Cast sb.

[f. the vb.]

  I.  The act of casting or throwing (simply).

  1.  A throw of a missile, a bowl, or other object.

1382.  Wyclif, Numb. xxxv. 17. If a stoon he throwe, and with the cast [1388 strook] sleeth.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xxxii. 140. The fyrst kast that it [the engyne] kest, bot ane, It hyt the towre a mery strak.

1565–78.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Iactus, a throwe … or cast.

1609.  C. Butler, Fem. Mon., I. (1623), C ij. One or other spying him … will haue a cast at him.

1756.  Connoisseur, No. 129. At bowls, if any one is near winning the game, he never fails, in the next cast, to mistake his bias.

1860.  Emerson, Cond. Life, Power, Wks. (Bohn), II. 332. The opponent has the sun and wind, and, in every cast, the choice of weapon and mark.

1868.  Daily Tel., 7 Sept., 5/1. Counting a cast with the right hand and another with left as one throw.

  b.  Considered, as a performance, with reference to its quality. A measuring cast: a competitive throw at a mark in which the results are so close as to require measurement.

c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 2603. The shotte, the caste was so stronge Syr Bryer was slayn there.

1567.  Harman, Caveat, 46. They coulde not agree vpon a caste.

1647.  Fuller, Good Th. in Worse T. (1841), 96. Is it a measuring cast whether it be lawful or no? Ibid. (1655), Ch. Hist. VII. 407. Yet was their precedencie no measuring cast, but clear in the view of any unpartiall eye.

1676.  Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, I. i. (1678), 4. Whilst my Brother and I were quarrelling about a Cast, he slunk by us.

1816.  Scott, Antiq. (1879), II. 110. The disputed cast was a drawn one.

  fig.  1660.  Ingelo, Bentivolio & Urania, II. (1682), 20. It is a cast beyond Laughter to see … how proud they grow.

  c.  The distance that anything can be thrown.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (1865), I. 215. Pilers as hiȝ as a stones cast.

c. 1400.  Maundev., viii. 92. A Stones cast fro that Chapelle, is another Chapelle.

1611.  Bible, Luke xxii. 41. He was withdrawen from them about a stones cast, and kneeled downe, and prayed.

1671.  Phil. Trans., VI. 2102. Sinking from cast to cast, (i.e. as high as a man can conveniently throw up the Ore with a shovel).

1870.  Bryant, Homer, II. XXIII. 344. He fell as far behind As a quoit’s cast.

  d.  Manner or way of throwing (e.g., seed).

1677.  Plot, Nat. Hist. Oxfordsh., 246. In Sowing they have their several methods, viz., the single Cast, the double Cast.

1707.  J. Mortimer, Husb. (1708), 50 (J.). Some harrow their Ground over, and sow Wheat or Rye on it, with a broad Cast: Some only with a single Cast.

  † 2.  The delivery of a blow, a stroke. Obs.

[Cf. 1382 in 1.]

c. 1420.  Anturs of Arth., xlviii. With a cast of the car-honde.

1530.  Palsgr., 563/1. He had thought to gyue me a caste with a horse combe.

  3.  spec. A throw of dice; the achievement of the throw. Phrase, To set, stake upon a cast.

1509.  Barclay, Ship of Fooles (1570), 109. That playeth for money … And on his felowes caste taketh onely heede.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., V. iv. 9. I haue set my life vpon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the Dye.

1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xviii. (1632), 916. Here is a gay goodly cast, foule cast away for hast.

1641.  Milton, Ch. Discip., I. (1851), 32. ’Tis no winning cast. Ibid. (1648), Observ. Art. Peace (1851), 579. The rare Game likely to ensue from such a cast of his Cards.

1777.  Robertson, Hist. Amer. (1783), II. 187. Their clothes, their arms, are staked … upon a single cast.

1820.  Hoyle’s Games Impr., 396. To hit the one, that cast [of dice] must be eight.

  b.  fig.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 25480. On domesdai be-for iustise, þar all es casten on a cast.

1692.  Bentley, Boyle Lect., v. 164. It would be absurd to ascribe the formation of Human Bodies to a Cast of this Chance.

1761.  Sterne, Tr. Shandy, II. 59. I was my father’s last stake … he had been unfortunate in his three first great casts for me.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 423. Neither Rosen nor Schomberg wished to put every thing on a cast.

1879.  Froude, Cæsar, xxv. 430. It was the last cast of the dice for the old party of the aristocracy.

  4.  A throw or stroke of fortune; hence, fortune, chance, opportunity; lot, fate. Obs. or dial.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6205. Him suld þan reu his cast þat þis folk was fra him past.

c. 1450.  Erle Tolous, 452. To reste hym there he toke hys caste.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, IX. v. 14. Glaid of this cast, seand thair tyme maste gane.

a. 1605.  Montgomerie, Flyting, 340. Cauld be her cast.

1722.  W. Hamilton, Wallace, 323 (Jam.). Black be their cast! great rogues.

1820.  Scott, Monast., iv. Before the death of Walter Avenel, haly be his cast!

1871.  Browning, Balaust., 2038. Now that one cast of fortune changes all!

  † b.  Hence (or from 3), At the last cast: at the last shift, in extremities, near to death or ruin.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., 338. Into tyme he be at his last Caste.

1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. cxix. (1583), 93. Thou hast my lyfe restor’d When I was at last cast.

1615.  Bp. M. Smyth, Pref. Babington’s Wks. Hauing the plague about him, and being at the last cast.

1617.  Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, 540. I returne to him; who is now at his last casts.

1700.  J. Wellwood, Mem., 251. As the last Cast for their Liberty, they applied to the Prince of Orange.

  5.  A throw of the sounding-lead, of a fishing-line, net, dredge, etc.

1616.  B. Jonson, Forest, Poems 92. And Pikes (run into thy net) As loth the second draught or cast to stay.

1662.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), I. 442. The next cast shall be no less than fourteen or fifteen fathom water.

1805.  A. Duncan, Mariner’s Chron., III. 290. We had less water every cast of the lead.

1824.  Scott, Redgauntlet, Let. vi. He couldna help taking a cast [with the fishing rod].

1848.  Life Normandy (1863), II. 205. He had not made above half a dozen casts before he called out ‘I have one!’

1864.  Burton, Scot Abr., I. ii. 99. The right to a cast of a net was a feudal privilege.

1868.  Carpenter, in Sci. Opin. (1869), 6 Jan., 175/1. A cast of the dredge was therefore taken at this point.

  b.  That which is so cast, or used in casting; now spec. in Angling.

1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & Fl., B iv b (N.).

1883.  J. A. Henshall, in Century Mag., XXVI. 378/1. Both very killing flies, and a cast admirably suited to the state of the water and atmosphere.

1887.  Illust. Lond. News, 2 July, 27/1. It is a mistake to coil up the fly-casts in the tackle-book.

  c.  Angling. A spot suited for casting the line.

1823.  Scott, Peveril, xi. He chose … with an angler’s eye, the most promising casts.

1867.  F. Francis, Angling, i. (1880), 41. It is so easy to pass good casts.

  6.  A throwing or turning of the eye in any direction; a glance, a look, expression. ? Obs.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 768. He conueyen hym con with cast of his yȝe.

1631.  Gouge, God’s Arrows, I. § 41. 66. When a man is angry, passion will soone manifest it selfe … by a fierce cast of the eyes.

1632.  Milton, Penseroso, 43. With a sad, leaden, downward cast.

1661.  Origen’s Opin., in Phœnix (1721), I. 5. A direct View of him without so oblique a Cast upon his Opinions.

1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), I. 161. I had given a cast with my eye into half a dozen shops.

  7.  A ‘lift’ in a conveyance, given to one to put him forward on his way. Also fig.

1630.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., 162 (N.). I o’r the Water will giue thee A Cast.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela, II. 88. If … you are for the Village, I’ll give you a Cast.

1787.  Gentl. Mag., Sept., 819/2. They met with some good-natured waggoners, who gave them a cast.

1822.  New Monthly Mag., IV. 103. I should get a cast to Newbury by one of the mails.

1885.  Lucy B. Walford, Nan & other St., II. 26. So you can’t give a cast to this lassie? Well, I must take her on myself.

  † 8.  Cast of the hand: a helping turn. Sc. Obs.

1637.  S. Rutherford, Lett., cxxix. (1881), 238. A right cast of his holy and gracious hand.

1775.  Guthrie’s Trial, 82. To delay their soul-business, hoping for such a cast of Christ’s hand in the end.

  9.  fig. ‘A stroke, a touch’ (J.), specimen, ‘taste.’ esp. A cast of one’s office.

a. 1553.  Udall, Royster D. (Arb.), 19. Shall I go call your folkes, that ye may shewe a cast?

1575.  Laneham, in Nichols, Progr. Q. Eliz., I. 418. Bringing with them a cast of their office, by courtly mean.

1589.  Greene, Arcadia (1616), 32. Shew vs a cast of your cunning.

1625.  Sanderson, Serm. Ps. cvi. 30. Do not show a cast of thy office for the promise or hope of a reward.

1673.  Answ. Season. Disc., 4. This Dutchman has scribled and thrown amongst us (as a cast of his office) this bone of Division.

1676.  Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, IV. i. (1678), 53. If you hate Verses, I’ll give you a cast of my Politics in Prose.

1699.  Bentley, Phal., 360. We ought to receive this as a Cast of his Rhetoric.

1749.  Wesley, Wks. (1872), IX. 12. Now, Sir, give us a cast of your office.

1832.  Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss. (1852), 248. Whose only cast of surgery is blood-letting.

  † 10.  Said of a bow: ? Casting power, ? elasticity, ? flexibility. Obs. Cf. CASTING ppl. a. 1 a.

1545.  Ascham, Toxoph., I. (Arb.), 28. Two bowes that I haue, wherof the one is quicke of cast, tricke, and trimme both for pleasure and profyte; the other is a lugge slowe of cast, folowing the string. Ibid., II. 116. A faste and harde woode … stronge and myghtye of cast.

  II.  The act of throwing down, off, etc.

  11.  A throw in wrestling; a fall; an overthrow or defeat. arch.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XIV. 321. He thoucht ȝeit to cowir his cast.

c. 1400.  Gamelyn, 248. Shal it be holde for a cast?

1530.  Palsgr., 179. Sombresault, a tumblyng caste.

a. 1607.  Descr. Cleveland, in Topog. & Geneal. (1853), II. 410. Not without hazard of a breaknecke tumblinge caste.

  † 12.  Bringing forth young, laying of eggs. ? Obs.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 149. After the first cast, there remaine successive conceptions.

  III.  What is thrown; the quantity thrown.

  13.  A throwing (of anything); the quantity thrown.

c. 1450.  Bk. Curtasye, in Babees Bk. (1868), 305. Þay schyn haue two cast of hay.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard, viii. (Arb.), 16. Bruyn receyued of hem many a caste of stones.

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 11. How many castes of corne euery lande ought to haue.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 86. A cast of scatter’d dust.

1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Cast, among wax-chandlers, denotes a laddleful of melted wax, poured on the wicks of candles made by the laddle.

1797.  W. Macro, in A. Young, Agric. Suffolk, 46. Drawing the land over with a heavy harrow when only one cast, or half the seed is sown.

  14.  Hawking. The number of hawks cast off at a time; a couple; also of other birds.

c. 1470.  Hors, Shepe, & G. (1822), 31. A caste of hawkes of the tour.

1530.  Palsgr., 203/3. Caste of haukes, niee doiseaux.

1562.  Pilkington, Exp. Obadiah v. Wks. (1842), 255. A kennel of hounds or a cast of hawks.

c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XVI. 406. As, on some far-looking rock, a cast of vultures fight. Ibid. (1615), Odyss., XXII. 390. A cast of hill-bred eagles, cast off at some game.

1826.  Sir J. S. Sebright, Observ. Hawking (1828), 41. A cast of falcons is always flown at a rook.

1852.  R. F. Burton, Falconry in V. Indus, v. 60. The sport is better with single birds than with ‘casts.’

1887.  E. B. Michell, in Macm. Mag., Nov., 41. An exceptionally good cast of female merlins.

  15.  The quantity of bread or ale made at one time (obs.); a certain quantity of clay made into flower-pots.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VII. xiv. Two cast of bread, with fat venison baked, and dainty fowls.

1538.  Bale, Comedie of Nat. (N.). If the bruar please me nat, The cast shall fall down flat And never haue any strength.

1587.  Harrison, England, II. vi. (1877), I. 154. Of the flower of one bushell … they make fortie cast of manchet.

1636.  B. Jonson, Discov., ix. 163. An elephant, in 1630 … was every day allowed twelve cast of bread, twenty quarts of Canary sack, besides nuts and almonds.

1802.  W. Forsyth, Fruit Trees, viii. (1824), 210. [Flower] pots are denominated by the number contained in what the potters call a cast.

  16.  So many (herrings, etc.) as are thrown into a vessel at once, a ‘warp’; a set of three or four.

1577.  Holinshed, Chron., III. 914/2. A cast of red herrings.

1808.  Jamieson, s.v., A cast of herrings, haddocks, oysters, &c.; four in number. S.

1884.  F. Pollock, in Eng. Illustr. Mag., 159/1. Three fish = one cast (as much as can be held in one hand).

  † 17.  A set or suit of other things. Obs. (exc. as in 5 b).

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., I. 140. With courtlie cast of cot-armour abufe.

1592.  Percivall, Sp. Dict., Sartal de cuentos, a cast of counters.

a. 1658.  Cleveland, Surv. World, vi. A cast of Lackeys, and a Lady-bird.

  † b.  (?) A standard size or quantity of wood in a billet. Obs.

1542–3.  Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., iii. Euerie byllette to be onely of one cast and not aboue.

1553.  Act 7 Edw. VI., vii. § 2. Every Billet named to be a Cast, to contain ten Inches about, and every billet named of two cast, to containe fourteene inches about.

  IV.  That which is thrown off or out.

  18.  A second swarm of bees thrown off by a hive in one season.

1662.  Fuller, Worthies, I. 22. Though only old Stocks of Bees were kept, without either Casts or Swarmes.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 207. Look to your Bees for Swarms and Casts.

1675.  J. Smith, Chr. Relig. Appeal, I. 36. The Swarm, that hived in Plato’s mouth … was a Cast of the School of the Prophets.

1777.  Terrier, in Briscoe, Old Nottinghamsh., I. 37. Every swarm of Bees sixpence, and every Cast … threepence.

1825.  in Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 647.

1875.  J. Hunter, Man. Bee-keeping (ed. 2), 92. If lighter … they would probably be casts or second swarms.

  19.  What is thrown up from the crop by a hawk or other bird of prey. Also, the convoluted earth thrown out by an earthworm; or sand on the seashore by the lug-worm.

1793.  White, Selborne (1853), 382. Earth-worms make their casts most in mild weather.

1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 849. Where the two contrived their daughter’s good Lies the hawk’s cast.

1880.  Huxley, Cray-Fish, ii. 67. As a hawk or an owl rejects his casts.

  20.  a. The number of lambs produced in a season. b. The yield of corn (? obs.).

1787.  Marshall, E. Norfolk (E. D. S.), Cast, yield; applied to corn crops.

1887.  Scott. Leader, 10 Aug., 4. To estimate what the result of the year’s cast [of lambs] will amount to.

  V.  † 21. A burden cast or laid upon people; an impost, a charge. Obs.

1597.  Cartmel Ch. Acc., in Stockdale, Ann. Cartmel, 36. A caste or laye should bee forthwith had throughout all the parish to the value of twenty marks.

1619.  in N. Riding Rec. (1884), II. 209. Paying castes imposed on him by the parishe for … the poore.

1696.  Let. W. Cunningham, in Diary (1887), Introd. 36. Not putting you to the pains of a Cast or Act of Imposition.

  VI.  22. Calculation, reckoning; an act of calculation; techn. the addition of the columns of an account.

1575.  Laneham, Lett. (1871), 56. By great cast & cost.

Mod.  If the account does not balance now, there must be an error in the cast.

  b.  Conjecture, forecast.

1519.  St. Papers Hen. VIII., I. 4. Lettres devised by the prudent caste of Your Grace.

1877.  Fraser’s Mag., XVI. 221. That … must be taken into account in any casts a-head.

  VII.  Mental revolving, contrivance, device.

  † 23.  Device, purpose, design, aim. Obs.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., A. 1162. Out of þat caste I watz bycalt.

c. 1440.  Bone Flor., 1406. Thus then ys my caste.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VIII. Prol. 20. Thair is na sege for na schame that schrinkis at short, May he cum to his cast.

a. 1529.  Skelton, Dk. Albany, 101. Such trechery … Is all your cast.

1532.  Hervet, Xenophon’s Househ. (1768), 61. Teche me the very point and cast of husbandry.

  † 24.  A contrivance, device, artifice, trick. Obs.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter lxxxix. 10. Ydell & swykil kastes about erthly thynge.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1610. The derke tresoun, and the castes olde.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. xx. (1495), 48. The preuy werkes and false castes of Sathanas.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, V. 740. He was full sle, and ek had mony cast.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, I. Prol. 255. Quent and curious castis poeticall, Perfyte similitudes and examplis all.

1530.  Palsgr., 658. I playe a caste of legyer demayne.

1609.  Holland, Amm. Marcell., XIV. xi. 26. Subtile sleights and juggling casts [præstigiis].

  † b.  Skill, art. Obs.

c. 1320.  Seuyn Sag., 2105 (W.). We beth mazouns queinte of cast.

  VIII.  Form into which a thing is thrown; disposition, arrangement.

  † 25.  Plan, design; shape, conformation, of a building, etc. Obs.

a. 1300.  Floriz & Bl., 338. To makie a tur after þis cast.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8735. He dide masons diuise a cast What werk myghte lengest last.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, 1178. The caste, crafte, and curiositie Ne can I not to you devise.

1509.  Fisher, Wks. (1876), 270. His buyldynges … after the newest cast.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 24. My onely endeuour shalbe to show you that in a rough cast.

  26.  Theat. The assignment of the parts in a play to the several actors; the part assigned to any actor (obs.); the set of actors to whom the parts of a particular play are assigned.

1631.  Brathwait (title), Whimzies: or, a new Cast of Characters.

1732.  T. Fuller, Gnomol., 115. If thy Cast be bad, mend it with good Play.

1795.  T. Wilkinson, Wand. Patentee, I. 61. Played several characters … but did not please in the lovers, in which cast I wanted Mr. Kniveton.

1798.  Epitaph, in Hone, Every-day Bk., II. 390. To play a comic cast of characters, in this great theatre—the World.

1876.  World, V. No. 116. 3. The best representatives for the complete cast of a comedy.

1880.  Dramatic List, 219. The cast included the following admirable players.

1880.  Manch. Guard., 20 Dec., 5/1. He had brought together ‘an unusually powerful cast.’

  † b.  Hence, To speak in a man’s cast: to speak during his part; to interrupt. Obs.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 374. If I may speak in your cast, quoth Issida. Ibid., 412. The Lady Flauia speaking in his cast, proceeded in this manner.

1611.  Cotgr., Entreparlement, an interruption, a speaking in a mans cast.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 46. As when the minde is filled with businesse, all that is spoken is, as it were, spoken in a mans cast.

  27.  Painting. The adjustment of draperies in art.

1784.  J. Barry, Lect. Art, v. (1848), 187. The several textures … afford an extensive variety in the cast and manner of their several foldings.

1859.  Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 201, note. The ‘cast,’ or adjustment of draperies is made the object of a special course of study.

  28.  The form into which any work is thrown.

1775.  T. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, I. ii. 34. Some of Aldhelm’s verses are exactly in this cast.

1865.  M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., iv. (1875), 152. It is not so much in the words as in the turn of the phrase, in the happy cast and flow of the sentence.

1875.  Whitney, Life Lang., Pref. 7. The compendious cast of the work.

  IX.  Casting metal, etc.; mold; model.

  † 29.  Casting or founding (of cannon, etc.). Obs.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. i. 73. And why such dayly Cast of Brazon Cannon.

  30.  A model made by running some liquid or forcing some soft substance into a mold or shape. Sometimes applied to the negative impression taken from the original; more usually to the copy of the original molded in this.

1502.  Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 240. Plouer roosted, un caste de gely florisshyd, creues deudose.

1645.  Evelyn, Diary (Chandos), 175. My purchases of books, pictures, castes.

a. 1763.  Shenstone, Lett., cvii. A most excellent figure, and I shall wish much to get a good cast of it.

1777.  Johnson, in Boswell (1831), IV. 63. Direction to send you a cast of my head.

1869.  Phillips, Vesuvius, ii. 38. A cast in plaster of Paris.

1872.  Ellacombe, Bells of Ch., i. 9–10, note. Taking therefrom a cast to constitute the outer mould for the bell.

1875.  Fortnum, Maiolica, ix. 77. The Alhambra vase was copied … after a cast and photographs.

  b.  A model of a fossil organism formed by mineral matter that has filled up the cavity originally occupied by the organism itself.

1873.  Dawson, Earth & Man, iii. 38. Casts of sponges or fucoids.

1881.  Lubbock, in Nature, No. 618. 403. The green sands of the geologist are largely made up of casts of foraminifera.

1881.  Huxley, ibid. No. 619. 453. Their solid substance may be dissolved away entirely, or replaced by mineral matter, until nothing is left of the original but a cast, an impression.

  c.  Path. ‘A mould of an interior, specially applied to casts of the urinary tubules in kidney disease, or of the respiratory tubes in croup,’ etc. (Syd. Soc. Lex.).

1867.  J. Hogg, Microsc., I. iii. 223. Urinary deposits (as casts, epithelium, crystals).

1880.  Webster, Suppl. s.v., Renal casts (Med.), microscopic bodies found in the urine of persons affected with disease of the kidneys.

  † 31.  (See quots.)

1726.  R. Neve, Builder’s Dict., These casts are Pipes of Wax … proportion’d to the Bigness of the Work.

1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Cast, among plumbers, denotes a little brazen funnel, at one end of a mould, for casting pipes without soldering, by means of which the melted metal is poured into the mould. Ibid. Cast also denotes a cylindrical piece of brass or copper, slit in two lengthwise, used by the founders in sand to form a canal or conduit in their moulds, whereby the metal may be conveyed to the different pieces intended to be cast.

  32.  fig. Mold.

1709.  Tatler, No. 28, ¶ 3. The true Cast or Mould in which you may be sure to know him.

1761.  Churchill, Rosciad, Poems (1769), I. 47. In whate’er cast his character was laid, Self still, like oil, upon the surface play’d.

  X.  A twist, or turn.

  33.  A permanent twist or turn, esp. to one side; a warp. Cast of the eye: a slight squint.

1505.  F. Marsin, etc. Mem. Hen. VII. (1858), 278. He hathe a litell caste with his lefte eye.

1635.  Glapthorne, Lady Mother, II. i. My lady has got a cast of her eye.

1677.  Lond. Gaz., No. 1251/4. Trots all, and hath a Cast in her Gallop with her Off leg before. Ibid., No. 1183/4. Very small Eyes, with a squint or cast with one of them.

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 120, ¶ 4. Her eyes … had odd Casts in them.

1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., III. iv. Which gi’es their sauls a cast, That turns them downright beggars at the last.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., iv. A cast of eye which, without being actually oblique, approached nearly to a squint.

1825.  Waterton, Wand. S. Amer., I. (1887), 100. Seldom placing it [the blowpipe] in an oblique position, lest it should receive a cast.

  34.  A bearing in some direction; inclination of one’s route.

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 79 (Jam.). Gang east, but ay some northward hald your cast.

  XI.  Dash or shade of color.

  [It is difficult to say whether the original notion was that of dashing in an admixture or ‘eye’ of some color, or associated with casting a shade.]

  35.  A ‘dash’ of some color, thrown into or over, or interspersed with another; tinge, hue; shade.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. i. 85. Thus the natiue hew of Resolution Is sicklied or’e with the pale Cast of Thought.

1712.  Spect., No. 425, ¶ 5. A Robe … of a yellowish Cast.

1772.  Hist. Rochester, 66. Of a gray colour, with a cast of green.

1791.  Hamilton, Berthollet’s Dyeing, II. II. IV. i. 264. The effect … is to give the colour a gold cast.

1822.  Wordsw., Scen. Lakes, iii. (1823), 70. The colour of the house ought … to have a cast or shade of the colour of the soil.

1841.  Catlin, N. Amer. Ind., II. lviii. (1844), 227. The teeth of the Indians … are not white, having a yellowish cast.

  b.  fig. Hue, tinge, shade, of guilt, conduct, etc.

1655.  Fellowes, trans. Milton’s 2nd Defence, 245. What follows is of a more shocking and atrocious cast.

1762.  New Dial. of Dead, 30. The crime was of such a deep and malignant cast.

1791.  Boswell, Johnson (1816), I. Introd. 4. Of a dark uncharitable cast.

1815.  Scribbleomania, 118 b. His thoughts were of the sombre cast.

1820.  W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 341. His countenance assumed a deeper cast of dejection.

  36.  A ‘dash’ of some ingredient or quality.

1662.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 499. This mungrel name seemeth to have in it an eye or cast of Greek and Latin.

1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), I. 102. La Fleur had a small cast of the coxcomb.

1816.  Scott, Antiq., i. A countenance in which habitual gravity was enlightened by a cast of ironical humour. Ibid. (1823), Peveril, xiii. Julian, who had in his disposition some cast of the romantic.

1855.  Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), II. IV. iv. 270–1. Even the wild cast of religious adventure in his life was more widely beneficial than had been a more tranquil course.

  XII.  Sort, kind, style, quality, stamp, type, as determined by characteristics.

  This section, which is of modern use, and chiefly since 1700, appears to blend figurative uses of many of the foregoing senses, VIII.–XI., one or more of these being prominent, according to the feeling of the moment. Thus the notions of conformation, mold, turn, inclination, coloring, complexion, quality, appear all to contribute vaguely to the result.

  37.  in reference to outward form, configuration, tournure, esp. in phrase cast of features, which sometimes chiefly refers to facial expression.

1653.  Walton, Angler, xi. 198. This fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape.

1727.  Pope, &c., Art Sinking, 93. The figures must be so turned, as to manifest that intricate and wonderful cast of head, which distinguishes all writers of this kind.

1816.  Scott, Antiq., i. His countenance was of the true Scottish cast.

1816.  J. Scott, Vis. Paris, 36. The general cast of feature is the same.

1833.  Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 139. An officer, with a very sinister cast of countenance.

1837.  Disraeli, Venetia, III. i. 160. A cast of features delicately moulded.

1879.  Harlan, Eyesight, ii. 27. The pictures of Mephistopheles owe much of their devilish cast to the twitching upwards of the external angles of the lid.

  38.  in reference to the mind or character.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 106, ¶ 6. This Cast of Mind … renders his Conversation highly agreeable.

1764.  Reid, Inquiry, vi. § 1 (ed. 2), 121. He must … have a very strange cast of understanding, who can seriously doubt, [etc.].

1798.  Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, iii. 62. Nothing is more seductive … to minds of this cast.

1805.  Foster, Ess., I. ii. 21. A strongly individual cast of character.

1865.  Merivale, Rom. Emp., VIII. lxiii. 2. His character was not of the severe and antique cast.

1836.  I. Taylor, Phys. The. Another Life, 6. Minds of philosophic cast.

1879.  M. Arnold, Mixed Ess., 148. The professions so naturally share … the cast of ideas of the aristocracy.

  b.  with the notion of ‘bent’ or ‘turn’ emphasized.

1711.  Budgell, Spect., No. 197, ¶ 2. The business men are chiefly conversant in, does not only give a certain cast or turn to their minds.

1711.  Addison, ibid., No. 163, ¶ 10. The Mind that hath any Cast towards Devotion.

1745.  J. Mason, Self-Knowl., I. vii. (1853), 51. Every Man hath something peculiar in the Turn or Cast of his Mind.

1782.  Paine, Lett. Abbé Raynel (1791), 44. The present condition of the world … has given a new cast to the mind of man.

  c.  with the notion of ‘tinge’ or ‘coloring’ emphasized.

1779.  Cowper, Lett., 14 Nov. My mind has always a melancholy cast, and is like some pools … which though filled with a black and putrid water, will nevertheless on a bright day reflect the sunbeams.

  39.  in reference to actions.

1750.  Johnson, Rambl., No. 99, ¶ 16. A cast of talk, peculiar to their own fraternity. Ibid., No. 181, ¶ 10. I had now wholly changed the cast of my behaviour.

1789.  Belsham, Ess., I. ii. 23. His language has acquired a certain obsolete cast.

1817.  Monthly Rev., LXXXIII. 499. Certainly a loose cast prevailed in the literature of the times.

1838–9.  Hallam, Hist. Lit., II. II. vii. § 36. 311. The reflections are usually of a moral cast.

  40.  Kind, sort, style; ‘stamp, type’: a. of persons. App. there has here often been vague association with CASTE (formerly spelt cast).

1673.  Marvell, Reh. Transp., II. 361. The design of you and those of your cast has been … against all the forraign Churches.

1713.  Berkeley, Hylas & Phil., iii. I am of a vulgar cast, simple enough to believe my senses.

1728.  Young, Love Fame, iii. (1757), 101. As if men now were of another cast, They meanly live on alms of ages past.

1742.  Richardson, Pamela, III. 216. Better than twenty humble Servants of Mr. Murray’s Cast.

1776.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. ix. 180. Heroines of such a cast may claim our admiration.

1829.  Scott, in Croker P. (1884), II. xiv. 30. Strict Presbyterian and Whig of the old Scottish cast.

1842.  J. H. Newman, Ess. (1871), II. 376. Here is a man of the cast of Hooker and Butler.

  b.  of animals, or things.

1772–84.  Cook, Voy. (1790), IV. 1290. Farther up the hills, it [the soil] is of a grey tough cast.

1785.  Burke, Nab. Arcot’s debts, Wks. 1842, I. 318. Crimes of the same blood, family, and cast.

1802.  W. Huntington, Bank of Faith, 73. A dapple-grey, very spotted, and of the tabby cast.

  XIII.  41. Hunting. The spreading out of the hounds in different directions in search of a lost scent.

c. 1830.  C. Wicksted, in R. Eg.-Warburton, Hunt. Songs (1883), 226. Those sons of old Bedford … So quick at a cast, and so ready to turn.

1846.  R. Eg.-Warburton, Hunt. Songs (1883), 4. Friends, gentlemen, foxhunters, pray now, Hold hard, let ’em make their own cast.

1861.  G. F. Berkeley, Sportsm. W. Prairies, xviii. 311. No cast that I could make or the hound in his sagacity imagine recovered her line again.

1885.  Dk. Beaufort & M. Morris, Hunting (Badm. Libr.), ii. 87. Always allow your hounds to make their own cast before you make yours.

  b.  fig.

1846.  R. Eg.-Warburton, Hunt. Songs (1883), No. xx. v. 53. How his Muse o’er the field made each season a cast.

  XIV.  42. Comb. (in some cases perh. the verb stem): as cast-maker; cast-fly, a fly for angling; cast-hole (see quot.); cast-house (see quot.).

1681.  Chetham, Angler’s Vade-m., ii. § 11 (1689), 12. Your Line for Dub-fly, Cast-fly or Artificial-fly.

1747.  Hooson, Miner’s Dict., E ij. Cutting a Square Hole, about a Yard every way, throwing out the Earth as far as he can with his Spade, which will be … about three Yards Deep, and this is called a Cast-hole.

1877.  Symonds, in Academy, 3 Nov., 419/2. As a cast-maker uses plaster of Paris.

1880.  Times, 10 Sept., 9/4. The hops when they are swept from the floors of the cast-houses are packed in sacks by the pressure of machinery.

1881.  Raymond, Mining Gloss., Cast-house. The building in which pigs or ingots are cast.