{ } n. [ Native name. ] (Zool.) Any of several voracious pikelike marine fishes allied to the gray mullets, constituting the genus Sphyræna and family Sphyrænidæ. The great barracuda (Sphyræna barracuda) of the West Indies, Florida, etc., is often six feet or more long, and as dangerous as a shark. In Cuba its flesh is reputed to be poisonous. Sphyræna Argentea of the Pacific coast and Sphyræna sphyræna of Europe are smaller species, and are used as food. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

☞ That of Europe and our Atlantic coast is Sphyræna spet (or Sphyræna vulgaris); a southern species is Sphyræna picuda; the Californian is Sphyræna argentea. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A large edible fresh-water fish of Australia and New Zealand (Thyrsites atun). [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ Pg. botoque stopple. So called because they wear a wooden plug in the pierced lower lip. ] A Brazilian tribe of Indians, noted for their use of poisons; -- also called Aymborés. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. cudu, cwudu, cwidu, cweodo, of uncertain origin; cf, G. köder bait, Icel. kviðr womb, Goth. qiþus. Cf. Quid. ] 1. That portion of food which is brought up into the mouth by ruminating animals from their first stomach, to be chewed a second time. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Levit. xi. 3 [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A portion of tobacco held in the mouth and chewed; a quid. [ Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The first stomach of ruminating beasts. Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

To chew the cud, to ruminate; to meditate; used with of; as, to chew the cud of bitter memories. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chewed the thrice turned cud of wrath. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Also cudbeard, corrupted fr. the name of Dr. Cuthbert Gordon, a Scotchman, who first brought it into notice. ] 1. A powder of a violet red color, difficult to moisten with water, used for making violet or purple dye. It is prepared from certain species of lichen, especially Lecanora tartarea. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A lichen (Lecanora tartarea), from which the powder is obtained. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ For sense 1, cf. Scot. cuddy an ass; for sense 2, see 3d Cuddy. ] 1. A clown; a low rustic; a dolt. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The slavering cudden, propped upon his staff. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The coalfish. See 3d Cuddy. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Cuddled p. pr. & vb. n. Cuddling ] [ Prob. for couthle, fr. couth known; cf. OE. kuþþen to cuddle, or cuðlechen to make friends with. SeeCouth, Uncouth, Can. ] To lie close or snug; to crouch; to nestle. [ 1913 Webster ]

She cuddles low beneath the brake;
Nor would she stay, nor dares she fly. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To embrace closely; to fondle. Forby. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A close embrace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. holding close in a tender and afectionate manner. [ PJC ]

2. lying closely together while caressing; nestling together. [ PJC ]

3. foreplay without contact with the genital organs. [ slang ]
Syn. -- caressing, fondling, hugging, kissing, necking, petting, smooching, snuggling. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. inviting cuddling or hugging; as, a cuddlesome baby. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Scot.; cf. Gael. cudaig, cudainn, or E.cuttlefish, or cod, codfish. ] (Zool) The coalfish (Pollachius carbonarius). [ Written also cudden. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Cudden. ] 1. An ass; esp., one driven by a huckster or greengrocer. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: A blockhead; a lout. Hood. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mech.) A lever mounted on a tripod for lifting stones, leveling up railroad ties, etc. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. a contraction fr. D. kajuit cabin: cf. F.cahute hut. ] (Naut.) A small cabin: also, the galley or kitchen of a vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. kuggel; cf. G. keule club (with a round end), kugel ball, or perh. W. cogyl cudgel, or D. cudse, kuds, cudgel. ] A staff used in cudgel play, shorter than the quarterstaff, and wielded with one hand; hence, any heavy stick used as a weapon. [ 1913 Webster ]

He getteth him a grievous crabtree cudgel and . . . falls to rating of them as if they were dogs. Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cudgel play, a fight or sportive contest with cudgels. --
To cross the cudgels, to forbear or give up the contest; -- a phrase borrowed from the practice of cudgel players, who lay one cudgel over another when the contest is ended. --
To take up cudgels for, to engage in a contest in behalf of (some one or something). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cudgeled or Cudgelled p. pr. & vb. n. Cudgeling or cudgelling. ] To beat with a cudgel. [ 1913 Webster ]

An he here, I would cudgel him like a dog. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To cudgel one's brains, to exercise one's wits. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who beats with a cudgel. [ Written also cudgeller. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Apparently fr. cud + weed, but perh. a corruption of cottonweed; or of cut weed, so called from its use as an application to cuts and chafings. ] (Bot.) A small composite plant with cottony or silky stem and leaves, primarily a species of Gnaphalium, but the name is now given to many plants of different genera, as Filago, Antennaria, etc.; cottonweed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a film or TV program presenting the facts about a person or event.
Syn. -- documentary, documentary film, infotainment. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Scudded; p. pr. & vb. n. Scudding. ] [ Dan. skyde to shoot, shove, push, akin to skud shot, gunshot, a shoot, young bough, and to E. shoot. √159. See Shoot. ] 1. To move swiftly; especially, to move as if driven forward by something. [ 1913 Webster ]

The first nautilus that scudded upon the glassy surface of warm primeval oceans. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wind was high; the vast white clouds scudded over the blue heaven. Beaconsfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) To be driven swiftly, or to run, before a gale, with little or no sail spread. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To pass over quickly. [ R. ] Shenstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of scudding; a driving along; a rushing with precipitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Loose, vapory clouds driven swiftly by the wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Borne on the scud of the sea. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

The scud was flying fast above us, throwing a veil over the moon. Sir S. Baker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A slight, sudden shower. [ Prov. Eng. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) A small flight of larks, or other birds, less than a flock. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool.) Any swimming amphipod crustacean. [ 1913 Webster ]

Storm scud. See the Note under Cloud. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Freq. of scud: cf. Scuttle to hurry. ] To run hastily; to hurry; to scuttle. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Scudi [ It., a crown, a dollar, a shield, fr. L. scutum a shield. Cf. Scute. ] (Com.) (a) A silver coin, and money of account, used in Italy and Sicily, varying in value, in different parts, but worth about 4 shillings sterling, or about 96 cents; also, a gold coin worth about the same. (b) A gold coin of Rome, worth 64 shillings 11 pence sterling, or about $ 15.70. [ 1913 Webster ]