Squabble - Squarer

Prev Next

Squabble (skwŏbb'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squabbled (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Squabbling (-blĭng).] [Cf. dial. Sw. skvabbel a dispute, skvappa to chide.] 1. To contend for superiority in an unseemly manner; to scuffle; to struggle; to wrangle; to quarrel.
[ Webster]

2. To debate peevishly; to dispute.
[ Webster]

The sense of these propositions is very plain, though logicians might squabble a whole day whether they should rank them under negative or affirmative. I. Watts.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- To dispute; contend; scuffle; wrangle; quarrel; struggle.
[ Webster]

Squabble, v. t. (Print.) To disarrange, so that the letters or lines stand awry or are mixed and need careful readjustment; -- said of type that has been set up.
[ Webster]

Squabble, n. A scuffle; a wrangle; a brawl.
[ Webster]

Squabbler (-blẽr), n. One who squabbles; a contentious person; a brawler.
[ Webster]

Squabby (-b�), a. Short and thick; sqabbish.
[ Webster]

Squab-chick (-chĭk), n. (Zoöl.) A young chicken before it is fully fledged. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Squacco (skwăkk�), n.; pl. Squaccos (-kōz). (Zoöl.) A heron (Ardea comata) found in Asia, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe.
[ Webster]

Squad (skwŏd), n. [F. escouade, fr. Sp. escuadra, or It. squadra, (assumed) LL. exquadrare to square; L. ex + quadra a square. See .] 1. (Mil.) A small party of men assembled for drill, inspection, or other purposes.
[ Webster]

2. Hence, any small party.
[ Webster]

Squad, n. Sloppy mud. [Prov. Eng.] Tennyson.
[ Webster]

Squadron (skwŏdrŭn), n. [F. escadron, formerly also esquadron, Sp. escuadron, or It. squadrone. See .] 1. Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square. [R.]
[ Webster]

Those half-rounding quards
Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined. Milton.
[ Webster]

2. (Mil.) A body of cavalry comprising two companies or troops, and averaging from one hundred and twenty to two hundred men.
[ Webster]

3. (Naut.) A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer; as, the North Atlantic Squadron. Totten.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Flying squadron , a squadron of observation or practice, that cruises rapidly about from place to place. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
[ Webster]

Squadroned (skwŏdrŭnd), a. Formed into squadrons, or squares. [R.] Milton.
[ Webster]

Squail (skwāl), v. i. To throw sticks at cocks; to throw anything about awkwardly or irregularly. [Prov. Eng.] Southey.
[ Webster]

Squaimous (skwāmŭs), a. Squeamish. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Squali (skwālī), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. squalus a kind of sea fish.] (Zoöl.) The suborder of elasmobranch fishes which comprises the sharks.
[ Webster]

Squalid (skwŏlĭd), a. [L. squalidus, fr. squalere to be foul or filthy.] Dirty through neglect; foul; filthy; extremely dirty.
[ Webster]

Uncombed his locks, and squalid his attire. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Those squalid dens, which are the reproach of large capitals. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

Squalidity (skwȧlĭdĭt�), n. [L. squaliditas.] The quality or state of being squalid; foulness; filthiness.
[ Webster]

Squalidly (skwŏlĭdl�), adv. In a squalid manner.
[ Webster]

Squalidness, n. Quality or state of being squalid.
[ Webster]

Squall (skw�l), n. [Cf. Sw. sqval an impetuous running of water, sqvalregn a violent shower of rain, sqvala to stream, to gush.] A sudden and violent gust of wind often attended with rain or snow.
[ Webster]

The gray skirts of a lifting squall. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Black squall , a squall attended with dark, heavy clouds. -- Coloq. Thick squall , a black squall accompanied by rain, hail, sleet, or snow. Totten. -- Coloq. White squall , a squall which comes unexpectedly, without being marked in its approach by the clouds. Totten.
[ Webster]

Squall, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squalled (skw�ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Squalling.] [Icel. skvala. Cf. .] To cry out; to scream or cry violently, as a woman frightened, or a child in anger or distress; as, the infant squalled.
[ Webster]

Squall, n. A loud scream; a harsh cry.
[ Webster]

There oft are heard the notes of infant woe, --
The short, thick sob, loud scream, and shriller squall. Pope.
[ Webster]

Squaller (-ẽr), n. One who squalls; a screamer.
[ Webster]

Squally (-�), a. 1. Abounding with squalls; disturbed often with sudden and violent gusts of wind; gusty; as, squally weather.
[ Webster]

2. (Agric.) Interrupted by unproductive spots; -- said of a field of turnips or grain. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
[ Webster]

3. (Weaving) Not equally good throughout; not uniform; uneven; faulty; -- said of cloth.
[ Webster]

Squalodon (skwāl�dŏn), n. [NL. Squalus a genus of sharks + Gr. 'odoys, 'odontos, a tooth.] (Paleon.) A genus of fossil whales belonging to the Phocodontia; -- so called because their teeth are serrated, like a shark's.
[ Webster]

Squalodont (-dŏnt), a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to Squalodon.
[ Webster]

Squaloid (skwāloid), a. [NL. Squalus a genus of sharks (fr. L. squalus a kind of sea fish) + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to a shark or sharks.
[ Webster]

Squalor (skwālôr), n. [L., fr. squalere to be foul or filthy.] Squalidness; foulness; filthiness; squalidity.
[ Webster]

The heterogeneous indigent multitude, everywhere wearing nearly the same aspect of squalor. I. Taylor.
[ Webster]

To bring this sort of squalor among the upper classes. Dickens.
[ Webster]

Squam (skwŏm), n. [From Squam, shortened fr. Annisquam, name of a village on the coast of Massachusetts.] An oilskin hat or southwester; -- a fisherman's name. [U. S.]
[Webster Suppl.]

Squama (skwāmȧ), n.; pl. Squamæ (-mē). [L. a scale.] (Med.) A scale cast off from the skin; a thin dry shred consisting of epithelium.
[ Webster]

Squamaceous (skwȧmāshŭs), a. Squamose.
[ Webster]

Squamata (skwȧmātȧ), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. squamatus scaly.] (Zoöl.) A division of edentates having the body covered with large, imbricated horny scales. It includes the pangolins.
[ Webster]

{ Squamate (skwām�t), Squamated (-m�tĕd), } a. [L. squamatus.] Same as .
[ Webster]

Squam duck (skwŏm dŭk). (Zoöl.) The American eider duck. [Local, U.S.]
[ Webster]

Squame (skwām), n. [L. squama scale.] 1. A scale. [Obs.] “Iron squames.” Chaucer.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) The scale, or exopodite, of an antenna of a crustacean.
[ Webster]

Squamella (skwȧmĕllȧ), n.; pl. Squamellæ (-lē). [NL., dim. fr. L. squama a scale.] (Bot.) A diminutive scale or bractlet, such as those found on the receptacle in many composite plants; a palea.
[ Webster]

Squamellate (-l�t), a. Furnished or covered with little scales; squamulose.
[ Webster]

Squamiform (skwāmĭfôrm), a. [L. squama a scale + -form.] Having the shape of a scale.
[ Webster]

Squamigerous (skwȧmĭjẽrŭs), a. [L. squamiger; squama a scale + gerere to bear.] (Zoöl.) Bearing scales.
[ Webster]

Squamipen (skwămĭpĕn or skwāmĭ-), n.; pl. Squamipennes (-pĕnnēz). [L. squama a scale + penna a fin: cf. F. squamipenne.] (Zoöl.) Any one of a group of fishes having the dorsal and anal fins partially covered with scales.
[ Webster]

☞ They are compressed and mostly, bright-colored tropical fishes, belonging to Chætodon and allied genera. Many of them are called coral fishes, and angel fishes.
[ Webster]

Squamoid (skwāmoid), a. [L. squama scale + -oid.] Resembling a scale; also, covered with scales; scaly.
[ Webster]

Squamosal (skwȧmōs�l), a. (Anat.) (a) Scalelike; squamous; as, the squamosal bone. (b) Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone. -- n. The squamous part of the temporal bone, or a bone corresponding to it, in many of the lower vertebrates. See Temporal bone, under .
[ Webster]

{ Squamose (skwȧmōs or skwāmōs), Squamous (skwāmŭs), } a. [L. squamosus, fr. squama a scale: cf. F. squameux.] 1. Covered with, or consisting of, scales; resembling a scale; scaly; as, the squamose cones of the pine; squamous epithelial cells; the squamous portion of the temporal bone, which is so called from a fancied resemblance to a scale.
[ Webster]

2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone; squamosal.
[ Webster]

Squamozygomatic (skwām�zĭg�mătĭk), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to both the squamosal and zygomatic bones; -- applied to a bone, or a center of ossification, in some fetal skulls. -- n. A squamozygomatic bone.
[ Webster]

Squamula (skwăm�lȧ or skwām�lȧ), n.; pl. Squamulæ (-lē). [L., dim. of squama a scale.] (Bot.) One of the little hypogynous scales found in the flowers of grasses; a lodicule.
[ Webster]

Squamulate (-l�t), a. Same as .
[ Webster]

Squamule (-�l), n. (Bot.) Same as .
[ Webster]

Squamulose (-lōs; 277), a. Having little scales; squamellate; squamulate.
[ Webster]

Squander (skwŏndẽr), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squandered (-dẽrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Squandering.] [Cf. Scot. squatter to splash water about, to scatter, to squander, Prov. E. swatter, Dan. sqvatte, Sw. sqvätta to squirt, sqvättra to squander, Icel. skvetta to squirt out, to throw out water.] 1. To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Our squandered troops he rallies. Dryden.
[ Webster]

2. To spend lavishly or profusely; to spend prodigally or wastefully; to use without economy or judgment; to dissipate; as, to squander an estate.
[ Webster]

The crime of squandering health is equal to the folly. Rambler.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- To spend; expend; waste; scatter; dissipate.
[ Webster]

Squander, v. i. 1. To spend lavishly; to be wasteful.
[ Webster]

They often squandered, but they never gave. Savage.
[ Webster]

2. To wander at random; to scatter. [R.]
[ Webster]

The wise man's folly is anatomized
Even by squandering glances of the fool. Shak.
[ Webster]

Squander, n. The act of squandering; waste.
[ Webster]

Squanderer (-ẽr), n. One who squanders.
[ Webster]

Squanderingly, adv. In a squandering manner.
[ Webster]

Square (skwâr), n. [OF. esquarre, esquierre, F. équerre a carpenter's square (cf. It. squadra), fr. (assumed) LL. exquadrare to make square; L. ex + quadrus a square, fr. quattuor four. See , and cf. , , a square.] 1. (Geom.) (a) The corner, or angle, of a figure. [Obs.] (b) A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right angles.
[ Webster]

2. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as: (a) A square piece or fragment.
[ Webster]

He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches. Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]

(b) A pane of glass. (c) (Print.) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; -- used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers. (d) (Carp.) One hundred superficial feet.
[ Webster]

3. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets.
[ Webster]

The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town. Addison.
[ Webster]

4. (Mech. & Joinery) An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc.
[ Webster]

5. Hence, a pattern or rule. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

6. (Arith. & Alg.) The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8 × 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a2 + 2ab + b2.
[ Webster]

7. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

They of Galatia [were] much more out of square. Hooker.
[ Webster]

I have not kept my square. Shak.
[ Webster]

8. (Mil.) A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron. “The brave squares of war.” Shak.
[ Webster]

9. Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level.
[ Webster]

We live not on the square with such as these. Dryden.
[ Webster]

10. (Astrol.) The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

11. The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel. [R.]
[ Webster]

12. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered. [Obs.] Shak.
[ Webster]

Coloq. fair and square in a fair, straightforward, and honest manner; justly; as, he beat me fair and square. -- Coloq. Geometrical square . See , n., 2. -- Coloq. Hollow square (Mil.), a formation of troops in the shape of a square, each side consisting of four or five ranks, and the colors, officers, horses, etc., occupying the middle. -- Coloq. Least square , Coloq. Magic square , etc. See under , , etc. -- Coloq. On the square , or Coloq. Upon the square , (a) in an open, fair manner; honestly, or upon honor; justly. [Obs or Colloq.] (b) at right angles. -- Coloq. On the square with , or Coloq. Upon the square with , upon equality with; even with. Nares. -- Coloq. To be all squares , to be all settled. [Colloq.] Dickens. -- Coloq. To be at square , to be in a state of quarreling. [Obs.] Nares. -- Coloq. To break no squares , to give no offense; to make no difference. [Obs.] -- Coloq. To break squares , to depart from an accustomed order. [Obs.] -- Coloq. To see how the squares go , to see how the game proceeds; -- a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chessboard being formed with squares. [Obs.] L'Estrange.
[ Webster]

Square (skwâr), a. 1. (Geom.) Having four equal sides and four right angles; as, a square figure.
[ Webster]

2. Forming a right angle; as, a square corner.
[ Webster]

3. Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a square frame.
[ Webster]

4. Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just.
[ Webster]

She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her. Shak.
[ Webster]

5. Rendering equal justice; exact; fair; honest; as, square dealing.
[ Webster]

6. Even; leaving no balance; as, to make or leave the accounts square.
[ Webster]

7. Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous.
[ Webster]

By Heaven, square eaters.
More meat, I say. Beau. & Fl.
[ Webster]

8. (Naut.) At right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; -- said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.
[ Webster]

☞ Square is often used in self-explaining compounds or combinations, as in square-built, square-cornered, square-cut, square-nosed, etc.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Square foot , an area equal to that of a square the sides of which are twelve inches; 144 square inches. -- Coloq. Square knot , a knot in which the terminal and standing parts are parallel to each other; a reef knot. See Illust. under . -- Coloq. Square measure , the measure of a superficies or surface which depends on the length and breadth taken conjointly. The units of square measure are squares whose sides are the linear measures; as, square inches, square feet, square meters, etc. -- Coloq. Square number . See , n., 6. -- Coloq. Square root of a number or Coloq. Square root of a quantity (Math.), that number or quantity which, multiplied by itself, produces the given number or quantity. -- Coloq. Square sail (Naut.), a four-sided sail extended upon a yard suspended by the middle; sometimes, the foresail of a schooner set upon a yard; also, a cutter's or sloop's sail boomed out. See Illust. of . -- Coloq. Square stern (Naut.), a stern having a transom and joining the counter timbers at an angle, as distinguished from a round stern, which has no transom. -- Coloq. Three-square , Coloq. Five-square , etc., having three, five, etc., equal sides; as, a three-square file. -- Coloq. To get square with , to get even with; to pay off. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Square, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squared (skwârd); p. pr. & vb. n. Squaring.] [Cf. OF. escarrer, esquarrer. See , n.] 1. To form with four equal sides and four right angles. Spenser.
[ Webster]

2. To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces; as, to square masons' work.
[ Webster]

3. To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard. Shak.
[ Webster]

4. To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; to fit; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others.
[ Webster]

Square my trial
To my proportioned strength. Milton.
[ Webster]

5. To make even, so as to leave no remainder or difference; to balance; as, to square accounts.
[ Webster]

6. (Math.) To multiply by itself; as, to square a number or a quantity.
[ Webster]

7. (Astrol.) To hold a quartile position respecting.
[ Webster]

The icy Goat and Crab that square the Scales. Creech.
[ Webster]

8. (Naut.) To place at right angles with the keel; as, to square the yards.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To square one's shoulders , to raise the shoulders so as to give them a square appearance, -- a movement expressing contempt or dislike. Sir W. Scott. -- Coloq. To square the circle (Math.), to determine the exact contents of a circle in square measure. The solution of this famous problem is now generally admitted to be impossible.
[ Webster]

Square, v. i. 1. To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to conform or agree; to suit; to fit.
[ Webster]

No works shall find acceptance . . .
That square not truly with the Scripture plan. Cowper.
[ Webster]

2. To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Are you such fools
To square for this? Shak.
[ Webster]

3. To take a boxing attitude; -- often with up, sometimes with off. [Colloq.] Dickens.
[ Webster]

Squarely, adv. In a square form or manner.
[ Webster]

Squareness, n. The quality of being square; as, an instrument to try the squareness of work.
[ Webster]

Squarer (skwârẽr), n. 1. One who, or that which, squares.
[ Webster]

2. One who squares, or quarrels; a hot-headed, contentious fellow. [Obs.] 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