SEARCH
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Prev | Current Page 369 | Next

"Section M, N, and O"

[F. martingale; cf. It. martingala
a sort of hose, martingale, Sp. martingala a greave, cuish,
martingale, Sp. almártaga a kind of bridle.]
1. A strap fastened to a horse's girth, passing
between his fore legs, and fastened to the bit, or now more commonly
ending in two rings, through which the reins pass. It is intended to
hold down the head of the horse, and prevent him from
rearing.


2. (Naut.) A lower stay of rope or
chain for the jib boom or flying jib boom, fastened to, or reeved
through, the dolphin striker. Also, the dolphin striker
itself.


3. (Gambling) The act of doubling, at
each stake, that which has been lost on the preceding stake; also,
the sum so risked; -- metaphorically derived from the bifurcation of
the martingale of a harness.
[Cant]
Thackeray.


Mar"tin*mas (?), n. [St. Martin +
mass
religious service.] (Eccl.) The feast of St.
Martin, the eleventh of November; -- often called
martlemans.


Martinmas summer, a period of calm, warm
weather often experienced about the time of Martinmas; Indian
summer.


Pages:
357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381