The Probert E-Text Encyclopaedia
First Published, June 1996
Third Edition, August 1996
Introduction to the third edition
The Probert E-Text Encyclopaedia is intended to satisfy the need for a
freely distributable, machine readable, general knowledge reference
work. In addition, it seeks to address more obscure issues which
existing general knowledge multimedia encyclopaedias may omit, in this
way providing a useful supplement to existing commercial applications.
Following the success and popularity of the previous editions of the
Probert E-Text Encyclopaedia I have now considerably enlarged and
corrected the text. There is still a lot of data which should be
added, and enlarged editions will follow. Please contact the author
for details of the latest edition, details of other formats including
CSV and HTML.
Matthew Probert
Basingstoke
August 9th 1996
ANIMAL ANATOMY
Acetabulum
Acetabulum is an anatomical term applied to any cup-like cavity, as that
of a bone to receive the protuberant end of another bone.
Adam's Apple
Adam's Apple is the popular name for the thyroid cartilage. That is the
prominence seen in the front of the throat of man. It is small and
invisible in females. It is so called from the notion that a piece of the
forbidden fruit stuck in Adam's throat.
Adenoids
Adenoids is the pathological enlargement of the lymphoid tissue.
Adipose tissue
Adipose tissue is a form of connective tissue in which the constituent
cells are modified to enable them to contain droplets of oil. (Fat).
Adrenal glands
The adrenal glands are a pair of glands on the kidneys which secrete
adrenalin and other hormones.
Alimentary
The alimentary canal is the channel in an animal through which food
passes.
Alveoli
see "Alveolu"
Alveolus
An alveolus is a lung air sac where gas exchange with the blood occurs.
Amitosis
Amitosis is the anatomical term given to cell reproduction by direct
division. The nucleus becomes constricted in the middle, forming an hour-
glass shape and then divides into two. This is followed by a division of
the whole protoplasmic mass of the cell; two daughter cells are thus
formed, each containing a nucleus. Direct division occurs in leucocytes
and bone-cells, and in the epithelial cells lining the urinary bladder.
Amnion
The amnion is a membranous sac which surrounds the embryo; it is
developed in reptiles, birds and mammals, but not in amphibia or fishes.
Anaphase
Anaphase is the 3rd stage of mitosis cell reproduction. The centromeres
split into 2 halves which repel each other.
Anatomy
Anatomy describes the structure and organisation of living creatures.
Anconeus
The Anconeus is a muscle in the human arm. It assists the Triceps in
extending the elbow-joint.
Ankle
The ankle is the joint connecting the foot with the leg.
Antenna
An antenna is a sensory organ found on the head of insects.
Antibody
An antibody is a bodily protein that inactivates infection.
Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the human body. It carries blood from
the heart to the arms, legs and head.
Aqueous humour
The Aqueous humour is the watery fluid found in the space between the
cornea and the lens of the eyes of vertebrates.
Areolar tissue
Areolar tissue is a generalised form of connective tissue in which the
constituent cells are separated by a semi-fluid matrix in which both
white connective tissue and yellow elastic fibres are found.
Arm
The arm is a limb extending from the shoulder of an animal.
Artery
An artery is a vessel that conveys blood from the heart.
Atlas
In anatomy, the 1st cervical vertebrae is called the atlas because it
supports the globe of the head.
Auricle
The auricles are resevoirs within the heart which receive blood from the
veins.
Axis
In anatomy, the 2nd cervical vertebrae is called the axis. It provides
the pivot for the atlas and the head.
Biceps
The biceps are a long fusiform muscle on the front of the arm. They are
used to flex the elbows.
Bile
Bile is a secretion of the liver stored in the gall bladder.
Bladder
The bladder is a sack in the abdomen which collects urine from the
kidneys.
Blood
Blood is a body fluid that carries food and oxygen to cells.
Blubber
Blubber is the thick coating of fat enveloping whales.
Bone
Bone is the hard skeletal part of an animal.
Bowel
The bowels is a popular term for the division of the alimentary canal
below the stomach, that is the intestines.
Bowels
see "Bowel"
Brachialis
The Brachialis is a muscle covering the front of the human elbow-joint.
It is used to flex the elbow.
Brain
The brain is the central organ of the nervous system.
Bronchi
The bronchial tubes (bronchi) are a division of the trachea which branch
repeatedly into small bronchioles within the lungs.
Bronchial
see "Bronchi"
Calcaneum
In human anatomy, the calcaneum is the largest and strongest of the
tarsal bones. It projects backwards beyond the bones of the leg to
provide a lever for the muscles of the calf.
Capillary
A capillary is a fine blood vessel which carries blood to cells.
Capitate bone
The capitate bone is the largest bone in the human wrist.
Carpus
The carpus are the bones of the human wrist.
Cartilage
Cartilage or cartilaginous tissue covers the ends of the bones where they
come together to make a joint. It enables the bones to move easily.
Cartilaginous joint
In anatomy, a cartilaginous joint is an articulation where the bones are
joined by cartilage, and a limited amount of movement is possible.
Cell
A cell, in biological terms, is the material unit of all living things.
Cephalic
Cephalic is a classification of human skull. It refers to the shape of
skull posessed by Kaffirs and Native Australians.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is the lower part of the brain, it controls muscular
movements and postural equilibrium.
Cerebrum
The cerebrum is the upper and larger portion of the brain and occupies
the whole of the dome of the cranium.
Cervical vertebrae
The cervical vertebrae are the 7 vertebrae closest to the skull.
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle is a long bone which lies almost
horizontally at the root of the neck. It serves 2 main functions; to act
as a prop which braces back the shoulder and enables the limb to swing
clear of the trunk. And to transmit part of the weight of the limb to the
axial skeleton.
Coccyx
In human anatomy, the coccyx is the bone at the apex of the sacrum. It is
usually comprised of 4 vertebrae fused together.
Colon
The colon is the large intestine.
Connective tissue
Connective tissue is derived from the mesenchyme and includes a number of
tissues which have a passive, binding function. In a connective tissue
the parent cells are separated more or less widely from one another by a
homogeneous matrix or ground substance, in which fibres may or may not be
present.
Coracobrachialis
The Coracobrachialis is a human muscle used to draw the arm forwards and
prevent side-sway when the arm is raised by the Deltoid.
Coracoid Bone
In birds, the Coracoid Bone is the bone joining the sternum to the
shoulder and supporting the wing. In mammals it is represented by the
coracoid process of the scapula.
Costal Cartilages
In human anatomy, the costal cartilages are bars of hyaline cartilage
which extend forwards from the anterior ends of the ribs and contribute
to the elasticity of the thorax.
Cuneiform bones
The cuneiform bones are three bones in the human foot behind the first
three metatarsal bones.
Cuticle
The cuticle is the horny outside layer of skin.
Deltoid
The deltoid muscle is a triangular muscle in the shoulder used to lift
the upper arm.
Desmology
Desmology is the branch of anatomy dealing with ligaments and sinews.
Diaphragm
The diaphragm is a large transverse muscle at the base of the thorax,
used in respiration to draw air into the lungs.
Diploe
Diploe is the anatomical term for the spongy substance between flat
bones.
Dura Mater
The dura mater is the membrane which covers the brain.
Ear
The ear is the organ used for hearing. It converts sound into electrical
impulses that are fed to the brain.
Eggs
see "Egg"
Endocrine gland
An endocrine gland is one which secretes hormones into the body.
Epidermis
The epidermis is the outer layer of an animal's skin.
Epiglottis
The epiglottis is a fibro-cartilaginous lid shaped like a leaf which
covers the upper opening of the larynx.
Epithelium
Epithelium is an anatomical term a basic type of bodily tissue. It
comprises the external surface of the skin, the internal surfaces of the
digestive, respiratory and urogenital systems and others. The constituent
cells of an epithelium are always closely packed together and the
intercellular substance is reduced to a minimum.
Erythrocyte
Erythrocyte is the anatomical term for red corpuscles.
Exocrine gland
An exocrine gland is one which secretes onto a surface. Such as a sweat
gland.
Eye
The eye is the organ of vision.
Fallopian tubes
The Fallopian tubes are two tubes in mammals which carry eggs from the
ovary to the uterus. Eggs are fertilised in the Fallopian tubes by sperm,
and then moved to the ovary by way of cilia.
Femur
The femur is the thigh bone in the human leg.
Fibrous joint
In anatomy, a fibrous joint is an articulation in which the surfaces of
the bones are fastened together by intervening fibrous tissue, and in
which there is no appreciable motion, as in the joints between the bones
of the human cranium.
Fibrous Joints
In anatomy, fibrous joints are articulations in which the surfaces of the
bones are fastened together by intervening fibrous tissue, and in which
there is no appreciable motion. For example between the bones of the
cranium.
Fibula
The fibula is the lateral bone of the leg. It is slender, compared to the
tibia. It's purpose is to give attachment to the muscles.
Flagellum
Flagellum are a small hair-like organ on the surface of certain cells.
They are the motile organs of the sperm cells of higher animals.
Flat bone
In human anatomy, flat bones occur where the principal requirement of the
skeleton is to protect delicate structures or provide broad surfaces for
muscular attachment. The bones are comprised of two thin layers of
compact bone separated by a variable quantity of spongy substance.
Flat bones
In human anatomy, flat bones provide protection and a broad surface for
muscular attachment. They are formed of two thin layers of compact bone
separated by a spongy substance.
Foetus
A foetus is an unborn offspring of an animal.
Follicle
A follicle is a small group of cells that surrounds and nourishes a
structure such as a hair (hair follicle) or a cell such as an egg
(Graafian follicle).
Fontanelle
The fontanelle is a membrane covered vault in the skull. It normally
closes during infancy.
Fovea
The fovea is a small depression in the retina where vision is most acute.
Frontal bone
The frontal bone is the plate at the front of the top of the human skull.
It forms the forehead.
Gall Bladder
The gall bladder is a small muscular sac attached to the liver.
Ganglion
A ganglion is an enlargment occuring somewhere in the course of a nerve,
and containing nerve cells in addition to nerve filaments.
Gastric Juice
Gastric Juice is a clear, colourless fluid secreted by the mucous
membrane of the stomach, and is the chief agent in digestion.
Gastric System
The Gastric System refers to all parts of the body which contribute to
digestion.
Gastrocnemius
The Gastrocnemius is a muscle forming most of the human calf.
Gill
see "Gills"
Gills
Gills are a respiratory organ found in animals which obtain oxygen from
water, such as crustaceans, molluscs, fish and amphibians.
Gizzard
The gizzard is a strong muscular part of a bird's alimentary canal which
enables them to grind their food. Gizzards also occur in many
gasteropods, and in certain cephalopods and crustaceans.
Gland
A gland is a bodily organ that manufactures and secretes enzymes,
hormones or other chemicals.
Gluteus maximus
The Gluteus maximus is a large muscle in the human back-side.
Gnathic
Gnathic is a classification of human skull shape found in Europeans.
Graafian Vesicles
The Graafian Vesicles are numerous small globular transparent follicles
found in the ovaries of mammals. Each follicle contains one ovum whic is
expelled when it reaches maturity.
Haemoglobin
Haemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen in the blood.
Hallux
The hallux is the innermost of the five digits which normally compose the
hind foot of a vertebrate. In humans the big toe, in a bird the hind toe.
Hamate bone
The hamate bone is one of the bones in the human wrist.
Haversian Canals
The Haversian Canals are a network of minute canals, which traverse the
solid substance of bones and proceed from the central cavity. They convey
nutrient vessels to all parts.
Heart
The heart is the muscle in vertebrates which pumps blood around the body.
Hormone
A hormone is a product of the endocrine glands.
Humerus
The humerus is the long bone in the upper region of the human arm. It
joins with the shoulder at the glenoid cavity.
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is the region of the human brain below the cerebrum
which regulates rhythmic activity and physiological stability within the
body, including water balance and temperature.
Ileum
The ileum is a continuation of the jejunum and opens into the colon.
Iliacus
The Iliacus is a muscle in the human thigh.
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas.
Interossei
Interossei are muscles in the human hand and foot.
Intestine
The intestine is the convoluted membranous tube which extends from the
stomach to the anus and which receives the ingested food from the
stomach, mixes it with bile, pancreatic juice and intestinal secretions,
gives origin to the chyle and delivers the indigestible products from the
system.
Intestines
see "Intestine"
Irregular bones
In anatomy, irregular bones are bones which do not fit into any of the
other bone types. They are comprised of a spongy substance enclosed
within a thin layer of compact bone.
Jejunum
The jejunum is the second part of the human small intestine. It is about
9 feet long.
Joint
A joint is a structure where two bones meet.
Jugular vein
The jugular vein returns blood from the head to the heart in vertebrates.
Kidney
The kidney is a gland used for filtering urine from the blood.
Kidneys
see "Kidney"
Labrum
The labrum is the ventral lobe in the front of an insect's head which
covers the mouth parts.
Lachrymal gland
The lachrymal gland is a gland beneath the upper eye lid which secretes
tears which drain from the inner corner of the eye through the Lachrymal
duct to the nose.
Lacteals
Lacteals are small lymphatic vessels which arise from the mucous membrane
lining of the small bowel.
Lambdoidal suture
The lambdoidal suture is a fissure which divides the parietal bone from
the occipital bone in the human skull.
Larynx
The larynx is a cavity at the top of the trachea containing the vocal
cords.
Leucocyte
Leucocytes is the anatomical term for colourless corpuscles. (White blood
cells).
Leucocytes
Leucocytes is the anatomical term for colourless corpuscles. (White blood
cells).
Lip
The lips are the fleshy edges of the opening of the mouth.
Liver
The liver is the largest gland in the human body. The liver has three
functions: it secretes bile, stores glycogen and converts waste products
into urea and uric acid for excretion.
Long bones
In human anatomy, long bones are found in the limbs where they form
levers. They have a hollow shaft.
Longus capitis
The longus capitis is the human muscle which flexes the head.
Longus cervicis
The longus cervicis is the human muscle which bends the cervical portion
of the vertebral column forwards.
Lumbar vertebrae
In human anatomy, the lumbar vertebrae are the 5 vertebrae following the
thoracic vertebrae.
Lumbricals
The Lumbricals are muscles in the human fingers used in writing etc.
Lunate bone
The lunate bone is one of the bones in the human wrist.
Lung
see "Lungs"
Lungs
The lungs are organs used for respiration.
Malleus
The malleus is a small bone in the middle ear which transmits sound
vibrations from the tympanum to the incus.
Mandible
In human anatomy, the mandible is the bone at the front and bottom of the
skull (lower jaw).
Masseter
The masseter is the human muscle which moves the mandible for chewing.
Maxilla
The maxilla is the bone comprising the upper jaw in the human skull.
Maxillae
The maxillae form the upper jaw of the human skull.
Maxillary artery
In human anatomy, the maxillary artery is the larger terminal branch of
the external cartoid artery. It rises behind the neck of the mandible and
is at first imbedded in the partoid gland. It passes forwards between the
neck of the mandible and the sphenomandibular ligament and then to the
Lateral pterygoid and enters the pterygopalatine fossa between the two
heads of that muscle.
Mentalis
The mentalis is a muscle in the human face, it raises and protudes the
lower lip and wrinkles the skin of the chin.
Metacarpal
see "Metacarpus"
Metacarpus
The metacarpus are the five bones of the human palm.
Metaphase
Metaphase is the 2nd stage of mitosis cell reproduction. The chromosomes
have become irregular V shaped and arrange themselves around the equator.
Metatarsal
see "Metatarsus"
Metatarsus
The metatarsus are the 5 bones in the anterior part of the human foot.
They are between the tarsus and the phalanges.
Mitosis
Mitosis is cell reproduction by indirect division. It is the common
method of division in the higher animals. It is characterised by a series
of complex changes in the nucleus leading to its subdivision. The process
takes between 30 minutes and a few hours, and is comprised of 4 stages:
prophase, metaphase, anaphase and Telophase.
Mucin
Mucin is a protein and the principal constituent of mucus.
Mucous
Mucous is a term for surfaces which secret or are covered with mucus.
Mucus
Mucus is a thick fluid secreted by mucus membranes in animals. It acts as
a protective barrier, lubricant and a carrier of enzymes.
Nasal
Nasal is a classification of human skull shape found in primarily in
Negroes.
Neck
The neck is the part of the body which connects the head with the
shoulders.
Nerve
The nerves are a part of the body which generate and transmit electrical
impulses.
Nose
The nose is an animal's organ of smell.
Occipital bone
The occipital bone is the plate forming the back of the human skull.
Occipitofrontalis
The occipitofrontalis is the broad muscle of the human scalp.
Oesophageal
Oesophageal is a secretion from the membrane of the oesophagus. It is a
mucus lubricant to assist peristalsis.
Oestrogen
Oestrogen is a hormone produced in the ovary of a vertebrate.
Omentum
The omentum is a long fold of the peritoneum. It is loaded with fat and
lies in front of the bowels in the abdominal cavity. It protects the
bowels and keeps them warm.
Orbicularis oculi
The orbicularis oculi is the broad, flat, elliptical muscle which
occupies the human eylids and spreads down towards the cheek.
Orbit
In human anatomy, the orbits are a pair of roomy cavities in the skull
which contain the eyes.
Orbital
Orbital is a classification of human skull shape and refers to the skulls
of Tasmanians.
Orbital opening
The orbital openings are the eye-sockets in the human skull.
Os calcis
The Os calcis is the heel bone of the human foot.
Osseous tissue
see "bone"
Palatine bones
The palatine bones are part of the floor of the nasal cavity and the roof
of the mouth in the human skull.
Pancreas
The pancreas is an elongated secreting gland which secretes pancreatic
juice and insulin.
Parathyroid Glands
The parathyroid glands are two small glands in the neck concerned with
the use of calcium in the body.
Parietal bone
The parietal bone is the plate on the top of the human skull, comprising
most of the dome of the skull.
Parietal bones
The parietal bones form the sides and the roof of the human cranium.
Patella
The patella is the largest of the sesamoid bones. It is situated in front
of the knee-joint. It is a flattened, triangular bone.
Pectineus
The Pectineus is a muscle in the human thigh.
Pelvis
The pelvis is a bony girdle in vertebrates that connects the body with
the lower extremities.
Pericardium
The Pericardium is a conical, fibroserous sac containing the human heart
and the roots of the major veins and arteries.
Phalange
The phalanges are the bones of the human digits (fingers).
Piriformis
The Piriformis is a muscle in the human hip.
Pisiform bone
The pisiform bone is one of the bones in the human wrist.
Pituitary gland
The pituitary gland is a gland within the brain concerned with regulating
growth and regulating other ductless glands.
Placenta
The placenta connects a foetus to the uterine wall. It is the organ by
means of which the nutritive, respiratory and excretory functions of the
foetus are carried on.
Plantais
The Plantais is a muscle in the leg.
Plasma
Plasma is the liquid part of the blood.
Platysma
The platysma is a neck muscle in the human body.
Procerus
The procerus is a muscle in the human nose.
Progesterone
Progesterone is a hormone that regulates the menstrual cycle in
vertebrates.
Prophase
Prophase is the 1st stage in mitosis cell reproduction. The nucleolus
disappears and a number of chromosomes become apparent.
Pulmonary Artery
The pulmonary artery opens out of the right ventricle in the human heart
and conveys venous blood to the lungs for collecting oxygen.
Quadrate Bone
The Quadrate Bone is a bone developed in reptiles and birds by means of
which the lower jaw is articulated to the skull.
Radius
The radius is one of the two long bones which form the human lower arm.
Rectum
The rectum is the lowest portion of the large intestine, terminating at
the anus.
Rib
In anatomy, the ribs are elastic arches of bone which are connected
behind with the vertebral column and form a large part of the skeleton of
the thorax.
Sacrum
In human anatomy, the sacrum is the large triangular bone inserted like a
wedge between the two hip bones. It is formed by the fusion of the five
sacral vertebrae.
Sagittal suture
The sagittal suture is the fissure running along the length of the top of
the human skull dividing the parietal bone into two hemispheres.
Saliva
Saliva is a secretion from the salivary glands in the oral cavity. It
contains mucus to lubricate food and enzymes.
Scaphoid
The scaphoid is a small bone in the human hand.
Scaphoid bone
The scaphoid bone is one of the bones in the human wrist.
Sciatic
The sciatic is a nerve in the leg.
Sclerous tissue
Sclerous tissue provides the stiffening which is essential for the
formation of the general framework of the body. There are two varieties
of sclerous tissue: cartilage and bone.
Sebaceous glands
The sebaceous glands are ducts in the skin which secrete oil to lubricate
the skin and hair.
Secretin
Secretin is a hormone produced by the small intestine in vertebrates that
stimulates the production of digestive secretions.
Semitendinosus
The Semitendinosus is a muscle in the human thigh.
Septum
A septum is a muscular partition seperating the two sides of the human
heart.
Short bone
In human anatomy, short bones occur where the skeleton is intended for
strength. Short bones consist of a spongy substance surrounded by a thin
crust of compact bone.
Short bones
In human anatomy, short bones are part of the skeleton designed for
strength and compactness. They are comprised of a spongy substance
surrounded by a thin crust of compact bone.
Sinus
A sinus is an air-filled space in the diploe of a skull bone.
Skeleton
The skeleton is the hard internal or external framework of bones,
cartilage or shell which provides protection for an animals organs,
provides fixing points for the muscles and a general frame for the body.
Skin
In the human body, skin, or Dermoid Tissue, is composed of two layers,
the cuticle, epidermis or epithelium and the corium or dermis.
Sphenoid bone
The sphenoid bone is situated at the base of the human skull, in front of
the temporal bones and the basilar part of the occipital bone.
Spinales
The spinales are human muscles which extend the vertebral column.
Spleen
The spleen is an organ of vertebrates that regulates the number of red
blood cells.
Splenii
The splenii are two muscles in the human body, the splenius capitis and
the spelnius cervicis. They are used to move the head backwards, to one
side and to rotate it.
Splenius capitis
see "Splenii"
Splenius cervicis
see "Splenii"
Sternocostalis
The sternocostalis is a muscle in the human body.
Sternohyoid
The sternohyoid is a muscle in the human body which dpresses the hyoid
bone.
Sternomastoid
The sternomastoid is a muscle in the human neck.
Sternum
In anatomy, the sternum is a long flat bone which forms the median
portion of the anterior wall of the thorax. The top of the sternum
supports the clavicles.
Subclavius
The Subclavius is a muscle in the human body between the clavicle and the
first rib. It steadies the clavicle during movements of the shoulder.
Supinator
The Supinator is a muscle surrounding the upper one-third of the radius
in the human arm. It is used to rotate the radius, thereby turning the
palm of the hand forwards.
Suture
A suture is an anatomical term for an articulation found only in the
skull, where the margins of the bones articulate with one another, but
are separated by a thin layer of fibrous tissue (sutural ligament) and is
continuous externally with the periosteum on the outside of the skull and
internally with the fibrous layer of the dura mater.
Synovial joint
In anatomy, a synovial joint is one where the bones are covered with
articular cartilage but are not attached to each other. These joints
allow extensive movement.
Talus
In human anatomy, the talus is the principle connecting link between the
foot and the bones of the leg and has an important part in the formation
of the ankle.
Tapetum
The tapetum is the irregular sector in certain animal's eyes which shines
owing to an absence of black pigment. Tapetum is found in the eyes of
cats.
Tarsal
see "tarsus"
Tarsus
In human anatomy, the tarsus comprises 7 short bones which make up the
skeleton of the posterior half of the foot.
Teat
The teat is the small protuberance at the tip of the breast of female
mammals upon which the ducts of the mammary gland open to supply milk to
the suckling young.
Telophase
Telophase is the 4th stage of mitosis cell reproduction. The nuclear
membrane and the nucleolus reappear and the cytoplasm undergoes
constriction around the equator of the achromatic spindle. The
constriction deepens and the original cell is gradually divided.
Temple
In anatomy, the temple is the flat part either side of the head between
the forehead and the ear.
Temporal bones
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the human skull.
They assist in the protection of the cerebrum and the transmission of
sound waves to the ear.
Temporalis
The temporalis is the human facial muscle which raises the mandible,
closing the mouth.
Tendon
A tendon is a connective tissue that joins muscles to bone in
vertebrates.
Tensor
A tensor is a type of muscle which tightens or stretches a part of the
body.
Testes
Testes is the plural of testis.
Testicle
Testicle is another name for testis.
Testis
The testis is the male organ in which sperm are produced. Most mammals
have two testis enclosed in the scrotum.
Testosterone
Testosterone is the male sex hormone secreted by the testes.
Thalamus
The thalamus is the interior region of the brain where certain important
sensory nerves, especially the optic nerve, originate.
Theca
In anatomy, a theca is a case or sheath which encloses some organ or
part.
Thenar
The thenar is the ball of muscle at the base of the thumb.
Thoracic vertebrae
In anatomy, the thoracic vertebrae are the 12 vertebrae following from
the cervical vertebrae. They provide articulation for the ribs.
Thorax
The thorax in vertebrates is the part of the body containing the heart
and lungs and protected by the rib cage.
Thymus
The thymus is a ductless glandular body situated near the base of the
neck in vertebrates. Its function is uncertain, and in man it disappears
or diminishes soon after childhood.
Thyroid
The thyroid is an endocrine gland near the larynx in vertebrates. It
influences growth and development.
Thyroid gland
see "Thyroid"
Tibia
The tibia is the medial and stronger of the two bones of the leg. It is
prismoid in form, and posesses a shaft and two ends. Its purpose is to
support the weight of the body.
Tibiotarsus
In birds, the tibiotarsus is the equivalent of the tibia, but it is fused
at the lower end with some of the bones of the tarsus.
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a tetrapod.
Tonsils
The tonsils are a pair of small organs on either side of the root of the
tongue composed of lymphatic tissue and instrumental in protecting the
throat from infection.
Tooth
A tooth is a hard structure in the mouth of vertebrates.
Trachea
The trachea (windpipe) carries air from the larynx to the bronchi.
Trapezium
The trapezium is a small bone in the human hand below the little finger.
Trapezium bone
The trapezium bone is one of the bones in the human wrist.
Trapezius
The trapezius is a human muscle. It is a flat, triangular muscle,
covering the back of the neck and shoulder.
Trapezoid bone
The trapezoid bone is one of the bones in the human wrist.
Triceps
The Triceps are muscles situated on the back of the upper arms in the
human body.
Triquetral bone
The triquetral bone is one of the bones in the human wrist.
Trochanter
The trochanter is a protuberance in the upper part of the femur to which
the muscles attach.
Trochoides
In anatomy, a trochoides is a pivot joint.
Trypsin
Trypsin is an enzyme present in pancreatic juice. It converts proteins
into peptones.
Tympanum
The tympanum (middle ear) is a cavity in the temporal bone filled with
air, closed externally by the tympanic membrane and containing a chain of
small bones which convey sound vibrations to the inner ear.
Ulna
The ulnar is one of the two long bones which form the human lower arm. It
connects with the humerus at the elbow.
Unciform
The unciform is a small bone in the human hand below the first finger.
Ureter
The Ureters are two membranous tubes which carry urine from the kidneys
to the bladder in vertebrates.
Urethra
The urethra is a membranous canal which leads from the bladder to the
outside world. It channels urine from the bladder out of the body.
Uterus
The uterus (womb) is the organ in which young are conceived, develope and
are protected until birth.
Vein
A vein carries venous blood from the body to the heart.
Ventricle
The ventricles are chambers within the heart which force blood along the
arteries.
Vertebra
The vertebrae are the bones of the vertebral column. Vertebrae are
irregular bones comprised of two distinct parts, an anterio termed the
body, and a posterior part termed the vertebral arch.
Vertebral column
The vertebral column is the central axis of all vertebrate animals. It is
comprised of a number of independant irregular bones (vertebrae), which
are firmly connected to one another, but are capable of a limited amount
of independant movement.
Vomer
The vomer is a thin flat bone which forms the hinder and lower part of
the septum of the human nose.
Waist
The waist is the part of the body between the ribs and the hips.
Yolk
The yolk is part of an embryo which serves as nutrition for the rest of
the embryo.
Zygomatic bone
In a human, the zygomatic bone is the bone in the skull responsible for
the prominence of the upper and anterior part of the cheek. It forms the
lateral part of the lower margin of the orbital opening.
AIRCRAFT
737
see "Boeing_737"
A129
The A129 is an Italian two-seat light attack helicopter.
Agusta
Agusta is an Italian aircraft manufacturer.
AH-1
The AH-1 is an American two-seat light attack helicopter.
AH-64
The AH-64 is an American two-seat attack helicopter.
Airbus
The airbus is a medium-haul commercial airliner. It was developed by an
international consortium in the 1970s.
AN-12
The Antonov AN-12 (cub) is a Soviet paratroop passenger and freight
transport aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s. It has a top speed of
482mph and is armed with 2 23mm NR-23 cannons in a powered tail turret.
AN-2
The Antonov AN-2 is a Soviet biplane developed in 1947 as a stol
transporter. It has a top speed of 160mph. It is commonly used as a
paratroop trainer.
AN-22
The AN-22 (Antei) is a Soviet heavy logistic transport aircraft. The AN-
22 was developed in the mid 1960s. It has a top speed of 422mph.
AP68-300
see "spartacus"
AV-8b
The AV-8B is a harrier ground attack aircraft.
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a biplane developed during 1913. It was used as a light
reconnaissance bomber and trainer aircraft.
Avro-Manchester
The Avro-Manchester was a British heavy bomber aircraft of the Second
World War. It was powered by two 2000hp rollS-vulture engines providing a
top speed of 325mph. It was armed with two power operated gun turrets,
one in the nose and one on top of the fuselage and a four-gun turret in
the tail.
B-1
The B-1 is an American strategic bomber and cruise missile carrying
aircraft.
BA
BA is an abbreviation for British Aerospace, a British aircraft
manufacturer.
BA 146
The BA 146 is a British short-haul regional airliner.
BA hawk
The BA hawk is a British two seat tandem trainer and light tactical
military aircraft.
BA VC10k
The BA VC10k is a British flight refuelling tanker aircraft.
Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is an American regional airliner and corporate
transport aircraft.
Bell
Bell is an American aircraft manufacturer.
BK 117
The BK 117 is a German and Japanese multi-purpose eight to twelve seater
helicopter.
Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British twin-engined day bomber and long-range
fighter aircraft of the Second World War. It was powered by two 920hp
Bristol mercury xv 9-cylinder engines giving a top speed of 295mph. It
was armed with one forward-firing gun in the port wing and one gun in a
retractable hydraulic gun turret on top of the fuselage. When used as a
fighter the armament was increased by four guns mounted in the nose.
Bleriot
Louis Bleriot made the first crossing of the English channel in an
aircraft. The aircraft was his monoplane. The crossing took place on july
25th 1909.
BO 105l
The BO 105l is a German five/six-seat light utility helicopter.
Boeing
Boeing are an American aircraft manufacturer.
Boeing 307
The Boeing 307 was the world's first high-altitude aircraft. A
pressurised cabin allowed it to cruise at 23000 feet above turbulence.
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is an American short-haul commercial airliner.
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is an American long-haul commercial airliner.
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is an American short/medium-haul commercial airliner.
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is an American medium-haul commercial airliner.
Boeing E-3
The Boeing E-3 (sentry) is an airborne warning and control system
aircraft.
Boeing KC-135R
The Boeing KC-135R (stratotanker) is an American flight refuelling tanker
aircraft.
Buccaneer
The Buccaneer is a British strike aircraft. It is powered by two Rolls-
Royce RB.168 Spey Turbofans and carries a variety of weapons in a
rotating bomb bay. It is capable of near sonic speed flight at sea level.
Cessna
Cessna are an American aircraft manufacturer.
Cessna caravan
The Cessna caravan is a light utility transport aircraft.
CH-53E
The CH-53E is an American amphibious assault transport helicopter.
Chinook
The chinook is a series of transport helicopters characterised by a long
body and rotablades at each end.
CL-601
The CL-601 is a Canadian light corporate transport aircraft.
Concorde
Concorde is a supersonic airliner.
Cornu
The Cornu helicopter was the first helicopter to made a successful free
flight with a man on board. It was invented by a Frenchman, Paul Cornu in
1907.
Cub
see "AN-12"
Dakota
see "DC-3"
DC-10
The DC-10 is a medium-haul commercial airliner. It is made by McDonnell
Douglas of the USA.
DC-3
The DC-3 was an American 21 passenger transport aircraft of the 1930s.
The military version was called the Dakota.
DC-8
The DC-8 is an American long-haul commercial airliner.
DC-9
The DC-9 is an American short/medium-haul commercial airliner.
DH4
The DH4 was a two-seater daylight bomber used durng the first world war.
It first flew in December 1916.
DO-228
The DO-228 is a German light-regional airliner and utility transport
aircraft.
Dornier
Dornier are a German aircraft manufacturer.
Dornier DO17
The Dornier DO17 was a German twin engined bomber of the Second World
War. It was powered by two bramo 323 engines giving it a top speed of
275mph.
Dornier DO215
The Dornier DO215 was a German twin-engined bomber aircraft of the Second
World War. It was powered by two 1150hp Daimler Benz engines giving it a
top speed of 312mph.
Entendard
The entendard is a French anti-ship warfare fighter. It carries a single
exocet missile and has a maximum speed of 650mph.
Epsilon
see "tb_30"
F-14
The F-14 is an American two-seat shipboard multi-role fighter aircraft.
F-15
The F-15 is an American single-seat air superiority fighter aircraft.
F-18
The F-18 is an American single-seat shipboard and shore-based multi-role
fighter and attack aircraft.
F-20
The F-20 is an American single-seat multi-role fighter aircraft.
Fairchild
Fairchild is an American aircraft manufacturer.
Fairchild 340
The Fairchild 340 is a joint Swedish and American regional airliner and
corporate transport aircraft.
Fencer
see "su19"
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a single-seater fighter scout aircraft used by the
German forces during the first world war.
Fokker DVII
The fokker DVII was a German biplane fighter aircraft during the first
world war. It was famed for it's manoeuvrability.
G222
The G222 is an Italian general-purpose military transport plane. It was
developed in 1970.
Galeb
The Galeb is a Yugoslavian two-seat trainer aircraft.
Gloster whittle e28/39
The Gloster Whittle e28/39 was Britain's first jet aircraft.
Gotha G Vb
The Gotha G Vb was a heavy bomber used by the German army during the
first world war.
Handley page hp42
The Handley Page HP42 was a biplane airliner. It was in use between 1931
and 1940 by imperial airways.
Handley Page o/400
The Handley Page o/400 was a British heavy bomber used during the first
world war. It entered service in 1918.
Harrier
The Harrier is a British VTOL multi-role fighter aircraft.
Hawk
see "ba_hawk"
Hawker Hart
The Hawker Hart was a biplane. It was developed in 1928. Several versions
were manufactured. The standard light bomber, and the demon which was a
two-seat fighter, the hardy was designed for general-purpose duties and
the hind was a high-powered variation.
Heinkel 178
The heinkel 178 was a German jet propelled aircraft. It made its first
flight in 1939.
Heinkel HEIII
The heinkel HEIII was a German twin-engined bomber aircraft of the Second
World War. It was powered by two 1200hp Junkers jumo engines giving it a
top spee d of 274mph.
Hercules
The hercules is the nickname of the l-100-30.
Hughes
Hughes are an American aircraft manufacturer.
Hughes 500e
The Hughes 500e is an American five-seat light utility helicopter.
Hughes 500md
The Hughes 500md is an American light gunship and multi-role helicopter.
Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane was a British fighter aircraft of the Second World
War. It was armed with 12 machine guns and powered by a single 1030hp
Rolls-Royce engine giving it a top speed of 335mph.
Il-62
The Il-62 is a Soviet long-range passenger jet. It can carry 186
passengers.
Il-76
The il-76 is a Soviet heavy-duty medium/long-haul military and commercial
freighter aircraft.
Il-86
The il-86 is a Soviet medium-haul commercial airliner.
Imperial airways
Imperial airways was formed in 1924 providing flights between Britain and
Africa, Australia and north America. In 1939 imperial airways was
reorganised into BOAC which in turn developed into BAC and British
airways.
Islander
The Islander is a Britsh twin-engined light transport plane. It can carry
upto 10 passengers. The Islander is manufactured by Britten-Norman Ltd,
and is powered by two 260bhp Lycoming o-540 engines giving a speed of
169mph.
JA 37
The JA 37 is a Swedish single-seat all-weather interceptor fighter
aircraft with secondary strike capability. It is made by saab.
Jaguar
The jaguar is a joint British and French single-seat tactical strike
fighter aircraft.
Jetstream 31
The jetstream 31 is a British light corporate transport and regional
airliner. It can carry up to 19 passengers.
Jetstream 31ez
The jetstream 31ez is an inshore maritime patrol version of the jetstream
31. It is fitted with 360 degree radar and a search light and carries a
crew of five.
Junkers F-13
The Junkers f-13 was a German passenger carrying aircraft. It entered
service in 1919 and remained in use until the 1930s.
Junkers J4-10
The Junkers J4-10 was a two-seater low level fighter aircraft. It was the
first all-metal aircraft built during the first world war.
Junkers ju87
The Junkers ju87 (stuka) was a German single-engine dive bomber of the
Second World War. It was powered by a 1000hp jumo engine giving it a top
speed of 242 mph.
Ka-25
The ka-25 is a Soviet shipboard anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
Ka-32
The ka-32 is a Soviet shipboard anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
L-100-30
The l-100-30 is an American medium/long-range military and commercial
freight transport aircraft.
L-29
The aero l-29 (maya) is a Czechoslovakian basic trainer aircraft. It has
a top speed of 407mph.
L-39
The l-39 (albatros) is a Czechoslovakian basic and advanced trainer
aircraft. It has a top speed of 466mph. The l-39 was developed in the
early 1970s as a replacement for the l-29. The l-39 is unusual in that it
can operate from unpaved surfaces.
Lancaster
The lancaster was a four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World
War.
Lebaudy
The lebaudy was the first airship. It's maiden flight was on november
12th 1903.
Lockheed
Lockheed is an American aircraft manufacturer.
Lockheed c-5a
The Lockheed c-5a is an American military heavy logistics transport
plane. It can carry a payload of 100 tons.
M-21
The M-21 is a Polish agricultural aircraft.
Magister
The magister was a British initial trainer aircraft made by philips and
powis during the Second World War. It had a top speed of 142mph.
Master I
The Master I was a British advanced trainer aircraft made by philips and
powis during the Second World War. It had a top speed of 250mph.
Maya
see "L-29"
MB-339a
The MB-339a is an Italian tandem two-seat advanced trainer aircraft.
Messerschmitt ME109E
The Messerschmitt ME109E was a German fighter aircraft of the Second
World War. It was powered by a single 1150hp Daimler-Benz engine giving
it a top speed of 354mph.
Messerschmitt ME109F
The Messerschmitt ME109F was a German fighter aircraft of the Second
World War. It was powered by a single 1375hp Mercedes-Benz engine giving
it a top speed of 370mph. It was armed with a single 20mm cannon in the
nose and two machine guns in the nose.
Mi-14
The MI-14 is a Soviet amphibious anti-submarine helicopter.
Mi-17
The MI-17 is a Soviet medium transport helicopter.
Mi-24
The MI-24 is a Soviet assault and anti-armour helicopter.
Mi-26
The MI-26 is a Soviet military and commercial heavy-lift helicopter.
Mi-8
The MI-8 is a Soviet assault transport helicopter.
Mig
The MIG are various military aircraft of Soviet origin.
Mig-23
The MIG-23 is a Soviet single-seat air superiority and close air support
fighter aircraft.
Mig-25
The MIG-25 is a Soviet single-seat interceptor fighter aircraft.
Mig-27
The MIG-27 is a Soviet single-seat tactical strike and close air support
fighter aircraft.
Montgolfier
The Montgolfier brothers made a hot air balloon, in which Jean Francois
Pilatre de Rozier and the Marquis d'Ariandes made the world's first
aerial voyage over Paris on november the 21st 1783.
Mosquito
The mosquito was a British all wooden bomber aircraft of the Second World
War.
Moth
The moth was a British biplane. It was cheap, reliable and easy to fly
making it popular with the general public. The RAF used it as a primary
trainer aircraft. The moth entered production in 1931 and ended after the
Second World War.
Mu-300
The mu-300 is a Japanese light corporate transport aircraft.
Ndn-1
The ndn-1 is a British two-seat basic trainer aircraft.
Ndn-6
The ndn-6 is a British two-seat agricultural aircraft.
Nimrod
The Nimrod is a British long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
Northrop
Northrop are an American aircraft manufacturer.
Nymph
The Nymph is a British single-engined four-seat light aircraft. It is
powered by a 115bhp Lycoming 0-235-CIB engine and has a speed of 117mph.
Orao
The orao is a joint Yugoslavian and Romanian single-seat close air
support fighter aircraft.
Owlet
The Owlet was a British tricycle trainer aircraft made by General
Aircraft during the Second World War. It had a top speed of 125mph.
Oxford
The Airspeed Oxford was a British trainer aircraft used for training
bomber pilots during the Second World War. It was a twin-engined low-wing
cantilever monoplane with a retractable undercarriage. It had two 375hp
Armstrong Siddeley cheetah X engines producing a top speed of 197mph at
8300ft. It had a service ceiling of 23000ft.
PA-42
The PA-42 is an American light corporate executive transport aircraft
made by piper. It is nicknamed cheyenne.
PA-48
The PA-48 is an American single-seat close air support aircraft.
PIK-23
The PIK-23 is a Finnish two-seat primary trainer and glider tug aircraft.
Pilcher
Percy Pilcher, an Englishman, may be said to have invented the hang
glider. During the late 19th century he invented a man launched glider.
Piper
Piper is an American aircraft manufacturer.
R3140
The R3140 is a French light cabin monoplane aircraft.
RF-5
The RF-5 is an American single-seat tactical reconnaissance aircraft.
S-70
The S-70 is an American tactical transport helicopter. It is nicknamed
the black hawk.
Saab
Saab are a Swedish aircraft and automobile manufacturer.
SE5
The SE5 was a British fighter aircraft used during the first world war.
Seasprite
The seasprite is an American multi-purpose helicopter. It has a maximum
speed of 200mph and is often used in anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare
when it is armed with 2 mk46 torpedoes.
Sentry
see "Boeing_E-3"
Sheriff
The sheriff is a British light cabin monoplane and trainer aircraft. It
was developed during the early 1980s.
Shorts 330
The Shorts 330 is a British regional airliner and commercial freighter
aircraft. It is nicknamed the sherpa.
Shorts 360
The Shorts 360 is a British regional airliner.
Sikorsky
Sikorsky is an American helicopter manufacturer.
Sikorsky Bolshoi
The Sikorsky Bolshoi was the first four engined aircraft. It could carry
eight passengers. Its first flight was in 1913.
Sikorsky R-4
The Sikorsky R-4 was the world's first production helicopter. It entered
service in 1942.
Socata
Socata is a French aircraft manufacturer.
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith camel was a British fighter aircraft used during the first
world war.
Spad VII
The Spad VII was a single seater fighter aircraft used during the first
world war.
Spartacus
The AP68-300 (spartacus) is a light multi-role transport and utility
aircraft from italy. It was first developed in 1978 and entered service
in 1983.
Spitfire
The Vickers-Armstrong spitfire was a British fighter aircraft of the
Second World War. The MK I was armed with 4 machine guns in each wing.
The MK II and MK V were armed with 2 20mm cannons and 4 machine guns. It
had a top speed of about 400mph.
Stuka
see "Junkers_JU87"
SU-17
The SU-17 is a Soviet single-seat attack and counterair aircraft.
SU-19
The Sukhoi SU-19 (fencer) is a Soviet two-seat multi-role combat
aircraft. It has a top speed of mach 2.5. It is armed with a 23mm gsh-23
twin-barrel cannon and can carry air-to-ground or air-to-air missiles.
SU-20
The Sukhoi SU-20 is a Soviet single-seat attack and close-support
aircraft. It has a top speed of mach 2.7. It is armed with 2 30mm NR-30
cannons one in each wing root and often carries AS-7 air-to-surface
missiles.
SU-24
The SU-24 is a Soviet deep penetration interdictor and strike aircraft.
SU-25
The SU-25 is a Soviet single-seat close air support aircraft.
Sukhoi
Sukhoi is a Soviet aircraft manufacturer.
T-1040
The T-1040 is an American light regional airliner.
T-34c
The T-34c is an American tandem two-seat primary trainer aircraft. It was
developed during the 1970s.
T67
The T67 is a British two-seat primary trainer aircraft.
TB 30
The TB 30 is a French two-seat primary trainer aircraft.
TB-20
The TB-20 is a French light cabin monoplane aircraft.
Tiger Moth
The Tiger Moth was a British biplane made by De Haviland. It had a top
speed of 109mph.
Tomcat
Tomcat is the nickname of the F-14.
Tornado
The Tornado is a British two-seat interceptor fighter aircraft.
TR-1
The TR-1 is an American single-seat high-altitude tactical reconnaissance
aircraft.
TU-16
The Tupolev TU-16 is a Soviet strategic bomber. It has a top speed of
587mph. It is armed with 6 23mm NR-23 cannons in a radar-directed manned
tail-turret and remotely-aimed upper dorsal and rear ventral barbettes.
The TU-16 entered service in 1954.
Tupolev
The Tupolev is a Soviet medium-range strategic bomber and maritime
strike/reconnaisance aircraft.
VC10
The VC10 is a British passenger jet airliner. It carries 163 passengers
and has a top speed of mach 0.86.
Viscount
The Viscount is a British passenger airliner. It carries 73 passengers
and a crew of 3. It has a range of 1725 miles and a top cruising speed of
357mph.
VTOL
VTOL is an abbreviation for vertical take off and landing. It is used
with aircraft which can take-off and land with out a runway.
Vulcan
The Vulcan is a British four-jet medium bomber. It is powered by Rolls-
Royce Bristol Olympus 301 turbojets giving it a speed of Mach 0.94.
Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a series of British twin-engined long-range
night bomber of the Second World War. The mark I was powered by two
1000hp Bristol pegasus XVIII radial engines giving a top speed of 250mph.
Later models had a slightly higher top speed. It was armed with hydraulic
gun turrets in the nose and tail. Some models also had a hydraulic gun
turret amidships beneath the fuselage. It carried 9 500lb bombs in 3
bays.
Whitley
The Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley IV was a British twin-engined heavy
bomber of the Second World War. It was powered by two 1030hp Rolls-Royce
merlin IV 12-cylinder engines giving it a top speed of 245mph. It was
armed with a powered operated single gun turret in the nose and a four-
gun turret in the tail.
Wright flyer
The Wright flyer was the aircraft invented by the Wright brothers. On
december 17th 1903 it made the first sustained flight by a man-carrying
heavier-than-air machine.
Y-10
The Y-10 is a Chinese medium-haul commercial transport aircraft.
YAK-36mp
The YAK-36mp is a Soviet shipboard VTOL air defence and strike fighter
aircraft.
ROCKS AND MINERALS
Accessory
Accessory refers to a mineral that occurs in a rock in minute quantities,
and does not affect the way the rock is named or classified.
Acidic rock
Acidic rock refers to an igneous rock that consists mostly of light
coloured minerals and has more than 66% free or combined silica.
Actinolite
Actinolite has the formulae Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It commonly occurs in the crystalline schists, being often the chief
constituent of green-coloured schists and greenstones. Used somewhat as
an asbestos material.
Adamantine
Adamantine refers to a brilliant luster like that of a diamond. Results
from a mineral having a high index of refraction.
Adamite
Adamite has the formulae Zn2(AsO4)(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It has brilliant fluorescence. Of scientific interest and much desired by
collectors.
Aegirite
Aegirite has the formulae NaFe(Si2O6).
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a rock-forming mineral found mainly in rocks rich in soda and poor
in silica. Named after Aegir, Icelandic god of the sea.
Agaric Mineral
Agaric Mineral is one of the purest native carbonates of lime. It is
chiefly found in the clefts of rocks and at the bottom of some lakes.
Agate
Agate is a semi-precious stone comprised mainly of silica. It is a
compact variety of chalcedony. It has a pattern of banding which occurs
due to chemical admixtures of haematite, limonite and other minerals.
Alabaster
Alabaster is naturally occurring hydrated calcium sulphate.
Albite
Albite has the formulae NaAlSi3O8.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is widely distributed, rock-forming mineral. Present in pegmatite
dikes and may be found in crystals.
Alkaline rock
Alkaline rock refers to any rock which contains more than average amounts
of potassium bearing and sodium bearing minerals.
Allanite
Allanite has the formulae (Ce,Ca,Y)2(Al,Fe)3(SiO4)3(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It occurs as a minor constituent of many igneous rocks. Frequently
associated with epidote. Found in some magnetic bodies.
Allemontite
Allemontite is a natural alloy of arsenic and antimony. It has a relative
hardness of 4.
Almandine
Almandine is a variety of precious garnet, reddish or violet in colour.
Alteration
Alteration refers to physical or chemical change in a rock or mineral
after its original formation. Can result in new minerals or in textural
changes in the rock.
Alumina
Alumina is aluminium oxide and occurs as ruby, sapphire, bauxite.
Alunite
Alunite has the formulae KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is usually formed by sulfuric acid solutions acting on rocks rich in
alkalic feldspar. Used in the production of alum.
Amblygonite
Amblygonite has the formulae (Li,Na)Al(PO4)(F,OH).
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It occurs in lithium and phosphate rich granite pegmatites. Associated
with spodumene, apatite, tourmaline, lepidolite.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a precious stone. It is quartz coloured with manganese.
Amorphous
Amorphous refers to 'Without form'. The term is applied to rocks and
minerals that lack definite crystal structure.
Amygdule
Amygdule refers to a mineral containing cavity in an igneous rock formed
by escaping gas.
Anaclime
Anaclime has the formulae NaAlSi2O6ų2H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is of interest to collectors. Found in cavities of intrusive and
volcanic igneous rocks; often as clear shiny crystals. Associated with
calcite and zeolites.
Anatase
Anatase has the formulae TiO2.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a form of rutile. Found in granite, gneiss, mica schist,
maetamorphic limestone, and dolomite. May be present as an accessory
mineral in the rocks or in a quartz vein traversing it. Used as a coating
of welding rods. A derivative it titanium.
Andalusite
Andalusite has the formulae Al2SiO5.
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is formed by the metamorphism of aluminous shales and slate. Used in
the manufacture of spark plugs and other porcelains. May serve as a gem
stone if clear and transparent. Name from Andalusia, a province of Spain.
Andesine
Andesine has the formulae NaAlSi3O8.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
Anglesite
Anglesite has the formulae PbSO4.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a common, minor ore of lead. Formed by the oxidation of galena.
Found in the upper, oxidzed portions of lead veins. Named after the
Island of Anglesey.
Anhydrite
Anhydrite has the formulae CaSO4.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It has rectangular cleavage fragments. Occurs in a manner similar to
gypsum and often found with it but not as common. Found in the cap rock
of salt domes and in limestone rocks. From the Greek meaning 'without
water'.
Annivite
Annivite is a variety of terahedrite containing bismuth and usually iron
and zinc.
Anorthite
Anorthite has the formulae (Na,Ca)AlSi3O8.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is widely distributed and abundant rock-forming feldspar.
Anthophyllite
Anthophyllite has the formulae (Mg,Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It occurs in crystalline schists rich in magnesium. Of interest to
collectors.
Antimonite
Antimonite is an antimony ore. It was used by the Greeks as a cosmetic
for darkening the eyelids.
Antimony
Antimony has the formulae Sb.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a native semimetal and difficult to distinguish from arsenic.
Rather brittle and a poorer conductor of heat and electriciy than native
metals.
Apatite
Apatite has the formulae Ca5(F,Cl,OH)(PO4)3.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is widely distributed as an accesory constituent in all classes of
rock. Found in crystals and masses. Crystallized apatite has been
extensivley for fertilizer. Transparent varieties of fine colour are
sometimes used for gems - but it's too soft for extensive use.
Aphanitic rock
Aphanitic rock refers to a rock in which the crystalline constituents are
too small to be distinguished without magnification.
Apophyllite
Apophyllite has the formulae KCa4Si8O2O(OH)ų8H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is a hydrothermal mineral filling cavities in basalt and tufaceous
rocks. Associated with stilbite, scolecite, calcite, prehnite, analcime.
Aragonite
Aragonite has the formulae CaCO3.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It forms easily in a sedimentary environment but only stable in
metamorphic rocks formed at high temperatures.
Arfvedsonite
Arfvedsonite has the formulae Na2-3(Fe,Mg,Al)5Si8O22(OH,F)2.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is typical of alkaline plutonic rocks that are rich in iron.
Argentite
Argentite has the formulae Ag2S.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It lacks distinct cleavage. An important primary silver ore. The name is
from Latin meaning 'silver'. Occurs disseminated in galena and in the
cementation zone of lead and zinc deposits. Associated with cerussite,
chlorargyrite, native silver.
Argillaceous
Argillaceous refers to composed mostly of or containg clay; such as
shale.
Arsenates
Arsenates refers to minerals in which arsenate (AsO4) is an important
part.
Arsenic
Arsenic has the formulae As.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It has a garlicky odor; otherwise difficult to distinguish from antimony.
A minor ore of arsenic and a relatively rare mineral found in veins in
crystalline rocks associated with silver, cobalt, or nickel ores.
Arsenopyrite
Arsenopyrite has the formulae FeAsS.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is the most common mineral containing arsenic. It occurs with tin and
tungsten ores in high temperature deposits as a deposition from hot
waters. Frequently associated with gold. Also found with copper and
silver ores.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral with a high melting and combustion point.
Atacamite
Atacamite has the formulae Cu2Cl(OH)3.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a comparatively rare copper mineral. Occurs in arid regions in the
upper oxidized zone of copper deposits.
Augite
Augite has the formulae (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)(Si,Al)2O6.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is an important rock forming mineral. Chiefly found in dark coloured
igneous rocks, especially those whose magmas were rich in iron, calcium
and magnesium. Seldom found in rocks that contain much quartz. A common
memeber of the pyroxene group. Told from amphibole by cleavage.
Autunite
Autunite has the formulae Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2ų10-12H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It has strong fluorescence. A secondary mineral found in the zone of
oxidation and weathering of uranite or other uranium minerals. Used as an
ore of uranium.
Axinite
Axinite has the formulae Ca2(Fe,Mn)Al2(BO3)(Si4O12)(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It occurs in cavities in granite and in the contact zones surrounding
granite intrusions.
Azurite
Azurite has the formulae Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a minor ore of copper with an intense azure-blue colour. Alters to
malachite. Associated with limonite, calcite, chalcocite, chrysocolla and
other secondary copper minerals. Reacts vigorously with hydrochloric
acid.
Barite
Barite has the formulae BaSO4.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is major ore of barium. Has a high SG for a light coloured mineral.
Common gangue mineral in hydrothermal veins or as a repacement mineral in
veins of limestone and dolomite. Associated with lead, silver and
antimony sulfides.
Barytes
Barytes was the first mineral to be found to be luminescent when heated,
and led to the discovery of the luminescence of minerals. It has a
relative hardness of 3.5.
Basanite
Basanite is a smooth, black siliceous mineral.
Basic rock
Basic rock refers to an igneous rock with a low percentage of silica and
a high percentage of pyroxene, hornblende, and labradorite.
Bauxite
Bauxite is a sedimentary rock group of various aluminium oxides, a
principal ore of aluminium, found in France and Jamaica. Bauxite was
named after the place where it was first found, Les Baux in France. It
has a relative hardness of 1 to 3.
Bedding
Bedding refers to the arrangement of sedimentary rocks in about parallel
layers or strata which correspond to the original sediments.
Beryl
Beryl has the formulae Be3Al2Si16O18.
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It has a characteristic six-sided outline. Used as a gem stone of various
colours. It green variety is emerald. Beryl is also the major source of
the rare element beryllium, a light metal similar to aluminum. Quite
common and occurs usually in granite rocks, mica schists and with tin
ores.
Biotite
Biotite has the formulae K(Mg,Fe)2(Al,Fe)Si3O10(OH,F)2.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is widely distributed rock forming mineral. Occurs in igneous and
metamorphic rocks. A common member of the mica group.
Bismuth
Bismuth has the formulae Bi.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is the chief ore of bismuth and often shows broad cleavage surfaces. A
somewhat rare mineral occurring in connection with ores of silver,
cobalt, nickel, lead, and tin. Bismuth forms low melting alloys. It is
used in fuses, medicine and cosmetics.
Bismuthinite
Bismuthinite has the formulae Bi2S3.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is a rare ore of bismuth. Occurs in veins that show definite relations
to igneous rocks.
Bituminous rocks
Bituminous rocks refers to rocks that contain tar, petroleum, or asphalt.
Blende
Blende is a zinc ore. It generally contains more than half its weight in
zinc, a quarter sulphur and often a small amount of iron.
Bloodstone
Bloodstone is a dark green variety of chalcedony.
Bohemian garnet
see "Pyrope"
Bole
Bole is an earthy mineral occuring in amorphous masses , and composed
chiefly of silica with alumina, iron and occasionally magnesia.
Boracite
Boracite has the formulae Mg3B7O13Cl.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It occurs associated with beds of halite, anhydrite, and gypsum. Formed
by the evaporation of bodies of salt water.
Borates
Borates refers to a group of minerals in which the borate radical (BO3)
is an important constituent.
Borax
Borax has the formulae Na2B4O7ų10H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It dissolves in water and has a sweetish alkaline taste. Formed as a
deposit from the evaportation of salt lakes. Used in cleansing,
antiseptic,, preservative, and chemical uses. Is a source of boron which
is used in fuels.
Bornite
Bornite has the formulae Cu5FeS4.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is an ore of copper with a colourful tarnish(peacock). Widely
occurring, it is found in basic rocks and metamorphic deposits.
Botryoidal
Botryoidal refers to resembling a bunch of grapes. A mineral of this type
appears to have a surface covered with spherical bulges.
Boulangerite
Boulangerite is a lead ore. It contains 55 percent lead. It has a
relative hardness of 2.5.
Bournonite
Bournonite has the formulae PbCuSbS3.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is an ore of lead, copper, and antimony which often exhibits twinned
crystals. Occurs in in veins formed at moderate temperatures.
Brimstone
Brimstone is another name for sulphur.
Brookite
Brookite has the formulae ā-TiO2.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a source of titanium but deposits are usually too small to be of
commercial use.
Brown Spar
Brown Spar is the name given to some crystalline varieties of dolomite
tinged with peroxide of Iron
Brucite
Brucite has the formulae Mg(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a decomposition product of magnesium silicates, especially
serpentine. Variety: nemalite.
Calamine
Calamine is a zinc ore.
Calcareous
Calcareous refers to containing calcium carbonate or calcite.
Calcic
Calcic refers to containing calcium.
Calcite
Calcite has the formulae CaCO3.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It effervesces vigorously with HCl. Clear specimens exhibit double
refraction. Occurs as widespread sedimentary rock masses such as
limestone. Crystalline metamorphosed limestones are called marbles. Fine
grained deposits form chalk. Variety: onyx.
Caliche
Caliche is naturally occurring sodium nitrate found in Chile.
Carbonaceous
Carbonaceous refers to composed chiefly of organic carbon. (i.e. carbon
derived from plant and animal remains.)
Carbonates
Carbonates refers to minerals, such as calcite, where the carbonate
radical (CO3) is an important constituent.
Carnallite
Carnallite has the formulae KMgCl3ų6H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a source of potassium coumpounds and magnesium. Has a bitter salty
taste.
Carnelian
Carnelian is a semi-precious gemstone consisting of quartz with iron
impurities which give it a translucent red colour. Carnelian is found
mainly in Brazil, Japan and India.
Carnotite
Carnotite has the formulae K2(UO2)2(VO4)2ų3H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 1.
It is an ore of uranium and vandium. Found in sands, sandstones and
around petrified trees. Probably formed as a deposition from meteoric
waters. Strongly radioactive.
Cassiterite
Cassiterite has the formulae SnO2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is the principal ore of tin. Widely distributed in small amounts but
commerically available in only a few localities. Frequently associated
with wolframite. Also found as rolled pebbles in placer deposits ('stream
tin'). Usually found in veins associated with quartz, in or near granitic
rocks.
Celestine
Celestine is a natural sulphate of strontium.
Celestite
Celestite has the formulae SrSO4.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It often found disseminated through limestone or sandstone, or lining
cavities in such rocks. Associated with calcite, dolomite, gypsum,
sulfur, fluorite. Also found as a gangue mineral in lead veins. Used to
prepare nitrate of strontium for fireworks and tracer bullets and in the
refining of beet sugar.
Cerussite
Cerussite has the formulae PbCO3.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is an important and widely distributed supergene lead ore formed by
the action of carbonated waters on galena in the upper zone of lead
veins. Often found associated with galena and sphalerite.
Chabazite
Chabazite has the formulae Ca(Al2Si4)O12ų6H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is a mineral of secondary origin found lining cavities in volcanic and
intrusive igneous rocks.
Chalcanthite
Chalcanthite has the formulae CuSO4ų5H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It dissolves quickly in water and produces a blue solution. A minor ore
of copper and found only in arid regions. Occurs near the surface in
copper veins. Often deposited on iron from the water in copper mines.
Used in calico printing, insecticides and for industrial purposes.
Chalcedony
Chalcedony is a variant of quartz comprised of silica. Chalcedony was
named after Chalkedon, near Istanbul. It was traditionally used for
decorative objects and amultes. It has a relative hardness of 7.
Chalcocite
Chalcocite has the formulae Cu2S.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is one of the most important copper ore minerals. It occurs primarily
in enriched zones of sulfide deposits.
Chalcopyrite
Chalcopyrite has the formulae CuFeS2.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is the most widely occuring copper mineral and one of the most
important ore sources of that metal. Occurs as an original constituent of
igneous rocks, in pegmatic dikes, and in contact with metamorphic
deposits. May carry gold or silver and become an ore of those metals.
Chalcosine
Chalcosine is an important copper ore. It was discovered in the 16th
century.
Chili Saltpetre
see "Cubic_Nitr"
Chlorite
Chlorite has the formulae (Mg,Fe)6(AlSi3)O10(OH)8.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a mineral group whose members usually exhibit a charactersitic
green colour. The formula above is for 'green mica'. Distinguished from
muscovite and green phlogopite by a lack of elasticity.
Chondrodite
Chondrodite has the formulae (Mg,Fe)3(SiO4)(OH,F)2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a common metamorphic mineral in dolomitic marbles.
Chromite
Chromite has the formulae FeCr2O4.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is slightly magnetic. The only ore of chromium. A common constituent
of peridotite rocks and the serpentines derived from them. Also
associated with corundum. One of the first minerals to separate from a
cooling magma. Chromium is widely used in metal plating and in stainless
steel.
Chrysoberyl
Chrysoberyl has the formulae BeAl2O4.
It has a relative hardness of 9.
It occurs in granite rocks, pegmatites, and in mica schists. Frequently
in river sands and gravels. Serves as a gem stone: alexandrite and "cats
eye" which can be of great value.
Chrysocolla
Chrysocolla has the formulae (Cu,Al)2H2Si2O5(OH)4ųnH2O.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a minor ore of copper. A mineral of secondary origin, occuring in
the oxidized zones of copper veins. Associated with malachite, azurite,
cuprite, native copper. Named from two Greek words meaning 'gold' and
'glue'.
Chrysostom
Chrysostom is a gem stone of beryllium aluminate.
Cinnabar
Cinnabar (vermilion) is a red crystalline form of mercuric sulphide. It
has the formulae HgS and a relative hardness of 3.
It often has a bright red colour. The only important source of mercury
and it's found in few localities. Occurs as vein fillings near recent
volcanic rocks and hot springs. Used in scientific equipment, in drugs,
and with tin in silvering mirrors. Many other uses.
Clastic rock
Clastic rock refers to a sedimentary rock comprised of fragments of
preexisting rocks that have been transported and deposited.
Clay
Clay refers to a soft sediment or deposit that is plastic when wet and
comprised of very fine-grained materials, mainly hydrous aluminum
silicates.
Cleavage
Cleavage refers to a mineral is said to possess cleavage if when it
breaks it yields definite plane surfaces. Cleavage can be perfect as in
micas or, in some minerals, completely lacking. Cleavage is always
parallel to crystal faces.
Clinozoisite
Clinozoisite has the formulae Ca2Al3Si3O12(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 7.
Cobaltite
Cobaltite has the formulae CoAsS.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is an ore of cobalt. Usually found in high temperature deposits,
disseminated in metamorphic rocks, or in vein deposits with other cobalt
and nickel minerals.
Coelestine
Coelestine is a mineral used in pyrotechnics and a s a source of
strontium. Occassionaly it is cut and used as a gem stone. It has a
relative hardness of 3.5.
Colemanite
Colemanite has the formulae Ca2B6O11ų5H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is a major ore of boron. Occurs in high temperature hydrothermal veins
or disseminated in metamorphic rocks associated with other cobalt and
nickel sulfides/arsenides.
Columbite
Columbite has the formulae (Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It shows a bluish iridescent fracture surface. The main ore of niobium
and tantalum; used in metallurgy to create heat-resistant alloys and in
the rust proofing of stainless steel.
Concretion
Concretion refers to an accumulation of mineral matter when mineral
particles become cemented together into an orderly, rounded form.
Contact metamorphism
Contact metamorphism refers to metamorphism resulting from the intrusion
of magma which takes place at or near the contact point with the molten
rock.
Copper
Copper has the formulae Cu.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is one of the essential metals of modern civilization. Native copper
is found in copper veins but copper sulfides are the principal source
ores of the metal.
Cordierite
Cordierite has the formulae Mg2Al4Si5O18.
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is found as an accessory mineral in granite, gneiss, schists, and in
contact metamorphic zones. Transparent specimens of good colour have been
used as a gem.
Corundum
Corundum has the formulae Al2O3.
It has a relative hardness of 9.
It is common as an accessory mineral in metamorphic rocks and as an
original constituent of certain igneous rocks. Color differences give
rise to several varieties of gem, notably, ruby and saphire. The deep red
ruby is one of the most valuable gems, second only to emerald and
diamond.
Covellite
Covellite has the formulae CuS.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It has an indigo-blue colour. Not an abundant material but is found in
most copper deposits, usually as a coating in the zone of sulfide
enrichment.
Cristobalite
Cristobalite has the formulae SiO2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is present in many siliceous volcanic rocks as a lining in cavities.
Upon heating to 1470 C it becomes nearly transparent. On cooling it
assumes its initial white translucent appearance.
Crocoite
Crocoite has the formulae PbCrO4.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a rare mineral found in the oxidized zones of lead deposits where
lead veins have traversed rocks containing chromite. Not abundant enough
to be of commercial value although it does contain chromium. Name is
Greek and means 'saffron', an allusion to the colour.
Cross-stone
see "Harmotome"
Cryolite
Cryolite has the formulae Na3AlF.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It often found enclosing brown siderite and grey galena. Always occurs in
pegmatites where it's probably a precipitate from flouride rich
solutions. Used in the manufacture of sodium salts, certain kinds of
glass and porcelain, and as a flux for cleaning metal surfaces.
Crystal
Crystal refers to a solid mineral having a regular geometric shape and
bounded by smooth flat surfaces(called crystal faces).
Crystal symmetry
Crystal symmetry refers to the repetitive pattern of crystal faces caused
by the orderly internal arrangements of atoms within a mineral.
Cubic Nitre
Cubic Nitre (sodium nitrate, Chili Saltpetre) is a mineral found mainly
in the Tarapaca district of Chile.
Cuprite
Cuprite has the formulae Cu2O.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is an important ore of copper. Found in the upper oxidized portions of
copper veins. Commonly found in crystal forms.
Danburite
Danburite has the formulae CaB2Si2O8.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
Datolite
Datolite has the formulae CaBSiO4(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a mineral of secondary origin found usually in cavities in basalt
lavas and similar rocks.
Delvauxite
Delvauxite is a mineral source of phosphate. It has a relative hardness
of 2.5.
Destinezite
Destinezite is a mineral. It is a source of phosphate. It has a relative
hardness of 3.
Detrital sediment
Detrital sediment refers to deposited rock and mineral fragments.
Diamond
Diamond has the formulae C.
It has a relative hardness of 10.
It is the hardest naturally occuring mineral and the most important of
the gem stones. Occurs in pale shades of several colours, deep shades are
rare. Gem quality diamond is transparent, of attractive colour, and
without internal fractures or inclusions of other materials.
Diaspore
Diaspore has the formulae AlO(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a constituent of bauxites and a major source of aluminum.
Dike
Dike refers to a wall-like body of igneous rock that cuts across layers
of surrounding rocks.
Diopside
Diopside has the formulae CaMgSi2O6.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is usually found as a contact metamorphic mineral in crystalline
limestones. Transparent varieties have been cut and used as gemstones.
Dioptase
Dioptase has the formulae CuSiO2(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is found in the oxidation zone of copper deposits, in cavities of
massive copper minerals.
Dolomite
Dolomite has the formulae CaMg(CO3)2.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It's powder reacts vigorously with HCl. A potential ore of magnesium.
Occurs in widely extended rock masses as dolomitic limestone. Often
intimately mixed with calcite. Formed from ordinary limestone by the
replacement of calcium by magnesium.
Dumortierite
Dumortierite has the formulae Al7(BO3)(SiO4)3O3.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It often has a bright colour and fibrous habit. Occurs in metamorphic
rocks rich in aluminum. Also in pegmatites and contact metamorphic rocks.
Dysodile
Dysodile is a yellow or green foliated mineral found in limestone.
Emerald
Emerald is a green precious stone variety of the mineral beryl.
Enargite
Enargite has the formulae Cu3AsS4.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a relatively rare mineral found in vein and replacement deposits
associated with pyrite, shpalerite, bornite, galena, chalcocite. Used as
an ore of copper.
Enstatite
Enstatite has the formulae Mg2Si2O6.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a common and widespread mineral. Found in mafic plutonic and
vocanic rocks and often in both metallic and stony meteorites.
Epidote
Epidote has the formulae Ca2(Al,Fe)3Si3O12(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a common mineral. Found in regional and metamorphic rocks of mafic
composition and as a product of alteration of other minerals. Sometimes
used as a gemstone.
Epsomite
Epsomite has the formulae MgSO4ų7H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It has a bitter salty taste; dissolves easily in water. Occurs in
delicate fibrous and capillary aggregates. Often called 'epsom salt'.
Found as an efflorescent deposit on the walls of caves and sometimes in
lake deposits.
Erythrite
Erythrite has the formulae Co3(AsO4)2ų8H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It often shows a vivid colour and occurs in thin crusts. An important
indicator of cobalt mineral deposits.
Euclase
Euclase has the formulae BeAlSiO4(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is a variety of berly.
Feldspar
Feldspar refers to a group of minerals containing aluminum and silica.
They all show good cleavage in two directions at about 90 degrees. The
hardness is about 6 and the specific gravity between 2.5 - 2.8.
Ferberite
Ferberite has the formulae FeWO4 - MnWO4.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is the chief ore of tungsten. A rare mineral found usually in
pegmatite dikes and high-temperature quartz veins associated with
granites.
Ferruginous
Ferruginous refers to containing iron.
Fire-Garnet
see "Pyrope"
Flint
Flint is a compact mineral of fine grained silica. It is a variety of
quartz.
Flow banding
Flow banding refers to a structure sometimes found in volcanic rocks
where alternating layers of rock have different mineral compositions.
Fluorine
Fluorine is a non-metallic element occurring naturally.
Fluorite
Fluorite has the formulae CaF2.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is found in veins where it's the main mineral or with metallic ores,
especially lead and silver. Common in dolomites and limestone. Associated
with many different minerals. Used chiefly as a flux in the making of
steel, also for enameling, and it's used in the preparation of
hydroflouric acid.
Fluorspar
Fluorspar is a natural mineral containing flourine.
Foliation
Foliation refers to a layered structure present in some metamorphic rocks
which results from the segregation of different minerals into roughly
parallel layers.
Franklinite
Franklinite has the formulae (Zn,Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mn)2O4
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is used as an ore of zinc and manganese. With minor exceptions, the
mineral is confined to Franklin, New Jersey.
Freibergite
Freibergite is a variety of tetrahedrite containing between 28 and 36
percent silver.
Friable
Friable refers to crumbles or is pulverized easily.
Galena
Galena has the formulae PbS.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is virtually the only source of lead and an important ore of silver.
Its a very common metallic mineral. When found in veins that show a
connection to igneous rocks, it is frequently found with silver minerals.
Galena is also found in limestones either as veins or as a replacement
deposit.
Garnet
Garnet has the formulae A3B2(SiO4)3.
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is a widely distributed group with several minerals. Found in both
metamorphic and igneous rocks. Its chief use is as an inexpensive gem
stone. Much is used as an abrasive materal.
Garnierite
Garnierite has the formulae (Ni,Mg)6Si4O10(OH)8.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is an ore of nickel. It's probably formed as an alteration of nickel
bearing peridotites. Has a nice apple green colour.
Glauberite
Glauberite has the formulae Na2Ca(SO4)2.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It has a bitter salty taste; dissolves slowly in water. Is a sedimentary
mineral formed by the evaporation of saline water. Slowly alters to
gypsum when exposed to air.
Glauconite
Glauconite has the formulae (K,Na)(Al,Fe,Mg)2(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is of marine origin and found in sedimentary deposits of various
kinds. Similar to a mineral called celadonite. Used in the textile,
sugar, and brewing industries; as a colouring agent and in the
manufacture of fertilizers.
Glaucophane
Glaucophane has the formulae Na2(Mg,Fe)3Al2Si8O22(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It often has a blue colour. A sodium rich rock forming mineral which,
like other amphiboles, is poor in silica. Of interest to petrologists in
helping to define the metamorphic conditions which formed the surrounding
rock.
Gneiss
Gneiss refers to a coarsely foliated (layered) metamorphic rock.
Goethite
Goethite has the formulae FeO(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is an ore of iron and a common mineral. Usually formed as a weathering
product of iron bearing minerals. The term "limonite" is commonly used
for earthy yellow and brown goethite.
Gold
Gold has the formulae Au.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a rare element but occurs in nature in widely distributed small
amounts. The main source of gold is in gold-quartz veins where gold was
deposited from mineral bearing solutions. When the veins weather, the
gold is separated from the quartz and mechanically settles on the stream
floor as a placer deposit.
Granite
Granite is a plutonic igneous rock containing a high proportion of
silica.
Graphite
Graphite has the formulae C.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is pure carbon and often confused with the heavier molybdenite. Formed
from organic materials or by the presence of hydrocarbons in a
metamorphic region. Used in the manufacture of crucibles, as a lubricant
when mixed with oils, as 'lead' for pencils when mixed with clay. Feels
greasy.
Greasy
Greasy refers to a luster of a mineral which appears to be covered with
thin coat of oil.
Greenockite
Greenockite has the formulae CdS.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is the most common mineral containing cadmium but found in few places
and usually as an earthy coating on zinc ores. The largest use of cadmium
is for electroplating other metals to form chemical resistant coatings.
Gypsum
Gypsum has the formulae CaSO4ų2H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is a common mineral distributed in sedimentary rocks, often as thick
beds. Usually found under beds of rock salt as it's one of the first
minerals to crystallize from evaporated salt waters. Used in the
production of plaster of Paris.
Habit
Habit refers to the physical form of a crystal. It's determined by the
shape and relative proportions of the crystal faces.
Haematite
Haematite is an iron ore.
Halides
Halides refers to a group of minerals that are mostly compounds of
halogen elements (bromine, chlorine, flourine, iodine). Ex: halite,
flourite.
Halite
Halite has the formulae NaCl.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is common salt. Tastes salty and exhibits lusterless cubic crystals.
Hardness
Hardness refers to hardness is the resistance of a smooth surface to
scratching. It's determined by the binding force of atoms within the
crystal structure. Moh's scale of hardness: 1)talc 2)gypsum 3)calcite
4)flourite 5)apatite 6)orthoclase 7)quartz 8)topaz 9)corundum 10)diamond.
Harmotome
Harmotome has the formulae (Ba,K)(Al,Si)2Si6O16ų6H20.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It occurs mostly in volcanic rocks, especially basalt.
Hausmannite
Hausmannite has the formulae Mn2O4
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is an excellent ore of manganese.
Hauyne
Hauyne has the formulae (Na,Ca)4-8(Al6Si6)O24(SO4,S)1-2.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is of interest to collectors. Occurs in igneous and volcanic rocks.
Hematite
Hematite has the formulae Fe2O3.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is the most abundant and important ore or iron. Has been found in
enormous deposits in the United States and elsewhere. Many samples are
soft as the hematite is sedimentary or weathered iron oxide and the true
hardness is not being measured.
Hemimorphite
Hemimorphite has the formulae Zn4Si2O7(OH)2ųH2O.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is an ore of zinc. Found in the oxidized regions of zinc deposits.
Heulandite
Heulandite has the formulae (Na,Ca)4-6Al6(Al,Si)4Si26O72ų24H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is found in the cavities of basic igneous rocks and often associated
with calcite.
Hexagonal
Hexagonal refers to a six sided crystal with hexagonal bases. An
unsharpened pencil is a basic example.
Horn Silver
Horn Silver is a native chloride of silver, so called because when fused
it assumes a horny appearance.
Hornblende
Hornblende has the formulae (Ca,Na)2-3(Mg,Fe,Al)5(Al,Si)8O22(OH)2
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a common member of the amphibole group. Told from pyroxene by
cleavage. Found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Hydrothermal
Hydrothermal refers to the alteration of minerals or rocks by super-
heated mineral rich fluids, usually water, within a crystallizing magma.
Hydrozincite
Hydrozincite has the formulae Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is found mainly in deposits associated with smithsonite and occurs as
a result of the oxidation of zinc bearing minerals. A major ore of zinc
if found in economic quantities.
Ilmenite
Ilmenite has the formulae FeTiO3.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It has weak magnetism. The major ore of titanium and a common accessory
mineral in plutonic rocks. Also in metamorphic rocks. Occurs concentrated
in black sands. Associated with magnetite.
Intermediate rock
Intermediate rock refers to an igneous rock that is transitional between
acidic and basic rocks. Have a silica content between 54-65%.
Iron
Iron has the formulae Fe.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is is recovered primarily from iron bearing minerals. Iron is
recognizable by the oxide coating on its surface.
Isometric
Isometric refers to cubic. Three axis, all the same length and at right
angles to each other.
Jade
Jade is a group of glassy silicate minerals including jadetite and
nephrite.
Jadeite
Jadeite has the formulae Na(Al,Fe+3)Si2O6.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is long prized in the Orient where its been used to make beautiful
ornaments. Occurs in large masses in serpentine. Transparent and
translucent varieties are called jade.
Jasper
Jasper has the formulae SiO2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a form of quartz usually coloured red from inclusions of hematite.
Jet
Jet is a soft black mineral.
Kaolinite
Kaolinite has the formulae Al2Si2O5(OH)4.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It has a crumbly habit. One of the common members of the group called
clay. Derived from the decomposition of feldspars, particulary aluminum
silicates. One of the most important of the natural industrial
substances, it is used for bricks, ceramics, and many other applications.
Kernite
Kernite has the formulae Na2B4O7ų4H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a major ore of boron. Formed in playa lakes with the boron supplied
by thermal springs passing through the underlying volcanic rock.
Kimberlite
Kimberlite is an igneous rock containing very little silica.
Kyanite
Kyanite has the formulae Al2SiO5.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It has a different hardness in two directions. An accessory mineral in
gneiss and mica schist. It often found with garnet and corundum. Used in
the production of refractory porcelains.
Labradorite
Labradorite has the formulae (Na,Ca)AlSi3O8.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is one of the plagioclase feldspars, also known as soda-lime
feldspars. Others in the grouping are: albite, oligoclase, andesine,
bytownite, and anorthite. Labradorite often has a beautiful display of
colours. The name is derived from the locality of Labrador.
Lamellar
Lamellar refers to composed of thin layers, scales, or plates
Lapis lazuli
Lapis lazuli is a blue mineral used in the manufacture of ultramarine
pigment.
Laumontite
Laumontite has the formulae Ca(Al2Si4)O12ų4H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It shows a powdery white surface. A form of anaclime (or analcite).
Characterized by the fact that it is monoclinic.
Lazulite
Lazulite has the formulae MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a rare mineral and a minor gem stone. Usually found in quartzites
associated with kyanite, andalusite, corundum and rutile. Name derived
from the Arabic word for 'heaven' in regard to the mineral's colour.
Lazurite
Lazurite has the formulae (Na,Ca)8(Al,Si)12O24(S,SO4).
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is usually shows a deep blue colour. The greenish variety is called
lapis lazuli and is very rare. Found in metamorphic limestones associated
with calcite and pyrite.
Lenticular
Lenticular refers to have a lens-like shape.
Lepidolite
Lepidolite has the formulae K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a relatively rare mineral found in pegmatic dikes and usually
associated with lithium bearing minerals such as pink and green
tourmaline. Often found intergrown with muscovite. Used as a source of
lithium and it's used in the manufacture of heat resistant glass.
Leucite
Leucite has the formulae KAlSi2O6.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a rather rare mineral occuring only in igneous rocks and usually in
recent lavas. Found in rocks where the amount of silica in the magma was
not sufficient to form feldspar. It is not found, therefore, in rocks
that contain quartz. From the Greek word for 'white'.
Lime
Lime is the common name of calcium oxide.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate.
Limonite
Limonite is an iron ore found in bog deposits. It has a relative hardness
of 5.5.
Luster
Luster refers to the general look of a mineral in reflected light.
Minerals are divided into two types: metallic and non-metallic. There's
no clear dividing line between the two. In general, non-metallic minerals
will transmit light through a thin edge, are light coloured, and will
have a light or colourless streak. Non-metallic minerals are further
described as: vitreous, resinous, pearly, greasy, silky, adamantine.
Magma
Magma refers to molten rock beneath the earth's crust. It solidifies to
form igneous rocks.
Magnesite
Magnesite has the formulae MgCo3.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It has been used as an ore of metallic magnesium but the primary source
of magnesium is sea water. Is a source of magnesia for industrial
chemicals. Commonly found in veins and masses derived from the alteration
of serpentine through the action of waters containing carbonic acid.
Magnetite
Magnetite has the formulae Fe3O4.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is the richest and most important ore of iron. Found as an accessory
mineral in most igneous rocks. Highly magnetic.
Malachite
Malachite has the formulae Ci2(CO3)(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a widely distributed copper ore. Found in the oxidized portions of
copper veins and is often associated with azurite, cuprite, native
copper, iron oxides, and sulfides of copper and iron. Often occurs in
copper veins that are found in limestone.
Manganite
Manganite has the formulae MnO(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is strongly magnetic. An ore of manganese but seldom found in
commercial quantities. Often found in veins associated with granitic
igneous rocks. Alters to pyrolusite. Barite and calcite are frequent
associates.
Marble
Marble is metamorphosed limestone.
Marcasite
Marcasite has the formulae FeS2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It often shows a white colour on a fresh surface. Found in iron metallic
veins and frequently with lead and zinc ores. Also found in sedimentary
rocks. Marcasite most frequently occurs as a replacement deposit in
limestone and often in concretions imbedded in clays, marls, and shales.
Margarite
Margarite has the formulae CaAl2(Al2Si2))O10(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is a metamorphic mineral associated with staurolite and tourmaline.
Massive
Massive refers to a mineral that does not show any definite external
crystal form or consists of poorly defined masses of small crystals.
Mercury
Mercury has the formulae Hg.
It has a relative hardness of 0.
It is a native metal. Has uses in mining, engineering, and pharmacy.
Mica
Mica refers to a group of silicate minerals having perfect cleavage in
one direction and which easily split into thin, elastic, sheets.
Microcrystalline
Microcrystalline refers to a rock in which the crystals are too small to
be seen without a microscope.
Microline
Microline has the formulae KAlSi3O8.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It has the same composition as orthoclase but distinguished by triclinic
twinning (usually requires a microscope). If a feldspar is a deep green
it is microline - and sometimes called 'amazon stone'. Told from
plagioclase by lack of striations.
Millerite
Millerite has the formulae NiS.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is the richest ore of nickel but too scattered to be commercially
important. Forms at low temperatures often in cavities and as an altered
form of other nickel minerals, or as a crystal inclusion in other
minerals.
Mimetite
Mimetite has the formulae Pb5(AsO4)3Cl.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a minor ore of lead. A relatively rare which occurs in the oxidized
portions of lead bearing veins.
Mohs
Mohs is a scale of hardness applied to minerals. It ranges from 1 for
talc to diamond at 10.
Molybdates
Molybdates refers to a group of minerals in which the molybdate radical
(MoO4) is an important constituent. Ex: wulfenite
Molybdenite
Molybdenite has the formulae MoS2.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is the main ore of molybdenum. Resembles graphite but has a higher
specific gravity and a slight blue tint.
Monazite
Monazite has the formulae (Ca,La,Nd,Th)PO4.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is the chief ore of thorium and cerium. Thorium is a radioactive
element. It is concentrated in sands due to its durability and high
specific gravity. Associated with other heavy minerals such as magnetite,
rutile, and zircon.
Monoclinic
Monoclinic refers to a crystal with six faces and three axes of unequal
length. Two axes are at right angles to each other and the third is
inclined to the plane of the other two. A ream of paper with a long edge
sloped at an angle is an example.
Mud
Mud is a mixture of clay, sand and organic matter.
Muscovite
Muscovite has the formulae KAl2(AlSi3)O10(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It has extremely perfect cleavage and thin flakes are flexible. Very
common. Used for electrical and heat insulation.
Natrolite
Natrolite has the formulae Na2(Al2Si3)O10ų2H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is of interest to collectors. Found lining cavities in basalts and
other lavas. Associated with calcite and zeolites.
Nephiline
Nephiline has the formulae (Na,K)AlSiO4.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is confined almost exclusively to the zinc deposits at Franklin, NJ.
Associated with franklinite and willemite, often in an intimate mixture.
Niccolite
Niccolite has the formulae NiAs.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a minor ore of nickel and often has a copper-like colour.
Nodular
Nodular refers to appearing as or composed of irregular lumps of rock or
a mineral.
Oligoclase
Oligoclase has the formulae (Na,Ca)AlSi3O8.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a plagioclase feldspar. Of interest to petrologists and collectors.
Varieties: labradorite, anorthite.
Olivine
Olivine has the formulae (Mg,Fe)2SiO4.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It's name is derived from the characteristic olive green colour. A common
rock forming mineral. A clear green variety is called peridot and has
some uses as a gem.
Onyx
Onyx is a mineral formed of silica.
Opal
Opal has the formulae SiO2ųnH2O.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is found lining and filling cavities in igneous and sedimentary rocks
where it's been deposited by hot waters. The ordinary varieties are
common but the precious varieties are quite valuable.
Orpiment
Orpiment has the formulae As2S3.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is a rare mineral usually associated with realgar. Used in dyeing but
is poisonous. Distinguished from sulfur by its perfect cleavage.
Orthoclase
Orthoclase has the formulae KAlSi3O8.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is used in the manufacture of porcelin and for other industrial
purposes.
Orthorhombic
Orthorhombic refers to a rectangular crystal with three axes of different
lengths and all at right angles to each other. A closed book is a basic
example.
Oxide
Oxide refers to a group of minerals where oxygen joined with a metal is a
major constituent.
Oxidized zone
Oxidized zone refers to the portion of an ore body that has been altered
by downward percolating groundwater and which contains dissolved oxygen
and carbon dioxide.
Pearly
Pearly refers to a luster with the iridescent look of a pearl. Most
commonly seen on surfaces parallel to cleavage planes.
Pectolite
Pectolite has the formulae NaCa2Si3O8(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is formed from hydrothermal solutions filling cavities in basalts.
Associated with zeolites, prehnite, calcite. Of interest to collectors.
Pegmatite
Pegmatite refers to an igneous rock of very coarse grain size. Usually
found as dikes within a larger rock mass. They are often excellent
sources of fine crystals.
Penninite
Penninite has the formulae Mg3(Si4O10)(OH)2ųMg3(OH)6.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a member of the chlorite group of minerals.
Pentlandite
Pentlandite has the formulae (Fe,Ni)9S8.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is the principal ore of nickel. The major use of nickel is in the
manufacture of steel.
Perlite
A perlite is an obsidian, or other vitreous rock with a concentric
structure and which is expansible by heating.
Petalite
Petalite has the formulae LiAlSi4O10.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is an ore of lithium. Associated with spodumene, lepidolite,
tourmaline.
Petroleum
Petroleum is a mineral oil from which petrol is derived.
Phenakite
Phenakite has the formulae Be2SiO4.
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is a rare mineral found in pegmatite dikes associated with topaz,
beryl, and apatite. From the Greek word for 'a deceiver' in that it can
be mistaken for quartz.
Phillipsite
Phillipsite has the formulae (K2,Na2Ca)(Al2Si4)O12ų4-5H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is a hydrothermal mineral found lining cavities in basalt rocks
associated with chabazite. Formed as an alteration product of feldspars
and volcanic ashes.
Phlogopite
Phlogopite has the formulae K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3)O10(F,OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It occurs as a result of the metamorphism of crystalline magnesium
limestones or dolomitic marbles. Also found in serpentine. Rarely found
in igneous rocks.
Phosphates
Phosphates refers to a group of minerals where phosphate (PO4) is an
important constituent.
Pipe
Pipe refers to a cylindrical, vertical mass of igneous rock.
Placer
Placer refers to a concentrated deposit of mineral particles that have
weathered out of rock. Usually deposited by stream action.
Plagioclase
Plagioclase has the formulae Na(AlSi3O8).
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is the plagioclase feldspar group includes: albite, oligoclase,
andesine, labradorite, bytownite, anorthite.
Platinum
Platinum has the formulae Pt.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is a rare metal and more valuable than gold. Has a high melting point
and is resistant to chemicals.
Playa
Playa refers to a shallow basin or plain in a desert where water collects
after a rain and then evaporates.
Plutonic rock
Plutonic rock refers to a granular igneous rock that has solidified at
great depth and shows a distinct grain structure. Ex: granite
Polybasite
Polybasite has the formulae (Ag,Cu)16SbS11.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is an ore of silver. Resembles hematite but much softer.
Polyhalite
Polyhalite has the formulae KaCa2Mg(SO4)4ų2H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is urce of potassium. Occurs in bedded deposits associated with
sylvite, carnallite, halite. Has a characteristic red colour.
Potash
Potash is the name given to any mineral containing potassium.
Prase
Prase is a dark green variety of quartz, the colour being due to an
admixture of hornblende.
Precipitation
Precipitation refers to the process by which disolved or suspended solids
are separated from a liquid.
Prehnite
Prehnite has the formulae Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It occurs as a crusty lining in cavities in basalt and related rocks.
Associated with zeolites, datolite, pectolite, and calcite. Has a
characteristic green colour. Resembles hemimorphite but is of lower
specific gravity and fuses easily.
Proustite
Proustite has the formulae Ag3AsS3.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is an ore of silver. Has a characteristic ruby-red colour, vermilion
streak and a brilliant luster.
Pseudomorph
Pseudomorph refers to a mineral that has taken the outward crystal form
of a different mineral.
Psilomelane
Psilomelane has the formulae BaMnO16(OH)4
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is an ore of manganese. Usually occurs with pyrolusite. Different from
other manganese oxides in that it is of greater hardness and has an
apparent lack of crystal structure.
Pumice
Pumice is a light volcanic rock.
Purpurite
Purpurite has the formulae (Mn,Fe)PO4 .
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is an alteration product of lithiophilite that occurs in pegmatites.
Of interest to collectors.
Pyragyrite
Pyragyrite has the formulae Ag3SbS3.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is an ore of silver. Similar to proustite but has a deeper red colour
and is less translucent. Forms in silver veins formed at low temperatures
and is one of the last minerals to crystallize in the process of
deposition.
Pyrite
Pyrite has the formulae FeS2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is iron pyrite. Formed from cooling magma. It is found as an igneous
segregation and also in metamorphic rocks and as vein deposits. Often
found in sedimentary rocks being both primary and secondary in origin.
Often mined for the gold or silver associated with it.
Pyrolusite
Pyrolusite has the formulae MnO2.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is the major ore of manganese which is used in the manufacture of
steel. Pyrolusite is formed when manganese is dissolved out of
crystalline rocks and then redeposited in dentrites etc.
Pyromorphite
Pyromorphite has the formulae Pb5(PO4)3Cl.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a minor ore of lead which is found in the oxidized portions of lead
veins.
Pyrope
Pyrope (fire-garnet, Bohemian garnet) is a dark-red variety of garnet
found embedded in trap tufa in the mountains of Bohemia, and in
serpentine in Germany.
Pyrophyllite
Pyrophyllite has the formulae A12Si4O10(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is appears very similar to talc. A comparatively rare mineral found in
metamorphic rocks and often with kyanite.
Pyroxenes
Pyroxenes refers to a group of closely related and dark coloured rock
forming minerals. Ex: augite, diopside.
Pyrrhotite
Pyrrhotite has the formulae FeS.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is magnetic. A common mineral often found in igneous rocks. It is
mined for the nickel minerals associated with it.
Quartz
Quartz has the formulae ā-SiO2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a very widespread mineral which occurs as an important constituent
of igneous rocks which have an excess of silica. Very resistant to
mechanical and chemical attack. Massive, fine grained types are called
jasper, chert, flint, agate. Coarse crystalline types called amethyst,
rose quartz etc.
Realgar
Realgar has the formulae AsS.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is found in veins of lead, silver, and gold ores associated with
arsenic minerals and stibnite. Also occurs as a deposit from hot springs.
When mixed with saltpeter and burned it gives a bright white light and
was used in fireworks.
Red Ochre
Red Ochre is a soft, earthy variety of haematite mineral.
Replacement
Replacement refers to the process by which one mineral is replaced by
another and the original physical form is often retained.
Resinous
Resinous refers to a luster with the appearance of resin.
Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite is an important manganese ore. In South America it is used
as an ornamental stone. It has a relative hardness of 4.
Rhodocrosite
Rhodocrosite has the formulae MnCO3.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is a minor ore of manganese. Occurs in veins with ores of silver,
lead, copper, and other manganese minerals.
Rhodonite
Rhodonite has the formulae (Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO3.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It often has a pink-red colour. Sometimes polished for use as an
ornamental stone. Of interest to collectors.
Rhyolite
Rhyolite is a fine grained igneous rock.
Ruby
Ruby is the red transparent form of corundum. It is a precious stone.
Rutile
Rutile has the formulae ā-TiO2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It exhibits a strong luster and often twinned crystals. Found in granite,
granite pegmatites, gneiss, mica schist, metamorphic limestone and
dolomite. Present as an accessory mineral in the rocks or in quartz
veins. Name is derived from the latin word "rutilus"; red.
Sapphire
Sapphire is the blue transparent form of corundum.
Scapolite
Scapolite has the formulae (Na,Ca,K)4A13(Al,Si)3Si6O24(Cl,SO4,CO3).
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It shows fluorescence. Occurs in the crystalline schists, gneisses, and
often is probably derived from the alteration of plagioclase feldspars.
Also occurs in crystalline limestones formed by metamorphic contact or
igneous intrusion. Associated with diopside, amphibole, garnet, apatite,
and zircon.
Scheelite
Scheelite has the formulae CaWO4.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is an ore of tungsten. Found in granite pegmatites, contact
metamorphic deposits and high-temperature ore veins associated with
granitic rocks. Associated with cassiterite, topaz, flourite, apatite,
molybdenite, and wolframite. Sometimes found with gold.
Schist
Schist refers to a metamorphic rock which exhibits fine lamination or
layers along which the rock may be easily broken. Mica is a good example.
Schwazite
Schwazite is a variety of Tetrahedrite containing upto 17 percent
mercury.
Scolecite
Scolecite has the formulae Ca(Al2Si3)O10ų3H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is of interest to collectors. Found in lavas and contact metamorphic
depostis.
Scorodite
Scorodite has the formulae FeAsO4ų2H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is of interest to collectors. Occurs in the oxidized portions of
metallic veins as an alteration of arsenic containing minerals.
Secondary minerals
Secondary minerals refers to minerals formed by the alteration of
preexisting minerals.
Sepiolite
Sepiolite has the formulae Mg4Si6O15(OH)2ų6H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is an alteration product of magnesite and serpentine. Becomes plastic
when mixed with water. Used in the manufacture of meerschaum pipes.
Serpentine
Serpentine has the formulae Mg6(Si4O10)(OH)8.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a common mineral group and usually an alteration product of some
magnesium silicate, especially olivine, pyroxene, and amphibole.
Frequently associated with magnesite, chromite, and magnetite. Two
varieties are antigorite(massive) and chrysotile(fibrous; also called
asbestos).
Shale
Shale is a fine black sedimentary rock.
Siderite
Siderite has the formulae FeCO3.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is becomes magnetic when heated. An ore of iron. Frequently found as
an impure admixture with clay materials. Also in concretions with
concentric layers.
Silica
Silica refers to silicon dioxide (SiO2). A very common mineral that is
found in many forms including quartz, opal, chert.
Silicates
Silicates refers to a group of minerals composed chiefly of SiO4. Ex:
quartz, orthoclase.
Silky
Silky refers to a silk-like luster on a mineral. Results from a fine,
fibrous and parallel surface.
Sillimanite
Sillimanite has the formulae A;2SiO5.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a somewhat rare mineral found as a constituent of gneiss and schist
in metamorhpic rocks. Often occurs with corundum.
Silver
Silver has the formulae Ag.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is native silver results from the deposition of silver from
hydrothermal solutions. Most of the world's silver comes from silver ores
rather than pure native silver.
Skutterudite
Skutterudite has the formulae CoAs2-3.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is an important ore of cobalt and nickel. Associated with native
silver, bismuth, calcite, arsenopyrite.
Slate
Slate is a metamorphic rock.
Smithsonite
Smithsonite has the formulae ZnCO3.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is an ore of zinc. Usually found with zinc deposits in limestone beds.
Sodalite
Sodalite has the formulae Na4Al3(SiO4)3Cl.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is usually has an attractive blue colour. Used as polished slabs and
for carved ornaments.
Specific gravity
Specific gravity refers to the relative density of a mineral. It is the
ratio of:; Weight in Air/(Weigth in Air - Weight in Water). ;This
measurement is an easily accomplished procedure using a simple balance or
spring scale.
Sperrylite
Sperrylite has the formulae PtAs2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a rare natural compound of platinum and arsenic.
Sphalerite
Sphalerite has the formulae (Zn,Fe)S.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is the main ore of zinc. Associated with galena, pyrite, marcasite,
chalcopyrite, calcite. Formed as a replacement deposit in limestones and
in veins in igneous rocks.
Sphene
Sphene has the formulae CaTiO(SiO4).
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a source of titanium. A rather common accessory mineral in igneous
rocks. Often found as crystals. Commonly associated with chlorite.
Spinel
Spinel has the formulae MgAl2O4.
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is a common metamorphic mineral occuring imbedded in crystalline
limestone, gneisses, and serpentine. Occurs as a common accessory mineral
in many dark igneous rocks. When transparent and finely coloured it is
used as a gem.
Spodumene
Spodumene has the formulae LiAlSi2O6.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is a source of lithium. Found occasionaly as very large crystals in
pegmatic dikes.
Staurolite
Staurolite has the formulae (Fe,Mg,Zn)2Al9Si4O23(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is an accessory mineral in crystalline schists, slates, and sometimes
gneisses. Often associated with garnet, kyanite, and tourmaline. May form
cross twins.
Stephanite
Stephanite has the formulae Ag5SbS4.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a minor ore of silver. One of the last minerals to form in silver
veins.
Stibnite
Stibnite has the formulae Sb2S3.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is the major ore of antimony. Deposited by alkaline waters, usually in
association with quartz. Found in quartz veins or beds in granite and
gneiss. May occur as a replacement in limestones and shales.
Stilbite
Stilbite has the formulae NaCa2(Al5Si13)O36ų14H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a mineral of seconadary origin found in cavities in basalts and
related rocks.
Strata
Strata is layers of sedimentary rock.
Streak
Streak refers to the colour of the powder produced when a mineral is
rubbed over the surface of a piece of unglazed, white porcelain.
Striations
Striations refers to very small parallel grooves or narrow channels of
the faces of a crystal.
Strontianite
Strontianite has the formulae SrCO3.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is source of strontium. Physically simialar to cerussite and
witherite. Associated with barite, celestite, and calcite in veins in
limestone. Occasionaly found in igneous rocks and as a gangue mineral in
sulfide veins.
Sulfates
Sulfates refers to a group of minerals in which sulfate SO4 is an
important part.
Sulfides
Sulfides refers to a mineral group where sulfur is combined with one or
more metals.
Sulfur
Sulfur has the formulae S.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is formed near the crater rims of volcanoes by hot gases; also formed
by the reduction of sulfates, especially gypsum.
Sulphides
Sulphides refers to a mineral group where sulphur is combined with one or
more metals.
Sylvanite
Sylvanite has the formulae AgAuTe4.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is a rare ore of gold, silver, and tellurium. Formed in low
temperature hydrothermal veins. Associated with calaverite, other
tellurides - usually in quartz gangue.
Sylvite
Sylvite has the formulae KCl.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is an industrial mineral used as a fertilizer. Found in sedimentary
evaporite deposits associated with halite.
Talc
Talc has the formulae Mg3Si4O10(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 1.
It is a mineral of secondary origin formed by the alteration of magnesium
silicates. Usually found in metamorphic rocks where, in a non-crystalline
form, it occurs as 'soapstone' - and can make up large rock masses. Used
for laboratory table tops and for many industrial uses. Has a greasy
feel.
Tenacity
Tenacity refers to the ability of a substance to resist being separated.
Tetragonal
Tetragonal refers to a crystal with four rectangular(not square) sides
and two square bases. A butter package is an example.
Tetrahedrite
Tetrahedrite has the formulae (Cu,Fe)12Sb4Si3 - (Cu,Fe)12As4S13.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is an ore of copper and silver. Commonly found in hydrothermal veins
formed at low to moderate temperatures. Usually associated with other
silver, lead, and copper minerals.
Thenardite
Thenardite has the formulae Na2SO4.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It dissolves easily in water and has a weak salty taste. Forms in
sedimentary evaporite deposits in lakes and playas of desert climates.
Used in the glass and paper-making industries.
Till
A till is a stiff unstratified clay mixed with sand, gravel and boulders.
Tillite
A tillite is a rock composed of consolidated till.
Topaz
Topaz has the formulae Al2SiO4(F,OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is formed by flourine-bearing vapors given off during the last stages
of the solidification of igneous rocks. It is used as gem stone.
Torbernite
Torbenite is a uranium ore. It contains up to 61 percent uranium. It has
a relative hardness of 2.5.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline has the formulae (Na,Ca)(Al,Fe,Li,Mg)3A16(BO3)3(Si6O18)
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is most commonly found in granite pegmatites. Usually black but
lighter coloured gem varieties are also found.
Travertine
Travertine is a white or light-coloured crystalline concretionary
limestone deposited from springs and used for building.
Tremolite
Tremolite has the formulae Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is the fibrous variety has been used for asbestos. The compact variety
is called nephrite and is used for ornamental purposes by oriental
people. Most often found in impure limestones where the rock has
recrystallized during metamorphism.
Triclinic
Triclinic refers to a crystal with six faces as parallelograms and three
axes of unequal length all inclined to each other. An uncommon form of
crystal.
Trydimite
Trydimite has the formulae á-SiO2.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is of interest to scientists and collectors due to its rarity.
Tufa
Tufa is a soft white porous rock of calcium carbonate deposited from
solution in spring water or percolating ground water.
Turquoise
Turquoise has the formulae CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8ų5H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is a mineral of secondary origin usually found in small veins and
stringers. Used as a gem stone.
Twin
Twin refers to a mineral specimen comprised of two or more single
crystals intergrown in a systematic arrangement.
Ulexite
Ulexite has the formulae NaCaB5O9ų8H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 2.
It is an ore of boron. Formed during the evaporation of lake basins.
Umber
Umber is a naturally occurring mineral used as a pigment.
Uraninite
Uraninite has the formulae UO2.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is radioactive. An important source of uranium. Occurs in pegmatites
and veins in granite; also as sedimentary deposits.
Vanadinite
Vanadinite has the formulae Pb5(VO4)3Cl.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is source of vanadium and a minor ore of lead. Found in the oxidized
portion of lead veins associated with other lead minerals. Vanadium is
used as a steel-hardening metal.
Vein
Vein refers to a sheetlike extension of mineral matter cutting through
preexisting rock.
Vermilion
see "cinnaba"
Vesicle
Vesicle refers to a small cavity in a volcanic rock.
Vesuvianite
Vesuvianite has the formulae Ca10(Mg,Fe)2Al4(SiO4)5(SiO7)2(OH)4.
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is usually found in crystalline limestones and is formed as a result
of contact metamorphism.
Vitreous
Vitreous refers to a luster like that of glass. Quartz is an example.
Vivianite
Vivianite has the formulae Fe3(PO4)2ų8H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It is a rare mineral of secondary origin, associated with pyrite in
copper and tin veins. Forms as a weathering product from primary iron-
manganese phosphates in pegmatites. Also found in beds of clay.
Wavellite
Wavellite has the formulae Al3(PO4)2(OH)3ų5H2O.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a rare mineral of secondary origin. Found frequently in small
amounts in crevices in aluminous, low-grade metamorphic rocks and in
limonite and phosphorite deposits.
Willemite
Willemite has the formulae Zn2SiO4.
It has a relative hardness of 6.
It is an ore of zinc. Found in crystallized limestone. Associated with
calcite, zincite, franklentie.
Witherite
Witherite has the formulae BaCO3.
It has a relative hardness of 4.
It is a somewhat rare mineral found most often in veins associated with
galena. It's a minor source of barium.
Woolastonite
Woolastonite has the formulae CaSiO3.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is used in the manufacture of tile. Occurs mainly as a contact
metamorphic mineral in crystalline limestones.
Wulfenite
Wulfenite has the formulae PbMoO4.
It has a relative hardness of 3.
It often displays brilliant colours and a tabular habit. A minor source
of molybdenum. Found in the oxidized portion of lead veins with other
secondary lead minerals. Prized by collectors.
Zincite
Zincite has the formulae (Zn,Mn)O.
It has a relative hardness of 5.
It is an ore of zinc and used in the production of zinc oxide.
Zircon
Zircon has the formulae ZrSiO4.
It has a relative hardness of 8.
It is a common accessory mineral found in all types of igneous rocks.
When transparent it's used as a gemstone.
Zoisite
Zoisite has the formulae Ca2Al3(Si3O12)(OH).
It has a relative hardness of 7.
It is of interest to collectors. Formed in high temperature metamorphic
rocks. Variety: tanzanite.
MYTHOLOGY
Abaddon
According to the ancient Hebrews, Abaddon was chief of the demons of the
7th hierarchy.
Abaris
In Greek mythology Abaris was a priest to the god Apollo. Apollo gave him
a golden arrow which rendered him invisible and also cured diseases and
gave oracles. Abaris gave the arrow to Pythagoras.
Abas
Abas was the son of Celeus and Metaneira. He mocked Demeter and was
turned into a lizard. By some accounts he was the 12th king of Argolis
who owned a magic shield.
Abdera
Abdera was an ancient Greek city supposedly founded by Hercules in honour
of his friend Abderus.
Abderus
Abderus was a friend of Hercules. Hercules left him to look after the
mare of Diomedes, which ate him.
Abira
In Antioquia mythology, Abira is the creator.
Abominable snowman
The Abominable snowman is a legendary creature, said to resemble a human,
with long arms and a thickset body covered with reddish gray hair.
Reports of its existence in the Himalayas have been made since 1832, and
they gained substance from a published photograph of a huge footprint in
the snow in 1951. No further "evidence" has been found.
Absyrtus
Absyrtus (Apsyrtus) was a son of Aeetes, King of Colchis and brother of
Medea. When Medea fled with Jason she took Absyrtus with her and when her
father nearly overtook them she murdered Absyrtus and cut his body into
pieces and threw it around the road so that her father would be delayed
picking up the pieces of his son.
Acacetus
Acacetus is a name sometimes given to Hermes because of his eloquence.
Acamas
Acamas was a son of Theseus and Phaedra. He went to Troy with Diomedes to
demand the return of Helen.
Acastus
Acastus was a son of Pelias. He was one of the argonauts.
Acestes
In Greek mythology, Acestes was a Sicilian bowman who in a trial of skill
discharge an arrow with such force that it ignited.
Achaeus
In Greek mythology, Achaeus was a son of Xuthus and Creusa. He returned
to Thessaly and recovered the dominions of which his father had been
deprived.
Achates
In Greek mythology Achates was a companion of Aeneas in his wanderings
subsequent to his flight from Troy. He typified a faithful friend and
companion.
Achemon
Achemon and his brother Basalas were two Cercopes who were for ever
arguing. One day they insulted Hercules, who tied them by their feet to
his club and marched off with them like a brace of hares.
Acheron
Acheron was one of the rivers of Hades.
Acherusia
In Greek mythology, Acherusia was a cave on the borders of Pontus which
led to the infernal regions. It was through this cave that Hercules
dragged Cerberus to earth.
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was the son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons
in Thessaly, and of the sea nymph Thetis, who rendered him invulnerable,
except for the heel by which she held him, by dipping him in the river
Styx. Achilles killed Hector at the climax of the Iliad, and according to
subsequent Greek legends was himself killed by Paris, who shot a poisoned
arrow into Achilles' heel.
Achiyalatopa
In Zuni mythology, Achiyalatopa is a celestial giant monster with
feathers of flint knives.
Achmon
Achmon is an alternative spelling for Achemon.
Acis
In Greek mythology, Acis was a son of Faunus and a river nymph. He loved
the sea-nymph Galatea and was killed by his jealous rival Polyphemus.
Acrisius
In Greek mythology, Acrisius was a son of Abas and the twin brother of
Proetus with whom he quarrelled even in the womb. He was the father of
Danae. When Abas died, Acrisius expelled Proetus from his inheritance,
but Proetus returned supported by Iobates and Acrisius was compelled to
give him Tiryns while he kept Argos.
Actaeon
In Greek mythology, Actaeon was a great hunter who was turned into a stag
by Artemis for looking on her while she was bathing. He was subsequently
torn to pieces by his own dogs.
Adaro
In the mythology of the Solomon Islands, Adaro is a sea-spirit.
Addanc
The addanc was a dwarf or marine monster which lived near lake llyon. He
was killed in some accounts by Peredu who obtained a magic stone which
made him invisible.
Adekagagwaa
In Iroquois mythology, Adekagagwaa is the spirit of summer who rests
during the winter in the south.
Adja
see "Adjassou-Linguetor"
Adja Bosu
see "Adjassou-Linguetor"
Adjassou-Linguetor
In Voodoo, Adjassou-Linguetor (Adja, Adha Bosu) is a loa with
protruberant eys and a bad temper who governs spring water.
Adonis
Adonis was a Phoenician god, adopted by Greek mythology as a mortal
favourite of Aphrodite. He was killed by a wild boar and upon finding him
Aphrodite caused the plant the anemone to rise from his blood.
Adrastea
Adrastea was an alternative name for Nemesis.
Adrastus
Adrastus was the son of Talaus and the king of Argos. He attempted to
restore Polynices to his throne at Thebes, he failed but led a second
assault leading the Epigoni. He died of grief when he heard that his son
had been killed in the Epigoni assault.
Aegir
In Norse mythology, Aegir is the god of the sea.
Aello
Aello was one of the harpies.
Aeneas
Aeneas was a Trojan hero. He was the son of Anchises and Aphrodite. He
led the survivors of the Trojan war to Italy.
Aeolus
Aeolus was the son of Hippotes. He lived on a rocky island where the
winds were trapped in caves. He let the winds out as commanded by the
gods.
Aesculapius
Aesculapius was the son of Apollo and Coronis. His mother died at his
birth, struck by an arrow of Artemis. His father saved him and took him
to the physician Chiron who taught Aesculapius about healing.
Aesir
The Aesir were the principal gods in Norse mythology. They lived in
Asgard.
Agamemnon
In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was a Greek hero of the Trojan wars, son of
Atreus, king of Mycenae, and brother of Menelaus. He married
Clytemnestra, and their children included Electra, Iphigenia, and
Orestes. He sacrificed Iphigenia in order to secure favorable winds for
the Greek expedition against Troy and after a ten years' siege sacked the
city, receiving Priam's daughter Cassandra as a prize. On his return
home, he and Cassandra were murdered by Clytemnestra and her lover,
Aegisthus. His children Orestes and Electra later killed the guilty
couple.
Agla
An agla is a talisman used by the rabbis to exorcise evil spirits.
Agni
Agni is the Hindu god of fire, the guardian of homes, and the protector
of humans against evil.
Agwe
In Voodoo, Agwe is the goddess of the sea.
Ah Kinchil
In Maya mythology, Ah Kinchil is the sun god.
Ah Puch
In Maya mythology, Ah Puch is the god of death.
Ahau Chamahez
In Maya mythology, Ahau Chamahez was one of two gods of medicine.
Ahmakiq
In Maya mythology, Ahmakiq is a god of agriculture. He locks up the wind
when it threatens to destroy the crops.
Ahriman
In Zoroastrianism the Ahriman is the supreme evil spirit, lord of the
darkness and death.
Ahura Mazda
In Zoroastrianism Ahura Mazda is the spirit of supreme good, god of light
and life.
Aida-Wedo
Aida-Wedo is the voodoo rainbow snake loa.
Airsekui
In Huron mythology, Airsekui is the great spirit. He is invoked at times
of great danger.
Ajax
In Greek mythology, Ajax was son of Telamon, king of Salamis, he was
second only to Achilles among the Greek heroes in the Trojan War.
According to subsequent Greek legends, Ajax went mad with jealousy when
Agamemnon awarded the armor of the dead Achilles to Odysseus. He later
committed suicide in shame.
Akhushtal
In Maya mythology, Akhushtal is the goddess of childbirth.
Aktunowihio
In Cheyenne mythology, Aktunowihio is the soul of the earth. A
subterranean spirit.
Akycha
In Eskimo mythology, Akycha is the sun spirit.
Alcaeus
Alcaeus was a son of Perseus and Andromeda.
Alcestis
Alcestis was the wife of Admetus in Greek mythology. Her husband was ill,
and according to an oracle would not recover unless someone vowed to die
in his place. Alcestis made the vow and her husband recovered. After she
died Hercules brought her back from the infernal regions.
Alcides
Alcides is an alternative name for Hercules.
Amaethon
Amaethon was the celtic god of husbandry.
Amaterasu
In Japanese mythology, Amaterasu is the sun goddess, grandmother of Jimmu
Tenno, the first ruler of Japan.
Amazon
in Greek mythology, the Amazons were a group of female warriors living
near the Black Sea, who cut off their right breasts to use the bow more
easily. Their queen, Penthesilea, was killed by Achilles at the siege of
Troy. The Amazons attacked Theseus and besieged him at Athens, but were
defeated, and Theseus took the Amazon Hippolyta captive; she later gave
birth to Hippolytus.
Ambrosia
In Greek mythology, ambrosia was the food of the gods which was supposed
to confer eternal life upon all who ate it.
Amen
Amen is an alternative spelling of Ammon.
Amitolane
In Zuni mythology, Amitolane is the rainbow spirit.
Ammon
Ammon was an ancient Egyptian god. He was depicted as a human with a
ram's head. He was one of the chief gods, and was adopted by the Greeks
as Zeus and the Roman's as Jupiter.
Amor
Amor was the Roman god of love.
Amphion
In Greek mythology, Amphion was a son of Zeus and Antiope. He was the
husband of Niobe. Amphion had great skill in music which he was taught by
Hermes. He helped build the walls of Thebes, the stones moving themselves
into position at the sound of his lyre.
Amphitrite
Amphitrite was the Greek goddess of the sea and wife of Poseidon.
Amphitryon
In Greek mythology, Amphitryon was King of Thebes, son of Alcaeus and
husband of Alcmena.
Amset
In Egyptian mythology, amset was son of horus; guardian of the south. His
canopic jar receives the stomach and large intestines of the dead.
Amun
Amun is an alternative spelling of Ammon.
Amymone
Amymone was a daughter of Danaus. She and her sisters were sent to search
for water when Poseidon caused a drought in the district of Argos. Whilst
searching she threw a spear at a dear, missed it and hit a satyr which
pursued her. She called to Poseidon for help. He came, drove off the
satyr and produced a perennial spring for her at Lerna, where he met her.
An
In Sumerian mythology, An was the personification of heaven.
An tigh geatha
In druidry an tigh geatha refers to the outer order.
Anadyomene
Anadyomene is a name of Aphrodite when she was represented as rising from
the sea.
Andraste
In British mythology, Andraste is a warrior goddess. She was invoked by
Queen Boudicca when she revolted against the Roman invaders.
Androcles
In Roman mythology, Androcles was a Roman slave who fled from a cruel
master into the African desert, where he encountered a crippled lion and
took a thorn from its paw. The lion later recognized the recaptured slave
in the arena and spared his life. The emperor Tiberius was said to have
freed them both.
Andromache
In Greek mythology, Andromache was the wife of Hector.
Andromeda
Andromeda was a daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopea. Perseus found her
bound to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. Perseus rescued her
after killing the sea monster so that she might become his wife.
Angpetu Wi
In Dakota mythology, Angpetu Wi is the sun spirit.
Anguta
In Eskimo mythology, Anguta is a god who lives under the sea and drags
down the dead.
Aningan
In Eskimo mythology, Aningan is the moon spirit.
Ankh
The Ankh was the ancient Egyptian amulet of life. It was usually employed
as a pendant for a necklace.
Anniu
Anniu was an ancient Egyptian god.
Annwn
In British mythology, annwn is the otherworld.
Anpao
In Dakota mythology, Anpao is the spirit of the dawn.
Antaeus
Antaeus was the giant son of Poseidon and Ge. He was invincible so long
as he remained in contact with the earth. Hercules killed him by picking
him up so that his feet were off the ground and then stifling him.
Anteros
In Greek mythology, Anteros was the god of mutual love. He was said to
punish those who did not return the love of others.
Anthesteria
Anthesteria was a Greek festival held each year in honour of the gods,
particularly Bacchus and to celebrate the beginning of spring.
Antigone
In Greek mythology Antigone was the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. She
was celebrated for her devotion to her father and her brother Polynices.
Antilochus
In Greek mythology, Antilochus was a son of Nestor. He was a hero of the
Trojan war and was renowned for his speed of foot. He was killed by
Memnon.
Antiope
In Greek mythology, Antiope was a daughter of Nycteus, King of Thebes.
Zeus was attracted by her beauty and came to her in the guise of a Satyr.
Antiope conceived twins by Zeus, and scared of her father's wrath fled to
Sicyon where she married King Epopeus.
Anu
In Babylonian mythology, Anu is the god of the sky. He is the son of
Anshar and Kishar.
Anubis
Anubis (Anepo) was an ancient Egyptian god. He was the son of Osiris and
Isis. He was depicted as having the head of a jackal. He guided the souls
of the dead from this world into the next. He also weighed the actions of
the deceased in the presence of Osiris.
Anulap
In Truk Island mythology, Anulap is the sky god and the husband of
Ligougubfanu.
Apep
Apep is an evil serpant in ancient Egyptian mythology.
Aphrodisia
Aphrodisia was the festival in celebration of Aphrodite celebrated
throughout Greece and Cyprus.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love. The Romans called her Venus.
Apis
Apis were bulls symbolic of Osiris in ancient Egyptian culture. When they
reached 25 years of age they were secretly killed by the priests and
thrown into a sacred well.
Apollo
Apollo was the Roman name of the Greek god Phoebus.
Apsu
In Babylonian mythology, Apsu is the sweet-water ocean. It is the union
of Apsu with Tiamat which brings forth the first gods.
Arachne
In Greek mythology, Arachne was a Lydian woman who was so skillful a
weaver that she challenged the goddess Athena to a contest. Athena tore
Arachne's beautiful tapestries to pieces and Arachne hanged herself. She
was transformed into a spider, and her weaving became a cobweb.
Aratron
In magic, Aratron is ruler of the affairs of Saturn. It is a spirit which
can be invoked on the 1st hour of saturday.
Arcadia
Arcadia was a green mountainous isolated region in the centre of
Peloponnese inhabited by shepherds and peasants.
Ares
Ares was the Greek god of storms and tempests. He was a son of Zeus and
Hera. He became symbolic with storms and turmoil in human relationships
and hence to being the god of war. The Romans called him Mars.
Arethusa
In Greek mythology, Arethusa was a daughter of Nereus and Doris. She was
a nympth changed by Artemis into a fountain to enable her to escape the
pursuit of Alpheus.
Argonauts
In Greek mythology the Argonauts were heroes who made a hazardous voyage
to Colchis with Jason in the ship the Argo to get the golden fleece.
Argus
In Greek mythology the Argus was a beast with a hundred eyes placed by
Juno to guard Io.
Ariadne
In Greek mythology Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos. She helped
Theseus out of the labyrinth with a thread. She was abandoned by Theseus
on the Isle of Naxos where she subsequently met and married Bacchus.
Arimaspians
In Greek mythology the Arimaspians were a one-eyed people who conducted a
perpetual war against the griffins in an attempt to steal the griffin's
gold.
Aristaeus
In Greek mythology Aristaeus was the son of Apollo and Cyrene. He
introduced bee-keeping.
Artemis
Artemis was a Greek goddess of the moon.
Aruspices
The Aruspices (Haruspices) were a class of priests in ancient Rome. Their
job was to foretell the future from the entrails of sacrificial victims.
Ascanius
Ascanius was a son of Aeneas and Creusa. He escaped from Troy with his
father.
Asclepius
Asclepius was a Greek god of healing. He was the son of Apollo and
Coronis. He was taught the art of healing by Cheiron. Zeus killed him
with a thunderbolt as a punishment for bringing a dead man back to life.
Asgard
In Norse mythology Asgard was the home of the gods.
Ashera
Ashera was an ancient Semetic goddess symbolised by the phallus.
Ashnan
In Sumerian mythology, Ashnan was the goddess of grain. She was created
by Enlil to provide food and clothes for the gods.
Ashtaroth
Ashtaroth was a goddess worshipped by the ancient Canaanites. She was
regarded as symbolising the productive power of nature.
Asmodai
In ancient Egyptian mythology Asmodai (Asmodeus) was an evil spirit who
killed seven husbands of Sara but was driven away into the uppermost part
of Egypt by Tobias. Asmodai is also reprsented as the prince of demons
who drove King Solomon from his kingdom.
Asrael
In Islam, Asrael is the angel of death who takes the soul from the body.
Astarte
Astarte is a Syrian goddess representing the productive power of nature.
She was a moon goddess.
Astraea
In Greek mythology Astraea was the daughter of Zeus and Themis, the
goddess of justice.
Ataentsic
In Iroquois mythology, Ataentsic is the goddess of the earth.
Atalanta
In Greek mythology Atalanta was a famous huntress of Arcadia. She was to
be married only to someone who could outrun her in a race, the
consequence of failure being death.
Atanua
In the mythology of The Marquesas Islands, Atanua is the dawn goddess.
She was the wife of Atea, and it was her miscarriage that created the
seas.
Ate
Ate was the goddess of infatuation, mischief and guilt. She would mislead
men into actions which would be the ruin of them.
Atea
In the mythology of the Marquesas Islands, Atea is the god of light and
husband of Atanua.
Ateshga
Ateshga was a sacred site for the Guebres. It was on the peninsular of
Apsheron on the west coast of the Caspian sea. Pilgrims would bow before
the sacred flames which issued forth from the bituminous soil.
Athena
Athena (Athene) was the Greek goddess of intellect. She was the daughter
of Zeus and Metis.
Athene
see "Athena"
Athor
Athor (Hathor, Hat-Her) was an Egyptian goddess symbolised by a cow with
a solar disk on its head and haw-feather plumes.
Atlantiades
Atlantiades was another name for Hermes.
Atlantides
Atlantides was name given to the Pleiades who were fabled to be the seven
daughters of Atlas.
Atlantis
In Greek mythology, Atlantis was an island continent, said to have sunk
following an earthquake. The Greek philosopher Plato created an imaginary
early history for it and described it as a utopia.
Atlas
Atlas was a giant who had to support the heavens upon his shoulders.
Atreus
In Greek mythology Atreus was the son of Pelops and Hippodamia. He was
King of Mycenae. To seek revenge on his brother Thyestes for seducing his
wife, Atreus gave a banquet at which Thyestes dined on the flesh of his
own sons.
Attis
In classical mythology, Attis was a Phrygian god whose death and
resurrection symbolized the end of winter and the arrival of spring. He
was loved by the goddess Cybele, who drove him mad as a punishment for
his infidelity, he castrated himself and bled to death.
Au
In the mythology of the Gilbert Island, Au is the sun god and lord of the
skies.
Augean stables
in Greek mythology, the Augean stables were the stables of Augeas, king
of Elis in southern Greece. One of the labours of Hercules was to clean
out the stables, which contained 3,000 cattle and had never been cleaned
before. He was given only one day to do the task so he diverted the river
Alpheus through their yard.
Aum
Aum is the sacred mystical syllable representing the Hindu trinity.
Aurora
Aurora was goddess of the dawn. She was the daughter of Hyperion and
Theia, and sister of Helios and Selene.
Autolycus
In Greek mythology, Autolycus was an accomplished thief and trickster. He
was a son of the god Hermes, who gave him the power of invisibility.
Avali
Avali is the plural of Omuli.
Avalon
Avalon is the place where King Arthur is said to have gone after
disappearing. It is a sort of fairy land.
Avatar
Avatar (Avatara) in Hindu mythology is an incarnation of a deity.
Ba-Maguje
In Hausa mythology, Ba-Maguje is the spirit of drunkeness.
Baal
In Canaanite mythology, Baal was the god of fertility. He was the son of
El.
Babamik
In Arapesh mythology, Babamik is a cannibal ogress who is eventually
lured to her death and she then becomes a crocodile.
Bacabs
In Maya mythology, the bacabs are the canopic gods. They stand at the
four corners of the world supporting the heavens.
Bacchanalia
Bacchanalia were feasts held in honour of Bacchus and characterized by
licentiousness and revelry.
Bacchus
Bacchus was another name for Dionysus.
Balder
In Norse mythology, Balder was the son of Odin and Freya and husband of
Nanna, and the best, wisest, and most loved of all the gods. He was
killed, at Loki's instigation, by a twig of mistletoe shot by the blind
god Hodur.
Banshee
In Gaelic folklore, a banshee is a female spirit whose wailing outside a
house foretells the death of one of its inhabitants.
Bard
A bard was an order of druid. The bard's office was to supervise,
regulate and to lead. His robe was sky blue, symolising justice and
truth.
Barong
In Balinese mythology, Barong is a protective spirit portrayed as a lion
or tiger.
Basalas
see "Achemon"
Bast
Bast was an ancient Egyptian goddess. The cat was sacred to her.
Batara Guru
In Indonesian mythology, Batara Guru is the great god who made the earth.
Bateia
In Greek mythology, Bateia was a daughter of Teucer. She was married to
Dardanus by whom she had two sons, Ilus and Erichthonius.
Begu
In Batak mythology, begu are ghosts which wander the afterworld formless
and starving. They approach humans by way of mediums demanding sacrifices
to feed on. They may also steel the soul of a living person for a
husband/wife.
Bel
Bel (Belenos) was the Celtic god of light.
Belam
In Melanau mythology, Belam are protective spirits who catch the souls of
sick people and return them to their bodies thereby curing them.
Bellerophon
In Greek mythology, Bellerophon was a victim of slander who was sent
against the monstrous chimera, which he killed with the help of his
winged horse Pegasus. After further trials, he ended his life as a
beggar. His story was dramatized by Euripides.
Bellona
Bellona was the Roman goddess of war.
Beltaine
Beltaine is the name of the feast of the spring equinox.
Berserker
In Norse mythology, a berserker was a warrior whose frenzy in battle
transformed him into a wolf or bear howling and foaming at the mouth, and
rendered him immune to sword and flame.
Bertha
In Norse mythology, Bertha is the goddess of spinning.
Bes
Bes was the Egyptian god of recreation, music and dancing. He was
represented as a grotesque dwarf wearing a crown of feathers.
Bia
In Greek mythology, Bia was a son of Styx and the Titan Pallas. Bia was
the personification of might and force.
Biloko
In Zaire mythology, Biloko are spirits which live in hollow trees in the
forest. They dress only in leaves and are devoid of hair, instead grass
grows on their body. They have piercing eyes and a snout with a mouth
which can open wide enough to swallow a man dead or alive. They have long
sharp claws and can put a spell on passers by except those protected by
strong counter magic.
Bladud
In English mythology, Bladud was the father of King Lear, and was said to
have founded Bath having been cured by its waters.
Boan
Boan was another name for Dana. In this version of events, Boan visited a
sacred well which, to punish her for breaking the law, rose up and
pursued her to the sea and thus became the river Boyne where lived the
salmon of knowledge which fed on nuts dropped from the nine hazel trees
at the water's edge.
Boann
In Irish mythology, Boann is the goddess of rivers.
Bochica
In Chibcha mythology, Bochica was the supreme being.
Bodhisattva
A Bodhisattva is someone who has transmuted his personal human nature and
raised it into impersonality.
Bokwus
In Kwakiutl mythology, Bokwus is a wild spirit of the woods who draws the
spirits of the drowned to his home.
Bope
In Bororo mythology, Bope are evil spirits who attack the souls of the
dead.
Boraspati ni Tano
In Batak mythology, Boraspati ni Tano is an earth spirit. Sacrifices are
made to him when a new house is built.
Boreas
Boreas was the north wind god. He was the son of Astraeus and Aurora.
Bragi
In Norse mythology, Bragi is the god of poetry and eloquence. He was
married to the goddess Iduna who dwelt in the underworld.
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu supreme god and creator of the cosmos.
Brighid
In Gaelic mythology, Brighid was the goddess of metalwork, poetic
inspiration and therapy.
Bromius
Bromius was another name for Dionysus.
Brono
In Norse mythology, Brono was the son of Baldr. He was the god of
daylight.
Brownie
The brownie is a spirit popular in Scottish folk-lore. Brownies haunt
houses, and if treated well will help with the drudgery of the housework
while the occupants sleep.
Bubastis
In Egyptian mythology, Bubastis was the daughter of Isis. She was
represented as having the head of a cat, the animal sacred to her.
Bucentaur
The bucentaur was a mythical creature, half man and half ox
Bylgja
In Norse mythology, Bylgja is a daughter of Aegir and Ran.
Cadmus
Cadmus was the founder of the ancient city of Cadmeia and gave the Greeks
an alphabet.
Caduceus
Caduceus is the winged and serpent twisted staff or wand of Hermes.
Calliope
Calliope was the muse of heroic poems. She was the chief of the muses.
Callisto
Callisto was a daughter of Lycaon. She was one of Artemis' huntresses.
She bore arcas to Zeus. To conceal their affair, Zeus turned her into a
bear.
Calypso
In Greek mythology, Calypso was a sea nymph who waylaid the homeward-
bound Odysseus for seven years.
Cassandra
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was the daughter of Priam, King of Troy.
Her prophecies were never believed, because she had rejected the love of
the god Apollo. She was murdered with Agamemnon by his wife Clytemnestra,
having been awarded as a prize to the Greek hero on his sacking of Troy.
Castor
Castor was the twin brother of polydeuces. He was a son of Zeus and Leda.
He, like his brother was born from an egg after Zeus visited Leda
disguised as a swan.
Cavillaca
In Quecha mythology, Cavillaca was a goddess loved by Coniraya.
Celaeno
Celaeno was one of the harpies.
Celeus
In Greek mythology, Celeus was King of Eleusis and the husband of
Metaneira.
Centaur
A centaur was a beast half horse, and with the head, torso and arms of a
man.
Centeotl
In Aztec mythology, Centeotl was the corn god. He was a son of
Tlazolteotl and the husband of Xochiquetzal.
Cepheus
Cepheus was the king of Aethiopia. He displeased Poseidon by having a
beautiful daughter, Andromeda. Poseidon then sent floods and a sea
monster to terrorise the area until cepheus gave his daughter as a
sacrifice to the sea monster.
Cerberus
Cerberus was a huge and savage dog with 3 heads which guarded the
entrance to Hades. He was the offspring of Echidne and Typhon.
Cercyon
Cercyon was a son of Hephaestus. He was king near Eleusis. He challenged
all travellers and wrestled them to death untill he challenged and was
killed by Theseus.
Ceres
Ceres was the Roman goddess of agriculture, equivalent to the Greek
Demeter.
Cernunnos
In Celtic mythology, Cernunnos was the god of the underworld and of
animals. He is depicted as a man with the antlers of a stag.
Cerridwen
In Welsh mythology, Cerridwen is the goddess of dark prophetic powers.
She is the keeper of the cauldron of the underworld, in which inspiration
and divine knowledge are brewed.
Cestus
In Greek mythology, the cestus was a girdle worn by Aphrodite and which
was endowered with the power of exciting love towards the wearer.
Chahuru
In Pawnee mythology, Chahuru is the spirit of water.
Chalchiuhtlicue
In Aztec mythology, Chalchiuhtlicue was the goddess of running water. She
was the sister of Tlaloc.
Chalybes
The Chalybes were mythical inhabitants of north Asia Minor who invented
iron working.
Chantico
In Aztec mythology, Chantico was the goddess of hearth fires and
volcanoes.
Chaos
In Greek mythology, Chaos was the infinite space before Ge (the earth)
was created.
Charites
The Charites were the Greek goddesses of gracefulness and the charms of
beauty.
Charon
Charon was the ferryman who transported the dead across the river Styx to
Hades.
Charybdis
In Greek mythology, the charybdis was a whirlpool formed by a monster of
the same name on one side of the narrow straits of Messina, Sicily,
opposite the monster Scylla.
Cheiron
Cheiron was a centaur. He was a son of Cronus and Philyra. He learnt
hunting and medicine from Apollo and Artemis.
Chenoo
In Abnaki mythology, the Chenoo were stone giants versed in hunting who
were invoked to assist the hunters.
Chia
In Chibcha mythology, Chia is the moon-goddess.
Chibchacum
In Chibcha mythology, Chibchacum was the god of farmers and merchants.
Chicomecoatl
In Aztec mythology, Chicomecoatl was the goddess of corn and fertility.
Chimaera
The chimaera was a monster composed of the head of a lion, the body of a
goat and a serpant for a tail. Bellerophon was sent to slay it.
Chipiripa
In Curra mythology, Chipiripa is the rain god.
Chixu
In Pawnee mythology, Chixu are the spirits of the dead.
Cihuacoatl
In Aztec mythology, Cihuacoatl was a goddess whose roaring signalled war.
Circe
In Greek mythology, Circe was an enchantress living on the island of
Aeaea. In Homer's Odyssey, she turned the followers of Odysseus into
pigs. Odysseus, bearing the herb moly provided by Hermes to protect him
from the same fate, forced her to release his men.
Cit Bolon Tum
In Maya mythology, Cit Bolon Tum was a god of medicine.
Clermeil
In Voodoo, Clermeil is a loa in the form of a white-man. When angry he
makes rivers overflow.
Clio
Clio was the muse of history.
Clytemnestra
In Greek mythology, Clytemnestra was the wife of Agamemnon. With the help
of her lover Aegisthus, she murdered her husband and his paramour
Cassandra on his return from the Trojan War, and was in turn killed by
her son Orestes.
Comus
Comus was a Greek and Roman god of banquets.
Conchobar
In Celtic mythology, Conchobar was the King of Ulster whose intended
bride, Deidre, eloped with Noisi. Conchobar killed Deidre's husband and
his brothers and she died of sorrow.
Congo
In Voodoo, Congo is a handsome but lethargic and slow-witted loa.
Coniraya
In Quecha mythology, Coniraya is the creator of all things and the
founder of agriculture. He came to earth as a beggar, fell in love with
the goddess Cavillaca and secretly impregnated her by turning some of his
sperm into fruit which she ate. Cavillaca later turned herself and her
child into stone at the shame of mothering the child of a beggar.
Corbenic
Corbenic was the castle in the Arthurian legend in which the Holy Grail
was kept.
Cornucopia
In Greek mythology, the cornucopia was one of the horns of the goat
Amaltheia, which was caused by Zeus to refill itself indefinitely with
food and drink.
Cratos
Cratos was a son of Uranus and Gaea. He was very strong.
Creidhne
In Celtic mythology, Creidhne was the god of metal working.
Creusa
In Greek mythology, Creusa was the daughter of Erechtheus and wife of
Xuthus. She was also loved by Apollo.
Cronus
Cronus was the son of Uranus. He succeeded to the throne of the gods when
Uranus was deposed. He married Rhea. He appears in Greek mythology.
Cuchulain
Cuchulain was a Celtic hero, the chief figure in a cycle of Irish
legends. He is associated with his uncle Conchobar, King of Ulster; his
most famous exploits are described in The Cattle Raid of Cuchulain.
Cupid
Cupid was another name for Amor.
Cupido
Cupido is an alternative spelling for Cupid.
Curetes
In Greek mythology the Curetes were attendants of Rhea. They were
supposed to have saved the infant Zeus from his father Cronus and then to
have become a sort of bodyguard of the god.
Cybele
Cybele was the Great Mother Goddess of the Phrygians and later the Greeks
and Romans.
Cyclops
In Greek mythology, the Cyclops wereone of a race of Sicilian giants, who
had one eye in the middle of the forehead and lived as shepherds.
Odysseus blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus in Homer's Odyssey.
Daedalus
In Greek mythology, Daedalus was an Athenian artisan supposed to have
constructed for King Minos of Crete the labyrinth in which the Minotaur
was imprisoned. When Minos became displeased with him, Daedalus fled from
Crete with his son Icarus using wings made by them from feathers fastened
with wax.
Daemons
The daemons were an order of invisible beings. Zeus assigned one daemon
to each man to attend, protect and guide him.
Dagda
Dagda was the Celtic equivalent of Cronus. Also called Cian.
Daghdha
In Irish mythology, Daghdha is the great god. He had a secret affair with
Boann which resulted in the birth of Oenghus.
Dagon
Dagon was the god of the Philistines. He had the upper torso of a man and
the tail of a fish.
Dakaki
In Hausa mythology, the Dakaki is a serpant spirit which causes the evil
eye resulting in stomach ulcers.
Dama
In Huli mythology, dama are invisible deities which control the weather
and attack people causing illness, sterility or death. Most of them can
also bring good fortune, but a small minority are completely evil.
Dama dagenda
In Huli mythology, dama dagenda are evil forest-spirits that attack
travellers making their noses bleed and giving them sores.
Damballa
In Voodoo, Damballa is a loa who governs snakes and floods and can cure
all illness.
Danaans
The Danaans were one of the 3 Nemedian families who survived the Fomorian
victory. The brought the stone of destiny from Falias.
Danae
In Greek mythology, Danae was daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos. He
shut her up in a bronze tower because of a prophecy that her son would
kill his grandfather. Zeus became enamored of her and descended in a
shower of gold; she gave birth to Perseus.
Danhyang Desa
In Java mythology, each village has a Danhyang Desa which is a spirit who
lives in a large tree near to or in the village. All blessings emanate
from him. Any disasters occuring to the village are seen as a sign that
he has been neglected.
Daphne
Daphne was a daughter of Peneus. She was pursued by Apollo and asked to
be turned into a laurel tree to escape him, which she was.
Daphnis
Daphnis was a son of Hermes and a nymph. He was raised by Sicillian
shepherds when his mother abandoned him.
Dardanus
In Greek mythology, Dardanus was a son of Zeus and Electra. He was
originally a king in Arcadia, he migrated to Samothrace and from there to
Asia where Teucer gave him the site of his town, Dardania. He married
Bateia.
Datagaliwabe
In Huli mythology, Datagaliwabe is a giant who punishes offences against
kinship laws with illness, fatal accidents or death in battle.
Deianeira
Deianeira was the daughter of Oeonus and the wife of Hercules.
Deidamia
Deidamia fell in love with Achilles and bore him Neoptolemus.
Deirdre
In Celtic mythology, Deidre was the beautiful intended bride of
Conchobar. She eloped with Noísi, and died of sorrow when Conchobar
killed him and his brothers.
Demeter
Demeter was a Greek goddess of the earth. She is also called Ceres. She
was the nourishing mother, bringing forth fruits. She was a daughter of
Cronus and Rhea.
Demigod
A demigod was a Greek hero. They were men who posessed god-like strength
and courage and who had performed great tasks in the past.
Deucalion
In Greek mythology, Deucalion was the son of Prometheus. Warned by his
father of a coming flood, Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha built an ark.
After the waters had subsided, they were instructed by a god to throw
stones over their shoulders which then became men and women.
Dia
Dia is an alternative name for Hebe.
Diable Tonnere
In Voodoo, Diable Tonnere is a powerful loa.
Diablesse
In Voodoo, Diablesses are the spirits of women who died as virgins. They
are forced to purge the sin of dieing a virgin by living in the woods for
many years before they will be allowed into heaven.
Diana
Diana was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Artemis.
Diancecht
In Irish mythology, Diancecht is the god of healing. He destroyed the
giant serpent that threatened and destroyed cattle throughout the land.
Dido
Dido was a Phoenician princess. The legendary founder of Carthage, she
committed suicide to avoid marrying a local prince.
Diejuste
In Voodoo, Diejuste is a benevolant loa.
Dike
Dike was the attendant of justice to Nemesis.
Dinditane
In Huli mythology, Dinditane is a fertility god of gardening.
Dionysus
Dionysus was a Greek god of happiness. He was also called Bacchus and
Iacchus.
Dis
In Roman mythology, Dis was the god of the underworld, also known as
Orcus.
Discordia
Discordia was the Roman goddess of strife.
Druid
The ancient druids were divided into 3 functional orders:primitive druid,
bard and ovate. Druidism originated amongst the megalithic ancient
British. They taught it to the immigrant celts, and later trained celts
from the conntinent.
Dryades
The dryades were nymphs of the woods and trees.
Duamutef
In Egyptian mythology, Duamutef was son of Horus and guardian of the
East. His canopic jar receives the lungs and heart of the dead.
Dumuzi
In Sumerian mythology, Dumuzi is the shepherd god.
Dunawali
In Huli mythology, Dunawali is an evil goddess who lodges herself in a
woman's internal organs making the victim the innocent vehicle of the
goddesses evil power.
Duppies
see "Duppy"
Duppy
In Jamaican folklore, Duppies are the ghosts of deceased people. An Obeah
man will summon a Duppy and plant it in a home to curse the occupants. A
sample of the victim's clothing, hair or especially menstrual fluid may
be obtained so that a Duppy may rape a femal victim while she sleeps and
make her ill.
Durga
Durga is a Hindu deity. She is depicted as having ten arms. Her most
famous exploit was slaying Mahisha. The festival of Durga puja is
celebrated annually in her honour.
In Bali mythology, Durga is the goddess of death.
Dyaus
In Hindu mythology, Dyaus is the god of the sky.
Dzivaguru
In Korekore mythology, Dzivaguru was the great earth goddess. She lived
in a valley near Dande, kept cattle and goats and dressed in goatskins.
She posessed a long horn which gave he whatever she wished for.
Ea
In Babylonian mythology, Ea was the god of wisdom and magic.
Eblis
In Islamic mythology, Eblis is the chief of the evil spirits.
Echo
Echo was a mountain nymph and a servant of Hecate.
Ehecatl
In Aztec mythology, Ehecatl was the god of wind.
Eirene
Eirene was the goddess of peace.
Ekahau
In Maya mythology, Ekahau is the god of travellers and merchants.
Ekkekko
In Quecha mythology, Ekkekko is the god of good fortune.
El
In Canaanite mythology, El was the father of the gods.
Electra
In Greek mythology, Electra was daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra,
and sister of Orestes and Iphigenia. Her hatred of her mother for
murdering her father and her desire for revenge, fulfilled by the return
of her brother Orestes, made her the subject of tragedies by the Greek
dramatists Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.
Electryon
Electryon was a son of Perseus and Andromeda.
Elementals
The Elementals are creatures or spirits of the elements. They are the
forces of nature.
Eloko
In Zaire mythology, the Eloko are dwarves who live in the densest and
darkest parts of the forest guarding their treasure, which is the fruits
and animals of the forest.
Elysium
In Greek mythology, Elysium was originally another name for the Islands
of the Blessed, to which favored heroes were sent by the gods to enjoy a
life after death. It was later a region in Hades.
Endymion
In Greek mythology, Endymion was a beautiful young man loved by Selene,
the Moon goddess. He was granted eternal sleep in order to remain forever
young.
Enki
Enki was the Sumerian water god. Enki supplied clear drinking water to
the town of Dilmun at the request of Ninhursag.
Enkidu
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu is the wild man created by the goddess
Aruru who becomes a companion to Gilgamesh. After Gilgamesh has provoked
the anger of the goddess Ishtar, Enkidu sickens and dies.
Enkimdu
In Sumerian mythology, Enkimdu was the farmer god.
Enlil
In Sumerian mythology, Enlil was the son of Ki and An. He was the god of
the sky and separated the earth from the heaven.
Enyo
Enyo was the Greek goddess of war.
Eos
Eos was the goddess of dawn. She was the daughter of Hyperion and Thia,
and sister of Helios and Selene.
Epaphus
In Greek mythology, Epaphus was a son of zeus and Io who was born on the
River Nile. He became King of Egypt and married Memphis, or by some
accounts Cassiopeia. he had a daughter, Libya, who gave her name to the
African country of Libya.
Epigoni
The Epigoni were the descendants of the seven against Thebes who attacked
the city ten years after their fathers had done so. They were organised
by Adrastus.
Epimetheus
Epimetheus was the brother of Prometheus.
Epona
In Celtic mythology, Epona was the goddess of horses.
Erato
Erato was the muse of love and marriage songs.
Erebus
Erebus was the Greek god of darkness.
Erechtheus
In Greek mythology, Erechtheus (Erichthonius) was an Attic hero, said to
have been the son of Hephaestus and Atthis. He was brought up by Athena.
Erichthonius
see "Erechtheus"
Eridanus
Eridanus was a Greek river god known as the king of rivers. He was a son
of Oceanus and Tethys.
Erinys
Erinys was the attendant of vengeance to Nemesis.
Eris
Eris was the Greek goddess of strife.
Eros
Eros was the Greek god of love. He was the son of Aphropdite.
Erzilie
In Voodoo, Erzilie is the goddess of sexual love.
Eteocles
In Greek mythology, Eteocles was a son of the incestuous union of Oedipus
and Jocasta and brother of Polynices. He denied his brother a share in
the kingship of Thebes, thus provoking the expedition of the Seven
against Thebes, in which he and his brother died by each other's hands.
Europa
Europa was the daughter of Agenor. She was carried off by Zeus who had
transformed himself into a great white bull.
Eurus
Eurus was the east wind god.
Euryale
Euryale was one of the gorgons.
Eurydice
In Greek mythology, Eurydice was the wife of Orpheus. She was a dryad, or
forest nymph, and died from a snake bite. Orpheus attempted
unsuccessfully to fetch her back from the realm of the dead.
Euterpe
Euterpe was the muse of music.
Fama
Fama was an alternative name for Pheme.
Farbanti
In Norse mythology Farbanti was a giant who ferried the dead over the
waters to the underworld. He was the father of Loki.
Fate
In Greek and Roman mythology, the Fates was goddesses who decreed what
would happen to both men and gods.
Fauna
Fauna was a Roman goddess.
Faunus
Faunus was a Roman god similar to Pan.
Fenris
In Norse mythology, Fenris was the monstrous wolf of the god Loki. Fenris
swallowed the god Odin but was stabbed to death by Odin's son, Vidar.
Finweigh
In Bilan mythology, Finweigh was the god who with Melu made man.
Flora
Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers, youth, and spring.
Forso
In Gururumba mythology, the forso are ghosts of the dead. They are
tiresome attracting attention and causing accidents and illness.
Fortuna
Fortuna was the Roman goddess of luck.
Freyr
In Norse mythology, Freyr was Odin in another form as the god of rain,
sunshine and fruits. He married Gredr.
Fulla
In Norse mythology, Fulla was attendant to Frigg.
Furiae
The Furiae were attendants of Hades and Persephone.
Ga-oh
In Iroquois mythology, Ga-oh is the wind-giant. His house is guarded by a
bear, whose prowling brings the north wind; a panther whose whining
brings the westerly wind; a moose whose breathing brings the wet east
wind and a fawn whose returning to its mother brings the gentle south
wind.
Gaea
Gaea was a Greek goddess of the earth.
Gahonga
In Iroquois mythology, the Gahonga are the jogah of rocks and rivers.
Galatea
In Greek mythology, Galatea was the daughter of Nereus and Doris. She
rejected the advances of the Cyclops Polyphemus and instead gave herself
to the Sicilian shepherd Acis. Polyphemus crushed Acis beneath a rock.
Gandayah
In Iroquois mythology, the Gandayah are the jogah who tend the earth's
fertility.
Ganesa
Ganesa is an elephant headed Hindu god. He is the son of Siva and
Parvati.
Gangan
In Voodoo, a gangan is an inferior shaman unable to reach hougan.
Gans
In Apache mythology, the Gans were mountain spirits sent to teach the
Apache the arts of civilisation. But they went away because they were
distressed by the corruption of people.
Ganymeda
Ganymeda is an alternative name for Hebe.
Ganymedes
Ganymedes was a son of the Trojan king Tros. He was carried off by Zeus
and became the cup-bearer of the gods.
Garm
In Norse mythology, Garm is a hound which stands in front of Hel's home
and snarls with jaws dripping blood at the pilgrims from the upper world.
Genii
Genii is an alternative name for the daemons.
Geofon
In British mythology, Geofon was the ocean goddess.
Geyaguga
In Cherokee mythology, Geyaguga is the moon spirit.
Gikuyu
Gikuyu and Mumbi were the spiritual ancestors of all the Kikuyu people.
They had 9 daughters. For the daughters, Gikuyu found 9 husbands beneath
a large fig tree at Murang'a for the daughters. These husbands then
became the ancestors of the 9 Kikuyu clans.
Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh was a hero of Sumerian, Hittite, Akkadian and Assyrian legend.
He was one-third mortal and two-thirds divine. Gilgamesh was Lord of the
Sumerian city of Uruk.
Ginnunggap
In Norse mythology, Ginnunggap was the Yawning Void.
Gioll
In Norse mythology, Gioll was a river which surrounded the underworld,
Hel.
Gladsheim
In Norse mythology, Gladsheim was the mansion in Asgard where the gods
lived.
Gleipnir
In Norse mythology, Gleipnir is the chain which bounds Fenris. It is made
from the footfalls of cats, the beards of women, the roots of mountains
and the breath of fish.
Gnomes
The Gnomes are elementals evolved in the realm of Earth.
Gohone
In Iroquois mythology, Gohone is the spirit of winter.
Goibhniu
In Celtic mythology, Goibhniu was the smith god.
Gold-comb
In Norse mythology, Gold-comb is the cock who shall crow when ragnarok
comes.
Golden fleece
The golden fleece was the fleece of the ram on which Phrixus had escaped
and was given to aetes the king of colchis. It hung from an oak tree in
the grove of Ares where a dragon guarded it.
Gordian Knot
In Greek mythology, the Gordian Knot was tied by King Gordius, and could
only br unravelled by a future conquerer of Asia. Alexander cut it with
his sword in 334BC.
Gorgons
The gorgons were three daughters of Phorcys and Ceto.
Gotterdammerung
In Norse mythology, Gotterdammerung is the end of the world.
Graces
Graces is an alternative name for the Charites.
Graeae
The Graeae were three daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. They had only one
eye and one tooth between them which they shared. Perseus forced them to
tell him where he could find Medusa by stealing their solitary eye and
tooth.
Grand Bois
In Voodoo, Grand Bois is the loa of the forces of nature.
Griffin
The griffin was a mythical monster, the supposed guardian of hidden
treasure, with the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion, and the head,
forelegs, and wings of an eagle.
Guanyin
In Chinese mythology, Guanyin is the goddess of mercy.
Guatrigakwitl
In Wishok mythology, Guatrigakwitl is the creator who made all things.
Guebres
The Guebres were Persian fire worshippers.
Guedes
In Voodoo, guedes are the spirits of the dead.
Gulltopr
In Norse mythology, Gulltopr was the horse of Heimdall.
Gullveig
In Norse mythology, Gullveig was the thrice-born and thrice-burnt virgin.
Gungnir
In Norse mythology, Gungnir is Odin's spear, obtained from the Dwarves by
Loki for Odin.
Gwyn ap Nudd
In Celtic mythology, Gwyn ap Nudd is the lord of the underworld and
master of the wild hunt. He lives at Glastonbury Tor.
Ha Wen Neyu
In Iroquois mythology, Ha Wen Neyu is the great spirit.
Hadad
In Canaanite mythology, Hadad was the god of thunder and lightning.
Hades
Hades was the Greek god of the underworld. He was a son of Cronus.
Haemus
In Greek mythology, Haemus was a son of Boreas and Oreithyia. He married
Rhodope and by her had a son, Hebrus. He and his wife presumed to assume
the names of Zeus and Hera and were turned into mountains for their
insolence.
Hafoza
In Jate mythology, Hafoza is the god of thunder and lightning.
Hanghepi
In Dakota mythology, Hanghepi is the spirit of the night moon.
Hanuman
In Hindu mythology, Hanuman is the monkey god and King of Hindustan. He
assisted Rama in the recovery of his wife, Sita, from Ravana of Lanka.
Hapi
In Egyptian mythology, Hapi was the personification of the Nile. He was
son of Horus and guardian of the North. His canopic jar receives the
small intestines of the dead.
Harmonia
Harmonia was the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite. She married Cadmus. At
the wedding she was given a necklace made by Hephaestus which confered
irresistible beauty upon the wearer.
Harpies
The harpies were employed by the gods to carryout the punishment of
crime.
Harpocrates
Harpocrates was the Egyptian god of silence.
Hastsehogan
In Navajo mythology, Hastsehogan is the god of houses.
Hastseltsi
In Navajo mythology, Hastseltsi is the god of racing.
Hastsezini
In Navajo mythology, Hastsezini is the fire-god.
Hathor
see "Hathor"
Haumea
In Hawaiin mythology, Haumea is the goddess of procreation and
childbirth.
Heammawihio
In Cheyenne mythology, Heammawihio is the great spirit.
Hebe
Hebe was the goddess of youth. She was the daughter of Zeus and Hera.
Hebrus
In Greek mythology, Hebrus was a river god. He was the son of Haemus and
Rhodope.
Hecate
Hecate was a Greek goddess of the moon and spirits. Dogs were sacred to
her.
Hector
In Greek mythology, Hector was a Trojan prince, son of King Priam and
husband of Andromache, who, in the siege of Troy, was the foremost
warrior on the Trojan side until he was killed by Achilles.
Heimdall
In Norse mythology, Heimdall was the watchman of the bridge, Bifrost,
which led to the underworld.
Heise
In Ju mythology, Heise was half man and half god. He created the forests
from his own hair so that his own delicate son could have shelter from
the searing sun.
Hekau
Hekau was a term for the magical formulae used on amulets in ancient
Egypt.
Hel
Hel (Hela) was the Norse goddess of the underworld.
Hela
see "Hel"
Helabe
In Huli mythology, Helabe is a son of Honabe.
Helahuli
In Huli mythology, Helahuli is a son of Honabe. His four sons were the
founders of mankind and the four tribes bear their names.
Helen
In Greek mythology, Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, and the most
beautiful of women. She married Menelaus, King of Sparta, but during his
absence, was abducted by Paris, Prince of Troy. This precipitated the
Trojan War. Afterwards she returned to Sparta with her husband.
Helicon
Helicon was a mountain in central Greece, on which was situated a spring
and a sanctuary sacred to the Muses.
Helios
Helios was the Greek god of physical light.
Hemera
Hemera was the Greek goddess of day. She was born from Erebus and Nyx.
She emerged from Tartarus as Nyx left it and returned to it as she was
emerging from it.
Heng
In Huron mythology, Heng is the god of thunder.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus was the Greek god of volcanic fire. The Romans called him
Vulcan. He was the son of Zeus and Hera.
Heqt
Heqt was the frog-headed goddess of ancient Egypt. She was wife of
Khnemu. She represented resurrection and was symbolised by a frog.
Hera
Hera was a Greek goddess. She was mother to Hephaestus.
Herabe
In Huli mythology, Herabe is a god who causes insanity.
Heracles
see "Hercules"
Hercules
In Greek and Roman mythology, Hercules (Heracles) was considered as the
perfect athlete. He was given twelve labours.
1) Kill the Nemean lion.
2) Destroy the Lernean hydra.
3) Capture alive the Erymanthian boar.
4) Capture alive the Ceryneian stag.
5) Kill the Stymphalian birds.
6) Clean the Augean stables.
7) Bring alive into Peloponnesus the Cretan bull.
8) Obtain the horses of Diomedes.
9) Obtain the girdle of Hippolyte.
10) Kill the monster and cattle of Geryon.
11) Obtain the apples of Hesperides.
12) Bring from the infernal regions Cerbeus the three headed dog of
Hades.
Hermaphroditus
In Greek mythology, Hermaphroditus was the son of Hermes and Aphrodite.
He was loved by a nymph who asked for eternal union with him. Her request
was granted and they became one body with both male and female sex
organs.
Hermes
Hermes was the Greek god of oratory. He was a son of Zeus and Maia.
Herne The Hunter
In English folklore, Herne The Hunter is the spirit of a hunter which
guards travellers through Windsor Great Park. He wears the antlers of a
stag upon his head. Herne was prominent in the tales of Robin Hood,
although Windsor Great Park is nowhere near Sherwood Forest.
Hesperides
The Hesperides were daughters of Atlas and Hesperis.
Hestia
Hestia was a Greek goddess. She was a daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She
was goddess of the hearth. She was also called Vesta.
Het-Her
see "Athor"
Hindu
see "Hinduism"
Hinduism
Hinduism is a religion that originated in India.
Hino
In Iroquois mythology, Hino is the thunder god, guardian of the skies.
Hippocoon
In Greek mythology, Hippocoon was a King of Sparta. He was the son of
Oebalus and Gorgophone. He refused to purify Hercules after he murdered
Iphitus and further offended Hercules by killing Oeonus.
Hippolytus
In Greek mythology, Hippolytus was the son of Theseus. When he rejected
the love of his stepmother, Phaedra, she falsely accused him of making
advances to her and turned Theseus against him. Killed by Poseidon at
Theseus' request, he was in some accounts of the legend restored to life
when his innocence was proven.
Hiribi
In Canaanite mythology, Hiribi was the goddess of summer.
Hiro
In Easter Island mythology, Hiro is the god of rain and fertility.
Hokewingla
In Dakota mythology, Hokewingla is a turtle spirit who lives in the moon.
Honabe
In Huli mythology, Honabe is the primaeval goddess and the first
inhabitant of the land. She was seduced by the god Timbu and bore five
deities.
Horae
The horae were the Greek goddesses of the seasons. They were daughters of
Zeus and Themis.
Horus
Horus was the Egyptian hawkheaded sun god, son of Isis and Osiris, of
whom the pharaohs were declared to be the incarnation.
Hoturu
In Pawnee mythology, Hoturu is the wind spirit.
Houmea
In Maori mythology, Houmea was a cannibal who swallowed her own children,
but was forced to disgorge them by her husband, Uta. She later persued
him and the children in the form of a stag and he killed her by throwing
hot stones down her mouth.
Houngans
In Voodoo, the houngans are the priests.
Hresvelgr
In Norse mythology, Hresvelgr is a giant who lives in the extreme north
and the motion of whose wings causes wind and tempest.
Hu
Hu was the giver of mead and wine to man. He holds a plough to show men
that the noblest of the arts is to control and to guide.
Huitaca
In Chibcha mythology, Huitaca is the beautiful goddess of drunkeness and
licentiousness.
Huitzilopochtli
In Aztec mythology, Huitzilopochtli was the son of Coatlicue and a god of
war and the sun.
Huixtocihuatl
In Aztec mythology, Huixtocihuatl is the goddess of salt.
Hunin
In Norse mythology, Hunin was a raven of thought which sat upon Odin's
shoulder and brought him news everyday of what was occuring in the world.
Hydra
In Greek mythology, the Hydra was a huge monster with nine heads. If one
were cut off, two would grow in its place. One of the 12 labours of
Hercules was to kill it.
Hygea
Hygea was the daughter of Aesculapius. She was the goddess of health.
Hymen
Hymen was the Greek and Roman god of marriage.
Hymenaeus
Hymenaeus is an alternative name for Hymen.
Hypnos
Hypnos was a son of night, and twin brother of Thanatos. He provided rest
and relieved pain.
Iacchus
Iacchus is an alternative name for Dionysus.
Ibo
In Voodoo, Ibo is a handsome, friendly loa.
Ibo Loa
In Voodoo, the Ibo Loa are gods and spirits.
Icarus
Icarus escaped from the Minos labyrinth by means of wings made by his
father Daedalus. In escaping he flew too close to the sun, the wax
holding the feathers to the wings melted and icarus fell into the sea and
drowned.
Idlirvirissong
In Eskimo mythology, Idlirvirissong is an evil spirit.
Iduna
In Norse mythology, Iduna was the wife of Bragi. She kept golden apples
in a box which the gods ate to keep themselves young.
Ifa
Ifa is the Yoruba god of wisdom, knowledge and divining.
Igaluk
In Eskimo mythology, Igaluk is the moon spirit.
Ilara
In Tiwi mythology, Ilara is the underworld.
Inanna
In Sumerian mythology, Inanna is the sister of Utu. She must choose as a
husband between Enkimdu and Dumuzi. Both gods were keen to marry her, but
she eventually married Dumuzi.
Incubus
In folk-lore, the Incubus were male spirits who raped women during their
sleep, producing Witches and Demons as offspring.
Indra
Indra is the Hindu sky god. He is depicted as a four-armed man on a white
elephant carrying a thunderbolt. It is he who slashes the clouds with his
thunderbolt to release the rain.
Inti
In Inca mythology, Inti is the sun god.
Io
In Greek mythology, Io was the daughter of Inachus. She was beloved of
Zeus. Zeus changed her into a white heifer to protect her from the
jealousy of Hera.
Iphigenia
In Greek mythology, Iphigenia was a daughter of Agamemnon and
Clytemnestra. She was sacrificed by her father at Aulis to secure
favorable winds for the Greek fleet in the expedition against Troy, on
instructions from the prophet Calchas. According to some accounts, she
was saved by the goddess Artemis, and made her priestess.
Irene
Irene was the Greek goddess of peace. She was sometimes regarded as one
of the Horae, who presided over the seasons and the order of nature, and
were the daughters of Zeus and Themis.
Iris
Iris was the goddess of the rainbow. She was the daughter of Thaumas and
Electra. She was a sister of the harpies. She was a messenger who
conveyed divine commands from Zeus and Hera to mankind.
Ishtar
Ishtar was the Mesopotamian goddess of love and war, worshiped by the
Babylonians and Assyrians, and personified as the legendary queen
Semiramis.
Isis
Isis was an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with serpants and the
colour red.
Isitoq
In Eskimo mythology, Isitoq is a spirit who helps to find people who have
broken taboos.
Isolde
In Celtic and medieval legend, Isolde was the wife of King Mark of
Cornwall who was brought from Ireland by his nephew Tristan. She and
Tristan accidentally drank the aphrodisiac given to her by her mother for
her marriage, were separated as lovers, and finally died together.
Itzpapalotl
In Aztec mythology, Itzpapalotl is a goddess of agriculture.
Ix Chel
In Maya mythology, Ix Chel is the goddess of the moon.
Ixion
In Greek mythology, Ixion was King of the Lapithae in Thessaly who was
punished for his wickedness by being tied to a perpetually revolving
wheel of fire.
Ixtab
In Maya mythology, Ixtab is the goddess of the hanged. She receives their
souls into paradise.
Ixtlilton
In Aztec mythology, Ixtlilton was the god of healing, feasting and games.
Izdubar
Izdubar was a hero of ancient Babylonia. He has feats similar to those of
Hercules ascribed to him.
Janus
Janus was a two faced Roman god of beginnings and ends.
Jason
Jason was the rightful king of Iolcus. He was smuggled out of Iolcus by
Cheiron. When Jason returned to claim his birthright, Pelias sent him to
fetch the golden fleece from Colchis.
Jean
In Voodoo, Jean is a stern, but nervous loa who rules the thunder and
earthquakes.
Jinn
In Muslim mythology, a jinn is a spirit which is able to assume human or
animal shape.
Jocasta
Jocasta was the wife of Laius the king of Thebes. She unwittingly had
incest with Oedipus, bringing a plague on Thebes. Her father sacrificed
himself to rid Thebes of the plague. Jocasta hanged herself when she
learnt the truth of her marriage to Oedipus.
Jogah
In Iroquois mythology, jogah are dwarf nature spirits.
Jormungandr
In Norse mythology, Jormungandr is the great dragon which lives in the
Ocean-stream which runs around Midgard.
Jotunheim
In Norse mythology, Jotunheim is the abode of the giants. It is on the
edge of the ocean far to the north east.
Juno
Juno was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Hera.
Jupiter
Jupiter was the Roman name for the Greek god Zeus.
Kabta
In Sumerian mythology, Kabta is the god of bricks, he is the god who lays
foundations and builds houses.
Kahit
In Wintun mythology, Kahit is the wind god.
Kali
Kali is the Hindu goddess of destruction and death. She is the wife of
Siva.
Kalunga
In Ndonga mythology, Kalunga is the creator of all things, the supreme
god.
Kan-u-Uayeyab
In Maya mythology, Kan-u-Uayeyab was the god who guarded cities.
Kanati
In Cherokee mythology, Kanati was the first man and ancestor of the
Cherokee. He was married to Selu.
Kapo
In Hawaiin mythology, Kapo is a fertility god.
Kathirat
In Canaanite mythology, the Kathirat were the wise goddesses.
Keneun
In Iroquois mythology, Keneun is chief of the Thunderbirds. He is an
invisible spirit. Thunder is the sound of his beating wings and lightning
his flashing eyes.
Khem
In Egyptian mythology, Khem was the god of reproduction and generation.
He was identified as Pan by the Greeks.
Khepera
Khepera was the ancient Egyptian god of creation who propelled the sun
across the sky.
Khu
Khu was the ancient Egyptian term for the soul.
Khuno
In Aymara mythology, Khuno is the god of snowstorms.
Ki
In Sumerian mythology, Ki was the personification of the earth.
Kianda
In Angolan mythology, Kianda is the god of the sea and the fish in it.
Kinich Kakmo
In Maya mythology, Kinich Kakmo is the sun god symbolised by the Macaw.
Kishi
In Angolan folklore, a Kishi is an evil spirit. It is a demon with two
faces on its head. One face resembles that of a normal man, and the other
is the face of a hyena with big strong teeth and powerful jaw muscles.
Kisin
In Maya mythology, Kisin is the evil earthquake spirit. He lives beneath
the earth in a purgatory where all souls except those of soldiers killed
in battle and women who died in childbirth spend some time. Suicides are
doomed to his realm for eternity.
Kolga
In Norse mythology, Kolga is a daughter of Aegir and Ran.
Kostrubonko
In Russian mythology, Kostrubonko is god of the spring.
Kothar-u-Khasis
In Canaanite mythology, Kothar-u-Khasis was the god of craftsmanship.
Kukucan
In Maya mythology, Kukucan is the wind god.
Kuri
In Hausa mythology, Kuri is a black hyena spirit who causes paralysis.
L'inglesou
In Voodoo, L'inglesou is a fierec looking loa who lives among rocks and
in ravines and kills those who offend him.
Lacedaemon
In Greek mythology, Lacedaemon was a son of Zeus and Taygete. He married
Sparte. He was King of Lacedaemon and named the capital city Sparta after
his wife.
Laestrygones
The Laestrygones were a race of giant cannibals. They were ruled by
Lamus. At Telepylos Odysseus lost all but one of his ships to them.
Lahar
In Sumerian mythology, Lahar was the god of cattle. He was created by
Enlil to provide cattle for the earth.
Laius
Laius was the king of Thebes and father of Oedipus.
Lakshami
Lakshami is the Hindu goddess of wealth and beauty.
Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth and beauty. She is the consort of
Vishnu and is celebrated during Diwali.
Laocoon
Laocoon was a Trojan prophet, son of Antenor and a priest of Apollo and
Poseidon. He warned the Trojans against the Wooden Horse.
Laodice
Laodice was a daughter of Priam and the wife of Helicaon. When Troy fell
she was swallowed by the earth.
Lares
The Lares were beings of the Roman religion protecting households and
towns.
Larissa
Larissa was a city in Thessaly where Achilles was reportedly born.
Leda
Leda was a daughter of Thestius. She was the wife of Tyndareus. She was
seduced by Zeus and gave birth to two eggs. From one hatched her daughter
Helen and son Polydeuces, and from the other hatched Castor.
Legba
In Fon mythology, Legba is the youngest son of Lisa and Mawu. He is the
god of fate.
In Voodoo, Legba is one of the two gods who open the road to the spirit
world.
Lemnos
Lemnos was a small island at the mouth of the Hellespont. Hephaestus
landed on Lemnos when Zeus threw him out of heaven, and set up a forge on
the island.
Lethe
In Greek mythology, Lethe was a river of the underworld whose waters,
when drunk, brought forgetfulness of the past.
Leto
In Greek mythology Leto was the mother of Apollo.
Leuce
Leuce was a nymph loved by Hades. He turned her into a white poplar tree.
Liber Pater
Liber Pater was an ancient Italian god of the vine.
Libera
Libera was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Persephone.
Limba
In Voodoo, Limba is a rough male loa who lives among the rocks and
persecutes people. He has an insatiable appetite and is said to kill and
eat his devotees.
Lisa
In Fon mythology, Lisa is the sun god who causes the day and its heat. He
is the god of strength and endurance.
Litai
Litai was the goddess of recompense.
Loa
In voodoo, the loa are spirits. They may be either male or female.
Loki
In Norse mythology, Loki was one of the Aesir (the principal gods), but
the cause of dissension among the gods, and the slayer of Balder. His
children are the Midgard serpent Jormungander, which girdles the Earth;
the wolf Fenris; and Hela, goddess of death.
Lubangala
In Bakongo mythology, Lubangala is the protector of villages, men and the
souls of the dead. He appears as a rainbow during and after storms.
Luchtaine
In Celtic mythology, Luchtaine was the god of wheel making.
Lugh
In Irish mythology, Lugh was the god of light. He killed his grandfather,
Balor, during the great battle in which a new order of gods and goddesses
took over from the primal beings of chaotic energy. He was the god of
skill and ability.
Luna
Luna was the Roman name of the Greek goddess Selene.
Lutin
In Voodoo, a lutin is the ghost of an unbaptised child.
Lutinus
Lutinus was the Roman name for the Greek god Priapus.
Mabon
In Celtic mythology, Mabon was the Son of Light, equated with the Roman
Apollo. He was the god of liberation, harmony, music and unity.
Macha
In Irish mythology, Macha is a goddess of athletic games, festivals and
fertility.
Macuilxochitl
In Aztec mythology, Macuilxochitl was the god of music and dance.
Mahisha
Mahisha was chief of the demons in Hindu mythology. He was killed by
Durga.
Maia
In Greek mythology, Maia was the daughter of Atlas and the mother of
Hermes.
Maman Brigitte
In voodoo, Maman Brigitte is the loa of death and cemeteries.
Mamlambo
In Zulu mythology, Mamlambo is the godess of the rivers.
Manannan mac Lir
In Celtic mythology, Manannan mac Lir (Barinthus) was the god of the
ocean. He ferried the wounded King Arthur to the otherworld so that he
could be cured.
Manes
The manes were the souls of departed people in the Greek and Roman
religions.
Mangalubulan
In Batak mythology, Mangalubulan is the god of thieves.
Manu
In Hindu mythology, Manu was the founder of the human race. He was saved
by Brahma from a deluge.
Mara
In Buddhism, the Mara is a supernatural being who tried to distract
Buddha from the meditations which led to his enlightenment. In Hindu
mythology, Mara is a goddess of death.
Marassa Jumeaux
In Voodoo, Marassa Jumeaux are the ghosts of dead twins.
Marduk
Marduk was the Babylonian sun god, creator of Earth and humans.
Mark
In Celtic legend, Mark was king of Cornwall, uncle of Tristan, and suitor
and husband of Isolde.
Mars
Mars was the Roman name for the Greek god Ares.
Marsyas
In Greek mythology, Marsyas was a satyr who took up the pipes thrown down
by the goddess Athena and challenged the god Apollo to a musical contest.
On losing, he was flayed alive.
Maruts
In Hindu mythology, the Maruts are the fierce storm-beings who toss the
sea into foam.
Mawu
In Fon mythology, Mawu is the moon goddess. She is the sister of Lisa,
and causes the night and its coolness. She is also the goddess of peace,
joy, fertility, motherhood and rain.
Mayahuel
In Aztec mythology, Mayahuel was a goddess of maguey.
Mbombo
In Zaire mythology, Mbombo is the White Giant who rules over the chaos of
the universe and one day from his stomach comes the sun, the moon and the
stars, and soon after the trees, animals and people of the earth.
Medea
In Greek mythology, Medea was the sorceress daughter of the king of
Colchis. When Jason reached Colchis, she fell in love with him, helped
him acquire the Golden Fleece, and they fled together. When Jason later
married Creusa, daughter of the king of Corinth, Medea killed his bride
with the gift of a poisoned garment, and then killed her own two children
by Jason.
Meditrina
Meditrina was a Roman goddess of health. She was a sister of Hygea.
Medusa
Medusa was the youngest and most beautiful of the gorgons. She loved
Poseidon and desecrated the temple of Athene by meeting Poseidon there.
For this she was punished by having her hair turned to snakes. The result
was her appearance was so hideous to behold that it would turn the viewer
to stone.
Megapenthes
In Greek mythology, Megapenthes was a son of Proetus and King of Argos.
He exchanged his dominion with that of Perseus and afterwards killed
Perseus.
Melpomene
Melpomene was the muse of tragedy.
Memnon
Memnon was the son of Eos and Tithonus. He was the king of Ethiopia who
helped the Trojans and killed many Greeks. He was killed by Achilles in
single combat whilst Zeus weighed their fates in the balance.
Memphis
In Egyptian mythology, Memphis was the daughter of Nile. She married
Epaphus who founded the city of Memphis and named it after his wife.
Menat
The Menat was an ancient Egyptian amulet employed to bring joy and health
to the bearer. It represented the power of reproduction.
Menelaus
Menelaus was the husband of Helen of Troy.
Mercury
Mercury was the Roman name for the Greek god Hermes.
Metempsychosis
Metempsychosis is the transmigration of the soul after death through the
bodies of lower animals, plants or inanimate objects. Also called
reincarnation.
Metztli
In Aztec mythology, Metztli was the moon god.
Mictlan
In Aztec mythology, Mictlan was the underworld. It was the home of all
the dead except warriors and women who died in labour.
Mictlantecuhtli
In Aztec mythology, Mictlantecuhtli was the god of Mictlan and the dead.
Midas
In Greek mythology, Midas was a king of Phrygia who was granted the gift
of converting all he touched to gold. He soon regretted his gift, as his
food and drink were also turned to gold. For preferring the music of Pan
to that of Apollo, he was given ass's ears by the latter.
Mimir
In Norse mythology, Mimir was a god of wisdom and knowledge. He dwelt by
the ash-tree Yggdrasil.
Minerva
Minerva was the Roman name of the Greek goddess Athene.
Minos
In Greek mythology, Minos was a king of Crete (son of Zeus and Europa),
who demanded a yearly tribute of young men and girls from Athens for the
Minotaur. After his death, he became a judge in Hades.
Minotaur
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a monster, half man and half bull,
offspring of Pasiphae, wife of King Minos of Crete, and a bull. It lived
in the Labyrinth at Knossos, and its victims were seven girls and seven
youths, sent in annual tribute by Athens, until Theseus killed it, with
the aid of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos.
Mithras
Mithras was the Persian god of light. Mithras represented the power of
goodness, and promised his followers compensation for present evil after
death. He was said to have captured and killed the sacred bull, from
whose blood all life sprang. Mithraism was introduced into the Roman
Empire 68 BC. By about AD 250, it rivaled Christianity in strength. A
bath in the blood of a sacrificed bull formed part of the initiation
ceremony of the Mithraic cult, which spread rapidly, gaining converts
especially among soldiers.
Mitnal
In Maya mythology, Mitnal was the underworld hell where the wicked were
tortured.
Mnemosyne
Mnemosyne was the mother of the muses. She signified the memory of great
events.
Moerae
Moerae was the Greek goddess of right and reason.
Mombu
In Voodoo, Mombu is a stammering loa who causes storms of torrential
rain.
Momus
Momus was the ancient Greek god of jeering.
Morpheus
Morpheus was an ancient Greek god of dreams.
Morrigan
Morrigan was the Celtic goddess of war and death who could take the shape
of a crow.
Mot
In Canaanite mythology, Mot was the god of sterility.
Munin
In Norse mythology, Munin was a raven of memory which sat on Odin's
shoulder and along with Hunin brought Odin news each day of what was
occuring in the world.
Muse
see "muses"
Muses
The muses were nympths of the springs.
Myrtilus
Myrtilus was the son of Hermes.
Na'iads
In Greek mythology, the Na'iads were nymphs of fountains and brooks.
Nacon
In Maya mythology, Nacon was the god of war.
Nago Shango
In Voodoo, Nago Shango is a powerful and lively loa.
Nammu
In Sumerian mythology, Nammu was the goddess who gave birth to the
heavens and the earth.
Nanna
In Sumerian mythology, Nanna was the god of the Moon.
Narcissus
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a beautiful youth who rejected the love
of the nymph Echo and was condemned to fall in love with his own
reflection in a pool. He pined away and in the place where he died a
flower sprang up that was named after him.
Nastrand
In Norse mythology, Nastrand was the worst region of hell. It's roofs and
doors were wattled with hissing snakes, ejecting poison and it was
through this that murderers and perjurers were forced to wade as
punishment.
Nauplius
Nauplius was the son of Amymone and Poseidon. He was the wrecker of
Nauplia.
Ndara
In the mythology of Sulawesi Island, Ndara is the god of the underworld.
Nefer
The Nefer was an ancient Egyptian amulet signifying happiness and good
luck. It was made of red stone or red porcelain and was worn from a
necklace or a string of beads.
Neith
In Egyptian mythology, Neith was the goddess of the heavens.
Nemesis
Nemesis was the goddess of punishment.
Nephthys
Nephthys was an ancient Egyptian goddess. Daughter of Seb and Nut, she
married Set.
Neptune
Neptune was the Roman name for the Greek god Poseidon.
Nereid
In Greek mythology, the Nereid were 50 sea goddesses, or nymphs, who
sometimes mated with mortals. Their father was Nereus and their mother
was Doris.
Nereus
Nereus was a sea god. He was a son of Pontys and Gaea.
Nergal
Nergal was the Babylonian god of the underworld.
Ngendi
In Fiji mythology, Ngendi is a fertility god who showed men the use of
fire.
Ni
In Huli mythology, the god Ni is the sole cause of leprosy.
Nidhogg
In Norse mythology, Nidhogg is a dragon which devours the corpses of evil
doers. He lives in Hwergelmir, in the realm of Hel.
Nike
Nike was the goddess of victory. She was the daughter of Pallas and Styx.
Nikkal
In Canaanite mythology, Nikkal was the goddess of the fruits of the
earth. She was a daughter of Hiribi. She married Yarikh.
Ningal
In Sumerian mythology, Ningal was the wife of Nanna.
Ninhursag
In Sumerian mythology, Ninhursag was the earth mother. From her union
with Enki came Ninsar, the goddess of plants.
Ninkurra
In Sumerian mythology, Ninkurra was a goddess. She was the daughter of
Enki and his daughter Ninsar.
Ninsar
In Sumerian mythology, Ninsar was the goddess of plants. She was the
daughter of Enki and Ninhursag.
Niobe
In Greek mythology, Niobe was the daughter of Tantalus and wife of
Amphion, the king of Thebes. She was contemptuous of the goddess Leto for
having produced only two children, Apollo and Artemis. She died of grief
when her own 12 offspring were killed by them in revenge, and was changed
to stone by Zeus.
Njord
In Norse mythology, Njord is a sea god of fruitfulness who lives in Noa-
tun.
Norn
In Norse mythology, the Norn were three goddesses of fate - the goddess
of the past (Urd), the goddess of the present (Verdandi), and the goddess
of the future (Skuld).
Norns
In Norse mythology, the Norns were three sisters responsible for the
destiny of individuals and gods.
Notus
Notus was the south wind god.
Nut
In Egyptian mythology, Nut was the sky goddess and mother of Osiris by
Seb. She was married to Ra, but also took Thoth for a lover.
Nymph
A nymph was a higher being than a human, but not immortal like a god.
They were respected in mythology.
Nymphs
see "nymph"
Nyx
Nyx was a goddess of night. She was a daughter of Chaos. She married
Erebus.
Obatala
In Yoruba mythology, Obatala was the son of Olodumare. He created makind
from the earth.
Oberon
In English folklore, Oberon is the king of the elves.
Oceanides
The oceanides were 40 sea nymphs of the ocean. They were the daughters of
Oceanus.
Oceanus
Oceanus was the son of Uranus and Gaea. He was the only Titan not to
revolt against Uranus.
Ocypete
Ocypete was one of the harpies.
Odin
Odin was chief god of Norse mythology. A sky god, he lived in Asgard, at
the top of the world-tree, and from the Valkyries receives the souls of
half of the heroic slain warriors, feasting with them in his great hall,
Valhalla; the rest are feasted by Freya his wife.
Oduduwa
In Yoruba mythology, Oduduwa is the wife of Obatala.
Odysseus
Odysseus was a Greek hero. He devised the strategy of the wooden horse
used by the Greeks to conquer Troy.
Oedipus
Oedipus was the son of Laius. The Delphic oracle foretold that Laius
would be killed by his son, so Oedipus was abandoned on mount Cithaeron
with a nail through his feet. However, he was found by a shepherd and
raised by Polybus. Hearing that he would kill his father, Oedipus left
Corinth and met Laius on his travel. He killed him in an argument not
knowing who he was.
Oenghus
In Irish mythology, Oenghus is the son of Daghdha and Boann. He is the
god of fatal love.
Oeonus
In Greek mythology, Oeonus was a son of Licymnius. He was attacked by a
dog belonging to the sons of Hippocoon, he threw a stone at the dog and
in revenge the sons of Hippocoon killed him.
Ogmios
In Celtic mythology, Ogmios was the eloquent god of the strength of
poetry, charm and incantation. He is depicted as an old man with
wrinkles, but carrying a club and a bow.
Ogoun
In Voodoo, Ogoun is a warrior and blacksmith loa. He is especially fond
of rum and tobacco.
Ogres
In Norse mythology, Ogres are creatures who make the storms and who with
their iron clubs strike the earth and send it flying into the air.
Ogun
In Yoruba mythology, Ogun is a son of Obatala and Oduduwa. He was a
warrior who won many battles and was rewarded with the kingdom of the
town of Ire in the land of Ekiti given to him by Oduduwa.
Ohdows
In Iroquois mythology, the Ohdows are the jogah who control the
underworld spirits and prevent them coming to the surface.
Oileus
Oileus was one of the Argonauts, he was the father of Ajax.
Olokun
In Nigerian mythology, Olokun is the god of sea and lagoons and brother
of Olorun.
Olorun
In Nigerian mythology, Olorun is the god of the sky.
Ometecuhtli
In Aztec mythology, Ometecuhtli was the god of duality.
Omphale
Omphale was queen of Lydia. She bought Hercules as a slave who stayed
with her for 3 years.
Omuli
In Nande folklore, an Omuli is a woman or girl who consumes the soul of a
living person, and causes that person to die of consumption.
Oneiros
Oneiros was the ancient Greek god of dreams.
Ops
Ops was the Roman goddess of plenty and the personification of abundance.
Oreades
The oreades were mountain nymphs.
Orestes
Orestes was the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. As a child he was
smuggled out of Mycenae by his sister Electra when Clytemnestra and
Aegisthus seized power. He later killed Clytemnestra with the help of
Electra and Pylades and was punished by the Erinnyes.
Orion
Orion was a giant and son of Poseidon. He was a hunter and very handsome.
He was promised the hand of Merope whom he loved if he could ride Chios.
He did but was not given Merope so he seduced her. Apollo caused his
death at the hands of Artemis who put his image in the stars.
Orpheus
Orpheus was a mythical Greek poet and musician. The son of Apollo and a
muse, he married Eurydice, who died from the bite of a snake. Orpheus
went down to Hades to bring her back and her return to life was granted
on condition that he walk ahead of her without looking back. He did look
back and Eurydice was irretrievably lost. In his grief, he offended the
maenad women of Thrace, and was torn to pieces by them.
Osiris
Osiris was the Egyptian god of goodness. He ruled the underworld after
being killed by Set.
Outgard
In Norse mythology, Outgard is the home of giants and monsters.
Ovate
An ovate was a type of druid. His purpose was to observe and invent. His
robe was green symbolising budding life.
Pales
Pales was a Roman god of cattle-rearing.
Pallas
In Greek mythology Pallas was one of the Titans. He was a son of Crius
and Eurybia and brother of Astraeus and Perses. He married Styx and
fathered Zelus, Cratos, Bia and Nike.
Pan
Pan was the Greek god who looked after shepherds and their flocks. His
parentage is unsure. In some accounts he is the son of Zeus, in others
the son of Hermes. His mother was a nymph.
Pandarus
In Greek mythology, Pandarus was the leader of the forces of Zeleia in
Lycia at the Trojan War. He was the second best Greek archer (next to
Paris) and fought in the Trojan War as an archer.
Pandion
In Greek mythology, Pandion was a son of Erichthonius, the King of
Athens.
Pandora
Pandora was a woman made by the gods. She was taken to Epimetheus by
Hermes. He made her his wife, against his brother's advice. Pandora came
with a sealed vase. Her husband was tempted and opened the vase from
which came all the troubles, weariness and illnesses that mankind is now
burderned with.
Paris
In Greek mythology, Paris was a prince of Troy whose abduction of Helen,
wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, caused the Trojan War. Helen was
promised to him by the goddess Aphrodite as a bribe, in his judgment
between her beauty and that of two other goddesses, Hera and Athena.
Paris killed the Greek hero Achilles by shooting an arrow into his heel,
but was himself killed by Philoctetes before the capture of Troy.
Pasiphae
In Greek mythology, Pasiphae was the wife of King Minos of Crete and
mother of Phaedra and of the Minotaur.
Patecatl
In Aztec mythology, Patecatl was the god of medicine.
Patroclus
Patroclus was a cousin and close friend of Achilles. He was killed by
Hector in the Trojan wars.
Pax
Pax is an alternative name for Eirene.
Paynal
In Aztec mythology, Paynal was the messenger to Huitzilopochtli.
Pegasus
Pegasus was the winged horse offspring of Medusa and Poseidon.
Pehrer
Pehrer was an ancient Egyptian god.
Peirithous
In Greek mythology, Peirithous was a King of the Lapiths and a son of
Ixion and Dia. He waged war against the Centaurs and helped Theseus carry
off the Amazon Antiope and later Helen. He tried to abduct Persephone,
but was bound to a stone seat by her husband Hades and remained a
prisoner in the underworld.
Pelias
Pelias was king of Iolcus and half-brother of Jason.
Penelope
In Greek mythology, Penelope was the wife of Odysseus, the king of
Ithaca; their son was Telemachus. While Odysseus was absent at the siege
of Troy she kept her many suitors at bay by asking them to wait until she
had woven a shroud for her father-in-law, but unraveled her work each
night. When Odysseus returned, after 20 years, he and Telemachus killed
her suitors.
Peneus
Peneus was a river god. He was a son of Oceanus and Tethys.
Persephone
Persephone was a Greek goddess. She was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter.
Hades obtained sanction from Zeus to carry her off by force and marry
her.
Perseus
Perseus found Medusa asleep and cut her head off which he presented to
Athene. He married Andromeda.
Petro loa
In Voodoo, the Petro loa are a group of easily annoyed spirits symbolised
by the whip.
Phaea
In Greek mythology, Phaea was the Crommyonium Sow a wild pig said to have
been the offspring of Echidna and Typhon. It ravaged the town of Crommyon
on the Isthmus of Corinth until it was destroyed by Theseus.
Phaedra
In Greek mythology, Phaedra was a daughter of Minos, King of Crete and
Pasiphae. Her unrequited love for Hippolytus led to his death and her
suicide.
Pheme
Pheme was the goddess of fame. She was a daughter of Gaea.
Phoebus
Phoebus was the Greek god of enlightenment.
Picus
Picus was a Roman god. He was the son of Saturnus and father of Faunus.
His wife was Canens. He was a prophet and god of the forest.
Pie
In Voodoo, Pie is a grave soldier loa who lies at the bottom of ponds and
rivers. He makes floods.
Pinga
In Eskimo mythology, Pinga is a female spirit who watches carefully over
men's actions, especially their treatment of animals.
Pitho
Pitho was the daughter of Aphrodite. She was the goddess of persuasion.
Pleiades
The Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. They were
turned into doves by Zeus and and their image put into the stars to save
them from the attentions of Orion.
Pleuron
In Greek mythology, Pleuron was a son of Aetolus and Pronoe and brother
to Calydon. He married Xanthippe by whom he fathered Agenor, Sterope,
Stratonice and Laophonte. He is said to have founded the town of Pleuron
in Aetolia.
Pluto
Pluto was the Roman name for the Greek god Hades.
Poena
Poena was the attendant of punishment to Nemesis.
Polites
Polites was a son of Priam and Hecabe. He was killed before them by
Neoptolemus.
Pollux
Pollux was the Roman name for Polydeuces.
Polybus
Polybus was king of Corinth. He raised Oedipus as his own son.
Polydeuces
Polydeuces was twin brother of Castor. He was a son of Zeus and Leda. He
was born from an egg after Zeus visited Leda disguised as a swan.
Polydorus
In Greek mythology, Polydorus was a son of Cadmus and Harmonia. he was
King of Thebes and husband of Nycteis by whom he fathered Labdacus.
Polymnia
Polymnia was the muse of song and oratory.
Polynices
In Greek mythology, Polynices was a son of Oedipus. He and his brother
Eteocles were supposed to rule Thebes in alternate years, but Eteocles
refused to relinquish the throne, and Polynices sought the help of
Adrastus. Polynices and Eteocles killed each other in single combat.
Polyphemus
In Greek mythology Polyphemus was the most famous of the Cyclops. He is
described as a giant cannibal living alone in a cave on Mount Etna.
Odysseus and his companions unwarily sheltered in his cave, and
Polyphemus killed and ate four of them before Odysseus intoxicated him
with wine and when he fell asleep poked his eye out with a blazing stake.
Polyphemus was also the despised lover of Galatea.
Pomona
Pomona was a Roman goddess of garden fruits.
Poseidon
Poseidon was the Greek god of the sea. He was a son of Cronus.
Priapus
Priapus was the Greek god of fertility in nature. He was a son of
Dionysus and Aphrodite.
Primitive druid
The primitive druid was an order of druid involved with teaching science
and religion. His robe was white symbolising light, purity and knowledge.
Procne
In Greek mythology, Procne was a daughter of King Pandion and Zeuxippe.
She married Tereus.
Procris
In Greek mythology, Procris was a daughter of Erechtheus and wife of
Cephalus. Artemis gave her the hound Laelaps which she gave to her
husband.
Procrustes
In ancient Greek legends, Procrustes was a robber. He robbed people
whilst they slept. If his victim was too short for his bed he was
stretched to death. If the victim was too long for his bed, his feet or
legs were cut off. Theseus treated Procrustes in the same way.
Proetus
In Greek mythology, Proetus was a son of Abas and the twin brother of
Acrisius. In a dispute between the two brothers over the kingdom of
Argos, Proetus was defeated and expelled. He fled to Iobates in Lycia and
married his daughter Stheneboea. Iobates restored Proetus to his kingdom
by force and Acrisius then agreed to share it, surrendering Tiryns to
him. When Bellerophon came to Proetus to be purified for a murder,
Sthenebeoa fell in love with him. Bellerophon refused her and she charged
him with making improper proposals to her. Proetus then sent him to
Iobates with a letter asking Iobates to murder Bellerophon.
Prometheus
Prometheus was a Greek hero. He was a son of the Titan Japetus.
Prometheus obtained fire for mankind from Zeus.
Psyche
Psyche was the personification of the passion of love. She appears in
Roman mythology.
Pygmalion
In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a king of Cyprus who made an image in
ivory of a maiden. He fell in love with the image and asked Venus to
endow it with life. She did, and Pygmalion married the maiden.
Pylades
In Greek mythology, Pylades was son of Strophius and Anaxibia. He
assisted Orestes in murdering Clytemnestra and eventually married his
sister Electra.
Qebhsennuf
Qebhsennuf was the ancient Egyptian god of the West. His cannopic jar
receives the liver and the gall-bladder.
Quetzalcoati
In Aztec and Toltec mythology, Quetzalcoati was the feathered serpant
god.
Quetzalcoatl
In ancient Mexican mythology, Quetzalcoatl was the god of the air. He
presided over commerce, and was said to have predicted the coming of the
Spaniards.
Rada loa
In Voodoo, the Rada loa are the chief deities.
Ragnarok
In Norse mythology, ragnarok is the ultimate battle between good and evil
from which a new order will come.
Raja Guru
In Batak mythology, Raja Guru is the gods' huntsman. He catches souls
with his hounds Sordaudau and Auto Portburu. When he catches a soul that
person dies suddenly.
Raja Indainda
In Batak mythology, Raja Indainda is the thunder god. He is the spy and
messenger of the other gods.
Rakshasa
In Hindu mythology, the rakshasa are demons capabale of assuming the form
of animals or humans they are completely evil, powerful creatures that
delight in spreading fear, confusion, chaos, and destruction among human
families and communities, finishing the trouble they cause in a
murderous, ghoulish feast upon human flesh. They are among the most
feared of all creatures, for they delight in mental torture of their
victims .
Ran
In Norse mythology Ran is the wife of Aegir. It is she who uses a net to
draw the sailors of sinking ships to their doom.
Ranno
Ranno was the ancient Egyptian god of gardens. he was represented as an
asp.
Rati-mbati-ndua
In Fiji mythology, Rati-mbati-ndua is the god of the underworld who
devours the dead. He lacks arms, but has great wings.
Ravana
In Hindu mythology, Ravana is the demon King of Lanka who abducted Sita,
the wife of Rama.
Revenant
In Voodoo, a revenant is a spirit of the dead who feeling neglected
returns to plague their living relatives.
Rhadamanthus
Rhadamanthus was a son of Zeus and Europa. He was famed for his wisdom
and justice, and so after his death was made one of the judges of the
underworld.
Rhamnusia
Rhamnusia was an alternative name for Nemesis.
Rhea
Rhea was the Greek goddess of the earth, mountains and forests.
Runes
The runes are the letters of the alphabet peculiar to the ancient
Teutonic peoples of north west Europe. There are 3 runic alphabets; the
Norse, with 16 characters, the Anglo-Saxon with 40 and the German. Saxon
tradition ascribes the invention of the runes to Woden. Their use reduced
under christianity because of their connection with magic. They were used
for casting spells as well as divining the future.
Runic wand
A runic wand was a smooth willow wand inscribed with runic characters
(runes).
Sabians
The Sabians were a sect which arose about 830 and who followed a religion
of the ancient Syrians modified by Hellenic influences.
Saga
In Norse mythology, Saga was the daughter of Odin. She was the goddess of
poetry.
Sajara
Sajara is the Rainbow-god of the Songhai people of eastern Mali. He is
represented by a forked tree where a white ram is sacrificed to him.
Salamanders
The Salamanders are elementals evolved in the realm of Fire.
Sam
The Sam was an ancient Egyptian amulet for sexual pleasure.
Samedi
In Voodoo, Samedi is an important loa, god of the cemetery.
Sarpedon
Sarpedon was a son of Zeus and Europa. He went to Asia Minor and became
the king of the Lycians after helping Cilix of Cilicia to defeat them. He
helped Troy in the Trojan wars before being killed by Patroclus.
Sati
In Egyptian mythology, Sati was the goddess of the lower heavens (the
air).
Saturnus
Saturnus was the Roman god of learning and agriculture. He appeared to
king Janus and gave lessons on agriculture to his subjects.
Satyr
The satyrs were attendants to the god Dionysus.
Savitar
In Hindu mythology, Savitar is an all-powerful sun god. He cut off one
hand at a sacrifice, and priests gave him a golden hand to replace it.
Scarab
The Scarab was an Egyptian amulet associated with Khepera.
Sceiron
In Greek mythology, Sceiron (Sciron) was a robber who haunted the
frontier between Attica and Megaris. He robbed travellers and kicked them
into the sea where they were eaten by a tortoise that lived there. He was
killed by Theseus.
Seb
In Egyptian mythology, Seb was the earth god. He was the father of
Osiris.
Seidr
Seidr was a form of Norse magic ascribed to Odin and Gullveig. It was
mainly used for harmful purposes.
Selene
Selene was a Greek goddess of the moon.
Semele
In Greek mythology, Semele was a daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia. She was
beloved by Zeus and bore him Dionysus.
Serapis
In Egyptian mythology, Serapis was another name for Osiris, and was known
as the judge of the underworld.
Serviteur
In Voodoo, a serviteur is someone who becomes posessed by a loa during a
ceremony.
Set
see "Seth"
Seth
In Egyptian mythology, Seth (Set) was the devil and enemy of Osiris.
Shahar
In Canaanite mythology, Shahar was the god of the dawn, and twin brother
of Shalim. He was a son of El and Asherah.
Shalim
In Canaanite mythology, Shalim was the god of the dusk. He was the twin
brother of Shahar and a son of El and Asherah.
Shango
In Yoruba mythology, Shango is an earth god. He was the King of Oyo, but
because his citizens were dissatisfied with his tyranical rule he rode
off into the forest and rose up into heaven where he became a god of
thunder and lightning. He is the god of justice and fair play.
Shapash
In Caananite mythology, Shapash is the sun goddess.
Shen
The Shen was an ancient Egyptian amulet representing the sun's orbit and
symbolising eternity.
Silenius
Silenius was the oldest satyr.
Silvanus
Silvanus was a Roman god of the forest.
Sisyphus
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was an evil King of Corinth. After he died
he was condemned in the underworld to roll a huge stone uphill, which
always fell back before he could reach the top.
Skuld
In Norse mythology, Skuld was the Norn of the future.
Sleipnir
In Norse mythology, Sleipnir was the swift horse ridden by Odin.
Sobo
In Voodoo, Sobo is a loa who looks like a handsome soldier.
Sodza
In Hua mythology, Sodza is the great god who lives in heaven and to whom
the priests pray for rain.
Sogblen
In Hua mythology, Sogblen is a god who mediates between priests and
Sodza. He carries the priests prayers to Sodza and brings back promises
of good crops.
Sogbo
In Fon mythology, Sogbo is the god of thunder, lightning and fire.
Sol
Sol was the Roman name for the Greek god Helios.
Somnus
Somnus was an alternative name for the Greek and Roman god Hypnos.
Sousson-Pannan
In Voodoo, Sousson-Pannan is an ugly loa covered in sores. He is totaly
evil and drinks spirits and blood.
Sphinx
The Sphinx is a monster which appears in both Greek and Eyptian
mythology. Both sphinx have the body of a lion and the head of a woman.
The Greek sphinx has wings, the Egyptian does not. In Greek mythology,
the Sphinx posed a riddle to all who seeked to pass. This riddle was at
last explained by Edipus, where upon the Sphinx destroyed itself. The
Egyptian Sphinx was a goddess of wisdom and knowledge.
Stheino
Stheino was one of the gorgons.
Strophius
In Greek mythology, Strophius was King of Phocis.
Styx
In Greek and Roman mythology, the Styx was the principal river in the
underworld. Styx was the name of a nymph who was the daughter of Oceanus
and Tethys. She dwelt at the entrance to Hades in a lofty grotto which
was supported by silver columns. Styx took her children to help Zeus in
the fight against the Titans.
Suada
Suada is an alternative name for Pitho.
Succubus
In folk-lore, Succubus were female spirits who seduced men and had
intercourse with them whilst they slept.
Surtr
In Norse mythology, Surtr was a giant who lived in the extreme south, and
whose flaming sword guarded the bounds of Muspelheim.
Sutalidihi
In Cherokee mythology, Sutalidihi is the sun-spirit.
Sylphs
The Sylphs are elementals evolved in the realm of Air.
Tahit
In Tlingit mythology, Tahit is the god of fate.
Taio
In Lakalai mythology, Taio is the moon goddess.
Taisch
Taisch was the Gaelic name given to "second sight", the involuntary
ability of seeing the future or distant events. It originated in the
Scottish highlands.
Takuskanskan
In Dakota mythology, Takuskanskan is the wind-spirit and trickster.
Talaus
In Greek mythology, Talaus was King of Argos. He was the son of Nias and
Pero. Talaus sailed with the Argonauts.
Talos
In Greek mythology, Talos was a bronze man given to Europa by Zeus to
guard Crete. He would clutch people to his breast and jump into a fire so
that they were burnt alive.
Tammuz
In Sumerian mythology, Tammuz was a god of agriculture. He died in
midsummer, and was brought back from the underworld by his lover Ishtar.
Tantalus
In Greek mythology, Tantalus was a son of Zeus. He was king of Phrygia,
Lydia. He was admitted to the table of the gods, but displeased them and
was punished by being put in a lake such that he just couldn't reach the
water with his lips, and being tempted by fruit above him which again was
just out of reach.
Taranis
In Druid mythology, Taranis is the god of the wheel, associated with
forces of change.
Tartarus
In Greek mythology, Tartarus was the part of Hades where the wicked were
punished.
Taxet
In Haida mythology, Taxet is a sky-god who receives the souls of those
who die by violence.
Tcolawitze
In Hopi mythology, Tcolawitze is the fire-spirit.
Telepylos
Telepylos was the capital city of the Laestrygones.
Telesphorus
Telesphorus was the god of that which sustains the convalescent. He is
depicted with Aesculapius and Hygea.
Teoyaomqui
In Aztec mythology, Teoyaomqui is the god of dead warriors.
Terminus
Terminus was the Greek and Roman god of boundaries.
Terpsichore
Terpsichore was the muse of dancing.
Tet
The Tet was an ancient Egyptian amulet representing the tree trunk in
which the goddess Isis concealed the body of her dead husband.
Tethys
Tethys was a Titan woman.
Teucer
There are two descriptions for Teucer, both refer to Greek mythology. The
first is that Teucer was the first King of Troy. He was a son of the
river god Scamander and Idaea. The second that Teucer was son of Telamon
and Hesione and the best archer in the Greek army in the Trojan War. He
would have shot Hector if Zeus had not broken his sbowstring.
Thalia
Thalia was the muse of comedy and burlesque.
Thanatos
Thanatos was the ancient Greek god of death and of pain.
Themis
In Greek mythology, Themis was a daughter of Uranus and Gaea. She was the
Greek goddess of human rights.
Theseus
In Greek mythology, Theseus was a son of Aegeus and Aethra. He was king
of Athens. Stories about him include his slaying of the Minotaur.
Thiassi
In Norse mythology, Thiassi was a giant who slay Thor and cast his eyes
up into heaven where they shone thereafter as stars.
Thor
Thor was the Norse god of thunder.
Thoth
Thoth was the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom. He was a lover of Nut, and
playing draughts with the moon won from her a seventy second part of
every day which he compounded into five days which he added to the
original Egyptian calendar of 360 days.
Thyrsus
A thyrsus was a wand wreathed with ivy leaves, and topped with a pine-
cone carried by the Ancient Greeks as a symbol of Bacchus.
Ti Jean Quinto
In Voodoo, Ti Jean Quinto is an insolent loa in policeman form who lives
under bridges.
Tiamat
In Babylonian mythology, Tiamat is the salt water Ocean. In the beginning
there was only Apsu and Tiamat.
Titan
In Greek mythology, the Titans were the 12 sons of Ge and Uranus.
Titanomachia
Titanomachia was the 10 year war waged in Thessaly by Zeus and the
Olympian gods against Cronos and the Titans led by Atlas. The war deposed
the Titans.
Titans
see "Titan"
Tithonus
In Greek mythology, Tithonus was a son or brother of Laomedon the king of
Troy. He was made immortal by by Zeus at the request of Eos who loved
him.
Tlaloc
In Aztec mythology, Tlaloc is the great rain and fertility god. He lived
at Tlalocan with the corn goddesses.
Tlalocan
In Aztec mythology, Tlalocan was the paradise of Tlaloc. It was where the
souls of those killed by lightning, dropsy, skin diseases and those
sacrificed to Tlaloc went.
Tlazolteotl
In Aztec mythology, Tlazolteotl was the goddess of licentiousness.
Tonacatecuhtli
In Aztec mythology, Tonacatecuhtli was the creator and provider of food.
Tonatiuh
In Aztec mythology, Tonatiuh was a sun-god, the eagle and heavenly
warrior.
Triton
Triton was a Herald of Neptune. In Greek mythology the Tritons were sea-
gods with the upper half of a human and the lower part of the body that
of a fish. They carried a trumpet which the blew to soothe the waves at
the command of Poseidon.
Troll
In Icelandic mythology, Trolls were a race of giants. They appear in
various Northern mythologies. In Norse mythology Trolls are represented
as a type of goblin.
Tros
Tros was the grandson of Dardanus and the father of Ilus. He gave his
name to the city of Troy.
Tule
In Zande mythology, Tule is the Spider god who brought from heaven the
seeds of all the plants on earth which he scattered in all the countries.
Tyche
Tyche was the Greek goddess of luck.
Tydeus
Tydeus was the son of Oeonus and Calydon. After commiting a murder whilst
a youth he fled to the court of Adrastus.
Tyndareus
Tyndareus was the king of Sparta. He was deposed by his brother
Hippocoon, and reinstated by Hercules.
Typhon
In Greek mythology, Typhon was the father of destructive and fierce
winds. He is dereived from the Egyptian Set or Seth.
Tyr
In Norse mythology, Tyr was the god of war and athletic sports. Tyr had
one hand bitten off by the wolf Fenris, after he put it in the wolve's
mouth as a pledge of security when the wolf allowed himself to be bound
in a net until the judgement day.
Ulala
In Haida mythology, Ulala was a man-eating ogress.
Ulle
In Norse mythology, Ulle is the god of the chase.
Ullr
In Norse mythology, Ullr is the god of war and the chase. He dwells in
the Dale of Bows.
Ulysses
Ulysses was the Roman name for Odysseus.
Undines
The Undines are elementals evolved in the realm of Water.
Unicorn
The unicorn is a mythical horse with a straight horn projecting from the
forehead.
Urania
Urania was the muse of astronomy.
Uranus
In Greek mythology, Uranus was a son of Gaea. He later married Gaea.
Urd
In Norse mythology, Urd was the Norn of the past.
Usukun
In Lacandones mythology, Usukun is a troglodyte who rules earthquakes.
Uta
In Maori mythology, Uta is a hero and the husband of Houmea.
Utchat
The Utchat was an amulet representing the eye of Horus and used in
ancient Egypt. According to the book of the dead, the amulet should be
made of lapis-lazuli or mak stone. However, these amulets have been found
made of almost every conceivable material.
Uttu
In Sumerian mythology, Uttu was the daughter of Enki and Ninkurra. Her
mother warned her to avoid the advances of her father Enki. When Enki
made advances on her she demanded cucumbers, apples and grapes as a gift.
Enki supplied the fruits and as a result of their union eight plants
spring forth. Enki ate the plants and was cursed by Uttu, subsequently
becoming ill in eight different parts of his body.
Utu
In Sumerian mythology, Utu was the sun god. He was the son of Nanna and
Ningal.
Valhalla
In Norse mythology valhalla is the paradise where the souls of dead
warriors go to.
Vampire
In Slav mythology, a Vampire is an undead corpse which lives by drinking
the blood of the living.
Varuna
In Hindu mythology, Varuna is a thousand-eyed god who sees all that
happens in the world.
Vayu
In Hindu mythology, Vayu is the god of the winds.
Venus
Venus was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Aphrodite.
Verdandi
In Norse mythology, Verdandi was the Norn of the present.
Vertumnus
Vertumnus was a Roman god of garden fruits and seasons. He was the
husband of Pomona.
Vesta
see "Hestia"
Victoria
Victoria is an alternative name for Nike.
Ville au Camp
In Voodoo, Ville au Camp is the underwater capital of the loas.
Vingulf
In Norse mythology, Vingulf was the mansion in Asgard where the godesses
lived.
Vithar
In Norse mythology, Vithar was the god second in strength to Thor, and
who would kill the wolf Fenris by wrentching the wolve's jaws asunder.
Vritra
In Hindu mythology, Vritra is the snake of darkness. Enemy of Indra.
Vulcan
Vulcan was the Roman name for the Greek god Hephaestus.
Wakinyan
In Dakota mythology, Wakinyan is the thunder-spirit.
Wakonda
In Sioux mythology, Wakonda is the Great Spirit.
Woden
Woden was the Anglo-Saxon form of the name of the god called Odin by the
Norse.
Xilonen
In Aztec mythology, Xilonen was the goddess of young maize. She was a
wife of Tezcatlipoca.
Xipe Totec
In Aztec mythology, Xipe Totec was the god of seedtime.
Xochipilli
In Aztec mythology, Xochipilli was the god of feasting and young maize.
Xuthus
In Greek mythology, Xuthus was a son of Helen by the nymph Orseis. He was
King of Peloponnesus and the husband of Creusa. After the death of his
father, Xuthus was expelled from Thessaly by his brothers and went to
Athens, where he married the daughter of Erechtheus.
Yacatecuhtli
In Aztec mythology, Yacatecuhtli was the god of merchant adventurers.
Yagis
In Kwakiutl mythology, Yagis is a sea monster that overturns canoes and
eats their crews.
Yarikh
In Canaanite mythology, Yarikh was the moon god.
Yaxche
In Maya mythology, Yaxche is the tree of heaven under which good souls
rejoice.
Ymir
In Norse mythology Ymir is a giant. In the beginning there was just Ymir
and Ginnunggap. Ymir was slain by Odin, Vili and Ve and out of his blood
they made the sea, out of his flesh the earth and out of his bones the
rocks and out of his skull the cavity of heaven.
Yum Kaax
In Maya mythology, Yum Kaax is the maize god.
Zagreus
Zagreus was a son of Zeus. He was torn apart and eaten by Titans apart
from his heart which Athene saved. He is sometimes identified with
Dionysus.
Zelus
In Greek mythology, Zelus was son of the Titan Pallas and Styx. He was a
constant companion of Zeus and personified zeal.
Zephyrus
Zephyrus was the west wind god.
Zethus
In Greek mythology, Zethus was a son of Zeus and Antiope and twin brother
of Amphion.
Zeus
Zeus was the third king of the Greek gods. He had his throne on mount
Olympus. He was a son of Cronus.
Zeuxippe
In Greek mythology, Zeuxippe was the daughter of Eridanus and the wife of
Pandion.
Zobops
In Voodoo, the zobops are an order of male sorcerers.
Zombie
In Voodoo, a zombie is the spirit of a person killed by a sorcerer and
resurected by evil houngans.
Zu
In Babylonian mythology, Zu is an evil lesser-god who steals the tablets
of destiny from Enlil while he was washing, and flies away to his
mountain. He was killed by Lugalbanda who was sent by the gods to
retrieve the tables of destiny.
PLACES OF THE WORLD
Aachen
Aachen is an ancient German city near the Belgian and Dutch borders. It
was the scene of coronations until the 16th century.
Aare
The Aare is a river in Switzerland. It flows 290 km through Brienz into
the Rhine and is the longest river wholly in Switzerland.
Aargau
Aargau (Argovie) is a northern canton of Switzerland.
Aarhuus
Aarhuus is an ancient seaport in Denmark on the east coast of Jutland.
Aasvar
The Aasvar are a group of small islands off the Norwegian coast in the
Arctic Circle.
Abakan
Abakan is a town in east Siberia.
Abakansk
Abakansk is a fortified place in Siberia near the Upper Yenisei. It was
founded by Peter the Great in 1707.
Abana
The Abana is a river near Damascus.
Abano
Abano is a village in Northern Italy famous for its mud-baths and warm
springs.
Abarim
The Abarim are a mountain range in East Palestine (Israel).
Abbeville
Abbeville is a town in France on the River Somme.
Abbiategrasso
Abbiategrasso is a town in north Italy.
Abbotsbury
Abbotsbury is a village in Dorset. It is noted for its swannery which was
founded in the 14th century.
Abdera
Abdera was an ancient Greek city on the Thracian coast. Its inhabitants
were reputedly stupid.
Abensberg
Abensberg is a village in Bavaria, in the Danube Valley where Napoleon
defeated the Austrians in 1809.
Aber
Aber is a Celtic prefix given to place names signifying the mouth or
entrance of a river into the sea or into another river.
Aberbrothock
Aberbrothock is the old name for Arbroath.
Aberdare
Aberdare is a town in South Wales at the junction of the Cynon and Dare.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is a city on the east coast of Scotland in the region of
Grampian.
Aberfan
Aberfan is a town in Wales. A slag-heap slid into a school playground
here in 1966 killing 144 people, most of them children.
Abergavenny
Abergavenny is a town in England. It was a coal and iron mining centre
around 1900.
Aberystwith
Aberystwith is a seaport in Wales on the Cardigan Bay.
Abingdon
Abingdon is a town in Berkshire 80 km north west of London. It was an
important Saxon town where King Offa had a palace.
Abinger Hammer
Abinger Hammer is a village in Surrey noted for a remarkable clock which
just out over the Dorking to Guildford road. There is a monument here
marking the spot where Bishop Wilberforce was killed in a riding accident
in 1873.
Abo
Abo is a one-time capital of Finland. It was capital until 1819 when it
was supplanted by Helsinki.
Abydos
Abydos is an ancient city in north Egypt.
Abyss
An abyss is a very deep gorge.
Acadia
Acadia is the old name of Nova Scotia.
Accra
Accra is the capital of Ghana.
Achaea
Achaea was a district of ancient Greece on the south shore of the gulf of
Corinth.
Aconcagua
Aconcagua is an extinct volcano and the highest peak of the Andes.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia.
Adelaide
Adelaide is a seaport in Australia. Capital of south Australia.
Adelie land
Adelie land is a French owned part of Antarctica.
Aden
Aden is a country in south west Arabia.
Adrianople
Adrianople was the scene of the battle in 378 when the Romans were
defeated by the Visigoths.
Adriatic
The adriatic sea is the mediterranean sea between Italy and the Balkans.
Aegean
The aegean sea is between Greece and Asia minor.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a country in Asia. It has a total area of 647,500 km2 and
a land area of 647,500 km2
The climate is arid to semiarid with cold winters and hot summers.
The terrain is mostly rugged mountains with plains in north and
southwest.
Natural resources include natural gas, crude oil, coal, copper, talc,
barites,
sulphur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semi-precious stones.
The religion is 74% Sunni Muslim, 15% Shia Muslim, 11% other.
The language is 50% Pashtu, 35% Afghan Persian (Dari), 11% Turkic
languages
(primarily Uzbek and Turkmen), 4% thirty minor languages (primarily
Balochi and Pashai) with much bilingualism.
Africa
Africa is a large continent. It straddles both the equator and zero
degrees longitude.
Agadir
Agadir is a seaport in South Morocco. The original town was wrecked by an
earthquake in 1960, and the new town built south of the old city in an
area of greater geological stability.
Agana
Agana is the capital of Guam.
Agen
Agen is a market town in France. It is the site of a bridge over the
Garonne River.
Agincourt
Agincourt is a village in north west France where Henry V defeated the
French army in 1415.
Agra
Agra is a town in Uttar Pradesh on the Jumna River. It was the capital of
the Mogul Empire.
Agulhas
Agulhas is a rocky projection 160 km east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is
the most southerly part of Africa.
Ahlen
Ahlen is a town in Germany on the river Werse. It is a coal mining town
with metal and engineering works.
Ahvaz
Ahvaz is the capital of Khuzestan province in Iran. It has an airport.
Ajanta
Ajanta is a village in south central India.
Al-Uqsur
Al-Uqsur is the Arab name for Luxor.
Alabama
Alabama is a state in south USA.
Alamein
Alamein is a place in north east Egypt where Axis forces were defeated in
1942 by the Allies.
Alaska
Alaska is a state in the extreme north west of America.
Alatau
The Alatau are three mountain ranges in central Asia on the Russian and
Chinese frontiers.
Alba Longa
Alba Longa was the chief city of the league of the Latins in ancient
Latium. It was reportedly built by Ascanius some 300 years before the
foundation of Rome.
Albania
Albania is a Balkan state between Greece and Yugolsavia.
Alberta
Alberta is the western prairie province of Canada.
Alcaniz
Alcaniz is a town in north east Spain.
Alcira
Alcira is a strongly fortified town in Valencia Province, Spain. It was
founded by the Carthaginians.
Aldbourne
Aldbourne is a large village in Wiltshire.
Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh is a town in Suffolk. During the 16th century it was a seaport.
Aldermaston
Aldermaston is a village in Berkshire, England. It is home to Britain's
atomic weapons research establishment.
Alderney
Alderney is one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel.
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in Hampshire and home of the British army.
Aldworth
Aldworth is a village in Berkshire.
Aleppo
Aleppo is an important market city in north Syria.
Aletsch
The Aletsch is the most extensive glacier in Europe. It is 16 km long.
Aleutian
The aleutian islands progress south west from Alaska.
Aleutians
The Aleutians are a chain of islands in the north pacific ocean. They
stretch west south west from Alaska.
Alexandria
Alexandria is a city and seaport of Egypt.
Alfriston
Alfriston is an ancient town in Sussex. The Star Inn at Alfriston is one
of the oldest pubs in England, dating back to the 15th century.
Algeria
Algeria is a republic in north Africa. It has a total area of 2,381,740
km2.
The climate is arid to semiarid with mild, wet winters and hot, dry
summers along the coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high
plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in the
summer.
The terrain is mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,
discontinuous coastal plain.
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
uranium, lead, zinc.
The religion is 99% Sunni Muslim (state religion), 1% Christian and
Jewish.
The language is Arabic (official), French, and Berber dialects.
Algiers
Algiers is the capital of Algeria
Alhama
Alhama is a town in Southern Spain in Granada province on the Motril 40
km south-west of Granada. It is renowned for its warm baths and drinking
waters. It was ruined in 1884 by an earthquake.
Alhaurin
Alhaurin is a spa town in southern Spain.
Alice Springs
Alice Springs is a town in Australia. It was originally a telegraph
station on the Todd river.
Aliwal
Aliwal is a village in Punjab on the left bank of the Sutley. A battle
was fought here on January 28, 1846 between the Sikhs and the British
army resulting in the total defeat of the Sikhs.
Allhallows
Allhallows is a small holiday resort on the Thames Estuary in Kent. It is
the site of an Elizabthan iron beacon erected to warn of invasion.
Almaden
Almaden is a town in Ciudad Real province, Spain. It has large mercury
deposits.
Alphen
Alphen is a market town in the Netherlands 16 km south east of Leiden.
Alps
The Alps are the highest mountain range in Europe. They are 960 km long
and separate south and central Europe.
Alresford
Alresford is a market town in Hampshire.
Alston
Alston is a town in Cumbria, England. It is the site of limestone
quarrying.
Altai
The Altai is a mountain range in west Siberia and Mongolia.
Altamira
Altamira is a cave near the village of Santillana del Mar. It contains
remarkable paleolithic wall paintings.
Altdorf
Altdorf is the capital of Uri canton, Switzerland.
Alton
Alton is a town in Hampshire, England. It was the site of the Watney's
Brewery.
Alton is a town on the Mississippi in Illinios in the USA.
Amasra
Amasra is a sea port on the Black Sea in north Turkey.
Amazon
The Amazon is a major river in South America.
Amba Alagi
Amba Alagi is a mountain in Ethiopia 129 km north of Magdala. It is
10000m high.
Amberley
Amberley is a village in Sussex. It was home to the Bishops of Chichester
(in Amberley Castle).
Ambleteuse
Ambleteuse is a French seaport 10 km from Boulogne. James II landed here
in 1688 in his flight from England. Ambleteuse was also the sight where
Napoleon assembled his flotilla of barges to invade Britain.
America
America is a large continent in the western hemisphere. It comprises
North America, Central America and South America.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city in the Netherlands. It is the commercial
and intellectual centre of the Netherlands. It stands on the river
Amstel.
Amu Darya
The Amu Darya is a river in Asian Russia. It rises in the Pamirs and
flows to the Aral Sea. It is 2398 km long.
Anatolia
Anatolia is a region of central Turkey.
Ancona
Ancona is the capital of Marche region in Italy.
Andes
The Andes are a mountain range running north south in South America.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is a state in east India.
Andorra
Andorra is an autonomous republic in the Pyrenees between France and
Spain. Andorra has a total area of 450 km2.
The climate is temperate; snowy, cold winters and cool, dry summers.
The terrain is rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys.
Natural resources are hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore and
lead.
The religion is virtually all Roman Catholic.
The language is Catalan (official). Many people also speak some French
and Castilian.
Andover
Andover is an old town in Hampshire. It was once an importan wool centre.
Anglesey
Anglesey is an island off the north west coast of Wales.
Angola
Angola is a country in west Africa. It has a Total area of 1,246,700 km2.
The climate is semiarid in the south and along the coast to Luanda; north
has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to
April).
The terrain is a narrow coastal plain which rises abruptly to a vast
interior plateau.
Natural resources are petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper,
feldspar, gold, bauxite and uranium.
The religion is 47% indigenous beliefs, 38% Roman Catholic, 15%
Protestant.
The language is Portuguese (official) and various Bantu dialects.
Anhui
Anhui is a province in east China.
Anhwei
Anhwei is a province of China.
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey.
Antarctica
The antarctic is the south polar continent. It has a total area of about
14,000,000 km2.
The climate is severe low temperatures which vary with latitude,
elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than
the Antarctic Peninsula in the west; warmest temperatures occur in
January along the coast and average
slightly below freezing.
The terrain is about 98% thick continental ice sheet, with average
elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 5,000
meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria
Land, Wilkes Land,
and the scientific research areas of Graham Land and Ross Island on
McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of coastline.
Natural resources are coal and iron ore; chromium, copper, gold, nickel,
platinum, and hydrocarbons have been found in small quantities along the
coast; offshore deposits of oil and gas
Antilles
The Antilles are a group of islands in the caribbean.
Antofag'asta
Antofag'asta is a town in Chile on the Pacific coast. It has a port and
smelting plant serving the local silver mines.
Antwerp
Antwerp is a seaport in Belgium on the river Scheldt. It is also an
important diamond centre.
Anzio
Anzio was the scene of the Allied invasion of Italy during the Second
World War in 1944.
Aosta
Aosta is the capital of Valle d'Aosta.
Apapa
Apapa is a seaport in Nigeria on the mainland opposite Lagos.
Apennines
The apennines are a chain of mountains stretching the length of the
Italian peninsular.
Apia
Apia is the capital city of Western Samoa. It is a port on the north
coast of Upolu island in the West Pacific. It was at one time home to
Robert Louis Stevenson.
Appalachians
The Appalachians are a mountain system in eastern North America
stretching 2400km from Alabama to Quebec.
Apulia
Apulia is a region of Italy comprising the south eastern heel.
Aquila
Aquila is the capital of Abruzzi province in Italy.
Aquitaine
Aquitaine is a region of south west France. It was an English possession
from 1152 until 1452.
Arabia
Arabia is a country in south west Asia comprised of independent states.
Arabistan
Arabistan is a former name of the Iranian province of Khuzestan.
Arad
Arad is an industrial town in the Negev desert in Israel.
Aral
The Aral Sea is an inland sea in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Ararat
Ararat is a mountain in Turkey close to the border with Armenia. It is
3932 metres tall.
Archipelago
An archipelago is a group of islands caused by the sea rising over a
hilly landscape. Archipelagos are often volcanic in origin.
Arctic
The Arctic is the north polar region.
The climate is persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature
ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable
weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous
daylight,
damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow.
The terrain at the central surface is covered by a perennial drifting
polar icepack which averages about 3 meters in thickness, although
pressure ridges may be three times that size; there is a clockwise drift
pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight line movement
from the New Siberian Islands (USSR) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland
and Iceland); the ice pack is surrounded by open seas during the summer,
but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the
encircling land masses.
Natural resources are sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals,
whales).
Arctic ocean
The arctic ocean is the sea north of Europe, America and Asia.
Ardeche
The ardeche is a river in south east France.
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a wooded plateau in North-East France, South East Belgium
and Northern Luxembourg, cut through by the river Meuse. There was heavy
fighting here during the Great War and the Second World War.
Arequipa
Arequipa is a city in Peru at the base of the volcano El Misti. It was
founded in 1540 by Pizarro. Today it is a busy commercial and cultural
centre.
Argentina
Argentina is a republic in South America. It has a total area of
2,766,890 km2.
The climate is mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in the
southwest.
The terrain is rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to
rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border.
Natural resources are fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin,
copper, iron ore, manganese, crude oil, uranium
The religion is 90% nominally Roman Catholic (less than 20% practicing),
2% Protestant, 2% Jewish, 6% other
The language is Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French.
Argos
Argos was a city in ancient Greece at the head of the Gulf of Nauplia. It
was a cult centre of the goddess Hera.
Arizona
Arizona is a state in USA.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state in central south USA.
Arlberg
Arlberg is an Alpine pass forming the main western entry to Austria.
Armagh
Armagh is a county in Northern Ireland.
Armenia
Armenia is a republic in east Europe.
Arnold
Arnold is an industrial town in Nottinghamshire, England.
Arran
Arran is an island in Scotland.
Arras
Arras is the capital of Pas-de-Calais department in France. It is a
market town famous for its tapestry. It was alsmost destroyed during the
Great War.
Aruba
Aruba is an island in the Caribbean. It was one of the Netherlands
Antilles until 1986 when it achieved full autonomy.
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a union territory in India. It is located in the
Himalayas on the borders of Tibet and Burma.
Arundel
Arundel is a market town on the River Arun in West Sussex, England. It is
the site of Arundel castle, the home of the Duke Of Norfolk.
Ascension
Ascension Island is a British island of volcanic origin in the south
Atlantic. It is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns.
Ascot
Ascot is a town in Berkshire. The race course at Ascot was laid in 1711
on the orders of queen Anne.
Ashburnham
Ashburnham is a town in Sussex. It was the last place where the Sussex
iron industry survived, its iron foundery closing in the 19th century.
Ashford
Ashford was once a village in Kent, but became an important railway
junction and so grew into a major commercial town. It has one of the
oldest cattle markets in England.
Ashkhabad
Ashkhabad is the capital city of Turkmen.
Ashmore
Ashmore is the highest village in Dorset, 213 metres up in the chalk
hills of Cranbourne Chase.
Asia
Asia is the largest continent. It is the landmass east of Europe.
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is an historical name for Anatolia, the Asian part of Turkey.
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city of Eritrea. It is situated on the Red Sea.
Assam
Assam is a state in India between east Pakistan and Burma. It is famed
for its tea.
Assisi
Assisi is a town in Umbria, Italy. It was the birthplace of Saint
Francis.
Assyria
Assyria was an empire in the Middle East from 2500BC until 612BC in what
was then called Mesopotamia, now Iraq.
Asturias
Asturias is an autonomous region of northern Spain. It is a major coal
producing area.
Aswan
Aswan is a winter resort town in Egypt.
Atacama
The Atacama is an extensive desert in South America covering a large area
of northern Chile.
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece.
Atlanta
Atlanta is the capital and largest city in Georgia, USA.
Atlantic
see "atlantic_ocean"
Atlantic ocean
The atlantic ocean is the sea to the west of Europe and east of America.
Atlas
The Atlas are a mountain range in north west Africa. They extend from the
Atlantic coast of Morocco to the Gulf of Gabes in Tunisia. They are 2414
km long.
Attica
Attica is a region of Greece comprising Athens and the district around
it.
Auckland
Auckland is a city and seaport of New Zealand.
Auschwitz
Auschwitz is a town near Krakow in Poland. It was the site of a camp used
by Nazis to exterminate Jews during the Second World War.
Austerlitz
Austerlitz is a town in Czechoslovakia, formerly in Austria, where
Napoleon defeated Alexander I of Russia and Francis II of Austria in
1805.
Austin
Austin is the state capital of Texas.
Australasia
Australasia is the countries of Australia, New Zealand etc.
Australia
Australia is an island continent in the southern hemisphere.
Austria
Austria is a republic in central Europe. It has a total area of 83,850
km2.
The climate is temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent
rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional
showers.
The terrain is mostly mountains with Alps in west and south; mostly flat,
with gentle slopes along eastern and northern margins.
Natural resources are iron ore, crude oil, timber, magnesite, aluminum,
lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower
The religion is 85% Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant, 9% other
The language is German.
Auvergne
Auvergne is an ancient province of central France.
Auxerre
Auxerre is the capital of Yonne department in France. It is a commercial
and industrial centre. It is the site of a Gothic Cathedral.
Avebury
Avebury is a village in Wiltshire, England 10 km west of Marlborough. It
is built on the world's largest stone circle.
Avignon
Avignon is the capital of Vaucluse department in France. It is an ancient
Roman town at the crossing of the Rhone. Avignon is the Provencal tourist
centre.
Avila
Avila is a town and capital of Avila province in Spain. It was the birth
place of St. Teresa.
Avington
Avington is a village in Hampshire on the River Itchen.
Avon
Avon is a non-metropolitan county in southern England based upon the
Lower Avon valley and Severnside.
The River Avon flows 128 km from the Cotswolds to enter the Bristol
Channel at Avonmouth.
Awe
Awe is a freshwater loch in Strathclyde, south east of Oban. It is
drained by the River Awe into Loch Etive.
Axbridge
Axbridge is a town in Somerset. Anglo-Saxon and Norman Kings hunted stags
on the Mendips from here. During the Middle Ages Axbridge became a wool
centre producing knitted stockings.
Axminster
Axminster is an industrial town in Devon famous for its carpets.
Aylesford
Aylesford is an old village in Kent 5 km from Maidstone.
Aylsham
Aylsham is a market town in Norfolk on the River Bure.
Ayrshire
Ayrshire was once a county of south west Scotland.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is a republic in Asia. The religion is traditionally Shi'ite
Muslim. The language is Turkic.
Azores
The Azores are an island group in the atlantic ocean.
Azov Sea
see "Black_Sea"
Babel
Babel is the old Hebrew name for the city of Babylon.
Babylon
Babylon was the capital of the ancient Chaldean empire in Asia. Its
hanging gardens were one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, until
it was sacked by Cyrus of persia in 538 b.C.
Bactria
Bactria was a region of central Asia comprising modern Afghanistan,
Pakistan and central Soviet Asia.
Bacup
Bacup is a market town in Lancashire, England 31 km north east of
Manchester.
Baden
Baden was a state in south west Germany. In 1952 it was made part of
Baden-Wurttemberg.
Baden-Wurttenberg
Baden-Wurttenberg is an administrative region of Germany.
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital city of Iraq.
Bahamas
The Bahamas are a group of islands in the Caribbean. They have a total
area of 13,940 km2.
The climate is tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
The terrain is long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills.
Natural resources are salt, aragonite, timber.
The religion is Baptist 29%, Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 22%, smaller
groups of other Protestants, Greek Orthodox, and Jews
The language is English; some Creole among Haitian immigrants.
Bahrain
Bahrain is a country composed of a group of islands in the Arabian gulf.
It has a total area of 620 km2.
The climate is arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers.
The terrain is mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central
escarpment.
Natural resources are oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas,
fish.
The religion is Muslim (70% Shia, 30% Sunni)
The language is Arabic (official); English also widely spoken; Farsi,
Urdu
Baikal
Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in Asia, and the deepest
freshwater lake in the world.
Baku
Baku is the capital of Azerbaydzhan. It is a port on the Caspian Sea.
Bala
Bala is a lake and town in Gwynedd, North Wales.
Balaton
Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Hungary. It is 596 km2.
Baldwin
Baldwin is a fishing town on Long Island, New York, USA.
Balearic islands
The Balearic islands are a group in the Mediterranean.
Bali
Bali is an island in Indonesia.
Balkans
The Balkan Peninsular (Balkans) are a mountain range between the Adriatic
and Ionian seas in eastern Europe.
Balkash
Balkash is a lake in Kazakh. It covers an area of 6680 square meters.
Balsas
The River Balsas flows 800 km east to the Pacific through the valley of
Morelos in Mexico.
Baltic
see "Baltic_Sea"
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea (The Baltic) is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean which opens
into the North Sea by narrow channels between Denmark and Sweden.
Baltimore
Baltimore is an industrial city and seaport in Maryland, USA. It is the
home of Johns Hopkins university.
Baluchistan
Baluchistan is a mountainous desert area comprising part of Iran, part of
Pakistan and part of Afghanistan.
Bamako
Bamako is the capital city of Mali. It is on the River Niger. Bamako is
the main industrial centre of Mali.
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is an important river port on
the Trans-European waterway.
Bandung
Bandung is a commercial city and capital of Jawa Barat province on the
island of Java.
Bangalore
Bangalore is the capital city of Karnataka state in south India.
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a country in Asia. It has a total area of 144,000 km2.
The climate is tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid
summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October).
The terrain is mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast.
Natural resources are natural gas, uranium, arable land, timber.
The religion is 83% Muslim, about 16% Hindu, less than 1% Buddhist,
Christian, and other.
The language is Bangla (official), English widely used.
Bangui
Bangui is the capital of the Central African Republic. It stands on the
River Ubangi.
Banjul
Banjul is the capital city of Gambia. It is also the chief port of
Gambia, and is situated on an island at the mouth of the River Gambia.
Bantustan
Bantustan (Bantu Homelands) was the name until 1978 of the Black National
States in the Republic of South Africa.
Barbados
Barbados is an island in the Caribbean. It has a total area of 430 km2.
The climate is tropical; rainy season (June to October).
The terrain is relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region.
Natural resources are crude oil, fishing, natural gas.
The religion is 70% Anglican, 9% Methodist, 4% Roman Catholic, 17% other,
including Moravian
The language is English.
Barcelona
Barcelona is a city and sea port in Spain. It is the capital city of
Catalonia.
Bari
Bari is the capital of Apulia region in southern Italy. It is an
industrial city and port on the Adriatic coast. Bari is renowned for its
electronics industry and being the site of Italy's first nuclear power
station.
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town in Devon. It was a major ship-building town in the
Middle Ages.
Barotseland
Barotseland was a native kingdom in Africa. It is now part of Zambia.
Barranquilla
Barranquilla is a seaport in north Colombia on the River Magdalena.
Basel
Basel is the capital city of Basel canton in Switzerland.
Bashkir
Bashkir is an autonomous republic in eastern Europe. It was annexed by
Russia in 1557, and was given autonomy in 1919.
Basing
Basing was once the site of a Norman castle which was replaced in the
16th century by a Tudor mansion. It is a village just outside Basingstoke
in Hampshire.
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town 80km south and west of London. It was once a small
market town, it developed an industry of light engineering in the middle
of the 20th century. During the 1960s and 1970s Basingstoke was expanded
and finance industries moved in.
Basque
Basque is 3 provinces of Spain close to the border with France. Some of
the residents wish to form a separate Basque state.
Basra
Basra is the only port in Iraq. It is located in the Shatt-al-Arab delta,
97 km from the Persian Gulf.
Bath
Bath is a city in England. Bath is a faming community and mineral spa in
east Jamaica. The spa was discovered by a runaway slave in the 1690s.
Batley
Batley is an old town in Yorkshire, 10 km south west of Leeds.
Battle
Battle is a town in East Sussex, England. It was the scene of the battle
of Hastings in 1066.
Bavaria
Bavaria is an administrative region of Germany.
Bay of Biscay
The Bay Of Biscay is a stormy area of the Atlantic Ocean west of France
and north of Spain.
Bay of Pigs
The Bay of Pigs is an inlet on the south coast of Cuba. It was the site
of an unsuccessful invasion attempt by the USA in 1961.
Bayern
Bayern is the German name for Bavaria.
Bayeux
Bayeux is a town in Calvados department, France 29 km north west of Caen.
Bayreuth
Bayreuth is a town in Bavaria 68 km north east of Nuremberg.
Beaminster
Beaminster is a town in Dorset.
Beaulieu
Beaulieu is a village in southern Hampshire on the Beaulieu River.
Beccles
Beccles is a town in Suffolk on the River Waveney.
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a county in central southern England.
Beijing
Beijing (formerly Peking) is the capital city of China.
Beirut
Beirut is the capital city of Lebanon. It is a sea port which was
devastated by the civil war of the 1970s and 1980s.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of northern Ireland. It is an industrial port and
has suffered from guerrilla activity since 1968.
Belfort
Belfort is a town in France between the Vosges and the Jura mountains.
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo is a former name of Zaire. It was used from 1908 until
1960.
Belgium
Belgium is a kingdom in west Europe. It has a total area of 30,510 km2.
The climate is temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid,
cloudy.
The terrain is flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills,
rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast .Natural resources are
coal, natural gas.
The religion is 75% Roman Catholic; remainder Protestant or other.
The language is 56% Flemish (Dutch), 32% French, 1% German; 11% legally
bilingual; divided along ethnic lines.
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital of Yugolsavia and Serbia. It is a river port
situated on the Danube and linked with the port of Bar on the Adriatic.
Belize
Belize (formerly British Honduras) is a country in Central America south
of Mexico and east of Guatemala.
The terrain is mainly forest.
The religion is about 60% Roman Catholic and 35% Protestant.
The language is English (official) Spanish is widely spoken, and native
Indian dialects.
Belize City
Belize City was the capital city of Belize until following its
destruction by a hurricane in 1961 it was decided to move the capital
inland to Belmopan in 1970.
Belorussia
Belorussia is a republic in eastern Europe.
Belsen
Belsen was the site of a Nazi concentration camp in Lower Saxony during
the second World War.
Bembridge
Bembridge is the most easterly village on the Isle Of Wight.
Ben Lawers
Ben Lawers is a mountain in Perth and Kincross, Scotland. It is 1215m
high.
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It stands 1342
meters high in the Grampians in Scotland.
Benfleet
Benfleet is a residential town in Essex, England.
Bengal
Bengal was a province of British India. It was divided in 1947 into West
Bengal and East Bengal. East Bengal fought for independance from India
and formed Bangladesh in 1972.
Benghazi
Benghazi is an historic city and industrial port in north Libya on the
Gulf of the Sirte.
Benin
Benin is a province in west Africa. It has a total area of 112,620 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north.
The terrain is mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low
mountains.
Natural resources are small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble,
timber
The religion is 70% indigenous beliefs, 15% Muslim, 15% Christian.
The language is French (official); Fon and Yoruba most common vernaculars
in south; at least six major tribal languages in north.
Benin City
Benin City is a former slave centre in Nigeria.
Bere Regis
Bere Regis is a water-cress growing village in Dorset. During the Middle
Ages it was famed for its fairs, and was a resort of Kings.
Bergen
Bergen is a seaport and city in Norway.
Bering Sea
The bering sea is the northern part of the Pacific ocean. It separates
America from Asia.
Berkeley
Berkeley is a village in Gloucestershire near to the River Seven, 24 km
north of Bristol. It was the scene of the murder of Edward II.
Berkshire
Berkshire is a county of southern England.
Berlin
Berlin is a large industrial city in Germany.
Bermuda
Bermuda is an island in the Caribbean. It has a total area of 50 km2.
The climate is subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter.
The terrain is low hills separated by fertile depressions.
Natural resources are limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism.
The religion is 37% Anglican, 14% Roman Catholic, 10% African Methodist
Episcopal (Zion), 6% Methodist, 5% Seventh-Day Adventist, 28% other.
The language is English
Bern
Bern is the capital city of Bern canton and the federal capital of
Switzerland. It stands on the Aare River.
Bernese Alps
The Bernese Alps (Bernese Oberland) are a mountain range in Berne Canton,
Switzerland.
Bexhill-On-Sea
Bexhill-On-Sea is a popular seaside resort in Sussex.
Bhopal
Bhopal is an industrial city and capital of Madhya Pradesh in central
India.
Bhutan
Bhutan was a state in India, it is now a country in south east Asia.
Biafra
The Republic of Biafra was an African state established in 1968 within
Nigeria. Civil war led to its destruction in 1970.
Bideford
Bideford is a town in Devon. It was a major seaport from 1550 until 1750.
Bihar
Bihar is a state in north east India.
Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll is an atoll in the Marshall Islands, in the north Pacific,
where the USA conducted atomic weapon tests between 1946 and 1963.
Bilbao
Bilbao is an industrial seaport in Spain.
Binham
Binham is a village in Norfolk. It was originally a Benedictine priory
and centre founded around 1100.
Bio-Bio
The Bio-Bio is the longest river in Chile. It is about 370 km long. It
flows from the Andes to the Pacific.
Bioko
Bioko is an island in the Bight of Bonny, West Africa. It is part of
Equatorial Guinea. It was formerly a Spanish possession and known as
Fernando Po.
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a seaport on the River Mersey opposite Liverpool.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city in the English midlands. Birmingham is an industrial
city in Alabama, USA.
Birnam
Birnam is a village in Pert and Kinross, Scotland. It is mentioned in
Macbeth.
Bisceglie
Bisceglie is a seaport town on the east coast of Italy.
Bishop's Cannings
Bishop's Cannings is a village in Wiltshire.
Bishop's Waltham
Bishop's Waltham is an old town in Hampshire.
Biskra
Biskra is a winter resort and market town in Algeria.
Bisley
Bisley is a village in Surrey and home to the National Rifle Association.
Annual rifle shooting contests are held at Bisley.
Bissau
Bissau is the capital city and chief port of Guinea-Bissau. It stands on
an island at the mouth of the Geba river. It was originally a fortified
slave-trading centre, in 1869 it became a free port.
Black Country
The Black Country is the area of central England around and to the north
of Birmingham. It is a heavily industrialized area which got its name in
the 19th century from its belching chimneys.
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a mountainous coniferous forest region of Baden-
Wurttenberg in west Germany. It is bounded to the west and south by the
Rhine which separates it from the Vosges.
Black Prairie
The Black Prairie is a region of Texas which extends 560 km south west
from the Ouachita Mountains to Austin. It contains some very fertile
areas which are primarily used for growing cotton.
Black River
Black River is a fishing town in south west Jamaica. Watchout for the
crocodiles if you visit!
Black Sea
The Black Sea is an inland sea of Europe.
Blackpool
Blackpool is a seaside resort town in Lancashire, England.
Blakeney
Blakeney is a small town on the north coast of Norfolk at the estuary of
the River Glaven.
Blantyre-Limbe
Blantyre-Limbe is the chief industrial and commercial centre for Malawi.
Blarney
Blarney is a small town in County Cork, Ireland.
Blenheim
Blenheim is a village in Bavaria. It was the scene of a battle in 1704
when English troops under the Duke of Marlborough defeated the French and
Bavarian armies.
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital of the Orange Free State and the judicial
capital of the Republic of South Africa.
Blois
Blois is a city in France on the right bank of the loire river.
Blue mountains
The blue mountains are a mountain range in east Jamaica famed for coffee.
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a mountain range extending from West Viginia
to Georgia in the USA.
Bocking
Bocking is a town in Essex on the outskirts of Braintree.
Bodmin Moor
Bodmin Moor is a plateau in Cornwall comprised of rough grass.
Boeotia
Boeotia was a central district of ancient Greece.
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis was one of the first English seaside resorts.
Bogota
Bogota is the capital of Columbia.
Bohemia
Bohemia is the western area of Czechoslovakia.
Bolivia
Bolivia is a republic in south America. It has a total area of 1,098,580
km2.
The climate is varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and
semiarid.
The terrain is high plateau, hills, lowland plains.
Natural resources are tin, natural gas, crude oil, zinc, tungsten,
antimony, silver, iron ore, lead, gold, timber
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic; active Protestant minority,
especially Evangelical Methodist.
The language is Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara (all official).
Bologna
Bologna is an industrial city and the capital of Emilia-Romagna in Italy.
It is 80km north of Florence.
Bombay
Bombay is a city and seaport in India.
Bonchurch
Bonchurch is a village on the Isle of Wight.
Bondu
Bondu (Bondou) was once a sovereign country in West Africa inhabited by
the Foulahs.
Bonin
Bonin is a group of islands in the north Pacific.
Bonn
Bonn is an industrial city and former capital of West Germany.
Boothia
Boothia is a peninsular on the Canadian Arctic coast.
Bootle
Bootle is a town in Merseyside, England. It shares a line of docks with
Liverpool. It's industry includes tanning, ship-repairing and a tin
plant.
Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana is an independant Bantu territory in South Africa. It was
established by the then apartheid govenment of South Africa to
consolidate their policy of apartheid.
Borbonnais
Borbonnais was once a province in France, and later a duchy.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port on the Garonne and capital of Aquitaine in south west
France.
Borders
The Borders are a region of Scotland.
Boreham
Boreham is a village in Essex.
Borneo
Borneo is an island in the east Indian archipelago.
Boscombe
Boscombe is a village in Wiltshire.
Bosham
Bosham is the most westerly town in Sussex. It was here that King Cnut
demonstrated that even he had not the pwoer to turn back the sea.
Bosnia
Bosnia is a country in south east Europe. Part of Yugolsavia.
Bosporus
The Bosporus is a 27km long strait joining the Black Sea with the Sea of
Marmara and forming part of the water division between Europe and Asia.
Boston
Boston is the capital of Massachusetts.
Botany Bay
Botany Bay is an inlet on the east coast of Australia. It was chosen in
1787 as the site for a penal colony.
Botswana
Botswana is a country in southern Africa. It has a total area of 600,370
km2.
The climate is semiarid; warm winters and hot summers.
The terrain is predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari
Desert in southwest
Natural resources are diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash,
coal, iron ore, silver, natural gas.
The religion is 50% indigenous beliefs, 50% Christian.
The language is English (official), Setswana
Bourg
Bourg is a town in Eastern France.
Bourges
Bourges is an ancient city in France. It is at the confluence of the
Auron and Yevre 200 km south of Paris.
Bourgogne
Bourgogne is a region of France and former independant kingdom. It was
incorporated into France in 1477.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a seaside resort in Hampshire. It was a small village
until the 19th century and it has been growing ever since.
Bouvet Island
Bouvet Island is an island in Antarctica. It has a total area of 58 km2.
The climate is antarctic.
The terrain is volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters; the coast is
mostly inacessible.
Bovington
Bovington is a village in Dorset. It is the site of the British Army tank
research centre and museum.
Box Hill
Box Hill is a 700 foot high hill in Surrey. It is a popular beauty spot.
Brabant
Brabant is a former duchy of western Europe comprising part of Belgium
and the Netherlands.
Bradford
Bradford is an industrial city in west Yorkshire in England. It is 14km
west of Leeds. It was once an important wool and later cloth
manufacturing centre but this has declined since the 1970s.
Bradford Abbas
Bradford Abbas is a village in Dorset.
Brading
Brading was a harbour on the Isle of Wight, however since 1880 a 2 km
long causeway has cut off the town from the sea.
Brahmaputra
The Brahmaputra is a 2900km long river in Asia. It is a tributary of the
Ganges.
Braintree
Braintree is a town in Essex. It formed around the junction of important
Roman roads. Braintree derived its prosperity from the silk trade which
followed the wool trade.
Bramber
Bramber is a village in Sussex. It is the site of the Exhibition of
Humerous Taxidermy, a museum established in the late 19th century by
William Potter.
Brancaster
Brancaster is a village in Norfolk. It was originally a Roman fort
(Branodunum).
Brand's Hatch
Brand's Hatch is a motor racing circuit in Kent.
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is a former Prussian and German province. It was divided in
1945 between Poland and Germany.
Brasil
Brasil is the Brazilian name for Brazil.
Brasov
Brasov is an industrial town in Romania at the foot of the Transylvanian
Alps. It was part of Hungary until 1920.
Brasso
Brasso is the Hunagarian name for the Romanian town of Brasov.
Bratislava
Bratislava (Pressburg) is an industrial port on the Danube in
Czechoslovakia.
Braunschweig
Braunschweig is the German name for Brunswick.
Bray
Bray is a village in Berkshire set on a bend in the River Thames. A 17th
century vicar of Bray continualy changed his religion in keeping with
that of the King of the day inorder to keep his living, so the story
goes.
Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in south America. It has a total area of
8,511,965 km2.
The climate is mostly tropical, but temperate in south.
The terrain is mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains,
hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Natural resources are iron ore, manganese, bauxite, nickel, uranium,
phosphates, tin, hydropower, gold, platinum, crude oil, timber.
The religion is 90% Roman Catholic (nominal).
The language is Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French.
Brazzaville
Brazzaville is the capital city of the Congo. It is an industrial port on
the Zaire river opposite Kinshasa.
Breamore
Breamore is a village on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire. It is
the site of one of the few complete Anglo-Saxon churches in England.
Bremen
Bremen is an old town on the banks of the river Weser in Germany 64km
from the North Sea. It is an industrial and commercial centre.
Brenner Pass
The brenner pass is the lowest pass over the alps.
Brentwood
Brentwood is a town in Essex just off the main London to Chelmsford road.
Brescia
Brescia is an historic industrial city in northern Italy 84km east of
Milan.
Breslau
Breslau is the German name of Wroclaw.
Brest
Brest is a naval base and industrial port on the Rade de Brest at the
western extremity of Brittany, France.
Bretagne
Bretagne is the French name for Brittany.
Bretton Woods
Bretton Woods is a township in New Hampshire, USA.
Breydon Water
Breydon Water is an extension of the estuary of the River Yare in
Norfolk. It was a natural harbour in Roman times.
Bridgetown
Bridgetown is a port and the capital city of Barbados. It was founded in
1628.
Bridgwater
Bridgwater grew from being a village to a major river-port during the
Middle Ages.
Bridlington
Bridlington is a sea-side resort town in north east England.
Bridport
Bridport is a town in Dorset. It was an important rope-making town once,
hence the expression "Bridport Dagger" which referred to a hangman's
noose.
Brighton
Brighton is a sea-side resort town in Sussex. It was formerly called
Brighthelmstone.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland in Australia.
Bristol
Bristol is a city at the confluence of the rivers Avon and Frome in west
England.
Britain
Britain is the collective name for England, Scotland, Wales and northern
Ireland.
British Antarctic Territory
The British Antarctic Territory is a colony created in 1962 and
comprising all British territories south of latitude 60 degrees south.
British Columbia
British Columbia is a province of western Canada on the Pacific.
British Honduras
British Honduras is a former name of Belize.
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the north west coast of
Europe consisting of Great Britain, Ireland, The Channel Islands, Orkney,
Shetland, Isle of Man and other islands.
Brittany
Brittany is a region of north west France in the Breton peninsular
between the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel.
Brixen
Brixen is an old city in Austria in the Tyrol.
Brixham
Brixham is a fishing port in Devon on Tor Bay.
Brixia
Brixia is the ancient name for Brescia.
Brno
Brno is an industrial city in central Czechoslovakia.
Broads
The Norfolk Broads are a combination of lakes, rivers and cuts in Norfolk
famous for their boating. They are largely man made, water filled pits
left by turf cutters of years ago.
Broadway
Broadway is a major street in Manhattan, New York, famed for its
theatres.
Brocken
Brocken is the highest summit of the Harz mountains, 1141 metres.
Brockenhurst
Brockenhurst is a village in the New Forest in Hampshire.
Brockville
Brockville is a town in Ontario on the left bank of the St Lawrence
Brownsea Island
Brownsea Island is the largest island in Poole Harbour, in Dorset. It is
2 km long and 1 km wide.
Bruges
Bruges is the capital of west Flanders. It is a mediaeval town connected
by a canal to its port Zeebrugge.
Brugge
Brugge is the Flemish name for Bruges.
Brunei
Brunei is a country in the far east. It has a total area of 5,770 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid, rainy.
The terrain is flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly
lowland in west
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, timber.
The religion is 60% Muslim (official); 8% Christian; 32% Buddhist and
indigenous beliefs.
The language is Malay (official), English, and Chinese.
Brunswick
Brunswick is an industrial city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was the
capital of the duchy of Brunswick from 1671.
Brussel
Brussel is the Flemish name for Brussels.
Brussels
Brussels is the capital of Belgium. It is an industrial city first
settled in the 6th century, and a city from 1321. It became the capital
of belgium in 1830.
Bruton
Bruton is a town in Somerset.
Bucaramanga
Bucaramanga is an industrial and commercial city in north central
Columbia. It was founded by the Spanish in 1622.
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital of Romania.
Buchenwald
Buchenwald was the site of a Nazi concentration camp in Germany during
the Second World War.
Buckingham
Buckingham is a market town on the river Ouse in Buckinghamshire,
England. It is 24km north west of Aylesbury.
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a county in south east England.
Bucuresti
Bucuresti is the Romanian name for Bucharest.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital city of Argentina.
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is an industrial city and railway junction in Zimbabwe on the
River Matsheumlope.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a country in central Europe. It has a total area of 110,910
km2.
The climate is temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers.
The terrain is mostly mountains with lowlands in north and south.
Natural resources are bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable
land
The religion is religious background of population is 85% Bulgarian
Orthodox, 13% Muslim, 0.8% Jewish, 0.7% Roman Catholic, 0.5% Protestant,
Gregorian-Armenian, and other.
The language is Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to the
ethnic breakdown.
Bunbury
Bunbury is a town and seaport in Western Australia.
Bungay
Bungay is a market town in Suffolk.
Burgenland
Burgenland is a federal state in south east Austria.
Burghclere
Burghclere is a village in Hampshire.
Burgundy
Burgundy is a region in east France.
Burma
Burma is a country in Asia south of Tibet. It has a total area of 678,500
km2.
The climate is tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers
(southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild
temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December
to April).
The terrain is central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands.
Natural resources are crude oil, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper,
tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural
gas.
The religion is 85% Buddhist, 15% animist beliefs, Muslim, Christian, or
other.
The language is Burmese; minority ethnic groups have their own languages.
Burnham-on-crouch
Burnham-on-Crouch is a town in Essex. It is an estuary town noted for its
boat-building and yachting.
Bursa
Bursa is a city in north west Turkey. It was the capital of the Ottoman
Empire from 1326 until 1423.
Burundi
Burundi is a country in east Africa. It has a total area of 27,830 km2.
The climate is temperate, warm with the occasional frost in the uplands.
The terrain is mostly rolling to hilly highland with some plains.
Natural resources are nickel, uranium, rare earth oxide, peat, cobalt,
copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium
The religion is about 67% Christian (62% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant),
32% indigenous beliefs, 1% Muslim.
The language is Kirundi and French (official); Swahili (along Lake
Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area).
Burwell
Burwell is a village in Cambridgeshire.
Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a city in Suffolk.
Buscot
Buscot is a village in Berkshire next to the Thames.
Byblos
Byblos was an ancient Phoenician city 32km north of Beirut. Today it is
called Jebeil.
Byzantium
Byzantium was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is called
Istanbul.
Cadarache
Cadarache is a French nuclear research site north east of Aix-en-
Provence.
Cadiz
Cadiz is a city and seaport in Spain.
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia in Italy.
Cairo
Cairo is the capital city of Egypt.
Caister-on-Sea
Caister-on-Sea is a seaside town in Norfolk on the outskirts of Great
Yarmouth. It was a Roman town and also an Anglo-Saxon town in the past.
Calabria
Calabria is a mountainous earthquake region occupying the toe of Italy.
Calais
Calais is a seaport in France.
Calcutta
Calcutta is a city in India in the province of Bengal.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in Alberta, Canada.
Cali
Cali is a city in south west Colombia in the Cauca Valley. It was founded
in 1536.
California
California is a state in the west USA.
Callao
Callao is the chief fishing and commercial port of Peru. It is 12km south
west of Lima. It was founded in 1537 and destroyed by an earthquake in
1746.
Calleva Atrebatum
Calleva Atrebatum was the Roman name for their settlement at what is now
called Silchester.
Calne
Calne is a market town in Wiltshire.
Camargue
The Camargue is a marshy area of the Rhone delta south of Arles in
France.
Cambodia
Cambodia is a country in the far east. South east of Thailand. It has a
total area of 181,040 km2.
The climate is tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to October); dry
season (December to March); little seasonal temperature variation.
The terrain is mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north.
Natural resources are timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential.
The religion is 95% Theravada Buddhism, 5% other.
The language is Khmer (official), French
Cambridge
Cambridge is a famous university town situated on the river Cam 80 km
north of London in Cambridgeshire.
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in east England.
Camden
Camden is a port on the river Delaware in New Jersey, USA.
Cameroon
Cameroon is a country in west Africa. Most recently noted for it's
football team's performance in the world cup. It has a total area of
475,440 km2.
The climate is varies with terrain from tropical along coast to semiarid
and hot in north.
The terrain is diverse with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau
in center, mountains in west, plains in north.
Natural resources are crude oil, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
potential.
The religion is 51% indigenous beliefs, 33% Christian, 16% Muslim.
The language is English and French (official), 24 major African language
groups.
Campeche
Campeche is a Mexican port and capital of Campeche state. It was founded
in 1540.
Camulodunum
Camulodunum was the Roman name for Colchester.
Canaan
Canaan is an area of the Palestinian coast. The people who lived in
Canaan in the 1st millenium BC were known to the Greeks as Phoenicians.
Canada
Canada is a country occupying the northern most part of America. It has a
total area of 9,976,140 km2.
The climate is varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in
north.
The terrain is mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in
southeast.
Natural resources are nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, crude oil, natural gas.
The religion is 46% Roman Catholic, 16% United Church, 10% Anglican.
The language is English and French (both official).
Canary Islands
The Canary islands are an archipelago in the atlantic ocean off the north
west coast of Africa.
Canberra
Canberra is a territory in Australia and also the capital city of
Australia since 1908.
Cantabria
Cantabria is an autonomous region of northern Spain.
Canterbury
Canterbury is an ancient city in Kent.
Canton
A canton is a territorial division of Switzerland.
Canton is the former name of Kwangchow in China.
Canvey Island
Canvey Island is an island in the Thames estuary in Essex.
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a peninsular in south east Massachusetts, USA where in 1620
the English Pilgrims landed at Provincetown.
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the most southerly point of South America.
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a South African headland forming a peninsular
between Table Bay and False Bay.
Cape Province
The Cape Province is the largest province of South Africa.
Cape Town
Cape Town is a city and seaport in South Africa.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde is a group of 14 volcanic islands in the Atlantic ocean. It
has a total area of 4,030 km2.
The climate is temperate; warm, dry, summer precipitation very erratic.
The terrain is steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic.
Natural resources are salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin,
fish
The religion is Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs.
The language is Portuguese and Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West
African words
Capodimonte
Capodimonte is a village north of Naples in Italy famous for its
porcelain.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is an ancient region of Asia Minor in modern east central
Turkey.
Capri
Capri is a small island at the south entrance of the bay of Naples. It
has an area of 4 square miles.
Caracas
Caracas is the capital of Venezuela.
Carbonia
Carbonia is a town in Sardinia. It was built in 1937.
Carchemish
Carchemish (now Karkamis) was the centre of the Hittite New Empire.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital of Wales. It is a port with docks on the Bristol
Channel.
Caribbean
The Caribbean is the sea north of South America and east of Central
America.
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is part of the Atlantic Ocean between the noth coasts
of South America and Central America and the West Indies.
Carinthia
Carinthia is an alpine federal state in south east Austria bordering
Italy and Yugoslavia.
Carlow
Carlow is a county in the Republic of Ireland.
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire was once a county in south Wales. It was merged with
Cardigan and Pembroke in 1974 to form Dyfed.
Carmona
Carmona is a town in Spain.
Carniola
Carniola was a duchy of Austria.
Carolina
North Carolina and South Carolina are states in the USA.
Caroline islands
The Caroline islands are an archipelago in the north west Pacific.
Carpathians
The carpathians are a mountain range in central Europe.
Cartagena
Cartagena is a port and industrial city in north west Colombia.
Carthage
Carthage was an ancient city on the north west coast of Africa.
Casablanca
Casablanca is a port and commercial and industrial centre on the Atlantic
coast of Morocco.
Caspian
The Caspian sea is a large salt water lake between Europe and Asia. It is
the world's largest inland sea at 422,170 km2. It is fed by the River
Volga.
Caspian Sea
see "Caspian"
Casquets
The Casquets are dangerous rocks 11 km west of Aldernay.
Castile
Castile is an historic kingdom in central Spain.
Castilla-La Mancha
Castilla-La Mancha is an autonomous region of central Spain.
Castilla-Leon
Castilla-Leon is an autonomous region of central Spain.
Castries
Castries is a port and capital city of St. Lucia on the north west coast
of the island.
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous region in north east Spain.
Caucasus
The Caucasus are a series of mountain ranges between the Caspian Sea and
the Black Sea.
Cavendish
Cavendish is a village in Suffolk. It is the former ancestoral village of
the Dukes of Devonshire.
Cawston
Cawston is a village in Norfolk 19 km north west of Norwich.
Cayenne
Cayenne is the capital of French Guiana.
Cayman
The Cayman are 3 islands in the caribbean west and north of Jamaica. They
have a total area of 260 km2.
The climate is tropical marine with warm, rainy summers (May to October)
and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April).
The terrain is a low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs.
Natural resources are fish, the climate and beaches that foster tourism.
The religion is United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational),
Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
denominations.
The language is English.
They were first settled by military deserters in the 17th century, and
became home to pirates in the 18th century. They were then administered
along with Jamaica until independance in 1962.
Cebu
Cebu is a city and Island in the Philippines.
Celebes
Celebes is the English name for the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic is a country in Africa. It has a total area
of 622,980 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers.
The terrain is vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills
in northeast and southwest.
Natural resources are diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil.
The religion is 24% indigenous beliefs, 25% Protestant, 25% Roman
Catholic, 15% Muslim, 11% other; animistic beliefs and practices strongly
influence the Christian majority.
The language is French (official); Sangho (lingua franca and national
language); Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili.
Central America
Central America is the isthmus connecting north and south America.
Cephalonia
Cephalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands off the west coast of
Greece. It has an area of 260 square miles.
Ceuta
Ceuta is a coastal town in Morocco but owned by Spain.
Ceylon
Ceylon was the name for what is now called Sri Lanka.
Chablais
Chablais is a district of France south of Lake Geneva.
Chad
Chad is a country in Africa. It has a total area of 1,284,000 km2.
The climate is tropical in south, desert in north.
The terrain is broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains
in northwest, lowlands in south.
Natural resources are small quantities of crude oil (unexploited but
exploration beginning), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
The religion is 44% Muslim, 33% Christian, 23% indigenous beliefs,
animism.
The language is French and Arabic (official); Sara and Sango in south;
more than 100 different languages and dialects are spoken.
Chahar
Chahar was once a province in China. It was divided in 1947 between Inner
Mongolia, Shansi and Hopei.
Chaldaea
Chaldaea was in ancient times, the southerly part of Babylonia.
Chale
Chale is a coastal village on the Isle of Wight.
Champagne
Champagne is a region of France famed for its sparkling wine.
Chandernagore
Chandernagore is a city in India, 35 km north of Calcutta in the state of
West Bengal.
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a city in India. Capital of the Punjab.
Chang Jian
The Chang Jian is the longest river in China. It flows 6300km from Tibet
to the Yellow Sea.
Changchun
Changchun is an industrial city and the capital city of Jilin province,
China.
Changsha
Changsha is a river port on the Chang Jiang River. It is the capital city
of Hunan province, China.
Channel island
see "channel islands"
Channel islands
The Channel islands are a group of British owned islands in the English
channel off the north west coast of France.
Chard
Chard is a town in Somerset.
Charing
Charing is a village in Kent.
Charlottesville
Charlottesville is a town in Virginia USA. It stands on the banks of the
river Rivanna.
Charmouth
Charmouth is a coastal village in Dorset famed for its fossils.
Chatham
Chatham is a naval town in Kent.
Chawton
Chawton is a village in Hampshire 2 km south of Alton.
Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar Gorge is a 2 km long limestone gorge in Somerset.
Chefoo
Chefoo is a port in Shantung province, China.
Chekiang
Chekiang is a province of China.
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is a market town in Essex, England 48 km north east of London.
Cheltenham
Cheltenham is a spa and resort town in England. It stands at the foot of
the Cotswolds on the Chelt river.
Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk is an industrial town and capital of Chelyabinsk region in
western Siberia.
Chengchow
Chengchow is capital of Honan province.
Chengdu
Chengdu (formerly Chengtu) is an ancient city and capital of Sichuan
province, China.
Cher
The Cher is a river in central France. It is a 322 km long tributary of
the Loire which it enters near Tours.
Chernobyl
Chernobyl is a town in the Ukraine.
Cheshire
Cheshire is a county in north west England.
Chesil Bank
The Chesil Bank is a huge bank of shingle which connects Portland with
mainland England and extends north west almost to Brisport. It is 29 km
long.
Cheviot hills
see "Cheviots"
Cheviots
The Cheviots are a range of hills 56km long mainly in Northumberland,
forming part of the border between England and Scotland.
Chianti
Chianti is a mountain region in Tuscany. It lends its name to the localy
made dry red and white wines.
Chicago
Chicago is a city in Illinois, on the south shore of Lake Michigan. It
has the 2nd largest population of American cities.
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is a Mayan city in Yucatan, Mexico.
Chichester
Chichester is the county town of West Sussex. It is an ancient city,
formely called Noviomagus by the Romans when they established a base here
in 43.
Chideock
Chideock is a village in Dorset.
Chilcomb
Chilcomb is a small village in Hampshire 3 km from Winchester.
Chile
Chile is a country in west South America. It is bordered by the Pacific.
It has a total area of 756,950 km2.
The climate is temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south.
The terrain is low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged
Andes in east.
Natural resources are copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious
metals, molybdenum.
The religion is 89% Roman Catholic, 11% Protestant, and small Jewish
population.
The language is Spanish.
Chilhuahua
Chilhuahua is the capital of Chilhuahua state, Mexico.
Chiltern Hills
The Chiltern Hills are a chalk escarpment in England. Their highest point
is near Wendover which is 276m high.
China
China is a country in east Asia. It is divided into provinces and has a
total area of 9,596,960 km2.
The climate is extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in
north.
The terrain is mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains,
deltas, and hills in east.
Natural resources are coal, iron ore, crude oil, mercury, tin, tungsten,
antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead,
zinc, uranium, world's largest hydropower potential.
The religion is officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and
eclectic; most important elements of religion are Confucianism, Taoism,
and Buddhism; about 2-3% Muslim, 1% Christian.
The language is Standard Chinese (Putonghua) or Mandarin (based on the
Beijing dialect); also Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei
(Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, and
minority languages.
China Sea
The China sea is a western division of the Pacific ocean.
Chios
Chios is one of the Greek islands.
Chippenham
Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire.
Chislehurst
Chislehurst is a village in Kent. It was an important Druid centre in
ancient times. It is the site of a labyrinth of caves and tunnels which
were used during the Second World War as an air-raid shelter for some
15000 people.
Chittagong
Chittagong is a city and port in Bangladesh, 16km from the mouth of the
Karnaphuli river on the Bay of Bengal.
Chogori
see "K2"
Chongqing
Chongqing is a city in Sichuan province, China.
Christchurch
Christchurch is a town in Hampshire adjoining Bournemouth at the junction
of the Stour and the Avon. Christchurch is a city on South Island, New
Zealand on the Avon.
Christmas island
Christmas island is an atoll in the Indian ocean.
Cisalpine
Cisalpine was the southern region of the Roman province of Gallia (north
Italy).
Ciskel
Ciskel is a Bantu homeland in South Africa.
Clacton-on-sea
Clacton-on-sea is a seaside holiday resort town in Essex.
Clare
Clare is a town in Suffolk on the Melford to Haverhill road.
Clare is a county on the west coast of Ireland.
Cleeve Cloud
Cleeve Cloud is the highest point in the Cotswolds. It is 309m above sea
level.
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is the capital city of Puy-de-Dome department in the
Auvergne region of France.
Cleveland
Cleveland is a county in north east England.
Cleveland is a large city in Ohio, USA.
Clovelly
Clovelly is a fishing village in Devon.
Cludad Juarez
Cludad Juarez is a city on the Rio Grande in Chihuahua state in north
Mexico.
Clwyd
Clwyd is a county in north Wales.
Clyde
The Clyde is a river which flows 170 km through Strathclyde region of
south west Scotland through Glasgow.
Coal Market
Coal Market, offically called Crescent, is a small rural community beside
the main Spanish Town to Bog Walk road in Jamaica. It is a strongly PNP
ghetto, and not a place tourists should visit unarmed. Across the road is
the notorious River Side go-go club where many an unsuspecting tourist
has been robbed by the prostitutes who work there.
Coban
Coban is a market town in Guatemala.
Cobham
Cobham is a former Roman town in Kent.
Cochin
Cochin is a sea port in Kerala, India.
Cochin China
Cochin China is the Mekong Delta region which was part of Indo-China, but
is now south Vietnam.
Coco
The Coco River flows 480 km to the Caribbean sea through Honduras and
Nicaragua.
Cocos Islands
The Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands) are 20 small coral islands in the
Indian ocean. Their total area of 14 km2.
The climate is pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about
nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
The terrain is flat, low-lying coral atolls.
The only natural resource is fish.
The language is English
Coddenham
Coddenham is a village in Suffolk. It was a Roman settlement, called
Combretonium.
Coggeshall
Coggeshall is a village in Essex on the old Roman road from Colchester to
the West Country.
Colchester
Colchester is a town in Essex. It was founded before the Romans and was
previously called Camulodunum. It stands on the river Colne.
Colditz
Colditz is a town in eastern Germany. It is the site of a castle used as
a prisoner of war camp by the Nazis during the second World War where
habitual escapers were kept.
Colima
Colima is a volcano in Mexico. It is 3850 metres high.
Cologne
Cologne is an industrial and commercial port in Germany.
Colombia
Colombia is a country in South America. It has a total area of 1,138,910
km2
The climate is tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in
highlands.
The terrain is mixture of flat coastal lowlands, plains in east, central
highlands, some high mountains.
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel,
gold, copper, emeralds.
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic.
The language is Spanish
Colombo
Colombo is the capital city of Sri Lanka.
Colorado
Colorado is a west central state of the USA.
Colorado Desert
The Colorado Desert is an irrigated area in California, USA.
Coltishall
Coltishall is a village in Norfolk. The RAF have a station 3 km north of
the village.
Colton
Colton is a market town in south east California.
Columbia
Columbia is the state capital of South Carolina.
The Columbia River is a major river in north America. It rises in the
rocky mountains and flows 2240 km.
Colyton
Colyton is a small town in Devon.
Comayaguela
Comayaguela is a city and former capiyal of Hinduras.
Combretonium
Combretonium was the Roman name for Coddenham in Suffolk.
Como
Lake Como is a tourist resort in Italy. It has spectacular mountain
scenery.
Comoros
Comoros is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean. It has a total area of
2,170 km2
The climate is tropical marine; rainy season (November to May).
The terrain is volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to
low hills.
Natural resources are negligible.
The religion is 86% Sunni Muslim, 14% Roman Catholic.
The language is Shaafi Islam (a Swahili dialect), Malagasy, French.
Compton
Compton is a village in Surrey 5 km from Guidford.
Conakry
Conakry is the capital of Guinea. It is a port on the island of Tumbo
linked with the mainland by a causeway.
Concord
Concord is a town in California, USA. It is a residential and commercial
center in the San Francisco area.
Concord is a textile producing town in Massachusetts, USA.
Concordia
Concordia is a port on the Uruguay River in Argentina.
Congleton
Congleton is a town in east Cheshire on the south west margin of the
Pennines in England.
Congo
The Congo is a republic in west central Africa. It has a total area of
342,000 km2.
The climate is tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June
to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly
enervating climate astride the Equator.
The terrain is coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern
basin.
Natural resources are petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium,
copper, phosphates, natural gas.
The religion is 50% Christian, 48% animist, 2% Muslim.
The language is French (official); many African languages with Lingala
and Kikongo most widely used.
Coniston
Coniston is a town in Ontario, Canada. It was built by and for the local
nickel mining company.
Connacht
Connacht is a province in west Ireland.
Connaught Tunnel
The Connaught Tunnel is a 8 km long railway tunnel under mount Sir Donald
in Canada. It is the longset tunnel in north America.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the USA.
Constantinople
Constantinople is the former name of Istanbul.
Content
Content is a small rural bush community beside the Rio Cobra river in
Jamaica between Bog Walk and Spanish Town.
Continent
A continent is a continuous land mass.
Cook
Captain James Cook was an English sailor and explorer. In 1768 he sailed
around the world. He discovered Easter island in 1772.
Cook islands
The Cook islands are a group of polynesian islands north east of New
Zealand. They have a total area of 240 km2.
The climate is tropical; moderated by trade winds.
The terrain is low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in
south.
Natural resources are negligible.
The religion is Christian, majority of populace members of Cook Islands
Christian Church .
The language is English.
Cook Strait
The cook strait is the water separating north and south New Zealand.
Cookham
Cookham is a village in Berkshire.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark.
Copford
Copford is a village in Essex.
Coral Sea
The Coral Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean lying between north east
Australia, New Guinea, The Solomon Islands, New Hebrides and New
Caledonia.
Cordilleras
The Cordilleras are a mountainous western section of North America.
Corfu
Corfu is the most northerly, and second largest of the Ionian islands.
Cork
Cork is the largest county of the Republic of Ireland.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a county in south west England.
Corregidor
Corregidor is an island at the mouth of Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines.
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean west of Italy and owned by
France.
Cos
Cos (Kos) island is a Greek island in the Aegean sea. It is the 2nd
largest of the Dodecanese islands and gives its name to the cos lettuce.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a republic in Central America. It has a total area of
51,100 km2.
The climate is tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season
(May to November).
The terrain is coastal plains separated by rugged mountains.
Natural resources are the potential for hydropower.
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic.
The language is Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon.
Cotacachi
Cotacachi is a volcano in Ecuador. It is 4937 metres high.
Cote d'Or
The Cote d'Or is a department in east France. It is the heart of ancient
Burgundy.
Cotonou
Cotonou is the chief port and the largest city in Benin.
Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is the worlds highest volcano. It stands 5978 metres tall in
Ecuador.
Cotswold Hills
see "Cotswolds"
Cotswolds
The Cotswold Hills (Cotswolds) are a limestone escarpment in
Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. They are the source of the River Thames.
County
A county is an administrative unit of a country.
County Down
County Down is a county in south east Northern Ireland.
Covehithe
Covehithe is a village in Suffolk. It was once a town, but declined in
the 17th century into a village.
Coventry
Coventry is an industrial city in the West Midlands, England. It suffered
heavy bombing during the Second World War.
Cranborne
Cranborne was once a market town, it is now a village in Dorset.
Cranbrook
Cranbrook is a market town in Kent. In the 15th century it was the centre
of the local weaving industry.
Cranleigh
Cranleigh is a country town in Surrey.
Crawley
Crawley is a town in Sussex. The old town dates back to the 14th century
at least. A new town was built around as an overspill for London in the
1970s.
Crete
Crete is the largest Greek island.
Cricklade
Cricklade is a town in north Wiltshire on the River Thames 13 km north
west of Swindon. It was a fortified township during Anglo-Saxon times.
Crimea
The crimea is the north peninsular region of the Ukraine.
Croatia
Croatia is a republic in Europe. Part of Yugolsavia.
Cromer
Cromer is a seaside resort town in Norfolk.
Crowhurst
Crowhurst is a village in Surrey.
Croydon
Croydon was once a village in Surrey. Since 1820 Croydon has grown to
become a suburb of greater-London.
Ctesiphon
Ctesiphon is the ruined royal city of the Parthians and later capital of
the Sassanian empire, 19km south east of Baghdad.
Cuba
Cuba is a large island in the Caribbean off the south coast of Florida.
It has a total area of 110,860 km2.
The climate is tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November
to April); rainy season (May to October).
The terrain is mostly flat to rolling plains with rugged hills and
mountains in the southeast.
Natural resources are cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt,
timber, silica.
The religion was at least 85% nominally Roman Catholic before Castro
assumed power.
The language is Spanish.
Cumae
Cumae is an ancient city in Italy on the coast 16km west of Naples.
Cumberland
Cumberland is a former county of north west England.
Cumbria
Cumbria is a county in north west England.
Curacao
Curacao is an island in the Caribbean.
Cuzco
Cuzco is a city in south Peru and capital of Cuzco department. It was the
capital city of the ancient Inca empire.
Cyprus
Cyprus is an island in the eastern mediterranean.
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is an area of east Libya which was colonized by the Greeks in
the 7th century BC and later held by the Egyptians, Romans, Arabs, Turks
and Italians.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia is a land locked country in east central Europe. It has a
total area of 127,870 km2.
The climate is temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters.
The terrain is mixture of hills and mountains separated by plains and
basins.
Natural resources are coal, timber, lignite, uranium, magnesite, iron
ore, copper, zinc.
The religion is 50% Roman Catholic, 20% Protestant, 2% Orthodox, 28%
other.
The language is Czech and Slovak (official), Hungarian.
Dacca
see "Dhaka"
Dachau
Dachau was the site of a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World
War in Bavaria.
Dacia
Dacia was a region of ancient Europe, north of the Danube occupied by the
Getae, and then later a Roman province.
Dagenham
Dagenham is an industrial town on the River Thames in Essex. It is host
to the Ford motor car factory.
Dagestan
Dagestan is a Caucasian republic, formerly part of the Soviet Union. It
is a mountainous country with a small population for its area,
approximately 50000 square kilometers.
Dahomey
Dahomey is the former name (until 1975) of Benin.
Dakar
Dakar is the capital of Senegal.
Dalalven
The Dalalven is a 520 km long river in south central Sweden used for
transporting timber.
Dalkey
Dalkey is a town in the republic of Ireland on the west coast 6km north
of the Wicklow border. It is a residential resort town.
Dallas
Dallas is an industrial town in Texas. It has been made famous by a soap
opera of the same name.
Daman
Daman is a seaport in India on the Gulf of Cambay, 161 km north of
Bombay. It was conquered by the Protugese in 1531 who made it a permanent
settlement in 1558.
Damanhur
Damanhur is a market town on the west margin of the Nile delta, 40 km
south east of Alexandria in Egypt.
Damascus
Damascus is the capital of Syria.
Dambovitta
The Dambovitta is a river in Romania. It rises in Mount Omul in the
Transylvanian Alps and flows south through Bucharest to the River Danube.
Damietta
Damietta is an ancient town in Egypt on one of the principal branches of
the Nile some few miles from the mouth of the river.
Danbury
Danbury is a small village in Essex.
Danelagh
Danelagh (Danelaw) was the ancient name of a strip of land extending
along the east coast of England from the Thames to the Tweed. It was
ceded by Alfred to Guthrun, King of the Danes, after the battle of
Ethandune. The inhabitants were governed by a modification of Danish law,
rather than English law until the Norman conquest when it was captured by
the Normans.
Danewerk
Danewerk was an ancient wall some 9 to 12 metres high extending along the
southern frontier of Schleswig from the North Sea to the Baltic. It was
built in the 10th century and destroyed in 1864 after being captured by
the Austrians and Prussians.
Danube
The Danube is the 2nd longest river in Europe.
Danzig
Danzig is the German name for Gdansk.
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam is a seaport in Tanzania. It was the capital until 1974.
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles is a Turkish strait connecting the Sea of Marmara with
the Aegean Sea.
Dartford
Dartford is an industrial town in Kent.
Dartmouth
Dartmouth is a seaport in Devon on the mouth of the river Dart.
Darwin
Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory, Australia.
Dawlish
Dawlish is a seaside resort town in Devon.
Dead Sea
The dead sea is a large lake partly in Israel and partly in Jordan.
Death Valley
Death valley is a 225 km long depression in south east California.
Debenham
Debenham is a village in Suffolk at the source of the River Deben.
Debrecen
Debrecen is the third largest city in Hungary 193km east of Budapest.
Dee
The River Dee rises in the Cairngorn Mountains in west Aberdeenshire and
flows 140 km to the North Sea at Aberdeen.
Deira
Deira was an ancient Anglian kingdom. It stretched from the Tees to
Humber, and inland to the borders of the British realm of Strathclyde.
With Bernicia it formed the Kingdom of Northumbria.
Delaware
Delaware is a state in north east USA.
Delhi
Delhi is a union territory in India.
Delhi is the capital city of delhi territory, India.
Delphi
Delphi was a city of ancient Greece.
Demerara
Demerara is a region in Guyana which has leant its name to raw cane
sugar.
Denmark
Denmark is a kingdom in northern Europe, north of Germany. It has a total
area of 43,070 km2.
The climate is temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and
cool summers.
The terrain is low and flat to gently rolling plains.
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone.
The religion is 97% Evangelical Lutheran, 2% other Protestant and Roman
Catholic, 1% other.
The language is Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect); small
German-speaking minority.
Denver
Denver is a village in Norfolk on the edge of the Fens. It is host to a
13th century church.
Derby
Derby is an industrial city in Derbyshire, England.
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in north central England.
Derwent
The River Derwent rises on the Yorkshire Moors and flows 92 km to the
Ouse.
Desert
A desert is an area without sufficient vegetation to support human life.
Detroit
Detroit is a city in Michigan, USA.
The Detroit is a River in the USA.
Devizes
Devizes is an old market town in Wiltshire.
Devon
Devon is a county in south west England.
Dhaka
Dhaka (Dacca) is the capital of Bangladesh.
Dijon
Dijon is the capital city of Cote d'Or in France.
Dili
Dili is the capital of East Timor.
Diss
Diss is a town in Norfolk 29km south west of Norwich. It was once
renowned for the manufacture of Suffolk hempen cloth.
Dixie
Dixie is a name given to the southern states of the USA.
Djibouti
Djibouti is a republic in Arabia. It has a total area of 22,000 km2.
The climate is desert; torrid, dry.
The terrain is coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains.
Natural resources are geothermal areas.
The religion is 94% Muslim, 6% Christian.
The language is French (official); Arabic, Somali, and Afar widely used.
Dnepropetrovsk
Dnepropetrovsk is a city in the Ukraine.
Dnieper
The Dnieper is a river in Russia. It rises in Smolensk and flows 2250 km
south to the Black Sea east of Odessa.
Dodoma
Dodoma replaced Dar es Salaam as the capital of Tanzania in 1974.
Doha
Doha is the capital of Qatar.
Dominica
Dominica is an island in the Caribbean.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a country in the east of the island Hispaniola.
It has a total area of 48,730 km2.
The climate is tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation.
The terrain is rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys
interspersed.
Natural resources are nickel, bauxite, gold, silver.
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic.
The language is Spanish.
Don
The don is a river in Russia. It rises south of Moscow and flows 1900 km
to the Sea of Azov.
Donegal
Donegal is a sea port in County Donegal, Ireland.
Donetsk
Donetsk is a city in the Ukraine.
Dong Ting
The Dong Ting is a large lake in Hunan province, China. It receives water
from the Xi Jiang and Yuan rivers.
Dorchester
Dorchester is a market town in Dorset, England on the River Frome.
Dordogne
The Dordogne is a river in south west France.
Dorking
Dorking is a market town in the Mole Valley, Surrey, England.
Dornoch
Dornoch is a resort town in Scotland.
Dorset
Dorset is a county in south west England.
Dortmund
Dortmund is an industrial centre in the Ruhr, Germany.
Douglas
Douglas is the capital of the Isle of Man.
Douro
The Douro is a river in Spain. It flows 800 km through northern Portugal
to the Atlantic at Oporto.
Downe
Downe is a quiet village in Kent.
Downham Market
Downham Market is a town in Norfolk on the River Ouse 19 km south of
Kings Lynn. It was an important settlement in Roman times.
Drayton
Drayton is an agricultural town in Berkshire. It was a village prior to
the Great War.
Dresden
Dresden is a city in Germany, it was razed to the ground by allied
bombing.
Dublin
Dublin is the capital of Ireland. It is situated at the mouth of the
River Liffey in south east Ireland.
Dudley
Dudley is a town in the West Midlands.
Dumfries
Dumfries is a region of Scotland.
Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire is a former county of southern Scotland.
Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire is a port and suburb of Dublin, Ireland.
Dunbartonshire
Dunbartonshire is a former county of Scotland.
Dundee
Dundee is a city and fishing port on the north side of the Firth of Tay,
Scotland.
Dunedin
Dunedin is a port on Otago harbour, South Island, New Zealand.
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is an industrial town in Fife, Scotland.
Dungeness
Dungeness is an expanse of shingle jutting into the sea at the edge of
Romney Marsh in Kent.
Dunkirk
Dunkirk is a town and port in north France. It was the scene of a massive
evacuation of allied troops during the second world war.
Dunwich
Dunwich is a village in Suffolk. It was once a thriving town, but today
is an isolated seaside resort.
Durban
Durban is the principle seaport of Natal.
Durham
Durham is a county in north east England.
Dushanbe
Dushanbe is the capital of Tadzhik. It was previously called Stalinabad.
Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf is an industrial city on the right bank of the Rhine, Germany.
Dutch Guiana
Dutch Guiana is a former Dutch colony which became Suriname in 1948.
Dvina
The dvina is a river in Russia. It flows to the white sea at Arkhangelsk.
Dyfed
Dyfed is a county in south west Wales.
Dymchurch
Dymchurch is a seaside resort in Kent.
Ealing
Ealing is a borough of London.
East Anglia
East Anglia is a region in east England.
East Clandon
East Clandon is a village near Guildford in Surrey.
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town in Sussex.
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in south east England.
East Timor
East Timor is a disputed territory on the island of Timor in the Malay
Archipelago. It was formerly a Portugese colony until 1975.
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is an old English settlement which only became a town in 1883.
Today it is a popular seaside resort.
Easter Island
Easter Island is an island in the south Pacific ocean belonging to Chile.
Eastern Roumelia
Eastern Roumelia is an area of Bulgaria south of the Balkan mountains. It
was part of the Turkish empire, and in 1878 became an autonomous province
and then subsequently became part of Bulgaria.
Ecuador
Ecuador is a republic in South America. It has a total area of 283,560
km2.
The climate is tropical along coast becoming cooler inland.
The terrain is coastal plain (Costa), inter-Andean central highlands
(Sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (Oriente).
Natural resources are petroleum, fish, timber.
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic.
The language is Spanish (official); Indian languages, especially Quechua.
Eden
The River Eden rises in the Pennines and flows 105 km to the Irish Sea at
Solway Firth.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of Alberta.
Effingham
Effingham is an old town in Surrey. It was prominent in Elizabethan times
as the home of the Howards of Effingham.
Egham
Egham is an historic town in Surrey on the River Thames and next to the
fields of Runnymede.
Egypt
Egypt is a republic in north east Africa. It has a total area of
1,001,450 km2.
The climate is desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters.
The terrain is vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta.
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc.
The religion is 94% Muslim (mostly Sunni), 6% Coptic Christian and other.
The language is Arabic (official); English and French widely understood
by educated classes.
Eire
Eire is the Gaelic name for the Republic of Ireland.
El Salvador
El Salvador is a republic in Central America. It has a total area of
21,040 km2.
The climate is tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season
(November to April).
The terrain is mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central
plateau.
Natural resources are hydropower and geothermal power, crude oil.
The religion is about 97% Roman Catholic, with activity by Protestant
groups throughout the country
The language is Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians).
Elba
Elba is an island 10 km west of Italy which exports iron ore.
Elbe
The elbe is one of the principal rivers in Germany.
Elbert
Elbert is a mountain in Colorado. It is the highest peak of the Rocky
Mountains at 4401m.
Elbruz
The Elbruz is the highest mountain in Europe, standing 5642 meters. It is
in the Caucasus, Georgia.
Elgin
Elgin is a royal borough in Scotland. Elgin is a town in Illinois, USA
where electrical equipment is manufactured.
Ellice Island
Ellice Island was a former British colony, it is now called Kiribati.
Ellice Islands
Ellice Islands is the former name of Tuvalu.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island is an island off the shore of New Jersey, USA.
Elveden
Elveden is a small village in Suffolk. Elveden was home to Admiral Keppel
who died here in 1786.
Ely
Ely is a town in Cambridgeshire. It was originally on an island in the
River Ouse, but the Fens were drained in the 17th century.
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is a region of northern and central Italy including much
of the Po Valley.
Emsworth
Emsworth is a port on Chichester harbour in Hampshire.
England
England is a country in west Europe. It is the largest division of the
united kingdom.
English Channel
The English Channel is a stretch of water between England and France.
Entebbe
Entebbe is a town in Uganda. Scene of a famous hijacking.
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek seaport in Asia Minor.
Epidaurus
Epidaurus was an ancient Greek city and port on the east coast of
Argolis.
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is a forest in Essex. It is 6000 acres today, down from the
60000 acres of the 18th century. It was purchased for the public in 1882.
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea is a republic in west central Africa. It has a total
area of 28,050 km2.
The climate is tropical; always hot, humid.
The terrain is coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are
volcanic.
Natural resources are timber, crude oil, small unexploited deposits of
gold, manganese, uranium.
The religion is natives all nominally Christian and predominantly Roman
Catholic; some pagan practices retained.
The language is Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo.
Erebus
Erebus is a volcano in Antartica. It stands 4023 metres high.
Eridu
Eridu was an ancient city of Mesopotamia.
Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest of the Great Lakes of North America.
Eritrea
Eritrea is a province in north Ethiopia. Eritrea has been at war for
independence for many years.
Esher
Esher is a residential town on the River Mole in Surrey. It was the site
of a KGB "dead-letter-box" during the 1970's.
Essen
Essen is a city in Germany.
Essex
Essex is a county in south east England.
Estonia
Estonia is a country in east Europe. Physicaly, Estonia is comprised of
lakes and marshes in partly forested plains. The language is Estonian.
Religion is mainly Lutheran.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a country in north east Africa. It has a total area of
1,221,900 km2.
The climate is tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation;
prone to extended droughts.
The terrain is high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great
Rift Valley.
Natural resources are small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash.
The religion is 40-45% Muslim, 35-40% Ethiopian Orthodox, 15-20% animist,
5% other.
The language is Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Arabic, English
(major foreign language taught in schools).
Etna
Etna is a volcano in north east Sicily. It erupted in 1971 and 1979.
Euboea
Euboea is a mountainous island off the east coast of Greece in the Aegean
Sea.
Euclid
Euclid is a manufacturing town in Ohio, USA.
Euphrates
The Euphrates is a river in south west Asia. It rises in the Armenian
uplands and joined by the Tigris enters the Persian Gulf as the Shatt-al
Arab.
Eure
Eure is an agricultural department of Normandy, France.
Europe
Europe is a continent west of the ural mountains and east of the
atlantic.
Everest
Everest is the earth's highest mountain.
Ewell
Ewell is a town in Surrey, which has now been all-but swallowed into a
suburb of greater London.
Exe
The River Exe rises on Exmoor in north devon and flows 87 km to the
English Channel at Exeter.
Exeter
Exeter is a city in Devon. It is the administrative capital of Devon and
host to a livestock market.
Exmoor
Exmoor is a heather moor in Devon.
Extremadura
Extremadura is a region in west Spain.
Eye
Eye is a town in Suffolk.
Eyre
Lake Eyre is Australia's largest lake.
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an island group in the south Atlantic. They
comprise a total area of 12,170 km2.
The climate is cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain
occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year,
except in January and February, but does not accumulate.
The terrain is rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating
plains.
Natural resources are fish and wildlife.
The religion is primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, and United Free
Church; Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day
Adventist.
The language is English
Falmouth
Falmouth is a seaport in Cornwall.
False Bay
False Bay is an inlet on the East side of the Cape Of Good Hope
peninsular in South Africa.
Far east
The far east is that part of Asia east of India.
Farnborough
Farnborough is a town in Hampshire, home to the RAF.
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey noted for its Georgian houses and other fine
architecture, even the fast-food restaurant is in-keeping with the
general appearance.
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are 320 km north-west of the Shetland Islands in the
north sea. They have a total area of 1,400 km2
The climate is mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy,
windy.
The terrain is rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast.
Natural resources are fish.
The religion is Evangelical Lutheran.
The language is Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish.
Fatsa
Fatsa is a small market town on the Black Sea in north Turkey. It is a
very traditional Muslim town.
Felbrigg
Felbrigg is a village 3 km south of Cromer in Norfolk.
Felixstowe
Felixstowe is a seaport and seaside resort in Suffolk. It was the site of
a Roman fort, and in the 16th century a castle was built to defend the
port.
Fens
The Fens are a marsh in Cambridgeshire.
Fermanagh
Fermanagh is a county in southern Northern Ireland.
Ferro
Ferro is the most southern of the Canary Islands.
Fes
Fes is a city and former capital of Morocco. It is located in a valley
north of the Great Atlas mountains, 160 km east of Rabat.
Fez
Fez is a city in Morocco 160km east of Rabat. It is one of the sacred
cities in Islam.
Fife
Fife is a region of Scotland.
Fiji
Fiji is a group of 322 islands in the south west Pacific. They have a
total area of 18,270 km2.
The climate is tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature
variation.
The terrain is mostly mountains of volcanic origin.
Natural resources are timber, fish, gold, copper; offshore oil potential.
The religion is Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu with a
Muslim minority.
The language is English (official); Fijian; Hindustani.
Filey
Filey is a seaside resort town in North Yorkshire. It is 8km south east
of Scarborough.
Finland
Finland is a republic in Scandinavia. It has a total area of 337,030 km2.
The climate is cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively
mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,
Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes.
The terrain is mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes
and low hills.
Natural resources are timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver.
The religion is 97% Evangelical Lutheran, 1.2% Eastern Orthodox, 1.8%
other
The language is 93.5% Finnish, 6.3% Swedish (both official); small Lapp-
and Russian-speaking minorities.
Finnmark
Finnmark is the most Northern county of Norway. It is inhabited by Lapps.
It has large copper deposits.
Firenze
Firenze is the Italian name for Florence.
Fishbourne
Fishbourne is a town 2 km west of Chichester. It is the site of a Roman
Palace.
Flanders
Flanders is a region between the river Scheldt and the coast on the
France and Belgium border. It is divided into east and west Flanders.
Fleet
Fleet is a town in Hampshire.
Florence
Florence is the capital of Tuscany.
Flores
Flores is the most westerly island of the Azores.
Florida
Florida is the most south east state of the USA.
Folkestone
Folkestone is a popular seaside resort and cross-channel seaport in Kent.
Fordwich
Fordwich is a village on the River Stour 4 km east of Canterbury in Kent.
Formentera
Formentera is one of the Balearic Islands.
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a fort in Charleston harbour, South Carolina, USA. The
first shots of the American Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter.
Fort-de-France
Fort-de-France is the capital of Martinique.
Forth
The Forth River rises in South Perth on the north east side of Loch
Lomond and flows 106 km to the Firth of Forth.
Fortunate Islands
The Fortunate Islands is a former name for the Canary Islands.
Foulness
Foulness is the largest island in the Thames estuary in Essex.
Framlingham
Framlingham is a market town in Suffolk.
Franche-Comte
Franche-Comte is a region in eastern France.
Frankfurt
see "Frankfurt-am-Main"
Frankfurt-am-Main
Frankfurt-am-Main is a city in Hesse, Germany.
Freetown
Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone. It is a port on the
Atlantic coast.
French Guiana
French Guiana is a country on the north coast of South America. It has a
total area of 91,000 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation.
The terrain is low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains.
Natural resources are bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar,
kaolin, fish.
The religion is predominantly Roman Catholic.
The language is French.
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is a territory in the south Pacific. It has a total area
of 3,941 km2.
The climate is tropical, but moderate.
The terrain is mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs.
Natural resources are timber, fish, cobalt.
The religion is mainly Christian; 55% Protestant, 32% Roman Catholic.
The language is French (official), Tahitian.
French Sudan
French Sudan is a former name of Mali.
Frensham
Frensham is a beauty spot in Surrey. It is comprised of a common more
than 1 square miles in area with prehistoric bowl barrows and two large
lakes.
Freshwater
Freshwater is a town on the Isle of Wight.
Fressingfield
Fressingfield is a village in Suffolk.
Friendly Islands
Friendly Islands is another name for Tonga.
Friesland
Friesland is a maritime province of the Netherlands.
Frimley
Frimley is a prehistoric and Roman village in Surrey.
Frinton
Frinton is a seaside resort town in Essex.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia is an autonomous agricultural and wine-growing
region of north east Italy.
Frome
Frome is a market town in the Mendips, Somerset, England on the River
Frome. The River Frome is a river which rises in north Dorset and flows
to Poole.
Froyle
Froyle is a village in Hampshire.
Fuji
see "Fujiyama"
Fujiyama
Mount Fuji (Fujiyama) is a volcanno in Japan and also Japan's highest
peak.
Fukien
Fukien is a province of China.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka is an industrial town and port on the north west coast of Kyushu
island, Japan.
Fukushima
Fukushima is the chief town of Joban.
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is an industrial port and capital of Fujian province in south east
China.
Gabon
Gabon is a country in central Africa. It has a total area of 267,670 km2.
The climate is tropical; always hot, humid.
The terrain is narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and
south.
Natural resources are crude oil, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron
ore.
The religion is 55-75% Christian, less than 1% Muslim, remainder animist.
The language is French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke,
Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi.
Gaborone
Gaborone is the capital city of Botswana. It became the capital in 1965.
Galicia
Galicia is a mountainous, fertile autonomous region of north west Spain.
Galilee
The Sea of Galilee is an alternative name for Lake Tiberias in northern
Israel.
Gallego
The Gallego is a river in north east Spain. It rises in the Pyrenees and
flows south to the river Ebro at Zaragoza. It is 176km long.
Gallipoli
Gallipoli is a port in European Turkey.
Galway
Galway is a coastal town in the Republic Of Ireland. It is a university
town and also features marble quarries and a fishing industry.
Gambia
Gambia is a country in west Africa. It has a total area of 11,300 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler,
dry season (November to May).
The terrain is flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills.
Natural resources are fish.
The religion is 90% Muslim, 9% Christian, 1% indigenous beliefs.
The language is English (official); Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other
indigenous vernaculars.
Ganges
The ganges is a sacred river in India.
Gansu
Gansu is a province of north west China.
Garonne
The Garonne is a river in south west France. It rises at mount Maladetta
in the Pyrenees and flows via Toulouse to the Gironde estuary. It is
720km long.
Garut
Garut is a mountain resort town in West Java, Indonesia.
Gascony
Gascony is an ancient province in south west France.
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town on the river Tyne opposite Newcastle in Tyne And
Wear, England.
Gatwick
Gatwick is England's second most important airport. It was opened in 1958
on te London to Brighton route in Surrey. When it was opened it was the
most modern airport in Europe.
Gaza
Gaza is the capital city of the Gaza Strip.
Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip is an area of Israel. It has a total area of 380km2.
The climate is temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers.
The terrain is flat to rolling, sand and dune covered coastal plain.
Natural resources are negligible.
The religion is 99% Muslim (predominantly Sunni), 0.7% Christian, 0.3%
Jewish.
The language is Arabic, Israeli settlers speak Hebrew, English widely
understood.
Gdansk
Gdansk (Danzig) is a port in Poland.
Geneva
Geneva is the capital of Switzerland.
Genoa
Genoa (Genova) is a town and seaport in north west Italy.
Genova
Genova is the Italian name for Genoa.
Georgetown
Georgetown is a port and the capital city of Guyana.
Georgia
Georgia is a state in the south USA.
Georgia is a country in east Europe.
Germany
Germany is a country in central Europe. The climate is temperate; cloudy,
cold winters with frequent rain and snow;
cool, wet summers.
The terrain is lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in
south. The east is mostly flat plain with hills.
Natural resources are lignite, potash, uranium, copper, natural gas,
salt, nickel, iron ore, coal, potash, timber.
The religion is 47% Protestant, 7% Roman Catholic, 46% unaffiliated or
other.
The language is German
Gettysburg
Gettysburg is a site in Pennsylvania of a decisive battle in the American
Civil War.
Ghana
Ghana is a country in west Africa. It has a total area of 238,540 km2
The climate is tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast
coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north.
The terrain is mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central
area.
Natural resources are gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite,
manganese, fish, rubber.
The religion is 38% indigenous beliefs, 30% Muslim, 24% Christian, 8%
other.
The language is English (official); African languages include Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga.
Ghats
The ghats are a mountain range in south India.
Ghent
Ghent is a city and port in East Flanders, north west Belgium.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is an island south of Spain and north of Morocco. It has a
total area of 6.5 km2.
The climate is Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers.
The terrain is a narrow coastal lowland borders.
Natural resources are negligible.
The religion is 75% Roman Catholic, 8% Church of England, 2.25% Jewish.
The language is English and Spanish are primary languages; Italian,
Portuguese, and Russian also spoken; English used in the schools and for
official purposes.
Gilbert Island
Gilbert Island was a former British colony, it is now called Tuvalu.
Givors
Givors is a town on the river Rhone in France, 16km south of Lyons. It is
a manufacturing town producing glass.
Giza
Giza is a suburb of Cairo, Egypt. It is the site of the great pyramids
and the Spinx.
Glandford
Glandford is a village in Norfolk.
Glasgow
Glasgow is a city and the administrative headquarters of Strathclyde,
Scotland.
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a town in Somerset.
Glossop
Glossop is a town in Derbyshire, England at the foot of the Pennines.
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in south west England.
Glynde
Glynde is a village in Sussex, England.
Goa
Goa is a union territory of India.
Gobi
The gobi is a desert partly in China and Mongolia.
Godthaab
Godthaab is the capital of Greenland.
Golan Heights
The Golan Heights is a plateau on the Syrian border with Israel. It was
annexed by Israel in 1981.
Goose Bay
Goose Bay is a town in Labrador, Canada on the Churchill river. It
features an international airport.
Gorky
Gorky is a city on the river Oka and river Volga in the Soviet Union. It
is a university city and was named after Maxim Gorky who was born there.
Goteborg
Goteborg is a port and industrial city in west Sweden.
Gotland
Gotland is an island in the Baltic belonging to Sweden, and with many old
buildings. It's revenue is primarily derived from tourism.
Gough island
Gough Island is an island in the atlantic ocean.
Graciosa
Graciosa is an island of the Azores.
Grain Coast
Grain Coast is a former name of Liberia
Grampian
Grampian is a region of Scotland.
Gran Chaco
The Gran Chaco is a large lowland plain in northern Argentina, western
Paraguay and south-east Bolivia.
Granada
Granada is a city in the Sierra Nevada in Andalucia, southern Spain.
Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is the world's longest canal. It runs 1600km from
Hangzhou to Tianjin, China.
Grand Canyon
The grand canyon is a vast gorge in Arizona.
Grantchester
Grantchester is a village 3 km south of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire.
Gravesend
Gravesend is a sea port in Kent, England on the south bank of the river
Thames.
Graz
Graz is a city in Austria. It stands on the river Mur at the foothills of
the Alps.
Great altai
The great altai are a mountain range in Mongolia and Siberia.
Great Australian Bight
The Great Australian Bight is a broad bay in south Australia notorious
for its storms.
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a chain of coral reefs and islands 2000km long
off the east coast of Queensland, Australia.
Great Bear Lake
The Great Bear Lake is a lake in the Arctic Circle in the Northwest
Territories, Canada.
Great Bookham
Great Bookham is a village in Surrey, the site of Polesden Lacey a
Regency house built in 1824.
Great Divide
The Great Divide is a mountain range extending 3700km from Cape York
Peninsular, Queensland to Victoria in Australia.
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a series of five freshwater lakes along the USA and
Canada border.
Great Ouse
The Great Ouse River rises in Northamptonshire near Brackley and flows
251 km to The Wash.
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is the longest split in the earth's surface
extending 8000km from the Dead Sea to Mozambique.
Great Slave Lake
Great Slave Lake is a lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada.
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth is a town in Norfolk where the River Bure, River Waveney
and River Yare converge to flow out into the North Sea. It was granted
its charter in 1208 by King John.
Greece
Greece is a country and island group in south east Europe. It has a total
area of 131,940 km2.
The climate is temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers.
The terrain is mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as
peninsulas or chains of islands.
Natural resources are bauxite, lignite, magnesite, crude oil, marble.
The religion is 98% Greek Orthodox, 1.3% Muslim, 0.7% other.
The language is Greek (official); English and French widely understood.
Greenham Common
Greenham Common is an area of common land near to Newbury, England. It
was the site of a USA missile base and peace protests during the 1980s.
Greenland
Greenland is the world's largest island. It is in the north Atlantic
ocean. It has a total area of 2,175,600 km2.
The climate is arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters.
The terrain is flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow,
mountainous, barren, rocky coast.
Natural resources are zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite,
uranium, fish.
The religion is Evangelical Lutheran.
The language is Eskimo dialects, Danish.
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is a region of lower Manhattan, popular with artists.
Grenada
Grenada is an island in the Caribbean. It has a total area of 340 km2.
The climate is tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds.
The terrain is volcanic in origin with central mountains.
Natural resources are timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors.
The religion is largely Roman Catholic; Anglican; other Protestant sects.
The language is English (official); some French patois.
Grenadines
The Grenadines are a chain of 600 small islands in the Caribbean.
Gris-Nez
Gris-Nez is a city in north east France on the coast, and the nearest
point to Dover in England.
Gruzia
Gruzia is the Russian name for the country of Georgia.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is an industrial city and capital of Jalisco state in western
Mexico.
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is the largest of the Solomon islands.
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an island in the Caribbean. It has a total area of 1,780
km2.
The climate is subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high
humidity.
The terrain is Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains;
Grand-Terre is low limestone formation.
Natural resources are cultivable land, beaches, and climate that foster
tourism.
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic, 5% Hindu and pagan African.
The language is French, creole patois.
Guam
Guam is the largest of the Mariana islands. It has a total area of 541
km2.
The climate is tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from
July to December; little seasonal temperature variation.
The terrain is volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively
flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep
coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in
center, mountains in south.
Natural resources are fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially
from Japan).
The religion is 98% Roman Catholic, 2% other.
The language is English and Chamorro, most residents bilingual; Japanese
also widely spoken.
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province in south China.
Guangxi
Guangxi is a region in south China.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a republic in Central America. It has a total area of
108,890 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands.
The terrain is mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
limestone plateau (Peten).
Natural resources are crude oil, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle.
The religion is predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant,
traditional Mayan.
The language is Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian
language as a primary tongue (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche,
Cakchiquel, Kekchi).
Guatemala City
Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is a city and the chief port of Ecuador.
Gubla
Gubla was the Babylonian name for Byblos.
Guernsey
Guernsey is the second largest Channel island. It has a total area of 194
km2.
The climate is temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of
days are overcast.
The terrain is mostly level with low hills in southwest.
Natural resources are cropland.
The religion is Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist.
The language is English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country
districts.
Guiana
Guiana is the north east part of South America which includes French
Guiana, Guyana and Suriname.
Guildford
Guildford is the capital city of Surrey county. It is an old town on the
banks of the River Wey.
Guinea
Guinea is a republic in west Africa. It has a total area of 245,860 km2.
The climate is generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June
to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with
northeasterly harmattan winds.
The terrain is generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous
interior.
Natural resources are bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium,
hydropower, fish.
The religion is 85% Muslim, 5% indigenous beliefs, 1.5% Christian.
The language is French (official); each tribe has its own language.
Guinea Bissau
Guinea Bissau is a republic in west Africa. It has a total area of 36,120
km2.
The climate is tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoon-type rainy
season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December
to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds.
The terrain is mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east.
Natural resources are unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite,
phosphates; fish, timber.
The religion is 65% indigenous beliefs, 30% Muslim, 5% Christian.
The language is Portuguese (official); Criolo and numerous African
languages.
Guiyang
Guiyang (formerly Kweiyang) is the capital of Guizhou province, south
China.
Guizhou
Guizhou (formerly Kweichow) is a province in south China.
Gujarat
Gujarat is a state in west India.
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is the eastern arm of the Baltic Sea, separating
Finland from Estonia.
Guyana
Guyana is a republic in South America. It has a total area of 214,970
km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds;
two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January).
The terrain is mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in
south.
Natural resources are bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp,
fish.
The religion is 57% Christian, 33% Hindu, 9% Muslim, 1% other.
The language is English, Amerindian dialects.
Gwent
Gwent is a county in south Wales.
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north west Wales.
Haarlem
Haarlem is an industrial town in the west Netherlands.
Haifa
Haifa is a port in north east Israel.
Hainan
Hainan is an island in the south China sea.
Haiphong
Haiphong is an industrial port in north Vietnam.
Haiti
Haiti is a republic in the west of the island of Hispaniola. It has a
total area of 27,750 km2.
The climate is tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade
winds.
The terrain is mostly rough and mountainous.
Natural resources are bauxite.
The religion is 75-80% Roman Catholic (of which an overwhelming majority
also practice Voodoo), 10% Protestant
The language is French (official) spoken by only 10% of population; all
speak Creole.
Halesworth
Halesworth is a small market town in Suffolk.
Halicarnassus
Halicarnassus was an ancient city in Asia Minor (now Bodrum) where the
tomb of Mausolus was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Halifax
Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, and east Canada's main port.
Halstead
Halstead is a small town in the Colne valley in Essex.
Hamburg
Hamburg is a city and the largest inland port in Europe. It is located on
the Elbe in Germany.
Hamilton
Hamilton is the capital of Bermuda.
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county in south England.
Hangchow
Hangchow is a former name of Hangshou.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a port and the capital of Zhejiang province, China.
Hanoi
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam.
Hanover
Hanover is an industrial city and the capital of Lower Saxony in Germany.
Happisburgh
Happisburgh (pronounced Haysborough) is a coastal village in Norfolk.
Harare
Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe.
Harbin
Harbin is a port on the Songhua river in north east China. It is the
capital of Heilongjiang province.
Harleston
Harleston is a town in Norfolk on the River Waveney.
Harlow
Harlow is a new town in Essex. It was designed and built to relieve
London of some residents and industry.
Harrisburg
Harrisburg is the capital city of Pennsylvania, USA. It stands on the
Susquehanna River.
Hartford
Hartford is the capital of Connecticut.
Hartz
see "Harz"
Harwell
Harwell is a village in Berkshire. It is the site of the Atomic Energy
Research Establishment.
Harwich
Harwich is a seaport in Essex. It is located where the River Stour and
the River Orwell meet to flow out into the North Sea.
Haryana
Haryana is a state in north west India.
Harz
The Harz (Hartz) is the most northerly mountain range of Germany
extending roughly 100km from south-east to north-west and about 32 km
wide embracing the towns of Klausthal, Goslar and Blankenburg. The
highest peak is Brocken.
Haslemere
Haslemere is a small town set in the Weydown common in Surrey.
Hastings
Hastings is a sea town in Sussex. William the conqueror invaded at
hastings in 1066 where he defeated King harold 2nd.
Havana
Havana is the capital of Cuba.
Havant
Havant is a town in Hampshire. Originally a market town, it is now an
over spill of Portsmouth.
Haverhill
Haverhill (pronounced Hayverill) is a town in Suffolk.
Hawaii
Hawaii is a group of islands in the Pacific and a state of the USA.
Heacham
Heacham is a village in Norfolk.
Heathfield
Heathfield is a village, now expanding into a town, in Sussex. It was an
important centre of the Sussex iron industry in previous times.
Hebei
Hebei is a province in north China.
Hebrides
The Hebrides is a group of 500 islands west of Scotland.
Hefei
Hefei is the capital of Anhui province, China.
Heilongjiang
Heilongjiang is a province in north east China.
Heilungkiang
Heilungkiang is a province of China.
Hellshire
Hellshire is a hilly region in south-east Jamaica extending to the coast.
The Hellshire Hills are a very beautiful part of the island sporting
magnificient cactii and are the home to a variety of wildlife including
Iguana.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland.
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a new town in Hertfordshire. It was founded in 1947 on
the south slopes of the Chiltern Hills.
Henan
Henan is a province in east China.
Hengrave
Hengrave is a village in Suffolk. It is noted for its tiny church and
magnificent mansion.
Herat
Herat is the capital of Herat province, Afghanistan, on the north bank of
the Hari Rud.
Hercegovina
Hercegovina is an area of Yugolsavia.
Hereford and Worcester
Hereford and Worcester is a county in west central England.
Herringfleet
Herringfleet is a village in north east Suffolk.
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a county in south east England.
Hesse
Hesse is an administrative region in Germany.
Heydon
Heydon is a village in Norfolk.
Highland Region
The Highland Region is an administrative region of Scotland.
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in north west India.
Himalayas
The Himalayas are a mountain range in central Asia.
Hindhead
Hindhead is a twon in Surrey on the old Portsmouth to London road (now
the A3).
Hindu Kush
Hindu Kush is a mountain range in central Asia.
Hiroshima
Hiroshima is an industrial city and port on the south coast of Honshu,
Japan. It was destroyed on the 6th of August 1945 when it was the target
of the first atomic bomb.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is the chief port and an industrial
city in south Vietnam. Saigon was the capital of South Vietnam from 1954
until 1976.
Hobart
Hobart is the capital of Tasmania.
Hohhot
Hohhot (formerly Huhehot) is the capital of Inner Mongolia.
Hokkaido
Hokkaido is the most northern of the main Japanese islands.
Hollesley
Hollesley (pronounced Hozely) is a small village in Suffolk.
Hollywood
Hollywood is a suburb of Los Angeles, California. It is the centre of the
USA film industry.
Holt
Holt is a town in Norfolk.
Homs
Homs is the capital of Homs district in western Syria.
Honan
Honan is a province of China.
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It has a total area of 112,090
km2.
The climate is subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains.
The terrain is mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains.
Natural resources are timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore,
antimony, coal, fish.
The religion is about 97% Roman Catholic; small Protestant minority.
The language is Spanish, Indian dialects.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is an island off the coast of China. It has a total area of
1,040 km2/
The climate is tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy
from spring through summer, warm and sunny in autumn.
The terrain is hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north.
Natural resources are outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar.
The religion is 90% eclectic mixture of local religions, 10% Christian.
The language is Chinese (Cantonese), English.
Honiara
Honiara is the capital of the Solomon islands.
Honington
Honington is a town in Suffolk.
Honolulu
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii on the south coast of Oahu.
Honshu
Honshu is the principal Japanese island.
Hopa
Hopa is a sea port on the Black Sea in east Turkey.
Hopei
Hopei is a province of China.
Horsforth
Horsforth is a town in west Yorkshire.
Horsham
Horsham is a town in West Sussex on the river Arun.
Horsham is a town in Victoria, Australia on the river Wimmera.
Horta
Horta is a town on Fayal Island in the Azores. It features an excellent
harbour and is a base for transatlantic flights.
Houston
Houston is a port in Texas linked by a canal to the Gulf of Mexico.
Huang He
Huang He (formerly Hwang-ho) is the chinese name for the Yellow River.
Hubei
Hubei is a province in central China.
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay is an inland sea of north east Canada linked with the Atlantic
by the Hudson Strait and with the Arctic by the Foxe Channel.
Huhehot
see "Hohhot"
Hull
Hull is a city and port on the River Humber in Humberside, England.
Humberside
Humberside is a county in north east England.
Hunan
Hunan is a province of China.
Hungary
Hungary is a republic in central Europe. It has a total area of 93,030
km2.
The climate is temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers.
The terrain is mostly flat to rolling plains.
Natural resources are bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils.
The religion is 67.5% Roman Catholic, 20.0% Calvinist, 5.0% Lutheran,
7.5% atheist and other.
The language is 98.2% Hungarian, 1.8% other.
Hungerford
Hungerford is an old town in Berkshire on the Roman road to Bath. It was
the scene of a massacre commited by Michael Ryan in the early 1990s.
Hupei
Hupei is the former name of Hebei province, China.
Huron
Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes.
Hwang-ho
see "Huang_He"
Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
Hythe
Hythe is a town in Kent. It was formerly a sea port, it is now a seaside
resort.
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital of Oyo state, Nigeria.
Ibiza
Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands.
Iceland
Iceland is a republic island in the north Atlantic. It has a total area
of 103,000 km2.
The climate is temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild,
windy winters; damp, cool summers.
The terrain is mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks,
icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords.
Natural resources are fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power,
diatomite.
The religion is 95% Evangelical Lutheran, 3% other Protestant and Roman
Catholic, 2% no affiliation.
The language is Icelandic.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in north west America.
Ightham
Ightham is a village in Kent.
Ijsselmeer
Ijsselmeer is a lake in the Netherlands. It was formed in 1932 after the
Zuider Zee was cut off by a dyke from the North Sea.
Ile-de-France
Ile-de-France is a region of northern France.
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is a seaside resort in Devon.
Illinois
Illinois is a midwest state of USA.
Ilminster
Ilminster is a town in Somerset, England. Its chief industries concern
the manufacture of concrete and radio valves.
Immingham
Immingham is a port on the Humber in Humberside, England. It has a deep-
sea oil terminal.
Imphal
Imphal is the capital of Manipur state in India.
Inchon
Inchon is the chief port of Seoul, South Korea.
India
India is a country in south Asia. It has a total area of 3,287,590 km2.
The climate varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north.
The terrain is upland plain in south, flat to rolling plain along the
Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north.
Natural resources are coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium
ore, comite, natural gas, diamonds, crude oil, limestone.
The religion is 82.6% Hindu, 11.4% Muslim, 2.4% Christian, 2.0% Sikh,
0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% Jains, 0.4% other.
The language is Hindi, English, and 14 other official languages: Bengali,
Telgu,
Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi,
Assamese,
Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; 24 languages spoken by a million or more
people and numerous other languages and dialects.
Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people;
English is the most important language for national, political, and
commercial communication; Hindustani is spoken widely throughout northern
India.
Indian ocean
The Indian ocean is the sea separating Africa from Australia. It has a
total area of 73,600,000 km2
Indiana
Indiana is a state in midwest USA.
Indonesia
Indonesia is a group of 3000 islands in south east Asia. They have a
total area of 1,919,440 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands.
The terrain is mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
mountains.
Natural resources are crude oil, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber,
bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver.
The religion is 88% Muslim, 6% Protestant, 3% Roman Catholic, 2% Hindu,
1% other.
The language is Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official);
English and Dutch leading foreign languages; local dialects, the most
widely spoken of which is Javanese.
Indus
The Indus is a river rising in Tibet and flowing 3059 km to the Arabian
sea.
Inn
The River Inn is a European river which flows through Switzerland, the
tyrol, Austria and Bavaria for 512km to the River Danube at Passau.
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of China.
Innsbruck
Innsbruck is the capital of Tirol state in western Austria. It is a
tourist and winter sports centre. It hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter
Olympics.
Inverness
Inverness is a town in the Highland Region, Scotland.
Iona
Iona is an island in the Hebrides.
Iowa
Iowa is a state in midwest USA.
Iowa City
Iowa City is a city in Iowa state, USA. It was once the state capital.
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital of Perak state in north west Malaysia.
Ipswich
Ipswich is the county town of East Suffolk.
Iran
Iran is a country in south west Asia. It has a total area of 1,648,000
km2.
The climate is mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast.
The terrain is rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,
mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts.
Natural resources are petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,
iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulphur.
The religion is 95% Shia Muslim, 4% Sunni Muslim, 2% Zoroastrian, Jewish,
Christian, and Bahai.
The language is 58% Persian and Persian dialects, 26% Turkic and Turkic
dialects, 9% Kurdish, 2% Luri, 1% Baloch, 1% Arabic, 1% Turkish, 2%
other.
Iraq
Iraq is a country in south west Asia. It has a total area of 434,920 km2.
The climate is desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless
summers.
The terrain is mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains
along borders with Iran and Turkey
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, phosphates, sulphur.
The religion is 97% Muslim (60-65% Shia, 32-37% Sunni), 3% Christian or
other.
The language is Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),
Assyrian, Armenian.
Irazu
Irazu is an active volcano in Costa Rica.
Ireland
Ireland is a country and island west of Wales. It has a total area of
70,280 km2.
The climate is temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current;
mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the
time.
The terrain is mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by
rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Natural resources are zinc, lead, natural gas, crude oil, barite, copper,
gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver.
The religion is 94% Roman Catholic, 4% Anglican, 2% other.
The language is Irish (Gaelic) and English; English is the language
generally used, with Gaelic spoken in a few areas, mostly along the
western seaboard.
Irian Jaya
Irian Jaya is the western portion of the island of New Guinea.
Irkutsk
Irkutsk is a city in southern Russia. It was founded in 1652.
Irrawaddy
The Irrawaddy is the main river in Burma. It flows 2090 km from the Mali
and N'mai rivers to the Bay of Bengal.
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan.
Islay Island
Islay Island is one of the Inner Hebrides. It has an area of 609 square
km and is chiefly used for dairy farming and distilling.
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man is an island in north west Britain.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is an island south of Hampshire.
Islington
Islington is a borough of London. It was previously called Isendone and
Iseldone by the Romans.
Israel
Israel is a Jewish country in south west Asia. It has a total area of
20,770 km2.
The climate is temperate; hot and dry in desert areas.
The terrain is Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
Natural resources are copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand,
sulphur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil.
The religion is 83% Judaism, 13.1% Islam (mostly Sunni Muslim), 2.3%
Christian, 1.6% Druze
The language is Hebrew (official); Arabic used officially for Arab
minority; English most commonly used foreign language.
Istanbul
Istanbul is a major city in Turkey.
Italy
Italy is a country in south Europe. It has a total area of 301,230 km2.
The climate is predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry
in south.
The terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal
lowlands.
Natural resources are mercury, potash, marble, sulphur, dwindling natural
gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal
The religion is almost 100% nominally Roman Catholic.
The language is Italian; parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are
predominantly German speaking; significant French-speaking minority in
Valle d'Aosta region; Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia
area.
Ithake
Ithake is an Ionian island in the Aegean sea.
Ivory coast
The ivory coast is a republic in west Africa. It has a total area of
322,460 km2.
The climate is tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three
seasons-warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot
and wet (June to October).
The terrain is mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest.
Natural resources are crude oil, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt,
bauxite, copper
The religion is 63% indigenous, 25% Muslim, 12% Christian.
The language is French (official), over 60 native dialects; Dioula most
widely spoken
Ixworth
Ixworth is a village in Suffolk.
Izmir
Izmir (formerly Smyrna) is a port and naval base in Turkey. It is the
headquarters of NATO's south east command.
Jackson
Jackson is the capital city of Mississippi state in the USA. Jackson is a
town in Michigan, USA on the Grand River.
Jaipur
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan.
Jamaica
Jaimaica is an island in the Caribbean. It has a total area of 10,990
km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior.
The terrain is mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain.
Natural resources are bauxite, gypsum, limestone.
The religion is predominantly Protestant (including Anglican and
Baptist), some Roman Catholic. The majority of the population also
believe in a form of magic known as Obeah.
The language is English, Patois.
Jammu
Jammu is a state in north India
Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen Island is an island in the Artci Ocean. It has a total area of
373 km2.
The climate is arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog.
The terrain is volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is
the highest peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters.
Japan
Japan is a country in east Asia. It is comprised of several islands. It
has a total area of 377,835 km2.
The climate is varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north.
The terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous.
Natural resources are negligible mineral resources, fish.
The religion is most Japanese observe both Shinto and Buddhist rites;
about 16% belong to other faiths, including 0.8% Christian.
The language is Japanese.
Java
Java is an Indonesian island.
Jedda
see "Jiddah"
Jericho
Jericho is an Israeli-administered town in Jordan north of the Dead Sea.
Jersey
Jersey is the largest of the Channel islands. It has a total area of 117
km2.
The climate is temperate; mild winters and cool summers.
The terrain is gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north
coast.
Natural resources are agricultural land.
The religion is Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New
Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
The language is English and French (official), with the Norman-French
dialect spoken in country districts.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is an ancient city in Palestine. In 1948 it was divided bwteen
Jordan, and the newly formed Israel.
Jiangsu
Jiangsu is a province on the coast of east China.
Jiangxi
Jiangxi is a province in south east China.
Jiddah
Jiddah (Jedda) is a port in Hejaz, Saudi Arabia on the east shore of the
Red Sea.
Jilin
Jilin is a province in north east China.
Jimma
Jimma is a coffee producing town in Ethiopia.
Jinan
Jinan is the capital of Shandong province, China.
Jinja
Jinja is a manufacturing town on the shore of Lake Victoria in Uganda.
Jinsha Jiang
The Jinsha Jiang is a river in China. It rises in south west China and
flows to Yibin where it forms the Chang Jiang. ce. It is hos
Joban
Joban is a district of north east Honshu in Japan.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa. It is situated on the
Witwatersrand river in Transvaal. â6 ïø ūęĮ\
Johnstown
Johnstown is an industrial town in Pennsylvania on the Conemaugh River.
Jones Town
Jones Town is an old ghetto region of Kingston, Jamaica. It is troubled
by shootings involving gangs of youths from neighbouring regions.
Jordan
Jordan is a kingdom in south west Asia. It has a total area of 91,880
km2.
The climate is mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to
April).
The terrain is mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west;
Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River.
Natural resources are phosphates, potash, shale oil.
The religion is 92% Sunni Muslim, 8% Christian.
The language is Arabic (official); English widely understood among upper
and middle classes.
Judaea
Judaea was a division of Palestine during Roman times.
Jugoslavia
see "Yugolsavia"
Juneau
Juneau is the capital city of Alaska.
Jura
Jura is a mountain range in Switzerland and France. Jura is a French
department on the border of France and Switzerland.
Jura Mountains
The Jura mountains run along the French Swiss border.
Jutland
Jutland is a peninsular of northern Europe. It was the scene of a
naval battle during the first world war.
K2
K2 (Chogori) is the second highest mountain in the Karakoram range on
the border between China and Pakistan. It stands 8858 meters. It was
first climbed in 1954 by an Italian expedition.
Kabul
Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan.
Kairouan
Kairouan is a Muslim holy city in Tunisia and a noted centre of carpet
manufacturing.
Kalahari desert
The Kalahari desert is a semi-desert forming most of Botswana.
Kalgan
Kalgan is a city in north east China, now known as Zhangjiakou.
Kalimantan
Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia on the island of Borneo.
Kamchatka
Kamchatka is a mountainous peninsular separating the Bering Sea and the
Sea of Okhotsk.
Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda.
Kampuchea
Kampuchea is a former name of Cambodia.
Kandy
Kandy is a city in central Sri Lanka.
Kangchenjunga
Kangchenjunga is a 8598 meter high mountain in the Himalayas on the Nepal
and Sikkim border. It was first climbed in 1955 by a British expedition.
Kano
Kano is the capital of Kano state in northern Nigeria.
Kanpur
Kanpur is the capital of Kanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Kansas
Kansas is a state in central USA.
Kansu
Kansu is a province of China.
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a sea port on the south west coast of Taiwan. It has
aluminium works and also oil refineries.
Kaposvar
Kaposvar is a town in south west Hungary on the Kapos River.
Kara Sea
The Kara Sea is the part of the Arctic Ocean east of Novaya Zemlya.
Between July and September it provides navigation to the Siberian ports.
Kara-Kum
The Kara-Kum is a sand desert in Turkmen east of the Caspian Sea.
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city and chief seaport in Pakistan.
Karakoram
Karakoram is a mountain range in central Asia.
Karakorum Range
The Karakorum Range is the part of the Himalayas between Kashmir and
China.
Karelia
Karelia is an autonomous republic in Russia.
Karen
Karen is a white suburb of Nairobi in Kenya.
Karnataka
Karnataka (formerly Mysore) is a state in south west India.
Karroo
Karroo is a high plateau in the West Cape province of South Africa. It is
irrigated by the Verwoerd dam on the Orange River.
Kashmir
Kashmir is an area of Asia divided between Pakistan and India.
Kathmandu
see "Katmandu"
Katmandu
Katmandu is the capital of Nepal.
Katowice
Katowice is an industrial city in Upper Silesia, southern Poland.
Katyn Forest
The Katyn Forest is a forest near Smolensk.
Kawasaki
Kawasaki is an industrial city on Honshu island, Japan.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a country in central Asia.
Kazan
Kazan is the capital of Tatar. It is a city on the banks of the river
Volga.
Keeling Islands
see "Cocos_Islands"
Kent
Kent is a county in south east England.
Kenton
Kenton is a large village in Devon.
Kentucky
Kentucky is a state in south central USA.
Kenya
Kenya is a country in east Africa. It has a total area of 582,650 km2.
The climate is varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior.
The terrain is low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great
Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Natural resources are gold, limestone, diotomite, salt barytes,
magnesite, feldspar, sapphires, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
The religion is 38% Protestant, 28% Roman Catholic, 26% indigenous
beliefs, 6% Muslim
The language is English and Swahili (official); numerous indigenous
languages.
Kerala
Kerala is a state of south west India.
Kerkira
Kerkira is the Greek name for Corfu.
Kermadec Islands
The Kermadec Islands are a group of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean
960km north east of New Zealand. They were annexed by New Zealand in
1887.
Kerman
Kerman is a mountanous and desert region of south east Iran. It includes
a large copper mining and refining plant.
Kerry
Kerry is a county in Munster province, Ireland.
Ketama
Ketama is the principal hash growing town in Morocco. Visitors are
advised to stay away as the area is guarded by armed drug gangs.
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in Northamptonshire, England.
Kharkov
Kharkov is the capital of Kharkov region in the Ukraine.
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital of Sudan.
Khuzestan
Khuzestan is a province in west Iran. It borders on Iraq. It is a large
petroleum centre.
Khyber Pass
The Khyber Pass is a narrow gap in the Hindu Kush mountains separating
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Kiangsi
Kiangsi is a province of China.
Kiangsu
Kiangsu is a province of China.
Kiev
Kiev is the capital of Ukraine.
Kigali
Kigali is the capital of Rwanda.
Kildare
Kildare is a county of Leinster province, Ireland.
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is an inactive volcano in Tanzania. It is the site of the
only glacier on the equator.
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a county of Leinster province, Ireland.
King
A King is a male sovereign ruler of an independent state.
King's Lynn
King's Lynn (formerly Bishop's Lynn) is a seaport in Norfolk.
Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is a town serving the South Hams farming district of
Cornwall.
Kingston
Kingston is the capital of Jamaica.
Kingston-upon-Thames
Kingston-upon-Thames is an area of suburban greater London.
Kingstown
Kingstown is the capital of St. Vincent.
Kinshasa
Kinshasa (formerly Leopoldville) is the capital of Zaire.
Kirghizia
Kirghizia is a country in central Asia.
Kiribati
Kiribati is a country in the central Pacific. It has a total area of 717
km2.
The climate is tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds.
The terrain is mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive
reefs.
Natural resources are phosphate (production discontinued in 1979).
The religion is 48% Roman Catholic, 45% Protestant (Congregational), some
Seventh-Day Adventist and Baha'i
The language is English (official), Gilbertese.
Kirin
Kirin is the former name for Jilin, a province in China.
Kirov
Kirov is a town in Russia on the Vyatka river.
Kishinev
Kishinev is the capital of Moldavia.
Kismayu
Kismayu is a port in in Somalia.
Kitakyushu
Kitakyushu is an industrial city and port on north Kyushu in Japan.
Klondike
The Klondike is a former gold-mining area in the Yukon, Canada.
Kobe
Kobe is a deep water port in south Honshu, Japan.
Korea
Korea is two countries in east Asia, North Korea and South Korea.
Kosciusko
Kosciusko is the highest mountain in Australia. It is 2229 meters high,
and is located in New South Wales.
Kosovo
Kosovo is an autonomous region of Serbia.
Kourou
The Kourou is a river in French Guiana.
Kowloon
Kowloon is a peninsular on the coast of China.
Krakow
Krakow is a city in Poland on the Vistula.
Krems
Krems is a market town in Austria on the river Danube. It was founded in
the 10th century as an imperial fortress.
Kristiansand
Kristiansand is a seaport on the west coast of Norway.
Krondstadt
Krondstadt is the German name for the Romanian town of Brasov.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia.
Kuibyshev
Kuibyshev (Kuybyshev) is the capital of Kuibyshev region, Russia. It is
aport at the junctions of the river Volga and river Samara.
Kunming
Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province, China.
Kurdistan
Kurdistan is a region in south west Asia.
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands are a chain of 50 small islands stretching from the
north east of Hokkaido, Japan.
Kurils
see "Kuril_Islands"
Kuwait
Kuwait is a country in south west Asia. It has a total area of 17,820
km2.
The climate is dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters.
The terrain is flat to slightly undulating desert plain.
Natural resources are petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas.
The religion is 85% Muslim (30% Shia, 45% Sunni, 10% other), 15%
Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other.
The language is Arabic (official); English widely spoken.
Kuwait City
Kuwait City is the capital of Kuwait.
Kwangtung
Kwangtung is a province of China.
Kweichow
Kweichow is a province of China.
Kyoto
Kyoto was the capital of Japan from 794 until 1868. It is a University
town on Honshu island linked by a canal with Biwa Lake.
Kyushu
Kyushu is the most southernly of the Japanese islands.
La Paz
La Paz is a city in Bolivia. It was founded by the Spanish in 1548.
La Plata
La Plata is a seaport city in Argentina.
La Rioja
La Rioja is a region of northen Spain.
Labrador
Labrador is the mainland part of the province of Newfoundland.
Ladoga
Lake Ladoga is the largest lake in Europe. It is located north east of
Leningrad.
Ladysmith
Ladysmith is a town in Natal. It was besieged by Boers from November the
2 nd 1899 until February 28th 1900 when it was relieved by Sir R. H.
Buller.
Lagash
Lagash was a Sumerian city north of Shatra in Iraq. It was important from
3000BC to 2700BC. It was discovered in 1877 by Earnest de Saroec.
Lagos
Lagos is the former capital of Nigeria.
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of Punjab.
Lake Chad
Lake Chad is a lake on the north east boundary of Nigeria.
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is the largest of the central European lakes. It is between
Switzerland and France.
Lake Magadi
Lake Magadi is a soda lake in the Rift Valley below Nairobi in Kenya. It
is one of the hottest places in Kenya. It is a popular spot for bird
watching.
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is a lake in north central USA.
Lake Owens
Lake Owens is a lake in southern California on the east flank of Sierra
Nevada.
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes, and the second largest
lake in the world.
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa at 69400 km2. It lies between
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and is a source of the Nile.
Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is a group of coral islands in the Indian Ocean 320km off the
Malabar coast. 10 of the islands are inhabited.
Lampedusa
Lampedusa is the largest of the Pelagi islands. It is between Malta and
the Tunisian coast.
Lancashire
Lancashire is a county in north west England.
Lancing
Lancing is a village on the south coast of West Sussex, England; 3km east
of Worthing.
Langport
Langport is an industrial town in Somerset.
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is a region in southern France.
Lansing
Lansing is the capital of Michigan.
Lanzhou
Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu province, China.
Laois
Laois is a county in Leinster province, Ireland.
Laos
Laos is a country in south east Asia. It has a total area of 236,800
km2.
The climate is tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry
season (December to April).
The terrain is mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus.
Natural resources are timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones.
The religion is 85% Buddhist, 15% animist and other.
The language is Lao (official), French, and English.
Lapland
Lapland is a region of Europe within the arctic circle.
Laptev Sea
The Laptev Sea is an inlet of the Arctic Ocean between Severnaya Zemlya
and New Siberian Island.
Larissa
In mythology, Larissa was a city in thessaly where Achilles was
reportedly born.
Las Palmas
Las Palmas is a tourist resort on the north east coast of Gran Canaria.
Latium
Latium was an ancient region of central Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea,
extending between Etruria and Campania, and inhabited by the Latins,
Volsci and Aequi.
Latvia
Latvia is a country in east Europe. The climate is mild. Physicaly the
country is wooded lowland, marshes and lakes. The language is Latvian.
The religion is mainly Lutheran Protestant with some Roman Catholic.
Lausanne
Lausanne is a resort and the capital of Vaud canton in western
Switzerland.
Laxfield
Laxfield is a village in Suffolk.
Lazio
Lazio is a region of west central Italy. It was called Latium by the
Romans.
Le Havre
Le Havre is an industrial port in Normandy, north west France on the
River Seine.
Le Mans
Le Mans is the capital town of Sarthe department in north west France. It
is host to a world famous motor race.
Leadenhall
Leadenhall is a meat and poultry market in London. It is so named because
it was originaly held in a lead roofed hall at the corner of Gracechurch
street.
Leatherhead
Leatherhead is an old town in Surrey.
Lebanon
Lebanon is a country in west Asia. It has a total area of 10,400 km2.
The climate is Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers.
The terrain is narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa (Bekaa Valley) separates
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Natural resources are limestone, iron ore, salt; water-surplus state in a
water-deficit region.
The religion is 75% Islam, 25% Christian, NEGL% Judaism; 17 legally
recognized sects-4 Orthodox Christian (Armenian Orthodox, Greek
Orthodox, Nestorean, Syriac Orthodox), 7 Uniate Christian (Armenian
Catholic, Caldean, Greek Catholic, Maronite, Protestant, Roman
Catholic, Syrian Catholic), 5 Islam (Alawite or Nusayri, Druze,
Ismailite, Shia, Sunni), and 1 Jewish.
The language is Arabic and French (both official); Armenian, English
Ledbury
Ledbury is a market town in Herefordshire, England at the west foor of
the Malvern hills.
Leeds
Leeds is a dismal industrial city in west Yorkshire, England. It stands
on the River Aire.
Leek
Leek is a market town in Staffordshire, England 18 km north east of
Stoke-On-Trent.
Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden is the capital city of Friesland province in the Netherlamds.
It is noted for its cattle market.
Leicester
Leicester is an industrial city on the River Soar in England.
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a county in central England.
Leigh
Leigh is a market town in Greater Manchester, England.
Leinster
Leinster is a south eastern province of the Republic of Ireland.
Leipzig
Leipzig is the capital city of Leipzig county in eastern Germany. It is
145km south west of Berlin.
Leitrim
Leitrim is a county in Connacht province in the Republic of Ireland
bounded to the north west by Donegal Bay.
Lemnos
In mythology, Lemnos was a small island at the mouth of the Hellespont.
Hephaestus landed on Lemnos when Zeus threw him out of heaven, and set up
a forge on the island.
Lena
The Lena is one of the great navigatable Siberian rivers. It is 4480km
long.
Leningrad
Leningrad was the name given to the town of Petrograd in 1924 which
stands at the head of the Gulf of Finland in Russia.
Leon
Leon is a city in west Nicaragua. It was founded in 1524, and was the
capital of Nicaragua until 1855.
Leopoldville
Leopoldville was a former name of Kinshasa city in Zaire.
Leopolis
Leopolis was a suburb founded by Pope Leo 4th in the 9th century. It was
later renamed Leonine City and became a part of the city of Rome.
Leptis Magna
Leptis Magna was a city in Libya, 120km east of Tripoli. It was founded
by the Phoenicians, conquered by Carthage and finally by the Romans in
47BC.
Lesbos
Lesbos is the former name of the Greek island of Lesvos.
Lesotho
Lesotho is a country within South Africa. It has a total area of 30,350
km2.
The climate is temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers.
The terrain is mostly highland with some plateaus, hills, and mountains.
Natural resources are some diamonds and other minerals, water,
agricultural and grazing land
The religion is 80% Christian, rest indigenous beliefs.
The language is Sesotho (southern Sotho) and English (official); also
Zulu and Xhosa
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex. Lewes came into prominence
shortly after William The Conqueror invaded and erected a fort here.
Lexington
Lexington is a city in Massachusetts, USA. On the 19th April 1775 it was
the scene of a battle during the American War of Independance.
Lhasa
Lhasa is the capital of the autonomous region of Tibet, in China.
Liaoning
Liaoning is a province of north eastern China.
Liberia
Liberia is a country in west Africa. It has a total area of 111,370 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool
to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers.
The terrain is mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling
plateau and low mountains in northeast
Natural resources are iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold.
The religion is 70% traditional, 20% Muslim, 10% Christian.
The language is English (official); more than 20 local languages of the
Niger-Congo language group; English used by about 20%.
Liberty City
Liberty City is a mainly black slum area of Miami. It is generally
considered a no-go area for whites, however much of its reputation is
built upon racial prejudice rather than facts. It is the drug centre of
Miami.
Libreville
Libreville is the capital city of Gabon. It stands on the estuary of the
River Gabon. Libreville was founded in 1849 as a refuge for slaves freed
by the French.
Libya
Libya is an arab country in north Africa. It has a total area of
1,759,540 km2.
The climate is Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior.
The terrain is mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus,
depressions.
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, gypsum.
The religion is 97% Sunni Muslim.
The language is Arabic; Italian and English are widely understood in
major cities.
Lidice
Lidice is a mining village in Czechoslovakia which was destroyed by the
Nazis in 1942 as a reprisal for the assassination of Heydrich.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a country in west Europe. It has a total area of 160
km2.
The climate is continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or
rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers.
The terrain is mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western
third.
Natural resources are hydroelectric potential.
The religion is 82.7% Roman Catholic, 7.1% Protestant, 10.2% other.
The language is German (official), Alemannic dialect.
Liege
Liege is an industrial city and capital of Liege province in Belgium. It
stands south east of Brussels on the Meuse River.
Lille
Lille is an industrial city, and the capital of Nord-Pas-de-Calais in
France.
Lilongwe
Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi.
Lima
Lima is the capital of Peru.
Limerick
Limerick is the county town of Limerick in the Republic of Ireland. It
was founded in the 12th century, and today is the main port in western
Ireland.
Limpsfield
Limpsfield is a village in Surrey with a Norman church.
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in central England.
Linlithgowshire
Linlithgowshire is a former name of West Lothian in Scotland.
Linz
Linz is a port on the river Danube in Austria. It features iron and steel
works.
Lipa
Lipa is a town in the Philippines. It is a sugar, cocoa and maize
processing centre.
Lippe
The Lippe is a 176 km long tributary river of the Rhine.
Lisboa
Lisboa is the Portugese name for Lisbon.
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal.
Lithuania
Lithuania is a country in east Europe.
Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a quiet seaside resort town in Sussex.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and seaport in Merseyside, north west England. It is
Europe's main Atlantic port.
Livingston
Livingston is a new town in West Lothian, Scotland. It was founded in
1962 as an industrial town.
Livingstone
Livingstone is a town in Zambia on the Zambesi River. It was once the
capital of Zambia.
Livonia
Livonia was a region of Europe which comprised much of what is today
Latvia and Estonia.
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia.
Llanberis
Llanberis is a mountain pass between Snowdon and Clyder Fawr in Gwynedd,
Wales.
Llanstephan
Llanstephan is a village in Dyfed, Wales at the mouth of the River Towy.
The Normans built a castle here.
Loanda
Loanda is a former name of Luanda, in Angola.
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is Scotland's largest lake. It is 70 km2.
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is a lake in the Highland region of Scotland reportedly the
home of a sea monster.
Locomotion
Locomotion is the idea of movement from one place to another.
Loddon
Loddon is a small town in Norfolk.
Lodz
Lodz is an industrial town in central Poland 120km south west of Warsaw.
Loire
The Loire is the longest river in France. It rises in Cevennes and flows
1050 km to the Bay of Biscay at St. Nazaire.
Lombardy
Lombardy is a major industrial area in north Italy.
Lome
Lome is the capital of Togo.
Lomza
Lomza is a town in Bialystok, Poland on the Narew River.
London
London is the capital of England.
Londonderry
Londonderry is a county in Northern Ireland.
Londrina
Londrina is a city in Parana, Brazil. It is an industrial and commercial
centre handling coffee, maize, cotton and livestock.
Long Beach
Long Beach is a Pacific coast resort and industrial suburb of Los
Angeles.
Long Island
Long Island is an island off the coast of Connecticut and New York in the
USA.
Longford
Longford is a county of Leinster province, Republic of Ireland.
Looe
Looe is a fishing village and tourist resort in Cornwall.
Lorient
Lorient is a sea port in Morbihan department, north west France.
Lorraine
Lorraine is a region of France.
Los Alamos
Los Alamos is a town in New Mexico, USA. It was the site for the testing
of the first atomic bomb.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a city in south California, USA. It is the busiest port in
California. It is one of the world's largest urban areas.
Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel is a market town in Cornwall, England on the River Fowey
south east of Bodmin.
Lot
Lot is a department in south west France. Primary industry includes
livestock, wine, cereals, coal and iron.
Lothian
Lothian is a region of Scotland.
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh is a lake in Northern Ireland. It is the largest lake in the
Britsh Isles at 396 km2.
Loughrea
Loughrea is a market town in Galway, Ireland.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state in south USA.
Louisville
Louisville is a city on the Ohio river in Kentucky, USA. It is a
university city and host to the world's largest tobacco market.
Lourdes
Lourdes is a town in south west France. It has a christian shrine to St.
Bernadette which has a reputation for miraculous cures.
Louth
Louth is a county of Leinster in the Republic of Ireland.
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt is an industrial city in New Zealand.
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is an area of North West Germany.
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a seaside town in Suffolk.
Luanda
Luanda is the capital city of Angola. It was founded in 1575 and became a
Portugese administrative centre and later an outlet for slaves being
transported to Brazil. It is still a seaport today.
Lucea
Lucea is a sea port in north Jamaica.
Lucerne
Lucerne is the capital of Lucerne canton in Switzerland. Lucerne stands
on the Reuss River where it flows out of Lake Lucerne. Lucerne grew up
around the Benedictine monastery established around 750.
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is an industrial city
which during the Indian mutiny against British rule was beseiged for
several months.
Ludham
Ludham is a village on the Broads in Norfolk.
Lumbini
Lumbini is the borthplace of Buddha in the foothills of the Himalayas
near the Nepalese-Indian border. A shrine and sacred garden were
established here in 1970 by the Nepalese government.
Lundy Island
Lundy Island is a small island, 5 km long and 1 km wide, off the north
Devon coast.
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital of Zambia.
Luton
Luton is a town in Bedfordshire, England in the Chiltern Hills.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a small country in western Europe. It has a total area of
2,586 km2.
The climate is modified continental with mild winters and cool summers.
The terrain is mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys;
uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
floodplain in the southeast
Natural resources are iron ore which is no longer exploited.
The religion is 97% Roman Catholic, 3% Protestant and Jewish.
The language is Luxembourgish, German, French; many also speak English.
Luxor
Luxor is a village in Egypt on the East bank of the River Nile near the
ruins of Thebes.
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island of the Philippines.
Lydford
Lydford was once a town in Devon, it is now a village.
Lydia
Lydia was an ancient kingdom in Anatonia around 6BC.
Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis is a town in Dorset. It was a busy medieval port. During the
18th century it became a seaside resort. It is still a good place to look
for fossils.
Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst is a town in the New Forest in Hampshire.
Lyons
Lyons (Lyon) is an industrial city and capital of Rhone department in
France. It is the third largest city in France and is situated at the
confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers.
M'pongo
M'pongo was a former name for the area now called Gabon.
Macao
see "Macau"
Macapa
Macapa is a city at the mouth of the Amazon river in Brazil.
Macau
Macau is a country in east Asia. It has a total area of 16 km2.
The climate is subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers.
The terrain is generally flat.
Natural resources are negligible.
The religion is mainly Buddhist; 17,000 Roman Catholics, of whom about
half are Chinese
The language is Portuguese (official); Cantonese is the language of
commerce.
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a town in Cheshire, England at the foot of the Pennines.
It is 16km south of Stockport.
Macedonia
Macedonia is a republic of Yugolsavia.
Maceio
Maceio is a seaport in Brazil.
Mackenzie
The Mackenzie River flows 1800 km from the Great Slave Lake in the
Northwest territories of Canada north west to the Atlantic Ocean.
Madagascar
Madagascar is an island country in the Indian ocean east of Africa. It
has a total area of 587,040 km2.
The climate is tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south.
The terrain is narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in
center.
Natural resources are graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz,
tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish.
The religion is 52% indigenous beliefs; about 41% Christian, 7% Muslim.
The language is French and Malagasy (official)
Madeira
Madeira is a group of islands off the north west coast of Africa.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh is a state in central India.
Madras
Madras is the capital of Tamil Nadu.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain.
Madurai
Madurai is a city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is the site of the 16th
century Hindu temple of Sundareswara.
Magadha
Magadha was a kingom of ancient India.
Magdeburg
Magdeburg is an industrial city and port on the River Elbe in eastern
Germany.
Maghreb
Maghreb is a name for north west Africa.
Maharashta
Maharashta is a state in west central India.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state in west central India.
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town in Berkshire.
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent. It stands on the River Medway.
Maidstone came into prominence in the 14th century when it was a centre
of revolt.
Maine
Maine is a state in north east USA.
Majorca
Majorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands.
Makhachkala
Makhachkala is the capital of Dagestan.
Malabo
Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea.
Malaga
Malaga is an industrial seaport and holiday resort in Spain.
Malawi
Malawi is a country in south east Africa. It has a total area of 118,480
km2.
The climate is tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May
to November)
The terrain is narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded
hills, some mountains
Natural resources are limestone; unexploited deposits of uranium, coal,
and bauxite
The religion is 55% Protestant, 20% Roman Catholic, 20% Muslim;
traditional indigenous beliefs are also practiced
The language is English and Chichewa (official); other languages
important regionally.
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in south east Asia. It has a total area of 329,750
km2.
The climate is tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and
northeast (October to February) monsoons
The terrain is coastal plains rising to hills and mountains.
Natural resources are tin, crude oil, timber, copper, iron ore, natural
gas, bauxite.
The religion is Peninsular Malaysia - Malays nearly all Muslim, Chinese
predominantly Buddhists, Indians predominantly Hindu; Sabah - 38% Muslim,
17% Christian, 45% other; Sarawak - 35% tribal religion, 24% Buddhist and
Confucianist, 20% Muslim, 16% Christian, 5% other.
The language is Peninsular Malaysia - Malay (official); English, Chinese
dialects, Tamil; Sabah - English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects,
Mandarin and Hakka dialects predominate among Chinese; Sarawak - English,
Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages.
Maldives
The Maldives is a 1196 island group country in the Indian ocean. They
have a total area of 300 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to
March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August).
The terrain is flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters.
Natural resources are fish.
The religion is Sunni Muslim.
The language is Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic);
English spoken by most government officials.
Maldon
Maldon is a town in Essex on the River Blackwater.
Male
Male is the capital of the Maldives.
Mali
Mali is a country in north west Africa. It has a total area of 1,240,000
km2.
The climate is subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy,
humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February.
The terrain is mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand;
savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Natural resources are gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium;
bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not
exploited.
The religion is 90% Muslim, 9% indigenous beliefs, 1% Christian.
The language is French (official); Bambara spoken by about 80% of the
population; numerous African languages
Mallorca
see "Majorca"
Malmo
Malmo is an industrial port in south west Sweden.
Malta
Malta is an island country in the mediterranean. It has a total area of
320 km2.
The climate is Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers.
The terrain is mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal
cliffs.
Natural resources are limestone, salt.
The religion is 98% Roman Catholic.
The language is Maltese and English (official)
Malton
Malton is a market town in north Yorkshire, England on the River Derwent.
Maluku
The Maluku are a group on Indonesian islands formerly known as the Spice
Islands.
Malvinas
Malvinas is the Argentine name for the Falkland Islands
Mamore
The Mamore is a river in north Bolivia and Brazil. It rises in the Andes.
It is 1920km long.
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua. It is on the shore of lake
Managua.
Manama
Manama is the capital and a free trade port of Bahrain.
Manaus
Manaus is the capital of Amazonas in Brazil. It stands on the Rio Negro
near to its confluence with the Amazon.
Manche
Manche is a department in north west France. Primary industry is dairy
farming and cattle.
Manchester
Manchester is a major city in north west England on the River Irwell 50
km east of Liverpool.
Manchuria
Manchuria is the European name for a region of north east China.
Mandalay
Mandalay is the chief town of Upper Burma. It stands on the River
Irrawaddy 495 km north of Rangoon.
Manhattan
Manhattan is an island, 20 km long and 4 km wide lying between the Hudson
and East rivers and forming a borough of the city of New York in the USA.
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines.
Manipur
Manipur is a state in north east India.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a province in west Canada.
Mantle
The mantle is the layer of the earth's crust between the crust and the
core.
Maputo
Maputo is the capital of Mozambique.
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is an oil-exporting port in Venezuela on the channel connecting
Lake Maracaibo with the Gulf of Venezuela.
Marche
Marche is a region of east central Italy consisting of the provinces of
Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Macerata and Pesaro e Urbino.
Margate
Margate is a seaside resort town in Kent.
Mariana Trench
The mariana trench is a 2414 km long gorge in the north west Pacific.
Marianas
The Marianas is an archipelago in the north west Pacific.
Market Bosworth
Market Bosworth is a village 19km west of Leicester in England.
Marlborough
Marlborough is a town in Wiltshire.
Marmara
Marmara is a small inland sea separating Turkey in Europe from Turkey in
Asia. It is 275 km long and 80 km wide.
Marocco
Marocco is a 19th century spelling for Morocco.
Marple
Marple is a residential town in Greater Manchester, England. It is 5km
east of Stockport.
Marrakesh
Marrakesh is a town in Morocco in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.
Marseilles
Marseilles is the chief seaport in France, and an important industrial
centre.
Marshall Islands
The Marshall islands are a group of 2 chains of islands in the west
Pacific. They have a total area of 181.3 km2.
The climate is wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border
typhoon belt
The terrain is low coral limestone and sand islands.
Natural resources are phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed
minerals
The religion is predominantly Christian, mostly Protestant.
The language is English universally spoken and is the official language;
two major Marshallese dialects from Malayo-Polynesian family; Japanese.
Martinique
Martinique is an island country in the Caribbean. It has a total area of
1,100 km2.
The climate is tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to
October)
The terrain is mountainous with indented coastline and dormant volcanos.
Natural resources are coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land.
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic, 5% Hindu and pagan African.
The language is French, Creole patois.
Maryland
Maryland is an eastern state of the USA.
Maseru
Maseru is the capital of Lesotho.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a state in the USA.
Massif Central
Massif Central is a mountainous plateau region of southern central
France.
Mataro
Mataro is a seaport in Spain near Barcelona.
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso is a region of south west Brazil.
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in north west Africa. It has a total area of
1,030,700 km2.
The climate is desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty.
The terrain is mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central
hills.
Natural resources are iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate.
The religion is nearly 100% Muslim.
The language is Hasaniya Arabic (national); French (official);
Toucouleur, Fula, Sarakole, Wolof.
Mauritius
Mauritius is an island country in the Indian ocean east of Madagascar. It
has a total area of 1,860 km2.
The climate is tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry
winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May).
The terrain is small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains
encircling central plateau.
Natural resources are arable land, fish.
The religion is 51% Hindu, 30% Christian (mostly Roman Catholic with a
few Anglicans), 17% Muslim, 2% other
The language is English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
Bojpoori.
Mayo
Mayo is a county in Connacht province, Republic of Ireland.
Mayotte
Mayotte is an island in the Comoro Archipelago. It has a total area of
375 km2.
The climate is tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during
northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to
November).
The terrain is generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep
ravines.
Natural resources are negligible.
The religion is 99% Muslim; remainder Christian, mostly Roman Catholic.
The language is Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French.
Mbabane
Mbabane is the capital of Swaziland.
Mbabne
Mbabne is the capital of Swaziland.
Meath
Meath is a county in Leinster province, Republic of Ireland.
Mecca
Mecca is a city in Saudi Arabia and the birth place of Muhammad.
Medellin
Medellin is an industrial town in central Cordillera, Columbia.
Medina
Medina is a city in Saudi Arabia 355km north of Mecca.
Mediterranean
The mediterranean is an inland sea separating Africa from Europe.
Medoc
Medoc is a wine producing region of bordeaux in south west France.
Medway
The River Medway is a river dividing East and West Kent. It flows to the
Thames estuary.
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north east India.
Megiddo
Megiddo is the site of a former fortress town in northern Israel.
Mekong
The Mekong is a river which rises in Tibet and flows 4500km to the South
China Sea.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital of Victoria.
Melksham
Melksham is a town in Wiltshire on the River Avon. In medieval times
Melksham was surrounded by forest, but it has developed since then.
Memphis
Memphis is a city on the river Mississippi in Tennesse, USA. It was the
site of the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968.
Mendips
The mendips are a range of hills 40 km long and 8 km wide in Somerset.
Mercia
Mercia was a region of England in Anglo-Saxon times.
Meroe
Meroe was an ancient city in Sudan on the Nile near Khartoum. It was the
capital of Nubia from 600BC until 350AD.
Mersey
The Mersey River rises in the Pennines and flows 113 km to the Irish Sea
at Liverpool.
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in north west England.
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia was the land between the river Euphrates and the river
Tigris. Today it is part of Iraq.
Mexico
Mexico is a country in Central America. It has a total area of 1,972,550
km2.
The climate is varies from tropical to desert.
The terrain is high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus,
and desert
Natural resources are crude oil, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc,
natural gas, timber
The religion is 97% nominally Roman Catholic, 3% Protestant.
The language is Spanish.
Mexico City
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico.
Miami
Miami is a city and port in Florida.
Michigan
Michigan is a state in northern USA.
Michipicoten
The Michipicoten River flows 200 km through Ontario to Lake Superior.
Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan is a county in Wales.
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a town in Cleveland, England.
Middlesex
Middlesex was once an English county. It is now part of Greater London.
Midhurst
Midhurst is a small town in Sussex.
Midi-Pyrenees
Midi-Pyrenees is a region of south western France.
Midlands
The Midlands is a region of England corresponding roughly with the old
region of Mercia.
Midway Islands
The Midway Islands are 2 islands in the Pacific north west of Honolulu.
They have a total area of 5.2 km2.
The climate is tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds.
The terrain is low, nearly level.
Natural resources are fish and wildlife.
Milan
Milan is an industrial city and the capital of Lombardy in Italy.
Milano
Milano is the Italian name for Milan.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is an industrial port in Wisconsin, USA.
Mindanao
Mindanao is the 2nd largest of the philippines.
Minehead
Minehead is a seaside resort town in Somerset. During the Middle Ages
Minehead was an important fishing port.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a north west state in the USA.
Minorca
Minorca is the 2nd largest Balearic Island.
Minsk
Minsk is an industrial city and capital of Byelorussia.
Mississippi
Mississippi is a southern state of the USA.
Missouri
Missouri is a central state in the USA. The Missouri is the longest river
in the USA. It is 3942km long.
Missouri River
The Missouri River is a river in central USA. It is a tributary of the
Mississippi which it joins at St Louis.
Misti
Misti is an inactive volcano in Peru. It stands 5801 metres high.
Mitidja
Mitidja is a plain in Algeria. It borders the Meditteranean.
Mjosa
Mjosa is the largest lake in Norway. It is 88km long.
Moab
Moab was an ancient country in Jordan east of the southern part of the
River Jordan and the Dead Sea.
Mobile
Mobile is a seaport in Alabama on the River Mobile.
Modane
Modane is a town in south east Savole in France.
Modena
Modena is a town in Italy.
Modesto
Modesto is a town in California, USA. Primary industry is peach
production.
Mogadishu
Mogadishu is the capital and chief port of Somalia.
Mojave
see "Mojave_Desert"
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert is an arid region of southern California.
Moldavia
Moldavia is a country in east Europe.
Mombasa
Mombasa is an industrial port in Kenya, built upon Mombasa Island and the
adjacent mainland.
Mon
Mon is an island off the coast of Sjaaelland, Denmark.
Mona Passage
The Mona Passage is the straight in the Caribbean sea separating
Hispaniola from Puerto Rico.
Monaco
Monaco is a country in south Europe. It has a total area of 1.9 km2
The climate is Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
The terrain is hilly, rugged, rocky.
It has no natural resources.
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic.
The language is French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque.
Monaghan
Monaghan is a county of Ulster province, Northern Ireland.
Mondego
The Mondego is a 208 km long river in Portugal.
Mongolia
Mongolia is a country in central east Asia. It has a total area of
1,565,000 km2.
The climate is desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature
ranges)
The terrain is vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and
southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast
Natural resources are coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates,
tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold
The religion is predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, about 4% Muslim.
The language is Khalkha Mongol used by over 90% of population; minor
languages include Turkic, Russian, and Chinese.
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a former county of Wales.
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital of Libya.
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps at 4807 meters high.
Montana
Montana is a state in west USA.
Monte Bello Island
Monte Bello Island is a small island off the north west coast of
Australia. The first British atomic weapon was exploded here in 1952.
Montenegro
Montenegro is a region of Yugolsavia.
Monteria
Monteria is the capital city of Cordoba province in Colombia.
Monterrey
Monterrey is an industrial city in north east Mexico.
Montevideo
Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay.
Montreal
Montreal is an inland port and industrial city in Quebec, Canada. It
stands at the junction of the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River.
Montserrat
Montserrat is a volcanic island in the Caribbean.
Moravia
Moravia is a district of central europe.
Morelia
Morelia is a town in west Mexico. It is built on a rocky hill.
Moreton
Moreton is a town in Dorset beside the River Frome.
Morocco
Morocco is a country in north west Africa. It has a total area of 446,550
km2.
The climate is Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior.
The terrain is mostly mountains with rich coastal plains.
Natural resources are phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish,
salt
The religion is 98.7% Muslim, 1.1% Christian, 0.2% Jewish.
The language is Arabic (official); several Berber dialects; French is
language of business, government, diplomacy, and postprimary education.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia.
Mount Cook
Mount Cook is the highest point at 3764 meters of the Southern Alps, in
New Zealand.
Mount Erebus
see "Erebus"
Mount Fuji
see "Fujiyama"
Mount McKinley
Mount McKinley is a mountain peak in Alaska, the highest in North America
at 6194 meters.
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a range of hills east of Jersualem.
Mount St Helens
Mount St Helens is a volcanic mountain in Washington state, USA.
Mozambique
Mozambique is a country in south east Africa. It has a total area of
801,590 km2.
The climate is tropical to subtropical.
The terrain is mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus
in northwest, mountains in west
Natural resources are coal, titanium.
The religion is 60% indigenous beliefs, 30% Christian, 10% Muslim.
The language is Portuguese (official); many indigenous dialects.
Munchen
see "Munich"
Munich
Munich is an industrial city and the capital of Bavaria, Germany.
Munster
Munster is a southern province of the Republic of Ireland.
Murmansk
Murmansk is a seaport in north west Russia on the Barents Sea.
Murray
The Murray is the principal river in Australia.
Muscat
Muscat is the capital of Oman.
My Lai
My Lai is a village in southern Vietnam. It was the scene of the massacre
of 109 civilians by USA troops under the command of Lt William Calley in
1968.
Mycenae
Mycenae was an ancient Greek city in the East Peloponnese which gave its
name to the Mycenaen civilization.
N'Djamena
N'Djamena is the capital of Chad.
Nachingwea
Nachingwea is a military training base in Tanzania that was used by the
ANC.
Nadir
The Nadir is the point opposite to the Zenith, i.e., the point of the
heavens directly below the observer.
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in north east India.
Nagano
Nagano is a city on the River Sinanogawa in Japan. It is a cultural
centre with industry comprised of publishing, manufacturing and food-
processing.
Nagasaki
Nagasaki is an industrial port on Kyushu Island, Japan. It was destroyed
by an antomic bomb dropped on it by the USA on 9th August 1945.
Nagorno Karabakh
Nagorno Karabakh is a region of Azerbaijan.
Nagoya
Nagoya is the 3rd city of Japan. It is a major port and industrial
centre.
Naha
Naha is the capital city of Okinawa Island.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital of Kenya.
Naivasha
Lake Naivasha was a Maasai grazing ground outside of Nairobi until it was
discovered by Joseph Thomson in 1884. The British persuaded the Maasai to
give up their grazing rights so that villas for white settlers could be
built. Today Lake Naivasha is a beauty spot and home to a plethora of
wildlife.
Nakua'lofa
Nakua'lofa is the capital of Tonga.
Namibia
Namibia is a country in south west Africa. It has a total area of 824,290
km2.
The climate is desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic.
The terrain is mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari
Desert in east.
Natural resources are diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, zinc,
salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of coal and iron
ore.
The religion is predominantly Christian.
The language is Afrikaans principal language of about 60% of white
population, German of 33%, and English of 7% (all official); several
indigenous languages.
Nanchang
Nanchang is an industrial city and the capital of Jianqxi province,
China.
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu.
Nanning
Nanning is an industrial river port and the capital of Guangxi Zhuang
region, China.
Naples
Naples is an industrial port and capital of Campania, Italy on the
Tyrrhenian Sea coast.
Naseby
Naseby is a village in Northamptonshire, England. It was the scene of a
decisive battle in the English civil war when the Royalists were defeated
by the Oliver Cromwell and General Fairfax.
Nashville
Nashville is the capital of Tennessee.
Nassau
Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas.
Natal
Natal is a province in South Africa north east of Cape Province in
southern Africa.
Nauru
Nauru is an island country in the south west Pacific (Polynesia). It has
a total area of 21 km2.
The climate is tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February).
The terrain is sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral
reefs with phosphate plateau in center.
Natural resources are phosphates.
The religion is Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman
Catholic).
The language is Nauruan, a distinct Pacific Island language (official);
English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and
commercial purposes.
Navarre
Navarre is an autonomous mountain region of northern Spain.
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state in central USA.
Negev
The Negev is a desert in south Israel.
Negril
Negril is a tourist resort in west Jamaica. The beach is 11km long and
protected by an off-shore reef. If you visit, watchout for the "wolves".
If you don't know what a "wolf" is, then be prepared to spend a lot of
money!
Nepal
Nepal is a country in the himalayas. It has a total area of 140,800 km2.
The climate is varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to
subtropical summers and mild winter in south
The terrain is Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central
hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Natural resources are quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential,
scenic beauty; small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore.
The religion is only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp
distinction between many Hindu (about 88% of population) and Buddhist
groups; small groups of Muslims and Christians.
The language is Nepali (official); 20 languages divided into numerous
dialects.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country in west Europe. has a total area of 37,290
km2.
The climate is temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters.
The terrain is mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some
hills in southeast.
Natural resources are natural gas, crude oil, fertile soil.
The religion is 36% Roman Catholic, 27% Protestant, 4% other, 33%
unaffiliated.
The language is Dutch.
Netherlands Antilles
The Netherlands Antilles are two groups of islands in the caribbean
belonging to the Netherlands, but having full autonomy.
Netherlands Antilles
The Netherlands Antilles are two islands in the Caribbean near Venezuela.
Nevada
Nevada is a state in west USA.
New Brighton
New Brighton is a town in Merseyside, England at the entrance to the
Mersey estuary. It is a resort and residential town.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is a province in east Canada.
New Brusnwick
New Brusnwick is a maritime province in east Canada.
New Caledonia
New caledonia is an island group in the south Pacific. It was discovered
by Cook on 4th September 1774.
New Guinea
New Guinea is an island in the south west Pacific.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in north east USA.
New Hebrides
New Hebrides was the name of Vanuatu until 1980.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in north east USA.
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state in south west USA.
New Orleans
New Orleans is a commercial and industrial city and river port on the
Mississippi river in Louisiana, USA.
New South Wales
New south Wales is a state in south east Australia.
New York
New York is a state in north east USA.
New Zealand
New Zealand is a two island country in the south Pacific. It has a total
area of 268,680 km2.
The climate is temperate with sharp regional contrasts.
The terrain is predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains.
Natural resources are natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber,
hydropower, gold, limestone
The religion is 81% Christian, 18% none or unspecified, 1% Hindu,
Confucian, and other.
The language is English (official), Maori.
Newbury
Newbury is a town in Berkshire north of Basingstoke. It was a prehistoric
settlement and the Normans built a castle here. Today Newbury is famous
the world over for its race course.
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne is an industrial port and commercial centre in Tyne
And Wear, England.
Newfoundland
Newfoundland is a province in north east Canada bordering the Atlantic.
Newhaven
Newhaven is a seaport town in Sussex. It hosts the cross-channel ferry
service to Dieppe.
Newport
Newport is a town on the Isle of Wight. It is the commercial capital of
the Isle of Wight and is situated on the River Medina.
Newquay
Newquay is a seaside resort in Cornwall. It was first a settlement during
the Iron age.
Ngong
Ngong is an area of Kenya outside Nairobi. The Ngong Hills are revered by
the Maasai. One Maasai story tells how a giant stripped over Kilimanjaro
on his way north, and as he fell his hand squeezed the earth and formed
the Ngong Hills.
Niagra Falls
Niagra Falls is two waterfalls on the Niagra River, on the Canada and USA
border, separated by Goat Island.
Niamey
Niamey is the capital of Niger.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a country in Central America. It has a total area of 129,494
km2.
The climate is tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands.
The terrain is extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central
interior mountains and a narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by
volcanoes.
Natural resources are gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber,
fish.
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant.
The language is Spanish (official); English - and Indian - speaking
minorities on the Atlantic coast.
Nice
Nice is a tourist city in southern France.
Nicosia
Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus.
Niedersachsen
Niedersachsen is the German name for Lower Saxony.
Niger
Niger is a country in west Africa. It has a total area of 1,267,000 km2.
The climate is desert, mostly hot, dry, dusty and tropical in the extreme
south.
The terrain is predominately desert plains and sand dunes with flat to
rolling plains in the south and hills in the north.
Natural resources are uranium, coal, iron ore, tin and phosphates.
The religion is 80% Muslim, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians.
The language is French (official); Hausa, Djerma.
Nigeria
Nigeria is a country in west Africa. The climate is tropical in the
center and arid in the north.
The terrain is southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus
with mountains in the southeast and plains in north.
Natural resources are crude oil, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal,
limestone, lead, zinc and natural gas.
The religion is 50% Muslim, 40% Christian, 10% indigenous beliefs.
The language is English (official); Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, and
several other languages also widely used.
Nile
The Nile is the world's longest river and is in Africa.
Ningxia Hui
Ningxia Hui is an autonomous region of north west China.
Niue
Niue (Savage Island) was formerly one of the Cook Islands. It has a total
area of 260 km2.
The climate is tropical; modified by southeast trade winds.
The terrain is steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau.
Natural resources are fish, arable land.
The religion is 75% Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church)-a Protestant church
closely related to the London Missionary Society, 10% Mormon, 5% Roman
Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist.
The language is Polynesian tongue closely related to Tongan and Samoan;
English.
Niut Ammon
Niut Ammon was the Egyptian name of the city of Thebes.
Norfolk
Norfolk is a county on the east coast of England.
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a remote Pacific island. It was discovered by Cook in
1774. It was a penal settlement from 1788 to 1853. It is now a tourist
resort. It has a total area of 34.6 km2.
The climate is subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation.
The terrain is volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains.
Natural resources are fish.
The religion is Anglican, Roman Catholic, Uniting Church in Australia,
and Seventh-Day Adventist.
The language is English (official) and Norfolk - a mixture of 18th
century English and ancient Tahitian.
Normandy
Normandy is a region of north France.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state in the USA.
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state in the USA.
North Korea
North Korea is a country in east Asia. has a total area of 120,540 km2.
The climate is temperate with the rainfall concentrated in the summer.
The terrain is mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow
valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east.
Natural resources are coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite,
iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower,
The religion is Buddhism and Confucianism; religious activities now
almost nonexistent.
The language is Korean.
North Moravia
North Moravia is a region of Czechoslovkia.
North Sea
The North Sea is the sea to the east of Britain.
North-West Passage
The North-West Passage is a sea route from the Atlantic to the Pacific
around the north of Canada.
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a county in central England.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is a part of Ireland which was created in 1921 when the
mainly Protestant counties of Ulter withdrew from the newly formed Irish
Free State. It is part of Great Britain and comes under English rule.
Northern Territory
Northern territory is a territory of Australia.
Northumberland
Northumberland is a county in north England.
Northumbria
Northumbria was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom covering north east England and
south east Scotland.
Northwest territories
Northwest territories are a territory of Canada.
Norway
Norway is a Scandinavian country in north west Europe. It has a total
area of 324,220 km2.
The climate is temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current;
colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast.
The terrain is glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains
broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply
indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north.
Natural resources are crude oil, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel,
iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower.
The religion is 94% Evangelical Lutheran (state church), 4% other
Protestant and Roman Catholic, 2% other.
The language is Norwegian (official); small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking
minorities.
Norwich
Norwich is a city in Norfolk, England on the River Wensum. It has a
university and a castle. Its main industry is footwear and printing.
Norwich is a town in Conneecticut, USA. Its industry is comprised
primarily of textiles.
Nottingham
Nottingham is an industrial city in Nottinghamshire, England.
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in central England.
Nouakchott
Nouakchott is the capital of Mauritania.
Nova Scotia
Nova scotia is a province in east Canada.
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is an industrial and commercial city and capital of Vojvodina
province, Yugoslavia. It is located on the River Danube.
Noviomagus
see "Chichester"
Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk is an industrial city in west Siberia.
Nuba
The nuba is a mountain range in Sudan.
Nukua'lofa
Nukua'lofa is the capital of Tonga.
Numazu
Numazu is a manufacturing town on Honshu island, Japan.
Nuremberg
Nuremberg is an industrial city in Bavaria, Germany.
Nuuk
Nuuk is the Greenland name for Godthaab.
Nykobing
Nykobing is a seaport in Denmark.
Oadby
Oadby is a town in Leicestershire. It is 5KM south east of Leicester.
Oahu
Oahu is the main island of Hawaii. Honolulu is on Oahu island.
Oare
Oare is a village in Somerset in the Exmoor valley.
Oaxaca
Oaxaca is the capital city of Oaxaca state in Mexico. It is the site of
gold and silver mines. Oaxaca is a mountainous, agricultural state on
Mexico's Pacific coast.
Ob
The Ob is a river in Siberia. It flows 4160 km from the Altai mountains
to the Gulf of Ob.
Oberammergau
Oberammergau is a village in Bavaria.
Ocean
An ocean is a great expanse of water which surrounds the land masses of
the earth.
Oder
The Oder river flows 896 km from Moravia to the Baltic through Silesia
and Pomerania forming a frontier between Poland and Germany.
Odessa
Odessa is a port on the Black Sea built by the Empress Catharine of
Russia in 1784.
Offa's Dyke
Offa's Dyke is an earthwork which was constructed by Offa, then King of
Mercia, in in the 8th century as a boundary between Wales and England.
Offaly
Offaly is a county of Leinster province, Republic of Ireland.
Offenbach
Offenbach is a town in Germany on the River Malne.
Ogbomosho
Ogbomosho is a commercial city in western Nigeria.
Ohio
Ohio is a mid west state in the USA. It was settled by the French in
1673.
Okehampton
Okehampton is a town in Devon on dartmoor.
Okhotsk
The Sea of Okhotsk is an arm of the North Pacific Ocean between the
Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin. It is frozen most of the year, clearing
in summer, and is often fogbound.
Okinawa
Okinawa is an island in the west Pacific.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state in south west USA.
Olenek
The Olenek is a river in northern Siberia. It flows 2160 km west from the
Lena River to the Laptev Sea.
Olten
Olten is a town in Switzerland on the River Aare.
Olympus
Olympus is the name of several mountains in Greece. The most famous being
Miunt Olympus north of Thessaly.
Oman
Oman is a country in Arabia.
Omdurman
Omdurman is a city in Sudan on the White Nile, opposite Khartoum. It was
the scene of a battle in 1898 when the Mahdi were defeated by the British
under Kitchener.
Omsk
Omsk is a city in west Siberia at the confluence of the Irtysh and Om
rivers. It is an important railway port on the Trans-Siberian railway.
Omuta
Omuta is a seaport town in west Kyushu, Japan, on the Amakusa Sea coast.
Ontario
Ontario is a province in central Canada.
Lake Ontario is the smallest and easternmost of the Great Lakes. It is on
the USA Canada border and drains into the St. Lawrence River.
Oporto
Oporto is an industrial city in Portugal on the Douro river, 5km from its
mouth.
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State is a province of South Africa.
Orasul Stalin
Orasul Stalin was the name of the Romanian town of Brasov from 1948 to
1956.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the west of the USA.
Orinocco
The Orinocco is a river in South America. It flows 2400km through
Venezuela to form part of the boundary with Colombia.
Orinoco
The orinoco is a river in south America.
Orissa
Orissa is a state in north east India.
Orkney
see "Orkney_Islands"
Orkney islands
The orkney islands are a group of islands off the north east coast of
Scotland.
Osaka
Osaka is an industrial port on Honshu island, Japan.
Oshogbo
Oshogbo is a city and trading centre on the River Niger in west Nigeria.
Oslo
Oslo is the capital of Norway.
Ostava
Ostava is an industrial city in Czechoslovakia.
Osterreich
Osterreich is the Austrian name for Austria.
Ostia
Ostia is an ancient town in Italy near the mouth of the Tiber.
Otaru
Otaru is a seaport town in Japan.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
Otterbourne
Otterbourne is a village in Hampshire in the Itchen valley on the
Southampton to Winchester road.
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso.
Oudh
Oudh is a region of northern India, it is now part of Uttar Pradesh.
Ouse
The Ouse is a river formed by the river Swale and river Ure. It flows
through North Yorkshire and Humberside to the humber estuary. It is 208km
long. The Ouse is a river in East Sussex which flows to the English
Channel at Newhaven. It is 48km long. The Great Ouse is a river which
rises in south Northamptonshire and flows north east to the Wash. It is
250km long.
Oxford
Oxford is a famous university city about 80 km west of London.
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in south England.
Ozark Mountains
The Ozark Mountains are a forested mountain range in Oklahoma and
Arkansas, USA.
Ozd
Ozd is a town in Hungary.
Pacific
The Pacific ocean is the world's largest ocean.
Padstow
Padstow is a fishing town in Cornwall.
Padua
Padua is a city in north Italy, 45km west of Venice.
Pakistan
Pakistan is a muslim republic in south Asia. It has a total area of
803,940 km2.
The climate is mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in
north.
The terrain is flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and
northwest; Balochistan plateau in west.
Natural resources are land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited crude
oil, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone.
The religion is 97% Muslim (77% Sunni, 20% Shia), 3% Christian, Hindu,
and other.
The language is Urdu and English (official); total spoken languages-64%
Punjabi, 12% Sindhi, 8% Pashtu, 7% Urdu, 9% Balochi and other; English is
lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries, but
official policies are promoting its gradual replacement by Urdu.
Palau
Palau was a former name, until 1981, of the Republic of Belau in the west
Pacific.
Palermo
Palermo is a seaport and the capital of Sicily.
Palestine
Palestine is the area of between the mediterranean and the river Jordan.
Palma
Palma is an industrial port and resort and capital of the Balearic
Islands on Majorca.
Pamirs
The Pamirs is a plateau in central Asia.
Pampas
Pampas are flat, treeless plains in Argentina between the Andes and the
Atlantic.
Panama
Panama is a country in central America. It has a total area of 78,200
km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May
to January), short dry season (January to May).
The terrain is interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected,
upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills.
Natural resources are copper, mahogany forests, shrimp.
The religion is over 93% Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant.
The language is Spanish (official); 14% speak English as native tongue;
many Panamanians bilingual.
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a canal across the Panama isthmus connecting the
Pacific and the Atlantic oceans.
Panama City
Panama City is the capital of Panama.
Panipat
Panipat is a town in north west India on the Jumna river. It has been the
scene of a number of battles.
Papaloa
The Papaloa is a river in Mexico.
Papeete
Papeete is the capital of Tahiti.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is a country in the south west Pacific. It has a total
area of 461,690 km2.
The climate is tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast
monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation.
The terrain is mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling
foothills.
Natural resources are gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil
potential.
The religion is over half of population nominally Christian (490,000
Roman Catholic, 320,000 Lutheran, other Protestant sects); remainder
indigenous beliefs.
The language is 715 indigenous languages; English spoken by 1-2%, pidgin
English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region.
Paraguay
Paraguay is a country in South America. It has a total area of 406,750
km2.
The climate is varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west.
The terrain is grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran
Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the
river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere.
Natural resources are iron ore, manganese, limestone, hydropower, timber.
The religion is 90% Roman Catholic; Mennonite and other Protestant
denominations.
The language is Spanish (official) and Guarani.
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital of Surinam.
Parana
The Parana is a river in South America formed by the confluence of the
Rio Grande and Paranaiba.
Paris
Paris is a port and the capital city of France.
Parma
Parma is the capital city of Parma province in Italy. It is from Parma
that parmesan cheese comes.
Parnassus
Parnassus is a mountain in central Greece. It stands 2457 meters high and
was revered as the home of Apollo.
Paros
Paros is a Greek island west of Naxos. It is the source of Parian marble.
Parthia
Parthia was an ancient country in west Asia in what is now north eastern
Iran.
Passchendaele
Passchendaele is a village in west Flanders, Belgium near to Ypres.
Patras
Patras is an industrial city on the Gulf of Patras, in Greece.
Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire is an agricultural region of west France.
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is a USA naval base in Oahu, Hawaii.
Peking
see "Beijing"
Peloponnese
Peloponnese is a peninsula forming the southern part of Greece.
Pemba
Pemba is an island with Tanzania.
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a former county in the extreme south west of Wales. It
became part of Dyfed in 1974.
Penang
Penang is a port on the island of Penang in Malaysia.
Pennines
The pennines are a mountain range in England.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a state in north east USA.
Pentland Firth
The Pentland Firth is the most difficult navigational passage on the
coasts of the United Kingdom due to the great strength of the tidal
streams.
Pentland Hills
The Pentland Hills are a range of rounded hills in the Lothian, Borders
and Strathclyde regions of Scotland.
Pentonville
Pentonville is a prison in Islington, London.
Penzance
Penzance is a town in Cornwall, England. It was the first Cornish town to
become a resort. Penzance gained its prosperity from the local tin-mining
industry, and smuggling. It was razed to the ground in 1595 by the
Spanish, but was rebuilt.
Perlis
Perlis is a State of Malaysia.
Perranporth
Perranporth is a village in Cornwall. It was originally a tin-mining
village, reaching its peak in 1874. Today it is a seaside resort.
Persepolis
Persepolis was the ancient capital of the Persian Empire. It was located
65km north west of Shiraz.
Persia
Persia was an ancient kingdom in south west Asia.
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf is a shallow bay linked by the Strait of Hormuz and the
Gulf of Oman to the Arabian Sea.
Perth
Perth is the capital of western Australia.
Perthshire
Perthshire is a former inland county of central Scotland.
Peru
Peru is a country in South America. It has a total area of 1,285,220 km2.
The climate varies from tropical in the east to dry desert in the west.
The terrain is western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in
center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva).
Natural resources are copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron
ore, coal, phosphate, potash.
The religion is predominantly Roman Catholic.
The language is Spanish and Quechua (official), Aymara.
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan.
Petersfield
Petersfield is a town in Hampshire. It was first chartered in the 12th
century, and became properous through the wool trade and then became an
important coaching centre. Today Petersfield is a lot quieter.
Petrograd
Petrograd was the name of Leningrad from 1914 until 1924.
Petropavlovsk
Petropavlovsk is the capital and only town in Kamchatka.
Petworth
Petworth is an old country town in Sussex. It is the site of Petworth
house, a great mansion built by the Duke of Sommerset towards the end of
the 17th century.
Pharos
Pharos is an island off Alexandria on which stood a tower lighthouse
built by Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is an industrial city and port on the Delaware river in
Pennsylvania, USA.
Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago country in the Pacific Ocean and South
China Sea. It has a total area of 300,000 km2.
The climate is tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April);
southwest monsoon (May to October).
The terrain is mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal
lowlands.
Natural resources are timber, crude oil, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold,
salt, copper.
The religion is 83% Roman Catholic, 9% Protestant, 5% Muslim, 3% Buddhist
and other.
The language is Pilipino (based on Tagalog) and English; both
official.*Poland
Poland is a country in central Europe.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital of Kampuchea.
Phoenicia
Phoenicia was a country in the ancient world. It was located on a narrow
strip of land along the coast of what is now called Lebanon.
Phoenix
Phoenix is the capital of Arizona.
Phom Penh
Phom Penh is the capital of Kampuchea.
Phrygia
Phrygia is a former kingdom of western Asia covering Anatolia.
Picardy
Picardy was a province of northern France between Normandy and Flanders.
Pichincha
Pichincha is an inactive volcano in Ecuador. It stands 4789 metres high.
Piddletrenthide
Piddletrenthide is one of the most scenic villages in Dorset.
Piedmont
Piedmont is a region of northern Italy bordering Switzerland on the north
and France on the west.
Pilgrims' Way
The Pilgrims' Way is a track running from Winchester to Canterbury,
England which was the route of medieval pilgrims visiting the shrine of
Thomas a Becket.
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Italy famous for its leaning tower.
Pitcairn islands
The Pitcairn islands are a British colony north east of New Zealand. They
have a total area of 47 km2.
The climate is tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds;
rainy season (November to March).
The terrain is rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs.
Natural resources are miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish.
The religion is 100% Seventh-Day Adventist.
The language is English (official); also a Tahitian/English dialect.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is an industrial city and inland port where the Allegheny and
Monogahela meet to form the Ohio River in Pennsylvania, USA.
Pizen
Pizen is an industrial city and capital of Zapadocesky region,
Czechoslovakia.
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and seaport in Devon.
Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the chief port of the Congo. It was the capital of the
Congo from 1950 until 1958.
Poitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes is a region of west central France.
Poland
Poland is a country in central Europe. It has a total area of 312,680
km2.
The climate is temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters
with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
thundershowers.
The terrain is mostly flat plain, mountains along southern border.
Natural resources are coal, sulphur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead,
salt.
The religion is 95% Roman Catholic (about 75% practicing), 5% Russian
Orthodox, Protestant, and other.
The language is Polish.
Pompeii
Pompeii was an ancient city in Italy at the foor of Vesuvius, 21km south
east of Naples. It was destroyed by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79.
Pondicherry
Pondicherry is a union territory of south east India.
Poole
Poole is a sea port in Dorset, England. It is famed for its pottery.
Popocatapetl
Popocatapetl is a volcano in Mexico. It is 5452 metres high.
Popocatepeti
Popocatepeti is a volcano in Amecameca, south east Mexico. It is 5340
meters high.
Porlock
Porlock is a village in Somerset on the edge of Exmoor.
Port Antonio
Port Antonio is a small town with two natural harbours in east Jamaica.
Port Au Prince
Port Au Prince is the capital of Haiti.
Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth is an industrial port in Cape province, South Africa.
Port Louis
Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius.
Port moresby
Port moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea.
Port Morseby
Port Morseby is a port and the capital of Papua New Guinea, on the south
coast of New Guinea.
Port of Spain
Port of Spain is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago.
Port Rashid
Port Rashid is a port serving Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Portmore
Portmore was a large swamp in south-east Jamaica. During the mid-1990's
it was drained and a large housing estate built upon it. As the area is
very flat and exposed, temperatures rise to amongst the highest on the
island.
Porto Novo
Porto Novo is the capital of Benin.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a seaport in Hampshire. It is home to the Royal Navy. The
first dock was built in 1194 by Richard I. In 1495 the world's first dry
dock was built at Portsmouth.
Portugal
Portugal is a country in south west Europe. It has a total area of 92,080
km2.
The climate is maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and
drier in south.
The terrain is mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south.
Natural resources are fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium
ore, marble.
The religion is 97% Roman Catholic, 1% Protestant denominations, 2%
other.
The language is Portuguese.
Powys
Powys is a county in central Wales.
Poznan
Poznan is an industrial city in western Poland.
Prague
Prague is the capital of Czechoslovakia.
Praia
Praia is the capital of Cape Verde.
Pressburg
Pressburg is the German name for Bratislava.
Pretoria
Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a province of Canada. It was originally called
Isle St-Jean by Cartier who discovered it in 1534.
Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur
Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur is a region in south east France.
Prussia
Prussia was a kingdom in northern Germany from 1618 until 1867 when it
became part of Germany.
Puddletown
Puddletown is one of the most attractive villages in Dorset.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a country in the Caribbean. It has a total area of 9,104
km2.
The climate is tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature
variation.
The terrain is mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north;
mountains precipitous to sea on west coast
Natural resources are some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and
offshore crude oil.
The religion is mostly Christian, 85% Roman Catholic, 15% Protestant
denominations and other.
The language is Spanish (official); English is widely understood.*Punjab
Punjab is a state in north west India.
Pune
Pune is an industrial city in Maharashtra, India. It was formerly called
Poona.
Punjab
Punjab is a state in north west India.
Pusan
Pusan is the chief industrial port of South Korea.
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are a mountain range between France and Spain.
Pyrford
Pyrford is an ancient village near to Woking in Surrey, England. It was
founded at a ford over the river Wey.
Qatar
Qatar is a country in Arabia. It a total area of 11,000 km2.
The climate is desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer.
The terrain is mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and
gravel.
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, fish.
The religion is 95% Muslim.
The language is Arabic (official); English is commonly used as second
language.*Queensland
Queensland is a state in north east Australia.
Qinghai
Qinghai is a province in north west China.
Qisarya
Qisarya is a Mediterranean port north of Tel Aviv, Israel.
Quantocks
The Quantocks are a 19 km long ridge of hills in Somerset.
Quebec
Quebec is a province and also the capital of the province in east Canada.
Queen Camel
Queen Camel is a village in Somerset.
Queensland
Queensland is a state in north east Australia.
Quezon City
Quezon City is a town in the Philippines on Luzon island. It was the
capital of the Philippines from 1948 until 1976.
Quito
Quito is the capital of Ecuador.
Rabat
Rabat is the capital of Morocco.
Rajasthan
Rajasthan is a state in north west India.
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a town in Kent. It was once an important port, after 1827 it
became popular as a seasid resort following a visit by George IV.
Rangoon
Rangoon is the capital of Burma.
Rannoch
Rannoch is a loch in Perth and Kinross. It is 14km long and 1.6km wide.
It drains into the river Tay.
Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui is another name for Easter Island.
Raung
Raung is a volcano in Indonesia. It stands 3332 metres high.
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi is a city in Punjab province, Pakistan at the foothills of the
Himalayas.
Razorbill
The razorbill is a north atlantic sea bird.
Reading
Reading is a city in Berkshire north of Basingstoke. Reading is on the
River Thames and because of its strategic importance was occupied by the
Danes in 871.
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a submerged section of the Great Rift Valley. It is a sea
2000km long with Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia on its shores.
Regina
Regina is the capital of Saskatchewan.
Regnum
see "Selsey"
Reigate
Reigate is an old town in Surrey. It was not called Reigate until the
12th century, previous to that it was the manor of the Earl of Surrey.
Reims
Reims is the capital of Champagne Ardenne region in France.
Rennes
Rennes is an industrial city and capital of Ille-et-Vilaine department,
western France.
Reunion
Reunion is an island in the Indian ocean.
Reykjavic
Reykjavic is the capital of Iceland.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland.
Rhine
The rhine is a river that rises in Switzerland and flows through Germany
and the netherlands.
Rhode Island
Rhode island is the smallest state in the USA.
Rhodes
Rhodes is a Greek island.
Rhodesia
Rhodesia was a white ruled country in Africa. It went over to black rule
and divided into Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Rhone
The Rhone is a river that rises in Switzerland and flows to Lyon in
France.
Ribble
The River Ribble rises in the Pennines and flows 121 km to the Irish Sea
near Southport.
Richmond
Richmond is a Royal manor on the River Thames in greater London.
Rif
The Rif Mountains are a mountain range in Morocco. They extend along the
north African coast for 320 km from the Straits of Gibraltar.
Riga
Riga is the capital city of Latvia. It is a Baltic sea port.
Ringwood
Ringwood is a market town in Hampshire by the River Avon.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is a city in south east Brazil. It is a sea port. It is
the capital city of Guanabara state and former federal state capital.
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river rising in the rockies in Colorado and flowing
to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Rio Grande is the headstream of the River Parana in Brazil. It is
1040km long.
River Derwent
The River Derwent is the largest river in Tasmania. It is 190km long. The
River Derwent is a river in Derbyshire. It is a tribute of the River
Trent. It is 96km long. The River Derwent is a river in north Yorkshire.
It is a tribute of the River Ouse. It is 91km long.
River Lea
The river Lea rises in the Chiltern hills near Luton and flows south and
east into the river Thames at East London. It is 74km long.
River Ribble
The River Ribble rises in the Pennines and flows west to the Irish sea
near Preston. It is 120km long.
River Tay
The Tay river flows south east from Loch Tay in Perth and Kinross to the
Firth of Tay. It is 188km long and the longest river in Scotland.
River Thames
The river Thames rises in the Cotswold hills and flows past Oxford,
Reading, Windosr and London to the North Sea. It is 336km long.
River Trent
The River Trent rises in north staffordshire, flows around the south
Pennines and joins the River Ouse to form the Humber estuary. It is 240km
long.
River Tummel
The River Tummel is a tributary of the River Tay. It is 88km long.
River Wear
The river Wear rises in the Pennines, and flows through Durham to the
North Sea at Sunderland. It is 96km long.
Riyadh
Riyadh is the royal capital of Saudi Arabia. It is 368km inland from the
Persian Gulf.
Rize
Rize is a market city in east Turkey.
Rochdale
Rochdale is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It was the site of the
founding of the cooperative movement in 1844.
Rochester
Rochester is a town in Kent. It was originally a Celtic settlement, it is
now a connercial town.
Rockall
Rockall is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean 320km west of the Outer
Hebrides. It was annexed by Britain in 1955.
Rocky Mountains
The rocky mountains are a mountain range in west USA.
Romania
Romania is a country in south east Europe. It has a total area of 237,500
km2.
The climate is temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and
fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms.
The terrain is central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the plain of
Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the
Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps.
Natural resources are crude oil (reserves being exhausted), timber,
natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt.
The religion is 80% Romanian Orthodox; 6% Roman Catholic; 4% Calvinist,
Lutheran, Jewish, Baptist.
The language is Romanian, Hungarian, German.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy.
Romsey
Romsey is a market town in the Test Valley, Hampshire. It stands on the
River Test 14km north west of Southampton.
Ronda
Ronda is an ancient Moorish town in Malaga, Spain.
Ronne
Ronne is the capital of Bornholm Island in Denmark. It is a fishing port
and ceramics centre.
Roosendaal
Roosendaal is a sugar-refining town in the Netherlands.
Roquefort
Roquefort is a town in south France famous for its particular brand of
cheese.
Rorke's Drift
Rorke's Drift is a ford on the Buffalo River in South Africa, about 32km
south-east of Dundee. It was the scene of a famous and gallant defence by
a few British soldiers against 4000 Zulus on January 22, 1879 in which a
large number of Victoria Cross medals were awarded for bravery.
Roscoff
Roscoff is a seaport on the north coast of France. It was here that Mary
Steuart landed in 1548.
Roscommon
Roscommon is a county of Connacht province, Republic of Ireland.
Roseau
Roseau is the capital of Dominica.
Ross Dependency
The Ross Dependency is a large area of the Antarctic belonging to New
Zealand.
Rossendale Fells
The Rossendale Fells is an upland in south east Lancashire. They are an
extension of the Pennines between the River Mersey and River Ribble.
Their
altitude is mainly above 360m.
Rostock
Rostock is a medieval city in Germany close to the Baltic coast.
Rostov
Rostov is a port on the River Don near to the Azov Sea. It is one of
Russia's oldest agricultural centres.
Rother
The Rother is a river in Derbyshire and south Yorkshire. It is 34km long.
Rotherham
Rotherham is a manufacturing town in South Yorkshire on the River Don 6km
north east of Sheffield.
Rothwell
Rothwell is a coal mining town in West Yorkshire. It stands on the River
Aire 5km south east of Leeds.
Rotorua
Rotorua is a spa town in Auckland, New Zealand.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a city and seaport in the Netherlands.
Rottingdean
Rottingdean is a village in Sussex 6 km from Brighton.
Ruhr
The Ruhr is a river in Germany.
Runnymede
Runnymede is a green expanse of meadows outside Egham in Surrey.
Russia
Russia is a country in east Europe.
Rustavi
Rustavi is a new town in Georgia 32km south east of Tbilisi. It has a
large metallurgical plant.
Rutbah
Rutbah is a town on the trans-desert route from Iraq to Haifa.
Rwanda
Rwanda is a country in central Africa. It has a total area of 26,340 km2.
The climate is temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November
to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible.
The terrain is mostly grassy uplands and hills; mountains in west.
Natural resources are gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten
ore), natural gas, hydropower.
The religion is Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%, indigenous
beliefs and other 25%.
The language is Kinyarwanda, French (official); Kiswahili used in
commercial centers.
Ryde
Ryde is a seaport on the Isle of Wight. It is a popular seaside resort
and is the main point of entry to the island with connecting ferries to
Portsmouth.
Rye
Rye is a town in Surrey popular with tourists for its Tudor, Stuart and
Georgian houses.
Ryssel
Ryssel is the Flemish name for Lille.
Ryukyu Islands
The Ryukyu Islands are the southernmost island group of Japan.
Saarland
Saarland is a heavily forested state in Germany.
Sahara
The Sahara is a north African desert extending from the Atlantic to the
Nile.
Saigon
see "Ho_Chi_Minh_City"
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is a country in the Caribbean.
Sakartvelo
Sakartvelo is the Georgian name for the country of Georgia.
Sakhalin
Sakhalin is an island in the Pacific north of Japan.
Salado
The Salado is a river in north west Argentina. It is 800km long.
Salch
Salch is a seaport near Fez in Morocco.
Salcombe
Salcombe is a seaside resort town in Devon.
Salerno
Salerno is the capital of Salerno province in south Italy. The allied
landings took place here in 1943.
Salisbury
Salisbury is the former name of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.
Salisbury is an old town in Wiltshire built upon the junction of the
River Avon and the River Nadder.
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah, USA.
Salvador
Salvador is a port and naval base in Bahia state, Brazil.
Salzburg
Salzburg is the capital of Salzburg state, Austria. It stands on the
River Salzburg.
Samarkand
Samarkand is the capital of Samarkand region, Uzbek.
Samoa
Samoa is a volcanic island group in the south west Pacific.
San Antonio
San Antonio is a city in south Texas, USA.
San Diego
San Diego is a city and military base in California, USA.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a Pacific port in California, USA.
San Jose
San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica.
San Juan
San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico.
San Luis
San Luis is the capital of San Luis province in Argentina. It is a
cattle, grain and wine producing centre.
San Luis Potosi
San Luis Potosi is a silver-mining city and the capital of San Luis
Potosi state in central Mexico.
San Marino
San Marino is a country in north Italy. It has a total area of 60 km2.
The climate is Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers.
The terrain is rugged mountains.
Natural resources are building stones.
The religion is Roman Catholic.
The language is Italian.
San Salvador
San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador.
San'a
San'a is the capital of North Yemen.
Sandhurst
Sandhurst is a village in berkshire.
Sandown
Sandown is a seaside resort on the Isle of Wight 3 km north of Shanklin.
Sandwich
Sandwich is an old town and one time naval port in Kent.
Sandwich Islands
The Sandwich Islands is a former name of Hawaii.
Sangay
Sangay is a volcano in Ecuador. It is 5410 metres high.
Santiago
Santiago is the capital of Chile.
Santillana del Mar
Santillana del Mar is a village in Santander provibce, Spain.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is the capital and chief sea port of the Dominican
Republic.
Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo is a city in Brazil. It is South America's leading industrial
city producing electronics, steel and chemicals.
Sao Tome Principe
Sao Tome Principe is a country off the west coast of Africa. It has a
total area of 960 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May).
The terrain is volcanic, mountainous.
Natural resources are fish.
The religion is Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day
Adventist.
The language is Portuguese (official).
Sapele
Sapele is a town in Nigeria south of Benin. It is a plywood plant.
Sapporo
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, Japan.
Saragossa
Saragossa is an industrial city in Aragon, Spain.
Sarajevo
Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia Hercegovina.
Sarawak
Sarawak is a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo.
Sardinia
Sardinia is a mountainous island in the mediterranean.
Sargasso Sea
The Sargasso Sea is part of the north Atlantic. Circling ocean currents
leave it static, and its surface is covered with floating weed.
Sark
Sark is one of the Channel islands.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a province in west Canada.
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a town in Canada. It is 241 km north west of Regina.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia os a country in Arabia.
Sauerland
Sauerland is a district in west Germany.
Savanna-La-Mar
Savanna-La-Mar is a sea port in south west Jamaica. It has an unusual
claim to fame as the port most devastated by hurricanes in the world.
Save
The save is a river which rises in the alps and flows through Yugolsavia
and Italy and terminates in the danube at belgrade.
Savoy
Savoy is an area of France between the Alps, Lake Geneva and the Rhone.
Saxony
Saxony was a former kingdom in germany.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a peninsula in north west Europe.
Scarpe
The scarpe is a river in France.
Scilly Islands
The Scilly Islands are a group of 140 islands south west of Cornwall.
Scotland
Scotland is a country north of England.
Scyros
Scyros is an island in the aegean sea. Theseus was killed and buried on
Scyros.
Scythia
Scythia is a region north of the Black Sea between the Carpathian
mountains and the river Don.
Sea of Okhotsk
see "Okhotsk"
Sedgemoor
Sedgemoor is a battlefield in Sommerset where the Duke of Monmouth was
defeated on july the 6th 1685.
Sedlescombe
Sedlescombe is a village in Sussex dating back to at least Anglo-Saxon
times.
Seine
The Seine is a French river.
Selsey
Selsey was once an island in the English Channel, it is now a peninsular
in Sussex. It was the site of a Roman settlement called Regnum.
Selworthy
Selworthy is a village in the Vale of Porlock, in Somerset.
Semarang
Semarang is a port in north Java.
Sempach
Sempach is a town in Switzerland where Swiss independance was gained in
1386.
Senegal
Senegal is a country in west Africa. It has a total area of 196,190 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (December to April) has
strong southeast winds; dry season (May to November) dominated by hot,
dry harmattan wind.
The terrain is generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in
southeast.
Natural resources are fish, phosphates, iron ore.
The religion is 92% Muslim, 6% indigenous beliefs, 2% Christian (mostly
Roman Catholic).
The language is French (official); Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo.
Seoul
Seoul is the capital of South Korea.
Serajevo
Serajevo is the capital of Bosnia in Yugolsavia.
Serbia
Serbia is a country in Yugolsavia.
Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a residential town in Kent.
Severn
The Severn is a river in England. It rises in Plynlimmon and flows 354 km
to the Bristol Channel.
Seville
Seville is a sea port on the Guadalquir River in Spain. It is the capital
city of Seville province. It is a major commercial, industrial and
cultural centre.
Seychelles
The seychelles is an island group country in the Indian ocean north of
Madagascar. It has a total area of 455 km2.
The climate is tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast
monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon
(March to May).
The terrain varies. The Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip,
rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
Natural resources are fish, copra, cinnamon trees.
The religion is 90% Roman Catholic, 8% Anglican, 2% other.
The language is English and French (official); Creole.
Sfax
Sfax is a sea-port in Tunisia.
Shaanxi
Shaanxi is a province of north west China.
Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is a town in Dorset. It was originally an Anglo-Saxon
fortified town.
Shamokin
Shamokin is a town in Pennsylvania.
Shandong
Shandong is a province in north east China.
Shanghai
Shanghai is a port on the Huang-pu and Wusong rivers in Jiangsu province,
China.
Shanklin
Shanklin is a town in the Isle of Wight.
Shannon
The Shannon is the longest river in Ireland.
Shansi
Shansi is a province of China.
Shantung
Shantung is a province of China.
Shanxi
Shanxi is a province in north west China.
Sharjah
Sharjah is a member state of the United Arab Emirates. It is located on
the Arabian Gulf, north east of Dubai.
Sharpeville
Sharpeville is a black township on South Africa.
Shatt-al-Arab
Shatt-al-Arab is the waterway formed by the confluence of the Euphrates
and Tigris. It flows 190km to the Arabian Gulf.
Sheba
Sheba was the ancient name for what is now South Yemen.
Shechem
Shechem was an ancient city in Palestine, and the capital of Samaria.
Sheffield
Sheffield is an industrial city in Yorkshire, England. It is famous for
its steel industries, and fine cutlery.
Shekel
The shekel is the currency of Israel.
Shendi
Shendi is a town in Egypt.
Shensi
Shensi is a province of China.
Shenyang
Shenyang is the capital of Liaoning.
Sherborne
Sherborne is a picturesque village in Dorset.
Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest is an area of west Nottinghamshire, England. It was
formerly a royal forest.
Shetland
The shetland are a group of islands north of Scotland.
Shikoku
Shikoku is the smallest of the four main Japanese islands.
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in west England.
Shusha
Shusha is a town and former fortress in Azerbaijan.
Siberia
Siberia is a region of north Asia.
Sichuan
Sichuan is a province in central China.
Sicily
Sicily is an island south west of Italy.
Sidmouth
Sidmouth is a seaside resort town in Devon.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is a country in west Africa. It has a total area of 71,740
km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to
December); winter dry season (December to April)
The terrain is coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country,
upland plateau, mountains in east.
Natural resources are diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold,
chromite.
The religion is 30% Muslim, 30% indigenous beliefs, 10% Christian, 30%
other or none.
The language is English (official); regular use limited to literate
minority; principal vernaculars are Mende in south and Temne in north;
Krio is the language of the resettled ex-slave population of the Freetown
area and is lingua franca.
Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre is a system of 3 mountain ranges in Mexico.
Sikkim
Sikkim is a state in north east India.
Silchester
Silchester is a village in Hampshire. It was originally a Celtic
settlement. The Romans formed a settlement, calling it Calleva Atrebatum.
Silesia
Silesia is a region in Europe.
Sinai
Sinai is an Egyptian peninsula at the head of the Red Sea.
Singapore
Singapore is an island country in south east Asia. It has a total area of
632.6 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry
seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April).
The terrain is lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water
catchment area and nature preserve.
Natural resources are fish, deepwater ports.
The religion is majority of Chinese are Buddhists or atheists; Malays
nearly all Muslim (minorities include Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Taoists,
Confucianists).
The language is Chinese, Malay, Tamil, and English (official); Malay
(national).
Sinop
Sinop is a sea port with a natural harbour on the Black Sea in north
Turkey. In 1853 the Russians sank the Turkish fleet at Sinop and so began
the Crimean War.
Siquijor
Siquijor is an island in the Philippines 32 km south of sebu.
Skiddaw
Skiddaw is a mountain in Cumbria north of Keswick. It is 931 metres tall.
Skien
Skien is a town in Norway.
Skopje
Skopje is an industrial city and the capital of Macedonia.
Skye
Skye is an island of the Hebrides.
Slamat
Slamat is a volcano in Indonesia. It is 3428 metres high.
Sligo
Sligo is a county of Connacht province, Republic of Ireland.
Slovakia
Slovakia is a region of eastern Czechoslovakia.
Slovenia
Slovenia is a country in Yugolsavia.
Smarden
Smarden is a village in Kent.
Snowdon
Mount Snowdon is a 1085 metres high mountain in Wales.
Sofia
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria since 1878.
Sokal
Sokal is a town in Ukraine. It was the scene of a battle between Russian
cavalry and Austrian forces in august 1914.
Solomon islands
The Solomon islands are a country in the west Pacific. They have a total
area of 28,450 km2.
The climate is tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather.
The terrain is mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls.
Natural resources are fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates.
The religion is almost all at least nominally Christian; Anglican,
Seventh-Day Adventist, and Roman Catholic Churches dominant.
The language is 120 indigenous languages; Melanesian pidgin in much of
the country is lingua franca; English spoken by 1-2% of population.
Somalia
Somalia is a country in north east Africa. It has a total area of 637,660
km2.
The climate is desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler
southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid
periods (tangambili) between monsoons.
The terrain is mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in
north.
Natural resources are uranium, and largely unexploited reserves of iron
ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt.
The religion is almost entirely Sunni Muslim.
The language is Somali (official); Arabic, Italian, English.
Somerset
Somerset is a county in south west England.
Somme
The Somme is a river in north France. It was the scene of a bloody battle
in 1917.
Sompting
Sompting is a small town in Sussex, and site of one of the oldest
churches in England.
Sonning
Sonning is a village 5 km from Reading on the River Thames in Berkshire.
Soria
Soria is the capital of Soria district in Spain. It is located on the
River Duero. It is a medieval looking town.
South Africa
South Africa is a country in south Africa. It has a total area of
1,221,040 km2.
The climate is mostly semiarid; subtropical along coast; sunny days, cool
nights.
The terrain is vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow
coastal plain.
Natural resources are gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore,
manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum,
copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas.
The religion is most whites and Coloreds and roughly 60% of blacks are
Christian; roughly 60% of Indians are Hindu, 20% Muslim.
The language is Afrikaans, English (official); many vernacular languages,
including Zulu, Xhosa, North and South Sotho, Tswana.
South America
South America is an American continent.
South Australia
South Australia is a state in Australia.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in south east USA.
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state in the USA.
South georgia
South Georgia is an island south east of the Falkland Islands.
The climate is variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year,
interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as
snow.
The terrain is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains.
South Glamorgan
South Glamorgan is a county in south Wales.
South Korea
South Korea is a country in east Asia. It has a total area of 98,480
km2.
The climate is temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter.
The terrain is mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west
and south.
Natural resources are coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead,
hydropower
The religion is strong Confucian tradition; vigorous Christian minority
(28% of the total population); Buddhism; pervasive folk religion
(Shamanism); Chondokyo (religion of the heavenly way), eclectic religion
with nationalist overtones founded in 19th century, claims about 1.5
million adherents.
The language is Korean; English widely taught in high school.
South Moravia
South Moravia is a region of Czechoslovakia.
South West Africa
South West Africa was a former name of Namibia.
Southampton
Southampton is a naval town in Hampshire, England. It is situated at the
head of Southampton water on a peninsular between the estuaries of the
River Test and the River Itchen. It is one of Britain's biggest container
ports.
Soweto
Soweto is a township in South Africa.
Spain
Spain is a country in south west Europe. It has a total area of 504,750
km2.
The climate is temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate
and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy
and cool along coast.
The terrain is large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged
hills; Pyrenees in north.
Natural resources are coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites,
fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash,
hydropower.
The religion is 99% Roman Catholic, 1% other sects.
The language is Castilian Spanish; second languages include 17% Catalan,
7% Galician, and 2% Basque.
Spandau
Spandau is a suburb of Berlin, Germany.
Spanish Town
Spanish Town is the former capital of Jamaica.*Sparta
Sparta was a city in ancient Greece.
Sparta
Sparta was a city in ancient Greece.
Spey
The River Spey rises in the Grampian Mountains at Inverness and flows 177
km to the Moray Firth.
Spice Islands
see "Maluku"
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is an island of Svalbard.
Split
Split is an Adriatic port in Yugoslavia.
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are a group of 50 islands in the south China Sea.
They have a total area of less than 5 km2.
The climate is tropical.
The terrain is flat.
Natural resources are fish, guano; oil and natural gas potential.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an island country south of India. has a total area of 65,610
km2.
The climate is tropical; monsoonal; northeast monsoon (December to
March); southwest monsoon (June to October).
The terrain is mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-
central interior.
Natural resources are limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems,
phosphates, clay.
The religion is 69% Buddhist, 15% Hindu, 8% Christian, 8% Muslim.
The language is Sinhala (official); Sinhala and Tamil listed as national
languages; Sinhala spoken by about 74% of population, Tamil spoken by
about 18%; English commonly used in government and spoken by about 10% of
the population.
St Agnes
St Agnes is a town in Cornwall, England.
St Austell
St Austell is a china clay mining town in Cornwall.
St George's
St George's is a port and the capital of Grenada.
St Helena
St Helena is an island in the south Atlantic. It has a total area of 410
km2.
The climate is tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds.
The terrain is rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains.
Natural resources are fish. The religion is Anglican majority; also
Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, and Roman Catholic.
The language is English.
St Ives
St Ives is a seaport in Cornwall. During the 19th century it was one of
Britain's busiest pilchard ports.
St John's
St John's is the capital of Newfoundland.
St Lawrence
The St Lawrence is a river in east north America.
St Moritz
St Moritz is a winter sports centre in south east Switzerland.
St Pierre and Miquelon
St Pierre and Miquelon are a territorial collectivity of France
comprising eight small islands off the south coast of Newfoundland,
Canada.
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts and Nevis is the larger of the Leeward Islands in the
Caribbean. It has a total area of 360 km2.
The climate is subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little
seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November).
The terrain is volcanic with mountainous interiors.
Natural resources are negligible.
The religion is Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic.
The language is English
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is one of the Windward Islands in the Caribbean. It has a total
area of 620 km2.
The climate is tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season
from January to April, rainy season from May to August.
The terrain is volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys.
Natural resources are forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral
springs, geothermal potential.
The religion is 90% Roman Catholic, 7% Protestant, 3% Anglican.
The language is English (official), French patois.
St. Pierre and Miquelon
St. Pierre and Miquelon are 8 small islands south of Newfoundland. They
have a total area of 242 km2.
The climate is cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn
are windy.
The terrain is mostly barren rock.
Natural resources are fish, deepwater ports.
The religion is 98% Roman Catholic.
The language is French.
Stade
Stade is a town in Saxony, Germany.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a county in west central England.
Stalingrad
Stalingrad was the name of the city of Volgograd from 1925 until 1961.
Stanley
Stanley is the capital of the Falkland Islands.
Steep Point
Steep Point is the westernmost extremity of Australia.
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden.
Stone
Stone is a village near Dartford in Kent.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is an ancient stone circle in Wiltshire.
Stopham
Stopham is a village in Sussex at the meeting of the River Rother and
River Arun.
Stour
The Stour is the name of several rivers in England.
Strait of Dover
The Strait of Dover is a stretch of water separating England from France
and linking the English Channel with the North Sea.
Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is the strait separating north Africa from Spain.
Strait of Messina
The Strait of Messina is a channel in the central Mediterranean
separating Sicily from mainland Italy.
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is a city on the River Ill, in Bas-Rhin department, France. It
is the capital of Alsace.
Stratford upon Avon
Stratford upon Avon is a market town on the River Avon in Warwickshire,
England. It was the birth place of William Shakespeare.
Strathclyde
Strathclyde is a region of Scotland.
Strood
Strood is a town in Kent on the Medway opposite Rochester.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is a city in Germany. It is the capital of Baden-Wurttenberg
region.
Styria
Styria is a province in Austria.
Styx
The styx was a river in Greek mythology surrounding the underworld.
Sudan
Sudan is a country in north east Africa. It has a total area of 2,505,810
km2.
The climate is tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season
(April to October).
The terrain is generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and
west.
Natural resources are modest reserves of crude oil, iron ore, copper,
chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, crude oil.
The religion is 70% Sunni Muslim (in north), 20% indigenous beliefs, 5%
Christian (mostly in south and Khartoum).
The language is Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects
of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, and Sudanic languages, English; program of
Arabization in process.
Sudbury
Sudbury is a city in Ontario, Canada.
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal links the Mediterranean and Red seas.
Suffolk
Suffolk is a county in east England.
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the Sunda islands, in Indonesia.
Sumatra
Sumatra is the 2nd largest Indonesian island.
Sumbawa
Sumbawa is an Indonesian island between Flores and Lombok. It has a wet
climate and sparse population.
Sunday Island
Sunday Island is the largest, and only inhabited of the Kermadec Islands
of New Zealand. It is a meteorological and radio station.
Sunderland
Sunderland is a sea port in Tyne And Wear, England at the mouth of the
River Wear. Sunderland is an industrial town.
Surabaya
Surabaya is a port on the Island of Java.
Suriname
Suriname is a country on the north coast of South America. It has a total
area of 163,270 km2.
The climate is tropical; moderated by trade winds.
The terrain is mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps.
Natural resources are timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp,
bauxite, iron ore, and modest amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold.
The religion is 27.4% Hindu, 19.6% Muslim, 22.8% Roman Catholic, 25.2%
Protestant (predominantly Moravian), about 5% indigenous beliefs.
The language is Dutch (official); English widely spoken; Sranan Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles
and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others;
also Hindi
Suriname Hindustani (a variant of Bhoqpuri), and Javanese.
Surrey
Surrey is a county in south England.
Sussex
Sussex is the collective term of East Sussex and West Sussex.
Sutton Hoo
Sutton Hoo is a village in Suffolk. In 1939 a a Saxon ship burial was
discovered and excavated here.
Svalbard
Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic. It has a total area of 62,049
km2.
The climate is arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool
summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north
coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year.
The terrain is wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered;
west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north
coasts.
Natural resources are coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife,
fish.
The language is Russian, Norwegian.
Swale
The river Swale is a river in North Yorkshire. It joins with the river
Ure to form the river Ouse. It is 96km long.
Swanage
Swanage is a seaside resort town in Dorset.
Swaziland
Swaziland is a country in south east Africa. It has a total area of
17,360 km2.
The climate is varies from tropical to near temperate.
The terrain is mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping
plains.
Natural resources are asbestos, coal, clay, tin, hydroelelectric power,
forests, and small gold and diamond deposits
The religion is 60% Christian, 40% indigenous beliefs.
The language is English and siSwati (official); government business
conducted in English.
Sweden
Sweden is a country in north Europe. It has a total area of 449,960 km2.
The climate is temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool,
partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north.
The terrain is mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west.
Natural resources are zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower potential.
The religion is 93.5% Evangelical Lutheran, 1.0% Roman Catholic, 5.5%
other.
The language is Swedish, small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities;
immigrants speak native languages.
Switzerland
Switzerland is a country in west Europe. It has a total area of 41,290
km2.
The climate is temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy,
rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional
showers.
The terrain is mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a
central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes.
Natural resources are hydropower potential, timber, salt.
The religion is 49% Roman Catholic, 48% Protestant, 0.3% Jewish.
The language is distributed amongst the total population-65% German, 18%
French, 12% Italian, 1% Romansch, 4% other; Swiss nationals-74% German,
20% French, 4% Italian, 1% Romansch, 1% other.
Sydney
Sydney is the capital of new south Wales.
Syria
Syria is a country in west Asia. It has a total area of 185,180 km2.
The climate is mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August)
and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast.
The terrain is primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal
plain; mountains in west.
Natural resources are crude oil, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores,
asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum.
The religion is 74% Sunni Muslim; 16% Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim
sects; 10% Christian (various sects); tiny Jewish communities in
Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo.
The language is Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic,
Circassian; French widely understood.
Szczecin
Szczecin is an industrial port on the River Oder, in north west Poland.
Szechwan
Szechwan is a province of China.
Tadzhikistan
Tadzhikistan is a country in south east Europe.
Tahiti
Tahiti is an island in Polynesia.
Taipei
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan.
Taiwan
Taiwan is a country in south east Asia. It has a total area of 35,980
km2.
The climate is tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon
(June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year.
The terrain is eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently
rolling plains in west.
Natural resources are small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,
marble, and asbestos.
The religion is 93% mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist; 4.5%
Christian; 2.5% other.
The language is Mandarin Chinese (official); Taiwanese and Hakka dialects
also used.
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital of Shanxi.
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital of Estonia.
Tamar
The River Tamar rises in the Devonian Hills in Devon and flows 97 km to
the English Channel at Plymouth.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a state in south east India.
Tampa
Tampa is a port and resort in western Florida, USA.
Tampere
Tampere is a city in south west Finland.
Tana
Tana is a lake in Ethiopia and a source of the Blue Nile.
Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is the deapest lake in Africa. It is situated in the
Great Rift Valley.
Tanger
Tanger (Tangier, Tangiers) is a port in northern Morocco.
Tangier
see "Tanger"
Tangiers
see "Tanger"
Tannenberg
Tannenberg is a village in Poland (formerly in Prussia). It was the scene
of the rout of Teutonic Knights by the Poles and Lithuanians in 1410 and
of a heavy defeat of the Russians by the Germans in 1914.
Tanta
Tanta is a town in Egypt 88km north of Cairo.
Tanzania
Tanzania is a country in east Africa. It has a total area of 945,090 km2.
The climate is varies from tropical along coast to temperate in
highlands.
The terrain is plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north,
south.
Natural resources are hydropower potential, tin, phosphates, iron ore,
coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel.
The religion is mainland - 33% Christian, 33% Muslim, 33% indigenous
beliefs; Zanzibar - almost all Muslim.
The language is Swahili and English (official); English primary language
of commerce, administration, and higher education; Swahili widely
understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups;
first language of most people is one of the local languages; primary
education is generally in Swahili.
Taranto
Taranto is a naval base and port in Apulia, south east Italy.
Tartary
Tartary was a former name for the wide band of country extending through
central Asia from the seas of Japan to the Caspian Sea.
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital city of Uzbek.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an island south of Australia.
Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains are the highest group of the Carpathians. They are
partly in Czechoslovakia, and partly in Poland.
Taunton
Taunton is the county capital of Somerset.
Tauris
Tauris was an ancient name for the Crimea.
Tavistock
Tavistock is an industrial town in Devon. It is the scene of the Goose
Fair held every year in October.
Tay
The River Tay rises in the Grampian mountains and flows 188 km to the
Firth of Tay.
Tayside
Tayside is a region in Scotland.
Tees
The River Tees rises in Cumberland and flows 113 km to the North Sea.
Teeside
Teeside is an industrial area at the mouth of the River Tees, Cleveland,
England.
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras.
Tehran
Tehran is the capital of Iran.
Teifi
The Teifi is a river in south Wales. It rises in the Cambrian mountains
and flows south west to Cardigan Bay. It is 150km long.
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is a city in Isreal on the Mediterranean coast.
Telepylos
In mythology, Telepylos was the capital city of the Laestrygones.
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest island in the Canary Islands.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a state in east central USA.
Tenterden
Tenterden is a town in Kent.
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan is an ancient in city in central Mexico. It was the capital
and religious centre of the Toltec civilization.
Tetuan
Tetuan is a town in Morocco where cannabis produced in the Rif is
distributed.
Texas
Texas is a state in south USA.
Thailand
Thailand is a country in south east Asia.
Thames
The River Thames rises in the Cotswolds near Cirencester and flows 336 km
to the North Sea.
Thatcham
Thatcham is belived to be the oldest village in Berkshire with traces of
a settlement as far back as 6000BC.
The Gaboon
The Gaboon is a former name for the territory which is now Gabon.
Thebes
Thebes was an ancient city in Egypt on the banks of the river Nile.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (Salonica) is a port in Macedonia, north east Greece.
Thessaly
Thessaly is a region of east central Greece on the Aegean.
Thika
Thika is a satellite town of Nairobi in Kenya. It is one of the biggest
Pineapple producing areas in Kenya (owned by Del Monte mainly).
Thimbu
Thimbu is the capital of Bhutan.
Thohoyandou
Thohoyandou is the capital of Venda.
Thrace
Thrace is the ancient name of an area of south east Europe. It is now
part of Greece.
Tian Shan
Tian Shan is a mountain system on the China border.
Tianjin
Tianjin is a port and industrial city in Hubei province, China.
Tibet
Tibet is a country in south west China.
Ticino
Ticino is a canton in Switzerland on the south slopes of the Alps and
bordering Italy. It contains a number of tourist resorts.
Tien Shan
Tien Shan is a mountain chain in central Asia along the Chinese border.
Translated, Tien Shan means Celestial Mountains.
Tientsin
Tientsin is a province of China.
Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is an island group off the coast of South America
separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan and Cape Horn.
Tigris
The River Tigris flows 1600km through Turkey and Iraq to the Euphrates
above Basra.
Tijuana
Tijuana is a city and resort in north west Mexico.
Timbuktu
Timbuktu is a town in Mali.
Timor
Timor is the largest and most easterly of the Sunda islands, part of
Indonesia. The island is divided into West Timor and East Timor.
Tintagel
Tintagel is a village in Cornwall associated with the legends of King
Arthur.
Tipperary
Tipperary is a county of Munster province, Republic of Ireland.
Tirana
Tirana is the capital of Albania.
Tiryns
Tiryns is an ancient Greek city in the Peloponnesus on the Plain of
Argos.
Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America. It is located in the
Andes between Bolivia and Peru.
Titograd
Titograd is the capital of Montenegro, Yugoslavia.
Tobago
Tobago is an island in the Caribbean.
Tobruk
Tobruk is a port in Libya.
Togo
Togo is a country in west Africa. It has a total area of 56,790 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north.
The terrain is gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern
plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes.
Natural resources are phosphates, limestone, marble.
The religion is about 70% indigenous beliefs, 20% Christian, 10% Muslim.
The language is French, both official and language of commerce; major
African languages are Ewe and Mina in the south and Dagomba and Kabye in
the north.
Tokyo
Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
Toledo
Toledo is a city on the River Tagus in central Spain.
Tolpuddle
Tolpuddle is a small village in Dorset.
Tombstone
Tombstone is a former silver-mining town in the desert of south east
Arizona.
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is an ancient town in Kent on the River Medway.
Tonga
Tonga is a country in the south west Pacific. It has a total area of 748
km2.
The climate is tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December
to May), cool season (May to December).
The terrain is most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted
coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base.
Natural resources are fish, fertile soil.
The religion is Christian; Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000
adherents.
The language is Tongan, English.
Torgau
Torgau is a town in the Leipzig district of Germany.
Toronto
Toronto is the capital of Ontario.
Torquay
Torquay is a seaside resort town in Devon. Until 1790 it was a quiet
fishing village, then during the Napoleonic wars it hosted the wives of
Naval officers who were based on ships anchored at Torbay. From the
middle of the 19th century it became a popular seaside resort.
Toulon
Toulon is a port and the capital of Var department, south east France. It
stands on the Mediterranean coast 48km south east of Marseilles.
Toulouse
Toulouse is the capital of Haute-Garonne department, southern France.
Towy
The Towy River rises in the hills between Cardigan and Radnor in Wales
and flows 106 km to Carmarthen Bay.
Trabzon
Trabzon is a sea port on the Black Sea in east Turkey. It boasts the best
football team in Turkey.
Transkei
Transkei is the largest Bantu homeland in South Africa.
Transvaal
The Transvaal is a province in north east South Africa.
Transylvania
Transylvania is a mountainous area in north west and central Romania.
Trent
see "River_Trent"
Trentino-Alto Adige
Trentino-Alto Adige is an autonomous region of northern Italy.
Trieste
Trieste is a port on the Adriatic, opposite Venice, in Italy.
Tring
Tring is a market town in Hertfordshire, 14km north west of Hemel
Hempstead.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is a country in the Caribbean. It has a total area of
5,130 km2.
The climate is tropical; rainy season (June to December).
The terrain is mostly plains with some hills and low mountains.
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, asphalt.
The religion is 36.2% Roman Catholic, 23.0% Hindu, 13.1% Protestant, 6.0%
Muslim, 21.7% unknown.
The language is English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish.
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital of Libya.
Tripura
Tripura is a state in north east India.
Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha is a group of islands in the south Atlantic comprising
part of the British dependancy of St Helena.
Trowbridge
Trowbridge is a town in Wiltshire. In the 16th century is had an
extensive cloth industry. Today it is the administrative centre of
Wiltshire.
Troy
Troy was a city in Asia minor that was the scene of the Trojan war.
Troyes
Troyes is the capital of Aube department in north east France. It stands
on the River Seine.
Trujillo
Trujillo is a city in north west Peru.
Truro
Truro is a city in Cornwall on the Fal estuary. During the middle ages
Truro was an important port for the transportation of mineral ores. Today
it is primarily a market town.
Tubarao
Tubarao is a coal-mining town in south Brazil on the east coast.
Tubuai
Tubuai is an archipelago in French Polynesia, in the south Pacific Ocean.
Tudela
Tudela is a market town in northern Spain.
Tula
Tula is the capital of Tula oblast in Russia.
Tulsa
Tulsa is an important petroleum producing town in Oklahoma. It was
founded in 1880.
Tummel
see "River_Tummel"
Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells is a royal town in Kent, England.
Tundra
A tundra is a region of high latitude almost devoid of trees resulting
from the presence of permafrost.
Tungurahua
Tungurahua is a volcano in Ecuador. It is 5033 metres high.
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of Tunisia.
Tunisia
Tunisia is a country in north Africa.
Tunja
Tunja is the capital of Boyaca department, Colombia.
Turin
Turin is the capital of Piedmont in north west Italy.
Turkana
Lake Turkana is a lake in the Great Rift Valley, mainly in Kenya but the
northern end is in Ethiopia.
Turkey
Turkey is a country partly in Europe and partly in Asia. It has a total
area of 780,580 km2.
The climate is temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters;
harsher in interior.
The terrain is mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central
plateau (Anatolia)
Natural resources are antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate,
sulphur, iron ore.
The religion is 98% Muslim (mostly Sunni), 2% other (mostly Christian and
Jewish).
The language is Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a constituent republic in Asia.
Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are islands in the Caribbean. They have a
total area of 430 km2.
The climate is tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and
relatively dry.
The terrain is low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove
swamps.
Natural resources are spiny lobster, conch.
The religion is Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Church of
God, Seventh-Day Adventist.
The language is English (official).
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region of central Italy.
Tuva
Tuva was a part of Mongolia until 1911, it is now an autonomous republic
in Asia.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu is a country in the south west Pacific.
Tweed
The River Tweed rises in the Tweedsmuir Hills and flows 156 km to the
North Sea at the Scottish and England border.
Tyne
The River Tyne rises in Northumberland and flows 72 km to the North Sea
at Tynemouth.
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England.
Tyrone
Tyrone is a county of Northern Ireland.
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean between Italy and
Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily.
Ubangi
The River Ubangi is a major river in central Africa. It is a tributary of
the River Zaire. It rises on the border of the Central African Republic
and Zaire and flows west and south 2240km to the River Zaire at Irebu.
Ubangi-Shari
Ubangi-Shari is a former name of the Central African Republic.
Udmurt
Udmurt is an autonomous republic in the foothills of the Urals.
Uganda
Uganda is a country in east Africa. It has a total area of 236,040 km2.
The climate is tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December
to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast.
The terrain is mostly plateau with rim of mountains.
Natural resources are copper, cobalt, limestone, salt.
The religion is 33% Roman Catholic, 33% Protestant, 16% Muslim, rest
indigenous beliefs.
The language is English (official); Luganda and Swahili widely used;
other Bantu and Nilotic languages.
Uist
The Noth Uist and South Uist islands are 2 of the outer Hebrides off the
north west coast of Scotland.
Uitenhage
Uitenhage is a summer resort town in Cape province, South Africa.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in east Europe.
Ulaan Baataar
Ulaan Baataar (formerly Ulan Bator) is the capital of Mongolia.
Ulan Bator
see "Ulaan_Baataar"
Ulster
Ulster was a kingdom in northern Ireland. It was annexed by England in
1461.
Ume
The Ume is a river in Sweden. It flows to the gulf of Bothnia. It is 400
km long.
Umea
Umea is the capital of Vasterbotten province in north east Sweden. It
stands at the mouth of the Ume river on the gulf of Bothnia.
Umm al Qaiwain
Umm al Qaiwain is one of the United Arab Emirates.
Umtata
Umtata is the capital of Transkei, South Africa.
Uncia
Uncia is a tin mining town in Oruro department, Bolivia.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is a country in Arabia. It has a total area of
83,600 km2.
The climate is desert; cooler in eastern mountains.
The terrain is flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes
of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east.
Natural resources are crude oil and natural gas.
The religion is 96% Muslim (16% Shia); 4% Christian, Hindu, and other.
The language is Arabic (official); Farsi and English widely spoken in
major cities; Hindi, Urdu.
United States of America
see "USA"
Unye
Unye is a modern coastal town on the Black Sea in north Turkey.
Upnor
Upnor is a resort town on the River Medway in Kent.
Upper Volta
Upper Volta is a former name of Burkina Faso.
Ural
see "ural_mountains"
Ure
The River Ure is a river in North Yorkshire. It flows east and south east
to join with the River Swale to form the River Ouse. It is 80km long.
Uruguay
Uruguay is a country in South America. It has a total area of 176,220
km2.
The climate is warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown.
The terrain is mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal
lowland.
Natural resources are soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals.
The religion is 66% Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant, 2% Jewish, 30%
nonprofessing or other.
The language is Spanish.
Uruguay River
The Uruguay River rises in south Brazil and flows 1360 km to Rio de la
Plata.
Urumqi
Urumqi is an industrial city, and the capital of Xinjiang Uygur region,
China.
USA
The USA is country in north America. It has a total area of 9,372,610
km2.
The climate is mostly temperate, but varies from tropical (Hawaii) to
arctic (Alaska); arid to semiarid in west with occasional warm, dry
chinook wind.
The terrain is vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low
mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska;
rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii.
Natural resources are coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates,
uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten,
zinc, crude oil, natural gas, timber.
The religion is Protestant 61% (Baptist 21%, Methodist 12%, Lutheran 8%,
Presbyterian 4%, Episcopalian 3%, other Protestant 13%), Roman Catholic
25%, Jewish 2%, other 5%; none 7%.
The language is predominantly English; sizable Spanish-speaking minority.
Ushuala
Ushuala is a free port and naval base at the tip of Tierra del Fuego,
Argentina.
Utah
Utah is a state in west USA.
Utrecht
Utrecht is an industrial city and the capital of Utrecht province in the
central Netherlands. It stands on the Kromme Rijn, 35 km south east of
Amsterdam.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is a state in north India.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a country in Asia.
Vaduz
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein.
Valencia
Valencia is an industrial city and the capital of Valencia region,
eastern Spain.
Valladolid
Valladolid is an industrial town and the capital of Valladolid region,
Spain.
Valle d'Aosta
Valle d'Aosta is an autonomous region in north west Italy.
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta.
Valverde
Valverde is the capital of Ferro island.
Van
Van is a city on the shores of Lake Van in Turkey.
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land is a former name for Tasmania.
Vancouver
Vancouver is an industrial city and port. It is Canada's main Pacific
port.
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island off the west coast of Canada.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu is a country and group of islands in the south Pacific. It has a
total area of 14,760 km2.
The climate is tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds.
The terrain is mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal
plains.
Natural resources are manganese, hardwood forests, fish.
The religion is nominally Christian.
The language is English and French (official); pidgin (known as Bislama
or Bichelama).
Varanasi
Varanasi is a Hindu holy city in Uttar Pradesh, on the Ganges.
Varna
Varna is a port on an inlest of the Black Sea in Bulgaria.
Vatican City
The Vatican City is a country within Rome. It has a total area of 0.438
km2.
The climate is temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with
hot, dry summers (May to September)
The terrain is low hill.
It has no natural resources.
The religion is Roman Catholic.
The language is Italian, Latin, and various other languages.
Venda
Venda is a black national state near the Zimbabwe border, in South
Africa.
Veneto
Veneto is a region in north east Italy.
Venezuela
Venezuela is a country in South America. It has a total area of 912,050
km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands.
The terrain is Andes mountains and Maracaibo lowlands in northwest;
central plains (llanos); Guyana highlands in southeast.
Natural resources are crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite,
other minerals, hydropower, diamonds.
The religion is 96% nominally Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant.
The language is Spanish (official); Indian dialects spoken by about
200,000 Amerindians in the remote interior.
Venice
Venice is a city, port and naval base on the Adriatic coast in Italy.
Verdun
Verdun is a fortress town on the Meuse in north east France.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in USA.
Versailles
Versailles is the capital city of Les Yvelines department, in north
France.
Vesuvius
Vesuvius is an active volcano south east of Naples, Italy.
Vichy
Vichy is a health resort town on the river Allier, in Allier department,
France.
Victoria
Victoria is a state in Australia.
Victoria is a port and the capital of the Seychelles on Mahe island.
Victoria (Port)
Victoria is the main port and harbour between Hong Kong and Kowloon.
Victoria (State)
Victoria is a state in Australia.
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls is a waterfall on the Zambezi river on the border
bwteen Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital of Austria.
Vientiane
Vientiane is the capital and chief port of Laos on the Mekong river.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a country in south east Asia. It has a total area of 329,560
km2.
The climate is tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy
season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to
mid-March).
The terrain is low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands;
hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest.
Natural resources are phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate,
offshore oil deposits, forests.
The religion is Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous
beliefs, Islamic, Protestant.
The language is Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer,
tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian).
Villahermosa
Villahermosa is the capital of Tabasco region in south east Mexico. It is
an agricultural market town with rich local petroleum deposits.
Villarrica
Villarrica is a town in south east Paraguay.
Villaviencio
Villaviencio is a town on the foothills of the Andes in east Colombia.
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania.
Vilyui
The River Vilyui flows east from Siberia into the Lena River.
Virgin islands
The virgin islands are 100 islands in the caribbean. They have a total
area of 352 km2.
The climate is subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively
low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to
November.
The terrain is mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level
land.
Natural resources are tourism.
The religion is 42% Baptist, 34% Roman Catholic, 17% Episcopalian, 7%
other.
The language is English (official), but Spanish and Creole are widely
spoken.
Virginia
Virginia is a state in south USA.
Virginia Water
Virginia Water is a park in Surrey. It was founded in 1746 by the Duke of
Cumberland.
Visby
Visby is the capital of Gotland.
Vladivostok
Vladivostok is a port on the Amur Bay on the Pacific coast.
Volga
The Volga is the longest river in Europe. It rises in the Valdai plateau
and flows 3540 km to the Caspian Sea.
Volgograd
Volgograd is an industrial city on the River Volga in south west Russia.
It was formerly called Tsaritsyn and then Stalingrad.
Volta
The Volta is the main river in Ghana.
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Iy has a total area of
6.5 km2.
The climate is tropical.
The terrain is an atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater
volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim;
average elevation less than four meters.
It has no natural resources.
Wakhan Salient
The Wakhan Salient is a narrow strip of Afghanistan bordering Russia,
China and Pakistan.
Wales
Wales is a principality west of England.
Wall Street
Wall Street is a street in Manhattan, New York where the USA stock
exchange is located.
Wallingford
Wallingford is a town in Berkshire. It is situated at a ford over the
River Thames.
Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna is an island in the south Pacific Ocean. It has a total
area of 274 km2.
The climate is tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry
season (May to October).
The terrain is volcanic origin; low hills.
Natural resources are negligible.
The religion is largely Roman Catholic.
The language is French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language).
Wantage
Wantage is a market town in Berkshire.
Wardour
Wardour castle is a castle in Wiltshire. It was built in 1392 on the
authority of Ricard II. During the civil war it was twice beseiged. In
1643, with Lord Arundell away, his wife Blanche with the help of 25
fighting men held out against a patliamentary army of 1300 men, only
surrendering when mines were used.
Wareham
Wareham is a town in Dorset.
Warfield
Warfield is a village in Berkshire. It is the site of one of the few
ancient clearings of Windsor Forest.
Warlingham
Warlingham is a town in Surrey.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital of Poland.
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a county in central England.
Washington
Washington is a state in north west USA.
Washington DC
Washington DC is the capital of the USA.
Waterford
Waterford is a county of Munster province, Republic of Ireland.
Waterloo
Waterloo is a village in Belgium that was the scene of a battle in 1815
when the British commander wellington defeated the French emperor
napoleon.
Wealden
Wealden is a district of East Sussex stretching from Uckfield to the
South Coast.
Wear
The Wear is a river in England. It rises in the Pennines and flows
through Durham to the North Sea at Sunderland. It is 96km long.
Weddell Sea
The Weddell Sea is an arm of the south Atlantic south east of Cape Horn.
Wei
The Wei is a river in Shaanxi province, west China. It rises in the
highlands of Kansu and flows east to the Yellow River.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. It is in north island.
Wells
Wells is a cheese producing city in Somerset.
West Bank
The West Bank is an autonomous region of Israel. It has a total area of
5,860 km2.
The climate is temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with
altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters.
The terrain is mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west,
but barren in east.
Natural resources are negligible.
The religion is 80% Muslim (predominantly Sunni), 12% Jewish, 8%
Christian and other.
The language is Arabic, Israeli settlers speak Hebrew, English widely
understood.
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in north east India.
West Glamorgan
West Glamorgan is a county in south west Wales.
West Ham
West Ham is an area of East London bordered by the river Thames and river
Lea.
West Malling
West Malling is a town in Kent. It became prominent when an abbey was
established during Norman times.
West Midlands
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in central England.
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in south east England.
West virginia
West VIrginia is a state in east USA.
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in north east England.
Westdean
Westdean is a hamlet in the Friston Forest in Sussex.
Westerham
Westerham is a village in Kent.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state in Australia.
Western Sahara
The Western Sahara is a country in north Africa. It has a total area of
266,000 km2.
The climate is hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore currents
produce fog and heavy dew.
The terrain is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy
surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast.
Natural resources are phosphates, iron ore.
The religion is Muslim.
The language is Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic.
Western Samoa
Western Samoa is a country in the Pacific Ocean It has a total area of
2,860 km2.
The climate is tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May
to October).
The terrain is narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged
mountains in interior.
Natural resources are hardwood forests, fish.
The religion is 99.7% Christian (about half of population associated with
the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic,
Methodist, Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist).
The language is Samoan (Polynesian), English.
Westmeath
Westmeath is a county of Leinster province, Republic of Ireland.
Weston-Super-Mare
Weston-Super-Mare is a large seaside resort town in Somerset.
Wexford
Wexford is a county of Leinster province, Republic of Ireland.
Wey
The river Wey rises in west Weald and flows north through Hampshire and
Surrey into the river Thames near Weybridge. It is 56km long.
Weybridge
Weybridge is an old town in Surrey on the River Wey.
Weymouth
Weymouth is a popular seaside resort and seaport in Dorset. The world's
first bathing machine was used at Weymouth in 1763.
White Russia
White Russia is another name for Belorussia.
Whitehall
Whitehall is a street in London where many of the government buildings
are situated.
Whitstable
Whitstable is a seaside resort in north Kent.
Wicklow
Wicklow is a county of Leinster province, Republic of Ireland.
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a county in south west England.
Wimbledon
Wimbledon is a town in Greater London. It is home to a tennis tournament.
Winchester
Winchester is a city in Hampshire. It was the Anglo-Saxon capital of
England.
Windermere
Windermere is the largest English lake. It is in Cumbria and supplies
water to Manchester.
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital of Namibia.
Windsor
Windsor is a town in Berkshire 32km west of London. It is on the river
Thames.
Windward Islands
The Windward Islands is a name for the West Indies.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba, Canada. Lake Winnipeg is a lake 64km
north of Winnipeg the city in Manitoba. It contains several large
islands.
Winsford
Winsford is a town in Cheshire.
Wirral
The Wirral is a peninne metropolitan district of Merseyside.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a state in north USA.
Wivenhoe
Wivenhoe is a town in Essex, England on the river Colne.
Woking
Woking is a town in Surrey. The old town dates back to Anglo-Saxon times,
but modern Woking developed with the railway in the late 1830s.
Wokingham
Wokingham is a market town in Berkshire close to Windsor Forest.
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is an industrial town in the West Midlands, England.
Wookey Hole
Wookey Hole is one of the most extensive cave networks in Britian. It is
located in the southern slopes of the Mendips in Somerset.
Worcestershire
Worcestershire was a county in central England until 1974 when it merged
with Herefordshire to form Hereford and Worcester.
Worms
Worms is an industrial town on the Rhine in Germany.
Worthing
Worthing is a seaside resort in Sussex noted for its sea fishing.
Wroclaw
Wroclaw is an industrial river port on the Oder, in Poland.
Wuhan
Wuhan is a river port and the capital of Hubei province, China.
Wye
The River Wye rises in Plynlimmon and flows 209 km to the Severn near
Chepstow.
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in west USA.
Xanthi
Xanthi is a town in Thrace, Greece. It stands on the river Mesta and is
the centre of a tobacco growing area.
Xi Jiang
Xi Jiang (formerly Si-Kang) is a river which rises in Yunnan, China and
flows 1900 km to the South China Sea.
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi.
Xining
Xining is the capital of Qinghai.
Yakut
Yakut is an autonomous republic in Asia.
Yakutsk
Yakutsk is the capital of Yakut.
Yalta
Yalta is a seaport in southern Ukraine. In 1945 it hosted a conderence
between Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin.
Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro is the capital of Ivory Coast.
Yangtze Kiang
Yangtze Kiang is the former name of the Chang Jian River.
Yaounde
Yaounde is the capital of Cameroon.
Yare
The Yare is a river in Norfolk, England. It flows to the North Sea at
Gorleston. It is 80km long.
Yarmouth
Yarmouth is an historic sea port on the Isle of Wight.
Yedo
Yedo was the name of Tokyo, Japan until 1868.
Yellow River
The Yellow River rises in Kunlun Shan in China and flows into Bo Hai. It
is 4640km long.
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the gulf of the Pacific between China and Korea.
Yellowknife
Yellowknife is the capital of the Northwest Territories.
Yemen
Yemen is 2 countries, in Arabia.
The Yemen Arab Republic has a total area of 195,000 km2.
The climate is desert; hot and humid along coast; temperate in central
mountains; harsh desert in east.
The terrain is narrow coastal plain (Tihama); western mountains; flat
dissected plain in center sloping into desert interior of Arabian
Peninsula.
Natural resources are crude oil, rock salt, marble; small deposits of
coal, nickel, and copper; fertile soil.
The religion is 100% Muslim (Sunni and Shia)
The language is Arabic.
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen has a total area of 332,970 km2.
The climate is desert; extraordinarily hot and dry.
The terrain is mostly upland desert plains; narrow, flat, sandy coastal
plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains.
Natural resources are fish, oil, minerals (gold, copper, lead).
The religion is Sunni Muslim, some Christian and Hindu.
The language is Arabic.
Yenisei
The Yenisei River rises in Tuva and flows 4100 km across Siberia to the
Arctic Ocean.
Yeovil
Yeovil is an industrial town in Somerset.
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital of Armenia.
Yinchuan
Yinchuan is the capital of Ningxia Hui, in north west China.
Yokohama
Yokohama is a port on Tokyo Bay, Japan.
York
York is a city in north east England.
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a county in north east England.
Ypres
Ypres is a town in Belgium that was the scene of a battle in world war 1.
Yucatan
Yucatan is a peninsular inc Central America divided between Mexico,
Belize and Guatemala.
Yugolsavia
Yugolsavia is a country in south east Europe. It is currently in turmoil
due to civil war, and may spilt into separate countries. It has a total
area of 255,800 km2.
The climate is temperate; hot, relatively dry summers with mild, rainy
winters along coast; warm summer with cold winters inland.
The terrain is mostly mountains with large areas of karst topography;
plain in north.
Natural resources are coal, copper, bauxite, timber, iron ore, antimony,
chromium, lead, zinc, asbestos, mercury, crude oil, natural gas, nickel,
uranium.
The religion is 50% Eastern Orthodox, 30% Roman Catholic, 9% Muslim, 1%
Protestant, 10% other.
The language is Serbo-Croatian, Slovene, Macedonian (all official);
Albanian, Hungarian.
Yukon
The Yukon is a territory in north west Canada. The Yukon river flows 3185
km to the Bering Sea.
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of China.
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia.
Zaire
Zaire is a country in central Africa. It has a total area of 2,345,410
km2.
The climate is tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler
and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands;
north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to
February; south of
Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October.
The terrain is vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in
east.
Natural resources are cobalt, copper, cadmium, crude oil, industrial and
gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium,
radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential.
The religion is 50% Roman Catholic, 20% Protestant, 10% Kimbanguist, 10%
Muslim, 10% other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs.
The language is French (official), Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo
and Tshiluba.
Zambia
Zambia is a country in central Africa. It has a total area of 752,610
km2.
The climate is tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to
April).
The terrain is mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains.
Natural resources are copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold,
silver, uranium, hydropower potential.
The religion is 50-75% Christian, 1% Muslim and Hindu, and the remainder
indigenous beliefs.
The language is English (official) and about 70 indigenous languages.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is an island within Tanzania.
Zaragoza
Zaragoza is the Spanish name for Saragossa.
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a ferry port on the North Sea coast in Belgium.
Zenith
The zenith is the highest point in the heavens above an observers head.
Opposite to the nadir.
Zhejiang
Zheijang is a province in south east China.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a country in central Africa. It has a total area of 390,580
km2.
The climate is tropical and moderated by altitude with a rainy season
from November to March.
The terrain is mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high
veld); mountains in east.
Natural resources are coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper,
iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin.
The religion is 50% syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs),
25% Christian, 24% indigenous beliefs, and a few Muslim.
The language is English (official); Shona and Ndebele.
Zurich
Zurich is an industrial and financial city in Zurich canton, Switzerland
on Lake Zurich.
FAMOUS PEOPLE
Aaron
Aaron was the brother of Moses.
Ababdeh
The Ababdeh were (are?) a nomadic African tribe inhabiting Egypt between
the Nile and the Red Sea.
Abbess
An Abbess is the female superior of a community of nuns.
Abbot
An abbot is the superior of a community of monks.
Abelard
Pierre Abelard was a French philosopher. He was born in 1079, dying in
1142. He founded scholastic theology.
Aborigine
An aborigine is a member of an indigenous people.
Absalom
Absalom was the third and favourite son of David. He was killed leading a
rebellion against his father.
Accadians
The Accadians were the primitive inhabitants of Babylonia described in
the cuneiform inscriptions.
Accountant
An accountant is someone who keeps accounts.
Achaeans
The Achaeans were one of the four races into which the ancient Greeks
were divided.
Acheson
Edward Goodrich Acheson was an American Inventor. He was born in 1856,
dying in 1931. He invented carborundrum and artificially prepared
graphite.
Acrobat
An acrobat is someone who performs daring gymnastics.
Acton
John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton was a British historian. He was born at
Naples in 1834 and died in 1902.
Actor
An actor is a dramatic performer. One who performs in plays.
Adalbert
Saint Adalbert was a missionary in north Germany and Poland. He was born
in 955, dying in 997. He was martyred in Bremen.
Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish architect and designer. He was born in 1728
and died in 1792. He was responsible for the Adelphi.
Addison
Joseph Addison was an English essayist and poet. He was born in 1672,
dying in 1719. He was co-author of the spectator.
Adept
An adept is someone who is proficient at some thing.
Adler
Alfred Adler was an Austrian psychologist. He was born in 1870, dying in
1937. He put forward the the theory of the inferiority complex.
Admiral
Admiral is a rank in the navy.
Aedh
Aedh was King of Scotland from 877 to 878.
Aesop
Aesop was the author of fables about animals. He lived around 620 - 560
BC.
Afghan
An Afghan is an inhabitant of Afghanistan.
African
An African is an inhabitant of Africa.
Aga
The Aga was the title of the leader of the Ottoman empire.
Agnes
Agnes is the patron saint of virgins.
Ainos
The Ainos were the aboriginal inhabitants of Japan. They were a short
race, averaging about 5 feet in height with black hair and typicaly hairy
bodies. As recently as 1900 they inhabited the island of Yesso.
Akkas
The Akkas are a dwarfish race found in Central Africa. They average 4.5
feet in height with brown skin, large heads and a projecting jaw. They
are a hunting race, renowned for their skill with a bow and arrow.
Alamanni
Luigi Alamanni was an Italian poet. He was born in 1495 at Florence and
died in 1556.
Alani
The Alani (Alans) were a warlike tribe which migrated from Asia westwards
at the time of the decline of the Roman empire. During the 5th century
they merged with the Vandals.
Alans
see "Alani"
Alaric II
Alaric II was King of the Visigoths from 484 until 507 when he was killed
at the battle of Poictiers by the army of the Franks.
Albani
Francesco Albani was an Italian painter. He was born in 1578 at Bologna
and died in 1660.
Alboin
Alboin was King of the Lombards from 561. He died in 573 when he was
assassinated at the orders of his wife Rosamond.
Albrechtsberger
Johann Georg Albrechtsberger was a German composer. He was born in 1736
and died in 1809. he taught Beethoven and Moscheles amongst others.
Albret
Jeanne D'Albret was Queen of Navarre and wife of Antoine de Bourbon. She
was born in 1528 and died due to poisoning in 1572.
Albuquerque
Affonso de Albuquerque was a Portugese admiral. He was born in 1452 and
died in 1515. He was viceroy of Portugese West Africa in 1503.
Alcaeus
Alcaeus was a son of Perseus and Andromeda.
Aldhelm
Saint Aldhelm was born in 640 and died in 709. He was abbot of Malmsebury
and later the bishop of Sherborne. He was an architect and poet.
Aldington
Richard Aldington was an English writer and poet. He was born in 1892 and
died in 1962. He was born in Hampshire. He wrote a controversial
biography of Lawrence of Arabia.
Ale'Gria
Ciro Ale'Gria was a Peruvian novelist. He was born in 1900 and died in
1967. He was imprisoned and fled to Chile where he lived in exile.
Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian composer. He was born in 1659 and
died in 1725. He founded modern Italian Opera.
Alexander
Alexander was King of Scotland from 1107 to 1124.
Alexander II
Alexander II was King of Scotland from 1214 to 1249.
Alexander III
Alexander III was King of Scotland from 1249 to 1286.
Alexandra
Queen Alexandra was the daughter of Christian IX of Denmark. She was born
in 1844, dying in 1925. She married Edward VII in 1863 when he was the
prince of Wales.
Alfred
Alfred was King of the west Saxons and King of England from 871 to 901.
Algonkins
The Algonkins are a family of North American Indians, they consisted of
four groups: The Eastern group comprising the Massachusetts,
Narragansets, Mohicans, Delewares and others; North Eastern group;
Western group comprising the Miamis, Illinis and others; North Western
group including the Ojibbewas.
Ali Bey
Ali Bey was a ruler of Egypt. He was born in 1728 in the Caucasus and
died in 1773. He was taken to Egypt and sold as a slave, but became
virtual governor of Egypt.
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha was an Albanian chief. He was born in 1741 and died in 1822.
Alibert
Jean Louis Baron Alibert was a French physician. He was born in 1766 and
died in 1837. He was chief physician at the Hospital St. Louis.
Alison
Archibald Alison was a Scottish theologian and writer on aesthetics. He
was born in 1757 in Edinburgh and died in 1839.
Allende
Salvador Allende was a radical Chilean marxist democrat leader who became
president in 1970, but was killed in a military coup in 1973.
Amundsen
Roald Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer. First to reach south pole.
Anacreon
Anacreon was a Greek lyric poet. He was born in 569BC and died in 475BC
Anaxagoras
Anaxagoras was an Ionian philosopher. He went to Athens in 464BC and
inspired Pericles and Euripides with his love of science. He was born in
488BC and died in 428BC.
Anderson
Gerry Anderson is a highly innovative creator of children's science
fiction adventure television programmes. His creations of Thunderbirds,
Joe-90, and Stingray are legendary. More recently he created "Space
Precinct" probably one of the most expensive television cereals yet
produced costing over 1 million pounds per episode to produce.
Andrea Del Sarto
Andrea Del Sarto was a Florentine artist born in 1487, he died in 1531.
He was a pupil of Piero di Cosimo and influenced by Leonardo da Vinci and
Michelangelo.
Andromeda
Andromeda was a daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopea. Perseus found her
bound to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. Perseus rescued her
after killing the sea monster so that she might become his wife.
Angelico
Fra Angelico was an Itailian painter. He was born in 1387 and died in
1455. He especially painted religious frescoes.
Anne
Anne was Queen of England from 1702 to 1714. She was born in 1665 and
died in 1714. She was a daughter of James II.
Anouilh
Jean Anouilh was a French dramatist. He was born in 1910 and died in
1987.
Apache
The apache are a tribe of Indians that live in Arizona.
Apuleius
Lucius Apuleius was a Roman lawyer, philosopher and author. He lived
around 160.
Arab
The Arabs are a Semitic race of people who originally inhabited Saudi
Arabia and the neighboyring countries.
Arabs
see "Ara"
Archimedes
Archimedes was a great ancient Greek mathematician.
Aristotle
Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher.
Armstrong
Neil Armstrong was the first man to step onto the moon in 1969.
Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett was a British novelist. He was born at Hanley in
Staffordshire in 1867, and died in 1931.
Arthur
King Arthur was the son of Uther Pendragon and ruled Britain around the
5th century.
Asoka
Asoka was an Indian emperor and upholder of Buddhism. He was born in
269BC and died in 232BC.
Asser
Asser was a welsh monk who lived during the 9th century and is credited
with writing about the life of King Alfred.
Astaire
Fred Astaire was the adopted name of Frederick Austerlitz, an American
actor, singer and dancer. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1899 and died
in 1987.
He starred in numerous films, including Top Hat, Easter Parade, and Funny
Face,
many of the films contain inventive dance sequences which he designed and
choreographed himself. He made ten classic films with the most popular of
his
dancing partners, Ginger Rogers. He later played straight dramatic roles
in such films as On the Beach.
Athelstan
Athelstan succeeded Edward as King of England from 924 to 940.
Attila
Attila was King of the Huns. He was born in 406, dying in 453.
Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb was a Mogul emperor of India. He was born in 1618 and died in
1707.
Austen
Jane austen was an English author. She was born in Hampshire in 1775. She
died in 1817.
Aztec
The Aztecs were an American Indian tribe inhabiting Mexico.
Babbage
Charles Babbage was a British mathematician. He designed an analytical
engine which was the forerunner of th modern computer. He was born in
1801 and died in 1871.
Baber
Baber was the founder of the Mogul dynasty which ruled northern India for
300 years. He was born in 1483, dying in 1530.
Babi
The Babi are a Persian religious sect formed in 1843 by Bab Ed Din.
Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer. He was born at Eisenach in
1685. He died in 1750.
Bacon
Francis Bacon was an English philosopher. He was born in 1561 and died in
1626.
Roger Bacon was the founder of English philosophy. He was born in 1220,
dying in 1294. In 1257 he became a fanciscan friar.
Baden-Powell
Baden-Powell was a British soldier. He was born in 1857. He died in 1941.
He was the founder of the scouting movement.
Baggara
The Baggara are a Muslim Bedouin people of the Nile Basin.
Baird
John Logie Baird was a Scottish scientist. He pioneered television. He
was born in 1888, dying in 1946.
Baker
A baker is a person who manufacturers bread.
Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin was an English statesman. He was born in 1867, dying in
1947. He was prime minister three times.
Banks
Sir Joseph Banks was a British botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on
his first voyage and was mainly responsible for the colonization of
Australia. He was born in 1743 and died in 1820. Nathaniel Prentiss Banks
was an American politician and soldier. He defended Washingston from
Jackson's army in 1862. He was born in 1816 and died in 1894. Thomas
Banks was an English sculptor. He was born in 1735 and died in 1805. He
made the monument to Dr. Watts in Westminster Abbey.
Banshee
A banshee is a fairy who forewarns of death by wailing.
Barbour
John Barbour was the father of Scottish poetry. He was born in 1316 and
died in 1395.
Barbusse
Henri Barbusse was a French writer. He was born in 1874 and died in 1935.
Bard
A bard was a celtic poet.
Barents
Willem Barents was a Dutch navigator who discovered Spitzbergen on his
third voyage to find a north east passage to Asia in 1594. He died in
1597.
Baring-Gould
Sabine Baring-Gould was an English author or numerous hymns and novels.
He was born in 1834 and died in 1924.
Barlow
Jane Barlow was an Irish novelist. She was born in 1860 and died in 1917.
Her works are renowned for their depiction of the Irish peasantry.
Barnum
Phineas Taylor Barnum was an American showman who launched the enterprise
known as "the greatest show on earth". He was born in 1810 and died in
1891.
Barrantes
Vicente Barrantes was a Spanish publicist and author. He was born in 1829
and died in 1898.
Barratt
Reginald Barratt was an English watercolour artist famous for his
perfection of draughtmanship. He was born in 1861 and died in 1917.
Barrett
Sir William Fletcher Barrett was a British scientist. He was the
principal founder of the Society for Psychical Research. He was born in
1844 and died in 1925.
Barrington
George Barrington was an Irish pick-pocket and author. He was deported to
Botany Bay. He was born in 1755 and died in 1840. He wrote the line "we
left our country for our country's good".
Samuel Barrington was a British admiral who gained distinction during the
Seven Years War. He was born in 1729 and died in 1800.
Barry
Sir John Wolfe Barry was a civil engineer who built Tower Bridge. He was
born in 1836 and died in 1918.
Bartok
Bela Bartok was a Hungarian composer. He was born in 1881, dying in 1945.
Bastien-Lepage
Jules Bastien-Lepage was a French painter. He was born in 1848 and died
in 1884. His works include Sarah Bernhardt and Joan of Arc listening to
the voices.
Batak
The Batak are a number of distinct but related peoples of northern
Sumatra in Indonesia.
Beaker People
The Beaker People were people of Iberian origin who spread out over
Europe in the 2nd millenium BC. They are belived to have built Stonehenge
in England. They are called the Beaker People because their remains
include earthenware beakers.
Beardsley
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley was a black-and-white decorative artist. He was
born in 1872 and died in 1898.
Beethoven
Beethoven was a German composer.
Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish inventor. He was born in Edinburgh
in 1847 and died in 1922. He invented the telephone whilst working at a
school for teachers of the deaf in Boston.
Belloc
Hilaire Belloc was a French author born in 1870. In 1902 he became a
British subject. He died in 1953.
Bemba
The Bemba are an African people of northern Zambia.
Benet
Stephen Vincent Benet was an American writer. He was born in 1898 and
died in 1943. He wrote the poem John Brown's Body which deals with the
American Civil War.
Benn
Anthony Wedgwood Benn is a British labour MP. He was born in 1925. He is
son of the 1st viscount of Stansgate. He was the 1st person to disclaim
his title under the Peerage Act.
Berber
The berbers are a race of people in north Africa.
Berthelot
Marcellin Pierre Eugene Berthelot was a French chemist and politician. He
was born in 1827, dying in 1907. He was the first person to produce
organic compounds synthetically.
Berzelius
Jons Jakob Berzelius was a Swedish chemist. He was born in 1779, dying in
1848. He was the founder of electrochemical theory and designed the
system of chemical symbols still in use.
Bessemer
Sir Henry Bessemer was born in 1813, dying in 1898. He invented the
bessemer Converter which is a three stage process for maKing cheap steel.
Best
Charles Herbert was a Canadian physiologist. He was born in 1899, dying
in 1978. With Banting he discovered the use of insulin in treating
diabetes.
Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman was an English poet. He was born in 1906, dying in
1984. He was the poet laureate from 1972 to 1984.
Bevan
Aneurin bevan was a British socialist politician. He was born in 1897,
dying in 1960. He devised the national health service which came into
operation in 1948.
Beveridge
William Henry Beveridge was the first baron beveridge. He was born in
1879, dying in 1963. He was an economist who designed the present British
social Security service.
Bevin
Ernest bevin was an British trade unionist. He was born in 1881, dying in
1951. He was foreign secretary from 1945 to 1951.
Bhave
Vinova Bhave is an Indian reformer and leader of the sarvodaya movement.
He was born in 1895. He was a follower of ghandi and campaigned for help
for landless peasants.
Bichat
Marie Francois Xavier Bichat was a French physiologist. He was born in
1771 and died in 1802. He studied tissue and formed the basis of modern
histology.
Biddle
John Biddle was an English unitarian. He was born in 1615, dying in
prison in 1662. He was imprisoned for his controversial writings.
Binyon
Laurence Binyon was a poet, art critic and orientalist. He was born in
1869, dying in 1943. He worked at the British museum fvrom 1893 to 1933.
Birch
Samuel John Lamorna Birch was an English lanscape painter. He was born in
1869, dying in 1955.
Birkbeck
George Birkbeck founded the mechanics' institutes. He was born in 1776,
dying in 1841.
Bishop
Sir Henry Rowley Bishop was an English composer. He was born in 1786,
dying in 1855. He wrote home sweet home.
Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold Von Bismarck was a pRussian diplomat and statesman.
He was born in 1815, dying in 1898. He was the main architect of the
German empire.
Bismark
Otto bismark was Prussian prime minister in 1862, and chancellor of
Germany in 1867. He became the first chancellor of the German empire in
1871.
Bizet
Bizet was a French composer born in paris in 1838. He died in 1875.
Black
Sir James Black is a British scientist. He was born in 1924. He was
awarded a nobel prize for medicine in 1988 for his work on drugs which
prevent heart attacks.
Black Baron
Black Baron was the alias of one Christopher Pile, an English man, who in
the mid-1990's wrote a series of computer viruses employing an advanced
polymorphic technique he called "SMEG". In all three variants of SMEG
were developed and distributed; Pathogen, Queeg and Smeg 3.
Blackfeet
The blackfeet are a north American Indian tribe.
Blackwell
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to obtain an MD degree. She was
born in 1821 in England. She graduated from the College of Geneva in New
York in 1849.
Blackwood
William Blackwood was a Scottish publisher. He was born in 1776 in
Edinburgh and died in 1834. He started publishing "Blackwood's Magazine"
in 1817.
Blake
William Blake was an English poet and artist. He was born in London in
1757. He died in 1827.
Blane
Sir Gilbert Blane was a Scottish physician. He was born in 1749 in
Ayrshire and died in 1834. He was private physician to Admiral Rodney,
and then physician to the fleet in the West Indies, in which position he
introduced the use of lime-juice and other means of preventing scurvy
among sailors. He wrote "Elements of Medical Logic".
Blanqui
Jerome Adolphe Blanqui was a French economist. He was born in 1798 at
Nice and died in 1854 in Paris. He was introduced to economics while
studying medicine at Paris. He favoured a free-trade policy and wrote a
number of works including "Precis Elementaire d'Economie Politique".
Blasius
St. Blasius was Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia. He was said to have been
martyred around 316 by torture with a wool-comb, from which he became the
patron saint of wool-combers.
Bleriot
Louis Bleriot made the first crossing of the English channel in an
aircraft. The aircraft was his monoplane. The crossing took place on july
25th 1909.
Blicher
Steen Stensen Blicher was a Danish poet and novelist. He was born in 1782
and died in 1848. His novels give an accurate account of country life in
Jutland in the middle of the 19th century.
Bligh
William Bligh was the commander of the ship "Bounty" when the crew
mutinied in the South Seas. He was born in 1753 in Plymouth and died in
1817 in London. The mutiny occured while the Bounty was on course for
Jamaica. Bligh and 18 men were cast adrift in a boat not far from Tonga.
After a journey of 4000 miles they reached Timor and made it back to
England. The mutineers sailed to Pitcairn Island where their ancestors
still live.
Bloch
Marcus Eliezer Bloch was a naturalist. He was born in 1723 at Anspach and
died in 1799. His main work was on fish, and he wrote "Natural History Of
Fishes" in 1785 which included 432 colour plates.
Bloemaart
Abraham Bloemaart was a Dutch painter. He was born in 1565 and died in
1657.
Blondel
Blondel was a French minstrel and poet of the 12th century. He is a
legendary character, tales about him being recorded in "Chronicles of
Rheims". One story tells how his master was taken prisoner, and Blondel
trying to find him walked all Palestine and Germany singing his master's
favourite song until at last the song was taken up and answered by the
imprisoned master.
Blue-stocking
A Blue-stocking was a litterary lady. The term was applied around the
time of Dr Johnson when ladies would hold conversation with distinguised
literary men. One of the men, Benjamin Stillingfleet, always wore blue
stockings and his conversation was so prized at the meetings that in his
absence the ladies would remark, "we can do nothing without the blue-
stockings", and hence the meetings became known as blue-stocking clubs,
and the ladies who attended them as blue-stockings.
Boers
The boers were early Dutch colonists in South Africa.
Bogos
The Bogos are a Hamitic people of Northern Syria.
Boiars
The boiars were an order of the Russian aristocracy next in rank to the
ruling Princes. The order was abolished by Peter the Great.
Bonnard
Pierre Bonnard was a French painter famous for painting nudes. He was
born in fontenay-aux-roses in 1867. He died in 1947.
Bonzes
Bonzes was the name used by Europeans for Buddist priests around 1900.
Borgia
Lucretia Borgia was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI. She was born in
1480 and died in 1523.
Borrow
George Borrow was an English writer. He was born in 1803 and died in
1881. he wrote the Dictionary of the Gypsy Language in 1874.
Boscan-Almogaver
Juan Boscan-Almogaver was a Spanish poet. He was born in the late 15th
century and died in 1540. He introduced Italian forms into Spanish
poetry.
Boscovich
Roger Joseph Boscovich was an Italian astronomer and geometrician. He was
born in 1711 at Ragusa and died in 1787 in Milan.
Bosworth
Joseph Bosworth was an English philologist. He was born in 1790 in
derbyshire and died in 1876. He studied the Anglo-Saxon language and
wrote several works on it including "Anglo-Saxon Grammar" and "Dictionary
of the Anglo-Saxon Labguage".
Bottiger
Karl August Bottiger was a German archaeologist. He was born in 1760 and
died in 1835. In 1814 he was appointed chief inspector of the museum of
Antiquities in Dresden.
Bottomley
Horatio Bottomley was an English politician and financier. He was born in
1860, dying in 1933. He was imprisoned for fraud.
Boucicault
Dion Boucicault was an Irish author and actor. He was born in 1822 at
Dublin and died in 1890.
Boulton
Matthew Boulton was an English mechanical engineer. He was born in 1728
at Birmingham and died in 1809. In 1769 he formed a partnership with
James Watt.
Bowdich
Thomas Edward Bowdich was an African explorer. He was born in 1790 and
died in 1824 of disease in the Gambia.
Bowdoin
James Bowdoin was an American statesman. He was born in 1727 at Boston
and died in 1790. In 1785 he was appointed govenor of Massachusetts.
Bower
Archibald Bower was a Scottish writer. He was born in 1686 and died in
1766. He wrote "A History of The Popes" which was remarkable for its zeal
against the Popery.
Bowker
Sir Reginald James Bowker was a British statesman. He was born in 1901.
He was ambassador to Burma from 1948 to 1950, ambassador to Turkey from
1954 to 1958 and ambassador to Austria from 1958 to 1961.
Bowles
William Lisle Bowles was an English poet. He was born in 1762 at King's
Sutton and died in 1850.
Bowman
Sir William Bowman was an English anatomist and surgeon. He was born in
1816 and died in 1892. He collaborated with Todd in writing "The
Physiological Anatomy".
Bowyer
William Bowyer was an English printer. He was born in 1699 in London and
died in 1777. In 1729 he became printer of the votes of the House Of
Commons. In 1767 he was nominated printer of the journals of the House of
Lords.
Brindley
James Brindley was an English engineer. He was born in 1716 and died in
1772. He built the Bridgewater Canal in 1758 and the Grand Trunk Canal.
Bromius
Bromius was another name for Dionysus.
Bruce Smith
Bruce Smith is drum player with the rock group Public Image Ltd.
Burke
Clement Burke was premier drummer with the 70's punk band Blondie. He
also provided backing vocals for many tracks.
Bushman
The bushman are an aboriginal people living in south Africa.
Byrd
Richard Evelyn Byrd was an American scientist and explorer. He started
his career in the navy, but took up flying. In 1926 he flew over the
North Pole. He was born in 1888 and died in 1957. William Byrd was an
English composer. He was born in 1543 and died in 1623.
Byron
Lord George Gordon Byron was an English poet. He was born in 1788 and
died in 1824.
Cabot
John Cabot was an Italian navigator. He was born in Genoa in 1450 and
died in 1498. He discovered Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
Caligula
Caligula was a Roman Emperor, alleged to be mad he was assassinated by a
guard.
Caliph
Caliph is the title of the civic and religious leader of Islam.
Calvin
John Calvin was a Swiss religious reformer. He was born in 1509 and died
in 1564. He was influenced by Martin Luther.
Campbell
Sir Malcolm Campbell was a British racing motorist. He set land speed
records and speed-boat speed records. He was born in 1885 and died in
1949. Donald Campbell was the son of Malcolm Campbell. He broke the world
water speed record on Ullswater in 1955. He was born in 1921 and died in
1967.
Camus
Albert Camus was a French writer. He was born in 1913 and died in 1959.
Canaletto
Antonio Canaletto was an Italian painter. He was born at Venice in 1697
and died in 1768. He painted scenes.
Canute
King canute ruled England from 1016 to 1035.
Captain
Captain is a rank in the armed services.
Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was an American industrialist and philanthropist. He was
born at Dunfermline in 1835 and died in 1919.
Carroll
Lewis Carroll was the pen-name of Charles Dodgson. He was a writer of
poetry and children's books. He was born in 1832 and died in 1898.
Carthusians
The Carthusians were a religious order instituted by St. Bruno in 1084.
Cartwright
Edmund Cartwright was an English cleric and inventor. He was born in 1743
at Marnham and died in 1823. He invented a mechanical weaving machine.
Catullus
Gaius Valerius Catullus was a Roman lyric poet. He was born at verona in
84BC and died in 54BC.
Cavell
Edith Louisa Cavell was an English nurse who helped allied soldiers to
escape from occupied territory during the Great War. She was caught and
shot by the Germans. She was born in 1865 in Norfolk and died in 1915.
Cavendish
Henry Cavendish was an English scientist who investigated the nature of
gases. He was born in 1731, dying in 1810.
Caxton
William Caxton was the first English printer. He was born in 1422 and
died in 1491. He established a press in Westminster in 1477 and from
there he issued about 80 books.
Cecilia
Saint Cecilia was a Christian martyr. She died in 230. She is associated
with church music.
Celaeno
Celaeno was one of the harpies.
Cellini
Benvenuto Cellini was a Florentine goldsmith and sculptor. He was born in
1500 and died in 1571.
Celsius
Anders Celsius was a Swedish astronomer. He was born in 1701 and died in
1744. He invented the centigrade scale for measuring temperature.
Celts
The Celts were tribes which came to Britain from central Europe in the
late Bronze age and again in the Iron Age.
Centurion
A centurion was an officer in the Roman army commanding 100 men.
Cepheus
Cepheus was the King of aethiopia. He displeased poseidon by having a
beautiful daughter, andromeda. Poseidon then sent floods and a sea
monster to terrorise the area until Cepheus gave his daughter as a
sacrifice to the sea monster.
Cervantes
Saavedra Miguel de Cervantes was a Spanish writer. He was born in 1547 at
Acala de Henares and died in 1616. He was the author of the book Don
Quixote de la Mancha.
Cezanne
Paul Cezanne was a French painter. He was born in 1839 at Aix-en-
Provence. He studied with Picasso.
Chagall
Marc Chagall was a Russian painter. He was born in 1887 at Vitebsk.
Chamberlain
Sir Austen Chamberlain was a British politician. He was born in 1863 at
Birmingham and he died in 1937. He initiated the Locarno pact in 1925
which sought to reconcile France and Germany. Neville Chamberlain was a
British politician. He was born in 1869 and died in 1940. He became Prime
Minister in 1937.
Champollion
Jean Francis Champollion was a French scholar. He was born in 1790 and
died in 1832. He deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphic writing from studing
the Rosetta Stone.
Chancellor
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is a cabinet minister who looks after the
nation's money. It is the oldest office in the British Government, dating
back to the days of Henry I when the Chancellor sat at a table covered
with a chequered cloth and received taxes collected by the sheriffs.
Chardin
Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin was a French painter. He was born in 1699
and died in 1779. He painted still lifes and interior scenes.
Charlemagne
Charlemagne (Charles the Great) was king of France. He was born in 742
and died in 814. He extended the French empire into Italy.
Charles I
Charles I was King of England from 1625 to 1649. He was born in 1600
and died in 1649.
Charles II
Charles II was King of England from 1660 to 1685.
Chateaubriand
Francois Rene Vicomte de Chateaubriand was a politician and pioneer of
the French Romantic Movement. He was born in 1768 and died in 1848. He
was ambassador to Britain in 1822 and minister of Foreign Affairs from
1823 until 1824.
Chatterton
Thomas Chatterton was an English poet. He was born in 1752 and died in
1770.
Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer was an English poet. He was born in 1340 and died in
1400. His works include the Canterbury Tales.
Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian writer born at Taganrog in 1860. He
died in 1904.
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a north American Indian tribe.
Chesterton
Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an English author of essays, verse and
novels. He was born in 1874 and died in 1936.
Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang Kai-Shek was a Chinese political and military leader. He served
with Sun Yat-Sen during the 1911 revolution and later became leader of
the nationalist government. He opposed the communists and fled to Taiwan
in 1950.
Chippendale
Thomas Chippendale was one of England's most famous furniture makers. He
was born in 1718 in Yorkshire and died in 1779.
Chopin
Frederic Francois Chopin was a Polish composer. He was born in 1810
near Warsaw and died in 1849. He spent much of his life in Paris where
he founded the modern style of piano playing.
Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a Britsh statesman. He was born
in 1874 at Blenheim Palace and died in 1965. He was Britains Prime
Minister during the Second World War.
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman orator, politician and writer. He was
born in 106BC and died in 43BC.
Cimabue
Cimabue was an Italian painter. He was born in 1240 and died in 1302.
Claude Lorraine
Claude Lorraine was a French landscape painter. He was born in 1600 at
Lorraine and died in 1682.
Claudius I
Claudius I was born in 10BC at Lyons and died in 54. He became emperor
following the assassination of Caligula. He was murdered by his wife
Agrippina so that her son, Nero could be emperor.
Clemenceau
Georges Clemenceau was a French republican and statesman. He was born in
1841 at Mouilleron-en-Pareds and died in 1929. He was Prime Minister of
France in 1906 and inaugurated a scheme of social reform.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra was a name of Egyptian queens. Cleopatra VI was a lover of
caesar and following his murder mark Antony. She commited suicide in 31bc
Clerk of the Peace
A Clerk of the Peace is a county lawyer who gives advice to the Justices
of the Peace and keeps records of his county.
Clive
Robert Clive was the principal founder of the British Empire in India. He
is also known as Clive of India. He was born in 1725 at Market Drayton
and died in 1774. As a child he formed a protection racket and demanded
money from the local shop keepers!
Clovis
Clovis was King of the Franks. He was born in 465 and died in 511. He
defeated the Gallo-Romans near Soissons and the Alemanni near Cologne in
496.
Cobb
John Rhodes Cobb was a British racing motorist. He established the world
record of 394.2mph at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah in September 1947.
Cobett
William Cobett was a British author and journalist. He was born in 1763
at Surrey and died in 1835.
Cocteau
Jean Cocteau was a French actor, poet, film director and play wright. He
wrote the book Les Enfants Terribles. He was born in 1891 and died in
1963.
Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet. He was born in 1772 and died
in 1834. He is best remembered for his poem the Ancient Mariner.
Colin
Colin was King of Scotland from 967 to 971.
Collins
William Wilkie Collins was an English novelist. He was born in 1824 and
died in 1889. William Collins was an English landscape painter.
Colt
Samuel colt of hartford, conneticut patented the first successful
percussion revolver in England in 1835 and in America in 1836.
Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator. He was born in 1451 at
Genoa and died in 1506. Inspired by the adventures of Marco Polo,
Columbus sought a westerly route to the East. He discovered Cuba, the
West Indies and the South American mainland.
Comenius
Johann Amos Comenius was a Czech educational reformer. He was born in
1592 at Moravia and died in 1671. He advised throughout Europe on the
teaching of languages, suggesting that they should be taught by
conversation and that pictures helped.
Conductor
In music, a conductor is a musician who directs the performance of a
piece of music.
Confucius
Confucius was an ancient chinese philosopher.
Congreve
William Congreve was an English playwright. He was born in 1670 at Leeds
and died in 1729. He was educated in Ireland. He went to London when he
was in his early twenties. He wrote comedy plays.
Conolly
John Conolly was an English physician. He was born in 1794 in
Lincolnshire and died in 1866. He introduced a new form of treatment for
the mentally ill, whereby mechanical restraints were no longer used.
Conon
Conon was an Athenian general. He commanded the fleet of 413BC which was
intended to prevent the Corinthians from relieving Syracuse during their
war with Athens.
Conrad
Joseph Conrad was a British novelist. He was born in 1857 in the Ukraine
and died in 1924. He spent twenty years at sea and then settled in Kent
to work as a writer.
Conrad I
Conrad I was King of Germany in 911. He was killed in 918 while fighting
the Hungarians.
Conrad II
Conrad II was King of Germany from 1024 until 1039. He tried to reform
the country, repressing some of the more unpleasant aspects of the feudal
system.
Conrad III
Conrad III was King of Germany from 1138 to 1152. He adopted the double
headed eagle symbol which is still in use in Austria today.
Conscience
Hendrik Conscience was a Flemish novelist. He was born in 1812 at Antwerp
and died in 1883. He wrote novels mainly dealing with the history of his
country and provide accounts of everyday life in Belgium.
Constable
John Constable was an English landscape painter. He was born in 1776 at
Suffolk and died in 1837.
Constantine
Constantine was King of Scotland from 863 to 877. Constantine The Great
was a Roman emperor. He was born in 274, dying in 337. He was converted
to christianity and made it the state religion.
Constantine II
Constantine II was King of Scotland from 900 to 943.
Constantine III
Constantine III was King of Scotland from 995 to 997.
Consul
A consul is an official who who looks after the trading interests of his
country in foreign towns.
Contras
The contras are a right wing Nicaraguan guerrilla force.
Cook
Captain James Cook was an English sailor and explorer. In 1768 he sailed
around the world. He discovered easter island in 1772.
Cooper
Sir Astley Paston Cooper was an English surgeon and the author of medical
text books. He was born in 1768, dying in 1841.
James Fenimore Cooper was an American novelist. He was born in 1789,
dying in 1851. He wrote the last of rthe Mohicans and the Deerslayer.
Anthony Ashley Cooper was an English philanthropist. He was born in 1801
and died in 1885.
Copernicus
Nicholas Copernicus was the founder of astronomy. He was born in 1478 at
torun in poland. He died in 1543. He studied at cracow university and
settled in frauenburg in 1512. He put forward the theory that the planets
revolve around the sun.
Coppee
Francois Joachim Coppee was a French poet,novelist and dramatist. He was
born in 1842, dying in 1908.
Corelli
Arcangelo Corelli was an Italian composer. He was born in 1653, dying in
1713.
Corneille
Pierre Corneille was a French dramatist. He was born in 1606, dying in
1684. He was a master of the classical tragedy.
Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis was the 1st marquess of cornwallis. He was born in
1738, dying in 1805. He commanded the British forces which surrendered to
the Americans at yorktown in 1781 and ended the American war of
independance.
Cornwell
see "Le_Carre"
Coroner
A Coroner is a person who is appointed to enquire into the death of
somebody who has died, or is thought to have died from unnatural causes.
Corot
Jean Baptiste Corot was a French landscape painter. He was born in 1796,
dying in 1875.
Correggio
Antonio Allegri da Correggio was an Italian painter. He was born in 1494
at correggio. He died in 1534. He painted the ecce homo.
Cortes
Hernando Cortes was a Spanish adventurer. He was born in 1488, dying in
1547. He captured mexico for spain, and destroyed the ancient
civilisation there.
Coulomb
Charles Coulomb was a French physicist. He was born in 1736 and died in
1806. He studied the distribution of electrical charges. The unit of
electrical charge, the coulomb, is named after him.
Coulton
George Gordon Coulton was an English cholar and historian. He was born in
1858, dying in 1947. He wrote the book five centuries of religion.
Couperin
Francois Couperin was a French composer. He was born in 1668 near Paris
and died in 1733.
Courbet
Gustave Courbet was a French painter. He was born in 1819 at Ornans and
died in 1877.
Cousin
Victor Cousin was a French educationalist and philosopher. He was born in
1792, dying in 1867. He founded the eclectic school.
Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau is a French underwater explorer. He was born in
1910. He has pioneered aqualung diving and made numerous television
documentaries.
Coverdale
Miles Coverdale was an English bishop. He was born in 1488 at Yorkshire,
dying in 1568. He translated the bible in 1535.
Coward
Noel Coward was an English actor, playwright and composer. He was born in
1899.
Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet. He was born in 1731 and died in 1800.
Cox
David Cox was an English landscape painter. He was born in 1783, dying in
1859.
Crabbe
George Crabbe was an English poet. He was born in 1754, dying in 1832.
Cranach
Lucas Cranach was a German painter. He was born in 1472 at Kronach and
died in 1553.
Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was archbishop of canterbury under Henry VIII. He was born
in 1489, dying in 1556 when he was burnt at the stake for refusing to
revert his religion under Mary.
Cripps
Sir Stafford Cripps was a British labour mp. He was born in 1889, dying
in 1952. He was chancellor of the exchequer in post-war Britain.
Crispin
Saint Crispin is the patron saint of shoe-makers.
Crome
John Crome was an English landscape painter. He was born in 1599 at
Norwich and died in 1821.
Crompton
Samuel Crompton was an English inventor born in 1753 he died in 1827. He
invented the spinning-mule in 1779.
Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was protector of the commonwealth of England, Scotland
and Ireland. He was born at huntingdon in 1599, dying in 1658. During the
English civil war he first served under the earl of Essex before
reorganising the parliamentary army. He promoted the trial and execution
of Charles I.
Crookes
Sir William Crookes was an English physicist. He was born in 1832, dying
in 1919. He discovered the element thallium in 1861. He invented the
crookes tube in 1874.
Cruikshank
George Cruikshank was an English artist. He was born in 1792 at London
and died in 1878. He is remembered for his caricatures and book
illustrations.
Culpeper
Nicholas Culpeper was a 17th century English medical writer and
astrologer.
Cummings
Edward Estlin Cummings was an American writer and painter. He was born in
1894 and died in 1962.
Cunard
Sir Samuel Cunard was the founder of the Cunard shipping line. He was
born in Wales in 1787, dying in 1865.
Curie
Marie Curie was a French scientist. She was born in 1867 at warsaw and
died in 1934. She and her husband together separated radium in 1902.
Curzon
George Nathaniel Curzon was an English statesman. He was born in 1859 and
died in 1925. He was foreign secretary from 1919 until 1924.
Cyrus
Cyrus was a Persian emperor. He was born in 559bc, dying in 529bc.
Daci
see "Getae"
Daguerre
Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre was a French scientist. He was born in 1789
and died in 1851. He discovered the process of photography and invented
the diorama.
Daimios
The Daimios were a class of feudal Lords in Japan. In 1871 they were
deprived of their priviledges and jurisdiction and made official govenors
for the state in districts they had previously held as feudal rulers.
Dalgarno
George Dalgarno was a Scottish educationalist. He was born in 1627 at
Aberdeen and died in 1687. He wrote "Didascalocophus" which was a tutor
for the deaf.
Dali
Salvador Dali is a Spanish painter. He was born in 1904. He is a
surrealist painter.
Dalton
John Dalton was an English scientist. He was born in 1766, dying in 1844.
He is famous for discovering atomic theory.
Dampier
William Dampier was an English explorer. He was born in 1652. He died in
1715.
Danebrog
Danebrog were an order of Danish knights instituted in 1219, and revived
in 1693.
Dankalil
The Dankalil (singular Dankali) are (were?) a number of tribes that
inhabited East Africa near the Red Sea. They were generally fishermen or
cattle rearers and practised Islam.
Dante
Alighieri Dante was an Italian poet. He was born in 1265 at Florence and
died in 1321.
Danton
George Jacques Danton was one of the leaders of the French revolution. He
was born in 1759 and died in 1794.
Darius
Darius was the name of three Persian kings. Darius the Great reigned from
521BC until 486BC. He was defeated by the Greeks at Marathon.
Darlan
Jean Darlan was a French admiral. He was c-in-c of the French navy from
1939 until 1940. He took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. He later
became pro-German and was assassinated by a fellow Frenchman in 1942.
Darling
Grace Darling was born in 1815 at Bamborough and died in 1842. She was
the daughter of a lighthouse keeper at Longstone. On September 7th 1838
she and her father rowed out to a rock and rescued nine survivors from
the wreck of the Forfashire. For this she was awarded a gold medal by the
Humane Society.
Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin was an English naturalist. He was born in
Shrewsbury in 1809, dying in 1882. He published his theory of evolution
in a book entitled the origin of species in 1859.
Daudet
Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist. He was born in 1840 at Nimes and
died in 1897.
Daumier
Honore Daumier was a French painter and cartoonist. He was born in 1808
at Marseilles and died in 1879. He produced almost 4000 lithographs.
David
David was King of Scotland from 1124 to 1153. Jacques Louis David was a
French historical painter. He was born in 1748 and died in 1825.
David II
David II was King of Scotland from 1329 to 1371.
Davy
Sir Humphrey Davy was an English scientist. He was born in 1778 at
Penzance and died in 1829. He discovered the anaesthetic properties of
laughing gas.
Dawber
Sir Guy Dawber was an English architect. He was born in 1861, dying in
1938. He did a lot of work to bring about the restoration of buildings
throughout England.
Day Lewis
Cecil Day Lewis was an English poet and critic. He was born in 1904,
dying in 1972. He was professor of poetry at oxford university. He became
the poet laureate in 1968.
Dayak
The Dayak are aboriginal people of Indonesian Borneo and Sarawak.
De Forest
Lee De Forest was an American inventor. He was born in 1873, dying in
1961. He was the first person to use alternating-current transmission. He
improved the thermionic valve detector enabling wireless and sound films
to be made.
De Gaulle
Charles De Gaulle was a French soldier and statesman. He was born in 1890
and died in 1969. During the Second World War he was leader of the Free
French Forces. In 1944 he led the liberation forces that entered Paris,
and defeating the Communists who had stayed in France and fought the
Nazis, became head of the provisional government.
De Quincey
Thomas De Quincey was an English writer. He was born in 1785 and died in
1859.
De Valera
Eamon De Valera is an Irish national leader. He commanded an insurgent
battalion during the uprising og Easter 1916. He established the
independant state of Eire in 1937.
Debussy
Claude Achille Debussy was a French composer. He was born in 1862, dying
in 1918. He was leader of the French impressionist school in music.
Decemvirs
The Decemvirs were the 10 magistrates who had absolute authority in
Ancient Rome.
Defoe
Daniel Defoe was an English political writer. He was born in 1660, dying
in 1731. He is perhaps most famous for writing the novel robinson crusoe.
He was imprisoned for writing the work the shortest way with dissenters.
Degas
Edgar Degas was a French painter. He was born in 1834 at Paris and died
in 1917.
Dekker
Thomas Dekker was an English dramatist and writer. He was born in 1570
and died in 1641. He wrote plays which provide a view of contemporary
life in London.
Delacroix
Ferdinand Victor Eugene Delacroix was a French historical painter. He was
born in 1798 at Charenton and died in 1863.
Delambre
Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre was a French astronomer. He was born in
1749 in Amiens and died in 1822.
Delane
John Thaddeus Delane was editor of the Times newspaper. He was born in
1817 and died in 1879. He became editor in 1841 and remained until 1877.
During his editorship the newspaper gained in influence and circulation.
Delavigne
Jean Francois Casimir Delavigne was a French poet and dramatist. He was
born in 1793 at Havre and died in 1843.
Delaware Indians
The Delaware Indians were a North American tribe of Indians of the
Algonquin family. They were so called Delaware because they lived on the
Delaware river, although they called themselves Lenni Lenape.
Delibes
Leo Delibes was a French composer. He was born in 1836 and died in 1891.
Delius
Frederick Delius was an English composer. He was born in 1862 at Bradford
and died in 1934. Despite becoming blind and paralysed at the age of
fifty he continued to compose.
Dene
The Dene are a North American Indian tribe found in the Northwest
Territories, Canada.
Descartes
Rene Descartes was a French mathematician and philosopher. He was born in
1596 and died in 1650. He invented Cartesian geometry.
Destri
James Destri played keyboards with the 70's punk rock band Blondie.
Devereux
Robert Devereux was the Second Earl Of Essex. An Elizabethan soldier and
courtier he was born in 1566 at Herefordshire and died in 1601. He was a
lover to Elizabeth I.
Diaghilev
Sergi Pavlovich Diaghilev was a Russian impressario. He was born in 1872
and died in 1929.
Dias
Allan Dias is bass player with Public Image Ltd
Diaz
Porfirio Diaz was a Mexican general and politician. He was born in 1830
and died in 1915. He was elected president in 1876.
Dickens
Charles Dickens was a 19th century English novelist whose powerful
imagery brought to public attention the terrible conditions endured by
the poor.
Diderot
Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, novelist, playwright and critic.
He was born in 1713 and died in 1784.
Diggers
The diggers were a pacifist and radical sect of 17th century England.
Dike
Dike was the attendant of justice to Nemesis.
Diocletian
Diocletian was a Roman Emperor. He was born in 243 and died in 313. He
was proclaimed Emperor by the troops at Chalcedon in 284.
Diogenes
Diogenes was a Greek philosopher. He was born in 412BC and died in 323BC.
Diplomat
A Diplomat is a person sent to a foreign country as one of the
representatives of his country. Traditionally diplomats have spied on
their host country.
Disney
Walt Disney was an American artist and film producer. He was born in 1901
and died in 1967. He is best remembered for his animations. His first
successful animated film was Mickey Mouse which was released in 1928.
Disraeli
Benjamin Disraeli was a British statesman and writer. He was born in
1804, dying in 1881.
Donald
Donald was King of Scotland from 860 to 863.
Donald Bane
Donald Bane was King of Scotland during 1093.
Donald II
Donald II was King of Scotland from 878 to 889.
Donald Maclean
Donald Maclean was a British diplomat. He defected to the Russians with
Guy Burgess in 1951.
Donatello
Donatello was an Italian opera composer. He was born in 1797 and died in
1848.
Donne
John Donne was an English poet. He was born in 1573 at London and died in
1631.
Dore
Paul Gustav Dore was a French artist. He was born in 1833 at Strasbourg
and died in 1883.
Dostoievski
Fyodor Dostoievski was a Russian novelist. He was born in 1821 at Moscow
and died in 1881. He studied military engineering before joining the
army. He was arrested in 1849 for being a member of a socialist society
and sentanced to four years in Siberia.
Douglas-Home
Sir Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home is a British Conservative statesman.
He was educated at Eton and Oxford. He entered Parliament in 1931. In
1960 he became Foreign Secretary. In 1963 he became Prime Minister.
Dowland
Hohn Dowland was an English lutanist and song writer. He was born in 1563
and died in 1626.
Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a British author. He trained in medicine, but
started writing to earn some money. He is best remembered for creating
the character Sherlock Holmes.
Drake
Sir Francis Drake was an English seaman. He was born in 1545, dying in
1596.
Dreiser
Theodore Dreiser was an American writer born in 1871. He died in 1945.
Dreyfus
Captain Alfred Dreyfus was a French officer falsely accused of espionage.
He was born in 1859 and died in 1935.
Druid
The druids were ancient celtic priests. Their group still exists today in
secret, despite the existence of charlatan groups claiming to be druids.
Dryades
The dryades were nymphs of the woods and trees.
Dryden
Hohn Dryden was a Britsh poet. He was born in 1631 and died in 1700.
Duccio
Di Buoninsegna Duccio was an Italian painter. He was born in 1255 and
died in 1319. He founded the Sienese school.
Duchamp
Marcel Duchamp was a French artist. He was born in 1887 and died in 1968.
Duell
William Duell was executed for murder at Tyburn in 1740, but whilst
undergoing dissection at Surgeons' Hall he came back to life.
Duff
Duff was King of Scotland from 962 to 967.
Dufy
Raoul Dufy was a French painter. He was born in 1877 and died in 1953.
Dukas
Paul Dukas was a French composer. He was born in 1865 at Paris and died
in 1935. His most popular work is the Sorcerer's Apprentice which was
used by Walt Disney in his film Fantasia.
Duke
Duke is the highest title in English peerage.
Dumas
Alexandre Dumas was a French novelist and dramatist. He was born in 1802
and died in 1870. He wrote The Three Musketeers, The Count Of Monte
Cristo and The Black Tulip.
Duncan
Duncan was King of Scotland from 1034 to 1040.
Duncan II
Duncan II was King of Scotland during 1093.
Duns Scotus
John Duns Scotus was a Scottish philosopher. He was born in 1265 at
Roxburghshire and died in 1308.
Dunstan
Archbishop Dunstan was advisor to King edgar of England.
Duparc
Henri Duparc was a French composer. He was born in Paris in 1848. He died
in 1933.
Durer
Albrecht Durer was a German painter and engraver. He was born in 1471 at
Nuremburg and died in 1528.
Dvorak
Antonin Dvorak was a Czech composer. He was born in 1841 and died in
1904.
Dyck
Sir Antony Van Dyck was a Dutch artist. He was born in 1599 at Antwerp
and died in 1641. He was an assistant to Rubens.
Eddington
Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington was a British astronomer and mathematician.
He was born in 1882 at Kendal and died in 1944. He studied the internal
constitution of stars.
Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy was the founder of the Christian Science Movement. She
was born in 1821 and died in 1910.
Edgar
Edgar was King of England from 959 to 975. Edgar was King of Scotland
from 1097 to 1107.
Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American scientist. He was born in 1847 and
died in 1931. He invented the carbon filiament electric lamp and the
phonograph.
Edmund
Edmund (the Elder) succeeded Athelstan as King of England from 940 to
946. Edmund (ironside) was a son of ethelred and King of England in 1016.
Edred
Edred succeeded Edmund as King of England from 946 to 955.
Edward
Edward (the Elder) was King of England from 901 to 924. Edward (the
martyr) was son of edgar and succeeded him as King of England from 975 to
978. Edward (the confessor) was a son of ethelred and King of England
from 1042 to 1066.
Edward I
Edward I was King of England from 1272 to 1307.
Edward II
Edward II was King of England from 1307 to 1327.
Edward III
Edward III was son of Edward II and King of England from 1327 to 1377.
Edward IV
Edward IV was King of England from 1461 to 1483.
Edward V
Edward V was King of England in 1483.
Edward VI
Edward VI was King of England from 1547 to 1553.
Edward VII
Edward VII was King of England from 1901 to 1910.
Edward VIII
Edward VIII was King of England in 1936.
Edwy
Edwy (son of Edmund the Elder) succeeded Edred as King of England from
955 to 959.
Egyptian
An Egyptian is an inhabitant of Egypt.
Ehrlich
Paul Ehrlich was a German bacteriologist. He was born in 1854 and died in
1915. He shared the Nobel prize for medicine in 1908 and invented
Salvarsan.
Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German Swiss physicist, born in 1879, and died
1955.
Eisenhower
Dwight David Eisenhower was an American President and military leader. He
was born in 1890 at Texas and died in 1969.
Electryon
Electryon was a son of Perseus and Andromeda.
Elgar
Sir Edward Elgar was an English composer. He was born in 1857 and died in
1934.
Eliot
George Eliot was the published name of Mary Ann Evans. She was a famous
English novelist who wrote silas Marner and mill On the Floss.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth was queen of England. Born 1533, and died 1603 she was queen
from 1558 to 1603.
Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II is the queen of England. She ascended the throne in 1952.
Empedocles
Empedocles was a Greek philosopher. He was born in 495BC at Sicily and
died in 435BC. He advocated the experimental method in science.
Engels
Friedrich Engels was the co-founder with Karl Marx of scientific
socialism. He was born in 1820 and died in 1895.
Epicurus
Epicurus was a Greek philosopher. He was born in 341BC on the island of
Samos and died in 270BC. He opposed the teachings of Plato as mystical,
stating that knowledge of the world could only come from the study of the
behaviour of matter.
Epimetheus
Epimetheus was the brother of prometheus.
Epstein
Sir Jacob Epstein was an American born sculptor who lived in England. He
was born in 1880 and died in 1959.
Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus was a Dutch scholar. He was born in 1466 at Rotterdam
and died in 1536. He wrote much about the Greek and Latin classics.
Eratosthenes
Eratosthenes was an ancient Greek geographer and mathematician.
Ethelred
Ethelred was a son of Edgar and succeeded Edward the martyr as King of
England from 978 to 1016.
Euclid
Euclid was a Greek mathematician. His book the Elements of Geometry set
down how geometry was to be taught for the next 2000 years. He was born
in 365BC and died in 275BC.
Euripides
Euripides was a Greek dramatist. He was born in 480BC at Phyla on the
island of Salamis and died in 406BC.
Evzone
An evzone is a member of a select Greek infantry regiment.
Eyck
Hubert Van Eyck was born in 1370 and died in 1426. With his brother Jan
he founded the flemish school of painting. Jan Van Eyck was born in 1390
and died in 1441.
Fabius Maximus
Fabius Maximus was the Roman dictator who saved Rome from Hannibal by
deliberately avoiding battle.
Falla
Manuel de Falla was a Spanish composer. He was born in 1876 at Cadiz and
died in 1946.
Fama
Fama was an alternative name for Pheme.
Fantin-Latour
Henri Fantin-Latour was a French painter. He was born in 1836 at Grenoble
and died in 1904.
Faraday
Michael Faraday was a British chemist. He was born in 1791. He died in
1867. He discovered electrical currents and invented the dynamo. The
farad is named after him.
Faulkner
William Harrison Faulkner was an American author. He was born in 1897 and
died in 1962.
Faure
Gabriel Urbain Faure was a French composer. He was born in 1845 at
Parniers and died in 1924.
Fawkes
Guy Fawkes was the English conspirator who tried to blow up Parliament
during the Gunpowder Plot in 1604. He was born in 1570 and died in 1606.
Feisal
Feisal was king of Iraq. He was born in 1885 and died in 1933. He was
appointed king of Syria in 1920 but deposed shortly afterwards. In 1921
he was elected King of Iraq.
Fenian
The Fenians were an organization of Irish Americans formed in the middle
of the 19th century to promote revolution and the overthrow of the
English government in Ireland.
Fermat
Pierre de Fermat was a French mathematician. He was born in 1601 at
Toulouse and died in 1665. His most important work was on the theory of
numbers.
Fermi
Enrico Fermi was an Italian physicist. He was born in 1901 at Rome and
died in 1954. He worked primarily in nuclear energy.
Fichte
Johann Gottlieb Fichte was a German philosopher. He was born in 1762 and
died in 1814.
Field
John Field was an Irish composer. He was born in 1782 at Dublin and died
in 1837. He gave his first public piano recital when he was nine.
Fielding
Henry Fielding was an English writer. He was born in 1707 near
Glastonbury and died in 1754. He wrote the novel Tom Jones.
Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American novelist. He was born in
1896 and died in 1940. He wrote The Great Gatsby.
Fizeau
A. H. L. Fizeau was a French physicist. He was born in 1819 at Paris and
died in 1896. He measured the speed of light in 1849.
Flamsteed
John Flamsteed was an English astronomer. He was born in 1646 and died in
1719. He is remembered for cataloguing the stars.
Flaubert
Gustave Flaubert was a French novelist. He was born in 1821 and died in
1880. He had an unusual writing style in that he insisted that every word
should be the most apt and every phrase exact. This meant it often took
him a week to write one page.
Flecker
James Elroy Flecker was an English poet. He was born in 1884 at London
and died in 1915.
Fleming
Sir Ambrose Fleming was an English scientist. He was born in 1849 and
died in 1945. In 1904 he invented the thermionic valve.
Foch
Ferdinand Foch was a French soldier. He was born in 1851 at Tarbes and
died in 1929. He became generalissimo of the Allied armies in 1918 and
drove the Germans back during the Great War.
Fokker
Anthony Fokker was a Dutch airman and aeronautical engineer. He was born
in 1860, dying in 1939.
Folc-mote
In Saxon England, a Folc-mote was an assembly of people to consult
respecting public affairs.
Ford
Henry Ford was the founder of the Ford motor car company and the pioneer
of the cheap motor car.
Forster
Edward Morgan Forster was an English novelist. He was born in 1879 and
died in 1970. He wrote Howard's End and A Passage To India.
Foucault
Jean Bernard Leon Foucault was a French physicist. He was born in 1819,
dying in 1868. He invented a pendulum to demonstrate the rotation of the
earth by the rotation of its plane of oscillation.
Fouquet
Jean Fouquet was a French painter. He was born in 1420 at Tours and died
in 1482. He was court painter to Charles VIII from 1475.
Fourier
Charles Fourier was a French socialist writer. He was born in 1772, dying
in 1837.
Fox
George Fox was the founder of the Society Of Friends. He was born in
1624, dying in 1691. Charles James Fox was an English statesman. He was
born in 1749 and died in 1806.
Fox Indians
The Fox Indians are a tribe of North American Indians belonging to the
Algonquin family and found scattered over Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.
Fragonard
Jean Honore Fragonard was a French painter. He was born in 1732 and died
in 1806.
France
Anatole France was a French author. He was born in 1844 and died in 1924.
He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1921.
Franck
Cesar Auguste Franck was a French composer. He was born in 1822 at Liege
and died in 1890. He wrote one symphony and organ music.
Franco
General Francisco Franco was the dictator of Spain. He was born in 1892.
He rose to power during the Spanish Civil War.
Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was an American statesman and scientist. He was born in
1706 at Boston and died in 1790.
Franks
The Franks were a Germanic tribe which overthrew the Romans in Gaul and
gave origin to the name France for the area.
Fraunhofer
Joseph von Fraunhofer was a German physicist. He was born in 1787 at
Strasbourg and died in 1826.
Frazer
Sir James George Frazer was a British scholar and anthropologist. He
studied the religion and magic of primitive peoples, the findings of
which he published in the book The Golden Bough. He was born in 1854 and
died in 1941.
Frederick II
Frederick II (Frederick The Great) was King of Prussia. He was born in
1712 and died in 1786. He prefered the French way of life to the
Prussian, and he improved the economy and conditions of his country.
Fremiet
Emmanuel Fremiet was a French sculptor. He was born in 1824 and died in
1910. His works include the statue of Ferdinand de Lesseps at the
entrance to the Suez Canal.
Frere
Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere was the South African High Commissioner,
whose abortive attempt to unite South Africa resulted in the Zulu War. He
was born in 1815 and died in 1884.
Freshfield
Douglas William Freshfield was an English explorer and mountaineer. He
was born in 1845. He was the first person to climb mount Kazbek.
Frisians
The Frisians were a Germanic tribe who lived between the Rhine and the
Ems during Roman times. They were a peaceful tributary of Rome untill
opression drove them to hostilities.
Frobisher
Sir Martin Frobisher was an English navigator. He was born in 1535 and
died in 1594. He distinguished himself against the Spanish Armada, and
was the first Englishman to attempt a North-west passage to Cathay.
Froding
Gustav Froding was a Swedish poet. He was born in 1860 and died in 1911.
Froebel
Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel was a German educationalist. He was born
in 1782 and died in 1852. He originated the kindergarten system of
teaching young children.
Froissart
Jean Froissart was a French chronicler. He was born in 1333 at
Valenciennes and died in 1405.
Frontenac
Louis de Baude Frontenac was a French colonial administrator. He was
governor of Canada and conducted a campaign against the Iroquois in 1695.
He was born in 1620 and died in 1698.
Frost
Robert Frost was an American poet. He was born in 1875 at San Fancisco
and died in 1963.
Fry
Christopher Fry is an English dramatist. He was born in 1907.
Fulton
Robert Fulton was an American inventor. He was born in 1765 at Little
Britain.
Furlani
The Furlani are inhabitants of Friuli, a once independant duchy at the
head of the Adriatic, now part of Italy and Austria.
Fuseli
Henry Fuseli was a Swiss artist. He was born in 1741 at Zurich and died
in 1825. He was a friend to William Blake, and was keeper of the Royal
Academy from 1804 until 1825.
Gadhel
see "Gael"
Gael
Gael (Gadhel) is the name of the Celts inhabiting Scotland, Ireland and
the Isle Of Man.
Gael Albinnich
Gael Albinnich are the Gael people of the Scottish Highlands.
Gael Erinnich
Gael Erinnich is the division of the Gael people living in Ireland.
Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin was a Russian cosmonaut and the first man to go into space
in 1961.
Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English painter. He was born in 1727 at
Sudbury and died in 1788. He is remembered for his portraits and
landscapes.
Galen
Claudius Galen was an ancient medical writer. He was one of the founders
of anatomy and the founder of vivisection.
Galileo
Galileo was an Italian scientist. He was born in 1564, dying in 1642. He
discovered the ring of saturn, jupiter's 4 major satellites and the sun's
spots.
Gallas
The Gallas are a people of East Africa. They are tall, with dark brown
skin, wiry bodies. Their nose is often straight or arched and they have
moderate lips.
Galsworthy
John Galsworthy was a novelist. He was born in 1869, dying in 1933. He is
famous for writing the forsyte saga.
Galt
John Galt was a Scottish author of stories dealing with Scottish life. He
was born in 1779 and died in 1839.
Galton
Sir Francis Galton was an English anthropologist and eugenist. He made
explorations in south west Africa. He established the theory of
anticyclones in meterology. He was born in 1822 and died in 1911.
Galvani
Luigi Galvani was an Italian physiologist. He was born in 1737 and died
in 1798. He made the first investigations into the action of electrical
activity in the muscles of animals.
Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian national leader. He was born in 1869 and
died in 1948. He sought Indian independance through non-violent civil
disobedience which earned him great respect.
Ganymeda
Ganymeda is an alternative name for Hebe.
Ganymedes
Ganymedes was a son of the Trojan King Tros. He was carried off by Zeus
and became the cup-bearer of the gods.
Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian patriot and liberator. He was born in
1807 and died in 1882.
Garrick
David Garrick was an English actor. He was born in 1717 at Hereford and
died in 1779.
Gaskell
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell was an English novelist. She was born in 1810
and died in 1865.
Gauchos
The Gauchos are a native people of the Pampas of the La Plata countries
in South America. They are descended from the Spanish invaders and are
noted for their strong will, independence, horsemanship and skill with a
lasso.
Gauguin
Paul Gauguin was a French painter. He was born in 1848 at Paris and died
in 1903.
Gauss
Karl Friedrich Gauss was a German mathematician. He was born in 1777 at
Brunswick and died in 1855. He demonstrated that a circle can be divided
into 17 equal arcs by elementary geometry.
Gautier
Theophile Gautier was a French poet and novelist. He was born in 1811 at
Tarbes and died in 1872.
Gay
John Gay was an English dramatist. He was born in 1685 at Barnstaple and
died in 1732.
Gay-Lussac
Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac was a French scientist. He was born in 1778 at
St. Leonard and died in 1850. He worked in the field of gases.
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan was a Mongolian chieftain and warrior. He was born in 1162
and died in 1227. He conquered most of China, Turkistan and Afghanistan.
Genii
Genii is an alternative name for the daemons.
Genseric
Genseric was a Vandal king. He was invited to Africa in 429 by the Roman
governor, Bonifactus. Genseric declared his independance, overthrew
Bonifactus and in 455 took Rome.
George I
George I was King of England from 1714 to 1727.
George II
George II was a son of George I and King of England from 1727 to 1760.
George III
George III was King of England from 1760 to 1820.
George IV
George IV was King of England from 1820 to 1830.
George V
George V was King of England from 1910 to 1936.
George VI
George VI was King of England from 1936 to 1952.
Gericault
Theodore Gericault was a French painter. He was born in 1791 at Rouen and
died in 1824. He introduced the idea of painting directly onto canvas.
German
Sir Edward German was an English composer. He was born in 1862 at
Whitchurch and died in 1936. He produced light operas including Merrie
England and Tom Jones.
Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer. He was born in 1898 at New York
and died in 1937. He produced Porgy and Bess which was the first American
folk opera.
Getae
The Getae (Daci) were an ancient people of Europe who lived at Thrace and
then moved west to the north bank of the Danube where they became known
by the Romans as the Daci.
Ghiberti
Lorenzo Ghiberti was a Florentine sculptor. He was born in 1378 and died
in 1455.
Ghirlandaio
Domenico Ghirlandaio was a Florentine sculptor. He was born in 1449 and
died in 1494.
Gibbon
Edward Gibbon was an English writer. He was born in 1737 at Putney and
died in 1794. He wrote the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Gibbons
Grinling Gibbons was an English woodcarver. He was born in 1648 at
Rotterdam and died in 1720. Orlando Gibbons was an English composer. He
was born in 1583 and died in 1625.
Gide
Andre Paul Guillaume Gide was a French writer. He was born in 1869 and
died in 1951.
Gilbert
William Gilbert was an English physician and physicist. He was born in
1544 at Colchester and died in 1603. He coined the word electricity to
describe the property of amber for attracting light objects. He also
pioneered work into magnetism.
Gillray
James Gillray was an English artist and cariacturist. He was born in 1757
and died in 1815.
Giorgione
Giorgione was a Venetian painter. He was born in 1478 and died in 1510.
Giotto de Bondone
Giotto de Bondone was an Italian painter and architect. He was born in
1267 and died in 1337.
Giraudoux
Jean Giraudoux was a French poet, novelaist and playwright. He was born
in 1882 and died in 1944.
Girolamo Savonarola
Girolamo Savonarola was an Italian religious and political reformer. He
was born in 1452 and died in 1498.
Girtin
Thomas Girtin was an English watercolour artist. He was born in 1775 and
died in 1802.
Gladiator
A gladiator was a Roman professional fighter. The first known instance of
gladiators being exhibited was in 264BC by Marcus and Decimus Brutus at
the funeral of their father.
Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone was an English Liberal member of parliament. He
was born in 1808 and died in 1898. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer
from 1852 until 1855 and Prime Minister from 1868 until 1874 and again
from 1880 until 1885 and yet again from 1892 until 1894.
Glazunov
Alexander Glazunov was a Russian composer. He was born in 1865 at St.
Petersburg and died in 1936.
Glinka
Mikhail Glinka was a Russian composer. He was born in 1803 at Smolensk
and died in 1857.
Gluck
Christoph Willibald Von Gluck was a German composer of operas. He was
born in 1714 at Bavaria and died in 1787.
Godwin
Godwin was Earl of the west saxons. He died in 1053.
William Godwin was an English political writer and philosopher. He was
born in 1756, dying in 1836.
Goebbels
Goebbels was the propaganda minister of the nazis.
Goethe
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe was a German poet. He was born in 1749 and
died in 1832.
Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter. He was born in 1853 at Brabant and
died in 1890 after shooting himself.
Gogol
Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was a Russian novelist and dramatist. He was
born in 1809 and died in 1852.
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde were originally a powerful Mongol tribe, the name
however became applied to all followers of Gengis Khan and of his
grandson, Batu.
Goldoni
Carlo Goldoni was an Italian dramatist. He was born in 1707 at venice and
died in 1793 at Paris.
Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith was a journalist. He was born in 1728 at Ireland and
died in 1774.
Gonds
The Gonds are the aboriginal, non-Aryan inhabitants of the old
territorial division of India called Gondwana. They lost their
independance in 1781 to the Mahrattas.
Gordon
General Charles George Gordon was an English military leader. He was born
in 1833 at Woolwich and died in 1885 following his capture during the
seige of Khartoum.
Gorky
Maxim Gorky was a Russian writer. He was born in 1868 and died in 1936.
Goths
The Goths (Visigoths) were an east Germanic people that settled near the
black sea in the 2nd century ad.
Gounod
Charles Francois Gounod was a French composer. He was born in 1818 at
Paris and died in 1893.
Goya
Francisco Jose de Goya Y Lucientes was a Spanish painter. He was born in
1746 and died in 1828.
Graces
Graces is an alternative name for the charites.
Graeae
The Graeae were three daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. They had only one
eye and one tooth between them which they shared. Perseus forced them to
tell him where he could find medusa by stealing their solitary eye and
tooth.
Grahame
Kenneth Grahame was a Scottish author. He was born in 1859 and died in
1922. He wrote The Wind In The Willows.
Graves
Robert Ranke Graves was an English poet and novelist. He was born in
1895.
Gray
Thomas Gray was an English writer. He was born in 1716 at London and died
in 1771.
Grecco
El Grecco (Domenico Theotocopouli) was a Spanish painter. He was born in
1541 and died in 1614.
Greek
A Greek is an inhabitant of Greece.
Greenaway
Kate Greenaway was an English artist and book-illustrator. She was born
in 1846 and died in 1901.
Greene
Graham Greene is a British author. He was born in 1904. Robert Greene was
an English dramatist and poet. He was born in 1558 and died in 1592.
Grenville
Sir Richard Grenville was an Elizabethan English seaman. He was born in
1541 and died in 1591. He commanded Raleigh's expedition to Virginia.
Grey
Edward Grey was a British statesman. He was born in 1862 and died in
1933. He was Foreign Secretary in 1905.
Grieg
Edward Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer. He was born in 1843 at
Bergen and died in 1907.
Grimm
Jakob Ludwig Karl Grimm was a German philologist. He was born in 1785 and
died in 1863. Wilhelm Karl Grimm was a German philologist. He was born in
1786 and died in 1859. Together with his brother Jakob they wrote a book
of fairy tales.
Grunewald
Mathias Grunewald was a German religious painter. He was born in 1480 and
died in 1530.
Guardi
Francesco Guardi was an Italian painter. He was born in 1712 at Venice
and died in 1793.
Guericke
Otto von Guericke was a German physicist. He was born in 1602 at
Magdeburg and died in 1686. He invented the air pump and demonstrated air
pressure.
Gutenburg
Johann Gutenburg was a German printer. He was born in 1397 at Mainz and
died in 1468. In 1454 he published the first bible using metal types.
Guy Burgess
Guy Francis DeMoncy Burgess was Executive Officer of the British Foreign
Office. He defected to the Russians with Donald Maclean in 1951.
Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes was a Yorkshire catholic and one of the conspirators in the
gunpowder plot. He was captured in the cellar of the houses of
parliament, tried and executed. He was born in 1570, dying in 1606.
Gwynn
Nell Gwynn was an English actress and dancer. She was born in 1650 and
died in 1687. She is remembered for her early career as an ornage seller
outside the Drury Lane Theatre in London.
Haakon VII
Haakon VII was King of norway from 1905 to 1957. He was born in 1872,
dying in 1957. He was a brave man who resisted the nazi occupation of
norway during the second world war.
Hadley
George Hadley developed Halley's theory of trade winds by taking into
account the earth's rotation and the displacement of air by tropical
heat. He was born in 1685, dying in 1768.
Hadrian
Hadrian was a Roman emperor. He was born in 76, dying in 138. He visited
England in 121 and built a protective wall to separate England from
Scotland.
Haggard
Sir Henry Rider Haggard was an English novelist. He was born in 1856 and
died in 1925. He wrote King Solomon's Mines.
Hahn
Otto Hahn was a German physical chemist who discovered nuclear fission.
He was born in 1879 and died in 1968.
Haig
Douglas Haig was a British soldier. He was born in 1861 and died in 1928.
He was commander-in-chief of the British troops in France during the
Great War.
Haile Selassie
Haile Selassie was Emperor of Ethiopia and figure head of the Rastafarian
movement, although he knew nothing about that! He was born in 1891.
Hakluyt
Richard Hakluyt was an English geographer. He was born in 1552 and died
in 1616.
Halifax
Edward Halifax was a British statesman. He was born in 1881 and died in
1959. He was British Ambassador to the USA from 1940 until 1944.
Halley
Edmund Halley was Astronomer Royal from 1720. He was born in 1656 and
died in 1742. He calculated the orbit of the comet named after him.
Hals
Franz Hals was a Dutch portrait painter. He was born in 1580 and died in
1666.
Hamilton
Mary Hamilton was tried in 1746 for marrying with her own sex.
Han
The Han are the majority ethnic group in China, numbering about 990
million. The Hans speak a wide variety of dialects of the same
monosyllabic language, a member of the Sino-Tibetan family. Their
religion combines Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and ancestor worship.
Handel
George Frederick Handel was an Anglo-German composer. He was born in 1685
and died in 1759.
Hannibal
Hannibal was a Carthaginian leader. He was born in 247BC and died in
183BC after taking poison to avoid capture by the Romans.
Hardicanute
Hardicanute was a son of Canute and King of England from 1040 to 1042.
Hardie
James Keir Hardie was a Britsih labour leader. He was born in 1856 and
died in 1915. He founded the Independant Labour Party in 1893.
Hardy
Thomas Hardy was an English author. He was born in 1840 at Dorchester and
died in 1928. He wrote The Mayor of Casterbridge.
Hargreaves
James Hargreaves was a Lancashire weaver who invented the spinning-jenny.
Harmonists
The Harmonists were a religious sect founded at Wurtemberg in 1788 by
George and Frederick Rapp. They endeavoured to re-establish the social
practices of the early christian church, practising celibacy and holding
all goods in common. They were persecuted and so moved to America in
1805.
Harold
Harold was son of Canute and was King of England from 1035 to 1040.
Haroun-Al-Raschid
Haroun-Al-Raschid was Caliph of Baghdad. He was born in 764 and died in
809.
Harry
Deborah (Debbie) Harry was lead singer with the 70's punk band Blondie.
An ex-prostitute she excited young male audiences with her silky voice
and short skirts.
Harte
Francis Bret Harte was an American poet. He was born in 1836 and died in
1902.
Harvey
William Harvey was an English physician. He was born in 1578 at
Folkestone and died in 1657. He discovered the circulation of the blood.
Hastings
Warren Hastings was governor general of India. He was born in 1732 and
died in 1818. In 1788 he was tried for high crimes and misdemeanors. The
trial lasted 7 years until he was acquitted in 1795.
Hathaway
Anne Hathaway was reputedly the wife of Shakespeare. She was born in 1556
and died in 1623.
Hausa
The Hausa are a Muslim people of north Nigeria.
Hawkins
Sir John Hawkins was an Elizabethan sailor. He was born in 1532 and died
in 1595.
Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American writer. He was born in 1804 and died
in 1864.
Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer. He was born in 1732, dying
in 1809.
Hazlitt
William Hazlitt was an English writer. He was born in 1778 at Maidstone
and died in 1830.
Hegel
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a German philosopher. He was born in
1770 at Stuttgart and died in 1831.
Heine
Heinrich Heine was a German lyric poet. He was born in 1797 at Dusseldorf
and died in 1856.
Hellene
Hellene is an alternate name for a Greek.
Helmholtz
Hermann von Helmholtz was a German scientist. He was born in 1821 at
Ptsdam and died in 1894. He discovered the law of the conservation of
energy in 1847.
Helot
The helot were a class of slaves in ancient sparta.
Helvetii
The Helvetii were a people living in the area now called Switzerland
around Roman times. They were persecuted by the Romans under Vitellius
for refusing to acknowledge him as Emperor and were almost wiped out.
Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway was an American novelist. He was born in 1898 at Oak
Park and died in 1961.
Henry
Henry was a son of William The Conqueror and King of England from 1101 to
1135.
Henry II
Henry II was King of England from 1154 to 1189.
Henry III
Henry III was King of England from 1216 to 1272.
Henry IV
Henry IV was King of England from 1399 to 1413.
Henry V
Henry V was King of England from 1413 to 1422.
Henry VI
Henry VI was son of Henry V and King of England from 1422 to 1461.
Henry VII
Henry VII was King of England from 1485 to 1509.
Henry VIII
Henry VIII was King of England from 1509 to 1547.
Herodotus
Herodotus was a Greek historian. He was born in 484BC and died in 420BC.
Herrick
Robert Herrick was an English poet. He was born in 1591 and died in 1674.
Herschel
Sir William Herschel was an anglo-German astronomer. He was born in 1738
and died in 1822. He discovered the planet Uranus.
Hertz
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz was a German physicist. He was born in 1857, dying
in 1895. He confirmed maxwell's electromagnetic theory of waves and
discovered information about their behaviour. The measurement of the
frequency of radio waves is named after him.
Heruli
The Heruli were an ancient Germanic people, originally found on the
northern shores of the Black sea. Under the leadership of Odoacer they
helped in the overthrow of the Western Empire. Around the end of the 6th
century they ceased to exist as a separate people.
Hesiod
Hesiod was a Greek poet who lived around 730BC.
Hesperides
The hesperides were daughters of Atlas and Hesperis.
Hildreth
Richard Hildreth was an American historian. He was born in 1807, dying in
1865. He wrote the history of the united states.
Hilliard
Nicholas Hilliard was an English artist. He was born in 1547 and died in
1619.
Hilton
James Hilton was an English writer. He was born in 1900. He wrote goodbye
Mr Chips.
Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer. He was born in 1895.
Hindenburg
Paul von Hindenburg was a German soldier and the second president of the
German Reich. He was born in 1847 and died in 1934.
Hipparchus
Hipparchus was a Greek astronomer. He was born in 190BC and died in
120BC. He compiled the first known star catalogue.
Hippocrates
Hippocrates was a Greek doctor. He was born in 460BC and died in 370BC.
He established medicine as a science.
Hispanic
A Hispanic is a person of Latin American descent from the Spanish-
speaking nations, either native-born or an immigrant.
Hitler
Adolf Hitler was a German dictator. He was born in 1889 at Braunau and
died in 1945 when he committed suicide. He was responsible for the Second
Wold War and the murder of millions of Jews, Cripples, Homosexuals,
Blacks, Gypsies and Communists throughout Europe.
Hittites
The Hittites were a civilization in Syria and Asia Minor around 2000BC
until 700BC.
Hmong
A Hmong is a member of a south east Asian highland people. They are
predominantly hill farmers, rearing pigs and cultivating rice and grain,
and many are involved in growing the opium poppy. Estimates of the size
of the Hmong population vary between 1.5 million and 5 million, the
greatest number being in China. Although traditional beliefs remain
important, many have adopted Christianity. Their language belongs to the
Sino-Tibetan family. The Hmong wear distinctive costumes and elaborate
silver jewelry. They are relatively recent arrivals on the south east
Asian peninsula, many having moved south in order to avoid harassment by
Chinese emperors. Today the Hmong live in China (Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan),
Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar.
Hobbema
Meindert Hobbema was a Dutch artist. He was born in 1638 and died in
1709. He is remembered for his landscapes.
Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes was a British philosopher. He was born in 1588 at
Malmesbury and died in 1679. He wrote Leviathan which was the first
British political philosophy book.
Hoffmann
Ernst Theodor Hoffmann was a German writer and composer. He was born in
1776 and died in 1822.
Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English artist. He was born in 1697 at London and
died in 1764.
Holbein
Hans Holbein was a German portrait and religious painter. He was born in
1497 at Augsburg and died in 1543.
Holinshed
Raphael Holinshed was an English chronicler. He lived in the 16th century
and wrote The Chronicles Of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Holst
Gustav Holst was an English composer. He was born in 1874 at Cheltenham
and died in 1934.
Homer
Homer was an ancient Greek poet.
Hooch
Pieter De Hooch was a Dutch painter. He was born in 1629 and died in
1680. He mainly painted pictures of bright domestic interiors.
Hood
Robin Hood was a legendary English folk hero who led a band of outlaws in
Sherwood forest and opposed the tyranny and excessive taxes of King John.
He is mentioned in the 14th century poem Piers Plowman. Thomas Hood was a
British poet and humourist. He was born in 1799 and died in 1845.
Hopewell
Hopewell is a North American Indian agricultural culture of the central
USA, dating from about 200. The Hopewell built burial mounds up to 12 m
high and structures such as Serpent Mound in Ohio.
Hopi
The hopi are a north American Indian tribe living in Arizona.
Hopkins
Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins was a British scientist. He was born in
1861 and died in 1947. He discovered vitamins.
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus Horace was a Roman lyric poet. He was born in
65BC at Venusia and died in 8BC.
Horace Saussure
Horace Saussure was a Swiss physicist born at Conches in 1740 he died in
1799. He invented the hygrometer.
Hottentot
The hottentot are a south African tribe.
Houdon
Jean-Antoine Houdon was a French sculptor. He was born in 1741 at
Versailles and died in 1828.
Housman
Alfred Edward Housman was a British novelist. He was born in 1859 and
died in 1936.
Hovas
The Hovas are a native race of Madagascar.
Hudson
Henry Hudson was an English sailor and explorer. He discovered the Hudson
river and Hudson straight.
Hugo
Victor Marie Hugo was a French poet and novelist. He was born in 1802 at
Besancon and died in 1885. His first poems were published in 1822.
Huguenots
The Huguenots were French protestants who suffered persecution from the
Catholics for 200 years.
Hui
The Hui are one of the largest minority ethnic groups in China, numbering
about 25 million. Members of the Hui live all over China, but are
concentrated in the northern central region. They have been Muslims since
the 10th century.
Humboldt
Alexander Humboldt was a German scientist and explorer. He was born in
1769 and died in 1859. He made several expeditions to South America and
Central America.
Hume
David Hume was a British philosopher. He was born in 1711 at Edinburgh
and died in 1776.
Hunt
William Holman Hunt was an English painter. He was born in 1827 at London
and died in 1910.
Huron
Huron is a nickname for a member of a confederation of five Iroquoian
North American Indian peoples living near lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario
in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were almost wiped out by the
Iroquois. In the 17th century, surviving Hurons formed a group called
Wyandot, some of whose descendants now live in Quebec and Oklahoma.
Huss
John Huss was a Bohemian religious reformer. He was born in 1369 and died
in 1415.
Hutu
The Hutu are the majority ethnic group of both Burundi and Rwanda,
numbering around 9,500,000. The Hutu tend to live as peasant farmers.
Traditionally they have been dominated by the Tutsi minority; there is a
long history of violent conflict between the two groups. The Hutu
language belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family.
Huxley
Thomas Henry Huxley was an English biologist. He was born in 1825 at
Ealing and died in 1895. He was an outspoken supporter of Darwin.
Huygens
Christiaan Huygens was a Dutch scientist. He was born in 1629 and died in
1695. He invented the pendulum clock.
Hycsos
The Hycsos (Hykshos) or Shepherd Kings, were wandering tribes of Semitic
descent who conquered Egypt in 2100BC and were driven out some five
hundred years later.
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was a distinguisged Indian Prince. He was born in 1728 to a
general in the service of the Rajah of Mysore. He died in 1782 during a
war with the British.
Hykshos
see "Hycsos"
Iban
Iban is a replacement term for Dyak.
Ibo
The Ibo are a west African culture group occupying south east Nigeria and
numbering about 18,000,000. Primarily cultivators, they inhabit the
richly forested tableland, bounded by the river Niger to the west and the
river Cross to the east. They are divided into five main groups, and
their languages belong to the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family.
Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian dramatist. He was born in 1828 at Skien and
died in 1906.
Ifugao
The Ifugao are an indigenous people of north Luzon in the Philippines,
numbering approximately 70,000. In addition to practising shifting
cultivation on highland slopes, they build elaborate terraced rice
fields. Their language belongs to the Austronesian family. The Ifugao
live in scattered hamlets and traditionally recognise a class of nobles,
kadangya, who are obliged to provide expensive feasts on particular
social occasions. Although indigenous beliefs remain, many Ifugao have
adopted Christianity.
Ina
Ina was King of the West Saxons. He ascended to the throne in 689. In 728
he resigned his crown and went on pilgramage to Rome.
Inca
The Inca were an Indian tribe of Peru.
Indulf
Indulf was King of Scotland from 954 to 962.
Ingres
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres was a French painter. He was born in 1780
at Montauban and died in 1867. He drew fine pencil portraits.
Inuit
The Innuit are a people inhabiting the Arctic coasts of North America,
the east islands of the Canadian Arctic, and the ice-free coasts of
Greenland. Inuktitut, their language, has about 60,000 speakers; it
belongs to the Eskimo-Aleut group. The Inuit object to the name Eskimos
given them by the Algonquin Indians.
Ireland
John Ireland was an English composer. He was born in 1879 at Bowden and
died in 1962. He wrote a lot of music for the piano.
Irish
The Irish are people of Irish culture from Ireland or person of Irish
descent. The Irish mainly speak English, though there are approximately
30,000-100,000 speakers of Irish Gaelic (see Gaelic language), a Celtic
language belonging to the Indo-European family.
Celtic tribes, the ancestors of the Irish, migrated to Ireland about 300
BC. Later known as Gaels (Irishmen), they settled on the Isle of Man and
south west Scotland, and established colonies in west Wales, Devon, and
Cornwall.
Iroquois
The Iroquois were a confederacy of 6 north American Indian tribes
including the Mohawks, Oneidas and Senecas. They lived on the shores of
the Mohawk river, and spread through to the Mississippi. Their expansion
was checked by white settlers who wiped out several of the tribes and
imprisoned others on squalid reservations.
Irving
Sir Henry Irving was a British actor, and the first to be knighted. He
was born in 1838 and died in 1905. Washington Irving was an American
writer. He was born in 1783 at New York and died in 1859.
Isherwood
Christopher Isherwood is an Anglo-American novelist and playwright. He
was born in 1904.
Israeli
An Israeli is an inhabitant of Israel.
Jackson
Thomas Jonathan Jackson was an American Confederate general. He was born
in 1824 and died in 1863. He was nicknamed "stonewall".
Jacobites
The Jacobites were people who wanted the return of the Stuart monarchy
after the expulsion of James II by William III.
James
James was King of Scotland from 1424 to 1437. James was King of England
from 1603 to 1625. Henry James was an american writer. He was born in
1843 and died in 1916. William James was an American psychologist. He was
born in 1842 and died in 1910.
James II
James II was King of Scotland from 1437 to 1460. James II was King of
England from 1685 to 1688.
James III
James III was King of Scotland from 1460 to 1488.
James IV
James IV was King of Scotland from 1488 to 1513.
James V
James V was King of Scotland from 1513 to 1542.
James VI
James VI was King of Scotland from 1567 to 1625.
Janszoon
William Janszoon was a Dutch explorer. He discovered Australia in 1606.
Jat
The Jat are an ethnic group living in Pakistan and north India, and
numbering about 11 million; they are the largest group in north India.
The Jat are predominantly farmers. They speak Punjabi, a language
belonging to the Iranian branch of the Indo-European family. They are
thought to be related to the Romany people.
Javanese
The Javanese are the largest ethnic group in the Republic of Indonesia.
There are more than 50 million speakers of Javanese, which belongs to the
western branch of the Austronesian family. Although the Javanese have a
Hindu-Buddhist heritage, they are today predominantly Muslim, practising
a branch of Islam known as Islam Jawa, which contains many Sufi features
In pre-independence Indonesia, Javanese society was divided into
hierarchical classes ruled by sultans, and differences in status were
reflected by strict codes of dress. Arts and crafts flourished at the
court. Although the majority of Javanese depend on the cultivation of
rice in irrigated fields, there are many large urban centers with
developing industries.
Jeans
Sir James Jeans wrote many popular books on astronomy. He was born in
1877 at Ormskirk and died in 1946.
Jefferies
John Richard Jefferies was an English essayist and naturalist. He was
born in 1848 near Swindown and died in 1883.
Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the USA. He was born in 1743
and died in 1826.
Jenner
Sir Edward Jenner was an English physician. He was born in 1749 at
Berkeley and died in 1823. He developed a vaccine for smallpox from
cowpox, and thus created the concept of innoculation through mild
infection to allow the body's immune system to develope strength against
a particular virus.
Jew
The Jews are a Semitic race of people also known as the Hebrews and
Israelites. Their early history is identified with Palestine, now Israel.
The Jewish history is recorded in the Old Testament.
Jewish
see "Jew"
Jews
see "Jew"
Jivaro
The jivaro are a tribe of east Ecuador and north Peru.
John
John was King of England from 1199 to 1216. Augustus Edwin John was a
British portrait painter. He was born in 1878 at Tenby and died in 1961.
Johnny Rotten
see "Lydon"
Johnson
Samuel Johnson was an English writer. He was born in 1709 and died in
1784. He was twice imprisoned for debt.
John Baliol
John Baliol was King of Scotland from 1292 to 1296.
Jones
Inigo Jones was an English architect. He was born in 1573 and died in
1652.
Jongkind
Johan Barthold Jongkind was a Dutch artist. He was born in 1819 at Latrop
and died in 1891.
Jonson
Benjamin Jonson was a rival poet and dramatist to Shakespeare. He was
born in 1572 and died in 1637.
Jordaens
Jacob Jordaens was a Dutch artist. He was born in 1593 at Antwerp and
died in 1678.
Joule
James Prescott Joule was an English scientist. He was born in 1818 at
Salford and died in 1889. He studied the relationship between heat and
mechanical work.
Joyce
James Joyce was an Irish writer. He was born in 1882 at Dublin and died
in 1941. He wrote Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake.
Ju
The Ju are the bushmen people of Botswana.
Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss scientist. He was born at Basle in 1875. He
died in 1961. He is famous for developing a school of analytical
psychology.
Justice Of The Peace
A Justice Of The Peace or JP is an unpaid magistrate who is not a lawyer.
The office dates back to Edward I.
Justinian
Justinian was Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantium. He was born
in 483 and died in 565.
Jutes
The Jutes were a Germanic tribe which settled in Kent and the Isle of
Wight, England in AD 449.
Juvenal
Juvenal was a Roman satirist. He was born in 60 and died in 140.
Kabyle
The Kabyle are a group of Berber peoples of Algeria and Tunisia. They
served as Zouave in the colonial French forces. Many Kabyles were notable
in the fight for Algerian independence 1954-62. Their language belongs to
the Afro-Asiatic family.
Kafka
Franz Kafka was a Czech writer. He was born in 1883 at Prague and died in
1924.
Kandinsky
Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian artist. He was born in 1866 at Moscow and
died in 1944.
Kant
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher. He was born at Konigsberg in 1724
and died in 1804. He wrote "Critique of Pure Reason" and "Critique of
Practical Reason".
Karen
The Karen are a group of south east Asian peoples, numbering 1.9 million.
They live in east Myanmar (formerly Burma), Thailand, and the Irrawaddy
delta. Their language belongs to the Thai division of the Sino-Tibetan
family.
Kashmiri
The Kashmiri are native to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kauffman
Angelica Kauffman was a Swiss painter. She was born in 1741 and died in
1807.
Kazakh
The Kazakh are a pastoral Kyrgyz people of Kazakhstan. Kazakhs also live
in China (Xinjiang, Gansu, and Qinghai), Mongolia, and Afghanistan. There
are 5-7 million speakers of Kazakh, a Turkic language belonging to the
Altaic family. They are predominantly Sunni Muslim, although pre-Islamic
customs have survived.
Kazakhs herd horses and make use of camels; they also keep cattle.
Traditionally the Kazakhs lived in tents and embarked on seasonal
migrations in search of fresh pastures. Collectivized herds were
established in the 1920s and 1930s.
Kean
Edmund Kean was an English actor. He was born in 1789 at London and died
in 1833.
Keats
John Keats was an English poet. He was born in London in 1795 and died in
1821.
Kekule
Kekule was a German scientist. He was born in 1829 at Darmstadt and died
in 1896. He worked on the structure of carbon compounds.
Kelvin
William Thomson Kelvin was a professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow.
He was born in 1824 at Belfast and died in 1907. He determined the
absolute zero of temperature.
Kenneth
Kenneth was King of Scotland from 843 to 860.
Kenneth II
Kenneth II was King of Scotland from 971 to 995.
Kenneth III
Kenneth III was King of Scotland from 997 to 1005.
Kepler
Johann Kepler was a German astronomer. He was born in 1571 near Stuttgart
and died in 1630. He studied the motion of planets and proved that
planets move in an elliptical path with the sun at one focus.
Khachaturyan
Aram Khachaturyan is a Soviet composer. He was born in 1904 at Tiflis.
Khmer
The Khmer are the largest ethnic group in Cambodia, numbering about 7
million. Khmer minorities also live in east Thailand and south Vietnam.
The Khmer language belongs to the Mon-Khmer family of Austro-Asiatic
languages.
The Khmers live mainly in agricultural and fishing villages under a
chief. They practise Theravada Buddhism and trace descent through both
male and female lines. Traditionally, Khmer society was divided into six
groups: the royal family, the Brahmans (who officiated at royal
festivals), Buddhist monks, officials, commoners, and slaves.
Khoikhoi
The Khoikhoi (formerly Hottentot) are a people living in Namibia and the
Cape Province of South Africa, and numbering about 30,000. Their language
is related to San (spoken by the Kung) and belongs to the Khoisan family.
Like the Kung, the Khoikhoi once inhabited a wider area, but were driven
into the Kalahari Desert by invading Bantu peoples and Dutch colonists in
the 18th century. They live as nomadic hunter-gatherers, in family
groups, and have animist beliefs.
Kierkegaard
Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher. He was born in 1813 at Copenhagen
and died in 1855.
Kikuyu
The Kikuyu are an aboriginal people of central Kenya.
Kim Philby
Harold "Kim" Philby was a high-level British diplomat and a senior
intelligence officer. He defected to the Russians in 1963.
King
A King is a male sovereign ruler of an independent state.
Kingsley
Charles Kingsley was an English writer. He was born in 1819 at Holme and
died in 1875. He wrote Westward Ho! and The Water Babies.
Kipling
Rudyard Kipling was an Indian writer. He was born in 1865 at Bombay of
Britsh parents. He died in 1936. He wrote The Jungle Book.
Kirghiz
The Kirghiz are a pastoral people numbering approximately 1.5 million.
They inhabit the central Asian region bounded by the Hindu Kush, the
Himalayas, and the Tian Shan mountains. The Kirghiz are Sunni Muslims,
and their Turkic language belongs to the Altaic family.
The Kirghiz live in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China (Xinjiang),
and Afghanistan (Wakhan corridor).
The highest political authority is traditionally entitled khan. During
the winter the Kirghiz live in individual family yurts. In summer they
come together in larger settlements of up to 20 yurts. They herd sheep,
goats, and yaks, and use Bactrian camels for transporting their
possessions.
Kitchener
Horatio Herbert Kitchener was a British military leader. He was born in
1850 and died in 1916 on board the HMS Hampshire when the ship struck a
mine and sank. He was commander-in-chief during the Boer war. He was
secretary for war during the Great War.
Klee
Paul Klee was a Swiss painter. He was born in 1879 near Berne and died in
1940.
Kneller
Sir Godfrey Kneller was an Anglo-German artist. He was born in 1646 at
Lubeck and died in 1723. He settled in England in 1674.
Knox
John Knox was a Scottish reformer and preacher. He was born in 1505 at
Giffordgate and died in 1572.
Koch
Robert Koch was a German scientist. He was born in 1843 and died in 1910.
He won the Nobel proze for medicine for discovering the bacteria which
cause TB, cholera and anthrax.
Kodaly
Zoltan Kodaly was a Hungarian composer. He was born in 1882 and died in
1967.
Kokoschka
Oskar Kokoschka was an Austrian painter. He was born in 1886.
Komi
The Komi are a Finnish people living mainly in the tundra and coniferous
forests of the autonomous republic of Komi in the north west Urals,
Russia. They raise livestock, grow timber, and mine coal and oil. Their
language, Zyryan, belongs to the Finno-Ugric branch of the Uralic family.
Kreisler
Fritz Kreisler was an Austrian violinist. He was born in 1875 and died in
1962.
Kung
The Kung (formerly Bushman) are a small group of hunter-gatherer peoples
of the north east Kalahari, southern Africa, still living to some extent
nomadically. Their language belongs to the Khoisan family.
Kurd
The Kurds are the Kurdish culture, living mostly in the Taurus and Sagros
mountains of west Iran and north Iraq in the region called Kurdistan.
The Kurdish languages (Kurmanji, Sorani Kurdish, Gurano, and Zaza) are
members of the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European family, and the
Kurds are a non-Arab, non-Turkic ethnic group. The Kurds are
predominantly Sunni Muslims, although there are some Shiites in Iran.
Kurds traditionally owe allegiance to their families, and larger groups
are brought together under an agha, or lord. They are predominantly
shepherds and farmers, cultivating a wide range of crops and fruit.
National dress is still worn in the more mountainous regions and there is
a strong tradition of poetry and music. Kurdish professionals are found
in many Middle Eastern cities.
La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine was a French poet. He was born in 1621 and died in
1695. He wrote a number of popular fables.
Labourite
A Labourite is a member of the British Labour Party.
Laennec
Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec was a French physician who invented the
stethoscope. He was born in 1781 and died in 1826.
Laforgue
Jules Laforgue was a French poet. He was born in 1860 and died in 1887.
He was a pioneer of free verse.
Laing
R.d. Laing was a Scottish psychoanalyst. He originated some radical
methods of psychiatry.
Lamarck
Jean Baptiste Lamarck was a French naturalist. He was born in 1744 at
Picardy and died in 1829. He catalogued invertebrates.
Lamb
Charles Lamb was an English poet. He was born in 1775 at London and died
in 1834. He wrote essays under the name of Elia.
Landor
Walter Savage Landor was an English poet. He was born in 1775 at Warwick
and died in 1864. He raised a private regiment to fight against Napoleon
in Spain.
Landseer
Sir Edwin Henry Landseer was an English painter. He was born in 1802 at
London and died in 1873. He was knighted in 1850. Typically he painted
pictures of animals.
Langland
William Langland was probably an English priest. He was born in 1332 and
died in 1400. He is remembered for his poem The Visions of Piers The
Plowman which gives a detailed account of English life at the time.
Lanista
A lanista was a man who purchased and looked after gladiators.
Lansbury
George Lansbury was a British politician and leader of the Parliamentary
Labour Party from 1931 until 1935. He was born in 1859 and died in 1940.
Lao
The Lao are a people who live along the Mekong river system in Laos (2
million) and north Thailand (9 million). The Lao language is a member of
the Sino-Tibetan family. The majority of Lao live in rural villages.
During the wet season, May-Oct, they grow rice in irrigated fields,
though some shifting or swidden cultivation is practised on hillsides.
Vegetables and other crops are grown during drier weather. The Lao are
predominantly Buddhist though a belief in spirits, phi, is included in
Lao devotions. There are some Christians among the minority groups.
Lao Tsze
Lao Tsze was a Chinese philosopher who wrote the Tao Te Ching. He lived
around 590BC.
Laotian
The Laotian are an Indochinese people who live along the Mekong river
system. There are approximately 9 million Laotians in Thailand and 2
million in Laos. The Laotian language is a Thai member of the Sino-
Tibetan family.
Laplace
Pierre Simon Laplace was a French mathematician and astronomer. He was
born in 1749 at Beaumont-en Auge. He argued that the whole physical
universe could be explained by the law of cause and effect so that, given
enough information, both the past and the future of the universe could be
determined in every detail.
Latimer
Hugh Latimer was an English protestant martyr. He was born in 1485 near
Leicester and died in 1555. He was burnt at the stake in Oxford for being
a heretic.
Latins
The Latins were an ancient people of Latium. In very early times the
Latins formed a league of thirty cities of which the town of Alba Longa
became the head. As Rome was a colony of Alba Longa, the Romans spoke the
language of the Latins, which was Latin.
Laud
William Laud was an English churchman. He was born in 1573 at Reading and
died in 1645. He was made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633.
Lauder
Sir Harry Lauder was a Scottish variety actor. He was born in 1870 at
Portobello and died in 1950.
Laval
Pierre Laval was a French statesman. He was twice Prime Minister during
the 1930s. He was born in 1883 and died in 1945.
Lavoisier
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier was a French scientist. He was born in 1743 at
Paris and died in 1794. He proved the modern theory of combustion.
Lawrence
David Herbert Lawrence was an English poet and novelist. He was born in
1885 at Nottinghamshire and died in 1930. Thomas Edward Lawrence was a
British soldier and author. He was born in 1888 near Snowdon and died in
1935. He was known as "Lawrence of Arabia" for his exploits encouraging
the Arabs to fight against the Turks durong the Great War.
Le Carre
John Le Carre is the pen name of David John Cornwell, a British author of
spy novels which include "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" and
"Smiley's People". He was born in 1931.
Le Corbusier
Charles Jeanneret (Le Corbusier) was a Swiss architect and artist. He was
born in 1887 and died in 1965.
Le Duc Tho
Le Duc Tho is a Vietnamese diplomat. He was born in 1911. He was joint
winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in negotiating an end to
the Vietnam War in 1973.
Le Fanu
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer of novels and short stories.
He was born in 1814 and died in 1873.
Lear
Edward Lear was an English painter and writer of verse. He was born in
1812 at London and died in 1888. He taught drawing to Queen Victoria, but
he is remembered for his work A Book of Nonsense, published in 1846.
Leavis
Frank Raymond Leavis was a British literary critic. He was born in 1895
and died in 1978.
Lebedev
Peter Nikolaievich Lebedev was a Russian physicist. he was born in 1866
and died in 1912. He demonstrated that light exherts minute pressure upon
a physical body.
Leclanche
Georges Leclanche was a French engineer. he was born in 1839 and died in
1882. In 1866 he invented a primary electrical cell which still forms the
basis for most dry batteries.
Leconte de Lisle
Charles Marie Rene Leconte de Lisle was a French poet. He was born in
1818 and died in 1894.
Lee
Robert E. Lee was an American Confederate General. He was born in 1807
and died in 1870.
Bruce Lee was the stage name of Lee Yuen Kam, a Chinese actor and expert
in Kung Fu who popularised the martial arts in the west.
Lee Yuen Kam
Lee Yuen Kam was the real name of Bruce Lee, the actor.
Leeuwenhoek
Antony Van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch scientist. He was born in 1632 and
died in 1723. He was the first person to see and describe bacteria which
he did using a self-made microscope.
Leger
Fernand Leger was a French painter. He was born in 1881 and died in 1955.
Lehar
Franz Lehar was a Hungarian composer. He was born in 1870 and died in
1948.
Leibniz
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a German philosopher. He was born in 1646
at Leipzig and died in 1716. He wrote Monadology and Principles Of
Nature. He discovered calculus.
Leicester
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was an Elizabethan courtier and English
soldier. He was born in 1532 and died in 1588.
Leighton
Frederick Baron Leighton was an English artist. He was born in 1830 at
Scarborough and died in 1896. He was president of the Royal Academy in
1878.
Lely
Sir Peter Lely was a Dutch born painter. He was born in 1618 and died in
1680. He came to England in 1641 as a portrait painter.
Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian revolutionary. He was born in 1870 at
Simbirsk and died in 1924.
Lenni Lenape
see "Delaware Indians"
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian artist and scientist. He was born in
1452, dying in 1519. He recorded scientific studies in unpublished note
books. He designed the first helicopter (on paper) and recorded
anatomical details after carrying out dissections.
Leoncavallo
Ruggiero Leoncavallo was an Italian composer. He was born in 1858, dying
in 1919. He composed the opera pagliacci.
Leonidas
Leonidas was the King of Sparta when Greece was invaded by Xerxes in
480bc. He was killed in battle at thermopylae.
Leper
Leper is a term given to a person suffering from the disease leprosy.
Lepers
see "Leper"
Leucippus
Leucippus was a Greek philosopher. He lived around 430BC.
Levellers
The Levellers were a Puritan group led by John Lilburne who fought for
equality in social and religious matters.
Lewis
Sinclair Lewis was an American novelist. He was born in 1885 and died in
1951.
Li Po
Li Po was a Chinese poet born in 700bc. He died by drowning.
Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal was a German inventor. He was born in 1848 at Auklam and
died in 1896. He was one of the founders of the science of flight and
conducted important work into gliding.
Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the USA. He was born in 1809 at
Kentucky and died in 1865 when he was assassinated at a theatre by John
Wilkes Booth.
Lindbergh
Charles A. Lindbergh is an American airman. He was born in 1902 at
Minnesota. He made the first non-stop flight between New York and Paris
in 1927.
Linnaeus
Carl von Linne Linnaeus was a Swedish naturalist. He was born in 1707 at
Rashut and died in 1778. He invented the modern system of naming plants
with two words, rather than long descriptive latin phrases which was
previously used.
Lippi
Fra Filippo Lippi was an Italian painter. He was born at Florence in
1406. He died in 1469. He painted the frescoes in the prato cathedral.
Lister
Joseph Lister was an English doctor. He was born at Upton (Essex) in
1827. He died in 1912. He introduced carbolic acid to prevent infection.
Liszt
Franz Liszt was a Hungarian composer born at Dobr'jan in 1811. He died in
1886. He was also a pianist.
Lithuanian
A Lithuanian is a member of the majority ethnic group living in
Lithuania, comprising 80% of the population.
Livingstone
David Livingstone was a Scottish explorer. Between 1852 and 1873 he
discovered the course of the zambesi, victoria falls and lake nyasa.
Livy
Livy was a Roman historian. He was born in 59BC at Padua and died in 17.
Lloyd-George
David Lloyd-George was an English MP. He was born in 1863 at Manchester
and died in 1945. He was elected to Parliament in 1890. He was Chancellor
of the Exchequer in 1908.
Lobachevski
Lobachevski was a Russian mathematician. He was born in 1793 and died in
1856. He pioneered the study of non-Euclidean geometry.
Locke
John Locke was an English political author. He was born in 1632 at
Wrington and died in 1704.
Matthew Locke was an English composer. He was born in 1630 at Exeter and
died in 1677.
London
Jack London was an American writer. He was born in 1876 at San Francisco
and died in 1916. He wrote The Call of the Wild and White Fang.
Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet. He was born in 1807 at
Portland and died in 1882.
Lorca
Federico Garcia Lorca was a Spanish poet and dramatist. He was born in
1899 and died in 1936 when he was shot for supporting the Republican
Government by Franco's troops.
Lorentz
Hendrick Antoon Lorentz was a Dutch scientist. He was born in 1853 and
died in 1928. He shared the Nobel prize for physics in 1902.
Louis IX
Louis IX was King of France. He was born in 1214, dying in 1270 whilst on
crusade.
Louis XIV
Louis XIV was King of France. He was born in 1638, dying in 1715.
Louis XV
Louis XV was King of France. He was born in 1710, dying in 1774.
Louis XVI
Louis XVI was King of France. He was born in 1754, dying in 1793 when he
was executed during the French revolution.
Lovelace
Richard Lovelace was an Englsh poet and lyricist. He was born in 1618 and
died in 1657.
Lucretius
Lucretius was a Roman poet. He was born in 99BC and died in 55BC.
Lully
Jean Baptiste Lully was a French composer. He was born in 1632 at
Florence and died in 1687.
Luo
The Luo are the second-largest ethnic group of Kenya, living in the Lake
Victoria region and in 1987 numbering some 2,650,000.
The Luo traditionally live by farming livestock. The Luo language is of
the Nilo-Saharan family.
Luther
Martin Luther was a German Protestant Reformer and translator of the
bible. He was born in 1483 at Saxony and died in 1546.
Lydon
John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) was lead singer with the punk rock group
the Sex Pistols, and then after they split up with Public Image Ltd.
Lytton
Edward George Bulwer Lytton was an English writer and statesman. He was
born in 1803 at London and died in 1873. He wrote The Last Days Of
Pompeii.
MacArthur
Douglas macArthur was an American general. He was born in 1880, dying in
1964. He defended the philippines against the japanese during the second
world war. In 1951 he was relieved of command during the korean war.
Macaulay
Thomas Babington Macaulay was a British historian and politician. He was
born in 1800 at Leicestershire and died in 1859. He entered parliament in
1830. He became Secretary for War in 1839.
Macbeth
Macbeth was King of Scotland from 1040 to 1057.
Macdonald
Flora Macdonald was a Scottish heroine. She was born in 1722 and died in
1790. She helped Prince Charles Edward Stuart to escape after the battle
of Culloden.
James Ramsay Macdonald was a Britsh politician. He was born in 1866
atLossiemouth and died in 1937. In 1911 he became leader of the Labour
party.
Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian statesman and writer. He was born in
1469 at Florence and died in 1527. He has the reputation of being
manipulative, hence the psychological term "Machiavellism" which refers
to manipulation of people.
Macmillan
Harold Macmillan was a British Conservative statesman. He was born in
1894. He became an MP in 1924. He became Prime Minister in 1957 following
Eden's resignation over the Suez canal crisis.
Maeterlinck
Count Maurice Maeterlinck was a Belgian writer and dramatist. He was born
in 1862 at Ghent and died in 1949.
Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portugese sailor. He was born in 1480 at Sabrosa
and died in 1521. He discovered the straight of Magellan.
Magistrate
A Magistrate is a "junior judge", they serve in lower courts of law and
hear minor offences.
Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a Czech-Austrian composer. He was born in 1860 at
Kalischt and died in 1911.
Makua
The Makua are a people living to the north of the Zambezi River in
Mozambique. With the Lomwe people, they make up the country's largest
ethnic group. The Makua are mainly farmers,
living in villages ruled by chiefs. The Makua language belongs to the
Niger-Congo family, and has about 5 million speakers.
Malagasy
A Malagasy is an inhabitant of or native to Madagascar. The Malagasy
language has about 9 million speakers; it belongs to the Austronesian
family.
Despite Madagascar's proximity to Africa, Malagasy contains only a small
number of Bantu and Arabic loan words. It seems likely that the earliest
settlers came by sea, some 1,500 years ago, from Indonesia. Primarily
rice farmers, the Malagasy make use both of irrigated fields and swidden
(temporary plot) methods.
Malcolm
Malcolm was King of Scotland from 943 to 954.
Malcolm II
Malcolm II was King of Scotland from 1005 to 1034.
Malcolm III
Malcolm III was King of Scotland from 1057 to 1093.
Malcom IV
Malcolm IV was King of Scotland from 1153 to 1165.
Mallarme
Stephane Mallarme was a French poet. He was born in 1842 at Paris and
died in 1898. He founded the Symbolists school of poetry.
Malory
Sir Thomas Malory was an English writer. He lived around 1450. He wrote
Le Morte d'Arthur about King Arthur.
Malthus
Thomas Robert Malthus was an English economist. He was born in 1766 near
Guildford and died in 1834. He wrote The Essay on Population.
Mameluke
The Mameluke were Turkoman warriors taken to Egypt as slaves to act as
bodyguards for the caliphs and sultans. When the Ottoman Turks conquered
Egypt in 1250 the Mamelukes became sultans. They were defeated by
Napoleon in 1798 and the survivors were massacred by Muhammad Ali in 1811
Manet
Edouard Manet was a French painter. He was born in 1832 at Paris and died
in 1883.
Mann
Thomas Mann was a German novelist. He was born in 1875 at Lubeck and died
in 1955. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1929.
Mantegna
Andrea Mantegna was an Italian painter and engraver. He was born in 1431
and died in 1506.
Mao Tse-Tung
Mao Tse-Tung was a Chinese revolutionary leader. He was born in 1893 at
Kunan Province. He was a founder member of the Chinese Communist party.
Maori
The Maori are a Polynesian people of pre-European New Zealand.
Their language, Maori, belongs to the eastern branch of the Austronesian
family.
The Maori colonized New Zealand from about 850, establishing a
flourishing civilization
throughout the country.
Marat
Jean Paul Marat was a French revolutionary and scientist. He was born in
1743 at Boudry and died in 1793 when he was murdered in his bath by
Charlotte Corday.
Marc
Franz Marc was a German painter. He was born in 1880 and died in 1916 at
Verdun during the Great War.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian explorer. He was born in 1254 and died in 1324.
Marconi
Guglielmo Marconi was an Italian scientist. He was born in 1874 at
Bologna and died in 1937. He invented the wireless set. In 1901 he sent a
wireless signal between Cornwall and Newfoundland.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was a Roman Emperor. He was born in 121 and
died in 180.
Margaret
Margaret was queen of Scotland from 1286 to 1290.
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette was Queen of Louis XVI of France. She was born in 1755
and died in 1793 when she was executed for treason during the French
revolution.
Marlborough
John Churchill (Duke of Marlborough) was an English soldier. He was born
in 1650 at Musbury and died in 1722. He commanded the British and Dutch
forces against France in 1702.
Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe was an English dramatist. He was born in 1564 at
Canterbury and died in 1593.
Maroon
The Maroon were escaped slaves in Jamaica who were armed by the Spanish
to attack the British forces on the island during the late 17th and 18th
centuries. They lived mainly in the mountainous region now known as
cockpit country and developed a method of cooking known as "jerking"
peculiar to Jamaica.
Marshall
General George Marshall was an American General and statesman. He was
born in 1880 and died in 1959. He was chief of staff during the second
World War.
Martini
Simone Martini was an Italian painter. He was born in 1283 and died in
1344.
Marvell
Andrew Marvell was a poet. He was born in 1621, dying in 1678.
Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher and economist. He was born in
1818 at the Rhineland and died in 1883. Together with Engels he wrote the
manifesto of the communist party in 1847.
Mary
Mary was queen of Scotland from 1542 to 1567. Mary was queen of England
from 1553 to 1558.
Mary Godwin
see "shelley"
Mary II
Mary II was queen of England from 1689 to 1694.
Masaccio
Masaccio was an Italian painter. He was born in 1401 and died in 1428.
Masai
The Masai are an east African people whose territory is divided between
Tanzania and Kenya, and who number about 250,000. They were originally
warriors and nomads, breeding humped zebu cattle, but some have adopted a
more settled life. They speak a Nilotic language belonging to the Nilo-
Saharan family.
Masaryk
Thomas Garrigue Masaryk was the founder and first President of
Czechoslovakia. He was born in 1850 at Moravia and died in 1937.
Masefield
John Masefield was an English writer. He was born in 1878 at Ledbury and
died in 1967.
Matisse
Henri Matisse was a French painter. He was born in 1869 at Le Cateau and
died in 1954.
Maugham
William Somerset Maugham was an English novelist. He was born in 1874 at
Paris and died in 1965.
Maupassant
Guy de Maupassant was a French writer. He was born in 1850 at Fecamp and
died in 1893. He primarily wrote short stories.
Mauriac
Francois Mauriac was a French novelist. He was born in 1885 and died in
1970.
Maurice Sarrail
Maurice Sarrail was a French General. He Was born in 1856 at Carcassonne.
He commanded the French 3rd army in 1914 during the Great War and was
responsible for the defence of the Verdun region. In 1925 he became High
Commissioner of Syria.
Maxim
Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim was an American inventor. He was born in 1840 at
Sangerville and died in 1916. He invented the automatic quick-firing gun
(machine gun).
Maxwell
James Clerk Maxwell was a Scottish mathematician. He was born in 1831 at
Edinburgh and died in 1879. He created an elctro-magnetic theory of
light.
Mazarin
Jules mazarin was a cardinal and French minister. He was born in italy in
1602, dying in 1661.
Mazeppa
Ivan Stepanovich Mazeppa was a Cossack nobelman. He was born in 1644,
dying in 1709. He fought for independance for the Ukraine from Russia.
Mazzini
Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian republican patriot and revolutionary. He
was born in 1805 at Genoa and died in 1872.
McGeoch
John McGeoch is guitar player with the rock group Public Image Ltd
Meleager
Meleager was an ancient Greek poet who wrote epigrams.
Melville
Herman Melville was an American writer. He was born in 1819 at New York
and died in 1891. He wrote Moby Dick.
Memling
Hans Memling was a Flemish religious painter. He was born in 1430 and
died in 1494.
Mende
The Mende are a west African people living in the rainforests of central
east Sierra Leone and west
Liberia. They number approximately 1 million. The Mende are farmers as
well as hunter-
gatherers, and each of their villages is led by a chief and a group of
elders. The Mende
language belongs to the Niger-Congo family.
Mendel
Gregor Johann Mendel was an Austrian priest and natural historian. He was
born in 1822 at Mahren and died in 1884.
Mendeleyev
Dmitri Ivanovitch Mendeleyev was a Russian scientist. He was born in 1834
at Tobolsk and died in 1907. He discovered that characteristic properties
of chemical elements recur in regular cycles in a table starting with the
element of lowest atomic weight and progressing consecutively in order of
weight.
Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn was a German composer. He was born in 1809 at Hamburg
and died in 1847.
Mercator
Geradus Mercator was a Flemish geographer and cartographer. He was born
in 1512 and died in 1594. He devised a new method of projecting the
surface of the earth on a map which made navigation much simpler.
Meredith
George Meredith was an English novelist. He was born in 1828 at
Portsmouth and died in 1909.
Merlin
Merlin was a magician who aided Arthur.
Meskhetian
The Meskhetian are a community of Turkish descent that formerly inhabited
Meskhetia, on the then
Turkish-Soviet border.
Michelangelo
Buonarroti Michelangelo was an Italian painter. He was born in 1475 at
Caprese and died in 1564. He painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Michelson
Albert Abraham Michelson was an American scientist. He was born in 1852
and died in 1931. He proved the existence of an all pervading ether and
experimented to find out the speed of light.
Middleton
Thomas Middleton was an English dramatist. He was born in 1570 and died
in 1627. He is know for his realistic comedies and romantic plays.
Mikhail Fokine
Mikhail Fokine was a Russian dancer. He was born at St Petersburg in
1880. He died in 1942. He is famous for his work with ballet.
Mill
John Stuart Mill was an English economist. He was born in 1806 at London
and died in 1873. He defended the rights of the working class and
supported the right of women to vote.
Millais
Sir John Everett Millais was an English painter. He was born in 1829 at
Southampton and died in 1896.
Miller
Arthur Miller is an American playwright. He was born in 1915. He wrote
Death of a Salesman.
Millet
Jean Francois Millet was a French painter. He was born in 1814 near
Greville and died in 1875.
Millikan
Robert Andrews Millikan was an American scientist. He was born in 1868 at
Morrison and died in 1954. He won the Nobel prize for physics in 1923.
Milton
John Milton was an English writer. He was born in 1608 at London and died
in 1674. He wrote Paradise Lost.
Minangkabau
Minangkabau are an Indonesian people of west Sumatra. In addition to
approximately 3 million Minangkabau in west Sumatra, there are sizeable
communities in the major Indonesian cities. The Minangkabau language
belongs to the Austronesian family.
Mirabeau
Mirabeau was a French orator. He was born in 1749 and died in 1791.
Miskito
The Miskito are an American Indian people of Central America, living
mainly in the area that is
now Nicaragua.
Modigliani
Amedeo Modigliani was an Italian painter. He was born in 1884 at Leghorn
and died in 1920.
Modocs
The Modocs are an American Indian tribe. They lived on the south shore of
Klamath Lake in California.
Moeso-Goths
The Moeso-Goths were a tribe of Goths who settled in Moesia on the Lower
Danube and devoted themselves to architecture under the protection of the
Roman emperors.
Mohammed
Mohammed (Mahomet, Mehmet, Muhammad) was the founder of the religion of
Islam. He was born in 570 at Mecca and died in 632.
Mohawk
The Mohawk are a North American Indian people, part of the Iroquois
confederation, who lived in
the Mohawk Valley, New York, and now live on reservations in Ontario,
Quebec, and New
York State, as well as among the general population. Their language
belongs to the Macro-
Siouan group.
Mohican
The Mohican are a North American Indian people, speaking an Algonquian
language, who
formerly occupied the Hudson Valley.
Moliere
Jean Baptiste Poquelin (Moliere) was a French dramatist. He was born in
1622 and died in 1673.
Moltke
Helmuth Johannes Ludwig Von Moltke was a Prussian general. He was born in
1848 and died in 1916. He invented the German plan of campaign for the
Great War.
Mon
The Mon are a minority ethnic group living in the Irrawaddy delta region
of lower Myanmar
(Burma) and Thailand. The Mon language belongs to the Mon-Khmer branch of
the Austro-Asiatic family. They are
Buddhists, but also retain older animist beliefs.
Monck
George Monck was an English soldier. He was born in 1608 and died in
1670. During the English civil war he fought with the Royalists until
captured by Fairfax and imprisoned. He then served under Cromwell and was
instrumental in bringing about the restoration of Charles II.
Mond
Ludwig Mond was a German chemist who partnered John Brunner to invent a
process for creating soda. He was born in 1838, dying in 1909.
Monet
Claude Monet was a French impressionist painter. He was born in 1840 and
died in 1926.
Mongol
Mongols are any of the various Mongol (or Mongolian) ethnic groups of
Central Asia. Mongols
live in Mongolia, Russia, Inner Mongolia (China), Tibet, and Nepal. The
Mongol language
belongs to the Altaic family; some groups of Mongol descent speak
languages in the Sino-
Tibetan family, however.
The Mongols are primarily pastoral nomads, herding sheep, horses, cattle,
and camels.
Traditionally the Mongols moved with their animals in summer to the
higher pastures,
returning in winter to the lower steppes.
Mongoloid
Mongoloid refers to one of the three major races of humans,
including the indigenous peoples of Asia, the Indians of the Americas,
Polynesians, and the
Eskimos and Aleuts. General physical traits include dark eyes with
epicanthic folds; straight
to wavy dark hair; little beard or body hair; fair to tawny skin; low to
medium-bridged noses;
thin to medium lips.
Monk
A Monk is a man who retires from the world to live in a monastery as a
member of some religious order. Originally all monks were laymen, but
after the 8th century the seniors and by degrees the other member were
admitted to holy orders.
Monks
see "Monk"
Monroe
James Monroe was the 5th president of the USA. He was born in Virginia in
1758 and died in 1831.
Montaigne
Michel de Montaigne was a French essayist. He was born in 1533 at
Bordeaux and died in 1592.
Montefiore
Sir Moses Haim Montefiore was a Jewish philanthropist who made a fortune
on the London stock market. He was born in 1784 and died in 1885. He
became sheriff of London in 1837. He secured better treatment for Jews in
various countries, including: Turkey, Russia, Moldavia and Morocco.
Montenegrin
The Montenegrin are Slavic inhabitants of Montenegro whose culture has
much in common with the
Serbs.
Montesquieu
Charles de Secondat Montesquieu was a French philosopher. He was born in
1689 and died in 1755.
Montessori
Maria Montessori was an Italian educationalist. She was born in 1870 and
died in 1952. She developed the Montessori system of education.
Monteverdi
Claudio Monteverdi was an Italian composer. He was born in 1567 at
Cremona and died in 1643. He wrote a lot of church music.
Montfort
Simon de Montfort was an English statesman and soldier. He was born in
1208 and died in 1265 at the battle of Evesham.
Montgolfier
The Montgolfier brothers made a hot air balloon, in which Jean francois
pilatre de rozier and the marquis d'ariandes made the world's first
aerial voyage over paris on november the 21st 1783.
Montgomery
Montgomery was a British soldier. He was born in 1887 at County Donegal
in Ireland. He entered the army in 1908 and served in the Great War. In
1939 he was Divisional Commander. He took part in the evacuation of
Dunkirk and in 1942 took over command of the Eight Army in North Africa.
In 1944 he led the 21st Army Group in Normandy to the Rhine.
Moore
Albert Joseph Moore was an English artist. He was born in 1841 and died
in 1893.
George Moore was an Irish poet and novelist. He was born in 1852 and died
in 1933.
Henry Moore is an English sculptor. He was born in 1898 at Castleford.
Moors
The Moors were dark skinned people of North Africa who under the
influence of Islam conquered an empire stretching from the Pamirs to the
Pyrenees in the 9th century. Their occupation of Spain lasted from 711
until 1492.
Mordvin
The Mordvin are a Finnish people inhabiting the middle Volga Valley in
west Asia. They are known to have lived in
the region since the 1st century. There are 1 million speakers of Mordvin
scattered
throughout west Russia, about one-third of whom live in the Mordvinian
republic. Mordvin is a
Finno-Ugric language belonging to the Uralic family.
More
Sir Thomas More was an English statesman and politician. He was born in
1478 at London and died in 1535.
Morgan
Sir Henry Morgan was a Welsh buccaneer. As the leader of the West Indian
buccaneers he sacked Porto Bello and commited atrocities against the
inhabitants. He was captured and sent to England in chains, however
Charles II pardoned him and made him governor of Jamaica. He was born in
1635 and died in
1688.
Morland
George morland was an English painter of rural life. He was born in 1763,
dying in 1804.
Morley
Thomas Morley was an English composer of madrigals. He was born in 1557,
dying in 1603.
John Morley was the 1st viscount morley. He was an English biographer and
liberal politician. He was born in 1838, dying in 1923.
Morris
William morris was an English poet, craftsman and socialist. He was born
in 1834, dying in 1896. He founded the socialist league and the kelmscott
press.
Morrison
Herbert Morrison was a British labour statesman. He was born in 1888,
dying in 1965. He was home secretary during the second world war.
Morse
Samuel Morse was an American artist and inventor. He was born in 1791 and
died in 1872. He invented the morse code and conceived the idea of a
recording magnetic telegraph.
Moses
Moses was the founder and legislator of the Israelite nation. He
delivered his people from Egypt.
Mossi
The Mossi are the majority ethnic group living in Burkina Faso. Their
social structure, based on a
monarchy and aristocracy, was established in the 11th century. The Mossi
have been
prominent traders, using cowrie shells as currency. There are about 4
million speakers of
Mossi, a language belonging to the Gur branch of the Niger-Congo family.
Mountbatten
Louis mountbatten was a British admiral and statesman. He was born in
1900, dying in 1979 when he was assasinated by the ira. He was chief of
combined operations in 1942 and the last viceroy of India.
Moussorgsky
Modest Petrovich Moussorgsky was a Russian composer. He was born in 1835
at St. Petersburg and died in 1881.
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer. He was born at Salzburg
in 1756, dying in 1791. He began his career at the age of 4 and toured
Europe when he was 6. In 1781 he settled in vienna and became friends
with haydn.
MP
MP is an abbreviation for member of parliament. An MP is a politician.
Mpongwa
The Mpongwa are a native tribe of the Gabon.
Muhammad
Muhammad was the founder of Islam.
Muir
Edwin Muir was a Scottish poet. He was born in 1887 on Orkney and died in
1959.
Mumford
Lewis Mumford is an American writer on town-planning and social problems.
He was born in 1895.
Munch
Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter. He was born in 1863 and died in
1944.
Munchhausen
Baron Munchhausen was a German soldier. He was born in 1720 and died in
1797. He is remembered for telling exagerated tales about his adventures
during the campaigns he served in. He is the feature of a book, The
adventures of Baron Munchhausen written by rudolph Raspe in 1785.
Munda
The Munda are any one of several groups living in north east and central
India, numbering about 5
million (1983). Their most widely spoken languages are Santali and
Mundari, languages of
the Munda group, an isolated branch of the Austro-Asiatic family. The
Mundas were formerly
nomadic hunter-gatherers, but now practise shifting cultivation. They are
Hindus, but retain
animist beliefs.
Munro
Hector Hugo Munro (Saki) was a Britisj novelist. He was born in 1870 and
died in 1916.
Murillo
Bartolome Esteban Murillo was a Spanish painter. He was born in 1617 at
Seville and died in 1682.
Muslim
A Muslim is someone who professes the religion of Islam.
Musset
Alfred de Musset was a French romantic poet. He was born in 1810 and died
in 1857.
Mussolini
Benito Mussolini was an Italian dictator. He was born in 1883 at
Predappio and died in 1945 when he was executed by Italian Partisans. He
founded the fascist movement in 1919 and sided with Hitler during the
Second World War.
Mutsuhito
Mutsuhito was Emperor of Japan from 1867 until 1912. He was born in 1852
and died in 1912. He abolished the feudal system and modernised Japan
with state schools, conscription and the Western calendar. Under his rule
Japan became a world naval and military power. In 1889 he introduced a
constitution.
Muybridge
Eadweard Muybridge (born Edward James Muggeridge) was a British
photographer of animal locomotion. His photographs proved for the first
time that when a horse trots there are times when all its feet are off
the ground. He was born in 1830 and died in 1904.
Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokov is a Russian-born American author. He was born in 1899.
He wrote Lolita.
Naga
The Naga are the various peoples who inhabit the highland region near the
Indian/Myanmar (Burma) border; they number approximately 800,000. These
peoples do not
possess a common name; some of the main groups are Ao, Konyak, Sangtam,
Lhota, Sema,
Rengma, Chang, and Angami. They live by farming, hunting, and fishing.
Their languages
belong to the Sino-Tibetan family.
Nahua
The nahua are an indigenous people of Mexico.
Nahuatl
The Nahuatl are a group of Mesoamerican Indian peoples, of
which the best-known group were the Aztecs. The Nahuatl are the largest
ethnic group in
Mexico, and their languages, which belong to the Uto-Aztecan (Aztec-
Tanoan) family, are
spoken by over a million people today.
Nanak
Nanak was an Indian guru who formed the religion of Sikhism. He was born
in 1469 and died in 1539.
Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen was a Norwegian scientist. He was born in 1861 and died
in 1930. He explored the ploar regions and in 1921 organised relief for
Russian famine victims. He won the Nobel peace prize in 1922.
Napier
John Napier was a Scottish mathematician. He was born in 1550 and died in
1617. He invented logarithms.
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte was emperor of France. He was born in 1769 and died in
1821. In 1799 he overthrew the Directory and appointed himself dictator.
He became emperor in 1804 and reigned until 1815. From 1803 he conquered
most of Europe. He was finally overthrown following his defeat at
Waterloo at the hands of Wellington's army and was exiled on the Island
of St Helena.
Nash
Paul Nash was an English artist. He was born in 1899 at London and died
in 1946.
Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser was prime minister of Egypt from 1954 until 1956. He
was born in 1918 and died in 1970.
Natchez
The Natchez are an American Indian tribe of the Mississippi area. They
were almost wiped out by the French in 1731. Today a few survive in
Oklahoma.
Navaho
The Navaho are a peaceable agricultural North American Indian people
related to the Apache;
population about 200,000. Like the Apache, they speak a Southern
Athabaskan language.
Navajo
The Navajo are an American Indian tribe.
Nazi
The nazis were a German fascist political party led by Hitler.
Neanderthal
The Naenderthal were early human beings of the Palaeolithic period. The
first Neanderthal skeleton was found in the Rhineland in 1857. They
became extinct in 30,000 BC.
Negrito
The Negrito are several groups living on various islands in south east
Asia. The Negritos are long-
established inhabitants of the region. They include the cave-dwelling
Vedda of Sri Lanka, the
Andamanese of the Andaman Islands, and the Semang of Malaysia.
Negroid
Negroid refers to one of the three major races of humans,
mainly the indigenous peoples of Subsaharan Africa and some of the nearby
islands in the
Indian Ocean and the west Pacific. General physical traits include dark
eyes, tightly curled dark
hair, brown to very dark skin, little beard or body hair, low to medium-
bridged wide noses, and
wide or everted lips.
Nehru
Jawaharial Nehru was an Indian politician. He was born in 1889 and died
in 1964. He dedicated himself to liberating India from British rule and
then addressing the problem of poverty in India.
Neil Kinnock
Neil Gordon Kinnock is a British MP. He was born in 1942 in Wales. He was
secretary of state for employment between 1974 and 1975.
Nelson
Horatio Nelson was an English naval commander. He was born in 1758 and
died in 1805 from a sniper's gunshot at the battle of Trafalgar. Oddly,
he suffered from sea sickness!
Nero
Nero (Claudius Caesar) was a Roman Emperor. He was born in 37 and died in
68. He was a cruel and unpopular Emperor and committed suicide after a
successful revolt against him.
Newcomen
Thomas Newcomen was an English engineer. He was born in 1663 at Dartmouth
and died in 1729. He developed the steam engine.
Newman
John Henry Newman was a British theologian. He was born in 1801 at London
and died in 1890.
Newton
Sir Isaac Newton was an English scientist. He was born at Woolsthorpe in
1642, dying in 1727. He put forward the theory that the universe is
regulated by simple mathematical laws.
Ney
Michel Ney was a French general. He was born in 1769 and died in 1815. He
served under Napoleon at Jena, Borodino and Waterloo.
Nicholson
Sir William Nicholson was an English painter. He was born in 1872 at
Newark and died in 1949.
Nicot
Jean Nicot was French ambassador at the Portugese court. He was born in
1530 and died in 1600. He was presented, in Portugal with some tobacco
plant seeds. He introduced tobacco into France in 1560. The botanical
name Nicotiana is derived from his name.
Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a German philosopher who originated the
idea of a superman and the doctrine of perfectability of man through
forcible self assertion and superiority.
Nightingale
Florence Nightingale was a Britsih nurse and reformer of hospital
nursing. She was born in 1820 at Florence and died in 1910. She attended
the sick durong the Crimean war.
Nobel
Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish engineer and the inventor of
dynamite. He was born in 1833 at Stockholm and died in 1896. On his death
he left money that annual prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine,
literature and the cause of peace could be made (the Nobel prizes).
Nollekens
Joseph Nollekens was an English sculptor. He was born in 1737 and died in
1823.
Nordic
Nordic is the ethnic designation for any of the various Germanic peoples,
especially those of Scandinavia.
The physical type of Caucasoid described under that term is tall, long-
headed, blue-eyed, fair
of skin and hair.
Norseman
The Norsemen were early inhabitants of Norway. The term Norsemen is also
applied to Scandinavian Vikings who
during the 8th-11th centuries raided and settled in Britain, Ireland,
France, Russia, Iceland,
and Greenland.
The Norse religion (banned 1000) was recognized by the Icelandic
government 1973.
Nuba
The Nuba are a minority ethnic group living in south Sudan, numbering
about 1 million (1991). They
speak related dialects of Nubian, which belongs to the Chari-Nile family.
The Nuba farm terraced fields in the Nuba mountains, to the west of the
White Nile.
Nuffield
William Richard Morris Nuffield was a British industrialist and
philanthropist. He was born in 1877 at Worcester and died in 1963.
Nyanja
The Nyanja are a central African people living mainly in Malawi, and
numbering about 400,000. The Nyanja are predominantly farmers, living in
villages under a hereditary monarchy.
They speak a Bantu language belonging to the Niger-Congo family.
O'Casey
Sean O'Casey was an Irish playwright. He was born in 1884 at Dublin and
died in 1966.
O'Neill
Eugene Gladstone O'Neill was an American dramatist. He was born in 1888
at New York and died in 1954.
Oates
Lawrence Edward oates was an English antarctic explorer. He was born in
1880. He died by commiting suicide in a blizzard on the return journey
from the south pole with scott so that the others would not be hampered
by his frost-bite.
Oceanus
Oceanus was the son of Uranus and Gaea.
Ocypete
Ocypete was one of the harpies.
Offa
Offa was King of Mercia (a region of central England) around 790. He died
in 796.
Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a German composer. He was born in 1819, dying in
1880. He wrote the opera tales of hoffmann.
Ohm
Georg Ohm was a German physicist born in 1787, died 1854, who discovered
ohm's Law.
Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam was a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer. He was
born in 1050 and died in 1123.
Opie
John Opie was an English painter. He was born in Cornwall in 1761 and
died in 1807.
Oppenheimer
J. Robert Oppenheimer was an American physicist and director of the Los
Almos research project which made the first atomic bomb. He was born in
1904 and died in 1967.
Orangeman
An Orangeman is a member of the Ulter Protestant Orange Society which was
formed in 1795 in opposition to the United Irishmen and the Roman
Catholic secret societies. It is a revival of the Orange Institution of
1688 which was formed in support of William III of Orange. The Orangemen
celebrate William III defeat of the Catholic James II at the Battle of
the Boyne in 1690.
Orangemen
see "Orangeman"
Orchardson
Sir William Orchardson was a British genre and portrait painter. He was
born at Edinburgh in 1835 and died in 1910.
Orczy
Baroness Emmusca Orczy was a Hungarian born novelist. She was born in
1865 and died in 1947. She is remembered for writing The Scarlet
Pimpernel, which she wrote in 1905.
Orellana
Francisco de Orellana was a Spanish soldier. He discovered the Amazon
river, which was so named because he claimed that while travelling down
the river he was attacked by a tribe of female warriors.
Orford
Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford was one of Britain's greatest statesmen.
He was born in 1676 in Norfolk and died in 1745. He was a Whig politician
who sought to bring the court and the House of Commons into working
alliance.
Origen
Origen was a christian theologian and writer of the early christian
church. He was born in Alexandria in 185 and died in 254.
Oriya
The Oriya are the majority ethnic group living in the Indian state of
Orissa. Oriya is Orissa's
official language; it belongs to the Eastern group of the Indo-Iranian
branch of the Indo-
European family.
Ormerod
Eleanor Anne Ormerod was an English entomologist and the author of
"Textbook of Agricultural Entomology" published in 1892. She was born in
1828 and died in 1901.
Orozco
Jose Clemente Orozco was a Mexican painter. He was born in 1883 and died
in 1949.
Orpheus
Orpheus was the son of Apollo and Calliope. He was born at Thrace;
journeyed with the Argonauts and kept his companions safe by means of his
lyre given to him by Apollo.
Orsini
Felice Orsini was an Italian patriot. He was born in 1819 and was
executed in 1858 in Paris for attempting to assasinate Napoleon III.
Orwell
George Orwell was an English writer. He was born in 1905 in India and
died in 1950. He wrote Nineteen Eighty Four and Animal Farm (the book,
not the video).
Osborne
John James Osborne is a Britsih playwright and actor. He was born in
1929. He wrote Look Back In Anger.
Osman Digna
Osman Digna was originally a slave-dealer at Suakin, he graduated to
become leader of the Sudan tribesman. He was born in 1836 and died in
1900.
Ostade
Haarlem Ostade was a Dutch painter born in 1610, he died in 1685. He was
a pupil of Franz Hals and was later influenced by Rembrandt. Isaac Ostade
was a Dutch painter born in 1621 and died in 1649.
Otto I
Otto I, or Otto The Great as he was known was Emperor of the Holy Roman
Empire. He was born in 912 and died in 973. He was the son of Henry The
Fowler. In 936 he was elected king of Germany.
Otto II
Otto II was the son of Otto I. He was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
He was born in 955 and died in 983.
Otto III
Otto III was Emperor of The Holy Roman Empire. He was born in 980 and
died in 1002. He sought to revive the greatness of the Roman Empire, but
was frustrated by a general revolt in Italy in 1001.
Otto IV
Otto IV was son of Henry The Lion and Matilda of England. He was born in
1175 and died in 1218. He was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He was
excommunicated in 1210 for annexing Apulia.
Otway
Thomas Otway was an English dramatist. He was born in 1652 at Trotton in
Sussex and died in 1685. He is renowned for his work "Venice Preserved".
Oudinot
Nicolas Charles Oudinot was born in 1767 and died in 1847. He was Duke of
Reggio and became Marshal of France in 1809.
Ouless
Walter William Ouless was an English portrait painter. He was born in
1848 at St Helier on Jersey.
Ouseley
Sir Frederick Ouseley was an English composer. He was born in 1825 in
London and died in 1889. He mainly wrote church music.
Outram
Sir James Outram was a British soldier. He was born in 1803 and died in
1863. He carried out a famous ride in disguise through Afghanistan in
1839 during the Afghan war. He distinguished himself during the Indian
mutiny.
Ovid
Publius Ovidius Naso Ovid was a Roman poet. He was born in 43BC and died
in 17AD. He was born at Sulmo the son of a Roman knight and was educated
in Rome with a view to a legal career.
Owen
Robert Owen was an English socialist reformer. He was born in 1771 and
died in 1858. He wrote "A New View Of Society" published in 1813.
Oxenham
John Oxenham was an English author of romantic novels and adventure
stories. His works include "John of Gerisau" and "The Man Who Would Save
The World".
Oyama
Prince Iwao Oyama was a Japanese Samurai soldier-statesman. He was born
in 1842 and died in 1916. He was attache with the German army during the
Franco-German war.
Pachmann
Vladimir Pachmann was a Russian pianist and interpreter of Chopin. He was
born in 1848.
Paderewski
Ignance Jan Paderewski was a Polish musician. He was born in 1860 at
Kurilowka and died in 1941.
Paganini
Nicolo Paganini was an Italian violinist and composer. He was born in
1784 and died in 1840. He was the founder of the modern school of violin-
playing.
Paget
Sir James Paget was a British surgeon and lecturer. He was born in 1814
and died in 1899. He worked at St Bartholomew's hospital, London.
Pain
Barry Pain was an English journalist and humours author. He was born in
1867 and died in 1928. He became editor of "To-day" in 1897. Thomas Pain
was an English author and agitator. He was born in 1737 and died in 1809.
He published "Common Sense" in 1776 which advocated American
Independence.
Paine
Thomas Paine was an English writer on politics and religion. He was born
in 1737 in Norfolk and died in 1809.
Paish
Sir George Paish was a British economist. He was born in 1867. He was
assistant editor of the "Statist" from 1894 to 1900. He wrote "Railways
in Great Britain" published in 1904.
Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian composer. He was born in
1524 and died in 1594. His works include Marcellus Mass.
Paley
William Paley was an English theologian. He was born in 1743 and died in
1805. In 1782 he became archdeacon of Carlisle. He wrote "Evidences of
Christianity" in 1794.
Palgrave
Sir Francis Palgrave was an English historian. He was born in 1788 and
died in 1861. He wrote "History of England". Francis Turner Palgrave was
the son of Sir Francis Palgrave. He was an English critic and poet. He
was professor of poetry at Oxford from 1886 to 1895. He was born in 1824
and died in 1897.
Palikur
The Palikur are a South American Indian people living in north Brazil and
numbering about 1 million. Formerly a warlike people, they occupied a
vast area between the Amazon and
Orinoco rivers.
Palissy
Bernard Palissy was a French potter and glass painter. He discovered how
to manufacture enamel. He was born in 1510 and died in 1589.
Palmer
Edward Henry Palmer was a British Orientalist. He was born in 1840 and
died in 1882. His works include "Oriental Mysticism" published in 1867.
Palmerston
Henry John Temple Palmerston was an English statesman. He was born in
1784 in Jampshire and died in 1865. He became Conservative MP for Newport
in 1807 but in 1828 switched sides to the Liberals.
Papuan
The Pauan are natives to or inhabitants of Papua New Guinea; a speaker of
any of various Papuan languages,
used mainly on the island of New Guinea, although some 500 are used in
New Britain, the
Solomon Islands, and the islands of the SW Pacific. The Papuan languages
belong to the
Indo-Pacific family.
Paracelsus
Phillippus Aureolus Paracelsus was a Swiss alchemist and physician. He
was born in 1493 and died in 1541. He was the first to note occupational
diseases.
Paris
Paris was a Trojan prince whose abduction of Helen of Sparta caused the
Trojan war.
Parmigianino
Francesco Parmigianino was an Italian painter. He was born in 1503 at
Parma and died in 1540.
Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish nationalist politician. He was born
in 1846 at Avondale and died in 1891.
Pascal
Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician.
Pasteur
Louis Pasteur was a French scientist. He was born in 1822 at Dole and
died in 1895. He founded the modern theory of bacteria.
Pater
Walter Pater was an English critic. He was born in 1839 and died in 1894.
Pathan
The Pathan are a people of north west Pakistan and Afghanistan, numbering
about 14 million (1984).
The majority are Sunni Muslims. The Pathans speak Pashto, a member of the
Indo-Iranian
branch of the Indo-European family.
The Pathans comprise distinct groups, some living as nomads with herds of
goats and
camels, while others are farmers.
Patmore
Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore was an English poet. He was born in 1823
and died in 1896.
Pavlov
Ivan Petrovich Pavlov was a Russian psychologist. He was born in 1849 at
Ryazan and died in 1936. He conducted work into conditioned reflexes
using dogs.
Peel
Sir Robert Peel was an English statesman. He was born in 1788 at Bury and
died in 1850. As Home Secretary he reformed the prison service and
established the Metropolitan Police Force. He was twice Prime Minister,
in 1834 and from 1841 until 1846.
Penn
William Penn was an English quaker and the founder of Pennsylvania. He
was born in 1644, dying in 1718.
Penney
Sir William George Penney is a British atomic scientist. He was born in
1909 at Gibraltar.
Pepys
Samuel Pepys was an English diarist. He was born in 1633 at London and
died in 1703.
Pericles
Pericles was an Arthenian ruler and orator. He was born in 490BC and died
in 429BC.
Perkin
Sir William Henry Perkin was an English chemist. He was born in 1838 and
died in 1907. He discovered aniline dyes.
Peron
Juan Peron is an Argentine army officer. He was president of Argentina
from 1946 until 1955.
Petain
Marshal Henri Philippe Petain was a French soldier. He was born in 1856
at Normandy and died in 1951. He headed the Vichy government which
collaborated with the Germans after the fall of France during the second
World War.
Peter
Peter The Great was a Czar of Russia. He was born in 1672 and died in
1725.
Petrarch
Francesco di Petracco (Petrarch) was an Italian poet and scholar. He was
born in 1304 and died in 1374.
Pharaoh
Pharaoh was the title of the ruler of Ancient Egypt.
Pharisee
The Pharisee were a Jewish sect from 1BC to 1AD which were charcterized
by their strict observance of the traditional and written laws.
Pheidias
Pheidias was a Greek sculptor. He was born in 500BC and died in 433BC.
Picasso
Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist born in 1881, dying in 1973.
Piccard
Auguste Piccard was a Belgian scientist. He was born in 1884 at Lutry and
died in 1962.
Piero
Piero was an Italian painter. He was born in 1420 and died in 1492. He
painted frescoes in Florence and at Loretto.
Pilcher
Percy Pilcher, an Englishman, may be said to have invented the hang
glider. During the late 19th century he invented a man launched glider.
Pinter
Harold Pinter is a British playwright. He was born in 1930 in London. His
plays include The Caretaker and The Birthday Party.
Piper
John Piper is an English painter born at Epsom in 1903.
Pirandello
Luigi Pirandello was an Italian writer. He was born in 1867 at Girgenti
and died in 1936. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1934.
Piranesi
Giovanni Battista Piranesi was an Italian architect. He was born in 1720
in Venice and died in 1778.
Pisano
Niccala Pisano was an Italin sculptor. He was born in 1220 and died in
1280. He created reliefs such as those on the pulpit in Pisa Cathedral.
Pitt
William Pitt was a Whig politician. He was born in 1708 and died in 1778.
Planck
Max planck was a German scientist. He was born at Kiel in 1858, dying in
1947. He won the nobel prize for physics in 1918.
Plato
Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher. He was born in 427bc, dying in
347bc.
Plautus
Titus Marcius Plautus was a Roman comic poet. He was born in 254BC and
died in 184BC.
Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer. He was born in 1809 at Boston and
died in 1849. He wrote a number of horror and crime novels.
Poena
Poena was the attendant of punishment to nemesis.
Pollaiuolo
Antonio Pollaiuolo was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor and painter. He was
born in 1429 and died in 1498.
Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian traveller. He was born in 1256, dying in 1323.
He travelled through various eastern countries.
Pope
The pope is the leader of the Roman catholic church.
alexander pope was an English poet. He was born in London in 1688, dying
in 1744. He is remembered for his satire.
Potiguara
The Potiguara are a group of South American Indians living in north west
Brazil, and numbering about 1
million. Their language belongs to the Tupi-Guarani family. Their
religion is centered
around a shaman, who mediates between the people and the spirit world.
Poussin
Nicolas poussin was a French painter. He was born in 1593, dying in 1665.
Powys
John cowper powys was an English writer. He was born in 1872, dying in
1964.
Prasad
Rajendra prasad was the first president of the republic of India between
1950 and 1962. He was born in 1884, dying in 1963.
Praxiteles
Praxiteles was a 4th century bc Greek sculptor. He carved hermes carrying
dionysus.
Priestley
Joseph priestley was an English chemist. He was born in 1733, dying in
1804. He worked on gasses and discovered oxygen as did scheele. He moved
to America in 1794.
Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev was a Russian composer. He was born in 1891 in the
Ukraine and died in 1953.
Prophet
A prophet is some one who claims to reveal or interpret god's will.
Proust
Marcel Proust was a French novelist. He was born in 1871 at Paris and
died in 1922.
Provost
A Provost is the chief magistrate in a Royal burgh in Scotland. His
position is like that of an English Mayor.
Puccini
Giacomo Puccini was an Italian opera composer. He was born at Lucca in
1858, dying in 1924.
Pueblo
The Pueblo were a tribe of American Indians which lived in New Mexico and
Arizona. They were a farming tribe.
Pueblo Indian
Pueblo Indian is a generic name for a member of any of the farming groups
of the south west USA and north Mexico, living
in communal villages of flat-topped adobe or stone structures arranged in
terraces. Surviving groups include the Hopi and the Zuni.
Pugin
Augustus Welby Pugin was an English architect. He was born in 1812 in
London and died in 1852.
Pulitzer
Joseph Pulitzer was an American newspaper proprietor and philanthropist.
He was born in 1847 in Hungary and died in 1911.
Pulteney
William Pulteney was 1st Earl of Bath. He was born in 1684 and died in
1764. He led the opposition against Walpole, and became prime minister in
1741.
Purcell
Henry Purcell was an English composer born in London in 1659. He died in
1695.
Puritan
The Puritans were a group of religious people who wanted what they
perceived to be extreme purity in church services. They observed a strict
code of behaviour with few amusements.
Pushkin
Alexander pushkin was a Russian poet. He was born at Moscow in 1799. He
died in 1837 from wounds received duelling.
Pym
John Pym was an English parliamentary leader. He was born in 1584, dying
in 1643. He opposed Charles I.
Pythagoras
Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher. He was born on the island of samos in
582bc, dying in 500bc.
Quadi
The Quadi were a Teutonic tribe who lived on the Danube between the
Carpathian Mountains and Theiss. They waged war against the Romans and
disappeared in the 5th century after moving west with the Suevi.
Quaestor
In ancient Rome, the quaestors were magistrates responsible for the
management of public treasure. They received taxes and tribunes, paid the
troops. At the time of Julius Caesar there were 40 quaestors.
Quasimodo
Savatore Quasimodo was an Italian poet. He was born in 1901, dying in
1968.
Quechua
The Quechua are the largest group of South American Indians. The Quechua
live in the Andean
region. Their ancestors included the Inca, who established the Quechua
language in the
region. Quechua is the second official language of Peru and is widely
spoken as a lingua
franca in Ecuador, Bolivia, Columbia, Argentina, and Chile; it belongs to
the Andean-
Equatorial family.
Quiller-Couch
Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch was a British critic and novelist. He was born
in 1863 at Fowey and ied in 1944. He wrote Dead Man's Rock.
Quilter
Roger Quilter was a British composer. He was born in 1877 at Brighton and
died in 1953.
Quisling
Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian traitor and puppet minister. He was born
in 1887 and died in 1945 when he was executed following the liberation of
Norway.
Rabbi
A rabbi is the chief religious leader of a synagogue.
Rabelais
Francois Rabelais was a French satirist. He was born in 1490 at Chinon
and died in 1553.
Rachmaninov
Sergi Rachmaninov was a Russian composer born near lake ilman in 1873. He
died in 1943. He wrote pieces for the piano.
Racine
Jean Racine was a French dramatist and poet. He was born in 1639 at La
Ferte-Milon and died in 1699.
Raeburn
Sir Henry Raeburn was a Scottish portrait painter. He was born in 1756
and died in 1823.
Rajput
The Rajput are a Hindu people, predominantly soldiers and landowners,
widespread over north India.
The Rajput states of north west India are now merged in Rajasthan.
Rajastani languages belong to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-
European family.
Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English soldier, explorer and author. He was
born in 1552 near Sidmouth and died in 1618.
Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau was a French composer. He was born in 1683 and died
in 1764.
Ramsay
Sir William Ramsay was a Scottish scientist. He was born in 1852 in
Glasgow and died in 1916. He discovered the inert gases which include
helium, argon and neon.
Raphael
Raphael was an Italian painter of the renaissance period.
Rasmussen
Knud Johan Victor Rasmussen was a Danish arctic explorer. He was born in
1879 at Jakobshavn and died in 1933. He made a number of journeys into
the arctic circle to study the lives of the Eskimos.
Rasputin
Gregory Rasputin was a Russian courtier. He was born in 1871 in Siberia
and died in 1916 when he was assasinated by members of the Court.
Ravel
Maurice Ravel was a French composer. He was born in 1875 at Cibourne and
died in 1937.
Ray
John Ray was an English naturalist. He was born in 1627, dying in 1705.
He produced a classification of plants.
Reade
Charles Reade was a British novelist and dramatist. He was born in 1814
at Ipsden and died in 1884. He wrote The Cloister and the Hearth.
Regent Albany
Regent Albany was King of Scotland from 1406 to 1419.
Regent Murdoch
Regent Murdoch was King of Scotland from 1419 to 1424.
Rembrandt
Rembrandt was a 17th century Dutch painter.
Remington
Philo Remington invented the typewriter and also the breach loading
rifle.
Renoir
Renoir was a French impressionist painter.
Reuter
Paul Julius Reuter was a German newsman. He was born in 1816 at Kassel
and died in 1899. He founded the Reuter's news agency.
Revere
Paul Revere was an American soldier and patriot. He was born in 1735 at
Boston and died in 1818. In april 1775 he rode from Boston to Concorde to
warn the population of the approach of British troops.
Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds was an English portrait painter. He was born in 1723
near Plymouth and died in 1792.
Rhodes
Cecil John Rhodes was a South African statesman. He was born in 1853 at
Bishop's Stortford and died in 1902.
Richard
Richard was King of England from 1189 to 1199.
Richard II
Richard II was son of Edward The Black Prince and King of England from
1371 to 1399.
Richard III
Richard III was King of England from 1483 to 1485.
Richard Savage
Richard Savage was an English poet believed to be the illegitimate son of
Lord Rivers and the Countess of Macclesfield. He died in 1743.
Richardson
Samuel Richardson was an English novelist. He was born in 1689 and died
in 1761. He wrote Pamela.
Richelieu
Armand Duplessis Richelieu was a French churchman and statesman. He was
born in 1585 in Paris and died in 1642. In 1624 he became minister of
state to Louis XIII and dominated the weak King, ruling France himself.
Ridley
Nicholas Ridley was an English protestant martyr. He was born in 1500,
dying in 1555 when he was burnt at the stake.
Rienzi
Cola di Rienzi was an Italian patriot. He was born in rome in 1313. He
led a popular uprising in 1347, reigned for seven months and then had to
flee. He was eventually murdered in 1354.
Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke was an Austrian poet. He was born in 1875 at Prague
and died in 1926.
Rimbaud
Arthur Rimbaud was a Belgian poet. He was born in 1854 in the Ardennes
and died in 1891.
Rimsky-Korsakov
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer. He was born in 1844 at
Novogrod and died in 1908.
Rinaldo
Rinaldo was a famous character in mediaeval romance. He was one of four
sons of Aymom, cousin to Orlando and a brave knight of the Charlemagne.
Ristori
Adelaide Ristori was an Italian tragedy actress. She was born in 1822 and
died in 1906. She wrote "Studies and Memois".
Rivera
Diego Rivera was a Mexican painter. He was born in 1886 at Guanajuato and
died in 1957.
Riviere
Briton Riviere was a British painter of animals. He was born in 1840 amd
died in 1920.
Rob Roy
Rob Roy (Robert McGregor) was a Scottish freebooter. He was born in 1671,
dying in 1734. He helped the poor at the expense of the rich and played a
lone role in the jacobite uprising of 1715.
Robeck
Sir John Michael De Robeck was a British admiral. He was born in 1862 and
died in 1928. He commanded the naval force at Dardanelles.
Robert
Robert (Bruce) was King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329.
Robert I
Robert I, Duke of Normandy was the father of William the Conqueror and
aide to Edward The Confessor. He died in 1035 while returning from a
pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Robert II
Robert II was King of Scotland from 1371 to 1390.
Robert III
Robert III was King of Scotland from 1390 to 1406.
Roberts
David Roberts was a Scottish landscape and architectural painter. He was
born in 1796 and died in 1864. John Roberts was an English billiard
player. He was born in 1847 and died in 1919. He first won the world
championship in 1875. He was one of the greatest billiard players of the
time, setting a record of a break of 597 in 1900 with bonzoline balls. He
stopped competing after the rules were changed in 1898.
Robertson
Sir William Robertson was the only British soldier to join as a private
and make field-marshal. He was born in 1860, dying in 1933.
Robespierre
Robespierre was a politician of the French revolution.
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was an English mediaeval hero frequently mentioned in 14th
century literature. He was depicted as a brave and chivalrous adventurer
who had his head-quarters in Sherwood Forest.
Robinson
William Heath Robinson was an English cartoonist renowned for his
humorous drawings of machines. He was born in 1872, dying in 1944.
Rochester
John Wilmot Rochester was an English poet and wit. He was bron in 1648,
dying in 1680. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American who made a fortune from
petroleum.
Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American who made a fortune from
petroleum.
Rod
Edouard Rod was a Swiss psychological novelist. He was born in 1857 and
died in 1910.
Rodin
Auguste Rodin was a French impressionist sculptor. He was born in 1840
and died in 1917.
Rodney
George Brydges Rodney was an English admiral who defeated the Spanish
fleet off cape st. Vincent in 1780. He was born in 1718, dying in 1792.
Roe
Sir Thomas Roe was a famous English ambassador to the West Indies and
Brazil. He was born in 1568 and died in 1644.
Roger Hollis
Roger Hollis was director of MI5, and alleged by Peter Wright (in his
book "Spy Catcher") to have been a Russian spy.
Rogers
Samuel Rogers was an English poet. He was born in 1763 and died in 1855.
He was the son of a banker. He was offered the laureateship when
Wordsworth died in 1850.
Rogue
A rogue is an idle vagrant.
Rohillas
The Rohillas were an Afghan tribe who made themselves masters of
Rohikhand in the 18th century, but were subdued in 1774 by the Nawab of
Oudh assisted by a British force.
Roman
A Roman was an inhabitant of ancient Rome.
Romans
see "Roman"
Romany
The Romanys are a nomadic Caucasoid people, also called Gypsy. They are
believed to have originated in north west
India, and live throughout the world. The Romany language (spoken in
different dialects in
every country where Gypsies live) is a member of the Indo-European
family.
Rommel
Erwin Rommel was a German Field Marshal of the 2nd world war.
Romney
George Romney was an English portrait painter. He was born in 1734 in
Lancashire and died in 1802.
Romulus
Romulus was the founder of Rome.
Ronsard
Pierre de Ronsard was a French poet. He was born in 1524, dying in 1585.
Rontgen
Konrad Wilhelm Rontgen was a German physicist who discovered x-rays. He
was born in 1845, dy ng in 1923.
Rooke
Sir George Rooke was a British admiral. He was born in 1650 and died in
1709. He commanded the squadron which relieved Londonderry in 1689.
Roon
Albrecht Theodor Count Von Roon was a Prussian soldier. He was born in
1803 and died in 1879. He was German minister of war from 1859 until
1873.
Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt was president of the United States. He was born in
1858, dying in 1919.
franklin Delano Roosevelt was president of the United States. He was born
in 1882, dying in 1945. He was opposed to war, and held the philosophy of
talk soft, but carry a big stick.
Rosa
Carl August Nicholas Rosa was an operatic impresario. He was born in
Hamburg in 1843 and died in 1889.
Rosmini-Serbati
Antonio Rosmini-Serbati was an Italian philosopher. He was born at
Rovereto in 1797 and died in 1855. He founded the Rosminians.
Ross
James Clark Ross was an English admiral and Antarctic explorer. He was
born in 1800, dying in 1862.
Rossetti
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was an English painter and poet. He was born at
London in 1828 and died in 1882. William Michael Rossetti was the brother
of Dante Gabriele Rossetti. He was an English author. He was born in 1829
and died in 1919.
Rossini
Gioacchino Antonio Rossini was an Italian operatic composer. He was born
in 1792 and died in 1868.
Rostand
Edmond Rostand was a French poet and dramatist. He was born in 1868 and
died in 1918.
Rousseau
Jean Jacques Rousseau was a French philosopher and writer. He was the
pioneer of the Romantic Movement. He was born in 1712 and died in 1778.
Henri Rousseau was a French painter. He was born in 1844 and died in
1910.
Rowlandson
Thomas Rowlandson was an English caricaturist. He was born in 1756 and
died in 1827.
Rubens
Sir Peter Paul Rubens was a flemish painter. He was born in 1577, dying
in 1640.
Rubinstein
Anton Grigorovich Rubinstein was a Russian composer and pianist. He was
born in 1829, dying in 1894.
Ruhmkorff
Heinrich Daniel Ruhmkorff was a German electrician. He was born in 1803
and died in 1877. He invented a thermo-electric battery in 1844.
Ruisdael
Jacob van Ruisdael was a Dutch painter. He was born in 1628 in Haarlem
and died in 1682.
Rumford
Benjamin Thompson Rumford was an Anglo-American scientist. He was born in
1753 in Massachusetts and died in 1814.
Ruskin
John Ruskin was a British writer and art critic. He was born in 1819 in
London and died in 1900.
Russel
Bertrand Arthur William Russel was a British philosopher and
mathematician. He was born in 1872 in Trelleck and died in 1970.
Russian
A Russian is an inhabitant of Russia.
Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford was a British scientist. He was born in 1871 in New
Zealand and died in 1937. He won the Nobel prize for chemistry in 1908
for his work with radium.
Saami
The Saami (Lapp) are a group of herding people living in north
Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula, and
numbering about 46,000. Some are nomadic, others lead a more settled way
of life.
They live by herding reindeer, hunting, fishing, and producing
handicrafts. Their language
belongs to the Finno-Ugric family. Their religion is basically animist,
but incorporates
elements of Christianity.
Sabatini
Rafael Sabatini was an Anglo-Italian writer. He was born in 1875 and died
in 1950. He wrote Captain Blood, and The Sea Hawk.
Sachs
Hans sachs was a German poet. He was born at Nuremberg in 1494, dying in
1576.
Julius von sachs was a German botanist. He was born in 1832, dying in
1897. He demonstrated that chlorophyll is formed in chloroplasts only in
light.
Sadat
Mohammed Anwar el Sadat was presidant of Egypt. He was born in 1919,
dying in 1981 when he was assassinated.
Saint-Saens
Camille Saint-Saens was a French composer. He was born in 1835 in Paris
and died in 1921.
Saki
see "Munro"
Saladin
Saladin was sultan of Egypt and Syria. He was born in 1137, dying in
1193. He conquered Jerusalem in 1187 and caused the 3rd crusade to take
place.
Sallust
Sallust was a Roman historian. He was born in 86BC and died in 35BC.
Samaritan
The Samaritan are descendants of the colonists forced to settle in
Samaria (now north Israel) by the
Assyrians after their occupation of the ancient kingdom of Israel in 722
BC.
Samurai
The samurai are a Japanese military caste.
San
The San (formerly Bushman) are a small group of hunter-gatherer peoples
living in and around
the Kalahari Desert. Their language belongs to the Khoisan family.
Sand
George Sand was a French writer. He was born in 1804 in Paris and died in
1876.
Sandburg
Carl Sandburg was an American poet. He was born in 1878 at Galesburg and
died in 1969.
Santayana
George Santayana was an American philosopher. He was born in 1863 in
Madrid and died in 1952.
Sardou
Victorien Sardou was a French dramatist. He was born in 1831, dying in
1908.
Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre is a French philosopher, playwright and novelist. He was
born in 1905.
Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon was an English writer. He was born in 1886 and died in
1967. He wrote poetry during the Great War which revealed the horror and
wasteful destruction of the war.
Saud
Abdul Azziz Ibn Saud was King of Saudi Arabia. He was born in 1880 in
Central Arabia and died in 1953.
Savonarola
Girolamo Savonarola was an Italian religious reformer. He was born in
1452 at Ferrara and died in 1498 when he was hanged for criticising Pope
Alexander VI.
Scarlatti
Domenico Scarlatti was an Italian composer. He was born in 1685 at Naples
and died in 1757.
Schafer
Sir Edward Schafer was a British physiologist. He was born in 1850. He
worked at Edinburgh university and gave a famous address on the origin of
life at Dundee in 1912. He was knighted in 1913.
Scheele
Carl wilhelm scheele was a Swedish chemist. He was born in 1742, dying in
1786. He discovered oxygen as did priestley.
Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich Von Schiller was a German dramatist and poet.
He was born in 1759 in Wurttemberg and died in 1805.
Schonberg
Arnold Schonberg was an Austrian composer. He was born in 1874 and died
in 1951.
Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher. He was born in 1788 at
Danzig and died in 1860.
Schubert
Franz Schubert was an Austrian composer. He was born in 1797 in Vienna
and died in 1828.
Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer. He was born in 1810 at Zwickau and
died in 1856.
Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer was an Austrian doctor, writer, and religious thinker.
He was born in 1875 and died in 1964.
Scott
Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist. He was born in 1771 at
Edinburgh and died in 1832.
Sedgwick
Adam Sedgwick was an English geologist. He was born in 1785, dying in
1873. He mapped the rocks of the lake District in 1822.
Seminoles
The Seminoles are a north American tribe of Indians. They are an offshoot
of the Choctaw Muskogee tribe. They settled in Florida in 1750.
Semite
The Semites are the peoples of the Middle East originally speaking a
Semitic language, and
traditionally said to be descended from Shem, a son of Noah in the Bible.
Ancient Semitic
peoples include the Hebrews, Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, Babylonians,
Assyrians,
Chaldaeans, Phoenicians, and Canaanites. The Semitic peoples founded the
monotheistic
religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
They speak languages of the Hamito-Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic
family.
Seneca
Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman philosopher, dramatist and statesman.
He was born in 4BC at Cordova and died in 65.
Senefelder
Aloys senefelder was a German inventor.
Serb
The serbs are Yugoslavia's largest ethnic group, found mainly in Serbia,
but also in the
neighboring independent republics of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.
Their language,
generally recognized to be the same as Croat and hence known as Serbo-
Croatian, belongs
to the Slavic branch of the Indo-European family. It has more than 17
million speakers.
The Serbs are predominantly Greek Orthodox Christians and write in a
Cyrillic script.
Serjeant-at-Arms
The Serjeant-at-Arms is an officer of the House of Commons who has
responsibility for keeping order. If the speaker orders a member to
leave, the Serjeant-at-Arms must see that the member leaves.
Shackleton
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton was an Antarctic explorer. He was born in
1874 at Kilkee and died in 1922 of heart-failure whilst on Scott's third
expedition to the south-pole.
Shakespear
William shakespear was an English dramatist and poet. He was born in
stratford upon avon in 1564, dying in 1616.
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English dramatist and poet. He was born in
Stratford Upon Avon in 1564, dying in 1616.
Shan
The Shan are a people of the mountainous borderlands separating Thailand,
Myanmar (Burma),
and China. They are related to the Laos and Thais, and their language
belongs to the Sino-
Tibetan family.
Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish writer. He was born in 1856 in Dublin
and died in 1950.
Shelley
Mary Shelley (Mary Godwin) was the daughter of William Godwin. She was
born in 1797, dying in 1851. She is remembered for writing frankenstein.
Percy Bysshe Shelley was an English poet. He was born in 1792 at Warnham
and died in 1822.
Shepherd Kings
see "Hycsos"
Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan was a Britsh dramatist. He was born in 1751 in
Dublin and died in 1816.
Sherman
W.t. Sherman was an American soldier of the American civil war. An
American tank of the second world war was named after him.
Sherpa
The sherpa are a people of north east Nepal.
Shona
The Shona are a Bantu-speaking people of south Africa, comprising
approximately 80% of the
population of Zimbabwe. They also occupy the land between the Save and
Pungure rivers in
Mozambique, and smaller groups are found in South Africa, Botswana, and
Zambia. The
Shona are mainly farmers, living in scattered villages. The Shona
language belongs to the
Niger-Congo family.
Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich is a Russian composer. He was born in 1906 at
Leningrad. He wrote his 7th symphony in Leningrad whilst helping with the
defence of the city against the Germans during the Second World War.
Sibelius
Jan Sibelius was a Finnish composer. He was born in 1865 at Tavastehus
and died in 1958.
Sickert
Walter Richard Sickert was an English artist. He was born in 1860 and
died in 1942.
Siddons
Sarah Siddons was an English actress. She was born in 1755, dying in
1831. She played with garrick's company at drury lane in 1775.
Sidney
Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, soldier and courtier. He was born
in 1554 and died in 1586.
Sienkiewicz
Henryk Sienkiewicz was a Polish novelist. He was born in 1846 and died in
1916.
Sikhs
The Sikhs are a group of people from Punjab who follow the religion of
Baba Nanak.
Sinclair
Sir Clive Sinclair is the English electronics genius who produced the
first widely available pocket calculator and a series of home computers.
Sindhi
The Sindhi are the majority ethnic group living in the Pakistani province
of Sind. The Sindhi
language is spoken by about 15 million people.
Singer
Isaac Merritt Singer was an American engineer. He was born in 1811 and
died in 1875. He developed and patented a single-thread and chain-
stitching sewing machine.
Sinhalese
The Sinhalese are the majority ethnic group of Sri Lanka (70% of the
population). Sinhalese is the
official language of Sri Lanka; it belongs to the Indo-Iranian branch of
the Indo-European
family, and is written in a script derived from the Indian Pali form. The
Sinhalese are
Buddhists.
Sioux
The Sioux are a north American Indian tribe.
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull was a great leader of the sioux.
Skelton
John Skelton was an English poet. He was born in 1460 at Diss and died in
1529.
Slade
Felix Slade was an English art colllector. He was born in 1790, dying in
1868.
Slav
The Slavs are an Indo-European people in central and east Europe, the
Balkans, and parts of north
Asia, speaking closely related Slavonic languages. The ancestors of the
Slavs are believed to
have included the Sarmatians and Scythians. Moving west from Central
Asia, they settled in
east and south east Europe during the 2nd and 3rd millennia BC.
Slessor
Mary Slessor was a Britsh missionary. She was born in 1848 and died in
1915.
Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane was a collector of books and physician. He was born in
Ireland in 1660. Upon his death in 1753 he left his 50000 volumes of
books and manuscripts under his will to the nation, thus forming the
British library.
Slovene
The Slovene are the Slavic people of Slovenia and parts of the Austrian
Alpine provinces of Styria
and Carinthia. There are 1.5-2 million speakers of Slovene, a language
belonging to the
South Slavonic branch of the Indo-European family. The Slovenes use the
Roman alphabet
and the majority belong to the Roman Catholic Church.
Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish economist. He was born in 1723 at Kirkcaldy and
died in 1790. He wrote the first scientific work on the principles of
economy, "The Wealth of Nations".
Sir Matthew Smith was an English painter. He was born in 1879 at Halifax
and died in 1959.
Smollett
Tobias Smollett was a British novelist. He was born in 1721 at Dalquhurne
and died in 1771.
Smuts
Jan Christiaan Smuts was a South African statesman. H was born in 1870
and died in 1950. He was South African Prime Minister from 1919 until
1924.
Smyth
Ethel Mary Smyth was an English composer and suffragette. She was born in
1858, dying in 1944. She wrote the opera the wreckers.
Soane
Sir John Soane was an English architect and collector. He was born in
1753 near Reading and died in 1837.
Socrates
Socrates was a Greek philosopher. He was born in 469BC and died in 399BC.
Soddy
Frederick Soddy was an English scientist. He was born in 1877 at
Eastbourne and died in 1956. He was a pioneer in the study of radioactive
substances.
Solomon
Solomon was the third King of the Hebrews. He lived around 960BC.
Sophocles
Sophocles was a Greek dramatist. He was born in 496BC at Colonus and died
in 406BC.
Sotho
The Sotho are a large ethnic group in southern Africa, numbering about 7
million and
living mainly in Botswana, Lesotho, and South Africa. The Sotho are
predominantly farmers,
living in small village groups. They speak a variety of closely related
languages belonging to
the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family. With English, Sotho is the
official language of
Lesotho.
Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer. He was born in 1854 at
Washington and died in 1932. he is famous for his military marches.
Southey
Robert Southey was an English poet and writer. He was born in 1774 and
died in 1843.
Sovereign
A Sovereign is a supreme ruler, especially it is a term applied to a
monarch
Spartacus
Spartacus was a Roman gladiator and slave. He escaped and led a slave
insurrection routing several Roman armies before he was killed by
crassus.
Spencer
Herbert Spencer was a British philosopher. He was born in 1820 at derby
and died in 1903.
Stanley Spencer was an English painter. He was born in 1891 and died in
1959.
Spengler
Oswald Spengler was a German philosopher. he was born in 1880 at
Blankenburg and died in 1936.
Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet. He was born in 1552 in London and
died in 1599.
St Anselm
St Anselm was an archbishop of Canterbury. He was born in 1033 and died
in 1109.
Stein
Chris Stein was lead guitarist with the 70's punk rock band Blondie.
Steinbeck
John Ernest Steinbeck was an American novelist. He was born in 1902 and
died in 1968.
Stendhal
Stendhal was a French novelist. He was born in 1783 and died in 1842.
Stephen
Stephen was King of England from 1135 to 1154.
Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English engineer. He was born at Wylam in 1781,
dying in 1848. He is remembered for designing locomotives. In 1829 his
locomotive called the rocket ran at 30mph and won a prize.
Sterne
Laurence Sterne was a British novelist. He was born in 1713 and died in
1768.
Stevenson
Robert Stevenson was a Scottish engineer. He was born in 1772, dying in
1850. He invented the flashing light for use in lighthouses.
Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish author. He was born at edinburgh in
1850, dying in 1894. He wrote treasure island, kidnapped, Dr jekyll and
Mr hyde, and the Master of Ballantrae.
Stheino
Stheino was one of the gorgons.
Stoker
Bram Stoker was an Irish author. He was born in 1847, dying in 1912. He
wrote the novel Dracula.
Stokes
Sir George Gabriel Stokes was an Irish mathematician and physicist to
whom is due the modern theory of viscuous fluids and the discovery that
rays beyond the violet end of the spectrum produce flourescence in
certain substances. He was born in 1819 and died in 1903.
Stopes
Marie Carmichael Stopes was the English pioneer of birth control. She was
born in 1880, dying in 1958. Her book married love was published in 1918.
Storch
see "Stor"
Storck
Nicholas Storck (Storch?) was a fanatical German preacher. He formed the
anabaptists in 1521 and excited rebellion of the German lower orders
which was quelled with force in 1525.
Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American author. She was born in 1811, dying
in 1896. Her book uncle tom's cabin was published in 1852 in which she
exposed slavery.
Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian maker of violins. He was born at
Cremona in 1644, dying in 1737. His violins are the finest ever made.
Strauss
Johann Strauss was a 19th century Austrian composer.
Richard Strauss was a German composer. he was born in 1864 and died in
1949.
Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky was a Russian composer. He was born in 1882, dying in
1971. He wrote several ballets.
Strindberg
August Strindberg was a Swedish writer. He was born in 1849 and died in
1912.
Suffragette
Suffragettes were the members of the women's suffrage movement who
campaigned for women to be allowed to vote. The movement was abolished in
1918 when women aged 30 were allowed to vote.
Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan was an English composer. He was born in 1842
and died in 1900.
Sun Yat-Sen
Sun Yat-Sen was a Chinese statesman. He was born in 1866 and died in
1925.
Suppe
Franz von Suppe was an Austrian composer. He was born in 1819 in Dalmatia
and died in 1895.
Sutherland
Graham Sutherland is an English painter.
Swazi
The swazi are the majority group of people in Swaziland. The Swazi are
primarily engaged in
cultivating and raising livestock, but many work in industries in South
Africa. The Swazi
language belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo family.
Swedenborg
Emanuel Swedenborg was a Swedish religious thinker. He was in 1688 and
died in 1772.
Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish writer. He was born in 1667 in Dublin and
died in 1745. He wrote Gulliver's Travels which was an attack on the
English society of the time.
Swinburne
Algernon Charles Swinburne was an English poet. He was born in 1837 and
died in 1909.
Synge
John Millington Synge was an Irish dramatist. He was born in 1871 at
Rathfarnham and died in 1909.
Tacitus
Conelius Tacitus was a Roman historian. He was born in 55 and died in
120.
Tagalog
The Tagalog are the majority ethnic group living around Manila on the
island of Luzon, in the
Philippines, who number about 10 million. The Tagalog live by fishing and
trading. In
its standardized form, known as Pilipino, Tagalog is the official
language of the Philippines,
and belongs to the Western branch of the Austronesian family. The Tagalog
religion is a
mixture of animism, Christianity, and Islam.
Tagore
Sir Rabindranath Tagore was an Indian poet. He was born in 1861 and died
in 1941.
Tai
The Tai are the groups of south east Asian peoples who speak Tai
languages, all of which
belong to the Sino-Tibetan language family. There are over 60 million
speakers, the majority
of whom live in Thailand. Tai peoples are also found in SW China, north
west Myanmar (Burma),
Laos, and north Vietnam.
Talapoin
A talapoin is a Buddhist priest or monk.
Tamerlane
Tamerlane (Timur) was King of Samarkland. He was born in 1336 and died in
1405. He extended the Mongol empire through Persia, Georgia, Armenia and
Russia.
Tamil
The Tamils are the majority ethnic group living in the Indian state of
Tamil Nadu.
Tamils retain a distinct culture. They possess an ancient literary
tradition and have developed
their own court arts. The majority of Tamils are farmers, cultivating
rice in irrigated fields. They
are also known for their handicrafts, including pottery.
Tamils
The Tamils are an indigenous people of southern India and Sri Lanka.
Tancred
Tancred was a hero of the first Crusade. He was born in 1078 of Marquis
Odo the Good and Emma. He died in 1112 of a wound received at Antioch.
Tasaday
The Tasaday are an indigenous people of the rainforests of Mindanao in
the Philippines.
Tasman
Abel Tasman was a Dutch explorer. He discovered tasmania in 1642.
Tasso
Torquato Tasso was an Italian poet. He was born in 1544 at Sorrento and
died in 1595.
Tatian
Tatian was a heresiarch of the 2nd century. He was born in Ethiopia
around 120 and died around 172. He became a disciple of Justin, after
whose martyrdom he left Rome and travelled the Middle East preaching. He
taught abstinence from wine, meat and marriage and disbelieved the
divinity of Christ.
Tauri
The Tauri were the earliest known inhabitants of the Crimea.
Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Tchaikovsky was a 19th century Russian composer.
Tell
William Tell was a Swiss hero. He lived during the 14th century.
Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson was an English poet. He was born in 1809 and died in
1892.
Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist. He was born at
calcutta in 1811, dying in 1863. He wrote vanity fair.
Thales
Thales was a Greek philosopher. He was born in 636BC and died in 546 BC.
Thane
In English history, a thane was someone who was awarded land by the King
or another superior as a reward for military service. Thanes ranked
between ordinary freemen and hereditary nobles.
Theophrastus
Theophrastus of Lesbos was a Greek naturalist. He was born in 368BC and
died in 284BC. He wrote A History of Plants.
Thibaud
Jacques Thibaud was a French violinist. He was born in 1880, dying in an
air crash in 1953.
Thomas
Dylan Thomas was a Welsh poet. he was born in 1914 in Swansea and died in
1953. He wrote Under Milk Wood.
Thomson
J. J. Thomson was an English scientist. He was born in 1856 at Cheetham
and died in 1940. He won the Nobel prize for physics in 1906.
Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau was an American naturalist and writer. He was born in
1817 at Concord and died in 1862. He wrote Walden.
Thucydides
Thucydides was an Athenian historian. He was born in 460BC and died in
399BC. He wrote a history of the Peloponnesian War.
Thug
The thugs were a Hindu sect who strangled their victims as sacrifices to
Kali.
Thuringian
The Thuringian were an ancient tribe of central Germany. They were
conquered by the Franks in the 6th century.
Tiepolo
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo was a Venetian painter. He was born in 1696 and
died in 1770. He is famous for the frescoes he painted.
Tigro
The Tigro are a people of north Ethiopia. The Tigro language is spoken by
about 2.5 million people; it belongs
to the south east Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family. Tigrinya is
a closely related language
spoken slightly to the south.
Tintoretto
Jacopo Robusti (Tintoretto) was an Italian painter. He was born in 1518
in venice and died in 1594.
Titian
Tiziano Vecellio (Titian) was an Italian painter. He was born in 1477 and
died in 1576.
Tito
Josip Tito was a Yugoslav revolutionary and military leader. He was born
in 1892 in Croatia. He liberated Yugoslavia from the invading German
armies during the Second World War.
Tlingit
The Tlingit are a North American Indian people of the north west coast,
living in south Alaska and north British
Columbia. They used to carve wooden poles representing their family
crests, showing such
animals as the raven, whale, octopus, beaver, bear, wolf, and the
mythical "thunderbird".
Their language is related to the Athabaskan languages.
Tolstoy
Leo Nikolaievich Tolstoy was a Russian novelist. He was born in 1828 at
Tula and died in 1910. He wrote "War and Peace".
Torquemada
Thomas de Torquemada was a Dominican monk and founder of the Spanish
Inquisition. He was born in 1420 and died in 1498.
Torricelli
Evangelista Torricelli was an Italin physicist. He was born in 1608 and
died in 1647. He discovered atmospheric pressure.
Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian musician. He was born in 1867 and died in
1957.
Toulouse-Lautrec
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a French painter. He was born in 1864 at
Albi and died in 1901.
Treves
Sir Frederick Treves was an English surgeon. He was born in 1853 and died
in 1923. He was one of the founders of the Red Cross society. He operated
on Edward VII for appendicitis in 1902.
Trevithick
Richard Trevithick was an English inventor. He was born in 1771 in
Cornwall and died in 1833. He invented the high-pressure steam engine.
Triton
Triton was a herald of Neptune.
Troglodyte
Troglodyte is a Greek term for a cave dweller, designating certain
peoples in the ancient world. The
troglodytes of south Egypt and Ethiopia were a pastoral people.
Trollope
Anthony Trollope was an English novelist. He was born in 1815 and died in
1852. He started life as a post-office clerk in 1834. His works include
Barchester Towers, published in 1857.
Trotsky
Lev Davidovich Trotsky was a Russian Soviet leader. He was born in 1877.
He was assasinated in South America under orders from Stalin.
Troubridge
Sir Thomas Troubridge was a British read-admiral. He was born in 1758 and
died in 1807. He distinguished himself at the capture of Sartine.
Truman
Harry S. Truman was an American politician and President. He was born in
1884 in Missouri. In 1934 he was elected to the senate for the Democrats.
In 1945 he became President when Roosevelt died. In 1948 he was re-
elected President and in 1952 he retired from politics.
Tryon
Sir George Tryon was a British admiral. He was born in 1832 and died in
1893. He commanded the Mediterranean fleet in 1891. His mistaken orders
led to the sinking of the Victoria with himself and 358 officers and men
on board off Tripoli.
Tswana
The Tswana are the majority ethnic group living in Botswana. The Tswana
are divided into four subgroups: the
Bakwena, the Bamangwato, the Bangwaketse, and the Batawana. Traditionally
they are rural-
dwelling farmers, though many now leave their homes to work as migrant
laborers in South
African industries. The Tswana language belongs to the Bantu branch of
the Niger-Congo
family.
Tuareg
The Tuareg are a nomadic Berber people of the west and central Sahara.
Tukano
The Tukano are an indigenous South American Indian people of the Vaupos
region on the
Colombian-Brazilian border, numbering approximately 2,000. An estimated
12,000 speak
languages related to Tukano. The other main Tukanoan groups are Bara,
Barasana, Cubeo,
Desana, and Makuna.
Turgenev
Ivan Sergeievitch Turgenev was a Russian novelist. He was born in 1818 at
Orel and died in 1883. He wrote "A Sportsman's Sketches" in 1852 which
dealt with country life and the plight of Russian serfs.
Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner was an English painter. He was born in 1775
in London and died in 1851.
Turpin
Richard (Dick) Turpin was a notorious English highwayman. he was born in
1706 and died in 1739 when he was hanged.
Tuscarora
The Tuscarora are a North American indian tribe. They originated from
North Carolina and are now a member of the Iroquois confederacy.
Tussaud
Marie Tussaud was born in 1760 in Switzerland. She died in 1850. She
founded the famous Tussaud's wax works in London.
Tutsi
The Tutsi are the minority ethnic group living in Rwanda and Burundi.
They are traditionally farmers.
Twa
The Twa are an ethnic group comprising 1% of the populations of Burundi
and Rwanda. The
Twa are the aboriginal inhabitants of the region. They are a pygmoid
people, and live as
nomadic hunter-gatherers in the forests.
Twain
Mark Twain was an American writer. He was born in 1835 at Hannibal and
died in 1910. He wrote "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer".
Tyler
Wat Tyler was the leader of the English peasant's revolt of 1381.
Uhland
Johann Ludwig Uhland was a German poet and ballad writer, born 1787, died
1862.
Uigur
The Uigur are a Turkic people living in north west China and Kazakhstan;
they form about 80% of the population of the Chinese province of Xinjiang
Uygur. There are about 5 million speakers of
Uigur, a language belonging to the Turkic branch of the Altaic family; it
is the official language of the province.
Umpire
An umpire is someone to whose sole decision a matter in dispute between
two parties is refered.
Undset
Sigrid Undset was a Norwegian writer. She was born in 1882 and died in
1949. She won the Nobel prize for literature in 1928.
Utrillo
Maurice Utrillo was a French painter. He was born in 1883 in Paris and
died in 1955. He was taught how to paint by his mother, Suzanne Valadon.
Vanbrugh
Sir John Vanbrugh was an English dramatist and architect. He was born in
1664 in London and died in 1726. His first comedy, "The Relapse", opened
in 1696. He designed Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard.
Vandals
The Vandals were a war-like Germanic tribe who between the 5th and 6th
centuries invaded Gaul, Spain and North Africa. In 455 they sacked Rome.
They were renowned for wantonly destroying art treasures and books.
Vasco da Gama
Vasco Da Gama was a Portugese explorer. He discovered the sea-route from
Europe to India.
Vauban
Sebastien de Prestre de Vauban was a French military engineer. He was
born in 1633, dying in 1707. He invented the socket bayonet and assisted
Louis XIV in the expansion wars.
Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams was an English composer. He was born in 1872 at
Down Ampney and died in 1958.
Vedda
The Vedda are the aboriginal peoples of Sri Lanka, who occupied the
island before the arrival of the Aryans about 550 BC. Formerly cave-
dwelling hunter-gatherers, they have now almost
died out or merged with the rest of the population. They speak a
Sinhalese language, belonging to the Indo-European family.
They live mainly in the central highlands, and many practise shifting
cultivation.
Vega Carpio
Lope Felix de Vega Carpio was a Spanish dramatist and poet. He was born
in 1562 and died in 1635. He served in the Spanish Armada against
England.
Velazquez
Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez was Spain's most celebrated painter.
He was born in 1599 at Seville and died in 1660.
Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer. He was born in 1813 and died in
1901.
Verlaine
Paul Verlaine was a French poet. He was born in 1844 and died in 1896. He
formed the Symbolists school of poetry.
Vermeer
Jan Vermeer was a Dutch painter. He was born in 1632 at Delft and died in
1675.
Verne
Jules Verne was a French writer. He was born in 1828 at Nantes and died
in 1905. He wrote "Around the World in Eighty Days", and "Twenty Thousand
Leagues Under The Sea".
Veronese
Paolo Veronese (Paolo Cagliari) was an Italian painter. He was born in
1528 at Verona and died in 1588.
Verrocchio
Andrea del Verrocchio was an Italian sculptor, painter, silversmith and
engineer. He was born in 1435 in Florence and died in 1488. He was a
teacher of Leonardo da Vinci.
Vesalius
Andreas Vesalius was a Belgian physician and founder of the science of
anatomy. He was born in 1514 and died in 1564. He wrote "On the Fabric of
The Human Body".
Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer. He was born in 1454 and died in
1512. He discovered the Amazon River in 1499. The continent of America
was named after him.
Vicar
A vicar is a church of England priest.
Viceroy
A viceroy is someone who acts as governor of a country or province by
authority of the ruler.
Victoria
Queen victoria was queen of England from 1837 to 1901. She was born in
1819 and died in 1901. She had the longest reign of any English monarch.
Villa
Francisco Villa was a Mexican revolutionary leader. He was born in 1877
and died in 1923 when he was assassinated.
Villa-Lobos
Heitor Villa-Lobos was a Brazilian composer. He was born in 1887 and died
in 1959.
Villon
Francois Villon was a French poet. He was born in 1431 in Paris and died
in 1463.
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro (Vergil) was a Roman poet. He was born in 70BC
near Mantua and died in 19BC.
Visigoths
see "Goths"
Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi was an Italian composer. He was born in 1680 and died in
1743.
Volta
Alessandro Volta was an Italian scientist. He was born in 1745 and died
in 1827. He invented the voltaic cell. The electrical unit the volt is
named after him.
Voltaire
Voltaire was a French writer. He was born in 1694 in Paris and died in
1778.
Wagner
Richard Wagner was a 19th century German composer. He was born in 1813 at
Leipzig and died in 1883.
Wallace
Edgar Wallace was a British novelist. He was born in 1875 and died in
1932.
Walloon
The Wallonn are a French-speaking people of south east Belgium and
adjacent areas of France. The name Walloon is etymologically linked to
Welsh.
Walpole
Horace Walpole was a British Politician. He was born in 1717 and died in
1797.
Robert Walpole was an English statesman. He was born in 1676 at Houghton
and died in 1745.
Walton
Izaak Walton was an English writer. He was born in 1593 at Stafford and
died in 1683. He wrote "The Compleat Angler", the first English nature
book.
Sir William Walton was an English composer. He was born in 1902 at
Oldham.
Washington
George Washington was an American statesman and the first President of
the USA. He was born in 1732 at Briges Creek and died in 1799.
Watt
James Watt was a Scottish inventor. He was born in 1736 at Greenock and
died in 1819.
Watteau
Antoine Watteau was a French painter and engraver. He was born in 1684 at
Valenciennes and died in 1721.
Watts
George Frederic Watts was an English painter and sculptor. He was born in
1817 in London and died in 1904.
Waugh
Evelyn Arthur St. John Waugh was a British author. He was born in 1903
and died in 1965.
Wavell
Archibald Percival Wavell was a British soldier. He was born in 1883 at
Colchester and died in 1950. From 1943 until 1947 he was Viceroy of
India.
Webb
Sidney James Webb was an English social reformer. He was born in 1859 and
died in 1947.
Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer. He was born
in 1786 near Lubeck and died in 1826.
Webster
John Webster was an English dramatist. He was born in 1580 and died in
1625. he wrote "The White Devil" and "The Duchess of Malfi".
Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood was an English potter. He was born in 1730 at Burslem and
died in 1795. He founded the Wedgwood potteries.
Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English writer. He was born in 1866 at
Bromley and died in 1946. Although he wanted to be a teacher, bad health
meant he couldn't so he turned to writing. He wrote "The Invisible Man",
"The Time Machine" and "The War Of The Worlds".
Wesley
John Wesley was an English preacher and the founder of the Methodist
church. He was born in 1703 at Epworth and died in 1791.
Weyden
Roger van der Weyden was a Flemish painter. He was born in 1399 at
Tournai and died in 1464.
Wheatstone
Sir Charles Wheatstone was an English scientist. He was born in 1802 near
Gloucester and died in 1875. He invented the Wheatstone bridge which
measures electrical resistance.
Whistler
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American artist. He was born in 1834
at Lowell and died in 1903.
Whitefield
George Whitefield was an English preacher. he was born in 1714 at
Gloucester and died in 1770. He led a group called the Calvanistic
Methodists.
Whitman
Walt Whitman was an American poet. He was born in 1819 at Long Island and
died in 1892.
Whittington
Richard Whittington was Lord Mayor of London. He was born in 1358 at
Pauntley and died in 1423. He mad a fortune as a mercer, and upon his
death left all his money to London charities.
Whittle
Sir Frank Whittle was an English inventor. he was born in 1907 at
Leamington. He invented the jet propulsion engine for aircraft, first
used in the Gloster E 2839 aircraft in 1941.
Whitworth
Sir Joseph Whitworth was an English mechanical engineer and inventor. He
was born in 1803 at Stockport and died in 1887. In 1835 he invented the
knitting machine. In 1869 he invented a process of fluid compression for
making steel for use in guns.
Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was an English statesman. He was born in 1759 at Hull
and died in 1833. His life was dedicated to the abolition of slavery.
Wilde
Oscar Fingall O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was a British writer who was
persecuted for his homosexuality. He was born in 1854 at Dublin and died
in 1900. He wrote "The Importance Of Being Earnest".
William
William was King of Scotland from 1165 to 1214.
Williams
Tenessee Williams (Thomas Lanier) is an American playwright. He was born
in 1914. He wrote "A Street Car Named Desire" and "Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof".
William Godwin
see "Godwin"
William II
William II was a son of William The Conqueror and King of England from
1087 to 1100.
Kaiser William II was the 3rd German Emperor. He was born in 1859 and
died in 1941. He ascended to the throne in 1888.
William III
William III was King of England from 1689 to 1702.
William IV
William IV was King of England from 1830 to 1837.
Wilson
James Harold Wilson was a British labour statesman and Prime Minister. He
was born in 1916. He entered parliament in 1945. He became Prime minister
in 1964.
Wodehouse
Pelham Grenville Wodehouse was an English humorous novelist. He was born
in 1881. He invented the characters "Jeeves and Wooster".
Wolf-Ferrari
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari was a German-Italian composer. He was born in 1876
in Venice and died in 1948.
Wolfe
James Wolfe was an English soldier. He was born in 1727 at Westerham and
died in 1759 at the battle of Abraham which his forces none-the-less won
and thus secured Canada for the British from the French.
Wolof
The Wolof are the majority ethnic group living in Senegal. There is also
a Wolof minority in Gambia. There are about 2 million speakers of Wolof,
a language belonging to the Niger-
Congo family. The Wolof are predominantly arable farmers, and some also
raise cattle.
Wood
Sir Henry Joseph Wood was an English conductor. He was born in 1869 in
London and died in 1944.
Woolf
Virginia Woolf was an English novelist. She was born in 1882 and died in
1941.
Woolworth
Frank Winfield Woolworth was an American trader who started the "five and
ten cent stores" which grew into the world famous "F.W. Woolworth" chain
of stores.
Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was an English poet. He was born in 1770 at
Cockermouth and died in 1850.
Wren
Sir Christopher Wren was an English architect. He was born in 1632 at
East Knoyle and died in 1723. He designed St. Paul's Cathedral in London
after the Great Fire Of London in 1666.
Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect. he was born in 1869 and
died in 1959.
Orville Wright was an American pioneer of flying. He was born in 1871 and
died in 1948. Together with his brother he made the first controlled
flight of an aeroplane.
Wilbur Wright was the brother of Orville Wright. He was born in 1867 and
died in 1912.
Xenophanes
Xenophanes was a Greek poet and philosopher. He lived around 500BC.
Xerxes
Xerxes was King of Persia. He was born in 519bc, dying in 465bc. He
invaded Greece and defeated the spartans at thermopylae but he in turn
was defeated at salamis.
Xhosa
The Xhosa are a Bantu people of southern Africa, living mainly in the
Black National State of Transkei. Traditionally, the Xhosa were farmers
and pastoralists, with a social structure based on a monarchy.
Yao
The Yao are a people living in south China, north Vietnam, north Laos,
Thailand, and Myanmar (Burma), and numbering about 4 million. The Yao
language may belong to either the Sino-Tibetan or the Thai language
family. The Yao incorporate elements of ancestor worship in their animist
religion.
The Yao are generally hill-dwelling farmers practising shifting
cultivation, growing rice, vegetables, and also opium poppies. Some are
nomadic.
Yardie
see "Yardy"
Yardy
Yardy is a Jamaican slang expression for someone (Jamaican or foreign)
who knows their way around the island, and especially the ghettoe. The
expression is often misused in England to describe an imaginary gang of
organised Jamaican criminals (the yardies). Infact, no such Jamaican
mafia exists.
Yeats
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and dramatist. He was born in 1865
in Dublin and died in 1939.
Yi
The Yi are a people living in south China; there are also Yi populations
in Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, totaling about 5.5 million. The Yi are
farmers, producing both crops and
livestock. Their language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family; their
religion is animist.
Yoruba
The Yoruba are the majority ethnic group living in south west Nigeria;
there is a Yoruba minority in east Benin. They number approximately 20
million in all, and their language belongs to the Kwa
branch of the Niger-Congo family. The Yoruba established powerful city-
states in the 15th century, known for their advanced culture which
includes sculpture, art, and music.
Zapotec
The Zapotec are a North American Indian people of south Mexico, now
numbering approximately 250,000, living mainly in Oaxaca. The Zapotec
language, which belongs to the Oto-Mangean family, has nine dialects
Zorn
Anders Leonhard Zorn was a Swedish artist. He was born in 1860, dying in
1920.
WEAPONS OF WAR
10/22DSP
The 10/22DSP is a Ruger .22" calibre rimfire carbine. It takes a 10-round
rotary magazine.
12/250 Rapid
The 12/250 Rapid is a precharged air rifle made by Theoben. It has a 23
inch barrel in .25" calibre and takes a 12-round magazine. Power is
adjustable from 33ft/lbs to 40ft/lbs.
Action
In weapon terms, action refers to the working mechanism of a firearm.
Various types exist, including single-shots, multi-barrels, revolvers,
slide- or pump-action, lever-action, bolt-action, semi-automatic and
automatic.
Acton
An acton was a quilted or padded tunic worn under a coat of mail as a
defence against bruising in combat. They were popular in the 15th
century.
Agent Orange
Agent Orange was a selective weedkiller, notorious for its use in the
1960s during the
Vietnam War by American forces to eliminate ground cover which could
protect enemy forces. It was subsequently discovered to contain highly
poisonous dioxin.
Agent Orange, named for the distinctive orange stripe on its packaging,
combines equal parts of 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 2,4,5-
T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid), both now banned in the USA.
AGM-114
The AGM-114 (hellfire) is an American laser-guided anti-tank missile. It
can be carried by helicopters or ground forces. It has a flight speed of
mach 1.7 and a range of 5 miles.
AGM-114A
The AGM-114A is an anti-tank missile carried by American helicopters. It
has a flight speed of 170 m/s and a maximum range of 7000 meters. It is
unusual in being a laser guided missile. Also called the hellfire
missile.
AGM-65
The AGM-65 is an air-to-ground missile used by the US army. It has a
flight speed of 180 m/s and a maximum range of 16000 meters.
AH-64
The AH-64 is an American two-seat attack helicopter.
Airgun
An airgun is not a firearm but a gun that uses compressed air or carbon
dioxide to propel a projectile.
Ajax
The Ajax was a British light cruiser of the Second World War. She was
armed with 8 6 inch guns, 8 4 inch anti-aircraft guns, 8 2 pounder anti-
aircraft guns, 12 .5 inch guns and 8 21 inch torpedo tubes. She had a top
speed of 32.5 knots. She carried a crew of 550.
AK47
The AK47 is a Soviet assault rifle. It is an automatic weapon with a
cyclic rate of 600 rpm and a muzzle velocity of 717 m/s. It is sighted to
800m. The AK47 takes a 7.62mm round from a 30-round box.
Al-Hussayn
The Al-Hussayn is an Iraqi army modified Scud missile capable of
projecting a smaller payload of about 500 kg a distance of up to 650 km.
Altmark
The Altmark was a German POW ship of the Second World War. The prisoners-
of-war were rescued by the British destroyer Cossack.
Ammunition
Ammunition generally refers to the assembled components of complete
cartridges or rounds i.e., a case or shell holding a primer, a charge of
propellant (gunpowder) and a projectile (bullets in the case of handguns
and rifles, multiple pellets or single slugs in shotguns). Sometimes
called "fixed ammunition" to differentiate from components inserted
separately in muzzleloaders.
APC
APC is an abbreviation for armoured personnel carrier.
APCS
see "APC"
Aquila
Aquila is an American RPV.
Arbalist
see "Cross-bow"
Armor
Armor is body protection worn in battle. The invention of gunpowder led,
by degrees, to the virtual abandonment of armor until World War I, when
the helmet reappeared as a defense against shrapnel.
Modern armor, used by the army, police, security guards, and people at
risk from assassination, uses nylon and fiberglass and is often worn
beneath clothing.
Armored Personnel Carrier
An Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) is a wheeled or tracked military
vehicle designed to transport up to ten people. Armoured to withstand
small-arms fire and shell splinters, it is used on battlefields.
Armstrong Gun
The Armstrong Gun is a type of cannon named after its inventor, William
Armstrong. It is made of wrought-iron spirally-coiled bars. It has a
rifled barrel. The projectile is covered in soft lead. As the projectile
is propelled out of the cannon, the lead coating is compressed into the
rifle grroves, causing it to spin. The Armstrong Gun was invented in the
middle of the 19th century.
Arquebus
The arquebus was a hand-gun similar to a musket. It fired a two ounce
ball, and was fired from a forked rest. A larger variant which took a
heavier ball was used in fortresses.
Arrow
An arrow is a missile projected by a bow.
Arsine
Arsine, short for Arseniuretted hydrogen, is a blood irritant gas used
during the Second World War. It has very little smell and causes violent
vomiting and blood poisoning.
Artillery
Artillery refers to missile type weapons.
AS-14
The AS-14 is a Soviet air-to-ground anti-tank missile. It has a flight
speed of 150-175 m/s and a maximum range of 20000 meters. It is carried
by SU-25 and other aircraft.
ASDIC
ASDIC was an abbreviation used during the Second World War for Allied
Submarine Detection Investigation Committee. It was a device used for
detecting underwater ships. The American name was sonar.
Assegai
The assegai is a spear used as a weapon by the Kaffres of South Africa.
It is made of hard wood with an iron tip and is used for throwing and
thrusting.
AT-4
The AT-4 is an American lightweight multi-purpose weapon. It is a single
shot anti-tank rocket with iron sights guidance and a range of about
300m.
ATGM
ATGM is an abbreviation for anti-tank guided missile.
ATGMS
see "atgm"
Atomic Bomb
The Atomic bomb is a bomb deriving its explosive force from nuclear
fission as a result of a neutron chain reaction. It was developed in the
1940s in the USA into a usable weapon.
Research began in Britian in 1940 and was transferred to the USA after
its
entry into World War II the following year.
Known as the Manhattan Project, the work was carried out under the
direction
of the American physicist Robert Oppenheimer at Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Automatic (firearm)
An automatic is a firearm designed to feed cartridges, fire them, eject
their empty cases and repeat this cycle as long as the trigger is
depressed and cartridges remain in the feed system. Examples: machine
guns, submachine guns, selective-fire rifles, including true assault
rifles.
AV-8b
The AV-8b is a harrier ground attack aircraft.
AWACS
AWACS is an acronym for Airborne Warning And Control System. It is a
surveillance system that incorporates a long-range surveillance and
detection radar mounted on a
Boeing E-3 sentry aircraft.It was used with great success in the 1991
Gulf War.
B-1
The B-1 is an American strategic bomber and cruise missile carrying
aircraft.
B-25
The Mitchell B-25 was an American medium bomber used during the Second
World War. It carried a crew of 5, a maximum speed of 308mph and a
service ceiling of 25400ft. It had a range of 2650 miles.
Baker Rifle
The Baker rifle was the first rifle accepted for English military use. It
was a muzzle loader with a calibre of 0.625". It was produced from 1800
to 1838.
Ball (firearm)
In weapon terminology, a ball was originally a spherical projectile, now
generally a fully jacketed bullet of cylindrical profile with round or
pointed nose. Most commonly used in military terminology.
BAR
The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was a .30 inch calibre gas operated
automatic rifle designed by Browning and manufactured by Winchester, Colt
and other companies from 1918 onwards. It had an effective range of 550m.
Bayonet
A bayonet is a short sword attached to the muzzle of a firearm. The
bayonet was placed inside the barrel of the muzzleloading muskets of the
late 17th century. The sock or ring bayonet, invented 1700, allowed a
weapon to be fired without interruption, leading to the demise of the
pike.
Since the 1700s, bayonets have evolved into a variety of types. During
World War I, the French used a long needle bayonet,the British a sword
bayonet, while the Germans adopted a "pioneer" bayonet with the rear edge
formed into a saw. As armies have become more mechanized, bayonets have
tended to decrease in length.
Although many military leaders have advocated the use of the bayonet, in
practice it has been rarely used.
Bazooka
The bazooka was an American infantry anti-tank missile used during the
Second World War. It had a range of 90m.
BBC
BBC is an abbreviation for Bromo-benzyl-cyanide, a tear gas used during
the second world war. It had a smell faintly of watercress. It caused
pain in the eyes, a copious flow of tears, spasms of the eyelids and
irritation of shaved skin.
Beretta
Beretta are an Italian gun manufacturer.
Beretta m38a
The Beretta m38a is an Italian sub-machine gun developed during the
second world war. It takes a 9mm round from a 10/20/40-round box. Its
cyclic rate is 600rpm and it has a muzzle velocity of 420 m/s.
Bergmann mp18
The Bergmann mp18 was a German sub-machine gun developed during the
course of the great war. It takes a 9mm round from a 32-round snaildrum.
It has a cyclic rate of 400rpm and a muzzle velocity of 365 m/s.
Bergmann mp28
The Bergmann mp28 was a German sub-machine gun developed from the
bergmann mp18. It takes a 9mm round from a 20/30/50-round box. Its
cyclic rate is 500rpm and it has a muzzle velocity of 365 m/s. Unlike the
mp18, it can fire single shots or bursts.
BF 110C
The Messerschmitt BF 110C was a German fighter aircraft of the Second
World War. It carried a crew of 2. It was armed with 4 7.9mm MG 17
machine guns and 2 20mm MG FF cannons in the nose and 1 7.9mm MG 15
machine gun in the rear cockpit. It had a top speed of 349 mph and a
range of 565 miles.
Blackpowder
Blackpowder was the earliest type of firearms propellant that has
generally been replaced by smokeless powder except for use in
muzzleloaders and older breechloading guns that demand its lower pressure
levels.
Blank Cartridge
A blank cartridge is a round loaded with blackpowder or a special
smokeless powder but lacking a projectile. Used mainly in starting races,
theatrical productions, troop exercises and in training dogs.
Blowpipe
A blowpipe is a tubular weapon through which a missile is blown.
Blunderbuss
The blunderbuss was usually a short carbine or pistol intended as a
defensive weapon which fired a large load of heavy shot at close ranges.
Bolas
Bolas is a form of missile used by South American Indians. It is a length
of rope with a stone or ball of metal at each end. When used it is swung
round the head by one hand and then hurled at an animal so as to entangle
it by twisting round its legs.
Bolt-action
Bolt-action is a gun mechanism activated by manual operation of the
breechblock that resembles a common door bolt.
Bomb
A bomb is a hollow shell filled with an explosive. The bomb was invented
in the 15th century for use with a mortar. Early bombs were a hollow iron
ball filled with explosive and fitted with a fuse which was ignited as
the bomb left the mortar.
Bombard
A bombard was a type of cannon or mortar generally loaded with stone
instead of iron balls.
Boomerang
A boomerang is a curved wooden weapon of Australian aborigines.
Bow
A bow is a weapon for propelling arrows. It is made of a strip of
flexible wood and a cord.
Boys Anti-Tank Rifle
The Boys Anti-Tank Rifle was designed by Captain Boys at Enfield in 1935
as an anti-armour weapon. It was a .55 inch calibre short bipod mounted
rifle with a bolt action and fed from a 5 round box magazine.
Breech
The breech is the portion of the barrel with chamber into which a
cartridge or projectile is loaded.
Broadsword
A broadsword is a sword with a broad blade designed chiefly for cutting.
They were used by some British cavalry and Highland infantry. The
claymore was a broadsword.
Brown bess
Brown bess is a family of English flint-lock muskets introduced into the
British army towards the end of the 17th century and used at the battle
of waterloo.
Browning High Power Pistol
The Browning High Power Pistol is a 9mm automatic pistol manufactured by
FN of Belgium to the Browning design of 1926. It is a recoil-operated
semi-automatic pistol which takes a 13-round magazine.
Brunswick Rifle
The Brunswick Rifle was a .704 inch calibre muzzle loading, percussion
cap rifle issued to the British army from 1838 until 1851. It was
manufactured by Enfield, and was sighted to 270 m.
BT-7-2
The BT-7-2 was a Soviet tank used during the Second World War. It was
armed with 1 45mm gun and 2 7.62mm machine guns. It had a top speed of
45mph on road wheels, and 30mph tracked. It had a range of 220 miles
tracked and carried a crew of 3.
Buckler
A buckler was a small shield worn on the left arm
Bullet
A bullet is the projectile expelled from a gun. It is not synonymous with
cartridge. Bullets can be of many materials, shapes, weights and
constructions such as solid lead, lead with a jacket of harder metal,
round-nosed, flat-nosed, hollow-pointed, etc.
Caliber
Caliber is the nominal diameter of a projectile of a rifled firearm or
the diameter between lands in a rifled barrel. In the USA it is usually
expressed in hundreds of an inch; in Great Britain in thousandths; in
Europe and elsewhere in millimeters.
CAP
CAP is an abbreviation for Chlor-aceto-phenone, a tear gas used during
the second world war. It had a smell faintly of floor polish. It caused
pain in the eyes, a copious flow of tears, spasms of the eyelids and
irritation of shaved skin.
Carbine
A carbine is a rifle with a relatively short barrel.
Carronade
A carronade is a short, large calibre ship's gun.
Case-shot
Case-shot was an early form of shrapnel shell. Small iron balls were put
into a cylindrical box (called a canister) that justs fits the bore of
the gun. The shell was then fired like any other projectile.
Casemate
A casemate is a valuted chamber within a fortress wall with embrasures
for defence, and more recently it describes the armoured enclosure in
which warship guns are mounted with embrasures through which they fire.
Cateran
A cateran was a Highland irregular soldier or raider.
Cei-Rigotti
The Cei-Rigotti automatic rifle is an Italian gas operated rifle
developed in the 1890s. It takes a 6.5Mm round from a 25-round box. It
has a muzzle velocity of 730 m/s and is sighted to 1400m. The cyclic rate
is 900 rpm.
Center-fire
Center-fire refers to a cartridge with its primer located in the center
of the base of the case.
Cestus
The cestus was a leather thong bound around the hand. It was covered with
knots, and often loaded with lead and iron. The Roman origin of the
modern-day knuckle duster.
CFV
CFV is an abbreviation for cavalry fighting vehicle.
Ch-53e
The Ch-53e is an American amphibious assault transport helicopter.
Chaffee tank
see "m24"
Chain-shot
Chain-shot was two cannon balls joined by a chain which when fired from a
cannon revolved upon the shorter axis and were hence effective for mowing
down masts and rigging.
Chamber (firearm)
The chamber is the rear part of the barrel that is formed to accept the
cartridge to be fired. A revolver employs a multi-chambered rotating
cylinder separated from the stationary barrel.
Chaparral
see "m48"
Chassepot
The Chassepot was a French, bolt action, needle fire rifle manufactured
by Imperiale during the 1860s. It was adopted as standard by the French
army in 1866 and remained the standard until 1874. It had an effective
range of 400m.
Chassepot Rifle
The Chassepot Rifle was a breech loading rifle adopted by the French
infantry in 1866, but given up by the turn of the century.
Claymore
The claymore was originaly a large two-handed double-edged sword of the
Scottish Highlanders; now a basket hilted, double-edged broad-sword.
Colt
Samuel Colt of Hartford, Conneticut patented the first successful
percussion revolver in england in 1835 and in America in 1836.
Colt commando
The Colt commando is a US automatic rifle. It takes a .223" round from a
20/30-round magazine. It has a muzzle velocity of 915 m/s and a cyclic
rate of 750 rpm. It is sighted to 458m.
Copperhead
see "m712"
Cordite
Cordite is a smokeless explosive used in cartridges. It is made from 58%
nitro-glycerine, 37% gun-cotton and 5% vaseline.
Corvette
A corvette is a convoy escort and patrol warship.
Courageous
The Courageous was a British aircraft carrier. It was the first Allied
warship to be sunk by enemy action in the Second World War. She was sunk
on 17th September 1939 by U-29.
Cross-bar shot
Cross-bar shot was cannon balls with iron bars crossing through them. The
bars would extend some 6 to 8 inches out of the cannon ball at both
sides. Cross-bar shot was used for destroying rigging and palisading.
Cross-bow
The cross-bow (arbalist) is a bow fastened across a stock (hence the name
cross bow). The bow string was cocked and fired by way of a trigger,
projecting a bolt. The cross-bow was invented by the Normans but went out
of fashion when the long-bow became popular, mainly because 12 arrows per
minute could be fired from a long-bow compared to 3 bolts per minute from
a cross-bow.
Cruise missile
The Cruise Missile is a long-range guided missile that has a terrain-
seeking radar system and flies at moderate speed and
low altitude. It is descended from the German V1 of the Second World War.
Initial trials in the 1950s demonstrated the
limitations of cruise missiles, which included high fuel consumption and
relatively slow speeds as well as inaccuracy and a small warhead.
The Tomahawk cruise missile is an American missile capable of having a
nuclear warhead. It has a range of 583km and a flight speed of mach 0.7.
Cruiser
A cruiser is a warship.
Crusader
The crusader was a British tank used in the second world war. It carreid
a crew of five, and had a top speed of 28mph. It was initialt armed with
a two pounder gun, these were upgraded to the six pounder gun later in
the war.
Curtal-ax
The curtal-ax was a type of short sword.
Curtana
The curtana is a pointless sword carried before English monarchs at their
coronation. Emblematically it is considered as the sword of mercy.
Cutlass
The cutlass was a short sword carried by seamen. It was effective due to
being short enough to be easy to control, and yet long enough to defend a
skilful swordsman. Today the term is used in Jamaica for the machette
which resemble in simple form the cutlass they evolved from.
Cylinder (weapon)
The cylinder is the drum of a revolver that contains the chambers for the
ammunition.
DA
DA is an abbreviation for Di-phenyl-chlor-arsine, a nore irritant gas
used during the Second World War. It has no smell. It has a delayed
action, but causes sneezing, a burning pain in the chest, nose, throat
and mouth after a few minutes.
Dahlgren Gun
The Dahlgren Gun was an improved form of cannon invented in the 19th
century by John Dahlgren of the US navy. It was unusual in having less
metal between the muzzle and the trunnions than other guns.
Damascus-steel
Damascus-steel was a kind of steel originally made in Damascus and much
prized for making swords. It was a laminate of pure Iron and steel
comprising higher than normal quantities of carbon and produced by
careful forging, doubling and twisting.
Deringer
The Deringer was a pocket pistol invented by Henry Deringer of
Philadelphia. The original models were single barelled percussion muzzle
loaders with a rifled barrel. In 1861 Daniel Moore patented a 0.41"
calibre rim-fire cartridge model.
Destroyer
The Destroyer is a small, fast warship designed for antisubmarine work.
Originally called "torpedo-boat destroyers", they were designed by
Britain to counter the large flotillas built by the French and Russian
navies in the late 19th century.
They proved so effective that torpedo-boats were more or less abandoned
in the early 1900s, but the rise of the submarine found a new task for
the "destroyer". They proved invaluable as antisubmarine vessels in both
the Great War and Second World War.
Deutschland
The Deutschland was a German pocket-battleship of the Second World War.
She set out on her first North Atlantic cruise on 24th August 1940.
DH4
The DH4 was the first British daylight bomber aircraft. It first flew in
December 1916 and saw action during the Great War.
Double-action
Double-action is a handgun mechanism where pulling the trigger retracts
and releases the hammer or firing pin to initiate discharge.
Dragon
see "m47"
Dragoon
A Dragoon was a mounted soldier who carried an infantry weapon such as a
"dragon", or short musket, as used by the French army in the 16th
century. The name was retained by some later regiments after the original
meaning became obsolete.
The Dragoon was a revolver manufactured by Colt in 1855. It was a single-
action pin fire revolver with a 6-round cylinder. It had a calibre of .44
inches. It was also known as the Old Model Army Revolver.
DUKW
The DUKW was an American amphibious truck used during the Second World
War. It was basically a standard 6 x 6 GMC 2.5 ton cargo truck fitted
with buoyancy tanks and with screw propulsion when in the water. DUKW
were mainly used to ferry supplies and men from ship to shore, and played
a vital part in almost every amphibious landing performed by Allied
troops.
Dum-dum bullet
The dum-dum bullet was a British military bullet developed in India's
Dum-Dum Arsenal and used on India's North West Frontier and in the Sudan
in 1897 and 1898. It was a jacketed .303 cal. British bullet with the
jacket nose left open to expose the lead core in the hope of increasing
effectiveness.
Earthwork
An earthwork is a military fortification formed chiefly of earth. They
were cheaper and easier to repair than stone defences and also carried
less risk of injury to the defenders from broken stone.
EM2
The EM2 is a British automatic rifle with a cyclic rate of 450 rpm. It
takes a .280" round from a 20-round box. The muzzle velocity is 772 m/s
and it is sighted to 549m.
Exeter
The Exeter was a British heavy cruiser of the Second World War. She was
armed with 6 8inch guns, 4 4inch anti-aircraft guns and 2 2pounder anti-
aircraft guns and 6 21inch torpedo tubes. She had a top speed of 32.5
knots and a range of 10000 miles.
Exocet
The exocet is a French anti-ship missile. It has a range of 70km and a
flight speed of mach 0.8. Exocet missiles can be launched by aircraft or
ships. The missile is guided, and flies less than 3m above the sea level.
F-15
The f-15 is an American single-seat air superiority fighter aircraft.
F1
The f1 is an accurate Australian sub-machine gun. It takes a 9mm round
from a 34-round box. It has a cyclic rate of 600rpm and a muzzle velocity
of 365 m/s.
Fal
The fn fal is a Belgian rifle. It has a muzzel velocity of 853 m/s, is
gas operated, and is sighted to 600m. It takes a 7.62mm round from a 20-
round box. It was first manufactured in 1950. It is capable of automatic
or single shot fire.
Farquhar-hill
The farquhar-hill rifle is a British rifle taking a .303" round from a
20-round drum. Operation is automatic with a cyclic rate of 700rpm. It
has a muzzle velocity of 732 m/s and is sighted to 1372m.
Female
Female was the name of one of the first British tanks. They were fitted
with six machine guns for use in anti-infantry roles.
Ferguson Rifle
The Ferguson Rifle was a .5 inch calibre breech-loading rifle
manufactured by Durs Egg in the 1770s. It was 155 cm long and had an
effective range of 250 m.
FG42
The FG42 is a German assault rifle developed in 1942. It is gas operated
and takes a 7.92mm round from a 20-round box. It has a muzzle velocity of
762 m/s and it is sighted to 1200m. It can be fired single shot or in
bursts.
FGM-77a
The FGM-77a is a US infantry anti-tank missile developed in the 1970s. It
has a flight speed of 175 m/s and a maximum range of 1500 meters.
FH70
The FH70 is a NATO mobile field howitzer. It fires, under computer
control, three 43 kg shells at a range of 32 km in 15 seconds.
FIM-43a
The FIM-43a (redeye) is an American shoulder-fired infantry surface-to-
air missile. It entered service in 1964. It flies at a speed of mach 2.5
to a range of 2 miles using initial optical aiming and infrared homing
guidance.
FIM-92a
The FIM-92a (stinger) is an American portable air-defense missile. It was
first used by British sas troops in the falklands conflict. The missile
flies at a speed of mach 2 to a range of 5km. It uses passive infrared
homing guidance.
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon from which projectiles are discharged by the
combustion of an explosive. Firearms are generally divided into two main
sections: artillery (ordnance or cannon), with a bore greater than 2.54
cm, and small arms, with a bore of less than 2.54 cm.
Although gunpowder was known in Europe 60 years previously, the invention
of firearms dates from 1300 to 1325, and is attributed to Berthold
Schwartz, a German monk.
Flint-lock
The flint-lock was a development of the discharge method for the musket.
Sparks were generated by one impact of a piece of flint on the steel
above the priming powder.
Flying Fortress
The Flying Fortress (Boeing Fortress II) was an American heavy bomber
aircraft used during the Second World War. It carried a crew of 9. It had
a top speed of 305 mph and a service ceiling of 40000 ft.
Forlorn Hope
A Forlorn Hope was a body of men, usually volunteers, of different
regiments selected to lead an assault, enter a breach or perform another
perilous task. The name comes from the Dutch word hoop meaning a company.
Fox
see "m93"
Fraise
A fraise is a fortification consisting of pointed stakes driven into the
ramparts in a horizontal or inclined position.
Franc-tireur
The Franc-tireur were a body of irregular soldiers organized in France
during the Franco-German War of 1870-1871. They were sharp-shooters
employed in guerrilla warfare, harassing the enemy and cutting off
detachments.
Frigate
A frigate is a light-weight, fast and nimble warship.
Ft-17
The ft-17 was a French tank produced by renault and first developed in
1917. 3500 ft-17 tanks were made, and it remained in service until 1940.
Fusil
A fusil was a light flint-lock musket closely resembling a carbine.
Fusilier
A Fusilier was a soldier armed with a fusil.
Gabion
A gabion was an early form of sandbag, it was a wickerwork basket of
cylindrical form but without a bottom and about 50cm in diamiter and 84cm
tall (20 inches diamiter, 33 inches tall). In a siege, when forming a
trench a row of gabions was placed on the outside nearest the fortress
and filled with earth as it was thrown from the trench, so as to form a
protective barrier against fire from the besieged defenders. Gabions were
still in use as recently as 1900.
Galleon
A Galleon was a Spanish or Portugese warship. They had three or four
decks.
Galley
A galley was a low, flat-buil warship with one deck and navigated by
sails and oars once common in the Mediterranean. Common galleys were
between 30 and 60 meters long, and smaller galleys were known as half-
galleys and quarter-galleys.
Garand
The garand is a US gas operated rifle adopted by the army from 1936. It
takes a .30" round from an 8-round internal box. It has a muzzle velocity
of 853 m/s and is sighted to 1097m.
Gecko
see "SA-N-4"
Gewehr
Gewehr was a range of German military rifles used during the first and
Second World Wars.
Gewehr M1898
The Gewehr M1898 was a bolt action rifle manufactured by Spandau from
1898 onwards. It took a 5 round box magazine and had an effective range
of 900m. These rifles were still in use by the German army during the
Second World War.
Gewehr41
The gewehr41 is a German rifle manufactured by walther and developed in
1941. It is gas operated and has a muzzle velocity of 776 m/s. It takes a
7.92mm round from a 10-round box. It is sighted to 1200m.
Gewehr98
The gewehr98 is a German rifle developed in 1898. It takes a 7.92mm round
from a 5-round box. Operation is bolt. The muzzle velocity is 870 m/s and
it is sighted to 2000m.
Gingal
The gingal was a 19th century large musket used in Asia. It was fired
from a rest and on occassions was mounted on a light carriage.
Glock
Glock is an American firearms manufacturer.
Glock m20
The glock m20 is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured by glock. It takes
a 15-round 10mm calibre magazine.
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British made biplane used by the Swedish and
Finnish air forces during the Second World War. It had a top speed of
253mph. It was armed with 2 .303 inch Browning machine guns in the
fuselage. It had a range of 428 miles.
Goblet
see "SA-N-3"
Gp-141
The gp-141 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a calibre of .357"
magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
Gp-160
The gp-160 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 6" barrel and a calibre of .357"
magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
Gp-161
The gp-161 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 6" barrel and a calibre of .357"
magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
Gpf-331
The gpf-331 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 3" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
Gpf-340
The gpf-340 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
Gpf-341
The gpf-341 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
Graf Spee
The Graf Spee was a German warship of the Second World War. She was armed
with 6 11 inch guns and 8 5.9 inch guns, 8 37mm anti-aircraft guns, 10
20mm Anti-Aircraft guns and 8 21 inch torpedo tubes. She had a top speed
of 26 knots and a range of 19000 miles. She carried a crew of 1150.
Grail
see "SA-N-5"
Grenade
A grenade is a small missile, containing an explosive or other charge,
usually thrown (hand grenade) but sometimes fired from a rifle.
Hand grenades are generally fitted with a time fuse of about four
seconds: a sufficient amount of time for the grenade to reach the target
but not enough for the enemy to pick it up and throw it back.
Rifle grenades were developed during the Great War to achieve a greater
range than was possible with the hand grenade, Grenades were known in the
15th century, but were obsolete by the 19th, only being revived in the
Russo-Japanese War 1905.
Grenades
see "Grenade"
Grenadier
A Grenadier was originally a soldier specially trained for throwing
grenades.
Grumble
see "SA-N-6"
Guerrilla
A guerrilla is an irregular soldier fighting in a small unofficial unit,
typically against an established or occupying power, and engaging in
sabotage, ambush, and the like, rather than pitched battles against an
opposing army.
The term was first applied to the Spanish and Portuguese resistance to
French occupation during the Peninsular War.
H-35
The Hotchkiss H-35 was a French, light-support tank used during the
second world war. It was armed with a 37mm main gun.
H-39
The Hotchkiss H-39 was a French light-support tank used during the second
world war. It was armed with a 37mm main gun.
Habergeon
Habergeon was a sleevless jacket of chain-mail, shorter than the hauberk,
and worn by squires and archers during the middle ages.
Half-pike
The half-pike was a defensive weapon composed of an iron spike fixed on a
short ashen staff and used in the navy to repel boarders.
Harpoon
The harpoon is an American guided anti-ship missile. It has a range of
102km and a flight speed of mach 0.75. The harpoon missile flies close to
the sea level.
Harrier
The harrier is a British VTOL multi-role fighter aircraft.
Hauberk
The hauberk was a jacket of chain-mail with loose sleeves. There were two
models, the small hauberk reached to the hips and had sleeves with
extended to the elbow, and the large hauberk which reached down to the
knees and had sleeves which extended a little below the elbow and also a
hood.
Heavy field artillery
During the Great War, heavy field artillery was defined as comprising all
artillery equipped with mobile guns of 4 inch calibre and upwards.
Hellfire
see "agm-114"
Hk ohws
The hk ohws is an offensive handgun from the Heckler and Koch company. It
is a .45" calibre short recoil semi-automatic. It has a muzzle velocity
of 270 m/s and a maximum effective range of 50m. It takes a 12-round
magazine.
Hk35
The HK35 is a German automatic carbine manufactured by Heckler and Koch.
It takes a 5.56mm round from a 40-round box. The muzzle velocity is 960
m/s and it is sighted to 400m. It has a cyclic rate of 600rpm.
Hollow-point bullet
A hollow-point bullet is a bullet with a concavity in its nose to
increase expansion on penetration of a solid target.
Howitzer
A howitzer is a cannon, in use since the 16th century, with a
particularly steep angle of fire. Howitzers were developed during the
Great War for demolishing the fortresses of the trench system.
Human Torpedo
The Human Torpedo was a two manned craft used by allied forces to attack
shipping during the Second World War. It was first used by the Royal Navy
in January 1943. It resembled a torpedo, the front being fitted with an
explosive charge armed with a time fuse. This front charge would be fixed
to the target vessel, and the crew would then steer the now headless
craft away.
Hussar
The Hussars were the Hungarian cavalry raised in 1448 by Matthias I.
Every twenty houses was obliged to furnish a man, and the word Hussar
derives from huszar - husz being Hungarian for twenty. The term Hussar
developed to refer to any light cavalry similarly dressed and armed of
other European armies.
IFV
IFV is an abbreviation for infantry fighting vehicle.
Ironclad
An ironclad is a wooden warship covered with armor plate. The first to be
constructed was the French Gloire in 1858, but the first to be launched
was the British HMS Warrior in 1859.
The first battle between ironclads took place during the American Civil
War, when the Union Monitor fought the Confederate Virginia on the 9th of
March 1862. The design was replaced by battleships of all-metal
construction in the 1890s.
JA 37
The JA 37 is a swedish single-seat all-weather interceptor fighter
aircraft with secondary strike capability. It is made by saab.
JU 87B-1
The JU 87B-1 was a German fighter-bomber used during the Second World
War. It was manufactured by Junkers. It was armed with two 7.9mm MG 17
machine guns in the wings, one 7.9mm MG 15 machine gun in the rear
cockpit and it could carry a 1100lb bomb under the fuselage, or 4 110lb
bombs on the wings. It had a crew of 2 and a top speed of 217mph. It had
a range of 342 miles.
KA-32
The KA-32 is a Soviet shipboard anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
Kamikaze
Kamikaze were pilots of the Japanese air force in the second World War
who deliberately crash-dived their planes, loaded with bombs, usually on
to ships of the American Navy.
A special force of suicide pilots was established 1944 to crash-dive
planes, loaded with bombs, onto American and British ships.
Kashin
The Kashin class ship is a Soviet anti-aircraft warship. It was
commisioned in 1962, and was the first class of warship to be equipped
with gas turbines. It has a top speed of 37 knots. Its armament includes
10 torpedoes, 22 SA-N-3 missiles and 4 SS-N-2c missiles.
KGP-141
The KGP-141 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The
front sight can be interchanged.
KGP-160
The KGP-160 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 6" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The
front sight can be interchanged.
KGP-161
The KGP-161 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 6" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The
front sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-330
The KGPF-330 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 3" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-331
The KGPF-331 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 3" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-340
The KGPF-340 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-341
The KGPF-341 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a calibre of
.357" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-840
The KGPF-840 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a calibre of
.38" special. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-841
The KGPF-841 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a calibre of
.38" special. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front
sight can be interchanged.
Kp88x
The kp88x is a Ruger semi-automatic pistol. It is available in 9mm and
.30" calibres and takes a 15-round magazine.
Kp89
The kp89 is a Ruger semi-automatic 9mm calibre pistol. It takes a 15-
round magazine.
Krag-jorgensen m1896
The krag-jorgensen m1896 was the US army's first bolt action rifle,
seeing action in 1894. It has a muzzle velocity of 610 m/s and takes a 5-
round magazine. It is sighted to 1829m.
KSK
KSK is an abbreviation for Ethyl-iodo-acetate, a tear gas used during the
second world war. It had a smell faintly of peardrops. It caused pain in
the eyes, a copious flow of tears, spasms of the eyelids and irritation
of shaved skin.
Ksp-221
The ksp-221 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 2.25" barrel and
a calibre of .22" long rimfire. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable
sights.
Ksp-240
The ksp-240 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a
calibre of .22" long rimfire. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable
sights.
Ksp-241
The ksp-241 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a
calibre of .22" long rimfire. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable
sights.
Ksp-321x
The ksp-321x is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 2.25" barrel and
a calibre of .357" magnum. It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksp-3231
The ksp-3231 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 3" barrel and a
calibre of .32" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable sights.
Ksp-3241
The ksp-3241 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 4" barrel and a
calibre of .32" magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable sights.
Ksp-331x
The ksp-331x is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 3" barrel and a
calibre of .357" magnum. It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksp-821
The ksp-821 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 2.25" barrel and
a calibre of .38". It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksp-921
The ksp-921 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 2.25" barrel and
a calibre of 9mm. It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksp-931
The ksp-931 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 3" barrel and a
calibre of 9mm. It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksrh-7
The ksrh-7 is the 7.5" barrel super redhawk revolver.
Ksrh-9
The ksrh-9 is a super redhawk 9.5" barrel revolver.
L119
The l119 is a British 105mm calibre towed howitzer. It has a range of
17,200m.
L1a1
The l1a1 is a British gas operated rifle with a muzzle velocity of 854
m/s and sighted to 549m. It takes a 7.62mm round from a 20-round box.
L2a3
The l2a3 was developed from 1942 onwards as a replacement sub-machine gun
for the sten. It is a British weapon often known as the patchett after
its designer. It takes a 9mm round from a 32-round box. It has a cyclic
rate of 550 rpm and a muzzle velocity of 365 m/s.
L4a1
The l4a1 is a British sniper rifle developed from the number 4 rifle. It
takes a 7.62mm round from a 10-round box. It has a muzzle velocity of 838
m/s and takes a telescopic sight.
Lance
see "mgm-52c"
Lanchester mk1
The lanchester mk1 was a British sub-machine gun issued to the navy from
1940. It takes a 9mm round from a 50-round box and has a cyclic rate of
600rpm. The muzzle velocity is 365 m/s.
Lathi
A lathi is an Indian weapon consisting of a heavy stick, usually bamboo,
bound with iron.
Law
Law is an abbreviation for light anti-tank weapon.
Le mat
The le mat revolver fired grapeshot and was manufactured mainly in france
in the mid 19th century.
Lebel
The lebel is a French rifle developed in 1886. It is bolt operated and
takes a 8mm round from a 8-round tubular magazine. The muzzle velocity is
716 m/s and it is sighted to 2000m.
Lee enfield
The lee enfield is a series of British rifles. The mark 3 and 4 are bolt
operation and take a .303" round from a 10-round box. The muzzle velocity
is 738 m/s and they are sighted to 1829m.
Lee straight pull
The lee straight pull is a US straight-pull operated rifle issued to the
navy in 1895. It takes a .236" round from a 5-round magazine. It has a
muzzle velocity of 732 m/s and is sighted to 1828m.
Lee-Metford
The Lee-Metford series of rifles were adopted by the British army in 1888
to replace the martini-Henry. They were bolt-action rifles which took a
5-round box magazine.
Lever-action
Lever-action is a gun mechanism activated by manual operation of a lever.
Liberator pistol
The liberator pistol was a cheaply made pistol made in America in 1942
for supply to guerilla forces in enemy countries.
Locust tank
see "m22"
Luger
Luger were a range of automatic pistols manufactured by DWM from 1908
onwards. Originaly a 7.65mm calibre pistol, various versions were made.
The artillery luger was a German 9mm calibre automatic pistol introduced
in 1917. It took a 8-round box magazine.
M/46
The M/46 is the Browning High Power Pistol manufactured in Denmark.
M1
The m1 is a US gas operated carbine. It takes a .30" straight pistol type
round from a 15/30-round box. It has a muzzle velocity of 585 m/s and has
fixed sights set at 275m.
M102
The m102 is an American 105mm calibre light-howitzer. It has a range of
11,500m with standard ammunition and 15,100m with rap ammunition.
M109
The m109 is a series of American self-propelled howitzers. They have a
top speed of 35mph.
M109a2
The m109a2 is one of the m109 series. It is armed with a 155mm howitzer
and browning 0.5" calibre anti-aircraft machine gun.
M109a3
The m109a3 is one of the m109 series. It is armed with a m185 howitzer
and a browning 0.5" calibre anti-aircraft machine gun.
M109a6
The m109a6 is one of the m109 series. It is armed with a m284 howitzer
and a browning 0.5" calibre anti-aircraft machine gun.
M110
The m110 is a series of American self-propelled howitzers. They first
entered service in 1963. They are armed with a 8" howitzer and have a top
speed of 34mph.
M110a1
see "m110"
M110a2
see "m110"
M113
The m113 is a series of American apcs. They are lightly armed with a
browning 0.5" calibre machine gun. They have a top speed of 40mph.
M114
The m114 is an American 155mm calibre howitzer series first used during
the second world war. The m114a2 model has a range of 19,300m.
M114a2
see "m114"
M119
The m119 is the American designation for the l119.
M14
The m14 is a US automatic rifle developed in the 1950s to replace the
garand. It takes a 7.62mm round from a 20-round box. It has a muzzle
velocity of 853 m/s and is sighted to 915m with a cyclic rate of 750 rpm.
M16
The m16 (armalite ar-15) is a US automatic rifle. It takes a .233" round
from a 30-round magazine. It has a muzzle velocity of 991 m/s and is
sighted to 458m. It has a cyclic rate of 800 rpm.
M163
The m163 (vulcan) is an American air defence system. It is mounted on a
m113 tracked chassis and consists of a 20mm cannon and radar detection
equipment. The cannon has a range of 1750 yards.
M1911A1
The M1911A1 was a .45 inch calibre automatic pistol designed by Browning
in 1911 and manufactured by Colt. It had a semi-automatic recoil action
and took a 7-round magazine.
M1935A
The M1935A was the standard pistol of the French army during the second
World War. It was a 7.65 mm calibre semi-automatic pistol with a recoil-
operation. It took an 8-round magazine.
M198
The m198 is an American 155mm calibre towed howitzer with a range of
22,000m with standard ammunition and 30,000m with rap ammunition.
M1a1
The m1a1 is a folding stock version of the m1.
M1a1 MBT
The m1a1 MBT is a US tank. It takes a four man crew and is armed with a
120mm smoothbore gun, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, a 12.7Mm roof mounted
heavy machine gun and a 7.62mm roof mounted machine gun. It is equiped
with a laser rangefinder and thermal imaging night sights. 40 shells are
carried for the main gun. It has a top road speed of 67 kph. Defenses
include chobham armour and a laser warning system.
M2
The m2 is an American ifv. It is armed with a 25mm hughes machine gun and
a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and carries 2 tow atgms. It has a top speed
of 40mph.
M22
The m22 (locust) tank was a light American tank used during the second
world war. It was manned by a crew of three and was armed with a 37mm
gun.
M224
The m224 is an American lightweight company mortar. It has a calibre of
60mm and a range of 3,500m.
M24
The m24 (chaffee) was a light, air-portable American tank used during the
second world war. It was manned by a crew of five and was armed with a
75mm gun. It had a top speed of around 30mph.
M240
The m240 is a Belgian medium machine gun fitted to the m1a1 MBT and other
tanks. It has a muzzle velocity of 840 m/s.
M249
The m249 is an American saw. It has a calibre of 5.56mm and a range of
1300m. It has a cyclic rate of 750rpm and a muzzle velocity of 924m/s.
M29
The M29 is a family of American mortars.
M29A1
The M29A1 is one of the M29 family. It has a calibre of 81mm and a range
of 4,700km. It has a sustained rate of fire of between 4 and 12 rpm.
M3
The M3 is an American CFV version of the m2. It carries additional atgms
instead of passengers and has slightly thicker armour.
M47
The M47 (dragon) is an American infantry anti-tank/assault missile. It
has a flight speed of 230mph and a range of 1000m. It is guided by the
operator.
M48
The M48 (chaparral) is an American forward area air-defense missile
system. It launches surface-to-air missiles which use infrared homing to
target heat emiiter guidance. The missiles fly at a speed of mach 2.5 to
a ceiling of 2,500m and a range of 4,800m.
M551
The M551 (sheridan) is an American light tank. It entered service in
1966. It is armed with a 152mm main gun and a 7.62mm calibre coaxial
machine gun and a 0.5" calibre anti-aircraft machine gun. It has a top
speed of 65mph.
M6 Scout
The M6 Scout is An over-under combo gun chambered in .22LR (or .22
Hornet) and .410. It is 32 inches long with an 18 inch long barrel and
includes a folding stock. The M6 Scout is marketed by Springfield as a
survival rifle.
M60
The m60 is a series of American tanks. The series entered service in
1960.
The m60 general-purpose machine-gun is an American weapon. It has a
calibre of 7.62mm and a maximum range of 1800m with a rate of fire of
550rpm.
M60a3 MBT
The m60a3 MBT is a US tank. It was designed in 1956 and entered service
in 1960. It is armed with a 105mm main gun, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun
and a cupola mounted 12.7Mm hmg. It has a top road speed of 48kph. It is
manned by a crew of four and carries 63 rounds of main gun ammunition. It
is fitted with a laser rangefinder and thermal imaging night sight.
M712
The m712 (copperhead) is an American cannoN-launched guided projectile.
It flies at supersonic speed and uses laser homing guidance to locate its
target. It has a range of up to 10 miles.
M72a2
The M72a2 is an American LAW. It has a calibre of 66mm and a range of
325m.
M72a3
The M72a3 is a US infantry anti-tank missile. It lacks a guidance system
and is only usable up to 135 meters.
M77
The M77 is a Ruger bolt-action rifle. It is manufactured in various
calibres between .22" and .338". It takes a 4-round magazine and is
fitted with a receiver for a telscopic sight.
M79
The M79 is an American grenade launcher. It has a range of 400m and a
rate of fire of 5 rpm.
M9
The M9 is a 9mm semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Beretta, and
adopted by the American military in place of the m1911.
M93
The M93 (fox) is an American reconnaissance vehicle. It carries a crew of
4. It is unarmed and has a top speed of 65mph.
Machine gun
A machine gun is a firearm of military significance, often crew-served,
that on trigger depression automatically feeds and fires cartridges of
rifle size or greater.
Madsen M50
The madsen M50 is a Danish sub-machine gun. It takes a 9mm round from a
32-round box. It has a cyclic rate of 550rpm and a muzzle velocity of 365
m/s.
Magazine
A magazine is a spring-loaded container for cartridges that may be an
integral part of the gunþs mechanism or may be detachable. Detachable
magazines for the same gun may be offered by the gun's manufacturer or
other manufacturers with various capacities. A gun with a five-shot
detachable magazine, for instance, may be fitted with a magazine holding
10, 20, or 50 or more rounds. Box magazines are most commonly located
under the receiver with the cartridges stacked vertically.
Tube or tubular magazines run through the stock or under the barrel with
the cartridges lying horizontally. Drum magazines hold their cartridges
in a circular mode. A magazine can also mean a secure storage place for
ammunition or explosives.
Magnum
Magnum is a term indicating a relatively heavily loaded metallic
cartridge or shotshell and, by extension, a gun safely constructed to
fire it.
Male
Male was one of the first British tanks. It was fitted with six pounder
guns and SAW action during the first world war.
Mannlicher-Carcano m1891
The Mannlicher-Carcano m1891 is an Italian bolt operated carbine designed
for cavalry use, but with a folding bayonet fixed under the barrel. It
takes a 6.5Mm round from a 6-round magazine. The muzzle velocity is 701
m/s and it is sighted to 1500m.
Mannlicher-Carcano m1938
The Mannlicher-Carcano m1938 is an Italian carbine with sights fixed at
300m. It takes a 6.5Mm round from a 6-round magazine. It is bolt operated
and has a muzzle velocity of 701 m/s.
Martini-Henry
The martini-Henry was the first metal cartridge breech-loading rifle
built for the British army. It was adopted in 1871. It had a calibre of
0.45" and took a bottle-necked cartridge.
Mas36
The fusil mas36 is a French rifle developed in the 1940s. It takes a
7.5Mm round from a 5-round box. The operation is bolt. It has a muzzle
velocity of 823 m/s and is sighted to 1200m.
Matchlock
The English matchlock was a smooth-bore muzzle loader gun in use during
the late 17th century. It was fired from a rest called a pike.
Matilda
The matilda was a British tank of the second world war. It was hopelessly
under-armed with a two-pounder gun, but it's thick armour offered good
protection against German tanks and anti-tank guns. The mk1 had a top
speed of 8mph and the mk2 a top speed of 15mph.
Meiji carbine
The Meiji carbine is a Japanese bolt operated carbine. It takes a 6.5Mm
round from a 5-round magazine. It has a muzzle velocity of 732 m/s and is
sighted to 2000m.
Mercenary
A mercenary is a soldier hired by the army of another country or by a
private army. Mercenary military service originated in the 14th century,
when cash payment on a regular basis was the only means of guaranteeing
soldiers' loyalty.
Mgm-52c
The mgm-52c (lance) is an American battlefield support missile. It has a
range of between 45 and 75 miles depending upon the warhead and is
carried by the m752 (m113) carrier. The missile flies at a speed of mach
3.
Mi-14
The mi-14 is a Soviet amphibious anti-submarine helicopter.
Mi-17
The mi-17 is a Soviet medium transport helicopter.
Mi-24
The mi-24 is a Soviet assault and anti-armour helicopter.
Mi-26
The mi-26 is a Soviet military and commercial heavy-lift helicopter.
Mi-8
The mi-8 is a Soviet assault transport helicopter.
MICV
An MICV (mechanized infantry combat vehicle) is a tracked military
vehicle designed to fight as part of an armored battle group. It is armed
with a quick-firing cannon and one or more machine guns. MICVs have now
replaced armored personnel carriers.
Mig
The mig are various military aircraft of Soviet origin.
Mig-23
The mig-23 is a Soviet single-seat air superiority and close air support
fighter aircraft.
Mig-25
The mig-25 is a Soviet single-seat interceptor fighter aircraft.
Mig-27
The mig-27 is a Soviet single-seat tactical strike and close air support
fighter aircraft.
Mills bomb
The Mills bomb was the standard British hand grenade used during the
Great War and Second World War. It weighed 1.5 lbs and could be thrown 30
yards. During the Spanish civil war, mills bombs proved effective against
light tanks.
Mim-104
The mim-104 (patriot) is an American surface to air missile system. The
missiles fly at a speed of mach 3 to a range of 68km.
Mine
A mine is an explosive charge on land or sea, or in the atmosphere,
designed to be detonated by contact, vibration, magnetic influence, or a
timing device.
Minesweeper
A minesweeper is a small naval vessel designed for locating and
destroying mines at sea.
Mini-14/5
The mini-14/5 is a Ruger ranch rifle. It is a gas operated .223" calibre
weapon taking a 5-round box magazine. It has a muzzle velocity of
3300fps.
Minie
The Minie was a .702 inch calibre muzzle loading, percussion lock rifle.
It was issued to the British army in 1851 to replace the Brunswick Rifle.
The Minie was manufactured by Tower and sighted to 820m.
Minuteman
The Minuteman is an American three stage Inter-Continental Ballistic
missile with a range of about 8000km.
Mitrailleuse
The Mitrailleuse was a machinegun introduced in France shortly before the
Franco-German war of 1870-1871. It consisted of a number of rifled
barrels, generally thirty-seven, and was mounted similarly to an ordinary
field-piece.
MK19-3
The MK19-3 is an American automatic grenade launcher. It has a range of
1500m and a rate of fire of 325-375 rpm.
MLRS
MLRS is an abbreviation for multiple-launch rocket system. It is an
American weapon system being a mobile vehicle which carries 12 rocket
launchers. The rockets have a range of about 19miles and fly at a
supersonic speed.
Model 1853
The Model 1853 was a reduced calibre form of the Minie. It was a .577
inch calibre muzzle loading, percussion cap rifle manufactured by Enfield
from 1853. It was sighted to 730m.
Moltke
The Moltke was a German cruiser. It was sunk by a British submarine
during the battle for riga, on august the 18th 1915.
Mondragon
The Mondragon automatic rifle was one of the first automatic rifles
invented. It was patented in 1907 by manuel mondragon of mexico. It had a
calibre of 7mm.
Monitor
A monitor was a very shallow, heavily-armed, iron-clad steam-vessel
invented by Ericcson, carrying on its open decks either one or two
revolving turrets, each containing one or more enormous guns and designed
to combine the maximum fire-power with the minimum of exposure. The
vessels got their name after the first one, built during the American
civil war, proved its superiority during an engagement with the Merrimac
in 1862.
Monkey Tail
The Monkey Tail was a .45 inch calibre, breech-loading, single capping
carbine manufactured by Enflied in 1863. It had an effective range of
350m.
Mortar
A mortar is a machine for projecting a bomb via a high trajectory at a
remote target.
Mosin-Nagant M1944
The Mosin-Nagant M1944 is a Soviet carbine. It is bolt operated and takes
a 7.62mm round from a 5-round magazine. It has a muzzle velocity of 823
m/s and is sighted to 1000m.
Mosquito
The De Havilland Mosquito was an English two-seat fighter bomber
aircraft. It was made completely of wood, which made it very easy to
repair following attacks. It had a top speed of 400mph making it the
fastest aircraft in the Second World War.
Mother
Mother was the name of the first prototype tank.
Mp40
The mp40 was a German sub-machine gun which SAW extensive use during the
second world war. It takes a 9mm round from a 32-round box. Its cyclic
rate is 500rpm and it has a muzzle velocity of 365 m/s.
Mp44
The mp44 is a German assault rifle. It takes a 7.92mm round from a 30-
round box. It has a muzzle velocity of 647 m/s and is sighted to 800m. It
was developed in 1944 and influenced the development of the ak47. It has
a cyclic rate of 500rpm.
Musket
A musket was a hand-gun first introduced in the early 16th century as a
development of the culverin and arquebus. It was discharged by means of a
lighted match, which gave rise to its name matchlock. It was so heavy
that it had to be laid across a staff or rest to be fired. To make use of
it the soldier needed to carry a lighted slow-burning match, which was
apt to be extinguished in wet weather. This was developed into the wheel-
lock which was a wheel made to revolve by a spring and which caused
sparks by friction against a flint. In 1625 the musket developed the
flint-lock.
Musketoon
A musketoon was a short thick musket with a very wide bore, sometime
bell-mouthed like a blunderbuss. It fired a ball weighing between 5 and
7.5 ounces.
Mustard gas
Mustard gas, Di-chloro-di-ethyl sulphide, is a blister gas used during
the Great War. It has a faint smell of mustard. It has a delayed action
which makes it so dangerous, it not being detected until it has already
caused its damage. It rapidly damages the eyes, lungs and exposed parts
of the body. Blisters appear on exposed skin after a few hours. The
stomach and intestines can be damaged by eating food contaminated with
the gas. Exposure to the gas often results in death or blindness.
Muzzle
The muzzle is the open end of the barrel of a gun from which the
projectile exits.
Muzzle loader
The muzzle loader was the earliest type of gun, now also popular as
modern-made replicas, in which blackpowder and projectile(s) are
separately
loaded in through the muzzle. The term is often applied to cap-and-ball
revolvers where the loading is done not actually through the
muzzle but through the open ends of the cylinder's chambers.
Napalm
Napalm is a fuel used in incendiary bombs and flame throwers. It is
produced from jellied petrol, and is a mixture of naphthenic and palmitic
acids. Napalm causes extensive burns because it sticks to the skin even
when ignited. It was widely used by the American Army during the Vietnam
War.
Needle Fire Rifle
The Needle Fire Rifle was first issued to the Prussian army in 1848. It
was a bolt-action 15.43mm calibre rifle sighted to 400m.
Nelson
The Nelson was a British battleship of the Second World War. It was armed
with 9 16 guns. She had a top speed of 23 knots and carried a crew of
1300.
New land pattern
The new land pattern was a musket of the brown bess family introduced in
the middle of the napoleonic wars. It had a calibre of 0.75".
New Model Army Revolver
The New Model Army Revolver was a .44 inch calibre muzzle loaded, single-
action revolver manufactured by Colt in 1860. It had a 6-round cylinder.
Nimrod
The nimrod is a British long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
Number 4
The number 4 rifle is a British rifle manufactured from 1941. It takes a
.303" round from a 10-round box. Operation is bolt. It has a muzzle
velocity of 743
M/s and is sighted to 1189m.
Okha
The Okha was a specifically designed piloted flying bomb developed for
use by Japanese Kamikaze squads.
Old Model Army Revolver
see "Dragoon"
Owen
The Owen machine-carbine was developed for use in jungle warfare. It was
an Australian weapon. It takes a 9mm round from a 32-round box. It has a
cyclic rate of 700rpm and a muzzle velocity of 420 m/s.
P-12
The P-12 is a semi-automatic pistol based upon the browning m1911. It
takes a 12-round .45" calibre magazine.
P-14
The P-14 is a semi-automatic pistol based upon the browning m1911. It
takes a 14-round .45" calibre magazine.
P38
The Walther P38 is a 9 mm calibre recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol
manufactured by Walther since 1938. It was adopted by the German army in
1938 and is still in use by the Chilean, Norwegian, Portugese and German
armed forces. It takes an 8-round magazine.
P89
The p89 is a Ruger semi-automatic pistol. It has a calibre of 9mm and
takes a 15-round magazine.
Panzer
The term "panzer" is a shortening of the full German title
"panzerkampfwagen", which translates to "armoured war wagon".
Panzer 2
The panzer 2 was a German light-weight reconnaisance tank used during the
second world war. It carried a three man crew and was armed with a 20mm
gun.
Panzer 3
The panzer 3 was a German MBT of the second world war. It was initialy
armed with a 37mm anti-tank gun, but this was upgraded to a 50mm gun
after 1940. It was manned by a five man crew.
Panzer 4
The panzer 4 was a German assault and infantry support tank of the second
world war. It was initialy armed with a low velocity, short-barrelled
75mm gun. Later versions carried longer guns. It was manned by a crew of
five.
Panzerfaust
The panzerfaust was a German anti-tank missile of the Second World War.
It was infantry carried and had a range of 50m.
Parma
The parma was a small round or oval flat shield used by the Romans.
Patchett
see "l2a3"
Paterson
The paterson was an 8-shot revolving rifle made by Colt. It was adopted
by the American army in 1838.
Patriot
see "mim-104"
Pattern 1913
The pattern 1913 rifle is a British rifle developed in 1913. It takes a
.276" round from a 5-round box. It is bolt operated and has a
Muzzle velocity of 843 m/s. It is sighted to 1738m.
Pepper-Box
The Pepper-Box was a multiple barreled pistol effective at close range.
They typically had six barrels, and were muzzle loading and fired by
percussion cap.
Pepperbox
The pepperbox was a multiple barreled percussion pistol made between 1830
and 1860 throughout europe.
Phoenix
Phoenix is a British RPV.
Phosgene
Phosgene is a lung irritant gas used during the Second World War. It has
a smell of musty hay. It is a very poisonous gas.
PIAT
The PIAT was a British infantry anti-tank missile used during the Second
World War. It had a range of 100m.
Pilum
The pilum was a Roman weapon similar to a pike or javelin. It was about 6
feet long and was usually thrown at the enemy.
Pistole 640
The Pistole 640 was the Browning High Power Pistol manufactured in Liege
for the German SS during the Second World War.
PPD 34
The PPD 34 was a Soviet sub-machine gun. It takes a 7.62mm round from a
71-round drum. It has a cyclic rate of 800rpm and a muzzle velocity of
489 m/s.
PPK
The Walther PPK is an automatic pistol originaly designed for police
detectives in 1931. It has a calibre of 7.65mm and takes a 7-round
magazine. It has a blowback double action. Various alternative calibre
versions are now made including .22 inch, 6.35mm and 9mm.
PPSH 41
The PPSH 41 was a Soviet sub-machine gun developed during the second
world war. It takes a 7.62mm round from a 71 drum/35-round box. It has a
cyclic rate of 900rpm and a muzzle velocity of 489 m/s.
Pre-land pattern
The pre-land pattern was an early musket of the brown bess family. It had
a calibre of 0.75".
Primer
Primer is the ignition component of a cartridge, generally made up of a
metallic fulminate or (currently) lead styphnate.
Q Ships
Q Ships were warships masquerading as unarmed merchant ships. They thus
lured enemy submarines to their destruction. Q Ships were first used by
the British during the First World War when they were commanded by Vice
Admiral Gordon Campbell.
Quarrel
A quarrel was a bolt or dart to be shot from a cross-bow, or thrown
thrown a catapult. It had a square head and a pyramidal point.
Quarter staff
The Quarter staff was an old English weapon formed of a stout pole about
6.5 feet long and generally loaded with iron at both ends. In use it was
held by one hand in the centre, and the other hand between the centre and
the end. In the attack the latter hand was shifted from one quarter of
the staff to the other, giving the weapon a rapid circular motion.
R-35
The Renault R-35 was a French light-support tank used during the second
world war. It was armed with a 37mm main gun.
Rapier
A rapier is a light slender sword for thrusting only. It usually has a
cylindrical blade with a sharp point, but no edge.
Rapparee
A rapparee was a 17th century Irish irregular soldier.
Receiver (firearm)
The receiver is the housing for a firearm's breech and firing mechanism.
Redeye
see "fim-43a"
Redhawk
The Ruger redhawk is a range of .44" magnum calibre revolvers. They have
a 6-round cylinder and can be fitted with a telescopic sight.
Revolver
A revolver is a gun, usually a handgun, with a multi-chambered cylinder
that rotates to successively align each chamber with a single barrel and
firing pin.
Rh-44
The rh-44 is a 7.5" barrel redhawk.
Rh-445
The rh-445 is a 5.5" barrel redhawk.
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm with spiral, parallel grooves cut into the bore to
impart spin in the projectile giving flight stability to the projectile.
Rimfire
Rimfire is a rimmed or flanged cartridge with the priming mixture located
inside the rim of the case. The most famous example is the .22 rimfire.
Ross
The ross rifle is a British rifle taking a .303" round from a 5-round
box. Operation is straight pull. The muzzle velocity is 794 m/s and it is
sighted to 1098m.
Royal Oak
The Royal Oak was a British battleship. She was armed with 8 15 inch
guns, 12 6 inch guns, 8 4 inch anti-aircraft guns and 16 2 pounder anti-
aircraft guns. She had a top speed of 21.5 knots. She carried a crew of
1146. She was sunk by U-47 whilst she was anchored at Scapa Flow on 13th
October 1939.
Rpg-16
The rpg-16 is a Soviet infantry anti-tank missile introduced in the 1970s
to replace the rpg-7. It has a 58mm war head which is effective at ranges
up to 800 meters.
It has a flight speed of 350 m/s but no guidance system.
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a famous Soviet infantry anti-tank missile. It has an 85mm
war head which is effective at ranges up to 500 meters.
It has a flight speed of 300 m/s but no guidance system.
RPV
RPV (remotely piloted vehicle) are crewless mini-aircraft used for
military surveillance and to select targets in battle. RPVs barely show
up on radar, enabling them to fly over a battlefield without being shot
down, and they are equipped to transmit TV images to an operator on the
ground.
Ruger
Ruger is an American small arms manufacturer.
S-35
The Somua S-35 was a French medium tank used during the second world war.
It was armed with a 47mm gun.
S-70
The S-70 is an American tactical transport helicopter. It is nicknamed
the black hawk.
S100
The S100 was a German sub-machine gun manufactured after the Great War.
It takes a 9mm round from a 32-round box and has a cyclic rate of 500rpm.
Its muzzle velocity is 417 m/s.
SA-N-3
The SA-N-3 (goblet) is a Soviet surface-to-air missile developed in 1967.
It has a range of 55km and a flight speed of mach 2.
SA-N-4
The SA-N-4 (gecko) is a Soviet surface-to-air missile. It has a range of
15km and a flight speed of mach 2.
SA-N-5
The SA-N-5 (grail) is a light-weight Soviet surface-to-air missile
deployed in light amphibious craft and capable of being shoulder launched
by infantry. It has a range of 10km and a flight speed of mach 1.
SA-N-6
The SA-N-6 (grumble) is a Soviet surface-to-air missile. It has a range
of 81km and a flight speed of mach 3.
Saam
see "Saam_class"
Saam class
The Saam class is an Iranian frigate. It has a top speed of 39knots. It
is armed with 9 seacat missiles and 5 sea killer missiles.
Sabot
Sabot is a lightweight carrier surrounding a heavier projectile of
reduced caliber, allowing a firearm to shoot ammunition for which it is
not chambered. For example, a hunter could use his .30-30 deer rifle to
shoot small game with .22 centerfire bullets.
SAR-4800
The Springfield SAR-4800 rifle is a .308" caliber, gas operated military
rifle.
SAR-8
The Springfield SAR-8 rifle is a .308" caliber, recoil operated semi-
automatic sporting rifle.
Saw
Saw is an abbreviation for squad automatic weapon. It is a new type of
weapon similar to an automatic rifle but with a greater range, but not as
heavy as a general purpose machine-gun.
Saw SAW is an abbreviation for squad automatic weapon. It is a new type
of weapon similar to an a
tomatic rifle but with a greater range, but not as heavy as a general
purpose machine-gun.
Scud
The Scud is a Soviet-produced surface-to-surface missile that can be
armed with a nuclear, chemical, or conventional warhead.
The Scud-B has a range of 300 km.
Scutum
The scutum was a large oblong Roman shield.
Sea dart
The sea dart is a British anti-ship and surface-to-air missile. It has a
range of 17km and a flight speed of mach 3.
Sea killer
The sea killer is an Italian anti-ship missile. It has a range of 25km
and uses beam-riding and radar altimeter guidance systems. It flies close
to the seas surface making it an effective weapon.
Sea sparrow
The sea sparrow is an American surface-to-air missile. It has a range of
32km and a flight speed of mach 3.
Sea wolf
The sea wolf is a British surface-to-air missile. It has a range of 6km
and a flight speed of mach 2. It is usually fired from a multi-barrel
launcher, but on British type 23 frigates they are launched from a vls
system.
Seacat
The seacat is a British anti-air missile. It has a range of 6km and is
guided either optically or by radar.
Selective-fire
Selective-fire is a firearm's ability to be fired fully automatically,
semi-automatically or, in some cases, in burst-fire mode at the option of
the firer.
Semi-automatic
A semi-automatic firearm is designed to fire a single cartridge, eject
the empty case and reload the chamber each time the trigger is pulled.
Semtex
Semtex is an odourless plastic explosive manufactured in Czechoslovakia
that can only be ignited by a detonator.
Sharps Carbine
The Sharps Carbine was a .53 inch calibre breech loading carbine used by
the Americans during the American Civil War. It had an effective range of
450m.
Sheridan
see "m551"
Sherman tank
The Sherman tank was an American tank used during the second world war.
There were numerous variations made. It was manned by a crew of five. It
was well armed with a 75mm gun and and co-axial machine gun in the
turret. A hull mounted machine gun and cupola mounted machine gun were
also fitted. It could achieve a top speed of 26mph.
Shotgun
A shotgun is a shoulder gun with smooth-bored barrel(s) primarily
intended for firing multiple small, round projectiles, (shot, birdshot,
pellets), larger shot (buck shot), single round balls (pumpkin balls) and
cylindrical slugs. Some shotgun barrels have rifling to give better
accuracy with slugs or greater pattern spread to birdshot.
Sikorsky
Sikorsky is an American helicopter manufacturer.
Silkworm
The silkworm is a Chinese anti-ship missile. Its range and speed are
believed to be a range of 46km and a flight speed of mach 0.9, but these
are unconfirmed.
Single-shot
Single-shot is a gun mechanism lacking a magazine where separately
carried ammunition must be manually placed in the gun's chamber for each
firing.
SKS
The SKS is a Soviet gas operated self-loading rifle. It takes a 7.62mm
round from a 10-round box. It has a muzzle velocity of 735 m/s and is
sighted to 1000m.
Slide-action
Slide-action is a gun mechanism activated by manual operation of a
horizontally sliding handle almost always located under the barrel.
"Pump-action" and "trombone" are synonyms for "slide-action."
Sm-1
The sm-1 is an American surface-to-air missile. It has a range of 33km
and a flight speed of mach 2.
Sm-2
The sm-2 is an American guided surface-to-air missile. It has a range of
59km and a flight speed of mach 2. It uses an interial guidance system
and is equipped with an auto-pilot for effectiveness against evasive
targets.
Smith & Wesson Model No. 1
The Smith & Wesson Model No. 1 was the first revolver manufactured by
Smith & Wesson. It was a .22 inch calibre, single-action, rimfire
revolver with a 7-round cylinder.
Snub-nosed
Snub-nosed is a descriptive of (usually) a revolver with an unusually
short barrel.
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a single seater fighter scout biplane. It first
flew in December 1916 and saw action during the Great War.
Southampton
The Southampton was a British cruiser of the Second World War. She was
armed with 12 6 inch guns and anti-aircraft guns.
Spencer
The Spencer was the first successful repeating rifle. It was manufactured
in 1862 by the Spencer repeating Rifle Company, in the USA. The Spencer
was a lever-action, rolling block rifle with a 7-round tube magazine in
the butt. It had an effective range of 275 m.
Springfield
The springfield is a US bolt operated rifle in general issue from 1906
replacing the krag-jorgensen m1896. It takes a .30" round from a 5-round
box. It has a muzzle velocity of 813 m/s and is sighted to 2469m.
SS-N-2a
The SS-N-2a (styx) is a Soviet anti-ship missile. It has a range of 46km
and a flight speed of mach 0.9. It carries a 1100lb warhead.
SS-N-2c
The SS-N-2c is a Soviet anti-ship missile. It has a range of 80km and a
flight speed ofr mach 0.9. The SS-N-2c is an updated version of the SS-N-
2a, and includes sea skimming abilities for avoiding detection by radar.
Sten
The sten was a British sub-machine gun which went through a number of
changes and variations from its development in 1941. It takes a 9mm round
from a 32-
Round box and has a cyclic rate of 550rpm.
Stinger
see "fim-92a"
Stuart tank
The Stuart tank was an American tank used during the second world war. It
was crewed by four men, had a top speed of 36mph and was lightly armed
with a 37mm gun and two machine guns.
Styx
see "SS-N-2a"
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic firearm commonly firing pistol
ammunition intended for close-range combat.
Suomi m1931
The Suomi m1931 is a Finnish sub-machine gun developed in 1931. It takes
a 9mm round from a variety of magazines. Its cyclic rate is 900rpm and
its muzzle velocity 400 m/s.
Super Redhawk
The Ruger Super Redhawk is a .44" magnum calibre revolver. It has either
a 7.5" or 9.5" barrel. The cylinder takes 6-rounds.
Sword
A sword is an offensive weapon designed for cutting and thrusting. It
consists of a long straight or curved blade with a handle or hilt and a
cross-guard and usually a sharp point.
T2e1
The t2e1 is a British rifle taking a .276" round from a 10-round box. The
muzzle velocity is 762 m/s and it is sighted to 1098m. Operation is
blowback.
Tank
Tank was the codename of the British armoured fighting vehicles which
were envisaged as land warships.
Targe
A targe was a light shield or buckler.
Tasset
A tasset was a piece of armour which hung from the corslet to offer
protection to the thighs.
Taurus PT99AF
The Taurus PT99AF is a Brazilian made copy of the Bereta 92F. It is a 9mm
parabellum calibre, semi-automatic pistol. It takes a 15-round magazine.
The rear sight is adjustable and the front sight is a fixed blade.
Theoben
Theoben are an English manufacturer of air rifles.
Theoben Rapid 7
The Theoben Rapid 7 is a .22" calibre bolt action repeater air-rifle
running on compressed air. It takes a seven-shot rotary magazine.
Theoben Taunus
The Theoben Taunus is a gas spring powered air-rifle. It is made in
calibres of .177" .20" and .22", is 41 inches long and weighs around
8lbs.
Thermite
Thermite is a mixture of aluminium and iron oxide or someother metal
oxide which on combustion produces a very high temperature, around 3000
degrees celsius. It is used as a filling for incendiary bombs.
Thompson
The thompson sub-machine gun is an American weapon developed from the
1920s. It takes a .45" round from a 50-round drum or 20-round box. It has
a cyclic rate of 800rpm and a muzzle velocity of 281 m/s.
Tiger 1
The tiger 1 was a German heavy breakthrough tank of the second world war.
It was armed with an 88mm gun and heavy armour.
Tomahawk
The tomahawk is a type of hatchet used by North American indians.
Torpedo
A torpedo is a missile which swims through water to its target. They are
used against ships and are carried by submarines, helicopters, aircraft
and ships.
Torpedoes
see "torpedo"
Tr-1
The tr-1 is an American single-seat high-altitude tactical reconnaissance
aircraft.
Train-band
A train-band was a company of citizen soldiers organised in London and
elsewhere during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
Trebuchet
The trebuchet was a Medieval military engine consisting of a pivoted
lever with a sling at one end, and used for throwing heavy missiles.
Trident
A trident is a three headed spear, looking rather like an oversized fork.
Trident is the nuclear missile deployed on certain American nuclear-
powered submarines. Each missile has eight warheads (MIRVs). The Trident
replaced the earlier Polaris and Poseidon missiles.
Trireme
A trireme was an ancient warship with 3 rows of oars propelled by 170
rowers. It was used by the Greeks, and copied by the Romans.
Truncheon
A truncheon is a short thick staff, or a club. They are usually carried
by Policemen.
Type 56
The type 56 is a Chinese copy of the ak47. It is an automatic assault
rifle taking a 7.62mm round from a 30-round box. The muzzle velocity is
717 m/s and it is sighted to 800m. The cyclic rate is 600 rpm.
Type 99
The type 99 is a Japanese bolt operated rifle. It takes a 7.7Mm round
from a 5-round box. It has a muzzle velocity of 715 m/s and is sighted to
2400m.
U-47
U-47 was a German submarine used during the Second World War. She was
armed with 4 21 inch torpedo tubes in the bow and 1 21 inch torpedo tube
in the stern. She had a top speed of 17 knots on the surface, and 8 knots
submerged. She ecarried a dcrew of 44.
Uhlan
A uhlan was a light cavalry soldier armed with lance, pistol and sabre.
They were employed as skirmishers and scouts. Marshal Saxe had a corps of
them in the French Army.
Uzi
The Uzi is a modern Israeli machine pistol. It takes a 9mm round from a
25/32/40-round box and has a cyclic rate of 600rpm. It has a muzzle
velocity of 390 m/s.
Valmet
The valmet is a Finnish automatic assault rifle. It takes a 7.62mm round
from a 30-round box. It has a muzzle velocity of 718 m/s and is sighted
to 800m. It has a cyclic rate of 650 rpm.
Vickers 3.7 AA gun
The Vickers 3.7 inch AA gun was a British anti-aircraft gun of the Second
World War. It fired 8 rounds-per-minute to an effective ceiling of 40000
feet.
Vtol
Vtol is an abbreviation for vertical take off and landing. It is used
with aircraft which can take-off and land with out a runway.
VZ52
The VZ52 is a Czechoslovakian rifle. It takes a 7.62mm round from a 10-
round box. The muzzle velocity is 740 m/s and it is sighted to 900m. It
is gas operated.
VZ61
The VZ61 is a modern Czechoslovakian machine pistol. It takes a 7.62mm
round from a 10/20-round box. It has a cyclic rate of 700rpm and a muzzle
velocity of 294 m/s.
W145
The w145 is a stealth defense system semi-automatic pistol manufactured
by the wilson company of America.
Webley
Webley are a British firearms manufacturer. The .455 service revolver was
in use with the British army from 1887 to 1915.
Webley No. 1
The Webley No. 1 was a .455 inch calibre revolver manufactured by Webley
& Scott from 1894 onwards. It was made in single and double-action models
both of which had a 6-round cylinder.
Webley-Bentley
The Webley-Bentley was an English revolver of the 1850s.
Xebec
A xebec was a small three-masted Mediterranean warship.
Yeoman
The Yeoman of The Guard are bodyguards to the British sovereign. They
were first appointed by Henry VII, and now act chiefly as warders at the
Tower Of London.
Yeomanry
The yeomanry were a volunteer cavalry force in the Britsih army. They
were originally formed in the 18th century for home defence and merged
with the Territorial Force in 1907.
Zk383
The ZK383 is a Czechoslovakian sub-machine gun used during the second
world war. It takes a 9mm round from a 30-round box. It has a cyclic rate
of 500 and 700rpm and is sighted to 800m with a muzzle velocity of 365
m/s.
PLANTS AND ANIMALS
Aardvark
The aardvark is a south African ant eating animal.
Aardwolf
The aardwolf is a carnivorous mammal.
Aaron's Rod
Aaron's Rod is the only British species of Golden-rod. It is found in
woods and thickets.
Aasvogel
The aasvogel are south African vultures.
Abalone
The abalone is an edible snail like marine animal.
Abelmoschus
Abelmoschus is a genus of tropical plants of the mallow family. It yields
edible fruits, called okro (okra, ochro) which is used in soups.
Abroma
The Abroma is a genus of small trees which are native to India.
Abutilon
The Abutilon are a genus of plants of the order Malvaceae, also known as
The Indian Mallows and American Jute.
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of plants of the order Leguminosae sub order Mimoseae
consisting of trees or shrubs with compound pinnate leaves. They grow in
Africa, Arabia, Australia and the East Indies.
Acalepha
Acalepha was a name once used to describe the Medusae (jelly-fishes).
Acanthaceae
The Acanthaceae are a natural order of dicotyledonous herbaceous plants
or shrubs with opposite leaves and mono-petalous corolla. There are
around 1400 species, mostly tropical.
Acanthads
see "Acanthaceae"
Acanthus
The acanthus is a herbaceous plant of south Europe, Asia and Africa. It
has large hairy, shiny leaves.
Acaridae
Acaridae is the mite family of insects
Acarina
Acarina is the mite and tick order of the arachnida. They have a rounded
body with no demarcation between the prosoma and the opisthosoma.
Accentor
An accentor is a type of bird of the prunelliadae family.
Acephala
The Acephala are the headless Mollusca with a bivalve shell.
Acer
Acer is a genus of plants of the order Aceraceae to which belongs the
Maple.
Achene
In botany, an achene is a small, dry carpel containing a single seed, the
pericarp of which is closely applied but seperable and which does not
open when ripe.
Achillaea
The Achillaea are a milfoil genus of plants.
Achimenes
The Achimenes are a genus of tropical American plants with scaly
underground tubers. They are of the order Gesneraceae.
Acipenser
The acipenser is a genus of cartilaginous ganoid fishes to which the
sturgeon belongs.
Aconite
Aconite (Monkshood) is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants of the order
Ranunculaceae. The are remarkable for their poisonous and medicinal
properties. Aconite is found in temperate regions of Europe in woods and
on shaded stream banks.
Acorn
The acorn is the fruit of the oak tree.
Acorus
Acorus is a genus of plants which includes the sweet-flag.
Acotyledon
see "Acotyledons"
Acotyledons
Acotyledons are plants not furnished with cotyledons or seed-lobes, such
as ferns, mosses and sea-weeds.
Acrita
Acrita is another name for the animals called Protozoa.
Acrogen
Acrogen is a term used to describe ferns, mosses and lichens which grow
by extension upwards.
Actinia
Actinia is a member of the order zoantharia.
Actinopterygii
Actinopterygii is a division of bony fishes. The paired fins have broad
bases and lack fleshy lobes. External nares are double, internal nares
are absent. Scales are of the ganoid type.
Actinozoa
Actinozoa are a class of animals belonging to the sub-kingdom
Coelenterata. They have rayed tentacles around the mouth.
Adda
The adda is a species of lizard also called the skink.
Addax
The addax is a species of antelope found in North African deserts. It has
wide-sweeping twisted horns about 4 feet long.
Adder
An adder is a venomous snake of the viper family found in England.
Adder's-tongue
Adder's-tongue is a species of British fern whose spores are produced on
a spike which resembles a snake's tongue.
Adder's-wort
Adder's-wort is a plant supposed to be able to cure snake bites.
Adder-pike
The Adder-pike is a small species of the weever fish. Also called the
Lesser Weever or Sting-fish.
Adenanthera
Adenanthera is a genus of trees and shrubs native to the East Indies and
Ceylon of the order Leguminosae.
Adiantum
Adiantum is a genus of ferns.
Adjutant-bird
The adjutant-bird is a large wading bird of the stork family. It is
native to the warmer parts of India where it is called Hurgila or Argala.
Admiral
Admiral is any of several species of butterfly in the same family
(Nymphalidae) as the tortoiseshells. The red admiral Vanessa atalanta,
wingspan 6 cm, is found worldwide in the northern hemisphere. It migrates
south each year from northern areas to subtropical zones.
Adonis
Adonis (pheasant's eye) is a genus of ranunculaceous plants. They are
found throughout Europe, Asia and America and are highly poisonous.
Aegagrus
The aegagrus are a wild species of ibex found in the Caucasus and other
Asiatic mountains.
Aegilops
Aegilops is a genus of grasses closely allied to wheat.
Aepyornis
Aepyornis was a genus of gigantic birds once found in Madagascar. It had
three toes and laid eggs 14 inches in length.
Aesculus
Aesculus is a genus of plants which includes the horse-chestnut.
Afghan hound
The Afghan hound is a breed of fast hunting dog resembling the saluki in
build, though slightly smaller. It was first introduced to the West by
British army officers serving on India's North-West Frontier along the
Afghanistan border in the late 19th century. The Afghan hound hunts by
sight. It is about 70 cm tall and has a long, silky coat that may be
black, grey, or a wide range of beige or tawny colours.
Agama
Agama are several lizards allied to the iguana.
Agaric
The agaric is a family of fungus including the cultivated mushroom.
Agave
Agave is a genus of plants of the order Amaryllidaceae which includes the
daffodil and narcissus. They are popularly known as American aloes.
Ageratum
Ageratum is a genus of composite plants found in the warmer parts of
America.
Agnatha
The agnatha are a branch of the sub-phylum craniata group of animals.
They are the lampreys and hagfishes. These are the most primitive of the
craniates. The mouth is round and not bounded by jaws. The brain is
primitive.
Agnus Castus
Agnus Castus is a shrub of the order Verbenaceae native to Mediterranean
countries. It has white flowers and acrid aromatic fruits. It was thought
to have the property of preserving chastity, hence the name Castus from
the Latin chaste.
Agouara
The agouara is a crab-eating racoon of South America.
Agouta
The agouta is an insectivorous mammal peculiar to Haiti. It is of the
tanrec family and somewhat larger than a rat.
Agouti
The agouti is a small rodent of the genus Dasyprocta, family
Dasyproctidae. It is found in the forests of Central and South America.
The agouti is herbivorous, swift-running, and about the size of a rabbit.
Agrimony
Agrimony is a genus of plants of the order Rosaceae consisting of slender
perennial herbs found in temperate regions. The leaves of common agrimony
are used as a yellow dye.
Agrostis
Agrostis is a genus of pasture grasses.
Aigrette
Aigrette is a term used to describe the feathery crown attached to the
seeds of various plants such as the thistle and dandelion.
Air-plants
Air-plants (Epiphytes) are plants that live upon other plants or trees
apparently without receiving any nutriment other than by the air. They
are abundant in Java and tropical America.
Airedale terrier
The Airedale terrier breed of large terrier, about 60 cm tall, with a
wiry red-brown coat and black saddle patch. It originated about 1850 in
England, as a cross between the otterhound and Irish and Welsh terriers.
Ajolote
The ajolote is a Mexican reptile of the genus Bipes. It and several other
tropical burrowing species are placed in the Amphisbaenia, a group
separate from lizards and snakes among the Squamata. Unlike the others,
however, which have no legs, it has a pair of short but well-developed
front legs. In line with its burrowing habits, the skull is very solid,
the eyes small, and external ears absent. The scales are arranged in
rings, giving the body a worm-like appearance.
Ajowan
Ajowan is an umbelliferous plant which is cultivated in India, Persia and
Egypt for the seeds which are used in cooking and medicine.
Ajuga
The ajuga are a genus of plants belonging to the labiate family.
Alactaga
The alactaga is a rodent mammal closely allied to the jerboa but larger.
It is found across central Asia.
Albacore
The albacore is a species of fish.
Albatross
The albatross is a long winged oceanic bird.
Albino
An albino is an animal with no skin pigment and pink eyes.
Alburnum
The alburnum is the recently formed wood in trees.
Alco
The alco is a small variety of dog, with a small head and large pendulous
ears found wild in Mexico and Peru.
Alcyonaria
Alcyonaria is an order of anthozoa. They have eight pinnate tentacles and
eight mesenteries.
Alcyonium
Alcyonium is a member of the order of alcyonaria.
Alder
The alder is a genus of plants of the order Betulaceae, consisting of
trees and shrubs found in the temperate and colder regions of the world.
Alfa
Alfa is a name for esparto grass obtained from Algeria.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a prolific forage plant similar to lucerne widely grown in the
USA.
Algarobilla
Algarobilla are the seed-pods of trees of the Prosopis genus, valued for
their tannin.
Alimentary canal
The alimentary canal is a tube beginning at the mouth and passing through
the body to the anus. It is primarily used for the reception of food.
Alkanet
Alkanet is a perennial Boraginaceae found in warmer parts of Europe. It
has a black taproot and funnel-shaped flowers which commence red and then
turn blue.
Allamanda
Allamanda is a genus of American tropical plants of the order
Apocynaceae, with large yellow or violet flowers.
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian reptile. It differs from the true crocodile
by having a shorter and flatter head, much less webbed feet, and cavities
in the upper jaw into which the long canine teeth of the lower jaw fit.
Alligator-apple
The alligator-apple is a narcotic fruit similar to the custard-apple. It
is found in marshy areas of Jamaica.
Alligator-pear
Alligator-pear is an old name for the Avocado-pear (Avocado).
Allium
Allium is a genus of plants of the order Liliaceae which are
distinguished by a peculiar pungent smell and taste characterised as
alliaceous. These include the onion, garlic, leek and shalot.
Allosaurus
Allosaurus was the biggest and fiercest carnivorous dinosaur of the
jurassic period. It was 15m tall and weighed about 3 tons.
Aloe
Aloe is a genus of plants of the order Liliaceae. They are natives of
Africa and other hot regions. The leaves are fleshy, thick and spinous at
the edges. The flowers have a tubular corolla.
Alopecurus
Alopecurus is a genus of grasses.
Alpaca
The alpaca is a close relative of the llama and a native of South
America. It is smaller than the llama and has a fleece of around 24
inches long from which cloth is woven.
Alpine Crow
The Alpine Crow or Alpine Chough is a European bird closely akin to the
chough of England.
Alpine Warbler
The alpine warbler is a European bird of the same family as the hedge-
sparrow.
Alsatian
Alsatian is another name for the German shepherd dog.
Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria are a genus of South American plants of the order
Amaryllideae.
Alveoli
The alveoli are air-sacs within the lung at the end of bronchioles.
Alyssum
Alyssum is a genus of cruciferous plants including the madwort.
Amadavat
The amadavat is a small Indian singing bird allied to the finches.
Amadou
Amadou is the name of several fungi of the genus Polyporus, they have a
leathery appearance and grow on trees.
Amanita
Amanita is a genus of fungi including fly-agaric.
Amaranthaceae
The Amaranthaceae (amaranths) are an order of apetalous plants mainly
found in tropical countries. They are remarkable for the white or reddish
scales of which their flowers are composed.
Amaranths
see "Amaranthaceae"
Amaryllidaceae
Amaryllidaceae is an order of monocotyledonous plants which are generally
bulbous with a highly coloured flower, six stamens and an inferior three-
celled ovary. They are native to Europe and most other warm parts of the
world.
Ambatch
Ambatch is a thorny leguminous shrub with yellow flowers growing in the
shallows of the Upper Nile and other rivers of tropical Africa. It grows
to around 15 to 20 feet tall. The wood is very light and spongy and is
used to make rafts.
Amblyopsis
Amblyopsis is a genus of blind fishes comprised of a single species found
in the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky.
Amelanchier
Amelanchier is a genus of small trees native to Europe and North America.
Amentaceae
Amentaceae is the family of trees and plants where the flowers are
arranged in the form of catkins.
Amentum
Amentum is a botanical term for the catkin.
Ametabola
Ametabola are a division of insects which are wingless and do not undergo
any metamorphosis, but which hatch from the egg nearly in the same form
they keep throughout their life. This includes the lice and spring-tails.
Ammonite
An ammonite is one type of extinct sea creature, often found as a fossil.
Amoeba
An amoeba is a primitive one cell animal.
Amoebina
The amoebina is an order of rhizopoda. The order is comprised of the
amoeba and its relatives. Reproduction is usually by binary fission.
Amoeboid
see "amoebina"
Amomum
Amomum are a genus of plants of the order Zingiberaceae which includes
ginger. They are native to warm climates and are remarkable for the
pungency and aromatic properties of their seeds.
Amphibia
Amphibia is a class of craniates which during their evolution have only
partialy adapted to life on land. They breed in water.
Amphibian
see "amphibia"
Amphibians
see "amphibia"
Amphineura
The amphineura is a class of phylum mollusca. The body is bilaterally
symmetrical. The mouth and anus are at opposite ends of the body. The
foot is flattened and the mantle bears calcareous plates.
Amphipoda
Amphipoda is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is absent and
the body is laterally compressed. The abdomen is elongated.
Anaconda
The anaconda is a South American snake, a member of the python and boa
family, the Boidae. One of the largest snakes, growing to 9m more, it is
found in and near water, where it lies in wait for the birds and animals
on which it feeds. The anaconda is not venomous, but kills its prey by
coiling round it and squeezing until the creature suffocates. The
anaconda is a climber as well as a swimmer, and may be found in trees
along river banks.
Anagallis
see "Pimpernel"
Anapsida
The anapsida are a subclass of reptiles in which there are no temporal
vacuities.
Anatomy
Anatomy is the study of animal's structure.
Anchovy
The anchovy is a small fish (Engraulis encrasicholus) of the herring
family. It is fished extensively, being abundant in the Mediterranean,
and is also found on the Atlantic coast of Europe and in the Black Sea.
It grows to 20 cm. Pungently flavoured, it is processed into fish pastes
and essences, and used as a garnish, rather than eaten fresh.
Ancylostoma
Ancylostoma is a phylum nematoda.
Anemone
The anemone is any plant of the genus Anemone, of the buttercup family
Ranunculaceae. The function of petals is performed by its sepals. The
white or lavender-tinged wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) grows in
open woods, flowering in spring.
Angelfish
Angelfish is any of a number of unrelated fishes. The freshwater
angelfish, genus Pterophyllum, of South America, is a tall, side-to-side
flattened fish with a striped body, up to 26 cm long, but usually smaller
in captivity. The angelfish or monkfish of the genus Squatina is a
bottom-living shark up to 1.8m long with a body flattened from top to
bottom. The marine angelfishes, Pomacanthus and others, are long narrow-
bodied fish with spiny fins, often brilliantly coloured, up to 60cm long,
living around coral reefs in the tropics.
Angler
Angler is any of an order of fishes Lophiiformes, with flattened body and
broad head and jaws. Many species have small, plant-like tufts on their
skin. These act as camouflage for the fish as it waits, either floating
among seaweed or lying on the sea bottom, twitching the enlarged tip of
the threadlike first ray of its dorsal fin to entice prey. There are over
200 species of angler fish, living in both deep and shallow water in
temperate and tropical seas. The males of some species have become so
small that they live as parasites on the females.
Animal
An animal is a living creature endowed with voluntary movement.
Animals
see "animal"
Annelid
Annelid is any segmented worm of the phylum Annelida. Annelids include
earthworms, leeches, and marine worms such as lugworms. They have a
distinct head and soft body, which is divided into a number of similar
segments shut off from one another internally by membranous partitions,
but there are no jointed appendages.
Annelids
see "phylum_annelida"
Ant
An ant is a small hymenopterous insect. Ants have a complex social
structure, and instincts.
Anteater
The anteater is a mammal of the family Myrmecophagidae, order Edentata,
native to Mexico, Central America, and tropical South America. An
anteater lives almost entirely on ants and termites. It has toothless
jaws, an extensile tongue, and claws for breaking into the nests of its
prey. Species include the giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla, about
1.8m long including the tail, the tamandua or collared anteater Tamandua
tetradactyla, about 90cm long, and the silky anteater Cyclopes didactyla,
about 35cm long. The name is also incorrectly applied to the aardvark,
the echidna, and the pangolin.
Antedon
The antedon is a type of crinoidea.
Antelope
An antelope is any of several cloven hoofed ruminates.
Antelopes
see "antelope"
Anthozoa
The anthozoa is the class of marine animals known as sea anemones, sea
fans, sea pens and stony corals. They are solitary or colonial animals in
which only hydroid individuals are represented.
Anthropoidea
The anthropoidea are an order of eutheria. They have the most highly
developed
Brain of the mammals. The digits bear nails.
Ants
see "ant"
Anura
Anura is a subclass of amphibia. They are the frogs and toads. These are
amphibians which lose their tail at the metamorphosis. In the adult the
gill slits close. The hind limbs are very powerful and have webs between
the digits.
Anus
The anus is the opening at the end of the alimentary canal.
Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the jurassic period. It was 20m
long and weighed 30 tonnes. It digested food with the aid of stones in
the stomach.
Ape
see "apes"
Apes
Apes are a group of primates closely related to humans.
Aphetohyoidea
Aphetohyoidea is a subclass of fish. They have a bony endoskeleton and
primitive jaws.
Apoda
The apoda are a subclass of amphibia. They are limbless, burrowing
animals with a sub-terminal anus and small practically useless eyes
covered by opaque skin.
Apple
An apple is the edible fruit of the trees of genus malus, rosaceae
family.
Apricot
The apricot is a fruit tree native to Asia. It was first brought to
England in 1652.
Apterygota
Apterygota is a subclass of insecta.
Arachnida
Arachnida is a class of arthropods. They are the spiders, scorpions,
king-crabs and mites. The body is divided into an anterior prosoma and a
posterior mesosoma. There are four pairs of walking legs on the mesosoma.
Araneida
Araneida is the spider order of arachnida. Spinnerets are present in the
abdomen for spinning the web.
Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx was the first bird. It appeared on earth during the
jurassic period. It was about 35cm long and unlike modern birds had
teeth.
Archiannelida
The archiannelida are a class of phylum annelida.
Arenicola
The arenicola are polychaeta.
Argala
see "Adjutant-bird"
Argali
The argali is a wild sheep found in Siberia.
Argus-flounder
The argus-flounder is a species of flounder found in American seas.
Armadillo
The armadillo is a mammal native to South and Central America.
Arrow worm
see "phylum_chaetognatha"
Arthropod
see "phylum_arthropoda"
Arthropods
see "arthropod"
Artiodactyla
Artiodactyla is an order of eutheria. They are even toed ungulates:
cattle and sheep.; pigs, deer and camels. They are specialised to deal
with large quantities of vegetable food. The cheek teeth are adapted for
grinding. The stomach is complex.
Ascaris
Ascaris is a phylum nematoda.
Asexual
Asexual is a term applied to reproduction by a single parent.
Ash
The ash is a type of tree yielding strong elastic timber.
Asp
The asp is a type of poisonous snake.
Aspen
The aspen is a tree native to Europe, north Africa and north Asia.
Ass
The ass is an animal related to the horse and zebra.
Asterias
Asterias is an asteroidea.
Asteroidea
Asteroidea is a subclass of stelleroidea. These are the starfishes. Tube
feet are in a groove along the under surface of each of the "arms". The
feet can be retracted.
Aubergine
see "Egg-plant"
Auricle
An auricle is a heart chamber which receives blood.
Aves
The aves are the bird class of craniates. They are similar to the
reptiles, but have become adapted to flying. The fore limbs are modified
to form wings.
Avocado
The avocado-pear (avocado) is an evergreen tree of the order Lauraceae.
It has a fruit similar to a pear, weighing around 1 to 2 pounds. It is a
native tree of tropical America and the West Indies.
Babiroussa
The babiroussa is a ferocious wild pig found in Sulawesi.
Baboon
The baboon is a medium sized monkey of the genus papio. They are
characterized by a dog like snout, cheek prominences, and coloured bare
patches on the buttocks. Baboons are found in Africa and Arabia.
Baboons
see "baboon"
Bacteria
Bacteria are micro organisms.
Badger
The badger is a carnivorous mammal found in England.
Balantidium
Balantidium is a member of the order of heterotricha.
Balm
Balm is a plant native to Europe and western Asia.
Balsam
Balsam is a genus of herbs.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a genus of grasses found in warm climates.
Banana
The banana is a perennial herb. Cultivated in tropical and sub tropical
climates.
Bandicoot
The bandicoot is a small marsupial peculiar to australasia.
Bantam
Bantams are miniature fowls.
Banyan
The banyan is a large fig tree native to India.
Barbel
The barbel is a type of fresh water fish related to the carp.
Bark
Bark is the external coating of tree trunks.
Barley
Barley is the name of several cereal plants of the genus Hordeum, order
Gramineae, which yield a grain used in food and for making malt. Barley
has been known by man since ancient times and was used by the Egyptians
to brew beer.
Barnacle
Barnacles are crustaceans often attaching themselves to ships.
Barramunda
see "Ceratodus"
Basil
Basil is an aromatic herb.
Bass
The bass is a fish of the perch family.
Basset hound
The basset hound is a long bodied, short crooked legged dog.
Bat
A bat is a nocturnal creature of the order cheiroptera.
Bay tree
The bay tree is a small evergreen tree. Its leaves are used in cooking.
Beagle
The beagle is a small dog of the fox hound type.
Bean
A bean is the seed of a plant of the order leguminosae.
Bear
A bear is an omnivorous mammal animal of the order ursus.
Beaver
The beaver is a large amphibian rodent.
Bebeeru
see "Greenheart"
Bee
The bee is a four winged stinging insect of the order hymenoptera.
Beech
The beech is a forest amentaceae.
Beef
Beef is the meat derived from the carcass of bulls and cows.
Beetle
The beetle is an insect of the order coleoptera.
Begonia
Begonias are succulent herbs native to tropical climates.
Behaviour
Behaviour is an organism's mode of life.
Belladonna
Belladonna is a poisonous plant from which atropine is derived.
Beluga
The beluga is a large dolphin.
Bergamot
The bergamot is a tree of the genus citrus. The rind of its fruit
provides a fragrant orange scented essence used in perfume.
Bhang
Bhang is the Indian name for cannabis indica.
Biennial
Biennial refers to plants that live for two years/seasons.
Bighorn
The bighorn (Ovis cervina) is a large sheep with massive horns. It is
found in the Rocky Mountains from Alaska to Mexico. Also called the Rocky
Mountain Sheep.
Bilberry
The bilberry is a small shrub of the order ericaceae.
Bilharzia
Bilharzia is a parasitic worm of the fluke group.
Bindweed
Bindweed is a perennial herb of the order convolvulaceae.
Biology
Biology is the science of life and living things.
Birch
The birch is a slender tree.
Birchirs
The birchirs are members of the palaeonisciformes order.
Bird
see "aves"
Bird of prey
A bird of prey is a bird with a hooked beak and sharp claws which hunts
other animals.
Birds
see "bird"
Bishopweed
Bishopweed is a perennial herb used to treat gout.
Bison
The bison is a division of the ox family.
Bittern
The bittern is a British marsh bird related to the heron.
Black snake
The black snake (coluber constrictor) is a common non-venomous snake
found in the USA. It is about 5 feet long and is so agile it was
nicknamed the Racer. It feeds on small animals and birds and was used for
catching rats.
Black-bass
see "Growler"
Blackbird
The blackbird (Turdus merula) is a British bird of the thrush family. The
male has black plumage and a yellow bill. The female is dark brown with a
dark bill.
Blackbuck
The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is an antelope found in central and
north west India. It has spirally twisted horns and stands about 3 feet
tall.
Blackcap
The blackcap is an English song bird of the warbler family.
Bladder-nut
The bladder-nut is a name of shrubs or small trees of the genus
Staphylea, order Sapindaceae. They are native to Europe, Asia and North
America.
Bladder-wrack
Bladder-wrack is a sea-weed so called because of the floating vesicles in
its fronds. It is common on English beachs.
Bladderwort
The bladderwort is a genus of herbs of the order lentibulariaceae.
Blattidae
The blattidae are a family of insects of the order Orthoptera. They are
voracious, some species eating everything which gets in their way. The
cockroach (Blatta orientalis) is a member of this family.
Bleak
The bleak is a small river fish, 6 or 7 inches long. It is a member of
the Carp family and resembles the dace. It is found in England and
Europe. It is generally silver but with a green back and is very edible.
Blenheim
The Blenheim is a variety of spaniel bearing a close resemblance to the
King Charles breed, but is somewhat smaller.
Blenny
The Blenny is a genus of acanthopterygious fishes (Blennius)
distinguished by a short rounded head and a long compressed smooth body.
Owing to their small gill openings they can exist for for some time
without water. They are found in sea water. Some species are found off
the coast of Britain.
Blesbok
The blesbok (Alcelaphus albifrons) is (was?) an antelope found in South
Africa. It has a white marked face, a general chocolate colouring and a
"saddle" of a bluish colour. It was heavily hunted during the 19th
century.
Blind fish
The Blind fish are several species of fishes of the family Amblyopsidae
inhabiting the American cave-streams.
Blindworm
The blindworm is a legless lizard of the anguidae family.
Bloodhound
The bloodhound is an ancient breed of dog black and tan in colour and
with pendulous ears. It has great powers of scent and is often used for
tracking.
Blue bottle
The blue bottle (Musca vomitoria) is a large blue species of the the
blow-fly.
Blue-fish
The blue-fish (Temnodon) is a sea fish common off the Altantic coast of
the USA. It is similar to the mackerel, but grows to 3 feet long. Also
called the skip-jack, horse-mackerel and green-fish.
Blue-throat
The blue-throat (Sylvia succica) is a bird with a tawny breast marked
with a sky-blue crescent. It is found in northern Europe and Asia. It is
eaten in France.
Blue-wing
The blue-wing is a genus of American ducks so called because of the
colour of the wing coverts.
Bluethroat
The bluethroat is a small bird.
Bo tree
The bo tree is an Indian fig tree held sacred to buddha.
Boa
The boa is a genus of serpents of the family Boidae. They are
distinguished by having jaws which can dilate to enable them to swallow
prey thicker than themselves. They also have a hook on each side of the
vent.
Boar
Boar is a male, not castrated pig (swine).
Boat-fly
The boat-fly (Notonecta glauca) is an aquatic hemipterous insect which
swims on its back.
Boatbill
The boatbill is a heron type bird found in brazil.
Bogue
The bogue is an acanthopterygian fish found in the Mediterranean. It has
large eyes and a brilliant colouring.
Boidae
The boidae are a family of large non-venomous serpants with two mobile
hooks and the rudiments of hind-legs near the anus.
Boletus
Boletus is a genus of fungi, order Hymenomycetes, family Polyporei. They
have a broad hemispherical cap the lower surface formed of open tupes,
cylindrical in form, and adhering to one another. The tubes can be
separated from the cap and contain little cylindrical capsules which are
the organs of reproduction.
Bombay duck
The bombay duck is a small fish of the Indian and China seas.
Bontebok
The bontebok is a pied antelope of South Africa allied to the blesbok.
Borage
Borage is a biennial herb of the order boraginaceae.
Botany
Botany is the science of plant life.
Botany-Bay Oak
see "Casuarina"
Box
Box is a hardy shrub of the order euphorbiaceae.
Box elder
Box elder is the ash-leaved maple tree which is found in the USA. It was
once used as a source of sugar.
Box thorn
Box thorn is a climbing solanaceae.
Boxer
The boxer is a medium-sized dog of continental origin. It has a smooth
coat.
Brachiosaurus
Brachiosaurus was one of the largest animals ever to live. It was a
dinosaur from the jurassic period. It was 25m long and weighed 50 tonnes.
It was a herbivore.
Bracken
Bracken is a fern growing on heathland.
Bradyodonti
The bradyodonti is an order of chondrichthyes. They are the chimaeras. A
palato-quadrate bar is fused to the cranium. Teeth are few and crushing.
Bramble
The bramble is a prickly shrub of the order rosaceae.
Branchiopoda
Branchiopoda is a subclass of crustacean in which the trunk appendages
are broad, lobed and fringed with hairs.
Bread-fruit
Bread-fruit is a tree of the order Artocarpaceae. The tree grows to a
height of about 100 feet. The leaves are leathery, about 1 foot long and
3 or 4 inches wide. The fruit of the tree when roasted tastes somewhat
like bread, hence the name! The sap of the tree is similar in appearance
to cows milk, and is considered nutritious, hence the alternative name of
cow-tree.
Bream
The bream is a fresh water fish allied to the carp.
Brill
The brill is a type of fish like the turbot.
Briza
Briza is a genus of grass. It is popularly called quaking grass on
account of the spikelets being in a constant state of tremulous motion.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a late variety of the cauliflower, hardier and with more
colour in the flower and leaves. The flower-stalks are eaten.
Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae is the pineapple family of endogenous plants. The name comes
from the genus Bromelia to which the pineapple was once incorrectly
refered.
Bronchiole
A bronchiole is a branch of a bronchus within the lung.
Bronchioles
see "bronchiole"
Bronchus
The bronchus is a pipe connecting the trachea to the lung.
Bronze-wing
The Bronze-wing is various species of Australian pigeons distinguished by
the bronze colour of their plumage.
Broom
Broom is a shrub of the order leguminosae.
Broom-grass
Broom-grass (Broom-corn) is a plant of the order of grasses, with a
jointed stem. It grows to a height of between 8 and 10 feet. It was
cultivated in North America and used to make carpet-brooms.
Bryozoa
Bryozoa is another name for phylum polyzoa.
Buansuah
The buansuah is a wild dog of Northen India.
Bubaline Antelope
The bubaline antelope is an ox-like antelope found in the deserts of
north Africa. It is yellow-brown in colour and has horns which start
forward and outward, and then trun backwards.
Bubalus
The bubalus is the genus of animals which includes the buffalo.
Bubo
Bubo is a genus of owls, including the great-horned owl.
Buccal cavity
The buccal cavity is the region into which the mouth opens. The tongue is
found on the floor of the buccal cavity.
Bucerotidoe
see "Hornbills"
Buck
Buck is the name of the male fallow-deer, reindeer, chamois, goat, hare
and rabbit.
Buck-bean
The buck-bean (bog-bean, Marsh-Trefoil) is a plant of the order
Gentianaceae. It is common in boggy soils and is found in England, Europe
and North America. It is a bitter tasting plant and was once used as a
tonic.
Buck-hound
The buck-hound is a type of dog similar to the stag-hound but smaller,
originally bred for hunting bucks.
Buckthorn
The buckthorn is a shrub of the order rhamnaceae.
Bucku
Bucku are several plants of the genus Barosma order Rutacea. They were
used as medicine for urino-genital disorders around the turn of the
century.
Buffalo
The buffalo is a large animal of the ox family.
Bugula
Bugula is an ectoprocta.
Bulb
A bulb is a modified leaf-bud formed on a plant on or beneath the surface
of the ground, emitting roots from its base and a stem from its centre.
Bull
A bull is a male animal of the bovidea family.
Bull-frog
The bull-frog is a large species of frog found in North America. They are
between 8 and 10 inches long, and get their name from their croak which
resembles the lowing of cattle
Bullace
The bullace (prunus insititia) is a wild plum.
Bulldog
The bulldog is an ancient breed of British dog. It was bred for bull
baiting and as such it can grip a bull's throat without obstructing its
nostrils. It has a distinctive short, thick, kinked tail.
Bullfinch
The bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) is a species of finch of the family
Fringillidae.
Bulrush
The bulrush is a perennial sedge of the order cyperaceae.
Bunting
The bunting is a bird of the sub-family Emberizinae, allied to the
finches.
Burdock
Burdock is a biennial herb of the order compositae.
Burnet
Burnet is a perennial rosaceous herb.
Bush antelope
The bush antelope is a small African antelope.
Buttercup
The buttercup is a perennial herb of the order ranunculaceae.
Butterfish
see "Gunnel"
Butterfly
Butterfly is a division of the order of lepidoptera. The other is moth.
Butterwort
The butterwort is a perennial herb of the order lentibulariaceae.
Buzzard
The buzzard is a group of 20 types of birds of prey.
Cabbage
Cabbage is a hardy biennial vegetable of the genus Brassica, order
cruciferae.
Cactus
Cactus is the order of fleshy, thickened and mainly leafless plants.
Calamus
Calamus (Sweet Flag) is a perennial herb native to India and southern
Asia. It has narrow sword-shaped leaves and a thick branched rhizome.
When crushed the leaves emit an odour of tangerine.
Calcarea
Calcarea are a class of sponges with a spicular skeleton made of calcium
carbonate.
Calyptoblastea
The calyptoblastea is an order of hydrozoa. They are marine colonial
forms in which the perisac is extended to form hydrothecae around the
hydranths and gonothecae around the blastostyles.
Camel
The camel is a group of even toed, ungulate ruminating mammals.
Camomile
Camomile is a perennial dwarf herb of the order compositae.
Camptosaurus
Camptosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the jurassic period. It mainly
stayed on all-fours, but could rear up on its hind legs to run away from
predators. It had hooves instead of claws on its fingers.
Canary
The canary is a bird of the finch family and native of the Canary
islands.
Cannabis
Cannabis is a plant of the order urticaceae. The dried flowers were once
used as a medicine in migraine and neuralgia.
Capromys
see "Hog-rat"
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal shield.
Caraway
Caraway is a biennial herb umbelliferae.
Cardamom
Cardamom is an aromatic perennial herb of the order scitamineae.
Cariama
The cariama is a large, long legged bird found in south America.
Caribou
The caribou is a north American reindeer.
Carinatae
The carinatae are an order of birds. They can fly.
Carmarina
Carmarina is a member of the order trachylina.a
Carnation
The carnation is a hardy perennial plant of the order caryophyllaceae.
Carnauba
Carnauba is a native palm of Brazil. When young the leaves are covered in
a wax used to make candles.
Carnivora
Carnivora is the carnivorous order of eutheria. They primarily eat the
flesh of other craniates. Canines are prominent. The caecum is small or
absent.
Carnivore
A carnivore is a carnivorous mammal.
Carnivorous
Something which is carnivorous eats flesh.
Carob
The carob is a leguminous evergreen tree found in mediterranean
countries.
Carp
The carp is a family fresh water fish.
Carrageen
Carrageen is a common British seaweed (Chondrus crispus). When dried and
boiled it yields a jelly used in food and medicine.
Carrot
The carrot is a vegetable umbelliferae.
Caruncle
A caruncle is the fleshy excresence on the head of a fowl, such the comb
of a cock or the wattles of a turkey.
Carya
Carya is the hickory genus of plants.
Caryophyllaceae
Caryophyllaceae are an order of plants. They have opposite undivided
leaves without stipples. The order includes the Carnation, chick-weed and
sweet-william.
Caryophyllia
Caryophyllia is a member of the order zoantharia.
Caryopsis
Caryopsis is the botanical term for small one-seeded, dry, indehiscent
fruit in which the seed adheres to the thin pericap throughout, such as
in wheat and other grains.
Caryota
Caryota is a genus of palms with doubly pinnate leaves.
Cashew
The cashew is a nut from a small evergreen tree found in the caribbean.
Cassava
Cassava is a South American shrub of the order Euphorbiaceae. It grows to
about 8 feet in height and has broad, shiny leaves roughly in the shape
of a human hand and attractive white and pink flowers. The root is used
in cooking.
Cassia
Cassia is a large genus of leguminous plants found in tropical countries.
The species consists of trees, shrubs and herbs. The leaves are abruptly
pinnated and usually bear glands on their stalks. The drug senna is
obtained from the leaflets of many of the species.
Cassicus
The Cassicus is a genus of American insessorial birds, the Cassicans
(American Orioles). They are allied to the Starlings and are remarkable
for the ingenuity with which they weave their nests.
Cassowary
The cassowary are a genus of ruminating birds similar to the ostrich.
Cassowary Tree
see "Casuarina"
Castoridae
The Castoridae is a family of rodent animals comprising the beaver and
others.
Casuaridae
The Casuaridae are a family of the order Casuariformes. These are the
cassowaries. They have strong legs and a bald head topped with a helmet.
Casuariformes
The Casuariformes is an order of birds.
Casuarina
The Casuarina (Botany-Bay Oak), is the only genus of the order
Casuarinaceae (cassowary trees). There are around 30 species mainly
native to Australia. They are jointed, leafless trees similar to the
Birches.
Cat
The cat is a genus of carnivorous animal.
Cat-bird
The Cat-bird is a species of the American thrush. It is about 9 inches
long. The plummage is dark gray on the top and paler grey underneath.
Cat-fish
The Cat-fish is a voracious fish of the gobies family. It was also called
the Wolf-fish in the 19th century.
Catalpa
The Catalpa is a genus of plants of the order Bignoniaceae. They are
trees with simple leaves and large, gay, trumpet shaped flowers.
Catamount
Catamount is an old name for any wild cat, including the Lynx and the
Puma.
Catamountain
Catamountain is an old variation of Catamount.
Catarrhina
Catarrhina is a suborder of anthropoidea. The nostrils face downwards.
The internasal septum is narrow. The tail is never prehensile.
Catchfly
Catchfly is a popular name for several plants of the genus Silene.
Catha
Catha is a genus of plants of the order Celastraceae, mostly native to
Africa. The leaves and twigs of one species are used to make khat, a
drink similar to coffee.
Catmint
Catmint (catnip) is a plant of the order Labiatae. It grows to a height
of around 3 feet and has pink tinged white flowers and stalked, downy,
heart-shaped leaves. It is so named for the fascination cats have with
it.
Catnip
see "Catmint"
Cattle
The term cattle applies to all members of the ox genus.
Caudex
In botany, caudex refers to the scaly trunk of palms and tree-ferns.
Cauliflower
The cauliflower is a vegetable of the order cruciferae.
Reptilia is the reptile class of craniates. They are animals completely
adapted to life on dry land. The skin is dry and bears horny epidermal
scales. The lungs form the sole respiratory organs. Eggs are laid on dry
land.
Cavy
The cavy are small rodents found in south America.
Cecidomyia
Cecidomyia is the genus of insects to which the Hessian-fly belongs.
Cedar
The cedar is an ornamental evergreen tree native of Africa and India.
Cedar-bird
Cedar-bird is a name given to the American wax-wing on account of its
fondness for the berries of the red cedar.
Cedrela
Cedrela is a genus of large timber trees.
Celandine
Celandine is the name of two british flowers. Greater celandine belongs
to the poppy family. Lesser Celandine (swallow-wort, pilewort) was
thought to be a cure for piles.
Celeriac
Celeriac is a variety of celery in which the root resembles a turnip. It
is used in cooking.
Celery
Celery is a biennial vegetable of the order umbellifereae.
Cembra Pine
The Cembra Pine (Swiss stone pine, Siberian pine) is a conifer found in
Central Europe. It has edible seeds and yields a turpentine called
Carpathian balsam.
Centaurea
Centaurea is a genus of composite plants. They are all annual or
perennial herbs with alternate leaves and single heads, the florets of
which are tubular. The genus includes corn blue-bottle, purple sultan,
white sultan and knapweed.
Centaury
Centaury is an annual herb of the gentian family. It has pretty red
flowers and was extolled for its medicinal properties by herbailists in
the past.
Cephalochordata
The cephalochordata is a class of sub-phylum acrania. They are the
lancets. Small fish-like animals. The notochord extends the whole length
of the body, even to the tip of the snout.
Cephalopoda
Cephalopoda is a class of phylum mollusca. They are the squids and
octopuses. The head is well developed and surrounded by prehensile
tentacles. The eyes are large and complex.
Cephaloptera
Cephaloptera are a genus of cartilaginous fishes of the ray family. They
have a pair of small fins which stand out from the head like horns, hence
they are called the fin-headed rays or horned rays.
Ceramiaceae
Ceramiaceae is an order of cellular sea-weeds consisting of thread-like
jointed plants of a red or brown-red colour.
Cerastes
Cerastes is a genus of deadly African vipers. They have two small horns
formed by the scales above the eyes, hence they are called Horned Vipers.
Cerasus
Cerasus is the cherry genus of trees.
Ceratodus
Ceratodus (barramunda) is a genus of fishes belonging to the Dipnoi order
(lung-fishes). They are between 3 and 6 feet long and are found in
Australian rivers.
Cereal
Cereal is a term applied to Gramineae cultivated for food (wheat, barley,
rye, oats &c.). The name comes from Ceres, the goddess associated with
corn.
Ceroxylon
Ceroxylon (wax-palm) is a genus of South American palms.
Cervidae
Cervidae is the deer family of animals which includes the Cervus genus.
Cervus
Cervus is the deer genus of animals.
Cestoda
Cestoda is a class of phylum platyhelminthes commonly known as the
tapeworms. They are internal parasites lacking an alimentary canal. They
have no definite sense organs, and the nervous system is poorly
developed. The cuticle is thick and many-layered. Hooks and/or suckers
are limited to one end. They have great reproductive powers, both sexual
and asexual.
Cestracion
Cestracion is a genus of cartilaginous fish allied to the sharks.
Cetacea
Cetacea is an order of eutheria. They are aquatic mammals with a
streamlined body devoid of hair. They have a thick layer of blubber for
insulation. The hind limbs are absent, and the fore limbs adapted to form
paddles.
Ceterach
Ceterach is a genus of ferns of the sub-order Polypodiaceae.
Chaffinch
The chaffinch is a common British bird of the finch family.
Chamaerops
Chamaerops is a genus of palms belonging to the northern hemisphere and
consisting of dwarf trees with fan-shaped leaves borne on prickly
petioles and a small berry-like fruit with one seed.
Chameleon
A chameleon is a lizard. It can change colour to suit its surroundings.
Chamois
The chamois is a ruminating animal found in south Europe and west Asia.
Champak
The Champak is an Indian tree of the order Magnoliaceae held in high
esteem by Buddhists.
Chanterelle
The chanterelle is an edible British mushroom of a bright orange colour.
Characeae
The Characeae are an order of cryptogamous plants, nearly related to the
Algae, composed of an axis consisting of parallel tubes which are either
transparent or incrusted with lime carbonate.
Charadrius
Charadrius is a genus of birds which includes the lapwing, pratincole and
oyster-catcher.
Charlock
Charlock is a common yellow weed, also known as wild mustard.
Chat
The chat are several species of bird of the thrush family.
Chaulmugra
Chaulmugra is a tree found in South Asia. The oil was used in India and
China as a remedy in skin diseases and blood impurities. The medicinal
use of the oil in skin and chest infections was introduced to Europe and
America around 1900.
Chaus
The Chaus is a genus of Asiatic and African lynxes including the Libyan
chaus and the Caffre-cat. They are fond of water and are excellent
swimmers.
Chavica
Chavica is a genus of plants of the order Piperaceae which includes the
long pepper, Java long pepper and the betel-pepper.
Cheetah
The cheetah is a member of the cat family.
Cheiranthus
Cheiranthus is the wall-flower genus of plants.
Cheironectes
Cheironectes are a genus of acanthopterygious fishes, having the pectoral
fins supported like short feet upon peduncles. They use these fins to
crawl over mud and sand when they get left dry be a receeding tide. They
may also take short leaps like a frog, and from this they are often
called frog-fish. They are found in North-East Australia.
Chelonia
The chelonia are an order of anapsida. The trunk is short and broad and
protected by a carapace and a plastron. The head, neck, tail and limbs
can be withdrawn under the shields for protection. The jaws are strong,
but lack teeth.
Chelonians
The Chelonians are an order of reptiles which includes the tortoise and
turtle. They are distinguished by a body which is enclosed in a double
shell, out of which the head, tail and four legs protrude.
Chenopodium
Chenopodium (Goosefoot) is a genus of plants of the natural order
Chenopodiaceae. They are weedy plants common on wastelands and bear small
greenish flowers which are sessile in small clusters collected in spiked
panicles.
Cherry
The cherry is a fruit tree of the order rosaceae.
Chestnut
The chestnut is a tree of the order cupuliferae.
Chetah
Chetah is the old 19th century spelling of Cheetah.
Chick pea
The chick pea is an annual herb of the order leguminosae.
Chicory
Chicory is a perennial herb of the order compositae.
Chiffchaff
The chiffchaff is a small song bird. It visits England in the summer.
Chilopoda
The chilopoda are the centipede order of myriapoda. The genital aperture
is posterior.
Chimpanzee
The chimpanzee is a large anthropoid ape.
Chinchilla
The chinchilla is a small squirrel like rodent found in the andes.
Chipmunk
A chipmunk is a species of ground squirrel common in Siberia and north
America.
Chiroptera
The chiroptera is an order of eutheria. They are small mammals with
strong powers of flight. The limb bones are strong and slender. The wings
are formed of skin. The teeth bear pointed cusps.
Chiru
The chiru is an antelope found in Tibet.
Chitin
Chitin is an organic substance which forms part of the exoskeleton of
arthropods.
Chondrichthyes
Chondrichthyes is a subclass of fish including the sharks, dogfishes,
skates and rays. They are fishes with a cartilage endoskeleton. The jaws
are well formed.
Chordates
see "phylum_chordata"
Chough
The chough is a bird of the crow family with red feet and bill. It is
found on sea cliffs.
Chromosome
A chromosome is a chemical found in all cells which determines how the
cell will act.
Chrysalis
A chrysalis is the inactive state into which larva pass before becoming
imago.
Chrysanthemum
The chrysanthemum is a hardy annual plant of the order compositae.
Chrysoplenium
Chrysoplenium is a genus of annual or perannial rather succulent herbs
with alternate or opposite crenate leaves and inconspicuous greenish
axillary and terminal flowers.
Chub
The chub is a fresh water fish of the carp family.
Cicada
The cicada is a group of large four winged insects.
Cilia
Cilia are threads of protoplasm which beat rhythmically.
Ciliata vera
Ciliata vera are a subclass of ciliophora. They are free swimming
animals.
Ciliophora
Ciliophora are a class of protozoa with relatively simple life-histories.
The locomotor structures are cilia arranged in definite tracts. The cilia
arise from grooves in the pellicle. Ciliophora have a unique nuclear
structure, comprised of a meganucleus concerned with trophic activities,
and a micronucleus concerned with reproduction.
Cinchona
The cinchona is a tree native to South America with fragrant white or
pink flowers. The bark contains quinine and other related alkaloids. The
tree was named in honour of the countess of Chinchon, the vice-Queen of
Peru after she was cured by cinchona bark in 1638.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree.
Cirripedia
Cirripedia is a subclass of crustacea. These are the barnacles. Sedentary
animals with a reduced head and abdomen.
Cistus
Cistus, the rock-rose, is a genus of plants of the order Cistaceae native
to Europe and the countries bordering the Mediterranean.
Civet
The civet are a family of carnivorous animals similar to the cats.
Clepsine
The clepsine are hirudinea.
Coati
The coati is a carnivorous mammal related to the racoon. Found in south
America and mexico.
Cob nut
The cob nut is a domesticated variety of the hazel.
Cobra
The cobra is a venomous snake found in Africa and south Asia.
Coca
Coca is a shrub.
Coccidia vera
The coccidia vera are a suborder of coccidiomorpha. They are parasites
found chiefly in invertebrates, but also in vertebrates. The trophic
phase is typically intracellular.
Coccidiomorpha
The coccidiomorpha are an order of sporozoa.
Cochineal
Cochineal is a insect (Dactylopius coccus) found on cactii in Mexico. The
dried body of the female is used to prepare the red dye, cochineal.
Cockle
The Cockle is a Lamellibranchia bivalve mollusc. It is recognised by its
ribbed, heart-shaped shell. They are found on British shores.
Cocoa
Cocoa is a small tree native to tropical America.
Cod
The Cod is a fish of the family Gadidae. They are found in the Atlantic
and Baltic.
Coelacanthini
The coelacanthini is a rare order of crossopterygii which was thought to
be extinct, until a specimen was caught off west africa in 1939.
Coelophysis
Coelophysis was a cunning and agile carnivorous dinosaur from the
triassic era. It was 2.5M long and about 1m tall when standing on its
back legs.
Coffee
Coffee is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the order rubiaceae.
Collembola
Collembola is an order of apterygota. The spring tails.
Collie
The collie is a breed of English sheep dog.
Colorado beetle
The colorado beetle is a north American beetle that attacks potatoes.
Compositae
Compositae is the largest known natural order of plants containing over
12,000 species of herbs or shrubs found all over the world. The flowers
are numerous and sessile, forming a close head on the dilated top of the
receptacle and surrounded by an involucre of whorled bracts. The flowers
are monopetalous.
Compsognathus
Compsognathus was a tiny carnivorous dinosaur from the jurassic period.
It was 70cm tall, about the size of a hen. It was a fast and agile
creature.
Condor
The condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus) is a bird. It is one of the American
vultu res. It is carnivorous. The condor is 4 feet long with a wing span
of 10 feet.
Coney
see "Cony"
Confervaceae
Confervaceae are a family of marine algae which have green fronds which
are composed of articulated filaments.
Conger-eel
The Conger eel is a genus of marine eel characterized by a long dorsal
fin beginning near the nape of the neck, immediately above the origin of
the pectoral fins, and by having the upper jaw longer than the lower. The
common conger eel grows to about 10 feet long and weighs more than 100
pounds.
Coniferae
Coniferae are the conifers; pines, firs and their allies.
Conirostres
Conirostres is a subdivision of the order Insessores consisting of genera
having a stout conical beak. The best known genera are the larks, tits,
finches, sparrows, crows and linnets.
Conus
Conus is a genus of gasteropodous molluscs of the family Conidae. They
are found in the southern and tropical seas.
Convallaria
Convallaria is a genus of plants of the natural order Liliaceae, the only
species being the lily-of-the-valley.
Convoluta
Convoluta is a member of the order rhabdocoelida.
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae is an order of plants comprising about 700 species of
climbers.
Convolvulus
Convolvulus is a genus of plants of the order Convolvulaceae consisting
of slender twining herbs with milky juice., bell-shaped flowers and five
free stamens.
Cony
Cony (or coney) is an old English name for the rabbit.
Conyza
Conyza is a genus of plants of the natural order Compositae. They are
annual or perennial herbs found throught warmer regions of the world.
Coot
The coot is a British water bird of the rail family.
Copaiba
Copaiba is the common name of several plants of the genus Copaifera,
natural order Leguminose, which grow in Brazil, Peru and other countries
in South America.
Copepoda
Copepoda is a subclass of free-living or parasitic crustaceans without a
carapace. The antennules are frequently enlarged and used for swimming.
The thoracic appendages are biramous.
Copper Head
The copper head (Trigonocephalus contortrix) is a north American snake
allied to the rattlesnake.
Copper-head
The copper-head is a north American snake of the rattlesnake family.
Coptis
Coptis is a small genus of plants of the natural order Ranunculaceae.
Coquito
The coquito (Juboea spectabilis) is a palm tree found in Chile and allied
to the coconut. It grows to about 15 meters and its sap when boiled makes
palm-honey.
Coral
Coral is a marine organism related to sea anemones.
Corallium
Corallium is a member of the order alcyonaria.
Coriander
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an umbelliferous plant native to Italy.
The fruit, often called a seed though it is not, is dried and used in
cookery.
Coriaria
Coriaria is a genus of shrub plants found in southern Europe. They are
used in tanning and a black dye is extracted from them.
Cormogens
Cormogens are those plants in which there is a distinct axis of growth.
They comprise the phanerogams and the higher cryptogams.
Cormorant
The cormorant (Phalacrocorax) is a genus of birds of the Pelicaniformes
family. They are divers with long necks and strong, solid beaks. There
are 30 species.
Corn Marigold
The Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum) is a rich orange coloured
British wild flower.
Corn Salad
Corn Salad (lamb's-lettuce, Valerianella olitoria) is a plant of the
order Valerianaceae nati e to Britain and Europe. It is a weak succulent
herb which grows to about 25cm tall and is used as a salad in early
spring.
Corn-beetle
The Corn-beetle (Cucujus testaceus) is a minute beetle, the larva of
which is often very destructive to stores of grain, particularly wheat.
Corn-cockle
The corn-cockle (Agrostemma Githago) is a plant of the natural order
Caryophyllaceae, with large purple flowers.
Corn-crake
The Corn-crake (landrail, Crex pratensis) is a species of bird of the
order Grallae of the family Rallidae. It is a wading bird, reddish-brown
in colour and feeds on worms and insects.
Corn-fly
Corn-fly is a popular name of several insects of the family Muscidae.
Corn-moth
The Corn-moth (Tinea granella) is a small moth the larva of which
destroys corn sheaves in the field.
Corn-thrips
Corn-thrips is a minute species of thrips which feeds on the juice of
corn.
Cornaceae
Cornaceae is a natural order of polypetalous exogens consisting of about
100 species of plants.
Cornel
The cornel (cornelian tree) is a species of dogwood tree of the order
Cornace ae. It is native to Asia and southern Europe.
Cornelian Tree
see "Cornel"
Cornus
Cornus is a genus of plants of the natural order Cornaceae.
Coronellidae
Coronellidae is the smooth snake family of non-venomous snakes.
Coryne
The coryne is of the order gymnoblastea.
Corypha
Corypha is a genus of palms which includes the fa-palm, gebang palm and
taliput.
Corythosaurus
Corythosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the cretaceous period. It had
a duck-like bill filled with hundreds of tiny teeth which were used for
mincing leaves. It had a hollow crescent on top of its head.
Cotton
Cotton is a tropical and sub tropical herbaceous plant.
Cotton-wood
The cotton-wood is a north American tree.
Cougar
The cougar is a large American cat. Also called the puma.
Cow
A cow is a female ox. Also the female of the elephant, rhinocerous, whale
and seal.
Cow-bunting
The cow-bunting is a north American bird of the Sturnidae (Starling)
family. It leaves its own eggs in other birds nests for them to hatch.
Cow-tree
see "Bread-fruit"
Cowslip
The Cowslip is a wild flower found in British pastures and hedge-rows.
The flowers possess sedative properties and used to be made into wine.
Coyote
The coyote is a type of wild dog found in north America.
Coypou
The Coypou (Coypu) is a South American rodent about the size of and
resembling a beaver.
Coypu
The coypu is a south American water rodent.
Crab
see "crabs"
Crab-apple
The Crab-apple is a small, wild and very sour species of English Apple.
Crabs
Crabs are malacostraca.
Cranberry
Cranberry is the fruit of the whortleberry bush. It is native to Europe,
north asia and north America.
Crane
The crane (Megalornithidae) is a family of birds distinguished by long
legs and neck and powerful wings.
Crane-fly
The Crane-fly is a genus of two-winged insects (Daddy-long-legs).
Cranium
The cranium is the skeleton enclosing the brain.q
Crawfish
see "Crayfish"
Crayfish
Crayfish are various crustaceans. The common crayfish is also known as
the river lobster which resembles the lobster in appearance and habits.
They are also called crawfish.
Creeper
The creeper is a family of birds which resemble the woopecker in their
habbit of creeping up tree trunks.
Cress
Cress is the name of several species of plants, most of them of the order
Cruciferae. Water cress is used in salad and was used as a medicine for
its antiscorbutic properties.
Crinoidea
The crinoidea are the sea lily class of phylum echinodermata. The body is
cup shaped and attached to the substratum by a stalk. Both the mouth and
anus are on the side of the body away from the stalk. The five main arms
bifurcate, and on the branches are small side branches.
Crocodile
The crocodile is a large aquatic carnivorous reptile. Related to the
alligator.
Crocodilia
Crocodilia is an order of diapsida. They are large reptiles adapted to
life in rivers and lakes. The tail is flattened from side to side and is
a powerful swimming tool.
Crossbill
The crossbill (Loxia) is a genus of birds of the finch family. They are
distinguished by the crossed tips of the bill.
Crossopterygii
The crossopterygii is a division of fish known as the lung fishes. They
have a single or double lung, and a modified heart and vascular system.
They live in shallow fresh water where oxygen levels are insufficient for
gills.
Crow
The crow is a family of 35 species of bird.
Crowberry
Crowberry is a plant found in northern Europe, Asia, England and
Scotland.
Cruciferae
Cruciferae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants with cross like
four petaled flowers.
Crustacea
Crustacea is the crustacean class of arthropods. They are mainly aquatic
animals breathing by gills. There are two pairs of antennae and three
pairs of jaws.
Crustacean
see "crustacea"
Crustaceans
see "crustacea"
Cuckoo
The cuckoo (Cuculidae) is a family of birds. They lay their eggs in the
nests of other birds.
Cucurbita
see "Gourd"
Cumacea
Cumacea is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is small exposing
four or five of the thoracic segments. The abdomen is slender.
Cunina
Cunina is a member of the order trachylina.
Curlew
The curlew is a British water bird.
Cuttle-Fish
The Cuttle-Fish is a name applied to various ten-armed molluscs of the
class Cephalopoda. They are distinguished by their internal calcerous
shell (cuttle bone).
Cyclostomi
The cyclostomi are a subclass of agnatha. They are modern eel-like
creatures which eat fish.
Cypress
Cypress is a family of trees.
Cystoflagellata
The cystoflagellata are an order of phytomastigina. They are transparent
plankton.
Dab
The dab is a marine flat fish.
Dabchick
The dabchick is an English bird of the grebe family.
Dace
The dace is a fresh water fish of the carp family.
Dachshund
The dachshund is a small dog originally bred for badger hunting.
Daffodil
The daffodil are several species of plant of the genus narcissus.
Dahlia
The dahlia is a genus of perennial plants of the compositae family.
Daisy
The daisy is a genus of hardy perennial plants of the compositae family.
Dalbergia
Dalbergia is a genus of fine tropical forest trees and climbing shrubs of
the order Leguminosae. The group includes the black-wood tree (also
called the East Indian rosewood) and the sissoo.
Dalmatian
The dalmatian is a spotted dog. It was formerly known as the Danish
spotted or coach dog.
Dames-violet
Dames-violet (Dames-wort) is a British perennial plant of the order
Cruciferae. It grows to about 2 to 3 feet tall and flowers in May and
June.
Dames-wort
see "Dames-violet"
Dammar Pine
The dammar pine is a genus of trees of the order Coniferae distinguished
by their large lanceolated leathery leaves, and by their seeds having a
wing on one side instead of proceeding from the end.
Damselfly
The damselfly is a predatory insect with 2 pairs of wings.
Damson
The damson is a type of plum tree.
Dandelion
The dandelion is a plant of the order Compositae indigenous to Europe. It
gets its name from its appearance, dent de lion (French for Lion's
tooth). The stems are hollow and have one bright yellow flower. The root
was formerly used as a medicine for liver complaints.
Daphnia
Daphnia is a genus of minute crustaceans belonging to the division
Branchiopoda. They are the water-fleas.
Darlingtonia
Darlingtonia is a genus of American pitcher plants of the order
Sarraceniceae.
Darnel
Darnel (Lolium temulentum) is the only poisonous British grass.
Darters
Darters are a genus of web-footed birds of the pelican family. They are
found near the eastern coast of tropical parts of north America, the west
coast of Africa, and in Australia.
Dasyure
Dasyure are the brush-tailed opossums, a genus of plantigrade marsupials
found in Australia and Tasmania.
Date
The date is a tree of the genus phoenix.
Date-plum
The date-plum is the name given to several trees of the Ebony family.
Their fruit is edible.
Datura
Datura is a genius of plants of the order Solanaceae, with large trumpet-
shaped flowers. They are all poisonous. The genus includes the thorn-
apple.
Daucus
Daucus is a genus of umbelliferous plants, including the carrot.
Dauw
The dauw is a species of zebra found in the plains of South Africa north
of the Orange River.
Dead-nettle
The dead-nettle is a species of plant of the genus Lamium, order
Labriatae which resemble the nettle in appearance but have no sting.
Deal-fish
The deal-fish (Trachypterus arcticus) is a fish found around Iceland and
Norway. It is between 4 and 8 inches long, a silvery colour and has
minute scales. The dorsal fin extends along the whole length of the back.
Death-watch beetle
The death-watch beetle (Anobium tesselatum) is a coleopterous insect that
inhabits the wood-work of houses.
Decaisnea
Decaisnea is a genus of plants of the order Lardizabalaceae found on the
Himalayas. It has erect stalks which look like walking sticks and leaves
2 feet long. The fruit resembles a cucumber and has a sweet, yellow
edible pulp.
Decandria
Decandria is the tenth class of plants. The flowers have 10 stamens, and
1, 2 3 or more pistils.
Decapoda
Decapoda is an order of malacostraca. The carapace completely covers the
thorax. The exopodite of the maxilla is large. There are three pairs of
maxillipeds.
Deciduous
Deciduous is a term referring to trees and shrubs that shed their leaves
each year.
Deer
The deer is a family of ruminant hoofed mammals (Cervidae) allied to the
Antelopes. They are distinguished by the presence of antlers.
Deerhound
The Deerhound is a breed of dog. It originated in the 14th century and
was bred for stag hunting.
Deinonychus
Deinonychus was a carnivorous dinosaur of the cretaceous period. It was
3m long and 1.4M tall. A long tail aided balance as it ran. It had 12cm
long claws on its feet which were used for tearing flesh from its prey.
Delphinium
The delphinium is a ranunculaceous plant with irregular shaped flowers.
Demospongia
The demospongia is a class of sponges with a skeleton of four-rayed
spicules made of silica, or spongin fibres, or no skeleton at all.
Dendrocoelum
Dendrocoelum is a member of the order tricladida.
Dhole
The dhole is a species of wild dog found in Asia.
Diapsida
The diapsida is a subclass of reptiles. The skull has two temporal
vacuities.
Didactyla
The didactyla is an order of metatheria. They are carnivorous and
insectivorous. The digits are free.
Digenea
Digenea is an order of trematoda. They are endoparasitic flukes with no
hooks or posterior sucker. They usually have a ventral sucker and an oral
sucker. The life history requires an intermediate host, often a mollusc.
The adults are chiefly parasites of warm-blooded vertebrates.
Digitalis
Digitalis is a genus of plants of the natural order Scrophulariaceae
native to Europe and western Asia. The name Digitalis also applies to the
medicinal extracts from the plants.
Dik dik
A dik dik is a tiny antelope found in Africa south of the sahara
Dill
Dill is a herb umbelliferae.
Dingo
The dingo is wild dog found in Australia.
Dinoflagellata
The dinoflagellata are an order of phytomastigina. These are the
planktons. They have a definite capsule made of cellulose.
Dinosaur
The dinosaurs were a family of reptiles which lived on the earth millions
of years ago. About 400 types of dinosaur have been identified. Dinosaurs
ranged in size from about as big as a pigeon to twice the height of a
giraffe. It is estimated that dinosaurs lived for between 70 and 130
years, and unusually continued growing for their entire life.
Diphyllobothrium
Diphyllobothrium is a cestoda.
Diplodinium
Diplodinium is a member of the order of oligotricha.
Diplopoda
The diplopoda is the millipede order of myriapoda. They have an anterior
genital posterior.
Dipnoi
The dipnoi are an order of crossopterygii. The teeth form crushing
plates.
Dipper
The Dipper is a family of birds (Cinclidae) of the order Passeriformes.
They are allied to the wrens and thrushes but are aquatic.
Dog
A dog is a domesticated mammal of the order canidae descended from the
wolf.
Dogfish
The dogfish is a small shark found in the north east atlantic ocean and
mediterranean.
Dolphin
The Dolphin is a genus of cetaceans. They are highly intelligent.
Donkey
Donkey is another name for ass.
Dory
The Dory is a sea fish found in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. It is of
the family Zeidae and order Zeomorphae.
Dotterel
The dotterel is a bird which visits Britain in the summer.
Dove
The dove is a bird of the family Columbidae (pigeon).
Dromedary
A dromedary is a type of Arabian camel.
Dromiceidae
The Dromiceidae are a family of the order Casuariformes. These are the
emus. They are found only in Australia and Tasmania. It is incapable of
flight.
Drone
A drone is a mature male bee which are produced at the same time as a
virgin queen for the purpose of continuing the community.
Duck
A duck is a short legged water bird with webbed feet.
Dunlin
The dunlin is a British water bird.
Duodenum
The duodenum is the first part of the intestine.
Eagle
Eagle is the name given to several large birds of prey of the family
accipitridae.
Ear-shell
see "Haliotis"
Earthworm
see "oligochaeta"
Earwig
The Earwig (Forifculidae) is a family of the order Dermaptera.
Ebony
Ebony is a tropical hardwood tree. The wood is black.
Echidna
The echidna or spiny anteater (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is an egg-laying,
burrowing, nocturnal mammal. It has no teeth, but a long extensile
tongue. The echidna is found in rocky districts of Australia.
Echinococcus
Echinococcus is a cestoda.
Echinoidea
The echinoidea are a class of phylum echinodermata. They are the sea
urchins. The body is typically glubular. The skeletal plates fit closely
together to form a rigid "test". Spines are present.
Echinus
Echinus are a member of the echinoidea class.
Ecology
Ecology is a study of the relationship between an organism and its
environment.
Ectoprocta
Ectoprocta is a class of phylum polyzoa. They have a u shaped gut and the
anus opens outside of the circlet of ciliated tentacles.
Edentata
The Edentata is an order of mammals with no teeth, or very simple teeth
without enamel.
Egested
see "egestion"
Egestion
Egestion is the process of eliminating food which has not been digested.
Egg-plant
Egg-plant was the 19th century name, and is still used in America to
describe the plant we now call the aubergine. It is an herbaceous plant
of the order Solanaceae. The fruit is eaten.
Eider
The eider is a British coastal duck.
Eimeria
Eimeria is a member of the coccidia vera order.
Eisenia
The eisenia are oligochaeta.
Elephant
The elephant is the two surviving species of the order proboscidea.
Elk
The elk is a large deer found in north Europe, Asia and Scandinavia.
Elm
The elm is a tree of the family ulmaceae.
Embryology
Embryology is the study of animal development.
Emu
The emu is a flightless bird found in Australia.
Entoprocta
Entoprocta is a class of phylum polyzoa. They have a u shaped gut and the
anus opens within a circlet of ciliated tentacles.
Epiphytes
see "Air-plants"
Epistylis
Epistylis is a member of the order of peritricha.
Equisetum
Equisetum is the Horse-tail genus of plants.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a tree native to Australia where it is called the gum tree.
Euglenoidina
The euglenoidina are an order of phytomastigina. They have an elongated
spindle-shaped body and swim in a spiral path.
Euoplocephalus
Euoplocephalus was an armoured herbivore dinosaur from the cretaceous
period. Even its eyelids were armoured. At the end of its powerful tail
was a bulb. The tail could have been used to disable predators attacking
it.
Euphausiacea
Euphausiacea is an order of malacostraca. The carapace encloses the
thorax. There is one set of gills.
Euplectella
The euplectella is a member of the hexactinellida class.
Euplotes
Euplotes is a member of the order of hypotricha.
Euspongia
The euspongia, or bath sponge, is a member of the demospongia class.
Eutheria
The eutheria are a subclass of higher mammals. The young are born as
miniature adults after a prolonged period of gestation.
Excretion
Excretion is the process of getting rid of unwanted substances from
within the body.
Faeces
Faeces is the term applied to egested food.
Falcon
The falcon is a bird of prey.
Fasciola
Fasciola is a member of the order digenea.
Fennec
The fennec is a small nocturnal desert fox found in north Africa and
Arabia.
Fennel
Fennel is a perennial umbelliferae.
Filaria
Filaria is a phylum nematoda.
Finch
The finch is a popular name of the Fringillidae.
Firefly
Firefly is a popular name for winged insects possessing luminosity.
Fish
see "pisces"
Fish-hawk
Fish-hawk is an American name for the Osprey.
Fish-louse
The fish-louse are several crustaceans of the order Ichthyophthira which
are parasitic on fish.
Fishes
see "pisces"
Fissurellidae
Fissurellidae is a family of gasteropodous molluscs resembling the
limpets in appearance and habits, but differing in structure. They are
generally too large for their shell, and so it appears that the shell is
rudimentary.
Fistularia
Fistularia is a genus of acanthopterygious fish characterized by the
elongation of the facial bones into a long fistula or tube at the
extremity of which the mouth opens.
Fistulina
Fistulina is a genus of Fungi, allied to Boletus, found on old oak,
walnut, ash, beech and horse chestnut trees. It is eaten in Europe
grilled and is said to taste like broiled meat.
Flamingo
The flamingo is a bird of the genus Phoenicopterus allied to the ducks.
The flamingo has long legs and stands about 180 cm tall. The beak is
naked, lamellate at the edges and bent. Flamingos are generally pink or
scarlet in colour and live in southern Europe and northern Africa around
sea coasts and salt marshes.
Flatworm
Flatworm is a common name for phylum platyhelminthes.
Flatworms
see "flatworm"
Flax
Flax is a popular name of plants of the genus Linum, natural order
Linaceae of which there are roughly 100 species. They are herbs or small
shrubs with narrow leaves and yellow, blue or white flowers arranged in
variously formed cymes.
Flea
The flea is several insects constituting the order Aphaniptera. They are
small with two eyes, six feet and piercing stilets and a suctorial
proboscis which is used to feed on the blood of animals. They can leap
amazing distances.
Flounder
A flounder is one of the flat-fishes, family Pleuronectidae, genus
Pleuronectes. The flounder is found in the sea and near the mouths of
large rivers around the British coast.
Fluke
Fluke is a parasitic flatworm that causes rot and dropsy of the liver.
Flustra
Flustra is an ectoprocta.
Fly-catcher
The fly-catcher is several species of insectivorous birds of the genus
Muscicapa with a bill flattened at the base, almost triangular, notched
at the upper mandible and beset with bristles. They perch on branches and
wait motionless for passing insects which they dart at and catch with a
snap of the bill.
Flying Gurnard
The Flying Gurnard (Trigla volitans) is a Mediterranean fish of the
Gurnard genus.
Flying-fox
The flying-fox or fox-bat is a fruit-eating bat of the family Pteropidae
including some of the largest of the bats, one species reaching 140 cm in
length across the wings! Flying-foxes are found in Australia, Asia and
Africa.
Flying-lemur
The flying-lemur is an insectivorous mammal native to India. They have a
membrane which extends as a broad expansion from the nape of the neck to
the tail which they use to glide when leaping from tree to tree.
Flying-squrrel
The flying-squrrel is a genus of rodent animals of the squirrel family.
The skin of the flank, extending between the fore and hind legs allows
them to glide and make great leaps. Flying-squrrels are found in Europe,
Asia and North America.
Foraminifera
Foraminifera is an order of animals of low type belonging to the class
Rhizopoda, sub-order Protozoa, furnished with a shell or test, simple or
complex, usually perforated by pores called foramina from which the
animals get their name.
Forest-fly
The forest-fly is a two-winged fly parasitic on birds and quadrupeds.
Forficulidae
see "earwig"
Forget-me-not
Forget-me-not is a common British plant of the natural order Boraginaceae
found growing in damp or wet places. It is a pretty flower considered as
the emblem of friendship throughout Europe.
Fowl
The term fowl was once used as a synonym for bird, but since around 1900
the term fowl has come to refer to birds of the genus Gallus. They
resemble the pheasants, but the crown of the head is generally naked and
furnished with a fleshy comb, the base of the lower mandibles also bears
fleshy lobes (wattles).
Fox
The fox is an animal of the genus Vulpes closely allied to the dog, with
a straight bushy tail, elongated pupils and erect ears. Foxes are
intelligent, adaptable and omnivorous, consuming small animals, eggs,
honey and refuse.
Fox-bat
see "Flying-fox"
Foxglove
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a common British flower of the natural
order Scrophulariaceae. It grows on banks and pastures. The flowers are
campanulate and resemble the fingers of a glove, hence the name. Foxglove
posesses diuretic, narcotic and sedative qualities which are used in
medicine. It is also deadly in sufficient quantity.
Foxhound
The Foxhound is a breed of dog bred for chasing foxes. The foxhound is
smaller than the staghound, its average height being about 53 cm.
Foxtail-grass
Foxtail-grass is a grass of the genus Alopecurus so called because of the
close cylindrical panicle in which the spikelets of flowers are arranged
which look rather like a fox's tail.
Francolin
The francolin is a genus of birds belonging to the same family as the
partridge which they resemble except for one or more strong and sharp
horny spurs on the tarsi.
Frasera
Frasera is a genus of plants of the natural order Gentianaceae containing
seven species of erect perennial herbs native to North America.
Fratercula
Fratercula is a genus of web-footed birds which contains the puffin.
Fraxinella
Fraxinella is a species of dittany. It is an ornamental herbaceous annual
plant cultivated for its fragrant leaves and rose-coloured flowers.
Fraxinus
Fraxinus is a genus of deciduous trees of the order Oleaceae which
includes the ash.
French Beans
French Beans is a twining annual plant with alternate leaves on
footstalks composed of three oval pubescent folioles. The seeds are
shaped rather like a kidney, and from this the plant gets its alternative
name, the Kidney Bean.
French Oak
The French Oak is a tree of the genus Catalpa. It contains a lot of
tannin in its bark.
Frigate-bird
The frigate-bird is a tropical, web-footed bird of the family
Pelecanidae. The male bird reaches 1 meter in length, including the tail,
but the body is comparatively small. The bill is longer than the head,
hooked at the end and sharp. The wings are very large, and the bird has a
wing span of over 2 meters.
Fringillidae
Fringillidae is a large family of conirostral birds comprising the
finches.
Fringillidea
Fringillidea is the Finch family of birds. They are a large family of
small seed-eating birds found in all parts of the world. Fringillidea
belong to the order Insessores, section Conirostres. They are
distinguished by having a sharply-pointed, conical, and in most cases
strongly-formed, bill suitable for crushing seeds and other hard objects.
Fritillary
Fritillary is a genus of plants of the order Liliaceae, native to
northern temperate regions.
Frog
The frog is an anura with four legs, four toes on the fore feet and five
on the hind. The feet are more-or-less webbed. The body is naked and has
no ribs and no tail. The tongue is fleshy and attached in front to the
jaw but is free behind so that it can be protruded.
Frog-fish
see "Cheironectes"
Frogs
see "frog"
Froth-fly
The froth-fly is an insect of the family Cercopidae, the larvae of which
is found in a frothy exudation on plants (Cuckoo-spit).
Fruit-pigeon
Fruit-pigeons are pigeons of the genus Carpophagus. They have brilliant
plumage and are found in India and Australia. They are so named because
they eat nothing but fruit.
Fucaceae
Fucaceae is a natural order of dark-coloured algae consisting of olive-
coloured inarticulate seaweeds distinguished from other algae by their
reproductive organs which consist of archegonia and antheridia, contained
in common chambers, united in club-shaped receptacles at the ends of the
fronds.
Fucus
Fucus is a genus of seaweeds of the family Fucaceae comprising several
common seaweeds with a flat or compressed forked frond, sometimes
containing air vessels.
Fulmar
The fulmar is a sea bird which lives on the sub-arctic shores of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Fumariaceae
Fumariaceae is a small natural order of exogenous plants closely allied
to Papaveraceae. The species are slender-stemmed, herbaceous plants,
generally erect, though some climb by means of their twisting leaf-
stalks.
Funaria
Funaria is a genus of mosses.
Fungi
Fungi is a large natural order of cryptogamous plants, Fungi agree with
algae and lichens in their cellular structure, which is, with few
exceptions, devoid of anything resembling vascular tissue; but differing
from them in deriving their nutrition from the body on which the grow,
not from the medium by which they are surrounded.
Furze
see "Gorse"
Fusus
Fusus is a genus of gasteropodous molluscs nearly allied to Murex with a
spindle-shaped univalve shell.
Gadidae
Gadidae is a family of malacopterous fish including the cod, ling and
haddock.
Gadwall
The gadwall (Anas strepera) is a species of duck. It is common in North
America, and rare in Britain. It is not so large as a mallard and has
long pointed wings and a vigorous and rapid flight.
Galbulinae
The galbulinae are a family of tropical American fissirostal birds allied
to the trogons and kingfishers.
Galeidae
Galeidae is the tope family of small sharks.
Galemys
The galemys are a genus of mammals allied to the shrews. They live in
burrows at the sides of streams and feed on insects.
Galeopsis
Galeopsis is a genus of plants of the natural order Labiatae
characterized by the equally five-toothed calyx. They are herbaceous
plants with square stems usually clothed with sharp bristly hairs,
nettle-like leaves on long stalks, and red, white or yellow labiate
flowers.
Gall-fly
Gall-fly is a name for several hymenopterous insects of the family
Cynipidae, which form galls, each species prefering a different plant.
The gall is due to an iritating fluid which the insect deposits on the
plant along with its egg.
Galliwasp
The galliwasp is a species of lizard about 30cm long and stout and plump.
It is generally brown in colour and is native to the West Indies and was
particularly common in Jamaica during the 19th century.
Galls
Galls (gall-nuts) are a vegetable excrescence produced by the deposit of
the egg of an insect in the bark or leaves of a plant.
Gamete
A gamete is one of the two cells which fuse together to commence
reproduction.
Gametes
see "gamete"
Gannet
The gannet is a British sea bird of the genus Sula, family Pelecanidae.
It is about 1 meter long and the plummage is dirty white or grey. The
bill is straight, and about 15 cm long.
Ganoid
The ganoids are an order of fish characterized by angular, rhombic,
polygonal or circular scales composed of horny or bony plates covered
with a thick plate of a glossy enamel like substance.
Gaper-shell
The gaper-shell is a lamellibranchiate mollusc common on British coasts.
It has a rectangular shell and burrows in sand and mud.
Gar-fish
The gar-fish (sea-pike, gar-pike, sea-needle) is a long and slender sea
fish of the genus Belone, about 90cm long. The head projects forward into
a very long sharp snout. The sides and belly are of a bright silvery
colour and the back is green.
Gar-pike
see "Gar-fish"
Garcinia
Garcinia is a genus of plants of the natural order Guttiferae.
Garden-warbler
The garden-warbler is a migratory song-bird which visits Britain from the
end of April to September. It is about 15cm long, the head and upper
surfaces are greenish brown and the underside is brownish white.
Gardenia
Gardenia is a genus of trees and shrubs of the natural order
Cinchonaceae. They are native to trpoical Asia and Africa and have pretty
white or yellowish flowers and a powerful fragance.
Garganey
The garganey is a small British duck.
Garlic
Garlic is a perennial liliaceae with an edible bulb divided into segments
known as cloves.
Garrot
Garrot is a popular name of ducks of the genus Clangula. They are oceanic
ducks with a bill shorter than the head, and are widely distributed over
the temperate regions of Europe and America.
Garrulus
Garrulus is a genus of insessorial birds of the crow family.
Gasteropod
The gasteropods are a class of mollusc, consisting of animals inhabiting
a univalve shell, although some of the group are wholly devoid of a
shell. Generally the shell is cone-shaped and spiral. The distinguishing
characteristic is the foot, which is broad, muscular and disc-like and
attached to the ventral surface.
Gasteropoda
see "Gasteropod"
Gasteropods
see "Gasteropod"
Gasterosteus
Gasterosteus is a genus of fish which comprises the sticklebacks.
Gastropod
see "gasteropod"
Gastropoda
see "gasteropod"
Gaur
The gaur (or gour) is one of the larget of the ox tribe found in the
mountain jungles of India it is renowned for its shoulder hide, which
even when dried is often more than 5cm thick, and was used to make
shields.
Gavial
The gavial (Gavialis gangeticus) is the Indian crocodile. It is
characterized by narrow, almost cylindrical jaws which form a very long
elongated muzzle. It has 120 teeth, of equal length, and the feet are
webbed.
Gaviiformes
The Gaviiformes are an order of birds. These are the divers or loons.
They are water birds with legs set very far back and webbed feet. The
bill is long and pointed for catching fish.
Gazelle
The gazelle (Gazella dorcas) are various species of small, fast running
antelope (the Gazellinae).
Gean
The gean (Prunus Avium) is a wild cherry tree found in Britain. It has
fruit which are red when unripe, and a deep purple or black when ripe.
The timber can be used for making furniture.
Gebang Palm
The gebang palm (Corypha gebanga) is a fan-leaved palm of south east
Asia. Sago is extracted from its pith and its leaves are used for thatch,
hats, baskets and bags. The root is used in medicine and the fibres of
the leaf stalks are used for making ropes, nets and cloth.
Gecko
The Gecko are a family of nocturnal lizards (Gekotidae) characterized by
the general flatness of their form, especially of the head, which is
rather triangular. The body is covered on the upper part with numerous
round prominences or warts and the feet are rather short with toes nearly
equal in length and furnished with flattened suction pads which enable
the gecko to run up perpendicular walls.
Gelada
The gelada is an Ethiopian baboon. It has a heavy mane which hangs over
its shoulders.
Gelsemium
The gelsemium is a woody vine found in Asia and southern America.
Gemma
A gemma is a small cellular body that separates from the mother-plant and
starts a new one. It is common in moss and liverwort.
Gemsbok
The gemsbok (Oryx gazella) is a large powerful member of the antelope
family inhabiting the plains of South Africa.
Genes
Genes are hereditary information material arranged in a single row along
the length of each chromosome.
Genet
The genet is a digitigrade carnivorous mammal of the family Viverridae.
It is about the size of a small cat, but longer. Genets were used in
Constantinople (Istanbul) to catch rats. The genet is common around the
mediterranean.
Genipap
Genipap is the fruit of the Genipa americana tree, of the natural order
Rubiaceae. It is about the size of an orange and has a pleasant vinous
flavour.
Genista
Genista is a genus of leguminous plants consisting of about 100 species.
Gentian
see "Gentiana"
Gentiana
Gentiana is a genus of bitter herbaceous plants which have opposite,
often strongly ribbed leaves, and blue, yellow or red, often showy
flowers. The calyx consists of four or five valvate segments, and the
corolla is four or five parted. The fruit is a two-valved, one celled,
many-seeded capsule.
Gentianaceae
see "Gentiana"
Geotrupidae
Geotrupidae are a family of burrowing lamellicorn beetles.
Geraniaceae
Geraniaceae is a natural order of exogenous plants the distinguishing
character of which is to have a fruit composed of five capsules or cases,
connected with as many flat styles, consolidated around a long conical
beak.
Geranium
The Geranium is the typical genus of the order Geraniaceae of plants.
Germander
The germander are plants of the genus Teucrium.
Gervas
Gervas (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) is a small shrub of the natural order
Verbenaceae. It is native to the West Indies and warm parts of America.
Its leaves were used to make Brazilian tea and to adulterate tea in
Britain in the 19th century.
Geum
Geum is a genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, belonging to the natural
order Rosaceae, chiefly natives of the northern hemisphere.
Ghost-moth
The ghost-moth is a nocturnal lepidopterous insect (Hepialus humuli), so
called from the male being of a white colour, and from its habit of
hovering with a pendulum-like motion in the twilight over one spot where
the female is concealed.
Gibbon
A gibbon is a type of small ape of the genus Hylobates, particularly the
species Hylobates lar which inhabits the islands of the Indian
Archipelago. It is noticeable by the extraordinary length of its arms and
its slender form.
Gibel
The gibel (Cyprinus gibelio) is a fish of the carp genus. It is also
called the Prussian Carp. The gibel rarely weighs more than 250 gms.
Gill
Gills are very efficient organs of respiration found in fish and the
early development stages of amphibians. They are highly vascular and are
bathed in oxygen containing water from which the oxygen is extracted.
Gilthead
The gilthead (Chrysophrys aurata) is an acanthopterygious fish of the
Sparidae or sea-bream family common in the Mediterranean. It has strong
grinding teeth which it uses to crush the shells of the molluscs on which
it feeds. It has a yellow band which extends from eye to eye, and
typically weighs 9kg.
Ginger
Ginger is a perennial plant of the order Zingiberaceae found in south
east Asia, the West Indies, South America and Africa of which Jamaican
ginger is the most prized.
Gingko
The gingko are coniferous trees of the genus Salisburia belonging to the
yew family and which are native to China and Japan.
Ginkgo
The ginkgo is a tree related to the conifers and native to China and
Japan.
Ginseng
Ginseng (Panax schinseng) is a plant of Northern Asia of the order
Araliaceae. It is herbaceous and grows to about 30cm tall. Its root has
long been regarded by the Chinese as a source of sexual potency.
Giraffe
The giraffe is the tallest mammal, found only in Africa south of the
sahara.
Girdle of Venus
The Girdle of Venus is an animal of the Ctenophora found in the
Mediterranean.
Gladiolus
Gladiolus are a genus of plants of the iris order, having a bulbous root
with a reticulated covering. They are natives of Europe and north Africa,
but especially South Africa. The leaves are ensiform and the flowers
brilliantly coloured.
Glass Snake
The Glass Snake is a lizard of the genus Ophiosaurus which resembles a
snake in form and reaches a length of 1 meter. The joints of the tail are
not connected by caudal muscles and so the tail is very brittle and
joints break off when the animal is even slightly irritated.
Glasswort
Glasswort are plants of the genus Salicornia, natural order
Chenopodiaceae. They are succulent marine herbs growing abundantly on the
coasts of southern Europe and north Africa. When burnt their ashes yield
soda which was once used in making glass, hence the name glasswort.
Gleditschia
Gleditschia is a genus of plants of the order Leguminosae to which the
honey-locust belongs.
Globe-fish
Globe-fish is a popular name applied to several fish of the genera Diodon
and Tetraodon of the order Plectognathi, on account of their ability to
assume a globular form by swallowing air or water which inflates a
ventral sac and inflates the whole animal like a balloon.
Globe-flower
The globe-flower (Trollius europaeus) is a European plant of the natural
order Ranunculaceae. It is found in mountainous regions and has five-
lobed, deaply serrated leaves and round pale-yellow blossoms the sepals
of which are large and conspicuous while the petals are very small.
Globigerina
Globigerina is one of the Foraminifera, a microscopic animal having a
many-celled shell found fossilised in the chalk and tertiary formations
and alive in the seas where shells of the abundant dead animals form vast
calcareous deposits of mud known as globigerina ooze.
Gloriosa
Gloriosa is a genus of tuberous-rooted climbing herbs of the natural
order Liliaceae, so named from their splendid flowers. They have branched
stems and flowers mostly of a pretty red and yellow colour, with six long
lanceolate undulated segments, which are entirely reflexed.
Glow-worm
The glow-worm is an insect of the genus Lampyris, natural order
Coleoptera. The name glow-worm is only really applicable to the female,
which is without wings, resembling a caterpillar, and emits a shining
green light from the extremity of the abdomen. The male is winged, and
flies about in the evening when it is attracted by the light of the
female.
Gloxinia
Gloxinia is a genus of plants of the natural order Gesneraceae,
distinguished by the corolla apprroaching to bell-shaped, the upper lip
shortest and two-lobed, the lower three-lobed, with the middle lobe
largest, and also by the summit of the style being rounded and hollowed.
The species are native to tropical America and were introduced into
Britian in the 19th century.
Glutton
The glutton (Gulo arcticus) (Wolverene, Wolverine) is a carnivorous
quadruped, about the size of a large badger, and intermediate between the
bear family and the weasels. It inhabits northern Europe and America.
Glycyrrhiza
Glycyrrhiza is a genus of leguminous plants.
Gmelina
Gmelina is a genus of plants of the order Verbenaceae found in Asia. All
the species form either shrubs or trees, some providing valuable timber.
Gnaphalium
Gnaphalium is a genus of widely-spread composite plants which have their
foliage usually covered with a white wooly down, and their flower-heads
of the ecerlasting kind.
Gnat
Gnat is a popular name for several species of insects of the genus Culex.
Gnathostomata
Gnathostomata is a branch of the sub-phylum craniata group of animals.
The mouth is bounded by jaws which are formed from the mandibular
visceral arch.
Gnu
The gnu (wildebeeste) is an antelope found in Africa. Both sexes have
have horns projecting slightly outwards and downwards, then forming an
abrupt upward bend. They have bristly black hair about the face and
muzzle, a white stiff mane, and horse-like tail. They reach a length of
about 270cm and a height at the shoulder of about 120cm.
Goat
The goat is a ruminant mammal of the genus Capra. They are slightly
smaller than a sheep, but stronger, more agile and less timid.
Goat's-beard
Goat's-beard is a popular name of plants of the genus Tragopogon, order
Compositae, which are herbaceous perennials, chiefly natives of Europe.
The seeds have feathery appendages from which the plants get their name.
Goat's-rue
Goat's-rue (Galega officinalis) is a leguminous plant indigenous to
southern Europe. It is used as forage and was once used as a cordial to
treat fever and convulsions.
Goat's-thorn
Goat's-thorn is the name given to two hard evergreen plants of the genus
Astragalus.
Goat-moth
The goat-moth (Cossus ligniperda) is a large British moth. The larvae are
about 7cm long and hollow out galleries in trees and form cocoons from
the sawdust in which the chrysalids are formed. The larval condition
lasts for three years. The fully-developed insect is ash-coloured, with
numerous small black lines on the first pair of wings.
Goatsucker
Goatsucker is a popular name of birds of the genus Caprimulgus. They got
the name from the incorrect assertion that the birds suck goats. The
goatsuckers actually feed on nocturnal insects and beetles which are
caught as the bird flies with its mouth open.
Gobiidae
see "Goby"
Goby
Goby is the popular name of a family of acanthopterous fish (Gobiidae)
characterized as having two dorsal fins nearly united into one, the
anterior fin having flexible rays, not spinous. The ventral fins are
thoracic and united more or less by their bases. the body is scaly and
the head unarmed. there are about 400 species of goby.
Godwinia
Godwinia is a genus of plants of the natural order Araceae.
Godwit
Godwit is a popular name for birds of the genus Limosa or the family
Scolopacidae.
Gold of Pleasure
Gold of Pleasure (Camelina sativa) is a cruciferous annual of the order
Brassicaceae, with stem-clasping leaves and terminal racemes of yellow
flowers which produce pear-shaped pods containing numerous small seeds.
Golden-beetle
Golden-beetle is a popular name for several tetramerous beetles of the
genus Chrysomela. There are some British species, but most are tropical.
They are characterized by their brilliant colouring.
Golden-crested Regulus
see "Golden-crested_Wren"
Golden-crested Wren
The Golden-crested Wren (Golden-crested Regulus, Kinglet, Regulus
cristatus) is a beautiful bird belonging to the family Sylviadae,
distinguished by an orange crest. It is the smallest of British birds,
being only 8cm long, very agile and almost continually in motion. The
upper part of the body is yellowish olive green and the under parts are
pale reddish white. It lives mostly in tall trees, particularly the oak,
yew, pine and fir.
Golden-rod
Golden-rod (Solidago) is a genus of plants of the natural order
Compositae. They are chiefly natives of North America. Most of the
species have erect, rod-like, scarcely branched stems, with alternate
serrated leaves, and terminal spikes of small yellow flowers.
Golden-saxifrage
Golden-saxifrage is a popular name for Chrysoplenium.
Goldfinch
The Goldfinch (Fringilla carduelis) is a common British bird of the Finch
family. It is about 13cm long and the plumage is a mixture of black,
scarlet, yellow and white colours.
Goldfish
The goldfish is a member of the carp family found in east Asia.
Goliath-beetle
The goliath-beetles are beetles of the genus Goliathus which are native
to Africa and South America and are so named on account of their
remarkable large size which can reach 10cm. They are eaten in South
America.
Gomuti Palm
The Gomuti Palm (Saguerus saccharifer) is the sago-palm and yields a
bristly fibre known as gomuti or ejoo which is manufactured into cordage,
and used for thatching. The sweet juice of the palm is fermented into a
toddy by natives. The Gomuti Palm is also one of the chief sago producing
palms.
Gonad
see "gonads"
Gonads
The gonads are essential reproductive organs.
Goosander
The goosander is a duck found in Scotland.
Goose
The goose is a bird of the genus Anser.
Gooseberry
Gooseberry (Ribes grossularia) is a low branching shrub growing wild in
Siberia and northern Europe. It is part of the order Grossulariaceae. the
branches are armed with numerous prickles and bear three to five lobed
leaves and inconspicuous flowers. The fruit is a succulent berry which
makes rather good eating.
Goosefoot
see "Chenopodium"
Gopher
The gopher is a burrowing rodent found in north and central America.
Gorgonia
Gorgonia is a member of the order of alcyonaria.
Gorilla
The gorilla is the largest anthropoid ape, found in west Africa.
Gorse
Gorse (furze, whin) is a plant of the family leguminosae. It is a low
shrubby plant, the stem generally 80cm to 1m high, much branched and most
of the leaves converted into spines. The flowers are solitary and yellow.
Goshawk
The goshawk (Astur palumbarius) is a raptorial bird of the genus Astur.
It grows to around 60cm long, has deep brown plumage and was much used in
falconry. It flies low and pursues its prey in a line after it.
Goura
Goura is a genus of large pigeons native to Papua New Guinea comprising
about six species known as crowned pigeons which are remarkable for their
large size and open erect crest with which the head is adorned. They
spend most of their time on the ground and nest in low branches.
Gourd
Gourd (Cucurbita) is a genus of plants of the natural order
Cucurbitaceae.
Grain-moth
The grain-moth is two species of very small moth whose larvae eat grain
in granaries. The moths have narrow, fringed wings of a satin lustre.
Graining
The graining is a fish of the dace kind found chiefly in the
Mediterranean and its tributaries and in some of the Swiss lakes. The
nose is more rounded than that of the dace, the eye larger, and the
dorsal fin commences half-way between the point of the nose and the end
of the fleshy portion of the tail.
Grakle
Grakle is a genus of birds of the order Passeres and of the starling
family. They are found in India and New Guinea.
Grallatores
Grallatores is an order of birds. They are generally wading-birds and
frequent the banks of streams and marshes. They have long legs and a long
beak.
Graminaceae
see "Grass"
Grampus
The grampus are several marine cetaceous mammals allied to the dolphins.
Grampus are found in the Atlantic and North Sea. They grow to about 8
meters long, and are very thick in proportion to their length with a
black back and white belly. On each shoulder is a white spot. Grampus are
carnivorous and voracious and will attack even whales.
Grantia
The grantia is a member of the calcarea class.
Grapple-plant
The grapple-plant is a South African procumbent plant of the natural
order Pedaliacea. the seeds have many hooked thorns which cling to the
mouths of grazing cattle causing considerable pain.
Grass
Grass (Graminaceae) is an extensive order of endogenous plants comprising
about 250 genera and 4500 species. The roots are fibrous; the stem is
usually cylindrical and jointed varying length from a few centimeters to
30 meters in the case of the bamboo.
Grass-tree
The Grass-tree (Xanthorrhoea) is a genus of Australian plants pf the
natural order Liliaceae. They have shrubby stems with tufts of long
grass-like wiry foliage, from the centre of which arises the tall flower-
stalks which sometimes reach a height of 5 meters and bear dense
cylindrical spikes of blossom at their summit.
Grass-wrack
Grass-wrack (Sea-Grass, Zostera marina) is a phanerogamous plant
belonging to the Naiadeae, forming green beds at the bottom of the sea
where it is shallow. The ash contains soda.
Grasses
see "Grass"
Grasshopper
The grasshopper are various leaping inscets of the order Orthoptera
nearly akin to the locusts. They are characterized by long and slender
legs, the thighs of the hind legs are large and adapted for leaping; by
large and delicate wings and by the wing covers extending far beyond the
extremity of the abdomen. They are generally of a greenish colour.
Gratiola
Gratiola is a genus of plants of the natural order Scrophulariaceae
containing about twenty species of herbs, widely distributed through the
extra-tropical regions of the world.
Grayling
Grayling is a genus of fish of the family Salmonidae. The common grayling
is found in English streams and in Scotland. Grayling prefer rapid
streams where the water is cool and clear, and the bottom sandy or
pebbly. Grayling are yellowish-brown with a white under-belly.
Grebe
see "Podiceps"
Green Gage
Green Gage is a variety of plum.
Green-brier
Green-brier (Smilax rotundifolia) is a thorny climbing shrub having a
yellow-green stem and thick leaves with small bunches of flowers. It is
very common in America.
Green-dragon
Green-dragon (Arisoema Dracontium) is a North American herbaceous plant
of the arum family. It is also known as wake-robin.
Greenfinch
The greenfinch is a bird of the finch family common in Europe and north
Africa.
Greenheart
The greenheart (Nectandra Rodioei) is a tree of the natural order
Lauraceae. It is native to Guiana where it is also called the bebeeru.
The bark contains the alkaloid bebeerine.
Greenshank
The greenshank (Totanus glottis) is a species of sand-piper often called
the whistling snipe from the shrill note it utters when first disturbed.
It breeds commonly in the Hebrides and sometimes in northern Scotland and
is a visitor to the coasts and marshes of Britain.
Gregarina
Gregarina is a member of the gregarinida order.
Gregarinida
Gregarinida are an order of sporozoa. They are parasites which live in
invertebrates, and are found in the gut, colon and tissues.
Gregarinidae
Gregarinidae are a class of minute animal organisms comprising the lowest
forms of Protozoa found parasitic in various animals, especially the
cockroach and earthworm. The Gregarinidae consist of an outer colourless
transparent membrane, with only faint signs of a fibrillous structure
inclosing a granular mass in which there is a nucleus surrounded by a
clear space.
Grey buck
see "Grysbok"
Grey Gurnard
The Grey Gurnard (Trigla gurnardus) is a common British fish of the
Gurnard genus.
Greyhound
The greyhound is a variety of dog distinguished by a greater length of
muzzle than any other; very low forehead, short lips, thin and long legs,
small muscles, contracted belly and semipendant ears. They are bred for
racing, being the fastest running dogs.
Grilse
A grilse is a young salmon after it returns to the sea from the fesh
water for the first time.
Grisbok
see "Grysbok"
Gromwell
Gromwell are plants of the genus Lithospermum of the natural order
Boraginaceae.
Grossulaceae
Grossulaceae is a tribe of plants of the natural order Saxifragaceae.
Ground Dove
Ground Dove is a name given to several species of pigeon and especially
the Chamoepelia of warmer parts of America.
Ground Ivy
Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is a common British plant of the order
Labiatae, with a creeping stem and purple flowers. It was once used as a
flavouring in ale.
Ground Squirrel
Ground Squirrel is a a name for squirrels of the genus Tamias. They
differ from other squirrels in posessing cheek-pouches and living in
burrows.
Ground-hog
Ground-hog is another name for the aardvark.
Ground-nut
Ground-nut is another name for peanut.
Ground-pine
Ground-pine is a herbaceous labiate plant.
Groundsel
Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) is a European plant of the natural order
Compositae. The plant is emollient, has a slightly acid taste and is
rejected by most animals except pigs and goats.
Grouse
The grouse is a fowl like bird common in north America and north Europe
and comprising the family Tetraonidae whose distinguishing mark is a
naked band, often of a red colour, in place of an eyebrow. They are wild,
shy and almost untamable living in families in forests and barren regions
and feeding on berries, buds and leaves.
Growler
The growler (Micropterus nigricans) is a fresh water fish of North
America also called the black-bass.
Growth
Growth is the idea of an animal increasing in size, weight or complexity
etc.
Grub
Grub is a term applied to the soft worm-like larvae of various insects.
Grugru
Grugru is the larva of the Calandra palmarum, or palm weevil found in the
tropical parts of America. It is about the size of a thumb and is often
cooked and eaten.
Grunt
The grunt (grunter, pig-fish, red-mouth) is an American fish of the
family Haemulonidae which emits a grunt when taken out of the water,
hence it's name.
Grunter
see "Grunt"
Grus
Grus is a genus of birds which includes the crane.
Gryllus
Gryllus is a genus of orthopterous insects.
Grysbok
The grysbok (grisbok, grey buck, Antilope melanotis) is a species of
antelope found in southern Africa. It reaches a height of 1 meter in
length and 50 cm in height at the shoulder. It is reddish-grey in colour
and is hunted for food.
Guacharo
Guacharo (Steatornis Caripensis) is a bird of the goat-sucker family. It
is nocturnal and a native of South America. It is the size of a common
fowl with a curved and toothed bill and long pointed wings. Guacharo feed
upon fruit, becoming so fat that Indians kill them for their oil.
Guaiacum
Guaiacum is a genus of plants belonging to the natural order
Zygophyllaceae native to the West Indies and the tropical parts of
America. They are hardwood trees and the resin of some varieties is used
in medicine.
Guan
The guan is a gallinaceous bird of the family Cracidae, genus Penelope.
The sides of the head and front of the throat are naked and wattled, the
wattles being capable of inflation. The guans perch on trees descending
in search of grain and fruits. They are native to Brazil and Guiana, and
there was a suggestion in the 19th century of breeding them in Europe as
poultry.
Guanaco
The guanaco is a wild member of the camel family found in South America.
Guava
Guava is the popular name of the genus Psidium, which are tropical trees
of the natural order Myrtaceae. The fruit of the guava is high in vitamin
C.
Gudgeon
The gudgeon is a freshwater fish found in Europe and north Asia. It
belongs to the carp family (Cyprinidae) and has short dorsal and anal
fins without spines. On each side of the mouth is a small barbel.
Guereza
The guereza (guerza, Colobus guerza) is an Ethiopian monkey with shirt,
glossy black fur with long silky white fur on the flanks.
Guernsey Lily
The Guernsey Lily (Nerine Sarniensis) is a beautiful plant with purple
red flowers and native to South Africa. It is of the family
Amaryllidaceae. It is called the Guernsey Lily because some of its bulbs
were washed ashore in Guernsey from a ship wreck and took root.
Guerza
see "Guereza"
Guillemot
The guillemot is a web-footed bird of the Alcidae family. The guillemot
has a striaght, compressed and pointed bill covered with feathers as far
as the nostrils. The wings are pointed and very short and the legs are
short and placed far back. Guillemots eat fish and nest on sea cliffs.
Guinea Pepper
Guinea Pepper (Xylopia aromatica) is a loft tree of the custard apple
family. Its fruit, consisting of dry carpels is used as pepper.
Guinea-fowl
The Guinea-fowl (pintado) is a genus of gallinaceous birds of the family
Phasianidae (the pheasants). They are originally natives of Africa.
Guinea-grass
Guinea-grass is a very tall species of grass native to Africa and of the
same genus as the millet, it grows to between 2 and 3 meters high.
Guinea-pig
The Guinea-pig is a rodent mammal of the family Cavidae (the Cavies). It
is native to South America and rather stupid, but terribly cute and often
kept in Europe as a children's pet. The South American Indians prefer to
cook it roasted on a spit over an open fire and eat it.
Guinea-worm
Guinea-worm (Filaria Medinensis) is a parasitic worm of the order
Nematoda. It is white and about the thickness of string and varies in
length from 15 cm to 1 meter.
Gull
Gull is the general name of a family of birds distinguished by their
straight bill, bending downwards towards the point, and marked below the
under mandible by a triangular prominence, by their large wings, slender
legs, palmated feet, and small hind toe. They swim well, but cannot dive.
Gum-cistus
Gum-cistus is a plant cultivated in Portugal and yielding a gum with a
balsamic odour.
Gum-tree
Gum-tree is another name for Eucalyptus.
Gunnel
The gunnel (butterfish, Centronotus gunellus) is a fish of the Blennies
family. The common gunnel resembles an eel and is about 10 cm long, is
brown in colour and has black spots on the base of the dorsal fin.
Gunnera
Gunnera is a genus of plants of the bread-fruit order.
Gurnard
Gurnard or Gurnet is a popular name of acanthopterous fish of the genus
Trigla. The head is angular and wholly covered in bony plates. The body
is elongated, nearly round and tapering. There are two dorsal fins, the
pectoral fins are large and the teeth are small and numerous.
Guttiferae
Guttiferae is a natural order of exogenous trees and shrubs which
generally secrete an acrid yellow resinous juice. They are found in hot
and humid regions, chiefly South America.
Gymnoblastea
The gymnoblastea is an order of hydrozoa. They are marine colonial forms
in which the coenosarc is enclosed within a perisac. The perisac is not
extended to form hydrothecae.
Gynerium
Gynerium is a genus of grass which includes Pampas Grass.
Gypaetus
Gypaetus is a genus of birds which includes the Bearded Vulture.
Gypsy-wort
Gypsy-wort is a labiate plant found in Britain in ditches and on river
banks. It renders a dye, and gets its name from the rumour that Gypsies
used it to darken their skin.
Gyrocotyle
Gyrocotyle is a cestoda.
Hackberry
The hackberry is an American tree of the nettle-tree family introduced
into Britain in 1636.
Haddock
Haddock is a marine fish of the cod family found in the north atlantic.
Haematopus
Haematopus is a genus of wading birds which includes the common oyster-
catcher.
Haemosporidia
Haemosporidia is a suborder of coccidiomorpha. They are parasites which
live in warm-blooded animals and produce various types of malaria.a
Hag
Hag is the popular name of fish of the genus Myxine. They are of worm-
like form and have no eyes or scales. The mouth is formed for suction and
is without lips and is furnished with barbels. The hag has horny teeth
which it uses to eat into the interior of other fish.
Haliaetus
Haliaetus is a genus of birds which includes the British white-tailed
sea-ragle and the American bald eagle.
Halibut
Halibut is a large flatfish found in the north atlantic.
Halichondria
The halichondria is an order of sponges of the demospongia class.
Haliotis
Haliotis is a genus of gateropodous molluscs commonly called ear-shells
or sea-ears and found adhering to rocks on the sea-shore. They are
remarkable for the pearly iridescence of their inner surface.
Halistemma
Halistemma is a member of the order of siphonophora.
Halophytes
The Halophytes are a class of plants which inhabit salt marshes, and by
combustion yield barilla.
Haltica
Haltica is a genus of beetle.
Hamamelidaceae
Hamamelidaceae is a small natural order of epiygynous exogenous trees or
shrubs, varying in height from 2 to 10 meters. These are the witch-
hazels.
Hammer-oyster
The hammer-oyster is a bivalve shell fish. Malleus vulgaris, found in the
Indian Ocean. It resembles the pearl-oyster when young, but becomes more
hammer-like as it gets older by the lengthening of its ears.
Hammerhead
The hammerhead is a species of shark.
Hamster
The hamster (Cricetus) is a genus of rodent animals belonging to the
Muridae (mice) family, and closely allied to the rats. They are
distinguished by a short hairy tail and cheek pouches.
Hand-plant
The hand-plant (Cheirostemon platanoides) is a Mexican tree of the order
Sterculiaceae. It grows to about 10 meters in height and has flowers, the
stamen of which looks a bit like a human hand.
Hard-fern
Hard-fern is the popular name of Lomaria spicant, a common fern found
throughout Britain growing on heaths and glens.
Hare
The hare (Lepus) is a genus of rodent with long ears, long hind legs, a
shirt tail, soft hair and a divided upper lip. The young hare is called a
leveret and are born in litters of between 3 and 6 leverets upto 4 times
a year.
Hare's Ear
Hare's Ear (Bupleurum) is a plant of the natural order Umbelliferae.
Harebell
Harebell (Scotch bluebell, Campanula rotundifolia) is a plant of the
natural order Campanulaceae with a bell shaped blue, and sometimes white
flower. The radical leaves are cordate or reniform, the stem-leaves
partly ovate or lanceolate. It is a slender plant growing to about 12 cm
tall.
Hareld
The hareld (Harelda glacialis) is the long-tailed duck, an oceanic duck
with a short thick bill, a high forehead and two very long feathers in
the tail of the male. It inhabits the northern seas and is often found
around Orkney and Shetland.
Harlequin Duck
The Harlequin Duck (Clangula histrionica) is a species of duck with
white, grey and black plumage found in Arctic regions.
Harp-shell
The harp-shell is a genus of molluscs (Harpa) belonging to the
gasteropoda and to the whelk family. The species are found around
Mauritius. The shells are very attractive, but exposure to light causes
their colours to fade.
Harpy-eagle
The harpy-eagle is a large, powerful bird of South America. It has a
crooked bill, and strong sharp claws. The harpy-eagle feeds on birds,
sloths, racoons, fawns, fish and tortoise eggs.
Harrier
The Harrier is a breed of dog intended for hare hunting. It is similar to
the foxhound, but smaller.
Hart
Hart is the name given to a male stag.
Hart's-tongue
Hart's-tongue is a genus of highly ornamental fern with simple, undivided
fronds.
Hartebeest
The hartebeest (Alcelaphus) is a south African antelope which measures
about 1.5 meters high at the shoulder, has a long head, horns projecting
outwards and backwards, black marks on the face and legs, a white mark on
the rump and a bushy tail. They are generally found in small herds.
Harvest-bug
The harvest-bug (Leptus autumnalis) is a small larval insect of the
family Acaridae. It is bright red in colour and about the size of a grain
of cayenne pepper. It attacks livestock and humans, burrowing under the
skin and so causing red pustules.
Harvest-mouse
The harvest-mouse (Musmessorius) is the smallest British quadruped. It
builds a nest suspended amongst stalks of wheat.
Harvest-spider
The harvest-spider (Phalangium longipes) is a British spider with very
long legs. It has a peculiar habit of throwing off one or more legs.
Haustellata
Haustellata is an extensive division of insects in which the mouth is
furnished with a haustellum or proboscis adapted for suction. It includes
the butterflies and moths, and two winged flies.
Hawfinch
The hawfinch is a species of grossbeak. It is one of the largest of the
finches. It resembles the Chaffinch in colour, but is distinguished by
its enormous beak, larger size, and bill-hook formation of some of its
wing feathers. It feeds on all kinds of berries and is found throughout
Britain.
Hawk-moth
The Hawk-moth is one of the sphinx moths, so called from its hovering
motion which resembles that of a hawk.
Hawkweed
Hawkweed (Hieracium) is a genus of composite plants, sub-order
Cichoraceae, consisting of numerous species with yellow flowers.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn (Cratoegus Oxyacantha) is a small spiny European tree, belonging
to the sub-order Pomeae of the order Rosaceae, rising sometimes to the
height of 6 meters. The leaves are alternate, obovate, 3 to 5 lobed. The
flowers are white, sometimes with a reddish tinge, disposed in corymbs
and smell rather nice.
Hazel
The hazel is a tree of the genus corylus, family corylaceae. The leaves
are roundish-cordate, alternate and shortly petiolate. It produces nuts
known as filberts.
Hazel-grouse
The hazel-grouse is a species of grouse inhabiting Europe and Asia. It is
found in heathy tracts, woods and forests. It feeds on berries, buds,
insects and worms.
Heart
The heart is a muscular organ used to maintain circulation of blood
through an animal.
Heather
Heather is a low growing evergreen shrub that is common on sandy and acid
soil.
Hedera
Hedera is the genus of plants to which ivy belongs.
Hedge-mustard
Hedge-mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) is a cruciferous plant once used as
a remedy for catarrh.
Hedge-sparrow
see "Hedge-warbler"
Hedge-warbler
The hedge-warbler (hedge-sparrow, Accentor modularis) is a bird of the
family Sylvidae, common in Britain and the temperate parts of Europe. It
feeds on insects, worms and seeds. It grows to about 14 cm long and has
reddish-brown plumage streaked with dark-brown.
Hedgehog
The hedgehog is a small prickly carnivorous mammal.
Helamys
Helamys is a genus of rodents allied to the jerboas. They are the
jumping-hare or jumping-rat.
Helianthemum
Helianthemum is a genus of herbaceous undershrubs and shrubby or creeping
plants, also known as the rock-rose genus.
Helicidae
Helicidae is the name by which the land shell-snails are distinguished.
Helictis
Helictis is a genus of carnivorous quadrupeds allied to the skunk. They
are found in China and Nepal.
Heliotrope
Heliotrope (Heliotropium) is a genus of plants of the natural order
Boraginaceae. The species are herbs or undershrubs mostly native of the
warmer parts of the world and have alternate leaves and small flowers
usually disposed in scorpioid cymes.
Heliozoa
The heliozoa are an order of rhizopoda. The body is radially symetrical
and the pseudopodia are thin and stiff. Reproduction is by fission and
sexually by the fusion of gametes.
Helix
Helix is a genus of gasteropodous molluscs comprising the land shell-
snails.
Hellebore
Hellebore (Helleborus) is a genus of plants of the natural order
Ranunculaceae, consisting of perennial low-growing plants with palmate or
pedate leathery leaves, yellowish, greenish or white flowers having five
conspicuous persistent sepals and eight to ten small tubular petals.
Helleborus
see "Hellebore"
Helmet-shell
Helmet-shell is a common name for molluscs of the genus Cassis,
gasteropods of the family Buccinidae found mainly on tropical shores.
Heloderma
Heloderma is a genus of Mexican lizard. They are about 1 meter in length
and some are venomous. They have a thick, squat body covered with rough
scales and form burrows under the roots of trees.
Hemerobiidae
Hemerobiidae are the lace-wing flies, a family of neuropterous insects.
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis is a genus of Liliaceae.
Hemichordata
Hemichordata is a class of sub-phylum acrania. They are peculiar marine
worm-like creatures.
Hemidesmus
Hemidesmus is a genus of twining plants of the natural order
Asclepiadaceae, having opposite leaves, and cymes of small greenish
flowers. Sarasparilla is derived from them.
Hemimetabola
Hemimetabola is the section of the insect class which undergo complete
metamorphosis, the larva differing from the perfect insect chiefly in the
absence of wings and size.
Hemipodius
Hemipodius is a genus of rasorial birds allied to the quail.
Hemiptera
Hemiptera is an order of four-winged insects, having a suctorial
proboscis, the outer wings, or wing-covers, are leathery at the base and
transparent towards the tips.
Hemlock
Hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a poisonous plant of the natural order
Umbelliferae. It is a tall, erect, branching biennial, with a smooth,
shining, hollow stem usually marked with purple spots. It has elegant,
much divided leaves which when bruised emit a nauseous odour. The flowers
are white in compound umbels of ten or more rays surrounded by a general
involucre of three to seven leaflets.
Hemp
Hemp is an annual plant of the genus Cannabis, cultivated for its fibres
that are used to make rope.
Hemp-palm
Hemp-palm (Chamoerops excelsa) is a Chinese and Japanese species of palm.
Rope is made from the fibres of its leaves.
Henbane
Henbane is a plant of the genus Hyoscyamus, natural order Solanaceae. It
is a coarse, erect biennial herb having soft, clammy, hairy foliage of a
disagreeable odour and pale yellowish-brown flowers streaked with puple
veins.
Henna
Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a shrub of the natural order Lythraceae,
bearing opposite entire leaves and numerous small white fragrant flowers
disposed in terminal panicles.
Heracleum
Heracleum is a genus of large umbelliferous herbs, the cow-parsnips.
Herb-bennet
Herb-bennet (Benedict's herb, Avens) is an aromatic plant used as a tonic
and astringent.
Herb-robert
Herb-robert (Geranium Robertianum) is a common British plant. It is
astringent and aromatic.
Herbaceous
A plant said to be herbaceous is a perennial plant of which the stem
perishes annually, while the roots remain permanent and send forth a new
stem in the following season.
Herbivore
A herbivore is an animal that eats plants.
Herbivorous
see "herbivore"
Hercules-beetle
The Hercules-beetle (Scaraboeus) is a very large Brazilian lamellicorn
beetle. An enormous horn projects from the head, and a smaller one from
the thorax. The beetle grows to 12cm long.
Hermaphrodite
An hermaphrodite animal is one in which both male and female gametes are
present.
Hermit-crab
Hermit-crab is the popular name of the Paguridae family of decapod
crustaceans. They take posession of and occupy cast-off univalve shells
of various molluscs, carrying this habitation about with them, and
changing it for a larger one as they increase in size.
Hernandia
Hernandia is a genus of large Indian trees of the natural order
Hernandiaceae. They have alternate entire leaves and flowers arranged in
axillary or terminal spikes or corymbs.
Heron
Heron is a popular name for birds of the genus Ardea, constituting with
the bitterns the family Ardeidae. Herons are spread over almost all the
world. They are distinguished by having a long bill cleft beneath the
eyes, a compressed body, long slender legs naked above the tarsal joint,
three toes in front, the two outer united by a membrane, and by moderate
wings. The tail is short, rounded, and composed of ten or twelve
feathers. The common Heron is about 1 meter in length.
Herring
The herring (Clupea harengus) is an edible fish found in the north
Atlantic. It comes close to the shore in large shoals to spawn.
Hessian Fly
The Hessian Fly (Cecidomyia destructor) is a fly of the family Tipulidae,
of the order Diptera, the larva of which is very destructive to wheat,
barley and rye crops.
Heteropoda
Heteropoda is an order of marine molluscs, the most highly organized of
the Gasteropoda. In this order the foot is compressed into a vertical
muscular lamina, serving for a fin, and the gills, when present, are
collected into a mass on the hinder part of the back.
Heteroptera
Heteroptera is a section of hemipterous insects comprising those in which
the two pairs of wings are of different consistence, the anterior part
being horny or leathery, but generally tipped with membrane. They
comprise the land and water bugs.
Heterotricha
Heterotricha is an order of ciliata vera. They are covered in cilia, and
have a spiral band of tough cilia leading towards the cytostome.
Hexactinellida
Hexactinellida is a class of sponge with a skeleton built of six-rayed
spicules made of silica.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is an extensive genus of plants, natural order Malvaceae chiefly
natives of tropical climates. They have large showy flowers, borne
singuarly on stalks towards the ends of the branches, these flowers
having an outer calyx of numerous leaves in addition to the true five-
lobed persistent calyx.
Hickory
Hickory is several species of timber trees of the genus Carya of the
natural order Juglandaceae. They are natives to North America. The wood
is heavy, strong and tenacious.
Hind
Hind is the name of a female stag or deer.
Hinny
A Hinny is a hybrid, the product of a stallion mating with a she-ass. It
is smaller and weaker than the mule.
Hippocampus
Hippocampus (the Sea-Horse) is a genus of fish closely allied to the
pipe-fish, of singular construction and peculiar habits. The upper parts
look rather like a horse's head and neck in miniature. When swimming they
maintain a vertical position. They are generally about 15cm to 25cm long
and are found mainly in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
Hippomane
Hippomane are a genus of plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae.
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus is a large herbivorous mammal found in Africa.
Hirudinea
The hirudinea are the leeches. They are an ectoparasitic class of
annelids with few true segments but each segment shows numerous annuli.
Suckers are present at both ends of the body. They lay eggs in cocoons
secreted by the clitellum.
Hirudo
The hirudo are hirudinea.
Hoatzin
The hoatzin is a bird found only in the Amazon.
Hog
see "Pig"
Hog-fish
The Hog-fish are teleostean fish of the genus Scorpoena, family
Scorpaenidae.
Hog-plum
The Hog-plum are plants of the genus Spondias, natural order
Anacardiaceae. Some of them yield pleasant fruit. The name Hog-plum comes
from the West Indies where the fruit was once fed to pigs (hogs).
Hog-rat
The Hog-rat (Capromys) is a genus of rodent animals of the family
Muridae.
Holcus
Holcus is a genus of grasses, natural order Gramineae.
Holly
Holly (Ilex) is a genus of plants of the order Aquifoliaceae, embracing a
number of evergreen trees or shrubs. The common holly is a conical
evergreen tree growing to a height of 10 meters in Britain. It's leaves
are dark-green, shiny and leathery, abundantly armed with prickles on the
lower branches but free from them on the higher branches.
Hollyhock
Hollyhock is a biennial or perennial herb with tall, erect, leafy stems.
It is native to central Europe and China. It is an important plant in
medicine providing a dark pigment which is also used in cooking.
Holm-oak
Holm-oak (Quercus Ilex) is a shrub-like tree native to Mediterranean
countries with holly-like leaves.
Holothuria
Holothuria is a type of holothuroidea.
Holothurioidea
Holothurioidea is an order of Echinoderms, the sea-cucumbers.
Holothuroidea
The holothuroidea are the sea cucumbers. The body is elongated and
appears worm-like. Skeletal plates are minute and imbedded in the fleshy
body wall. There are no spines. The mouth is at one end of the body, the
anus at the other. Feeding is carried out by tube feet near the mouth.
Holotricha
Holotricha are an order of ciliata vera. They are covered in alike cilia.
Holy Grass
Holy Grass (Hierochloe) is an odoriferous genus of grass belonging to the
Phalarideae.
Honey-ant
The honey-ant (Myrmecocyctus mexicnus) is a Mexican ant. They live in
subterranean galleries and in summer some secrete a kind of honey from
their abdomen.
Honey-eater
Honey-eater is a name given to a number of insessorial birds forming the
family Meliphagidae, of the tribe Tenuirostres. They form a large group,
feeding mainly on honey and the nectar of flowers. These birds are found
in Australia and surrounding islands. They have long curved sharp bills,
with a tongue terminating in a pencil of delicate filaments.
Honey-guide
The honey-guide is a South African cuckoo of the genus Indicator, which
by its cries and motions directs people to the nests of wild honey bees.
Honey-locust
The Honey-locust (Gleditschia triacanthos) is an American forest tree
belonging to the natural order Leguminosae. The leaves are pinnated,
divided into small leaflets and the foliage has a light and elegant
appearance.
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle (Woodbine) is the Lonicera genus of Linnaeus of the natural
order Caprifoliaceae. It is a twining shrub with distinct leaves and red
berries found in Britain.
Hooded Seal
The hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) is a species of seal, the male of
which has a movable, inflatable muscular bag stretching from the muzzle
to behind the eyes. The prevailing colour is black.
Hoof
A hoof is the horny casing of the foot of a ruminant, horse, swine or
similar animals.
Hoofed
Hoofed is the term applied to animals with hooves.
Hoopoe
The hoopoe (Upupa) is a bird about 30cm long with a fine crest of pale
cinnamon-red feathers tipped with black. It is a ground feeder eating
mainly insects.
Hooves
Hooves is the plural of hoof.
Hop
The hop is a plant of the family cannabiaceae. The root is perennial
giving out several herbaceous, rough, twining stems with large lobed
leaves. The catkins are added to beer to give it flavour.
Hop-clover
Hop-clover (Trifolium procumbens) is a plant of the order Leguminosae,
distinguished from other species of clover by its bunch of yellow flowers
which wither to brown.
Hops
Hops are the dried flowers of the hop plant.
Horehound
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a labiate plant with whitish, downy
leaves and stem. The flowers are small, nearly white in crowded whorls.
The flowers are aromatic and have a bitter taste. An infusion of
horehound was a popular English remedy for coughs and colds.
Hormiphora
The hormiphora is a member of the sub-phylum ctenophora family.
Hornbills
The Hornbills (Bucerotidoe) are a remarkable group of birds found in
southern Asia and Africa. They are akin to the Toucans and Kingfishers.
The hornbills are remarkable for the size of their bill and a horny
protruberance which surmounts the bill.
Horned pheasant
see "Tragopan"
Horned Ray
see "Cephaloptera"
Horned Viper
see "Cerastes"
Horned-screamer
The horned-screamer (Palamedea cornuta) is a South American grallatorial
bird having a long, slender, movable horn projecting from its forehead.
It has a loud and shrill voice.
Horned-toad
Horned-toad is a popular name for the Phrynosoma genus of lizards. They
are found in America and look rather like toads and are covered with
spine-like scales.
Hornet
The hornet is an insect of the genus Vespa, much larger and stronger than
the ordinary wasp. Hornets are voracious, feeding on fruit and honey and
preying on other insects. The nest is formed in hollow-trees and walls.
The hornet sting is very painful and usually causes considerable
swelling.
Horse
The horse is a hoofed, odd toed grass eating mammal.
Horse Chestnut
Horse Chestnut is a tall deciduous tree native to south-eastern Europe.
The fruit is a green spiny capsule containing one or more hard brown
seeds known as "conkers".
Horse-fly
The Horse-fly is a winged insect of the family Hippoboscidae which is
parasitic on the horse.
Horse-radish
Horse-radish (Cochlearia Armoracia) is a cruciferous plant found in the
temperate parts of Europe in moist locations. The root is cylindrical,
whitish in colour and forms a popular condiment. It is a pungent tasting
and smelling root, excellent with roast beef.
Horse-tail
Horse-tail is a popular name for plants of the genus Equisetum of the
natural order Equisetaceae. The cuticle abounds in siliceous cells, a
property which allows the horse-tail to be used for polishing wood.
Horseradish
Horseradish is a cruciferae native to south east Europe. The root is used
in cookery as a condiment of beef.
Hound
A hound is a hunting dog which hunts by scent. There are several
varieties; bloodhound, staghound, foxhound, harrier and beagle.
Houseleek
The Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum) is a succulent plant of the natural
order Crassulaceae. It grows on old walls and roofs. The stem reaches
about 20cm in length and bears a few purplish flowers which have twelve
or fifteen petals.
Howler Monkey
The Howler Monkey (Mycetes) is a genus of South American monkey
characterized by a remarkable loudness of voice. They are prehensile,
tailed, large and heavy of body with a high pyramidal head flattened on
the summit.
Hoya
Hoya is a genus of Asclepiadaceae common in tropical Asia.
Huia-bird
Huia-bird is a Maori name for New Zealand's starlings.
Human
A human is an animal of the genus homo.
Humming-bird
Humming-bird is the popular name for the Trochilidae family of munte and
beautiful birds, so called from the sound of their wings in flight. The
beak is slender, generally long, sometimes straight and sometimes curved.
The tongue is long and filiform. They feed by hovering by a plant and use
their tongue to catch insects.
Huon Pine
The Huon Pine is a tree of the Yew family found in Tasmania and yielding
a useful timber.
Hura
Hura is a genus of tropical American plants of the natural order
Euphorbiaceae.
Hurgila
see "Adjutant-bird"
Hyacinth
Hyacinth is a genus of liliaceous bulbous plants including about thirty
species.
Hyalonema
The hyalonema is a member of the hexactinellida class.
Hydatina
Hydatina is a phylum rotifera.
Hydra
The hydra is of the order hydrida.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea is a genus of shrubs or herbs of the natural order
Saxifragaceae, containing about thirty-three species native to Asia and
America. The British garden hydrangea was introduced from China in 1790
by Sir J. Banks.
Hydrida
Hydrida is an order of hydrozoa. They are solitary hydroid freshwater
forms which reproduce by budding and sexual reproduction.
Hydrozoa
Hydrozoa is a class of sub-phylum cnidaria. They are mainly marine
colonial forms which during the life-history have both hydroid and
medusoid stages.
Hyena
The hyena is a carnivorous mammal found in Africa and Asia.
Hymenoptera
The hymenoptera is an order of insects which includes the bees, wasps and
ants.
Hypericaceae
Hypericaceae is a natural order of plants. They are herbs, shrubs or
rarely trees with simple opposite leaves. They have terminal or axillary,
solitary, cymose or paniculate flowers which are usually yellow or white.
Hypermastigina
Hypermastigina are an order of zoomastigina. They are small flagellates
with numerous flagella. They live in the gut of insects. Hypermastigina
in the gut of termites assist in the digestion of wood.
Hypotricha
Hypotricha is an order of ciliata vera. They are flattened ciliates with
large stiff ciliates on the lower surface which act similarly to legs.
Hyracoidea
The hyracoidea are an order of eutheria. They are small rabbit-like
creatures.
Hyssop
Hyssop is an aromatic herb of the family labiatae.
Ibex
The ibex is a wild goat.
Iguana
The iguana is a type of lizard.
Iguanodon
Iguanodon was a herbivore dinosaur of the cretaceous period. For defence
it had a 40cm long sharp thumb spike. Iguanodon lived in herds.
Ilex
see "Holl"
Impala
The impala is an African antelope.
Impatiens
The impatiens are a genus of plants with elastic valves of the seed-pod
which discharge the seeds when ripe or when touched.
Impennes
Impennes is a name given to swimming birds which have only rudimentary
feathers, such as penguins.
Impey Pheasant
The Impey Pheasant (Monaul, Lophophorus refulgens) is a bird of the
pheasant family with splendid plumage found in the higher regions of the
Himalayas. It is the size of a small turkey.
Inaja Palm
The Inaja Palm is a South American palm growing to heights of over 30
meters with leaves 10 to 12 meters long.
Indian millet
Indian millet (Sorghum vulgare) is a grass of the genus Sorghum.
Indian Shot
Indian Shot (Canna indica) is an ornamental plant of the Arrow-root
family found in most tropical countries. The seeds are round, black and
hard, hence the name Indian Shot.
Indigo-bird
The Indigo-bird (Cyanospiza cyanea) is a North American bird of the Finch
family. It is a deep-blue colour and a good songster.
Indigofera
Indigofera is a genus of plants, the Indigo plants. They are herbaceous
or shrubby plants with pinnate leaves and small, blue, purple or white
pea shaped flowers disposed in axillary racemes. The dye Indigo was
formerly obtained from the leaves of the plant by fermentation.
Infusoria
Infusoria is a class of minute animals. They are provided with a mouth,
are without pseudopodia, and are furnished with vibratile cilia.
Ingested
see "ingestion"
Ingestion
Ingestion is the process of getting food within the confines of the body.
Insect
see "insecta"
Insecta
Insecta is the insect class of arthropods. The body is divided into;
head, thorax and abdomen. When wings are present they arise from the
second and third thoracic segments. There are three thoracic segments
each with a pair of walking legs.
Insectivora
Insectivora is an order of small eutheria which eat insects. The teeth
are small and have pointed cusps.
Insectivore
An insectivore is a mammal which feeds predominantly on insects.
Insectivorous
see "insectivore"
Insects
see "insect"
Intestine
The intestine is the longest part of the alimentary canal. It follows the
stomach. The intestine is divided into parts.
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone.
Ipomoea
The ipomoea is a genus of twining tropical plant which includes the sweet
potato.
Isopoda
Isopoda is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is absent and the
body is flattened dorsoventrally. The abdomen is often reduced. The
endopodites of the abdominal appendages function as gills.
Ivory
Ivory is a hard white substance of which some animals teeth and tusks are
composed.
Jacaranda
The jacaranda is a genus of American tropical ornamental trees.
Jack-in-the-box
Jack-in-the-box (Hernandia Sonora) is a tree of the Hernandia genus. It
is so named because of the noise the wind makes whistling through its
persistent involucels.
Jackal
The jackal is a carnivorous member of the dog family.
Jaguar
The jaguar is a large carnivorous mammal of the cat family.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a plant of the oleaceae family.
Jay
The jay is a bird of the crow family.
Juniper
Juniper is an evergreen shrub of the genus Juniperus. Juniper has prickly
leaves and dark purple berries of a pungent taste. The juice of the
berries is extracted and used as a diuretic and flavouring in gin etc.
Kale
Kale is a type of cabbage.
Kangaroo
The kangaroo is a marsupial mammal found in Australia.
Kauri pine
The Kauri pine is one of the dammar pine family of trees. It is found in
the north island of New Zealand where it grows to 160 feet in height.
Keaki
The keaki is a Japanese tree.
Kestrel
The kestrel is a British bird of the falcon family.
Kidney Bean
see "French_Beans"
Kinglet
see "Golden-crested_Wren"
Kite
The kite is a bird of prey of the falcon family.
Kiwi
The kiwi is a group of three species of bird only found in New Zealand.
They are about the size of a domestic fowl, have short stout legs
terminated in four toes and a long bill with nostrils at the tip.
Knapweed
Knapweed is a plant of the genus Centaurea.
Koala
The koala is a marsupial found only in east Australia.
Krill
Krill is a malacostraca.
Kudu
The kudu is a breed of antelope. It is found in Africa. The males have
twisted horns up to 60 inches long, and stand about 6 feet tall at the
shoulder and weigh around 700 pounds. The females are hornless.
Laburnum
Laburnum is a small leguminous tree of the genus Laburnum with poisonous
seeds and bright yellow flowers.
Lacertilia
Lacertilia is a suborder of squamata. These are the lizards. Limbs are
usually present, and traces of a girdle are always present, even in the
limbless species.
Ladybird
The ladybird is a beetle of the family coccinellidae.
Lagomorpha
Lagomorpha are the rabbit order of eutheria. They have a second pair of
upper incisors immediately behind the first pair.
Lamb's-Lettuce
see "Corn_Salad"
Lamellibranchiata
Lamellibranchiata is a class of phylum mollusca. They are the mussels,
oysters, scallops etc. The head is reduced and the mantle encloses the
body and secretes a bivalved shell.
Lamprey
The lamprey is a member of the cyclostomi subclass.
Lamp shell
see "phylum_brachiopoda"
Landrail
see "Corn-crake"
Langur
The langur is a leaf eating monkey found in south Asia.
Lapwing
The lapwing is a British bird of the plover family.
Larch
The larch is a tree of the pinaceae family.
Lavender
Lavender is a herb of the family labiatae.
Leek
The leek is a liliaceae.
Leguminosae
The leguminosae family of plants have pods containing dry fruits and
nitrogen rich roots.
Leguminous
see "Leguminosa"
Lemur
Lemurs are species of omnivorous forest dwelling primates found in
Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. They have large eyes and bushy tails.
Lemuroidea
The lemuroidea is an order of eutheria. They are related to the monkeys,
but are more primitive. They are adpated to arboreal life.
Lemurs
see "lemur"
Lentil
The lentil is an annual plant of the legumionsae family.
Leopard
The leopard is a member of the cat family.
Lepismidae
Lepismidae is a family of minute wingless insects of the order Thysanura,
having the abdomen furnished at its extremity with three caudal bristles
which are used in leaping.
Leptoplana
Leptoplana is a member of the order polycladida.
Leptostraca
Leptostraca is a marine order of malacostraca. The carapace takes the
form of a bivalved shell. In the front of the head region is a movable
head plate.
Lesothosaurus
Lesothosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the triassic era. It was a
small dinosaur, about 1m long with a long tail.
Liliaceae
The liliaceae is the lilly family. They are stemless plants, with a
simple or branched trunk, and have bulbous or fascicled roots.
Lillies
see "lilly"
Lilly
A lilly is a liliaceae
Linaceae
Linaceae is the flax family, a small natural order of exogenous plants.
they are principally characterized by their regular flowers, with
imbricate glandular sepals having a disc of five glands outside the
satminal tube.
Lineus
Lineus is a nemertea.
Lingula
Lingula is a phylum brachiopoda.
Linnet
The linnet is a bird of the finch family.
Linum
Linum is the flax genus of plants which gives its name to the natural
order Linaceae. There are about 80 species, herbs or rarely small shrubs,
chiefly found in the temperate and warmer extra-tropical regions of both
hemispheres.
Lion
The lion is a member of the cat family panthera leo. They are now only
found in Africa and in north west India. The male lion has a heavy mane
and a tuft at the end of the tail.
Liquorice
Liquorice is a perennial herb of the leguminosae family and found in
Europe.
Lizard
The lizards are reptiles.
Lizards
see "lizard"
Loa
The loa is a genus of parasitic nematode.
Loach
The loach is a carp like fresh water fish.
Lobster
The lobster is a malacostraca.
Locomotion
Locomotion is the idea of movement from one place to another.
Lotus
Lotus is a genus of plant of the legumionosae family.
Lumbricus
The lumbricus are oligochaeta.
Lung fish
see "crossopterygii"
Lung fishes
see "lung_fish"
Lynx
The lynx is a member of the cat family found in rocky and forested areas
of north America and Europe.
Mackerel
The mackerel is a pelagic fish found in the north atlantic and
mediterranean.
Madrepora
Madrepora is a member of the order zoantharia.
Magpie
The magpie is a bird of the crow family.
Malacostraca
Malacostraca is a subclass of crustacea. The eyes are usually stalked.
Typically the carapace covers the thorax which consists of eight
segments. The abdomen is made up of six appendage-bearing segments.
Mallard
The mallard is a British duck.
Mallow
Mallow is a wild plant of the genus Malva with hairy leaves and stem and
rose-purple flowers.
Malvaceae
Malvaceae is a large natural order of exogenous plants (the mallows),
having polypetalous flowers, monadelphous stamens, unilocular anthers,
valvate estivation and often an external calyx.
Mammal
see "mammalia"
Mammalia
Mammalia is the mammal class of craniates. The young are nourished by
milk. The skin is covered in two types of glands: sweat glands and
sebaceous glands. The sweat glands secrete a watery fluid to assist body
cooling. The sebaceous glands secrete an oily fluid to maintain water
resistance in the hair. The heart has two auricles and two ventricles.
Mammals
see "mammal"
Manatee
A manatee is a herbivorous marine mammal.
Mandasuchus
Mandasuchus was a carnivorous reptile from the triassic era. It was the
size of a car.
Mango
The mango is a tree native to India but found in warm climates.
Maple
The maple is a deciduous tree of some 200 species.
Mare
A mare is a female horse.
Margay
The margay is a small wild cat.
Markhor
The markhor is a large wild goat found in the himalayas.
Marshmallow
Marshmallow is a perennial herb of the order Malvaceae, with a yellow,
branched root, tall, erect, leafy stems and large alternate, lobed and
irregularly toothed leaves. The root can be boiled and eaten as a
vegetable.
Marsupial
see "metatheria"
Marsupials
see "marsupial"
Marten
The marten is a carnivorous mammal of the genus Martes. It resembles a
large weasel and has valuable fur.
Massospondylus
Massospondylus was one of the earliest dinosaurs. It lived during the
triassic era. It was an omnivore with a latge bulky body and a tiny head.
It grew to about 6m long. It had a strange thumb claw which could have
been used for defense and also digging.
Mastigophora
The mastigophora are a class of phylum protozoa. They are small protozoa
which are motile in the adult stage, swimming by means of flagella. They
reproduce by logitudinal fission.
Matamata
The matamata is a south American fresh water turtle.
Medusae
see "scyphozoa"
Medusidae
see "scyphozoa"
Megalornithidae
see "Crane"
Megalosaurus
Megalosaurus was a large carnivorous dinosaur from the jurrasic period.
Remains have been found in oxfordshire, england. It was estimated to be
about the size of two cars.
Merino
The merino is a type of sheep with fine silky wool.
Merocystis
Merocystis is a member of the coccidia vera order.
Mesostoma
Mesostoma is a member of the order rhabdocoelida.
Metatheria
Metatheria is a subclass of mammal. These are the marsupials. The young
are born in an immature state and migrate into a pouch on the mother's
abdomen where they are nourished on milk.
Mezereon
Mezereon is a deciduous shrub with fragrant purple flowers.
Mignonette
Mignonette (Reseda odorata) is a plant with fragrant greyish-green
blossoms.
Mildew
Mildew is a growth of minute white fungi. It occurs on plants and objects
exposed to damp.
Milfoil
Milfoil is another name for Yarrow.
Milk
Milk is a secretion of modified skin glands of female mammals.
Millepede
A millepede is a myriapod with numerous legs placed one each of the
segments in double pairs.
Millepora
Millepora is a member of the order milleporina.
Milleporina
Milleporina is an order of marine hydrozoa with the hydroid colony on the
surface of a massive calcareous corallum perforated by pores into which
the polyps can be retracted.
Millet
Millet is the name of several grasses of the genus Sorghum.
Mimosa
Mimosa is a genus of leguminous plants, sub-division of Mimoseae.
Mimusops
Mimusops is a genus of large, milky-juiced tropical trees.
Mina Bird
The Indian Mina Brid is a deep velvet black bird with a whitespot on the
wing. A member of the genus Grakle, the Mina Bird can imitate the human
voice and be taught tricks.
Mink
The mink is 2 species of carnivorous mammal of the weasel family. It is
semi-aquatic, burrowing on the banks of rivers and ponds and eating frogs
and fish.
Minnow
The minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus) is a species of fish of the carp family.
They rarely grow longer than 7cm and are often used as bait for catching
trout.
Mint
Mint is the name given to several herbaceous aromatic plants of the genus
Mentha, natural order Labiatae. They are nearly all perennial, having
square stems which bear opposite and simple leaves.
Mirabilis
Mirabilis is a genus of plants of the natural order Nyctagineae.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is a European plant of the order Loranthaceae which grow
parasitically on various trees. It was sacred to the Druids, especially
when it was found growing on the oak tree. It is a small shrub with
sessile, rectangular, leathery leaves and small yellowish-green flowers.
In winter the bush is covered in white berries.
Mite
see "acarina"
Mitre
Mitre is a name given to many molluscs which inhabit a small and pretty
turreted shell found in the seas around hot climates.
Moccasin Snake
The Moccasin Snake is a very venomous snake found in swamps in the warmer
parts of America. It grows to around 60 cm in length, is dark brown above
and grey underneath.
Mocking-bird
The mocking-bird is an American bird of the thrush family. It is renowned
for being able to immitate the calls of most animals.
Mockingbird
The mockingbird is a North American songbird (Mimus polyglottos) of the
mimic thrush family Mimidae, found in the USA and Mexico. About 25 cm
long, it is brownish grey, with white markings on the black wings and
tail. It is remarkable for its ability to mimic the songs of other
species.
Mole
The mole is a burrowing mammal of the talpidae family.
Mole-rat
The mole-rat is a rodent of the genus Spalax, family Spalacidae. They are
dumpish, stout-bodied rodents with short strong limbs and a very short
tail.
Mollusc
see "phylum_mollusca"
Mollusca
see "phylum_mollusca"
Molluscoida
Molluscoida is a group of animals comprising the Polyzoa, Tunicata and
Brachiopoda. The nervous system consists of a single ganglion or a
principal pair of ganglia and the heart is imperfect.
Molluscs
see "phylum_mollusca"
Moloch Lizard
The moloch lizard is a genus of ferocious looking, but harmless lizards
of Australia. It has a horned head and spiny body.
Monaul
see "Impey_Pheasant"
Mongoose
The mongoose is a small carnivorous mammal that is often kept for its
ability to kill snakes.
Monitor
The monitor is any of various lizards of the family Varanidae, found in
Africa, South Asia, and Australasia. Monitors are generally large and
carnivorous, with well-developed legs and claws and a long powerful tail
that can be swung in defence. Monitors include the Komodo dragon, the
largest of all lizards, and also the slimmer Salvador's monitor Varanus
salvadorii, which may reach 2.5m. Several other monitors, such as the
lace monitor (Varanus varius), the perentie Varanus giganteus of
Australia, and the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) of Africa, are up to
2m long.
Monkey
A monkey is a small, usually tree dwelling, primate.
Monkey puzzle
The monkey puzzle is a tree from the southern Andes.
Monkey-pot tree
The Monkey-pot tree (Lecythis Ollaria) is a large forest tree of Brazil.
Monkeys
see "monkey"
Monkshood
see "Aconite"
Monocystis
Monocystis is a member of the gregarinida order.
Monogenea
Monogenea is an order of trematoda. They are ectoparasitic flukes with
relatively simple life histories which do not involve an intermediate
host. They feed on aquatic animals. Both hooks and suckers are present.
Monotremata
The monotremata is a subclass of mammals. They lay large eggs. There are
no mammae, but the young are nourished by a secretion poured into a
depression in the abdomen.
Monotreme
Monotreme refers to any member of the order Monotremata, the only living
egg-laying mammals, found in Australasia. They include the echidnas and
the platypus.
Moorhen
The moorhen is a British water bird.
Moose
The moose is a large deer (Alces alces) inhabiting northern Asia and
northern Europe, where it is known as the elk. It is brown in colour,
stands about 2m at the shoulders, and has very large palmate antlers, a
fleshy muzzle, a short neck, and long legs. It feeds on leaves and
shoots.
Morgan horse
The Morgan horse is a breed of riding and driving show horse originating
in the USA in the 1780s from a single stallion named Justin Morgan after
his owner. They are marked by high, curved necks and high stepping
action. The breed is valued for its strength, endurance, and speed.
Morphology
Morphology is the study of animal form.
Mosquito
Mosquito is a term applied to any fly of the family Culicidae. The female
mosquito has needle-like mouth-parts and sucks blood before laying eggs.
Males feed on plant juices. Some mosquitoes carry diseases such as
malaria. Human odour in general is attractive to mosquitoes, also lactic
acid in sweat and heat at close range. Peoples' varying reactions to
mosquito bites depend on the general allergic reaction and not on the
degree of the bite; the allergic reaction is caused by the saliva
injected from the mosquito's salivary glands to prevent coagulation of
the host's blood. Natural mosquito repellents include lavender oil,
citronella (from lemon grass), thyme, and eucalyptus oils.
Moth
The moth is an insect family, being one of the order of lepidoptera.
Mouflon
The mouflon is a sheep (Ovis ammon) found wild in Cyprus, Corsica, and
Sardinia. It has woolly under-fur in winter, but this is covered by heavy
guard hairs. The coat is brown with white belly and rump. Males have
strong, curving horns. The mouflon lives in mountain areas.
Mouse
Mouse is a general term applied to small rodents, particularly those of
the muridae family.
Mousebird
The mousebird is a bird of the order Coliiformes, including a single
family (Coliidae) of small crested species peculiar to Africa. They have
hair-like feathers, long tails, and mouse-like agility. The largest is
the blue-naped mousebird Colius macrourus, about 35cm long.
Mudnester
The mudnester is any of an Australian group of birds that make their
nests from mud, including the apostle bird (Struthidea cinerea), the
white-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), and the magpie lark
(Grallina cyanoleuca).
Mudpuppy
The mudpuppy is a brownish salamander of the genus Necturus in the family
Proteidae. There are five species, living in fresh water in North
America. They all breathe in water using external gills. Necturus
maculatus is about 20cm long. Mudpuppies eat fish, snails, and other
invertebrates.
Mudskipper
The mudskipper is a fish of the goby family, genus Periophthalmus, found
in brackish water and shores in the tropics, except for the Americas. It
can walk or climb over mudflats, using its strong pectoral fins as legs,
and has eyes set close together on top of the head. It grows up to 30cm
long.
Mulberry
The mulberry is a group of trees of the genus morus and family moraceae.
Mule
The mule is a hybrid animal, the result of an ass and a mare breeding.
Mullein
Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) is a plant of the natural order
Scrophulariaceae. It is a tall rough plant with yellow flowers which are
almost sessile and are disposed in a long cylindrical spike.
Mullet
The mullet is two groups of acanthopterygian fish, the grey mullets
(Mugilidae) and the red mullets (Mullidae).
Mungoose
Mungoose is an alternative 19th century spelling of Mongoose.
Muntjac
The muntjac is a small deer found in south east Asia.
Muraena
Muraena is a genus of adopal malacopterygious fish of the family
Muraenidae. They resemble the eels in form having no pectoral fins, and
the dorsal and anal fins are very low and are united.
Murex
Murex is a genus of gasteropod molluscs resembling the whelk. They have a
spiral shell, rough with three or more ranges of spines simple or
branched.
Murices
Murices is the plural form of Murex.
Muridae
Muridae is the family of animals which includes the mice and rats.
Murry
Murry (Muraena helena) is a Mediterranean fish of the genus Muraena. It
grows to 150cm long and is considered good eating.
Musaceae
Musaceae is a natural order of endogenous plants. The order includes the
banana, plantain and abaca.
Muscidae
Muscidae is a family of two-winged flies which includes the common house-
fly.
Mushroom
Mushroom is the popular name for numerous cryptogamic plants of the
natural order Fungi. Some are edible and others are toxic.
Musk
Musk is a perennial plant Mimulus moschatus of the family
Scrophulariaceae. It has small rectangular leaves which excrete a scent
from which it takes its name.
Musk-deer
Musk-deer is a genus of deer forming the family Moschidae. They are not
true deer, and are found primarily in Asia. The male Musk-deer yields
musk, which is secreted from an abdominal gland.
Musk-duck
The Musk-duck (Cairina moschata) is a native American duck.
Musk-mallow
Musk-mallow (Malva moschata) is a British perennial plant.
Musk-ox
The musk-ox (Ovibos moschatus) is an animal intermediate between an ox
and a sheep. It resembles a large goat-like sheep, its body is covered
with a coat of thick, tufted brown hair. It is an active and agile animal
found in mountainous regions of Arctic America.
Musk-rat
The Musk-rat (Fiber zibethicus) or musquash, is an American rodent allied
to the beaver. It is about the size of a small rabbit, with a flattened
lanceolate tail, and is covered with small scales and a few hairs.
Muskrat
The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a rodent of the family Cricetidae,
about 30cm long, living along streams, rivers, and lakes in North
America. It has webbed hind feet, a side-to-side flattened tail, and
shiny, light-brown fur. It builds up a store of food, plastering it over
with mud, for winter consumption. It is hunted for its fur.
Musquash
see "Musk-rat"
Mussel
Mussel is a term popularly given to several lamellibranchiate molluscs of
the section Asiphonida.
Mustang
The mustang is a small wild horse found in south west USA and north
Mexico.
Mustard
Mustard is an annual plant of the cruciferae family.
Mustela
Mustela is the weasel genus of carnivorous animals.
Mycelium
Mycelium is an interwoven mass of threadlike filaments which form the
main body of most fungi.
Mycetes
see "Howler_Monkey"
Mycetozoa
The mycetozoa are an order of rhizopoda. They are slime fungi which form
encrusting masses on rotten wood. Reproduction occurs by fission and the
formation of spores out of which hatch amoebae.
Mygale
Mygale is a genus of spiders of the family Mygalidae. They are furnished
with four pulmonary sacs and spiracles, four spinnerets, eight eyes, and
hairy legs.
Mylabris
Mylabris is a genus of coleopterous insects.
Mylodon
The mylodon is a genus of extinct edentate mammalia. Their remains have
been found in South America. It was a herbivore terrestial animal.
Myosotis
Myosotis is a genus of plants belonging to the Boraginaceae.
Myoxus
Myoxus is the dormouse genus of animals.
Myriapoda
Myriapoda is a class of arthropod with a clearly demarcated head region.
Myristica
Myristica is the genus of the natural order Myristicaceae.
Myrtle
The myrtle is an evergreen shrub of the genus myrtus and family
myrtaceae.
Mysidacea
Mysidacea is an order of malacostraca in which the thorax is covered by
the carapace and the exopodite of the antenna is scale-like. The abdomen
terminates in a tail fan.
Myxine
see "Hag"
Narcissus
The narcissus is a genus of bulbous plants.
Narwhal
The narwhal is a whale found only in the arctic.
Nautilus
The nautilus is a shelled cephalopod of the genus Nautilus, found in the
Indian and Pacific oceans. The pearly nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) has a
chambered spiral shell about 20cm in diameter. Its body occupies the
outer chamber. The nautilus has a large number of short, grasping
tentacles surrounding a sharp beak.
The living nautiluses are representatives of a group common 450 million
years ago.
Nectar
Nectar is a sugary liquid secreted by some plants.
Nematode
The nematodes are a group of worms which have an unsegmented cylindrical
body which tapers at both ends.
Nemertea
The nemertea are the proboscis worms. They are triploblastic animals with
a very extensible body. Both a mouth and anus are present. A simple blood
vascular system is present. The excretory system is a flame-bulb system.
Neornithes
The neornithes are a subclass of bird. The metarcarpals are fused, and
the tail is short. Teeth are absent.
Neosporidia
Neosporidia is a subclass of sporozoa. They are obscure sporozoans.
Nereis
Nereis are polychaeta.
Nettle
The nettle is a plant of the family urticaceae.
Neurone
A neurone is a cell which receives and transmits electrical impulses.
Neurones are the basic component of an animal's nervous system.
Newt
The newt is an urodela.
Nicotiana
Nicotiana is the tobacco genus of plants.
Nightingale
The nightingale is a song bird of the thrush family.
Nightjar
The nightjar is any of about 65 species of night-hunting birds forming
the family Caprimulgidae. They have wide, bristly mouths for catching
flying insects. Their distinctive calls have earned them such names as
whippoorwill and church-will's-widow. Some are called
Nilgai
The nilgai is a large, short horned Indian antelope.
Notochord
A notochord is an axial stiffening rod extending along the length of an
animal and lying immediately above the alimentary canal.
Nutcracker
The nutcracker is a bird of the crow family.
Nuthatch
The nuthatch is a small bird of the family Sittidae, with a short tail
and pointed beak. Nuthatches climb head first up, down, and around tree
trunks and branches, foraging for insects and their larvae.
The 14 cm long white-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis of North
America has a black cap, grey wings, and white under-parts.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a tree. The nut of the nutmeg is used in cooking as a spice.
Nutria
The nutria or coypu is a South American water rodent (Myocastor coypus),
it is about 60 cm long and weighs up to 9kg. It has a scaly, rat-like
tail, webbed hind feet, a blunt, muzzled head, and large, orange
incisors. The fur is reddish brown. It feeds on vegetation and lives in
burrows in river and lake banks.
Taken to Europe and then to North America to be farmed for their fur,
many escaped or were released and became established, often to the
detriment of native species.
Nutrition
Nutrition is the process of taking in food and obtaining energy and vital
substances from it.
Nyala
The nyala (Tragelaphus angasi) is an antelope found in the thick bush of
southern Africa. About 1 m at the shoulder, it is greyish-brown with thin
vertical white stripes. Males have horns up to 80cm long.
Oak
The oak is a tree of the family fagaceae.
Oarfish
The oarfish are any of a family Regalecidae of deep-sea bony fishes,
found in warm parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Oarfish
are large, up to 9m long, elongated, and compressed, with a fin along the
back and a manelike crest behind the head. They have a small mouth, no
teeth or scales, and large eyes. They are often reported as sea serpents.
Obelia
Obelia is a member of the order of calyptoblastea.
Ocelot
The ocelot is a wild cat found in central and south America.
Ochro
see "Abelmoschus"
Octobothrium
Octobothrium is a member of the order monogenea.
Octopus
The octopus is a cephalopod with eight arms.
Oesophagus
The oesophagus is the region of the alimentary canal following the
pharynx. The walls of the oesophagus are muscular and force food along by
contractions.
Okapi
The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a ruminant of the giraffe family,
although with much shorter legs and neck, found in the tropical
rainforests of central Africa. Purplish brown with a creamy face and
black and white stripes on the legs and hindquarters, it is excellently
camouflaged. Okapis have remained virtually unchanged for millions of
years.
Okra
see "Abelmoschus"
Okro
see "Abelmoschus"
Oleaceae
Oleaceae is a natural order of monopetalous exogenous plants. They are
shrubs or trees with opposite, simple or compound leaves and small
flowers.
Oligochaeta
The oligochaeta are the earthworm class of annelids, although some are
freshwater rather than terrestial. They lay eggs in cocoons.
Oligotricha
Oligotricha is an order of ciliata vera. They are free-living, parasitic
ciliates with the cilia restricted to certain areas of the cell-body.
Olive
The olive is an evergreen tree native to Asia.
Olm
The olm is a cave-dwelling aquatic salamander, the only European member
of the family Proteidae, the other members being the North American
mudpuppies. Olms are found in underground caves along the Adriatic
seaboard in Italy, Croatia, and Yugoslavia. The adult is permanently
larval in form, about 25cm long, almost blind, with external gills and
under-developed limbs.
Omnivore
An omnivore is an animal that eats both plant and animal matter.
Onion
The onion (Allium cepa) is a perennial herb of the order Liliaceae. It
has an edible brown bulb which is much used in cooking and has been for
thousands of years.
Onychophora
Onychophora is a terrestial class of arthropod. They have a thin cuticle.
The head is composed of three segments with one pair of jaws.
Opalina
Opalina is a member of the order of holotricha.
Ophidia
The ophidia are a suborder of squamata. These are the snakes. They are
long and slender due to an elongation of the body. Limbs are absent, and
limb girdle traces are usually absent. The mouth is very extensible.
Ophiothrix
Ophiothrix is an ophiuroidea.
Ophiura
Ophiura is an ophiuroidea.
Ophiuroidea
The ophiuroidea are a subclass of stelleroidea. They are the brittle
stars. They have a flattened body clearly marked into two regions; the
disc and the arms. Tube feet extend from the under surface of the arms,
but the groove is closed to form a tube. Locomotion is chiefly by
muscular movement of the arms assisted by the feet.
Opossum
The opossum is a north American marsupial.
Orang utan
The orang utan is an anthropoid ape found in borneo and sumatra.
Orfe
The orfe is a fish of the carp family.
Ortolan
The ortolan is a songbird of the bunting family, common in Europe and
west Asia, migrating to Africa in the winter. Long considered a delicacy
among gourmets, it has become rare and is now a protected species.
Oryx
The oryx is a large antelope found in African deserts.
Osprey
The osprey is a bird of prey.
Osteichthyes
Osteichthyes is a subclass of fishes. These are the bony fishes. The
endoskeleton is of bone. The exoskeleton is comprised of bony scales. The
mouth is terminal and the external nostrils lie on the dorsal surface of
the snout.
Ostracoda
Ostracoda is a subclass of small crustaceans with a bivalved carapace and
reduced trunk and abdominal limbs.
Ostrich
The ostrich is a member of the order Struthioniformes. It is the largest
bird in existence. It has rudimentary wings and is incapable of flight.
It has strong legs and can run fast for long distances.
Otter
The otter is an aquatic carnivorous mammal.
Ousel
Ousel was an ancient name for the blackbird, it is now the name of
several birds found in Europe and the Americas.
Ovaries
see "ovary"
Ovary
The ovary is a female gonad.
Owl
The owl is a nocturnal bird of prey of the sub-order Striges.
Ox
The ox is a genus of ruminant mammal.
Oxpecker
The oxpecker is an African bird, of the genus Buphagus, of the starling
family. It clambers about the bodies of large mammals, feeding on ticks
and other parasites. It may help to warn the host of approaching dangers.
Oyster
The oyster is a bivalve mollusc constituting the Ostreidae, or true
oyster, family, having the upper valve flat, the lower concave, hinged by
an elastic ligament. The mantle, lying against the shell, protects the
inner body, which includes respiratory, digestive, and reproductive
organs. Oysters commonly change their sex annually or more frequently;
females may discharge up to a million eggs during a spawning period.
Oyster catcher
The oyster catcher is a chunky shorebird of the family Haematopodidae,
with a laterally flattened, heavy bill that can pry open mollusc shells.
The black and white American oyster catcher Haematopus palliatus is found
on the Atlantic and south Pacific coasts.
Paca
The paca is a large, nocturnal, burrowing rodent found in central
America.
Pachycephalosaurus
Pachycephalosaurus was a herd living dinosaur with a 25cm thick bone on
top of its skull which could have been used for defence against
predators. It lived during the cretaceous period.
Paguridae
see "Hermit-crab"
Palaeonisciformes
The palaeonisciformes is an order of actinopterygii. They are carnivorous
and have a single large dorsal fin.
Palamedea
Palamedea is a genus of South American birds.
Paliurus
Paliurus is a genus of deciduous shrubs which are natives to southern
Europe and Asia Minor belonging to the natural order Rhamnaceae.
Pallah
The pallah (Aepyceros melampus) is a species of South African antelope.
Palm
A palm is a tree of the palmaceae family. They are found mainly in
tropical countries. They usually have a an upright, unbranched stem and a
head of large fan-shaped leaves.
Palm-kale
Palm-kale is a variety of cabbage which grows to around 3-4 meters tall.
Palmaceae
see "Palm"
Palmelleae
Palmelleae is a natural order of green-spored algae, amongst the lowest
of plants and including the red snow and gory dew.
Palmer Worm
Palmer Worm is a popular name for the hairy caterpillar of the tiger-
moth.
Palmyra Palm
The Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabelliformis) is the common Indian palm, a
tree found in the Middle East and India. When fully grown it reaches a
height of 20 meters.
Panda
The panda is one of two carnivores of different families, native to north
west China and Tibet. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) has black-
and-white fur with black eye patches and feeds mainly on bamboo shoots,
consuming about 8 kg of bamboo per day. It can grow up to 1.5m long, and
weigh up to 140kg. The lesser, or red, panda (Ailurus fulgens) is of the
raccoon family, and is about 50cm long and is coloured black and
chestnut, with a long tail.
Pangolin
The pangolin or scaly anteater is a large mammal of the genus Manis,
order Pholidota found in tropical Asia and Africa.
Pansy
The pansy is a perennial garden flower.
Paramecium
Paramecium is a member of the order holotricha. It is a simple single
cell animal common in fresh water where there are decaying vegetable
remains.
Parrot
Parrot refers to any bird of the order Psittaciformes, abundant in the
tropics, especially in Australia and South America. They are mainly
vegetarian, and range in size from the 8.5cm pygmy parrot to the 100cm
Amazon parrot. The smaller species are commonly referred to as parakeets.
The plumage is often very colorful, and the call is usually a harsh
screech. Parrots all have hooked bills and feet adapted for tree
climbing.
Parsley
Parsley is a biennial herb.
Parsnip
The parsnip is a biennial umbelliferae.
Partridge
The partridge is any of various medium-sized ground-dwelling fowl of the
family Phasianidae, which also includes pheasants, quail, and chickens.
Partridges are Old World birds, some of which have become naturalised in
North America, especially the European grey partridge (Perdix perdix),
with mottled brown back, grey speckled breast, and patches of chestnut on
the sides.
Pea
The pea is a climbing plant of the family leguminosae.
Peach
The peach is a tree of the family rosaceae.
Peacock
A peacock is technically the male of any of various large pheasants. The
name is most often used for the common peacock (Pavo cristatus), a bird
of the pheasant family, native to southern Asia. It is rather larger than
a pheasant. The male has a large fan-shaped tail, brightly colored with
blue, green, and purple "eyes" on a chestnut background. The female
(peahen) is brown with a small tail.
Peanut
The peanut (ground-nut, Arachis hypogoea) is a leguminous annual plant
with a hairy stem and abruptly pinnate leaflets. The nut is situated at
the end of a stalk of some length, and is ripened under ground, this
stalk having the peculiarity of flowering and then bending down and
pushing the fruit into the earth. Peanuts are extensively cultivated in
tropical countries.
Pear
The pear is a tree of the family rosaceae.
Pecan
The pecan is a nut producing tree.
Peccary
The peccary is one of two species of the New World genus Tayassu of
piglike hoofed mammals. A peccary has a gland in the middle of the back
which secretes a strong-smelling substance. Peccaries are blackish in
colour, covered with bristles, and have tusks that point downward. Adults
reach a height of 40cm and a weight of 25kg.
Pedicellina
Pedicellina is an entoprocta.
Pekan
The pekan (fisher marten) is a North American marten (Martes penanti). It
is about 1.2m long, with a doglike face, and brown fur with white patches
on the chest. It eats porcupines.
Pekingese
The pekingese is a breed of small long-haired dog first bred at the
Chinese court as the "imperial lion dog". It has a flat skull and flat
face, is typically less than 25cm tall, and weighs less than 5kg.
The first specimens brought to the West were those taken during the Opium
Wars when the Summer Palace in Beijing was looted in 1860.
Pelecaniformes
The Pelecaniformes are an order of birds. These are the pelicans. There
are six distinct families. The foot is comprised of 4 toes connected by
webs.
Pelican
The pelican is any of a family (Pelecanidae) of large, heavy water birds
remarkable for the pouch beneath the bill which is used as a fishing net
and temporary store for catches of fish. Some species grow up to 1.8m and
have wingspans of 3m.
Penguin
Penguins are any of an order (Sphenisciformes) of marine flightless
birds, mostly black and white, found in the southern hemisphere. They
range in size from 40cm to 1.2m tall, and have thick feathers to protect
them from the intense cold. They are awkward on land, but their wings
have evolved into flippers, making them excellent swimmers. Penguins
congregate to breed in "rookeries", and often spend many months
incubating their eggs while their mates are out at sea feeding.
Penguins
see "Penguin"
Penicillin
Penicillin is an antibiotic fungus.
Pennatula
Pennatula is a member of the order alcyonaria.
Pepper
Pepper is a plant of the genus capsicum.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a perennial herb.
Perch
The perch is any of the largest order of spiny-finned bony fishes, the
Perciformes, with some 8,000 species. This order includes the sea basses,
cichlids, damselfishes, mullets, barracudas, wrasses, and gobies. Perches
of the freshwater genus Perca are found in Europe, Asia, and North
America. They have varied shapes and are usually a greenish color. They
are very prolific, spawning when about three years old, and have
voracious appetites.
Percheron
The percheron is a breed of strong and swift horse originaly bred in the
Le Perche district of north France.
Perennial
A perennial plant is one that lives for more than 2 years.
Perissodactyla
Perissodactyla is an order of eutheria. They are odd toed ungulates.
Horses, tapirs and rhinoceroses. They eat vegetables and have a large
caecum. The Stomach is simple.
Peritricha
Peritricha is an order of ciliata vera. They have a cone-shaped cell-body
on a highly contractile stalk and a spiral of cilia leading to the
cytostome.
Periwinkle
In zoology, the periwinkle is any marine snail of the family
Littorinidae, found on the shores of Europe and eastern North America.
Periwinkles have a conical spiral shell, and feed on algae.
Petrel
The petrel is any of various families of seabirds, including the
worldwide storm petrels (family Procellariidae), which include the
smallest seabirds, and the diving petrels (family Pelecanoididae) of the
southern hemisphere, which feed by diving underwater and are
characterized by having nostril tubes. They include fulmars and
shearwaters.
Phaethontidae
The Phaethontidae is a family of the Pelecaniformes. These are the
tropicbirds. They are the smallest member of the order. There are 3
species. They are about 2 feet long. They have 2 long central tail
feathers.
Phalarope
Phalarope is any of a genus Phalaropus of small, elegant shorebirds in
the sandpiper family (Scolopacidae). They have the habit of spinning in
the water to stir up insect larvae. They are native to North America,
Britain, and the polar regions of Europe. The male phalarope is courted
by the female and hatches the eggs. The female is always larger and more
colourful. The red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus, grey Phalaropus
fulicarius, and Wilson's phalarope Phalaropus tricolour can be found in
North America.
Pharynx
The pharynx is a region of the alimentary canal following the buccal
cavity.
Pheasant
The pheasant is a ground nesting bird.
Pheasant's Eye
see "Adonis"
Phoronis
Phoronis is a phylum phoronida.
Phylloxera
Phylloxera is any of a family (Phylloxeridae) of small plant-sucking
insects (order Homoptera) that attack the leaves and roots of some
plants. The species Phylloxera vitifolia, a native of North America,
attacks grapevines, laying its eggs under the bark.
Phylum annelida
The phylum annelida are the segmented worms. They are triploblastic,
metamerically segmented, coelomate metazoa. The body wall is covered by a
glandular epidermis and comprised of longitudinal and circular muscles.
Phylum arthropoda
Phylum arthropoda is the arthropod group of animals which includes;
crayfish, lobsters, spiders, insects etc. They are metamerically
segmented and bilaterally symmetrical animals. Typically, each segment
has a pair of jointed appendages and at least one pair is modified as
jaws.
Phylum brachiopoda
The phylum brachiopoda are the lamp shells. They are triploblastic
animals enclosed in a dorsal and a ventral shell. The anterior part of
the body bears a horsheoe-shaped ridge covered in ciliated tentacles. The
coelom is extensive and continued into the folds of the body wall below
the shell and into the tentacles. A simple vascular system is present.
Phylum chaetognatha
The phylum chaetognatha are the arrow worms. They are relatively simple
triploblastic animals. The body is elongated and transparent. The gut is
just a straight tube. The body has three regions; head, trunk and tail.
The head bears a hood and rows of chitinous hooks. There is no blood
vascular system. Eyes are usually present. The male gonads are in the
tail, the female ovaries in the trunk.
Phylum chordata
The phylum chordata are a group of animals with a notochord present. The
central nervous system is dorsal, hollow and tubular. They have a ventral
heart and visceral clefts present in the pharynx.
Phylum echinodermata
The phylum echinodermata are starfishes, sea urchins, brittle stars and
sea cucumbers. They are triploblastic coelomate marine animals. A
calcareous skeleton is developed in the mesoderm. The coelom is divided
into separte compartments which each carry out different functions.
Phylum mollusca
Phylum mollusca is the mollusc group of animals. They are coelomate
animals which do not show segmentation. The body is comprised of a head,
foot and visceral mass. The skin of the viscreal mass is extended into
soft folds which form the mantle which often secretes a shell. The
respiratory organs are usually a pair of ctenidia.
Phylum nematoda
Phylum nematoda are the roundworms. They are triploblastic animals with
elongated, spindle-shaped bodies. A respiratory and blood vascular system
are both lacking. The epidermis secretes a tough cuticle. Cilia are
lacking. The roundworms are to be found everywhere that life can be
supported.
Phylum phoronida
The phylum phoronida are small marine gregarious zooids each enclosed in
a membranous tube. They are triploblastic coelomate animals with a u
shaped gut. Both the mouth and the anus are surrounded by a horeshoe-
shaped ridge bearing numerous tentacles. The animals are hermaphrodite.
Phylum platyhelminthes
Phylum platyhelminthes is the family of flatworms. These are triplobastic
acoelomate animals. They are usually small and leaf-like shaped. The
alimentary canal has a single aperture, the mouth. Nitrogenous exrection
and osmo-regulation are carried out by a flame-bulb system. These animals
have a complex reproductive system, which is usually hermaphrodite.
Phylum polyzoa
The phylum polyzoa are small colonial animals usually resembling sea-
weeds. They are mostly marine. The individuals of the colony are termed
zooids and have a crown of ciliated tentacles.
Phylum protozoa
Phylum protozoa are microscopic animals whose bodies are not divided into
seperate cells.
Phylum rotifera
The phylum rotifera are minute triploblastic animals lacking a true
coelom. The body is of variable shape and protected by a cuticle. The gut
is complicated. A crown of cilia and a spiral, ciliated tract lies in
front of the mouth. There are separate sexes.
Physalia
Physalia is a member of the order of siphonophora.
Physiology
Physiology is the study of animal's activities.
Phytomastigina
The phytomastigina are a plant-like sub-class of mastigophora.
Pig
The pig (hog) is a hoofed mammal of the genus Sus, of the suidae family.
The head is prolonged into a pointed snout. The feet have four toes. The
skin is very thick and covered with stiff bristles. Pigs are very alert
and inquisitive animals. The meat pork is obtained from pigs.
Pig-fish
see "Grunt"
Pig-nut
Pig-nut (Carya glabra) is a hickory tree.
Pigeon
The pigeon is a general term for birds of the Columbidae family.
Pike
The pike is a member of the palaeonisciformes order.
Pilchard
The pilchard is any of various small, oily members of the herring family,
Clupeidae, especially the commercial sardine of Europe (Sardina
pilchardus), and the California sardine (Sardinops sagax).
Pilewort
see "Celandine"
Pilotfish
The pilotfish is a small marine fish Naucrates ductor of the family
Carangidae, which also includes pompanos. It hides below sharks, turtles,
or boats, using the shade as a base from which to prey on smaller fish.
It is found in all warm oceans and grows to about 36 cm/1.2 ft.
Pimpernel
Pimpernel (Anagallis) is a genus of plants belonging to the natural order
Primulaceae.
Pine
The pine is an evergreen conifer from which turpentine, tar and pitch are
derived.
Pineapple
The pineapple is a plant native to south and central America but
cultivated in many warmer climates.
Pintado
see "Guinea-fowl"
Pintail
The pintail is a British duck.
Pinworm
The pinworm is a nematode worm Enterobius vermicularis. It is an
intestinal parasite of humans.
Piranha
The piranha is a South American freshwater fish of the genus Serrusalmus,
in the same order as cichlids. They can grow to 60cm long, and have
razor-sharp teeth; some species may rapidly devour animals, especially if
attracted by blood.
Pisces
Pisces is the fish class of vertebrates. They are aquatic vertebrates
with a streamlined body. The tail is a powerful muscular propulsion
organ. The paired limbs are the pectoral and pelvic fins which regulate
the swimming level. Median fins are present and maintain stability.
Pitta
The pitta is a genus of tropical songless bird of order Passeriformes,
genus Pitta, forming the family Pillidae. Some 20 species are native to
south east Asia, west Africa, and Australia. They have round bodies, big
heads, and are often brightly coloured. They live on the ground and in
low undergrowth, and can run from danger.
Plaice
Plaice is any of various flatfishes of the flounder group, especially the
genera Pleuronectes and Hippoglossoides.
Planaria
Planaria is a member of the order tricladida.
Plankton
Plankton is minute plant and animal organisms found in water. It is a
source of food for many fish and whales.
Plant
A plant is a living organism which does not have the ability to move, and
does not have sensory organs or digestive organs.
Plantain
Plantain is a tropical herbaceous plant similar to the banana.
Plasmodium
Plasmodium is an animal of the suborder haemosporidia.
Plastron
A plastron is a ventral shield.
Plateosaurus
Plateosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the triassic era. It grew to
6m long and 3m tall. Plateosaurus digested food with the aid of swallowed
stones.
Platypus
The platypus is a monotreme mammal found in Tasmania and Australia.
Platyrrhina
The platyrrhina are a suborder of anthropoidea. The nostrils face
forwards. The internasal septum is broad and they have three premolars.
The tail may be prehensile.
Pleurobrachia
Pleurobrachia is a member of the sub-phylum ctenophora family.
Plum
The plum is a tree bearing the fruit of the same name.
Pochard
The pochard are various diving ducks found in Europe and North America,
especially the genus Aythya.
Podiceps
Podiceps (Grebe) is a genus of birds of the family Colymbidae
characterized by a straight conical bill, no tail, a short tarsus,
flattened toes which are separate but broadly fringed at their edges by a
firm membrane and legs set so far back that on land the Grebe adopts the
upright stance of a penguin. They are excellent swimmers and feed on
small fish, frogs, crustaceans and insects.
Podicipediformes
The Podicipediformes are an order of birds. These are the grebes. They
are water birds. They don't have webbed feet, instead each toe is fringed
separately. They build floating nests directly on the water.
Polecat
The polecat is an Old World weasel (Mustela putorius) with a brown back
and dark belly and two yellow face patches. The body is about 50cm long
and it has a strong smell from anal gland secretions. It is native to
Asia, Europe, and north Africa.
Pollack
The pollack is a marine fish (Pollachius virens) of the cod family. It
grows to 75cm, and is found close to the shore on both sides of the north
Atlantic.
Polychaeta
The polychaeta are the bristle worms. They are a class of marine phylum
annelida with obvious segmentation. The head usually bears tentacles and
palps.
Polycladida
The polycladida is a marine order of turbellaria. The gut has numerous
caeca which ramify through the body. Numerous simple eyes are usually
present.
Polygordius
The polygordius are archiannelida.
Polymastigina
Polymastigina are an order of zoomastigina. They are flagellates with
four or more flagella.
Polystoma
Polystoma is a member of the order monogenea.
Pomeranian
The pomeranian is a breed of toy dog, about 15cm high, weighing about 3
kg. It has long straight hair with a neck frill, and the tail is carried
over the back.
Pony
A pony is a small horse less than 14.2 hands tall.
Poodle
The poodle is a breed of gun dog, including the standard poodle (above
38cm at the shoulder), the miniature poodle(below 38cm), and the toy
poodle (below 28 cm) varieties. The dense curly coat, usually cut into an
elaborate style, is often either black or white, although greys and
browns are also bred. The poodle probably originated in Russia, was
naturalized in Germany, where it was used for retrieving ducks and gained
its name and became a luxury dog in France.
Porcupine
A porcupine is any rodent with quills on its body, belonging to either of
two families: Old World porcupines (family Hystricidae) are terrestrial
in habit and have long black-and-white quills; or New World porcupines
(family Erethizontidae) which are tree-dwelling, with prehensile tails
and much shorter quills.
Porosphora
Poroshora is a member of the gregarinida order.
Porpoise
A porpoise is any small whale of the family Delphinidae that, unlike
dolphins, have blunt snouts without beaks. Common porpoises of the genus
Phocaena can grow to 1.8 m long; they feed on fish and crustaceans.
Portuguese man-of-war
A Portuguese man-of-war is any of a genus Physalia of phylum
Coelenterata. They live in the sea, in colonies, and have a large air-
filled bladder on top and numerous hanging tentacles made up of feeding,
stinging, and reproductive individuals. The float can be 30cm long.
Potato
The potato is a perennial solanaceae.
Potto
The potto is an arboreal, nocturnal, African prosimian primate
Perodicticus potto belonging to the loris family. It has a thick body,
strong limbs, and grasping feet and hands, and grows to 40cm long, with
horny spines along its backbone, which it uses in self-defense. It climbs
slowly, and eats insects, snails, fruit, and leaves.
Powan
The powan is a fish found in Loch Lomond, Scotland. It is of the same
genus as the polland and the vendace. Also known as the fresh-water
herring.
Prairie dog
The prairie dog is a burrowing rodent.
Primate
Primate is the family of mammals that includes humans, apes, monkeys,
lemurs bushbabies, lorises and tarsiers.
Primrose
The primrose is a woodland plant common in Europe.
Proboscidea
The proboscidea are an order of eutheria. They are large animals of the
ungulate type. The two upper incisors are modified to form tusks. Canines
and
Premolars are lacking.
Procellariiformes
The Procellariiformes are an order of birds. These are the tube-nosed
swimmers. They are sea birds of about 100 species. They have a horn
sheathed bill, tubular nostrils and webbed feet.
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is a ruminant mammal (Antilocapra americana) constituting
the family Antilocapridae, native to the west USA. It is not a true
antelope. It is light brown and about 1m high. It sheds its horns
annually and can reach speeds of 100 kph.
Protomonadina
Protomonadina are an order of zoomastigina. They are small colourless
flagellates. In the trypanosomes is a single flagellum.
Protoplasm
Protoplasm is the basic living substance of all animals, rather than the
dead substances such as found in nails and hair. It is responsible for
carrying out all the vital activities characteristic of living animals.
Protozoa
The Protozoa are a division of primitive animals consisting of a single
cell.
Prussian Carp
see "Gibel"
Ptarmigan
The ptarmigan is a Scottish bird similar to the grouse.
Pteranodon
Pteranodon was a flying reptile of the cretaceous period. It had a wing
span of 7m and fed on sea fish.
Pterygota
Pterygota is a two division subclass of insecta. In the first division
are the cockroaches, locusts, earwigs, lice, termites etc. In the second
division the butterflies, moths, beetles, ants, bees, wasps fleas, gnats
and meat-flies etc.
Puffer fish
The puffer fish is a fish of the family Tetraodontidae. As a means of
defense it inflates its body with air or water until it becomes spherical
and the skin spines become erect. Puffer fish are mainly found in warm
waters, where they feed on molluscs, crustaceans, and coral.
Puffin
The puffin is a sea bird found in the north atlantic.
Puma
The puma is a large wild cat found in the Americas.
Pumpkin
The pumpkin is a trailing plant of the gourd genus with heart shaped five
lobed leaves.
Pyrus
Pyrus is a genus of ornamental and fruit trees belonging to the pomeous
section of the natural order of Rosaceae.
Python
The python is a genus of constricting snake found in the tropics and
allied to the Boidae.
Quadruped
Quadruped is the group of animals with four feet.
Quagga
The quagga is an African mammal related to the zebra.
Quail
The quail is the smallest species of the partridge family.
Quaking Grass
see "Briza"
Quamash
Quamash (Camassia esculenta) is a North American plant of the lily family
with an edible root which is eaten by the Indians.
Quamoclit
Quamoclit is a genus of climbing ornamental plants of the natural order
Convolvulaceae.
Quetzal
The quetzal is a long-tailed Central American bird (Pharomachus mocinno)
of the trogon family. The male is brightly coloured, with green, red,
blue, and white feathers, and is about 1.3m long including the tail. The
female is smaller and lacks the tail and plumage. The quetzal eats fruit,
insects, and small frogs and lizards. It is the national emblem of
Guatemala, and was considered sacred by the Mayans and the Aztecs.
Quezal
The quezal is a bird found in Central America. It is a member of the
Trogon family. It is about the size of a magpie and the male has tail-
feathers which are an emerald green colour and are about 3 feet long. The
quezal lives in forests and feeds on fruits.
Quince
The quince is a tree of the rosaceae family.
Rabbit
The rabbit is a long eared burrowing mammal.
Raccoon
The raccoon is an omnivorous nocturnal mammal found in the Americas.
Racoon
The racoon is an American plantigrade carnivorous mammal. It has grayish-
brown fur which is used for making hats.
Radiolaria
The radiolaria are an order of rhizopoda. They are radially symetrical
and live in the surface layers of seas. They have stiff, radiating
pseudopodia and a skeleton.
Ragwort
The ragwort is a perennial plant found on waste ground.
Rail
A rail is any wading bird of the family Rallidae, including the rails
proper (genus Rallus), coots, moorhens, and gallinules. Rails have dark
plumage, a short neck and wings, and long legs. They are 10-45cm long.
Rape
Rape are two plant species of the mustard family cultivated for the
edible oil.
Rasores
The rasores are an order of birds. It includes the sub-orders of fowls,
turkeys, partridges and grouse. They are characterised by their toes
which end in strong claws used for scratching. Hence they are called the
scratchers.
Raspberry
The raspberry is a prickly plant of the rosaceae family.
Rat
The rat is a rodent of the genus Rattus. There are a number of varieties,
including the brown rat and the black rat.
Rat-snake
The rat-snake is a snake domesticated in Sri Lanka for killing rats. It
is an easily tamed snake.
Ratel
The ratel or honey-badger is a carnivorous quadruped of the genus
Mellivora, and of the badger family. It is found in south and east Africa
and India. The South African ratel averages about 3 feet in length
including an 8 or 9 inch tail.
Ratitae
The ratitae are an order of neornithes. They are large running birds,
unable to fly.
Ratite
The ratite is a flightless bird with a breastbone without the keel to
which flight muscles are attached. Examples are the ostrich, rhea, emu,
cassowary, and kiwi.
Rattlesnake
The rattlesnake is a name of various American venomous snakes of the
genus Crotalus, and family Crotalidae. They are distinguished by having a
tail which terminates in a number of horny pieces which the animal
vibrates to make a rattling sound.
Raven
The raven is a large bird of the crow family, genus Corvus. It feeds on
carrion. It is completely black in colour, and can learn to imitate human
speech.
Ray
The ray is a name of many elasmobranchiate fishes, including the skate.
They are are recognised by a flattened body and by the extremely broad
and fleshy pectoral fins which appear as continuations of the body.
Razor-back
The razor-back is a large whale.
Razor-shell
The razor-shell is a genus of lamellibranchiate mollusc common on British
coasts.
Razorbill
The razorbill is a North Atlantic sea bird (Alca torda) of the auk
family, which breeds on cliffs and migrates south in winter. It has a
curved beak and is black above and white below. It uses its wings as
paddles when diving. Razorbills are common off Newfoundland.
Red Gurnard
Red Gurnard (Trigla cuculus) is a British coastal fish of the Gurnard
genus.
Red-mouth
see "Grunt"
Redshank
The redshank is a bird of the genus Totanus, so named because of the red
colouring of its legs. It is found in Britain.
Redstart
The redstart is a bird of the Sylviadae family. It has a red tail. It is
found in Britain during the summer.
Redwing
The redwing is a bird and a species of thrush. It is found in Britain
during the winter, and in Europe and Asia during the summer.
Reebok
The reebok is a species of South African antelope. It has smooth, long,
straight and slender horns. It stands 2.5 feet at the shoulder and is a
very fast runner.
Reed
Reeds are perennial aquatic grasses.
Reeve
Reeve is the name of the female ruff bird.
Reindeer
Reindeer are a species of deer found in north Europe and north Asia. It
has branched, recurved, round antlers. The legs are quite short in
proportion to the body. The Laplanders often use reindeer as a substitute
for horses, sheep and cattle, using them for pulling sledges, food, and
clothing.
Remora
The remora is a genus of fish included in the Goby family. They have on
top of their head a peculiar sucking-disc which they use to attach
themselves to the bottom of other fish or ships.
Reproduction
Reproduction is the unique property possessed by all living organisms to
produce new individuals resembling the original organism in all essential
respects.
Reptile
see "reptilia"
Reptiles
see "reptilia"
Reptilia
Reptilia is a class of cold-blooded, lung breathing vertebrates which
includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises.
Respiration
Respiration is the process of breathing. It is the liberation of energy
from materials within the body of the organism.
Rhabdocoelida
The rhabdocoelida are an order of turbellaria with a simple sac-like
intestine or no intestine.
Rhea
The rhea is a South American bird. It is about 4 feet tall. It is
incapable of flight, but has strong legs and can run very fast.
Rhinoceros
A Rhinocerous is an odd-toed hoofed mammal of the family Rhinocerotidae.
The one-horned Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is up to 2 m high
at the shoulder, with a tubercled skin, folded into shieldlike pieces;
the African rhinoceroses are smooth-skinned and two-horned. The African
black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is 1.5m high, with a prehensile upper
lip for feeding on shrubs; the broad-lipped or "white" rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum is actually slaty-gray, with a squarish mouth for
browsing grass. They are solitary and vegetarian, with poor eyesight but
excellent hearing and smell.
Rhizocrinus
The rhizocrinus is a type of crinoidea.
Rhizomastigina
The rhizomastigina are an order of rhizopoda. They are small amoeboid
forms with a flagellum. They live in fresh water.
Rhizopoda
Rhizopoda is a class of phylum protozoa which are usually free-living and
move and ingest food by means of pseudopodia.
Rhododendron
The rhododendron is an evergreen shrub of the ericaceae family.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a perennial plant.
Roach
The roach is a freshwater fish of north Europe.
Roadrunner
The roadrunner is a north American bird of the cuckoo family.
Robin
The robin is one of two songbirds of the thrush family. The North
American thrush, the robin Turdus migratorius is 25 cm long, grey brown
with brick-red underparts. The Eurasian and African thrush (Erithacus
rubecula) is 13 cm long, olive brown above with a red breast.
Rodent
The rodent is a mammal of the family rodentia. They have a single pair of
incisor teeth in both the upper and lower jaws that continue to grow as
they become worn.
Rodentia
Rodentia is the rodent order of eutheria. The incisors are chisel-like
and used for gnawing. Canines are absent.
Roller
A roller is any brightly coloured bird of the Old World family
Coraciidae, resembling crows but in the same order as kingfishers and
hornbills. Rollers grow up to 32cm long. The name is derived from the
habit of some species of rolling over in flight.
Rook
The rook is a member of the crow family.
Rookery
A rookery is a colony of rooks, penguins or seals.
Rooks
see "Rook"
Roost
A roost is a bird's perching or resting place.
Rosaceae
The rosaceae is the rose family. They exhibit an exogenous mode of
growth, have several petals, distinct, perigynous, separate carpels and
numerous stamens.
Rose
The rose are shrubs and climbing plants of the genus rosa and family
rosaceae.
Rosemary
Rosemary is an evergreen shrub.
Rotifer
Rotifer is a phylum rotifera.
Rottweiler
The rottweiler is a breed of German guard dog.
Roundworm
Roundworm is a common name for phylum nematoda.
Roundworms
see "roundworm"
Rudd
The rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) is a freshwater fish, a type of
minnow, belonging to the carp family Cypridae, common in lakes and slow
rivers of Europe; now introduced in the USA. Brownish green above and
silvery below, with red fins and golden eyes, it can reach a length of 45
cm and a weight of 1kg.
Ruff
The ruff is a bird belonging to the grallatores (waders). It was once
abundant in Britain.
Rumex acetosa
see "Sorrel"
Ruminant
Ruminant is the group of animals (ruminate) that have more than one
stomach and chew the cud.
Ruminantia
The ruminantia are a group of even-toed hoofed mammals, including
chevrotains, camels, deer, giraffes, the prong-buck and cattle.
Ruminate
The term "ruminate" refers to animals (ruminants) which regurgitate
swallowed food and chew it again. This process is accomplished by means
of a complex stomach.
Ruminates
see "ruminate"
Ruminating
see "ruminate"
Sabella
Sabella are polychaeta.
Sable
The sable is a carnivorous type of marten.
Sage
Sage is a perennial herb.
Sagitta
Sagitta is a phylum chaetognatha.
Salamander
The salamander is an urodela.
Salicaceae
The salicaceae are a natural order of apetalous exogens distinguised by a
2 valved capsule, and numerous seeds tufted with long hairs.
Samoyed
The samoyed is a Siberian breed of dog.
Sandbox tree
The Sandbox tree is an American tree of the genus Hura. It is a large
branching tree with glossy leaves and large, furrowed, round fruits about
the size of an orange. When the seed-vessels burts they make a remarkably
loud retort.
Sandwort
Sandwort (Arenaria) is a genus of plants of the natural order
Caryophyllaceae, comprising low herbs with usually awl-shaped leaves and
small white flowers.
Saponaria
see "Soap-wort"
Sardine
The sardine are several small fish of the herring family.
Saxifragaceae
The saxifragaceae are an order of plants with five sepals, five petals
and ten stamens. They are generally mountain plants.
Scallop
The scallop is a marine mollusc.
Scaphopoda
Scaphopodais a class of phylum mollusca. The foot is reduced and the
shell is tubular.
Scarab
The scarab is a type of dung beetle.
Schistosoma
Schistosoma is a member of the order digenea.
Scorpion
see "scorpionidea"
Scorpion-grass
Scorpion-grass is another name for forget-me-not.
Scorpionidea
Scorpionidea is the scorpion order of arachnida. They have four pairs of
lung-books in the mesosoma and the post-anal telson forms a sting.!
Scorpions
see "scorpionidea"
Scyphozoa
Scyphozoa is the class of marine animals known as jelly-fishes. The adult
is always medusoid, and there is an extensive system of radial canals,
sense organs and tentaculocysts.
Sea gooseberry
The sea gooseberry is a common name for the sub-phylum ctenophora family.
sea-ear
see "Haliotis"
Sea-Grass
see "Grass-wrack"
Sea-Horse
see "Hippocampus"
Sea-needle
see "Gar-fish"
Sea-pike
see "Gar-fish"
Sea-Swallow
Sea-swallow is an alternative name for the tern.
Seal
The seal is a marine mammal of the phocidae family.
Seals
see "Seal"
Sea urchin
see "echinoidea"
Sea urchins
see "echinoidea"
Segmented worm
see "phylum_annelida"
Selachii
The selachii are an order of chondrichthyes. This order includes the
sharks and the rays. They have numerous teeth which are replaced in rapid
succession throughout life.
Selenidium
Selenidium is a member of the gregarinida order.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is the ability of an animal to respond to stimuli from its
surroundings.
Sequoia
The sequoia is the world's largest tree, growing to over 80 meters tall.
Sertularia
Sertularia is a member of the order of calyptoblastea.
Sesame
Sesame is an annual plant of the order pedaliaceae.
Setter
A setter is a breed of gun dog.
Shad
The shad is a fish of the herring family.
Shag
The shag is a British sea bird.
Shag-bark
The Shag-bark (Carya alba) is a hickory tree from which the hickory-nut
is obtained.
Shallot
The shallot is a type of onion.
Shamrock
The shamrock are several trifoliate plants of the family leguminosae.
Shark
The shark is a large group of marine fish with cartilaginous skeletons.
Sheep
Sheep are a ruminant hoofed mammal of the bovidae family.
Shelduck
The shelduck is a British coastal duck.
Shoveler
The shoveler is a British duck.
Shrew
The shrew is an insectivorous mammal of the family soricidae.
Shrimp
see "shrimps"
Shrimps
Shrimps are malacostraca.
Siamang
The siamang is a type of gibbon native to Malaysia and Sumatra.
Siberian pine
see "Cembra_pine"
Sidewinder
The sidewinder is a type of rattlesnake.
Siphonophora
Siphonophora is an order of hydrozoa. They are pelagic, colonial animals
which show marked polymorphism.
Sirenia
The sirenia is an order of eutheria. They are large herbivorous animals
adapated to life in shallow sea.
Sitatunga
The sitatunga are a type of antelope found in swamp regions of central
Africa.
Skate
Skate are several species of flatfish.
Skink
The skinks are a large family of lizards with large smooth scales, under
which is a bony plate.
Skirret
Skirret is a plant of the order Umbelliferae. It is a perennial plant
native to China and Japan, sometimes cultivated for its edible roots.
Skua-gull
The skua-gull is a powerful bird of the family Stercorarius. It is found
in The Shetland Islands, Iceland and the Faroes.
Skull
The skull is a term applied to the skeleton bones of the cranium and
visceral skeleton.
Skunk
The skunk is a north American mammal of the weasel family.
Skunk-cabbage
Skunk-cabbage is a plant of the natural order Araceae so named for its
smell. The root and seeds are antispasmodic and were at one time used to
treat asthma.
Slater
Slater was a popular name for woodlice around the turn of the century.
Sloe
Sloe (blackthorn) is a deciduous shrub of the plum genus with spinose
branches and hard tough wood. The black berries are used for preserves
and a fictious port wine.
Sloth
The sloth is a south American herbivorous mammal.
Smelt
The smelt is a small European fish allied to the Salmon which lives in
the salt water around the mouths of rivers. It is around 4 to 8 inches
long and silvery-white in colour. During May to August the smelt comes up
river to spawn in fresh water before then returning to the sea.
Smew
The smew is a swimming bird found in winter along the British coast. It
is about 15 to 18 inches long. The male has a white underside and black
back. The wings are black and white. The female is red-brown with gray
tints.
Smilaceae
Smilaceae are a tribe of plants of the order Liliaceae. They are mostly
climbing plants with woody stems and small unisexual flowers.
Snail
The snail is an air breathing gastropod mollusc with a spiral shell.
Snake
A snake is a reptile of the suborder serpentes.
Snake-wood
Snake-wood is the wood of the Strychnos colubrina, of the order
Loganiaceae. It is a tree found in India and Java.
Sneeze-wood
Sneeze-wood is the popular name of the South African tree Pteroxylon
utile. It is of the order Sapindaceae and yields a strong durable timber
which is dusty to work with, and causes sneezing.
Sneezewort
Sneezewort is a British composite plant of the milfoil genus. It flowers
between July and August.
Snipe
The snipe is a European marsh bird.
Snow-bunting
The snow-bunting is a gregarious, passerine bird belonging to the bunting
family. It is a native of arctic regions and a winter visitor to Britiain
and other temperate regions.
Snow-goose
The snow-goose is a species of goose which lives in arctic regions.
Snowdrop
The snowdrop is a plant of the genus Galanthus of the order
Amaryllidaceae. It bears solitary, drooping and elegant white flowers
which appear in February.
Soap-wort
Soap-wort (saponaria) is a genus of plants of the order Caryophyllaceae.
They are so named because the bruised leaves produce a lather like soap
when agitated in water.
Soko
The Soko is a herbivorous mammal closely allied to the chimpanzees. It
was discovered living near Lake Tanganyika by Dr. Livingstone.
Solanaceae
Solanaceae is a natural order of monopetalous exogenous plants, composed
of herbs or shrubs, natives of most parts of the world, and especially
within the tropics. They have alternate leaves, terminal or axillary
inflorescence, and regular, or nearly regular, monopetalous flowers. They
are generally narcotic and poisonous, although some parts of the plants
are cultivated for food (such as the potato and aubergine).
Solaster
Solaster is an asteroidea.
Soldanella
Soldanella is a genus of plants of the order Primulaceae. the species are
small herbs native to alpine districts.
Sole
Sole is a flatfish.
Solidago
see "Golden-rod"
Solidungula
Solidungula is a division of the Ungulata mammals which includes the
horse and donkey.
Soosoo
The soosoo is a cetaceous mammal similar to a dolphin. It is found in the
Ganges and grows to about 4 meters in length.
Sophora
Sophora is a genus of plants of the order Leguminosae. The species are
ornamental shrubs and trees found chiefly in central and tropical Asia,
and the tropical and sub-tropical parts of South America.
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of grasses. They are the tall grasses with succulent
stems and are found in the tropical parts of Asia and other warm regions.
Soricidae
Soricidae is a family of insectivorous mammals which includes the shrews
and musk-rats.
Sorrel
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is a plant of the order Polygonaceae. The leaves
are used in salad. The stems are upright and grow to about 0.5 meters.
Sorrel-tree
The Sorrel-tree is a tree belonging to the order Ericaceae. It inhabits
the range of the Alleghanies from Virginia to Georgia. The leaves are 10
to 12 cm long, oval and finely toothed.
Spaniel
The spaniels are a sub-species of dogs characterized by great
intelligence and an affectionate disposition.
Sparidae
Sparidae is a family of acanthopterygious, teleostean fishes. They form
the genus Sparus.
Sparrow
Sparrow is a term applied to many small thick beaked birds.
Spatangus
Spatangus is a genus of sea-urchines, popularly called the heart-urchins
from their shape.
Spatularia
Spatularia is a genus of fishes of the sturgeon tribe which are
remarkable for their long, leaf-like snouts.
Spearmint
Spearmint (Mentha viridis) is a European and North American species of
mint cultivated for its flavouring properties.
Spearwort
Spearwort is a plant of the genus Ranunculus. There are two species, the
great and the lesser spearwort. Both are British plants with lanceolate
undivided leaves and yellow flowers, growing in wet localities.
Speedwell
Speedwell is a flowering plant of the figwort family.
Sphenisciformes
The Sphenisciformes are an order of birds. These are the penguins. They
comprise a single family, Spheniscidae. They are water birds with a
streamlined body and elongated head. The beak is stout and ends in a
sharp point. They are incapable of flight, instead their wings have
adapted as short powerful paddles.
Spider
see "araneida"
Spongilla
The spongilla is a member of the demospongia class.
Spoonbill
The spoonbill is a water bird.
Sporozoa
Sporozoa are a class of phylum protozoa. They are parasitic protozoa
propagated by spores.
Springbok
The springbok is an antelope found in south Africa.
Spruce
The spruce is a coniferous tree.
Squamata
The squamata is an order of diapsida. The lower border of the lower
temporal vacuity is incomplete. The body is covered by horny scales.
These animals live in warmer climates.Á
Squash
Squash (Cucurbita Melopepo) is a gourd cultivated in America as an
article of food.
Squirrel
The squirrel is a bushy tailed rodent of the sciuridae family.
St. Bernard
The St. Bernard is a breed of large dog. It has a massive head and
somewhat pendulous lips. They were bred by the monks at the hospice of
St. Bernard to track out and succour travellers caught in snow-storms or
avalanches. At the start of the 19th century all the females died, and
the monks had to cross-breed them with Newfoundlands, and the modern St.
Bernard is still of this cross.
Stag
Stag is the name given to a male deer.
Stallion
A stallion is a male horse.
Stamen
The stamen is the male reproductive organ of a flower.
Starfish
see "asteroidea"
Starling
The starling is a bird.
Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur of the jurassic period. It had
diamond shaped spiny plates on its back and spikes on its tail for
defence against predators.
Stelleroidea
The stelleroidea are a class of phylum echinodermata. They are the
starfishes and brittle stars. They have a five-rayed symmetry clearly
indicated by "arms" which radiate out from the centre of the body. The
mouth is on the lower side of the flattened body.
Stentor
Stentor is a member of the order of heterotricha.
Stoat
The stoat is a carnivorous mammal of the weasel family.
Stomach
The stomach is a region of the alimentary canal. Food accumulates in the
stomach and some digestion may take place.
Stork
The stork is a carnivorous wading bird.
Strawberry
The strawberry is a low growing perennial of the rosaceae family. The
fruit are rich in vitamin c.
Sturgeon
The sturgeon is a member of the palaeonisciformes order.
Stylaster
Stylaster is a member of the order stylasterina.
Stylasterina
Stylasterina is an order of marine hydrozoa similar to milleporina but
with branched corallum.
Stylonichia
Stylonichia is a member of the order of hypotricha.
Sub-phylum acrania
The sub-phylum acrania group of animals are simple or aberrant chordates
without a true brain, heart or kidneys.
Sub-phylum cnidaria
The sub-phylum cnidaria are coelenterates which have nematocysts and
nearly perfect symmetry.
Sub-phylum craniata
Sub-phylum craniata are the vetebrate group of animals. They are
chordates which show a very definite advance in complexity of structure
and activity. A proper head region can be identified. Organs of special
sense are prominently developed and there is a definite brain enclosed in
a cranium.
Sub-phylum ctenophora
The sub-phylum ctenophora are a family of solitary, free swimming
animals. They have characteristic locomotor structures formed of rows of
fused cilia.
Suctoria
Suctoria are a subclass of ciliophora. The adult form has suctorial
tentacles.
Sus
see "Pig"
Swallow-wort
see "Celandine"
Swan
The swan is a large, long necked bird of the duck family.
Swede
Swede is a biennial plant.
Sweet Flag
see "Calamus"
Swine
see "pig"
Swiss stone pine
see "Cembra_pine"
Sycamore
The sycamore is a tree native to Europe.
Sycon
Sycon is a member of the calcarea class.
Synapsida
The synapsida are a subclass of mammal-like reptiles now extinct.
Synapta
Synapta is a type of holothuroidea.
Syncarida
Syncarida is an order of malacostraca in which the carapace is absent and
the thoracic appendages have exopodites.
Syndactyla
The syndactyla are an order of metatheria in which the second and third
toes are bound together in a common mass of tissue.
Taenia
Taenia is a cestoda.
Taipan
The taipan is a type of small headed cobra.
Talbot
The talbot was a large, whitish hound with long hanging ears and heavy
jaws bred for tacking and hunting. It is believed that the talbot was the
forerunner of the modern bloodhound.
Tamaricaceae
Tamaricaceae is a small natural order of polypetalous exogens. The
species are either herbs or shrubs, inhabiting chiefly the basin of the
Mediterranean. They have minute alternate simple leaves and usually small
white or pink flowers in terminal spikes.
Tamarin
The tamarin are South American monkeys. They are active and restless.
Tamarind
Tamarind is an evergreen tree of the leguminosae family.
Tamarisk
The Tamarisk is a plant of the genus Tamarix. It is a graceful evergreen
shrub or small tree with slender feathery branches and minute leaves
found in sandy places.
Tanaidacea
Tanaidacea is a marine order of malacostraca with a reduced carapace and
a short abdomen.
Tangerine
The tangerine is a small, flattened, deep-coloured, swett-scented variety
of orange from Tangier.
Tangle
Tangle is a popular name for Laminaria digitata, a common British sea-
weed.
Tank-worm
The tank-worm is a nematode worm found in mud in water tanks in India.
Tanrec
Tanrec (Centetes) is a genus of insectivorous mammals resembling the
European hedgehog in appearance. They are found in Madagascar where they
live in burrows excavated with their strong claws.
Tantalus
Tantalus is a genus of wading birds of the heron family.
Tapir
Tapir is the name of ungulate or hoofed animals forming the family
Tapiridae. The nose resembles a short fleshy proboscis. There are four
toes to the fore-feet and three to the hind-feet.
Tara Fern
The Tara Fern is a species of fern found in New Zealand. The Maoris
obtained a flour from its root which formed a staple part of their diet
prior to British settlement.
Tarantula
The tarantula is a large black south European spider of the genus Lycosa
with a slighly poisonous bite. The term is also popularly applied to
various other large, especially hairy spiders from Africa and America.
Tare
Tare is the popular name for plants of the genus Vicia.
Taro
Taro is a plant of the arum family cultivated in Pacific islands for its
starchy, edible root.
Tarpan
The tarpan is a breed of wild horse found in Asia.
Tarpon
The tarpon is a large silvery marine fish found in the warmer waters of
the western Atlantic.
Tarragon
Tarragon is a perennial herb of the daisy family.
Tarsier
The tarsier (Tarsius) is a genus of mammals of the lemur family. It is
about the size of a squirrel, fawn brown in colour with large eyes, large
ears and a long tufted tail. The tarsier is a tree dwelling animal and
eats lizards.
Tarsius
see "Tarsie"
Tasmanian wolf
see "Thylacine"
Tasmannia
Tasmannia is a genus of one Tasmanian and two Australian shrubs of the
natural order Magnoliaceae.
Tatouay
The tatouay is a kind of armadillo remarkable for the undefended state of
its tail which is devoid of the bony rings that inclose it in other
armadillos.
Tautog
The tautog (Tautoga nigra) is an American fish found on the coast of New
England and valued as a food.
Taxaceae
Taxaceae is a sub order of Coniferae which includes the Yew tree.
Taxodium
Taxodium is a genus of plants of the order Coniferae. It includes the
cypresses.
Taxus
see "Yew"
Tayra
The tayra (Galera barbara) is a South American carnivorous animal allied
to the glutton. It is black in colour with a large white patch on the
breast.
Tea
Tea is an evergreen rosaceae. The infusion of the dried leaves is a
popular beverage. It was introduced to England during the 17th century.
Teak
Teak is a tropical Asian timber tree.
Teal
The teal is a small British duck of the genus Querquedula.
Teasel
The teasel is a plant of the genus Dipsacus. It is a herb with prickly
leaves and flower heads.
Tecoma
Tecoma is a genus of plants of the natural order Bignoniaceae. They are
trees or shrubs or climbing plants with unequally pinnate or digitate
simple leaves, and terminal panicles of dusky red or orange flowers.
Tectibranchiata
Tectibranchiata is a division of gasteropodous mollusca with gills
protected by the shell or the mantle, as with the sea-hare.
Teff
Teff (Eragrostis abyssinica) is a grain with seeds about the size of
those of millet.
Teguexin
The teguexin is a species of lizard inhabiting tropical America. They
grow to around 150cm long and can swim with ease and rapidity.
Teledu
The teledu is a stinking badger found in Java and Sumatra.
Teleostei
Teleostei is a large sub-class of fish distinguished by a bony skeleton.
Telosporidia
Telosporidia are a subclass of sporozoa. They have a trophic stage which
is distinct from the reproductive phase.
Tench
The tench (Tinca tinca) is a freshwater fish of the carp family.
Tenebrio
Tenebrio is a genus of beetles.
Tenuirostres
Tenuirostres (slender-beaked) is a section of the Insessores order of
birds containing those species with a long slender, tapering beak.
Terebratula
Terebratula is a deep-sea genus of phylum brachiopoda.
Termite
Termites are a social insect of the order Isoptera. They are chiefly
found in tropical climates and are very destructive to timber.
Tern
The tern is a sea bird, especially those of the genus Sterna. They
resemble a gull, but are usualy smaller and with a more slender body.
Terns have long, pointer wings and a forked tail giving rise to their
alternative name of the sea-swallow.
Ternstroemiaceae
Ternstroemiaceae is a natural order of polypetalous dicotyledonous plants
consisting of trees or shrubs with alternate simple usually coriacerous
leaves without stipules. The flowers are generally white, arranged in
axillary or terminal peduncles, articulated at the base.
Terrapin
The terrapin is a freshwater tortoise.
Testes
The testes are the male gonads.
Tetradactyl
Tetradactyl is a term applied to any animal or bird with 4 fingers or
toes.
Tetraonidae
see "Grouse"
Tetrapod
Tetrapod is the family of four legged vertebrates. It includes birds
because wings developed from legs.
Thalamophora
The thalamophora are an order of rhizopoda. They are amoeboid forms
protected by a shell. There are apertures in the shell through which the
pseudopodia extend.
Thallophyte
A thallophyte is a plant with a thallus body, such as seaweed or
liverwort.
Thallus
A thallus is the body of a primitive plant which is not divided into
leaves, stem and roots but consists of a more or less uniform tissue.
Thrasher
The thrasher is a species of shark (Alopias vulpinus) which has a very
long upper division of its tail which it uses to thrash its prey or
attackers.
Thrips
Thrips are minute insects with 4 hair-fringed wings of the order
Thysanoptera. Many of the species injure plants by feeding upon their
juices.
Thrush
The thrush is a bird of the turdidae family.
Thylacine
The thylacine (Tasmanian wolf, Thylacinus cynocephalus) is a carnivorous
marsupial resembling a dog in appearance, greyish-brown with conspicuous
black markings on the hinder half of the back.
Thyme
Thyme is a herb of the labiatae family.
Thysanozoon
Thysanozoon is a member of the order polycladida.
Thysanura
Thysanura is an order of apterygota.
Tick
see "acarina"
Tiger
The tiger is a large asian wild cat. It is maneless, of tawny-yellow
colour with blackish transverse stripes and a white belly.
Tigress
A tigress is a female tiger.
Tile-fish
The tile-fish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) is a large, deep-water,
yellow-spotted fish found off the coast of New England. It is apparently
good to eat.
Tinamou
The tinamou is a South American bird of the family Tinamidae. It
resembles the grouse but is actualy related to the rhea.
Tinamous
The Tinamous are a unique group of birds. They are about the size of a
fowl with a small head and slender neck.
Toad
The toad is a tailless leaping amphibian similar to the frog, but
terrestial in habits except at the breeding season.
Toads
see "toad"
Tobacco
Tobacco is a large leaved solanaceae plant of the genus Nicotiana.
Tody
The tody is a small insectivorous West Indian bird of the genus Todus,
allied to the kingfisher.
Tonka
The tonka is a large South American tree (Dipteryx odorata). The seeds,
known as tonka beans, are black fragrant and almond-shaped and are used
for scenting tobacco and perfume.
Tope
The tope (Galeorhinus galeus) is a small european shark.
Tortoise
The tortoise is a chelonia.
Totara
The totara is a tree found in New Zealand and Chile.
Toucan
The toucan is a bird found in South and Central America forests.
Trachea
The trachea is a pipe leading to the lung chamber.
Trachylina
Trachylina is an order of hydrozoa. They are mainly marine forms in which
the medusoid stage is represented, and the hydroid stage is reduced or
absent.
Tragopan
The tragopan is an asiatic pheasant of the genus Tragopan. The male has
erectile fleshy horns on his head leading to its alternative name of the
horned pheasant.
Tree
A tree is a perennial plant with a self supporting woody main stem.
Trefoil
A trefoil is a plant of the leguminosae family with leaves that appear to
be divided into 3 lobes.
Trematoda
Trematoda is a class of phylum platyhelminthes. They are the fluke worms.
Parasitic flat worms with a leaf-like body. The mesenchyme secretes a
tough cuticle and cilia are lacking in the adults. Hooks and/or suckers
are often present.
Trematode
A trematode is any member of the Trematoda.
Triceratops
The triceratops was a dinosaur with three horns on its head.
Tricladida
Tricladida is an order of turbellaria with an intestine having three main
branches. The sense organs are frequently well developed.
Trout
The trout is a fish native to the northern hemisphere.
Truffle
Truffle is a subterranean fungus.
Trypanosome
Trypanosome is a parasite of the genus Trypanosoma. It is a flagellate
protozoa which infects the blood of man and other animals often causing
disease.
Tsetse
The tsetse is a fly found in Africa that carries sleeping sickness.
Tuatara
The tuatara is a survivor of the group of prehistoric reptiles to which
the dinosaurs belonged. It is found only in a few islands of New Zealand.
It lays 10-14 eggs which it buries in the ground. A fully grown tuatara
is about 24 inches long. The tuatara is carnivorous.
Tubifex
The tubifex are oligochaeta.
Tubularia
Tubularia is a member of the order of gymnoblastea.
Tulip
The tulip is a liliaceae.
Tuna
The tuna is a fish of the mackerel family.
Tunny
The tunny is a fish of the mackerel family, also called tuna it can reach
14ft in length.
Tupelo
The tupelo are large American trees of the genus Nyssa found growing in
swamps and on river banks in the sourthern USA.
Turaco
The turaco is a long-tailed crested African bird of the genus Tauraco.
Turbellaria
Turbellaria is a class of free-living flatworms. They live in water and
damp conditions. The epidermis is glandular, ciliated and has a thin
cuticle.
Turbot
The turbot is a flat fish found in the mediterranean and north sea.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a perennial plant of the ginger family.
Turnip
The turnip is a biennial cruciferous plant with a fleshy globular or
spheroidal root, toothed leaves, and yellow flowers. The root of the
turnip is used as a vegetable and also fed to cattle and sheep.
Turtle
The turtle is an aquatic chelonia.
Tyrannosaurus rex
Tyrannosaurus rex was a carnivorous dinosaur from the cretaceous period.
It was the largest of all the carnivorous dinosaurs. It was so big it
could have eaten a human in one or two bites.
Uakari
The uakari is a monkey found in South America.
Umbelliferae
The umbelliferae is a family of plants which generally have flowers in
regular compound umbells and fistular furrowal stems.
Urochordata
Urochordata is a class of sub-phylum acrania. They are the sea squirts.
They are ciliary-feeding marine animals.
Urodela
The urodela are a subclass of amphibia. They are the newts and
salamanders. The tail persists throughout life. The fore and hind limbs
are poorly developed.
Urticaceae
Urticaceaeis a natural order of exogenous trees, herbs and shrubs. This
is the nettle family, with stinging hairs.
Vanilla
Vanilla is a genus of climbing orchids.
Velella
Velella is a member of the order of siphonophora.
Ventricle
A ventricle is a chamber of the heart which despatches blood.
Venus Fly-trap
The Venus Fly-trap is a plant of the genus Dionoea. It is native to the
sandy savannas of Carolina and Florida. The leaves have a dilated petiole
and a slightly stalked 2-lobed lamina, with three short stiff bristles on
each lobe. The bristles are remarkably irritable and when touched by a
fly or other insect the lobes of the leaf suddenly close on the insect.
The insect is then digested.
Vertebrate
see "sub-phylum_craniata"
Vertebrates
see "vertebrate"
Vicia
Vicia is a genus of leguminous plants extensively cultivated as food for
cattle and horses.
Vicuna
The vicuna is a ruminant mammal of the camel family.
Viper
The viper is a family of venomous snakes. They are characterized by
venom-conducting fangs which hinge forward when the snake bites.
Visceral skeleton
The visceral skeleton is the bones comprising the jaws and their allied
structures.
Vole
The vole is a rodent of the cricetidae family.
Vorticella
Vorticella is a member of the order of peritricha.
Vulture
The vulture is a carrion eating bird.
Wake-robin
see "Green-dragon"
Wallaby
Wallaby is the name of several small members of the kangaroo family.
Walrus
The walrus is a marine mammal similar to the seal found in the arctic.
Warbler
The warbler is a family of song birds.
Wart hog
The wart hog is a type of wild pig found in Africa.
Wasp
The wasp is a stinging insect of the order hymenoptera.
Water-pepper
Water-pepper is a plant of the Polygonaceae family. It grows to between
20 and 70 cm tall and has sparingly branched ascending stems. The leaves
are lanceolate and irritate the skin when touched.
Waterbuck
The waterbuck is an antelope found in Africa. It has a characteristic
white ring marKing in its rump.
Watercress
Watercress is a perennial aquatic plant rich in iron.
Wax-Palm
see "Ceroxylon"
Waxbill
The waxbill is a small seed eating bird found in Africa.
Weasel
The weasel is a carnivorous mammal of the family mustelidae. It feeds
mainly on voles, rats and mice.
Whale
A whale is a large marine mammal of the order cetacea.
Whelk
The whelk is a marine gastropod with a thick spiral shell.
Whin
see "Gorse"
Whistling Snipe
see "Greenshank"
Widow Bird
The widow bird is several species of African weaver birds. They trick
other birds into rearing their young.
Wigeon
The wigeon is a British duck.
Wildebeeste
see "Gnu"
Willow
Willow is an amentaceae of the family salicaceae. Its timber is used to
make cricket bats.
Witch-hazel
see "Hamamelidaceae"
Wolf
The wolf is a wild dog.
Wolf-fish
see "Cat-fish"
Wolverene
see "Glutton"
Wolverine
see "Glutton"
Wombat
The wombat is a nocturnal, herbivorous marsupial.
Wood-ibis
Wood-ibis is an American bird of the Tantalus genus. It lives in swamps
where it feeds on snakes, young alligators, frogs and other reptiles.
Woodbine
see "Honeysuckle"
Woodcock
The woodcock is a British game bird.
Woodlice
The woodlice are malacostraca.
Wormwood
Wormwood is a European woody herb (Artemisia absinthium). It yields a
dark-green oil which was once used as a tonic against intestinal worms
and as a protection against moths and fleas, and is now used as a
flavouring in vermouth and absinthe.
Wren
The wren is a small brown bird with a cocked tail.
Xanthorrhoea
see "Grass-tree"
Xiphosura
Xiphosura are the king-crabs order of arachnida. They are aquatic animals
with gill-books.
Xylem
Xylem is a woody tissue found in vascular plants. Its purpose is to
conduct water and dissolved minerals from the root to the rest of the
plant.
Yak
The yak is a wild ox found in Tibet.
Yam
The yam is a tropical plant, the tuba of which is eaten as a vegetable.
Yarrow
Yarrow is a perennial herb with a creeping rhizome and erect, furrowed
and downy stems. Yarrow flowers between June and August, and is common
throughout Europe and Asia.
Yeast
Yeast is a fungus.
Yew
The yew (taxus) is an evergreen tree of the family taxaceae. It was
sacred to the ancient pagan religion of Britain.
Yucca
The yucca is a liliaceae.
Zebra
The zebra is a black and white striped wild horse found in Africa.
Zoantharia
Zoantharia is an order of anthozoa. They have simple tentacles occuring
in multiples of six.
Zoology
Zoology is the science which deals with the structure, life-history,
habits and activities of animals.
Zoomastigina
The zoomastigina are a subclass of mastigophora.
THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE
A midsummer night's dream
A midsummer night's dream is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
Athens and a wood not far from it. It opens in a room in the palace of
Theseus.
Aaron
Aaron is a moor in Titus Andronicus.
Abbot of Westminster
The Abbot of Westminster is a character in King Richard II.
Abhorson
Abhorson is an executioner in Measure for Measure.
Abram
Abram is a servant to Montague in Romeo and Juliet.
Achilles
Achilles is a Grecian commander in Troilus and Cressida.
Adam
Adam is a servant to Oliver in As You Like It.
Adrian
Adrian is a lord in the tempest.
Adriana
Adriana is wife to Antipholus of Ephesus.
Aegeon
Aegeon is a merchant of Syracuse in the comedy of errors.
Aemil Lepidus
Aemil Lepidus is a character in Julius Caesar.
Aemil Lepidus is a trimvir in Antony and Cleopatra.
Aemilia
Aemilia is wife to Aegeon.
Aemilius
Aemilius is a noble Roman in Titus Andronicus.
Aeneas
Aeneas is a Trojan commander in Troilus and Cressida.
Agamemnon
Agamemnon is the Grecian general in Troilus and Cressida.
Agrippa
Agrippa is a friend of Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra.
Ajax
Ajax is a Grecian commander in Troilus and Cressida.
Alarbus
Alarbus is a son to Tamora in Titus Andronicus.
Alcibiades
Alcibiades is an Athenian captain in Timon of Athens.
Alexander
Alexander is servant to Cressida.
Alexander Iden
Alexander Iden is a Kentish gentleman in King Henry VI part II.
Alexas
Alexas is an attendant on Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra.
Alice
Alice is a lady attending on Katharine in King Henry V.
All's well that ends well
All's well that ends well is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set
partly in France and partly in tuscany. It opens in a room in the
countesses palace in rousillon.
Alonso
Alonso is the King of Naples in the tempest.
Amiens
Amiens is a lord attending upon the exiled Duke in As You Like It.
Andromache
Andromache is wife to Hector in Troilus and Cressida.
Angelo
Angelo is the deputy in Measure for Measure.
Angelo is a goldsmith in the comedy of errors.
Angus
Angus is a Scottish nobleman in Macbeth.
Anne Bullen
Anne Bullen is Queen Katharine's maid of honour in King Henry VIII.
Anne Page
Anne Page is the daughter of Page. She is in love with Fenton.
Antenor
Antenor is a Trojan commander in Troilus and Cressida.
Antigonus
Antigonus is a lord of Sicilia in the winter's tale.
Antiochus
Antiochus is the King of Antioch in Pericles.
Antipholus
Antipholus is the name of two twin brother; Antipholus of Ephesus and
Antipholus of Syracuse. They are sons of Aegeon and Aemilia.
Antonio
Antonio is the brother of Prospero. He is the usurping Duke of Milan.
Antonio is the father of Proteus.
Antonio is the brother of Leonato.
Antonio is The Merchant of Venice.
Antonio is a sea-captain and friend to Sebastian in twelfth-night.
Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
several parts of the Roman empire. It opens in a room in Cleopatra's
palace in alexandria.
Apemantus
Apemantus is a churlish philosopher in Timon of Athens.
Archbisop of Canterbury
The Archbisop of Canterbury is a character in King Henry V.
Archibald
Archibald is the Earl of Douglas in King Henry IV part 1.
Archidamus
Archidamus is a lord of Bohemia in the winter's tale.
Ariel
Ariel is an airy spirit in the tempest.
Artemidorus
Artemidorus is a sophist of Cnidos in Julius Caesar.
Arthur
Arthur is Duke of Bretagne in King John.
Arviragus
Arviragus is son to Cymberline disguised under the name of Cadwal.
As you like it
As you like it is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set first near
oliver's house; afterwards, in the usurper's court, and in the forest of
Arden. It opens in an orchard near oliver's house whereupon enter orlando
and adam.
Audrey
Audrey is a country wench in As You Like It.
Autolycus
Autolycus is a rogue in the winter's tale.
Bagot
Bagot is a creature to King Richard II.
Balthasar
Balthasar is servant to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.
Balthazar
Balthazar is a merchant in the comedy of errors.
Balthazar is a servant to Don Pedro.
Balthazar is a servant to Portia.
Banquo
Banquo is a general in the King's army in Macbeth.
Baptista
Baptista is a rich gentleman of Padua in the taming of the shrew.
Bardolph
Bardolph is a follower of Falstaff.
Bardolph is a character in King Henry IV part 1 and in King Henry IV part
II and in King Henry V.
Barnardine
Barnardine is a dissolute prisoner in Measure for Measure.
Bassanio
Bassanio is a friend to Antonio The Merchant of Venice.
Basset
Basset is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Bassianus
Bassianus is brother to Saturnius in Titus Andronicus.
Bastard of Orleans
The bastard of Orleans is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Bates
Bates is a soldier in King Henry V.
Beatrice
Beatrice is the niece of Leonato.
Belarius
Belarius is a banished lord disguised under the name of Morgan in
Cymberline.
Benedick
Benedick is a young lord of Padua in much ado about nothing.
Benvolio
Benvolio is a friend to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.
Bernardo
Bernardo is an officer in Hamlet.
Bertram
Bertram is Count of Rousillon in all's well that ends well.
Bianca
Bianca is a daughter to Baptista.
Bianca is mistress to Cassio in Othello.
Biondello
Biondello is a servant to Lucentio in the taming of the shrew.
Biron
Biron is a lord attending on Ferdinand in Love's Labour's Lost.
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is a character in King Richard II.
Bishop of Ely
The Bishop of Ely is a character in King Henry V.
Bishop of Lincoln
The Bishop of Lincoln is a character in King Henry VIII.
Blanch
Blanch is the daughter of Alphonso King of Castile.
Bolingbroke
Bolingbroke is a conjurer in King Henry VI part II.
Bona
Bona is sister to the French Queen in King Henry VI part III.
Borachio
Borachio is a follower of John in much ado about nothing.
Bottom
Bottom is a weaver in a midsummer night's dream.
Boult
Boult is servant to the pander in Pericles.
Boyet
Boyet is a lord attending on the Princess of France in Love's Labour's
Lost.
Brabantio
Brabantio is a senator in Othello.
Bull-calf
Bull-calf is a recruit in King Henry IV part II.
Bushy
Bushy is a creature to King Richard II.
Caius Lucius
Caius Lucius is the general of the Roman forces in Cymberline.
Caius Marcius
Caius Marcius is a noble Roman in Coriolanus.
Calchas
Calchas is a Trojan priest taking part with the Greeks in Troilus and
Cressida.
Caliban
Caliban is a savage and deformed slave in the tempest.
Calphurnia
Calphurnia is wife to Julius Caesar.
Camillo
Camillo is a lord of Sicilia in the winter's tale.
Canidus
Canidus is lieutenant-general to Antony in Antony and Cleopatra.
Caphis
Caphis is a servant in Timon of Athens.
Capucius
Capucius is an ambassador from Charles V in King Henry VIII.
Capulet
Capulet is head of a house at variance with Montague in Romeo and Juliet.
Cardinal Beaufort
Cardinal Beaufort is the Bishop of Winchester in King Henry VI part II.
Cardinal Bourchier
Cardinal Bourchier is the Archbishop of canterbury in King Richard III.
Cardinal Campeius
Cardinal Campeius is a character in King Henry VIII.
Cardinal Pandulph
Cardinal Pandulph is the pope's legate in King John.
Cardinal Wolsey
Cardinal Wolsey is a character in King Henry VIII.
Casca
Casca is a conspirator in Julius Caesar.
Cassandra
Cassandra is daughter to Priam and a prophetess in Troilus and Cressida.
Cassio
Cassio is lieutenant to Othello.
Cassius
Cassius is a conspirator in Julius Caesar.
Cathness
Cathness is a Scottish nobleman in Macbeth.
Celia
Celia is a daughter to frederick in As You Like It.
Ceres
Ceres is a spirit in the tempest.
Cerimon
Cerimon is a lord of Ephesus in Pericles.
Charles
Charles is a wrestler in As You Like It.
Charles is the King of France in King Henry VI part I.
Charles the sixth
Charles the sixth is the King of France in King Henry V.
Charmian
Charmian is an attendant on Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra.
Chatillon
Chatillon is the ambassador from France in King John.
Chiron
Chiron is a son to Tamora in Titus Andronicus.
Christopher Sly
Christopher Sly is a character in the induction of the taming of the
shrew.
Christopher Urswick
Christopher Urswick is a priest in King Richard III.
Cicero
Cicero is a senator in Julius Caesar.
Cinna
Cinna is a conspirator in Julius Caesar.
Cinna is a poet in Julius Caesar.
Claudio
Claudio is a young gentleman in Measure for Measure.
Claudio is a young lord of Florence in much ado about nothing.
Claudius
Claudius is a servant to Brutus in Julius Caesar.
Claudius is the King of Denmark in Hamlet.
Cleomenes
Cleomenes is a lord of Sicilia in the winter's tale.
Cleon
Cleon is governor of tharsus in Pericles.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra is Queen of egypt in Antony and Cleopatra.
Clitus
Clitus is a servant to Brutus in Julius Caesar.
Cloten
Cloten is the son of the Queen by a former husband in Cymbeline.
Clown
Clown is a servant to Olivia in twelfth-night.
Clown is servant to Othello.
Cobweb
Cobweb is a fairy in a midsummer night's dream.
Cominius
Cominius is a general agaianst the Volscians in Coriolanus.
Conrade
Conrade is a follower of John in much ado about nothing.
Constance
Constance is the mother of arthur in King John.
Cordelia
Cordelia is a daughter to King Lear.
Corin
Corin is a shepherd in As You Like It.
Coriolanus
Coriolanus is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set partly in Rome and
partly in the territories of the Volscians and antiates. It opens in a
street in Rome whereupon enter a company of mutinous citizens with
staves, clubs and other weapons.
Cornelius
Cornelius is a courtier in Hamlet.
Cornelius is a physician in Cymberline.
Costard
Costard is a clown in Love's Labour's Lost.
Countess of Auvergne
The countess of Auvergne is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Countess of Rousillon
The countess of Rousillon is the mother to Bertram.
Court
Court is a soldier in King Henry V.
Cranmer
Cranmer is the Archbishop of Canterbury in King Henry VIII.
Cressida
Cressida is daughter to Calchas in Troilus and Cressida.
Cromwell
Cromwell is servant to Wolsey in King Henry VIII.
Curan
Curan is a courtier in King Lear.
Curio
Curio is a gentleman attending on Orsino in twelfth-night.
Curtis
Curtis is a servant to Petruchio.
Cymbeline
Cymbeline is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set sometimes in
Britain and sometimes in italy. It opens in the garden of Cymbeline's
palace in Britain.
Cymbeline is the King of Britain.
Dardanius
Dardanius is a servant to Brutus in Julius Caesar.
Decius Brutus
Decius Brutus is a conspirator in Julius Caesar.
Deiphobus
Deiphobus is son to Priam in Troilus and Cressida.
Demetrius
Demetrius is a man in love with hermia in a midsummer night's dream.
Demetrius is a son to Tamora in Titus Andronicus.
Demetrius is a friend of Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra.
Dennis
Dennis is a servant to Oliver in As You Like It.
Dercetas
Dercetas is a friend of Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra.
Desdemona
Desdemona is daughter to Brabantio and wife to Othello.
Diana
Diana is the daughter of a widow of Florence in all's well that ends
well.
Diomedes
Diomedes is a Grecian commander in Troilus and Cressida.
Diomedes is an attendant on Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra.
Dion
Dion is a lord of Sicilia in the winter's tale.
Dionyza
Dionyza is wife to Cleon in Pericles.
Doctor Butts
Doctor Butts is the physician to the King in King Henry VIII.
Doctor Caius
Doctor Caius is a French physician in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
Dogberry
Dogberry is an officer in much ado about nothing.
Dolabella
Dolabella is a friend of Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra.
Domitius Enobarbus
Domitius Enobarbus is a friend of Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra.
Don Adriano de Armado
Don Adriano de Armado is a fantastical spaniard in Love's Labour's Lost.
Don Pedro
Don Pedro is the Prince of Arragon in much ado about nothing.
Donalbain
Donalbain is son of Malcolm in Macbeth.
Dorcas
Dorcas is a shepherdess in the winter's tale.
Dromio
Dromio is the name of two twin brothers; Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of
Syracuse. They are attendants on the two antipholuses in the comedy of
errors.
Duchess of Gloster
The duchess of Gloster is a character in King Richard II.
Duchess of York
The duchess of York is a character in King Richard II.
The duchess of York is the mother to King Edward IV in King Richard III.
Duke
The Duke is a character in As You Like It.
Duke of Albany
The Duke of Albany is a character in King Lear.
Duke of Alencon
The Duke of Alencon is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Duke of Aumerle
The Duke of Aumerle is the son of Edmund of Langley in King Richard II.
Duke of Austria
The Duke of Austria is a character in King John.
Duke of Bedford
The Duke of Bedford is a brother to the King in King Henry V.
The Duke of Bedford is uncle to the King in King Henry VI part I.
Duke of Bourbon
The Duke of Bourbon is a character in King Henry V.
Duke of Buckingham
The Duke of Buckingham is a character in King Henry VI part II and in
King Richard III and in King Henry VIII.
Duke of Burgundy
The Duke of Burgundy is a character in King Henry V and in King Henry VI
part I and in King Lear.
Duke of Clarence
The Duke of Clarence is a brother to the King in King Richard III.
Duke of Cornwall
The Duke of Cornwall is a character in King Lear.
Duke of Exeter
The Duke of Exeter is uncle to the King in King Henry V.
The Duke of Exeter is a character in King Henry VI part III.
Duke of Florence
The Duke of Florence is a character that appears in all's well that ends
well.
Duke of Gloster
The Duke of Gloster is a brother of the King in King Henry V.
The Duke of Gloster is uncle to the King in King Henry VI part I and in
King Henry VI part II.
The Duke of Gloster is a brother to the King in King Richard III.
Duke of Milan
The Duke of Milan is a character in the two gentlemen of Verona.
Duke of Norfolk
The Duke of Norfolk is a character in King Henry VI part III and in King
Richard III and in King Henry VIII.
Duke of Orleans
The Duke of Orleans is a character in King Henry V.
Duke of Somerset
The Duke of Somerset is a character in King Henry VI part II and in King
Henry VI part III.
Duke of Suffolk
The Duke of Suffolk is a character in King Henry VI part II and in King
Henry VIII.
Duke of Surrey
The Duke of Surrey is a character in King Richard II.
Duke of Venice
The Duke of Venice is a character in The Merchant of Venice and in
Othello.
Duke of York
The Duke of York is cousin to the King in King Henry V.
Dull
Dull is a constable in Love's Labour's Lost.
Dumaine
Dumaine is a lord attending on Ferdinand in Love's Labour's Lost.
Duncan
Duncan is King of Scotland in Macbeth.
Earl Berkley
Earl Berkley is a character in King Richard II.
Earl of Cambridge
The Earl of Cambridge is a conspirator in King Henry V.
Earl of Gloster
The Earl of Gloster is a character in King Lear.
Earl of Kent
The Earl of Kent is a character in King Lear.
Earl of Northumberland
The Earl of Northumberland is a character in King Richard II and in King
Henry IV part II and in King Henry VI part III.
Earl of Oxford
The Earl of Oxford is a character in King Henry VI part III and in King
Richard III.
Earl of Pembroke
The Earl of Pembroke is a character in King Henry VI part III.
Earl of Richmond
The Earl of Richmond is a character in King Richard III.
Earl of Salisbury
The Earl of Salisbury is a character in King Richard II and in King Henry
V and in King Henry VI part I and in King Henry VI part II.
Earl of Suffolk
The Earl of Suffolk is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Earl of Surrey
The Earl of Surrey is a character in King Henry IV part II and in King
Richard III and in King Henry VIII.
Earl of Warwick
The Earl of Warwick is a character in King Henry IV part II and in King
Henry V and in King Henry VI part I and in King Henry VI part II and in
King Henry VI part III.
Earl of Westmoreland
The Earl of Westmoreland is a character in King Henry IV part 1 and in
King Henry IV part II and in King Henry V and in King Henry VI part III.
Earl Rivers
Earl Rivers is the brother to King Edward's Queen in King Richard III.
Edgar
Edgar is the son of the Earl of Gloster in King Lear.
Edmund
Edmund is the Earl of Rutland in King Henry VI part III.
Edmund is a bastard son to the Earl of Gloster in King Lear.
Edmund Mortimer
Edmund Mortimer is the Earl of March in King Henry IV part 1 and in King
Henry VI part I.
Edmund of Langley
Edmund of Langley is the Duke of York in King Richard II.
Edward
Edward is a son of the King in King Henry VI part II and in King Henry VI
part III.
Edward is the Earl of March and afterwards King
Edward IV in King Henry VI part III.
Edward is the Prince of Wales in King Richard III
Egeus
Egeus is the father to Hermia.
Eglamour
Eglamour is an agent for Silvia in her escape.
Elbow
Elbow is a simple constable in Measure for Measure.
Eleanor
Eleanor is the Duchess of Gloster in King Henry VI part II.
Elinor
Elinor is the widow of King Henry II in King John.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth is Queen of King Edward IV in King Richard III.
Emilia
Emilia is a lady attending to Hermione.
Emilia is wife to Iago in Othello.
Eros
Eros is a friend of Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra.
Escalus
Escalus is an ancient Lord in Measure for Measure.
Escalus is Prince of Verona in Romeo and Juliet.
Escanes
Escanes is a lord of Tyre in Pericles.
Euphronus
Euphronus is an ambassador from Antony to Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra.
Fabian
Fabian is a servant to Olivia in twelfth-night.
Falstaff
Falstaff is a character in King Henry IV part II.
Fang
Fang is a sheriff's officer in King Henry IV part II.
Feeble
Feeble is a recruit in King Henry IV part II.
Fenton
Fenton is a character in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
Ferdinand
Ferdinand is the son of the King of Naples in the tempest.
Ferdinand is the King of Vavarre in Love's Labour's Lost.
Flaminius
Flaminius is servant to Timon in Timon of Athens.
Flavius
Flavius is steward to Timon in Timon of Athens.
Flavius is a tribune in Julius Caesar.
Fleance
Fleance is son to Banquo in Macbeth.
Florizel
Florizel is the Prince of Bohemia in the winter's tale.
Fluellen
Fluellen is an officer in the King's army in King Henry V.
Flute
Flute is a bellows-mender in a midsummer night's dream.
Ford
Ford is a gentleman dwelling at Windsor in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
Fortinbras
Fortinbras is the Prince of Norway in Hamlet.
Francisca
Francisca is a nun in Measure for Measure.
Francisco
Francisco is a lord in the tempest.
Francisco is a soldier in Hamlet.
Frederick
Frederick is the brother of the Duke and usurper of the Duke's dominions
in As You Like It.
Friar John
Friar John is a franciscan in Romeo and Juliet.
Friar Laurence
Friar Laurence is a franciscan in Romeo and Juliet.
Froth
Froth is a follish gentleman in Measure for Measure.
Gadshill
Gadshill is a character in King Henry IV part 1.
Gallus
Gallus is a friend of Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra.
Gardiner
Gardiner is the Bishop of Winchester in King Henry VIII.
Geffrey Fitz-Peter
Geffrey Fitz-Peter is Earl of Essex in King John.
George
George is a character in King Henry VI part III. He becomes the Duke of
Clarence.
Gertrude
Gertrude is Queen of Denmark and mother to Hamlet.
Goneril
Goneril is a daughter to King Lear.
Gonzalo
Gonzalo is an honest old counsellor in the tempest.
Gower
Gower is a character in King Henry IV part II.
Gower is an officer in the King's army in King Henry V.
Grandpre
Grandpre is a French Lord in King Henry V.
Gratiano
Gratiano is a friend to Antonio The Merchant of Venice.
Gratiano is brother to Brabantio in Othello.
Green
Green is a creature to King Richard II.
Gregory
Gregory is a servant to Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.
Gremio
Gremio is a suitor to Bianca.
Griffith
Griffith is gentleman-usher to Queen Katharine in King Henry VIII.
Grumio
Grumio is a servant to Petruchio.
Guiderius
Guiderius is a son to Cymberline disguised under the name Polydore.
Guildenstern
Guildenstern is a courtier in Hamlet.
Hamlet
Hamlet is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in Denmark. It opens
at a platform before the castle in Elsinore where Francisco is on his
post and whereupon enter Bernardo.
Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark in the play.
Harcourt
Harcourt is a character in King Henry IV part II.
Hector
Hector is son to Priam in Troilus and Cressida.
Helen
Helen is wife of Menelaus in Troilus and Cressida.
Helen is a woman to Imogen in Cymbeline.
Helena
Helena is a woman in love with demetrius in a midsummer night's dream.
Helena is a gentlewoman protected by the countess in all's well that ends
well.
Helenus
Helenus is son to Priam in Troilus and Cressida.
Helicanus
Helicanus is a lord of Tyre in Pericles.
Henry
Henry is the Prince of Wales and son of King Henry IV in King Henry IV
part 1 and in King Henry IV part II.
Henry is the Earl of Richmond, a youth in King Henry VI part III.
Henry Beaufort
Henry Beaufort is the Bishop of Winchester in King Henry VI part I.
Henry Bolingbroke
Henry Bolingbroke is the Duke of Hereford in King Richard II.
Henry Percy
Henry Percy is the son of the Earl of Northumberland in King Richard II
and in King Henry IV part 1.
Hermia
Hermia is a woman in love with Lysander.
Hermione
Hermione is Queen to Leontes in the winter's tale.
Hero
Hero is the daughter of Leonato.
Hippolyta
Hippolyta is Queen of the Amazons in a midsummer night's dream.
Holofernes
Holofernes is a schoolmaster in Love's Labour's Lost.
Horatio
Horatio is a friend to Hamlet.
Hortensio
Hortensio is a suitor to Bianca.
Hortensius
Hortensius is a servant in Timon of Athens.
Hotspur
Hotspur is a son to Henry Percy in King Henry IV part 1.
Hubert de Burgh
Hubert de Burgh is chamberlain to King John.
Hume
Hume is a priest in King Henry VI part II.
Iago
Iago is Othello's ancient.
Imogen
Imogen is the daughter to Cymbeline by a former Queen.
Iras
Iras is an attendant on Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra.
Iris
Iris is a spirit in the tempest.
Isabel
Isabel is the Queen of France in King Henry V.
Isabella
Isabella is the sister of Claudio.
Jack Cade
Jack Cade is a character in King Henry VI part II.
James Gurney
James Gurney is servant to lady Faulconbridge in King John.
Jamy
Jamy is an officer in the King's army in King Henry V.
Jaquenetta
Jaquenetta is a country wench in Love's Labour's Lost.
Jaques
Jaques is a lord attending upon the exiled Duke in As You Like It.
Jaques is a son of Sir Rowland de Bois in As You Like It.
Jessica
Jessica is the daughter of Shylock.
Joan la Pucelle
Joan la Pucelle is a character in King Henry VI part I. She is commonly
called Joan of Arc.
John
John is the bastard brother of Don Pedro.
John Beaufort
John Beaufort is the Earl of Somerset in King Henry VI part I.
John Morton
John Morton is the Bishop of Ely in King Richard III.
John of Gaunt
John of Gaunt is the Duke of Lancaster in King Richard II.
John Talbot
John Talbot is the son of Talbot in King Henry VI part I.
Julia
Julia is the beloved of Proteus.
Juliet
Juliet is the beloved of Claudio in Measure for Measure.
Juliet is the daughter of Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set during a great
part of the play at Rome: afterwards at sardis, and near philippi. It
opens in a street in Rome.
Junius Brutus
Junius Brutus is a tribune of the people in Coriolanus.
Juno
Juno is a spirit in the tempest.
Katharina
Katharina is a daughter to Baptista.
Katharine
Katharine is a lady attending on the Princess of France in Love's
Labour's Lost.
Katharine is the daughter of Charles and Isabel in King Henry V.
King Edward IV
King Edward IV is a character in King Richard III.
King Henry IV part I
King Henry IV part I is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
England and opens in an apartment in the palace in London.
King Henry IV part II
King Henry IV part II is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
England and opens in warkworth before Northumberland's castle where upon
enter rumour painted full of tongues.
King Henry V
King Henry V is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in England and
France. It opens with a chorus and then in an ante-chamber in the King's
palace in
London.
King Henry VI part I
King Henry VI part I is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set partly
in England and partly in France. It opens in Westminster abbey with the
funeral of King Henry V.
King Henry VI part II
King Henry VI part II is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
various parts of England and opens in a room of state in the palace in
londom.
King Henry VI part III
King Henry VI part III is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
France during the 3rd act and in England the rest of the play. It opens
in the parliament-house in London to the sound of drums and some
soldier's of the Duke of York's party breaKing in.
King Henry VIII
King Henry VIII is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set chiefly in
London and Westminster; once at kimbolton. It opens following a prologue
in an ante-chamber in the palace in London.
King Henry VIII is the title character in the play.
King John
King John is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set sometimes in
England and sometimes in France. It opens in a room of state in the
palace in northampton.
King Lear
King Lear is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in Britain and
opens in a room of state in King Lear's palace whereupon enter the Earl
of kent, Earl of Gloster and edmund.
King of France
The King of France is a character that appears in all's well that ends
well.
King Richard II
King Richard II is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set dispersedly
in England and Wales. It opens in a room in the palace in London
whereupon enter King Richard attended by John of gaunt and other nobles
with him.
King Richard III
King Richard III is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in England
and opens in a London street whereupon enter the Duke of Gloster.
Lachimo
Lachimo is a friend to Philaro in Cymberline.
Lady anne
Lady anne is the widow of Edward Prince of Wales in King Richard III.
Lady Capulet
Lady Capulet is the wife to Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.
Lady Faulconbridge
Lady Faulconbridge is a character in King John.
Lady Grey
Lady Grey is a character and afterwards Queen to Edward IV in King Henry
VI part III.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is Macbeth's wife.
Lady Macduff
Lady Macduff is Macduff's wife in Macbeth.
Lady Montague
Lady Montague is the wife to Montague in Romeo and Juliet.
Lady Mortimer
Lady Mortimer is the wife to Mortimer in King Henry IV part 1.
Lady Northumberland
Lady Northumberland is a character in King Henry IV part II.
Lady Percy
Lady Percy is the wife to Hotspur and sister to Mortimer in King Henry IV
part 1 and in King Henry IV part II.
Laertes
Laertes is son of Polonius in Hamlet.
Lafeu
Lafeu is an old lord in all's well that ends well.
Launce
Launce is a clownish servant to Proteus.
Launcelot Gobbo
Launcelot Gobbo is a clown in The Merchant of Venice.
Lavinia
Lavinia is daughter to Titus Andronicus.
Le beau
Le beau is a courtier in As You Like It.
Lenox
Lenox is a Scottish nobleman in Macbeth.
Leonardo
Leonardo is a servant to Bassanio.
Leonato
Leonato is the governor of Messina in much ado about nothing.
Leonatus Posthumus
Leonatus Posthumus is the husband to Imogen in Cymberline.
Leonine
Leonine is servant to Dionyza in Pericles.
Leontes
Leontes is the King of Scilia in the winter's tale.
Lewis
Lewis is the dauphin in King John and in King Henry V.
Lewis XI
Lewis XI is the King of France in King Henry VI part III.
Ligarius
Ligarius is a conspirator in Julius Caesar.
Lodovico
Lodovico is kinsman to Brabantio in Othello.
Longaville
Longaville is a lord attending on Ferdinand in Love's Labour's Lost.
Lord Abergavenny
Lord Abergavenny is a character in King Henry VIII.
Lord Bardolph
Lord Bardolph is a character in King Henry IV part II.
Lord Clifford
Lord Clifford is a character in King Henry VI part II and in King Henry
VI part III.
Lord Fitzwater
Lord Fitzwater is a character in King Richard II.
Lord Grey
Lord Grey is a character in King Richard III.
Lord Hastings
Lord Hastings is a character in King Henry IV part II and in King Henry
VI part III and in King Richard III.
Lord Lovel
Lord Lovel is a character in King Richard III.
Lord Mowbray
Lord Mowbray is a character in King Henry IV part II.
Lord Rivers
Lord Rivers is brother to lady grey in King Henry VI part III.
Lord Ross
Lord Ross is a character in King Richard II.
Lord Sands
Lord Sands is a character in King Henry VIII.
Lord Say
Lord Say is a character in King Henry VI part II.
Lord Scales
Lord Scales is the governor of the tower in King Henry VI part II.
Lord Scroop
Lord Scroop is a conspirator in King Henry V.
Lord Stafford
Lord Stafford is a character in King Henry VI part III.
Lord Stanley
Lord Stanley is a character in King Richard III.
Lord Willoughby
Lord Willoughby is a character in King Richard II.
Lorenzo
Lorenzo is a character in love with Jessica in The Merchant of Venice.
Love's labour's lost
Love's labour's lost is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
Navarre. It opens in a park with a palace in it whereupon enter
Ferdinand, Biron, Longaville and Dumaine.
Luce
Luce is the servant to Adriana.
Lucentio
Lucentio is the son of Vincentio in the taming of the shrew.
Lucetta
Lucetta is a waiting-woman to Julia.
Luciana
Luciana is the sister of Adriana.
Lucilius
Lucilius is a character in Julius Caesar.
Lucillius
Lucillius is servant to Timon in Timon of Athens.
Lucio
Lucio is a fantastic in Measure for Measure.
Lucius
Lucius is a son to Titus Andronicus.
Lucius is a flattering lord in Timon of a thens.
Lucius is a servant in Timon of Athens.
Lucius is a servant to Brutus in Julius Caesar.
Lucullus
Lucullus is a flattering lord in Timon of Athens.
Lychorida
Lychorida is nurse to Marina in Pericles.
Lysander
Lysander is a man in love with Hermia in a midsummer night's dream.
Lysimachus
Lysimachus is governor of Mitylene in Pericles.
Macbeth
Macbeth is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in the end of the
fourth act in England; through the rest of the play in Scotland. It opens
in an open place with thunder and lightning, whereupon enter 3 witches.
Macbeth is the title character in the play. He is a general in the King's
army.
Macduff
Macduff is a Scottish nobleman in Macbeth.
Macmorris
Macmorris is an officer in the King's army in King Henry V.
Malcolm
Malcolm is son of Duncan in Macbeth.
Malvolio
Malvolio is steward to Olivia in twelfth-night.
Mamillius
Mamillius is a young Prince of Sicilia in the winter's tale.
Marcellus
Marcellus is an officer in Hamlet.
Marcius
Marcius is son to Coriolanus.
Marcus Antonius
Marcus Antonius is a character in Julius Caesar.
Marcus Brutus
Marcus Brutus is a conspirator in Julius Caesar.
Mardian
Mardian is an attendant on Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra.
Margarelon
Margarelon is a bastard son to Priam in Troilus and Cressida.
Margaret
Margaret is a gentlewoman attending on Hero.
Margaret is the daughter to Reignier in King Henry VI part I.
Margaret is the Queen to King Henry VI part II.
Margaret is widow of King Henry VI in King Richard III.
Margery Jourdain
Margery Jourdain is a witch in King Henry VI part II.
Maria
Maria is a lady attending on the Princess of France in Love's Labour's
Lost.
Maria is Olivia's woman in twelfth-night.
Mariana
Mariana is the betrothed to Angelo.
Mariana is a neighbour and friend to the widow in all's well that ends
well.
Marina
Marina is daughter to Pericles and Thaisa in Pericles.
Mark Antony
Mark Antony is a trimvir in Antony and Cleopatra.
Marquess of Dorset
The Marquess of Dorset is a character in King Richard III.
Marquess of Montague
The Marquess of Montague is a character in King Henry VI part III.
Martius
Martius is a son to Titus Andronicus
Marullus
Marullus is a tribune in Julius Caesar.
Mayor of London
The mayor of London is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Mayor of York
The mayor of York is a character in King Henry VI part III.
Measure for measure
Measure for measure is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
Vienna. It opens at an apartment in the Duke's palace whereupon enter
Duke, Escalus, lords and attendants.
Mecaenas
Mecaenas is a friend of Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra.
Melun
Melun is a French lord in King John.
Menas
Menas is a friend of Pompey in Antony and Cleopatra.
Menecrates
Menecrates is a friend of Pompey in Antony and Cleopatra.
Menelaus
Menelaus is brother to Agamemnon.
Menenius Agrippa
Menenius Agrippa is a friend to Coriolanus.
Menteth
Menteth is a Scottish nobleman in Macbeth.
Mercade
Mercade is a lord attending on the Princess of France in Love's Labour's
Lost.
Mercutio
Mercutio is a friend of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.
Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
Windsor and the adjacent parts. It opens in Windsor, before page's house
whereupon enter justice shallow, slender and Sir Hugh Evans.
Messala
Messala is a character in Julius Caesar.
Metellus Cimber
Metellus Cimber is a conspirator in Julius Caesar.
Miranda
Miranda is the daughter of Prospero.
Mistress Ford
Mistress Ford is the wife of Ford.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone is a bawd in Measure for Measure.
Mistress Page
Mistress Page is the wife of page.
Mistress Quickly
Mistress Quickly is a servant to doctor Caius.
Mistress Quickly is the hostess of a tavern in Eastcheap in King Henry IV
part 1.
Mistress Quickly is a hostess in King Henry V.
Montague
Montague is the head of a house at variance with Capulet in Romeo and
Juliet.
Montano
Montano is the governor of Cyprus in Othello.
Montjoy
Montjoy is a French herald in King Henry V.
Mopsa
Mopsa is a shepherdess in the winter's tale.
Morton
Morton is a retainer of the Earl of Northumberland in King Henry IV part
II.
Moth
Moth is a page to Armado in Love's Labour's Lost.
Moth is a fairy in a midsummer night's dream.
Mouldy
Mouldy is a recruit in King Henry IV part II.
Much ado about nothing
Much ado about nothing is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
Messina and opens before leonato's house whereupon enter leonato, hero,
beatrice and others with a messenger.
Mustard-seed
Mustard-seed is a fairy in a midsummer night's dream.
Mutius
Mutius is a son to Titus Andronicus.
Nerissa
Nerissa is the waiting-maid to Portia.
Nestor
Nestor is a Grecian commander in Troilus and Cressida.
Nym
Nym is a follower of Falstaff and character in King Henry V.
Oberon
Oberon is the King of the fairies in a midsummer night's dream.
Octavia
Octavia is sister to Caesar and wife to mark Antony in Antony and
Cleopatra.
Octavius Caesar
Octavius Caesar is a character in Julius Caesar.
Octavius Caesar is a trimvir in Antony and Cleopatra.
Old Gobbo
Old Gobbo is the father of Launcelot Gobbo.
Oliver
Oliver is a son of Sir Rowland de Bois in As You Like It.
Olivia
Olivia is a rich countess in twelfth-night.
Ophelia
Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius.
Orlando
Orlando is a son of Sir Rowland de Bois in As You Like It.
Orsino
Orsino is the Duke of Illyria in twelfth-night.
Osrick
Osrick is a courtier in Hamlet.
Oswald
Oswald is steward to Goneril in King Lear.
Othello
Othello is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set for the first act, in
vencie; during the rest of the play, at a sea-port in Cyprus. It opens in
a street in Venice whereupon enter Roderigo and Iago.
Othello is a noble moor in the service of the Ventian state.
Page
Page is a gentleman dwelling at Windsor in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
Pandarus
Pandarus is uncle to Cressida in Troilus and Cressida.
Panthino
Panthino is a servant to Antonio in the two gentlemen of Verona.
Paris
Paris is son to Priam in Troilus and Cressida.
Paris is a young nobleman in Romeo and Juliet.
Parolles
Parolles is a follower of Bertram.
Patroclus
Patroclus is a Grecian commander in Troilus and Cressida.
Paulina
Paulina is wife to Antigonus in the winter's tale.
Pease-blossom
Pease-blossom is a fairy in a midsummer night's dream.
Perdita
Perdita is daughter to Leontes and hermione.
Pericles
Pericles is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set dispersedly in
various countries. It opens before the palace of Antioch with gower.
Pericles is the Prince of Tyre in the play.
Peter
Peter is a friar in Measure for Measure.
Peter is a servant to Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.
Peter of Pomfret
Peter of Pomfret is a character in King John.
Peto
Peto is a character in King Henry IV part 1 and in King Henry IV part II.
Petruchio
Petruchio is a gentleman of Verona in the taming of the shrew.
Phebe
Phebe is a shepherdess in As You Like It.
Philario
Philario is a friend to Posthumus in Cymberline.
Philemon
Philemon is servant to Cerimon in Pericles.
Philip
Philip is the King of France in King John.
Philip Faulconbridge
Philip Faulconbridge is a character in King John.
Philo
Philo is a friend of Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra.
Philostrate
Philostrate is master of the revels to Theseus.
Philotus
Philotus is a servant in Timon of Athens.
Phrynia
Phrynia is a mistress to Alcibiades in Timon of Athens.
Pinch
Pinch is a schoolmaster in the comedy of errors.
Pindarus
Pindarus is a servant to Cassius in Julius Caesar.
Pisanio
Pisanio is servant to Posthumus in Cymberline.
Pistol
Pistol is a follower of Falstaff in King Henry IV part II.
Pistol is a character in King Henry V.
Poins
Poins is a character in King Henry IV part 1 and in King Henry IV part
II.
Polixenes
Polixenes is the King of Bohemia in the winter's tale.
Polonius
Polonius is lord chamberlain in Hamlet.
Popilius Lena
Popilius Lena is a senator in Julius Caesar.
Portia
Portia is a rich heiress in The Merchant of Venice.
Portia is wife to Brutus in Julius Caesar.
Priam
Priam is the King of Troy in Troilus and Cressida.
Prince Henry
Prince Henry is the son of King John.
Prince Humphrey of Gloster
Prince Humphrey of Gloster is a son to King Henry IV in King Henry IV
part II.
Prince John of Lancaster
Prince John of Lancaster is a son of King Henry IV in King Henry IV part
1 and in King Henry IV part II.
Prince of Arragon
The Prince of Arragon is a suitor to Portia.
Prince of Morocco
The prince of Morocco is a suitor to Portia.
Proculeius
Proculeius is a friend of Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra.
Prospero
Prospero is the right Duke of Milan in the tempest.
Proteus
Proteus is a gentleman in the two gentlemen of Verona.
Publius
Publius is son to Marcus Andronicus in Titus Andronicus.
Publius is a senator in Julius Caesar.
Puck
Puck is a fairy in a midsummer night's dream. He is also called Robin
Good-Fellow.
Queen Katharine
Queen Katharine is wife to King Henry in King Henry VIII.
Queen Margaret
Queen Margaret is a character in King Henry VI part III.
Quince
Quince is a carpenter in a midsummer night's dream.
Quintus
Quintus is a son to Titus Andronicus
Rambures
Rambures is a French lord in King Henry V.
Regan
Regan is a daughter to King Lear.
Reignier
Reignier is the King of Naples in King Henry VI part I.
Reynaldo
Reynaldo is servant to Polonius in Hamlet.
Richard
Richard is a son of the King in King Henry VI part II.
Richard is the Duke of York in King Richard III
Richard Plantagenet
Richard Plantagenet is the Duke of York in King Henry VI part I and in
King Henry VI part II and in King Henry VI part III.
Robert Bigot
Robert Bigot is Earl of Norfolk in King John.
Robert Faulconbridge
Robert Faulconbridge is a character in King John.
Robin
Robin is a page to Falstaff.
Roderigo
Roderigo is a Venetian gentleman in Othello.
Romeo
Romeo is son to Montague in Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set during the
great part of the play in Verona; once in the 5th act at mantua. It opens
in a public place.
Rosalind
Rosalind is a daughter of the exiled Duke in As You Like It.
Rosaline
Rosaline is a lady attending on the Princess of France in Love's Labour's
Lost.
Rosencrantz
Rosencrantz is a courtier in Hamlet.
Rosse
Rosse is a Scottish nobleman in Macbeth.
Rugby
Rugby is a servant to doctor Caius.
Rumour
Rumour is the presenter of King Henry IV part II.
Salarino
Salarino is a friend to Antonio The Merchant of Venice.
Sampson
Sampson is a servant to Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.
Saturnius
Saturnius is the son to the late emperor of Rome in Titus Andronicus.
Scarus
Scarus is a friend of Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra.
Scroop
Scroop is the Archbishop of York in King Henry IV part 1 and in King
Henry IV part II.
Sebastian
Sebastian is the brother of Alonso.
Sebastian is brother to Viola in twelfth-night.
Seleucus
Seleucus is an attendant on Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra.
Sempronius
Sempronius is a flattering lord in Timon of Athens.
Servillius
Servillius is servant to Timon in Timon of Athens.
Sextus pompeius
Sextus pompeius is a character in Antony and Cleopatra.
Seyton
Seyton is an officer serving on Macbeth.
Shadow
Shadow is a recruit in King Henry IV part II.
Shallow
Shallow is a country justice in the Merry Wives of Windsor and in King
Henry IV part II.
Shylock
Shylock is a jew in The Merchant of Venice.
Sicinius Velutus
Sicinius Velutus is a tribune of the people in Coriolanus.
Silence
Silence is a country justice in King Henry IV part II.
Silius
Silius is an officer under Ventidius in Antony and Cleopatra.
Silvia
Silvia is the beloved of Valentine.
Silvius
Silvius is a shepherd in As You Like It.
Simonides
Simonides is King of Pentapolis in Pericles.
Simpcox
Simpcox is an imposter in King Henry VI part II.
Simple
Simple is a servant to Slender.
Sir Andrew Ague-Cheek
Sir Andrew Ague-Cheek is a character in twelfth-night.
Sir Anthony Denny
Sir Anthony Denny is a character in King Henry VIII.
Sir Henry Guildford
Sir Henry Guildford is a character in King Henry VIII.
Sir Hugh Evans
Sir Hugh Evans is a welsh parson in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
Sir Hugh Mortimer
Sir Hugh Mortimer is uncle to the Duke of York in King Henry VI part III.
Sir Humphrey Stafford
Sir Humphrey Stafford is a character in King Henry VI part II.
Sir James Blount
Sir James Blount is a character in King Richard III.
Sir James Tyrrel
Sir James Tyrrel is a character in King Richard III.
Sir John Coleville
Sir John Coleville is a character in King Henry IV part II.
Sir John Falstaff
Sir John Falstaff is a character in the Merry Wives of Windsor and in
King Henry IV part 1.
Sir John Fastolfe
Sir John Fastolfe is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Sir John Montgomery
Sir John Montgomery is a character in King Henry VI part III.
Sir John Mortimer
Sir John Mortimer is uncle to the Duke of York in King Henry VI part III.
Sir John Somerville
Sir John Somerville is a character in King Henry VI part III.
Sir John Stanley
Sir John Stanley is a character in King Henry VI part II.
Sir Michael
Sir Michael is a friend to the Archbishop of York in King Henry IV part
1.
Sir Nathaniel
Sir Nathaniel is a curate in Love's Labour's Lost.
Sir Nicholas Vaux
Sir Nicholas Vaux is a character in King Henry VIII.
Sir oliver mar-text
Sir oliver mar-text is a vicar in As You Like It.
Sir Pierce of Exton
Sir Pierce of Exton is a character in King Richard II.
Sir Richard Ratcliff
Sir Richard Ratcliff is a character in King Richard III.
Sir Robert Brakenbury
Sir Robert Brakenbury is lieutenant of the tower in King Richard III.
Sir Stephen Scroop
Sir Stephen Scroop is a character in King Richard II.
Sir Thomas Erpingham
Sir Thomas Erpingham is an officer in the King's army in King Henry V.
Sir Thomas Gargrave
Sir Thomas Gargrave is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Sir Thomas Grey
Sir Thomas Grey is a conspirator in King Henry V.
Sir Thomas Lovell
Sir Thomas Lovell is a character in King Henry VIII.
Sir Thomas Vaughan
Sir Thomas Vaughan is a character in King Richard III.
Sir Toby Belch
Sir Toby Belch is uncle to Olivia in twelfth-night.
Sir Walter Blunt
Sir Walter Blunt is a character in King Henry IV part 1.
Sir Walter Herbert
Sir Walter Herbert is a character in King Richard III.
Sir William Catesby
Sir William Catesby is a character in King Richard III.
Sir William Glansdale
Sir William Glansdale is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Sir William Lucy
Sir William Lucy is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Sir William Stanley
Sir William Stanley is a character in King Henry VI part III.
Siward
Siward is general of the english forces in Macbeth.
Slender
Slender is a cousin to shallow.
Snare
Snare is a sheriff's oficer in King Henry IV part II.
Snout
Snout is a tinker in a midsummer night's dream.
Snug
Snug is a joiner in a midsummer night's dream.
Solanio
Solanio is a friend to Antonio The Merchant of Venice.
Solinus
Solinus is the Duke of Ephesus in the comedy of errors.
Southwell
Southwell is a priest in King Henry VI part II.
Speed
Speed is a clownish servant to Valentine.
Starveling
Starveling is a tailor in a midsummer night's dream.
Stephano
Stephano is a drunken butler in the tempest.
Stephano is a servant to Portia.
Strato
Strato is a servant to Brutus in Julius Caesar.
Talbot
Talbot is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Tamora
Tamora is Queen of the Goths in Titus Andronicus.
Taurus
Taurus is lieutenant-general to Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra.
Tempest
The tempest is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set at sea and later
on an island and opens on a ship at sea with a tempestuous noise of
thunder and lightning, whereupon enter a ship-master and a boatswain.
Thaisa
Thaisa is daughter to Simonides in Pericles.
Thaliard
Thaliard is a lord of Antioch in Pericles.
The comedy of errors
The comedy of errors is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in
Ephesus. It opens at a hall in the Duke's palace whereupon enter Solinus,
Aegeon, gaoler, officers and other attendants.
The merchant of Venice
The merchant of Venice is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set partly
at Venice and partly at Belmont. It opens in a street in Venice whereupon
enter Antonio, Salarino and Solanio.
The taming of the shrew
The taming of the shrew is a play by Shakespeare. It is set sometimes in
padua and sometimes in Petruchio's house in the country. It opens before
an ale-house on a heath whereupon enter the hostess and sly.
The winter's tale
The winter's tale is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set sometimes
in Sicilia and sometimes in Bohemia. It opens in an ante-chamber in
Leontes' palace in Sicilia whereupon enter camillo and archidamus.
Thersites
Thersites is a deformed and scurrilous Grecian.
Theseus
Theseus is the Duke of Athens in a midsummer night's dream.
Thomas
Thomas is a friar in Measure for Measure.
Thomas is the Duke of Clarence and son of King Henry IV in King Henry IV
part II.
Thomas Beaufort
Thomas Beaufort is the Duke of Exeter and great-uncle to the King in King
Henry VI part I.
Thomas Horner
Thomas Horner is an armourer in King Henry VI part II.
Thomas mowbray
Thomas mowbray is the Duke of Norfolk in King Richard II.
Thomas Percy
Thomas Percy is the Earl of worcester in King Henry IV part 1.
Thomas Rotherham
Thomas Rotherham is the Archbishop of York in King Richard III.
Thryeus
Thryeus is a friend of Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra.
Thurio
Thurio is a foolish rival to Valentine.
Timandra
Timandra is a mistress to Alcibiades in Timon of Athens.
Timon
Timon is a noble Athenian in Timon of Athens.
Timon of Athens
Timon of Athens is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in Athens and
the woods adjoining. It opens in a hall in Timon's house in Athens.
Titania
Titania is the Queen of the fairies in a midsummer night's dream.
Titinius
Titinius is a character in Julius Caesar.
Titus
Titus is a servant in Timon of Athens.
Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in Rome and
the country near it. It opens in Rome.
Titus Andronicus is the title character in the play.
Titus Lartius
Titus Lartius is a general against the Volscians in Coriolanus.
Touchstone
Touchstone is a clown in As You Like It.
Tranio
Tranio is a servant to Lucentio in the taming of the shrew.
Travers
Travers is a retainer of the Earl of Northumberland in King Henry IV part
II.
Trebonius
Trebonius is a conspirator in Julius Caesar.
Trinculo
Trinculo is a jester in the tempest.
Troilus
Troilus is son to Priam in Troilus and Cressida.
Troilus and Cressida
Troilus and Cressida is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set in Troy
and the Grecian camp. It opens in Troy before Priam's palace whereupon
enter Troilus armed and pandarus.
Tubal
Tubal is a jew and friend to Shylock.
Tullus aufidius
Tullus aufidius is general of the Volscians in Coriolanus.
Twelfth-night
Twelfth-night is a play written by Shakespeare. It is also called what
you will. It is set in a city in illyria; and the sea-coast near it. It
opens in an apartment in the Duke's palace whereupon enter the Duke,
curio, lords and musicians attending.
Two gentlemen of Verona
The two gentlemen of Verona is a play written by Shakespeare. It is set
sometimes in Verona, sometimes in Milan and on the frontiers of mantua.
It opens at an open place in Verona whereupon enter Valentine and
Proteus.
Tybalt
Tybalt is nephew to lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.
Ulysses
Ulysses is a Grecian commander in Troilus and Cressida.
Ursula
Ursula is a gentlewoman attending on Hero.
Valentine
Valentine is a gentleman in the two gentlemen of Verona.
Valentine is a gentleman attending on Orsino in twelfth-night.
Valeria
Valeria is a friend to Virgilla in Coriolanus.
Varrius
Varrius is a friend of Pompey in Antony and Cleopatra.
Varro
Varro is a servant to Brutus in Julius Caesar.
Vaux
Vaux is a character in King Henry VI part II.
Ventidius
Ventidius is one of Timon's false friends in Timon of Athens.
Ventidius is a friend of Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra.
Verges
Verges is an officer in much ado about nothing.
Vernon
Vernon is a character in King Henry VI part I.
Vincentio
Vincentio is the Duke in Measure for Measure.
Vincentio is an old gentelman of Pisa in the taming of the shrew.
Viola
Viola is a woman in love with Orsino in twelfth-night.
Violenta
Violenta is a neighbour and friend to the widow in all's well that ends
well.
Virgilla
Virgilla is wife to Coriolanus.
Voltimand
Voltimand is a courtier in Hamlet.
Volumnia
Volumnia is mother to Coriolanus.
Volumnius
Volumnius is a character in Julius Caesar.
Walter Whitmore
Walter Whitmore is a character in King Henry VI part II.
Wart
Wart is a recruit in King Henry IV part II.
William
William is a country fellow in love with Audrey in As You Like It.
William Longsword
William Longsword is Earl of salisbury in King John.
William Mareshall
William Mareshall is Earl of Pembroke in King John.
William page
William page is a boy. the son of page.
Williams
Williams is a soldier in King Henry V.
Woodville
Woodville is the lieutenant of the tower in King Henry VI part I.
OTHER INFORMATION
Ab
Ab is the 11 month of the Jewish civil year.
Aba
An aba is a sack like garment worn by Arabs.
Abacus
An abacus is a counting frame.
Abaft
Abaft means towards the rear of a ship.
Abbey
An abbey is a body of monks or a monastic building.
Abbreviate
Abbreviate means make shorter.
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a short form of a word or words.
Abdicate
Abdicate means to renounce one's thrown.
Abdomen
The abdomen is the part of a creature's body between diaphragm and
pelvis.
Abduct
Abduct means to take away by force or fraud.
Abecedarian
The Abecedarian were the followers of Storck, a 16th century German
Anabaptist. They were so called because they rejected all wordly
knowledge including learning the alphabet.
Aberration
Aberration is another word for error.
Ablution
Ablution is ceremonial washing.
Abnormal
Abnormal means deviating from normal.
Abode
Abode is a place where something lives.
Abomasum
An abomasum is the fourth stomach of a ruminant.
Abort
Abort means to terminate early.
Abortion
Abortion is the expulsion of the foetus from the uterus.
Aboulia
In psychology aboulia is the loss of will.
Abracadabra
Abbracadabra is a qabbalistic magic word.
Abrasion
An abrasion is a sore place on the skin caused by rubbing.
Abridge
Abridge means to shorten by condensing.
Abscess
An abscess is a pus filled infection of an animal.
Abseil
In mountaineering abseil means to descend using a rope.
Absinth
Absinth is a strong alcoholic drink containing from 60 to 80 percent
alcohol. It contains wormwood oil which gives it its distinctive taste,
but also toxic qualities.
Abstract
Abstract means theoretical rather than practical.
Acceleration
Acceleration is the rate at which a moving body increases in velocity.
Accelerator
An accelerator is a device for increasing speed.
Accelerometer
An accelerometer is an apparatus, either mechanical or electromechanical,
for measuring acceleration or deceleration - that is, the rate of
increase or decrease in the velocity of a moving object. Accelerometers
are used to measure the efficiency of the braking systems on road and
rail vehicles; those used in aircraft and spacecraft can determine
accelerations in several directions simultaneously. There are also
accelerometers for detecting vibrations in machinery.
Accent
An accent is a local mode of pronunciation in speech.
Accolade
An accolade is a gentle blow on the shoulders with the flat of a sword
given by a Sovereign or his representative in conferring knighthood to
the recipient.
Accomplice
An accomplice is someone associated with somebody else in the commiting
of a crime.
Accordion
An accordion is a small portable musical instrument with a keyboard and
bellows. It was invented by Damian in 1829.
Accounts
Accounts are a statement of income and expenditure.
Accumulator
In electrical terms, an accumulator stores electrical energy.
Ace
An ace is a playing card with one pip.
In tennis terms an ace is a non-returnable serve.
Acetal
Acetal is a colourless liquid formed by oxidation of alcohol.
Acetic acid
Acetic acid is an organic acid with the formulae ch3cooh.
Acetone
Acetone is a colourless liquid with the formulae ch2coch3.
Acetylene
Acetylene is a highly inflammable gas of the hydrocarbon family used for
welding and cutting metals.
Achor
Achor is (was?) a disease of infants, in which the head, face and breast
become incrusted with thin, yellowish or greenish scabs.
Acid
An acid is a chemical compound that reacts with metals to form salts by
releasing hydrogen.
ACK
In telecommunications, ACK is the "acknowledge" character in many data
codes; used most commonly for an affirmative response of correct receipt.
Aclinic
The aclinic is a magnetic equator.
Acne
Acne is a skin eruption due to inflammation of the sebaceous glands.
Aconitine
Aconitine is a poisonous alkaloid derived from aconite.
Acoustic
The term acoustic refers to hearing.
Acoustics
see "acoustic"
Acre
An acre is a measurement of land area being 4840 square yards.
Acridine
Acridine is an organic compound with the formulae c13h9n used in dyes and
drugs.
Acriflavine
Acriflavine is an antiseptic powder.
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a disease due to over activity of the pituitary gland
results in excessive bone growth, especially the skull.
Acronym
An acronym is a word formed from the initials of other words.
Acrophobia
Acrophobia is the fear of high places.
Acropolis
The acropolis was the citadel of ancient Greek cities.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a synthetic fibre derived from acrylic acid.
Actinide
An actinide is an element with an atomic number between 89 and 103.
Actinium
Actinium is a radioactive element.
Actinometer
An actinometer is an instrument for measuring heat radiation.
Adaptive Equalization
Adaptive Equalization is a telecommunications term refering to the
equalization of received digital signals capable of adjustment during
actual transmission.
Adhesive
An adhesive is a sticky substance.
Adipocere
Adipocere is a substance in dead bodies formed by decomposition of fatty
acids when exposed to moisture.
Adit
An adit is the horizontal entrance to a mine.
Admiralty
The admiralty was the board of state charged with the provision,
organisation and control of the royal navy. It was founded by Henry VIII
and amalgamated in 1964 into the ministry of defence.
Adobe
An adobe is a Mexican house made of clay bricks.
Adult
An adult is a fully grown being.
Adytum
An adytum is the inner most part of a temple.
Adze
An adze is a carpenter's tool for cutting away the surface of wood.
Aeon
An aeon is an immeasurable period.
Aerial
An aerial is a receiving or radiating device used in radio
communications.
Aerodrome
An aerodrome is a place where aircraft are based.
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a language used in the Republic of South Africa.
Agar
Agar is a laxative substance obtained from seaweed.
Agenda
An agenda is a list of tasks.
Aggry Beads
Aggry Beads are glass beads prized by West African natives as ornaments
and having magical and medicinal powers.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces.
Air
The air is a mixture of gasses enveloping the earth.
Aircraft
An aircraft is a flying machine, a vessel which flies through the air
rather than floats on water or travels along a road or rail.
Aisle
An aisle is a passage between rows of seats.
Albugo
Albugo is an affection of the eye, consisting of a white opacity in the
cornea.
Alchemy
Alchemy was the medieval forerunner to chemistry.
Alcohol
Alcohol is a volatile liquid derived from hydrocarbons.
Alcoholic
see "alcohol"
Aldehyde
Aldehyde is a chemistry term applied to the compounds of alcohol
intermediate between the alcohols and the acids.
Ale
Ale is an alcoholic drink made from malt and hops.
Aleurometer
An aleurometer is a device used in bread making for measuring the quality
of wheaten flour.
Algebra
Algebra is a division of mathematics dealing with relations.
Algerbraic
see "algebra"
Algol
Algol is an algerbraic computer language.
Algorithm
An algorithm is a set of rules.
Alkali
An alkali is a chemical substance.
Alkaloid
The alkaloids are nitrogenous organic substances.
Alkane
The alkanes are the paraffin series of hydrocarbons.
Alkanes
see "alkane"
Alkene
An alkene is a member of the ethylene series of hydrocarbons.
Alkyl
Alkyl refers to a substance which is derived from or related to the
paraffin series of hydrocarbons.
Allergy
An allergy is a hypersensitivity of body tissue to a substance.
Alley
An alley is a narrow street.
Allies
The Allies were various countries that fought the Axis forces in the
Second World War.
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture of a metal and other metals or non-metals.
Alluvium
Alluvium is river transported deposits of mud, sand and gravel which
accumulate to form distinctive features such as levees, flood plains and
deltas.
Alpha
Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.
Alphabet
An alphabet is an ordered series of letters used in language.
Altar
An altar is a block used for making offerings to a deity.
Althing
The althing is the parliament of Iceland, it was created in 930 and is
the oldest parliamentary assembly in the world.
Altimeter
An altimeter is a device measuring altitude.
Altitude
Altitude is height above mean sea level.
Aluminium
Aluminium is a light-weight silvery metal element.
Ambaree
Ambaree is a fibre similar to jute and largely used in India. It is
obtained from Hibiscus cannabinus.
Amber
Amber is fossilised resin.
Ambergris
Ambergris is a substance derived from the intestine of the sperm whale
and used in perfume.
Ambidextrous
Ambidextrous is having the facility to use the left hand as effectively
as the right.
Amenorrhoea
Amenorrhoea is a medical condition being the absence or suspension of
mensturation.
Amice
An amice is a white linen vestment worn by Roman Catholic and many
Anglican priests when officiating at Mass or Holy Eucharist.
Amino acid
Amino acids are fundamental constituents of all proteins.
Amino acids
see "amino_acid"
Ammeter
An ammeter is a device for measuring electrical current.
Ammonia
Ammonia is a colourless gas. Formulae nh3.
Ammonium
Ammonium is the basic radical of ammonium salts. It is comprised of one
atom of nitrogen and four atoms of hydrogen.
Amp
see "ampere"
Ampere
The ampere is the fundamental unit of measurement of electrical current.
Amphetamine
Amphetamine is a drug that induces sleeplessness.
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is a circular or ovular arena surrounded by tiers of
seats.
Amplitude
Amplitude refers to magnitude or size. It is the voltage or power of an
electronic signal.
Amplitude Modulation
Amplitude Modulation is modifying a "carrier" signal by varying its
instantaneous power to represent the information it carries. Most
commonly called "AM".
Anabaptist
The Anabaptists were a 16th century Christian sect, so called because
they rejected infant baptism in reference of adult baptism. They were a
fanatical sect led by Nicholas Storck who intended reorganisation of
German society based upon civil and political equality.
Anabaptists
see "Anabaptist"
Anaemia
Anaemia is the medical condition of lacking red blood cells.
Analgesic
An analgesic is a pain reliever.
Anchor
An anchor is a heavy implement used for securing boats at sea.
Andante
Andante is a musical term denoting a movement somewhat slow, graceful,
distinct and soothing.
Anemometer
An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed.
Angiosperm
An angiosperm is a flowering plant in which the seeds are enclosed within
an ovary which ripens into a fruit.
Angst
Angst is an emotional state of anxiety without a specific cause.
Aniline
Aniline (Phenylamine) is an oily liquid made by the reduction of nitro-
benzene and used in the manufacture of chemicals, dyes and drugs.
Anker
The anker was a measurement used in Britain and Germany for beer, spirits
and the like. It was equivalent to 8.5 gallons.
ANSI
ANSI is the American National Standards Institute. The official
repository of standards for the USA.
Anthrax
Anthrax is a disease of sheep and cattle transmittable to humans.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humans as animals.
Antibiotic
An antibiotic is a substance that inhibits the growth of micro organisms.
Antidote
An antidote is a drug used to counteract poison.
Antiseptic
An antiseptic is a substance which counteracts blood or tissue poisoning
caused by bacteria (sepsis).
Antonine Wall
The Antonine Wall was a Roman line of fortification built around 142-200
AD as the Roman Empire's North West frontier between the Clyde and Forth
in Scotland.
Anvil
An anvil is a block used by metal smiths.
Anxiolytic
An anxiolytic is a drug used to reduce anxiety.
Apartheid
Apartheid is the plicy of racial segregation of people. It was first
established in South Africa in 1948 restricting the rights of nonwhites
and establishing blacks only homelands.
Aperture
In photography, an aperture is an opening through which light passes
through the lens to strike the film.
Aphasia
Aphasia is difficulty in reading, writing and speaking due to brain
damage.
Aphelion
The aphelion is the point at which an object travelling around the sun in
an elliptical orbit is at its furthest from the sun.
Apogee
Apogee is an astronomical term refering to the position in the orbit of
the Moon which is farthest from the Earth. Opposite to Perigee.
Apollo Asteroid
The Apollo Asteroids are a group of small asteroids whose orbits cross
that of the earth. They were first discovered in 1932 and then lost until
1973.
Apollo Project
The Apollo Project was the US space project to land a person on the moon.
It was achieved by Apollo 11 in July 1969.
Applique
Applique is a type of embroidery used to create pictures or patterns by
applying pieces of material to a background fabric.
Aquatint
Aquatint is a method of print-making which was popular in the 18th
century.
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a channel in which water flows by gravity.
Archeozoic
The archeozoic period was the first geological period. It was
characterized by an absence of animal life and extensive volcanic
activity.
Arcnet
Arcnet is a LAN architecture developed by Datapoint Corporation featuring
low cost for connection of groups of (Async) terminals to a (mini)
computer within a premises.
Argon
Argon is an inert gaseous element found in the air.
Aries
Aries is one of the signs of the zodiac. Represented by the ram.
Armature
An armature is a part of an electrical motor or dynamo.
Armour
Armour is a protective covering.
Arms
Arms is a military term referring to weapons.
Army
An army is an organised fighting force.
Arroba
Arroba was a Spanish unit of weight equal to about 25 lbs. It was also
used in South and Central America, where it was equivalent to about 32
lbs.
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place for storing weapons.
Arshin
Arshin is a Russian unit of measurement equivalent to 28 inches.
Ascii
Ascii is the American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
The most common code used for asynchronous data transmission by
minicomputers and personal computers. Derived from the TWX code of the
Bell Model 28 teleprinter, expanded to use all possible character
combinations.
ASCII consists of 7 information bits with an 8th parity bit for error
checking; numerous variations exist, for example use of the 8th bit in
personal computers to extend the code with a number of graphics, special
language characters and diacritical marks. Many common carrier data
services cannot transmit the 8th bit needed to use that common PC
extension of ASCII's alphabet.
Ascorbic acid
see "Vitamin_c"
Ash wednesday
Ash wednesday is the first day of lent, the seventh wednesday before
easter.
Asphalt
Asphalt is a material used for road coverings.
Aspirin
Aspirin is an analgesic.
Assay
Assay is the testing of an alloy or an ore to determine the proportion of
a given metal. An assay officer is someone who certifies the fineness of
gold, silver and platinum.
Astern
Astern is a nautical term meaning behind the ship.
Asteroid
An asteroid is a minor planetary body.
Asthma
Asthma is a disease characterized by breathing difficulties.
Astrology
Astrology is the science of the relationship between events and the
stars.
Astronomy
Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies.
Asynchronous
Asynchronous refers to occurring without central control or in an
unpredictable time interval between successive elements; the typical
mode of telegraphy, minicomputers and personal computers; requires s
transmission of "start" and "stop" bits to provide decoding
synchronization at the receiver.
Athletics
Athletics is the sport of physical games.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope surrounding a planet, such as that
which surrounds the earth which is comprised of nitrogen, oxygen, argon
carbon dioxide, helium, water vapour and other gases.
Atom
An atom is a body too small to be divided into individual parts.
Atoms
see "atom"
Atrium
The atrium was the entrance hall to a Roman house.
Atropine
Atropine is the poisonous alkaloid found in deadly nightshade.
Attenuation
Attenuation is a term denoting a decrease in power between that
transmitted and that received due to loss through equipment, lines, or
other transmission devices. Usually expressed as a ratio in dB
(decibels). - Synonym: Loss; Antonym: Gain
Avoirdupois
The avoirdupois scale is a measurement of weight.
Axe
An axe is a metal tool for chopping and cleaving.
Babel
The tower of Babel was built by the people of Babylon in an attempt to
reach heaven.
Baccarat
Baccarat is a gambling card game.
Backgammon
Backgammon is an old board game also called tric trac, tavla or tables.
Badmington
Badmington is a game played on a court divided in half by a 30 inch deep
net five feet above the ground.
Bagpipe
The bagpipe is a Scottish musical instrument.
Bakelite
Bakelite is a strong synthetic material resistant to heat and chemicals.
Balalaika
A balalaika is a stringed Russian musical instrument.
Baldric
A baldric is a belt used to support a sword or bugle.
Ballad
A ballad is a narrative song.
Ballistics
Ballistics is the theory of missile projection.
Balloon
A balloon is a bag filled with gas.
Ballot
A ballot is a method of secret voting.
Banjo
A banjo is a stringed musical instrument.
Barge
A barge is a type of long narrow flat bottomed boat.
Barometer
A barometer is a device for measuring air pressure.
Baron
Baron is an English peerage title.
Barque
A barque is a type of masted sailing ship.
Barquentine
A barquentine is a 3 mast sailing ship.
Barrel
A barrel is a dry and liquid measurement that varies with substance.
Basalt
Basalt is the name given to lava. It is high in ferrous and magnesian
silicates.
Baseball
Baseball is the national game of USA.
Basket
A basket is a woven container.
Bassoon
A bassoon is a woodwind musical instrument.
Baud
Baud is a unit of computer etc signaling speed. The speed in Baud is the
number of discrete conditions or signal elements per second. If each
signal event represents only one bit condition, then Baud is the same as
bits per second. Baud does not equal bits per second.
Bauhaus
Bauhaus is a German institution for training architects, artists and
industrial designers founded in 1919 at Weimer.
BBS
A BBS (Bulletin Board System) is a communicating computer equipped so as
to provide informational messages, file storage and transfer and a degree
of message exchange to dial-up data terminal or personal computer users.
BCD
BCD (Binary Coded Decimal) is a binary-coded notation in which each
decimal digit of a number is expressed in binary form; Example: 23
decimal is 10111 in binary, and 0010 0011 in BCD.
Beaufort scale
The beaufort scale measures wind speed at sea.
Beer
Beer is a drink of fermented hops, malt and barley.
Bellows
Bellows are apparatus for creating a draught.
Belt
A belt is a flat strip of material worn around the waist.
Benedictine
Benedictine is a green liqueur.
Benzine
Benzine is a distillate of petroleum used in dry cleaning.
Beryllium
Beryllium is an alkaline metal element.
Bessemer converter
The bessemer converter is a process for making cheap steel. Basicaly,
impurities are removed from the pig iron by blasting air through the
molten metal and adding lime to remove phosphorus from the metal. The
process takes about twenty minutes.
Bezique
Bezique is a card game using some of two packs of cards.
Bhang
Bhang is an Indian drink prepared from the leave and shoots of the hemp
(cannabis) plant.
Bicycle
A bicycle is a two wheeled vehicle.
Bikini
The Bikini is a two-piece item of women's swimwear. It was invented in
1946 by a French designer and was called the "bikini" after the atom bomb
test at bikini atol, the premise being that the bikini was as small as an
atom, and the results were explosive! When first revealed, no
professional model could be found to model such a revealing item of
clothing, and so a cabaret dancer was hired to model the first bikini.
Billiards
Billiards is a game played with two white balls and one red ball and a
cue on a slate bed table. One of the white balls has two black spots on
it, this ball is called the spot-ball and is used to start the game.
Bise
The bise is a dry north wind prevalent in Switzerland and southern
France.
Bitter
Bitter is a taste sensation caused by stimulation of the gustatory nerve.
Bitters
Bitters is an alcoholic beverage of sugar herbs and alcohol.
Bitumen
Bitumen is a natural inflammable pitchy hydrocarbon.
Black Feet
The Black Feet are a north American Indian tribe.
Blackhead
A blackhead is dirt blocking a pore that often causes acne.
Blanket
A blanket is an extensive covering. Often a warm bed covering.
Bloom
A bloom is a lump of puddled iron, which leaves the furnace in a rough
state, to be subsequently rolled into bars or whatever.
Bloomer Costume
The Bloomer costume was a style of dress adopted around 1849 by Mrs
Bloomer of New York. It consisted of a jacket with close sleeves, a skirt
reaching a little below the knee, and a pair of Turkish pantaloons
secured by bands around the ankles.
Blue peter
The blue peter is a flag flown by ships as they are about to sail.
Bluefish
The bluefish is a fish found off the east coast of north America.
Boat
A boat is transport for conveyance across water.
Bog
Bog is the name given to soft spongy land.
Bohea
Bohea is an inferior kind of black tea.
Bolero
The bolero is a spanish dance of the ballet class for couples or a single
female dancer.
Bolt-ropes
Bolt-ropes were ropes used to strengthen the sails of a ship.
Bombardier
A bombardier an artillery soldier, originally a bombardier was an
artillery soldier whose duties were connected with mortars and howitzers,
but now is the lowest non-commissioned officer of artillery.
Bootikin
A bootikin was a wood and iron boot used in torture to extract
confessions from the victim. Wooden wedges were hammered between the leg
and the boot with a mallet so as to crush the victims bone.
Bootstrap Loader
A Bootstrap Loader is a computer input routine in which preset operations
are placed into a computer that enable it to get into operation whenever
a reset condition occurs; in electronic PBXs this may be called Automatic
Program Loading or a similar term; in personal computers it is the
sequence that searches predetermined disks for a Command Interpreter
program, then a Configure System file; finally an Autoexecution Batch
file.
Boric acid
Boric acid is an acid of borax found naturally.
Boron
Boron is an element found in borax.
Bowline
The bowline is a non-slip knot.
Bran
Bran is the outer covering of wheat grains.
Brandy
Brandy is an alcoholic beverage of distiled wine.
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
Brig
A brig is a two masted sailing ship.
Brigantine
A brigantine is a 2 mast sailing ship.
Bromine
Bromine is a non-metallic element.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial mucous membrane.
Bronze
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
Buckram
Buckram was a coarse textile fabric stiffened with glue and used in
garments to give them and to keep them in the form intended.
Buckskin
Buckskin is a soft form of leather.
Bude Light
The bude light was a very bright gas lamp invented by Mr Gurney who lived
in Bude, Cornwall. The bude lamp fed a stream of oxygen into the flame of
an argand-lamp or gas-burner.
Buff
Buff is the stout velvety dull-yellow leather of buffalo or ox hide.
Buff Leather
Buff leather is a type of leather made from the skin of buffalo and other
oxen. It is dressed with oil and used for making bandoliers, belts,
pouches and gloves amongst other items.
Bugle
A bugle is a brass musical instrument.
Bulimia
Bulimia is a disorder in which the patient has a morbidly voracious
appetite. It is certainly not a new disorder, for it was known of in
1906.
Bulkhead
A bulkhead is an upright partition dividing watertight compartments of a
ship.
Bullion
Bullion is gold or silver in bars, plates or other masses which has not
been minted
Bum-boat
A bum-boat is a small boat used to sell produce to ships lying at a
distance from the shore
Bunion
A bunion is an inflamed swelling on the foot, especially at the joint of
the great toe.
Burl
A burl is a knot. The term is used in veneering to refer to an overgrown
knot in the wood.
Busby
A busby is a headdress worn by British army hussars.
Bushel
The bushel is a unit of capacity measurement equivalen to 4 pecks, 8
gallons or 3.637 dekalitres.
Bushels
see "Bushel"
Butane
Butane is an alkane inflammable gas by product of petroleum.
Butte
A butte is an isolated abrupt flat-topped hill found in the west USA.
Buttress
A buttress in architecture is a pier built against the exterior of a
wall.
Cabala
see "Qabbala"
Caballa
see "Qabbala"
Cabbala
see "Qabbala"
Caber
A caber is a roughly trimmed young pine-trunk used in Scottish highland
games (tossing the caber).
cable
In nautical terms, a cable is 183 metres.
cadmium
Cadmium is a metal element.
Calciferol
see "Vitamin_D"
Calcium
Calcium is a metal element. It is an alkaline metal.
Calends
Calends was the first day of the Roman calendar month.
Calf
A calf is a young bovine animal, especially a young cow.
Calipers
Calipers are an instrument for measuring dimensions of circular solids.
Calorie
Calorie is the metric unit of measurement of heat.
Cam miles
Cam miles is a perennial dwarf herb of the order compositae.
Cambrian
The Cambrian period was the third geological period, 450,000,000 years
ago.
Camelot
Camelot was the castle of Arthur.
Cameo
A cameo is a small relief carving.
Camouflage
Camouflage is colours or structures which allow an animal to blend in
with its surroundings.
Canal
A canal is an artificial open water channel.
Cancer
Cancer is a disease of malignant tumours, what causes it is unknown,
however experiments in the 1950s revealed a connection between concious
belief and cancer, that is patients who had cancerous tumours removed and
believed themselves to be free of the cancer were less likely to suffer
re-emergence of the cancer than patients who believed the cancer would
re-occur.
Candelabrum
A candelabrum is a large candlestick.
Candle
A candle is a wax cylinder enclosing a wick. It is burnt to provide
light.
Capricorn
Capricorn is a sign of the zodiac symbolised by a goat.
Capstan
A capstan is a revolving barrel with a vertical axis powered by people.
It is used for winding cable. On sailing ships the capstan is used to
raise and lower the anchor.
Carat
Carat is the unit of measurement of gold purity.
Carbide
see "carbides"
Carbides
A carbide is a compound of carbon and another element.
Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is a complex chemical compound. Consisting of carbon,
oxygen and hydrogen. In foods it forms sugars and starch.
Carbolic acid
Carbolic acid is a strong poison distiled from coal tar.
Carbon
Carbon is a non-metallic element. Contained in all life forms.
Carbonate
A carbonate is a salt formed by the union of carbon dioxide with a base
element.
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous was the seventh geological period, 250,000,000 years
ago. This era marked the formation of the coal beds.
Carborundum
Carborundum is silicon carbide and is extremely hard.
Carboy
A carboy is a large globular wicker-covered glass bottle used for holding
acid or other corrosive liquids.
Carburettor
A carburettor is a device for charging air with a hydrocarbon.
Caries
Caries is a disease resulting from inflammation of bony tissue.
Carmine
Carmine is a red colouring derived from the cochineal insect.
carotene
see "vitamin_a"
Carpet
Carpet is a thick fabric, often made of wool, used for covering a floor.
It is made by knotting short lengths of yarn to to the warp threads
during weaving.
Carron oil
Carron oil is a mixture of linseed oil and lime water which was formerly
used for treating burns. It was first used at the Carron ironworks near
Falkirk.
Cart
A cart is a strong two or four wheeled vehicle used in farming and for
carrying heavy goods.
Cartel
A cartel is a written agreement for the exchange or ransom of prisoners.
Carton
A carton is a light box or case for holding goods.
Cartouche
In architecture, a cartouche is a scroll ornament.
Cartridge-paper
Cartridge-paper is a thick paper. It is so named because it was
originally used to make soldiers' cartridges.
Caruncle
A caruncle is a small hard outgrowth formed on the seeds of certain
plants, such as the castor oil plant.
Caryopsis
Caryopsis is a botanical term for a one-seeded indehiscent fruit with
pericarp fused to the seed-coat, as in wheat and barley.
Casareep
Casareep is the concentrated juice of the roots of the cassava flavoured
with aromatics and boiled to remove the toxins. It is then used as a
relish in soups and other dishes. It is the basis of the Jamaican dish
"pepper-pot". Casareep is also a powerful antiseptic and was used for
preserving meat in tropical countries.
Cascara
Cascara is an extract of the bark of the Californian buckthorn used as a
laxative or cathartic.
Case-hardening
Case-hardening is a process whereby iron objects have their outside layer
converted to steel. The object is put in a box containig carbon and is
heated until red hot. Then it is immeresed in cold water where upon a
layer of steel forms on the object.
Casein
Casein is a protein found in milk.
Cassock
A cassock is a long close fitting tunic, buttoning up to the neck and
reaching down to the feet, worn by the clergy.
Castanet
Castanets are small concave shells of ivory or hard wood used by the
Spaniards and Moors to make a rattling sound to accompany dancing. A pair
of castanets are held in the palm of the hand and struck with the middle
finger.
Caste
Caste is an Indian hereditary class system with members socially equal,
united in religion and usually following the same trade. A member of one
caste has no social intercourse with a member of any other caste except
their own.
Castor
Castor is a reddish-brown bitter substance obtained from the anal glands
of the beaver and used in perfume and medicine.
Castor oil
Castor oil is a pale yellow nauseous acrid oil obtained from the seeds of
the Castor oil plant and used as a purgative and lubricant.
Catacomb
Catacombs are subterranean cemetries.
Catalase
In chemistry, a catalase is any of various enzymes capable of decomposing
hydrogen peroxide.
Catalepsy
Catalepsy is a disease characterized by seizures or trances which last
for hours or days with a suspension of sensation and conciousness.
Catalyst
A catalyst is a substance which facilitates a reaction, without being
consumed by the reaction itself. It is a term generally used in
chemistry, although it is equally applicable in applied Psychology, such
as in the role of an antagonist or provacteur.
Catarrh
Catarrh is the inflammation of a mucous membrane, particularly that of
the nose, throat or bronchial tubes, causing an increased flow of mucus.
Catboat
A catboat is a sailing boat with a single mast set well forward and
rigged with one sail.
Catcher
A catcher is a fielder who stands behind the batter in baseball.
Catgut
Catgut is the dried and twisted intestines of sheep or horses used for
making the strings of musical instruments and tennis rackets and for
sutures in surgery.
Cathetometer
A cathetometer is a device for measuring small differences in height.
Cathode
A cathode is a negative electrical pole or terminal.
Caudle
Caudle is a warm, thin spiced gruel made with wine and sugar which was
given to invalids and women after childbirth.
Caul
A caul is a woman's close-fitting cap or hair net.
Cauldron
A cauldron is a large boiling vessel, usually of a deep basin shape with
a hoop handle and a removable lid.
Causeway
A causeway is a raised road across a low or wet piece of land.
Cautery
A cautery is a heated metal instrument used for burning or searing
organic tissue.
Cavalcade
A cavalcade is a procession of riders on horse-back.
Cave
A cave is a deep hollow place under ground.
Cavendish
Cavendish is softened tobacco which has been sweetened with molasses and
then pressed into cakes.
CBI
The CBI is the British organisation of employers.
CCIR
The CCIR (Comite Consultatif Internationale des Radio), is a major
constituent of the International Telecommunications Union, issuing both
Radio Regulations and Recommendations for all uses of radio transmission.
CCITT
The CCITT (Comite Consultatif Internationale des Telephones et
Telegraphes), is a major constituent of the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) that sets standards for the operation of
telecommunications services across international boundaries. Many CCITT
standards are adopted for use domestically.
Ceilidh
A ceilidh is a Gaelic festival of singing and dancing held in Scotland
and Ireland.
Celluloid
Celluloid is a hard, unstable synthetic substance once used for films.
Cellulose
Cellulose is the cellular tissue of plants. Used as cotton and paper.
Cement
Cement is a mixture of chalk and clay used for building.
Cental
The cental was a weight of 100 pounds legal in Britain since 1879.
Cerium
Cerium is a rare metal element.
Chain
The chain is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length
equivalent to 22 yards or 20.168 metres.
A chain is comprised of 100 links, each 7.92 inches long.
Chains
see "chain"
Chalder
Chalder was a Scottish dry measure containing 16 bolls, equivalent to 12
imperial quarters.
Chaldron
The chaldron is an old English unit of capacity measurement equivalent to
36 bushels.
Chalice
A chalice is a ceremonial cup.
Charcoal
Charcoal is an amorphous form of carbon formed by charring wood.
Chariot
A chariot was a two wheeled vehicle used in ancient warfare.
Chauvinism
Chauvanism is fanatical devotion to a cause, especially patrotism. The
term comes from Nicholas Chauvin who was a soldier so enthusiastically
devoted to Napoleon that his comrades ridiculed him.
Cheese
Cheese is a food made by condensing milk fat and casein.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of the composition of substances.
Cheng
The cheng is a chinese musical instrument. It is comprised of a series of
tubes with free reeds. Its introduction into Europe led to the
development of the accordion and harmonium.
Chenille
Chenille is an ornamental fabric made by weaving or twisting together
warp-like threads with a weft the loose ends of which protrude all round
in the form of a pile.
Chess
Chess is a game of skill played on a chequered board.
Chicken pox
Chicken pox is an infectious disease of children and adults.
Chicle
Chicle is a gum-like substance obtained from the bully tree and used for
making chewing gum.
Chilli
Chilli is a spice, being either the pod or powder of capsicum.
Chintz
Originally, chintz was a painted or stained calico imported from India.
Chlorate
A chlorate is a salt formed by the reaction of chloric acid and metal.
Chlorates
see "chlorate"
Chloric acid
Chloric acid is a oxyacid of chlorine. It is a powerful oxidising agent.
Chlorine
Chlorine is a gaseous element.
Chloroform
Chloroform (trichloRomethane) once used as an anaesthetic.
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is the green colouring matter of plant leaves.
Cholera
Cholera is an infectious disease caused by a micro organism.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a steroid alcohol present in animal cells and body fluids.
Chromium
Chromium is a metal element.
Cider
Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented apple juice.
Citric acid
Citric acid is found in citrus fruits. It has the formulae c6h807.
Clarinet
A clarinet is a woodwind musical instrument.
Clarion
A clarion is a musical instrument of the trumpet family.
Clipper
A clipper is a sharp bowed fast sailing vessel.
Cloak
A cloak is a loose fitting, usually sleeveless outer garment.
Clog
A clog is a wooden soled, leather uppered boot.
Cloisonne
Cloisonne is a form of decorative enamel.
Cloud
A cloud is a mist formed above the ground by floating water particles.
Clove hitch
The clove hitch is a knot.
Coal
Coal is a solid combustible material of vegetable origin occurring in a
fossilised state.
Coal-tar
Coal-tar is a thick black viscous liquid produced by the destructive
distillation of coal. Coal-tar yields benzene, creosote, paraffin,
aniline and dyes.
Coaster
A coaster is a ship which carries cargo around a country's coast.
Coaxial Cable
A coaxial cable is a cable in which one conductor surrounds the other.
The electromagnetic wave travels between the grounded outer shield and
the central conductor. Coaxials can carry much wider bandwidth and higher
frequencies than twisted wire pair, while suffering less interference
problems due to the grounded outer conductor. Where the maximum frequency
capable on twisted pair wiring is about 16 megahertz and then only for
short distances, coaxial cable readily carries several hundred megahertz
for 300 metres.
Cobalt
Cobalt is a metal element.
Cocaine
Cocaine is an alkaloid derived from the leaves of the coca plant.
Codeine
Codeine is an alkaloid derived from opium used as a pain killer.
Coke
Coke is charred coal.
Colchicine
Colchicine is an alkaloid derived from meadow saffron.
Colic
Colic is severe abdominal griping pains.
Colitis
Colitis is inflammation of the colon.
Collier
A collier is a medium-sized bulk carrier ship normally operated on
coastal and short-sea routes.
Coma
A coma is a state of deep unconsciousness.
Comet
A comet is a small body orbiting the sun on an elliptical path with a
long tail of dust and ice.
Compass
A compass is an instrument for finding direction.
Compiler
A compiler is a computer program that translates high level language code
into machine language code. It was invented by grace murray hopper in
1951.
Compound
A compound is a substance made of two or more elements.
Computer
A computer is a programmable electronic device.
Concertina
A concertina is a wind musical instrument comprised of bellows and two
keyboards.
Concrete
Concrete is a building material of cement, sand, stone and water.
Conia
Conia is the volatile alkaloid poison found in hemlock.
CONSIGHT
CONSIGHT is an industrial machine vision object-recognition system which
uses lighting effects to produce silhouette-like images.
Constant
In mathematics a constant is a fixed value.
Constantan
Constantan is an alloy of copper and nickel.
Constellation
A constellation, in astronomy, is a divisional area of the sky.
Constipation
Constipation is irregular and insufficient evacuation of the bowels.
Constituency
A constituency is a body of electors.
Contralto
In music, contralto is the highest voice of a male adult, or the lowest
of a woman or boy. It is also known as Alto or counter-tenor.
Corbillon cup
The corbillon cup is a table tennis tournament.
Cordovan
Cordovan is a fine leather which took its name from the Spanish city of
Cordova where it was manufactured in large quantities.
Corduroy
Corduroy is a thick cotton material corded, or ribbed on one surface.
Corned Beef
Beef meat which has been "corned", that is soaked in water with salt and
a little potassium nitrate, for about 10 days.
Cosmology
Cosmology is the study of the structure of the universe.
Crack
Crack is the crystalline form of cocaine.
CRC
CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) is a powerful error checking method for
data and digital communications. The transmitting terminal computes a
numeric value representative of the number of marking bits in the
associated block of data and sends that value to the receiver, where the
number is recomputed to compare against the block as received. Depending
on the number of bits in the CRC numeric value the error trapping
efficiency ranges from about 97 % at CRC-6 to 99.997% at CRC-32. Values
of CRC-8 and CRC-16 are adequate for most data message block sizes, while
CRC-32 is needed mainly for very long blocks of tens of thousands of
characters.
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous was the eleventh geological period, 95,000,000 years ago.
The first marsupials evolved.
Croup
Croup is the inflammation of the larynx.
Crwth
The crwth was a Welsh form of violin with 6 strings. 4 of the strings
were played with a bow, the other 2 being plucked by the fingers.
Cupro nickel
Cupro nickel is an alloy of copper and nickel
Curare
Curare is a poison derived from the bark of a south American tree.
Curtis cup
The curtis cup is an international golf tournament.
CWT
see "Hundredweight"
Cyanide
Cyanide is a salt of hydrocyanic acid. Notably potassium cyanide.
Cyclone
A cyclone is an area of low atmospheric pressure.
Cystitis
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder.
Cytochrome
Cytochrome is a type of protein.
Dada
The dada is an artistic and literary movement founded in 1915 in Zurich.
Dak
Dak was the east indian postal service. Properly a dak was a relay of men
carrying letters, despatches and the like.
Dam
A dam is a structure constructed to hold back water and provide
controlled flow for irrigation, storage and generation of electricity.
Damaskeening
Damaskeening is the process of ornamenting iron and steel with designs
produced by inlaying or incrusting with another metal such as gold or
silver, by etching and the like.
Dance
Dance is a rhythmic movement of the body usually performed to music.
Data
Data is information, especially that stored in a computer.
Daturine
Daturine is the poisonous alkaloid found in the thorn-apple.
Davis cup
The Davis cup is a tennis tournament.
Day
A day is the time taken for the earth to rotate once on its axis.
dBM
dBM is an identifier meaning "decibels referred to one milliwatt," the
common reference point for power levels in telecommunications circuits.
Ddt
Ddt is an insecticide discovered in 1939 by Paul Muller.
Decathlon
The decathlon is a 2 day olympic athletic event.
Decibel
The decibel is the unit of measurement of sound intensity.
In electronics, the decibel is a unit of measurement representing the
logarithmic a ratio of two voltages, currents or power levels; used in
telecommunications to express transmission loss or gain; defined as one-
tenth of a Bel, hence the appropriate notation is dB, shown here.
Deimos
Deimos is one of the two moons of mars.
Delta
Delta is the 4th letter of the Greek alphabet.
Devonian
The Devonian was the sixth geological period, 300,000,000 years ago. It
marked the evolution of the insects and amphibians.
Dew
Dew is a precipitation in the form of moisture that collects on the
ground after the temperature of the ground has fallen below the dew point
temperature of the air in contact with the ground.
Didjeridu
A didjeridu is a musical wind instrument developed by the Australian
aborigines.
Digested
see "digestion"
Digestion
Digestion is the process of absorbing and distributing substances from
ingested food to the body.
Digitalis
Digitalis is a drug derived from foxglove that increases heart
efficiency.
Diode
A diode is a thermionic valve with two electrodes, or a semi conductor
equivalent.
Distributor
In a car, the distributor distributes electrical pulses to the spark
plugs.
Dixie
The term dixie refers to the southern states of the USA.
Domesday book
The domesday book is a record of the survey conducted in England in 1086
by officials of William the conqueror in order to assess taxes etc.
Dominoes
Dominoes is a game played with 28 rectangular spotted tiles. It
originated in Italy in the 18th century.
Doomsday book
see "domesday book"
Doppler effect
The doppler effect is a change in observed wavelength due to relative
motion between the source and observer.
Down's syndrome
Down's syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality.
Dram
The dram is a unit of the avoirdupois scale equivalent to 1.772 grams.
Drams
see "dram"
Draughts
Draughts is a game played by two people on a board of 64 alternate black
and white squares. Each player has twelve pieces, one set are black and
the other red.
Dredger
A dredger is a ship used for picking up rubbish from waterways.
Drill
A drill is a machine for boring holes in rock, metal or wood etc.
DWIM
DWIM is an acronym for Do What I Mean. It is a term used in artificial
intelligence for computer self-correcting of errors.
Dysprosium
Dysprosium is a rare metal element.
Earth
The earth is the third planet from the sun.
Eclipse
An eclipse is the passage of a celestial body through the shadow of
another.
Ecstasy
Ecstasy is an illegal drug synthesized from nutmeg oil and that reduces
serotonin in the brain.
Eczema
Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease.
EDAAS
EDAAS is an expert system that uses its knowledge of both the Toxic
Substances Control Act (USA) and criteria for classifying information as
confidential to help information specialists decide which information
about the manufacturing and distribution of toxic chemicals must be
released to the public and which information may be withheld for
proprietary purposes. EDAAS was developed for the Ebvironmental
Protection Agency in the USA using FORTRAN.
Effort
Effort is strenuous exertion.
Egg
An egg is a body specially developed in the females of animals which when
impregnated by a male sperm developes into the young of the animal.
Element
An element is a substance that cannot be split chemically into simpler
substances.
Elements
see "element"
Elgin marbles
The elgin marbles are a collection of ancient Greek sculptures assembled
by the 7th earl of Elgin and brought to England in 1812
Embassy
An embassy is an ambasador's residence.
Embryo
An embryo is the offspring of an animal before it has been born or
emerged from its egg.
Empyema
Empyema is a pathological term describing a collection of pus in a
cavity, especially applied to pus in the pleural cavity of the lung.
Energy
In physics, the term energy refers to an object's capacity to do work.
This capacity is related to the strength of the flow of electrons in the
object, or, in the case of potential energy, the amount of energy stored
in the object. Thus, a powerful object such as the sun expells an
enormous flow of electrons as solar energy, and a single atom of hydrogen
contains the pathetic energy of a single electron orbiting its nucleus.
Enzyme
An enzyme is a biological catalyst that is not itself destroyed in the
conversion process.
Eocene
The Eocene was the fourteenth geological period, 50,000,000 years ago.
Epigram
An epigram is a short witty or poignant poem.
Epigraph
An epigraph is an inscription carved on a stone, statue or coin.
Erbium
Erbium is a metal element.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is a discipline treating the consideration of human factors in
design of the working environment and its components; intended to promote
productivity and safety in the tools people work with.
Ester
Ester is an organic compound formed by the reaction between alcohol and
acid with the elimination of water.
Etch
see "Etching"
Etching
Etching is a process of putting a drawing or design onto a surface,
usually metal, by corroding or scratching away the top surface so as to
form the lines of the design.
Ethane
Ethane is a paraffin hydrocarbon.
Ethanoic acid
Ethanoic acid is an organic fatty acid.
Ethanol
Ethanol is the chemical name for alcohol.
Ethene
Ethene is an alkene hydrocarbon gas.
Ether
Ether is an anaesthetic. It has the formulae (c2h5)2o.
Ethernet
Ethernet was originally the trade name for a LAN developed by Xerox
Corporation and later supported by Digital Equipment Corporation, Intel
Corporation and Hewlett-Packard. It is now standardized as IEEE
specification 802.3 .
Eugenics
Eugenics is the science of selective breeding to control physical and
mental characteristics.
European
see "Europe"
Europium
Europium is a rare metal element.
Farad
The farad is the unit of measurement of electrical capacitance.
Fathom
Fathom is a nautical measurement, being 2 metres.
Fatty acid
A fatty acid is an organic hydrocarbon with a carboxyl group at one end.
Feet
Feet is the plural of foot.
Fermentation
Fermentation is the breakdown of sugars by bacteria and yeast.
Fermium
Fermium is a man made, radioactive metal element. It is named after
Enrico Fermi.
Ferret
A ferret is a domesticated polecat.
Ferrous
Ferrous is a chemistry term refering to materials which contain iron.
Fiber Optics
Fiber Optics is a technology using light as a digital information bearer.
Fiber optic cables ( light guides ) are a direct replacement for
conventional wire, coaxial cable and many forms of radio, including
microwave. Fiber optic lines actually cost less, occupy less space and
provided far more transmission capacity than earlier methods, while
providing superior quality due to virtual immunity to electrical
interference.
Fife
A fife is a small flute originating from Switzerland.
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is a brass musical instrument.
Fluorescence
Fluorescence is the process of emission of electromagnetic radiation
resulting from the absorption of certain types of energy.
Fluoride
Fluoride is the salt of hydroflouric acid.
Fluorocarbon
A fluorocarbon is a compound in which hydrogen atoms of a hydrocarbon
have been replaced with fluorine.
Foal
A foal is a young horse.
Fog
Fog is a cloud that collects at the surface of the earth.
Folic acid
Folic acid is a b vitamin, a lack of folic acid causes anaemia.
Fondant
Fondant is a soft sweet made of flavoured sugar.
Foolscap
Foolscap is a regular paper size of 13.5 by 16.5 inches, so called
because it was originally water-marked with a fool's head and cap.
Foot
The foot is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length
equivalent to 12 inches or 30.48 centimetres.
Forecastle
The forecastle is a short deck in the forepart of a warship. In merchant
ships it is the forepart of the ship where the sailors live.
Forelock
A forelock is a wedge put through a hole in a bolt to keep the bolt in
place.
Foresheets
The foresheets is the inner part of the bows of an open boat where the
bowman stands.
Forest
Forest is a term properly applied to an extensive woodland or to a large
tract of mingland woodland and open uncultivated land. In English law, a
forest was a territory priveledged for game generally belonging to the
sovereign and set aside for his recreation.
Forge
A forge is a blacksmith's fireplace or furnace for melting and refining
metal.
Fortissimo
Fortissimo is a musical term directing the singers to sing with the
utmost strength and loudness.
Frail
A frail is a rush basket for packing figs and raisins.
Frangulin
Frangulin is a yellow crystallizable dye extracted from the bark of the
alder. It is used to dye wool, silk and cotton.
Frankincense
Frankincense is an incense derived from the resin of the tree boswellia.
Friday
Friday is the fifth day of the week, the name derives from the Saxon
Frige-doeg, the day sacred to Freya.
Frith Gild
A Frith Gild was a Saxon voluntary association of neighbours for purposes
of order and self-defence. They repressed theft, traced stolen cattle and
indemnified parties robbed from a common fund raised by subscription of
the members.
Fructose
Fructose is a simple and very sweet sugar found in plant juices, fruit
and honey.
Fruit
Fruit is a botanical term for the mature ovary of a plant comprised of
two parts, the pericarp and the seed.
Full Duplex
Full Duplex is a communications term refering to a circuit which allows
independent transmission information in both directions simultaneously. -
Synonym: In wire telephony, 4 wire circuit.
Furlong
The furlong is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length
equivalent to 10 chains, 220 yards or 201.168 metres. The name fulong
derives from furrow-length.
Furlongs
see "furlong"
Fuse
a fuse is a slow burning cord or other mechanism for delaying igniting a
charge, such as a mine. Early fuses (slow-matches) were made of lightly
twisted hemp dipped in potassium nitrate and ignited. Modern fuses may be
electrical attached to a timer, or chemical in which an acid burns away a
division in a container holding two chemicals which ignite when combined.
Gabilla
Gabilla is a Cuban measurement of tobacco. One gabilla is comprised of 36
or 40 leaves, 4 gabillas comprise 1 hand and 80 hands comprise 1 bale.
Gadolinium
Gadolinium is a metal element.
Gaff
A gaff is a spar used in ships to extend the upper edge of fore-and-aft
sails which are not set on stays.
Galactose
Galactose is a sugar formed together with glucose when lactose is boiled
in dilute acids.
Galaxy
A galaxy is a congregation of stars held together by gravity.
Galley-slave
A galley-slave was a convict forced to work at the oar on board a galley,
being chained to the deck. It was a punishment common in France untill
1748.
Gallic Acid
Gallic Acid (C7H6O5) is an acid which was first procured from the gall-
nut by Scheele in 1786. It occurs in the seeds of the mango, acorn, tea,
walnut and many other plants and is a decomposition product of tannic
acid. It is used as an important black dye and is an ingredient in ink.
Galliot
A galliot was a Dutch or Flemish ship used for transporting cargo in the
late 19th and early 20th century. It had very rounded ribs and a flatish
bottom, with a mizzen-mast placed near the stern, carrying a square main-
sail and main-top-sail.
Gallium
Gallium is a rare metal element.
Gallon
The gallon is a unit of capacity measurement equivalent to 4 quarts or
4.546 litres.
Galvanometer
A galvanometer is an instrument for measuring an electric current by the
defelction of a magnetic needle. Basically, it is comprised of a coil
beneath a suspended magnetic needle. When electric current passes through
the coil it sets up a magnetic field and attracts the needle, the
stronger the current the more powerful the magnetic field and the more
pronounced the needle's deflection from the earth's magnetic field.
Ganja
Ganja was originally the Indian name for the dried shoots of the female
hemp plant which have hashish resin on them. Today it is a Jamaican slang
expression for cannabis and hashish.
Gas
Gas is a form of matter where the molecules move randomly.
Gaseous
see "gas"
Gauge
A gauge is any scientific measuring instrument - for example, a wire
gauge or a pressure gauge. The term is also applied to the width of a
railroad or tramway track.
Gauss
Gauss is the c.g.s. unit (symbol Gs) of magnetic induction or magnetic
flux density, replaced by the SI unit, the tesla, but still commonly
used. It is equal to one line of magnetic flux per square centimeter. The
Earth's magnetic field is about 0.5 Gs, and changes to it over time are
measured in gammas (one gamma equals 10-5 gauss).
Gemini
Gemini is a sign of the zodiac.
Genus
In scientific classification, a genus is an assemblage of species
posessing certain characteristics in common by which they are
distinguished from others.
Geode
A geode is a round hollow nodule containing earthy matters, soemtimes
quartz, sometimes agate. Geodes are found in most volcanic rocks and are
formed by water depositing materials in the hollows of these rocks.
Geophagism
Geophagism is the practice of eating some kind of earthy matter, such as
rock or chalk. It is most common amongst non-industrialised races, and
was once thought to allay hunger. However, new evidence suggests that
some peoples obtain valuable minerals in their diet from geophagism, as
those minerals are not available in their normal food.
Geosynchronous Orbit
Geosynchronous Orbit is a position at an approximate altitude of 37 km
above the Equator, where a velocity of about 2 km per hour in the same
direction as Earth's rotation makes a satellite appear stationary over
the Earth's surface. At such a point, ground-based microwave antennae
can remain fixed and achieve linkage with transponders on board the
satellite to produce a microwave relay between points as much as one-
third of the way around the globe, or about 13 km; this concept first
proposed by British physicist and science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke
in a 1947 publication.
Geotropism
In botany, the term geotropism refers to a disposition or tendancy to
turn towards the earth.
German Silver
see "Nickel_Silver"
Germanium
Germanium is a metal element used in the manufacture of electronic
semiconductors.
Gestation
Gestation is the period which elapses between the impregnation of any
mammal and the birth of the offspring. Gestation varies from 25 days in
the case of the mouse to 620 days for an elephant, with the normal human
gestation lasting 270 days (9 months).
Gibus
The gibus is a type of opera hat named after its maker.
Gin
Gin is an alcoholic beverage flavoured with juniper.
Glass
Glass is a brittle substance made by fusing silica.
Glucic Acid
Glucic Acid is an acid produced by the action of alkalies on glucose or
of acids on cane-sugar.
Glucose
Glucose is a simple form of sugar with the formulae c6h12o6.
Glucoside
The glucosides are a group of carbon compounds occurring in plants, and
characterized by the fact that on hydrolysis or saponification with
dilute acids a sugar, usually glucose, is formed along with other
products.
Gluten
Gluten is a tough elastic substance of a greyish colour which becomes
brown and brittle by drying, found in the flour of wheat and other grain.
It contributes much to the nutritive quality of flour, and gives tenacity
to its paste.
Glycine
Glycine is a simple amino acid.
Glycogen
Glycogen is a polysaccharide retained in the liver as a carbohydrate
store.
Golf
Golf is an outdoor game in which a small ball is struck with a club.
Gonidia
Gonidia are the secondary, green, sperical cells in the thallus of
lichens which distinguish lichens from fungi.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a specific contagious inflammation of the male urethra or
the female vagina. It is a painful disease which may result in the
chronic catarrh called gleet or may lead to stricture.
Gorget
A gorget was a piece of body armour for the protection of the throat.
Gout
Gout is a disease marked by an excess of uric acid in the tissues.
Grain
The grain is a unit of measurement of the avoirdupois scale equivalent to
0.0648 grams.
Grains
see "grain"
Gram
Gram is the metric unit of mass; one-thousandth of a kilogram.
Gravel
Gravel is a mixture of coarse sand and small water-worn stones. The term
may also be applied to small water-worn stones on their own.
Gravity
Gravity is the force of attraction between two objects resulting from
their mass.
Greaves
Greaves was body armour worn at the front of the lower part of the legs
and buckled behind the leg.
Greeks
see "Greek"
Guitar
A guitar is a stringed musical instrument played with the fingers or a
plectrum.
Gules
Gules is the heraldic name for the colour red. It ranks highest among the
colours.
Gum arabic
Gum arabic is obtained from the acacia.
Gymnosperm
A gymnosperm is a plant with a naked seed, there being no proper ovary
the seeds being fertilized by the pollen coming into direct contact with
the foramen of the ovule without the intervention of a stigma.
Hackney Carriage
see "Hackney_Coach"
Hackney Coach
Hackney Coach is the old name for a Hackney Carriage. They originated in
London in 1625 when there were twenty of them available for hire. During
the 19th century Hackney Coaches gave way to Hackney Cabs, which in turn
have evolved into Hackney Carriages, now commonly called taxis.
Hafnium
Hafnium is a metal element occurring in zircon and used in nuclear
reactors.
Hajj
Hajj is the muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
Half-hitch
The half-hitch is a type of knot.
Hallmark
A hallmark is an official mark stamped on British gold, silver, and (from
1913) platinum, instituted in 1327 by the royal charter of London
Goldsmiths in order to prevent fraud. After 1363, personal marks of
identification were added. Now tests of metal content are carried out at
authorized assay offices in London, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Edinburgh;
each assay office has its distinguishing mark, to which is added a
maker's mark, date letter, and mark guaranteeing standard.
Halogen
Halogen is a particular group of elements with similar bonding
properties.
HAM-RPM
HAM-RPM is a knowledge-based conversationalist that reasons with fuzzy
information. It was developed at the University of Hamburg.
Hashish
Hashish is the resinous form of cannabis.
Hectare
The hectare is the metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters
(2.47 acres), symbol ha.
Helium
Helium is a gaseous element.
Helmet
A helmet is an item of clothing designed to protect the head.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease of the liver.
Heptathlon
The heptathlon is a 7 event athletics discipline.
Heraldry
Heraldry is the subject of armourial bearings.
Herb
A herb is a plant whose aerial parts do not remain above ground following
the growing season.
Heroin
Heroin is a powerful opiate analgesic.
Heuristic Dendral
Heuristic Dendral is an expert system, developed at Stanford University,
that establishes the structure of a molecule given the molecule's atomic
formula and mass spectrogram.
Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics are signs comprising the picture writing of the ancient
Egyptians.
Himation
An himation was a woollen cloak worn by the ancient Greeks.
Hockey
Hockey is a game played with hooked sticks and a ball.
Hodometer
A hodometer was an early device for measuring the distance travelled by a
vehicle.
Hoe
A hoe is an instrument for cutting up weeds and loosening the earth in
fields and gardens.
Honey
Honey is a sweet syrup made by bees from nectar.
Horsepower
Horsepower is an imperial unit of power, now replaced by the watt. It
was first used by the engineer James Watt, who employed it to compare the
power of steam engines with that of horses. In the UK, one horsepower is
equal to 550 foot-pounds per second or 745.7 watts. In the USA this
figure has been rounded to 746 watts, and in the metric system it is
735.5 watts.
Hospital
A hospital is an institution for caring for the sick and injured.
House
A house is a building for human habitation.
Hoy
A hoy was a small vessel, usually rigged as a sloop, and employed in
carrying goods and passengers short distances coastwise, and sometimes in
conveying goods and people to and from larger vessels and the shore.
Humus
Humus is partly decomposed organic matter. Found in soil.
Hundredweight
The hundredweight (cwt) is a unit of measurement of the avoirdupois scale
equivalent to 4 quarters, 112 pounds or 50.8 kilograms.
Hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon is a chemical containing only hydrogen and carbon.
Hydrocarbons
see "hydrocarbon"
Hydrocyanic Acid
Hydrocyanic Acid (Prussic Acid) was discovered by Scheele in 1782, and
first prepared in a pure state by Gay-Lussac in 1811. It is found in the
kernels of bitter almonds, peaches, apricots, plums, cherries and quinces
and various plants leaves including beech, cherry and laurel. It is one
of the most toxic substances known and is used to prepare cyanide.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a gaseous element.
Hydroxide
A hydroxide is an inorganic compound containing one or more hydroxl
groups.
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is rock formed from cooling lava.
Impalement
Impalement is a method of execution carried out by thrusting a stake
through the body.
Inch
The inch is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of the length
equivalent to 25.4 millimeters.
Income Tax
Income Tax is a tax levied directly from income of every description. It
was first levied in Britain in January 1799, then repealed in 1802 and
reinstated the same year under the name of Property Tax. It was fixed at
10% in 1806 and repealed in 1816 only to be reinstated in 1842. Since
then the rate has fluctuated with the political whims of the current
ruling party, and it is currently graduated but starting at 20%.
Indian ocean
The Indian ocean is the sea separating Africa from Australia. It has a
total area of 73,600,000 km2
Indium
Indium is a soft, rare metal element.
Indonesian
see "indonesia"
Interface
An interface is a shared boundary between two devices. These may be a
human and a machine for example. Computer operating systems use an
interface to receive and transmit data to and from a human operator.
Interlisp
Interlisp is a dialect of the Lisp programming language. It is a computer
programming language designed for procedure orientated representation. It
has all the standard features of Lisp, plus extensive debugging
facilities, and a DWIM self-correcting facility.
Interpol
Interpol is an international police organisation with headquarters in
Paris.
Intestinal
see "Intestine"
Invar
Invar is an alloy of iron and nickel.
Invisible
Invisible describes something that cannot be seen.
Iodine
Iodine is a non-metal element.
Ion
An ion is a charged atom or group of atoms.
Ionized
see "ion"
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is the ionized layer of the earth's atmosphere.
Iridium
Iridium is a metal element.
Iroquois cup
The iroquois cup is an English lacrosse tournament.
Irradiation
Irradiation is the process of exposing something to radiation. It is used
to preserve food and destroy cancer growths.
Irrigation
Irrigation is the process of supplying water to land through a series of
artificial waterways.
Isotope
An isotope is a form of an element which has a different atomic weight
and nuclear properties than other isotopes of the same element.
Jah
Jah is the Jamaican, and more especially the Rastafarian, name for god.
Jansky
The Jansky is the unit of radiation received from outer space, used in
radio astronomy. It is equal to 10-26 watts per square meter per hertz,
and is named after the USA engineer Karl Jansky.
Judo
Judo is a form of Japanese wrestling.
Judy
Judy is an English slang expression for a woman.
Jujitsu
Jujitsu is a Japanese form of self defence.
Jurassic
The Jurassic was the tenth geological period, 135,000,000 years ago. The
first mammals evolved.
Jute
Jute is a fibre obtained from plants and used for making sacks.
Kabbala
see "Qabbala"
Kayser
The kayser is the unit of wave number (number of waves in a unit length),
used in spectroscopy. It is expressed as waves per centimeter, and is the
reciprocal of the wavelength. A wavelength of 0.1 cm has a wave number of
10 kaysers.
Keratin
Keratin is a fibrous protein.
Kid
A kid is a baby goat.
Knight
Historically, a knight was an honourable military rank which was bestowed
upon a noble who had served as a page and squire by the king. Today a
knight is a social title bestowed upon people for supposed service to the
crown or country, and entitles them to be called "Sir" rather than
"Mister".
Knighthood
Knighthood is the social rank of knight.
Knot
In navigation the knot is the unit by which a ship's speed is measured,
equivalent to one nautical mile per hour (one knot equals about 1.15
miles per hour). It is also sometimes used in aviation.
Knowledge
Knowledge is practical understanding.
Kohl
Kohl is antimony sulphide used by women as eye make up.
Koto
The koto is a stringed musical instrument from Japan.
Krypton
Krypton is a gaseous element.
Kung Fu
Kung Fu is a form of Chinese unarmed combat.
Labret
A labret is an ornament inserted in a hole pierced through the lip.
Labyrinth
A labyrinth is a maze like structure.
Lachrymation
Lachrymation is the anatomical term for the shedding of tears.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a ball-game originally played by North American Indians with
twelve players on each side, in which the ball is flung by and carried in
the crosse, the object being to throw the ball through the opponents'
goal.
Lactic acid
Lactic acid is an organic acid formed by certain bacteria during
fermentation. It also occurs in the muscles when they are exercised
vigorously. It is used in food preservation and pharmaceuticals.
Lactose
Lactose is a sugar found in solution in milk. It is the combination of
glucose and galactose.
Ladanum
Ladanum is a gum resin extracted from plants of the genus Cistus and used
in perfume.
Ladino
Ladino is a Spanish dialect spoken by Sephardic Jews.
Lagoon
A lagoon is a shallow stretch of salt water partly or wholly separated
from the sea by a narrow strip of land or a low sand-bank or coral reef.
Lallans
Lallans is a Lowland Scottish language.
Lamb
A lamb is a young sheep.
Lambda
Lambda is the 12th letter of the Greek alphabet.
Lambert
The lambert is the unit of luminance (the light shining from a surface),
equal to one lumen per square centimeter. In scientific work the candela
per square meter is preferred.
Lambrequin
Lambrequin was originally a material covering worn over a helmet. It is
now a term applied to a short piece of drapery hung over the top of a
door or window.
Lamella
A lamella is a thin plate, scale or film of bone or tissue.
Lamina
The lamina is the blade on the leaf on either side of the midrib on
flowering plants. It is usually the primary organ of photosynthesis.
Lamp
A lamp is a vessel filled with oil and fitted with a wick which is then
used to provide light. The term has come to apply to any device which
provides illumination, including electric lamps.
Lampas
Lampas is a horse disease with a swelling in the roof of the mouth.
Lancastrian
A Lancastrian is an inhabitant of Lancashire.
Lancet
A lancet is a fine pointed, double-edged surgical knife.
Landau
A landau is a four-wheeled carriage with a top, the back and front of the
top can be raised and lowered independantly of each other.
Landscape
Landscape is a term applied to inland scenery, or a picture of inland
scenery.
Lane
A lane is a narrow road, usually between hedges, or a passage way.
Lanolin
Lanolin is a wax derived from sheep's wool.
Lanthanide
The lanthanides are a group of 15 elements.
Lanthanum
Lanthanum is a rare metal element. It is a lanthanide.
Lanyard
A lanyard is a cord attached to a knife or whistle with which to hold it,
or to serve as a handle.
Laparotomy
A laparotomy is a surgical incision through the abdominal walls into the
abdominal cavity.
Lapel
A lapel is a part of the front of a coat which is folded back towards the
shoulder.
Lard
Lard is the rendered and clarified internal fat from the abdomen of pigs
or cattle used in cooking and pharmacy.
Larder
A larder is a room or cupboard used for storing provisions.
Lardon
A lardon is a strip of bacon or pork used to lard meat.
Laser
Laser is an acronym for Light amplification by stimulated emission of
radiation. It is a device producing an intense narrow beam of light.
Lassa fever
Lassa fever is an incurable fever caused by a virus carried by a species
of rat found in west Africa.
Lasso
A lasso is a rope with a running noose used for catching cattle.
Latchet
A latchet was a thong used for fastening a shoe.
Lath
A lath is a thin narrow strip of wood. Laths are used for supporting
plaster, and to construct trellis.
Lathe
A lathe is a machine used for turning wood, metal and other materials by
rotating the article against tools which cut it to shape.
Laths
see "Lath"
Latin
Latin is an Indo-European language which originated amongst the people of
ancient Latium and the Romans.
Latten
Latten is a yellow alloy of copper, zinc, lead and tin used for making
monumental brasses and church candlesticks.
Lattice
A lattice is a framework of laths crossed diagonally so as to form a net-
like structure to be used as a screen or door.
Laudanum
Laudanum is a tincture of opium.
Lava
Lava is the molten material expelled by a volcano. It cools to form
igneous rock.
Lawrencium
Lawrencium is an artificial radioactive element.
Laxative
A laxative is a substance which loosens the bowels assisting or
encouraging the excretion of faeces.
Lazaret
A lazaret is a hospital for the poor, especially for lepers.
lb
see "pound"
lbs
see "pound"
Lead
Lead is a soft, malleable, metalic element. It occurs in many ores, the
most important of which is galena. It is a very dense metal, and is used
as a shield in environments where radiation abounds, such as X-Rays and
the nuclear industry.
Leaflet
In botanical terms, a leaflet is a division of a compound leaf.
League
A league was a measurement of distance, it was equivalent to roughly 3
miles or just under 5 km.
Leather
Leather is a material prepared from the hides of dead animals.
Lebensraum
Lebensraum was the theory of living space used by the Nazis to justify
their annexation of neighbouring states on the grounds that Germany was
overpopulated during the 1930s.
Lecithin
Lecithin is a lipid containing nitrogen and phosphorus. It forms a vital
part of plant and animal cell membranes.
Leeward
Leeward is a nautical expression, refering to the opposite side of the
ship to that from which the wind is blowing.
Legacy
A legacy is a sum of money or article bequeathed by will and handed down
from a predecessor.
Leo
Leo is a sign of the zodiac represented by a lion.
Leprosy
Leprosy is a disease of the skin characterized by the formation of
nodules or tubercles in the skin. There are variations, one causes the
loss of bones which results in mutilation of the limbs.
Libra
Libra is a sign of the zodiac represented by a set of scales.
Light
Light is electromagnetic radiation detectable by the eye.
Link
The link is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length
equivalent to 7.92 inches.
Lipid
A lipid is an organic substance that is soluble in solvents such as
alcohol but not in water.
Liqueur
A liqueur is a strong sweet alcoholic beverage with a spirit base and
flavoured with aromatics.
Lithium
Lithium is a metal element.
Lithography
Lithography is a printing process invented by Senefelder in 1796.
Litmus
Litmus is a dye derived from lichens and used to test acidity.
Logo
Logo is a computer programming language designed to teach mathematical
concepts. It was developed in the early 1970s in America.
Lsd
Lysergic acid diethylamide (lsd) is an hallucinogen illegal drug.
Lumbago
Lumbago is pain in the lower part of the back.
Lute
The lute is a family of stringed musical instruments that were in use
during the 14th to 18th centuries.
Lutetium
Lutetium is a metal element.
Lux
The lux is the SI unit of illuminance or illumination (the light falling
on an object). It is equivalent to one lumen per square meter or to the
illuminance of a surface one meter distant from a point source of one
candela.
Magnesia
see "Magnesium_oxide"
Magnesian
see "Magnesium_oxide"
Magnesium
Magnesium is a metal element that burns with a very bright white light.
Magnesium oxide
Magnesium oxide is formed when magnesium is burnt in the air. It is a
white powder that is used to treat acidity in the stomach.
Mal de mer
Mal de mer is French for sea sickness.
Malaria
Malaria is an intermittent and remittent fever caused by the micro-
organism Pasmodium and transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles
mosquitoe.
Malayalam
Malayalam is a Dravidian dialect closely related to Tamil and widely
spoken on the west coast of south India.
Malic acid
Malic acid is an organic compound extracted from fruits.
Malleable
Something which is malleable can be hammered into a new shape with out
fracturing or returning to its original shape.
Mallet
A mallet is a large and heavy hammer, usually made of wood.
Malt
Malt is derived from grain, usually barley, which is steeped in water and
made to germinate which causes the grain's stach to convert into
saccharine matter, it is then dried in a kiln and used in the brewing of
beer, distilling of whisky and other culinary uses.
Malted
see "Malt"
Maltose
Maltose is a sugar formed naturally from starch during the germination of
grain. It is two glucose molecules combined.
Mandolin
The mandolin is a stringed musical instrument descended from the lute.
Manganese
Manganese is a metal element.
Manx
Manx is a dialect of gaelic once spoken in the Isle Of Man.
Mass
In physics, mass is the quantity of matter which a body contains.
Maund
The maund was a unit of measurement used in India around 1900. It is
equivalent to 40 seer.
Maxwell
The maxwell is the c.g.s. unit of magnetic flux. It is now replaced by
the SI unit, the weber (one maxwell equals 10-8 weber). The maxwell is a
very small unit, representing a single line of magnetic flux. It is equal
to the flux through one square centimeter normal to a magnetic field with
an intensity of one gauss.
Maze
A maze is a confusing network of passages and winding interconnecting
paths.
Mead
Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey.
Meliorism
Meliorism is the doctrine that the world may be made better by human
effort.
Melodeon
A melodeon is a type of accordion.
Melody
Melody is the tune of a piece of music.
Mendelevium
Mendelevium is an artificial metal radioactive element.
Menorah
A menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum used in jewish worship.
Menthol
Menthol is an alcohol derivative of menthone and occurs in peppermint.
Mercury fulminate
Mercury fulminate is an explosive used in detonators and percussion caps.
Metal
Metal is a class of elements.
Meteor
A meteor is a small solid body which sails through space.
Meteorite
A meteorite is a piece of rock or metal from space.
Methane
Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon. It is an odourless gas that is
explosive when mixed with oxygen.
Methanoic acid
Methanoic acid is a fuming liquid that occurs in stinging nettles.
Methanol
Methanol is the simplest alcohol having the formulae ch3oh.
Methodism
Methodism is a religious movement. It was founded by John Wesley, Charles
Wesley and George Whitfield in reaction to apathy within the Church of
England.
Mezzotint
Mezzotint is a method of engraving on copper or steel.
Micrometer
A micrometer is an instrument for measuring minute lengths or angles with
great accuracy; different types of micrometer are used in astronomical
and engineering work.
The type of micrometer used in astronomy consists of two fine wires, one
fixed and the other movable, placed in the focal plane of a telescope;
the movable wire is fixed on a sliding plate and can be positioned
parallel to the other until the object appears between the wires.
The movement is then indicated by a scale on the adjusting screw.
The micrometer caliper, of great value in engineering, has its adjustment
effected by an extremely accurate fine-pitch screw (vernier).
Microphone
A microphone is the first component in a sound recording system. It
converts sound waves into electrical energy. A simple microphone is the
telephone receiver mouthpiece.
Microtome
A microtome is an instrument used for cutting very thin sections of
organic tissue for microscopic examination.
Mildew
Mildew is a growth of minute fungi.
Mile
The mile is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length
equivalent to 8 furlongs, 1760 yards or 1.6093 kilometres.
Millennium
Millennium is a period of measurement being 1000 years.
Mineral
A mineral is an element or compound occuring naturally due to inorganic
processes.
Ming
Ming is the name of the Chinese dynasty which ruled from 1368 to 1644.
Miocene
The Miocene was the sixteenth geological period, 25,000,000 years ago.
The first apes evolved.
mizen
see "Mizzen"
Mizzen
A mizzen is the fore and aft sail on the after side of the mizzen-mast of
a three-masted ship.
Modem
Modem is a contraction of the term Modulator/Demodulator. It is a device
that modulates and demodulates signals on and off a "carrier" frequency.
It is not limited to computer data use, thus the telco-specific term
"data set" for data modems.
Modulation
Modulation is alterations in the characteristics of analog carrier waves,
impressed on the amplitude, phase and/or the frequency of the wave.
Molecule
A molecule is the smallest particle of any substance that can exist and
still exhibit the properties of the substance.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is a metal element.
Monday
Monday is the first day of the week.
Monosaccharide
Monosaccharide is a simple carbohydrate.
Month
The month is a unit of measurement of time based upon the motion of the
moon around the earth.
Moon
The moon is the natural satellite of the earth. It is 3476 km in diameter
and has a mass 1/8th that of the earth. It orbits the earth every 27.32
days.
Moreen
Moreen is a fabric made from wool or wool and cotton in imitation of
moire.
Morel
The morel is a genus of edible mushrooms.
Moroxite
Moroxite is the crystallized form of apatite, occuring in crystals of a
brownish or greenish-blue colour.
Morphia
see "Morphine"
Morphine
Morphine is an opium alkaloid used to treat severe pain.
Mountaineering
Mountaineering is the practice of climbing mountains.
MTBF
Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) is a statistical method developed and
administered by the U.S. military for purposes of estimating maintenance
levels required by various devices and systems. Since accurate statistics
require a basis of "failures per million hours of operation," an MTBF
estimate on a single device is not very accurate; it would take 114 years
to see if the device really had that many failures! Similarly, since the
MTBF is an estimate of averages, half of the devices can be expected to
fail before then, and half after. MTBF cannot be used as a guarantee.
Telecommunications systems operate on the principle of "Availability,"
for which there is a body of CCITT Recommendations.
Muffle
A muffle is an arched fire-brick furnace used in assaying operations.
Mullagatawny
Mullagatawny is a soup made with meat cut into small pieces and mixed
with rice and curry-powder.
Multileaving
Multileaving is an IBM Bisync-era method of interspersing message blocks
for various applications on a single line.
Mum
Mum is a malt liquor made of malt wheat, oats and bean meal. It was
brewed extensively in Brunswick at the start of the 20th century.
Mummy
A mummy is any dead body, human or animal, that has been naturally or
artificially preserved. Natural mummification can occur through freezing,
drying, or preservation in bogs or oil seeps. Artificial mummification
may be achieved by embalming (for example, the mummies of ancient Egypt)
or by freeze-drying.
Mumps
Mumps is an infectious disease which attacks the young and consists of a
painful inflammation of the salivary glands with swelling along the neck.
Mungo
Mungo is a material similar to shoddy which is made from old woollen
fabrics which have been torn up for remaking.
Munjeet
Munjeet is a dye obtained from the roots of the Rubia cordifolia plant
which is grown in India.
Muriatic Acid
Muriatic Acid was a former name for Hydrochloric acid.
Murrine
Murrine vases were priceless vessels brought from Carmania in Perisa and
used in ancient Rome as winecups where it was believed they would break
if poison was mixed with the wine.
Musk
Musk is a substance used in perfume and obtained from the Musk-deer. Musk
is also used in medicine as an antispasmodic.
Muslin
Muslin is a fine thin cotton fabric first imported into England in 1670
from India.
Myckle ail
Myckle ail is the old English name for leprosy.
Myrrh
Myrrh is a gum resin produced by a tree found in Arabia. It is used as
incense and in embalming.
Myxoedema
Myxoedema is a thyroid deficiency.
NACK
Nack (nak) is the "Negative Acknowledge" character in many data codes;
typically used to indicate receipt of a corrupted message, ordering
retransmission.
Nail
The nail is a unit of the imperial measurement of length equivalent to
1/16 yards.
NAK
see "NACK"
Naphthalene
Naphthalene is a solid hydrocarbon.
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic wars were a series of European wars between 1803 and 1815
involving Napoleon and his conquests of Europe.
Narcotic
A narcotic is a sleep inducing and analgesic drug.
NASA
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is an American
government agency founded in 1958 for spadeflight and aeronautical
research. Its headquarters are in Washington DC. Its main installation is
the Kennedy Space Center.
Nautical Mile
The Nautical Mile is a unit of measurement used by ships. It is 1852
meters long.
Nebula
A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in space.
Nematodes
see "nematode"
Neon
Neon is a gaseous element.
Neptunium
Neptunium is an artificial element produced in nuclear reactors.
Neuralgia
Neuralgia is a pain originating from the nerves.
Neurosis
Neurosis is a mild mental condition of emotional disorders.
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is surgery upon the brain or spinal cord.
Neutron
The neutron is a subatomic particle.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a publication reporting and commenting upon news. The
first newspapers were published by the Romans.
Nickel
Nickel is a metal element.
Nickel Silver
Nickel Silver (German Silver, Pack-Fong) is an alloy of copper, nickel
and zinc in different proportions. Sometimes lead is added if the alloy
is destined for making candlesticks or casts.
Nicotine
Nicotine is an alkaloid derived from the leaves of tobacco.
Niello
Niello is a black, metal, amalgam of sulphur added to copper, silver or
lead and used for filling engraved lines in metal objects.
Nimbostratus
Nimbostratus is a type of cloud, low, dark grey and trailing.
Nimbus
A nimbus is a bright cloud or halo added to pictures of saints etc
implying deity.
Niobium
Niobium is a metal element.
Nitrate
A nitrate is any salt of nitric acid.
Nitrazepam
Nitrazepam is a hypnotic drug given by mouth to treat insomnia.
Nitric acid
Nitric acid is produced by the oxidation of ammonia.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a gaseous element. It comprises 79 percent of the air.
Nitroglycerine
Nitroglycerine is a powerful explosive produced from nitric acid and
glycerol.
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide is an analgesic gas.
Nobelium
Nobelium is a radioactive metal element.
Nocardia
Nocardia is a bacteria found in soil which causes nocardiosis.
Nocardiosis
Nocardiosis is a disease affecting the skin, lungs and brain resulting in
abscesses.
Noose
A noose is a loop with a running knot which tigthens as the string is
pulled.
Norse
The term norse refers to ancient Norway.
Nova
A nova is a faint star that suddenly erupts in brightness.
Nucleic acid
Nucleic acid is a complex organic acid forming the basis of heredity.
Nucleus
The nucleus is the positively charged central part of an atom.
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study of coins and medals.
Nylon
Nylon is a synthetic plastic similar in chemical structure to protein.
Obeah
Obeah is a form of witchcraft practised in the Caribbean.
Oboe
The oboe is a musical instrument of the woodwind family.
Obsidian
Obsidian is volcanic glass.
Ohm
The ohm is the SI unit of electrical resistance. It was originally
defined with reference to the resistance of a column of mercury, but is
now taken as the resistance between two points when a potential
difference of one volt between them produces a current of one ampere.
Ohm's law
Ohm's law is that the steady current in a metal circuit is directly
proportional to the constant total electromotiveforce in the circuit,
that is e/i = r
Oil
Oil is a large group of viscid liquids which have a characteristic smooth
and sticky feel, are lighter than water, are inflammable and chemically
neutral.
Oligocene
The Oligocene was the fifteenth geological period, 42,000,000 years ago.
Opera
Opera is a stage entertainment consisting of a play sung to music in its
entirety, with no spoken dialogue at all. Opera originated in Italy
around 1600 and has subsequently spread throughout the world.
Opium
Opium is a drug extracted from the seeds of the opium poppy.
Ordovician
The Ordovician period was the fourth geological period, 375,000,000 years
ago.
Organic
In chemistry, the term organic refers to substances which occur naturally
as constituents of organized bodies.
Origami
Origami is the art of paper folding.
Osmium
Osmium is a metal element.
Ounce
The ounce is a unit of measurement of the avoirdupois scale equivalent to
16 drams or 28.350 grams.
Ounces
see "ounce"
Oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is a poison found in rhubarb.
Oxidation
Oxidation is the chemical combination of atoms with oxygen atoms to form
oxides. In metals, the process appears as rust, iron rust being iron
oxide, a molecule formed of iron atoms combined with oxygen atoms.
Oxidize
The term oxidize refers to the chemical reaction of oxidation.
Oxygen
Oxygen is a gaseous element that is partly soluble in water. It is the
only gas able to sustain respiration.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a hormone that stimulates the uterus in late pregnancy to
initiate and sustain labour.
Ozone
Ozone is a blue gas. The molecules are comprised of three oxygen atoms.
Pacemaker
A pacemaker is an electronic device that stimulates the heart muscles by
delivery small electric shocks to it.
Pack-Fong
see "Nickel_Silver"
Packet
In the sense of communications, a packet is a structured group of binary
digits in a prearranged sequence containing synchronism, address, control
an error-checking data. Specialized synonym for a "block" of data in
CCITT Packet Data Network standards.
Packet Switched Network
A Packet Switched Network is a network dedicated to the routing and
delivery of data put in the form of standardized "packets."
Packet Switching
Packet Switching is the technique in which a stream of data is broken
into standardized units called "packets," each of which contains address,
sequence, control, size and error checking information in addition to the
user data. Specialized packet switches operate on this added information
to move the packets to their destination in the proper sequence and again
present them in a contiguous stream.
Paleocene
The Paleocene wa the thirteenth geological period, 80,000,000 years ago.
Palladium
Palladium is a metal element.
Pancratium
A pancratium is an athletic contest in wrestling and boxing.
Paracetamol
Paracetamol is an analgesic. Over doses of paracetamol can cause liver
damage.
Paraffin
Paraffin is a family of hydrocarbons.
Parallax
The term parallax describes the apparent movement of an object when
viewed from two different positions.
Parallel Transmission
Parallel Transmission is the simultaneous transmission of all parts of a
signal at one time; in data transmission, requiring a separate signal
path for each of the bits of a character; internal to computers, this is
called a "parallel bus."
Parchment
Parchment is a type of fine writing paper traditionally made from sheep
or goat skin.
Parity
In communications systems and computers, parity is a constant state of
equality; one of the oldest and simplest methods of error checking data
transmission. Characters are forced into parity (total number of marking
bits odd or even as selected by choice) by adding a one or zero bit as
appropriate when transmitted; parity is then checked as odd or even at
the receiver.
Parity Bit
A Parity Bit is a check bit appended to an array of binary digits to make
the sum of all the digits always odd or always even.
Parity Check
Parity Check is a checking method that determines if the sum of all the
digits in an array is odd or even.
Parsec
A parsec is an astronomical unit of distance equivalent to 3.2616 light
years.
Pasteurization
Pasteurization is a preservative heat treatment applied to foods, notably
milk.
Pcp
Pcp is an abbreviation for phencyclidine.
PDS
PDS is an abbreviation for Portable Diagnostic System. It is an expert
system which diagnoses faults in machinery from information received from
sensors connected to the machinery. Sensor readings are compared with
known data about component malfunction symptoms to diagnose faults.
Peat
Peat is a fibrous organic compound found in bogs that is formed by the
partial decomposition of plants.
Peck
The peck is a unit of capacity measurement equivalent to 2 gallons or
9.092 litres.
Pentagon
A pentagon is a five sided regular polygon.
Pentathlon
The pentathlon is a five sport competition.
Pentode
A pentode is an electronic amplifying valve with 5 main electrodes.
Pentose
A pentose is a sugar with 5 carvon atoms in the molecule.
Penumbra
A penumbra is a partly shaded region around the shadow of an opaque body.
The term is especially applied to describe the partly shaded region
around a total eclipse of the sun or moon.
Perception
Perception is the ability to observe and understand, particuarly
intuitively.
Percolator
A percolator is a device for making coffee by allowing water to filter
repeatedly through ground coffee.
Pericarp
The pericarp is the wall of the ripened ovary of a plant.
Pericarps
see "Pericarp"
Perigee
Perigee is an astronomical term refering to the position in the Moon's
orbit nearest to the earth, opposite to Apogee.
Perigynous
A perigynous plant is one which has stamens situated around the pistil or
ovary.
Permafrost
Permafrost is the permanently frozen subsoil in Arctic regions.
Permaid
Permaid is an expert system, developed at Honeywell for trouble shooting
large disk drives.
Permalloy
Permalloy is a nickel steel alloy, containing about 78 percent nickel. It
is charcterized by a very high permeability in low magnetic fields. It is
extensively used in submarine cables.
Permanganate
A permanganate is any salt of permanganic acid.
Permian
The permian was the eigth geological peiod, 205,000,000 years ago. It
marked the evolution of the reptiles.
Persimmon
The persimmon is a yellow-orange plum-like astringent fruit. It becomes
sweet when softened by frost.
Pewter
Pewter is an alloy of tin and lead.
Phencyclidine
Phencyclidine is an illegal drug also known as angel dust.
Phenol
Phenol is a compound derived from coal tar and used in the manufacture of
nylon.
Phosphate
A phosphate is any salt of phosphorus oxy acids.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a non-metallic element.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide into
carbohydrates by chlorophyll under the influence of light.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument with a keyboard. It was invented in the
18th century as a development of the harpsichord. Strings are stuck by
hammers when the keys are depressed.
Pica
Pica is a size of print (12 point) giving about 6 lines to the inch.
Picador
A picador is a horse-mounted, lance armed bull fighter.
Picaroon
A picaroon was a name for pirate or pirate ship.
Piccolo
The piccolo is a woodwind instrument of the flute family.
Pilau
Pilau is an oriental dish of rice with meat or fish and spices.
Pinchbeck
Pinchbeck is an alloy of 80% copper and 20% zinc once used for making
cheap watch cases, and more recently as a substitute for the more
expensive bronze. It was invented by a London watchmaker in the 18th
century.
Pint
The pint is a unit of capacity measurement equivalent to 4 gills or 0.568
litres.
Pitch
Pitch is the highness or lowness of a musical sound.
Piton
A piton is a metal spike used in mountaineering as a support for a
belaying pin.
Pitpan
A pitpan is a Central American dug-out boat.
Planet
A planet is a heavenly body which orbits a star.
Planimeter
A Planimeter is a simple integrating instrument for measuring the area of
a regular or irregular plane surface. It consists of two hinged arms: one
is kept fixed and the other is traced around the boundary of the area.
This actuates a small graduated wheel; the area is calculated from the
wheel's change in position.
Plant
A plant is a living organism of the vegetable kingdom. Generally they are
capable of living wholly on inorganic substances. They lack locomotion
and special organs of sensation and digestion.
Plantation
A plantation is a an assemblage of planted and growing plants.
Plants
see "Plant"
Plaster of Paris
Plaster of paris is calcium sulphate mixed with water to make casts.
Plastic
Plastic is a group of synthetic polymers made from oils and which are
capable of being moulded into shape by heat or pressure or both.
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene (ice age) was the seventeenth geological period, 500,000
years ago. It marked the evolution of tool-making man.
Pliocene
The Pliocene was the sixteenth geological period, 8,000,000 years ago. It
marked the modern formation of the continents.
Plough
A plough is an agricultural implement used for tilling the soil.
Plutonium
Plutonium is an artificial radioactive metal element.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung due to infection.
Poison
see "Toxin"
Poisonous
see "Toxic"
Polio
Polio is a virus infection of the central nervous system affecting nerves
that activate muscles.
Polka
The polka is a lively folk dance.
Polonium
Polonium is a metal radioactive element.
Polyester
Polyester is a thermosetting plastic used in the manufacture of synthetic
fabrics.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene is a thermosetting plastic polymer of ethylene.
Polymer
A polymer is a compound made up of large molecules composed of many
repeated simple units.
Polypus
Polypus is a small benign tumour of the skin due to local overgrowth of
the celss.
Polysaccharide
A polysaccharide is a long chain of carbohydrate made up of hundreds of
linked simple sugars, such as glucose.
Poor laws
The poor laws were an act of parliament between 1562 and 1601 which gave
local authorities the responsibility for settling and supporting the poor
in England.
Potassium
Potassium is a metal element.
Poundal
The poundal is the imperial unit of force, now replaced in the SI system
by the newton. One poundal equals 0.1383 newtons. It is defined as the
force necessary to accelerate a mass of one pound by one foot per second
per second.
Praseodymium
Praseodymium is a metal element used as a pigment in glass.
Pre-Cambrian
The Pre-Cambrian period was the second geological period. It was the time
when the first animal life appeared, about 1,125,000,000 years ago.
Presto
Presto is a musical term designating a faster rate of movement than that
indicated by allegro.
Primates
see "primate"
PROLOG
Prolog is a computer programming language used mainly for artificial
intelligence.
Promethium
Promethium is a metal element.
Propaganda
Propaganda was an association established in Rome in 1622 for the purpose
of diffusing a knowledge of Roman Catholicsim throughout the world.
Propane
Propane is a gaseous hydrocarbon found in petroleum. It has the formulae
c3h8.
Propene
Propene is an alkene hydrocarbon.
Propylaea
Propylaea is an architectural term refering to the entrance to a Greek
temple.
Protactinium
Protactinium is a rare actinide element.
Protein
Protein is a long chain molecule made up of amino acids joined by peptide
bonds. Protein forms the structural material of bodily tissues.
Proteins
see "protein"
Protium
Protium is an isotope of hydrogen.
Proton
A proton is a positively charged sub atomic particle.
Prussic Acid
see "Hydrocyanic_Acid"
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a theory and treatment method for neuroses developed by
Freud.
Psychology
Psychology was originally thought of as a department of philosophy which
dealt with the mind. Today, it is recognised as the science of the
nature, function and phenomena of the human mind and human behaviour.
Pub
A pub is a house licensed for the sale and consumption of alcoholic
beverages.
Pump
A pump is a machine for moving fluid from one place to another.
Pumpernickel
Pumpernickel is a German wholemeal rye bread. It is dark brown and often
sweetened and spiced.
Punch
A punch is a machine for making or starting holes.
Purple
Purple is a secondary colour compounded by the union of the primaries
blue and red. As a dye it was originaly obtained from Tyrian dye.
Pus
Pus is a yellowish liquid that forms in the body as a result of bacterial
infection.
Pyramids
In billiards, pyramids is a game played with 15 red balls and 1 white
ball. The red balls are placed together in the shape of a triangle, or
pyramid at the spot. The object of the game being to pot the most balls.
This game was popular around 1900, and may perhaps have developed into
the modern game of Pool.
Pyrogallic Acid
Pyrogallic Acid (pyrogallol) is an acid obtained by the dry distillation
of gallic acid. It forms colourless, odourless crystals, is readily
soluble in water, alcohol and ether and its alkaline solution readily
absorbs oxygen. It is used as a developer in photography.
Pyrogallol
see "Pyrogallic_Acid"
Pyrometer
A pyrometer is a device for measuring temperatures outside of the range
of a mercurial thermometer.
Pyrophone
A pyrophone is a musical instrument, in which the various notes are
produced by the burning of hydrogen gas within glass tubes of varying
lengths and sizes.
Pyrrhic Dance
The Pyrrhic Dance was an ancient Greek dance which consisted of moves
representing an attempt to avoid the strokes of an enemy in battle. It
was viewed as a kind of training for war.
Pyx
A pyx was a covered vessel used in the Roman Catholic church to contain
the consecrated host. In ancient times it was sometimes made in the shape
of a dove.
Pyxidium
In botany, a pyxidium is a capsule with a lid, as seen in the henbane and
in the fruit of the monkey-pot tree.
Qabbala
The Qabbala (Cabala, Caballa, Kabbala) is an ancient esoteric tradition
of the Jews. It was supposedly given to Moses on mount Sinai in a
revelation.
Qabbalistic
see "Qabbala"
Quadriga
The Quadriga was an ancient Greek and Roman two-wheeled chariot drawn by
four horses abreast and used for racing.
Quaestor
A Quaestor was ancient Roman magistrate who was concerned with receiving
taxes and tribunes, paying the troops and generally looking-after the
money.
Quandang
Quandang is the edible fruit of a species of the sandalwood tree.
Quart
The quart is a unit of capacity measurement equivalent to 2 pints or
1.136 litres.
Quarter
The quarter is a unit of measurement of the avoirdupois scale equivalent
to 28 pounds or 12.7 kilograms. The quarter is a unit of capacity
measurement equivalent to 8 bushels or 2.909 hectolitres.
Queen's prize
The queen's prize is an English shooting competition.
Quinine
Quinine is an anti malaria drug derived from the bark of the cinchona
tree.
Radar
Radar is a system of locating an object or direction finding using high
frequency radio waves.
Radian
The radian is the SI unit (symbol rad) of plane angles, an alternative
unit to the degree. It is the angle at the center of a circle when the
center is joined to the two ends of an arc equal in length to the radius
of the circle. There are 2pi (approximately 6.284) radians in a full
circle (360 ). One radian is approximately 57 , and 1 is pi/180 or
approximately 0.0175 radians. Radians are commonly used to specify angles
in polar coordinates.
Radiation
Radiation is the emission of energy rays from an object. In particular
the term is applied to the emission of X-rays.
Radioactive
Radioactive elements are those of high atomic weight (radium, thorium,
uranium etc) which spontaneously emit alpha, beta or gamma rays.
Radium
Radium is a radioactive gaseous element.
Rain
Rain is condensed moisture from the atmosphere which falls to the ground
in visible separate drops.
Rayon
Rayon is an artificial silk made from cellulose.
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument.
Red
Red is one of the primary colours. It is the colour of the spectrum which
is farthest away from violet. Red pigments are derived from cinnabar,
realgar, cochineal and coal-tar.
Red dwarf
A red dwarf is a cool, faint star.
Red giant
A red giant is a cool, bright star.
Red-lead
Red-lead is an oxide of lead used as a red pigment.
Reefer
A reefer is a refrigerated cargo ship.
Reflex
A reflex is an automatic response to a stimuli.
Reichstag
The reichstag was the German parliament building.
Relativity
Relativity is a theory concerning the nature of space and time propounded
by Einstein.
Renaissance
The renaissance was an intellectual period between the 14th and 17th
centuries.
Resin
Resin is an adhesive and inflammable substance which is insoluble in
water secreted by plants and animals.
Rhenium
Rhenium is a metal element.
Rhizome
In botany, a rhizome is a sort of stem running along the surface of the
ground, or partially subterranean, sending forth shoots at its upper end
and decaying at the other.
Rhodium
Rhodium is a metal element.
Rhythm
Rhythm is the beat behind a piece of music.
Ribbon
A ribbon is a woven narrow band of silk or other material used for
adornement.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin is vitamin b2. A deficiency of it stunts growth.
Rice
Rice is the seeds of a grass grown in marshs mainly in the orient.
Ricin
Ricin is a poison extracted from the leaves of the castor oil plant.
Rickets
Rickets is a defective growth of bone disease caused by a lack of vitamin
d.
Ricochet
A ricochet is the rebounding of a projectile.
Riddle
A riddle is a question designed to test ingenuity or give amusement.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungus infection of the skin.
Robe
A robe is a long loose outer garment.
Rocker
A rocker is a curved bar fixed to an item so that it may rock.
Rocket
A rocket is a cylindrical case which can be projected as a result of the
reaction of gases discharged from its rear when its combustible contents
are ignited.
Rococo
Rococo is a style of decoration which originated in France and Italy in
the 17th century.
Rood
The rood is a unit of measurement of area equivalent to 1210 square
yards.
Root
The root is that part of a plant which is below or in the soil and serves
to attach the plant to the soil, and conveys nourishment from the soil to
the plant.
Rope
Rope is a stout cord in excess of one inch in circumferance.
Roquelaure
A roquelaure was a man's cloak popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Rosaniline
Rosaniline is a base compound of many aniline dyes. It is a basic
compound prepared by oxidizing a mixture of aniline and toluidine by
nitro-benzene in the presence of ferrous chloride. Rosaniline itself is a
colourless solid, but if converted into a salt by the addition of an
acid, it loses water and becomes coloured.
Rosary
A rosary is a string of beads used in religion.
Rosetta stone
The rosetta stone is a tablet bearing an inscription in Greek, and
hieroglyphics. It's discovery by napoleon's soldiers in 1799 made the
deciphering of hieroglyphics possible.
Rosolio
Rosolio is an alcoholic beverage from southern Europe.
Rubber
Rubber is coagulated latex.
Rum
Rum is an alcoholic beverage distiled from sugar cane.
Russians
see "russian"
Rust
Rust is an iron oxide.
Ruthenium
Ruthenium is a metal element.
Rutherfordium
Rutherfordium is an artificial radioactive element with a very short
lifespan.
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is an international golf tournament.
Saccharin
Saccharin is an ortho sulpho benzimide used as a substitute for sugar.
Sackbut
The sackbut is a musical instrument of the brass family.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius is a sign of the zodiac represented by a centaur armed with a
bow and arrow.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is the active chemical constituent of aspirin.
Sangaree
Sangaree is an alcoholic beverage made from wine diluted with water and
mixed with spices and sugar and drunk iced.
Satin
Satin is a fabric made from silk or similar yarn, with a glossy surface
on one side produced by a twill weave in which wwft-threads are almost
hidden by the warp.
Saturday
Saturday is the sixth day of the week.
Sauna
A sauna is a steamy heat bath.
Savanna
A savanna is an extensive tropical grassland.
Saxhorn
The saxhorn is a musical instrument of the brass family. It evolved from
the bugle-horn, but has valves instead of keys.
Saxophone
The saxophone is a metal musical instrument of the woodwind family.
Scandium
Scandium is a metal element.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a pain of the sciatic.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine.
Scorpio
Scorpio is a sign of the zodiac represented by a scorpion.
Scrabble
Scrabble is a board game based upon a crossword puzzle.
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin c.
Second
The second is the basic SI unit of time, one-sixtieth of a minute. It is
defined as the duration of 9,192,631,770 cycles of regulation (periods of
the radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine
levels of the ground state) of the cesium-133 isotope. In mathematics,
the second is a unit of angular measurement, equaling one-sixtieth of a
minute, which in turn is one-sixtieth of a degree.
Seer
The seer is a unit of measurement equivalent to 1 kilogramme. It was
extensively used in India around 1900.
Seiner
A seiner is a ship which employs seine net fishing.
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes.
Selenium
Selenium is a rare metal element. It was discovered in 1817 by Berzelius
in the refuse of a sulphuric acid manufactory in Sweden.
Semaphore
Semaphore is a visual form of communication using flags.
Sepsis
Sepsis is blood or tissue poisoning caused by bacteria.
Septic
Septic is a term describing tissue in a state of sepsis. Usually the term
is applied to cuts and wounds in an animal which have become infected.
Septicaemia
Septicaemia is a pathological term describing blood poisoning by
bacteria.
Serotonin
Serotonin is a compound widely distributed in human tissue, particularly
in the blood, wall of the intestine and the central nervous system. It
acts as a neurotransmitter concerned especially with the process of
sleep.
Sextant
A sextant is a navigational instrument for determining latitude by
measuring the angle between a heavenly body and the horizon.
Shamanism
Shamanism is the religion of the eskimos of north America and Siberia.
Sharia
Sharia is the law of Islam.
Sheep-Dog
A Sheep-Dog is any breed of dog trained for controlling sheep, but in
England the term is usually restricted to the Old English Sheep Dog.
Sheepshank
The sheepshank is a sailor's knot.
Sheffield Plate
Sheffield Plate is the name given to articles made of copper plated with
silver by heat. It was invented in Sheffield in the middle of the 18th
century.
Shellac
Shellac is a resin used to make varnish. It is derived from the lac
insect.
Sherry
Sherry is a spanish alcoholic beverage of wine mixed with brandy.
Shintoism
Shintoism is the primary religion in Japan.
Shinty
Shinty is the Scottish name for hockey.
Ship
A ship is a vessel intended for navigating the ocean, as distinct from a
boat which is any navigable vessel. The term ship now applies to sizeable
boats which are intended for distant voyages.
Ship-Money
Ship-Money was a tax levied by Charles I in October 1634, ostensibly for
the equipment of ships for the defence of the coast and maintaining
command of the sea. The tax was deemed illegal and was a contributory
dispute which led to the English civil War.
Shire Moot
In Anglo-Saxon England a Shire Moot was a metting of all the freemen of a
shire for transacting judicial and administrative matters pertaining to
the shire.
Shoddy
Shoddy is wool obtained from woollen rags and wastes and respun.
Shorthand
Shorthand is a system of graphical notation making it possible to record
speech at greater speed than by normal writing.
Shove-halfpenny
Shove-halfpenny is a game played on a marked board in which halfpennies
or discs are jerked from the edge along the board with the ball of the
thumb. The object is to lodge the coins within marked areas on the board.
It was once a popular game in English pubs.
Shuffle-board
Shuffle-board is a game played on a ship-deck in which wooden discs 6
inches in diameter are shoved by a kind of cue into marked squares from a
distance of about 30 feet. The game has been recorded since the 15th
century.
Sicilian Vespers
The Sicilian Vespers was the massacre of the French in Sicily on March
20th 1282. It was caused by a French soldier insulting a bride on her way
to church, and resulted in the entire garrison of Charles of Anjour being
annihilated within 3 days, putting an end to Angevin rule in Sicily.
Sickle
A Sickle is a hook-shaped steel bladed instrument used for cutting grass
and grain.
Sign
A sign is a mark drawn upon a surface.
Signet
A signet is a private seal used on documents and personal letters. The
privy signet is the personal seal of the British Sovereign used on
private documents.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a religion founded by Nanak in the 15th century.
Silicon
Silicon is a non-metallic element.
Silk
Silk is a soft thread produced by the larvea of the silkworm moth.
Sill
Sill is a geological term for a sheet of igneous rock intruded into
overlaying beds and lying nearly horizontal over a large area.
Silo
A silo is a structure for storing and preserving vegetable matter in a
green state.
Silurian
The Silurian was the fifth geological period, 335,000,000 years ago. This
period marked the appearance of the first land plants.
Simile
A simile is a literary device of description by comparison, as in "he
slept like a log".
Simony
Simony is the trafficking in spiritual things. It was an offence against
the canon law.
Single Tax
The single tax was a system of taxation proposed by Harry George. It was
proposed that tax should be confined to land-rent, land being the real
source of wealth.
Sinn Fein
Sinn Fein is an Irish nationalist political party. It was founded in
Dublin in 1900 by Arthur Griffith.
Sirius
Sirius (the Dog Star) is the brightest star in the sky.
Sitar
The sitar is an Indian musical instrument similar to the lute.
Skylab
Skylab is an American space station launched in 1973.
Slow-match
Slow-match was a 19th century term for a fuse used to light mines or
blasts.
Smalt
Smalt is a type of glass in which protoxide of cobalt has been mixed with
common glass to produce a glass with a deep blue tinge to it. Smalt was
discovered by a Bohemian glass blower in the 16th century.
Snooker
Snooker is a game derived from billiards.
Snuff
Snuff is powdered tobacco.
Sodium
Sodium is a metal element.
Soil
Soil is a loose covering of broken rocky material and decaying organic
matter.
Solanaceae
The solanacea is a narcotic and poisonous family of plants which are mono
petalous and exogenous.
Solid
A solid is a substance in which the molecules do not have free movement.
Sonar
Sonar is a method of locating underwater objects by the reflection of
ultrasonic waves.
Sonnet
A sonnet is a 14 line poem.
Sorbic acid
Sorbic acid is found in the fruit of the rowan tree and used in food
preservation.
Sound
Sound is the changes in air pressure detectable by the ear.
Spacecraft
A spacecraft is a vehicle used to travel through space, from one planet
to another or to a moon, asteroid or other planetoid.
Speed
Speed is the rate of time at which something moves, travels, proceeds or
operates.
Star
A star is a luminous globe of gas producing light by nuclear reactions.
Starch
Starch is large numbers of glucose molecules combined.
Stearic acid
Stearic acid is a long chain fatty acid soluble in alcohol but not water.
Steel
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon.
Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver and copper.
Stimulant
A stimulant is a drug that acts upon the brain to increase alertness.
Stotinki
The stotinki is a unit of cuurency used in Bulgaria. 100 stotinki
comprise 1 lev.
Street
A street is a road with houses along one or both sides of it.
Streptomycin
Streptomycin is an antibiotic.
Strontium
Strontium is a metal element.
Strychnine
Strychnine is a poisonous alkaloid with the formulae c21h22o2n2.
Submarine
A submarine is an underwater ship.
Sucrose
Sucrose is cane sugar. It is formed by the chemical combination of
glucose and sucrose. It occurs naturally in sugar-beet and sugar-cane, in
sweet fruits and in roots such as carrots.
Suffragettes
see "suffragette"
Sugar
Sugar is a sweet, soluble carbohydrate.
Sugars
In chemistry, the sugars are a group of carbohydrates, soluble in water
and having a sweet taste. The group includes glucose, lactose and
saccharose.
Sulphur
Sulphur is a non-metallic element. It has a relative hardness of 2 and a
melting point of 108 degrees celcius. Its symbol is S.
Sulphuric acid
Sulphuric acid has the formulae H2SO4.
Sun
The sun is the star at the centre of the solar system.
Sunday
Sunday is the seventh day of the week.
Supernova
Supernova is the explosive death of a star.
Swaythling cup
The swaythling cup is a table tennis tournament.
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents something else.
Synagogue
A synagogue is a jewish place of worship.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a veneral disease (VD, STD) due to the micro-organism
Treponema Pallidum. It is usually transmitted by sexual contact with an
infected person.
Tabaret
Tabaret is an upholstery fabric with alternate satin and watered-silk
stripes.
Tabernacle
A tabernacle is a temporary or slightly built dwelling, such as a hut,
booth or tent.
Tabes
Tabes is a slow progressive emaciation.
Tablier
Historically, a tablier was the apron-like part of a woman's dress.
Tachograph
A tachograph is a device fitted to a motor vehicle which records its
speed and distances travelled. Tachographs are often called the spy in
the cab by lorry drivers who are restricted in how long they may drive
for by law.
Tachometer
A tachometer is a device for measuring the velocity of machines or the
rate of flow of liquids.
Tack
A tack is a small sharp nail, usualy with a large flat head. They are
used for fitting a light or thin object to a more solid one, such as
carpet to the floor.
Tackle
Tackle is a term used to describe the equipment used in a sport,
especially fishing. In nautical terms, tackle refers to ropes and pulleys
used for hoisting weights, sails etc.
Tact
Tact is the intuitive perception of what is correct or fitting especially
in the context of knowing the right thing to say or how to behave in a
situation.
Taffeta
Taffeta is a fine plain-woven usualy glossy fabric of silk or mother
material.
Taffy
Taffy is a colloquial nickname for a Welshman. It derives from the
supposed Welsh pronounciation of the name Davy.
Tailor
A tailor is a maker of men's outer garments or of women's garments which
have similar characteristics such as coats, suits and riding-clothes.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a white marbel mausoleum built at Agra by Shah Jehan in
memory of his favourite wife who died in 1629. It took 20000 men 20 years
to build.
Tallow
Tallow is the fat of animals, especially sheep and ox, separated by
melting and clarifying and used for making soap, candles and other
things.
Tally
Originaly, a tally was a piece of wood scored across with noteches
representing an amount of debt or payment. The wood was then split in
half lengthways and each party kept half.
Talma
A talma was a long cape or cloak worn by both men and women during the
early part of the 19th century.
Tam-o-shanter
A tam-o-shanter is a round woolen or cloth cap with a flat baggy top much
wider than the head band. It is named after the hero of Burn's poem "Tam
o' Shanter".
Tamal
Tamal is a Mexican dish of crushed maize with pieces of meat or chicken,
red pepper etc, wrapped in corn husks and baked or steamed.
Tambour
A tambour is a device used in embroidery. It is comprised of two hoops
which fit closely one inside the other. Fabric is stretched over the the
tambour which then holds it fast so that it may be embroidered.
Tambourin
A tambourin is a long narrow drum used in music.
Tambourine
A tambourine is a musical percussion instrument.
Tammy
Tammy is a fine woollen or wool and cotton textile fabric often with a
glazed finish.
Tampion
A tampion is a plug for the top of an organ pipe or a cover for the
muzzle of a gun.
Tampon
A tampon is a plug inserted into a wound or body orifice to absorb
secretions or stop haemorrhaging.
Tandem
A tandem is a bicycle with two or more seats one behind the other.
Tang
A tang is a projection of a knife or other metal tool by which it is
secured to its handle.
Tango
The tango was a dance from central Africa which was taken to Central
America by African slaves and from there it became popular in Argentina
where it was influenced by European rhythms and developed into a
fashionable ballroom dance in around 1910.
Tangram
A tangram is a Chinese geometrical puzzle comprised of a square which is
divided into 5 triangles, a square and a rhomboid which can then be
fitted together to form many figures.
Tankard
A tankard is a large, one-handled drinking vessel.
Tanner
Tanner is an old English slang expression for a sixpence. More properly,
a tanner is someone who tans hides.
Tannery
A tannery is a place where hides are tanned.
Tannin
Tannin is a substance used to tan hides, that is convert them into
leather. Tannin is extracted from oak-galls and various barks.
Tantalum
Tantalum is a metal element.
Taoism
Taoism is an ancient Chinese system of philosophy.
Taper
A taper is a slender wax candle. The term is often used for a long wax
coated or wooden wick used to light candles or fires at a safe distance.
Tapestry
A tapestry is a thick hand-woven fabric, usualy of wool, with a pictorial
or ornamental design formed by the weft-threads.
Tapioca
Tapioca is a starchy granular foodstuff prepared from cassava and used in
puddings. The name comes from the Brazilian word tipioca which translates
as juice of cassava.
Tappet
A tappet is an arm, collar or cam within a machine which imparts
intermittent motion.
Tar
Tar is a thick viscid inflammable black liquid obtained by the
distillation of wood, coal or other organic substances. It is used for
preserving timber amongst other purposes.
Tarantass
A tarantass was a large covered travelling carriage without springs, but
balanced on long poles which served instead, and without seats. Tarantass
were used a lot in Russia around the beginning of the 20th century.
Tarantella
Tarantella is a swift, whirling Italian dance in six-eight measure.
Tarantism
Tarantism was an obscure illness which was epidemic in southern Italy
between the 15th and 17th centuries. It manifested itself in melancholy
and an overwhelming desire to dance. It was popularly believed to be
caused by the bite of the tarantula.
Taraxacin
Taraxacin is a bitter substance found in the milky juice of the
dandelion. It was formerly used as a tonic and diuretic.
Tarboosh
A tarboosh is a man's brimless cap resembling a fez and worn alone or as
part of a turban by Muslims in some eastern Mediterranean countries.
Tarlatan
Tarlatan was a thin and fine fabric of cotton mostly used for making
women's ball dresses around 1900. It was cheap, but did not withstand
washing.
Tarsia-work
Tarsia-work was a kind of marquetry popular in 15th century Italy. It
consisted of pieces of different coloured woods inlayed into a panel of
walnut so as to represent landscapes, figures, fruits etc.
Tartan
Tartan is a woolen cloth with stripes of various colours crossing at
right angles especially in the distinctive pattern of a Highland clan.
Tartar
Tartar (potassium tartrate) is a white crust deposited in wine casks
during fermentation. The purified crystals are used in cooking, and often
called cream of tartar.
Tartrate
Tartrate is a salt of tartaric acid.
Tasmanite
Tasmanite is a translucent, reddish-brown fossil resin found in Tasmania.
Tassel
A tassel is a tuft of loosely hanging threads or cords designed as an
ornament for a cushion, cap or other object.
Tatting
Tatting is a type of knotted lace made from sewing-thread with a small
flat shuttle-shaped instrument.
Tatty
A tatty is a cuscus grass mat which is hung in a doorway, or window and
kept wet to cool the air in the building.
Tavla
Tavla is the national game of Turkey. It is called backgammon in Europe.
Taxi
see "Hackney_Coach"
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the art of preparing and mounting the skins of animals in a
lifelike manner. In colloquial terms, stuffing dead animals.
TB
see "Tuberculosis"
Technetium
Technetium is an artificial element.
Tectonics
Tectonics is the study of rock movements.
Teetotum
A teetotum is a top spun with the fingers, rather than a whip or cord.
Tellurium
Tellurium is a semi-metallic element.
Tempo
Tempo is the pace at which a piece of music is played.
Tendril
A tendril is a slender, thread-like organ or appendage of a plant which
stretches out and attaches itself to some other object so as to support
the plant.
Tennis
Tennis is a game for two or four players played by striking a ball with a
racket over a net stretched across a rectangular court.
Teocalli
A Teocalli is an Aztec or other early Mexican temple. They are usualy
built in the form of a pyramid.
Tepee
A tepee is a conical tent, hut or wigwam used by North American indians.
Terbium
Terbium is a metal element.
Tercel
Tercel is the term for a male hawk.
Terpene
Terpene is a chemistry term for any of a large group of cyclic
hydrocarbons which form the chief constituents of the volatile oils
obtained by distilling plant material (Turpentine).
Terrine
A terrine is an earthenware vessel sold containing some table delicacy
such as pate.
Tessera
A tessera was a Greek or Roman small tablet (of wood or Ivory) used as a
token or tally.
Tester
A tester is the canopy over a four-poster bed.
Tetanus
Tetanus is a disease affecting the nervous system caused by a bacteria
found mainly in soil.
Tetrahedron
A tetrahedron is a geometric solid figure with four triangular faces.
Tetrode
A tetrode is an electronic amplifying valve with 4 main electrodes.
Thalidomide
Thalidomide was a sedative drug prescribed to pregnant women during the
1960s. It caused deformity of the foetus resulting in children born with
severely stunted or non-existent limbs.
Thallium
Thallium is a metal element.
Thaumatrope
A thaumatrope is a card or disc with two different figures drawn one each
side. These images apparently merge when the card or disk is rotated
rapidly. Thaumatropes are used to demonstrate the persistance of visual
impressions.
Theodolite
A theodolite is an instrument used in surveying.
Thermion
A thermion is an electrically charged particle emitted from a heated
body.
Thermistor
A thermistor is a type of semi-conductor in which the resistance
decreases as the temperature rises.
Thermometer
A thermometer is a device used to measure temperature.
Thermostat
A thermostat is a device which automatically maintains temperature at a
constant value or gives notice of an undue change in temperature.
Thermotaxis
Thermotaxis is the physiology term for the regulation of an organisms
body heat.
Thespian
A thespian is an actor or actress.
Theurgy
Theurgy was a system of magic practised by the Neoplatonists intended to
procure communication with spirits for personal benefit and to produce
miraculous effects with their assistance.
Thiamine
Thiamine is vitamin b1 a deficiency of which causes beri beri.
Thigh
The thigh is the upper part of the human leg between the knee and the
hip.
Thigh bone
Thigh bone is a popular name for the femur.
Thole
A thole is a pin in the gunwale of a boat used as a fulcrum for an oar.
There are usually two tholes between which the oar rests.
Thomas cup
The Thomas cup is a badminton tournament.
Thomism
Thomism is a system of theology and philosophy taught by St. Thomas
Aquinas.
Thong
A thong is a narrow strip of leather used as a lace or strap.
Thorium
Thorium is radioactive metal element.
Threshold
In architecture, a threshold is a piece of stone or timber lying below
the bottom of a doorway.
Thulium
Thulium is a metal element.
Thunder
Thunder is a loud noise whic accompanies lightning, but appears to follow
it due to the difference at which sound and light travel. Thunder is the
noise which occurs due to the sudden violent disturbance of the air by
the electrical discharge.
Thursday
Thursday is the fourth day of the week.
Thwart
A thwart is a seat across a boat on which the rower sits.
Thymol
Thymol is a white crystalline phenol obtained from the oil of thyme. It
has a pleasant aromatic smell and is used as an antiseptic.
Thyroxin
Thyroxin is a white crystalline substance which is secreted by the
thyroid gland.
Tiara
A tiara was an ancient Persian head-dress. It is also the name of a
jewelled coronet worn by women.
Tic
A tic is an habitual, local spasmodic contraction of muscles or twitch,
often in the face.
Tide
Tide is a term applied to the alternate rising and falling of the sea,
twice in each lunar day, to the attraction of the moon and the sun.
Tiki
A tiki is a Maori large wooden or small ornamental greenstone image of
the creator of man or an ancestor.
Tilbury
A tilbury was a light open two-wheeled carriage which was fashionable
during the first half of the 19th century.
Timbale
A timbale is a dish of minced meat, or fish cooked in a drum-shaped mould
of pastry.
Timber
Timber is wood prepared for building, or trees which provide wood
suitable for building with.
Timber hitch
The timber hitch is a knot.
Timbrel
A timbrel was a type of tambourine used around biblical times.
Timology
Timology is a philosophical term of a doctrine of values.
Tin
Tin is a white metal element. It occurs commonly in the ore cassiterite,
which is found in Malaya, Indonesia, Bolivia, Zaire, Nigeria and
Cornwall. Tin is often used to plate iron to protect it from rusting.
Tincal
Tincal is a crude form of borax found in lake-deposits in parts of Asia.
Tine
A tine is a projecting sharp point such as of a fork, harrow or stag's
antler.
Tinker
A tinker is a person who mends things, the term especially applies to
someone who mends pots, pans and kettles. In Scotland and Northern
Ireland the term is often applied to Romanys.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the medical condition of noises in the ear which are not due
to external sounds. It is a condition common amongst the deaf and hard of
hearing.
Tinplate
Tinplate is steel covered in tin.
Tinsel
Tinsel is a shining mettalic material used in thin strips or threads to
give a sparkling effect in decorations.
Tippet
A tippet was a woman's small cape or collar made of fur, or silk usualy
with two ends hanging down in front.
Tipstaff
A tipstaff is a metal-tipped staff which is a symbol of a Sheriff's
office.
Tissue
In biological terms, tissue is an organised mass of cells, such as any
part of an animal's body or a plant's structure.
Tissues
see "Tissue"
Titanic
The Titanic was a supposedly unsinkable British ocean liner.
Titanium
Titanium is a metal element.
Titans
see "Titan"
Toby
A toby is a mug or small jug used for ale. They are made in various
forms, but originally they were in the form of a stout man wearing a long
full-skirted coat and a three-cornered hat.
Toddy
Toddy is a drink made from the fresh or fermented sap of various species
of palm.
Toffee
Toffee is a sweet of sugar, butter and flavourings boiled together and
then allowed to cool and harden.
Toga
A toga was an outer garment worn by citizens of ancient Rome. It was a
flowing cloak covering the entire body except the right arm.
Tokay
Tokay is a rich sweet aromatic wine made near Tokay in Hungary.
Toleration act
The toleration act of parliament in 1689 gave the right to freedom of
worship in England.
Toll
A toll is a tax or duty chargable for selling goods, setting up a stall,
or travelling along a public road, bridge or ferry or for transporting
goods by railway.
Toluene
Toluene is a liquid derived from petroleum.
Tomtom
A tomtom is a native east Indian drum usualy beaten with the hands.
Ton
The ton is a unit of measurement of the avoirdupois scale equivalent to
20 hundredweight, 2240 pounds or 1.016 tonnes.
Tondo
A tondo is a painting or carving in relief within a circular shape.
Tong
A tong is a Chinese association. The term is especially applied to
Chinese secret organisations.
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils.
Tonsure
Tonsure is the religious practice of having the head shaved before
entering the priesthood or becoming a monk.
Topee
A topee is a light pith helmet.
Topiary
Topiary is the art of clipping and trimming shrubs into ornamental
designs.
Topology
Topology is a branch of mathematics which studies geometric objects from
the point of view of their general shape rather than their precise
measurements.
Toponymy
Toponymy is the study of a region's place names.
Toque
A toque is a small brimless hat made of folded or swathed material.
Tor
A tor is a craggy or rocky hill or peak. The term is most used in
Cornwall and Devon.
Torchon
Torchon is a strong, coarse linen bobbin-lace.
Toreador
A toreador is a mounted bullfighter.
Torero
Torero is the term used for someone who fights bulls for a living.
Tornado
A tornado is a violent storm with heavy rain in which the wind rotates or
constantly changes direction.
Torque
A torque was a necklace or collar of twisted metal worn by ancient
Britons and Gauls.
Torsel
In building, a torsel is a block of stone or piece of wood or iron set in
a wall to support a beam or joist.
Torso
A torso is a statue or multilated human body lacking a head and limbs.
Torticollis
Torticollis is a rheumatic or other affection of the muscles causing
twisting and and stiffness of the neck.
Tortilla
A tortilla is a Latin American thin flat cake made of maize flour and
baked on a flat piece of stone or iron.
Torus
In architecture, a torus is a large convex moulding, usually at the base
of a column.
Toupee
A toupee was originaly a top-knot of hair crowning a wig. Today the term
is used to describe any false hair piece.
Tournament
A tournament was an equestrian contest between military knights and
others armed with lances which were common in the Middle Ages. They were
introduced to England by the Normans.
Tournedos
A tournedos is a small piece of fillet beef grilled or sauted.
Tourniquet
A tourniquet is a bandage for stopping the flow of blood through an
artery.
Tower
A tower is a tall structure.
Tower of Babel
see "babel"
Tower of London
The Tower of London was built as a fortress by William The Conqueror. It
was a royal palace in the Middle Ages, and was later used as a garrison
and prison. The crown jewels are kept at the Tower of London.
Toxaemia
Toxaemia is blood poisoning.
Toxic
Something is said to be toxic (poisonous) if when introduced into a
living organism it destroys it or damages its health.
Toxicology
Toxicology is the study of nature and effects of poisons and their
detection and treatment.
Toxin
Toxin refers to a toxic substance of animal or vegetable origin.
Toxophilite
A toxophilite is someone who is learning archery.
Toxophily
Toxophily is the practice of, or addiction to archery.
Tracheid
Tracheid is the water conducting component in the wood of vascular
plants.
Tracheotomy
Tracheotomy is the cutting and insertion of a pipe into the trachea. It
is used in such cases as the trachea is blocked so that the patient may
breath.
Trachoma
Trachoma is a contagious form of conjunctivitis with inflammation of the
inner surface of the eyelids. It frequently leads to blindness.
Tragedy
In the theatre, a tragedy is a play dealing with a serious theme.
Tram
A tram is a passenger vehicle, similar to a bus, which runs along rails
on public roads. The rails are flush with the road's surface allowing
other motor vehicles to also use the roads at the same time.
Trammel
A trammel is a fishing net consisting of a fine net hung loosely between
verticle walls of a coarser net so that fish passing through the coarse
net carry some of the finer net through with them and are caught in the
resulting pocket.
Trampoline
A trampoline is a canvas sheet attached to a horizontal metal framework
by springs to provide a resilient platform for acrobats.
Transducer
A transducer is a device which takes in power from one part of a system
and emits power of a different kind to another part.
Transept
Transepts are the cross aisles of a church, projecting at right angles
from the nave or choir.
Transistor
A transistor is an electronic component made of a semiconductor material
and three or more electrodes.
Transmutation
Transmutation is a biological term whereby one species transforms into
another through an evolutionary process.
Transom
A transom is a cross bar separating a door from the fan light above it.
Transuranic
Transuranic is a chemical term refering to artificially manufactured
elements which have an atomic number higher than uranium.
Transvestite
A transvestite is a person who dresses in the clothes of the opposite
sex.
Trapeze
A trapeze is a horizontal bar suspended by two ropes and used as a piece
of apparatus by acrobats.
Trapezoid
A trapezoid is a quadrilateral shape in which none of the sides are
parallel.
Trawler
A trawler is a fishing ship which catches fish by trawling, that is with
a net dragged along the bottom of the sea.
Treacle
Treacle is an uncrystallized syrup produced when sugar is refined.
Treadle
A treadle is a foot operated lever used to impart motion to a machine,
such as a sewing machine or lathe for example.
Trellis
A trellis is a structure of light bars crossing each other with open
squares or diamond-shaped spaces between them. Trellis are used as
screens and to support climbing plants.
Trencher
A trencher is a flat slab of wood or metal upon which meat is cut.
Trental
In the Roman Catholic church, trental is a set of 30 requiem masses said
daily or all on one day.
Trepan
A trepan was a surgeon's cylindrical saw.
Trephine
A trephine is a surgeon's cylindrical saw with a guiding centre pin used
for removing part of the bone of the skull. The trephine has taken over
from the trepan.
Trews
Trews were close-fitting trousers or breeches combined with stockings
worn by Scottish highlanders and the Irish.
Triad
A triad is a Chinese secret society. Originally a buddhist cult they are
now crime organisation.
Triassic
The Triassic was the ninth geological period, 170,000,000 years ago.
Tribology
Tribology is the study of friction, wear, lubrication and bearing design.
Tribune
A tribune was an ancient Roman administrative officer.
Trichology
Trichology is the study of the structure, functions and diseases of hair.
Tricorn
A tricorn is a three-cornered cocked hat.
Triduum
In The Roman Catholic religion, a triduum is three days of prayer in
preparation for a feast or other solemn occasion.
Trifle
Trifle is a sweet dish of sponge-cakes flavoured with wine or jam and
topped with custard and whipped cream.
Trilby
A trilby is a soft felt hat with a narrow brim and an indented crown.
Trimaran
A trimaran is a boat similar to a catamaran, but with 3 hulls side by
side.
Trinitrate
In chemistry, a trinitrate is a compound formed from 3 molecules of
nitric acid by the replacement of the 3 hydrogen atoms by a trivalent
element or radicle.
Trinitrotoluene
Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a high explosive.
Triode
A triode is an electronic amplifying valve with 3 main electrodes (anode,
cathode and grid).
Trioxide
In chemistry, a trioxide is a compound with 3 atoms of oxygen with an
element or radical.
Tripe
Tripe is the culinary term for a ruminant's stomach.
Tritium
Tritium is an unstable isotope of hydrogen.
Trocar
A trocar is a surgical stylet with a triangular point enclosed in a metal
tube and used for withdrawing fluid from a cavity.
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument of the brass family.
Tropacocaine
Tropacocaine is a local anaesthetic obtained from coca leaves grown in
Java.
Trowel
In building, a trowel is a flat bladed tool with a short handle used for
spreading mortar. A gardener's trowel is a scoop shaped tool with a short
handle.
Trug
A trug is a shallow garden basket made of wooden strips and with a handle
extending from side to side.
Trumpet
The trumpet is a musical instrument of the brass family.
Tryptophan
Tryptophan is a crystalline amino-acid formed in tryptic digestion. Its
presence in food is essential for an animal's proper growth.
Tsunami
A tsunami is a seismic sea wave originating from any one of several
submarine geological phenomena, such as volcanic explosions. They travel
in the open ocean at speeds up to 640 kmh.
Tuba
The tuba is a musical instrument of the brass family.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease in humans and animals
caused by the bacteria tubercule bacillus and characterized by the
formation of tubercles in bodily tissues, especially the lungs.
Tuesday
Tuesday is the second day of the week.
Tug
A tug is a boat used for towing other ships.
Tumbrel
A tumbrel is a type of cart, formerly used for carrying dung and
prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution.
Tungsten
Tungsten is a metal element.
Tunic
A tunic was an ancient Greek and then Roman short-sleeved body garment
reaching to the knees. Today the term applies more generally to a close-
fitting short coat of a police or military uniform.
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway.
Turbine
A turbine is a type of engine. Steam turbines often propell ships and
power stations. Gas turbines are also used.
Tutenag
Tutenag is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc used at one time for
domesticware and fire-grates.
Tutu
A tutu is a dancer's short skirt made of layers of stiffened frills.
Tuxedo
A tuxedo is a man's evening dress or dinner-jacket.
Tweezer
A tweezer is a small pair of tongs used for picking up small objects.
Twill
Twill is a textile fabric with a surface of parallel diagonal ribs
produced by passing weft-threads over one and under two or more warp-
threads.
Tympanum
Tympanum is an archeological term for the space at the back of a
pediment.
Tynwald
Tynwald is the parliament in the isle of man.
Typhus
Typhus is an acute contagious fever transmitted to man by body-lice and
rat-fleas infected by Rickettsia prowazekii. Typhus is characterised by
the eruption of rose-coloured spots, extreme prostration and often
delirium.
Tyrian dye
Tyrian dye was a purple dye derived from animal juice in the shell-fish
murex. It was used in ancient times. Since only small quantities could be
obtained, it's use was limited to the great and the wealthy, hence purple
became the colour associated with majesty.
Uber cup
The uber cup is a badminton tournament.
Ukulele
The ukulele is a four stringed, small guitar.
Ultramarine
Ultramarine is a blue pigment derived from lapis lazuli.
Ultrasonic
Ultrasonic is a term refering to sound waves higher in frequency than
15khz.
Umbra
Umbra is the astrological term for the shadow cast by a planet or
satellite.
Umbrella
An umbrella is a light, portable screen usually circular and supported on
a central stick. They are used as protection against the sun, and rain.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organisation for peace and
security.
Universe
The universe is all of space and its contents.
Ural mountains
The ural mountains are a mountain range which separate Europe from Asia.
Uranium
Uranium is a metal element.
Urea
Urea is a waste product formed when mammals break down nitrogen
compounds.
Uric acid
Uric acid is a nitrogen containing waste product found in the urine of
birds and reptiles, but rarely mammals.
Urine
Urine is a fluid produced by the kidneys.
Valency
Valency is a term used by chemists to describe the combining ability of
af an element with respect to hydrogen.
Valve
In electronics, a valve is a device consisting of two or more metal
plates enclosed in an evacuated glass bulb. One of the metal plates is
heated, causing electrons to be emitted. If a positive charge is applied
to the other plate, the electrons will move towards it and the valve will
conduct electricity. Valves have largely been superseded by transitors
which are smaller.
Vanadium
Vanadium is a metal element. Its symbol is V.
Vellum
Vellum is a type of superior parchment made from the skin of a calf, kid
or lamb.
Velocity
Velocity is the rate of motion, that is the rate of change of position of
a body in a given direction within a measurement of time.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a 4% solution of acetic acid.
Violin
The violin is a family of stringed musical instruments.
Virgo
Virgo is a sign of the zodiac represented by a virgin.
Virus
A virus is an infectious particle consisting of a core of nucleic acids
enclosed in a protein shell.
Viscose
Viscose is a yellowish, syrupy solution made by treating cellulose with
sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. The solution is then regenerated
as continuous filament for the making of rayon and as cellophane.
Vitamin
Vitamins are chemical substances which are used by animal bodies for
growth and repair of certain tissues and cells.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A (carotene) occurs in certain fats and the fatty parts of some
foods. It is used by the human body to enable the eyes to perceive light,
and to promote growth in children and to protect moist areas of the body
such as the lining of the respiratory tract.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B refers to a group of over eleven vitamins. Including Thiamine,
Riboflavin, Nicotinic Acid, Pyridoxine, Pantothenic acid, biotin and
other substances.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is used by animal bodies for the production of
the immune system, and maintenance of the skin and other cells. Vitamin C
occurs almost exclusively in vegetable matter, and is destroyed by heat.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D (calciferol) is a substance which assists animal bodies to lay
down calcium and phosphorus in bones. Vitamin D is mainly found in animal
matter, and can also be produced by the body from sunlight.
Vodka
Vodka is an alcoholic beverage distiled from rye, potatoes, maize or
barley.
Volcano
A volcano is a vent in the earth's crust.
Volt
The volt is the unit of electromotive force. It was named after
Alessandro Volta.
Voodoo
Voodoo is a form of magic.
Wadi
A wadi is an irrigation canal found in arab countries.
Walker cup
The Walker cup is an international golf tournament.
Warp
Warp threads are the parallel threads which traverse a loom from end to
end.
Water
Water is a liquid oxide of hydrogen.
Water table
The water table is the level of ground below which the rocks are
saturated with water.
Watergate
Watergate was a political scandal in the USA resulting in the resignation
of president Nixon in 1974.
Watlingstreet
Watlingstreet was a British Roman road extending from Dover, through
London, St. Albans, Dunstable and Towcester into north Whales with a
branch extending to Scotland.
Wax
Wax is a solid fatty substance.
Weaving
Weaving is the art of interlacing yarn threads or other filaments by
means of a loom, so as to form a web of cloth or other woven fabric. Two
sets of threads are used which traverse the web at right angles to each
other. The first set extends from end to end of the web in parallel lines
and is called the warp; while the other set of threads crosses and
interlaces with the warp from side to side of the web and is called the
weft.
Wednesday
Wednesday is the third day of the week.
Weft
Weft are threads crossing from side to side of a web and interwoven with
warp.
Welding
Welding is the process of joining two pieces of metal together by
hammering, pressure or fusion.
Whisky
Whisky is an alcoholic beverage made from malted barley.
White dwarf
A white dwarf is small hot star.
Wightman cup
The Wightman cup is a tennis tournament.
Wine
Wine is the fermented juice of grapes.
Wolfram
Wolfram is another name for the element tungsten.
Wolframite
Wolframite is the most important tungsten ore. It has a relative hardness
of 5.
Wood pitch
Wood pitch is a by-product of charcoal manufacture, made from wood tar,
the condensed liquid produced from burning charcoal gases. The wood tar
is boiled to produce the correct consistency. It has been used since
ancient times for filling in the spaces between the hull planks in wooden
ships to make them watertight.
Woodwind
A woodwind instrument is one with which sound is produced by blowing into
a tube.
Wool
Wool is the fibrous covering of sheep.
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of combat contest between two opponents in which the
object is to grapple the opponent to the floor.
Wynd
A wynd is a narrow street or passage off a main thoroughfare.
Xanthoma
Xanthoma is a skin disease characterized by irregular yellowish patches
on the eyelids and neck.
Xenon
Xenon is a gaseous element. It's symbol is Xe.
Xylophone
The xylophone is a percussion musical instrument.
Yacht
A yacht is a light sailing vessel built for racing.
Yapp
Yapp is a type of bookbinding of limp leather with overlapping edges. It
was first made for Yapp, a London bookseller in 1860, hence the name.
Yard
The yard is a unit of the imperial scale of measurement of length
equivalent to 3 FEET, 36 inches or 0.9144 metres.
Yards
see "Yard"
Yarn
Yarn is a fibre, such as cotton, wool, silk or flax which has been spun
and prepared for use in weaving or knitting.
Yawl
A yawl is a two-masted sailing ship. The aftermast is much smaller than
the mainmast and is placed far aft.
Yeanling
Yeanling is an old term for a young lamb or kid.
Yearling
A yearling is a one-year old animal. The term is generally applied to
sheep, calves and foals.
Yolk
Yolk is a food store found in eggs.
Ytterbium
Ytterbium is a metal element.
Yttrium
Yttrium is a metal element.
Zinc
Zinc is a metal element.
Zirconium
Zirconium is a lustrous, grayish-white, strong, ductile, metallic
element, symbol Zr, atomic number 40, atomic weight 91.22. It occurs in
nature as the mineral zircon (zirconium silicate), from which it is
obtained commercially. It is used in some ceramics, alloys for wire and
filaments, steel manufacture, and nuclear reactors, where its low neutron
absorption is advantageous.
Zither
The zither is an Austrian musical instrument.
Zodiac
The zodiac is the name given by the Greeks to the heavens.
Zwitterion
Zwitterion is an ion that has both a positive and a negative charge, such
as an amino acid in neutral solution.
ABBREVIATIONS
2D
2D is an abbreviation for 2-Dimensional
3D
3D is an abbreviation for 3-Dimensional
3M
3M is an abbreviation for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing
4GL
4GL is an abbreviation for Fourth Generation Language
4H
4H is an abbreviation for Head, Heart, Hands, Health
4WD
4WD is an abbreviation for Four wheel Drive (see also FWD)
A
A is an abbreviation for Aftermath
A&A
A&A is an abbreviation for Astronomy and Astrophysics [Space]
A&M
A&M is an abbreviation for Agricultural and Mechanical
A/D
A/D is an abbreviation for Analog to Digital converter (see ADC)
A/P
A/P is an abbreviation for Accounts Payable
A/R
A/R is an abbreviation for Accounts Receivable
AA
AA is an abbreviation for Affirmative Action committee
Alcoholics Anonymous
Antiaircraft Artillery
Associate in Accounting
Automobile Association [England]
AAA
AAA is an abbreviation for American Automobile Association
AAAL
AAAL is an abbreviation for American Academy of Arts and Letters
AAAS
AAAS is an abbreviation for American Association for the Advancement of
Science
AAII
AAII is an abbreviation for American Association of Individual Investors
AAMSI
AAMSI is an abbreviation for American Association for Medical Systems
Informatics
AAO
AAO is an abbreviation for Anglo-Australian Observatory [Space]
AAP
AAP is an abbreviation for Affirmative Action Program
AAR
AAR is an abbreviation for Automatic Alternate Routing
AARC
AARC is an abbreviation for Anglo-American Cataloging Rules
AARN
AARN is an abbreviation for Australian Academic Research Network
[Networking]
AARP
AARP is an abbreviation for American Association of Retired Persons
AAS
AAS is an abbreviation for American Astronomical Society [Space]
AAVSO
AAVSO is an abbreviation for American Association of Variable Star
Observers [Space]
AB
AB is an abbreviation for ABle seaman
ABA
ABA is an abbreviation for American Bar Association
American Basketball Association
American Booksellers Association
ABBR
ABBR is an abbreviation for ABBReviation
ABC
ABC is an abbreviation for American Broadcasting Company [Corporate name]
AC
AC is an abbreviation for Alternating Current (ac, see also DC)
Ante Christum (before Christ)
Ante Cibum (before meals)
ACAA
ACAA is an abbreviation for Agricultural Conservation and Adjustment
Administration
ACAWS
ACAWS is an abbreviation for Advisory, Caution, And Warning System
ACBL
ACBL is an abbreviation for American Contract Bridge League
ACC
ACC is an abbreviation for Argonne Code Center
ACCS
ACCS is an abbreviation for Army Command and Control System
ACD
ACD is an abbreviation for Automatic Call Distributor [Telephony]
ACE
ACE is an abbreviation for Advanced Composition Explorer [Space]
Advanced Computing Environments [Corporate name]
Automatic Calibration and Equalization
ACF
ACF is an abbreviation for Advanced Communications Function
ACHEFT
ACHEFT is an abbreviation for Automated Clearing House Electronic Funds
Transfer
ACK
ACK is an abbreviation for ACKnowledge
ACL
ACL is an abbreviation for Advanced Cmos Logic
ACLU
ACLU is an abbreviation for American Civil Liberties Union
ACM
ACM is an abbreviation for Association for Computing Machinery
ACRV
ACRV is an abbreviation for Assured Crew Return Vehicle (or) Astronaut
Crew Rescue Vehicle [Space]
ACS
ACS is an abbreviation for Advanced Communications System
ACSE
ACSE is an abbreviation for Association Control Service Entity (ISO/CCITT
layer 7)
ACT
ACT is an abbreviation for Action for Children's Television (in
Cambridge, MA)
American Conservatory Theater
ACTS
ACTS is an abbreviation for Advanced Communications Technology Satellite
Automatic Coin Telephone Service [Telephony]
ACU
ACU is an abbreviation for Alarm Control Unit
Automatic Call Unit [Telephony]
ACW
ACW is an abbreviation for Alternating Continuous Waves
AD
AD is an abbreviation for After Date
Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord)
Application Development
Ad Astra
Ad Astra is an abbreviation for To the stars [Latin, Space]
AD&D
AD&D is an abbreviation for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
ADAP
ADAP is an abbreviation for Alzheimer's disease-associated protein
American Discount Auto Parts [Corporate name]
ADB
ADB is an abbreviation for A DeBugger
Apple Desktop Bus
ADC
ADC is an abbreviation for Analog to Digital Converter
ADCI
ADCI is an abbreviation for Automatic Display Call Indicator
ADF
ADF is an abbreviation for Automatic Direction Finder
ADM
ADM is an abbreviation for ADMiral
ADP
ADP is an abbreviation for Adenosine Di-Phosphate
Administrative Data Processing
Advanced Data Processing
ADPCM
ADPCM is an abbreviation for Pulse Code Modulation with Adaptive
Quantization
ADS
ADS is an abbreviation for Application Development System
ADSR
ADSR is an abbreviation for Attack Decay Sustain Release
ADT
ADT is an abbreviation for Abstract Data Type
Atlantic Daylight Time
AE
AE is an abbreviation for Application Execution
AEA
AEA is an abbreviation for American Electronics Association
AEC
AEC is an abbreviation for Atomic Energy Commission
AEF
AEF is an abbreviation for American Expeditionary Force (see BEF)
AEGIS
AEGIS is an abbreviation for Advanced Electronic Guidance and
Instrumentation System
AF
AF is an abbreviation for Adventures in Fantasy
Air Force
Audio Frequency
AFADS
AFADS is an abbreviation for Automatic Force Adjustment Data System
AFATDS
AFATDS is an abbreviation for Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data
System
AFB
AFB is an abbreviation for Air Force Base
AFC
AFC is an abbreviation for American Football Conference
Automatic Flight Control
Automatic Frequency Control
AFCAC
AFCAC is an abbreviation for Air Force Computer Acquisition Center
AFCC
AFCC is an abbreviation for Air Force Communications Command
AFGE
AFGE is an abbreviation for American Federation of Government Employees
AFIPS
AFIPS is an abbreviation for American Federation of Information
Processing Societies
AFL
AFL is an abbreviation for American Federation of Labor
American Football League
AFLCIO
AFLCIO is an abbreviation for American Federation of Labor and Congress
of Industrial Organizations
AFNOR
AFNOR is an abbreviation for Association Francaise de NORmalization
AFP
AFP is an abbreviation for Appletalk Filing Protocol
AFS
AFS is an abbreviation for Andrew File System
AFSC
AFSC is an abbreviation for Air Force Systems Command
AFSCME
AFSCME is an abbreviation for American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees
AFTRA
AFTRA is an abbreviation for American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists
AFV
AFV is an abbreviation for Armoured Fighting Vehicle
AG
AG is an abbreviation for Adjutant General
Arcade Game
Attorney General
AGCT
AGCT is an abbreviation for Army General Classification Test
AGN
AGN is an abbreviation for Active Galactic Nucleus [Space]
AHL
AHL is an abbreviation for American Hockey League
AHQ
AHQ is an abbreviation for Air HeadQuarters
AI
AI is an abbreviation for Artificial Intelligence
AIAA
AIAA is an abbreviation for American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics [Space]
AIC
AIC is an abbreviation for Automatic Intercept Center
AID
AID is an abbreviation for Agency for International Development
AIDDE
AIDDE is an abbreviation for Ames' Interactive Dynamic Display Editor
AIDS
AIDS is an abbreviation for Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome
AIOD
AIOD is an abbreviation for Automatic Identification Outward Dialing
AIS
AIS is an abbreviation for Automatic Intercept System
AIX
AIX is an abbreviation for Advanced Interactive eXecutive (IBM's name for
UNIX)
AJ
AJ is an abbreviation for Astronomical Journal [Space]
AK
AK is an abbreviation for Alaska
AKA
AKA is an abbreviation for Also Known As
AL
AL is an abbreviation for Alabama [US state postal designation]
American League (baseball)
ALA
ALA is an abbreviation for American Library Association
Automobile Legal Association
ALB
ALB is an abbreviation for Analog LoopBack
ALBM
ALBM is an abbreviation for Air-to-Land Ballistic Missile
ALC
ALC is an abbreviation for Automatic Load Control
ALGOL
ALGOL is an abbreviation for ALGOrithmic Language
ALIT
ALIT is an abbreviation for Automatic Line Insulation Testing [Telephony]
ALPO
ALPO is an abbreviation for Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers
[Space]
ALS
ALS is an abbreviation for Advanced Launch System [Space]
ALU
ALU is an abbreviation for Arithmetic Logic Unit
AM
AM is an abbreviation for Amplitude Modulation
Ante Meridiem (before noon)
AMA
AMA is an abbreviation for American Medical Association
Automatic Message Accounting [Telephony]
AMARC
AMARC is an abbreviation for Automatic Message Accounting Recording
Center
AMBA
AMBA is an abbreviation for Association of Master of Business
Administration
AMC
AMC is an abbreviation for Albany Medical College
American Motors Corporation(?) [Corporate name]
Appalachian Mountain Club
AMD
AMD is an abbreviation for Advanced Micro Devices [Corporate name]
AMEX
AMEX is an abbreviation for AMerican EXpress [Corporate name]
AMI
AMI is an abbreviation for Alternate Mark Inversion (see also NRZ, NRZI,
B8ZS)
AMORC
AMORC is an abbreviation for Ancient Mystic Order Rosae Crucis
AMP
AMP is an abbreviation for Adenosine MonoPhosphate
AMPAS
AMPAS is an abbreviation for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Acedemy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
AMRAAM
AMRAAM is an abbreviation for Advanced Medium Range Air-To-Air Missile
AMROC
AMROC is an abbreviation for American Rocket Company [Space]
AMSAT
AMSAT is an abbreviation for radio AMateur SATellite corp.
AMU
AMU is an abbreviation for Atomic Mass Unit
AMVET
AMVET is an abbreviation for AMerican VETeran
ANA
ANA is an abbreviation for American Nurses Association
ANAC
ANAC is an abbreviation for Automatic Number Announcemnt Circuit
[Telephony]
ANC
ANC is an abbreviation for All Number Calling [Telephony]
Army Nurse Corps
ANDF
ANDF is an abbreviation for Architecture-Neural Distribution Format
ANF
ANF is an abbreviation for Automatic Number Forwarding [Telephony]
ANG
ANG is an abbreviation for Air National Guard
ANI
ANI is an abbreviation for Automatic Number Identification (see also:
CLID) [Telephony]
ANL
ANL is an abbreviation for Argonne National Laboratory
ANOVA
ANOVA is an abbreviation for ANalysis Of VAriance
ANPA
ANPA is an abbreviation for American Newspaper Publishers Association
ANSI
ANSI is an abbreviation for American National Standards Institute
ANZUS
ANZUS is an abbreviation for Australia, New Zealand, United States
AO
AO is an abbreviation for Account Of
AOA
AOA is an abbreviation for Abort Once Around (Shuttle abort plan) [Space]
Abort Once Around [NASA, Shuttle]
AOL
AOL is an abbreviation for Absent Over Leave (see AWOL)
AOS
AOS is an abbreviation for Academic Operating System
Alternate Operator Service [Telephony]
AP
AP is an abbreviation for Additional Premium
All Points
Associated Press [Corporate name]
Ap.J
Ap.J is an abbreviation for Astrophysical Journal [Space]
APA
APA is an abbreviation for All Points Addressable
American Psychological Association
APB
APB is an abbreviation for All Points Bulletin
APDA
APDA is an abbreviation for Apple Programmers and Developers Association
API
API is an abbreviation for Application Programming Interface
APICS
APICS is an abbreviation for American Production and Inventory Control
Society
APL
APL is an abbreviation for A Programming Language
acute promyelocytic leukemia [Disease]
APO
APO is an abbreviation for Alpha Phi Omega, service fraternity
Army Post Office
APP
APP is an abbreviation for Applications Portability Profile
APPC
APPC is an abbreviation for Advanced Peer-to-Peer Communications
APR
APR is an abbreviation for Annual Percentage Rate (as in loan interest)
APSE
APSE is an abbreviation for Ada Programming Support Environment
APU
APU is an abbreviation for Auxiliary Power Unit [Space]
AQ
AQ is an abbreviation for Accumulator-Quotient register
AR
AR is an abbreviation for Address Register
Arkansas
ARC
ARC is an abbreviation for AIDS-related complex
American Red Cross
Ames Research Center (NASA) [Space]
ARCNET
ARCNET is an abbreviation for Attached Resource Computer local area
NETwork
ARO
ARO is an abbreviation for After Receipt of Order
ARP
ARP is an abbreviation for Address Resolution Protocol
ARPA
ARPA is an abbreviation for Advanced Research Projects Agency (of the
DoD, see DARPA)
ARPANET
ARPANET is an abbreviation for ARPA (q.v.) NETwork
ARRL
ARRL is an abbreviation for Amateur Radio Relay League
ARV
ARV is an abbreviation for American Revised Version
AS
AS is an abbreviation for Anglo-Saxon
ASA
ASA is an abbreviation for Acetyl Salicylic Acid
ASAP
ASAP is an abbreviation for As Soon As Possible
ASC
ASC is an abbreviation for Accredited Standards Committee
ASCAP
ASCAP is an abbreviation for American Society of Composers, Authors, and
Publishers
ASCC
ASCC is an abbreviation for Automatic Sequence-Controlled Calculator
ASCII
ASCII is an abbreviation for American Standard Code for Information
Interchange
ASDIC
ASDIC is an abbreviation for Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation
Committee (British for sonar)
ASDSP
ASDSP is an abbreviation for Application-Specific Digital Signal
Processor
ASG
ASG is an abbreviation for Automated Sciences Group
ASHRAE
ASHRAE is an abbreviation for Amer. Soc. of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air-cond. Engineers, inc.
ASIC
ASIC is an abbreviation for Application Specific Integrated Circuit
ASME
ASME is an abbreviation for American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASN
ASN is an abbreviation for Abstract Syntax Notation One (ISO/CCITT ASN.1)
ASP
ASP is an abbreviation for Aggregated Switch Procurement
ASRM
ASRM is an abbreviation for Advanced Solid Rocket Motor [Space]
ASSR
ASSR is an abbreviation for Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
AST
AST is an abbreviation for Atlantic Standard Time
ASV
ASV is an abbreviation for American Standard Version
AT
AT is an abbreviation for Atlantic Time
AT&T
AT&T is an abbreviation for American Telephone & Telegraph [Corporate
name]
ATA
ATA is an abbreviation for Automatic Trouble Analysis
ATACC
ATACC is an abbreviation for Advanced Tactical Air Command Central
ATB
ATB is an abbreviation for Advanced Technology Bomber (stealth bomber)
ATC
ATC is an abbreviation for Air Traffic Control
ATDRS
ATDRS is an abbreviation for Advanced Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
[Space]
ATF
ATF is an abbreviation for Advanced Technology Fighter
ATIS
ATIS is an abbreviation for Atherton Tools Interface Specification
ATLAS
ATLAS is an abbreviation for Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and
Science [Space]
ATM
ATM is an abbreviation for Amateur Telescope Maker [Space]
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Automatic Teller Machine
ATO
ATO is an abbreviation for Abort To Orbit (Shuttle abort plan) [Space]
Abort To Orbit [NASA, Shuttle]
ATOMS
ATOMS is an abbreviation for AT&t Optimized Materials Simulator
ATP
ATP is an abbreviation for Adenosine TriPhosphate
ATPCO
ATPCO is an abbreviation for Airline Tariff Publishing COmpany
ATT
ATT is an abbreviation for American Telephone & Telegraph (normally
written AT&T when seperate)
ATTIS
ATTIS is an abbreviation for American Telephone and Telegraph Information
Systems [AT&T] (Division)
ATV
ATV is an abbreviation for All Terrain Vehicle
AU
AU is an abbreviation for Astronomical Unit (93,000,000 miles) [Space]
Astronomical Unit [Space]
AUI
AUI is an abbreviation for Attachment Universal Interface
AURA
AURA is an abbreviation for Association of Universities for Research in
Astronomy [Space]
AUS
AUS is an abbreviation for Army of the United States
AUTODIN
AUTODIN is an abbreviation for AUTOmatic DIgital Network
AUTOVON
AUTOVON is an abbreviation for AUTOmatic VOice Network
AV
AV is an abbreviation for AudioVisual
AVD
AVD is an abbreviation for Alternate Voice Data
AVLIS
AVLIS is an abbreviation for Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation
AW&ST
AW&ST is an abbreviation for Aviation Week and Space Technology (a.k.a.
AvLeak) [Space]
AWACS
AWACS is an abbreviation for Airborne Warnings And Control Systems
AWEA
AWEA is an abbreviation for American Wind Energy Association
AWG
AWG is an abbreviation for American Wire Gauge
AWK
AWK is an abbreviation for al Aho, peter Weinberger, brian Kernighan
(pattern scanning language)
AWOL
AWOL is an abbreviation for Absent WithOut Leave (also Absent Without
Official Leave) (see AOL)
AXAF
AXAF is an abbreviation for Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility [Space]
AZ
AZ is an abbreviation for Arizona
B
B is an abbreviation for Book
B8ZS
B8ZS is an abbreviation for Binary 8 Zero Substitution (see also NRZ,
NRZI, AMI)
BA
BA is an abbreviation for Bachelor of Arts
BACH
BACH is an abbreviation for Business Alliance for Commerce in Hemp
BAFO
BAFO is an abbreviation for Best And Final Offer
BARRNet
BARRNet is an abbreviation for Bay Area Regional Research Network (SF Bay
Area)
BASIC
BASIC is an abbreviation for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction
Code
BATSE
BATSE is an abbreviation for Burst And Transient Source Experiment (on
GRO) [Space]
BB
BB is an abbreviation for Bases on Balls
Best of Breed
Bunnies and Burrows
BBA
BBA is an abbreviation for Bachelor of Business Administration
BBB
BBB is an abbreviation for Better Business Bureau
BBC
BBC is an abbreviation for British Broadcasting Corporation
BBL
BBL is an abbreviation for Barrel
BBN
BBN is an abbreviation for Bolt, Beranek, and Newman, Inc. [Corporate
name]
BBXRT
BBXRT is an abbreviation for Broad-Band X-Ray Telescope (ASTRO package)
[Space]
BC
BC is an abbreviation for Battlecars
Before Christ
British Columbia
BC/BS
BC/BS is an abbreviation for Blue Cross/Blue Shield
BCD
BCD is an abbreviation for Bad Conduct Discharge
Binary Coded Decimal
BCDIC
BCDIC is an abbreviation for Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code
BCE
BCE is an abbreviation for Before the Common Era (substitute for BC)
BCNU
BCNU is an abbreviation for Be Seeing You [Net jargon]
BCP
BCP is an abbreviation for Byte Controlled Protocols
BCPL
BCPL is an abbreviation for Basic Combined Programming Language
BCS
BCS is an abbreviation for Bachelor of Commercial Science
Binary Compatibility Standard
Boston Computer Society
British Computer Society
BD
BD is an abbreviation for Bachelor of Divinity
Bank Draft
Bills Discounted
BD&D
BD&D is an abbreviation for Basic Dungeons & Dragons
BDF
BDF is an abbreviation for Binary Distribution Format
BDT
BDT is an abbreviation for Billing Data Transmitter
BE
BE is an abbreviation for Bill of Exchange
BEF
BEF is an abbreviation for British Expeditionary Force (see AEF)
BELCORE
BELCORE is an abbreviation for BELL COmmunications REsearch
BEM
BEM is an abbreviation for Bug Eyed Monster
Bug-Eyed Monster [Space]
BENELUX
BENELUX is an abbreviation for BElgium, NEtherlands, and LUXembourg
BER
BER is an abbreviation for Bit Error Rate
BERT
BERT is an abbreviation for Bit Error Rate Test
BEST
BEST is an abbreviation for Borland Enhanced Support and Training
BF
BF is an abbreviation for Brought Forward
BFA
BFA is an abbreviation for Bachelor of Fine Arts
BFD
BFD is an abbreviation for Bristol (RI) Fire Department (probably typical
of any town starting "B")
BH
BH is an abbreviation for Black Hole [Space]
Boot Hill
BHP
BHP is an abbreviation for Brake HorsePower
BICS
BICS is an abbreviation for Building Industry Consulting Services
[Telephony]
BID
BID is an abbreviation for Bis In Die (twice a day)
BIMA
BIMA is an abbreviation for Berkeley Illinois Maryland Array [Space]
BIOS
BIOS is an abbreviation for Basic Input Output System
BIS
BIS is an abbreviation for Business Information System
BISDN
BISDN is an abbreviation for Broadband ISDN (q.v.) [Telephony]
BiSync
BiSync is an abbreviation for Binary Synchronous Communications (BSC is
preferred) [IBM]
Bit
Bit is an abbreviation for BInary digiT
BITNET
BITNET is an abbreviation for Because It's Time Network
BLAST
BLAST is an abbreviation for BLocked ASynchronous Transmission
BLERT
BLERT is an abbreviation for BLock Error Rate Test
BLF
BLF is an abbreviation for Busy Lamp Field [Telephony]
BLT
BLT is an abbreviation for BLock Transfer [Instruction]
Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (sandwich)
Branch Less Than [Instruction]
BM
BM is an abbreviation for Basal Metabolism
Bowel Movement
BMA
BMA is an abbreviation for Bank Marketing Association
BMEWS
BMEWS is an abbreviation for Ballistic Missile Early Warning
BMO
BMO is an abbreviation for Ballistic Missile Office
BMOC
BMOC is an abbreviation for Big Man On Campus
BMR
BMR is an abbreviation for Basal Metabolism Rate
BNC
BNC is an abbreviation for Bayonet Neill Concelman (connector)
[Electronics] (see also TNC)
BNF
BNF is an abbreviation for Bachus-Naur Form
BO
BO is an abbreviation for Body Odor
Branch Office
Buyer's Option
BOC
BOC is an abbreviation for Bell Operating Company
BOD
BOD is an abbreviation for Board Of Directors
BOF
BOF is an abbreviation for Birds Of a Feather
BOM
BOM is an abbreviation for Bill Of Materials
BOOTP
BOOTP is an abbreviation for Bootstrap Protocol [Internet]
BOQ
BOQ is an abbreviation for Bachelor Officers' Quarters
BOS
BOS is an abbreviation for Business Office Supervisor
BOSIX
BOSIX is an abbreviation for Biin Open System Interface eXtension
BP
BP is an abbreviation for Blood Pressure
British Petroleum
British Pharmacopoeia
BPI
BPI is an abbreviation for Bits Per Inch
BPL
BPL is an abbreviation for Boston Public Library
Branch if PLus [Instruction]
BPOE
BPOE is an abbreviation for Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
BPS
BPS is an abbreviation for Bits Per Second
BR
BR is an abbreviation for Bills Receivable
British Rail
BRA
BRA is an abbreviation for Boston Redevelopment Authority
BRI
BRI is an abbreviation for Basic Rate Interface (ISDN) [Telephony]
BRIEF
BRIEF is an abbreviation for Basic Reconfigurable Interactive Editing
Facility
BRL
BRL is an abbreviation for army Ballistic Research Laboratory
BRS
BRS is an abbreviation for Bibliographic Retrieval Service
BS
BS is an abbreviation for Bachelor of Science
Bill of Sale
BSA
BSA is an abbreviation for Birmingham Small Arms
Boy Scouts of America
BSC
BSC is an abbreviation for Binary Synchronous Communications (also
sometimes BiSync) [IBM]
BSc
BSc is an abbreviation for Bachelor of SCience
BSD
BSD is an abbreviation for Berkeley Software Distribution
BSN
BSN is an abbreviation for Bachelor of Science in Nursing
BSS
BSS is an abbreviation for Block Started by Symbol
BSTJ
BSTJ is an abbreviation for Bell System Technical Journal
BT
BT is an abbreviation for British Telecom
BTAM
BTAM is an abbreviation for Basic Telecommunications Access Method [IBM]
BThU
BThU is an abbreviation for British Thermal Unit (BTU {q.v.} is
preferred)
BTL
BTL is an abbreviation for Bell Telephone Laboratories
BTO
BTO is an abbreviation for Bachman Turner Overdrive
BTU
BTU is an abbreviation for British Thermal Unit
BTW
BTW is an abbreviation for By The Way [Net jargon]
BU
BU is an abbreviation for Boston University
BUF
BUF is an abbreviation for B-52 bomber ("Big Ugly Fellow") [USAF]
BV
BV is an abbreviation for Blessed Virgin
BWI
BWI is an abbreviation for Baltimore-Washington International (airport)
British West Indies
BX
BX is an abbreviation for Base eXchange (see also PX)
C
C is an abbreviation for programming language (successor to B, which was
based on BCPL)
C
C is an abbreviation for centi- (metric 1/100)
C&S
C&S is an abbreviation for Chivalry & Sorcery
C&T
C&T is an abbreviation for Communications & Tracking [Space]
C/O
C/O is an abbreviation for in Care Of
CA
CA is an abbreviation for California
Chartered Accountant
Chief Accountant
Chronological Age
Collision Avoidance (as in CSMA/CA (q.v.))
CAB
CAB is an abbreviation for Civil Aeronautics Board
CACM
CACM is an abbreviation for Communications of the Association for
Computing Machinery
CAD
CAD is an abbreviation for Computer Aided Design (sometimes seen as
CAD/CAM)
Computer Aided Dispatching
CAE
CAE is an abbreviation for Common Applications Environment
Computer Aided Engineering
CAI
CAI is an abbreviation for Computer Aided Instruction
CAIS
CAIS is an abbreviation for Common Apse Interface Specification
CALS
CALS is an abbreviation for Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistics
Support
CAM
CAM is an abbreviation for Computer Aided Management
Computer Aided Manufacturing (sometimes seen as CAD/CAM)
Content Addressable Memory
CAMA
CAMA is an abbreviation for Centralized Automatic Message Accounting
[Telephony]
CAMP
CAMP is an abbreviation for Campaign Against Marijuana Planting
CAP
CAP is an abbreviation for Civil Air Patrol
Columbia Appletalk Package
CAR
CAR is an abbreviation for Contents of the Address part of the Register
(LISP)
CARE
CARE is an abbreviation for Committee on American Relief in Europe
CARP
CARP is an abbreviation for California Air Resources Board
CASE
CASE is an abbreviation for Computer Aided Software Engineering
CASSIS
CASSIS is an abbreviation for Classification and Search Support
Information System
CAT
CAT is an abbreviation for Computer-Aided Tomography
CATIS
CATIS is an abbreviation for Common Applications and Tools Integration
Services
CATV
CATV is an abbreviation for Common Antenna TeleVision
Community Antenna TeleVision
CAVU
CAVU is an abbreviation for Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited
CB
CB is an abbreviation for Citizens Band radio
CBC
CBC is an abbreviation for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
CBD
CBD is an abbreviation for Cash Before Delivery
Commerce Business Daily
CBEMA
CBEMA is an abbreviation for Computer & Business Equipment Manufacturers
Association
CBR
CBR is an abbreviation for Chemical, Biological, Radiological warfare
CBS
CBS is an abbreviation for Columbia Broadcasting System [Corporate name]
CBW
CBW is an abbreviation for Chemical and Biological Warfare
CC
CC is an abbreviation for C (language) Compiler
Carbon Copy
CCA
CCA is an abbreviation for Computer Corporation of America [Corporate
name]
CCAFS
CCAFS is an abbreviation for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station [Space]
CCC
CCC is an abbreviation for Canadian Committee on Cataloging
Civil(ian) Conservation Corps
Command, Control, and Communications (sometimes C^3)
Concourse Computer Center [MIT]
CCCCM
CCCCM is an abbreviation for CCC CounterMeasures (sometimes C^3CM)
CCCI
CCCI is an abbreviation for Command, Control, Communications, and
Intelligence
CCD
CCD is an abbreviation for Charge Coupled Device (see CID)
Charge-Coupled Device [Space]
CCDS
CCDS is an abbreviation for Centers for the Commercial Development of
Space [Space]
CCF
CCF is an abbreviation for Hundred Cubic Feet
CCI
CCI is an abbreviation for Computer Carrier Interrupt
Computer Consoles, Incorporated
CCIP
CCIP is an abbreviation for Continuously Computed Impact Point
CCIRN
CCIRN is an abbreviation for Coordinating Committee for Intercontinental
Research Networking
CCIS
CCIS is an abbreviation for Common Channel Interoffice Signaling
[Telephony]
CCITT
CCITT is an abbreviation for Comite' Consultatif International
Telegraphique et Telephonique
Consultative Committee on International Telephony and Telegraphy
International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee
CCR
CCR is an abbreviation for Commitment, Concurrency, and Recovery
Creedence Clearwater Revival [Music]
CCRI
CCRI is an abbreviation for Community College of Rhode Island [Corporate
name]
CCRP
CCRP is an abbreviation for Continuously Computed Release Point
CCS
CCS is an abbreviation for Hundred Call Seconds [Telephony]
CCS7
CCS7 is an abbreviation for Common Channel Signalling (version #7)
[Telephony, AT&T]
CCSA
CCSA is an abbreviation for Common Control Switching Arrangement
[Telephony]
CCTA
CCTA is an abbreviation for Central Computer and Telecommunications
Agency
CCTV
CCTV is an abbreviation for Closed Circuit TeleVision
CD
CD is an abbreviation for Carrier Detect (properly DCD (q.v.)) (EIA RS-
232-C)
Certificate of Deposit
Civil Defense
Collision Detection (as in CSMA/CD (q.v.))
Compact Disk
CD-ROM
CD-ROM is an abbreviation for Compact Disk Read Only Memory
Compact Disk Read-Only Memory [Space]
CDA
CDA is an abbreviation for Call Data Accumulator
Compound Documents Architecture
CDC
CDC is an abbreviation for Centers for Disease Control
Control Data Corporation, Inc. [Corporate name]
CDEV
CDEV is an abbreviation for Control panel DEVice
CDIAC
CDIAC is an abbreviation for Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
CDO
CDO is an abbreviation for Community Dial Office
CDR
CDR is an abbreviation for CommanDeR
Contents of the Decrement part of the Register (LISP)
CDSF
CDSF is an abbreviation for Commercially Developed Space Facility
CDT
CDT is an abbreviation for Central Daylight Time
CDU
CDU is an abbreviation for Control Display Unit
CE
CE is an abbreviation for Chemical Engineer
Civil Engineer
Common Era (substitute for AD)
Corps of Engineers
Customer Engineer (see also FE, SE)
CEA
CEA is an abbreviation for Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (Frenc
Atomic Energy Commision)
Council of Economic Advisors
County Education Authority
CEC
CEC is an abbreviation for Commission of the European Communities
CED
CED is an abbreviation for Committee for Economic Development
CELSS
CELSS is an abbreviation for Controlled Ecological Life Support System
[Space]
CENS
CENS is an abbreviation for Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Seclay
CENTO
CENTO is an abbreviation for CENtral Treaty Organization
CEO
CEO is an abbreviation for Chief Executive Officer
CERFnet
CERFnet is an abbreviation for California Education and Research
Federation Network
CERN
CERN is an abbreviation for European Organization for Nuclear Research
organisation (formerly Conseil) Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaires
CERT
CERT is an abbreviation for Computer Emergency Response Team
CEVI
CEVI is an abbreviation for Common Equipment Voltage Indicator
CF
CF is an abbreviation for Carry Forward
Coin First (payphone) [Telephony]
Cystic Fibrosis [Disease]
CFA
CFA is an abbreviation for Center For Astrophysics [Space]
CFC
CFC is an abbreviation for Chloro-FluoroCarbon [Chemical]
Combined Federal Campaign
CFD
CFD is an abbreviation for Computational Fluid Dynamics
CFHT
CFHT is an abbreviation for Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope [Space]
CFI
CFI is an abbreviation for Cost, Freight, and Insurance
CFL
CFL is an abbreviation for Canadian Football League
CFO
CFO is an abbreviation for Chief Financial Officer
CG
CG is an abbreviation for Coast Guard
Commanding General
CG&E
CG&E is an abbreviation for Cincinnati Gas & Electric
CGA
CGA is an abbreviation for Color Graphics Adapter
CGCT
CGCT is an abbreviation for Compagnie Generale de Constructions
Telephoniques
CGE
CGE is an abbreviation for Compagnie Generale d'Electricite
CH
CH is an abbreviation for Cardboard Heroes
ClearingHouse
CourtHouse
Customs House
CHA
CHA is an abbreviation for Champions
CHAP
CHAP is an abbreviation for CHAnnel Processor
CHARA
CHARA is an abbreviation for Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy
[Space]
CHI
CHI is an abbreviation for Chill: Adventures into the Unknown
CHOTS
CHOTS is an abbreviation for Corporate Headquarters Office Technology
System
CHP
CHP is an abbreviation for California Highway Patrol
CI
CI is an abbreviation for Cubic Inches
CIA
CIA is an abbreviation for Central Intelligence Agency [US Government]
Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY)
CIC
CIC is an abbreviation for Carrier Identification Codes [Telephony]
(10XXX codes)
Committee on Institutional Cooperation
Coordination and Information Center [CSNet]
CICA
CICA is an abbreviation for Competition in Contracting Act
CICS
CICS is an abbreviation for Customer Information Control System [IBM]
CID
CID is an abbreviation for Caller ID [Telephony] (see also: CLID, ANI)
Central Institute for the Deaf
Charge Injection Device (see CCD)
Computer Integrated Design
CIDIN
CIDIN is an abbreviation for Common Icao Data Interchange Network
CIM
CIM is an abbreviation for Computer Integrated Manufacturing
CIO
CIO is an abbreviation for Chief Information Officer
CIRRIS
CIRRIS is an abbreviation for Cryogenic InfraRed Radiance Instrument for
Shuttle [Space]
CISC
CISC is an abbreviation for Complex Instruction Set Computer
Cislunar
Cislunar is an abbreviation for The space between the Earth and the Moon
CIT
CIT is an abbreviation for California Institute of Technology
Case Institute of Technology (part of CWRU, Cleveland, OH)
Circumstellar Imaging Telescope [Space]
CLASP
CLASP is an abbreviation for Comprehensive Logistics Automated Support
Program
CLASS
CLASS is an abbreviation for Custom Local Area Signaling Service
[Telephony]
CLI
CLI is an abbreviation for Command Line Interpreter
CLID
CLID is an abbreviation for Calling Line ID [Telephony] (see also: CID,
ANI)
CLNP
CLNP is an abbreviation for Connectionless-mode Network Protocol
CLNS
CLNS is an abbreviation for Connectionless-mode Network Service
CLR
CLR is an abbreviation for Combined Line and Recording
CLRC
CLRC is an abbreviation for Circuit Layout Record Card
CLU
CLU is an abbreviation for Chartered Life Underwriter
CLUT
CLUT is an abbreviation for Color LookUp Table
CM
CM is an abbreviation for Command Module (Apollo spacecraft) [Space]
Congregation of the Mission
CM
CM is an abbreviation for centimeters
CMC
CMC is an abbreviation for Communication Machinery Corp.
CMD
CMD is an abbreviation for Centralized Message Distribution
CMIP
CMIP is an abbreviation for Common Management Information Protocol
CMIS
CMIS is an abbreviation for Common Management Information Services
CML
CML is an abbreviation for Current Model Logic
CMMU
CMMU is an abbreviation for Cache/Memory Management Unit
CMOS
CMOS is an abbreviation for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (see
MOS)
CMOT
CMOT is an abbreviation for Common Management Information Services and
Protocol Over TCP/IP
CMRR
CMRR is an abbreviation for Common Mode Rejection Ratio
CMS
CMS is an abbreviation for Circuit Maintenance System
CMSgt
CMSgt is an abbreviation for Chief Master Sergeant
CMU
CMU is an abbreviation for Carnegie-Mellon University
CMYK
CMYK is an abbreviation for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, blacK
CN
CN is an abbreviation for Canadian National [Corporate name, Railroading]
CN/A
CN/A is an abbreviation for Customer Name / Address [Telephony]
CNI
CNI is an abbreviation for Common Network Interface [Telephony, AT&T]
(Department of AT&T)
CNN
CNN is an abbreviation for Cable News Network
CNO
CNO is an abbreviation for Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen [Space]
Chief of Naval Operations
CNR
CNR is an abbreviation for Canadian National Railways
Carrier to Noise Ratio
CNRI
CNRI is an abbreviation for Corporation for National Research Initiatives
CNRS
CNRS is an abbreviation for Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
(French National Center for Scientific Research)
CNS
CNS is an abbreviation for Central Nervous System
CNSR
CNSR is an abbreviation for Comet Nucleus Sample Return [Space]
CO
CO is an abbreviation for Cash Order
Central Office [Telephony]
Colorado
Commanding Officer
Conscientious Objector
COB
COB is an abbreviation for Close Of Business
COBE
COBE is an abbreviation for COsmic Background Explorer [Space]
COBOL
COBOL is an abbreviation for COmmon Business Oriented Language
COC
COC is an abbreviation for Call of Cthulhu
COCOT
COCOT is an abbreviation for Customer Owned, Coin Operated Telephone
[Telephony]
COD
COD is an abbreviation for Collect On Delivery; Cash On Delivery
CODEC
CODEC is an abbreviation for COder-DECoder
COER
COER is an abbreviation for Central Office Equipment Report
COLA
COLA is an abbreviation for Cost-Of-Living Allowance
COM
COM is an abbreviation for Computer Output (on) Microfiche
Computer Output (on) Microfilm
COMAS
COMAS is an abbreviation for Central Office Maintenance and
Administration System
COMM
COMM is an abbreviation for Communications
COMPACT
COMPACT is an abbreviation for COMmercial Product ACquisition Team
COMPTEL
COMPTEL is an abbreviation for COMPton TELescope (on GRO) [Space]
COMSAT
COMSAT is an abbreviation for Communications Satellite [Space]
CONACYT
CONACYT is an abbreviation for Consejo Nacional de Cienca Y Tecnologia
(Mexican National Council of Science and Technology)
CONS
CONS is an abbreviation for CONStruct (LISP)
Connection-Oriented Networking Service
Connection-Oriented Networking Session
CORE
CORE is an abbreviation for COntrolled Requirement Expression
CORN
CORN is an abbreviation for COmputer Resource Nucleus
COS
COS is an abbreviation for Corporation for Open Systems
COSINE
COSINE is an abbreviation for Cooperation for Open Systems
Interconnection Networking in Europe
COSMIC
COSMIC is an abbreviation for COmmon System Main InterConnecting frame
COmputer Software Management and Information Center
COSMOS
COSMOS is an abbreviation for COmputer System for Mainframe OperationS
COSTAR
COSTAR is an abbreviation for Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial
Replacement [Space]
COT
COT is an abbreviation for Card Or Tape (NCR)
CP
CP is an abbreviation for Campus Police (MIT, others probably too)
Canadian Pacific
Chemically Pure
CoPy
Command Post
Command Processor
the Canadian Press
CPA
CPA is an abbreviation for Certified Public Accountant
CPE
CPE is an abbreviation for Customer Premises Equipment
Customer Provided Equipment
CPFF
CPFF is an abbreviation for Cost Plus Fixed Fee
CPI
CPI is an abbreviation for Characters Per Inch
Common Programming Interface
CPL
CPL is an abbreviation for Combined Programming Language
CPM
CPM is an abbreviation for Control Program Monitor (sometimes CP/M)
Control Program for Microcomputers (sometimes CP/M)
CPO
CPO is an abbreviation for Chief Petty Officer
Chief Post Office
CPR
CPR is an abbreviation for Canadian Pacific Railway
CPS
CPS is an abbreviation for Characters Per Second
CPSR
CPSR is an abbreviation for Computer Professionals for Social
Responsibility
CPT
CPT is an abbreviation for CaPTain
CPU
CPU is an abbreviation for Central Processing Unit
CPW
CPW is an abbreviation for Certified Public Weigher
CQ
CQ is an abbreviation for Change of Quarters
CR
CR is an abbreviation for Carriage Return (ASCII 15 octal)
CRA
CRA is an abbreviation for Cambridge Redevelopment Authority
CRAF
CRAF is an abbreviation for Comet Rendezvous / Asteroid Flyby [Space]
CRAM
CRAM is an abbreviation for Card Random Access Memory (NCR, but maybe
others)
CRC
CRC is an abbreviation for Chemical Rubber Company
Cyclic Redundancy Check
CREG
CREG is an abbreviation for Concentrated Range Extension with Gain
CREN
CREN is an abbreviation for The Corporation for Research and Educational
Networking (merge of BITNET and CSNet)
CRRES
CRRES is an abbreviation for Combined Release / Radiation Effects
Satellite [Space]
Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite [NASA]
CRT
CRT is an abbreviation for Cathode Ray Tube (also generic reference to a
terminal)
CRTC
CRTC is an abbreviation for Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission
CS
CS is an abbreviation for Civil Servant
Computer Science; Computing Science
County Seat
CSA
CSA is an abbreviation for Confederate States of America
CSAB
CSAB is an abbreviation for Computing Sciences Accreditation Board
CSACS
CSACS is an abbreviation for Centralized Status, Alarm and Control System
CSC
CSC is an abbreviation for Computer Sciences Corporation
CSDC
CSDC is an abbreviation for Circuit Switched Digital Capability
CSF
CSF is an abbreviation for Critical Success Factor
CSI
CSI is an abbreviation for Commercial Systems Integration
CSIS
CSIS is an abbreviation for Canadian Security and Intelligence Service
CSL
CSL is an abbreviation for Coin Supervising Link
CSM
CSM is an abbreviation for Command Sergeant Major
Command and Service Module (Apollo spacecraft) [Space]
CSMA
CSMA is an abbreviation for Carrier Sense Multiple Access
CSMA/CA
CSMA/CA is an abbreviation for Carrier Sense Multiple Access with
Collision Avoidance
CSMA/CD
CSMA/CD is an abbreviation for Carrier Sense Multiple Access with
Collision Detection
CSNET
CSNET is an abbreviation for Computer + Science Network (merged with
BITNET to make CREN)
CSO
CSO is an abbreviation for Central Services Organization
CSOC
CSOC is an abbreviation for Consolidated Space Operations Center (at
Colorado Springs)
CSP
CSP is an abbreviation for Control Switching Point
CSR
CSR is an abbreviation for Control and Status Register
Customer Service Representative [Telephony]
CSRG
CSRG is an abbreviation for Computer Systems Research Group
CSRS
CSRS is an abbreviation for civil Service Retirement System
CSS
CSS is an abbreviation for Customer Switching System
CST
CST is an abbreviation for Central Standard Time
CSU
CSU is an abbreviation for Channel Service Unit
CT
CT is an abbreviation for Central Time
Connecticut
CTC
CTC is an abbreviation for Canadian Transport Commission
Centralized Traffic Control [Railroading]
CTD
CTD is an abbreviation for Computing and Telecommunications Division
CTIO
CTIO is an abbreviation for Cerro Tololo Inter-american Observatory
Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory [Space]
CTNE
CTNE is an abbreviation for Compania Telefonica Nacional de Espana
CTS
CTS is an abbreviation for Clear To Send (EIA RS-232-C)
Compatible Timesharing System
CTV
CTV is an abbreviation for Canadian TeleVision network
CU
CU is an abbreviation for Close-Up
CUA
CUA is an abbreviation for Common User Access
CUL
CUL is an abbreviation for See You Later [Net jargon]
CV
CV is an abbreviation for Curriculum Vitae
CW
CW is an abbreviation for Car Wars
Chemical Warfare
Child Welfare
Churchwarden
Churdwarden
Continuous Wave
CWO
CWO is an abbreviation for Cash With Order
Chief Warrant Officer
CWRU
CWRU is an abbreviation for Case Western Reserve University
CXI
CXI is an abbreviation for Common X-windows Interface
CY
CY is an abbreviation for Calendar Year
CYO
CYO is an abbreviation for Catholic Youth Organization
CZ
CZ is an abbreviation for Canal Zone
D
D is an abbreviation for Depth
D&D
D&D is an abbreviation for Dungeons & Dragons
D/A
D/A is an abbreviation for Digital to Analog converter
D/F
D/F is an abbreviation for Direction Finding
DA
DA is an abbreviation for Days after Acceptance
Department of Agriculture
Deposit Account
Directory Assistance (/C = computerized, /M = Microfilm) [Telephony]
District Attorney
Don't Answer [Telephony] (may be more general)
DA/C
DA/C is an abbreviation for Directory Assistance/Computerized
DA/M
DA/M is an abbreviation for Directory Assistance/Microfilm
DAC
DAC is an abbreviation for Digital to Analog Converter
DACCS
DACCS is an abbreviation for Digital Access Cross Connect System
[Telephony] (suspect, see DACS)
DACS
DACS is an abbreviation for Digital Access Cross-connect System
[Telephony]
DAD
DAD is an abbreviation for Draft ADdendum
DAG
DAG is an abbreviation for Directed Acyclic Graph
DAL
DAL is an abbreviation for Dedicated Access Line [Telephony]
DAP
DAP is an abbreviation for Division Advisory Panel (of NSF (q.v.) DNCRI
(q.v.))
DAR
DAR is an abbreviation for Daughters of the American Revolution
DARE
DARE is an abbreviation for Drug Abuse Resistance Education
DARPA
DARPA is an abbreviation for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(of the DoD, see also ARPA)
DASD
DASD is an abbreviation for Direct Access Storage Device
DAT
DAT is an abbreviation for Digital Audio Tape
DATA
DATA is an abbreviation for Defense Air Transport Administration
DAV
DAV is an abbreviation for Disabled American Veterans
DB
DB is an abbreviation for DataBase
db
db is an abbreviation for decibel(s)
dba
dba is an abbreviation for doing business as
DBF
DBF is an abbreviation for DBase Format
DBME
DBME is an abbreviation for DataBase Managment Environment
dbms
dbms is an abbreviation for DataBase Management System (rdbms for
Relational ...)
DBRAD
DBRAD is an abbreviation for Data Base Relational Application Directory
DC
DC is an abbreviation for Direct Current (dc, see also AC)
District of Columbia
DCA
DCA is an abbreviation for Defense Communications Agency
Distributed Communication Architecture
Document Content Architecture
DCC
DCC is an abbreviation for Descriptive Cataloging Committee
DCCO
DCCO is an abbreviation for Defense Commercial Communications Office
DCD
DCD is an abbreviation for Data Carrier Detect (sometimes CD (q.v.)) (EIA
RS-232-C)
DCE
DCE is an abbreviation for Data Communication Equipment
DCL
DCL is an abbreviation for Digital Command Language
DCP
DCP is an abbreviation for Distributed Communications Processor
DCTS
DCTS is an abbreviation for Dimension Custom Telephone Service
DD
DD is an abbreviation for Daredevils
Data Dictionary
Days after Date
Demand Draft
Dishonorable Discharge
Disk Drive
Doctor of Divinity
DDC
DDC is an abbreviation for Digital Data Converter
DDCU
DDCU is an abbreviation for DC-to-DC Converter Unit [Space]
DDD
DDD is an abbreviation for Direct Distance Dialing [Telephony]
(principally US, elsewhere STD)
DDL
DDL is an abbreviation for Document Description Language
DDN
DDN is an abbreviation for Defense Data Network
DDP
DDP is an abbreviation for Distributed Data Processing
DDS
DDS is an abbreviation for Dataphone Digital Service [AT&T]
Digital Data Service
Direct Digital Service
Doctor of Dental Science
Doctor of Dental Surgery
DDT
DDT is an abbreviation for DEC Debugging Tape
Di-<something> (pesticide)
Dynamic Debugging Technique
DE
DE is an abbreviation for Delaware
DEA
DEA is an abbreviation for Drug Enforcement Agency [US Government]
DEAR
DEAR is an abbreviation for Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation
DEC
DEC is an abbreviation for Digital Equipment Corporation [Corporate name]
DECUS
DECUS is an abbreviation for Digital Equipment Corporation Users Society
DES
DES is an abbreviation for Data Encryption Standard [NIST]
DEW
DEW is an abbreviation for Distant Early Warning (as in DEW Line)
DF
DF is an abbreviation for Damage Free
DFC
DFC is an abbreviation for Distinguished Flying Cross
DFD
DFD is an abbreviation for Data Flow Diagram
DFE
DFE is an abbreviation for Data Flow Editor
DFM
DFM is an abbreviation for Distinguished Flying Medal
DFN
DFN is an abbreviation for Deutsche Forschungsnetz Verein (German
Research Network Association)
DFRF
DFRF is an abbreviation for Dryden Flight Research Facility [Space]
DFS
DFS is an abbreviation for Depth-First Search
DFW
DFW is an abbreviation for Dallas-Ft.Worth (regional airport)
DG
DG is an abbreviation for Data General [Corporate name]
Dei Gratia (by the grace of God)
Director General
DGSC
DGSC is an abbreviation for Defense General Supply Center
DHHS
DHHS is an abbreviation for Department of Health and Human Services
DHSS
DHSS is an abbreviation for Department of Health and Social Security
(British)
british Department of Health and Social Security
DIA
DIA is an abbreviation for Document Interchange Architecture
DIAD
DIAD is an abbreviation for (magnetic) Drum Information Assembler /
Dispatcher
DIAL
DIAL is an abbreviation for Direct Information Access Line
DIAS
DIAS is an abbreviation for Defense Automatic Integrated System
DID
DID is an abbreviation for Direct Inward Dialing [Telephony]
DIF
DIF is an abbreviation for Document Interchange Format
DIN
DIN is an abbreviation for Deutsches Institut fur Normung
DIRE
DIRE is an abbreviation for Dire Is Really Emacs
DIS
DIS is an abbreviation for Draft International Standard [ISO]
DISA
DISA is an abbreviation for Data Interchange Standards Association
DISOSS
DISOSS is an abbreviation for Distributed Office Support System [IBM]
DIY
DIY is an abbreviation for Do It Yourself
DJ
DJ is an abbreviation for Disc Jockey
DLA
DLA is an abbreviation for Defense Logistics Agency
DLI
DLI is an abbreviation for Data Link Interface(?)
DLL
DLL is an abbreviation for Data Link Layer [ISO OSI]
Dial Long Line equipment
DLO
DLO is an abbreviation for Dead Letter Office
DM
DM is an abbreviation for Dungeon Master
DMA
DMA is an abbreviation for Direct Memory Access
DMD
DMD is an abbreviation for Doctor of Dental Medicine
DME
DME is an abbreviation for Distance Measuring Equipment
DMF
DMF is an abbreviation for Probably part of an X.400 address in Europe
DMOS
DMOS is an abbreviation for Diffusion Metal Oxide Semiconductor (see MOS)
DMSP
DMSP is an abbreviation for Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
[Space]
DMV
DMV is an abbreviation for Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles (Calif)
DMZ
DMZ is an abbreviation for DeMilitarized Zone
DNA
DNA is an abbreviation for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid
Digital Network Architecture [DEC]
DNCRI
DNCRI is an abbreviation for [NSF] (q.v.) Division of Networking and
Communications Research and Infrastructure
DNHR
DNHR is an abbreviation for Dynamic NonHierarchical Routing
DNIC
DNIC is an abbreviation for Data Network Identification Code [Telephony]
DNIS
DNIS is an abbreviation for Dialed Number Identification Service (see
also DID) [Telephony]
DNL
DNL is an abbreviation for Director of Naval Laboratories
DNR
DNR is an abbreviation for Dialed Number Recorder [Telephony]
DNS
DNS is an abbreviation for Domain Name System
DOA
DOA is an abbreviation for Dead On Arrival
DOB
DOB is an abbreviation for Date Of Birth
DOC
DOC is an abbreviation for Dynamic Overload Control
DOD
DOD is an abbreviation for Department Of Defense [US Government]
(sometimes DoD)
DOE
DOE is an abbreviation for Department of Energy [US Government]
DOHC
DOHC is an abbreviation for Dual OverHead Cams [Automotive]
DOMAIN
DOMAIN is an abbreviation for Distributed Operating Multi Access
Interactive Network (Apollo)
DOS
DOS is an abbreviation for Disk Operating System
DOT
DOT is an abbreviation for Department Of Transportation [US Government]
DOT&E
DOT&E is an abbreviation for Director, Operational Test and Evaluation
DOV
DOV is an abbreviation for Data Over Voice [Telephony]
DOY
DOY is an abbreviation for Day of Year
DP
DP is an abbreviation for Data Processing
Dial Pulse [Telephony]
Displaced Persons (expelled from native land)
Display Postscript
Double Penetration
Double Play
Draft Proposal
DPA
DPA is an abbreviation for Delegation of Procurement Authority
DPANS
DPANS is an abbreviation for Draft Proposed American National Standard
DPI
DPI is an abbreviation for Dots Per Inch
DPS
DPS is an abbreviation for Display PostScript
DQ
DQ is an abbreviation for Dairy Queen
Dragon Quest
DQDB
DQDB is an abbreviation for Distributed Queue Dual Bus (IEEE 802.6)
[Telephony, Networking]
DQL
DQL is an abbreviation for Database Query Language
DR
DR is an abbreviation for Dead Reckoning
Dining Room
DRAM
DRAM is an abbreviation for Dynamic Random Access Memory (as opposed to
static RAM)
DRD
DRD is an abbreviation for Data Reading Device
DRE
DRE is an abbreviation for Directional Reservation Equipment
DRG
DRG is an abbreviation for Democratic Republic of Germany (East Germany)
DRI
DRI is an abbreviation for Defense Research Internet
Digital Research, Incorporated [Corporate name]
DS
DS is an abbreviation for Double-Sided
Draft Standard
DSA
DSA is an abbreviation for Dial System Assistance
DSE
DSE is an abbreviation for Data Structure Editor
DSEE
DSEE is an abbreviation for Domain Software Engineering Environment
DSM
DSM is an abbreviation for Distinguished Service Medal
DSO
DSO is an abbreviation for Distinguished Service Order
DSP
DSP is an abbreviation for Decessit Sine Prole (died without issue)
Digital Signal Processing
DSRI
DSRI is an abbreviation for Digital Standard Relational Interface
DSS
DSS is an abbreviation for Decision Support System
Direct Station Selection [Telephony]
DST
DST is an abbreviation for Daylight Saving Time
DSTN
DSTN is an abbreviation for Double SuperTwisted Nematic
DSU
DSU is an abbreviation for Digital Service Unit
DT
DT is an abbreviation for Delirium Tremens
DTE
DTE is an abbreviation for Data Terminal Equipment
DTF
DTF is an abbreviation for Dial Tone First payphone [Telephony]
DTMF
DTMF is an abbreviation for Dial Tone Multi Frequency [Telephony]
DTP
DTP is an abbreviation for DeskTop Publishing
DTR
DTR is an abbreviation for Data Terminal Ready (EIA RS-232-C)
DUI
DUI is an abbreviation for Driving Under the Influence
DUT
DUT is an abbreviation for Device Under Test
DV
DV is an abbreviation for Deo Vo lente (God willing)
DVM
DVM is an abbreviation for Digital Volt Meter
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
DWAPS
DWAPS is an abbreviation for Defense Warehousing Automated Processing
System
DWI
DWI is an abbreviation for Died Without Issue [Genealogy]
Driving While Intoxicated
DWIM
DWIM is an abbreviation for Do What I Mean
DX
DX is an abbreviation for Distance (as in long distance radio
communication)
DXT
DXT is an abbreviation for Data eXtractT facility
E
E is an abbreviation for East
Espionage
E&EO
E&EO is an abbreviation for Errors and Omissions Excepted
E&M
E&M is an abbreviation for ``Ear and Mouth''; receive and transmit leads
of a signalling system
E-MAIL
E-MAIL is an abbreviation for Electronic MAIL
e.g.
e.g. is an abbreviation for ??? (Latin(?): for example)
EADASS
EADASS is an abbreviation for Engineering and Administrative Data
AcquiSition System
EAFB
EAFB is an abbreviation for Edwards Air Force Base [Space]
EAN
EAN is an abbreviation for Certainly part of an X.400 Address in Europe
EARN
EARN is an abbreviation for European Academic Research Network
EAS
EAS is an abbreviation for Extended Area Service (or Engineering Admin.
System)
EASI
EASI is an abbreviation for European Academic Supercomputer Initiative
(of IBM)
EBCDIC
EBCDIC is an abbreviation for Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange
Code
EC
EC is an abbreviation for Exchange Carrier [Telephony]
ECAFE
ECAFE is an abbreviation for Economic Commission for Africa and the Far
East
ECASS
ECASS is an abbreviation for Electronically Controlled Automatic
Switching System
Export Control Automated Support System
ECC
ECC is an abbreviation for Error Correction Code
Error Correction Code (corrects error in memory or transmission)
ECCM
ECCM is an abbreviation for Electronic Counter-CounterMeasures
ECDO
ECDO is an abbreviation for Electronic Community Dial Office
ECG
ECG is an abbreviation for ElectroCardioGram
ECL
ECL is an abbreviation for Emitter Coupled Logic (see also TTL)
ECLSS
ECLSS is an abbreviation for Environmental Control and Life Support
System [Space]
ECM
ECM is an abbreviation for Electronic Counter Measure
European Common Market
ECMA
ECMA is an abbreviation for European Computer Manufacturers Association
ECO
ECO is an abbreviation for Ecological
Electronic Central Office
Engineering Change Order
ECPA
ECPA is an abbreviation for Electronic Communications Privacy Act [US
law]
ECS
ECS is an abbreviation for Environmental Control System [Space]
ECT
ECT is an abbreviation for ElectroConvulsive Therapy
ECV
ECV is an abbreviation for Electric Cargo Vehicle [NASA OEXP]
ED&D
ED&D is an abbreviation for Expert Dungeons & Dragons
EDGAR
EDGAR is an abbreviation for Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and
Retrieval
EDI
EDI is an abbreviation for Electronic Data Interchange
EDIF
EDIF is an abbreviation for Electronic Design Interchange Format
EDO
EDO is an abbreviation for Extended Duration Orbiter [Space]
EDP
EDP is an abbreviation for Electronic Data Processing
EDS
EDS is an abbreviation for Electronic Data Systems
EDT
EDT is an abbreviation for Eastern Daylight Time
EDTA
EDTA is an abbreviation for Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid
EDTCC
EDTCC is an abbreviation for Electronic Data Transmission Communications
Central
EE
EE is an abbreviation for Electrical Engineer
Electrical or Electronics Engineer
EEC
EEC is an abbreviation for European Economic Community
European Economic Comunity
EEG
EEG is an abbreviation for ElectroEncephaloGram
EEL
EEL is an abbreviation for Epsilon Extension Language
EEPROM
EEPROM is an abbreviation for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read
Only Memory
EFF
EFF is an abbreviation for Electronic Frontier Foundation
EGA
EGA is an abbreviation for Enhanced Graphics Adapter
EGP
EGP is an abbreviation for Exterior Gateway Protocol [Internet]
EGRET
EGRET is an abbreviation for Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (on
GRO) [Space]
EHF
EHF is an abbreviation for Extremely High Frequency (30-300GHz)
EIA
EIA is an abbreviation for Electronic Industries Association
EINE
EINE is an abbreviation for EINE Is Not Emacs
EISA
EISA is an abbreviation for Extended Industry-Standard Architecture
EISS
EISS is an abbreviation for European Intelligence Support System
EKG
EKG is an abbreviation for ElectroKardioGramm (see ECG)
EL
EL is an abbreviation for ElectroLuminescent (as in display)
ELF
ELF is an abbreviation for Extremely Low Frequency
ELO
ELO is an abbreviation for Electric Light Orchestra
ELP
ELP is an abbreviation for Emerson, Lake and Palmer (or Powell)
ELV
ELV is an abbreviation for Expendable Launch Vehicle [Space]
EM
EM is an abbreviation for Enlisted Man (see EW)
EMA
EMA is an abbreviation for Electronic Mail Association
EMACS
EMACS is an abbreviation for Editor MACroS
Eight Megabytes And Constantly Swapping
EMF
EMF is an abbreviation for ElectroMotive Force
ElectroMotive Force (voltage)
EMI
EMI is an abbreviation for ElectroMagnetic Interference
EMP
EMP is an abbreviation for Electromagnetic Pulse
EMPRESS
EMPRESS is an abbreviation for EnvironMental Pulse Radiation Environment
Simulator for Ships
EMR
EMR is an abbreviation for ElectroMagetic Response
ElectroMagnetic Response
EMS
EMS is an abbreviation for Electronic Message System
Extended Memory Specification
EMT
EMT is an abbreviation for Emergency Medical Technician
EMU
EMU is an abbreviation for ElectroMagnetic Unit
Extravehicular Mobility Unit [Space]
ENIAC
ENIAC is an abbreviation for Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Calculator
ENS
ENS is an abbreviation for ENSign
EO
EO is an abbreviation for End Office [Telephony]
Erasable Optical
EOF
EOF is an abbreviation for End Of File
EOM
EOM is an abbreviation for End Of Month
EOS
EOS is an abbreviation for Earth Observing System [Space]
EOWG
EOWG is an abbreviation for Engineering and Operations Working Group
(under FNC)
EP
EP is an abbreviation for Experience Points
Extended Play
EPA
EPA is an abbreviation for Environmental Protection Agency
EPOS
EPOS is an abbreviation for Engineering and Project-management Oriented
Support system
EPRI
EPRI is an abbreviation for Electric Power Research Institute
EPROM
EPROM is an abbreviation for Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
EPS
EPS is an abbreviation for Encapsulated PostScript
EPT
EPT is an abbreviation for Empire of the Petal Throne
EQ
EQ is an abbreviation for Educational Quotient (see IQ)
ER
ER is an abbreviation for Emergency Room
ERA
ERA is an abbreviation for Earned Run Average
Entity-Relationship-Attribute
Equal Rights Amendment
ERD
ERD is an abbreviation for Entity-Relation Diagram
ERE
ERE is an abbreviation for Entity Relationship Editor
ERT
ERT is an abbreviation for Earth Resources Technology [Space]
ES
ES is an abbreviation for Expert System
ESA
ESA is an abbreviation for European Space Agency
European Space Agency [Space]
ESAC
ESAC is an abbreviation for Electronic Systems Assistance Center
ESDI
ESDI is an abbreviation for Enhanced Standard Device Interface
ESE
ESE is an abbreviation for East South East
ESF
ESF is an abbreviation for Extended Superframe Format [Telephony]
ESM
ESM is an abbreviation for Electronic Support Measures
ESnet
ESnet is an abbreviation for Energy Sciences network (DoE) [Networking]
ESO
ESO is an abbreviation for European Southern Observatory
European Southern Observatory [Space]
ESP
ESP is an abbreviation for Extra Sensory Perception
ESPS
ESPS is an abbreviation for Entropic Signal Processing System
ESS
ESS is an abbreviation for Electronic Switching System [Telephony]
ESSEX
ESSEX is an abbreviation for Experimental Solid State EXchange
EST
EST is an abbreviation for Eastern Standard Time
ET
ET is an abbreviation for (Shuttle) External Tank [Space]
Eastern Time
Extra Terrestrial [Space]
ET/ACC
ET/ACC is an abbreviation for External Tank/Aft Cargo Carrier (see also
ET) [Space]
ETA
ETA is an abbreviation for Estimated Time of Arrival
ETC
ETC is an abbreviation for Et cetera, and so on...
ETD
ETD is an abbreviation for Estimated Time of Departure
ETFD
ETFD is an abbreviation for Electronic Toll Fraud Device [Telephony]
ETH
ETH is an abbreviation for Eidgn\:oessiche Technische Hochschule (Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology)
ETLA
ETLA is an abbreviation for Extended Three Letter Acronym [Space]
ETO
ETO is an abbreviation for Earth-to-Orbit [Space]
ETR
ETR is an abbreviation for Eastern Test Range [Space]
ETS
ETS is an abbreviation for Electronic Translator System
ETV
ETV is an abbreviation for Education TeleVision
EUUG
EUUG is an abbreviation for European Unix User Group
EUV
EUV is an abbreviation for Extreme UltraViolet
Extreme UltraViolet [Space]
EUVE
EUVE is an abbreviation for Extreme UltraViolet Explorer [Space]
EVA
EVA is an abbreviation for ExtraVehicular Activity
ExtraVehicular Activity [Space]
EVX
EVX is an abbreviation for Electronic Voice eXchange
EW
EW is an abbreviation for Electronic Warfare
Enlisted Woman (see EM)
EWOS
EWOS is an abbreviation for European Workshop for Open Systems
FA
FA is an abbreviation for Football Association (British soccer--a word
derived from Association)
FAA
FAA is an abbreviation for Federal Aviation Agency [US Government]
FACD
FACD is an abbreviation for Foreign Area Customer Dialing
FAO
FAO is an abbreviation for Food and Agriculture Organization [US
Government]
FAQ
FAQ is an abbreviation for Frequently Asked Questions [Space]
FAR
FAR is an abbreviation for Federal Acquisition Regulations
FAS
FAS is an abbreviation for Foreign Agricultural Service
Free Alongside Ship
FASST
FASST is an abbreviation for Flexible Architecture Standard System
Technology
FAST
FAST is an abbreviation for Fast Auroral SnapshoT explorer [Space]
FAT
FAT is an abbreviation for Foreign Area Translation
FAX
FAX is an abbreviation for FAcsimile
FB
FB is an abbreviation for Freight Bill
FBI
FBI is an abbreviation for Federal Bureau of Investigation [US
Government]
FCC
FCC is an abbreviation for Federal Communications Commission [US
Government]
Federal Computer Conference
FCCSET
FCCSET is an abbreviation for Federal Coordinating Committee for Science,
Education and Technology (under OSTP) {Maybe Eng. for Edu.??}
FCO
FCO is an abbreviation for Field Change Order
Frequency Controlled Oscillator
FCS
FCS is an abbreviation for Frame Check Sequence
FDA
FDA is an abbreviation for Food and Drug Administration [US Government]
FDDI
FDDI is an abbreviation for Fiber Digital Data Interface
Fiber Distributed Data Interface
FDHD
FDHD is an abbreviation for Floppy Drive High Density
FDIC
FDIC is an abbreviation for Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [US Government]
FDM
FDM is an abbreviation for Frequency Division Multiplexing
FDR
FDR is an abbreviation for Franklin Delano Roosevelt [US President]
FE
FE is an abbreviation for Field Engineer (see also CE, SE)
FEA
FEA is an abbreviation for Finite Element Analysis
FEDSIM
FEDSIM is an abbreviation for FEDeral Systems Integration and Management
center
FEMA
FEMA is an abbreviation for Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMF
FEMF is an abbreviation for Foreign EMF (q.v.) (a.k.a. Cross Battery)
[Telephony]
FEPC
FEPC is an abbreviation for Fair Employment Practices Commission
FEPG
FEPG is an abbreviation for Federal Engineering Planning Group (of FNC
under EOWG, originally of FRICC)
FERS
FERS is an abbreviation for Federal Employees Retirement System
FET
FET is an abbreviation for Federal Excise Tax
Field Effect Transistor
FFA
FFA is an abbreviation for Future Farmers of America
FFT
FFT is an abbreviation for Fast Fourier Transform
Fast Fourier Transform [Space]
FG-A
FG-A is an abbreviation for Feature Group A [Telephony] (Line Side
termination for LD carriers)
FG-B
FG-B is an abbreviation for Feature Group B [Telephony] (Trunk Side
termination for LD carriers (aka ENFIA B), 950 service)
FG-D
FG-D is an abbreviation for Feature Group D [Telephony] (Trunk Side
termination for LD carriers, 1+ service)
FGS
FGS is an abbreviation for Fine Guidance Sensors (on HST) [Space]
FHA
FHA is an abbreviation for Federal Home Administration
Future Homemakers of America
FIB
FIB is an abbreviation for Focused Ion Beam
FICA
FICA is an abbreviation for Federal Insurance Contributions Act
FIDO
FIDO is an abbreviation for Fog Investigation Dispersal Operation
FIFO
FIFO is an abbreviation for First In First Out (as in registers and
buffers)
FILO
FILO is an abbreviation for First In Last Out (see also FIFO)
FIMS
FIMS is an abbreviation for Forms Interface Management System
FINE
FINE is an abbreviation for FINE Is Not Emacs
FIO
FIO is an abbreviation for Frequency In and Out
FIPS
FIPS is an abbreviation for Federal Information Processing Standard
FIR
FIR is an abbreviation for Far InfraRed [Space]
Finite Impulse Response
FIRMR
FIRMR is an abbreviation for Federal Information Resource Management
Regulation
FIT
FIT is an abbreviation for Federal Information Technologies, inc.
FITS
FITS is an abbreviation for Flexible Image Transport System [Space]
FIX
FIX is an abbreviation for Federal Inter-agency eXchange [Networking]
FL
FL is an abbreviation for Florida
FLACC
FLACC is an abbreviation for Full Level Algol Checkout Compiler
FLL
FLL is an abbreviation for Fixed Loss Loop [Telephony]
FLOP
FLOP is an abbreviation for FLoating point OPeration
FLOPS
FLOPS is an abbreviation for FLoating-point OPerations per Second
FLRA
FLRA is an abbreviation for Federal Labor Relations Authority
FM
FM is an abbreviation for Frequency Modulation
FMB
FMB is an abbreviation for Federal Maritime Board
FMCS
FMCS is an abbreviation for Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
FMR
FMR is an abbreviation for Follow Me Roaming [Telephony]
FMS
FMS is an abbreviation for Financial Management Service (Treasury Dept)
Forms Management System
FNC
FNC is an abbreviation for Federal Networking Council (formerly FRICC)
[US Government] (under OSTP)
FO
FO is an abbreviation for Foreign Office
Forward Observer
FOAC
FOAC is an abbreviation for Federal Office Automation Center
FOB
FOB is an abbreviation for Free On Board
Full Of Bull (aperiodical of) [TMRC]
FOC
FOC is an abbreviation for Faint Object Camera (on HST) [Space]
Free Of Charge
FOIA
FOIA is an abbreviation for Freedom Of Information Act
FOIMS
FOIMS is an abbreviation for Field Office Information Management System
FOOBAR
FOOBAR is an abbreviation for See FUBAR [Net jargon]
FOR
FOR is an abbreviation for Free On Rail
FORCS
FORCS is an abbreviation for Faa's Operational Reporting Communication
System
FORD
FORD is an abbreviation for Fix Or Repair Daily [Humor]
Found On Road Dead [Humor]
FORTRAN
FORTRAN is an abbreviation for FORmula TRANslator
FOS
FOS is an abbreviation for Faint Object Spectrograph (on HST) [Space]
FOSE
FOSE is an abbreviation for Federal Office Systems Exposition
FOT
FOT is an abbreviation for Free On Truck
FOV
FOV is an abbreviation for Field Of View
FPA
FPA is an abbreviation for Floating Point Accelerator
FPC
FPC is an abbreviation for Fish Protein Concentrate
FPE
FPE is an abbreviation for Floating Point Engine
FPHA
FPHA is an abbreviation for Federal Public Housing Authority
FPLA
FPLA is an abbreviation for Field Programmable Logic Array (see PLA)
FPM
FPM is an abbreviation for Feet Per Minute
FPO
FPO is an abbreviation for Field Post Office
Fleet Post Office
fps
fps is an abbreviation for Feet Per Second
FPU
FPU is an abbreviation for Floating Point Unit
FQDN
FQDN is an abbreviation for Fully Qualified Domain Name [TCP/IP] (DNS)
FR
FR is an abbreviation for Frame Relay [Telephony, Networking]
FRACTAL
FRACTAL is an abbreviation for FRACTional dimensionAL
FRED
FRED is an abbreviation for Fred Resembles Emacs Deliberately
FRG
FRG is an abbreviation for Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
FRICC
FRICC is an abbreviation for Federal Research Internet Coordinating
Committee (now FNC, q.v.) [Networking, US Government]
FROG
FROG is an abbreviation for Free Rocket Over Ground
FRPG
FRPG is an abbreviation for Fantasy Role Playing Game
FRS
FRS is an abbreviation for Federal Reserve System
FS
FS is an abbreviation for Field Service
File System
Full Standard
FSF
FSF is an abbreviation for Free Software Foundation
FSK
FSK is an abbreviation for Frequency Shift Keying
FSLIC
FSLIC is an abbreviation for Federal Savings and Loan Insurance
Corporation
FSS
FSS is an abbreviation for Federal Supply Service
FSW
FSW is an abbreviation for Forward Swept Wings
Ft
Ft is an abbreviation for Foot
FTAM
FTAM is an abbreviation for File Transfer And Management (ISO upscale
FTP)
FTC
FTC is an abbreviation for Federal Trade Commission
FTL
FTL is an abbreviation for Faster Than Light
FTP
FTP is an abbreviation for File Transfer Protocol (esp. of the TCP/IP
suite)
FTS
FTS is an abbreviation for Federal Telecommunications System [Telephony,
US Government]
Flight Telerobotic Servicer [Space]
FUBAR
FUBAR is an abbreviation for F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition/Repair
Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition/Repair
FUSE
FUSE is an abbreviation for Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer
[Space]
FW
FW is an abbreviation for Fringeworthy
FWD
FWD is an abbreviation for Front Wheel Drive
FWHM
FWHM is an abbreviation for Full Width at Half Maximum [Space]
FX
FX is an abbreviation for Foriegn eXchange [Telephony]
FY
FY is an abbreviation for Fiscal Year
FYI
FYI is an abbreviation for For Your Information
G
G is an abbreviation for General audiences [Movie rating]
Gravity
GA
GA is an abbreviation for Gamblers Anonymous
General Assembly
General Average
General of the Army
Georgia
GAAP
GAAP is an abbreviation for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GAB
GAB is an abbreviation for Group Audio Bridging [Telephony]
Gaia
Gaia is an abbreviation for Earth's self-sustaining Biosphere (Not an
acronym, from some ancient language, I think)
GAN
GAN is an abbreviation for Global Area Network
GAO
GAO is an abbreviation for General Accounting Office [US Government]
GAR
GAR is an abbreviation for Grand Army of the Republic
GARR
GARR is an abbreviation for Gruppo Arminizzazione Rete por la Ricerca
(Italian Research Network Harmonization Group)
GAS
GAS is an abbreviation for Get-Away Special [Space]
GATT
GATT is an abbreviation for General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GAW
GAW is an abbreviation for Guaranteed Annual Wage
Guarenteed Annual Wage
GB
GB is an abbreviation for Gangbusters
GigaByte
Great Britain
GBIP
GBIP is an abbreviation for General Purpose Interface Bus
GBT
GBT is an abbreviation for Green Bank Telescope [Space]
GC
GC is an abbreviation for Garbage Collection (LISP)
Gas Chromatograph (or Chromatography)
GCA
GCA is an abbreviation for Ground Controlled Approach
GCC
GCC is an abbreviation for Gnu C Compiler
GCD
GCD is an abbreviation for Ground Controlled Descent
GCL
GCL is an abbreviation for Graphics Command Language
GCM
GCM is an abbreviation for General Court Martial
GCR
GCR is an abbreviation for Group-Coded Recording (magnetic tape, 6250
bpi)
GCT
GCT is an abbreviation for Greenwich Civil Time
GCVS
GCVS is an abbreviation for General Catalog of Variable Stars [Space]
GDB
GDB is an abbreviation for Gnu DeBugger
GDP
GDP is an abbreviation for Gross Domestic Product
GDS
GDS is an abbreviation for Great Dark Spot [Space]
GE
GE is an abbreviation for General Electric
GEM
GEM is an abbreviation for Giotto Extended Mission [Space]
Graphics Environment Manager
GEO
GEO is an abbreviation for Geosynchronous Earth Orbit [Space]
GHQ
GHQ is an abbreviation for General HeadQuarters
GHRS
GHRS is an abbreviation for Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (on HST)
[Space]
GHz
GHz is an abbreviation for Giga HertZ (unit of frequency, 1,000,000,000
cycles per second)
GI
GI is an abbreviation for Galvanized Iron
Gastro Intestinal (as in upper GI)
General Issue
Government Issue
GID
GID is an abbreviation for Group ID [UNIX]
GIF
GIF is an abbreviation for Graphics Interchange Format
GIGO
GIGO is an abbreviation for Garbage In Garbage Out
GIN
GIN is an abbreviation for Graphics INput
GISS
GISS is an abbreviation for Goddard Institute for Space Studies
GKS
GKS is an abbreviation for Graphical Kernel Standard
Graphics Kernel System
GM
GM is an abbreviation for Game Master
General Manager
General Motors [Corporate name, Automobile]
Guided Missile
GMBH
GMBH is an abbreviation for Gesellschaft Mit Beschraenkter Haftung
GMC
GMC is an abbreviation for Giant Molecular Cloud [Space]
GMD
GMD is an abbreviation for Gesellschaft f\:ur Mathematik und
Datenverarbeitung (German Institute for Mathematics and Data Processing)
GMRT
GMRT is an abbreviation for Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope [Space]
GMT
GMT is an abbreviation for Greenwich Mean Time (also called UT)
GNP
GNP is an abbreviation for Gross National Product
GNU
GNU is an abbreviation for GNU's Not Unix
GOES
GOES is an abbreviation for Geostationary Orbiting Environmental
Satellite [Space]
Geostationary Orbiting Environmental Satellites [Space]
GOSIP
GOSIP is an abbreviation for Government OSI Profile
Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile (calls for government
procurement of ISO/CCITT products)
GP
GP is an abbreviation for General Practitioner
General Purpose (RR engines and origin of Jeep) [Railroading, Automobile]
GPC
GPC is an abbreviation for General Purpose Computer [Space]
GPI
GPI is an abbreviation for Graphics Programming Interface
GPIB
GPIB is an abbreviation for General Purpose Interface Bus
General-Purpose Interface Bus
GPL
GPL is an abbreviation for GNU General Public Licence
GPO
GPO is an abbreviation for General Post Office
Government Printing Office
GPS
GPS is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System [Space]
GQ
GQ is an abbreviation for General Quarters
GRB
GRB is an abbreviation for Gamma Ray Burst(er)
GREP
GREP is an abbreviation for Global Regular Expression Print [UNIX]
Global Regular Expression Print, g/re/p, (UNIX command)
GRO
GRO is an abbreviation for Gamma Ray Observatory [Space]
GRS
GRS is an abbreviation for Gamma Ray Spectrometer (on Mars Observer)
[Space]
Great Red Spot [Space]
GS
GS is an abbreviation for General Schedule
Glide Slope
GSA
GSA is an abbreviation for General Services Administration
General Services Adminstration [US Government]
Girl Scouts of America
GSBCA
GSBCA is an abbreviation for General Services administration Board of
Contract Appeals
GSC
GSC is an abbreviation for Guide Star Catalog (for HST) [Space]
GSFC
GSFC is an abbreviation for Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD)
[NASA, Space]
GSI
GSI is an abbreviation for Gesellschaft f\:ur Schwerionenforschung
(German Federal Research Institute for Heavy Ion Research)
GSM
GSM is an abbreviation for Global System Mobile
Groupe Speciale Mobile (Committee Designing preceding)
GSTS
GSTS is an abbreviation for Ground-based Surveillance and Tracking System
GT
GT is an abbreviation for Gross Ton
GTE
GTE is an abbreviation for General Telephone and Electric [Corporate
name]
GTO
GTO is an abbreviation for Geostationary Transfer Orbit [Space]
GTSI
GTSI is an abbreviation for Government Technology Services, inc.
GUI
GUI is an abbreviation for Graphical User Interface
GW
GW is an abbreviation for Gamma World
GWEN
GWEN is an abbreviation for Ground Wave Emergency Network
GWM
GWM is an abbreviation for Generic Window Manager [X]
H
H is an abbreviation for Harn
Height
HACD
HACD is an abbreviation for Home Area Customer Dialing
HAL
HAL is an abbreviation for Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer
(movie 2001)
HAM
HAM is an abbreviation for Hold And Modify
HAO
HAO is an abbreviation for High Altitude Observatory [Space]
Hb
Hb is an abbreviation for HemogloBin
HBM
HBM is an abbreviation for Her British Majesty; His British Majesty
HBO
HBO is an abbreviation for Home Box Office
HC
HC is an abbreviation for Holy Communion
House of Commons
HCFA
HCFA is an abbreviation for Health Care Financing Administration
HCFC
HCFC is an abbreviation for hydrochlorofluorocarbon [Chemical]
HCL
HCL is an abbreviation for High Cost of Living
HD
HD is an abbreviation for Hard Disk
Heavy Duty
Henry Draper catalog entry [Space]
HDA
HDA is an abbreviation for Head Disk Assembly (in winchester disk drives)
HDBV
HDBV is an abbreviation for Host Data Base View
HDL
HDL is an abbreviation for High Density Lipoprotein
HDLC
HDLC is an abbreviation for High-level Data Link Control [Networking]
HDTV
HDTV is an abbreviation for High Definition Television
HE
HE is an abbreviation for His Eminence
His Excellency
HEAO
HEAO is an abbreviation for High Energy Astronomical Observatory [Space]
HEDM
HEDM is an abbreviation for High Energy-Density Matter [Space]
HEMP
HEMP is an abbreviation for Help End Marijuana Prohibition
HEO
HEO is an abbreviation for High Earth Orbit [Space]
HEPnet
HEPnet is an abbreviation for High Energy Physics network [Networking]
HERO
HERO is an abbreviation for Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to
Ordnance
HF
HF is an abbreviation for High Fantasy
High Frequency (3-30MHz)
HFE
HFE is an abbreviation for Human Factors Engineering
HFS
HFS is an abbreviation for Hierarchical File System
HGA
HGA is an abbreviation for High Gain Antenna [Space]
HHS
HHS is an abbreviation for (US Department of) Health and Human Services
HI
HI is an abbreviation for Hawaii
HIIPS
HIIPS is an abbreviation for Hud Integrated Information Processing
Services
HLC
HLC is an abbreviation for Heavy Lift Capability [Space]
HLL
HLL is an abbreviation for High-Level Language
HLV
HLV is an abbreviation for Heavy Lift Vehicle [Space]
HMC
HMC is an abbreviation for Halley Multicolor Camera (on Giotto) [Space]
HMOS
HMOS is an abbreviation for High performance Metal Oxide Semiconductor
(see MOS)
HMS
HMS is an abbreviation for His/Her Majesty's Ship
HMT
HMT is an abbreviation for His/Her Majesty's Transport
HNPA
HNPA is an abbreviation for Home Numbering Plan Area [Telephony]
HOBIS
HOBIS is an abbreviation for HOtel Billing Information System
HOL
HOL is an abbreviation for High-Order System
HOTOL
HOTOL is an abbreviation for HOrizontal Take-Off and Landing
HP
HP is an abbreviation for Hewlett Packard, Inc. [Corporate name]
High Pressure
Higher Power (sort of an AA "in" term, usually God)
Hit Points
HorsePower
HPGe
HPGe is an abbreviation for High Purity Germanium
HPL/T
HPL/T is an abbreviation for High-Productivity Languages/Tools
HQ
HQ is an abbreviation for HeadQuarters
HR
HR is an abbreviation for Hertzsprung-Russell (diagram) [Space]
House of Representatives
HRH
HRH is an abbreviation for Her Royal Highness
His Royal Highness
HRI
HRI is an abbreviation for High Resolution Imager (on ROSAT) [Space]
HS
HS is an abbreviation for High School
HSB
HSB is an abbreviation for Hue, Saturation, Brightness
HSP
HSP is an abbreviation for High Speed Photometer (on HST) [Space]
HST
HST is an abbreviation for Hawaiian Standard Time
Hubble Space Telescope [Space]
HT
HT is an abbreviation for High Tension (as in electric power
transmission)
HTK
HTK is an abbreviation for Hits To Kill
HUAC
HUAC is an abbreviation for House Unamerican Activities Committee
HUD
HUD is an abbreviation for Heads Up Display
Housing and Urban Development [US Government]
HUPD
HUPD is an abbreviation for Harvard University Police Department
HUT
HUT is an abbreviation for Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (ASTRO package)
[Space]
HV
HV is an abbreviation for High Voltage
HVAC
HVAC is an abbreviation for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
HW2000
HW2000 is an abbreviation for Highway 2000
HWM
HWM is an abbreviation for High-Water Mark
Hz
Hz is an abbreviation for HertZ (unit of frequency, cycles per second)
I/O
I/O is an abbreviation for Input/Output
IAB
IAB is an abbreviation for Internet Activities Board [Networking]
IAEA
IAEA is an abbreviation for International Atomic Energy Agency
IANA
IANA is an abbreviation for Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
(IANA@ISI.EDU)
IATA
IATA is an abbreviation for International Air Transport Association
IAU
IAU is an abbreviation for International Astronomical Union [Space]
IAUC
IAUC is an abbreviation for IAU Circular [Space]
IBM
IBM is an abbreviation for Ingrained Batch Mentality
International Business Machines, Inc. [Corporate name]
Itty Bitty Machines
IBT
IBT is an abbreviation for Illinois Bell Telephone
IC
IC is an abbreviation for Integrated Circuit
Interexchange Carrier [Telephony] (see also IEC, IXC)
ICB
ICB is an abbreviation for Interstate Computer Bank
ICBM
ICBM is an abbreviation for InterContinental Ballistic Missile
ICE
ICE is an abbreviation for In-Circuit Emulator
International Cometary Explorer [Space]
ICI
ICI is an abbreviation for Imperial Chemical Industries
ICJ
ICJ is an abbreviation for International Court of Justice
ICL
ICL is an abbreviation for International Computers Ltd.
ICMP
ICMP is an abbreviation for Internet Control Message Protocol
ICP
ICP is an abbreviation for Integrated Channel Processor
Inventory Control Points
ICRC
ICRC is an abbreviation for International Cosmic Ray Conference
ID
ID is an abbreviation for IDentification
Idaho
IDA
IDA is an abbreviation for Intercommunication Data Areas
International Dark-sky Association [Space]
International Development Association
IDDD
IDDD is an abbreviation for International Direct Distance Dial
[Telephony]
IDE
IDE is an abbreviation for Interactive Development Environments, inc
IDF
IDF is an abbreviation for Intermediate Distributing Frame [Telephony]
IDL
IDL is an abbreviation for Interactive Data Language [Space]
IDV
IDV is an abbreviation for Interlibrational Derived Vehicle [Space]
IE
IE is an abbreviation for Indo-European
IEC
IEC is an abbreviation for Inter-Exchange Carrier [Telephony] (see also
IC, IXC)
IEE
IEE is an abbreviation for Institute of Electrical Engineers [UK]
IEEE
IEEE is an abbreviation for Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers
IETF
IETF is an abbreviation for Internet Engineering Task Force
IF
IF is an abbreviation for Intermediate Frequency (as in IF stage)
IFB
IFB is an abbreviation for Invitation For Bids
IFC
IFC is an abbreviation for International Finance Corporation
International Freighting Corporation
IFF
IFF is an abbreviation for Identification - Friend or Foe
Interchange File Format
IFLA
IFLA is an abbreviation for International Federation of Library
Associations
IFR
IFR is an abbreviation for Instrument Flight Rules [Aviation]
IGES
IGES is an abbreviation for Initial Graphics Exchange Standard
IGM
IGM is an abbreviation for InterGalactic Medium [Space]
IGY
IGY is an abbreviation for International Geophysical Year
International Geophysical Year [Space]
IHP
IHP is an abbreviation for Indicated HorsePower
IHS
IHS is an abbreviation for Integrated Hospital Support
IIA
IIA is an abbreviation for Information Industry Association
IIE
IIE is an abbreviation for Institute of Industrial Engineers
IIHF
IIHF is an abbreviation for International Ice Hockey Federation
IIL
IIL is an abbreviation for Integrated Injection Logic
ILO
ILO is an abbreviation for International Labor Organization
ILS
ILS is an abbreviation for Instrument Landing System
ILV
ILV is an abbreviation for Industrial Launch Vehicle [Space]
IMF
IMF is an abbreviation for International Monetary Fund
IMHO
IMHO is an abbreviation for In My Humble Opinion [Net jargon]
IMO
IMO is a computer jargon abbreviation for In My Opinion
IMP
IMP is an abbreviation for Interface Message Processor (replaced by PSN)
IMSL
IMSL is an abbreviation for International Mathematical Subroutine Library
IN
IN is an abbreviation for Indiana
INADS
INADS is an abbreviation for INitialization and ADministration System
[Telephony]
INRA
INRA is an abbreviation for Iesus Nazerenus Rex Iudaeorum (Jesus of
Nazareth, King of the Jews)
INRIA
INRIA is an abbreviation for Institut National de Recherche en
Informatique et Automatique
INS
INS is an abbreviation for Immigration and Naturalization Service
INSTITUTE
INSTITUTE is an abbreviation for INSTITUTE's Name Shows That It's Totally
Unrelated To EMACS
INTAP
INTAP is an abbreviation for INteroperability Technology Association for
information Processing
INWATS
INWATS is an abbreviation for INward Wide Area Telephone Service
[Telephony]
IO
IO is an abbreviation for Input/Output (sometimes I/O)
IOC
IOC is an abbreviation for International Operating Center [Telephony, US]
IOD
IOD is an abbreviation for Identified Outward Dialing
IOOF
IOOF is an abbreviation for International Order of Odd Fellows
IOTA
IOTA is an abbreviation for Infrared-Optical Telescope Array [Space]
International Occultation Timing Association [Space]
IOU
IOU is an abbreviation for I Owe you(U)
IP
IP is an abbreviation for Information Provider [Telephony]
Innings Pitched
Intermediate Point
Internet Protocol
IPC
IPC is an abbreviation for Inter-Process Communication
IPE
IPE is an abbreviation for Integrated Programming Environment
IPMS
IPMS is an abbreviation for InterPersonal Message Services
IPS
IPS is an abbreviation for Inertial Pointing System [Space]
Information Processing Standards
IPSE
IPSE is an abbreviation for Integrated Project-Support Environment
IQ
IQ is an abbreviation for Intelligence Quotient (see EQ)
IR
IR is an abbreviation for Index Register
Infra-Red
IRA
IRA is an abbreviation for Individual Retirement Account
Irish Republican Army
IRAF
IRAF is an abbreviation for Image Reduction and Analysis Facility [Space]
IRAS
IRAS is an abbreviation for InfraRed Astronomical Satellite [Space]
IRBM
IRBM is an abbreviation for Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile
IRDS
IRDS is an abbreviation for Information Resource Dictionary Standard
InfraRed Detection Set
IRE
IRE is an abbreviation for Institute of Radio Engineers (old name for the
now IEEE, which see)
IRM
IRM is an abbreviation for Information Resources Management
IRMS
IRMS is an abbreviation for Information Resources Management Service
IRS
IRS is an abbreviation for Internal Revenue Service
IRTF
IRTF is an abbreviation for Internet Research Task Force
IS
IS is an abbreviation for Information Systems
International Standard [ISO] (Beyond the DIS Stage)
ISA
ISA is an abbreviation for Industry-Standard Architecture
ISAM
ISAM is an abbreviation for Indexed Sequential Access Method
ISAS
ISAS is an abbreviation for Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
(Japan) [Space]
ISBD
ISBD is an abbreviation for International Bibliographic Description
ISC
ISC is an abbreviation for Information Services Center
International Switching Center
ISCH
ISCH is an abbreviation for Interstitial-Cell-Stimulating Hormone (same
as LH)
ISDN
ISDN is an abbreviation for Integrated Services Digital Network
[Telephony]
ISDT
ISDT is an abbreviation for Integrated Systems Development Tool
ISEE
ISEE is an abbreviation for International Sun Earth Explorer (usually
ISEE-3)
ISF
ISF is an abbreviation for Information Systems Factory
ISFUG
ISFUG is an abbreviation for Integrated Software Federal User Group
ISI
ISI is an abbreviation for Information Sciences Institute
ISM
ISM is an abbreviation for InterStellar Medium [Space]
ISO
ISO is an abbreviation for Infrared Space Observatory [Space]
International Organization for Standardization
International Standards Organization [Space]
ISODE
ISODE is an abbreviation for ISO Development Environment
ISOO
ISOO is an abbreviation for Information Security Oversight Office
ISPM
ISPM is an abbreviation for International Solar Polar Mission
International Solar Polar Mission (now Ulysses) [Space]
ISR
ISR is an abbreviation for Institute of Snow Research
ISRG
ISRG is an abbreviation for Independent Space Research Group
ISV
ISV is an abbreviation for Independent Software Vendor
ISY
ISY is an abbreviation for International Space Year [Space]
IT
IT is an abbreviation for Industrial Technology
Information Technology
ITC
ITC is an abbreviation for Inter-Task Communication
ITS
ITS is an abbreviation for Incompatible Timesharing System
ITT
ITT is an abbreviation for International Telephone and Telegraph
ITU
ITU is an abbreviation for International Telecommunications Union
ITUSA
ITUSA is an abbreviation for IT Users Standards Association
IUE
IUE is an abbreviation for International Ultraviolet Explorer [Space]
IUS
IUS is an abbreviation for Inertial Upper Stage
Inertial Upper Stage [Space]
IUV
IUV is an abbreviation for Interlibrational Utility Vehicle [Space]
IXC
IXC is an abbreviation for Inter-eXchange Carrier [Telephony] (see also
IC, IEC)
IXI
IXI is an abbreviation for International (pan-European) X.25
Infrastructure
JACM
JACM is an abbreviation for Journal of the Association for Computing
Machinery
JANET
JANET is an abbreviation for Joint Academic Network (UK)
JBS
JBS is an abbreviation for John Birch Society
JC
JC is an abbreviation for Jesus Christ
Joint Compound (plumbing)
Julius Caesar
Junior College
JCA
JCA is an abbreviation for Jewelry Crafts Association
JCAC
JCAC is an abbreviation for Joint Civil Affairs Committee
JCAE
JCAE is an abbreviation for Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
JCEE
JCEE is an abbreviation for Joint Council on Economic Education
JCET
JCET is an abbreviation for Joint Council on Educational Television
JCS
JCS is an abbreviation for Joint Chiefs of Staff
JD
JD is an abbreviation for Justice Department
JDS
JDS is an abbreviation for John Dewey Society
JEM
JEM is an abbreviation for Japanese Experiment Module (for SSF) [Space]
JES
JES is an abbreviation for John Ericsson Society
JET
JET is an abbreviation for Joint European Torus (fusion research)
JFK
JFK is an abbreviation for John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy (international airport)
JFMIP
JFMIP is an abbreviation for Joint Financial Management Improvement
Program
JGR
JGR is an abbreviation for Journal of Geophysical Research
Journal of Geophysical Research [Space]
JI
JI is an abbreviation for Justice, Inc.
JIC
JIC is an abbreviation for Joint Intelligence Center
Just in Case
JILA
JILA is an abbreviation for Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics
[Space]
JIM
JIM is an abbreviation for Job Information Memorandum
JINTACCS
JINTACCS is an abbreviation for Joint INteroperability of TActical
Command and Control Systems
JIS
JIS is an abbreviation for Japan Industrial Standards
JISC
JISC is an abbreviation for Japanese Industrial Standards Committee
JIT
JIT is an abbreviation for Just In Time
JMS
JMS is an abbreviation for John Milton Society
JNT
JNT is an abbreviation for Joint Network Team (UK)
JO
JO is an abbreviation for Job Order
Junior Officer
JOVE
JOVE is an abbreviation for Jonathan's Own Version of Emacs
JOVIAL
JOVIAL is an abbreviation for Jules Own Version of the International
Algorithmic Language
JPL
JPL is an abbreviation for Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory [Space]
JRC
JRC is an abbreviation for Junior Red Cross
JSC
JSC is an abbreviation for Johnson Space Center
Johnson Space Center (NASA) [Space]
JSD
JSD is an abbreviation for Jackson System Development
JSRC
JSRC is an abbreviation for Joint Services Review Committee
JTIDS
JTIDS is an abbreviation for Joint Tactical Information Distribution
Systems
JV
JV is an abbreviation for Junior Varsity
JvNC
JvNC is an abbreviation for John von Neumann (Super Computer) Center
JvNCnet
JvNCnet is an abbreviation for John von Neumann (Super Computer) Center
network
K
K is an abbreviation for Kilo- (metric 1000)
K&R
K&R is an abbreviation for Kernighan and Ritchie, the c programming
language
K9
K9 is an abbreviation for canine (K9 corps - army dogs)
KAIST
KAIST is an abbreviation for Korean Advanced Institute of Science and
Technology
KAO
KAO is an abbreviation for Kuiper Airborne Observatory [Space]
KB
KB is an abbreviation for KiloByte
KC
KC is an abbreviation for King's Counsel (QC when queen reigning)
Knights of Columbus
KD
KD is an abbreviation for Kiln Dried
Knocked Down
KDCI
KDCI is an abbreviation for Key Display Call Indicator
KERMIT
KERMIT is an abbreviation for Kl-10 Error-free Reciprocal Micro
Interconnect over Tty lines
KET
KET is an abbreviation for Kentucky Educational Television
KHz
KHz is an abbreviation for Kilo HertZ (unit of frequency, 1000 cycles per
second)
KI
KI is an abbreviation for Kiwanis International
KIA
KIA is an abbreviation for Killed In Action
KIAS
KIAS is an abbreviation for Knot Indicated Air Speed
Km
Km is an abbreviation for Kilometers
KO
KO is an abbreviation for Knock Out [Boxing, Electric]
KP
KP is an abbreviation for Key Pulse [Telephony]
Kitchen Police
KPNO
KPNO is an abbreviation for Kitt Peak National Observatory
KPO
KPO is an abbreviation for KeyPunch Operator
KQC
KQC is an abbreviation for King's College London
KS
KS is an abbreviation for King's Scholar
KSC
KSC is an abbreviation for Kennedy Space Center (NASA) [Space]
KSU
KSU is an abbreviation for Key System Unit [Telephony]
KTB
KTB is an abbreviation for Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary (from German)
[Space]
KTS
KTS is an abbreviation for Key Telephone System [Telephony]
KTU
KTU is an abbreviation for Key Telephone Unit [Telephony]
KWIC
KWIC is an abbreviation for Key Word In Context
KY
KY is an abbreviation for Kentucky
L1
L1 is an abbreviation for Lagrange Point #1 35,000 Miles above moon
[Space]
L2
L2 is an abbreviation for Lagrange Point #2 40,000 Miles behind moon
[Space]
L3
L3 is an abbreviation for Lagrange Point #3 (?? 35,000 Miles below moon)
[Space]
L4
L4 is an abbreviation for Lagrange Point #4 240,000 mile Earth orbit
[Space]
L5
L5 is an abbreviation for Lagrange Point #5 240,000 mile Earth orbit
[Space]
LA
LA is an abbreviation for Los Angeles
Louisiana
Low Altitude
LADAR
LADAR is an abbreviation for LAser Detection And Ranging
LAM
LAM is an abbreviation for Master of Liberal Arts
LAMA
LAMA is an abbreviation for Local Automatic Message Accounting
[Telephony]
LAN
LAN is an abbreviation for Local Apparent Noon
Local Area Network
LANL
LANL is an abbreviation for Los Alamos (NM) National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory [Space]
LAPB
LAPB is an abbreviation for Link Access Procedure (Balanced)
LAPD
LAPD is an abbreviation for Link Access Procedure (??)
Los Angeles (CA, US) Police Department
LAR
LAR is an abbreviation for Local Acquisition Radar
LaRC
LaRC is an abbreviation for Langley Research Center (NASA) [Space]
LASER
LASER is an abbreviation for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission
of Radiation
LAT
LAT is an abbreviation for Local Apparent Time
LATA
LATA is an abbreviation for Local Access and Transport Area [Telephony]
LAX
LAX is an abbreviation for Los Angeles International Airport
LB
LB is an abbreviation for Light Bomber
pound (LiBra)
LBHS
LBHS is an abbreviation for Long Beach High School
LBL
LBL is an abbreviation for Lawrence Berkeley (Calif.) Labs
LBS
LBS is an abbreviation for Pounds
LC
LC is an abbreviation for inductor-Capacitor circuit (as in filters, L is
symbol inductance)
LCD
LCD is an abbreviation for Liquid Crystal Display
Lowest Common Denominator
LCDR
LCDR is an abbreviation for Lieutenant Commander
LCL
LCL is an abbreviation for Less than Carload Lot [Railroading]
Lunar Cargo Lander [NASA OEXP]
LCM
LCM is an abbreviation for Least Common Multiple
Life Cycle Management
LCS
LCS is an abbreviation for Laboratory for Computer Science (of MIT)
LCT
LCT is an abbreviation for Landing Craft Tanks
LD
LD is an abbreviation for Long Distance [Telephony]
LDC
LDC is an abbreviation for Long Distance Carrier [Telephony]
LDEF
LDEF is an abbreviation for Long Duration Exposure Facility [Space, NASA]
LDF
LDF is an abbreviation for Large Deployable Reflector [Space]
LDL
LDL is an abbreviation for Low Density Lipoprotein
LDX
LDX is an abbreviation for Long Distance eXtender [Telephony]
LEAP
LEAP is an abbreviation for Low-power Enhanced At Portable
LEC
LEC is an abbreviation for Local Exchange Carrier [Telephony]
LED
LED is an abbreviation for Light Emitting Diode
LEM
LEM is an abbreviation for Lunar Excursion Module (a.k.a. LM) (Apollo
spacecraft) [Space]
LEO
LEO is an abbreviation for Low Earth Orbit [Space]
LEP
LEP is an abbreviation for Large Electron-Positron collider [CERN]
LeRC
LeRC is an abbreviation for Lewis Research Center (NASA) [Space]
LEST
LEST is an abbreviation for Large Earth-based Solar Telescope [Space]
LF
LF is an abbreviation for Low Frequency (30-300KHz)
LFSA
LFSA is an abbreviation for List of Frequently Seen Acronyms (!) [Space]
LGA
LGA is an abbreviation for Low Gain Antenna [Space]
LGM
LGM is an abbreviation for Little Green Men [Space]
LH
LH is an abbreviation for Left Hand
Liquid Hydrogen (also LH2 or LHX) [Space]
Lower Half
Luteinizing Hormone (same as ISCH)
LHC
LHC is an abbreviation for Large Hadron Collider [CERN]
LHD
LHD is an abbreviation for Litterarum Humaniorum Doctor (doctor of human
letters)
LHS
LHS is an abbreviation for Left Hand Side
LI
LI is an abbreviation for Long Island
LIFIA
LIFIA is an abbreviation for Laboratoire d'Informatique Fondamentale et
d'Intelligence Artificielle
LIFO
LIFO is an abbreviation for Last In First Out (see FIFO)
LINC
LINC is an abbreviation for Laboratory INstrument Computer
LISA
LISA is an abbreviation for Large Installation Systems Administration
(USENIX specific?)
LISP
LISP is an abbreviation for LISt Processing Language
LIU
LIU is an abbreviation for Line Interface Unit
LL
LL is an abbreviation for Late Latin
Long Lines [Telephony]
LLB
LLB is an abbreviation for Legum Baccalaureus (bachelor of laws)
LLD
LLD is an abbreviation for Legum doctor (doctor of laws)
LLN
LLN is an abbreviation for Line Link Network [Telephony]
LLNL
LLNL is an abbreviation for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories
LLO
LLO is an abbreviation for Low Lunar Orbit [Space]
LLOX
LLOX is an abbreviation for Lunar Liquid Oxygen [Space]
LLP
LLP is an abbreviation for Line Link Pulsing [Telephony]
LM
LM is an abbreviation for Life Master (Contract Bridge ranking)
Lunar Module (a.k.a. LEM) (Apollo spacecraft) [Space]
LMC
LMC is an abbreviation for Large Magellanic Cloud (see SMC)
Large Magellanic Cloud [Space]
LMOS
LMOS is an abbreviation for Line Maintenance Operations System
[Telephony, AT&T]
LN2
LN2 is an abbreviation for Liquid N2 (Nitrogen) [Space]
LNG
LNG is an abbreviation for Liquified Natural Gas
LOA
LOA is an abbreviation for Lands of Adventure
LOFT
LOFT is an abbreviation for Launch Operations Flight Test [Space]
LOOPS
LOOPS is an abbreviation for Lisp Object Oriented Programming System
LOP
LOP is an abbreviation for Lines Of Position
LOSF
LOSF is an abbreviation for Lunar Orbit Staging Facility [Space]
LOTS
LOTS is an abbreviation for Low Overhead Timesharing System
LOX
LOX is an abbreviation for Liquid OXygen [Space]
Liquid Oxygen
LP
LP is an abbreviation for Long Play(ing) (record)
Low Pressure
LPC
LPC is an abbreviation for Linear Predictive Coding (speech processing)
LPDA
LPDA is an abbreviation for Link Problem Determination Aid
LPF
LPF is an abbreviation for League for Programming Freedom
LPG
LPG is an abbreviation for Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Low Pressure Gas
LPL
LPL is an abbreviation for Lunar Personnel Lander [NASA OEXP]
LPN
LPN is an abbreviation for Licensed Practical Nurse
LPP
LPP is an abbreviation for Licensed Program Products
LPR
LPR is an abbreviation for Line PrinteR
LPT
LPT is an abbreviation for Lunar Propellant Tanker [NASA OEXP]
LPV
LPV is an abbreviation for Lunar Piloted Vehicle [NASA OEXP]
LRB
LRB is an abbreviation for Liquid Rocket Booster [Space]
LRBM
LRBM is an abbreviation for Long Range Ballistic Missile
LRC
LRC is an abbreviation for Longitudinal Redundancy Character
LRU
LRU is an abbreviation for Least Recently Used
Line Replaceable Unit
LRV
LRV is an abbreviation for Light Rail Vehicle [Railroading]
LS
LS is an abbreviation for Left Side
Letter Signed
Locus Sigilli (place of seal)
LSAP
LSAP is an abbreviation for Logical(?, maybe Link) Service Access Point
[OSI, Networking]
LSB
LSB is an abbreviation for Least Significant Bit; Least Significant Byte
Lower Side Band
LSC
LSC is an abbreviation for Lecture Series Committee (of MIT)
LightSpeed C
LSD
LSD is an abbreviation for Least Significant Digit
LySergic acid Diethylamide
pounds (Libra), shillings (Sestertii), and (old) pence (Denarii)
LSI
LSI is an abbreviation for Large Scale Integration
LSP
LSP is an abbreviation for LightSpeed Pascal
LSR
LSR is an abbreviation for Local Standard of Rest [Space]
LSS
LSS is an abbreviation for Life Support System
Loop Switching System
LSSD
LSSD is an abbreviation for Level-Sensitive Scan Detection
LT
LT is an abbreviation for Long Ton
Low Tension
LTC
LTC is an abbreviation for Lieutenant Colonel
LTJG
LTJG is an abbreviation for Lieutenant Junior Grade
LTL
LTL is an abbreviation for Less than Truckload Lot
LTP
LTP is an abbreviation for Lunar Transient Phenomenon [Space]
LUG
LUG is an abbreviation for Local Users Group
LUT
LUT is an abbreviation for Look-Up Table
LWM
LWM is an abbreviation for Low-Water Mark
LWT
LWT is an abbreviation for London Weekend Television [Corporate name]
LZ
LZ is an abbreviation for Landing Zone
M
M is an abbreviation for Mega- (metric 10^6)
Miniatures
m
m is an abbreviation for meter(s)
milli- (metric 1/1000)
MA
MA is an abbreviation for Massachusetts [US state postal designation]
MAAP
MAAP is an abbreviation for Maintenance And Administration Panel
MAC
MAC is an abbreviation for Media Access Control
Medium Access Control
Military Air Command
an MIT interdepartmental lab (stands for many things) (renamed to LCS)
MACSYMA
MACSYMA is an abbreviation for project MAC's SYmbolic MAnipulation System
MAD
MAD is an abbreviation for Mutual Assured Destruction
MADD
MADD is an abbreviation for Mothers Against Drunk Driving
MAG
MAG is an abbreviation for Magazine
MAN
MAN is an abbreviation for Metropolitan Area Network
MAP
MAP is an abbreviation for Manufacturing Automation Protocol
MAP/TOP
MAP/TOP is an abbreviation for Manufacturing Automation
Protocol/Technical Office Protocol
MARBI
MARBI is an abbreviation for MAchine Readable form of Bibliographic
Information
MARC
MARC is an abbreviation for MAchine Readable card Catalog
MARS
MARS is an abbreviation for Multiuser Archival and Retrieval System
MASC
MASC is an abbreviation for Multiple Award Schedule Contract
MASER
MASER is an abbreviation for Microwave Amplification by Stimulated
Emission of Radiation
MASH
MASH is an abbreviation for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
MAST
MAST is an abbreviation for Multi-Application SOnar Trainer
MAT-CALS
MAT-CALS is an abbreviation for Marine Air Traffic-Control And Landing
System
MAU
MAU is an abbreviation for Math Acceleration Unit
Media Access Unit
Medium Access Unit
MB
MB is an abbreviation for Manned Base [Space]
MegaByte
MBA
MBA is an abbreviation for Master Business Administration
MBTA
MBTA is an abbreviation for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
MC
MC is an abbreviation for Master of Ceremonies
MCA
MCA is an abbreviation for Micro Channel Architecture
MCAE
MCAE is an abbreviation for Mechanical Computer Aided Engineering
MCC
MCC is an abbreviation for Master Control Console
Microelectronics and Computer technology Corporation
Mission Control Center [Space]
MCP
MCP is an abbreviation for Master Control Program
MCP/AS
MCP/AS is an abbreviation for Master Control Program/Advanced System
MCPO
MCPO is an abbreviation for Master Chief Petty Officer
MCSV
MCSV is an abbreviation for Mars Crew Sortie Vehicle [NASA OEXP]
MD
MD is an abbreviation for Doctor of Medicine
Maryland
Maryland [US state postal designation]
Medical Doctor
Months after Date
MDAS
MDAS is an abbreviation for Magnetic Drum Auxiliary Sender
MDC
MDC is an abbreviation for Metropolitan District Commision (Mass State
Agency)
MDE
MDE is an abbreviation for Modular Design Environment
MDF
MDF is an abbreviation for Main Distribution Frame [Telephony]
MDRE
MDRE is an abbreviation for Mass Driver Reaction Engine [Space]
MDT
MDT is an abbreviation for Mean Down Time
ME
ME is an abbreviation for Maine
Mechanical Engineer
MECO
MECO is an abbreviation for Main Engine CutOff [Space, Shuttle]
MEd
MEd is an abbreviation for Master of EDucation
MERP
MERP is an abbreviation for Middle-Earth Role Playing
MeV
MeV is an abbreviation for Million Electron Volts
MF
MF is an abbreviation for Medium Frequency (300-3000KHz)
Middle French
Multi-Frequency [Telephony]
MFA
MFA is an abbreviation for Master Fine Arts
Museum of Fine Arts [Boston]
MFJ
MFJ is an abbreviation for Modified Final Judgment [Telephony]
MFLOPS
MFLOPS is an abbreviation for Million FLoating-point OPerations per
Second (see also FLOPS)
MFM
MFM is an abbreviation for Modified Frequency Modulation
MFS
MFS is an abbreviation for Macintosh File System
MG
MG is an abbreviation for Machine Gun
Major General
Military Government
MGH
MGH is an abbreviation for Massachusetts General Hospital
MGM
MGM is an abbreviation for Metro-Goldwyn Mayer [Corporate name]
MHD
MHD is an abbreviation for MagnetoHydroDynamics
MHS
MHS is an abbreviation for Mail Handling System [ISO]
MHz
MHz is an abbreviation for Mega HertZ (unit of frequency, 1,000,000
cycles per second)
MI
MI is an abbreviation for Michigan
Military Intelligence
MIA
MIA is an abbreviation for Missing In Action
MIB
MIB is an abbreviation for Management Information Base
MIDI
MIDI is an abbreviation for Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MIFASS
MIFASS is an abbreviation for Marine Integrated Fire And Support System
MILNET
MILNET is an abbreviation for MILitary NETwork
MIM
MIM is an abbreviation for Morality In Media
MIMD
MIMD is an abbreviation for Multiple Instruction, Multiple Data
MINCE
MINCE is an abbreviation for MINCE Is Not Complete Emacs
MIPS
MIPS is an abbreviation for Million Instructions Per Second
Mir
Mir is an abbreviation for Peace [Russian]
MIRV
MIRV is an abbreviation for Multiple Independently-Targetable Reentry
Vehicle
MIS
MIS is an abbreviation for Management Information System
MIT
MIT is an abbreviation for Massachusetts Institute of Technology
ML
ML is an abbreviation for Middle Latin
mL
mL is an abbreviation for milliliter(s)
MLA
MLA is an abbreviation for Member of Legislative Assembly (see MPP)
MLD
MLD is an abbreviation for Minimum Lethal Dose
MLL
MLL is an abbreviation for Mars Logistics Lander [NASA OEXP]
MLS
MLS is an abbreviation for Microwave Landing System
Multi-Level Security
MLV
MLV is an abbreviation for Medium Lift Vehicle [NASA OEXP]
MM
MM is an abbreviation for Maryknoll Missioners
mm
mm is an abbreviation for millimeters
MMES
MMES is an abbreviation for Martin Marietta Energy Systems
MMFS
MMFS is an abbreviation for Manufacturing Message Format Standard
MMH
MMH is an abbreviation for MonoMethyl Hydrazine [Space]
MMM
MMM is an abbreviation for see 3M
MMT
MMT is an abbreviation for Multiple Mirror Telescope [Space]
MMU
MMU is an abbreviation for Manned Maneuvering Unit [Space]
Memory Management Unit
MMW
MMW is an abbreviation for Multi-Mega Watt [Space]
MN
MN is an abbreviation for Minnesota
MNA
MNA is an abbreviation for Member of National Assembly (Quebec)
MNP
MNP is an abbreviation for Microcom Networking Protocol [Corporate name]
MNRAS
MNRAS is an abbreviation for Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical
Society [Space]
MO
MO is an abbreviation for Mail Order
Medical Officer
Missouri
Modus Operandi
Money Order
MOC
MOC is an abbreviation for Mars Observer Camera (on Mars Observer)
[Space]
MOD
MOD is an abbreviation for Ministry of Defence (UK) (sometimes written
MoD)
MOL
MOL is an abbreviation for Manned Orbiting Laboratory [Space]
MOLA
MOLA is an abbreviation for Mars Observer Laser Altimeter (on Mars
Observer) [Space]
MOMA
MOMA is an abbreviation for Museum of Modern Art [New York]
MOMV
MOMV is an abbreviation for Manned Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle [Space]
MOR
MOR is an abbreviation for Middle-Of-the-Road
MOS
MOS is an abbreviation for Metal Oxide Semiconductor
MOSFET
MOSFET is an abbreviation for Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect
Transistor
MOTAS
MOTAS is an abbreviation for Member Of The Appropriate Sex
MOTIS
MOTIS is an abbreviation for Member Of The Inappropriate Sex
Message-Oriented Text Interchange System
MOTOS
MOTOS is an abbreviation for Member of the Opposite Sex
MOTSS
MOTSS is an abbreviation for Member of the Same Sex
MOTV
MOTV is an abbreviation for Manned Orbital Transfer Vehicle [Space]
MOU
MOU is an abbreviation for Memorandum Of Understanding
MOUSE
MOUSE is an abbreviation for Minimum Orbital Unmanned Satellite of Earth
MP
MP is an abbreviation for Melting Point
Member of Parliament
Metropolitan Police
Military Police(man)
MPC
MPC is an abbreviation for Minor Planets Circular [Space]
MPE
MPE is an abbreviation for Mission to Planet Earth [Space]
MPG
MPG is an abbreviation for Miles Per Gallon
MPH
MPH is an abbreviation for Miles Per Hour
MPP
MPP is an abbreviation for Member of Provincial Parliament (Canada; also
MLA)
MPR
MPR is an abbreviation for Mars Pressurized Rover [Space]
MPV
MPV is an abbreviation for Mars Piloted Vehicle [NASA OEXP]
MPW
MPW is an abbreviation for Macintosh Programmer's Workshop
MR
MR is an abbreviation for Miniatures Rules
MRI
MRI is an abbreviation for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRP
MRP is an abbreviation for Manufacturing Requirements Planning
MRSR
MRSR is an abbreviation for Mars Rover and Sample Return [Space]
MRSRM
MRSRM is an abbreviation for Mars Rover and Sample Return Mission [Space]
MS
MS is an abbreviation for ManuScript
Master of Science
Military Science
Motor Ship
Multiple Sclerosis
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an abbreviation for MicroSoft DOS
MSB
MSB is an abbreviation for Most Significant Bit; Most Significant Byte
MSC
MSC is an abbreviation for MicroSoft C
MSCP
MSCP is an abbreviation for Mass Storage Control Protocol
MSD
MSD is an abbreviation for Most Significant Digit
MSE
MSE is an abbreviation for Mobile Subscriber Equipment
MSFC
MSFC is an abbreviation for (George C.) Marshall Space Flight Center
(NASA) [Space]
Marshall Space Flight Center
MSG
MSG is an abbreviation for MonoSodium Glutamate
MSH
MSH is an abbreviation for Marvel Super Heroes
MSL
MSL is an abbreviation for Mean Sea Level
MSPCA
MSPCA is an abbreviation for Massachussetts Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals
MSPE
MSPE is an abbreviation for Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes
MSRP
MSRP is an abbreviation for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
MSS
MSS is an abbreviation for Management Support System
ManuScriptS
Mass Storage System
Maximum Segment Size [TCP/IP] (see also MTU)
MST
MST is an abbreviation for Mountain Standard Time
MT
MT is an abbreviation for Metric Ton
Mountain Time
MTA
MTA is an abbreviation for Message Transfer Agent
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
MTBF
MTBF is an abbreviation for Mean Time Between Failures
MTC
MTC is an abbreviation for Man Tended Capability [Space]
MTR
MTR is an abbreviation for Magnetic Tape Recording
MTSO
MTSO is an abbreviation for Mobile Telephone Switching Office [Telephony]
MTTF
MTTF is an abbreviation for Mean Time To Failure
MTTR
MTTR is an abbreviation for Mean Time To Recovery
Mean Time To Repair
MTU
MTU is an abbreviation for Maximum Transfer Unit [Networking] (see also
MSS)
MTV
MTV is an abbreviation for Music TeleVision
MUF
MUF is an abbreviation for Maximum Usable Frequency (max freq during
sunspot activity)
MULTICS
MULTICS is an abbreviation for MULTiplex Information Computer Services
MUMPS
MUMPS is an abbreviation for Mgh Utility MultiProgram System
MUNG
MUNG is an abbreviation for Mung Until No Good (see the hacker's
dictionary)
MUX
MUX is an abbreviation for MUltipleXor
MVA
MVA is an abbreviation for MegaVolt Ampere
MVS
MVS is an abbreviation for Multiple Virtual Storage [IBM]
MX
MX is an abbreviation for Missile eXperimental
N
N is an abbreviation for North
Notice
NA
NA is an abbreviation for Narcotics Anonymous
North America
Not Applicable
NAACP
NAACP is an abbreviation for National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People
NAAS
NAAS is an abbreviation for North American Automated Systems co.
NAB
NAB is an abbreviation for National Association of Broadcasters
NABISCO
NABISCO is an abbreviation for NAtional BIScuit COmpany [Corporate name]
NACCIRN
NACCIRN is an abbreviation for North American Coordinating Committee for
Intercontinental Research Networking (see also CCIRN)
NACS
NACS is an abbreviation for National Advisory Committee on Semiconductors
NAD
NAD is an abbreviation for Network Access Device
NADGE
NADGE is an abbreviation for NATO Air Defense Ground Environment
NAG
NAG is an abbreviation for Numerical Algorithms Group
NAGE
NAGE is an abbreviation for National Association of Government Employees
NAK
NAK is an abbreviation for Negative AcKnowledge
NAM
NAM is an abbreviation for Name and Address Module [Telephony] (cellular
phone changeable ROM)
National Account Manager [Telephony, AT&T]
Number Assignment Module [Telephony] (cellular phone changeable ROM)
NANP
NANP is an abbreviation for North American Numbering Plan
NAPAP
NAPAP is an abbreviation for National Acid Precipitation Assessment
Program
NAR
NAR is an abbreviation for Nuclear Acoustic Resonance
NARDAC
NARDAC is an abbreviation for NAvy Regional Data Automation Center
NAS
NAS is an abbreviation for National Academy of Sciences
National Advanced Systems
NASA
NASA is an abbreviation for National (US) Aeronautics and Space
Administration [Space]
NASDA
NASDA is an abbreviation for NAtional (Japan) Space Development Agency
[Space]
NASM
NASM is an abbreviation for National (US) Air and Space Museum [Space]
NASP
NASP is an abbreviation for National (US) AeroSpace Plane [Space]
NATO
NATO is an abbreviation for North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NAVDAC
NAVDAC is an abbreviation for NAVal Data Automation Command
NAVSWC
NAVSWC is an abbreviation for NAVal Surface Weapons Center
NB
NB is an abbreviation for New Brunswick
Nota Bene
NBA
NBA is an abbreviation for National (US) Basketball Association
NBC
NBC is an abbreviation for National (US) Broadcasting Company [Corporate
name]
NBFM
NBFM is an abbreviation for NarrowBand Frequency Modulation
NBO
NBO is an abbreviation for Network Build Out
NBS
NBS is an abbreviation for National Bureau of Standards (renamed NIST)
[US Government]
NBVM
NBVM is an abbreviation for Narrow Band Voice Modulation
NC
NC is an abbreviation for No Charge
No Connection
North Carolina
NCA
NCA is an abbreviation for Network Control Analysis
NCC
NCC is an abbreviation for National (US) Computer Conference
National (US) Council of Churches
NCDC
NCDC is an abbreviation for National (US) Climatic Data Center
NCE
NCE is an abbreviation for New Catholic Edition
NCGA
NCGA is an abbreviation for National (US) Computer Graphics Association
NCI
NCI is an abbreviation for National (US) Cancer Institute [US Government]
NCIC
NCIC is an abbreviation for National (US) Cartographic Information Center
NCO
NCO is an abbreviation for Non-Commissioned Officer
NCP
NCP is an abbreviation for Network Control Program
NCR
NCR is an abbreviation for National (US?) Cash Register [Corporate name]
NCS
NCS is an abbreviation for Network Computing System
NCSA
NCSA is an abbreviation for National (US) Center for Supercomputing
Applications
NCSC
NCSC is an abbreviation for National (US) Computer Security Center [NSA]
NCTL
NCTL is an abbreviation for National Computer and Telecommunications
Laboratory
NCV
NCV is an abbreviation for No Commercial Value
ND
ND is an abbreviation for No Date
North Dakota
NDA
NDA is an abbreviation for Non-Disclosure Agreement
NDDL
NDDL is an abbreviation for Neutral Data Definition Language
NDE
NDE is an abbreviation for News Development Environment
NDEA
NDEA is an abbreviation for National (US) Defense Education Act
NDL
NDL is an abbreviation for Network Database Language
NDP
NDP is an abbreviation for New Democratic Party (Canada)
NDSL
NDSL is an abbreviation for National (US) Defense Student Loan
National (US) Direct Student Loan
NDT
NDT is an abbreviation for Newfoundland Daylight Time
NDV
NDV is an abbreviation for NASP Derived Vehicle
NASP Derived Vehicle [Space]
NE
NE is an abbreviation for New England
North East
NEAR
NEAR is an abbreviation for National Electronic Accounting and Reporting
system
NEARnet
NEARnet is an abbreviation for New England Academic and Research Network
NEB
NEB is an abbreviation for New English Bible
NEC
NEC is an abbreviation for Nippon Electric Company [Corporate name]
NEI
NEI is an abbreviation for Not Elsewhere Included
NES
NES is an abbreviation for National Energy Strategy
Not Elsewhere Specified
NESC
NESC is an abbreviation for National Energy Software Center
NET
NET is an abbreviation for NETwork
National (US) Educational Television
New England Telephone
NEWS
NEWS is an abbreviation for Network extensible Window System
NEXRAD
NEXRAD is an abbreviation for NEXt generation weather RADar
NF
NF is an abbreviation for No Funds
NFC
NFC is an abbreviation for National (US) Football Conference
NFFE
NFFE is an abbreviation for National (US) Federation of Federal Employees
NFL
NFL is an abbreviation for National (US) Football League
NFS
NFS is an abbreviation for Network File System
NG
NG is an abbreviation for National Guard
No Good
NGC
NGC is an abbreviation for New General Catalog [Space]
NH
NH is an abbreviation for New Hampshire
NHI
NHI is an abbreviation for National Health Insurance
NHL
NHL is an abbreviation for National (Canada) Hockey League
NHLBI
NHLBI is an abbreviation for National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
(Bethesda, MD)
NIC
NIC is an abbreviation for Network Information Center ("The NIC" is
NIC.DDN.MIL)
NICMOS
NICMOS is an abbreviation for Near Infrared Camera / Multi Object
Spectrometer (HST upgrade) [Space]
NIFTP
NIFTP is an abbreviation for (a file transfer network in the UK)
NIH
NIH is an abbreviation for National (US) Institutes of Health
Not Invented Here
NIM
NIM is an abbreviation for Nuclear Instrumentation Module (an electronic
instr. standard)
NIMH
NIMH is an abbreviation for National Institute of Mental Health
(Rockville, MD)
NIMS
NIMS is an abbreviation for Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (on
Galileo) [Space]
NIR
NIR is an abbreviation for Near InfraRed [Space]
NIS
NIS is an abbreviation for Network Information System (formerly yp)
NISO
NISO is an abbreviation for National Information Standards Organization
NIST
NIST is an abbreviation for National Institute of Standards and
Technology (formerly NBS) [US Government]
NJ
NJ is an abbreviation for New Jersey
NJB
NJB is an abbreviation for New Jersey Bell [Telephony]
NL
NL is an abbreviation for National League (baseball)
NLM
NLM is an abbreviation for National Library of Medicine
NLP
NLP is an abbreviation for Natural Language Processing
NLRB
NLRB is an abbreviation for National Labor Relations Board
NLS
NLS is an abbreviation for Network License Server
NM
NM is an abbreviation for Nautical Mile
New Mexico
Night Message
No Mark; Not Marked
NMOS
NMOS is an abbreviation for N channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor (N-MOS)
(see MOS)
NMR
NMR is an abbreviation for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
NMS
NMS is an abbreviation for Network Monitoring Station
NNE
NNE is an abbreviation for North North East
NNTP
NNTP is an abbreviation for Net News Transfer Protocol
NNW
NNW is an abbreviation for North North West
NNX
NNX is an abbreviation for NANP syntax for a three-digit string, N:{2-9},
X:{0-9} [Telephony]
NOA
NOA is an abbreviation for NSWC Office Automation
NOAA
NOAA is an abbreviation for National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration [Space, US Government]
NOAO
NOAO is an abbreviation for National (Tucson, AZ, US) Optical
Astronomical Observatories [Space]
NOC
NOC is an abbreviation for Network Operations Center
NORAD
NORAD is an abbreviation for NORth American Defense Command
NORM
NORM is an abbreviation for Naturally Occuring Radioactive Material
NORML
NORML is an abbreviation for National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws
NOS
NOS is an abbreviation for Not Otherwise Specified
NOSC
NOSC is an abbreviation for Naval Ocean Systems Center
NOTIS
NOTIS is an abbreviation for Network Operator Trouble Information System
NOW
NOW is an abbreviation for Negotiable Order for Withdrawal [Banking] (Is
this MA or NE specific?)
NOx
NOx is an abbreviation for Nitrogen Oxides
NP
NP is an abbreviation for No Protest
Nondeterministic-Polynomial
Notary Public
Noun Phrase
NPA
NPA is an abbreviation for Numbering Plan Area (area code) [Telephony]
NPC
NPC is an abbreviation for Non-Player Character (see PC) [Role-playing]
NPL
NPL is an abbreviation for National Physical Laboratory (UK)
Non-Procedural Language
NPN
NPN is an abbreviation for Negative-Positive-Negative (transistor)
NonProtein Nitrogen
NPR
NPR is an abbreviation for National Public Radio
non-Processor Request [PDP11, UNIBUS]
NQS
NQS is an abbreviation for Network Queuing System
NRA
NRA is an abbreviation for National Reconstruction Act (FDR era US)
National Rifle Association
NRAO
NRAO is an abbreviation for National Radio Astronomical Observatory
[Space]
NRC
NRC is an abbreviation for National Research Council
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NRE
NRE is an abbreviation for Non-Recurring Engineering (as in NRE costs)
NREN
NREN is an abbreviation for National (US) Research and Education Network
NRL
NRL is an abbreviation for Naval Research Labs
NRO
NRO is an abbreviation for National Reconnaissance Office
National Reconnaissance Organization [Space]
NRZ
NRZ is an abbreviation for Non-Return to Zero
NRZI
NRZI is an abbreviation for Non-Return to Zero Inverted (magnetic tape,
800 bpi)
NS
NS is an abbreviation for Neutron Star [Space]
Not Specified
Nova Scotia
Nuclear Ship
NSA
NSA is an abbreviation for National Security Agency [US Government]
NSAP
NSAP is an abbreviation for Network Service Access Point [OSI,
Networking]
NSC
NSC is an abbreviation for National (US) Security Council [US Government]
NSE
NSE is an abbreviation for Network Software Environment
NSF
NSF is an abbreviation for National (US) Science Foundation [US
Government]
NSS
NSS is an abbreviation for Nodal Switching System [NSFnet]
NSSDC
NSSDC is an abbreviation for National Space Science Data Center [Space]
NST
NST is an abbreviation for Newfoundland Standard Time
NSTS
NSTS is an abbreviation for National Space Transportation System [Space]
NSW
NSW is an abbreviation for New South Wales (Australia)
NSWC
NSWC is an abbreviation for Naval Surface Warfare Center
Naval Surface Weapons Center
NT
NT is an abbreviation for New Testament
Newfoundland Time
Northern Territory
NTEU
NTEU is an abbreviation for National Treasury Employees Union
NTIS
NTIS is an abbreviation for National Technical Information Service
NTN
NTN is an abbreviation for Neutralized Twisted Nematic
NTP
NTP is an abbreviation for Network Time Protocol [Internet]
Normal Temperature and Pressure (see STP)
NTSB
NTSB is an abbreviation for National Transportation Safety Board [US
Government]
NTSC
NTSC is an abbreviation for National Television Standards Committee
Never Twice Same Color
NTT
NTT is an abbreviation for New Technology Telescope [Space]
Nippon Telephone & Telegraph
NU
NU is an abbreviation for Name Unknown
NURBS
NURBS is an abbreviation for NonUniform Rational B-Spline
NUSC
NUSC is an abbreviation for Naval Underwater Systems Center [US
Government]
NV
NV is an abbreviation for Nevada
NW
NW is an abbreviation for North West
NWNET
NWNET is an abbreviation for NorthWestNet
NWS
NWS is an abbreviation for National Weather Service
NWT
NWT is an abbreviation for North West Territories (Australia)
NXX
NXX is an abbreviation for NANP syntax for a three-digit string, N:{2-9},
X:{0-9} [Telephony]
NY
NY is an abbreviation for New York
NYC
NYC is an abbreviation for New York City
NYNEX
NYNEX is an abbreviation for New York and New England (Telephone)
NYPD
NYPD is an abbreviation for New York Police Department
NYSE
NYSE is an abbreviation for New York Stock Exchange
NYSERNet
NYSERNet is an abbreviation for New York State Educational and Research
Network
NZ
NZ is an abbreviation for New Zealand
NZUSUGI
NZUSUGI is an abbreviation for New Zealand Unix System User Group, Inc.
OA
OA is an abbreviation for Office Automation
Overeaters Anonymous
OAO
OAO is an abbreviation for Orbiting Astronomical Observatory [Space]
OAS
OAS is an abbreviation for Organization of American States
OATS
OATS is an abbreviation for Office Automation Technology and Services
OBE
OBE is an abbreviation for Order of the British Empire
OBS
OBS is an abbreviation for Omni Bearing Selector
OC
OC is an abbreviation for Order of Canada
OCDM
OCDM is an abbreviation for Office of Civil Defense and Mobilization
OCI
OCI is an abbreviation for Out of City Indicator
OCLC
OCLC is an abbreviation for Online Computer Library Center (Ohio College
Library Catalog)
Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
OCO
OCO is an abbreviation for Object Code Only
OCR
OCR is an abbreviation for Optical Character Recognition
OCS
OCS is an abbreviation for Officer Candidate School
OCST
OCST is an abbreviation for Office of Commercial Space Transportation
[Space]
OD
OD is an abbreviation for Doctor of Optometry
Oculus Dexter (right eye)
Officer of the Day
OverDose
ODI
ODI is an abbreviation for Optical Digital Image
ODISS
ODISS is an abbreviation for Optical Digital Image Storage System
ODT
ODT is an abbreviation for Octal Debugging Technique
Online Debugging Technique
OE
OE is an abbreviation for Old English
OED
OED is an abbreviation for Oxford English Dictionary
OEM
OEM is an abbreviation for Original Equipment Manufacturer
OEO
OEO is an abbreviation for Office of Economic Opportunity
OES
OES is an abbreviation for Order of the Eastern Star
OEXP
OEXP is an abbreviation for Office of Exploration [NASA]
OF
OF is an abbreviation for Old French
OFM
OFM is an abbreviation for Order of Friars Minor
OFS
OFS is an abbreviation for Order of Free State
OG
OG is an abbreviation for Original Gum
OH
OH is an abbreviation for Ohio
OIRA
OIRA is an abbreviation for Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
OIU
OIU is an abbreviation for Office Interface Unit
OJT
OJT is an abbreviation for On the Job Training
OLTP
OLTP is an abbreviation for On-Line Transaction Processing
OMB
OMB is an abbreviation for Office of Management and Budget [US
Government]
OMD
OMD is an abbreviation for Orchestral Manouevers in the Dark
OMS
OMS is an abbreviation for Orbital Maneuvering System [Space]
OMV
OMV is an abbreviation for Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle [Space]
ON
ON is an abbreviation for Old Norse
ONC
ONC is an abbreviation for Open Network Computing
ONI
ONI is an abbreviation for Office of Naval Intelligence
Operator Number Identification [Telephony]
ONR
ONR is an abbreviation for Office of Naval Research
OOP
OOP is an abbreviation for Object Oriented Programming
OOPART
OOPART is an abbreviation for Out Of Place ARTifact
OOPS
OOPS is an abbreviation for Object-Oriented Programming System
OP
OP is an abbreviation for OFFICEPOWER office automation system, trademark
of CCI
Observation Post
Order of Preachers
Out of Print
OPEC
OPEC is an abbreviation for Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
OPF
OPF is an abbreviation for Orbiter Processing Facility [Space]
OPM
OPM is an abbreviation for Office of Personnel Management
OPUS
OPUS is an abbreviation for Obvious Password Utility System (Eugene
Spafford <Spaf@Purdue.Edu>)
OR
OR is an abbreviation for Operating Room
Oregon
Owner's Risk, Own Risk
ORFEUS
ORFEUS is an abbreviation for Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme
Ultraviolet Spectrometer [Space]
ORNL
ORNL is an abbreviation for Oak Ridge National Laboratory
OROM
OROM is an abbreviation for Optical Read Only Memory
OS
OS is an abbreviation for Oculus Sinister (left eye)
Operating System
Ordinary Seaman
Out of Stock
OSB
OSB is an abbreviation for Order of St. Benedict
OSC
OSC is an abbreviation for Orbital Sciences Corporation [Space]
OSCAR
OSCAR is an abbreviation for Orbiting Satelite Carry Amateur Radio (1st
launched 12 Dec 1961)
Orbiting Satellite Carry Amateur Radio (1st launched 12 Dec 1961)
Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio [Space]
OSCRL
OSCRL is an abbreviation for Operating System Command Response Language
OSD
OSD is an abbreviation for Office of the Secretary of Defense
OSDIT
OSDIT is an abbreviation for Office of Software Development and
Information Technology
OSF
OSF is an abbreviation for Open Software Foundation
Open Systems Foundation
Order of St. Francis
OSHA
OSHA is an abbreviation for Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[US Government]
OSI
OSI is an abbreviation for Office of Scientific Integrity [NIH]
Open Systems Interconnection (per ISO; 7 layer model)
OSI/RM
OSI/RM is an abbreviation for Open Systems Interconnection/Reference
Model
OSME
OSME is an abbreviation for Open Systems Message Exchange
OSP
OSP is an abbreviation for Optical Storage Processor
OSPFIGP
OSPFIGP is an abbreviation for Open Shortest-Path First Internal Gateway
Protocol [Internet]
OSS
OSS is an abbreviation for Office Support System
Office of Strategic Services (later CIA)
Operation Support System [Telephony, AT&T]
OSSA
OSSA is an abbreviation for Office of Space Science and Applications
[Space]
OSSE
OSSE is an abbreviation for Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer
Experiment (on GRO) [Space]
OSTP
OSTP is an abbreviation for (White House) Office of Science and
Technology Policy [US Government]
Office of Science and Technology Policy
OT
OT is an abbreviation for Old Testament
OverTime
OT&LF
OT&LF is an abbreviation for Open Taxi & Limousine Foundation
OTA
OTA is an abbreviation for Office of Technical Assistance
Office of Technology Assessment
Optical Telescope Assembly (on HST) [Space]
OTB
OTB is an abbreviation for Off-Track Betting
OTC
OTC is an abbreviation for Over The Counter (stocks)
OTF
OTF is an abbreviation for Open Token Foundation
OTH-B
OTH-B is an abbreviation for Over The Horizon - Backscatter (as in radar)
OTR
OTR is an abbreviation for On The Rag
OTS
OTS is an abbreviation for Officers' Training School
OTV
OTV is an abbreviation for Orbital Transfer Vehicle [Space]
OUTWATS
OUTWATS is an abbreviation for OUTward Wide Area Telephone Service
[Telephony]
OV
OV is an abbreviation for Orbital Vehicle [Space]
Orbiter Vehicle [Space]
PA
PA is an abbreviation for Pennsylvania
Per Annum
Play Aid
Power of Attorney
Press Agent
Private Account
Public Address
Purchasing Agent
PABX
PABX is an abbreviation for Private Automatic Branch eXchange [Telephony]
PACCOM
PACCOM is an abbreviation for Pacific Computer Communications network
consortium [Networking]
PACX
PACX is an abbreviation for Private Automatic Computer eXchange
PAD
PAD is an abbreviation for Packet Assembler-Disassembler [Networking]
PAH
PAH is an abbreviation for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon
PAL
PAL is an abbreviation for Phase Alternation Line-rate
Programmable Array Logic
PAM
PAM is an abbreviation for Payload Assist Module [Space]
Pulse Amplification Modulation
PARC
PARC is an abbreviation for Palo Alto Research Center, xerox
PASS
PASS is an abbreviation for Personal Access Satellite System [NASA]
PATROL
PATROL is an abbreviation for Program for Administrative Traffic Reports
On Line
PBM
PBM is an abbreviation for Play By Mail game
PBS
PBS is an abbreviation for Public Broadcasting System
PBX
PBX is an abbreviation for Private Branch eXchange [Telephony]
PC
PC is an abbreviation for Peace Corps
PerCent; PerCentage
Personal Computer (IBM wants you to believe a specific kind)
Player Character (see NPC) [Role-playing]
Post Card
Post Cibum (after meals)
Privileged Character
Privy Council
Program Counter
Progressive Conservative party [Canada]
Providence College
PC-DOS
PC-DOS is an abbreviation for Personal Computer DOS
PC/AT
PC/AT is an abbreviation for Personal Computer/Advanced Technology
PCB
PCB is an abbreviation for PolyChlorinated Biphenyl
Printed Circuit Board
PCI
PCI is an abbreviation for Panel Call Indicator
PCIE
PCIE is an abbreviation for President's Council on Integrity and
Efficiency
PCL
PCL is an abbreviation for Printer Command Language
PCM
PCM is an abbreviation for Plug-Compatible Mainframe
Pulse Code Modulation
PCPC
PCPC is an abbreviation for Personal Computers Peripheral Corporation
PCS
PCS is an abbreviation for Permanent Change of Station
PCTE
PCTE is an abbreviation for Portable Common Tools Environment
PCTS
PCTS is an abbreviation for Posix Conformance Test Suite
PD
PD is an abbreviation for Per Diem
Police Department
Potential Difference
Public Domain
PDAD
PDAD is an abbreviation for Proposed Draft ADdendum
PDE
PDE is an abbreviation for Partial Differential Equation
PDES
PDES is an abbreviation for Product Data Exchange Specifications
PDF
PDF is an abbreviation for Program Development Facility
PDL
PDL is an abbreviation for Page Description Language
Program Design Language
PDN
PDN is an abbreviation for Public Data Network
PDP
PDP is an abbreviation for Plasma Display Panel
Programmed Data Processor
Programmed Data Processor [DEC]
PDQ
PDQ is an abbreviation for Pretty Damned Quick
PDS
PDS is an abbreviation for Premises Distribution System [AT&T]
PDT
PDT is an abbreviation for Pacific Daylight Time
PE
PE is an abbreviation for Phase Encoded
Physical Education
Prince Edward island
Printer's Error
Professional Engineer
Protestant Episcopal
PEI
PEI is an abbreviation for Prince Edward Island
PEP
PEP is an abbreviation for Productivity Enhancement Project
PEPE
PEPE is an abbreviation for Pepe Est Presque Emacs
PERL
PERL is an abbreviation for Pathologically Eclectic Rubbish Lister
Practical Extraction and Report Language
PEX
PEX is an abbreviation for Phigs/phigs+ Extension to X
PFC
PFC is an abbreviation for Plasma Fusion Center [MIT]
PG
PG is an abbreviation for Parental Guidance (suggested) [Movie rating]
PGA
PGA is an abbreviation for Professional Graphics Adapter
Pure Grain Alcohol
PHA
PHA is an abbreviation for Pulse Height Analyzer (or Analysis)
PHIGS
PHIGS is an abbreviation for Programmers Hierarchical Interactive
Graphics System
PHS
PHS is an abbreviation for Public Health Service
PhysRev Physical Review Journal
PhysRev Physical Review Journal is an abbreviation for - Phys Rev
PI
PI is an abbreviation for Principal Investigator
Priority Interrupt
Private Investigator
PIC
PIC is an abbreviation for Plastic/Polyethelene Insulated Cable
[Telephony]
Position Independant Code
PIF
PIF is an abbreviation for Paid In Full
PIT
PIT is an abbreviation for Principal, Interest, and Taxes
PIXEL
PIXEL is an abbreviation for PIcture ELement
PLA
PLA is an abbreviation for Programmable Logic Array
PLATO
PLATO is an abbreviation for Programmed Learning for Automated Teaching
Operations (U. Ill., early '70s)
PLC
PLC is an abbreviation for Programmable Logic Controller
PLCC
PLCC is an abbreviation for Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier
PLL
PLL is an abbreviation for Phase-Locked Loop
PLM
PLM is an abbreviation for Programming Language for Microcomputers
PLO
PLO is an abbreviation for Palestine (sic?) Liberation Organization (?)
Please Leave On
PLSS
PLSS is an abbreviation for Portable Life Support System [Space]
PM
PM is an abbreviation for PayMaster
Police Magistrate
Post Meridiem
Post Meridiem (after noon)
PostMaster
PostMortem
Pressurized Module [Space]
Preventive Maintenance
Prime Minister
Provost Marshal
PM/X
PM/X is an abbreviation for Presentation Manager for X windows
PMC
PMC is an abbreviation for Permanently Manned Capability [Space]
PMIRR
PMIRR is an abbreviation for Pressure Modulated InfraRed Radiometer (on
Mars Observer) [Space]
PMO
PMO is an abbreviation for Prime Minister's Office
PMOS
PMOS is an abbreviation for P channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor (P-MOS)
(see MOS)
PMS
PMS is an abbreviation for PreMenstrual Syndrome
PMT
PMT is an abbreviation for PhotoMultiplier Tube
PN
PN is an abbreviation for Promissory Note
PNP
PNP is an abbreviation for Positive-Negative-Positive (transistor)
PO
PO is an abbreviation for Petty Officer
Post Office
Postal Order
Purchase Order
POC
POC is an abbreviation for Port Of Call
POD
POD is an abbreviation for Pay On Delivery
POE
POE is an abbreviation for Port Of Embarkation
Port Of Entry
POGO
POGO is an abbreviation for Polar Orbiting Geophysical Observatory
POM
POM is an abbreviation for Phase Of Moon
POP
POP is an abbreviation for Point of Presence [Telephony]
Post Office Protocol [Networking] (esp. TCP/IP)
POPS
POPS is an abbreviation for Paperless Order Processing System
POR
POR is an abbreviation for Price On Request
POS
POS is an abbreviation for Point Of Sale
Professional Operating System [DEC]
POSI
POSI is an abbreviation for Promoting conference for OSI
POSIX
POSIX is an abbreviation for Portable Operating System Interface
Portable Operating System for unIX
POTS
POTS is an abbreviation for Plain Old Telephone Service [Telephony]
POTV
POTV is an abbreviation for Personnel Orbit Transfer Vehicle [Space]
POV
POV is an abbreviation for Point Of View
POW
POW is an abbreviation for Prisoner Of War
PP
PP is an abbreviation for Parcel Post
Past Participle
Post Pay (payphone) [Telephony]
Primary Point
PPB
PPB is an abbreviation for Parts Per Billion
PPC
PPC is an abbreviation for Pour Prendre Conge' (to take leave)
PPCS
PPCS is an abbreviation for Person to Person, Collect, Special
[Telephony]
PPM
PPM is an abbreviation for Parts Per Million
PPN
PPN is an abbreviation for Parameterized Post-Newtonian formalism for
general relativity
Project Programmer Number
PPP
PPP is an abbreviation for Point-to-Point Protocol (successor to SLIP
(q.v.))
PPS
PPS is an abbreviation for PostPostScriptum
pps
pps is an abbreviation for Packets per Second
PPT
PPT is an abbreviation for Parts Per Trillion
Pulse Pair Timing
Punched Paper Tape
PQ
PQ is an abbreviation for Province of Quebec
PR
PR is an abbreviation for PayRoll
Public Relations
Puerto Rico
PRC
PRC is an abbreviation for Planning Research Corporation
PREPnet
PREPnet is an abbreviation for Pennsylvania Research & Economic
Partnership Network
PRI
PRI is an abbreviation for Primary Rate Interface (ISDN) [Telephony]
PRN
PRN is an abbreviation for pro re nata [Medicine] (as needed?)
PROFS
PROFS is an abbreviation for PRofessional OFfice System [IBM]
PROM
PROM is an abbreviation for Programmable Read-Only Memory
PS
PS is an abbreviation for PicoSecond
PostScript
PostScriptum
Power Steering
Power Supply
Proposed Standard
Public School
PSA
PSA is an abbreviation for Problem Statement Analyzer
PSC
PSC is an abbreviation for Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center
Polar Stratospheric Clouds
PSDN
PSDN is an abbreviation for Public Switched Data Network [Telephony]
PSDS
PSDS is an abbreviation for Public Switched Digital Service [Telephony,
AT&T]
PSE
PSE is an abbreviation for Programming Support Environment
PSF
PSF is an abbreviation for Point Spread Function [Space]
PSG
PSG is an abbreviation for Platoon SerGeant
PSI
PSI is an abbreviation for Performance Systems International [Corporate
name, Networking]
Power Systems, Incorporated [Corporate name, Model Railroading]
PSK
PSK is an abbreviation for Phase Shift Keying
PSL
PSL is an abbreviation for Problem Statement Language
PSN
PSN is an abbreviation for Packet Switch Node [ARPANET/MILNET] (replaced
IMP)
PSR
PSR is an abbreviation for Product Specific Realizations
PulSaR [Space]
PSS
PSS is an abbreviation for (unknown to me, but something in the UK
environment)
PST
PST is an abbreviation for Pacific Standard Time
PSTN
PSTN is an abbreviation for Public Switched Telephone Network
PT
PT is an abbreviation for Pacific Time
Patrol Torpedo (as in PT boat)
Physical Therapy
Physical Training
PTA
PTA is an abbreviation for Parent-Teacher Association
PTD
PTD is an abbreviation for Parallel Transfer Disk
PTL
PTL is an abbreviation for Praise The Lord (ministry)
PTN
PTN is an abbreviation for Plant Test Number [Telephony] (actual number
assigned for 800 service)
PTO
PTO is an abbreviation for Patent and Trademark Office
Please Turn Over
Power Take-Off
PTT
PTT is an abbreviation for Post, Telephone and Telegraph administration
PTV
PTV is an abbreviation for Passenger Transport Vehicle [Space]
PUC
PUC is an abbreviation for Public Utilities Commision
PV
PV is an abbreviation for Photovoltaic [Space]
PVC
PVC is an abbreviation for Permanent Virtual Circuit (see also VC)
Poly-Vinyl Chloride
PVO
PVO is an abbreviation for Pioneer Venus Orbiter [Space]
PW
PW is an abbreviation for Prisoner of War (usually POW)
PWG
PWG is an abbreviation for Permanent Working Group
PX
PX is an abbreviation for Post eXchange (see BX)
q.v.
q.v. is an abbreviation for ???? (Latin(?): which see)
QAM
QAM is an abbreviation for Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
QC
QC is an abbreviation for Quality Control
Queen's Counsel (KC when queen reigning)
QD
QD is a medical abbreviation for Quaque Die (daily)
QDA
QDA is an abbreviation for Quantity Discount Agreement
QED
QED is an abbreviation for Quod Erat Demonstrandum (which was to be
demonstrated)
QEF
QEF is an abbreviation for Quod Erat Faciendum (which was to be done)
QEI
QEI is an abbreviation for Quod Erat Inveniendum (which was to be found
out)
QET
QET is an abbreviation for Quantum Effect Transistor
QIC
QIC is an abbreviation for Quarter-Inch Cartridge
QID
QID is an abbreviation for Quater In Die (four times a day) [Medicine]
QLI
QLI is an abbreviation for Query Language Interpreter
QM
QM is an abbreviation for QuarterMaster
QMC
QMC is an abbreviation for QuarterMaster Corps
QMF
QMF is an abbreviation for Query Management Facility
QMG
QMG is an abbreviation for QuarterMaster General
QMS
QMS is an abbreviation for Quality Micro Systems [Corporate name]
QNS
QNS is an abbreviation for Quantity Not Sufficient
QSO
QSO is an abbreviation for Quasi-Stellar Object [Space]
QWERTY
QWERTY is an abbreviation for first six keys from left on top alphabetic
row of standard keyboard
R
R is an abbreviation for Restricted [Movie rating]
Rolemaster
R&B
R&B is an abbreviation for Rhythm and Blues (commonly R and B)
R&D
R&D is an abbreviation for Research and Development (commonly R and D)
RA
RA is an abbreviation for Regular Army
Research Assistant
Royal Academy
RAAF
RAAF is an abbreviation for Royal Australian Air Force
RACE
RACE is an abbreviation for Random Access Card Equipment
RACEP
RACEP is an abbreviation for Random Access and Correlation for Extended
Performance
RAD
RAD is an abbreviation for Radiation Absorbed Dose
Rapid Access Disk
RADAR
RADAR is an abbreviation for RAdio Detection And Ranging
RADM
RADM is an abbreviation for Rear ADMiral
RAF
RAF is an abbreviation for Royal Air Force
RAM
RAM is an abbreviation for Random Access Memory (R/W)
Red Academicia de Mexico (Mexican Academic Network)
RARDE
RARDE is an abbreviation for Royal Armaments Research and Development
Establishment
RARE
RARE is an abbreviation for R\'eseaux Associ\'es pour la Recherche
Europ\'eenne (the European Organization of Research Networks)
RAS
RAS is an abbreviation for Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability
RASC
RASC is an abbreviation for Residence Account Service Center
RATS
RATS is an abbreviation for Radio Amateur Telecommunications Society
RBC
RBC is an abbreviation for Red Blood Count
RBI
RBI is an abbreviation for Runs Batted In
RBOC
RBOC is an abbreviation for Regional Bell Operating Company
RC
RC is an abbreviation for Red Cross
Regional Center
Resistor-Capacitor circuit (as in filters)
Roman Catholic
RCA
RCA is an abbreviation for Radio Corporation of America [Corporate name]
RCAF
RCAF is an abbreviation for Royal Canadian Air Force
RCAS
RCAS is an abbreviation for Reserve Component Automation System
RCC
RCC is an abbreviation for Radio Common Carrier
RCMP
RCMP is an abbreviation for Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RCS
RCS is an abbreviation for Reaction Control System [Space]
RD
RD is an abbreviation for Rural Delivery
RDA
RDA is an abbreviation for Remote Data Access
RDBMS
RDBMS is an abbreviation for Relational DataBase Management System
RDF
RDF is an abbreviation for Radio Direction Finding
REA
REA is an abbreviation for Rail Express Agency
RECON
RECON is an abbreviation for Reconnaissance
REM
REM is an abbreviation for Rapid Eye Movement
REO
REO is an abbreviation for R. E. Olds
Removable, Erasable, Optical
RETMA
RETMA is an abbreviation for Radio {something(equipment?)?} {something?}
Manufacturers' Association (????)
REXX
REXX is an abbreviation for Restructured EXtended eXecutor
RF
RF is an abbreviation for Radio Frequency
Radio Frequency [Space]
RFC
RFC is an abbreviation for Request For Comments (ala ARPA Internet)
RFD
RFD is an abbreviation for Rehoboth (MA) Fire Department
Rural Free Delivery
RFI
RFI is an abbreviation for Radio Frequency Interference
Radio Frequency Interference [Space]
RFP
RFP is an abbreviation for Request for Proposal
RFQ
RFQ is an abbreviation for Request for Quote
RFS
RFS is an abbreviation for Remote File System
RGB
RGB is an abbreviation for Red Green Blue
RGP
RGP is an abbreviation for Raster Graphics Processor
RH
RH is an abbreviation for Right Hand
RHC
RHC is an abbreviation for Regional (Bell) Holding Company
RHS
RHS is an abbreviation for Right Hand Side
RI
RI is an abbreviation for Rhode Island
RIACS
RIACS is an abbreviation for Research Institute for Advanced Computer
Science (NASA)
Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science [Space]
RIAS
RIAS is an abbreviation for Radio In the American Sector, berlin
RIF
RIF is an abbreviation for Reading Is Fundamental
Reduction In Force
RILM
RILM is an abbreviation for Repertoire International de Literature
Musicale
RIP
RIP is an abbreviation for Rest In Peace (or Requiescat In Pace : latin)
Routing Interchange Protocol
RIPE
RIPE is an abbreviation for R\'eseaux IP Europ\'eenne (European IP
Networks) (of RARE, q.v.)
RISC
RISC is an abbreviation for Reduced Instruction Set Computer
RITA
RITA is an abbreviation for Recognition of Information Technology
Achievement award
RJE
RJE is an abbreviation for Remote Job Entry
RLC
RLC is an abbreviation for Resistor Inductor Capacitor
RLG
RLG is an abbreviation for Research Libraries Group
RLIN
RLIN is an abbreviation for Research Libraries Information Network (run
by RLG (q.v.))
RLL
RLL is an abbreviation for Run Length Limited
RMA
RMA is an abbreviation for Radio Manufacturers' Association
Return Materials Authorization
RMATS
RMATS is an abbreviation for Remote Maintenance Administration and
Traffic System [Telephony]
RMS
RMS is an abbreviation for Remote Manipulator System [Space]
Richard M. Stallman
Root Mean Square
Royal Mail Ship
RN
RN is an abbreviation for Registered Nurse
Royal Navy
RNA
RNA is an abbreviation for RiboNucleic Acid
RNGC
RNGC is an abbreviation for Revised New General Catalog [Space]
RNZAF
RNZAF is an abbreviation for Royal New Zealand Air Force
ROFF
ROFF is an abbreviation for Run-OFF
ROG
ROG is an abbreviation for Receipt Of Goods
ROM
ROM is an abbreviation for Range Of Motion [Medicine]
Read-Only Memory
Rupture Of Membrane (as in birth)
ROSAT
ROSAT is an abbreviation for ROentgen SATellite [Space]
ROSE
ROSE is an abbreviation for RATS (q.v.) Open Systems Environment
Remote Operations Service Entity (per ISO/CCITT layer 7)
ROTC
ROTC is an abbreviation for Reserve Officers' Training Corps
ROTS
ROTS is an abbreviation for Rotary Out Trunks Selectors
ROYGBIV
ROYGBIV is an abbreviation for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo,
Violet
RPC
RPC is an abbreviation for Remote Procedure Call
RPG
RPG is an abbreviation for RePort Generator
Role Playing Game
RPI
RPI is an abbreviation for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPM
RPM is an abbreviation for Revolutions Per Minute
RPN
RPN is an abbreviation for Reverse Polish Notation
RPO
RPO is an abbreviation for Railway Post Office
RPS
RPS is an abbreviation for Revolutions Per Second
RPV
RPV is an abbreviation for Remotely Piloted Vehicle
RQ
RQ is an abbreviation for RuneQuest
RR
RR is an abbreviation for RailRoad
Route Relay
Rural Route
RRO
RRO is an abbreviation for Rate and Route Operator [Telephony]
RS
RS is an abbreviation for Recommended Standard (EIA)
Recording Secretary
Revised Status
Right Side
Royal Society
RSCS
RSCS is an abbreviation for Remote Spooling Communications Subsystem
RSFSR
RSFSR is an abbreviation for Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic
RSN
RSN is an abbreviation for Real Soon Now
RSU
RSU is an abbreviation for Remote Switching Unit
RSV
RSV is an abbreviation for Revised Standard Edition
RSVP
RSVP is an abbreviation for Repondez S'il Vous Plait (please reply)
RSWC
RSWC is an abbreviation for Right Side up With Care
RT
RT is an abbreviation for RadioTelephone
RealTime
RTA
RTA is an abbreviation for Remote Trunk Arrangement [Telephony]
RTAC
RTAC is an abbreviation for Regional Technical Assistance Center
[Telephony]
RTF
RTF is an abbreviation for Rich Text Format
RTFM
RTFM is an abbreviation for Read The @!# Manual
Read The F***ing Manual
RTG
RTG is an abbreviation for Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator [Space]
RTLS
RTLS is an abbreviation for Return To Launch Site (Shuttle abort mode)
[NASA, Shuttle, Space]
RTR
RTR is an abbreviation for Ready to Run [Model Railroading]
Reel-To-Reel
RTS
RTS is an abbreviation for Request To Send (EIA RS-232-C)
RTTY
RTTY is an abbreviation for Radio Teletype
RU
RU is an abbreviation for Receive Unit
RVD
RVD is an abbreviation for Remote Virtual Disk [MIT]
RW
RW is an abbreviation for Right Worshipful
Right Worthy
RX
RX is an abbreviation for Receive
Ry
Ry is an abbreviation for Railway
S
S is an abbreviation for South
Supplement
S&C
S&C is an abbreviation for Skull & Crossbones
S/C
S/C is an abbreviation for SpaceCraft [Space]
SA
SA is an abbreviation for Salvation Army
Seaman Apprentice
Service Assistant
Sex Appeal
Sine Anno (without date)
South Africa
South America
Subject to Approval
SAA
SAA is an abbreviation for South Atlantic Anomaly
South Atlantic Anomaly [Space]
Systems Application Architecture
SAC
SAC is an abbreviation for Special Area Code [Telephony] (represent
services, not places)
Strategic Air Command (see TAC)
Strategic Air Command [US military]
SADD
SADD is an abbreviation for Students Against Drunk Driving
SAFENET
SAFENET is an abbreviation for Survivable Adaptable Fiberoptic Embedded
Network [US Navy]
SAM
SAM is an abbreviation for Surface to Air Missile
Surface-to-Air Missile
SAMA
SAMA is an abbreviation for Step-by-step Automatic Message Accounting
[Telephony]
SAMPEX
SAMPEX is an abbreviation for Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle
EXplorer [Space]
SAMTO
SAMTO is an abbreviation for Space And Missile Test Organization [Space]
SAO
SAO is an abbreviation for Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory [Space]
SAP
SAP is an abbreviation for Second Audio Program
Service Access Point [OSI, Networking]
SAR
SAR is an abbreviation for Search And Rescue
Synthetic Aperture Radar
SARA
SARA is an abbreviation for Satellite pour Astronomie Radio Amateur
[Space]
Stichting Academisch Rekencentrum Amsterdam (Amsterdam Universities
Computing Center)
SAREX
SAREX is an abbreviation for Search and Rescue Exercise [Space]
Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment [Space]
SARTS
SARTS is an abbreviation for Switched Access Remote Test System
SAS
SAS is an abbreviation for Small Astronomy Satellite
Space Activity Suit [Space]
SASE
SASE is an abbreviation for Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope
SASI
SASI is an abbreviation for Shugart Associates Systems Interface
SAT
SAT is an abbreviation for Satellite [Space]
SAW
SAW is an abbreviation for Surface Acoustic Wave
SBA
SBA is an abbreviation for Small Business Administration
SC
SC is an abbreviation for Secondary Channel
Sectional Center
South Carolina
SubCommittee
SCA
SCA is an abbreviation for Shuttle Carrier Aircraft [Space]
SCAD
SCAD is an abbreviation for Subsonic Cruise Armed Decoy
SCADC
SCADC is an abbreviation for Standard Central Air Data Computer
SCAME
SCAME is an abbreviation for SCreen oriented Anti-Misery Editor
SCAMP
SCAMP is an abbreviation for Single-Chip A-series Mainframe Processor
SCAN
SCAN is an abbreviation for Switched Circuit Automatic Network
SCC
SCC is an abbreviation for Specialized Common Carriers
Switching Control Center
SCCS
SCCS is an abbreviation for Source Code Control System
SCE
SCE is an abbreviation for Signal Conversion Equipment
Structure Chart Editor
SCI
SCI is an abbreviation for SpaceCraft Incorporated
SCIFI
SCIFI is an abbreviation for SCIence FIction (often used pejoratively of
what really isn't)
SCO
SCO is an abbreviation for Santa Cruz Operation
SCOOPS
SCOOPS is an abbreviation for SCheme Object Oriented Programming System
SCOTS
SCOTS is an abbreviation for Surveilance and Control Of Transmission
Systems
SCSI
SCSI is an abbreviation for Small Computer Systems Interface
SCT
SCT is an abbreviation for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope [Space]
SCUBA
SCUBA is an abbreviation for Self Contained Underwater Breathing
Apparatus
SCUD
SCUD is an abbreviation for Subsonic Cruise Unarmed Decoy
SD
SD is an abbreviation for South Dakota
SDB
SDB is an abbreviation for Source(?) DeBugger
SDI
SDI is an abbreviation for Standard Disk Interconnect [DEC]
Strategic Defense Initiative [Space, US Government]
SDIO
SDIO is an abbreviation for Strategic Defense Initiative Organization
[Space, US Government]
SDLC
SDLC is an abbreviation for Synchronous Data Link Control [IBM]
SDM
SDM is an abbreviation for Sub-rate Data Multiplexer
SDN
SDN is an abbreviation for Software Defined Network [Telephony, AT&T]
System Development Network (Korea)
SDO
SDO is an abbreviation for Staff Duty Officer
SDSC
SDSC is an abbreviation for San Diego Supercomputer Center
SDV
SDV is an abbreviation for Shuttle Derived Vehicle [Space]
SE
SE is an abbreviation for Service Engineer (see also CE, FE)
South East
SEATO
SEATO is an abbreviation for SouthEast Asia Treaty Organization
SEC
SEC is an abbreviation for Security Exchange Commission
SECNAV
SECNAV is an abbreviation for SECretary of the NAVy
SED
SED is an abbreviation for Stream EDitor
SEI
SEI is an abbreviation for Software Engineering Institute (Carnegie
Mellon)
Space Exploration Initiative [Space]
SEL
SEL is an abbreviation for Software Engineering Laboratory
SEM
SEM is an abbreviation for Scanning Electron Microscope
SEST
SEST is an abbreviation for Swedish-European Submillimeter Telescope
[Space]
SETI
SETI is an abbreviation for Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence
[Space]
Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence [Space]
SF
SF is an abbreviation for San Francisco
Science Fiction; Speculative Fiction
Standard Form
Star Frontiers
SFRPG
SFRPG is an abbreviation for Science Fiction Role Playing Game
SG
SG is an abbreviation for StarGuard
SubGroup
SGML
SGML is an abbreviation for Standard Generalized Markup Language
SHAPE
SHAPE is an abbreviation for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
SHAR
SHAR is an abbreviation for SHell ARchiver
SHCD
SHCD is an abbreviation for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
SHF
SHF is an abbreviation for Super High Frequency (3-30GHz)
SHRPG
SHRPG is an abbreviation for Super Hero Role Playing Game
SI
SI is an abbreviation for Staten Island
SIAM
SIAM is an abbreviation for Society for Industrial and Applied
Mathematics
SID
SID is an abbreviation for Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance [Space]
SIG
SIG is an abbreviation for Special Interest Group
SIGCAT
SIGCAT is an abbreviation for Special Interest Group for Cd-rom
Applications Technology
SIMD
SIMD is an abbreviation for Single Instruction, Multiple Data
SIMM
SIMM is an abbreviation for Single In-line Memory Module
System Integrated Memory Module
SINE
SINE is an abbreviation for SINE is not EINE
SIPS
SIPS is an abbreviation for Satellite Imagery Processing System
SIR
SIR is an abbreviation for Shuttle Imaging Radar [Space]
SIRTF
SIRTF is an abbreviation for Space (formerly Shuttle) InfraRed Telescope
Facility [Space]
Space Infrared Telescope Facility [Space]
SIS
SIS is an abbreviation for Strategic Information System
SISCOM
SISCOM is an abbreviation for Satellite Information System COMpany
SITA
SITA is an abbreviation for Societe Internationale Telecommunications
Aeronautiques
SJ
SJ is an abbreviation for Society of Jesus
Skyhook
Skyhook is an abbreviation for Surface to space "elevator" transportation
system [Space]
SL
SL is an abbreviation for Salvage Loss
Space Launch [Space]
SpaceLab [Space]
SLA
SLA is an abbreviation for Special Libraries Association
Synchronous Line Adapter
SLAC
SLAC is an abbreviation for Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
SLAN
SLAN is an abbreviation for Sine Loco, Anno, (vel) Nomine (without place,
year, or name)
SLAR
SLAR is an abbreviation for Side Looking Airborne Radar
Side-Looking Airborne Radar [Space]
SLBM
SLBM is an abbreviation for Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles
SLC
SLC is an abbreviation for Space Launch Complex [Space]
Subscriber Loop Carrier [Telephony]
SLDC
SLDC is an abbreviation for Synchronous Data Link Control
SLIP
SLIP is an abbreviation for Serial Line IP (sometimes SL/IP) (see also
PPP)
Serial Line Internet Protocol
SLP
SLP is an abbreviation for Super Long Play (VHS VCR)
SLS
SLS is an abbreviation for Space(lab) Life Sciences [Space]
SM
SM is an abbreviation for Service Mark
SMA
SMA is an abbreviation for Sergeant Major of the Army
Spectrum Manufacturers Association
SMC
SMC is an abbreviation for Small Magellanic Cloud (see LMC)
Small Magellanic Cloud [Space]
SMD
SMD is an abbreviation for Storage Module Device (interface standard for
disk drives)
Surface Mounted Devices
SMDR
SMDR is an abbreviation for Station Message Detail Recording [Telephony]
SMDS
SMDS is an abbreviation for Switched Multi-megabit Data Service
[Telephony, Networking]
SME
SME is an abbreviation for Solar Mesosphere Explorer [Space]
SMEGMA
SMEGMA is an abbreviation for Sophisticated Modern Editor with Gloriously
Magnificent Abilities
SMERSH
SMERSH is an abbreviation for Abbr. of Russian phrase meaning "Death to
the spies."
SMEX
SMEX is an abbreviation for SMall EXplorers [Space]
SMILS
SMILS is an abbreviation for Sonobuoy Missile Impact Location System
SMM
SMM is an abbreviation for Solar Maximum Mission (satellite 1980-1989)
[Space]
SMTP
SMTP is an abbreviation for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
SMU
SMU is an abbreviation for Southeastern Massachusetts University
Southern Methodist University
SN
SN is an abbreviation for Science News [Periodical]
Serial Number
Super Nova
SuperNova (e.g., SN1987A) [Space]
SNA
SNA is an abbreviation for Systems Network Architecture [IBM]
SNADS
SNADS is an abbreviation for SNA Distribution Services
SNAFU
SNAFU is an abbreviation for Situation Normal -- All Fouled Up (also more
profane versions)
SNAP
SNAP is an abbreviation for Shipboard Non-tactical Automated data
Processing program
Sub Network Access Protocol [OSI, Networking]
SNCF
SNCF is an abbreviation for Societe National des Chemins de Fer (French
National Railways)
SNF
SNF is an abbreviation for Server-Natural Format
SNMP
SNMP is an abbreviation for Simple Network Management Protocol [TCP/IP]
SNOBOL
SNOBOL is an abbreviation for StriNg Oriented symbOLic Language
SNPA
SNPA is an abbreviation for SubNetwork Point of Attachment
SNR
SNR is an abbreviation for Signal to Noise Ratio
Signal to Noise Ratio [Space]
SuperNova Remnant [Space]
SNU
SNU is an abbreviation for Solar Neutrino Units [Space]
SO
SO is an abbreviation for Seller's Option
Significant Other
Space Opera
Strike Out
SOAP
SOAP is an abbreviation for Symbolic Optimizing Assembler Program
SOFIA
SOFIA is an abbreviation for Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared
Astronomy [Space]
SOH
SOH is an abbreviation for Start Of Header, ASCII control character
(dec=01,control-A)
SOHIO
SOHIO is an abbreviation for Standard Oil of oHIO [Corporate name]
SOHO
SOHO is an abbreviation for SOlar Heliospheric Observatory [Space]
SOL
SOL is an abbreviation for Short on Landing (or, colloquially, Shit Out
of Luck)
SONAR
SONAR is an abbreviation for SOund Detection And Ranging
SONET
SONET is an abbreviation for Synchronous Optical Network [Telephony]
SOP
SOP is an abbreviation for Standard Operating Procedure
SOS
SOS is an abbreviation for Save Our Souls (International standard
distress call, Morse ...---...)
Silicon On Sapphire
Son of Stopgap (editor) [DEC]
SP
SP is an abbreviation for Shore Patrol
Short Play (VHS VCR)
Southern Pacific [Corporate name, Railroading]
Stack Pointer
Star Patrol
SPA
SPA is an abbreviation for Software Publishers Association
SPAG
SPAG is an abbreviation for Standards Promotion and Applications Group
SPAN
SPAN is an abbreviation for Space Physics and Analysis Network [NASA]
(DECnet)
Space Physics and Analysis Network [Space]
SPAR
SPAR is an abbreviation for Stock Points Adp Replacement
SPARC
SPARC is an abbreviation for Scalable Processor ARChitecture
Standards, Planning, And Requirements Committee
SPAWAR
SPAWAR is an abbreviation for naval SPAce and WARfare command
SPC
SPC is an abbreviation for Software Productivity Consortium
SPCA
SPCA is an abbreviation for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals
SPCC
SPCC is an abbreviation for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children
SPDM
SPDM is an abbreviation for Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator [Space]
SPEC
SPEC is an abbreviation for Systems Performance Evaluation Cooperative
SPITBOL
SPITBOL is an abbreviation for SPeedy ImplemenTation of snoBOL
SPNI
SPNI is an abbreviation for Society for the Protection of Nature in
Israel
SPOT
SPOT is an abbreviation for Systeme Probatoire pour l'Observation de la
Terre [Space]
SPS
SPS is an abbreviation for Solar Power Satellite [Space]
SPUR
SPUR is an abbreviation for Systech Pluraxial Unplug Repeater
SQIID
SQIID is an abbreviation for Simultaneous Quad Infrared Imaging Device
(at NOAO)
SQL
SQL is an abbreviation for Structured Query Language
SQUID
SQUID is an abbreviation for Superconducting QUantum Interference Device
SRAM
SRAM is an abbreviation for Short Range Attack Missile
Static RAM
SRB
SRB is an abbreviation for Solid (fuel) Rocket Booster [Space]
SRG
SRG is an abbreviation for Short and Ring Ground (test) [Telephony]
SRI
SRI is an abbreviation for Stanford Research Institute
SRM
SRM is an abbreviation for Solid Rocket Motor [Space]
SRO
SRO is an abbreviation for Standing Room Only
SS7
SS7 is an abbreviation for Signalling System #7 [Telephony]
SSA
SSA is an abbreviation for Social Security Administration [US Government]
SSB
SSB is an abbreviation for Single Side Band
SSC
SSC is an abbreviation for Superconducting Super Collider
SSE
SSE is an abbreviation for South-SouthEast
SSF
SSF is an abbreviation for Space Station Fred (er, Freedom) [Space]
Space Station Freedom [NASA, Space]
SSFF
SSFF is an abbreviation for Showcase Software Factory of the Future
SSG
SSG is an abbreviation for Staff SerGeant
SSI
SSI is an abbreviation for Small Scale Integration
Solid-State Imager (on Galileo) [Space]
Space Services Incorporated [Corporate name, Space]
Space Studies Institute [Space]
Supplemental Security Income
SSME
SSME is an abbreviation for Space Shuttle Main Engine [Space]
SSPF
SSPF is an abbreviation for Space Station Processing Facility [Space]
SSPS
SSPS is an abbreviation for Satellite Solar Power Station [Space]
SSR
SSR is an abbreviation for Secondary Surveillance Radar
Soviet Socialist Republic
SSRMS
SSRMS is an abbreviation for Space Station Remote Manipulator System
[Space]
SST
SST is an abbreviation for Spectroscopic Survey Telescope [Space]
SuperSonic Transport [Space]
SSTO
SSTO is an abbreviation for Single Stage To Orbit [Space]
SSTV
SSTV is an abbreviation for Slow Scan TeleVision
SSW
SSW is an abbreviation for South-SouthWest
ST
ST is an abbreviation for Short Ton
STARS
STARS is an abbreviation for Software Technology for Adaptable, Reliable
Systems
STD
STD is an abbreviation for Sacrae Theologiae Doctor (doctor of sacred
theology)
Sexually Transmitted Disease (replaces VD)
State Transition Diagram
Subscriber Trunk Dialing (British, and elsewhere; equiv. DDD in USA)
STI
STI is an abbreviation for Standard Tape Interconnect [DEC]
STILO
STILO is an abbreviation for Scientific and Technical Intelligence
Liaison Office
STIS
STIS is an abbreviation for Space Telescope Imaging Spectrometer (to
replace FOC and GHRS) [Space]
STL
STL is an abbreviation for St. Louis (airport designation)
STN
STN is an abbreviation for SuperTwisted Nematic
STOL
STOL is an abbreviation for Short TakeOff and Landing
STP
STP is an abbreviation for Shielded Twisted Pair [Telecom, Networking]
Software Through Pictures
Standard Temperature and Pressure (see NTP)
STRPG
STRPG is an abbreviation for Star Trek: The Role-Playing Game
STS
STS is an abbreviation for Space Transportation System (space shuttle)
[NASA]
STScI
STScI is an abbreviation for Space Telescope Science Institute [Space]
STV
STV is an abbreviation for Single Transferable Vote
Space Transfer Vehicle [Space]
SUM
SUM is an abbreviation for Symantec Utilities for Macintosh
SUN
SUN is an abbreviation for SUN MicroSystems Computer (not an Acronym)
[Corporate name]
Stanford University Network
SUNOCO
SUNOCO is an abbreviation for SUN Oil COmpany [Corporate name]
SUNY
SUNY is an abbreviation for State University of New York
SURAnet
SURAnet is an abbreviation for Southeastern Universities Research
Association Network
SVID
SVID is an abbreviation for System V Interface Definition
SW
SW is an abbreviation for South West
SuperWorld
SWAS
SWAS is an abbreviation for Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite
[Space]
SWBT
SWBT is an abbreviation for South Western Bell Telephone [Telephony]
SWF
SWF is an abbreviation for ShortWave Fading [Space]
SWIFT
SWIFT is an abbreviation for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial
Communications
SWS
SWS is an abbreviation for Scientific Workstation Support
SXS
SXS is an abbreviation for Step by Step switching [Telephony]
T
T is an abbreviation for Traveler
T&T
T&T is an abbreviation for Tunnels & Trolls
T1
T1 is an abbreviation for 1.544Mbps [Telephony], one of the basic
signalling systems 24x64Kb
T3
T3 is an abbreviation for 45Mbps (eq 28 T1 channels) [Telephony]
TA
TA is an abbreviation for Teaching Assistant
TAC
TAC is an abbreviation for Tactical Air Command (see SAC)
Terminal Access Controller [ARPANET/MILNET] (replaced TIP)
TACACS
TACACS is an abbreviation for Terminal Access Controller Access Control
System [ARPANET/MILNET]
TACCS
TACCS is an abbreviation for Tactical Army Combat service support
Computer System
TAE
TAE is an abbreviation for Transportable Applications Environment
TAL
TAL is an abbreviation for Trans-Atlantic Abort Landing [NASA, Shuttle]
Transatlantic Abort Landing (Shuttle abort plan) [Space]
TANSTAAFL
TANSTAAFL is an abbreviation for There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free
Lunch
TAR
TAR is an abbreviation for Tape ARchiver
TASI
TASI is an abbreviation for Time Assign{ment,ed} Speech Interpolation
[Telephony]
TAU
TAU is an abbreviation for Thousand Astronomical Units [Space]
TB
TB is an abbreviation for TuBerculosis
TBA
TBA is an abbreviation for To Be Announced
TBD
TBD is an abbreviation for To Be Determined
To Be Done
TC
TC is an abbreviation for Teachers College
TCA
TCA is an abbreviation for Terminal Controlled Airspace
TCP
TCP is an abbreviation for Transmission Control Protocol
TCP/IP
TCP/IP is an abbreviation for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol
TCS
TCS is an abbreviation for Thermal Control System [Space]
TCSEC
TCSEC is an abbreviation for Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria
(orange book)
TCT
TCT is an abbreviation for To Challenge Tomorrow
TD
TD is an abbreviation for Tardive Dyskinesia
TouchDown
Treasury Department
TDCC
TDCC is an abbreviation for Transportation Data Coordinating Committee
TDE
TDE is an abbreviation for Transition Diagram Editor
TDI
TDI is an abbreviation for Trusted Database Interpretation
TDM
TDM is an abbreviation for Time-Division Multiplexer
TDR
TDR is an abbreviation for Time Domain Reflectometer
TDRS
TDRS is an abbreviation for Tracking and Data Relay Satellite [Space]
TDRSS
TDRSS is an abbreviation for Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System
[Space]
TDY
TDY is an abbreviation for Temporary DutY
TECO
TECO is an abbreviation for Tape Editor and COrrector
Text Editor and COrrector
TEFLON
TEFLON is an abbreviation for polyTEtraFLuOrethyleNe
TES
TES is an abbreviation for Thermal Emission Spectrometer (on Mars
Observer) [Space]
TFP
TFP is an abbreviation for Tops Filing Protocol
TFS
TFS is an abbreviation for Translucent File System
TFT
TFT is an abbreviation for The Fantasy Trip
Thin Film Transistor
TG
TG is an abbreviation for Thieves' Guild
TGV
TGV is an abbreviation for Tres Grande Vitesse (French, Very High Speed)
[Railroading]
Two Guys and a VAX (humorous variant) [Corporate name]
THIEF
THIEF is an abbreviation for THief Isn't Even Fine
This Here Isn't Even Fine
THOR
THOR is an abbreviation for Tandy High-intensity Optical Recording
TI
TI is an abbreviation for Texas Instruments
TIA
TIA is an abbreviation for Thanks In Advance [Net jargon]
Transient Ischemic Attack
TIC
TIC is an abbreviation for TermInfo Compiler
TID
TID is an abbreviation for Ter In Die (three times a day)
Transaction ID
TIFF
TIFF is an abbreviation for Tag Image File Format
TIP
TIP is an abbreviation for Terminal Interface Processor [ARPANET/MILNET]
(replaced by TAC)
TIS
TIS is an abbreviation for Trusted Information Systems [Corporate name]
TISN
TISN is an abbreviation for Tokyo International Science Network (Japan)
TKO
TKO is an abbreviation for Technical Knock Out [Boxing]
TL
TL is an abbreviation for Total Loss
TLA
TLA is an abbreviation for Three Letter Acronym
TLC
TLC is an abbreviation for Tender Loving Care
TLI
TLI is an abbreviation for Transort-Level Interface
TM
TM is an abbreviation for TradeMark
TMA
TMA is an abbreviation for Tycho Magnetic Anomaly (movie 2001)
TMAC
TMAC is an abbreviation for Treasury department's Multiuser Acquisition
Contract
TMIS
TMIS is an abbreviation for Telecommunications Management Information
System
TMO
TMO is an abbreviation for Telephone Money Order
TMP
TMP is an abbreviation for The Morrow Project
TMRC
TMRC is an abbreviation for Tech Model Railroad Club [MIT]
Transportation Modeling Research Center (TMRC {above} alter ego)
TN
TN is an abbreviation for Tennessee
Twisted Nematic
TNC
TNC is an abbreviation for Threaded Neill Concelman (connector)
[Electronics] (see also BNC)
TNF
TNF is an abbreviation for Tumor Necrosis Factor [Biology, Medicine]
TNP
TNP is an abbreviation for Tech Nickel Plate (RR) [TMRC]
TNT
TNT is an abbreviation for TriNitro Toluene
TO
TO is an abbreviation for Telegraph Office
Turn Over
TODS
TODS is an abbreviation for Transactions on Database Systems (ACM)
TOMS
TOMS is an abbreviation for Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer [Space]
Transactions on Mathematical Software (ACM)
TOOIS
TOOIS is an abbreviation for Transactions on Office Information Systems
(ACM)
TOP
TOP is an abbreviation for Technical Office Protocol
TOPLAS
TOPLAS is an abbreviation for Transactions on Programming Languages and
Systems (ACM)
TOPS
TOPS is an abbreviation for Traffic Operator Position System [Telephony]
TOPSMP
TOPSMP is an abbreviation for Traffic Operator Position System
Multipurpose [Telephony]
TORES
TORES is an abbreviation for Text ORiented Editing System
TOS
TOS is an abbreviation for Transfer Orbit Stage [Space]
TOW
TOW is an abbreviation for Tube launched, Optically tracked, and Wire
guided
TOY
TOY is an abbreviation for Time Of Year (clock)
TP
TP is an abbreviation for Transaction Processing
Transport Protocol (ISO/CCITT Transport Services (TP0-TP4); like TCP)
TP4
TP4 is an abbreviation for Transport Protocol, class 4 [ISO]
TPC
TPC is an abbreviation for The Phone Company (from classic movie: The
President's Analyst )
TPI
TPI is an abbreviation for Tracks Per Inch
TPO
TPO is an abbreviation for Traveling Post Office
TPP
TPP is an abbreviation for TetraarylPorPhyrin
TPS
TPS is an abbreviation for Technical Publishing Software
TeleProcessing Services
Thermal Protection System [Space]
TR
TR is an abbreviation for Tech Report (at least at LCS (q.v.), maybe
others)
Technical Reference [Bell, Telephony]
TRG
TRG is an abbreviation for Tip and Ring Ground (test) [Telephony]
TROFF
TROFF is an abbreviation for Text RunOFF, text formatter
TRUSIX
TRUSIX is an abbreviation for TRUSted unIX
TRW
TRW is an abbreviation for Thompson, Ramo, and Woolridge
TS
TS is an abbreviation for Top Secret
TSAP
TSAP is an abbreviation for Transport Service Access Point [OSI,
Networking]
TSD
TSD is an abbreviation for Total System Design
TSP
TSP is an abbreviation for Teleprocessing Services Program
Thrift Savings Plan
Time Synchronization Protocol
TriSodium Phosphate
TSR
TSR is an abbreviation for TSR (Fortune 500 Company that manufactures
Dungeons & Dragons)
TSS
TSS is an abbreviation for Tethered Satellite System [Space]
TSTO
TSTO is an abbreviation for Two Stage to Orbit [Space]
TTFN
TTFN is an abbreviation for Tah Tah, For Now
TTL
TTL is an abbreviation for Transistor Transistor Logic
TTMA
TTMA is an abbreviation for Tennessee Tech Microcomputer Association
TTU
TTU is an abbreviation for Tennessee Technological University
TTY
TTY is an abbreviation for TeleTYpe
TUNIS
TUNIS is an abbreviation for Toronto UNIversity System
TV
TV is an abbreviation for TeleVision
TVA
TVA is an abbreviation for Tennessee Valley Authority
TW
TW is an abbreviation for Thieves' World
TWA
TWA is an abbreviation for Trans World Airlines [Corporate name]
TWB
TWB is an abbreviation for Terrestrial WideBand [Networking, DARPA]
TWIMC
TWIMC is an abbreviation for To Whom It May Concern
TWT
TWT is an abbreviation for Traveling Wave Tube
TWX
TWX is an abbreviation for TeletypeWriter eXchange
TX
TX is an abbreviation for Texas
Tx
Tx is an abbreviation for Transmit
U
U is an abbreviation for Universe
u
u is an abbreviation for (representing the greek mu) - micro
UA
UA is an abbreviation for United Artists
UAR
UAR is an abbreviation for United Arab Republic
User Action Routine
UARS
UARS is an abbreviation for Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite [Space]
UART
UART is an abbreviation for Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
UBA
UBA is an abbreviation for UniBus Adapter [DEC]
UBC
UBC is an abbreviation for Universal Bibliographic Control
University of British Columbia
UBM
UBM is an abbreviation for Unpressurized Berthing Mechanism [Space]
UCAR
UCAR is an abbreviation for University Corporation for Atmospheric
Research
UCB
UCB is an abbreviation for University of California at Berkeley
UCD
UCD is an abbreviation for Uniform Call Distributor [Telephony]
University of California at Davis
UCI
UCI is an abbreviation for University of California at Irvine
UCL
UCL is an abbreviation for University College London
UCLA
UCLA is an abbreviation for University of California at Los Angeles
UCR
UCR is an abbreviation for University of California at Riverside
UCSB
UCSB is an abbreviation for University of California at Santa Barbara
UCSC
UCSC is an abbreviation for University of California at Santa Cruz
UCSD
UCSD is an abbreviation for University of California at San Diego
UCSF
UCSF is an abbreviation for University of California at San Francisco
UDB
UDB is an abbreviation for Unified DataBase
UDMH
UDMH is an abbreviation for Unsymmetrical DiMethyl Hydrazine [Space]
UDP
UDP is an abbreviation for User Datagram Protocol
UEC
UEC is an abbreviation for User Environment Component
UFO
UFO is an abbreviation for Unidentified Flying Object [Space]
UGC
UGC is an abbreviation for Uppsala General Catalog [Space]
UH
UH is an abbreviation for Upper Half
UHF
UHF is an abbreviation for Ultra High Frequency (300-3000MHz)
UID
UID is an abbreviation for Unique IDentifier
User IDentification [UNIX]
UIMS
UIMS is an abbreviation for User Interface Management System
UIT
UIT is an abbreviation for Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (Astro package)
[Space]
UIUC
UIUC is an abbreviation for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
UK
UK is an abbreviation for United Kingdom
UKST
UKST is an abbreviation for United Kingdom Schmidt Telescope [Space]
UL
UL is an abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratory
ULANA
ULANA is an abbreviation for Unified Local-Area Network Architecture
UMOC
UMOC is an abbreviation for Ugliest Man On Campus [MIT]
UMT
UMT is an abbreviation for Universal Military Training
UN
UN is an abbreviation for United Nations
UNESCO
UNESCO is an abbreviation for United Nations Educational, Scientific, &
Cultural Organization
UNICEF
UNICEF is an abbreviation for United Nations International Children's
Emergency Fund (now United Nat. Child. Fund)
UNICS
UNICS is an abbreviation for UNiplex Information Computer Services
UNIX
UNIX is an abbreviation for Not an acronym at all. Was a joke on
MIT's MULTICS.
UNMA
UNMA is an abbreviation for Unified Network Management Architecture
[AT&T]
UNO
UNO is an abbreviation for United Nations Organization
UP
UP is an abbreviation for Union Pacific [Railroading, Corporate name]
UPC
UPC is an abbreviation for Universal Product Code
UPI
UPI is an abbreviation for United Press International
United Press International [Corporate name]
UPS
UPS is an abbreviation for Uninterruptible Power Supply
United Parcel Service [Corporate name]
UR
UR is an abbreviation for University of Rochester
URI
URI is an abbreviation for University of Rhode Island
US
US is an abbreviation for United States (of America)
USA
USA is an abbreviation for Union of South Africa
United States Army
United States of America
USAF
USAF is an abbreviation for United States Air Force
USAFA
USAFA is an abbreviation for United States Air Force Academy (in Colorado
Springs)
USAN
USAN is an abbreviation for University Satellite Network
USB
USB is an abbreviation for Upper Side Band
USC
USC is an abbreviation for University of Southern California
USCG
USCG is an abbreviation for United States Coast Guard
USDA
USDA is an abbreviation for United States Department of Agriculture
USES
USES is an abbreviation for United States Employment Service
USFL
USFL is an abbreviation for United States Football League
USGS
USGS is an abbreviation for United States Geological Survey
USIA
USIA is an abbreviation for United States Information Agency
USM
USM is an abbreviation for United States Mail
USMC
USMC is an abbreviation for United States Marine Corps
USMP
USMP is an abbreviation for United States Microgravity Payload [Space]
USN
USN is an abbreviation for United States Navy
USO
USO is an abbreviation for United Service Organizations
Unix Software Operation
USP
USP is an abbreviation for United States Pharmacopeia
USPS
USPS is an abbreviation for United States Postal Service
USR
USR is an abbreviation for User Service Routines
USS
USS is an abbreviation for United States Ship
USSR
USSR is an abbreviation for Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
USSS
USSS is an abbreviation for User Services and Systems Support
USW
USW is an abbreviation for Und So Weiter
UT
UT is an abbreviation for UTah
Universal Time (a.k.a. GMT, UTC, or Zulu Time)
University of Tennessee
University of Texas
UTC
UTC is an abbreviation for Coordinated Universal Time (a.k.a. UT)
Universal Coordinated Time (a.k.a. UT)
UTnet
UTnet is an abbreviation for University of Texas Network
UTP
UTP is an abbreviation for Unshielded Twisted Pair [Telecom, Networking]
UUCP
UUCP is an abbreviation for UNIX-to-UNIX Copy Program
UUG
UUG is an abbreviation for Unix User Group
UV
UV is an abbreviation for UltraViolet
UVS
UVS is an abbreviation for UltraViolet Spectrometer
UW
UW is an abbreviation for UnderWriter
Univ of Wisconsin
V&H
V&H is an abbreviation for Vertical and Horizontal (CO coordinate tape)
[Telephony]
V&V
V&V is an abbreviation for Villains & Vigilantes
VA
VA is an abbreviation for Veterans Administration
Virginia
VAB
VAB is an abbreviation for Vehicle Assembly Building (formerly Vertical
Assembly Building) [Space]
VAFB
VAFB is an abbreviation for Vandenberg Air Force Base [Space]
VAN
VAN is an abbreviation for Value Added Network (e.g. Tymnet, Telenet,
etc)
VANS
VANS is an abbreviation for Value-Added Network Services
VAR
VAR is an abbreviation for Value Added Remarketer (reseller)
VASI
VASI is an abbreviation for Visual Approach Slope Indicator
VAT
VAT is an abbreviation for Value Added Tax
VAX
VAX is an abbreviation for Virtual Address eXtended
VAXBI
VAXBI is an abbreviation for VAX Bus Interconnect
VC
VC is an abbreviation for Viet Cong
Virtual Circuit
Vcc
Vcc is an abbreviation for Voltage (Common Cathode?)
VCM
VCM is an abbreviation for Voice Coil Motor
VCO
VCO is an abbreviation for Voltage Controlled Oscillator
VCR
VCR is an abbreviation for VideoCassette Recorder
VCU
VCU is an abbreviation for Virginia Commonwealth University
VD
VD is an abbreviation for Venereal Disease (see also STD)
VDFM
VDFM is an abbreviation for Virtual Disk File Manager
VDI
VDI is an abbreviation for Virtual Device Interface
VDM
VDM is an abbreviation for Vienna Development Method
Virtual Device Metafile
VDT
VDT is an abbreviation for Video Display Terminal
VEEGA
VEEGA is an abbreviation for Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist (Galileo
flight path) [Space]
VF
VF is an abbreviation for Video Frequency
Voice Frequency
VFO
VFO is an abbreviation for Variable Frequency Oscillator
VFR
VFR is an abbreviation for Visual Flight Rules [Aviation]
VFW
VFW is an abbreviation for Veterans of Foreign Wars
Volunteer Fire Department
VG
VG is an abbreviation for Very Good
Vicar-General
VGA
VGA is an abbreviation for Video Graphics Array
Vgg
Vgg is an abbreviation for Voltage (Gate to Ground?)
VHDL
VHDL is an abbreviation for Vhsic Hardware Description Language
VHF
VHF is an abbreviation for Very High Frequency (30-300MHz)
VHS
VHS is an abbreviation for Video Home System (VCR)
VHSIC
VHSIC is an abbreviation for Very High Speed Integrated Circuit
VI
VI is an abbreviation for VIsual editor
VIABLE
VIABLE is an abbreviation for Vertical Installation Automation BaseLinE
VILE
VILE is an abbreviation for VI Like Emacs
VINE
VINE is an abbreviation for Vine Is Not Emacs
VIP
VIP is an abbreviation for Very Important Person
VISTA
VISTA is an abbreviation for Volunteers In Service To America
VITA
VITA is an abbreviation for Vme International Trade Association
VJ
VJ is an abbreviation for Video Jockey
VL
VL is an abbreviation for Vulgar Latin
VLA
VLA is an abbreviation for Very Large Array [Space]
VLBA
VLBA is an abbreviation for Very Long Baseline Array [Space]
VLBI
VLBI is an abbreviation for Very Long Baseline Interferometry [Space]
VLF
VLF is an abbreviation for Very Low Frequency (3-30KHz)
VLIW
VLIW is an abbreviation for Very Long Instruction Word
VLSI
VLSI is an abbreviation for Very Large Scale Integration
VLT
VLT is an abbreviation for Very Large Telescope [Space]
VM
VM is an abbreviation for Virtual Memory
VM/CMS
VM/CMS is an abbreviation for Virtual Machine/Conversational Monitor
System
VMM
VMM is an abbreviation for Virtual Memory Manager
VMOS
VMOS is an abbreviation for Vertical Metal Oxide Semiconductor (V-MOS)
(see MOS)
VMR
VMR is an abbreviation for Vertical Market Reseller
VMS
VMS is an abbreviation for Vertical Motion Simulator [Space]
Virtual Memory System [DEC]
VOA
VOA is an abbreviation for Voice Of America
VOIR
VOIR is an abbreviation for Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar (superseded by
VRM) [Space]
VOIS
VOIS is an abbreviation for Voice-Operated Information System
VOQ
VOQ is an abbreviation for Visiting Officer's Quarters
VPI&SU
VPI&SU is an abbreviation for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University
VRC
VRC is an abbreviation for Vertical Redundancy Character
VRM
VRM is an abbreviation for Venus Radar Mapper (now called Magellan)
[Space]
Virtual Resource Manager
VSAT
VSAT is an abbreviation for Very Small Aperture Terminal (satellite dish)
VSX
VSX is an abbreviation for X/open Verification Suite
VTAM
VTAM is an abbreviation for Virtual Telecommunications Access Method
[IBM]
VTOC
VTOC is an abbreviation for Volume Table Of Contents
VTOL
VTOL is an abbreviation for Vertical TakeOff and Landing
VTR
VTR is an abbreviation for VideoTape Recorder
VUP
VUP is an abbreviation for Vax Unit of Performance
VVSS
VVSS is an abbreviation for Vertical Volute Spring Suspension
W
W is an abbreviation for West
Width
WA
WA is an abbreviation for Washington
Western Australia
WAC
WAC is an abbreviation for Womens Air Corps
WAIS
WAIS is an abbreviation for Wide Area Information Server
WARC
WARC is an abbreviation for World Administrative Conference
WATS
WATS is an abbreviation for Wide Area Telephone Service
WB
WB is an abbreviation for Water Ballast
WayBill
WBC
WBC is an abbreviation for White Blood Cells
WC
WC is an abbreviation for Water Closet
Without Charge
WCTU
WCTU is an abbreviation for Women's Christian Temperance Union
WD
WD is an abbreviation for White Dwarf [Space]
WECo
WECo is an abbreviation for Western Electric Company [AT&T]
(manufacturing arm of AT&T)
WFPC
WFPC is an abbreviation for Wide Field / Planetary Camera (on HST)
[Space]
WFPCII
WFPCII is an abbreviation for Replacement for WFPC [Space]
WG
WG is an abbreviation for Working Group
WH
WH is an abbreviation for WarHammer
WHBL
WHBL is an abbreviation for World Home Bible League
WHCA
WHCA is an abbreviation for White House Communications Agency [US
Government]
WHO
WHO is an abbreviation for World Health Organization
WI
WI is an abbreviation for Wisconsin
WIMP
WIMP is an abbreviation for Windows/Icons/Mouse Programming(?)
WIPP
WIPP is an abbreviation for (nuclear) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant [DOE]
WIS
WIS is an abbreviation for WWMCCS Information System
WITS
WITS is an abbreviation for Washington Interagency Telecommunications
System
WIYN
WIYN is an abbreviation for Wisconsin / Indiana / Yale / NOAO telescope
[Space]
WMSCR
WMSCR is an abbreviation for Weather Message Switching Center Replacement
WOM
WOM is an abbreviation for Write Only Memory
WOP
WOP is an abbreviation for WithOut Papers [Immigration]
WOPR
WOPR is an abbreviation for War Operations Planned Response (from
"Wargames" movie)
WORM
WORM is an abbreviation for Write Once, Read Many times
WOW
WOW is an abbreviation for Worlds of Wonder
WP
WP is an abbreviation for Word Processing
Working Paper
WPI
WPI is an abbreviation for Worcester Polytechnic Institute
WSI
WSI is an abbreviation for Wafer Scale Integration
WSMR
WSMR is an abbreviation for White Sands Missile Range [Space]
WSW
WSW is an abbreviation for West-SouthWest
WTR
WTR is an abbreviation for Western Test Range [Space]
WU
WU is an abbreviation for Washington University
Western Union
WUPPE
WUPPE is an abbreviation for Wisconsin Ultraviolet PhotoPolarimter
Experiment (Astro package) [Space]
WV
WV is an abbreviation for West Virginia
WW
WW is an abbreviation for World War
WWI
WWI is an abbreviation for World War I
WWII
WWII is an abbreviation for World War II
WWMCCS
WWMCCS is an abbreviation for World-Wide Military Command and Control
System
WY
WY is an abbreviation for Wyoming
WYSIWIS
WYSIWIS is an abbreviation for What You See Is What I See
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is an abbreviation for What You See Is What You Get
XCF
XCF is an abbreviation for eXperimental Computing Facility
XD
XD is an abbreviation for without Dividend
XDR
XDR is an abbreviation for eXternal Data Representation
XFER
XFER is an abbreviation for Transfer
XINU
XINU is an abbreviation for XINU Is Not UNIX
XL
XL is an abbreviation for eXtra Large
XMM
XMM is an abbreviation for X-ray Multi Mirror [Space]
XMTR
XMTR is an abbreviation for transMiTteR (the X is for trans)
XNS
XNS is an abbreviation for Xerox Network Services
XO
XO is an abbreviation for eXecutive Officer
XOR
XOR is an abbreviation for eXclusive OR (logical function)
XPORT
XPORT is an abbreviation for Transport
XSECT
XSECT is an abbreviation for cross SECTion
XTAL
XTAL is an abbreviation for crysTAL (another version of x for crys, see
XMTR)
XUI
XUI is an abbreviation for X-windows User Interface
XUV
XUV is an abbreviation for eXtreme UltraViolet [Space]
YA
YA is an abbreviation for Yet Another
YACC
YACC is an abbreviation for Yet Another Compiler Compiler
YB
YB is an abbreviation for YearBook
YMCA
YMCA is an abbreviation for Young Mens Christian Association
YMHA
YMHA is an abbreviation for Young Mens Hebrew Association
YOB
YOB is an abbreviation for Year Of Birth
YP
YP is an abbreviation for Yellow Pages
YRS
YRS is an abbreviation for Ysgarth Rules System
YSO
YSO is an abbreviation for Young Stellar Object [Space]
YST
YST is an abbreviation for Yukon Standard Time
YT
YT is an abbreviation for Yukon Territory
Yukon Time
YTD
YTD is an abbreviation for Year To Date
YWCA
YWCA is an abbreviation for Young Womens Christian Association
YWHA
YWHA is an abbreviation for Young Womens Hebrew Association
Z
Z is an abbreviation for Zenith
Zero
Zulu (time)
ZB
ZB is an abbreviation for Zero Beat
ZETA
ZETA is an abbreviation for Zero Energy Thermonuclear Assembly
ZGS
ZGS is an abbreviation for Zero Gradient Synchrotron
ZI
ZI is an abbreviation for Zonal Index
ZIF
ZIF is an abbreviation for Zero Insertion Force (connector/socket)
ZIP
ZIP is an abbreviation for Zone Improvement Plan (US post office code)
ZK
ZK is an abbreviation for barrage balloon (navy symbol)
ZMRI
ZMRI is an abbreviation for Zinc Metals Research Institute
ZPG
ZPG is an abbreviation for Zero Population Growth
ZPRSN
ZPRSN is an abbreviation for Zurich Provisional Relative Sunspot Number
ZST
ZST is an abbreviation for Zone Standard Time
ZT
ZT is an abbreviation for Zone Time
ZWEI
ZWEI is an abbreviation for Zwei Was Eine Initially
CURRENCIES OF THE WORLD
Afghani
The afghani is the currency of Afghanistan.
Asper
The asper was a small Turkish coin in use around 1900. There were 120
asper to one piastre.
Austral
The austral is the currency of Argentina.
Baht
The baht is the currency of Thailand.
Balboa
The balboa is the currency of Panama.
Bolivar
The bolivar is the currency of Venezuela.
Boliviano
The Boliviano was the currency of Bolivia until 1963 when it was replaced
by the Peso.
Colon
The Colon is the unit of currency in Costa Rica and El Salvador.
Cordoba
The cordoba is the currency of Nicaragua.
Crown
The Crown is the unit of currency in Czechoslovakia.
Cruzeiro
The Cruzeiro is the currency of Brazil.
Dalasi
The dalasi is the currency of Gambia.
Daric
The daric was an ancient Persian gold coin of Darius bearing on one side
the figure of an archer.
Denarius
The denarius was an ancient Roman silver coin valued at 10 asses.
Dinar
The dinar is the currency of Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Yugolsavia and South
Yemen.
Dirham
The dirham is the currency of Morocco.
Dollar
The dollar is the currency of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Jamaica, USA.
Doubloon
A doubloon was a Spanish coin in use until the 18th century.
Drachma
The drachma is the currency of Greece.
Escudo
The escudo is the currency of Portugal and Angola. Until 1975 the escudo
was the currency in Chile.
Farthing
The farthing was an English coin. It was one quarter of a penny.
Florin
The florin was an English 2 shilling coin. It went out of production with
the adoption of decimal currency.
Forint
The forint is the currency of hungary.
Franc
The franc is the principle monetary unit of France, Belgium, Switzerland,
Burundi, Cameroon, Rwanda and some other countries.
George-noble
The George-noble was a British gold coin minted during the reign of Henry
VIII and valued at six shillings and eight pence. It was called the
George-noble because on the reverse was a picture of St. George slaying a
dragon.
Gourde
The gourde is the currency of Haiti.
Groat
A groat was an English 4 pence coin. The last was struck in 1888.
Groschen
Groschen was the currency of Germany untill 1872. The first groschen were
struck in Treves in 1104. In 1525 the groschen was divided into twelve
pfennige.
Guarani
The guarani is the currency of Paraguay.
Guilder
The guilder is the currency of the Netherlands.
Guinea
The Guinea was an English gold coin worth 21 shillings. Guineas were
first minted in 1663. The value varied between 20 and 30 shillings until
it was fixed at 21 shillings in 1717. It was withdrawn from circulation
in 1817, but the term continued to be used for 21 shillings.
Gulden
The Gulden was a silver coin of Austria, Hungary and Holland.
Inti
The inti is the currency of Peru.
Krona
The krona is the currency of Iceland and Sweden.
Krone
The krone is the currency of Denmark and Norway.
Kwacha
The kwacha is the currency of Zambia
Kyat
The kyat is the currency of Burma.
Lek
The lek is the currency of Albania.
Leu
The leu is the currency of Romania.
Lev
The lev is the currency of Bulgaria.
Lira
The lira is the currency of Italy and Turkey.
Mark
The mark is the currency of Germany.
Markka
The markka is the currency of Finland.
Maundy
Royal maundy was silver coins struck and distributed to the value of and
to as many old persons as the monarch's age in Britain.
Milreis
The milreis was the currency of Portugal until 1911, and of Brazil until
1942.
Mohur
The mohur was an Indian gold coin valued at 15 rupees.
Moidore
The moidore was a Portugese gold coin used from 1690 until 1722.
Naira
The naira is the currency of Nigeria.
Paisas
The Paisas is the currency of Bangladesh. There are 100 Paisas to 1 Taka.
Peseta
The peseta is the currency of Spain and Equatorial Guinea. In Spain 1
peseta = 100 centimos.
Peso
The peso is the currency of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba,
Dominican Republic, Mexico, Philippines and Uruguay.
Pound
The pound is the currency of Egypt, Lebanon and the United Kingdom.
Quetzal
The quetzal is the currency of Guatemala.
Rand
The rand is the currency of South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana.
Renminbi
The renminbi is the currency of China.
Rial
The rial is the currency of Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Riel
The Riel is the currency of Cambodia.
Ringgit
The ringgit is the currency of Malaysia.
Rouble
The rouble is the currency of Russia.
Rupee
The rupee is the currency of India and Pakistan.
Rupiah
The rupiah is the currency of Indonesia.
Schilling
The schilling is the currency of Austria.
Shekel
The shekel is the currency of Israel.
Shilling
The shilling is the currency of Kenya.
Sucre
The sucre is the currency of Ecuador.
Taka
The Taka is a unit of currency used in Bangladesh. There are 100 Paisas
in one 1 Taka.
Thaler
The thaler was once the currency of Germany. From the name thaler derives
the word dollar.
Yen
The yen is the currency of Japan.
Yuan
The Yuan is the basic monetary unit in China.
Zloty
The Zloty is the currency of Poland.