Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CO-LOS'SAL, or CO-LOS-SE'AN, a. [See Colossus.]

Like a colossus; very large; huge; gigantic.

CO-LOS-SE'UM, n.

The name given to the largest amphitheater in the world, that of Vespasian.

CO-LOS'SUS, n. [L. and Gr.]

A statue of a gigantic size. The most remarkable colossus of antiquity was one at Rhodes, a statue of Apollo, so high that it is said ships might sail between its legs.

CO-LOS'SUS-WISE, adv.

In the manner of a colossus. – Shak.

COL'PORT-ER, n. [Fr. colporteur, a carrier on his neck.]

In France, a hawker of books and pamphlets; one who travels for vending small books.

COL-PORT'ER-AGE, n.

The practice of carrying about books and pamphlets for distribution among the people of a country; a hawking of books and pamphlets.

COL'STAFF, n.

A staff for carrying burdens by two on their shoulders. [Local.]

COLT, n. [Sax. colt.]

1. The young of the equine genus of animals or horse kind. In America, colt is equally applied to the male or female, and this is unquestionably correct. The male is called a horse-colt, and the female is called a filly.
2. A young foolish fellow; a person without experience or stability. – Shak.

COLT, v.i.

To frisk, riot or frolick, like a colt; to be licentious. [Not used.] Spenser.

COLT, v.t.

To befool. [Not used.] – Shak.

COLT'ER, n. [L. culter, a colter or knife; that is, the cutter; Fr. coutre; It. coltro; W. cylltawr; D. kouter; G. kolter.]

The fore iron of a plow, with a sharp edge, that cuts the earth or sod.

COLT'ISH, a.

Like a colt; wanton; frisky; gay. – Chaucer.

COLT'S'-FOOT, n.

The popular name of Tussilago Farfara, a plant whose leaves were once much employed in medicine. The name is also given to a species of Cacalia. – Fam. of Plants.

COLT'S'-TOOTH, n.

1. An imperfect or superfluous tooth in young horses. – Johnson.
2. A love of youthful pleasure. Well said, Lord Sands; / Your colt's-tooth is not yet cast? – Shak. [Little used.]

COL'U-BER, n. [L. a serpent or adder.]

In zoology, a genus of serpents, distinguished by scuta or hard crusts on the belly, and scales on the tail. Under this genus are ranked many species, as the viper, black snake, &c.

COL'U-BRINE, a. [L. colubrinus.]

Relating to the coluber, or to serpents; cunning; crafty. [Little used.] – Johnson.

COL'UM-BA-RY, n. [L. columbarium, from columba, a pigeon; W. colomen; Ir. colm or colum; Arm. coulm; Russ. golub, a pigeon or dove. In Russ. golubei signifies, of a sky-blue azure.]

A dove-cot; a pigeon-house.

CO-LUM'BATE, n.

A salt or compound of columbic acid, with a base.

CO-LUM'BI-AN, a.

Pertaining to the United States, or to America, discovered by Columbus.

CO-LUM'BIC, a.

Pertaining to columbium; as, columbic acid.

CO-LUM-BIF'ER-OUS, a.

Producing or containing columbium. Phillips.

COL'UM-BINE, a.

Like or pertaining to a pigeon or dove; of a dove-color, or like the neck of a dove.

COL'UM-BINE, n. [L. columbina.]

The popular name of Aquilegia, a genus of plants of several species. The Thalictrum or meadow-rue is also called feathered columbine. – Fam. of Plants. [2. The heroine in pantomime entertainments. – Fenning. The name of the mistress of Harlequin in our pantomimes. – Todd's Johnson. Colombina is, in Italian, a diminutive term of endearment, 'pretty little dove,' (Plant, Cas. 1, 50, 'Meus pullus passer, mea columba; mî lepus,' Asin. 3, 3, 103, 'Dic igitur me anaticulam, columbam, vel catellum, Hirundinem, monedulam, passerculum, putillum,') and it denotes in old Italian comedy the name of a maid-servant, who is a perfect coquet, in which respect the character familiar to our English stage, varies from the prototype. – E. H. B.]

CO-LUM'BITE, n. [See Columbium.]

The ore of columbium.

CO-LUM'BI-UM, n. [from Columbia, America.]

A metal first discovered in an ore or oxyd, found in Connecticut, at New London, near the house of Governor Winthrop, and by him transmitted to Sir Hans Sloane, by whom it was deposited in the British Museum. The same metal was afterwards discovered in Sweden, and called tantalum, and its ore tantalite. – Cleaveland.