thunderbolt 
Be yourself, (treat Mr, 
The Ihundfrbntl at war. 
MMXl'liyr, Mashflll l.mt-r 
Who i'im omit thf ciriu-rhi, wlio drrlarr 
The Sdpi"*' worth, thiisr thiinili-rlnilttnt war? 
/;'"', K'l'-id, ' 
5. A dreadful tin-cat, denunciation. censure. or 
the like, proceediiif,' from some high uiitliorily ; 
11. fiiliiiiniition. 
Me severely threatens such with the thunderbolt of ei- 
coniiniinlcutinM. Hakeii'iU. 
A greater wreck, a ileepcr fall, 
A shock to one a thunderbolt to all. 
Byron, .Mnzcppa, I. 
6. jit. The white campion (l.ijrhinx 
nn), (lie corn-poppy (I'apaver Khans), or the 
bladder-campion i Sill-in- < uciibafow) the last 
so named from the slight report made by ex- 
Jlodin^ tlu' inflated calyx. Britten and Hollii ml. 
Prov. Eng.] 
underboltt (thun'd*r-b61t), r. (. [< thundcr- 
Inill, n.] To strike with or as with lightning. 
Thin was done so In an instant that the very act did 
overrun Phlloclea's sorrow, sorrow not being able so 
quickly to thunderbolt her heart through her senses. 
Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, HI. 
thunderbolt-beetle (thun'der-bolt-be'tl), . A 
longicorn beetle, Arhojxtlun fitlminanx, which 
burrows in the sap-wood of the oak and chest- 
nut: so called from the zigzag gray lines, liken- 
ed to thunderbolts, which cross the dark elytra. 
thunder -bouncet (thun'der-bouns), n. A sud- 
den noise like thunder. [Bare.] 
When Mustering Boreas tosseth up the deep, 
And thumps a thunder-bounce. 
Ford, Lover's Melancholy, 1. 1. 
thunderburst (thun'der-berst), w. A burst of 
thunder. Ini/>. Diet. 
thunder-carriage (thun'dfer-kar'aj), n. A 
name given to the conventional representation 
in early Scandinavian art of a car or chariot 
in which the god Thor is supposed to ride from 
place to place. IVorsaac, Danish Art, p. 168. 
thunderclap (thun'der-klap), n. [< ME. thun- 
der-clap; < thunder 4- clap*-.] A clap or burst 
of thunder; a sudden report of a discharge of 
atmospheric electricity ; a thunder-peal. 
Noble arms, 
You ribs for mighty minds, you iron houses, 
Made to defy the thunder-daps of fortune, 
Rust and consuming time must now dwell with ye! 
Fletcher, Loyal Subject, I. 8. 
thunder-cloud (thun'der-kloud), . A cloud 
that produces lightning and thunder. Such clouds 
are of the cumulus or strato-cumulus type, generally ap- 
pearing in dense, dark, towering masses, with a euro-stra- 
tus overflow. In hilly regions thunder-clouds hnve been 
observed entirely within a limit of 1,600 feet above the 
earth, but in general the base of the cloud is from 8,000 
to 4,000 feet high, and its vertical thickness from 2,000 to 
12,000 feet. 
These Tornadoes commonly come against the Wind that 
is then blowing, as our Thunder-cloud* are often observed 
to do in England. Dampier, Voyages, I. 79. 
thunder-crack (thun'der-krak), H. A clap of 
thunder. 
Nor Is he mov'd with all the thmtder-crada 
(H tyrants' threats. 
Daniel, To the Countess of Cumberland, st. .. 
thunder-dartt (thun'der-diirt), H. A thunder- 
bolt. Spenser, Visions of Bellay, 1. 53. 
thunder-darter (thunMer-dar'ter), n. He who 
darts the thunder; Jove. 
O thou great thrtndrr-dartrr of Olympus, forget that 
I linn art Jove, the king of gods. Shat.,T. and O..H. 3. 11. 
thunder-dintt (thun'der-dint), . [MK., also 
thimilertleiit ; < thunder + dint.'] A thunder- 
clap. 
How Cappanens the proude 
With thunder-dynt was slayn. that criedc loncle. 
Chaucer, Troiliw, v. IMS. 
thunder-dirt (thun'der-dert), H. The gelati- 
nous volva of IleiMlictynn, especially /. cilniriui, 
a gasteromycetous fungus, which is or was for- 
merly eaten by the aborigines of New Zealand. 
Sec' iliiiilii-ll/till. 
thunder-drop (thun'der-drop), H. One of the 
large, heavy, thinly scattered drops of rain 
which prelude a thunder-shower. 
Her slow full words sank thro' the silence drear, 
As thunitcr-<1roptt fall on a sleeping sea. 
Tennytan, Fair Women. 
thunderer (thun'der-er), u. [< thunder + -/ 1-1. ] 
One who thunders; specifically, with the defi- 
nite article, Jupiter (called .lupilo- Tununx). 
The faults of kings are by the Thunderer, 
As oft as they onYncl, to be revi'iiu d. 
Beau, and ft., Thierry and Theodore!, I. i 
When now the thund'rer on the sea-beat coast 
Had Hx'd great Hector and his i-<>iiqu'riii;r host. 
/',.,., Iliad, xili. I. 
397 
321 
thunder-fish (tliun'dcr-tish). H. 1. The' elec- 
tric catlKh of the Nile, .\liiliijili-riiru.i rli ftricun, 
which is capable' of giving shocks like the elec- 
ti-i 1 mid electric ray. Also known by its Ara- 
bian in - riiiim-li. Sec nit iiniler Miiliijilirurux. 
2. A European eyprinoid, MimjurnimfailUU 
apparently so called as forced out of the mud, 
in which it habitually burrows, by a thunder- 
shower. Bee mingurn. 
thunder-fit (thun der-fit), n. A shock or noise 
resembling thunder. [Kare.] 
The Ice did split with a thunder-ft ; 
The helmsman steer'd IIH through ! 
Coleridge, Ancient Mariner, I. 
thunder-flower (thun'der-flou'er), n. A name 
of the stitchwort (Slillnrin Hiilo/stea), of the 
corn-poppy (Papaver Bhaax), and of the white 
campion ("Lychnix vespertina). Britten and Bol- 
linuL [Prov. Eng.] 
thunder-fly (thun'der-fli), n. A thrips; any 
member of the Thripida. See cut under Thripn. 
The tiny thunder-JKcs which we often flnd during the 
summer in countless multitude*. 
Adam*, Man. Nat. Hist, p. 213. 
thunder-gust (thun'der-gust), n. A thunder- 
storm. [Rare.] 
Until the thunderguxt o'erpcaas. 
Lowell, On Planting a Tree at Inverara. 
thunder-hammer (thun'der-ham'er), n. See 
tliuiiderholt, 3 (0). 
thunder-head (thuu'der-hed), n. One of the 
round compact swelling cumulus clouds which 
frequently develop into thunder-clouds. The 
thunder-head Is seen at first, perhaps, on the horizon, of a 
brilliant whiteness ; then, slowly rising, and darkening un- 
til only a silver edge is left of Its brightness, It becomes a 
towering mass of black thunder-cloud. (Originally New 
Eng.] 
On either hand a sullen rear of woes. 
Whose garnered lightnings none could guess, 
riling its thunder -heads, and muttering " Cease ! " 
Loaell, Under the Old Elm, vIL 2. 
thunder-headed (thun'der-hed' l 'ed), a. Per- 
taining to a thunder-head; like a thunder- 
head: as, thunder-headed clouds. 
thunder-house (thun'der-hons), . A small 
model of a house with electric conductors so 
arranged as to show, when a discharge is passed 
through them, how a building may be injured 
by lightning. 
thundering (thun'der-ing), n. [Verbal n. of 
th under, .] The report of a discharge of light- 
ning; thunder. 
Intreat the Lord . . . that there be no more mighty 
thundering* and hail. Ex. ix. 28. 
thundering (thun'der-ing), p. a. 1. Producing 
or characterized by a loud rumbling or rattling 
noise, as that of thunder or artillery ; loud. 2. 
Unusual ; extraordinary ; great ; tremendous : 
used as an intensive. [Colloq.] 
He goes a thundering pace, that yon would not think it 
possible to overtake him. Rev. T. Adam*, Works, II. 420. 
I was drawing a thunderiiv; flsh out of the water, so 
very large that it made my rod crack again. 
Tom Broicn, Works, I. 219. 
Halnt they cut a thunderin' swartb ? 
Lowfll, Biglow Papers, 1st ser., 1. 
The Thundering Legion. See legion. 
thunderingly (thun'der-ing-li), adr. 1. In a 
thundering manner; with loud noise. 2. Un- 
usually; extraordinarily; tremendously: as, a 
thunderingly big egg. [Colloq.] 
thunderless (thun'der-les), a. [< thunder + 
-less.'} Unattended by thunder or loud noise. 
Thunderletf lightnings striking under sea. 
Tennymn, To the Queen. 
When on nights 
Of summer-time the harmless blaze 
Of thunderless heat-lightning plays. 
W'hittirr, Lines on a Fly- Leaf. 
thunderlightt, . [ME. thonderlyht ; < thunder 
+ Hghfl.] Lightning. 
The wey of thonderlyht that is wont to sniyten heye 
towres. Chaucer, Boethius, i. meter 4. 
thunderous (thun'der-us), a. [Formerly also 
tliiaidrous; < thunder + ..] 1. Thunder- 
producing; betokening thunder; awful. 
At Heaven's door 
Look in, and see each blissful Deity, 
How he before the thunderous throne doth He. 
.tfi7fi.il, Vac. Ex., 1. :i. 
2. Thundering; loud and deep-sounding; mak- 
ing a noise like thunder. 
The solid roar 
of thunderous waterfalls and torrents hoarse. 
Keatt. Hyperion, ii. 
thunderously (tlmn'der-us-li). tulr. In a thun- 
derous manner; with thunder or a noise like 
thunder. 
v>\\ and thru c-h;iriuts rolled by thunderously. 
L. Wallace. Ben-Hur, p. 212. 
thunderstrike 
thunder-peal i tlnui'der-pel), M. A peal or clap 
of thunder. 
All the past of Time reveals 
A bridal dawn nf Hitiader-ptalt, 
M In i. ver Thought bath wedded Kact. 
Tennyton, Love Thou Thy Land. 
thunder-pick (tliun'der-pik), H. A belemnite. 
[I'rov. Eiig.] 
thunder-plant (thuu'der-plant), . The house- 
leek, fii-iii/ii rririini li'i'liiriiin. 
thunder-plump (thun'der-plump), . A short 
violent downpour of rain in connection with a 
thunder-storm. [Kare.] 
The rains are extremely frequent, ami, instead of falling 
in what Buern like thunder-ptumpf, they are prolonged, and 
fall continuously as drizzling rain. 
J. C. Brown, Rebolsement In France, p. 35. 
thunder-pump (thun'der-pump), H. [< thunder 
+ pump for hitm/i l . Cf. tliuiiili r-iui>n/ r and 
liiiHili-tliiiiider.] Same as pump-thunder. 
thunder-pumper (thun'der-pum'p<>r), M. [See 
tli nmtrr-pump. \ 1 . The American bittern : same 
as puinp-tliHinli-r. 2. The croaker or sheeps- 
heiid. HapltMlinotus grunnienx. [Local, U. 8., 
in both senses.] 
thunder-rodt (thun'der-rod),n. Same as light- 
ning-rod. 
thunder-shoott (thun'der-shftt). r. (. To strike 
or destroy by a thunderbolt or lightning. 
II Is (the at heist's | death commonly is most miserable. 
Either burnt, as Dlagoras: or eaten up with lice, as I'he 
reeyiles ; or devoured by dogs, as Luclan ; ur thuiuirr-ihnt 
and turned to ashes, u Olymplus. 
Puller, Holy and Profane State, V. vl. . 
thunder-shower (thun'der-shou'er), H. A 
shower accompanied by thunder and lightning. 
thundersmith (thun'der-smith), . A forger 
of thunder or of thunderbolts; figuratively, a 
coiner of loud, pretentious words. [Bare.] 
That terrible thunilerntnth of terms. 
O. Haney, Four Letters. 
thunder-snake (thun'der-snak), M. 1. See 
snake. 2. The little worm-snake, Carphiophig 
(formerly Celuta) amcena, common in the 
United States : apparently so called because 
forced out of its hole by a heavy shower, 
thunder-stone (thun'der-ston), i. 1. Same as 
thunderbolt, 1, 2. 
Out. Fear no more the lightning-Hash. 
An. Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone. 
Shak., Cymbeline, Iv. 2. 271. 
Envy, let pines ot Ida rest alone, 
For they will grow spite of thy thunder-stone. 
Marston, Satires, Iv. 164. 
2. Same as thunderbolt, 3 (a) and (c). 
Each tube (of Stone] had a small cavity In it's Center, 
from which it's parts were projected in form of rays to the 
circumference, after the manner of the Stones vulgarly 
call'd Thunder-stones. 
Maundrcll, Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 52. 
[Obsolete or provincial in both senses.] 
thunder-storm (thun'der-st6rm), it. A storm 
accompanied by lightning and thunder, occur- 
ring when the atmosphere is in a state of un- 
stable equilibrium, and has a high relative hu- 
midity. Thunder-storms have been conveniently classi- 
fied Into heat thunder-storms and cyclonic thunder-ttormt. 
The former is the type preeminently characteristic of the 
equatorial regions, where lightning and thunder occur on 
their grandest and most violent scale. Here the thunder- 
storm has little or no progressive motion, and its entire his- 
tory may be followed in the overturning process by which 
an abnormally hot, humid, unstable condition of the atmo- 
sphere becomes stable. In summer similar heat thunder- 
storms arise locally In temperate latitudes, especially in 
hilly or mountainous countries. Thunder-storms of the 
second class are associated with areas of low pressure, and 
are found most frequently on their southern border, in the 
quadrant where au unstable atmospheric condition tends 
to prevail. These thunder-storms have a progressive mo- 
tion eastward, but their velocity may be quite different 
from that of the general cyclonic movement with which 
they are associated. The different isoharic types known as 
secondaries and V-shaped depression* give rise to thunder- 
storms having distinct features, and those accompany. 
Ing the latter have been specifically designated line tfiun 
der-storms. In general, the diurnal and annual periods 
and other characteristics of cyclonic thunder-storms ex- 
hibit a wide diversity in different regions, and thereby Il- 
lustrate the intimate dependence of these storms on the 
differing cyclonic conditions which characterize differ- 
ent climates. Thus, In Iceland thunder-storms occur only 
In winter, so that the usual annual periodicity it there re- 
versed. 
thunderstrike (thun'der-strik),r. /.: pret. thun- 
ili'i-striirl:, pp. thunderstruck or thiinilrrztrick- 
en. ppr. tlitindergfrikinff. [< thunder + strike: 
a back-formation from thunderstruck.] 1. To 
strike, blast, or injure bv or as by lightning; 
strike with or as with a thunderbolt. [Rare.] 
The armaments which thundentrOce the walls 
Ot rock-built cities, bidding nations quake. 
Byron, child, Harold, iv. 181. 
2. To astonish or strike dumb, as with some- 
thing terrible: usually in the past participle. 
