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Z
Z, the twenty-sixth and last letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. It is taken from the Latin letter Z, which came from the Greek alphabet, this having it from a Semitic source. The ultimate origin is probably Egyptian. Etymologically, it is most closely related to , , and ; as in gla, glae; E. oke, Gr., L. ugum; E. ealous, ealous. See , 273, 274.
Zacco
See .
Zaffer
A pigment obtained, usually by roasting cobalt glance with sand or quartz, as a dark earthy powder. It consists of crude cobalt oxide, or of an impure cobalt arseniate. It is used in porcelain painting, and in enameling pottery, to produce a blue color, and is often confounded with smalt, from which, however, it is distinct, as it contains no potash. The name is often loosely applied to mixtures of zaffer proper with silica, or oxides of iron, manganese, etc.
Zain
A horse of a dark color, neither gray nor white, and having no spots.
Zamia
A genus of cycadaceous plants, having the appearance of low palms, but with exogenous wood. See , and of .
zap
to shoot, destroy, or inactivate; .
Zapas
See , above.
Zaphrentis
An extinct genus of cyathophylloid corals common in the Paleozoic formations. It is cup-shaped with numerous septa, and with a deep pit in one side of the cup.
Zapotilla
See .
Zarathustrism
See .
Zareba
An improvised stockade; especially, one made of thorn bushes, etc.
Zarf
A metallic cuplike stand used for holding a finjan.
Zastrugi
Grooves or furrows formed in snow by the action of the wind, and running parallel with the direction of the wind. This formation results from the erosion of transverse waves previously formed.
Zayat
A public shed, or portico, for travelers, worshipers, etc.
Zea
A genus of large grasses of which the Indian corn () is the only species known. Its origin is not yet ascertained. See .
Zebra
Any member of three species of African wild horses remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white, and conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands.
Zebrine
Pertaining to, or resembling, the zebra.
Zebu
A bovine mammal () extensively domesticated in India, China, the East Indies, and East Africa. It usually has short horns, large pendulous ears, slender legs, a large dewlap, and a large, prominent hump over the shoulders; but these characters vary in different domestic breeds, which range in size from that of the common ox to that of a large mastiff.
Zeekoe
A hippopotamus.
Zehner
An Austrian silver coin equal to ten kreutzers, or about five cents.
Zeitgeist
The spirit of the time; the general intellectual and moral state or temper characteristic of any period of time.
Zemstvo
In Russia, an elective local district and provincial administrative assembly. Originally it was composed of representatives elected by the peasantry, the householders of the towns, and the landed proprietors. In the reign of Alexander III. the power of the noble landowners was increased, the peasants allowed only to elect candidates from whom the governor of the province nominated the deputy, and all acts of the zemstvo subjected to the approval of the governor. Theoretically the zemstvo has large powers relating to taxation, education, public health, etc., but practically these powers are in most cases limited to the adjustment of the state taxation.
Zend
Properly, the translation and exposition in the Huzvacirc;resh, or literary Pehlevi, language, of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian sacred writings; as commonly used, the language (an ancient Persian dialect) in which the Avesta is written.
Zend-Avesta
The sacred writings of the ancient Persian religion, attributed to Zoroaster, but chiefly of a later date.
Zendik
An atheist or unbeliever; -- name given in the East to those charged with disbelief of any revealed religion, or accused of magical heresies.
Zenick
A South African burrowing mammal (), allied to the civets. It is grayish brown, with yellowish transverse stripes on the back. Called also .
Zeolite
A term now used to designate any one of a family of minerals, hydrous silicates of alumina, with lime, soda, potash, or rarely baryta. Here are included natrolite, stilbite, analcime, chabazite, thomsonite, heulandite, and others. These species occur of secondary origin in the cavities of amygdaloid, basalt, and lava, also, less frequently, in granite and gneiss. So called because many of these species intumesce before the blowpipe.
Zeolitic
Of or pertaining to a zeolite; consisting of, or resembling, a zeolite.
Zeppelin
A dirigible balloon of the rigid type, consisting of a cylindrical trussed and covered frame supported by internal gas cells, and provided with means of propulsion and control. It was first successfully used by .
Zetetic
Seeking; proceeding by inquiry.
Zetetics
A branch of algebra which relates to the direct search for unknown quantities.
Zeuglodont
Any species of Zeuglodonta.
Zeugmatic
Of or pertaining to zeugma; characterized by zeugma.
Zeugobranchiata
Same as .
Zeuzerian
Any one of a group of bombycid moths of which the genus is the type. Some of these moths are of large size. The goat moth is an example.
Zeylanite
See .
Ziggurat
A temple tower of the Babylonians or Assyrians, consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure, built in successive stages, with outside staircases, and a shrine at the top; -- called also .
Zigzaggery
The quality or state of being zigzag; crookedness.
Zilla
A low, thorny, suffrutescent, crucifeous plant () found in the deserts of Egypt. Its leaves are boiled in water, and eaten, by the Arabs.
Zimocca
A sponge () of flat form and fine quality, from the Adriatic, about the Greek islands, and the coast of Barbary.
Zincic
Pertaining to, containing, or resembling, zinc; zincous.
Zinciferous
Containing or affording zinc.
Zincify
To coat or impregnate with zinc.
Zincography
The art or process of engraving or etching on zinc, in which the design is left in relief in the style of a wood cut, the rest of the ground being eaten away by acid.
Zincoid
Pertaining to, or resembling, zinc; -- said of the electricity of the zincous plate in connection with a copper plate in a voltaic circle; also, designating the positive pole.
Zinnwaldite
A kind of mica containing lithium, often associated with tin ore.
Zinziberaceous
Same as .
Zionism
Among the Jews, a theory, plan, or movement for colonizing their own race in Palestine, the land of Zion, or, if that is impracticable, elsewhere, either for religious or nationalizing purposes; -- called also .
Zip
A hissing or sibilant sound such as that made by a flying bullet.
zip + 4
a full nine-digit . See .
zip code
any one of a set of numbers assigned by the United States Postal Service to designate a particular postal delivery area. One or more are assigned to each post office. The numbers initially had five digits (the ), indicating state and post office. Later, four more optional digits were added (the ) indicating the box number or delivery route. The full set of nine digits is also referred to as . The code is appended in an address to the line bearing the city and state names, as in Plainfield, NJ 07062.
Ziphioid
See .
Zirco-
A combining form (also used adjectively) designating as an element of certain double compounds; zircono-; as in fluoric acid, sodium fluoride.
Zircon
A mineral consisting predominantly of zirconium silicate () occurring in tetragonal crystals, usually of a brown or gray color. It consists of silica and zirconia. A red variety, used as a gem, is called . Colorless, pale-yellow or smoky-brown varieties from Ceylon are called .
Zirconate
A salt of zirconic acid.
Zirconia
The oxide of zirconium (), obtained as a white powder, and possessing both acid and basic properties. On account of its infusibility, and brilliant luminosity when incandescent, it is used as an ingredient of sticks for the Drummomd light.
Zirconium
A rare element of the carbon-silicon group, intermediate between the metals and nonmetals, obtained from the mineral zircon as a dark sooty powder, or as a gray metallic crystalline substance. Symbol Zr. Atomic weight, 90.4.
Zircon light
A light, similar to the calcium light, produced by incandescent zirconia.
Zircono
See .
zit
a .
Zizith
The tassels of twisted cords or threads on the corners of the upper garment worn by strict Jews. The Hebrew for this word is translated in both the Authorized and Revised Versions () by the word fringes.
Zoantharia
Same as .
Zoanthodeme
The zooids of a compound anthozoan, collectively.
Zoetrope
An optical toy, in which figures made to revolve on the inside of a cylinder, and viewed through slits in its circumference, appear like a single figure passing through a series of natural motions as if animated or mechanically moved.
Zllner's lines
Parallel lines that are made to appear convergent or divergent by means of oblique intersections.
Zona
A zone or band; a layer.
Zonaria
A division of Mammalia in which the placenta is zonelike.
Zonular
Of or pertaining to a zone; zone-shaped.
Zonule
A little zone, or girdle.
Zonulet
A zonule.
Zonure
Any one of several of South African lizards of the genus , common in rocky situations.
Zochemistry
Animal chemistry; particularly, the description of the chemical compounds entering into the composition of the animal body, in distinction from .
Zochlorella
One of the small green granulelike bodies found in the interior of certain stentors, hydras, and other invertebrates.
Zocyst
A cyst formed by certain Protozoa and unicellular plants which the contents divide into a large number of granules, each of which becomes a germ.
Zodendrium
The branched, and often treelike, support of the colonies of certain Infusoria.
Zoerythrine
A peculiar organic red coloring matter found in the feathers of various birds.
Zographer
One who describes animals, their forms and habits.
Zooid
Pertaining to, or resembling, an animal.
Zomelanin
A pigment giving the black color to the feathers of many birds.
Zon
An animal which is the sole product of a single egg; -- opposed to .
Zonic
Of or pertaining to animals; obtained from animal substances.
Zonule
Same as .
Zophagan
A animal that feeds on animal food.
Zophilist
A lover of animals.
Zophorous
The part between the architrave and cornice; the frieze; -- so called from the figures of animals carved upon it.
Zophytoid
Pertaining to, or resembling, a zophyte.
Zophytological
Of or pertaining to zophytology; .
Zophytology
The natural history zophytes.
Zopraxiscope
An instrument similar to, or the same as, the, the phenakistoscope, by means of which pictures projected upon a screen are made to exhibit the natural movements of animals, and the like.
Zotomical
Of or pertaining to zotomy.
Zoroastrian
A follower of Zoroaster; one who accepts Zoroastrianism.
Zostera
A genus of plants of the , or Pondweed family. is commonly known as , and .
Zoutch
To stew, as flounders, eels, etc., with just enough or liquid to cover them.
Zuchetto
A skullcap covering the tonsure, worn under the berretta. The pope's is white; a cardinal's red; a bishop's purple; a priest's black.
Zufolo
A little flute or flageolet, especially that which is used to teach birds.
Zulu-Kaffir
A member of the Bantu race comprising the Zulus and the Kaffirs.
Zulus
The most important tribe belonging to the Kaffir race. They inhabit a region on the southeast coast of Africa, but formerly occupied a much more extensive country. They are noted for their warlike disposition, courage, and military skill.
Zuntilde;ian
Of or pertaining to the Zuntilde;is, or designating their linguistic stock.
Zwinglian
Of or pertaining to (1481-1531), the reformer of German Switzerland, who maintained that in the Lord's Supper the true body of Christ is present by the contemplation of faith but not in essence or reality, and that the sacrament is a memorial without mystical elements.
Zygodactyl
The zygodactylous birds. In a restricted sense applied to a division of birds which includes the barbets, toucans, honey guides, and other related birds.
Zygomatic
Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the zygoma.
Zymogene
One of a physiological group of globular bacteria which produces fermentations of diverse nature; -- distinguished from .
Zymogenic
Pertaining to, or formed by, a zymogene.
Zymologist
One who is skilled in zymology, or in the fermentation of liquors.
Zymology
A treatise on the fermentation of liquors, or the doctrine of fermentation.