macaw, macao, maccaw

[The native name in the West Indian Islands.」 Ornith. The popular name for any member of the South American family Araide, and more strictly of the genus Ara (Bri on), or Macro cercus ( Vieillot ). The macaws are remarkable for their size and the beauty of their plumage. They are le docile than the true parrots, can rarely be taught to articulate more than a few words, and their cry is harsh and disagreeable. The Scarlet Macaw, Ara macao , is a very handsome bird; the principal color is bright-red, with blue rump, vent, tail-coverts, and quills, and greenish-blue and yellow wing-coverts, tail, two-thirds of whole length blue and crimson. The Red and Blue Macaw, A. aracanga , resembles the first species, but the middle of the wing-coverts is bright yellow. The Green Macaw, A. militar is , has lively green plumage, lower back, upper tail, and wing-coverts blue, the under surface orange-yellow. The Blue and Yellow Macaw, A. ararauna , is one of the handsomest of the genus. IMG:content-0797.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0798.png:[blocks in formation] Măc-ca-beēş, s. pl . [Latin Maccabœus ; Greek Makkabaios ; from Heb. maqqabhoth , or maqqebheth =a hammer; from the last three letters of the names Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, on the banner of the tribe of Dan, or from the first letters of the Hebrew words Mikamokah baelim Jehovah ("Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods?") in Exod. xv. 11.] IMG:content-0799.png:[blocks in formation] judges, magistrates, and others in authority. It was originally decorated at its summit with can opy-work, and is now generally surmounted by a crown. 3. A macebearer (q. v.). "He was followed by the maces of the two Houses and by the two speakers."-Macaulay: Hist . Eng . , ch. xi. 4. To make an unlawful a e ment; as, for an employe who is a buyer of goods to accept a "pres- ent" from the seller. ( Slang .) 1. Leather: A currier's mallet with a knobbed face, made by the insertion of pins with egg-shaped heads. It is used in leather-dre ing to soften and supple the tanned hides, and enable them to absorb the oil, . It is analogous to the fulling-hammer. dealing heavy blows, and constructed so as to fract- 2. Old Armor: A military implement used for soldiers at the saddle-bow, where it was suspended by a thong which pa ed through the upper part of the handle; this thong was wound round the wrist to prevent its lo by the force of a blow. It had many forms: a simple iron club, a spiked club, a pointed hammer. In England during the time of the Plant a genets the mace was used in battles and tournaments, and was superseded by the pistol in the time of Elizabeth. The mace is still retained among the Turkish irregular cavalry. 3. Billiards: A heavy rod or cue, used in pushing a ball along the table. ( Eng .) mace-bearer, s. An officer who carries the mace before a judge or other person in authority. ( Eng .) "John, Bishop of Lincoln, with purse-bearer, mace bearer , six boy-angels playing on musical instruments, and six Latin verses." -Walpole : Catalogue of Engravers, vol. v. *mace-proof, a . Secure against arrest. māçe (2), s . [Fr. mac is ; Ital. mace ; Lat. mac is, macir ; Gr. maker.] The aril of Myristic a moschata . Red Mace is the aril of Pyrrhosa tingens , and IMG:content-0800.png:[blocks in formation] been infused. Măç-ě-dō-ni-an (1), a. & s. [See def.] A. As adj .: Of or pertaining to Macedonia, a dis- trict in the north of Greece, or its inhabitants. B. As subst.: A native or inhabitant of Mace- donia. Maced on i an-phalanx, s . [PHALANX.] Măç-ě-đô-ni-an (2), a. & s. [See def.] A. As adj .: Pertaining to, or in any way con- nected with the teaching of Maced on i us; as, the Maced on i an heresy. B. As substantive: IMG:content-0801.png:[blocks in formation] māç-ēne, s. [Eng. mac(e); -ene.] Chem.: C10H16. A hydrocarbon present in the volatile oil of mace. It boils at 160°, and is dis tinguished from oil of turpentine by not forming a crystalline hydrate when mixed with alcohol and nitric acid. Machiavelian ism Măch-i-a-ve-li-an-işm, Măch-i-a-věl-ism, s. [Eng. Machiavelian ; -ism.] The principles or system of statesmanship taught or carried out by Machiavel: that right should be systematically subordinated to expediency, and that all means might be resorted to, however treacherous or unlawful, for the establishment and maintenance of the power of the ruler over his subjects; political cunning or duplicity. ma-chic-o-lāte, v . t . [Low Lat. machi col at us , pa. par. of machicolo , machicollo .] [MACHICOLA TION.] To form or furnish with machicolations. ma-chic-o-lat-ed, a. [MACHICOLATE.] Formed or furnished with machicolations. "Glared on a huge machicolated tower." Tennyson: Last Tournament.