster]

And on a broken reed he still did stay
His feeble steps, which shrunk when hard thereon he lay. Spenser.
[ Webster]

I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room. Bacon.
[ Webster]

Against this fire do I shrink up. Shak.
[ Webster]

And shrink like parchment in consuming fire. Dryden.
[ Webster]

All the boards did shrink. Coleridge.
[ Webster]

2. To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress.
[ Webster]

What happier natures shrink at with affright,
The hard inhabitant contends is right. Pope.
[ Webster]

They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task. Jowett (Thucyd.)
[ Webster]

3. To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake. [R.] Shak.
[ Webster]

Shrink, v. t. 1. To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by imersing it in boiling water.
[ Webster]

2. To draw back; to withdraw. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn. Milton.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To shrink on (Mach.), to fix (one piece or part) firmly around (another) by natural contraction in cooling, as a tire on a wheel, or a hoop upon a cannon, which is made slightly smaller than the part it is to fit, and expanded by heat till it can be slipped into place.
[ Webster]

Shrink, n. 1. The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal.
[ Webster]

Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink,
That I had less to praise. Leigh Hunt.
[ Webster]

2. [Contraction of head-shrinker, a colloquial term for psychiatrist.] a psychiatrist. [Coll.]
[PJC]

Shrinkage (?), n. 1. The act of shrinking; a contraction into less bulk or measurement.
[ Webster]

2. The amount of such contraction; the bulk or dimension lost by shrinking, as of grain, castings, etc.
[ Webster]

3. Decrease in value; depreciation. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Shrinker (?), n. One who shrinks; one who withdraws from danger.
[ Webster]

Shrinking, a. & n. from .
[ Webster]

Coloq. Shrinking head (Founding), a body of molten metal connected with a mold for the purpose of supplying metal to compensate for the shrinkage of the casting; -- called also sinking head, and riser.
[ Webster]

Shrinkingly, adv. In a shrinking manner.
[ Webster]

shrink-pack, shrinkpack, n. same as , n..
[PJC]

shrink-wrap, shrinkwrap (shrĭṉkrăp), v. t. [imp. & p. p. shrink-wrapped or shrinkwrapped (shrĭṉkrăpt); p. pr. & vb. n. shrinkwrapping or shrink-wrapping.] to wrap and seal (an object for sale) in a transparent sheet of plastic material that is shrunken to a tight-fitting wrapping by the application of heat.
[PJC]

shrink-wrap, shrinkwrap, n. a type of plastic film, usually transparent, that shrinks upon application of heat, and may be used to form a wrapping around objects that fits tightly and closely follows the contours of the wrapped object; -- also called shrink-pack, shrinkpack or shrink-wrapping.
[PJC]

Shrivalty (?), n. Shrievalty. Johnson.
[ Webster]

Shrive (?), v. t. [imp. Shrived (?) or Shrove (�); p. p. Shriven (?) or Shrived; p. pr. & vb. n. Shriving.] [OE. shriven, schriven, AS. scrīvan to shrive, to impose penance or punishment; akin to OFries. skrīva to impose punishment; cf. OS. biskrīban to be troubled. Cf. , .] 1. To hear or receive the confession of; to administer confession and absolution to; -- said of a priest as the agent.
[ Webster]

That they should shrive their parishioners. Piers Plowman.
[ Webster]

Doubtless he shrives this woman, . . .
Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. Shak.
[ Webster]

Till my guilty soul be shriven. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

2. To confess, and receive absolution; -- used reflexively.
[ Webster]

Get you to the church and shrive yourself. Beau. & Fl.
[ Webster]

Shrive, v. i. To receive confessions, as a priest; to administer confession and absolution. Spenser.
[ Webster]

Shrivel (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shriveled (?) or Shrivelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shriveling or Shrivelling.] [Probably akin to shrimp, shrink; cf. dial. AS. screpa to pine away, Norw. skrypa to waste, skryp, skryv, transitory, frail, Sw. skröpling feeble, Dan. skröbelig, Icel. skrj�pr brittle, frail.] To draw, or be drawn, into wrinkles; to shrink, and form corrugations; as, a leaf shriveles in the hot sun; the skin shrivels with age; -- often with up.
[ Webster]

Shrivel (?), v. t. To cause to shrivel or contract; to cause to shrink onto corruptions.
[ Webster]

Shriven (?), p. p. of .
[ Webster]

Shriver (?), n. One who shrives; a confessor.
[ Webster]

Shriving, n. Shrift; confession. Spenser.
[ Webster]

Shroff (?), n. [Ar. sarrāf.] A banker, or changer of money. [East Indies]
[ Webster]

Shroffage (?), n. A money dealer's commission; also, more commonly, the examination of coins, and the separation of the good from the debased.
[Webster Suppl.]

Shrood (?), v. t. [Cf. .] [Written also shroud, and shrowd.] To trim; to lop. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Shropshire (?), n. [From Shropshire, country of England.] An English breed of black-faced hornless sheep similar to the Southdown, but larger, now extensively raised in many parts of the world.
[Webster Suppl.]

Shroud (shroud), n. [OE. shroud, shrud, schrud, AS. scrūd a garment, clothing; akin to Icel. skruð the shrouds of a ship, furniture of a church, a kind of stuff, Sw. skrud dress, attire, and E. shred. See , and cf. .] 1. That which clothes, covers, conceals, or protects; a garment. Piers Plowman.
[ Webster]

Swaddled, as new born, in sable shrouds. Sandys.
[ Webster]

2. Especially, the dress for the dead; a winding sheet. “A dead man in his shroud.” Shak.
[ Webster]

3. That which covers or shelters like a shroud.
[ Webster]

Jura answers through her misty shroud. Byron.
[ Webster]

4. A covered place used as a retreat or shelter, as a cave or den; also, a vault or crypt. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

The shroud to which he won
His fair-eyed oxen. Chapman.
[ Webster]

A vault, or shroud, as under a church. Withals.
[ Webster]

5. The branching top of a tree; foliage. [R.]
[ Webster]

The Assyrian wad a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and with a shadowing shroad. Ezek. xxxi. 3.
[ Webster]

6. pl. (Naut.) A set of ropes serving as stays to support the masts. The lower shrouds are secured to the sides of vessels by heavy iron bolts and are passed around the head of the lower masts.
[ Webster]

7. (Mach.) One of the two annular plates at the periphery of a water wheel, which form the sides of the buckets; a shroud plate.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Bowsprit shrouds (Naut.), ropes extending from the head of the bowsprit to the sides of the vessel. -- Coloq. Futtock shrouds (Naut.), iron rods connecting the topmast rigging with the lower rigging, passing over the edge of the top. -- Coloq. Shroud plate . (a) (Naut.) An iron plate extending from the dead-eyes to the ship's side. Ham. Nav. Encyc. (b) (Mach.) A shroud. See def. 7, above.
[ Webster]

Shroud, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shrouded; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrouding.] [Cf. AS. scr�dan. See , n.] 1. To cover with a shroud; especially, to inclose in a winding sheet; to dress for the grave.
[ Webster]

The ancient Egyptian mummies were shrouded in a number of folds of linen besmeared with gums. Bacon.
[ Webster]

2. To cover, as with a shroud; to protect completely; to cover so as to conceal; to hide; to veil.
[ Webster]

One of these trees, with all his young ones, may shroud four hundred horsemen. Sir W. Raleigh.
[ Webster]

Some tempest rise,
And blow out all the stars that light the skies,
To shroud my shame. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Shroud, v. i. To take shelter or harbor. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

If your stray attendance be yet lodged,
Or shroud within these limits. Milton.
[ Webster]

Shroud, v. t. To lop. See . [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Shrouded, a. Provided with a shroud or shrouds.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Shrouded gear (Mach.), a cogwheel or pinion having flanges which form closed ends to the spaces between the teeth and thus strengthen the teeth by tying them together.
[ Webster]

Shrouding, n. The shrouds. See , n., 7.
[ Webster]

Shroud-laid (?), a. Composed of four strands, and laid right-handed with a heart, or center; -- said of rope. See Illust. under .
[ Webster]

Shroudless, a. Without a shroud.
[ Webster]

Shroudy (?), a. Affording shelter. [R.] Milton.
[ Webster]

Shrove (?), imp. of .
[ Webster]

Coloq. Shrove Sunday , Quinguagesima Sunday. -- Coloq. Shrove Tuesday , the Tuesday following Quinguagesima Sunday, and preceding the first day of Lent, or Ash Wednesday. It was formerly customary in England, on this day, for the people to confess their sins to their parish priests, after which they dined on pancakes, or fritters, and the occasion became one of merriment. The bell rung on this day is popularly called Pancake Bell, and the day itself Pancake Tuesday. P. Cyc.
[ Webster]

Shrove, v. i. To join in the festivities of Shrovetide; hence, to make merry. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.
[ Webster]

Shrovetide (?), n. [From shrive to take a confession (OE. imp. shrof, AS. scrāf) + tide.] The days immediately preceding Ash Widnesday, especially the period between the evening before Quinguagesima Sunday and the morning of Ash Wednesday.
[ Webster]

Shroving, n. The festivity of Shrovetide. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Shrow (?), n. A shrew. [Obs.] Shak.
[ Webster]

Shrowd (?), v. t. See . [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Shrub (?), n. [Ar. shirb, shurb, a drink, beverage, fr. shariba to drink. Cf. , .] A liquor composed of vegetable acid, especially lemon juice, and sugar, with spirit to preserve it.
[ Webster]

Shrub, n. [OE. schrob, AS. scrob, scrobb; akin to Norw. skrubba the dwarf cornel tree.] (Bot.) A woody plant of less size than a tree, and usually with several stems from the same root.
[ Webster]

Shrub, v. t. To lop; to prune. [Obs.] Anderson (1573).
[ Webster]

Shrubbery (?), n.; pl. Shrubberies (�). 1. A collection of shrubs.
[ Webster]

2. A place where shrubs are planted. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

Shrubbiness (?), n. Quality of being shrubby.
[ Webster]

Shrubby (?), a. [Compar. Shrubbier (?); superl. Shrubbiest.] 1. Full of shrubs.
[ Webster]

2. Of the nature of a shrub; resembling a shrub. “Shrubby browse.” J. Philips.
[ Webster]

Shrubless, a. having no shrubs. Byron.
[ Webster]

Shruff (?), n. [Cf. , .] Rubbish. Specifically: (a) Dross or refuse of metals. [Obs.] (b) Light, dry wood, or stuff used for fuel. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Shrug (shrŭg), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shrugged (shrŭgd); p. pr. & vb. n. Shrugging (shrŭggĭng).] [Probably akin to shrink, p. p. shrunk; cf. Dan. skrugge, skrukke, to stoop, dial. Sw. skrukka, skruga, to crouch.] To draw up or contract (the shoulders), especially by way of expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like.
[ Webster]

He shrugs his shoulders when you talk of securities. Addison.
[ Webster]

Shrug, v. i. To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like.
[ Webster]

They grin, they shrug.
They bow, they snarl, they snatch, they hug. Swift.
[ Webster]

shrug, n. A gesture consisting of drawing up the shoulders, -- a motion usually expressing doubt, indifference, or dislike; -- it is sometimes accompanied by a slight turning of the hands outward or upward. Such a gesture may be made, as in answering who knows to a question, suggesting utter ignorance of an answer and a disinclination to pursue the topic further.
[ Webster +PJC]

On Sept. 23, in a major speech in New York, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commision, Arthur Levitt asked the Big Board to spike the rule [Rule 390] in the interest of free and unfettered markets. . . . Mr. Grasso responded with a shrug, saying that he had no plans to kill the rule. Gretchen Morgenson (N. Y. Times Nov. 28, 1999 sect. 3 p. 1.
[PJC]

The Spaniards talk in dialogues
Of heads and shoulders, nods and shrugs. Hudibras.
[ Webster]

shrug off, v. t. To ignore; to disregard; to brush aside; to minimize{2} the effects of; as, to shrug off predictions of disaster.
[PJC]

Shrunken (?), p. p. & a. from .
[ Webster]

shtetl (shtĕt'l); pl. Eng. shtetls (shtĕt'lz), Yiddish shtetlach (shtĕtläkh)., n. [Yiddish, from MHG stetel, dim. of stat, place, town.] A village or small town; -- usually referring to Jewish towns in Eastern Europe.
[PJC]

shtick, shtik (shtĭk), n. [Yiddish, pranks; fr. MHG stücke, pieces.] 1. A person's special talent, line of business, or habitual activity.
[PJC]

2. (Show business) A comic routine or a specific gag inserted in a show for laughs.
[PJC]

Shuck (shŭk), n. A shock of grain. [Prev. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Shuck, n. [Perhaps akin to G. shote a husk, pod, shell.] 1. A shell, husk, or pod; especially, the outer covering of such nuts as the hickory nut, butternut, peanut, and chestnut.
[ Webster]

2. The shell of an oyster or clam. [U. S.]
[ Webster]

Shuck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shucked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shucking.] 1. To deprive of the shucks or husks; as, to shuck walnuts, Indian corn, oysters, etc.
[ Webster]

2. To remove or take off (shucks); hence, to discard; to lay aside; -- usually with off. [Colloq.]

“Shucking” his coronet, after he had imbibed several draughts of fire water. F. A. Ober.

He had only been in Africa long enough to shuck off the notions he had acquired about the engineering of a west coast colony. Pall Mall Mag.
[Webster Suppl.]

Shucker (?), n. One who shucks oysters or clams
[ Webster]

Shudder (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shuddered (?);p. pr. & vb. n. Shuddering.] [OE. shoderen, schuderen; akin to LG. schuddern, D. schudden to shake, OS. skuddian, G. schaudern to shudder, schütteln to shake, schütten to pour, to shed, OHG. scutten, scuten, to shake.] To tremble or shake with fear, horrer, or aversion; to shiver with cold; to quake. “With shuddering horror pale.” Milton.
[ Webster]

The shuddering tennant of the frigid zone. Goldsmith.
[ Webster]

Shudder, n. The act of shuddering, as with fear. Shak.
[ Webster]

Shudderingly, adv. In a shuddering manner.
[ Webster]

Shude (?), n. The husks and other refuse of rice mills, used to adulterate oil cake, or linseed cake.
[ Webster]

Shuffle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shuffled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shuffling (?).] [Originally the same word as scuffle, and properly a freq. of shove. See , and .] 1. To shove one way and the other; to push from one to another; as, to shuffle money from hand to hand.
[ Webster]

2. To mix by pushing or shoving; to confuse; to throw into disorder; especially, to change the relative positions of, as of the cards in a pack.
[ Webster]

A man may shuffle cards or rattle dice from noon to midnight without tracing a new idea in his mind. Rombler.
[ Webster]

3. To remove or introduce by artificial confusion.
[ Webster]

It was contrived by your enemies, and shuffled into the papers that were seizen. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To shuffe off , to push off; to rid one's self of. -- Coloq. To shuffe up , to throw together in hastel to make up or form in confusion or with fraudulent disorder; as, he shuffled up a peace.
[ Webster]

Shuffle, v. i. 1. To change the relative position of cards in a pack; as, to shuffle and cut.
[ Webster]

2. To change one's position; to shift ground; to evade questions; to resort to equivocation; to prevaricate.
[ Webster]

I myself, . . . hiding mine honor in my necessity, am fain to shuffle. Shak.
[ Webster]

3. To use arts or expedients; to make shift.
[ Webster]

Your life, good master,
Must shuffle for itself. Shak.
[ Webster]

4. To move in a slovenly, dragging manner; to drag or scrape the feet in walking or dancing.
[ Webster]

The aged creature came
Shuffling along with ivory-headed wand. Keats.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- To equivicate; prevaricate; quibble; cavil; shift; sophisticate; juggle.
[ Webster]

Shuffle, n. 1. The act of shuffling; a mixing confusedly; a slovenly, dragging motion.
[ Webster]

The unguided agitation and rude shuffles of matter. Bentley.
[ Webster]

2. A trick; an artifice; an evasion.
[ Webster]

The gifts of nature are beyond all shame and shuffles. L'Estrange.
[ Webster]

Shuffleboard (?), n. See .
[ Webster]

Shufflecap (?), n. A play performed by shaking money in a hat or cap. [R.] Arbuthnot.
[ Webster]

Shuffler (?), n. 1. One who shuffles.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) Either one of the three common American scaup ducks. See Scaup duck, under .
[ Webster]

Shufflewing (?), n. (Zoöl.) The hedg sparrow. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Shuffling (?), a. 1. Moving with a dragging, scraping step. “A shuffling nag.” Shak.
[ Webster]

2. Evasive; as, a shuffling excuse. T. Burnet.
[ Webster]

Shuffling, v. In a shuffling manner.
[ Webster]

Shug (?), v. i. [Cf. .] 1. To writhe the body so as to produce friction against one's clothes, as do those who have the itch. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
[ Webster]

2. Hence, to crawl; to sneak. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

There I 'll shug in and get a noble countenance. Ford.
[ Webster]

Shumac (?), n. (Bot.) Sumac.
[ Webster]

Shun (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shunned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shunning.] [OE. shunien, schunien, schonien, AS. scunian, sceonian; cf. D. schuinen to slepe, schuin oblique, sloping, Icel. skunda, skynda, to hasten. Cf. , , .] To avoid; to keep clear of; to get out of the way of; to escape from; to eschew; as, to shun rocks, shoals, vice.
[ Webster]

I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Acts xx. 26,27.
[ Webster]

Scarcity and want shall shun you. Shak.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- See .
[ Webster]

Shunless, a. Not to be shunned; inevitable; unavoidable. [R.] “Shunless destiny.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

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