slovodefinícia
sponge
(encz)
sponge,houba n: Zdeněk Brož
sponge
(encz)
sponge,mycí houba
sponge
(encz)
sponge,piškot n: Zdeněk Brož
Sponge
(gcide)
Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.]
[Formerly written also spunge.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
[1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
[1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
[1913 Webster]

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina.

Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.


Glass sponge. See Glass-sponge, in the Vocabulary.

Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as Spongia graminea, and Spongia equina, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.

Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
Spongia equina.

Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum.

Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.

Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
(Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.

Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.

Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.

Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also Turkish sponge.

To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof.

Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.

Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge.

Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
(Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]
Sponge
(gcide)
Sponge \Sponge\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sponged (sp[u^]njd); p.
pr. & vb. n. Sponging (sp[u^]n"j[i^]ng).]
1. To cleanse or wipe with a sponge; as, to sponge a slate or
a cannon; to wet with a sponge; as, to sponge cloth.
[1913 Webster]

2. To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to
efface; to destroy all trace of. --Hooker.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: To deprive of something by imposition. "How came
such multitudes of our nation . . . to be sponged of their
plate and their money?" --South.
[1913 Webster]

4. Fig.: To get by imposition or mean arts without cost; as,
to sponge a breakfast. --Swift.
[1913 Webster]
Sponge
(gcide)
Sponge \Sponge\, v. i.
1. To suck in, or imbibe, as a sponge.
[1913 Webster]

2. Fig.: To gain by mean arts, by intrusion, or hanging on;
as, an idler sponges on his neighbor. --E. Eggleston.
[1913 Webster]

The fly is an intruder, and a common smell-feast,
that sponges upon other people's trenchers.
--L'Estrange.
[1913 Webster]

3. To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by
the agency of yeast, or leaven.
[1913 Webster]
sponge
(wn)
sponge
n 1: a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal
skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb
water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly
used
2: someone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and
easily; "she soaks up foreign languages like a sponge" [syn:
quick study, sponge]
3: a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the
host) in hope of gain or advantage [syn: leech, parasite,
sponge, sponger]
4: primitive multicellular marine animal whose porous body is
supported by a fibrous skeletal framework; usually occurs in
sessile colonies [syn: sponge, poriferan, parazoan]
v 1: wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten
2: ask for and get free; be a parasite [syn: mooch, bum,
cadge, grub, sponge]
3: erase with a sponge; as of words on a blackboard
4: soak up with a sponge
5: gather sponges, in the ocean
sponge
(foldoc)
sponge

A kind of Unix filter that reads its entire input
before writing any output, e.g. sort. Unlike most filters, a
sponge can safely overwrite the input file with the output data.

On a file system with file versioning (like ITS or VMS) the
distinction is less significant because output would be written to
a new version of the input file anyway.

See also slurp.

[Jargon File]

(2014-06-21)
sponge
(jargon)
sponge
n.

[Unix] A special case of a filter that reads its entire input before
writing any output; the canonical example is a sort utility. Unlike most
filters, a sponge can conveniently overwrite the input file with the output
data stream. If a file system has versioning (as ITS did and VMS does now)
the sponge/filter distinction loses its usefulness, because directing
filter output would just write a new version. See also slurp.
podobné slovodefinícia
bath sponge
(encz)
bath sponge,mycí houba
chuck up the sponge
(encz)
chuck up the sponge,vzdát zápas Zdeněk Brož
glass sponge
(encz)
glass sponge, n:
loufah sponge
(encz)
loufah sponge, n:
sea sponge
(encz)
sea sponge,mořská houba
sponge bag
(encz)
sponge bag, n:
sponge bath
(encz)
sponge bath,umytí houbou Zdeněk Brož
sponge cake
(encz)
sponge cake,bábovka sponge cake,piškot sponge cake,piškotový dort
sponge cloth
(encz)
sponge cloth,houbová utěrka n: Pino
sponge down
(encz)
sponge down, v:
sponge genus
(encz)
sponge genus, n:
sponge gourd
(encz)
sponge gourd, n:
sponge mop
(encz)
sponge mop, n:
sponge morel
(encz)
sponge morel, n:
sponge mushroom
(encz)
sponge mushroom, n:
sponge off
(encz)
sponge off, v:
sponge on
(encz)
sponge on, v:
sponge up
(encz)
sponge up,nasát v: Zdeněk Brož
sponge-cake
(encz)
sponge-cake,piškotová buchta Zdeněk Brož
spongecake
(encz)
spongecake,piškotová buchta Zdeněk Brož
sponged
(encz)
sponged,
spongefly
(encz)
spongefly, n:
spongelike
(encz)
spongelike, adj:
sponger
(encz)
sponger,příživník n: Zdeněk Brožsponger,vyžírka n: Zdeněk Brož
vegetable sponge
(encz)
vegetable sponge, n:
Bath sponge
(gcide)
Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.]
[Formerly written also spunge.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
[1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
[1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
[1913 Webster]

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina.

Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.


Glass sponge. See Glass-sponge, in the Vocabulary.

Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as Spongia graminea, and Spongia equina, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.

Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
Spongia equina.

Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum.

Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.

Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
(Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.

Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.

Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.

Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also Turkish sponge.

To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof.

Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.

Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge.

Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
(Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]
Cup sponge
(gcide)
Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.]
[Formerly written also spunge.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
[1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
[1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
[1913 Webster]

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina.

Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.


Glass sponge. See Glass-sponge, in the Vocabulary.

Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as Spongia graminea, and Spongia equina, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.

Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
Spongia equina.

Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum.

Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.

Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
(Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.

Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.

Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.

Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also Turkish sponge.

To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof.

Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.

Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge.

Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
(Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]
Disponge
(gcide)
Disponge \Dis*ponge"\, v. t. [Pref. dis- + sponge.]
To sprinkle, as with water from a sponge. [Poetic & Rare]
[Written also dispunge.]
[1913 Webster]

O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,
The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Egyptian bath sponge
(gcide)
Towel \Tow"el\, n. [OE. towaille, towail, F. touaille, LL.
toacula, of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. dwahila, swahilla, G.
zwehle, fr. OHG. dwahan to wash; akin to D. dwaal a towel,
AS. [thorn]we['a]n to wash, OS. thwahan, Icel. [thorn]v[=a],
Sw. tv[*a], Dan. toe, Goth. [thorn]wahan. Cf. Doily.]
A cloth used for wiping, especially one used for drying
anything wet, as the person after a bath.
[1913 Webster]

Towel gourd (Bot.), the fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant
Luffa Aegyptiaca; also, the plant itself. The fruit is
very fibrous, and, when separated from its rind and seeds,
is used as a sponge or towel. Called also {Egyptian bath
sponge}, and dishcloth.
[1913 Webster]
Finger sponge
(gcide)
Finger \Fin"ger\ (f[i^][ng]"g[~e]r), n. [AS. finger; akin to D.
vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan.
finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E.
fang.]
1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit;
esp., one of the four extremities of the hand, other than
the thumb.
[1913 Webster]

2. Anything that does the work of a finger; as, the pointer
of a clock, watch, or other registering machine;
especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece,
which is brought into contact with an object to effect,
direct, or restrain a motion.
[1913 Webster]

3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a
measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a
measure in domestic use in the United States, of about
four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard.
[1913 Webster]

A piece of steel three fingers thick. --Bp. Wilkins.
[1913 Webster]

4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a
musical instrument. [R.]
[1913 Webster]

She has a good finger. --Busby.
[1913 Webster]

Ear finger, the little finger.

Finger alphabet. See Dactylology.

Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or
fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and
reaping machines play.

Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument
against which the fingers press the strings to vary the
tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual.

Finger bowl Finger glass, a bowl or glass to hold water
for rinsing the fingers at table.

Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove.

Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Panicum sanguinale)
with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See
Crab grass, under Crab.

Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut.

Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a
painted or polished door from finger marks.

Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger.

Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be
sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind.

Finger shell (Zool.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus)
resembling a finger in form.

Finger sponge (Zool.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes,
or branches.

Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger.

Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's
knife.
[1913 Webster]

To burn one's fingers. See under Burn.

To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.]

To have at one's fingers' ends, to be thoroughly familiar
with. [Colloq.]
[1913 Webster]
Glass sponge
(gcide)
Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.]
[Formerly written also spunge.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
[1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
[1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
[1913 Webster]

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina.

Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.


Glass sponge. See Glass-sponge, in the Vocabulary.

Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as Spongia graminea, and Spongia equina, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.

Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
Spongia equina.

Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum.

Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.

Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
(Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.

Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.

Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.

Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also Turkish sponge.

To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof.

Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.

Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge.

Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
(Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]
Glass-sponge
(gcide)
Glass-sponge \Glass"-sponge`\, n. (Zool.)
A siliceous sponge, of the genus Hyalonema, and allied
genera; -- so called from their glassy fibers or spicules; --
called also vitreous sponge. See Glass-rope, and
Euplectella.
[1913 Webster]
Glove sponge
(gcide)
Glove \Glove\ (gl[u^]v), n. [OE. glove, glofe, AS. gl[=o]f; akin
to Icel. gl[=o]fi, cf. Goth. l[=o]fa palm of the hand, Icel.
l[=o]fi.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A cover for the hand, or for the hand and wrist, with a
separate sheath for each finger. The latter characteristic
distinguishes the glove from the mitten.
[1913 Webster]

2. A boxing glove.
[1913 Webster]

Boxing glove. See under Boxing.

Glove fight, a pugilistic contest in which the fighters
wear boxing gloves.

Glove money or Glove silver.
(a) A tip or gratuity to servants, professedly to buy
gloves with.
(b) (Eng. Law.) A reward given to officers of courts;
also, a fee given by the sheriff of a county to the
clerk of assize and judge's officers, when there are
no offenders to be executed.

Glove sponge (Zool.), a fine and soft variety of commercial
sponges (Spongia officinalis).

To be hand and glove with, to be intimately associated or
on good terms with. "Hand and glove with traitors." --J.
H. Newman.

To handle without gloves, to treat without reserve or
tenderness; to deal roughly with. [Colloq.]

To take up the glove, to accept a challenge or adopt a
quarrel.

To throw down the glove, to challenge to combat.
[1913 Webster]Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.]
[Formerly written also spunge.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
[1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
[1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
[1913 Webster]

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina.

Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.


Glass sponge. See Glass-sponge, in the Vocabulary.

Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as Spongia graminea, and Spongia equina, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.

Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
Spongia equina.

Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum.

Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.

Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
(Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.

Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.

Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.

Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also Turkish sponge.

To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof.

Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.

Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge.

Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
(Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]
Grass sponge
(gcide)
Barnyard grass, for hay. South. Panicum Grus-galli. Bent,
pasture and hay. Agrostis, several species. Bermuda grass,
pasture. South. Cynodon Dactylon. Black bent. Same as {Switch
grass} (below). Blue bent, hay. North and West. {Andropogon
provincialis}. Blue grass, pasture. Poa compressa. Blue joint,
hay. Northwest. Aqropyrum glaucum. Buffalo grass, grazing.
Rocky Mts., etc.
(a) Buchlo["e] dectyloides.
(b) Same as Grama grass (below). Bunch grass, grazing.
Far West. Eriocoma, Festuca, Stips, etc. Chess,
or Cheat, a weed. Bromus secalinus, etc. Couch
grass. Same as Quick grass (below). Crab grass,
(a) Hay, in South. A weed, in North. Panicum sanguinale.
(b) Pasture and hay. South. Eleusine Indica. Darnel
(a) Bearded, a noxious weed. Lolium temulentum.
(b) Common. Same as Rye grass (below). Drop seed, fair
for forage and hay. Muhlenbergia, several species.
English grass. Same as Redtop (below). Fowl meadow
grass.
(a) Pasture and hay. Poa serotina.
(b) Hay, on moist land. Gryceria nervata. Gama grass,
cut fodder. South. Tripsacum dactyloides. Grama
grass, grazing. West and Pacific slope. {Bouteloua
oligostachya}, etc. Great bunch grass, pasture and
hay. Far West. Festuca scabrella. Guinea grass, hay.
South. Panicum jumentorum. Herd's grass, in New
England Timothy, in Pennsylvania and South Redtop.
Indian grass. Same as Wood grass (below). Italian
rye grass, forage and hay. Lolium Italicum. Johnson
grass, grazing and hay. South and Southwest. {Sorghum
Halepense}. Kentucky blue grass, pasture. {Poa
pratensis}. Lyme grass, coarse hay. South. Elymus,
several species. Manna grass, pasture and hay.
Glyceria, several species. Meadow fescue, pasture
and hay. Festuca elatior. Meadow foxtail, pasture,
hay, lawn. North. Alopecurus pratensis. Meadow
grass, pasture, hay, lawn. Poa, several species.
Mesquite grass, or Muskit grass. Same as Grama grass
(above). Nimble Will, a kind of drop seed.
Muhlenbergia diffsa. Orchard grass, pasture and hay.
Dactylis glomerata. Porcupine grass, troublesome to
sheep. Northwest. Stipa spartea. Quaking grass,
ornamental. Briza media and maxima. Quitch, or
Quick, grass, etc., a weed. Agropyrum repens. Ray
grass. Same as Rye grass (below). Redtop, pasture
and hay. Agrostis vulgaris. Red-topped buffalo
grass, forage. Northwest. Poa tenuifolia. Reed
canary grass, of slight value. Phalaris arundinacea.
Reed meadow grass, hay. North. Glyceria aquatica.
Ribbon grass, a striped leaved form of {Reed canary
grass}. Rye grass, pasture, hay. Lolium perenne,
var. Seneca grass, fragrant basket work, etc. North.
Hierochloa borealis. Sesame grass. Same as {Gama
grass} (above). Sheep's fescue, sheep pasture, native
in Northern Europe and Asia. Festuca ovina. Small
reed grass, meadow pasture and hay. North. {Deyeuxia
Canadensis}. Spear grass, Same as Meadow grass
(above). Squirrel-tail grass, troublesome to animals.
Seacoast and Northwest. Hordeum jubatum. Switch
grass, hay, cut young. Panicum virgatum. Timothy,
cut young, the best of hay. North. Phleum pratense.
Velvet grass, hay on poor soil. South. {Holcus
lanatus}. Vernal grass, pasture, hay, lawn.
Anthoxanthum odoratum. Wire grass, valuable in
pastures. Poa compressa. Wood grass, Indian grass,
hay. Chrysopogon nutans.
[1913 Webster]

Note: Many plants are popularly called grasses which are not
true grasses botanically considered, such as black
grass, goose grass, star grass, etc.
[1913 Webster]

Black grass, a kind of small rush (Juncus Gerardi),
growing in salt marshes, used for making salt hay.

Grass of the Andes, an oat grass, the {Arrhenatherum
avenaceum} of Europe.

Grass of Parnassus, a plant of the genus Parnassia
growing in wet ground. The European species is {Parnassia
palustris}; in the United States there are several
species.

Grass bass (Zool.), the calico bass.

Grass bird, the dunlin.

Grass cloth, a cloth woven from the tough fibers of the
grass-cloth plant.

Grass-cloth plant, a perennial herb of the Nettle family
(B[oe]hmeria nivea syn. Urtica nivea), which grows in
Sumatra, China, and Assam, whose inner bark has fine and
strong fibers suited for textile purposes.

Grass finch. (Zool.)
(a) A common American sparrow ({Po["o]c[ae]tes
gramineus}); -- called also vesper sparrow and
bay-winged bunting.
(b) Any Australian finch, of the genus Po["e]phila, of
which several species are known.

Grass lamb, a lamb suckled by a dam running on pasture land
and giving rich milk.

Grass land, land kept in grass and not tilled.

Grass moth (Zool.), one of many small moths of the genus
Crambus, found in grass.

Grass oil, a fragrant essential volatile oil, obtained in
India from grasses of the genus Andropogon, etc.; --
used in perfumery under the name of citronella, {ginger
grass oil}, lemon grass oil, essence of verbena etc.


Grass owl (Zool.), a South African owl (Strix Capensis).


Grass parrakeet (Zool.), any of several species of
Australian parrots, of the genus Euphemia; -- also
applied to the zebra parrakeet.

Grass plover (Zool.), the upland or field plover.

Grass poly (Bot.), a species of willowwort ({Lythrum
Hyssopifolia}). --Johnson.

Crass quit (Zool.), one of several tropical American
finches of the genus Euetheia. The males have most of
the head and chest black and often marked with yellow.

Grass snake. (Zool.)
(a) The common English, or ringed, snake ({Tropidonotus
natrix}).
(b) The common green snake of the Northern United States.
See Green snake, under Green.

Grass snipe (Zool.), the pectoral sandpiper ({Tringa
maculata}); -- called also jacksnipe in America.

Grass spider (Zool.), a common spider (Agelena n[ae]via),
which spins flat webs on grass, conspicuous when covered
with dew.

Grass sponge (Zool.), an inferior kind of commercial sponge
from Florida and the Bahamas.

Grass table. (Arch.) See Earth table, under Earth.

Grass vetch (Bot.), a vetch (Lathyrus Nissolia), with
narrow grasslike leaves.

Grass widow. [Cf. Prov. R. an unmarried mother, G.
strohwittwe a mock widow, Sw. gr[aum]senka a grass widow.]
(a) An unmarried woman who is a mother. [Obs.]
(b) A woman separated from her husband by abandonment or
prolonged absence; a woman living apart from her
husband. [Slang.]

Grass wrack (Bot.) eelgrass.

To bring to grass (Mining.), to raise, as ore, to the
surface of the ground.

To put to grass, To put out to grass, to put out to graze
a season, as cattle.
[1913 Webster]Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.]
[Formerly written also spunge.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
[1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
[1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
[1913 Webster]

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina.

Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.


Glass sponge. See Glass-sponge, in the Vocabulary.

Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as Spongia graminea, and Spongia equina, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.

Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
Spongia equina.

Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum.

Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.

Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
(Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.

Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.

Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.

Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also Turkish sponge.

To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof.

Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.

Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge.

Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
(Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]
Horse sponge
(gcide)
Horse \Horse\ (h[^o]rs), n. [AS. hors; akin to OS. hros, D. &
OHG. ros, G. ross, Icel. hross; and perh. to L. currere to
run, E. course, current Cf. Walrus.]
1. (Zool.) A hoofed quadruped of the genus Equus;
especially, the domestic horse (Equus caballus), which
was domesticated in Egypt and Asia at a very early period.
It has six broad molars, on each side of each jaw, with
six incisors, and two canine teeth, both above and below.
The mares usually have the canine teeth rudimentary or
wanting. The horse differs from the true asses, in having
a long, flowing mane, and the tail bushy to the base.
Unlike the asses it has callosities, or chestnuts, on all
its legs. The horse excels in strength, speed, docility,
courage, and nobleness of character, and is used for
drawing, carrying, bearing a rider, and like purposes.
[1913 Webster]

Note: Many varieties, differing in form, size, color, gait,
speed, etc., are known, but all are believed to have
been derived from the same original species. It is
supposed to have been a native of the plains of Central
Asia, but the wild species from which it was derived is
not certainly known. The feral horses of America are
domestic horses that have run wild; and it is probably
true that most of those of Asia have a similar origin.
Some of the true wild Asiatic horses do, however,
approach the domestic horse in several characteristics.
Several species of fossil (Equus) are known from the
later Tertiary formations of Europe and America. The
fossil species of other genera of the family
Equid[ae] are also often called horses, in general
sense.
[1913 Webster]

2. The male of the genus Equus, in distinction from the
female or male; usually, a castrated male.
[1913 Webster]

3. Mounted soldiery; cavalry; -- used without the plural
termination; as, a regiment of horse; -- distinguished
from foot.
[1913 Webster]

The armies were appointed, consisting of twenty-five
thousand horse and foot. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]

4. A frame with legs, used to support something; as, a
clotheshorse, a sawhorse, etc.
[1913 Webster]

5. A frame of timber, shaped like a horse, on which soldiers
were made to ride for punishment.
[1913 Webster]

6. Anything, actual or figurative, on which one rides as on a
horse; a hobby.
[1913 Webster]

7. (Mining) A mass of earthy matter, or rock of the same
character as the wall rock, occurring in the course of a
vein, as of coal or ore; hence, to take horse -- said of a
vein -- is to divide into branches for a distance.
[1913 Webster]

8. (Naut.)
(a) See Footrope, a.
(b) A breastband for a leadsman.
(c) An iron bar for a sheet traveler to slide upon.
(d) A jackstay. --W. C. Russell. --Totten.
[1913 Webster]

9. (Student Slang)
(a) A translation or other illegitimate aid in study or
examination; -- called also trot, pony, Dobbin.
(b) Horseplay; tomfoolery.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

10. heroin. [slang]
[PJC]

11. horsepower. [Colloq. contraction]
[PJC]

Note: Horse is much used adjectively and in composition to
signify of, or having to do with, a horse or horses,
like a horse, etc.; as, horse collar, horse dealer or
horse?dealer, horsehoe, horse jockey; and hence, often
in the sense of strong, loud, coarse, etc.; as,
horselaugh, horse nettle or horse-nettle, horseplay,
horse ant, etc.
[1913 Webster]

Black horse, Blood horse, etc. See under Black, etc.

Horse aloes, caballine aloes.

Horse ant (Zool.), a large ant (Formica rufa); -- called
also horse emmet.

Horse artillery, that portion of the artillery in which the
cannoneers are mounted, and which usually serves with the
cavalry; flying artillery.

Horse balm (Bot.), a strong-scented labiate plant
(Collinsonia Canadensis), having large leaves and
yellowish flowers.

Horse bean (Bot.), a variety of the English or Windsor bean
(Faba vulgaris), grown for feeding horses.

Horse boat, a boat for conveying horses and cattle, or a
boat propelled by horses.

Horse bot. (Zool.) See Botfly, and Bots.

Horse box, a railroad car for transporting valuable horses,
as hunters. [Eng.]

Horse breaker or Horse trainer, one employed in subduing
or training horses for use.

Horse car.
(a) A railroad car drawn by horses. See under Car.
(b) A car fitted for transporting horses.

Horse cassia (Bot.), a leguminous plant ({Cassia
Javanica}), bearing long pods, which contain a black,
catharic pulp, much used in the East Indies as a horse
medicine.

Horse cloth, a cloth to cover a horse.

Horse conch (Zool.), a large, spiral, marine shell of the
genus Triton. See Triton.

Horse courser.
(a) One that runs horses, or keeps horses for racing.
--Johnson.
(b) A dealer in horses. [Obs.] --Wiseman.

Horse crab (Zool.), the Limulus; -- called also
horsefoot, horsehoe crab, and king crab.

Horse crevall['e] (Zool.), the cavally.

Horse emmet (Zool.), the horse ant.

Horse finch (Zool.), the chaffinch. [Prov. Eng.]

Horse gentian (Bot.), fever root.

Horse iron (Naut.), a large calking iron.

Horse latitudes, a space in the North Atlantic famous for
calms and baffling winds, being between the westerly winds
of higher latitudes and the trade winds. --Ham. Nav.
Encyc.

Horse mackrel. (Zool.)
(a) The common tunny (Orcynus thunnus), found on the
Atlantic coast of Europe and America, and in the
Mediterranean.
(b) The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix).
(c) The scad.
(d) The name is locally applied to various other fishes,
as the California hake, the black candlefish, the
jurel, the bluefish, etc.

Horse marine (Naut.), an awkward, lubbery person; one of a
mythical body of marine cavalry. [Slang]

Horse mussel (Zool.), a large, marine mussel ({Modiola
modiolus}), found on the northern shores of Europe and
America.

Horse nettle (Bot.), a coarse, prickly, American herb, the
Solanum Carolinense.

Horse parsley. (Bot.) See Alexanders.

Horse purslain (Bot.), a coarse fleshy weed of tropical
America (Trianthema monogymnum).

Horse race, a race by horses; a match of horses in running
or trotting.

Horse racing, the practice of racing with horses.

Horse railroad, a railroad on which the cars are drawn by
horses; -- in England, and sometimes in the United States,
called a tramway.

Horse run (Civil Engin.), a device for drawing loaded
wheelbarrows up an inclined plane by horse power.

Horse sense, strong common sense. [Colloq. U.S.]

Horse soldier, a cavalryman.

Horse sponge (Zool.), a large, coarse, commercial sponge
(Spongia equina).

Horse stinger (Zool.), a large dragon fly. [Prov. Eng.]

Horse sugar (Bot.), a shrub of the southern part of the
United States (Symplocos tinctoria), whose leaves are
sweet, and good for fodder.

Horse tick (Zool.), a winged, dipterous insect ({Hippobosca
equina}), which troubles horses by biting them, and
sucking their blood; -- called also horsefly, {horse
louse}, and forest fly.

Horse vetch (Bot.), a plant of the genus Hippocrepis
(Hippocrepis comosa), cultivated for the beauty of its
flowers; -- called also horsehoe vetch, from the
peculiar shape of its pods.

Iron horse, a locomotive. [Colloq.]

Salt horse, the sailor's name for salt beef.

To look a gift horse in the mouth, to examine the mouth of
a horse which has been received as a gift, in order to
ascertain his age; -- hence, to accept favors in a
critical and thankless spirit. --Lowell.

To take horse.
(a) To set out on horseback. --Macaulay.
(b) To be covered, as a mare.
(c) See definition 7 (above).
[1913 Webster]Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.]
[Formerly written also spunge.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
[1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
[1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
[1913 Webster]

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina.

Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.


Glass sponge. See Glass-sponge, in the Vocabulary.

Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as Spongia graminea, and Spongia equina, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.

Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
Spongia equina.

Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum.

Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.

Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
(Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.

Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.

Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.

Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also Turkish sponge.

To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof.

Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.

Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge.

Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
(Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]
Platinum sponge
(gcide)
Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.]
[Formerly written also spunge.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
[1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
[1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
[1913 Webster]

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina.

Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.


Glass sponge. See Glass-sponge, in the Vocabulary.

Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as Spongia graminea, and Spongia equina, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.

Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
Spongia equina.

Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum.

Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.

Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
(Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.

Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.

Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.

Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also Turkish sponge.

To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof.

Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.

Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge.

Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
(Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]Platinum \Plat"i*num\, n. [NL., fr. Sp. platina, from plata
silver, LL. plata a thin plate of metal. See Plate, and cf.
Platina.] (Chem.)
A metallic element of atomic number 78, one of the noble
metals, classed with silver and gold as a precious metal,
occurring native or alloyed with other metals and also as the
platinum arsenide (sperrylite). It is a heavy tin-white metal
which is ductile and malleable, but very infusible (melting
point 1772[deg] C), and characterized by its resistance to
strong chemical reagents. It is used for crucibles in
laboratory operations, as a catalyst, in jewelry, for stills
for sulphuric acid, rarely for coin, and in the form of foil
and wire for many purposes. Specific gravity 21.5. Atomic
weight 195.1. Symbol Pt. Formerly called platina.
[1913 Webster +PJC]

Platinum black (Chem.), a soft, dull black powder,
consisting of finely divided metallic platinum obtained by
reduction and precipitation from its solutions. It absorbs
oxygen to a high degree, and is employed as an oxidizer.


Platinum lamp (Elec.), a kind of incandescent lamp of which
the luminous medium is platinum. See under Incandescent.


Platinum metals (Chem.), the group of metallic elements
which in their chemical and physical properties resemble
platinum. These consist of the light platinum group, viz.,
rhodium, ruthenium, and palladium, whose specific
gravities are about 12; and the heavy platinum group,
viz., osmium, iridium, and platinum, whose specific
gravities are over 21.

Platinum sponge (Chem.), metallic platinum in a gray,
porous, spongy form, obtained by reducing the double
chloride of platinum and ammonium. It absorbs oxygen,
hydrogen, and certain other gases, to a high degree, and
is employed as an agent in oxidizing.
[1913 Webster]
Pyrotechnical sponge
(gcide)
Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.]
[Formerly written also spunge.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiae.
[1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
[1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
[1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
[1913 Webster]

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina.

Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.


Glass sponge. See Glass-sponge, in the Vocabulary.

Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as Spongia graminea, and Spongia equina, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.

Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
Spongia equina.

Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum.

Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.

Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge
(Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.

Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.

Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.

Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also Turkish sponge.

To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
throw in the towel is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.

Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof.

Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.

Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge.

Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge
(Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]Pyrotechnic \Pyr`o*tech"nic\, Pyrotechnical \Pyr`o*tech"nic*al\,
a. [Pyro- + technic, technical: cf. F. pyrotechnique. See
Fire, Technical.]
Of or pertaining to fireworks, or the art of forming them.
[1913 Webster]

Pyrotechnical sponge. See under Sponge.
[1913 Webster]