n.; pl. E. Irises L. Irides [ L. iris, iridis, the goddess, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, the rainbow, iris of the eye, the plant Iris. Cf. Orris. ] 1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of the rainbow, and swift-footed messenger of the gods. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The rainbow. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of colors. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Anat.) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, and forming the colored portion of the eye. See Eye. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Bot.) A genus of plants having showy flowers and bulbous or tuberous roots, of which the flower-de-luce (fleur-de-lis), orris, and other species of flag are examples. See Illust. of Flower-de-luce. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Her.) See Fleur-de-lis, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Zool.) the inner circle of an oscillated color spot. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

8. same as iris diaphragm. [ PJC ]

a. [ See Iris. ] Exhibiting the prismatic colors; irised; iridescent. W. Phillips. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Iris + -scope. ] A philosophical toy for exhibiting the prismatic tints by means of thin films. [ 1913 Webster ]

. An adjustable diaphragm, reminiscent of the iris of the eye in its action, by which the diameter of an approximately circular opening may be controlled, as for regulating the aperture of a lens; it consists of a number of movable thin curved plates fastened at regular intervals around the inside of a ring, the positions of which are simultaneously adjusted by a single knob on the outside of the lens. It is used in cameras and microscopes. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

a. [ See Iris. ] Having colors like those of the rainbow; iridescent. Holmes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. īrisc, fr. īras the Irish. Cf. Aryan, Erse. ] Of or pertaining to Ireland or to its inhabitants; produced in Ireland. [ 1913 Webster ]

Irish elk. (Zool.) See under Elk. --
Irish moss. (a) (Bot.) Carrageen. (b) A preparation of the same made into a blanc mange. --
Irish poplin. See Poplin. --
Irish potato, the ordinary white potato, so called because it is a favorite article of food in Ireland. --
Irish reef, or
Irishman's reef (Naut.), the head of a sail tied up. --
Irish stew, meat, potatoes, and onions, cut in small pieces and stewed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. sing. & pl. 1. pl. The natives or inhabitants of Ireland, esp. the Celtic natives or their descendants. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The language of the Irish; also called Irish Gaelic or the Hiberno-Celtic. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

3. An old game resembling backgammon. [ 1913 Webster ]

get one's Irish up to become angry. [ PJC ]

. A native of Ireland who has become an American citizen; also, a child or descendant of such a person. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A mode of speaking peculiar to the Irish; an Hibernicism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Irishmen A man born in Ireland or of the Irish race; an Hibernian. [ 1913 Webster ]

Irishman's hurricane (Naut.), a dead calm. --
Irishman's reef. (Naut.) See Irish reef, under Irish, a. [ 1913 Webster ]