[f. LAUNCH v.]
† 1. The action or an act of lancing; a prick. Obs.
1558. Traheron, in S. R. Maitland, Ess. Reform. (1849), 80. If I shal perceaue that it shalbe to your welth, I wil not sticke to giue you a launch or two.
1596. Spenser, Hymn Heavenly Love, 162. What hart can feele least touch of so sore launch?
2. The action or an act of launching, shooting forth or springing. Obs. exc. dial.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 290/2. Lawnche, or skyppe, saltus.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Launch, a long stride.
† 3. concr. Shoots of a plant. Also fig. Obs.
a. 1400. Pistill of Susan (Ingilby MS.), 109. Þe lyly, þe louage, þe launches so lefe.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg., 3. Veni de libano, þou loueli in launche.
4. a. The action or process of launching a vessel. Also fig. with out. b. The starting off of a bird in flight.
1814. Scott, Lett. to Southey, 17 June, in Lockhart. The first time I happened to see a launch.
1835–6. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 298/1. The first launch of the bird into the air is produced by an ordinary leap from the ground.
1879. J. Martineau, Ess. (1891), IV. 271. Its daring launch-out on the ocean of real being.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 223/2. Bearing surfaces should be well greased … before the launch takes place.
5. concr. in Ship-building. (See quot. 1850.)
1711. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 23. Erecting a Ship on the Launch, and launching her from thence.
1712. Lond. Gaz., No. 5019/5. Wherein are two large Launches and a large dry Dock.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 128. Launch, the slip or descent whereon the ship is built, including the whole of the machinery used in launching.
6. dial. A trap for taking eels.
1847. in Halliwell.
7. attrib., as launch-block, launch-ways (Cent. Dict.) = launching-ways, launching-planks.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, iii. (1840), 50. A launch-block and cradles.
