| Sn | Symbol for tin. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine synthetase | <enzyme> Found in rat lung and muscle Registry number: EC 2.6.99.- Synonym: gpc synthetase, phosphatidylcholine-glycerol-3-phosphate cholinetransferase (26 Jun 1999) |
| snacot | <zoology> A pipefish of the genus Syngnathus. See Pipefish. Origin: Said to be corrupted fr. NL. Syngnathus, fr. Gr. Syn together + gnaqos jaw, because the jaws can be only slightly separated. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| snag | 1. To cut the snags or branches from, as the stem of a tree; to hew roughly. 2. To injure or destroy, as a steamboat or other vessel, by a snag, or projecting part of a sunken tree. 3. To catch on a snag5. 4. (Fig) To obtain by a quick action, as though by snagging3 something passing by; often used of an opportunistic or fortunate action. Origin: Snagged; Snagging. 1. A stump or base of a branch that has been lopped off; a short branch, or a sharp or rough branch; a knot; a protuberance. "The coat of arms Now on a naked snag in triumph borne." (Dryden) 2. A tooth projecting beyond the rest; contemptuously, a broken or decayed tooth. 3. A tree, or a branch of a tree, fixed in the bottom of a river or other navigable water, and rising nearly or quite to the surface, by which boats are sometimes pierced and sunk. 4. <zoology> One of the secondary branches of an antler. Snag boat, a steamboat fitted with apparatus for removing snags and other obstructions in navigable streams. Snag tooth. Same as Snag. "How thy snag teeth stand orderly, Like stakes which strut by the water side." (J. Cotgrave) Origin: Prov. E, n, a lump on a tree where a branch has been cut off; v, to cut off the twigs and small branches from a tree, of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. Snaigh, snaidh, to cut down, to prune, to sharpen, p. P. Snaighte, snaidhte, cut off, lopped, Ir. Snaigh a hewing, cutting. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| snail | 1. <zoology> Any one of numerous species of terrestrial air-breathing gastropods belonging to the genus Helix and many allied genera of the family Helicidae. They are abundant in nearly all parts of the world except the arctic regions, and feed almost entirely on vegetation; a land sanil. Any gastropod having a general resemblance to the true snails, including fresh water and marine species. See Pond snail, under Pond, and Sea snail. 2. Hence, a drone; a slow-moving person or thing. 3. <mechanics> A spiral cam, or a flat piece of metal of spirally curved outline, used for giving motion to, or changing the position of, another part, as the hammer tail of a striking clock. 4. A tortoise; in ancient warfare, a movable roof or shed to protect besiegers; a testudo. "They had also all manner of gynes [engines] . . . That needful is [in] taking or sieging of castle or of city, as snails, that was naught else but hollow pavises and targets, under the which men, when they fought, were heled [protected], . . . As the snail is in his house; therefore they cleped them snails." (Vegetius (Trans)) 5. <botany> The pod of the sanil clover. Ear snail, Edible snail, Pond snail, etc. See Ear, Edible, etc. <zoology> Snail borer, a boring univalve mollusk; a drill. <botany> Snail clover See Snail clover, above. Origin: OE. Snaile, AS. Sngel, snegel, sngl; akin to G. Schnecke, OHG. Snecko, Dan. Snegl, Icel. Snigill. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| snail fever | Disease (bilharzia) caused by digenetic trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma, the adults of which live in the urinary or mesenteric blood vessels. Eggs shed by the female worms pass to the outside in the urine or faeces, but many also lodge in and obstruct the blood flow in the liver. Eosinophils seem to be particularly important in the killing of the invasive larval stage (schistosomulum). Evasion of the host's immune response by adult schistosomes seems to involve the acquisition of a coat of host cell surface material by the parasite. (18 Nov 1997) |
| snailfish | <zoology> See Sea snail . Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| snails | Marine, freshwater, or terrestrial mollusks of the class gastropoda. most have an enclosing spiral shell, and several genera harbor parasites pathogenic to man. (12 Dec 1998) |
| snake | <zoology> Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent, whether harmless or venomous. See Ophidia, and Serpent. Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the larger number are harmless to man. Blind snake, Garter snake, Green snake, King snake, Milk snake, Rock snake, Water snake, etc. See Blind, Garter, etc. Fetich snake, any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Rhaphidia; so called because of their large head and elongated neck and prothorax. <botany> Snake gourd, any one of numerous species of colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees, especially those of the genus Dendrophis and allied genera. Origin: AS. Snaca; akin to LG. Snake, schnake, Icel. Snakr, snkr, Dan. Snog, Sw. Snok; of uncertain origin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| snake bites | Bites by snakes. The condition of having been bitten by a venomous snake, characterised by stinging pain at the wound puncture. The venom injected at the site of the bite is capable of producing a deleterious effect on the blood or on the nervous system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| snake proteinase | <enzyme> Amino acid sequence given in first source Registry number: EC 3.4.21.- Synonym: snake gene product, snake protein, snake protease (26 Jun 1999) |
| snake venoms | Solutions or mixtures of toxic and nontoxic substances elaborated by snake (ophidia) salivary glands for the purpose of killing prey or disabling predators and delivered by grooved or hollow fangs. They usually contain enzymes, toxins, and other factors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| snake's-head | <botany> The Guinea-hen flower; so called in England because its spotted petals resemble the scales of a snake's head. <botany> Snake's-head iris, an iridaceous plant (Hermodactylus tuberosus) of the Mediterranean region. The flowers slightly resemble a serpent's open mouth. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| snake's-tongue | <botany> Same as Adder's-tongue. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| snakebird | 1. <ornithology> Any one of four species of aquatic birds of the genus Anhinga or Plotus. They are allied to the gannets and cormorants, but have very long, slender, flexible necks, and sharp bills. The American species (Anhinga, or Plotus, anhinga) inhabits the Southern United States and tropical America; called also darter, and water turkey. The Asiatic species (A. Melanogaster) is native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Two other species inhabit Africa and Australia respectively. 2. <zoology> The wry neck. Origin: So named from its snakelike neck. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |