mantle
    n 1: the cloak as a symbol of authority; "place the mantle of
         authority on younger shoulders"
    2: United States baseball player (1931-1997) [syn: Mantle,
       Mickey Mantle, Mickey Charles Mantle]
    3: the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
    4: anything that covers; "there was a blanket of snow" [syn:
       blanket, mantle]
    5: (zoology) a protective layer of epidermis in mollusks or
       brachiopods that secretes a substance forming the shell [syn:
       mantle, pallium]
    6: shelf that projects from wall above fireplace; "in Britain
       they call a mantel a chimneypiece" [syn: mantel,
       mantelpiece, mantle, mantlepiece, chimneypiece]
    7: hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window) [syn:
       curtain, drape, drapery, mantle, pall]
    8: a sleeveless garment like a cloak but shorter [syn: cape,
       mantle]
    v 1: spread over a surface, like a mantle
    2: cover like a mantle; "The ivy mantles the building"

Mantel \Man"tel\, n. [The same word as mantle a garment; cf. F.
   manteau de chemin['e]e. See Mantle.] (Arch.)
   The finish around a fireplace, covering the chimney-breast in
   front and sometimes on both sides; especially, a shelf above
   the fireplace, and its supports. The shelf is called also a
   mantelpiece or mantlepiece. [Written also mantle.]
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mantle \man"tle\, n. [OE. mantel, OF. mantel, F. manteau, fr. L.
   mantellum, mantelum, a cloth, napkin, cloak, mantle (cf.
   mantele, mantile, towel, napkin); prob. from manus hand + the
   root of tela cloth. See Manual, Textile, and cf.
   Mandil, Mantel, Mantilla.]
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   1. A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an
      enveloping robe; a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering
      or concealing envelope.
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            [The] children are clothed with mantles of satin.
                                                  --Bacon.
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            The green mantle of the standing pool. --Shak.
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            Now Nature hangs her mantle green
            On every blooming tree.               --Burns.
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   2. (Her.) Same as Mantling.
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   3. (Zool.)
      (a) The external fold, or folds, of the soft, exterior
          membrane of the body of a mollusk. It usually forms a
          cavity inclosing the gills. See Illusts. of
          Buccinum, and Byssus.
      (b) Any free, outer membrane.
      (c) The back of a bird together with the folded wings.
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   4. (Arch.) A mantel. See Mantel.
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   5. The outer wall and casing of a blast furnace, above the
      hearth. --Raymond.
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   6. (Hydraulic Engin.) A penstock for a water wheel.
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   7. (Geol.) The highly viscous shell of hot semisolid rock,
      about 1800 miles thick, lying under the crust of the Earth
      and above the core. Also, by analogy, a similar shell on
      any other planet.
      [PJC]

Mantle \Man"tle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mantled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Mantling.]
   To cover or envelop, as with a mantle; to cloak; to hide; to
   disguise. --Shak.
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Mantle \Man"tle\, v. i.
   1. To unfold and spread out the wings, like a mantle; -- said
      of hawks. Also used figuratively.
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            Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her perch.
                                                  --Spenser.
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            Or tend his sparhawk mantling in her mew. --Bp.
                                                  Hall.
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            My frail fancy fed with full delight.
            Doth bathe in bliss, and mantleth most at ease.
                                                  --Spenser.
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   2. To spread out; -- said of wings.
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            The swan, with arched neck
            Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows.
                                                  --Milton.
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   3. To spread over the surface as a covering; to overspread;
      as, the scum mantled on the pool.
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            Though mantled in her cheek the blood. --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   4. To gather, assume, or take on, a covering, as froth, scum,
      etc.
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            There is a sort of men whose visages
            Do cream and mantle like a standing pond. --Shak.
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            Nor bowl of wassail mantle warm.      --Tennyson.
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Mantle
   (1.) Heb. 'addereth, a large over-garment. This word is used of
   Elijah's mantle (1 Kings 19:13, 19; 2 Kings 2:8, 13, etc.),
   which was probably a sheepskin. It appears to have been his only
   garment, a strip of skin or leather binding it to his loins.
   _'Addereth_ twice occurs with the epithet "hairy" (Gen. 25:25;
   Zech. 13:4, R.V.). It is the word denoting the "goodly
   Babylonish garment" which Achan coveted (Josh. 7:21).
   
     (2.) Heb. me'il, frequently applied to the "robe of the ephod"
   (Ex. 28:4, 31; Lev. 8:7), which was a splendid under tunic
   wholly of blue, reaching to below the knees. It was woven
   without seam, and was put on by being drawn over the head. It
   was worn not only by priests but by kings (1 Sam. 24:4),
   prophets (15:27), and rich men (Job 1:20; 2:12). This was the
   "little coat" which Samuel's mother brought to him from year to
   year to Shiloh (1 Sam. 2:19), a miniature of the official
   priestly robe.
   
     (3.) Semikah, "a rug," the garment which Jael threw as a
   covering over Sisera (Judg. 4:18). The Hebrew word occurs
   nowhere else in Scripture.
   
     (4.) Maataphoth, plural, only in Isa. 3:22, denoting a large
   exterior tunic worn by females. (See DRESS.)