nun buoy

nun buoy
    n 1: a buoy resembling a cone [syn: {conical buoy}, {nun}, {nun
         buoy}]
    

nun \nun\ (n[u^]n), n. [OE. nunne, AS. nunne, fr. L. nonna nun,
   nonnus monk; cf. Gr. ?, ?; of unknown origin. Cf. {Nunnery}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A woman devoted to a religious life, who lives in a
      convent, under the three vows of poverty, chastity, and
      obedience.
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            They holy time is quiet as a nun
            Breathless with adoration.            --Wordsworth.
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   2. (Zool.)
      (a) A white variety of domestic pigeons having a veil of
          feathers covering the head.
      (b) The smew.
      (c) The European blue titmouse.
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   {Gray nuns} (R. C. Ch.), the members of a religious order
      established in Montreal in 1745, whence branches were
      introduced into the United States in 1853; -- so called
      from the color or their robe, and known in religion as
      {Sisters of Charity of Montreal}.

   {Nun buoy}. See under {Buoy}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Buoy \Buoy\ (bwoi or boi; 277), n. [D. boei buoy, fetter, fr.
   OF. boie, buie, chain, fetter, F. bou['e]e a buoy, from L.
   boia. "Boiae genus vinculorum tam ferreae quam ligneae."
   --Festus. So called because chained to its place.] (Naut.)
   A float; esp. a floating object moored to the bottom, to mark
   a channel or to point out the position of something beneath
   the water, as an anchor, shoal, rock, etc.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Anchor buoy}, a buoy attached to, or marking the position
      of, an anchor.

   {Bell buoy}, a large buoy on which a bell is mounted, to be
      rung by the motion of the waves.

   {Breeches buoy}. See under {Breeches}.

   {Cable buoy}, an empty cask employed to buoy up the cable in
      rocky anchorage.

   {Can buoy}, a hollow buoy made of sheet or boiler iron,
      usually conical or pear-shaped.

   {Life buoy}, a float intended to support persons who have
      fallen into the water, until a boat can be dispatched to
      save them.

   {Nut buoy} or {Nun buoy}, a buoy large in the middle, and
      tapering nearly to a point at each end.

   {To stream the buoy}, to let the anchor buoy fall by the
      ship's side into the water, before letting go the anchor.
      

   {Whistling buoy}, a buoy fitted with a whistle that is blown
      by the action of the waves.
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