Cabala Caballa Cabbala Caber Cable Cachuca Cadmium Caffeine Caftan Cakewalk Calciferol Calcium Calends Calf Callipers Calorie Cam miles Cambrian Camelot Cameo Camouflage Camphene Campos Canal Cancer Candelabrum Candle Canning Canon Capacitor Capricorn Capstan Captopril Carat Carbide Carbides Carbohydrate Carbolic acid Carbon Carbonado Carbonate Carboniferous Carborundum Carboy Carburettor Cardan Suspension Caries Carmine Carotene Carpel Carpet Carron oil Carse Cart Cartel Carton Cartouche Cartridge-paper Caruncle Caryopsis Casareep Cascara Case-hardening Casein Cassock Castanet Caste Castor Castor oil Catacomb Catalase Catalepsy Catalyst Catarrh Catboat Catcher Catgut Cathetometer Cathode Cathode Rays Cathode-ray Oscilloscope Cathode-ray Tube Cation Cattle Plague Catty Caudle Caul Cauldron Causeway Cautery Cavalcade Cave Cavendish CBI CCIR CCITT Ceilidh Celluloid Cellulose Cement Census Cental Cerium Chain Chains Chalder Chaldron Chalice Charcoal Chariot Chauvinism Cheese Cheese Aerial Chemical Bond Chemistry Cheng Chenille Chess Chicken pox Chicle Chilli Chintz Chiton Chlorate
see "Qabbala"
see "Qabbala"
see "Qabbala"
A caber is a roughly trimmed young pine-trunk used in Scottish highland games (tossing the caber).
In nautical terms, a cable is 183 metres.
The cachuca is a graceful dance marked by movements of the head and shoulders.
Cadmium is a metal element with the symbol Cd.
Caffeine is a white, bitter, crystalline alkaloid usually derived from coffee or tea and used in medicine as a nervous system stimulant.
A Caftan (Kaftan) is a long garment with long sleeves and tied at the waist by a girdle, worn under a coat in the Middle East. The term has also come to describe a long, full, usually collarless robe with wide sleeves that is worn at home for lounging or on the beach as a cover-up.
The cakewalk is an American dance which originated amongst the blacks.
see "Vitamin D"
Calcium is a metal element. It is an alkaline metal with the symbol Ca.
Calends was the first day of the Roman calendar month.
A calf is a young bovine animal, especially a young cow.
Callipers are an instrument for measuring dimensions of circular solids.
Calorie is the metric unit of measurement of heat. It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water from 14.5 to 15.5 degrees centigrade.
Cam miles is a perennial dwarf herb of the order compositae.
The Cambrian period was the third geological period, 450,000,000 years ago.
Camelot was the castle of Arthur.
A cameo is a small relief carving.
Camouflage is colours or structures which allow an animal to blend in with its surroundings.
Camphene is a solid terpene occurring in the oil of ginger. It is oxidised by chromic acid to form camphor.
The campos are the open grassy plains of South America.
A canal is an artificial open water channel.
Cancer is a disease of malignant tumours, what causes it is unknown, however experiments in the 1950s revealed a connection between conscious belief and cancer, that is patients who had cancerous tumours removed and believed themselves to be free of the cancer were less likely to suffer re-emergence of the cancer than patients who believed the cancer would re-occur.
A candelabrum is a large candlestick.
A candle is a wax cylinder enclosing a wick. It is burnt to provide light.
Canning is the commercial operation of food preserving which involves the use of heat and sealing the food in airtight containers.
In geography, a canon is a deep ravine or valley with precipitous sides made by the rapid flow of a river and the action of denudation.
A capacitor is an electrical device consisting of two conductive bodies separated by insulating material and thus possessing capacitance.
Capricorn is a sign of the zodiac symbolised by a goat.
A capstan is a revolving barrel with a vertical axis powered by people. It is used for winding cable. On sailing ships the capstan is used to raise and lower the anchor.
Captopril is a drug used to contol high blood pressure and aid in
the relief of heart failure. It has the possible side effects of:
increased heart rate, low blood pressure, loss of taste, lack of
appetite, rash, itching, dizziness and fainting.
Carat is the unit of measurement of gold purity.
see "carbides"
A carbide is a compound of carbon and another element.
A carbohydrate is a complex chemical compound. Consisting of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. In foods it forms sugars and starch.
Carbolic acid is a strong poison distilled from coal-tar.
Carbon is a non-metallic element with the symbol C. Contained in all life forms.
Carbonado is a powdered form of diamond.
A carbonate is a salt formed by the union of carbon dioxide with a base element.
The Carboniferous was the seventh geological period, 250,000,000 years ago. This era marked the formation of the coal beds.
Carborundum is silicon carbide and is extremely hard.
A carboy is a large globular wicker-covered glass bottle used for holding acid or other corrosive liquids.
A carburettor is a device for charging air with a hydrocarbon.
see "Gimbal"
Caries is a disease resulting from inflammation of bony tissue.
Carmine is a red colouring derived from the cochineal insect.
see "vitamin a"
Carpel is a botanical term referring to a simple pistil or a single member of a compound pistil.
Carpet is a thick fabric, often made of wool, used for covering a floor. It is made by knotting short lengths of yarn to the warp threads during weaving.
Carron oil is a mixture of linseed oil and lime water which was formerly used for treating burns. It was first used at the Carron ironworks near Falkirk.
Carse is the name given in Scotland to a wide fertile valley.
A cart is a strong two or four wheeled vehicle used in farming and for carrying heavy goods.
A cartel is a written agreement for the exchange or ransom of prisoners.
A carton is a light box or case for holding goods.
In architecture, a cartouche is a scroll ornament.
Cartridge-paper is a thick paper. It is so named because it was originally used to make soldiers' cartridges.
A caruncle is a small hard outgrowth formed on the seeds of certain plants, such as the castor oil plant.
Caryopsis is a botanical term for a one-seeded indehiscent fruit with pericarp fused to the seed-coat, as in wheat and barley.
Casareep is the concentrated juice of the roots of the cassava flavoured with aromatics and boiled to remove the toxins. It is then used as a relish in soups and other dishes. It is the basis of the Jamaican dish "pepper-pot". Casareep is also a powerful antiseptic and was used for preserving meat in tropical countries.
Cascara is an extract of the bark of the Californian buckthorn used as a laxative or cathartic.
Case-hardening is a process whereby iron objects have their outside layer converted to steel. The object is put in a box containing carbon and is heated until red hot. Then it is immersed in cold water where upon a layer of steel forms on the object.
Casein is a protein found in milk.
A cassock is a long close fitting tunic, buttoning up to the neck and reaching down to the feet, worn by the clergy.
Castanets are small concave shells of ivory or hard wood used by the Spaniards and Moors to make a rattling sound to accompany dancing. A pair of castanets are held in the palm of the hand and struck with the middle finger.
Caste is an Indian hereditary class system with members socially equal, united in religion and usually following the same trade. A member of one caste has no social intercourse with a member of any other caste except their own.
Castor is a reddish-brown bitter substance obtained from the anal glands of the beaver and used in perfume and medicine.
Castor oil is a pale yellow nauseous acrid oil obtained from the seeds of the Castor oil plant and used as a purgative and lubricant.
Catacombs are subterranean cemeteries.
In chemistry, a catalase is any of various enzymes capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide.
Catalepsy is a disease characterised by seizures or trances which last for hours or days with a suspension of sensation and consciousness.
A catalyst is a substance which facilitates a reaction, without being consumed by the reaction itself. It is a term generally used in chemistry, although it is equally applicable in applied Psychology, such as in the role of an antagonist or provocateur.
Catarrh is the inflammation of a mucous membrane, particularly that of the nose, throat or bronchial tubes, causing an increased flow of mucus.
A catboat is a sailing boat with a single mast set well forward and rigged with one sail.
A catcher is a fielder who stands behind the batter in baseball.
Catgut is the dried and twisted intestines of sheep or horses used for making the strings of musical instruments and tennis rackets and for sutures in surgery.
A cathetometer is a device for measuring small differences in height.
A cathode is a negative electrical pole or terminal.
Cathode rays are a stream of electrons emitted from the cathode of an electron tube and accelerated to high velocity by an electron gun. The rays can be deflected by magnetic or electric fields.
A cathode-ray oscilloscope is an instrument for examining electrical quantities, and particularly varying electrical quantities both periodoc and transient, by means of a luminous trace on the screen of a cathode-ray tube. The quantities to be investigated or measured are made to deflect the electron beam in the cathode-ray tube, and thus to produce corresponding movement of the light spot on the screen. In addition to examining electrical quantities as such, the oscilloscope is widely used to examine any physical quantity the changing values of which can be converted into corresponding changes of electric potential.
A cathode-ray tube is an electron tube containing a thermionic cathode and an electron gun for the production of cathode rays which are directed axially along the tube in the direction of the flattened, wide end. The internal surface of the wider end of the tube is coated with a phosphor which emits light at the point of impact of the high speed electrons.
A cation is a positively charged ion which, in an electrolyte or in a gas-filled electron tube, travels towards the negative electrode or cathode.
see "Rinderpest"
The catty was a Chinese unit of weight equivalent to 1.5 lbs.
Caudle is a warm, thin spiced gruel made with wine and sugar which was given to invalids and women after childbirth.
A caul is a woman's close-fitting cap or hair net. They were originally made of gold net and worn by women between the 14th and 16th centuries.
A cauldron is a large boiling vessel, usually of a deep basin shape with a hoop handle and a removable lid.
A causeway is a raised road across a low or wet piece of land.
A cautery is a heated metal instrument used for burning or searing organic tissue.
A cavalcade is a procession of riders on horse-back.
A cave is a deep hollow place under ground.
Cavendish is softened tobacco which has been sweetened with molasses and then pressed into cakes.
The CBI is the British organisation of employers.
The CCIR (Comite Consultatif Internationale des Radio), is a major constituent of the International Telecommunications Union, issuing both Radio Regulations and Recommendations for all uses of radio transmission.
The CCITT (Comite Consultatif Internationale des Telephones et Telegraphes), is a major constituent of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that sets standards for the operation of telecommunications services across international boundaries. Many CCITT standards are adopted for use domestically.
A ceilidh is a Gaelic festival of singing and dancing held in Scotland and Ireland.
Celluloid is a hard, unstable synthetic substance once used for films.
Cellulose is the cellular tissue of plants. Used as cotton and paper.
Cement is a mixture of chalk and clay used for building.
The census is a questionnaire issued every ten years in Britain which gathers detailed figures concerning the population, classified according to sex, age, occupation, size of families and geographical distribution.
The cental was a weight of 100 pounds legal in Britain since 1879.
Cerium is a rare metal element with the symbol Ce.
The chain is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length equivalent to 22 yards or 20.168 metres.
A chain is comprised of 100 links, each 7.92 inches long.
see "chain"
Chalder was a Scottish dry measure containing 16 bolls, equivalent to 12 imperial quarters.
The chaldron is an old English unit of capacity measurement equivalent to 36 bushels. It was used as a measure of coal in England, equal to 6,800 lbs.
A chalice is a ceremonial cup.
Charcoal is an amorphous form of carbon formed by charring wood.
A chariot was a two wheeled vehicle used in ancient warfare.
Chauvinism is fanatical devotion to a cause, especially patriotism. The term comes from Nicholas Chauvin who was a soldier so enthusiastically devoted to Napoleon that his comrades ridiculed him.
Cheese is a food made by condensing milk fat and casein.
A cheese aerial is a type of rotatable aerial employed in Radar on the centimetric waveband. It consists of a parabolic metallic reflector, and is usually fed by a waveguide.
Chemical bond is the force retaining tow atoms together in a molecule as, for example, the forec exerted by a pair of shared electrons.
Chemistry is the science of the composition of substances.
The cheng is a Chinese musical instrument. It is comprised of a series of tubes with free reeds. Its introduction into Europe led to the development of the accordion and harmonium.
Chenille is an ornamental fabric made by weaving or twisting together warp-like threads with a weft the loose ends of which protrude all round in the form of a pile.
Chess is a game of skill played on a chequered board.
Chicken pox is an infectious disease of children and adults.
Chicle is a gum-like substance obtained from the bully tree and used for making chewing gum.
Chilli is a spice, being either the pod or powder of capsicum.
Originally, chintz was a painted or stained calico imported from India.
A chiton was a simple garment extending half-way to the knee and worn in ancient Greece.
A chlorate is a salt formed by the reaction of chloric acid and metal.