-vat-

n. [ A dialectic form for fat, OE. fat, AS. fæt; akin to D. vat, OS. fat, G. fass, OHG. faz, Icel. & Sw. fat, Dan. fad, Lith. půdas a pot, and probably to G. fassen to seize, to contain, OHG. fazzōn, D. vatten. Cf. Fat a vat. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

1. A large vessel, cistern, or tub, especially one used for holding liquors in an immature state, chemical preparations for dyeing, or for tanning, or for tanning leather, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let him produce his vats and tubs, in opposition to heaps of arms and standards. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A measure for liquids, and also a dry measure; especially, a liquid measure in Belgium and Holland, corresponding to the hectoliter of the metric system, which contains 22.01 imperial gallons, or 26.4 standard gallons in the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The old Dutch grain vat averaged 0.762 Winchester bushel. The old London coal vat contained 9 bushels. The solid-measurement vat of Amsterdam contains 40 cubic feet; the wine vat, 241.57 imperial gallons, and the vat for olive oil, 225.45 imperial gallons. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Metal.) (a) A wooden tub for washing ores and mineral substances in. (b) A square, hollow place on the back of a calcining furnace, where tin ore is laid to dry. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (R. C. Ch.) A vessel for holding holy water. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Vatfuls As much as a vat will hold; enough to fill a vat. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. vates a prophet. ] Of or pertaining to a prophet; prophetical. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Vaticanus, mons, or collis, Vaticanus, the Vatican hill, in Rome, on the western bank of the Tiber: cf. F. Vatican, It. Vaticano. ] A magnificent assemblage of buildings at Rome, near the church of St. Peter, including the pope's palace, a museum, a library, a famous chapel, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word is often used to indicate the papal authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thunders of the Vatican, the anathemas, or denunciations, of the pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (R. C. Ch.) The council held under Pope Pius IX. in Vatican at Rome, in 1870, which promulgated the dogma of papal infallibility. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. The doctrine of papal supremacy; extreme views in support of the authority of the pope; ultramontanism; -- a term used only by persons who are not Roman Catholics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who strongly adheres to the papal authority; an ultramontanist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. vates a prophet + caedere to kill. ] The murder, or the murderer, of a prophet. “The caitiff vaticide.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]