squib, squib be

[For squip, or swip, from Mid. Eng. squippen, swippen to move swiftly, to fly, to sweep, to dash; from Icel. svipa =to flash, to dart; svipra swift movement; Norw. svipa =to run swiftly. Allied to sweep, swoop, swift. ( Skeat.)] 1. A hollow pipe or cylinder of paper filled with gunpowder or other combustible material, like a rocket, so that when the powder is ignited the squib throws out a train of fiery sparks, and bursts with a crack. "I have been burnt at both ends like a squib ." Beaum. & Flet.: Island Prince , ii. 1. *2. A paltry fellow. "Asked for their pas by everie squib ." Spenser: Mother Hubbard's Tale , 371. *3. One who writes squibs or political lampoons; a petty satirist. "The squibs are those who in the common phrase of the world are called libellers, lampooners, and pamphlet eers."-Tatler, No. 88. 4. A petty lampoon; a sarcastic speech or little IMG:content-0151.png:[blocks in formation] and diuretic, and in larger doses produces Squill. ( Scilla maritima.) A. Bulb; B. Scape of flowers; C. Leaves which appear after the flowers. vomiting and purging. It increases the secretions of the bronchial mucous membrane, and facilitates the expectoration of mucus. When used as a diuretic it is generally combined with a mercurial. ( Garrod .) 3. Zool .: A popular name for Squilla mantis . "The curious squill , so common in the Mediterranean." -Wright: Animal Life , p. 536. *squill-fish, s. An unidentified aquatic animal. [SQUILL-INSECT.] squill-insect, s . An unidentified aquatic animal. Moufet ( Theater of Insects , lib. ii., ch. xxxvii.) says, "The Squilla, an insect, differs but little from the fish Squilla," a word which he uses as synony mous with shrimp. But by early writers names were loosely applied, and from Grew ( Mus. Reg. Soc., p. 119) we learn that Squilla was applied also to what he calls the Rough horned Lobster (prob ably Palinurus vulgar is ). "The squill - insect described by Moufet. So called from some similitude to the squill - fish : chiefly in having a long body covered with a crust composed of several rings or plates. The head is broad and squat. He hath a pair of notable sharp fangs before, both hooked inwards like a bull's horns." -Grew: Museum, p. 176. squil-la, s . [Lat.=(1) A small crustacean, po ibly the pea-crab [PIN NO THE RES]; (2) a sea-onion, a sea-leek, usually written scilla (q. v.).] Zoology : A genus of Stomapoda (q. v.), with several species, of which the best known is Squilla mantis , with a number of popular names. Segments much le coalescent than in the lobster; those bearing the eyes and antennules are readily separable from the front of the head, and are not covered by the carapace, which only conceals eight segments. The IMG:content-0152.png:[blocks in formation] Arch.: A small pen dentive arch formed acro the angle of a square tower to support the side of a superimposed octa IMG:content-0153.png:[graphic] gon. Also called a (Canon's Ashby, North amp ton, Sconce. squin-şỹ, 8. [QUINSY.] Squinch. England.) squint, adj. & subst. [Sw. svinka =to shrink, to flinch. ( Skeat.)] A. As adjective: *1. Looking obliquely or askance; not looking directly; oblique. "I incline to hope rather than fear, And gladly banish squint suspicion." Milton: Comus, 413. 2. Not having the optic axes coincident. (Said of the eyes.) IMG:content-0154.png:[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small] squinter 2. To have the axes of the eyes not co-incident; to be affected with strabismus. "We have many instances of squinting in the father, which he received from fright or habit, communicated to the offspring."- Goldsmith: Animated Nature, pt. ii. ch. xi. *3 To run or be directed obliquely; to have an lin direct reference or bearing. 'In prudence, too, you think my rhymes Should never squint at courtier's crimes." Gay: Ant in Office. *4. To refer indirectly or obliquely. "Not meaning His pleasure or his good alone, But squinting partly at my own." *B. Transitive: Cowper: To Rev. W. Bull . 1. To turn (the eye) in an oblique direction. "Perkin began already to squint one eye upon the crown, and another upon the sanctuary."-Bacon: Henry VII . 2. To cause to look with a squint, or with non coincident optic axes. "He gives the web and the pin, squints the eye, and makes the hare-lip."- Shakesp .: Lear , iii. 4. *3. To cast or direct obliquely. "On others' ways they never squint a frown." Thomson: Castle of Indolence , i. 15. squint-er, s. [Eng. squint, v.; -er.] One who squints. "The triumphs of the patriot squinter." Warton: Oxford Newsman's Verses. *squint-i-fe'-gō, a. [SQUINT.] Squinting. "The timbrel and the squint if ego maid Of Isis awe thee." Dryden: Persius , sat. v. squint'-ing, pr . par . or a. [SQUINT, v .] squint-ing-ly, adv . [Eng. squinting ; -ly .] In a squinting manner; with a squint; by side glances, obliquely. squin-ỹ, squin'-nỹ, v. i. [SQUINT, a.] To squint; to look askance or asquint. (Prov.) "I remember thine eyes well enough: Dost thou squiny at me?" *squin-zeň, s. [SQUINSY.] Shakesp.: Lear, iv. 6. squir, squirr, v . t . [Prob. imitative of the sound of a body pa ing rapidly through the air; cf. whirr .] To throw with a jerk; to cause to cut along; to move as anything cutting through the air. "I saw him squirr away his watch a considerable distance into the Thames." -Budgell : Spectator , No. 77.