Also 5–6 vnyon, 5–7 vnion. [f. F. union (12–13th c., = Sp. union, Pg. união, It. unione), ad. L. ūniōn-em, ūnio the number one, unity, uniting, etc., f. ūnus one.]
I. 1. The action of joining or uniting one thing to another or others, or two or more things together, so as to form one whole or complete body; the state or condition of being so joined or united; combination, conjunction: a. In non-physical sense or of abstract things.
Hypostatic union: see HYPOSTATIC a. 1.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), V. 9. He ordeynede that water scholde be mixte with wyne in the chalice, to betoken the union of the churche un to Criste.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 208. Conuenyently are deuoute wedlockes lykened vnto fayre trees, wherof the route ys suche vnyon of tow hartes. Ibid., 229. By whiche knyttynge … the godhed was vnyed vnto the manhed, and the very manhed vnto the godhed…. And in this moste acceptable vnyon [etc.].
1538. Starkey, England, 41. The vnyon and coniunctyon of the body and soule togyddur.
1560. trans. Fisher’s Godly Treat. Prayer, F 5 b. The very true and sincere delectation, whiche groweth by a certayne vnion and perfect agreement … of our soules with almightie God.
1627. Sir J. Finch, in Parl. Hist. (1807), II. 224/2. This union of hearts, sir, is a greatness beyond that of the kingdom to which you are heir.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xviii. 92. The strength of an Army [consisteth] in the union of their strength under one Command.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 966. Adam, from whose deare side I boast me sprung, And gladly of our Union heare thee speak, One Heart, one Soul in both.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Hypostatical, The Union of the human Nature with the Divine.
1800. Med. Jrnl., IV. 334. By the union and investigation of several data, the truth may at last be discovered.
1841. Miall, in Nonconf., I. 1. The union of church and state.
1873. Freeman, Comp. Politics, ii. 49. The union of Roman and Teutonic elements.
b. Of persons or countries with reference to joint action or policy. Cf. 3.
1608. W. Wilkes, Sec. Memento for Magistrates, 59. Compleat union is of better consequence to the furtherance of religion.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 78. The Janizaries swore the same Union with the Spahis.
1711. Dk. Marlborough, in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 144. I haue no other views then what tend to the firmest union with his Lordship.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, IX. xviii. The cold sneers of calumny were vain, The union of the free with discord’s brand to stain.
c. In physical sense; spec. in Surg., the growing together of the parts of a broken bone, lips of a wound, etc., in the process of healing.
1631. H. C[rooke], Expl. Instrum. Chirurg., 13. To hold the lips of the wound … together till the vnion be perfected.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. s.v., The Union of Atoms, or Particles which touch in a Plain: as in the Chrystallization of Salts, and other like Bodies.
1767. Gooch, Treat. Wounds, I. 152. The time generally allowed for the union of wounds.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 341. This affinity or union, is always … of a chemical nature, for it is attended with the grand characteristic of chemical union, viz. it destroys the identity of the ingredients.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 287. To fit the scion to the stock in such a manner that the union of their inner barks … may be as close as possible.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. vii. 54. The moraine … formed by the union of the lateral moraines.
d. With a and pl. An instance or occasion of this. (Rarely in physical sense, see (b).)
In some instances not clearly separable from 7.
1570. Levins, Manip., 166. An Vnion, vnio.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., viii. 6. If the true concord of well tuned sounds, By vnions married, do offend thine eare.
a. 1653. Binning, Serm., Wks. (1735), 8/2. There was an Union made already in his first Moulding.
1679. South, Serm., 167. The same [object] luckily hapning upon another [mind] of a Disposition … framed for it, is … greedily clasped into the nearest Unions and Embraces.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 122. While providence enjoins to ev’ry soul An union with the vast terraqueous whole.
1817. J. Bradbury, Trav. Amer., 331. A colony having an union of interest, and of course an union of action.
1871. Jowett, Plato, III. 363. There is a union of qualities in him such as I have never seen in any other.
(b) 1826. S. Cooper, First Lines Surg. (ed. 5), 281. In some instances [of compound fracture], only a partial union follows.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 281. Instances frequently occur of the inner bark of the scion being placed out of contact with that of the stock, and a union nevertheless ensues.
e. Without article, in prec. senses.
† At union, in union, united.
c. 1483. H. Baradoun, in Pol., Rel. & L. Poems, 289. Hertis ease & I be not at vnion.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 284 b. In that all swetenesse and vnyon of loue and grace is signifyed.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Friendship (Arb.), 173. For in Bodies, Vnion strengthneth and cherisheth any Naturall Action;… And euen so is it of Minds.
1651. Hobbes, Govt. & Soc., v. § 7. 79. This submission of the wills of all those men to the will of one man, or one Counsell, is then made, when each one of them obligeth himself by contract to every one of the rest,… this is called union.
1675. R. Burthogge, Causa Dei, 39. The Soul in state of Union to the Body.
1738. R. Grey, Meth. Hebrew, p. v. The Line of Union called Maccaph.
1789. Belsham, Ess., II. xli. 526. Persecution, said Mr. Fox, is a bond of union.
1800. trans. Lagrange’s Chem., II. 114. Nitric solutions of mercury and silver … are themselves decomposed at the moment of union.
1847. Mrs. A. Kerr, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Servia, 117. The league of independent chiefs … was on the closest terms of union with both these parties.
1849. Lever, Con Cregan, xi. While a sharp wound in my neck … had just begun that process called ‘union.’
a. 1881. A. Barratt, Phys. Metempiric (1883), p. xxv. The feeling of real invisible union among the spirits of all the universe.
f. Sexual conjunction; copulation. rare.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Univocal, Animals … produced by Univocal Generation, that is, by the sole Union or Copulation of a Male and Female of the same species.
1799. Med. Jrnl., II. 321. A female rabbit … and … a buck … were allowed to caress each other whilst absolute union was prevented.
2. The uniting together of the different sections, parties, or individuals of a nation, people, or other body so as to produce general agreement or concord; the condition resulting from this; absence of dissension, discord, or difference in opinion or doctrine; unity.
c. 1460. Brut, II. 508. This Frederike … was long Emperoure, & differred for to be crowned at Rome because of þe Scisme; but after þat vnion was had, he was crowned with Emperial Diademe.
c. 1460. G. Ashby, Dicta Philos., 703. That kyng that maketh his Region To be obedient to his iuste lawe, That reigne peasibly in an vnyon.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. ccxxxiii. 301 b/1. The vnyon of the churche I desyre, and I haue taken great payne therin.
1539. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 230. Ye shal … bring a very vnion … bitwene all them there & conduce them to suche a knott as there shalbe perfite vnion amonges them without striffe.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. § 10. The Union, Peace and Plenty of the Kingdom.
1683. Temple, Mem., Wks. 1720, I. 480. I, that never had any thing so much at heart as the Union of my Country.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xiii. Have I not thanks to pay to God, who has restored union to my family?
1841. Borrow, Zincali, I. iii. II. 271. However some of the Gitános may complain that there is no longer union to be found amongst them, there is [etc.].
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 160. They were so far from being disposed to purchase union by concession that they objected to concession chiefly because it tended to produce union.
b. Painting. Agreement or harmony in respect of color, design, etc.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Union (a Term among Painters) is the mutual Agreeableness and Sympathy of the Colours in a Piece of Painting.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Harmony,… in the Ordonnance,… signifies the Union, or Connection between the Figures, with Respect to the Subject of the Piece.
1770. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., iii. (1778), 83. A figure … though deviating from beauty, may still have a certain union of the various parts.
c. Horsem. (See quots.)
1753. Chambers’s Cycl., Suppl. s.v. Unite, A horse is said to unite, or walk in union, when, in galloping, the hind quarters follow and keep time with the fore.
1884. E. L. Anderson, Mod. Horsem., 110. That state of collection that we have styled the union. That is, the forces of the two extremities must be united as closely as is consistent with the maintenance of the pace.
3. a. Scots Law. The uniting into one tenantry of lands or tenements not lying contiguous. Charter or clause of union (see quot. 1765–8).
1503. Sc. Acts, Jas. V. (1814), II. 246. Anent landis … quhilk ar anext or vnit in ane halding or barony þat nochtwithstanding þe said anexation or vnion [etc.].
1542. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scotl., VIII. 117. The forfaltouris and unionis maid in the last parliament.
1578. Reg. Privy Council Scot., II. 693. Erectionis of baroniis, unionis or burghis in barony.
1693. Stair, Instit., II. ii. § 44. 221. The whole Lands lying contiguous are naturally Unite, and needs no Union.
1751. McDowall, Inst. Laws Scot., II. iii. I. 567. The union or erection into a barony of lands, lying in different shires.
1765–8. Erskine, Inst. Law Scotl., II. iii. § 45. By a charter of union, i.e. by a charter in which the sovereign dispenses with the necessity of taking a separate seisin upon every discontiguous tenement.
1838. W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., 1020. The object of a charter, or clause of union.
b. Eccl. The uniting or combination of two or more churches or benefices into one. (Cf. UNITION a.)
1529. Act 21 Hen. VIII., c. 13. § 11. If any person … procure … any Licence or Licences, Union, Toleration or Dispensation, to receive and take any mo Benefices with Cure than is above limited.
1537. trans. Latimer’s Serm. bef. Convoc., D j b. Some brought forth canonizations, some expectations, some pluralities and unions.
1545. Act 37 Hen. VIII., c. 21. A Unyon or Consolidacion of two Churches in one, or of a Churche and Chappell in one.
1607. Cowel, Interpr., Vnion,… is a combining or consolidation of two Churches in one, which is done by the consent of the Bishop, the Patron, and the Incumbent.
1665. Act 17 Chas. II., c. 3 ¶ 3. The said Union shall take effect for every such Church or Chappell.
1713. E. Gibson, Eccl. Law, 920. By the union, the two churches are become so much one, that a second benefice may be taken.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 444. Consolidation, or the union of divers places in the person of one man, is a great obstacle to justice and equity.
1860. Act 23–24 Vict., c. 142 § 2. An Union of Two or more contiguous Benefices with one another.
4. The action of uniting, or the state or fact of being united, into one political body; esp. formation or incorporation into a single state, kingdom, or political entity, usually with one central legislature.
a. In general use.
1547. J. Harrison (title), An Exhortacion to the Scottes to conforme themselfes to the … godly Union betweene the two Realmes of Englande & Scotland.
1603. Bacon, Briefe Discourse, B ij. And … leauing violent Vnions [of countries]: wee will consider onelye naturall Vnions.
1672. Petty, Pol. Anat. (1691), 35. Why was there ever a Union between England and Wales?
1729. T. Innes, Crit. Ess. (1879), 67. That the Picts continued in possession … till their union in one kingdom with the Scots.
1754. Franklin, Plan of Union, Wks. 1887, II. 351. The said commissioners … came to an unanimous resolution: That a union of the colonies is absolutely necessary for their preservation.
1848. W. H. Kelly, trans. L. Blanc’s Hist. Ten Y., I. 268. To the Belgians France could offer, as the price of a fraternal union, the substitution [etc.].
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep., V. i. (1906), III. 95. Early in January, 1577, the celebrated ‘Union of Brussels’ was formed.
1888. Encycl. Brit., XXIII. 741/2. This success of the struggle for union gave the United States a date for the political … existence of the nation.
b. Eng. Hist. The uniting of the English and Scottish crowns in 1603, or parliaments in 1707; or of the parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland, dating from 1 Jan., 1801. (With the and capital.)
(a) 1603. Bacon (title), A Briefe Discovrse, tovching the Happie Vnion of … England, and Scotland.
1604. Proclam. Jas. I., 20 Oct. The blessed Union, or rather reuniting of … England and Scotland, vnder one Imperial crowne.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 25 Feb. 1671. Came to visit me one of the Lords Commissioners of Scotland for the Union.
1707. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), II. 10. This day being the beginning of the Union of England with Scotland.
1712. Z. Haig, in J. Russell, Haigs (1881), xii. 344. Prosperity to Scotland, and No Union!
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., xvii. II. 696. The union closes the story of the Scots constitution.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. 121. Scotland did not fully recover from the ruin of that conflict until the Union made her secure.
(b) 1798. The Union (ed. 4), 15. As … the Protestants become the majority of our people upon the establishment of the Union.
1829. Scott, Wav., Gen. Pref. Miss Edgeworth … may be truly said to have done more towards completing the Union, than [etc.].
1880. Encycl. Brit., XIII. 271. Carried in great measure by the same corrupt means as the constitution of ’82 had been worked by, the Union earned no gratitude.
5. The joining of one person to another in matrimony; an instance or occasion of this, a marriage.
1595. Shaks., John, II. ii. 446. This vnion shall do more than batterie can To our fast-closed gates.
1678. E. Cooke (title), Love’s Triumph,—or, The Royal Union: A Tragedy.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 167, ¶ 2. The happy event of a union in which caprice and selfishness had so little part.
1778. Miss Burney, Evelina, lxxix. He was himself of opinion, the sooner the union took place, the better.
1826. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life (1870), II. xi. 239. The immediate union of the Princess Constance … to Don Pedro.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., viii. Her grandfather had been at the first very much averse to our union.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 69. He pronounced against any voluntary dissolution of unions already existing between Pagans and Christians.
II. † 6. The quality of being one in number; oneness; the fact or condition of consisting of, involving, or being restricted to, one person or thing only. Obs.
In quots. 1548 and a. 1564 with reference to the partaking of the Communion by the priest only.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. ccxliv. 286. An other erronyous opynyon concernynge the vnyon of the Trynytie.
1548. Geste, Pr. Masse, K viii. Thee prieste masse, whyche is rather an vnion then a communion.
a. 1564. Becon, Display. Popish Mass, Wks. II. 50. Ye call it a Communion, which is a partaking of many together; but ye might right well call it an vnion. For no man eateth and drinketh of the bread and wyne but you alone.
1564. Harding, Answ. Jewel, 81. For euery multitude … contineweth one. And that whereof it is one, and is kepte in vnion or onenesse, it is necessary that it be one, elles [etc.].
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., VIII. xxvii. Thus Holy, Holy, Holy’s nam’d, to show A Ternion we in Union know.
† b. = MONAD a. 1 b. Obs.–1
1565. B. Googe, trans. Palingenius’ Zodiac, VII. U iij. As from the Union [L. monas] fyrst eche other number springs.
† c. A unique example. Obs.–1
1657. J. Watts, Vind. Ch. Eng., 48. But an Union, one such text, I mean, in all the Bible.
7. That which is united or combined into one; a body formed by uniting one thing to another or others, or several things together; a combination or compound.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Worthy Commun., Introd. 10. My purpose is … to gather together into an union al these several portions of truth.
1696. Stanhope, Chr. Pattern (1711), 2. What is a man the better for entring into the sublime mysteries of the Trinity, and being able to dispute nicely upon that adorable Union?
1807. J. E. Smith, Phys. Bot., 212. Carbonic acid gas, (which was formerly called fixed air, and is an union of oxygen and carbon).
b. A number, group, or body of persons or states joined or associated together for some common purpose or action; an association, league, or society; in later use esp. = TRADE-UNION.
(a) 1660. Jer. Taylor, Ductor, III. iv. rule x. § 11. He is not to be reckoned as a Brother, or a relative in our religious friendship and union.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. iii. 83. To separate from their adversaries, and to form an union among themselves.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 409. [The] sagacious statesman … darts around his penetrating eyes, Where Dangers grow and hostile unions rise.
1832. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), II. 236. Once more to the Political Unions,… don’t endure it [sc. slavery]; but hold together like burrs.
1903. Science (N.Y.), 5 June, 892/2. The International Union of the American Republics, popularly known as the Pan-American Union.
(b) 1833. 2nd Rep. Factory Com., D 2. 39. Our spinners … said they had no fault to find…, but the union obliged them to turn out.
1848. Mrs. Gaskell, M. Barton, viii. Block-printers is going to strike; they’n getten a bang-up Union, as won’t let ’em be put upon.
1878. Jevons, Prim. Pol. Econ., 65. It is certain that the increase of wages is not confined to those trades which have unions.
c. spec. A number of states or provinces united together or incorporated into one legislative confederacy; a confederation or federation; esp. the United States of America.
Sometimes in American use restricted to the Northern States, which adhered to the Union, in contradistinction to the eleven Southern States whose attempted secession from it led to the Civil War of 1861–5.
1775. T. Jefferson, Lett., Writ. 1892, I. 491. So as to bring the Canadians into our Union.
1792. Belknap, Hist. New Hampsh., III. 257. An important branch of the American union.
1817. J. Bradbury, Trav. Amer., 277. The separation of the States west of the Alleghanies from the Union.
1865. Lowell, Wks. (1890), V. 258. The South will come back to the Union.
1909. in R. H. Brand, Union of S. Africa, 142. The words ‘the Union’ shall be taken to mean the Union of South Africa as constituted under this Act.
d. A number of parishes united or incorporated together under one Board of Guardians for the administration of the poor laws; an area or subdistrict so formed and administered.
1834. Act 4–5 Will. IV., c. 76 § 26. Such Parishes shall thereupon be deemed a Union for such Purpose.
1837. McCulloch, Acc. Brit. Empire, II. 639. The operation of Gilbert’s Act in the unions formed under it.
1862. Gladstone, Sp., in Times, 29 Dec., 9/5. The bulk of the cotton manufacture was carried on in a region comprised within 27 Unions.
e. A textile fabric composed of two or more different materials woven together, esp. one containing cotton and linen, or cotton and some other material as wool, silk, or jute. Freq. pl., kinds or varieties of goods or fabrics so woven, union-cloths.
1844. G. Dodd, Textile Manuf., v. 167. A mixture of flax and cotton called ‘union.’
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 378/1. Then we had an Irish linen, an imitation, you know, a kind of ‘Union,’ which we call double twist.
1893. Photogr. Ann., 284. Two or three yards of ‘union,’ or white window blind material.
pl. 1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 376/2. Linen of good quality used to be extensively hawked, but from 1820 to 1825, or later … the hawkers got to deal in an inferior quality, ‘unions’ (a mixture of linen and cotton) glazed and stiffened.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 387/2. A real Scotch carpet is all wool, but fabrics similar in appearance are made with cotton warps and worsted wefts, in which case they are called ‘unions.’
1890. Textile News, 20 Oct. (List Manufacturers), Manufacturer of black and coloured unions.
8. Brewing. One of a series of casks or vats used in the Union or Burton system of cleansing beer.
1876. Encycl. Brit., IV. 275/2. When beer is cleansed … it is necessary to keep the casks or Unions full to the bung.
1897. W. J. Sykes, Brewing, 448. When a set of unions are cleansed, the swan-necks are first removed.
III. 9. That which unites or connects one thing to another; techn., a device for connecting the ends of pipes or tubes, or for attaching a pipe to some other part; a coupling, pipe-coupling.
1850. [see union joint in sense 12].
1863. Appleby’s Handbk. Mach. & Iron Work, 59. Wrought-iron Wrenches for Hose Unions.
1864. Riddel & Co.’s Catal., Steam and Valve Cocks. Brass Unions.
1889. Daily News, 11 Feb., 4/7. Makers of cocks, taps, unions, and bar fittings are fairly busy.
IV. 10. In elliptical senses. a. = UNION-FLAG or UNION-JACK, either as (a) a separate flag (also † Great union), or (b) as inserted in the upper inner canton of the ensign; freq. in phr. union down or downwards, indicating an inverted position, with the union as if in the lower inner canton, when the flag is hoisted or flown on a vessel as a signal of distress or mourning.
(a) 1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), s.v. Jack, In the British Navy the jack is … a small union flag…; but in merchant-ships this union is bordered with a red field.
1812. Ann. Reg., Gen. Hist., 110. The proud old British Union floated triumphantly over it.
1849. C. Sturt, Exped. Centr. Australia, I. 20. Some young ladies of the colony … had worked a silken union to present to Mr. Eyre.
1865. N. & Q., 18 Feb., 136/1. His majesty is depicted stepping from a barge with the Union hoisted at the stern.
(b) 1804. Naval Chron., XII. 144. The colours … were hoisted Union downwards.
1830. Campbell, Dict. Mil. Sci., s.v. Colours, The Red Cross of St. George in a White Field, with the Union in the Upper Canton.
1883. Harper’s Mag., Jan., 321/1. The American flag … was by mistake hoisted ‘union down.’
b. Short for Union House, workhouse (sense 12).
1843. Neale, Ball. & Songs for People, 16 We never built the unions Wherein they starve the poor.
1874. T. Hardy, Far fr. Mad. Crowd, xxx. I wonder sometimes if I am doomed to die in the Union.
c. (With capital.) The name at various Universities (orig. at Oxford and Cambridge) of a general club and debating society usually open to all members, or all undergraduates, of the University; also, the buildings or offices of such.
Originally short for Union Society or Union Club. Also used attrib., as Union audience, rhetoric, speech.
1835. Rep. Committee Oxford Union Soc., 2. The Treasurer of the Union.
1853. Thackeray, Eng. Hum., Congreve (1858), 58. Before the passing of the Reform Bill, there existed at Cambridge a certain debating club, called the ‘Union.’
1883. Oxford Univ. Mag., 24 Jan., 7/1. No more eloquent speech has been heard in the Union during the last three years.
1891. Cal. St. Andrews Univ., 315. The scheme for instituting a Students’ Union in the University of St. Andrews. Ibid., 316. The general management of the Union.
V. Attrib. and comb., passing into adj.
11. a. In senses 4 b and 7 c, with the sense ‘of or belonging to, promoting or advocating, adhering to or supporting (a particular) legislative union,’ as (a) Union arms, colors, -maker, parliament; esp. (b) in American use (see 7 c note), as Union banner, league, man, planter, etc.
(a) 1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4374/1. On Two opposite Corners were the Union Arms. Ibid. The Norton Galley hoisted the Union Colours.
1776. Smollett, Humph. Cl., To Phillips, 8 Aug. During a sitting of the union parliament [at Edinburgh, 1707].
1811. Gen. Reg. & Orders of Army, 13. The first Standard, Guidon, or Colour of Regiments, which is the Union Colour.
1846. A. Amos, Gt. Oyer of Poison., 4. The union-maker, King James.
(b) 1863. Bright, Sp. Amer., 26 March, 127. Not Union planters only, but Secession planters began to bring in the produce.
1863. Hawthorne, Our Old Home (1883), I. 23. The latest is now a gallant general under the Union banner.
1872. De Vere, Americanisms, 280. The Union-men … or Federals … fought for the Union against rebellion. Ibid., 289. Loyal Leagues, as well as Union Leagues, were formed all over the country.
b. In general and miscellaneous use, as union-band, canopy, vowel, etc.
1723. E. Fenton, Mariamne, III. vi. Such as good spirits are suppos’d to sing O’er saints, while death dissolves the union-band.
1785. [R. Graves], Eugenius, II. xxxi. 188. A great many variegated roses … called union roses (as they unite the party distinctions of York and Lancaster).
1824. T. Fenby, Mulberry Tree, iii. The tree, Which love’s union-canopy made.
1879. Whitney, Sanskrit Gram., 78. All the simple vowels come to assume in certain cases the aspect of union-vowels, or insertions between root or stem and ending of inflection or of derivation.
c. In sense 7 b. as Union-jobber, -smashing vbl. sb.
1841. Penny Cycl., XXI. 411/1. The many dishonest abstractions of their [Pension Societies’] funds, of which the mere Union jobbers are so often guilty.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 30 Aug., 1/3. A general policy of union-smashing.
d. In sense 7 e, as union cloth, cord (braid), damask, diaper, goods, etc.; also (of garments), ‘made of union cloth or fabric.’
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 3995, Woollen and union cloths.
1867. Ure’s Dict. Arts (ed. 6), III. 971. Union goods, cloths of a mixed character, as of flax and jute, or cotton and jute.
1868. Chambers’ Encycl., X. 268/1. Many of the names used in the all-wool class are retained in this [sc. fabrics composed of wool and cotton], with the addition of the word ‘union,’ as union merino, union shalloon, union damask, &c.
1882. Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlew., 507. Union cord, a round white cord, made for stay-laces,… composed of both linen and cotton thread. Ibid., Union Cord Braid, Union Diaper.
1896. Godey’s Mag., Feb., 218/2. Union undergarments of silk or wool.
e. In senses 7 d, 10 b. as union boy, man.
1846. (title) The Union and Parish Officer’s Pocket Almanac and Guide.
1857. J. H. Steggall, Hist. Suffolk Man, i. 29–30. All the ringlets were shorn from my hair, and Mog had so sheared and stiffened it, that there I was, worse than any union boy with his hair polled, and thoroughly transformed.
1871. ‘M. Legrand,’ Cambr. Freshm., 303. He’s out o’ the Union…. The Union men break the stones on the roads.
12. Special combs.: union bow Archery, a bow made of two or more pieces united together; a backed or back bow (Cent. Dict., 1891); union-grass, one or other of the grasses belonging to the genus Uniola (ibid.); Union House, the poor-house or workhouse of a Poor Law union (cf. senses 7 d and 10 b. and Union workhouse); union-joint (see quots. and sense 9); union nut, (a) a nut used with a screw to unite one part to another; (b) the Australian timber-tree Bosistoa sapindiformis, or its wood; union pear (see quot.); union-pump (see quot.); union-room Brewing, the room containing the unions or cleansing vats; union-rustic, a British night-moth, Apamea connexa (Encycl. Dict., 1888); union screw (see quot. and union joint); † union suit, ? a set of mirrors; union system Brewing (see quots. and sense 8); Union workhouse, = Union House. See also UNION FLAG, JACK.
1847. Alb. Smith, Chr. Tadpole, xlvi. ‘Anything new at the *Union House to-day, Mr. Mole?’
1893. Daily News, 10 April, 5/4. The Prince’s inscription in the Dunmow Union House visitors’ book.
1850. Weale, Dict. Terms, 493. *Union screws or joints,… the brass unions for connecting the elastic bore-pipe of the tender to the feed-pipe of the [locomotive] engine.
1867. J. Hogg, Microsc., I. ii. 107. A finer [adjustment] is secured by a well made union-joint.
1838. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 133/1. It … is attached to a ferrule by a *union nut and screw, and can be as easily removed.
1889. Maiden, Useful Pl., 387. Bosistoa sapindiformis, *Union Nut.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., 6 U. The *Union Pear; otherwise call’d Dr. Uvedale’s St. Germain. This is a very large long Pear, of a deep green Colour.
1860. J. Hogg, Fruit Man., 217.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2681/2. *Union-pump,… one in which the engine and pump are united in the same frame.
1886. ‘Bickerdyke,’ Cur. Ale & Beer, 339. The *union-room … [at Allsopp’s] contains 1,424 unions, which can cleanse 230,689 gallons at one time.
1850. Weale, Dict. Terms, 494. The feed-pipe is likewise attached to the lower end of the pump by a large *union screw.
1714. Lond. Gaz., No. 5214/3. All sorts of Coach Glasses, Chimney Glasses, Sconces, Dressing Glasses, *Union Suits, Dressing Boxes, swinging Glasses [etc.].
1876. Encycl. Brit., IV. 275/2. There are three modes of cleansing—… 2d, by running the beer into casks, and then allowing the yeast to work out through the bung holes; and 3d, on what is called the *Union, or Burton system, which is the second plan with some improvements.
1886. ‘Bickerdyke,’ Cur. Ale & Beer, 333. When the fermentation has almost ceased, the beer is put into smaller vessels … and the froth either works over the side or is skimmed off or, as in the ‘union’ system at Burton, works up through pipes.
1851. Kingsley, Yeast, xii. As he went on, talking wildly to himself, he passed the *Union Workhouse.
1863. Fawcett, Pol. Econ., IV. iv. 581. The inmates of the union-workhouse are subject to certain restraints.
Hence Unional a., of or pertaining to union or a union (esp. of countries); Unioned a., joined in union; Unioner U.S., an adherent of the Union during the American Civil War.
1889. Scott. Leader, 18 April, 6. If the Unionist has destroyed both the national and *unional sentiment in the Irish.
1905. Q. Rev., July, 273. The Unional flag had been hauled down.
1787. J. Barlow, Vision of Columbus, VI. 191. Great Washington arose in view, And *union’d flags his stately steps pursue.
1880. Tourgee, Fool’s Err., vii. 31. The old *Unioner’s report in regard to the doughty colonel.
