n. [ L. aduncitas. See Aduncous. ] Curvature inwards; hookedness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The aduncity of the beaks of hawks. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. aduncus; ad + uncus hooked, hook. ] Curved inwards; hooked. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. (Zool.) Hooked; as, a parrot has an adunc bill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Joannes Duns Scotus, a schoolman called the Subtle Doctor, who died in 1308. Originally in the phrase “a Duns man”. See Note below. ] One backward in book learning; a child or other person dull or weak in intellect; a dullard; a dolt. [ 1913 Webster ]

I never knew this town without dunces of figure. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The schoolmen were often called, after their great leader Duns Scotus, Dunsmen or Duncemen. In the revival of learning they were violently opposed to classical studies; hence, the name of Dunce was applied with scorn and contempt to an opposer of learning, or to one slow at learning, a dullard. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The realm or domain of dunces. [ Jocose ] Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Dullness; stupidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a dunce; duncish. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most dull and duncical commissioner. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Dunce + -fy. ] To make stupid in intellect. [ R. ] Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Somewhat like a dunce. [ R. ]

-- Dun"cish*ness, n. [R.] [1913 Webster]

n. [ Cf. F. grand-oncle. ] A father's or mother's uncle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Formed fr. (assumed) L. pedunculus, dim. of pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. pédoncule. ] 1. (Bot.) The stem or stalk that supports the flower or fruit of a plant, or a cluster of flowers or fruits. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The ultimate divisions or branches of a peduncle are called pedicels. In the case of a solitary flower, the stalk would be called a peduncle if the flower is large, and a pedicel if it is small or delicate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A sort of stem by which certain shells and barnacles are attached to other objects. See Illust. of Barnacle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Anat.) A band of nervous or fibrous matter connecting different parts of the brain; as, the peduncles of the cerebellum; the peduncles of the pineal gland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a peduncle; supported on a peduncle; pedunculate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. pédonculaire. ] Of or pertaining to a peduncle; growing from a peduncle; as, a peduncular tendril. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Peduncle. ] (Zool.) A division of Cirripedia, including the stalked or goose barnacles. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. (Biol.) Having a peduncle; growing on a peduncle; as, a pedunculate flower; a pedunculate eye, as in a lobster. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Somewhat hooked or curved. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Situated beneath the peduncle; as, the subpeduncular lobe of the cerebellum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot. & Zool.) Supported on, or growing from, a very short stem; having a short peduncle. [ 1913 Webster ]