lewis

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A dovetailed iron tenon made of several parts and designed to fit into a dovetail mortise in a large stone so that it can be lifted by a hoisting apparatus. Also called lewisson.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A contrivance for securing a hold on a block of stone in order that it may be raised from its position by a derrick. It consists of two side-pieces which fit into a dovetail recess cut in the stone, and between which a ring-tongue is put and fastened in such a way that, when lifted, the lewis gets a firm hold by wedging itself in the dovetail.
2. n. A kind of shears used in cropping woolen cloth.

Wiktionary

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

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. An iron dovetailed tenon, made in sections, which can be fitted into a dovetail mortise; -- used in hoisting large stones, etc.
2. n. A kind of shears used in cropping woolen cloth.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. United States athlete who won gold medals at the Olympics for his skill in sprinting and jumping (born in 1961)
2. n. United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
3. n. United States explorer and soldier who lead led an expedition from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River (1774-1809)
4. n. English critic and novelist; author of theological works and of books for children (1898-1963)
5. n. United States novelist who satirized middle-class America in his novel Main Street (1885-1951)
6. n. United States labor leader who was president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1920 to 1960 and president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations from 1935 to 1940 (1880-1969)