Tornado
(Tor*na"do) n.; pl. Tornadoes [From Sp. or Pg. tornar to turn, return, L. tornare to turn,
hence, a whirling wind. The Sp. & Pg. tornada is a return. See Turn.] A violent whirling wind; specifically
(Meteorol.), a tempest distinguished by a rapid whirling and slow progressive motion, usually accompaned
with severe thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain, and commonly of short duration and small breadth; a
small cyclone.
Tornaria
(||Tor*na"ri*a) n.; pl. Tornariæ [NL., fr. L. tornare to turn.] (Zoöl.) The peculiar free swimming
larva of Balanoglossus. See Illust. in Append.
Torose
(To*rose") a. [L. torosus full of muscle, brawny, fleshy. See Torus.] Cylindrical with alternate
swellings and contractions; having the surface covered with rounded prominences.
Torosity
(To*ros"i*ty) n. The quality or state of being torose.
Torous
(Torous) a. Torose.
Torpedinous
(Tor*ped"i*nous) a. Of or pertaining to a torpedo; resembling a torpedo; exerting a benumbing
influence; stupefying; dull; torpid.
Fishy were his eyes; torpedinous was his manner.
De Quincey. Torpedo
(Tor*pe"do) n.; pl. Torpedoes [L. torpedo, -inis, from torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid.
See Torpid.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of elasmobranch fishes belonging to Torpedo and allied genera.
They are related to the rays, but have the power of giving electrical shocks. Called also crampfish, and
numbfish. See Electrical fish, under Electrical.
The common European torpedo (T. vulgaris) and the American species (T. occidentalis) are the best
known.
2. An engine or machine for destroying ships by blowing them up. Specifically: —
(a) A quantity of explosives anchored in a channel, beneath the water, or set adrift in a current, and so
arranged that they will be exploded when touched by a vessel, or when an electric circuit is closed by
an operator on shore.
(b) A kind of small submarine boat carrying an explosive charge, and projected from a ship against another
ship at a distance, or made self-propelling, and otherwise automatic in its action against a distant ship.
3. (Mil.) A kind of shell or cartridge buried in earth, to be exploded by electricity or by stepping on it.
4. (Railroad) A kind of detonating cartridge or shell placed on a rail, and exploded when crushed under
the locomotive wheels, — used as an alarm signal.
5. An explosive cartridge or shell lowered or dropped into a bored oil well, and there exploded, to clear
the well of obstructions or to open communication with a source of supply of oil.
6. A kind of firework in the form of a small ball, or pellet, which explodes when thrown upon a hard
object.
Fish torpedo, a spindle-shaped, or fish-shaped, self-propelling submarine torpedo. — Spar torpedo,
a canister or other vessel containing an explosive charge, and attached to the end of a long spar which
projects from a ship or boat and is thrust against an enemy's ship, exploding the torpedo. — Torpedo
boat, a vessel adapted for carrying, launching, operating, or otherwise making use of, torpedoes against
