| fathom |
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noun
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(obsolete) grasp, Grasp, envelopment, control.
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(nautical) A measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms, standardised to six feet, now used mainly for measuring depths in seas or oceans.
verb
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(archaic) To encircle with outstretched arms, especially to take a measurement; to embrace.
- To measure the depth of, take a sounding of.
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(figuratively) To get to the bottom of; to manage to comprehend (a problem etc.).
- I can't for the life of me what this means.
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| firkin |
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noun
- A varying measure of capacity, usually being the fourth part of a barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons. Eng.
Quotations
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1882: 23 Hen. VIII, cap. 4... The barrel of beer is to hold 36 gallons, the kilderkin 18 gallons the firkin 9. But the barrel, kilderkin, and firkin of ale are to contain 32, 16, and 8 gallons. — James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, Volume 4, p. 205.
- A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, -- used for butter, lard, etc. U.S.
- A weight measure for butter, equalling 56 pounds.
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| foot |
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noun (feet)
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(countable, Anatomy) The part of a human"s body below the ankle. Used to stand and walk.
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(countable, Zoology) The equivalent part of an animal"s body.
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(countable) The bottom of anything; as, the foot of the stairs, the foot of a printed page.
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(countable) A short projection on the bottom of a piece of equipment to support it.
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(countable) A unit of measure equal to twelve inches and one third of a yard, equal to exactly 30.48 centimetres.
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(context, countable, prosody) The basic measure of rhythm in a poem.
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(countable, nautical) The bottom edge of a sail.
To make the mainsail fuller in shape, the outhaul is eased to reduce the tension on the of the sail.
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Printing. the bottommost part of a type page or printed page
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(used with the plural verb) foot soldiers; infantry.
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(transitive) To use the foot to kick (usually a ball).
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(transitive) To pay (a bill).
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| frail |
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noun
- A basket made of rushes, used chiefly for containing figs and raisins.
- The quantity of raisins contained in a frail.
- A rush for weaving baskets.
verb- To play a stringed instrument, usually a banjo, by picking with the back of a fingernail.
adjective
- Easily break, broken; mentally or physically fragile; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish; easily destroyed; not tenacious of life; weak; infirm.
- Liable to fall from virtue or be led into sin; not strong against temptation; weak in resolution; unchaste.
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| furlong |
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noun
- A unit of length equal to 220 yards or approximately 201 meters, now only used in measuring distances in horse-racing.
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