*obst*

n. Cobblestone. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To remove obstructions or impediments in; to clear from anything that hinders the passage of fluids; as, to deobstruct the pores or lacteals. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Med.) Removing obstructions; having power to clear or open the natural ducts of the fluids and secretions of the body; aperient. -- n. (Med.) A medicine which removes obstructions; an aperient. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gob mouth + stick. ] 1. (Angling) A stick or device for removing the hook from a fish's gullet.

He . . . wrenched out the hook with the short wooden stick he called a “gobstick.” Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A spoon. [ Prov. Eng. or Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. One who refuses to join, or withdraws from, a trade union. [ Cant, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stick, cane, or club terminating in a knob; esp., such a stick or club used as a weapon or missile; a knobkerrie. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ AS. loppestre, lopystre prob., corrupted fr. L. locusta a marine shellfish, a kind of lobster, a locust. Cf. Locust. ] (Zool.) 1. Any large macrurous crustacean used as food, esp. those of the genus Homarus; as the American lobster (Homarus Americanus), and the European lobster (Homarus vulgaris). The Norwegian lobster (Nephrops Norvegicus) is similar in form. All these have a pair of large unequal claws. The spiny lobsters of more southern waters, belonging to Palinurus, Panulirus, and allied genera, have no large claws. The fresh-water crayfishes are sometimes called lobsters. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. As a term of opprobrium or contempt: A gullible, awkward, bungling, or undesirable person. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Lobster caterpillar (Zool.), the caterpillar of a European bombycid moth (Stauropus fagi); -- so called from its form.
Lobster louse (Zool.), a copepod crustacean (Nicothoë astaci) parasitic on the gills of the European lobster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (American History) A British soldier in the 1700's; -- so-called because of his red coat, esp. during the American Revolutionary War.
Syn. -- redcoat. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. (American History) Of or pertaining to British soldiers during the Revolutionary War in America; -- so called because of their red coats.
Syn. -- red-coated. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a device used to trap lobsters, consisting of a semi-cylindrical structure made of wooden slats, with openings formed of funnel-shaped nets allowing lobsters to enter, but impeding their exit. It is also called a lobster trap. [ PJC ]

n. a dish of lobster meat cooked with a rich creamy wine sauce, stuffed back into the lobster shell, sprinkled with grated cheese, and browned. [ PJC ]

n. same as lobster pot. [ PJC ]

n. 1. Any of several cold-water lobsters with large tender claws, caught from Maine to the Carolinas.
Syn. -- American lobster, Northern lobster. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A lobster (Homarus americanus) found off the Atlantic coast of North America.
Syn. -- American lobster, Northern lobster, Homarus americanus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖ [ L. ] 1. Notwithstanding; in opposition to, or in spite of, what has been stated, or is to be stated or admitted. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A clause in old English statutes and letters patent, importing a license from the crown to do a thing notwithstanding any statute to the contrary. This dispensing power was abolished by the Bill of Rights. [ 1913 Webster ]

In this very reign [ Henry III. ] the practice of dispensing with statutes by a non obstante was introduced. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

Non obstante veredicto [ LL. ] (Law), a judgment sometimes entered by order of the court, for the plaintiff, notwithstanding a verdict for the defendant. Stephen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. obstaculum, fr. obstare to withstand, oppose; ob (see Ob-) + stare to stand. See Stand. and cf. Oust, v. ] That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that hinders progress; a hindrance; an obstruction, physical or moral. [ 1913 Webster ]

If all obstacles were cut away.
And that my path were even to the crown. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Impediment; obstuction; hindrance; difficulty. See Impediment, and Obstruction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obstantia, fr. obstans, p. pr. of obstare. See Obstacle. ] Opposition; impediment; obstruction. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. obstetricius, fr. obstetrix, -icis, a midwife, fr. obstare to stand before: cf. F. obstétrique. See Obstacle. ] 1. Of or pertaining to childbirth, midwifery, or the period around the time of the birth of children; as, the obstetric art. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to obstetrics; as, the obstetric unit of a hospital. [ PJC ]

Obstetrical toad (Zool.), a European toad of the genus Alytes, especially Alytes obstetricans. The eggs are laid in a string which the male winds around his legs, and carries about until the young are hatched. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. obstetricatus, p. p. of obstetricare, fr. obstetrix. ] To perform the office of midwife. [ Obs. ] “Nature does obstetricate.” Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To assist as a midwife. [ Obs. ] E. Waterhouse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of assisting as a midwife; delivery. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One skilled in obstetrics; an accoucheur; especially, a physician who specializes in obstetrics. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Obstetric. ] Serving to assist childbirth; obstetric; hence, facilitating any bringing forth or deliverance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet is all human teaching but maieutical, or obstetricious. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. obstétrique. See Obstetric. ] 1. The science of midwifery. [ archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The branch of medicine that deals with childbirth or the care of women in parturition, or in the trouble incident to childbirth. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. Obstetrics. [ Obs. ] Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Obstinate. ] 1. A fixedness in will, opinion, or resolution that can not be shaken at all, or only with great difficulty; firm and usually unreasonable adherence to an opinion, purpose, or system; unyielding disposition; stubborness; pertinacity; persistency; contumacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

You do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contract. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To shelter their ignorance, or obstinacy, under the obscurity of their terms. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The quality or state of being difficult to remedy, relieve, or subdue; as, the obstinacy of a disease or evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Pertinacity; firmness; resoluteness; inflexibility; persistency; stubbornness; perverseness; contumacy. -- Obstinacy, Pertinacity. Pertinacity denotes great firmness in holding to a thing, aim, etc. Obstinacy is great firmness in holding out against persuasion, attack, etc. The former consists in adherence, the latter in resistance. An opinion is advocated with pertinacity or defended with obstinacy. Pertinacity is often used in a good sense; obstinacy generally in a bad one. “In this reply was included a very gross mistake, and if with pertinacity maintained, a capital error.” Sir T. Browne. “Every degree of obstinacy in youth is one step to rebellion.” South. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. obstinatus, p. p. of obstinare to set about a thing with firmness, to persist in; ob (see Ob-) + a word from the root of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Destine. ] 1. Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; -- usually implying unreasonableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have known great cures done by obstinate resolution of drinking no wine. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

No ass so meek, no ass so obstinate. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of sense and outward things. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not yielding; not easily subdued or removed; as, obstinate fever; obstinate obstructions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Stubborn; inflexible; immovable; firm; pertinacious; persistent; headstrong; opinionated; unyielding; refractory; contumacious. See Stubborn. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Ob"sti*nate*ly, adv. -- Ob"sti*nate*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obstinatio. ] Obstinacy; stubbornness. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obstipatio a close pressure; ob (see Ob-) + stipare to press. ] 1. The act of stopping up, as a passage. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) Extreme constipation. [ Obs. ] Hooper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. obstreperus, from obstrepere to make a noise at; ob (see Ob-) + strepere to make a noise. ] 1. Attended by, or making, a loud and tumultuous noise; clamorous; noisy; vociferous. “The obstreperous city.” Wordsworth. “Obstreperous approbation.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beating the air with their obstreperous beaks. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resistant to control; unruly. [ PJC ]

-- Ob*strep"er*ous*ly, adv. -- Ob*strep"er*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obstringere, obstrictum, to bind to or about. ] The state of being constrained, bound, or obliged; that which constrains or obliges; obligation; bond. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Obstriction. ] To constrain; to put under obligation. [ R. ] Bp. Gardiner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Obstructed; p. pr. & vb. n. Obstructing. ] [ L. obstructus, p. p. of obstruere to build up before or against, to obstruct; ob (see Ob-) + struere to pile up. See Structure. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To block up; to stop up or close, as a way or passage; to place an obstacle in, or fill with obstacles or impediments that prevent or hinder passing; as, to obstruct a street; to obstruct the channels of the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is the obstructed paths of sound shall clear. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be, or come, in the way of; to hinder from passing; to stop; to impede; to retard; as, the bar in the harbor obstructs the passage of ships; clouds obstruct the light of the sun; unwise rules obstruct legislation. “Th' impatience of obstructed love.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To bar; barricade; stop; arrest; check; interrupt; clog; choke; impede; retard; embarrass; oppose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who obstructs or hinders. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obstructio. ] 1. The act of obstructing, or state of being obstructed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which obstructs or impedes; an obstacle; an impediment; a hindrance. [ 1913 Webster ]

A popular assembly free from obstruction. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The condition of having the natural powers obstructed in their usual course; the arrest of the vital functions; death. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To die, and go we know not where,
To lie in cold obstruction, and to rot. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Obstacle; bar; barrier; impediment; clog; check; hindrance. -- Obstruction, Obstacle. The difference between these words is that indicated by their etymology; an obstacle is something standing in the way; an obstruction is something put in the way. Obstacle implies more fixedness and is the stronger word. We remove obstructions; we surmount obstacles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Disparity in age seems a greater obstacle to an intimate friendship than inequality of fortune. Collier. [ 1913 Webster ]

The king expected to meet with all the obstructions and difficulties his enraged enemies could lay in his way. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or the policy of obstructing progress. Lond. Lit. World. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who deliberately hinders progress; one who obstructs business, as in a legislative body. -- a. Of or pertaining to obstructionists; causing obstruction; as, obstructionist tactics. [ Recent ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. obstrictif. ] Tending to obstruct; presenting obstacles; hindering; causing impediment. -- Ob*struct"ive*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. An obstructive person or thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. obstruens, p. pr. of obstruere. See Obstruct. ] Causing obstruction; blocking up; hindering; as, an obstruent medicine. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Anything that obstructs or closes a passage; esp., that which obstructs natural passages in the body; as, a medicine which acts as an obstruent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obstuperfacere to stupefy. ] See Stupefaction. [ Obs. ] Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Stupefactive. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf.L. obstupefacere. See Ob-, and Stupefy. ] See Stupefy. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]