Spongy lead

Spongy lead
Sponge Sponge (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. ['e]ponge, L. spongia, Gr. spoggia`, spo`ggos. Cf. {Fungus}, {Spunk}.] [Formerly written also {spunge}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Spongi[ae], or Porifera. See Illust. and Note under {Spongi[ae]}. [1913 Webster]

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny Spongi[ae] (Keratosa), used for many purposes, especially the varieties of the genus {Spongia}. The most valuable sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies. [1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinacious and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger. [1913 Webster]

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically: (a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the agency of the yeast or leaven. (b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition. (c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked. [1913 Webster]

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped nap, and having a handle, or staff. [1913 Webster]

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel. [1913 Webster]

{Bath sponge}, any one of several varieties of coarse commercial sponges, especially {Spongia equina}.

{Cup sponge}, a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form.

{Glass sponge}. See {Glass-sponge}, in the Vocabulary.

{Glove sponge}, a variety of commercial sponge ({Spongia officinalis}, variety tubulifera), having very fine fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies.

{Grass sponge}, any one of several varieties of coarse commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted, as {Spongia graminea}, and {S. equina}, variety {cerebriformis}, of Florida and the West Indies.

{Horse sponge}, a coarse commercial sponge, especially {Spongia equina}.

{Platinum sponge}. (Chem.) See under {Platinum}.

{Pyrotechnical sponge}, a substance made of mushrooms or fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder, brought from Germany.

{Sheep's-wool sponge}, a fine and durable commercial sponge ({Spongia equina}, variety {gossypina}) found in Florida and the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and smaller tufts, having the oscula between them.

{Sponge cake}, a kind of sweet cake which is light and spongy.

{Sponge lead}, or {Spongy lead} (Chem.), metallic lead brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary batteries and otherwise.

{Sponge tree} (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree ({Acacia Farnesiana}), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are used in perfumery.

{Toilet sponge}, a very fine and superior variety of Mediterranean sponge ({Spongia officinalis}, variety Mediterranea); -- called also {Turkish sponge}.

{To set a sponge} (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour, to be used in leavening a larger quantity.

{To throw up the sponge}, to give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring, the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat; -- now, {throw in the towel} is more common, and has the same origin and meaning. [Cant or Slang] ``He was too brave a man to throw up the sponge to fate.'' --Lowell.

{Vegetable sponge}. (Bot.) See {Loof}.

{Velvet sponge}, a fine, soft commercial sponge ({Spongia equina}, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the West Indies.

{Vitreous sponge}. See {Glass-sponge}.

{Yellow sponge}, a common and valuable commercial sponge ({Spongia agaricina}, variety corlosia) found in Florida and the West Indies. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spongy lead — Spongy Spon gy (sp[u^]n j[y^]), a. 1. Soft, and full of cavities; of an open, loose, pliable texture; as, a spongy excrescence; spongy earth; spongy cake; spongy bones. [1913 Webster] 2. Wet; drenched; soaked and soft, like sponge; rainy. Spongy… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spongy lead — kempėtasis švinas statusas T sritis radioelektronika atitikmenys: angl. spongy lead vok. Bleischwamm, m rus. губчатый свинец, m pranc. plomb spongieux, m …   Radioelektronikos terminų žodynas

  • spongy lead — Pure lead which serves as the active material in the charged negative plates of a battery. Also see lead peroxide …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • Spongy — Spon gy (sp[u^]n j[y^]), a. 1. Soft, and full of cavities; of an open, loose, pliable texture; as, a spongy excrescence; spongy earth; spongy cake; spongy bones. [1913 Webster] 2. Wet; drenched; soaked and soft, like sponge; rainy. Spongy April.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spongy platinum — Spongy Spon gy (sp[u^]n j[y^]), a. 1. Soft, and full of cavities; of an open, loose, pliable texture; as, a spongy excrescence; spongy earth; spongy cake; spongy bones. [1913 Webster] 2. Wet; drenched; soaked and soft, like sponge; rainy. Spongy… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lead-acid battery — Batteries caption=A valve regulated lead acid battery EtoW=30 40 Wh/kg EtoS=60 75 Wh/L PtoW=180 W/kg|CtoDE=70% 92% EtoCP=7(sld ) 18(fld ) Wh/US$ [http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/8679/battery.html] SDR=3% 20%/month… …   Wikipedia

  • lead — [1] [pronounced LEED] A short connecting wire which makes electrical contact between two points. [2] [pronounced LEED] The distance from the thread crest of a bolt or screw to the adjacent crest of the same thread, i.e., the distance a screw… …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • lead-lead acid cell — ˈled|led noun : a storage cell in which the positive plate is lead dioxide, the negative plate is spongy lead, and the electrolyte is dilute sulfuric acid …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sponge lead — Sponge Sponge (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. [ e]ponge, L. spongia, Gr. spoggia , spo ggos. Cf. {Fungus}, {Spunk}.] [Formerly written also {spunge}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Spongi[ae], or Porifera. See Illust. and Note… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Acacia Farnesiana — Sponge Sponge (sp[u^]nj), n. [OF. esponge, F. [ e]ponge, L. spongia, Gr. spoggia , spo ggos. Cf. {Fungus}, {Spunk}.] [Formerly written also {spunge}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Spongi[ae], or Porifera. See Illust. and Note… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”