Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

scalping

(Encyclopedia)scalping, taking the scalp of an enemy. The custom, comparable to head-hunting, was formerly practiced in Europe and Asia (Herodotus describes its practice by the Scythians, for example), but it is ge...

Cleanthes

(Encyclopedia)Cleanthes klēănˈthēz [key], 3d cent. b.c., Greek philosopher, head of the Stoic school following Zeno. ...

Eliasaph

(Encyclopedia)Eliasaph ēlīˈəsăf [key], in the Bible. 1 Tribal chief of Gad. 2 Head Gershonite. ...

Henry I, king of England

(Encyclopedia)Henry I, 1068–1135, king of England (1100–1135), youngest son of William I. He was called Henry Beauclerc because he could write. He quarreled with his elder brothers, William II of England and Ro...

Libni

(Encyclopedia)Libni lĭbˈnī [key], in the Bible. 1 Founder of a Gershonite family. 2 Head of a Merarite family. ...

Epher

(Encyclopedia)Epher ēˈfər [key], in the Bible. 1 Son of Midian. 2 Head of a Manassite family. ...

Hamor

(Encyclopedia)Hamor hāˈmôr [key], in the Bible, head of the family from whom Abraham bought his tomb. An alternate form is Emmor. ...

Sauðárkrókur

(Encyclopedia)Sauðárkrókur söˈüᵺourkrōˌkür [key], town (1993 pop. 2,717), N Iceland, at the head of the Skagafjorður. It is a commercial center and a fishing port. ...

Martha's Vineyard

(Encyclopedia)Martha's Vineyard vĭnˈyərd [key], island (1990 est. pop. 8,900), c.100 sq mi (260 sq km), SE Mass., separated from the Elizabeth Islands and Cape Cod by Vineyard and Nantucket sounds. As a result o...

Hopkins, Harry Lloyd

(Encyclopedia)Hopkins, Harry Lloyd, 1890–1946, American public official, b. Sioux City, Iowa. A social worker, he was appointed (1931) head of New York's Temporary Emergency Relief Administration by Franklin Dela...

Browse by Subject