Thick

Thick (thĭk), a. [Compar. Thicker (-ẽr); superl. Thickest.] [OE. thicke, AS. þicce; akin to D. dik, OS. thikki, OHG. dicchi thick, dense, G. dick thick, Icel. þykkr, þjökkr, and probably to Gael. & Ir. tiugh. Cf. Tight.] 1. Measuring in the third dimension other than length and breadth, or in general dimension other than length; - - said of a solid body; as, a timber seven inches thick.

Were it as thick as is a branched oak.

My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

2. Having more depth or extent from one surface to its opposite than usual; not thin or slender; as, a thick plank; thick cloth; thick paper; thick neck.

3. Dense; not thin; inspissated; as, thick vapors. Also used figuratively; as, thick darkness.

Make the gruel thick and slab.

4. Not transparent or clear; hence, turbid, muddy, or misty; as, the water of a river is apt to be thick after a rain. "In a thick, misty day." Sir W. Scott.

5. Abundant, close, or crowded in space; closely set; following in quick succession; frequently recurring.

The people were gathered thick together.

Black was the forest; thick with beech it stood.

6. Not having due distinction of syllables, or good articulation; indistinct; as, a thick utterance.

7. Deep; profound; as, thick sleep. [R.] Shak.

8. Dull; not quick; as, thick of fearing. Shak.

His dimensions to any thick sight were invincible.

9. Intimate; very friendly; familiar. [Colloq.]

We have been thick ever since.

☞ Thick is often used in the formation of compounds, most of which are self-explaining; as, thick-barred, thick-bodied, thick-coming, thick-cut, thick-flying, thick- growing, thick-leaved, thick-lipped, thick-necked, thick-planted, thick-ribbed, thick-shelled, thick-woven, and the like.

Thick register. (Phon.) See the Note under Register, n., 7. -- Thick stuff (Naut.), all plank that is more than four inches thick and less than twelve. J. Knowles.

Syn. -- Dense; close; compact; solid; gross; coarse.

Thick, v. t. & i. [Cf. AS. þiccian.] To thicken. [R.]

The nightmare Life-in-death was she,
Who thicks man's blood with cold.

Thick (thĭk), adv. [AS. þicce.] 1. Frequently; fast; quick.

2. Closely; as, a plat of ground thick sown.

3. To a great depth, or to a greater depth than usual; as, land covered thick with manure.

Thick and threefold, in quick succession, or in great numbers. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

Thick, n. 1. The thickest part, or the time when anything is thickest.

In the thick of the dust and smoke.

2. A thicket; as, gloomy thicks. [Obs.] Drayton.

Through the thick they heard one rudely rush.

He through a little window cast his sight
Through thick of bars, that gave a scanty light.

Thick-and-thin block (Naut.), a fiddle block. See under Fiddle. -- Through thick and thin, through all obstacles and difficulties, both great and small.

Through thick and thin she followed him.

He became the panegyrist, through thick and thin, of a military frenzy.