Asses' Bridge

Asses' Bridge
Ass Ass, n. [OE. asse, AS. assa; akin to Icel. asni, W. asen, asyn, L. asinus, dim. aselus, Gr. ?; also to AS. esol, OHG. esil, G. esel, Goth. asilus, Dan. [ae]sel, Lith. asilas, Bohem. osel, Pol. osiel. The word is prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. ath?n she ass. Cf. {Ease}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A quadruped of the genus {Equus} ({Equus asinus}), smaller than the horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray and long ears. The tame or domestic ass is patient, slow, and sure-footed, and has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. There are several species of wild asses which are swift-footed. [1913 Webster]

2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Asses' Bridge}. [L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, ``The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another.'' [Sportive] ``A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge.'' --F. Harrison.

{To make an ass of one's self}, to do or say something very foolish or absurd. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Asses' bridge — Bridge Bridge (br[i^]j), n. [OE. brig, brigge, brug, brugge, AS. brycg, bricg; akin to Fries. bregge, D. brug, OHG. brucca, G. br[ u]cke, Icel. bryggja pier, bridge, Sw. brygga, Dan. brygge, and prob. Icel. br[=u] bridge, Sw. & Dan. bro bridge,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • asses' bridge — n. PONS ASINORUM …   English World dictionary

  • asses' bridge — noun Etymology: translation of New Latin pons asinorum; probably from the similarity of the geometrical construction demonstrating it to the trusses of a bridge and from its being considered a difficulty for poor students of geometry : the fifth… …   Useful english dictionary

  • asses' bridge — Geom. See pons asinorum. * * * …   Universalium

  • asses' bridge — noun English term for pons asinorum …   English new terms dictionary

  • asses' bridge — /æsəz ˈbrɪdʒ/ (say asuhz brij) noun Geometry → pons asinorum …  

  • Bridge — (br[i^]j), n. [OE. brig, brigge, brug, brugge, AS. brycg, bricg; akin to Fries. bregge, D. brug, OHG. brucca, G. br[ u]cke, Icel. bryggja pier, bridge, Sw. brygga, Dan. brygge, and prob. Icel. br[=u] bridge, Sw. & Dan. bro bridge, pavement, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bridge of a steamer — Bridge Bridge (br[i^]j), n. [OE. brig, brigge, brug, brugge, AS. brycg, bricg; akin to Fries. bregge, D. brug, OHG. brucca, G. br[ u]cke, Icel. bryggja pier, bridge, Sw. brygga, Dan. brygge, and prob. Icel. br[=u] bridge, Sw. & Dan. bro bridge,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bridge of the nose — Bridge Bridge (br[i^]j), n. [OE. brig, brigge, brug, brugge, AS. brycg, bricg; akin to Fries. bregge, D. brug, OHG. brucca, G. br[ u]cke, Icel. bryggja pier, bridge, Sw. brygga, Dan. brygge, and prob. Icel. br[=u] bridge, Sw. & Dan. bro bridge,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bridge wall — Bridge Bridge (br[i^]j), n. [OE. brig, brigge, brug, brugge, AS. brycg, bricg; akin to Fries. bregge, D. brug, OHG. brucca, G. br[ u]cke, Icel. bryggja pier, bridge, Sw. brygga, Dan. brygge, and prob. Icel. br[=u] bridge, Sw. & Dan. bro bridge,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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