Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SQUIRE-SHIP, n.

Office of a squire. – Swift.

SQUIRM, n. [or v. See SWARM.]

[Squirm is the popular pronunciation in America. It signifies to move as a worm.]

SQUIRM, v.t. [or v. i. squurm.]

1. To move like a worm or eel, with writhing or contortions.
2. To climb by embracing and clinging with the hands and feet, as to a tree without branches. [Johnson writes this word swarm, and this is probably the original word. Bailey writes it squirm.]

SQUIRM'ING, ppr.

Moving like a worm or eel; climbing by embracing.

SQUIR'REL, n. [squur'rel; Fr. ecureuil; L. sciurus; Gr. σκιουρος, a compound of σκια, shade, and ουρα, tail.]

A small rodent mammal. The squirrel has two cutting teeth in each jaw, four long toes on the fore feet, and a tubercle instead of a thumb, and five on the hind feet. Several species are enumerated. These animals are remarkably nimble, running up trees and leaping from branch to branch with surprising agility. They subsist on nuts, of which they lay up a store for winter, some of them in hollow trees, others in the earth. Their flesh is delicate food.

SQUIR'REL-HUNT, n.

In America, the hunting and shooting of squirrels by a company of men.

SQUIRT, n.

1. An instrument with which a liquid is ejected in a stream with force.
2. A small quick stream.

SQUIRT, v.i.

To throw out words; to let fly. [Not in use.] – L'Estrange.

SQUIRT, v.t. [squurt; from some root in Class Gr, or Wr, signifying to throw or drive.]

To eject or drive out of a narrow pipe or orifice, in a stream; as, to squirt water.

SQUIRT'ER, n.

One that squirts. [This word in all its forms is vulgar.]

SQUIRTING-CUCUMBER, n. [Squirting cucumber.]

One of the popular names of the fruit of Ecbalium Elaterium, which when nearly ripe, separates suddenly from its peduncle, at the same time ejecting its juices and seeds.

STAB, n.

1. The thrust of a pointed weapon.
2. A wound with a sharp pointed weapon; as, to fall by the stab of an assassin.
3. An injury given in the dark; a sly mischief; as, a stab given to character.

STAB, v.i.

1. To give a wound with a pointed weapon. None shall dare / With shorten'd sword to stab in closer war. – Dryden.
2. To give a mortal wound. He speaks poniards, and every word stabs. – Shak. To stab at, to offer a stab; to thrust a pointed weapon at.

STAB, v.t. [This word contains the elements, and is probably from the primary sense of the L. stabilis, stabilio, stipo, D. stippen, to point or prick, Eng. stiff, and a multitude of others in many languages. The radical sense is to thrust; but I know not to what Oriental roots they are allied, unless to the Heb. יצב, Ar. وَصَبَ watsaba. Class Sb, No. 35, 37, or Class Db, No. 46, 53, 44.]

1. To pierce with a pointed weapon; as, to be stabbed by a dagger or a spear; to stab fish or eels.
2. To wound mischievously or mortally; to kill by the thrust of a pointed instrument. – Philips.
3. To injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander; as, to stab reputation.

STA-BAT-MA'TER, n.

A celebrated Latin hymn, set to music by most of the great composers, and performed in the church service of the Romanists.

STAB'BED, pp.

Pierced with a pointed weapon; killed with a spear or other pointed instrument.

STAB'BER, n.

One that stabs; a privy murderer.

STAB'BING, n.

The act of piercing with a pointed weapon; the act of wounding or killing with a pointed instrument. This statute was made on account of the frequent quarrels and stabbings with short daggers. Blackstone.

STAB'BING, ppr.

Piercing with a pointed weapon; killing with a pointed instrument by piercing the body.

STAB'BING-LY, adv.

With intent to a secret act maliciously. – Bp. Parker.

STA-BIL'I-MENT, n. [L. stabilimentum, from stabilio, to make firm. See Stab.]

Act of making firm; firm support. They serve for stabiliment, propagation and shade. – Derham.

STA-BIL'I-TATE, v.t.

To make stable; to establish. [Not used.] – More.

STA-BIL'I-TY, n. [L. stabilitas, from stabilis. See Stab.]

1. Steadiness; stableness; firmness; strength to stand without being moved or overthrown; as, the stability of a throne; the stability of a constitution of government.
2. Steadiness or firmness of character; firmness of resolution or purpose; the qualities opposite to fickleness, irresolution, or inconstancy. We say, a man of little stability, or of unusual stability.
3. Fixedness; as opposed to fluidity. [I believe not now used.] Since fluidness and stability are contrary qualities. – Boyle.

STA'BLE, a. [L. stabilis; Fr. stable; It. stabile. The primary sense is set, fixed. See Stab.]

1. Fixed; firmly established; not to be easily moved, shaken or overthrown; as, a stable government.
2. Steady in purpose; constant; firm in resolution; not easily diverted from a purpose; not fickle or wavering; as, a stable man; a stable character.
3. Fixed; steady; firm; not easily surrendered or abandoned; as, a man of stable principles.
4. Durable; not subject to be overthrown or changed. In this region of chance and vanity, where nothing is stable. – Rogers.

STA'BLE, n. [L. stabulum, that is, a stand, a fixed place, like stall. See the latter. These words do not primarily imply a covering for horses or cattle.]

A house or shed for beasts to lodge and feed in. In large towns, a stable is usually a building for horses only, or horses and cows, and often connected with a coach-house. In the country towns in the northern states of America, a stable is usually an apartment in a barn in which hay and grain are deposited.