downrights

Noun

downright (plural downrights)

1. (in plural, obsolete) A low grade of wool from the lower parts of the sides of a fleece.
   • It is ſaid, there are nine Sorts of VVool contained in one good Fleece, vvhich to make out, they ſay, that there are five Sorts for making Cloth, and four for Combings; a ſuperfine VVool, a head VVool, Dovvnrights, Seconds, and Livery.1749, William Ellis, “Of Sheering Sheep”, in A Compleat System of Experienced Improvements, Made on Sheep, Grass-lambs, and House-lambs: Or, The Country Gentleman’s, the Grasier’s, the...
2. (obsolete, rare) A vertical line; a perpendicular, a vertical.
   • [T]he middle of it [i.e., the thigh, is] the prop or thiller, the body the vveight, and the leg the povver; either of vvhich being brought by a ſharp angle to a dovvnright or perpendicular or more, vvith the thiller, vvill by ſo much leſſen the vveight, from the yielded aſſumption in that mechanick...1674, N[athaniel] Fairfax, chapter V, in A Treatise of the Bulk and Selvedge of the World. Wherein the Greatness, Littleness and Lastingness of Bodies are Freely Handled. […], London: […] Robert...

See all 10 meanings of downright