Part 805

1. Requiring the strength of Hercules; hence, very great, difficult, or dangerous; as, an Herculean task.

2. Having extraordinary strength or size; as, Herculean limbs. "Herculean Samson." Milton.

Her"cu*les (?), n. 1. (Gr. Myth.) A hero, fabled to have been the son of Jupiter and Alcmena, and celebrated for great strength, esp. for the accomplishment of his twelve great tasks or "labors."

2. (Astron.) A constellation in the northern hemisphere, near Lyra.

Hercules' beetle (Zoˆl.), any species of Dynastes, an American genus of very large lamellicorn beetles, esp. D. hercules of South America, which grows to a length of six inches. -- Hercules' club. (Bot.) (a) An ornamental tree of the West Indies (Zanthoxylum Clava-Herculis), of the same genus with the prickly ash. (b) A variety of the common gourd (Lagenaria vulgaris). Its fruit sometimes exceeds five feet in length. (c) The Angelica tree. See under Angelica. -- Hercules powder, an explosive containing nitroglycerin; -- used for blasting.

Her*cyn"i*an (?), a. [L. Hercynia silva, Hercynius saltus, the Hercynian forest; cf. Gr. &?; &?;.] Of or pertaining to an extensive forest in Germany, of which there are still portions in Swabia and the Hartz mountains.

Herd (?), a. Haired. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Herd (?), n. [OE. herd, heord, AS. heord; akin to OHG. herta,G. herde, Icel. hjˆr&?;, Sw. hjord, Dan. hiord, Goth. haÌrda; cf. Skr. Áardha troop, host.]

1. A number of beasts assembled together; as, a herd of horses, oxen, cattle, camels, elephants, deer, or swine; a particular stock or family of cattle.

The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea.

Gray.

Herd is distinguished from flock, as being chiefly applied to the larger animals. A number of cattle, when driven to market, is called a drove.

2. A crowd of low people; a rabble.

But far more numerous was the herd of such Who think too little and who talk too much.

Dryden.

You can never interest the common herd in the abstract question.

Coleridge.

Herd's grass (Bot.), one of several species of grass, highly esteemed for hay. See under Grass.

Herd, n. [OE. hirde, herde, heorde, AS. hirde, hyrde, heorde; akin to G. hirt, hirte, OHG. hirti, Icel. hir&?;ir, Sw. herde, Dan. hyrde, Goth. haÌrdeis. See 2d Herd.] One who herds or assembles domestic animals; a herdsman; -- much used in composition; as, a shepherd; a goatherd, and the like. Chaucer.

Herd, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Herded; p. pr. & vb. n. Herding.] [See 2d Herd.] 1. To unite or associate in a herd; to feed or run together, or in company; as, sheep herd on many hills.

2. To associate; to ally one's self with, or place one's self among, a group or company.

I'll herd among his friends, and seem One of the number.

Addison.

3. To act as a herdsman or a shepherd. [Scot.]

Herd, v. t. To form or put into a herd.

Herd"book` (?), n. A book containing the list and pedigrees of one or more herds of choice breeds of cattle; -- also called herd record, or herd register.

Herd"er (?), n. A herdsman. [R.]

Her"der*ite (?), n. [Named after Baron von Herder, who discovered it.] (Min.) A rare fluophosphate of glucina, in small white crystals.