Part 583

Against the grain, against or across the direction of the fibers; hence, against one's wishes or tastes; unwillingly; unpleasantly; reluctantly; with difficulty. Swift. Saintsbury.-- A grain of allowance, a slight indulgence or latitude a small allowance. -- Grain binder, an attachment to a harvester for binding the grain into sheaves. -- Grain colors, dyes made from the coccus or kermes insect. -- Grain leather. (a) Dressed horse hides. (b) Goat, seal, and other skins blacked on the grain side for women's shoes, etc. -- Grain moth (Zoˆl.), one of several small moths, of the family TineidÊ (as Tinea granella and Butalis cerealella), whose larvÊ devour grain in storehouses. -- Grain side (Leather), the side of a skin or hide from which the hair has been removed; -- opposed to flesh side. -- Grains of paradise, the seeds of a species of amomum. -- grain tin, crystalline tin ore metallic tin smelted with charcoal. -- Grain weevil (Zoˆl.), a small red weevil (Sitophilus granarius), which destroys stored wheat and other grain, by eating out the interior. -- Grain worm (Zoˆl.), the larva of the grain moth. See grain moth, above. -- In grain, of a fast color; deeply seated; fixed; innate; genuine. "Anguish in grain." Herbert. -- To dye in grain, to dye of a fast color by means of the coccus or kermes grain [see Grain, n., 5]; hence, to dye firmly; also, to dye in the wool, or in the raw material. See under Dye.

The red roses flush up in her cheeks . . . Likce crimson dyed in grain.

Spenser.

-- To go against the grain of (a person), to be repugnant to; to vex, irritate, mortify, or trouble.

Grain, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grained (grnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Graining.] 1. To paint in imitation of the grain of wood, marble, etc.

2. To form (powder, sugar, etc.) into grains.

3. To take the hair off (skins); to soften and raise the grain of (leather, etc.).

Grain, v. i. [F. grainer, grener. See Grain, n.] 1. To yield fruit. [Obs.] Gower.

2. To form grains, or to assume a granular form, as the result of crystallization; to granulate.

Grain (grn), n. [See Groin a part of the body.]

1. A branch of a tree; a stalk or stem of a plant. [Obs.] G. Douglas.

2. A tine, prong, or fork. Specifically: (a) One the branches of a valley or of a river. (b) pl. An iron fish spear or harpoon, having four or more barbed points.

3. A blade of a sword, knife, etc.

4. (Founding) A thin piece of metal, used in a mold to steady a core.

Grained (grnd), a. 1. Having a grain; divided into small particles or grains; showing the grain; hence, rough.

2. Dyed in grain; ingrained.

Persons lightly dipped, not grained, in generous honesty, are but pale in goodness.

Sir T. Browne.

3. Painted or stained in imitation of the grain of wood, marble, etc.

4. (Bot.) Having tubercles or grainlike processes, as the petals or sepals of some flowers.

Grain"er (grn"r), n. 1. An infusion of pigeon's dung used by tanners to neutralize the effects of lime and give flexibility to skins; -- called also grains and bate.

2. A knife for taking the hair off skins.

3. One who paints in imitation of the grain of wood, marble, etc.; also, the brush or tool used in graining.

Grain"field` (-fld`), n. A field where grain is grown.

Grain"ing, n. 1. Indentation; roughening; milling, as on edges of coins. Locke.

2. A process in dressing leather, by which the skin is softened and the grain raised.

3. Painting or staining, in imitation of the grain of wood, stone, etc.

4. (Soap Making) The process of separating soap from spent lye, as with salt.