▪ I. discharge, v.
(dɪsˈtʃɑːdʒ)
Forms: 4–6 descharge, (4–7 discarge, 5–6 dyscharge, 6 dis-, dyschardge, Sc. dischairge, 6–7 discharg, 7 discarg), 4– discharge.
[a. OF. descharge-r, (mod.F. décharger) in 12th c. deschargier, ONF. deskargier = Pr. and Sp. descargar, It. (di)scarcare, -caricare, in med.L. des-, discargāre (12th c. in Du Cange):—late L. type *discarricāre, f. dis- 4 + carricāre to load, to charge.]
I. To free, rid, or relieve a thing (or person) from that with which it is charged.
1. a. trans. To unload (a ship, etc.) from that with which it is charged or loaded; to rid of a charge or load; to disburden. (Also absol., and intr. for refl.)
| 1382 Wyclif Acts xxvii. 38 And thei..discargeden [v.rr. dischargeden, -chargiden] the schipp, castinge whete in to the see. 1481 Caxton Godfrey 260 The maronners of Gene receyued them moche honorably..and discharged theyr shippes. 1513 More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 765 No man unoccupied, some lading..some discharging, some commyng for more. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 167 At the first, ships were accustomed to discarge at Lymne. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 193 Himselfe saw at Puteoli, a certain ship discharged of Elephants embarked therein. 1712 W. Rogers Voy. 20 We..discharg'd the Bark, and parted the small Cargo between our two Ships. 1891 Law Times XCII. 78/2 A strike took place amongst the men employed to discharge the vessel. |
b. To disburden (a weapon, as a bow or gun) by letting fly the missile with which it is charged or loaded; to fire off (a fire-arm). Also absol.
| 1555 Eden Decades 159 The gouernoure discharged aboute .xx. pieces of ordinaunce ageynste them. 1644 Nye Gunnery (1670) 39 He should know how to charge and discharge Gunner like. 1745 Wesley Answ. Ch. 32 To discharge your Spleen and Malice! Say, Your Muskets and Blunderbusses. 1872 Yeats Techn. Hist. Comm. 334 When his piece was discharged, he had to defend himself with his sword. |
c. intr. (for refl.) Of a fire-arm: To go off.
| c 1580 J. Hooker Life Sir P. Carew in Archæol. XXVIII. 139 The matche gave fier, and the pece dyschardged. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. lxxi. 144 b, Some of the Ordinaunce of the fleete beganne to discharge. 1899 Daily News 12 June 3/4 Kennerley was not aware that the firearm was loaded, and it discharged in his face. |
d. Electr. (trans.) To rid of an electric charge; to withdraw electricity from. (Also intr. for refl.)
| 1748 Franklin Lett. Wks. 1840 V. 199 The bottle being thereby discharged, the man would be charged. 1794 G. Adams Nat. & Exp. Philos. IV. xlvii. 295 It [a Leyden phial] will be discharged of its fire with a loud snap. 1836–9 Todd Cycl. Anat. II. 83/1 The torpedo sometimes bears great irritation..without discharging. 1869 T. Graham in Sci. Opinion 10 Feb. 270/3 On charging and discharging portions of the same palladium wire repeatedly, the curious retraction was found to continue. |
e. transf. and fig. To rid, clear (of); to deprive (of). Now rare.
| 13.. K. Alis. 3868 Y am of Perce deschargid, Of Mede, and of Assyre aquyted. 1393 Gower Conf. I. 13 Þei [the clergy] wolde hemself descharge Of pouerte and become grete. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxliii. (1482) 285 Quene Isabell was dyscharged of al hir dower, and sente oute of Englond. 1520 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 26 The same person..shalbe dischargied of his ffraunches. 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa ii. 157 He is bound..to discharge the citie of all leprous persons. 1658 Evelyn Fr. Gard. (1675) 92 You need only discharge them of the dead wood. 1712 J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 188 At that Time the Earth being wholly discharged of its Moisture, is very dry. 1736 Bailey Househ. Dict. 355 Discharge the fish of its scales and entrails. 1862 F. Hall Hindu Philos. Syst. 103 The assertion..that whatever has misery for a quality can never be discharged of it. |
f. refl. To disburden oneself by utterance; to give vent to words, feelings, etc. ? Obs.
| 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 1353, I wyll myself discharge To lettered men at large. 1713 Steele Guardian No. 29 ¶26 We now and then discharge ourselves in a symphony of laughter. 1752 Fielding Amelia v. i, The colonel..discharged himself of two or three articles of news. |
2. fig. a. To relieve of (an obligation or charge); to exonerate; to exempt, let off, release from.
to discharge a bankrupt: to release him from further legal liability for debts contracted before his bankruptcy.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 313 Discharged wille þei be of þe grete oth þei suore. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 56 She might have saide, ‘Aske myn husbonde that questyon and not me’, and thus she might have discharged her of her ansuere. 1513 More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 771 Neither king nor Pope can geve any place such a privilege that it shall discharge a man of his debtes beyng able to pay. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado v. i. 328, I discharge thee of thy prisoner, and I thanke thee. 1607 Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr. i. iii. 126 Doth not the Lawe discarg from a vowe that which hath a superfluous member. 1714 Fr. Bk. of Rates 11 We have established the Imposition of 50 Sols per Ton, on the Freight of all Strangers Ships, at the same time discharging those of our own Subjects. 1784 Form Bankrupt's Certif. in Tomlins Law Dict. s.v., We..testify and declare our consent..that the said John Thomas..be discharged from his debts in pursuance of the same act. 1786 J. Bacon Liber Regis Pref., An Account of the Valuations of all the Ecclesiastical Benefices in England and Wales, which are now charged with the Payment of First Fruits and Tenths, or were lately discharged from any Payment to those Revenues, on account of the Smallness of their Income. 1858 Sat. Rev. VI. 448/1 We are not discharged of our duties towards our female readers by any coyness on their part. 1863 H. Cox Instit. i. viii. 95 Some boroughs were discharged by the sheriffs from sending members. |
† b. refl. To relieve oneself of an obligation by fulfilling it. to discharge oneself of: to acquit oneself of, perform, fulfil (a duty or obligation) = sense 11; to pay (a debt) = sense 10. Obs.
| 1586 Holinshed Chron. II. 447 Such magistrates..as neither are comburgesses nor apt to discharge themselves of such offices. 1659 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 252 To discharge themselves of a part of their debts. 1705 Addison Italy 94 Yet 'tis observ'd of 'em, that they discharge themselves with a great deal of Dexterity in such Embassies..as are laid on 'em. |
3. a. trans. To relieve of a charge or office; (more usually) to dismiss from office, service, or employment; to cashier. Constr. from, † of; prep. rarely omitted.
| 1476 in York Myst. Introd. 37 All..insufficiant personnes..to discharge, ammove, and avoide. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 135 b, The duke of Yorke was discharged of the office of Regent. 1599 Harsnet Agst. Darell 94 About a Moneth or five weekes after he was Discharged of M. Brakenburies Service. 1664 Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 144 Being..discovered to be a rampant Socinian, he was discharged of employment. 1738 Comm. Sense (1739) II. 203 Enemies..insisted I should be forthwith discharged his Service. 1836 Marryat Midsh. Easy xxiii, He wanted to leave the service; he hoped that Captain Wilson would discharge him and send him home. 1884 Pae Eustace 67 You are an idle, drunken vagabond, and I'll have you discharged. |
† b. refl. To disburden or relieve oneself of an office or employment by quitting or renouncing it.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 8939 Now is tyme in this tru..To discharge me as cheftain. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour N iv, Syre I rendre and dyscharge me of your offyce. |
† 4. trans. To clear of a charge or accusation; to exculpate, acquit. Obs.
| c 1500 Lancelot 3227 Bot, if god will, I sal me son discharg. Say to sir kay I sal not ber the charg, He sal no mater have me to rapref. 1552 Huloet, Discharge..extra culpam ponere. 1638 Penit. Conf. vii. (1657) 132 We may well doubt if every Sir John's absolution discharge us before god. 1661 Bramhall Just Vind. ix. 245 But it is not enough to charge the Church of Rome, unless we can discharge our selves, and acquit our own Church of the guilt of Schisme. 1742 Fielding J. Andrews i. xvi, The constable hath not been discharged of suspicion on this account. |
5. a. To dismiss (a prisoner in charge of the officers of the law, or one charged with an offence); to release from custody, liberate.
| 1556 Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden) 82 The duke of Norfoke..and the byshoppe of Wyssiter had their pardone, and ware dyschargyd. 1699 in Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 549 Requesting to be discharged from his confinement. 1771 Junius Lett. xliv. 239 The..magistrate..declares the warrant illegal and discharges the prisoner. 1797 Monthly Mag. III. 550 The sheriff may then discharge the defendant. 1887 Times 26 Aug. 10/2 Mr. d'Eyncourt discharged a man accused of picking pockets. |
b. To dismiss, send away, let go. (Cf. also 3.) († Also with ind. obj. by omission of from.)
| 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary ii. (1625) 20 Whom your selfe knew an houre before our conference, to have bin discharged our company. 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 120 They woulde not discharge the souldiers. 1652 Wadsworth tr. Sandoval's Civil Wars Sp. 333 Requiring the Commissioners forthwith to discharge him the Citie. 1807 Med. Jrnl. XVII. 316 At the end of which time..the girl was a second time discharged cured. 1893 Law Times XCV. 249/2 The jury, having informed the court that they had no presentment to make, were discharged. |
6. To charge or command not to do something (cf. charge v. 14); to prohibit, forbid. Also with the action as obj. Obs. exc. dial. (Chiefly Sc.)
| 1570 Levins Manip. 31 To discharge, inhibere, absoluere. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. viii. 89 This parleament..discharges al man the futball, and al sik games. 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix. 389 The Cardinall..discharged him to say Masse for a yeare. 1693 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 368 And discharge all others from Transporting Anie persons over the Skuillkill. 1707 Act. agst. Innov. Worship 21 Apr. (Jam.), The General Assembly..doth hereby discharge the practice of all such innovations. 1716 Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 120 The ministers..were discharged to pray for King George even in their families. [1881 Leicestersh. Gloss., s.v., A dischaa'ged 'im of ivver comin' agen o' the graound. 1889 N.W. Linc. Gloss. s.v., I discharge you fra iver speäkin' to oor 'Melia ony moore.] |
7. Arch. a. To relieve (some part) of superincumbent weight or pressure by distributing this over adjacent parts. (Also b. with the weight as obj.)
| 1667 Primatt City & C. Build. 82 One Lintal to discharge the two windows and Balcony-door. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 138 Put a Girder between, to Discharge the Length of the Joysts. 1715 Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) I. 51 The arched ceilings..are made of cane, to discharge the Walls. 1788 [see discharging ppl. a.]. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. iii. 195/2 The arch..not only supports the wall above, but ‘discharges’ the weight over the walls on each side. |
II. To remove, throw off, clear away a charge.
8. To remove (that with which anything is charged); to clear out, send out or forth, emit. spec. a. To take out, clear away, empty out, unload from a vessel, etc. (Also predicated of the vessel: cf. c below.)
| 1479 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 425 All smalwodde to be discharged at the Bak. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. xlii. 96 That ther were setled a Factorie, to discharge the Merchandize the which were appointed for that place. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. i. 4 The Ships as usually take in water..yet they do as frequently discharge it again at some of these Islands, and take in better. 1720 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. III. 112 Preventing Sickly Vessels from discharging their goods or passengers. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xx. 59 They came to anchor, moored ship, and commenced discharging hides and tallow. Ibid. xxii. 67 Having discharged her cargo and taken in ballast, she prepared to get under weigh. 1840 Thackeray Paris Sk.-bk. (1869) 1 The two coaches draw near, and from thence..trunks, children..and an affectionate wife are discharged on the quay. |
b. To send forth, let fly (a missile, a blow, etc.); to fire off (a shot).
| c 1500 Melusine lxii. 369 He..wold haue take the swerd to haue descharged it vpon the serpent. 1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. i 57 They do discharge their Shot of Courtesie. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. v. 75 Of the..Motion or Course of a Shot discharged out of any Piece of Ordnance. 1725 Pope Odyss. xxii. 276 Let each at once discharge the deadly dart. 1771 Goldsmith Hist. Eng. I. 196 A Norman knight..discharged at his head two..furious strokes of a sabre. 1817 Wolfe Burial Sir J. More i, Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot O'er the grave where our hero we buried. c 1850 Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 466 The king, my father, discharged an arrow, which pierced his breast. |
| absol. 1481 Caxton Godfrey 147 Oure meyne discarged [i.e. arrows] on them. 1684 Scanderbeg Rediv. vi. 144 The Turks having Discharged, again retired. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. IV. viii. xiv. 94 Archers who discharged perpetually upon them. a 1774 Goldsm. Hist. Greece I. 297. |
c. To give vent to, allow to escape or pass out; to send or pour forth, emit; fig. to give utterance or expression to.
| 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 299 There they discharged their choler. 1605 Shakes. Macb. v. i. 81 Infected minds To their deafe pillowes will discharge their Secrets. 1676 Wiseman Surgery (J.), The matter being suppurated, I opened an inflamed tubercle..and discharged a well-concocted matter. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) I. 73 'Tis the only manner in which the poor cramp'd Wretches can discharge a free Thought. 1833 Act 3–4 Will. IV, c. 46 §114 The same [pipes] shall not discharge the water..upon the foot pavements. 1845 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 11 The shoals of the frivolous and dissipated which this country annually discharges upon the Continent. |
d. refl. To find vent, escape; esp. of a river, to empty itself, disembogue (also intr.).
| 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa ii. 333 This small river..dischargeth it selfe into the Mediterran sea. 1794 S. Williams Vermont 30 Twenty five run westerly and discharge themselves into Lake Champlain. 1816 Keatinge Trav. (1817) II. 42 A deep and rapid river, which discharges at Larache. 1820 Scoresby Acc. Arctic Reg. I. 338 The chimney..through which the smoke discharges itself. |
† 9. a. trans. To remove (anything of the nature of a charge, obligation, etc.); to get rid of, do away with, abolish. Obs.
| 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. 12 b, Mater in writyng may nat be discharged by..bare wordes. 1626 Bacon Sylva §236 All this dischargeth not the wonder. 1654 tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 173, I resolved to remove and discharge the Office of the Major of the Pallace. 1732 Neal Hist. Purit. I. 234 The Earl of Murray..convened a Parliament..in which the Pope's authority was again discharged. 1741 Richardson Pamela (1742) IV. 34 If it be the natural Duty of a Mother, it is a Divine Duty; and how can a Husband have Power to discharge a Divine Duty? 1778 R. Lowth Transl. Isaiah Prelim. Diss. (ed. 12) 44 We can hardly expect..more..than to be able..to discharge and eliminate the errors that have been gathering..for about a thousand years past. |
b. Law. To put an end to the obligation of, cancel, annul (an order of a court).
| 1798 Dallas Amer. Law Rep. II. 33 Therefore adjudge that the order of the court be discharged. 1808 Parl. Deb. 1409 Other..business..might render it improper to discharge the order: the call might be postponed for a few days without being discharged. 1885 Law Times LXXIX. 175/1 The order..was entirely wrong, and must be discharged with costs. |
c. Arch. To get rid of (a weight): see 7 b.
10. a. To clear off, or acquit oneself of (an obligation) by fulfilment or performance; to pay (a debt, vow, etc.).
| 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. ccxxiv. [ccxx.] 701 His entent was not to departe thens tyll euery thynge was payed and discharge[d]. 1542 Udall in Lett Lit. Men (Camden) 2 Only of an honest purpose to discharge my debtes. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iv. i. 13, I will discharge my bond. 1606 ― Ant. & Cl. iv. xvi. 28 Death of one person can be paide but once, And that she ha's discharg'd. 1725 Pope Odyss. i. 329 Soon may your sire discharge the vengeance due. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 141 If I am bound to pay money on any certain day, I discharge the obligation if I pay it before twelve o'clock at night. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) I. vi. 337 By no means sufficient to defray his expenses, far less to discharge his debts. 1885 Law Times LXXIX. 172/1 If forbearance were shown, the defaulting solicitor would be able to discharge his liabilities. |
† b. To pay or settle for. Obs.
| 1593 Nashe Four Lett. Confut. 6 That thou mayst haue money to goe home to Trinitie Hall to discharge thy commons. 1646 Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 239 The next morning..discharging our lodgings, we agreed for a coach to carry us. 1729 Swift Libel on Delany Wks. 1755 IV. i. 95 Crazy Congreve scarce cou'd spare A shilling to discharge his chair. 1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 156 She literally was without a shilling to discharge the vehicle which had conveyed her to the metropolis. 1842 C. Whitehead R. Savage (1845) II. iv. 218 I had discharged my lodging that morning. Ibid. III. xi. 446 That insult shall be discharged at the same time with the other debts. |
† c. To pay, settle with (a creditor). Obs.
| a 1560 Amy Robsart Let. in Westm. Gaz. 21 Apr. (1894) 4/1 To make this gowne of vellet whiche I sende you..and I will se you dyscharged for all. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iii. ii. 276 If he had The present money to discharge the Jew, He would not take it. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 392 The Husbandman..reaps the Fruit of his Labour, provided he take care to discharge his Landlord. |
† d. To clear oneself of, account for, give account of. Obs. rare.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. vii. xii. 17 He bade her Ceasse to molest the Moone to walke at large Or come before high Jove her dooings to discharge. |
† e. To transfer the responsibility for (something) by charging it on some one else (cf. charge v. 16). Obs. rare.
| 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxvii. 292 Part of the fault may be discharged on the punisher. 1697 Dryden æneid xii. (R.), 'Tis not a crime t' attempt what I decree, Or if it were, discharge the crime on me. |
11. To acquit oneself of, fulfil, execute, perform (a charge, office, duty, trust, function, etc.).
| 1548 Latimer Ploughers (Arb.) 21 A soore word for them that are neglygent in dyschargeinge theyr office. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. v. i. 206 Thus haue I Wall, my part discharged so. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) II. 214 He was high-sheriff of this county, 1635, discharging the place with great honour. 1719 in Perry Hist. Coll. Am. Col. Ch. I. 216 Let me..exhort you to discharge a good conscience in this matter. 1755 Johnson Let. to Langton 6 May in Boswell, When the duty that calls me to Lichfield is discharged, my inclination will call me to Langton. a 1853 Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. vii. 92 They appointed one of their number..to discharge those offices for them. |
12. a. Dyeing, etc. To remove (the dye or colour with which it has been charged) from a textile fabric, etc. b. To print (a fabric) with a pattern by discharging parts of the ground colour.
| 1727 Pope, etc. Art of Sinking 91 Take off the gloss, or quite discharge the colour. 1764 Churchill Poems, Ep. to Hogarth, Wash the Ethiop white, Discharge the leopard's spots. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xix. 150 The colours had been discharged by some acid. 1836 Penny Cycl. VI. 155/1 The second style of calico-printing consists in giving a general dye to the cloth, and discharging portions of the ground, which has the effect of producing a number of white or variously coloured figures upon it. 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts I. 288, That is, 224 handkerchiefs are discharged every ten minutes. |
c. intr. Of ink, dye, etc.: To be washed out; to ‘run’ when wetted.
| 1883 R. Haldane Workshop Receipts Ser. ii. 336/2 The ink..dries quickly, and may even be varnished without discharging. |
▪ II. discharge, n.
(dɪsˈtʃɑːdʒ, ˈdɪs-)
[f. prec. vb.: cf. OF. descharge (13–14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), mod.F. décharge, f. des-, décharger.]
1. The act of freeing from or removing a charge or load; disburdenment, unloading (of a vessel, etc.); clearing away, removal (of a cargo, etc.).
| 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Passe-porte, a bill of discharge for any marchandise. 1626 Bacon Sylva §92 Marke well the Discharge of that Cloude; And you shall see it euer breake vp, first in the Skirts, and last in the middest. 1891 Law Times XCII. 78/2 The discharge of her cargo began on the 14th Nov. |
2. The act of discharging a weapon or missile; the act of firing off a fire-arm, letting fly an arrow, etc. Also fig.
| 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. i. 57 By discharge of their Artillerie. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxii. 79 Without any noise or discharge of Ordnance. 1785 S. Fielding Ophelia I. xiv, I had stood her discharge of nonsense. 1831 J. W. Croker in Croker Papers (1884) 8 Feb., I am as convinced..as I am that the discharge of my gun will follow the pulling the trigger. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. India III. 76 The howitzers were then brought up, and after a few discharges, the work was taken in flank. |
3. a. The act of sending out or pouring forth; emission, ejection; the rate or amount of emission.
| 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. ii. i. 37 The wretched annimall heau'd forth such groanes That their discharge did stretch his leatherne coat Almost to bursting. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth iii. (1723) 161 Wherever there are any extraordinary Discharges of this [subterraneous] Fire, there also are the neighbouring Springs hotter than ordinary. 1783 Pott Chirurg. Wks. I. 309 The discharge of this mucus. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 180 And give a more easy issue or discharge to the water. 1880 Haughton Phys. Geog. iii. 141 This gives a discharge of water to the southward, equal to 32·28 cubic miles per hour. |
b. Electr. The emission or transference of electricity which takes place between two bodies positively and negatively charged, when placed in contact or sufficiently near each other. Applied attrib. to a tube or an electric lamp containing a gas or metal vapour in which an electric discharge can be produced between two electrodes. Cf. gas-discharge.
| 1794 G. Adams Nat. & Exp. Philos. IV. xlvii. 295 The person who holds the discharger feels nothing from the discharge. 1836–9 Todd Cycl. Anat. II. 82/2 The shock caused by an electrical fish is said to be produced by a discharge of its electricity. 1863–72 Watts Dict. Chem. II. 388 The recombination of the opposite electricities which constitutes discharge may..be either continuous or sudden. 1894 Times 19 Apr. 13/6 Three modes of electric discharge—the glow discharge, the spark discharge, and the arc discharge. 1898 Phil. Mag. 5th Ser. XLVI. 296 Hertz made the rays travel between two parallel plates of metal placed inside the discharge-tube. 1935 Discovery Apr. 111/2 The latest drifting signs make use of small electric discharge tubes instead of filament lamps. 1936 Nature 14 Nov. 836/1 The new discharge bulb lamps are already in use on the Continent... In appearance they are like the ordinary ‘pearl’ lamp but they have no filament. They contain a small quartz mercury vapour discharge lamp..and they are corrected for colour. 1936 Discovery Dec. 365/2 The methods of determining with accuracy the masses of swift charged atoms and molecules produced in the discharge tube. 1959 Listener 12 Mar. 454/1 About 1930, the discharge lamp emerged as a competitor of the tungsten filament lamp for street lighting. |
c. concr. That which is emitted or poured forth; esp. matter issuing from a wound or running sore.
| 1727 P. Hardisway in Phil. Trans. (1727) VII. 216 (title) A Purulent Discharge. 1804 Abernethy Surg. Obs. 223, I directed that this discharge should be pressed out..and a poultice applied. 1862 M. Goodman Exper. Eng. Sister of Mercy 103 The discharge was so offensive as to nauseate him and prevent him taking nourishment. |
d. The place where something is discharged; e.g. the mouth of a river (cf. discharge v. 8 d); an opening for discharging something.
| 1798 Pennant Hindoostan II. 110 The water contained in them [rivers] is increased by dams made across their discharges. 1808 Pike Sources Mississ. iii. App. 6 From its sources to its discharge into the head of the gulf of California. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth (ed. 1) xxix, On the meadow at the Ballough, that is, the discharge of the lake into the river. |
4. a. The act of freeing from obligation, liability, or restraint; release, exoneration, exemption.
discharge of a bankrupt: release from further legal liability for debts contracted before his bankruptcy.
| c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. ix, Wich encrease, any subget desirith ffor his owne discharge off þat he beyrith to the sustenance off his prince. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 518/2 Of whiche commaundement in scripture we see no discharge. 1559 Abp. Hethe in Strype Ann. Ref. I. ii. App. vi. 11 Thus muche I have here said..for the dyscharge of my conscience. 1683 Brit. Spec. 155 After that Honorius had by Letters of Discharge quitted the Britains of the Roman Jurisdiction. 1705 Act 4 Anne c. 17 That a bankrupt trader..should be entitled to his discharge from all further liability for the debts theretofore contracted. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 66 Neither will any prescription de non decimando avail in total discharge of tithes, unless it relates to such abbey lands. 1835 Penny Cycl. III. 401/1 Bankrupt Law Sc., The bankrupt..may apply to the Court of Session for a discharge..A discharge..frees the debtor from all debts previous to the date of the first deliverance on the petition for sequestration, except debts due to the crown. 1895 Times (Weekly Ed.) 558/2 [Bankruptcy Court] Although he did not treat the debtor as immaculate, he thought the order of discharge might be granted subject to the minimum suspension laid down by the Act—namely, two years. |
b. Exoneration from accusation or blame; exculpation, acquittal, excuse.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 160 b, It is not sufficyent to my discharge. a 1557 M. Basset tr. More's Treat. Passion Wks. 1373/2 Wold that..haue serued theym for theire dyscharge? 1656 Earl of Monmouth Adv. Fr. Parnass. 328 He published in his own discharge, those his unfortunate relations. a 1716 South (J.), Not condemning..which word imports properly an acquittance or discharge of a man upon some precedent accusation. 1836 J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. i. (1852) 20 His receiving a discharge from guilt. |
c. Dismissal from service, employment, or office.
| 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 139 b, He..nothyng more coveted and desired then libertie and discharge. 1590 Greene Mourn. Garm. (1616) 36 The Seruingmen..brookt their discharge with patience. 1611 Bible Eccl. viii. 8 There is no discharge in that warre. 1755 N. Magens Insurances II. 111 If the Master..give the Mate his Discharge. 1844 Regul. & Ord. Army 195 In the cases of Soldiers who obtain their Discharge by Purchase, no charge is allowed by the Public for their passage from abroad. |
d. Release from custody, liberation.
| c 1590 C'tess Pembroke Ps. lxvi. vii, I cried to him, my cry procured My free discharge from all my bandes. 1671 Milton Samson 1573 Death, who sets all free, Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge. 1771 Mackenzie Man Feel. xi. (1803) 88 You will receive..a sum more than sufficient for your husband's discharge. Mod. The magistrate ordered the discharge of the prisoner as the evidence did not warrant his committal for trial. |
e. concr. Something that frees from obligation; esp. a document conveying release from obligation; a receipt for the payment of money due, an acquittance; a certificate of freedom from liability.
| 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 54 §5 The Kingis lettres under his pryve seale..shalbe sufficient discharge for the..payment thereof. 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. 12 b, Than must the tenaunt shewe a discharge by suffycient writyng, and nat by wordes, or elles to paye the same. 1640–1 Kirkcudbr. War Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) 91 To call for a sight of the said discharges and tak coppies thairof. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. xix. (1840) 341, I sent for a notary, and caused him to draw up a general release or discharge for the four hundred and seventy moidores. 1792 C. Smith Desmond III. 53 He [the steward] is very honest..and I have given him his discharges. 1866 Crump Banking v. 107 An alteration made by the drawer..without the consent or knowledge of the acceptor, is considered a full discharge to the acceptor. 1895 Times (Weekly Ed.) 16 Aug. 652/2 Sending up parchment discharge and other documentary evidence of the..good conduct of the deceased. |
5. The act of clearing off a pecuniary liability; payment.
| 1611 Shakes. Cymb. v. iv. 173 Oh the charity of a penny Cord..you haue no true Debitor, and Creditor but it: of what's past, is, and to come, the discharge. 1688 Pennsylv. Archives I. 104 Help us w{supt}{suph} some money ffor the Discharge of the Great Expence wee are at. 1809 Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 136 The discharge of the debt, therefore, is vital to the destinies of our government. 1888 Bryce Amer. Commw. II. xliii. 140 Providing for the discharge of existing liabilities. |
6. Fulfilment, performance, execution (of an obligation, duty, function, etc.).
| 1610 Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 254 An act Whereof what's past is Prologue; what to come In yours and my discharge. 1622 R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea, I know the Spaniard too too well and the manner of his proceedings in discharge of promises. 1675 Traherne Chr. Ethics xxx. 478 The discharge of our duty. 1829 Southey Sir T. More i. iii, Such tribute..rendered, in discharge Of grateful duty. 1845 Stephen Laws Eng. (1874) II. 627 The discharge of the office is, in general, compulsory upon the party chosen. 1883 Law Reports 11 Q. Bench Div. 596 note, In discharge of his functions as advocate. |
7. † a. The act of sending away; dismissal. Obs. b. Law. Dismissal or reversal of an order of a court.
| 1677 Gilpin Demonol. (1867) 430 Positive discharges, like that of Christ in the same case, ‘Get thee hence, Satan’. 1892 Sir N. Lindley in Law Times Rep. LXVII. 150/1 The discharge of the order..ought not to be granted except upon the terms of bringing the money into court. |
8. Arch. The relieving some part of a building of superincumbent weight; concr. a contrivance for effecting this. (Cf. discharge v. 7.)
| 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 159 A Brick-wall or a Post trim'd up to a piece of Timber over charg'd for its Bearing, is a Discharge to that Bearing. 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 222 Discharge, a post trimmed up under a beam, or part of a building which is weak. |
9. a. Dyeing, etc. The act or process of removing the colour with which a textile fabric is charged. b. concr. A composition or mixture used for this purpose. (Cf. discharge v. 12.)
| 1836 Penny Cycl. VI. 155/1 Calico-printing, Discharges are of two kinds: the simple, and the compound or mordanted. Ibid. 155/2 Compound discharges not only remove the mordant from the ground..but introduce a new mordant on the discharged points. 1854 J. Scoffern in Orr's Circ. Sc. Chem. 422 Some varieties of calico-printing by the process of discharge. 1874 W. Crookes Pract. Handbk. Dyeing 317 By the word discharge is designated any compound or mixture which has the property of bleaching, or taking away, the colour already communicated to a fabric. |
10. attrib. and Comb.
| 1836 Penny Cycl. VI. 155/1 The goods..are..impressed with the discharge paste by means of the engraved block or cylinder. Ibid. 155/2 Mordanted goods..intended for the discharge process. 1864 Daily Tel. 26 July, The discharge culverts, through which the sewage is poured into the river, are visible only at the time of low-water. 1874 Knight Dict. Mech., Discharge-valve, in marine engines, a valve covering the top of the air-pump, opening when pressed from beneath. 1891 R. Kipling City Dreadf. Nt. 26 His statements tally with the discharge-certificate of the United States. |