Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Limb

Limb

(lĭm)
,
Noun.
[OE.
lim
, AS.
lim
; akin to Icel.
limr
limb,
lim
branch of a tree, Sw. & Dan.
lem
limb; cf. also AS.
lið
, OHG.
lid
,
gilid
, G.
glied
, Goth.
liþus
. Cf.
Lith
,
Limber
.]
1.
A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.
2.
An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of an animal.
A second Hector for his grim aspect,
And large proportion of his strong-knit
limbs
.
Shakespeare
3.
A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or attachment to, something else.
Shak.
That little
limb
of the devil has cheated the gallows.
Sir W. Scott.
4.
An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock.
Limb of the law
,
a lawyer or an officer of the law.
[Colloq.]
Landor.

Limb

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To supply with limbs.
[R.]
Milton.
2.
To dismember; to tear off the limbs of.

Limb

,
Noun.
[L.
limbus
border. Cf.
Limbo
,
Limbus
.]
A border or edge, in certain special uses.
(a)
(Bot.)
The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade.
(b)
(Astron.)
The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon.
(c)
The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring angles.

Webster 1828 Edition


Limb

LIMB

,
Noun.
lim.
[L. limbus, edge or border, extremity; limes, limit. The sense of limb is from shooting or extending.]
1.
Edge or border. This is the proper signification of the word; but in this sense it is limited chiefly to technical use, and applied to the sun, moon, or a star, to a leaf, to a quadrant, &c. We say, the sun or moon is eclipsed on its northern limb. But we never say, the limb of a board, of a tract of land or water, &c.
2.
In anatomy, and in common use, an extremity of the human body; a member; a projecting part; as the arm or leg; that is, a shoot.
3.
The branch of a tree; applied only to a branch of some size, and not to a small twig.
4.
In botany, the border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corol.