Note: The continents are now usually regarded as six in number: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. But other large bodies of land are also reffered to as continents; as, the Antarctic continent; the continent of Greenland. Europe, Asia, and Africa are often grouped together as the Eastern Continent, and North and South America as the Western Continent. The Continent, the main land of Europe, as distinguished from the islands, especially from England.
CONTINENTAL
Con`ti*nen"tal, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a continent.
2. Of or pertaining to the main land of Europe, in distinction from the adjacent islands, especially England; as, a continental tour; a continental coalition. Macaulay. No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of continental alliances. Hallam.
3. (Amer. Hist.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the confederated colonies collectively, in the time of the Revolutionary War; as, Continental money. The army before Boston was designated as the Continental army, in contradistinction to that under General Gage, which was called the "Ministerial army." W. Irving. Continental Congress. See under Congress. — Continental system (Hist.), the blockade of Great Britain ordered by Napoleon by the decree of Berlin, Nov. 21, 1806; the object being to strike a blow at the maritime and commercial supremacy of Great Britain, by cutting her off from all intercourse with the continent of Europe.
CONTINENTAL
Con`ti*nen"tal, n. (Amer. Hist.)
Defn: A soldier in the Continental army, or a piece of the
Continental currency. See Continental, a., 3.
CONTINENTAL DRIVE
Con`ti*nen"tal drive. (Automobiles)
Defn: A transmission arrangement in which the longitudinal crank shaft drives the rear wheels through a clutch, change-speed gear, countershaft, and two parallel side chains, in order.