Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Shīne, v. i. p. 1219To emit rays of light; to give light; to beam with steady radiance; to exhibit brightness or splendor; as, the sun shines by day; the moon shines by night. Hyperion’s quickening fire doth shine.…Shīne, v. t. p. 1219To occasion or make to shine; as, to shine the eyes of a deer. Bartlett.Shīne, n. p. 1219Fair weather. Be it fair or foul, rain or shine. Dryden. 2. The state of shining; brightness; splendor; luster; gloss; polish. “Now sits not girt with taper’s holy shine.” Milton. “Fair opening to…Shine, a. p. 1219Shining; sheen. [Obs.] Spenser.Shin'er, n. p. 1219That which shines; as, (a.) The sun. I will go searching till I find a sun Shall stay till we have done— A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly As frost-nipped suns look sadly. Herbert. (b.) A…Shī'ness, n. p. 1219See SHYNESS.Shing'gle, n. p. 1219A piece of wood sawed or rived thin and small, with one end thinner than the other, in order to lap lengthwise, used in covering buildings, especially the roof. I reached St. Asaph, . . . where there…Shĭn'gle, v. t. p. 1219To cover with shingles; as, to shingle a roof. They shingle their houses with it. Evelyn. 2. To cut, as hair, so that one portion overlaps another, like shingles.Shĭn'gle, v. t. p. 1219To squeeze or hammer, as iron, after it has been through the puddling furnace; in order to make it into blooms, and expel impurities.Shĭn'gler, n. p. 1219One who shingles. 2. A machine for shingling puddled iron, or making it into blooms.Shĭn'gle-ro͞ofed, a. p. 1219Having a roof covered with shingles. Blackwood.Shīn'gles, n. p. 1219(Med.) A kind of herpes (Herpes Zoster), which spreads around the body like a girdle; an eruptive disease.