Mantle
1. To unfold and spread out the wings, like a mantle; said of hawks. Also used figuratively. Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her perch. (Spenser) Or tend his sparhawk mantling in her mew. (bp. Hall) My frail fancy fed with full delight. Doth bathe in bliss, and mantleth most at ease. (Spenser)
2. To spread out; said of wings. The swan, with arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows. (Milton)
3. To spread over the surface as a covering; to overspread; as, the scum mantled on the pool. Though mantled in her cheek the blood. (Sir W. Scott)
4. To gather, assume, or take on, a covering, as froth, scum, etc. There is a sort of men whose visages Do cream and mantle like a standing pond. (Shak) Nor bowl of wassail mantle warm. (Tennyson)
1. A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an enveloping robe; a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering or concealing envelope. The children are clothed with mantles of satin. (Bacon) The green mantle of the standing pool. (Shak) Now nature hangs her mantle green on every blooming tree. (Burns)
2. Same as Mantling.
3. (Science: marine biology) The external fold, or folds, of the soft, exterior membrane of the body of a mollusk. It usually forms a cavity inclosing the gills. Any free, outer membrane.
4. T
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he back of a bird together with the folded wings.
5. The outer wall and casing of a blast furnace, above the hearth.
6. (Science: physics) a penstock for a water wheel.
Origin: oe. Mantel, OF. Mantel, f. Manteau, fr. L. Mantellum, mantelum, a cloth, napkin, cloak, mantle (cf. Mantele, mantile, towel, napkin); prob. From manus hand – the root of tela cloth. See manual, textile, and cf. Mandil, mantel, Mantilla.
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