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barbiturate

(Encyclopedia)barbiturate bärbĭchˈərātˌ [key], any one of a group of drugs that act as depressants on the central nervous system. High doses depress both nerve and muscle activity and inhibit oxygen consumpti...

Dumbartonshire

(Encyclopedia)Dumbartonshire or Dunbartonshire, former county, W central Scotland. Under the Local Government Act of 1973, the county of Dumbartonshire (or Dumbarton) became (1975) part of the new Strathclyde regio...

Columbus Day

(Encyclopedia)Columbus Day, holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus's discovery of America. It has been traditionally celebrated on Oct. 12 throughout most of the United States, parts of Canada, and in several o...

Cleveland, former county, England

(Encyclopedia)Cleveland, former county, NE England, created under the Local Government Act of 1972 (effective 1974). It was composed of the county boroughs of Hartlepool and Teesside and parts of the former countie...

Lewis, Francis

(Encyclopedia)Lewis, Francis, 1713–1802?, political leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Llandaff, Wales. As clothing contractor for British troops during the French an...

Bute

(Encyclopedia)Bute or Buteshire, former county, W Scotland, consisting mainly of the islands of Bute and Arran. Under the Local Government Act of 1973, Bute became (1975) part of the new Strathclyde region. In the ...

Perthshire

(Encyclopedia)Perthshire or Perth, former county, central Scotland. Under the Local Government Act of 1973, Perthshire was divided between the Tayside and Central regions. In the local government reorganization of ...

wildlife refuge

(Encyclopedia)wildlife refuge, haven or sanctuary for animals; an area of land or of land and water set aside and maintained, usually by government or private organization, for the preservation and protection of on...

gentlemen's agreement

(Encyclopedia)gentlemen's agreement, in U.S. history, an agreement between the United States and Japan in 1907 that Japan should stop the emigration of its laborers to the United States and that the United States s...

Argyll

(Encyclopedia)Argyll or Argyllshire, former county, W central Scotland. Under the Local Government Act of 1973, Argyll was divided between the new Highland and Strathclyde regions in 1975, with most of the county b...