Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ASS"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Ass
frequently mentioned throughout Scripture. Of the domesticated
species we read of, (1.) The she ass (Heb. 'athon), so named
from its slowness (Gen. 12:16; 45:23; Num. 22:23; 1 Sam. 9:3).
(2.) The male ass (Heb. hamor), the common working ass of
Western Asia, so called from its red colour. Issachar is
compared to a strong ass (Gen. 49:14). It was forbidden to yoke
together an ass and an ox in the plough (Deut. 22:10). (3.) The
ass's colt (Heb. 'air), mentioned Judg. 10:4; 12:14. It is
rendered "foal" in Gen. 32:15; 49:11. (Comp. Job 11:12; Isa.
30:6.) The ass is an unclean animal, because it does not chew
the cud (Lev. 11:26. Comp. 2 Kings 6:25). Asses constituted a
considerable portion of wealth in ancient times (Gen. 12:16;
30:43; 1 Chr. 27:30; Job 1:3; 42:12). They were noted for their
spirit and their attachment to their master (Isa. 1:3). They are
frequently spoken of as having been ridden upon, as by Abraham
(Gen. 22:3), Balaam (Num. 22:21), the disobedient prophet (1
Kings 13:23), the family of Abdon the judge, seventy in number
(Judg. 12:14), Zipporah (Ex. 4:20), the Shunammite (1 Sam.
25:30), etc. Zechariah (9:9) predicted our Lord's triumphal
entrance into Jerusalem, "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt,"
etc. (Matt. 21:5, R.V.).
Of wild asses two species are noticed, (1) that called in
Hebrew _'arod_, mentioned Job 39:5 and Dan. 5:21, noted for its
swiftness; and (2) that called _pe're_, the wild ass of Asia
(Job 39:6-8; 6:5; 11:12; Isa. 32:14; Jer. 2:24; 14:6, etc.). The
wild ass was distinguished for its fleetness and its extreme
shyness. In allusion to his mode of life, Ishmael is likened to
a wild ass (Gen. 16:12. Here the word is simply rendered "wild"
in the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version, "wild-ass
among men").
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ass \Ass\, n. [OE. asse, AS. assa; akin to Icel. asni, W. asen,
asyn, L. asinus, dim. aselus, Gr. ?; also to AS. esol, OHG.
esil, G. esel, Goth. asilus, Dan. [ae]sel, Lith. asilas,
Bohem. osel, Pol. osiel. The word is prob. of Semitic origin;
cf. Heb. ath?n she ass. Cf. {Ease}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A quadruped of the genus {Equus} ({E. asinus}),
smaller than the horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray
and long ears. The tame or domestic ass is patient, slow,
and sure-footed, and has become the type of obstinacy and
stupidity. There are several species of wild asses which
are swift-footed.
2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt. --Shak.
{Asses' Bridge}. [L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of
the first book of Euclid, ``The angles at the base of an
isosceles triangle are equal to one another.'' [Sportive]
``A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge.'' --F.
Harrison.
{To make an ass of one's self}, to do or say something very
foolish or absurd.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
ass
n 1: the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on [syn: {buttocks},
{nates}, {arse}, {butt}, {backside}, {bum}, {buns}, {can},
{fundament}, {hindquarters}, {hind end}, {keister}, {posterior},
{prat}, {rear}, {rear end}, {rump}, {stern}, {seat}, {tail},
{tail end}, {tooshie}, {tush}, {bottom}, {behind}, {derriere},
{fanny}]
2: a pompous fool
3: hardy and sure-footed animal smaller and with longer ears
than the horse
4: slang terms for sexual intercourse [syn: {fuck}, {fucking},
{screw}, {screwing}, {nooky}, {nookie}, {piece of ass}, {roll
in the hay}, {shag}, {shtup}]
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