13. A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone. [Obs.] " Now do I play the touch." Shak. A neat new monument of touch and alabaster. Fuller.
14. Hence, examination or trial by some decisive standard; test;
proof; tried quality.
Equity, the true touch of all laws. Carew.
Friends of noble touch . Shak.
15. (Mus.)
Defn: The particular or characteristic mode of action, or the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers; as, a heavy touch, or a light touch, also, the manner of touching, striking, or pressing the keys of a piano; as, a legato touch; a staccato touch.
16. (Shipbilding)
Defn: The broadest part of a plank worked top and but (see Top and but, under Top, n.), or of one worked anchor-stock fashion (that is, tapered from the middle to both ends); also, the angles of the stern timbers at the counters. J. Knowles.
17. (Football)
Defn: That part of the field which is beyond the line of flags on either side. Encyc. of Rural Sports.
18. A boys' game; tag. In touch (Football), outside of bounds. T. Hughes. — To be in touch, to be in contact, or in sympathy. — To keep touch. (a) To be true or punctual to a promise or engagement [Obs.]; hence, to fulfill duly a function. My mind and senses keep touch and time. Sir W. Scott. (b) To keep in contact; to maintain connection or sympathy;-with with or of. — Touch and go, a phrase descriptive of a narrow escape. — True as touch (i.e., touchstone), quite true. [Obs.]
TOUCHABLE
Touch"a*ble, a.