tierras 
more or less intermixed with rock, which lire 
made up iiilu adobes or bricks before being 
treated in tin furnace: in Mexico, generally, 
any inferior pulverulent ores. ( New Almaden 
quicksilver-mines.] 
tiers-argent (tyfas'lMboA'), . [F., < Kara, 
third, T iiri/i'ii/, silver: see argent.] An alloy 
consisting of silver with two thirds its weight of 
aluminium, brought into some use in France as 
being not less handsome than silver and more 
din-able, at half its price. 
tier-saw (ter'sa), H. A hard, stiff saw used by 
bricklayers for cutting curved faces upon bricks 
in building arches, domes, round brick pillars, 
etc. 
tiers e"tat (tyarz a-ta'). [F. : tiers (< L. tertius), 
third (see t'iirce); etat (< L. status), state, con- 
dition, estate: see xtttti:] See thirtl estate, un- 
der I'Kllllf. 
tier-shot (ter'shot), n. Grape-shot arranged in 
tiers with circular disks between them. 
tie-strap (ti'strap), n. A strap for tying an 
animal, having a buckle on one end to fasten it 
to the ring of a bit, etc. ; a halter. 
tie-tie (ti'tl), n. Kaut., one of the small pieces 
of cord fastened to a hammock, and used some- 
times to secure it in a roll instead of a ham- 
mock-lashing. ^ 
tie-up (ti'up), ti. [< tie up, under , .] A 
strike among street-car or railway men, or 
others, in which the horses are tied up or traffic 
is otherwise suspended. [U. S.] 
In the event of a tie-up, or strike, these street boxes 
would be used as they now are. Sei. Amer., N. 8., LX. 32. 
tie-wig (ti'wig), . A wig having the hair be- 
hind gathered and tied by a ribbon. Compare 
t/iicue and pigtail. 
My uncle Toby, In his laced regimentals and the tie-wig, 
kept his rank with my father. 
Sterne, Tristram Shandy, Iv. 26. 
tiff 't (tif), r. t. [< ME. tiffen, tif en, < OF. tiffer, 
tifer, also attiffer, atifer,V. attifer, dress, adorn ; 
cf. D. tippen, clip the points or ends of the hair 
(cf. F. attifet, ornament of the head) : see ttp\ 
r.] To dress; deck; array. 
Whan sche in that tyr was Kfed as sche schold, 
Meliors In here mcrthe to hire maiden seide. 
William of Palerne (E. E. T. 8.), 1. 172. 
tiff 1 * (tif), . [< tiff 1,9.] Set; attitude. 
Did you mark the beau tif of his wig, what a deal of 
pains he took to toss it back, when the very weight thereof 
was like to draw him from his seat? 
Quoted in Ashtmi'e Social Life in Reign of Queen Anne, 
[I. 144. 
tiff 2 (tif), '. [Prob. in part a reduction of 
tif ft, but ult. < Norw. tera, sniff, smell, = Icel. 
linfa, sniff; cf. Norw. tev, tat, tor, a drawing in 
of the breath, the wind or scent of an animal, 
= Sw. dial, tar = Dan. dial, txv, smell, scent, 
= Icel. tliefr, smell. Hence tiff*, n., tiffing, tif- 
fin. Cf. tif ft.] I. trans. To sip; drink. 
He tif'd his punch, and went to rest. 
W. Combe, Dr. Syntax's Tours, i. 5. 
II. iiitrniiK. To lunch. [Anglo-Indian.] 
tiff- (tif). it. [A reduction of tif ft, n., or from 
the related tiff: see tiff*, v. Cf. tifft, n. Cf. 
also tip 3 .] 1. A draught of liquor; a "drop": 
as, a tiff of brandy. 
What say you to a glass of white wine, or a tifot punch, 
by way of whet? Fietdiny, Amelia, viii. 10. 
Sipping his Kfut brandy punch with great solemnity. 
Scott, Guy Mannering, xi. 
2. Thin or small beer. [Prov. Eng.] 
That too shall quickly follow, if 
It can be rais'd from strong or tif. 
Srame, Answer to his University Krieml. 
tiff 3 (tif). v. i. [Prob. orig. 'sniff' iu. anger, 
and so ult. identical with tiff*, < Norw. teta = 
Icel. thefa, sniff: see / 2 .] To be in a pet; be 
peevish or quarrelsome. 
Poor Mincing tift and tift all the Morning. 
Congreve, Way of the World, ii. 4. 
She tif'd at Tim, she ran from Ralph. 
Landar, New Style. 
tiff ;l (tif), H. [< tiff 3 , r.] A petty quarrel or 
misunderstanding; a slight pet, or fit of pee- 
vishness. 
My lord and I have had another little tiff, shall I call 
it? It came not up to a quarrel. 
llirlinriltiin. Sir Charles (irandison, III. xxiv. 
tiffany (tif'ii-ni), and a. [Early mod.E. also 
tilliin/, tiffeny, tiffi'iiai/; prob.. like the surname 
fiffiiiin(< M'K. ftffang, '/W./w/V. etc.. Ml. 
wi. fi'ffiinitt, Tiiifiinin. etc., it common fern, 
name), a reduction of tlir<i]>lmn>i (MI.,, tlii'o/ilin- 
iiin, Ihinfiiiiiii, etc.), equiv. to r/u'/i/mn.v. with 
ref. to the feast of Epiphany, the church fes- 
0883 
tival also culled Tirrlfth Ili/i/, concluding the 
Christmas holidiiys. The mime as applied to 
n silk would thai mean 'Epiphany silk.' i. c. 
holiday silk; cf. Kttxti-r limim I. i. e. spring bon- 
net : cf. also linnlry, applied orig. to lace sold at 
a fair held on the festival of St. Audrey.] I. 
n.: pi. tiffiiHii:(-mx). If. A kind of thin silk; 
The Knights appeared first, as consecrated persons, all 
In veils like to copes, of silver tifflny, gathered, and fall- 
Ing a large compass about them. 
tleaumont. Mask of Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. 
Let her have velvets, tifanitt, jewels, pearls. 
Fletcher (and another\ Noble Gentleman, I. 1. 
A vestal veil on her head of tiffany, striped with silver. 
I'lnt/HHiiti. Mask of Middle Temple and Lincoln's Inn. 
Doe we not descrie 
Some goddesse in a cloud of lifanie t 
Uerrielt, A Noptlall Song. 
2. A kind of gauze muslin, resembling silk 
gauze. 
How much shall I measure you of this tiffany, Matty ? 
5. ,/udii, Margaret, I. 6. 
3. A portable flour-sieve made of tiffany. Hul- 
/iirr/l. [Prov. Eng.] 
II. a. Made of tiffany, or thin silk: as, a tif- 
funy cloak; hence, transparent. 
Enter four Cupids from each side of the boscage, at- 
tired in flame-coloured taffeta close to their body, like 
naked boys, with bows, arrows, and wings of gold, chap- 
lets of flowers on their heads, hoodwinked with tUiny 
scarfs. Beaumont, Mask of Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. 
The wit that I took up in Paul's In a tiffany cloak with- 
out a hatband ; now I have put him Into a doublet of 
satin. Shirley, Witty Fair One, U. 1. 
Tiffany Natures are so easily Impos'd upon. 
tin. Centliarr, Beau's Duel, II. 3. 
tiffing, tiffin (tif'ing, tif'in), n. [Verbal n. of 
tiger 
and many of the islands. The type Is T. jacanentii (tor- 
m. My l>itui tiya and usually T. Iritlartyla), ranging from 
Java, etc., to Hi. 
Malsy peninsula 
and Bengal ; T. 
thorei and T. fff- 
retti are the other 
species. The first- 
named Is a hand 
some woodpecker, 
in inches long, 
with golden i 
Ish back, black tall, 
crimson oti'ipit il 
Crest, p:ile-lmll> 
sides of the head 
and neck ?tii|>'.l 
with black, ami I Iu 
under part* rayed 
and barred with 
black on a light 
ground. 
tigarea (tig-a- 
re'a), n. [Gui- 
ana.] The red 
creeper, Tetra- 
cera Tigarea. 
tige(tezh),n. [< 
F. tige, a stalk, 
stem, pipe, < L. 
iilmi. a pipe: see tibia.] 1. A stem or stalk; 
also, the shaft of a column, from the base- 
moldings to the capital. 2. In some firearms, 
a pin at the base of the breech, designed to ex- 
pand the base of the ball. 3. In a center-fire 
cartridge, a support for the cap or primer. 
tige-arm ( tezh'arm), . A muzzle-loading small 
arm having a steel tige screwed into the cen- 
ter of the breech-pin, upon which the bullet 
drops and is then forced into the grooves by 
TteaJawiM'Mtn. 
between breakfast anddinner; in India, a cnar- 
acteristic repast of curried dishes, chutney, 
and fruit. [V,o-Indian, usually in the pro- 
vmcial form (*Jfc] 
Let's have It for (i#n; very cool and nice this hot 
westlier - fhackeray. Vanity Fair, Iv. 
} NT 
e-lat), . [< NL 
< 
After a pleasant chat we proceeded to the Hongkong 
hotel for tiffin. Lady Brattey, Voyage of Sunbeam, II. xxi. 
tiffish (tif'ish), a. [< tiff 3 + -teh*.] Inclined 
to peevishness ; petulant. [Colloq.] 
tift' (tift), n. [Perhaps < Norw. tteft, drawing 
the breath, wind or scent of an animal ; cf. ter, 
drawing the breath ; < tera, sniff, breathe: see 
tiff".] 1. A sniff; whiff; breath. 
Four and twanty siller bells 
Wer a' tyed till his mane, 
And yae lift o' the norland wind, 
They tinkled ane by ane. 
Lord Thomat and Fair Annet (Child's Ballads, IL 128). 
2. A draught of liquor: same as tiff%, 1. Halli- 
irell. 
tift 2 (tift), r. /. [Cf. tiff 3 , r., and tifft, n.] Same 
as tiff 3 . 
We Hfted a little going to church, and fairly quarrelled 
before the bells had done ringing. 
Sheridan, School for Scandal, I. i 
tift 2 (tift), . [< tifft, r. Cf. tiff 3 , n.] Same 
as tiff 3 . [Colloq. or prov. Eng.J 
After all your fatigue you seem as ready for a tin with 
me as If you had newly come from church. 
BlacJncoodt Mag. 
tig 1 (tig), < '! pret. and pp. tigged, ppr. tig- 
(jing. [A dial. var. of tick 1 .] To touch lightly 
with the hand, as in the game of tag or tig; 
give a light stroke or tap to. [Scotch and prov. 
Bug.] 
tig 1 (tig), . [A dial. var. of Not 1 .] 1. A light 
touch, such as is given in the game of tag or 
tig ; a tap ; a slight stroke. 
Andrew was compelled to submit, only muttering be- 
tween his teeth, " Ower mony maisters ower mony mais- 
ters as the paddock said to the harrow, when every tooth 
gae her a Kg. " Scott, Rob Boy, xxvii. 
2. Same as tag" 2 . 
On the outskirts of the crowd, some of the town's chil- 
dren . . . profanely playing tigg. 
R. L. Stecenmn, Education of an Engineer. 
[Prov. Eng. or Scotch in both uses.] 
tig* (tig), n. [Origin obscure.] A Hat-bottomed 
drinking-cup, of capacious size and generally 
with four handles, formerly used for passing 
round the table at convivial entertainments. 
1 1 Yov. Eng. or Scotch.] 
Tiga Iti'u'ij). . [NL. (Kauji. ISM)-] A genus 
of Asiatic woodpeckers with only three toes 
on each foot, also called Chryxonotus and t'hlo- 
ruiiifiiiili-x. The inner hind roe, or hallux, Is absent (as 
In Picoides). The genus is wide-ranging on the continent 
H. L< F. tigelle: see tigella.] 
In hot., the voung embryonic axis or primitive 
stem which Wars the cotyledons ; the caulicle ; 
the radicle. By some, however, the name has 
been applied to the plumule. 
tigellus (ti-jel'us), H. ; pi. tigelli (-i). [NL., m., 
equiv. to tigella, t. : see tigella.] In hot., same 
as tigelle. 
tiger (ti'ger), n. [Formerly also tyger, tigre, 
tygre ; < ME. tigre, tygre, < OF. tigre, tygre, F. ti- 
gre = Sp. It. tigre, m., tigra, f., = Pg. tigre, m., = 
1). tijger = G. Dan. Sw. tiger = Bohem. tigr = 
Pol. tygrys = Kuss. tigru, < L. tigris, < Gr. riyptf, 
a tiger; appar. a foreign word, perhaps < OPers. 
(Zend) 'tigliri, a tiger, a supposed particular use 
(in allusion to the swiftness with which the tiger 
leaps upon his prey) of tigliri, 'tigra, Pers. fir, 
an arrow (cf. Skt. tirra, tir. Hind, tir, an arrow), 
< tighra, sharp, < -y 7 stig, Skt. / tij, sharp: see 
xtickl. Cf. L. Tigris,< Gr. fiypif,< OPers. Tigra, 
Pers. Tir, the river Tigris, lit. 'the river Ar- 
row,' so called from its swiftness.] 1 . A feline 
quadruped, Felix tigris or Tigris regalix, one of 
Royal Tiger (Fetii tifrtj). 
