Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Mū'da-rīne, n. p. 865(Chem.) A peculiar principle obtained from mudar, and having the singular property of softening by cold and hardening by heat. Brande.Mŭd'di-ly, adv. p. 865In a muddy manner; turbidly; with foul mixture; cloudily; obscurely; confusedly.Mŭd'di-ness, n. p. 865The condition or quality of being muddy; turbidness; foulness caused by mud, dirt, or sediment; as, the muddiness of a stream. 2. Intellectual cloudiness or dullness.Mŭd'dle, n. p. 865A state of being turbid or confused; hence, intellectual cloudiness or dullness. There's no great odds betwixt us. We both grub on in a muddle. Dickens.Mŭd’dle, v. t. p. 865To make foul, turbid, or muddy, as water. He did ill to muddle the water. L’Estrange. 2. To cloud or stupefy; to render stupid with liquor; to intoxicate partially. Epicurus seems to have had his…Mŭd'dy, a. p. 865Besmeared or dashed with mud; soiled; as, muddy boots. 2. Foul with mud; turbid; as, a muddy stream. 3. Containing mud; as, a muddy ditch or road. 4. Consisting of mud or earth; gross; impure. “This…Mŭd'dy, v. t. p. 865To soil with mud; to dirty; to render turbid. 2. To cloud; to make dull or heavy. Grew.Mŭd'dy-hēad'ed, a. p. 865Dull; stupid.Mŭd'dy-mĕt'tled, a. p. 865Dull-spirited. Shak.Mŭd'-fish, n. p. 865(Ichth.) A small fresh-water fish of the genus Cobitis; the loach;—so called because it feeds at the bottom of the water.Mŭd'-hĕn, n. p. 865(Ornith.) (a.) A bluish-black wading bird (Fulica Americana), common in the United States. (b.) The Rallus crepitans of the South.Mūd'-hōle, n. p. 865(Steam-boilers.) A hole near the bottom, through which the sediment is withdrawn.Mŭd'-sill, n. p. 865The lowest sill of a structure, usually embedded in the soil; the lowest timbers of a house; also, that sill or timber of a bridge which is laid at the bottom of the water. See SILL.Mūd'-stōne, n. p. 865A rock having the appearance of indurated mud, and probably of a mud origin. Dana.Mūd'-tŭr'tle, n. p. 865A small kind of tortoise;—popularly so called in America.Mŭd'-sŭck'er, n. p. 865(Ornith.) An aquatic fowl which obtains its food from the mud. Derham.Mŭd'-wall, n. p. 865A wall composed of mud, or of materials laid in mud without mortar. 2. (Ornith.) The bee-eater. See MEROPS.Mŭd'-walled, a. p. 865Having a mud wall.Mŭd'-wort, n. p. 865(Bot.) A small plant of the genus Limosella. See LIMOSELLA.Mūe, v. i. p. 865To mew; to molt.Mu-ĕz'zin, n. p. 865A Mohammedan crier of the hour of prayer.Mŭff, n. p. 865A warm cover for receiving the hands, usually made of fur or dressed skins. 2. A mean, silly, or stupid fellow; a poor spirited or despicable person. [Colloq.] “A muff of a curate.” Thackeray.Muf'fe-tee', n. p. 865A small muff worn over the wrist. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Mŭf'fin, n. p. 865A light, spongy cake; circular and flat, used for the lighter meals. 2. An earthen table plate of several different sizes, not exceeding seven inches in diameter.Mŭf'fin-eer', n. p. 865A dish for keeping muffins hot.Mŭf'fle, v. t. p. 865To wrap up in something that conceals; especially, to wrap, as the face or more, in thick and disguising folds; to cover thickly and doubly; hence, to blindfold; to cover; to conceal. They were in…Mŭf'fle, v. i. p. 865To speak indistinctly, or without clear articulation.Mŭf'fle, n. p. 865(Chem. & Metal.) An oven-shaped vessel, used for the purification of gold and silver by means of a cupel made of bone ashes.Mŭf'fle, n. p. 865The bare end of the nose between the nostrils, when covered with a mucous membrane;—applied especially to ruminating animals. Barrow.Mŭf'fler, n. p. 865A cover for the face; a wrapper enveloping the head or neck, used as a part of female dress.Mūf'flon, n. p. 865The wild sheep, or musmon. See MOUFFLON.Mūf'tī, n. p. 865An official expounder of Mohammedan law, in Turkey.Mŭf'ti, n. p. 865The civilian dress of a naval or military officer when off duty; hence, a citizen's dress, as distinguished from military or naval uniform. [Collog. Eng.]Mŭg, n. p. 865A kind of earthen or metal cup, from which liquors are drank. 2. The face or mouth. [Slang.]Mŭg'gard, a. p. 865Sullen; displeased. [Obs.]Mūg'gent or Mŭg'gent, n. p. 865(Ornith.) A species of wild fresh-water duck.Mūg'get, n. p. 865The entrails of a calf. Simmonds.Mūg'gish, a. p. 865The same as MUGGY.Mŭg'gle-tō'ni-an, n. p. 865(Eccl. Hist.) One of an extinct sect, named after Ludovic Muggleton, an English journeyman tailor, who, about 1657, claimed, together with an associate named Reeves, to be inspired. Eadie.Mŭg'gy, a. p. 865Moist; damp; moldy; as, muggy straw. 2. Moist, or damp and close; warm and unelastic; as, muggy air.Mŭg'-house, n. p. 865An ale-house. [Obs.] Tickell.Mū'gi-en-ey, n. p. 865A bellowing. [Obs.] “This mugiency or boation.” Browne.Mū'gi-ent, a. p. 865Lowing; bellowing. [Obs.] Browne.Mū'gil, n. p. 865(Ichth.) A genus of fishes; the mullet.Mū'gi-loid, n. p. 865(Ichth.) One of a family of acanthopterygious fishes, including the mullet. Brande.Măg'-weed, n. p. 865A plant of the genus Valantia.Mŭg'-wort, n. p. 865(Bot.) An herb of the genus Artemisia.Mu-lăt'to, n. p. 865The offspring of a negress by a white man, or of a white woman by a negro.Mu-lăt'tress, n. p. 865A female mulatto.Mŭl'ber-ry, n. p. 865(Bot.) The berry or fruit of a tree of the genus Morus; also, the tree itself.Mŭlch, n. p. 865Half-rotten straw, or any like substance strewn on the ground, as over the roots of a tree, to protect from heat or cold, to keep moist, &c.Mūlch, v. t. p. 865To furnish with, or protect with, mulch.Mūlet, n. p. 865A fine; a pecuniary punishment or penalty. 2. A blemish or defect. [Obs.] Syn. — Amercement; forfeit; forfeiture; penalty.Mūlct, v. t. p. 865To punish for an offense or misdemeanor by imposing a pecuniary fine; to fine. 2. Hence, to deprive of: to withhold from by way of punishment or discipline.Mūlct'a-ry or Mūlct'ū-a-ry, a. p. 865Imposing a pecuniary penalty; consisting of, or paid as, a fine.Mūle, n. p. 865A quadruped of a mongrel breed, usually generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes between a horse and a she-ass; —applied also to any animal produced by a mixture of different species. 2. A…Mūle'-jēn'ny, n. p. 865A machine for spinning cotton.Mūle'-spin'ner, n. p. 865One who spins on a mule.Mū'-le-teer', n. p. 865One who drives mules.Māle'-wort, n. p. 865(Bot.) A plant of the genus Hemionitis.