Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

damascening

(Encyclopedia)damascening –skēnˈ– [key], the art of decorating iron, steel, or bronze with inlaid threads of gold or silver, or producing a watered effect in forging, as in sword blades, gun barrels, and vari...

corset

(Encyclopedia)corset, article of dress designed to support or modify the figure. Greek and Roman women sometimes wrapped broad bands about the body. In the Middle Ages a short, close-fitting, laced outer bodice or ...

Hatton, Sir Christopher

(Encyclopedia)Hatton, Sir Christopher, 1540–91, English courtier. He became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, from whom he received offices, honors, and lands. Knighted in 1578, he acted as Elizabeth's spokesman i...

Hamm, city, Germany

(Encyclopedia)Hamm häm [key], city, North Rhine–Westphalia, W Germany, on the Lippe River, in the Ruhr d...

Grangemouth

(Encyclopedia)Grangemouth grānjˈməth, –mouth [key], town (1981 pop. 21,744), Falkirk, central Scotland, on the Forth River at the eastern terminus of the Forth and Clyde canal. Grangemouth is an important oil ...

Gelsenkirchen

(Encyclopedia)Gelsenkirchen gĕlˌzənkĭrkhˈən [key], city, North Rhine–Westphalia, W Germany, a port on the ...

Pascagoula

(Encyclopedia)Pascagoula păskəgo͞oˈlə [key], city (1990 pop. 25,899), seat of Jackson co., extreme SE Miss. A port of entry on Mississippi Sound at the mouth of the Pascagoula River, it is a resort and a fishi...

liquefied petroleum gas

(Encyclopedia)liquefied petroleum gas or LPG, mixture of gases, chiefly propane and butane, produced commercially from petroleum and stored under pressure to keep it in a liquid state. The boiling point of liquefie...

Lehigh

(Encyclopedia)Lehigh lēˈhī [key], river, 103 mi (166 km) long, rising in NE Pa. and flowing generally SE to the Delaware River at Easton. It flows through the Lehigh Valley, where rich anthracite deposits made A...

Thomasville

(Encyclopedia)Thomasville. 1 City (1990 pop. 17,457), seat of Thomas co., SW Ga., near the Fla. line; inc. 1831. It is a farm trade center, with a large fresh-vegetable market. Manufactures include lumber, clothing...