Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HORN, n. [Sax. horn; G. Sw. and Dan. horn; Goth. haurn; D. hoorn; Sw. horn, a corner; W. corn, a horn, corne, a corner; L. cornu; Sp. cuerno; It. and Port. corno; Fr. corne; Heb. Ch. Syr. Eth. Ar. קרן. The sense is, a shoot, a projection. Class Rn, No. 15.]

1. A hard substance growing on the heads of certain animals, and particularly on cloven-footed quadrupeds; usually projecting to some length and terminating in a point. Horns are generally bent or curving, and those of some animals are spiral. They serve for weapons of offense and defense. The substance of horns is gelatinous, and in Papin's digester it may be converted into jelly. Encyc. Horn is an animal substance, chiefly membranous, consisting of coagulated albumen, with a little gelatin and phosphate of lime. Ure. The horns of deer possess exactly the properties of bone, and are composed of the same constituents, only the proportion of cartilage is greater. Thomson.
2. A wind instrument of music, made of horn; a trumpet. Such were used by the Israelites.
3. In modern times, a wind instrument made of metal.
4. An extremity of the moon, when it is waxing or waning, and forming a crescent. Dryden.
5. The feeler or antenna of an insect.
6. The feeler of a snail, which may be withdrawn; hence, to pull or draw in the horns, is to repress one's ardor, or to restrain pride. Johnson.
7. A drinking-cup; horns being used anciently for cups.
8. A winding stream. Dryden.
9. Horns, in the plural, is used to characterize a cuckold. He wears the horns.
10. In Scripture, horn is a symbol of strength or power. The horn of Moab is cut off. Jer. xviii. Horn is also an emblem of glory, honor, dignity. My horn is exalted in the Lord. 1 Sam. ii. In Daniel, horn represents a kingdom or state.

HORN'BEAK, n.

A fish. [See Hornfish.]

HORN'BEAM, n. [See Beam.]

The popular name of one or two species of a genus of trees, the Carpinus.

HORN'BILL, n.

A fowl of the genus Buceros, which has a flat bony forehead with two horns; a native of the East Indies. There are many species in India and Africa distinguished in general by a large bill with one or two horns.

HORN'BLEND, n. [G. horn and blende.]

A mineral of several varieties, called by Haüy amphibole. It is sometimes in regular distinct crystals; more generally the result of confused crystalization, appearing in masses, composed of lamins, acicular crystals or fibers, variously aggregated. Its prevailing colors are black and green. Cleaveland.

HORN-BLEND'IC, a.

Composed chiefly of hornblend. Percival's Geol.

HORN-BLOW'ER, n.

One that blows a horn.

HORN'BOOK, n.

The first book of children, or that in which they learn their letters and rudiments; so called from its cover of horn. [Now little used.] Locke.

HORN'-DIS-TEM-PER, n.

A disease of cattle, affecting the internal substance of the horn. Encyc.

HORN'ED, a.

1. Furnished with horns; as, horned cattle.
2. Shaped like a crescent, or the new moon. Milton.

HORN'ED-NESS, n.

The appearance of horns.

HORN'ER, n.

1. One who works or deal in horns. Grew.
2. One who winds or blows the horn. Sherwood.

HORN'ET, n. [Sax. hyrnet, hyrnete; G. horniss; D. horzel.]

An insect of the genus Vespa or wasp, the Vespa crabro. It is much larger and stronger than the wasp, and its sting gives severe pain. This insect constructs a nest of leaves or other substances which resemble brown paper of a light color. This is attached to the branches of trees, and often of the size of a half peck measure.

HORN'FISH, n.

The gar-fish or sea-needle, of the old genus Esox. Encyc.

HORN'FOOT, a.

Having a hoof; hoofed. Hakewill.

HORN'I-FY, v.t.

To bestow horns upon. [Not used or vulgar.] Beaum.

HORN'ING, n.

Appearance of the moon when increasing, or in the form of a crescent. Gregory.

HORN'ISH, a.

Somewhat like horn; hard. Sandys.

HORN'I-TO, n. [L. fornare, Sp. horno.]

An oven.

HORN'LESS, a.

Having no horns. Journ. of Science.

HORN'MER-CU-RY, n.

Chlorid of mercury.

HORN'OWL, n.

A species of owl, so called from two tufts of feathers on its head like horns. Ainsworth.

HORN'PIPE, n.

1. An instrument of music in Wales, consisting of a wooden pipe with horns at the ends; one to collect the wind blown from the mouth; the other to carry off the sounds as modulated by the performer. [W. pib-corn.] Encyc.
2. An air or tune of triple time, with six crotchets in a bar; four to the descending beat, and two to the ascending. Encyc.

HORN'SHAV-INGS, n.

Scrapings or raspings of the horns of deer. B. Jonson.

HORN'SIL-VER, n.

Chlorid of silver.