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—hoseless, adj. —hoselike, adj.n.1. a flexible tube for conveying a liquid, as water, to a desired point: a garden hose; a fire hose.2. (used with a pl. v.) an article of clothing for the foot and lower part of the leg; stocking or sock.3. (of men's attire in former times)a. an article of clothing for the leg, extending from about the knee to the ankle and worn with knee breeches.b. (used with a pl. v.) knee breeches.c. (used with a pl. v.) tights, as were worn with, and usually attached to, a doublet.4. Brit. Dial. a sheath, or sheathing part, as that enclosing a kernel of grain.5. Golf. hosel.v.t.6. to water, wash, spray, or drench by means of a hose (often fol. by down): to hose the garden; to hose down the ship's deck.7. Slang.a. to cheat, trick, or take advantage of.b. to defeat decisively.c. to reject.d. Chiefly Mil. to attack or assault (an area) in order to gain control quickly (sometimes fol. by down).[bef. 1100; (n.) ME, OE; c. D hoos, ON hosa, G Hose; (v.) ME: to provide with hose, deriv. of the n.]
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▪ pipingflexible piping designed to carry liquids or gases. Early hoses were made from leather, which was never wholly satisfactory and was supplanted in the 19th century by natural rubber. Rubber layered on a pole or mandrel produced a flexible and watertight hose; the addition of canvas strengthened the fabric, and helically wound wire gave a degree of rigidity. The introduction of the extrusion process for rubber made possible hoses of any length and enormously increased their usefulness. For vulcanization of a layered hose, a lead sheath is applied; after vulcanization in an autoclave (pressure boiler) the sheath is stripped off.World War II stimulated the development of numerous synthetic rubbers with greater chemical resistance. The development of polyethylene opened a new field. polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, provided another versatile material for hose makers. The discovery of polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, produced a plastic with outstanding resistance to most chemicals. Methods have also been developed for producing flexible metal hose and combinations of metal and synthetic fibres, e.g., a Dacron and stainless-steel hose capable of carrying liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and other ultralow-temperature liquids.* * *
Universalium. 2010.