Zany - Zero

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Zany (?), v. t. To mimic. [Obs.]
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Your part is acted; give me leave at distance
To zany it. Massinger.
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Zanyism (?), n. State or character of a zany; buffoonery. Coleridge. H. Morley.
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zap (zăp), v. t. 1. to shoot, destroy, or inactivate; my TV set was zapped by lightning.
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2. to bomb with an atomic bomb.
Syn. -- nuke, atomize.
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3. to cook or heat in a microwave oven.
Syn. -- microwave, micro-cook, nuke.
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4. to subject to radiation, a laser beam, a strong electric current, or other potentially destructive treatment.
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5. to skip over (e. g. a commercial or dull interval in a television program) by using the fast-forward button on a VCR remove control.
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6. to add interest, color, or attractiveness to; to liven; -- usually used with up. [RHUD]
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Zapas (?), n. [Russ.] See , above.
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Zapatera (?), n. [Sp. aceituna zapatera.] (Olive trade) A cured olive which has spoiled or is on the verge of decomposition; loosely, an olive defective because of bruises, wormholes, or the like.
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Zaphara (?), n. Zaffer.
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Zaphrentis (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of cyathophylloid corals common in the Paleozoic formations. It is cup-shaped with numerous septa, and with a deep pit in one side of the cup.
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Zapotilla (?), n. (Bot.) See .
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Zaptiah (?), n. A Turkish policeman. [Written also zaptieh.]
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{ Zarathustrian (?), Zarathustric (?) }, a. Of or pertaining to Zarathustra, or Zoroaster; Zoroastrian. Tylor.
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Zarathustrism (?), n. See .
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Zaratite (?), n. (Min.) [Named after Gen. Zarata of Spain.] A hydrous carbonate of nickel occurring as an emerald-green incrustation on chromite; -- called also emerald nickel.
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Zareba (?), n. (Mil.) An improvised stockade; especially, one made of thorn bushes, etc. [Written also zareeba, and zeriba.] [Egypt]
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“Ah,” he moralizes, “what wonderful instinct on the part of this little creature to surround itself with a zareba like the troops after Osman Digma.” R. Jefferies.
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Zarf (?), n. [Ar.] (Art) A metallic cuplike stand used for holding a finjan.
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Zarnich (?), n. [F., fr. Ar. az-zernīkh, fr. Gr. �. See .] (Min.) Native sulphide of arsenic, including sandarach, or realgar, and orpiment.
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Zärthe (?), n. (Zoöl.) A European bream (Abramis vimba). [Written also zaerthe.]
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Zastrugi (?), n. pl.; sing. -ga (#). [Russ. zastruga furrow made on the shore by water.] Grooves or furrows formed in snow by the action of the wind, and running parallel with the direction of the wind. This formation results from the erosion of transverse waves previously formed.
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Zati (zät�), n. (Zoöl.) A species of macaque (Macacus pileatus) native of India and Ceylon. It has a crown of long erect hair, and tuft of radiating hairs on the back of the head. Called also capped macaque.
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Zauschneria (?), n. [NL., named for M. Zauschner, a Bohemian botanist.] (Bot.) A genus of flowering plants. Zauschneria Californica is a suffrutescent perennial, with showy red flowers much resembling those of the garden fuchsia.
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Zax (zăks), n. A tool for trimming and puncturing roofing slates. [Written also sax.]
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Zayat (?; 277), n. A public shed, or portico, for travelers, worshipers, etc. [Burmah]
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Zea (zēȧ), n. [L., a kind of grain, fr. Gr. zea, zeia; cf. Skr. yava barley.] (Bot.) A genus of large grasses of which the Indian corn (Zea Mays) is the only species known. Its origin is not yet ascertained. See .
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Zeal (zēl), n. [F. zèle; cf. Pg. & It. zelo, Sp. zelo, celo; from L. zelus, Gr. �, probably akin to � to boil. Cf. , .]
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1. Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in favor of a person or cause; ardent and active interest; engagedness; enthusiasm; fervor. “Ambition varnished o'er with zeal.” Milton. “Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.” Dryden. “Zeal's never-dying fire.” Keble.
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I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Rom. x. 2.
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A zeal for liberty is sometimes an eagerness to subvert with little care what shall be established. Johnson.
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2. A zealot. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Zeal, v. i. To be zealous. [Obs. & R.] Bacon.
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Zealant (?), n. One who is zealous; a zealot; an enthusiast. [Obs.]
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To certain zealants, all speech of pacification is odious. Bacon.
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Zealed (?), a. Full of zeal; characterized by zeal. [Obs.] “Zealed religion.” Beau. & Fl.
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Zealful (?), a. Full of zeal. [R.] Sylvester.
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Zealless (?), a. Wanting zeal. Hammond.
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Zealot (?), n. [F. zélote, L. zelotes, Gr. �. See .] One who is zealous; one who engages warmly in any cause, and pursues his object with earnestness and ardor; especially, one who is overzealous, or carried away by his zeal; one absorbed in devotion to anything; an enthusiast; a fanatical partisan.
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Zealots for the one [tradition] were in hostile array against zealots for the other. Sir J. Stephen.
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In Ayrshire, Clydesdale, Nithisdale, Annandale, every parish was visited by these turbulent zealots. Macaulay.
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Zealotical (?), a. Like, or suitable to, a zealot; ardently zealous. [R.] Strype.
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Zealotism (?), n. The character or conduct of a zealot; zealotry.
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Zealotist, n. A zealot. [Obs.] Howell.
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Zealotry (?), n. The character and behavior of a zealot; excess of zeal; fanatical devotion to a cause.
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Enthusiasm, visionariness, seems the tendency of the German; zeal, zealotry, of the English; fanaticism, of the French. Coleridge.
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Zealous (?; 277), a. [LL. zelosus. See .]
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1. Filled with, or characterized by, zeal; warmly engaged, or ardent, in behalf of an object.
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He may be zealous in the salvation of souls. Law.
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2. Filled with religious zeal. [Obs.] Shak.
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-- Zealously, adv. -- Zealousness, n.
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Zebec (?), n. (Naut.) See .
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Zebra (?), n. [Pg. zebra; cf. Sp. cebra; probably from a native African name.] (Zoöl.) Any member of three species of African wild horses remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white, and conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands.
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☞ The true or mountain zebra (Equus zebra syn. Asinus zebra) is nearly white, and the bands which cover the body and legs are glossy black. Its tail has a tuft of black hair at the tip. It inhabits the mountains of Central and Southern Africa, and is noted for its wariness and wildness, as well as for its swiftness. The second species (Equus Burchellii syn. Asinus Burchellii or Equus quagga), known as Burchell's zebra, plains zebra, and dauw, is the most abundant, inhabiting the grassy plains of tropical and southern Africa, and differing from the preceding in not having dark bands on the legs, while those on the body are more irregular. It has a long tail, covered with long white flowing hair. Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) is distinct from the others in being placed in the subgenus Dolichohippus, whereas the plains and mountain zebras are placed in the subgenus Hippotigris. More on zebras can be found at:
http://www.imh.org/imh/bw/zebra.html
[ Webster +PJC]

Coloq. Zebra caterpillar , the larva of an American noctuid moth (Mamestra picta). It is light yellow, with a broad black stripe on the back and one on each side; the lateral stripes are crossed with withe lines. It feeds on cabbages, beets, clover, and other cultivated plants. -- Coloq. Zebra opossum , the zebra wolf. See under . -- Coloq. Zebra parrakeet , an Australian grass parrakeet, often kept as a cage bird. Its upper parts are mostly pale greenish yellow, transversely barred with brownish black crescents; the under parts, rump, and upper tail coverts, are bright green; two central tail feathers and the cheek patches are blue. Called also canary parrot, scallop parrot, shell parrot, and undulated parrot. -- Coloq. Zebra poison (Bot.), a poisonous tree (Euphorbia arborea) of the Spurge family, found in South Africa. Its milky juice is so poisonous that zebras have been killed by drinking water in which its branches had been placed, and it is also used as an arrow poison. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants). -- Coloq. Zebra shark . Same as Tiger shark, under . -- Coloq. Zebra spider , a hunting spider. -- Coloq. Zebra swallowtail , a very large North American swallow-tailed butterfly (Iphiclides ajax), in which the wings are yellow, barred with black; -- called also ajax. -- Coloq. Zebra wolf . See under .
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Zebrawood (?), n. (a) A kind of cabinet wood having beautiful black, brown, and whitish stripes, the timber of a tropical American tree (Connarus Guianensis). (b) The wood of a small West Indian myrtaceous tree (Eugenia fragrans). (c) The wood of an East Indian tree of the genus Guettarda.
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Zebrine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to, or resembling, the zebra.
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Zebrinny (?), n.; pl. -nies (�). A cross between a male horse and a female zebra.
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{ Zebrula (?), Zebrule (?) }, n. A cross between a male zebra and a female horse.
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Zebu (?), n. [�. zébu; of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.) A bovine mammal (Ros Indicus) extensively domesticated in India, China, the East Indies, and East Africa. It usually has short horns, large pendulous ears, slender legs, a large dewlap, and a large, prominent hump over the shoulders; but these characters vary in different domestic breeds, which range in size from that of the common ox to that of a large mastiff.
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☞ Some of the varieties are used as beasts of burden, and some fore for riding, while others are raised for their milk and flesh. The Brahmin bull, regarded as sacred by the Hindoos, also belongs to this species. The male is called also Indian bull, Indian ox, Madras ox, and sacred bull.
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Zebub (?), n. (Zoöl.) A large noxious fly of Abyssinia, which like the tsetse fly, is destructive to cattle.
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Zechin (?; 277), n. See .
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Zechstein (?), n. [Gr., fr. zeche a mine + stein a stone.] (Geol.) The upper division of the Permian (Dyas) of Europe. The prevailing rock is a magnesian limestone.
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Zed (?), n. [F., probably through It. zeta, fr. L. zeta. See .] The letter ; -- called also zee, and formerly izzard. “Zed, thou unnecessary letter!” Shak.
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Zedoary (?), n. [F. zédoaire, LL. zedoaria; cf. It. zedoaria, zettovario, Pg. zedoaria, Sp. zedoaria, cedoaria; all fr. Ar. & Per. zedw�r.] (Med.) A medicinal substance obtained in the East Indies, having a fragrant smell, and a warm, bitter, aromatic taste. It is used in medicine as a stimulant.
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☞ It is the rhizome of different species of Curcuma, esp. Curcuma zedoaria, and comes in short, firm pieces, externally of a wrinkled gray, ash-colored appearance, but within of a brownish red color. There are two kinds, round zedoary, and long zedoary.
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Zeekoe (?), n. [D., sea cow, lake cow.] (Zoöl.) A hippopotamus.
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Zeeman effect (?). (Physics) The widening and duplication, triplication, etc., of spectral lines when the radiations emanate in a strong magnetic field, first observed in 1896 by P. Zeeman, a Dutch physicist, and regarded as an important confirmation of the electromagnetic theory of light.
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Zehner (?), n. [G.] An Austrian silver coin equal to ten kreutzers, or about five cents.
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Zein (?), n. [Cf. F. zéïne. See .] (Chem.) A nitrogenous substance of the nature of gluten, obtained from the seeds of Indian corn (Zea) as a soft, yellowish, amorphous substance. [Formerly written zeine.]
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Zeitgeist (?), n. [G.; zeit time + geist spirit. See , n.; , n.] The spirit of the time; the general intellectual and moral state or temper characteristic of any period of time.
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Zemindar (?), n. Same as .
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{ Zemindary (?), Zemindari (?) }, n. Same as .
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Zemni (?), n. (Zoöl.) The blind mole rat (Spalax typhlus), native of Eastern Europe and Asia. Its eyes and ears are rudimentary, and its fur is soft and brownish, more or less tinged with gray. It constructs extensive burrows.
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Zemstvo (?), n. [Russ., fr. zemlya land.] In Russia, an elective local district and provincial administrative assembly. Originally it was composed of representatives elected by the peasantry, the householders of the towns, and the landed proprietors. In the reign of Alexander III. the power of the noble landowners was increased, the peasants allowed only to elect candidates from whom the governor of the province nominated the deputy, and all acts of the zemstvo subjected to the approval of the governor. Theoretically the zemstvo has large powers relating to taxation, education, public health, etc., but practically these powers are in most cases limited to the adjustment of the state taxation.
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Zenana (?), n. [Hind. zenāna, zanāna, fr. Per. zanāna, fr. zan woman; akin to E. queen.] The part of a dwelling appropriated to women. [India]
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Zend (?), n. [See .] Properly, the translation and exposition in the Huzvâresh, or literary Pehlevi, language, of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian sacred writings; as commonly used, the language (an ancient Persian dialect) in which the Avesta is written.
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Zend-Avesta (?), n. [Properly, the Avesta, or sacred text, and its zend, or interpretation, in a more modern and intelligible language. W. D. Whitney.] The sacred writings of the ancient Persian religion, attributed to Zoroaster, but chiefly of a later date.
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Zendik (?), n. [Ar. zandīk.] An atheist or unbeliever; -- name given in the East to those charged with disbelief of any revealed religion, or accused of magical heresies.
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Zenick (?), n. (Zoöl.) A South African burrowing mammal (Suricata tetradactyla), allied to the civets. It is grayish brown, with yellowish transverse stripes on the back. Called also suricat. [obsolete] This term is not found on the internet. It probably refers to the , also called suricate.
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Zenik (?), n. (Zoöl.) See .
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Zenith (?; 277), n. [OE. senyth, OF. cenith, F. zénith, Sp. zenit, cenit, abbrev. fr. Ar. samt-urras way of the head, vertical place; samt way, path + al the + ras head. Cf. .]
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1. That point in the visible celestial hemisphere which is vertical to the spectator; the point of the heavens directly overhead; -- opposed to nadir.
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From morn
To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
A summer's day; and with the setting sun
Dropped from the zenith, like a falling star. Milton.
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2. hence, figuratively, the point of culmination; the greatest height; the height of success or prosperity.
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I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star. Shak.
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This dead of midnight is the noon of thought,
And wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars. Mrs. Barbauld.
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It was during those civil troubles . . . this aspiring family reached the zenith. Macaulay.
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Coloq. Zenith distance . (Astron.) See under . -- Coloq. Zenith sector . (Astron.) See , 3. -- Coloq. Zenith telescope (Geodesy), a telescope specially designed for determining the latitude by means of any two stars which pass the meridian about the same time, and at nearly equal distances from the zenith, but on opposite sides of it. It turns both on a vertical and a horizontal axis, is provided with a graduated vertical semicircle, and a level for setting it to a given zenith distance, and with a micrometer for measuring the difference of the zenith distances of the two stars.
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Zenithal (?), a. Of or pertaining to the zenith. “The deep zenithal blue.” Tyndall.
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Zeolite (?), n. [Gr. � to boil + -lite: cf. F. zéolithe.] (Min.) A term now used to designate any one of a family of minerals, hydrous silicates of alumina, with lime, soda, potash, or rarely baryta. Here are included natrolite, stilbite, analcime, chabazite, thomsonite, heulandite, and others. These species occur of secondary origin in the cavities of amygdaloid, basalt, and lava, also, less frequently, in granite and gneiss. So called because many of these species intumesce before the blowpipe.
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Coloq. Needle zeolite , needlestone; natrolite.
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Zeolitic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a zeolite; consisting of, or resembling, a zeolite.
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Zeolitiform (?), a. Having the form of a zeolite.
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Zephyr (?), n. [L. zephyrus, Gr. �, akin to � darkness, the dark side, west: cf. F. zéphyr.] The west wind; poetically, any soft, gentle breeze. “Soft the zephyr blows.” Gray.
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As gentle
As zephyrs blowing below the violet. Shak.
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Coloq. Zephyr cloth , a thin kind of cassimere made in Belgium; also, a waterproof fabric of wool. -- Coloq. Zephyr shawl , a kind of thin, light, embroidered shawl made of worsted and cotton. -- Coloq. Zephyr yarn , or Coloq. Zephyr worsted , a fine, soft kind of yarn or worsted, -- used for knitting and embroidery.
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Zephyrus (?), n. [L. See .] The west wind, or zephyr; -- usually personified, and made the most mild and gentle of all the sylvan deities.
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Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes. Milton.
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Zeppelin (tsĕppẽlē; Angl. zĕpp�lĭn), n. A dirigible balloon of the rigid type, consisting of a cylindrical trussed and covered frame supported by internal gas cells, and provided with means of propulsion and control. It was first successfully used by Ferdinand Count von Zeppelin.
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Zequin (?), n. See .
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Zerda (?), n. [Of African origin.] (Zoöl.) The fennec.
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Zeriba (?), n. (Mil.) Same as .
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Zero (?), n.; pl. Zeros (#) or Zeroes. [F. zéro, from Ar. çafrun, çifrun, empty, a cipher. Cf. .]
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1. (Arith.) A cipher; nothing; naught.
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2. The point from which the graduation of a scale, as of a thermometer, commences.
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☞ Zero in the Centigrade, or Celsius thermometer, and in the Réaumur thermometer, is at the point at which water congeals. The zero of the Fahrenheit thermometer is fixed at the point at which the mercury stands when immersed in a mixture of snow and common salt. In Wedgwood's pyrometer, the zero corresponds with 1077° on the Fahrenheit scale. See Illust. of .
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3. Fig.: The lowest point; the point of exhaustion; as, his patience had nearly reached zero.
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Coloq. Absolute zero . See under . -- Coloq. Zero method (Physics), a method of comparing, or measuring, forces, electric currents, etc., by so opposing them that the pointer of an indicating apparatus, or the needle of a galvanometer, remains at, or is brought to, zero, as contrasted with methods in which the deflection is observed directly; -- called also null method. -- Coloq. Zero point , the point indicating zero, or the commencement of a scale or reckoning.
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