agouta (agota)

[Native name.] An insectivorous mammal peculiar to Hayti, the type-member of the genus Solenodon and of the the belly yellowish. Three varieties are mentioned, all peculiar to South America and the West Indies. It burrows in the ground or in hollow trees, lives on vegetables, doing much injury to the sugar-cane, is as voracious as a pig, and makes a similar grunting noise. It holds its food in its fore paws, like a squirrel. When scared or angry its hair becomes erect, and it strikes the ground with its hind feet. Its flesh is white and of agreeable taste, and the animal is pursued as game in Brazil. Also spelled aguti and agouty. See acouchy and Dasyprocta. agracet, v. t. See aggrace. agraffe (a-graf'), n. [Also, as a historical tern term, agrappe, aggrappe; ple, hasp" (Cotgrave), also * agrappe (Walloon agrap ), fo, o, G. G. krapfe, krapfe, a hook: see grape, grapple.] IMG:content-0415.png:[blocks in formation] The plate is in two parts; a hook behind the left-hand piece enters a ring behind the other. (From Viollet-le-Duc's "Dict. du Mobilier français.") ameled plate: as, "an agraffe set with brilliants," Scott, Ivanhoe. Also agrappe, fermail. Amongst the treasures is the Crowne of Charlemagne, his 7 foote high scepter and hand of justice, the agraffe of his royall mantle beset with diamonds and rubies, his sword, belt and spurrs of gold. Evelyn , Diary, Nov. 12, 1643. 2. A device for preventing the vibration of that part of a piano-string which is between the pin and the bridge.-3. A small cramp iron used by builders.