Trimera 
division of <'<>lriitrrn, inclinling thoM 
whom' tarsi li;iv' normally three joints apiece. 
Also culled /'. Hilotriiiii rn. See cut under Imlfi 
liinl. Compare Ti-lnilm rn ami I't iitilnii 'I'll, iiml 
I6G tonally stem (wader taraaf). I'M A section of 
the bymcnoptcrous family <'luil<-i<li<l;i, includ- 
ing I fie forms with Ihree-joinietl tarsi. They 
all belong to tin- subfamily TricliiM/rammiine. 
See cut under TrirluMjramma. /'<</"''>, Ix.'iii. 
tlimeran (trim'o-ran). <i. and n. [< Irini' 
+ -".] I. ". In i'litniH., same :is Iriiiii-nnix, -. 
II. . A trimorous in>cct ; any member of 
the TriiHt-rti, in cither sense. 
triinerite (trim'e-rit ). . [< (Jr. r///<//<;, hav- 
ing three parts (see Iriiiii-rinin), + -(/'-.] A 
rare mineral con.sislingof the silicatesof licryl- 
lillin, manganese, a nd calcium. 1 1 occurs In urls- 
iiintic oryltab nf hexagonal form, Mil (ilinwii optically to 
he twins of UHVC ti iclinic imliviilnuln. It is Interniciiiiih 
hi form between the iminganuiie silicate (tephroitc) and 
the iier\ Ilium silir:ite (pheniu-it c ), :uii! is also related iti 
tin; hitter hi form. 
trimerous (trim'e-ms), a. [< NL. "trinifriut, 
< (Jr. Tyi;//<Y)//r, having three parts, tripartite, 
tlirc.-fold, < Tpeir. (rpi-), three, + ft-pof, a part.] 
1. In hot., of three members; having the parts 
or members three in each cycle. Frequently 
written 'A-merous. 2. In cntom.: (a) Divided 
into three joints ; having three segments, as the 
tarsus of a beetle, thus : -*=*3 J . (6) Having the 
tarsi normally three-jointed, as a beetle ; of or 
pertaining to the Trimera. Also trimeran. 
Trimerous thorax, a thorax distinctly divided Into three 
rings, tia In moat Xeurttptera. Kirby. 
trimester (trl-mes'ter), . [= F. trimestre = 8p. 
It. trime.itiT. < L. Irimrxtris, of three months, < 
tn-x (tri-), three, + meiutis, month: see month. 
Cf . semester. ] A term or period of three months. 
Illl/i. IHrl. 
trimestral (tri-mes'tral). a. [< L. trimrxin.* 
(see trimester) + -al.] Same as trimextrial. 
Diurnal, hebdomadal, monthly or trimatral. 
Sovthey, The Doctor, ccx. 
trimestrial (tri-mes'tri-al), a. [< L. trinifxtrix 
(see trimester) + -al.] Of or pertaining to 
a trimester ; occurring every three months ; 
quarterly. Imp. Diet. 
trimetallic (tri-rne-tal'ik), a. [< Gr. rpeif (rpi-), 
three, + /liraUov, metal: see metallic.] Per- 
taining to or involving the use of three metals, 
as in currency. [Rare.] 
The metal coinage system of the world is not therefore 
mono-metallic, nor bl-metalllc, but tri-metallie. 
Contemporary Ken., LII. 812. 
trimeter (trim'e-ter), a. and n. [= F. trimetre 
= It. trimetro, < L. trimetrus, < Gr. rpl/urpor., 
containing three measures, < rpt'tc, (rpi-), three, 
+ /terpov, measure.] I. a. In pros., consisting 
of three measures, especially of three iambic 
measures. 
II. n. In pros., a verse or period consisting 
of three measures. A trochaic, iambic, or anapestie 
trimeter consists of three dipodies (six feet) ; a trimeter of 
other rhythms is a hexapody, or period of six feet. The 
name is specifically given to the iambic trimeter, 
regularly with penthemimeral or hephtheroimeral cesora. 
This is the usual verse of the dialogue of the ancient Greek 
drama. 
trimethylamine (tri-meth'il-am-in), . [< tn- 
+ methyl + amine.] A substituted ammonia 
in which the three hydrogen atoms are re- 
placed by methyl, N(CH 3 ) 3 . It Is prepared from 
herring-brine, or more commonly from a waste product 
of the beet-sugar manufacture, and is a volatile liquid 
soluble In water, and having a penetrating fish-like odor. 
It has been used In medicine for the treatment of rheu- 
matism. 
trimetric (tri-raet'rik), a. [< Gr. Tpi/ierpof, con- 
taining three measures (see trimeter), + -Jr.] 
1. Same as trimeter. Amer. Jmir. I'lii/nl., X. 
224. 2. In crystal., same as ortkortiombic, 2. 
trimetrical (tri-met'ri-knl), a. [< trimetric + 
-a/.] Same as trimeter. " Imp. Diet. 
trimly (trim'li), <i(h: [< trim + -fy2.] In a 
trim manner; neatly; finely; well. 
To loyne learnyng with cumlie exercises, Conto Balde- 
foar Castigllone, In his booke, Corteglane, doth trimlir 
teache. Aschain, The Scholemaster, p. 86. 
This spruce young guest, so trimly drest. 
liiirliinii, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 227. 
trimmer (trim'er). n. [< trim + -rri.] 1. One 
who or that which trims, in any sense of the 
word, (a) One who arranges or disposes ; one who puts 
or keeps In place: as, a grain-trimmer. 
The coal handling plant . . . may be resolved into three 
parts : The elevators, which discharge the boats, empty- 
ing them of their cargo ; the trimmer*, which take the 
owl from the elevators and deposit it upon the heaps ; 
and finally the reloaders. Sri. Amer., X. ., LXII. 380. 
(6) One who adjusts as to poise or balance. 
407 
8481 
trindle 
Win, knows lull whiit I 
nature, that lli.in.tigh tri 
might liuvc >iehle.l 1. 1 the law of trimOrphjC < tri-llior'flk ), II. 
mnu-r ut balancMT .,- -i Same as ti iwonilmH*. 
It. l> ma*,*.*,, Urtia --me, 1. M -' 
[< 
llnrinn. 
l'.ti-iiiir/ih-OHH 
+ -(*/. J 1. In crystal., the prnjMTty of crys- 
tal li/iny in three fundamentally different forms. 
in tin niil, lilt.,., is un cvmiple of trintoiphlun. In 
on, ,1111 it Is the mineral octaliedritr or anatase ; in an- 
oilier. rntile; in a third. brtaikit. . 
2. In ('.,. \i-te nee it n,|er three distinct forms. 
It is not rare among in 
Then- are. also, cues of dimorphlm and trimarjMm, 
!..th with animals and plants. Thus, Mr. Wallace . . . 
has shown that the females of certain species of butter- 
Hies, In the Malayan archipelago, regularly appear under 
two or eren three conspicuously distinct forms, not con- 
nected by Intermediate varieties. Darwin. 
3. In l't., the occurrence of 
forms of flowers or other parts 
upon the same plant, or upon 
plants of the same spc. 
In trimoi phutis flowers there are 
three seta of stamen* and pistils, 
which may be called respectively 
long-, middle, and short -length. 
and In which the jMillen from the 
long stamens Is capable of fertilizing 
only the long styled forms, the ini'l- 
Ictigth stamens the mid-styled, etc. 
l on i pare dimurjihitm, and see neter- 
ogonout trimurphinn, under hrtrmjn- 
nout. 
trimorphous (tri-mor'fus), a. 
(X (ir. rpifjopQoc., having three 
forms, < rptlr, rpia (see tri-), 
(e) One who Hnlshes with trimming: one who decorates 
ot enilicllishfs: as, acoat-fn'mm*r; a bonnet-frimnwr. (</) 
i in. uli i-iit-. rli]i>, prunes, or pares; specifically, in otil 
use, a barber. 
At the going out of the halls which belong to the ladles' 
lodgings were the perfumers and trimmer*, through whose 
hands the gallants past when they were toviill the ladles. 
fr./uhart, Ir. of Habelais, I. 6.'.. 
(f) A tool used for clipping, pruning, or {wring : us, a nail- 
trimmer; a wlck-/n'/M*;i. r , sp.-ritli :ilt> , :i kniteoi i nttinn- 
toul of various forms for trimming the edge?* of photo 
graphs previous to mounting them on cardboard; also, a 
form of paper-cutter used in bookbinding for trimnuiik' 
the edges of books. 
Wheel print trimmer*, which cut clean edges much bet- 
ter than do knives. The Engineer, LXVIL MB. 
2. One who does not openly incline to either 
side in a contest between parties ; hence, one 
who tries to curry favor with both or with all 
parties; a time-server. The name was originally 
given, In English politics, to a party which followed the 
Marquis of Halifax, during the period from about 1880 to 
I (Kit i, in trimming between the Whigs and the Tories. 
The Innocent word trimmer signifies no more than this : 
That If men are together In a boat, and one part of the com- 
pany should weigh It down on one side, another would 
make It lean down as much to the contrary ; it happens 
there Is a third opinion, of those who conceive It would 
do as well if the boat went even without endangering the 
passengers. 
Hanfuii of Halifax, Character of a Trimmer, Pref. 
He who perseveres In error without flinching gets the 
credit of boldness and consistency, while he who wavers 
3. In arch., a piece of timber inserted in a 
roof, floor, wooden partition, or the like to 
support the ends of any of the joists, rafters, 
etc. See cut under joist. 4. One who chas- 
tises or reprimands; a sharp, severe person; 
a strict disciplinarian ; also, that by which a 
reprimand or chastisement is administered; 
hence, in general, something decisive; a set- 
tler. [Colloq.] 
I will show you his last epistle, and the scroll of my an- 
>wer _ egad, it Is a trimmer '. Scott, Antiquary, xl. 
You've been spelling some time for the rod, 
And your jacket shall know I'm a Trimmer. 
Ilood, Trimmer'* Exercise. 
Bent trimmer, tailors' shears bent at the handle to fa- Trimurti (tri-mOr ti), . 
cllitate the work of cutting cloth on a table, 
trimming (trim'ing), n. [Verbal n. of trim, p.] 
1. The act of one who trims, in any sense. 
Sudden death . . . hath In it great Inconveniences acci- 
dentally to men's estates, to the settlement of families, to 
the culture and trimmim.! of souls. 
Jer. Taylor, Holy Dying, iv. 5. 
All the trimming he has used towards the court and No- 
bles has availed him nothing. 
Je/ertnn, To John Jay (Jefferson's Correspondence, II. 487). 
2. Specifically, a dressing; a sharp scolding; 
a drubbing or thrashing. [Colloq.] 
litre.- distinct 
iiy, trimorphism; having three J,,.' 
distinct forms. 
Some substances are stated to be even trimorphmu, that 
Is, they crystalline in three different systems. 
W. A Hitter, Eleiu. of Them., I. ill 4. 
irimtramt (trim'tram), i. [A varied redupli- 
cation of insignificant syllables; cf. flimflam, 
trhiiHirluiiH.} A trifle; an absurdity; a piece 
of folly or nonsense. Smollett, Sir Lancelot 
Greaves, xiii. 
Our consciences, now quite unclogged from the fear of 
his (the Pope's) Tain terricuUments and rattle-bladders, 
and from the fondness of his trimtraau and gugaws. 
I'attm (Arber's Eng. Garner, III. 70). 
was again himself, rude and fa- 
vas wide distended into a broad 
Young Broiighton . - - 
tuillar ; while his mouth w 
grin at hearing his aunt give the beau such a trimmimj. 
[Skt. trimurti, < tri, 
three, + mfirti, shape.] The name of the later 
Hindu triad or trinity, Brah- 
ma, Vishnu, and Siva, viewed 
as an inseparable unity. The 
sectaries of Brahma, Vishnu, and 
Siva respectively make their god 
the original and supreme deity; 
hut considered in their connection 
Brahma is the creating, Vishnu the 
preserving, and Siva the destroying 
principle of the deity, while Trimurti 
u the philosophical or theological 
unity which combines the three sep- 
arate forms In one self-existent be- 
ing. The Trimurti is represented 
symbolically as one body with three heads, Vishnu at the 
right, Sira at the left, and Brahma in the middle. 
iiirti. from Cole- 
Hindu Mylhol 
"' trimyarian (trhn'-i-a'ri-an), . and ,,. [< Gr. 
3. Anything used for decoration ornnisn; anor- T pf- lf (rpt-), three, + five., a muscle, + -armn.] 
namental fitting of any sort_: usually in the plu- j_ . Having three muscular impressions or 
ral : as, the trimmings of a harness or of a hat. 
His sheepskin gown had a broad border of otter fur. and 
on his head was a blue cloth cap with sable trimming*. 
The Century, XLf. 602. 
4. Hence, any accessory or accompaniment: 
usually in the plural. [Colloq.] 
Whenever I ask a couple of dukes and a marquis or so 
to dine with me, I set them down to a piece of beef, or a 
leg of mutton and trimming*. 
Thackeray, Book of Snobs, xx. 
Champion, by acclamation of the College heavy-weights, 
broad-shouldered, bull-necked, square-jawed, six feet and 
trimming!. O. W. llolmet, Professor, ill. 
trimming-board (trim'ing-bord), n. A flat 
surface of hard wood on which paper is laid to 
be trimmed bv the bookbinders' knife. _/,;<.; ,;\ 
trimming-joist (trim'ing-joist), . In car,,., ta 
one of two joists into which the ends of a tim- 
ber trimmer are framed. See cut under joist. 
trimmingly (trim'ing-li), adv. In the mannerof 
a trimmer; with or by trimming. 
eiboria on the inner surface of the shell, as a 
bivalve mollusk: correlated with monomyarian, 
(Utilitarian, etc. 
II. . A trimyarian bivalve, 
rinal (tri'nal), a. [< LL. triiialiH, < L. trini, 
three each, threefold, triple : see frine.] Three- 
fold; triple. 
There is a tri null klnde 
Of seeming good religion, yet I mule 
Hut one to be embrac'd. which must he drawne 
. 
Krom Panlst, Protestant, or Ilirltane. 
Time*' Whittle (E. E. T. .), p. 10. 
That far-beaming blaze of majesty, 
Wherewith he wont at Heaven's high council-table 
To sit the midst of Trinal Vnity, 
He laid aside. Milton, Nativity, I. 11. 
. , ,. [< ML-- 'trinarius (equiv. 
to Ij.'trrntiriiix: seo trrnii ry ), < L. friiii, three 
each, threefold : see trine.] Consisting of three 
parts, or proceeding by threes; ternary.- Ttin- 
ry proposition. See propnntion. 
Trincomali-wood, >> See MlmalMe. 
trimming-machine (trim'ing-ma-shen'), w. 1. t r i n( ji e ( triu'dl), n. [Early mod. E. also trindel; 
In sheet-metal work; a lathe for forming and < X j K ,,-,,/,/ a V ar. of trendlt; trundle.] 1. 
finishing the edges of sheet-metal pans and Something round or circular; a ball or hoop; a 
other hollow ware. 2. In shoe-man uf., a ma- wnee i (especially of a wheelbarrow), or the felly 
chine for ornamenting and finishing the edges of a wnee f. [Obsolete or prov. Eng. or Scotch.] 
of upper-leathers. E. II. Knijiht. 
trimming-shear (trim'ing-sher), n. A machine 
for cutting the edges of mats of coir and other 
heavy material. E. H. Knight. 
trimness (trim'nes), n. The state or quality 
of being trim; compactness; neatness; snug- 
ness. 
Ae auld wheelbarrow, mair for token. 
Ae leg an' baith the trams are broken ; 
I made a poker o' the splnle. 
An' my auld mither brunt the Irin'le. 
Burnt, The Inventory. 
2t. A taper made of a long string of wax rolled 
or wound into a coil. 
