anthill

& a [In A.S. œmete-hyll, æmette - hyll.] A. As substantive: 1. The inounds or hillocks raised by some species of ants proper. There are many in the mountains of Pennsylvania, in the Eastern States, and elsewhere. 231 "Put blue flowers into an ant -hill, they will be stained with red; because the ants drop upon them their stinging liquor, which hath the effect of oil of vitriol."-Ray. 2. The much more remarkable erections made by different species of termites (white ants). In most cases the descriptions of unscientific travellers refer to these rather than to the constructions of the ants proper. The nest of the African Termes bell i cos us is described by Sparrmann as rising ten or twelve feet above the surface of the earth. Its shape is that of a sugar-loaf. Externally it is covered with a broad cap, whilst inside it is divided into a multitude of chambers. The T. atror and the T. mordax build nests two feet high with conical roofs, called turret ted nests. [WHITE ANT and TERMES] B. As adjective: In various respects presenting the characteristics of an ant-hill like those just described; small, petty. 44 all things that do pa , Upon this ant - hill earth!" Thomson: Castle of Indolence, i. 49. ant-hillock, s. Nearly the same as ANTHILL (q.v.), but smaller. "Those who have seen ant-hillocks"-Add is on. ant-like, a. Like an ant.