Squarish - Squiggle
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Square-rigged (skwârrĭgd), a. (Naut.) Having the sails extended upon yards suspended horizontally by the middle, as distinguished from fore-and-aft sails; thus, a ship and a brig are square-rigged vessels.
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Square-toed (-tōd), a. Having the toe square.
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Obsolete as fardingales, ruffs, and square-toed shoes.
V. Knox.
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Square-toes (-tōz), n. A precise person; -- used contemptuously or jocularly. Thackeray.
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Squarish, a. Nearly square. Pennant.
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Squarrose (skwŏrrŏs or skwŏrrōs; 277), a. [L. squarrosus (perhaps) scurfy, scabby.] Ragged or full of loose scales or projecting parts; rough; jagged; as: (a) (Bot. & Zoöl.) Consisting of scales widely divaricating; having scales, small leaves, or other bodies, spreading widely from the axis on which they are crowded; -- said of a calyx or stem. (b) (Bot.) Divided into shreds or jags, raised above the plane of the leaf, and not parallel to it; -- said of a leaf. (c) (Zoöl.) Having scales spreading every way, or standing upright, or at right angles to the surface; -- said of a shell.
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Coloq. Squarrose-slashed (Bot.), doubly slashed, with the smaller divisions at right angles to the others, as a leaf. Lindley.
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Squarroso-dentate (skwŏrrōs�-dĕnt�t), a. (Bot.) Having the teeth bent out of the plane of the lamina; -- said of a leaf.
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Squarrous (skwărrŭs or skwŏr-), a. Squarrose.
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Squarrulose (-rụlōs), a. [Dim. of squarrose.] (Bot.) Somewhat squarrose; slightly squarrose. Gray.
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Squash (skwŏsh), n. [Cf. .] (Zoöl.) An American animal allied to the weasel. [Obs.] Goldsmith.
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Squash, n. [Massachusetts Indian asq, pl. asquash, raw, green, immature, applied to fruit and vegetables which were used when green, or without cooking; askutasquash vine apple.] (Bot.) A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.
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☞ The species are much confused. The long-neck squash is called Cucurbita verrucosa, the Barbary or China squash, C. moschata, and the great winter squash, C. maxima, but the distinctions are not clear.
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Coloq. Squash beetle (Zoöl.), a small American beetle (Diabrotica vittata, syn. Galeruca vittata) which is often abundant and very injurious to the leaves of squash, cucumber, etc. It is striped with yellow and black. The name is applied also to other allied species. -- Coloq. Squash bug (Zoöl.), a large black American hemipterous insect (Coreus tristis syn. Anasa tristis) injurious to squash vines.
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Squash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squashed (skwŏsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Squashing.] [OE. squachen, OF. escachier, esquachier, to squash, to crush, F. écacher, perhaps from (assumed) LL. excoacticare, fr. L. ex + coactare to constrain, from cogere, coactum, to compel. Cf. , , v. i.] To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.
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Squash, n. 1. Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of pease.
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Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy; as a squash is before 't is a peascod.
Shak.
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2. Hence, something unripe or soft; -- used in contempt. “This squash, this gentleman.” Shak.
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3. A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies. Arbuthnot.
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My fall was stopped by a terrible squash.
Swift.
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4. A game much like rackets, played in a walled court with soft rubber balls and bats like tennis rackets; -- called also squash rackets.
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Squasher (-ẽr), n. One who, or that which, squashes.
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Squashiness (-ĭnĕs), n. The quality or state of being squashy, or soft.
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Squashy (-�), a. Easily squashed; soft.
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Squat (skwŏt), n. (Zoöl.) The angel fish (Squatina angelus).
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Squat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Squatting.] [OE. squatten to crush, OF. esquater, esquatir (cf. It. quatto squat, cowering), perhaps fr. L. ex + coactus, p. p. of cogere to drive or urge together. See , , v. t.] 1. To sit down upon the hams or heels; as, the savages squatted near the fire.
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2. To sit close to the ground; to cower; to stoop, or lie close, to escape observation, as a partridge or rabbit.
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3. To settle on another's land without title; also, to settle on common or public lands.
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Squat, v. t. To bruise or make flat by a fall. [Obs.]
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Squat, a. 1. Sitting on the hams or heels; sitting close to the ground; cowering; crouching.
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Him there they found,
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve.
Milton.
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2. Short and thick, like the figure of an animal squatting. “The round, squat turret.” R. Browning.
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The head [of the squill insect] is broad and squat.
Grew.
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Squat, n. 1. The posture of one that sits on his heels or hams, or close to the ground.
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2. A sudden or crushing fall. [Obs.] Herbert.
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3. (Mining) (a) A small vein of ore. (b) A mineral consisting of tin ore and spar. Halliwell. Woodward.
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Coloq. Squat snipe (Zoöl.), the jacksnipe; -- called also squatter. [Local, U.S.]
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Squaterole (-ẽrōl), n. (Zoöl.) The black-bellied plover.
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Squatter (-tẽr), n. 1. One who squats; specifically, one who settles unlawfully upon land without a title. In the United States and Australia the term is sometimes applied also to a person who settles lawfully upon government land under legal permission and restrictions, before acquiring title.
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In such a tract, squatters and trespassers were tolerated to an extent now unknown.
Macaulay.
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2. (Zoöl.) See Squat snipe, under .
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Coloq. Squatter sovereignty , the right claimed by the squatters, or actual residents, of a Territory of the United States to make their own laws. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
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Squatty (skwŏtt�), a. Squat; dumpy. J. Burroughs.
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Squaw (skw�), n. [Massachusetts Indian squa, eshqua; Narragansett squâws; Delaware ochqueu, and khqueu; used also in compound words (as the names of animals) in the sense of female.] A female; a woman, especially a married woman; a wife; -- in the language of Indian tribes of the Algonquin family, correlative of sannup. [Considered offensive by some American indians.]
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Coloq. Old squaw . (Zoöl.) See under .
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Squawberry (-bĕrr�), n. (Bot.) A local name for the partridge berry; also, for the deerberry. [U. S.]
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Squawk (skw�k), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squawked (skw�kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Squawking.] [See .] To utter a shrill, abrupt scream; to squeak harshly.
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Coloq. Squawking thrush (Zoöl.), the missel turush; -- so called from its note when alarmed. [Prov. Eng.]
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Squawk, n. 1. Act of squawking; a harsh squeak.
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2. (Zoöl.) The American night heron. See under .
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Coloq. Squawk duck (Zoöl.), the bimaculate duck (Anas glocitans). It has patches of reddish brown behind, and in front of, each eye. [Prov. Eng.]
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Squawl (skw�l), v. i. See .
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Squaw man. A white man who has married an Indian squaw; sometimes, one who has gained tribal rights by such a marriage; -- often a term of contempt. [Western U. S.]
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Squawroot (skw�r�t), n. (Bot.) A scaly parasitic plant (Conopholis Americana) found in oak woods in the United States; -- called also cancer root.
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Squaw vine. (Bot.) The partridge berry (Mitchella repens).
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Squawweed (skw�wēd), n. (Bot.) The golden ragwort. See under .
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Squeak (skwēk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squeaked (skwēkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Squeaking.] [Probably of imitative origin; cf. Sw. sqväka to croak, Icel. skvakka to give a sound as of water shaken in a bottle.] 1. To utter a sharp, shrill cry, usually of short duration; to cry with an acute tone, as an animal; or, to make a sharp, disagreeable noise, as a pipe or quill, a wagon wheel, a door; to creak.
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Who can endure to hear one of the rough old Romans squeaking through the mouth of an eunuch?
Addison.
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Zoilus calls the companions of Ulysses the “squeaking pigs” of Homer.
Pope.
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2. To break silence or secrecy for fear of pain or punishment; to speak; to confess. [Colloq.]
Syn. -- squeal.
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If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him.
Dryden.
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Squeak, n. A sharp, shrill, disagreeable sound suddenly uttered, either of the human voice or of any animal or instrument, such as is made by carriage wheels when dry, by the soles of leather shoes, or by a pipe or reed.
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Squeaker (-ẽr), n. 1. One who, or that which, squeaks.
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2. (Zoöl.) The Australian gray crow shrike (Strepera anaphonesis); -- so called from its note.
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3. (a) A contest won by a small margin. (b) A narrow escape from harm. [Colloq.]
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Squeakingly, adv. In a squeaking manner.
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Squeal (skwēl), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squealed (skwēld); p. pr. & vb. n. Squealing.] [Of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. sqväla, Norw. skvella. Cf. , .] 1. To cry with a sharp, shrill, prolonged sound, as certain animals do, indicating want, displeasure, or pain.
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2. To turn informer; to betray a secret. [Slang]
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Squeal, n. A shrill, sharp, somewhat prolonged cry.
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Squealer (-ẽr), n. 1. One who, or that which, squeals.
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2. (Zoöl.) (a) The European swift. (b) The harlequin duck. (c) The American golden plover.
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Squeamish (skwēmĭsh), a. [OE. squaimous, sweymous, probably from OE. sweem, swem, dizziness, a swimming in the head; cf. Icel. sveimr a bustle, a stir, Norw. sveim a hovering about, a sickness that comes upon one, Icel. svimi a giddiness, AS. swīma. The word has been perhaps confused with qualmish. Cf. to be dizzy.] Having a stomach that is easily turned or nauseated; hence, nice to excess in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to be offended at trifling improprieties.
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Quoth he, that honor's very squeamish
That takes a basting for a blemish.
Hudibras.
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His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain
The men of squeamish taste to entertain.
Southern.
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So ye grow squeamish, Gods, and sniff at heaven.
M. Arnold.
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Syn. -- Fastidious; dainty; overnice; scrupulous. See .
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-- Squeamishly, adv. -- Squeamishness, n.
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Squeamous (-ŭs), a. Squeamish. [Obs.]
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Squeasiness (skwēzĭnĕs), n. Queasiness. [Obs.]
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Squeasy (-z�), a. Queasy; nice; squeamish; fastidious; scrupulous. [Obs.] Bp. Earle.
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Squeegee (skwēj�), n. Formerly, a small swab for drying a vessel's deck; now, a kind of scraper having a blade or edge of rubber or of leather, -- used for removing superfluous, water or other liquids, as from a vessel's deck after washing, from window panes, photographer's plates, etc. [Written also squilgee, squillagee.]
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Squeegee, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squeegeed (skwējēd; skwējēd); p. pr. & vb. n. Squeegeeing (skwējēĭng; skwējēĭng).] To smooth, clean, press, or treat with a squeegee; to squilgee.
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Squeegee roller. A small India-rubber roller with a handle, used esp. in printing and photography as a squeegee.
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Squeeze (skwēz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squeezed (skwēzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Squeezing.] [OE. queisen, AS. cwēsan, cwȳsan, cwīsan, of uncertain origin. The s- was probably prefixed through the influence of squash, v.t.] 1. To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.
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2. Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass; to crush.
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In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden.
L'Estrange.
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3. To force, or cause to pass, by compression; often with out, through, etc.; as, to squeeze water through felt.
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Syn. -- To compress; hug; pinch; gripe; crowd.
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Squeeze, v. i. To press; to urge one's way, or to pass, by pressing; to crowd; -- often with through, into, etc.; as, to squeeze hard to get through a crowd.
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Squeeze, n. 1. The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure.
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2. A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as pulp, from an inscription on stone.
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3. (Mining) The gradual closing of workings by the weight of the overlying strata.
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4. Pressure or constraint used to force the making of a gift, concession, or the like; exaction; extortion; as, to put the squeeze on someone. [Colloq.]
One of the many “squeezes” imposed by the mandarins.
A. R. Colquhoun.
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Squeezer (skwēzẽr), n. 1. One who, or that which, squeezes; as, a lemon squeezer.
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2. (Forging) (a) A machine like a large pair of pliers, for shingling, or squeezing, the balls of metal when puddled; -- used only in the plural. (b) A machine of several forms for the same purpose; -- used in the singular.
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Squeezing, n. 1. The act of pressing; compression; oppression.
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2. pl. That which is forced out by pressure; dregs.
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3. Same as , n., 2.
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Squelch (skwĕlch), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squelched (skwĕlcht); p. pr. & vb. n. Squelching.] [Cf. Prov. E. quelch a blow, and quell to crush, to kill.] To quell; to crush; to silence or put down. [Colloq.]
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Oh 't was your luck and mine to be squelched.
Beau. & Fl.
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If you deceive us you will be squelched.
Carlyle.
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Squelch, n. 1. A heavy fall, as of something flat.
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2. Hence: A crushing reply; as, the perfect squelch for a conceited remark. [Colloq.] Hudibras.
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Squelch (skwĕlch), v. i. [Perh. imitative. Cf. .] To make a sound like that made by the feet of one walking in mud or slush; to make a kind of swashing sound; to squish; also, to move with such a sound.
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He turned and strode to the fire, his boots squelching as he walked.
P. L. Ford.
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A crazy old collier squelching along under squared yards.
W. C. Russell.
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squeteague (skw�tēg), n. [From the North American Indian name.] (Zoöl.) An American sciænoid fish (Cynoscion regalis), abundant on the Atlantic coast of the United States, and much valued as a food fish. It is of a bright silvery color, with iridescent reflections. Called also weakfish, squitee, chickwit, and sea trout. The spotted squeteague (Cynoscion nebulosus) of the Southern United States is a similar fish, but the back and upper fins are spotted with black. It is called also spotted weakfish and squit, and, locally, sea trout, and sea salmon. See also under .
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Squib (skwĭb), n. [OE. squippen, swippen, to move swiftly, Icel. svipa to swoop, flash, dart, whip; akin to AS. swipian to whip, and E. swift, a. See , a.] 1. A little pipe, or hollow cylinder of paper, filled with powder or combustible matter, to be thrown into the air while burning, so as to burst there with a crack.
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Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze.
Waller.
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The making and selling of fireworks, and squibs . . . is punishable.
Blackstone.
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2. (Mining) A kind of slow match or safety fuse.
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3. A sarcastic speech or publication; a petty lampoon; a brief, witty essay.
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Who copied his squibs, and reëchoed his jokes.
Goldsmith.
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4. A writer of lampoons. [Obs.]
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The squibs are those who in the common phrase of the world are called libelers, lampooners, and pamphleteers.
Tatler.
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5. A paltry fellow. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Squib, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squibbed (skwĭbd); p. pr. & vb. n. Squibbing.] To throw squibs; to utter sarcastic or severe reflections; to contend in petty dispute; as, to squib a little in debate. [Colloq.]
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Squid (skwĭd), n. [Cf. .] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of ten-armed cephalopods having a long, tapered body, and a caudal fin on each side; especially, any species of Loligo, Ommastrephes, and related genera. See , , .
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☞ Some of these squids are very abundant on the Atlantic coast of North America, and are used in large quantities for bait, especially in the cod fishery. The most abundant of the American squids are the northern squid (Ommastrephes illecebrosus), ranging from Southern New England to Newfoundland, and the southern squid (Loligo Pealii), ranging from Virginia to Massachusetts.
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2. A fishhook with a piece of bright lead, bone, or other substance, fastened on its shank to imitate a squid.
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Coloq. Flying squid , Coloq. Giant squid . (Zoöl.) See under , and . -- Coloq. Squid hound (Zoöl.), the striped bass.
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Squier (skwīr), n. A square. See 1st . [Obs.]
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Not the worst of the three but jumps twelve foot and a half by the squier.
Shak.
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{ Squierie, Squiery } (skwīẽrĭ), n. [OF. escuierie. See .] A company of squires; the whole body of squires.
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☞ This word is found in Tyrwhitt's Chaucer, but is not in the modern editions.
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Squiffy (skwĭff�), a. Somewhat intoxicated; tipsy. [Slang] Kipling.
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Squiggle (skwĭgg'l), v. i. [Cf. Prov. E. swiggle to drink greedily, to shake liquor in a close vessel, and E. swig.] To shake and wash a fluid about in the mouth with the lips closed. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.
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Squiggle, v. i. [Cf. , .] To move about like an eel; to squirm. [Low, U.S.] Bartlett.
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