Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Shĕp'herd's-clŭb, n. p. 1218(Bot.) A species of mullein; Verbascum thapsus.Shĕp'herd's-nee'dle, n. p. 1218(Bot.) An annual plant of the genus Scandix; Venus's comb.Shĕp’herd’s-pouch or Shĕp’herd’s-pûrse, n. p. 1218(Bot.) An annual cruciferous plant (Capsella bursa-pastoris), bearing small white flowers.Shĕp'herd's-rŏd or Shĕp'herd's-stȧff, n. p. 1218(Bot.) A plant of the genus Dipsacus; teasel.Shẽr'bet, n. p. 1218A drink used in the East, composed of water, lemon-juice, and sugar, sometimes with perfumed cakes dissolved in it, with an infusion of some drops of rose-water or other ingredient, to give it an…Shẽrd, n. p. 1218A fragment; as, pot-sherd. See SHARD. “The thigh ('tis called the knuckle-bone) which all in sherds it drove.” Chapman.Shĕr'eef or Shĕr'if p. 1218Shĕr'if, n. [See SCHERIF and CHERIFF.] 1. A descendant of Mohammed. [Written also cherif, scherif, and sherriffe. See CHERIFF.] 2. The chief magistrate of Mecca.Shĕr'iff, n. p. 1218The chief officer of a shire or county, to whom is intrusted the execution of the laws. ☞ In England, sheriffs are appointed by the king. In the United States, sheriffs are elected by the…Shĕr'iff-al-ty or Shĕr'iff-dôm or Shĕr'iff-ship or Shĕr'iff-wĭck, n. p. 1218The office or jurisdiction of sheriff. See SHRIEVALTY.Shẽrn, n. p. 1218See SHEARN.Shĕr'ris, n. p. 1218The same as SHERRY. [Obs.] The second property of your excellent sherris is . . . the warming of the blood. Shak.Shĕr'ry, n. p. 1218A strong wine of a deep amber color, and having, when good, an aromatic odor;—so called from Xeres, near Cadiz, in Spain, where it is made. Sherry-cobbler, a beverage prepared with sherry wine…Shĕr'ry-văl'lies, n. pl. p. 1218Pantaloons of thick cloth or leather, buttoned on the outside of each leg, and generally worn over other pantaloons, to protect from dust or mud when riding on horseback. [Local U. S.] Bartlett.Shew or Shewed or Shewn p. 1218See SHOW, SHOWED, SHOWN. ☞ The use of shew for shewed or showed, common in some parts of the United States, is a gross vulgarism, which can not be too carefully avoided.Shew'-brĕad, n. p. 1218See SHOW-BREAD.Shew'er, n. p. 1218See SHOWER.Shĭ'ah, n. p. 1218A Shiite. See SHIITE.Shĭb'bo-leth, n. p. 1218A word which was made the criterion by which to distinguish the Ephraimites from the Gileadites. The Ephraimites, not being able to pronounce the letter ש, sh, pronounced the word sibboleth. See…Shīde, n. p. 1218A piece split off; a cleft; a piece; a billet of wood; a splinter. [Prov. Eng.]Shīe, v. t. p. 1218To throw; as, to shie a stone. [Written also shy.] [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Shiēl, n. p. 1218See SHEELING.Shiēld, n. p. 1218A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm; a buckler; — formerly used in war for the protection of the body. Now put your shields before your hearts and fight, With hearts more proof than…Shiēld, v. t. p. 1218To cover as with a shield; to cover from danger; to defend; to protect; to secure from assault or injury. To see the son the vanquished father shield. Dryden. 2. To ward off; to defend against; as…Shiēld'-drāke, n. p. 1218The same as SHELDRAKE.Shiēld'fērn, n. p. 1218(Bot.) A fern of the genus Aspidinus; — called also wood-fern.Shiēld'less, a. p. 1218Destitute of a shield, or of protection.Shiēld'less-ly, adv. p. 1218In a shieldless manner; without protection.Shiēld'less-ness, n. p. 1218The state of being shieldless; destitution of a shield, or of protection.Shiēl'ing or Shiēl'ling, n. p. 1218A hut or shelter; a small cottage. See SHEELING. H. Miller.Shift, v. t. p. 1218To change; to alter; as, to shift the scenes. 2. To transfer from one place or position to another; as, shift the helm; shift the sails. 3. To put off or out of the way by some expedient. “I shifted…Shift, v. i. p. 1218To vary from one point or direction to another; to change about; to move. Here the Baillie shifted and fidgeted about in his seat. W. Scott. 2. To change one's occupation or principles. 3. To change…Shift, n. p. 1218A turning from one thing to another; a change; hence, an expedient tried in difficulty; one thing tried when another fails; a contrivance. I'll find a thousand shifts to get away. Shak. 2. A…Shift'a-ble, a. p. 1218Admitting of being shifted. Ash.Shift'er, n. p. 1218One who shifts; one who plays tricks or practices artifice; a cozener. ’Twas such a shifter that, if truth were known, Death was half glad when he had got him down. Milton. 2. (Naut.) A person…Shift'ĭ-ness, n. p. 1218The quality of being shifty or changeable; variableness.Shift'ing-ly, adv. p. 1218By shifts and changes; deceitfully.Shift'less, a. p. 1218Characterized by failure, through negligence or incapacity, to provide for one's self, or to use means requisite for success; as, a shiftless fellow; shiftless management.Shift'less-ly, adv. p. 1218In a shiftless manner.Shift'less-ness, n. p. 1218A state of being shiftless.Shift'y, a. p. 1218Full of, or ready with, shifts; futile in expedients or contrivances. Wright. Shifty and thrifty as old Greek or modern Scot, there were few things he could not invent, and perhaps nothing he could…Shi'ite, n. p. 1218One belonging to that branch of the Mohammedans to which the Persians belong. They reject the first three caliphs, and consider Ali as being the first and only rightful successor of Mohammed. They do…Shĭlf, n. p. 1218Straw. [Obs.]Shĭll, v. t. p. 1218To shell. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Shĭll, v. t. p. 1218To put under cover; to sheal. [Prov. Eng.] Brockett.Shil-lā'lah or Shil-lā'ly, n. p. 1218An oaken sapling or cudgel, said to be from a wood in Ireland of that name, famous for its oaks. [Irish.] [Written also shillelah and shillely.] Grose.Shil'ling, n. p. 1218[A-S. & O. Sax. scilling, O. Fries., Sw., & Dan. skilling, Icel. skillingr, Goth. skilliggs, O. H. Ger. scillinc, scellink; D. schelling, N. H. Ger. schilling, probably from A-S. scillan, O. H. Ger.…Shil'ly-shăll'-ī or Shil'ly-shăll'ly, n. p. 1219Foolish trifling; irresolution. [Vulgar.] She lost not one of her forty-five minutes in picking and choosing—no shilly-shally in Kate. De Quincey.Shill'-Ī-shāll'-Ī or Shill'ly-shāll'ly, adv. p. 1219In an irresolute or undecided manner; in a hesitating manner. I am somewhat dainty in making a resolution, because when I make it, I keep it; I don't stand shill-I-shall-I then: if I say 't, I'll do…Shī'lōh, n. p. 1219(Script.) The Messiah;—so called by Jacob on his death-bed. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the…Shī'ly, adv. p. 1219See SHYLY.Shim, n. p. 1219A tool used in tillage to break down the land, or to cut it up and clear it of weeds. 2. (Mach.) A thin piece of metal placed between two parts to make a fit.Shim'mer, v. i. p. 1219To shine faintly; to gleam; to glisten; to glimmer. “The shimmering glimpses of a stream.” Tennyson.Shim'mer, n. p. 1219A gleaming; a glimmering. The silver lamps . . . diffused . . . a trembling twilight—a seeming shimmer through the quiet apartment. W. Scott.Shĭm'mer-ing, n. p. 1219A gleam or glimmering. “A little shimmering of light.” Chaucer.Shin, n. p. 1219The fore part of the leg, especially of the human leg; the fore part of the crural bone, called tibia by anatomists.Shin, v. i. p. 1219To run about borrowing money hastily and temporarily, as for the payment of one's notes at the bank. [U. S.] Bartlett.Shĭn, v. t. p. 1219To climb by the aid of the hands and legs alone; as, to shin a tree. [Colloq. or low. U. S.]Shin'dle, n. p. 1219A shingle; also, a slate for roofing; as, shindles of the wild oak. [Obs.] Holland.Shin'dle, v. t. p. 1219To cover or roof with shindles. [Obs.] Holland.Shĭn'dy, n. p. 1219An uproar or disturbance; a spree; a row; a riot. Thackeray. 2. A game at ball;—called also bandy and shinney. Bartlett. 3. A fancy or liking. [Colloq.] Bartlett.