n. [ Heb. ariël, perh. confused with E. aërial. ] In the Cabala, a water spirit; in later folklore, a light and graceful spirit of the air. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

☞ In Zoology, ariel is used adjectively of certain birds noted for their graceful flight; as, the ariel toucan; the ariel petrel. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n., or /mhw>. [ Ar. aryil, ayyil, stag. ] (Zool.) (a) A variety of the gazelle (Antilope dorcas, or Gazella, dorcas), found in Arabia and adjacent countries. (b) A squirrel-like Australian marsupial, a species of Petaurus. (c) A beautiful Brazilian toucan Ramphastos ariel). [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ prop. n. [ L. ] 1. (Astron.) (a) The Ram; the first of the twelve signs in the zodiac, which the sun enters at the vernal equinox, about the 21st of March. (b) A constellation west of Taurus, drawn on the celestial globe in the figure of a ram. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Rom. Antiq.) A battering-ram. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. arietatus, p. p. of arietare, fr. aries ram. ] To butt, as a ram. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. arietatio. ] 1. The act of butting like a ram; act of using a battering-ram. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Act of striking or conflicting. [ R. ] Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ It. arietta, dim. of aria; F. ariette. ] (Mus.) A short aria, or air. “A military ariette.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]