tion, and to assist the eye in levelling, and by which the bayonet is fixed on the barrel.

SIGHT is also the name of the two thin pieces of brass on the extremity of an aledade, or index of a theodolite, &c. for the just direction of the index to the line of the object.

SIGIL (Med.) a charm which was formerly worn for the cure of diseases.

SIGILLA'RIA (Ant.) feasts in honour of Saturn celebrated after the Saturnalia; at which little statues of silver, &c. were offered to the god.

SIGILLUM (Law) vide Seal.

five; nectary composed of two toothlets.-STAM. filaments ten, awl-shaped; anthers oblong. - PIST. germ cylindrical; styles three; stigmas bent contrary to the sun's apparent motion.-PER. capsule cylindrical; seeds very many.

Species. The species are mostly annuals, as the-Silene anglica, seu Lychnis, English Catch-fly.-Silene lusitanica, seu Viscago, Portugal Catch-fly.-Silene nocturna, Spiked Night-flowering Catch-fly. But the Silene chlorantha, seu Cucubalus, Pale-flowered Catch-fly; and the Silene virginica, &c. are perennials. And the Silene undulata, ornata, &c. are biennials.

SIGLA (Archæol.) a sail.

SIGMA (Gram.) a letter in the Greek alphabet. [vide Alpha

bet

balus, the Lichnis, the Saponaria, and the Velezia. LER (Bot.) a species of the Laserpitium, the Peucedanum, and the Seseli of Linnæus.

SILI

RIUS (Archæol.) one of the privy council, silentium being formerly taken for conventus privatus.

to the valves, and sometimes to the cartilages of the aspera arteria, or the semilunar apophysis of the bones. SIGN (Algeb.) a symbol, or character, employed to denote some particular operation. [vide Algebra and Character] SIGN (Astron.) a 12th part of the Ecliptic, or zodiac, containing 30 degrees. [vide Astronomy]

SIGN MANUAL (Law) the setting one's hand and seal to a writing, particularly applied to the King's signature to bills, &c.

SIGNA (Ant.) standards or ensigns among the ancients; those of the Greeks bore the figures of different animals; those of the Romans commonly bore that of the eagle. [vide Militia]

SIGNAL (Mar.) certain signs agreed upon for suddenly communicating intelligence to distant objects at sea, to which the voice cannot possibly reach; these are either day-signals, night-signals, or fog-signals.

SIGNATURES (Law) writings presented to the Barons of the Exchequer in Scotland, as the grounds of royal grants, which, after being passed by the barons in some instances, have the sign manual of his majesty. SIGNATURE (Print.) the letter placed by printers at the bottom of a sheet, to distinguish it from others. [vide Printing] SIGNET (Polit.) one of the King's seals in England, used in sealing his private letters, and all such grants as pass his Majesty's hand by bill signed; which seal is always in the custody of the King's secretaries.-Clerk of the Signet, an officer who continually attends upon the principal Secretary of State, who has the signet in his keeping for the sealing of letters, &c.

SIGNIFER (Astron.) another name for the zodiac. SIGNIFICATOR (Astrol.) a planet which signifies something remarkable in nativities.

SIGNIFICA VIT (Law) a writ issuing out of chancery, upon certificate given by the ordinary, of a man's standing excommunicate by the space of forty days, for the laying him up in prison till he submit himself to the authority of the church. SIGNUM (Ant.) the military standard of the Romans. SIGNUM (Archæol.) the note or mark formerly prefixed to the name of a subscribing witness.

SILAGURIUM (Bot.) a species of the Sida of Linnæus. SILA'UM (Bot.) a species of the Peucedanum of Linnæus. SILENCE (Mil.) French for the word attention, which is used in the English exercise to prepare the men for the word of command.

TO SILENCE a Battery (Mil.) to attack it in such manner by heavy artillery, or otherwise, as to render it unfit to be worked.

SILENE (Bot.) a genus of plants, Class 10 Decandria, Order 3 Trigynia.

Generic Character. CAL. perianth one-leaved.--COR. petals

provided for the dead some time after the funeral. Fest. de l'erb. Signif

SILICULA (Bot.) a short broad pod, or a two-valved pericarp, having the seeds fixed along both sutures, as in the annexed figure.

SI'LIGO (Ant.) the finest kind of flour among the Romans.

SI'LIQUA (Archæol.) the weight now called

a carat.

SILIQUA (Bot.) a silique, an oblong membranaceous, two-valved pod, having the seeds fixed along both sutures. The proper siliqua has a dissepimentum or partition running the whole length of it, as in the annexed figure.

SILIQUA is also the name of several plants; namely, of a species of the Ceratonia, the Cercis, the Poinciana, and the Tamarindus of Linnæus.

SILIQUU'STRUM (Bot.) the Cercis siliquustrum, &c. of Linnæus.

SILK (Com.) a fine kind of thread, prepared from the thread spun by the silkworm.

SILK-COTTON (Bot) the Bombax of Linnæus, a tree in the East Indies, so called from the down in its seed pod, of which clothing is made.

SILK-THROWER (Com.) or Silk-Throwster, one who winds, twists, spins, or throws silk, so as to fit it for weaving. SILK-THROWERS Company of (Her.) were incorporated in 1629. Their armorial ensigns are, as in the annexed figure, "Argent, three bundles of silk, sable, on a chief, a silk thrower's mill."

SILL (Carpent.) a beam disposed in the lower part of walls, or upon the tops of joists, or under apertures, as ground-sills, door-sills, and window-sills, &c. SILL (Mar.) vide Sills.

SI'LLABUB (Cook.) a pleasant drink prepared by milking a cow into cyder, wine, sugar, &c.

SI'LLADARS (Mil.) armour-bearers belonging to the Mah

ratta.

SILLON (Fort.) a work raised in the middle of a ditch to defend it when it is too wide.

SILLS of the Ports (Mar.) or Portsills, pieces of oak timber, let in horizontally between the frames of the ports, to form their upper and lower sides.

SILPHA (Ent.) a genus of insects, of the Coleoplerous
Order, having the antennæ clavate; shells margined; head
prominent; thorax flattened. This insect is known in
English by the name of the Carrion Beetle.
SILPHIUM (Bot.) σia, a plant which is described by the
Scholiast of Aristophanes, as forager xáxocμor, which is

supposed to answer to what is now called Assa foetida. Theophrast. 1. 6, c. 3; Dioscor. l. 3, c. 94; Columel. 1. 12, c. 7; Plin. 1. 19, c. 3, &c.1

SILPHIUM, a genus of plants, Class 19 Syngenesia, Order 4 Polygamia necessaria.

Generic Character. CAL. common ovate.-COR. compound radiate; proper of the hermaphrodites, one-petalled, funnelform of the females lanceolate.-STAM. in the hermaphrodites, filaments five, capillary; anthers cylindrical. -PIST. in the hermaphrodites, germ very slender; style very long stigma; in the female germ obcordate; style short; stigmas two, bristle-shaped-PER. none; calyx unchanged; seeds in the hermaphrodites none, in the females solitary; receptacle chaffy.

-

Silph

bore

Species. The species are perennials, as the Silph trifoliatum, seu Chrysanthemum. scens, &c. SILVA cadua (Law) wood under twenty year's growth; coppice, mentioned in stat. 4.5 Ed. 3, c. 3. SILVER (Min.) argentum, a well known metal, found both native and mineralized, and in combination with lead, copper, mercury, cobalt, sulphur, arsenic, &c. The principal ores of silver are Native Silver, Antimoniated Silver, Sulphuret of Silver, &c. [vide Mineralogy] Pure silver is very sonorous, brilliant, and white, being the most splendid of all metals. It is exceedingly ductile and tenacious, and forms alloys with all the metals except cobalt and nickel. Its specific gravity various, from 10 to 11. [vide Chemistry] In order to extract silver from its ores, it is pounded, roasted, washed, and triturated with mercury, &c. [vide Metallurgy

SILVER-BUSH (Bot.) the Anthyllis barba Jovis of Lin

næus, a shrub.-Silver-Tree, the Protea argentea.—SilverWeed, the Potentilla anserina, a perennial.

SILURUS (Ich.) a genus of fishes, of the abdominal Order, having the head large, naked, and broad; mouth with a gape very large; lateral line near the back. SILYBUM (Bot.) the Carduus marinus of Linnæus. SIMABA (Bot.) a species of the Zwingera of Linnæus.. SIMIA (Zool.) a genus of animals, comprehending, in the Linnean system, three divisions; namely, 1. The Ape, having no tail. 2. The Baboon, having a short tail. 3. The Monkey, having a long tail.

SIMILAR (Math.) an epithet applied mostly to figures, angles, &c. which have the same disposition and conformation of parts. Similar angles are also equal angles.Similar arcs of circles are such as are like parts of their whole peripheries; and, in general, similar arcs of any like curves are the like parts of the wholes.-Similar conic sections are such as are of the same kind, having their principal axes and parameters proportional.-Similar diameters of conic sections are such as make equal angles with their ordinates. Similar figures, or plane figures, such as have all their angles equal respectively, each to each, and their sides about the equal angles proportional: all circles are similar figures. Similar plane numbers are such as may be ranged into the form of similar rectangles.—Similar polygons, polygons of the same number of angles, and the angles of the one severally equal to the angles of the other; also the sides about those angles proportional.-Similar rectangles, those that have the sides about the equal angles proportional. All squares are similar.Similar segments of circles are such as contain equal angles.-Similar solids are such as are contained under the same number of similar planes alike situated. Similar solids are to each other as the cubes of their like linear dimensions.-Similar solid numbers are those whose like cubes may be so ranged as to form similar parallelopipedons.—Similar triangles are such as are equiangular ones, or have all their three angles respectively, equal in each triangle.

VOL. II.

SIMILAR Bodies (Phy.) such as have their particles, of the same kind and nature, one with another le ai que SIMILAR Light (Opt.) such whose rays are equally refrangible. 1 bat gdy te atoa msib teu; 1 d' SIMIRA (Bot.) the Psycotria parviflora of Linnæus. SIMNEL (Archeol.) siminellus, the purest kind of white bread mentioned in stat. 51 Hen. 3, st. 1. SIMONY (Law) an unlawful contract for the presenting a clergyman to a benefice, so called from the resemblance which it is supposed to bear to the sin of Simon Magus. SIMPLE (Math.) an epithet for whatever is not mixed or compounded, as Simple Equations, Fractions, Surds, Quantities, Flank, Tenaille, Machine, Motion, Pendulum, Wheel, Problem, Vision, &c. most of which words will be found further explained in their respective places. 1/72 SIMPLE Contract (Law) a term applied to debts where the contract, upon which the obligation arises, is neither as certained by marter of record, nor yet by deed or special instrument, but by mere oral evidence. Simple Larceny, vide Larceny.

1

SIMPLER (Com.) a gatherer of herbs, or a dealer in simples. SIMPLER'S Joy (Bot.) a name for a species of Verbena. SIMPLEX (Law) simple or single, as Charta simplex, a deed, poll, or single deed. Simpler beneficium, a minor dignity in a cathedral or collegiate church.-Simplex Justiciarius, a name formerly given to a puisne judge, or one that was not chief in any court.

din

SIMPULUM (Ant.) a vessel like a cruet made with a long handle, and used at sacrifices and libations for taking a very little wine at a time. Varro. de Ling. Lat. 1. 4, c. 20. SIMUL CUM (Law) together with; words used in indictments, and declarations of trespass against several persons where some of them are known, and others not, as where the plaintiff declares against A B, the defendant simul cum, i. e. together with, C D,, and others unknown. SINA'PIS (Bot.) a name for a species of the Brassica, the Bunias, the Myagrum, Sinapis, and the Sisymbrium of Linnæus.

SINAPIS, in the Linnean System, a genus of plants, Class 4 genus 15 Tetradynamia, Order 2 Siliquosa. Generic Character. CAL. perianth four-leaved.--COR, four-petalled; nectareous glands four.-STAM, filaments six; anthers acuminate.-PIST. germ cylindrical; style length of the germ; stigma capitate. PER. silique oblong; seeds many globular.

Species. The species are annuals, as the-Sinapis arvensis, Sinapi, Irion, seu Rapistrum, Wild Mustard, or Charlock. Sinapis alba, White Mustard. Sinapis nigra, Common or Black Mustard, &c. Dod. Pempt. Bauh. Hist.; Bauh. Pin.; Ger. Herb.; Park. Theat. Bot.; Raii Hist.; Tournef. Instit.' SINAPI'SMUS (Med) a mustard poultice. SI'NCIPUT (Anat.) the forepart of the head. [vide Caput and Anatomy]

SINAPI'STRUM (Bot.) a species of the Cleome of Linnæus. SI'NE of an arc (Math.) a right tline drawn from one ex

tremity of the arc, perpendicular to the radius drawn to the other extremity of it; or it is half the chord of double the arc. Thus the line DE is the sine of the arc BD, being drawn from the extremity D of the arc BD, perpendicular to the radius C B, and is therefore equal to half the whole chord DF. For the same reason, DE is also the sine of the arc A D, being equal to half the chord DF, of the whole arc DA F; so that A every angle, and its supplement, or what it wants of 180°, have the same sine common to both. The sine of 90°.

B

E

or the Radius, is called the whole sine. Sines are more3 P

over distinguished into right sine, co-sine, and versed sine. -Right sine is simply called the sine, as D E.-Co-Sine of an angle is the sine of the complement of that angle, or of what it wants of 90°, the syllable co being an abbreviation of complement: thus, D H, or its equal CE, is the co-sine of the arc, B D.- Versed sine of an arc is that part of the diameter, intercepted between the sine and the extremity of the arc: thus, E B is the versed sine of the arc DB; AE the versed sine of the arc A D; GH the versed sine of the arc DG, or the co-versed sine of the arc B D.-Artificial sines, logarithmic sines, or the logarithms of sines. -Line of sines, a line on the sector, or Gunter's scale, &c. divided according to the sines, or expressing the sines.Sine of incidence, of reflection, &c. the sine of the angle of incidence, &c.

SINE Assensu Capituli (Law) a writ where a bishop, dean, prebendary, or master of an hospital, aliens the lands holden in right of his bishopric, deanery, house, &c. sine assensu capituli, &c. without the assent of the Chapter or Fraternity in which case his successor shall have this writ. F. N. B. 195; New. Nat. Brev. 432. SI'NECURE (Law) a term applied to the rector of a parish, who, having a vicar under him, endowed and charged with the cure, is not obliged to either duty or residence. The same term is applied to a parish when the church is fallen down.

SINECURE (Polit.) is applied, in its legal sense, to any office or place which is held by one not performing any actual duties.

SINE Die (Law) i. e. without day; a term applied to the

the vagina.-Sinus venæ portarum, the entrance into the liver. SINUS is also the name of the veins of the dura mater, which are distinguished into two longitudinal sinuses, and two lateral sinuses.

SINUS (Surg.) a long, narrow, hollow track, leading from an abscess, or diseased bone, &c.

SIPA NEA (Bot.) the Virecta pratensis of Linnæus. SI'PHILIS (Med.) vide Syphilis. SIPHON (Mech.) a crooked pipe or tube used in the raising of fluids, emptying of vessels, and in various other hydrostatical experiments; it is otherwise called a crane. SIPHONA'NTHEMUM (Bot.) the same as the Siphonanthus. SIPHONA'NTHUS (Bot.) a genus of plants, Class 4 Tetrandria, Order 1 Monogynia.

Generic Character. CAL. perianth one-leaved.-COR. Onepetalled.-SrAM. filaments four; anthers oblong.-PIST. germ four-cleft; style filiform; stigma simple.- PER. berries five; seeds solitary.

Species. The species are herbaceous plants, natives of South America.

SIPHONIA (Bot.) a genus of plants, Class 21 Monoecia, Order 8 Monadelphia.

Generic Character. CAL. perianth one-leaved. COR. none.-STAM. filament in the male a column shorter than the calyx; anthers five.-PIST. in the female, germ conical, globular; style none; stigmas three. - PER. capsule large; seeds solitary.

Species. The single species is the Siphonia elastica, the Elastic-Gum Tree, so called because the gum of that name is extracted from it.

he is dismissed the court.

SI'NGANA (Bot.) a species of the Sterbeckia of Linnæus. SINGLE Bond (Law) vide Bond.

SINGLE-SEE'DED Cucumber (Bot.) the Sicyos of Lin

næus.

SINGULAR Number (Gram.) a form of the noun, whereby it denotes one single thing.

SINGULAR Proposition (Log.) vide Logic. SINGULTUS (Med.) the Hiccough, a convulsive motion of the diaphragm and parts adjacent. SI'NICAL Quadrant (Math.) a quadrant made of wood or metal, with lines drawn from each side intersecting one another, with an index, divided by sines, also with 90° on the limb, and two sights at the edge. Its use is to take the altitude of the sun.

SINISTER (Her.) a term denoting the left side of the escutcheon, as the sinister chief point and the sinister base point. [vide Heraldry]

SINISTER Aspect (Astrol.) an appearance of two planets happening according to the succession of the signs, as Saturn in the same degree as Aries, &c.

TO SINK (Mar.) to force a vessel under the water by means of scuttling, &c.-To sink a deck, to lay the deck of a ship lower than it was before.

SINKING FUND (Pol.) a fund reserved annually from the amount of the taxes, for the purpose of diminishing the

national debt.

SI'NNET (Mar.) rope yarn bound about ropes to prevent them from galling.

SI NON OMNES (Law) a writ on association of justices, by which, if all in commission cannot meet at the day assigned, it is allowed that two or more of them may finish the business.

SINO'PIS (Chem.) Red Lead.

SINO'PLE (Her.) another name for vert.
SI'NUS (Math.) vide Sine.

SINUS (Anat.) any cavity or hollow space in or between the vessels of the animal body.-Sinus coxa, the acetabulum. -Sinus maxillaris, a cavity in the cheek.-Sinus muliebris,

SIPUNCULUS (Ent.) a genus of animals, Class Vermes, Order Intestina, called in English the Tube-Worm, from the elongated cylindrical form of its body.

SI RECOGNOSCAT (Law) a writ that lies for a creditor against his debtor, who, before the sheriff in the County Court, has acknowledged that he owes his creditor such a sum received of him. Old. Nat. Brev. 6. SIREN (Zool.) an amphibious animal of the Order Reptilia, which has feet like a land animal, and gills like a fish. SIREX (Ent.) a genus of insects, of the Hymenopterous Order, having the mouth furnished with a thick horny mandible; antennæ filiform; sting exserted, serrate, stiff; abdomen sessile; wings lanceolate. It is called in English the Tailed Wasp.

SIRI'ASIS (Med.) σips, an inflammation of the brain peculiar to children.

SIRIBO'A (Bot.) the Piper siriboa of Linnæus. SIRIUS (Astron.) a bright star of the first magnitude, in the snout of the constellation Canis Major. The right ascension of Sirius, for the beginning of the year 1814, was 99° 14′ 50′′; declination 16° 27′ 59′′ S.; annual variation in right ascension 39′8′′", in declination 4′′ 2′′". This is the brightest star that appears in our firmament, and is supposed by some to be the nearest.

SIROCCO (Nat.) a periodical wind, which generally blows in Dalmatia and Italy every year about Easter. It blows from the South-East by South, attended with heat, but not rain, and commonly continues for the space of twenty days, usually ceasing at sunset.

SI'RUM (Bot.) seu Sirium, a species of the Piper mala moris.
SI'SARUM (Bot.) or Siser, the same as Sium.
SI'SKIN (Orn.) a bird of the Finch tribe, the Fringilla spinus
of Linnæus.

SI'SON, in the Linnean system, a genus of plants, Class 5
Pentandria, Order 2 Digynia.

Generic Character. CAL. umbel unequal; involucre universal. COR. universal uniform; florets all fertile; proper, equal.-STAM. filaments five; anthers obtuse.

PIST. germ subovate; styles two, reflected; stigmas obtuse.-PER. none; fruit ovate; seeds two. Species. The principal species are annuals, as the-Sison amomum, Sium, Seseli, Petroselinum, seu Cicuta, Hedge Hone-wort or Bastard Stone Parsley.-Sison segetum, Corn Hone-wort.-Sison inundatum, seu Hydrocotyle, Water Hone-wort.

SIST of suspension (Law) the order of the judge in the Scotch Law, staying process on grounds of suspension. SI'STRUM (Ant.) a musical instrument, of an

oval shape, like a racket, as in the annexed figure, which is symbolical of Egypt, where the sistrum was used in the rites of sacrifice to Isis.

S.C

SISY'MBRIUM (Bot.) σ@pier, a coronary plant, which was woven into garlands in honour of Venus. Theophrast. Hist. Plant. 1. 6, c. 7; Ovid. Fast. 1. 4; Dioscor. 1. 2. c. 155; Plin. 1. 20, c. 22. SISYMBRIUM, in the Linnean system, a genus of plants, Class 15 Tetradynamia, Order 2 Siliquosa. Generic Character. CAL. perianth four-leaved. COR. four-petalled.-STAM. filaments six; anthers simple.PIST. germ oblong, filiform; style scarcely any; stigma obtuse.- PER. silique long; seeds very many. Species. The principal species are perennials, as the Sisymbrium nasturtium, seu Nasturtium, the Common Water-Cress.-Sisymbrium sylvestre, seu Brachiolobus, Creeping Water-Cress, &c.—But some are annuals, as the-Sisymbrium terrestre, seu Raphanus, Annual Water Rocket; and the Sisymbrium sophia, Flix-weed. Bauh. Hist.; Bauh. Pin.; Ger. Herb.; Park. Theat.; Raii Hist.

SISYMBRIUM is also the name of the Brassica eruca of Linnæus.

SISYRI'NCHIUM, in the Linnean system, a genus of plants, Class 16 Monadelphia, Order 1 Triandria. Generic Character. CAL. spathe common ancipital.-COR. one-petalled.-STAM. filaments three; anthers bifid below.-PIST. germ obovate; style three-sided; stigmas three, thickish.-PER. capsule ob-ovate; seeds several. Species. The species are bulbous plants, and natives of the Cape of Good Hope.

SISYRINCHIUM is also the name of the Gladiolus alatus, et plicatus, &c.

SIT-FAST (Vet.) a hard knob that grows under a horse's skin, beneath the saddle, fast to his flesh, which is occasioned by a saddle gall or bruise.

SITHOUNDMAN (Archæol.) the chief officer of a town or
parish; the high-constable of a hundred.
SITTA (Orn.) a genus of birds, of the Order Pica, which
is known in English by the name of the Nut-hatch. It has
a subulate bill, a jagged tongue, and feet formed for walk-
ing.

SITŎ'DIUM (Bot.) the same as the Artocarpus.
SIUM (Bot.) ier, an aquatic plant, which was sometimes
called Sisymbrium by the ancients. Dioscor. 1. 2, c. 155;
Plin. 1. 22, c. 22.

SIUM, in the Linnean system, a genus of plants, Class 5
Pentandria, Order 2 Digynia.

Generic Character. CAL. umbel universal, various; partial spreading. COR. universal uniform; proper five-petalled. STAM. filaments very simple; anthers simple.-PIST. germ very small; styles two, reflex; stigmas obtuse.PER. none; fruit ovate; seeds two. Species. The species are perenniais, as the-Sium latifolium, seu Coriandrum, Broad-leaved Water Parsnep. Sium verticulatum, Daucus, Oenanthe, seu Carui, Whorled Water Parsnep. Sium falcaria, Falcaria, Seseli, Eryngium, Ammi, seu Crithmum, Decurrent Water Parsnep. Dod. Pempt.; Bauh. Hist. ; Bauh.

Pin.; Ger. Herb.; Park. Theat. Bot.; Raii Hist. ;
Tourn. Inst.

SIXTEENTH (Mus.) the replicate of the ninth; an interval consisting of two octaves and a second.

SIXTH (Mus.) an interval formed of six sounds, or five diatonic degrees. There are four kind of sixths, two consonant and two dissonant. The consonant sixths are the minor sixth, composed of three tones and two major semitones; and the major sixth, composed of four tones and a major semitone. The dissonant sixths are the diminished sixth and the superfluous sixth.

SIZE (Mech.) a gluey composition used by plasterers, painters, &c.

SIZE (Cus.) so much bread or beer in the University of Cambridge as is set down in the buttery-book, under each scholar's name.

TO SIZE (Cus.) to score, as students do in the buttery-book at Cambridge; which is called battling at the University of Oxford.

SIZEL (Com.) the remainder of the bars of metal at the mint, after the round pieces of money have been cut out, according to their sizes.

SIZER (Cus.) a scholar of the lowest rank at Cambridge, answering to the servitor at Oxford.

SIZIE ME (Sport.) a sequence of six cards at the game of piquet. SKAFFAUS (Archeol.) an engine of war for the defence of soldiers.

SKAIN (Com.) any quantity of thread after it is taken off the reel.

SKARKA'LIA (Archæol.) an engine for catching fish.
TO SKATCH a wheel (Husband.) to stop the wheel of a
cart or waggon, by putting a stone before it.
SKATE (Ich.) a fish of the Ray tribe, the Raia batis of
Linnæus.

SKEAN (Mil.) a weapon in the shape of a small sword or a
knife, which was anciently used by the Irish.
SKEET (Mar.) a sort of long scoop, used to wet the decks
and sides of a ship in order to keep them cool.
SKEG (Bot.) a wild plum growing in hedges.
SKE'GGER (Ich.) a kind of sinall salmon.
SKEIN (Mil.) or Skeyne. [vide Skeen]
SKELETA (Archæol.) a little bell for a church-book.
SKELETON (Anat.) from σxiλλ, to dry; an assemblage of
the bones of any animal preserved in their natural situa-
tion, and deprived of the flesh.-When the bones are hung
together by wire it is called an artificial skeleton; but when
they are retained in their proper places by means of their
natural ligaments, they are called a natural skeleton.
SKE'LLET (Mech.) a small vessel with feet for boiling.
SKEPPA salis (Archæol.) a measure of salt, the quantity
SKETCH (Paint.) the outline of any object, taken in pencil
or otherwise.

of which is not known.

SKIDS (Mar.) long compassing pieces of timber, formed so as to answer the curve of the ship's side. SKIFF (Mar.) in French esquif; a small light boat, resembling a yawl: also a wherry, without masts. SKIMMER (Orn.) the Rynchops of Linnæus; a bird so called because it skims over the surface of the water. SKIMMIA (Bot.) a Japonese plant, mentioned by Kaempfer.

SKIN (Anat.) one of the principal integuments of the body, which consists of several lamina, the outermost of which is called the scarf skin, or cuticle; the second is known by the name of the rete mucosum; and the third, which is the cutis vera or skin itself.

TO SKIN up a sail in the bunt (Mar.) to make that part of the canvass which covers the sail when furled, smooth and neat, by turning the sail well up on the yard.