Oesel, an island in the Baltic belonging to the Russian government of Livonia, and lying across the mouth of the Gulf of Riga. It is about 45 miles in length from north-east to south-west, has an area of 1000 sq. m., and a pop. of 50,600. The surface is undulating, broken by low hills, marshy, watered by numerous small streams, and well wooded. The coast is generally formed by high cliffs. The climate is milder than that of the neighbouring continental districts. The only town is Arensburg, on the south-east coast (pop. 4000). Many of the inhabitants of Arensburg are of German descent, as are the nobles and clergy of the island; but the peasantry are Estonian. Long governed by the Teutonic Knights, it became a Danish province in 1559, was given up to Sweden in 1645, and in 1721 fell into the hands of Russia.
Esophagus, or GULLET, a membranous canal about 9 inches in length, which extends from the pharynx to the stomach, and thus forms part of the alimentary canal. See DIGESTION, Vol. III. p. 814; and CHOKING.
Estridæ. See BOT.