Stag n.
1. Zool. (a) The adult male of the red deer (Cervus elaphus), a large European species closely related to the American elk, or wapiti. (b) The male of certain other species of large deer.
2. A colt, or filly; also, a romping girl. [Prov. Eng.]
3. A castrated bull; -- called also bull stag, and bull seg. See the Note under Ox.
4. Stock Exchange (a) An outside irregular dealer in stocks, who is not a member of the exchange. [Cant] (b) One who applies for the allotment of shares in new projects, with a view to sell immediately at a premium, and not to hold the stock. [Cant]
5. Zool. The European wren. [Prov. Eng.]
Stag beetle Zool., any one of numerous species of lamellicorn beetles belonging to Lucanus and allied genera, especially Lucanus cervus of Europe and Lucanus dama of the United States. The mandibles are large and branched, or forked, whence the name. The larva feeds on the rotten wood of dead trees. Called also horned bug, and horse beetle.
Stag dance, a dance by men only. [Slang, U.S.]
Stag hog Zool., the babiroussa.
Stag-horn coral Zool., any one of several species of large branching corals of the genus Madrepora, which somewhat resemble the antlers of the stag, especially Madrepora cervicornis, and Madrepora palmata, of Florida and the West Indies.
Stag-horn fern Bot., an Australian and West African fern (Platycerium alcicorne) having the large fronds branched like a stag's horns; also, any species of the same genus.
Stag-horn sumac Bot., a common American shrub (Rhus typhina) having densely velvety branchlets. See Sumac.
Stag party, a party consisting of men only. [Slang, U. S.]
Stag tick Zool., a parasitic dipterous insect of the family Hippoboscidae, which lives upon the stag and is usually wingless. The same species lives also upon the European grouse, but in that case has wings.
Vin·e·gar n.
1. A sour liquid used as a condiment, or as a preservative, and obtained by the spontaneous (acetous) fermentation, or by the artificial oxidation, of wine, cider, beer, or the like.
Note: ☞ The characteristic sourness of vinegar is due to acetic acid, of which it contains from three to five per cent. Wine vinegar contains also tartaric acid, citric acid, etc.
2. Hence, anything sour; -- used also metaphorically.
Here's the challenge: . . . I warrant there's vinegar and pepper in't. --Shak.
Aromatic vinegar, strong acetic acid highly flavored with aromatic substances.
Mother of vinegar. See 4th Mother.
Radical vinegar, acetic acid.
Thieves' vinegar. See under Thief.
Vinegar eel Zool., a minute nematode worm (Leptodera oxophila, or Anguillula acetiglutinis), commonly found in great numbers in vinegar, sour paste, and other fermenting vegetable substances; -- called also vinegar worm.
Vinegar lamp Chem., a fanciful name of an apparatus designed to oxidize alcohol to acetic acid by means of platinum.
Vinegar plant. See 4th Mother.
Vinegar tree Bot., the stag-horn sumac (Rhus typhina), whose acid berries have been used to intensify the sourness of vinegar.
Wood vinegar. See under Wood.
Rhus typhina
n : deciduous shrubby tree or eastern North America with
compound leaves that turn brilliant red in fall and dense
panicles of greenish yellow flowers followed by crimson
acidic berries [syn: staghorn sumac, velvet sumac, Virginian
sumac, vinegar tree]