ale-cost 
ale-cost (al'kost), n. [< ale + cost 3 : see cost- 
initri/.] Costmary, Ta.nacetu.rn lialsamita, a 
plant put into ale to give it an aromatic flavor. 
See costmary. 
Alector (a-lek'tor), n. [NL., < Gr. a).i.Tup, 
poet, for atetcrpv&v (cf. Alcctryon), a cock; of 
disputed origin.] If. Klein's name (1756) for a 
genus of birds of which the common hen is the 
type: a synonym of Gallun (LinnEeus). 2f. 
Merrem's name (1786) for birds of the family 
Cracidte, or curassows : a synonym of Crax (Lin- 
nteus). 3. [i.e.] The Linneau specific name 
for a species of curassow, Crax aloctor. 
alectoria 1 (al-ek-to'ri-a), n. ; pi. alectoria; (-e). 
[L. (so. gemma), fern, of alectorius, pertaining 
to a cock, < Gr. a'Aenrup, a cock.] Cockstone; 
a peculiar stone, erroneously supposed to be 
sometimes found in the stomach or liver of an 
aged cock or capon. Many imaginary virtues 
were attributed to it. 
Alectoria 2 (al-ek-to'ri-a), . [NL., < Gr. ate/trap, 
equiv. to afonTpot, unmarried, < a- priv. + it K- 
rpov, bed, marriage-bed (see lectica) ; from the 
uncertainty respecting its male flowers.] A 
genus of lichens. A. jubata, or rockhair, grows on 
trees and rocks, and affords food for the reindeer while the 
snow is deep. 
Alectorides (al-ek-tor'i-dez), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. afaKTOpif, pi. -iiec, fern, of iAinTup, a cock.] 
1. In Nitzsch's classification (1829), a group of 
birds represented by the genera Dicholophus 
and Otis. 2. In Temminck's classification, a 
group of birds of uncertain extent. [Not now in 
use. ] 3. A suborder or order of birds which in- 
cludes the cranes, rails, and their allies. Cov.es. 
alectoridine (al-ek-tor'i-din), a. [< Alectorides 
+ -4ne 1 .] Having the character of or pertain- 
ing to the Alectorides. 
It [the genus Parra] would appear to be limicoline, not 
alectoridine. Coues, Key to X. A. Birds, p. 669. 
alectoromachyt (a-lek-to-rom'a-ki), n. [< Gr. 
ateKTap, a cock, -I- fiaxri, a fight, < /tdxeafiai, 
fight.] Same as alectryomachy. 
alectoromancyt (a-lek'to-ro-man"si), n. [< Gr. 
aMnTup, a cock. H- /lavreia, divination. Cf. alec- 
tryomancy.] Same as aiectryomancy. 
alectoromorph (a-lek'to-ro-morf), . A mem- 
ber of the Alectoromorpha?'. 
Alectoromorphae (a-lek"to-ro-mdr'fe), n. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. dAt/cTup, a cock, '+ 'noptyi], form.] In 
Huxley's classification of birds, the fifth super- 
family of the suborder Schizognathce, of the 
order Carinatce. It includes the families Tnrnieida, 
Phasianidte, Pteroclidfe, Sleyapodidat, and Cracidce, or the 
fowls and fowl-like birds, and therefore corresponds to 
the old order Gallince or Rasores, exclusive of the pi- 
geons and tinamous. Since 1867, when the term was pro- 
posed, a stricter signification has been attached to it by ex- 
clusion of the Turnicidce and Pteroclidce. In the restricted 
sense, it is divided into the two groups of Alectoropodex 
and Peristeropodes, the former containing the fowls proper 
(old family Phaxianidve, etc.), the latter the mound-birds 
(Meflapodidte) and curassows (Cratidce). 
alectoromorphous (a-lek"to-ro-m6r'fus), a. 
Having the character of or 'pertaining to the 
Alectoromorplite ; gallinaceous or rasorial, in a 
strict sense. 
Alectoropodes (a-lek-to-rop'o-dez), n. pi. [NL. , 
< Gr. a^tKTup, a cock, + mile, pi. Trorfff, = E. 
foot.] A subdivision of Huxley's superfamily 
Alectoromorphce, containing the true fowl and 
related to the domestic hen, as pheasants, tur- 
keys, guinea-fowl, grouse, partridges, quail, 
etc.: distinguished from those gallinaceous 
birds, as the Megapodida; and Cracidce, which 
have the feet more as in pigeons, and are there- 
fore called Peristeropodes. See cuts under Cu- 
pidonia, grouse, partridge, and quail, 
alectoropodous (a-lek-to-rop'o-dus), a. Hav- 
ing the character of or pertaining to the Alec- 
toropodes. 
The suborders [of AlectorotnorphtK] are called respec- 
tively the Alectoropodous . . . and the Peristeropodous 
Calling. Stand. Nat. Hint., IV. 197. 
Alectrurinse (a-lek-tro-ri'ne), n. nl. [NL., < 
Alectrurus + -ince.~] A subfamily of clamatorial 
passerine birds, of the family Tyrannidw : an 
inexact synonym of Fluvieolince and of Tceniop- 
teriiia;. See these words, and Alectrurus. 
alectrurous (al-ek-tro'rus), a. [< NL. alectni- 
rus, adj. : see Alectrurus.'] Having a tail like 
that of the cock: applied to certain birds. See 
Alectrurus. 
Alectrurus (al-ek-tr6'rus), . [NL., < Gr. 
d^KTup, a cock, + ovpa, a tail.] A genus of 
clamatorial passerine birds, of the family Ty- 
rannidee, or tyrant flycatchers, of which the 
type is A. tricolor: so named from the long, 
compressed, erectile tail, it is sometimes made the 
type of a subfamily, Alectrurince. The whole group be- 
135 
longs to South America, Sometimes written, more correct- 
ly, Ali'<iuniri/x. uml also Alectrura, Alecturus, Alectnnr. 
alectryomachy (a-lek-tri-oni'a-ki), H. [< Gr. 
ateKTpv&v, a cock, + ftdxq, a fight.] Cock-fight- 
ing. Sometimes written alectoromachij. 
aiectryomancy (a-lek'tri-o-man'si), n. [< F. 
alectruoHiiiittie (Cotgrave), < Gr. a/tocr/row, a 
cock, + uavreia, divination.] An ancient prac- 
tice of foretelling events by means of a cock. 
The letters of the alphabet were traced on the ground in 
squares within a circle, and a grain of corn was placed on 
each ; a cock was then permitted to pick up the grains, and 
the letters under them, being formed into words in the 
order of their selection by the cock, were supposed to 
foretell the event. Sometimes written alcctoromancy. 
Alectryon (a-lek'tri-on), n. [NL., < Gr. afan- 
rpvuv, a cock: see Alector.'] 1. In ornith., a ge- 
nus of birds, proposed by Cabanis in 1846 for a 
section of the Macartney pheasants, genus Eu- 
plocamus of Temminck. The type is A. ery- 
throphthalmus of Malacca. 2. A poetical name 
of the domestic cock. 
Loud the cock Alectryon crowed. Longfellow. 
ale-drapert (al'dra/per), n. [< ale + draper, as 
in linen-draper : a humorous name, perhaps in 
allusion to the old ale-yard: see ale-yard.'] An 
ale-house keeper. 
I get mee a wife ; with her a little money ; when we are 
married, seeke a house we must; no other occupation 
have I but to be an ale-draper. 
Henry Chettle, Kind-Hart's Dreame (1592). 
So that nowe hee hath lefte brokery, and is become a 
draper. A draper, quoth Freeman, what draper, of woollin 
or linnen ? No, qd [quod, quoth] he, an ale-draper, wherein 
he hath more skil then [than] in the other. 
Discoixrie of Knights of the Paste, 1597. (Hallhrell.) 
alee (a-le'), prep. phr. as adv. or a. [ME. a lee, 
after"Icel. a hie, alee; < a 3 , on, + tee 1 , q. v.j 
Naut., on or toward the lee side of a ship or boat, 
that is, the sheltered side, on which the wind 
does not strike ; away from the wind : opposed 
to aweather (which see). The helm of a ship is said 
to be alee when the tiller is pushed close to the lee side, 
causing the rudder to move in the opposite direction, and 
thus bringing the ship's head into the wind. In cases where 
a steering-wheel is used, the same effect is produced by 
turning the wheel toward the wind. 
The reek of battle drifting slow alee 
Not sullener than we. Lowell, On Board the 76. 
Helm's alee ! bard alee ! orders given in tacking a sail- 
ing vessel, after the helm has been put down, to direct 
that the head-sheets and fore-sheets should be let fly. 
ale-fed (al'fed), a. Nourished with ale. 
The growth of his ale-fed corps. Stafford, Niobe, ii. 62. 
aleft (a-leff), prep. phr. as adv. [< a 3 , on, + 
left.] On or to the left. Southey. [Bare.] 
alegar (al'e- or a'le-gar), n. [< ME. alegar (Halli- 
well), < ale + egar, eger, sour: see eayer^. The 
mode of formation is not English, but imitates 
vinegar, < F. vin aigre, sour wine.] Ale or beer 
which has been passed through the acetous fer- 
mentation ; sour ale, used in the north of Eng- 
land as a cheap substitute for vinegar. 
For not, after consideration, can you ascertain what 
liquor it is you are imbibing ; whether . . . Hawkins' en- 
tire, or, perhaps, some other great brewer's penny-swipes, 
or even alegar. Carlyle, Boswell's Johnson. 
ale-garland (al'gar"land), . A wreath hung 
to an ale-stake as a part of the sign of a tavern. 
This custom is as old as the time of Chaucer, 
who alludes to it. 
alegeancet, See allegeance^. 
alegert, a. [< OF. alegre, alaigre, F. allegre = 
Sp. alegre = Pg. It. allegro (see allegro), < L. 
alacer, atom's, brisk, lively : see alacrious, alac- 
rity.'] Lively; brisk; sprightly; cheerful; gay. 
Coffee, the root and leaf betle, [and] . . . tobacco . . . 
do all condense the spirits and make them strong and 
aleger. Bacon, Nat. Hist., 738. 
alegget, v. t. See allay and allege. 
ale-gill (al'jil), n. [< ale + gill 5 , ground-ivy, 
and the liquor made therefrom : see gilfa, 
and cf. alehoof.~] A kind of medicated liquor 
prepared by the infusion of ground-ivy in malt 
liquor. 
alenoof (al'hof), n. [Earlymod. E. also alehoove, 
alehove, < ME. alehoofe, halehove, appar. a cor- 
ruption, simulating ale, of earlier haihove, hey- 
hove, etc., prob. < hey, hay 2 , a hedge, + hooj'e, 
hove, ground-ivy, < AS. hofe, ivy (see hove). The 
D. eiloof, ivy, is appar. borrowed from English.] 
Ground-ivy, Nepeta Glechoma, the leaves of 
which were used in ale-making before the in- 
troduction of hops. 
ale-house (al'hous), . [< ME. alehous, aille- 
hous, < AS. ealo-hus.] A house where ale is re- 
tailed. 
The redcoats filled all the ale-houses of Westminster 
and the Strand. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. 
Aleiodes (al-I-6'dez), n. [NL., prop, "attodes, 
appar. < Gr. a- priv. + faiutiw, smooth, < /lo? , 
alembic 
smooth, + e5of, appearance.] A genus of para- 
sitic Hymenoptera, of the family Bracomda:. 
The species are parasitic ujwn caterpillars, undergoing 
Aleiodes /umipennis (Cresson). 
a, cocoon; rf, enlarged segment of same ; b, female (cross shows nat- 
ural size) ; c, tip of her abdomen from side, enlarged ; e, larva. 
transformation in the dried and rigid skin of their host. 
A. rileyi (Cresson) is uniformly reddish-yellow, and is 
parasitic on larvso of the lepidopterous genus Acronycta. 
aleist, [ME. aleis, < OF. alies, alis, usually 
alie, alye, later alise (mod. F. alise and alize), 
< Teut. *aliza, OHG. "eliza, var. of elira, erila, 
erla, G. erle, dial, else, the alder, in comp. else- 
baum, the white beam-tree, elsebeere. the berry 
of the white beam-tree ; = AS. air, > E. alder*, 
q. v.] The fruit or berry of the white beam- 
tree, Pynis Aria. Bom. of the Hose, 1. 1377. 
ale-knightt (al'nit), . A pot-companion. 
Come, all you brave wights, 
That are dubbed ale-knights, . . . 
Know malt is of mickle might. 
Wits' Recreations (1654). 
To have his picture stamp'd on a stone jng 
To keep ale-knights in memory of sobriety. 
Chapman, Gentleman Usher, iii. 1. 
alem (al'em), n. [Turk, 'alem, a flag, banner, 
standard, ensign, the crescent, < Ar. 'atom, a 
flag, ensign, < 'alama, know. Cf. alim, almah.] 
The imperial standard of the Turkish empire. 
Aleinannian (al-e-man'i-an), a. Alemannic. 
Two Alemannian dukes of the 10th century. 
Eneyc. Brit., XX. 4. 
Alemannic (al-e-man'ik), a. and n. [< L. Alc- 
mannicus, Alam'annicus, pertaining to the Ale- 
manni, Alamanni, the Latinized form of the Ger- 
man name of a confederation of German tribes, 
lit. all men, after Goth, alamans, all men, all 
mankind, < alls = OHG. al = E. all, + manna = 
OHG. man = E. man. Hence L. Alemannia, the 
country of the Alemanni, extended by the Gauls 
to all Germany, > F. Allemagne, Germany, Al- 
lemand, .German: see Alman, Almain.] 1. a. 
Belonging to the Alemanni, confederated Ger- 
man tribes who began to appear between the 
Main and the Danube about the beginning of 
the third century, and occupied that region 
completely. 
II. n. The language of the Alemanni, or an- 
cient people of southwestern Germany. 
Also spelled Allemannic. 
alembdar (a-lem'dar), n. [Turk, 'alemddr, < 
'alem, flag, standard (see alem), + -dar, < Pers. 
-dor, holder, bearer.] In Turkey, an officer 
who bears the green standard of Mohammed 
when the sultan appears in public. 
alembic (a-lem'bik), n. [Early mod. E. alem- 
bick,ali>nbeck, and abbr. lembick, limbeck, q. v. ; < 
ME. alembike, alembyk, alenibek, ear- 
lier alambik, alambic, < OF. alambic, 
also written alambique, F. alambic 
= Pr. elambic = Sp. alambique = Pg. 
alambigtie, lambique=U. lantbicco, 
Umbicco, \ ML. alambieus, < Ar. al- 
anbiq, < al, the (see a?- 2 ), + anbiq 
(> Pers. ambiq), a still, < Gr. a/iftit;, 
a cup, later the cup of a still ; cf. 
Ionic Gr. aftflq = Gr. apftuv, foot of a A i enlD i 
goblet.] 1. A vessel formerly used 
in chemistry for distillation, and usually made 
of glass or copper. The bottom part, containing the 
liquor to be distilled, was called the matrasH or cucurbit; 
the upper part, which received and condensed the volatile 
products, was called the head or capital, the beak of which 
was fitted to the neck of a receiver. The head alone was 
more properly the alembic. It is now superseded by the 
retort and worm-still. 
Hence 2. Anything which works a change or 
transformation : as, the alembic of sorrow. 
Thus is Art, a nature passed through the alembic of man. 
Emerson, Misc., p. 27. 
alembic (a-lem'bik), v. t. ; pret. and pp. alem- 
bicked, ppr. alembicking. [< alembic, .] To 
distil as by an alembic ; obtain as by means of 
an alembic. [Bare.] 
