Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A reddish-brown substance consisting of the preputial follicles of the beaver and their contents, dried and prepared for commercial purposes. It has a strong, penetrating, enduring odor, and was formerly of high repute in medicine, but is now used chiefly by perfumers.
  • noun A mineral found in the island of Elba associated with another called pollux.
  • noun Glove-leather made from goat-skins. The grain of the skin is removed and it is given a very soft finish, usually gray in color.
  • noun See caster, 3.
  • noun A beaver.
  • noun Among French Canadians, one of the party which called itself the national party, the beaver being the national emblem of Canada.
  • noun A genus of sciuromorphic rodent mammals, typical of the family Castoridæ.
  • noun A beaver hat; by extension, a silk hat.
  • noun A heavy quality of broadcloth used for overcoats.
  • Made of beaver-skin or -fur, or of the cloth called beaver.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun See caster, a small wheel.
  • noun (Astron.) the northernmost of the two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, the other being Pollux.
  • noun (Min.) A variety of the mineral called petalite, from Elba.
  • noun (Zoöl.) A genus of rodents, including the beaver. See beaver.
  • noun Castoreum. See Castoreum.
  • noun A hat, esp. one made of beaver fur; a beaver.
  • noun A heavy quality of broadcloth for overcoats.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A pivoting roller attached to the bottom of furniture to allow it to be moved.
  • noun A hat made from the fur of the beaver.
  • noun A caster; a container with perforated cap for sprinkling (e.g. pepper-castor).
  • noun mineralogy A variety of petalite found in Elba.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a multiple star with 6 components; second brightest in Gemini; close to Pollux
  • noun a pivoting roller attached to the bottom of furniture or trucks or portable machines to make them movable
  • noun type genus of the Castoridae: beavers
  • noun a hat made with the fur of a beaver (or similar material)
  • noun a shaker with a perforated top for sprinkling powdered sugar

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin castor ("beaver").

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Named from Greek mythology; see Castor and Pollux. The name pollux was given to another mineral with which it was always found.

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Examples

  • So she stepped around briskly, and spread her snow-white table-cloth, and put on her cups and saucers, and plates, and the castor -- (yes, the _castor_ on the _tea_ table! for they didn't care a pin for fashion); and when she had cooked her supper, she looked at the clock.

    Little Ferns For Fanny's Little Friends Fanny Fern

  • "Why, it's only what we call the castor-bean, only this is larger," I venture to say.

    Under the Southern Cross Elizabeth Robins 1907

  • Dry disposal or storage involves placing the spent nuclear fuel rods in so-called castor casks, specially-designed steel and concrete cylinders.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2007

  • I slightly differed from the recipe by using superfine sugar, also known as castor sugar, instead of granulated because I fine it produces smoother meringues.

    2005 June | Baking Bites 2005

  • I slightly differed from the recipe by using superfine sugar, also known as castor sugar, instead of granulated because I fine it produces smoother meringues.

    Perfect Angel Food Cake | Baking Bites 2005

  • To the former class of animals belong the so-called castor, the satyrium, the otter, and the so-called latax, or beaver.

    The History of Animals 2002

  • Exodus, 15: 9) The name castor comes from castrando, 'castrate'.

    Blog Meridian 2008

  • Exodus, 15: 9) The name castor comes from castrando, 'castrate'.

    Blog Meridian 2008

  • Exodus, 15: 9) The name castor comes from castrando, 'castrate'.

    Blog Meridian 2008

  • Rushing back to my medicine chest, I brought along and administered a maximum dose of the oil called castor, and later dosed her with quinine.

    Across China on Foot Edwin John Dingle 1926

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