fountain shell

2 definitions found

fountain shell - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Fountain \Foun"tain\ (foun"t[i^]n), n. [F. fontaine, LL.
     fontana, fr. L. fons, fontis. See 2d Fount.]
     1. A spring of water issuing from the earth.
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     2. An artificially produced jet or stream of water; also, the
        structure or works in which such a jet or stream rises or
        flows; a basin built and constantly supplied with pure
        water for drinking and other useful purposes, or for
        ornament.
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     3. A reservoir or chamber to contain a liquid which can be
        conducted or drawn off as needed for use; as, the ink
        fountain in a printing press, etc.
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     4. The source from which anything proceeds, or from which
        anything is supplied continuously; origin; source.
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              Judea, the fountain of the gospel.    --Fuller.
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              Author of all being,
              Fountain of light, thyself invisible. --Milton.
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     Air fountain. See under Air.
  
     Fountain heead, primary source; original; first principle.
        --Young.
  
     Fountain inkstand, an inkstand having a continual supply of
        ink, as from elevated reservoir.
  
     Fountain lamp, a lamp fed with oil from an elevated
        reservoir.
  
     Fountain pen, a pen with a reservoir in the handle which
        furnishes a supply of ink.
  
     Fountain pump.
        (a) A structure for a fountain, having the form of a pump.
        (b) A portable garden pump which throws a jet, for
            watering plants, etc.
  
     Fountain shell (Zool.), the large West Indian conch shell
        (Strombus gigas).
  
     Fountain of youth, a mythical fountain whose waters were
        fabled to have the property of renewing youth.
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  Tridacna \Tri*dac"na\, n. [L., pl., a kind of oysters, fr. Gr. ?
     eaten at three bites, ? tri- + ? to bite.] (Zool.)
     A genus of very large marine bivalve shells found on the
     coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. One species
     (Tridacna gigas) often weighs four or five hundred pounds,
     and is sometimes used for baptismal fonts. Called also paw shell
     , and fountain shell.
     [1913 Webster] Tridactyl