thick-lipped 
thick-lipped (thik'lipt), . Having thick lips, 
as a negro; Inbroid, us a lisli; I hickened around 
the edges, as an ulcer Thick-lipped perch. Sec 
JH'Tl'lt 1 . 
thicklips (thik'lips), H. A person having thick 
lips a characteristic of the negro race: used 
opprobriously. 
What n full fortune does the thick lips owe, 
If he can cany 't thus ! Shak., Othello, i. 1. 68. 
thickly (thik'li), ndr. Ill a thick manner, in 
any sense of the word thirl;; densely; closely; 
deeply; abundantly; frequently. 
thickness (thik'nes'), . |< MK. IMJautM, < AS. 
lliiriir.i, < oWrrr, thick: see tliicl:'] 1. The state 
or property of being thick, in any sense; spe- 
cifically, that, dimension of a solid body which 
is at right :ingles both to its length and to its 
breadth : the third or least dimension of a solid. 
Sox fyngre thlckc a floore thereof thou pave 
With lyme and asshcs nilxt with cole and sande, 
A flake above in thikncxse of thyne hande. 
I'alladilit, Illlsbondrie (E. E. T. 8.), p. 13. 
The height of one pillar was eighteen cublta; . . . and 
the thickness thereof was four fingers. Jer. Hi. 21. 
2. That which is thick; the thick of anything; 
the dense, heavy, deep, or solid part. 
The chambers were In the thickness of the wall of the 
court toward the east. Ezek. xlii. 10. 
This enormous thickness of nearly three miles of Old 
Red Sandstone. J. CroU, Climate and Cosmology, p. 270. 
3. A fold, layer, or sheet, as of cloth or paper. 
4. In founding, the sand or loam placed tem- 
porarily in a mold while it is being prepared 
for casting. It is afterward removed, and its 
place is filled with the molten metal. 
thickness (thik'nes), t'. t. [< thickness, .] To 
reduce to a uniform thickness before dressing 
to shape : said of boards and timber. [Trade 
use.] 
thick-pleached (thik'plecht), a. Thickly in- 
terwoven. 
The prince and Count Claudio, walking In ^thick-pleached 
alley In my orchard, were thus much overheard by a man 
of mine. Shak., Much Ado, 1. 2. 10. 
thick-set (thik'set), . and . I. a. 1. Set, 
growing, or occurring closely together; dense; 
luxuriant. 
His eyeballs glare with Ore, suflfus'd with blood ; 
His neck shoots up a thick set thorny wood. 
Drtfden, tr. of Ovid's Metamorph., vlii., Meleager and 
[Atalanta, 1. 23. 
Live long, ere from thy topmost head 
The thick-set hazel dies. 
Tennyson, Will Waterproof. 
2. Thickly studded; abounding; plentifully 
supplied. 
With windows of this kind the town of Curzola is thick- 
set In every quarter. E. A. Freeman, Venice, p. 214. 
3. Heavily or solidly built ; stout ; especially, 
short and stout. 
At Orantham, 1 believe, he sat up all night to avoid 
sleeping in the next room to a thick-set squinting fellow, 
In a black wig and a tarnished gold-laced waistcoat. 
Scott, Rob Roy, III. 
Laying a short, thickset linger upon my arm, he looked 
up In my face with an investigating air. 
Bulirer, Pelham, xxxvi. 
Thick-set cord, a kind of thick-set of which the surface 
is ribbed like that of corduroy. 
II. . 1. A close or thick hedge. 2. Very 
thick or dense underwood; bush; scrub. 3. 
A kind of fustian having a nap like that of vel- 
veteen. It is used for clothes by persons en- 
gaged in manual work. 
thick-sighted (thik'si'ted), a. Dim of sight; 
weak-sighted. 
Whereas before she could see some furniture >M her 
house, now she could perceive none : she was erst thick- 
sighted, but now purblind. Ken. T. Adams, Works, I. 388. 
thickskin(thik'skin), it. and a. I. it. One who 
has a thick skin that is, one who is insensible 
to or not easily irritated by taunts, reproaches, 
ridicule, or the like ; a rude, unimpressible per- 
son. 
The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort. 
Shak., M. N. D., ill. >. 13. 
II. a. Same as tlnck-.tl.iiiiii-il. 
Nor can I bide to pen some hungry scene 
For thick-skin ears, and undiscerning eyne. 
Bp. Hall, Satires, I. 8. 
thick-skinned (thik'skind), a. 1. Having a 
thick skin or rind: as, a thii-k-/skinnrd animal; a 
thick-skinned orange. 2. Specifically, in .-<"'</.. 
pachydermatous, as a rhinoceros ; belonging to 
tin 1 I'tiflii/ili-rii/iitit. 3. Insensible to reproach, 
ridicule, or insult : dull: stolid. 
He is too Ihifk-tHnnfil to mind eloquent and indignant 
criticism. The American, IX. 387. 
395 
thickskull (tliik'sknl), H. A dull person; a 
blockhead. 
thick-skulled (thik'skuhl), n. Dull; heavy; 
stupid ; slow t o learn. 
This downright lighting fool, this thick-skulled hero. 
I>ryilen. All for Love, 111. 1. 
thick-Stamen (thik'stii'men), n. See I'urlii/ 
thick-starred (thik'stard), a. Strewn thickly 
with stars. [Rare.] 
In some wynters nyht whan the armament Is clere and 
thikkc-strrred. Chaucer, Astrolabe, II. 28. 
thick-tongued i thik'tungd), a. Having a thick 
tongue ; specifically, in lierpet., pachyglossate. 
thick-wind (thik'wind), . Impeded respira- 
tion of the horse, somewhat louder and less free 
than normal breathing. This may be due to roaring, 
to asthma (heaves), or to encroachment upon the lungs of 
a distended stomach or pregnant uterus. 
thick-winded (thik'win'ded), a. Affected with 
thick-wind, as a horse. 
thick-witted (thik'wit'ed), a. Dull of wit; 
stupid; thick-headed. 
A pretty face and a sweet heart . . . often overturn a 
thick-tritted or a light-headed man. 
The Century, XXVI. 388. 
thicky (thik'i), (i. [< thick + -yl.] Thick. 
[Rare.] 
It was neere a thicky shade, 
That broad leaues of Beech had made. 
Greene, Descrlp. of the Shepherd and his Wife. 
thidert, ndr. A Middle English form of thither. 
Chaucer. 
thief 1 (thef), n. ; jpl. thietex (thevz). [Early mod. 
E. also theef; < ME. theef, thef (pi. themes, thet-es, 
tln/i-rrg, thifeg), < AS. theof (pi. theofas) = OS. 
thiof = OrVies. thwf, tief = D. diff= MLG. def 
= OHG. diob, MHG. die},, G. dieb = Icel. thtofr 
= Sw. (// = Dan. tyv = Goth, thiufs (thiitb-), 
thief: root unknown. Hence thiece, theft.] 1. 
A person who steals, or is guilty of larceny or 
robbery; one who takes the goods or property 
of another without the owner's knowledge or 
consent; especially, one who deprives another 
of property secretly or without open force, as 
opposed to a robber, who openly uses violence. 
In the authorized version of the Bible, however, and in 
the older literature generally, thief is used where we now 
say robber. 
The othre byeth the little thyeues, thet steleth Ine the 
house bread, wyn, an othre thingea. 
Ayenbitc of Intryt (E. E. T. S.\ p. 38. 
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, 
and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment 
Luke x. 30. 
Draw forth thy weapon, we are beset with thieves. 
Shot., T. of the 8., Hi. 2. 238. 
The class that waa called "travelling thieves," who, with- 
out being professional cracksmen, would creep Into an 
unprotected house or rob a hen-roost. 
Nineteenth Century, XXVI. 771. 
2. A person guilty of cunning or deceitful 
acts; a lawless person; an evil-doer: used in 
reproach. 
Angelo Is an adulterous thief. Shak., M. for M., r. 1. -I". 
3. An imperfection in the wick of a candle, 
causing it to gutter. [Prov. Eng.] 
Where you see a thief In the candle, call presently for 
an extinguisher. Bp. Halt, Remains, p. 48. (Latham.) 
If there bee a theefe In the Candle (as wee used to say 
commonly), there is a way to pull It out, and not to put 
out the Candle, by clapping an Extinguisher presently 
upon it. Hoirell, Forrelnc Travel!, 1642 (ed. Arber), p. 77. 
4. A tin can to which a small line or becket is 
attached, used as a drinking-cup by sailors. It 
is made heavier on one side, so that it will cap- 
size when it is dropped in the water. 5. A 
thief-tube. 6. Same as hermit-crab. [Local, 
U. S. ] Bait-thief, a fish that takes the bait from a book 
without getting eaught. [Fishermen's slang.] Thieves' 
Latin. See /."'-".Thieves' vinegar, a kind of vinegar 
made by digesting rosemary-tops, sage-leaves, etc., in vine- 
gar, formerly believed to be an antidote against the plague. 
It derived its name and popularity from a story that four 
thieves who plundered the dead during the plague ascribed 
their impunity to this infusion. It has been long disused as 
worthless. =Syn. Pilferer, Pirate(see robber), pickpocket, 
cutpurse. Sec pillage, n. 
thief 2 (thef), H. [< ME. there, < AS. thefe, the 
bramble: see thcve, there-thorn.] The bramble 
R ubus fruticoniis. Compare there-thorn, lirit- 
ti n find Holland. [Prov. Eng.] 
thief-catcher (thef'kach'er), M. One who 
catches thieves, or whose business is to detect 
thieves and bring them to justice. 
My evenings all I would with sharpers spend, 
And make the thief-catcher my bosom friend. 
Bramgton. 
thief-leader (thef le'der), n. One who leads 
away or takes a thief. [Rare.] 
A wolf passed by as the thief-leaders were dragging a 
fox to execution. Sir R. L'Ettrange. 
thigger 
thieflyt ithf-no. '/<. [< MK. //<. //-/. / 
tkmeli, tliirilii-li. 11,',,/hr/,, : ' lliiifl + -ly-.\ 
Like H thief: hence, stealthily : -ecrellv. 
Theuetich Y am had awry fro the ioond <>f Hebrew. 
>/,/, On. \\. U. 
In the night ful theejty gan he stalke. 
Chaucer, <;<M>'| \\H,,I>II, I. 1781. 
thief-stolen (thef'sto'ln), . stolen liy a thief 
or thieves. | Rare.] 
Had I been <Au/-*M', 
A my two brothers, happy ! 
Shak., I'yiiilieline, I. 8. 5. 
thief-taker (thef ta'ker), . One whose buni 
ness it is to find and take thieves and 
them to justice ; a thief-catcher. 
thieftCOUSlyt, ndr. Same as thrt'lii'insli/. 
thief-tube (thef tub), . A sampling-tube; a 
tube which may be inserted in a bung-hole. 
and, when filled with the liquid in the cask, 
withdrawn with its contents by placing the 
thumb over the upper end. 
thietsee, . See theetsee. 
thieve (thev), t'.; pret. and pp. tliiirtd, ppr. 
thieving. [< ME. 'theren, < AS. tlieojian, thieve, 
< (/ierf/athief:see (AiV/1.1 I. intning. Tobea 
thief; practise theft; steal; prey. 
He knows not what may thiece upon his senses, 
Or what temptation may rise. 
Shirley, Love's Cruelty, I. 1. 
Or proul In courts of law for human prey, 
In venal senate Uiieec, or rob on broad highway. 
Thomson, Cattle of Indolence, 1. 13. 
II. trant. To take by theft; steal. 
My mother still 
Affirms your Psyche thieved her theories. 
Tennyson, Princes*, Hi. 
thieveless (thev'les), a. [Cf . theickss.] Cold ; 
forbidding. Jamieson. [Scotch.] 
Wl' thiertlra sneer to see his modish mien, 
lie, down the water, gi'es him this guid-e'en. 
Burns, Brigs of Ayr. 
thievery (thev'er-i), w. ; pi. thiercriett (-iz). 
[= OKries. dererie = G. diebcrei = Svr.tlufreri 
= Dan. tyreri; as thieve + -cry.] 1. The act 
or practice of stealing; theft. 
Xnaverie, Villanle, and Thienerie '. I smell it rank, she ' 
stoln, she 'a gone directlie. Brmne, Northern l.us*. ii. 0. 
We owe a great deal of picturesqueness to the quarrels 
and thieveries of the barons of the M iddle Ages. 
/yoirrfi, Fireside Travels, p. 254. 
2. That which is stolen. 
Injurious time now with a robber's haste 
Crams his rich thierery up, he knows not how. 
Shak., T. and C., Iv. 4. 45. 
thieves. . Plural of thief. 
thievish (the'vish), a. [= D. diefsch = MLG. 
devisch = G. diebisch; as thief 4- -i&l.] 1. Ad- 
dicted to, concerned in, or characterized by 
thievery ; pertaining in any manner to theft. 
Or with a base and boisterous sword enforce 
A thievish living on the common road. 
MhKk., As you Like it, II. 3. 33. 
O MiiVnx/i Night. 
Why shouldst thon, but for some felonious end, 
In thy dark lantern thus close up the stars? 
Miltini, Conills, 1. 199. 
2. Stealthy; furtive; secret; sly. 
He sltteth lurking In the thievish corners of the streets. 
Book of Common Prayer, Psalter, Vs. x. 8. 
Thou by thy dial's shady stealth mayst know 
Time's thievish progress to eternity. 
Shale.. Sonnets, KM ii 
thievishly (the'vish-li), tide. In a thievish 
manner; like a thief; by theft. 
thievishness (the'vish-nes), n. The state or 
character of being thievish. Bnilry, 1727. 
thig (thig), r. ; pret. and pp. thigged, ppr. tliii/- 
ijiiifi. [< ME. thiijijen, < AS. thirgnn, tliicgeau, 
take, receive, partake of, = OS. tUgffiau, tliiij- 
gean = OHG. dilckan, tliiehan. thiyyen, MHG. 
dii/en = Icel. thigoja, get, receive, receive hos- 
pitality for a night, = Sw. tigga = Dan. tiyy. 
beg as a mendicant. The E. form and sense 
are due rather to Scand. The reg. form from 
AS. thicgan would be "tliiilye.] I. traiix. To 
beseech; supplicate; implore: especially, to 
ask as alms; beg. Compare thiyycr. 
And now me bus, as a beggar, my bred for to thigye 
At dores vpon dayes, that dayres me full sore. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.\ 1. 13M. 
II. intrans. To make supplication ; specifical- 
ly, to profit by or live on the gifts of others: 
take alms. See the quotation under sorn. 
They were fain to thi;ry and cry for peace and good-will. 
Pittcottie, p. .';. (Jamiemi.) 
fProv. Eng. and Scotch in both uses.] 
thigger (thig'er), n. [Also Sc. thiijgar, Shet- 
laml tiygar; = Sw. tiyynri- = Dan. tigger, abeg- 
gnr; as Ihiy + -rrl.] One who thigs; a beg- 
