Heavy cavalry

Heavy Heav"y, a. [Compar. {Heavier}; superl. {Heaviest}.] [OE. hevi, AS. hefig, fr. hebban to lift, heave; akin to OHG. hebig, hevig, Icel. h["o]figr, h["o]fugr. See {Heave}.] 1. Heaved or lifted with labor; not light; weighty; ponderous; as, a heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in extent, quantity, or effects; as, a heavy fall of rain or snow; a heavy failure; heavy business transactions, etc.; often implying strength; as, a heavy barrier; also, difficult to move; as, a heavy draught. [1913 Webster]

2. Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive; hard to endure or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as, heavy yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc. [1913 Webster]

The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod. --1 Sam. v. 6. [1913 Webster]

The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Sent hither to impart the heavy news. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]

Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened; bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with care, grief, pain, disappointment. [1913 Webster]

The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]

A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate, stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners, style, and the like; a heavy writer or book. [1913 Webster]

Whilst the heavy plowman snores. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not hear. --Is. lix. 1. [1913 Webster]

5. Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm, cannonade, and the like. [1913 Webster]

6. Loud; deep; -- said of sound; as, heavy thunder. [1913 Webster]

But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more. --Byron. [1913 Webster]

7. Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; -- said of the sky. [1913 Webster]

8. Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; -- said of earth; as, a heavy road, soil, and the like. [1913 Webster]

9. Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread. [1913 Webster]

10. Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not easily digested; -- said of food. [1913 Webster]

11. Having much body or strength; -- said of wines, or other liquors. [1913 Webster]

12. With child; pregnant. [R.] [1913 Webster]

{Heavy artillery}. (Mil.) (a) Guns of great weight or large caliber, esp. siege, garrison, and seacoast guns. (b) Troops which serve heavy guns.

{Heavy cavalry}. See under {Cavalry}.

{Heavy fire} (Mil.), a continuous or destructive cannonading, or discharge of small arms.

{Heavy metal} (Mil.), large guns carrying balls of a large size; also, large balls for such guns.

{Heavy metals}. (Chem.) See under {Metal}.

{Heavy weight}, in wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the heaviest of the classes into which contestants are divided. Cf. {Feather weight} (c), under {Feather}. [1913 Webster]

Note: Heavy is used in composition to form many words which need no special explanation; as, heavy-built, heavy-browed, heavy-gaited, etc. [1913 Webster]