Front sight

Sight \Sight\ (s[imac]t), n. [OE. sight, si[thorn]t, siht, AS.
   siht, gesiht, gesih[eth], gesieh[eth], gesyh[eth]; akin to D.
   gezicht, G. sicht, gesicht, Dan. sigte, Sw. sigt, from the
   root of E. see. See {See}, v. t.]
   1. The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view;
      as, to gain sight of land.
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            A cloud received him out of their sight. --Acts. i.
                                                  9.
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   2. The power of seeing; the faculty of vision, or of
      perceiving objects by the instrumentality of the eyes.
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            Thy sight is young,
            And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle.
                                                  --Shak.
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            O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! --Milton.
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   3. The state of admitting unobstructed vision; visibility;
      open view; region which the eye at one time surveys; space
      through which the power of vision extends; as, an object
      within sight.
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   4. A spectacle; a view; a show; something worth seeing.
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            Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great
            sight, why the bush is not burnt.     --Ex. iii. 3.
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            They never saw a sight so fair.       --Spenser.
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   5. The instrument of seeing; the eye.
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            Why cloud they not their sights?      --Shak.
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   6. Inspection; examination; as, a letter intended for the
      sight of only one person.
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   7. Mental view; opinion; judgment; as, in their sight it was
      harmless. --Wake.
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            That which is highly esteemed among men is
            abomination in the sight of God.      --Luke xvi.
                                                  15.
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   8. A small aperture or optical device through which objects
      are to be seen, and by which their direction is settled or
      ascertained; -- used on surveying instruments; as, the
      sight of a quadrant.
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            Thier eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel.
                                                  --Shak.
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   9. An optical device or small piece of metal, fixed or
      movable, on the breech, muzzle, center, or trunnion of a
      gun, or on the breech and the muzzle of a rifle, pistol,
      etc., by means of which the eye is guided in aiming. A
      telescope mounted on a weapon, such as a rifle, and used
      for accurate aiming at distant targets is called a
      {telescopic sight}. --Farrow.
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   10. In a drawing, picture, etc., that part of the surface, as
       of paper or canvas, which is within the frame or the
       border or margin. In a frame or the like, the open space,
       the opening.
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   11. A great number, quantity, or sum; as, a sight of money.
       [Now colloquial]
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   Note: Sight in this last sense was formerly employed in the
         best usage. "A sight of lawyers." --Latimer.
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               A wonder sight of flowers.         --Gower.
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   {At sight}, as soon as seen, or presented to sight; as, a
      draft payable at sight: to read Greek at sight; to shoot a
      person at sight.

   {Front sight} (Firearms), the sight nearest the muzzle.

   {Open sight}. (Firearms)
       (a) A front sight through which the objects aimed at may
           be seen, in distinction from one that hides the
           object.
       (b) A rear sight having an open notch instead of an
           aperture.

   {Peep sight}, {Rear sight}. See under {Peep}, and {Rear}.

   {Sight draft}, an order, or bill of exchange, directing the
      payment of money at sight.

   {To take sight}, to take aim; to look for the purpose of
      directing a piece of artillery, or the like.
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   Syn: Vision; view; show; spectacle; representation;
        exhibition.
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