lewis

plural lewises

1. A cramp iron inserted into a cavity in order to lift heavy stones; used as a symbol of strength in Freemasonry.

   Synonyms: lewisson

2. broadlyfigurativelyThe son of a Freemason, envisaged as assisting his father in heavy work or in old age.
3. A kind of shears used in cropping woollen cloth.

   After the preeming period, the lads are put either to the gig-machines, or to the lewises in the cutting or shearing-room.

   1835, Andrew Ure, The philosophy of manufactures, page 203

plural Lewises

1. countableuncountableA male given name from Frankish.

   And tell false Edward, thy supposed king, That Lewis of France is sending over masquers, To revel it with him and his new bride.

   c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]

   2 more examples

   They named me Lewis and called me Louie as though my name was Louis, and I never saw the difference until Sammy pointed it out. And even then, I still don't see much difference.

   1994, Joseph Heller, Closing Time, →ISBN, page 42

   The Ferraris pressed the self-destruct button, Lewis Hamilton lost his spot on the podium, and there were champagne moments for Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz Jr.

   2019 November 17, Sarah Holt, “Verstappen wins Brazilian GP as Ferraris collide AND Gasly and Sainz claim first F1 podiums”, in CNN, archived from the original on 21 Mar 2020

2. countableuncountableAn English surname originating as a patronymic.

   The first line of dialogue is from an off-screen Field Commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain), asking the team to stay in sight and “make NASA proud”.

   2016 August 31, “GENIUS CHARACTER REVEALS: Mark Watney”, in Industrial Scripts, archived from the original on 22 Feb 2024

3. countableuncountableThe title given to a partially apprenticed Freemason who is normally the Master or Son of a practicing Freemason; one practising or learning the degrees of Freemasonry after introduction to the degrees and before full induction or before becoming a Worshipful Brother.
4. A locale in the United States:
   1. countableuncountableA census-designated place in Montezuma County, Colorado.
   2. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Vigo County, Indiana.
   3. countableuncountableA minor city in Cass County, Iowa.
   4. countableuncountableA minor city in Edwards County, Kansas; named for journalist M. M. Lewis.

      It’s a bit of a surprise to be driving through farmlands near Lewis, Kansas, and suddenly spot a series of tall chalk towers on the horizon.

      2018 July 17, Autumn Spanne, “Check out these crazy rock formations across the United States”, in CNN

   5. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Henry County, Missouri; named for landowner Howell Lewis.
   6. countableuncountableA town in Essex County, New York; named for Morgan Lewis, 3rd Governor of New York.
   7. countableuncountableA town in Lewis County, New York; named for its county, itself for Morgan Lewis.
   8. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Granville County, North Carolina.
   9. countableuncountableA town in Essex County, Vermont; named for landowners Nathan, Sevignior and Timothy Lewis.
   10. countableuncountableA census-designated place in Clam Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin; named for founder Charles E. Lewis.
   11. countableuncountableA ghost town in California.
   12. countableuncountableA number of townships, listed under Lewis Township.

1. A surname from Irish [in turn originating as a patronymic].

1. A surname from Welsh [in turn originating as a patronymic].

1. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of the Isle of Lewis: an island of Scotland, United Kingdom.