Touch - Tow

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Touch (?), v. i. 1. To be in contact; to be in a state of junction, so that no space is between; as, two spheres touch only at points. Johnson.
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2. To fasten; to take effect; to make impression. [R.]
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Strong waters pierce metals, and will touch upon gold, that will not touch upon silver. Bacon.
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3. To treat anything in discourse, especially in a slight or casual manner; -- often with on or upon.
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If the antiquaries have touched upon it, they immediately
quitted it. Addison.
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4. (Naut) To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.
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Coloq. To touch and go (Naut.), to touch bottom lightly and without damage, as a vessel in motion. -- Coloq. To touch at , to come or go to, without tarrying; as, the ship touched at Lisbon. -- Coloq. To touch on or Coloq. To touch upon , (a) to come or go to for a short time. [R.]
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I made a little voyage round the lake, and touched on the several towns that lie on its coasts. Addison.
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(b) to discuss briefly, as only a small part of a discourse.
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Touch, n. [Cf. F. touche. See , v. ] 1. The act of touching, or the state of being touched; contact.
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Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting. Shak.
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2. (Physiol.) The sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin is recognized; the sense by which the properties of bodies are determined by contact; the tactile sense. See Tactile sense, under .
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The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine. Pope.
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☞ Pure tactile feelings are necessarily rare, since temperature sensations and muscular sensations are more or less combined with them. The organs of touch are found chiefly in the epidermis of the skin and certain underlying nervous structures.
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3. Act or power of exciting emotion.
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Not alone
The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
Do strongly speak to us. Shak.
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4. An emotion or affection.
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A true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy. Hooker.
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5. Personal reference or application. [Obs.]
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Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used. Bacon.
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6. A stroke; as, a touch of raillery; a satiric touch; hence, animadversion; censure; reproof.
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I never bare any touch of conscience with greater regret. Eikon Basilike.
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7. A single stroke on a drawing or a picture.
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Never give the least touch with your pencil till you have well examined your design. Dryden.
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8. Feature; lineament; trait.
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Of many faces, eyes, and hearts,
To have the touches dearest prized. Shak.
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9. The act of the hand on a musical instrument; bence, in the plural, musical notes.
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Soft stillness and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony. Shak.
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10. A small quantity intermixed; a little; a dash.
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Eyes La touch of Sir Peter Lely in them. Hazlitt.
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Madam, I have a touch of your condition. Shak.
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11. A hint; a suggestion; slight notice.
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A small touch will put him in mind of them. Bacon.
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12. A slight and brief essay. [Colloq.]
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Print my preface in such form as, in the booksellers' phrase, will make a sixpenny touch. Swift.
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13. A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone. [Obs.] “ Now do I play the touch.” Shak.
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A neat new monument of touch and alabaster. Fuller.
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14. Hence, examination or trial by some decisive standard; test; proof; tried quality.
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Equity, the true touch of all laws. Carew.
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Friends of noble touch . Shak.
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15. (Mus.) The particular or characteristic mode of action, or the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers; as, a heavy touch, or a light touch; also, the manner of touching, striking, or pressing the keys of a piano; as, a legato touch; a staccato touch.
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16. (Shipbilding) The broadest part of a plank worked top and but (see Top and but, under , n.), or of one worked anchor-stock fashion (that is, tapered from the middle to both ends); also, the angles of the stern timbers at the counters. J. Knowles.
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17. (Football) That part of the field which is beyond the line of flags on either side. Encyc. of Rural Sports.
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18. A boys' game; tag.
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19. (Change Ringing) A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, that is, less than 5,040.
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20. An act of borrowing or stealing. [Slang]
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21. Tallow; -- a plumber's term. [Eng.]
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Coloq. In touch (a) (Football), outside of bounds. T. Hughes. (b) in communication; communicating, once or repeatedly. -- Coloq. To be in touch , (a) to be in contact, communication, or in sympathy. (b) to be aware of current events. -- Coloq. To keep touch . (a) To be true or punctual to a promise or engagement [Obs.]; hence, to fulfill duly a function.
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My mind and senses keep touch and time. Sir W. Scott.
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(b) To keep in contact; to maintain connection or sympathy; -- with with or of. Also Coloq. to keep in touch . -- Coloq. Touch and go , a phrase descriptive of a narrow escape. -- Coloq. True as touch (i. e., touchstone), quite true. [Obs.]
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Touchable (tŭchȧb'l), a. Capable of being touched; tangible. -- Touchableness, n.
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Touchback (tŭchbăk), n. (Football) The act of touching the football down by a player behind his own goal line when it received its last impulse from an opponent; -- distinguished from safety touchdown.
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Touch-box (tŭchbŏks), n. A box containing lighted tinder, formerly carried by soldiers who used matchlocks, to kindle the match.
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Touchdown (tŭchdoun), n. (Football) The act of touching the football down behind the opponents' goal; also the score (6 points) resulting from such a play.
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Coloq. Safety touchdown . See under .
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Touchhole (tŭchhōl), n. The vent of a cannon or other firearm, by which fire is communicateed to the powder of the charge.
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Touchily (tŭchĭl�), adv. In a touchy manner.
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Touchiness (tŭchĭnĕs), n. The quality or state of being touchy; peevishness; irritability; irascibility.
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Touching (tŭchĭng), a. Affecting; moving; pathetic; as, a touching tale. -- Touchingly (#), adv.
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Touching, prep. Concerning; with respect to.
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Now, as touching things offered unto idols. 1 Cor. viii. 1.
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Touching, n. The sense or act of feeling; touch.
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Touch-me-not (tŭchm�nŏt), n. (Bot.) (a) See . (b) Squirting cucumber. See under .
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Touch-needle (?), n. (Metal.) A small bar of gold and silver, either pure, or alloyed in some known proportion with copper, for trying the purity of articles of gold or silver by comparison of the streaks made by the article and the bar on a touchstone.
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Touch-paper (?), n. Paper steeped in saltpeter, which burns slowly, and is used as a match for firing gunpowder, and the like.
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Touchstone (?), n. 1. (Min.) Lydian stone; basanite; -- so called because used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak which is left upon the stone when it is rubbed by the metal. See .
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2. Fig.: Any test or criterion by which the qualities of a thing are tried. Hooker.
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The foregoing doctrine affords us also a touchstone for the trial of spirits. South.
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Coloq. Irish touchstone (Min.), basalt, the stone which composes the Giant's Causeway.
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touch on (?), v. t. To mention briefly, or in passing.
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touch up (?), n. To make minor improvements in, especially in the appearance.
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touch up paint (?), n. A paint applied to small areas of a painted surface, to cover small blemishes, especially on an automobile.
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Touchwood (?), n. [Probably for tachwood; OE. tache tinder (of uncertain origin) + wood.]
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1. Wood so decayed as to serve for tinder; spunk, or punk.
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2. Dried fungi used as tinder; especially, the Polyporus igniarius.
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Touchy (?), a. [For techy, tetchy.] Peevish; irritable; irascible; techy; apt to take fire. [Colloq.]
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It may be said of Dryden that he was at no time touchy about personal attacks. Saintsbury.
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Tough (?), a. [Compar. Tougher (?); superl. Toughest.] [OE. tough, AS. tōh, akin to D. taai, LG. taa, tage, tau, OHG. zāhi, G. zähe, and also to AS. getenge near to, close to, oppressive, OS. bitengi.] 1. Having the quality of flexibility without brittleness; yielding to force without breaking; capable of resisting great strain; as, the ligaments of animals are remarkably tough. “Tough roots and stubs. ” Milton.
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2. Not easily broken; able to endure hardship; firm; strong; -- of objects and people; as, tough sinews. Cowper.
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A body made of brass, the crone demands, . . .
Tough to the last, and with no toil to tire. Dryden.
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The basis of his character was caution combined with tough tenacity of purpose. J. A. Symonds.
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3. Not easily separated; viscous; clammy; tenacious; as, tough phlegm.
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4. Stiff; rigid; not flexible; stubborn; as, a tough bow.
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So tough a frame she could not bend. Dryden.
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5. Severe; violent; as, a tough storm. [Colloq.] “ A tough debate. ” Fuller.
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6. Difficult to do, perform, or accomplish; as, a tough job.
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7. Prone to aggressive or violent behavior; rowdyish; -- of people, or groups; as, a tough neighborhood; a tough character.
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Coloq. To make it tough , to make it a matter of difficulty; to make it a hard matter. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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tough (?), n. A person who is tough{7}; a ruffian; a thug; as, a cluster of neighborhood toughs hanging out on the corner.
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Tough-cake (?), n. See (b).
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Toughen (?), v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Toughened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Toughening.] To grow or make tough, or tougher.
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Tough-head (?), n. (Zoöl.) The ruddy duck. [ Local U. S. ]
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Toughish, a. Tough in a slight degree.
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Toughly, adv. In a tough manner.
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Toughness, n. The quality or state of being tough.
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Tough-pitch (?), n. (Metal.) (a) The exact state or quality of texture and consistency of well reduced and refined copper. (b) Copper so reduced; -- called also tough-cake.
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Touite (?), n. The wood warbler. [Prov. Eng.]
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{ Toupee (?; 277), Toupet (?; 277) } (?), n. [F. toupet, dim. of OF. top a tuft; of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. top. See apex, and cf. .]
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1. A little tuft; a curl or artificial lock of hair.
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2. A small wig, or a toppiece of a wig.
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Her powdered hair is turned backward over a toupee. G. Eliot.
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Toupettit (?), n. [See , .] (Zoöl.) The crested titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]
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Tour (?), n. [F. tour. See .] A tower. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Tour (?), n. [F. tour. See , v. t.] 1. A going round; a circuit; hence, a journey in a circuit; a prolonged circuitous journey; a comprehensive excursion; as, the tour of Europe; the tour of France or England.
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The bird of Jove stooped from his airy tour. Milton.
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2. A turn; a revolution; as, the tours of the heavenly bodies. [Obs.] Blackmore.
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3. (Mil.) anything done successively, or by regular order; a turn; as, a tour of duty.
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Syn. -- Journey; excursion. See .
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Tour (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Toured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Touring.] To make a tourm; as, to tour throught a country. T. Hughes.
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Touraco (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as .
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Tourbillion (?), n. [F. torbillion a whirlwind, tourbillion, fr. L. turbo, -inis, a whirl, whirlwind.] An ornamental firework which turns round, when in the air, so as to form a scroll of fire. G. Francis.
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Touring car. An automobile designed for touring; specif., a roomy car, not a limousine, for five or more passengers.
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Tourist (?), n. One who makes a tour, or performs a journey, especially for pleasure.
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Tourmaline (?), n. [F. tourmaline, cf. It. turmalina, tormalina, NL. turmalina, turmalinus; all fr. tournamal, a name given to this stone in Ceylon.] (Min.) A mineral occurring usually in three-sided or six-sided prisms terminated by rhombohedral or scalenohedral planes. Black tourmaline (schorl) is the most common variety, but there are also other varieties, as the blue (indicolite), red (rubellite), also green, brown, and white. The red and green varieties when transparent are valued as jewels. [Written also turmaline .]
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☞ Crystals of tourmaline when heated exhibit electric polarity (see , n.). Tourmaline is also used in the form of a polariscope called tourmaline tongs.
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Tourn (?), n. [See ] 1. A spinning wheel. [Prov. Eng.]
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2. (O.Eng.Law) The sheriff's turn, or court.
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Tournament (?), n. [OE. turnement, tornement, OF. torneiement, tornoiement, F. tournoiement a turning or wheeling round. See .] 1. A mock fight, or warlike game, formerly in great favor, in which a number of combatants were engaged, as an exhibition of their address and bravery; hence, figuratively, a real battle. “In battle and in tourneyment.” Chaucer.
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With cruel tournament the squadrons join. Milton.
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☞ It different from the joust, which was a trial of skill between one man and another.
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2. Any contest of skill in which there are many contestents for championship; as, a chess tournament.
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Tournery (?), n. Work turned on a lathe; turnery. [Obs.] See . Evelyn.
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Tourney (?), n. [OF. tornei, tornoi, F. tournoi, fr. OF. torneier, tornoier, tournoier, to tit, to tourney, F. tournoyer to turn round and round. See , v. t.] A tournament. Bacon.
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At tilt or tourney or like warlike game. Spenser.
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We hold a tourney here to-morrow morn,
And there is scantly time for half the work. Tennyson.
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Tourney, v. i. [Cf.OF. torneier. See , n. ] To perform in tournaments; to tilt.
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Well could he tourney, and in lists debate. Spenser.
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Tourniquet (?), n. [F., fr. tourner to turn.] (Surg.) An instrument for arresting hemorrhage. It consists essentially of a pad or compress upon which pressure is made by a band which is tightened by a screw or other means.
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Tournois (?), n. [F., belonging to Tours in France.] A former French money of account worth 20 sous, or a franc. It was thus called in distinction from the Paris livre, which contained 25 sous.
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Tournure (?), n. [F., fr. tourner to turn.]
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1. Turn; contour; figure.
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2. Any device used by women to expand the skirt of a dress below the waist; a bustle.
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{ Touse, Touze (touz) }, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Toused (touzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Tousing.] [OE. tosen. √64. See , and cf. , .] To pull; to haul; to tear; to worry. [Prov. Eng.] Shak.
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As a bear, whom angry curs have touzed. Spenser.
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Touse (touz), n. A pulling; a disturbance. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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Tousel (?), v. t. Same as . [Colloq.]
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Touser (?), n. One who touses. [Prov. Eng.]
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Tousle (?), v. t. [Freq. of touse. Cf. .] To put into disorder; to tumble; to touse. [Colloq.]
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Tous-les-mois (?), n. [F., all the months, i. e., every month.] A kind of starch with very large, oval, flattened grains, often sold as arrowroot, and extensively used for adulterating cocoa. It is made from the rootstocks of a species of Canna, probably Canna edulis, the tubers of which are edible every month in the year.
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Tousy (?), a. [See , n. & v.] Tousled; tangled; rough; shaggy. [Colloq.]
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Tout (t�t), v. i. [See 1st .] 1. To act as a tout. See 2d . [Cant. Eng.]
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2. To ply or seek for customers. [Prov. Eng.]
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Tout (tout; t�t; Scot. & dial. t�t), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Touted; p. pr. & vb. n. Touting.] 1. To look narrowly; spy. [Scot. & Dial. Eng.]
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2. (Horse Racing) (a) To spy out the movements of race horses at their trials, or to get by stealth or other improper means the secrets of the stable, for betting purposes. [Cant, Eng.] (b) To act as a tout; to tout, or give a tip on, a race horse. [Cant, U. S.]
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Tout, n. One who secretly watches race horses which are in course of training, to get information about their capabilities, for use in betting. [Cant. Eng.]
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2. One who gives a tip on a race horses for an expected compensation, esp. in hopes of a share in any winnings; -- usually contemptuous. [Cant, U. S.]
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3. One who solicits custom, as a runner for a hotel, cab, gambling place. [Colloq.]
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4. A spy for a smuggler, thief, or the like. [Colloq.]
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Tout (t�t), n. [Prob. fr. F. tout all.] In the game of solo, a proposal to win all eight tricks.
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Tout, v. i. [See 3d . ] To toot a horn.
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Tout, v. t. (Horse Racing) (a) To spy out information about, as a racing stable or horse. [Cant, Eng.] (b) To give a tip on (a race horse) to a better with the expectation of sharing in the latter's winnings. [Cant, U. S.]
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Tout, n. The anus. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Tout-ensemble (?), n. [F.] All together; hence, in costume, the fine arts, etc., the general effect of a work as a whole, without regard to the execution of the separate perts.
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Touter (?), n. One who seeks customers, as for an inn, a public conveyance, shops, and the like: hence, an obtrusive candidate for office. [Colloq.]
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The prey of ring droppers, . . . duffers, touters, or any of those bloodless sharpers who are, perhaps, better known to the police. Dickens.
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Touze (touz), v. t. & i. See . [Prov. Eng.]
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Tow (tō), n. [OE. tow, AS. tow, akin to OD. touw, Icel. tō a tuft of wool for spinning; cf. E. taw, v. t.] The coarse and broken part of flax or hemp, separated from the finer part by the hatchel or swingle.
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Tow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Towed (tōd); p. pr. & vb. n. Towing.] [OE. towen, toȝen; akin to OFries. toga to pull about, OHG. zogōn, Icel. toga, AS. tohline a towline, and AS. teón to draw, p. p. getogen. See .] To draw or pull through the water, as a vessel of any kind, by means of a rope.
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