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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Mantel \Man"tel\, n. [The same word as mantle a garment; cf. F.
manteau de chemin['e]e. See {Mantle}.] (Arch.)
The finish around a fireplace, covering the chimney-breast in
front and sometimes on both sides; especially, a shelf above
the fireplace, and its supports. The shelf is called also a
{mantelpiece} or {mantlepiece}. [Written also {mantle}.]
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mantle \man"tle\, n. [OE. mantel, OF. mantel, F. manteau, fr. L.
mantellum, mantelum, a cloth, napkin, cloak, mantle (cf.
mantele, mantile, towel, napkin); prob. from manus hand the
root of tela cloth. See {Manual}, {Textile}, and cf.
{Mandil}, {Mantel}, {Mantilla}.]
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1. A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an
enveloping robe; a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering
or concealing envelope.
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[The] children are clothed with mantles of satin.
--Bacon.
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The green mantle of the standing pool. --Shak.
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Now Nature hangs her mantle green
On every blooming tree. --Burns.
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2. (Her.) Same as {Mantling}.
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3. (Zool.)
(a) The external fold, or folds, of the soft, exterior
membrane of the body of a mollusk. It usually forms a
cavity inclosing the gills. See Illusts. of
{Buccinum}, and {Byssus}.
(b) Any free, outer membrane.
(c) The back of a bird together with the folded wings.
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4. (Arch.) A mantel. See {Mantel}.
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5. The outer wall and casing of a blast furnace, above the
hearth. --Raymond.
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6. (Hydraulic Engin.) A penstock for a water wheel.
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7. (Geol.) The highly viscous shell of hot semisolid rock,
about 1800 miles thick, lying under the crust of the Earth
and above the core. Also, by analogy, a similar shell on
any other planet.
[PJC]


Mantle \Man"tle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mantled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Mantling}.]
To cover or envelop, as with a mantle; to cloak; to hide; to
disguise. --Shak.
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Mantle \Man"tle\, v. i.
1. To unfold and spread out the wings, like a mantle; -- said
of hawks. Also used figuratively.
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Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her perch.
--Spenser.
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Or tend his sparhawk mantling in her mew. --Bp.
Hall.
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My frail fancy fed with full delight.
Doth bathe in bliss, and mantleth most at ease.
--Spenser.
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2. To spread out; -- said of wings.
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The swan, with arched neck
Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows.
--Milton.
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3. To spread over the surface as a covering; to overspread;
as, the scum mantled on the pool.
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Though mantled in her cheek the blood. --Sir W.
Scott.
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4. To gather, assume, or take on, a covering, as froth, scum,
etc.
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There is a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond. --Shak.
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Nor bowl of wassail mantle warm. --Tennyson.
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