Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Magpie \Mag"pie\, n. [OE. & Prov. E. magot pie, maggoty pie, fr.
   Mag, Maggot, equiv. to Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and
   common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita
   pearl, Gr. ?, prob. of Eastern origin. See {Pie} magpie, and
   cf. the analogous names {Tomtit}, and {Jackdaw}.] (Zo["o]l.)
   Any one of numerous species of the genus {Pica} and related
   genera, allied to the jays, but having a long graduated tail.

   Note: The common European magpie ({Pica pica}, or {P.
         caudata}) is a black and white noisy and mischievous
         bird. It can be taught to speak. The American magpie
         ({P. Hudsonica}) is very similar. The yellow-belled
         magpie ({P. Nuttalli}) inhabits California. The blue
         magpie ({Cyanopolius Cooki}) inhabits Spain. Other
         allied species are found in Asia. The Tasmanian and
         Australian magpies are crow shrikes, as the white
         magpie ({Gymnorhina organicum}), the black magpie
         ({Strepera fuliginosa}), and the Australian magpie
         ({Cracticus picatus}).

   {Magpie lark} (Zo["o]l.), a common Australian bird ({Grallina
      picata}), conspicuously marked with black and white; --
      called also {little magpie}.

   {Magpie moth} (Zo["o]l.), a black and white European
      geometrid moth ({Abraxas grossulariata}); the harlequin
      moth. Its larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes.

Organ \Or"gan\, n. [L. organum, Gr. ?; akin to ? work, and E.
   work: cf. F. organe. See {Work}, and cf. {Orgue}, {Orgy}.]
   1. An instrument or medium by which some important action is
      performed, or an important end accomplished; as,
      legislatures, courts, armies, taxgatherers, etc., are
      organs of government.

   2. (Biol.) A natural part or structure in an animal or a
      plant, capable of performing some special action (termed
      its function), which is essential to the life or
      well-being of the whole; as, the heart, lungs, etc., are
      organs of animals; the root, stem, foliage, etc., are
      organs of plants.

   Note: In animals the organs are generally made up of several
         tissues, one of which usually predominates, and
         determines the principal function of the organ. Groups
         of organs constitute a system. See {System}.

   3. A component part performing an essential office in the
      working of any complex machine; as, the cylinder, valves,
      crank, etc., are organs of the steam engine.

   4. A medium of communication between one person or body and
      another; as, the secretary of state is the organ of
      communication between the government and a foreign power;
      a newspaper is the organ of its editor, or of a party,
      sect, etc.

   5. [Cf. AS. organ, fr. L. organum.] (Mus.) A wind instrument
      containing numerous pipes of various dimensions and kinds,
      which are filled with wind from a bellows, and played upon
      by means of keys similar to those of a piano, and
      sometimes by foot keys or pedals; -- formerly used in the
      plural, each pipe being considired an organ.

            The deep, majestic, solemn organs blow. --Pope.

   Note: Chaucer used the form orgon as a plural.

               The merry orgon . . . that in the church goon
               [go].

   {Barrel organ}, {Choir organ}, {Great organ}, etc. See under
      {Barrel}, {Choir}, etc.

   {Cabinet organ} (Mus.), an organ of small size, as for a
      chapel or for domestic use; a reed organ.

   {Organ bird} (Zo["o]l.), a Tasmanian crow shrike ({Gymnorhina
      organicum}). It utters discordant notes like those of a
      hand organ out of tune.

   {Organ fish} (Zo["o]l.), the drumfish.

   {Organ gun}. (Mil.) Same as {Orgue}
      (b) .

   {Organ harmonium} (Mus.), an harmonium of large capacity and
      power.

   {Organ of Gorti} (Anat.), a complicated structure in the
      cochlea of the ear, including the auditory hair cells, the
      rods or fibers of Corti, the membrane of Corti, etc. See
      Note under {Ear}.

   {Organ pipe}. See {Pipe}, n., 1.

   {Organ-pipe coral}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Tubipora}.

   {Organ point} (Mus.), a passage in which the tonic or
      dominant is sustained continuously by one part, while the
      other parts move.