(b) A similar instrument the blades of which are extensions of a curved spring, — used for shearing sheep or skins. (c) A shearing machine; a blade, or a set of blades, working against a resisting edge.
2. Anything in the form of shears. Specifically: (a) A pair of wings. [Obs.] Spenser. (b) An apparatus for raising heavy weights, and especially for stepping and unstepping the lower masts of ships. It consists of two or more spars or pieces of timber, fastened together near the top, steadied by a guy or guys, and furnished with the necessary tackle. [Written also sheers.]
3. (Mach.)
Defn: The bedpiece of a machine tool, upon which a table or slide rest is secured; as, the shears of a lathe or planer. See Illust. under Lathe. Rotary shears. See under Rotary.
SHEAR STEEL
Shear steel.
Defn: See under Shear.
SHEARTAIL Shear"tail`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The common tern. (b) Any one of several species of humming birds of the genus Thaumastura having a long forked tail.
SHEARWATER
Shear"wa`ter, n. Etym: [Shear + water; cf. G. wassersherer; — so
called from its running lightly along the surface of the water.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of long-winged oceanic birds of the genus Puffinus and related genera. They are allied to the petrels, but are larger. The Manx shearwater (P. Anglorum), the dusky shearwater (P. obscurus), and the greater shearwater (P. major), are well-known species of the North Atlantic. See Hagdon.
SHEATFISH
Sheat"fish`, n. Etym: [Cf. dial. G. scheid, schaid, schaiden.]
(Zoöl.)