Zebrawood
(Ze"bra*wood`) n. (a) A kind of cabinet wood having beautiful black, brown, and whitish
stripes, the timber of a tropical American tree (Connarus Guianensis). (b) The wood of a small West
Indian myrtaceous tree (c) The wood of an East Indian tree of the genus Guettarda.
Zebrine
(Ze"brine) a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to, or resembling, the zebra.
Zebu
(Ze"bu) n. [. zébu; of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.) A bovine mammal (Ros Indicus) extensively domesticated
in India, China, the East Indies, and East Africa. It usually has short horns, large pendulous ears, slender
legs, a large dewlap, and a large, prominent hump over the shoulders; but these characters vary in different
domestic breeds, which range in size from that of the common ox to that of a large mastiff.
Some of the varieties are used as beasts of burden, and some fore for riding, while others are raised for
their milk and flesh. The Brahmin bull, regarded as sacred by the Hindoos, also belongs to this species.
The male is called also Indian bull, Indian ox, Madras ox, and sacred bull.
Zebub
(Ze"bub) n. (Zoöl.) A large noxious fly of Abyssinia, which like the tsetse fly, is destructive to
cattle.
Zechin
(Ze"chin) n. See Sequin.
Zechstein
(||Zech"stein`) n. [Gr., fr. zeche a mine + stein a stone.] (Geol.) The upper division of the
Permian (Dyas) of Europe. The prevailing rock is a magnesian limestone.
Zed
(Zed) n. [F., probably through It. zeta, fr. L. zeta. See Zeta.] The letter Z; — called also zee,
and formerly izzard. "Zed, thou unnecessary letter!" Shak.
Zedoary
(Zed"o*a*ry) n. [F. zédoaire, LL. zedoaria; cf. It. zedoaria, zettovario, Pg. zedoaria, Sp.
zedoaria, cedoaria; all fr. Ar. & Per. zedwr.] (Med.) A medicinal substance obtained in the East Indies,
having a fragrant smell, and a warm, bitter, aromatic taste. It is used in medicine as a stimulant.
It is the rhizome of different species of Curcuma, esp. C. zedoaria, and comes in short, firm pieces,
externally of a wrinkled gray, ash-colored appearance, but within of a brownish red color. There are two
kinds, round zedoary, and long zedoary.
Zeekoe
(||Zee"koe) n. [D., sea cow, lake cow.] (Zoöl.) A hippopotamus.
Zehner
(||Zeh"ner) n. [G.] An Austrian silver coin equal to ten kreutzers, or about five cents.
Zein
(Ze"in) n. [Cf. F. zéïne. See Zea.] (Chem.) A nitrogenous substance of the nature of gluten,
obtained from the seeds of Indian corn (Zea) as a soft, yellowish, amorphous substance. [Formerly
written zeine.]
Zemindar
(Zem`in*dar") n. Same as Zamindar.
Zemindary
(Zem"in*da*ry ||Zem"in*da*ri) , n. Same as Zamindary.
Zemni
(Zem"ni) n. (Zoöl.) The blind mole rat native of Eastern Europe and Asia. Its eyes and ears
are rudimentary, and its fur is soft and brownish, more or less tinged with gray. It constructs extensive
burrows.
Zenana
(||Ze*na"na) n. [Hind. zenana, zanana, fr. Per. zanana, fr. zan woman; akin to E. queen.]
The part of a dwelling appropriated to women. [India]
Zend
(Zend) n. [See Zend-Avesta.] Properly, the translation and exposition in the Huzvâresh, or literary
Pehlevi, language, of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian sacred writings; as commonly used, the language (an
ancient Persian dialect) in which the Avesta is written.
