In geography, a delta is an alluvial triangular deposit formed at diverging mouths of a river, the original delta is the island formed at the mouths of the Nile and so named by the Greeks from its resemblance to their letter delta (a triangle). Research Delta
A gnomon is the pin or triangular plate on a sundial which causes a shadow to be cast by the sun onto the graduated dial. Originally the term was applied to structures erected perpendicularly to the horizon, from whose shadow the altitudes, declinations, etc, of the sun and stars may be determined. The gnomon was usually a pillar or column or pyramid erected upon level ground. It was much used by the ancient astronomers, and gnomons of great height, with meridian lines attached to them, were still common in France and Italy at the end of the 19th century. Research Gnomon
Tic-tac is a method of signalling in use on racecourses. Its chief object is to communicate the betting movements in Tattersall's to book-makers in the smaller rings and on the course itself when outside betting is permitted.
The tic-tac is operated in a triangular manner, the betting movements in Tattersall's being communicated by one of the operators to a second stationed on the grandstand, who passes on the message to a third person, who in turn, communicates the information to the bookmaker for whom he works.
The signals are made by touching various parts of the head, arms and body, and although more or less universally used, are varied at times to deceive outsiders by introducing what is colloquially called the 'twist', i.e. the signs are made the reverse way and the numbers assigned to horses on the race cards are reversed or otherwise altered.
Customarily the signs used run from the right shoulder, over to the left shoulder, and up either arm, a few of them being as follows: One, right shoulder touched with right hand; two, right ear with right hand; three, right side top of head with right hand; six, left shoulder with left hand; ten, both hands placed together; 7-to-4 against, tips of left hand fingers, with right hand; 5-to-2 against, breast pocket with right hand. Research Tic-Tac
Trojan satellites are small bodies orbiting in the vicinity of the triangular Lagrangian points of a planet- satellite system. Three such satellites have been discovered by the Voyager probes in the Saturnian system: two (Telesto, Calypso) orbiting 60 degrees behind and ahead of Tethys and one (Helene) 60 degrees ahead of Dione. All these bodies have nearly circular orbits in the plane of Saturn's equator. They are around 10 km in diameter and are probably icy fragments. Research Trojan Satellites
The arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) also known as Wapatoo and Is-ze-kn, is a water plant of the family Alismaceae widely distributed throughout Europe, northern Asia and North America. The stem is swollen at the base and throws out creeping stolons or runners, which produce globose winter tubers one centimetres in diameter, composed almost entirely of starch. The leaves are borne on triangular stalks that vary in length with the depth of the water in which the plant is growing. The leaves don't lie on the surface of the water, but stand above it. The leaves are large, glossy and shaped like an arrowhead. The flower stem rises directly from the root and bears several rings of buds and blossoms, three in each whorl. Each flower is composed of three outer sepals and three large petals which are white in colour with a purple base. The root of the arrowhead has long been eaten by the Chinese, Japanese and North American Indians. Research Arrowhead
The beech is a deciduous, shallow-rooted forest tree of the genus Fagus, family Fagaceae, natural order Cupuliferae, native to the northern hemisphere and well known in various parts of the world including New Zealand. The Fagus sylratica, a common European forest-tree, sometimes reaches a height of 35 meters, with a diameter of one or more, is known by its waved and somewhat oval leaves, its triangular fruit inclosed by pairs in a prickly husk, and by its smooth and silvery bark. The wood is hard and brittle, and if exposed to the air liable soon to decay. It is, however, peculiarly useful to cabinet-makers and turners, carpenters' planes, furniture, sabots, etc, being made of it; and it is durable under water for piles and mill-sluices.
The fruit or beech-mast, when dried and powdered, may be made into a wholesome bread; it has also occasionally been roasted and used as a substitute for coffee, and yields a sweet and palatable oil used by the poorer of Silesia instead of butter. Beech-mast is, however, chiefly used as food for swine, poultry, and other animals. The leaves of the beech-tree collected in the autumn, before they have been injured by the frosts, have in some places in the past been used to stuff mattresses. Young beech trees keep their dead leaves, and are often used as hedges.
The North American white beech is identical with the European species. Red-leaved varieties are now common, the American Fagus ferruginea being of this colour. Research Beech
Common bistort (Polygonum Bistorta), adder's-wort or snakeroot, is a perennialherb of the buckwheat family, family Polygonaceae, found in Britain. It has a stout, snake-like twisted rhizome and an erect, unbranched stem. The basalovate to lanceolate leaves with undulate margins and winged petioles are arranged in a rosette. The smaller stem leaves are triangular, sessile and clasp the stem. The flowers are pink in colour, and arranged in a dense terminal spike. The fruit is a three-sided achene surrounded by a persistent perianth.
Common bistort contains a lot of tannin, which gives it astringent properties and led to its use in medicine. The young leaves can be eaten in salads or cooked like spinach and the root is edible after it has been soaked and roasted. In northern England it is commonly called Easter Giant and around Manchester it is called Patience Dock. Research Bistort
The black poplar (Populus nigra) is a large deciduous tree native to Britain, with spreading branches that arch downwards, and a brown, later greyish- black coloured, deeply furrowed bark. The leaves are alternate and serrate and are triangular-ovate with a wedge-like base and flattened petioles. The reddish-brown coloured axillary buds are long and sticky and curve upwards at the tip. Black poplar is dioecious, with crimson coloured male and green coloured female flowers arranged in catkins that open in early spring before the leaves appear. The fruit is a capsule which releases seeds with a white pappus. Research Black Poplar
Buckwheat or Brank (Fagopyrum esculentum or Polygonum Fagopyrum) is a plant of the family Polygonacea, with a branched herbaceous stem, somewhat arrow-shaped leaves, and purplish-white flowers, growing to a height of about one meter, and bearing a small triangulargrain resembling a beech-nut - whence the name whichis a corruption of beechwheat- of a brownish-black hue. It is cultivated in the far-east as a bread-corn and in Europe as a feed for farm animals. Research Buckwheat
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Delta
