traversable (traversabl)

[ Most of Toledo is traversable only for pedestrians and donkeys. Lathrop, Spanish Vistas, p. 36. 2. Capable of being traversed or denied: as, a traversable allegation. As to presentments of petty offences in the town or leet, Lord Mans field has said that it cannot be true that they are not traversable anywhere. Sir J. T. Cole ridge, Note on Black stone's Com., IV. xxiii. 3. In law (of an allegation in pleading), such that traversing or denying entitles to trial as an i ue of fact, as distinguished from an allegation which is not material, or which relates only to the measure of damages. traversantt (trav'er-sant), a. [ME. traversaunt, Thou hast a dominacioun traversaunt , Wythowte numbre doyst thou greeve. MS . Cantab . Ff. i. 6, f. 137. ( Hall i well .) traverse (trav'èrs), a . and n. [ travers , travers , F. travers , lying acro , thwart, transverse ( travers , m., a breadth, in mod. F. irregularity, etc., traverse , f., a cro -bar, cro road, etc.), = Pr. travers , trans vers = Sp. tra vesio = Pg. traves so = It. traverso , traver sus , trans versus , lying acro , transverse: see transverse , of which traverse is a doublet.] Ι. a. 1. Situated or acting acro or athwart; thwart; transverse; cro ing. Trees.. hewen downe, and layde trauers, one ouer auother. Berners, tr. of Froi art's Chron., II. clxxxvi. The paths cut with traverse trenches much encumbered the carriages. Sir J. Hayward, traverse 2. In her., cro ing the escutcheon from side to side, so as to touch both the dexter and sinister edges. - Toll traverse. See tolll. - Traverse flute. Same as transverse flute (which see, under flute1, 1). - Traverse in point, in her., covered with narrow triangular bearings like points, alternating from dexter to sinister and from sinister to dexter; therefore, the same as pily barwise - the triangular figures from each side of the escutcheon being equal in size. - Traverse jury, sailing, etc. See the nouns. - Traverse pily, in her., same as traverse in point. II. n. 1. Anything that traverses or cro es; a bar or barrier. (at) A curtain, usually low, and arranged to be drawn; a sliding screen; in the old theater, a curtain used as a substitute for scenes or scenery. Men drynken and the travers drawe anon. Chaucer , Merchant's Tale, 1. 573. I will see them: They are behind the traverse ; I'll discover Their superstitious howling.