Part 97

Con"tra*plex (?), a. [Contra- + -plex as in duplex.] (Teleg.) Pertaining to the sending of two messages in opposite directions at the same time.

Con*trap"tion (?), n. A contrivance; a new-fangled device; -- used scornfully. [Colloq. or Dial.] -- Con*trap"tious (#), a.

We all remember some of the extraordinary contraptions which have been thus evolved and put upon the market.

F. M. Ware.

Con"tre*danse` (?), n. [Cf. F. contredanse (fr. E. Country-dance). ] 1. (a) A dance in which the partners are arranged face to face, or in opposite lines. (b) The quadrille. [Obs.]

2. (Music) A piece of music in the rhythm of such a dance.

Con`tri*bu"tion plan. (Life Insurance) A plan of distributing surplus by giving to each policy the excess of premiums and interest earned thereon over the expenses of management, cost of insurance, and the policy value at the date of computation. This excess is called the contribution of the policy.

Con*trol", n. 1. (Mach.) The complete apparatus used to control a mechanism or machine in operation, as a flying machine in flight; specifically (Aëronautics), the mechanism controlling the rudders and ailerons.

2. (Climatology) Any of the physical factors determining the climate of any particular place, as latitude,distribution of land and water, altitude, exposure, prevailing winds, permanent high- or low-barometric-pressure areas, ocean currents, mountain barriers, soil, and vegetation.

Con*trol"ler, n. 1. (Elec.) Any electric device for controlling a circuit or system; specif.: (a) An electromagnet, excited by the main current, for throwing a regulator magnet into or out of circuit in an automatic device for constant current regulation. (b) A kind of multiple switch for gradually admitting the current to, or shutting it off from, an electric motor; as, a car controller for an electric railway car.

2. (Mach.) A lever controlling the speed of an engine; -- applied esp. to the lever governing a throttle valve, as of a steam or gasoline engine, esp. on an automobile.

Con"voy pen"nant. A white pennant with red border, carried : (a) Forward on all vessels on convoy duty. (b) Alone by a senior officer present during evolutions or drills, when it commands "Silence." (c) Over a signal number, when it refers to the signal number of an officer in the Annual Navy Register.

{ Coo"ey, Coo"ee (?) }, n. [Of imitative origin.] A peculiar cry uttered by the Australian aborigines as a call to attract attention, and also in common use among the Australian colonists. In the actual call the first syllable is much prolonged (k"-) and the second ends in a shrill, staccato . To represent the sound itself the spelling cooee is generally used.

Within cooey, within earshot.

{ Coo"ey, Coo"ee }, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cooeyed or Cooeed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Cooeying or Cooeeing.] To call out cooee. [Australia]

I cooeyed and beckoned them to approach.

E. Giles.

Coon"can (?), n. [Corrupt of conquian.] A game of cards derived from conquian, played by two or more players with one or two full packs of cards.

Co"palm` (?), n. The yellowish, fragrant balsam yielded by the sweet gum; also, the tree itself.

Co`pen*ha"gen (?), n. [From Copenhagen, Denmark.] 1. A sweetened hot drink of spirit and beaten eggs.

2. A children's game in which one player is inclosed by a circle of others holding a rope.

Cop"pice (kp"ps), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coppiced (-pst); p. pr. & vb. n. Coppicing (?).] (Forestry) To cause to grow in the form of a coppice; to cut back (as young timber) so as to produce shoots from stools or roots.

Coptic Church. The native church of Egypt or church of Alexandria, which in general organization and doctrines resembles the Roman Catholic Church, except that it holds to the Monophysitic doctrine which was condemned (a. d. 451) by the council of Chalcedon, and allows its priests to marry. The "pope and patriarch" has jurisdiction over the Abyssinian Church. Since the 7th century the Coptic Church has been so isolated from modifying influences that in many respects it is the most ancient monument of primitive Christian rites and ceremonies. But centuries of subjection to Moslem rule have weakened and degraded it.

Coque (?), n. [F., prop., a shell.] A small loop or bow of ribbon used in making hats, boas, etc.

Co*quille" (k*kl"; F. k`k"y'), n. [F.] Lit., a shell; hence: (a) A shell or shell-like dish or mold in which viands are served. (b) The expansion of the guard of a sword, dagger, etc. (c) A form of ruching used as a dress trimming or for neckwear, and named from the manner in which it is gathered or fulled. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Co"rah (?), n. [Hind. kr virgin, plain.] Plain; undyed; -- applied to Indian silk. -- n. Corah silk.

{ Cor"bel*ing, Cor"bel*ling }, n. Corbel work or the construction of corbels; a series of corbels or piece of continuous corbeled masonry, sometimes of decorative purpose, as in the stalactite ornament of the Moslems.

Cord"ite (?), n. [From Cord, n.] (Mil.) A smokeless powder composed of nitroglycerin, guncotton, and mineral jelly, and used by the British army and in other services. In making it the ingredients are mixed into a paste with the addition of acetone and pressed out into cords (of various diameters) resembling brown twine, which are dried and cut to length. A variety containing less nitroglycerin than the original is known as cordite M. D.