Labyrinth. 
laburnine 
with cytisin in tho seeds of the common labur- 
num, t<> which their luodicinal properties are 
partly due. 
laburnum (If-Wr'num), n. [< L. taburiHtm, 
the laburnum.] 1. A small leguminous tree, 
I't/ltxii* l.nliiiriiiini, a. native of the Alps and 
neighboring mountains, much cultivated for the 
licnuty of its pendulous racemes of yellow pea- 
shaped (lowers. Its seeds contain two poisonous al- 
kaloids, eyti-in mill laburnlnu. The heart-wood Is dark- 
colored, coarse-grained, hut hard and durable, and much 
In demand aim -UK eal>i net- makers and turners, whence the 
names ebony of the Alps And false ebony given to it. Also 
called goidcnchain and bean trefoil. 
And pale laburnum's pendent flowers display 
Their different beauties. Dodilcy, Agriculture, II. 
lMburnum, dropplng-wells of Ore. 
Tenmjxm, In Memoriam, Ixxxlii. 
2. One of numerous other species of the same 
genus, or of some similar plants of other genera. 
The Scotch laburnum of the gardens, with larger leaves 
and flowers, is Cytina alpintu. The evergreen or Nepal la- 
burnum i- riptaitihtiit \epalensia. The New Zealand labur- 
num is either of the two varieties of Sophora tetraptera. 
labyrinth (lab'i-riuth), . [Formerly also 
labirintli, lubrinth; = F. labyrintlic = Sp. labe- 
rinto = Pg. laberintho. labyrintho = It. laoirinto, 
< L. labyrinthus, < Gr. ^.afivpivfhf, a structuro 
having many intricate passages, a maze, prob. 
< Aaiyxi (also written, less prop. , iafipa), an alley, 
lane: see laura."] 1. An intricate combination 
of passages running into one another from dif- 
ferent directions, in which it is difficult or im- 
possible to find the way from point to point, or 
to reach the place of exit from the interior, 
without a clue or guide; a maze. The name was 
anciently given to an edifice with a complicated system 
of passages connecting a great 
number of chambers. At the 
presentday it is used especial- 
ly of a geometrical arrange- 
ment of paths or alleys be- 
tween high hedges in a pork or 
garden, which lead confusedly 
back and forth, many of them 
ending in a cul-de-sac, but, 
when correctly followed, ter- 
minating In a central space, 
often occupied by a pavilion 
or the like. The most au- 
thentic and celebrated an- 
cient labyrinth was that in 
Enypt near Arsinoe or Croco- 
dilopolis on Lake Morris, 
having 3,000 rooms in two tiers, one of which was subter- 
ranean. The Cretan labyrinth, ascribed to Dredalus, was 
the abode of the fabled monster Minotaur. In medieval 
churches the labyrinth, formed of tiles or slabs of differ- 
ent colors in the pavement usually of the nave, was a 
frequent feature. Such labyrinths were formed on a 
square, circular, or octagonal plan, and were sometimes 
of such extent that it required ^000 steps or more to fol- 
low their course. These labyrinths were considered em- 
blematic of Christ's progress from Jerusalem to Calvary, 
and were followed with certain forms of prayer by the 
pious on their knees, either as p penance or in lieu of a 
Silgrimage. A number of them survive, as In the cathe- 
rals of Chartres and Uayeux, France; but many of the 
most important have been destroyed, for the reason that 
having become mere objects of curiosity, they furnished 
occasion for disturbance of the religious services. The 
best-known modern labyrinths are that of the garden of 
Versailles in France and "the maze" of Hampton Court 
near London. 
He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles ; 
The many musets through the which he goes 
Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes. 
Shale., Venus and Adonis, 1. C84. 
Hence 2. Any confused complication of ob- 
jects, lines, ideas, etc.; any thing or subject 
characterized by intricate turnings or wind- 
ings ; a perplexity. 
No thread is left else 
To guide us from this labyrinth of mischief. 
Fletcher, Double Marriage, ii. S. 
Whereby men wander in the darke, and in labyriathet of 
errour. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 82. 
The Ingenuous Reader, without further amusing him- 
selfe in the labyrinth of controversall antiquity, may come 
the speediest way to see the truth vindicated. 
Milton, On Def. of Humb. Remonst, Pref. 
Though you cannot see when you take one step what 
will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain deal- 
ing, and neverfear their leading you out of the labyrinth. 
Jefferson, Correspondence, I. 2sxj. 
In the elephant, the porpoise, the higher apes, and man, 
the cerebral surface appears a perfect labyrinth of tortu- 
ous foldings. Huxley, Man's Place In Nature, p. 114. 
3. The internal ear; the essential organ of 
hearing. It consists of a series of communicating cavi- 
ties in the petrous portion of the temporal bone, called 
the owwotw labyrinth, and of the membranous labyrinth 
contained in It. The oneoru labyrinth consists of the car- 
Ity known as the vestibule, the thret semieirctllar canals, 
and the OOOblea. The vestibule communicates with the 
tympanum by the fenentra ovalis, which is closed by a 
membrane and the foot of the stapes. The fenestra rotunda 
opens from the beginning of the cochlea into the tympa- 
num. It is closed by a membrane. See earl, cochlea. 
4. Ill ornit/i.. s;unr ;is tl/m/>/lllltlll,4. 5. In 
ing, a form of apparatus used in concentrating 
209 
3319 
or dressing slimes. It consist* of a series of troughs 
through which the muddy water from the dressing-floors 
is made to flow, the particles of ore held in suspension in 
the water settling themselves according to size and specific 
gravity. This form of apparatus was formerly much more 
important than it now is. 
6. A long chamber filled with deflectors or di- 
aphragms placed alternately, used to cool and 
condense the fumes of mercury, other vapors, 
or smoke Labyrinth fret, or labyrinth ornament, 
in arch. See /refS. Membranous labyrinth, a com- 
plex membranous sac contained in the osseous labyrinth, 
to the walls of which it Is loosely attached. It consists 
of the utriculus with the three semicircular canals, the 
ductus and saccus endolymphatlcus, the sacculns, canalis 
reuniens, and canalis cochleae. It contains endolymph, 
and is surrounded by perflymph. To It are distributed 
the fibers of the auditory nerve. 
labyrinth (lub'i-rinth), v. t. [< labyrinth, n.~] 
To shut up, inclose, or entangle in or as in a 
maze or labyrinth. [Rare.] 
To entangle, trammel up, and snare 
Your soul In mine, and labyrinth you there. 
Keatt, Lamia, ii. 
labyrinthal (lab-i-rin'thal), a. [< labyrinth -f- 
-al.~] Same as labyrinthian. 
The labyrinthal ice mazes of the Arctic. 
Arc. Cruise of the Conmn, 1881, p. SO. 
labyrinthi, . Plural of labyrinthus, 1. 
labyrinthian, labyrinthean (lab-i-rin'thi-an, 
-the-an), a. [< L. labyrintheus, < Gr. */Uz/3vpi- 
(feof , pertaining to a labyrinth, < faflvpivdos, laby- 
rinth: see labyrinth.} Winding; intricate; per- 
plexed. Now generally labyrinthine. 
Instrument to his Labyrinthian protects. 
Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 25. 
Mark how the labyrinthian turns they take, 
The circles intricate, and mystic maze. 
Young, Night Thoughts, ii. 1181. 
labyrinthibranch (lab-i-rin'thi-brangk), n. 
One of the Labyrinthibranchii. Sir John Rich- 
ardson. 
labyrinthibranchiate (lab-i-rin-thi-brang'ki- 
at), a. [< Gr. fafivpivOof, labyrinth, 4- Bpayxia, 
gills, 4- -ate 1 ."] Having labyrinthine gills; spe- 
cifically, of or pertaining to the Labyrinthibran- 
chii. 
Labyrinthibranchii (lab-i-rin-thi-brang'ki-i), 
n. pi. [NL., < Gr. Aa/)lipni6of, labyrinth, 4- 
Ppfyx ta t f?ill 8 -] ! In Sir John Ricnardson's 
ichthyological system, a family of acanthopte- 
rygian fishes : same as Labyrinthici or Anaoan- 
tidce. 2. In GUnther's ichthyological system, 
the sixteenth division otAcanthopterygii : fishes 
having the body compressed, oblong or elevat- 
ed, scales of moderate size, and a superbran- 
chial organ in a cavity accessory to the gill- 
cavity for the purpose of retaining water. It in- 
cludes the Labyrinthici or Anabantidce and the 
Luciocephalida:. 
labyrinthic (lab-i-rin'thik). a. [= F. laburin- 
thique. < L. labyrinthicus, < labyrinthus, labyrinth : 
see labyrinth.] 1. Like a labyrinth. 2. Spe- 
cifically, in goal., same as labyrinthodont. Mi- 
vart, Elem. Anat., p. 275. 
labyrinthical (lab-i-rin'thi-kal), a. [< labyrin- 
thic + -al.~] Same as labyrinthic. 
Labyrinthici (lab-i-rin'thi-si), n. pi. [NL., pi. 
of L. labyrinthicus: see labyrinthic.} In GUn- 
ther's iohthyological system, a family of Acan- 
thopterygii labyrinthibranchii, having dorsal or 
anal spines present, sometimes in great num- 
bers. It is equivalent to the family Anaban- 
lac 
dontida; containing certain fossil amphibians 
whose teeth have tho enamel folded and sunk 
inward and are laby- 
rinthine in structuro, 
whence the name. Re- 
mains referred to this genus 
have been found in the Car- 
boniferous, Permian, and 
Trlassic formations. The 
name has been used with 
much latitude. 
2. [<". c.] A member of 
tho genus Labyrinths- 
don or order iMbyrin- 
thodontia; anylabyrin- 
thodont. 
labyrinthodont (lab-i- 
rin'tho-dont), a. and n. 
Footprints at Labyrlnthodon. 
[< Gr.' fafivptvOor,. labyrinth, + tiiol'f (Mow-) = 
E. tootA.] I. a. 1. Having an intricate or laby- 
rinthic struc- 
ture, as a 
tooth. 2. 
Having teeth 
of labyrinthic 
s t rue ture; 
specifically, 
pertaining to 
the Labyrin- 
thodontia, or 
having their 
characters. 
II. . A la- 
byrinthodont 
animal ; a 
member of the 
order Laby- 
rinthodontia. 
Labyrinthodonta (lab-i-rin-tho-don'ta), . pi. 
[NL., pi. of Labyrinthodon, q. v.] Same as La- 
byrin thodon tia. 
Labyrinthodontia (lab-i -rin -tho-don'shi -ft), 
n.pl. [NL.: see Labyrinthodonta.'] In Owen's 
classification, the thirteenth order of the fourth 
subclass of Haimatocrya, named from the genus 
Labyrinthodon, containing fossil amphibians 
having " teeth rendered complex by undulation 
and side branches of the converging folds of 
enamel, whence the name." These animals had the 
head defended, as in Ganocephala, by a sculptured casque : 
two occipital condyles ; divided dentigerous vomer . ana 
ossifled amphiceelous vertebral centra. The order has 
been divided Into ten euliorders, and is now broken up, 
ita components being referred to several separate orders 
of the class Amphibia. The labyrlnthodonts were large, 
One fourth of a horizontal section of i 
rinthodont Tooth, showing labytinthk 
ture. ( Much magnified. ) 
Laby. 
struc- 
sometimes huge, aquatic animals, some exceeding 6 feet 
tngth, with four limbs, belonging to the same class as 
In len 
labyrinthiform (lab-i-rin'thi-form), a. (X L. 
labyrinthus, labyrinth, + forma, form.] 1. Hav- 
ing the form of a labyrinth; intricate. 2. In 
ichth., having labyrinthine gills. 3. In bot., 
characterized by intricate and sinuous lines, as 
in Da'dalia. 
labyrinthine (lab-i-rin'thin), a. [< labyrinth 
+ -ine 1 .] Pertaining to or like a labyrinth; in- 
tricate ; involved. 
Labyrinthodon (lab-i-rin'tho-don), . [NL., 
< Gr. fatfii'pivfhf, labyrinth, + OOOI'Y (biovr-) = E. 
tooth."] 1. The typical genus of Labyrintho- 
Labyrinthixltm salamaniiroislts (restored). 
toads, frogs, and salamanders, of very diverse lizard-like 
forms, and Incapable of leaping. By some modern her- 
petologists, as Cope, the name is restricted to a suborder, 
referred to the order Sleaocephali, and containing the fam- 
ilies Baphetidtf. and A nthracosavridte. Also Labyrintho- 
donta, Labyrinthodontes. 
labyrinthodontian (lab-i-rin-tho-don'shi-an), 
a. [< Labyrinthodontia + -an.] Of or pertain- 
ing to the Labyrinthodontia; labyrinthodont. 
labyrinthodontid (lab-i-rin-tho-don'tid), n. 
One of the Labyrinthodontidce. 
Labyrinthodontidae (lab-i-rin-tho-don'ti-de), 
n. pi. [NL., < Labyrinthodon(t-) '+ -irfcr.] A 
family of Labyrinthodontia, exemplified by the 
genus Labyrinthodon in a restricted sense. 
Labyrinthula (lab-i-rin'thu-lS), . [NL.(Cien- 
kowsky, 1867), dim. of L. labyrinthus : see laby- 
rinth.] 1. The typical genus of Labyrinthulida?, 
containing such species as L. titellina, a marine 
form found on algte, growing in patches visible 
to the naked eye. 2. [I. c.] A member of this 
genus. 
Labyrinthnlidae (lab'i-rin-thu'li-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < Labyrinthula + -idee."] A family of low 
filose protozoans, represented by the genus La- 
byrinthula, and to which the genus Chlamydo- 
myxa is also referred. These organisms consist of ir- 
regular heaps of ovoid nucleated cells, the protoplasm of 
which extends itself as a branching network or labyrinth 
of fine threads. Also called LabynnUndidea, and various- 
ly rated. 
labyrinthus (lab-i-rin'thus), . [NL. use of L. 
labyrinthus, a labyrinth: see labyrinth."] 1. PI. 
labi/rinthi (-thi). The labyrinth of the ear. 
2. [fop.] in zool., a genus of helicoid mollusks. 
Iac 1 t, n. A Middle English form of <V-A-i. 
lac 2 , lakh (lak), . [Formerly also latqne, after 
F., and lacca, as NL., sometimes lak, or lack; 
= F. laque = Sp. Pg. laca = It. lacca; NL. lacca 
= NGr. Miai; = D. lak = G. lack = Sw. lack = 
Dan. lak; < Pers. lak, luk = Hind, lakh = Cana- 
rese lak, lac, sealing-wax, < Skt. Idksha, the lac- 
insect, so called in ref. to the assumed num- 
ber of insects in a nest, < lakslia, a hundred 
thousand: see <<(r3. Cf. lake 2 , tucker?, lacquer.} 
