from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Flying \Fly"ing\, a. [From {Fly}, v. i.]
Moving in the air with, or as with, wings; moving lightly or
rapidly; intended for rapid movement.
[1913 Webster]
{Flying army} (Mil.) a body of cavalry and infantry, kept in
motion, to cover its own garrisons and to keep the enemy
in continual alarm. --Farrow.
{Flying artillery} (Mil.), artillery trained to rapid
evolutions, -- the men being either mounted or trained to
spring upon the guns and caissons when they change
position.
{Flying bridge}, {Flying camp}. See under {Bridge}, and
{Camp}.
{Flying buttress} (Arch.), a contrivance for taking up the
thrust of a roof or vault which can not be supported by
ordinary buttresses. It consists of a straight bar of
masonry, usually sloping, carried on an arch, and a solid
pier or buttress sufficient to receive the thrust. The
word is generally applied only to the straight bar with
supporting arch.
{Flying colors}, flags unfurled and waving in the air; hence:
{To come off with flying colors}, to be victorious; to
succeed thoroughly in an undertaking.
{Flying doe} (Zool.), a young female kangaroo.
{Flying dragon}.
(a) (Zool.) See {Dragon}, 6.
(b) A meteor. See under {Dragon}.
{Flying Dutchman}.
(a) A fabled Dutch mariner condemned for his crimes to sail
the seas till the day of judgment.
(b) A spectral ship.
{Flying fish}. (Zool.) See {Flying fish}, in the Vocabulary.
{Flying fox} (Zool.), see {Flying fox} in the vocabulary.
{Flying frog} (Zool.), either of two East Indian tree frogs
of the genus {Rhacophorus} ({Rhacophorus nigrapalmatus}
and {Rhacophorus pardalis}), having very large and broadly
webbed feet, which serve as parachutes, and enable it to
make very long leaps.
{Flying gurnard} (Zool.), a species of gurnard of the genus
{Cephalacanthus} or {Dactylopterus}, with very large
pectoral fins, said to be able to fly like the flying
fish, but not for so great a distance.
Note: Three species are known; that of the Atlantic is
{Cephalacanthus volitans}.
{Flying jib} (Naut.), a sail extended outside of the standing
jib, on the flying-jib boom.
{Flying-jib boom} (Naut.), an extension of the jib boom.
{Flying kites} (Naut.), light sails carried only in fine
weather.
{Flying lemur}. (Zool.) See {Colugo}.
{Flying level} (Civil Engin.), a reconnoissance level over
the course of a projected road, canal, etc.
{Flying lizard}. (Zool.) See {Dragon}, n. 6.
{Flying machine}, any apparatus for navigating through the
air, especially a heavier-than-air machine. -- {Flying
mouse} (Zool.), the opossum mouse ({Acrobates pygm[ae]us}), a
marsupial of Australia. Called also {feathertail glider}.
Note: It has lateral folds of skin, like the flying
squirrels, and a featherlike tail. -- {Flying party}
(Mil.), a body of soldiers detailed to hover about an
enemy. -- {Flying phalanger} (Zool.), one of several
species of small marsuupials of the genera {Petaurus} and
{Belideus}, of Australia and New Guinea, having lateral
folds like those of the flying squirrels. The sugar
squirrel ({Belideus sciureus}), and the ariel ({Belideus
ariel}), are the best known; -- called also {squirrel
petaurus} and {flying squirrel}. See {Sugar squirrel}. --
{Flying pinion}, the fly of a clock. -- {Flying sap} (Mil.),
the rapid construction of trenches (when the enemy's fire
of case shot precludes the method of simple trenching), by
means of gabions placed in juxtaposition and filled with
earth. -- {Flying shot}, a shot fired at a moving object,
as a bird on the wing. -- {Flying spider}. (Zool.) See
{Ballooning spider}. -- {Flying squid} (Zool.), an oceanic
squid ({Ommastrephes Bartramii} syn. {Sthenoteuthis
Bartramii}), abundant in the Gulf Stream, which is able to
leap out of the water with such force that it often falls
on the deck of a vessel. -- {Flying squirrel} (Zool.) See
{Flying squirrel}, in the Vocabulary. -- {Flying start}, a
start in a sailing race in which the signal is given while
the vessels are under way. -- {Flying torch} (Mil.), a
torch attached to a long staff and used for signaling at
night.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mouse \Mouse\ (mous), n.; pl. {Mice} (m[imac]s). [OE. mous, mus,
AS. m[=u]s, pl. m[=y]s; akin to D. muis, G. maus, OHG. &
Icel. m[=u]s, Dan. muus, Sw. mus, Russ. muishe, L. mus, Gr.
my^s, Skr. m[=u]sh mouse, mush to steal. [root]277. Cf.
{Muscle}, {Musk}.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents
belonging to the genus {Mus} and various related genera of
the family {Muridae}. The common house mouse ({Mus
musculus}) is found in nearly all countries. The American
{white-footed mouse}, or {deer mouse} ({Peromyscus
leucopus}, formerly {Hesperomys leucopus}) sometimes lives
in houses. See {Dormouse}, {Meadow mouse}, under {Meadow},
and {Harvest mouse}, under {Harvest}.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Naut.)
(a) A knob made on a rope with spun yarn or parceling to
prevent a running eye from slipping.
(b) Same as 2d {Mousing}, 2.
[1913 Webster]
3. A familiar term of endearment. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. A dark-colored swelling caused by a blow. [Slang]
[1913 Webster]
5. A match used in firing guns or blasting.
[1913 Webster]
{Field mouse}, {Flying mouse}, etc. See under {Field},
{Flying}, etc.
{Mouse bird} (Zool.), a coly.
{Mouse deer} (Zool.), a chevrotain, as the kanchil.
{Mouse galago} (Zool.), a very small West American galago
({Galago murinus}). In color and size it resembles a
mouse. It has a bushy tail like that of a squirrel.
{Mouse hawk}. (Zool.)
(a) A hawk that devours mice.
(b) The hawk owl; -- called also {mouse owl}.
{Mouse lemur} (Zool.), any one of several species of very
small lemurs of the genus {Chirogaleus}, found in
Madagascar.
{Mouse piece} (Cookery), the piece of beef cut from the part
next below the round or from the lower part of the latter;
-- called also {mouse buttock}.
[1913 Webster]