Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AIR-DRAWN, a.

Drawn in air; imaginary. – Shak.

AIR'ED, pp.

Exposed to air; cleansed by air; heated or dried by exposure to a fire; ventilated.

AIR'ER, n.

One who exposes to the air.

AIR'GUN, n.

A pneumatic engine, resembling a musket, to discharge bullets by means of the elastic force of compressed air. – Encyc.

AIR'HOLD-ER, n. [Air and hold.]

An instrument for holding air, for the purpose of counteracting the pressure of a decreasing column of mercury. – Clayfield. Davy.

AIR-HOLE, n.

An opening to admit or discharge air.

AIR'I-LY, adv.

In an airy manner.

AIR-I-NESS, n.

1. Exposure to a free current of air; openness to the air; as, the airiness of a country-seat.
2. Gayety; levity; as, the airiness of young persons.

AIR'ING, n.

An exposure to the air, or to a fire, for warming or drying; also, a walk or ride in the open air; a short excursion. The exercise of horses in the open air.

AIR'ING, ppr.

Exposing to the air; warming; drying.

AIR'JACK-ET, n.

A leather jacket, to which are fastened bags or bladders filled with air, to render persons buoyant in swimming. – Encyc.

AIR'LESS, a.

Not open to a free current of air; wanting fresh air, or communication with open air.

AIR'LING, n.

A thoughtless, gay person. – Jonson.

AIR'PIPE, n.

A pipe used to draw foul air from a ship's hold, by means of a communication with the furnace, and the rarefaction of the air by fire. This pipe is intended to supply the combustion with the air of the hold, by preventing the access of other air to the fire. – Encyc.

AIR'POISE, n. [Air and poise.]

An instrument to measure the weight of the air.

AIR'PUMP, n.

A machine for exhausting the air of a vessel. The machines for this purpose are of different constructions.

AIR'SACS, n.

Air bags in birds, which are certain receptacles of air, or vesicles lodged in the fleshy parts, in the hollow bones and in the abdomen, which all communicate with the lungs. These are supposed to render the body specifically lighter, and to supply the place of a muscular diaphragm. – Encyc.

AIR'SHAFT, n.

A passage for air into a mine, usually opened in a perpendicular direction, and meeting the adits or horizontal passages, to cause a free circulation of fresh air through the mine. – Encyc.

AIR'STIR-RING, a.

Putting the air in motion. – May.

AIR'THREAD, n.

A name given to the spider's webs, which are often seen floating in the air. These filaments are attached to the tops or ends of branches of shrubs or trees, and serve to support the spider when in quest of prey. – Encyc.

AIR'THREAT-EN-ING, a.

Threatening the air; lofty. – Todd.

AIR'TIGHT, a. [Air and tight.]

So tight or compact as to be impermeable to air.

AIR'VES-SEL, n.

A spiral duct in plants containing air, and supposed to be analogous to the lungs in animals. – Encyc.

AIR'Y, a.

1. Consisting of air; as, an airy substance.
2. Relating or belonging to air; high in air; as, an airy flight; airy region.
3. Open to a free current of air; as, an airy situation.
4. Light as air; resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; without solidity; as, airy ghosts. An airy dress is one which admits air, and is cool.
5. Without reality; having no solid foundation; vain; trifling; as, an airy scheme; airy notions.
6. Gay; sprightly; full of vivacity and levity; light of heart; lively; as, an airy girl.

AIR'Y, or A'E-RY, n. [See Aery.]

Among sportsmen, the nest of the hawk or eagle.