Words whose 4th letter is K

Backare (interj.) Stand back! give place! -- a cant word of the Elizabethan writers, probably in ridicule of some person who pretended to a knowledge of Latin which he did not possess.

Back (v. i.) To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.

Back (v. i.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind.

Back (v. i.) To stand still behind another dog which has pointed; -- said of a dog.

Backed (a.) Having a back; fitted with a back; as, a backed electrotype or stereotype plate. Used in composition; as, broad-backed; hump-backed.

Backgammon (n.) A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a "board" marked off into twenty-four spaces called "points". Each player has fifteen pieces, or "men", the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called tables.

Backhand (a.) Sloping from left to right; -- said of handwriting.

Backset (v. i.) To plow again, in the fall; -- said of prairie land broken up in the spring.

Backstaff (n.) An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed.

Backstair (a.) Private; indirect; secret; intriguing; -- as if finding access by the back stairs.

Backwardation (n.) The seller's postponement of delivery of stock or shares, with the consent of the buyer, upon payment of a premium to the latter; -- also, the premium so paid. See Contango.

Balk (v. i.) A great beam, rafter, or timber; esp., the tie-beam of a house. The loft above was called "the balks."

Bankruptcy (n.) Complete loss; -- followed by of.

Bark (v. i.) To make a short, loud, explosive noise with the vocal organs; -- said of some animals, but especially of dogs.

Barkentine (n.) A threemasted vessel, having the foremast square-rigged, and the others schooner-rigged. [Spelled also barquentine, barkantine, etc.] See Illust. in Append.

Bank (v. i.) To tilt sidewise in rounding a curve; -- said of a flying machine, an aerocurve, or the like.

Beaked (a.) Having a beak or a beaklike point; beak-shaped.

Beaker (n.) An open-mouthed, thin glass vessel, having a projecting lip for pouring; -- used for holding solutions requiring heat.

Bockelet (n.) A kind of long-winged hawk; -- called also bockerel, and bockeret.

Bocking (n.) A coarse woolen fabric, used for floor cloths, to cover carpets, etc.; -- so called from the town of Bocking, in England, where it was first made.

Bookstore (n.) A store where books are kept for sale; -- called in England a bookseller's shop.

Bunker (n.) Hence, any rough hazardous ground on the links; also, an artificial hazard with built-up faces.

Buck (v. t.) To soak, steep, or boil, in lye or suds; -- a process in bleaching.

Buck (v. i.) To spring with quick plunging leaps, descending with the fore legs rigid and the head held as low down as possible; -- said of a vicious horse or mule.

Buckboard (n.) A four-wheeled vehicle, having a long elastic board or frame resting on the bolsters or axletrees, and a seat or seats placed transversely upon it; -- called also buck wagon.

Bucker (n.) A broad-headed hammer used in bucking ore.

Buckle (n.) To prepare for action; to apply with vigor and earnestness; -- generally used reflexively.

Buckler (n.) A block of wood or plate of iron made to fit a hawse hole, or the circular opening in a half-port, to prevent water from entering when the vessel pitches.

Buckra (n.) A white man; -- a term used by negroes of the African coast, West Indies, etc.

Bumkin (n.) A projecting beam or boom; as: (a) One projecting from each bow of a vessel, to haul the fore tack to, called a tack bumpkin. (b) One from each quarter, for the main-brace blocks, and called brace bumpkin. (c) A small outrigger over the stern of a boat, to extend the mizzen.

Bunkum (n.) Speech-making for the gratification of constituents, or to gain public applause; flattering talk for a selfish purpose; anything said for mere show.

Bunk (v. i.) To go to bed in a bunk; -- sometimes with in.

Buskin (n.) A similar covering for the foot and leg, made with very thick soles, to give an appearance of elevation to the stature; -- worn by tragic actors in ancient Greece and Rome. Used as a symbol of tragedy, or the tragic drama, as distinguished from comedy.

Calk (n.) A sharp-pointed piece of iron or steel projecting downward on the shoe of a horse or an ox, to prevent the animal from slipping; -- called also calker, calkin.

Canker (n.) A corroding or sloughing ulcer; esp. a spreading gangrenous ulcer or collection of ulcers in or about the mouth; -- called also water canker, canker of the mouth, and noma.

Canker (n.) An obstinate and often incurable disease of a horse's foot, characterized by separation of the horny portion and the development of fungoid growths; -- usually resulting from neglected thrush.

Canker (n.) A kind of wild, worthless rose; the dog-rose.

Cankered (a.) Affected mentally or morally as with canker; sore, envenomed; malignant; fretful; ill-natured.

Cask (n.) A barrel-shaped vessel made of staves headings, and hoops, usually fitted together so as to hold liquids. It may be larger or smaller than a barrel.

Catkin (n.) An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. -- so called from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of Ament.

Chikara (n.) The Indian four-horned antelope (Tetraceros quadricornis).

Chokeberry (n.) The small apple-shaped or pear-shaped fruit of an American shrub (Pyrus arbutifolia) growing in damp thickets; also, the shrub.

Cockade (n.) A badge, usually in the form of a rosette, or knot, and generally worn upon the hat; -- used as an indication of military or naval service, or party allegiance, and in England as a part of the livery to indicate that the wearer is the servant of a military or naval officer.

Cockateel (n.) An Australian parrot (Calopsitta Novae-Hollandiae); -- so called from its note.

Cockatoo (n.) A bird of the Parrot family, of the subfamily Cacatuinae, having a short, strong, and much curved beak, and the head ornamented with a crest, which can be raised or depressed at will. There are several genera and many species; as the broad-crested (Plictolophus, / Cacatua, cristatus), the sulphur-crested (P. galeritus), etc. The palm or great black cockatoo of Australia is Microglossus aterrimus.

Cockchafer (n.) A beetle of the genus Melolontha (esp. M. vulgaris) and allied genera; -- called also May bug, chafer, or dorbeetle.

Cocker (n.) A rustic high shoe or half-boots.

Cockhorse (n.) A child's rocking-horse.

Cockle (n.) A bivalve mollusk, with radiating ribs, of the genus Cardium, especially C. edule, used in Europe for food; -- sometimes applied to similar shells of other genera.

Cockle (n.) The mineral black tourmaCockle (n.) A hop-drying kiln; an oast.

Cocklebur (n.) A coarse, composite weed, having a rough or prickly fruit; one of several species of the genus Xanthium; -- called also clotbur.

Cockney (n.) A native or resident of the city of London; -- used contemptuously.

Cockpit (n.) The Privy Council room at Westminster; -- so called because built on the site of the cockpit of Whitehall palace.

Cockscomb (n.) A plant (Celosia cristata), of many varieties, cultivated for its broad, fantastic spikes of brilliant flowers; -- sometimes called garden cockscomb. Also the Pedicularis, or lousewort, the Rhinanthus Crista-galli, and the Onobrychis Crista-galli.

Cockshead (n.) A leguminous herb (Onobrychis Caput-galli), having small spiny-crested pods.

Cockshy (n.) A game in which trinkets are set upon sticks, to be thrown at by the players; -- so called from an ancient popular sport which consisted in "shying" or throwing cudgels at live cocks.

Cockspur (n.) A variety of Crataegus, or hawthorn (C. Crus-galli), having long, straight thorns; -- called also Cockspur thorn.

Cocktail (n.) A mean, half-hearted fellow; a coward.

Cocktail (n.) A species of rove beetle; -- so called from its habit of elevating the tail.

Cockup (n.) A large, highly esteemed, edible fish of India (Lates calcarifer); -- also called begti.

Cook (v. t.) To concoct or prepare; hence, to tamper with or alter; to garble; -- often with up; as, to cook up a story; to cook an account.

Crake (n.) Any species or rail of the genera Crex and Porzana; -- so called from its singular cry. See Corncrake.

Cuckoldly (a.) Having the qualities of a cuckold; mean-spirited; sneaking.

Cuckoobud (n.) A species of Ranunculus (R. bulbosus); -- called also butterflower, buttercup, kingcup, goldcup.

Cuckooflower (n.) A species of Cardamine (C. pratensis), or lady's smock. Its leaves are used in salads. Also, the ragged robin (Lychnis Flos-cuculi).

Cuckoopint (n.) A plant of the genus Arum (A. maculatum); the European wake-robin.

Cusk (n.) A large, edible, marine fish (Brosmius brosme), allied to the cod, common on the northern coasts of Europe and America; -- called also tusk and torsk.

Dark (a.) Destitute, or partially destitute, of light; not receiving, reflecting, or radiating light; wholly or partially black, or of some deep shade of color; not light-colored; as, a dark room; a dark day; dark cloth; dark paint; a dark complexion.

Decker (n.) A vessel which has a deck or decks; -- used esp. in composition; as, a single-decker; a three-decker.

Dickey () Any small bird; -- called also dickey bird.

Dickey () A seat for the driver; -- called also dickey box.

Dickcissel (n.) The American black-throated bunting (Spiza Americana).

Dink (v. t.) To deck; -- often with out or up.

Dirk (n.) A kind of dagger or poniard; -- formerly much used by the Scottish Highlander.

Dock (n.) A genus of plants (Rumex), some species of which are well-known weeds which have a long taproot and are difficult of extermination.

Dock (n.) An artificial basin or an inclosure in connection with a harbor or river, -- used for the reception of vessels, and provided with gates for keeping in or shutting out the tide.

Dock (n.) The slip or water way extending between two piers or projecting wharves, for the reception of ships; -- sometimes including the piers themselves; as, to be down on the dock.

Drake (n.) Wild oats, brome grass, or darnel grass; -- called also drawk, dravick, and drank.

Drakestone (n.) A flat stone so thrown along the surface of water as to skip from point to point before it sinks; also, the sport of so throwing stones; -- sometimes called ducks and drakes.

Duck (n.) A Duckmeat (n.) Alt. of Duck's-meat

Duckweed (n.) A genus (Lemna) of small plants, seen floating in great quantity on the surface of stagnant pools fresh water, and supposed to furnish food for ducks; -- called also duckmeat.

Dunker (n.) One of a religious denomination whose tenets and practices are mainly those of the Baptists, but partly those of the Quakers; -- called also Tunkers, Dunkards, Dippers, and, by themselves, Brethren, and German Baptists.

Dusky (a.) Tending to blackness in color; partially black; dark-colored; not bright; as, a dusky brown.

Duykerbok (n.) A small South African antelope (Cephalous mergens); -- called also impoon, and deloo.

Firkin (n.) A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, -- used for butter, lard, etc.

Folks (n. collect. & pl.) In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe.

Folks (n. collect. & pl.) People in general, or a separate class of people; -- generally used in the plural form, and often with a qualifying adjective; as, the old folks; poor folks.

Fork (n.) An instrument consisting of a handle with a shank terminating in two or more prongs or tines, which are usually of metal, parallel and slightly curved; -- used from piercing, holding, taking up, or pitching anything.

Forkbeard (n.) A European fish (Raniceps raninus), having a large flat head; -- also called tadpole fish, and lesser forked beard.

Forkbeard (n.) The European forked hake or hake's-dame (Phycis blennoides); -- also called great forked beard.

Gawky (superl.) Foolish and awkward; clumsy; clownish; as, gawky behavior. -- n. A fellow who is awkward from being overgrown, or from stupidity, a gawk.

Gowk (n.) The European cuckoo; -- called also gawky.

Hackamore (n.) A halter consisting of a long leather or rope strap and headstall, -- used for leading or tieing a pack animal.

Hackle (n.) One of the peculiar, long, narrow feathers on the neck of fowls, most noticeable on the cock, -- often used in making artificial flies; hence, any feather so used.

Hackmatack (n.) The American larch (Larix Americana), a coniferous tree with slender deciduous leaves; also, its heavy, close-grained timber. Called also tamarack.

Hanker (v. i.) To long (for) with a keen appetite and uneasiness; to have a vehement desire; -- usually with for or after; as, to hanker after fruit; to hanker after the diversions of the town.

Hawk (v. i.) To make an attack while on the wing; to soar and strike like a hawk; -- generally with at; as, to hawk at flies.

Hawkbill (n.) A sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), which yields the best quality of tortoise shell; -- called also caret.

Hawkweed (n.) A plant of the genus Hieracium; -- so called from the ancient belief that birds of prey used its juice to strengthen their vision.

Heckerism (n.) The teaching of Isaac Thomas Hecker (1819-88), which interprets Catholicism as promoting human aspirations after liberty and truth, and as the religion best suited to the character and institutions of the American people.

Heck (n.) A door, especially one partly of latticework; -- called also heck door.

Hook (v. i.) to make off; to clear out; -- often with it.

Hockday (n.) A holiday commemorating the expulsion of the Danes, formerly observed on the second Tuesday after Easter; -- called also hocktide.

Hook (n.) See Eccentric, and V-hook.

Hook (n.) The projecting points of the thigh bones of cattle; -- called also hook bones.

Husking (n.) A meeting of neighbors or friends to assist in husking maize; -- called also

Jack (n.) A popular colloquial name for a sailor; -- called also Jack tar, and Jack afloat.

Jack (n.) In the harpsichord, an intermediate piece communicating the action of the key to the quill; -- called also hopper.

Jack (n.) A large, California rock fish (Sebastodes paucispinus); -- called also boccaccio, and merou.

Jack (n.) The wall-eyed pike.

Jack (n.) A flag, containing only the union, without the fly, usually hoisted on a jack staff at the bowsprit cap; -- called also union jack. The American jack is a small blue flag, with a star for each State.

Jack (n.) A bar of iron athwart ships at a topgallant masthead, to support a royal mast, and give spread to the royal shrouds; -- called also jack crosstree.

Jack (n.) A pitcher or can of waxed leather; -- called also black jack.

Jackpudding (n.) A merry-andrew; a buffoon.

Jacksnipe (n.) A small European snipe (Limnocryptes gallinula); -- called also judcock, jedcock, juddock, jed, and half snipe.

Jacksnipe (n.) A small American sandpiper (Tringa maculata); -- called also pectoral sandpiper, and grass snipe.

Jink (v. i.) To move quickly, esp. with a sudden turn; hence, to dodge; to escape by a quick turn; -- obs. or dial., except as a hunting term in pig-sticking.

Jink (v. i.) In the games of spoilfive and forty-five, to win the game by taking all five tricks; also, to play to win all five tricks, losing what has been already won if unsuccessful.

Junket (v. i.) To feast; to banquet; to make an entertainment; -- sometimes applied opprobriously to feasting by public officers at the public cost.

Khaki (a.) Of a dull brownish yellow, or drab color; -- applied to cloth, originally to a stout brownish cotton cloth, used in making uniforms in the Anglo-Indian army.

Kick (v. i.) To recoil; -- said of a musket, cannon, etc.

Kinkajou (n.) A nocturnal carnivorous mammal (Cercoleptes caudivolvulus) of South America, about as large as a full-grown cat. It has a prehensile tail and lives in trees. It is the only representative of a distinct family (Cercoleptidae) allied to the raccoons. Called also potto, and honey bear.

Lackaday (interj.) Alack the day; alas; -- an expression of sorrow, regret, dissatisfaction, or surprise.

Leak (n.) To enter or escape, as a fluid, through a hole, crevice, etc. ; to pass gradually into, or out of, something; -- usually with in or out.

Lick (v.) A place where salt is found on the surface of the earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; -- often, but not always, near salt springs.

Link (n.) A bond of affinity, or a unit of valence between atoms; -- applied to a unit of chemical force or attraction.

Link (n.) Sausages; -- because linked together.

Linkage (n.) Manner of linking or of being linked; -- said of the union of atoms or radicals in the molecule.

Link (n.) A winding of a river; also, the ground along such a winding; a meander; -- usually in pl.

Lock (n.) An inclosure in a canal with gates at each end, used in raising or lowering boats as they pass from one level to another; -- called also lift lock.

Lock (v. t.) To prevent ingress or access to, or exit from, by fastening the lock or locks of; -- often with up; as, to lock or lock up, a house, jail, room, trunk. etc.

Lock (v. t.) To fasten in or out, or to make secure by means of, or as with, locks; to confine, or to shut in or out -- often with up; as, to lock one's self in a room; to lock up the prisoners; to lock up one's silver; to lock intruders out of the house; to lock money into a vault; to lock a child in one's arms; to lock a secret in one's breast.

Look (v. i.) To direct the eyes for the purpose of seeing something; to direct the eyes toward an object; to observe with the eyes while keeping them directed; -- with various prepositions, often in a special or figurative sense. See Phrases below.

Look (v. i.) In the imperative: see; behold; take notice; take care; observe; -- used to call attention.

Look (n.) The act of looking; a glance; a sight; a view; -- often in certain phrases; as, to have, get, take, throw, or cast, a look.

Looking (a.) Having a certain look or appearance; -- often compounded with adjectives; as, good-looking, grand-looking, etc.

Luckily (adv.) In a lucky manner; by good fortune; fortunately; -- used in a good sense; as, they luckily escaped injury.

Lucky (superl.) Favored by luck; fortunate; meeting with good success or good fortune; -- said of persons; as, a lucky adventurer.

Mackintosh (n.) A waterproof outer garment; -- so called from the name of the inventor.

Maikong (n.) A South American wild dog (Canis cancrivorus); the crab-eating dog.

Mark (n.) A character or device put on an article of merchandise by the maker to show by whom it was made; a trade-mark.

Mark (v. t.) To be a mark upon; to designate; to indicate; -- used literally and figuratively; as, this monument marks the spot where Wolfe died; his courage and energy marked him for a leader.

Mask (n.) A grotesque head or face, used to adorn keystones and other prominent parts, to spout water in fountains, and the like; -- called also mascaron.

Masked (a.) Having the anterior part of the head differing decidedly in color from the rest of the plumage; -- said of birds.

Milk (v. i.) To give off small gas bubbles during the final part of the charging operation; -- said of a storage battery.

Mockado (n.) A stuff made in imitation of velvet; -- probably the same as mock velvet.

Monkery (n.) The life of monks; monastic life; monastic usage or customs; -- now usually applied by way of reproach.

Monobasic (a.) Capable of being neutralized by a univalent base or basic radical; having but one acid hydrogen atom to be replaced; -- said of acids; as, acetic, nitric, and hydrochloric acids are monobasic.

Muck (n.) Money; -- in contempt.

Muckworm (n.) A larva or grub that lives in muck or manure; -- applied to the larvae of the tumbledung and allied beetles.

Musk (n.) A plant of the genus Erodium (E. moschatum); -- called also musky heron's-bill.

Muskrat (n.) A North American aquatic fur-bearing rodent (Fiber zibethicus). It resembles a rat in color and having a long scaly tail, but the tail is compressed, the bind feet are webbed, and the ears are concealed in the fur. It has scent glands which secrete a substance having a strong odor of musk. Called also musquash, musk beaver, and ondatra.

Neck (v. t.) To reduce the diameter of (an object) near its end, by making a groove around it; -- used with down; as, to neck down a shaft.

Necked (a.) Having (such) a neck; -- chiefly used in composition; as, stiff-necked.

Necked (a.) Cracked; -- said of a treenail.

Neckerchief (n.) A kerchief for the neck; -- called also neck handkerchief.

Neckweed (n.) The hemp; -- so called as furnishing ropes for hanging criminals.

Nerka (n.) The most important salmon of Alaska (Oncorhinchus nerka), ascending in spring most rivers and lakes from Alaska to Oregon, Washington, and Idaho; -- called also red salmon, redfish, blueback, and sawqui.

Nickel (n.) A bright silver-white metallic element. It is of the iron group, and is hard, malleable, and ductile. It occurs combined with sulphur in millerite, with arsenic in the mineral niccolite, and with arsenic and sulphur in nickel glance. Symbol Ni. Atomic weight 58.6.

Nickel (n.) A small coin made of or containing nickel; esp., a five-cent piece.

Nicker (v. t.) One of the night brawlers of London formerly noted for breaking windows with half-pence.

Nickle (n.) The European woodpecker, or yaffle; -- called also nicker pecker.

Pack (n.) A bundle of sheet-iron plates for rolling simultaneously.

Pack (n.) To cause to go; to send away with baggage or belongings; esp., to send away peremptorily or suddenly; -- sometimes with off; as, to pack a boy off to school.

Pack (v. i.) To depart in haste; -- generally with off or away.

Packer (n.) A ring of packing or a special device to render gas-tight and water-tight the space between the tubing and bore of an oil well.

Parkesine (n.) A compound, originally made from gun cotton and castor oil, but later from different materials, and used as a substitute for vulcanized India rubber and for ivory; -- called also xylotile.

Parkleaves (n.) A European species of Saint John's-wort; the tutsan. See Tutsan.

Peak (n.) The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; -- used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc.

Peck (v.) To seize and pick up with the beak, or as with the beak; to bite; to eat; -- often with up.

Perkinism (n.) A remedial treatment, by drawing the pointed extremities of two rods, each of a different metal, over the affected part; tractoration, -- first employed by Dr. Elisha Perkins of Norwich, Conn. See Metallotherapy.

Pick (v.) To choose; to select; to separate as choice or desirable; to cull; as, to pick one's company; to pick one's way; -- often with out.

Pick (v.) To take up; esp., to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together; as, to pick rags; -- often with up; as, to pick up a ball or stones; to pick up information.

Pick (n.) A sharp-pointed tool for picking; -- often used in composition; as, a toothpick; a picklock.

Pick (n.) A heavy iron tool, curved and sometimes pointed at both ends, wielded by means of a wooden handle inserted in the middle, -- used by quarrymen, roadmakers, etc.; also, a pointed hammer used for dressing millstones.

Pick (n.) The blow which drives the shuttle, -- the rate of speed of a loom being reckoned as so many picks per minute; hence, in describing the fineness of a fabric, a weft thread; as, so many picks to an inch.

Picked (a.) Having a pike or spine on the back; -- said of certain fishes.

Picker (n.) One who, or that which, picks, in any sense, -- as, one who uses a pick; one who gathers; a thief; a pick; a pickax; as, a cotton picker.

Pickerel (n.) The glasseye, or wall-eyed pike. See Wall-eye.

Picket (n.) A detached body of troops serving to guard an army from surprise, and to oppose reconnoitering parties of the enemy; -- called also outlying picket.

Pickle (v. t.) To give an antique appearance to; -- said of copies or imitations of paintings by the old masters.

Pink (n.) A vessel with a very narrow stern; -- called also pinky.

Pink (a.) Half-shut; winking.

Pink (v. t.) A name given to several plants of the caryophyllaceous genus Dianthus, and to their flowers, which are sometimes very fragrant and often double in cultivated varieties. The species are mostly perennial herbs, with opposite Pink (v. t.) A color resulting from the combination of a pure vivid red with more or less white; -- so called from the common color of the flower.

Pink (v. t.) The European minnow; -- so called from the color of its abdomen in summer.

Pockwood (n.) Lignum-vitae.

Polka (n.) A lively Bohemian or Polish dance tune in 2-4 measure, with the third quaver accented.

Porkwood (n.) The coarse-grained brownish yellow wood of a small tree (Pisonia obtusata) of Florida and the West Indies. Also called pigeon wood, beefwood, and corkwood.

Prakrit (n.) Any one of the popular dialects descended from, or akin to, Sanskrit; -- in distinction from the Sanskrit, which was used as a literary and learned language when no longer spoken by the people. Pali is one of the Prakrit dialects.

Puck (n.) A celebrated fairy, "the merry wanderer of the night;" -- called also Robin Goodfellow, Friar Rush, Pug, etc.

Pucker (v. t. & i.) To gather into small folds or wrinkles; to contract into ridges and furrows; to corrugate; -- often with up; as, to pucker up the mouth.

Quaker (n.) One of a religious sect founded by George Fox, of Leicestershire, England, about 1650, -- the members of which call themselves Friends. They were called Quakers, originally, in derision. See Friend, n., 4.

Quaker (n.) Any grasshopper or locust of the genus (Edipoda; -- so called from the quaking noise made during flight.

Rackarock (n.) A Sprengel explosive consisting of potassium chlorate and mono-nitrobenzene.

Raskolnik (n.) The name applied by the Russian government to any subject of the Greek faith who dissents from the established church. The Raskolniki embrace many sects, whose common characteristic is a clinging to antique traditions, habits, and customs. The schism originated in 1667 in an ecclesiastical dispute as to the correctness of the translation of the religious books. The dissenters, who have been continually persecuted, are believed to number about 20,000,000, although the Holy Synod > Rack (v.) To amble fast, causing a rocking or swaying motion of the body; to pace; -- said of a horse.

Rack (a.) An engine of torture, consisting of a large frame, upon which the body was gradually stretched until, sometimes, the joints were dislocated; -- formerly used judicially for extorting confessions from criminals or suspected persons.

Rack (a.) A piece or frame of wood, having several sheaves, through which the running rigging passes; -- called also rack block. Also, a frame to hold shot.

Racket (n.) A variety of the game of tennis played with peculiar long-handled rackets; -- chiefly in the plural.

Rank (superl.) Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue.

Rank (n. & v.) A Rankle (a.) To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; -- used literally and figuratively.

Rankle (a.) To produce a festering or inflamed effect; to cause a sore; -- used literally and figuratively; as, a splinter rankles in the flesh; the words rankled in his bosom.

Reck (v. t.) To concern; -- used impersonally.

Reck (v. i.) To make account; to take heed; to care; to mind; -- often followed by of.

Reckon (v. t.) To conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose; -- followed by an objective clause; as, I reckon he won't try that again.

Reckoning (n.) The calculation of a ship's position, either from astronomical observations, or from the record of the courses steered and distances sailed as shown by compass and log, -- in the latter case called dead reckoning (see under Dead); -- also used for dead reckoning in contradistinction to observation.

Rock (v. i.) To roll or saway backward and forward upon a support; as, to rock in a rocking-chair.

Rockaway () Formerly, a light, low, four-wheeled carriage, with standing top, open at the sides, but having waterproof curtains which could be let down when occasion required; now, a somewhat similar, but heavier, carriage, inclosed, except in front, and having a door at each side.

Rocker (n.) A play horse on rockers; a rocking-horse.

Rocker (n.) A chair mounted on rockers; a rocking-chair.

Rockfish (n.) An American fresh-water darter; the log perch.

Rocking (a.) Having a swaying, rolling, or back-and-forth movement; used for rocking.

Rockweed (n.) Any coarse seaweed growing on sea-washed rocks, especially Fucus.

Sackbut (n.) A brass wind instrument, like a bass trumpet, so contrived that it can be lengthened or shortened according to the tone required; -- said to be the same as the trombone.

Shake (n.) The redshank; -- so called from the nodding of its head while on the ground.

Shakedown (n.) A temporary substitute for a bed, as one made on the floor or on chairs; -- perhaps originally from the shaking down of straw for this purpose.

Shekinah (n.) The visible majesty of the Divine Presence, especially when resting or dwelling between the cherubim on the mercy seat, in the Tabernacle, or in the Temple of Solomon; -- a term used in the Targums and by the later Jews, and adopted by Christians.

Sick (superl.) Having a strong dislike; disgusted; surfeited; -- with of; as, to be sick of flattery.

Sicklebill (n.) Any one of three species of humming birds of the genus Eutoxeres, native of Central and South America. They have a long and strongly curved bill. Called also the sickle-billed hummer.

Sicklewort (n.) A plant of the genus Coronilla (C. scorpioides); -- so named from its curved pods.

Sickly (v. t.) To make sick or sickly; -- with over, and probably only in the past participle.

Silk (n.) Hence, thread spun, or cloth woven, from the above-named material.

Sink (n.) A hole or low place in land or rock, where waters sink and are lost; -- called also sink hole.

Siskin (n.) A small green and yellow European finch (Spinus spinus, or Carduelis spinus); -- called also aberdevine.

Siskin (n.) The American pinefinch (S. pinus); -- called also pine siskin. See Pinefinch.

Sock (v. t.) To hurl, drive, or strike violently; -- often with it as an object.

Snake (v. t.) To drag or draw, as a snake from a hole; -- often with out.

Snakehead (n.) A loose, bent-up end of one of the strap rails, or flat rails, formerly used on American railroads. It was sometimes so bent by the passage of a train as to slip over a wheel and pierce the bottom of a car.

Snakehead (n.) The Guinea-hen flower. See Snake's-head, and under Guinea.

Snakestone (n.) An ammonite; -- so called from its form, which resembles that of a coiled snake.

Soak (v. t.) To make (its way) by entering pores or interstices; -- often with through.

Sock (n.) The shoe worn by actors of comedy in ancient Greece and Rome, -- used as a symbol of comedy, or of the comic drama, as distinguished from tragedy, which is symbolized by the buskin.

Spekboom (n.) The purslane tree of South Africa, -- said to be the favorite food of elephants.

Spoken (a.) Characterized by a certain manner or style in speaking; -- often in composition; as, a pleasant-spoken man.

Stake (v. t.) A small anvil usually furnished with a tang to enter a hole in a bench top, -- used by tinsmiths, blacksmiths, etc., for light work, punching upon, etc.

Stake (v. t.) To mark the limits of by stakes; -- with out; as, to stake out land; to stake out a new road.

Stake (n.) A territorial division; -- called also stake of Zion.

Stokehold (n.) The space, or any of the spaces, in front of the boilers of a ship, from which the furnaces are fed; the stokehole of a ship; also, a room containing a ship's boilers; as, forced draft with closed stokehold; -- called also, in American ships, fireroom.

Sucker (n.) A small piece of leather, usually round, having a string attached to the center, which, when saturated with water and pressed upon a stone or other body having a smooth surface, adheres, by reason of the atmospheric pressure, with such force as to enable a considerable weight to be thus lifted by the string; -- used by children as a plaything.

Sucker (n.) A shoot from the roots or lower part of the stem of a plant; -- so called, perhaps, from diverting nourishment from the body of the plant.

Sucker (n.) Any one of numerous species of North American fresh-water cyprinoid fishes of the family Catostomidae; so called because the lips are protrusile. The flesh is coarse, and they are of little value as food. The most common species of the Eastern United States are the northern sucker (Catostomus Commersoni), the white sucker (C. teres), the hog sucker (C. nigricans), and the chub, or sweet sucker (Erimyzon sucetta). Some of the large Western species are called buffalo fish, red horse,> Sucker (n.) A California food fish (Menticirrus undulatus) closely allied to the kingfish (a); -- called also bagre.

Sulky (a.) A light two-wheeled carriage for a single person.

Tack (n.) A small, short, sharp-pointed nail, usually having a broad, flat head.

Tack (v. t.) The part of a sail to which the tack is usually fastened; the foremost lower corner of fore-and-aft sails, as of schooners (see Illust. of Sail).

Tack (v. t.) The direction of a vessel in regard to the trim of her sails; as, the starboard tack, or port tack; -- the former when she is closehauled with the wind on her starboard side; hence, the run of a vessel on one tack; also, a change of direction.

Tack (v. t.) In parliamentary usage, to add (a supplement) to a bill; to append; -- often with on or to.

Tacket (n.) A small, broad-headed nail.

Tacky (a.) Sticky; adhesive; raw; -- said of paint, varnish, etc., when not well dried.

Talk (v. t.) To consume or spend in talking; -- often followed by away; as, to talk away an evening.

Talker (n.) A loquacious person, male or female; a prattler; a babbler; also, a boaster; a braggart; -- used in contempt or reproach.

Tasker (n.) One who performs a task, as a day-laborer.

Tacky (n.) An ill-conditioned, ill-fed, or neglected horse; also, a person in a like condition.

Tick (n.) The whinchat; -- so called from its note.

Ticketing (n.) A periodical sale of ore in the English mining districts; -- so called from the tickets upon which are written the bids of the buyers.

Ticking (n.) A strong, closely woven Tinker (n.) The razor-billed auk.

Trikosane (n.) A hydrocarbon, C23H48, of the methane series, resembling paraffin; -- so called because it has twenty-three atoms of carbon in the molecule.

Tuck (n.) A small net used for taking fish from a larger one; -- called also tuck-net.

Tucker (v. t.) To tire; to weary; -- usually with out.

Tusk (n.) A toothshell, or Dentalium; -- called also tusk-shell.

Ungka (n.) The siamang; -- called also ungka ape.

Upokororo (n.) An edible fresh-water New Zealand fish (Prototroctes oxyrhynchus) of the family Haplochitonidae. In general appearance and habits, it resembles the northern lake whitefishes and trout. Called also grayling.

Wacky (n.) A soft, earthy, dark-colored rock or clay derived from the alteration of basalt.

Walk (v. i.) To move along on foot; to advance by steps; to go on at a moderate pace; specifically, of two-legged creatures, to proceed at a slower or faster rate, but without running, or lifting one foot entirely before the other touches the ground.

Walk (v. i.) To be stirring; to be abroad; to go restlessly about; -- said of things or persons expected to remain quiet, as a sleeping person, or the spirit of a dead person; to go about as a somnambulist or a specter.

Weak (v. i.) Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its preterit (imperfect) and past participle by adding to the present the suffix -ed, -d, or the variant form -t; as in the verbs abash, abashed; abate, abated; deny, denied; feel, felt. See Strong, 19 (a).

Weak (v. i.) Pertaining to, or designating, a noun in Anglo-Saxon, etc., the stem of which ends in -n. See Strong, 19 (b).

Weaken (v. i.) To become weak or weaker; to lose strength, spirit, or determination; to become less positive or resolute; as, the patient weakened; the witness weakened on cross-examination.

Weakfish (n.) Any fish of the genus Cynoscion; a squeteague; -- so called from its tender mouth. See Squeteague.

Wicked (a.) Having a wick; -- used chiefly in composition; as, a two-wicked lamp.

Wicked (a.) Evil in principle or practice; deviating from morality; contrary to the moral or divine law; addicted to vice or sin; sinful; immoral; profligate; -- said of persons and things; as, a wicked king; a wicked woman; a wicked deed; wicked designs.

Wicket (n.) A place of shelter made of the boughs of trees, -- used by lumbermen, etc.

Wicket (n.) The space between the pillars, in postand-stall working.

Wink (v. i.) To avoid taking notice, as if by shutting the eyes; to connive at anything; to be tolerant; -- generally with at.

Work (n.) To make one's way slowly and with difficulty; to move or penetrate laboriously; to proceed with effort; -- with a following preposition, as down, out, into, up, through, and the like; as, scheme works out by degrees; to work into the earth.

Zinkenite (n.) A steel-gray metallic mineral, a sulphide of antimony and lead.

About the author

Mark McCracken Author: Mark McCracken is a corporate trainer and author living in Higashi Osaka, Japan. He is the author of thousands of online articles as well as the Business English textbook, "25 Business Skills in English".

Copyright © 2011 Mark McCracken , All Rights Reserved.