Oxon. 
for its university, or of Oxoniensis, belonging 
to Oxford : sometimes placed after an academic 
degree conferred by that seat of learning: as, 
D. C. L. Oxon. 
Oxonian (ok-so'ni-an), a. and , [< NL. ML. 
Oxonia. a Latinized form of AS. Oxnaford, Ox- 
onaford (ME. Oxenford, Oxenforth, E. Oxford), 
lit ' oxen's-f ord,' < oxena, gen. pi. of oxa, ox, -r 
ford, ford : see/on?.] I. a. Of or pertaining to 
Oxford. Oxonian button-over. See the quotation. 
IEng.] 
I've been selling0.ro/uano<toii-niw>'s("Oxoman shoes, 
which cover the instep, and are closed by being buttoned 
instead of being stringed through four or five holes) at 3s. 
M and 4a., but they was really good, and soled and heeled. 
Mayhem, London Labour and London Poor, II. 49. 
II. w. 1. A native or an inhabitant of Oxford : 
a member or a graduate of the University of 
Oxford. 2. An Oxonian button-over. [Eng.] 
Not long since I had a pair of very good Oxonians that 
had been new welted, and the very first day I had them 
on sale -it was a dull drizzly day -a lad tried to prig 
them. Mayhem, London Labour and London Poor, 11. 48. 
oxpecker (oks'pek"er), . An African bird of 
the genus Buphaga, or family Buphagida : so 
called from its habit of alighting on cattle to 
peck for food. See cut under Buphaga. 
OX-pitht (oks'pith), n. Marrow. Marston. 
ox-ray (oks'ra), n. A batoid fish, the horned 
ray, Cephaloptera or Dicerobatis giorna. [Eng.] 
ox-reim (oks'rlm), n. [Appar. adapted from 
a S. African D. *osriem, < os, ox, + riem (== G. 
riemen), a strap, thong.] A narrow strip of 
prepared ox-hide, used in Cape Colony for 
horse-halters, and, when twisted, for ropes, 
traces, etc. 
OX-shoe (oks'sho), n. A flat piece of iron, with 
or without calks, shaped to one part of the hoof 
of an ox and pierced with holes near the outer 
edge to receive the wrought-iron flat-headed 
clinch-nails used to fasten it. 
OX-skint (oks'skin), . [Also dial. osMn; < ox 
+ skin, equiv. to hide 2 , taken as equiv. to hidf 3 .] 
A hide ->f land. Halliwell. 
Fabian, a chronographer, writing of the Conquerour, sets 
downe in the history thereof another kinde of measure, 
very necessary for all men to understand: foure akers 
(Mill h he) make a yard of land, five yards of land contain 
a hide, and 8 hides make a knights fee, which by his con- 
jecture is so much as one plough can well till in a yeare ; 
in Yorkeshire and other countries they call a hide an oxe- 
sliinne. Hopton, Baculum Geodasticum (1614). 
OX-SOle (oks'sol), n. The whiff, afish. [Irish.] 
OX-Stall (oks'stal), . [< ME. oxestalle; <ox + 
stall 1 .'] A stall or stand for oxen. 
OX-team (oks'tem), . A team of oxen. 
And Goad-man Sangar, whose industrious hand 
With Ox-teem tills his tributary land. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Captaines. 
oxter (oks'ter), . [Formerly also ockster; < 
ME. *oxte (?), < AS. ohsta, ocusta, the armpit; 
cf. oxn = OHG. iiohsana, armpit; cf. L. axis, 
axis, dim. *axla, ala, armpit, wing, etc.: see axis, 
axle, etc.] The armpit ; also, the embrace of 
the arms. 
Wi' a Bible under their oxter and a speerit o' prayer in 
their heart. R. L. Stevenson, Thrawn Janet. 
OXter (oks'ter), v. t. [< oxter, TO.] To support un- 
derthe arm; embrace with the arms. [Scotch.] 
The priest he was axter'd, the clerk he was carried, 
And that 's how Meg o' the Mill was married. 
Burns, Meg o' the Mill. 
OX-tongTie (oks'tung), n. [<tE.oxetunge.'] 1. 
The tongue of an ox. 2. One of several plants 
with rough tongue-shaped leaves, especially -Pi- 
cm (Helminthia) echioides, and the alkanet, An- 
chusa officinalis. Compare bugloss. 3. A name 
sometimes given to the anlace, braquemart, and 
similar short broadswords. 
OXy 1 (ok'si), a. [< ox + -i/ 1 .] Of or pertaining 
to an ox; resembling an ox ; bovine. [Bare.] 
He took his arrow by the nock, and to his bended brest 
The oxy sinew close he drew. Chapman, Iliad, iv. 139. 
oxy 2 (ok'si), a. [Appar. an irreg. var. of *onsy 
for oozy.'] Wet; soft ; spongy: applied to land. 
ffalliwell. [Prov. Eng.] 
oxyacanthous (ok"si-a-kan'thus), a. [< Gr. 
6fi>f, sharp, + axavda, a spine.] In bot., fur- 
nished with many sharp thorns or prickles. 
oxyacid (ok'si-as-id), n. [< oxy(gen) + acid.] 
An acid containing oxygen. Also called ox- 
acid. 
Oxysena (ok-si-e'na), n. [NL., < Gr. ofif, sharp, 
+ -aiva, a fern, termination.] The typical ge- 
nus of Oxycenidip. There are several species, 
as 0. morsitans, 0. lupina, O.forcipata. 
Oxysenidae (ok-si-en'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Oxy- 
(ena + -idee.] A family of fossil carnivorous 
4216 
mammals of the Eocene of North America, be- 
longing to the suborder Creodonta, and typified 
bv the genus Oxyana. They had the back upper mo- 
lar transverse, the preceding ones sectorial, and all the 
lower ones sectorial. 
oxysesthesia (ok"si-es-the'si-ii), . [NL., < (ir. 
of if. sharp, + ala6>ioic, perception by the senses: 
see avthexia.] Abnormally acute sensibility ; 
hypersesthesia. Also written oxyesthesia. 
ox'yanthracene (ok-si-an'thra-sen), n. [< Gr. 
ofif, sharp, + E. anthracene.] Same as anthra- 
(niinone. 
oxyaphia (ok-si-a'fi-a), n. [NL., < Gr. ofif, 
sharp, + 00?, touch, < dirreiv, grasp, touch. ] Ab- 
normally acute sense of touch. 
oxyaster (ok-si-as'ter), n. [NL., < Gr. ofif, 
sharp, + iurrtip, a star.] A regular polyact 
sponge-spicule, whose long acute rays radiate 
from one point. 
oxybaphon (ok-sib'a-fon), .; pi. oxybaplui 
(-fa). [< Gr. iffr/Sofw (see def.), < ofif, sharp, 
+ 'ftairreiv, immerse, dip (>/3a0#, a dipping).] In 
Gr. antiq., a large, deep, wide-mouthed wine- 
vase, tapering interiorly to a point at the base 
Greek Oxybaphon, with combat between Cadmus and the 
Theban dragon. 
and resembling in use and somewhat in shape 
the crater, but in the main convex instead of 
concave in vertical profile, and having its two 
handles immediately below the rim. 
The additional discovery of two pieces of tea rude . . . 
one among the ashes in the oxybaphan proves that the 
inhumation of the first and the cremation of the second 
must be accepted as contemporary events. 
Atherueum, No. 3231, p. 424. 
Oxybaphus(ok-sib'a-fus),w. [NL.(Vahl, 1806), 
so called in allusion to the enlarged involucre; 
< Gr. of vf)a<t>ov, a vase : see oxybaphon.'] A ge- 
nus of apetalous plants of the order Nycta- 
ginece, the tribe Mirabillea:, and the subtribe 
Boerhaaviea, having a short perianth and in- 
volucre with connate bracts. There are about 23 
species, chiefly of western North and South America, a 
few, as 0. albUus, eastward in the United States. They 
are erectorprostratebranching herbs, with opposite leaves, 
and small white, pink, or scarlet flowers. A gardeners' 
name for plants of the genus is umbreUawort. 
Oxybelus (ok-sib'e-lus), n. [NL. (Latreille, 
1796), < Gr. of if, sharp, + j3e*of, an arrow.] A 
genus of wasps of the family Crabronidce. The 
Bubmarginal Is confluent with the first discoidal cell, or 
separated from it by a faint nervure only ; the postscutel- 
lum is alate with a membranous appendage on each side ; 
and the metathorax has a curved spine near the base. 
There are about 30 European and 12 American species of 
these wasps, of active habits, small size, dark color, with 
usually white spots on the abdomen, and they prey in the 
main upon dipterous insects. 
oxyblepsia (ok-si-blep'si-a), . [NL., < Gr. ofif, 
sharp, + -P'teijiia, < [lAtireiv, see, look on.] Ab- 
normal acuteness of vision. 
oxycalcium (ok-si-kal'si-um), a. [< oxy(gen) 
+ calcium.'] Noting the combined action of 
calcium and oxygen. Oxycalcium light. Same as 
calcium linht (which see, under calcium). 
OxycarpOUS (ok-si-kar'pus), a. [< Gr. ofif, 
sharp, + Kapn6f, fruit.] In bot., bearing or char- 
acterized by sharp-pointed fruit, 
oxycephaly (ok-si-sef 'a-li), n. [< Gr. ofif, 
sharp, + Ke<t>ai.y, head.] The character of a skull 
having a high vertical index ; hypsicephaly. 
oxycmorid, oxychloride (ok-si-klo'rid, -rid or 
-rid), n. [< oxy(gen) + chlorid.] A compound 
of a metallic chlorid with oxygen : as, oxychlo- 
rids of iron, tin, etc. 
oxy-coal-gas (ok'si-kol'gas), a. Of, pertaining 
to, or consisting of a mixture or combination 
of oxygen and coal-gas. 
By means of the oxy-coal-gas flame we can determine 
the spectrum of any vapor given off. 
J. If. Lockyer, Harper's Mag., LXXVIII. 58-2. 
oxygenate 
OxycOCCUS (ok-si-kok'us), n. [NL. (Persoon, 
1801), < Gr. of i'f, sharp, acid, + KOKKOS, berry.] A 
genus of gamopetalous plants of the order Vac- 
cinincea> and the tribe Euvacciniecc, known by its 
eight blunt awnless anthers, four-celled berries, 
and deeply or completely four-parted revolute 
corolla; the cranberry. There are 2 species, natives 
of the northern hemisphere. They arc smooth and pros- 
trate vine-like shrubs, rooting in the mud or moss of 
swamps, and sending up short erect stems clad with small 
alternate evergreen leaves, and bearing nodding rose-col- 
ored flowers, mostly solitary and terminal, followed by 
edible acid crimson berries. This genus has often been 
included in Vaccinium. 0. (Vaccinium) macrocarpus is 
the ordinary American cranberry; 0. palvstris, the Euro- 
pean cranberry. See cranberry and Vacciniaceie. 
OXycrate (ok'si-krat), n. [< Gr. 6fi*poroi>,_ sour 
wine mixed with water, < ofif, sharp, acid, + 
*Kpar6f, verbal adj. of Kepawivai, mix : see cra- 
ter.] A mixture of water and vinegar. [Rare.] 
Apply a mixture of the same powder, with a compress 
prest out of oxycrate, and a suitable bandage. Wiseman. 
oxyd, oxyde, See oxid, oxide. 
oxydactyl, oxydactyle (ok-si-dak'til), a. and 
n. [< Gr. ofif, sharp, + cMxrtvof, finger, toe: 
see dactyl.] I. a. Having slender toes not di- 
lated at the ends: applied specifically to a 
group of batrachians, in distinction from plaiy- 
dactyl or discodactyl. 
II n. Any member of the Oxydactyla. 
Oxydactyla (ok-si-dak'ti-la), n. pi. [NL. : see 
oxydactyl.] A division of phanerpglossate ba- 
trachians, containing those which are oxy- 
dactyl : distinguished from Platydactyla. 
Oxydendrtun (ok-si-den'drum), . [NL. (A. 
P. de Candolle, 1839), < Gr. ofif, sour, + devSpov, 
tree.] A genus of the gamopetalous order Eri- 
cacece and the tribe Andromedece, characterized 
by the needle-shaped seeds and two-bracted 
persistent unchanged calyx of separate sepals. 
There is but one species, 0. arboreum, a tree from 15 to 
40 feet high, native of rich woods from Pennsylvania south- 
ward, mostly in the Alleghanies. It bears leaves resem- 
bling those of the beech, white egg-shaped flowers in ter- 
minal paniclesof long one-sided racemes, followed by small 
woody flve-angled capsules, with many minute seeds. I 
hard close-grained wood is used for tool-handles, bearings 
of machinery, etc. The tree is called sorrel-tree or lour- 
wood, also elk-tree. , , 
oxydiact (ok-si-di'akt), a. and n. [< Gr. ofrf, 
sharp, + 61-, two-, + aKTi'f, a ray.] I. . In 
sponges, having three axes and two pointed 
rays lying in one straight line ; oxyhexact with 
four of the rays rudimentary or wanting. 
II n. An oxydiact sponge-spicule. 
oxyfluoride (ok-si-flo'o-rid or -rid), n. [< oxy- 
(gen) + fluoride.] A compound of an oxid and 
a fluoride : as, the oxyflnoride of lead, 
oxygen (ok'si- jen), n. [< F. oxygene = Sp. oxi- 
aeno = Pg. oxygenco = It. ossigeno, ossigene; 
< Gr. ofif, sharp, acid, + V r c %> producing: 
see -gen.'] 1. Chemical symbol, O; atomic 
weight, 16. An element discovered by Priest- 
ley ui 1774, who called it dephlogisticated air. 
sier because su- 
It was finally called oxygen by Lavoisier, because sup- 
posed to be present in all acids. Further investigation, 
however, has proved that this is not the case. Oxygen 
is a chemical element existing as a permanent gas, color- 
less, odorless, and tasteless, and somewhat heavier than 
atmospheric air. It is soluble in water, which at a tem- 
perature of 60 F. dissolves T of its volume of oxygen. 
Oxygen combines very readily with most of the elements, 
and forms oxids with all of them excepting flnorin. The 
act of combination is so energetic in many cases as to 
evolve light and heat, the phenomena of combustion. 
In other cases, as in the tarnishing or rusting of metals 
and the decay of animal or vegetable substances, oxida- 
tion takes place so slowly that, while the result is the 
same, the heat evolved at one time is not enough to pro- 
duce luminous effects or even to be sensible. Free or un- 
combined oxygen is essential to all animal and vegetable 
life. Animal heat and muscular energy are results of a 
slow combustion produced in all parts of the system by 
oxygen carried in the blood from the lungs. In sunlight 
oxygen is exhaled by growing plants, but a certain quan- 
tity is assimilated and is essential to life. Oxygen is the 
most widely distributed and abundant element in nature ; 
it constitutes about one fifth of the total volume of the 
atmosphere, which is a mechanical mixture of oxygen and 
nitrogen. Water contains about 89 per cent, of it by weight, 
and it is found in most animal and vegetable products, 
acids, oxids, and salts. The rocks which make up most 
of the earth's crust contain between 40 and 50 per cent, of 
oxygen. Under certain conditions oxygen may be made 
to pass into an allotropic or condensed form called ozone. 
It was Lavoisier who gave to this curious kind of air or 
gas the name of Oxygen, by which it is now universally 
known ; and it was he, too, who first showed, by the most 
conclusive experiments, what was really the composition 
of atmospheric air. His determination of the constitu- 
tion of the air was made in the year 1777. 
Huxley, Physiography, p. /. 
2. A manufacturers' name for bleaching-pow- 
der. Simmonds. 
oxygenate (ok'si-jen-at), v. t.; pret. and pp. 
oxygenated, ppr. oxygenating. [< oxygen + -ate*.] 
1. To mix with oxygen; impregnate or satu- 
rate with oxygen: as, the blood is oxygenated 
