Part 261

{ Vapor pressure or tension }. (Physics) The pressure or tension of a confined body of vapor. The pressure of a given saturated vapor is a function of the temperature only, and may be measured by introducing a small quantity of the substance into a barometer and noting the depression of the column of mercury.

Var*gue"no (vär*g"n), n. [Said to be fr. Vargas, name of a village in Spain.] (Art) A decorative cabinet, of a form originating in Spain, the body being rectangular and supported on legs or an ornamental framework and the front opening downwards on hinges to serve as a writing desk.

||Var`i*cos"is (?), n. [NL. See Varix, and -osis.] (Med.) The formation of varices; varicosity.

Var`i*cot"o*my (?), n. [See Varix; -tomy.] (Surg.) Excision of a varicosity.

Va*ri"e*ty, n. (Theaters) Such entertainment as in given in variety shows; the production of, or performance in, variety shows.

Variety show. A stage entertainment of successive separate performances, usually songs, dances, acrobatic feats, dramatic sketches, exhibitions of trained animals, or any specialties. Often loosely called vaudeville show.

Va"ri*ole (?), n. [Cf. F. variole smallpox. See Variola.] 1. A foveola.

2. (Geol.) A spherule of a variolite.

Va`ri*om"e*ter (?), n. [L. varius various + -meter.] (Elec.) An instrument for comparing magnetic forces, esp. in the earth's magnetic field.

Va*risse" (?), n. [Cf. F. varice varix. Cf. Varix.] (Far.) An imperfection on the inside of the hind leg in horses, different from a curb, but at the same height, and often growing to an unsightly size.

Var"si*ty (?), n. Colloq. contr. of University.

||Var`so`vienne" (?), n. [F., prop. fem. of varsovien pertaining to Warsaw, fr. Varsovie Warsaw, Pol. Warszawa.] (a) A kind of Polish dance. (b) Music for such a dance or having its slow triple time characteristic strong accent beginning every second measure.

||Va"rus (?), n. [NL., fr. L., bent, grown inwards.] (Med.) A deformity in which the foot is turned inward. See Talipes.

Vase clock. (Art) A clock whose decorative case has the general form of a vase, esp. one in which there is no ordinary dial, but in which a part of a vase revolves while a single stationary indicator serves as a hand.

Vas*ec"to*my (vs*k"t*m), n. [Vas + -ecmoty.] (Surg.) Resection or excision of the vas deferens.

Vat"i*can Coun"cil. (R. C. Ch.) The council held under Pope Pius IX. in Vatican at Rome, in 1870, which promulgated the dogma of papal infallibility.

Vaude"ville, n. Loosely, and now commonly, variety (see above), as, to play in vaudeville; a vaudeville actor.

||Ve"ga (?), n. [Sp.] An open tract of ground; a plain, esp. one which is moist and fertile, as those used for tobacco fields. [Sp. Amer. & Phil. Islands]

Veg"e*tism (?), n. Vegetal state or characteristic.

Ve"hi*cle (?), n. (Chem.) A liquid used to spread sensitive salts upon glass and paper for use in photography.

{ ||Vehm, ||Vehme } (?), n.; pl. Vehme (#). [See Vehmgericht.] A vehmic court.

||Vehm"ge*richt (?), n.; pl. Vehmgerichte (#). [G. vefm, fehm criminal tribunal + gerichte court, judgment. Cf. Vehmic.] A vehmic court.

Veiled plate. (Photog.) A fogged plate.

Vein quartz. Quartz occurring as gangue in a vein.

Vein"stone` (?), n. (Mining) Valueless material surrounding the ore in a lode; gangue; matrix.

||Veldt (?), n. [D. veld. Cf. Field, n.] A region or tract of land; esp., the open field; grass country. [South Africa]

Veldt sore. (Med.) An infective sore mostly on the hands and feet, often contracted in walking on the veldt and apparently due to a specific microörganism.

{ ||Ve*lou`té" (?), n., or Sauce velouté (?) }. [F. velouté, lit., velvety.] (Cookery) A white sauce or stock made by boiling down ham, veal, beef, fowl, bouillon, etc., then adding soup stock, seasoning, vegetables, and thickening, and again boiling and straining.