online medical dictionary | definition of SQ

<chemical>

Trans-5-amino-3-(2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl)- 1,2,4-oxadiazole. A nitrovinyl furan used as a schistosomicidal agent and proposed for trypanosomiasis, especially chagas disease.

Pharmacological action: schistosomicides, trypanocidal agents.

Chemical name: 1,2,4-Oxadiazol-5-amine, 3-(2-(5-nitro-2-furanyl)ethenyl)-, (E)-

(12 Dec 1998)

LaTeX inverted square U. The symbol for greatest lower bound.

(01 Mar 1994)

LaTeX square U. The symbol for least upper bound.

(01 Mar 1994)

Preferred term: Signal Quality Error

<programming language>

<database design, standard> /S Q L/ An industry-standard language for creating, updating and, querying relational database management systems.

SQL was developed by IBM in the 1970s for use in System R. It is the de facto standard as well as being an ISO and ANSI standard. It is often embedded in general purpose programming languages.

The first SQL standard, in 1986, provided basic language constructs for defining and manipulating tables of data; a revision in 1989 added language extensions for referential integrity and generalised integrity constraints. Another revision in 1992 provided facilities for schema manipulation and data administration, as well as substantial enhancements for data definition and data manipulation.

Development is currently underway to enhance SQL into a computationally complete language for the definition and management of persistent, complex objects. This includes: generalisation and specialisation hierarchies, multiple inheritance, user defined data types, triggers and assertions, support for knowledge based systems, recursive query expressions, and additional data administration tools. It also includes the specification of abstract data types (ADTs), object identifiers, methods, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and all of the other facilities normally associated with object data management.

The emerging SQL3 standard is expected to be complete in 1998.

According to Allen G. Taylor, SQL does __not__ stand for "Structured Query Language". That, like "SEQUEL" (and its pronunciation /see'kw*l/), was just another unofficial name for a precursor of SQL. However, the IBM SQL Reference manual for DB2 and Craig Mullins's "DB2 Developer's Guide" say SQL __does__ stand for "Structured Query Language".

SQL Standards.

An SQL parser is described in "Lex & Yacc", by Levine, Mason & Brown published by O'Reilly.

The 1995 SQL Reunion: People, Projects, and Politics.

["A Guide to the SQL Standard", C.J. Date, A-W 1987].

["SQL for Dummies", Allen G. Taylor, IDG Books Worldwide].

(01 Oct 2005)

<database design, standard, language> An extended version of the SQL standard.

(01 Mar 1995)

<database design, standard, language> A draft standard for another extension of SQL. The latest SQL3 Working Draft addresses the requirement for objects and "object identifiers" in SQL and also specifies supporting features such as encapsulation, subtypes, inheritance, and polymorphism.

In the USA, SQL3 is being processed as both an ANSI Domestic ("D") project and as an ISO project. It is expected to be complete in 1998.

November 1992 paper.

Working draft.

[ISO/IEC SQL Revision. ISO-ANSI Working Draft Database Language SQL (SQL3), Jim Melton - Editor, document ISO/IEC JTC1/SC21 N6931, ANSI, July 1992].

[Current Status?]

(01 Jul 2002)

<organisation>

The origanisaton which defined Call-Level Interface, on which ODBC is based. It is now part of X/Open.

[Address, details?]

(01 Mar 1995)

A database package from IBM including a relational DBMS.

(03 Feb 2009)

A language used to interface other languages (Ada, C, COBOL) to SQL-based DBMSes. It is an ANSI standard.

Version: Ada/SAME by Informix.

(01 Mar 1994)

<database design> (Note capitalised)

1. Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise.

2. Microsoft SQL Server.

(01 Aug 2003)

<database design> (Note not capitalised) Any database management system (DBMS) that can respond to queries from clients formatted in the SQL language.

Two popular examples are Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase SQL Server.

(01 Mar 1997)

<computer programming, product> A package used to graphically develop MS-Windows client-server applications. Sold by Gupta Corporation.

MORE. Demos FTP.

(01 Mar 1995)

<database design, language> A fourth generation language for the creation of reports from databases. SQR is interpreted to dynamically generate SQL queries and format the results.

Originally a Sybase product, it was then sold to MITI, who subsequently changed their name to SQRIBE.

SQR Server supports native database access for all major DBMSs and the use of platform independent Java code.

(01 Apr 1998)

<company>

The company formerly known as MITI which bought SQR from Sybase.

MORE.

(01 Apr 1998)

LaTeX name for a symbol like a capital E without the bottom half of its vertical line.

In domain theory,

x \sqsubseteq y

means x is no more defined that y. This expression only has meaning if x and y are comparable elements of some partially ordered set.

(01 Mar 1994)

1. Fat; thick; plump; bulky. "Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice." (Betterton)

2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon.

Origin: Cf. Dial. Sw. Sqvabb a soft and fat body, sqvabba a fat woman, Icel. Kvap jelly, jellylike things, and and E. Quab.

1. <zoology> A neatling of a pigeon or other similar bird, especially. When very fat and not fully fledged.

2. A person of a short, fat figure. "Gorgonious sits abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan." (Cowper)

3. A thickly stuffed cushion; especially, one used for the seat of a sofa, couch, or chair; also, a sofa. "Punching the squab of chairs and sofas." (Dickens) "On her large squab you find her spread." (Pope)

(01 Mar 1998)

<zoology> A young chicken before it is fully fledged.

(01 Mar 1998)

<zoology> A heron (Ardea comata) found in Asia, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe.

(01 Mar 1998)

<chemical>

Chemical name: 2,6,10,14,18,22-Tetracosahexaene, 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-, (all-E)-

(12 Dec 1998)

<enzyme>

<cell biology> Nonoxidative conversion of squalene to tetrahymenol; does not go via 2,3-oxidosqualene

Registry number: EC 4.-

Synonyms: squalene-tetrahydromanol cyclase

(26 Jun 1999)

<enzyme>

<cell biology> An enzyme that catalyses the conversion of squalene to squalene 2,3-oxide in the endoplasmic reticulum; a required step in order for cyclization to occur, resulting in the synthesis of the first sterol, lanosterol, in steroidogenesis; uses NADPH.

(05 Mar 2000)

<chemical>

Consists of squalene epoxidase (EC 1.14.99.7) plus 2,3-oxidosqualene lanosterol-cyclase (EC 5.4.99.7)

Chemical name: squalene-2,3-oxide lanosterol cyclase

(26 Jun 1999)

<enzyme>

<cell biology> From bacillus acidocaldarius; cyclises squalene into hopanoid triterpenes

Registry number: EC 5.4.99.-

Synonyms: shc gene product

(26 Jun 1999)

<enzyme>

<cell biology> An enzyme that catalyses the formation of squalene from two molecules of farnesylpyrophosphate using NADPH and concomitant production of two molecules of pyrophosphate.

(05 Mar 2000)

<enzyme>

<cell biology> Catalyses the rearrangement and reduction of the cyclopropane compound, presqualene pyrophosphate to form squalene, with NADPH as the coenzyme.

Registry number: EC 1.3.-

(12 Dec 1998)

<zoology> The suborder of elasmobranch fishes which comprises the sharks.

Origin: NL, fr. L. Squalus a kind of sea fish.

(01 Mar 1998)

To cry out; to scream or cry violently, as a woman frightened, or a child in anger or distress; as, the infant squalled.

Origin: Icel. Skvala. Cf. Squeal.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. Abounding with squalls; disturbed often with sudden and violent gusts of wind; gusty; as, squally weather.

2. <agriculture> Interrupted by unproductive spots; said of a flied of turnips or grain.

3. Not equally good throughout; not uniform; uneven; faulty; said of cloth.

(01 Mar 1998)

<paleontology> A genus of fossil whales belonging to the Phocodontia; so called because their are serrated, like a shark's.

Origin: NL. Squalus a genus of sharks + Gr, a tooth.

(01 Mar 1998)

<zoology> Pertaining to Squalodon.

(01 Mar 1998)

<zoology> Like or pertaining to a shark or sharks.

Origin: NL. Squalus a genus of sharks (fr. L. Squalus a kind of sea fish).

(01 Mar 1998)

Origin: L. A scale.

<medicine> A scale cast off from the skin; a thin dry shred consisting of epithelium.

(01 Mar 1998)

Preferred term: squamous part of frontal bone

Preferred term: squamous part of occipital bone

<zoology> A division of edentates having the body covered with large, imbricated horny scales. It includes the pangolins.

Origin: NL, fr. L. Squamatus scaly.

(01 Mar 1998)

Preferred term: squamous

Preferred term: squamous part of temporal bone

Transformation of other types of cells into squamous cells.

(05 Mar 2000)

<zoology> The American eider duck.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. A scale. "iron squames."

2. <zoology> The scale, or exopodite, of an antenna of a crustacean.

Origin: L. Squama scale.

(01 Mar 1998)

Origin: NL, dim. Fr. L. Squama a scale.

<botany> A diminutive scale or bractlet, such as those found on the receptacle in many composite plants; a palea.

(01 Mar 1998)

Flat, keratinised, dead cells shed from the outermost layer of a stratified squamous epithelium.

This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology

(11 Mar 2008)

<zoology> Bearing scales.

Origin: L. Squamiger; squama a scale + gerere to bear.

(01 Mar 1998)

Origin: L. Squama a scale + penna a fin: cf. F. Squamipenne.

<zoology> Any one of a group of fishes having the dorsal and anal fins partially covered with scales.

They are compressed and mostly, bright-coloured tropical fishes, belonging to Chaetodon and allied genera. Many of them are called soral fishes, and angel fishes.

(01 Mar 1998)

<prefix>

A combining form or prefix meaning relating to squama, squamous.

Origin: L. Squama, a scale

(05 Mar 2000)

<histology> Relating to or having squamous epithelium.

(05 Mar 2000)

<histology> Pertaining to the junction between a stratified squamous epithelial surface and one lined by columnar epithelium; e.g., the cardia of the stomach or anus.

(05 Mar 2000)

<histology> The site of transition from stratified squamous epithelium to columnar epithelium, usually characterised by stratified columnar epithelium.

(05 Mar 2000)

<anatomy> Relating to the squamous part of the frontal bone.

(05 Mar 2000)

<anatomy> Relating to the squamous and petrous portions of the temporal bone.

(05 Mar 2000)

<anatomy> Line of union of the squamous and petrous portions of the temporal bone during development; it sometimes persists in the region of the mastoid process.

Synonyms: sutura squamosomastoidea.

(05 Mar 2000)

<anatomy> Relating to the squamous portion of the occipital bone, developing partly in membrane and partly in cartilage.

(05 Mar 2000)

<anatomy> Relating to the parietal bone and the squamous portion of the temporal bone.

(05 Mar 2000)

<anatomy> The articulation of the parietal with the squamous portion of the temporal bone.

Synonyms: sutura squamosa.

(05 Mar 2000)

Preferred term: petrosquamosal

<anatomy> The squamous parts of the frontal, occipital, or temporal bone, especially the latter.

Origin: L. Squamosus, scaly, fr. Squama, scale

(05 Mar 2000)

<anatomy> Scalelike; squamous; as, the squamosal bone.

Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone.

The squamous part of the temporal bone, or a bone correspondending to it, under Temporal.

(01 Mar 1998)

Relating to the sphenoid bone and the squamous part of the temporal bone.

Synonyms: sphenosquamosal.

(05 Mar 2000)

Relating to the squamous part of the temporal bone.

(05 Mar 2000)

Preferred term: tympanosquamosal

The fissure separating the tympanic part of the temporal bone from the squamous part; it is continuous medially with the petrotympanic fissure and the petrosquamous fissure.

Synonyms: fissura tympanosquamosa, tympanosquamous fissure.

(05 Mar 2000)

Scaly or platelike.

Origin: L. Squamosus = scaly

(11 Mar 2008)

Highly attentuated squamous cell's that form the gas-permeable epithelium lining the alveoli of the lungs.

Synonyms: type I cells.

(05 Mar 2000)

Edge of a bone which articulates with the squamous part of the temporal bone.

See: squamous border of parietal bone, squamous border of sphenoid bone.

Synonyms: margo squamosus, squamous margin.

(05 Mar 2000)

The lateral border of the parietal bone that articulates with the squamous part of the temporal bone.

Synonyms: margo squamosus ossis parietalis.

(05 Mar 2000)

The margin of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone that articulates with the squamous part of the temporal bone.

Synonyms: margo squamosus ossis sphenoidalis.

(05 Mar 2000)

<dermatology, pathology> Flat thin cells found in the outer layer of the skin.

(13 Nov 1997)

<tumour>

<oncology> A malignant growth originating from a squamous cell. This form of cancer can be seen on the skin, lips, inside the mouth, throat or oesophagus.

(27 Sep 1997)

Increase in the number of cells in a squamous epithelium.

Synonyms: hypertrophic dystrophy.

(05 Mar 2000)

Flat cells that look like fish scales; they make up most of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.

(12 Dec 1998)

<pathology> An epithelium in which the cells are flattened. May be simple (e.g. Endothelium) or stratified (e.g. Epidermis).

This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology

(11 Mar 2008)

A general term for the abnormal growth of squamous cells on the surface of the cervix. The changes in the cells are described as low grade or high grade, depending on how much of the cervix is affected and how abnormal the cells are. Also called sil.

(12 Dec 1998)

Preferred term: squamous border

The transformation of glandular or mucosal epithelium into stratified squamous epithelium.

Synonyms: epidermalization.

(05 Mar 2000)

Preferred term: amnion nodosum

<tumour>

A benign epithelial odontogenic tumour thought to arise from the epithelial cell rests of Malassez; appears clinically as a radiolucent lesion closely associated with the tooth root and histologically as islands of squamous epithelium enclosed by a peripheral layer of flattened cells.

American spelling: squamous odontogenic tumor

(05 Mar 2000)

The broad curved portion of the frontal bone forming the forehead.

Synonyms: squama frontalis.

(05 Mar 2000)

The tabular or squamous portion of occipital bone.

Synonyms: squama occipitalis, occipital squama, frontal squama.

(05 Mar 2000)

The broad, flat, thin (scale-like) anterior and superior portion of the temporal bone forming part of the lateral wall of the cranial vault.

Synonyms: pars squamosa ossis temporalis, squama temporalis, temporal squama.

(05 Mar 2000)

Preferred term: keratin pearl

A scalelike suture, one whose opposing margins are scalelike and overlapping.

Synonyms: sutura squamosa.

(05 Mar 2000)

<anatomy> Of or pertaining to both the squamosal and zygomatic bones; applied to a bone, or a center of ossification, in some foetal skulls.

A squamozygomatic bone.

(01 Mar 1998)

Origin: L, dim. Of squama a scale.

<botany> One of the little hypogynous scales found in the flowers of grasses; a lodicule.

(01 Mar 1998)

<botany> Same as Squamula.

(01 Mar 1998)

<programming language>

A query language, a precursor to SQL.

["Specifying Queries as Relational Expressions: The SQUARE Data Sublanguage", R.E. Boyce et al, CACM 18(11):621-628 (Nov 1975)].

(01 Mar 1995)

1. <geometry> The corner, or angle, of a figure. A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right angles.

2. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as: A square piece or fragment. "He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches." (Sir W. Scott)

A pane of glass.

One hundred superficial feet.

3. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets. "The statue of Alexander VII. Stands in the large square of the town." (Addison)

4. <mechanics> An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square, etc.

5. Hence, a pattern or rule.

6. <mathematics> The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8 <su:times/ 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a^2 + 2ab + b^2.

7. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule. "They of Galatia [were] much more out of square." (Hooker) "I have not kept my square." (Shak)

8. A body of troops formed in a square, especially. One formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron. "The brave squares of war."

9. The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level. "We live not on the square with such as these." (Dryden)

10. <astronomy> The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate.

11. The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel.

12. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered. Geometrical square. See Quadrat. Hollow square, a formation of troops in the shape of a square, each side consisting of four or five ranks, and the colours, officers, horses, etc, occupying the middle. Least square, Magic square, etc. See Least, Magic, etc. On the square, or Upon the square, in an open, fair manner; honestly, or upon honor. On, or Upon, the square with, upon equality with; even with. To be all squares, to be all settled. To be at square, to be in a state of quarreling. To break no square, to give no offense; to make no difference. To break squares, to depart from an accustomed order. To see how the squares go, to see how the game proceeds; a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chessboard being formed with squares.

Origin: OF. Esquarre, esquierre, F. Equerre a carpenter's square (cf. It. Squadra), fr. (assumed) LL. Exquadrare to make square; L. Ex + quadrus a square, fr. Quattuor four. See Four, and cf. Quadrant, Squad, Squer a square.

1. <geometry> Having four equal sides and four right angles; as, a square figure.

2. Forming a right angle; as, a square corner.

3. Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a square frame.

4. Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just. "She's a most truimphant lady, if report be square to her." (Shak)

5. Rendering equal justice; exact; fair; honest, as square dealing.

6. Even; leaving no balance; as, to make or leave the accounts square.

7. Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous. "By Heaven, square eaters. More meat, I say." (Beau. & Fl)

8. at right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.

Square is often used in self-explaining compounds or combination, as in square-built, square-cornered, square-cut, square-nosed, etc. Square foot, an area equal to that of a square the sides of which are twelwe inches; 144 square inches. Square knot, a knot in which the terminal and standing parts are parallel to each other; a reef knot. Square measure, the measure of a superficies or surface which depends on the length and breadth taken conjointly. The units of square measure are squares whose sides are the linear measures; as, square inches, square feet, square meters, etc. Square number. See square.

<mathematics> Square root of a number or quantity, a stern having a transom and joining the counter timbers at an angle, as distinguished from a round stern, which has no transom. Three-square, Five-square, etc, having three, five, etc, equal sides; as, a three-square file. To get square with, to get even with; to pay off.

1. To form with four sides and four right angles.

2. To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces; as, to square mason's work.

3. To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard.

4. To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; to fit; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others. "Square my trial To my proportioned strength." (Milton)

5. To make even, so as leave no remainder of difference; to balance; as, to square accounts.

6. <mathematics> To multiply by itself; as, to square a number or a quantity.

7. <astronomy> To hold a quartile position respecting. "The icy Goat and Crab that square the Scales." (Creech)

8. To place at right angles with the keel; as, to square the yards. To square one's shoulders, to raise the shoulders so as to give them a square appearance, a movement expressing contempt or dislike.

<mathematics> To square the circle, to determine the exact contents of a circle in square measure. The solution of this famous problem is now generally admitted to be impossible.

Origin: Cf. OF. Escarrer, esquarrer. See Square.

(01 Mar 1998)

Preferred term: square-headed girlfriend

<humour> A computer.

(01 Apr 1999)

A matrix in which the numbers of rows and columns are equal.

(05 Mar 2000)

<storage> Mainframe magnetic tape cartridges for use with IBM 3480 or compatible tape drives; or QIC tapes used on workstations and microcomputers. The term comes from the square (actually rectangular) shape of the cartridges; contrast round tape.

(01 Jul 2002)

Electrical stimulation in which the intensity of the current is brought suddenly to a given level and maintained at that level until it suddenly is cut off; this type of stimulus is particularly useful in obtaining a strength-duration curve.

(05 Mar 2000)

1. <zoology> Ragged or full of lose scales or projecting parts; rough; jagged; as having scales spreading every way, or standing upright, or at right angles to the surface; said of a shell.

2. <botany> Squarrose-slashed, doubly slashed, with the smaller divisions at right angles to the others, as a leaf.

Origin: L. Squarrosus (perhaps) scurfy, scabby.

(10 Mar 1998)

<botany> Having the teeth bent out of the plane of the lamina; said of a leaf.

(01 Mar 1998)

<botany> Somewhat squarrose; slightly squarrose.

Origin: Dim. Of squarrose.

(01 Mar 1998)

<zoology> An American animal allied to the weasel.

Origin: Cf. Musquash.

<botany> A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.

The species are much confused. The long-neck squash is called Cucurbita verrucosa, the Barbary or China squash, C. Moschata, and the great winter squash, C. Maxima, but the distinctions are not clear. Squash beetle, a large black American hemipterous insect (Coreus, or Anasa, tristis) injurious to squash vines.

Origin: Massachusetts Indian asq, pl. Asquash, raw, green, immaturate, applied to fruit and vegetables which were used when green, or without cooking; askutasquash vine apple.

(01 Mar 1998)

<zoology> The angel fish (Squatina angelus).

1. The posture of one that sits on his heels or hams, or close to the ground.

2. A sudden or crushing fall.

3. <chemical>

A small vein of ore. A mineral consisting of tin ore and spar.

4. <zoology> Squat snipe, the jacksnipe; called also squatter.

(10 Mar 1998)

<zoology> The black-bellied plover.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. One who squats; specifically, one who settles unlawfully upon land without a title. In the United States and Australia the term is sometimes applied also to a person who settles lawfully upon government land under permission and restrictions, before acquiring title. "In such a tract, squatters and trespassers were tolerated to an extent now unknown." (Macaulay)

2. <zoology> See Squat snipe, under Squat.

(10 Mar 1998)

<ethnology> A female; a woman; in the language of Indian tribes of the Algonquin family, correlative of sannup.

Origin: Massachusetts Indian squa, eshqua; Narragansett squaws; Delaware ochqueu, and khqueu; used also in compound words (as the names of animals) in the sense of female.

(10 Mar 1998)

<botany> A local name for the partridge berry; also, for the deerberry.

(01 Mar 1998)

To utter a shrill, abrupt scream; to squeak harshly.

<zoology> Squawking thrush, the missel turush; so called from its note when alarmed.

1. Act of squawking; a harsh squeak.

2. <zoology> The American night heron.

3. <zoology> Squawk duck, the bimaculate duck (Anas glocitans). It has patches of reddish brown behind, and in front of, each eye.

(10 Mar 1998)

<botany> A scaly parasitic plant (Conopholis Americana) found in oak woods in the United States.

Synonyms: cancer root.

(01 Mar 1998)

<botany> The golden ragwort.

(10 Mar 1998)

<programming language>

1. <computer graphics>

["Squeak: A Language for Communicating with Mice", L. Cardelli et al, Comp Graphics 19(3):199-204, July 1985].

See Newsqueak.

2. A Smalltalk implementation and a media authoring tool by members of the original Xerox PARC team which created Smalltalk (Alan Kay, Dan Ingalls, et al). Squeak is an open-source implementation, with a highly portable virtual machine implemented in a subset of Smalltalk (translated into C and compiled by a C compiler of the target platform).

Squeak Home.

SqueakCentral.

(01 Jul 2002)

1. To utter a sharp, shrill cry, usually of short duration; to cry with an acute tone, as an animal; or, to make a sharp, disagreeable noise, as a pipe or quill, a wagon wheel, a door; to creak. "Who can endure to hear one of the rough old Romans squeaking through the mouth of an eunuch?" (Addison) "Zoilus calls the companions of Ulysses the "squeaking pigs" of Homer." (Pope)

2. To break silence or secrecy for fear of pain or punishment; to speak; to confess. "If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him." (Dryden)

Origin: Probably of imitative origin; cf. Sw. Sqvaka to croak, Icel. Skvakka to give a sound as of water shaken in a bottle.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. One who, or that which, squeaks.

2. <zoology> The Australian gray crow shrile (Strepera anaphonesis); so called from its note.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. One who, or that which, squeals.

2. <zoology> The European swift. The harlequin duck.

The American golden plover.

(01 Mar 1998)

Having a stomach that is easily or nauseated; hence, nice to excess in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to be offended at trifling improprieties. "Quoth he, that honor's very squeamish That takes a basting for a blemish." (Hudibras) "His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain The men of squeamish taste to entertain." (Southern) "So ye grow squeamish, Gods, and sniff at heaven." (M. Arnold)

Synonyms: Fastidious, dainty, overnice, scrupulous. See Fastidious.

Origin: OE. Squaimous, sweymous, probably from OE. Sweem, swem, dizziness, a swimming in the head; cf. Icel. Svemr a bustle, a stir, Norw. Sveim a hovering about, a sickness that comes upon one, Icel. Svimi a giddiness, AS. Swimi. The word has been perhaps confused witrh qualmish. Cf. Swim to be dizzy.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure.

2. A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as pulp, from an inscription on stone.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. The act of pressing; compression; oppression.

2. That which is forced out by pressure; dregs.

3. Same as Squeeze.

(01 Mar 1998)

<zoology> An American sciaenoid fish (Cynoscion regalis), abundant on the Atlantic coast of the United States, and much valued as a food fish. It is of a bright silvery colour, with iridescent reflections. Called also weakfish, squitee, chickwit, and sea trout. The spotted squeteague (C. Nebulosus) of the Southern United States is a similar fish, but the back and upper fins are spotted with black. It is called also spotted weakfish, and, locally, sea trout, and sea salmon.

Origin: from the North American Indian name.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. A little pipe, or hollow cylinder of paper, filled with powder or combustible matter, to be thrown into the air while burning, so as to burst there with a crack. "Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze." (Waller) "The making and selling of fireworks, and squibs . . . Is punishable." (Blackstone)

2. <chemical>

A kind of slow match or safety fuse.

3. A sarcastic speech or publication; a petty lampoon; a brief, witty essay. "Who copied his squibs, and reechoed his jokes." (Goldsmith)

4. A writer of lampoons. "The squibs are those who in the common phrase of the world are called libelers, lampooners, and pamphleteers." (Tatler)

5. A paltry fellow.

Origin: OE. Squippen, swippen, to move swiftky, Icel. Svipa to swoop, flash, dart, whip; akin to AS. Swipian to whip, and E. Swift, a. See Swift.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. <zoology> Any one of numerous species of ten-armed cephalopods having a long, tapered body, and a caudal fin on each side; especially, any species of Loligo, Ommastrephes, and related genera. See Calamary, Decacerata, Dibranchiata.

Some of these squids are very abundant on the Atlantic coast of North America, and are used in large quantities for bait, especially in the cod fishery. The most abundant of the American squids are the northern squid (Ommastrephes illecebrosus), ranging from Southern new England to Newfoundland, and the southern squid (Loligo Pealii), ranging from Virginia to Massachusetts.

2. A fishhook with a piece of bright lead, bone, or other substance, fastened on its shank to imitate a squid. Flying squid, Giant squid.

<zoology> The striped bass.

Origin: Cf. Squirt.

(01 Mar 1998)

<physiology> Large axons, up to 1mm in diameter, that innervate the mantle of the squid. Because of their large size, many of the pioneering investigations of the mechanisms underlying resting and action potentials in excitable cells were done on these fibres.

(10 Mar 1998)

<protein>

Calcium binding protein from the optic lobe of squid, which contains the EF hand motif.

This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology

(11 Mar 2008)

Preferred term: Bird-Meertens Formalism

Formerly, a small swab for drying a vessel's deck; now, a kind of scraper having a blade or edge of rubber or of leather, used for removing superfluous, water or other liquids, as from a vessel's deck after washing, from window panes, photographer's plates, etc.

Alternative forms: squillgee, squillagee, squeegee.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. <botany> A European bulbous liliaceous plant (Urginea, formerly Scilla, maritima), of acrid, expectorant, diuretic, and emetic properties used in medicine. Called also sea onion. Any bulbous plant of the genus Scilla; as, the bluebell squill (S. Mutans).

2. <zoology> A squilla. A mantis.

Origin: F. Squille (also scille a squill, in sense 1), L. Squilla, scilla, Gr.

(01 Mar 1998)

<zoology> Any one of numerous stomapod crustaceans of the genus Squilla and allied genera. They make burrows in mud or beneath stones on the seashore. Called also mantis shrimp.

Origin: L, a sea onion, also, a prawn or shrimp.

(10 Mar 1998)

1. The quinsy.

2. <botany> A European perennial herb (Asperula cynanchica) with narrowly linear whorled leaves; formerly thought to cure the quinsy. Also called quincewort. Squinancy berries, black currants; so called because used to cure the quinsy.

Origin: F. Esquinancie, OF. Squinance, esquinance. See Quinsy.

(01 Mar 1998)

Preferred term: quinsy

1. <ophthalmology> To see or look obliquely, asquint, or awry, or with a furtive glance. Specifically, not having the optic axes coincident; said of the eyes. To have the axes of the eyes not coincident; to be cross-eyed.

2. To deviate from a true line; to run obliquely.

Synonyms: strabismus.

Origin: Cf. D. Schuinte a slope, schuin, schuinisch, sloping, oblique, schuins slopingly. Cf. Askant, Askance, Asquint.

(10 Mar 1998)

A surgical instrument used to lift ocular muscles.

(05 Mar 2000)

The eye, in cases of strabismus, that is not directed toward the object of regard.

(05 Mar 2000)

Preferred term: quinsy

1. A shield-bearer or armor-bearer who attended a knight.

2. A title of dignity next in degree below knight, and above gentleman. See Esquire. "His privy knights and squires."

3. A male attendant on a great personage; also, a devoted attendant or follower of a lady; a beau.

4. A title of office and courtesy. See Esquire.

Origin: Aphetic form of esquire.

(01 Mar 1998)

To twist about briskly with contorions like an eel or a worm; to wriggle; to writhe.

Origin: Cf. Swarm to climb a tree.

(01 Mar 1998)

1. <zoology> Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus Sciurus and several allied genera of the famly Sciuridae. Squirrels generally have a bushy tail, large erect ears, and strong hind legs. They are commonly arboreal in their habits, but many species live in burrows.

Among the common North American squirrels are the gray squirrel (Scirius Carolinensis) and its black variety; the fox, or cat, sqirrel (S. Cinereus, or S. Niger) which is a large species, and variable in colour, the southern variety being frequently black, while the northern and western varieties are usually gray or rusty brown; the red squirrel (see Chickaree); the striped, or chipping, squirrel (see Chipmunk); and the California gray squirrel (S. Fossor). Several other species inhabit Mexico and Central America. The common European species (Sciurus vulgaris) has a long tuft of hair on each ear. The so-called Australian squirrels are marsupials. See Petaurist, and Phalanger.

2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder.

<zoology> Barking squirrel . See Jelerang.

<botany> Squirrel corn, a grass (Hordeum jubatum) found in salt marshes and along the Great Lakes, having a dense spike beset with long awns.

Origin: OE. Squirel, OF. Esquirel, escurel, F. Ecureuil, LL. Squirelus, squirolus, scuriolus, dim. Of L. Sciurus, Gr. Sioyros; skia shade + o'yra tail. Cf. Shine.

(01 Mar 1998)

One of the causes of Parinaud's conjunctivitis.

Synonyms: tularaemic conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis tularensis.

(05 Mar 2000)

Porphyria as an apparently normal metabolic state seen in the Florida fox squirrel (Sciurus niger).

(05 Mar 2000)

To drive or eject in a stream out of a narrow pipe or orifice; as, to squirt water. "The hard-featured miscreant coolly rolled his tobacco in his cheek, and squirted the juice into the fire grate." (Sir W. Scott) Squirting cucumber.

<botany> See Ecballium.

Origin: Cf. LG. Swirtjen to squirt, OSw. Sqvatta, E. Squander.

(01 Mar 1998)

<jargon, communications> To transmit a signal up to a satellite. "Crew and talent are ready, what time do we squirt the bird?"

(01 Mar 1997)

<botany>

Preferred term: quitch grass

<zoology> The squeteague; called also squit.

Origin: From the N. American Indian name.

(01 Mar 1998)