Switch (?), n. [Cf. OD. swick a
scourage, a whip. Cf. Swink, Swing.] 1.
A small, flexible twig or rod.
Mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with
something like a thread; in her other hand she holds a
switch.
Addison.
2. (Railways) A movable part of a rail;
or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to
another.
3. A separate mass or trees of hair, or of
some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by
women.
4. (Elec.) A mechanical device for
shifting an electric current to another circuit.
Safety switch (Railways), a form of
switch contrived to prevent or lessen the danger of derailment of
trains. -- Switch back (Railways),
an arrangement of tracks whereby elevations otherwise
insurmountable are passed. The track ascends by a series of zigzags,
the engine running alternately forward and back, until the summit is
reached. -- Switch board (Elec.), a
collection of switches in one piece of apparatus, so arranged that a
number of circuits may be connected or combined in any desired
manner. -- Switch grass. (Bot.) See
under Grass.
Switch, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Switched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Switching.] 1. To strike with a switch or
small flexible rod; to whip. Chapman.
2. To swing or whisk; as, to switch a
cane.
3. To trim, as, a hedge. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
4. To turn from one railway track to another;
to transfer by a switch; -- generally with off, from,
etc.; as, to switch off a train; to switch a car from
one track to another.
5. (Eccl.) To shift to another
circuit.
Switch, v. i. To walk with a
jerk. [Prov. Eng.]
Switch (?), n. (Elec.) A
device for shifting an electric current to another circuit, or for
making and breaking a circuit.
Switch (?), n. [Cf. OD. swick a
scourage, a whip. Cf. Swink, Swing.] 1.
A small, flexible twig or rod.
Mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with
something like a thread; in her other hand she holds a
switch.
Addison.
2. (Railways) A movable part of a rail;
or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to
another.
3. A separate mass or trees of hair, or of
some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by
women.
4. (Elec.) A mechanical device for
shifting an electric current to another circuit.
Safety switch (Railways), a form of
switch contrived to prevent or lessen the danger of derailment of
trains. -- Switch back (Railways),
an arrangement of tracks whereby elevations otherwise
insurmountable are passed. The track ascends by a series of zigzags,
the engine running alternately forward and back, until the summit is
reached. -- Switch board (Elec.), a
collection of switches in one piece of apparatus, so arranged that a
number of circuits may be connected or combined in any desired
manner. -- Switch grass. (Bot.) See
under Grass.
Switch, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Switched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Switching.] 1. To strike with a switch or
small flexible rod; to whip. Chapman.
2. To swing or whisk; as, to switch a
cane.
3. To trim, as, a hedge. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
4. To turn from one railway track to another;
to transfer by a switch; -- generally with off, from,
etc.; as, to switch off a train; to switch a car from
one track to another.
5. (Eccl.) To shift to another
circuit.
Switch, v. i. To walk with a
jerk. [Prov. Eng.]
Switch (?), n. (Elec.) A
device for shifting an electric current to another circuit, or for
making and breaking a circuit.
