n. An excrescent growth upon the head in certain animals, serving as a weapon of offense or defense. See def. 3.n. An antler of a deer.n. Hardened and thickened epidermis or cuticle, as that of which nails, claws, and hoofs consist, differing from hair or other cuticular structures chiefly in density and massiveness.n. Something made of horn, or like or likened to a horn in position, shape, use, or purpose.n. Specifically— A feeler; a tentacle; an antenna; an ovipositor; also, the tuft of feathers upon the head of sundry birds, resembling a horn; a plumicorn, as that of various owls.n. A wind-instrument more or less resembling a horn in shape and size, and originally made of horn: as, a hunting-horn; a tin horn. In the simpler forms the horn is used chiefly to give signals, producing single or slightly variable loud tones. The hunting-horn, however, was early elaborated and made capable of producing a variety of calls, fanfares, and simple tnnes. Wood, ivory, and various metals have been used for making horns.n. By extension, a musical wind-instrnment of the trumpet class, developed from the hunting-horn (previously modified for use in orchestras under the name corno di caccia), and distinctively called the French horn, having a slender tube of brass or silver, several feet long, gracefully curved upon itself, terminating in a flaring bell, and blown through a mouthpiece of conoidal bore. Its tones are harmonics of the natural tone of the tube, produced by slightly varying the method and pressure of the blowing. Its compass is about four octaves, the series of tones in the two upper octaves being diatonic and partially chromatic. In addition to these primary or open tones, modified or closed tones are produced by inserting the hand into the bell, so as to alter the pitch of an open tone chromatically. The pitch of the fundamental tone, and thus of the whole series of open tones, is altered by detachable crooks, which increase the actual length of the tube. From eight to twelve such crooks are made, pitching the instrument in nearly all the chromatic keys between the second C below middle C and the second Bb below that. The key in which the instrnment is to be set is indicated at the beginning of each piece; but the music is written in the key of C. The pitch of the tube is still further affected by the tuning-slide, which is one of the curves of the tube so arranged that it can be pushed in or out at will. Ventils or valves are sometimes added to the tube to facilitate rapid passages. Horns are the most valuable orchestral instruments of their class. Their tone is mellow, pervasive, and blending, with a peculiar romantic quality. The French horn is sometimes used singly or as a solo instrument, but in orchestras it is nearly always combined in pairs or in quartets, and used both for melodic effects, especially in fanfares and similar figures, and for sustained chords as a harmonic basis for free instrumentation.n. A drinking-vessel of the shape of a horn or made of a horn. See drinking-horn.n. A long projection, frequently of silver or gold, worn on the forehead by natives of some Asiatic countries.n. One of the extremities (cnsps) of the moon when waxing and waning, and hence of any crescent-shaped object.n. The horn of a cow or other animal, or, now, any similar case or fiask, used for holding gunpowder; a powderhorn or powder-flask.n. plural A head-dress worn during the first half of the fifteenth century, the general shape of which was that of a pair of horns spreading like those of an ox. These head-dresses consisted of stuffs embroidered and set with jewels, or of nets (compare crespine) by which the hair was entirely or almost entirely concealed, a veil covering the whole.n. A projecting part of a head-dress, especially of that of women in the fourteenth century.n. (J) Eccles., either of the corners or angles made by the front and ends of an altar. In Christian churches, that at the left of the priest when facing the altar is the gospel horn; that at his right, the epistle horn.n. In the Bible, a symbol of strength, power, or glory.n. In railroad-cars, a part rigidly fastened to the coupler or draw-bar, by means of which the coupler and buffer-springs are connected.n. Either of two projections on a side-saddle, serving to support the right leg.n. The beak of an anvil.n. A branch of a subdivided stream.n. Nautical, one of the ends of the crosstrees.n. One of the alternatives of a dilemma. See dilemma, 1.n. The imaginary projection on the brow of a cuckold.n. In botany, any process or appendage which is shaped somewhat like the horn of an animal, as the spur of the petals in Linaria, or the crest borne by the hoods in Asclepias.n. A draught of strong liquor: as, to take a horn. See def. 4 .n. In architecture, the Ionic volute.To furnish with horns.To cause to wear “horns” as the mark of a cuckold; cuckold.To give the shape of a horn to.To treat to a charivari, or mock serenade of tin horns, etc. See horning, 2.To adjust (the frames of a ship) in process of construction so that they shall be exactly at right angles with the line of the keel.n. In sheet-metal work, an attachment to a press which, in its most simple form, resembles the horn of an anvil. In seaming and pressing locked sheets of tin together it serves as the anvil on which the joined sheets are laid while the press bends the seams down. It gives name to the work of horning, or seaming with a horn, and to the horning-press, a press on which horning is done.n. In organ-building, a reed-stop with a tone like that of the French horn.n. In golf, same as bone, 10.n. The bare branch of a leafless tree. [Figurative.]n. One of the branches of the V-shaped comb found in such breeds of poultry as the Polish and La Flèeche.n. In archery: The tip at each end of a bow, usually made of horn and provided with a nock for fastening the bowstring.n. A reinforcement at the butt of an arrow, fitted with a nock to receive the bowstring: usually made of horn.n. The portion of a composite bow which is made of horn: see bow, 2.n. In machinery, a curved lever, pivoted on the side of a planing-machine, which, on being knocked over by the tappets on the moving table, gives, through a linkage, the reversing movement to the driving mechanism.To operate upon by means of a horn-press or horning-press. See horn, n., 4 .
