Oaf, ōf, n. a foolish or deformed child left by the fairies in place of another: a dolt, an idiot.—adj. Oaf′ish, idiotic, doltish. [Elf.]
Oak, ōk, n. a tree of about 300 species, the most famous the British oak, valued for its timber in shipbuilding, &c.—ns. Oak′-app′le, a spongy substance on the leaves of the oak, caused by insects—also Oak′leaf-gall; Oak′-bark, the bark of some species of oak used in tanning.—adjs. Oak′-cleav′ing (Shak.), cleaving oaks; Oak′en, consisting or made of oak.—ns. Oak′-gall, a gall produced on the oak; Oak′-leath′er, a fungus mycelium in the fissures of old oaks; Oak′ling, a young oak; Oak′-pā′per, paper for wall-hangings veined like oak.—adj. Oak′y, like oak, firm.—Oak-apple Day, the 29th of May, the anniversary of the Restoration in 1660, when country boys used to wear oak-apples in commemoration of Charles II. skulking in the branches of an oak (the Royal Oak) from Cromwell's troopers after Worcester.—Sport one's oak, in English university slang, to signify that one does not wish visitors by closing the outer door of one's rooms; The Oaks, one of the three great English races—for mares—the others being the Derby and St Leger. [A.S. ác; Ice. eik, Ger. eiche.]
Oaker, ōk′ėr, n. (Spens.) ochre.
Oakum, ōk′um, n. old ropes untwisted and teased into loose hemp for caulking the seams of ships. [A.S. ácumba, ǽcemba—cemban, to comb.]
Oar, ōr, n. a light pole with a flat feather or spoon-shaped end (the blade) for propelling a boat: an oar-like appendage for swimming, as the antennæ of an insect or crustacean, &c.: an oarsman.—v.t. to impel by rowing.—v.i. to row.—n. Oar′age, oars collectively.—adj. Oared, furnished with oars.—ns. Oar′lap, a rabbit with its ears standing out at right-angles to the head; Oar′-lock, a rowlock; Oars′man, one who rows with an oar; Oars′manship, skill in rowing.—adj. Oar′y, having the form or use of oars.—Boat oars, to bring the oars inboard; Feather oars, to turn the blades parallel to the water when reaching back for another stroke; Lie on the oars, to cease rowing without shipping the oars: to rest, take things easily: to cease from work; Put in one's oar, to give advice when not wanted; Ship, or Unship, oars, to place the oars in the rowlocks, or to take them out. [A.S. ár.]
Oarium, ō-ā′ri-um, n. an ovary or ovarium.
Oasis, ō-ā′sis, n. a fertile spot in a sandy desert: any place of rest or pleasure in the midst of toil and gloom:—pl. Oases (ō-ā′sēz). [L.,—Gr. oasis, an Egyptian word; cf. Coptic ouahe.]
Oast, ōst, n. a kiln to dry hops or malt.—n. Oast′-house. [A.S. ást.]
Oat, ōt (oftener in pl. Oats, ōts), n. a well-known grassy plant, the seeds of which are much used as food: its seeds: a musical pipe of oat-straw: a shepherd's pipe, pastoral song generally.—n. Oat′cake, a thin broad cake made of oatmeal.—adj. Oat′en, consisting of an oat stem or straw: made of oatmeal.—ns. Oat′-grass, two species of oat, useful more as fodder than for the seed; Oat′meal, meal made of oats.—Sow one's wild oats, to indulge in the usual youthful dissipations. [A.S. áta, pl. átan.]
Oath, ōth, n. a solemn statement with an appeal to God as witness, and a calling for punishment from Him in case of falsehood or of failure, also the form of words in which such is made—oath of abjuration, allegiance, &c.: an irreverent use of God's name in conversation or in any way: any merely exclamatory imprecation, &c.:—pl. Oaths (ōthz).—adj. Oath′able (Shak.), capable of having an oath administered to.—n. Oath′-break′ing (Shak.), the violation of an oath, perjury.—Upon one's oath, sworn to speak the truth. [A.S. áth; Ger. eid, Ice. eithr.]