(Geol.) The closing subdivision of the Devonian age in America. The rocks of this period are well developed in the Catskill mountains, and extend south and west under the Carboniferous formation. See the Diagram under Geology. [ 1913 Webster ]

pred. adj. attired in strikingly attractive clothing; -- usually of women. [ PJC ]

n. A kiln. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. kil. ] A channel or arm of the sea; a river; a stream; as, the channel between Staten Island and Bergen Neck is the Kill van Kull, or the Kills; -- used also in composition; as, Schuylkill, Catskill, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Killed p. pr. & vb. n. Killing. ] [ OE. killen, kellen, cullen, to kill, strike; perh. the same word as cwellen, quellen, to kill (cf. Quell), or perh. rather akin to Icel. kolla to hit in the head, harm, kollr top, summit, head, Sw. kulle, D. kollen to kill with the ax. ] 1. To deprive of life, animal or vegetable, in any manner or by any means; to render inanimate; to put to death; to slay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words ! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To destroy; to ruin; as, to kill one's chances; to kill the sale of a book. “To kill thine honor.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her lively color kill'd with deadly cares. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to cease; to quell; to calm; to still; as, in seamen's language, a shower of rain kills the wind; new sound insultation killed the loud noises from outside. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Be comforted, good madam; the great rage,
You see, is killed in him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To destroy the effect of; to counteract; to neutralize; as, alkali kills acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To waste or spend unprofitably; -- usually used of time; as, he killed an hour waiting for the doctor to see him. [ PJC ]

6. To cancel or forbid publication of (a report, article, etc.), after it has been written; as, they killed the article after getting threats of a lawsuit. [ PJC ]

To kill time, to busy one's self with something which occupies the attention, or makes the time pass without tediousness.

Syn. -- To murder; assassinate; slay; butcher; destroy. -- To Kill, Murder, Assassinate. To kill does not necessarily mean any more than to deprive of life. A man may kill another by accident or in self-defense, without the imputation of guilt. To murder is to kill with malicious forethought and intention. To assassinate is to murder suddenly and by stealth. The sheriff may kill without murdering; the duelist murders, but does not assassinate his antagonist; the assassin kills and murders.

n. 1. The act of killing.

“There is none like to me!” says the cub in the pride of his earliest kill. Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. An animal killed in the hunt, as by a beast of prey.

If ye plunder his kill from a weaker, devour not all in thy pride. Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adj. fit to kill, especially for food. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. [ So named from its notes. ] (Zool.) A small American plover (Charadrius vociferus, formerly Aegialitis vocifera) of inland waters and fields having a distinctive cry. The adult has two black bands around the neck and upper breast, but the young chick has only the breast band. It ranges from Canada to Mexico and the West Indies.
Syn. -- kildeer, killdeer plover, Charadrius vociferus. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

☞ It is dark grayish brown above; the rump and upper tail coverts are yellowish rufous; the belly, throat, and a line over the eyes, white; a ring round the neck and band across the breast, black. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who deprives of life; one who, or that which, kills. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A voracious, toothed whale of the genus Orca, of which several species are known; called also killer whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The killers have a high dorsal fin, and powerful jaws armed with large, sharp teeth. They capture, and swallow entire, large numbers of seals, porpoises, and dolphins, and are celebrated for their savage, combined attacks upon the right whales, which they are said to mutilate and kill. The common Atlantic species (Orca gladiator), is found both on the European and the American coast. Two species (Orca ater and Orca rectipinna) occur on the Pacific coast. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. see killer{ 2 }. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. Coulisse. ] (Arch.) (a) A gutter, groove, or channel. (b) A hipped roof. [ Prov. Eng. ] Parker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of several small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus and allied genera. They live equally well in fresh and brackish water, or even in the sea. They are usually striped or barred with black. Called also minnow, and brook fish. See Minnow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The Cornish chough. See under Chough. [ Prov. Eng. & Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Kinnikinic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Literally, that kills; having power to kill; fatal; in a colloquial sense, conquering; captivating; irresistible. -- Kill"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Those eyes are made so killing. Pope. [1913 Webster]

Nothing could be more killingly spoken. Milton. [1913 Webster]

n. 1. The act or process of causing a living organism to die. [ PJC ]

2. An unusually large gain in a financial or business transaction or enterprise; as, she made a killing trading cattle futures. [ PJC ]

n. One who causes gloom or grief; a dispiriting person; a spoilsport. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Scot. killick “the flue [ fluke ] of an anchor.” Jamieson. ] A small anchor; also, a kind of anchor formed by a stone inclosed by pieces of wood fastened together. [ Written also killick. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. kollow the smut or grime on the backs of chimneys. ] An earth of a blackish or deep blue color. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A gallant who captivates the hearts of women. “A renowned dandy and lady-killer.” Blackw. Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art or practice of captivating the hearts of women. [ 1913 Webster ]

Better for the sake of womankind that this dangerous dog should leave off lady-killing. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A small American ericaceous shrub (Kalmia angustifolia), resembling mountain laurel but having narrower leaves and small red flowers; -- called also calfkill, sheepkill, sheep laurel, etc. It is supposed to poison young sheep and other animals that eat it at times when the snow is deep and they cannot find other food.
Syn. -- sheep laurel, pig laurel, Kalmia angustifolia. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 ]

. Any of several arthropods erroneously supposed to kill live stock, in the southern United States, by stinging or by being swallowed; as: (a) A whip scorpion. [ Florida ] (b) A walking-stick insect. [ Texas ] (c) A mantis. (d) A wheel bug. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ So called because it is believed to kill and impale on thorns nine birds, etc., in succession. ] (Zool.) The northern butcher bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A medicine used in to relieve pain.
Syn. -- analgesic, anodyne, pain pill. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. sing. & pl. The body of an animal killed by a vehicle on a road; as, it is illegal in most places for a restaurant to serve roadkill as food for people. Also used metaphorically; as, “roadkill on the information superhighway” (a person or corporation defeated by others more expert at using the internet). [ PJC ]

n. [ Icel. skil a distinction, discernment; akin to skilja to separate, divide, distinguish, Sw. skilja, . skille to separate, skiel reason, right, justice, Sw. skäl reason, Lith. skelli to cleave. Cf. Shell, Shoal, a multitude. ] 1. Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause. [ Obs. ] Shak. “As it was skill and right.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

For great skill is, he prove that he wrought. [ For with good reason he should test what he created. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Knowledge; understanding. [ Obsoles. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That by his fellowship he color might
Both his estate and love from skill of any wight. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor want we skill or art. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Phocion, . . . by his great wisdom and skill at negotiations, diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where patience her sweet skill imparts. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Richard . . . by a thousand princely skills, gathering so much corn as if he meant not to return. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Any particular art. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Learned in one skill, and in another kind of learning unskillful. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Dexterity; adroitness; expertness; art; aptitude; ability. -- Skill, Dexterity, Adroitness. Skill is more intelligent, denoting familiar knowledge united to readiness of performance. Dexterity, when applied to the body, is more mechanical, and refers to habitual ease of execution. Adroitness involves the same image with dexterity, and differs from it as implaying a general facility of movement (especially in avoidance of danger or in escaping from a difficalty). The same distinctions apply to the figurative sense of the words. A man is skillful in any employment when he understands both its theory and its practice. He is dexterous when he maneuvers with great lightness. He is adroit in the use od quick, sudden, and well-directed movements of the body or the mind, so as to effect the object he has in view. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To know; to understand. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To skill the arts of expressing our mind. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I can not skill of these thy ways. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a difference; to signify; to matter; -- used impersonally. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

What skills it, if a bag of stones or gold
About thy neck do drown thee? Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

It skills not talking of it. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in its application; familiarly acquainted with; expert; skillful; -- often followed by in; as, a person skilled in drawing or geometry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. escuelette, dim. of escuelle a porringer, F. ecuelle, fr. L. scutella, dim. of scutra, scuta, a dish. Cf. Scuttle a basket. ] A small vessel of iron, copper, or other metal, with a handle, used for culinary purpose, as for stewing meat. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Written also skilful. ] 1. Discerning; reasonable; judicious; cunning. [ Obs. ] “Of skillful judgment.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Possessed of, or displaying, skill; knowing and ready; expert; well-versed; able in management; as, a skillful mechanic; -- often followed by at, in, or of; as, skillful at the organ; skillful in drawing. [ 1913 Webster ]

And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentations to wailing. Amos v. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Expert; skilled; dexterous; adept; masterly; adroit; clever; cunning. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Skill"ful*ly, adv. -- Skill"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kind of thin, weak broth or oatmeal porridge, served out to prisoners and paupers in England; also, a drink made of oatmeal, sugar, and water, sometimes used in the English navy or army. [ Written also skilligolee, skillygalee, etc. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Sheeling. ] A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sw. & Dan. See Shilling. ] A money of account in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and North Germany, and also a coin. It had various values, from three fourths of a cent in Norway to more than two cents in Lübeck. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Lacking skill. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Want of skill; ignorance; unskillfulness. [ Obs. ] Sylvester. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Spelt also unskilful. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not skillful; inexperienced; awkward; bungling; as, an unskillful surgeon or mechanic; an unskillful logician. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lacking discernment; injudicious; ignorant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though it make the unskillful laugh, can not but make the judicious grieve. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Un*skill"ful*ly, adv. -- Un*skill"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Winterkilled p. pr. & vb. n. Winterkilling. ] To kill by the cold, or exposure to the inclemency of winter; as, the wheat was winterkilled. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To die as the result of exposure to the cold of winter; as, the tree winterkills easily. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]