cygnus gibbus

2 definitions found

cygnus gibbus - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Mute \Mute\, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. my`ein to shut, Skr. m[=u]ta
     bound, m[=u]ka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF.
     mu, L. mutus.]
     1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
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              All the heavenly choir stood mute,
              And silence was in heaven.            --Milton.
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     Note: In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon
           being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead
           directly, or will not put himself on trial.
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     2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. --Dryden.
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     3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by
        complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the
        passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th
        Mute, 2.
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     4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a
        metal.
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     Mute swan (Zool.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus  olor
         syn. Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes,
        in distinction from the Trumpeter swan.
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     Syn: Silent; dumb; speechless.
  
     Usage: Mute, Silent, Dumb. One is silent who does not
            speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper
            organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence,
            figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with
            astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from
            speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute
            through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case
            with most of those who never speak from childhood;
            they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they
            are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence
            their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes.
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                  They spake not a word;
                  But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
                  Gazed each on other.              --Shak.
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                  All sat mute,
                  Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.
                                                    --Milton.
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  Swan \Swan\ (sw[o^]n), n. [AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG.
     swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and
     perhaps to E. sound something audible.]
     1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds
        belonging to Cygnus, Olor, and allied genera of the
        subfamily Cygninae. They have a large and strong beak
        and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful
        movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are
        white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a
        melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
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     Note: The European white, or mute, swan (Cygnus gibbus),
           which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in
           an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans
           of the genus Olor do not bend the neck in an S-shaped
           curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry,
           due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this
           genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan
           (Olor cygnus), the American whistling swan (Olor Columbianus
           ), and the trumpeter swan (Olor buccinator
           ). The Australian black swan (Chenopis atrata
           ) is dull black with white on the wings, and has
           the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a
           very graceful species and is often domesticated. The
           South American black-necked swan (Sthenelides melancorypha
           ) is a very beautiful and graceful
           species, entirely white, except the head and neck,
           which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a
           double bright rose-colored knob.
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     2. Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted
        for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of
        Avon.
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     3. (Astron.) The constellation Cygnus.
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     Swan goose (Zool.), a bird of India (Cygnopsis cygnoides)
        resembling both the swan and the goose.
  
     Swan shot, a large size of shot used in fowling.
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