Part 842

Hip`po*pot"a*mus (?), n.; pl. E. Hippopotamuses (#), L. Hippopotami (#). [L., from Gr.&?;; "i`ppos horse + &?; river. Cf. Equine.] (Zoˆl.) A large, amphibious, herbivorous mammal (Hippopotamus amphibius), common in the rivers of Africa. It is allied to the hogs, and has a very thick, naked skin, a thick and square head, a very large muzzle, small eyes and ears, thick and heavy body, and short legs. It is supposed to be the behemoth of the Bible. Called also zeekoe, and river horse. A smaller species (H. Liberiencis) inhabits Western Africa.

Hip*pot"o*my (?), n. [Gr. "i`ppos horse + &?; to cut: cf. F. hippotomie.] Anatomy of the horse.

Hip*pu"ric (?), a. [Gr. "i`ppos horse + o"y`ron urine: cf. F. hippurique.] (Physiol. Chem.) Obtained from the urine of horses; as, hippuric acid.

Hippuric acid, a white crystalline substance, containing nitrogen, present in the urine of herbivorous animals, and in small quantity in human urine. By the action of acids, it is decomposed into benzoic acid and glycocoll.

Hip"pu*rite (?), n. [Gr. &?; decked with a horse's tail; "i`ppos horse + &?; tail: cf. F. hippurite.] (Paleon.) A fossil bivalve mollusk of the genus Hippurites, of many species, having a conical, cup- shaped under valve, with a flattish upper valve or lid. Hippurites are found only in the Cretaceous rocks.

Hip"-roofed` (?), a. Having a hip roof.

Hip"shot` (?), a. [Hip + shot.] Having the hip dislocated; hence, having one hip lower than the other. L'Estrange.

Hip" tree` (?). (Bot.) The dog- rose.

Hir (?), pron. [Obs.] See Here, pron. Chaucer.

Hir"cic (?), a. [Cf. F. hircique. See Hircin.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, mutton suet; -- applied by Chevreul to an oily acid which was obtained from mutton suet, and to which he attributed the peculiar taste and smell of that substance. The substance has also been called hircin. Watts.

Hir"cin (?), n. [L. hircus, he- goat, buck: cf. F. hircine.] (Chem.) Hircic acid. See Hircic. [R.]

{ Hir"cine (?), Hir"ci*nous (?), } a. [L. hircinus, fr. hircus hegoat: cf. F. hircin.] 1. Goatlike; of or pertaining to a goat or the goats.

2. Of a strong goatish smell.

Hire (hr), pron. [Obs.] See Here, pron. Chaucer.

Hire (hr), n. [OE. hire, hure, AS. hr; akin to D. huur, G. heuer, Dan. hyre, Sw. hyra.] 1. The price, reward, or compensation paid, or contracted to be paid, for the temporary use of a thing or a place, for personal service, or for labor; wages; rent; pay.

The laborer is worthy of his hire.

Luke x. 7.

2. (Law.) A bailment by which the use of a thing, or the services and labor of a person, are contracted for at a certain price or reward. Story.

Syn. -- Wages; salary; stipend; allowance; pay.

Hire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hired (hrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Hiring.] [OE. hiren, huren, AS. hrian; akin to D. huren, G. heuern, Dan. hyre, Sw. hyra. See Hire, n.]

1. To procure (any chattel or estate) from another person, for temporary use, for a compensation or equivalent; to purchase the use or enjoyment of for a limited time; as, to hire a farm for a year; to hire money.

2. To engage or purchase the service, labor, or interest of (any one) for a specific purpose, by payment of wages; as, to hire a servant, an agent, or an advocate.

3. To grant the temporary use of, for compensation; to engage to give the service of, for a price; to let; to lease; -- now usually with out, and often reflexively; as, he has hired out his horse, or his time.

They . . . have hired out themselves for bread.

1 Sam. ii. 5.

Hire"less, a. Without hire. Davenant.

Hire"ling (-lng), n. [AS. hreling. See Hire, n., and -ling.] One who is hired, or who serves for wages; esp., one whose motive and interest in serving another are wholly gainful; a mercenary. "Lewd hirelings." Milton.

Hire"ling, a. Serving for hire or wages; venal; mercenary. "Hireling mourners." Dryden.