Part 103

Culture features. (Surv.) The artificial features of a district as distinguished from the natural.

Culture myth. A myth accounting for the discovery of arts and sciences or the advent of a higher civilization, as in the Prometheus myth.

Cul"tus (?), a. [See Cultus cod.] Bad, worth less; no good. [Northwestern U. S.]

"A bad horse, cultus [no good] !" he said, beating it with his whip.

F. H. Balch.

{ Cul"ver's phys"ic (?), or Cul"ver's root` (?) }. [So called after a Dr. Culver, who used it.] (Bot.) The root of a handsome erect herb (Leptandra, syn. Veronica, Virginica) common in most moist woods of North America , used as an active cathartic and emetic; also, the plant itself.

Cum"mer*bund` (?), n. [Written also kummerbund, cummerband, etc.] [Hind. kamarband, fr. Per. Kamar loins + band fastening.] A sash for the waist; a girdle. [India]

Cum"quat (?), n. (Bot.) See Kumquat.

Cup"py (?), a. 1. Hollow; cuplike; also, full of cups, or small depressions.

2. Characterized by cup shakes; -- said of timber.

Cup shake. (Forestry) A shake or fissure between the annual rings of a tree, found oftenest near the roots.

Cu*rette" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Curetted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Curetting.] (Med.) To scrape with a curette.

Cu"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to the papal curia; as, the curial etiquette of the Vatican. -- n. A member of a curia, esp. of that of Rome or the later Italian sovereignties.

Cus"cus (?), n. [The same word as Couscous, fr. F. couscous couscous, Ar. kuskus.] (Bot.) A soft grass (Pennisetum typhoideum) found in all tropical regions, used as food for men and cattle in Central Africa.

Cuscus oil. Same as Vetiver oil.

Cushion tire. A thick solid-rubber tire, as for a bicycle, with a hollow groove running lengthwise on the inside.

Cuss"ed*ness (?), n. [Cussed (for cursed) + -ness.] Disposition to willful wrongdoing; malignity; perversity; cantankerousness; obstinacy. [Slang or Colloq., U. S.]

In her opinion it was all pure "cussedness."

Mrs. Humphry Ward.

Disputatiousness and perversity (what the Americans call "cussedness").

James Bryce.

Cut, v. t. 1. (Cricket) To deflect (a bowled ball) to the off, with a chopping movement of the bat.

2. (Billiards, etc.) To drive (an object ball) to either side by hitting it fine on the other side with the cue ball or another object ball.

3. (Lawn Tennis, etc.) To strike (a ball) with the racket inclined or struck across the ball so as to put a certain spin on the ball.

4. (Croqu&?;t) To drive (a ball) to one side by hitting with another ball.

Cut, v. t. -- To cut out, to separate from the midst of a number; as, to cut out a steer from a herd; to cut out a car from a train.

Cut, n. 1. (Lawn Tennis, etc.) A slanting stroke causing the ball to spin and bound irregularly; also, the spin so given to the ball.

2. (Cricket) A stroke on the off side between point and the wicket; also, one who plays this stroke.