Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) (part 3 of 6)

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) (part 3 of 6)

BALDERDASH, bawl'd[.e]r-dash, n. idle senseless talk: anything jumbled together without judgment: obscene language or writing. [Ety. dub.; but cf. the prov. Eng. balder, to use coarse language, Dut. balderen, to roar. Some adduce Welsh baldorrdus--baldordd, idle noisy talk.]

BALDMONEY, bawld'mun-i, n. popular name for several kinds of Gentian. [Ety. quite unknown.]

BALDRICK, bawld'rik, n. a warrior's belt or shoulder-sash: (Spens.) the zodiac, being regarded as a gem-studded belt. [O. Fr. baldrei (Mid. High Ger. balderich, girdle)--Low L. baldringus, perh. from L. balteus.]

BALE, b[=a]l, n. a bundle, or package of goods: (obs.) the set of dice for any special game.--v.t. to make into bales. [M. E. bale, perh. from O. Fr. bale--Old High Ger. balla, palla, ball. See BALL.]

BALE, b[=a]l, v.t. to throw out water [See BAIL.]

BALE, b[=a]l, n. evil, injury, mischief: misery: woe.--adj. BALE'FUL, full of misery, destructive: full of sorrow, sad.--adv. BALE'FULLY.--n. BALE'FULNESS.--BLISS AND BALE are often alliteratively opposed; also BOOT AND BALE. [A.S. bealu; Old High Ger. balo; Ice. böl.]

BALE, b[=a]l, n. (arch.--Morris) a fire, funeral pyre: (Scot.) a beacon-fire.--n. BALE'-FIRE, a blazing fire: a beacon-fire: a bonfire. Spenser confounds with BALE, woe. [A.S. bæl; Scand. bál; cog. with Gr. phalos, bright. See BELTANE.]

BALEEN, b[=a]-l[=e]n', n. the whalebone of commerce. [Fr.--L. balæna, whale.]

BALISTRARIA, bal-is-tr[=a]r'i-a, n. an aperture or loophole in the wall of a fortification through which crossbowmen might discharge their bolts.--n. BAL'ISTER (obs.), name for an arbalester or crossbowman, also an arbalest or crossbow itself. [Low L. ballistrarius, balistra, a variant form of ballista, a crossbow.]

BALK, BAULK, bawk, n. a ridge left unploughed, intentionally or through carelessness: (obs.) an omission: squared timber: a tie-beam of a house, stretching from wall to wall, esp. when laid so as to form a loft, 'the balks:' (obs.) the beam of a balance: the rope by which fishing-nets are fastened together: a hindrance or disappointment.--v.t. to ignore, pass over: refuse: avoid: let slip: to check, disappoint, or elude: to meet arguments with objections.--v.i. to swerve, pull up: (Spens.) lie out of the way.--n. BALK'-LINE, in billiards, a line drawn across the table 28½ inches from the face of the bottom cushion--a ball is said to be in balk when within this space. [A.S. balca, ridge; Old High Ger. balcho.]

BALL, bawl, n. anything round: any celestial body, esp. the 'globe:' the golden orb borne with the sceptre as the emblem of sovereignty: a globular body to play with in tennis, football, golf, billiards, &c.: any rounded protuberant part of the body: a bullet, or any missile thrown from an engine of war: a rounded mass of anything: a throw or delivery of the ball at cricket: a well-known game played with a ball.--v.i. to gather itself into a ball, become clogged.--ns. BALL'-CART'RIDGE, a cartridge containing both powder and ball [BALL and CARTRIDGE]; BALL'-COCK, the stopcock of a cistern, attached to one end of a lever, at the other end of which is a hollow metal ball which rises and falls with the [Illustration] water, thus regulating the supply; BALL'-FLOW'ER, an ornament of the decorated style of Gothic architecture, resembling a ball placed in a circular flower.--adj. BALL'-PROOF, proof against balls discharged from firearms.--BALL AND SOCKET, a joint formed of a ball partly enclosed in a cup, thus insuring great strength; BALL OF THE EYE, the eye within the lids and socket.--NO BALL, a ball unfairly bowled.--THREE GOLDEN or BRASS BALLS, the sign of a pawnbroker.--TO HAVE THE BALL AT ONE'S FEET, to have a thing in one's power; TO KEEP THE BALL UP or ROLLING, to keep from flagging; TO TAKE UP THE BALL, to take one's turn in anything.--WIDE BALL, one out of the batsman's reach. [M. E. bal, Scand. böllr; cog. with Old High Ger. ballo, pallo.]

BALL, bawl, n. an entertainment of dancing.--n. BALL'ROOM.--TO OPEN THE BALL, to begin the dancing, to begin operations. [O. Fr. bal, baller, to dance--Low L. ballare, referred by some to Gr. ballizein.]

BALLAD, bal'lad, n. a simple spirited narrative poem in short stanzas of two or four lines, in which a story is told in straightforward verse, often with great elaborateness and detail in incident, but always with graphic simplicity and force--a sort of minor epic: a simple song, usually of a romantic or sentimental nature, in two or more verses, each sung to the same melody, as in the so-called Ballad Concerts: any popular song, often scurrilous.--ns. BAL'LADIST, a writer or singer of ballads; BAL'LAD-MONGER, a dealer in ballads. [Fr. ballade, from ballare, to dance, being orig. a song sung to the rhythmic movement of a dancing chorus--a dramatic poem sung or acted in the dance, of which a shadow survives in the ring-songs of our children.]

BALLADE, ba-lad', n. a poem of one or more terns or triplets of seven or eight lined stanzas, each ending with the same line as refrain, and usually an envoy: now frequently used of any poem in stanzas of equal length.--BALLADE ROYAL, stanzas of seven or eight lines of ten syllables--called also Rime or Rhythm royal. [An earlier spelling of BALLAD.]

BALLADINE, bal'a-d[=e]n, n. a female public dancer. [Fr.]

BALLAST, bal'last, n. heavy matter employed to give a ship sufficient immersion in the water, to insure her safe sailing with spread canvas, when her cargo and equipment are too light: that which renders anything steady.--v.t. to load with ballast: to make or keep steady: (Shak.) load.--n. BAL'LAST-HEAV'ER. [Probably the Old Sw. barlast--bar, bare, and last, load, the mere load.]

BALLERINA, bal-ler-[=e]n'a, n. a female dancer:--pl. BALLERINE (bal-ler-in'), BALLERIN'AS. [It.]

BALLET, bal'l[=a], n. a theatrical exhibition composed of dancing, posturing, and pantomimic action: (obs.) a dance. [Fr.; dim. of bal, a dance.]

BALLISTA, BALISTA, bal-lis'ta, n. a Roman military engine in the form of a crossbow, which, like the catapulta and the onager, propelled large and heavy missiles, chiefly through the reaction of a tightly twisted rope, or else by a violent movement of levers.--adj. BALLIS'TIC, projectile.--ns. BALLIS'TIC-PEN'DULUM, an instrument for ascertaining the velocity of military projectiles; BALLIS'TITE, an improved kind of gunpowder. [L.--Gr. ballein, to throw.]

BALLIUM, bal'li-um, n. the Low L. form of BAILEY.

BALLOON, bal-l[=oo]n', n. an inflated air-tight envelope of paper or silk, constructed to float in the air and carry a considerable weight when filled with heated air or light gas: anything inflated, empty: (obs.) a game played with a large inflated ball.--v.i. to ascend in a balloon: to puff out like a balloon.--n. BALLOON'IST, an aeronaut. [It. ballone, augmentative of balla, ball.]

BALLOT, bal'ut, n. a little ball or ticket used in voting: a method of secret voting by putting a ball or ticket into an urn or box.--v.i. to vote by ballot: to select by secret voting (with for): draw lots for:--pr.p. bal'loting; pa.p. bal'loted.--ns. BAL'LOTAGE, in France, the second ballot to decide which of two candidates has come nearest to the legal majority; BAL'LOT-BOX, a box to receive balls or tickets when voting by ballot. [It. ballotta, dim. of balla, ball. See BALL.]

BALM, bäm, n. an aromatic substance: a fragrant and healing ointment: aromatic fragrance: anything that heals or soothes pain: a tree yielding balm: name of some fragrant garden herbs.--v.t. (arch.) to embalm: (Shak.) to anoint with fragrant oil: (arch.) to soothe.--n. BALM'INESS.--adj. BALM'Y, fragrant: mild and soothing: bearing balm.--BALM, or BALSAM, OF GILEAD, the resin of the tree Balsamodendron Gileadense, formerly esteemed as an antiseptic, the name originating in the belief that this is the substance mentioned in the Bible as found in Gilead, and called in the English translation 'balm.' [O. Fr. basme--L. balsamum. See BALSAM.]

BALM-CRICKET, bäm'-krik'et, n. (Tennyson) a cicada. [Ger. baum, a tree, and CRICKET.]

BALMORAL, bal-mor'al, n. a kind of Scotch cap: a figured woollen petticoat: a kind of boot lacing in front.

BALNEOLOGY, bal-ne-ol'o-ji, n. the scientific study of bathing and of mineral springs. [L. balneum, bath.]

BALSAM, bawl'sam, n. the common name of a genus of succulent herbaceous plants: a resinous oily substance generally supposed to be derived from a species of Balsamodendron, early famous in the East for its fragrance and medicinal virtues: (fig.) any healing agent.--v.t. to heal: (rare) embalm.--adjs. BALSAM'IC, BAL'SAMOUS, having the qualities of balsam: soothing; BALSAMIF'EROUS, producing balsam; BAL'SAMY, fragrant.--CANADA BALSAM, a kind of turpentine obtained from the Balm of Gilead fir. [L. balsamum--Gr. balsamon; prob. of Semitic origin.]

BALTIMORE, bal'tim-[=o]r, n. a finch-like perching bird of the starling family, very common in North America, called also Baltimore oriole, Fire-bird, &c. [From Lord Baltimore, whose livery was orange and black--its colour.]

BALUSTER, bal'ust-[.e]r, n. a small pillar used as a support to the rail of a staircase, &c.--adj. BAL'USTERED.--n. BAL'USTRADE, a row of balusters joined by a rail, forming an ornamental parapet to a balcony, &c. [Fr. balustre--Low L. balaustium--Gr. balaustion, the flower of the pomegranate; from the similarity of form.]

BAM, bam, n. a slang word for a hoax: a false tale.--v.t. to cheat or hoax. [See BAMBOOZLE.]

BAMBINO, bam-bi'no, n. a term in art descriptive of the child Jesus, esp. of the swaddled figure of the infant Saviour exhibited at Christmas in Catholic churches. [It., dim. of bambo.]

BAMBOO, bam-b[=oo]', n. a gigantic Indian reed or grass, with hollow-jointed stem, and of hard texture. [Malay bambu.]

BAMBOOZLE, bam-b[=oo]'zl, v.t. to deceive: to confound or mystify.--n. BAMBOO'ZLEMENT. [Of cant origin--but not Gipsy; first appears about 1700.]

BAN, ban, n. a proclamation: sentence of banishment: outlawry: anathematisation: a denunciation: a curse.--v.t. (arch.) to curse: (prov.) to chide or rail upon: to anathematise: to proscribe. [A.S. bannan, to summon; the noun bann does not appear in A.S. (which has gebann), but is a common Teut. word, as in Old High Ger. and Scand. bann. The O. Fr. ban and Low L. bannum are of the same origin.]

BAN, ban, n. the governor of a BANAT, an old name for the military divisions on the eastern boundaries of the Hungarian kingdom.--ns. BANATE, BANNAT. [Pers. b[=a]n, lord.]

BANAL, b[=a]n'al, or ban'al, adj. commonplace, trivial.--n. BANAL'ITY, triviality. [Fr.]

BANANA, ba-nä'na, n. a gigantic herbaceous plant, remarkable for its nutritious fruit. [Sp. or Port. banana, from the native name in Guinea.]

BANBURY, ban'ber-i, n. a kind of cake made at Banbury, a town in Oxfordshire.

BANCO, bang'ko, n. a commercial term meaning the standard money in which a bank keeps its accounts, as distinguished from the current money of the place.--IN BANCO, applied to the sittings of a superior court of common law as a full court distinguished from sittings at Nisi Prius or on circuit. [It. See BANK.]

BAND, band, n. that by which loose things are held together: (fig.) a moral bond of restraint or of obligation: a tie or connecting piece: (pl.) shackles, bonds, fetters (B.): (arch.) an agreement or promise given: (arch.) security given: (Spens.) a pledge. [M. E. band, bond; A.S. bend, from bindan, to bind. See BIND.]

BAND, band, n. a strip of cloth, or the like, to bind round anything, as a hat-band, waist-band, &c.: a stripe crossing a surface distinguished by its colour or appearance: the neck-band or collar of a shirt, also the collar or ruff worn by both sexes in the 17th century (termed a falling-band later, when turned down over the shoulders): (pl.) the pair of linen strips hanging down in front from the collar, worn by some Protestant clergymen and by English barristers.--n. BAND'AGE, a strip or swathe of cloth used by surgeons to keep a part of the body at rest, to apply pressure, or to retain dressings or apparatus in position--the two chief varieties, the roller and the triangular handkerchief bandage: a piece of cloth used to blindfold the eyes.--v.t. to bind with such.--n. BAND'BOX, a light kind of box for holding bands, caps, millinery, &c.--p.adj. BAND'ED, fastened as with a band: striped with bands: leagued, allied.--ns. BAND'FISH, a name given to various kinds of fish with long, thin, flat bodies; BAND'SAW, an endless saw, consisting of a toothed steel belt; BAND'STER, one who binds the sheaves after the reapers. [M. E. bande--O. Fr. bande, of Teut. origin; cf. A.S. bindan; Ger. binde, a band, Eng. BIND.]

BAND, band, n. a number of persons bound together for any common purpose: a troop of conspirators, confederates, &c.: a body of musicians, the company of musicians attached to a particular regiment in the army: (Scot.) band = bond.--v.t. to bind together.--v.i. to associate, assemble, confederate.--ns. BAND'MASTER, the leader of a band of musicians; BANDS'MAN, a member of a band of musicians; BAND'-STAND, a platform for accommodating a band of musicians.--BAND OF HOPE, an association of young persons--often mere infants--pledged to lifelong abstinence from alcoholic drinks--first instituted about 1847. [Fr. bande, of Teut. origin; cf. BEND, BIND.]

BAND, band, v.t. (Spens.) to ban or banish.

BAND, an obsolete pa.t. of BIND.

BANDANA, BANDANNA, ban-dan'a, n. a kind of silk or cotton coloured handkerchief, with a pattern of spots or diamond prints, originally from India. [Hind. bandhn[=u], the mode of dyeing these, b[=a]ndh, a cord.]

BANDEAU, ban'd[=o], n. a fillet or narrow band worn by women to bind their hair:--pl. BAN'DEAUX. [Fr.]

BANDELET, band'e-let, n. (archit.) a small flat moulding or fillet surrounding a column. [Fr. bandelette.]

BANDELIER, ban-de-l[=e]r', n. a form of BANDOLEER.

BANDEROL, BANDEROLE, ban'de-r[=o]l, n. a small banner or streamer, as that borne on the shaft of a lance: (archit.) a flat band with an inscription common in Renaissance buildings. [Fr.]

BANDICOOT, ban'di-k[=oo]t, n. a genus of insectivorous marsupials found in Australia: the largest species of rat, found in India and Ceylon, called also Malabar rat and Pig-rat. [Telegu pandikokku, pig-rat.]

BANDIED. See BANDY.

BANDIT, ban'dit, n. an outlaw: a robber:--pl. BAN'DITS, BANDITT'I. [It. bandito--Low L. bannire, bandire, to proclaim. See BAN.]

BANDOG, ban'dog, n. a dog tied up as a watch-dog, or because of its ferocity. [BAND, fastening, and DOG.]

BANDOLEER, BANDOLIER, ban-do-l[=e]r', n. a leathern belt worn by musketeers, to which their ammunition was fixed. [O. Fr. bandouillere--It. bandoliera, banda, a band.]

BANDOLINE, ban'do-lin, n. a gummy substance used for stiffening the hair and keeping it in shape. [Prob. from BAND.]

BANDORE, ban-d[=o]r', n. a musical instrument like a guitar, with three or more strings. [Sp. bandurria, Fr. mandore; L. pandura, Gr. pandoura.]

BANDROL, band'r[=o]l, n. Same as BANDEROL.

BANDS, of clergymen and barristers. See BAND (2).

BANDY, ban'di, n. a club bent at the end for striking a ball: a game at ball with such a club (bandy-ball = hockey).--v.t. to beat to and fro as with a bandy: to toss from one to another (as words with any one) = to discuss or debate; to give and take blows or reproaches: (Shak.) to fight, strive:--pa.p. ban'died.--n. BAN'DYING.--adj. BAN'DY-LEGGED, having bandy or crooked legs. [Fr. bander, perh. conn. with bande, a side.]

BANE, b[=a]n, n. destruction: death: mischief: poison.--v.t. (arch.) to harm, to poison.--adj. BANE'FUL, destructive.--adv. BANE'FULLY.--n. BANE'FULNESS. [A.S. bana, a murderer; Ice. bani, death.]

BANG, bang, n. a heavy blow: a sudden loud noise: an explosion.--v.t. to beat: to strike violently: to slam, as a door: to make a loud noise: to beat or surpass, to bounce upon.--interj. BANG, used with verbs like 'go,' &c., and in such a phrase as 'bang off.'--p.adj. BANG'ING, dealing blows: overwhelming.--adj. BANG'-UP (slang), in the height of style or fashion.--n. BANG'STER (prov.), a braggart, a victor. [Scand. banga, to hammer; cf. Ger. bengel, a cudgel.]

BANG, bang, n. a woman's hair cut square across the brow.--p.adj. BANGED, wearing the hair in such a way.--n. BANG'-TAIL, a horse's tail with the end squared. [An Americanism, doubtless from the phrase 'bang off.']

BANG. Same as BHANG.

BANGLE, bang'gl, n. a ring, bracelet, or anklet.--adj. BAN'GLED, adorned with such. [Hind. bangr[=i].]

BANIAN, BANYAN, ban'yan, n. an Indian tree of the fig family, remarkable for its vast rooting branches: a Hindu trader, esp. from Guzerat, sometimes loosely applied to all Hindus in Western Asia: a loose flannel jacket or gown worn in India.--BANIAN DAYS, a sailor's phrase, meaning days on which no meat is served out, hence days of short commons generally, from the abstinence from flesh of the Banian merchants. [Port. banian, perh. through Ar. bany[=a]n, from Hind. banya--Sans. vanij, a merchant.]

BANISH, ban'ish, v.t. to condemn to exile: to drive away: to expel (with from, out of).--n. BAN'ISHMENT, exile. [Fr. bannir--Low L. bannire, to proclaim. See BAN.]

BANISTER, ban'ist[.e]r, n. a corr. of BALUSTER.

BANJO, ban'jo, n. a musical instrument of the guitar kind, played with the fingers, but without frets to guide the stopping, having a long neck, a body of stretched parchment like a drum, and from five to nine catgut strings. [Corr. of Fr. bandore or pandore--L. pandura--Gr. pandoura.]

BANK, bangk, n. a mound or ridge of earth: the earthy margin of a river, lake, &c.: the raised edge of a road, railway cutting, &c.: (min.) the surface at the pit-mouth, as in banksman: rising ground in the sea.--v.t. to enclose with a bank: to deposit or pile up: to make up a fire by covering it with a heap of fuel so pressed down as to remain a long time burning slowly--banked fires.--n. BANKS'MAN, an overseer at a pit-mouth.--FROM BANK TO BANK, from the time the collier begins to descend the pit for his spell of work till he reaches the top again. [M. E. banke, of Scand. origin; cog. with BANK, BENCH.]

BANK, bangk, n. a bench in a galley: a tier or rank of oars: the bench on which judges sat. [O. Fr. banc, of Teut. origin, cog. with the foregoing word.]

BANK, bangk, n. a place where money is deposited: an institution for the keeping, lending, and exchanging, &c. of money: in games of hazard, the money the proprietor, who plays against all the others, has before him.--v.t. to deposit in a bank, as money.--ns. BANK'-[=A]'GENT, the head of a branch bank; BANK'-BILL, a bill drawn by one bank upon another, payable at a future date, or on demand; BANK'-CHEQUE, an order to pay issued upon a bank; BANK'ER, one who keeps a bank: one employed in banking business:--fem. BANK'ERESS; BANK'-HOL'IDAY, a day on which banks are legally closed, bills falling due on these being payable the following day; BANK'ING, the business of a banker.--adj. pertaining to a bank.--ns. BANK'-NOTE, a note issued by a bank, which passes as money, being payable to bearer on demand; BANK'-PAP'ER, bank-notes in circulation; BANK'-STOCK, a share or shares in the capital stock of a bank; BRANCH'-BANK, a branch office of a bank; SAV'INGS-BANK, one intended originally to develop a spirit of saving amongst the poor.--BANK ANNUITIES, the consolidated three per cent. annuities--British Government funds.--BANK OF ISSUE, one that issues its own notes, or promises to pay; JOINT-STOCK BANK, one of which the capital is subscribed by a large number of shareholders; PRIVATE BANK, one carried on by any number of persons less than ten.--TO BREAK THE BANK, to win, as in faro, from the management a certain sum which has been fixed upon as the limit the bank is willing to lose on any one day; TO PLAY AGAINST THE BANK, to take the risks of a game against the manager who holds the bank, as at rouge-et-noir, &c. [Fr. banque, of Teut. origin, cog. with two foregoing words.]

BANKRUPT, bangk'rupt, n. one who breaks or fails in business; an insolvent person.--adj. insolvent: destitute (with of).--n. BANK'RUPTCY, the state of being or act of becoming bankrupt. [Fr. banque-route, It. banca rotta.]

BANKSIA, bangk'sia, n. a genus of Australian shrubs, named in honour of Sir Joseph Banks (1744-1820).

BANNER, ban'[.e]r, n. a military standard: a flag or ensign bearing some device, as in processions, &c.--adj. BAN'NERED, furnished with banners. [O. Fr. banere--Low L. bandum, bannum; cog. with BAND and BIND.]

BANNERET, ban'[.e]r-et, n. a higher class of knight, inferior to a baron. [Fr. dim. of BANNER.]

BANNEROL, ban'[.e]r-ol, n. Same as BANDEROL.

BANNING, ban'ning, n. cursing. [See BAN.]

BANNOCK, ban'nok, n. a flat home-made cake of oatmeal, barley, or pease-meal. [Gael. bannach.]

BANNS, banz, n.pl. a proclamation of marriage.--TO FORBID THE BANNS, to make formal objection to a projected marriage. [From BAN.]

BANQUET, bangk'wet, n. a feast: any rich treat or entertainment: a course of sweetmeats, fruit, and wine, separately, or after the principal meal--still used in the Scotch phrase, 'a cake and wine banquet.'--v.t. to give a feast to.--v.i. to fare sumptuously.--ns. BANQ'UETER, BANQ'UETEER; BANQ'UETING; BANQ'UETING-HOUSE. [Fr.;--banc, bench, like It. banchetto, from banco.]

BANQUETTE, bang-ket', n. a raised way inside a parapet; the long seat behind the driver in a French diligence. [Fr.; It. banchetta, dim. of banca, seat.]

BANSHEE, ban'sh[=e], n. a female fairy in Ireland and elsewhere, who makes herself known by wailings and shrieks before a death in the particular family to which she is attached. [Ir. bean sídhe, Old Ir. ben síde, woman of the fairies.]

BANTAM, ban'tam, n. a small variety of the common domestic fowl, supposed to be named from Bantam in Java, notable for courage.--adj. of bantam-breed: little and combative.

BANTER, bant'[.e]r, v.t. to assail with good-humoured raillery: to joke or jest at: (arch.) to impose upon, trick.--n. humorous raillery: jesting.--ns. BANT'ERER; BANT'ERING.--adv. BANT'ERINGLY.--adj. BANT'ERY (Carlyle). [Ety. quite unknown.]

BANTING, bant'ing, n. a system of diet for reducing superfluous fat.--n. BANT'INGISM. [From W. Banting (1797-1878), a London cabinetmaker, who recommended it to the public in 1863.]

BANTLING, bant'ling, n. a child. [So called from the bands in which it is wrapped.]

BANTU, ban't[=oo], n. a native name sometimes applied to the South African family of languages and the peoples speaking these, including Kaffirs and Zulus, Bechuans, and the peoples from the Hottentot country to the Gulf of Guinea.

BANXRING, bangks'ring, n. a small insectivorous animal of Java and Sumatra. [Jav.]

BANYAN. See BANIAN.

BAOBAB, b[=a]'o-bab, n. a magnificent tree, native to tropical Western Africa, whose trunk is 20 to 30 feet thick, called also the Monkey-bread Tree. [African.]

BAPHOMET, baf'[=o]-m[.e]t, n. the alleged name of a mysterious idol the Templars were accused of worshipping.--adj. BAPH'OMETIC. [A medieval corr. of the name Mahomet.]

BAPTISE, bapt-[=i]z', v.t. to administer baptism to: to christen, give a name to.--n. BAPT'ISM, immersion in or sprinkling with water as a religious ceremony--a sign and seal of the covenant of grace. It is symbolic of spiritual purification, and as a religious rite marks initiation into the Christian community.--adj. BAPTIS'MAL.--adv. BAPTIS'MALLY.--ns. BAPT'IST, one who baptises: one who approves only of baptising by immersion, and that only to persons who profess their faith in Christ; BAP'TISTERY, a place where baptism is administered, either a separate building or a portion of a church.--BAPTISMAL REGENERATION, the doctrine of the remission of sin original and actual, and of the new birth into the life of sanctifying grace, in and through the sacrament of baptism; BAPTISM BY DESIRE, the grace given to a believer who ardently desires baptism, but dies before he can receive it; BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD, the vicarious baptism of a living Christian for an unbaptised dead Christian, who was thereby accounted baptised and received into bliss--it is supposed to be alluded to in 1 Cor. xv. 29; BAPTISM OF BLOOD, martyrdom for Christ's sake; BAPTISM OF FIRE, the gift of the Holy Spirit: martyrdom by fire for Christ's sake: (fig.) any trying ordeal to be endured, as a young soldier's first experience of being under fire; CLINICAL BAPTISM, baptism administered to sick persons; CONDITIONAL (or HYPOTHETICAL) BAPTISM, baptism administered to those about whom it is doubtful whether they were baptised or whether the form of their earlier baptism was valid; NAME OF BAPTISM, the Christian or personal name given at baptism; PRIVATE BAPTISM, baptism administered at home, or elsewhere, not in the church. [Gr. baptiz-ein--bapt-ein, to dip in water.]

BAR, bär, n. a rod of any solid substance: a bolt: a hindrance or obstruction--the barrier of a city or street, as the bars of York, Temple Bar, a toll-bar: a bank of sand or other matter at the mouth of a river: any terminus or limit (of life)--e.g. as in TO CROSS THE BAR: the railing that encloses a space in a tavern, the counter across which drinks are served, a public-house: the wooden rail dividing off the JUDGE'S SEAT, at which prisoners are placed for arraignment or sentence--hence, TO APPEAR AT THE BAR, TO PASS THE BAR = to be formally referred for trial from a lower court to a higher: any tribunal: the pleaders in a court as distinguished from the judges: a division in music.--v.t. to fasten or secure, as with a bar: to hinder or exclude:--pr.p. bar'ring; pa.p. barred.--ns. BAR'-[=I]'RON, iron in malleable bars; BAR'MAID, a female waiter at the bar of a tavern or hotel.--prep. BAR'RING, excepting, saving.--ns. BAR'RING-OUT, the shutting of the school-room doors and windows by the pupils against the master, in order to enforce assent to their demands; BAR'WOOD, a kind of red dye-wood imported from Africa in bars. [O. Fr. barre--Low L. barra, perh. of Celt. origin.]

BARACAN. Same as BARRACAN.

BARAGOUIN, bä-rag-w[=e]n, n. any jargon or unintelligible language. [Fr.; from Bret. bara, bread, and gwîn, wine, supposed to have originated in the Breton soldiers' astonishment at white bread.]

BARB, bärb, n. the beard-like jag near the point of an arrow, fish-hook, &c.--v.t. to arm with barbs, as an arrow, &c.: to shave, trim, mow, to pierce, as with a barb.--adjs. BARB'ATE (bot.), bearing a hairy tuft; BARB'ATED, barbed, bearded.--n. BARBE, a term applied by the Waldenses to their teachers.--adjs. BARBED, furnished with a barb: of a horse, armed or caparisoned with a barb or bard; BARB'ELLATE (bot.), having barbed or bearded bristles. [Fr.--L. barba, a beard.]

BARB, bärb, n. a swift kind of horse, the breed of which came from Barbary in North Africa.

BARBACAN. See BARBICAN.

BARBAROUS, bär'bar-us, adj. uncivilised: rude: savage: brutal.--adjs. BAR'BARESQUE, pertaining to Barbary: barbarous, esp. in art; BARB[=A]R'IAN, uncivilised: savage: without taste or refinement: foreign.--n. an uncivilised man, a savage: a cruel, brutal man.--adj. BARBAR'IC, foreign: uncivilised.--n. BARBARIS[=A]'TION.--v.t. BAR'BARISE, to make barbarous: to corrupt as a language.--ns. BAR'BARISM, savage life: rudeness of manners: an incorrect form of speech; BARBAR'ITY, savageness: cruelty.--adv. BAR'BAROUSLY.--n. BAR'BAROUSNESS. [L.--Gr. barbaros, foreign, lit. stammering, from the unfamiliar sound of foreign tongues.]

BARBARY APE, bär'bar-i [=a]p, n. the magot, or small tailless ape found in Africa and also on the rock of Gibraltar.

BARBECUE, bärb'e-k[=u], v.t. to roast whole, as a pig: to cure flesh by exposing it on a barbecue.--n. a framework on which to dry and smoke meat above a fire: an animal roasted whole: an open floor on which coffee-beans and the like are spread out to dry: (Amer.) a large social or political entertainment, where the hospitalities are on a lavish scale. [Sp. barbacoa--Haytian barbacòa, a framework of sticks set upon posts.]

BARBEL, bärb'el, n. a fresh-water fish with beard-like appendages at its mouth. [O. Fr. barbel--Low L. barbellus--L. barba, a beard.]

BARBER, bärb'[.e]r, n. one who shaves beards and dresses hair.--ns. BARB'ER-MONG'ER (Shak.), a man decked out by his barber, a fop; BARB'ER-SUR'GEON, one who let blood and drew teeth as well as shaved--the company of Barber-surgeons was incorporated in 1461, but by an act in 1545 barbers were confined to the more humble function.--BARBER'S BLOCK, a round block on which wigs are made; BARBER'S POLE, the barber's sign in England, a pole striped spirally with alternate bands of colours, generally red or black and white, having often a brass basin hung at the end. [Fr.--L. barba, a beard.]

BARBERRY, bär'ber-i, n. a thorny shrub with yellow flowers and red berries, common in hedges. [Low L. berberis; the Ar. barbaris is borrowed.]

BARBETTE, bar-b[.e]t', n. an earthen terrace inside the parapet of a rampart, serving as a platform for heavy guns: in ironclad ships, a heavily armoured redoubt amidships. [Fr.]

BARBICAN, bär'bi-kan, n. a projecting watch-tower over the gate of a castle or fortified town, esp. the outwork intended to defend the drawbridge. [O. Fr. barbacane, also in Sp., Port., and It. forms; perh. of Ar. or Pers. origin. Col. Yule suggests b[=a]bkh[=a]nah, gate-house, name in the East for a towered gateway.]

BARBULE, bärb'[=u]l, n. (bot.) a small barb or beard: a pointed barb-like process fringing the barbs of a feather. [See BARBEL.]

BARCAROLLE, bär'ka-r[=o]l, n. a boat-song of the Venetian gondoliers: a musical composition of a similar character. [It. barcaruolo, a boatman, from barca, a bark, a barge, a boat.]

BARD, bärd, n. a poet and singer among the ancient Celts: a poet--dims. BARD'LING, BARD'LET, poetaster.--n. BARD'-CRAFT (Browning).--adj. BARD'IC. [Gael. and Ir. bàrd.]

BARDED, bärd'ed, adj. caparisoned, as horses.--n. BARD (obs.), the protective covering of a war-horse or a man-at-arms. [Fr. barde--Sp. albarda, pack-saddle, perh. from Ar. al-barda`ah; al, the, and barda`ah, mule's pack-saddle.]

BARE, b[=a]r, adj. uncovered: naked: open to view: poor, scanty: unadorned: (Shak.) unarmed: mere or by itself: (Shak.) paltry, desolate: empty: (Spens.) rude.--v.t. to strip or uncover.--adj. BARE'BACKED, with bare back: unsaddled.--n. BARE'BONE (Shak.), a very lean person.--adj. BARE'FACED, with the face uncovered: (Shak.) avowed: impudent.--adv. BARE'FACEDLY.--n. BARE'FACEDNESS.--adjs. BARE'FOOT, -ED, having the feet bare, often of some monastic orders; BARE'-GNAWN (Shak.), gnawed bare; BARE'HEADED, having the head bare; BAR'ISH (Carlyle), somewhat bare; BARE'LEGGED, having the legs bare.--adv. BARE'LY.--ns. BARE'NESS; BARE'SARK, a fierce Norse fighter, a berserker.--adv. in a shirt only. [A.S. bær; Ger. baar, bar; Ice. berr.]

BARE, b[=a]r, old pa.t. of BEAR.

BARAGE, ba-r[=a]zh', n. a light, silky dress-stuff, named from Barèges in the Pyrenees.

BARGAIN, bär'gin, n. a contract or agreement: a favourable transaction: an advantageous purchase: (Shak.) chaffering.--v.i. to make a contract or agreement: to chaffer: to count on, take into consideration (with for): to lose by bad bargaining (with away).--n. BAR'GAINER.--BARGAIN AND SALE, in law, a mode of conveyance whereby property may be assigned or transferred for valuable consideration.--INTO THE BARGAIN, over and above; TO MAKE THE BEST OF A BAD BARGAIN, to make the best of difficult circumstances; TO SELL ANY ONE A BARGAIN (Shak.), to befool him; TO STRIKE A BARGAIN, to come to terms about a purchase. [O. Fr. bargaigner--Low L. barcaniare; acc. to Diez from barca, a boat.]

BARGE, bärj, n. flat-bottomed freight boat, with or without sails, used on rivers and canals: the second boat of a man-of-war: a large pleasure or state boat.--ns. BAR'GEE, a bargeman; BARGE'MAN, The manager of a barge; BARGE'-MAS'TER, the proprietor of a barge. [O. Fr. barge--Low L. barga. Prob. a doublet of BARK, a barge.]

BARGE-BOARD, barj'-b[=o]rd, n. a board extending along the edge of the gable of a house to cover the rafters and keep out the rain. [The barge here may be conn. with Low L. bargus, a gallows.]

BARGHEST, bär'gest, n. a dog-like goblin portending death. [Perh. conn. with Ger. berg-geist, mountain-ghost.]

BARIC. See BARIUM.

BARILLA, bar-il'a, n. an impure carbonate of soda obtained by burning several marine plants (that grow chiefly on the east coast of Spain), used in the manufacture of soap, glass, &c. [Sp. barrilla.]

BARITONE, bar'i-t[=o]n. Same as BARYTONE.

BARIUM, b[=a]'ri-um, n. the metal present in heavy spar (sulphate of baryta) and baryta, formerly thought to be white, but now known to possess a yellow colour.--adj. BAR'IC. [From BARYTA; cf. soda, sodium.]

BARK, bärk, n. the abrupt cry uttered by a dog, wolf, &c.--v.i. to yelp like a dog: to clamour.--v.t. (Spens.) to utter with a bark.--n. BARK'ER, a shop-tout: (slang) a pistol, cannon.--HIS BARK IS WORSE THAN HIS BITE, his angry expressions are worse than his actual deeds. [A.S. beorcan, prob. a variety of brecan, to crack, snap. See BREAK.]

BARK, BARQUE, bärk, n. a barge: a ship of small size, square-sterned, without head-rails: technically, a three-masted vessel whose mizzen-mast is fore-and-aft rigged instead of being square-rigged, like the fore and main masts--barks of over 3000 tons are now frequently built.--ns. BAR'KANTINE, BAR'QUENTINE, a three-masted vessel, with the fore-mast square-rigged, and the main-mast and mizzen-mast fore-and-aft rigged. [Fr. barque--Low L. barca; perh. from Gr. baris, a Nile-boat.]

BARK, bärk, n. the rind or covering of the trunk and branches of a tree: that used in tanning or dyeing, or the residue thereof, laid upon a street to deaden the sound, &c.: the envelopment or outer covering of anything.--v.t. to strip or peel the bark from: to rub off (skin).--n. BARK'-BED, a hotbed made of spent bark.--v.t. BARK'EN, to dry up into a barky substance.--v.i. to become like bark.--adjs. BARK'LESS; BARK'Y.--CINCHONA, JESUITS', PERUVIAN BARK, the bark of the cinchona, from which quinine is made. [Scand. börkr; Dan. bark.]

BARKER'S MILL, bärk'[.e]rz mil, a water-wheel invented in the 18th century by Dr Barker.

BARLEY, bär'li, n. a hardy grain used for food, but chiefly for making malt liquors and spirits.--ns. BAR'LEY-BREE, -BROTH, strong ale; BAR'LEY-CORN, personified as John Barleycorn, the grain from which malt is made: a single grain of barley: a measure of length = 1/3 of an inch; BAR'LEY-SU'GAR, a mixture of sugar with a decoction of pearl-barley, boiled till it is candied; BAR'LEY-WAT'ER, a decoction of pearl-barley; PEARL'-BAR'LEY, the grain stripped of husk and pellicle, and completely rounded by grinding; POT'-BAR'LEY, the grain deprived by milling of its outer husk, used in making broth, &c. [A.S. bærlíc, bere, and suffix -líc.]

BARLEY, bär'li, interj. (Scot.) a term used in games in demand of a truce, parley (of which it is most prob. a corruption).

BARLEY-BRAKE, bär'li-br[=a]k, n. an old country game, originally played by three couples, of which one, left in a middle den called 'hell,' had to catch the others, who could break or separate when about to be overtaken. [Perh. from the grain, barley, because often played in a barley-field; or perh. from the word preceding.]

BARM, bärm, n. froth of beer or other fermenting liquor, used as leaven: yeast.--adjs. BARM'Y; BARM'Y-BRAINED, flighty. [A.S. beorma; cog. with Dan. bärme, Ger. bärme.]

BARMBRACK, bärm'brak, n. a currant-bun. [Ir. bairigen breac, speckled cake.]

BARM-CLOTH, bärm'-kloth, n. (Morris) an apron. [A.S. barm, bosom, -beran, to bear, and CLOTH.]

BARMECIDE, bär'me-s[=i]d, n. one who offers an imaginary or pretended banquet or other benefit.--adjs. BAR'MECIDE, BARMEC[=I]'DAL. [From a story in the Arabian Nights, in which a beggar is entertained to an imaginary feast by one of the Barmecides, a Persian family who attained to great influence at the court of the Abbasside caliphs.]

BARMKIN, bärm'kin, n. the rampart of a castle.

BARN, bärn, n. a building in which grain, hay, &c. are stored.--v.t. to store in a barn.--ns. and adjs. BARN'-DOOR, BARN'-YARD, as in barn-yard fowl.--n. BARN'-OWL, the commonest of British owls.--BARN-DOOR, in cricket, used of a player who blocks every ball: humorously, any large target. [A.S. bere-ern, contracted bern, from bere, barley, ern, a house.]

BARNABY, bärn'a-bi, n. form of Barnabas, the apostle.--n. BAR'NABITE, a member of the congregation of regular canons of St Paul, founded at Milan in 1530, so called from their preaching in the church of St Barnabas there.--BARNABY-DAY, BARNABY BRIGHT, or LONG BARNABY, St Barnabas' Day, 11th June, in Old Style reckoned the longest day.

BARNACLE, bär'na-kl, n. a shellfish which adheres to rocks and the bottoms of ships: a companion who sticks closely.--n. BAR'NACLE-GOOSE, a species of wild goose belonging to the Northern seas, so called from a notion that they were produced from the barnacles mentioned. [O. Fr. bernaque--Low L. bernaca; by some referred to a supposed form pernacula, dim. of perna, a kind of shellfish; by others to a Celtic origin.]

BARNACLE, bär'na-kl, n. an instrument consisting of two branches joined by a hinge, placed on the nose of horses to keep them quiet: (pl.) a colloquial term for 'spectacles.'--adj. BAR'NACLED. [O. Fr. bernac, of which bernacle seems to be a dim. form. The sense of 'spectacles' has been traced to O. Fr. bericle, eye-glass--berillus, beryl; but this is improbable.]

BARNEY, bär'ni, n. (slang) humbug: a prize-fight.

BARNUMISE, bär'num-[=i]z, v.t. to advertise and display on a great scale.--n. BAR'NUMISM. [From Barnum, a great showman (1810-91).]

BAROGRAPH, bar'o-graf, n. a barometer which records automatically variations of atmospheric pressure. [Gr. baros, weight, graphein, to write.]

BAROMETER, bar-om'et-[.e]r, n. an instrument by which the weight or pressure of the atmosphere is measured, and changes of weather, or heights above sea-level, indicated.--adj. BAROMET'RIC.--adv. BAROMET'RICALLY.--n. BAROM'ETRY. [Gr. baros, weight, metron, measure.]

BAROMETZ, bar'o-metz, n. the hairy prostrate stem of a fern found near the Caspian Sea, at one time supposed to be at once plant and animal, to grow on a stalk, and to eat grass like a lamb, &c.; hence also called, as by Mandeville, the Scythian Lamb. [Erroneous form of Russ. baranetz, dim. of baran, ram.]

BARON, bar'on, n. a title of rank, the lowest in the House of Peers: formerly a title of the judges of the Court of Exchequer: in feudal times the tenants-in-chief of the Crown, later the peers or great lords of the realm generally: till 1832, the name for the parliamentary representatives of the Cinque Ports: in Germany, the signification, instead of becoming restricted as in England, has become extended--the greater or dynasty barons having all been elevated to higher titles, a large number being designated barons in virtue of a diploma from some reigning prince, the title being used also by all his descendants.--ns. BAR'ONAGE, the whole body of barons; BAR'ON-BAIL'IE, a magistrate appointed by the lord-superior in a burgh of barony; BAR'ONESS, a baron's wife, or a lady holding a baronial title in her own right.--adj. BAR[=O]N'IAL, pertaining to a baron or barony.--n. BAR'ONY, the territory of a baron: in Ireland, a division of a county: in Scotland, a large freehold estate, or manor, even though not carrying with it a baron's title and rank: the rank of baron.--BARON OF BEEF, a joint consisting of two sirloins left uncut at the backbone. [O. Fr. barun, -on--Low L. baro, -onem; in the Romance tongues the word meant a man as opposed to a woman, a strong man, a warrior; traced by some to Celt. bar, a hero; by others to Old High Ger. bero, bearer, carrier.]

BARONET, bar'on-et, n. the lowest hereditary title in the United Kingdom (of England--now of Great Britain--since 1611; of Scotland--or of Nova Scotia--since 1625; of Ireland, since 1619).--ns. BAR'ONETAGE, the whole body of baronets: a list of such; BAR'ONETCY.--adj. BARONET'ICAL. [Dim. of BARON.]

BAROQUE, bar-[=o]k', adj. originally a jeweller's term, but applied in art generally to extravagant ornamental designs: whimsical, odd. [Fr. baroque; perh. from L. verruca, wart, but referred by some to Ar. bur[=a]q, hard earth mixed with stones.]

BAROSCOPE, bar'[=o]-sk[=o]p, n. an instrument for indicating changes in the density of the air. [Gr. baros, weight, skopein, to see.]

BAROUCHE, ba-r[=oo]sh', n. a double-seated four-wheeled carriage with a falling top. [It. baroccio--L. birotus, two-wheeled, from bis, twice, rota, a wheel.]

BARQUE. Same as BARK (2).

BARQUENTINE, bär'ken-t[=e]n, n. same as BARKANTINE (q.v. under BARK, a ship). [Formed from BARQUE, like BRIGANTINE from BRIG.]

BARRACAN, bar'a-kan, n. a thick, strong stuff resembling camlet. [Fr.; It.--Ar. barrak[=a]n, a dark dress, Pers. barak, a stuff made of camel's hair.]

BARRACE, bar'as, n. (obs.) the lists in a tournament. [O. Fr. barras--barre, bar.]

BARRACK, bar'ak, n. a building for soldiers, esp. in garrison (generally in pl.). [Fr. baraque (It. baracca, Sp. barraca, a tent); acc. to Diez from barra, bar.]

BARRACOON, bar'a-k[=oo]n, n. a depôt for slaves. [Sp.--barraca.]

BARRACOOTA, -CUDA, bar'a-k[=oo]'ta, -k[=oo]'da, n. a voracious West Indian fish.--Also BARRACOU'TA, an Australian food-fish. [Sp.]

BARRAGE, bär'[=a]j, n. the forming of an artificial bar in order to deepen a river. [Fr. barrage--barre, bar.]

BARRATOR, bar-[=a]t'or, n. one who vexatiously stirs up lawsuits, quarrels, &c.--adj. BAR'RATROUS.--adv. BAR'RATROUSLY.--n. BAR'RATRY, fraudulent practices on the part of the master or mariners of a ship to the prejudice of the owners: vexatious litigation, or the stirring up of suits and quarrels among subjects, forbidden under penalties to lawyers: traffic in offices of church or state. [O. Fr. barateor--barat, deceit; traced by some to Gr. prattein, by others to a Celt. or a Scand. origin.]

BARREL, bar'el, n. a cylindrical wooden vessel made of curved staves bound with hoops: the quantity which such a vessel contains (36 imperial gallons of ale and beer): a certain weight or quantity of other goods usually sold in casks called barrels: anything long and hollow, as the barrel of a gun, or cylindrical and barrel-shaped.--v.t. to put in a barrel.--n. BAR'REL-BULK, a measurement of five cubic feet.--p.adj. BAR'RELLED, having a barrel or barrels: placed in a barrel.--ns. BAR'REL-OR'GAN, an organ in which the music is produced by a barrel or cylinder set with pins, the revolution of which opens the key-valves and produces the music; BARREL-VAULT, a vault with a simple semi-cylindrical roof.--adj. BAR'REL-VAULT'ED. [Fr. baril (Sp. barril, It. barile)--Low L. barile, barillus, possibly from barra, bar.]

BARREN, bar'en, adj. incapable of bearing offspring: unfruitful: dull, stupid: unprofitable (with of).--adj. BAR'REN-BEAT'EN.--adv. BAR'RENLY.--n. BAR'RENNESS.--adjs. BAR'REN-SPIR'ITED; BAR'REN-WIT'TED. [O. Fr. barain, brahain, brehaing, perh. from bar, man, as if 'male-like, not producing offspring.']

BARRET, bar'et, n. a flat cap, esp. the BIRETTA (q.v.). [Fr. barrette, Sp. birreta. See BIRETTA.]

BARRICADE, bar'ik-[=a]d, n. a temporary fortification raised to hinder the advance of an enemy, as in the street fights of Parisian insurrections.--v.t. to obstruct: to fortify.--Earlier form BARRIC[=A]'DO. [Fr.; barrique, a cask, the first street barricades having consisted of casks filled with stones, &c. See BAR.]

BARRICO, bar-[=e]'ko, n. a small cask. [Sp.]

BARRIER, bar'i-[.e]r, n. a defence against attack: a limit or boundary: a fence, railing, gate where customs are collected: the lists in a tournament: any obstacle that keeps apart: (pl.) a martial exercise in 15th and 16th centuries.--v.t. to shut by means of a barrier.--n. BAR'RIER-REEF, a coral-reef surrounding an island or fringing a coast with a navigable channel inside.--BARRIER ACT, an act passed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1697 as a security against innovations, decreeing that changes in the law of the Church, even when approved by the Assembly, shall not become law till approved also by a majority of presbyteries. [O. Fr. barrière--Low L. barraria--barra, bar.]

BARRISTER, bar'is-t[.e]r, n. one who is qualified to plead at the bar in an English or Irish law-court.--adj. BARRIST[=E]R'IAL.--n. BAR'RISTERSHIP.--REVISING BARRISTER, a barrister appointed annually by the English judges to revise the lists and settle who are the persons entitled to vote for members of parliament. [From barra, bar, the suffix being undetermined.]

BARROW, bar'r[=o], n. a small hand or one-wheel carriage used to bear or convey a load.--n. BAR'ROW-TRAM, the shaft of a barrow. [M. E. barewe, from an assumed A.S. form bearwe--beran, to bear.]

BARROW, bar'r[=o], n. originally a mountain, hillock: a mound raised over graves in former times. [A.S. beorg; cog. with Ger. berg.]

BARROW, bar'r[=o], n. a long sleeveless flannel garment for infants. [A.S. beorgan, to protect.]

BAR-SINISTER. Variant of BATON-SINISTER (q.v. under BATON).

BARTER, bär't[.e]r, v.t. to give one thing in exchange for another (with for, away).--v.i. to traffic by exchanging.--n. traffic by exchange of commodities.--n. BAR'TERER, one who barters. [Prob. from O. Fr. barat.]

BARTHOLOMEW-TIDE, bar-thol'o-m[=u]-t[=i]d, n. the day of the festival of St Bartholomew, 24th August: the name was also applied to things sold at the fair.--Often spelt BAR'TLEMY.--BLACK BARTHOLOMEW, 24th August 1662, the day on which the Act of Uniformity came into force within the Church of England.

BARTISAN, bär'ti-zan, n. a small overhanging turret projecting from an angle on the top of a tower. [Apparently an adaptation by Scott of Scot. bertisene, traceable to O. Fr. bretesche, a parapet of wood.]

BARTON, bar'ton, n. a farm-yard. [A.S. bere-tún, yard, bere, barley, and tún, enclosure.]

BARYCENTRIC, bar-i-sen'trik, adj. pertaining to the centre of gravity. [Gr. barys, heavy, kentron, centre.]

BARYTA, ba-r[=i]'ta, BARYTES, ba-r[=i]'t[=e]z, n. the earth present in the minerals witherite and heavy spar.--adj. BARYT'IC, of or containing baryta. [From Gr. barys, heavy.]

BARYTONE, bar'i-t[=o]n, n. a deep-toned male voice between bass and tenor: a singer with such a voice: in Greek, applied to words not having an acute accent on the last syllable. [Through Fr. from Gr. barys, heavy, deep, and tonos, a tone.]

BASALT, bas-awlt', n. a hard, dark-coloured rock of igneous origin.--adj. BASALT'IC. [L. basaltes, an African word.]

BASANITE, bas'an-[=i]t, n. a kind of quartz serviceable for testing the purity of the precious metals by the marks made. [Gr. basanos, touchstone.]

BASBLEU. Same as BLUE-STOCKING (q.v. under BLUE).

BASCINET. Same as BASINET.

BASCULE, bas'k[=u]l, n. an apparatus of the lever kind, in which one end is raised while the other is depressed. [Fr. bas, down, and cul, the posteriors.]

BASE, b[=a]s, n. that on which a thing rests: foot: bottom: foundation: support: the chief ingredient, as in dyeing and chemistry: the starting-point, in a race: the fixed goal across which the ball is struck in hockey, the fixed stations at base-ball: the point from which the operations of a campaign are conducted: a measured line serving as a basis for trigonometrical calculations: the surface on which a plane or solid figure stands: (chem.) a term applied to a compound body, generally consisting of a metal united with oxygen; (archit.) the foot or lower member of a pillar, on which the shaft rests: (her.) the lower portion of the shield--any figure placed on it is said to be 'in base:' a small portion of the base of a shield parted off by a horizontal line is sometimes called a base.--v.t. to found or place on a base:--pr.p. b[=a]s'ing; pa.p. based (b[=a]st).--adjs. BAS'AL, BAS'ILAR, pertaining to or situated at the base, esp. of the skull; BASE'LESS, without a base or foundation.--ns. BASE'LESSNESS; BASE'MENT, the base or lowest story of a building.--adj. BAS'EN-WIDE (Spens.), widely extended.--n. BASE'-PLATE, the foundation plate of a piece of heavy machinery.--n.pl. BAS'ES, a kind of embroidered mantle which hung down from the middle to about the knees or lower, worn by knights on horseback: (Spens.) armour for the legs.--ns. BASE'-STRING, the string of a musical instrument that gives the lowest note; BASE'-V[=I]OL (same as BASS-VIOL).--adj. BAS'IC (chem.), belonging to or of the nature of a base.--v.t. BAS'IFY (chem.), to convert into a salifiable base:--pr.p. b[=a]s'ifying; pa.p. b[=a]s'if[=i]ed. [Fr.--L.--Gr. basis--ba-, in bainein, to go.]

BASE, b[=a]s, adj. low in place, value, estimation, or principle: mean: vile: worthless: debased: counterfeit: (law) servile, as opposed to free: humble: (B. and Shak.) lowly.--adj. BASE'-BORN, illegitimate.--adv. BASE'LY.--adj. BASE'-MIND'ED, of a low mind or spirit: mean.--n. BASE'NESS.--adj. BASE'-SPIR'ITED, mean-spirited. [Fr. bas--Low L. bassus, thick, fat, a vulgar Roman word, found also in name Bassus.]

BASE, b[=a]s, v.t. a form of ABASE.

BASE, b[=a]s, n. an old game played by two sides occupying contiguous spaces, called bases or homes, off which any player is liable to be touched with the hand or struck by a ball by the enemy, and so attached to their sides. Forms of this game are known as Prisoner's Base or Bars, and Rounders, and the national American game of Base-ball is a development from it.

BASE-BALL, b[=a]s'-bawl, n. a game played with a bat and a ball, and run round bases, marking the circuit to be taken by each player of the inside after striking the ball. There are nine players on each side; the pitcher, of the one side, throws the ball; one of the other side tries to hit it as it passes him; and the runs to the bases are regulated according as the ball falls inside or outside certain lines, &c. A development from rounders, base-ball has been the American national game since 1865. [Coupled with cricket in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey (written 1798).]

BASECOURT, b[=a]s'k[=o]rt, n. the outer court of a mansion, which contained the stable-yard and servants' accommodation, as distinguished from the principal quadrangle: an inferior court of justice. [Fr. basse-court.]

BASENET. Same as BASINET.

BASH, bash, v.t. to beat or smash in.--n. BASH. [Prob. Scand.]

BASHAW, ba-shaw', n. a pasha: a haughty man--now usually written PASHA or PACHA (q.v.).--ns. BASHAW'ISM, BASHAW'SHIP. [Turk.]

BASHFUL, bash'f[=oo]l, adj. easily confused: modest: shy: wanting confidence.--v.i. BASH (Spens.), to be abashed.--adv. BASH'FULLY.--n. BASH'FULNESS.--adj. BASH'LESS, unashamed. [See ABASH.]

BASHI-BAZOUK, bash'i-ba-z[=oo]k', n. a Turkish irregular trooper. They are mostly Asiatics, and are brutal plundering ruffians, capable, as in 1876 in Bulgaria, of the most devilish atrocities. [Turk. bashi-bozuq.]

BASHLYK, bash'lik, n. a kind of hood with long ends worn in Russia. [Russ. bashluik[)u], a Caucasian hood.]

BASIL, baz'il, n. a mainly tropical or subtropical genus of Labiatæ, characterised by a pleasant aromatic smell and taste, and reckoned amongst sweet herbs.--SWEET BASIL is an Indian annual long cultivated in Europe for seasoning purposes. [O. Fr. basile--L. basilisca--Gr. basilikon, royal.]

BASIL, baz'il, n. a sheepskin roughly tanned and undressed.

BASIL. See BEZEL.

BASILICA, baz-il'ik-a, n. among the Romans, a large oblong hall, with double colonnades and a semicircular apse at the end, used for judicial and commercial purposes--many of them were afterwards converted into Christian churches: a magnificent church built after the plan of the ancient basilica.--adj. BASIL'ICAN. [L. basilica, Gr. basilik[=e] (oikia, a house), belonging to a king, from basileus, a king.]

BASILICON, baz-il'ik-on, n. a name given to various kinds of ointment as possessing sovereign virtues. [Gr. basilikon, royal.]

BASILISK, baz'il-isk, n. a fabulous creature, about a foot long, with a black-and-yellow skin and fiery red eyes, so named, according to Pliny, from the crest on the head like a crown--variously regarded as a kind of dragon or cockatrice: in modern zoology, a harmless crested lizard of tropical South America: an ancient brass cannon throwing a shot of about 200 lb. weight. [Gr. basiliskos, dim. of basileus, a king.]

BASIN, b[=a]s'n, n. a wide open vessel or dish: any hollow place containing water, as a dock: the area drained by a river and its tributaries. [O. Fr. bacin--Low L. bachinus, perh. from the Celtic.]

BASINET, bas'i-net, n. a light globular headpiece worn alone with a visor, or with the great helm resting on the shoulders, worn over it.--Also BAS'NET.

BASIS, b[=a]s'is, n. the foundation, or that on which a thing rests: the pedestal of a column: the groundwork or first principle:--pl. BAS'ES. [See BASE (1).]

BASK, bask, v.i. to lie in the warmth or sunshine. [Scand. badask, to bathe.]

BASKET, bas'ket, n. a vessel made of plaited twigs, rushes, or other flexible materials.--ns. BAS'KETFUL, as much as fills a basket; BAS'KET-HILT, the hilt of a sword with a covering wrought like basket-work to defend the hand from injury; BAS'KET-MAK'ER; BAS'KET-WORK, any structure of interlaced twigs or the like. [Prob. the L. bascauda; the W. basged is apparently borrowed from the English.]

BASQUE, bask, adj. relating to the Basques, or their wonderful language, with its extreme variability of dialects--the only example of a consistently incorporating language.--n. a native of the Basque provinces: the distinctive language of the Basques: a kind of short-skirted jacket worn by women, a continuation of the bodice a little below the waist.--adj. BASQUED (baskt), furnished with a basque.--n. BASQ'UINE, an outer petticoat worn by Basque and Spanish women. [Fr. Basque--Low L. Vasco, an inhabitant of Vasconia, whence Gascony. The Basques themselves call their tongue Eskuara, Euscara, whence the Fr. Euscarien.]

BAS-RELIEF, bä-re-l[=e]f', BASS-RELIEF, bas're-l[=e]f', n. (sculp.) figures which do not stand far out from the ground on which they are formed--also used in the Italian form BASS'O-RILIE'VO. [See BASE, low, and RELIEF.]

BASS, b[=a]s, n. the low or grave part in music.--adj. low, deep, grave.--v.t. to sound in a deep tone.--ns. BASS'-HORN, a musical wind-instrument, a modification of the bassoon, much lower and deeper in its tones; THOR'OUGH-BASS, the theory of harmony. [See BASE, low.]

BASS. Same as BAST.

BASS, BASSE, bas, n. a marine fish allied to the perch. [A.S. bærs; cf. Ger. bars, the perch.]

BASSA, bas'sa, n. Same as BASHAW.

BASSET, bas'et, n. a short-legged dog used in unearthing foxes and badgers: an old Venetian game at cards, resembling faro, widely popular in the 18th century: (geol.) the outcrop or emergence of mineral strata at the surface.--v.i. to incline upward so as to appear at the surface, to crop up.--n. BAS'SET-HORN (It. corno di bassetto), the richest and softest of all wind-instruments, similar to a clarionet in tone and fingering, but with a twice-bent wooden tube, having a compass of two and a half octaves. [Fr. bas, low.]

BASSINET, BASSINETTE, bas'si-net, n. a kind of basket with a hood in which an infant is placed as in a cradle: a similarly shaped perambulator. [Fr. dim. of basin, a basin.]

BASSO, bas'so, n. the same as BASS (1): also a bass singer.

BASSOON, bas-[=oo]n', n. (It. fagotto) a musical wind-instrument filling an important place in the modern orchestra, of the reed species, made of maple-wood or plane-tree, its compass from B flat below the bass stave to C in the treble.--The DOUBLE BASSOON (It. contrafagotto) sounds an octave lower.--n. BASSOON'IST. [It. bassone, augmentative of basso, low, from root of BASE.]

BASS-VIOL, b[=a]s'-v[=i]'ol, n. a musical instrument with four strings, used for playing the bass in concerted music; the violoncello. [See BASS, low, and VIOL.]

BAST, bast, n. the inner bark of the lime-tree: matting made of it. [A.S. bæst; Dut., Dan., Ger. bast.]

BASTARD, bas'tard, n. a child born of parents not married.--adj. born out of wedlock: not genuine: resembling, but not identical with, the species bearing the name: of abnormal shape or size: false.--n. BAS'TARD-BAR, a popular but inaccurate name for the baton-sinister in heraldry.--v.t. BAS'TARDISE, to prove to be a bastard.--adv. BAS'TARDLY (obs.).--ns. BAS'TARD-WING, three, four, or five feathers springing from the side of the wing of a bird near the point, attached to a bony process which is the homologue of the thumb in some mammalia; BAS'TARDY, BAS'TARDISM, the state of being a bastard.--BASTARD TITLE, an abbreviated title of a book on an otherwise blank page preceding the full title-page; BASTARD TYPES, types cast with an extra deep bevel to obviate the use of leads, as Longprimer face on Pica body. [Fr. bâtard; O. Fr. fils de bast, son of the pack-saddle, bast (bât) being a coarse saddle for beasts of burden.]

BASTE, b[=a]st, v.t. to beat with a stick. [Prob. conn. with Ice. beysta, Dan. böste, to beat.]

BASTE, b[=a]st, v.t. to drop fat or butter over meat while roasting to keep it from burning and to improve the flavour. [Ety. unknown.]

BASTE, b[=a]st, v.t. to sew slightly or with long stitches. [O. Fr. bastír, from Old High Ger. bestan, to sew.]

BASTILLE, bast-[=e]l', n. an old fortress in Paris long used as a stale prison, and demolished by a revolutionary mob in July 1789: any prison regarded as a symbol of tyranny. [Fr.--O. Fr. bastir (Fr. bâtir), to build.]

BASTINADO, bast-in-[=a]d'o, v.t. to beat with a baton or stick, esp. on the soles of the feet (a form of punishment in the East):--pr.p. bastin[=a]d'ing or bastin[=a]d'oing; pa.p. bastin[=a]d'ed or bastin[=a]d'oed.--ns. BASTINADE', BASTIN[=A]D'O. [Sp. bastonada, Fr. bastonnade--baston, bâton. See BATON.]

BASTION, bast'yun, n. a kind of tower at the angles of a fortification.--adj. BAST'IONED. [Fr.--O. Fr. bastir, to build.]

BAT, bat, n. a heavy stick: a flat club for striking the ball in cricket, a club for base-balls, a batsman: the clown's sword in a pantomime: a piece of brick: (slang) rate of speed, style.--v.i. to use the bat in cricket:--pr.p. bat'ting; pa.p. bat'ted.--ns. BAT'TER, BATS'MAN, one who wields the bat at cricket, &c.; BAT'TING, the management of a bat in playing games: cotton fibre prepared in sheets. [Perh. from A.S. bat (a doubtful form), prob. Celt. bat, staff.]

BAT, bat, n. an animal with a body like a mouse, but which flies on wings attached mainly to its fore-feet, but extending along its sides to the hind-feet. [M. E. bakke, apparently from Scand.; cf. Dan. aftenbakke, evening-bat.]

BATABLE, b[=a]t'a-bl, adj. debatable, disputable. [A contr. of DEBATABLE.]

BATATA, ba-tä'ta, n. a plant with tuberous roots, the sweet potato. [Sp. batata, potato.]

BATAVIAN, ba-t[=a]'vi-an, adj. pertaining to the ancient Batavi in the Low Countries, or to the modern Dutch, their descendants.

BATCH, bach, n. the quantity of bread baked or of anything made or got ready at one time: a set. [From BAKE.]

BATE. Same as ABATE.

BATE, b[=a]t, n. (Spens.) strife, contention.--adj. BATE'-BREED'ING (Shak.). [Abbrev. of DEBATE.]

BATE, b[=a]t, n. diminution (dial., esp. in combination).

BATE, b[=a]t, v.i. (Shak.) to beat the wings impatiently: (obs.) to be impatient. [O. E. batre--Low L. bat[)e]re.]

BATEAU, bä-to', n. a light river-boat, esp. those used on Canadian rivers. [Fr.--O. Fr. batel, boat.]

BATELESS, b[=a]t'les, adj. (Shak.) that cannot be bated or blunted.

BATFOWLING, bat'fowl-ing, n. the catching birds at night when at roost. [BAT, club, and FOWL.]

BATH, bäth, n. water for plunging the body into: a bathing: a house for bathing: a place for undergoing medical treatment by means of bathing: (phot.) a solution in which plates are plunged:--pl. BATHS (bä_th_z).--ns. BATH'-BRICK, a preparation of siliceous silt, manufactured at Bridgwater in the form of bricks, and used in cleaning knives; BATH'CHAIR, a large wheeled chair for invalids; BATH'HOUSE; BATH'MAN; BATH'ROOM; BATH'-STONE, a building stone quarried at Bath; BATH'WOMAN; BLOOD'-BATH, a massacre.--BATH GUIDE, a poem of the 18th century, often taken as a type of 'Society' verse.--ORDER OF THE BATH, an English order of knighthood, so named from the bath before installation (including three classes--military and civil knights grand-cross, G.C.B.; knights commanders, K.C.B.; and companions, C.B.). [A.S. bæth, cog. with Ger. bad.]

BATH, bäth, n. the largest Jewish liquid measure, containing about six gallons. [Heb.]

BATHE, b[=a]th, v.t. to wash as in a bath: to wash or moisten with any liquid: to moisten, suffuse, encompass.--v.i. to take a bath.--n. the act of taking a bath.--ns. BATH'ING-BOX, a box for bathers to undress and dress in; BATH'ING-MACHINE', a small carriage in which a bather may be carried out into water conveniently deep for bathing. [A.S. bathian; Old High Ger. badôn, bathôn (Ger. baden).]

BATHOMETER, bath-om'et-[.e]r, n. an instrument for ascertaining depth. [Gr. bathos, depth, metron, measure.]

BATHORSE, baw'hors, n. a packhorse carrying the baggage of an officer. [Fr. bât, a pack-saddle.]

BATHOS, b[=a]'thos, n. a ludicrous descent from the elevated to the mean in writing or speech.--adj. BATHET'IC, irregularly formed on the analogy of pathos, pathetic. [Gr. bathos, depth, from bathys, deep.]

BATHYBIUS, bath-ib'i-us, n. name given to a supposed low form of life at the bottom of some parts of the deep sea. [Formed from Gr. bathys, deep, and bios, life.]

BATHYMETRY, bath-im'et-ri, n. the science of measuring the depth of seas and lakes. [Gr. bathys, deep, metria, measurement.]

BATING, b[=a]t'ing, prep. abating, excepting.

BATISTE, ba-t[=e]st', n. usual French name for cambric: applied in commerce to a fine texture of linen and cotton. [Littré derives from Baptiste, the original maker; others from its use in wiping the heads of children after baptism.]

BATLET, bat'let, n. a wooden mallet used by laundresses for beating clothes. [Dim. of BAT.]

BATMAN, bat'man, baw'man, n. a man who has charge of a bathorse. [See BATHORSE.]

BATON, bat'on, BATOON, ba-toon', n. a staff or truncheon, esp. of a policeman: a marshal's staff.--v.t. to strike with a baton.--n. BAT'ON-SIN'ISTER, a well-known heraldic indication of illegitimacy, improperly called BAR-SINISTER, a diminutive of a bend-sinister, not extending to the sides of the shield, so as to resemble a marshal's baton laid diagonally over the family arms from left to right. [Fr. bâton--Low L. basto, a stick; of unknown origin.]

BATRACHIA, ba-tr[=a]'ki-a, n.pl. the order of reptiles which includes the frogs.--adj. and n. BATR[=A]'CHIAN. [From Gr. batrachos, a frog.]

BATSWING, bats'wing, n. a kind of gas-burner, with a slit at the top which causes the flame to take the shape of a bat's wing.

BATTA, bat'ta, n. an allowance to officers in the British Indian army in addition to their ordinary pay: subsistence money. [Hind.]

BATTAILANT, bat't[=a]l-ant, adj. (Spens.) fighting.--adj. BAT'TAILOUS (arch.), war-like. [Fr. bataillant, pr.p. of batailler, to fight. See BATTLE.]

BATTALIA, bat-t[=a]l'ya, n. the order of battle: the main body of an army in array. [It. battaglia. Doublet of BATTLE.]

BATTALIA PIE, bat-t[=a]l'ya p[=i], titbits in a pie: articles like pin-cushions, embroidered by nuns in convents with scenes from the Bible. [Corrupted from Fr. béatilles, dim. formed from L. beatus.]

BATTALION, bat-al'yun, n. a body of soldiers consisting of several companies: a body of men drawn up in battle-array. [Fr.; from root of BATTLE.]

BATTELS, bat'lz, n.pl. an Oxford term signifying accounts for provisions received from college kitchens and butteries: applied generally to the whole of the sums for tuition, &c., charged in college accounts.--v.i. BAT'TILL, BAT'TEL (Spens.), to fatten. [Late L. batilli, perh. conn. with BATTLE, to feed.]

BATTEN, bat'n, v.i. to grow fat: to live in luxury.--v.t. (obs.) to fatten. [Ice. batna, to grow better--bati, advantage; cf. Dut. baten, to avail.]

BATTEN, bat'n, n. a piece of board: a ledge, clamp: in ships, a strip of wood used to fasten down the hatches.--n. BAT'TENING, battens forming a structure. [Same as BATON.]

BATTER, bat'er, v.t. to beat with successive blows: to wear with beating or by use: to attack with artillery.--n. ingredients beaten along with some liquid into a paste: paste for sticking.--ns. BAT'TERING-CHARGE, the full charge of powder for a cannon; BAT'TERING-RAM, an ancient engine for battering down walls, consisting of a large beam with an iron head like that of a ram. [O. Fr. batre (Fr. battre), from the root of BAT.]

BATTER, bat'[.e]r, n. the inclination of a wall from the perpendicular.--v.i. to slope backward from the perpendicular. [Perh. from Fr. battre, to beat down.]

BATTERY, bat'[.e]r-i, n. (Shak.) a wound: a number of cannon with their equipment: the place on which cannon are mounted: the men and horses attending one battery, constituting the unit in the artillery: an instrument used in electric and galvanic experiments: (law) an assault by beating or wounding: apparatus for preparing or serving meals.--CROSS BATTERIES, two batteries commanding the same spot from different directions; FLOATING BATTERY (see FLOAT); MASKED BATTERY, a battery in action out of the enemy's view; TO CHANGE ONE'S BATTERY, to alter the direction of attacking.

BATTLE, bat'l, n. a contest between opposing armies: a fight or encounter: (arch.) a body of troops in battle array, esp. in phrase 'main battle.'--v.i. to contend in fight: to maintain, champion (with against, with).--ns. BAT'TLE-AXE, -AX, a kind of axe once used in battle; BAT'TLE-CRY, a war-shout; BAT'TLEFIELD, the place on which a battle is fought; BAT'TLE-PIECE, a passage, or a painting, describing a battle.--adj. BAT'TLE-SCARRED, scarred in battle.--ns. BAT'TLESHIP, a war-ship of the first class; PITCHED'-BAT'TLE, a battle fought on chosen ground.--BATTLE ROYAL, a general mêlée--HALF THE BATTLE, said of anything which ensures success.--LINE OF BATTLE, troops in array for battle; LINE-OF-BATTLE SHIP, a ship strong enough to form one of the line.--TO JOIN, DO BATTLE, to fight. [Fr. bataille--battre, to beat. See BATTER.]

BATTLE, bat'l, adj. (dial.) nourishing.--v.t. (obs.) to feed. [Most prob. from Ice. bati, improvement. See BATTEN.]

BATTLEDOOR, BATTLEDORE, bat'l-d[=o]r, n. a light bat for striking a ball or shuttlecock.--NOT TO KNOW A B FROM A BATTLEDOOR, to be thoroughly ignorant. [Sp. batidor, a beater, a washing-beetle; but this is doubtful.]

BATTLEMENT, bat'l-ment, n. a wall or parapet on the top of a building with openings or embrasures, originally used only on fortifications: the towering roof of heaven,--adj. BAT'TLEMENTED, fortified with battlements--also pa.p. BAT'TLED (poet.).

BATTOLOGY, bat-ol'o-ji, n. repetition in speech or writing.--adj. BATTOLOG'ICAL. [Gr. battos, a person who repeated himself, and legein, to speak.]

BATTUE, bat-t[=oo]', n. a method of hunting in which the woods are beaten and the game driven from cover into some place for the convenience of the shooters: any indiscriminate slaughter. [Fr.--battre, to beat.]

BAUBLE, baw'bl, n. a trifling piece of finery: a child's plaything: a stick surmounted by a head with ass's ears, and forming the mock emblem of the court-jester: a piece of childish foolery: (Shak.) a foolish person.--adj. BAU'BLING (obs.), trifling. [O. Fr. babel, prob. from the root seen in L. babulus, a babbler.]

BAUDEKIN, bawd'i-kin, BAWDKIN, bawd'kin. Same as BALDACHIN.

BAUDRIC, bawd'rik. Same as BALDRICK.

BAUDRONS, bawd'runs, n. Scotch name for the cat. [Perh. of Celt. origin; cf. Ir. beadrac, frolicsome, Gael. beadrach, a frolicsome girl.]

BAUK, BAULK. Same as BALK.

BAUSOND, bawz'ond, adj. (obs.) having white spots, esp. on the forehead, or a white stripe down the face.--adj. BAUS'ON-FACED (Scott), with a face like a badger. [O. Fr. bausant (It. balzano), black and white spotted. Further ety. dub.]

BAUXITE, b[=o]'z[=i]t, n. a clay found at Les Baux, near Arles, yielding alumina.--Also BEAU'XITE.

BAVARDAGE, bav-ar-d[=a]j', n. chattering. [Fr. bavard, garrulous--bave, drivel.]

BAVIN, bav'in, n. a fagot of brushwood.--BAVIN WITS (Shak.), wits that blaze and die like bavins. [O. Fr. baffe, a fagot; but this is doubtful.]

BAWBEE, baw-b[=e]', n. a halfpenny: originally a Scotch coin of base silver equivalent to six Scotch pennies. [Ety. dub., but very prob. derived from a 16th-cent. Scotch mint-master, the laird of Sillebawby; others identify with 'baby.']

BAWBLE. Same as BAUBLE.

BAWCOCK, baw'kok, n. (Shak.) a fine fellow. [From Fr. beau, fine, and coq, a cock.]

BAWD, bawd, n. a procurer or procuress of women for lewd purposes--fem. only since about 1700.--n. BAWD'RY.--adj. BAWD'Y, obscene, unchaste, filthy.--n. BAWD'Y-HOUSE, a brothel. [Perh. abbrev. from BAWD'STROT, a word for a pander, now obsolete, derived from O. Fr. baldestrot--bald, gay, and perh. the Teut. root found in strut.]

BAWD, bawd, n. (Shak.) a hare. [Perh. a contr. of BAUDRONS.]

BAWL, bawl, v.i. to shout or cry out loudly (with at, against).--n. a loud cry or shout.--n. BAWL'ER. [Perh. from Low L. baulare, to bark like a dog; but cf. Ice. baula, to low like a cow, baula, a cow.]

BAWN, bawn, n. a fortification round a house: an enclosure for cattle. [Ir. bábhun, enclosure.]

BAXTER. See BAKE.

BAY, b[=a], adj. reddish brown inclining to chestnut.--n. elliptical for 'bay-horse.'--n. BAYARD (b[=a]'ard), a bay-horse: a name for any horse generally, from 'Bayard,' the famous bay-coloured magic horse given to Renaud by Charlemagne: a man recklessly blind to danger: a fellow bold in his ignorance: a type of the knight, from Bayard (1476-1524), 'the knight without fear and without reproach.' [Fr. bai--L. badius, chestnut-coloured.]

BAY, b[=a], n. an inlet of the sea with a wider opening than a gulf: an inward bend of the shore. [Fr. baie--Low L. baia, a harbour.]

BAY, b[=a], n. the space between two columns: (Shak.) the space under one house gable: any recess.--n. BAY'-WIN'DOW, any window forming a recess.--adj. BAY'-WIN'DOWED. [O. Fr. baée--baer, to gape, be open; prob. conn. with the foregoing word.]

BAY, b[=a], n. the laurel-tree: (pl.) an honorary garland or crown of victory, originally of laurel: literary renown.--ns. BAY'BERRY; BAY'-RUM, an aromatic stimulant used for the skin and hair, and prepared by distilling the leaves of the bay-berry (Pimenta acris) with rum, or otherwise mixing the volatile oil of the leaves with alcohol. [O. Fr. baie, a berry--L. baca.]

BAY, b[=a], n. barking, baying (esp. of a dog when in pursuit): the combined cry of hounds in conflict with a hunted animal: used often of the last stand of a hunted animal when it faces the hounds at close quarters.--v.i. to bark (esp. of large dogs).--v.t. to bark at: to utter by baying: to follow with barking: to bring to bay.--TO HOLD, KEEP AT BAY, said of the hunted animal; TO STAND, BE, AT BAY, at close quarters. [These senses show a confusion of two distinct words, according to Murray: (1) to hold at bay = O. Fr. tenir a bay = It. tenere a bada, bay, bada, denoting the suspense indicated by the open mouth; (2) in the phrase 'to stand at bay,' the word points to O. Fr. abai, barking, bayer, to bark.]

BAY, BAYE, b[=a], v.t. (Spens.) to bathe.

BAYADÈRE, b[=a]-ya-d[=e]r', n. a Hindu dancing-girl. [Fr.--Port. bailadeira.]

BAYONET, b[=a]'on-et, n. a stabbing instrument of steel fixed to the muzzle of a musket or rifle: military force: (pl.) soldiers armed with bayonets.--v.t. to stab with a bayonet. [Fr. baïonnette, perh. from Bayonne, in France, where it was supposed to have been first made; others derive from O. Fr. bayon, arrow.]

BAYOU, b[=a]'[=oo], n. name given to the marshy offshoots of lakes and rivers, esp. in North America. [Perh. corrupted from Fr. boyau, gut.]

BAY-SALT, b[=a]'-sält, n. salt obtained by slow evaporation originally from sea-water. [Prob. from BAY, an inlet, and SALT.]

BAZAAR, BAZAR, ba-zär', n. an Eastern marketplace or exchange: a fancy fair in imitation of an Eastern bazaar. [Pers. b[=a]z[=a]r, a market.]

BDELLIUM, del'i-um, n. a kind of gum. [Gr. bdellion, used to translate, but prob. unconnected with Heb. b'd[=o]lakh, Gen. ii. 12.]

BE, b[=e], v.i. to live: to exist: to have a certain state or quality:--pr.p. b[=e]'ing; pa.p. been.--n. BE'-ALL (Shak.), the whole being. [A.S. béon; Ger. bin; Gael. bi, to exist; W. byw, to live; Gr. phu-ein, L. fui, fio, Sans. bhu, to be, orig. meaning to grow.]

BEACH, b[=e]ch, n. the shore of the sea or of a lake, esp. when sandy or pebbly: the strand.--v.t. to haul a boat up on the beach.--n. BEACH'-COMB'ER, a long rolling wave: a drunken loafer about the wharfs in Pacific seaports: a settler on a Pacific island who maintains himself by pearl-fishery, and often by less reputable means.--adjs. BEACHED, having a beach, driven on a beach; BEACH'Y, pebbly. [Orig. a prov. Eng. word for shingle. The derivation from Ice. bakki, bank, is untenable.]

BEACON, b[=e]'kn, n. a fire on an eminence used as a sign of danger: a hill on which such could be lighted: anything that warns of danger, esp. an erection of stone, wood, or iron often bearing a light, and marking rocks or shoals in rivers or navigable channels.--v.t. to act as a beacon to: to light up: to mark by means of beacons.--n. FLOAT'ING-BEA'CON, a light-ship. [A.S. béacn, a beacon, a sign.]

BEAD, b[=e]d, n. a little ball pierced for stringing, a series of which forms the rosary or paternoster, used in counting the prayers recited: any small ball of glass, amber, &c. strung in a series to form a necklace: a bead-like drop: the small knob of metal forming the front-sight of a gun--whence the Americanism, TO DRAW A BEAD UPON = to take aim at: (archit.) a narrow moulding with semicircular section.--v.t. to furnish with beads.--v.i. to form a bead or beads.--adj. BEAD'ED, furnished with beads.--ns. BEAD'-HOUSE, a house for poor people who were required to pray for the soul of the founder: an almshouse; BEAD'ING, a moulding in imitation of beads.--adj. BEAD'-PROOF, of such proof or strength as to carry beads or bubbles when shaken, as alcoholic liquors.--ns. BEAD'-ROLL, in pre-Reformation times, a roll or list of the dead to be prayed for, hence a list of names, a long series: a rosary; BEADS'MAN, BEDES'MAN, one employed to pray for others, or one endowed to do so: (Scot.) a public alms-man or licensed beggar:--fem. BEADS'WOMAN.--adj. BEAD'Y, bead-like, small and bright (of eyes): covered with beads or bubbles.--TO SAY, TELL, COUNT ONE'S BEADS, to offer a prayer. [A.S. bed, gebed, a prayer, from biddan, to pray. See BID.]

BEADLE, b[=e]d'l, n. a mace-bearer (esp. of the 'bedels' or 'bedells,' official attendants of the Oxford and Cambridge vice-chancellors): a petty officer of a church, college, parish, &c.: a parish officer with the power of punishing petty offenders: in Scotland, used of the 'church-officer' attending on the clergyman: (obs.) a messenger or crier of a court.--ns. BEAD'LEDOM, BEAD'LEHOOD, stupid officiousness; BEAD'LESHIP, BED'ELSHIP, the office of beadle or bedel. [A.S. bydel--béodan, to proclaim, to bid.]

BEADMAN. Same as BEADSMAN (q.v. under BEAD).

BEAGLE, b[=e]'gl, n. a small hound tracking by scent, formerly much used in hunting hares, but now superseded by the harrier: a spy: a bailiff: a small kind of shark.--The beagle was often followed by men on foot, hence FOOT'-BEA'GLE. [Ety. unknown. The Fr. bigle is borrowed from English. Dr Murray suggests Fr. bégueule, from béer, to gape, and gueule, throat.]

BEAK, b[=e]k, n. the bill of a bird: anything pointed or projecting: the nose: in the ancient galley, a pointed iron fastened to the prow for piercing the enemy's vessel: (slang) a magistrate.--adj. BEAKED (b[=e]kt). [O. Fr. bec--Low L. beccus, of Celt. (Gaulish) origin.]

BEAKER, b[=e]k'[.e]r, n. a large drinking-bowl or cup, or its contents: a glass vessel marked for measuring liquids, with a beak or pointed mouth, used by chemists. [Scand. bikarr (Scot. bicker), prob. from Low L. bicarium, acc. to Diez from Gr. bikos, a drinking-bowl.]

BEAM, b[=e]m, n. a large and straight piece of timber or iron forming one of the main supports against lateral pressure of a building, ship, &c.: (fig.) from the figure of the mote and the beam--Matt. vii. 3: any of the transverse pieces of framing extending across a ship's hull, the greatest width of a ship or boat: the part of a balance from which the scales hang: the pole of a carriage: a cylinder of wood in a loom: a ray of light.--v.t. to send forth light: to shine.--n. BEAM'-EN'GINE, a steam-engine which has a beam connecting the piston-rod with the crank of the wheel-shaft, as distinguished from one that has its piston-rod directly attached to the crank.--adv. BEAM'ILY.--n. BEAM'INESS.--adjs. BEAM'LESS, without beams: emitting no rays of light; BEAM'Y, shining.--A BEAM SEA, one rolling against the ship's side.--BEFORE THE BEAM, the bearing of any object when seen more in advance than on the beam; ABAFT THE BEAM, the reverse.--LEE or WEATHER BEAM, the side away from or towards the wind.--ON HER BEAM ENDS, a phrase applied to the position of a ship when so much inclined to one side that the beams become nearly vertical.--ON THE STARBOARD BEAM, applied to any distant point out at sea, at right angles to the keel, and on the starboard or right-hand (as viewed from the stern) side of the ship; ON THE PORT BEAM similarly applies to the left hand. [A.S. béam, a tree, stock of a tree, a ray of light; Ger. baum, a tree; Gr. phyma, a growth--phy-ein, to grow.]

BEAN, b[=e]n, n. the name of several kinds of leguminous plants and their seeds: applied also to the seeds of some other plants, from their bean-like form, as the Calabar bean, &c.--ns. BEAN'-FEAST, an annual dinner given by employers to their hands, perhaps from there having been served on such occasions beans or a BEAN'-GOOSE, a species of goose said to be so called from its fondness for devouring new-sown beans; BEAN'-KING, the king of the festivities on Twelfth Night, chosen on his finding a bean hidden in the Twelfth Cake. [A.S. béan; Ger. bohne, W. ffäen; L. faba.]

BEAR, b[=a]r, v.t. to carry or support: to endure: to admit of: to be entitled to: to afford: to import: to manage: to behave or conduct one's self: to bring forth or produce.--v.i. to suffer: to be patient: to have reference to: to press (with on or upon): to be situated:--pr.p. bear'ing; pa.t. b[=o]re; pa.p. b[=o]rne (but the pa.p. when used to mean 'brought forth' is born).--adj. BEAR'ABLE, that may be borne or endured.--n. BEAR'ABLENESS.--adv. BEAR'ABLY.--ns. BEAR'ER, one who or that which bears, esp. one who assists in carrying a body to the grave: a carrier or messenger; BEAR'ING, behaviour: situation of one object with regard to another: relation: that which is borne upon an escutcheon: (mach.) the part of a shaft or axle in contact with its supports; BEAR'ING-CLOTH, the mantle or cloth in which a child was carried to the font; BEAR'ING-REIN, the fixed rein between the bit and the saddle, by which a horse's head is held up in driving and its neck made to arch.--BEAR HARD (Shak.), to press or urge; BEAR IN HAND (Shak.), to keep in expectation, to flatter one's hopes; TO BEAR A HAND, to give assistance; TO BEAR AWAY, to sail away; TO BEAR DOWN (with upon or towards), to sail with the wind; TO BEAR OUT, to corroborate; TO BEAR UP, to keep up one's courage; TO BEAR UP FOR (a place), to sail towards; TO BEAR WITH, to make allowance for; TO BE BORNE IN (upon the) MIND, to be forcibly impressed upon it; TO BRING TO BEAR, to bring into operation (with against, upon); TO LOSE ONE'S BEARINGS, to become uncertain as to one's position. [A.S. beran; Goth. bairan, L. ferre, Gr. pher-ein, Sans. bhri.]

BEAR, an obsolete form of BIER.

BEAR, b[=a]r, n. a heavy quadruped of the order Carnivora, with long shaggy hair and hooked claws: any rude, rough, or ill-bred fellow: one who sells stocks for delivery at a future date, anticipating a fall in price so that he may buy first at an advantage--opp. to Bull: the old phrase 'a bearskin jobber' suggests an origin in the common proverb, 'to sell the bearskin before one has caught the bear' (hence TO BEAR, to speculate for a fall): (astron.) the name of two constellations, the Great and the Little Bear.--ns. BEAR'-BER'RY, a trailing plant of the heath family, a species of the Arbutus; BEAR'BINE, a species of convolvulus, closely allied to the bindweed; BEAR'-GAR'DEN, an enclosure where bears are kept; a rude, turbulent assembly.--adj. BEAR'ISH, like a bear.--ns. BEAR'ISHNESS; BEAR'-LEAD'ER, a person who leads about a bear for exhibition: the tutor or governor of a youth at the university or on travel; BEAR'S'-BREECH, a common name for plants of the genus Acanthus; BEAR'S'-EAR, a common English name for the auricula; BEAR'S'-FOOT, a species of hellebore; BEAR'SKIN, the skin of a bear: a shaggy woollen cloth for overcoats: the high fur cap worn by the Guards in England; BEAR'-WARD, a warden or keeper of bears. [A.S. bera; Ger. bär; cf. L. fera, a wild beast, akin to Gr. th[=e]r, Æolian ph[=e]r.]

BEAR, b[=e]r, n. barley, applied in Scotland to the now little grown variety Hordeum hexastichon. [A.S. bere.]

BEARD, b[=e]rd, n. the hair that grows on the chin and adjacent parts of a grown man's face: the tuft on the lower jaw of a goat, seal, &c.: the barbel of the cod, loach, &c.; prickles on the ears of corn: the barb of an arrow: the gills of oysters, &c.--v.t. to take by the beard: to oppose to the face.--adj. BEARD'ED, having a beard: prickly: barbed.--n. BEARD'-GRASS, a kind of bearded grass.--adj. BEARD'LESS. [A.S.; W. barf, Ger. bart, Russ. boroda, L. barba.]

BEAST, b[=e]st, n. an irrational animal, as opposed to man: a four-footed animal: a brutal person: the Beast, Antichrist in the Revelation--dim. BEAST'IES.--n.pl. BEAST'-F[=A]'BLES, stories in which animals play human parts--a widely-spread primitive form of literature, often surviving in more or less developed forms in the more advanced civilisations.--ns. BEAST'HOOD; BEAST'LIHEAD (Spens.), the state or nature of a beast, beastliness; BEAST'LINESS.--adj. BEAST'LY, like a beast in actions or behaviour: coarse: obscene: (colloq.) vile, disagreeable. [O. Fr. beste (Fr. bête)--L. bestia.]

BEASTINGS. Same as BIESTINGS.

BEAT, b[=e]t, v.t. to strike repeatedly: to break or bruise: to strike, as bushes, in order to rouse game: to thrash: to overcome: to be too difficult for: to spread flat and thin by beating with a tool, as gold by a gold-beater--also TO BEAT OUT.--v.i. to give strokes repeatedly: to throb: to dash, as a flood or storm:--pr.p. beat'ing; pa.t. beat; pa.p. beat'en.--n. a recurrent stroke: a stroke recurring at intervals, or its sound, as of a watch or the pulse: a round or course, as a policeman's beat: a place of resort.--adj. weary: fatigued.--adj. BEAT'EN, made smooth or hard by beating or treading: trite: worn by use.--ns. BEAT'ER, one that beats or strikes: one who rouses or beats up game: a crushing instrument; BEAT'ING, the act of striking: chastisement by blows: regular pulsation or throbbing: rousing of game: exercising the brain.--BEATEN WORK, metal shaped by being hammered on an anvil or block of the necessary shape.--DEAD BEAT, completely exhausted.--TO BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH, to approach a subject in an indirect way; TO BEAT A RETREAT, to retreat, originally to beat the drum as a signal for retreat; TO BEAT OFF, to drive back; TO BEAT OUT, to work out fully, to make gold or silver leaf out of solid metal; TO BEAT THE AIR, to fight to no purpose, or against an imaginary enemy; TO BEAT THE BOUNDS, to trace out the boundaries of a parish in a periodic survey or perambulation, certain natural objects in the line of journey being formally struck with a rod, and sometimes also the boys whipped to make them remember; TO BEAT THE BRAINS, to puzzle one's brains about something; TO BEAT THE TATTOO (mil.), to sound the drum for evening roll-call; TO BEAT UP, to alarm by a sudden attack: to disturb: to pay an untimeous visit to any one--also in 'to beat up for recruits,' to go about a town to enlist men. [A.S. béatan, pa.t. béot.]

BEATH, b[=e]th, v.t. (Spens.) to bathe. [A.S. bethian, to foment.]

BEATIFY, b[=e]-at'i-f[=i], v.t. to make blessed or happy: to declare to be in the enjoyment of eternal happiness in heaven.--adjs. BEATIF'IC, -AL, making supremely happy.--adv. BEATIF'ICALLY.--n. BEATIFIC[=A]'TION, act of beatifying: (R.C. Church) a declaration by the Pope that a person is blessed in heaven, authorising a certain definite form of public reverence payable to him--the first step to canonisation.--BEATIFIC VISION, a glimpse of the glory of heaven, esp. that which first bursts upon the disembodied soul. [L. beatus, blessed, and fac[)e]re, to make.]

BEATITUDE, b[=e]-at'i-t[=u]d, n. heavenly happiness, or happiness of the highest kind: (pl.) sayings of Christ in Matt. v., declaring the possessors of certain virtues to be blessed. [L. beatitudo--beatus, blessed.]

BEAU, b[=o], n. a man attentive to dress or fashion: a fop or dandy: a lover:--pl. BEAUX (b[=o]z):--fem. BELLE.--n. BEAU'-ID[=E]'AL, ideal excellence, or an imaginary standard of perfection: the person in which such is realised.--adj. BEAU'ISH.--ns. BEAU'-MONDE, the gay or fashionable world; Beaupere' (Spens.), a term of courtesy for 'father,' esp. of ecclesiastical persons: a companion. [Fr. beau, bel--L. bellus, fine, gay, as if for a benulus, dim. of benus = bonus, good.]

BEAUJOLAIS, b[=o]-zh[=o]-l[=a], n. a kind of red wine produced in South-eastern France. [From Beaujolais, a subdivision of the old province of Lyonnais.]

BEAUNE, b[=o]n, n. a red wine of Burgundy. [From the town of Beaune.]

BEAUTY, b[=u]'ti, n. a pleasing combination of qualities in a person or object: a particular grace or excellence: a beautiful person, esp. a woman, also applied collectively to the beautiful women of a special place: (pl.) beautiful passages or extracts from the poets.--v.t. (Shak.) to make beautiful.--adj. BEAU'TEOUS, full of beauty: fair: handsome.--adv. BEAU'TEOUSLY.--ns. BEAU'TEOUSNESS; BEAU'TIFIER, one who or that which beautifies or makes beautiful.--adj. BEAU'TIFUL, fair: with qualities that give delight to the senses, esp. the eye and ear, or which awaken admiration in the mind.--adv. BEAU'TIFULLY.--v.t. BEAU'TIFY, to make beautiful: to grace: to adorn.--v.i. (rare) to become beautiful, or more beautiful.--ns. BEAU'TY-SLEEP, the sleep before midnight, considered the most refreshing; BEAU'TY-SPOT, a patch placed on the face to heighten or draw attention to a woman's beauty; a foil, or anything that emphasises beauty by contrast. [O. Fr. biaute (Fr. beauté)--Low L. bellitat-em--L. bellus.]

BEAUXITE. See BAUXITE.

BEAVER, b[=e]v'[.e]r, n. an amphibious rodent quadruped valuable for its fur: the fur of the beaver: a hat made of the beaver's fur: a hat: a glove of beaver fur.--adj. BEAV'ERISH (Carlyle), like a beaver, merely instinctive.--n. BEAV'ERY, a place where beavers are kept. [A.S. befer, beofor; Dut. bever, Ger. biber, Gael, beabhar, L. fiber.]

BEAVER, b[=e]v'[.e]r, n. in medieval armour, the covering for the lower part of the face, the visor being that for the upper part--later the movable beaver was confounded with the visor.--adj. BEAV'ERED. [So called from a fancied likeness to a child's bib. O. Fr. bavière, from bave, slaver.]

BEBEERU, b[=e]-b[=e]'r[=oo], n. the native name of the green-heart tree of Guiana.--n. BEBEERINE (b[=e]-b[=e]'rin), an alkaloid yielded by it, and used as a substitute for quinine.

BEBLUBBERED, be-blub'[.e]rd, p.adj. disfigured by weeping [Pfx. be-, and BLUBBER.]

BECALL, be-kawl', v.t. to call names, miscall.

BECALM, be-käm', v.t. to make calm, still, or quiet.--p.adj. BECALMED', motionless from want of wind. [Pfx. be-, and CALM.]

BECAME, be-k[=a]m', pa.t. of BECOME.

BECAUSE, be-kawz', adv. and conj. because of: for the reason that: on account of: for (followed by of). [Prep. by, and CAUSE.]

BECCAFICO, bek-a-f[=e]'ko, n. a small bird of the family of Sylviadæ or Warblers, considered a delicacy by the Italians:--pl. BECCAFI'COES. [It., from beccare to peck, and fico, a fig.]

BECHANCE, be-chans', v.t. to happen by chance: to befall--adv. by chance: accidentally. [A.S. be-, by, and CHANCE.]

BECHARM, be-chärm', v.t. to charm: to enchant.

BÊCHE-DE-MER, b[=a]sh'-d[.e]-m[=a]r, n. the trepang or sea-slug, a species of Holothuria, much esteemed in China as a food delicacy. [Fr.]

BECK, bek, n. (Spens.). Same as BEAK.

BECK, bek, n. a brook. [Ice. bekkr; Ger. bach.]

BECK, bek, n. a sign with the finger or head: a nod: (Scot.) a gesture of salutation.--v.i. to make such a sign.--v.t. to call by a nod.--AT ONE'S BECK, subject to one's will. [A contr. of BECKON.]

BECKET, bek'et, n. (naut.) a loop of rope having a knot at one end and an eye at the other: a large hook, or a wooden bracket used to keep loose tackle or spars in a convenient place. [Prob. Dut. bogt, bocht, a 'bend' of rope.]

BECKON, bek'n, v.t. to nod or make a sign to. [A.S. bíecnan--béacn, a sign. See BEACON.]

BECLOUD, be-klowd', v.t. to obscure by clouds: to dim.

BECOME, be-kum', v.i. to pass from one state to another: to come to be: to be the fate or end of (followed by of).--v.t. to suit or befit, to grace or adorn fittingly (with dat. object):--pa.t. bec[=a]me'; pa.p. become'.--adj. BECOM'ING, suitable to: graceful.--adv. BECOM'INGLY.--n. BECOM'INGNESS. [A.S. becuman. See COME.]

BECURL, be-kurl', v.t. to curl.

BED, bed, n. a couch or place to sleep on: a plot in a garden: a place in which anything rests, in carpentry, architecture, &c.: conjugal union, the marriage-bed, matrimonial rights and duties: the channel of a river: (geol.) a layer or stratum.--v.t. to place in bed, as a couple after a wedding: to provide a bed, or to make a bed, for: to sow or plant: to lay in layers.--v.i. to cohabit or use the same bed with another:--pr.p. bed'ding; pa.p. bed'ded.--ns. BED'CHAMBER (see BED'ROOM); BED'DING, a collective name for the mattress, bed-clothes, &c., also litter for cattle.--adj. BED'FAST, confined to bed.--ns. BED'FELLOW, a sharer of the same bed; BED'MAKER, the name at Cambridge and elsewhere for those who make the beds and sweep the rooms in college; BED'-OF-HON'OUR, the grave of a soldier who has fallen in battle; BED'-OF-JUS'TICE (Fr. lit. de justice), the king's throne in the Parlement of Paris, also a sitting at which the king was present, chiefly for the registration of his own decrees; BED'PLATE (mech.), the foundation plate of an engine, lathe, &c.; BED'POST, a post forming an angle of a bedstead, often in former days high enough to support a canopy; BED'PRESSER (Shak.), a heavy, lazy fellow.--adjs. BED'RID, BED'RIDDEN, confined to bed by age or sickness: worn out.--ns. BED'RIGHT (Shak.), the privilege of the marriage-bed; BED'ROCK, the solid rock underneath superficial formations; BED'ROOM, a room in which there is a bed: a sleeping apartment--Bedchamber was the earlier form.--n.pl. BED'-SORES, painful ulcers that often arise in a long confinement to bed, esp. over the bony prominences of the body--the lower parts of the spine, the haunch bones, the heel, and the elbow.--ns. BED'-STAFF, a staff or stick formerly used about a bed, in old times a handy weapon, whence perhaps the phrase, 'in the twinkling of a bed-staff;' BED'STEAD, a frame for supporting a bed; BED'STRAW, the name applied to a genus of the Rubiaceæ, of which eleven species are found in England, the most familiar our Lady's Bedstraw, or Yellow Bedstraw (Galium verum), sometimes called Cheese Rennet from its property of curdling milk; BED'SWERVER (Shak.), one who is false to his marriage vow; BED'TICK, the case in which feathers, hair, chaff, &c. are put for bedding.--adv. BED'WARD, in the direction of bed: towards bedtime.--n. BED'WORK (Shak.), work easily performed, as if done in bed.--BED AND BOARD, food and lodging: full connubial relations; BED OF DOWN, or ROSES, any easy or comfortable place.--LORDS OF THE BEDCHAMBER, twelve officers in the British royal household who wait in turn upon the sovereign's person; in the reign of a queen the office is performed by ladies.--TO BE BROUGHT TO BED, to be confined in child-birth (with of); TO KEEP ONE'S BED, to remain in bed; TO LIE IN THE BED ONE HAS MADE, to have to accept the consequences of one's own conduct; TO MAKE A BED, to put a bed in order after it has been used. [A.S. bed; Ger. bett, Ice. bedr.]

BEDABBLE, be-dab'l, v.t. to dabble or wet. [Pfx. be-, and DABBLE.]

BEDAD, be-dad', interj. an Irish minced oath, from begad = by God.

BEDAGGLE, be-dag'l, v.t. to soil by dragging along the wet ground.

BEDARKEN, be-dark'n, v.t. to cover with darkness.

BEDASH, be-dash', v.t. to bespatter with water.

BEDAUB, be-dawb', v.t. to daub over or smear with any dirty matter.

BEDAZZLE, be-daz'l, v.t. to dazzle or overpower by any strong light.--pa.p. BEDAZ'ZLED, BEDAZED', stupefied, besotted.--n. BEDAZ'ZLEMENT.

BEDE. Same as BEAD, a prayer.

BEDEAFEN, be-def'n, v.t. to make deaf: to stun.

BEDECK, be-dek', v.t. to deck or ornament.

BEDEGUAR, bed'e-gar, n. a soft spongy gall found on the branches of some species of roses, esp. the sweet-brier, called also the sweet-brier sponge. [Through Fr. from Pers. and Ar. b[=a]d[=a]-war, lit. 'wind-brought.']

BEDEL, b[=e]'dl, BEDELL, be-del', archaic forms of BEADLE (q.v.), still used at Oxford and Cambridge.

BEDESMAN. Same as BEADSMAN (q.v. under BEAD).

BEDEVIL, be-dev'il, v.t. to throw into confusion: to 'play the devil' with: to torment: to treat with devilish malignity.--pass. to be possessed of a devil, to be devil-rid.--n. BEDEV'ILMENT.

BEDEW, be-d[=u]', v.t. to moisten gently, as with dew.

BEDIGHT, be-d[=i]t', adj. (poet.) adorned. [Pfx. be-, and DIGHT.]

BEDIM, be-dim', v.t. to make dim or dark.--pa.p. BEDIMMED'.

BEDIZEN, be-d[=i]z'n, v.t. to dress gaudily.--adj. BEDIZ'ENED.--n. BEDIZ'ENMENT.

BEDLAM, bed'lam, n. an asylum for lunatics: a madhouse: a place of uproar.--adj. fit for a madhouse.--ns. BED'LAMISM, anything characteristic of madness; BED'LAMITE, a madman. [Corrupted from Bethlehem (St Mary of Bethlehem), the name of a priory in London, afterwards converted into a madhouse.]

BEDOUIN, bed'[=oo]-in, n. the name given to those Arabs who live in tents and lead a nomadic life. [Fr.--Ar. b[=a]d[=a]win, dwellers in the desert.]

BEDRAGGLE, be-drag'l, v.t. to soil by dragging in the wet or dirt--most common, the p.adj. BEDRAG'GLED. [See DRAGGLE.]

BEDRAL, bed'ral, n. a beadle.--Also BED'ERAL. [A Scand. form of BEADLE.]

BEDRENCH, be-drensh', v.t. to drench or wet thoroughly.

BEDROP, be-drop', v.t. to drop upon.--pa.p. BEDROPT', sprinkled as with drops: strewn.

BEDUCK, be-duk', v.t. to duck or plunge under water.

BEDUIN, a form of BEDOUIN.

BEDUNG, be-dung', v.t. to manure: to befoul with dung.

BEDUST, be-dust', v.t. to cover with dust.

BEDWARF, be-dwawrf', v.t. to make dwarfish.

BEDYE, be-d[=i]', v.t. (Spens.) to dye or stain.

BEE, b[=e], n. a four-winged insect that makes honey: (U.S.) a gathering of persons to unite their labour for the benefit of one individual or family, or for some joint amusement or exercise, as 'a quilting bee,' 'a husking bee,' 'a spelling bee' (from the bee's habit of combined labour).--Compound words are BEE'-FLOW'ER, BEE'-GAR'DEN, BEE'-HOUSE, BEE'-MAS'TER.--ns. BEE'-BREAD, the pollen of flowers collected by bees as food for their young; BEE'-EAT'ER, a brightly-plumaged family of birds nearly allied to the kingfisher, which feeds on bees; BEE'-GLUE, the soft glutinous matter by which bees fix their combs to the hive; BEE'HIVE, a case or box in which bees are kept, of straw-work, wood, &c.--Scotch Bee-skep.--adj. shaped like a beehive, dome-shaped.--ns. BEE'-LINE, the most direct road from one point to another, like the honey-laden bee's way home to the hive; BEE'-MOTH, a species of moth whose larvæ are very destructive to young bees; BEES'WAX, the wax secreted by bees, and used by them in constructing their cells.--v.t. to polish with beeswax.--n. BEES'WING, a filmy crust of tartar formed in port and some other wines after long keeping.--adj. BEES'WINGED, so old as to show beeswing.--A BEE IN ONE'S BONNET, a whimsical or crazy fancy on some point. [A. S. béo; Ger. biene.]

BEECH, b[=e]ch, n. a common forest tree with smooth silvery-looking bark and small edible nuts.--adj. BEECH'EN.--ns. BEECH'-MAST, the mast or nuts of the beech-tree, which yield a valuable oil; BEECH'-OIL, oil expressed from the nuts of the beech-tree. [A.S. bóece, béce; Ger. buche, L. fagus, Gr. ph[=e]gos--from root of phag-ein, to eat.]

BEEF, b[=e]f, n. the flesh of an ox or cow:--pl. BEEVES, used in original sense, oxen.--adj. consisting of beef.--ns. BEEF'-EAT'ER (b[=e]f'-[=e]t'[.e]r), a popular name for a yeoman of the sovereign's guard, also of the warders of the Tower of London [the obvious ety. is the right one, there being no such form as buffetier, connected with buffet, a sideboard, as often stated]; BEEF'INESS; BEEF'STEAK, a thick slice of beef for broiling or frying; BEEF'TEA, a stimulating rather than nutritious food for invalids, being the juice of beef strained off, after simmering chopped beef in water.--adjs. BEEF'-WIT'TED, BEEF'-BRAINED, dull or heavy in wits: stupid.--n. BEEF'-WOOD, an Australian wood, of reddish colour, used in cabinetwork.--adj. BEEF'Y, like beef, fleshy, stolid. [O. Fr. boef (Fr. boeuf)--L. bos, bovis; cf. Gr. bous, Gael. bò, Sans. go, A.S. cú.]

BEELZEBUB, b[=e]-el'ze-bub, n. the name under which the Philistines at Ekron worshipped their god Baal or Bel: (New Test.) the prince of the evil spirits. [Heb. ba'al z'b[=u]b, fly-lord.]

BEEN, b[=e]n, pa.p. of BE.

BEENAH, b[=e]'na, n. a primitive form of marriage (the name taken from Ceylon) in which the man goes to live with his wife's family--he is an unimportant person in the family, and the children are not counted his, but belong to the family and kindred of the wife.

BEER, b[=e]r, n. an alcoholic beverage made by fermentation from malted barley flavoured with hops. It was anciently distinguished from ale by being hopped; now beer is the generic name of malt liquor, including ale and porter.--ns. BEER'-EN'GINE, BEER'-PUMP, a machine for drawing beer up from the casks to the bar; BEER'-HOUSE, a house where beer or malt liquors are sold; BEER'INESS; BEER'-MON'EY, money given to soldiers in the British army, in lieu of beer and spirits.--adj. BEER'Y, of or affected by beer.--BEER AND SKITTLES, a phrase used vaguely for Bohemian pleasures, from a simple form supposed to be a rustic ideal.--BITTER BEER = pale ale, a highly hopped beer made from the very finest selected malt and hops; MILD or SWEET ale being of greater gravity or strength, and comparatively lightly hopped; BLACK BEER, a kind of beer made at Danzig, black and syrupy; SMALL BEER, weak beer, hence trifling things, as in the familiar phrase, 'to think no small beer of one's self.' [A.S. béor; Ger. and Dut. bier, Ice. bjorr.]

BEESTINGS, b[=e]st'ingz, n. the first milk drawn from a cow after calving. [A.S. býsting, béost; Ger. and Dut. biest.]

BEET, b[=e]t, n. a plant with a carrot-shaped succulent root, eaten as food, from which sugar is extracted.--ns. BEET'-FLY, a two-winged insect, which deposits its eggs on beet or mangel-wurzel, and whose larvæ are injurious to the plant; BEET'ROOT, the root of the beet plant. [A.S. béte (Fr. bette)--L. b[=e]ta.]

BEET, BETE, b[=e]t, v.t. (obs. except dial.) to improve, mend, to kindle a fire, to rouse. [A.S. bóetan, bétan; cf. bót, BOOT.]

BEETLE, b[=e]'tl, n. an order of insects technically known as Coleoptera, usually with four wings, the front pair forming hard and horny covers for those behind, which alone are used in flight.--The BLACK BEETLE or cockroach is not a true beetle. [M.E. bityl--A.S. bitula, bitela, bítan, to bite.]

BEETLE, b[=e]'tl, n. a heavy wooden mallet used for driving wedges, crushing or beating down paving-stones, or the like: a wooden pestle-shaped utensil for mashing potatoes, beating linen, &c.--n. BEE'TLE-HEAD, a heavy, stupid fellow.--adj. BEE'TLE-HEAD'ED. [A.S. bíetel; cog. with béatan, to beat.]

BEETLE-BROWED, b[=e]'tl-browd, adj. with overhanging or prominent brow: scowling.--v.i. BEE'TLE, to jut, to hang over--first used by Shakespeare.--n. BEET'LING.--p.adj. jutting out: prominent: overhanging. [Dr Murray notes that the word is first found in the compound bitel-browed, in the 14th century, and favours the explanation, 'with eyebrows like a beetle's'--i.e. projecting eyebrows. See BEETLE (1).]

BEEVES, b[=e]vz, n.pl. cattle, oxen. [See BEEF.]

BEFALL, be-fawl', v.t. to fall or happen to: to occur to.--v.i. to happen or come to pass: (Spens.) to fall in one's way:--pr.p. befall'ing; pa.t. befell'; pa.p. befall'en. [A.S. befeallan. See FALL.]

BEFANA, BEFFANA, be-fä'na, n. an Epiphany present or gift--a corruption of Epiphania, which name in Italy has become personified for children as a toy-bringing witch or fairy called La Befana.

BEFIT, be-fit', v.t. to fit, or be suitable to: to be proper to, or right for:--pr.p. befit'ting; pa.p. befit'ted.--adj. BEFIT'TING.--adv. BEFIT'TINGLY. [Pfx. be-, and FIT.]

BEFLOWER, be-flow'[.e]r, v.t. to cover or besprinkle with flowers.

BEFOAM, be-f[=o]m', v.t. to bespatter or cover with foam.

BEFOGGED, be-fogd', adj. enveloped in fog: confused.

BEFOOL, be-f[=oo]l', v.t. to make a fool of, or deceive: to treat as a fool.

BEFORE, be-f[=o]r', prep. in front of (time or place): in presence or sight of (Before God): under the cognisance of, as in before the court, the magistrate, or the house: previous to: in preference to: superior to.--adv. in front: sooner than hitherto.--conj. previous to the time when (often with that).--advs. BEFORE'HAND, before the time: by way of preparation; BEFORE'TIME, in former time.--TO BE BEFOREHAND WITH, to forestall in any action. [A.S. beforan. See FORE.]

BEFORTUNE, be-for't[=u]n, v.t. (Shak.) to happen to, to befall.

BEFOUL, be-fowl', v.t. to make foul: to soil.

BEFRIEND, be-frend', v.t. to act as a friend to: to favour.

BEFRINGE, be-frinj', v.t. to adorn with fringes.

BEG. Same as BEY.

BEG, beg, v.i. to ask alms or charity, esp. habitually (with of, from; for, of the thing asked).--v.t. to ask earnestly: to beseech: to pray: to take for granted what ought to have been proved, esp. in the phrase in logic, 'to beg the question'--the fallacy of the Petitio Principii:--pr.p. beg'ging; pa.p. begged.--n. BEG'GAR, one who begs: one who lives by begging: a mean fellow, a poor fellow--often used with a playful and even affectionate sense.--v.t. to reduce to beggary: to exhaust or impoverish: (fig.) to go beyond the resources of, as of description.--ns. BEG'GARDOM, the fraternity of beggars; BEG'GARLINESS.--adj. BEGGARLY, poor: mean: worthless.--adv. meanly.--ns. BEG'GAR-MY-NEIGH'BOUR, a game at cards which goes on till one of the players has gained all the other's cards; BEG'GARY, extreme poverty.--adv. BEG'GINGLY.--TO BEG OFF, to obtain another's release through entreaty, to seek that one's self may be relieved of some penalty or liability.--TO GO A-BEGGING, to be in want of a purchaser, or of a person to fill it (of a situation, &c.). [The ety. is very obscure; the words beg and beggar first appear in the 13th century, and Dr Murray thinks the most likely derivation is from the O. Fr. begart, begard, and begar (L. beghardus = beghard), or its synonym beguine and derivative verb beguigner, beguiner, to act the beguin. The Beghards or Beguines were a lay mendicant order, and in the 13th century mendicants calling themselves by these names swarmed over Western Europe.]

BEGAD, be-gad', interj. a minced oath, softened from 'By God.'

BEGAN, b[=e]-gan', pa.t. of BEGIN.

BEGEM, be-jem', v.t. to adorn, as with gems.

BEGET, be-get', v.t. to produce or cause: to generate: to produce as an effect, to cause:--pr.p. beget'ting; pa.t. begat', begot'; pa.p. begot', begot'ten.--n. BEGET'TER, one who begets: a father: the agent that occasions or originates anything. [A.S. begitan, to acquire. See GET.]

BEGHARD. See BEG.

BEGIFT, be-gift', v.t. to present with gifts.

BEGILD, be-gild', v.t. to gild: to cover or overlay with gold-leaf.

BEGIN, be-gin', v.i. to take rise: to enter on something new: to commence.--v.t. to enter on: to commence (with at, with, upon):--pr.p. begin'ning; pa.t. began'; pa.p. begun'.--ns. BEGIN'NER, one who begins: one who is beginning to learn or practise anything; BEGIN'NING, origin or commencement: rudiments--(Spens.) BEGINNE'.--adj. BEGIN'NINGLESS. [A.S. beginnan (more usually onginnan), from be, and ginnan, to begin.]

BEGIRD, be-gird', v.t. to gird or bind with a girdle; to surround or encompass (with):--pa.t. begirt', begird'ed; pa.p. begirt'. [A.S. begyrdan. See GIRD.]

BEGLERBEG, b[.e]g'l[.e]r-b[.e]g, n. the governor of a Turkish province, in rank next to the grand vizier. [Turk., lit. 'bey of beys.']

BEGLOOM, be-gl[=oo]m', v.t. to render gloomy.

BEGNAW, be-naw', v.t. to gnaw or bite, to eat away.

BEGONE, be-gon', interj. lit. be gone! be off! get away! In WOE'-BEGONE', beset with woe, we have the pa.p. of A.S. begán, to go round, to beset.

BEGONIA, be-g[=o]n'ya, n. a genus of plants cultivated in our greenhouses for their pink flowers and their remarkable unequal-sided and often coloured leaves--'Elephant's Ears,' 'Angel's Wings.' [Named from the botanist Michel Begon, 1638-1710.]

BEGORED, be-g[=o]rd', adj. (Spens.) besmeared with gore.

BEGOT, be-got', BEGOTTEN, be-got'n, pa.p. of BEGET.

BEGRIME, be-gr[=i]m', v.t. to grime or soil deeply.

BEGRUDGE, be-gruj', v.t. to grudge: to envy any one the possession of.

BEGUILE, be-g[=i]l', v.t. to cheat or deceive: to divert attention from anything tedious or painful: to divert or amuse: to wile any one into some course.--ns. BEGUILE'MENT; BEGUIL'ER.--adv. BEGUIL'INGLY. [See GUILE.]

BEGUINES, beg'in (see BEG).--n. BEGUINAGE (beg'in-[=a]j), an establishment for Beguines.

BEGUM, b[=e]'gum, n. a Hindu princess or lady of rank. [Urdu begam.]

BEGUN, be-gun', pa.p. of BEGIN.

BEHALF, be-häf', n. favour or benefit: cause: sake, account: part--only in phrases 'on,' 'in behalf of,' 'on his behalf.' [M. E. behalve--A.S. be healfe, by the side. See HALF.]

BEHAPPEN, be-hap'n, v.t. (Spens.) to happen to.

BEHAVE, be-h[=a]v', v.t. to bear or carry, to conduct (with self).--v.i. to conduct one's self, also to conduct one's self well: to act.--n. BEHAVIOUR (be-h[=a]v'yür), conduct: manners or deportment, esp. good manners: general course of life: treatment of others.--TO BE UPON ONE'S BEHAVIOUR, to be placed where one's best behaviour is politic or necessary. [Formed, according to Dr Murray, in 15th century from be- and HAVE; apparently unconnected with A.S. behabban.]

BEHEAD, be-hed', v.t. to cut off the head.--ns. BEHEAD'AL (rare); BEHEAD'ING, the act of cutting off the head.

BEHELD, be-held', pa.t. and pa.p. of BEHOLD.

BEHEMOTH, b[=e]'he-moth, n. an animal described in the book of Job, usually taken to be the hippopotamus. [Either the pl. of Heb. behêmâh, a beast, or a Hebraistic form of the Egyptian p-ehe-mout, 'water-ox.']

BEHEST, be-hest', n. command: charge. [A.S. beh['æ]s, a promise. See HEST.]

BEHIGHT, be-h[=i]t', v.t. (Spens.) to promise, to entrust, to speak to, to command, to reckon or esteem to be:--pr.p. beh[=i]ght'ing; pa.t. beh[=o]te'; pa.p. beh[=i]ght.--n. (obs.) a vow, a promise. [A.S. behátan, be-, and hátan, to call.]

BEHIND, be-h[=i]nd', prep. at the back of (place, or as support): remaining after or coming after (time, rank, order): inferior to, or not so far advanced as.--adv. at the back, in the rear: backward: past.--adj. or adv. BEHIND'HAND, being behind: tardy, or in arrears of debt, &c.: clandestine. [A.S. behindan; Ger. hinten. See HIND.]

BEHOLD, be-h[=o]ld', v.t. to look upon: to contemplate.--v.i. to look: to fix the attention:--pa.t. and pa.p. beheld'.--imper. or interj. see! lo! observe!--adj. BEHOLD'EN, bound in gratitude: obliged (with to).--n. BEHOLD'ER, one who beholds: an onlooker.--adj. BEHOLD'ING (Shak.), beholden.--n. (Shak.) sight, contemplation. [A.S. behealdan, to hold, observe--pfx. be-, and healdan, to hold.]

BEHOOF, be-h[=oo]f', n. benefit: convenience (with to, for, on).

BEHOT, BEHOTE (Spens.) pa.t. of BEHIGHT.

BEHOVE, BEHOOVE, be-h[=oo]v, v.t. to be fit, right, or necessary for--now only used impersonally with it.--adj. BEHOVE'FUL, useful: profitable.--adv. BEHOVE'FULLY (obs.). [M. E. behóf, dat. behove; A.S. behófian, to be fit, to stand in need of.]

BEHOWL, be-howl', v.t. (Shak.) to howl at. Warburton first suggested this as an emendation for 'behold' in Midsummer Night's Dream, V. 379.

BEIGE, b[=a]zh, n. a woollen fabric made of undyed wool. [Fr.]

BEIN, b[=e]n, adj. and adv. (Scot.) comfortable: well off: well found: (slang) good.--n. BEIN'NESS. [M. E. bene, of dubious origin; the derivation has been sought in Scand. beinn, or in L. bene, Fr. bien.]

BEING, b[=e]'ing, n. existence: substance: essence: any person or thing existing.--adj. B[=E]'ING, existing, present.--adj. B[=E]'INGLESS.--n. B[=E]'INGNESS. [From the pr.p. of BE.]

BEINKED, b[=e]-inkt', p.adj. smeared with ink.

BEJADE, be-j[=a]d', v.t. (obs.) to tire out.

BEJAN, b[=e]'jan, n. a freshman at the universities of Aberdeen and St Andrews, and formerly in several continental universities. [Fr. bejaune, a novice, from bec jaune, 'yellow beak,' a term used for a nestling or unfledged bird.]

BEJESUIT, be-j[.e]z'[=u]-it, v.t. to initiate or seduce into Jesuitism.

BEJEWEL, be-j[=oo]'[.e]l, v.t. to deck with jewels.

BEKAH, b[=e]'ka, n. (B.) a half-shekel (4.39 drs. avoir.). [Heb.]

BEKISS, be-kis', v.t. to cover with kisses.

BEKNAVE, be-n[=a]v', v.t. to call or treat as a knave.

BEKNOWN, b[=e]-n[=o]n', p.adj. known, acquainted.

BELABOUR, be-l[=a]'bur, v.t. to beat soundly.

BEL-ACCOYLE, bel-ak-koil', n. (Spens.) favourable or kind reception. [O. Fr. bel acoil, fair welcome. See ACCOIL.]

BELACE, be-l[=a]s', v.t. to adorn with lace.

BELAMOUR, bel'a-m[=oo]r, n. (Spens.) a gallant: a fair lady: a kind of flower. [Fr. bel amour, fair love.]

BELAMY, bel'a-mi, n. (Spens.) a good or intimate friend. [Fr. bel ami, fair friend.]

BELATE, be-l[=a]t', v.t. to make late: to retard:--pr.p. bel[=a]t'ing; pa.p. bel[=a]t'ed.--p.adj. BEL[=A]T'ED, made too late: out of date: benighted.--n. BEL[=A]T'EDNESS.

BELAUD, be-lawd', v.t. to laud or praise highly.

BELAY, be-l[=a]', v.t. (naut.) to fasten a running rope by coiling it round a cleat or BELAY'ING-PIN: to make fast: (Spens.) to lay ornament round anything.--BELAY THERE (naut. slang), hold! that is enough. [A.S. belecgan; Ger. belegen, Dut. beleggen. See LAY.]

BELCH, belch, belsh, v.t. to void wind from the stomach by the mouth: to eject violently: to cast up, as of the smoke from a volcano or a cannon.--n. eructation. [A.S. bealcian; Dut. balken.]

BELCHER, bel'sher, n. a neckerchief with dark-blue ground, mottled with white spots, each having a dark-blue spot in the centre. [From Jim Belcher, a famous English boxer.]

BELDAM, BELDAME, bel'dam, n. an old woman, esp. an ugly one: a hag, a furious woman: (obs.) a grandmother. [Formed from dam, mother, and bel-, expressing relationship. Cf. belsire.]

BELEAGUER, be-l[=e]g'[.e]r, v.t. to lay siege to.--n. BELEAG'UERMENT. [Dut. belegeren, to besiege--be, and leger, camp. See LEAGUER.]

BELEE, be-l[=e]', v.t. (Shak.) to place on the lee-side of.

BELEMNITE, bel'em-n[=i]t, n. a fossil pointed like a dart, being the internal shell of a genus of cephalopods, formerly known as Thunder-bolt, Thunder-stone, Elf-bolt. [Gr. belemnit[=e]s--belemnon, a dart.]

BELFRY, bel'fri, n. the part of a steeple or tower in which bells are hung: a bell-tower, sometimes standing apart: a movable wooden tower, used in the Middle Ages in attacking a fortification.--adj. BEL'FRIED, having a belfry. [Orig. and properly a watch-tower, from O. Fr. berfroi--Mid. High Ger. berchfrit--frid, frit, a tower, bergan, to protect.]

BELGARD, bel-gärd', n. (Spens.) fair or kind looks. [It. bel guardo, lovely look.]

BELGIAN, bel'ji-an, adj. belonging to Belgium, a country of Europe.--n. a native of Belgium.

BELGIC, bel'jik, adj. pertaining to the Belgæ who anciently possessed Belgium, or to Belgium. [L. Belgicus--Belgæ, the Belgians.]

BELGRAVIAN, bel-gr[=a]'vi-an, adj. belonging to Belgravia (a fashionable part of London), or to fashionable life: aristocratic.

BELIAL, b[=e]l'yal, n. a name for the devil, and, in Milton, for one of the fallen angels. Not a proper name in Old Test. [Heb. b'li-ya`al, b'li, without ya`al, usefulness.]

BELIE, be-l[=i]', v.t. to give the lie to: to speak falsely of: to present in a false character: to counterfeit: to be false to: falsify: (Shak.) to fill with lies:--pr.p. bely'ing; pa.p. bel[=i]ed'. [A.S. be, and LIE.]

BELIEVE, be-l[=e]v', v.t. to regard as true: to trust in.--v.i. to be firmly persuaded of anything: to exercise faith (with in, on): to think or suppose.--n. BELIEF', persuasion of the truth of anything: faith: the opinion or doctrine believed: intuition, natural judgment (as used by some philosophers).--adjs. BELIEF'LESS; BELIEV'ABLE, that may be believed.--n. BELIEV'ER, one who believes: a professor of Christianity.--p.adj. BELIEV'ING, trustful.--adv. BELIEV'INGLY.--THE BELIEF (arch.), the Apostles' Creed.--TO MAKE BELIEVE, to pretend. [M. E. bileven--bi-, be-, and leven. Murray says that believe is an erroneous spelling of the 17th century, prob. after relieve. The A.S. form geléfan survived to the 14th century; the present compound, which superseded it, appears in the 12th century.]

BELIKE, be-l[=i]k', adv. probably: perhaps. [A.S. pfx. be-, and LIKE.]

BELITTLE, be-lit'l, v.t. to make small: to cause to appear small, to depreciate or disparage.--n. BELIT'TLEMENT.--adj. BELIT'TLING. [Pfx. be-, and LITTLE.]

BELIVE, be-l[=i]v', adv. (Scot.) with speed: soon, erelong. [M. E. bi life; be, bí, by, life, dat. of l[=i]f, life.]

BELL, bel, n. a hollow vessel of metal, which gives forth a ringing sound when struck by the tongue or clapper suspended inside--as in church-bell, hand-bell, alarm-bell, night-bell, marriage-bell, &c.: a corolla shaped like a bell: the body of a Corinthian or composite capital, without the surrounding foliage: anything bell-shaped, as in diving-bell, bell-glass, the bell or outward-turned orifice of a trumpet, &c.: a bell rung to tell the hour: (naut.) the bell struck on shipboard every half-hour as many times as there are half-hours of the watch elapsed--'two bells,' 'three bells,' &c., meaning that there are two or three half-hours past; the watch of four hours is eight bells.--v.t. to furnish with a bell, esp. in TO BELL THE CAT, to take the leading part in any hazardous movement, from the ancient fable of the mice who proposed to hang a warning bell round the cat's neck.--ns. BELL'COTE (archit.), an ornamental [Illustration] structure made to contain one or two bells, and often crowned by a small spire; BELL'-CRANK, a rectangular lever in the form of a crank, used for changing the direction of bell-wires; BELL'-FOUND'ER, one who founds or casts bells; BELL'-GLASS, a bell-shaped glass for sheltering flowers; BELL'-HANG'ER, one who hangs and repairs bells; BELL'MAN, one who rings a bell, esp. on the streets, before making public announcements: a town-crier; BELL'-MET'AL, the metal of which bells are made--an alloy of copper and tin; BELL'-PUNCH, a hand-punch containing a signal-bell, used for punching a hole in a ticket in order to keep a record of the number of fares taken; BELL'-RING'ER, one whose business it is to ring a bell on stated occasions: a performer with musical hand-bells; BELL'-ROPE, the rope by which a bell is rung.--adj. BELL'-SHAPED.--ns. BELL'-TOW'ER, a tower built to contain one or more bells, a campanile; BELL'-TUR'RET, a turret containing a bell-chamber, usually crowned with a spire; BELL'-WETH'ER, the leading sheep of a flock, on whose neck a bell is hung: (fig.) any loud, turbulent fellow, esp. the leader of a mob.--BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE, a phrase popularly used in reference to a form of excommunication ending with the words, 'Do to [shut] the book, quench the candle, ring the bell.'--TO BEAR or CARRY OFF THE BELL, to have or to gain the first place. [A.S. belle; cog. with Dut. bel.]

BELL, bel, n. a bubble formed in a liquid. [Ety. dub.; cf. Dut. bel, a bubble in water, perh. from L. bulla, bubble in water.]

BELL, bel, v.i. to bellow, roar: to utter loudly.--n. the cry of a stag at rutting-time. [A.S. bellan, to roar; cf. Ger. bellen.]

BELLADONNA, bel'la-don-na, n. the deadly nightshade or dwale, all parts of which are narcotic and poisonous from the presence therein of the alkaloid atropia: the drug prepared from the foregoing. [It. bella donna, fair lady; one property of belladonna is to enlarge the pupil, and so add a brilliance to the eyes.]

BELLARMINE, bel'lar-m[=e]n, n. a large stoneware drinking jug with a big belly and a narrow neck, decorated with a bearded face, originally that of Cardinal Bellarmine, made in mockery by the Dutch Protestants.

BELLE, bel, n. a handsome woman: the chief beauty of a place: a fair lady generally. [Fr. belle--L. bella, bellus.]

BELLES-LETTRES, bel-let'r, n.pl. polite or elegant literature, including poetry, fiction, criticism, æsthetics, &c.--ns. BELLET'RIST, BELLET'TRIST.--adj. BELLETRIS'TIC. [Fr., lit. 'fine letters.']

BELLIBONE, bel'i-b[=o]n, n. (Spens.) a beautiful and good woman.

BELLICOSE, bel'ik-[=o]s, adj. contentious, war-like.--adv. BEL'LICOSELY.--n. BELLICOS'ITY. [L. bellicosus.]

BELLIED, bel'lid, p.adj. with a belly, esp. a big belly, pot-bellied: bulging: puffed out. [See BELLY.]

BELLIGERENT, bel-ij'[.e]r-[.e]nt, adj. carrying on regular war.--n. a party or person waging such.--n. BELLIG'ERENCY. [L. belligerant-em, belliger[=a]re, to wage war.]

BELLONA, bel'l[=o]-na, n. the Roman goddess of war--hence (fig.) a woman of great spirit and vigour.

BELLOW, bel'l[=o], v.i. to roar like a bull: to make any violent outcry, often with sense of contempt or ridicule: to shout aloud: to roar, as of cannon, the ocean, &c.--with objective, to give forth a loud sound.--n. the roar of a bull: any deep sound or cry. [M. E. belwen; there is an A.S. bellan, to roar.]

BELLOWS, bel'l[=o]z, or bel'lus, n.pl. an instrument for producing a current of air so as to blow up a fire, either in a kitchen, a furnace, or a forge--or for producing the current of air by which the pipes and reeds of an organ are sounded: (fig.) that which fans the fire of hatred, jealousy, &c.: the lungs. [Same as BELLY (q.v.); now used only in pl., the sing. not having survived the 15th century.]

BELLY, bel'li, n. the part of the body between the breast and the thighs, containing the bowels: the stomach, as the receptacle of the food: the bowels proper: the womb or uterus: the interior of anything: the bulging part of anything, as a bottle, or any concave or hollow surface, as of a sail: the inner or lower surface of anything, as opposed to the back, as of a violin, &c.--adj. ventral, abdominal: (theol.) belonging to the flesh, carnal.--v.i. to swell or bulge out.--ns. BEL'LY-BAND, a saddle-girth: a band fastened to the shafts of a vehicle, and passing under the belly of the horse drawing it; BEL'LYFUL, a sufficiency; BEL'LY-GOD, one who makes a god of his belly, a glutton.--p.adj. BEL'LYING.--n. BEL'LY-TIM'BER, provisions. [M. E. bali, bely--A.S. bælig, belig; bælg, belg, bag.]

BELOMANCY, bel'o-man-si, n. a kind of divination by means of arrows. [Gr. belos, a dart, manteia, divination.]

BELONG, be-long', v.i. to go along with: to pertain to: to be one's property: to be a part of, or appendage of, or in any way connected with: to be specially the business of: (U.S.) to be a native of, or have a residence in.--n.pl. BELONG'INGS, circumstances or relations of any person: possessions: persons connected, relatives: accessories. [Bi-, be-longen, intens. of longen, with pfx. be-. See LONG.]

BELOVED, be-luvd', or be-luv'ed, p.adj. much loved, very dear--often compounded with well-; best-, &c.--n. one who is much loved.--adj. BELOV'ING (Shak.) = loving.

BELOW, be-l[=o]', prep. beneath in place, rank, or quality: underneath: not worthy of.--adv. in a lower place: (fig.) on earth, or in hell, as opposed to heaven. [Pfx. be-, and adj. LOW.]

BELT, belt, n. a girdle, zone, or band: such a piece, as of leather, worn by way of ornament, or given as a prize or badge of victory in wrestling or the like: a broad strip of anything, different in colour or material: that which confines or restrains: (geog.) a strait.--v.t. to surround with a belt, or to invest formally with such, as in knighting a man: to encircle: to thrash with a belt.--p.adj. BELT'ED, wearing a belt, of a knight: marked with a belt, as the 'belted kingfisher.'--n. BELT'ING, flexible belts for the transmission of motion in machinery, made of leather, indiarubber, &c.--as in chainbelt, crossed belt, endless belt, &c.; a thrashing.--TO HOLD THE BELT, to hold the championship in wrestling, boxing, or the like. [A.S. belt; Ice. belti, Gael. balt, L. balteus.]

BELTANE, bel't[=a]n, n. an ancient Celtic heathen festival, held in the beginning of May, when bonfires were lighted on the hills: the first day of May (O.S.)--one of the four old quarter-days of Scotland, the others being Lammas, Hallowmas, and Candlemas.--adj. in Beltane games, &c. [Gael. bealltainn, beilteine; usually explained as 'Beal's fire,' Beal being a supposed Celtic deity who has been courageously identified with the Baal or Bel of the Phoenicians and other Semitic peoples, and Gael. teine, fire. But even this last is doubtful.]

BELUGA, be-l[=oo]'ga, n. the white whale, one of the dolphin family, closely allied to the narwhal, 12 to 16 feet long, of creamy-white colour, found in droves round Greenland and all over the Arctic seas: applied also to a great Russian sturgeon--the Acipenser Huso. [Russ.]

BELVEDERE, bel've-d[=e]r, n. a pavilion or raised turret or lantern on the top of a house, open for the view, or to admit the cool evening breeze: a summer-house on an eminence in a park or garden. [It. belvedere; bel, beautiful, vedere, a view.]

BEMA, b[=e]'ma, n. the tribune or rostrum from which Athenian orators made their speeches--hence the apse or chancel of a basilica. [Gr. b[=e]ma, a step.]

BEMAD, be-mad', v.t. to madden.

BEMAUL, be-mawl', v.t. to maul thoroughly.

BEMAZED, be-m[=a]zd', p.adj. stupefied, bewildered.

BEMBEX, bem'beks, n. a genus of solitary sand-wasps, with broad heads and very large eyes, noted for their making a loud buzz during their rapid flight. [Gr. bembix.]

BEMEAN, be-m[=e]n', v.t. to make mean, to lower or debase: (obs.) to signify.

BEMIRE, be-m[=i]r', v.t. to soil with mire.--p.adj. BEMIRED'.

BEMOAN, be-m[=o]n', v.t. to lament: bewail: to pity.--v.i. to grieve.--ns. BEMOAN'ER; BEMOAN'ING.

BEMOCK, be-mok', v.t. to mock at, to deride.

BEMOIL, be-moil', v.t. (Shak.) to bemire, to bedraggle.

BEMONSTER, be-mon'ster, v.t. to make monstrous: to regard or treat as a monster.

BEMOUTH, be-mowth', v.i. to declaim, to overpraise.

BEMUD, be-mud', v.t. to bespatter with mud: to confuse.

BEMUDDLE, be-mud'l, v.t. to confuse or muddle completely.

BEMUFFLE, be-muf'l, v.t. to wrap or muffle up completely.

BEMUSE, be-m[=u]z', v.t. to put in confusion: stupefy.

BEN, ben, n. a mountain peak. [Gael. beann.]

BEN, ben, prep. and adv. in toward the inner apartment of a house.--n. the inner apartment of a house, as opposed to the But or kitchen through which one must generally pass first.--TO BE FAR BEN WITH ONE, to be on terms of great intimacy or friendship with; TO LIVE BUT AND BEN, to live respectively in these rooms, in close neighbourhood with any one. [M. E. binne--A.S. binnan, within.]

BENCH, bensh, n. a long seat or form with or without a back: a seat in a boat: a mechanic's work-table: a judge's seat: the body or assembly of judges: a tribunal: the dignity of holding an official seat, as the 'bench of bishops,' the 'civic bench.'--v.t. to place on or furnish with benches.--ns. BENCH'ER, a senior member of an inn of court; BENCH'ERSHIP; BENCH'-MARK, a surveyor's mark cut on a rock, gatepost, wall, or the like, into which a crooked iron is set so as to form a bench or temporary support for the levelling instrument; BENCH'-WAR'RANT, one issued by a judge rather than a justice or magistrate. [A.S. benc; cog. with Ger. and Dut. bank.]

BEND, bend, v.t. to curve or bow: to make crooked: to turn or incline--mostly in passive, to be inclined to, towards, to be given to: to subdue: to direct to a certain point: to apply closely, to strain, to nerve one's self to: (naut.) to tie, fasten, make fast.--v.i. to be crooked or curved: to incline in any direction: to stoop: to lean: to bow in submission (with to, before, towards):--pa.p. bend'ed or bent.--n. a curve or crook: the bent part of anything; (her.) one of the nine ordinaries, consisting of the space contained between two parallel lines crossing the shield diagonally from dexter chief to sinister base. It is said to occupy a fifth part of the shield unless charged, when it occupies a third part--its diminutives are the Bendlet, Cotise, and Ribbon.--BEND SINISTER, an occasionally occurring variety of the bend, drawn from sinister chief to dexter base. [Old Eng. bendan.]

BEND, bend, n. in leather, half a butt cut lengthwise.

BENEATH, be-n[=e]th', prep. under, or lower in place: inside of, behind: unworthy the dignity of, unbecoming. [A.S. bi-nathan.]

BENEDICITE, ben-[=e]-dis'i-te, n. the canticle beginning 'Benedicite omnia opera Domini' ('O all ye works of the Lord'), from the Apocryphal Song of the Three Holy Children--in the Anglican morning service an alternate to the Te Deum: the blessing before a repast.

BENEDICT, ben'e-dikt, n. a common name for a newly married man, esp. a bachelor who has long held out against marriage, but at last succumbed--from Benedick in Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing.--adj. blessed: benign.

BENEDICTINE, ben-e-dik'tin, adj. pertaining to St Benedict or his monastic rule.--n. a Black Friar or monk of the order founded at Monte Cassino by St Benedict of Nursia (480-543), which became famous for its learning: a cordial or liqueur resembling Chartreuse, distilled at Fécamp in Normandy--once distilled by Benedictine monks.

BENEDICTION, ben-e-dik'shun, n. a solemn invocation of the divine blessing on men or things--a priestly benediction is defined by Romanists as a formula of imperative prayer which transmits a certain grace or virtue to the object over which it is pronounced: a brief and popular service in the Romish Church, consisting of certain canticles and antiphons sung in presence of the host, and concluding with the priest making the sign of the cross over the people with the monstrance, and giving in silence the benediction of the most holy sacrament.--adj. BENEDICT'ORY.--n. BENEDICT'US, the canticle of Zacharias (Luke, i. 68-79), used in the Roman service of matin-lauds, and occurring after the second lesson in Anglican matins.--p.adj. BENEDIGHT' (Longfellow), blessed.--APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION, that given in 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

BENEFACTION, ben-e-fak'shun, n. the act of doing good: a good deed done or benefit conferred: a grant or endowment.--n. BENEFAC'TOR, one who gives a benefit to another, esp. one who leaves a legacy to some charitable or religious institution, a patron:--fem. BENEFAC'TRESS.--adj. BENEFAC'TORY. [L. benefaction-em.]

BENEFICE, ben'e-fis, n. any kind of church promotion or dignity, esp. with cure of souls, such as rectories, vicarages, and other parochial cures, as distinguished from bishoprics, deaneries, cathedral preferments, &c.: an ecclesiastical living.--adj. BEN'EFICED, possessed of a benefice. [Through Fr. from L. beneficium.]

BENEFICENCE, be-nef'i-sens, n. active goodness: kindness: charity: a beneficent gift.--n. BENEFIC'ENCY (obs.).--adjs. BENEF'ICENT; BENEFICEN'TIAL.--adv. BENEF'ICENTLY. [L. beneficentia.]

BENEFICIAL, ben-e-fish'al, adj. useful; advantageous: (law) enjoying the usufruct of property.--adj. BENEF'IC, of good influence astrologically: beneficent, kindly.--adv. BENEFIC'IALLY.--ns. BENEFIC'IALNESS; BENEFIC'IARY, a legal term to denote a person who enjoys, or has the prospect of enjoying, any interest or estate held in trust by others. [L. beneficium.]

BENEFIT, ben'e-fit, n. a kindness: a favour: any advantage, natural or other: a performance at a theatre, the proceeds of which go to one of the company.--v.t. to do good to.--v.i. to gain advantage (with from),--ns. BEN'EFIT-OF-CLER'GY, in old English law, the exemption of the persons of ecclesiastics from criminal process before a secular judge, they being responsible only to their ordinary. This privilege, at first limited to those in actual orders, was in 1350 extended to all manner of clerks, and in later practice to all who could read, whether of clergy or laity; BEN'EFIT-OF-IN'VENTORY (Scots law), a legal privilege whereby an heir secured himself against unlimited liability for his ancestor, by giving up within the annus deliberandi an inventory of his heritage or real estate, to the extent of which alone was the heir liable.--BENEFIT SOCIETIES, associations for mutual benefit chiefly among the labouring classes, better known as Friendly societies. [M. E. benfet, through Fr. from L. benefactum.]

BENET, be-net', v.t. to catch in a net, to ensnare.

BENET, ben'et, n. an exorcist, the third of the four lesser orders in the Roman Church. [Through Fr. from L. benedict-us, blessed.]

BENEVOLENCE, ben-ev'ol-ens, n. disposition to do good: an act of kindness: generosity: a gift of money, esp. for support of the poor: (Eng. hist.) a kind of forced loan or contribution, levied by kings without legal authority, first so called under Edward IV. in 1473.--adj. BENEV'OLENT, charitable, generous, well disposed to.--adv. BENEV'OLENTLY. [Through Fr. from L. benevolentia.]

BENGALI, ben-gaw'l[=e], adj. of or belonging to Bengal.--n. a native of Bengal: the language of Bengal.--n. BENGAL'-LIGHT, a brilliant signal-light used at sea in a case of shipwreck, and in ordinary pyrotechny for illuminating a district of country--prepared from nitre, sulphur, and the black sulphide of antimony.

BENIGHTED, be-n[=i]t'ed, adj. overtaken by night: involved in darkness, intellectual or moral: ignorant.--v.t. BENIGHT', to involve in such darkness: to cloud with disappointment.--ns. BENIGHT'ENING; BENIGHT'ER; BENIGHT'ING; BENIGHT'MENT. [Pfx. be- and NIGHT.]

BENIGN, ben-[=i]n', adj. favourable, esp. in astrology, as opposed to malign: gracious: kindly: (med.) of a mild type, as opposed to malignant: salubrious.--n. BENIG'NANCY, benignant quality.--adj. BENIG'NANT, kind: gracious: beneficial.--adv. BENIG'NANTLY.--n. BENIG'NITY, goodness of disposition: kindness: graciousness: favourable circumstances--of climate, weather, disease, planets.--adv. BENIGN'LY. [O. Fr. benigne--L. benignus, for benigenus; bene, well, genus, born.]

BENISON, ben'izn, n. benediction, blessing, esp. blessing of God. [O. Fr. beneiçun--L. benediction-em.]

BENITIER, b[=a]-n[=e]'ti[=a], n. the vase or vessel for holy water in R.C. churches, known in England as the holy-water font, vat, pot, stone, stock, or stoup. [Fr.--Low L. benedictarium--L. benedictus.]

BENJAMIN, ben'jä-min, n. a kind of overcoat formerly worn by men. [Suggested possibly by 'Joseph's coat.' The Gipsy béngari, 'waistcoat,' has been proposed as an etymon.]

BENJAMIN, ben'jä-min, n. gum benjamin, an essence made from benzoin.--n. BEN'JAMIN-TREE, a North American aromatic shrub, with stimulant tonic bark and berries: the tree which yields benzoin--Styrax Benzoin. [A corr. of BENZOIN.]

BENNET, ben'et, n. the herb Bennet or common avens (Geum urbanum), a yellow-flowered wayside plant throughout Europe. [Through Fr. from L. 'herba benedicta,' the flower being a protective against the devil.]

BENNET, ben'et, n. the same as BENT, indeed an earlier form.

BENT, bent, pa.t. and pa.p. of BEND.

BENT, bent, n. leaning or bias: tendency: intention: natural inclination of the mind towards anything: the condition of being bent, curved form: (rare) slope or declivity: (Shak.) a cast, as of the eye: the extent to which a bow may be bent--degree of tension, capacity of endurance, as in the phrase 'to the top of one's bent' = to the full measure of one's inclination. [See BEND.]

BENT, bent, n. any stiff or wiry grass: the old dried stalks of grasses: a special genus (Agrostis) containing about sixty species of grasses, all slender and delicate in appearance, and some useful as pasture-grasses and for hay: a place covered with such, a heath: a hillside.--Often BENT'-GRASS.--BEN'NET is a variant, a name applied to the wild barley-grass.--adj. BENT'Y.--TO TAKE TO THE BENT (Scot.), to fly to the moors, to escape from some danger by flight. [A.S. beonet, found in place-names, as Beonetléah, Bentley; the history is obscure, but the word is doubtless Teut.; cf. Ger. binse.]

BENTHAMISM, ben'tham-izm, n. a name applied to the social and political doctrines of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), whose leading principle is the doctrine of utility, that happiness is identical with pleasure, summed up in Priestley's famous phrase, 'the greatest happiness of the greatest number.'

BENUMB, be-num', v.t. to make insensible or powerless: to stupefy (now chiefly of cold): to deaden the feelings: to paralyse generally.--p.adj. BENUMBED'.--ns. BENUMBED'NESS, BENUMB'MENT. [Pfx. be- and NUMB.]

BENZENE, ben'z[=e]n, n. a compound of carbon and hydrogen, discovered by Faraday in 1825, in a tarry liquid resulting from the distillation of oil. It is found amongst the products of the destructive distillation of a great many organic bodies, but the most abundant source is coal-tar. It must not be confounded with benzine or benzoyl, which names have at different times been used for benzene.--BEN'ZINE is the name given to a distillate from American petroleum, which is much used as a substitute for turpentine, and for dissolving oils and fats; BEN'ZOYL is the commercial name applied to a mixture of substances, including benzene and its homologues.--BEN'ZOL is synonymous with benzene, while BEN'ZOLINE is a name applied to benzine and impure benzene indiscriminately.

BENZOIN, ben'z[=o]-in, or -zoin, n. gum benjamin, the aromatic and resinous juice of the Styrax Benzoin of Java and Sumatra. It is used in perfumery, in pastilles, and for incense, and its compound tincture yields Friar's Balsam or Jesuit's Drops, and is used in making court-plaster. [In the 16th century, BENJOIN. Most prob. through It. from Ar. lub[=a]n j[=a]w[=i], frankincense of Java, Sumatra, &c.]

BEPAINT, be-p[=a]nt', v.t. to paint over: to colour.

BEPAT, be-pat', v.t. to pat frequently, to beat.

BEPATCHED, be-patcht', p.adj. mended with patches: wearing patches on the face by way of adornment.

BEPEARL, be-p[.e]rl', v.t. to cover over with pearls.

BEPELT, be-p[.e]lt', v.t. to pelt vigorously.

BEPEPPER, be-pep'[.e]r, v.t. to pelt with a rain of shot or of blows.

BEPESTER, be-pest'[.e]r, v.t. to vex or pester greatly.

BEPITY, be-pit'i, v.t. to pity greatly.

BEPLUMED, be-pl[=oo]md', p.adj. adorned with feathers.

BEPOMMEL, be-pom'el, v.t. to pommel soundly.

BEPOWDER, be-pow'd[.e]r, v.t. to powder over.

BEPRAISE, be-pr[=a]z', v.t. to praise extravagantly.

BEPROSE, be-pr[=o]z', v.t. to reduce to prose: to discuss in prose, and tediously.

BEPUFF, be-puf', v.t. to puff out: to praise beyond measure.

BEQUEATH, be-kw[=e]th', v.t. to leave personal property by will to another: to transmit to posterity, to leave behind: to commit or entrust to any one.--adj. BEQUEATH'ABLE.--ns. BEQUEATH'AL, BEQUEATH'MENT. [A.S. becweðan; pfx. be-,and cweðan, to say. See QUOTH.]

BEQUEST, be-kwest', n. act of bequeathing: that which is bequeathed, a legacy. [M. E. bi-queste--A.S. bi'-cwiss; bi'-, a form of pfx. be-, qithan, to say. See QUOTH.]

BERATE, be-r[=a]t', v.t. (U.S.) to scold or chide vigorously.

BERBER, b[.e]r'b[.e]r, n. and adj. a member of one of the Hamitic tribes inhabiting the mountainous regions of Barbary and the northern portions of the Great Desert, originally occupying the whole southern coast of the Mediterranean: the language spoken by the Berbers. [Derived by Barth either from the name of their supposed ancestor, Ber, which we recognise in the L. A_-fer_, an African; or from the Gr. and L. term Barbari.]

BERE, another spelling of BEAR, barley (q.v.).

BEREAN, b[=e]-r[=e]'an, n. one of an extinct Scottish sect of the 18th century, named from the people of Berea (Acts, xvii. 11, who derived all knowledge of God from the Bible, but differed little from ordinary Calvinists.

BEREAVE, be-r[=e]v', v.t. to rob a person of anything valued: to leave destitute:--pa.t. and pa.p. bereaved'--the latter also BEREFT'.--adj. BEREAVED', robbed by death of some dear relative or friend.--n. BEREAVE'MENT, the fact or state of being so bereaved. [A.S. beréafian, to plunder. See REAVE.]

BERET, BERRET, b[.e]r'et, n. a flat woollen cap worn by the Basques. [Fr.]

BERG, berg, n. a mass or mountain of ice.--ns. BERG'FALL, the fall of a mountain rock; BERG'FIELD, an expanse of ice covered with bergs. [See ICEBERG.]

BERGAMASK, b[.e]r'ga-mask, adj. of or pertaining to Bergamo, whose natives are clownish in manners and dialect.--n. a rustic dance of theirs.

BERGAMOT, b[.e]r'ga-mot, n. a kind of citron whose aromatic rind yields the well-known oil of Bergamot, used in making pomades, fragrant essences, eau de Cologne, liqueurs, &c.: the essence so extracted. [From the town of Bergamo.]

BERGAMOT, b[.e]r'ga-mot, n. a group of varieties of pear of fine flavour. [Fr.--It.--Turk. begarm[=u]di.]

BERGMEHL, b[.e]rg'm[=a]l, n. a deposit of diatomaceous white earth or powder, that used in Norway to be mixed with flour and used as food. [Ger. 'mountain-flour.']

BERIBERI, ber'i-ber-i, n. an Eastern disease marked by anæmia, paralysis, and dropsical symptoms. [Singh.]

BERKELEIANISM, berk'l[=e]-an-izm, n. the philosophy of Bishop Berkeley (1685-1753), who maintained that the world we see and touch is not an abstract independent substance, of which conscious mind may be an effect, but is the very world which is presented to our senses, and which depends for its actuality on being perceived.--adj. and n. BERKELEI'AN.

BERLIN, b[.e]r'lin, n. an old-fashioned four-wheeled covered carriage, with a seat behind covered with a hood--also BER'LINE.--BERLIN BLUE, Prussian blue; BERLIN WOOL, a fine dyed wool for worsted-work, knitting, &c.

BERM, b[.e]rm, n. a ledge: esp. a fortification. [Fr. berme; Ger. berme.]

BERNARDINE, b[.e]r'nard-in, adj. Cistercian. [From St Bernard of Clairvaux, founder of the order.]

BEROB, be-rob', v.t. (Spens.) to rob or plunder.

BERRY, ber'i, n. a popular term for any small succulent fruit, but restricted in botanical language to simple fruits with pericarp succulent throughout, whether developed from superior (grape, potato, bitternut, belladonna, bryony, asparagus, tomato), or more commonly inferior ovary (gooseberry, currant, barberry, bilberry, &c.)--thus, strictly, the strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, are not berries.--v.i. to come into berry, to swell.--adj. BER'RIED, bearing berries. [A.S. berie.]

BERSAGLIERI, b[=a]r-sal-y[=a]'r[=e], n.pl. the riflemen or sharpshooters of the Italian army, first organised in the Sardinian army in 1836. [It.; pl. of bersagliere, bersaglio, a mark.]

BERSERK, -ER, b[.e]r'serk, -[.e]r, n. a Norse warrior whom the sight of the field of battle would fill with a frenzied and resistless fury--'the berserker rage.' [Ice. berserkr; Vigfusson explains the word as 'bear-sark,' and most probably a reference to the uncanny Werewolf superstition is involved.]

BERTH, b[.e]rth, n. a ship's station at anchor; a room or sleeping-place in a ship, a sleeping-carriage, &c.: any allotted or assigned place: a situation or place of employment, usually a comfortable one--even without such a qualifying adjective as 'a snug berth.'--v.t. to moor a ship: to furnish with a berth.--TO GIVE A WIDE BERTH TO, to keep well away from generally. [A doublet of BIRTH; from BEAR.]

BERYL, b[.e]r'il, n. a precious stone resembling the emerald, but colourless, yellowish, greenish yellow or blue--its finer varieties are called precious beryl, and sometimes aquamarine. It has important uses as a magic crystal in which the future becomes visible.--adj. beryl-like in colour. [O. Fr. beryl--L. beryllus--Gr. b[=e]ryllos.]

BESAINT, be-s[=a]nt', v.t. to make a saint of.--pa.p. BESAINT'ED, canonised: haunted with saints.

BESCATTER, be-skat'[.e]r, v.t. to scatter over.

BESCRAWL, be-skrawl', v.t. to scrawl or scribble over.

BESCREEN, be-skr[=e]n', v.t. to screen: to overshadow.

BESCRIBBLE, be-skrib'l, v.t. to write in a scribbling hand: to scribble about or upon.

BESEECH, be-s[=e]ch', v.t. to entreat, to implore (as a person, for a thing, or to do a thing): to ask or pray earnestly: to solicit--(Spens.) BESEEKE':--pa.t. and pa.p. besought'.--ns. BESEECH'ER; BESEECH'ING.--adv. BESEECH'INGLY.--ns. BESEECH'INGNESS; BESEECH'MENT. [Pfx. be-, and M. E. sechen, to SEEK.]

BESEEM, be-s[=e]m', v.t. to be seemly or fit for: to become: to be fit for or worthy of: (Spens.) to become or appear.--ns. BESEEM'ING, BESEEM'INGNESS--adv. BESEEM'INGLY.

BESEEN, be-s[=e]n', pa.p. of good appearance, comely: well furnished (with well).--BESEE' is quite obsolete.

BESET, be-set', v.t. to surround or set round with anything (now only in pa.p.): to surround with hostile intentions, to besiege: to occupy so as to allow none to go out or in: to assail, perplex, endanger, as by temptations, obstacles, &c.:--pr.p. beset'ting; pa.t. and pa.p. beset'.--ns. BESET'MENT; BESET'TER.--p.adj. BESET'TING, that besets, as in 'besetting sin.'

BESHADOW, be-shad'[=o], v.t. to cast a shadow over.

BESHAME, be-sh[=a]m', v.t. to put to shame.

BESHINE, be-sh[=i]n', v.i. to light up.--p.adj. BESHONE'.

BESHREW, be-shr[=oo]', v.t. to invoke evil upon, to curse--now only in such mild imprecations as 'beshrew me,' or 'thee'--prob. not imperative but elliptical, like '(I) thank you.' [Pfx. be-, and SHREW.]

BESIDE, be-s[=i]d', prep. and adv. by the side of, near: over and above (in this sense, now usually BESIDES'), distinct from: apart from, not falling within, as of a question, resolution, &c.--BESIDE THE MARK, away from the mark aimed at, irrelevant.--TO BE BESIDE ONE'S SELF, to be out of one's senses. [M. E. bi siden--A.S. be si'dan, by the side (dat.).]

BESIDES, be-s[=i]dz', prep. and adv. in addition, otherwise, aside: over and above, in addition to, away from. [BESIDE, with the s of the adv. gen.]

BESIEGE, be-s[=e]j', v.t. to lay siege to: to beset with armed forces: to throng round.--n. BESIEG'ER.--adv. BESIEG'INGLY (rare), urgently.

BESIGH, be-s[=i]', v.t. to sigh over.

BESING, be-sing', v.t. to celebrate in song.--p.adj. BESUNG'.

BESIT, be-sit', v.t. (obs.) to besiege: to sit well on, as clothes, to become.--p.adj. BESIT'TING (Spens.), becoming.

BESLAVE, be-sl[=a]v', v.t. to make a slave of: to call slave.

BESLAVER, be-sl[=a]v'[.e]r, v.t. to slaver or slobber upon: to cover with fulsome flattery.

BESLOBBER, be-slob'[.e]r, v.t. to besmear with the spittle running from one's mouth: to cover with drivelling kisses: to flatter fulsomely.--v.t. BESLUB'BER, to bedaub or besmear.

BESMEAR, be-sm[=e]r', v.t. to smear over: to bedaub: to pollute.

BESMIRCH, be-smirch', v.t. to soil, as with smoke or soot: to sully.--v.t. BESMUTCH', to besmirch.

BESMUT, be-smut', v.t. to blacken with soot.--p.adj. BESMUT'TED.

BESOGNO, BESONIO. Same as BEZONIAN.

BESOM, b[=e]'zum, n. an implement for sweeping, a broom: any cleansing or purifying agent: (Scot.) a term of reproach for a woman.--ns. B[=E]'SOM-HEAD, a blockhead; B[=E]'SOM-RID'ER, a witch.--TO JUMP THE BESOM (see BROOM). [A.S. besema, besma; a common Teut. word; Ger. besen, Dut. bezem.]

BESORT, be-sort', v.t. (obs., Shak.) to match with, befit, become.--n. suitable company.

BESOT, be-sot', v.t. to make sottish, dull, or stupid: to make a sot of: to cause to dote on: to infatuate (with):--pr.p. besot'ting; pa.p. besot'ted.--p.adj. BESOT'TED, infatuated.--adv. BESOT'TEDLY.--n. BESOT'TEDNESS.

BESOUGHT, be-sawt', pa.t. and pa.p. of BESEECH.

BESOULED, be-s[=o]ld', adj. endowed with a soul.

BESPANGLE, be-spang'gl, v.t. to adorn with spangles, or with anything sparkling or shining.

BESPATE, be-sp[=a]t', p.adj. spit upon.

BESPATTER, be-spat'[.e]r, v.t. to spatter or sprinkle with dirt or anything moist: to defame.

BESPEAK, be-sp[=e]k', v.t. to speak for or engage beforehand: to stipulate or ask for: to betoken.--v.i. (obs.) to speak:--pa.t. besp[=o]ke'; pa.p. besp[=o]ke' and besp[=o]k'en.--n. an actor's benefit, so called because the actor's friends and patrons bespeak or choose the piece to be performed that night.

BESPECKLE, be-spek'l, v.t. to mark with speckles or spots.

BESPECTACLED, be-spek'ta-kld, pa.p. having spectacles on.

BESPEED, be-sp[=e]d', v.t. to help on.--p.adj. BESPED'.

BESPICE, be-sp[=i]s', v.t. (Shak.) to season with spice: to drug or poison.

BESPOKE, be-sp[=o]k', BESPOKEN, be-sp[=o]k'n, pa.p. of BESPEAK, ordered, as boots, clothes, &c.

BESPOT, be-spot', v.t. to cover with spots.--p.adj. BESPOT'TED.--n. BESPOT'TEDNESS.

BESPOUT, be-spowt', v.t. to spout over: to declaim pompously.

BESPREAD, be-spred', v.t. to spread over: to cover:--pr.p. bespread'ing; pa.t. and pa.p. bespread'.

BESPRENT, be-sprent', pa.p. sprinkled over: scattered. [A.S. besprengan. See SPRINKLE.]

BESPRINKLE, be-spring'kl, v.t. to sprinkle over.

BESSEMER, bes'[.e]m-[.e]r, adj. derived from the name of the inventor, Sir H. Bessemer, applied to steel for rails, tires, ship-plates, &c., prepared by the Bessemer process.

BEST, best, adj. (serves as superl. of GOOD) good in the highest degree: first: highest: most excellent.--n. one's utmost endeavour: the highest perfection.--adv. (superl. of WELL) in the highest degree: in the best manner.--v.t. (coll.) to get the better of.--BEST MAN and BEST MAID, the groomsman and bridesmaid at a wedding.--AT THE BEST, or AT BEST, in the best possible way, at most after every allowance is made; FOR THE BEST, with the best intentions; I WERE BEST = it were best for me.--TO HAVE THE BEST OF IT, to gain the advantage in a contest; TO MAKE THE BEST OF ONE'S WAY, to go by the best possible road; TO PUT ONE'S BEST FOOT FOREMOST, to do the best, or to make the best show, one can. [A.S. betst, betest. See BETTER.]

BESTAIN, be-st[=a]n', v.t. to stain all over.

BESTEAD, be-sted', v.t. to help, relieve: to be of use to, to avail.--v.i. to profit, be advantageous.

BESTEAD, BESTED, be-sted', p.adj. set about (with): beset (with by, of foes; with, of dangers, &c.): situated--usually with ill, hard, &c.

BESTIAL, best'i-al, adj. like a beast: rude: brutally sensual.--n. (Scot.) a collective name for cattle.--v.t. BEST'IALISE, to make like a beast.--ns. BEST'IALISM, irrationality; BESTIAL'ITY, beastliness: disgusting vice. [L. bestialis. See BEAST.]

BESTIARY, best'i-ar-i, n. the name given to a class of books of great popularity in the Middle Ages, describing all the animals of creation, real or fabled, generally illustrated by drawings, and allegorised for edification. [Low L. bestiarium, a menagerie.]

BESTICK, be-stik', v.t. to stick over, as with sharp points.

BESTILL, be-stil', v.t. to make quiet, to hush.

BESTIR, be-st[.e]r', v.t. to put into lively action: arouse into activity: (refl.) to rouse one's self--p.adj. BESTIR'RING.

BESTORM, be-storm', v.t. to assail with storms or tumult.

BESTOW, be-st[=o]', v.t. to stow, place, or put by: to give or confer: to accommodate with quarters: to apply (with on and upon): (refl., Shak.) to acquit one's self.--ns. BESTOW'AL, act of bestowing: disposal; BESTOW'ER; BESTOW'MENT.

BESTRADDLE, be-strad'dl, v.t. to bestride.

BESTRAUGHT, be-strawt', adj. (obs.) distraught: distracted: mad. [Formed with pfx. be-, on the analogy of distraught--L. dis-tractus.]

BESTREAK, be-str[=e]k', v.t. to overspread with streaks.

BESTREW, be-str[=oo]', v.t. to strew or scatter loosely over:--pa.p. bestrewed', bestr[=o]wn', bestrewn' (with).

BESTRIDE, be-str[=i]d', v.t. to stride over: to sit or stand across: to defend, protect, from the sense of standing over a fallen man to defend him:--pa.t. bestrid', bestr[=o]de'; pa.p. bestrid', bestrid'den.

BESTUCK, be-stuk', pa.t. and pa.p. of BESTICK, to stick about, adorn: to transfix.

BESTUD, be-stud', v.t. to adorn as with studs, as the sky with stars.

BET, bet, n. a wager: something staked to be lost or won on the result of a doubtful issue, as a horse-race, or the like.--v.t. and v.i. to lay or stake, as a bet:--pr.p. bet'ting; pa.t. and pa.p. bet or bet'ted.--ns. BET'TER, one who bets--also BET'TOR; BET'TING, act of betting or proposing a wager.--AN EVEN BET, an equal chance.--YOU BET, in American slang, certainly. [Prob. shortened from the noun ABET.]

BETAKE, be-t[=a]k', v.t. to take one's self to, to go (with self): to apply or have recourse:--pa.t. betook'; pa.p. bet[=a]k'en.

BETEEM, be-t[=e]m', v.t. (Shak.) to grant, to suffer, to allow. [Most prob. from pfx. be-, and TEEM.]

BETEL, b[=e]'tl, n. the betel-nut, or nut of the areca palm, with lime and the leaves of the Betel-Pepper, chewed by the Malays as a stimulant. [Through Port. from Malay vettila.]

BETHANKIT, be-thank'it, Scotch for 'God be thanked.'

BETHEL, beth'el, n. a hallowed spot, a name applied by some Methodists to their places of worship: an old ship fitted up in a port as a place of worship for sailors. [Heb. B[=e]th-[=e]l, house of God.]

BETHINK, be-thingk', v.t. to think on or call to mind: to recollect (generally followed by a reflective pronoun and of): to propose to one's self.--v.i. to consider:--pa.t. and pa.p. bethought (be-thawt'). [A.S. bithencan; cf. Ger. bedenken. See THINK.]

BETHRALL, be-thrawl', v.t. (Spens.) to enslave.

BETHUMB, be-thum', v.t. to mark with the thumbs:--pa.p. bethumbed'.

BETHUMP, be-thump', v.t. to thump or beat soundly.

BETHWACK, be-thwak', v.t. to thrash soundly.

BETIDE, be-t[=i]d', v.i. to happen to, to befall--in third person, and often impersonally, with dative object, now little used save in phrase, 'woe betide!': (rare) to betoken:--pa.p. (Shak.) BETID'. [See TIDE.]

BETIME, be-t[=i]m', v.i. (Shak.) to betide.

BETIMES, be-t[=i]mz', adv. in good time: early: seasonably: speedily. [Pfx. be-, and TIME, with adv. gen. -s; like besides from beside.]

BETITLE, be-t[=i]'tl, v.t. to give a name to.

BETOIL, be-toil', v.t. to weary with toil.

BETOKEN, be-t[=o]'kn, v.t. to show by a sign: to foreshow. [See TOKEN.]

BETONY, bet'on-i, n. a common British labiate plant growing in woods, of great repute in ancient and medieval medicine, used to dye wool yellow. [Fr.--L. betonica, vettonica.]

BETOOK, be-took', pa.t. of BETAKE.

BETOSSED, be-tost', pa.p. (Shak.) agitated.

BETRAY, be-tr[=a]', v.t. to give up treacherously: to disclose in breach of trust: to let go basely or weakly: to deceive the innocent and trustful, to seduce: to discover or show: to show signs of.--ns. BETRAY'AL, act of betraying; BETRAY'ER, a traitor, the seducer of a trustful girl. [Pfx. be-, and O. Fr. traïr (Fr. trahir)--L. trad[)e]re, to deliver up.]

BETRIM, be-trim', v.t. to trim or set in order, to deck, to dress.

BETRODDEN, be-trod'n, pa.t. and pa.p. of BETREAD', to tread over or walk upon.

BETROTH, be-troth', v.t. to contract or promise in order to marriage: to affiance: (obs.) to pledge one's self to any cause.--ns. BETROTH'AL, BETROTH'MENT, an agreement or contract with a view to marriage. [Pfx. be-, and TROTH or TRUTH.]

BETTER, bet'[.e]r, adj. (serves as comp. of GOOD) good in a greater degree: preferable: improved: more suitable: larger: kinder: stronger in health.--adv. (comp. of WELL) well in a greater degree: more fully or completely: over or more than: with greater advantage: (pl.) superiors.--v.t. to make better (also reflexively, to better one's self), to improve: to benefit: also with intransitive sense, to grow better.--p.adjs. BET'TERED, improved, amended; BET'TERING, improving.--ns. BET'TERING, BET'TERMENT, BET'TERNESS.--adj. BET'TERMOST.--BETTER HALF, a jocose term for a wife, once applied seriously to either wife or husband, and even the soul as opposed to the body.--I HAD BETTER = I should hold it better to--the original construction having been a dative pronoun.--TO BE BETTER OFF, to be in superior circumstances; TO BE BETTER THAN ONE'S SELF, to do more than one had promised; TO GET THE BETTER OF, to gain the advantage over. [A.S. bet (adv.), betera, better; Goth. batiza, Ger. besser. Prob. cog. with BOOT.]

BETTY, bet'ti, n. a man who troubles himself with the women's work in a household: a slang name for a burglar's jemmy or jenny. [Betty, Bet, familiar abbrev. of Elizabeth.]

BETUMBLED, be-tum'bld, adj. (Shak.) tumbled or disordered.

BETUTOR, be-t[=u]'tor, v.t. to tutor or instruct.

BETWEEN, be-tw[=e]n', BETWIXT, be-twikst', prep. in the middle of two, of space, time, or degree: in the middle or intermediate space, to defend or separate: expressing reciprocal relation from one to another: by the joint action of two or more persons.--ns. BETWEEN'-DECKS, the space between any two decks of a ship; BETWEEN'ITY (rare), state of being between.--prep. BETWEEN'-WHILES, at intervals.--BETWEEN OURSELVES, in confidence; BETWIXT AND BETWEEN, in a middling position.--TO GO BETWEEN, to act as a mediator. [A.S. betwéonum betweónan--be, and twegen, twa, two, twain.]

BEVEL, bev'el, n. a slant or inclination of a surface: an instrument opening like a pair of compasses, and adjustable for measuring angles.--adj. having the form of a bevel: slanting.--v.t. to form with a bevel or slant:--pr.p. bev'elling; pa.p. bev'elled.--ns. BEV'EL-GEAR, BEV'EL-WHEELS (mech.), wheels working on each other in different planes, the cogs of the wheels being bevelled or at oblique angles to the shafts.--p.adj. BEV'ELLED, cut to an oblique angle, sloped off. [Fr. biveau, an instrument for measuring angles; orig. unknown.]

BEVER, an obsolete form of BEAVER.

BEVERAGE, bev'[.e]r-[=a]j, n. drink: a mixture of cider and water: any agreeable liquor for drinking.--n. BE'VER, a small repast between meals: (obs.) a time for drinking.--v.i. to take such a repast. [O. Fr. bevrage (Fr. breuvage), beivre--L. bibere, to drink.]

BEVY, bev'i, n. a brood or flock of birds, esp. of quails: a company, esp. of ladies. [M. E. bevey, prob. the same as O. Fr. bevee, buvee, drink, It. bevuta, a draught; the transference of sense being perh. from a drink or a drinking-bout to a drinking-party.]

BEWAIL, be-w[=a]l', v.t. to lament: to mourn loudly over (esp. the dead).--v.i. to utter lamentations.--adjs. BEWAIL'ABLE, BEWAIL'ING. [See WAIL.]

BEWARE, be-w[=a]r', v.i. to be on one's guard: to be suspicious of danger: to take care (with of; with clause--lest, that, not, how). [From the words be and ware run together. See WARY.]

BEWEEP, be-w[=e]p', v.t. to weep over, to lament.--p.adj. BEWEPT', disfigured by weeping.

BEWELTERED, be-wel't[.e]rd, p.adj. besmeared by weltering in blood. [Pfx. be-, and WELTER.]

BEWET, be-wet', v.t. (Shak.) to wet or moisten.

BEWIG, be-wig', to cover with a wig.--p.adj. BEWIGGED'.

BEWILDER, be-wil'd[.e]r, v.t. to perplex or lead astray.--p.adj. BEWIL'DERED, lost, confused in mind, trackless.--adj. BEWIL'DERING.--adv. BEWIL'DERINGLY.--n. BEWIL'DERMENT, confusion, mental confusion: perplexity. [Pfx. be-, and prov. Eng. wildern, a wilderness.]

BEWITCH, be-wich', v.t. to affect by witchcraft (mostly malignantly): to fascinate or charm.--ns. BEWITCH'ERY, BEWITCH'MENT.--adj. BEWITCH'ING, charming, enchanting.--adv. BEWITCH'INGLY.

BEWRAY, be-r[=a]', v.t. (B.) to accuse: to point out: to betray or divulge unintentionally. [M. E. bewreien, be-, and A.S. wrégan, to accuse.]

BEY, b[=a], n. a Turkish governor of a town or province. [Turk. beg, pronounced b[=a], a governor.]

BEYOND, be-yond', prep. on the farther side of: farther onward than: out of reach of: past in time: above, superior to.--BEYOND MEASURE, excessively; BEYOND SEAS, abroad; THE BACK OF BEYOND (De Quincey, &c.), a humorous phrase for any place a great way off; TO BE BEYOND ONE, to pass his comprehension; TO GO BEYOND, to surpass: to circumvent: (B., Shak.) to overreach. [A.S. begeondan--pfx. be-, and geond, across, beyond. See YON.]

BEZANT, be-zant', or bez'ant, n. a gold coin, first struck at Byzantium or Constantinople: (her.) a small circle or, like a gold coin.

BEZEL, bez'l, n. the part of the setting of a precious stone which encloses it: the oblique side or face of a cut gem: the grooved flange or rim in which a watch-glass is set: the slope at the edge of a chisel or plane (usually BAS'IL). [From an O. Fr. word represented by mod. Fr. biseau; its ult. origin uncertain.]

BEZIQUE, be-z[=e]k', n. a game at cards for two, three, or four persons, played with two to four packs, from which cards with from two to six pips have been removed. The name Bezique itself is applied to the combination of the knave of diamonds and queen of spades. [Fr. besigue, of obscure origin.]

BEZOAR, b[=e]'z[=o]r, n. a stony concretion found in the stomachs of goats, antelopes, llamas, chamois, &c., formerly esteemed an antidote to all poisons. [Through Sp. bezaar and Ar. b[=a]zahr, from Pers. p[=a]d-zahr, counter-poison, zahr, poison.]

BEZONIAN, be-z[=o]'ni-an, n. (Shak.) a beggar, a low fellow. [It. bisogno; Sp. bisoño, Fr. bisogne.]

BEZZLE, bez'l, v.i. (obs.) to drink hard: to squander:--pr.p. bezz'ling; pa.p. bezz'led. [O. Fr. besiler. See EMBEZZLE.]

BHANG, bang, n. the native name for the Indian preparation of hemp which is smoked or swallowed for its narcotic and intoxicating qualities--in Arabic known as hashish. [See ASSASSIN. Hind. bh[=a]ng; Pers. bang; Sans. bhang[=a].]

BIAS, b[=i]'as, n. a bulge or greater weight on one side of a bowl (in the game of bowling), making it slope or turn to one side: a slant or leaning to one side: a one-sided inclination of the mind, prejudice: any special influence that sways the mind.--v.t. to cause to turn to one side: to prejudice or prepossess:--pa.p. b[=i]'ased or b[=i]'assed.--ns. B[=I]'AS-DRAW'ING (Shak.), a turn awry; B[=I]'ASING, a bias or inclination to one side. [Fr. biais, of dubious origin; Diez suggests L. bifax, bifacem, two-faced.]

BIAXAL, b[=i]-aks'al, adj. having two optic axes.--Also BIAXIAL. [L. bi-, and AXIAL.]

BIB, bib, n. a cloth put under an infant's chin: a similar article of dress for adults, worn over the breast or above the apron.--v.t. and v.i. to drink, to tipple.--adj. B[=I]B[=A]'CIOUS.--ns. BIB[=A]'TION, tippling; BIB'BER, a tippler: chiefly used in composition as (B.) wine-bibber. [M. E. bibben, most prob. from L. bib-[)e]re, to drink.]

BIB, bib, n. a fish of the same genus as the cod and haddock, also called the Pout.

BIBBLE-BABBLE, bib'bl-bab'bl, n. (Shak.) idle talk. [Reduplication of BABBLE.]

BIBLE, b[=i]'bl, n. the sacred writings of the Christian Church, consisting of the Old and New Testaments.--adj. BIB'LICAL, of or relating to the Bible: scriptural.--adv. BIB'LICALLY.--ns. BIB'LICISM, biblical doctrine, learning, or literature; BIB'LICIST, B[=I]B'LIST, one versed in biblical learning: one who makes Scripture the sole rule of faith. [Fr.--Low L. biblia, fem. sing., earlier neut. pl., from Gr. ta biblia, lit. 'the books,' esp. the canonical books of Scripture, biblion, a book, dim. of biblos, papyrus, paper.]

BIBLIOGRAPHY, bib-li-og'raf-i, n. the description or knowledge of books, in regard to their authors, subjects, editions, and history.--n. BIBLIOG'RAPHER, one versed in bibliography or the history of books.--adj. BIBLIOGRAPH'IC. [Gr. biblion, a book, graphia, description.]

BIBLIOLATRY, bib-li-ol'at-ri, n. superstitious reverence for the Bible.--ns. BIBLIOL'ATRIST, BIBLIOL'ATER, one given to bibliolatry. [Gr. biblion, a book, latreia, worship.]

BIBLIOLOGY, bib-li-ol'[=o]-ji, n. an account of books: biblical literature, or theology. [Gr. biblion, a book, logos, discourse.]

BIBLIOMANCY, bib'li-[=o]-man-si, n. divination by selecting passages of the Bible at hazard, and drawing from them indications concerning future events. [Gr. biblion, a book, manteia, divination.]

BIBLIOMANIA, bib-li-[=o]-m[=a]n'i-a, n. a mania for possessing rare and curious books.--n. BIBLIOM[=A]N'IAC, one who has a mania for possessing rare and curious books.--adj. BIBLIOMAN[=I]'ACAL. [Gr. biblion, a book, and MANIA.]

BIBLIOPHILE, bib'li-[=o]-f[=i]l, n. a lover of books, esp. a collector of rare books. [Fr.--Gr. biblion, a book, philos, friend.]

BIBLIOPOLE, bib'li-[=o]-p[=o]l, n. a bookseller.--Also BIBLIOP'OLIST. [Gr. biblion, a book, p[=o]leein, to sell.]

BIBULOUS, bib'[=u]-lus, adj. drinking or sucking in: spongy. [L. bibulus--bib-[)e]re, to drink.]

BICAMERAL, b[=i]-kam'[.e]r-al, adj. having two chambers. [L. bi-, twice, and camera, chamber.]

BICARBONATE, b[=i]-kär'bon-[=a]t, n. a carbonate or salt having two equivalents of carbonic acid to one equivalent of base. [L. bi-, twice, and CARBONATE.]

BICE, b[=i]s, n. a pale blue or green paint. [Fr. bis.]

BICENTENARY, b[=i]-sen'te-na-ri, BICENTENNIAL, b[=i]-sen-ten'ni-al, adj. pertaining to the two hundredth.--n. the two hundredth anniversary.

BICEPHALOUS, b[=i]-sef'al-us, adj. double-headed. [L. bis, twice, and Gr. k[=e]phal[=e], head.]

BICEPS, b[=i]'seps, n. the muscle in front of the arm between the shoulder and elbow. [L. biceps, two-headed--bis, twice, and caput, head.]

BICHROMATE, b[=i]-kr[=o]'m[=a]t, adj. having two parts of chromic acid to one of other ingredients. [L. bis, twice, and CHROMATE.]

BICIPITAL, b[=i]-sip'it-al, adj. (anat.) having two heads or origins.--Earlier form BICIP'ITOUS.

BICKER, bik'[.e]r, v.i. to contend in a petty way: to quiver: to move quickly and tremulously, as running water.--n. a fight, a quarrel: a clattering noise: a short run.--n. BICK'ERMENT (Spens.), bickering, strife. [Acc. to Skeat, bicker = pick-er, or peck-er, to peck repeatedly with the beak.]

BICKER, bik'[.e]r, n. a bowl for holding liquor, esp. of wood: a vessel made of wooden staves for holding porridge. [Scot. form of BEAKER.]

BICONCAVE, b[=i]-kon'k[=a]v, adj. concave on both sides. [L. bi-, twice, and CONCAVE.]

BICONVEX, b[=i]-kon'veks, adj. convex on both sides. [L. bi-, twice, and CONVEX.]

BICORPORATE, b[=i]-kor'por-[=a]t, adj. (her.) double-bodied, as the head of a lion to which two bodies are attached. [L. bis, twice, and CORPORATE.]

BICUSPID, b[=i]-kus'pid, adj. having two cusps: a pre-molar tooth. [L. bi-, twice, and CUSP.]

BICYCLE, b[=i]'si-kl, n. a cycle or velocipede with two wheels furnished with rubber tires, arranged one before the other, impelled by pedals, and steered by transverse handles affixed to the front wheel--also BIKE (colloq.).--n. B[=I]'CYCLIST. [Formed from L. bi-, bis, twice, and Gr. kyklos, a circle.]

BID, bid, v.t. to offer: to propose: to proclaim, as the banns of marriage: to invite: to command: to make an offer, and to increase the amount offered for a thing--at an auction:--pr.p. bid'ding; pa.t. bid or bade; pa.p. bid, bid'den.--n. an offer of a price.--ns. BID'DER, one who bids or offers a price; BID'DING, offer: invitation: command; BID'DING-PRAY'ER, a form of prayer directed to be used before all sermons, lectures, and homilies preached apart from the daily service or holy communion--as university sermons, so called because in it the preacher is directed to bid or exhort the people to pray for certain specified objects.--TO BID FAIR, to seem likely. [A.S. béodan; Goth. biudan, Ger. bieten, to offer.]

BID, bid, v.t. to ask for: (nearly obs.): to pray. [A.S. biddan; Goth. bidjan; Ger. bitten; the connection with BID, to command, is dub. See BEAD.]

BIDE, b[=i]d, v.t. and v.i. same as ABIDE, to wait for.--n. BID'ING (Shak.), residence, habitation. [A.S. bídan; Goth. beidan.]

BIDENTATE, b[=i]-dent'[=a]t, adj. having two teeth.--Also BIDENT'AL. [L. bi-; twice, dens, dentis, a tooth.]

BIELD, b[=e]ld, n. (Wordsworth) shelter: protection. [Scot.; conn. with BOLD.]

BIENNIAL, b[=i]-en'yal, adj. lasting two years: happening once in two years.--n. a plant that lasts two years.--adv. BIENN'IALLY. [L. biennalis--bi-, twice, and annus, a year.]

BIER, b[=e]r, n. a carriage or frame of wood for bearing the dead to the grave. [A.S. b['æ]r; Ger. bahre, L. fer-etrum. From root of verb BEAR.]

BIESTINGS. Same as BEESTINGS.

BIFACIAL, b[=i]-f[=a]'shyal, adj. having two like faces or opposite surfaces. [L. bi-, twice, and FACIAL.]

BIFFINS, bif'inz, n. apples slowly dried in bakers' ovens and flattened into cakes--prepared in great quantities in Norfolk. [Said to be properly beefins, because like raw beef.]

BIFIDATE, bif'id-[=a]t, adj. (bot.) cleft in two.--Also BIF'ID. [L. bifidus--bi-, bis, twice, and find[)e]re, perf. fidi, to cleave or split.]

BIFLORATE, b[=i]-fl[=o]'r[=a]t, adj. bearing two flowers. [L. bi-, twice, and flos, floris, a flower.]

BIFOLD, b[=i]'f[=o]ld, adj. twofold: (Shak.) of two kinds. [L. bi-, twice, and FOLD.]

BIFOLIATE, b[=i]-f[=o]'li-[=a]t, adj. having two leaves. [L. bi-, twice, and FOLIATE.]

BIFORM, b[=i]'form, adj. having two forms. [L. bi-, twice, and FORM.]

BIFURCATE, b[=i]-fur'k[=a]t, BIFURCATED, b[=i]-fur'k[=a]t-ed, adj. two-forked; having two prongs or branches.--n. BIFURC[=A]'TION, a forking or division into two branches. [L. bifurcus--bi-, bis, twice, furca, a fork.]

BIG, big, adj. large or great: pregnant: great in air, mien, or spirit: loud: pompous, esp. 'to talk big,' 'look big.'--adjs. BIG-BELL'IED, having a big belly; pregnant (with); BIG'GISH, rather big.--ns. BIG'NESS, bulk, size; BIG'WIG (colloq.), a leading man, a person of some importance. [M. E. big; origin very obscure--Skeat suggests that it is bilg, the l being dropped, and compares Ice. belgja, to puff out.]

BIG, big, v.t. (Scot.) to build, to pile up.--n. BIG'GIN, anything built, a house. [Sc. byggja; A.S. búian.]

BIGAMY, big'am-i, n. the crime of having two wives or two husbands at once.--n. BIG'AMIST, one who has committed bigamy. [Fr.--L. bi-, bis, twice, and Gr. gamos, marriage.]

BIGG, big, n. a kind of barley. [Scand.; Ice. bygg, Dan. byg.]

BIGGIN, big'in, n. a child's cap or hood. [Fr. béguin, from the cap worn by the Beguines, a religious society of women in France.]

BIGHT, b[=i]t, n. a bend of the shore, or small bay: a bend or coil of a rope. [A.S. byht; cf. Dan. and Sw. bugt, Dut. bocht; from b[=u]gan, to bow.]

BIGNONIA, big-n[=o]'ni-a, n. a genus of tropical plants with trumpet-shaped flowers, named from the Abbé Bignon, Louis XIV.'s librarian.

BIGOT, big'ot, n. one blindly and obstinately devoted to a particular creed or party.--adj. BIG'OTED, having the qualities of a bigot.--n. BIG'OTRY, blind or excessive zeal, esp. in religious matters. [O. Fr.; of dub. origin; variously conn. with Visigoth, they being Arians, while the Franks were orthodox; with Sp. bigote, a moustache; with Beguine (q.v.); and by Wace with a worthless legend that the Norman Rollo, in refusing to kiss the foot of Charles the Simple, said, 'Ne se, bi got.']

BIJOU, be-zh[=oo]', n. a trinket: a jewel: a little box:--pl. BIJOUX (be-zh[=oo]').--n. BIJOU'TRY, jewellery: small articles of virtu. [Fr.]

BIKE, b[=i]k, n. a nest of wasps, wild bees, &c.: a swarm of people. [Scot.; ety. dub.]

BIKE. See BICYCLE.

BILABIATE, b[=i]-l[=a]'bi-[=a]t, adj. having two lips, as some corollas. [L. bi-, twice, and LABIATE.]

BILANDER, b[=i]'land-[.e]r, n. a two-masted hoy, having her mainsail bent to the whole length of her yard, hanging fore and aft, and inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 45º.--Also BY'LANDER. [Dut. bijlander.]

BILATERAL, b[=i]-lat'[.e]r-al, adj. having two sides.--adv. BILAT'ERALLY. [L. bi-, twice, and LATERAL.]

BILBERRY, bil'ber-i, n. called also Whortleberry, a shrub and its berries, which are dark blue. [Cf. Dan. böllebær; Scot. blaeberry; Ger. blaubeere.]

BILBO, bil'b[=o], n. a rapier or sword:--pl. BILBOES (bil'b[=o]z), fetters. [From Bilbao, in Spain.]

BILE, b[=i]l, n. a thick bitter fluid secreted by the liver--yellow in man and carnivorous animals, green in vegetable feeders: (fig.) ill-humour.--n. BILE'-DUCT, the duct which conveys the bile from the liver and the gall-bladder to the small intestine.--adjs. BIL'IARY, belonging to or conveying bile; BIL'IOUS, pertaining to or affected by bile.--adv. BIL'IOUSLY. [Fr.--L. bilis.]

BILGE, bilj, n. the bulging part of a cask: the broadest part of a ship's bottom.--v.i. to spring a leak by a fracture in the bilge, as a ship.--ns. BILGE'-PUMP; BILGE'-WAT'ER.--adj. BILG'Y, having the appearance and disagreeable smell of bilge-water. [Most prob. conn. with BULGE.]

BILHARZIA, bil'här-zi-a, n. a human parasitic flat worm in the fluke or Trematode order, with differentiated sexes. [From the helminthologist, Theodor Bilharz.]

BILINGUAL, b[=i]-ling'wal, adj. of or containing two tongues or languages.--Also BILIN'GUAR. [L. bilinguis--bi-, twice, lingua, tongue.]

BILITERAL, b[=i]-lit'[.e]r-al, adj. consisting of two letters. [L. bi-, twice, and litera, a letter.]

BILK, bilk, v.t. to elude; to cheat. [Perh. a dim. of BALK; at first a term in cribbage.]

BILL, bil, n. a kind of concave battle-axe with a long wooden handle: a kind of hatchet with a long blade and wooden handle in the same line with it, often with a hooked point, used in cutting thorn hedges or in pruning.--ns. BILL'HOOK, a bill or hatchet having a hooked or curved point; BILL'MAN, a soldier armed with a bill. [A.S. bil; Ger. bille.]

BILL, bil, n. the beak of a bird, or anything like it, applied even to a sharp promontory, as Portland Bill: the point of the fluke of an anchor--hence BILL'-BOARD, n., used to protect the planking from being injured by the bill when the anchor is weighed.--v.i. to join bills as doves: to caress fondly.--adj. BILLED. [A.S. bile, most prob. the same word as the preceding.]

BILL, bil, n. an account of money: a draft of a proposed law: a written engagement to pay a sum of money at a fixed date: a placard or advertisement: any written statement of particulars: in the criminal law of England, the formal name of a written accusation of serious crime preferred before a grand-jury.--n. BILL'-BOOK, a book used in commerce in which an entry is made of all bills accepted and received.--n.pl. BILL'-BROK'ERS, persons who, being skilled in the money-market, the state of mercantile and personal credit, and the rates of exchange, engage, either on their own account or that of their employers, in the purchase and sale of foreign and inland bills of exchange and promissory notes: the business of BILL'-DISCOUNT'ERS, or discount-brokers, again, consists in discounting or advancing the amount of bills of exchange and notes which have some time to run before they come due, on the faith of the credit of the parties to the bill.--n. BILL'-CHAM'BER, a department of the Court of Session in Scotland which deals with summary business--so called because formerly both summonses and diligence or execution were for the most part commenced by a writ called a bill; BILL'-STICK'ER, one who sticks or posts up bills or placards.--BILL OF ADVENTURE, a writing by a merchant stating that goods shipped by him, and in his name, are the property of another, whose adventure or chance the transaction is--the shipping merchant, on the other hand, undertaking to account to the adventurer for the produce; BILL OF COMPLAINT, the name given in the English Court of Chancery, prior to the Judicature Act of 1873, to the formal statement of the facts and prayer for relief submitted by a plaintiff to the court; BILL OF COSTS, an account stating in detail the charges and disbursements of an attorney or solicitor in the conduct of his client's business; BILL OF EXCEPTIONS, a statement of objections, by way of appeal, against the decision of a judge who is trying a case with a jury in the Court of Session; BILL OF EXCHANGE, a document purporting to be an instrument of pecuniary obligation for value received, and which is employed for the purpose of settling a debt in a manner convenient to the parties concerned; BILL OF FARE, in a hotel, the list of dishes or articles of food; BILL OF HEALTH, an official certificate of the state of health on board ship before sailing; BILL OF LADING, a paper signed by the master of a ship, by which he makes himself responsible for the safe delivery of the goods specified therein; BILL OF MORTALITY, an official account of the births and deaths occurring in a certain district within a given time; BILL OF SALE, in English law, a formal deed assigning personal property, the usual mode of transferring ships, and valuable as mercantile securities over stock-in-trade, furniture, &c.; BILL OF SIGHT, an entry of imported goods of which the merchant does not know the quantity or the quality; BILL OF STORE, a license from the customs authorities to reimport British goods formerly exported; BILL OF VICTUALLING, a list of necessary stores shipped from the bonded warehouse, or for drawback on board vessels proceeding on oversea voyages. [Through Low L. billa, from L. bulla, anything round, a knob, a seal appended to a charter, hence a document bearing a seal, &c. See BULL, an edict.]

BILLET, bil'et, n. a little note or paper: a ticket assigning quarters to soldiers.--v.t. to quarter or lodge, as soldiers. [Fr.; dim. of BILL.]

BILLET, bil'et, n. a small log of wood used as fuel: (archit.) an ornament in Norman architecture resembling billets of wood.--n. BILL'ET-HEAD, a billet or round piece of wood fixed in the bow or stern of a whale-boat, round which the harpoon-line is turned when the whale is struck. [Fr. billette--bille, the young stock of a tree, prob. of Celt. orig., perh. allied to BOLE, the trunk of a tree.]

BILLET-DOUX, bil-e-d[=oo]', n. a sweet note: a love-letter. [Fr. billet, a letter, doux, sweet.]

BILLIARDS, bil'yardz, n. a game played with a cue or mace and balls on a table having pockets at the sides and corners.--adj. BILL'IARD.--n. BILL'IARD-MARK'ER, a person who marks the points made by the players. [Fr. billard--bille, a ball.]

BILLINGSGATE, bil'ingz-g[=a]t, n. foul and abusive language like that once familiar to the ear at Billingsgate (the great fish-market of London).

BILLION, bil'yun, n. a million or thousand thousand of millions (1,000,000,000,000); or, according to the French method of numeration, one thousand millions (1,000,000,000). [L. bi-, twice, and MILLION.]

BILLON, bil'on, n. base metal: esp. an alloy of silver with copper, tin, or the like. [Fr., from same root as BILLET.]

BILLOW, bil'[=o], n. a great wave of the sea swelled by the wind: (poet.) a wave, the sea.--v.i. to roll in large waves.--adjs. BILL'OWED, BILL'OWY. [Scand.; Ice. bylgja; Sw. bölja, Dan. bölge, a wave. See BILGE, BULGE.]

BILLY, BILLIE, bil'i, n. a comrade, a companion-in-arms: an Australian bushman's boiling-pan or tea-pot:--pl. BILL'IES.--n. BILL'Y-GOAT, a he-goat. [Prob. from Bill, a familiar abbrev. of William.]

BILLYBOY, bil'i-boi, n. a bluff-bowed one-masted trading-vessel. [Prob. conn. with BILANDER.]

BILLYCOCK, bil'i-kok, n. a man's low-crowned felt hat. [From bully-cocked, i.e. cocked like the bullies.]

BILOBED, b[=i]'l[=o]bd, BILOBULAR, b[=i]-lob'[=u]-lar, adj. having two lobes. [L. bi-, twice, and lobe, a LOBULE.]

BILOCATION, b[=i]-lok-[=a]'shun, n. the power of being in two places at the same time. [Coined from bi-, twice, and LOCATION.]

BILOCULAR, b[=i]-lok'[=u]-lar, adj. divided into two cells. [L. bi-, twice, and L. loculus, dim. of locus, place.]

BIMANA, b[=i]m'an-a, or bim'an-a, n. a term used by Blumenbach, Cuvier, &c., to describe the human species in contrast to other mammals--now rarely used, men and monkeys being now zoologically united in the old Linnæan order--Primates.--adj. B[=I]'MANOUS.

BIMENSAL, b[=i]-mens'al, adj. happening once in two months: bimonthly.--adj. BIMES'TRIAL, of two months' duration. [L. bi-, and mensis, a month.]

BIMETALLISM, b[=i]-met'al-izm, n. the name given to a monetary system in which gold and silver are on precisely the same footing as regards mintage and legal tender.--adj. BIMETAL'LIC, adapted to that standard.--n. and adj. BIMET'ALLIST. [A recent coinage, from Gr. bi-, double, and METAL.]

BIMONTHLY, b[=i]-munth'li, adj. once in two months; also twice a month. [L. bi-, two, and MONTH.]

BIN, bin, n. a place for storing corn, wine. [A.S. binn, a manger.]

BIN, bin, (Shak.) used for BE and BEEN.

BINARY, b[=i]'nar-i, adj. composed of two: twofold.--adjs. B[=I]'NATE, growing in pairs: double; BINAUR'AL, having two ears: needing the use of both ears.--BINARY SCALE (math.), the scale of notation whose radix or base is 2 (instead of 10); BINARY THEORY (chem.), that which assumes all salts to contain merely two substances, either both simple, or one simple and the other a compound playing the part of a simple body. [L. binarius--bini, two by two--bis, twice.]

BIND, b[=i]nd, v.t. to tie or fasten together with a band (with to, upon): to encircle round (with about, with): to sew a border on: to tie up or bandage a limb, or the like: to fasten together (the leaves of a book) and put a cover on: to lay under obligation to answer a charge: to oblige by oath or promise to or from an action: to restrain, to make fast any one--also of disease, a magic spell, a passion, &c.: to hold or cement firmly: to render hard.--v.i. to produce constipation:--pa.t. and pa.p. bound.--n. a stalk of hops, so called from its twining or binding itself round a pole or tree: the indurated clay of coal-mines: (mus.) the tie for grouping notes together.--ns. BIND'ER, one who binds, as books or sheaves: an attachment to a reaping-machine for tying the bundles of grain cut and thrown off, a reaping-machine provided with such; BIND'ERY (U.S.), a bookbinder's establishment.--adj. BIND'ING, restraining: obligatory.--n. the act of binding: anything that binds: the covering of a book.--ns. BIND'WEED, the convolvulus, a genus of plants, so called from their twining or binding; BINE, the slender stem of a climbing plant.--I DARE or WILL BE BOUND, I will be responsible for the statement. [A.S. bindan; cog. with Ger. binden, Sans. bandh.]

BINERVATE, b[=i]-n[.e]rv'[=a]t, adj. (bot.) applied to leaves that have two ribs or nerves: (entom.) having the wings supported by two nerves. [L. bi-, bis, twice, and NERVE.]

BING, bing, n. a heap or pile, often applied like BIN. [Scand.]

BINGO, bing'[=o], n. a familiar name for brandy. [Prob. B, and STINGO.]

BINK, bingk, n. a Scotch form of BENCH.

BINNACLE, bin'a-kl, n. (naut.) the box in which on shipboard the compass is kept. [Formerly bittacle--Port. bitácola--L. habitaculum, a dwelling-place--habit-[=a]re, to dwell.]

BINOCLE, bin'o-kl, n. a telescope through which an object can be viewed with both eyes at the same time.--adj. BINOC'ULAR, having two eyes: suitable for two eyes.--adv. BINOC'ULARLY. [L. bini, two by two, oculus, an eye.]

BINOMIAL, b[=i]-n[=o]m'i-al, adj. and n. (alg.) a quantity consisting of two terms or parts, as a+b.--BINOMIAL THEOREM, a series of analytical formulæ by which any power of a binomial can be expressed and developed. [L. bi-, bis, twice, and nomen, a name, a term.]

BINTURONG, bin't[=u]-rong, n. the native name for an Indian prehensile-tailed carnivore, akin to the civet.

BIO-, b[=i]'[=o], a prefix from Gr. bios, life, used in many scientific words to express having organic life.--adj. BIOBIBLIOGRAPH'ICAL, dealing with the life and writings of any one.--n. B[=I]'OBLAST, a formative cell, a minute mass of bioplasm or protoplasm about to become a definite cell.--adj. BIODYNAM'ICAL.--ns. BIODYNAM'ICS, that part of biology which deals with vital force; BIOGENESIS (-jen'e-sis), the process of natural generation of life from life, as opposed to spontaneous generation, or abiogenesis.--adj. BIOGENET'IC.--ns. BIOG'ENIST; BIOG'ENY; BIOMAG'NETISM, animal magnetism; BIOM'ETRY, the measurement or calculation of the probable duration of life; B[=I]'OPLASM, the germinal matter of all living beings.

BIOGRAPH, b[=i]'o-graf, n. a name sometimes applied to a form of the zoetrope contrived so as to exhibit the successive movements of a living body, thus simulating life. [Gr. bios, life, graphein, to write, describe.]

BIOGRAPHY, b[=i]-og'raf-i, n. a written account or history of the life of an individual: the art of writing such accounts.--n. BIOG'RAPHER, one who writes biography.--adjs. BIOGRAPH'IC, -AL.--adv. BIOGRAPH'ICALLY. [Gr. bios, life, graphein, to write.]

BIOLOGY, b[=i]-ol'oj-i, n. the science that treats of life or of organised beings, which seeks to classify and generalise the multitude of phenomena presented by and peculiar to the living world.--adj. BIOLOG'ICAL.--adv. BIOLOG'ICALLY.--n. BIOLO'GIST, one who studies biology. [Gr. bios, life, logos, a discourse.]

BIOTAXY, b[=i]'[=o]-tak-si, n. classification according to the sum of the morphological character. [Gr. bios, life, and TAXIS.]

BIOTIC, b[=i]-ot'ik, adj. pertaining to life. [Gr. bios, life.]

BIPAROUS, bip'ar-us, adj. bearing two at a birth. [L. bis, twice, par-[)e]re, to bring forth.]

BIPARTITE, bi'part-[=i]t, or b[=i]-pärt'[=i]t, adj. divided into two like parts.--n. BIPARTI'TION, the act of dividing into two corresponding parts. [L. bi-, bis, twice, partitus, divided--part-[=i]re, to divide.]

BIPED, b[=i]'ped, n. an animal with two feet.--adjs. B[=I]'PED, B[=I]'PEDAL, having two feet. [L. bipes--bi-, bis, twice, ped-em, foot.]

BIPENNATE, b[=i]-pen'[=a]t, BIPENNATED, b[=i]-pen'[=a]t-ed, adj. having two wings. [L. bi-, and PENNATE.]

BIPENNIS, b[=i]-pen'nis, n. an axe with two blades, one on each side of the handle, usually seen depicted in the hands of the Amazons. [L.--bis, twice, penna, wing.]

BIPETALOUS, b[=i]-pet'al-us, adj. having two petals or flower-leaves. [L. bi-, twice, and PETAL.]

BIPINNATE, b[=i]-pin'n[=a]t, adj. doubly pinnate. [L. bi-, twice, and PINNATE.]

BIQUADRATIC, b[=i]-kwod-rat'ik, n. a quantity twice squared, or raised to the fourth power.--BIQUADRATIC EQUATION, an equation with one unknown quantity raised to the fourth power; BIQUADRATIC ROOT, the square root of the square root of a number. [L. bi- twice, and quadratus, squared.]

BIQUINTILE, b[=i]-kwin'til, n. (astron.) the aspect of planets when they are twice the fifth part (144 degrees) of a great circle from each other. [L. bi-, twice, quintus, the fifth.]

BIRCH, b[.e]rch, n. a hardy forest-tree, with smooth, white bark and very durable wood: a rod for punishment, consisting of a birch twig or twigs.--adjs. BIRCH, BIRCH'EN, made of birch. [A.S. berc, bierce; Ice. björk, Sans. bh[=u]rja.]

BIRD, b[.e]rd, n. a general name for feathered animals.--v.i. to catch or snare birds.--ns. BIRD'-BOLT (Shak.), a short thick bolt or arrow with a blunted point, used for killing birds without piercing them; BIRD'-CAGE, a cage or box made of wire and wood for holding birds; BIRD'-CALL, an instrument used by fowlers to call or allure birds to them, by imitating their notes; BIRD'-CATCH'ER, one who catches birds: a fowler; BIRD'-CATCH'ING, the art or practice of catching birds; BIRD'-CHER'RY, a bush bearing an astringent wild-fruit in drupes.--adj. BIRD'-EYED, having eyes quick of sight, like those of a bird: quick-sighted.--ns. BIRD'-FAN'CIER, one who has a fancy for rearing birds: one who keeps birds for sale; BIRD'ING (Shak.), catching birds by means of hawks trained for the purpose; BIRD'ING-PIECE, a fowling-piece; BIRD'-LIME, a sticky substance used for catching birds; BIRD'-OF-PAR'ADISE, a kind of Eastern bird with splendid plumage; BIRD'S'-EYE, a kind of tobacco; BIRD'S'-NEST, the nest in which a bird lays her eggs and hatches her young; BIRD'-SP[=I]'DER, a species of large spiders which prey on small birds, found in Brazil.--adj. BIRD'-WIT'TED, flighty: incapable of sustained attention.--BIRD'S-EYE VIEW, a general view from above, as if by a bird on the wing, a representation of such, a general view or résumé of a subject; BIRD'S-FOOT TREFOIL, the popular name of several leguminous plants, having clusters of cylindrical pods resembling a bird's foot.--A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME, I heard in a way I will not reveal. [A.S. brid, the young of a bird, a bird: either from root of BREED (bredan, to breed) or of BIRTH (beran, to bear).]

BIREME, b[=i]'r[=e]m, n. an ancient vessel with two rows of oars. [Fr.--L. biremis--bi-, twice, and remus, an oar.]

BIRETTA, bir-et'a, n. a square cap worn by clergy--by priests, black; bishops, purple; cardinals, red. [It. berretta--Low L. birretum, a cap.]

BIRK, b[.e]rk, n. Scotch and prov. Eng. for BIRCH.--adj. BIRK'EN (Scot.), birchen.

BIRKIE, birk'i, n. a strutting or swaggering fellow: a fellow generally.--adj. active. [Scot. A dubious connection with Scand. berkja, to bark, boast, has been suggested.]

BIRL, birl, v.t. to spin anything round: to throw down a coin as one's share in a joint contribution.--v.i. to whirl round. [Scot., an onomatopoeic word.]

BIRLE, birl, v.t. and v.i. (Scot.) to ply with drink: to carouse.--ns. BIRL'ER (Cumberland); BIRL'ING, the act of drawing liquor. [A.S. byrelian, byrele, a cup-bearer, beran, to bear.]

BIRLINN, bir'lin, n. a chief's barge in the Western Isles. [Gael.]

BIRMINGHAMISE, bir'ming-ham-[=i]z, v.t. to make up artificially. [See BRUMMAGEM.]

BIROSTRATE, b[=i]-ros'tr[=a]t, adj. having a double beak. [L. bi-, twice, and rostratus, beaked--rostrum, a beak.]

BIRR, bir, n. impetus: a violent push: stress in pronunciation: any sharp whirring sound. [Scot.; Ice. byrr, a favouring wind.]

BIRSE, birs, n. bristle.--adj. BIRS'Y.--TO LICK THE BIRSE, to draw a hog's bristle through the mouth--part of the ceremony of citizenship in Selkirk; TO SET UP ONE'S BIRSE, to rouse the wrath of, from the habit of animals bristling up when enraged. [Scot.; A.S. byrst.]

BIRSLE, birs'l, v.t. to scorch, to toast. [Scot.]

BIRTH, b[.e]rth, n. a ship's station at anchor. [Same as BERTH.]

BIRTH, b[.e]rth, n. the act of bearing or bringing forth: the offspring born: dignity of family: origin.--n. BIRTH'DAY, the day on which one is born, or the anniversary of that day.--adj. relating to the day of one's birth.--ns. BIRTH'DAY-BOOK, a book in diary form, in which the birthdays of one's friends are entered in their autographs; BIRTH'DOM (Shak.), birthright; BIRTH'-MARK, a peculiar mark on one's body at birth; BIRTH'NIGHT, the night on which one is born, or the anniversary of that night; BIRTH'PLACE, the place of one's birth; BIRTH'RIGHT, the right or privilege to which one is entitled by birth: native rights.--adj. BIRTH'-STRANG'LED (Shak.), strangled in birth.--n. BIRTH'-WORT, a genus of perennial plants, formerly used medicinally in cases of difficult parturition. [M. E. birÞe, prob. Scand.; cf. Goth, ga-baurÞs, Ger. ge-burt.]

BIS, bis, adv. twice: (mus.) a direction that a passage is to be repeated [L.].--n. B[=I]SEG'MENT, a segment of a line or figure cut into two equal parts.--adjs. B[=I]SER'RATE (bot.), doubly serrate; B[=I]SEX'UAL, of both sexes: (bot.) applied to flowers which contain both stamens and pistils within the same envelope.

BISCAYAN, bis'k[=a]-an, adj. and n. of or pertaining to the Basque province of Biscay in Spain, or its people: Basque generally: a long heavy musket, or the bullet fired by such.

BISCUIT, bis'kit, n. hard dry bread in small cakes: a kind of unglazed earthenware. [O. Fr. bescoit (mod. biscuit)--L. bis, twice, coqu[)e]re, coctum, to cook or bake.]

BISE, b[=e]z, n. a cold north or north-east wind prevalent at certain seasons in Switzerland and neighbouring parts of France and Italy. [Fr.]

BISECT, b[=i]-sekt', v.t. to cut into two equal parts.--n. BISEC'TION. [L. bi, twice, and sec[=a]re, sectum, to cut.]

BISERIAL, b[=i]-s[=e]'ri-al, adj. arranged in two series or rows. [L. bi-, and SERIES.]

BISHOP, bish'op, n. in the Western and Eastern Churches, and in the Anglican communion, a clergyman consecrated for the spiritual direction of a diocese, under an archbishop, and over the priests or presbyters and deacons: a spiritual overseer in the early Christian Church, whether of a local church or of a number of churches--the terms bishop [Gr. episcopos] and presbyter [Gr. presbyteros] are used interchangeably in the New Testament for the officers who direct the discipline and administer the affairs of a single congregation--the differentiation in function and dignity is, however, well marked by the end of the 2d century: one of the pieces or men in chess, from the upper part being carved into the shape of a bishop's mitre (formerly the archer): a wholesome hot drink compounded of red wine (claret, Burgundy, &c.) poured warm or cold upon ripe bitter oranges, sugared and spiced to taste.--v.t. (jocularly) to play the bishop, to confirm: to supply with bishops: to let milk or the like burn while cooking.--ns. BISH'OPESS, a she-bishop, a bishop's wife; BISH'OPRIC, the office and jurisdiction of a bishop: a diocese--also BISH'OPDOM.--BISHOP IN PARTIBUS (see PARTIBUS). [A.S. biscop--L. episcopus--Gr. episcopos, an overseer--epi, upon, skop-ein, to view.]

BISK. See BISQUE (1).

BISMAR, bis'mar, n. a kind of steelyard still used in Orkney. [Dan. bismer.]

BISMILLAH, bis-mil'a, interj. in the name of Allah or God--a common Mohammedan exclamation. [Ar.]

BISMUTH, biz'muth, n. a brittle metal of a reddish-white colour used in the arts and in medicine. [Ger. bismuth, wissmuth; origin unknown.]

BISON, b[=i]'son, or bis'on, n. a large wild animal like the bull, found in Lithuania, the Caucasus, &c., with shaggy hair and a fatty hump on its shoulders.--The American 'buffalo' is also a bison. [From L. pl. bisontes, prob. of Teut. origin; cf. Old High Ger. wisunt, A.S. wesend.]

BISQUE, bisk, n. a rich soup made of meat or fish slowly stewed and seasoned, crayfish soup.--Also BISK. [Fr.]

BISQUE, bisk, n. pottery that has undergone the first firing before being glazed. [See BISCUIT.]

BISQUE, bisk, n. a term at tennis for the odds given by one player to another, in allowing him to score one point once during the set--a means of equalising a strong and a weak player. [Fr.]

BISSEXTILE, bis-sext'il, n. leap-year.--adj. containing the BISSEXT (L. bissextus), or extra day which the Julian calendar inserts in leap-year--the sixth before the kalends of March, 24th February. [L. bis, twice, and sextus, sixth.]

BISSON, bis'son, adj. (Shak.) blind, blinding. [A.S. bísene, blind.]

BISTORT, bis'tort, n. a perennial plant with astringent properties (Polygonum bistorta), so named from its twisted roots, called also Snakeweed and Adder's Wort. [Fr.--L. bistorta; bis, twice, torta, twisted.]

BISTOURY, bis't[=oo]r-i, n. a narrow surgical knife for making incisions, having a straight, convex, or concave edge. [Fr.]

BISTRE, BISTER, bis't[.e]r, n. a pigment of a warm brown colour made from the soot of wood, esp. beechwood.--adj. BIS'TRED. [Fr. bistré; origin unknown.]

BISULCATE, b[=i]-sul'k[=a]t, adj. (zool.) cloven-footed. [L. bi-, twice, sulcus, a furrow.]

BISULPHATE, b[=i]-sul'f[=a]t, n. a salt of sulphuric acid, in which one-half of the hydrogen of the acid is replaced by a metal. [L. bi-, twice, and SULPHATE.]

BIT, bit, n. a bite, a morsel: a small piece: the smallest degree: a small tool for boring (see BRACE): the part of the bridle which the horse holds in his mouth (see BRIDLE)--hence, TO TAKE THE BIT IN HIS TEETH, to be beyond restraint.--v.t. to put the bit in the mouth; to curb or restrain:--pr.p. bit'ting; pa.p. bit'ted.--BIT BY BIT, piecemeal, gradually. [From BITE.]

BITCH, bich, n. the female of the dog, wolf, and fox. [A.S. bicce; Ice. bikkja.]

BITE, b[=i]t, v.t. to seize or tear with the teeth: to sting or pain: to wound by reproach: to deceive, or take in--now only passive:--pa.t. bit; pa.p. bit or bit'ten.--n. a grasp by the teeth: a nibble at the bait by a fish: something bitten off: a mouthful.--v.t. BITE'-IN, to eat out the lines of an etching with acid: to repress.--n. BIT'ER, one who bites: a fish apt to take the bait: a cheat.--n. and adj. BIT'ING.--TO BITE THE DUST, to fall, to die; TO BITE THE THUMB, to express defiance by putting the thumbnail into the mouth and knocking it against the teeth. [A.S. bítan; Goth. beitan, Ice. bita, Ger. beissen.]

BITT, bit, v.t. (naut.) to fasten round the BITTS (q.v.).

BITTACLE. Same as BINNACLE.

BITTER, bit'[.e]r, adj. biting or acrid to the taste: sharp: painful.--n. any substance having a bitter taste.--adj. BITT'ERISH.--adv. BITT'ERLY.--n. BITT'ERNESS.--n.pl. BITT'ERS, a liquid prepared from bitter herbs or roots, and used as a stomachic.--n. BITT'ER-SWEET, the Woody Nightshade, a slender, climbing hedge-plant, having red poisonous berries, said to be named from its root, when chewed, having first a bitter, then a sweet taste: (Shak.) an apple that has a compound taste of sweet and bitter: a mixture of sweet and bitter. [A.S. bítan, to bite.]

BITTER (Spens.), used for BITTERN.

BITTERN, bit'[.e]rn, n. a bird of the heron family, said to have been named from the resemblance of its voice to the lowing of a bull. [M. E. bittour--Fr.--Low L. butorius (bos, taurus).]

BITTERN, bit'[.e]rn, n. an oily liquid remaining in salt-works after the crystallisation of the salt, and used in the manufacture of Epsom salts.

BITTOR, BITTOUR, bit'tur, n. (Dryden) the bird BITTERN.

BITTS, bits, n. a frame in the forepart of a ship round which the cables are passed when the vessel rides at anchor.

BITUMEN, bi-t[=u]'men, or bit'yu-men, n. a name applied to various inflammable mineral substances, as naphtha, petroleum, asphaltum.--v.t. BIT[=U]'MINATE, to mix with or make into bitumen--also BIT[=U]'MINISE.--adjs. BIT[=U]'MINOUS, BIT[=U]MED' (Shak.), impregnated with bitumen. [L.]

BIVALVE, b[=i]'valv, n. an animal having a shell in two valves or parts, like the oyster: a seed-vessel of like kind.--adj. having two valves.--adj. BIVALV'ULAR. [L. bi-, twice, valva, a valve.]

BIVIOUS, biv'i-us, adj. leading two, or different, ways. [L. bivius--bi-, twice, via, a way.]

BIVOUAC, biv'[=oo]-ak, n. the resting at night of soldiers in the open air, instead of under cover in camp.--v.i. to pass the night in the open air:--pr.p. biv'ouacking; pa.p. biv'ouacked. [Fr.--Ger. beiwacht, to watch beside--bei by, wachen, to watch.]

BI-WEEKLY, b[=i]'-w[=e]k'li, adj. properly, occurring once in two weeks, but usually twice in every week. [L. bi-, twice, and WEEK.]

BIZARRE, bi-zär', adj. odd: fantastic: extravagant.--n. BIZAR'RERIE. [Fr.--Sp. bizarro, high-spirited; acc. to Littré, adapted from Basque bizarre, the beard.]

BIZCACHA. See VISCACHA.

BLAB, blab, v.i. to talk much: to tell tales.--v.t. to tell what ought to be kept secret (with out, forth):--pr.p. blab'bing; pa.p. blabbed.--n. an open-mouthed person, a tattler: tattling.--n. BLAB'BER, one who blabs. [M. E. blabbe, a chatterer, also BLABBER, to babble, with which cf. Norse blabbra, Ger. plappern.]

BLACK, blak, adj. of the darkest colour: without colour: obscure: dismal: sullen: horrible: dusky: foul, dirty: malignant: dark-haired, wearing dark armour or clothes.--n. black colour: absence of colour: a negro: mourning: the dark smut which attacks wheat: a speck of black on the face, a sooty particle in the air: black clothes, esp. dress trousers.--v.t. to make black: to soil or stain: to draw in black.--n. BLACK'AMOOR, a black Moor: a negro.--adjs. BLACK'-AND-TAN, having black hair on the back, and tan or yellowish-brown elsewhere, esp. of a terrier; BLACK'-A-VISED, of dark complexion (probably originally black-à-vis).--v.t. BLACK'BALL, to reject in voting by putting a black ball into a ballot-box.--ns. BLACK'BALLING, the act of so rejecting a candidate; BLACK'-BAND, iron ore containing enough of coal to calcine it; BLACK'-BEE'TLE, a cockroach; BLACK'BERRY, the berry of the bramble; BLACK'BIRD, a species of thrush of a black colour: a current name for a negro or Polynesian kidnapped for labour; BLACK'BIRDING, the kidnapping of such; BLACK'BOARD, a board painted black, used in schools for writing, forming figures, &c.--adjs. BLACK'-BOD'ING, of evil omen; BLACK'-BROWED, having black eyebrows: sullen.--ns. BLACK'-CAP, a bird, a species of warbler, so called from its black crown: (cook.) an apple roasted until it is black, and served up in a custard: the full-dress cap put on by English judges when about to pronounce sentence of death; BLACK'-CATT'LE, oxen, bulls, and cows; BLACK'-CHALK, a variety of clay-slate of a bluish-black colour, used for drawing, and also for making black paint; BLACK'COCK, a species of grouse, common in the north of England and in Scotland; BLACK'-CURR'ANT, a garden shrub with black fruit used in making preserves; BLACK'-DEATH, a name given to the plague of the 14th century from the black spots which appeared on the skin; BLACK'-DRAUGHT, the popular name for a purgative medicine consisting chiefly of senna and Epsom salts; BLACK'-DROP, a liquid preparation of opium, vinegar, and sugar.--v.t. BLACK'EN, to make black: to defame.--adj. BLACK'FACED, having a black face: dismal.--ns. BLACK'-FLAG, the flag of a pirate, or that hoisted at the execution of a criminal--from its colour; BLACK'-FRIAR, a friar of the Dominican order, so called from his black mantle (over a white woollen habit): (pl.) the region in a city, as London, where their convent stood; BLACKGUARD (blag'ärd), originally applied to the lowest menials about a court, who took charge of the pots, kettles, &c.: a low, ill-conducted fellow.--adj. low: scurrilous.--v.t. to treat as a blackguard; v.i. to play the blackguard.--n. BLACK'GUARDISM.--adv. BLACK'GUARDLY.--ns. BLACK'-HEART'EDNESS; BLACK'-HOLE, formerly the name for the punishment-cell in a barrack: the memorable black-hole in the Fort-William barracks at Calcutta, into which, in in 1756, as many as 146 Europeans were thrust over night, of whom only 23 were found surviving in the morning; BLACK'ING, a substance used for blacking leather, &c.--adj. BLACK'ISH.--ns. BLACK'-JACK, a vessel for holding drink, originally made of leather: (naut.) the flag of a pirate; BLACK'-LEAD, a black mineral (plumbago, not lead) used in making pencils, blacking grates, &c.; BLACK'LEG, a low, gambling fellow: a turf-swindler: a term applied by strikers to men willing to work for the wages against which themselves have struck--also BLACK'-NEB; BLACK'-LET'TER, the old English (also called Gothic) letter ([Black-letter]); BLACK'-LIST, a list of defaulters; BLACK'-MAR[=I]'A, the closely covered, usually black-painted van in which prisoners are conveyed between the court and the prison; BLACK'-MON'DAY, Easter Monday, so called on account of the sufferings experienced by the army of Edward III. from the severity of the weather on that day in 1360; BLACK'-MONK, a monk of the order of St Benedict, from his garments; BLACK'NESS; BLACK'-PUDD'ING, a blood-pudding (q.v.).; BLACK'-ROD, the usher of the chapter of the Garter and of the House of Lords, so called from the black wand tipped with a golden lion which he carries; BLACK'-SHEEP, a disreputable member of a family or group; BLACK'SMITH, a smith who works in iron, as opposed to a Whitesmith, or one who works in tin; BLACK'THORN, a species of dark-coloured thorn: the sloe: a stick made from its stem.--adjs. BLACK'-TRESSED, having black tresses; BLACK-VISAGED (blak'-viz'[=a]jd), having a black visage or appearance.--n. BLACK'-WASH, a lotion of calomel and lime-water: anything that blackens.--BLACK AND BLUE, with the livid colour of a bruise in the flesh; BLACK BOOK, an official book bound in black, a book recording the names of persons deserving punishment; BLACK EYE, an eye of which the iris is dark--a point of beauty: a discoloration around the eye due to a blow or fall; BLACK FELLOW, a native in Australia.--IN BLACK AND WHITE, in writing or in print: in art, in no colours but black and white.--TO BE BLACK IN THE FACE, to have the face purple through strangulation, passion, or effort; TO BE IN ANY ONE'S BLACK BOOKS, to have incurred any one's displeasure; TO BLACK OUT, to obliterate with black. [A.S. blac, blæc, black.]

BLACK-ART, blak'-ärt, n. necromancy: magic. [Acc. to Trench, a translation of the Low L. nigromantia, substituted erroneously for the Gr. necromanteia (see NECROMANCY), as if the first syllable had been L. niger, black.]

BLACKMAIL, blak'm[=a]l, n. rent or tribute formerly paid to robbers for protection: hush-money extorted under threat of exposure or denunciation, esp. of a baseless charge.--v.t. to extort money from a person by this expedient. [BLACK and A.S. mal, tribute, toll.]

BLAD, blad, n. a fragment of anything, a good lump. [Scot.]

BLADDER, blad'[.e]r, n. a thin bag distended with liquid or air: the receptacle for the urine.--adjs. BLADD'ERED, BLADD'ERY, swollen like a bladder.--n. BLADD'ERWORT, a genus of slender aquatic plants, the leaves floating. [A.S. bl['æ]dre--blawan; Old Ger. blahan, blajan, to blow; Ger. blase, bladder--blasen, to blow; cf. L. flat-us, breath.]

BLADE, bl[=a]d, n. the leaf or flat part of grass or corn: the cutting part of a knife, sword, &c.: the flat part of an oar: a dashing fellow.--n. BLADE'BONE, the flat bone at the back of the shoulder: the scapula.--adj. BLAD'ED. [A.S. blæd; Ice. blad, Ger. blatt.]

BLAE, bl[=a], adj. blackish or blue in colour: livid: bleak.--n. BLAE'BERRY, Scotch name for the bilberry or whortleberry. [M. E. blo, bloo--Scand. blá.]

BLAGUE, blag, n. blustering humbug. [Fr.]

BLAIN, bl[=a]n, n. a boil or blister. [A.S. blegen, a blister, prob. from blawan, to blow.]

BLAME, bl[=a]m, v.t. to find fault with: to censure.--n. imputation of a fault: crime: censure.--adj. BLAM'ABLE, deserving of blame: faulty.--n. BLAM'ABLENESS.--adv. BLAM'ABLY.--adj. BLAME'FUL, meriting blame: criminal.--adv. BLAME'FULLY.--n. BLAME'FULLNESS.--adj. BLAMELESS, without blame: guiltless: innocent.--adv. BLAME'LESSLY.--ns. BLAME'LESSNESS; BLAME'WORTHINESS, quality of being worthy of blame: blamableness.--adj. BLAME'WORTHY, worthy of blame: culpable. [Fr. blâmer, blasmer--Gr. blasph[=e]me-ein, to speak ill. See BLASPHEME.]

BLANCH, blansh, v.t. to whiten.--v.i. to grow white. [Fr. blanchir--blanc, white. See BLANK.]

BLANC-MANGE, bla-mawngzh', n. a white jelly prepared with milk. [Fr. blanc, white, manger, food.]

BLAND, bland, adj. smooth: gentle: mild.--adv. BLANDLY.--n. BLAND'NESS. [L. blandus, perh.--mla(n)dus--Eng. mild.]

BLAND, bland, n. an Orcadian name for butter-milk and water. [Scand. blanda.]

BLANDISH, bland'ish, v.t. to flatter and coax, to cajole.--n. BLAND'ISHMENT, act of expressing fondness: flattery: winning expressions or actions. [Fr. blandir, blandiss-, from L. bland[=i]ri.]

BLANK, blangk, adj. without writing or marks, as in white paper: empty, empty of results: vacant, confused: (poetry) not having rhyme.--n. a paper without writing: a lottery-ticket having no mark, and therefore valueless: an empty space, a void, or vacancy: (archery) the white mark in the centre of a target at which an arrow is aimed, hence the object or aim of anything: a form of document having blank spaces afterwards to be filled in.--v.t. to make pale: (Milton) to confuse.--n. BLANK'-CART'RIDGE, a cartridge without a bullet.--p.adj. BLANKED, a minced form of damned, from the usual form of printing d----d.--adv. BLANK'LY.--ns. BLANK'NESS; BLANK'-VERSE, verse without rhyme, esp. the heroic verse of five feet. [Fr. blanc, from root of Ger. blinken, to glitter--Old High Ger. blichen, Gr. phlegein, to shine.]

BLANKET, blangk'et, n. a white woollen covering for beds: a covering for horses, &c.--v.t. to cover with a blanket: to toss in a blanket.--n. BLANK'ETING, cloth for blankets: the punishment of being tossed in a blanket. [Fr. blanchet, dim. of blanc, from its null white colour,]

BLARE, bl[=a]r, v.i. to roar, to sound loudly, as a trumpet.--n. roar, noise. [M. E. blaren, orig. blasen, from A.S. blæsan, to blow. See BLAST.]

BLARNEY, blar'ni, n. pleasing flattery or cajoling talk.--v.t. to beguile with such. [Blarney Castle, near Cork, where there is a stone difficult to reach, he who kisses which ever after possesses the gift of blarney.]

BLASÉ, bla-z[=a], adj. fatigued with pleasures, used up. [Fr. blaser.]

BLASH, blash, n. watery stuff.--adj. BLASH'Y. [Scot.]

BLASPHEME, blas-f[=e]m', v.t. and v.i. to speak impiously of, as of God: to curse and swear.--n. BLASPHEM'ER.--adj. BLAS'PHEMOUS, containing blasphemy: impious.--adv. BLAS'PHEMOUSLY.--n. BLAS'PHEMY, profane speaking: contempt or indignity offered to God. [Gr. blasph[=e]me-ein--blaptein, to hurt, ph[=e]mi to speak. See BLAME.]

BLAST, blast, n. a blowing or gust of wind: a forcible stream of air: sound of a wind instrument; an explosion of gunpowder: anything pernicious.--v.t. to strike with some pernicious influence, to blight: to affect with sudden violence or calamity: to rend asunder with gunpowder.--adj. BLAST'ED, blighted: cursed, damned.--ns. BLAST'-FUR'NACE, a smelting furnace into which hot air is blown; BLAST'-HOLE, a hole in the bottom of a pump through which water enters; BLAST'ING, the separating of masses of stone by means of an explosive substance; BLAST'ING-GEL'ATINE, a powerful explosive made of gun-cotton and nitro-glycerine; BLAST'MENT, withering or shrivelling up caused by blasting; BLAST'-PIPE, a pipe in a steam-engine, to convey the waste-steam up the chimney. [A.S. bl['æ]st; cf. Ice. beása; Ger. blasen.]

BLASTODERM, blas'to-derm, n. an embryological term applied to the layer or layers of cells arising from the germinal disc, or the portion of a partially segmenting egg which undergoes division. [Gr. blasto-, blastos, a sprout, derma, dermat-, skin.]

BLATANT, bl[=a]t'ant, adj. noisy, clamorous, loud.--adv. BLAT'ANTLY. [Prob. a coinage of Spenser.]

BLATE, bl[=a]t, adj. bashful, timidly awkward. [Scot.; A.S. blát, pale.]

BLATTER, blat't[.e]r, v.i. to talk overmuch, to prate.--v.i. to hurry or rush noisily.--n. a clatter of words, sound of rapid motion. [L. blater[=a]re.]

BLAWORT, blä'wort, n. the harebell: the corn blue-bottle.--Also BL[=E]'WART. [Scot. BLAE, and wort, herb.]

BLAY, bl[=a], n. the fish bleak.--Also BLEY. [See BLEAK, a fish.]

BLAZE, bl[=a]z, n. a rush of light or of flame: a bursting out or active display: a white spot on the face of a horse or ox: a mark made on a tree by cutting off a strip of bark to mark a track or a boundary.--v.i. to burn with a flame: to throw out light.--n. BLAZ'ER, a cricket or golf jacket of bright colour.--BLAZES, from the fires of hell, in imprecations like TO BLAZES; also LIKE BLAZES = with fury.--TO BLAZE A TREE, to make a white mark by cutting off a piece of the bark. [A.S. blæse, a torch, from root of BLOW.]

BLAZE, bl[=a]z, Blazon, bl[=a]'zn, v.t. to proclaim, to spread abroad.--n. BLAZ'ER (Spens.), one who spreads abroad or proclaims. [Same as BLARE; BLAZON is the M. E. blasen, with the n retained.]

BLAZON, bl[=a]'zn, v.t. to make public: to display: to draw or to explain in proper terms the figures, &c., in armorial bearings.--n. the science or rules of coats-of-arms.--ns. BLAZ'ONER, one who blazons: a herald: a slanderer; BLAZ'ONRY, the art of drawing or of deciphering coats-of-arms: heraldry. [Fr. blason, a coat-of-arms, from root of BLAZE.]

BLEACH, bl[=e]ch, v.t. to make pale or white: to whiten, as textile fabrics.--v.i. to grow white.--ns. BLEACH'ER, one who bleaches, or that which bleaches; BLEACH'ERY, a place for bleaching; BLEACH'-FIELD, a place for bleaching cloth: a bleacher's office or works; BLEACH'ING, the process of whitening or decolourising cloth; BLEACH'ING-GREEN, a green for bleaching clothes on; BLEACH'ING-POW'DER, chloride of lime. [A.S. bl['æ]can, from root of BLEAK.]

BLEAK, bl[=e]k, adj. colourless: dull and cheerless: cold, unsheltered.--adv. BLEAK'LY.--n. BLEAK'NESS. [A.S. blæc, blâc, pale, shining; a different word from blac (without accent), black. The root is blican, to shine.]

BLEAK, bl[=e]k, n. a small white river-fish.

BLEAR, bl[=e]r, adj. (as in BLEAR-EYED, bl[=e]r'-[=i]d) sore or inflamed: dim or blurred with inflammation. [Low Ger. bleer-oged, 'blear-eyed.']

BLEAT, bl[=e]t, v.i. to cry as a sheep.--n. the cry of a sheep, any similar cry, even of the human voice.--n. BLEAT'ING, the cry of a sheep. [A.S. bl['æ]tan; L. bal[=a]re, Gr. bl[=e]ch[=e], a bleating; root bla-; formed from the sound.]

BLEB, bleb, n. a transparent blister of the cuticle: a bubble, as in water. [See BULB.]

BLED, bled, pa.t. and pa.p. of BLEED.

BLEE, bl[=e], n. (Mrs Browning) complexion, colour. [A.S. bléo.]

BLEED, bl[=e]d, v.i. to lose blood: to die by slaughter: to issue forth or drop as blood: to have money extorted from one: to feel great pity for, as in the phrase, 'the heart bleeds:' to be as red as blood.--v.t. to draw blood from, esp. surgically: to extort sums of money from:--pa.t. and pa.p. bled.--n. BLEED'ING, a discharge of blood: the operation of letting blood.--adj. full of compassion: emitting sap: terribly weakened by war: (Shak.) bloody. [A.S. blédan. See BLOOD.]

BLEMISH, blem'ish, n. a stain or defect: reproach.--v.t. to mark with any deformity: to tarnish: to defame.--n. BLEM'ISHMENT (Spens.), the state of being blemished, disgrace. [O. Fr. blesmir, blemir, pr.p. blemissant, to stain, of dubious origin. Prof. Skeat thinks it Scand., Ice. blâman, livid colour--blâr, BLUE.]

BLENCH, blensh, v.i. to shrink or start back: to flinch. [From root of BLINK.]

BLENCH, blensh, adj. or adv. based on the payment of a nominal yearly duty.--Also BLANCH. [See BLANK.]

BLEND, blend, v.t. to mix together: to confound.--v.i. to be mingled or mixed:--pa.p. blend'ed and blent.--n. a mixture:--n. BLEND'ING, the act of mingling: the process by which the fusion of paints is effected. [A.S. blandan.]

BLENDE, blend, n. native sulphuret of zinc. [Ger. blenden, to dazzle, from the lustre of the crystals.]

BLENHEIM, blen'em, n. a kind of spaniel named from the Duke of Marlborough's house.

BLENNORRHOEA, blen-no-r[=e]'a, n. discharge of mucus. [Gr. blennos, mucus.]

BLENNY, blen'ni, n. a genus of acanthopterygious fishes, covered with mucus or slimy matter. [Gr. blennos, mucus.]

BLENT, blent, (obs.) pa.p. of BLEND--mixed: mingled: (Spens.) blinded, obscured.

BLESS, bles, v.t. to invoke a blessing upon: to make joyous, happy, or prosperous: to consecrate by some religious rite, to cross one's self: to extol as holy, to pronounce happy, to invoke the divine favour upon: to wish happiness to: to praise or glorify:--pa.p. blessed (blest), or blest.--adj. BLESS'ED, happy: prosperous: happy in heaven, beatified.--adv. BLESS'EDLY.--ns. BLESS'EDNESS; BLESS'ING, a wish or prayer for happiness or success: any means or cause of happiness: (B.) a gift or present: a form of invoking the favour of God at a meal.--adv. BLESS'INGLY.--SINGLE BLESSEDNESS, the celibate life, the unmarried state generally. [A.S. blétsian, to bless, prob. from blót, sacrifice; the word taken as--benedic[)e]re.]

BLESS, bles, v.t. (Spens.) to brandish. [BLAZE(?).]

BLEST, blest, pa.p. of BLESS.

BLETHER, ble_th_'er, v.i. to talk garrulous nonsense.--n. fluent, garrulous nonsense--also BLATH'ER.--p.adj. BLETH'ERING, over-talkative.--ns. BLETH'ERSKATE, BLATH'ERSKITE (Amer.), a blustering, noisy, talkative fellow. [M. E. blather, of Scand. origin, Ice. blaðra, to talk foolishly, blaðr, nonsense.]

BLEW, bl[=oo], pa.t. of BLOW.

BLEWITS, bl[=u]'its, n. a kind of mushroom. [Fr. BLUE.]

BLIGHT, bl[=i]t, n. a disease in plants, which blasts or withers them: anything that injures or destroys.--v.t. to affect with blight: to blast: to frustrate.--p.adj. BLIGHT'ING, withering, blasting. [Dr Murray notes that it first appears in literature in the 17th century; prob. orig. of Scand. origin; cf. Ice. blettr, a stain; perh. related to BLEACH, BLEAK.]

BLIN, blin, v.t. (Spens.) to cease.--n. cessation: stoppage. [A.S. blinnan, to cease, pfx. be-, and linnan, to cease.]

BLIND, bl[=i]nd, adj. without sight: dark: ignorant or undiscerning: without an opening.--n. something to mislead: a window-screen: a shade.--v.t. to make blind; to darken, obscure, or deceive; to dazzle.--pa.p. bl[=i]nd'ed; pr.p. bl[=i]nd'ing.--ns. BLIND'AGE (mil.) a temporary wooden screen faced with earth as a protection against splinters of shell and the like; BLIND'-COAL, non-bituminous coal.--adj. BLIND'ED, deprived of sight: without intellectual discernment.--n. BLIND'ER, one who or that which blinds; (pl.) a horse's blinkers.--adj. BLIND'FOLD, having the eyes bandaged, so as not to see: thoughtless: reckless.--v.t. to cover the eyes: to mislead.--adj. BLIND'ING, tending to make blind.--pr.p. making blind.--adv. BLIND'LY.--ns. BLIND'NESS, want of sight, ignorance, folly; BLIND'-SIDE, the side on which a person is blind to danger: weak point; BLIND'WORM, a small reptile, like a snake, having eyes so small as to be supposed blind.--BLIND-MAN'S BUFF, a game in which one of the party is blindfolded and tries to catch the others. [A.S. blind; Ice. blindr.]

BLINK, blingk, v.i. to glance, twinkle, or wink: to see obscurely, or with the eyes half-closed: to shine unsteadily.--v.t. to shut out of sight: to avoid or evade.--n. a glimpse, glance, or wink: a momentary gleam of light, a spark.--n. BLINK'ARD, one who blinks or has bad eyes.--p.adj. BLINKED, affected with blinking.--n.pl. BLINK'ERS, pieces of leather fastened to the cheek-pieces of a horse's head-stall in driving to prevent him seeing in any direction except straightforward. [M. E. a variant of blenk, prob. the same as BLENCH (q.v.).]

BLIRT, blirt, n. (Scot.) a fit of crying.--v.i. to burst into tears. [Prob. the same as BLURT.]

BLISS, blis, n. the highest happiness: the special happiness of heaven, heaven.--adj. BLISS'FUL.--adv. BLISS'FULLY.--n. BLISS'FULNESS.--adj. BLISS'LESS, without bliss. [A.S. blíðs, blíðe, BLITHE.]

BLIST, blist, pa.t. (Spens.) wounded: struck. [From Fr. blesser, to wound.]

BLISTER, blis't[.e]r, n. a thin bubble or bladder on the skin, containing watery matter: a pustule: a plaster applied to raise a blister.--v.t. to raise a blister.--ns. BLIS'TER-BEE'TLE, BLIS'TER-FLY, the cantharis, or Spanish fly, used for blistering; BLIS'TER-PLAS'TER, a plaster made of Spanish flies used to raise a blister; BLIS'TER-STEEL, BLIS'TERED-STEEL, steel blistered in the process of manufacture, used for making tools, &c.--adj. BLIS'TERY. [M. E.; most prob. O. Fr. blestre, conn. with Old Norse blástr, blása, to blow; Ger. blase.]

BLITHE, bl[=i]th, adj. happy: gay; sprightly.--adv. BLITHE'LY.--n. BLITHE'NESS.--adj. BLITHE'SOME, joyous.--adv. BLITHE'SOMELY.--n. BLITHE'SOMENESS. [A.S. blíðe, joyful. See BLISS.]

BLIVE, bl[=i]v, adv. (Spens.). Same as BELIVE.

BLIZZARD, bliz'ard, n. a blinding storm of wind and snow, a snow-squall.--adjs. BLIZZ'ARDLY, BLIZZ'ARDOUS. [A modern coinage--most prob. onomatopoeic, on the analogy of blow, blast, &c.]

BLOAT, bl[=o]t, v.t. to swell or puff out: to dry by smoke (applied to fish).--v.i. to swell or dilate: to grow turgid.--p.adj. BLOAT'ED.--n. BLOAT'ER, a herring partially dried in smoke, esp. at Yarmouth. [Scand., as in Sw. blöt, soft.]

BLOB, blob, n. a drop of liquid: anything soft and round, like a gooseberry: a round spot. [Imit.]

BLOCK, blok, n. an unshaped mass of wood or stone, &c.: the wood on which criminals were wont to be beheaded: (mech.) a pulley together with its framework; a piece of wood on which something is formed: a connected group of houses: an obstruction: a blockhead.--v.t. to enclose or shut up: to obstruct: to shape or sketch out roughly.--n. BLOCKADE', the blocking up of a place by surrounding it with troops or by ships.--v.t. to block up by troops or ships.--ns. BLOCK'-HEAD, one with a head like a block, a stupid fellow; BLOCK'-HOUSE, a small temporary fort generally made of logs.--adj. BLOCK'ISH, like a block: stupid: dull.--ns. BLOCK'-PRINT'ING, printing of BLOCK'-BOOKS, from engraved wooden blocks or pages; BLOCK'-SHIP, a war-ship, inefficient for service in action on account of age, but useful in defence of ports; BLOCK'-SYS'TEM, a system of working trains in which no train is allowed on to a section of line so long as any other train is on that section; BLOCK'-TIN, tin in the form of blocks or ingots. [Widely spread, but acc. to Skeat, of Celt. origin, Gael. ploc, Old Ir. blog, a fragment. See PLUG.]

BLOKE, bl[=o]k, n. a fellow, a man familiarly. [Ety. quite unknown--at any rate not Gipsy.]

BLONCKET, blongk'et, adj. (Spens.) gray. [Fr. blanchet, whitish, dim. of blanc, white.]

BLONDE, blond, n. a person of fair complexion with light hair and blue eyes--opp. to Brunette.--adj. of a fair complexion: fair. [Fr.]

BLOND-LACE, blond'-l[=a]s, n. lace made of silk, so called from its colour.

BLONT, blont, adj. (Spens.). Same as BLUNT.

BLOOD, blud, n. the red fluid in the arteries and veins of men and animals: descent, of human beings, good birth: relationship, kindred: elliptically for a blood-horse, one of good pedigree: a rake or swaggering dandy about town: the blood-royal, as in 'princes of blood:' temperament: bloodshed or murder: the juice of anything, esp. if red: the supposed seat of passion--hence temper, anger, as in the phrase, 'his blood is up,' &c.: the sensual nature of man.--interj. 'S BLOOD--God's blood.--adjs. BLOOD'-BESPOT'TED (Shak.), spotted with blood; BLOOD'-BOLT'ERED (Shak.), sprinkled with blood as from a bolter or sieve; BLOOD'-BOUGHT, bought at the expense of blood or life; BLOOD'-FROZ'EN (Spens.), having the blood frozen or chilled.--ns. BLOOD'GUILT'INESS, the guilt of shedding blood, as in murder; BLOOD'HEAT, heat of the same degree as that of the human blood (about 98° Fahr.); BLOOD'-HORSE, a horse of the purest and most highly prized blood, origin, or stock.--adj. BLOOD'-HOT, as hot or warm as blood.--n. BLOOD'HOUND, a large hound formerly employed in tracing human beings: a blood-thirsty person.--adv. BLOOD'ILY.--adj. BLOOD'LESS, without blood, dead: without the shedding of blood: (Shak.) without spirit or activity.--ns. BLOOD'-LET'TING, the act of letting blood, or bleeding by opening a vein; BLOOD'-MON'EY, money earned by laying or supporting a capital charge against any one, esp. if the charge be false or made by an accomplice; BLOOD'-POIS'ONING, a name popularly, but loosely, used of pyæmia and allied diseases; BLOOD'-PUD'DING, a pudding made with blood and other materials; BLOOD'-REL[=A]'TION, one related by blood or marriage; BLOOD'-SAC'RIFICE (Shak.), a sacrifice made with bloodshed; BLOOD'SHED, the shedding of blood: slaughter.--adjs. BLOOD'SHOT (of the eye), red or inflamed with blood; BLOOD'-SIZED, sized or smeared with blood.--n. BLOOD'-SPAV'IN, a disease of horses consisting of the swelling of a vein on the inside of the hock, from a checking of the blood.--adj. BLOOD'-STAINED, stained with blood: guilty of murder.--ns. BLOOD'-STONE, a dark-green variety of quartz, variegated with blood-like spots of red jasper, the heliotrope; a brown ore of iron, hematite; BLOOD'-SUCK'ER, an animal that sucks blood, esp. a leech: an extortioner, one who sponges upon another.--adj. BLOOD'-SUCK'ING (Shak.), that sucks or draws blood.--ns. BLOOD'-TAX, conscription or universal military service, as drawing from the nation a certain number of lives or recruits annually; BLOOD'-THIRST'INESS, thirst or desire for shedding blood.--adj. BLOOD'-THIRST'Y, having a thirst or desire to shed blood.--ns. BLOOD'-VES'SEL, a vessel in which blood circulates, a vein or artery; BLOOD'-WORM, a small red earthworm used by anglers.--adj. BLOOD'Y, of the nature of blood: stained with blood: murderous, cruel: vulgarly, as an adj. emphasising anger or the like: as an adv. employed as a mere intensive--most prob. from the habits of the 'bloods' about the beginning of the 18th century (Etheredge, 'bloody-drunk').--v.t. to make bloody.--n. BLOOD'Y-BONES, a phrase, together with Rawhead, applied to a children's bugbear.--adjs. BLOOD'Y-EYED; BLOOD'Y-FACED.--ns. BLOOD'Y-FLUX, dysentery, in which the discharges from the bowels are mixed with blood; BLOOD'Y-HAND (her.), the armorial device of Ulster, hence of baronets.--adj. BLOOD'Y-MIND'ED.--ns. BLOOD'Y-MIND'EDNESS; BLOOD'Y-SWEAT, a sweat accompanied with the discharge of blood.--AVENGER OF BLOOD, the next-of-kin to a murdered man, whose duty it was to avenge his death--the Hebrew Goël.--EATING OF BLOOD, prohibited under the Old Testament dispensation, Jews still killing their own butcher-meat.--IN BLOOD, in full vigour; IN HOT or COLD BLOOD, under or free from excitement or sudden passion. [A.S. blód--root blówan, to bloom; cog. with Old. Fris. blód, Ger. blut.]

BLOOM, bl[=oo]m, v.i. to put forth blossoms: to flower: to be in a state of beauty or vigour: to flourish: to give a bloom or warm tint to anything.--n. a blossom or flower: the opening of flowers: rosy colour: the prime or highest perfection of anything: the first freshness of beauty of anything: the flush or glow on the cheek--(Spens.) BLOSME.--p.adj. BLOOM'ING, bright, shining, flourishing: (slang) full-blown.--adjs. BLOOM'LESS, without bloom; BLOOM'Y, flowery: flourishing. [Ice. blóm; cf. Goth. blôma, Ger. blume.]

BLOOMER, bl[=oo]m'[.e]r, n. and adj. a dress for women, partly resembling men's dress, devised by Mrs Bloomer of New York about 1849, consisting of a jacket with close sleeves, a skirt falling a little below the knee, and a pair of Turkish trousers.

BLOOMERY, bl[=oo]m'[.e]r-i, n. the first forge through which iron passes after it has been melted from the ore, and where it is made into BLOOMS, or rough ingots, for hammering or drawing out.

BLORE, bl[=o]r, n. a violent gust of wind. [Prob. related to BLARE and BLOW.]

BLOSME. See BLOOM.

BLOSSOM, blos'om, n. a flower-bud, the flower that precedes fruit.--v.i. to put forth blossoms or flowers: to flourish and prosper.--n. BLOSS'OMING.--adj. BLOSS'OMY, covered with flowers, flowery. [A.S. blóstm, blóstma, from root of BLOOM.]

BLOT, blot, n. a spot or stain: an obliteration, as of something written: a stain in reputation.--v.t. to spot or stain: to obliterate or destroy: to disgrace: to dry writing with blotting-paper:--pr.p. blot'ting; pa.p. blot'ted.--n. and adj. BLOT'TESQUE, a painting executed with heavy blot-like touches, a daub or (fig.) a vigorous descriptive sketch.--n. BLOTTING-P[=A]'PER, unsized paper, used for absorbing ink.--adj. BLOT'TY. [Prob. Scand., as in Dan. plet, Ice. blettr, a spot.]

BLOT, blot, n. a piece liable to be taken at backgammon: a weak place in anything. [Ety. obscure; Dut. bloot, naked.]

BLOTCH, bloch, n. a dark spot on the skin: a pustule.--v.t. to mark or cover with blotches.--adjs. BLOTCHED, BLOTCH'Y. [Prob. formed on BLOT.]

BLOUSE, blowz, n. a loose sack-like outer garment, somewhat like the English smock-frock. [Fr.]

BLOW, bl[=o], n. a stroke or knock: a sudden misfortune or calamity.--AT A BLOW, by a single action, suddenly; TO COME TO BLOWS, TO EXCHANGE BLOWS, to come to hostilities; WITHOUT STRIKING A BLOW, without a struggle. [A.S. bléowan is doubtful, cog. with Dut. blouwen, to dress (beat) flax, Ger. bl[=a]uen, to beat hard. The noun appears in the 15th century without evidence of parentage.]

BLOW, bl[=o], v.i. to bloom or blossom:--pr.p. bl[=o]w'ing; pa.p. bl[=o]wn. [A.S. blówan; Ger. blühen. See BLOOM, BLOSSOM.]

BLOW, bl[=o], v.i. to produce a current of air: to move, as air or the wind.--v.t. to drive air upon or into: to drive by a current of air, as 'to blow away, down,' &c.: to sound, as a wind-instrument: to breathe hard or with difficulty: to spout, as whales: (prov.) to boast: to spread by report: to fan or kindle:--pa.t. blew (bl[=oo]); pa.p. blown (bl[=o]n).--ns. BLOW'-BALL, the downy head of a dandelion in seed; BLOW'ER, a metal plate put upon the upper part of a fireplace, so as to increase the draught through the fire: a machine for driving a blast of air, as into a furnace; BLOW'-FLY, or Flesh-fly, an insect of the order Diptera, and of the large family Muscidæ, to which the common house-fly and blue-bottle belong.--p.adj. BLOWN, out of breath, tired: swelled: stale, worthless.--n. BLOW'PIPE, a pipe through which a current of air is blown on a flame, to increase its heat: a kind of weapon much used by some of the Indian tribes of South America both in hunting and war, consisting of a long straight tube in which a small poisoned arrow is placed, and forcibly expelled by the breath.--adj. BLOW'Y.--TO BLOW HOT AND COLD, to be favourable and unfavourable by turns, to be irresolute; TO BLOW OFF (steam, &c.), to allow to escape, to escape forcibly; TO BLOW ONE'S OWN TRUMPET, to sound one's own praises; TO BLOW OVER, to pass away, to subside, as a danger or a scandal; TO BLOW UP, to shatter or destroy by explosion: to scold; TO BLOW UPON, to take the bloom, freshness, or the interest off anything, to bring into discredit: to inform upon. [A.S. bláwan; Ger. blähen, blasen; L. flare.]

BLOWZE, blowz, n. a ruddy, fat-faced wench.--adjs. BLOWZED, BLOWZ'Y, fat and ruddy, or flushed with exercise, dishevelled, slatternly. [Perh. related to root of BLUSH; or of cant origin.]

BLUBBER, blub'[.e]r, n. the fat of whales and other sea animals.--v.i. to weep effusively.--p.adj. BLUBB'ERED, of a face swollen with weeping. [M. E. blober, bluber; most likely onomatopoeic]

BLUCHER, bl[=oo]ch'[.e]r, n. a strong leather half-boot or high shoe, named from Marshal Blücher, the Prussian general at Waterloo.

BLUDGEON, blud'jun, n. a short stick with a heavy end to strike with. [First in 18th century; origin very obscure; from a cant word conn. with BLOOD.]

BLUE, bl[=oo], n. the colour of the sky when unclouded--hence the sea, the sky, as in 'a bolt from the blue:' one of the seven primary colours.--adj. of the colour blue: learned, pedantic: indecent or obscene, as in blue stories.--ns. BLUE'-BEARD, a monster who murders a series of wives in Perrault's famous conte, before he is himself cut off: one who is 'unfortunate' with his wives after the fashion of Henry VIII.; BLUE'BELL, a plant that bears blue bell-shaped flowers; BLUE'-BIRD, a small American bird akin to the warblers; BLUE'-BLACK, black with a tinge of blue; BLUE'-BOOK, the name popularly applied to the reports and other papers printed by parliament, because usually stitched up in blue paper wrappers; BLUE'-BOT'TLE, a common name for the Blue Cornflower: a familiar name for a policeman or beadle; BLUE'-CAP, a fish of the salmon kind with blue spots on its head: the blue titmouse: (Shak.) a Scotchman, from his blue bonnet; BLUE'-EYE, a beautiful little bird in New South Wales, one or the honey-eaters; BLUE'-FISH, a fish of the family Scomberidæ, abundant on the east coast of North America.--n.pl. BLUE'-GOWNS, the name commonly given to a former class of privileged mendicants in Scotland--called also the King's Bedesmen.--ns. BLUE'-GRASS, a permanent grass found in Europe and North America; BLUE'-GUM, a kind of Eucalyptus; BLUE'-JACK'ET, a seaman in the navy, as distinguished from a marine; BLUE'-JAY, a common North American bird of the [Illustration] jay family; BLUE'NESS; BLUE'-NOSE, a nickname for a Nova Scotian; BLUE'-P[=E]'TER, a blue flag with white square in the centre, used in the navy as a signal for sailing; BLUE'PILL, a mercurial pill, used as a purgative in cases of torpid or inflamed liver; BLUE'-STOCK'ING, a name given to learned ladies who display their acquirements in a pedantic manner, to the neglect of womanly graces--about 1750 Mrs Montague and others began to substitute literary conversation for cards, and the name implying a disregard for the conventional costume of polite society was suggested by the blue stockings of Benjamin Stillingfleet--the French bas bleu is a translation; BLUE'-STONE, blue copperas, sulphate of copper; BLUE'-THROAT, or BLUE'-BREAST, a beautiful and melodious bird, nearly allied to the nightingale; BLUE'-WING, a kind of duck, either a sub-genus of Anas, or a special genus Cyanopterus--the best-known species, the Common or Lunate Blue-wing, the Blue-winged Teal of the United States.--adj. BL[=U]'ISH, slightly blue.--BLUE BLOOD, aristocratic blood--the sangre azul of the Spanish hidalgoes; BLUE BONNET, a round flat cap of blue woollen, much worn in Scotland: a blue-bonneted Scotch peasant or soldier; BLUE-BOTTLE FLY, the meat-fly or blow-fly; BLUE-COAT BOY, a scholar of Christ's Hospital--also (from the blue coat having formerly been the usual dress of servants) a servant, beadle, soldier; BLUE DEVIL, an evil demon: (pl.) deep despondency, the apparitions seen in delirium tremens; BLUE FUNK (slang), great terror; BLUE RIBBON, a term applied to any great prize, as the Derby stakes--from the blue ribbon worn by Knights of the Garter: the badge assumed by the so-called Blue Ribbon Army introduced from America in 1878; BLUE WATER, the deep sea, as opposed to port or a narrow channel.--LIGHT BLUE, and DARK BLUE, the distinctive colours in their athletic contests of Eton and Cambridge, and of Harrow and Oxford respectively; THE BLUES, the Royal Horse Guards; THE BLUES (for blue devils), a colloquial expression for depression of spirits.--TO BE A BLUE, to be chosen to represent Oxford or Cambridge at an inter-university contest in cricket, football, rowing, or athletics; AN OLD BLUE, one once so chosen.--TO DRINK TILL ALL'S BLUE, until everything around one looks blue; TO LOOK BLUE, to be down-spirited.--TRUE BLUE, faithful to the principles of the political party wearing blue as its colour, in many places identified with Conservative. [M. E. blew--O. Fr. bleu, of Teut. origin; as also Scand. blá, which gave M. E. bla, blo, and modern blae.]

BLUFF, bluf, adj. blustering: rough and hearty in manners: outspoken: steep.--n. a high steep bank overlooking the sea or a river: the act of bluffing at cards, as in poker--hence any kind of boastful swagger intended to impose upon another: (slang) an excuse.--adjs. BLUFF'-BOWED, having broad and flat bows, as a ship; BLUFF'-HEAD'ED, applied to a ship having her stem too straight up.--adv. BLUFF'LY.--n. BLUFF'NESS. [Prob. Dut.]

BLUNDER, blun'der, v.i. to make a gross mistake, to flounder about: to utter thoughtlessly.--n. a gross mistake.--p.adj. BLUN'DERING, apt to make gross mistakes: apt to stumble.--TO BLUNDER AWAY, to throw away some opportunity or advantage. [M. E. blondren; prob. conn. with BLAND; perh. from Ice. blunda, to doze.]

BLUNDERBUSS, blun'd[.e]r-bus, n. a short hand-gun with a wide bore. [Corr. of Dut. donderbus--donder, thunder, bus, a box, barrel of a gun, a gun; Ger. donnerbüchse.]

BLUNT, blunt, adj. having a dull edge or point; rough, outspoken, dull.--v.t. to dull the edge or point: to weaken.--n. (slang) money.--adj. BLUNT'ISH.--adv. BLUNTLY.--n. BLUNT'NESS.--adj. BLUNT'-WIT'TED (Shak.) dull, stupid. [Orig. sleepy, dull; prob. conn. with Ice. blunda, to doze; perh. akin to BLIND.]

BLUR, blur, n. a blot, stain, or spot.--v.t. to blot, stain, obscure, or blemish (with out, over):--pr.p. blur'ring; pa.p. blurred. [A variety of BLEAR.]

BLURT, blurt, v.t. to utter suddenly or unadvisedly (with out).--n. an abrupt outburst.--p.adj. BLURT'ING, impulsively frank. [From sound. Cf. BLIRT.]

BLUSH, blush, n. a red glow on the face caused by shame, modesty, &c.: any reddish colour: sudden appearance.--v.i. to show shame or confusion by growing red in the face: to grow red.--n. BLUSH'ET (Ben Jonson), a young, modest girl.--adj. BLUSH'FUL, full of blushes: modest--n. BLUSH'ING, the act of turning red: the appearance of colour upon the cheek.--p.adj. showing blushes: modest.--adv. BLUSH'INGLY.--AT THE FIRST BLUSH, at the first glance.--TO PUT TO THE BLUSH, to cause to blush. [Prob. Scand.; cog. with A.S. blysa, a blaze. See BLAZE, BLOWZE.]

BLUSTER, blus't[.e]r, v.i. to make a noise like a blast of wind: to bully or swagger.--n. a blast or roaring as of the wind: bullying or boasting language: a storm of anger.--n. BLUS'TERING, a noisy blowing as of a blast: swaggering: noisy pretension.--adj. stormy: tumultuous: boastful.--adv. BLUS'TERINGLY.--adjs. BLUS'TEROUS (Shak.) noisy: boastful; BLUS'TERY, stormy: (Carlyle) swaggering. [An augmentative of BLAST.]

BO, b[=o], interj. a word used to frighten children.--TO SAY BO TO A GOOSE, to open the mouth, to say even a word.

BOA, b[=o]'a, n. a genus of serpents which includes the largest species of serpents (the BOA-CONSTRIC'TOR), which kill their prey by constriction or pressure: a long serpent-like coil of fur, feathers, or the like, worn round the neck by ladies. [Perh. conn. with L. bos, an ox.]

BOAD. Same as ABODE, pa.p. of ABIDE: also the same as BODE.

BOANERGES, bo-an-erj'es, n. a noisy preacher or shouting orator. ['Sons of thunder'--Mark, iii. 17.]

BOAR, b[=o]r, n. the male of swine, or its flesh.--adj. BOAR'ISH, swinish: brutal.--n. BOAR'-SPEAR, a spear used in boar-hunting. [A.S. bár; Dut. beer; Ger. bär.]

BOARD, b[=o]rd, n. a broad and thin strip of timber: a table to put food on: food: a table round which persons meet for some kind of business: any council or authorised body of men, as a 'school-board:' the deck of a ship: (pl.) the stage: a kind of thick stiff paper, as in pasteboard, Bristol-board, esp. that used in the binding of books.--v.t. to cover with boards: to supply with food at fixed terms: to enter a ship: to attack.--v.i. to receive food or take meals.--ns. BOARD'ER, one who receives board (food): one who boards a ship; BOARD'ING, the act of covering with boards: the covering itself: act of boarding a ship; BOARD'ING-HOUSE, a house where boarders are kept; BOARD'ING-PIKE, a pike used in boarding a ship, or in defending it when attacked; BOARD'ING-SCHOOL, a school in which board is given as well as instruction; BOARD'-SCHOOL, a school under control of a school-board, as elected by the Elementary Education Act of 1870.--n.pl. BOARD'-W[=A]'GES, wages allowed to servants to keep themselves in food.--ABOVE BOARD, openly.--BY THE BOARD, over the board or side of a ship--hence, TO GO BY THE BOARD, to be lost or destroyed.--TO SWEEP THE BOARD, to take all the cards. [A.S. bord, a board, the side of a ship; Ice. borð, the side of a ship: conn. either with BEAR or with BROAD.]

BOAST, b[=o]st, v.i. to talk vaingloriously: to brag (with of),--v.t. to brag of: speak proudly or confidently of, esp. justifiably: to magnify or exalt one's self.--n. an expression of pride: a brag: the cause of boasting.--adj. BOAST'FUL, given to brag.--adv. BOAST'FULLY.--ns. BOAST'FULNESS, BOAST'ING, ostentatious display: vaunting.--adj. BOAST'LESS, without boasting; simple, unostentatious. [M. E. bost, of doubtful origin; apparently W. bostio, Gael. bòsd, a bragging, are borrowed.]

BOAT, b[=o]t, n. a small open vessel usually moved by oars: a small ship: a vessel like a boat in shape, as a 'sauce-boat.'--v.i. to sail about in a boat.--ns. BOAT'-HOOK, an iron hook fixed to a pole used for pulling or pushing off a boat; BOAT'-HOUSE, a house or shed for a boat: BOAT'ING, the art or practice of sailing in boats; BOAT'MAN, a man who has charge of a boat: a rower.--IN THE SAME BOAT, in the same circumstances.--TO HAVE AN OAR IN ANOTHER'S BOAT, to meddle with the affairs of others. [A.S. bát; Dut. boot; Fr. bateau.]

BOATSWAIN, b[=o]t'sw[=a]n (colloq. b[=o]'sn), n. a petty officer on board ship who looks after the boats, rigging, &c., and calls the seamen to duty with a whistle. [BOAT, and swain, Scand. sveinn, a boy.]

BOB, bob, v.i. to move quickly up and down, to dangle: to fish with a bob.--v.t. to move in a short, jerking manner:--pr.p. bob'bing; pa.p. bobbed.--n. a short jerking motion: a slight blow: anything that moves with a bob or swing: a pendant: a knot of hair, as in BOB'-WIG, one with the ends turned up into short curls: a bunch of lobworms, used in catching eels: any small roundish body: the refrain or burden of a song: a term in bell-ringing--a BOB MINOR is rung upon six bells; a BOB MAJOR on eight; a BOB ROYAL on ten; a BOB MAXIMUS on twelve.--adj. BOB'BISH, in good spirits.--n. BOB'BLE, the movement of water in commotion. [Perh. Celt., Gael. baban, babag.]

BOB, bob, n. (slang) a shilling. [Hardly the O. Fr. bobe = 1½d.]

BOB, bob, BOBBY, bob'i, n. a shortened familiar form of Robert: a familiar name for a policeman--from Sir Robert Peel, Home Secretary at the passing of the Metropolitan Police Act of 1828.--n. LIGHT'-BOB, a soldier of the light infantry.

BOBADIL, bob'a-dil, n. a swaggering boaster, from Ben Jonson's Every Man in his Humour.

BOBBERY, bob'er-i, n. a noisy row. [Hindi b[=a]p re! O father!--Col. Yule.]

BOBBIN, bob'in, n. a small piece of wood on which thread is wound.--n. BOBB'INET, a kind of fine netted lace made by machines. [Fr. bobine, prob. Celt.; cf. Gael. baban, a tassel.]

BOBOLINK, bob'[=o]-lingk, n. a North American singing bird, found in the northern states in spring and summer. [At first Bob Lincoln, from the note of the bird.]

BOBSTAYS, bob'st[=a]z, n.pl. (naut.) ropes or stays used to confine the bowsprit downward to the stem or cutwater, and counteract the strain of the foremast-stays.

BOBTAIL, bob't[=a]l, n. a short or cut tail: a word applied in contempt to the rabble, as in 'tag-rag and bobtail.'--adj. BOB'TAILED, with tail cut short.

BOCAGE. See BOSCAGE.

BODE, b[=o]d, v.t. to portend or prophesy.--v.i. to be an omen: to foreshow.--adj. BODE'FUL, boding, ominous.--n. BODE'MENT, an omen, presentiment.--pr.p. BOD'ING, presaging.--n. an omen or portent. [A.S. bodian, to announce--bod, a message; allied to BID.]

BODE, b[=o]d (Spens.). Same as ABODE.

BODEGA, bo-d[=e]'ga, n. a wine-shop. [Sp.]

BODGE, boj, v.i. to make bad work, to fail.--n. BODG'ER, a botcher, a pedlar. [A form of BOTCH.]

BODICE, bod'is, n. a woman's outer garment covering the waist and bust: the close-fitting waist or body of a woman's gown.

BODIKIN, bod'i-kin, n. a form of an oath, ''Od's bodikins' = God's little body.

BODKIN, bod'kin, n. a small dagger: a small instrument for pricking holes or for dressing the hair: a large blunt needle.--TO SIT, or RIDE, BODKIN, to be wedged in tight between two others. [Prob. conn. with W. bidog, a dagger.]

BODLE, bod'l, n. a Scotch copper coin, equal to about one-sixth of an English penny, the smallest coin. [Said to be named from a mint-master, one Bothwell.]

BODRAGES, bod'r[=a]-jiz, n.pl. (Spens.) a hostile attack, a raid. [Ir. buaidhreadh, a disturbance.]

BODY, bod'i, n. the whole frame of a man or lower animal: the main part of an animal, as distinguished from the limbs: the main or middle part of anything: matter, as opposed to spirit: substance or substantial quality: a mass: a person: a number of persons united by some common tie.--v.t. to give form to: to embody:--pr.p. bod'ying; pa.p. bod'ied.--adj. BOD'ILESS, without a body: incorporeal.--adv. BOD'ILY, relating to the body, esp. as opposed to the mind.--ns. BOD'Y-COL'OUR, a term applied to paints to express their degree of consistence, substance, and tingeing power; BOD'Y-CUR'ER (Shak.), a doctor; BOD'YGUARD, a guard to protect the person, esp. of the sovereign; BOD'Y-POL'ITIC, the collective body of the people in its political capacity; BOD'Y SERV'ANT, a personal attendant; BOD'Y-SNATCH'ER, one who secretly disinters the bodies of the dead for the purposes of dissection. [A.S. bodig, of dubious origin.]

BOEOTIAN, be-[=o]'shyan, adj. pertaining to Boeotia in Greece, noted for the dullness of its inhabitants--hence stupid, dull.

BOER, b[=oo]r, n. a Dutch colonist at the Cape engaged in agriculture. [Dut. boer. See BOOR.]

BOG, bog, n. soft ground: a marsh or quagmire.--v.t. to sink or to entangle.--n. BOG'-BUTT'ER, a mineral substance, resembling butter, found in Irish bogs.--adj. BOGG'Y.--ns. BOG'LET, BOG'LAND; BOG'-MOSS, a genus of moss plants; BOG'-OAK, trunks of oak embedded in bogs and preserved from decay--of a deep black colour, often used for making ornaments; BOG'-ORE, a kind of iron ore found in boggy land; BOG'-SPAV'IN, a lesion of the hock-joint of the horse, consisting in distension of the capsule enclosing the joint, usually arising suddenly from a sprain in action; BOG'-TROT'TER, one who lives in a boggy country, hence an Irishman. [Ir. bogach; Gael. bog, soft.]

BOGGARD, BOGGART. See BOGLE.

BOGGLE, bog'l, v.i. to stop or hesitate as if at a bogle: to start with fright: to make difficulties about a thing: to equivocate.--n. a scruple, objection: a bungle.--n. BOGG'LER, one who boggles: a doubter: (Shak.) one who starts from the right path. [See BOGLE.]

BOGIE, BOGEY, b[=o]g'i, n. a low truck on four wheels, so constructed as to turn easily, a trolly: a revolving under-carriage, as in a locomotive engine. [Ety. unknown; perh. conn. with BOGY, a fiend.]

BOGLE, b[=o]g'l, n. a spectre or goblin: a scarecrow: a bugbear, or source of terror--also BOGG'LE.--BOGG'ARD is a common form in the North country. [Scot. bogle, a ghost; W. bwg, a goblin. See BUG.]

BOGUS, b[=o]'gus, adj. counterfeit, spurious. [An American cant word, of very doubtful origin--it may possibly be ult. related to BOGY.]

BOGY, BOGEY, b[=o]g'i, n. a goblin: a bugbear or special object of dread, the devil.--n. BOG'YISM. [A form of BOGGLE and BOGGARD.]

BOHEA, bo-h[=e]', n. the lowest quality of black tea: tea generally. [Chin.]

BOHEMIAN, bo-h[=e]'mi-an, n. and adj. applied to persons of loose or irregular habits: an artist or man of letters, or indeed any one, who sets social conventionalities aside.--n. BOH[=E]'MIANISM. [Fr. bohémien, a gipsy, from the belief that these wanderers came from Bohemia.]

BOIAR. Same as BOYAR.

BOIL, boil, v.i. to bubble up from the action of heat: to be hot: to be excited or agitated.--v.t. to heat to a boiling state: to cook or dress by boiling.--ns. BOIL'ER, one who boils: that in which anything is boiled: a vessel in which steam, usually for a steam-engine, is generated: a vessel for heating water for baths, &c.; BOIL'ING, the bubbling up of any liquid by the application of heat: the act of dressing food by boiling water.--adj. bubbling: swelling with heat or passion.--n. BOIL'ING-POINT, the temperature at which liquids begin to boil under heat.--TO BOIL DOWN, to reduce in bulk by boiling, to extract the substance of, to epitomise; TO BOIL OVER, to bubble over the sides of the containing vessel, to break out into unrestrained indignation. [O. Fr. boillir--L. bull[=i]re--bulla, a bubble.]

BOIL, boil, n. an inflamed swelling or tumour. [A.S. býl; Ger. beule.]

BOISTEROUS, bois't[.e]r-us, adj. wild: noisy: turbulent: stormy.--adv. BOIS'TEROUSLY.--n. BOIS'TEROUSNESS. [M. E. boistous, approximating, but not in sense, to the O. Fr. boisteus, whence modern boiteux, lame. The Celtic words throw no light upon its origin.]

BOLAS, b[=o]'las, n. missiles used by the South American gauchos, consisting of balls or stones strung together, swung round the head and hurled, usually so as to entangle the legs of an animal running. [Sp.]

BOLD, b[=o]ld, adj. daring or courageous: forward or impudent: presumptuous: executed with spirit: striking to the sight, well marked: steep or abrupt.--v.t. BOLD'EN (obs.), to make bold.--adj. BOLD'FACED, impudent.--adv. BOLD'LY.--n. BOLD'NESS.--TO MAKE BOLD, to take the liberty, to make free. [A.S. bald; Old High Ger. bald, Ice. ballr.]

BOLE, b[=o]l, n. the round stem or body of a tree. [Scand. bolr; Ger. bohle, a plank.]

BOLE, b[=o]l, n. an earthy mineral resembling clay in structure, and consisting essentially of silica, alumina, red oxide of iron, and water; the bole of Lemnos, Lemnian Earth, is red in colour, and was once used as a tonic and astringent medicine. [Gr. b[=o]los, a clod.]

BOLE, b[=o]l, n. a recess in a wall: an opening to admit light and air. [Scot.; origin unknown.]

BOLERO, bo-l[=a]'ro, or bo-l[=e]'ro, n. Spanish national dance: also the air to which it is danced. [Sp.]

BOLETUS, bol-[=e]'tus, n. a genus of fungi, having a pore-like surface occupying the place of gills. [Gr. b[=o]lit[=e]s, mushroom.]

BOLIDE, bol'[=i]d, n. a large meteor or fireball. [Fr.--L. bolid-em, bolis--Gr. bolis, ballein, to throw.]

BOLIN, an obsolete form of BOWLINE.

BOLL, b[=o]l, n. one of the round heads or seed-vessels of flax, poppy, &c.: a pod or capsule.--p.adjs. BOLLED (b[=o]ld), swollen, podded; BOLLEN (b[=o]ln), swollen (Shak.). [A form of BOWL; A.S. bolla.]

BOLL, b[=o]l, n. a measure of capacity for grain, &c., used in Scotland and the north of England--in Scotland = 6 imperial bushels; in England, varying from 2 to 6 bushels: also a measure of weight, containing, for flour, 140 lb. [Scot. bow; prob. a Scand. word; cf. Ice. bolli.]

BOLLANDIST, bol'an-dist, n. one of the Jesuit writers who continued the Acta Sanctorum (q.v.), begun by John Bolland (1596-1665).

BOLLARD, bol'ard, n. a post on a wharf to which vessels are secured: a thick piece of wood on the forepart of a whale-boat, round which the line is turned when a whale is harpooned. [Prob. BOLE.]

BOLOGNA, bol-[=o]n'ya, adj. from a town of Italy, which gives its name to Bologna phial, Bologna phosphorus, and Bologna or 'Polony' sausages.--adj. BOLOGN'ESE.

BOLOMETER, b[=o]-lom'e-t[.e]r, n. an instrument for measuring minute amounts of radiant heat. [Gr. bol[=e], ray (ballein, to throw), metron, a measure.]

BOLSTER, b[=o]l'st[.e]r, n. a long round pillow or cushion: a pad: anything resembling it in form or use, esp. any piece of mechanism affording a support against pressure.--v.t. to support with a bolster: to hold up.--p.adj. BOL'STERED, supported: swelled out.--n. BOL'STERING, a propping up or supporting. [A.S. bolster; from root of BOWL.]

BOLT, b[=o]lt, n. a bar or pin used to fasten a door, &c.: an arrow: a thunderbolt, as in 'a bolt from the blue.'--v.t. to fasten with a bolt: to throw or utter precipitately: to expel suddenly: to swallow hastily.--v.i. to rush away (like a bolt from a bow): to start up: (U.S.) to break away from one's political party.--ns. BOLT'-HEAD, the head of a bolt: a chemical flask; BOLT'-ROPE, a rope sewed all round the edge of a sail to prevent it from tearing; BOLT'SPRIT (same as BOWSPRIT).--adv. BOLT'-UP'RIGHT, upright and straight as a bolt or arrow.--n. BOLT'-UP'RIGHTNESS. [A.S. bolt; Old High Ger. bolz.]

BOLT, b[=o]lt, v.t. (better spelling, BOULT), to sift, to separate the bran from, as flour: to examine by sifting: to sift through coarse cloth.--ns. BOLT'ER, a sieve: a machine for separating bran from flour; BOLT'ING, the process by which anything is bolted or sifted; BOLT'ING-HUTCH, a hutch or large box into which flour falls when it is bolted. [O. Fr. bulter, or buleter = bureter, from bure--Low L. burra, a coarse reddish-brown cloth--Gr. pyrros, reddish.]

BOLUS, b[=o]'lus, n. a rounded mass of anything: a large pill. [L. bolus--Gr. b[=o]los, a lump.]

BOMB, bom, or bum, n. a hollow projectile, usually of cast-iron, fired from a mortar, filled with gunpowder and fitted with a time-fuse: any similar missile or case of explosives, as a dynamite bomb.--n. BOM'BARD, an engine or great gun for throwing bombs: (Shak.) a barrel or large vessel for holding liquor.--v.t. BOMBARD', to attack with bombs.--ns. BOMBARDIER', the lowest non-commissioned officer in the British artillery, formerly a man employed about the mortars and howitzers; BOMBARD'MENT; BOMBAR'DON, a deep-toned brass instrument, with a tube likened to a bombard.--adj. BOMB'-PROOF, proof or secure against the force of bombs.--ns. BOMB'-SHELL (same as BOMB); BOMB'-VESS'EL, BOMB'-KETCH, a vessel for carrying the mortars used in bombarding from the sea.--BOMBARDIER BEETLE, a name given to several species of beetles, which discharge an acrid volatile fluid with explosive force from the abdomen. [Fr. bombe--L. bombus--Gr. bombos, a humming sound--an imitative word.]

BOMBASINE, BOMBAZINE, bom'-, bum-ba-z[=e]n', n. a twilled or corded fabric of silk and worsted, or of cotton and worsted.--n. BOM'BAX, a genus of silk-cotton trees, native to tropical America. [Fr. bombasin--Low L. bombasinum--Gr. bombyx, silk.]

BOMBAST, bom'-, bum'bast, n. inflated or high-sounding language: originally cotton or any soft material used for stuffing garments.--adj. BOMBAS'TIC, high-sounding: inflated. [Low L. bombax, cotton--Gr. bombyx, silk.]

BOMBAX. See BOMBASINE.

BOMBAY-DUCK, bom-b[=a]'-duk, n. a fish of the family Scopelidæ, nearly allied to the salmon and trout family, which is salted, dried, and eaten as a relish.

BOMBYX, bom'biks, n. the silkworm. [Gr.]

BON, bong, adj. good--French, occurring in some English but not Anglicised phrases, as BON ACCORD, good-will, agreement; BON MOT, a jest or smart saying; BON TON, good style, the fashionable world; BON VIVANT, one who lives well or luxuriously.

BONA FIDE, b[=o]'na f[=i]d'[=a], adv. and adj. in good faith, with sincerity, genuine. [L.]

BONANZA, bon-an'za, n. a term common in the Pacific States for a rich mass of gold: any mine of wealth or stroke of luck. [Sp.]

BONAPARTISM, b[=o]'na-pärt-izm, n. attachment to the dynasty of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French.--n. B[=O]'NAPARTIST.

BONA-ROBA, b[=o]'na-r[=o]'ba, n. (Shak.) a showy wanton, a courtesan. [It. buona roba, lit. a fine gown.]

BONBON, bong'bong, n. a sweetmeat.--n. BONBON'IERE, a fancy box for holding such. [Fr., 'very good'--bon, good.]

BOND, bond, n. that which binds, a band: link of connection or union: a writing of obligation to pay a sum or to perform a contract: any constraining or any cementing force: in building, the connection of one stone or brick with another, made by lapping the one over the other as the work is carried up, as in ENGLISH BOND, FLEMISH BOND, &c.: (pl.) imprisonment, captivity.--adj. bound: in a state of servitude.--v.t. to put imported goods in the customs' warehouses till the duties on them are paid--hence BONDED STORES or WAREHOUSES, TO TAKE OUT OF BOND, &c.--p.adj. BOND'ED, secured by bond, as duties.--ns. BOND'ER, a binding stone or brick; BOND'-HOLD'ER, a person who holds bonds of a private person or public company; BOND'ING, that arrangement by which goods remain in the customs' warehouses till the duties are paid; BOND'MAID, BOND'WOMAN, BONDS'WOMAN, a woman-slave; BOND'MAN, a man-slave; BOND'MANSHIP; BOND'SERV'ANT, a slave; BOND'-SERV'ICE, the condition of a bond-servant: slavery; BOND'-SLAVE, a slave; BONDS'MAN, a bondman or slave: a surety; BOND'-STONE, a stone which reaches a considerable distance into or entirely through a wall for the purpose of binding it together; BOND'-TIM'BER, timber built into a wall as it is carried up for the purpose of binding it together in a longitudinal direction.--BONDED DEBT, the debt of a corporation represented by the bonds it has issued, as contrasted with its floating debt. [A variant of band--A.S. bindan, to bind.]

BONDAGE, bond'[=a]j, n. state of being bound: captivity: slavery.--n. BOND'AGER, a female outworker in the Border and North country, whom the hind or married cottar was bound to provide for the farm-work. [O. Fr.; Low L. bondagium, a kind of tenure. Acc. to Skeat, this is from A.S. bonda, a boor, a householder, from Ice. bóndi = búandi, a tiller, a husbandman, búa, to till, cog. with A.S. búan.]

BONE, b[=o]n, n. a hard substance forming the skeleton of mammalian animals: a piece of the skeleton of an animal: (pl.) the bones collectively: mortal remains: pieces of bone held between the fingers of the hand and rattled together to keep time to music: dice, as made of bone, ivory, &c.--v.t. to take the bones out of, as meat: to seize, to steal.--ns. BONE'-ACHE (Shak.), aching or pain in the bones; BONE'-ASH, BONE'-EARTH, the remains when bones are burnt in an open furnace; BONE'-BLACK, the remains when bones are heated in a close vessel.--adj. BONED--used in composition, as high-boned: having bones: having the bones removed.--ns. BONE'-DUST, ground or pulverised bones, used in agriculture; BONE'-LACE, lace woven with bobbins, which were frequently made of bone.--adj. BONE'LESS, wanting bones.--ns. BONE'-SET'TER, one who treats broken bones without being a duly qualified surgeon; BONE'-SH[=A]K'ER, a name familiarly given to the earlier forms of bicycle before india-rubber tires; BONE'-SPAV'IN, a bony excrescence or hard swelling on the inside of the hock of a horse.--adj. BON'Y, full of, or consisting of, bones.--A BONE OF CONTENTION, something that causes strife; A BONE TO PICK, something to occupy one, a difficulty, a grievance, controversy, dispute.--TO MAKE NO BONES OF, to have no scruples in regard to something; TO THE BONE, to the inmost part. [A.S. bán, Ger. bein.]

BONFIRE, bon'f[=i]r, n. a large fire in the open air on occasions of public rejoicing, &c.--originally a fire in which bones were burnt. [Not Fr. bon, good, and FIRE.]

BONGRACE, bon'gr[=a]s, n. a shade from the sun once worn by women on the front of the bonnet: a broad-brimmed hat or bonnet. [Fr.]

BONHOMIE, bon'o-m[=e], n. easy good-nature. [Fr.; bon homme, a good fellow.]

BONIFACE, bon'i-f[=a]s, n. a generic name for an innkeeper, like 'mine host' or 'landlord'--from the hearty Boniface of Farquhar's Beaux' Stratagem.

BONING, b[=o]n'ing, n. the act of estimating straightness by looking along a series of poles, as in boning-rod or telescope.

BONITO, bo-n[=e]to, n. a name given to several fishes of the mackerel family--the Stripe-bellied Tunny of the tropical parts of the Atlantic and Pacific; the Mediterranean Bonito; the Plain Bonito. [Sp.]

BONNE, bon, n. a French nursemaid. [Fr.; fem. of bon, good.]

BONNE-BOUCHE, bon-b[=oo]sh, n. a delicious morsel. [Fr.]

BONNET, bon'et, n. a covering for the head worn by women, without a brim, tied on by strings, and now letting the whole face be seen, although formerly a bonnet (esp. a POKE'-BONN'ET) covered the sides of the face: a soft cap: the velvet cap within a coronet: (fort.) a small work before the salient or flanked angle of the ravelin: (naut.) an additional part laced to the foot of jibs, or other fore-and-aft sails, to gather more wind: a wire-covering over a chimney-top: a decoy or pretended player or bidder at a gaming-table or an auction, the accomplice of a thimble-rigger or other petty swindler.--v.t. to put a bonnet on: to crush a man's hat over his eyes.--adj. and p.adj. BONN'ETED.--ns. BONN'ET-PIECE, a gold coin of James V. of Scotland, on which the king wears a bonnet instead of a crown; BONN'ET-ROUGE, the red cap of liberty of the French Revolution, shaped like a nightcap.--BONNET LAIRD, a Scotch name for a petty landowner who wore a bonnet, not the hat of the gentry.--BALMORAL BONNET, a flat cap resembling the Scotch (Lowland) bonnet; GLENGARRY BONNET, rising to a point in front, with ribbons hanging down behind; SCOTCH BONNET, of a broad, round, flat shape, of dark-blue colour, with a tuft on the top, the fabric thick-milled woollen, without seam or lining--like the Basque béret. [O. Fr.--Low L. bonnetum, orig. the name of a stuff.]

BONNY, bon'i, adj. beautiful: handsome: gay: plump: pleasant-looking: as a general term expressing appreciation = considerable, &c., often ironically: cheerful: (Shak.) stout, strong.--adv. BONN'ILY, beautifully: gaily.--n. BONN'INESS, handsomeness: gaiety. [Fr. bon, bonne--L. bonus.]

BONSPIEL, bon'sp[=e]l, n. a great curling-match. [Dr Murray suggests an assumed Dut. bondspel, from bond = verbond, 'covenant, alliance, compact,' and; spel, play; the word having entered Scotch as a whole, spiel, spel, having never been in common use for 'play.']

BONUS, b[=o]n'us, n. a premium beyond the usual interest for a loan: an extra dividend to shareholders: an extra gratuity paid to workmen: a douceur or bribe. [L. bonus, good.]

BONZE, bon'ze, n. a Buddhist priest. [Jap. bonzó or bonzi, a priest.]

BOO, BOOH, b[=oo], interj. a sound expressive of disapprobation or contempt.--v.i. to utter 'boo!' to hoot.--v.t. BOO'-HOO', to weep noisily.

BOOBY, b[=oo]'bi, n. a silly or stupid fellow: a sea-bird, of the gannet tribe, remarkable for its apparent stupidity in allowing itself to be knocked down with a stick.--adjs. BOO'BY, BOO'BYISH, like a booby: stupid.--ns. BOO'BYISM; BOO'BY-TRAP, a rude form of practical joke among boys, by which something is made to fall upon some one entering a door, or the like. [Sp. bobo, a dolt: may prob. be cog. with Ger. bube.]

BOODLE, b[=oo]d'l, n. a crowd, pack--'the whole boodle:' stock-in-trade, capital. [May be conn. with Dut. boedel.]

BOODLE, b[=oo]d'l, n. (slang) a stupid noodle.

BOODY, b[=oo]d'i, v.i. to sulk or mope. [Fr. bouder, to pout.]

BOOK, book, n. a collection of sheets of paper bound together, either printed, written on, or blank: a literary composition: a division of a volume or subject: the Bible: a betting-book, or record of bets made with different people: (fig.) any source of instruction: the libretto of an opera, &c.: (pl.) formal accounts of transactions, as minutes of meetings, records kept of his business by a merchant.--v.t. to write in a book.--ns. BOOK'-ACCOUNT', an account of debt or credit in a book; BOOK'BINDER, one who binds books; BOOK'BINDING, the art or practice of binding or putting the boards on books; BOOK'-CASE, a case with shelves for books; BOOK'-CLUB, an association of persons who buy new books for circulation among themselves; BOOK'-DEBT, a debt for articles charged by the seller in his book-account.--adj. BOOK'FUL, full of information gathered from books.--ns. BOOK'-HOLD'ER, one who holds the book of the play and prompts the actor in the theatre; BOOK'-HUNT'ER, one who rejoices in discovering rare books; BOOK'ING-OF'FICE, an office where names are booked or tickets are taken.--adj. BOOK'ISH, fond of books: acquainted only with books.--ns. BOOK'ISHNESS; BOOK'-KEEP'ING, the art of keeping accounts in a regular and systematic manner; BOOK'-LAND, land taken from the folcland or common land, and granted by bóc or written charter to a private owner; BOOK'-LEARN'ING, learning got from books, as opposed to practical knowledge.--adj. BOOK'LESS, without books, unlearned.--ns. BOOK'LET, a small book; BOOK'-MAK'ER, one who makes up books from the writings of others, a compiler: one who makes a system of bets in such a way that the gains must exceed the losses, entering them in a memorandum book; BOOK'-MAK'ING, the art or practice of compiling books from the writings of others: compilation: systematic betting; BOOK'-MAN, a scholar, student; BOOK'-MARK, something placed in a book to mark a particular page or passage; BOOK'-MATE (Shak.), a mate or companion in the study of books: a schoolfellow; BOOK'-MUS'LIN, muslin used in bookbinding; BOOK'-OATH (Shak.), an oath made on the Book or Bible; BOOK'PLATE, a label usually pasted inside the cover of a book, bearing the owner's name, crest, coat-of-arms, or peculiar device; BOOK'-POST, the department in the Post-office for the transmission of books; BOOK'SELLER, one who sells books; BOOK'SELLING; BOOK'SHELF, a shelf on which books are placed; BOOK'SHOP, a shop where books are sold; BOOK'-STALL, a stall or stand, generally in the open air, where books are sold; BOOK'-STAND, a book-stall: a stand or support for holding up a book when reading; BOOK'-TRADE, the trade of dealing in books; BOOK'WORM, a worm or mite that eats holes in books: a hard reader: one who reads without discrimination or profit.--TO BE UPON THE BOOKS, to have one's name in an official list; TO BRING TO BOOK, to bring to account; TO TAKE A LEAF OUT OF ANOTHER'S BOOK, to follow the example of some one; TO TALK LIKE A BOOK, to talk pedantically, or in a preternaturally well-informed manner. [A.S. bóc, a book, the beech; Ger. buche, the beech, buch, a book, because the Teutons first wrote on beechen boards.]

BOOM, b[=oo]m, n. a pole by which a sail is stretched: a chain or bar stretched across a harbour. [Dut. boom, a beam, a tree.]

BOOM, b[=oo]m, v.i. to make a hollow sound or roar: to go on with a rush, to become suddenly prosperous.--v.t. to push anything into sudden prominence:--pa.p. boomed (b[=oo]md); pr.p. boom'ing.--n. a hollow roar, as of the sea, the cry of the bittern, &c.: a sudden increase of activity in business, or the like--often the direct consequence of puffing advertisements or less legitimate intrigues.--p.adj. BOOM'ING, rushing with violence. [From a Low Ger. root found in A.S. byme, a trumpet, Dut. bommen, to drum; like BOMB, of imit. origin.]

BOOMERANG, b[=oo]m'e-rang, n. a hard-wood missile used by the natives of Australia, shaped like the segment of a circle, and so balanced that when thrown to a distance it returns towards the thrower. [Australian.]

BOON, b[=oo]n, n. a petition: a gift or favour. [Ice. bôn, a prayer; A.S. ben.]

BOON, b[=oo]n, adj. gay, merry, or kind. [Fr. bon--L. bonus, good.]

BOOR, b[=oo]r, n. a countryman, a peasant: a Dutch colonist in South Africa: a coarse or awkward person.--adj. BOOR'ISH, like a boor: awkward or rude.--adv. BOOR'ISHLY.--n. BOOR'ISHNESS. [Dut. boer; Ger. bauer. The A.S. gebúr, a farmer, may explain the East Anglian bor, neighbour, as a form of address.]

BOORD, an obsolete form of BOARD.

BOOSE. See BOUSE.

BOOT, b[=oo]t, n. a covering for the foot and lower part of the leg generally made of leather: an infamous instrument of judicial torture, in which the legs were forced into a strong case and wedges driven in until bone, muscle, and marrow were crushed together--also BOOT'IKIN: a box or receptacle in a coach.--v.t. to put on boots.--n. BOOT'-CLOS'ER, one who closes the upper leathers of boots.--pa.p. BOOT'ED, having boots on, equipped for riding.--ns. BOOT'-HOOK, an instrument for pulling on long boots; BOOT'HOSE (Shak.), hose or stockings used in place of boots; BOOT'-JACK, an instrument for taking off boots; BOOT'LACE, a lace for fastening boots; BOOT'-LAST, BOOT'-TREE, the last or wooden mould on which boots or shoes are made or stretched to keep their shape.--adj. BOOT'LESS, without boots: referring also, as in Tennyson's metaphorical use, 'wedded to a bootless calf,' to the ancient custom at a marriage by proxy of the quasi bridegroom putting one unbooted leg into the bride's bed.--n. BOOTS, the servant at an inn who cleans the boots, runs messages, &c.--in combination, as Lazy_boots_, Sly_boots_.--BOOT AND SADDLE (a corr. of Fr. bouteselle, place saddle), the signal to cavalry to mount.--LIKE OLD BOOTS (slang), vigorously, heartily.--SIX FEET IN HIS BOOTS, quite six feet high.--TO DIE IN HIS BOOTS, to be cut off in the midst of health, as by the rope; TO HAVE ONE'S HEART IN ONE'S BOOTS, to be in a state of extreme terror. [O. Fr. bote (mod. botte)--Low L. botta, bota, of dubious origin.]

BOOT, b[=oo]t, v.t. to profit or advantage.--n. advantage: profit: any reparation or compensation paid, like the man-bote of old English law: (Shak.) booty.--adj. BOOT'LESS, without boot or profit: useless.--adv. BOOT'LESSLY.--n. BOOT'LESSNESS.--TO BOOT, in addition; TO MAKE BOOT OF (Shak.), to make profit of. [A.S. bót, compensation, amends, whence betan, to amend, to make BETTER.]

BOOTES, bo-[=o]'tez, n. a northern constellation beside the Great Bear, containing the bright star Arcturus. [Gr.; an ox-driver.]

BOOTH, b[=oo]th, n. a hut or temporary erection formed of slight materials: a covered stall at a fair or market. [Ice. buð, Ger. bude.]

BOOTY, b[=oo]t'i, n. spoil taken in war or by force: plunder, a prize.--TO PLAY BOOTY, to join with others in order to cheat one player, to play a game with intention to lose. [Ice. býti, share--býta, to divide.]

BOOZE. See BOUSE.

BO-PEEP, bo-p[=e]p', n. a simple play among children in which one peeps from behind something and cries 'Bo.'

BORA, b[=o]'ra, n. a strong north-east wind in the upper Adriatic. [Diez explains the word as a Venetian variant of It. borea--L. boreas; acc. to others, Slav.; cf. Servian bura.]

BORACHIO, bor-ach'i-o, n. a Spanish wine-bottle of leather: a drunken fellow. [Sp. borracha.]

BORAGE, bur'[=a]j, n. a plant of the genus Borago, formerly in great repute as a cordial. [Low L. borago.]

BORAX, b[=o]'raks, n. a mineral salt used for soldering, as a flux in metallurgy, in enamelling and glazing, as a mordant in dyeing, as a substitute for soap, and also in medicine.--adj. BORAC'IC, of or relating to borax.--ns. BOR'ACITE, a mineral composed of boracic acid and carbonate of magnesia; B[=O]'RATE, a salt of boracic acid.--BORACIC ACID, an acid obtained by dissolving borax, and also found native in mineral springs in Italy. [Through Fr. and Low L. borax, borac-em, from Ar. bûraq.]

BORDAR, bord'ar, n. a villein who held his hut at his lord's pleasure. [Low L. bordarius; of Teut. origin. See BOARD.]

BORDEAUX, bor-d[=o]', n. claret, wine of Bordeaux, a great city in the south-west of France.

BORDEL, bor'del, n. a house for prostitution. [O. Fr. bordel, a cabin--Low L. borda.]

BORDER, bord'[.e]r, n. the edge or margin of anything: the march or boundary of a country, esp. that between England and Scotland: a flower-bed in a garden: a piece of ornamental edging or trimming round a garment, &c.--v.i. to resemble (with on): to be adjacent (with upon, with).--v.t. to make or adorn with a border: to bound.--ns. BORD'ERER, one who dwells on the border of a country; BORD'ER-LAND.--adj. BORD'ERLESS. [O. Fr. bordure; from root of BOARD.]

BORD-RAGING. See BODRAGING.

BORDURE, bor'd[=u]r, n. (her.) a border surrounding a shield, generally said to occupy one-fifth of the field. [BORDER.]

BORE, b[=o]r, v.t. to pierce so as to form a hole; to weary or annoy.--n. a hole made by boring: the size of the cavity of a gun; a person or thing that wearies (not from the foregoing, according to Dr Murray, who says both verb and noun arose after 1750).--ns. BOR'ER, the person or thing that bores: a genus of sea-worms that pierce wood; a name common to many insects that pierce wood; BOR'ING, the act of making a hole in anything: a hole made by boring: (pl.) the chips produced by boring. [A.S. borian, to bore; cf. Ger. bohren; allied to L. for-[=a]re, to bore, Gr. pharynx, the gullet.]

BORE, b[=o]r, did bear, pa.t. of BEAR.

BORE, b[=o]r, n. a tidal flood which rushes with great violence up the estuaries of certain rivers, also called Eagre. [Ice. bára, a wave or swell.]

BOREAS, b[=o]'re-as, n. the north wind.--adj. B[=O]'REAL. [L. and Gr.]

BORIC. Same as BORACIC (q.v. under BORAX).

BORN, bawrn,--pa.p. of BEAR, to bring forth.--BORN AGAIN, having received new spiritual life or regeneration through Christ.--BORN IN, or WITH, inherited by birth; BORN OF, sprung from.--A BORN FOOL, one whose folly is from his birth--also in compounds, as English-born, eldest-born, base-born, gently-born, well-born, &c.--IN ONE'S BORN DAYS, in one's life-time.

BORNE, b[=o]rn, pa.p. of BEAR, to carry.

BORNÉ, bor'n[=a], adj. limited, narrow-minded. [Fr. pa.p. of borner, to limit.]

BORON, b[=o]'ron, n. a simple non-metallic element present in borax and boracic acid, obtained in crystals which resemble diamonds. [See BORAX.]

BOROUGH, bur'[=o], n. a town with a corporation and special privileges granted by royal charter; a town that sends representatives to parliament.--ns. BOR'OUGH-ENGLISH, a custom in some ancient English boroughs, by which estates descend to the youngest son or the youngest brother; BOR'OUGHMONGER, one who buys or sells the patronage of boroughs; BOR'OUGH-REEVE, the chief municipal official in some unincorporated English towns prior to 1835.--CLOSE or POCKET BOROUGH, a borough the representation of which was in the nomination of some person--common before 1832; COUNTY BOROUGH, a borough of above 50,000 inhabitants, constituted by the Local Government Act of 1888; ROTTEN BOROUGH, one which still returned members to parliament although the constituency had disappeared--all abolished in 1832.--The Scotch terms are grouped under BURGH. [A.S. burg, burh, a city, from beorgan; Ger. bergen, to protect.]

BORREL, bor'el, adj. (Spens.) rustic, clownish. [O. Fr. burel, coarse cloth worn by peasantry.]

BORROW, bor'[=o], v.t. to obtain on loan or trust: to adopt from a foreign source: to derive one's authority from another (with from, of).--p.adj. BORR'OWED, taken on loan, counterfeit, assumed.--n. BORR'OWER.--BORROWING DAYS, the last three days of March (O.S.), supposed in Scotch folklore to have been borrowed by March from April, and to be especially stormy. [A.S. borgian--borg, borh, a pledge, security.]

BORSTALL, bor'stal, n. a way up a hill, still used in the district of the Downs. [A.S. beorh, a hill, and stigel, a stile.]

BORT, bort, n. diamond-dust. [Fr.]

BORZOI, bor'zoi, n. a breed of dogs of great grace and beauty, in shape like a gigantic greyhound, though covered with a soft coat about the length of a deerhound's. [Russ.]

BOSCAGE, bosk'[=a]j, n. thick foliage: woodland. [Fr. boscage, bocage--Low L. boscus (hence Fr. bois), conn. with Ger. busch, Eng. BUSH.]

BOSH, bosh, n. used also as interj. nonsense, foolish talk or opinions. [Turk. bosh, worthless, frequent in Morier's popular novel Ayesha (1834).]

BOSKY, bosk'i, adj. woody or bushy: shady.--ns. BOSK'ET, BOSK (Tennyson), a thicket.

BOSOM, b[=oo]z'um, n. the breast of a human being, or the part of the dress which covers it: (fig.) the seat of the passions and feelings: the heart: embrace, enclosure, as within the arms: any close or secret receptacle.--adj. (in composition) confidential: intimate.--v.t. to enclose in the bosom.--ABRAHAM'S BOSOM, the abode of the blessed dead.--TO TAKE TO ONE'S BOSOM, to marry: to make an intimate friend of. [A.S. bósm; Ger. busen.]

BOSON, b[=o]'sn, n. a corruption of BOATSWAIN.

BOSS, bos, n. a knob or stud: a raised ornament.--v.t. to ornament with bosses.--adj. BOSS'Y, having bosses.--p.adj. BOSSED, embossed. [O. Fr. boce (Fr. bosse), from Old Ger. bôzan, to beat.]

BOSS, bos, n. the chief or leader: the master, manager, or foreman: the person who pulls the wires in political intrigues.--adj. chief: excellent.--v.t. to manage or control.--TO BOSS THE SHOW, to be supreme director of an enterprise. [Amer.; from the New York Dutch baas, master; cog. with Ger. base, a cousin.]

BOSTANGI, bos-tan'ji, n. a Turkish guard of the palace. [Turk.]

BOSTON, bost'on, n. a game at cards, somewhat similar to whist. [From Boston in Mass., U.S.]

BOSWELLIAN, bos-wel'li-an, adj. after the manner of Boswell, the famous biographer of Samuel Johnson.--v.i. BOS'WELLISE, to write after the manner of Boswell--full of an absolute admiration for one's hero and interest in him descending to the smallest particulars.--n. BOS'WELLISM.

BOT. See BOTS.

BOTANY, bot'an-i, n. the science of plants.--adj. BOTAN'IC.--adv. BOTAN'ICALLY.--v.i. BOT'ANISE, to seek for and collect plants for study.--ns. BOT'ANIST, one skilled in botany; BOT'ANOMANCY, divination by means of plants, esp. the leaves of the sage and fig.--BOTANY BAY, a famous convict settlement in New South Wales, near to what is now Sydney: convict settlements generally. [Gr. botan[=e], herb, plant--bosk-ein, to feed, L. vescor, I feed myself; perh. cog. with A.S. woed.]

BOTARGO, bot-ar'go, n. a relish made of mullet or tunny roe. [It.--Ar.]

BOTCH, boch, n. a swelling on the skin: a clumsy patch: ill-finished work.--v.t. to patch or mend clumsily: to put together unsuitably or unskilfully.--ns. BOTCH'ER, one who botches; BOTCH'WORK, BOTCH'ERY.--adj. BOTCH'Y, marked with or full of botches. [From root of BOSS.]

BOTFLY. See BOTS.

BOTH, b[=o]th, adj. and pron. the two: the one and the other.--conj. as well: on the one side. [Ice. bathi, Ger. beide; A.S. bâ; cf. L. am-bo, Gr. am-ph[=o], Sans. ubha, orig. ambha.]

BOTHER, bo_th_'[.e]r, v.t. to perplex or tease.--ns. BOTH'ER; BOTHER[=A]'TION.--adj. BOTH'ERSOME. [Murray notes that the word first appeared in the writings of Irish-born men, as Dr Sheridan, Swift, and Sterne. Perh. from Ir. buaidhirt, trouble.]

BOTHY, BOTHIE, both'i, n. a humble cottage or hut: a temporary house for men engaged in some common work, esp. the barely furnished quarters provided for farm-servants, generally unmarried men, in the eastern and north-eastern counties of Scotland.--The BOTHY SYSTEM is apparently economical, but is detrimental to health and to morality.

BOTONÉ, BOTTONY, bot'un-i, adj. (her.) having buds or knobs at the extremity, applied to a cross having each arm terminated in three buds, like trefoil. [O. Fr. See BUTTON.]

BO-TREE, b[=o]'-tr[=e], n. the name given in Ceylon to the Pipal or Peepul of India (Ficus religiosa), held sacred by the Buddhists, and planted close by every temple. [Singh. bo, from Pali bodhi, perfect knowledge.]

BOTS, BOTTS, botz, n. the larvæ of the botfly found in the flesh and in the intestines of animals.--n. BOT'FLY, a family of dipterous insects, resembling the blue-bottle fly, which deposit their eggs on cattle. [Ety. unknown; hardly conn. with BITE.]

BOTTINE, bot'[=e]n, n. a high boot, a half-boot. [Fr., dim. of botte, a boot.]

BOTTLE, bot'l, n. a bundle of hay.--TO LOOK FOR A NEEDLE IN A BOTTLE OF HAY, to engage in a hopeless se_arch._ [O. Fr. botel.]

BOTTLE, bot'l, n. a hollow vessel for holding liquids: the contents of such a vessel: the habit of drinking.--v.t. to enclose in bottles.--n. BOTT'LE-CHART, one which purports to show the track of sealed bottles thrown from ships into the sea.--p.adj. BOTT'LED, enclosed in bottles: shaped or protuberant like a bottle: kept in restraint.--ns. BOTT'LE-GLASS, a coarse green glass used in the making of bottles; BOTT'LE-GOURD, or False Calabash, a climbing, musky-scented Indian annual, whose fruit is shaped like a bottle, an urn, or a club.--adjs. BOTT'LE-GREEN, dark green in colour, like bottle-glass.--BOTT'LE-HEAD, BOTT'LE-NOSED, having a rounded prominent head, with a short snout, as a certain genus of whale.--ns. BOTT'LE-HOLD'ER, one who attends upon a boxer at a prize-fight, a backer or supporter generally; BOTT'LE-IMP, an imp supposed to be confined in a bottle; BOTT'LE-WASH'ER, one whose business it is to wash out the bottles, a factotum generally.--A THREE-BOTTLE MAN, one who could drink three bottles without losing his decorum.--TO BOTTLE OFF, to draw from the cask and put into bottles; TO BOTTLE UP (one's wrath, &c.), to keep enclosed as in a bottle; TO BRING UP ON THE BOTTLE, to rear an infant artificially rather than by the breast; TO PASS THE BOTTLE, to make the drink go round; TO PASS THE BOTTLE OF SMOKE, to acquiesce in some falsehood, to make pretence. [O. Fr. bouteille, dim. of botte, a vessel for liquids--Low L. butis, a vessel.]

BOTTOM, bot'um, n. the lowest part of anything: that on which anything rests or is founded: the sitting part of the human body: the foot of a page, &c.: low land, as in a valley: the keel of a ship, hence the vessel itself: the fundamental character of anything, as physical stamina, financial resources, &c.: the portion of a wig hanging down over the shoulder, as in 'full-bottom'--full-bottomed wig: (Shak.) a ball of thread.--v.t. to found or rest upon: (Shak.) to wind round or upon.--adj. BOTT'OMED.--ns. BOTT'OM-GLADE, a glade or open space in a bottom or valley; BOTT'OM-GRASS (Shak.) grass growing on bottom lands.--adj. BOTT'OMLESS.--n. BOTT'OMRY, a contract by which money is borrowed on the security of a ship or bottom.--BOTTOMLESS PIT--hell.--AT BOTTOM, in reality.--FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HEART, from the very heart.--TO BE AT THE BOTTOM OF, to be the real origin of; TO STAND ON ONE'S OWN BOTTOM, to be independent of; TO TOUCH BOTTOM, to reach the lowest point. [A.S. botm; Ger. boden; conn. with L. fundus, bottom, Gael. bonn, the sole.]

BOTTONY. See BOTONÉ.

BOUDOIR, b[=oo]d'war, n. a lady's private room. [Fr.--bouder, to pout, to be sulky.]

BOUFFANT, boof'ang, adj. puffed out, in dressmaking. [Fr.]

BOUFFE. See OPERA-BOUFFE.

BOUGAINVILLÆA, b[=oo]g-[=a]n-vil-[=e]'a, n. a neotropical genus of Nyctaginaceæ, frequently trained over trellises or under the roofs of greenhouses, their triplets of flowers almost concealed by rosy or purple bracts. [From the first French circumnavigator of the globe, Louis Antoine de Bougainville (1729-1811).]

BOUGH, bow, n. a branch of a tree: the gallows. [A.S. bóg, bóh, an arm, the shoulder (Ger. bug, the shoulder, the bow of a ship)--A.S. bugan, to bend.]

BOUGHT, bawt, pa.t. and pa.p. of BUY.--BOUGHT'EN in an archaic form.

BOUGHT, bowt, n. a bight or bend: (Spens.) a twist or coil: the bend of a sling in which the stone is placed. [See BIGHT.]

BOUGIE, b[=oo]'zhi, n. an instrument made of elastic, gum, wax, or metal, for distending contracted mucous canals, as the gullet, bowels, or urethra. [Fr. a 'wax candle,' because the instrument was orig. made of waxed linen, from Bougie in Algeria.]

BOUILLABAISSE, b[=oo]-lya-b[=a]s', n. a Provençal kind of fish chowder, familiar through Thackeray's appreciative ballad. [Fr.]

BOUILLI, b[=oo]'-y[=e], n. boiled or stewed meat.--n. BOUILLON (b[=oo]-yong), soup. [Fr. See BOIL.]

BOULDER, b[=o]ld'[.e]r, n. a large stone rounded by the action of water: (geol.) a mass of rock transported by natural agencies from its native bed.--adj. containing boulders.--n. BOULD'ER-CLAY (see TILL, 4). [Acc. to Wedgwood, from Swed. bullra, Dan. buldre, to roar like thunder, as large pebbles do.]

BOULEVARD, b[=oo]l'e-vär, n. a broad walk or promenade bordered with trees, originally applied to those formed upon the demolished fortifications of a town.--n. BOUL'EVARDIER, a frequenter of the boulevards. [Fr.--Ger. bollwerk. See BULWARK.]

BOULEVERSEMENT, b[=oo]l-vers-mang, n. an overturning. [Fr.]

BOULT, b[=o]lt, v.t. (Spens.). Same as BOLT (2).

BOUN, BOWNE, bown, v.t. (used refl.) to prepare one's self, to have recourse to.--v.i. to prepare, dress: to set out, to go to a place--(Spens.) BOUND. [Boun, earlier form of bound--revived by Scott.]

BOUNCE, bowns, v.i. to jump or spring suddenly: to bound like a ball, to throw one's self about: (obs.) to beat: to burst into or out of a room, &c.: to boast, to exaggerate.--n. a heavy, sudden blow: a leap or spring: a boast: a bold lie.--adv. and interj. expressing sudden movement.--n. BOUNC'ER, one who bounces: something big: a bully: a liar.--adj. BOUNC'ING, large and heavy: lusty: swaggering. [Dut. bonzen, to strike, from bons, a blow.]

BOUND, bownd, pa.t. and pa.p. of BIND, confined, bandaged: intimately connected with--'bound up in:' of books, having a cover of, as 'bound in morocco,' &c. (with in): under obligation or necessity to, as 'bound to win.'--n. BOUND'-BAIL'IFF, a sheriff's officer, so called from his bond given to the sheriff for the discharge of his duty.

BOUND, bownd, n. a limit or boundary: the limit of anything, as patience--'to break bounds,' to go beyond what is reasonable or allowable: (pl.) a border-land, land generally within certain understood limits, the district.--v.t. to set bounds to: to limit, restrain, or surround.--n. BOUND'ARY, a visible limit: border: termination.--p.adj. BOUND'ED, restricted, cramped.--n. BOUND'ER, a boisterous or overbearing person.--adj. BOUND'LESS, having no limit: vast.--n. BOUND'LESSNESS. [O. Fr. bonne--Low L. bodina, of doubtful origin; cf. Bret. bonn, a boundary.]

BOUND, bownd, v.i. to spring or leap.--n. a spring or leap.--p.adj. BOUND'ING, moving forward with a bound: leaping.--BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS, by startlingly rapid stages. [Fr. bondir, to spring, in O. Fr. to resound--L. bombit[=a]re. See BOOM, the sound.]

BOUND, bownd, adj. ready to go--as in 'outward bound,' &c. [Ice. búinn, pa.p of búa, to prepare.]

BOUNDEN, bownd'n, adj. binding: required: obligatory. [From BIND.]

BOUNTY, bown'ti, n. liberality in bestowing gifts: the gift bestowed: money offered as an inducement to enter the army, or as a premium to encourage any branch of industry.--adjs. BOUN'TEOUS, BOUN'TIFUL, liberal in giving: generous.--advs. BOUN'TEOUSLY, BOUN'TIFULLY.--ns. BOUN'TEOUSNESS, BOUN'TIFULNESS; BOUN'TIHOOD.--LADY BOUNTIFUL, a character in Farquhar's Beaux' Stratagem, now used for the great lady of any district. [O. Fr. bontet (bonté), goodness--L. bonitatem--bonus--good.]

BOUQUET, b[=oo]k'[=a], n. a bunch of flowers: a nosegay: the perfume exhaled by wine. [Fr. bosquet, dim. of bois, a wood--It. bosco. See BOSCAGE, BUSH.]

BOURASQUE, b[=oo]-rask', n. a tempest. [Fr. bourrasque; It. borasco, a storm.]

BOURBONIST, b[=oo]r'bun-ist, n. an adherent of the Bourbons, the old French royal dynasty.

BOURD, b[=oo]rd, n. (Spens.) a jest, sport.--n. BOURD'ER (obs.), a jester. [O. Fr. bourde, origin unknown.]

BOURDON, b[=oo]r'dun, n. the refrain of a song: a bass stop in an organ or harmonium. [See BURDEN.]

BOURDON, b[=oo]r'dun, n. (obs.) a pilgrim's staff: a club. [Fr.--Low L. burdon-em, a mule.]

BOURG, burg, n. Same as BURGH, BOROUGH.

BOURGEOIS, bur-jois', n. a kind of printing type, larger than brevier and smaller than longprimer. [Fr.--perh. from the name of the typefounder.]

BOURGEOISIE, b[=oo]rzh'waw-z[=e], n. the middle class of citizens, esp. traders. [From Fr. bourgeois, a citizen, often taken as a typical word for the mercantile middle class--used also adjectively, like such in manners or ways of thinking.]

BOURGEON, bur'jun, v.i. to put forth sprouts or buds: to grow. [Fr. bourgeon, a bud, shoot.]

BOURIGNIAN, b[=oo]r-in'yan, adj. of or pertaining to Antoinette Bourignon (1616-80), a religious visionary who made religion consist in inward emotion, not in knowledge or practice.--BOURIGN'IANISM was strong in Scotland about the beginning of the 18th century, and ministers at ordination renounced it down till 1889.

BOURLAW. See BYRLAW.

BOURN, BOURNE, b[=o]rn, or b[=oo]rn, n. a boundary, a limit, or goal: (Keats) domain. [Fr. borne, a limit. See BOUND (2).]

BOURN, BOURNE. See BURN (1).

BOURSE, b[=oo]rs, n. an exchange where merchants meet for business. [Fr. bourse. See PURSE.]

BOURTREE, b[=oo]r'tr[=e], n. the elder-tree--also BOUN'TREE.--n. BOUR'TREE-GUN, a pop-gun made of a piece of its wood by taking out the pith. [Scot.; ety. unknown.]

BOUSE, BOOZE, BOOSE, b[=oo]z, v.i. to drink deeply.--n. a drinking bout.--adj. BOUS'ING, drinking.--n. BOUS'INGKEN, a low drinking-shop.--adj. BOUS'Y, inclined to bouse: drunken. [Dut. buysen, to drink deeply--buis, a tube or flask; allied to BOX.]

BOUSTROPHEDON, bow-strof-[=e]'don, adj. and adv. written ploughwise, alternately from right to left and from left to right--a form of alphabetic writing intermediate between the oldest Greek inscriptions (from right to left, as in Semitic scripts) and the more convenient method of left to right (from 7th century). [Gr.; bou-strophos, ox-turning.]

BOUT, bowt, n. a turn, trial, or round: an attempt: a contest or trial--a fencing bout, or a continued fit of drinking. [Doublet of BIGHT; from root of BOW, to bend.]

BOUTADE, b[=oo]-tad', n. a sudden outburst. [Fr.; bouter, to thrust.]

BOUTS-RIMÉS, b[=oo]-r[=e]-m[=a]', n.pl. rhyming words given out by some one of a party as the endings of a stanza, the others having to fill up the lines as best they may. [Fr.]

BOVINE, b[=o]'v[=i]n, adj. pertaining to cattle. [L. bos, bovis, Gr. bous, an ox or cow.]

BOVRIL, bov'ril, n. a registered trade-mark applied to a special meat extract. [Coined from Gr. bous, bovis, an ox, and vril, the electric fluid represented as the one common origin of the forces in matter, in Lytton's novel The Coming Race, 1871.]

BOW, bow, v.i. to bend the body in saluting a person, acknowledging a compliment, &c.: to submit.--v.t. to bend or incline downwards, to crush down (with down, to, in or out, up or down).--n. a bending of the body in saluting a person.--adj. BOW'-BACKED, crook-backed.--A BOWING ACQUAINTANCE, a slight acquaintance.--TO MAKE ONE'S BOW, to retire ceremoniously, to leave the stage. [A.S. búgan, to bend; akin to L. fug-[)e]re, to flee, to yield.]

BOW, b[=o], n. a piece of elastic wood or other material for shooting arrows, bent by means of a string stretched between its two ends: anything of a bent or curved shape, as the rainbow: the instrument by which the strings of a violin are sounded: a ring of metal forming a handle: a knot composed of one or of two loops and two ends (single bow, double bow), a looped knot of ribbons, a necktie or the like, so tied.--adj. BOW'BENT (Milton), bent like a bow.--n. BOW'-BOY, a boy archer: (Shak.) Cupid.--n.pl. BOW'-COM'PASSES, compasses, one leg of which slides on a bow or curved plate of metal to steady its motion: a small pair of compasses for describing circles with ink or pencil.--adj. BOWED.--ns. BOW'-HAND, in archery, the left hand, the one by which the bow is held: (mus.) the right hand, the one that draws the bow; BOW'-LEG, a leg crooked like a bow.--adj. BOW'-LEGGED, having crooked legs.--ns. BOW'LINE, a rope from the weather side of the square sails (to which it is fastened by bridles) to the larboard or starboard bow, to keep the sail close to the wind; BOW'MAN, an archer; BOW'SHOT, the distance to which an arrow can be shot from a bow; BOW'STRING, the string by which a bow is drawn: a string with which the Turks strangled offenders; BOW'-WIN'DOW, a bent or semicircular window.--adj. BOW'-WIN'DOWED (slang), pot-bellied.--n. BOW'YER (obs.), a bowman: a maker of bows.--BOWLINE KNOT, a simple but secure knot, used in fastening the bowline bridles to the cringles.--ON THE BOW HAND, wide of the mark.--TO DRAW THE LONG BOW, to make extravagant statements; TO HAVE TWO (or more) STRINGS TO ONE'S BOW, to have other alternatives. [A.S. boga; cog. with Ger. bogen.]

BOW, bow, n. the general name for the stem and forepart of a ship, or that which cuts the water--often used in pl., the ship being considered to have starboard and port bows, meeting at the stem.--ns. BOW'ER, BOW'ER-ANCH'OR, an anchor at the bow or forepart of a ship--usually two, the best-bower and the small-bower; BOW'-OAR, the oar nearest the bow.--A BOLD, or BLUFF, BOW, a broad bow; A LEAN BOW, a narrow one.--ON THE BOW, within 45° of the point right ahead.

BOWDLERISE, bowd'l[.e]r-[=i]z, v.t. to expurgate a book or writing, to remove indelicate words or phrases, esp. to do so unnecessarily.--ns. BOWDLERIS[=A]'TION; BOWD'LERISER; BOWD'LERISM. [From Dr T. Bowdler (1754-1825), who published an expurgated Shakespeare in ten volumes in 1818.]

BOWELS, bow'elz, n.pl. the interior parts of the body, the entrails, the intestines: the interior part of anything: (fig.) the heart, pity, tenderness (the emotions being supposed to be seated in the bowels--B. and Shak.).--v.t. BOW'EL, to take out the bowels. [O. Fr. boel--L. botellus, a sausage, also an intestine.]

BOWER, bow'[.e]r, n. a shady enclosure or recess in a garden, an arbour: an inner apartment, esp. the private room of a lady, a boudoir.--n. BOW'ER-BIRD, an Australian bird of the Starling family, remarkable for its habit of making bower-like erections ornamented with gay feathers, shells, &c.--adj. BOW'ERY, containing bowers: shady. [A.S. búr, a chamber; Scot, byre--root A.S. búan, to dwell.]

BOWER, bow'[.e]r, n. the name in euchre for the two highest cards, the knave of trumps, and the other knave of the same colour, the right and left bower respectively. [Ger. bauer, peasant.]

BOWIE-KNIFE, b[=o]'i-n[=i]f, n. a dagger-knife with a blade about twelve inches long, carried in the southern states of America--so named from its inventor, Colonel Bowie.

BOWL, b[=o]l, n. a wooden ball used for rolling along the ground.--v.t. and v.i. to play at bowls: to roll along like a bowl: to throw a ball, as in cricket.--ns. BOWL'ER, one who plays at bowls: one who bowls the ball in cricket; BOWL'ING, the act of playing at bowls, or of throwing a ball, as in cricket; BOWL'ING-AL'LEY, a long narrow covered place for bowling; BOWL'ING-GREEN, a green or grassy plat kept smooth for bowling. [Fr. boule--L. bulla.]

BOWL, b[=o]l, n. a basin for domestic use, esp. of earthenware or porcelain, nearly hemispherical in shape: a large punch-bowl, for brewing punch in: a round drinking-cup, rather wide than deep--hence 'the bowl,' 'the flowing bowl,' as synonyms for conviviality; the round hollow part of anything. [A.S. bolla. See BOLE.]

BOWLDER, b[=o]ld'[.e]r, n. Same as BOULDER.

BOWSE. Same as BOUSE.

BOWSPRIT, b[=o]'sprit, n. a strong spar projecting over the stem-head or bows of a sailing-ship, and also of a steamship when her stem is of the curved or cutwater description. [Dut. boegspriet.]

BOX, boks, n. a tree remarkable for the hardness and smoothness of its wood--also BOX-TREE (Shak.): a case or receptacle for holding anything: the contents of a box: a small house or lodge, as a shooting-box, &c.: in a theatre, a small enclosure with several seats--the boxes = their occupants, the ladies: an old square pew or similar enclosure, as a sentry-box, signal-box, &c.: the driver's seat on a carriage: the case in which the ship's compass is kept.--v.t. to put into or furnish with boxes: (slang) to overturn a watchman in his box.--ns. BOX'-BED, a kind of bed once common in Scotch cottages, having its ends, sides, and roof of wood, and capable of being closed in front by two sliding panels; BOX'-DAY, one of the Court of Session vacation days when papers ordered to be deposited in court must be lodged.--adj. BOX'EN, made of or like boxwood.--ns. BOX'ING-DAY, in England, the day after Christmas, when boxes or presents are given; BOX'-[=I]'RON, a hollow smoothing-iron which is heated by a heater put into it; BOX'-KEEP'ER, an attendant who opens the doors of boxes at theatres or other places of public amusement; BOX'-LOBB'Y, the lobby leading to the boxes in a theatre; BOX'WOOD, wood of the box-tree.--IN THE WRONG BOX, in a false position, in a scrape.--TO BE IN A BOX, to be in a fix; TO BOX HARRY, to take a beefsteak, mutton-chop, or bacon and eggs with tea or ale, instead of the regulation dinner of the commercial traveller; TO BOX THE COMPASS, to name the 32 points in their order and backwards, hence to make a complete roundabout in any opinion. [A.S. box--L. buxus--Gr. pyxos, the tree, pyxis, a box.]

BOX, boks, n. a blow on the head or ear with the hand.--v.t. to strike with the hand or fist.--v.i. to fight with the fists.--ns. BOX'ER; BOX'ING, the act of fighting with the fists: a combat with the fists; BOX'ING-GLOVE, a padded glove worn in boxing.

BOXHAUL, boks'hawl, v.t. to veer a ship sharp round on her heel, by putting the helm a-lee, bracing the head-yards flat aback, and hauling to windward the head-sheets.

BOY, boy, n. a male child: a lad: a young man generally, used for 'man' in Ireland and elsewhere: (Shak.) a camp-follower: (obs.) knave: a native servant in South India, China, a male negro slave or native labourer in the South Seas.--v.t. to play the boy.--n. BOY'HOOD.--adj. BOY'ISH.--adv. BOY'ISHLY.--n. BOY'ISHNESS.--BOY'S LOVE, a popular name for southernwood; BOY'S PLAY, trifling. [M. E. boi, boy; Fris. boi; Dut. boef, Ger. bube.]

BOYAR, boy'är, n. an order of the old Russian aristocracy, holding the chief military and civil offices prior to the reforms of Peter the Great.

BOYCOTT, boy'kot, v.t. to shut out from all social and commercial intercourse--a kind of secular excommunication. [From Captain Boycott of County Mayo, who was so treated by his neighbours in Dec. 1880.]

BRABBLE, brab'bl, v.i. to babble or clamour: to brawl or wrangle.--n. (Shak.) a clamorous contest, a brawl: a quibble. [Dut. brabbelen, to stammer, to jabber.]

BRACCIO, brach'yo, n. an Italian measure of length, varying from half a yard to a yard:--pl. BRACCIA (brach-ya). [It., an arm.]

BRACE, br[=a]s, n. anything that draws together and holds tightly: a bandage: a pair or couple: an instrument of wood or iron used by carpenters and metal-workers for turning boring tools: in printing, a mark connecting two or more words or lines (}): (pl.) straps for supporting the trousers: ropes for squaring or traversing horizontally the yards of a ship.--v.t. to tighten or strengthen, to give firmness to.--adj. BRAC'ING, giving strength or tone. [O. Fr. brace (Fr. bras), the arm, power--L. brachium, Gr. brachi[=o]n, the arm, as holding together.]

BRACE, br[=a]s, v.t. (Spens.) to embrace, encompass.

BRACELET, br[=a]s'let, n. an ornament for the wrist. [Fr.; dim. of O. Fr. brac. See BRACE.]

BRACH, brach, n. a dog for the chase, a bitch-hound. [O. Fr. brachet, pl. brachès, dim. of brac--Low L. bracco, of Teut. origin.]

BRACHIAL, brak'i-al, adj. belonging to the arm.--BRACHIAL ARTERY, the great arterial trunk supplying the upper extremity between the armpit and the elbow--the direct continuation of the axillary artery. [See BRACE.]

BRACHIOPODA, brak-i-op'o-da, BRACHIOPODS, brak'i-o-pods, n.pl. a class of shelled animals having certain affinities with worms and with Polyzoa, but less with molluscs, provided with two long arm-like processes arising from the sides of the mouth, probably respiratory, and certainly serving to waft little food particles to the mouth. [Gr. brachi[=o]n, an arm, and pous, pod-os, a foot.]

BRACHYCEPHALIC, brak-i-sef-al'ik (also sef'-), BRACHYCEPHALOUS, brak-i-sef'al-us, adj. short-headed, applied in ethnology to skulls of which the breadth is at least four-fifths of the length--opp. to Dolichocephalic.

BRACHYPTEROUS, brak-ip't[.e]r-us, adj. lit. short-winged: having wings which, when folded, do not reach to the base of the tail. [Gr. brachys, short, pteron, a wing.]

BRACK, brak, n. a flaw in cloth. [See BREAK.]

BRACKEN, brak'en, n. fern. [See BRAKE.]

BRACKET, brak'et, n. a support for something fastened to a wall, the ornamental metal pipe bearing gas-lamps, &c.: (pl.) in printing, the marks [ ] used to enclose one or more words: one of the side pieces of a gun-carriage, supporting the trunnions.--v.t. to support by brackets: to enclose by brackets: to group two names, as in an honour list, implying equality. [Fr. braguette; Sp. bragueta--L. braca, bracæ, breeches.]

BRACKISH, brak'ish, adj. saltish: applied to water mixed with salt or with sea-water.--n. BRACK'ISHNESS. [Dut. brak, brackish; prob. the same as brak, refuse.]

BRACT, brakt, n. an irregularly developed leaf at the base of the flower-stalk.--adjs. BRAC'TEAL, BRAC'TEATE, BRACT'ED, BRAC'TEOLATE.--n. BRAC'TEOLE, a little bract at the base of the stalk of a single flower which is itself on a main stalk supporting several flowers.--adj. BRACT'LESS, destitute of bracts. [L. bractea, a thin plate of metal, gold-leaf.]

BRAD, brad, n. a small nail having a slight projection at the top on one side instead of a head.--n. BRAD'AWL, an awl to pierce holes. [Scot. brod, an instrument for pricking with; Ice. broddr, a pointed piece of iron.]

BRADYPEPTIC, brad-i-pep'tik, adj. slow of digestion. [Gr. bradys, slow, and PEPTIC.]

BRAE, br[=a], n. (Scot.) the slope above a river bank, a hill-slope. [Scand. brá.]

BRAG, brag, v.i. to boast or bluster:--pr.p. brag'ging; pa.p. bragged.--n. a boast or boasting: the thing boasted of: a game at cards, very like poker.--adj. BRAG'GING.--advs. BRAG'GINGLY, BRAG'LY (Spens.). [Most prob. Celt.; cf. W. bragio, to boast; Ir. bragaim. The Fr. braguer, to brag, and bragard, a braggart, are not the parents of the Eng. word.]

BRAGGADOCIO, brag-a-d[=o]'shi-o, n. and adj. a braggart or boaster: empty boasting. [From Braggadochio, a boastful character in Spenser's Faerie Queene.]

BRAGGART, brag'art, adj. boastful.--n. a vain boaster.--n. BRAGG'ARDISM (Shak.), boastfulness. [Fr. bragard, vain, bragging; prob. of Celt. origin; Diez prefers Scand., and quotes Sw. brak, Dan. brag, &c.]

BRAHMAN, brä'man, BRAHMIN, brä'min, n. a person of the highest or priestly caste among the Hindus.--adjs. BRAHMAN'IC, -AL, BRAHMIN'IC, -AL, BRAH'MINEE, appropriated to the Brahmans.--ns. BRAH'MANISM, BRAH'MINISM, one of the religions of India, the worship of Brahma. [From Brahma, the supreme post-Vedic Hindu deity.]

BRAID, br[=a]d, v.t. to plait or entwine.--n. cord, or other texture made by plaiting.--p.adj. BRAID'ED, plaited, embroidered, trimmed with braid.--n. BRAID'ING, the act of making braids: embroidery with braid. [A.S. bregdan; Ice. bregða, to weave.]

BRAID, br[=a]d, adj. (Shak.) dissembling, deceitful. [A.S. brægd, falsehood, from bregdan, brægd, to weave.]

BRAID, br[=a]d, v.t. (Shak.) to upbraid, to reproach. [Prob. from Abraid, or BRAID (1).]

BRAIDISM, br[=a]d'ism, n. mesmerism or hypnotism. [From Dr James Braid, who practised it about 1842.]

BRAIL, br[=a]l, n. a piece of leather to bind up a hawk's wing: (pl.) the feathers about a hawk's rump: (naut.) one of the ropes used to truss up a sail.--v.t. to haul in, as a sail, by pulling upon the brails. [O. Fr. brail--L. bracale, a waist-belt for holding up the breeches--bracæ.]

BRAILLE, br[=a]l, n. and adj. a kind of type for the blind, having arbitrary signs consisting of varying combinations of six points arranged thus ([Braille pattern]), there being sixty-two possible combinations of these six points. [From Louis Braille, the inventor.]

BRAIN, br[=a]n, n. the term applied to that part of the central nervous system which in vertebrated animals is contained within the cranium or skull, and in the invertebrata, to the nervous ganglia near the head end of the body: the seat of the intellect and of sensation: the intellect.--v.t. to dash out the brains of: (Shak.) to conceive of.--n. BRAIN'-COR'AL, the popular name of certain kinds of coral, so called from their general resemblance to a brain.--p.adj. BRAINED, having brains.--n. BRAIN'-FE'VER, a loose popular term which includes congestion of the brain and its membranes, delirium tremens, and inflammation of the brain substance itself.--adjs. BRAIN'ISH (Shak.), brain-sick, hot-headed, furious; BRAIN'LESS, without brains or understanding: silly.--n. BRAIN'-PAN, the skull.--adj. BRAIN'-SICK, diseased in the understanding, deranged.--adv. BRAIN'SICK'LY (Shak.).--n. BRAIN'-SICK'NESS. [A.S. brægn; Dut. brein, prov. Ger. bregen]

BRAIRD, br[=a]rd, n. the first shoots of corn or other crop.--v.i. to appear above ground. [Orig. Scot.; A.S. brerd, the edge, and brord, a point.]

BRAISE, br[=a]z, v.t. to stew meat together with slices of bacon, &c., properly with a charcoal fire above and below the braising-pan.--p.adj. BRAISED. [Fr. braiser.]

BRAKE, br[=a]k, obsolete, pa.t. of BREAK.

BRAKE, br[=a]k, n. a fern: a place overgrown with ferns or briers; a thicket.--adj. BRAK'Y. [A doublet of BRACKEN; ety. dub.]

BRAKE, br[=a]k, n. an instrument to break flax or hemp: a harrow: a contrivance for retarding by friction the speed of carriages, wagons, trains, or revolving drums.--adj. BRAKE'LESS, without a brake.--ns. BRAKE'MAN, the man whose business it is to manage the brake of a railway-train; BRAKE'-VAN, the carriage wherein the brake is worked; BRAKE'-WHEEL, the wheel to which a brake is applied. [From root of BREAK; cf. Dut. braak, a flax-brake.]

BRAKE, br[=a]k, n. a handle, as of a pump: a lever for working a machine. [Prob. through O. Fr. brac, from L. brachium, an arm.]

BRAMAH-PRESS, brä'ma-pres, n. a hydraulic press invented by Joseph Bramah of London (1748-1814), inventor also of the BRAMAH-LOCK, &c.

BRAMBLE, bram'bl, n. a wild prickly shrub bearing blackberries, a blackberry bush: any rough prickly shrub.--ns. BRAM'BLE-BERR'Y, BRAM'BLE-BUSH, a collection of brambles growing together; BRAM'BLE-FINCH, BRAM'BLING, a bird nearly allied to the chaffinch.--adj. BRAM'BLY. [A.S. brémel; Dut. braam, Ger. brom-beere.]

BRAME, br[=a]m, n. (Spens.) sharp passion, longing. [It. brama.]

BRAN, bran, n. the refuse of grain: the inner husks of corn sifted from the flour: the coarser part of anything.--n. BRAN'FULNESS.--adj. BRAN'NY. [O. Fr. bran, bran; prob. Celt.]

BRANCARD, brank'ard, n. a horse litter. [Fr.]

BRANCH, bransh, n. a shoot or arm-like limb of a tree: anything like a limb of a tree: any offshoot or subdivision, a section or department of a subject: any subordinate division of a business, &c., as a branch-bank or pawn-shop.--v.t. to divide into branches.--v.i. to spread out as a branch (with out, off, from).--adj. BRANCHED.--ns. BRANCH'ER, a young hawk or other bird when it leaves the nest and begins to take to the branches; BRANCH'ERY, branches collectively.--adjs. BRANCH'ING, furnished with or shooting out branches; BRANCH'LESS.--ns. BRANCH'LET, a little branch; BRANCH'-P[=I]'LOT, one who holds the Trinity House certificate; BRANCH'-WORK, ornamental figured patterns.--adj. BRANCH'Y.--ROOT AND BRANCH, thoroughly--used also adjectively, as in a 'root-and-branch' policy. [Fr. branche--Low L. branca, a beast's paw--L. brachium.]

BRANCHIÆ, brangk'i-[=e], n.pl. gills.--adjs. BRANCH'IAL; BRANCH'IATE, furnished with branchiæ.--n. BRANCHIOP'ODA, a sub-order of Crustaceans in the order with leaf-like feet (Phyllopods), to which the gills are attached. [L.--Gr.]

BRAND, brand, n. a piece of wood burning or partly burned: a mark burned into anything with a hot iron: a trade-mark, made by burning or otherwise, as on casks: a particular sort of goods, from the trade-marks by which they are known, as cigars, &c.: a sword, so called from its glitter: a mark of infamy: a general name for the fungoid diseases or blights of grain crops--bunt, mildew, rust, and smut.--v.t. to burn or mark with a hot iron: to fix a mark of infamy upon.--adj. BRAND'ED.--n. BRAND'ER, a gridiron.--v.t. to cook on the gridiron, as beef-steaks.--p.adjs. BRAND'ERED, BRAND'ERING.--ns. BRAND'ING-[=I]'RON, BRAND'-[=I]'RON, an iron to brand with: a trivet or tripod to set a pot or kettle upon: (Spens.) a sword--also BRAND'ISE, a trivet; BRAND'LING, a red worm used by anglers, found commonly in tan-pits.--adj. BRAND'-NEW, quite new (as if newly from the fire).--n. BRAND'RETH, a stand of wood for a cask or hayrick, a rail round a well.--A BRAND FROM THE BURNING, one snatched out of a pressing danger--from Amos, iv. 11. [A.S. brand, brond, from root of BURN.]

BRANDISH, brand'ish, v.t. to wave or flourish as a brand or weapon.--n. a waving or flourish. [Fr. brandissant--brandir, from root of BRAND.]

BRANDY, brand'i, n. an ardent spirit distilled from wine.--adj. BRAN'DIED, heartened or strengthened with brandy.--n. BRAND'Y-PAWNEE', brandy and water. [Formerly brandwine--Dut. brandewijn--branden, to burn, to distil, and wijn, wine; cf. Ger. branntwein.]

BRANGLE, brang'l, v.i. (arch.) to wrangle, squabble.--n. (obs.) a brawl.--v.t. and v.i. BRAND'LE, to shake, cause to waver: to waver.--n. BRANG'LING, disputing. [Prob. the two words are the same; Fr. branler.]

BRANK, brangk, n. buckwheat. [Prob. Celt.; cf. L. brance, a Gallic name of a white kind of corn.]

BRANK, brangk, v.i. to prance, toss the head: to strut or swagger.--adj. BRANK'Y (Scot.), showy. [Prob. a variant of PRANK.]

BRANKS, brangks, n. (seldom in sing.) a scold's bridle, having a hinged iron framework to enclose the head and a bit or gag to fit into the mouth and compress the tongue. [Scot.; ety. very obscure; cf. M. E. bernak, whence BARNACLE and BRAKE; Ger. pranger, the pillory, Dut. prang, a fetter; the Gael. brangus, brangas, is most prob. borrowed.]

BRANKURSINE, brangk'ur-sin, n. the plant Acanthus, called also Bear's-breech. [Low L. branca, ursina, a bear's paw.]

BRAN-NEW, bran'-n[=u], adj. corruption of BRAND-NEW.

BRANSLE, bran'sl, n. (obs.) a dance: a song for dance music. [Fr.]

BRANT-GOOSE. See BRENT-GOOSE.

BRANTLE, bran'tl, n. a kind of dance.

BRASERO. Same as BRAZIER (q.v. under BRAZE).

BRASH, brash, n. broken and angular fragments of rock which occasionally form the basement bed of alluvial deposits: fragments of crushed ice: clippings of hedges or trees.--adj. BRASH'Y. [Prob. Fr. brèche.]

BRASH, brash, n. a slight attack of illness: an eructation or belching of acid water from the stomach--water-brash: a sudden burst of rain: (obs.) an attack.--v.t. to disturb. [Scot.; prob. onomatopoeic.]

BRASS, bräs, n. an alloy of copper and zinc: (fig.) impudence: money in cash: a monumental plate of brass inlaid on slabs of stone in the pavements of ancient churches.--n.pl. BRASS'ARTS, the brass pieces which, in plate armour, protected the upper part of the arms, and united the shoulder and elbow pieces.--ns. BRASS'-BAND, a band or company of musicians who perform on brass instruments; BRASS'ET, a casque or armour covering for the head: a helmet; BRASS'FOUND'ER, a maker of articles in brass.--adjs. BRASS'-PAVED (Spens.), durable, as if paved with brass; BRASS'-VIS'AGED, brazen-faced, impudent.--n. BRASS'Y, a wooden golf-club with a brass sole.--adj. of or like brass: impudent: unfeeling: pitiless: harsh in tone. [A.S. braes; prob. related to Sw. brasa, fire.]

BRASSERIE, bras'er-[=e], n. in France, any beer garden or saloon. [Fr.]

BRASSICA, bras'i-ka, n. the turnip and cabbage genus of Cruciferæ. [L.]

BRAST. Same as BURST.

BRAT, brat, n. a contemptuous name for a child, as in 'beggar's brat:' any over-garment of coarse cloth, a child's pinafore, an apron.--n. BRAT'CHET, a little brat--better BRAT'LING. [A.S. bratt; of Celtic origin, Old Ir. brat, a plaid, Gael. brat, an apron.]

BRATTICE, brat'is, n. a wooden partition, as in the shaft of a coal-pit, &c.--v.t. to line with wood the sides of a shaft, &c.--n. BRATT'ICE-CLOTH, strong tarred cloth used in mines in place of wooden bratticing. [O. Fr. breteske--Low L. bretachia; prob. Teut.]

BRATTLING, brat'ling, n. a clattering noise: quarrel: tumult--also BRAT'TLE.--v.i. BRAT'TLE, to make a clattering noise. [Onomatopoeic.]

BRAVADO, brav-[=a]'do, or brav-ä'do, n. a display of bravery: a boastful threat: a swaggerer:--pl. BRAV[=A]'DOES.--v.i. to play the bravado. [Sp. bravada. See BRAVE.]

BRAVE, br[=a]v, adj. daring, courageous: noble: finely dressed, showy, handsome (Scot. BRAW): a general word for excellent, capital.--v.t. to meet boldly: to defy.--n. (obs.) a bully, a hired assassin: a brave soldier, esp. among the North American Indians: (arch.) bravado: (arch.) bravo.--adv. BRAVE'LY (Scot. BRAW'LY), excellently, well.--n. BRAV'ERY, courage: heroism: finery, showy dress. [Fr. brave; It. and Sp. bravo; prob. from Celt., as in Bret. braga, to strut about, Gael. breagh, fine. See BRAG.]

BRAVO, bräv'o, n. a daring villain: a hired assassin:--pl. BRAVOES (bräv'[=o]z). [It. and Sp.]

BRAVO, bräv'o, interj. well done: excellent. [It.]

BRAVURA, bräv-[=oo]r'a, n. (mus.) a term applied to a florid air or song with difficult and rapid passages requiring great spirit and dash in execution. [It.]

BRAWL, brawl, n. a noisy quarrel.--v.i. to quarrel noisily: to murmur or gurgle.--n. BRAWL'ING, the act of quarrelling noisily.--adj. quarrelsome: noisy. [M. E. brallen, of doubtful origin; prob. cog. with Dut. brallen, Ger. prahlen, to boast.]

BRAWL, brawl, n. a kind of French dance. [Fr. braule.]

BRAWN, brawn, n. muscle, esp. of the arm or calf of the leg: thick flesh: muscular strength: a boar: a preparation of meat made from pig's head and ox-feet, cut up, boiled, and pickled.--adj. BRAWNED.--n. BRAWN'INESS, quality of being brawny: muscularity.--adj. BRAWN'Y, fleshy: muscular: strong. [O. Fr. braon, from Old Ger. brato, flesh (for roasting), Old Ger. brâto (Ger. braten), to roast.]

BRAXY, brak'si, n. and adj. a Scotch name loosely used for several totally different disorders of sheep.--BRAXY MUTTON, the flesh of a braxy sheep; also, generally, of any sheep that has died of disease or accident. [Prob. the original form is bracks, the sing. of which is a variant of BREAK.]

BRAY, br[=a], v.t. to break, pound, or grind small, as in a mortar.--n. BRAY'ER, an instrument to grind or spread ink in printing. [O. Fr. breier (Fr. broyer); It. brigare.]

BRAY, br[=a], n. the cry of the ass: any harsh grating sound.--v.i. to cry like an ass: to give forth harsh sounds, esp. of the trumpet.--ns. BRAY'ER, one who brays like an ass; BRAY'ING, the noise of an ass: any harsh noise.--adj. making a harsh noise. [O. Fr. brai, brait; braire--Low L. bragire, prob. of Celt. origin.]

BRAZE, br[=a]z, v.t. to solder with an alloy of brass and zinc.--adj. BR[=A]'ZEN, of or belonging to brass: impudent.--v.t. to face or confront with impudence--as in 'to brazen it out.'--n. BR[=A]'ZEN-FACE, one having a brazen or impudent face: one remarkable for impudence.--adj. BR[=A]'ZEN-FACED, impudent.--adv. BR[=A]'ZENLY.--ns. BR[=A]'ZENNESS, BR[=A]'ZENRY, effrontery; BR[=A]'ZIER, BR[=A]'SIER, a pan for holding burning coals--also BRAS'ERO; BR[=A]Z'ING, soldering. [O. Fr. braser, to burn; most prob. related to BRASS.]

BRAZIER, br[=a]'zi-[.e]r, n. one who works in BRASS (q.v.).

BRAZIL, bra-zil', n. usually BRAZIL'-WOOD, the hard reddish wood of an East Indian tree, known as sappan, used in dyeing.--n. BRAZIL'IAN, a native of Brazil, in South America.--adj. belonging to Brazil.--n. BRAZIL'-NUT, the edible seed of a large tree, native of Brazil. [O. Fr. bresil (Sp. brasil, It. brasile)--Low L. brasilium, a red dye-wood, brought from the East, itself prob. a corr. of some Oriental word. When a similar wood was discovered in South America the country became known as terra de brasil, land of red dye-wood, whence Brasil, Brazil.]

BREACH, br[=e]ch, n. a break or opening, as in the walls of a fortress: a breaking of law, &c., violation of contract, covenant, promise, &c.: a quarrel: a broken condition or part of anything, a break: a gap in a fortification--hence 'to stand in the breach,' often used figuratively: a break in a coast-line, bay, harbour, creek (Judges, v. 17).--v.t. to make a breach or opening in a wall, &c.--BREACH OF PROMISE, often used simply for breach of promise of marriage; BREACH OF THE PEACE, a violation of the public peace by riot or the like. [A.S. bryce, brice; related to BREAK.]

BREAD, bred, n. food made of flour or meal baked: food: livelihood.--ns. BREAD'-BAS'KET, a basket for holding bread: (slang) the stomach; BREAD'-CHIP'PER (Shak.), one who chips bread, an under-butler; BREAD'-CORN, corn of which bread is made.--n.pl. BREAD'-CRUMBS, bread crumbled down for dressing dishes of fried fish, &c.--n. BREAD'FRUIT-TREE, a tree of the South Sea Islands, producing a fruit which, when roasted, forms a good substitute for bread; BREAD'-NUT, the fruit of a tree, a native of Jamaica, closely allied to the breadfruit-tree, which is used as bread when boiled or roasted; BREAD'-ROOM, an apartment in a ship's hold where the bread is kept; BREAD'-ROOT, a herbaceous perennial plant of North America, with a carrot-like root which is used as food; BREAD'-STUD'Y, any branch of study taken up as a means of gaining a living; BREAD'-STUFF, the various kinds of grain or flour of which bread is made; BREAD'-TREE, a tree of South Africa which has a great deal of starch in its stem, and is used as bread by the natives; BREAD'-WIN'NER, one who earns a living for a family.--BREAD BUTTERED ON BOTH SIDES, very fortunate circumstances.--TO TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE'S MOUTH, to deprive of the means of living. [A.S. bréad, prob. from a Teut. root meaning a fragment, like the Scot. and Norse country use of 'a piece,' for a bit of bread. The usual A.S. word was hláf.]

BREADED, bred'ed, pa.p. (Spens.) = BRAIDED.

BREADTH, bredth, n. extent from side to side: width: a style in painting in which details are strictly subordinated to the harmony of the whole composition.--adv. BREADTH'WAYS, broadside on. [A.S. br['æ]du; Ger. briete. See BROAD.]

BREAK, br[=a]k, v.t. to part by force: to shatter: to crush: to tame, or wear out: to violate, or outrage, as a law, a bargain, &c.: to check by intercepting, as a fall: to interrupt, as silence, or the monotony of anything, or in 'to break one off a habit:' to make bankrupt: to degrade from rank, as an officer.--v.i. to part in two: to burst forth: to open or appear, as the morning: to become bankrupt: to crack or give way, as the voice: to dissolve, as frost: to collapse in foam, as a wave: to fall out, as with a friend:--pa.t. br[=o]ke; pa.p. br[=o]k'en.--n. the state of being broken: an opening: a pause or interruption: (billiards) a consecutive series of successful strokes, also the number of points attained by such: the dawn.--ns. BREAK'AGE, the action of breaking, or its consequences: an interruption; BREAK'-DOWN, a dance, vigorous rather than graceful, in which much noise is made by the feet of the one performer; BREAK'ER, a wave broken on rocks or the shore.--adj. BREAK'-NECK, likely to cause a broken neck.--ns. BREAK'-PROM'ISE, BREAK'-VOW, one who makes a practice of breaking his promise or vow; BREAK'WATER, a barrier to break the force of the waves.--BREAK A JEST, to utter a jest unexpectedly; BREAK A LANCE WITH, to enter into a contest with a rival; BREAK AWAY, to go away abruptly, as from prison, &c.: to be scattered, as clouds after a storm; BREAK BULK, to open the hold and take out a portion of the cargo; BREAK COVER, to burst forth from concealment, as a fox; BREAK DOWN, to crush down or level: to collapse, to fail completely; BREAK FORTH, to burst out, issue; BREAK GROUND, to commence digging or excavation: to begin; BREAK IN, to train to labour, as a horse; BREAK IN, IN UPON, or INTO, to enter violently or unexpectedly, to interpose abruptly in a conversation, &c.; BREAK LOOSE, to extricate one's self forcibly: to break through all restraint; BREAK NEWS, to make anything known, esp. of bad news, with caution and delicacy; BREAK OFF, to separate by breaking, put an end to; BREAK OUT, to appear suddenly: to break through all restraint; BREAK SHEER (said of a ship riding at anchor), to be forced by wind or tide out of a position clear of the anchor; BREAK THE HEART, to destroy with grief; BREAK THE ICE (fig.), to get through first difficulties: BREAK UP, to break open; BREAK UPON THE WHEEL, to punish by stretching a criminal on a wheel and breaking his bones; BREAK WIND, to void wind from the stomach; BREAK WITH, to fail out, as friends may do. [A.S. brecan; Ger. brechen.]

BREAK, BRAKE, br[=a]k, n. a large wagonette: a carriage frame, all wheels and no body, used in breaking in horses. [BREAK, v.t.]

BREAKER, br[=a]k'[.e]r, n. a small water-cask, used on shipboard. [Prob. a corr. of Sp. bareca, a barrel.]

BREAKFAST, brek'fast, n. a break or breaking of a fast: the first meal of the day.--v.i. to take breakfast.--v.t. to furnish with breakfast.--ns. BREAK'FASTING, the act of taking breakfast: a party at breakfast; BREAK'FAST-SET, the china or other ware used at breakfast.

BREAM, br[=e]m, n. a small fresh-water fish nearly allied to the bleak: a family of sea-breams or Sparidæ. [O. Fr. bresme (Fr. brême)--Old Ger. brahsema (mod. Ger. brassen).]

BREAM, br[=e]m, v.t. to clean, as a ship's bottom, by burning off seaweed, shells, &c. [Prob. conn. with BROOM, Dut. brem.]

BREARE, BRERE, br[=e]r, n. (Spens.). Same as BRIER.

BREAST, brest, n. the forepart of the human body between the neck and the belly: one of the two mammary glands in women, forming soft protuberances on the chest: the corresponding part of any animal: (fig.) conscience, disposition, affections.--v.t. to bear the breast against: to oppose manfully: to mount.--n. BREAST'-BONE, the bone running down the middle of the breast, to which the first seven ribs are attached.--adv. BREAST'-DEEP, deep, as up to the breast.--adj. BREAST'ED, having a breast.--adv. BREAST'-HIGH, high as the breast--ns. BREAST'-KNOT, a knot of ribbons worn on the breast; BREAST'PIN, an ornamental pin for the breast; BREAST'PLATE, a plate or piece of armour for the breast: (B.) an embroidered square of linen worn on the breast of the Jewish high-priest, bearing twelve precious stones, each inscribed with the name of one of the tribes of Israel; BREAST'-PLOUGH, a kind of spade for cutting turf, with a cross-bar against which the breast is pressed; BREAST'RAIL, the upper rail of a breastwork; BREAST'SUMMER, BRES'SUMMER, a summer or beam supporting the whole front of a building in the same way as a lintel supports the portion over an opening; BREAST'-WALL, a retaining wall; BREAST'-WHEEL, a water-wheel which is turned by water delivered upon it at about half its height; BREAST'WORK, a hastily constructed earthwork.--TO MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF, to make a full confession. [A.S. bréost; Ger. brust, Dut. borst.]

BREATH, breth, n. the air drawn into and then expelled from the lungs: power of breathing: life: the time occupied by once breathing: a very slight breeze.--adjs. BREATH'FUL (Spens.), full of breath or air, also full of scent or odour; BREATH'LESS, out of breath: dead: excessively eager, as if holding one's breath from excitement.--n. BREATH'LESSNESS.--TO CATCH THE BREATH, to stop breathing for an instant; TO SPEND ONE'S BREATH, as in profitless talk; TO TAKE BREATH, to recover freedom of breathing; WITH BATED BREATH, with breath restrained from reverence or fear. [A.S. br[/æ]th; Ger. brodem, steam, breath.]

BREATHE, br[=e]th, v.i. to draw in and expel breath or air from the lungs: to take breath, to rest or pause: to live.--v.t. to draw in and expel from the lungs, as air: to infuse: to give out as breath: to utter by the breath or softly, to whisper: to express: to keep in breath, to exercise: to tire by some brisk exercise.--ns. BREATH'ER, one who breathes or lives: a spell of exercise; BREATH'ING, the act of breathing: aspiration, secret prayer: respite.--adj. life-like.--ns. BREATH'ING-TIME, time to breathe or rest; BREATH'ING-WHILE, time sufficient for drawing breath: any very short period.--TO BREATHE AGAIN, to be relieved from an anxiety; TO BREATHE FREELY, to be at ease; TO BREATHE UPON, to tarnish or soil. [See BREATH.]

BRECCIA, brech'ya, n. a conglomerate rock composed of angular and unworn fragments, cemented together by lime or other mineral substance.--adj. BRECCIATED (brech'y[=a]t-ed), noting rocks composed of breccia, [It.; cf. Fr. brèche, breach, flint pebble.]

BRED, bred, pa.t. and pa.p. of BREED.

BREDE, br[=e]d, n. an obsolete form of BRAID.

BREE, br[=e], n. the eyebrow. [Still in Scot.; A.S. br['æ]w, bréaw; cf. Ger. (augen)braue.]

BREE, br[=e], n. the liquor in which anything has been boiled--barley-bree. [A.S. briw; cf. Ger. brei.]

BREECH, br[=e]ch, n. the lower part of the body behind: the hinder part of anything, esp. of a gun.--v.t. to put into breeches: to flog.--adj. BREECHED.--n.pl. BREECHES (brich'ez), a garment worn by men on the lower limbs of the body, strictly, as distinguished from trousers, coming just below the knee, but often used generally for trousers--(KNEE-BREECHES, see under KNEE).--n. BREECH'ING, a part of a horse's harness attached to the saddle, which comes round the breech and is hooked to the shafts: a strong rope attached to the breech of a gun to secure it to a ship's side.--adj. (Shak.) subject to whipping.--n. BREECH'-LOAD'ER, a firearm loaded by introducing the charge at the breech instead of the muzzle.--BREECHES BIBLE, a name often given to the Geneva Bible produced by the English Protestant exiles in 1560, so named from the rendering 'breeches' in Gen. iii. 7; BREECHES PART (theat.), a part in which a girl wears men's clothes.--TO WEAR THE BREECHES, (said of a wife), to usurp the authority of the husband: to be master. [A.S. bréc; found in all Teut. languages; cf. Ger. bruch, Dut. brock.]

BREED, br[=e]d, v.t. to generate or bring forth: to train or bring up: to cause or occasion.--v.i. to be with young: to produce offspring: to be produced or brought forth:--pa.t. and pa.p. bred.--n. that which is bred, progeny or offspring: kind or race.--ns. BREED'-BATE (Shak.), one who is constantly breeding or producing debate or strife; BREED'ER, one who breeds or brings up; BREED'ING, act of producing: education or manners.--BREEDING IN-AND-IN, pairing of similar forms: marrying always among near relations. [A.S. brédan, to cherish, keep warm; Ger. brüten, to hatch.]

BREEKS, br[=e]ks, n.pl. (Scot.) breeches, trousers.

BREER, BRERE, br[=e]r, v.i. (Scot.) to sprout.

BREEZE, br[=e]z, n. a gentle gale: a wind: a disturbance or quarrel: a whispered rumour.--adjs. BREEZE'LESS, without a breeze: motionless; BREEZ'Y, fanned with or subject to breezes.--TO BREEZE UP, to freshen into a breeze. [Old Sp. briza, It. brezza (Fr. brise, a cold wind).]

BREEZE, br[=e]z, n. (Shak.) the gadfly.--Also written BREESE, BRIZE. [A.S. briosa.]

BREGMA, breg'ma, n. the part of the skull where the frontal and the two parietal bones join--sometimes divided into the right and left bregmata.--adj. BREGMAT'IC. [Gr.]

BREHON, br[=e]'hon, n. an ancient Irish judge.--BREHON LAWS, the name given by the English to the system of jurisprudence which prevailed among the native Irish from an early period till towards the middle of the 17th century. [Ir. breitheamh, pl. breitheamhuin.]

BRELOQUE, bre-lok', n. an ornament attached to a watch-chain. [Fr.]

BREME, BREEM, br[=e]m, adj. (Spens.) fiery, stern, boisterous, sharp. [Prob. related to A.S. bréman, to rage.]

BREN, bren, v.t. (Spens.) to burn.--pa.p. and adj. BRENT. [See BURN.]

BRENT, brent, adj. (Scot.) lofty: smooth, unwrinkled. [A.S. brant, steep; cog. with Ice. brattr.]

BRENT-GOOSE, brent'-g[=oo]s, n. a small species of wild goose, having the head, neck, long wing feathers, and tail black, the belly white, the rest slaty-gray--it visits the British coasts in winter.--Also BRANT'-GOOSE, or BRENT BARNACLE, and often confounded with the barnacle goose. [Prob. branded = brindled.]

BRESSUMMER. Same as BREASTSUMMER (q.v. under BREAST).

BRETHREN, bre_th_'ren, pl. of BROTHER (q.v.).

BRETON, bret'un, adj. belonging to Brittany or Bretagne, in France.

BRETTICE. Same as BRATTICE.

BRETWALDA, bret-wal'da, n. a title of supremacy applied by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to Egbert and seven earlier kings, whose superiority was more or less acknowledged by other kings. [Lit. 'Lord of the Britons,' or 'of Britain.']

BREVE, br[=e]v, n. a pope's letter: the longest note now used in music, [Breve]. [It. breve--L. brevis, short.]

BREVET, brev'et, n. a military commission entitling an officer to take rank above that for which he receives pay.--n. BREVET'CY, the condition of one holding brevet rank. [Fr.--L. brevis, short.]

BREVIARY, br[=e]v'i-ar-i, n. book containing the daily service of the R.C. Church. [Fr. bréviaire--L. brevis, short.]

BREVIATE, br[=e]'vi-[=a]t, n. a short compendium: a lawyer's brief. [L. brevi[=a]tus--brevi[=a]re, to shorten--brevis, short.]

BREVIER, brev-[=e]r', n. a small type between bourgeois and minion, originally used in printing breviaries.

BREVITY, brev'it-i, n. shortness: conciseness. [L. brevitas--brevis, short.]

BREW, br[=oo], v.t. to prepare a liquor, as from malt and other materials: to contrive or plot.--v.i. to perform the operation of brewing ale or beer: to be gathering or forming.--ns. BREW'AGE, something brewed: mixed liquor; BREW'ER, one who brews; BREW'ERY, BREW'-HOUSE, a place for brewing; BREW'ING, the act of making liquor from malt: the quantity brewed at once; BREW'STER (now only Scot.), a brewer. [A.S. bréowan; cf. Ger. brauen.]

BRIAR. Same as BRIER (1).

BRIAREAN, br[=i]-[=a]'re-an, adj. relating to Briareus, a hundred-handed giant: hence many-handed. [Gr.--briaros, strong.]

BRIAR-ROOT. See BRIER (2).

BRIBE, br[=i]b, n. something given to influence unduly the judgment or corrupt the conduct: allurement.--v.t. to influence by a bribe: to gain over.--v.i. to practise bribery.--ns. BRIB'ER, one who bribes; BRIB'ERY, the act of giving or taking bribes; BRIB'ERY-OATH, an oath taken by an elector that he has not been bribed. [O. Fr. bribe, a lump of bread; origin dub.]

BRIC-À-BRAC, brik'a-brak, n. old curiosities, or other articles of value. [Acc. to Littré, formed after the phrase de bric et de broc, 'by hook and by crook.']

BRICK, brik, n. an oblong or square piece of burned clay: a loaf of bread in the shape of a brick: (slang) a reliable friend, a good fellow.--v.t. to lay or pave with brick.--ns. BRICK'BAT, a piece of brick; BRICK'CLAY, a clay used in making bricks; BRICK'-DUST, dust made by pounding bricks, a colour like that of brick-dust; BRICK'-EARTH, earth used in making bricks; BRICK'-FIELD, a place where bricks are made; BRICK'-KILN, a kiln in which bricks are burned; BRICK'LAYER, one who lays or builds with bricks; BRICK'LAYING; BRICK'MAKER, one whose trade is to make bricks; BRICK'-TEA, tea pressed into cakes; BRICK'-WORK, a structure formed of bricks.--LIKE A BRICK, with good-will. [Fr. brique, from root of BREAK.]

BRICKLE, brik'l, adj. (Spens. and Scot.) apt to break: weak: troublesome. [Older form of BRITTLE.]

BRICOLE, brik'el, or brik-[=o]l', n. an ancient engine for throwing stones: the rebound of a ball from the wall of a tennis-court, an indirect stroke. [Fr.--Low L. briccola.]

BRIDAL, br[=i]d'al, n. a marriage feast: a wedding.--adj. belonging to a bride or a wedding: nuptial. [BRIDE, and ALE, a feast.]

BRIDE, br[=i]d, n. a woman about to be married: a woman newly married.--v.i. (Shak.) to act the bride.--ns. BRIDE'-ALE (obs.)--BRIDAL, the ale-drinking at a marriage feast; BRIDE'-BED, the marriage bed; BRIDE'CAKE, the bride's cake, or cake distributed at a wedding; BRIDE'-CHAM'BER, a nuptial apartment; BRIDE'GROOM, a man about to be married: a man newly married; BRIDE'MAID, BRIDE'S'-MAID, BRIDE'MAN, BRIDE'S'-MAN, young unmarried people who attend the bride and bridegroom at a wedding. [A.S. brýd; Ice. brúdr, Ger. braut, a bride.]

BRIDEWELL, br[=i]d'wel, n. a house of correction: a gaol. [From a palace near St Bride's Well in London.]

BRIDGE, brij, n. a structure raised across a river, &c., or anything like such: the narrow raised platform whence the captain of a steamer gives directions: a thin upright piece of wood supporting the strings in a violin or similar instrument.--v.t. to build a bridge over.--n. BRIDGE'-HEAD, a fortification covering the end of a bridge nearest to the enemy's position.--adj. BRIDGE'LESS, without a bridge.--n. BRIDGE'-OF-BOATS, a bridge resting on boats moored abreast across a piece of water. [A.S. brycg; Ger. brucke, Ice. bryggja.]

BRIDGE, brich, n. a modification of whist in which the dealer does not turn up the last card, but has the option (which he may pass to his partner) of declaring which suit shall be trumps.

BRIDLE, br[=i]'-dl, n. the apparatus on a horse's head, by which it is controlled: any curb or restraint: a gesture expressing pride or vanity.--v.t. to put on or manage by a bridle: to check or restrain.--v.i. to hold up the head proudly or affectedly.--ns. BR[=I]'DLE-HAND, the hand which holds the bridle in riding--the left hand; BR[=I]'DLE-PATH, a path or way for horsemen; BR[=I]'DLER, one who governs or restrains as by a bridle; BRI'DLE-REIN, the strap of a bridle.--TO BRIDLE UP (at something), to take something amiss. [A.S. brídel; Old High Ger. brittel.]

BRIDOON, brid'[=oo]n, n. the light snaffle usual in a military bridle, in addition to the ordinary bit, controlled by a separate rein. [Fr. bridon, bride, a bridle.]

BRIEF, br[=e]f, n. a short account of a client's case for the instruction of counsel: a writ: a short statement of any kind.--adj. short: concise.--adj. BRIEF'LESS.--adv. BRIEF'LY.--n. BRIEF'NESS.--IN BRIEF, in few words.--KING'S BRIEFS, royal mandates ordering collections to be made in chapels for building churches, &c.; PAPAL BRIEF, such documents as are issued without some of the solemnities proper to bulls.--THE BRIEF AND THE LONG (Shak.), the short and the long.--TO BE BRIEF, to speak in a few words; TO HOLD A BRIEF, to be retained as counsel in a case; TO TAKE A BRIEF, to undertake a case. [Fr. bref--L. brevis, short.]

BRIER, br[=i]'er, n. a prickly shrub: a common name for the wild rose: (Scot.) the thorn of the brier--also BR[=I]'AR.--adjs. BR[=I]'ERY, BR[=I]'ERED, having briers. [A.S. brér.]

BRIER, BRIAR, br[=i]'[.e]r, n. the white heath, a shrub grown in France, from the root of which tobacco-pipes are made: a pipe of this wood. [Fr. bruyère, heath.]

BRIG, brig, n. a two-masted, square-rigged vessel. [Shortened from Brigantine.]

BRIGADE, brig-[=a]d', n. a body of troops consisting of two or more regiments of infantry or cavalry, and commanded by a general officer, two or more of which form a division: a band of people more or less organised.--v.t. to form into brigades.--ns. BRIGADE'-M[=A]'JOR, a staff-officer attached to a brigade; BRIGADIER', BRIGADIER'-GEN'ERAL, a general officer of the lowest grade, who has command of a brigade. [Fr. brigade--It. brigata--Low L. briga, strife.]

BRIGAND, brig'and, n. a robber or freebooter.--ns. BRIG'ANDAGE, freebooting: plundering; BRIG'ANDINE, BRIG'ANTINE, a coat-of-mail, composed of linen or leather, with steel rings or plates sewed upon it. [Fr.--It. brigante--briga, strife.]

BRIGANTINE, brig'an-t[=i]n, n. a two-masted vessel, with the mainmast of a schooner and the foremast of a brig. [Fr. brigantin--It. brigantine, a pirate ship.]

BRIGHT, br[=i]t, adj. shining: full of light: clear: beautiful: cheerful: clever: illustrious.--adv. (Shak.) brightly: clearly.--v.t. BRIGHT'EN, to make bright or brighter.--v.i. to grow bright or brighter: to clear up.--adv. BRIGHT'LY.--n. BRIGHT'NESS.--adj. BRIGHT'SOME, bright: brilliant. [A.S. beorht; cog. with Goth. bairhts, clear, L. flagr-[=a]re, to flame.]

BRIGHT'S-DISEASE, br[=i]ts'-diz-[=e]z', n. a generic name for a group of diseases of the kidneys, which may be defined as comprising cases where structural changes in the kidneys, usually inflammatory, but without suppuration, lead to the presence of albumen in the urine. [From Dr Richard Bright (1789-1858).]

BRIGUE, brig, v.i. to intrigue.--n. strife, intrigue.--n. BRIGU'ING, canvassing. [Fr. brigue; derivation uncertain.]

BRILL, bril, n. a fish of the same kind as the turbot, spotted with white. [Ety. unknown.]

BRILLIANT, bril'yant, adj. sparkling: glittering: splendid.--n. a diamond of the finest cut (as opposed to rose-cut or other patterns).--ns. BRILL'IANCY, BRILL'IANCE.--adv. BRILL'IANTLY.--n. BRILL'IANTNESS.[Fr. brillant, pr.p. of briller, to shine, which, like Ger. brille, an eyeglass, is from Low L. beryllus, a beryl.]

BRIM, brim, n. the margin or brink of a river or lake: the upper edge of a vessel: the rim of a hat.--v.t. to fill to the brim.--v.i. to be full to the brim:--pr.p. brim'ming; pa.p. brimmed.--adj. BRIM'FUL, full to the brim.--n. BRIM'FULNESS (Shak.), fullness to the top.--adjs. BRIM'LESS, without a brim; BRIMMED, brimful: having a brim--used in composition.--n. BRIM'MER, a bowl full to the brim or top.--adj. BRIM'MING. [M. E. brymme--bremman, to roar.]

BRIMSTONE, brim'st[=o]n, n. sulphur: (fig.) a virago.--FIRE AND BRIMSTONE! an ejaculation. [Lit. burning stone; from A.S. brýne, a burning--byrnan, to burn, and STONE; cf. Ger. bernstein.]

BRINDED, brin'ded, BRINDLED, brin'dld, adj. marked with spots or streaks.--n. BRIN'DLE, state of being brindled. [See BRAND.]

BRINE, br[=i]n, n. salt water: the sea.--ns. BRINE'-PIT, a pit or pan in which brine is evaporated, so as to form salt: a salt spring; BRINE'-SHRIMP, a small crustacean.--adjs. BRIN'ISH, like brine: somewhat salt; BRIN'Y, pertaining to brine or to the sea: salt.--THE BRINY (slang), the sea. [A.S. brýne, a burning; applied to salt liquor, from its burning, biting quality.]

BRING, bring, v.t. to fetch: to carry: to procure: to occasion: to draw or lead:--pa.t. and pa.p. brought (brawt).--BRING ABOUT, to bring to pass, effect; BRING DOWN, to humble; BRING FORTH, to give birth to, produce; BRING HOME, to prove, to impress; BRING IN, to introduce; BRING OFF, to bring away, as by a boat from a ship, to rescue; BRING ON, to cause to advance; BRING OUT, to express: to produce before the public, as a book, a play, a subscription: to introduce a young woman formally into so-called society; BRING OVER, to convert; BRING ROUND, to restore from illness; BRING TO, to check the course of, as a ship, by trimming the sails so as to counteract each other; BRING UNDER, to subdue; BRING UP, to rear or educate. [A.S. bringan, to carry, to bring; allied perh. to BEAR.]

BRINJARRY, brin-zhar'i, n. a travelling dealer in grain and salt in Southern India. [Hind. b[=a]nj[=a]ra.]

BRINK, bringk, n. the edge or border of a steep place or of a river: (fig.) the very verge of time, at the very point of something--e.g. TO BE ON THE BRINK OF DEATH. [Dan. brink, declivity; Ice. bringa, a hillock.]

BRIO, br[=i]'o, n. liveliness, vivacity. [It. brio.]

BRIOCHE, bri-osh', n. a sponge-cake. [Fr.]

BRIONY. Same as BRYONY.

BRIQUETTE, bri-ket', n. a brick-shaped block of coal formed from coal-dust. [Fr. briquette, dim. of brique, a BRICK.]

BRISK, brisk, adj. full of life and spirit: active: sharp: effervescing, as liquors.--v.t. to enliven, freshen.--v.i. to cheer up.--adjs. BRISK'ISH, BRISK'Y, (Shak.).--adv. BRISK'LY.--n. BRISK'NESS. [Dr Murray notes that the word is first found in the end of the 16th century; prob. W. brysg, swift of foot; cf. Gael. brisg, Ir. briosg.]

BRISKET, brisk'et, n. the breast of an animal: the part of the breast next to the ribs. [Fr. brechet, brichet.]

BRISTLE, bris'l, n. a short, stiff hair, as of swine.--v.i. to stand erect, as bristles.--v.t. to cover, as with bristles: to make bristly:--pr.p. bris'tling; pa.p. brist'led.--adj. BRISTLED (bris'ld), furnished with bristles.--n. BRIST'LINESS.--adj. BRIST'LY, set with bristles: rough.--TO SET UP ONE'S BRISTLES, to show temper. [A.S. byrst; Scot. birse; cog. with Ger. borste, Ice. burst.]

BRISTOL-BOARD, bris'tul-b[=o]rd, n. a smooth pasteboard.--ns. BRIS'TOL-BRICK, an earthy material for scouring cutlery, like bath-brick; BRIS'TOL-D[=I]'AMOND, a kind of crystal found near Bristol. [From the town of Bristol, in England.]

BRISURE, bri-zh[=u]r', n. (fort.) any part of a rampart or parapet which breaks off at an angle from the general direction: (her.) a variation of a coat-of-arms, showing the relation of a younger to the main line. [Fr.--briser, to break.]

BRITANNIA-METAL, brit-an'i-a-met'l, n. a metallic alloy largely used in the manufacture of spoons, &c.

BRITANNIC, brit-an'ik, adj. pertaining to Britannia or Great Britain: British.--adj. BRITISH, in ethnography, Old Celtic as opposed to Anglo-Saxon: pertaining to Great Britain or its people--ns. BRIT'ISHER, a British subject (Amer.); BRIT'ON, a native of Britain.

BRITTLE, brit'l, adj. apt to break: easily broken: frail.--ns. BRITT'LENESS; BRITT'LE-STARS, or Sand-stars, one of the classes of Echinodermata, including forms not far removed from starfishes. [A.S. bréotan, to break.]

BRITZKA, BRITZSKA, brits'ka, n. an open four-wheeled carriage with shutters to close at pleasure, and only one seat.--Also BRITSCHKA, BRITSKA. [Polish bryczka, dim. of bryka, a wagon.]

BROACH, br[=o]ch, n. a tapering, pointed instrument, used chiefly for boring: a spit: a church spire.--v.t. to pierce as a cask, to tap: to open up or begin: to utter.--n. BROACH'ER, a broach or spit: one who broaches or utters.--TO BROACH THE ADMIRAL, to steal some liquor from a cask while being carried by rail or otherwise, or when in store; TO BROACH TO, to turn a ship to windward. [Fr. brocher, to pierce, broche, an iron pin--L. brocchus, a projecting tooth.]

BROAD, brawd, adj. wide: large, free or open: outspoken: coarse, indelicate: of pronunciation, e.g. a broad accent.--advs. BROAD, BROAD'LY.--ns. BROAD'-AR'ROW, a mark, thus ([Broad arrow]), stamped on materials belonging to Government; BROAD'-BRIM, a hat with a broad brim, such as those worn by Quakers: (coll.) a Quaker.--adj. BROAD'CAST, scattered or sown abroad by the hand: dispersed widely.--adv. by throwing at large from the hand, only in phrases, as, 'to scatter broadcast,' &c.--v.t. to scatter freely.--n. BROAD'CLOTH, a fine kind of woollen fulled cloth, used for men's garments.--v.t. BROAD'EN, to make broad or broader.--v.i. to grow broad or extend in breadth.--adj. BROAD'-EYED (Shak.), having a wide or extended survey.--ns. BROAD'-GAUGE (see GAUGE); BROAD'NESS.--n.pl. BROADS, lake-like expansions of rivers.--ns. BROAD'SIDE, the side of a ship: all the guns on one side of a ship of war, or their simultaneous discharge: a sheet of paper printed on one side, otherwise named BROAD'SHEET; BROAD'SWORD, a cutting sword with a broad blade: a man armed with such a sword.--BROAD CHURCH, a party within the Church of England which advocates a broad and liberal interpretation of dogmatic definitions and creed subscription--the name was first used in 1833 by W. J. Conybeare. [A.S. brád, Goth. braids.]

BROBDINGNAGIAN, brob-ding-n[=a]'ji-an, n. an inhabitant of the fabulous region of Brobdingnag in Gulliver's Travels, the people of which were of great stature--hence a gigantic person.--adj. gigantic.--adj. BROBDINGNAG', immense.

BROCADE, brok-[=a]d', n. a silk stuff on which figures are wrought.--adj. BROCAD'ED, woven or worked in the manner of brocade: dressed in brocade. [It. broccato, Fr. brocart, from It. broccare, Fr. brocher, to prick, stitch; from root of BROACH.]

BROCAGE, br[=o]k'[=a]j, n. Obsolete spelling of BROKAGE (q.v. under BROKER).

BROCARD, brok'ärd, n. an elementary law or principle: a canon: (Fr.) a gibe. [Fr. brocard, Low L. brocarda, from Brocard or Burchard, Bishop of Worms, who published a book of ecclesiastical rules.]

BROCCOLI, brok'o-li, n. a cultivated kind of cabbage resembling cauliflower, of which it is originally a hardy variety. [It.; pl. of broccolo, a sprout, dim. of brocco, a skewer, a shoot.]

BROCH, broh, n. the local name applied in the north of Scotland to the ancient dry-built circular castles, known also to the Gaelic-speaking people as duns, and to antiquaries as Pictish towers.--Also BROGH and BROUGH. [Old Norse borg; A.S. burh.]

BROCH, br[=o]ch, obsolete spelling of BROACH.

BROCHURE, bro-sh[=oo]r', n. a pamphlet. [Lit. a small book stitched, Fr.--brocher, to stitch--broche, a needle. See BROACH.]

BROCK, brok, n. a badger--hence, from the smell, a dirty, stinking fellow.--adj. BROCKED (Scot.), variegated, having a mixture of black and white. [From the Celt., as in Gael. broc, a badger, which is from Gael. breac, speckled.]

BRODE, br[=o]d, adv. (Spens.). Same as ABROAD.

BRODEKIN, BRODKIN, br[=o]d'kin, n. a buskin. [Fr. brodequin.]

BROG, brog, n. a pointed steel instrument used for piercing holes: (Scot.) an awl.--v.t. to prick. [Ety. dub.; the Gael. brog; an awl, is prob. borrowed.]

BROGUE, br[=o]g, n. a stout coarse shoe: a dialect or manner of pronunciation, esp. the Irish. [Ir. and Gael. brog, a shoe.]

BROIDER, broid'[.e]r, BROIDERY, broid'[.e]r-i. Same as EMBROIDER, EMBROIDERY.--BROIDERED (B.) = Embroidered.

BROIL, broil, n. a noisy quarrel: a confused disturbance--(Scot.) BRUL'YIE, BRUL'ZIE.--n. BROIL'ER, one who stirs up broils. [Fr. brouiller, to trouble.]

BROIL, broil, v.t. to cook over hot coals: to grill.--v.i. to be greatly heated. [Ety. dub.]

BROKE, br[=o]k, pa.t. and old pa.p. of BREAK.--p.adj. BROK'EN, rent asunder: infirm: humbled or crushed: dispersed, routed: altered in direction: shattered in estate or position: incomplete, fragmentary: uncertain.--adjs. BROK'EN-BACKED, having the back broken, applied to a ship so loosened in her frame as to droop at both ends; BROK'EN-DOWN, decayed, ruined in character or strength; BROK'EN-HEART'ED, crushed with grief: greatly depressed in spirit.--adv. BROK'ENLY.--ns. BROK'EN-MAN, one under outlawry, esp. in the Highlands and Border country; BROK'EN-MEAT, the leavings of a banquet; BROK'ENNESS.--adj. BROK'EN-WIND'ED, having short breath or disordered respiration, as a horse.

BROKER, br[=o]k'[.e]r, n. one employed to buy and sell for others: a second-hand dealer: a pander: a commissioner.--v.i. BROKE, to bargain, negotiate: (Shak.) to act as a pander or go-between:--pr.p. br[=o]k'ing; pa.p. br[=o]ked.--ns. BROK'ERAGE, BROK'AGE, the business of a broker: the commission charged by a broker: a commission charged for transacting business for others; BROK'ERY, the business of a broker.--p.adj. BROK'ING, doing business as a broker: practised by brokers. [M. E. brocour--A.S. brucan; Ger. brauchen, to use, to profit.]

BROMATE. See BROMINE.

BROME-GRASS, br[=o]m'-gras, n. a kind of grass bearing a strong resemblance to oats. [Gr. br[=o]mos, and bromos, grass.]

BROMINE, br[=o]m'in, n. one of the elements, closely allied to chlorine, so called from its disagreeable smell.--adj. BROM'IC, pertaining to bromine.--ns. BROM'ATE, a combination of bromic acid with a salifiable base; BROM'IDE, a combination of bromine with a base.--BROMIC ACID, an acid composed of bromine and oxygen. [Gr. br[=o]mos, a disagreeable odour.]

BRONCHIÆ, brongk'i-[=e], n.pl. a name given to the ramifications of the windpipe which carry air into the lungs.--adjs. BRONCH'IC, BRONCH'IAL.--n. BRONCH[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the bronchiæ. [L.--Gr. bronchia, the bronchial tubes.]

BRONCHO, BRONCO, brong'ko, n. (U.S.) a half-tamed horse. [Sp. bronco, rough, sturdy.]

BROND. Same as BRAND.

BRONZE, bronz, n. an alloy of copper and tin used in various ways since the most ancient times: anything cast in bronze: the colour of bronze: (fig.) impudence.--adj. made of bronze: coloured like bronze.--v.t. to give the appearance of bronze to: (fig.) to harden.--adj. BRONZED, coated with bronze: hardened.--ns. BRONZE'-STEEL, or Steel-bronze, a specially hardened bronze; BRONZE'-WING, BRONZE'-PI'GEON, a species of Australian pigeon having wings marked with a lustrous bronze colour.--v.t. BRONZ'IFY, to make into bronze.--ns. BRONZ'ING, the process of giving the appearance of bronze; BRONZ'ITE, a lustrous kind of diallage.--adj. BRONZ'Y, having the appearance of bronze.--BRONZE AGE or PERIOD, a term in prehistoric archæology denoting the condition or stage of culture of a people using bronze as the material for cutting implements and weapons--as a stage of culture coming between the use of stone and the use of iron for those purposes--not an absolute division of time, but a relative condition of culture. [Fr.--It. bronzo--L. Brundusium, the modern Brindisi.]

BROO, br[=oo] (mod. Scot.--vowel sounded like Ger. ü), n. (Scot.) broth. [Ety. dub.: prob. O. Fr. bro, breu, broth; prob conn. with BREE.]

BROOCH, br[=o]ch, n. an ornamental pin or instrument for fastening any article of dress, consisting for the most part either of a ring or disc, or of a semicircle, there being a pin in either case passing across it, fastened at one end with a joint or loop, and at the other with a hook.--v.t. (Shak.) to adorn as with a brooch. [Fr. broche, a spit. See BROACH.]

BROOD, br[=oo]d, v.t. to sit upon or cover in order to breed or hatch: to hatch: to cover, as with wings: to mature or foster with care: to meditate moodily upon.--v.i. to sit as a hen on eggs: to hover over: to think anxiously for some time: to meditate silently (with on, over): to be bred.--n. something bred: offspring, children, or family: a race, kind: parentage: the number hatched at once.--adj. for breeding, as in brood-mare, &c.--adv. BROOD'INGLY.--adj. BROOD'Y, inclined to sit or incubate. [A.S. bród; Dut. broed; what is hatched.]

BROOK, br[=oo]k, n. a small stream.--ns. BROOK'LET, a little brook; BROOK'LIME, a species of speedwell found in ditches. [A.S. bróc, water breaking forth; Dut. broek, Ger. bruch.]

BROOK, br[=oo]k, v.t. to enjoy: to bear or endure. [A.S. búrcan, to use, enjoy; Ger. brauchen, L. frui, fructus.]

BROOL, br[=oo]l, n. a deep murmur. [Ger. brüll, a roar.]

BROOM, br[=oo]m, n. a name given to a number of species of shrubs of the closely allied genera Cytisus, Genista, and Spartium: a besom made of its twigs.--v.t. to sweep with a broom.--ns. BROOM'-CORN, a species of plant resembling maize, cultivated for its seed and its spikes, of which brooms are made; BROOM'-RAPE, a parasitic plant found adhering to the root of broom, clover, &c.; BROOM'STAFF, BROOM'STICK, the staff or handle of a broom.--adj. BROOM'Y, abounding in or consisting of broom.--TO MARRY OVER THE BROOMSTICK, or TO JUMP THE BESOM, to go through an irregular form of marriage, in which both jump over a broomstick. [A.S. bróm; Ger. bram.]

BROOSE, brüz, n. (Scot.) a race at weddings in Scotland. [Derivation unknown.]

BROSE, br[=o]z, n. a simple and nutritious food, made by pouring boiling water or milk on oatmeal, seasoned with salt and butter.--ATHOLE BROSE, a mixture of whisky and honey. [Scot.; O. Fr. broez.]

BROTH, broth, n. an infusion or decoction of vegetable and animal substances in water.--A BROTH OF A BOY (Irish), a first-rate fellow. [A.S. broth--bréowan, to brew. See BREW.]

BROTHEL, broth'el, n. a house of ill-fame. [M. E. brothel--A. S. broð-en, ruined, bréðen, to go to ruin.]

BROTHER, bruth'[.e]r, n. a male born of the same parents: any one closely united with or resembling another; associated in common interests, occupation, &c.: a fellow-member of a religious order, a fellow-member of a guild, &c.: a fellow-creature, fellow-citizen, a co-religionist: (B.) a kinsman: pl. BROTH'ERS and BRETH'REN, the latter esp. used in the sense of fellow-membership of guilds, religious communities, &c., and is a name given to certain sections of the Church of Christ, as Christian Brethren, Moravian Brethren, Plymouth Brethren, &c.--ns. BROTH'ER-GER'MAN, a brother having the same father and mother, in contradistinction to a half-brother, by one parent only; BROTH'ERHOOD, the state of being a brother: an association of men for any purpose; BROTH'ER-IN-LAW, the brother of a husband or wife: a sister's husband.--adjs. BROTH'ER-LIKE, BROTH'ERLY, like a brother: kind: affectionate.--n. BROTH'ERLINESS, state of being brotherly: kindness. [A.S. broðor; cog. with Ger. bruder, Gael. brathair, Fr. frère, L. frater, Sans. bhrátar.]

BROUGHAM, br[=oo]'am, or br[=oo]m, n. a one-horse close carriage, either two or four wheeled, named after Lord Brougham (1778-1868).

BROUGHT, brawt, pa.t. and pa.p. of BRING.

BROW, brow, n. the eyebrow: the ridge over the eyes: the forehead: the edge of a hill: a gallery in a coalmine running across the face of the coal: (fig.) aspect, appearance.--v.t. BROW'BEAT, to bear down with stern looks or speech: to bully.--adjs. BROW'-BOUND, having the brow bound as with a crown: crowned; BROW'LESS, without shame. [A.S. brú; Ice. brün.]

BROWN, brown, adj. of a dark or dusky colour, inclining to red or yellow: dark-complexioned: sunburnt.--n. a dark-reddish colour: (slang) a copper.--v.t. to make brown, or give a brown colour to: to roast brown.--ns. BROWN'-BESS, the old British flint-lock musket--from the brown walnut stock; BROWN'-BILL, a foot-soldier's or watchman's halbert, painted brown; BROWN'-BREAD, bread of a brown colour, made of unbolted flour; BROWN'-COAL, commonly called Lignite, an imperfect kind of coal which exhibits more of its woody structure than ordinary coal; BROWN'-GEORGE, a hard biscuit: a brown earthen vessel; BROWN'ING, the process of imparting a brown colour to iron articles: a preparation for giving a brown colour to gravy, &c., or for dressing brown leather.--adj. BROWN'ISH.--ns. BROWN'NESS; BROWN'-P[=A]'PER, coarse and strong paper used chiefly for wrapping; BROWN'-SPAR, a name given to certain varieties of dolomite or magnesian limestone, distinguished by their brownish colour; BROWN'-STOUT, a kind of porter; BROWN'-STUD'Y, gloomy reverie: absent-mindedness.--adj. BROWN'Y (Shak.), of a brown colour.--TO DO BROWN (slang), to do thoroughly, to deceive or take in completely. [A.S. brún; Dut. bruin, Ger. braun.]

BROWNIE, brown'i, n. a kind of domestic spirit in the folklore of Scotland, represented as a good-humoured, drudging goblin, who attached himself to farmhouses, and occupied himself overnight in churning, thrashing corn, and the like. [Brown.]

BROWNIST, brown'ist, n. one holding the Church principles of Robert Browne (1550-1633), which may be said to have given birth to the Independents or Congregationalists of England.

BROWSE, browz, v.t. and v.i. to feed on the shoots or leaves of plants.--ns. BROWSE, BROWS'ING, the shoots and leaves of plants: fodder: the action of the verb browse. [O. Fr. brouster (Fr. brouter)--broust, a sprout.]

BROWST, browst, n. (Scot.) a brewing. [BREW.]

BRUCKLE, bruk'l, adj. (Scot.) liable to break, brittle. [A.S. brucol--brekan, to BREAK.]

BRUIN, br[=oo]'in, n. a bear, so called from the name of the bear in the famous beast-epic Reynard the Fox, just as reynard and chanticleer have also passed from proper names into common names, often written without capitals. [Bruin = brown.]

BRUISE, br[=oo]z, v.t. to crush by beating or pounding: to oppress: to box or fight with the fists: to ride recklessly in hunting, careless alike of horse and crops: to reduce to small fragments.--n. a wound made by anything heavy and blunt.--p.adj. BRUISED, hurt by a heavy blow, with skin crushed and discoloured.--n. BRUIS'ER, one that bruises: a boxer.--p.adj. BRUIS'ING, boxing. [A.S. brýsan, to crush, with which, says Dr Murray, afterwards coalesced Fr. brisie-r; bruisier, bruser, to break.]

BRUIT, br[=oo]t, n. noise: something noised abroad: a rumour or report.--v.t. to noise abroad: to report: to celebrate. [Fr. bruit--Fr. bruire; cf. Low L. brug[=i]tus; prob. imit.]

BRULZIE, BRUILZIE, brül'yi, n. Scotch and northern form of BROIL.

BRUMAIRE, br[=oo]m[=a]r', n. the second month in the French revolutionary calendar, extending from Oct. 22 to Nov. 20. [Fr. brume, fog--L. bruma, winter.]

BRUME, br[=oo]m, n. fog.--adjs. BRUM'AL, relating to winter; BRUM'OUS, foggy, wintry. [L. bruma, winter, contr. from brevima, the shortest day.]

BRUMMAGEM, brum'a-jem, adj. showy but worthless, sham, counterfeit. [From a popular pronunciation of Birmingham.]

BRUNETTE, br[=oo]n-et', n. a girl with a brown or dark complexion. [Fr. dim. of brun, brown.]

BRUNONIAN, br[=oo]-no'ni-an, adj. relating to the system of medicine founded by Dr John Brown of Edinburgh (1736-88)--all diseases sthenic, those depending on an excess of excitement, or asthenic, those resulting from a deficiency of it.

BRUNT, brunt, n. the shock of an onset or contest: the force of a blow: the chief stress or crisis of anything.--v.t. to bear the brunt of. [Ice. bruna, to advance like fire, is usually given; Dr Murray suggests that it may be an onomatopoeia of Eng. itself (cf. DUNT), or connected with burnt--Scot. brunt.]

BRUSH, brush, n. an instrument for removing dust, usually made of bristles, twigs, feathers, or stiff grass stems: a kind of hair-pencil used by painters: a painter, one who uses the brush: brushwood: a skirmish or encounter: the tail of a fox: (elect.) a brush-like discharge of sparks: one of the bundles of copper wires or flexible strips in contact with the commutator of the armature on opposite sides, and which carry off the positive and negative currents of electricity generated.--v.t. to remove dust, &c., from by sweeping: to touch lightly in passing: remove (with off): to thrash.--v.i. to move over lightly: to make off with a rush.--n. BRUSH'ING, the act of rubbing or sweeping.--adj. in a lively manner: brisk.--ns. BRUSH'-WHEEL, a wheel used in light machinery to turn another by having the rubbing surface covered with stiff hairs or bristles; BRUSH'WOOD, rough close bushes: a thicket.--adj. BRUSH'Y, rough, rugged.--TO BRUSH UP, to brighten, revive. [O. Fr. brosse, a brush, brushwood--Low L. bruscia; Diez connects the Fr. with Old High Ger. burst, bursta, bristle.]

BRUSQUE, br[=oo]sk, adj. blunt, abrupt in manner, rude.--adv. BRUSQUE'LY.--ns. BRUSQUE'NESS; BRUSQUE'RIE. [Fr. brusque; rude. See BRISK.]

BRUSSELS, brus'elz, n. contracted from BRUSSELS-CARPET, a kind of carpet in which the worsted threads are arranged in the warp, and are interwoven into a network of linen. Still, the bulk of the carpet consists of wool.--n.pl. BRUSS'ELS-SPROUTS, a variety of the common cabbage with sprouts like miniature cabbages. [Named from Brussels in Belgium.]

BRUST, brust, pa.p. (Spens.). Same as BURST.

BRUTE, br[=oo]t, adj. belonging to the lower animals: irrational: stupid: rude.--n. one of the lower animals.--adj. BRUT'AL, like a brute: unfeeling: inhuman.--v.t. BRUT'ALISE, to make like a brute, to degrade.--v.i. to live like a brute.--n. BRUTAL'ITY.--adv. BRUT'ALLY.--n. BRUTE'NESS, brute-like state: brutality: (Spens.) stupidity.--v.t. BRUT'IFY, to make brutal, stupid, or uncivilised:--pr.p. brutify'ing; pa.p. brutif[=i]ed'.--adj. BRUT'ISH, brutal: (B.) unwise.--adv. BRUT'ISHLY.--n. BRUT'ISHNESS.--THE BRUTE CREATION, the lower animals. [Fr. brut--L. brutus, dull, irrational.]

BRUTUS, br[=oo]'tus, n. a kind of wig: a way of wearing the hair brushed back from the forehead, popular at the time of the French Revolution, when it was an affectation to admire the old Romans, as Brutus.

BRYOLOGY, br[=i]-ol'o-ji, n. the study of mosses. [Gr. bryon, moss, and logia--legein, to speak.]

BRYONY, br[=i]'o-ni, n. a wild climbing plant, common in English hedgerows.--BLACK BRYONY, a climbing plant similar to bryony in habit and disposition, but which may be readily distinguished by its simple, entire, heart-shaped leaves, which are smooth and somewhat glossy. [L.--Gr. bry[=o]nia.]

BRYOZOA, br[=i]-[=o]-z[=o]'a, n.pl. an old name for the Polyzoa, from their resemblance to mosses.

BRYTHONIC, br[=i]th-on'ik, adj. a name introduced by Prof. Rhys for the second of the two great divisions of Celtic ethnology. The Goidelic or Gadhelic group embraces Irish, Manx, and Gaelic; the Brythonic group, Welsh, Breton, and Cornish. [Brython, one of the Welsh words for the Welsh and so-called Ancient Britons.]

BUB, bub, n. (slang) strong drink.

BUBALIS, b[=u]'bal-is, n. a genus in the Antelope division of hollow-horned, even-toed Ruminants, not to be confused with the genus Bubalus, the Buffalo. [Gr.]

BUBBLE, bub'l, n. a bladder of water blown out with air: anything empty: a cheating scheme.--adj. unsubstantial, deceptive.--v.i. to rise in bubbles.--v.t. to cheat with bubble schemes:--pr.p. bubb'ling; pa.p. bubb'led.--adj. BUBB'LY.--n. BUBB'LY-JOCK, a Scotch name for a turkey-cock.--BUBBLE AND SQUEAK, meat and cabbage fried together.--TO BUBBLE OVER, as of a pot boiling, with anger, mirth, &c. [Cf. Sw. bubbla, Dut. bobbel.]

BUBO, b[=u]'bo, n. an inflammatory swelling of the glands in the groin or armpit.--adj. BUBON'IC, accompanied by buboes.--n. B[=U]B'UKLE, a ridiculous word of Fluellen's for a red pimple, corrupted from bubo and carbuncle. [L.--Gr. boub[=o]n, the groin.]

BUCCAL, buk'al, adj. pertaining to the cheek. [L.]

BUCCANEER, BUCCANIER, buk-an-[=e]r', n. one of the piratical adventurers in the West Indies during the 17th century, who plundered the Spaniards chiefly.--v.i. to act as a buccaneer.--n. BUCCANEER'ING.--adj. BUCCANEER'ISH. [Fr. boucaner, to smoke meat--Carib. boucan, a wooden gridiron. The French settlers in the W.I. cooked their meat on a boucan in native fashion, and were hence called boucaniers.]

BUCCINATOR, buk-sin-[=a]'tor, n. the name of a flat muscle forming the wall of the cheek, assisting in mastication and in the blowing of wind-instruments.--adj. BUCCINAT'ORY. [L.;--buccinare.]

BUCENTAUR, b[=oo]-sen'tawr, n. a mythical monster half man and half bull: the state barge of Venice used annually on Ascension Day in the ancient ceremony of the marriage of the state with the Adriatic. [It. bucentoro, usually explained as from Gr. bous, an ox, kentauros, a centaur.]

BUCEPHALUS, b[=u]-sef'a-lus, n. the famous war-horse of Alexander the Great: a familiar name for a riding-horse. [Gr.; bous, ox, kephal[=e], head.]

BUCK, buk, n. the male of the deer, goat, hare, and rabbit--often used specifically of the male of the fallow-deer: a dashing young fellow.--v.i. (of a horse or mule--a BUCK'JUMPER) to attempt to throw by a series of rapid jumps into the air, coming down with the back arched, the head down, and the forelegs stiff: (U.S.) to make obstinate resistance to any improvements.--ns. BUCK'EEN, a poor Irish gentleman, without means to support his gentility; BUCK'-EYE, the American horse-chestnut; BUCK'HORN, the material of a buck's horn; BUCK'-HOUND, a small kind of staghound used for hunting bucks; BUCK'-SHOT, a large kind of shot, used in shooting deer; BUCK'SKIN, a soft leather made of deerskin or sheepskin: a strong twilled woollen cloth, cropped of nap and carefully finished.--adj. made of the skin of a buck.--n.pl. BUCK'SKINS, breeches made usually of the cloth, not of the leather.--ns. BUCK'THORN, a genus of shrubs, the berry of which supplies the sap-green used by painters; BUCK'-TOOTH, a projecting tooth. [A.S. buc, bucca; Dut. bok, Ger. bock, a he-goat.]

BUCK, buk, v.t. to soak or steep in lye, a process in bleaching.--n. lye in which clothes are bleached.--n. BUCK'-BAS'KET, a basket in which clothes are carried to be bucked. [Ety. obscure; M. E. bouken; cog. words are Ger. bäuchen, beuchen.]

BUCKBEAN, buk'b[=e]n, n. the marsh-trefoil, a plant common in bogs in Britain. [Corr. of Bogbean.]

BUCKET, buk'et, n. a vessel for drawing or holding water, &c.; one of the compartments on the circumference of a water-wheel, or one of the scoops of a dredging-machine: the leather socket for holding the whip in driving, or for the carbine or lance when mounted: a name given to the pitcher in some orchids.--ns. BUCK'ETFUL, as much as a bucket will hold; BUCK'ETING (U.S.), jerky rowing; BUCK'ET-SHOP, slang term for the offices of 'outside brokers'--mere agents for bets on the rise or fall of prices of stock, &c.; BUCK'ET-WHEEL, a contrivance for raising water by means of buckets attached to the circumference of a wheel.--GIVE THE BUCKET, to dismiss; KICK THE BUCKET (slang), to die. [Prob. conn. with A.S. búc, a pitcher; or O. Fr. buket, a pail. Not Gael. bucaid, a bucket.]

BUCKIE, buk'i, n. (Scot.) a shellfish such as the whelk: a refractory person. [Scot., prob. related somehow to L. buccinum, a shellfish.]

BUCKLE, buk'l, n. a metal instrument consisting of a rim and tongue, used for fastening straps or bands in dress, harness, &c.--v.t. to fasten with a buckle: to prepare for action: to engage in close fight.--v.i. to bend or bulge out: to engage with zeal in a task.--n. BUCK'LER, a small shield used for parrying. [Fr. boucle, the boss of a shield, a ring--Low L. buccula, dim. of bucca, a cheek.]

BUCKRA, buk'ra, n. a word used by West Indian and American negroes for a white man--said in a dialect of the Calabar coast to mean 'demon.'

BUCKRAM, buk'ram, n. a coarse open-woven fabric of cotton or linen made very stiff with size, used for the framework of ladies' bonnets, for the inside of belts and collars of dresses, and for bookbinding: stiffness in manners and appearance.--adj. made of buckram: stiff: precise.--v.t. to give the quality of buckram. [O. Fr. boquerant.]

BUCKSHISH. Same as BACKSHEESH.

BUCKWHEAT, buk'hw[=e]t, n. a species of Polygonum, grown in Germany, Brittany, &c., for feeding horses, cattle, and poultry--buckwheat cakes are esteemed on American breakfast-tables. [Prob. Dut. boekweit, or Ger. buckweize.]

BUCOLIC, -AL, b[=u]-kol'ik, -al, adj. pertaining to the tending of cattle: pastoral: rustic, countrified.--n. BUCOL'IC, a pastoral poem. [L.--Gr. boukolikos--boukolos, a herdsman.]

BUD, bud, n. the first shoot of a tree or plant: used of young people, as a term of endearment.--v.i. to put forth buds: to begin to grow.--v.t. to put forth as buds: to graft, as a plant, by inserting a bud under the bark of another tree:--pr.p. bud'ding; pa.p. bud'ded.--n. BUD'DING, a method of propagation by means of buds.--adjs. BUD'DY; BUD'LESS.--TO NIP IN THE BUD, to destroy at its very beginning. [M. E. budde; prob. related to Dut. bot, a bud.]

BUDDHA, b[=oo]d'da, n. an epithet applied to Sakyamuni or Gautama, the founder of the Buddhist religion.--ns. BUD'DHISM, the religion founded by Buddha; BUD'DHIST, a believer in Buddhism.--adjs. BUDDHIST'IC, BUD'DHIST, pertaining to Buddhism.--ESOTERIC BUDDHISM (see THEOSOPHY). [Sans. buddha, wise, from budh, to know.]

BUDDLE, bud'l, v.t. to wash ore with a buddle or inclined hutch over which water flows.

BUDGE, buj, v.i. and v.t. to move or stir.--n. BUDG'ER, one who stirs. [Fr. bouger--It. bulicare, to boil, to bubble--L. bullire.]

BUDGE, buj, n. lambskin fur.--adj. pompous: stiff. [Derivation unknown.]

BUDGET, buj'et, n. a sack with its contents: a compact collection of things: a socket in which the end of a cavalry carbine rests: that miscellaneous collection of matters which aggregate into the annual financial statement made to parliament by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [Fr. bougette, dim. of bouge, a pouch--L. bulga.]

BUFF, buf, n. a pliant and uncracking leather used for soldiers' belts and other military purposes, made out of salted and dried South American light ox and cow hides: a military coat: the colour of buff: a light yellow: the bare skin: (pl.) certain regiments in the British army, so named from their buff-coloured facings--e.g. East Kent Regiment, Ross-shire Buffs.--ns. BUFF'-COAT, a strong military coat: a soldier; BUFF'-WHEEL, BUFF'-STICK, a wheel or stick covered with buff-leather or the like, and sprinkled with emery, for polishing.--IN BUFF, naked. [Fr. buffle, a buffalo.]

BUFF, buf, n. (obs.) a buffet, blow, or stroke.--v.t. to strike. [O. Fr. buffe, a blow.]

BUFFALO, buf'a-l[=o], n. a genus of the ox kind, the tame, often domesticated Asiatic buffalo, and the entirely wild and fierce Cape buffalo. The so-called American buffalo is really a 'bison.' [It. buffalo, through L. from Gr. boubalos.]

BUFFER, buf'[.e]r, n. a mechanical apparatus for deadening the force of a concussion, as in railway carriages: a fellow, as in 'old buffer.'--n. BUFF'ER-STATE, a neutral country lying between two others, whose relations are or may become strained.

BUFFET, buf'et, n. a blow with the fist, a slap.--v.t. to strike with the hand or fist: to contend against.--n. BUFF'ETING, a striking with the hand, boxing: contention. [O. Fr. bufet--bufe, a blow, esp. on the cheek.]

BUFFET, buf'et, n. a kind of sideboard: a low stool: a refreshment-bar (in this sense often pronounced buf'[=a]). [Fr. buffet; origin unknown.]

BUFFOON, buf-[=oo]n', n. one who amuses by jests, grimaces, &c.: a clown: a fool.--ns. BUFF'O, the comic actor in an opera; BUFFOON'ERY, the practices of a buffoon; ludicrous or vulgar jesting. [Fr. bouffon--It. buffone, buffare, to jest.]

BUG, bug, n. an object of terror.--ns. BIG-BUG (slang), an aristocrat; BUG'ABOO, a bogy, or object of terror; BUG'BEAR, an object of terror, generally imaginary.--adj. causing fright. [M. E. bugge, prob. W. bwg, a hobgoblin.]

BUG, bug, n. a name applied loosely to certain insects, esp. to one (Cimex lectularius) that infests houses and beds: in America applied to any insect.

BUGGERY, bug'g[.e]r-i, n. the crime of bestiality, unnatural vice. [Fr. bougre--L. Bulgarus, a Bulgarian, a heretic.]

BUGGY, bug'i, n. a name given to several kinds of light carriages or gigs--in America, a light one-horse, four-wheeled vehicle with one seat; in England, two-wheeled; in India, provided with a hood to ward off the sun. [By some conn. with BOGIE; ety. really quite unknown.]

BUGLE, b[=u]'gl, BUGLE-HORN, b[=u]'gl-horn, n. a hunting-horn, originally a buffalo-horn: a treble musical instrument, usually made of copper, like the trumpet, but having the bell less expanded and the tube shorter and more conical: (Spens.) a buffalo or wild ox--dim. B[=U]'GLET.--v.i. B[=U]'GLE, to sound a bugle.--n. B[=U]'GLER, one who plays upon the bugle. [O. Fr. bugle;--L. buculus, dim. of bos, an ox.]

BUGLE, b[=u]'gl, n. a slender elongated kind of bead, usually black.--adj. (Shak.) like bugles. [Prob. conn. with Low L. bugulus; prob. obscurely conn. with Dut. beugel, a ring.]

BUGLE, b[=u]'gl, n. a palæarctic genus of plants of the natural order Labiatæ, with blue or sometimes white or purple flowers. [Fr., It. bugola--Low L. bugula, bugillo.]

BUGLOSS, b[=u]'glos, n. a name popularly applied to many plants of the natural order Boragineæ, more strictly to Anchusa arvensis, a common weed in corn-fields in Britain. [Fr. buglosse--L. buglossa--Gr. bougl[=o]ssos--bous, ox, gl[=o]ssa, tongue.]

BUGONG, b[=u]'gong, n. a noctuoid moth.

BUHL, b[=u]l, n. unburnished gold, brass, or mother-of-pearl worked in patterns for inlaying: furniture ornamented with such. [From André Charles Boule (1642-1732), a cabinet-maker in the service of Louis XIV.]

BUHRSTONE, bur'st[=o]n, n. a variety of quartz, containing many small empty cells, which give it a peculiar roughness of surface, particularly adapting it for millstones.--Often BURR'-STONE. [Perh. conn. with BURR, from its roughness.]

BUILD, bild, v.t. to erect, as a house or bridge: to form or construct, as a railway, &c.--v.i. to depend (with on, upon):--pa.p. built or build'ed.--n. construction: make.--ns. BUILD'ER, one who builds, or who controls the actual work of building; BUILD'ING, the art of erecting houses, &c.: anything built: a house.--p.adj. BUILT, formed or shaped.--BUILD IN, to enclose by building; BUILD UP, to close up by building, as a door: to erect any edifice, as a reputation: to edify spiritually, as the church. [A.S. gebyld, bold, a dwelling, from an assumed byldan, to build.]

BUIRDLY, bürd'li, adj. stalwart, large and well made. [Scot., a variant of BURLY.]

BUISSON, bw[=e]-song, n. a fruit-tree trained on a low stem, the branches closely pruned. [Fr.]

BUIST, büst, n. (Scot.) a mark put on sheep or cattle to indicate ownership: a box.--v.t. to mark with such. [Ety. dub.]

BUKSHI, BUKSHEE, buk'sh[=e], n. the paymaster in native Indian states. [Hind. bakshi--baksh, pay.]

BULB, bulb, n. an onion-like root: any protuberance or enlargement resembling such.--v.i. to form bulbs: to bulge out or swell.--adjs. BUL'BAR, BULBED, BUL'BOUS, BULB[=A]'CEOUS, BULB'IFORM, BULBIF'EROUS, BUL'BOSE, BUL'BY.--ns. BUL'BULE, a little bulb: a young bulb which grows from an old one; BUL'BUS, a bulb. [L. bulbus--Gr. bolbos, an onion.]

BULBUL, bool'bool, n. the Persian nightingale. [Arab.]

BULDERING, bul'der-ing, adj. (prov.) hot, sultry.

BULGARIAN, bul-g[=a]'ri-an, adj. pertaining to Bulgaria or its language.--n. a native of Bulgaria: the Bulgarian language (Slavonic).--n. BUL'GAR, a member of an ancient Finnic or Ugrian tribe which moved from the Volga towards Bulgaria.--adj. BULGAR'IC.--n. the ancient language of the foregoing.

BULGE, bulj, n. the widest part of a cask, a round protuberance, swelling.--v.i. to swell out.--ns. BUL'GER, a wooden golf-club with a convex face; BUL'GINESS.--adj. BUL'GY--TO GET THE BULGE ON ONE (slang), to get a decided advantage over a person. [O. Fr. boulge, prob. L. bulga, a leather knapsack; a Gallic word.]

BULIMY, b[=u]l'i-mi, n. an unnatural hunger. [Gr.; bous, ox, limos, hunger.]

BULK, bulk, n. a stall or framework built in front of a shop.--n. BULK'ER, a street thief or strumpet. [Ety. dub.; Prof. Skeat suggests Scand. bálk-r, beam, and Dr Murray quotes also an A.S. bolca, gangway of a ship.]

BULK, bulk, n. magnitude or size: the greater part: any huge body or structure: the whole cargo in the hold of a ship.--v.i. to be in bulk: to be of weight or importance.--v.t. to put or hold in bulk.--ns. BULK'HEAD, a partition separating one part of the interior of a ship from another, either transverse or longitudinal, and usually made watertight; BULK'INESS.--adj. BULK'Y, having bulk: of great size, unwieldy.--COLLISION BULKHEAD, that nearest the bow--usually the only one in sailing-ships.--TO LOAD IN BULK, to put the cargo in loose; TO SELL IN BULK, to sell the cargo as it is in the hold: to sell in large quantities. [Prob. Scand.; Ice. bulki, a heap.]

BULL, bool, n. the male of the ox kind: an old male whale, fur-seal, &c.: a sign of the zodiac: one who tries artificially and unduly to raise the price of stocks, and speculates on a rise.--adj. denoting largeness of size--used in composition, as bull-trout: favourable to the bulls, rising.--v.t. to try to raise, as the price of shares, artificially: to copulate with a cow, of a bull.--v.i. to be in heat, of a cow.--ns. BULL'-BAITING, the sport of baiting or exciting bulls with dogs; BULL'-BAT (U.S.), the night-hawk or goat-sucker; BULL'-BEEF, the beef or flesh of bulls, coarse beef: (Shak., in pl.) BULL'-BEEVES; BULL'-BEGG'AR, a hobgoblin, &c.; BULL'-CALF, a male calf: a stupid fellow, a lout; BULL'-DANCE, a dance of men only; BULL'DOG, a breed of dogs of great courage, formerly used for baiting bulls, its general appearance that of a smooth-coated, compact dog, low in stature, but broad and powerful, with a massive head, large in proportion to its body: a person of obstinate courage: a short-barrelled revolver of large calibre: a proctor's attendant at Oxford and Cambridge.--v.t. BULL'-DOSE (U.S.) to intimidate, bully: flog.--n. BULL'-D[=O]S'ER.--adj. BULL'-FACED, having a large face.--ns. BULL'-FIGHT, a popular spectacle in Spain, in which a bull is goaded to fury in a kind of circus by mounted picadores armed with lances, and finally despatched by a specially skilful espada or swordsman; BULL'-FIGHT'ER; BULL'-FINCH, a species of red-breasted finch a little larger than the common linnet, closely allied to the grossbeaks and crossbills: a kind of hedge hard to jump; BULL'-FROG, a large North American frog.--adj. BULL'-FRONT'ED, having a front or forehead like a bull.--n. BULL'-HEAD, or Miller's Thumb, a small river fish remarkable for its large, flat head.--adj. BULL'-HEAD'ED, impetuous and obstinate.--n. BULL'-HEAD'EDNESS.--adj. BULL'ISH.--ns. BULL'OCK, an ox or castrated bull; BULL'-ROAR'ER, a provincial English name for a boy's plaything, made of an oblong piece of wood, to one end of which a string is tied, then twisted tightly round the finger, when the whole is whirled rapidly round and round until a loud and peculiar whirring noise is produced--the native Australian turndun, the rhombos of the Greek mysteries; BULL'S'-EYE, the central boss formed in making a sheet of blown glass (hence adj. BULL'S'-EYED), a round piece of glass in a lantern, a policeman's lantern, a round opening or window: the centre of a target, of a different colour from the rest, and usually round: a thick lump of coloured or striped candy; BULL'-TERR'IER, a species of dog, a cross-breed between the bulldog and the terrier; BULL'-TROUT, a large trout of the salmon genus, also migratory in its habits, often called the Gray Trout; BULL'-WHACK, a heavy whip.--v.t. to lash with such.--n. BULL'WORT, the bishop's weed.--BULL INTO, to plunge hastily into.--A BULL IN A CHINA-SHOP, a synonym for a man who does harm through ignorance or fury, a man completely out of place.--TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS, to face a danger or difficulty with courage, to take the initiative boldly in a struggle. [M.E. bole, prob. Scand. bole, boli; most prob. cog. with BELLOW.]

BULL, bool, n. an edict of the pope which has his seal affixed.--adj. BULLAN'TIC--n. BULL'ARY, a collection of papal bulls. [L. bulla, a knob, a leaden seal.]

BULL, bool, n. a ludicrous blunder in speech implying some obvious absurdity or contradiction, often said to be an especial prerogative of Irishmen--'I was a fine child, but they changed me.' [Prob. O. Fr. boul, cheat.]

BULL, bool, n. drink made by pouring water into a cask that had held liquor.

BULLA, bool'a, n. a round metal ornament worn by ancient Roman children: a seal attached to a document: anything rounded or globular. [L.]

BULLACE, bool'l[=a]s, n. a shrub closely allied to the sloe and the plum, its fruit making excellent pies or tarts. [O. Fr. beloce, of uncertain origin; prob. Celt.]

BULLATE, bul'[=a]t, adj. blistered, inflated--ns. BULL[=A]'TION; BULLES'CENCE.

BULLARY, bul'a-ri, n. a house in which salt is prepared by boiling.

BULLER, bool'er, n. the boiling of a torrent. [Dan. bulder.]

BULLET, bool'et, n. the projectile of lead or other metal discharged from any kind of small-arm: a plumb or sinker in fishing.--n. BULL'ET-HEAD, a head round like a bullet: (U.S.) an obstinate fellow.--adjs. BULL'ET-HEAD'ED; BULL'ET-PROOF, proof against bullets. [Fr. boulet, dim. of boule, a ball--L. bulla. See BULL, an edict.]

BULLETIN, bool'e-tin, n. an official report of public news. [Fr.,--It. bullettino.]

BULLION, bool'yun, n. gold and silver in the mass and uncoined, though occasionally used as practically synonymous with the precious metals, coined and uncoined: a heavy twisted cord fringe, often covered with gold or silver wire.--n. BULL'IONIST, one in favour of an exclusive metallic currency. [Ety. dub.; but apparently related to Low L. bullio, a boiling, melting.]

BULLY, bool'i, n. a blustering, noisy, overbearing fellow: a ruffian hired to beat or intimidate any one: a fellow who lives upon the gains of a prostitute: (obs.) a term of familiarity to either man or woman.--adj. blustering: brisk: (U.S.) first-rate.--v.i. to bluster.--v.t. to threaten in a noisy way:--pr.p. bull'ying; pa.p. bull'ied.--n. BULL'YISM.--v.t. BULL'YRAG (coll.), to assail with abusive language, to overawe.--ns. BULL'YRAGGING; BULL'Y-ROOK, a bully.--BULLY FOR YOU, bravo! [Perh. Dut. boel, a lover; cf. Ger. buhle.]

BULLY, bool'i, n. a miner's hammer.

BULLY-TREE, bool'i-tr[=e], n. a name given to several West Indian sapotaceous trees yielding good timber.--Also BULL'ET-TREE, BULL'ETRIE, BOLL'ETRIE.

BULRUSH, bool'rush, n. a large strong rush, which grows on wet land or in water--often applied to the cat's-tail (Typha).--adj. BUL'RUSHY.

BULSE, buls, n. a bag for diamonds, &c.: a package or certain quantity of such. [Port. bolsa--Low L. bursa, a purse. See PURSE.]

BULWARK, bool'wark, n. a fortification or rampart: a breakwater or sea-wall: any means of defence or security.--v.t. to defend. [Cf. Ger. bollwerk.]

BUM, bum, n. (Shak.) the buttocks.--ns. BUM'-BAIL'IFF, an under-bailiff; BUM'-BOAT, boat for carrying provisions to a ship, originally a Thames scavenger's boat. [Ety. dub., prob. from bump, from sense of 'swelling.']

BUM, bum, v.i. to hum or make a murmuring sound, as a bee: (slang) to live dissolutely.--pr.p. bum'ming; pa.p. bummed.--n. a humming sound: a spree, debauch: a dissipated fellow. [Onomatopoeic.]

BUMBAZE, bum'b[=a]z, v.t. to confound, bamboozle.

BUMBLE-BEE, bum'bl-b[=e], n. a large kind of bee that makes a bumming or humming noise: the humble-bee.--n. BUM'-CLOCK (Scot.), a drone-beetle. [M. E. bumble, freq. of BUM, and BEE.]

BUMBLEDOM, bum'bl-dom, n. fussy pomposity. [From Bumble, name of the beadle in Dickens's Oliver Twist.]

BUMBLE-FOOT, bum'bl-foot, n. a disease of domestic fowls, marked by inflammation of the ball of the foot: a club-foot.--adj. BUM'BLE-FOOT'ED, club-footed.

BUMBLE-PUPPY, bum'bl-pup'i, n. whist played regardless of rules: the game of nine-holes.--n. BUM'BLE-PUPP'IST, one who plays whist without knowing the game.

BUMBO, bum'b[=o], n. a punch of rum or gin with sugar, nutmeg, &c.

BUMKIN, BUMPKIN, bum'kin, n. a short beam of timber projecting from each bow of a ship, for the purpose of extending the lower corner of the foresail to windward: a small outrigger over the stern of a boat, usually serving to extend the mizzen. [From BOOM, and dim. termination kin.]

BUMMALO, bum'a-l[=o], n. a small fish dried and salted all round the coast of India--Bombay duck and nehar.--Also BUMMAL[=O]'TI. [East Ind.]

BUMMAREE, bum'ar-[=e], n. a middleman in the Billingsgate fish-market. [Ety. unknown: hardly the Fr. bonne marée, good fresh sea-fish.]

BUMMER, bum'[.e]r, n. a plundering straggler or camp-follower during the American Civil War: a dissolute fellow, a loafer, a sponge.

BUMMLE, bum'l, v.i. (prov.) to blunder.--n. an idle fellow.

BUMMOCK, bum'ok, n. (Scot.) a brewing of ale. [Ety. unknown.]

BUMP, bump, v.i. to make a heavy or loud noise.--v.t. to strike with a dull sound: to strike against: to overtake and impinge upon the stern or side of a boat by the boat following, the bumper consequently taking the place of the bumped in rank--also 'to make a bump:' to spread out material in printing so as to fill any desired number of pages.--n. a dull heavy blow: a thump: a lump caused by a blow, one of the protuberances on the surface of the skull confidently associated by phrenologists with certain distinct qualities or propensities of the mind, hence colloquially for organ: the noise of the bittern.--n. BUMP'ER, a cup or glass filled to the brim for drinking a toast: anything large or generous in measure: a crowded house at a theatre or concert.--adj. as in a 'bumper house.'--v.i. to drink bumpers.--n. BUMPOL'OGY, phrenology.--adj. BUMP'Y. [Onomatopoeic.]

BUMPKIN, bump'kin, n. an awkward, clumsy rustic: a clown.--adj. BUMP'KINISH. [Prob. Dut. boomken, a log.]

BUMPTIOUS, bump'shus, adj. offensively self-assertive.--adv. BUMP'TIOUSLY.--n. BUMP'TIOUSNESS. [Prob. formed from BUMP.]

BUN, bun, n. a kind of sweet cake. [Prob. from O. Fr. bugne, a swelling.]

BUN, bun, n. a dry stalk: a hare's scut: a rabbit. [Prob. Gael. bun, a root.]

BUNCE, buns, n. (slang) extra gain--used as an interjection.

BUNCH, bunsh, n. a number of things tied together or growing together: a definite quantity fastened together, as of linen yarn (180,000 yards), &c.: a cluster: something in the form of a tuft or knot.--v.i. to swell out in a bunch.--v.t. to make a bunch of, to concentrate.--adjs. BUNCH'-BACKED (Shak.), having a bunch on the back, crook-backed; BUNCHED, humped, protuberant.--ns. BUNCH'-GRASS, a name applied to several West American grasses, growing in clumps; BUNCH'INESS, the quality of being bunchy: state of growing in bunches.--adj. BUNCH'Y, growing in bunches or like a bunch, bulging.--BUNCH OF FIVES, the fist with the five fingers clenched. [Ety. obscure.]

BUNCOMBE. See BUNKUM.

BUNDESRATH, b[=oo]n'des-rät, n. the Federal Council of the German Empire, its members annually appointed by the governments of the various states.

BUNDLE, bun'dl, n. a number of things loosely bound together: an aggregation of one or more kinds of tissue traversing other tissues: a definite measure or quantity, as two reams of paper, twenty hanks of linen yarn, &c.--v.t. to bind or tie into bundles.--v.i. to pack up one's things for a journey, to go hurriedly or in confusion (with away, off, out).--n. BUN'DLING, an old custom in Wales, New England, and elsewhere for sweethearts to sleep on the same bed without undressing.--TO BUNDLE OFF, BUNDLE OUT, to send away unceremoniously or summarily. [Conn. with BIND and BOND.]

BUNG, bung, n. the stopper of the hole in a barrel: a large cork: (Shak.) a sharper.--v.t. to stop up with a bung: to thrash severely.--ns. BUNG'-HOLE, a hole in a cask through which it is filled, closed by a bung; BUNG'-VENT, a small hole in a bung to let gasses escape, &c.--BUNG UP, to bruise. [Ety. dub.]

BUNGALOW, bung'ga-l[=o], n. the kind of house usually occupied by Europeans in the interior of India, and commonly provided for officers' quarters in cantonments.--DÂK-BUNGALOWS are houses for travellers. [Hind. bangl[=a], Bengalese.]

BUNGLE, bung'l, n. anything clumsily done: a gross blunder.--v.i. to act in a clumsy, awkward manner.--v.t. to make or mend clumsily: to manage awkwardly.--p.adj. BUNG'LED, done clumsily.--n. BUNG'LER.--p.adj. BUNG'LING, clumsy, awkward: unskilfully or ill done.--adv. BUNG'LINGLY. [Ety. obscure; prob. onomatopoeic; Prof. Skeat quotes a dial. Sw. bangla, to work ineffectually; Mr F. Hindes Groome suggests Gipsy bongo, left, awkward.]

BUNION, bun'yun, n. a lump or inflamed swelling on the ball of the great toe. [Ety. unknown; Prof. Skeat suggests It. bugnone, a botch.]

BUNK, bungk, n. a box or recess in a ship's cabin, a sleeping-berth anywhere.--v.i. to occupy the same bunk, sleep together.--n. BUNK'ER, a large bin or chest used for stowing various things, as coals, &c.: a hazard in a golf-links, originally confined to sand-pits, but now often used for hazards generally. [Prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Ice. bunki, Dan. bunke, a heap.]

BUNKO, BUNCO, bung'k[=o], n. (U.S.) a form of confidence-trick by which a simple fellow is swindled or taken somewhere and robbed.--v.t. to rob or swindle in such a way.--n. BUNK'O-STEER'ER, that one of the swindling confederates who allures the victim.

BUNKUM, bung'kum, n. empty clap-trap oratory, bombastic speechmaking intended for the newspapers rather than to persuade the audience.--Also BUN'COMBE. [From Buncombe, the name of a county in North Carolina. Bartlett quotes a story of how its member once went on talking in congress, explaining apologetically to the few hearers that remained that he was 'only talking for Buncombe.']

BUNNY, bun'i, n. a pet name for a rabbit. [Ety. unknown; prob. conn. with Gael. bun, a root.]

BUNODONT, b[=u]'n[=o]-dont, adj. having tuberculate molars--opp. to Lophodont. [Gr. bounos, a rounded hill, odous, odontos, a tooth.]

BUNSEN, b[=oo]n'sen, or bun'sen, adj. applied to some of the inventions of the great chemist, R. W. Bunsen of Heidelberg.--n. BUN'SEN-BURN'ER, a gas-burner in which a plentiful supply of air is caused to mingle with the gas before ignition, so that a smokeless flame of low luminosity but great heating power is the result.

BUNT, bunt, n. a parasitic disease of wheat and other grains.--adjs. BUNT'ED, BUNT'Y. [Ety. unknown.]

BUNT, bunt, n. the bagging part of a fishing-net, a sail, &c.--v.i. to belly, as a sail. [Ety. unknown.]

BUNT, bunt, v.i. to push with the horns, butt: to spring, rear.--n. a push.--n. BUNT'ING, pushing: a boys' game, played with sticks and a small piece of wood: a strong timber, a stout prop.

BUNTER, bunt'[.e]r, n. a rag-picker, a low woman.

BUNTING, bunt'ing, n. a thin worsted stuff of which ships' colours are made. [Ety. dub.]

BUNTING, bunt'ing, n. a genus of birds in the Finch family nearly allied to the crossbills.

BUNTLINE, bunt'l[=i]n, n. a rope passing from the foot-rope of a square sail, led up to the masthead and thence on deck, to help in hauling the sail up to the yard.

BUOY, boi, n. a floating cask or light piece of wood fastened by a rope or chain to indicate shoals, the position of a ship's anchor, &c.--v.t. to fix buoys or marks: to keep afloat, bear up, or sustain: to raise the spirits.--ns. BUOY'AGE, a series of buoys or floating beacons to mark the course for vessels: the providing of buoys; BUOY'ANCY, capacity for floating lightly on water or in the air: specific lightness: (fig.) lightness of spirit, cheerfulness.--adj. BUOY'ANT, light: cheerful.--n. BUOY'ANTNESS. [Dut. boei, buoy, fetter, through Romance forms (Norman boie), from Low L. boia, a collar of leather.]

BUPHAGA, b[=u]'f[=a]-ga, n. a small genus of African perching birds, nearly related to the starlings, feeding on the larvæ of gadflies and the like, which they find on the backs of cattle, camels, &c.--Also Beef-eater and Ox-pecker. [Gr., bous, an ox, phagein, to eat.]

BUPRESTIS, b[=u]-pres'tis, n. a genus of beetles, typical of a large family, Buprestidæ, those occurring in warmer countries having lively colour and metallic sheen--some known as Golden Beetles. [L.,--Gr. bouprestis, bous, an ox, pr[=e]thein, to swell.]

BUR, BURR, bur, the prickly seed-case or head of certain plants, which sticks to clothes: any impediment or inconvenient adherent: any lump, ridge, &c., more or less sharp, a knot on a tree, knot in thread, knob at the base of a deer's horn, &c.: waste raw silk: the sweetbread or pancreas: (Scot.) club-moss: the name for various tools and appliances, as the triangular chisel for clearing the corners of mortises, &c.: the blank driven out of a piece of sheet-metal by a punch: a partly vitrified brick.--ns. BUR'DOCK, a dock with a bur or prickly head; BUR'-THIS'TLE, the spear-thistle.--BUR IN THE THROAT, something seeming to stick in the throat, producing a choking sensation. [Cog. with Dan. borre, a bur.]

BUR, BURR, bur, n. the rough sound of r pronounced in the throat, as in Northumberland--v.i. to whisper hoarsely, to murmur. [Usually associated with preceding, but perh. from the sound.]

BUR, bur, n. in an engraving, a slight ridge of metal raised on the edges of a line by the graver or the dry point, producing an effect like a smear, but dexterously used by some etchers, as Rembrandt, to deepen their shadows.

BURBLE, burb'l, n. trouble, disorder.--v.t. to trouble, confuse. [Scot.; prob. conn. with O. Fr. barbouiller, to confound.]

BURBOT, bur'bot, n. a fresh-water fish, like the eel, having a longish beard on its lower jaw. [Fr. barbote--L. barba, a beard.]

BURD, burd, n. (obs.) for BIRD, a poetic name for a girl or lady.--n. BUR'DALANE, the last surviving child of a family.

BURDASH, burd'ash, n. a fringed sash worn round the waist by fine gentlemen in the time of Anne and George I.

BURDEN, bur'dn, n. a load: weight: cargo: that which is grievous, oppressive, or difficult to bear, as blame, sin, sorrow, &c.: birth.--v.t. to load: to oppress: to encumber.--adjs. BUR'DENOUS, BUR'DENSOME, heavy: oppressive.--BURDEN OF PROOF, in legal procedure, signifies the obligation to establish by evidence certain disputed facts. [A.S. byrthen--beran, to bear.]

BURDEN, bur'dn, n. part of a song repeated at the end of every stanza, refrain: the leading idea of anything: a load of care, sorrow, or responsibility. [Fr. bourdon, a humming tone in music--Low L. burdo, a drone or non-working bee.]

BURDEN, bur'dn, n. (Spens.) a pilgrim's staff. [See BOURDON.]

BURDOCK. See BUR (1).

BUREAU, b[=u]r'[=o], n. a writing-table or chest of drawers: a room or office where such a table is used: a department for the transacting of public business:--pl. BUREAUX (b[=u]r'[=o]), BUREAUS (b[=u]r'[=o]z). [Fr. bureau--O. Fr. burel, russet cloth--L. burrus, red.]

BUREAUCRACY, b[=u]r[=o]'kras-i, n. a system of government centralised in graded series of officials, responsible only to their chiefs, and controlling every detail of public and private life.--ns. BUREAU'CRAT, BUREAU'CRATIST, one who advocates government by bureaucracy.--adj. BUREAUCRAT'IC, relating to or having the nature of a bureaucracy.--adv. BUREAUCRAT'ICALLY. [BUREAU, and Gr. kratein, to govern.]

BURETTE, b[=u]-ret', n. a flask-shaped vessel for holding liquids, an altar-cruet. [Fr.]

BURGAGE, bur'g[=a]j, n. a tenure in socage for a yearly rent: a tenure in Scotland in royal burghs under nominal service of watching. [O. Fr.]

BURGAMOT. Same as BERGAMOT.

BURGANET, bur'ga-net, n. a 16th-century helmet.--Also BUR'GONET. [Lit. 'Burgundian.']

BURGEE, bur'j[=e], n. a swallow-tailed flag or pennant: a kind of small coal for furnaces.

BURGEON, bur'jun, n. and v.i. Same as BOURGEON.

BURGH, bur'[=o], n. the Scotch word corresponding to the English BOROUGH.--ns. BURG (same as BOROUGH); BURG'AGE, a system of tenure where the king or other person is lord of an ancient borough, city, or town, by which the citizens hold their lands or tenements, for a certain annual rent; BURGESS (bur'jes), BUR'GHER, an inhabitant of a borough: a citizen or freeman: a magistrate of certain towns: one able to take the usual burgesses' oath (see ANTIBURGHER).--adj. BUR'GHAL, relating to a burgh.--n. BURG'OMASTER, the chief magistrate of a German or a Dutch borough, answering to the English term mayor.--BURGH OF BARONY, a corporation consisting of the inhabitants of a determinate tract of land within the barony, and municipally governed by magistrates and a council whose election is either vested in the baron superior of the district, or vested in the inhabitants themselves; BURGH OF REGALITY, a burgh of barony, spiritual or temporal, enfranchised by crown charter, with regal or exclusive criminal jurisdiction within their own territories.--PARLIAMENTARY BURGH, one like Paisley, Greenock, Leith, whose boundaries, as first fixed in 1832, were adopted for municipal purposes, with regard to which they stand practically in the same position as royal burghs; POLICE BURGH, a burgh constituted by the sheriff for purposes of improvement and police, the local authority being the police commissioners; ROYAL BURGH, a corporate body deriving its existence, constitution, and rights from a royal charter, such being either actual and express, or presumed to have existed.

BURGLAR, burg'lar, n. one who breaks into a house by night to steal.--v.t. and v.i. to commit burglary.--adj. BURGL[=A]R'IOUS.--adv. BURGL[=A]R'IOUSLY.--v.t. BURG'LARISE.--n. BURG'LARY, breaking into a house by night to steal. [Ety. dub.]

BURGONET. See BURGANET.

BURGOO, bur'g[=oo], n. a dish made of boiled oatmeal seasoned with salt, butter, and sugar, used by seamen. [Derivation unknown.]

BURGRAVE, bur'gr[=a]v, n. the governor of a town or castle. [Ger. burg-graf.]

BURGUNDY, bur'gun-di, n. a generous French red wine, so called from Burgundy, the district where it is made.

BURIAL, ber'i-al, n. the act of laying a dead body in the grave: interment.--ns. BUR'IAL-AISLE, an aisle in a church used for burials; BUR'IAL-GROUND, BUR'IAL-PLACE, a piece of ground set apart for burying.--BURIAL SERVICE, a religious service or form of ritual accompanying a burial; BURIAL SOCIETY, an insurance society for providing the expenses of burial. [A.S. byrgels, a tomb. See BURY.]

BURIN, b[=u]r'in, n. a kind of chisel of tempered steel, used in copper engraving--the distinctive style of a master is frequently described by such expressions as a soft, a graphic, or a brilliant burin.--n. BUR'INIST, an engraver. [Fr.; from root of BORE.]

BURKE, burk, v.t. to murder, esp. by stifling: hence (fig.) to put an end to quietly. [From Burke, an Edinburgh Irishman (hanged 1829), who committed the crime in order to sell the bodies of his victims for dissection.]

BURL, burl, n. a small knot in thread, a knot in wood.--v.t. to pick knots, &c., from, in finishing cloth.--ns. BUR'LING-[=I]'RON; BUR'LING-MACHINE'.--adj. BUR'LY, knotty.

BURLAP, bur'lap, n. a coarse canvas for wrappings, &c.--usually in pl. [Origin unknown.]

BURLESQUE, bur-lesk', n. a ludicrous representation--in speaking, acting, writing, drawing--a low and rude grade of the comic, whose legitimate office is to turn to laughter pretension and affectation.--adj. jocular: comical.--v.t. to turn into burlesque: to ridicule.--p.adj. BURLESQUED', caricatured.--adv. BURLESQUE'LY. [It. burlesco; prob. from Low L. burra, a flock of wool, a trifle.]

BURLETTA, bur-let'a, n. a musical farce: comic opera. [It.;--dim. of burla, a jest.]

BURLY, bur'li, adj. bulky: boisterous, bluff.--n. BUR'LINESS. [M. E. borlich; prob. Old High Ger. burl[=i]h, high, b[=o]r, a height.]

BURMESE, bur'm[=e]z, adj. relating to Burma in Farther India, or its language.--n. a native of Burma, or the language of Burma--also BUR'MAN.

BURN, burn, n. a small stream or brook: a spring or fountain. [A.S. burna; cog. with Dut. and Ger. born.]

BURN, burn, v.t. to consume or injure by fire.--v.i. to be on fire: to feel excess of heat: to be inflamed with passion:--pa.p. burned or burnt.--n. a hurt or mark caused by fire.--ns. BURN'ER, the part of a lamp or gas-jet from which the flame arises; BURN'ING, act of consuming by fire: conflagration: inflammation.--adj. very hot: scorching: ardent: excessive.--ns. BURN'ING-GLASS, a convex lens concentrating the sun's rays at its focus; BURN'ING-HOUSE, a kiln; BURN'ING-MIRR'OR, a concave mirror for producing heat by concentrating the sun's rays; BURN'ING-POINT, the temperature at which a volatile oil in an open vessel will take fire from a match held close to its surface; BURNT'-EAR, a kind of smut in oats, wheat, &c., caused by a microscopic fungus; BURNT'-OFF'ERING, something offered and burned upon an altar as a sacrifice--amongst the Hebrews, apparently offerings of dedication and to some extent of expiation; BURNT'-SIENN'A (see SIENNA); BURN'-THE-WIND (Scot.), a blacksmith.--BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET, said of money, when one is eager to spend it; BURN BLUE, to burn with a bluish flame like that of brimstone; BURN DAYLIGHT (Shak.), to waste time in superfluous actions; BURN DOWN, to burn to the ground; BURN IN, to eat into, as fire: to fix and render durable, as colours, by means of intense heat, to imprint indelibly on the mind; BURNING BUSH, the emblem of the Presbyterian churches of Scotland, with the motto, 'Nec tamen consumebatur,' adopted from Ex. iii. 2, in memory of the unconquerable courage of the Covenanters under the cruel persecutions of the 17th century; BURNING QUESTION, one being keenly discussed; BURN ONE'S BOATS, to cut one's self off, as Cortes did, from all chance of retreat, to stake everything on success; BURN ONE'S FINGERS, to suffer from interfering in others' affairs, from embarking in speculations, &c.; BURN OUT, to destroy by means of burning: to burn till the fire dies down from want of fuel; BURN THE WATER, to spear salmon by torchlight; BURN UP, to consume completely by fire: to be burned completely. [A.S.; the weak verb boernan, boernde, boerned, has been confused with beornan, byrnan, barn, bornen; cf. Ger. brennen, to burn.]

BURNET, bur'net, n. the English name of two closely united genera of Rosaceæ--the Great Burnet common in meadows all over Europe; the Common Burnet growing on chalky soils, its slightly astringent leaves used in salads or soups, also as an ingredient in 'cool tankard.' [From its brown flowers.]

BURNISH, burn'ish, v.t. to polish: to make bright by rubbing.--n. polish: lustre.--ns. BURN'ISHER, an instrument employed in burnishing; BURN'ISHING; BURN'ISHMENT.

BURNOUS, bur-n[=oo]s', n. a mantle with a hood much worn by the Arabs. [Fr.--Ar. burnus.]

BURNT, pa.p. of BURN (q.v.).

BURR. Same as BUR (q.v.).

BURREL, bur'el, n. a kind of coarse russet cloth in medieval times. [See BUREAU.]

BURRO, bur'[=o], n. a donkey. [Sp.]

BURROCK, bur'ok, n. a small weir or dam in a river, to direct the current toward fish-traps.

BURROW, bur'[=o], n. a hole in the ground dug by certain animals for shelter or defence.--v.i. to make holes underground as rabbits: to dwell in a concealed place.--ns. BURR'OW-DUCK, the sheldrake or bergander; BURR'OWING-OWL, a small long-legged diurnal American owl nesting in burrows; BURR'OWSTOWN (Scot.), a town that is a burgh. [Ety. obscure; prob. a variant of Borough--A.S. beorgan, to protect.]

BURSA, bur'sa, n. a pouch or sac, esp. a synovial cavity formed where tendons pass over the harder parts of the body:--pl. BUR'SÆ (-s[=e]).--adj. BUR'SAL.--ns. BURS[=A]'LIS, a muscle moving the nictitating membrane, as in birds; BURSAL'OGY, knowledge about the bursæ. [See BURSAR.]

BURSAR, burs'ar, n. one who keeps the purse, a treasurer: in Scotland, a student maintained at a university by funds derived from endowment.--adj. BURSAR'IAL.--ns. BURS'ARSHIP, the office of a bursar; BURS'ARY, in Scotland, the allowance paid to a bursar; BURSE, a purse, an obsolete form of BOURSE.--adjs. BURSIC'ULATE, bursiform: resembling a small pouch, or provided with such; BURS'IFORM, pouch-shaped. [Low L. bursarius--bursa, a purse--Gr. byrsa, skin or leather.]

BURSCH, b[=oo]rsh, n. a German student:--pl. BURSCH'EN.--n. BURSCH'ENISM. [Ger. bursch, a companion, student.]

BURST, burst, v.t. to break into pieces: to break open suddenly or by violence: to disturb, interrupt.--v.i. to fly open or break in pieces: to break forth or away: to break into some sudden expression of feeling--e.g. 'to burst into song:'--pa.t. and pa.p. burst.--n. a sudden outbreak: a hard gallop: a spurt: a drunken bout.--BURST IN, to force one's way violently into; BURST INTO BLOSSOM, to begin to blossom; BURST INTO TEARS, to fall a-crying; BURST OUT, to force one's way out violently; BURST UP (coll.), to explode: to fail, become bankrupt.--A BURST UP, a collapse, failure.--ON THE BURST, on the spree. [A.S. berstan; Ger. bersten; Gael. brisd, to break.]

BURSTEN, bur'stn, obs. pa.p. of BURST.

BURTHEN, bur'thn, n. and v.t. For BURDEN.

BURTON, bur'ton, n. a tackle variously used.