torrid 
Torrid zone, in geoij., that part of the earth's surface 
which lies between the tropics : so named from the char- 
acter of its climate. Taking the annual quantity of heat 
received from the sun per unit surface at the equator 
as 1,000, the relative quantities received by the torrid, 
temperate, and frigid zones are respectively 975, 757, 
and 454. 
torridity (to-rid'i-ti), . [< torrid + -%.] The 
state of being torrid. 
torridness (tor'id-nes), n. The state of be- 
ing torrid ; the state of being very hot or 
parched. 
torrify, v. t. See torrefy. 
torritt, . [ME., for * tarred, < tor 1 + -ed%.] 
Like a hill ; mountainous. 
A tempest hym toke o the torrit ythes [waves], 
That myclie laburt the lede er he lond caght. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. 8.), 1. 13489. 
torrock, . Same as tarrock. 
torrpntes (to-ron'tes), . [Sp. torrontes (?).] A 
variety of white grape grown in Spain. 
Torrubia (to-ro'bi-a), . [NL. (Fries, 1828).] 
A genus of pyrenomycetous 
fungi, the species of which 
are now referred to Cordy- 
ceps. They are parasitic 
on insects. 
torsade (tor-sad'), [< F. 
torsade, a twisted fringe, < 
tors, twisted: see torse.] A 
twisted or spiral molding, 
a twisted cord, or other or- 
nament. 
Some of them hold by the hand little children, who fol- 
low loiteringly, with their heads shaven, and on the crown 
a tuft of hair bound up and lengthened out with torsades 
of red wool. Harper's Mag., LXXVIII. 753. 
torsal 1 (tor' sal), n. See torscl. 
tprsal 2 (tor'sal), a. [< torse 1 + -al.] Pertain- 
ing to a torse Torsal line, in geom., the line along 
which a plane touches a surface so that the remaining 
intersection of the surface with the plane is of an order 
less by only two than the order of the surface. 
torse 1 (t6rs), n. [Formerly also torce; < OF. 
torse, a wreath, twist, wrench, < tors, < L. tor- 
quere, pp. tortus, twist: see torch 1 , fort 1 .] 1. 
In her., a heraldic wreath. See wreath. 
A very early example of the wreath or torse which sup- 
ports the crest, consisting of a twisted cord of silk of two 
colours. 
Trans. Hist, Soc. of Lancashire and Cheshire, N. S., p. 43. 
2. [Cayley, 1871.] In math., a developable. 
It is the envelop of a singly infinite series of straight lines, 
each coplanar and therefore cutting the next. The locus 
of the plane of consecutive lines is the developable, con- 
sidered as a degraded surface; the locus of the point of 
intersection of consecutive lines is a skew curve, called 
the edge of regression. It is a cuspidal line. 
If it [the system] be such that each line intersects the 
consecutive line, then it is a developable or torse. 
Eneyc. Brit., X. 417. 
torse 2 (tors), n. [< F. torse, < It. torso : see 
torso.] A torso. 
Though wanting the head and the other extremities, if 
dug from a ruin the torse becomes inestimable. 
Goldsmith, Polite Learning, iii. 
torsel (tor'sel), n. [Appar. < OF. "torselie, dim. 
of torse, a wreath: see torsel.] i_ A small 
twisted scroll; anything presenting a twisted 
form. 2. A plate or block of wood intro- 
duced in a wall of brickwork for the end of a 
joist or beam to rest on. Also, corruptly, tor- 
sal, tossel, tassal, tassel. 
When you lay any timber on brickwork, as torselg for 
mantle trees to lie on, or lintels over windows, lay them 
in loam. J. Moxon, Mech. Exercises. 
torshent (tdr'shent), n. [Origin obscure.] The 
youngest child and pet of a family. Also ab- 
breviated to-rsh. [Local, TJ. S.] 
torsibility (tor-si-bil'i-ti), re. [< L. tarsus, pp. 
of torquere, twist, -f -Me + -ity (see -bility).] 
Capability of being twisted. 
TorsibiKty of a body is measured in the simplest case 
that of a rod or wire in terms of the angle through which 
a unit of force, applied at the distance of 1 cm. from the 
axis of the rod or wire, can twist it. The resistance to tor- 
sion is the reciprocal of this angle. 
A. Daniell, Prin. of Physics, p. 234. 
torsion (t6r'shon), n. [Formerly also tortion; 
< F. torsion = Pr. torsio = Sp. torsion = Pg. tor- 
s/Ho = It. torzione, < LL. tortio(n-), torsio(n-), a 
twisting, wringing, griping, torture, torment, < 
L. torquere, pp. fortes, twist, wring: see tor*l.] 
1. The act or effect of twisting; a forcible 
strain of a solid body by which parallel planes 
are turned relatively to one another round an 
axis perpendicular to them. The word is also used, 
with less propriety, in pure geometry, to signify a similar 
distortion without any reference to resistance. 
The force of torsion is proportional to the angle of tor- 
gi n. S. P. Thompson, Elect, and Mag., p. 16. 
6394 
2. A wringing or wrenching, as of pain ; a 
griping; tormina. [Obsolete or archaic.] 
We find that [in effect] all purgers have in them a raw 
spirit, or wind ; which is the prinuipall cause of tortion 
in the stomach. Bacon, Nat. Hist., 39. 
Easeth the torsion of the small guts. 
B. Jonson, Volpone, ii. 1. 
3. In surg., the twisting of the cut end of a 
small artery in a wound or after an operation , for 
the purpose of checking hemorrhage. The bleed- 
ing vessel is seized with a forceps, drawn out for about 
one fourth of an inch, and twisted round several times till 
it cannot untwist itself. Angle of torsion, in geom., the 
inclination to one another of two consecutive osculating 
planes to a non-plane curve. Coefficient of torsion. See 
coefficient. Radius of torsion. See radius. Torsion 
balance, an instrument for measuring horizontal forces, 
consisting of an arm hung at its center of gravity from a 
wire, fiber of silk, or something of the kind. The hori- 
zontal force is so arranged that it shall tend to make the 
arm revolve and thus twist the wire, and is balanced by 
the elasticity of the wire and the force of gravity. Coulomb, 
the inventor of the balance (1736-1806), showed that the 
angle of torsion, or angle through which the arm is dis- 
placed from the position of equilibrium, is proportional 
to the force, or, in accurate mathematical language, to 
the twisting moment of the force. Torsion electrom- 
eter, an electrometer containing a torsion balance as a 
part of it. So torsion galvanometer, etc. Torsion for- 
ceps, a forceps for twisting the end of a divided artery to 
stop its bleeding. Torsion of the humerus, a seeming 
twist of the shaft of the human humerus, which appears to 
have carried the line of the transverse axis of the condyles 
to an angle with the line of the transverse axis of the head 
of the bone. It is a deceptive appearance, due to the 
spiral course of the musculospiral nerve and superior pro- 
funda artery impressing a spiral groove upon the back of 
the bone. The idea was conceived to account for the rela- 
tive position of the axes of the head and condyles. 
torsional (tor'shon-al), a. [< torsion + -al.~] 
Pertaining to or consisting in torsion ; of the 
nature of torsion ; characterized by torsion. 
Certain breakages of this class may ... be accounted 
for by the action of a torsional ruptive force on rounding 
curves. The Engineer, LXIX. 492. 
torsionally (tor'shon-al-i), adv. With, by, or 
through torsion ; with respect to torsion. Na- 
ture, XLI. 198. 
torsionless (t6r'shon-les), a. [< torsion + -less.] 
Free from torsion ; not subject to torsion. 
tortile 
His own sins are guilty of this tort offered to the Son of 
God. Bp. Hall, Sermons, xxxviii. 
2. In law, a wrong such as the law requires 
compensation for in damages ; an infringement 
or privation of the private or civil rights of a 
person considered as a private person or an 
owner. The same act considered in its rela- 
tion to the state may be a crime. 
To constitute a tort, two things must concur actual 
or legal damage to the plaintiff, and a wrongful act com- 
mitted by the defendant. Addison. 
Tort, as a word of art in the law of England and the 
United States, is the name of civil wrongs (not being 
merely breaches of contract) for which there is a remedy 
by action in courts of common law jurisdiction. It may 
be said to correspond approximately to the term "delict" 
in Roman law and the systems derived from it. 
Enajc. Brit., XXIII. 454. 
Action of tort, an action the cause or foundation of 
which is a wrong, as distinguished from an action on con- 
tract. Executor de son tort. Seeexecutor. In tort, 
by reason of tort ; with reference to tort : as, suing in tort. 
Maritime tort. See maritime. To count in tort. 
See counti. 
tort 2 t, n. [< OF. forte, < ML. forte, a cake, 
tart: see tart 2 .] A cake. Compare fort 2 and 
torta. 
Tort of fyssh. 
MS. Cott. Julius D. viii. f. 94. (Halliwell.) 
The tortes or cakes which they make of the grayne of 
Maizium wherof they make theyr breade. 
R. Eden, tr. of Gonzalus Oviedus (First Books on America, 
[ed. Arber, p. 225). 
tprt 3 t (tort), n. [< L. tortus, a twisting, whirl- 
ing, a wreath, < torquere, pp. tortus, twist: see 
tort 1 . Hence ult. tortuous, etc.] A twisting, 
wrenching, or racking ; a griping. [Rare.] 
The second sight are Wines, the best on earth ; . . . 
They 're Phisicall, and good t' expell all sorts 
Of burning.Feauers in their violent torts. 
W. Lithgow, Travels, v. 
tort 4 t, [< ME. torte, also tortaye, < OF. torte, 
< L. tortus, twisted : see fort 1 . Cf. torc/i 1 .] A 
candle ; a light. 
That torches and tortes and preketes con make. 
Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 827. 
Paris candles, torches, morters, tortayes, sizes, and smalle 
lightes are mentioned [in "Office of Chaundlerye," pp. 82, 
83]. Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 326, note. 
The magnetometer M consists of a small circular mirror 
. . . with two short magnetic needles . . . attached to 
the back of it and suspended by a single approximately tort u t, a. [A dial. var. of tort 1 .] Tart; sharp. 
torsionless silk fibre. PMlos. Mag., 5th sen, XXVII. 274. 
torsive (tpr'siv), a. [< L. torsits, pp. of tor- 
quere, twist (see torsion), + -ire.] In bot., 
twisted spirally. 
torsk (torsk), n. [Also, reduced, tusk; < Sw. 
Dan. torsk = Norw. torsk, task = Icel. thorskr, 
thoskr = LG. dorsch, > G. dorsch, a codfish, torsk, 
= LG. dorsch, > G. dorsch, haddock (cf. dorsch).] 
A gadoid fish, Brosmim brosme, belonging to the 
subfamily Brosmiinse of the cod family, it is 
found in great numbers about the Orkney and Shetland 
islands, where it constitutes an important article of trade. 
When salted and dried it is one of the most savory of stock- 
Torsk (Brosmiits brosmc), one ninth natural size. 
fish. It varies from 18 to 30 inches in length, has a small 
head, a long tapering body, with long unbroken dorsal and 
anal fin, a rounded caudal fin, and a single barbule under 
the chin. The color is dingy-yellow above and white be- 
low. Also called cusk and tusk. 
torso (tor'so), n. [Sometimes torse (< F.); = 
F. torse, a torso, < It. torso, a stalk, stump, 
hence bust, torso, = OF. tros = Pr. *cos = Sp. 
trozo, stem, stump, prob. < OHG. torso, torso, 
stalk, stem, MHG. torse, dorsche, cabbage- 
stalk; cf. Gr. ffvpaoc, rod, staff: see thyrsus.] In 
sculp., the trunk of a statue, without, or con- 
sidered independently of, the head and limbs. 
Torso Belvedere, a torso of a fine Greek statue of a 
seated Hercules, attributed to the school of Lysippus, and 
by some believed to be a copy of a work by that master. 
It is preserved in the Vatican Museum. See cut under 
abdominal. 
tort 1 (tort), n. [= G. Dan. tor*, < F. tor* = Pr. 
tor* = Sp. tuerto = It. torto, < ML. tortum, a 
wrong, neut. of L. tortus, wrung, twisted, pp. 
of torquere, turn, turn around, twist, wring. 
wrench, distort, rack, torment, torture. From 
the same L. verb are ult. E. for* 2 = for* 2 , tor* 3 , 
tor**, torque, torsion, torture, torment, etc. For 
the relation of tort, wrong, to torquere, twist, cf. 
E. wrong as related to wringj cf. also the Sc. 
thrawn.] If. Wrong; injustice; harm. 
The Lyon there did with the Lambe consort, 
And eke the Dove sate by the Faulcons side ; 
Ne each of other feared fraud or tort. 
Spenser, F. Q., IV. viii. 31. 
Tne North Wjl j s horse9 and other 8tranger horgeB> wh(jn 
they come to drinke of the water of Chalke river, they 
will sniff and snort, it is so cold and tort. 
MS. Aubrey's Wilts, p. 53. (Halliwell.) 
tort" (tort), a. An erroneous form of taut, sim- 
ulating tor* 1 . 
To-morrow, and the sun shall brace anew 
The slacken'd cord, that now sounds loose and damp ; 
To-morrow, and its livelier tone will sing 
In tort vibration to the arrow's flight. 
SouUtey, Thalaba, viii. 12. 
Yet holds he them with tortest rein. 
Emerson, The Initial Love. 
tort 6 t, prep. A Middle English form of toward. 
torta (t6r'ta), n. [Sp., lit. a cake : see for* 2 , 
tori 2 .] The flat circular heap of ore spread 
out on the floor of the patio in a cake about 
50 feet in diameter and a few inches in thick- 
ness, ready for amalgamation in the so-called 
patio process (which see, under process). 
torteau (tor'to), re. ; pi. tarteaux (-toz). [Heral- 
dic F., < OF. torteau, tortel, a round cake, a 
roundel, dim. of torte, a round cake: see fort 2 .] 
In her., a roundel gules. 
torteyt (tor'ti), n. [< OF. torteau: see torteau.] 
In her., same as torteau. 
tort-feasor (t6rt'fe"zor), . In law, a wrong- 
doer; a trespasser; one who commits or has 
committed a tort. 
torticollar (tor-ti-kol'ar), a. [< L. tortus, twist- 
ed, + collum,neeb. : see collar.] Having a twist- 
ed neck; wry-necked ; affected with torticollis. 
Coues. 
torticollis (tor-ti-kol'is), n. [NL., < L. tortus, 
twisted, + collum, neck.] In med., an affection 
in which the head is inclined toward one or the 
other shoulder while the neck is twisted so as to 
turn the chin in the opposite direction; stiff- 
neck ; wry-neck. It may be temporary when result- 
ing from muscular rheumatism, intermittent when due to 
spasm of the muscles of the neck, or permanent when 
caused by contraction of the sternoclidomastoid muscle 
of one side. 
Sitting on the parapet, and twisting my neck round to 
see the object of my admiration, I generally left it with a 
torticollis. Jefferson, To Mme. De Tesse (Works, II. 102). 
tortil (tor'til), n. [Cf. tortille.] A heraldic 
wreath: an inexact use. Also called bourre- 
let. 
tortile (tor'til), a. [< L. tortilis, twisted, 
twined or twining, < torquere, twist: see fort 1 .] 
1. Twisted; curved; bent. 
