More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Spithead
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a roadstead on the S. coast of England, and a favorite rennavy; is the E. dezvous of the British v.) being the division-the SOLENT (q. the Isle W.-of the strait that separates It is proof Wight from the mainland. except those from tected from all winds, warthe S. E., and its noted security has been applied ranted the name which bed-chamto it by sailors of the "king's from the ber." It receives its name S. from "Spit," a sandbank stretching miles; and it the Hampshire shore for 3 miles in aveis 14 miles long by about 4 has been strongly rage breadth. Spithead fortifications comdefended since 1864 by pleting those of Portsmouth.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a roadstead between the Isle of Wight and the English mainland. It is protected by a two-mile line of forts, and is a place of rendezvous for the British navy. It is so well fortified that it has been nicknamed "The King's Bedchamber."
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Sporades
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the general name for a group of small islands in the Grecian Archipelago, lying to the E. of the Cyclades. They belonged formerly partly to Greece and partly to Turkey. The principal are Scio, or Chios, Samos, Cos, Rhodes, Lesbos, and Patmos. By the Treaty of Peace with Turkey the islands were allotted to Italy, but they had to be ceded to Greece, with the exception of Rhodes, in the signing of the Treaty.
1000 Classical Characters: A group of scattered islands in the Aegean Sea , off the island of Crete and the western coast of Asia Minor, so called in opposition to the Cyclades, which lay in a circle around Delos.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Sprat
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the Clupea sprattus, a wellknown fish, common on all Atlantic coasts of Europe, extending to the Baltic and the W. half of the Mediterranean. Scales smooth and easily shed; lower jaw prominent, oval patch of small teeth on tongue.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Herring
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Squash
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a member of the gourd family closely related to the pumpkin and less so to the cucumber and watermelon. The blossoms are of two kinds,--those with pollen and those with young fruit. Squashes are of two types. The crooknecks or bush varieties are usually American, though the winter crookneck is probably from eastern Asia. The other type with long running vine is American. It is well represented by the Hubbard squash. If the younger squashes be removed, leaving but few on a vine, the fruit will be larger. The Hubbard is the best keeper. To insure keeping, the stem should be cut, not broken off, and the fruit should be left in the sun until the end of the stem is dry. The enemies of the squash--bugs and cutworms--are so determined and so difficult to kill except by hand work that three or four times as many seed should be placed in a hill as are desired. It is an easy matter to thin them out later. The name--squash--is of American Indian origin. Botanically, the squash, like the pumpkin, is a large, hollow berry. See Gourd ; Pumpkin ; Hallowe'En
Collier's New Encyclopedia: in botany and horticulture, a popular name for any species of the genus Cucurbita; specifically, C. melopepo. Leaves cordate, obtuse, somewhat five-lobed; tendrils denticulated, or converted into small leaves; calyx with the throat much dilated; fruit flattened at both ends with white, dry, spongy fruit which keeps fresh for many months. It is boiled and eaten with meat.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Squire
Collier's New Encyclopedia: an attendant on a knight; a knight's shield or armor-bearer. (2) An (2 attendant on a person of noble or royal rank; hence, colloquially, an attendant on a lady; a beau, a gallant; a male companion, a close attendant or follower. (3) The title of a gentleman next in rank to a knight. (4) A title popularly given to a country gentleman. (5) A title given to magistrates and lawyers in some parts of the United States. In New England it is given especially to justices of the peace and judges; in Pennsylvania to justices of the peace only.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Chivalry
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Stadium
Collier's New Encyclopedia: in Greek antiquities, measure of 125 geometrical paces or 625 Roman feet, 606 feet 9 inches of English measure, and thus somewhat less than an English furlong. It was the principal Greek measure of length. Also the course for foot races at Olympia in Greece, and elsewhere. It was exactly a stadium in length. The name is also applied to amphitheaters and college athletic fields, as the Harvard Stadium, and the Palmer Stadium at Princeton.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a Greek measure of distance. The word is akin to stand and station. The Greek race course was supposed to be an exact stadium in length. Measurements of the stadium at Athens and that at Olympus and other Greek cities show that the official stadium was from 603 to 610 feet in length, or equivalent to an English furlong. The Romans used the same unit of length, eight of which made a Roman mile.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Staff
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a kind of artificial stone used for covering and ornamenting buildings. It is made chiefly of powdered gypsum or plaster of Paris, with a little cement, glycerin, and dextrine, mixed with water until it is about as thick as molasses, when it may be cast in molds into any shape. To strengthen it coarse cloth or bagging, or fibers of hemp or jute, are put into the molds before casting. It becomes hard enough in about a half hour to be removed and fastened on the building in construction. Staff may easily be bent, sawed, bored, or nailed. Its natural color is murky white, but it may be made of any tiat to resemble any kind of stone. Staff was invented in France about 1876 and was used in the construction and ornamentation of the buildings of the Paris Expositions of 1878 and of 1890. It was also largely used in the construction of the buildings of the Columbian Exhibition at Chicago in 1893, at the Omaha and Buffalo Expositions in 1898 and 1900, and at later expositions and on temporary buildings of other kinds. ORGANIZATION, UNITED STATES.
American Watchmaker and Jeweler: An axis or arbor.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and American Watchmaker and Jeweler
Staffa
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a celebrated island on the W. of Scotland, 4 miles S. W. of Ulva, 6 N. by E. of Iona, and 54 W. of Oban. It forms an oval uneven table-land, rising at its highest to 144 feet above the water, 1½ miles in circumference, and 71 acres in area. In the N. E., in the lee of the prevailing winds, is a tract of low shore, stretching out in beaches and forming a landing place; but elsewhere the coast is girt with cliffs from 84 to 112 feet D
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Fingal'S Cave
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia