From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Set-off \Set"-off`\, n. [Set + off.]
1. That which is set off against another thing; an offset.
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I do not contemplate such a heroine as a set-off to
the many sins imputed to me as committed against
woman. --D. Jerrold.
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2. That which is used to improve the appearance of anything;
a decoration; an ornament.
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3. (Law) A counterclaim; a cross debt or demand; a distinct
claim filed or set up by the defendant against the
plaintiff's demand.
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Note: Set-off differs from recoupment, as the latter
generally grows out of the same matter or contract with
the plaintiff's claim, while the former grows out of
distinct matter, and does not of itself deny the
justice of the plaintiff's demand. Offset is sometimes
improperly used for the legal term set-off. See
{Recoupment}.
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4. (Arch.) Same as {Offset}, n., 4.
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5. (Print.) See {Offset}, 7.
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Syn: {Set-off}, {Offset}.
Usage: Offset originally denoted that which branches off or
projects, as a shoot from a tree, but the term has
long been used in America in the sense of set-off.
This use is beginning to obtain in England; though
Macaulay uses set-off, and so, perhaps, do a majority
of English writers.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Offset \Off"set`\, n. [Off + set. Cf. {Set-off}.]
In general, that which is set off, from, before, or against,
something; as:
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1. (Bot.) A short prostrate shoot, which takes root and
produces a tuft of leaves, etc. See Illust. of
{Houseleek}.
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2. A sum, account, or value set off against another sum or
account, as an equivalent; hence, anything which is given
in exchange or retaliation; a set-off.
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3. A spur from a range of hills or mountains.
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4. (Arch.) A horizontal ledge on the face of a wall, formed
by a diminution of its thickness, or by the weathering or
upper surface of a part built out from it; -- called also
{set-off}.
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5. (Surv.) A short distance measured at right angles from a
line actually run to some point in an irregular boundary,
or to some object.
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6. (Mech.) An abrupt bend in an object, as a rod, by which
one part is turned aside out of line, but nearly parallel,
with the rest; the part thus bent aside.
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7. (Print.) A more or less distinct transfer of a printed
page or picture to the opposite page, when the pages are
pressed together before the ink is dry or when it is poor;
an unitended transfer of an image from one page to
another; called also {setoff}.
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8. See {offset printing}.
[PJC]
{Offset staff} (Surv.), a rod, usually ten links long, used
in measuring offsets.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
setoff
n 1: structure where a wall or building narrows abruptly [syn:
{set-back}, {setoff}, {offset}]
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