casting vote

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.An ardent wish or desire; a vow; a prayer. [Obs.] --Massinger. [1913 Webster]

2.A wish, choice, or opinion, of a person or a body of persons, expressed in some received and authorized way; the expression of a wish, desire, will, preference, or choice, in regard to any measure proposed, in which the person voting has an interest in common with others, either in electing a person to office, or in passing laws, rules, regulations, etc.; suffrage. [1913 Webster]

3.That by means of which will or preference is expressed in elections, or in deciding propositions; voice; a ballot; a ticket; as, a written vote. [1913 Webster]

The freeman casting with unpurchased hand The vote that shakes the turrets of the land.— Holmes.[1913 Webster]

4.Expression of judgment or will by a majority; legal decision by some expression of the minds of a number; as, the vote was unanimous; a vote of confidence. [1913 Webster]

5.Votes, collectively; as, the Tory vote; the labor vote. [1913 Webster]

Casting vote, Cumulative vote, etc. See under Casting, Cumulative, etc. [1913 Webster]

1.The act of one who casts or throws, as in fishing. [1913 Webster]

2.The act or process of making casts or impressions, or of shaping metal or plaster in a mold; the act or the process of pouring molten metal into a mold. [1913 Webster]

3.That which is cast in a mold; esp. the mass of metal so cast; as, a casting in iron; bronze casting. [1913 Webster]

4.The warping of a board. --Brande & C. [1913 Webster]

5.The act of casting off, or that which is cast off, as skin, feathers, excrement, etc. [1913 Webster]

Casting of draperies, the proper distribution of the folds of garments, in painting and sculpture.

Casting line (Fishing), the leader; also, sometimes applied to the long reel line.

Casting net, a net which is cast and drawn, in distinction from a net that is set and left.

Casting voice, Casting vote, the decisive vote of a presiding officer, when the votes of the assembly or house are equally divided. "When there was an equal vote, the governor had the casting voice." --B. Trumbull.

Casting weight, a weight that turns a balance when exactly poised. [1913 Webster]