*hir*

a. [ OE. ofthurst, AS. ofpyrsted, p. p. of ofpyrstan; pref. of-, intensive + pyrstan to thirst. See Thirst. ] 1. Wanting drink; thirsty. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having a keen appetite or desire; eager; longing. “Athirst for battle.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Agric.) One of a superior breed of cattle from Ayrshire, Scotland. Ayrshires are notable for the quantity and quality of their milk. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Native name. ] (Zool.) A remarkable ganoid fish (Polypterus bichir) found in the Nile and other African rivers. See Brachioganoidei. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Eager to shed blood; cruel; sanguinary; murderous; having a bloodlust. -- Blood"thirst`i*ness (&unr_;), n. [1913 Webster]

‖n. A fermented liquor made in Cayenne from the grated root of the manioc, and resembling perry. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An old spelling of Camphor. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; hand + &unr_; seizure. ] (Med.) Gout in the hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the gout in the hand, or subject to that disease. Sir. T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Hind. chirāītā. ] A plant (Agathotes Chirayta) found in Northern India, having medicinal properties to the gentian, and esteemed as a tonic and febrifuge. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. Chirp, also Creak. ] 1. To shriek; to gnash; to utter harsh or shrill cries. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All full of chirkyng was that sorry place. Cheucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To chirp like a bird. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cheer; to enliven; as, to chirk one up. [ Colloq. New Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Chirk, v. i. ] Lively; cheerful; in good spirits. [ Colloq. New Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. cirm, cyrm. ] Noise; din; esp.; confused noise, clamor, or hum of many voices, notes of birds, or the like. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. [ Cf. AS. cyrman, cirman, to cry out. √24. Cf. Chirp. ] To chirp or to make a mournful cry, as a bird. [ Obs. ] Huloet. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ See Chirm. ] Clamor, or confused noise; buzzing. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The churme of a thousand taunts and reproaches. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chei`r hand + &unr_; understanding. ] The art of judging character by the shape and appearance of the hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; written with the hand; chei`r hand + gra`fein to write. ] (Old. Law) (a) A writing which, requiring a counterpart, was engrossed twice on the same piece of parchment, with a space between, in which was written the word chirographum, through which the parchment was cut, and one part given to each party. It answered to what is now called a charter party. (b) The last part of a fine of land, commonly called the foot of the fine. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who practice the art or business of writing or engrossing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. See chirographist, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chirographer of fines (Old Eng. Law), an officer in the court of common pleas, who engrossed fines. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ a. Of or pertaining to chirography. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A chirographer; a writer or engrosser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who tells fortunes by examining the hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The art of writing or engrossing; handwriting; as, skilled in chirography. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The art of telling fortunes by examining the hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chei`r hand + &unr_; trainer of athletes, gymnast. ] A mechanical contrivance for exercising the fingers of a pianist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to chirology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who communicates thoughts by signs made with the hands and fingers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chei`r hand + -logy. ] The art or practice of using the manual alphabet or of communicating thoughts by sings made by the hands and fingers; a substitute for spoken or written language in intercourse with the deaf and dumb. See Dactylalogy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who practices chiromancy. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chei`r hand + -mancy. ] The art or practice of foretelling events, or of telling the fortunes or the disposition of persons by inspecting the hand; palmistry. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ a. Of or pertaining to chiromancy. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ n. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] A chiromancer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to chironomy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; chei`r hand + &unr_; to manage. ] The art of moving the hands in oratory or in pantomime; gesture [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; formed by hand; chei`r hand + &unr_; to shape. ] (Mus.) An instrument to guid the hands and fingers of pupils in playing on the piano, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. chei`r hand + &unr_;; &unr_;, foot. ] One who treats diseases of the hands and feet; especially, one who removes corns and bunions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art of treating diseases of the hands and feet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a method of medical treatment that manipulates body structures, especially the spine, in the belief that it restores proper nerve functioning. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a therapist who practics chiropractic. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ See chiroptera. ] any mammal belonging to the order chiroptera; a bat.
Syn. -- chiropteran; bat. [ PJC ]

n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. chei`r hand + ptero`n wing. ] (Zool.) an ancient order of mammalia dating to the early Eocene, including the bats. They are nocturnal mouselike mammals having four toes of each of the anterior limbs elongated and connected by a web, so that they form membranous wings that can be used in flying. They also have anatomical adaptations, including large ears, for echolocation, by which they navigate and in some cases find insects. The order includes the suborders Megachiroptera (the fruit bats) and Microchiroptera (insectivorous bats). See Bat. Previously spelled cheiroptera. [ archaic ] [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. same as chiropter.
Syn. -- chiropter; bat. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate.
Syn. -- bat. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. chei`r hand + &unr_; skillful, wise. See Sophist. ] A fortune teller. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Chirped p. pr. & vb. n. Chirping. ] [ Of imitative orgin. Cf. Chirk, Chipper, Cheep, Chirm, Chirrup. ] To make a shop, sharp, cheerful, as of small birds or crickets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A short, sharp note, as of a bird or insect. “The chirp of flitting bird.” Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who chirps, or is cheerful. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cheering; enlivening. [ 1913 Webster ]

He takes his chirping pint, he cracks his jokes. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a chirping manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. G. girren, AS. corian to murmur, complain. √24. ] To coo, as a pigeon. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To chirp. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The criket chirrups on the hearth. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]