Cast sb. World English Historical Dictionary

Cast sb. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1893, rev. 2025. Cast sb. [f. the vb.]

1   I.  The act of casting or throwing (simply).

2   1.  A throw of a missile, a bowl, or other object.

3 1382.  Wyclif, Numb. xxxv. 17. If a stoon he throwe, and with the cast [1388 strook] sleeth.

4 c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xxxii. 140. The fyrst kast that it [the engyne] kest, bot ane, It hyt the towre a mery strak.

5 1565–78.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Iactus, a throwe … or cast.

6 1609.  C. Butler, Fem. Mon., I. (1623), C ij. One or other spying him … will haue a cast at him.

7 1756.  Connoisseur, No. 129. At bowls, if any one is near winning the game, he never fails, in the next cast, to mistake his bias.

8 1860.  Emerson, Cond. Life, Power, Wks. (Bohn), II. 332. The opponent has the sun and wind, and, in every cast, the choice of weapon and mark.

9 1868.  Daily Tel., 7 Sept., 5/1. Counting a cast with the right hand and another with left as one throw.

10   b.  Considered, as a performance, with reference to its quality. A measuring cast: a competitive throw at a mark in which the results are so close as to require measurement.

11 c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 2603. The shotte, the caste was so stronge Syr Bryer was slayn there.

12 1567.  Harman, Caveat, 46. They coulde not agree vpon a caste.

13 1647.  Fuller, Good Th. in Worse T. (1841), 96. Is it a measuring cast whether it be lawful or no? Ibid. (1655), Ch. Hist. VII. 407. Yet was their precedencie no measuring cast, but clear in the view of any unpartiall eye.

14 1676.  Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, I. i. (1678), 4. Whilst my Brother and I were quarrelling about a Cast, he slunk by us.

15 1816.  Scott, Antiq. (1879), II. 110. The disputed cast was a drawn one.

16   fig.  1660.  Ingelo, Bentivolio & Urania, II. (1682), 20. It is a cast beyond Laughter to see … how proud they grow.

17   c.  The distance that anything can be thrown.

18 1387.  Trevisa, Higden (1865), I. 215. Pilers as hiȝ as a stones cast.

19 c. 1400.  Maundev., viii. 92. A Stones cast fro that Chapelle, is another Chapelle.

20 1611.  Bible, Luke xxii. 41. He was withdrawen from them about a stones cast, and kneeled downe, and prayed.

21 1671.  Phil. Trans., VI. 2102. Sinking from cast to cast, (i.e. as high as a man can conveniently throw up the Ore with a shovel).

22 1870.  Bryant, Homer, II. XXIII. 344. He fell as far behind As a quoit’s cast.

23   d.  Manner or way of throwing (e.g., seed).

24 1677.  Plot, Nat. Hist. Oxfordsh., 246. In Sowing they have their several methods, viz., the single Cast, the double Cast.

25 1707.  J. Mortimer, Husb. (1708), 50 (J.). Some harrow their Ground over, and sow Wheat or Rye on it, with a broad Cast: Some only with a single Cast.

26   † 2.  The delivery of a blow, a stroke. Obs.

27 [Cf. 1382 in 1.]

28 c. 1420.  Anturs of Arth., xlviii. With a cast of the car-honde.

29 1530.  Palsgr., 563/1. He had thought to gyue me a caste with a horse combe.

30   3.  spec. A throw of dice; the achievement of the throw. Phrase, To set, stake upon a cast.

31 1509.  Barclay, Ship of Fooles (1570), 109. That playeth for money … And on his felowes caste taketh onely heede.

32 1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., V. iv. 9. I haue set my life vpon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the Dye.

33 1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xviii. (1632), 916. Here is a gay goodly cast, foule cast away for hast.

34 1641.  Milton, Ch. Discip., I. (1851), 32. ’Tis no winning cast. Ibid. (1648), Observ. Art. Peace (1851), 579. The rare Game likely to ensue from such a cast of his Cards.

35 1777.  Robertson, Hist. Amer. (1783), II. 187. Their clothes, their arms, are staked … upon a single cast.

36 1820.  Hoyle’s Games Impr., 396. To hit the one, that cast [of dice] must be eight.

37   b.  fig.

38 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 25480. On domesdai be-for iustise, þar all es casten on a cast.

39 1692.  Bentley, Boyle Lect., v. 164. It would be absurd to ascribe the formation of Human Bodies to a Cast of this Chance.

40 1761.  Sterne, Tr. Shandy, II. 59. I was my father’s last stake … he had been unfortunate in his three first great casts for me.

41 1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 423. Neither Rosen nor Schomberg wished to put every thing on a cast.

42 1879.  Froude, Cæsar, xxv. 430. It was the last cast of the dice for the old party of the aristocracy.

43   4.  A throw or stroke of fortune; hence, fortune, chance, opportunity; lot, fate. Obs. or dial.

44 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6205. Him suld þan reu his cast þat þis folk was fra him past.

45 c. 1450.  Erle Tolous, 452. To reste hym there he toke hys caste.

46 1513.  Douglas, Æneis, IX. v. 14. Glaid of this cast, seand thair tyme maste gane.

47 a. 1605.  Montgomerie, Flyting, 340. Cauld be her cast.

48 1722.  W. Hamilton, Wallace, 323 (Jam.). Black be their cast! great rogues.

49 1820.  Scott, Monast., iv. Before the death of Walter Avenel, haly be his cast!

50 1871.  Browning, Balaust., 2038. Now that one cast of fortune changes all!

51   † b.  Hence (or from 3), At the last cast: at the last shift, in extremities, near to death or ruin.

52 c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., 338. Into tyme he be at his last Caste.

53 1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. cxix. (1583), 93. Thou hast my lyfe restor’d When I was at last cast.

54 1615.  Bp. M. Smyth, Pref. Babington’s Wks. Hauing the plague about him, and being at the last cast.

55 1617.  Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, 540. I returne to him; who is now at his last casts.

56 1700.  J. Wellwood, Mem., 251. As the last Cast for their Liberty, they applied to the Prince of Orange.

57   5.  A throw of the sounding-lead, of a fishing-line, net, dredge, etc.

58 1616.  B. Jonson, Forest, Poems 92. And Pikes (run into thy net) As loth the second draught or cast to stay.

59 1662.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), I. 442. The next cast shall be no less than fourteen or fifteen fathom water.

60 1805.  A. Duncan, Mariner’s Chron., III. 290. We had less water every cast of the lead.

61 1824.  Scott, Redgauntlet, Let. vi. He couldna help taking a cast [with the fishing rod].

62 1848.  Life Normandy (1863), II. 205. He had not made above half a dozen casts before he called out ‘I have one!’

63 1864.  Burton, Scot Abr., I. ii. 99. The right to a cast of a net was a feudal privilege.

64 1868.  Carpenter, in Sci. Opin. (1869), 6 Jan., 175/1. A cast of the dredge was therefore taken at this point.

65   b.  That which is so cast, or used in casting; now spec. in Angling.

66 1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & Fl., B iv b (N.).        In eche weake place is wouen a weauing cast, By warde, in warde, to warde the flie most fast.

67 1883.  J. A. Henshall, in Century Mag., XXVI. 378/1. Both very killing flies, and a cast admirably suited to the state of the water and atmosphere.

68 1887.  Illust. Lond. News, 2 July, 27/1. It is a mistake to coil up the fly-casts in the tackle-book.

69   c.  Angling. A spot suited for casting the line.

70 1823.  Scott, Peveril, xi. He chose … with an angler’s eye, the most promising casts.

71 1867.  F. Francis, Angling, i. (1880), 41. It is so easy to pass good casts.

72   6.  A throwing or turning of the eye in any direction; a glance, a look, expression. ? Obs.

73 c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 768. He conueyen hym con with cast of his yȝe.

74 1631.  Gouge, God’s Arrows, I. § 41. 66. When a man is angry, passion will soone manifest it selfe … by a fierce cast of the eyes.

75 1632.  Milton, Penseroso, 43. With a sad, leaden, downward cast.

76 1661.  Origen’s Opin., in Phœnix (1721), I. 5. A direct View of him without so oblique a Cast upon his Opinions.

77 1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), I. 161. I had given a cast with my eye into half a dozen shops.

78   7.  A ‘lift’ in a conveyance, given to one to put him forward on his way. Also fig.

79 1630.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., 162 (N.). I o’r the Water will giue thee A Cast.

80 1741.  Richardson, Pamela, II. 88. If … you are for the Village, I’ll give you a Cast.

81 1787.  Gentl. Mag., Sept., 819/2. They met with some good-natured waggoners, who gave them a cast.

82 1822.  New Monthly Mag., IV. 103. I should get a cast to Newbury by one of the mails.

83 1885.  Lucy B. Walford, Nan & other St., II. 26. So you can’t give a cast to this lassie? Well, I must take her on myself.

84   † 8.  Cast of the hand: a helping turn. Sc. Obs.

85 1637.  S. Rutherford, Lett., cxxix. (1881), 238. A right cast of his holy and gracious hand.

86 1775.  Guthrie’s Trial, 82. To delay their soul-business, hoping for such a cast of Christ’s hand in the end.

87   9.  fig. ‘A stroke, a touch’ (J.), specimen, ‘taste.’ esp. A cast of one’s office.

88 a. 1553.  Udall, Royster D. (Arb.), 19. Shall I go call your folkes, that ye may shewe a cast?

89 1575.  Laneham, in Nichols, Progr. Q. Eliz., I. 418. Bringing with them a cast of their office, by courtly mean.

90 1589.  Greene, Arcadia (1616), 32. Shew vs a cast of your cunning.

91 1625.  Sanderson, Serm. Ps. cvi. 30. Do not show a cast of thy office for the promise or hope of a reward.

92 1673.  Answ. Season. Disc., 4. This Dutchman has scribled and thrown amongst us (as a cast of his office) this bone of Division.

93 1676.  Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, IV. i. (1678), 53. If you hate Verses, I’ll give you a cast of my Politics in Prose.

94 1699.  Bentley, Phal., 360. We ought to receive this as a Cast of his Rhetoric.

95 1749.  Wesley, Wks. (1872), IX. 12. Now, Sir, give us a cast of your office.

96 1832.  Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss. (1852), 248. Whose only cast of surgery is blood-letting.

97   † 10.  Said of a bow: ? Casting power, ? elasticity, ? flexibility. Obs. Cf. CASTING ppl. a. 1 a.

98 1545.  Ascham, Toxoph., I. (Arb.), 28. Two bowes that I haue, wherof the one is quicke of cast, tricke, and trimme both for pleasure and profyte; the other is a lugge slowe of cast, folowing the string. Ibid., II. 116. A faste and harde woode … stronge and myghtye of cast.

99   II.  The act of throwing down, off, etc.

100   11.  A throw in wrestling; a fall; an overthrow or defeat. arch.

101 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XIV. 321. He thoucht ȝeit to cowir his cast.

102 c. 1400.  Gamelyn, 248. Shal it be holde for a cast?

103 1530.  Palsgr., 179. Sombresault, a tumblyng caste.

104 a. 1607.  Descr. Cleveland, in Topog. & Geneal. (1853), II. 410. Not without hazard of a breaknecke tumblinge caste.

105   † 12.  Bringing forth young, laying of eggs. ? Obs.

106 1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 149. After the first cast, there remaine successive conceptions.

107   III.  What is thrown; the quantity thrown.

108   13.  A throwing (of anything); the quantity thrown.

109 c. 1450.  Bk. Curtasye, in Babees Bk. (1868), 305. Þay schyn haue two cast of hay.

110 1481.  Caxton, Reynard, viii. (Arb.), 16. Bruyn receyued of hem many a caste of stones.

111 1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 11. How many castes of corne euery lande ought to haue.

112 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 86. A cast of scatter’d dust.

113 1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Cast, among wax-chandlers, denotes a laddleful of melted wax, poured on the wicks of candles made by the laddle.

114 1797.  W. Macro, in A. Young, Agric. Suffolk, 46. Drawing the land over with a heavy harrow when only one cast, or half the seed is sown.

115   14.  Hawking. The number of hawks cast off at a time; a couple; also of other birds.

116 c. 1470.  Hors, Shepe, & G. (1822), 31. A caste of hawkes of the tour.

117 1530.  Palsgr., 203/3. Caste of haukes, niee doiseaux.

118 1562.  Pilkington, Exp. Obadiah v. Wks. (1842), 255. A kennel of hounds or a cast of hawks.

119 c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XVI. 406. As, on some far-looking rock, a cast of vultures fight. Ibid. (1615), Odyss., XXII. 390. A cast of hill-bred eagles, cast off at some game.

120 1826.  Sir J. S. Sebright, Observ. Hawking (1828), 41. A cast of falcons is always flown at a rook.

121 1852.  R. F. Burton, Falconry in V. Indus, v. 60. The sport is better with single birds than with ‘casts.’

122 1887.  E. B. Michell, in Macm. Mag., Nov., 41. An exceptionally good cast of female merlins.

123   15.  The quantity of bread or ale made at one time (obs.); a certain quantity of clay made into flower-pots.

124 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VII. xiv. Two cast of bread, with fat venison baked, and dainty fowls.

125 1538.  Bale, Comedie of Nat. (N.). If the bruar please me nat, The cast shall fall down flat And never haue any strength.

126 1587.  Harrison, England, II. vi. (1877), I. 154. Of the flower of one bushell … they make fortie cast of manchet.

127 1636.  B. Jonson, Discov., ix. 163. An elephant, in 1630 … was every day allowed twelve cast of bread, twenty quarts of Canary sack, besides nuts and almonds.

128 1802.  W. Forsyth, Fruit Trees, viii. (1824), 210. [Flower] pots are denominated by the number contained in what the potters call a cast.

129   16.  So many (herrings, etc.) as are thrown into a vessel at once, a ‘warp’; a set of three or four.

130 1577.  Holinshed, Chron., III. 914/2. A cast of red herrings.

131 1808.  Jamieson, s.v., A cast of herrings, haddocks, oysters, &c.; four in number. S.

132 1884.  F. Pollock, in Eng. Illustr. Mag., 159/1. Three fish = one cast (as much as can be held in one hand).

133   † 17.  A set or suit of other things. Obs. (exc. as in 5 b).

134 1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., I. 140. With courtlie cast of cot-armour abufe.

135 1592.  Percivall, Sp. Dict., Sartal de cuentos, a cast of counters.

136 a. 1658.  Cleveland, Surv. World, vi. A cast of Lackeys, and a Lady-bird.

137   † b.  (?) A standard size or quantity of wood in a billet. Obs.

138 1542–3.  Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., iii. Euerie byllette to be onely of one cast and not aboue.

139 1553.  Act 7 Edw. VI., vii. § 2. Every Billet named to be a Cast, to contain ten Inches about, and every billet named of two cast, to containe fourteene inches about.

140   IV.  That which is thrown off or out.

141   18.  A second swarm of bees thrown off by a hive in one season.

142 1662.  Fuller, Worthies, I. 22. Though only old Stocks of Bees were kept, without either Casts or Swarmes.

143 1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 207. Look to your Bees for Swarms and Casts.

144 1675.  J. Smith, Chr. Relig. Appeal, I. 36. The Swarm, that hived in Plato’s mouth … was a Cast of the School of the Prophets.

145 1777.  Terrier, in Briscoe, Old Nottinghamsh., I. 37. Every swarm of Bees sixpence, and every Cast … threepence.

146 1825.  in Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 647.

147 1875.  J. Hunter, Man. Bee-keeping (ed. 2), 92. If lighter … they would probably be casts or second swarms.

148   19.  What is thrown up from the crop by a hawk or other bird of prey. Also, the convoluted earth thrown out by an earthworm; or sand on the seashore by the lug-worm.

149 1793.  White, Selborne (1853), 382. Earth-worms make their casts most in mild weather.

150 1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 849. Where the two contrived their daughter’s good Lies the hawk’s cast.

151 1880.  Huxley, Cray-Fish, ii. 67. As a hawk or an owl rejects his casts.

152   20.  a. The number of lambs produced in a season. b. The yield of corn (? obs.).

153 1787.  Marshall, E. Norfolk (E. D. S.), Cast, yield; applied to corn crops.

154 1887.  Scott. Leader, 10 Aug., 4. To estimate what the result of the year’s cast [of lambs] will amount to.

155   V.  † 21. A burden cast or laid upon people; an impost, a charge. Obs.

156 1597.  Cartmel Ch. Acc., in Stockdale, Ann. Cartmel, 36. A caste or laye should bee forthwith had throughout all the parish to the value of twenty marks.

157 1619.  in N. Riding Rec. (1884), II. 209. Paying castes imposed on him by the parishe for … the poore.

158 1696.  Let. W. Cunningham, in Diary (1887), Introd. 36. Not putting you to the pains of a Cast or Act of Imposition.

159   VI.  22. Calculation, reckoning; an act of calculation; techn. the addition of the columns of an account.

160 1575.  Laneham, Lett. (1871), 56. By great cast & cost.

161 Mod.  If the account does not balance now, there must be an error in the cast.

162   b.  Conjecture, forecast.

163 1519.  St. Papers Hen. VIII., I. 4. Lettres devised by the prudent caste of Your Grace.

164 1877.  Fraser’s Mag., XVI. 221. That … must be taken into account in any casts a-head.

165   VII.  Mental revolving, contrivance, device.

166   † 23.  Device, purpose, design, aim. Obs.

167 c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., A. 1162. Out of þat caste I watz bycalt.

168 c. 1440.  Bone Flor., 1406. Thus then ys my caste.

169 1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VIII. Prol. 20. Thair is na sege for na schame that schrinkis at short, May he cum to his cast.

170 a. 1529.  Skelton, Dk. Albany, 101. Such trechery … Is all your cast.

171 1532.  Hervet, Xenophon’s Househ. (1768), 61. Teche me the very point and cast of husbandry.

172   † 24.  A contrivance, device, artifice, trick. Obs.

173 c. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter lxxxix. 10. Ydell & swykil kastes about erthly thynge.

174 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1610. The derke tresoun, and the castes olde.

175 1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. xx. (1495), 48. The preuy werkes and false castes of Sathanas.

176 c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, V. 740. He was full sle, and ek had mony cast.

177 1513.  Douglas, Æneis, I. Prol. 255. Quent and curious castis poeticall, Perfyte similitudes and examplis all.

178 1530.  Palsgr., 658. I playe a caste of legyer demayne.

179 1609.  Holland, Amm. Marcell., XIV. xi. 26. Subtile sleights and juggling casts [præstigiis].

180   † b.  Skill, art. Obs.

181 c. 1320.  Seuyn Sag., 2105 (W.). We beth mazouns queinte of cast.

182   VIII.  Form into which a thing is thrown; disposition, arrangement.

183   † 25.  Plan, design; shape, conformation, of a building, etc. Obs.

184 a. 1300.  Floriz & Bl., 338. To makie a tur after þis cast.

185 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8735. He dide masons diuise a cast What werk myghte lengest last.

186 c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, 1178. The caste, crafte, and curiositie Ne can I not to you devise.

187 1509.  Fisher, Wks. (1876), 270. His buyldynges … after the newest cast.

188 1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 24. My onely endeuour shalbe to show you that in a rough cast.

189   26.  Theat. The assignment of the parts in a play to the several actors; the part assigned to any actor (obs.); the set of actors to whom the parts of a particular play are assigned.

190 1631.  Brathwait (title), Whimzies: or, a new Cast of Characters.

191 1732.  T. Fuller, Gnomol., 115. If thy Cast be bad, mend it with good Play.

192 1795.  T. Wilkinson, Wand. Patentee, I. 61. Played several characters … but did not please in the lovers, in which cast I wanted Mr. Kniveton.

193 1798.  Epitaph, in Hone, Every-day Bk., II. 390. To play a comic cast of characters, in this great theatre—the World.

194 1876.  World, V. No. 116. 3. The best representatives for the complete cast of a comedy.

195 1880.  Dramatic List, 219. The cast included the following admirable players.

196 1880.  Manch. Guard., 20 Dec., 5/1. He had brought together ‘an unusually powerful cast.’

197   † b.  Hence, To speak in a man’s cast: to speak during his part; to interrupt. Obs.

198 1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 374. If I may speak in your cast, quoth Issida. Ibid., 412. The Lady Flauia speaking in his cast, proceeded in this manner.

199 1611.  Cotgr., Entreparlement, an interruption, a speaking in a mans cast.

200 1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 46. As when the minde is filled with businesse, all that is spoken is, as it were, spoken in a mans cast.

201   27.  Painting. The adjustment of draperies in art.

202 1784.  J. Barry, Lect. Art, v. (1848), 187. The several textures … afford an extensive variety in the cast and manner of their several foldings.

203 1859.  Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 201, note. The ‘cast,’ or adjustment of draperies is made the object of a special course of study.

204   28.  The form into which any work is thrown.

205 1775.  T. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, I. ii. 34. Some of Aldhelm’s verses are exactly in this cast.

206 1865.  M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., iv. (1875), 152. It is not so much in the words as in the turn of the phrase, in the happy cast and flow of the sentence.

207 1875.  Whitney, Life Lang., Pref. 7. The compendious cast of the work.

208   IX.  Casting metal, etc.; mold; model.

209   † 29.  Casting or founding (of cannon, etc.). Obs.

210 1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. i. 73. And why such dayly Cast of Brazon Cannon.

211   30.  A model made by running some liquid or forcing some soft substance into a mold or shape. Sometimes applied to the negative impression taken from the original; more usually to the copy of the original molded in this.

212 1502.  Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 240. Plouer roosted, un caste de gely florisshyd, creues deudose.

213 1645.  Evelyn, Diary (Chandos), 175. My purchases of books, pictures, castes.

214 a. 1763.  Shenstone, Lett., cvii. A most excellent figure, and I shall wish much to get a good cast of it.

215 1777.  Johnson, in Boswell (1831), IV. 63. Direction to send you a cast of my head.

216 1869.  Phillips, Vesuvius, ii. 38. A cast in plaster of Paris.

217 1872.  Ellacombe, Bells of Ch., i. 9–10, note. Taking therefrom a cast to constitute the outer mould for the bell.

218 1875.  Fortnum, Maiolica, ix. 77. The Alhambra vase was copied … after a cast and photographs.

219   b.  A model of a fossil organism formed by mineral matter that has filled up the cavity originally occupied by the organism itself.

220 1873.  Dawson, Earth & Man, iii. 38. Casts of sponges or fucoids.

221 1881.  Lubbock, in Nature, No. 618. 403. The green sands of the geologist are largely made up of casts of foraminifera.

222 1881.  Huxley, ibid. No. 619. 453. Their solid substance may be dissolved away entirely, or replaced by mineral matter, until nothing is left of the original but a cast, an impression.

223   c.  Path. ‘A mould of an interior, specially applied to casts of the urinary tubules in kidney disease, or of the respiratory tubes in croup,’ etc. (Syd. Soc. Lex.).

224 1867.  J. Hogg, Microsc., I. iii. 223. Urinary deposits (as casts, epithelium, crystals).

225 1880.  Webster, Suppl. s.v., Renal casts (Med.), microscopic bodies found in the urine of persons affected with disease of the kidneys.

226   † 31.  (See quots.)

227 1726.  R. Neve, Builder’s Dict., These casts are Pipes of Wax … proportion’d to the Bigness of the Work.

228 1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Cast, among plumbers, denotes a little brazen funnel, at one end of a mould, for casting pipes without soldering, by means of which the melted metal is poured into the mould. Ibid. Cast also denotes a cylindrical piece of brass or copper, slit in two lengthwise, used by the founders in sand to form a canal or conduit in their moulds, whereby the metal may be conveyed to the different pieces intended to be cast.

229   32.  fig. Mold.

230 1709.  Tatler, No. 28, ¶ 3. The true Cast or Mould in which you may be sure to know him.

231 1761.  Churchill, Rosciad, Poems (1769), I. 47. In whate’er cast his character was laid, Self still, like oil, upon the surface play’d.

232   X.  A twist, or turn.

233   33.  A permanent twist or turn, esp. to one side; a warp. Cast of the eye: a slight squint.

234 1505.  F. Marsin, etc. Mem. Hen. VII. (1858), 278. He hathe a litell caste with his lefte eye.

235 1635.  Glapthorne, Lady Mother, II. i. My lady has got a cast of her eye.

236 1677.  Lond. Gaz., No. 1251/4. Trots all, and hath a Cast in her Gallop with her Off leg before. Ibid., No. 1183/4. Very small Eyes, with a squint or cast with one of them.

237 1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 120, ¶ 4. Her eyes … had odd Casts in them.

238 1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., III. iv. Which gi’es their sauls a cast, That turns them downright beggars at the last.

239 1816.  Scott, Old Mort., iv. A cast of eye which, without being actually oblique, approached nearly to a squint.

240 1825.  Waterton, Wand. S. Amer., I. (1887), 100. Seldom placing it [the blowpipe] in an oblique position, lest it should receive a cast.

241   34.  A bearing in some direction; inclination of one’s route.

242 1768.  Ross, Helenore, 79 (Jam.). Gang east, but ay some northward hald your cast.

243   XI.  Dash or shade of color.

244   [It is difficult to say whether the original notion was that of dashing in an admixture or ‘eye’ of some color, or associated with casting a shade.]

245   35.  A ‘dash’ of some color, thrown into or over, or interspersed with another; tinge, hue; shade.

246 1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. i. 85. Thus the natiue hew of Resolution Is sicklied or’e with the pale Cast of Thought.

247 1712.  Spect., No. 425, ¶ 5. A Robe … of a yellowish Cast.

248 1772.  Hist. Rochester, 66. Of a gray colour, with a cast of green.

249 1791.  Hamilton, Berthollet’s Dyeing, II. II. IV. i. 264. The effect … is to give the colour a gold cast.

250 1822.  Wordsw., Scen. Lakes, iii. (1823), 70. The colour of the house ought … to have a cast or shade of the colour of the soil.

251 1841.  Catlin, N. Amer. Ind., II. lviii. (1844), 227. The teeth of the Indians … are not white, having a yellowish cast.

252   b.  fig. Hue, tinge, shade, of guilt, conduct, etc.

253 1655.  Fellowes, trans. Milton’s 2nd Defence, 245. What follows is of a more shocking and atrocious cast.

254 1762.  New Dial. of Dead, 30. The crime was of such a deep and malignant cast.

255 1791.  Boswell, Johnson (1816), I. Introd. 4. Of a dark uncharitable cast.

256 1815.  Scribbleomania, 118 b. His thoughts were of the sombre cast.

257 1820.  W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 341. His countenance assumed a deeper cast of dejection.

258   36.  A ‘dash’ of some ingredient or quality.

259 1662.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 499. This mungrel name seemeth to have in it an eye or cast of Greek and Latin.

260 1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), I. 102. La Fleur had a small cast of the coxcomb.

261 1816.  Scott, Antiq., i. A countenance in which habitual gravity was enlightened by a cast of ironical humour. Ibid. (1823), Peveril, xiii. Julian, who had in his disposition some cast of the romantic.

262 1855.  Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), II. IV. iv. 270–1. Even the wild cast of religious adventure in his life was more widely beneficial than had been a more tranquil course.

263   XII.  Sort, kind, style, quality, stamp, type, as determined by characteristics.

264   This section, which is of modern use, and chiefly since 1700, appears to blend figurative uses of many of the foregoing senses, VIII.–XI., one or more of these being prominent, according to the feeling of the moment. Thus the notions of conformation, mold, turn, inclination, coloring, complexion, quality, appear all to contribute vaguely to the result.

265   37.  in reference to outward form, configuration, tournure, esp. in phrase cast of features, which sometimes chiefly refers to facial expression.

266 1653.  Walton, Angler, xi. 198. This fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape.

267 1727.  Pope, &c., Art Sinking, 93. The figures must be so turned, as to manifest that intricate and wonderful cast of head, which distinguishes all writers of this kind.

268 1816.  Scott, Antiq., i. His countenance was of the true Scottish cast.

269 1816.  J. Scott, Vis. Paris, 36. The general cast of feature is the same.

270 1833.  Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 139. An officer, with a very sinister cast of countenance.

271 1837.  Disraeli, Venetia, III. i. 160. A cast of features delicately moulded.

272 1879.  Harlan, Eyesight, ii. 27. The pictures of Mephistopheles owe much of their devilish cast to the twitching upwards of the external angles of the lid.

273   38.  in reference to the mind or character.

274 1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 106, ¶ 6. This Cast of Mind … renders his Conversation highly agreeable.

275 1764.  Reid, Inquiry, vi. § 1 (ed. 2), 121. He must … have a very strange cast of understanding, who can seriously doubt, [etc.].

276 1798.  Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, iii. 62. Nothing is more seductive … to minds of this cast.

277 1805.  Foster, Ess., I. ii. 21. A strongly individual cast of character.

278 1865.  Merivale, Rom. Emp., VIII. lxiii. 2. His character was not of the severe and antique cast.

279 1836.  I. Taylor, Phys. The. Another Life, 6. Minds of philosophic cast.

280 1879.  M. Arnold, Mixed Ess., 148. The professions so naturally share … the cast of ideas of the aristocracy.

281   b.  with the notion of ‘bent’ or ‘turn’ emphasized.

282 1711.  Budgell, Spect., No. 197, ¶ 2. The business men are chiefly conversant in, does not only give a certain cast or turn to their minds.

283 1711.  Addison, ibid., No. 163, ¶ 10. The Mind that hath any Cast towards Devotion.

284 1745.  J. Mason, Self-Knowl., I. vii. (1853), 51. Every Man hath something peculiar in the Turn or Cast of his Mind.

285 1782.  Paine, Lett. Abbé Raynel (1791), 44. The present condition of the world … has given a new cast to the mind of man.

286   c.  with the notion of ‘tinge’ or ‘coloring’ emphasized.

287 1779.  Cowper, Lett., 14 Nov. My mind has always a melancholy cast, and is like some pools … which though filled with a black and putrid water, will nevertheless on a bright day reflect the sunbeams.

288   39.  in reference to actions.

289 1750.  Johnson, Rambl., No. 99, ¶ 16. A cast of talk, peculiar to their own fraternity. Ibid., No. 181, ¶ 10. I had now wholly changed the cast of my behaviour.

290 1789.  Belsham, Ess., I. ii. 23. His language has acquired a certain obsolete cast.

291 1817.  Monthly Rev., LXXXIII. 499. Certainly a loose cast prevailed in the literature of the times.

292 1838–9.  Hallam, Hist. Lit., II. II. vii. § 36. 311. The reflections are usually of a moral cast.

293   40.  Kind, sort, style; ‘stamp, type’: a. of persons. App. there has here often been vague association with CASTE (formerly spelt cast).

294 1673.  Marvell, Reh. Transp., II. 361. The design of you and those of your cast has been … against all the forraign Churches.

295 1713.  Berkeley, Hylas & Phil., iii. I am of a vulgar cast, simple enough to believe my senses.

296 1728.  Young, Love Fame, iii. (1757), 101. As if men now were of another cast, They meanly live on alms of ages past.

297 1742.  Richardson, Pamela, III. 216. Better than twenty humble Servants of Mr. Murray’s Cast.

298 1776.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. ix. 180. Heroines of such a cast may claim our admiration.

299 1829.  Scott, in Croker P. (1884), II. xiv. 30. Strict Presbyterian and Whig of the old Scottish cast.

300 1842.  J. H. Newman, Ess. (1871), II. 376. Here is a man of the cast of Hooker and Butler.

301   b.  of animals, or things.

302 1772–84.  Cook, Voy. (1790), IV. 1290. Farther up the hills, it [the soil] is of a grey tough cast.

303 1785.  Burke, Nab. Arcot’s debts, Wks. 1842, I. 318. Crimes of the same blood, family, and cast.

304 1802.  W. Huntington, Bank of Faith, 73. A dapple-grey, very spotted, and of the tabby cast.

305   XIII.  41. Hunting. The spreading out of the hounds in different directions in search of a lost scent.

306 c. 1830.  C. Wicksted, in R. Eg.-Warburton, Hunt. Songs (1883), 226. Those sons of old Bedford … So quick at a cast, and so ready to turn.

307 1846.  R. Eg.-Warburton, Hunt. Songs (1883), 4. Friends, gentlemen, foxhunters, pray now, Hold hard, let ’em make their own cast.

308 1861.  G. F. Berkeley, Sportsm. W. Prairies, xviii. 311. No cast that I could make or the hound in his sagacity imagine recovered her line again.

309 1885.  Dk. Beaufort & M. Morris, Hunting (Badm. Libr.), ii. 87. Always allow your hounds to make their own cast before you make yours.

310   b.  fig.

311 1846.  R. Eg.-Warburton, Hunt. Songs (1883), No. xx. v. 53. How his Muse o’er the field made each season a cast.

312   XIV.  42. Comb. (in some cases perh. the verb stem): as cast-maker; cast-fly, a fly for angling; cast-hole (see quot.); cast-house (see quot.).

313 1681.  Chetham, Angler’s Vade-m., ii. § 11 (1689), 12. Your Line for Dub-fly, Cast-fly or Artificial-fly.

314 1747.  Hooson, Miner’s Dict., E ij. Cutting a Square Hole, about a Yard every way, throwing out the Earth as far as he can with his Spade, which will be … about three Yards Deep, and this is called a Cast-hole.

315 1877.  Symonds, in Academy, 3 Nov., 419/2. As a cast-maker uses plaster of Paris.

316 1880.  Times, 10 Sept., 9/4. The hops when they are swept from the floors of the cast-houses are packed in sacks by the pressure of machinery.

317 1881.  Raymond, Mining Gloss., Cast-house. The building in which pigs or ingots are cast.

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