Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Dane, Clemence

(Encyclopedia)Dane, Clemence, pseud. of Winifred Ashton, 1888–1965, English novelist and playwright. She was an artist, teacher, and actress before she turned to writing. Her first novel, A Regiment of Women (191...

hammerhead

(Encyclopedia)hammerhead, common name for a heavy-looking, heronlike bird, Scopus umbretta. Its plumage is brown with light and dark glossy, purplish streaks on the wings and body. It has short legs, partially webb...

foundation

(Encyclopedia)foundation, institution through which private wealth is contributed and distributed for public purpose. Foundations have existed since Greek and Roman times, when they honored deities. During the Midd...

Khorsabad

(Encyclopedia)Khorsabad khôrsäbädˈ [key], village, NE Iraq, near the Tigris River and 12 mi (20 km) NE of Mosul. It is built on the site of Dur Sharrukin, an Assyrian city (founded 8th cent. b.c. by Sargon), wh...

Kalb, Johann

(Encyclopedia)Kalb, Johann Ger. yōˈhän kälp [key], 1721–80, American general in the Revolution, known generally as Baron de Kalb, b. Hüttendorf, Germany. He assumed his title for military reasons and as Jean...

Giraudoux, Jean

(Encyclopedia)Giraudoux, Jean zhäN zhērōdo͞oˈ [key], 1882–1944, French novelist and dramatist. He was a prolific writer and combined his literary work with a long and successful diplomatic career. His early ...

Height, Dorothy Irene

(Encyclopedia)Height, Dorothy Irene, 1912–2010, American civil-rights leader, b. Richmond, Va., grad. New York Univ. (B.A. 1933, M.A. 1935). A leader of the African-American and women's rights movements, she bega...

Richmond and Lennox, Charles Lennox, 3d duke of

(Encyclopedia)Richmond and Lennox, Charles Lennox, 3d duke of, 1735–1806, British statesman. He was secretary of state for the south of Europe (1766) and became a staunch defender of the cause of the American col...

Bairnsfather, Bruce

(Encyclopedia)Bairnsfather, Bruce bârnzˈfäᵺər [key], 1888–1959, English illustrator and author, b. India. He served with the British forces in World War I and created the cartoon character “Old Bill” to...

honey buzzard

(Encyclopedia)honey buzzard, common name for several medium-sized, buzzardlike hawks (genus Pernis) of Eurasia and Africa. The European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus, is predominantly reddish brown, and its tail i...
 

Browse by Subject