Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Limber?

\Lim"ber\ (l[i^]m"b[~e]r), n. [For limmer, Icel. limar branches, boughs, pl. of lim; akin to E. limb. See {Limb} a branch.] 1. pl. The shafts or thills of a wagon or carriage. [Prov. Eng.] 2. (Mil.) The detachable fore part of a gun carriage, consisting of two wheels, an axle, and a shaft to which the horses are attached. On top is an ammunition box upon which the cannoneers sit. 3. pl. (Naut.) Gutters or conduits on each side of the keelson to afford a passage for water to the pump well. {Limber boards} (Naut.), short pieces of plank forming part of the lining of a ship's floor immediately above the timbers, so as to prevent the limbers from becoming clogged. {Limber box or chest} (Mil.), a box on the limber for carrying ammunition. {Limber rope}, {Limber chain}, or {Limber clearer} (Naut.), a rope or chain passing through the limbers of a ship, by which they may be cleared of dirt that chokes them. --Totten. {Limber strake} (Shipbuilding), the first course of inside planking next the keelson.
\Lim"ber\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Limbered} (-b[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Limbering}.] (Mil.) To attach to the limber; as, to limber a gun. {To limber up}, to change a gun carriage into a four-wheeled vehicle by attaching the limber.
\Lim"ber\, a. [Akin to limp, a. [root]125. See {Limp}, a.] Easily bent; flexible; pliant; yielding. --Milton. The bargeman that doth row with long and limber oar. --Turbervile.
\Lim"ber\, v. t. To cause to become limber; to make flexible or pliant. --Richardson.