Black letter () The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed. It was conspicuous for its blackness. See Type. |
Black-letter (a.) Written or printed in black letter |
Black-letter (a.) Given to the study of books in black letter |
Black-letter (a.) Of or pertaining to the days in the calendar not marked with red letters as saints' days. Hence: Unlucky |
Block (v. t.) A piece of wood more or less bulky |
Block (v. t.) The solid piece of wood on which condemned persons lay their necks when they are beheaded. |
Block (v. t.) The wooden mold on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped. |
Block (v. t.) The pattern or shape of a hat. |
Block (v. t.) A large or long building divided into separate houses or shops, or a number of houses or shops built in contact with each other so as to form one building |
Block (v. t.) A square, or portion of a city inclosed by streets, whether occupied by buildings or not. |
Block (v. t.) A grooved pulley or sheave incased in a frame or shell which is provided with a hook, eye, or strap, by which it may be attached to an object. It is used to change the direction of motion, as in raising a heavy object that can not be conveniently reached, and also, when two or more such sheaves are compounded, to change the rate of motion, or to exert increased force |
Block (v. t.) The perch on which a bird of prey is kept. |
Block (v. t.) Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction |
Block (v. t.) A piece of box or other wood for engravers' work. |
Block (v. t.) A piece of hard wood (as mahogany or cherry) on which a stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted to make it type high. |
Block (v. t.) A blockhead |
Block (v. t.) A section of a railroad where the block system is used. See Block system, below. |
Block (n.) To obstruct so as to prevent passage or progress |
Block (n.) To secure or support by means of blocks |
Block (n.) To shape on, or stamp with, a block |
Block book () A book printed from engraved wooden blocks instead of movable types. |
Block tin () See under Tin. |
Fish-block (n.) See Fish-tackle. |
Letter (n.) One who lets or permits |
Letter (n.) One who retards or hinders. |
Letter (n.) A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech |
Letter (n.) A written or printed communication |
Letter (n.) A writing |
Letter (n.) Verbal expression |
Letter (n.) A single type |
Letter (n.) Learning |
Letter (n.) A letter |
Letter (v. t.) To impress with letters |
News-letter (n.) A circular letter, written or printed for the purpose of disseminating news. This was the name given to the earliest English newspapers. |
Pillar-block (n.) See under Pillow. |
Plumber block () A pillow block. |
Red-letter (a.) Of or pertaining to a red letter |
Sea letter () The customary certificate of national character which neutral merchant vessels are bound to carry in time of war |
Snatch block () a kind of block with an opening in one side to receive the bight of a rope. |
Stumbling-block (n.) Any cause of stumbling, perplexity, or error. |
Top-block (n.) A large ironbound block strapped with a hook, and, when used, hung to an eyebolt in the cap, -- used in swaying and lowering the topmast. |
block grant | a grant of federal money to state and local governments to support social welfare programs, block grants reduce federal responsibility for social welfare |
block vote | a vote proportional in magnitude to the number of people that a delegate represents |
blocking block | the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements |
trap block | (American football) an illegal block |
auction block block | a platform from which an auctioneer sells, they put their paintings on the block |
block | a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides), the pyramids were built with large stone blocks |
block | housing in a large building that is divided into separate units, there is a block of classrooms in the west wing |
blockage block closure occlusion stop stoppage | an obstruction in a pipe or tube, we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe |
block and tackle | pulley blocks with associated rope or cable |
block diagram | a diagram showing the interconnections between the components of system (especially an electronic system) |
block plane | a small plane used on end grains of wood |
bollock bullock block | a pulley-block at the head of a topmast |
building block | a block of material used in construction work |
butcher board butcher block | a thick wooden slab formed by bonding together thick laminated strips of unpainted hardwood |
chopping block | a steady wooden block on which food can be cut or diced or wood can be split |
cinder block clinker block breeze block | a light concrete building block made with cinder aggregate, cinder blocks are called breeze blocks in Britain |
cube square block | a block in the (approximate) shape of a cube |
damper block piano damper | damper consisting of a small felted block that drops onto a piano string to stop its vibration |
engine block cylinder block block | a metal casting containing the cylinders and cooling ducts of an engine, the engine had to be replaced because the block was cracked |
highise tower block | tower consisting of a multistoried building of offices or apartments, `tower block' is the British term for `highise' |
ingot metal bar block of metal | metal that is cast in the shape of a block for convenient handling |
letter bomb parcel bomb package bomb | a thin explosive device inside an envelope or package and detonated when opened |
letter case | case for carrying letters |
letter opener paper knife paperknife | dull knife used to cut open the envelopes in which letters are mailed or to slit uncut pages of books |
linecut line block line engraving | engraving consisting of a block that has been etched or engraved |
mailbox letter box | a private box for delivery of mail |
office building office block | a building containing offices where work is done |
pillow block | a cast-iron or steel block for supporting a journal or bearing |
postbox mailbox letter box | public box for deposit of mail |
Post-Office box PO Box POB call box letter box | a numbered compartment in a post office where mail is put to be called for |
pulley pulley-block pulley block block | a simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope |
sketchbook sketch block sketch pad | a book containing sheets of paper on which sketches can be drawn |
snatch block | a pulley-block that can be opened to receive the bight of a rope |
starting block | block providing bracing for a runner's feet at start of a race |
stumbling block | any obstacle or impediment |
surface gauge surface gage scribing block | gauge consisting of a scriber mounted on an adjustable stand, used to test the accuracy of plane surfaces |
swage block | an iron block cut with holes and grooves to assist in cold working metal |
woodcut wood block wood engraving | engraving consisting of a block of wood with a design cut into it, used to make prints |
block mental block | an inability to remember or think of something you normally can do, often caused by emotional tension, I knew his name perfectly well but I had a temporary block |
writer's block | an inability to write, he had writer's block, the words wouldn't come |
stationery letter paper | paper cut to an appropriate size for writing letters, usually with matching envelopes |
letter telegram | a cheaper form of telegram that is sent abroad for delivery the next day |
four-letter word four-letter Anglo-Saxon word | any of several short English words (often having letters) generally regarded as obscene or offensive |
Letter of Jeremiah Epistle of Jeremiah | an Apocryphal book consisting of a letter ascribed to Jeremiah to the Jews in exile in Babylon warning them against idolatry |
letter of marque letters of marque letter of mark and reprisal | a license to a private citizen to seize property of another nation |
night letter | a cheaper form of telegram sent for delivery the next day |
letter missive | a written message addressed to a person or organization, mailed an indignant letter to the editor |
business letter | a letter dealing with business |
covering letter cover letter | a letter sent along with other documents to provide additional information |
crank letter | a hostile (usually anonymous) letter |