-astra-

adv. [ Pref. a- + straddle. ] In a straddling position; astride; bestriding; as, to sit astraddle a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; starry. ] (Zool.) Pertaining to the genus Astræa or the family Astræidæ. -- n. A coral of the family Astræidæ; a star coral. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. astragalus, Gr. &unr_; the ankle bone, a molding in the capital of the Ionic column. ] 1. (Arch.) A convex molding of rounded surface, generally from half to three quarters of a circle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gun.) A round molding encircling a cannon near the mouth. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the astragalus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Astragalus + -oid. ] (Anat.) Resembling the astragalus in form. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; ankle bone, die + -mancy. ] Divination by means of small bones or dice. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. See Astragal. ] 1. (Anat.) The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the tarsus which articulates with the tibia at the ankle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe Galegeæ, containing numerous species, two of which are called, in English, milk vetch and licorice vetch. Gum tragacanth is obtained from different oriental species, particularly the Astragalus gummifer and Astragalus verus. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) See Astragal, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Astrakhan in Russia or its products; made of an Astrakhan skin. -- n. The skin of stillborn or young lambs of that region, the curled wool of which resembles fur. [ 1913 Webster ]