from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Thunder \Thun"der\, n. [OE. [thorn]under, [thorn]onder,
[thorn]oner, AS. [thorn]unor; akin to [thorn]unian to
stretch, to thunder, D. donder thunder, G. donner, OHG.
donar, Icel. [thorn][=o]rr Thor, L. tonare to thunder,
tonitrus thunder, Gr. to`nos a stretching, straining, Skr.
tan to stretch. [root]52. See {Thin}, and cf. {Astonish},
{Detonate}, {Intone}, {Thursday}, {Tone}.]
1. The sound which follows a flash of lightning; the report
of a discharge of atmospheric electricity.
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2. The discharge of electricity; a thunderbolt. [Obs.]
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The revenging gods
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend.
--Shak.
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3. Any loud noise; as, the thunder of cannon.
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4. An alarming or statrling threat or denunciation.
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The thunders of the Vatican could no longer strike
into the heart of princes. --Prescott.
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{Thunder pumper}. (Zool.)
(a) The croaker ({Haploidontus grunniens}).
(b) The American bittern or stake-driver.
{Thunder rod}, a lightning rod. [R.]
{Thunder snake}. (Zool.)
(a) The chicken, or milk, snake.
(b) A small reddish ground snake ({Carphophis amoena} syn.
{Celuta amoena}) native to the Eastern United States;
-- called also {worm snake}.
{Thunder tube}, a fulgurite. See {Fulgurite}.
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