Part 6293

<blockquote>A man shall be perplexed with <b>knots</b>, and problems of business, and contrary affairs. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>A figure the lines of which are interlaced or intricately interwoven, as in embroidery, gardening, etc.</def> "Garden <i>knots</i>."

<i>Bacon.</i>

<blockquote>Flowers worthy of paradise, which, not nice art In beds and curious <b>knots</b>, but nature boon Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>A cluster of persons or things; a collection; a group; a hand; a clique; <as>as, a <ex>knot</ex> of politicians</as>.</def> "<i>Knots</i> of talk."

<i>Tennyson.</i>

<blockquote>His ancient <b>knot</b> of dangerous adversaries. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Palms in cluster, <b>knots</b> of Paradise. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>As they sat together in small, separate <b>knots</b>, they discussed doctrinal and metaphysical points of belief. <i>Sir W. Scott. </i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>A portion of a branch of a tree that forms a mass of woody fiber running at an angle with the grain of the main stock and making a hard place in the timber. A loose knot is generally the remains of a dead branch of a tree covered by later woody growth.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>A knob, lump, swelling, or protuberance.</def>

<blockquote>With lips serenely placid, felt the <b>knot</b> Climb in her throat. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>A protuberant joint in a plant.</def>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>The point on which the action of a story depends; the gist of a matter.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>I shoulde to the <b>knotte</b> condescend, And maken of her walking soon an end. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>10.</b> <fld>(Mech.)</fld> <def>See <er>Node</er>.</def>

<p><b>11.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A division of the log line, serving to measure the rate of the vessel's motion. Each knot on the line bears the same proportion to a mile that thirty seconds do to an hour. The number of knots which run off from the reel in half a minute, therefore, shows the number of miles the vessel sails in an hour.</def> Hence: <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A nautical mile, or 6080.27 feet; <as>as, when a ship goes eight miles an hour, her speed is said to be eight <ex>knots</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>12.</b> <def>A kind of epaulet. See <er>Shoulder knot</er>.</def>

<p><b>13.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A sandpiper (<spn>Tringa canutus</spn>), found in the northern parts of all the continents, in summer. It is grayish or ashy above, with the rump and upper tail coverts white, barred with dusky. The lower parts are pale brown, with the flanks and under tail coverts white. When fat it is prized by epicures. Called also <altname>dunne</altname>.</def>

<note>&hand; The name is said to be derived from King Canute, this bird being a favorite article of food with him.</note>

<blockquote>The <b>knot</b> that called was Canutus' bird of old, Of that great king of Danes his name that still doth hold, His appetite to please that far and near was sought. <i>Drayton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Knot</h1> <Xpage=816>

<hw>Knot</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Knotted</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Knotting</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To tie in or with, or form into, a knot or knots; to form a knot on, as a rope; to entangle.</def> "<i>Knotted</i> curls."

<i>Drayton.</i>

<blockquote>As tight as I could <b>knot</b> the noose. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To unite closely; to knit together.</def>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To entangle or perplex; to puzzle.</def> <mark>[Obs. or R.]</mark>