Virago
(Vi*ra"go) n.; pl. Viragoes [L. virago, -intis, from vir a man. See Virile.]
1. A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage; a woman who has the robust body and
masculine mind of a man; a female warrior.
To arms! to arms! the fierce virago cries.
Pope. 2. Hence, a mannish woman; a bold, turbulent woman; a termagant; a vixen.
Virago . . . serpent under femininity.
Chaucer. Vire
(Vire) n. [OF. vire, fr. virer to turn. Cf. Veer, Vireton.] An arrow, having a rotary motion, formerly
used with the crossbow. Cf. Vireton. Gower.
Virelay
(Vir"e*lay) n. [F. virelai; virer to turn + lai a song, a lay.] An ancient French song, or short
poem, wholly in two rhymes, and composed in short lines, with a refrain.
Of such matter made he many lays,
Songs, complains, roundels, virelayes.
Chaucer.
To which a lady sung a virelay.
Dryden. "The virelay admitted only two rhymes, and, after employing one for some time, the poet was virer, or
to turn, to the other." Nares.
Virent
(Vi"rent) a. [L. virens, p. pr. of virere to be green.] Green; not withered. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Vireo
(Vir"e*o) n. [L., a species of bird.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of American singing birds
belonging to Vireo and allied genera of the family Vireonidæ. In many of the species the back is greenish,
or olive-colored. Called also greenlet.
In the Eastern United States the most common species are the white-eyed vireo the redeyed vireo (V.
olivaceus), the blue-headed, or solitary, vireo the warbling vireo and the yellow-throated vireo (V. flavifrons).
All these are noted for the sweetness of their songs.
Virescence
(Vi*res"cence) (Bot.) The act or state of becoming green through the formation of chlorophyll.
Virescent
(Vi*res"cent) a. [L. virescens, p. pr. of virescere to grow green, verb incho. fr. virere to be
green.] Beginning to be green; slightly green; greenish.
Vireton
(Vir"e*ton) n. [F. See Vire.] An arrow or bolt for a crossbow having feathers or brass placed at
an angle with the shaft to make it spin in flying.
Virgalieu
(Vir"ga*lieu) n. [Cf. Virgouleuse.] (Bot.) A valuable kind of pear, of an obovate shape and
with melting flesh of delicious flavor; — more properly called White Doyenné. [Written also virgaloo,
vergalieu, vergaloo, etc.]
Virgate
(Vir"gate) a. [L. virgatus made of twigs, fr. virga a twig, rod. See Verge a rod.] (Bot.) Having
the form of a straight rod; wand-shaped; straight and slender.
Virgate
(Vir"gate), n. [LL. virgata, virgata terrae, so much land as virga terrae, a land measure, contains,
fr. L. virga a twig, rod.] A yardland, or measure of land varying from fifteen to forty acres. [Obs.] T.
Warton.
Virgated
(Vir"ga*ted) a. [L. virgatus striped. See Virgate, a.] Striped; streaked. [Obs.]
Virge
(Virge) n. A wand. See Verge. [Obs.]
