Dictionary definitions
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mantle
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Mantel \Man"tel\, n. [The same word as mantle a garment; cf. F. manteau de chemin['e]e. See Mantle.] (Arch.) The finish around a fireplace, covering the chimney-breast in front and sometimes on both sides; especially, a shelf above the fireplace, and its supports. The shelf is called also a mantelpiece or mantlepiece. [Written also mantle.] [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
mantle \man"tle\, n. [OE. mantel, OF. mantel, F. manteau, fr. L. mantellum, mantelum, a cloth, napkin, cloak, mantle (cf. mantele, mantile, towel, napkin); prob. from manus hand + the root of tela cloth. See Manual, Textile, and cf. Mandil, Mantel, Mantilla.] [1913 Webster] 1. A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an enveloping robe; a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering or concealing envelope. [1913 Webster] [The] children are clothed with mantles of satin. --Bacon. [1913 Webster] The green mantle of the standing pool. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Now Nature hangs her mantle green On every blooming tree. --Burns. [1913 Webster] 2. (Her.) Same as Mantling. [1913 Webster] 3. (Zool.) (a) The external fold, or folds, of the soft, exterior membrane of the body of a mollusk. It usually forms a cavity inclosing the gills. See Illusts. of Buccinum, and Byssus. (b) Any free, outer membrane. (c) The back of a bird together with the folded wings. [1913 Webster] 4. (Arch.) A mantel. See Mantel. [1913 Webster] 5. The outer wall and casing of a blast furnace, above the hearth. --Raymond. [1913 Webster] 6. (Hydraulic Engin.) A penstock for a water wheel. [1913 Webster] 7. (Geol.) The highly viscous shell of hot semisolid rock, about 1800 miles thick, lying under the crust of the Earth and above the core. Also, by analogy, a similar shell on any other planet. [PJC] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Mantle \Man"tle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mantled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mantling.] To cover or envelop, as with a mantle; to cloak; to hide; to disguise. --Shak. [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Mantle \Man"tle\, v. i.
1. To unfold and spread out the wings, like a mantle; -- said
of hawks. Also used figuratively.
[1913 Webster]
Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her perch.
--Spenser.
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Or tend his sparhawk mantling in her mew. --Bp.
Hall.
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My frail fancy fed with full delight.
Doth bathe in bliss, and mantleth most at ease.
--Spenser.
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2. To spread out; -- said of wings.
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The swan, with arched neck
Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows.
--Milton.
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3. To spread over the surface as a covering; to overspread;
as, the scum mantled on the pool.
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Though mantled in her cheek the blood. --Sir W.
Scott.
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4. To gather, assume, or take on, a covering, as froth, scum,
etc.
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There is a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond. --Shak.
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Nor bowl of wassail mantle warm. --Tennyson.
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