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{ } n. [ F. avocette: cf. It. avosetta, Sp. avoceta. ] (Zool.) A grallatorial bird, of the genus Recurvirostra; the scooper. The bill is long and bend upward toward the tip. The American species is Recurvirostra Americana. [ Written also avocette. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Avocet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. favus honeycomb. ] 1. (Bot.) Honeycombed. See Faveolate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) Of or pertaining to the disease called favus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Like or pertaining to the genus Favosites. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Favose. ] (Paleon.) A genus of fossil corals abundant in the Silurian and Devonian rocks, having polygonal cells with perforated walls. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Spotted; freckled. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Nervous. ] (Bot.) Same as Nerved. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. nervositas strength. ] Nervousness. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. L. nix. nivis, snow. ] The fourth month of the French republican calendar [ 1792-1806 ]. It commenced December 21, and ended January 19. See Vendémiaire. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A city in the Asian part of Russia. Much Soviet military research was performed there, and until the 1990's it was restricted from entry by foreigners. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ OF. provost (L. prae and pro being confused), F. prevôt, fr. L. praepositus placed before, a chief, fr. praeponere to place before: cf. AS. prāfost, prōfast. See Preposition, and cf. Propound. ] 1. A person who is appointed to superintend, or preside over, something; the chief magistrate in some cities and towns; as, the provost of Edinburgh or of Glasgow, answering to the mayor of other cities; the provost of a college, answering to president; the provost or head of certain collegiate churches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The keeper of a prison. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In France, formerly, a provost was an inferior judge who had cognizance of civil causes. The grand provost of France, or of the household, had jurisdiction in the king's house, and over its officers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Provost marshal (a) (Mil.) An officer appointed in every army, in the field, to secure the prisoners confined on charges of a general nature. He also performs such other duties pertaining to police and discipline as the regulations of the service or the commander's orders impose upon him. (b) (Nav.) An officer who has charge of prisoners on trial by court-martial, serves notices to witnesses, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office of a provost. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From L. rivus a brook, channel. ] Marked with sinuate and irregular furrows. [ 1913 Webster ]