Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

waxwing

(Encyclopedia)waxwing, any of three species of perching songbirds of the Northern Hemisphere. Waxwings have crests (raised only in alarm) and sleek brownish-gray plumage with flecks of red pigment resembling sealin...

Cassiopeia, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Cassiopeia, in astronomy, prominent northern constellation located almost directly opposite the Big Dipper across the north celestial pole. Five bright stars in the constellation form a rough W (or M)...

Nenagh

(Encyclopedia)Nenagh nēˈnə, nēˈnăkh [key], town (1991 pop. 5,825), Co. Tipperary, S central Republic of Ireland. It is an agricultural market with varied manufactures. Nenagh Castle (c.1200) has a circular ke...

Reid, Thomas Mayne

(Encyclopedia)Reid, Thomas Mayne (Mayne Reid), 1818–83, British novelist, b. Ireland. He emigrated to the United States in 1840 and after various adventures in the West served as a lieutenant in the Mexican War. ...

Tracy, Honor

(Encyclopedia)Tracy, Honor, pseud. of Lilbush Wingfield, 1913–89, British writer, b. Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk. A long-time foreign correspondent, Tracy is best known as a travel writer. Her novels satirize Briti...

Corrib, Lough

(Encyclopedia)Corrib, Lough lŏkh kŏrˈĭb [key], lake, 68 sq mi (176 sq km), Counties Galway and Mayo, W Republic of Ireland. The irregularly shaped lake, which is 27 mi (43 km) long, drains into Galway Bay throu...

Château-Renault, François Louis Rousselet, marquis de

(Encyclopedia)Château-Renault, François Louis Rousselet, marquis de fräNswäˈ lwē ro͞osəlāˈ märkēˈ də shätōˈ-rənōˈ [key], 1637–1716, French vice admiral and marshal. He escorted the deposed kin...

Finley, Samuel

(Encyclopedia)Finley, Samuel, 1715–66, Presbyterian minister, president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton), b. Ireland. He went to North America in 1734 and is believed to have studied under William Ten...

Ormonde, James Butler, 5th earl of

(Encyclopedia)Ormonde, James Butler, 5th earl of, 1420–61, Irish nobleman. He was knighted in his youth by Henry VI of England and was created earl of Wiltshire in 1449. He succeeded to the earldom of Ormonde in ...

Orpen, Sir William

(Encyclopedia)Orpen, Sir William, 1878–1931, British portrait and genre painter, b. Ireland. He is best known for his scenes of Irish daily life, his paintings and sketches of life at the front in World War I, an...