Front sight

Sight Sight (s[imac]t), n. [OE. sight, si[thorn]t, siht, AS. siht, gesiht, gesih[eth], gesieh[eth], gesyh[eth]; akin to D. gezicht, G. sicht, gesicht, Dan. sigte, Sw. sigt, from the root of E. see. See {See}, v. t.] 1. The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land. [1913 Webster]

A cloud received him out of their sight. --Acts. i. 9. [1913 Webster]

2. The power of seeing; the faculty of vision, or of perceiving objects by the instrumentality of the eyes. [1913 Webster]

Thy sight is young, And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. The state of admitting unobstructed vision; visibility; open view; region which the eye at one time surveys; space through which the power of vision extends; as, an object within sight. [1913 Webster]

4. A spectacle; a view; a show; something worth seeing. [1913 Webster]

Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. --Ex. iii. 3. [1913 Webster]

They never saw a sight so fair. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

5. The instrument of seeing; the eye. [1913 Webster]

Why cloud they not their sights? --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. Inspection; examination; as, a letter intended for the sight of only one person. [1913 Webster]

7. Mental view; opinion; judgment; as, in their sight it was harmless. --Wake. [1913 Webster]

That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. --Luke xvi. 15. [1913 Webster]

8. A small aperture or optical device through which objects are to be seen, and by which their direction is settled or ascertained; -- used on surveying instruments; as, the sight of a quadrant. [1913 Webster]

Thier eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

9. An optical device or small piece of metal, fixed or movable, on the breech, muzzle, center, or trunnion of a gun, or on the breech and the muzzle of a rifle, pistol, etc., by means of which the eye is guided in aiming. A telescope mounted on a weapon, such as a rifle, and used for accurate aiming at distant targets is called a {telescopic sight}. --Farrow. [1913 Webster]

10. In a drawing, picture, etc., that part of the surface, as of paper or canvas, which is within the frame or the border or margin. In a frame or the like, the open space, the opening. [1913 Webster]

11. A great number, quantity, or sum; as, a sight of money. [Now colloquial] [1913 Webster]

Note: Sight in this last sense was formerly employed in the best usage. ``A sight of lawyers.'' --Latimer. [1913 Webster]

A wonder sight of flowers. --Gower. [1913 Webster]

{At sight}, as soon as seen, or presented to sight; as, a draft payable at sight: to read Greek at sight; to shoot a person at sight.

{Front sight} (Firearms), the sight nearest the muzzle.

{Open sight}. (Firearms) (a) A front sight through which the objects aimed at may be seen, in distinction from one that hides the object. (b) A rear sight having an open notch instead of an aperture.

{Peep sight}, {Rear sight}. See under {Peep}, and {Rear}.

{Sight draft}, an order, or bill of exchange, directing the payment of money at sight.

{To take sight}, to take aim; to look for the purpose of directing a piece of artillery, or the like. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Vision; view; show; spectacle; representation; exhibition. [1913 Webster]