They are strung like beads, and made into necklaces by the natives. — Ground pig (Zoöl.), a large,
burrowing, African rodent (Aulacodus Swinderianus) about two feet long, allied to the porcupines but
with harsh, bristly hair, and no spines; — called also ground rat. — Ground pigeon (Zoöl.), one of
numerous species of pigeons which live largely upon the ground, as the tooth-billed pigeon of the Samoan
Islands, and the crowned pigeon, or goura. See Goura, and Ground dove — Ground pine. (Bot.)
(a) A blue-flowered herb of the genus Ajuga formerly included in the genus Teucrium or germander,
and named from its resinous smell. Sir J. Hill. (b) A long, creeping, evergreen plant of the genus
Lycopodium (L. clavatum); — called also club moss. (c) A tree-shaped evergreen plant about eight
inches in height, of the same genus (L. dendroideum) found in moist, dark woods in the northern part
of the United States. Gray. — Ground plan (Arch.), a plan of the ground floor of any building, or of
any floor, as distinguished from an elevation or perpendicular section. — Ground plane, the horizontal
plane of projection in perspective drawing. — Ground plate. (a) (Arch.) One of the chief pieces of
framing of a building; a timber laid horizontally on or near the ground to support the uprights; a ground sill
or groundsel. (b) (Railroads) A bed plate for sleepers or ties; a mudsill. (c) (Teleg.) A metallic plate
buried in the earth to conduct the electric current thereto. Connection to the pipes of a gas or water
main is usual in cities. Knight. — Ground plot, the ground upon which any structure is erected; hence,
any basis or foundation; also, a ground plan. — Ground plum (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Astragalus
caryocarpus) occurring from the Saskatchewan to Texas, and having a succulent plum-shaped pod.
— Ground rat. (Zoöl.) See Ground pig — Ground rent, rent paid for the privilege of building on
another man's land. — Ground robin. (Zoöl.) See Chewink. — Ground room, a room on the ground
floor; a lower room. Tatler. — Ground sea, the West Indian name for a swell of the ocean, which
occurs in calm weather and without obvious cause, breaking on the shore in heavy roaring billows; —
called also rollers, and in Jamaica, the North sea. — Ground sill. See Ground plate (a) — Ground
snake (Zoöl.), a small burrowing American snake (Celuta amœna). It is salmon colored, and has a blunt
tail. — Ground squirrel. (Zoöl.) (a) One of numerous species of burrowing rodents of the genera
Tamias and Spermophilus, having cheek pouches. The former genus includes the Eastern striped squirrel
or chipmunk and some allied Western species; the latter includes the prairie squirrel or striped gopher,
the gray gopher, and many allied Western species. See Chipmunk, and Gopher. (b) Any species of
the African genus Xerus, allied to Tamias. — Ground story. Same as Ground floor — Ground
substance (Anat.), the intercellular substance, or matrix, of tissues. — Ground swell. (a) (Bot.)
The plant groundsel. [Obs.] Holland. (b) A broad, deep swell or undulation of the ocean, caused by a
long continued gale, and felt even at a remote distance after the gale has ceased. — Ground table.
(Arch.) See Earth table, under Earth. — Ground tackle (Naut.), the tackle necessary to secure a
vessel at anchor. Totten. — Ground thrush (Zoöl.), one of numerous species of bright-colored Oriental
birds of the family Pittidæ. See Pitta. — Ground tier. (a) The lowest tier of water casks in a vessel's
hold. Totten. (b) The lowest line of articles of any kind stowed in a vessel's hold. (c) The lowest
range of boxes in a theater. — Ground timbers (Shipbuilding) the timbers which lie on the keel and
are bolted to the keelson; floor timbers. Knight. — Ground tit. (Zoöl.) See Ground wren - - Ground
wheel, that wheel of a harvester, mowing machine, etc., which, rolling on the ground, drives the mechanism.
— Ground wren (Zoöl.), a small California bird (Chamæa fasciata) allied to the wrens and titmice. It
inhabits the arid plains. Called also ground tit, and wren tit. — To bite the ground, To break ground.
See under Bite, Break. — To come to the ground, To fall to the ground, to come to nothing; to
fail; to miscarry. — To gain ground. (a) To advance; to proceed forward in conflict; as, an army in battle
gains ground. (b) To obtain an advantage; to have some success; as, the army gains ground on the
enemy. (c) To gain credit; to become more prosperous or influential. — To get, or To gather, ground,
to gain ground. [R.] "Evening mist . . . gathers ground fast." Milton.
There is no way for duty to prevail, and get ground of them, but by bidding higher.
South. —
To give ground, to recede; to yield advantage.
These nine . . . began to give me ground.
Shak.
