Switch grass

Switch grass
Switch Switch, n. [Cf. OD. swick a scourage, a whip. Cf. {Swink}, {Swing}.] 1. A small, flexible twig or rod. [1913 Webster]

Mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with something like a thread; in her other hand she holds a switch. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

2. (Railways) A movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another. [1913 Webster]

3. A separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women. [1913 Webster]

4. (Elec.) A device for shifting an electric current to another circuit, or for making and breaking a circuit. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{Safety switch} (Railways), a form of switch contrived to prevent or lessen the danger of derailment of trains.

{Switch back} (Railways), an arrangement of tracks whereby elevations otherwise insurmountable are passed. The track ascends by a series of zigzags, the engine running alternately forward and back, until the summit is reached.

{Switch board} (Elec.), a collection of switches in one piece of apparatus, so arranged that a number of circuits may be connected or combined in any desired manner.

{Switch grass}. (Bot.) See under {Grass}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • switch grass — switch′ grass n. pln a North American grass, Panicum virgatum, having an open, branching inflorescence …   From formal English to slang

  • switch grass — n. a type of tall panic grass (Panicum virgatum), usually found in the North American prairie and used for fodder or as an ornamental: also written switchgrass …   English World dictionary

  • switch|grass — «SWIHCH GRAS, GRAHS», noun. a tall panic grass found from the Atlantic coast to the Rocky Mountains, used especially for hay …   Useful english dictionary

  • switch grass — rykštinė sora statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos pašarinis augalas (Panicum virgatum), paplitęs Šiaurės ir Pietų Amerikoje. Naudojamas kurui gaminti. atitikmenys: lot. Panicum virgatum angl. Blackwell switch grass; switch grass …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • switch grass — noun grass of western America used for hay • Syn: ↑Panicum virgatum • Hypernyms: ↑panic grass * * * noun Etymology: alteration of quitch grass : a panic grass (Panicum virgatum) of the western …   Useful english dictionary

  • switch grass — a North American grass, Panicum virgatum, having an open, branching inflorescence. [1830 40, Amer.; alter. of QUITCH (GRASS)] * * * …   Universalium

  • Blackwell switch grass — rykštinė sora statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos pašarinis augalas (Panicum virgatum), paplitęs Šiaurės ir Pietų Amerikoje. Naudojamas kurui gaminti. atitikmenys: lot. Panicum virgatum angl. Blackwell switch grass; switch grass …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Grass — Grass, n. [OE. gras, gres, gers, AS, gr[ae]s, g[ae]rs; akin to OFries. gres, gers, OS., D., G., Icel., & Goth. gras, Dan. gr[ae]s, Sw. gr[aum]s, and prob. to E. green, grow. Cf. {Graze}.] 1. Popularly: Herbage; the plants which constitute the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Grass bass — Grass Grass, n. [OE. gras, gres, gers, AS, gr[ae]s, g[ae]rs; akin to OFries. gres, gers, OS., D., G., Icel., & Goth. gras, Dan. gr[ae]s, Sw. gr[aum]s, and prob. to E. green, grow. Cf. {Graze}.] 1. Popularly: Herbage; the plants which constitute… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Grass bird — Grass Grass, n. [OE. gras, gres, gers, AS, gr[ae]s, g[ae]rs; akin to OFries. gres, gers, OS., D., G., Icel., & Goth. gras, Dan. gr[ae]s, Sw. gr[aum]s, and prob. to E. green, grow. Cf. {Graze}.] 1. Popularly: Herbage; the plants which constitute… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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