Samson

Samson
    n 1: (Old Testament) a judge of Israel who performed herculean
         feats of strength against the Philistines until he was
         betrayed to them by his mistress Delilah
    2: a large and strong and heavyset man; "he was a bull of a
       man"; "a thick-skinned bruiser ready to give as good as he
       got" [syn: {bull}, {bruiser}, {strapper}, {Samson}]
    

Samson \Sam"son\, n.
   An Israelite of Bible record (see --Judges xiii.),
   distinguished for his great strength; hence, a man of
   extraordinary physical strength.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Samson post}.
   (a) (Naut.) A strong post resting on the keelson, and
       supporting a beam of the deck; also, a temporary or
       movable pillar carrying a leading block or pulley for
       various purposes. --Brande & C.
   (b) In deep-well boring, the post which supports the walking
       beam of the apparatus.
       [1913 Webster]
    

Samson
of the sun, the son of Manoah, born at Zorah. The narrative of
his life is given in Judg. 13-16. He was a "Nazarite unto God"
from his birth, the first Nazarite mentioned in Scripture (Judg.
13:3-5; comp. Num. 6:1-21). The first recorded event of his life
was his marriage with a Philistine woman of Timnath (Judg.
14:1-5). Such a marriage was not forbidden by the law of Moses,
as the Philistines did not form one of the seven doomed
Canaanite nations (Ex. 34:11-16; Deut. 7:1-4). It was, however,
an ill-assorted and unblessed marriage. His wife was soon taken
from him and given "to his companion" (Judg. 14:20). For this
Samson took revenge by burning the "standing corn of the
Philistines" (15:1-8), who, in their turn, in revenge "burnt her
and her father with fire." Her death he terribly avenged
(15:7-19). During the twenty years following this he judged
Israel; but we have no record of his life. Probably these twenty
years may have been simultaneous with the last twenty years of
Eli's life. After this we have an account of his exploits at
Gaza (16:1-3), and of his infatuation for Delilah, and her
treachery (16:4-20), and then of his melancholy death
(16:21-31). He perished in the last terrible destruction he
brought upon his enemies. "So the dead which he slew at his
death were more [in social and political importance=the elite of
the people] than they which he slew in his life."

  "Straining all his nerves, he bowed:

  As with the force of winds and waters pent,

  When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars

  With horrible convulsion to and fro

  He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew

  The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder

  Upon the heads of all who sat beneath,

  Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,

  Their choice nobility and flower."

  Milton's Samson Agonistes.
    

Samson, his sun; his service; there the second time
    

Samson, AL (city, FIPS 67800)
  Location: 31.11221 N, 86.04660 W
  Population (1990): 2190 (977 housing units)
  Area: 9.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 36477
    

Samson, AL -- U.S. city in Alabama
   Population (2000):    2071
   Housing Units (2000): 1016
   Land area (2000):     3.620157 sq. miles (9.376162 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    0.005709 sq. miles (0.014787 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    3.625866 sq. miles (9.390949 sq. km)
   FIPS code:            67800
   Located within:       Alabama (AL), FIPS 01
   Location:             31.112574 N, 86.047865 W
   ZIP Codes (1990):     36477
   Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   Headwords:
    Samson, AL
    Samson
    

51 Moby Thesaurus words for "Samson":
      Achilles, Antaeus, Atlas, Briareus, Brobdingnagian, Charles Atlas,
      Cyclops, David, Goliath, Hector, Hercules, Polyphemus, Roland,
      Superman, Tarzan, Titan, a man, brave, bulldog, bully, bullyboy,
      chutzpanik, colossus, decorated hero, demigod, demigoddess,
      fighting cock, gallant, gamecock, giant, good soldier, gorilla,
      hero, heroine, lion, man of courage, muscle man, paladin,
      powerhouse, stalwart, strong man, strong-arm man, the brave,
      the mighty, the strong, tiger, tough, tough guy, tower of strength,
      valiant, valiant knight

    

SAMSON

exponent of hair restorer and an iconoclast.  When a
young man he rehearsed his muscles until he could break a chain
and lift a fat lady.  Entered the army.  Was successful until
he became bald.  Committed suicide by pushing a temple on
himself.