from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sponge \Sponge\ (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L.
spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. {Fungus}, {Spunk}.]
[Formerly written also {spunge}.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiae, or
Porifera. See Illust. and Note under {Spongiae}.
[1913 Webster]
2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny
Spongiae (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially
the varieties of the genus {Spongia}. The most valuable
sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,
and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.
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3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and
indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.
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4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically:
(a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and
after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the
agency of the yeast or leaven.
(b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition.
(c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.
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5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a
discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with
sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped
nap, and having a handle, or staff.
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6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering
to the heel.
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{Bath sponge}, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges, especially {Spongia equina}.
{Cup sponge}, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.
{Glass sponge}. See {Glass-sponge}, in the Vocabulary.
{Glove sponge}, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia
officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine
fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.
{Grass sponge}, any one of several varieties of coarse
commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted,
as {Spongia graminea}, and {Spongia equina}, variety
cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies.
{Horse sponge}, a coarse commercial sponge, especially
{Spongia equina}.
{Platinum sponge}. (Chem.) See under {Platinum}.
{Pyrotechnical sponge}, a substance made of mushrooms or
fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then
put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again
dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder,
brought from Germany.
{Sheep's-wool sponge}, a fine and durable commercial sponge
({Spongia equina}, variety gossypina) found in Florida and
the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and
smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.
{Sponge cake}, a kind of sweet cake which is light and
spongy.
{Sponge lead}, or {Spongy lead} (Chem.), metallic lead
brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by
compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary
batteries and otherwise.
{Sponge tree} (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia
Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are
used in perfumery.
{Toilet sponge}, a very fine and superior variety of
Mediterranean sponge ({Spongia officinalis}, variety
Mediterranea); -- called also {Turkish sponge}.
{To set a sponge} (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour,
to be used in leavening a larger quantity.
{To throw up the sponge}, to give up a contest; to
acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring,
the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds
throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now,
{throw in the towel} is more common, and has the same
origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a
man to throw up the sponge to fate." --Lowell.
{Vegetable sponge}. (Bot.) See {Loof}.
{Velvet sponge}, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia
equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the
West Indies.
{Vitreous sponge}. See {Glass-sponge}.
{Yellow sponge}, a common and valuable commercial sponge
({Spongia agaricina}, variety corlosia) found in Florida
and the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Velvet \Vel"vet\, n. [OE. velouette, veluet, velwet; cf. OF.
velluau, LL. velluetum, vellutum, It. velluto, Sp. velludo;
all fr. (assumed) LL. villutus shaggy, fr L. villus shaggy
hair; akin to vellus a fleece, and E. wool. See {Wool}, and
cf. {Villous}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A silk fabric, having a short, close nap of erect threads.
Inferior qualities are made with a silk pile on a cotton
or linen back, or with other soft fibers such as nylon,
acetate, or rayon.
[1913 Webster + PJC]
2. The soft and highly vascular deciduous skin which envelops
and nourishes the antlers of deer during their rapid
growth.
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3. Something likened to velvet[1] in being soft or luxurious;
as, a lawn of velvet.
[PJC]
{Cotton velvet}, an imitation of velvet, made of cotton.
{Velvet cork}, the best kind of cork bark, supple, elastic,
and not woody or porous.
{Velvet crab} (Zool.), a European crab ({Portunus puber}).
When adult the black carapace is covered with a velvety
pile. Called also {lady crab}, and {velvet fiddler}.
{Velvet dock} (Bot.), the common mullein.
{Velvet duck}. (Zool.)
(a) A large European sea duck, or scoter ({Oidemia
fusca}). The adult male is glossy, velvety black, with
a white speculum on each wing, and a white patch
behind each eye.
(b) The American whitewinged scoter. See {Scoter}.
{Velvet flower} (Bot.), love-lies-bleeding. See under {Love}.
{Velvet grass} (Bot.), a tall grass ({Holcus lanatus}) with
velvety stem and leaves; -- called also {soft grass}.
{Velvet runner} (Zool.), the water rail; -- so called from
its quiet, stealthy manner of running. [Prov. Eng.]
{Velvet scoter}. (Zool.) Same as {Velvet duck}, above.
{Velvet sponge}. (Zool.) See under {Sponge}.
{in velvet} having a coating of velvet[2] over the antlers;
in the annual stage where the antlers are still growing;
-- of deer.
[1913 Webster + PJC]