Omagh
the county town of Tyrone, , on the Strule, 34 Ireland miles S. of Londonderry and 110 N. N. W. of Dublin. It grew up around an abbey found ed in 792, but is first heard of as a fortress in the end of the 15th century, when it was forced to surrender to the English. It formed part of James I.'s "Plantation" grants, and was strongly garrisoned by Mountjoy. On its being - evacuated by the troops of James II, in 1689 it was partially burned, and a second fire in 1743 completed its destruction. But it has been well rebuilt, and is now neat and prosperous town. Pop. ) 4,836. a (1918
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Omaha
UNIVERSITY OF, a coeducational institution in Omaha, Neb.; founded in 1880 under the auspices of. the Presbyterian Church; reported at the close of 1919: Professors and instructors, 73; students, 509. President, D. E. Jenkins, Ph. D.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Omahas
a tribe of North American Indians living in E. Nebraska. They number about 1,400. The name is derived from an Indian word meaning "those who go up the stream, or against the current."
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Oman
CHARLES WILLIAM CHADWICK, British historian, born in India, 1860; graduate of Oxford; became deputy professor of modern history there in 1900. In 1905 he was elected to the British Academy of Sciences Among his best known works are: Short History of the Byzantine Empire ( 1892); " A History of Europe, 476 to 918" (1893) Art of War in the Middle Ages" (1898); and a "History of England" (6 vols., 1905).
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Oman (GULF OF an arm of the Arabian)
GULF OF, an arm of the Arabian Sea, between Oman and the S. coast of Persia. It is connected with the Persian Gulf by the Strait of Ormuz. OMAR I., Caliph of the Mussulmans, the successor of Abu-Bekr, and fatherin-law of Mohammed. He began his reign A. D. 634, and is conspicuous among the conquerors who chiefly contributed to the spread of Ilsamism. His generals drove the Greeks out of Syria and Phœnicia; and the Caliph himself took possession of Jerusalem in 638, till it was reconquered by Godfrey of Bouillon, at the end of the 11th century. Amru, one of his generals, defeated the troops of Heraclius, near Antioch, in 641. Memphis and Alexandria surrendered; all Egypt and a part of Libya were conquered from the Romans; and the famous library, which had been founded at Alexandria by Ptolemy Philadelphus, is said to have been burnt by the express order of Omar I. Having fixed his residence at Medina, he was there assassinated by a Persian slave, in the 10th year of his reign, A. D. 643. He refused to appoint a successor; and thus the caliphate became elective. He introduced the system of standing armies, and a police force. OMAR II., the eighth Caliph of the Ommiades, great-grandson of the preceding, and succeeded Solyman in 717. He laid siege to Constantinople, but was forced to raise it, on account of a violent storm, which destroyed a great part of his fleet. He was poisoned in 720.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Oman (MUSKAT a sultanate in Arabia)
or MUSKAT, a sultanate in Arabia (British Protectorate), partly on the Persian Gulf, partly on the Indian Ocean; area, estimated at 82,000 square miles; pop. about 500,000. The chief features of the country are stretches of barren sand or rock, mountains reaching the height of 10,000 feet; fertile valleys and plains, yielding abundance of grain, sugar, fruits, cotton, coffee, etc., Oman being the richest part of the Arabian peninsula both in agricultural products and in mineral treasures. The inhabitants are very superstitious and immoral. They are mostly Arabs. The form of government is a monarchy (the ruler being styled Imam), limited by a powerful aristocracy with hereditary privileges. Zanzibar and its dependencies formerly belonged to Oman. The capital is Muskat. Pop. 24,000. Since 1913 the interior has been in a state of continuous revolt. The Sultan's power really only extends along the sea-coast.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Ombay
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) MALOEWA, or MALUWA, Malay Archipelago, one of the Sunda Islands between Celebes and the N. W. . coast of Australia, from which it is sep- The " A arated by the Strait of Ombay. " hills are volcanic, and the coasts steep from and difficult to approach. The inhabibrown, have thick lips , ; "A History of the tants are dark brown, ; flat nose, and woolly hair; appearin to be of mixed Negro and Malay origin. They are armed with the bow, spear, and creese, and live on the produce of the chase, with fish, cocoanuts, rice, and honey. A portion of the island formerly beyonged to the Portuguese, but since Aug. 6, 1851, it has entirely become a Netherlands possession; included in the Residency of Timor. Pop. about 194,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Omega
the name for the Greek long o. It was the last letter in the Greek alphabet, as alpha was the first. Inscriptions on tombstones, public documents, etc., very often began with these two letters, meaning, "In the name of God."
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Omen
a sign believed to prognosticate a future event. Omens have been common among most nations, but were chiefly received in the ruder ages, and among the more ignorant of a people. in the present day, in many parts Even of England and the United States, a superstitious belief in omens exists. The howling of a dog by night is believed to presage a death in the neighborhood. The screeching of the owl and the croaking of the raven have, both in ancient and modern times, been regarded as omens of some dire calamity. To present a knife, scissors, razor, or other sharp or cutting inst instrument to one's friend is unlucky, as they are apt to divide love and friendship. The list could be multiplied indefinitely. Fishermen and sailors are particularly influenced by omens, which they fancy they discover in the most trivial circumstances. To lose a bucket, or to throw a cat overboard, is believed to be very unlucky. Whistling is supposed to raise the wind. By a regard to these things, many persons add very considerably to their proper share of human misery without any countervailing amount of good.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia