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.]
1.
A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an enveloping robe; a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering or concealing envelope.
[The] children are clothed with mantles of satin.
Bacon.
The green mantle of the standing pool.
Shak.
Now Nature hangs her mantle green
On every blooming tree.
Burns.
2. Her.
Same as Mantling.
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.
4. Arch.
A mantel. See Mantel.
5.
The outer wall and casing of a blast furnace, above the hearth.
Raymond.
6. Hydraulic Engin.
A penstock for a water wheel.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Man"tle, v. i.
1.
To unfold and spread out the wings, like a mantle; -- said of hawks. Also used figuratively.
Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her perch.
Spenser.
Or tend his sparhawk mantling in her mew.
Bp. Hall.
My frail fancy fed with full delight.
Doth bathe in bliss, and mantleth most at ease.
Spenser.
2.
To spread out; -- said of wings.
The swan, with arched neck
Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows.
Milton.
3.
To spread over the surface as a covering; to overspread; as, the scum mantled on the pool.
Though mantled in her cheek the blood.
Sir W. Scott.
4.
To gather, assume, or take on, a covering, as froth, scum, etc.
There is a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond.
Shak.
Nor bowl of wassail mantle warm.
Tennyson.
© Webster 1913.