3. The subject of any distinct portion of a discourse, or argument, or literary composition; also, the general
or main subject of the whole; a matter treated of; a subject, as of conversation or of thought; a matter; a
point; a head.
4. (Med.) An external local application or remedy, as a plaster, a blister, etc. [Obsoles.] Wiseman.
Topic
(Top"ic), a. Topical. Drayton. Holland.
Topical
(Top"ic*al) a. [Cf. F. topique, LL. topicus, Gr. . See Topic, n.]
1. Of or pertaining to a place; limited; logical application; as, a topical remedy; a topical claim or privilege.
2. (Rhet. & logic) Pertaining to, or consisting of, a topic or topics; according to topics.
3. Resembling a topic, or general maxim; hence, not demonstrative, but merely probable, as an argument.
Evidences of fact can be no more than topical and probable.
Sir M. Hale. Topically
(Top"ic*al*ly), adv. In a topical manner; with application to, or limitation of, a particular place or
topic.
Topknot
(Top"knot`) n.
1. A crest or knot of feathers upon the head or top, as of a bird; also, an orgamental knot worn on top of
the head, as by women.
A great, stout servant girl, with cheeks as red as her topknot.
Sir W. Scott. 2. (Zoöl.) A small Europen flounder The name is also applied to allied species.
Topless
(Top"less), a. Having no top, or no visble fop; hence, fig.: very lofty; supreme; unequaled. " The
topless Apennines." "Topless fortunes." Beau. & Fl.
Top-light
(Top"-light`) n. (Naut.) A lantern or light on the top of a vessel.
Topman
(Top"man) n.; pl. Topmem
1. See Topsman, 2.
2. (Naut.) A man stationed in the top.
Topmast
(Top"mast) n. (Naut.) The second mast, or that which is next above the lower mast, and
below the topgallant mast.
Topmost
(Top"most`) a. Highest; uppermost; as, the topmost cliff; the topmost branch of a tree.
The nightngale may claim the topmost bough.
Cowper. Topographer
(To*pog"ra*pher) n. [Cf. F. topographe, Cr. .] One who is skilled in the science of topography; one
who describes a particular place, town, city, or tract of land.
Dante is the one authorized topographer of the mediæval hell.
Milman. Topographic
(Top`o*graph"ic) a. Topographical
(Top`o*graph"ic*al) [Cf. F. topographique.] Of or
pertaining to topography; descriptive of a place. — Top`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
Topographical map. See under Cadastral. — Topographical surveying. See under Surveying.
