Tiercel - Till

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Tiercé (?), a. [F.] (Her.) Divided into three equal parts of three different tinctures; -- said of an escutcheon.
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{ Tiercel (?), Tiercelet (?), } n. [OE. tercel, tercelet, F. tiercelet, a dim. of (assumed) tiercel, or LL. tertiolus, dim. fr. L. tertius the third; -- so called, according to some, because every third bird in the nest is a male, or, according to others, because the male is the third part less than female. Cf. .] (Falconry) The male of various falcons, esp. of the peregrine; also, the male of the goshawk. Encyc. Brit.
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Tierce-major (?), n. [Cf. F. tierce majeure.] (Card Playing) See , 4.
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Tiercet (?), n. [F. tercet. See .] (Pros.) A triplet; three lines, or three lines rhyming together.
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Tie-rod (?), n. A rod used as a tie. See .
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Tiers état (?). [F.] The third estate, or commonalty, in France, answering to the commons in Great Britain; -- so called in distinction from, and as inferior to, the nobles and clergy.
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☞ The refusal of the clergy and nobility to give the tiers état a representation in the States-general proportioned to their actual numbers had an important influence in bringing on the French Revolution of 1789. Since that time the term has been purely historical.
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Tietick (?), n. The meadow pipit. [Prov. Eng].
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Tiewig (?), n. A wig having a tie or ties, or one having some of the curls tied up; also, a wig tied upon the head. Wright. V. Knox.
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Tiff (?), n. [Originally, a sniff, sniffing; cf. Icel. �efr a smell, �efa to sniff, Norw. tev a drawing in of the breath, teva to sniff, smell, dial. Sw. tüv smell, scent, taste.] 1. Liquor; especially, a small draught of liquor. “Sipping his tiff of brandy punch.” Sir W. Scott.
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2. A fit of anger or peevishness; a slight altercation or contention. See . Thackeray.
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Tiff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tiffed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tiffing.] To be in a pet.
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She tiffed with Tim, she ran from Ralph. Landor.
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Tiff, v. t. [OE. tiffen, OF. tiffer, tifer, to bedizen; cf. D. tippen to clip the points or ends of the hair, E. tip, n.] To deck out; to dress. [Obs.] A. Tucker.
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Tiffany (?), n. [OE. tiffenay; cf. OF. tiffe ornament, tiffer to adjust, adorn. See to dress.] A species of gause, or very silk.
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The smoke of sulphur . . . is commonly used by women to whiten tiffanies. Sir T. Browne.
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Tiffany (?), a. [After Louis Comfort Tiffany.] 1. made of stained glass by, or in the style of objects made by, Louis C. Tiffany; as, a Tiffany lamp.
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2. Made by or purchased from the Tiffany corporation (with headquarters in New York City); as, Tiffany jewelry.
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Tiffin (?), n. [Properly, tiffing a quaffing, a drinking. See , n.] A lunch, or slight repast between breakfast and dinner; -- originally, a Provincial English word, but introduced into India, and brought back to England in a special sense.
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Tiffish (?), a. Inclined to tiffs; peevish; petulant.
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Tift (?), n. [Cf. Norw. teft a scent. See , n.] A fit of pettishness, or slight anger; a tiff.
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After all your fatigue you seem as ready for a tift with me as if you had newly come from church. Blackwood's Mag.
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Tig (?), n. 1. A game among children. See .
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2. A capacious, flat-bottomed drinking cup, generally with four handles, formerly used for passing around the table at convivial entertainment.
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Tigella (?), n. [NL., from F. tige stem or stock.] (Bot.) That part of an embryo which represents the young stem; the caulicle or radicle.
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Tigelle (?), n. [F.] (Bot.) Same as .
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Tiger (?), n. [OE. tigre, F. tigre, L. tigris, Gr. tigris; probably of Persian origin; cf. Zend tighra pointed, tighri an arrow, Per. tīr; perhaps akin to E. stick, v. t.; -- probably so named from its quickness.] 1. A very large and powerful carnivore (Felis tigris) native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Its back and sides are tawny or rufous yellow, transversely striped with black, the tail is ringed with black, the throat and belly are nearly white. When full grown, it equals or exceeds the lion in size and strength. Called also royal tiger, and Bengal tiger.
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2. Fig.: A ferocious, bloodthirsty person.
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As for heinous tiger, Tamora. Shak.
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3. A servant in livery, who rides with his master or mistress. Dickens.
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4. A kind of growl or screech, after cheering; as, three cheers and a tiger. [Colloq. U. S.]
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5. A pneumatic box or pan used in refining sugar.
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Coloq. American tiger . (Zoöl.) (a) The puma. (b) The jaguar. -- Coloq. Clouded tiger (Zoöl.), a handsome striped and spotted carnivore (Felis macrocelis or Felis marmorata) native of the East Indies and Southern Asia. Its body is about three and a half feet long, and its tail about three feet long. Its ground color is brownish gray, and the dark markings are irregular stripes, spots, and rings, but there are always two dark bands on the face, one extending back from the eye, and one from the angle of the mouth. Called also tortoise-shell tiger. -- Coloq. Mexican tiger (Zoöl.), the jaguar. -- Coloq. Tiger beetle (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of active carnivorous beetles of the family Cicindelidæ. They usually inhabit dry or sandy places, and fly rapidly. -- Coloq. Tiger bittern . (Zoöl.) See Sun bittern, under . -- Coloq. Tiger cat (Zoöl.), any one of several species of wild cats of moderate size with dark transverse bars or stripes somewhat resembling those of the tiger. -- Coloq. Tiger flower (Bot.), an iridaceous plant of the genus Tigridia (as Tigridia conchiflora, Tigridia grandiflora, etc.) having showy flowers, spotted or streaked somewhat like the skin of a tiger. -- Coloq. Tiger grass (Bot.), a low East Indian fan palm (Chamærops Ritchieana). It is used in many ways by the natives. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants). -- Coloq. Tiger lily . (Bot.) See under . -- Coloq. Tiger moth (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of moths of the family Arctiadæ which are striped or barred with black and white or with other conspicuous colors. The larvæ are called woolly bears. -- Coloq. Tiger shark (Zoöl.), a voracious shark (Galeocerdo tigrinus syn. Galeocerdo maculatus) more or less barred or spotted with yellow. It is found in both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Called also zebra shark. -- Coloq. Tiger shell (Zoöl.), a large and conspicuously spotted cowrie (Cypræa tigris); -- so called from its fancied resemblance to a tiger in color and markings. Called also tiger cowrie. -- Coloq. Tiger snake (Zoöl.), either of two very venomous snakes of Tasmania and Australia, Notechis scutatis and Notechis ater, which grow up to 5 feet in length. -- Coloq. Tiger wolf (Zoöl.), the spotted hyena (Hyæna crocuta). -- Coloq. Tiger wood , the variegated heartwood of a tree (Machærium Schomburgkii) found in Guiana.
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Tiger-eye (?), n. (Min.) A siliceous stone of a yellow color and chatoyant luster, obtained in South Africa and much used for ornament. It is an altered form of the mineral crocidolite. See .
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Tiger-foot (?), n. (Bot.) Same as .
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Tiger-footed, a. Hastening to devour; furious.
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Tigerine (?), a. Tigerish; tigrine. [R.]
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Tigerish, a. Like a tiger; tigrish.
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Tiger's-foot (?), n. (Bot.) A name given to some species of morning-glory (Ipomœa) having the leaves lobed in pedate fashion.
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Tigh (?), n. [Perhaps akin to tight.] A close, or inclosure; a croft. [Obs.] Cowell.
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Tight (tīt), obs. p. p. of . Spenser.
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Tight, a. [Compar. Tighter (tītẽr); superl. Tightest.] [OE. tight, thiht; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. þēttr, Dan. tæt, Sw. tät: akin to D. & G. dicht thick, tight, and perhaps to E. thee to thrive, or to thick. Cf. .] 1. Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open; as, tight cloth; a tight knot.
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2. Close, so as not to admit the passage of a liquid or other fluid; not leaky; as, a tight ship; a tight cask; a tight room; -- often used in this sense as the second member of a compound; as, water-tight; air-tight.
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3. Fitting close, or too close, to the body; as, a tight coat or other garment.
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4. Not ragged; whole; neat; tidy.
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Clad very plain, but clean and tight. Evelyn.
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I'll spin and card, and keep our children tight. Gay.
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5. Close; parsimonious; saving; as, a man tight in his dealings. [Colloq.]
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6. Not slack or loose; firmly stretched; taut; -- applied to a rope, chain, or the like, extended or stretched out.
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7. Handy; adroit; brisk. [Obs.] Shak.
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8. Somewhat intoxicated; tipsy. [Slang]
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9. (Com.) Pressing; stringent; not easy; firmly held; dear; -- said of money or the money market. Cf. , 7.
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Tight, v. t. To tighten. [Obs.]
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Tighten (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tightened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tightening.] To draw tighter; to straiten; to make more close in any manner.
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Just where I please, with tightened rein
I'll urge thee round the dusty plain. Fawkes.
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Coloq. Tightening pulley (Mach.), a pulley which rests, or is forced, against a driving belt to tighten it.
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Tightener (?), n. That which tightens; specifically (Mach.), a tightening pulley.
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Tighter (?), n. A ribbon or string used to draw clothes closer. [Obs.]
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Tightly, adv. In a tight manner; closely; nearly.
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Tightness, n. The quality or condition of being tight.
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Tights (?), n. pl. Close-fitting garments, especially for the lower part of the body and the legs.
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Tiglic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid, C4H7CO2H (called also methyl crotonic acid), homologous with crotonic acid, and obtained from croton oil (from Croton Tiglium) as a white crystalline substance.
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Tigress (?), n. [From : cf. F. tigresse.] (Zoöl.) The female of the tiger. Holland.
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Tigrine (?), a. [L. tigrinus, fr. tigris a tiger.] 1. Of or pertaining to a tiger; like a tiger.
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2. (Zoöl.) Resembling the tiger in color; as, the tigrine cat (Felis tigrina) of South America.
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Tigrish (?), a. Resembling a tiger; tigerish.
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Tike (?), n. (Zoöl.) A tick. See 2d . [Obs.]
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Tike, n. [Icel. tīk a bitch; akin to Sw. tik.] 1. A dog; a cur. “Bobtail tike or trundle-tail.” Shak.
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2. A countryman or clown; a boorish, clumsy, or eccentric person; -- also spelled tyke.
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3. a small child; -- variant of .
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Tikor (?), n. [Hind. tikhur.] A starch or arrow-root made from the tubes of an East Indian zinziberaceous plant (Curcuma angustifolia); also, the plant itself.
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{ Tikur, Tikoor } (t�t�r), n. [Hind. tikūr.] An East Indian tree (Garcinia pedunculata) having a large yellow fleshy fruit with a pleasant acid flavor.
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Tikus (?), n. (Zoöl.) The bulau.
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Til (?), prep. & conj. See . [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Tilbury (?), n.; pl. Tilburies (#). [Probably from Tilburyfort, in the Country of Essex, in England.] A kind of gig or two-wheeled carriage, without a top or cover. [Written also tilburgh.]
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Tilde (?), n. [Sp., fr. L. titulus a superscription, title, token, sign. See , n.] The accentual mark placed over n, and sometimes over l, in Spanish words [thus, ñ, �], indicating that, in pronunciation, the sound of the following vowel is to be preceded by that of the initial, or consonantal, y.
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Tile (?), v. t. [See 2d .] To protect from the intrusion of the uninitiated; as, to tile a Masonic lodge.
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Tile, n. [OE. tile, tigel, AS. tigel, tigol, fr. L. tegula, from tegere to cover. See , and cf. .] 1. A plate, or thin piece, of baked clay, used for covering the roofs of buildings, for floors, for drains, and often for ornamental mantel works.
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2. (Arch.) (a) A small slab of marble or other material used for flooring. (b) A plate of metal used for roofing.
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3. (Metal.) A small, flat piece of dried earth or earthenware, used to cover vessels in which metals are fused.
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4. A draintile.
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5. A stiff hat. [Colloq.] Dickens.
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Coloq. Tile drain , a drain made of tiles. -- Coloq. Tile earth , a species of strong, clayey earth; stiff and stubborn land. [Prov. Eng.] -- Coloq. Tile kiln , a kiln in which tiles are burnt; a tilery. -- Coloq. Tile ore (Min.), an earthy variety of cuprite. -- Coloq. Tile red , light red like the color of tiles or bricks. -- Coloq. Tile tea , a kind of hard, flat brick tea. See Brick tea, under .
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Tile, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tiling.] 1. To cover with tiles; as, to tile a house.
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2. Fig.: To cover, as if with tiles.
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The muscle, sinew, and vein,
Which tile this house, will come again. Donne.
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Tile-drain (?), v. t. To drain by means of tiles; to furnish with a tile drain.
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Tilefish (?), n. (Zoöl.) A large, edible, deep-water food fish (Lopholatilus chamæleonticeps) more or less thickly covered with large, round, yellow spots.
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☞ It was discovered off the Eastern coast of the United States in 1880, and was abundant in 1881, but is believed to have become extinct in 1882.
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Tiler (?), n. A man whose occupation is to cover buildings with tiles. Bancroft.
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Tiler, n. [Of uncertain origin, but probably from E. tile, n.] A doorkeeper or attendant at a lodge of Freemasons. [Written also tyler.]
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Tilery (?), n.; pl. Tileries (#). [From ; cf. F. tuilerie, fr. tuile a tile, L. tegula.] A place where tiles are made or burned; a tile kiln.
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Tileseed (?), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Geissois, having seeds overlapping like tiles on a roof.
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Tilestone (?), n. 1. (Geol.) A kind of laminated shale or sandstone belonging to some of the layers of the Upper Silurian.
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2. A tile of stone.
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Tilia (?), n. [L., linden. Cf. .] (Bot.) A genus of trees, the lindens, the type of the family Tiliaceæ, distinguished by the winglike bract coalescent with the peduncle, and by the indehiscent fruit having one or two seeds. There are about twenty species, natives of temperate regions. Many species are planted as ornamental shade trees, and the tough fibrous inner bark is a valuable article of commerce. Also, a plant of this genus.
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Tiliaceous (?), a. [OE. tilia the linden tree.] (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a natural family of plants (Tiliaceæ) of which the linden (Tilia) is the type. The family includes many plants which furnish a valuable fiber, as the jute.
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Tiling (?), n. 1. A surface covered with tiles, or composed of tiles.
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They . . . let him down through the tiling. Luke v. 19.
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2. Tiles, collectively.
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Till (?), n. [Abbrev. from lentil.] A vetch; a tare. [Prov. Eng.]
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Till, n. [Properly, a drawer, from OE. tillen to draw. See the lever of a rudder.] A drawer. Specifically: (a) A tray or drawer in a chest. (b) A money drawer in a shop or store.
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Coloq. Till alarm , a device for sounding an alarm when a money drawer is opened or tampered with.
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Till, n. 1. (Geol.) A deposit of clay, sand, and gravel, without lamination, formed in a glacier valley by means of the waters derived from the melting glaciers; -- sometimes applied to alluvium of an upper river terrace, when not laminated, and appearing as if formed in the same manner.
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2. A kind of coarse, obdurate land. Loudon.
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Till, prep. [OE. til, Icel. til; akin to Dan. til, Sw. till, OFries. til, also to AS. til good, excellent, G. ziel end, limit, object, OHG. zil, Goth. tils, gatils, fit, convenient, and E. till to cultivate. See , v. t.] To; unto; up to; as far as; until; -- now used only in respect to time, but formerly, also, of place, degree, etc., and still so used in Scotland and in parts of England and Ireland; as, I worked till four o'clock; I will wait till next week.
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He . . . came till an house. Chaucer.
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Women, up till this
Cramped under worse than South-sea-isle taboo. Tennyson.
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Similar sentiments will recur to every one familiar with his writings -- all through them till the very end. Prof. Wilson.
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Coloq. Till now , to the present time. -- Coloq. Till then , to that time.
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