Tarsia, tär′si-a, n. an Italian mosaic, at first dealing with geometrical patterns in wood, but which developed into inlaid representations of architecture, views, figures, and drapery, and finally into foliaceous scrolls of modern marquetry. [It.]
Tarsier, tär′si-er, n. a small arboreal East Indian lemuroid, the malmag.—adj. Tar′siped, having the same tarsal structure as the foregoing. [Fr.]
Tarsus, tär′sus, n. the part of the foot to which the leg is articulated:—pl. Tar′sī.—adj. Tar′sal, relating to the tarsus or ankle.—ns. Tarsal′gia, pain in the tarsus: a neuralgic affection of the foot from which persons walking much sometimes suffer; Tar′sipes, a small Australian honey-sucking marsupial, of the family Phalangistidæ, about the size of a mouse.—adj. Tarsometatar′sal, pertaining to the tarsus and the metatarsus.—n. Tarsometatar′sus, the single compound bone of birds.—adj. Tarsotar′sal, mediotarsal. [Gr. tarsos, the flat part of the foot.]
Tart, tärt, adj. sharp or sour to the taste: (fig.) sharp: severe.—adj. Tart′ish, somewhat tart.—adv. Tart′ly.—n. Tart′ness. [A.S. teart—teran, to tear.]
Tart, tärt, n. a small pie, containing fruit or jelly baked in paste.—n. Tart′let, a small tart. [O. Fr. tarte—L. torta, fem. of pa.p. of torquēre, twist.]
Tartan, tär′tan, n. a woollen or worsted stuff checked with various colours, once the distinctive dress of the Scottish Highlanders, each clan having its own pattern. [Fr. tiretaine, linsey-woolsey—Sp. tiritaña, a thin woollen stuff—tiritar, to shiver.]
Tartan, tär′tan, n. a Mediterranean vessel with lateen sail: a kind of long covered carriage [Fr.,—Ar. taridah, a small ship.]
Tartar, tär′tar, n. a mixture of bitartrate of potash and tartrate of lime, being a deposit formed from wine, and known in its crude form as argol: a concretion which sometimes forms on the teeth.—adjs. Tar-tā′reous, Tar′tarous, consisting of, or resembling, tartar; Tartar′ic, pertaining to, or obtained from, tartar.—v.t. Tar′tarise, to impregnate or treat with tartar.—adjs. Tartral′ic, Tartrel′ic, derived from tartar.—n. Tar′trāte, a salt of tartaric acid.—Tartar emetic, a compound of potassium and antimony.—Cream of tartar (see Cream). [Fr. tartre—Low L. tartarum—Ar. durd, dregs.]
Tartar, tär′tar, n. a native of Tartary in Asia: an irritable person, or one too strong for his assailant.
Tartarus, tär′ta-rus, n. the lower world generally, but esp. the place of punishment for the wicked, according to Homer, a deep and sunless abyss, as far below Hades as earth is below heaven, and closed in by iron gates—(Shak.) Tar′tar: (Spens.) Tar′tary.—adj. Tartā′rean. [L.,—Gr. tartaros.]