n. [ L. asteriscus, Gr. &unr_;, dim. of 'asth`r star. See Aster. ] The figure of a star, thus, &unr_;, used in printing and writing as a reference to a passage or note in the margin, to supply the omission of letters or words, or to mark a word or phrase as having a special character. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A raccoonlike omnivorous mammal (Bassariscus astutus) of Mexico and southwestern U. S. having a long bushy tail with black and white rings.
Syn. -- cacomistle, cacomixle, coon cat, raccoon fox, ringtail, ring-tailed cat, civet cat, miner's cat. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Cf. W. brysg, fr. brys haste, Gael. briosg quick, lively, Ir. broisg a start, leap, jerk. ] 1. Full of liveliness and activity; characterized by quickness of motion or action; lively; spirited; quick. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cheerily, boys; be brick awhile. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brisk toil alternating with ready ease. Wordworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Full of spirit of life; effervesc&unr_;ng, as liquors; sparkling; as, brick cider. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Active; lively; agile; alert; nimble; quick; sprightly; vivacious; gay; spirited; animated. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Bricked p. pr. & vb. n. Bricking. ] To make or become lively; to enliven; to animate; to take, or cause to take, an erect or bold attitude; -- usually with up. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. to become brisk.
Syn. -- brisk, brisk up. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ OE. bruskette, OF. bruschet, F. bréchet, brichet; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. brysced the breast of a slain animal, brisket, Corn. vrys breast, Armor. brusk, bruched, the front of the chest, Gael. brisgein the cartilaginous part of a bone. ] That part of the breast of an animal which extends from the fore legs back beneath the ribs; also applied to the fore part of a horse, from the shoulders to the bottom of the chest. [ See Illust. of Beef. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a brisk manner; nimbly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Liveliness; vigor in action; quickness; gayety; vivacity; effervescence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. frieque, cf. OHG. frise lively, brisk, fresh, Dan. & Sw. frisk, Icel. friskr. See Fresh, a. ] Lively; brisk; frolicsome; frisky. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. A frolic; a fit of wanton gayety; a gambol: a little playful skip or leap. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Frisked p. pr. & vb. n. Frisking. ] To leap, skip, dance, or gambol, in fronc and gayety. [ 1913 Webster ]

The frisking satyrs on the summits danced. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To search (a person) for concealed weapons or other objects, by patting the clothing to detect objects underneath; as, the police pulled the car over and frisked the occupants.
Syn. -- frisk. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A leap or caper. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who frisks; one who leaps of dances in gayety; a wanton; an inconstant or unsettled person. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. frisguette. Perhaps so named from the velocity or frequency of its motion. See Frisk a. ] (Print.) The light frame which holds the sheet of paper to the tympan in printing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Brisk; lively; frolicsome. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a frisky manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State or quality of being frisky. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of searching someone for concealed weapons.
Syn. -- frisk. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Inclined to frisk; frolicsome; gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is too frisky for an old man. Jeffrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Grise a pig + -kin. ] The spine of a hog. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Morisco. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Oriskany, in New York. ] (Geol.) Designating, or pertaining to, certain beds, chiefly limestone, characteristic of the latest period of the Silurian age. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oriskany period, a subdivision of the American Paleozoic system intermediate or transitional in character between the Silurian and Devonian ages. See Chart of Geology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. risque; cf. It. risco, risico, rischio, Pg. risco, Sp. riesgo, and also Sp. risco a steep rock; all probably fr. L. resceare to cut off; pref. re- re- + secare to cut; -- the word having been probably first used among sailors. See Section. ] 1. Hazard; danger; peril; exposure to loss, injury, or destruction. [ 1913 Webster ]

The imminent and constant risk of assassination, a risk which has shaken very strong nerves. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Com.) Hazard of loss; liabillity to loss in property. [ 1913 Webster ]

To run a risk, to incur hazard; to encounter danger. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Danger; hazard; peril; jeopardy; exposure. See Danger. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Risked p. pr. & vb. n. Risking. ] [ CF. F. risquer. See Risk, n. ] 1. To expose to risk, hazard, or peril; to venture; as, to risk goods on board of a ship; to risk one's person in battle; to risk one's fame by a publication. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To incur the risk or danger of; as, to risk a battle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To hazard; peril; endanger; jeopard. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who risks or hazards. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Risky. [ R. ] Geddes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Attended with risk or danger; hazardous. “A risky matter.” W. Collins. [ 1913 Webster ]

Generalization are always risky. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Risk of injury, destruction, or loss by the sea, or while at sea. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. tamariscus, also tamarix, tamarice, Skr. tamāla, tamālaka, a tree with a very dark bark; cf. tamas darkness: cf. F. tamarisc, tamarix, tamaris. ] (Bot.) Any shrub or tree of the genus Tamarix, the species of which are European and Asiatic. They have minute scalelike leaves, and small flowers in spikes. An Arabian species (Tamarix mannifera) is the source of one kind of manna. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tamarisk salt tree, an East Indian tree (Tamarix orientalis) which produces an incrustation of salt. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or , n. [ Gr. &unr_; three-legged. See Tri-; Isosceles. ] A figure composed of three branches, usually curved, radiating from a center, as the figure composed of three human legs, with bent knees, which has long been used as a badge or symbol of Sicily and of the Isle of Man. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]