ORFRAYS Or"frays, n. Etym: [OF. orfrais, F. orfroi; F. or gold + fraise, frise, fringe, ruff. See Fraise, and cf. Auriphrygiate.]
Defn: See Orphrey. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
ORGAL
Or"gal, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Argol. [Obs.]
ORGAN Or"gan, n. Etym: [L. organum, Gr. work: cf. F. organe. See Work, and cf. Orgue, Orgy.]
1. An instrument or medium by which some important action is performed, or an important end accomplished; as, legislatures, courts, armies, taxgatherers, etc., are organs of government.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A natural part or structure in an animal or a plant, capable of performing some special action (termed its function), which is essential to the life or well-being of the whole; as, the heart, lungs, etc., are organs of animals; the root, stem, foliage, etc., are organs of plants.
Note: In animals the organs are generally made up of several tissues, one of which usually predominates, and determines the principal function of the organ. Groups of organs constitute a system. See System.
3. A component part performing an essential office in the working of any complex machine; as, the cylinder, valves, crank, etc., are organs of the steam engine.