among grammarians, implies the different inflections or terminations of nouns, serving to express the different relations they bear to each other; and to the things they represent. See Grammar.

Case also denotes a receptacle for various articles; as a case of knives, of lancets, of pistols, &c.

printing, a large flat oblong frame, placed slopely, divided into several compartments or little square cells; in each of which are lodged a number of types or letters of the same kind, whence the compositor takes them out, each as he needs it, to compose his matter. See Printing.

Case is also used for a certain numerous quantity of divers things. Thus a case of crown glass contains usually 24 tables, each table being nearly circular, and about three feet six inches diameter; of Newcastle glass, 35 tables; of Normandy glass, 25.

CASE-Hardening of Iron, is a superficial conversion of that metal into steel, by the ordinary method of conversion, namely, by cementation with vegetable or mineral coals. This operation is generally practised upon small pieces of iron wrought into tools and instruments to which a superficial conversion is sufficient; and it may be performed conveniently by putting the pieces of iron to be case-hardened, together with the cement, into an iron box, which is to be closely shut and exposed to a red heat during some hours. By this cementation a certain thickness from the surface of the iron will be converted into steel, and a proper hardness may be afterwards given by sudden extinction of the heated pieces of converted iron in a cold fluid. See Steel.

CASE-Shot, in the military art, musket balls, stones, old iron, &c. put into cases, and shot out of great guns.