Part 250

Torch race. A race by men carrying torches, as in ancient Greece.

Tor*pe"do, n. An automobile with a torpedo body.

Tor*pe"do-boat` de*stroy"er. A larger, swifter, and more powerful armed type of torpedo boat, originally intended principally for the destruction of torpedo boats, but later used also as a more formidable torpedo boat.

Tor*pe"do body. An automobile body which is built so that the side surfaces are flush.

Tor*pe"do boom. A spar formerly carried by men-of- war, having a torpedo on its end.

Tor*pe"do catch"er. A small fast vessel for pursuing and destroying torpedo boats.

Tor*pe"do*ist, n. (Nav.) One skilled in the theory or use of torpedoes; also, one who favors the use of torpedoes.

Torpedo shell. (Ordnance) A shell longer than a deck-piercing shell, with thinner walls and a larger cavity for the bursting charge, which consists of about 130 pounds of high explosive. It has no soft cap, and is intended to effect its damage by the powerful explosion which follows on slight resistance. It is used chiefly in 12-inch mortars.

Torpedo station. A headquarters for torpedo vessels and their supplies, usually having facilities for repairs and for instruction and experiments. The principal torpedo station of the United States is at Newport, R.I.

Torpedo stern. A broad stern without overhang, flattened on the bottom, used in some torpedo and fast power boats. It prevents settling in the water at high speed.

Torpedo tube. (Nav.) A tube fixed below or near the water line through which a torpedo is fired, usually by a small charge of gunpowder. On torpedo vessels the tubes are on deck and usually in broadside, on larger vessels usually submerged in broadside and fitted with a movable shield which is pushed out from the vessel's side to protect the torpedo until clear, but formerly sometimes in the bow. In submarine torpedo boats they are in the bow.

Tor"pid (?), n. [See Torpid, a.] [Slang, Oxford University, Eng.] 1. An inferior racing boat, or one who rows in such a boat.

2. pl. The Lenten rowing races.

Tor"rens sys`tem (?). A system of registration of titles to land (as distinct from registration of deeds) introduced into South Australia by the Real Property (or Torrens) Act (act 15 of 1857-58), drafted by Sir Robert Torrens (1814-84). Its essential feature is the guaranty by the government of properly registered titles. The system has been generally adopted in Australia and British Columbia, and in its original or a modified form in some other countries, including some States of the United States. Hence Torrens title, etc.

Tor*sade" (?), n. [F.] A twisted cord; also, a molded or worked ornament of similar form.

The crown decked with torsades of pearls.

Harper's Mag.

Tor"sion e*lec*trom"e*ter. (Elec.) A torsion balance used for measuring electric attraction or repulsion.

Torsion galvanometer. (Elec.) A galvanometer in which current is measured by torsion.

Torsion head. That part of a torsion balance from which the wire or filament is suspended.

Torsion indicator. An autographic torsion meter.

Torsion meter. (Mech.) An instrument for determining the torque on a shaft, and hence the horse power of an engine, esp. of a marine engine of high power, by measuring the amount of twist of a given length of the shaft. Called also torsimeter, torsiometer, torsometer.

Tot (?), n. [L.] Lit., so much; -- a term used in the English exchequer to indicate that a debt was good or collectible for the amount specified, and often written opposite the item.

Tot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Totted; p. pr. & vb. n. Totting.] 1. To mark with the word "tot"; as, a totted debt. See Tot, n.

2. [Cf. Total.] To add; to count; to make up the sum of; to total; -- often with up. [Colloq., Eng.]

The last two tot up the bill.

Thackeray.

To"tal (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Totaled (?) or Totalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Totaling or Totalling.] To bring to a total; to add; also, to reach as a total; to amount to. [Colloq.]