| lapse | 1. A gliding, slipping, or gradual falling; an unobserved or imperceptible progress or passing away,; restricted usually to immaterial things, or to figurative uses. "The lapse to indolence is soft and imperceptible." (Rambler) "Bacon was content to wait the lapse of long centuries for his expected revenue of fame." (I. Taylor) 2. A slip; an error; a fault; a failing in duty; a slight deviation from truth or rectitude. "To guard against those lapses and failings to which our infirmities daily expose us." (Rogers) 3. The termination of a right or privilege through neglect to exercise it within the limited time, or through failure of some contingency; hence, the devolution of a right or privilege. 4. A fall or apostasy. Origin: L. Lapsus, fr. Labi, p. P. Lapsus, to slide, to fall: cf. F. Laps. See Sleep. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| lapsus calami | <zoology> A slip of the pen, an unintentional error, especially in spelling taxonomic names. (09 Jan 1998) |
| laputan | Of or pertaining to Laputa, an imaginary flying island described in Gulliver's Travels as the home of chimerical philosophers. Hence, fanciful; preposterous; absurd in science or philosophy. "Laputan ideas." Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lapwing | <zoology> A small European bird of the Plover family (Vanellus cristatus, or V. Vanellus). It has long and broad wings, and is noted for its rapid, irregular fight, upwards, downwards, and in circles. Its back is coppery or greenish bronze. Its eggs are the "plover's eggs" of the London market, esteemed a delicacy. It is called also peewit, dastard plover, and wype. The gray lapwing is the Squatarola cinerea. Origin: OE.lapwynke, leepwynke, AS. Hleapewince; hleapan to leap, jump + (prob) a word akin to AS. Wincian to wink, E. Wink, AS. Wancol wavering; cf. G. Wanken to stagger, waver. See Leap, and Wink. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |