Hound Hound noun [ Middle English hound , hund , dog, Anglo-Saxon hund ; akin to Old Saxon & OFries. hund , Dutch hond , German hund , Old High German hunt , Icelandic hundr , Dan. & Swedish hund , Goth. hunds , and probably to Lithuanian sz... , Ir. & Gael. cu , Latin canis , Greek ..., ..., Sanskrit çvan . √229. Confer Canine , Cynic , Kennel .] 1. (Zoology) A variety of the domestic dog, usually having large, drooping ears, esp. one which hunts game by scent, as the foxhound, bloodhound, deerhound, but also used for various breeds of fleet hunting dogs, as the greyhound, boarhound, etc.

Hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs.

Shak.

2. A despicable person. "Boy! false hound !" Shak.

3. (Zoology) A houndfish.

4. plural (Nautical) Projections at the masthead, serving as a support for the trestletrees and top to rest on.

5. A side bar used to strengthen portions of the running gear of a vehicle.

To follow the hounds , to hunt with hounds.

Hound Hound transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Hounded ; present participle & verbal noun Hounding .] 1. To set on the chase; to incite to pursuit; as, to hound a dog at a hare; to hound on pursuers. Abp. Bramhall.

2. To hunt or chase with hounds, or as with hounds. L'Estrange.

Hound's-tongue Hound's"-tongue` noun [ Anglo-Saxon hundes tunge .] (Botany) A biennial weed ( Cynoglossum officinale ), with soft tongue-shaped leaves, and an offensive odor. It bears nutlets covered with barbed or hooked prickles. Called also dog's-tongue .

Houndfish Hound"fish noun (Zoology) Any small shark of the genus Galeus or Mustelus , of which there are several species, as the smooth houndfish ( G. canis ), of Europe and America; -- called also houndshark , and dogfish .

» The European nursehound, or small-spotted dogfish, is Scyllium canicula ; the rough houndfish, or large-spotted dogfish, is S. catulus . The name has also sometimes been applied to the bluefish ( Pomatomus saltatrix ), and to the silver gar.

Hounding Hound"ing noun 1. The act of one who hounds.

2. (Nautical) The part of a mast below the hounds and above the deck.

Houp Houp noun (Zoology) See Hoopoe . [ Obsolete]

Hour Hour noun [ Middle English hour , our , hore , ure , Old French hore , ore , ure , French heure , Latin hora , from Greek ..., orig., a definite space of time, fixed by natural laws; hence, a season, the time of the day, an hour. See Year , and confer Horologe , Horoscope .] 1. The twenty-fourth part of a day; sixty minutes.

2. The time of the day, as expressed in hours and minutes, and indicated by a timepiece; as, what is the hour ? At what hour shall we meet?

3. Fixed or appointed time; conjuncture; a particular time or occasion; as, the hour of greatest peril; the man for the hour .

Woman, . . . mine hour is not yet come.

John ii. 4.

This is your hour , and the power of darkness.

Luke xxii. 53.

4. plural (R. C. Ch.) Certain prayers to be repeated at stated times of the day, as matins and vespers.

5. A measure of distance traveled.

Vilvoorden, three hours from Brussels.

J. P. Peters.

After hours , after the time appointed for one's regular labor. -- Canonical hours . See under Canonical . -- Hour angle (Astron.) , the angle between the hour circle passing through a given body, and the meridian of a place. -- Hour circle . (Astron.) (a) Any circle of the sphere passing through the two poles of the equator; esp., one of the circles drawn on an artificial globe through the poles, and dividing the equator into spaces of 15°, or one hour, each. (b) A circle upon an equatorial telescope lying parallel to the plane of the earth's equator, and graduated in hours and subdivisions of hours of right ascension. (c) A small brass circle attached to the north pole of an artificial globe, and divided into twenty- four parts or hours. It is used to mark differences of time in working problems on the globe. -- Hour hand , the hand or index which shows the hour on a timepiece. -- Hour line . (a) (Astron.) A line indicating the hour. (b) (Dialing) A line on which the shadow falls at a given hour; the intersection of an hour circle which the face of the dial. -- Hour plate , the plate of a timepiece on which the hours are marked; the dial. Locke. -- Sidereal hour , the twenty-fourth part of a sidereal day. -- Solar hour , the twenty- fourth part of a solar day. -- The small hours , the early hours of the morning, as one o'clock, two o'clock, etc. -- To keep good hours , to be regular in going to bed early.

Hourglass Hour"glass` noun An instrument for measuring time, especially the interval of an hour. It consists of a glass vessel having two compartments, from the uppermost of which a quantity of sand, water, or mercury occupies an hour in running through a small aperture unto the lower.

» A similar instrument measuring any other interval of time takes its name from the interval measured; as, a half-hour glass , a half-minute glass . A three-minute glass is sometimes called an egg-glass , from being used to time the boiling of eggs.

Houri Hou"ri noun ; plural Houris . [ Persian hūrī , hūrā , hūr ; akin to Arabic hūr , plural of ahwar beautiful-eyed, black-eyed.] A nymph of paradise; -- so called by the Mohammedans.

Hourly Hour"ly adjective Happening or done every hour; occurring hour by hour; frequent; often repeated; renewed hour by hour; continual.

In hourly expectation of a martyrdom.

Sharp.

Hourly Hour"ly adverb Every hour; frequently; continually.

Great was their strife, which hourly was renewed.

Dryden.

Hours Hours noun plural [ A translation of Latin Horae (Gr. ...). See Hour .] (Myth.) Goddess of the seasons, or of the hours of the day.

Lo! where the rosy-blosomed Hours ,
Fair Venus' train, appear.

Gray.

Housage Hous"age noun [ From House .] A fee for keeping goods in a house. [ R.] Chambers.

House House noun ; plural Houses . [ Middle English hous , hus , Anglo-Saxon h...s ; akin to Old Saxon & OFries. h...s , Dutch huis , Old High German h...s , German haus , Icelandic h...s , Swedish hus , Danish huus , Goth. gud h...s , house of God, temple; and probably to English hide to conceal. See Hide , and confer Hoard , Husband , Hussy , Husting .] 1. A structure intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but especially, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, a mansion.

Houses are built to live in; not to look on.

Bacon.

Bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench
Are from their hives and houses driven away.

Shak.

2. Household affairs; domestic concerns; particularly in the phrase to keep house . See below.

3. Those who dwell in the same house; a household.

One that feared God with all his house .

Acts x. 2.

4. A family of ancestors, descendants, and kindred; a race of persons from the same stock; a tribe; especially, a noble family or an illustrious race; as, the house of Austria; the house of Hanover; the house of Israel.

The last remaining pillar of their house ,
The one transmitter of their ancient name.

Tennyson.

5. One of the estates of a kingdom or other government assembled in parliament or legislature; a body of men united in a legislative capacity; as, the House of Lords; the House of Commons; the House of Representatives; also, a quorum of such a body. See Congress , and Parliament .

6. (Com.) A firm, or commercial establishment.

7. A public house; an inn; a hotel.

8. (Astrol.) A twelfth part of the heavens, as divided by six circles intersecting at the north and south points of the horizon, used by astrologers in noting the positions of the heavenly bodies, and casting horoscopes or nativities. The houses were regarded as fixed in respect to the horizon, and numbered from the one at the eastern horizon, called the ascendant , first house , or house of life , downward, or in the direction of the earth's revolution, the stars and planets passing through them in the reverse order every twenty- four hours.

9. A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece.

10. An audience; an assembly of hearers, as at a lecture, a theater, etc.; as, a thin or a full house .

11. The body, as the habitation of the soul.

This mortal house I'll ruin,
Do Cæsar what he can.

Shak.

12. [ With an adj., as narrow , dark , etc.] The grave. "The narrow house ." Bryant.

» House is much used adjectively and as the first element of compounds. The sense is usually obvious; as, house cricket, house maid, house painter, house work.

House ant (Zoology) , a very small, yellowish brown ant ( Myrmica molesta ), which often infests houses, and sometimes becomes a great pest. -- House of bishops (Prot. Epis. Ch.) , one of the two bodies composing a general convertion, the other being House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. -- House boat , a covered boat used as a dwelling. -- House of call , a place, usually a public house, where journeymen connected with a particular trade assemble when out of work, ready for the call of employers. [ Eng.] Simonds. -- House car (Railroad) , a freight car with inclosing sides and a roof; a box car. -- House of correction . See Correction . -- House cricket (Zoology) , a European cricket ( Gryllus domesticus ), which frequently lives in houses, between the bricks of chimneys and fireplaces. It is noted for the loud chirping or stridulation of the males. -- House dog , a dog kept in or about a dwelling house. -- House finch (Zoology) , the burion. -- House flag , a flag denoting the commercial house to which a merchant vessel belongs. -- House fly (Zoology) , a common fly (esp. Musca domestica ), which infests houses both in Europe and America. Its larva is a maggot which lives in decaying substances or excrement, about sink drains, etc. -- House of God , a temple or church. -- House of ill fame . See Ill fame under Ill , adjective -- House martin (Zoology) , a common European swallow ( Hirundo urbica ). It has feathered feet, and builds its nests of mud against the walls of buildings. Called also house swallow , and window martin . -- House mouse (Zoology) , the common mouse ( Mus musculus ). -- House physician , the resident medical adviser of a hospital or other public institution. -- House snake (Zoology) , the milk snake. -- House sparrow (Zoology) , the common European sparrow ( Passer domesticus ). It has recently been introduced into America, where it has become very abundant, esp. in cities. Called also thatch sparrow . -- House spider (Zoology) , any spider which habitually lives in houses. Among the most common species are Theridium tepidariorum and Tegenaria domestica . -- House surgeon , the resident surgeon of a hospital. -- House wren (Zoology) , the common wren of the Eastern United States ( Troglodytes aëdon ). It is common about houses and in gardens, and is noted for its vivacity, and loud musical notes. See Wren . -- Religious house , a monastery or convent. -- The White House , the official residence of the President of the United States; -- hence, colloquially, the office of President. -- To bring down the house . See under Bring . -- To keep house , to maintain an independent domestic establishment. -- To keep open house , to entertain friends at all times.

Syn. -- Dwelling; residence; abode. See Tenement .

House House transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Housed ; present participle & verbal noun Housing .] [ Anglo-Saxon h...sian .] 1. To take or put into a house; to shelter under a roof; to cover from the inclemencies of the weather; to protect by covering; as, to house one's family in a comfortable home; to house farming utensils; to house cattle.

At length have housed me in a humble shed.

Young.

House your choicest carnations, or rather set them under a penthouse.

Evelyn.

2. To drive to a shelter. Shak.

3. To admit to residence; to harbor.

Palladius wished him to house all the Helots.

Sir P. Sidney.

4. To deposit and cover, as in the grave. Sandys.

5. (Nautical) To stow in a safe place; to take down and make safe; as, to house the upper spars.

House House intransitive verb 1. To take shelter or lodging; to abide to dwell; to lodge.

You shall not house with me.

Shak.

2. (Astrol.) To have a position in one of the houses. See House , noun , 8. "Where Saturn houses ." Dryden.

Housebote House"bote` noun [ House + bote .] (Law) Wood allowed to a tenant for repairing the house and for fuel. This latter is often called firebote . See Bote .

Housebreaker House"break`er noun One who is guilty of the crime of housebreaking.

Housebreaking House"break`ing noun The act of breaking open and entering, with a felonious purpose, the dwelling house of another, whether done by day or night. See Burglary , and To break a house , under Break .

Housebuilder House"build`er noun One whose business is to build houses; a housewright.

Housecarl House"carl` noun [ Middle English huscarle . See House , and Carl .] (Eng. Archæol.) A household servant; also, one of the bodyguard of King Canute.

Household House"hold` noun 1. Those who dwell under the same roof and compose a family.

And calls, without affecting airs,
His household twice a day to prayers.

Swift.

2. A line of ancestory; a race or house. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Household House"hold` adjective Belonging to the house and family; domestic; as, household furniture; household affairs.

Household bread , bread made in the house for common use; hence, bread that is not of the finest quality. [ Obsolete] -- Household gods (Rom. Antiq.) , the gods presiding over the house and family; the Lares and Penates ; hence, all objects endeared by association with home. -- Household troops , troops appointed to attend and guard the sovereign or his residence.

Householder House"hold`er noun The master or head of a family; one who occupies a house with his family.

Towns in which almost every householder was an English Protestant.

Macaulay.

Compound householder . See Compound , adjective

Housekeeper House"keep`er noun 1. One who occupies a house with his family; a householder; the master or mistress of a family. Locke.

2. One who does, or oversees, the work of keeping house; as, his wife is a good housekeeper ; often, a woman hired to superintend the servants of a household and manage the ordinary domestic affairs.

3. One who exercises hospitality, or has a plentiful and hospitable household. [ Obsolete] Sir H. Wotton.

4. One who keeps or stays much at home. [ R.]

You are manifest housekeeper .

Shak.

5. A house dog. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Housekeeping House"keep`ing noun 1. The state of occupying a dwelling house as a householder.

2. Care of domestic concerns; management of a house and home affairs.

3. Hospitality; a liberal and hospitable table; a supply of provisions. [ Obsolete]

Tell me, softly and hastily, what's in the pantry?
Small housekeeping enough, said Phœbe.

Sir W. Scott.

Housekeeping House"keep`ing adjective Domestic; used in a family; as, housekeeping commodities.

Housel Hou"sel noun [ Middle English housel , husel , Anglo-Saxon hūsel ; akin to Icelandic hūsl , Goth. hunsl a sacrifice.] The eucharist. [ Archaic] Rom. of R. Tennyson.

Housel Hou"sel transitive verb [ Anglo-Saxon hūslian .] To administer the eucharist to. [ Archaic] Chaucer.

Houseleek House"leek` noun [ House + leek .] (Botany) A succulent plant of the genus Sempervivum ( S. tectorum ), originally a native of subalpine Europe, but now found very generally on old walls and roofs. It is very tenacious of life under drought and heat; -- called also ayegreen .

Houseless House"less adjective Destitute of the shelter of a house; shelterless; homeless; as, a houseless wanderer.

Houselessness House"less·ness noun The state of being houseless.

Houseline House"line` noun (Nautical) A small line of three strands used for seizing; -- called also housing . Totten.

Houseling House"ling` adjective Same as Housling .

Housemaid House"maid` noun A female servant employed to do housework, esp. to take care of the rooms.

Housemaid's knee (Medicine) , a swelling over the knee, due to an enlargement of the bursa in the front of the kneepan; -- so called because frequently occurring in servant girls who work upon their knees.

Housemate House"mate` noun One who dwells in the same house with another. R. Browning.

Houseroom House"room` noun Room or place in a house; as, to give any one houseroom .

Housewarming House"warm`ing noun A feast or merry-making made by or for a family or business firm on taking possession of a new house or premises. Johnson.

Housewife House"wife` noun [ House + wife. Confer Hussy .] 1. The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household. Shak.

He a good husband, a good housewife she.

Dryden.

2. (Usually pronounced ....) [ See Hussy , in this sense.] A little case or bag for materials used in sewing, and for other articles of female work; -- called also hussy . [ Written also huswife .] P. Skelton.

3. A hussy. [ R.] [ Usually written huswife .] Shak.

Sailor's housewife , a ditty-bag.

Housewife, Housewive House"wife`, House"wive` transitive verb To manage with skill and economy, as a housewife or other female manager; to economize.

Conferred those moneys on the nuns, which since they have well housewived .

Fuller.

Housewifely House"wife`ly adjective Pertaining or appropriate to a housewife; domestic; economical; prudent.

A good sort of woman, ladylike and housewifely .

Sir W. Scott.

Housewifery House"wif`er·y noun The business of the mistress of a family; female management of domestic concerns.

Housework House"work` noun The work belonging to housekeeping; especially, kitchen work, sweeping, scrubbing, bed making, and the like.

Housewright House"wright` noun A builder of houses.

Housing Hous"ing noun [ From House . In some of its senses this word has been confused with the following word.] 1. The act of putting or receiving under shelter; the state of dwelling in a habitation.

2. That which shelters or covers; houses, taken collectively. Fabyan.

3. (Architecture) (a) The space taken out of one solid, to admit the insertion of part of another, as the end of one timber in the side of another. (b) A niche for a statue.

4. (Machinery) A frame or support for holding something in place, as journal boxes, etc.

5. (Nautical) (a) That portion of a mast or bowsprit which is beneath the deck or within the vessel. (b) A covering or protection, as an awning over the deck of a ship when laid up. (c) A houseline. See Houseline .

Housing Hous"ing noun [ From Houss .] 1. A cover or cloth for a horse's saddle, as an ornamental or military appendage; a saddlecloth; a horse cloth; in plural, trappings.

2. An appendage to the hames or collar of a harness.

Housling Hous"ling adjective [ See Housel .] Sacramental; as, housling fire. [ R.] Spenser.

Houss Houss noun [ French housse , Late Latin hulcia , from Old High German hulst ; akin to English holster . See Holster , and confer 2d Housing .] A saddlecloth; a housing. [ Obsolete] Dryden.

Houstonia Hous·to"ni·a noun [ New Latin So named after Dr. William Houston , an English surgeon and botanist.] (Botany) A genus of small rubiaceous herbs, having tetramerous salveform blue or white flower. There are about twenty species, natives of North America. Also, a plant of this genus.

Houtou Hou"tou noun [ From its note.] (Zoology) A beautiful South American motmot. Waterton.

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