Larus, lā′rus, n. a genus of Laridæ, the gulls proper.
Larva, lär′va, n. an insect in its first stage after issuing from the egg—i.e. in the caterpillar state: a ghost, spectre:—pl. Larvæ (lär′vē).—adjs. Lar′val; Lar′vate, -d, clothed as with a mask; Lar′viform; Larvip′arous, producing young in a larva-form. [L. larva, a spectre, a mask.]
Larynx, lār′ingks, n. the upper part of the windpipe: the throat:—pl. Lar′ynges, Lar′ynxes (rare).—adjs. Laryn′geal, Laryn′gean.—n. Laryngis′mus, spasm of the glottis.—adj. Laryngit′ic.—n. Laryngī′tis, inflammation of the larynx.—adj. Laryngolog′ical.—ns. Laryngol′ogist; Laryngol′ogy, the science of the larynx; Laryngoph′ony, the sound of the voice as heard through the stethoscope applied over the larynx; Laryng′oscope, a mirror for examining the larynx and trachea.—adj. Laryngoscop′ic.—ns. Laryngos′copist; Laryngos′copy; Laryngot′omy, the operation of cutting into the windpipe to remove obstructions and assist respiration; Laryngotracheot′omy, the operation of cutting into the windpipe through the cricoid cartilage, the cricothyroid membrane, and the upper rings of the trachea. [L.,—Gr. larynx, laryngos.]
Lascar, las′kar, n. a native East Indian sailor or camp-follower. [Hind.,—Pers. lashkari, a soldier.]
Lascivious, las-siv′i-us, adj. lustful: tending to produce lustful emotions.—adv. Lasciv′iously.—n. Lasciv′iousness. [L. lascivus; perh. from the same root as laxus, loose.]
Laser, lā′ser, n. a gum-resin from North Africa, esteemed by the ancients as a deobstruent and diuretic. [L. laser, juice of laserpitium.]
Laserpitium, las-er-pish′i-um, n. a genus of perennial herbs of the parsley family—Las′erwort or herb frankincense.—Also Silphium. [L. laserpicium, a plant yielding laser.]
Lash, lash, n. a thong or cord: the flexible part of a whip: a stroke with a whip or anything pliant: a stroke of satire, a sharp retort: a beating or dashing: an eyelash.—v.t. to strike with a lash: to dash against: to fasten or secure with a rope or cord: to censure severely: to scourge with sarcasm or satire.—v.i. to use the whip.—n. Lash′er, one who lashes or whips: a rope for binding one thing to another; Lash′ing, act of whipping: a rope for making things fast: a great plenty of anything—esp. in pl.—Lash out, to kick out, as a horse: to break out recklessly. [M. E. lasshe; Dut. lasch, Ger. lasche, a joint.]
Lash, lash, adj. (obs.) slow, slack: soft: insipid.—n. Lash′er, the slack water collected above a weir in a river. [M. E. lasche, slack—O. Fr. lasche (Fr. lâche, cowardly)—L. laxus, lax.]
Lasket, las′ket, n. a loop of line at the foot of a sail, to which to fasten an extra sail.