Field

fēld, n. country or open country in general: a piece of ground enclosed for tillage or pasture: the range of any series of actions or energies: the locality of a battle: the battle itself: room for action of any kind: a wide expanse: ( her. ) the surface of a shield: the background on which figures are drawn: the part of a coin left unoccupied by the main device: those taking part in a hunt: all the entries collectively against which a single contestant has to compete: all the parties not individually excepted, as 'to bet on the field' in a horse-race.— v.t. at cricket and base-ball, to catch or stop and return to the fixed place.— v.i. to stand in positions so as to catch the ball easily in cricket.— ns. Field′-allow′ance , a small extra payment to officers on active service; Field′-artill′ery , light ordnance suited for active operations in the field; Field′-bed , a camp or trestle bedstead; Field′-book , a book used in surveying fields.— n.pl. Field′-col′ours , small flags used for marking the position for companies and regiments, also any regimental headquarters' flags.— n. Field′-day , a day when troops are drawn out for instruction in field exercises: any day of unusual bustle.— adj. Field′ed ( Shak. ), encamped.— ns. Field′er , one who fields; Field′fare , a species of thrush, having a reddish-yellow throat and breast spotted with black; Field′-gla , a binocular telescope slung over the shoulder in a case; Field′-gun , a light cannon mounted on a carriage; Field′-hand , an outdoor farm labourer; Field′-hos′pital , a temporary hospital near the scene of battle; Field′-ice , ice formed in the polar seas in large surfaces, distinguished from icebergs; Field′ing , the acting in the field at cricket as distinguished from batting; Field′-mar′shal , an officer of the highest rank in the army; Field′-meet′ing , a conventicle; Field′-mouse , a species of mouse that lives in the fields; Field′-night , a night marked by some important gathering, discu ion, .; Field′-off′icer , a military officer above the rank of captain, and below that of general; Field′piece , a cannon or piece of artillery used in the field of battle; Field′-preach′er , one who preaches in the open air; Field′-preach′ing ; Fields′man , a fielder.— n.pl. Field′-sports , sports of the field, as hunting, racing, .— n. Field′-train , a department of the Royal Artillery responsible for the safety and supply of ammunition during war.— advs. Field′ward , -wards , toward the fields.— n.pl. Field′works , temporary works thrown up by troops in the field, either for protection or to cover an attack upon a stronghold.— Field of vision , the compa of visual power.— Keep the field , to keep the campaign open: to maintain one's ground. [A.S. feld ; cf. Dut. veld , the open country, Ger. feld .]