DCHP-1 Online

block

• 1 n. Hist. in Upper and Lower Canada, a subdivision of a newly surveyed township, in turn subdivided into concessions (def. 2) and lots.

  See also: concession (def. 2)  

  • 1799  There are sixteen blocks in each township, numbered from one to sixteen.
  • 1821  This Lot is part of a block of land lately purchased by Dr. Lyons from Alexander McDonell Esqur. M.P.
  • 1947  A few blocks were also occupied in this year at the mouth of the Saugeen River at Southampton [in Upper Canada].

• 2 n. an extensive tract of land, especially one granted to or held by the Crown or by a land or railway company, mining or lumbering concern, etc.

  • 1799  (1936)  When he was in England, the Block of land [that] was called the Missessague Block had been pointed out to him . . . as part of the Country properest for his Colony. . . .
  • 1849  . . . these valuable regions were divided out into blocks of ten square miles and ceded to certain favoured individuals with exclusive rights of mining!
  • 1964  The belt of nickel uncovered at Thompson is at the southern edge of . . . the Churchill block of the Precambrian Shield

• 3 n. a specific tract of surveyed land of considerable extent identified by a proper name.

  • 1827  The quantity of land already taken up, in the Guelph Block, amounted last week to 12,250 acres.
  • 1963  In the extreme north-east lie the wheatlands of the Peace River Block, the only farming district in Canada that has never known a crop failure.

• 4 n. a single tract of land or piece of property, small or large.

  • 1820  It seems that the Bishop and his friends have set their hearts on the old Parliament House and the four acre block on which it stands. . . .
  • 1953  He and his associates . . . purchased 10,000-acre land blocks from the C.P.R.
  • 1964  A block of 130 acres on the north side of the Cowichan River is being purchased . . . for recreational use. . . .

• 5 † n. one of the tracts, usually rectangular, into which a city or town is subdivided, made up of a number of lots and usually bounded by four streets.

  • 1837  A whole block of buildings has been totally consumed. . . .
  • 1959  . . . all he had to do was to put up the names of Randolph Scott or George Raft on the marquee of his Downtown Theatre and he'd have a line-up around the block. . . .

• 6 † n. one side of a block (def. 5), especially when conceived of as a measure of distance.

  See also: block (def. 5)  

  • 1891  Never have to walk further than a block or so between saloons.
  • 1964  I had four blocks to cover [in canvassing for funds].

• 7a n. a large single building, especially one containing offices, apartments, or stores.

  • 1890  Where Dineen's store stood towered a twelve-story block. . . .
  • 1961  The biggest jump this year has been in the construction of apartment blocks.

• 7b n. one of the principal buildings on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, housing the Senate, the Commons, and various offices and committee rooms, now called the East, Centre, and West Blocks.

  See also: Centre Block  East Block  West Block  

  • 1864  (1955)  The Buildings consist of central block, in which are comprised the House or Chamber of the Legislative Council ( the Lords), and a House of Assembly (the Commons), flanked by two wings containing the various Government offices, an arrangement which brings them all together under one roof. . . .
  • 1963  . . . Mr. Pearson walked the few hundred yards from his office on the Centre Block on Parliament Hill to the East Block. . . .

• 8 n. See quote.

  • 1945  Beyond the outer end of these long piers [in the St. Lawrence timber covers], far enough to give about thirty feet depth at low water, there were square piers called "blocks," at which the sailing-ships, and later the steamers, lay to load timber.