Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Economic and Social Council

(Encyclopedia)Economic and Social Council, constituent organ of the United Nations. It was established by the UN Charter and has 54 (18 before 1965) member nations elected for three-year terms (one third every year...

decorations, civil and military

(Encyclopedia)decorations, civil and military, honors bestowed by a government to reward services or achievements, particularly those implying valor. The practice of bestowing such decorations dates back at least t...

Delaware and Hudson Canal

(Encyclopedia)Delaware and Hudson Canal dĕlˈəwâr, –wər [key], former waterway, 108 mi (174 km) long, between Honesdale, Pa., and Eddyville, N.Y. (now in Kingston), linking the Delaware and Hudson rivers; bui...

Delaware and Raritan Canal

(Encyclopedia)Delaware and Raritan Canal rârˈĭtən [key], abandoned canal, 45 mi (72 km) long, between Bordentown and New Brunswick, N.J., connecting the Delaware and the Raritan rivers; opened in 1834. Once an ...

diving, springboard and platform

(Encyclopedia)diving, springboard and platform, sport of entering the water from a raised position, often while executing tumbles, twists, and other acrobatic maneuvers. In most dives the upper part of the body ent...

Dalling and Bulwer, Baron

(Encyclopedia)Dalling and Bulwer, Baron: see Bulwer, William Henry Lytton Earle, Baron Dalling and Bulwer. ...

Cyril and Methodius, Saints

(Encyclopedia)Cyril and Methodius, Saints məthōˈdēəs [key], d. 869 and 884, respectively, Greek missionaries, brothers, called Apostles to the Slavs and fathers of Slavonic literature. Their history and influe...

Dadra and Nagar Haveli

(Encyclopedia)Dadra and Nagar Haveli däˈdrä, näˈgär hävāˈlē [key], union territory (2001 provisional pop. 220,451), 188 sq mi (487 sq km), W central India, on the Arabian Sea. Portugal colonized these two...

coonhound, black-and-tan

(Encyclopedia)coonhound, black-and-tan, breed of large hound developed in the United States. It stands from 23 to 27 in. (58–69 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 70 to 85 lb (32–38 kg). The dense, short ...

Christian art and architecture

(Encyclopedia)Christian art and architecture: see especially the survey articles on Early Christian art and architecture, Byzantine art and architecture, Coptic art, Merovingian art and architecture, Carolingian ar...