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California Institute of Technology

(Encyclopedia)California Institute of Technology, at Pasadena, Calif.; originally for men, became coeducational in 1970; founded 1891 as Throop Polytechnic Institute; called Throop College of Technology, 1913–20....

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 ...

Beacon

(Encyclopedia)Beacon, city (2020 pop. 14,370), Dutchess co., SE N.Y., on the E bank of the Hudson River; settled 1663, inc. in 1913 when Fishkill Landing and Matteawa...

Trenchard, Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount

(Encyclopedia)Trenchard, Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount, 1873–1956, British air marshal. He entered the army in 1893 and served in the South African War. During World War I he commanded the Royal Flying Co...

Tomba, Alberto

(Encyclopedia)Tomba, Alberto älbĕrˈtō tômˈbä [key], 1966–, Italian skier. The winner of five Olympic medals, including golds for giant slalom (1988, 1992) and slalom (1988), and silvers for slalom (1992, 1...

Sheffield, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Sheffield, industrial city (1990 pop. 10,380), Colbert co., NW Ala., on the Tennessee River near Muscle Shoals, in an iron and coal area; inc. 1885. Its varied manufactures include aluminum products, ...

Shute, Nevil

(Encyclopedia)Shute, Nevil (Nevil Shute Norway), 1899–1960, English novelist, b. Ealing, Middlesex, grad. Oxford, 1922. After serving in World War I, he was manager of a construction company until 1938. He fought...

Quilmes

(Encyclopedia)Quilmes kēlˈmēs [key], city (1991 pop. 509,445), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina, on the Río de la Plata estuary. It is a district administrative center and a major industrial city, with one of th...

Bairnsfather, Bruce

(Encyclopedia)Bairnsfather, Bruce bârnzˈfäᵺər [key], 1888–1959, English illustrator and author, b. India. He served with the British forces in World War I and created the cartoon character “Old Bill” to...

Pecos, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Pecos pāˈkəs [key], city (1990 pop. 12,069), seat of Reeves co., W Tex., on the Pecos River; inc. 1903. It is a railroad and highway junction and the market for an extensive ranch and irrigated far...