fountain shell

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Fountain \Foun"tain\ (foun"t[i^]n), n. [F. fontaine, LL. fontana, fr. L. fons, fontis. See 2d Fount.]

1.A spring of water issuing from the earth. [1913 Webster]

2.An artificially produced jet or stream of water; also, the structure or works in which such a jet or stream rises or flows; a basin built and constantly supplied with pure water for drinking and other useful purposes, or for ornament. [1913 Webster]

3.A reservoir or chamber to contain a liquid which can be conducted or drawn off as needed for use; as, the ink fountain in a printing press, etc. [1913 Webster]

4.The source from which anything proceeds, or from which anything is supplied continuously; origin; source. [1913 Webster]

Judea, the fountain of the gospel.— Fuller.[1913 Webster]

Author of all being, Fountain of light, thyself invisible.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

Air fountain. See under Air.

Fountain heead, primary source; original; first principle. --Young.

Fountain inkstand, an inkstand having a continual supply of ink, as from elevated reservoir.

Fountain lamp, a lamp fed with oil from an elevated reservoir.

Fountain pen, a pen with a reservoir in the handle which furnishes a supply of ink.

Fountain pump. (a) A structure for a fountain, having the form of a pump. (b) A portable garden pump which throws a jet, for watering plants, etc.

Fountain shell (Zool.), the large West Indian conch shell (Strombus gigas).

Fountain of youth, a mythical fountain whose waters were fabled to have the property of renewing youth. [1913 Webster]

Tridacna \Tri*dac"na\, n. [L., pl., a kind of oysters, fr. Gr. ? eaten at three bites, ? tri- + ? to bite.] (Zool.) A genus of very large marine bivalve shells found on the coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. One species (Tridacna gigas) often weighs four or five hundred pounds, and is sometimes used for baptismal fonts. Called also paw shell, and fountain shell. [1913 Webster] Tridactyl