1. [n]  a sleeveless garment like a cloak but shorter
2. [n]  hanging cloth used as a blind
3. [n]  shelf that projects from wall above fireplace; "in England they call a mantel a chimneypiece"
4. [n]  (zoology) a protective layer of epidermis in mollusks or brachiopods that secretes a substance forming the shell
5. [n]  the cloak as a symbol of authority; "place the mantle of authority on younger shoulders"
6. [n]  anything that covers; "there was a blanket of snow"
7. [n]  the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
8. [n]  United States baseball player (1931-1997)
9. [v]  cover like a mantle; "The ivy mantles the building"
10. [v]  spread over a surface, like a mantle

1. \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. (Zo["o]l.)
      (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.
   
   

2. \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.
   
   

3. \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.
   
   

(1.) Heb. 'addereth, a large over-garment. This word is used of Elijah's mantle (1 Kings 19:13, 19; 2 Kings 2:8, 13, etc.), which was probably a sheepskin. It appears to have been his only garment, a strip of skin or leather binding it to his loins. _'Addereth_ twice occurs with the epithet "hairy" (Gen. 25:25; Zech. 13:4, R.V.). It is the word denoting the "goodly Babylonish garment" which Achan coveted (Josh. 7:21).

(2.) Heb. me'il, frequently applied to the "robe of the ephod" (Ex. 28:4, 31; Lev. 8:7), which was a splendid under tunic wholly of blue, reaching to below the knees. It was woven without seam, and was put on by being drawn over the head. It was worn not only by priests but by kings (1 Sam. 24:4), prophets (15:27), and rich men (Job 1:20; 2:12). This was the "little coat" which Samuel's mother brought to him from year to year to Shiloh (1 Sam. 2:19), a miniature of the official priestly robe.

(3.) Semikah, "a rug," the garment which Jael threw as a covering over Sisera (Judg. 4:18). The Hebrew word occurs nowhere else in Scripture.

(4.) Maataphoth, plural, only in Isa. 3:22, denoting a large exterior tunic worn by females. (See DRESS.)