nun \nun\ (n[u^]n), n. [OE. nunne, AS. nunne, fr. L. nonna nun,
nonnus monk; cf. Gr. ?, ?; of unknown origin. Cf. Nunnery.]
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1. A woman devoted to a religious life, who lives in a
convent, under the three vows of poverty, chastity, and
obedience.
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They holy time is quiet as a nun
Breathless with adoration. --Wordsworth.
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2. (Zool.)
(a) A white variety of domestic pigeons having a veil of
feathers covering the head.
(b) The smew.
(c) The European blue titmouse.
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Gray nuns (R. C. Ch.), the members of a religious order
established in Montreal in 1745, whence branches were
introduced into the United States in 1853; -- so called
from the color or their robe, and known in religion as
Sisters of Charity of Montreal.
Nun buoy. See under Buoy.
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Buoy \Buoy\ (bwoi or boi; 277), n. [D. boei buoy, fetter, fr.
OF. boie, buie, chain, fetter, F. bou['e]e a buoy, from L.
boia. "Boiae genus vinculorum tam ferreae quam ligneae."
--Festus. So called because chained to its place.] (Naut.)
A float; esp. a floating object moored to the bottom, to mark
a channel or to point out the position of something beneath
the water, as an anchor, shoal, rock, etc.
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Anchor buoy, a buoy attached to, or marking the position
of, an anchor.
Bell buoy, a large buoy on which a bell is mounted, to be
rung by the motion of the waves.
Breeches buoy. See under Breeches.
Cable buoy, an empty cask employed to buoy up the cable in
rocky anchorage.
Can buoy, a hollow buoy made of sheet or boiler iron,
usually conical or pear-shaped.
Life buoy, a float intended to support persons who have
fallen into the water, until a boat can be dispatched to
save them.
Nut buoy or Nun buoy, a buoy large in the middle, and
tapering nearly to a point at each end.
To stream the buoy, to let the anchor buoy fall by the
ship's side into the water, before letting go the anchor.
Whistling buoy, a buoy fitted with a whistle that is blown
by the action of the waves.
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