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Watson, Doc

(Encyclopedia)Watson, Doc (Arthel Lane Watson), 1923–2012, American country-music singer and musician, b. Stony Fork, N.C. Blind from infancy, he learned to play the harmonica, banjo, and guitar in his youth. His...

Caylus, Anne Claude Philippe de Tubières, comte de

(Encyclopedia)Caylus, Anne Claude Philippe de Tubières, comte de än klōd fēlēpˈ də tübyĕrˈ kôN də kālüsˈ [key], 1692–1765, French archaeologist and antiquarian. Caylus learned drawing from Watteau....

Bradford, Andrew

(Encyclopedia)Bradford, Andrew, 1686–1742, colonial printer of Pennsylvania, b. Philadelphia; son of William Bradford (1663–1752). Andrew learned the trade in his father's shop in New York City and in 1712 went...

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin

(Encyclopedia)Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin mēˈnē, mēˈnē, tēˈkəl, yo͞ofärˈsĭn [key], in the Bible, the mysterious riddle written by a hand on the wall at Belshazzar's feast. These Aramaic words may be tr...

combing

(Encyclopedia)combing, process that follows carding in the preparation of fibers for spinning, lays the fibers parallel, and removes noils (short fibers). The modern combing machine is a specialized carding machine...

Hémon, Louis

(Encyclopedia)Hémon, Louis lwē āmôNˈ [key], 1880–1913, French Canadian novelist, b. France. After working as a journalist for French publications in England (1903–11), he moved to Quebec, where he worked a...

Hunter, Dard

(Encyclopedia)Hunter, Dard, 1883–1966, American printer-publisher, b. Steubenville, Ohio. Hunter is known for his researches and writings on the history and technique of papermaking. From 1938 he was curator of t...

blackjack

(Encyclopedia)blackjack, one of the world's most widely played gambling card games; also known as twenty-one or vingt-et-un. Despite contesting claims between the French and Italians, its origins are unknown. Each ...

Blind Harry

(Encyclopedia)Blind Harry or Henry the Minstrel, fl. late 15th cent., supposed Scottish poet. He is considered the author of the patriotic epic, The Wallace, which celebrates the life of Sir William Wallace. Violen...

rowing

(Encyclopedia)rowing, the art of propelling a boat by means of oars operated by hand. Boats propelled by oars (e.g., the galley) were used in ancient times for both war and commerce. Rowing is now generally used on...