ground tackle

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
ground tackle
    n 1: a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
         [syn: {anchor}, {ground tackle}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
ground \ground\ (ground), n. [OE. ground, grund, AS. grund; akin
   to D. grond, OS., G., Sw., & Dan. grund, Icel. grunnr bottom,
   Goth. grundus (in composition); perh. orig. meaning, dust,
   gravel, and if so perh. akin to E. grind.]
   1. The surface of the earth; the outer crust of the globe, or
      some indefinite portion of it.
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            There was not a man to till the ground. --Gen. ii.
                                                  5.
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            The fire ran along upon the ground.   --Ex. ix. 23.
      Hence: A floor or pavement supposed to rest upon the
      earth.
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   2. Any definite portion of the earth's surface; region;
      territory; country. Hence: A territory appropriated to, or
      resorted to, for a particular purpose; the field or place
      of action; as, a hunting or fishing ground; a play ground.
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            From . . . old Euphrates, to the brook that parts
            Egypt from Syrian ground.             --Milton.
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   3. Land; estate; possession; field; esp. (pl.), the gardens,
      lawns, fields, etc., belonging to a homestead; as, the
      grounds of the estate are well kept.
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            Thy next design is on thy neighbor's grounds.
                                                  --Dryden. 4.
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   4. The basis on which anything rests; foundation. Hence: The
      foundation of knowledge, belief, or conviction; a premise,
      reason, or datum; ultimate or first principle; cause of
      existence or occurrence; originating force or agency; as,
      the ground of my hope.
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   5. (Paint. & Decorative Art)
      (a) That surface upon which the figures of a composition
          are set, and which relieves them by its plainness,
          being either of one tint or of tints but slightly
          contrasted with one another; as, crimson Bowers on a
          white ground. See {Background}, {Foreground}, and
          {Middle-ground}.
      (b) In sculpture, a flat surface upon which figures are
          raised in relief.
      (c) In point lace, the net of small meshes upon which the
          embroidered pattern is applied; as, Brussels ground.
          See {Brussels lace}, under {Brussels}.
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   6. (Etching) A gummy composition spread over the surface of a
      metal to be etched, to prevent the acid from eating except
      where an opening is made by the needle.
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   7. (Arch.) One of the pieces of wood, flush with the
      plastering, to which moldings, etc., are attached; --
      usually in the plural.
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   Note: Grounds are usually put up first and the plastering
         floated flush with them.
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   8. (Mus.)
      (a) A composition in which the bass, consisting of a few
          bars of independent notes, is continually repeated to
          a varying melody.
      (b) The tune on which descants are raised; the plain song.
          --Moore (Encyc.).
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                On that ground I'll build a holy descant.
                                                  --Shak.
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   9. (Elec.) A conducting connection with the earth, whereby
      the earth is made part of an electrical circuit.
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   10. pl. Sediment at the bottom of liquors or liquids; dregs;
       lees; feces; as, coffee grounds.
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   11. The pit of a theater. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
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   {Ground angling}, angling with a weighted line without a
      float.

   {Ground annual} (Scots Law), an estate created in land by a
      vassal who instead of selling his land outright reserves
      an annual ground rent, which becomes a perpetual charge
      upon the land.

   {Ground ash}. (Bot.) See {Groutweed}.

   {Ground bailiff} (Mining), a superintendent of mines.
      --Simmonds.

   {Ground bait}, bits of bread, boiled barley or worms, etc.,
      thrown into the water to collect the fish, --Wallon.

   {Ground bass} or {Ground base} (Mus.), fundamental base; a
      fundamental base continually repeated to a varied melody.
      

   {Ground beetle} (Zool.), one of numerous species of
      carnivorous beetles of the family {Carabid[ae]}, living
      mostly in burrows or under stones, etc.

   {Ground chamber}, a room on the ground floor.

   {Ground cherry}. (Bot.)
       (a) A genus ({Physalis}) of herbaceous plants having an
           inflated calyx for a seed pod: esp., the strawberry
           tomato ({Physalis Alkekengi}). See {Alkekengl}.
       (b) A European shrub ({Prunus Cham[ae]cerasus}), with
           small, very acid fruit.

   {Ground cuckoo}. (Zool.) See {Chaparral cock}.

   {Ground cypress}. (Bot.) See {Lavender cotton}.

   {Ground dove} (Zool.), one of several small American pigeons
      of the genus {Columbigallina}, esp. {C. passerina} of the
      Southern United States, Mexico, etc. They live chiefly on
      the ground.

   {Ground fish} (Zool.), any fish which constantly lives on the
      botton of the sea, as the sole, turbot, halibut.

   {Ground floor}, the floor of a house most nearly on a level
      with the ground; -- called also in America, but not in
      England, the {first floor}.

   {Ground form} (Gram.), the stem or basis of a word, to which
      the other parts are added in declension or conjugation. It
      is sometimes, but not always, the same as the root.

   {Ground furze} (Bot.), a low slightly thorny, leguminous
      shrub ({Ononis arvensis}) of Europe and Central Asia,; --
      called also {rest-harrow}.

   {Ground game}, hares, rabbits, etc., as distinguished from
      winged game.

   {Ground hele} (Bot.), a perennial herb ({Veronica
      officinalis}) with small blue flowers, common in Europe
      and America, formerly thought to have curative properties.
      

   {Ground of the heavens} (Astron.), the surface of any part of
      the celestial sphere upon which the stars may be regarded
      as projected.

   {Ground hemlock} (Bot.), the yew ({Taxus baccata} var.
      Canadensisi) of eastern North America, distinguished from
      that of Europe by its low, straggling stems.

   {Ground hog}. (Zool.)
       (a) The woodchuck or American marmot ({Arctomys monax}).
           See {Woodchuck}.
       (b) The aardvark.

   {Ground hold} (Naut.), ground tackle. [Obs.] --Spenser.

   {Ground ice}, ice formed at the bottom of a body of water
      before it forms on the surface.

   {Ground ivy}. (Bot.) A trailing plant; alehoof. See {Gill}.
      

   {Ground joist}, a joist for a basement or ground floor; a.
      sleeper.

   {Ground lark} (Zool.), the European pipit. See {Pipit}.

   {Ground laurel} (Bot.). See {Trailing arbutus}, under
      {Arbutus}.

   {Ground line} (Descriptive Geom.), the line of intersection
      of the horizontal and vertical planes of projection.

   {Ground liverwort} (Bot.), a flowerless plant with a broad
      flat forking thallus and the fruit raised on peduncled and
      radiated receptacles ({Marchantia polymorpha}).

   {Ground mail}, in Scotland, the fee paid for interment in a
      churchyard.

   {Ground mass} (Geol.), the fine-grained or glassy base of a
      rock, in which distinct crystals of its constituents are
      embedded.

   {Ground parrakeet} (Zool.), one of several Australian
      parrakeets, of the genera {Callipsittacus} and
      {Geopsittacus}, which live mainly upon the ground.

   {Ground pearl} (Zool.), an insect of the family {Coccid[ae]}
      ({Margarodes formicarum}), found in ants' nests in the
      Bahamas, and having a shelly covering. They are strung
      like beads, and made into necklaces by the natives.

   {Ground pig} (Zool.), a large, burrowing, African rodent
      ({Aulacodus Swinderianus}) about two feet long, allied to
      the porcupines but with harsh, bristly hair, and no
      spines; -- called also {ground rat}.

   {Ground pigeon} (Zool.), one of numerous species of pigeons
      which live largely upon the ground, as the tooth-billed
      pigeon ({Didunculus strigirostris}), of the Samoan
      Islands, and the crowned pigeon, or goura. See {Goura},
      and {Ground dove} (above).

   {Ground pine}. (Bot.)
       (a) A blue-flowered herb of the genus {Ajuga} ({A.
           Cham[ae]pitys}), formerly included in the genus
           {Teucrium} or germander, and named from its resinous
           smell. --Sir J. Hill.
       (b) A long, creeping, evergreen plant of the genus
           {Lycopodium} ({L. clavatum}); -- called also {club
           moss}.
       (c) A tree-shaped evergreen plant about eight inches in
           height, of the same genus ({L. dendroideum}) found in
           moist, dark woods in the northern part of the United
           States. --Gray.

   {Ground plan} (Arch.), a plan of the ground floor of any
      building, or of any floor, as distinguished from an
      elevation or perpendicular section.

   {Ground plane}, the horizontal plane of projection in
      perspective drawing.

   {Ground plate}.
       (a) (Arch.) One of the chief pieces of framing of a
           building; a timber laid horizontally on or near the
           ground to support the uprights; a ground sill or
           groundsel.
       (b) (Railroads) A bed plate for sleepers or ties; a
           mudsill.
       (c) (Teleg.) A metallic plate buried in the earth to
           conduct the electric current thereto. Connection to
           the pipes of a gas or water main is usual in cities.
           --Knight.

   {Ground plot}, the ground upon which any structure is
      erected; hence, any basis or foundation; also, a ground
      plan.

   {Ground plum} (Bot.), a leguminous plant ({Astragalus
      caryocarpus}) occurring from the Saskatchewan to Texas,
      and having a succulent plum-shaped pod.

   {Ground rat}. (Zool.) See {Ground pig} (above).

   {Ground rent}, rent paid for the privilege of building on
      another man's land.

   {Ground robin}. (Zool.) See {Chewink}.

   {Ground room}, a room on the ground floor; a lower room.
      --Tatler.

   {Ground sea}, the West Indian name for a swell of the ocean,
      which occurs in calm weather and without obvious cause,
      breaking on the shore in heavy roaring billows; -- called
      also {rollers}, and in Jamaica, {the North sea}.

   {Ground sill}. See {Ground plate} (a) (above).

   {Ground snake} (Zool.), a small burrowing American snake
      ({Celuta am[oe]na}). It is salmon colored, and has a blunt
      tail.

   {Ground squirrel}. (Zool.)
       (a) One of numerous species of burrowing rodents of the
           genera {Tamias} and {Spermophilus}, having cheek
           pouches. The former genus includes the Eastern
           striped squirrel or chipmunk and some allied Western
           species; the latter includes the prairie squirrel or
           striped gopher, the gray gopher, and many allied
           Western species. See {Chipmunk}, and {Gopher}.
       (b) Any species of the African genus {Xerus}, allied to
           {Tamias}.

   {Ground story}. Same as {Ground floor} (above).

   {Ground substance} (Anat.), the intercellular substance, or
      matrix, of tissues.

   {Ground swell}.
       (a) (Bot.) The plant groundsel. [Obs.] --Holland.
       (b) A broad, deep swell or undulation of the ocean,
           caused by a long continued gale, and felt even at a
           remote distance after the gale has ceased.

   {Ground table}. (Arch.) See Earth table, under Earth.

   {Ground tackle} (Naut.), the tackle necessary to secure a
      vessel at anchor. --Totten.

   {Ground thrush} (Zool.), one of numerous species of
      bright-colored Oriental birds of the family {Pittid[ae]}.
      See {Pitta}.

   {Ground tier}.
       (a) The lowest tier of water casks in a vessel's hold.
           --Totten.
       (b) The lowest line of articles of any kind stowed in a
           vessel's hold.
       (c) The lowest range of boxes in a theater.

   {Ground timbers} (Shipbuilding) the timbers which lie on the
      keel and are bolted to the keelson; floor timbers.
      --Knight.

   {Ground tit}. (Zool.) See {Ground wren} (below).

   {Ground wheel}, that wheel of a harvester, mowing machine,
      etc., which, rolling on the ground, drives the mechanism.
      

   {Ground wren} (Zool.), a small California bird ({Cham[ae]a
      fasciata}) allied to the wrens and titmice. It inhabits
      the arid plains. Called also {ground tit}, and {wren tit}.
      

   {To bite the ground}, {To break ground}. See under {Bite},
      {Break}.

   {To come to the ground}, {To fall to the ground}, to come to
      nothing; to fail; to miscarry.

   {To gain ground}.
       (a) To advance; to proceed forward in conflict; as, an
           army in battle gains ground.
       (b) To obtain an advantage; to have some success; as, the
           army gains ground on the enemy.
       (c) To gain credit; to become more prosperous or
           influential.

   {To get ground}, or {To gather ground}, to gain ground. [R.]
      "Evening mist . . . gathers ground fast." --Milton.
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            There is no way for duty to prevail, and get ground
            of them, but by bidding higher.       --South.

   {To give ground}, to recede; to yield advantage.
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            These nine . . . began to give me ground. --Shak.

   {To lose ground}, to retire; to retreat; to withdraw from the
      position taken; hence, to lose advantage; to lose credit
      or reputation; to decline.

   {To stand one's ground}, to stand firm; to resist attack or
      encroachment. --Atterbury.

   {To take the ground} to touch bottom or become stranded; --
      said of a ship.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tackle \Tac"kle\ (?; sometimes improperly pronounced ?,
   especially by seamen), n. [OE. takel, akin to LG. & D. takel,
   Dan. takkel, Sw. tackel; perhaps akin to E. taw, v. t., or to
   take.]
   1. Apparatus for raising or lowering heavy weights,
      consisting of a rope and pulley blocks; sometimes, the
      rope and attachments, as distinct from the block, in which
      case the full appratus is referred to as a {block and
      tackle}.
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   2. Any instruments of action; an apparatus by which an object
      is moved or operated; gear; as, fishing tackle, hunting
      tackle; formerly, specifically, weapons. "She to her
      tackle fell." --Hudibras.
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   Note: In Chaucer, it denotes usually an arrow or arrows.
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   3. (Naut.) The rigging and apparatus of a ship; also, any
      purchase where more than one block is used.
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   {Fall and tackle}. See the Note under {Pulley}.

   {Fishing tackle}. See under {Fishing}, a.

   {Ground tackle} (Naut.), anchors, cables, etc.

   {Gun tackle}, the apparatus or appliances for hauling cannon
      in or out.

   {Tackle fall}, the rope, or rather the end of the rope, of a
      tackle, to which the power is applied.

   {Tack tackle} (Naut.), a small tackle to pull down the tacks
      of the principal sails.

   {Tackle board}, {Tackle post} (Ropemaking), a board, frame,
      or post, at the end of a ropewalk, for supporting the
      spindels, or whirls, for twisting the yarns.
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