latania

[From latania, the name of one species in the Isle of Bourbon. See def.] Bot.: A genus of Palms, tribe Bora em. It contains two species, Latania bourbonica , from the Isle of Bourbon, and L. rubra , from the Mauritius. They have palmate, fan-shaped leaves, yellow flowers, and yellowish-colored drupes. The leaves are used by the natives for covering their huts, and for making fans and umbrellas. The pulp of the fruit is astringent, the kernel bitter and purgative, and the sap of the trees antiscorbutic. lătch (1), *lacche, *lach, *lahche, *latche, s. [A. S. læccar =to catch.] IMG:content-0384.png:[blocks in formation] 1. Knitting - machine : The piece hinged to the needle, which closes over the engaged loop to hold it in position in the needle while the latter is penetrating another loop. The latch is subsequently opened by the latch-lifter to allow the loop to be pushed back upon the needle, and is then closed by the latch-closer to enable the knock-off to disengage the formed loop or stitch. The latch is sometimes called the fly. 2. Nautical : 2476 (1) A cord clamp which holds the in-board end of a mackerel-line; a mackerel-latch. (2) A loop on the head-rope of a bonnet-sail; a lasket. latch-closer, s. Knitting - machine : The piece which closes the latches, to enable the knock-off to slip the formed loops off the needles. who stole into houses by drawing the latch. *latch-drawer, *latche-drawer, s. A thief,