| mantle | 1. To unfold and spread out the wings, like a mantle; said of hawks. Also used figuratively. "Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her perch." (Spenser) "Or tend his sparhawk mantling in her mew." (Bp. Hall) "My frail fancy fed with full delight. Doth bathe in bliss, and mantleth most at ease." (Spenser) 2. To spread out; said of wings. "The swan, with arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows." (Milton) 3. To spread over the surface as a covering; to overspread; as, the scum mantled on the pool. "Though mantled in her cheek the blood." (Sir W. Scott) 4. To gather, assume, or take on, a covering, as froth, scum, etc. "There is a sort of men whose visages Do cream and mantle like a standing pond." (Shak) "Nor bowl of wassail mantle warm." (Tennyson) 1. A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an enveloping robe; a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering or concealing envelope. "[The] children are clothed with mantles of satin." (Bacon) "The green mantle of the standing pool." (Shak) "Now Nature hangs her mantle green On every blooming tree." (Burns) 2. Same as Mantling. 3. <marine biology> The external fold, or folds, of the soft, exterior membrane of the body of a mollusk. It usually forms a cavity inclosing the gills. Any free, outer membrane. 4. The back of a bird together with the folded wings. 5. The outer wall and casing of a blast furnace, above the hearth. 6. <physics> A penstock for a water wheel. Origin: OE. Mantel, OF. Mantel, F. Manteau, fr. L. Mantellum, mantelum, a cloth, napkin, cloak, mantle (cf. Mantele, mantile, towel, napkin); prob. From manus hand + the root of tela cloth. See Manual, Textile, and cf. Mandil, Mantel, Mantilla. (19 Mar 1998) |
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| mantle layer | The nuclear zone of the developing neural tube between the marginal layer and the ependymal layer; forms the gray matter of the central nervous system. Synonym: intermediate layer, mantle zone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mantle sclerosis | A common cerebral lesion in the palsied states of early life characterised by nodular cortical atrophy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mantle zone | A layer of small B lymphocytes surrounding the paler-staining germinal centres of lymphoid follicles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brain mantle | Origin: L. See Pall the garment. 1. A large, square, woolen cloak which enveloped the whole person, worn by the Greeks and by certain Romans. It is the Roman name of a Greek garment. 2. A band of white wool, worn on the shoulders, with four purple crosses worked on it; a pall. The wool is obtained from two lambs brought to the basilica of St. Agnes, Rome, and blessed. It is worn by the pope, and sent to patriarchs, primates, and archbishops, as a sign that they share in the plenitude of the episcopal office. Befoer it is sent, the pallium is laid on the tomb of St. Peter, where it remains all night. 3. <zoology> The mantle of a bivalve. See Mantle. The mantle of a bird. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| myoepicardial mantle | The dorsal wall of the primitive pericardium which, in the early somite embryo, becomes both the epicardium and the myocardium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lady's mantle | <botany> A genus of rosaceous herbs (Alchemilla), especially. The European A. Vulgaris, which has leaves with rounded and finely serrated lobes. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |