n. [ L. tripus, -odis, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; (see Tri-) + &unr_;, &unr_;, foot. See Foot, and cf. Tripos, Trivet. ] 1. Any utensil or vessel, as a stool, table, altar, caldron, etc., supported on three feet. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ On such, a stool, in the temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Pythian priestess sat while giving responses to those consulting the Delphic oracle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A three-legged frame or stand, usually jointed at top, for supporting a theodolite, compass, telescope, camera, or other instrument. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tripod of life, or
Vital tripod (Physiol.), the three organs, the heart, lungs, and brain; -- so called because their united action is necessary to the maintenance of life. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mus.) An ancient stringed instrument; -- so called because, in form, it resembled the Delphic tripod. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. tri- + -pody, as in dipody. ] (Pros.) Three metrical feet taken together, or included in one measure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) An earthy substance originally brought from Tripoli, used in polishing stones and metals. It consists almost wholly of the siliceous shells of diatoms. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to Tripoli or its inhabitants; Tripolitan. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to tripoli, the mineral. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Tripoli or its inhabitants; Tripoline. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Tripoli. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Triposes [ Gr. &unr_; a tripod. See Tripod. ] 1. A tripod. [ Obs. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A university examination of questionists, for honors; also, a tripos paper; one who prepares a tripos paper. [ Cambridge University, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Classical tripos examination, the final university examination for classical honors, optional to all who have taken the mathematical honors. C. A. Bristed. --
Tripos paper, a printed list of the successful candidates for mathematical honors, accompanied by a piece in Latin verse. There are two of these, designed to commemorate the two tripos days. The first contains the names of the wranglers and senior optimes, and the second the names of the junior optimes. The word tripos is supposed to refer to the three-legged stool formerly used at the examinations for these honors, though some derive it from the three brackets formerly printed on the back of the paper. C. A. Bristed. [ 1913 Webster ]