Comb (?; 110), n. [AS.. camb; akin to Sw., Dan., & D. kam, Icel. kambr, G. kamm, Gr. a grinder tooth, Skr. jambha tooth.]
1.
An instrument with teeth, for straightening, cleansing, and adjusting the hair, or for keeping it in place.
2.
An instrument for currying hairy animals, or cleansing and smoothing their coats; a currycomb.
3. Manuf. & Mech.
- A toothed instrument used for separating and cleansing wool, flax, hair, etc.
- The serrated vibratory doffing knife of a carding machine.
- A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for hardening the soft fiber into a bat.
- A tool with teeth, used for chasing screws on work in a lathe; a chaser.
- The notched scale of a wire micrometer.
- The collector of an electrical machine, usually resembling a comb.
4. Zool.
- The naked fleshy crest or caruncle on the upper part of the bill or hood of a cock or other bird. It is usually red.
- One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen of scorpions.
5.
The curling crest of a wave.
6.
The waxen framework forming the walls of the cells in which bees store their honey, eggs, etc.; honeycomb.
"A comb of honey."
Wyclif.
When the bee doth leave her comb.
Shak.
7.
The thumbpiece of the hammer of a gunlock, by which it may be cocked.
© Webster 1913.
Comb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Combed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Combing.]
To disentangle, cleanse, or adjust, with a comb; to lay smooth and straight with, or as with, a comb; as, to comb hair or wool. See under Combing.
Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Comb, v. i. [See Comb, n., 5.] Naut.
To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
© Webster 1913.
Comb, Combe (? ∨ ?), n. [AS. comb, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. cwm a dale, valley.]
That unwatered portion of a valley which forms its continuation beyond and above the most elevated spring that issues into it. [Written also coombe.]
Buckland.
A gradual rise the shelving combe
Displayed.
Southey.
© Webster 1913.
Comb, n. A dry measure. See Coomb.
© Webster 1913. | 
