Comb (?; 110), n. [AS. camb; akin to Sw., Dan., & D. kam, Icel. kambr, G. kamm, Gr. � a grinder tooth, Skr. jambha tooth.] 1. An instrument with teeth, for straightening, cleansing, and adjusting the hair, or for keeping it in place.
2. An instrument for currying hairy animals, or cleansing and smoothing their coats; a currycomb.
3. (Manuf. & Mech.) (a) A toothed instrument used for separating and cleansing wool, flax, hair, etc. (b) The serrated vibratory doffing knife of a carding machine. (c) A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for hardening the soft fiber into a bat. (d) A tool with teeth, used for chasing screws on work in a lathe; a chaser. (e) The notched scale of a wire micrometer. (f) The collector of an electrical machine, usually resembling a comb.
4. (Zoöl.) (a) The naked fleshy crest or caruncle on the upper part of the bill or hood of a cock or other bird. It is usually red. (b) One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen of scorpions.
5. The curling crest of a wave.
6. The waxen framework forming the walls of the cells in which bees store their honey, eggs, etc.; honeycomb. “A comb of honey.” Wyclif.
When the bee doth leave her comb.
Shak.
7. The thumbpiece of the hammer of a gunlock, by which it may be cocked.