Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

nonintercourse

(Encyclopedia)nonintercourse, in international law, refusal of a state to engage in diplomatic or commercial relations with another state. It is a hostile act of retaliation for some wrong and is intended to effect...

Memorial Day

(Encyclopedia)Memorial Day, holiday in the United States observed in late May. Previously designated Decoration Day, it was inaugurated in 1868 by Gen. John A. Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of Civi...

Batoche

(Encyclopedia)Batoche bătŏshˈ [key], historic site, central Sask., Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. During Riel's Rebellion, Louis Riel made his headquarters there, and the rebels were routed on May 12, ...

Selah

(Encyclopedia)Selah sēˈlə [key], obscure Hebrew word occurring many times in Psalms and in Habakkuk. Its derivation is unknown. It may be a musical notation signifying a pause or the end of a phrase. ...

cross-laminated timber

(Encyclopedia)cross-laminated timber (CLT), manufactured wood panels that consist of layers of boards glued together under pressure with the grain of the boards in one layer running perpendicular to the grain in ad...

Colorado tick fever

(Encyclopedia)Colorado tick fever or mountain tick fever, acute disease caused by infection with a double-stranded RNA virus (a Coltvirus) that is transmitted to humans by Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor and...

English cocker spaniel

(Encyclopedia)English cocker spaniel, breed of compact sporting dog perfected in England, whose development may be traced back to the original spaniels of Spain. It stands about 16 in. (40.6 cm) high at the shoulde...

fence

(Encyclopedia)fence [short for defense], humanly erected barrier between two divisions of land, used to mark a legal or other boundary, to keep animals or people in or out, and sometimes as an ornament. In newly se...

hyssop

(Encyclopedia)hyssop hĭsˈəp [key], aromatic, perennial, somewhat woody herb (Hyssopus officinalis) of the family Labiatae (mint family), native to the Old World but partially naturalized in North America. The pl...

infanticide

(Encyclopedia)infanticide ĭnfănˈtəsīd [key] [Lat.,=child murder], the putting to death of the newborn with the consent of the parent, family, or community. Infanticide often occurs among peoples whose food sup...

Browse by Subject