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Y . Y, the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet, at the beginning of a word or syllable, except when a prefix (see Y-), is usually a fricative vocal consonant; as a prefix, and usually in the middle or at the end of a syllable, it is a vowel. See Guide to Pronunciation, // 145, 178-9, 272.
Y n. Something shaped like the letter Y; a forked piece resembling in form the letter Y.
Y n. One of the forked holders for supporting the telescope of a leveling instrument, or the axis of a theodolite; a wye.
Y n. A forked or bifurcated pipe fitting.
Y n. A portion of track consisting of two diverging tracks connected by a cross track.
Y pron. I.
Y current . The current through one branch of the star arrangement of a three-phase circuit.
Y level . See under Y, n.
Y's pl. of Y
Y- . Alt. of I-
Y- . A prefix of obscure meaning, originally used with verbs, adverbs, adjectives, nouns, and pronouns. In the Middle English period, it was little employed except with verbs, being chiefly used with past participles, though occasionally with the infinitive Ycleped, or yclept, is perhaps the only word not entirely obsolete which shows this use.
Ya adv. Yea.
Yacare n. A South American crocodilian (Jacare sclerops) resembling the alligator in size and habits. The eye orbits are connected together, and surrounded by prominent bony ridges. Called also spectacled alligator, and spectacled cayman.
Yacca n. A West Indian name for two large timber trees (Podocarpus coriaceus, and P. Purdicanus) of the Yew family. The wood, which is much used, is pale brownish with darker streaks.
Yacht n. A light and elegantly furnished vessel, used either for private parties of pleasure, or as a vessel of state to convey distinguished persons from one place to another; a seagoing vessel used only for pleasure trips, racing, etc.
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