The Collaborative International Dictionary
Light \Light\, a. [Compar. Lighter (l[imac]t"[~e]r); superl. Lightest.] [OE. light, liht, AS. l[=i]ht, le['o]ht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. l[=i]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan. let, Sw. l["a]tt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf. Levity), Gr. 'elachy`s small, Skr. laghu light. [root]125.]
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Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to be the center of gravity with force; not heavy.
These weights did not exert their natural gravity, . . . insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand.
--Addison. -
Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.
Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
--Matt. xi. 29, 30. -
Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task.
--Chaucer.Light sufferings give us leisure to complain.
--Dryden. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment.
Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.
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Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away.
--Bacon. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light.
Slight; not important; as, a light error.
--Shak.Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.
Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution.
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Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.
There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion.
--Tillotson. -
Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.
--Shak.Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful.
--Hawthorne. -
Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ?
--Shak. -
Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
To a fair semblance doth light faith annex.
--Spenser. -
Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.
A light wife doth make a heavy husband.
--Shak. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.
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Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil. Light cavalry, Light horse (Mil.), light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses. Light eater, one who eats but little. Light infantry, infantry soldiers selected and trained for rapid evolutions. Light of foot.
Having a light step.
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Fleet.
Light of heart, gay, cheerful.
Light oil (Chem.), the oily product, lighter than water, forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene.
Light sails (Naut.), all the sails above the topsails, with, also, the studding sails and flying jib.
--Dan-
Light sleeper, one easily wakened.
Light weight, a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey, who is below a standard medium weight. Cf. Feather weight, under Feather. [Cant]
To make light of, to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard.
To set light by, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise.
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Wiktionary
n. (plural of light sail English)
Usage examples of "light sails".
She was the best ship he had ever flown, a cruiser built for battle, quick and responsive to the tack of her ambient-light sails and the tightening and loosening of her radian draws.
Now in a full suit of light sails to replace the thick heavyweather canvas, she seemed to lean forward and down across the endless panorama of glittering whitecaps, as if she was glad to be throwing off the bleak monotony of blockade duty and eager to reach beyond the sea's edge, and beyond that.
Well before this ominous parallel the frigate's people had been engaged in shifting, packing and storing her light sails and replacing them with much heavier cloth, with storm-canvas trysails and the like for emergency.
He lay back and considered them, and hoped that the wind would not lay to a point where they would be tempted to put light sails on the schooner, which would include the balloon jib under which he was lying.
I got it loose, swam to the bow, climbed up the bobstay and jib basket, got into the forecastle, got under a light sail because I figured there was enough wind they wouldn't use the light sails.
The ambient-light sails had been kept furled during the past few days, and no new power had been gathered for the diapson crystals.
She was the best ship he had ever flown, a cruiser built for battle, quick and responsive to the tack of her ambient light sails and the tightening and loosening of her radian draws.
The drag caused by this capture would exert a small but steady force on the bubble which would over time produce tremendous velocities, and magnetic sails like this have been considered along with light sails as a potential interplanetary drive mechanism.
Although with light sails the craft also depended upon orbital mechanics, this method of propulsion afforded the task force much more latitude and flexibility in the travel to its objective and also in contingency planning.
He immediately covered his guns with light sails, unshipped and stowed his swivels, and hoisted an English flag.