Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

O'Neil, Buck

(Encyclopedia)O'Neil, Buck (John Jordan O'Neil), 1911–2006, African-American baseball player and coach, b. Carrabelle, Fla. One of the stars of the Negro leagues, he began playing semipro baseball at 12, and his ...

Pallava

(Encyclopedia)Pallava pəläˈvä [key], S Indian dynasty that established its capital at Kanchipuram in the 4th cent. a.d. Of obscure origin, it grew wealthy and strong and is most noted for its patronage of Dravi...

flying dragon

(Encyclopedia)flying dragon, gliding lizard of the genus Draco, found in tropical forests of SE Asia. There are about 15 species. Most are about 8 in. (20 cm) long. On either side of the lizard's body are thin, win...

Empson, William

(Encyclopedia)Empson, William, 1906–84, English critic and poet. His Seven Types of Ambiguity (1930), a study of the meanings of poetry, is a classic of modern literary criticism. It was followed by Some Versions...

Kiner, Ralph McPherran

(Encyclopedia)Kiner, Ralph McPherran, 1922–2014, American baseball player and sportscaster, b. Santa Rita, N. Mex. A right-handed slugger and outfielder, he played with the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates (1...

Stengel, Casey

(Encyclopedia)Stengel, Casey (Charles Dillon Stengel), 1891–1975, American baseball player and manager, b. Kansas City, Mo. Stengel began playing professional baseball in 1910. From 1912 to 1925 he played with th...

Sussex, kingdom of

(Encyclopedia)Sussex, kingdom of, one of the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy (seven kingdoms) in England, located S of the Weald. It was settled in the late 5th cent. (according to tradition in 477) by Saxons under Ælle, wh...

Skeat, Walter William

(Encyclopedia)Skeat, Walter William, 1835–1912, English scholar and philologist. Skeat took holy orders in 1860, but illness cut short his church career. At Cambridge he served as a lecturer in mathematics (1864�...

Spinks, Leon, Jr.

(Encyclopedia)Spinks, Leon, Jr. 1953-2021, American boxer, b. St. Louis, Mo. Spinks began boxing at age 13, dropping out of high school in his junior year to join the...

Pell, Claiborne de Borda

(Encyclopedia)Pell, Claiborne de Borda, 1918–2009, U.S. politician, b. New York City, grad. Princeton (B.A., 1940), Columbia (M.A., 1946). From an old, distinguished American family, he served (1941–45) in the ...