lat

{ } n. [ Malay. ] A convulsive tic or hysteric neurosis prevalent among Malays, similar to or identical with miryachit and jumping disease, the person affected performing various involuntary actions and making rapid inarticulate ejaculations in imitation of the actions and words of another person. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Turk. ] A superior quality of Turkish smoking tobacco, so called from the place where produced, the ancient Laodicea. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. lacche, fr. lacchen to seize, As. læccan. ] 1. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. [ Obs. ] Rom. of R. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A movable piece which holds anything in place by entering a notch or cavity; specifically, the catch which holds a door or gate when closed, though it be not bolted. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) A latching. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A crossbow. [ Obs. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Latched p. pr. & vb. n. Latching. ] [ OE. lacchen. See Latch. n. ] 1. To catch so as to hold. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Those that remained threw darts at our men, and latching our darts, sent them again at us. Golding. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To catch or fasten by means of a latch. [ 1913 Webster ]

The door was only latched. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. F. lécher to lick (of German origin). Cf. Lick. ] To smear; to anoint. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. secured by means of a latch against opening.
Syn. -- fastened. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ OE. lachet, from an OF. dialect form of F. lacet plaited string, lace dim. of lacs. See Lace. ] The string that fastens a shoe; a shoestring. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A loop or eye formed on the head rope of a bonnet, by which it is attached to the foot of a sail; -- called also latch and lasket. [ Usually in pl. ] [ 1913 Webster ]