earthpuff 
earthputft (erth'puf), . A species of Lycoper- 
dun; tho puff ball. 
Tuberes, mushrooms, tadstooles, earthturfos, earth- 
puffes. Nomenclator (1585). 
earth-pulsation (erth'pul-sa''8hon), . A slow 
wave-like movement of the surface of the earth. 
Such movements, in general, escape attention 
on account ill' their long period. 
earthquake (Tt h'k wiik). . [< M K. rrflif qtpake, 
< ertlte, onrth, + quake, quake. The AS. words 
were corth-bifnng, -bcofung (bifung, trembling), 
cnrtli-iliini (ili/ne, din), eorth-styrunij (xli/riini/. 
stirring), fir/lixlyrcnnis. Cf. earth-din.'] A move- 
ment or vibration of a part of the earth's crust. 
Such movements are of every degree of violence, from 
those that are scarcely perceptible without tho aid of 
apparatus specially contrived for the purpose to those 
which overthrow buildings, rend the ground asunder, 
and destroy thousands of human live*. The duration of 
earthquakes is as variable as their intensity. Sometimes 
there is a single shock, lasting only a second or two ; at 
other times a great number of shocks occur in succes- 
sion, separated by greater or less] intervals of time, the 
earth not being reduced to complete quiescence for weeks 
or even months. It is not known that any portion of the 
earth's surface is entirely exempt from earthquakes ; but 
there are large areas where no very destructive ones have 
ever occurred, either in the memory of man or as re- 
corded iu history. The regions most frequently visited 
by destructive shocks are those where active volcanoes 
exist, those near high mountain-ranges, and those where 
the rocks are of recent geological age, and are much dis- 
turbed or uplifted. Such regions are the vicinity of the 
Mediterranean, the shores of the Pacific and the adjacent 
Islands, the neighborhood of the Alps, and the East India 
islands. Regions not liable to seismic disturbances are 
the whole of northeastern North America, the east side 
of South America, the north of Asia, and a large part 
of Africa. An earthquake-shock is a wave-like motion of 
a part of the earth's crust, and, iu the words of Hum- 
boldt, is one of the ways in which the reaction of the in- 
terior of the earth against its exterior makes itself mani- 
fest. The most destructive earthquake of which we have 
any knowledge was that of Lisbon. It began November 1st, 
1755, and was felt over that part of the earth's surface in- 
cluded between Iceland on the north, Mogador in Moroc- 
co on the south, Toplitz in Bohemia on the east, and the 
West India islands on the west. The destruction of life 
and property occasioned by this shock was very great. 
The disturbance continued, especially In the vicinity of 
the Mediterranean, with short intermissions, for several 
months. On November 18th, 1755, the most violent shock 
occurred which has been felt in New England since its 
settlement by the whites. One of the most destructive 
earthquakes of recent' occurrence was that which took 
place on the island of Ischia near Naples, July 28th, 1883, 
by which over 2,000 persons perished. By the earthquake 
at Memloza, South America, on tho 20th of March, 1861, 
over 12,000 persons lost their lives. A violent earthquake, 
most destructive in Charleston, South Carolina, and vicin- 
ity, occurred on the night of August 31st, 1888. See seis- 
mic, seismometer, and volcaidstn. 
Whan the Jewes hadden made the Temple, com an 
Erthe quakeng, and cast it duun (as God wolde) and de- 
stroyed alle that thei had made. 
Mandrville, Travels, p. 84. 
And all the yle ys sor trobled with the seyd erthe qwake 
Dyvse tymes. Torkington, Diarie of Eng. Travell, p. 18. 
It was calculated ... by Sir C. Lyell that an earthquake 
which occurred in Chill In 1822 added to the South-Ameri- 
can continent a mass of rock more than equal in weight 
to a hundred thousand of the great pyramids of Egypt. 
Huxley, Physiography, p. 187. 
Earthquake-shadow, that part of the earth's surface 
which is in some degree protected from an advancing 
earthquake-wave by the interposition of a mountain- 
range, hill, ravine, or other arrangement of the geological 
formation which offers an obstacle to its passage. 
earth-shine (erth'shin), n. [< earth 1 + sliine. 
Cf. moonshine, sunshine, starshine.] In astron., 
the faint light visible on the part of the moon 
not illuminated by the sun. It is due to the light 
which the earth reflects on the moon, and is most con- 
spicuous soon after new moon, when the sun-illuminated 
part of the disk is smallest. This phenomenon is popularly 
described as "the old moon in the new moon's arms." 
earth-smoke (crth'smok), n. [A translation 
of ii. fumus terra;: fumus, smoke; terrce, gen. 
of terra, earth: see fumitory and terrestrial.'] 
The plant fumitory, Pumaria officinalis. 
earth-Star (erth'star), n. [A translation of 
<liii.iter.~\ A fungus of the genus Geaster; a 
kind of puffball having a double peridium, the 
outer layer of which breaks into segments which 
become reflexed, forming a star-like structure 
about the base of the fungus. 
earth-stopper (erth'stop'er), . In hunting, 
one who stops up the earths of foxes to prevent 
their escape. 
The rnrth-ttopper is an important functionary in conn- 
tries where there are many earths. Encifc. Brit., XII. 395. 
earth-table (i-rth'ta'bl), . luarch., aproject- 
ing course or plinth resting immediately upon 
the foundations. Also called grass-table and 
groitni'l- tnhli . Sco li'ilf/HH'iit-tttble. 
earth-tilting (erth'til'ting), . A slight move- 
ment or displacement of the surface of the 
ground in some forms of earthquake. 
1821 
Earth-tiltings show themselves by a slow bending and 
unbending of the surface, sn that a post stuck in the 
ground, vertical to In-Kin with, docs not remain vertical, 
out Inclines now to one side and now to another, the plane 
of tile ground in which it stands shifting relatively to the 
horizon. Encye. Brit., XXI. 626. 
earth-tongue (erth'tung), . The popular name 
given to club-shaped fungi of the genus Geo- 
glossum, found in lawns and grassy pastures. 
earth-treatment (erth'tret/'rnent), n. A meth- 
od of treating wounds with clay (or clayey 
earth) dried and finely powdered, it is applied to 
the wound as a deodorizing agent, tending at the same 
time to prevent or arrest putrefaction. Thomtu, Med. 
Diet. 
earth-tremor (erth'trem'or), n. A minute 
movement of the surface of" the earth, resem- 
bling an earthquake in rapidity of oscillation, 
but on account of its small amplitude requir- 
ing instrumental means for its detection. 
earthward, earthwards (erth'ward, *wftrdz), 
adv. [< earth 1 + -ward, -wards.'] Toward the 
earth. 
earth-wire (erth'wir), . In elect., a wire used 
for joining conductors with the earth : especial- 
ly applied to wires placed upon telegraph-poles 
for the purpose of conveying the leakage from 
the line to the earth, thus preventing interfer- 
ence by leakage from one line to another. 
earthwolf (erth'wulf), . The aardwolf. See 
Proteles. 
earthwork (erth'werk), n. [< ME. "erthewerk, < 
AS. eorthtceorc (= D. aardwerk = G. erdwerk = 
Dan. jordvcerk), < eorthe, earth, + tceorc, work : 
see earth 1 and work.'] 1. In engin., any opera- 
tion in which earth is removed or thrown up, 
as in cuttings, embankments, etc. 2. In fort., 
any offensive or defensive construction formed 
chiefly of earth : commonly in the plural . Hence 
3. Any similar construction, as the ancient 
mounds of earth found in various parts of the 
United States, of unknown use and origin. 
They differ widely in form, but are always well 
denned in plan, and sometimes inclose large 
areas. 
Anyhow, there the mound is, an earthwork which, if 
artificial it be, the Lady of the Mercians herself need not 
have been ashamed of. /.'. .1 . Freeman, Venice, p. 30. 
earthworm (erth'werm), n. [= D. aardworm 
= G. erdwurm ; < earth 1 + worm."] 1 . The com- 
mon name of the worms of the family Lunibri- 
cidce (which see), and especially of the genus 
Lumbricus, of which there are several species, 
one of the best-known being L. terrestris. They 
belong to the order of oligochietous annelids. The earth- 
worm has a cyllndrlc vermiform l)ody, tapering at both 
ends, segmented Into a great number of rings, destitute of 
legs, eyes, or any appendages visible on ordinary inspec- 
tion. It moves by the contraction of the successive seg- 
ments of the body, aided by rows of bristles which are ca- 
pable of being retracted. It is hermaphrodite, each indi- 
vidual of a pair impregnating the other in copulation, when 
the two are jointed in two places by their respective cli- 
tH hi. Earthworms are highly useful, giving a kind of un- 
der -tillage to the land, loosening the soil, and rendering 
it more permeable to the air. According to Darwin, in 
his work on "The Formation of Vegetable Mould," etc., 
earthworms, from their enormous numbers, exercise a 
highly important agency not only in this respect, but in 
the creation and aggregation of new soil, the burial and 
preservation (as also the original disintegration) of organic 
remains of all kinds, etc. They are food fur many birds, 
mammals, and other animals, and their value for bait is 
well known to the angler, whence they are often called 
angleworms or juhieorms. These worms are mostly a few 
inches long, but there are species attaining a length of a 
yard or more. 
The people who inhabit the highlands of Southern Bra- 
zil have a firm belief In the existence of a gigantic earth- 
worm fifty yards or more in length, five in breadth, cov- 
ered with bones as with a coat-of-mail, and of such strength 
as to be able to uproot great pine-trees as though they 
were blades of grass, and to throw up such quantities of 
clay in making Us way underground as to dam up streams 
and divert them into new courses. This redoubtable 
monster Is known as the " Minhocao." 
Pop. Set. Mo., XIII. 508. 
2. Figuratively, a mean, sordid wretch. 
Thy vain contempt, dull earthmtrm, cease. Sorrit. 
earthworm-oil (erth'werm-oil), n. A greenish 
oil obtained from earthworms, used as a rem- 
edy for earache. 
earthy (er'thi), a. [< earth 1 + -i/l.] 1. Of or 
pertaining to earth ; consisting of earth ; par- 
taking of the nature of earth ; terrene : as, 
earthy matter. 2. Resembling earth or some 
of the properties of earth : as, an earthy taste 
or smell. 
And catch the heavy earth;/ scents 
That blow from summer shores. 
T. 11. Aldrich, Piscataqua Elver. 
3t. Inhabiting the earth; earthly. 
Those earthtj spirits black and envious are ; 
I'll call up other gods of form more fair. 
Dryden, Indian Emperor, 
4. Gross ; not refined. 
Earwig 
brunneipennis}. (Line 
shows natural size. } 
Nor Is my flame 
Bo earthy ss to need the dull material force 
Of eyes, or lips, or cheeks. .Sir ./ . Denham. 
6. In mineral., without luster, or dull, androngh- 
ish to the touch Earthy cobalt. See atbolan 
Earthy fracture, a fracture which exposes a rough, dull 
surface, with minute elevations and depressions, charac- 
teristic of some minerals. Earthy manganese. See 
n ml. 
ear-trumpet (er'tnim"pet), n. An apparatus 
for collecting sound-waves and conveying them 
to the ear, used chiefly by the deaf. The most 
common form is a simple metallic tube having a flaring 
or bell-shaped mouth for collecting the waves of sound, 
and a smaller end or ear-piece which Is Inserted In the 
ear. 
ear-wax (er'waks), . Cerumen. 
earwig (er'wig), . [= E. dial, earwike, ear- 
wrig, yerriwig, erritciaijle, etc., < ME. erwygge, 
erewygge, yericygge, < AS. edrwicga, also once 
improp. edrwicga, earwig (translating L. blatta), 
< edre, ear, + wicga, a rare word, occurring but 
once (Leechdoms, ii. 134, 1. 4, translated 'ear- 
wig'), appar. a general term for an insect, lit. 
a moving creature, allied to wicg, a horse, vilit, 
a creature, a wight, < wegan, tr. bear, carry, 
intr. move, > E. weigh: see weigh, wight 1 . 
Many languages give a name 
to this insect indicating a be- 
lief that it is prone to creep 
into the human ear : D. oor- 
tcorm = G. oliricurm, ear- 
worm; Q.ohrbohrer, 'ear-bor- 
er' ; Sw. o'rmask, ear-worm ; 
Dan. orentvist, 'ear-twister'; 
F. perce-oreille, Pg. furu- 
orelhas, 'pierce-ear'; Sp. gii- 
sano del oido, It. verme auri- 
colare, ear-worm, etc.] 1. 
The popular English name of 
all the cursorial orthopterous 
insects of the family Forji- 
culidte, representing the sub- 
order Euplexoptcra, which has 
several genera and numer- 
ous Species. There Is a popular 
notion that these insects creep into 
the ear and cause injury to it. They 
are mostly nocturnal and phytophagous, though some are 
carnivorous. They have filiform, many-jointed antenntr, 
short, velnless, leathery upper wings, under wings folded 
both lengthwise ami crosswise, anal forceps, and no ocelli. 
The common earwig is Forficula auriculari*; the great 
earwig is Labidura yigantea; the little earwig is Labia 
minor. Another species is Spongophora brunneipennia. 
2. In the United States, the common name of 
any of the small centipeds, such as are found 
iu nouses in most of the States. 3f. One who 
gains the ear of another by stealth and whis- 
pers insinuations; a prying informer ; a whis- 
perer. 
That gaudy earwig, or my lord your patron, 
Whose pensioner you are. 
Ford, Broken Heart, II. 1. 
Ear-wiggi that buzz what they think fit In the retlr'd 
closet. Bp. Ilacket, Life of Abp. Williams, I. 85. 
earwig (er'wig), v. t. ; pret. and pp. earwigged, 
ppr. earwigging. [< earwig, n.] To gain the 
ear of and influence by covert statements or 
insinuations ; whisper insinuations in the ear 
of against another ; fill the mind of with pre- 
judice by covert statements. 
He was so sure to be eanrigged in private that what he 
heard or said openly went for little. 
Marryat, Snarleyyow. 
Up early and down late, for he was nothing of a slug- 
gard ; daily ear-trigging influential men, for he was a mas* 
ter of Ingratlation. 
K. L. Stecenvm, A College Magazine, II. 
ear- witness (er'wit'nes), n. 1. One who is 
able to give testimony to a fact from his own 
hearing. 
An ear-tritneu of all the passages betwixt them. Fuller. 
Dante is the eye-witness and ear-irii net* of that which 
he relates. Macaulay, Milton. 
2. A mediate witness; one who testifies to 
what he has received upon the testimony of 
others. Hamilton. 
ear- worm (er'wenn), n. 1. Same as boll-worm. 
2f. A secret counselor. 
There is nothing in the oath to protect such an ear- 
tcorm, but he may be appeached. 
Bp. Backet, Life of Abp. Williams, II. 152. 
earwort (er'wert), n. The Shachacathis rnpes- 
tris, a low rubiaceous shrub of the West Indies. 
ease (ez), n. [Early mod. E. also ea:e, ese; < 
ME. ese, else, eyse, < AF. etse, OF. aise, ayse, 
aizc, F. aise, f., = Pr. aiae, aw (> prob. Basque 
aisia) = OCat. aise, ease, = Pg. azo, aid, mo- 
tive, occasion, = Olt. asio, agio, aggio, m., ease, 
convenience, exchange, premium, now distin- 
guished in spelling : agio, ease ; aggio ( > F. agio. 
