Block

blok, n. an unshaped ma of wood or stone, .: the wood on which criminals were wont to be beheaded: ( mech. ) a pulley together with its framework; a piece of wood on which something is formed: a connected group of houses: an obstruction: a blockhead.— v.t. to enclose or shut up: to obstruct: to shape or sketch out roughly.— n. Blockade′ , the blocking up of a place by surrounding it with troops or by ships.— v.t. to block up by troops or ships.— ns. Block′-head , one with a head like a block, a stupid fellow; Block′-house , a small temporary fort generally made of logs.— adj. Block′ish , like a block: stupid: dull.— ns. Block′-print′ing , printing of Block′-books , from engraved wooden blocks or pages; Block′-ship , a war-ship, inefficient for service in action on account of age, but useful in defence of ports; Block′-sys′tem , a system of working trains in which no train is allowed on to a section of line so long as any other train is on that section; Block′-tin , tin in the form of blocks or ingots. [Widely spread, but acc. to Skeat, of Celt. origin, Gael. ploc , Old Ir. blog , a fragment. See Plug .]