Lim"ber (lĭm"bẽr), n.
[For limmer, Icel. limar branches, boughs, pl. of
lim; akin to E. limb. See Limb a branch.]
1. pl. The shafts or thills of a wagon or
carriage. [Prov. Eng.]
2. (Mil.) The detachable fore part of
a gun carriage, consisting of two wheels, an axle, and a shaft to
which the horses are attached. On top is an ammunition box upon which
the cannoneers sit.
3. pl. (Naut.) Gutters or
conduits on each side of the keelson to afford a passage for water to
the pump well.
Limber boards (Naut.), short pieces
of plank forming part of the lining of a ship's floor immediately
above the timbers, so as to prevent the limbers from becoming
clogged. -- Limber box or chest (Mil.),
a box on the limber for carrying ammunition. --
Limber rope, Limber chain, or
Limber clearer (Naut.), a rope or chain
passing through the limbers of a ship, by which they may be cleared
of dirt that chokes them. Totten. -- Limber
strake (Shipbuilding), the first course of
inside planking next the keelson.
Lim"ber, v. t. To cause to become
limber; to make flexible or pliant. Richardson.
Lim"ber, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Limbered (-bẽrd); p. pr. & vb.
n. Limbering.] (Mil.) To attach to the
limber; as, to limber a gun.
To limber up, to change a gun carriage into
a four-wheeled vehicle by attaching the limber.
Lim"ber, a. [Akin to limp, a.
√125. See Limp, a.] Easily bent;
flexible; pliant; yielding. Milton.
The bargeman that doth row with long and limber
oar.
Turbervile.