Castor
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views 3,329,207 updated May 29 2018Cas·tor / ˈkastər/ 1. Greek Mythol. the twin brother of Pollux. See Dioscuri.2. Astron. the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini, close to Pollux. It is a multiple star system, the three components visible in a moderate telescope being close binaries.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
castor
oxford
views 1,553,159 updated May 29 2018castor 2 perforated vessel for sprinkling pepper, sugar, etc. XVII; swivel wheel on legs of furniture XVIII. var. of caster, agent-noun f. CAST + -ER 1. The sp. -or for -er (still current) may have been favoured as being more appropriate to an instrument; cf. razor, mirror, and words in -ATOR.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
castor
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views 1,820,308 updated May 14 2018castor 1 beaver, unctuous substance obtained from the beaver (used as a drug). XIV. — (O)F. or L. castor — Gr. kástōr. The history of the use of castor oil (XVIII) for the pale-yellow oil obtained from the seeds of the plant Ricinus communis is obscure.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
castor
oxford
views 1,281,018 updated Jun 08 2018cas·tor / ˈkastər/ •
n. a reddish-brown oily substance secreted by beavers, used in medicine and perfumes.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
