{ } 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. ]

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

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 ]

n. A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a door, esp. a night latch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A child who frequently spends part of the day at home without adult supervision, especially a school child who returns home before the parent(s) return from work. Called also door-key child. [ PJC ]

n. A string for raising the latch of a door by a person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole above it in the door. [ 1913 Webster ]

To find the latchstring out, to meet with hospitality; to be welcome. (Intrusion is prevented by drawing in the latchstring.) [ Colloq. U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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

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 ]

n. A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a door, esp. a night latch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A child who frequently spends part of the day at home without adult supervision, especially a school child who returns home before the parent(s) return from work. Called also door-key child. [ PJC ]

n. A string for raising the latch of a door by a person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole above it in the door. [ 1913 Webster ]

To find the latchstring out, to meet with hospitality; to be welcome. (Intrusion is prevented by drawing in the latchstring.) [ Colloq. U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]