Part 274

Zarf (?), n. [Ar.] (Art) A metallic cuplike stand used for holding a finjan.

Zas*tru"gi (?), n. pl.; sing. - ga (#). [Russ. zastruga furrow made on the shore by water.] Grooves or furrows formed in snow by the action of the wind, and running parallel with the direction of the wind. This formation results from the erosion of transverse waves previously formed.

Ze*brin"ny (?), n.; pl. - nies (&?;). A cross between a male horse and a female zebra.

{ Ze"bru*la (?), Ze"brule (?) }, n. A cross between a male zebra and a female horse.

Zee"man ef*fect" (?). (Physics) The widening and duplication, triplication, etc., of spectral lines when the radiations emanate in a strong magnetic field, first observed in 1896 by P. Zeeman, a Dutch physicist, and regarded as an important confirmation of the electromagnetic theory of light.

||Zeit"geist` (?), n. [G.; zeit time + geist spirit. See Tide, n.; Ghost, n.] The spirit of the time; the general intellectual and moral state or temper characteristic of any period of time.

Zem"stvo (?), n. [Russ., fr. zemlya land.] In Russia, an elective local district and provincial administrative assembly. Originally it was composed of representatives elected by the peasantry, the householders of the towns, and the landed proprietors. In the reign of Alexander III. the power of the noble landowners was increased, the peasants allowed only to elect candidates from whom the governor of the province nominated the deputy, and all acts of the zemstvo subjected to the approval of the governor. Theoretically the zemstvo has large powers relating to taxation, education, public health, etc., but practically these powers are in most cases limited to the adjustment of the state taxation.

Zep`pe*lin" (tsp`p*l"; Angl. zp"p*ln), n. A dirigible balloon of the rigid type, consisting of a cylindrical trussed and covered frame supported by internal gas cells, and provided with means of propulsion and control. It was first successfully used by Ferdinand Count von Zeppelin.

Zik"ku*rat (?), n. A temple tower of the Babylonians or Assyrians, consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure, built in successive stages, with outside staircases, and a shrine at the top.

Zi*moc"ca (?), n. A sponge (Euspongia zimocca) of flat form and fine quality, from the Adriatic, about the Greek islands, and the coast of Barbary.

Zin"co*graph (?), n. A zinc plate prepared for printing by zincography; also, a print from such a plate.

Zi"on*ism (?), n. [Zion + - ism.] Among the Jews, a theory, plan, or movement for colonizing their own race in Palestine, the land of Zion, or, if that is impracticable, elsewhere, either for religious or nationalizing purposes; -- called also Zion movement. -- Zi"on*ist, n. -- Zi`on*is"tic (#), a.

Zip (?), n. [Imitative.] A hissing or sibilant sound such as that made by a flying bullet.

Zip, v. i. To make, or move with, such a sound.

Zir"con light. (Physics) A light, similar to the calcium light, produced by incandescent zirconia.

||Zi"zith (?), n. pl. [Heb. tstsith.] The tassels of twisted cords or threads on the corners of the upper garment worn by strict Jews. The Hebrew for this word is translated in both the Authorized and Revised Versions (Deut. xxii. 12) by the word "fringes."

Zo"ism (?), n. [Gr. zwh` life + -ism.] 1. Reverence for animal life or belief in animal powers and influences, as among savages.

2. (Biol.) A doctrine, now discarded, that the phenomena of life are due to a peculiar vital principle; the theory of vital force.

Zo`la*esque" (?), a. In the style of Zola (see Zolaism).

Zo"la*ism (?), n. The literary theories and practices of the French novelist Emile Zola (1840-1902); naturalism, esp. in a derogatory sense. -- Zo"la*ist, n. -- Zo`la*is"tic (#), a. -- Zo"la*ize (#), v.

Zöll"ner's lines` (?). [So called after Friedrich Zöllner, a German physicist.] Parallel lines that are made to appear convergent or divergent by means of oblique intersections.

Zone, n. 1. (Biogeography) An area or part of a region characterized by uniform or similar animal and plant life; a life zone; as, Littoral zone, Austral zone, etc. The zones, or life zones, commonly recognized for North America are Arctic, Hudsonian, Canadian, Transition, Upper Austral, Lower Austral, and Tropical.

2. (Cryst.) A series of faces whose intersection lines with each other are parallel.

3. (Railroad Econ.) (a) The aggregate of stations, in whatsoever direction or on whatsoever line of railroad, situated between certain maximum and minimum limits from a point at which a shipment of traffic originates. (b) Any circular or ring-shaped area within which the street-car companies make no differences of fare.

4. In the United States parcel-post system, any of the areas about any point of shipment for which but one rate of postage is charged for a parcel post shipment from that point. The rate increases from within outwards. The first zone includes the unit of area "(a quadrangle 30 minutes square)" in which the place of shipment is situated and the 8 contiguous units; the outer limits of the second to the seventh zones, respectively, are approximately 150, 300, 600, 1000, 1400, and 1800 miles from the point of shipment; the eighth zone includes all units of area outside the seventh zone.

Zo*öl"o*gize (?), v. i. To study zoölogy; esp., to collect animals for study.

Zu"lu (?), n. [Also Zooloo.] 1. Any member of the tribe of Zulus; a Zulu- Kaffir. See Zulus.

2. (Philol.) One of the most important members of the South African, or Bantu, family of languages, spoken partly in Natal and partly in Zululand, but understood, and more or less in use, over a wide territory, at least as far north as the Zambezi; -- called also Zulu-Kaffir.