limb
    n 1: one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for
         locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
    2: any of the main branches arising from the trunk or a bough of
       a tree [syn: limb, tree branch]
    3: (astronomy) the circumferential edge of the apparent disc of
       the sun or the moon or a planet
    4: either of the two halves of a bow from handle to tip; "the
       upper limb of the bow"
    5: the graduated arc that is attached to an instrument for
       measuring angles; "the limb of the sextant"
    6: any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm; "the
       arm of the record player"; "an arm of the sea"; "a branch of
       the sewer" [syn: arm, branch, limb]

Limb \Limb\, v. t.
   1. To supply with limbs. [R.] --Milton.
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   2. To dismember; to tear off the limbs of.
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Limb \Limb\ (l[i^]m), n. [OE. lim, AS. lim; akin to Icel. limr
   limb, lim branch of a tree, Sw. & Dan. lem limb; cf. also AS.
   li[eth], OHG. lid, gilid, G. glied, Goth. li[thorn]us. Cf.
   Lith, Limber.]
   1. A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and
      separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.
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   2. An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of
      an animal.
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            A second Hector for his grim aspect,
            And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
                                                  --Shak.
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   3. A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or
      attachment to, something else. --Shak.
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            That little limb of the devil has cheated the
            gallows.                              --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   4. An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock.
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   Limb of the law, a lawyer or an officer of the law.
      [Colloq.] --Landor.
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Limb \Limb\, n. [L. limbus border. Cf. Limbo, Limbus.]
   A border or edge, in certain special uses.
   (a) (Bot.) The border or upper spreading part of a
       monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade.
   (b) (Astron.) The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly
       body, especially of the sun and moon.
   (c) The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an
       instrument for measuring angles.
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LIMB, n.  The branch of a tree or the leg of an American woman.

    'Twas a pair of boots that the lady bought,
        And the salesman laced them tight
        To a very remarkable height --
    Higher, indeed, than I think he ought --
        Higher than _can_ be right.
    For the Bible declares -- but never mind:
        It is hardly fit
    To censure freely and fault to find
    With others for sins that I'm not inclined
        Myself to commit.
    Each has his weakness, and though my own
        Is freedom from every sin,
        It still were unfair to pitch in,
    Discharging the first censorious stone.
    Besides, the truth compels me to say,
    The boots in question were _made_ that way.
    As he drew the lace she made a grimace,
        And blushingly said to him:
    "This boot, I'm sure, is too high to endure,
    It hurts my -- hurts my -- limb."
    The salesman smiled in a manner mild,
    Like an artless, undesigning child;
    Then, checking himself, to his face he gave
    A look as sorrowful as the grave,
        Though he didn't care two figs
    For her paints and throes,
    As he stroked her toes,
    Remarking with speech and manner just
    Befitting his calling:  "Madam, I trust
        That it doesn't hurt your twigs."
                                                      B. Percival Dike