lightning-print 
lightning-print (lit' ning-print), n. Abranched 
or tree-like marking sometimes found on the 
skin of men and animals and on clothing 
struck by lightning, or in the neighborhood of 
the stroke, and popularly supposed to be an im- 
pression of the images of surrounding objects. 
That this is the case is highly improbable, and the few 
well-authenticated instances yet remain to be accounted 
lor. 
lightning-proof ( lit ' ning-prof ) , a . Safe or pro- 
tected from lightning. 
lightning-protector (lit'ning-pro-tek"tor), n. 
Same as lightning-arrester. 
lightning-rod (Ht'ning-rod), n. A pointed, in- 
sulated metallic rod erected to protect a build- 
ing or a vessel from lightning; a lightning- 
conductor. Lightning-rods are attached to buildings 
and other structures for two purposes : (1) to prevent as 
far as possible sudden discharges of electricity from 
clouds to earth through or in the neighborhood of the 
building; (2) to form a line of least resistance for any 
such discharge, should it take place, and thus prevent 
damage to the building. In order that a lightning rod 
may be efficient for the first purpose, it is provided with 
one or more (preferably several) sharp points at its up- 
per end, with the view of gradually discharging the elec- 
tricity of the surrounding atmosphere to earth. (See 
power of points, under point.) With regard to the most 
efficient form for a lightning-rod to fulfil the second pur- 
pose for which lightning-rods are erected there have been 
great differences of opinion. Recent developments of 
electrical theory and experiment indicate that the form 
of the conductor is the most important element, the par- 
ticular kind of metal being of comparatively little account. 
The conductor should be in the form of a ribbon or a 
thin tube, or consist of a number of separate thin wires 
not spun together to form a rope. The object is to obtain 
a conductor having small self-induction, which is the main 
impediment to a sudden rush of electricity. Care is also 
taken that the rod or conductor be well connected to earth, 
either through wet soil or through a network of water- 
mains. 
lightning-tube (lit'ning-tub), n. Same as ful- 
gurite. 
light-o'-lovet (lit'o-luv"), n. [From the phrase 
light of love, i. e. trifling or capricious in love.] 
1. A light, capricious woman; a wanton co- 
quette. 
So, my quean, you and I must part sooner than perhaps 
a light-o'-love such as you expected to part with a likely 
young fellow. Scott. 
2. An old dance-tune. 
Clap us into Light-o'-love ; that goes without a burden ; 
do you sing it, and I'll dance it. 
Shall., Much Ado, iii. 4. 44. 
light-organ (lit'6r"gan), n. In entom., one of 
the luminous organs of certain insects, situated 
in the thorax or abdomen. 
light-room (Ht'rom), . 1. A small apartment 
next to the magazine in a ship of war, in which 
lights for illuminating the magazine are placed 
behind thick glass windows, to avoid danger 
from carrying fire among the explosives. Also 
called light-box, 2. The room at the top of 
a lighthouse containing the lighting appara- 
tus. 
light-ship (lit'ship), . A vessel riding at an- 
chor and displaying a light for the guidance of 
Light-ship. 
mariners, in a position where the bottom or 
the depth would render a fixed lighthouse-struc- 
ture impracticable. Light-ships have only such masts 
and sails as will enable them to reach a port if driven by 
storms from their anchorage. 
light-shott, . In Anglo-Saxon times, a contri- 
bution of wax payable to the church three times 
yearly. 
lightsome 1 (llt'sum), a. [< light*-, a., + -some.'] 
Emitting or manifesting light ; luminous ; not 
dark. [Now chiefly poetical.] 
However dark the habitation of the mole to our eyes, 
yet the animal itself finds the apartment sufficiently light- 
some. Goldsmith, Vicar, vi. 
If thou would'st view fair Melrose aright, 
Go visit it by the pale moonlight ; 
For the gay beams of lightsome day 
Gild but to flout the ruins gray. 
Scott, L. of L. M., ii. 1. 
lightsome 2 (llt'sum), a. [< lighft, a., + -some.'] 
Having the quality of lightness or buoyancy; 
light-hearted; cheerful or cheering; gay; airy; 
sportive. 
3450 
It suiteth so fitly with that lightsome affection of joy 
wherein God delighteth when his saints praise him. 
Hooker, Eccles. Polity. 
This news should make you lightsome, bring joy to you. 
Fletcher, Loyal Subject, ii. 1. 
Pope's understanding was no less vigorous . . . than 
his fancy was lightsome and sprightly. 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 410. 
lightsomely (lit'sum-li), adv. In a lightsome 
manner. 
lightsomeness 1 (lit'sum-nes), n. The state or 
quality of being lightsome or of emitting or 
showing light, luminousness. [Bare.] 
It Is to our atmosphere that . . . the lightsomeness of 
our air and the twilight are owing. 
O. Cheyne, Philos. Prin. of Nat. Religion. 
lightsomeness 2 (lit'sum-nes), n. The quality 
of being lightsome or not heavy. 
Drayton could write well, and had an agreeable light- 
someness of fancy. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 138. 
light-spirited (lit'spir"i-ted), a. Having a light 
or cheerful spirit. 
light-Struck (Ht'struk), a. In photog., injured 
by exposure to actinic light ; fogged, as a sen- 
sitized plate which has been insufficiently pro- 
tected from light, or has been used in appa- 
ratus leaking light. 
light-tight (Ht'tit), a. Impervious to light ; ex- 
cluding the light perfectly. Compare air-tight. 
light-vessel (St'ves' / el), w. Same as light-ship. 
light-wave (lit'wav), . A wave of the lumi- 
nif erous ether ; a wave of light. 
light-weight (lit'wat), . In sporting, a man or 
an animal of a certain weight prescribed by the 
rules, between that of the middle-weight on one 
hand and that of the feather-weight on the other; 
hence, any person of light weight or of compara- 
tively little importance. 
light-Winged (lit'wingd), a. Having light or 
fleet wings. 
Light-wiitg'd toy 8 
Of feather'd Cupid. Shak., Othello, L 8. 269. 
light-witted (lit'wit"ed), a. Having a feeble 
or weak intellect. 
For lyght-uritted ordronken, sure, men will name thee in 
talke. Babees Boole (E. E. T. S.\ p. 82. 
lightWOOd 1 (lit' wud), M. [< lightl, n.,+ wood*.] 
Any wood used in lighting a fire; kindlings; 
especially, in the southern United States, very 
resinous pine wood. 
They [Indians] make a hearth in the middle of their ca- 
noe, raising it within two inches of the edge ; upon this 
they lay their burning lightwood, split into small shivers, 
each splinter whereof will blaze and bum, end for end, like 
a candle. Beoerley, Virginia, ii. 
A negro woman on her knees was hastily lighting a fire 
on the broad hearth with fat lightwood, and in another 
moment there was a strong aromatic odor, and the brilliant 
blaze. Harper's Mag., LXXVIII. 243. 
LightWOOd knot, (a) A pine knot used for kindlings. 
(b) The ruddy duck, Erismatura rubida : so called from its 
toughness. [New Berne, North Carolina.] 
lightWOOd 2 (lit/wild), n. [< lights, a., + icoorfl.] 
An inappropriate colonial name for the Aus- 
tralian tree Acacia Melanoxylon, more properly 
called blaclacood. 
lightWOOd 3 (llt'wud), n. [< Kghtf, a., + wood^.] 
Same as coachwood. 
lightyt (li'ti), a. [ME. lighty, ligti; < lighft, n., 
+ -y 1 .] Full of light; illuminated; not ob- 
scure. 
The lanterne of thi bodi Is thine yghe ; if thin yghe be 
symple, al thi body schal be lighty, but if it be weyward, 
al thi body schal be derkful. Vydif, Luke xi. 34. 
Ligia (Hj'i-a), n. [NL., < L. ligea or "Ligia, < 
Gr. \iyeia, a water-nymph, fern, of /Uyt>f, clear- 
voiced.] 1. A Fabrician (1798) genus of iso- 
pod crustaceans, now referred to the family 
Oniscidce. It contains certain sea-slaters, as 
L. octanica. Also Lygia. 2. The typical ge- 
nus of Ligiinw or Ligiidce, having a few Euro- 
pean and Asiatic species. Duponchel, 1829. 
Ligiidae (li-ji'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Ligia + -idw.] 
The Ligiince rated as a family. Usually called 
Ligidce. 
Ligiinae (lij-i-i'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Ligia + -ince.] 
A subfamily of geometrid moths, typified by the 
genus Ligia: also named Ligiidte as a family of 
Geometrina or Phalmiites, it is widely distributed, 
and contains 7 genera of moths, with the body stout, front 
prominent, palpi variable, antennse stout, pectinate in the 
male, thorax very short, wings entire and unmarked or 
very slightly speckled, tarsi spinose, and hind tibise four- 
spurred. Usually called Ligince. 
lignaget (li'uaj), n. A Middle English form of 
lineage. 
lignaloes (lig-nal'oz), n. [< ME. ligne aloes, 
< OF. lignaloes, lignaloe, ligne aloes, lingaloes, 
liiKjualoel, etc.,< L. lignum aloes: lignum, wood; 
aloes, gen, of aloe, aloes ; see aloes?] 1. Aloes- 
lignitiferous 
wood or agallochum : same as aloes, 2. 2f. A 
bitter drug: same as aloes, 1. 
The woful teres that they leten falle 
As bittre weren out of teres kynde, 
For peyne, as is liyne aloes [var. lignum aloes] or galle. 
Chaucer, Troilus, iv. 1187. 
lignatile (lig'na-til), . [< NL. lignatilis, < L. 
lignum, wood. "Cf. saxatile.] In lot., growing 
on wood; liguicole. 
lignet, M. A Middle English form of Kwe 2 . 
ligneous (lig'ne-us), a. [= Sp. ligneo = Pg. It. 
liyneo, < L. ligiteus, wooden, < lignum, wood: 
see lignum.] Consisting of or resembling wood ; 
wooden; woody; in hot., having a wood-like 
texture ; woody, as distinguished from herba- 
ceous. Also lignose. 
For it may be they [shoots of vines and roots of red 
roses], being of a more ligneous nature, will incorporate 
with the tree itself. Baton, Nat. Hist., 504. 
Ligneous galls, in e>Uom., galls which are hard and in- 
elastic, resembling wood in structure. Ligneous mar- 
Die, wood coated or prepared so as to resemble marble. 
lignescent (lig-nes'ent), a. [< L. lignum, wood, 
+ -escent.] Tending to be or become ligneous 
or woody ; somewhat woody. 
lignicole (lig'ni-kol), a. [< L. lignum, wood, + 
col'ere, dwell.] Same as Hgnicoline. 
lignicoline (lig-nik'o-lin), a. [< lignicole + 
-inc.] Growing upon wood, as some mosses, 
lichens, and fungi. 
ligniferous (lig-nif'e-rus), a. [< L. lignifer, < 
lignum, wood, + ferre = E. bear!.] Producing 
or yielding wood. 
ligriification (lig"ni-fi-ka'shon ), H, [= F. lignifi- 
cation = Pg. lignificagao; as hgnify + -atiou: 
see -fication.] The act of lignifying, or the state 
of being lignified; the process of becoming or 
of making woody: an alleged conversion of 
animal matter into wood, not confirmed by 
scientific investigation. 
ligniform (lig'ni-fdrm), a. [= F. ligniforme, < 
L. lignum, wood, + forma, form.] Like wood; 
resembling wood Ligniform asbestos. See as- 
bestos, 8. 
lignify (lig'ni-fi), v. t. and t.; pret. and pp. lig- 
nified, ppr. lignifying. [= F. lignifler = Pg. 
(refl.) lignificar, < L. lignum, wood, + facere, 
make: see -fy.] To convert into or become 
wood; make or grow woody. 
As internal cells grow older the protoplasm disappears, 
the cellulose lignifies, and a mere framework of woody 
cells is left. S. B. Herrick, Wonders of Plant Life, p. 6. 
The object is, in brief, what appears to be a lignified ser- 
pent formed between the outer bark and the wood in the 
cambium layer, In fact of a native tree known asthelpe 
misim. C. V. Riley, Sci. Amer. Supp., Feb. 17, 1883. 
Lignified cells, in phys. bot, vegetable cells whose walls 
have been Indurated and more or less thickened by the de- 
position of lignin, thus being converted into woody fiber. 
lignin (lig'nin), n. [< L. lignum, wood, + -m 2 .] 
An organic substance which forms the charac- 
teristic part of wood-cells, bast-cells, and all 
woody fibers, making the greater part of the 
weight of most dry wood. It is superadded to the 
cellulose of primitive cells by deposition on their walls. 
It is harder and more elastic than the latter, and absorbs 
comparatively little water. Its chemical composition is 
not satisfactorily made out ; but it differs from cellulose 
in being soluble in Schultze's macerating mixture and in 
potassium hydrate, but not in cupro-ammonium. It has 
sometimes been called xylogen. See lignified cells, under 
ligniperdous (lig-ni-per'dus), a. [< L. lignum, 
wood, + perdere, destroy; cf. F. ligniperdes, 
insects destructive of wood.] Destructive of 
wood; injurious to timber: specifically ap- 
plied to various insects, crustaceans, and mol- 
lusks. 
lignite (lig'nit), n. [< L. lignum, wood, + -j'te 2 .] 
Brown-coal; imperfectly formed coal, or that 
in which the original form of the wood is so 
distinctly preserved that it can be easily recog- 
nized by the unaided eye. Lignite usually contains 
considerably more hygroscopic water than does true coal, 
and is inferior to the latter as a fuel. It contains de- 
cidedly more oxygen than true coal, and in its general 
chemical composition stands midway between coal and 
wood. It is not limited to any particular geological for- 
mation, but is more abundant in the more recent strata. 
The fossil fuel of the Tertiary is almost all lignite ; and in 
the Tertiary coal, where the vegetable structure may not 
perhaps be distinctly recognizable, the presence of 10 or 
12 per cent, of water is an indication of imperfect conver- 
sion of the material into coal. There are, however, Tertia- 
ry coals which are nearly as free from water as those of 
Carhonlf erous age usually are, as, for instance, some of the 
coal of southern Colorado, which is either of very early 
Tertiary or late Cretaceous age. 
lignitic (lig-nit'ik), a. [< lignite + -ic.] Con- 
sisting of or containing lignite Lignitic group. 
Same as Laramie group (which see, under group!). 
lignitiferous (lig-ni-tif'e-nis), a. [< lignite + 
L. ferre = E. bear 1 .] In f/eol., lignite-bearing; 
containing beds of lignite or brown-coal, as 
certain strata. 
