Part 167

Nor did my search of liberty begin Till my black hairs were changed upon my chin.

Dryden.

Right of search (Mar. Law), the right of the lawfully commissioned cruisers of belligerent nations to examine and search private merchant vessels on the high seas, for the enemy's property or for articles contraband of war. -- Search warrant (Law), a warrant legally issued, authorizing an examination or search of a house, or other place, for goods stolen, secreted, or concealed.

Syn. -- Scrutiny; examination; exploration; investigation; research; inquiry; quest; pursuit.

Search"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being searched.

Search"a*ble*ness, n. Quality of being searchable.

Search"er (?), n. [Cf. OF. cercheor inspector.] One who, or that which, searches or examines; a seeker; an inquirer; an examiner; a trier. Specifically: (a) Formerly, an officer in London appointed to examine the bodies of the dead, and report the cause of death. Graunt. (b) An officer of the customs whose business it is to search ships, merchandise, luggage, etc. (c) An inspector of leather. [Prov. Eng.] (d) (Gun.) An instrument for examining the bore of a cannon, to detect cavities. (e) An implement for sampling butter; a butter trier. (j) (Med.) An instrument for feeling after calculi in the bladder, etc.

Search"ing, a. Exploring thoroughly; scrutinizing; penetrating; trying; as, a searching discourse; a searching eye. "Piercing, searching, biting, cold." Dickens.

-- Search"ing*ly, adv. -- Search"ing*ness, n.

Search"less, a. Impossible to be searched; inscrutable; impenetrable.

Sear"cloth` (?; 115), n. Cerecloth. Mortimer.

Sear"cloth, v. t. To cover, as a sore, with cerecloth.

Seared (?), a. Scorched; cauterized; hence, figuratively, insensible; not susceptible to moral influences.

A seared conscience and a remorseless heart.

Macaulay.

Sear"ed*ness (?), n. The state of being seared or callous; insensibility. Bp. Hall.

Sea" reed` (?). (Bot.) The sea-sand reed. See under Reed.

Sea" risk (?). Risk of injury, destruction, or loss by the sea, or while at sea.

Sea" rob"ber (?). A pirate; a sea rover.

Sea" rob"in (?). See under Robin, and Illustration in Appendix.

Sea" rock"et (?).(Bot.) See under Rocket.

Sea" room` (?). (Naut.) Room or space at sea for a vessel to maneuver, drive, or scud, without peril of running ashore or aground. Totten.

Sea" rov"er (?). One that cruises or roves the sea for plunder; a sea robber; a pirate; also, a piratical vessel.

Sea"-rov"ing, a. Cruising at random on the ocean.

Sea" salm"on (?). (Zoöl.) (a) A young pollock. (b) The spotted squeteague. (c) See Sea bass (b).

Sea" salt` (?). Common salt, obtained from sea water by evaporation.

Sea" sand"pi`per (?). (Zoöl.) The purple sandpiper.

Sea" sand"wort` (?). (Bot.) See Sea chickweed.