Unio
(U"ni*o) n. [NL., fr. L. unio unity, union, a single large pearl. See Union.] (Zoöl.) Any one of
numerous species of fresh-water mussels belonging to Unio and many allied genera.
Uniocular
(U`ni*oc"u*lar) a. [Uni- + ocular.] Of, pertaining to, or seated in, one eye; monocular.
Union
(Un"ion) n. [F., from L. unio oneness, union, a single large pearl, a kind of onion, fr. unus one.
See One, and cf. Onion, Unit.]
1. The act of uniting or joining two or more things into one, or the state of being united or joined; junction; coalition; combination.
Union differs from connection, as it implies that the bodies are in contact, without an interening body; whereas
things may be connected by the invention of a third body, as by a cord or chain.
2. Agreement and conjunction of mind, spirit, will, affections, or the like; harmony; concord.
3. That which is united, or made one; something formed by a combination or coalition of parts or members; a
confederation; a consolidated body; a league; as, the weavers have formed a union; trades unions have
become very numerous; the United States of America are often called the Union. A. Hamilton.
4. A textile fabric composed of two or more materials, as cotton, silk, wool, etc., woven together.
5. A large, fine pearl. [Obs.]
If they [pearls] be white, great, round, smooth, and weighty . . . our dainties and delicates here at Rome
. . . call them unions, as a man would say "singular," and by themselves alone.
Holland.
In the cup an union shall he throw,
Richer than that which four successive kings
In Denmark's crown
have worn.
Shak. 6. A device emblematic of union, used on a national flag or ensign, sometimes, as in the military standard
of Great Britain, covering the whole field; sometimes, as in the flag of the United States, and the English
naval and marine flag, occupying the upper inner corner, the rest of the flag being called the fly. Also, a
flag having such a device; especially, the flag of Great Britain.
The union of the United States ensign is a cluster of white stars, denoting the union of the States, and,
properly, equal in number to that of the States, displayed on a blue field; the fly being composed of alternate
stripes of red and white. The union of the British ensign is the three crosses of St. George, St. Andrew,
and St. Patrick in combination, denoting the union of England, Scotland and Ireland, displayed on a blue
field in the national banner used on shore, on a red, white, or blue field in naval ensigns, and with a
white border or fly in the merchant service.
7. (Mach.) A joint or other connection uniting parts of machinery, or the like, as the elastic pipe of a
tender connecting it with the feed pipe of a locomotive engine; especially, a pipe fitting for connecting
pipes, or pipes and fittings, in such a way as to facilitate disconnection.
8. (Brewing) A cask suspended on trunnions, in which fermentation is carried on.
Hypostatic union (Theol.) See under Hypostatic. — Latin union. See under Latin. — Legislative
Union (Eng. Hist.), the union of Great Britain and Ireland, which took place Jan. 1, 1801. — Union,
or Act of Union (Eng. Hist.), the act by which Scotland was united to England, or by which the two
kingdoms were incorporated into one, in 1707. — Union by the first, or second, intention. (Surg.)
See To heal by the first, or second, intention, under Intention. — Union down (Naut.), a signal of
distress at sea made by reversing the flag, or turning its union downward. — Union jack. (Naut.) See
Jack, n., 10. — Union joint. (Mech.) (a) A joint formed by means of a union. (b) A piece of pipe
made in the form of the letter T.
