Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 6 of 60)

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 6 of 60)

2. More than that; over and above; not included in the number, or in what has been mentioned; moreover; in addition. The men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides Gen. xix. 12. To all beside, as much an empty shade, An Eugene living, as a Cæsar dead. Pope.

Note: These sentences may be considered as elliptical.

BESIDES Be*sides, prep.

Defn: Over and above; separate or distinct from; in addition to; other than; else than. See Beside, prep., 3, and Syn. under Beside. Besides your cheer, you shall have sport. Shak.

BESIEGE Be*siege", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besieged; p. pr. & vb. n. Besieging.] Etym: [OE. bisegen; pref. be- + segen to siege. See Siege.]

Defn: To beset or surround with armed forces, for the purpose of compelling to surrender; to lay siege to; to beleaguer; to beset. Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost. Shak.

Syn. -- To environ; hem in; invest; encompass.

BESIEGEMENT Be*siege"ment, n.

Defn: The act of besieging, or the state of being besieged. Golding.

BESIEGER Be*sie"ger, n.

Defn: One who besieges; -- opposed to the besieged.

BESIEGING Be*sie"ging, a.

Defn: That besieges; laying siege to. -- Be*sie"ging*ly, adv.

BESIT Be*sit", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + sit.]

Defn: To suit; to fit; to become. [Obs.]

BESLABBER Be*slab"ber, v. t.

Defn: To beslobber.

BESLAVE Be*slave", v. t.

Defn: To enslave. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

BESLAVER Be*slav"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beslavered; p. pr. & vb. n. Beslavering.]

Defn: To defile with slaver; to beslobber.

BESLIME Be*slime", v. t.

Defn: To daub with slime; to soil. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

BESLOBBER Be*slob"ber, v. t.

Defn: To slobber on; to smear with spittle running from the mouth. Also Fig.: as, to beslobber with praise.

BESLUBBER Be*slub"ber, v. t.

Defn: To beslobber.

BESMEAR Be*smear", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besmeared; p. pr. & vb. n. Besmearing.]

Defn: To smear with any viscous, glutinous matter; to bedaub; to soil. Besmeared with precious balm. Spenser.

BESMEARER Be*smear"er, n.

Defn: One that besmears.

BESMIRCH Be*smirch", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besmirched; p. pr. & vb. n. Besmirching.]

Defn: To smirch or soil; to discolor; to obscure. Hence: To dishonor; to sully. Shak.

BESMOKE Be*smoke", v. t.

1. To foul with smoke.

2. To harden or dry in smoke. Johnson.

BESMUT Be*smut", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besmutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Besmutting.] Etym: [Pref. be- + smut: cf. AS. besmitan, and also OE. besmotren.]

Defn: To blacken with smut; to foul with soot.

BESNOW Be*snow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besnowed.] Etym: [OE. bisnewen, AS. besniwan; pref. be- + sniwan to snow.]

1. To scatter like snow; to cover thick, as with snow flakes. [R.] Gower.

2. To cover with snow; to whiten with snow, or as with snow.

BESNUFF Be*snuff", v. t.

Defn: To befoul with snuff. Young.

BESOGNE Be*sogne", n. Etym: [F. bisogne.]

Defn: A worthless fellow; a bezonian. [Obs.]

BESOM Be"som, n. Etym: [OE. besme, besum, AS. besma; akin to D. bezem, OHG pesamo, G. besen; of uncertain origin.]

Defn: A brush of twigs for sweeping; a broom; anything which sweeps away or destroys. [Archaic or Fig.] I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. Isa. xiv. 23. The housemaid with her besom. W. Irving.

BESOM Be"som, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besomed.]

Defn: To sweep, as with a besom. [Archaic or Poetic] Cowper. Rolls back all Greece, and besoms wide the plain. Barlow.

BESOMER Be"som*er, n.

Defn: One who uses a besom. [Archaic]

BESORT Be*sort", v. t.

Defn: To assort or be congruous with; to fit, or become. [Obs.] Such men as may besort your age. Shak.

BESORT Be*sort", n.

Defn: Befitting associates or attendants. [Obs.] With such accommodation and besort As levels with her breeding. Shak.

BESOT Be*sot", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Besotting.]

Defn: To make sottish; to make dull or stupid; to stupefy; to infatuate. Fools besotted with their crimes. Hudibras.

BESOTTED Be*sot"ted, a.

Defn: Made sottish, senseless, or infatuated; characterized by drunken stupidity, or by infatuation; stupefied. "Besotted devotion." Sir W. Scott. -- Be*sot"ted*ly, adv. -- Be*sot"ted*ness, n. Milton.

BESOTTINGLY Be*sot"ting*ly, adv.

Defn: In a besotting manner.

BESOUGHT Be*sought", p. p.

Defn: of Beseech.

BESPANGLE Be*span"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespangled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespangling.]

Defn: To adorn with spangles; to dot or sprinkle with something brilliant or glittering. The grass . . . is all bespangled with dewdrops. Cowper.

BESPATTER Be*spat"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespattering.]

1. To soil by spattering; to sprinkle, esp. with dirty water, mud, or anything which will leave foul spots or stains.

2. To asperse with calumny or reproach. Whom never faction could bespatter. Swift.

BESPAWL Be*spawl", v. t.

Defn: To daub, soil, or make foul with spawl or spittle. [Obs.] Milton.

BESPEAK Be*speak", v. t. [imp. Bespoke, Bespake (Archaic); p. p. Bespoke, Bespoken (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespeaking.] Etym: [OE. bispeken, AS. besprecan, to speak to, accuse; pref. be- + sprecan to speak. See Speak.]

1. To speak or arrange for beforehand; to order or engage against a future time; as, to bespeak goods, a right, or a favor. Concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favor. Sir W. Scott.

2. To show beforehand; to foretell; to indicate. [They] bespoke dangers . . . in order to scare the allies. Swift.

3. To betoken; to show; to indicate by external marks or appearances. When the abbot of St. Martin was born, he had so little the figure of a man that it bespoke him rather a monster. Locke.

4. To speak to; to address. [Poetic] He thus the queen bespoke. Dryden.

BESPEAK Be*speak", v. i.

Defn: To speak. [Obs.] Milton.

BESPEAK Be*speak", n.

Defn: A bespeaking. Among actors, a benefit (when a particular play is bespoken.) "The night of her bespeak." Dickens.

BESPEAKER Be*speak"er, n.

Defn: One who bespeaks.

BESPECKLE Be*spec"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespeckled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespeckling.]

Defn: To mark with speckles or spots. Milton.

BESPEW Be*spew", v. t.

Defn: To soil or daub with spew; to vomit on.

BESPICE Be*spice", v. t.

Defn: To season with spice, or with some spicy drug. Shak.

BESPIRT Be*spirt", v. t.

Defn: Same as Bespurt.

BESPIT Be*spit, v. t. [imp. Bespit; p. p. Bespit, Bespitten (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespitting.]

Defn: To daub or soil with spittle. Johnson.

BESPOKE Be*spoke",

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bespeak.

BESPOT Be*spot", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespotting.]

Defn: To mark with spots, or as with spots.

BESPREAD Be*spread", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespread; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespreading.]

Defn: To spread or cover over. The carpet which bespread His rich pavilion's floor. Glover.

BESPRENT Be*sprent", p. p. Etym: [OE. bespreynt, p. p. of besprengen, bisprengen, to besprinkle, AS. besprengan, akin to D. & G. besprengen; pref. be- + sprengan to sprinkle. See Sprinkle.]

Defn: Sprinkled over; strewed. His face besprent with liquid crystal shines. Shenstone. The floor with tassels of fir was besprent. Longfellow.

BESPRINKLE Be*sprin"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besprinkled; p. pr. & vb. n. Besprinkling.]

Defn: To sprinkle over; to scatter over. The bed besprinkles, and bedews the ground. Dryden.

BESPRINKLER Be*sprin"kler, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, besprinkles.

BESPRINKLING Be*sprin"kling, n.

Defn: The act of sprinkling anything; a sprinkling over.

BESPURT Be*spurt", v. t.

Defn: To spurt on or over; to asperse. [Obs.] Milton.

BESSEMER STEEL Bes"se*mer steel` (.

Defn: Steel made directly from cast iron, by burning out a portion of the carbon and other impurities that the latter contains, through the agency of a blast of air which is forced through the molten metal; -- so called from Sir Henry Bessemer, an English engineer, the inventor of the process.

BEST Best, a.; superl. of Good. Etym: [AS. besta, best, contr. from betest, betst, betsta; akin to Goth. batists, OHG. pezzisto, G. best, beste, D. best, Icel. beztr, Dan. best, Sw. bäst. This word has no connection in origin with good. See Better.]

1. Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good, kind, desirable, suitable, etc.; most excellent; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities. When he is best, he is a little worse than a man. Shak. Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight. Milton.

2. Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the best scholar; the best view of a subject.

3. Most; largest; as, the best part of a week. Best man, the only or principal groomsman at a wedding ceremony.

BEST Best, n.

Defn: Utmost; highest endeavor or state; most nearly perfect thing, or being, or action; as, to do one's best; to the best of our ability. At best, in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the case; under the most favorable circumstances; as, life is at best very short. -- For best, finally. [Obs.] "Those constitutions . . . are now established for best, and not to be mended." Milton. -- To get the best of, to gain an advantage over, whether fairly or unfairly. -- To make the best of. (a) To improve to the utmost; to use or dispose of to the greatest advantage. "Let there be freedom to carry their commodities where they can make the best of them." Bacon. (b) To reduce to the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.

BEST Best, adv.; superl. of Well.

1. In the highest degree; beyond all others. "Thou serpent! That name best befits thee." Milton. He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small. Coleridge.

2. To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety. Had we best retire I see a storm. Milton. Had I not best go to her Thackeray.

3. Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself.

BEST Best, v. t.

Defn: To get the better of. [Colloq.]

BESTAD Be*stad", imp. & p. p. of Bestead.

Defn: Beset; put in peril. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BESTAIN Be*stain", v. t.

Defn: To stain.

BESTAR Be*star", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestarred.]

Defn: To sprinkle with, or as with, stars; to decorate with, or as with, stars; to bestud. "Bestarred with anemones." W. Black.

BESTEAD Be*stead", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestead or Bested, also (Obs.) Bestad. In sense 3 imp. also Besteaded.] Etym: [Pref. be- + stead a place.]

1. To put in a certain situation or condition; to circumstance; to place. [Only in p. p.] They shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: . . . and curse their king and their God. Is. viii. 21. Many far worse bestead than ourselves. Barrow.

2. To put in peril; to beset.

Note: [Only in p. p.] Chaucer.

3. To serve; to assist; to profit; to avail. Milton.

BESTIAL Bes"tial, a. Etym: [F. bestial, L. bestialis, fr. bestia beast. See Beast.]

1. Belonging to a beast, or to the class of beasts. Among the bestial herds to range. Milton.

2. Having the qualities of a beast; brutal; below the dignity of reason or humanity; irrational; carnal; beastly; sensual. Shak.

Syn. -- Brutish; beastly; brutal; carnal; vile; low; depraved; sensual; filthy.

BESTIAL Bes"tial, n.

Defn: A domestic animal; also collectively, cattle; as, other kinds of bestial. [Scot.]

BESTIALITY Bes*tial"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. bestialité.]

1. The state or quality of being bestial.

2. Unnatural connection with a beast.

BESTIALIZE Bes"tial*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestialized; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestializing.]

Defn: To make bestial, or like a beast; to degrade; to brutalize. The process of bestializing humanity. Hare.

BESTIALLY Bes"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a bestial manner.

BESTIARY Bes"ti*a*ry, n. [LL. bestiarium, fr. L. bestiarius pert. to beasts, fr. bestia beast: cf. F. bestiaire.]

Defn: A treatise on beasts; esp., one of the moralizing or allegorical beast tales written in the Middle Ages.

A bestiary . . . in itself one of the numerous mediæval renderings of the fantastic mystical zoölogy. Saintsbury.

BESTICK Be*stick", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestuck; p. pr. & vb. n. Besticking.]

Defn: To stick over, as with sharp points pressed in; to mark by infixing points or spots here and there; to pierce. Truth shall retire Bestuck with slanderous darts. Milton.

BESTILL Be*still", v. t.

Defn: To make still.

BESTIR Be*stir", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestirred; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestirring.]

Defn: To put into brisk or vigorous action; to move with life and vigor; -- usually with the reciprocal pronoun. You have so bestirred your valor. Shak. Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. Milton.

BESTORM Be*storm", v. i. & t.

Defn: To storm. Young.

BESTOW Be*stow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestowing.] Etym: [OE. bestowen; pref. be- + stow a place. See Stow.]

1. To lay up in store; to deposit for safe keeping; to stow; to place; to put. "He bestowed it in a pouch." Sir W. Scott. See that the women are bestowed in safety. Byron.

2. To use; to apply; to devote, as time or strength in some occupation.

3. To expend, as money. [Obs.]

4. To give or confer; to impart; -- with on or upon. Empire is on us bestowed. Cowper. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. 1 Cor. xiii. 3.

5. To give in marriage. I could have bestowed her upon a fine gentleman. Tatler.

6. To demean; to conduct; to behave; -- followed by a reflexive pronoun. [Obs.] How might we see Falstaff bestow himself to-night in his true colors, and not ourselves be seen Shak.

Syn. -- To give; grant; present; confer; accord.

BESTOWAL Be*stow"al, n.

Defn: The act of bestowing; disposal.

BESTOWER Be*stow"er, n.

Defn: One that bestows.

BESTOWMENT Be*stow"ment, n.

1. The act of giving or bestowing; a conferring or bestowal. If we consider this bestowment of gifts in this view. Chauncy.

2. That which is given or bestowed. They almost refuse to give due praise and credit to God's own bestowments. I. Taylor.

BESTRADDLE Be*strad"dle, v. t.

Defn: To bestride.

BESTRAUGHT Be*straught", a. Etym: [Pref. be- + straught; prob. here used for distraught.]

Defn: Out of one's senses; distracted; mad. [Obs.] Shak.

BESTREAK Be*streak", v. t.

Defn: To streak.

BESTREW Be*strew", v. t. [imp. Bestrewed; p. p. Bestrewed, Bestrown (p. pr. & vb. n. Bestrewing.]

Defn: To strew or scatter over; to besprinkle. [Spelt also bestrow.] Milton.

BESTRIDE Be*stride", v. t. [imp. Bestrode, (Obs. or R.) Bestrid (; p. p. Bestridden, Bestrid, Bestrode; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestriding.] Etym: [AS. bestridan; pref. be- + stridan to stride.]

1. To stand or sit with anything between the legs, or with the legs astride; to stand over That horse that thou so often hast bestrid. Shak. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus. Shak.

2. To step over; to stride over or across; as, to bestride a threshold.

BESTRODE Be*strode",

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bestride.

BESTROWN Be*strown",

Defn: p. p. of Bestrew.

BESTUCK Be*stuck",

Defn: imp. & p. p. Bestick.

BESTUD Be*stud", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestudded; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestudding.]

Defn: To set or adorn, as with studs or bosses; to set thickly; to stud; as, to bestud with stars. Milton.

BESWIKE Be*swike", v. t. Etym: [AS. beswican; be- + swican to deceive, entice; akin to OS. swikan, OHG. swihhan, Icel. svikja.]

Defn: To lure; to cheat. [Obs.] Gower.

BET Bet, n. Etym: [Prob. from OE. abet abetting, OF. abet, fr. abeter to excite, incite. See Abet.]

Defn: That which is laid, staked, or pledged, as between two parties, upon the event of a contest or any contingent issue; the act of giving such a pledge; a wager. "Having made his bets." Goldsmith.

BET Bet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bet, Betted; p. pr. & vb. n. Betting.]

Defn: To stake or pledge upon the event of a contingent issue; to wager. John a Gaunt loved him well, and betted much money on his head. Shak. I'll bet you two to one I'll make him do it. O. W. Holmes.

BET Bet,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Beat. [Obs.]

BET Bet, a. & adv.

Defn: An early form of Better. [Obs.] To go bet, to go fast; to hurry. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BETA Be"ta, n. [Gr. bh a.]

Defn: The second letter of the Greek alphabet, B, b. See B, and cf. etymology of Alphabet. Beta (B, b) is used variously for classifying, as: (a) (Astron.) To designate some bright star, usually the second brightest, of a constellation, as, b Aurigæ. (b) (Chem.) To distinguish one of two or more isomers; also, to indicate the position of substituting atoms or groups in certain compounds; as, b-naphthol. With acids, it commonly indicates that the substituent is in union with the carbon atom next to that to which the carboxyl group is attached.

BETACISM; BETACISMUS Be"ta*cism, Be`ta*cis"mus, n.

Defn: Excessive or extended use of the b sound in speech, due to conversion of other sounds into it, as through inability to distinguish them from b, or because of difficulty in pronouncing them.

BETAINE Be"ta*ine, n. Etym: [From beta, generic name of the beet.] (Chem.)

Defn: A nitrogenous base, C5H11NO2, produced artificially, and also occurring naturally in beetroot molasses and its residues, from which it is extracted as a white crystalline substance; -- called also lycine and oxyneurine. It has a sweetish taste.

BETAKE Be*take", v. t. [imp. Betook; p. p. Betaken; p. pr. & vb. n. Betaking.] Etym: [Pref. be- + take.]

1. To take or seize. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. To have recourse to; to apply; to resort; to go; -- with a reflexive pronoun. They betook themselves to treaty and submission. Burke. The rest, in imitation, to like arms Betook them. Milton. Whither shall I betake me, where subsist Milton.

3. To commend or intrust to; to commit to. [Obs.]

BETA RAYS Be"ta rays. (Physics)

Defn: Penetrating rays readily deflected by a magnetic or electric field, emitted by radioactive substances, as radium. They consist of negatively charged particles or electrons, apparently the same in kind as those of the cathode rays, but having much higher velocities (about 35,000 to 180,000 miles per second).

BETAUGHT Be*taught",a. Etym: [p. p. of OE. bitechen, AS. bet, to assign, deliver. See Teach.]

Defn: Delivered; committed in trust. [Obs.]

BETE Bete, v. t.

Defn: To better; to mend. See Beete. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BETEELA Be*tee"la, n. Etym: [Pg. beatilha.]

Defn: An East India muslin, formerly used for cravats, veils, etc. [Obs.]

BETEEM Be*teem", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + an old verb teem to be fitting; cf. D. betamen to beseem, G. ziemen, Goth. gatiman, and E. tame. See Tame, a.]

1. To give ; to bestow; to grant; to accord; to consent. [Obs.] Spenser. Milton.

2. To allow; to permit; to suffer. [Obs.] So loving to my mother, That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly. Shak.

BETEL Be"tel, n. Etym: [Pg., fr. Tamil vettilei, prop. meaning, a mere leaf.] (Bot.)

Defn: A species of pepper (Piper betle), the leaves of which are chewed, with the areca or betel nut and a little shell lime, by the inhabitants of the East Indies. I is a woody climber with ovate manynerved leaves.

BETELGUESE Bet"el*guese, n. Etym: [F. Bételgeuse, of Arabic origin.] (Astron.)

Defn: A bright star of the first magnitude, near one shoulder of Orion. [Written also Betelgeux and Betelgeuse.]

BETEL NUT Be"tel nut`.

Defn: The nutlike seed of the areca palm, chewed in the East with betel leaves (whence its name) and shell lime.

BETE NOIRE Bête" noire". Etym: [Fr., lit. black beast.]

Defn: Something especially hated or dreaded; a bugbear.

BETHABARA WOOD Beth*ab"a*ra wood`. (Bot.)

Defn: A highly elastic wood, used for fishing rods, etc. The tree is unknown, but it is thought to be East Indian.

BETHEL Beth"el, n. Etym: [Heb. b house of God.]

1. A place of worship; a hallowed spot. S. F. Adams.

2. A chapel for dissenters. [Eng.]

3. A house of worship for seamen.

BETHINK Be*think", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bethought; p. pr. & vb. n. Bethinking.] Etym: [AS. be; pref. be- + to think. See Think.]

Defn: To call to mind; to recall or bring to recollection, reflection, or consideration; to think; to consider; -- generally followed by a reflexive pronoun, often with of or that before the subject of thought. I have bethought me of another fault. Shak. The rest . . . may . . . bethink themselves, and recover. Milton. We bethink a means to break it off. Shak.

Syn. -- To recollect; remember; reflect.

BETHINK Be*think", v. i.

Defn: To think; to recollect; to consider. "Bethink ere thou dismiss us." Byron.

BETHLEHEM Beth"le*hem, n. Etym: [Heb. b house of food; b house + lekhem food, lakham to eat. Formerly the name of a hospital for the insane, in London, which had been the priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem. Cf. Bedlam.]

1. A hospital for lunatics; -- corrupted into bedlam.

2. (Arch.)

Defn: In the Ethiopic church, a small building attached to a church edifice, in which the bread for the eucharist is made. Audsley.

BETHLEHEMITE; BETHLEMITE Beth"le*hem*ite, Beth"lem*ite, n.

1. An inhabitant of Bethlehem in Judea.

2. An insane person; a madman; a bedlamite.

3. One of an extinct English order of monks.

BETHOUGHT Be*thought",

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bethink.

BETHRALL Be*thrall", v. t.

Defn: To reduce to thralldom; to inthrall. [Obs.] Spenser.

BETHUMB Be*thumb", v. t.

Defn: To handle; to wear or soil by handling; as books. Poe.

BETHUMP Be*thump", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bethumped, or Bethumpt; p. pr. & vb. n. Bethumping.]

Defn: To beat or thump soundly. Shak.

BETIDE Be*tide", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betided, Obs. Betid; p. pr. & vb. n. Betiding.] Etym: [OE. bitiden; pref. bi-, be- + tiden, fr. AS. tidan, to happen, fr. tid time. See Tide.]

Defn: To happen to; to befall; to come to ; as, woe betide the wanderer. What will betide the few Milton.

BETIDE Be*tide", v. i.

Defn: To come to pass; to happen; to occur. A salve for any sore that may betide. Shak.

Note: Shakespeare has used it with of. "What would betide of me "

BETIME; BETIMES Be*time", Be*times", adv. Etym: [Pref. be- (for by) + time; that is, by the proper time. The -s is an adverbial ending.]

1. In good season or time; before it is late; seasonably; early. To measure life learn thou betimes. Milton. To rise betimes is often harder than to do all the day's work. Barrow.

2. In a short time; soon; speedily; forth with. He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes. Shak.

BETITLE Be*ti"tle, v. t.

Defn: To furnish with a title or titles; to entitle. [Obs.] Carlyle.

BETOKEN Be*to"ken, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betokened; p. pr. & vb. n. Betokening.]

1. To signify by some visible object; to show by signs or tokens. A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow . . . Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. Milton.

2. To foreshow by present signs; to indicate something future by that which is seen or known; as, a dark cloud often betokens a storm.

Syn. -- To presage; portend; indicate; mark; note.

BETON Bé`ton", n. Etym: [F. béton, fr. L. bitumen bitumen.] (Masonry)

Defn: The French name for concrete; hence, concrete made after the French fashion.

BETONGUE Be*tongue", v. t.

Defn: To attack with the tongue; to abuse; to insult.

BETONY Bet"o*ny, n.; pl. Betonies. Etym: [OE. betony, betany, F. betoine, fr. L. betonica, vettonica.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Betonica (Linn.).

Note: The purple or wood betony (B. officinalis, Linn.) is common in Europe, being formerly used in medicine, and (according to Loudon) in dyeing wool a yellow color.

BETOOK Be*took", imp.

Defn: of Betake.

BETORN Be*torn", a.

Defn: Torn in pieces; tattered.

BETOSS Be*toss, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betossed.]

Defn: To put in violent motion; to agitate; to disturb; to toss. "My betossed soul." Shak.

BETRAP Be*trap", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrapped.]

1. To draw into, or catch in, a trap; to insnare; to circumvent. Gower.

2. To put trappings on; to clothe; to deck. After them followed two other chariots covered with red satin, and the horses betrapped with the same. Stow.

BETRAY Be*tray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Betraying.] Etym: [OE. betraien, bitraien; pref. be- + OF. traïr to bertray, F. trahir, fr. L. tradere. See Traitor.]

1. To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in violation of trust; to give up treacherously or faithlessly; as, an officer betrayed the city. Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men. Matt. xvii. 22.

2. To prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to be false to; to deceive; as, to betray a person or a cause. But when I rise, I shall find my legs betraying me. Johnson.

3. To violate the confidence of, by disclosing a secret, or that which one is bound in honor not to make known. Willing to serve or betray any government for hire. Macaulay.

4. To disclose or discover, as something which prudence would conceal; to reveal unintentionally. Be swift to hear, but cautious of your tongue, lest you betray your ignorance. T. Watts.

5. To mislead; to expose to inconvenience not foreseen to lead into error or sin. Genius . . . often betrays itself into great errors. T. Watts.

6. To lead astray, as a maiden; to seduce (as under promise of marriage) and then abandon.

7. To show or to indicate; -- said of what is not obvious at first, or would otherwise be concealed. All the names in the country betray great antiquity. Bryant.

BETRAYAL Be*tray"al n.

Defn: The act or the result of betraying.

BETRAYER Be*tray"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, betrays.

BETRAYMENT Be*tray"ment, n.

Defn: Betrayal. [R.] Udall.

BETRIM Be*trim", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Betrimming.]

Defn: To set in order; to adorn; to deck, to embellish; to trim. Shak.

BETROTH Be*troth", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrothed; p. pr. & vb. n. Betrothing.] Etym: [Pref. be- + troth, i. e., truth. See Truth.]

1. To contract to any one for a marriage; to engage or promise in order to marriage; to affiance; -- used esp. of a woman. He, in the first flower of my freshest age, Betrothed me unto the only heir. Spenser. Ay, and we are betrothed. Shak.

2. To promise to take (as a future spouse); to plight one's troth to. What man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her Deut. xx. 7.

3. To nominate to a bishopric, in order to consecration. Ayliffe.

BETROTHAL Be*troth"al, n.

Defn: The act of betrothing, or the fact of being betrothed; a mutual promise, engagement, or contract for a future marriage between the persons betrothed; betrothment; affiance. "The feast of betrothal." Longfellow.

BETROTHMENT Be*troth"ment, n.

Defn: The act of betrothing, or the state of being betrothed; betrothal.

BETRUST Be*trust", v. t.

Defn: To trust or intrust. [Obs.]

BETRUSTMENT Be*trust"ment, n.

Defn: The act of intrusting, or the thing intrusted. [Obs.] Chipman.

BETSO Bet"so, n. Etym: [It. bezzo.]

Defn: A small brass Venetian coin. [Obs.]

BETTER Bet"ter, a.; compar. of Good. Etym: [OE. betere, bettre, and as adv. bet, AS. betera, adj., and bet, adv.; akin to Icel. betri, adj., betr, adv., Goth. batiza, adj., OHG. bezziro, adj., baz, adv., G. besser, adj. and adv., bass, adv., E. boot, and prob. to Skr. bhadra excellent. See Boot advantage, and cf. Best, Batful.]

1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air. Could make the worse appear The better reason. Milton.

2. Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect. To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Sam. xv. 22. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. Ps. cxviii. 9.

3. Greater in amount; larger; more.

4. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.

5. More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance; a better knowledge of the subject. All the better. See under All, adv. -- Better half, an expression used to designate one's wife. My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now leave thee. Sir P. Sidney. -- To be better off, to be in a better condition. -- Had better. (See under Had).

Note: The phrase had better, followed by an infinitive without to, is idiomatic. The earliest form of construction was "were better" with a dative; as, "Him were better go beside." (Gower.) i. e., It would be better for him, etc. At length the nominative (I, he, they, etc.) supplanted the dative and had took the place of were. Thus we have the construction now used. By all that's holy, he had better starve Than but once think this place becomes thee not. Shak.

BETTER Bet"ter, n.

1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy.

2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural. Their betters would hardly be found. Hooker. For the better, in the way of improvement; so as to produce improvement. "If I have altered him anywhere for the better." Dryden.

BETTER Bet"ter, adv.; compar. of Well.

1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits. I could have better spared a better man. Shak.

2. More correctly or thoroughly. The better to understand the extent of our knowledge. Locke.

3. In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one better than another. Never was monarch better feared, and loved. Shak.

4. More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as, ten miles and better. [Colloq.] To think better of (any one), to have a more favorable opinion of any one. -- To think better of (an opinion, resolution, etc.), to reconsider and alter one's decision.

BETTER Bet"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bettered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bettering.] Etym: [AS. beterian, betrian, fr. betera better. See Better, a.]

1. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of. Love betters what is best. Wordsworth. He thought to better his circumstances. Thackeray.

2. To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise. The constant effort of every man to better himself. Macaulay.

3. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel. The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered. Hooker.

4. To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of. [Obs.] Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton.

Syn. -- To improve; meliorate; ameliorate; mend; amend; correct; emend; reform; advance; promote.

BETTER Bet"ter, v. i.

Defn: To become better; to improve. Carlyle.

BETTER Bet"ter, n.

Defn: One who bets or lays a wager.

BETTERMENT Bet"ter*ment, n.

1. A making better; amendment; improvement. W. Montagu.

2. (Law)

Defn: An improvement of an estate which renders it better than mere repairing would do; -- generally used in the plural. [U. S.] Bouvier.

BETTERMOST Bet"ter*most`, a.

Defn: Best. [R.] "The bettermost classes." Brougham.

BETTERNESS Bet"ter*ness, n.

1. The quality of being better or superior; superiority. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.

2. The difference by which fine gold or silver exceeds in fineness the standard.

BETTONG Bet"tong, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small, leaping Australian marsupial of the genus Bettongia; the jerboa kangaroo.

BETTOR Bet"tor, n.

Defn: One who bets; a better. Addison.

BETTY Bet"ty, n.

1. Etym: [Supposed to be a cant word, from Betty, for Elizabeth, as such an instrument is also called Bess (i. e., Elizabeth) in the Canting Dictionary of 1725, and Jenny (i. e., Jane).]

Defn: A short bar used by thieves to wrench doors open. [Written also bettee.] The powerful betty, or the artful picklock. Arbuthnot.

2. Etym: [Betty, nickname for Elizabeth.]

Defn: A name of contempt given to a man who interferes with the duties of women in a household, or who occupies himself with womanish matters.

3. A pear-shaped bottle covered round with straw, in which olive oil is sometimes brought from Italy; -- called by chemists a Florence flask. [U. S.] Bartlett.

BETULIN Bet"u*lin, n. Etym: [L. betula birch tree.] (Chem.)

Defn: A substance of a resinous nature, obtained from the outer bark of the common European birch (Betula alba), or from the tar prepared therefrom; -- called also birch camphor. Watts.

BETUMBLE Be*tum"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betumbled.]

Defn: To throw into disorder; to tumble. [R.] From her betumbled couch she starteth. Shak.

BETUTOR Be*tu"tor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betutored.]

Defn: To tutor; to instruct. Coleridge.

BETWEEN Be*tween", prep. Etym: [OE. bytwene, bitweonen, AS. betweónan, betweónum; prefix be- by + a form fr. AS. twa two, akin to Goth. tweihnai two apiece. See Twain, and cf. Atween, Betwixt.]

1. In the space which separates; betwixt; as, New York is between Boston and Philadelphia.

2. Used in expressing motion from one body or place to another; from one to another of two. If things should go so between them. Bacon.

3. Belonging in common to two; shared by both. Castor and Pollux with only one soul between them. Locke.

4. Belonging to, or participated in by, two, and involving reciprocal action or affecting their mutual relation; as, opposition between science and religion. An intestine struggle, open or secret, between authority and liberty. Hume.

5. With relation to two, as involved in an act or attribute of which another is the agent or subject; as, to judge between or to choose between courses; to distinguish between you and me; to mediate between nations.

6. In intermediate relation to, in respect to time, quantity, or degree; as, between nine and ten o'clock. Between decks, the space, or in the space, between the decks of a vessel. -- Between ourselves, Between you and me, Between themselves, in confidence; with the understanding that the matter is not to be communicated to others.

Syn. -- Between, Among. Between etymologically indicates only two; as, a quarrel between two men or two nations; to be between two fires, etc. It is however extended to more than two in expressing a certain relation. I . . . hope that between public business, improving studies, and domestic pleasures, neither melancholy nor caprice will find any place for entrance. Johnson. Among implies a mass or collection of things or persons, and always supposes more than two; as, the prize money was equally divided among the ship's crew.

BETWEEN Be*tween", n.

Defn: Intermediate time or space; interval. [Poetic & R.] Shak.

BETWIXT Be*twixt", prep. Etym: [OE. betwix, bitwix, rarely bitwixt, AS. betweox, betweohs, betweoh, betwih; pref. be- by + a form fr. AS. twa two. See Between.]

1. In the space which separates; between. From betwixt two aged oaks. Milton.

2. From one to another of; mutually affecting. There was some speech of marriage Betwixt myself and her. Shak. Betwixt and between, in a midway position; so-so; neither one thing nor the other. [Colloq.]

BEURRE Beur*ré", n. Etym: [F., fr. beurre butter.] (Bot.)

Defn: A beurré (or buttery) pear, one with the meas, Beurré d'Anjou; Beurré Clairgeau.

BEVEL Bev"el, n. Etym: [C. F. biveau, earlier buveau, Sp. baivel; of unknown origin. Cf. Bevile.]

1. Any angle other than a right angle; the angle which one surface makes with another when they are not at right angles; the slant or inclination of such surface; as, to give a bevel to the edge of a table or a stone slab; the bevel of a piece of timber.

2. An instrument consisting of two rules or arms, jointed together at one end, and opening to any angle, for adjusting the surfaces of work to the same or a given inclination; -- called also a bevel square. Gwilt.

BEVEL Bev"el, a.

1. Having the slant of a bevel; slanting.

2. Hence: Morally distorted; not upright. [Poetic] I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel. Shak. A bevel angle, any angle other than one of 90º. -- Bevel wheel, a cogwheel whose working face is oblique to the axis. Knight.

BEVEL Bev"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beveled (Bevelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Beveling or Bevelling.]

Defn: To cut to a bevel angle; to slope the edge or surface of.

BEVEL Bev"el, v. i.

Defn: To deviate or incline from an angle of 90 Their houses are very ill built, the walls bevel. Swift.

BEVELED; BEVELLED Bev"eled, Bev"elled, a.

1. Formed to a bevel angle; sloping; as, the beveled edge of a table.

2. (Min.) Replaced by two planes inclining equally upon the adjacent planes, as an edge; having its edges replaces by sloping planes, as a cube or other solid.

BEVEL GEAR Bev"el gear`. (Mech.)

Defn: A kind of gear in which the two wheels working together lie in different planes, and have their teeth cut at right angles to the surfaces of two cones whose apices coincide with the point where the axes of the wheels would meet.

BEVELMENT Bev"el*ment, n. (Min.)

Defn: The replacement of an edge by two similar planes, equally inclined to the including faces or adjacent planes.

BEVER Be"ver, n. Etym: [OE. bever a drink, drinking time, OF. beivre, boivre, to drink, fr. L. bibere.]

Defn: A light repast between meals; a lunch. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

BEVER Be"ver, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bevered (

Defn: To take a light repast between meals. [Obs.]

BEVERAGE Bev"er*age, n. Etym: [OF. bevrage, F. breuvage, fr. beivre to drink, fr. L. bibere. Cf. Bib, v. t., Poison, Potable.]

1. Liquid for drinking; drink; -- usually applied to drink artificially prepared and of an agreeable flavor; as, an intoxicating beverage. He knew no beverage but the flowing stream. Thomson.

2. Specifically, a name applied to various kinds of drink.

3. A treat, or drink money. [Slang]

BEVILE Bev"ile, n. Etym: [See Bevel.] (Her.)

Defn: A chief broken or opening like a carpenter's bevel. Encyc. Brit.

BEVILED; BEVILLED Bev"iled, Bev"illed, a. (Her.)

Defn: Notched with an angle like that inclosed by a carpenter's bevel; -- said of a partition line of a shield.

BEVY Bev"y, n.; pl. Bevies. Etym: [Perhaps orig. a drinking company, fr. OF. bevée (cf. It. beva) a drink, beverage; then, perh., a company in general, esp. of ladies; and last applied by sportsmen to larks, quails, etc. See Beverage.]

1. A company; an assembly or collection of persons, especially of ladies. What a bevy of beaten slaves have we here ! Beau. & Fl.

2. A flock of birds, especially quails or larks; also, a herd of roes.

BEWAIL Be*wail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bewailing.]

Defn: To express deep sorrow for, as by wailing; to lament; to wail over. Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the injury. Shak.

Syn. -- To bemoan; grieve. -- See Deplore.

BEWAIL Be*wail", v. i.

Defn: To express grief; to lament. Shak.

BEWAILABLE Be*wail"a*ble, a.

Defn: Such as may, or ought to, be bewailed; lamentable.

BEWAILER Be*wail"er, n.

Defn: One who bewails or laments.

BEWAILING Be*wail"ing, a.

Defn: Wailing over; lamenting. -- Be*wail"ing*ly, adv.

BEWAILMENT Be*wail"ment, n.

Defn: The act of bewailing.

BEWAKE Be*wake", v. t. & i.

Defn: To keep watch over; to keep awake. [Obs.] Gower.

BEWARE Be*ware", v. i. Etym: [Be, imperative of verb to be + ware. See Ware, Wary.]

1. To be on one's guard; to be cautious; to take care; -- commonly followed by of or lest before the thing that is to be avoided. Beware of all, but most beware of man ! Pope. Beware the awful avalanche. Longfellow.

2. To have a special regard; to heed. [Obs.] Behold, I send an Angel before thee. . . . Beware of him, and obey his voice. Ex. xxiii. 20, 21.

Note: This word is a compound from be and the Old English ware, now wary, which is an adjective. "Be ye war of false prophetis." Wyclif, Matt. vii. 15. It is used commonly in the imperative and infinitive modes, and with such auxiliaries (shall, should, must, etc.) as go with the infinitive.

BEWARE Be*ware", v. t.

Defn: To avoid; to take care of; to have a care for. [Obs.] "Priest, beware your beard." Shak. To wish them beware the son. Milton.

BEWASH Be*wash", v. t.

Defn: To drench or souse with water. "Let the maids bewash the men." Herrick.

BEWEEP Be*weep", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewept; p. pr. & vb. n. Beweeping.] Etym: [AS. bew; pref. be- + weep.]

Defn: To weep over; to deplore; to bedew with tears. "His timeless death beweeping." Drayton.

BEWEEP Be*weep", v. i.

Defn: To weep. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BEWET Be*wet", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewet, Bewetted.]

Defn: To wet or moisten. Gay.

BEWHORE Be*whore", v. t.

1. To corrupt with regard to chastity; to make a whore of. J. Fletcher.

2. To pronounce or characterize as a whore. Shak.

BEWIG Be*wig", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewigged.]

Defn: To cover (the head) with a wig. Hawthorne.

BEWILDER Be*wil"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewildered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bewildering.] Etym: [Pref. be- + wilder.]

Defn: To lead into perplexity or confusion, as for want of a plain path; to perplex with mazes; or in general, to perplex or confuse greatly. Lost and bewildered in the fruitless search. Addison.

Syn. -- To perplex; puzzle; entangle; confuse; confound; mystify; embarrass; lead astray.

BEWILDERED Be*wil"dered, a.

Defn: Greatly perplexed; as, a bewildered mind.

BEWILDEREDNESS Be*wil"dered*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being bewildered; bewilderment. [R.]

BEWILDERING Be*wil"der*ing, a.

Defn: Causing bewilderment or great perplexity; as, bewildering difficulties. -- Be*wil"der*ing*ly, adv.

BEWILDERMENT Be*wil"der*ment, n.

1. The state of being bewildered.

2. A bewildering tangle or confusion. He . . . soon lost all traces of it amid bewilderment of tree trunks and underbrush. Hawthorne.

BEWINTER Be*win"ter, v. t.

Defn: To make wintry. [Obs.]

BEWIT Bew"it, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. buie bond, chain, fr. L. boja neck collar, fetter. Cf. Buoy.]

Defn: A double slip of leather by which bells are fastened to a hawk's legs.

BEWITCH Be*witch", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewitched; p. pr. & vb. n. Bewitching.]

1. To gain an ascendency over by charms or incantations; to affect (esp. to injure) by witchcraft or sorcery. See how I am bewitched; behold, mine arm Is like a blasted sapling withered up. Shak.

2. To charm; to fascinate; to please to such a degree as to take away the power of resistance; to enchant. The charms of poetry our souls bewitch. Dryden.

Syn. -- To enchant; captivate; charm; entrance.

BEWITCHEDNESS Be*witch"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being bewitched. Gauden.

BEWITCHER Be*witch"er, n.

Defn: One who bewitches.

BEWITCHERY Be*witch"er*y, n.

Defn: The power of bewitching or fascinating; bewitchment; charm; fascination. There is a certain bewitchery or fascination in words. South.

BEWITCHING Be*witch"ing, a.

Defn: Having power to bewitch or fascinate; enchanting; captivating; charming. -- Be*witch"ing*ly, adv. -- Be*witch"ing*ness, n.

BEWITCHMENT Be*witch"ment, n.

1. The act of bewitching, or the state of being bewitched. Tylor.

2. The power of bewitching or charming. Shak.

BEWONDER Be*won"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewondered.]

1. To fill with wonder. [Obs.]

2. To wonder at; to admire. [Obs.]

BEWRAP Be*wrap", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewrapped.]

Defn: To wrap up; to cover. Fairfax.

BEWRAY Be*wray", v. t.

Defn: To soil. See Beray.

BEWRAY Be*wray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewrayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bewraying.] Etym: [OE. bewraien, biwreyen; pref. be- + AS. wr to accuse, betray; akin to OS. wr, OHG. ruog, G. rügen, Icel. rægja, Goth. wr to accuse.]

Defn: To expose; to reveal; to disclose; to betray. [Obs. or Archaic] The murder being once done, he is in less fear, and in more hope that the deed shall not be bewrayed or known. Robynson (More's Utopia. ) Thy speech bewrayeth thee. Matt. xxvi. 73.

BEWRAYER Be*wray"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, bewrays; a revealer. [Obs. or Archaic] Addison.

BEWRAYMENT Be*wray"ment, n.

Defn: Betrayal. [R.]

BEWRECK Be*wreck", v. t.

Defn: To wreck. [Obs.]

BEWREKE Be*wreke", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + wreak.]

Defn: To wreak; to avenge. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.

BEWROUGHT Be*wrought", a. Etym: [Pref. be- + wrought, p. p. of work, v. t. ]

Defn: Embroidered. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

BEY Bey, n. Etym: [See Beg a bey.]

Defn: A governor of a province or district in the Turkish dominions; also, in some places, a prince or nobleman; a beg; as, the bey of Tunis.

BEYLIC Bey"lic, n. Etym: [Turk.]

Defn: The territory ruled by a bey.

BEYOND Be*yond", prep. Etym: [OE. biyonde, bi, AS. begeondan, prep. and adv.; pref. be- + geond yond, yonder. See Yon, Yonder.]

1. On the further side of; in the same direction as, and further on or away than. Beyond that flaming hill. G. Fletcher.

2. At a place or time not yet reached; before. A thing beyond us, even before our death. Pope.

3. Past, out of the reach or sphere of; further than; greater than; as, the patient was beyond medical aid; beyond one's strength.

4. In a degree or amount exceeding or surpassing; proceeding to a greater degree than; above, as in dignity, excellence, or quality of any kind. "Beyond expectation." Barrow. Beyond any of the great men of my country. Sir P. Sidney. Beyond sea. (Law) See under Sea. -- To go beyond, to exceed in ingenuity, in research, or in anything else; hence, in a bed sense, to deceive or circumvent. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter. 1 Thess. iv. 6.

BEYOND Be*yond", adv.

Defn: Further away; at a distance; yonder. Lo, where beyond he lyeth languishing. Spenser.

BEZANT Be*zant", n. Etym: [See Byzant.]

1. A gold coin of Byzantium or Constantinople, varying in weight and value, usually (those current in England) between a sovereign and a half sovereign. There were also white or silver bezants. [Written also besant, byzant, etc.]

2. (Her.)

Defn: A circle in or, i. e., gold, representing the gold coin called bezant. Burke.

3. A decoration of a flat surface, as of a band or belt, representing circular disks lapping one upon another.

BEZ-ANTLER Bez`-ant"ler, n. Etym: [L. bis twice (OF. bes) + E. antler.]

Defn: The second branch of a stag's horn.

BEZEL Bez"el, n. Etym: [From an old form of F. biseau sloping edge, prob. fr. L. bis double. See Bi-.]

Defn: The rim which encompasses and fastens a jewel or other object, as the crystal of a watch, in the cavity in which it is set.

BEZIQUE Bé*zique", n. Etym: [F. bésigue.]

Defn: A game at cards in which various combinations of cards in the hand, when declared, score points.

BEZOAR Be"zoar, n. Etym: [F. bézoard, fr. Ar. bazahr, badizahr, fr. Per. pad-zahr bezoar; pad protecting + zahr poison; cf. Pg. & Sp. bezoar.]

Defn: A calculous concretion found in the intestines of certain ruminant animals (as the wild goat, the gazelle, and the Peruvian llama) formerly regarded as an unfailing antidote for poison, and a certain remedy for eruptive, pestilential, or putrid diseases. Hence: Any antidote or panacea.

Note: Two kinds were particularly esteemed, the Bezoar orientale of India, and the Bezoar occidentale of Peru. Bezoar antelope. See Antelope. -- Bezoar goat (Zoöl.), the wild goat (Capra ægagrus). -- Bezoar mineral, an old preparation of oxide of antimony. Ure.

BEZOARDIC Bez`o*ar"dic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bézoardique, bézoartique.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or compounded with, bezoar. -- n.

Defn: A medicine containing bezoar.

BEZOARTIC; BEZOARTICAL Bez`o*ar"tic, Bez`o*ar"tic*al, a. Etym: [See Bezoardic.]

Defn: Having the qualities of an antidote, or of bezoar; healing. [Obs.]

BEZONIAN Be*zo"ni*an, n. Etym: [Cf. F. besoin need, want, It bisogno.]

Defn: A low fellow or scoundrel; a beggar. Great men oft die by vile bezonians. Shak.

BEZPOPOVTSY Bez`po*pov"tsy, n. [Russ.; bez without + popovtsy, a derivative of pop priest.]

Defn: A Russian sect. See Raskolnik.

BEZZLE Bez"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bezzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bezzling.] Etym: [OF. besillier, besiler, to maltreat, pillage; or shortened fr. embezzle. Cf. Embezzle.]

Defn: To plunder; to waste in riot. [Obs.]

BEZZLE Bez"zle, v. i.

Defn: To drink to excess; to revel. [Obs.]

BHANG Bhang, n. Etym: [Per. bang; cf. Skr. bhanga hemp.]

Defn: An astringent and narcotic drug made from the dried leaves and seed capsules of wild hemp (Cannabis Indica), and chewed or smoked in the East as a means of intoxication. See Hasheesh.

BHEESTY; BHEESTIE Bhees"ty, Bhees"tie, n. [Written also bhistee, bhisti, etc.] [Per. bihishti lit., heavenly.]

Defn: A water carrier, as to a household or a regiment. [India]

BHISTEE; BHISTI Bhis"tee, Bhis"ti, n.

Defn: Same as Bheesty. [India]

BHUNDER Bhun"der, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An Indian monkey (Macacus Rhesus), protected by the Hindoos as sacred. See Rhesus.

BI; BI- Bi*. Etym: [L. bis twice, which in composition drops the -s, akin to E. two. See Bis-, Two, and cf. Di-, Dis-.]

1. In most branches of science bi- in composition denotes two, twice, or doubly; as, bidentate, two-toothed; biternate, doubly ternate, etc.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: In the composition of chemical names bi- denotes two atoms, parts, or equivalents of that constituent to the name of which it is prefixed, to one of the other component, or that such constituent is present in double the ordinary proportion; as, bichromate, bisulphide. Be- and di- are often used interchangeably.

BIACID Bi*ac"id, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + acid.] (Chem.)

Defn: Having two hydrogen atoms which can be replaced by negative atoms or radicals to form salts; -- said of bases. See Diacid.

BIACUMINATE Bi`a*cu"mi*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + acuminate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having points in two directions.

BIANGULAR Bi*an"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + angular.]

Defn: Having two angles or corners.

BIANGULATE; BIANGULATED Bi*an"gu*late, Bi*an"gu*la`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + angulate, angulated.]

Defn: Biangular.

BIANGULOUS Bi*an"gu*lous,a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + angulous.]

Defn: Biangular. [R.]

BIANNUAL Bi*an"nu*al, a. [Pref. bi- + annual.]

Defn: Occurring twice a year; half-yearly; semiannual.

BIANTHERIFEROUS Bi*an`ther*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + antherigerous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two anthers.

BIARTICULATE Bi`ar*tic"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + articulate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having, or consisting of, tow joints.

BIAS Bi"as, n.; pl. Biases. Etym: [F. biasis, perh. fr. LL. bifax two- faced; L. bis + facies face. See Bi-, and cf. Face.]

1. A weight on the side of the ball used in the game of bowls, or a tendency imparted to the ball, which turns it from a straight line. Being ignorant that there is a concealed bias within the spheroid, which will . . . swerve away. Sir W. Scott.

2. A learning of the mind; propensity or prepossession toward an object or view, not leaving the mind indifferent; bent inclination. Strong love is a bias upon the thoughts. South. Morality influences men's lives, and gives a bias to all their actions. Locke.

3. A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (as the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference.

4. A slant; a diagonal; as, to cut cloth on the bias.

Syn. -- Prepossession; prejudice; partiality; inclination. See Bent.

BIAS Bi"as, a.

1. Inclined to one side; swelled on one side. [Obs.] Shak.

2. Cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth.

BIAS Bi"as, adv.

Defn: In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally; as, to cut cloth bias.

BIAS Bi"as, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Biased; p. pr. & vb. n. Biasing.]

Defn: To incline to one side; to give a particular direction to; to influence; to prejudice; to prepossess. Me it had not biased in the one direction, nor should it have biased any just critic in the counter direction. De. Quincey.

BIAURICULATE Bi`au*ric"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + au riculate.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Having two auricles, as the heart of mammals, birds, and reptiles.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Having two earlike projections at its base, as a leaf.

BIAXAL; BIAXIAL Bi*ax"al, Bi*ax"i*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + axal, axial.] (Opt.)

Defn: Having two axes; as, biaxial polarization. Brewster. -- Bi*ax"i*al*ly, adv.

BIB Bib, n. Etym: [From Bib, v., because the bib receives the drink that the child slavers from the mouth.]

1. A small piece of cloth worn by children over the breast, to protect the clothes.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An arctic fish (Gadus luscus), allied to the cod; -- called also pout and whiting pout.

3. A bibcock.

BIB; BIBBE Bib, Bibbe, v. t. Etym: [L. bibere. See Beverage, and cf. Imbibe.]

Defn: To drink; to tipple. [Obs.] This miller hath . . . bibbed ale. Chaucer.

BIB Bib, v. i.

Defn: To drink; to sip; to tipple. He was constantly bibbing. Locke.

BIBACIOUS Bi*ba"cious, a. Etym: [L. bibax, bibacis, fr. bibere. See Bib.]

Defn: Addicted to drinking.

BIBACITY Bi*bac"i*ty, n.

Defn: The practice or habit of drinking too much; tippling. Blount.

BIBASIC Bi*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + basic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Having to hydrogen atoms which can be replaced by positive or basic atoms or radicals to form salts; -- said of acids. See Dibasic.

BIBB Bibb, n.

Defn: A bibcock. See Bib, n., 3.

BIBBER Bib"ber, n.

Defn: One given to drinking alcoholic beverages too freely; a tippler; -- chiefly used in composition; as, winebibber.

BIBBLE-BABBLE Bib"ble-bab"ble, n. Etym: [A reduplication of babble.]

Defn: Idle talk; babble. Shak.

BIBBS Bibbs, n. pl. (Naut.)

Defn: Pieces of timber bolted to certain parts of a mast tp support the trestletrees.

BIBCOCK Bib"cock`, n.

Defn: A cock or faucet having a bent down nozzle. Knight.

BIBELOT Bi`be*lot", n. [F.]

Defn: A small decorative object without practical utility.

Her pictures, her furniture, and her bibelots. M. Crawford.

BIBIRINE Bi*bi"rine, n. (Chem.)

Defn: See Bebeerine.

BIBITORY Bib"i*to*ry, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to drinking or tippling.

BIBLE Bi"ble, n. Etym: [F. bible, L. biblia, pl., fr. Gr. , pl. of , dim. of , , book, prop. Egyptian papyrus.]

1. A book. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. The Book by way of eminence, -- that is, the book which is made up of the writings accepted by Christians as of divine origin and authority, whether such writings be in the original language, or translated; the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; -- sometimes in a restricted sense, the Old Testament; as, King James's Bible; Douay Bible; Luther's Bible. Also, the book which is made up of writings similarly accepted by the Jews; as, a rabbinical Bible.

3. A book containing the sacred writings belonging to any religion; as, the Koran is often called the Mohammedan Bible. Fig.)

Defn: A book with an authoritative exposition of some topic, respected by many experts on the field. Bible Society, an association for securing the multiplication and wide distribution of the Bible. -- Douay Bible. See Douay Bible. -- Geneva Bible. See under Geneva.

BIBLER Bib"ler, n. Etym: [See Bib, v. t.]

Defn: A great drinker; a tippler. [Written also bibbler and bibbeler.]

BIBLICAL Bib"li*cal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the Bible; as, biblical learning; biblical authority.

BIBLICALITY Bib`li*cal"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being biblical; a biblical subject. [R.]

BIBLICALLY Bib"li*cal*ly, adv.

Defn: According to the Bible.

BIBLICISM Bib"li*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. biblicisme.]

Defn: Learning or literature relating to the Bible. [R.]

BIBLICIST Bib"li*cist, n.

Defn: One skilled in the knowledge of the Bible; a demonstrator of religious truth by the Scriptures.

BIBLIOGRAPH Bib"li*o*graph`, n.

Defn: Bibliographer.

BIBLIOGRAPHER Bib`li*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Gr. , fr. book + to write : cf. F. bibliographe.]

Defn: One who writes, or is versed in, bibliography.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC; BIBLIOGRAPHICAL Bib`li*o*graph"ic, Bib`li*o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bibliographique.]

Defn: Pertaining to bibliography, or the history of books. -- Bib`li*o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bib`li*og"ra*phy n.; pl. Bibliographies. Etym: [Gr. : cf. F. bibliographie.]

Defn: A history or description of books and manuscripts, with notices of the different editions, the times when they were printed, etc.

BIBLIOLATER; BIBLIOLATRIST Bib`li*ol"a*ter, Bib`li*ol"a*trist, n. Etym: [See. Bibliolatry.]

Defn: A worshiper of books; especially, a worshiper of the Bible; a believer in its verbal inspiration. De Quincey.

BIBLIOLATRY Bib`li*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr. book + service, worship, to serve.]

Defn: Book worship, esp. of the Bible; -- applied by Roman Catholic divine Coleridge. F. W. Newman.

BIBLIOLOGICAL Bib`li*o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Relating to bibliology.

BIBLIOLOGY Bib`li*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. book + -logy.]

1. An account of books; book lore; bibliography.

2. The literature or doctrine of the Bible.

BIBLIOMANCY Bib"li*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. book + -mancy: cf. F. bibliomancie.]

Defn: A kind of divination, performed by selecting passages of Scripture at hazard, and drawing from them indications concerning future events.

BIBLIOMANIA Bib`li*o*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Gr. book + madness: cf. F. bibliomanie.]

Defn: A mania for acquiring books.

BIBLIOMANIAC Bib`li*o*ma"ni*ac, n.

Defn: One who has a mania for books. -- a.

Defn: Relating to a bibliomaniac.

BIBLIOMANIACAL Bib`li*o*ma*ni"ac*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to a passion for books; relating to a bibliomaniac.

BIBLIOPEGIC Bib`li*o*peg"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. book + to make fast.]

Defn: Relating to the binding of books. [R.]

BIBLIOPEGIST Bib`li*op"e*gist, n.

Defn: A bookbinder.

BIBLIOPEGISTIC Bib`li*op`e*gis"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the art of binding books. [R.] Dibdin.

BIBLIOPEGY Bib`li*op"e*gy, n. Etym: [See Bibliopegic.]

Defn: The art of binding books. [R.]

BIBLIOPHILE Bib"li*o*phile, n. Etym: [Gr. book + to love: cf. F. bibliophile.]

Defn: A lover of books.

BIBLIOPHILISM Bib`li*oph"i*lism, n.

Defn: Love of books.

BIBLIOPHILIST Bib`li*oph"i*list, n.

Defn: A lover of books.

BIBLIOPHOBIA Bib`li*o*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [Gr. book + to fear.]

Defn: A dread of books. [R.]

BIBLIOPOLE Bib"li*o*pole, n. Etym: [L. bibliopola, Gr. ; book + to sell: cf. F. bibliopole.]

Defn: One who sells books.

BIBLIOPOLIC; BIBLIOPOLAR Bib`li*o*pol"ic, Bib`li*op"o*lar, a. Etym: [See Bibliopole.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the sale of books. "Bibliopolic difficulties." Carlyle.

BIBLIOPOLISM Bib`li*op"o*lism, n.

Defn: The trade or business of selling books.

BIBLIOPOLIST Bib`li*op"o*list, n.

Defn: Same as Bibliopole.

BIBLIOPOLISTIC Bib`li*op`o*lis"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to bibliopolism. Dibdin.

BIBLIOTAPH; BIBLIOTAPHIST Bib"li*o*taph, Bib`li*ot"a*phist, n. Etym: [Gr. book + a burial.]

Defn: One who hides away books, as in a tomb. [R.] Crabb.

BIBLIOTHEC Bib"li*o*thec, n.

Defn: A librarian.

BIBLIOTHECA Bib`li*o*the"ca, n. Etym: [L. See Bibliotheke.]

Defn: A library.

BIBLIOTHECAL Bib`li*o*the"cal, a. Etym: [L. bibliothecalis. See Bibliotheke.]

Defn: Belonging to a library. Byrom.

BIBLIOTHECARY Bib`li*oth"e*ca*ry, n. Etym: [L. bibliothecarius: cf. F. bibliothécaire.]

Defn: A librarian. [Obs.] Evelin.

BIBLIOTHEKE Bib"li*o*theke, n. Etym: [L. bibliotheca, Gr. ; book + a case, box, fr. to place: cf. F. bibliothèque.]

Defn: A library. [Obs.] Bale.

BIBLIST Bib"list, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bibliste. See Bible.]

1. One who makes the Bible the sole rule of faith.

2. A biblical scholar; a biblicist. I. Taylor.

BIBRACTEATE Bi*brac"te*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + bracteate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Furnished with, or having, two bracts.

BIBULOUS Bib"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. bibulus, fr. bibere to drink. See Bib, v. t. ]

1. Readily imbibing fluids or moisture; spongy; as, bibulous blotting paper.

2. Inclined to drink; addicted to tippling.

BIBULOUSLY Bib"u*lous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a bibulous manner; with profuse imbibition or absorption. De Quincey.

BICALCARATE Bi*cal"ca*rate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + calcarate.]

Defn: Having two spurs, as the wing or leg of a bird.

BICALLOSE; BICALLOUS Bi*cal"lose, Bi*cal"lous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + callose, callous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two callosities or hard spots. Gray.

BICAMERAL Bi*cam"er*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + camera.]

Defn: Consisting of, or including, two chambers, or legislative branches. Bentham.

BICAPSULAR Bi*cap"su*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + capsular: cf. F. bicapsulaire.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two capsules; as, a bicapsular pericarp.

BICARBONATE Bi*car"bon*ate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi-+ carbonate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A carbonate in which but half the hydrogen of the acid is replaced by a positive element or radical, thus making the proportion of the acid to the positive or basic portion twice what it is in the normal carbonates; an acid carbonate; -- sometimes called supercarbonate.

BICARBURETED; BICARBURETTED Bi*car"bu*ret`ed or -ret`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + carbureted.] (Chem.)

Defn: Containing two atoms or equivalents of carbon in the molecule. [Obs. or R.]

BICARINATE Bi*car"i*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + carinate.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having two keel-like projections, as the upper palea of grasses.

BICAUDAL Bi*cau"dal, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + caudal.]

Defn: Having, or terminating in, two tails.

BICAUDATE Bi*cau"date, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + caudate.]

Defn: Two-tailed; bicaudal.

BICCHED Bic"ched, a. Etym: [Of unknown origin.]

Defn: Pecked; pitted; notched. [Obs.] Chaucer. Bicched bones, pecked, or notched, bones; dice.

BICE; BISE Bice, Bise, n. Etym: [F. bis, akin to It. bigio light gray, tawny.] (Paint.)

Defn: A pale blue pigment, prepared from the native blue carbonate of copper, or from smalt; -- called also blue bice. Green bice is prepared from the blue, by adding yellow orpiment, or by grinding down the green carbonate of copper. Cooley. Brande & C.

BICENTENARY Bi*cen"te*na*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + centenary.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to two hundred, esp. to two hundred years; as, a bicentenary celebration. -- n.

Defn: The two hundredth anniversary, or its celebration.

BICENTENNIAL Bi`cen*ten"ni*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + centennial.]

1. Consisting of two hundred years.

2. Occurring every two hundred years.

BICENTENNIAL Bi`cen*ten"ni*al, n.

Defn: The two hundredth year or anniversary, or its celebration.

BICEPHALOUS Bi*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + cephalous: cf. F. bicéphale.]

Defn: Having two heads.

BICEPS Bi"ceps, n. Etym: [L., two-headed; bis twice + caput head. See Capital.] (Anat.)

Defn: A muscle having two heads or origins; -- applied particularly to a flexor in the arm, and to another in the thigh.

BICHIR Bi*chir", n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A remarkable ganoid fish (Polypterus bichir) found in the Nile and other African rivers. See Brachioganoidei.

BICHLORIDE Bi*chlo"ride, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + chloride.] (Chem.)

Defn: A compound consisting of two atoms of chlorine with one or more atoms of another element; -- called also dichloride. Bichloride of mercury, mercuric chloride; -- sometimes called corrosive sublimate.

BICHO Bi"cho, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Jigger.

BICHROMATE Bi*chro"mate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + chromate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt containing two parts of chromic acid to one of the other ingredients; as, potassium bichromate; -- called also dichromate.

BICHROMATIZE Bi*chro"ma*tize, v. t.

Defn: To combine or treat with a bichromate, esp. with bichromate of potassium; as, bichromatized gelatine.

BICIPITAL Bi*cip"i*tal, a. Etym: [L. biceps, bicipitis: cf. F. bicipital. See Biceps.]

1. (Anat.) (a) Having two heads or origins, as a muscle. (b) Pertaining to a biceps muscle; as, bicipital furrows, the depressions on either side of the biceps of the arm.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Dividing into two parts at one extremity; having two heads or two supports; as, a bicipital tree.

BICIPITOUS Bi*cip"i*tous, a.

Defn: Having two heads; bicipital. "Bicipitous serpents." Sir T. Browne.

BICKER Bick"er, n. Etym: [See Beaker.]

Defn: A small wooden vessel made of staves and hoops, like a tub. [Prov. Eng.]

BICKER Bick"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bickered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bickering.] Etym: [OE. bikeren, perh. fr. Celtic; cf. W. bicra to fight, bicker, bicre conflict, skirmish; perh. akin to E. beak.]

1. To skirmish; to exchange blows; to fight. [Obs.] Two eagles had a conflict, and bickered together. Holland.

2. To contend in petulant altercation; to wrangle. Petty things about which men cark and bicker. Barrow.

3. To move quickly and unsteadily, or with a pattering noise; to quiver; to be tremulous, like flame. They [streamlets] bickered through the sunny shade. Thomson.

BICKER Bick"er, n.

1. A skirmish; an encounter. [Obs.]

2. A fight with stones between two parties of boys. [Scot.] Jamieson.

3. A wrangle; also, a noise,, as in angry contention.

BICKERER Bick"er*er, n.

Defn: One who bickers.

BICKERING Bick"er*ing, n.

1. A skirmishing. "Frays and bickerings." Milton.

2. Altercation; wrangling.

BICKERMENT Bick"er*ment, n.

Defn: Contention. [Obs.] Spenser.

BICKERN Bick"ern, n. Etym: [F. bigorne. See Bicorn.]

Defn: An anvil ending in a beak or point (orig. in two beaks); also, the beak or horn itself.

BICKFORD FUSE; BICKFORD FUZE; BICKFORD MATCH Bick"ford fuse, Bick"ford fuze, Bick"ford match.

Defn: A fuse used in blasting, consisting of a long cylinder of explosive material inclosed in a varnished wrapping of rope or hose. It burns from 2 to 4 feet a minute.

BICOLLIGATE Bi*col"li*gate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + colligatus, p. p. See Colligate, v. t. ] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the anterior toes connected by a basal web.

BICOLOR; BICOLORED Bi"col`or, Bi"col`ored, a. Etym: [L. bicolor; bis twice + color color.]

Defn: Of two colors.

BICONCAVE Bi*con"cave, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + concave.]

Defn: Concave on both sides; as, biconcave vertebræ.

BICONJUGATE Bi*con"ju*gate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + conjugate, a.] (Bot.)

Defn: Twice paired, as when a petiole forks twice. Gray.

BICONVEX Bi*con"vex, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + convex.]

Defn: Convex on both sides; as, a biconvex lens.

BICORN; BICORNED; BICORNOUS Bi"corn, Bi"corned, Bi*cor"nous, a. Etym: [L. bicornis; bis twice + cornu horn: cf. F. bicorne. Cf. Bickern.]

Defn: Having two horns; two-horned; crescentlike.

BICORPORAL Bi*cor"po*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + corporal.]

Defn: Having two bodies.

BICORPORATE Bi*cor"po*rate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + corporate.] (Her.)

Defn: Double-bodied, as a lion having one head and two bodies.

BICOSTATE Bi*cos"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + costate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two principal ribs running longitudinally, as a leaf.

BICRENATE Bi*cre"nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + crenate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Twice crenated, as in the case of leaves whose crenatures are themselves crenate.

BICRESCENTIC Bi`cres*cen"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + crescent.]

Defn: Having the form of a double crescent.

BICRURAL Bi*cru"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + crural.]

Defn: Having two legs. Hooker.

BICUSPID; BICUSPIDATE Bi*cus"pid, Bi*cus"pid*ate, a. Etym: [See pref. Bi-, and Cuspidate.]

Defn: Having two points or prominences; ending in two points; -- said of teeth, leaves, fruit, etc.

BICUSPID Bi*cus"pid, n. (Anat.)

Defn: One of the two double-pointed teeth which intervene between the canines (cuspids) and the molars, on each side of each jaw. See Tooth, n.

BICYANIDE Bi*cy"a*nide, n.

Defn: See Dicyanide.

BICYCLE Bi"cy*cle, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + cycle.]

Defn: A light vehicle having two wheels one behind the other. It has a saddle seat and is propelled by the rider's feet acting on cranks or levers.

BICYCLER Bi"cy*cler, n.

Defn: One who rides a bicycle.

BICYCLIC Bi*cyc"lic, a.

Defn: Relating to bicycles.

BICYCLING Bi"cy*cling, n.

Defn: The use of a bicycle; the act or practice of riding a bicycle.

BICYCLISM Bi"cy*clism, n.

Defn: The art of riding a bicycle.

BICYCLIST Bi"cy*clist, n.

Defn: A bicycler.

BICYCULAR Bi*cyc"u*lar, a.

Defn: Relating to bicycling.

BID Bid, v. t. [imp. Bade, Bid, (Obs.) Bad; p. p. Bidden, Bid; p. pr. & vb. n. Bidding.] Etym: [OE. bidden, prop to ask, beg, AS. biddan; akin to OS. biddian, Icel. bi, OHG. bittan, G. bitten, to pray, ask, request, and E. bead, also perh. to Gr. to persuade, L. fidere to trust, E. faith, and bide. But this word was early confused with OE. beden, beoden, AS. beódan, to offer, command; akin to Icel. bj, Goth. biudan (in comp.), OHG. biotan to command, bid, G. bieten, D. bieden, to offer, also to Gr. to learn by inquiry, Skr. budh to be awake, to heed, present OSlav. bud to be awake, E. bode, v. The word now has the form of OE. bidden to ask, but the meaning of OE. beden to command, except in "to bid beads." sq. root30.]

1. To make an offer of; to propose. Specifically : To offer to pay ( a certain price, as for a thing put up at auction), or to take (a certain price, as for work to be done under a contract).

2. To offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a threat, or defiance, etc.; as, to bid one welcome; to bid good morning, farewell, etc. Neither bid him God speed. 2. John 10. He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. Granrille.

3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. [Mostly obs.] "Our banns thrice bid !" Gay.

4. To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command. That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. Pope Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. Matt. xiv. 28 I was bid to pick up shells. D. Jerrold.

5. To invite; to call in; to request to come. As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matt. xxii. 9 To bid beads, to pray with beads, as the Roman Catholics; to distinguish each bead by a prayer. [Obs.] -- To bid defiance to , to defy openly; to brave. -- To bid fair, to offer a good prospect; to make fair promise; to seem likely.

Syn. -- To offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command; direct; charge; enjoin.

BID Bid,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bid.

BID Bid, n.

Defn: An offer of a price, especially at auctions; a statement of a sum which one will give for something to be received, or will take for something to be done or furnished; that which is offered.

BID Bid, v. i. Etym: [See Bid, v. t.]

1. To pray. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To make a bid; to state what one will pay or take.

BIDALE Bid"ale`, n. Etym: [Bid + ale.]

Defn: An invitation of friends to drink ale at some poor man's house, and there to contribute in charity for his relief. [Prov. Eng.]

BIDARKEE; BIDARKA Bi*dar"kee, Bi*dar"ka, n. [Russ. baidarka, dim. Cf. Baidar.]

Defn: A portable boat made of skins stretched on a frame. [Alaska] The Century.

BIDDABLE Bid"da*ble, a.

Defn: Obedient; docile. [Scot.]

BIDDEN Bid"den, p. p.

Defn: of Bid.

BIDDER Bid"der, n. Etym: [AS. biddere. ]

Defn: One who bids or offers a price. Burke.

BIDDERY WARE Bid"der*y ware`. Etym: [From Beder or Bidar a town in India.]

Defn: A kind of metallic ware made in India. The material is a composition of zinc, tin, and lead, in which ornaments of gold and silver are inlaid or damascened. [Spelt also bidry, bidree, bedery, beder.]

BIDDING Bid"ding, n.

1. Command; order; a proclamation or notifying. "Do thou thy master's bidding." Shak.

2. The act or process of making bids; an offer; a proposal of a price, as at an auction.

BIDDING PRAYER Bid"ding prayer`.

1. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: The prayer for the souls of benefactors, said before the sermon.

2. (Angl. Ch.)

Defn: The prayer before the sermon, with petitions for various specified classes of persons.

BIDDY Bid"dy, n. Etym: [Etymology uncertain.]

Defn: A name used in calling a hen or chicken. Shak.

BIDDY Bid"dy, n. Etym: [A familiar form of Bridget.]

Defn: An Irish serving woman or girl. [Colloq.]

BIDE Bide, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bided; p. pr. & vb. n. Biding.] Etym: [OE. biden, AS. bidan; akin to OHG. bitan, Goth. beidan, Icel. bi; perh. orig., to wait with trust, and akin to bid. See Bid, v. t., and cf. Abide.]

1. To dwell; to inhabit; to abide; to stay. All knees to thee shall bow of them that bide In heaven or earth, or under earth, in hell. Milton.

2. To remain; to continue or be permanent in a place or state; to continue to be. Shak.

BIDE Bide, v. t.

1. To encounter; to remain firm under (a hardship); to endure; to suffer; to undergo. Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm. Shak.

2. To wait for; as, I bide my time. See Abide.

BIDENT Bi"dent, n. Etym: [L. bidens, -entis, having two prongs; bis twice + dens a tooth.]

Defn: An instrument or weapon with two prongs.

BIDENTAL Bi*den"tal, a.

Defn: Having two teeth. Swift.

BIDENTATE Bi*den"tate, a. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Having two teeth or two toothlike processes; two-toothed.

BIDET Bi*det", n. Etym: [F. bidet, perh. fr. Celtic; cr. Gael. bideach very little, diminutive, bidein a diminutive animal, W. bidan a weakly or sorry wretch.]

1. A small horse formerly allowed to each trooper or dragoon for carrying his baggage. B. Jonson.

2. A kind of bath tub for sitting baths; a sitz bath.

BIDIGITATE Bi*dig"i*tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + digitate.]

Defn: Having two fingers or fingerlike projections.

BIDING Bid"ing, n.

Defn: Residence; habitation. Rowe.

BIELA'S COMET Bie"la's com"et. (Astron.)

Defn: A periodic coment, discovered by Biela in 1826, which revolves around the sun in 6.6 years. The November meteors (Andromedes or Bielids) move in its orbit, and may be fragments of the comet.

BIELD Bield, n.

Defn: A shelter. Same as Beild. [Scot.]

BIELD Bield, v. t.

Defn: To shelter. [Scot.]

BIELID Bie"lid, n. (Astron.)

Defn: See Andromede.

BIENNIAL Bi*en"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. biennalis and biennis, fr. biennium a space of two years; bis twice + annus year. Cf. Annual.]

1. Happening, or taking place, once in two years; as, a biennial election.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Continuing for two years, and then perishing, as plants which form roots and leaves the first year, and produce fruit the second.

BIENNIAL Bi*en"ni*al, n.

1. Something which takes place or appears once in two years; esp. a biennial examination.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant which exists or lasts for two years.

BIENNIALLY Bi*en"ni*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Once in two years.

BIER Bier, n. Etym: [OE. bæe, beere, AS. b, b; akin to D. baar, OHG. bara, G. bahre, Icel barar, Dbaare, L. feretrum, Gr. , from the same bear to produce. See 1st Bear, and cf. Barrow.]

1. A handbarrow or portable frame on which a corpse is placed or borne to the grave.

2. (Weaving)

Defn: A count of forty threads in the warp or chain of woolen cloth. Knight.

BIERBALK Bier"balk`, n. Etym: [See Bier, and Balk, n.]

Defn: A church road (e. g., a path across fields) for funerals. [Obs.] Homilies.

BIESTINGS; BEESTINGS Biest"ings, Beest"ings, n. pl. Etym: [OE. bestynge, AS. b, fr. b, beost; akin to D. biest, OHG. biost, G. biest; of unknown origin.]

Defn: The first milk given by a cow after calving. B. Jonson. The thick and curdy milk . . . commonly called biestings. Newton. (1574).

BIFACIAL Bi*fa"cial, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + facial.]

Defn: Having the opposite surfaces alike.

BIFARIOUS Bi*fa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. bifarius; bis twice + fari to speak. Cf. Gr.

1. Twofold; arranged in two rows.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Pointing two ways, as leaves that grow only on opposite sides of a branch; in two vertical rows.

BIFARIOUSLY Bi*fa"ri*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a bifarious manner.

BIFEROUS Bif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. bifer; bis twice + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Bearing fruit twice a year.

BIFFIN Bif"fin, n. Etym: [Cf. Beaufin.]

1. A sort of apple peculiar to Norfolk, Eng.

Note: [Sometimes called beaufin; but properly beefin (it is said), from its resemblance to raw beef.] Wright.

2. A baked apple pressed down into a flat, round cake; a dried apple. Dickens.

BIFID Bi"fid, a. Etym: [L. bifidus; bis twice + root of findere to cleave or split: cf. F. bifide.]

Defn: Cleft to the middle or slightly beyond the middle; opening with a cleft; divided by a linear sinus, with straight margins.

BIFIDATE Bif"i*date, a. Etym: [L. bifidatus.]

Defn: See Bifid.

BIFILAR Bi*fi"lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + filar.]

Defn: Two-threaded; involving the use of two threads; as, bifilar suspension; a bifilar balance. Bifilar micrometer (often called a bifilar), an instrument form measuring minute distances or angles by means of two very minute threads (usually spider lines), one of which, at least, is movable; -- more commonly called a filar micrometer.

BIFLABELLATE Bi`fla*bel"late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + flabellate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Flabellate on both sides.

BIFLAGELLATE Bi`fla*gel"late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + flagellate.]

Defn: Having two long, narrow, whiplike appendages.

BIFLORATE; BIFLOROUS Bi*flo"rate, Bi*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing two flowers; two-flowered.

BIFOCAL Bi*fo"cal, a. [Pref. bi-+ focal.]

Defn: Having two foci, as some spectacle lenses.

BIFOLD Bi"fold, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + fold.]

Defn: Twofold; double; of two kinds, degrees, etc. Shak.

BIFOLIATE Bi*fo"li*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + foliate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two leaves; two-leaved.

BIFOLIOLATE Bi*fo"li*o*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + foliolate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two leaflets, as some compound leaves.

BIFORATE Bif"o*rate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + foratus, p. p. of forare to bore or pierce.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two perforations.

BIFORINE Bif"o*rine, n. Etym: [L. biforis, biforus, having two doors; bis twice + foris door.] (Bot.)

Defn: An oval sac or cell, found in the leaves of certain plants of the order Araceæ. It has an opening at each end through which raphides, generated inside, are discharged.

BIFORKED Bi"forked, a.

Defn: Bifurcate.

BIFORM Bi"form, a. Etym: [L. biformis; bis twice + forma shape: cf. F. biforme.]

Defn: Having two forms, bodies, or shapes. Croxall.

BIFORMED Bi"formed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + form.]

Defn: Having two forms. Johnson.

BIFORMITY Bi*form"i*ty, n.

Defn: A double form.

BIFORN Bi*forn", prep. & adv.

Defn: Before. [Obs.]

BIFOROUS Bif"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. biforis having two doors; bis twice, two + foris door.]

Defn: See Biforate.

BIFRONTED Bi*front"ed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + front.]

Defn: Having two fronts. "Bifronted Janus." Massinger.

BIFURCATE; BIFURCATED Bi*fur"cate, Bi*fur"ca*ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + furcate.]

Defn: Two-pronged; forked.

BIFURCATE Bi*fur"cate, v. i.

Defn: To divide into two branches.

BIFURCATION Bi`fur*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bifurcation.]

Defn: A forking, or division into two branches.

BIFURCOUS Bi*fur"cous, a. Etym: [L. bifurcus; bis twice + furca fork.]

Defn: See Bifurcate, a. [R.] Coles.

BIG Big, a. [compar. Bigger; superl. Biggest.] Etym: [Perh. from Celtic; cf. W. beichiog, beichiawg, pregnant, with child, fr. baich burden, Arm. beac'h; or cf. OE. bygly, Icel. biggiligr, (properly) habitable; (then) magnigicent, excellent, fr. OE. biggen, Icel. byggja, to dwell, build, akin to E. be.]

1. Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great size; large. "He's too big to go in there." Shak.

2. Great with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce; -- often figuratively. [Day] big with the fate of Cato and of Rome. Addison.

3. Having greatness, fullness, importance, inflation, distention, etc., whether in a good or a bad sense; as, a big heart; a big voice; big looks; to look big. As applied to looks, it indicates haughtiness or pride. God hath not in heaven a bigger argument. Jer. Taylor.

Note: Big is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, big-boned; big-sounding; big-named; big-voiced. To talk big, to talk loudly, arrogantly, or pretentiously. I talked big to them at first. De Foe.

Syn. -- Bulky; large; great; massive; gross.

BIG; BIGG Big, Bigg, n. Etym: [OE. bif, bigge; akin to Icel. bygg, Dan. byg, Sw. bjugg.] (Bot.)

Defn: Barley, especially the hardy four-rowed kind. "Bear interchanges in local use, now with barley, now with bigg." New English Dict.

BIG; BIGG Big, Bigg, v. t. Etym: [OE. biggen, fr. Icel. byggja to inhabit, to build, b (neut.) to dwell (active) to make ready. See Boor, and Bound.]

Defn: To build. [Scot. & North of Eng. Dial.] Sir W. Scott.

BIGA Bi"ga, n. Etym: [L.] (Antiq.)

Defn: A two-horse chariot.

BIGAM Big"am, n. Etym: [L. bigamus twice married: cf. F. bigame. See Bigamy.]

Defn: A bigamist. [Obs.]

BIGAMIST Big"a*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. Digamist.]

Defn: One who is guilty of bigamy. Ayliffe.

BIGAMOUS Big"a*mous, a.

Defn: Guilty of bigamy; involving bigamy; as, a bigamous marriage.

BIGAMY Big"a*my, n. Etym: [OE. bigamie, fr. L. bigamus twice married; bis twice + Gr. marriage; prob. akin to Skt. jamis related, and L. gemini twins, the root meaning to bind, join: cf. F. bigamie. Cf. Digamy.] (Law)

Defn: The offense of marrying one person when already legally married to another. Wharton.

Note: It is not strictly correct to call this offense bigamy: it more properly denominated polygamy, i. e., having a plurality of wives or husbands at once, and in several statutes in the United States the offense is classed under the head of polygamy. In the canon law bigamy was the marrying of two virgins successively, or one after the death of the other, or once marrying a widow. This disqualified a man for orders, and for holding ecclesiastical offices. Shakespeare uses the word in the latter sense. Blackstone. Bouvier. Base declension and loathed bigamy. Shak.

BIGARREAU; BIGAROON Big`ar*reau", Big`a*roon", n. Etym: [F. bigarreau, fr. bigarré variegated.] (Bot.)

Defn: The large white-heart cherry.

BIG-BELLIED Big"-bel`lied, a.

Defn: Having a great belly; as, a big-bellied man or flagon; advanced in pregnancy.

BIG BEND STATE Big Bend State.

Defn: Tennessee; -- a nickname.

BIGEMINATE Bi*gem"i*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + geminate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having a forked petiole, and a pair of leaflets at the end of each division; biconjugate; twice paired; -- said of a decompound leaf.

BIGENTIAL Bi*gen"tial, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + L. gens, gentis, tribe.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Including two tribes or races of men.

BIGEYE Big"eye`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish of the genus Priacanthus, remarkable for the large size of the eye.

BIGG Bigg, n. & v.

Defn: See Big, n. & v.

BIGGEN Big"gen, v. t. & i.

Defn: To make or become big; to enlarge. [Obs. or Dial.] Steele.

BIGGER Big"ger, a.

Defn: , compar. of Big.

BIGGEST Big"gest, a.

Defn: , superl. of Big.

BIGGIN Big"gin, n. Etym: [F. béguin, prob. from the cap worn by the Béguines. Cf. Beguine, Biggon.]

Defn: A child's cap; a hood, or something worn on the head. An old woman's biggin for a nightcap. Massinger.

BIGGIN Big"gin, n.

Defn: A coffeepot with a strainer or perforated metallic vessel for holding the ground coffee, through which boiling water is poured; -- so called from Mr. Biggin, the inventor.

BIGGIN; BIGGING Big"gin, Big"ging, n. Etym: [OE. bigging. See Big, Bigg, v. t.]

Defn: A building. [Obs.]

BIGGON; BIGGONNET Big"gon, Big"gon*net, n. Etym: [F. béguin and OF. beguinet, dim of béguin. See Biggin a cap.]

Defn: A cap or hood with pieces covering the ears.

BIGHA Big"ha, n.

Defn: A measure of land in India, varying from a third of an acre to an acre.

BIGHORN Big"horn`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Rocky Mountain sheep (Ovis or Caprovis montana).

BIGHT Bight, n. Etym: [OE. bi a bending; cf. Sw. & Dan. bugt bend, bay; fr. AS. byht, fr. b. sq. root88. Cf. Bout, Bought a bend, and see Bow, v.]

1. A corner, bend, or angle; a hollow; as, the bight of a horse's knee; the bight of an elbow.

2. (Geog.)

Defn: A bend in a coast forming an open bay; as, the Bight of Benin.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: The double part of a rope when folded, in distinction from the ends; that is, a round, bend, or coil not including the ends; a loop.

BIGLANDULAR Bi*glan"du*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + glandular.]

Defn: Having two glands, as a plant.

BIGLY Big"ly, adv. Etym: [From Big, a.]

Defn: In a tumid, swelling, blustering manner; haughtily; violently. He brawleth bigly. Robynson (More's Utopia. )

BIGNESS Big"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being big; largeness; size; bulk.

BIGNONIA Big*no"ni*a, n. Etym: [Named from the Abbé Bignon.] (Bot.)

Defn: A large genus of American, mostly tropical, climbing shrubs, having compound leaves and showy somewhat tubular flowers. B. capreolata is the cross vine of the Southern United States. The trumpet creeper was formerly considered to be of this genus.

BIGNONIACEOUS Big*no`ni*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the trumpet flower is an example.

BIGOT Big"ot, n. Etym: [F. bigot a bigot or hypocrite, a name once given to the Normans in France. Of unknown origin; possibly akin to Sp. bigote a whisker; hombre de bigote a man of spirit and vigor; cf. It. s- bigottire to terrify, to appall. Wedgwood and others maintain that bigot is from the same source as Beguine, Beghard.]

1. A hypocrite; esp., a superstitious hypocrite. [Obs.]

2. A person who regards his own faith and views in matters of religion as unquestionably right, and any belief or opinion opposed to or differing from them as unreasonable or wicked. In an extended sense, a person who is intolerant of opinions which conflict with his own, as in politics or morals; one obstinately and blindly devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion. To doubt, where bigots had been content to wonder and believe. Macaulay.

BIGOT Big"ot, a.

Defn: Bigoted. [Obs.] In a country more bigot than ours. Dryden.

BIGOTED Big"ot*ed, a.

Defn: Obstinately and blindly attached to some creed, opinion practice, or ritual; unreasonably devoted to a system or party, and illiberal toward the opinions of others. "Bigoted to strife." Byron.

Syn. -- Prejudiced; intolerant; narrow-minded.

BIGOTEDLY Big"ot*ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of a bigot.

BIGOTRY Big"ot*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bigoterie.]

1. The state of mind of a bigot; obstinate and unreasoning attachment of one's own belief and opinions, with narrow-minded intolerance of beliefs opposed to them.

2. The practice or tenets of a bigot.

BIGWIG Big"wig`, n. Etym: [Big,a.+ wig.]

Defn: A person of consequence; as, the bigwigs of society. [Jocose] In our youth we have heard him spoken of by the bigwigs with extreme condescension. Dickens.

BIG-WIGGED Big"-wigged`, a.

Defn: characterized by pomposity of manner. [Eng.]

BIHYDROGURET Bi`hy*drog"u*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + hydroguret.] (Chem.)

Defn: A compound of two atoms of hydrogen with some other substance. [Obs.]

BIJOU Bi*jou", n.; pl. Bijoux. Etym: [F.; of uncertain origin.]

Defn: A trinket; a jewel; -- a word applied to anything small and of elegant workmanship.

BIJOUTRY Bi*jou"try, n. Etym: [F. bijouterie. See Bijou.]

Defn: Small articles of virtu, as jewelry, trinkets, etc.

BIJUGATE Bij"u*gate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + jugatus, p. p. of jugare to join.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two pairs, as of leaflets.

BIJUGOUS Bij"u*gous, a. Etym: [L. bijugus yoked two together; bis twice + jugum yoke, pair.] (Bot.)

Defn: Bijugate.

BIKE Bike, n. Etym: [Ethymol. unknown.]

Defn: A nest of wild bees, wasps, or ants; a swarm. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

BIKH Bikh, n. Etym: [Hind., fr. Skr. visha poison.] (Bot.)

Defn: The East Indian name of a virulent poison extracted from Aconitum ferox or other species of aconite: also, the plant itself.

BILABIATE Bi*la"bi*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + labiate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two lips, as the corols of certain flowers.

BILACINIATE Bi`la*cin"i*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + laciniate.]

Defn: Doubly fringed.

BILALO Bi*la"lo, n.

Defn: A two-masted passenger boat or small vessel, used in the bay of Manila.

BILAMELLATE; BILAMELLATED Bi*lam"el*late, Bi*lam"el*la`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + lamellate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Formed of two plates, as the stigma of the Mimulus; also, having two elevated ridges, as in the lip of certain flowers.

BILAMINAR; BILAMINATE Bi*lam"i*nar, Bi*lam"i*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + laminar, laminate.]

Defn: Formed of, or having, two laminæ, or thin plates.

BILAND Bi"land, n.

Defn: A byland. [Obs.] Holland.

BILANDER Bil"an*der, n. Etym: [D. bijlander; bij by + land land, country.] (Naut.)

Defn: A small two-masted merchant vessel, fitted only for coasting, or for use in canals, as in Holland. Why choose we, then, like bilanders to creep Along the coast, and land in view to keep Dryden.

BILATERAL Bi*lat"er*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + lateral: cf. F. bilatéral.]

1. Having two sides; arranged upon two sides; affecting two sides or two parties.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the two sides of a central area or organ, or of a central axis; as, bilateral symmetry in animals, where there is a similarity of parts on the right and left sides of the body.

BILATERALITY Bi*lat`er*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: State of being bilateral.

BILBERRY Bil"ber*ry, n.; pl. Bilberries (. Etym: [Cf. Dan. böllebær bilberry, where bölle is perh. akin to E. ball.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The European whortleberry (Vaccinium myrtillus); also, its edible bluish black fruit. There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry. Shak.

2. (Bot.) Any similar plant or its fruit; esp., in America, the species Vaccinium myrtilloides, V. cæspitosum and V. uliginosum.

BILBO Bil"bo, n.; pl. Bilboes (.

1. A rapier; a sword; so named from Bilbao, in Spain. Shak.

2. pl.

Defn: A long bar or bolt of iron with sliding shackles, and a lock at the end, to confine the feet of prisoners or offenders, esp. on board of ships. Methought I lay Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Shak.

BILBOQUET Bil"bo*quet, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: The toy called cup and ball.

BILCOCK Bil"cock, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European water rail.

BILDSTEIN Bild"stein, n. Etym: [G., fr. bild image, likeness + stein stone.]

Defn: Same as Agalmatolite.

BILE Bile, n. Etym: [L. bilis: cf. F. bile.]

1. (Physiol.)

Defn: A yellow, or greenish, viscid fluid, usually alkaline in reaction, secreted by the liver. It passes into the intestines, where it aids in the digestive process. Its characteristic constituents are the bile salts, and coloring matters.

2. Bitterness of feeling; choler; anger; ill humor; as, to stir one's bile. Prescott.

Note: The ancients considered the bile to be the "humor" which caused irascibility.

BILE Bile, n. Etym: [OE. byle, bule, bele, AS. b, b; skin to D. buil, G. beule, and Goth. ufbauljan to puff up. Cf. Boil a tumor, Bulge.]

Defn: A boil. [Obs. or Archaic]

BILECTION Bi*lec"tion, n. (Arch.)

Defn: That portion of a group of moldings which projects beyond the general surface of a panel; a bolection.

BILESTONE Bile"stone`, n. Etym: [Bile + stone.]

Defn: A gallstone, or biliary calculus. See Biliary. E. Darwin.

BILGE Bilge, n. Etym: [A different orthography of bulge, of same origin as belly. Cf. Belly, Bulge.]

1. The protuberant part of a cask, which is usually in the middle.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: That part of a ship's hull or bottom which is broadest and most nearly flat, and on which she would rest if aground.

3. Bilge water. Bilge free (Naut.), stowed in such a way that the bilge is clear of everything; -- said of a cask. -- Bilge pump, a pump to draw the bilge water from the gold of a ship. -- Bilge water (Naut.), water which collects in the bilge or bottom of a ship or other vessel. It is often allowed to remain till it becomes very offensive. -- Bilge ways, the timbers which support the cradle of a ship upon the ways, and which slide upon the launching ways in launching the vessel.

BILGE Bilge, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bilged (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bilging.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: To suffer a fracture in the bilge; to spring a leak by a fracture in the bilge.

2. To bulge.

BILGE Bilge, v. t.

1. (Naut.)

Defn: To fracture the bilge of, or stave in the bottom of (a ship or other vessel).

2. To cause to bulge.

BILGY Bil"gy, a.

Defn: Having the smell of bilge water.

BILIARY Bil"ia*ry, a. Etym: [L. bilis bile: cf. F. biliaire.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Relating or belonging to bile; conveying bile; as, biliary acids; biliary ducts. Biliary calculus (Med.), a gallstone, or a concretion formed in the gall bladder or its duct.

BILIATION Bil`i*a"tion, n. (Physiol.)

Defn: The production and excretion of bile.

BILIFEROUS Bi*lif"er*ous, a.

Defn: Generating bile.

BILIFUSCIN Bil`i*fus"cin, n. Etym: [L. bilis bile + fuscus dark.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A brownish green pigment found in human gallstones and in old bile. It is a derivative of bilirubin.

BILIMBI; BILIMBING Bi*lim"bi, Bi*lim"bing, n. Etym: [Malay.]

Defn: The berries of two East Indian species of Averrhoa, of the Oxalideæ or Sorrel family. They are very acid, and highly esteemed when preserved or pickled. The juice is used as a remedy for skin diseases. [Written also blimbi and blimbing.]

BILIMENT Bil"i*ment, n.

Defn: A woman's ornament; habiliment. [Obs.]

BILIN Bi"lin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. biline, from L. bilis bile.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A name applied to the amorphous or crystalline mass obtained from bile by the action of alcohol and ether. It is composed of a mixture of the sodium salts of the bile acids.

BILINEAR Bi*lin"e*ar, a. (Math.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or included by, two lines; as, bilinear coördinates.

BILINGUAL Bi*lin"gual, a. Etym: [L. bilinguis; bis twice + lingua tongue, language.]

Defn: Containing, or consisting of, two languages; expressed in two languages; as, a bilingual inscription; a bilingual dictionary. -- Bi*lin"gual*ly, adv.

BILINGUALISM Bi*lin"gual*ism, n.

Defn: Quality of being bilingual. The bilingualism of King's English. Earle.

BILINGUAR Bi*lin"guar, a.

Defn: See Bilingual.

BILINGUIST Bi*lin"guist, n.

Defn: One versed in two languages.

BILINGUOUS Bi*lin"guous, a. Etym: [L. bilinguis.]

Defn: Having two tongues, or speaking two languages. [Obs.]

BILIOUS Bil"ious, a. Etym: [L. biliosus, fr. bilis bile.]

1. Of or pertaining to the bile.

2. Disordered in respect to the bile; troubled with and excess of bile; as, a bilious patient; dependent on, or characterized by, an excess of bile; as, bilious symptoms.

3. Choleric; passionate; ill tempered. "A bilious old nabob." Macaulay. Bilious temperament. See Temperament.

BILIOUSNESS Bil"ious*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being bilious.

BILIPRASIN Bil`i*pra"sin, n. Etym: [L. bilis bile + prasinus green.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A dark green pigment found in small quantity in human gallstones.

BILIRUBIN Bil`i*ru"bin, n. Etym: [L. bilis biel + ruber red.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A reddish yellow pigment present in human bile, and in that from carnivorous and herbivorous animals; the normal biliary pigment.

BILITERAL Bi*lit"er*al, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + littera letter.]

Defn: Consisting of two letters; as, a biliteral root of a Sanskrit verb. Sir W. Jones. -- n.

Defn: A word, syllable, or root, consisting of two letters.

BILITERALISM Bi*lit"er*al*ism, n.

Defn: The property or state of being biliteral.

BILIVERDIN Bil`i*ver"din, n. Etym: [L. bilis bile + viridis green. Cf. Verdure.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A green pigment present in the bile, formed from bilirubin by oxidation.

BILK Bilk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bilked; p. pr. & vb. n. Bilking.] Etym: [Origin unknown. Cf. Balk.]

Defn: To frustrate or disappoint; to deceive or defraud, by nonfulfillment of engagement; to leave in the lurch; to give the slip to; as, to bilk a creditor. Thackeray.

BILK Bilk, n.

1. A thwarting an adversary in cribbage by spoiling his score; a balk.

2. A cheat; a trick; a hoax. Hudibras.

3. Nonsense; vain words. B. Jonson.

4. A person who tricks a creditor; an untrustworthy, tricky person. Marryat.

BILL Bill, n. Etym: [OE. bile, bille, AS. bile beak of a bird, proboscis; cf. Ir. & Gael. bil, bile, mouth, lip, bird's bill. Cf. Bill a weapon.]

Defn: A beak, as of a bird, or sometimes of a turtle or other animal. Milton.

BILL Bill, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Billed; p. pr. & vb. n. Billing.]

1. To strike; to peck. [Obs.]

2. To join bills, as doves; to caress in fondness. "As pigeons bill." Shak. To bill and coo, to interchange caresses; -- said of doves; also of demonstrative lovers. Thackeray.

BILL Bill, n.

Defn: The bell, or boom, of the bittern The bittern's hollow bill was heard. Wordsworth.

BILL Bill, n. Etym: [OE. bil, AS. bill, bil; akin to OS. bil sword, OHG. bill pickax, G. bille. Cf. Bill bea

1. A cutting instrument, with hook-shaped point, and fitted with a handle; -- used in pruning, etc.; a billhook. When short, called a hand bill, when long, a hedge bill.

2. A weapon of infantry, in the 14th and 15th centuries. A common form of bill consisted of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, having a short pike at the back and another at the top, and attached to the end of a long staff. France had no infantry that dared to face the English bows end bills. Macaulay.

3. One who wields a bill; a billman. Strype.

4. A pickax, or mattock. [Obs.]

5. (Naut.)

Defn: The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke.

BILL Bill, v. t.

Defn: To work upon ( as to dig, hoe, hack, or chop anything) with a bill.

BILL Bill, n. Etym: [OE. bill, bille, fr. LL. billa (or OF. bille), for L. bulla anything rounded, LL., seal, stamp, letter, edict, roll; cf. F. bille a ball, prob. fr. Ger.; cf. MHG. bickel, D. bikkel, dice. Cf. Bull papal edict, Billet a paper.]

1. (Law)

Defn: A declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant, or a fault committed by some person against a law.

2. A writing binding the signer or signers to pay a certain sum at a future day or on demand, with or without interest, as may be stated in the document. [Eng.]

Note: In the United States, it is usually called a note, a note of hand, or a promissory note.

3. A form or draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law.

4. A paper, written or printed, and posted up or given away, to advertise something, as a lecture, a play, or the sale of goods; a placard; a poster; a handbill. She put up the bill in her parlor window. Dickens.

5. An account of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge; a statement of a creditor's claim, in gross or by items; as, a grocer's bill.

6. Any paper, containing a statement of particulars; as, a bill of charges or expenditures; a weekly bill of mortality; a bill of fare, etc. Bill of adventure. See under Adventure. -- Bill of costs, a statement of the items which form the total amount of the costs of a party to a suit or action. -- Bill of credit. (a) Within the constitution of the United States, a paper issued by a State, on the mere faith and credit of the State, and designed to circulate as money. No State shall "emit bills of credit." U. S. Const. Peters. Wharton. Bouvier (b) Among merchants, a letter sent by an agent or other person to a merchant, desiring him to give credit to the bearer for goods or money. -- Bill of divorce, in the Jewish law, a writing given by the husband to the wife, by which the marriage relation was dissolved. Jer. iii. 8. -- Bill of entry, a written account of goods entered at the customhouse, whether imported or intended for exportation. -- Bill of exceptions. See under Exception. -- Bill of exchange (Com.), a written order or request from one person or house to another, desiring the latter to pay to some person designated a certain sum of money therein generally is, and, to be negotiable, must be, made payable to order or to bearer. So also the order generally expresses a specified time of payment, and that it is drawn for value. The person who draws the bil is called the drawer, the person on whom it is drawn is, before acceptance, called the drawee, -- after acceptance, the acceptor; the person to whom the money is directed to be paid is called the payee. The person making the order may himself be the payee. The bill itself is frequently called a draft. See Exchange. Chitty. -- Bill of fare, a written or printed enumeration of the dishes served at a public table, or of the dishes (with prices annexed) which may be ordered at a restaurant, etc. -- Bill of health, a certificate from the proper authorities as to the state of health of a ship's company at the time of her leaving port. -- Bill of indictment, a written accusation lawfully presented to a grand jury. If the jury consider the evidence sufficient to support the accusation, they indorse it "A true bill," or "Not found," or "Ignoramus", or "Ignored." -- Bill of lading, a written account of goods shipped by any person, signed by the agent of the owner of the vessel, or by its master, acknowledging the receipt of the goods, and promising to deliver them safe at the place directed, dangers of the sea excepted. It is usual for the master to sign two, three, or four copies of the bill; one of which he keeps in possession, one is kept by the shipper, and one is sent to the consignee of the goods. -- Bill of mortality, an official statement of the number of deaths in a place or district within a given time; also, a district required to be covered by such statement; as, a place within the bills of mortality of London. -- Bill of pains and penalties, a special act of a legislature which inflicts a punishment less than death upon persons supposed to be guilty of treason or felony, without any conviction in the ordinary course of judicial proceedings. Bouvier. Wharton. -- Bill of parcels, an account given by the seller to the buyer of the several articles purchased, with the price of each. -- Bill of particulars (Law), a detailed statement of the items of a plaintiff's demand in an action, or of the defendant's set-off. -- Bill of rights, a summary of rights and privileges claimed by a people. Such was the declaration presented by the Lords and Commons of England to the Prince and Princess of Orange in 1688, and enacted in Parliament after they became king and queen. In America, a bill or declaration of rights is prefixed to most of the constitutions of the several States. -- Bill of sale, a formal instrument for the conveyance or transfer of goods and chattels. -- Bill of sight, a form of entry at the customhouse, by which goods, respecting which the importer is not possessed of full information, may be provisionally landed for examination. -- Bill of store, a license granted at the customhouse to merchants, to carry such stores and provisions as are necessary for a voyage, custom free. Wharton. -- Bills payable (pl.), the outstanding unpaid notes or acceptances made and issued by an individual or firm. -- Bills receivable (pl.), the unpaid promissory notes or acceptances held by an individual or firm. McElrath. -- A true bill, a bill of indictment sanctioned by a grand jury.

BILL Bill, v. t.

1. To advertise by a bill or public notice.

2. To charge or enter in a bill; as, to bill goods.

BILLABONG Bil"la*bong`, n. [Native name.]

Defn: In Australia, a blind channel leading out from a river; -- sometimes called an anabranch. This is the sense of the word as used in the Public Works Department; but the term has also been locally applied to mere back-waters forming stagnant pools and to certain water channels arising from a source.

BILLAGE Bil"lage, n.

Defn: and v. t. & i. Same as Bilge.

BILLARD Bil"lard, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An English fish, allied to the cod; the coalfish. [Written also billet and billit.]

BILLBEETLE; BILLBUG Bill`bee"tle, or Bill"bug`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A weevil or curculio of various species, as the corn weevil. See Curculio.

BILLBOARD Bill"board`, n.

1. (Naut.)

Defn: A piece of thick plank, armed with iron plates, and fixed on the bow or fore channels of a vessel, for the bill or fluke of the anchor to rest on. Totten.

2. A flat surface, as of a panel or of a fence, on which bills are posted; a bulletin board.

BILL BOOK Bill" book`. (Com.)

Defn: A book in which a person keeps an account of his notes, bills, bills of exchange, etc., thus showing all that he issues and receives.

BILL BROKER Bill" bro`ker.

Defn: One who negotiates the discount of bills.

BILLED Billed, a.

Defn: Furnished with, or having, a bill, as a bird; -- used in composition; as, broad-billed.

BILLET Bil"let, n. Etym: [F. billet, dim. of an OF. bille bill. See Bill a writing.]

1. A small paper; a note; a short letter. "I got your melancholy billet." Sterne.

2. A ticket from a public officer directing soldiers at what house to lodge; as, a billet of residence.

BILLET Bil"let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Billeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Billeting.] Etym: [From Billet a ticket.] (Mil.)

Defn: To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge. Hence: To quarter, or place in lodgings, as soldiers in private houses. Billeted in so antiquated a mansion. W. Irving.

BILLET Bil"let, n. Etym: [F. billette, bille, log; of unknown origin; a different word from bille ball. Cf. Billiards, Billot.]

1. A small stick of wood, as for firewood. They shall beat out my brains with billets. Shak.

2. (Metal.)

Defn: A short bar of metal, as of gold or iron.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood either square or round.

4. (Saddlery) (a) A strap which enters a buckle. (b) A loop which receives the end of a buckled strap. Knight.

5. (Her.)

Defn: A bearing in the form of an oblong rectangle.

BILLET-DOUX Bil`let-doux", n.; pl. Billets-doux. Etym: [F. billet note + doux sweet, L. dulcis.]

Defn: A love letter or note. A lover chanting out a billet-doux. Spectator.

BILLETHEAD Bil"let*head`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A round piece of timber at the bow or stern of a whaleboat, around which the harpoon lone is run out when the whale darts off.

BILLFISH Bill"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A name applied to several distinct fishes: (a) The garfish (Tylosurus, or Belone, longirostris) and allied species. (b) The saury, a slender fish of the Atlantic coast (Scomberesox saurus). (c) The Tetrapturus albidus, a large oceanic species related to the swordfish; the spearfish. (d) The American fresh-water garpike (Lepidosteus osseus).

BILLHEAD Bill"head`, n.

Defn: A printed form, used by merchants in making out bills or rendering accounts.

BILL HOLDER Bill" hold`er.

1. A person who holds a bill or acceptance.

2. A device by means of which bills, etc., are held.

BILLHOOK Bill"hook`, n. Etym: [Bill + hook.]

Defn: A thick, heavy knife with a hooked point, used in pruning hedges, etc. When it has a short handle, it is sometimes called a hand bill; when the handle is long, a hedge bill or scimiter.

BILLIARD Bil"liard, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the game of billiards. "Smooth as is a billiard ball." B. Jonson.

BILLIARDS Bil"liards, n. Etym: [F. billiard billiards, OF. billart staff, cue form playing, fr. bille log. See Billet a stick.]

Defn: A game played with ivory balls o a cloth-covered, rectangular table, bounded by elastic cushions. The player seeks to impel his ball with his cue so that it shall either strike (carom upon) two other balls, or drive another ball into one of the pockets with which the table sometimes is furnished.

BILLING Bill"ing, a. & n.

Defn: Caressing; kissing.

BILLINGSGATE Bil"lings*gate`, n.

1. A market near the Billings gate in London, celebrated for fish and foul language.

2. Coarsely abusive, foul, or profane language; vituperation; ribaldry.

BILLION Bil"lion, n. Etym: [F. billion, arbitrarily formed fr. L. bis twice, in imitation of million a million. See Million.]

Defn: According to the French and American method of numeration, a thousand millions, or 1,000,000,000; according to the English method, a million millions, or 1,000,000,000,000. See Numeration.

BILLMAN Bill"man, n.; pl. Billmen (.

Defn: One who uses, or is armed with, a bill or hooked ax. "A billman of the guard." Savile.

BILLON Bil`lon", n. Etym: [F. Cf. Billet a stick.]

Defn: An alloy of gold and silver with a large proportion of copper or other base metal, used in coinage.

BILLOT Bil"lot, n. Etym: [F. billot, dim. of bille. See Billet a stick.]

Defn: Bullion in the bar or mass.

BILLOW Bil"low, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. bylgja billow, Dan. bölge, Sw. bölja; akin to MHG. bulge billow, bag, and to E. bulge. See Bulge.]

1. A great wave or surge of the sea or other water, caused usually by violent wind. Whom the winds waft where'er the billows roll. Cowper.

2. A great wave or flood of anything. Milton.

BILLOW Bil"low, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Billowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Billowing.]

Defn: To surge; to rise and roll in waves or surges; to undulate. "The billowing snow." Prior.

BILLOWY Bil"low*y, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to billows; swelling or swollen into large waves; full of billows or surges; resembling billows. And whitening down the many-tinctured stream, Descends the billowy foam. Thomson.

BILLPOSTER; BILLSTICKER Bill"post`er, Bill"stick"er, n.

Defn: One whose occupation is to post handbills or posters in public places.

BILLY Bil"ly, n.

1. A club; esp., a policeman's club.

2. (Wool Manuf.)

Defn: A slubbing or roving machine.

BILLYBOY Bil"ly*boy`, n.

Defn: A flat-bottomed river barge or coasting vessel. [Eng.]

BILLYCOCK; BILLYCOCK HAT Bil"ly*cock, n., or Bil"ly*cock hat`. [Perh. from bully + cock; that is, cocked like the hats of the bullies.]

Defn: A round, low-crowned felt hat; a wideawake. "The undignified billycocks and pantaloons of the West." B. H. Chamberlain.

Little acquiesced, and Ransome disguised him in a beard, and a loose set of clothes, and a billicock hat. Charles Reade.

BILLY GOAT Bil"ly goat`.

Defn: A male goat. [Colloq.]

BILOBATE Bi*lo"bate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + lobate.]

Defn: Divided into two lobes or segments.

BILOBED Bi"lobed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + lobe.]

Defn: Bilobate.

BILOCATION Bi`lo*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + location.]

Defn: Double location; the state or power of being in two places at the same instant; -- a miraculous power attributed to some of the saints. Tylor.

BILOCULAR Bi*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + locular: cf. F. biloculaire.]

Defn: Divided into two cells or compartments; as, a bilocular pericarp. Gray.

BILSTED Bil"sted, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Sweet gum.

BILTONG Bil"tong, n. Etym: [S. African.]

Defn: Lean meat cut into strips and sun-dried. H. R. Haggard.

BIMACULATE Bi*mac"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + maculate, a.]

Defn: Having, or marked with, two spots.

BIMANA Bim"a*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Bimanous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Animals having two hands; -- a term applied by Cuvier to man as a special order of Mammalia.

BIMANOUS Bim"a*nous, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + manus hand.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having two hands; two-handed.

BIMARGINATE Bi*mar"gin*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + marginate.]

Defn: Having a double margin, as certain shells.

BIMASTISM Bi*mas"tism, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + Gr. breast.] (Anat.)

Defn: The condition of having two mammæ or teats.

BIMEDIAL Bi*me"di*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + medial.] (Geom.)

Defn: Applied to a line which is the sum of two lines commensurable only in power (as the side and diagonal of a square).

BIMEMBRAL Bi*mem"bral, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + membrum member.] (Gram.)

Defn: Having two members; as, a bimembral sentence. J. W. Gibbs.

BIMENSAL Bi*men"sal, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + mensal.]

Defn: See Bimonthly, a. [Obs. or R.]

BIMESTRIAL Bi*mes"tri*al, a. Etym: [L. bimestris; bis twice + mensis month.]

Defn: Continuing two months. [R.]

BIMETALLIC Bi`me*tal"lic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + metallic: cf. F. bimétallique.]

Defn: Of or relating to, or using, a double metallic standard (as gold and silver) for a system of coins or currency.

BIMETALLISM Bi*met"al*lism, n. Etym: [F. bimétalisme.]

Defn: The legalized use of two metals (as gold and silver) in the currency of a country, at a fixed relative value; -- in opposition to monometallism.

Note: The words bimétallisme and monométallisme are due to M. Cernuschi [1869]. Littré.

BIMETALLIST Bi*met"al*list, n.

Defn: An advocate of bimetallism.

BIMOLECULAR Bi"mo*lec"u*lar, a. [Pref. bi-+ molecular.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or formed from, two molecules; as, a bimolecular reaction (a reaction between two molecules).

BIMONTHLY Bi*month"ly, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + monthly.]

Defn: Occurring, done, or coming, once in two months; as, bimonthly visits; bimonthly publications. -- n.

Defn: A bimonthly publication.

BIMONTHLY Bi*month"ly, adv.

Defn: Once in two months.

BIMUSCULAR Bi*mus"cu*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + muscular.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having two adductor muscles, as a bivalve mollusk.

BIN Bin, n. Etym: [OE. binne, AS. binn manager, crib; perh. akin to D. ben, benne, basket, and to L. benna a kind of carriage ( a Gallic word), W. benn, men, wain, cart.]

Defn: A box, frame, crib, or inclosed place, used as a receptacle for any commodity; as, a corn bin; a wine bin; a coal bin.

BIN Bin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Binned; p. pr. & vb. n. Binning.]

Defn: To put into a bin; as, to bin wine.

BIN Bin.

Defn: An old form of Be and Been. [Obs.]

BIN; BIN- Bin*.

Defn: A euphonic form of the prefix Bi-.

BINAL Bi"nal, a. Etym: [See Binary.]

Defn: Twofold; double. [R.] "Binal revenge, all this." Ford.

BINARSENIATE Bin`ar*se"ni*ate, n. Etym: [Pref. bin- + arseniate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt having two equivalents of arsenic acid to one of the base. Graham.

BINARY Bi"na*ry, a. Etym: [L. binarius, fr. bini two by two, two at a time, fr. root of bis twice; akin to E. two: cf. F. binaire.]

Defn: Compounded or consisting of two things or parts; characterized by two (things). Binary arithmetic, that in which numbers are expressed according to the binary scale, or in which two figures only, 0 and 1, are used, in lieu of ten; the cipher multiplying everything by two, as in common arithmetic by ten. Thus, 1 is one; 10 is two; 11 is three; 100 is four, etc. Davies & Peck. -- Binary compound (Chem.), a compound of two elements, or of an element and a compound performing the function of an element, or of two compounds performing the function of elements. -- Binary logarithms, a system of logarithms devised by Euler for facilitating musical calculations, in which 1 is logarithm of 2, instead of 10, as in the common logarithms, and the modulus 1.442695 instead of .43429448. -- Binary measure (Mus.), measure divisible by two or four; common time. -- Binary nomenclature (Nat. Hist.), nomenclature in which the names designate both genus and species. -- Binary scale (Arith.), a uniform scale of notation whose ratio is two. -- Binary star (Astron.), a double star whose members have a revolution round their common center of gravity. -- Binary theory (Chem.), the theory that all chemical compounds consist of two constituents of opposite and unlike qualities.

BINARY Bi"na*ry, n.

Defn: That which is constituted of two figures, things, or parts; two; duality. Fotherby.

BINATE Bi"nate, a. Etym: [L. bini two and two.] (Bot.)

Defn: Double; growing in pairs or couples. Gray.

BINAURAL Bin*au"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. bin- + aural.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or used by, both ears.

BINBASHI Bin*bash"i, n. [Turk., prop., chief of a thousand; bin thousand + bash head.] (Mil.)

Defn: A major in the Turkish army.

BIND Bind, v. t. [imp. Bound; p. p. Bound, formerly Bounden; p. pr. & vb. n. Binding.] Etym: [AS. bindan, perfect tense band, bundon, p. p. bunden; akin to D. & G. binden, Dan. binde, Sw. & Icel. binda, Goth. bindan, Skr. bandh (for bhandh) to bind, cf. Gr. (for ) cable, and L. offendix. sq. root90.]

1. To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.; to fetter; to make fast; as, to bind grain in bundles; to bind a prisoner.

2. To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind; as, attraction binds the planets to the sun; frost binds the earth, or the streams. He bindeth the floods from overflowing. Job xxviii. 11. Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years. Luke xiii. 16.

3. To cover, as with a bandage; to bandage or dress; -- sometimes with up; as, to bind up a wound.

4. To make fast ( a thing) about or upon something, as by tying; to encircle with something; as, to bind a belt about one; to bind a compress upon a part.

5. To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action; as, certain drugs bind the bowels.

6. To protect or strengthen by a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment.

7. To sew or fasten together, and inclose in a cover; as, to bind a book.

8. Fig.: To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other moral tie; as, to bind the conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by affection; commerce binds nations to each other. Who made our laws to bind us, not himself. Milton.

9. (Law) (a) To bring (any one) under definite legal obligations; esp. under the obligation of a bond or covenant. Abbott. (b) To place under legal obligation to serve; to indenture; as, to bind an apprentice; -- sometimes with out; as, bound out to service. To bind over, to put under bonds to do something, as to appear at court, to keep the peace, etc. -- To bind to, to contract; as, to bind one's self to a wife. -- To bind up in, to cause to be wholly engrossed with; to absorb in.

Syn. -- To fetter; tie; fasten; restrain; restrict; oblige.

BIND Bind, v. i.

1. To tie; to confine by any ligature. They that reap must sheaf and bind. Shak.

2. To contract; to grow hard or stiff; to cohere or stick together in a mass; as, clay binds by heat. Mortimer.

3. To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural action, as by friction.

4. To exert a binding or restraining influence. Locke.

BIND Bind, n.

1. That which binds or ties.

2. Any twining or climbing plant or stem, esp. a hop vine; a bine.

3. (Metal.)

Defn: Indurated clay, when much mixed with the oxide of iron. Kirwan.

4. (Mus.)

Defn: A ligature or tie for grouping notes.

BINDER Bind"er, n.

1. One who binds; as, a binder of sheaves; one whose trade is to bind; as, a binder of books.

2. Anything that binds, as a fillet, cord, rope, or band; a bandage; -- esp. the principal piece of timber intended to bind together any building.

BINDERY Bind"er*y, n.

Defn: A place where books, or other articles, are bound; a bookbinder's establishment.

BINDHEIMITE Bind"heim*ite, n. Etym: [From Bindheim, a German who analyzed it.] (Min.)

Defn: An amorphous antimonate of lead, produced from the alteration of other ores, as from jamesonite.

BINDING Bind"ing, a.

Defn: That binds; obligatory. Binding beam (Arch.), the main timber in double flooring. -- Binding joist (Arch.), the secondary timber in double-framed flooring.

Syn. -- Obligatory; restraining; restrictive; stringent; astringent; costive; styptic.

BINDING Bind"ing, n.

1. The act or process of one who, or that which, binds.

2. Anything that binds; a bandage; the cover of a book, or the cover with the sewing, etc.; something that secures the edge of cloth from raveling.

3. pl. (Naut.)

Defn: The transoms, knees, beams, keelson, and other chief timbers used for connecting and strengthening the parts of a vessel.

BINDINGLY Bind"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: So as to bind.

BINDINGNESS Bind"ing*ness, n.

Defn: The condition or property of being binding; obligatory quality. Coleridge.

BINDING POST Bind"ing post`. (Elec.)

Defn: A metallic post attached to electrical apparatus for convenience in making connections.

BINDING SCREW Bind"ing screw`.

Defn: A set screw used to bind parts together, esp. one for making a connection in an electrical circuit.

BINDWEED Bind"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Convolvulus; as, greater bindweed (C. Sepium); lesser bindweed (C. arvensis); the white, the blue, the Syrian, bindweed. The black bryony, or Tamus, is called black bindweed, and the Smilax aspera, rough bindweed. The fragile bindweed bells and bryony rings. Tennyson.

BINE Bine, n. Etym: [Bind, cf. Woodbine.]

Defn: The winding or twining stem of a hop vine or other climbing plant.

BINERVATE Bi*nerv"ate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + nervus sinew, nerve.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Two-nerved; -- applied to leaves which have two longitudinal ribs or nerves.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having only two nerves, as the wings of some insects.

BING Bing, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. bingr, Sw. binge, G. beige, beuge. Cf. Prov. E. bink bench, and bench coal the uppermost stratum of coal.]

Defn: A heap or pile; as, a bing of wood. "Potato bings." Burns. "A bing of corn." Surrey. [Obs. or Dial. Eng. & Scot.]

BINIODIDE Bin*i"o*dide, n.

Defn: Same as Diiodide.

BINK Bink, n.

Defn: A bench. [North of Eng. & Scot.]

BINNACLE Bin"na*cle, n. Etym: [For bittacle, corrupted (perh. by influence of bin) fr. Pg. bitacola binnacle, fr. L. habitaculum dwelling place, fr. habitare to dwell. See Habit, and cf. Bittacle.] (Naut.)

Defn: A case or box placed near the helmsman, containing the compass of a ship, and a light to show it at night. Totten.

BINNY Bin"ny, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large species of barbel (Barbus bynni), found in the Nile, and much esteemed for food.

BINOCLE Bin"o*cle, n. Etym: [F. binocle; L. bini two at a time + oculus eye.] (Opt.)

Defn: A dioptric telescope, fitted with two tubes joining, so as to enable a person to view an object with both eyes at once; a double- barreled field glass or an opera glass.

BINOCULAR Bin*oc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. binoculaire. See Binocle.]

1. Having two eyes. "Most animals are binocular." Derham.

2. Pertaining to both eyes; employing both eyes at once; as, binocular vision.

3. Adapted to the use of both eyes; as, a binocular microscope or telescope. Brewster.

BINOCULAR Bin*oc"u*lar, n.

Defn: A binocular glass, whether opera glass, telescope, or microscope.

BINOCULARLY Bin*oc"u*lar*ly, adv.

Defn: In a binocular manner.

BINOCULATE Bin*oc"u*late, a.

Defn: Having two eyes.

BINOMIAL Bi*no"mi*al, n. Etym: [L. bis twice + nomen name: cf. F. binome, LL. binomius (or fr. bi- + Gr. distribution ). Cf. Monomial.] (Alg.)

Defn: An expression consisting of two terms connected by the sign plus (+) or minus (-); as, a+b, or 7-3.

BINOMIAL Bi*no"mi*al, a.

1. Consisting of two terms; pertaining to binomials; as, a binomial root.

2. (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: Having two names; -- used of the system by which every animal and plant receives two names, the one indicating the genus, the other the species, to which it belongs. Binomial theorem (Alg.), the theorem which expresses the law of formation of any power of a binomial.

BINOMINAL Bi*nom"i*nal, a. Etym: [See Binomial.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to two names; binomial.

BINOMINOUS Bi*nom"i*nous, a.

Defn: Binominal. [Obs.]

BINOTONOUS Bi*not"o*nous, a. Etym: [L. bini two at a time + tonus, fr. Gr. , tone.]

Defn: Consisting of two notes; as, a binotonous cry.

BINOUS Bi"nous, a.

Defn: Same as Binate.

BINOXALATE Bin*ox"a*late, n. Etym: [Pref. bin- + oxalate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt having two equivalents of oxalic acid to one of the base; an acid oxalate.

BINOXIDE Bin*ox"ide, n. Etym: [Pref. bin- + oxide.] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Dioxide.

BINTURONG Bin"tu*rong, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small Asiatic civet of the genus Arctilis.

BINUCLEAR; BINUCLEATE Bi*nu"cle*ar, Bi*nu"cle*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + nuclear, nucleate.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having two nuclei; as, binucleate cells.

BINUCLEOLATE Bi*nu"cle*o*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + nucleolus.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having two nucleoli.

BIOBLAST Bi"o*blast, n. Etym: [Gr. life + -blast.] (Biol.)

Defn: Same as Bioplast.

BIOCELLATE Bi*oc"el*late, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + ocellatus. See Ocellated.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having two ocelli (eyelike spots); -- said of a wing, etc.

BIOCHEMISTRY Bi`o*chem"is*try, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. chemistry.] (Biol.)

Defn: The chemistry of living organisms; the chemistry of the processes incidental to, and characteristic of, life.

BIODYNAMIC; BIODYNAMICAL Bi`o*dy*nam"ic, Bi`o*dy*nam"ic*al, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to biodynamics, or the doctrine of vital forces or energy.

BIODYNAMICS Bi`o*dy*nam"ics, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. dynamics.] (Biol.)

Defn: The doctrine of vital forces or energy.

BIOGEN Bi"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. life + -gen.] (Biol.)

Defn: Bioplasm.

BIOGENESIS; BIOGENY Bi`o*gen"e*sis, Bi*og"e*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. life + , , birth.] (Biol.) (a) A doctrine that the genesis or production of living organisms can take place only through the agency of living germs or parents; -- opposed to abiogenesis. (b) Life development generally.

BIOGENETIC Bi`o*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Pertaining to biogenesis.

BIOGENIST Bi*og"e*nist, n.

Defn: A believer in the theory of biogenesis.

BIOGEOGRAPHY Bi`o*ge*og"ra*phy, n. [Gr. bi`os life + E. geography.]

Defn: The branch of biology which deals with the geographical distribution of animals and plants. It includes both zoögeography and phytogeography. -- Bi`o*ge`o*graph"ic (#), a. -- Bi`o*ge`o*graph"ic*al*ly (#), adv.

BIOGNOSIS Bi`og*no"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. life + investigation.] (Biol.)

Defn: The investigation of life.

BIOGRAPH Bi"o*graph, n. [Gr. bi`os life + -graph.]

1.

Defn: An animated picture machine for screen projection; a cinematograph.

2. [Cf. Biography.] A biographical sketch. [Rare]

BIOGRAPHER Bi*og"ra*pher, n.

Defn: One who writes an account or history of the life of a particular person; a writer of lives, as Plutarch.

BIOGRAPHIC; BIOGRAPHICAL Bi"o*graph"ic, Bi`o*graph"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to biography; containing biography. -- Bi`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.

BIOGRAPHIZE Bi*og"ra*phize, v. t.

Defn: To write a history of the life of. Southey.

BIOGRAPHY Bi*og"ra*phy, n.; pl. Biographies. Etym: [Gr. ; life + to write: cf. F. biographie. See Graphic.]

1. The written history of a person's life.

2. Biographical writings in general.

BIOLOGIC; BIOLOGICAL Bi`o*log"ic, Bi`o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or relating to biology. -- Bi`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

BIOLOGIST Bi*ol"o*gist, n.

Defn: A student of biology; one versed in the science of biology.

BIOLOGY Bi*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. life + -logy: cf. F. biologie.]

Defn: The science of life; that branch of knowledge which treats of living matter as distinct from matter which is not living; the study of living tissue. It has to do with the origin, structure, development, function, and distribution of animals and plants.

BIOLYSIS Bi*ol"y*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. life + a dissolving.] (Biol.)

Defn: The destruction of life.

BIOLYTIC Bi`o*lyt"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. life + to destroy.]

Defn: Relating to the destruction of life.

BIOMAGNETIC Bi`o*mag*net"ic, a.

Defn: Relating to biomagnetism.

BIOMAGNETISM Bi`o*mag"net*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. magnetism.]

Defn: Animal magnetism.

BIOMETRY Bi*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. life + -metry.]

Defn: Measurement of life; calculation of the probable duration of human life.

BION Bi"on, n. Etym: [Gr. living, p. pr. of to live.] (Biol.)

Defn: The physiological individual, characterized by definiteness and independence of function, in distinction from the morphological individual or morphon.

BIONOMY Bi*on"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. life + law.]

Defn: Physiology. [R.] Dunglison.

BIOPHOR; BIOPHORE Bi"o*phor` Bi"o*phore`, n. Etym: [Gr. life + bearing, fr. to bear.] (Biol.)

Defn: One of the smaller vital units of a cell, the bearer of vitality and heredity. See Pangen, in Supplement.

BIOPHOTOPHONE Bi`o*pho"to*phone, n. [Gr. bi`os life + photo + fwnh` sound, voice.]

Defn: An instrument combining a cinematograph and a phonograph so that the moving figures on the screen are accompanied by the appropriate sounds.

BIOPLASM Bi"o*plasm, n. Etym: [Gr. life + form, mold, fr. to mold.] (Biol.)

Defn: A name suggested by Dr. Beale for the germinal matter supposed to be essential to the functions of all living beings; the material through which every form of life manifests itself; unaltered protoplasm.

BIOPLASMIC Bi`o*plas"mic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, bioplasm.

BIOPLAST Bi"o*plast, n. Etym: [Gr. life + to form.] (Biol.)

Defn: A tiny mass of bioplasm, in itself a living unit and having formative power, as a living white blood corpuscle; bioblast.

BIOPLASTIC Bi`o*plas"tic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Bioplasmic.

BIOPSYCHIC; BIOPSYCHICAL Bi`o*psy"chic, Bi`o*psy"chic*al, a. [Gr. bi`os life + psychic, -cal.]

Defn: Pertaining to psychical phenomena in their relation to the living organism or to the general phenomena of life.

BIORGAN Bi*or"gan, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. organ.] (Biol.)

Defn: A physiological organ; a living organ; an organ endowed with function; -- distinguished from idorgan.

BIOSCOPE Bi"o*scope, n. [Gr. bi`os life + -scope.]

1.

Defn: A view of life; that which gives such a view.

Bagman's Bioscope: Various Views of Men and Manners. [Book Title.] W. Bayley (1824).

2. An animated picture machine for screen projection; a cinematograph (which see).

BIOSTATICS Bi`o*stat"ics, n. Etym: [Gr. life + . See Statics.] (Biol.)

Defn: The physical phenomena of organized bodies, in opposition to their organic or vital phenomena.

BIOSTATISTICS Bi`o*sta*tis"tics, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. statistics.] (Biol.)

Defn: Vital statistics.

BIOTAXY Bi"o*tax`y, n. Etym: [Gr. life + arrangement.] (Biol.)

Defn: The classification of living organisms according to their structural character; taxonomy.

BIOTIC Bi*ot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. pert. to life.] (Biol.)

Defn: Relating to life; as, the biotic principle.

BIOTITE Bi"o*tite, n. Etym: [From Biot, a French naturalist.] (Min.)

Defn: Mica containing iron and magnesia, generally of a black or dark green color; -- a common constituent of crystalline rocks. See Mica.

BIPALMATE Bi*pal"mate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + palmate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Palmately branched, with the branches again palmated.

BIPARIETAL Bi`pa*ri"e*tal, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + parietal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the diameter of the cranium, from one parietal fossa to the other.

BIPAROUS Bip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + parere to bring forth.]

Defn: Bringing forth two at a birth.

BIPARTIBLE Bi*part"i*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bipartible. See Bipartite.]

Defn: Capable of being divided into two parts.

BIPARTIENT Bi*par"tient, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + partiens, p. pr. of partire to divide.]

Defn: Dividing into two parts. -- n.

Defn: A number that divides another into two equal parts without a remainder.

BIPARTILE Bi*par"tile, a.

Defn: Divisible into two parts.

BIPARTITE Bip"ar*tite, a. Etym: [L. bipartitus, p. p. of bipartire; bis twice + partire. See Partite.]

1. Being in two parts; having two correspondent parts, as a legal contract or writing, one for each party; shared by two; as, a bipartite treaty.

2. Divided into two parts almost to the base, as a leaf; consisting of two parts or subdivisions. Gray.

BIPARTITION Bi`par*ti"tion, n.

Defn: The act of dividing into two parts, or of making two correspondent parts, or the state of being so divided.

BIPECTINATE; BIPECTINATED Bi*pec"ti*nate, Bi*pec"ti*na`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pectinate.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having two margins toothed like a comb.

BIPED Bi"ped, n. Etym: [L. bipes; bis twice + pes, pedis, bipède.]

Defn: A two-footed animal, as man.

BIPED Bi"ped, a.

Defn: Having two feet; two-footed. By which the man, when heavenly life was ceased, Became a helpless, naked, biped beast. Byrom.

BIPEDAL Bip"e*dal, a. Etym: [L. bipedalis: cf. F. bipédal. See Biped, n.]

1. Having two feet; biped.

2. Pertaining to a biped.

BIPELTATE Bi*pel"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + peltate.]

Defn: Having a shell or covering like a double shield.

BIPENNATE; BIPENNATED Bi*pen"nate, Bi*pen"na*ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pennate: cf. L. bipennis. Cf. Bipinnate.]

Defn: Having two wings. "Bipennated insects." Derham.

BIPENNIS Bi*pen"nis, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: An ax with an edge or blade on each side of the handle.

BIPETALOUS Bi*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + petalous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two petals.

BIPINNARIA Bi`pin*na"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. bis twice + pinna feather.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larva of certain starfishes as developed in the free- swimming stage.

BIPINNATE; BIPINNATED Bi*pin"nate, Bi*pin"na*ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pinnate; cf. F. bipinné. Cf. Bipennate.]

Defn: Twice pinnate.

BIPINNATIFID Bi`pin*nat"i*fid, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pinnatifid.] (Bot.)

Defn: Doubly pinnatifid.

Note: A bipinnatifid leaf is a pinnatifid leaf having its segments or divisions also pinnatifid. The primary divisions are pinnæ and the secondary pinnules.

BIPLANE Bi"plane, n. [Pref. bi- + plane.] (Aëronautics)

Defn: An aëroplane with two main supporting surfaces one above the other.

BIPLANE Bi"plane, a. (Aëronautics)

Defn: Having, or consisting of, two superposed planes, aërocurves, or the like; of or pertaining to a biplane; as, a biplane rudder.

BIPLICATE Bip"li*cate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + plicate.]

Defn: Twice folded together. Henslow.

BIPLICITY Bi*plic"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state of being twice folded; reduplication. [R.] Bailey.

BIPOLAR Bi*po"lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + polar. Cf. Dipolar.]

Defn: Doubly polar; having two poles; as, a bipolar cell or corpuscle.

BIPOLARITY Bi`po*lar"i*ty, n.

Defn: Bipolar quality.

BIPONT; BIPONTINE Bi"pont, Bi*pont"ine, a. (Bibliog.)

Defn: Relating to books printed at Deuxponts, or Bipontium (Zweibrücken), in Bavaria.

BIPRISM Bi"prism, n. [Pref. bi- + prism.]

1.

Defn: A prism whose refracting angle is very nearly 180 degrees.

2. A combination of two short rectangular glass prisms cemented together at their diagonal faces so as to form a cube; -- called also optical cube. It is used in one form of photometer.

BIPUNCTATE Bi*punc"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + punctate.]

Defn: Having two punctures, or spots.

BIPUNCTUAL Bi*punc"tu*al, a.

Defn: Having two points.

BIPUPILLATE Bi*pu"pil*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pupil (of the eye).] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having an eyelike spot on the wing, with two dots within it of a different color, as in some butterflies.

BIPYRAMIDAL Bi`py*ram"i*dal, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pyramidal.]

Defn: Consisting of two pyramids placed base to base; having a pyramid at each of the extremities of a prism, as in quartz crystals.

BIQUADRATE Bi*quad"rate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + quadrate.] (Math.)

Defn: The fourth power, or the square of the square. Thus 4x4=16, the square of 4, and 16x16=256, the biquadrate of 4.

BIQUADRATIC Bi`quad*rat"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + quadratic: cf. F. biquadratique.] (Math.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the biquadrate, or fourth power. Biquadratic equation (Alg.), an equation of the fourth degree, or an equation in some term of which the unknown quantity is raised to the fourth power. -- Biquadratic root of a number, the square root of the square root of that number. Thus the square root of 81 is 9, and the square root of 9 is 3, which is the biquadratic root of 81. Hutton.

BIQUADRATIC Bi`quad*rat"ic, n. (Math.) (a) A biquadrate. (b) A biquadratic equation.

BIQUINTILE Bi*quin"tile, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + quintile: cf. F. biquintile.] (Astron.)

Defn: An aspect of the planets when they are distant from each other by twice the fifth part of a great circle -- that is, twice 72 degrees.

BIRADIATE; BIRADIATED Bi*ra"di*ate, Bi*ra"di*a`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + radiate.]

Defn: Having two rays; as, a biradiate fin.

BIRAMOUS Bi*ra"mous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + ramous.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having, or consisting of, two branches.

BIRCH Birch, n.; pl. Birches. Etym: [OE. birche, birk, AS. birce, beorc; akin to Icel. björk, Sw. björk, Dan. birk, D. berk, OHG. piricha, MHG. birche, birke, G. birke, Russ. bereza, Pol. brzoza, Serv. breza, Skr. bh. sq. root254. Cf. 1st Birk.]

1. A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula; as, the white or common birch (B. alba) (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch (B. glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (B. papyracea); the yellow birch (B. lutea); the black or cherry birch (B. lenta).

2. The wood or timber of the birch.

3. A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.

Note: The twigs of the common European birch (B. alba), being tough and slender, were formerly much used for rods in schools. They were also made into brooms. The threatening twigs of birch. Shak.

4. A birch-bark canoe. Birch of Jamaica, a species (Bursera gummifera) of turpentine tree. -- Birch partridge. (Zoöl.) See Ruffed grouse. -- Birch wine, wine made of the spring sap of the birch. -- Oil of birch. (a) An oil obtained from the bark of the common European birch (Betula alba), and used in the preparation of genuine ( and sometimes of the imitation) Russia leather, to which it gives its peculiar odor. (b) An oil prepared from the black birch (B. lenta), said to be identical with the oil of wintergreen, for which it is largely sold.

BIRCH Birch, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the birch; birchen.

BIRCH Birch, v. t. [imp & p. p. Birched; p. pr. & vb. n. Birching.]

Defn: To whip with a birch rod or twig; to flog.

BIRCHEN Birch"en, a.

Defn: Of or relating to birch. He passed where Newark's stately tower Looks out from Yarrow's birchen bower. Sir W. Scott.

BIRD Bird, n. Etym: [OE. brid, bred, bird, young bird, bird, AS. bridd young bird.

1. Orig., a chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling; and hence, a feathered flying animal (see 2). That ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird. Shak. The brydds [birds] of the aier have nestes. Tyndale (Matt. viii. 20).

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A warm-blooded, feathered vertebrate provided with wings. See Aves.

3. Specifically, among sportsmen, a game bird.

4. Fig.: A girl; a maiden. And by my word! the bonny bird In danger shall not tarry. Campbell. Arabian bird, the phenix. -- Bird of Jove, the eagle. -- Bird of Juno, the peacock. -- Bird louse (Zoöl.), a wingless insect of the group Mallophaga, of which the genera and species are very numerous and mostly parasitic upon birds. -- Bird mite (Zoöl.), a small mite (genera Dermanyssus, Dermaleichus and allies) parasitic upon birds. The species are numerous. -- Bird of passage, a migratory bird. -- Bird spider (Zoöl.), a very large South American spider (Mygale avicularia). It is said sometimes to capture and kill small birds. -- Bird tick (Zoöl.), a dipterous insect parasitic upon birds (genus Ornithomyia, and allies), usually winged.

BIRD Bird, v. i.

1. To catch or shoot birds.

2. Hence: To seek for game or plunder; to thieve. [R.] B. Jonson.

BIRDBOLT Bird"bolt`, n.

Defn: A short blunt arrow for killing birds without piercing them. Hence: Anything which smites without penetrating. Shak.

BIRD CAGE; BIRDCAGE Bird" cage", or Bird"cage`, n.

Defn: A cage for confining birds.

BIRDCALL Bird"call`, n.

1. A sound made in imitation of the note or cry of a bird for the purpose of decoying the bird or its mate.

2. An instrument of any kind, as a whistle, used in making the sound of a birdcall.

BIRDCATCHER Bird"catch`er, n.

Defn: One whose employment it is to catch birds; a fowler.

BIRDCATCHING Bird"catch`ing, n.

Defn: The art, act, or occupation or catching birds or wild fowls.

BIRD CHERRY Bird" cher`ry. (Bot.)

Defn: A shrub (Prunus Padus ) found in Northern and Central Europe. It bears small black cherries.

BIRDER Bird"er, n.

Defn: A birdcatcher.

BIRD-EYED Bird"-eyed`, a.

Defn: Quick-sighted; catching a glance as one goes.

BIRD FANCIER Bird" fan`ci*er.

1. One who takes pleasure in rearing or collecting rare or curious birds.

2. One who has for sale the various kinds of birds which are kept in cages.

BIRDIE Bird"ie, n.

Defn: A pretty or dear little bird; -- a pet name. Tennyson.

BIRDIKIN Bird"i*kin, n.

Defn: A young bird. Thackeray.

BIRDING Bird"ing, n.

Defn: Birdcatching or fowling. Shak. Birding piece, a fowling piece. Shak.

BIRDLET Bird"let, n.

Defn: A little bird; a nestling.

BIRDLIKE Bird"like`, a.

Defn: Resembling a bird.

BIRDLIME Bird"lime`, n. Etym: [Bird + lime viscous substance.]

Defn: An extremely adhesive viscid substance, usually made of the middle bark of the holly, by boiling, fermenting, and cleansing it. When a twig is smeared with this substance it will hold small birds which may light upon it. Hence: Anything which insnares. Not birdlime or Idean pitch produce A more tenacious mass of clammy juice. Dryden.

Note: Birdlime is also made from mistletoe, elder, etc.

BIRDLIME Bird"lime`, v. t. T

Defn: o smear with birdlime; to catch with birdlime; to insnare. When the heart is thus birdlimed, then it cleaves to everything it meets with. Coodwin.

BIRDLING Bird"ling, n.

Defn: A little bird; a nestling.

BIRDMAN Bird"man, n.

Defn: A fowler or birdcatcher.

BIRD OF PARADISE Bird" of par"a*dise. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The name of several very beautiful birds of the genus Paradisea and allied genera, inhabiting New Guinea and the adjacent islands. The males have brilliant colors, elegant plumes, and often remarkable tail feathers.

Note: The Great emerald (Paradisea apoda) and the Lesser emerald (P. minor) furnish many of the plumes used as ornaments by ladies; the Red is P. rubra or sanguinea; the Golden is Parotia aurea or sexsetacea; the King is Cincinnurus regius. The name is also applied to the longer-billed birds of another related group (Epimachinæ) from the same region. The Twelve-wired (Seleucides alba) is one of these. See Paradise bird, and Note under Apod.

BIRD PEPPER Bird" pep`per.

Defn: A species of capsicum (Capsicum baccatum), whose small, conical, coral-red fruit is among the most piquant of all red peppers.

BIRD'S-BEAK Bird's"-beak`, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A molding whose section is thought to resemble a beak.

BIRDSEED Bird"seed`, n.

Defn: Canary seed, hemp, millet or other small seeds used for feeding caged birds.

BIRD'S-EYE Bird's"-eye`, a.

1. Seen from above, as if by a flying bird; embraced at a glance; hence, generalas, a bird's-eye view.

2. Marked with spots resembling bird's eyes; as, bird's-eye diaper; bird's-eye maple.

BIRD'S-EYE Bird's"-eye`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant with a small bright flower, as the Adonis or pheasant's eye, the mealy primrose (Primula farinosa), and species of Veronica, Geranium, etc.

BIRD'S-EYE MAPLE Bird's"-eye` ma"ple.

Defn: See under Maple.

BIRD'S-FOOT Bird's"-foot`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A papilionaceous plant, the Ornithopus, having a curved, cylindrical pod tipped with a short, clawlike point. Bird's-foot trefoil. (Bot.) (a) A genus of plants (Lotus) with clawlike pods. L. corniculatas, with yellow flowers, is very common in Great Britain. (b) the related plant, Trigonella ornithopodioides, is also European.

BIRD'S-MOUTH Bird's-mouth`, n. (Arch.)

Defn: An interior acrow's-foot in the United States.

BIRD'S NEST; BIRD'S-NEST Bird's" nest`, or Bird's-nest, n.

1. The nest in which a bird lays eggs and hatches her young.

2. (Cookery)

Defn: The nest of a small swallow (Collocalia nidifica and several allied species), of China and the neighboring countries, which is mixed with soups.

Note: The nests are found in caverns and fissures of cliffs on rocky coasts, and are composed in part of algæ. They are of the size of a goose egg, and in substance resemble isinglass. See Illust. under Edible.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: An orchideous plant with matted roots, of the genus Neottia (N. nidus-avis.) Bird's-nest pudding, a pudding containing apples whose cores have been replaces by sugar. -- Yellow bird's nest, a plant, the Monotropa hypopitys.

BIRD'S-NESTING Bird's-nest`ing, n.

Defn: Hunting for, or taking, birds' nests or their contents.

BIRD'S-TONGUE Bird's"-tongue`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare).

BIRD-WITTED Bird"-wit`ted, a.

Defn: Flighty; passing rapidly from one subject to another; not having the faculty of attention. Bacon.

BIRDWOMAN Bird"wom`an, n.

Defn: An airwoman; an aviatress. [Colloq.]

BIRECTANGULAR Bi`rec*tan"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + rectangular.]

Defn: Containing or having two right angles; as, a birectangular spherical triangle.

BIREME Bi"reme, n. Etym: [L. biremis; bis twice + remus oar: cf. F. birème.]

Defn: An ancient galley or vessel with two banks or tiers of oars.

BIRETTA Bi*ret"ta, n.

Defn: Same as Berretta.

BIRGANDER Bir"gan*der, n.

Defn: See Bergander.

BIRK Birk, n. Etym: [See Birch, n.]

Defn: A birch tree. [Prov. Eng.] "The silver birk." Tennyson.

BIRK Birk, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small European minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus).

BIRKEN Birk"en, v. t. Etym: [From 1st Birk.]

Defn: To whip with a birch or rod. [Obs.]

BIRKEN Birk"en, a.

Defn: Birchen; as, birken groves. Burns.

BIRKIE Bir"kie, n.

Defn: A lively or mettlesome fellow. [Jocular, Scot.] Burns.

BIRL Birl, v. t. & i.

Defn: To revolve or cause to revolve; to spin. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

BIRL Birl, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. byrlian.

Defn: To pour (beer or wine); to ply with drink; to drink; to carouse. [Obs. or Dial.] Skelton.

BIRLAW Bir"law, n. Etym: [See By-law.] (Law)

Defn: A law made by husbandmen respecting rural affairs; a rustic or local law or by-law. [Written also byrlaw, birlie, birley.]

BIROSTRATE; BIROSTRATED Bi*ros`trate, Bi*ros"tra*ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + rostrate.]

Defn: Having a double beak, or two processes resembling beaks. The capsule is bilocular and birostrated. Ed. Encyc.

BIRR Birr, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Birred; p. pr. & vb. n. Birring.] Etym: [Cf. OE. bur, bir, wind, storm wind, fr. Icel. byrr wind. Perh. imitative.]

Defn: To make, or move with, a whirring noise, as of wheels in motion.

BIRR Birr, n.

1. A whirring sound, as of a spinning wheel.

2. A rush or impetus; force.

BIRRUS Bir"rus, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. birrus a kind of cloak. See Berretta.]

Defn: A coarse kind of thick woolen cloth, worn by the poor in the Middle Ages; also, a woolen cap or hood worn over the shoulders or over the head.

BIRSE Birse, n.

Defn: A bristle or bristles. [Scot.]

BIRT Birt, n. Etym: [OE. byrte; cf. F. bertonneau. Cf. Bret, Burt.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish of the turbot kind; the brill. [Written also burt, bret, or brut.] [Prov. Eng.]

BIRTH Birth, n. Etym: [OE. burth, birth, AS. beor, gebyrd, fr. beran to bear, bring forth; akin to D. geboorate, OHG. burt, giburt, G. geburt, Icel. bur, Skr. bhrti bearing, supporting; cf. Ir. & Gael. beirthe born, brought forth. Bear, and cf. Berth.]

1. The act or fact of coming into life, or of being born; -- generally applied to human beings; as, the birth of a son.

2. Lineage; extraction; descent; sometimes, high birth; noble extraction. Elected without reference to birth, but solely for qualifications. Prescott.

3. The condition to which a person is born; natural state or position; inherited disposition or tendency. A foe by birth to Troy's unhappy name. Dryden.

4. The act of bringing forth; as, she had two children at a birth. "At her next birth." Milton.

5. That which is born; that which is produced, whether animal or vegetable. Poets are far rarer births that kings. B. Jonson. Others hatch their eggs and tend the birth till it is able to shift for itself. Addison.

6. Origin; beginning; as, the birth of an empire. New birth (Theol.), regeneration, or the commencement of a religious life.

Syn. -- Parentage; extraction; lineage; race; family.

BIRTH Birth, n.

Defn: See Berth. [Obs.] De Foe.

BIRTHDAY Birth"day`, n.

1. The day in which any person is born; day of origin or commencement. Those barbarous ages past, succeeded next The birthday of invention. Cowper.

2. The day of the month in which a person was born, in whatever succeeding year it may recur; the anniversary of one's birth. This is my birthday; as this very day Was Cassius born. Shak.

BIRTHDAY Birth"day`, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the day of birth, or its anniversary; as, birthday gifts or festivities.

BIRTHDOM Birth"dom, n. Etym: [Birth + -dom.]

Defn: The land of one's birth; one's inheritance. [R.] Shak.

BIRTHING Birth"ing, n. (Naut.)

Defn: Anything added to raise the sides of a ship. Bailey.

BIRTHLESS Birth"less, a.

Defn: Of mean extraction. [R.] Sir W. Scott.

BIRTHMARK Birth"mark`, n.

Defn: Some peculiar mark or blemish on the body at birth. Most part of this noble lineage carried upon their body for a natural birthmark, . . . a snake. Sir T. North.

BIRTHNIGHT Birth"night`, n.

Defn: The night in which a person is born; the anniversary of that night in succeeding years. The angelic song in Bethlehem field, On thy birthnight, that sung thee Savior born. Milton.

BIRTHPLACE Birth"place`, n.

Defn: The town, city, or country, where a person is born; place of origin or birth, in its more general sense. "The birthplace of valor." Burns.

BIRTHRIGHT Birth"right`, n.

Defn: Any right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth, such as an estate descendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty under a free constitution; esp. the rights or inheritance of the first born. Lest there be any . . . profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Heb. xii. 16.

BIRTHROOT Birth"root`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An herbaceous plant (Trillium erectum), and its astringent rootstock, which is said to have medicinal properties.

BIRTHWORT Birth"wort`, n.

Defn: A genus of herbs and shrubs (Aristolochia), reputed to have medicinal properties.

BIS Bis, adv. Etym: [L. bis twice, for duis, fr. root of duo two. See Two, and cf. Bi-.]

Defn: Twice; -- a word showing that something is, or is to be, repeated; as a passage of music, or an item in accounts.

BIS; BIS- Bis*, pref.

Defn: A form of Bi-, sometimes used before s, c, or a vowel.

BISA ANTELOPE Bi"sa an"te*lope. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Oryx.

BISACCATE Bi*sac"cate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + saccate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two little bags, sacs, or pouches.

BISCAYAN Bis*cay"an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Biscay in Spain. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Biscay.

BISCOTIN Bis"co*tin, n. Etym: [F. biscotin. See Biscuit.]

Defn: A confection made of flour, sugar, marmalade, and eggs; a sweet biscuit.

BISCUIT Bis"cuit, n. Etym: [F. biscuit (cf. It. biscotto, Sp. bizcocho, Pg. biscouto), fr. L. bis twice + coctus, p. p. of coquere to cook, bake. See Cook, and cf. Bisque a kind of porcelain.]

1. A kind of unraised bread, of many varieties, plain, sweet, or fancy, formed into flat cakes, and bakes hard; as, ship biscuit. According to military practice, the bread or biscuit of the Romans was twice prepared in the oven. Gibbon.

2. A small loaf or cake of bread, raised and shortened, or made light with soda or baking powder. Usually a number are baked in the same pan, forming a sheet or card.

3. Earthen ware or porcelain which has undergone the first baking, before it is subjected to the glazing.

4. (Sculp.)

Defn: A species of white, unglazed porcelain, in which vases, figures, and groups are formed in miniature. Meat biscuit, an alimentary preparation consisting of matters extracted from meat by boiling, or of meat ground fine and combined with flour, so as to form biscuits.

BISCUTATE Bi*scu"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + scutate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling two bucklers placed side by side.

BISE Bise, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A cold north wind which prevails on the northern coasts of the Mediterranean and in Switzerland, etc.; -- nearly the same as the mistral.

BISE Bise, n. (Paint.)

Defn: See Bice.

BISECT Bi*sect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bisected; p. pr. & vb. n. Bisecting.] Etym: [L. bis twice + secare, sectum, to cut.]

1. To cut or divide into two parts.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: To divide into two equal parts.

BISECTION Bi*sec"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bissection.]

Defn: Division into two parts, esp. two equal parts.

BISECTOR Bi*sec"tor, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, bisects; esp. (Geom.) a straight line which bisects an angle.

BISECTRIX Bi*sec"trix, n.

Defn: The line bisecting the angle between the optic axes of a biaxial crystal.

BISEGMENT Bi*seg"ment, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + segment.]

Defn: One of tow equal parts of a line, or other magnitude.

BISEPTATE Bi*sep"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + septate.]

Defn: With two partitions or septa. Gray.

BISERIAL; BISERIATE Bi*se"ri*al, Bi*se"ri*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + serial, seriate.]

Defn: In two rows or series.

BISERRATE Bi*ser"rate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + serrate.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Doubly serrate, or having the serratures serrate, as in some leaves.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Serrate on both sides, as some antennæ.

BISETOSE; BISETOUS Bi*se"tose, Bi*se"tous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + setose, setous.]

Defn: Having two bristles.

BISEXOUS Bi*sex"ous, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + sexus sex: cf. F. bissexe.]

Defn: Bisexual. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

BISEXUAL Bi*sex"u*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sexual.] (Biol.)

Defn: Of both sexes; hermaphrodite; as a flower with stamens and pistil, or an animal having ovaries and testes.

BISEXUOUS Bi*sex"u*ous, a.

Defn: Bisexual.

BISEYE Bi*seye", p. p.

Defn: of Besee. [Obs.] Chaucer. Evil biseye, ill looking. [Obs.]

BISH Bish, n.

Defn: Same as Bikh.

BISHOP Bish"op, n. Etym: [OE. bischop, biscop, bisceop, AS. bisceop, biscop, L. episcopus overseer, superintendent, bishop, fr. Gr. , over + inspector, fr. root of , , to look to, perh. akin to L. specere to look at. See Spy, and cf. Episcopal.]

1. A spiritual overseer, superintendent, or director. Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Pet. ii. 25. It is a fact now generally recognized by theologians of all shades of opinion, that in the language of the New Testament the same officer in the church is called indifferently "bishop" ( J. B. Lightfoot.

2. In the Roman Catholic, Greek, and Anglican or Protestant Episcopal churches, one ordained to the highest order of the ministry, superior to the priesthood, and generally claiming to be a successor of the Apostles. The bishop is usually the spiritual head or ruler of a diocese, bishopric, or see. Bishop in partibus [infidelium] (R. C. Ch.), a bishop of a see which does not actually exist; one who has the office of bishop, without especial jurisdiction. Shipley. -- Titular bishop (R. C. Ch.), a term officially substituted in 1882 for bishop in partibus. -- Bench of Bishops. See under Bench.

3. In the Methodist Episcopal and some other churches, one of the highest church officers or superintendents.

4. A piece used in the game of chess, bearing a representation of a bishop's miter; -- formerly called archer.

5. A beverage, being a mixture of wine, oranges or lemons, and sugar. Swift.

6. An old name for a woman's bustle. [U. S.] If, by her bishop, or her "grace" alone, A genuine lady, or a church, is known. Saxe.

BISHOP Bish"op, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bishoped; p. pr. & vb. n. Bishoping.]

Defn: To admit into the church by confirmation; to confirm; hence, to receive formally to favor.

BISHOP Bish"op, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bishoped; p. pr. & vb. n. Bishoping.] Etym: [From the name of the scoundrel who first practiced it. Youatt.] (Far.)

Defn: To make seem younger, by operating on the teeth; as, to bishop an old horse or his teeth.

Note: The plan adopted is to cut off all the nippers with a saw to the proper length, and then with a cutting instrument the operator scoops out an oval cavity in the corner nippers, which is afterwards burnt with a hot iron until it is black. J. H. Walsh.

BISHOPDOM Bish"op*dom, n.

Defn: Jurisdiction of a bishop; episcopate. "Divine right of bishopdom." Milton.

BISHOPLIKE Bish"op*like`, a.

Defn: Resembling a bishop; belonging to a bishop. Fulke.

BISHOPLY Bish"op*ly, a.

Defn: Bishoplike; episcopal. [Obs.]

BISHOPLY Bish"op*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of a bishop. [Obs.]

BISHOPRIC Bish"op*ric, n. Etym: [AS. bisceoprice; bisceop bishop + rice dominion. See -ric.]

1. A diocese; the district over which the jurisdiction of a bishop extends.

2. The office of a spiritual overseer, as of an apostle, bishop, or presbyter. Acts i. 20.

BISHOP'S CAP Bish"op's cap`. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Mitella; miterwort. Longfellow.

BISHOP SLEEVE Bish"op sleeve`.

Defn: A wide sleeve, once worn by women.

BISHOP'S LENGTH Bish"op's length`.

Defn: A canvas for a portrait measuring 58 by 94 inches. The half bishop measures 45 of 56.

BISHOP-STOOL Bish"op-stool`, n.

Defn: A bishop's seat or see.

BISHOP'S-WEED Bish"op's-weed`, n. (Bot.) (a) An umbelliferous plant of the genus Ammi. (b) Goutweed (Ægopodium podagraria).

BISHOP'S-WORT Bish"op's-wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Wood betony (Stachys betonica); also, the plant called fennel flower (Nigella Damascena), or devil-in-a-bush.

BISIE Bis"ie, v. t.

Defn: To busy; to employ. [Obs.]

BISILICATE Bi*sil"i*cate, n. (Min. Chem.)

Defn: A salt of metasilicic acid; -- so called because the ratio of the oxygen of the silica to the oxygen of the base is as two to one. The bisilicates include many of the most common and important minerals.

BISK Bisk, n. Etym: [F. bisque.]

Defn: Soup or broth made by boiling several sorts of flesh together. King.

BISK Bisk, n. Etym: [F. bisque.] (Tennis)

Defn: See Bisque.

BISKARA BOIL; BISKARA BUTTON Bis"ka*ra boil`, Bis"ka*ra but"ton . [Named after the town Biskara, in Algeria.] (Med.)

Defn: Same as Aleppo boil.

BISMARE; BISMER Bi*smare", Bi*smer", n. Etym: [AS. bismer.]

Defn: Shame; abuse. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BISMER Bis"mer, n.

1. A rule steelyard. [Scot.]

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The fifteen-spined (Gasterosteus spinachia).

BISMILLAH Bis*mil"lah, interj. Etym: [Arabic, in the name of God!]

Defn: An adjuration or exclamation common among the Mohammedans. [Written also Bizmillah.]

BISMITE Bis"mite, n. (Min.)

Defn: Bismuth trioxide, or bismuth ocher.

BISMUTH Bis"muth, n. Etym: [Ger. bismuth, wismuth: cf. F. bismuth.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of the elements; a metal of a reddish white color, crystallizing in rhombohedrons. It is somewhat harder than lead, and rather brittle; masses show broad cleavage surfaces when broken across. It melts at 507º Fahr., being easily fused in the flame of a candle. It is found in a native state, and as a constituent of some minerals. Specific gravity 9.8. Atomic weight 207.5. Symbol Bi.

Note: Chemically, bismuth (with arsenic and antimony is intermediate between the metals and nonmetals; it is used in thermo-electric piles, and as an alloy with lead and tin in the fusible alloy or metal. Bismuth is the most diamagnetic substance known. Bismuth glance, bismuth sulphide; bismuthinite. -- Bismuth ocher, a native bismuth oxide; bismite.

BISMUTHAL Bis"muth*al, a.

Defn: Containing bismuth.

BISMUTHIC Bis"muth*ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to bismuth; containing bismuth, when this element has its higher valence; as, bismuthic oxide.

BISMUTHIFEROUS Bis`muth*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Bismuth + -ferous.]

Defn: Containing bismuth.

BISMUTHINE; BISMUTHINITE Bis"muth*ine, Bis"muth*in*ite, n.

Defn: Native bismuth sulphide; -- sometimes called bismuthite.

BISMUTHOUS Bis"muth*ous, a.

Defn: Of, or containing, bismuth, when this element has its lower valence.

BISMUTHYL Bis"muth*yl`, n. (Min.)

Defn: Hydrous carbonate of bismuth, an earthy mineral of a dull white or yellowish color. [Written also bismuthite.]

BISON Bi"son, n. Etym: [L. bison, Gr. , a wild ox; akin to OHG. wisunt, wisant, G. wisent, AS. wesend, Icel. visundr: cf. F. bison.] (Zoöl.) (a) The aurochs or European bison. (b) The American bison buffalo (Bison Americanus), a large, gregarious bovine quadruped with shaggy mane and short black horns, which formerly roamed in herds over most of the temperate portion of North America, but is now restricted to very limited districts in the region of the Rocky Mountains, and is rapidly decreasing in numbers.

BISPINOSE Bi*spi"nose, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + spinose.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having two spines.

BISQUE Bisque, n. Etym: [A corruption of biscuit.]

Defn: Unglazed white porcelain.

BISQUE Bisque, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A point taken by the receiver of odds in the game of tennis; also, an extra innings allowed to a weaker player in croquet.

BISQUE Bisque, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A white soup made of crayfish.

BISSELL TRUCK Bis"sell truck.

Defn: A truck for railroad rolling stock, consisting of two ordinary axle boxes sliding in guides attached to a triangular frame; -- called also pony truck.

BISSEXTILE Bis*sex"tile, n. Etym: [L. bissextilis annus, fr. bissextus (bis + sextus sixth, fr. sex six) the sixth of the calends of March, or twenty-fourth day of February, which was reckoned twice every fourth year, by the intercalation of a day.]

Defn: Leap year; every fourth year, in which a day is added to the month of February on account of the excess of the tropical year (365 d. 5 h. 48 m. 46 s.) above 365 days. But one day added every four years is equivalent to six hours each year, which is 11 m. 14 s. more than the excess of the real year. Hence, it is necessary to suppress the bissextile day at the end of every century which is not divisible by 400, while it is retained at the end of those which are divisible by 400.

BISSEXTILE Bis*sex"tile, a.

Defn: Pertaining to leap year.

BISSON Bis"son, a. Etym: [OE. bisen, bisne, AS. bisen, prob. for bis; bi by + s clear, akin to seón to see; clear when near, hence short-sighted. See See.]

Defn: Purblind; blinding. [Obs.] "Bisson rheum." Shak.

BISTER; BISTRE Bis"ter, Bis"tre, n. Etym: [F. bistre a color made of soot; of unknown origin. Cf., however, LG. biester frowning, dark, ugly.] (Paint.)

Defn: A dark brown pigment extracted from the soot of wood.

BISTIPULED Bi*stip"uled, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + stipule.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having two stipules.

BISTORT Bis"tort, n. Etym: [L. bis + tortus, p. p. of torquere to twist: cf. F. bistorte.] (Bot.)

Defn: An herbaceous plant of the genus Polygonum, section Bistorta; snakeweed; adderwort. Its root is used in medicine as an astringent.

BISTOURY Bis"tou*ry, n.; pl. Bistouries. Etym: [F. bistouri.]

Defn: A surgical instrument consisting of a slender knife, either straight or curved, generally used by introducing it beneath the part to be divided, and cutting towards the surface.

BISTRE Bis"tre, n.

Defn: See Bister.

BISULCATE Bi*sul"cate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sulcate.]

1. Having two grooves or furrows.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Cloven; said of a foot or hoof.

BISULCOUS Bi*sul"cous, a. Etym: [L. bisulcus; bis twice + sulcus furrow.]

Defn: Bisulcate. Sir T. Browne.

BISULPHATE Bi*sul"phate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sulphate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A sulphate in which but half the hydrogen of the acid is replaced by a positive element or radical, thus making the proportion of the acid to the positive or basic portion twice what it is in the normal sulphates; an acid sulphate.

BISULPHIDE Bi*sul"phide, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sulphide.] (Chem.)

Defn: A sulphide having two atoms of sulphur in the molecule; a disulphide, as in iron pyrites, FeS2; -- less frequently called bisulphuret.

BISULPHITE Bi*sul"phite, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of sulphurous acid in which the base replaces but half the hydrogen of the acid; an acid sulphite.

BISULPHURET Bi*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)

Defn: See Bisulphide.

BIT Bit, n. Etym: [OE. bitt, bite, AS. bite, bite, fr. bitan to bite. See Bite, n. & v., and cf. Bit a morsel.]

1. The part of a bridle, usually of iron, which is inserted in the mouth of a horse, and having appendages to which the reins are fastened. Shak. The foamy bridle with the bit of gold. Chaucer.

2. Fig.: Anything which curbs or restrains.

BIT Bit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bitting.]

Defn: To put a bridle upon; to put the bit in the mouth of.

BIT Bit,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bite.

BIT Bit, n. Etym: [OE. bite, AS. bita, fr. bitan to bite; akin to D. beet, G. bissen bit, morsel, Icel. biti. See Bite, v., and cf. Bit part of a bridle.]

1. A part of anything, such as may be bitten off or taken into the mouth; a morsel; a bite. Hence: A small piece of anything; a little; a mite.

2. Somewhat; something, but not very great. My young companion was a bit of a poet. T. Hook.

Note: This word is used, also, like jot and whit, to express the smallest degree; as, he is not a bit wiser.

3. A tool for boring, of various forms and sizes, usually turned by means of a brace or bitstock. See Bitstock.

4. The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers. Knight.

5. The cutting iron of a plane. Knight.

6. In the Southern and Southwestern States, a small silver coin (as the real) formerly current; commonly, one worth about 12 1/2 cents; also, the sum of 12 1/2 cents. Bit my bit, piecemeal. Pope.

BIT Bit, 3d sing. pr.

Defn: of Bid, for biddeth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BITAKE Bi*take", v. t. Etym: [See Betake, Betaught.]

Defn: To commend; to commit. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BITANGENT Bi*tan"gent, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + tangent.] (Geom.)

Defn: Possessing the property of touching at two points. -- n.

Defn: A line that touches a curve in two points.

BITARTRATE Bi*tar"trate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of tartaric acid in which the base replaces but half the acid hydrogen; an acid tartrate, as cream of tartar.

BITCH Bitch, n. Etym: [OE. biche, bicche, AS. bicce; cf. Icel. bikkja, G. betze, peize.]

1. The female of the canine kind, as of the dog, wolf, and fox.

2. An opprobrious name for a woman, especially a lewd woman. Pope.

BITE Bite, v. t. [imp. Bit; p. p. Bitten, Bit; p. pr. & vb. n. Biting.] Etym: [OE. biten, AS. bitan; akin to D. bijten, OS. bitan, OHG. bizan, G. beissen, Goth. beitan, Icel. bita, Sw. bita, Dan. bide, L. findere to cleave, Skr. bhid to cleave. sq. root87. Cf. Fissure.]

1. To seize with the teeth, so that they enter or nip the thing seized; to lacerate, crush, or wound with the teeth; as, to bite an apple; to bite a crust; the dog bit a man. Such smiling rogues as these, Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain. Shak.

2. To puncture, abrade, or sting with an organ (of some insects) used in taking food.

3. To cause sharp pain, or smarting, to; to hurt or injure, in a literal or a figurative sense; as, pepper bites the mouth. "Frosts do bite the meads." Shak.

4. To cheat; to trick; to take in. [Colloq.] Pope.

5. To take hold of; to hold fast; to adhere to; as, the anchor bites the ground. The last screw of the rack having been turned so often that its purchase crumbled, . . . it turned and turned with nothing to bite. Dickens. To bite the dust, To bite the ground, to fall in the agonies of death; as, he made his enemy bite the dust. -- To bite in (Etching), to corrode or eat into metallic plates by means of an acid. -- To bite the thumb at (any one), formerly a mark of contempt, designed to provoke a quarrel; to defy. "Do you bite your thumb at us " Shak. -- To bite the tongue, to keep silence. Shak.

BITE Bite, v. i.

1. To seize something forcibly with the teeth; to wound with the teeth; to have the habit of so doing; as, does the dog bite

2. To cause a smarting sensation; to have a property which causes such a sensation; to be pungent; as, it bites like pepper or mustard.

3. To cause sharp pain; to produce anguish; to hurt or injure; to have the property of so doing. At the last it [wine] biteth like serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Prov. xxiii. 32.

4. To take a bait into the mouth, as a fish does; hence, to take a tempting offer.

5. To take or keep a firm hold; as, the anchor bites.

BITE Bite, n. Etym: [OE. bite, bit, bitt, AS. bite bite, fr. bitan to bite, akin to Icel. bit, OS. biti, G. biss. See Bite, v., and cf. Bit.]

1. The act of seizing with the teeth or mouth; the act of wounding or separating with the teeth or mouth; a seizure with the teeth or mouth, as of a bait; as, to give anything a hard bite. I have known a very good fisher angle diligently four or six hours for a river carp, and not have a bite. Walton.

2. The act of puncturing or abrading with an organ for taking food, as is done by some insects.

3. The wound made by biting; as, the pain of a dog's or snake's bite; the bite of a mosquito.

4. A morsel; as much as is taken at once by biting.

5. The hold which the short end of a lever has upon the thing to be lifted, or the hold which one part of a machine has upon another.

6. A cheat; a trick; a fraud. [Colloq.] The baser methods of getting money by fraud and bite, by deceiving and overreaching. Humorist.

7. A sharper; one who cheats. [Slang] Johnson.

8. (Print.)

Defn: A blank on the edge or corner of a page, owing to a portion of the frisket, or something else, intervening between the type and paper.

BITER Bit"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, bites; that which bites often, or is inclined to bite, as a dog or fish. "Great barkers are no biters." Camden.

2. One who cheats; a sharper. [Colloq.] Spectator.

BITERNATE Bi*ter"nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + ternate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Doubly ternate, as when a petiole has three ternate leaflets. -- Bi*ter"nate*ly, adv. Gray.

BITHEISM Bi"the*ism, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + theism.]

Defn: Belief in the existence of two gods; dualism.

BITING Bit"ing, a.

Defn: That bites; sharp; cutting; sarcastic; caustic. "A biting affliction." "A biting jest." Shak.

BITING IN Bit"ing in". (Etching.)

Defn: The process of corroding or eating into metallic plates, by means of an acid. See Etch. G. Francis.

BITINGLY Bit"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a biting manner.

BITLESS Bit"less, a.

Defn: Not having a bit or bridle.

BITO; BITO TREE Bi"to, n., Bi"to tree`. [Etym. uncertain.] (Bot.)

Defn: A small scrubby tree (Balanites Ægyptiaca) growing in dry regions of tropical Africa and Asia.

The hard yellowish white wood is made into plows in Abyssinia; the bark is used in Farther India to stupefy fish; the ripe fruit is edible, when green it is an anthelmintic; the fermented juice is used as a beverage; the seeds yield a medicinal oil called zachun. The African name of the tree is hajilij.

BITSTOCK Bit"stock`, n.

Defn: A stock or handle for holding and rotating a bit; a brace.

BITT Bitt, n. (Naut.)

Defn: See Bitts.

BITT Bitt, v. t. Etym: [See Bitts.] (Naut.)

Defn: To put round the bitts; as, to bitt the cable, in order to fasten it or to slacken it gradually, which is called veering away. Totten.

BITTACLE Bit"ta*cle, n.

Defn: A binnacle. [Obs.]

BITTEN Bit"ten, p. p.

Defn: of Bite.

BITTEN Bit"ten, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Terminating abruptly, as if bitten off; premorse.

BITTER Bit"ter, n. Etym: [See Bitts.] (Naut.)

Defn: AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts. Bitter end, that part of a cable which is abaft the bitts, and so within board, when the ship rides at anchor.

BITTER Bit"ter, a. Etym: [AS. biter; akin to Goth. baitrs, Icel. bitr, Dan., Sw., D., & G. bitter, OS. bittar, fr. root of E. bite. See Bite, v. t.]

1. Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or an infusion of hops; as, a bitter medicine; bitter as aloes.

2. Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; as, a bitter cold day.

3. Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind; calamitous; poignant. It is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God. Jer. ii. 19.

4. Characterized by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern; virulent; as, bitter reproach. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Col. iii. 19.

5. Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable. The Egyptians . . . made their lives bitter with hard bondage. Ex. i. 14. Bitter apple, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd. (Bot.) See Colocynth. -- Bitter cress (Bot.), a plant of the genus Cardamine, esp. C. amara. -- Bitter earth (Min.), tale earth; calcined magnesia. -- Bitter principles (Chem.), a class of substances, extracted from vegetable products, having strong bitter taste but with no sharply defined chemical characteristics. -- Bitter salt, Epsom salts;; magnesium sulphate. -- Bitter vetch (Bot.), a name given to two European leguminous herbs, Vicia Orobus and Ervum Ervilia. -- To the bitter end, to the last extremity, however calamitous.

Syn. -- Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious.

BITTER Bit"ter, n.

Defn: Any substance that is bitter. See Bitters.

BITTER Bit"ter, v. t.

Defn: To make bitter. Wolcott.

BITTERBUMP Bit"ter*bump`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: the butterbump or bittern.

BITTERFUL Bit"ter*ful, a.

Defn: Full of bitterness. [Obs.]

BITTERING Bit"ter*ing, n.

Defn: A bitter compound used in adulterating beer; bittern.

BITTERISH Bit"ter*ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat bitter. Goldsmith.

BITTERLING Bit"ter*ling, n. Etym: [G.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A roachlike European fish (Rhodima amarus).

BITTERLY Bit"ter*ly, adv.

Defn: In a bitter manner.

BITTERN Bit"tern, n. Etym: [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F. butor; of unknown origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species.

Note: The common European bittern is Botaurus stellaris. It makes, during the brooding season, a noise called by Dryden bumping, and by Goldsmith booming. The American bittern is B. lentiginosus, and is also called stake-driver and meadow hen. See Stake-driver.

Note: The name is applied to other related birds, as the least bittern (Ardetta exilis), and the sun bittern.

BITTERN Bit"tern, n. Etym: [From Bitter, a.]

1. The brine which remains in salt works after the salt is concreted, having a bitter taste from the chloride of magnesium which it contains.

2. A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus Indicus, etc., used by fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer. Cooley.

BITTERNESS Bit"ter*ness, n. Etym: [AS. biternys; biter better + -nys = -ness.]

1. The quality or state of being bitter, sharp, or acrid, in either a literal or figurative sense; implacableness; resentfulness; severity; keenness of reproach or sarcasm; deep distress, grief, or vexation of mind. The lip that curls with bitterness. Percival. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job vii. 11.

2. A state of extreme impiety or enmity to God. Thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Acts viii. 23.

3. Dangerous error, or schism, tending to draw persons to apostasy. Looking diligently, . . . lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you. Heb. xii. 15.

BITTERNUT Bit"ter*nut", n. (Bot.)

Defn: The swamp hickory (Carya amara). Its thin-shelled nuts are bitter.

BITTERROOT Bit"ter*root`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Lewisia rediviva) allied to the purslane, but with fleshy, farinaceous roots, growing in the mountains of Idaho, Montana, etc. It gives the name to the Bitter Root mountains and river. The Indians call both the plant and the river Spæt'lum.

BITTERS Bit"ters, n. pl.

Defn: A liquor, generally spirituous in which a bitter herb, leaf, or root is steeped.

BITTER SPAR Bit"ter spar".

Defn: A common name of dolomite; -- so called because it contains magnesia, the soluble salts of which are bitter. See Dolomite.

BITTERSWEET Bit"ter*sweet`, a.

Defn: Sweet and then bitter or bitter and then sweet; esp. sweet with a bitter after taste; hence (Fig.), pleasant but painful.

BITTERSWEET Bit"ter*sweet`, n.

1. Anything which is bittersweet.

2. A kind of apple so called. Gower.

3. (Bot.) (a) A climbing shrub, with oval coral-red berries (Solanum dulcamara); woody nightshade. The whole plant is poisonous, and has a taste at first sweetish and then bitter. The branches are the officinal dulcamara. (b) An American woody climber (Celastrus scandens), whose yellow capsules open late in autumn, and disclose the red aril which covers the seeds; -- also called Roxbury waxwork.

BITTERWEED Bit"ter*weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A species of Ambrosia (A. artemisiæfolia); Roman worm wood. Gray.

BITTERWOOD Bit"ter*wood`, n.

Defn: A West Indian tree (Picræna excelsa) from the wood of which the bitter drug Jamaica quassia is obtained.

BITTERWORT Bit"ter*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea), which has a very bitter taste.

BITTOCK Bit"tock, n. Etym: [See Bit a morsel.]

Defn: A small bit of anything, of indefinite size or quantity; a short distance. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

BITTOR; BITTOUR Bit"tor Bit"tour, n. Etym: [See Bittern] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The bittern. Dryden.

BITTS Bitts, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. F. bitte, Icel. biti, a beam. (Naut.)

Defn: A frame of two strong timbers fixed perpendicularly in the fore part of a ship, on which to fasten the cables as the ship rides at anchor, or in warping. Other bitts are used for belaying (belaying bitts), for sustaining the windlass (carrick bitts, winch bitts, or windlass bitts), to hold the pawls of the windlass (pawl bitts) etc.

BITUME Bi*tume", n. Etym: [F. See Bitumen.]

Defn: Bitumen. [Poetic] May.

BITUMED Bi*tumed", a.

Defn: Smeared with bitumen. [R.] "The hatches caulked and bitumed." Shak.

BITUMEN Bi*tu"men, n. Etym: [L. bitumen: cf. F. bitume. Cf. Béton.]

1. Mineral pitch; a black, tarry substance, burning with a bright flame; Jew's pitch. It occurs as an abundant natural product in many places, as on the shores of the Dead and Caspian Seas. It is used in cements, in the construction of pavements, etc. See Asphalt.

2. By extension, any one of the natural hydrocarbons, including the hard, solid, brittle varieties called asphalt, the semisolid maltha and mineral tars, the oily petroleums, and even the light, volatile naphthas.

BITUMEN PROCESS Bi*tu"men proc"ess. (Photog.)

Defn: Any process in which advantage is taken of the fact that prepared bitumen is rendered insoluble by exposure to light, as in photolithography.

BITUMINATE Bi*tu"mi*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bituminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Bituminating.] Etym: [L. bituminatus, p. p. of bituminare to bituminate. See Bitumen.]

Defn: To treat or impregnate with bitumen; to cement with bitumen. "Bituminated walls of Babylon." Feltham.

BITUMINIFEROUS Bi*tu`mi*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Bitumen + -ferous.]

Defn: Producing bitumen. Kirwan.

BITUMINIZATION Bi*tu`mi*ni*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bituminisation.]

Defn: The process of bituminizing. Mantell.

BITUMINIZE Bi*tu"mi*nize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bituminized (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bituminizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. bituminiser.]

Defn: To prepare, treat, impregnate, or coat with bitumen.

BITUMINOUS Bi*tu"mi*nous, a. Etym: [L. bituminosus: cf. F. bitumineux.]

Defn: Having the qualities of bitumen; compounded with bitumen; containing bitumen. Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flamed. Milton. Bituminous coal, a kind of coal which yields, when heated, a considerable amount of volatile bituminous matter. It burns with a yellow smoky flame. -- Bituminous limestone, a mineral of a brown or black color, emitting an unpleasant smell when rubbed. That of Dalmatia is so charged with bitumen that it may be cut like soap. -- Bituminous shale, an argillaceous shale impregnated with bitumen, often accompanying coal.

BIURET Bi"u*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + urea.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance, C2O2N3H5, formed by heating urea. It is intermediate between urea and cyanuric acid.

BIVALENCY Biv"a*len*cy, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The quality of being bivalent.

BIVALENT Biv"a*lent, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + valens, p. pr. See Valence.] (Chem.)

Defn: Equivalent in combining or displacing power to two atoms of hydrogen; dyad.

BIVALVE Bi"valve, n. Etym: [F. bivalve; bi- (L. bis) + valve valve.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A mollusk having a shell consisting of two lateral plates or valves joined together by an elastic ligament at the hinge, which is usually strengthened by prominences called teeth. The shell is closed by the contraction of two transverse muscles attached to the inner surface, as in the clam, -- or by one, as in the oyster. See Mollusca.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A pericarp in which the seed case opens or splits into two parts or valves.

BIVALVE Bi"valve, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + valve.] (Zoöl. & Bot.)

Defn: Having two shells or valves which open and shut, as the oyster and certain seed vessels.

BIVALVED Bi"valved, a.

Defn: Having two valves, as the oyster and some seed pods; bivalve.

BIVALVOUS Bi*val"vous, a.

Defn: Bivalvular.

BIVALVULAR Bi*val"vu*lar, a.

Defn: Having two valves.

BIVAULTED Bi*vault"ed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + vault.]

Defn: Having two vaults or arches.

BIVECTOR Bi*vec"tor, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + vector.] (Math.)

Defn: A term made up of the two parts

BIVENTRAL Bi*ven"tral, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + ventral.]

Defn: (Anat.) Having two bellies or protuberances; as, a biventral, or digastric, muscle, or the biventral lobe of the cerebellum.

BIVIAL Biv"i*al, a.

Defn: Of or relating to the bivium.

BIVIOUS Biv"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. bivius; bis twice + via way.]

Defn: Having, or leading, two ways. Bivious theorems and Janus-faced doctrines. Sir T. Browne.

BIVIUM Biv"i*um, n. Etym: [L., a place with two ways. See Bivious.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One side of an echinoderm, including a pair of ambulacra, in distinction from the opposite side (trivium), which includes three ambulacra.

BIVOUAC Biv"ouac, n. Etym: [F. bivouac, bivac, prab. fr. G. beiwache, or beiwacht; bei by, near + wachen to watch, wache watch, guard. See By, and Watch.] (Mil.) (a) The watch of a whole army by night, when in danger of surprise or attack. (b) An encampment for the night without tents or covering.

BIVOUAC Biv"ouac, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bivouacked (p. pr. & vb. n. Bivouacking.] (Mil.) (a) To watch at night or be on guard, as a whole army. (b) To encamp for the night without tents or covering.

BIWEEKLY Bi"week`ly, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + weekly.]

Defn: Occurring or appearing once every two weeks; fortnightly. -- n.

Defn: A publication issued every two weeks. -- Bi"week"ly, adv.

BIWREYE Bi*wreye", v. t.

Defn: To bewray; to reveal. [Obs.]

BIZANTINE Biz"an*tine.

Defn: See Byzantine.

BIZARRE Bi*zarre", a. Etym: [F. bizarre odd, fr. Sp. bizarro gallant, brave, liberal, prob. of Basque origin; cf. Basque bizarra beard, whence the meaning manly, brave.]

Defn: Odd in manner or appearance; fantastic; whimsical; extravagant; grotesque. C. Kingsley.

BIZET Bi*zet", n. Etym: [Cf. Bezel.]

Defn: The upper faceted portion of a brilliant-cut diamond, which projects from the setting and occupies the zone between the girdle and the table. See Brilliant, n.

BLAB Blab, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blabbed (p. pr. & vb. n. Blabbing.] Etym: [Cf. OE. blaberen, or Dan. blabbre, G. plappern, Gael. blabaran a stammerer; prob. of imitative origin. Cf. also Blubber, v.]

Defn: To utter or tell unnecessarily, or in a thoughtless manner; to publish (secrets or trifles) without reserve or discretion. Udall. And yonder a vile physician blabbing The case of his patient. Tennyson.

BLAB Blab, v. i.

Defn: To talk thoughtlessly or without discretion; to tattle; to tell tales. She must burst or blab. Dryden.

BLAB Blab, n. Etym: [OE. blabbe.]

Defn: One who blabs; a babbler; a telltale. "Avoided as a blab." Milton. For who will open himself to a blab or a babbler. Bacon.

BLABBER Blab"ber, n.

Defn: A tattler; a telltale.

BLACK Black, a. Etym: [OE. blak, AS. blæc; akin to Icel. blakkr dark, swarthy, Sw. bläck ink, Dan. blæk, OHG. blach, LG. & D. blaken to burn with a black smoke. Not akin to AS. blac, E. bleak pallid.

1. Destitute of light, or incapable of reflecting it; of the color of soot or coal; of the darkest or a very dark color, the opposite of white; characterized by such a color; as, black cloth; black hair or eyes. O night, with hue so black! Shak.

2. In a less literal sense: Enveloped or shrouded in darkness; very dark or gloomy; as, a black night; the heavens black with clouds. I spy a black, suspicious, threatening cloud. Shak.

3. Fig.: Dismal, gloomy, or forbidding, like darkness; destitute of moral light or goodness; atrociously wicked; cruel; mournful; calamitous; horrible. "This day's black fate." "Black villainy." "Arise, black vengeance." "Black day." "Black despair." Shak.

4. Expressing menace, or discontent; threatening; sullen; foreboding; as, to regard one with black looks.

Note: Black is often used in self-explaining compound words; as, black-eyed, black-faced, black-haired, black-visaged. Black act, the English statute 9 George I, which makes it a felony to appear armed in any park or warren, etc., or to hunt or steal deer, etc., with the face blackened or disguised. Subsequent acts inflicting heavy penalties for malicious injuries to cattle and machinery have been called black acts. -- Black angel (Zoöl.), a fish of the West Indies and Florida (Holacanthus tricolor), with the head and tail yellow, and the middle of the body black. -- Black antimony (Chem.), the black sulphide of antimony, Sb2S3, used in pyrotechnics, etc. -- Black bear (Zoöl.), the common American bear (Ursus Americanus). -- Black beast. See Bête noire. -- Black beetle (Zoöl.), the common large cockroach (Blatta orientalis). -- Black and blue, the dark color of a bruise in the flesh, which is accompanied with a mixture of blue. "To pinch the slatterns black and blue." Hudibras. -- Black bonnet (Zoöl.), the black-headed bunting (Embriza Schoeniclus) of Europe. -- Black canker, a disease in turnips and other crops, produced by a species of caterpillar. -- Black cat (Zoöl.), the fisher, a quadruped of North America allied to the sable, but larger. See Fisher. -- Black cattle, any bovine cattle reared for slaughter, in distinction from dairy cattle. [Eng.] -- Black cherry. See under Cherry. -- Black cockatoo (Zoöl.), the palm cockatoo. See Cockatoo. -- Black copper. Same as Melaconite. -- Black currant. (Bot.) See Currant. -- Black diamond. (Min.) See Carbonado. -- Black draught (Med.), a cathartic medicine, composed of senna and magnesia. -- Black drop (Med.), vinegar of opium; a narcotic preparation consisting essentially of a solution of opium in vinegar. -- Black earth, mold; earth of a dark color. Woodward. -- Black flag, the flag of a pirate, often bearing in white a skull and crossbones; a signal of defiance. -- Black flea (Zoöl.), a flea beetle (Haltica nemorum) injurious to turnips. -- Black flux, a mixture of carbonate of potash and charcoal, obtained by deflagrating tartar with half its weight of niter. Brande & C. -- Black fly. (Zoöl.) (a) In the United States, a small, venomous, two-winged fly of the genus Simulium of several species, exceedingly abundant and troublesome in the northern forests. The larvæ are aquatic. (b) A black plant louse, as the bean aphis (A. fabæ). -- Black Forest Etym: [a translation of G. Schwarzwald], a forest in Baden and Würtemburg, in Germany; a part of the ancient Hercynian forest. -- Black game, or Black grouse. (Zoöl.) See Blackcock, Grouse, and Heath grouse. -- Black grass (Bot.), a grasslike rush of the species Juncus Gerardi, growing on salt marshes, and making good hay. -- Black gum (Bot.), an American tree, the tupelo or pepperidge. See Tupelo. -- Black Hamburg (grape) (Bot.), a sweet and juicy variety of dark purple or "black" grape. -- Black horse (Zoöl.), a fish of the Mississippi valley (Cycleptus elongatus), of the sucker family; the Missouri sucker. -- Black lemur (Zoöl.), the Lemurniger of Madagascar; the acoumbo of the natives. -- Black list, a list of persons who are for some reason thought deserving of censure or punishment; -- esp. a list of persons stigmatized as insolvent or untrustworthy, made for the protection of tradesmen or employers. See Blacklist, v. t. -- Black manganese (Chem.), the black oxide of manganese, MnO2. -- Black Maria, the close wagon in which prisoners are carried to or from jail. -- Black martin (Zoöl.), the chimney swift. See Swift. -- Black moss (Bot.), the common so-called long moss of the southern United States. See Tillandsia. -- Black oak. See under Oak. -- Black ocher. See Wad. -- Black pigment, a very fine, light carbonaceous substance, or lampblack, prepared chiefly for the manufacture of printers' ink. It is obtained by burning common coal tar. -- Black plate, sheet iron before it is tinned. Knight. -- Black quarter, malignant anthrax with engorgement of a shoulder or quarter, etc., as of an ox. -- Black rat (Zoöl.), one of the species of rats (Mus rattus), commonly infesting houses. -- Black rent. See Blackmail, n., 3. -- Black rust, a disease of wheat, in which a black, moist matter is deposited in the fissures of the grain. -- Black sheep, one in a family or company who is unlike the rest, and makes trouble. -- Black silver. (Min.) See under Silver. -- Black and tan, black mixed or spotted with tan color or reddish brown; -- used in describing certain breeds of dogs. -- Black tea. See under Tea. -- Black tin (Mining), tin ore (cassiterite), when dressed, stamped and washed, ready for smelting. It is in the form of a black powder, like fine sand. Knight. -- Black walnut. See under Walnut. -- Black warrior (Zoöl.), an American hawk (Buteo Harlani).

Syn. -- Dark; murky; pitchy; inky; somber; dusky; gloomy; swart; Cimmerian; ebon; atrocious.

BLACK Black, adv.

Defn: Sullenly; threateningly; maliciously; so as to produce blackness.

BLACK Black, n.

1. That which is destitute of light or whiteness; the darkest color, or rather a destitution of all color; as, a cloth has a good black. Black is the badge of hell, The hue of dungeons, and the suit of night. Shak.

2. A black pigment or dye.

3. A negro; a person whose skin is of a black color, or shaded with black; esp. a member or descendant of certain African races.

4. A black garment or dress; as, she wears black; pl. (Obs.)

Defn: Mourning garments of a black color; funereal drapery. Friends weeping, and blacks, and obsequies, and the like show death terrible. Bacon. That was the full time they used to wear blacks for the death of their fathers. Sir T. North.

5. The part of a thing which is distinguished from the rest by being black. The black or sight of the eye. Sir K. Digby.

6. A stain; a spot; a smooch. Defiling her white lawn of chastity with ugly blacks of lust. Rowley. Black and white, writing or print; as, I must have that statement in black and white. -- Blue black, a pigment of a blue black color. -- Ivory black, a fine kind of animal charcoal prepared by calcining ivory or bones. When ground it is the chief ingredient of the ink used in copperplate printing. -- Berlin black. See under Berlin.

BLACK Black, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blacked ; p. pr. & vb. n. Blacking.] Etym: [See Black, a., and cf. Blacken.]

1. To make black; to blacken; to soil; to sully. They have their teeth blacked, both men and women, for they say a dog hath his teeth white, therefore they will black theirs. Hakluyt. Sins which black thy soul. J. Fletcher.

2. To make black and shining, as boots or a stove, by applying blacking and then polishing with a brush.

BLACKAMOOR Black"a*moor, n. Etym: [Black + Moor.]

Defn: A negro or negress. Shak.

BLACK ART Black" art`.

Defn: The art practiced by conjurers and witches; necromancy; conjuration; magic.

Note: This name was given in the Middle Ages to necromancy, under the idea that the latter term was derived from niger black, instead of nekro`s, a dead person, and mantei`a, divination. Wright.

BLACK-A-VISED Black"-a-vised`, a.

Defn: Dark-visaged; swart.

BLACKBALL Black"ball`, n.

1. A composition for blacking shoes, boots, etc.; also, one for taking impressions of engraved work.

2. A ball of black color, esp. one used as a negative in voting; -- in this sense usually two words.

BLACKBALL Black"ball`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackballed (; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackballing.]

1. To vote against, by putting a black ball into a ballot box; to reject or exclude, as by voting against with black balls; to ostracize. He was blackballed at two clubs in succession. Thackeray.

2. To blacken (leather, shoes, etc.) with blacking.

BLACKBAND Black"band`, n. (Min.)

Defn: An earthy carbonate of iron containing considerable carbonaceous matter; -- valuable as an iron ore.

BLACK BASS Black" bass`. (Zoöl.)

1. An edible, fresh-water fish of the United States, of the genus Micropterus. the small-mouthed kind is M. dolomiei; the largemouthed is M. salmoides.

2. The sea bass. See Blackfish, 3.

BLACKBERRY Black"ber*ry, n. Etym: [OE. blakberye, AS. blæcerie; blæc black + berie berry.]

Defn: The fruit of several species of bramble (Rubus); also, the plant itself. Rubus fruticosus is the blackberry of England; R. villosus and R. Canadensis are the high blackberry and low blackberry of the United States. There are also other kinds.

BLACKBIRD Black"bird, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: In England, a species of thrush (Turdus merula), a singing bird with a fin note; the merle. In America the name is given to several birds, as the Quiscalus versicolor, or crow blackbird; the Agelæus phoeniceus, or red-winged blackbird; the cowbird; the rusty grackle, etc. See Redwing.

BLACKBIRDER Black"bird*er, n.

Defn: A slave ship; a slaver. [Colloq.] F. T. Bullen.

BLACKBIRDING Black"bird*ing, n.

1. The kidnaping of negroes or Polynesians to be sold as slaves.

2. The act or practice of collecting natives of the islands near Queensland for service on the Queensland sugar plantations. [Australia]

BLACKBOARD Black"board`, n.

Defn: A broad board painted black, or any black surface on which writing, drawing, or the working of mathematical problems can be done with chalk or crayons. It is much used in schools.

BLACK BOOK Black" book`.

1. One of several books of a political character, published at different times and for different purposes; -- so called either from the color of the binding, or from the character of the contents.

2. A book compiled in the twelfth century, containing a description of the court of exchequer of England, an official statement of the revenues of the crown, etc.

3. A book containing details of the enormities practiced in the English monasteries and religious houses, compiled by order of their visitors under Henry VIII., to hasten their dissolution.

4. A book of admiralty law, of the highest authority, compiled in the reign of Edw. III. Bouvier. Wharton.

5. A book kept for the purpose of registering the names of persons liable to censure or punishment, as in the English universities, or the English armies.

6. Any book which treats of necromancy.

BLACK-BROWED Black"-browed`, a.

Defn: Having black eyebrows. Hence: Gloomy; dismal; threatening; forbidding. Shak. Dryden.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER Black*bur"ni*an war"bler. Etym: [Named from Mrs. Blackburn, an English lady.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A beautiful warbler of the United States (Dendroica Blackburniæ). The male is strongly marked with orange, yellow, and black on the head and neck, and has an orange-yellow breast.

BLACKCAP Black"cap`, n.

1. (Zoöl.) (a) A small European song bird (Sylvia atricapilla), with a black crown; the mock nightingale. (b) An American titmouse (Parus atricapillus); the chickadee.

2. (Cookery)

Defn: An apple roasted till black, to be served in a dish of boiled custard.

3. The black raspberry.

BLACKCOAT Black"coat`, n.

Defn: A clergyman; -- familiarly so called, as a soldier is sometimes called a redcoat or a bluecoat.

BLACKCOCK Black"cock`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The male of the European black grouse (Tetrao tetrix, Linn.); - - so called by sportsmen. The female is called gray hen. See Heath grouse.

BLACK DEATH Black" death`.

Defn: A pestilence which ravaged Europe and Asia in the fourteenth century.

BLACKEN Black"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackened; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackening.] Etym: [See Black, a., and cf. Black, v. t. ]

1. To make or render black. While the long funerals blacken all the way. Pope

2. To make dark; to darken; to cloud. "Blackened the whole heavens." South.

3. To defame; to sully, as reputation; to make infamous; as, vice blackens the character.

Syn. -- To denigrate; defame; vilify; slander; calumniate; traduce; malign; asperse.

BLACKEN Black"en, v. i.

Defn: To grow black or dark.

BLACKENER Black"en*er, n.

Defn: One who blackens.

BLACK-EYED Black"-eyed`, a.

Defn: Having black eyes. Dryden.

BLACK-EYED SUSAN Black"-eyed` Su"san. (Bot.) (a) The coneflower, or yellow daisy (Rudbeckia hirta). (b) The bladder ketmie.

BLACK-FACED Black"-faced`, a.

Defn: Having a black, dark, or gloomy face or aspect.

BLACKFEET Black"feet`, n. pl. (Ethn.)

Defn: A tribe of North American Indians formerly inhabiting the country from the upper Missouri River to the Saskatchewan, but now much reduced in numbers.

BLACKFIN Black"fin`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Bluefin.

BLACKFISH Black"fish, n.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small kind of whale, of the genus Globicephalus, of several species. The most common is G. melas. Also sometimes applied to other whales of larger size.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The tautog of New England (Tautoga).

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The black sea bass (Centropristis atrarius) of the Atlantic coast. It is excellent food fish; -- locally called also black Harry.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish of southern Europe (Centrolophus pompilus) of the Mackerel family.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The female salmon in the spawning season.

Note: The name is locally applied to other fishes.

BLACK FLAGS Black Flags.

Defn: An organization composed originally of Chinese rebels that had been driven into Tonkin by the suppression of the Taiping rebellion, but later increased by bands of pirates and adventurers. It took a prominent part in fighting the French during their hostilities with Anam, 1873-85.

BLACKFOOT Black"foot`, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Blackfeet; as, a Blackfoot Indian. -- n.

Defn: A Blackfoot Indian.

BLACK FRIAR Black" fri`ar. (Eccl.)

Defn: A friar of the Dominican order; -- called also predicant and preaching friar; in France, Jacobin. Also, sometimes, a Benedictine.

BLACK FRIDAY Black Friday.

Defn: Any Friday on which a public disaster has occurred, as: In England, December 6, 1745, when the news of the landing of the Pretender reached London, or May 11, 1866, when a financial panic commenced. In the United States, September 24, 1869, and September 18, 1873, on which financial panics began.

BLACKGUARD Black"guard, n. Etym: [Black + guard.]

1. The scullions and lower menials of a court, or of a nobleman's household, who, in a removal from one residence to another, had charge of the kitchen utensils, and being smutted by them, were jocularly called the "black guard"; also, the servants and hangers-on of an army. [Obs.] A lousy slave, that . . . rode with the black guard in the duke's carriage, 'mongst spits and dripping pans. Webster (1612).

2. The criminals and vagrants or vagabonds of a town or community, collectively. [Obs.]

3. A person of stained or low character, esp. one who uses scurrilous language, or treats others with foul abuse; a scoundrel; a rough. A man whose manners and sentiments are decidedly below those of his class deserves to be called a blackguard. Macaulay.

4. A vagrant; a bootblack; a gamin. [Obs.]

BLACKGUARD Black"guard`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackguarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackguarding.]

Defn: To revile or abuse in scurrilous language. Southey.

BLACKGUARD Black"guard, a.

Defn: Scurrilous; abusive; low; worthless; vicious; as, blackguard language.

BLACKGUARDISM Black"guard*ism, n.

Defn: The conduct or language of a blackguard; rufflanism.

BLACKGUARDLY Black"guard*ly, adv. & a.

Defn: In the manner of or resembling a blackguard; abusive; scurrilous; ruffianly.

BLACK HAMBURG Black Ham"burg.

Defn: A sweet and juicy variety of European grape, of a dark purplish black color, much grown under glass in northern latitudes.

BLACK HAND Black Hand. [A trans. of Sp. mano negra.]

1.

Defn: A Spanish anarchistic society, many of the members of which were imprisoned in 1883.

2. A lawless or blackmailing secret society, esp. among Italians. [U. S.]

BLACKHEAD Black"head`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The scaup duck.

BLACKHEART Black"heart`, n.

Defn: A heart-shaped cherry with a very dark-colored skin.

BLACK-HEARTED Black"-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Having a wicked, malignant disposition; morally bad.

BLACK HOLE Black" hole`.

Defn: A dungeon or dark cell in a prison; a military lock-up or guardroom; -- now commonly with allusion to the cell (the Black Hole) in a fort at Calcutta, into which 146 English prisoners were thrust by the nabob Suraja Dowla on the night of June 20, 17656, and in which 123 of the prisoners died before morning from lack of air. A discipline of unlimited autocracy, upheld by rods, and ferules, and the black hole. H. Spencer.

BLACKING Black"ing, n.

1. Any preparation for making things black; esp. one for giving a black luster to boots and shoes, or to stoves.

2. The act or process of making black.

BLACKISH Black"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat black.

BLACK-JACK Black"-jack`, n.

1. (Min.)

Defn: A name given by English miners to sphalerite, or zinc blende; - - called also false galena. See Blende.

2. Caramel or burnt sugar, used to color wines, spirits, ground coffee, etc.

3. A large leather vessel for beer, etc. [Obs.]

4. (Bot.)

Defn: The Quercus nigra, or barren oak.

5. The ensign of a pirate.

BLACK LEAD Black` lead".

Defn: Plumbago; graphite.It leaves a blackish mark somewhat like lead. See Graphite.

BLACKLEAD Black`lead", v. t.

Defn: To coat or to polish with black lead.

BLACKLEG Black"leg`, n.

1. A notorious gambler. [Colloq.]

2. A disease among calves and sheep, characterized by a settling of gelatinous matter in the legs, and sometimes in the neck. [Eng.]

BLACK LETTER Black" let`ter.

Defn: The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed. It was conspicuous for its blackness. See Type.

BLACK-LETTER Black"-let`ter, a.

1. Written or printed in black letter; as, a black-letter manuscript or book.

2. Given to the study of books in black letter; that is, of old books; out of date. Kemble, a black-letter man! J. Boaden.

3. Of or pertaining to the days in the calendar not marked with red letters as saints' days. Hence: Unlucky; inauspicious.

BLACKLIST Black"list`, v. t.

Defn: To put in a black list as deserving of suspicion, censure, or punishment; esp. to put in a list of persons stigmatized as insolvent or untrustworthy, -- as tradesmen and employers do for mutual protection; as, to blacklist a workman who has been discharged. See Black list, under Black, a. If you blacklist us, we will boycott you. John Swinton.

BLACKLY Black"ly, adv.

Defn: In a black manner; darkly, in color; gloomily; threateningly; atrociously. "Deeds so blackly grim and horrid." Feltham.

BLACKMAIL Black"mail`, n. Etym: [Black + mail a piece of money.]

1. A certain rate of money, corn, cattle, or other thing, anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to certain men who were allied to robbers, or moss troopers, to be by them protected from pillage. Sir W. Scott.

2. Payment of money exacted by means of intimidation; also, extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation, exposure, or censure.

3. (Eng. Law)

Defn: Black rent, or rent paid in corn, flesh, or the lowest coin, a opposed to "white rent", which paid in silver. To levy blackmail, to extort money by threats, as of injury to one's reputation.

BLACKMAIL Black"mail`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackmailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackmailing.]

Defn: To extort money from by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation, distress of mind, etc.; as, to blackmail a merchant by threatening to expose an alleged fraud. [U. S.]

BLACKMAILER Black"mail`er, n.

Defn: One who extorts, or endeavors to extort, money, by black mailing.

BLACKMAILING Black"mail`ing, n.

Defn: The act or practice of extorting money by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation.

BLACK MONDAY Black" Mon`day.

1. Easter Monday, so called from the severity of that day in 1360, which was so unusual that many of Edward III.'s soldiers, then before Paris, died from the cold. Stow. Then it was not for nothing that may nose fell a bleeding on Black Monday last. Shak.

2. The first Monday after the holidays; -- so called by English schoolboys. Halliwell.

BLACK MONK Black" monk`.

Defn: A Benedictine monk.

BLACKMOOR Black"moor, n.

Defn: See Blackamoor.

BLACK-MOUTHED Black"-mouthed`, a.

Defn: Using foul or scurrilous language; slanderous.

BLACKNESS Black"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being black; black color; atrociousness or enormity in wickedness. They're darker now than blackness. Donne.

BLACKPOLL Black"poll`, n. Etym: [Black + poll head.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A warbler of the United States (Dendroica striata).

BLACK PUDDING Black" pud"ding.

Defn: A kind of sausage made of blood, suet, etc., thickened with meal. And fat black puddings, -- proper food, For warriors that delight in blood. Hudibras.

BLACK ROD Black" Rod`. (a) the usher to the Chapter of the Garter, so called from the black rod which he carries. He is of the king's chamber, and also usher to the House of Lords. [Eng.] (b) An usher in the legislature of British colonies. Cowell. Committed to the custody of the Black Rod. Macaulay.

BLACKROOT Black"root`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Colicroot.

BLACKS Blacks, n. pl.

1. The name of a kind of in used in copperplate printing, prepared from the charred husks of the grape, and residue of the wine press.

2. Soot flying in the air. [Eng.]

3. Black garments, etc. See Black, n., 4.

BLACKSALTER Black"salt`er, n.

Defn: One who,makes crude potash, or black salts.

BLACK SALTS Black" salts`.

Defn: Crude potash. De Colange.

BLACKSMITH Black"smith`, n. Etym: [Black (in allusion to the color of the metal) + smith. Cf. Whitesmith.]

1. A smith who works in iron with a forge, and makes iron utensils, horseshoes, etc. The blacksmith may forge what he pleases. Howell.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish of the Pacific coast (Chromis, or Heliastes, punctipinnis), of a blackish color.

BLACK SNAKE; BLACKSNAKE Black" snake` or Black"snake, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A snake of a black color, of which two species are common in the United States, the Bascanium constrictor, or racer, sometimes six feet long, and the Scotophis Alleghaniensis, seven or eight feet long.

Note: The name is also applied to various other black serpents, as Natrix atra of Jamaica.

BLACK SPANISH Black Spanish.

Defn: One of an old and well-known Mediterranean breed of domestic fowls with glossy black plumage, blue legs and feet, bright red comb and wattles, and white face. They are remarkable as egg layers.

BLACKSTRAP Black"strap`, n.

1. A mixture of spirituous liquor (usually rum) and molasses. No blackstrap to-night; switchel, or ginger pop. Judd.

2. Bad port wine; any commo wine of the Mediterranean; -- so called by sailors.

BLACKTAIL Black"tail`, n. Etym: [Black + tail.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish; the ruff or pope.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The black-tailed deer (Cervus or Cariacus Columbianus) of California and Oregon; also, the mule deer of the Rocky Mountains. See Mule deer.

BLACKTHORN Black"thorn`, n. (Bot.) (a) A spreading thorny shrub or small tree (Prunus spinosa), with blackish bark, and bearing little black plums, which are called sloes; the sloe. (b) A species of Cratægus or hawthorn (C. tomentosa). Both are used for hedges.

BLACK VOMIT Black" vom"it. (Med.)

Defn: A copious vomiting of dark-colored matter; or the substance so discharged; -- one of the most fatal symptoms in yellow fever.

BLACK WASH; BLACKWASH Black" wash` or Black"wash, n.

1. (Med.)

Defn: A lotion made by mixing calomel and lime water.

2. A wash that blackens, as opposed to whitewash; hence, figuratively, calumny. To remove as far as he can the modern layers of black wash, and let the man himself, fair or foul, be seen. C. Kingsley.

BLACKWATER STATE Black"wa`ter State.

Defn: Nebraska; -- a nickname alluding to the dark color of the water of its rivers, due to the presence of a black vegetable mold in the soil.

BLACKWOOD Black"wood, n.

Defn: A name given to several dark-colored timbers. The East Indian black wood is from the tree Dalbergia latifolia. Balfour.

BLACKWORK Black"work`, n.

Defn: Work wrought by blacksmiths; -- so called in distinction from that wrought by whitesmiths. Knight.

BLADDER Blad"der, n. Etym: [OE. bladder, bleddre, AS. bl, bl; akin to Icel. bla, SW. bläddra, Dan. blære, D. blaar, OHG. blatara the bladder in the body of animals, G. blatter blister, bustule; all fr. the same root as AS. blawan, E. blow, to puff. See Blow to puff.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: A bag or sac in animals, which serves as the receptacle of some fluid; as, the urinary bladder; the gall bladder; -- applied especially to the urinary bladder, either within the animal, or when taken out and inflated with air.

2. Any vesicle or blister, especially if filled with air, or a thin, watery fluid.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A distended, membranaceous pericarp.

4. Anything inflated, empty, or unsound. "To swim with bladders of philosophy." Rochester. Bladder nut, or Bladder tree (Bot.), a genus of plants (Staphylea) with bladderlike seed pods. -- Bladder pod (Bot.), a genus of low herbs (Vesicaria) with inflated seed pods. -- Bladdor senna (Bot.), a genus of shrubs (Colutea), with membranaceous, inflated pods. -- Bladder worm (Zoöl.), the larva of any species of tapeworm (Tænia), found in the flesh or other parts of animals. See Measle, Cysticercus. -- Bladder wrack (Bot.), the common black rock weed of the seacoast (Fucus nodosus and F. vesiculosus) -- called also bladder tangle. See Wrack.

BLADDER Blad"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bladdered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bladdering.]

1. To swell out like a bladder with air; to inflate. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.

2. To put up in bladders; as, bladdered lard.

BLADDERWORT Blad"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus (Utricularia) of aquatic or marshy plants, which usually bear numerous vesicles in the divisions of the leaves. These serve as traps for minute animals. See Ascidium.

BLADDERY Blad"der*y, a.

Defn: Having bladders; also, resembling a bladder.

BLADE Blade, n. Etym: [OE. blade, blad, AS. blæd leaf; akin to OS., D., Dan., & Sw. blad, Icel. bla, OHG. blat, G. blatt, and perh. to L. folium, Gr. . The root is prob. the same as that of AS. bl, E. blow, to blossom. See Blow to blossom, and cf. Foil leaf of metal.]

1. Properly, the leaf, or flat part of the leaf, of any plant, especially of gramineous plants. The term is sometimes applied to the spire of grasses. The crimson dulse . . . with its waving blade. Percival. First the blade, then ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Mark iv. 28.

2. The cutting part of an instrument; as, the blade of a knife or a sword.

3. The broad part of an oar; also, one of the projecting arms of a screw propeller.

4. The scapula or shoulder blade.

5. pl. (Arch.)

Defn: The principal rafters of a roof. Weale.

6. pl. (Com.)

Defn: The four large shell plates on the sides, and the five large ones of the middle, of the carapace of the sea turtle, which yield the best tortoise shell. De Colange.

7. A sharp-witted, dashing, wild, or reckless, fellow; -- a word of somewhat indefinite meaning. He saw a turnkey in a trice Fetter a troublesome blade. Coleridge.

BLADE Blade, v. t.

Defn: To furnish with a blade.

BLADE Blade, v. i.

Defn: To put forth or have a blade. As sweet a plant, as fair a flower, is faded As ever in the Muses' garden bladed. P. Fletcher.

BLADEBONE Blade"bone`, n.

Defn: The scapula. See Blade, 4.

BLADED Blad"ed, a.

1. Having a blade or blades; as a two-bladed knife. Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass. Shak.

2. Divested of blades; as, bladed corn.

3. (Min.)

Defn: Composed of long and narrow plates, shaped like the blade of a knife.

BLADEFISH Blade"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A long, thin, marine fish of Europe (Trichiurus lepturus); the ribbon fish.

BLADESMITH Blade"smith`, n.

Defn: A sword cutler. [Obs.]

BLADY Blad"y, a.

Defn: Consisting of blades. [R.] "Blady grass." Drayton.

BLAE Blæ, a. Etym: [See Blue.]

Defn: Dark blue or bluish gray; lead-colored. [Scot.]

BLAEBERRY Blæ"ber*ry, n. Etym: [Blæ + berry; akin to Icel blaber, Sw. bl, D. blaabær. Cf. Blueberry.]

Defn: The bilberry. [North of Eng. & Scot.]

BLAGUE Blague, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Mendacious boasting; falcefood; humbug.

BLAIN Blain, n. Etym: [OE. blein, bleyn, AS. bl; akin to Dan. blegn, D. blein; perh. fr. the same root as E. bladder. See Bladder.]

1. An inflammatory swelling or sore; a bulla, pustule, or blister. Blotches and blains must all his flesh emboss. Milton.

2. (Far.)

Defn: A bladder growing on the root of the tongue of a horse, against the windpipe, and stopping the breath.

BLAMABLE Blam"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. blâmable.]

Defn: Deserving of censure; faulty; culpable; reprehensible; censurable; blameworthy. -- Blam"a*ble*ness, n. -- Blam"a*bly (, adv.

BLAME Blame, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blaming.] Etym: [OE. blamen, F. blâr, OF. blasmer, fr. L. blasphemare to blaspheme, LL. also to blame, fr. Gr. to speak ill to slander, to blaspheme, fr. evil speaking, perh, for ; injury (fr. to injure) + a saying, fr. to say. Cf. Blaspheme, and see Fame.]

1. To censure; to express disapprobation of; to find fault with; to reproach. We have none to blame but ourselves. Tillotson.

2. To bring reproach upon; to blemish. [Obs.] She . . . blamed her noble blood. Spenser. To blame, to be blamed, or deserving blame; in fault; as, the conductor was to blame for the accident. You were to blame, I must be plain with you. Shak.

BLAME Blame, n. Etym: [OE. blame, fr. F. blâme, OF. blasme, fr. blâmer, OF. blasmer, to blame. See Blame, v.]

1. An expression of disapprobation fir something deemed to be wrong; imputation of fault; censure. Let me bear the blame forever. Gen. xiiii. 9.

2. That which is deserving of censure or disapprobation; culpability; fault; crime; sin. Holy and without blame before him in love. Eph. i. 4.

3. Hurt; injury. [Obs.] Spenser.

Syn. -- Censure; reprehension; condemnation; reproach; fault; sin; crime; wrongdoing.

BLAMEFUL Blame"ful, a.

1. Faulty; meriting blame. Shak.

2. Attributing blame or fault; implying or conveying censure; faultfinding; censorious. Chaucer. -- Blame"ful*ly, adv. -- Blame"ful*ness, n.

BLAMELESS Blame"less, a.

Defn: Free from blame; without fault; innocent; guiltless; -- sometimes followed by of. A bishop then must be blameless. 1 Tim. iii. 2. Blameless still of arts that polish to deprave. Mallet. We will be blameless of this thine oath. Josh. ii. 17.

Syn. -- Irreproachable; sinless; unblemished; inculpable. -- Blameless, Spotless, Faultless, Stainless. We speak of a thing as blameless when it is free from blame, or the just imputation of fault; as, a blameless life or character. The others are stronger. We speak of a thing as faultless, stainless, or spotless, only when we mean that it is absolutely without fault or blemish; as, a spotless or stainless reputation; a faultless course of conduct. The last three words apply only to the general character, while blameless may be used in reverence to particular points; as, in this transaction he was wholly blameless. We also apply faultless to personal appearance; as, a faultless figure; which can not be done in respect to any of the other words.

BLAMELESSLY Blame"less*ly, adv.

Defn: In a blameless manner.

BLAMELESSNESS Blame"less*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being blameless; innocence.

BLAMER Blam"er, n.

Defn: One who blames. Wyclif.

BLAMEWORTHY Blame"wor`thy, a.

Defn: Deserving blame; culpable; reprehensible. -- Blame"wor`thi*ness, n.

BLANC Blanc, n. [F., white.]

1. A white cosmetic.

2. A white sauce of fat, broth, and vegetables, used esp. for braised meat.

BLANCARD Blan"card, n. Etym: [F., fr. blanc white.]

Defn: A kind of linen cloth made in Normandy, the thread of which is partly blanches before it is woven.

BLANCH Blanch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blanched; p. pr. & vb. n. Blanching.] Etym: [OE. blanchen, blaunchen, F. blanchir, fr. blanc white. See Blank, a.]

1. To take the color out of, and make white; to bleach; as, to blanch linen; age has blanched his hair.

2. (Gardening)

Defn: To bleach by excluding the light, as the stalks or leaves of plants, by earthing them up or tying them together.

3. (Confectionery & Cookery) (a) To make white by removing the skin of, as by scalding; as, to blanch almonds. (b) To whiten, as the surface of meat, by plunging into boiling water and afterwards into cold, so as to harden the surface and retain the juices.

4. To give a white luster to (silver, before stamping, in the process of coining.).

5. To cover (sheet iron) with a coating of tin.

6. Fig.: To whiten; to give a favorable appearance to; to whitewash; to palliate. Blanch over the blackest and most absurd things. Tillotson.

Syn. -- To Blanch, Whiten. To whiten is the generic term, denoting, to render white; as, to whiten the walls of a room. Usually (though not of necessity) this is supposed to be done by placing some white coloring matter in or upon the surface of the object in question. To blanch is to whiten by the removal of coloring matter; as, to blanch linen. So the cheek is blanched by fear, i. e., by the withdrawal of the blood, which leaves it white.

BLANCH Blanch, v. i.

Defn: To grow or become white; as, his cheek blanched with fear; the rose blanches in the sun. [Bones] blanching on the grass. Tennyson.

BLANCH Blanch, v. t. Etym: [See Blench.]

1. To avoid, as from fear; to evade; to leave unnoticed. [Obs.] Ifs and ands to qualify the words of treason, whereby every man might express his malice and blanch his danger. Bacon. I suppose you will not blanch Paris in your way. Reliq. Wot.

2. To cause to turn aside or back; as, to blanch a deer.

BLANCH Blanch, v. i.

Defn: To use evasion. [Obs.] Books will speak plain, when counselors blanch. Bacon.

BLANCH Blanch, n. (Mining)

Defn: Ore, not in masses, but mixed with other minerals.

BLANCHARD LATHE Blan"chard lathe. [After Thomas Blanchard, American inventor.] (Mach.)

Defn: A kind of wood-turning lathe for making noncircular and irregular forms, as felloes, gun stocks, lasts, spokes, etc., after a given pattern. The pattern and work rotate on parallel spindles in the same direction with the same speed, and the work is shaped by a rapidly rotating cutter whose position is varied by the pattern acting as a cam upon a follower wheel traversing slowly along the pattern.

BLANCHER Blanch"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, blanches or whitens; esp., one who anneals and cleanses money; also, a chemical preparation for this purpose.

BLANCHER Blanch"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, frightens away or turns aside. [Obs.] And Gynecia, a blancher, which kept the dearest deer from her. Sir P. Sidney. And so even now hath he divers blanchers belonging to the market, to let and stop the light of the gospel. Latimer.

BLANCH HOLDING Blanch" hold`ing. (Scots Law)

Defn: A mode of tenure by the payment of a small duty in white rent (silver) or otherwise.

BLANCHIMETER Blanch*im"e*ter, n. Etym: [1st blanch + -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring the bleaching power of chloride of lime and potash; a chlorometer. Ure.

BLANCMANGE Blanc*mange", n. Etym: [F. blancmanger, lit. white food; blanc white + manger to eat.] (Cookery)

Defn: A preparation for desserts, etc., made from isinglass, sea moss, cornstarch, or other gelatinous or starchy substance, with mild, usually sweetened and flavored, and shaped in a mold.

BLANCMANGER Blanc*man"ger, n. Etym: [F. See Blancmange.]

Defn: A sort of fricassee with white sauce, variously made of capon, fish, etc. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BLAND Bland, a. Etym: [L. blandus, of unknown origin.]

1. Mild; soft; gentle; smooth and soothing in manner; suave; as, a bland temper; bland persuasion; a bland sycophant. "Exhilarating vapor bland." Milton.

2. Having soft and soothing qualities; not drastic or irritating; not stimulating; as, a bland oil; a bland diet.

BLANDATION Blan*da"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. L. blanditia, blandities, fr. blandus. See Bland.]

Defn: Flattery. [Obs.]

BLANDILOQUENCE Blan*dil"o*quence, n. Etym: [L. blandiloquentia; blandus mild + loqui to speak.]

Defn: Mild, flattering speech.

BLANDILOQUOUS; BLANDILOQUIOUS Blan*dil"o*quous, Blan*di*lo"qui*ous, a.

Defn: Fair-spoken; flattering.

BLANDISE Blan"dise, v. i. Etym: [Same word as Blandish.]

Defn: To blandish any one. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BLANDISH Blan"dish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blandished; p. pr. & vb. n. Blandishing.] Etym: [OE. blaundisen, F. blandir, fr. L. blandiri, fr. blandus mild, flattering.]

1. To flatter with kind words or affectionate actions; to caress; to cajole.

2. To make agreeable and enticing. Mustering all her wiles, With blandished parleys. Milton.

BLANDISHER Blan"dish*er, n.

Defn: One who uses blandishments.

BLANDISHMENT Blan"dish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. blandissement.]

Defn: The act of blandishing; a word or act expressive of affection or kindness, and tending to win the heart; soft words and artful caresses; cajolery; allurement. Cowering low with blandishment. Milton. Attacked by royal smiles, by female blandishments. Macaulay.

BLANDLY Bland"ly, adv.

Defn: In a bland manner; mildly; suavely.

BLANDNESS Bland"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being bland.

BLANK Blank, a. Etym: [OE. blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, fr. F. blanc, fem. blanche, fr. OHG. blanch shining, bright, white, G. blank; akin to E. blink, cf. also AS. blanc white. Blink, and cf. 1st Blanch.]

1. Of a white or pale color; without color. To the blank moon Her office they prescribed. Milton.

2. Free from writing, printing, or marks; having an empty space to be filled in with some special writing; -- said of checks, official documents, etc.; as, blank paper; a blank check; a blank ballot.

3. Utterly confounded or discomfited. Adam . . . astonied stood, and blank. Milton.

4. Empty; void; without result; fruitless; as, a blank space; a blank day.

5. Lacking characteristics which give variety; as, a blank desert; a blank wall; destitute of interests, affections, hopes, etc.; as, to live a blank existence; destitute of sensations; as, blank unconsciousness.

6. Lacking animation and intelligence, or their associated characteristics, as expression of face, look, etc.; expressionless; vacant. "Blank and horror-stricken faces." C. Kingsley. The blank . . . glance of a half returned consciousness. G. Eliot.

7. Absolute; downright; unmixed; as, blank terror. Blank bar (Law), a plea put in to oblige the plaintiff in an action of trespass to assign the certain place where the trespass was committed; -- called also common bar. -- Blank cartridge, a cartridge containing no ball. -- Blank deed. See Deed. -- Blank door, or Blank window (Arch.), a depression in a wall of the size of a door or window, either for symmetrical effect, or for the more convenient insertion of a door or window at a future time, should it be needed. -- Blank indorsement (Law), an indorsement which omits the name of the person in whose favor it is made; it is usually made by simply writing the name of the indorser on the back of the bill. -- Blank line (Print.), a vacant space of the breadth of a line, on a printed page; a line of quadrats. -- Blank tire (Mech.), a tire without a flange. -- Blank tooling. See Blind tooling, under Blind. -- Blank verse. See under Verse. -- Blank wall, a wall in which there is no opening; a dead wall.

BLANK Blank, n.

1. Any void space; a void space on paper, or in any written instrument; an interval void of consciousness, action, result, etc; a void. I can not write a paper full, I used to do; and yet I will not forgive a blank of half an inch from you. Swift. From this time there ensues a long blank in the history of French legislation. Hallam. I was ill. I can't tell how long -- it was a blank. G. Eliot.

2. A lot by which nothing is gained; a ticket in a lottery on which no prize is indicated. In Fortune's lottery lies A heap of blanks, like this, for one small prize. Dryden.

3. A paper unwritten; a paper without marks or characters a blank ballot; -- especially, a paper on which are to be inserted designated items of information, for which spaces are left vacant; a bland form. The freemen signified their approbation by an inscribed vote, and their dissent by a blank. Palfrey.

4. A paper containing the substance of a legal instrument, as a deed, release, writ, or execution, with spaces left to be filled with names, date, descriptions, etc.

5. The point aimed at in a target, marked with a white spot; hence, the object to which anything is directed. Let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. Shak.

6. Aim; shot; range. [Obs.] I have stood . . . within the blank of his displeasure For my free speech. Shak.

7. A kind of base silver money, first coined in England by Henry V., and worth about 8 pence; also, a French coin of the seventeenth century, worth about 4 pence. Nares.

8. (Mech.)

Defn: A piece of metal prepared to be made into something by a further operation, as a coin, screw, nuts.

9. (Dominoes)

Defn: A piece or division of a piece, without spots; as, the "double blank"; the "six blank." In blank, with an essential portion to be supplied by another; as, to make out a check in blank.

BLANK Blank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blanked; p. pr. & vb. n. Blanking.] Etym: [Cf. 3d Blanch.]

1. To make void; to annul. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. To blanch; to make blank; to damp the spirits of; to dispirit or confuse. [Obs.] Each opposite that blanks the face of joy. Shak.

BLANKET Blan"ket, n. Etym: [F. blanchet, OF. also blanket, a woolen waistcoat or shirt, the blanket of a printing press; prop. white woolen stuff, dim. of blanc white; blanquette a kind of white pear, fr. blanc white. See Blank, a.]

1. A heavy, loosely woven fabric, usually of wool, and having a nap, used in bed clothing; also, a similar fabric used as a robe; or any fabric used as a cover for a horse.

2. (Print.)

Defn: A piece of rubber, felt, or woolen cloth, used in the tympan to make it soft and elastic.

3. A streak or layer of blubber in whales.

Note: The use of blankets formerly as curtains in theaters explains the following figure of Shakespeare. Nares. Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark To cry, "Hold, hold!" Shak. Blanket sheet, a newspaper of folio size. -- A wet blanket, anything which damps, chills, dispirits, or discour

BLANKET Blan"ket, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blanketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blanketing.]

1. To cover with a blanket. I'll . . . blanket my loins. Shak.

2. To toss in a blanket by way of punishment. We'll have our men blanket 'em i' the hall. B. Jonson.

3. To take the wind out of the sails of (another vessel) by sailing to windward of her. Blanket cattle. See Belted cattle, under Belted.

BLANKET CLAUSE Blan"ket clause`. (Law)

Defn: A clause, as in a blanket mortgage or policy, that includes a group or class of things, rather than a number mentioned individually and having the burden, loss, or the like, apportioned among them.

BLANKETING Blan"ket*ing, n.

1. Cloth for blankets.

2. The act or punishment of tossing in a blanket. That affair of the blanketing happened to thee for the fault thou wast guilty of. Smollett.

BLANKET MORTGAGE; BLANKET POLICY Blan"ket mortgage or Blan"ket policy .

Defn: One that covers a group or class of things or properties instead of one or more things mentioned individually, as where a mortgage secures various debts as a group, or subjects a group or class of different pieces of property to one general lien.

BLANKET STITCH Blanket stitch.

Defn: A buttonhole stitch worked wide apart on the edge of material, as blankets, too thick to hem.

BLANKLY Blank"ly, adv.

1. In a blank manner; without expression; vacuously; as, to stare blankly. G. Eliot.

2. Directly; flatly; point blank. De Quincey.

BLANKNESS Blank"ness, n.

Defn: The state of being blank.

BLANQUETTE Blan*quette", n. Etym: [F. blanquette, from blanc white.] (Cookery)

Defn: A white fricassee.

BLANQUILLO Blan*quil"lo, n. Etym: [Sp. blanquillo whitish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large fish of Florida and the W. Indies (Caulolatilus chrysops). It is red, marked with yellow.

BLARE Blare, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blared; p. pr. & vb. n. Blaring.] Etym: [OE. blaren, bloren, to cry, woop; cf. G. plärren to bleat, D. blaren to bleat, cry, weep. Prob. an imitative word, but cf. also E. blast. Cf. Blore.]

Defn: To sound loudly and somewhat harshly. "The trumpet blared." Tennyson.

BLARE Blare, v. t.

Defn: To cause to sound like the blare of a trumpet; to proclaim loudly. To blare its own interpretation. Tennyson.

BLARE Blare, n.

Defn: The harsh noise of a trumpet; a loud and somewhat harsh noise, like the blast of a trumpet; a roar or bellowing. With blare of bugle, clamor of men. Tennyson. His ears are stunned with the thunder's blare. J. R. Drake.

BLARNEY Blar"ney, n. Etym: [Blarney, a village and castle near Cork.]

Defn: Smooth, wheedling talk; flattery. [Colloq.] Blarney stone, a stone in Blarney castle, Ireland, said to make those who kiss it proficient in the use of blarney.

BLARNEY Blar"ney, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blarneyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blarneying.]

Defn: To influence by blarney; to wheedle with smooth talk; to make or accomplish by blarney. "Blarneyed the landlord." Irving. Had blarneyed his way from Long Island. S. G. Goodrich.

BLASE Bla*sé", a. Etym: [F., p. p. of blaser.]

Defn: Having the sensibilities deadened by excess or frequency of enjoyment; sated or surfeited with pleasure; used up.

BLASPHEME Blas*pheme", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blasphemed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blaspheming.] Etym: [OE. blasfem, L. blasphemare, fr. Gr. : cf. F. blasphémer. See Blame, v.]

1. To speak of, or address, with impious irreverence; to revile impiously (anything sacred); as, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. So Dagon shall be magnified, and God, Besides whom is no god, compared with idols, Disglorified, blasphemed, and had in scorn. Milton. How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge thyself on all those who thus continually blaspheme thy great and all-glorious name Dr. W. Beveridge.

2. Figuratively, of persons and things not religiously sacred, but held in high honor: To calumniate; to revile; to abuse. You do blaspheme the good in mocking me. Shak. Those who from our labors heap their board, Blaspheme their feeder and forget their lord. Pope.

BLASPHEME Blas*pheme", v. i.

Defn: To utter blasphemy. He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness. Mark iii. 29.

BLASPHEMER Blas*phem"er, n.

Defn: One who blasphemes. And each blasphemer quite escape the rod, Because the insult's not on man, but God Pope.

BLASPHEMOUS Blas"phe*mous, a. Etym: [L. blasphemus, Gr. .]

Defn: Speaking or writing blasphemy; uttering or exhibiting anything impiously irreverent; profane; as, a blasphemous person; containing blasphemy; as, a blasphemous book; a blasphemous caricature. "Blasphemous publications." Porteus. Nor from the Holy One of Heaven Refrained his tongue blasphemous. Milton.

Note: Formerly this word was accented on the second syllable, as in the above example.

BLASPHEMOUSLY Blas"phe*mous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a blasphemous manner.

BLASPHEMY Blas"phe*my, n. Etym: [L. blasphemia, Gr. : cf. OF. blasphemie.]

1. An indignity offered to God in words, writing, or signs; impiously irreverent words or signs addressed to, or used in reference to, God; speaking evil of God; also, the act of claiming the attributes or prerogatives of deity.

Note: When used generally in statutes or at common law, blasphemy is the use of irreverent words or signs in reference to the Supreme Being in such a way as to produce scandal or provoke violence.

2. Figuratively, of things held in high honor: Calumny; abuse; vilification. Punished for his blasphemy against learning. Bacon.

-BLAST -blast. Etym: [Gr. sprout, shoot.]

Defn: A suffix or terminal formative, used principally in biological terms, and signifying growth, formation; as, bioblast, epiblast, mesoblast, etc.

BLAST Blast, n. Etym: [AS. bl a puff of wind, a blowing; akin to Icel. blastr, OHG. blast, and fr. a verb akin to Icel. blasa to blow, OHG. blâsan, Goth. bl (in comp.); all prob. from the same root as E. blow. See Blow to eject air.]

1. A violent gust of wind. And see where surly Winter passes off, Far to the north, and calls his ruffian blasts; His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill. Thomson.

2. A forcible stream of air from an orifice, as from a bellows, the mouth, etc. Hence: The continuous blowing to which one charge of ore or metal is subjected in a furnace; as, to melt so many tons of iron at a blast.

Note: The terms hot blast and cold blast are employed to designate whether the current is heated or not heated before entering the furnace. A blast furnace is said to be in blast while it is in operation, and out of blast when not in use.

3. The exhaust steam from and engine, driving a column of air out of a boiler chimney, and thus creating an intense draught through the fire; also, any draught produced by the blast.

4. The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the sound produces at one breath. One blast upon his bugle horn Were worth a thousand men. Sir W. Scott. The blast of triumph o'er thy grave. Bryant.

5. A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially on animals and plants; a blight. By the blast of God they perish. Job iv. 9. Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast. Shak.

6. The act of rending, or attempting to rend, heavy masses of rock, earth, etc., by the explosion of gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; also, the charge used for this purpose. "Large blasts are often used." Tomlinson.

7. A flatulent disease of sheep. Blast furnace, a furnace, usually a shaft furnace for smelting ores, into which air is forced by pressure. -- Blast hole, a hole in the bottom of a pump stock through which water enters. -- Blast nozzle, a fixed or variable orifice in the delivery end of a blast pipe; -- called also blast orifice. -- In full blast, in complete operation; in a state of great activity. See Blast, n., 2. [Colloq.]

BLAST Blast, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blasting.]

1. To injure, as by a noxious wind; to cause to wither; to stop or check the growth of, and prevent from fruit-bearing, by some pernicious influence; to blight; to shrivel. Seven thin ears, and blasted with the east wind. Gen. xii. 6.

2. Hence, to affect with some sudden violence, plague, calamity, or blighting influence, which destroys or causes to fail; to visit with a curse; to curse; to ruin; as, to blast pride, hopes, or character. I'll cross it, though it blast me. Shak. Blasted with excess of light. T. Gray.

3. To confound by a loud blast or din. Trumpeters, With brazen din blast you the city's ear. Shak.

4. To rend open by any explosive agent, as gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; to shatter; as, to blast rocks.

BLAST Blast, v. i.

1. To be blighted or withered; as, the bud blasted in the blossom.

2. To blow; to blow on a trumpet. [Obs.] Toke his blake trumpe faste And gan to puffen and to blaste. Chaucer.

BLASTED Blast"ed, a.

1. Blighted; withered. Upon this blasted heath. Shak.

2. Confounded; accursed; detestable. Some of her own blasted gypsies. Sir W. Scott.

3. Rent open by an explosive. The blasted quarry thunders, heard remote. Wordsworth.

BLASTEMA Blas*te"ma, n.; pl. Blastemata. Etym: [Gr. bud, sprout.] (Biol.)

Defn: The structureless, protoplasmic tissue of the embryo; the primitive basis of an organ yet unformed, from which it grows.

BLASTEMAL Blas*te"mal, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Relating to the blastema; rudimentary.

BLASTEMATIC Blas`te*mat"ic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Connected with, or proceeding from, the blastema; blastemal.

BLASTER Blast"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, blasts or destroys.

BLASTIDE Blas"tide, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout, fr. to grow.] (Biol.)

Defn: A small, clear space in the segments of the ovum, the precursor of the nucleus.

BLASTING Blast"ing, n.

1. A blast; destruction by a blast, or by some pernicious cause. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew. Amos iv. 9.

2. The act or process of one who, or that which, blasts; the business of one who blasts.

BLAST LAMP Blast lamp.

Defn: A lamp provided with some arrangement for intensifying combustion by means of a blast.

BLASTMENT Blast"ment, n.

Defn: A sudden stroke or injury produced by some destructive cause. [Obs.] Shak.

BLASTOCARPOUS Blas`to*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. sprout, germ + fruit.] (Bot.)

Defn: Germinating inside the pericarp, as the mangrove. Brande & C.

BLASTOCOELE Blas"to*coele, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + hollow.] (Biol.)

Defn: The cavity of the blastosphere, or segmentation cavity.

BLASTOCYST Blas"to*cyst, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. cyst.] (Biol.)

Defn: The germinal vesicle.

BLASTODERM Blas"to*derm, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. derm.] (Biol.)

Defn: The germinal membrane in an ovum, from which the embryo is developed.

BLASTODERMATIC; BLASTODERMIC Blas`to*der*mat"ic, Blas`to*der"mic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the blastoderm.

BLASTOGENESIS Blas`to*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. genesis.] (Biol.)

Defn: Multiplication or increase by gemmation or budding.

BLASTOID Blas"toid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Blastoidea.

BLASTOIDEA Blas*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. sprout + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the divisions of Crinoidea found fossil in paleozoic rocks; pentremites. They are so named on account of their budlike form.

BLASTOMERE Blas"to*mere, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + -mere.] (Biol.)

Defn: One of the segments first formed by the division of the ovum. Balfour.

BLASTOPHORAL; BLASTOPHORIC Blas`toph"o*ral, Blas`to*phor"ic, a.

Defn: Relating to the blastophore.

BLASTOPHORE Blas"to*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + to bear.] (Biol.)

Defn: That portion of the spermatospore which is not converted into spermatoblasts, but carries them.

BLASTOPORE Blas"to*pore, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. pore.] (Biol.)

Defn: The pore or opening leading into the cavity of invagination, or archenteron.

Note: [See Illust. of Invagination.] Balfour.

BLASTOSPHERE Blas"to*sphere, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. sphere.] (Biol.)

Defn: The hollow globe or sphere formed by the arrangement of the blastomeres on the periphery of an impregnated ovum.

Note: [See Illust. of Invagination.]

BLASTOSTYLE Blas"to*style, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout, bud + a pillar.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: In certain hydroids, an imperfect zooid, whose special function is to produce medusoid buds. See Hydroidea, and Athecata.

BLAST PIPE Blast" pipe`.

Defn: The exhaust pipe of a steam engine, or any pipe delivering steam or air, when so constructed as to cause a blast.

BLASTULA Blas"tu*la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of Gr. a sprout.] (Biol.)

Defn: That stage in the development of the ovum in which the outer cells of the morula become more defined and form the blastoderm.

BLASTULE Blas"tule, n. (Biol.)

Defn: Same as Blastula.

BLASTY Blast"y, a.

1. Affected by blasts; gusty.

2. Causing blast or injury. [Obs.] Boyle.

BLAT Blat, v. i.

Defn: To cry, as a calf or sheep; to bleat; to make a senseless noise; to talk inconsiderately. [Low]

BLAT Blat, v. t.

Defn: To utter inconsiderately. [Low] If I have anything on my mind, I have to blat it right out. W. D. Howells.

BLATANCY Bla"tan*cy, n.

Defn: Blatant quality.

BLATANT Bla"tant, a. Etym: [Cf. Bleat.]

Defn: Bellowing, as a calf; bawling; brawling; clamoring; disagreeably clamorous; sounding loudly and harshly. "Harsh and blatant tone." R. H. Dana. A monster, which the blatant beast men call. Spenser. Glory, that blatant word, which haunts some military minds like the bray of the trumpet. W. Irving.

BLATANTLY Bla"tant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a blatant manner.

BLATHER Blath"er (blath"er), v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Blathered; p. pr. & vb. n. Blathering.] [Written also blether.] [Icel. blaðra. Cf. Blatherskite.]

Defn: To talk foolishly, or nonsensically. G. Eliot.

BLATHER Blath"er, n. [Written also blether.]

Defn: Voluble, foolish, or nonsensical talk; -- often in the pl. Hall Caine.

BLATHERSKITE Blath"er*skite, n.

Defn: A blustering, talkative fellow. [Local slang, U. S.] Barllett.

BLATTER Blat"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blattered.] Etym: [L. blaterare to babble: cf. F. blatérer to bleat.]

Defn: To prate; to babble; to rail; to make a senseless noise; to patter. [Archaic] "The rain blattered." Jeffrey. They procured . . . preachers to blatter against me, . . . so that they had place and time to belie me shamefully. Latimer.

BLATTERATION Blat`ter*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. blateratio a babbling.]

Defn: Blattering.

BLATTERER Blat"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who blatters; a babbler; a noisy, blustering boaster.

BLATTERING Blat"ter*ing, n.

Defn: Senseless babble or boasting.

BLATTEROON Blat`ter*oon", n. Etym: [L. blatero, -onis.]

Defn: A senseless babbler or boaster. [Obs.] "I hate such blatteroons." Howell.

BLAUBOK Blau"bok, n. Etym: [D. blauwbok.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The blue buck. See Blue buck, under Blue.

BLAY Blay, n. Etym: [AS. bl, fr. bl, bleak, white; akin to Icel. bleikja, OHG. bleicha, G. bleihe. See Bleak, n. & a.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish. See Bleak, n.

BLAZE Blaze (blaz), n. Etym: [OE. blase, AS. blæse, blase; akin to OHG. blass whitish, G. blass pale, MHG. blas torch, Icel. blys torch; perh. fr. the same root as E. blast. Cf. Blast, Blush, Blink.]

1. A stream of gas or vapor emitting light and heat in the process of combustion; a bright flame. "To heaven the blaze uprolled." Croly.

2. Intense, direct light accompanied with heat; as, to seek shelter from the blaze of the sun. O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon! Milton.

3. A bursting out, or active display of any quality; an outburst; a brilliant display. "Fierce blaze of riot." "His blaze of wrath." Shak. For what is glory but the blaze of fame Milton.

4. [Cf. D. bles; akin to E. blaze light.]

Defn: A white spot on the forehead of a horse.

5. A spot made on trees by chipping off a piece of the bark, usually as a surveyor's mark. Three blazes in a perpendicular line on the same tree indicating a legislative road, the single blaze a settlement or neighborhood road. Carlton. In a blaze, on fire; burning with a flame; filled with, giving, or reflecting light; excited or exasperated. -- Like blazes, furiously; rapidly. [Low] "The horses did along like blazes tear." Poem in Essex dialect.

Note: In low language in the U. S., blazes is frequently used of something extreme or excessive, especially of something very bad; as, blue as blazes. Neal.

Syn. -- Blaze, Flame. A blaze and a flame are both produced by burning gas. In blaze the idea of light rapidly evolved is prominent, with or without heat; as, the blaze of the sun or of a meteor. Flame includes a stronger notion of heat; as, he perished in the flames.

BLAZE Blaze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blazed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blazing.]

1. To shine with flame; to glow with flame; as, the fire blazes.

2. To send forth or reflect glowing or brilliant light; to show a blaze. And far and wide the icy summit blazed. Wordsworth.

3. To be resplendent. Macaulay. To blaze away, to discharge a firearm, or to continue firing; -- said esp. of a number of persons, as a line of soldiers. Also used (fig.) of speech or action. [Colloq.]

BLAZE Blaze, v. t.

1. To mark (a tree) by chipping off a piece of the bark. I found my way by the blazed trees. Hoffman.

2. To designate by blazing; to mark out, as by blazed trees; as, to blaze a line or path. Champollion died in 1832, having done little more than blaze out the road to be traveled by others. Nott.

BLAZE Blaze, v. t. Etym: [OE. blasen to blow; perh. confused with blast and blaze a flame, OE. blase. Cf. Blaze, v. i., and see Blast.]

1. To make public far and wide; to make known; to render conspicuous. On charitable lists he blazed his name. Pollok. To blaze those virtues which the good would hide. Pope.

2. (Her.)

Defn: To blazon. [Obs.] Peacham.

BLAZER Blaz"er, n.

Defn: One who spreads reports or blazes matters abroad. "Blazers of crime." Spenser.

BLAZING Blaz"ing, a.

Defn: Burning with a blaze; as, a blazing fire; blazing torches. Sir W. Scott. Blazing star. (a) A comet. [Obs.] (b) A brilliant center of attraction. (c) (Bot.) A name given to several plants; as, to Chamælirium luteum of the Lily family; Liatris squarrosa; and Aletris farinosa, called also colicroot and star grass.

BLAZON Bla"zon, n. Etym: [OE. blason, blasoun, shield, fr. F. blason coat of arms, OF. shield, from the root of AS. blæse blaze, i. e., luster, splendor, MHG. blas torch See Blaze, n.]

1. A shield. [Obs.]

2. An heraldic shield; a coat of arms, or a bearing on a coat of arms; armorial bearings. Their blazon o'er his towers displayed. Sir W. Scott.

3. The art or act of describing or depicting heraldic bearings in the proper language or manner. Peacham.

4. Ostentatious display, either by words or other means; publication; show; description; record. Obtrude the blazon of their exploits upon the company. Collier. Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, Do give thee fivefold blazon. Shak.

BLAZON Bla"zon, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blazoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Blazoning.] Etym: [From blazon, n.; confused with 4th blaze: cf. F. blasonner.]

1. To depict in colors; to display; to exhibit conspicuously; to publish or make public far and wide. Thyself thou blazon'st. Shak. There pride sits blazoned on th' unmeaning brow. Trumbull. To blazon his own worthless name. Cowper.

2. To deck; to embellish; to adorn. She blazons in dread smiles her hideous form. Garth.

3. (Her.)

Defn: To describe in proper terms (the figures of heraldic devices); also, to delineate (armorial bearings); to emblazon. The coat of , arms, which I am not herald enough to blazon into English. Addison.

BLAZON Bla"zon, v. i.

Defn: To shine; to be conspicuous. [R.]

BLAZONER Bla"zon*er, n.

Defn: One who gives publicity, proclaims, or blazons; esp., one who blazons coats of arms; a herald. Burke.

BLAZONMENT Bla"zon*ment, n.

Defn: The act or blazoning; blazoning; emblazonment.

BLAZONRY Bla"zon*ry, n.

1. Same as Blazon, 3. The principles of blazonry. Peacham.

2. A coat of arms; an armorial bearing or bearings. The blazonry of Argyle. Lord Dufferin.

3. Artistic representation or display.

BLEA Blea, n.

Defn: The part of a tree which lies immediately under the bark; the alburnum or sapwood.

BLEABERRY Blea"ber*ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Blaeberry.

BLEACH Bleach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bleached; p. pr. & vb. n. Bleaching.] Etym: [OE. blakien, blechen, v. t. & v. i., AS. blacian, bl, to grow pale; akin to Icel. bleikja, Sw. bleka, Dan. blege, D. bleeken, G. bleichen, AS. blac pale. See Bleak, a.]

Defn: To make white, or whiter; to remove the color, or stains, from; to blanch; to whiten. The destruction of the coloring matters attached to the bodies to be bleached is effected either by the action of the air and light, of chlorine, or of sulphurous acid. Ure. Immortal liberty, whose look sublime Hath bleached the tyrant's cheek in every varying clime. Smollett.

BLEACH Bleach, v. i.

Defn: To grow white or lose color; to whiten.

BLEACHED Bleached, a.

Defn: Whitened; make white. Let their bleached bones, and blood's unbleaching stain, Long mark the battlefield with hideous awe. Byron.

BLEACHER Bleach"er, n.

Defn: One who whitens, or whose occupation is to whiten, by bleaching.

BLEACHERY Bleach"er*y, n.; pl. Bleacheries (.

Defn: A place or an establishment where bleaching is done.

BLEACHING Bleach"ing, n.

Defn: The act or process of whitening, by removing color or stains; esp. the process of whitening fabrics by chemical agents. Ure. Bleaching powder, a powder for bleaching, consisting of chloride of lime, or some other chemical or chemicals.

BLEAK Bleak, a. Etym: [OE. blac, bleyke, bleche, AS. blac, bl, pale, wan; akin to Icel. bleikr, Sw. blek, Dan. bleg, OS. bl, D. bleek, OHG. pleih, G. bleich; all from the root of AS. blican to shine; akin to OHG. blichen to shine; cf. L. flagrare to burn, Gr. to burn, shine, Skr. bhraj to shine, and E. flame. Bleach, Blink, Flame.]

1. Without color; pale; pallid. [Obs.] When she came out she looked as pale and as bleak as one that were laid out dead. Foxe.

2. Desolate and exposed; swept by cold winds. Wastes too bleak to rear The common growth of earth, the foodful ear. Wordsworth. At daybreak, on the bleak sea beach. Longfellow.

3. Cold and cutting; cheerless; as, a bleak blast. -- Bleak"ish, a. -- Bleak"ly, adv. -- Bleak"ness, n.

BLEAK Bleak, n. Etym: [From Bleak, a., cf. Blay.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small European river fish (Leuciscus alburnus), of the family Cyprinidæ; the blay. [Written also blick.]

Note: The silvery pigment lining the scales of the bleak is used in the manufacture of artificial pearls. Baird.

BLEAKY Bleak"y, a.

Defn: Bleak. [Obs.] Dryden.

BLEAR Blear, a. Etym: [See Blear, v.]

1. Dim or sore with water or rheum; -- said of the eyes. His blear eyes ran in gutters to his chin. Dryden.

2. Causing or caused by dimness of sight; dim. Power to cheat the eye with blear illusion. Milton.

BLEAR Blear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bleared; p. pr. & vb. n. Blearing.] Etym: [OE. bleren; cf. Dan. plire to blink, Sw. plira to twinkle, wink, LG. plieren; perh. from the same root as E. blink. See Blink, and cf. Blur.]

Defn: To make somewhat sore or watery, as the eyes; to dim, or blur, as the sight. Figuratively: To obscure (mental or moral perception); to blind; to hoodwink. That tickling rheums Should ever tease the lungs and blear the sight. Cowper. To blear the eye of, to deceive; to impose upon. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BLEARED Bleared, a.

Defn: Dimmed, as by a watery humor; affected with rheum. -- Blear"ed*ness (, n. Dardanian wives, With bleared visages, come forth to view The issue of the exploit. Shak.

BLEAREYE Blear"eye`, n. (Med.)

Defn: A disease of the eyelids, consisting in chronic inflammation of the margins, with a gummy secretion of sebaceous matter. Dunglison.

BLEAR-EYED Blear"-eyed`, a.

1. Having sore eyes; having the eyes dim with rheum; dim-sighted. The blear-eyed Crispin. Drant.

2. Lacking in perception or penetration; short-sighted; as, a blear- eyed bigot.

BLEAREYEDNESS Blear"eyed`ness, n.

Defn: The state of being blear-eyed.

BLEARY Blear"y, a.

Defn: Somewhat blear.

BLEAT Bleat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bleated; p. pr. & vb. n. Bleating.] Etym: [OE. bleten, AS. bl; akin to D. blaten, bleeten, OHG. blazan, plazan; prob. of imitative origin.]

Defn: To make the noise of, or one like that of, a sheep; to cry like a sheep or calf. Then suddenly was heard along the main, To low the ox, to bleat the woolly train. Pope The ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baas, will never answer a calf when he bleats. Shak.

BLEAT Bleat, n.

Defn: A plaintive cry of, or like that of, a sheep. The bleat of fleecy sheep. Chapman's Homer.

BLEATER Bleat"er, n.

Defn: One who bleats; a sheep. In cold, stiff soils the bleaters oft complain Of gouty ails. Dyer.

BLEATING Bleat"ing, a.

Defn: Crying as a sheep does. Then came the shepherd back with his bleating flocks from the seaside. Longfellow.

BLEATING Bleat"ing, n.

Defn: The cry of, or as of, a sheep. Chapman.

BLEB Bleb, n. Etym: [Prov. E. bleb, bleib, blob, bubble, blister. This word belongs to the root of blub, blubber, blabber, and perh. blow to puff.]

Defn: A large vesicle or bulla, usually containing a serous fluid; a blister; a bubble, as in water, glass, etc. Arsenic abounds with air blebs. Kirwan.

BLEBBY Bleb"by, a.

Defn: Containing blebs, or characterized by blebs; as, blebby glass.

BLECK; BLEK Bleck, Blek, v. t.

Defn: To blacken; also, to defile. [Obs. or Dial.] Wyclif.

BLED Bled,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bleed.

BLEE Blee, n. Etym: [AS. bleó, bleóh.]

Defn: Complexion; color; hue; likeness; form. [Archaic] For him which is so bright of blee. Lament. of Mary Magd. That boy has a strong blee of his father. Forby.

BLEED Bleed, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bleeding.] Etym: [OE. bleden, AS. bl, fr. bl blood; akin to Sw. blöda, Dan. blöde, D. bloeden, G. bluten. See Blood.]

1. To emit blood; to lose blood; to run with blood, by whatever means; as, the arm bleeds; the wound bled freely; to bleed at the nose.

2. To withdraw blood from the body; to let blood; as, Dr. A. bleeds in fevers.

3. To lose or shed one's blood, as in case of a violent death or severe wounds; to die by violence. "Cæsar must bleed." Shak. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day. Pope.

4. To issue forth, or drop, as blood from an incision. For me the balm shall bleed. Pope.

5. To lose sap, gum, or juice; as, a tree or a vine bleeds when tapped or wounded.

6. To pay or lose money; to have money drawn or extorted; as, to bleed freely for a cause. [Colloq.] To make the heart bleed, to cause extreme pain, as from sympathy or pity.

BLEED Bleed, v. t.

1. To let blood from; to take or draw blood from, as by opening a vein.

2. To lose, as blood; to emit or let drop, as sap. A decaying pine of stately size, bleeding amber. H. Miller.

3. To draw money from (one); to induce to pay; as, they bled him freely for this fund. [Colloq.]

BLEEDER Bleed"er, n. (Med.) (a) One who, or that which, draws blood. (b) One in whom slight wounds give rise to profuse or uncontrollable bleeding.

BLEEDING Bleed"ing, a.

Defn: Emitting, or appearing to emit, blood or sap, etc.; also, expressing anguish or compassion.

BLEEDING Bleed"ing, n.

Defn: A running or issuing of blood, as from the nose or a wound; a hemorrhage; the operation of letting blood, as in surgery; a drawing or running of sap from a tree or plant.

BLEMISH Blem"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blemished; p. pr. & vb. n. Blemishing.] Etym: [OE. blemissen, blemishen, OF. blemir, blesmir, to strike, injure, soil, F. blêmir to grow pale, fr. OF. bleme, blesme, pale, wan, F. blême, prob. fr. Icel blaman the livid color of a wound, fr. blar blue; akin to E. blue. OF. blemir properly signifies to beat one (black and) blue, and to render blue or dirty. See Blue.]

1. To mark with deformity; to injure or impair, as anything which is well formed, or excellent; to mar, or make defective, either the body or mind. Sin is a soil which blemisheth the beauty of thy soul. Brathwait.

2. To tarnish, as reputation or character; to defame. There had nothing passed between us that might blemish reputation. Oldys.

BLEMISH Blem"ish, n.; pl. Blemishes (.

Defn: Any mark of deformity or injury, whether physical or moral; anything; that diminishes beauty, or renders imperfect that which is otherwise well formed; that which impairs reputation. He shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish. Lev. xiv. 10. The reliefs of an envious man are those little blemishes and imperfections that discover themselves in an illustrious character. Spectator.

Syn. -- Spot; speck; flaw; deformity; stain; defect; fault; taint; reproach; dishonor; imputation; disgrace.

BLEMISHLESS Blem"ish*less, a.

Defn: Without blemish; spotless. A life in all so blemishless. Feltham.

BLEMISHMENT Blem"ish*ment, n.

Defn: The state of being blemished; blemish; disgrace; damage; impairment. For dread of blame and honor's blemishment. Spenser.

BLENCH Blench, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Blenching.] Etym: [OE. blenchen to blench, elude, deceive, AS. blencan to deceive; akin to Icel. blekkja to impose upon. Prop. a causative of blink to make to wink, to deceive. See Blink, and cf. 3d Blanch.]

1. To shrink; to start back; to draw back, from lack of courage or resolution; to flinch; to quail. Blench not at thy chosen lot. Bryant. This painful, heroic task he undertook, and never blenched from its fulfillment. Jeffrey.

2. To fly off; to turn aside. [Obs.] Though sometimes you do blench from this to that. Shak.

BLENCH Blench, v. t.

1. To baffle; to disconcert; to turn away; -- also, to obstruct; to hinder. [Obs.] Ye should have somewhat blenched him therewith, yet he might and would of likelihood have gone further. Sir T. More.

2. To draw back from; to deny from fear. [Obs.] He now blenched what before he affirmed. Evelyn.

BLENCH Blench, n.

Defn: A looking aside or askance. [Obs.] These blenches gave my heart another youth. Shak.

BLENCH Blench, v. i. & t. Etym: [See 1st Blanch.]

Defn: To grow or make pale. Barbour.

BLENCHER Blench"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, scares another; specifically, a person stationed to prevent the escape of the deer, at a hunt. See Blancher. [Obs.]

2. One who blenches, flinches, or shrinks back.

BLENCH HOLDING Blench" hold`ing. (Law)

Defn: See Blanch holding.

BLEND Blend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blended or Blent; p. pr. & vb. n. Blending.] Etym: [OE. blenden, blanden, AS. blandan to blend, mix; akin to Goth. blandan to mix, Icel. blanda, Sw. blanda, Dan. blande, OHG. blantan to mis; to unknown origin.]

1. To mix or mingle together; esp. to mingle, combine, or associate so that the separate things mixed, or the line of demarcation, can not be distinguished. Hence: To confuse; to confound. Blending the grand, the beautiful, the gay. Percival.

2. To pollute by mixture or association; to spoil or corrupt; to blot; to stain. [Obs.] Spenser.

Syn. -- To commingle; combine; fuse; merge; amalgamate; harmonize.

BLEND Blend, v. i.

Defn: To mingle; to mix; to unite intimately; to pass or shade insensibly into each other, as colors. There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with our conviviality. Irving.

BLEND Blend, n.

Defn: A thorough mixture of one thing with another, as color, tint, etc., into another, so that it cannot be known where one ends or the other begins.

BLEND Blend, v. t. Etym: [AS. blendan, from blind blind. See Blind, a.]

Defn: To make blind, literally or figuratively; to dazzle; to deceive. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BLENDE Blende, n. Etym: [G., fr. blenden to blind, dazzle, deceive, fr. blind blind. So called either in allusion to its dazzling luster; or (Dana) because, though often resembling galena, it yields no lead. Cf. Sphalerite.] (Min.) (a) A mineral, called also sphalerite, and by miners mock lead, false galena, and black-jack. It is a zinc sulphide, but often contains some iron. Its color is usually yellow, brown, or black, and its luster resinous. (b) A general term for some minerals, chiefly metallic sulphides which have a somewhat brilliant but nonmetallic luster.

BLENDER Blend"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, blends; an instrument, as a brush, used in blending.

BLENDING Blend"ing, n.

1. The act of mingling.

2. (Paint.)

Defn: The method of laying on different tints so that they may mingle together while wet, and shade into each other insensibly. Weale.

BLENDOUS Blend"ous, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, consisting of, or containing, blende.

BLENDWATER Blend"wa`ter, n.

Defn: A distemper incident to cattle, in which their livers are affected. Crabb.

BLENHEIM SPANIEL Blen"heim span"iel. Etym: [So called from Blenheim House, the seat of the duke of Marlborough, in England.]

Defn: A small variety of spaniel, kept as a pet.

BLENK Blenk, v. i.

Defn: To blink; to shine; to look. [Obs.]

BLENNIOID; BLENNIID Blen"ni*oid, Blen"ni*id, a. Etym: [Blenny + -oid] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the blennies.

BLENNOGENOUS Blen*nog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. mucus + -genous.]

Defn: Generating mucus.

BLENNORRHEA Blen`nor*rhe"a, n. Etym: [Gr. mucus + to flow.] (Med.) (a) An inordinate secretion and discharge of mucus. (b) Gonorrhea. Dunglison.

BLENNY Blen"ny, n.; pl. Blennies. Etym: [L. blennius, blendius, blendea, Gr. , fr. slime, mucus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marine fish of the genus Blennius or family Blenniidæ; -- so called from its coating of mucus. The species are numerous.

BLENT Blent, imp. & p. p. of Blend to mingle.

Defn: Mingled; mixed; blended; also, polluted; stained. Rider and horse, friend, foe, in one red burial blent. Byron.

BLENT Blent, imp. & p. p. of Blend to blind.

Defn: Blinded. Also (Chaucer), 3d sing. pres. Blindeth. [Obs.]

BLEPHARITIS Bleph`a*ri"tis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. eyelid + -ilis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the eyelids. -- Bleph`a*rit"ic (#), a.

BLESBOK Bles"bok, n. Etym: [D., fr. bles a white spot on the forehead + bok buck.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A South African antelope (Alcelaphus albifrons), having a large white spot on the forehead.

BLESS Bless, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blessed or Blest; p. pr. & vb. n. Blessing.] Etym: [OE. blessien, bletsen, AS. bletsian, bledsian, bloedsian, fr. bl blood; prob. originally to consecrate by sprinkling with blood. See Blood.]

1. To make or pronounce holy; to consecrate And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it. Gen. ii. 3.

2. To make happy, blithesome, or joyous; to confer prosperity or happiness upon; to grant divine favor to. The quality of mercy is . . . twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. Shak. It hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee. 1 Chron. xvii. 27 (R. V. )

3. To express a wish or prayer for the happiness of; to invoke a blessing upon; -- applied to persons. Bless them which persecute you. Rom. xii. 14.

4. To invoke or confer beneficial attributes or qualities upon; to invoke or confer a blessing on, -- as on food. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them. Luke ix. 16.

5. To make the sign of the cross upon; to cross (one's self). [Archaic] Holinshed.

6. To guard; to keep; to protect. [Obs.]

7. To praise, or glorify; to extol for excellences. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Ps. ciii. 1.

8. To esteem or account happy; to felicitate. The nations shall bless themselves in him. Jer. iv. 3.

9. To wave; to brandish. [Obs.] And burning blades about their heads do bless. Spenser. Round his armed head his trenchant blade he blest. Fairfax.

Note: This is an old sense of the word, supposed by Johnson, Nares, and others, to have been derived from the old rite of blessing a field by directing the hands to all parts of it. "In drawing [their bow] some fetch such a compass as though they would turn about and bless all the field." Ascham.

Bless me! Bless us! an exclamation of surprise. Milton. -- To bless from, to secure, defend, or preserve from. "Bless me from marrying a usurer." Shak. To bless the doors from nightly harm. Milton. -- To bless with, To be blessed with, to favor or endow with; to be favored or endowed with; as, God blesses us with health; we are blessed with happiness.

BLESSED Bless"ed, a.

1. Hallowed; consecrated; worthy of blessing or adoration; heavenly; holy. O, run; prevent them with thy humble ode, And lay it lowly at his blessed feet. Milton.

2. Enjoying happiness or bliss; favored with blessings; happy; highly favored. All generations shall call me blessed. Luke i. 48. Towards England's blessed shore. Shak.

3. Imparting happiness or bliss; fraught with happiness; blissful; joyful. "Then was a blessed time." "So blessed a disposition." Shak.

4. Enjoying, or pertaining to, spiritual happiness, or heavenly felicity; as, the blessed in heaven. Reverenced like a blessed saint. Shak. Cast out from God and blessed vision. Milton.

5. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: Beatified.

6. Used euphemistically, ironically, or intensively. Not a blessed man came to set her [a boat] free. R. D. Blackmore.

BLESSEDLY Bless"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: Happily; fortunately; joyfully. We shall blessedly meet again never to depart. Sir P. Sidney.

BLESSEDNESS Bless"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being blessed; happiness; felicity; bliss; heavenly joys; the favor of God. The assurance of a future blessedness. Tillotson. Single blessedness, the unmarried state. "Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness." Shak.

Syn. -- Delight; beatitude; ecstasy. See Happiness.

BLESSED THISTLE Bless"ed this"tle.

Defn: See under Thistle.

BLESSER Bless"er, n.

Defn: One who blesses; one who bestows or invokes a blessing.

BLESSING Bless"ing, n. Etym: [AS. bletsung. See Bless, v. t.]

1. The act of one who blesses.

2. A declaration of divine favor, or an invocation imploring divine favor on some or something; a benediction; a wish of happiness pronounces. This is the blessing, where with Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel. Deut. xxxiii. 1.

3. A means of happiness; that which promotes prosperity and welfare; a beneficent gift. Nature's full blessings would be well dispensed. Milton.

4. (Bib.)

Defn: A gift. [A Hebraism] Gen. xxxiii. 11.

5. Grateful praise or worship.

BLEST Blest, a.

Defn: Blessed. "This patriarch blest." Milton. White these blest sounds my ravished ear assail. Trumbull.

BLET Blet, n. Etym: [F. blet, blette, a., soft from over ripeness.]

Defn: A form of decay in fruit which is overripe.

BLETONISM Ble"ton*ism, n.

Defn: The supposed faculty of perceiving subterraneous springs and currents by sensation; -- so called from one Bleton, of France.

BLETTING Blet"ting, n.

Defn: A form of decay seen in fleshy, overripe fruit. Lindley.

BLEW Blew, imp.

Defn: of Blow.

BLEYME Bleyme, n. Etym: [F. bleime.] (Far.)

Defn: An inflammation in the foot of a horse, between the sole and the bone. [Obs.]

BLEYNTE Bleyn"te, imp.

Defn: of Blench. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BLICKEY Blick"ey, n. Etym: [D. blik tin.]

Defn: A tin dinner pail. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.

BLIGHT Blight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blighting.] Etym: [Perh. contr. from AS. blicettan to glitter, fr. the same root as E. bleak. The meaning "to blight" comes in that case from to glitter, hence, to be white or pale, grow pale, make pale, bleach. Cf. Bleach, Bleak.]

1. To affect with blight; to blast; to prevent the growth and fertility of. [This vapor] blasts vegetables, blights corn and fruit, and is sometimes injurious even to man. Woodward.

2. Hence: To destroy the happiness of; to ruin; to mar essentially; to frustrate; as, to blight one's prospects. Seared in heart and lone and blighted. Byron.

BLIGHT Blight, v. i.

Defn: To be affected by blight; to blast; as, this vine never blights.

BLIGHT Blight, n.

1. Mildew; decay; anything nipping or blasting; -- applied as a general name to various injuries or diseases of plants, causing the whole or a part to wither, whether occasioned by insects, fungi, or atmospheric influences.

2. The act of blighting, or the state of being blighted; a withering or mildewing, or a stoppage of growth in the whole or a part of a plant, etc.

3. That which frustrates one's plans or withers one's hopes; that which impairs or destroys. A blight seemed to have fallen over our fortunes. Disraeli.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A downy species of aphis, or plant louse, destructive to fruit trees, infesting both the roots and branches; -- also applied to several other injurious insects.

5. pl.

Defn: A rashlike eruption on the human skin. [U. S.]

BLIGHTING Blight"ing, a.

Defn: Causing blight.

BLIGHTINGLY Blight"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: So as to cause blight.

BLIMBI; BLIMBING Blim"bi, Blim"bing, n.

Defn: See Bilimbi, etc.

BLIN Blin, v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. blinnen, AS. blinnan; pref. be- + linnan to cease.]

Defn: To stop; to cease; to desist. [Obs.] Spenser.

BLIN Blin, n. Etym: [AS. blinn.]

Defn: Cessation; end. [Obs.]

BLIND Blind, a. Etym: [AS.; akin to D., G., OS., Sw., & Dan. blind, Icel. blindr, Goth. blinds; of uncertain origin.]

1. Destitute of the sense of seeing, either by natural defect or by deprivation; without sight. He that is strucken blind can not forget The precious treasure of his eyesight lost. Shak.

2. Not having the faculty of discernment; destitute of intellectual light; unable or unwilling to understand or judge; as, authors are blind to their own defects. But hard be hardened, blind be blinded more, That they may stumble on, and deeper fall. Milton.

3. Undiscerning; undiscriminating; inconsiderate. This plan is recommended neither to blind approbation nor to blind reprobation. Jay.

4. Having such a state or condition as a thing would have to a person who is blind; not well marked or easily discernible; hidden; unseen; concealed; as, a blind path; a blind ditch.

5. Involved; intricate; not easily followed or traced. The blind mazes of this tangled wood. Milton.

6. Having no openings for light or passage; as, a blind wall; open only at one end; as, a blind alley; a blind gut.

7. Unintelligible, or not easily intelligible; as, a blind passage in a book; illegible; as, blind writing.

8. (Hort.)

Defn: Abortive; failing to produce flowers or fruit; as, blind buds; blind flowers. Blind alley, an alley closed at one end; a cul-de-sac. -- Blind axle, an axle which turns but does not communicate motion. Knight. -- Blind beetle, one of the insects apt to fly against people, esp. at night. -- Blind cat (Zoöl.), a species of catfish (Gronias nigrolabris), nearly destitute of eyes, living in caverns in Pennsylvania. -- Blind coal, coal that burns without flame; anthracite coal. Simmonds. -- Blind door, Blind window, an imitation of a door or window, without an opening for passage or light. See Blank door or window, under Blank, a. -- Blind level (Mining), a level or drainage gallery which has a vertical shaft at each end, and acts as an inverted siphon. Knight. -- Blind nettle (Bot.), dead nettle. See Dead nettle, under Dead. -- Blind shell (Gunnery), a shell containing no charge, or one that does not explode. -- Blind side, the side which is most easily assailed; a weak or unguarded side; the side on which one is least able or disposed to see danger. Swift. -- Blind snake (Zoöl.), a small, harmless, burrowing snake, of the family Typhlopidæ, with rudimentary eyes. -- Blind spot (Anat.), the point in the retina of the eye where the optic nerve enters, and which is insensible to light. -- Blind tooling, in bookbinding and leather work, the indented impression of heated tools, without gilding; -- called also blank tooling, and blind blocking. -- Blind wall, a wall without an opening; a blank wall.

BLIND Blind, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blinded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blinding.]

1. To make blind; to deprive of sight or discernment. "To blind the truth and me." Tennyson. A blind guide is certainly a great mischief; but a guide that blinds those whom he should lead is . . . a much greater. South.

2. To deprive partially of vision; to make vision difficult for and painful to; to dazzle. Her beauty all the rest did blind. P. Fletcher.

3. To darken; to obscure to the eye or understanding; to conceal; to deceive. Such darkness blinds the sky. Dryden. The state of the controversy between us he endeavored, with all his art, to blind and confound. Stillingfleet.

4. To cover with a thin coating of sand and fine gravel; as a road newly paved, in order that the joints between the stones may be filled.

BLIND Blind, n.

1. Something to hinder sight or keep out light; a screen; a cover; esp. a hinged screen or shutter for a window; a blinder for a horse.

2. Something to mislead the eye or the understanding, or to conceal some covert deed or design; a subterfuge.

3. Etym: [Cf. F. blindes, pblende, fr. blenden to blind, fr. blind blind.] (Mil.)

Defn: A blindage. See Blindage.

4. A halting place. [Obs.] Dryden.

BLIND; BLINDE Blind, Blinde, n.

Defn: See Blende.

BLINDAGE Blind"age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. blindage.] (Mil.)

Defn: A cover or protection for an advanced trench or approach, formed of fascines and earth supported by a framework.

BLINDER Blind"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, blinds.

2. (Saddlery)

Defn: One of the leather screens on a bridle, to hinder a horse from seeing objects at the side; a blinker.

BLINDFISH Blind"fish` (, n.

Defn: A small fish (Amblyopsis spelæus) destitute of eyes, found in the waters of the Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky. Related fishes from other caves take the same name.

BLINDFOLD Blind"fold`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blindfolded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blindfolding.] Etym: [OE. blindfolden, blindfelden, blindfellen; AS. blind blind + prob. fellan, fyllan, to fell, strike down.]

Defn: To cover the eyes of, as with a bandage; to hinder from seeing. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face. Luke xxii. 64.

BLINDFOLD Blind"fold`, a.

Defn: Having the eyes covered; blinded; having the mental eye darkened. Hence: Heedless; reckless; as, blindfold zeal; blindfold fury. Fate's blindfold reign the atheist loudly owns. Dryden.

BLINDING Blind"ing, a.

Defn: Making blind or as if blind; depriving of sight or of understanding; obscuring; as, blinding tears; blinding snow.

BLINDING Blind"ing, n.

Defn: A thin coating of sand and fine gravel over a newly paved road. See Blind, v. t., 4.

BLINDLY Blind"ly, adv.

Defn: Without sight, discernment, or understanding; without thought, investigation, knowledge, or purpose of one's own. By his imperious mistress blindly led. Dryden.

BLINDMAN'S BUFF Blind"man's buff" (. Etym: [See Buff a buffet.]

Defn: A play in which one person is blindfolded, and tries to catch some one of the company and tell who it is. Surely he fancies I play at blindman's buff with him, for he thinks I never have my eyes open. Stillingfleet.

BLINDMAN'S HOLIDAY Blind`man's hol"i*day.

Defn: The time between daylight and candle light. [Humorous]

BLINDNESS Blind"ness, n.

Defn: State or condition of being blind, literally or figuratively. Darwin. Color blindness, inability to distinguish certain color. See Daltonism.

BLIND READER Blind reader.

Defn: A post-office clerk whose duty is to decipher obscure addresses.

BLINDSTORY Blind"sto`ry, n. (Arch.)

Defn: The triforium as opposed to the clearstory.

BLINDWORM Blind"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small, burrowing, snakelike, limbless lizard (Anguis fragilis), with minute eyes, popularly believed to be blind; the slowworm; -- formerly a name for the adder. Newts and blindworms do no wrong. Shak.

BLINK Blink, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blinked; p. pr. & vb. n. Blinking.] Etym: [OE. blenken; akin to dan. blinke, Sw. blinka, G. blinken to shine, glance, wink, twinkle, D. blinken to shine; and prob. to D. blikken to glance, twinkle, G. blicken to look, glance, AS. blican to shine, E. bleak. sq. root98. See Bleak; cf. 1st Blench.]

1. To wink; to twinkle with, or as with, the eye. One eye was blinking, and one leg was lame. Pope

2. To see with the eyes half shut, or indistinctly and with frequent winking, as a person with weak eyes. Show me thy chink, to blink through with mine eyne. Shak.

3. To shine, esp. with intermittent light; to twinkle; to flicker; to glimmer, as a lamp. The dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink. Wordsworth. The sun blinked fair on pool and stream . Sir W. Scott.

4. To turn slightly sour, as beer, mild, etc.

BLINK Blink, v. t.

1. To shut out of sight; to avoid, or purposely evade; to shirk; as, to blink the question.

2. To trick; to deceive. [Scot.] Jamieson.

BLINK Blink, n. Etym: [OE. blink. See Blink, v. i. ]

1. A glimpse or glance. This is the first blink that ever I had of him. Bp. Hall.

2. Gleam; glimmer; sparkle. Sir W. Scott. Not a blink of light was there. Wordsworth.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: The dazzling whiteness about the horizon caused by the reflection of light from fields of ice at sea; ice blink.

4. pl. Etym: [Cf. Blencher.] (Sporting)

Defn: Boughs cast where deer are to pass, to turn or check them. [Prov. Eng.]

BLINKARD Blink"ard, n. Etym: [Blind + -ard.]

1. One who blinks with, or as with, weak eyes. Among the blind the one-eyed blinkard reigns. Marvell.

2. That which twinkles or glances, as a dim star, which appears and disappears. Hakewill.

BLINK BEER Blink" beer` (

Defn: Beer kept unbroached until it is sharp. Crabb.

BLINKER Blink"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, blinks.

2. A blinder for horses; a flap of leather on a horse's bridle to prevent him from seeing objects as his side hence, whatever obstructs sight or discernment. Nor bigots who but one way see, through blinkers of authority. M. Green.

3. pl.

Defn: A kind of goggles, used to protect the eyes form glare, etc.

BLINK-EYED Blink"-eyed` (, a.

Defn: Habitually winking. Marlowe.

BLIRT Blirt, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A gust of wind and rain. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

BLISS Bliss, n.; pl. Blisses. Etym: [OE. blis, blisse, AS. blis, bli, fr. bli blithe. See Blithe.]

Defn: Orig., blithesomeness; gladness; now, the highest degree of happiness; blessedness; exalted felicity; heavenly joy. An then at last our bliss Full and perfect is. Milton.

Syn. -- Blessedness; felicity; beatitude; happiness; joy; enjoyment. See Happiness.

BLISSFUL Bliss"ful, a.

Defn: Full of, characterized by, or causing, joy and felicity; happy in the highest degree. "Blissful solitude." Milton. -- Bliss"ful*ly, adv. -- Bliss"ful*ness, n.

BLISSLESS Bliss"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of bliss. Sir P. Sidney.

BLISSOM Blis"som, v. i. Etym: [For blithesome: but cf. also Icel. bl of a goat at heat.]

Defn: To be lustful; to be lascivious. [Obs.]

BLISSOM Blis"som, a.

Defn: Lascivious; also, in heat; -- said of ewes.

BLISTER Blis"ter, n. Etym: [OE.; akin to OD. bluyster, fr. the same root as blast, bladder, blow. See Blow to eject wind.]

1. A vesicle of the skin, containing watery matter or serum, whether occasioned by a burn or other injury, or by a vesicatory; a collection of serous fluid causing a bladderlike elevation of the cuticle. And painful blisters swelled my tender hands. Grainger.

2. Any elevation made by the separation of the film or skin, as on plants; or by the swelling of the substance at the surface, as on steel.

3. A vesicatory; a plaster of Spanish flies, or other matter, applied to raise a blister. Dunglison. Blister beetle, a beetle used to raise blisters, esp. the Lytta (or Cantharis) vesicatoria, called Cantharis or Spanish fly by druggists. See Cantharis. -- Blister fly, a blister beetle. -- Blister plaster, a plaster designed to raise a blister; -- usually made of Spanish flies. -- Blister steel, crude steel formed from wrought iron by cementation; -- so called because of its blistered surface. Called also blistered steel. -- Blood blister. See under Blood.

BLISTER Blis"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blistered; p. pr. & vb. n. Blistering.]

Defn: To be affected with a blister or blisters; to have a blister form on. Let my tongue blister. Shak.

BLISTER Blis"ter, v. t.

1. To raise a blister or blisters upon. My hands were blistered. Franklin.

2. To give pain to, or to injure, as if by a blister. This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongue. Shak.

BLISTERY Blis"ter*y, a.

Defn: Full of blisters. Hooker.

BLITE Blite, n. Etym: [L. blitum, Gr. .] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of herbs (Blitum) with a fleshy calyx. Blitum capitatum is the strawberry blite.

BLITHE Blithe, a. Etym: [AS. bli blithe, kind; akin to Goth. blei kind, Icel. bli mild, gentle, Dan. & Sw. blid gentle, D. blijd blithe, OHG. blidi kind, blithe.]

Defn: Gay; merry; sprightly; joyous; glad; cheerful; as, a blithe spirit. The blithe sounds of festal music. Prescott. A daughter fair, So buxom, blithe, and debonair. Milton.

BLITHEFUL Blithe"ful, a.

Defn: Gay; full of gayety; joyous.

BLITHELY Blithe"ly, adv.

Defn: In a blithe manner.

BLITHENESS Blithe"ness, n.

Defn: The state of being blithe. Chaucer.

BLITHESOME Blithe"some, a.

Defn: Cheery; gay; merry. The blithesome sounds of wassail gay. Sir W. Scott. -- Blithe"some*ly, adv. -- Blithe"some*ness, n.

BLIVE Blive, adv. Etym: [A contraction of Belive.]

Defn: Quickly; forthwith. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BLIZZARD Bliz"zard, n. Etym: [Cf. Blaze to flash. Formerly, in local use, a rattling volley; cf. "to blaze away" to fire away.]

Defn: A gale of piercingly cold wind, usually accompanied with fine and blinding snow; a furious blast. [U. S.]

BLOAT Bloat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bloated; p. pr. & vb. n. Bloating.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. blotna to become soft, blautr soft, wet, Sw. blöt soft, blöta to soak; akin to G. bloss bare, and AS. bleát wretched; or perh. fr. root of Eng. 5th blow. Cf. Blote.]

1. To make turgid, as with water or air; to cause a swelling of the surface of, from effusion of serum in the cellular tissue, producing a morbid enlargement, often accompanied with softness.

2. To inflate; to puff up; to make vain. Dryden.

BLOAT Bloat, v. i.

Defn: To grow turgid as by effusion of liquid in the cellular tissue; to puff out; to swell. Arbuthnot.

BLOAT Bloat, a.

Defn: Bloated. [R.] Shak.

BLOAT Bloat, n.

Defn: A term of contempt for a worthless, dissipated fellow. [Slang]

BLOAT Bloat, v. t.

Defn: To dry (herrings) in smoke. See Blote.

BLOATED Bloat"ed, p. a.

Defn: Distended beyond the natural or usual size, as by the presence of water, serum, etc.; turgid; swollen; as, a bloated face. Also, puffed up with pride; pompous.

BLOATEDNESS Bloat"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being bloated.

BLOATER Bloat"er, n. Etym: [See Bloat, Blote.]

Defn: The common herring, esp. when of large size, smoked, and half dried; -- called also bloat herring.

BLOB Blob, n. Etym: [See Bleb.]

1. Something blunt and round; a small drop or lump of something viscid or thick; a drop; a bubble; a blister. Wright.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small fresh-water fish (Uranidea Richardsoni); the miller's thumb.

BLOBBER Blob"ber, n. Etym: [See Blubber, Blub.]

Defn: A bubble; blubber. [Low] T. Carew. Blobber lip, a thick, protruding lip. His blobber lips and beetle brows commend. Dryden.

BLOBBER-LIPPED Blob"ber-lipped`, a.

Defn: Having thick lips. "A blobber-lipped shell." Grew.

BLOCAGE Blo*cage", n. Etym: [F.] (Arch.)

Defn: The roughest and cheapest sort of rubblework, in masonry.

BLOCK Block, n. Etym: [OE. blok; cf. F. bloc (fr. OHG.), D. & Dan. blok, Sw. & G. block, OHG. bloch. There is also an OHG. bloch, biloh; bi by + the same root as that of E. lock. Cf. Block, v. t., Blockade, and see Lock.]

1. A piece of wood more or less bulky; a solid mass of wood, stone, etc., usually with one or more plane, or approximately plane, faces; as, a block on which a butcher chops his meat; a block by which to mount a horse; children's playing blocks, etc. Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke, And Christmas blocks are burning. Wither. All her labor was but as a block Left in the quarry. Tennyson.

2. The solid piece of wood on which condemned persons lay their necks when they are beheaded. Noble heads which have been brought to the block. E. Everett.

3. The wooden mold on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped. Hence: The pattern on shape of a hat. He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block. Shak.

4. A large or long building divided into separate houses or shops, or a number of houses or shops built in contact with each other so as to form one building; a row of houses or shops.

5. A square, or portion of a city inclosed by streets, whether occupied by buildings or not. The new city was laid out in rectangular blocks, each block containing thirty building lots. Such an average block, comprising 282 houses and covering nine acres of ground, exists in Oxford Street. Lond. Quart. Rev.

6. A grooved pulley or sheave incased in a frame or shell which is provided with a hook, eye, or strap, by which it may be attached to an object. It is used to change the direction of motion, as in raising a heavy object that can not be conveniently reached, and also, when two or more such sheaves are compounded, to change the rate of motion, or to exert increased force; -- used especially in the rigging of ships, and in tackles.

7. (Falconry)

Defn: The perch on which a bird of prey is kept.

8. Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction; a stop; a hindrance; an obstacle; as, a block in the way.

9. A piece of box or other wood for engravers' work.

10. (Print.)

Defn: A piece of hard wood (as mahogany or cherry) on which a stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted to make it type high.

11. A blockhead; a stupid fellow; a dolt. [Obs.] What a block art thou ! Shak.

12. A section of a railroad where the block system is used. See Block system, below. A block of shares (Stock Exchange), a large number of shares in a stock company, sold in a lump. Bartlett. -- Block printing. (a) A mode of printing (common in China and Japan) from engraved boards by means of a sheet of paper laid on the linked surface and rubbed with a brush. S. W. Williams. (b) A method of printing cotton cloth and paper hangings with colors, by pressing them upon an engraved surface coated with coloring matter. -- Block system on railways, a system by which the track is divided into sections of three or four miles, and trains are so run by the guidance of electric signals that no train enters a section or block before the preceding train has left it.

BLOCK Block, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Blocking.] Etym: [Cf. F. bloquer, fr. bloc block. See Block, n.]

1. To obstruct so as to prevent passage or progress; to prevent passage from, through, or into, by obstructing the way; -- used both of persons and things; -- often followed by up; as, to block up a road or harbor. With moles . . . would block the port. Rowe. A city . . . besieged and blocked about. Milton.

2. To secure or support by means of blocks; to secure, as two boards at their angles of intersection, by pieces of wood glued to each.

3. To shape on, or stamp with, a block; as, to block a hat. To block out, to begin to reduce to shape; to mark out roughly; to lay out; as, to block out a plan.

BLOCKADE Block*ade", n. Etym: [Cf. It. bloccata. See Block, v. t. ]

1. The shutting up of a place by troops or ships, with the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the reception of supplies; as, the blockade of the ports of an enemy.

Note: Blockade is now usually applied to an investment with ships or vessels, while siege is used of an investment by land forces. To constitute a blockade, the investing power must be able to apply its force to every point of practicable access, so as to render it dangerous to attempt to enter; and there is no blockade of that port where its force can not be brought to bear. Kent.

2. An obstruction to passage. To raise a blockade. See under Raise.

BLOCKADE Block*ade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blockaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blockading.]

1. To shut up, as a town or fortress, by investing it with troops or vessels or war for the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the introduction of supplies. See note under Blockade, n. "Blockaded the place by sea." Gilpin.

2. Hence, to shut in so as to prevent egress. Till storm and driving ice blockade him there. Wordsworth.

3. To obstruct entrance to or egress from. Huge bales of British cloth blockade the door. Pope.

BLOCKADER Block*ad"er, n.

1. One who blockades.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: A vessel employed in blockading.

BLOCKAGE Block"age, n.

Defn: The act of blocking up; the state of being blocked up.

BLOCK BOOK Block" book` (.

Defn: A book printed from engraved wooden blocks instead of movable types.

BLOCK CHAIN Block chain. (Mach.)

Defn: A chain in which the alternate links are broad blocks connected by thin side links pivoted to the ends of the blocks, used with sprocket wheels to transmit power, as in a bicycle.

BLOCKHEAD Block"head` (, n. Etym: [Block + head.]

Defn: A stupid fellow; a dolt; a person deficient in understanding. The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his head. Pope.

BLOCKHEADED Block"head`ed, a.

Defn: Stupid; dull.

BLOCKHEADISM Block"head*ism, n.

Defn: That which characterizes a blockhead; stupidity. Carlyle.

BLOCKHOUSE Block"house` (, n. Etym: [Block + house: cf. G. blockhaus.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: An edifice or structure of heavy timbers or logs for military defense, having its sides loopholed for musketry, and often an upper story projecting over the lower, or so placed upon it as to have its sides make an angle with the sides of the lower story, thus enabling the defenders to fire downward, and in all directions; -- formerly much used in America and Germany.

2. A house of squared logs. [West. & South. U. S.]

BLOCKING Block"ing, n.

1. The act of obstructing, supporting, shaping, or stamping with a block or blocks.

2. Blocks used to support (a building, etc.) temporarily.

BLOCKING COURSE Block"ing course` (. (Arch.)

Defn: The finishing course of a wall showing above a cornice.

BLOCKISH Block"ish, a.

Defn: Like a block; deficient in understanding; stupid; dull. "Blockish Ajax." Shak. -- Block"ish*ly, adv. -- Block"ish*ness, n.

BLOCKLIKE Block"like` (, a.

Defn: Like a block; stupid.

BLOCK SIGNAL Block signal. (Railroads)

Defn: One of the danger signals or safety signals which guide the movement of trains in a block system. The signal is often so coupled with a switch that act of opening or closing the switch operates the signal also.

BLOCK SYSTEM Block system. (Railroads)

Defn: A system by which the track is divided into short sections, as of three or four miles, and trains are so run by the guidance of electric, or combined electric and pneumatic, signals that no train enters a section or block until the preceding train has left it, as in absolute blocking, or that a train may be allowed to follow another into a block as long as it proceeds with excessive caution, as in permissive blocking.

BLOCK TIN Block" tin` (.

Defn: See under Tin.

BLOEDITE Bloe"dite, n. Etym: [From the chemist Blöde.] (Min.)

Defn: A hydrous sulphate of magnesium and sodium.

BLOLLY Blol"ly, n. (Bot.) (a) A shrub or small tree of southern Florida and the West Indies (Pisonia obtusata) with smooth oval leaves and a hard, 10-ribbed fruit. (b) The rubiaceous shrub Chicocca racemosa, of the same region.

BLOMARY Blom"a*ry, n.

Defn: See Bloomery.

BLONCKET; BLONKET Blonc"ket, Blon"ket, a. Etym: [OF. blanquet whitish, dim. of blanc white. Cf. Blanket.]

Defn: Gray; bluish gray. [Obs.] Our bloncket liveries been all too sad. Spenser.

BLOND; BLONDE Blond, Blonde, a. Etym: [F., fair, light, of uncertain origin; cf. AS. blonden-feax gray-haired, old, prop. blended-haired, as a mixture of white and brown or black. See Blend, v. t. ]

Defn: Of a fair color; light-colored; as, blond hair; a blond complexion.

BLONDE Blonde, n. Etym: [F.]

1. A person of very fair complexion, with light hair and light blue eyes. [Written also blond.]

2. Etym: [So called from its color.]

Defn: A kind of silk lace originally of the color of raw silk, now sometimes dyed; -- called also blond lace.

BLOND METAL Blond" met`al.

Defn: A variety of clay ironstone, in Staffordshire, England, used for making tools.

BLONDNESS Blond"ness, n.

Defn: The state of being blond. G. Eliot.

BLOOD Blood, n. Etym: [OE. blod, blood, AS. bl; akin to D. bloed, OHG. bluot, G. blut, Goth, bl, Sw. & Dan. blod; prob. fr. the same root as E. blow to bloom. See Blow to bloom.]

1. The fluid which circulates in the principal vascular system of animals, carrying nourishment to all parts of the body, and bringing away waste products to be excreted. See under Arterial.

Note: The blood consists of a liquid, the plasma, containing minute particles, the blood corpuscles. In the invertebrate animals it is usually nearly colorless, and contains only one kind of corpuscles; but in all vertebrates, except Amphioxus, it contains some colorless corpuscles, with many more which are red and give the blood its uniformly red color. See Corpuscle, Plasma.

2. Relationship by descent from a common ancestor; consanguinity; kinship. To share the blood of Saxon royalty. Sir W. Scott. A friend of our own blood. Waller. Half blood (Law), relationship through only one parent. -- Whole blood, relationship through both father and mother. In American Law, blood includes both half blood, and whole blood. Bouvier. Peters.

3. Descent; lineage; especially, honorable birth; the highest royal lineage. Give us a prince of blood, a son of Priam. Shak. I am a gentleman of blood and breeding. Shak.

4. (Stock Breeding)

Defn: Descent from parents of recognized breed; excellence or purity of breed.

Note: In stock breeding half blood is descent showing one half only of pure breed. Blue blood, full blood, or warm blood, is the same as blood.

5. The fleshy nature of man. Nor gives it satisfaction to our blood. Shak.

6. The shedding of blood; the taking of life, murder; manslaughter; destruction. So wills the fierce, avenging sprite, Till blood for blood atones. Hood.

7. A bloodthirsty or murderous disposition. [R.] He was a thing of blood, whose every motion Was timed with dying cries. Shak.

8. Temper of mind; disposition; state of the passions; -- as if the blood were the seat of emotions. When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth. Shak.

Note: Often, in this sense, accompanied with bad, cold, warm, or other qualifying word. Thus, to commit an act in cold blood, is to do it deliberately, and without sudden passion; to do it in bad blood, is to do it in anger. Warm blood denotes a temper inflamed or irritated. To warm or heat the blood is to excite the passions. Qualified by up, excited feeling or passion is signified; as, my blood was up.

9. A man of fire or spirit; a fiery spark; a gay, showy man; a rake. Seest thou not . . . how giddily 'a turns about all the hot bloods between fourteen and five and thirty Shak. It was the morning costume of a dandy or blood. Thackeray.

10. The juice of anything, especially if red. He washed . . . his clothes in the blood of grapes. Gen. xiix. 11.

Note: Blood is often used as an adjective, and as the first part of self-explaining compound words; as, blood-bespotted, blood-bought, blood-curdling, blood-dyed, blood-red, blood-spilling, blood-stained, blood-warm, blood-won. Blood baptism (Eccl. Hist.), the martyrdom of those who had not been baptized. They were considered as baptized in blood, and this was regarded as a full substitute for literal baptism. -- Blood blister, a blister or bleb containing blood or bloody serum, usually caused by an injury. -- Blood brother, brother by blood or birth. -- Blood clam (Zoöl.), a bivalve mollusk of the genus Arca and allied genera, esp. Argina pexata of the American coast. So named from the color of its flesh. -- Blood corpuscle. See Corpuscle. -- Blood crystal (Physiol.), one of the crystals formed by the separation in a crystalline form of the hæmoglobin of the red blood corpuscles; hæmatocrystallin. All blood does not yield blood crystals. -- Blood heat, heat equal to the temperature of human blood, or about 98½ º Fahr. -- Blood horse, a horse whose blood or lineage is derived from the purest and most highly prized origin or stock. -- Blood money. See in the Vocabulary. -- Blood orange, an orange with dark red pulp. -- Blood poisoning (Med.), a morbid state of the blood caused by the introduction of poisonous or infective matters from without, or the absorption or retention of such as are produced in the body itself; toxæmia. -- Blood pudding, a pudding made of blood and other materials. -- Blood relation, one connected by blood or descent. -- Blood spavin. See under Spavin. -- Blood vessel. See in the Vocabulary. -- Blue blood, the blood of noble or aristocratic families, which, according to a Spanish prover , has in it a tinge of blue; -- hence, a member of an old and aristocratic family. -- Flesh and blood. (a) A blood relation, esp. a child. (b) Human nature. -- In blood (Hunting), in a state of perfect health and vigor. Shak. -- To let blood. See under Let. -- Prince of the blood, the son of a sovereign, or the issue of a royal family. The sons, brothers, and uncles of the sovereign are styled princes of the blood royal; and the daughters, sisters, and aunts are princesses of the blood royal.

BLOOD Blood, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blooded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blooding.]

1. To bleed. [Obs.] Cowper.

2. To stain, smear or wet, with blood. [Archaic] Reach out their spears afar, And blood their points. Dryden.

3. To give (hounds or soldiers) a first taste or sight of blood, as in hunting or war. It was most important too that his troops should be blooded. Macaulay.

4. To heat the blood of; to exasperate. [Obs.] The auxiliary forces of the French and English were much blooded one against another. Bacon.

BLOODBIRD Blood"bird` (, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An Australian honeysucker (Myzomela sanguineolata); -- so called from the bright red color of the male bird.

BLOOD-BOLTERED Blood"-bol`tered, a. Etym: [Blood + Prov. E. bolter to mat in tufts. Cf. Balter.]

Defn: Having the hair matted with clotted blood. [Obs. & R.] The blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me. Shak.

BLOODED Blood"ed, a.

Defn: Having pure blood, or a large admixture or pure blood; of approved breed; of the best stock.

Note: Used also in composition in phrases indicating a particular condition or quality of blood; as, cold-blooded; warm-blooded.

BLOODFLOWER Blood"flow`er, n. Etym: [From the color of the flower.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of bulbous plants, natives of Southern Africa, named Hæmanthus, of the Amaryllis family. The juice of H. toxicarius is used by the Hottentots to poison their arrows.

BLOODGUILTY Blood"guilt`y, a.

Defn: Guilty of murder or bloodshed. "A bloodguilty life." Fairfax. -- Blood"guilt`i*ness (, n. -- Blood"guilt`less, a.

BLOODHOUND Blood"hound` (, n.

Defn: A breed of large and powerful dogs, with long, smooth, and pendulous ears, and remarkable for acuteness of smell. It is employed to recover game or prey which has escaped wounded from a hunter, and for tracking criminals. Formerly it was used for pursuing runaway slaves. Other varieties of dog are often used for the same purpose and go by the same name. The Cuban bloodhound is said to be a variety of the mastiff.

BLOODILY Blood"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a bloody manner; cruelly; with a disposition to shed blood.

BLOODINESS Blood"i*ness, n.

1. The state of being bloody.

2. Disposition to shed blood; bloodthirstiness. All that bloodiness and savage cruelty which was in our nature. Holland.

BLOODLESS Blood"less, a. Etym: [AS. bl.]

1. Destitute of blood, or apparently so; as, bloodless cheeks; lifeless; dead. The bloodless carcass of my Hector sold. Dryden.

2. Not attended with shedding of blood, or slaughter; as, a bloodless victory. Froude.

3. Without spirit or activity. Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood ! Shak. -- Blood"less*ly, adv. -- Blood"less*ness, n.

BLOODLET Blood"let` (, v. t. Etym: [AS. bl; bl blood + l to let.]

Defn: bleed; to let blood. Arbuthnot.

BLOODLETTER Blood"let`ter, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, lets blood; a phlebotomist.

BLOODLETTING Blood"let`ting, n. (Med.)

Defn: The act or process of letting blood or bleeding, as by opening a vein or artery, or by cupping or leeches; -- esp. applied to venesection.

BLOOD MONEY Blood" mon`ey.

1. Money paid to the next of kin of a person who has been killed by another.

2. Money obtained as the price, or at the cost, of another's life; -- said of a reward for supporting a capital charge, of money obtained for betraying a fugitive or for committing murder, or of money obtained from the sale of that which will destroy the purchaser.

BLOODROOT Blood"root` (, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Sanguinaria Canadensis), with a red root and red sap, and bearing a pretty, white flower in early spring; -- called also puccoon, redroot, bloodwort, tetterwort, turmeric, and Indian paint. It has acrid emetic properties, and the rootstock is used as a stimulant expectorant. See Sanguinaria.

Note: In England the name is given to the tormentil, once used as a remedy for dysentery.

BLOODSHED Blood"shed` (, n. Etym: [Blood + shed]

Defn: The shedding or spilling of blood; slaughter; the act of shedding human blood, or taking life, as in war, riot, or murder.

BLOODSHEDDER Blood"shed`der, n.

Defn: One who sheds blood; a manslayer; a murderer.

BLOODSHEDDING Blood"shed`ding, n.

Defn: Bloodshed. Shak.

BLOODSHOT Blood"shot` (, a. Etym: [Blood + shot, p. p. of shoot to variegate.]

Defn: Red and inflamed; suffused with blood, or having the vessels turgid with blood, as when the conjunctiva is inflamed or irritated. His eyes were bloodshot, . . . and his hair disheveled. Dickens.

BLOOD-SHOTTEN Blood"-shot`ten, a.

Defn: Bloodshot. [Obs.]

BLOODSTICK Blood"stick", n. (Far.)

Defn: A piece of hard wood loaded at one end with lead, and used to strike the fleam into the vein. Youatt.

BLOODSTONE Blood"stone` (, n. (Min.) (a) A green siliceous stone sprinkled with red jasper, as if with blood; hence the name; -- called also heliotrope. (b) Hematite, an ore of iron yielding a blood red powder or "streak."

BLOODSTROKE Blood"stroke` (, n. Etym: [Cf. F. coup de sang.]

Defn: Loss of sensation and motion from hemorrhage or congestion in the brain. Dunglison.

BLOODSUCKER Blood"suck`er, n.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any animal that sucks blood; esp., the leech (Hirudo medicinalis), and related species.

2. One who sheds blood; a cruel, bloodthirsty man; one guilty of bloodshed; a murderer. [Obs.] Shak.

3. A hard and exacting master, landlord, or money lender; an extortioner.

BLOODTHIRSTY Blood"thirst`y, a.

Defn: Eager to shed blood; cruel; sanguinary; murderous. -- Blood"thirst`i*ness (n.

BLOODULF Blood"ulf, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European bullfinch.

BLOOD VESSEL Blood" ves`sel. (Anat.)

Defn: Any vessel or canal in which blood circulates in an animal, as an artery or vein.

BLOODWITE; BLOODWIT Blood"wite`, Blood"wit` (, n. Etym: [AS. bl; bl blood, + wite wite, fine.] (Anc. Law)

Defn: A fine or amercement paid as a composition for the shedding of blood; also, a riot wherein blood was spilled.

BLOODWOOD Blood"wood, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A tree having the wood or the sap of the color of blood.

Note: Norfolk Island bloodwood is a euphorbiaceous tree (Baloghia lucida), from which the sap is collected for use as a plant. Various other trees have the name, chiefly on account of the color of the wood, as Gordonia Hæmatoxylon of Jamaica, and several species of Australian Eucalyptus; also the true logwood ( Hæmatoxylon campechianum).

BLOODWORT Blood"wort` (, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant, Rumex sanguineus, or bloody-veined dock. The name is applied also to bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis), and to an extensive order of plants (Hæmodoraceæ), the roots of many species of which contain a red coloring matter useful in dyeing.

BLOODY Blood"y, a. Etym: [AS. bl.]

1. Containing or resembling blood; of the nature of blood; as, bloody excretions; bloody sweat.

2. Smeared or stained with blood; as, bloody hands; a bloody handkerchief.

3. Given, or tending, to the shedding of blood; having a cruel, savage disposition; murderous; cruel. Some bloody passion shakes your very frame. Shak.

4. Attended with, or involving, bloodshed; sanguinary; esp., marked by great slaughter or cruelty; as, a bloody battle.

5. Infamous; contemptible; -- variously used for mere emphasis or as a low epithet. [Vulgar] Thackeray.

BLOODY Blood"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bloodied (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bloodying.]

Defn: To stain with blood. Overbury.

BLOODYBONES Blood"y*bones` (, n.

Defn: A terrible bugbear.

BLOODY FLUX Blood"y flux`.

Defn: The dysentery, a disease in which the flux or discharge from the bowels has a mixture of blood. Arbuthnot.

BLOODY HAND Blood"y hand` (.

1. A hand stained with the blood of a deer, which, in the old forest laws of England, was sufficient evidence of a man's trespass in the forest against venison. Jacob.

2. (Her.)

Defn: A red hand, as in the arms of Ulster, which is now the distinguishing mark of a baronet of the United Kingdom.

BLOODY-MINDED Blood"y-mind"ed, a.

Defn: Having a cruel, ferocious disposition; bloodthirsty. Dryden.

BLOODY SWEAT Blood"y sweat` (.

Defn: A sweat accompanied by a discharge of blood; a disease, called sweating sickness, formerly prevalent in England and other countries.

BLOOM Bloom, n. Etym: [OE. blome, fr. Icel. bl, bl; akin to Sw. blom, Goth. bl, OS. bl, D. bloem, OHG. bluomo, bluoma, G. blume; fr. the same root as AS. bl to blow, blossom. See Blow to bloom, and cf. Blossom.]

1. A blossom; the flower of a plant; an expanded bud; flowers, collectively. The rich blooms of the tropics. Prescott.

2. The opening of flowers in general; the state of blossoming or of having the flowers open; as, the cherry trees are in bloom. "Sight of vernal bloom." Milton.

3. A state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor; an opening to higher perfection, analogous to that of buds into blossoms; as, the bloom of youth. Every successive mother has transmitted a fainter bloom, a more delicate and briefer beauty. Hawthorne.

4. The delicate, powdery coating upon certain growing or newly- gathered fruits or leaves, as on grapes, plums, etc. Hence: Anything giving an appearance of attractive freshness; a flush; a glow. A new, fresh, brilliant world, with all the bloom upon it. Thackeray.

5. The clouded appearance which varnish sometimes takes upon the surface of a picture.

6. A yellowish deposit or powdery coating which appears on well- tanned leather. Knight.

7. (Min.)

Defn: A popular term for a bright-hued variety of some minerals; as, the rose-red cobalt bloom.

BLOOM Bloom, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bloomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blooming.]

1. To produce or yield blossoms; to blossom; to flower or be in flower. A flower which once In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, Began to bloom. Milton.

2. To be in a state of healthful, growing youth and vigor; to show beauty and freshness, as of flowers; to give promise, as by or with flowers. A better country blooms to view, Beneath a brighter sky. Logan.

BLOOM Bloom, v. t.

1. To cause to blossom; to make flourish. [R.] Charitable affection bloomed them. Hooker.

2. To bestow a bloom upon; to make blooming or radiant. [R.] Milton. While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day. Keats.

BLOOM Bloom, n. Etym: [AS. bl a mass or lump, isenes bl a lump or wedge of iron.] (Metal.) (a) A mass of wrought iron from the Catalan forge or from the puddling furnace, deprived of its dross, and shaped usually in the form of an oblong block by shingling. (b) A large bar of steel formed directly from an ingot by hammering or rolling, being a preliminary shape for further working.

BLOOMARY Bloom"a*ry, n.

Defn: See Bloomery.

BLOOMER Bloom"er, n. Etym: [From Mrs. Bloomer, an American, who sought to introduce this style of dress.]

1. A costume for women, consisting of a short dress, with loose trousers gathered round ankles, and (commonly) a broad-brimmed hat.

2. A woman who wears a Bloomer costume.

BLOOMERY Bloom"er*y, n. (Manuf.)

Defn: A furnace and forge in which wrought iron in the form of blooms is made directly from the ore, or (more rarely) from cast iron.

BLOOMING Bloom"ing, n. (Metal.)

Defn: The process of making blooms from the ore or from cast iron.

BLOOMING Bloom"ing, a.

1. Opening in blossoms; flowering.

2. Thriving in health, beauty, and vigor; indicating the freshness and beauties of youth or health.

BLOOMINGLY Bloom"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a blooming manner.

BLOOMINGNESS Bloom"ing*ness, n.

Defn: A blooming condition.

BLOOMLESS Bloom"less, a.

Defn: Without bloom or flowers. Shelley.

BLOOMY Bloom"y, a.

1. Full of bloom; flowery; flourishing with the vigor of youth; as, a bloomy spray. But all the bloomy flush of life is fled. Goldsmith.

2. Covered with bloom, as fruit. Dryden.

BLOOTH Blooth, n.

Defn: Bloom; a blossoming. [Prov. Eng.] All that blooth means heavy autumn work for him and his hands. T. Hardy.

BLORE Blore, n. Etym: [Perh. a variant of blare, v. i.; or cf. Gael. & Ir. blor a loud noise.]

Defn: The act of blowing; a roaring wind; a blast. [Obs.] A most tempestuous blore. Chapman.

BLOSMY Blos"my, a.

Defn: Blossomy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BLOSSOM Blos"som, n. Etym: [OE. blosme, blostme, AS. bl, bl, blossom; akin to D. bloesem, L. fios, and E. flower; from the root of E. blow to blossom. See Blow to blossom, and cf. Bloom a blossom.]

1. The flower of a plant, or the essential organs of reproduction, with their appendages; florescence; bloom; the flowers of a plant, collectively; as, the blossoms and fruit of a tree; an apple tree in blossom.

Note: The term has been applied by some botanists, and is also applied in common usage, to the corolla. It is more commonly used than flower or bloom, when we have reference to the fruit which is to succeed. Thus we use flowers when we speak of plants cultivated for ornament, and bloom in a more general sense, as of flowers in general, or in reference to the beauty of flowers. Blossoms flaunting in the eye of day. Longfellow.

2. A blooming period or stage of development; something lovely that gives rich promise. In the blossom of my youth. Massinger.

3. The color of a horse that has white hairs intermixed with sorrel and bay hairs; -- otherwise called peach color. In blossom, having the blossoms open; in bloom.

BLOSSOM Blos"som, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blossomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blossoming.] Etym: [AS. bl. See Blossom, n.]

1. To put forth blossoms or flowers; to bloom; to blow; to flower. The moving whisper of huge trees that branched And blossomed. Tennyson.

2. To flourish and prosper. Israel shall blossom and bud, and full the face of the world with fruit. Isa. xxvii. 6.

BLOSSOMLESS Blos"som*less, a.

Defn: Without blossoms.

BLOSSOMY Blos"som*y, a.

Defn: Full of blossoms; flowery.

BLOT Blot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blotting.] Etym: [Cf. Dan. plette. See 3d Blot.]

1. To spot, stain, or bespatter, as with ink. The brief was writ and blotted all with gore. Gascoigne.

2. To impair; to damage; to mar; to soil. It blots thy beauty, as frosts do bite the meads. Shak.

3. To stain with infamy; to disgrace. Blot not thy innocence with guiltless blood. Rowe.

4. To obliterate, as writing with ink; to cancel; to efface; -- generally with out; as, to blot out a word or a sentence. Often figuratively; as, to blot out offenses. One act like this blots out a thousand crimes. Dryden.

5. To obscure; to eclipse; to shadow. He sung how earth blots the moon's gilded wane. Cowley.

6. To dry, as writing, with blotting paper.

Syn. -- To obliterate; expunge; erase; efface; cancel; tarnish; disgrace; blur; sully; smear; smutch.

BLOT Blot, v. i.

Defn: To take a blot; as, this paper blots easily.

BLOT Blot, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. blettr, Dan. plet.]

1. A spot or stain, as of ink on paper; a blur. "Inky blots and rotten parchment bonds." Shak.

2. An obliteration of something written or printed; an erasure. Dryden.

3. A spot on reputation; a stain; a disgrace; a reproach; a blemish. This deadly blot in thy digressing son. Shak.

BLOT Blot, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. blot bare, naked, Sw. blott, d. bloot, G. bloss, and perh. E. bloat.]

1. (Backgammon) (a) An exposure of a single man to be taken up. (b) A single man left on a point, exposed to be taken up. He is too great a master of his art to make a blot which may be so easily hit. Dryden.

2. A weak point; a failing; an exposed point or mark.

BLOTCH Blotch, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. blacche in blacchepot blacking pot, akin to black, as bleach is akin to bleak. See Black, a., or cf. Blot a spot.]

1. A blot or spot, as of color or of ink; especially a large or irregular spot. Also Fig.; as, a moral blotch. Spots and blotches . . . some red, others yellow. Harvey.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A large pustule, or a coarse eruption. Foul scurf and blotches him defile. Thomson.

BLOTCHED Blotched, a.

Defn: Marked or covered with blotches. To give their blotched and blistered bodies ease. Drayton.

BLOTCHY Blotch"y, a.

Defn: Having blotches.

BLOTE Blote, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bloted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bloting.] Etym: [Cf. Sw. blöt-fisk soaked fish, fr. blöta to soak. See 1st Bloat.]

Defn: To cure, as herrings, by salting and smoking them; to bloat. [Obs.]

BLOTLESS Blot"less, a.

Defn: Without blot.

BLOTTER Blot"ter, n.

1. One who, or that which blots; esp. a device for absorbing superfluous ink.

2. (Com.)

Defn: A wastebook, in which entries of transactions are made as they take place.

BLOTTESQUE Blot*tesque" (, a. (Painting)

Defn: Characterized by blots or heavy touches; coarsely depicted; wanting in delineation. Ruskin.

BLOTTING PAPER Blot"ting pa`per.

Defn: A kind of thick, bibulous, unsized paper, used to absorb superfluous ink from freshly written manuscript, and thus prevent blots.

BLOUSE Blouse, n. Etym: [F. blouse. Of unknown origin.]

Defn: A light, loose over-garment, like a smock frock, worn especially by workingmen in France; also, a loose coat of any material, as the undress uniform coat of the United States army.

BLOW Blow, v. i. [imp. Blew; p. p. Blown; p. pr. & vb. n. Blowing.] Etym: [OE. blowen, AS. bl to blossom; akin to OS. bl, D. bloeijen, OHG. pluojan, MHG. bl, G. blühen, L. florere to flourish, OIr. blath blossom. Cf. Blow to puff, Flourish.]

Defn: To flower; to blossom; to bloom. How blows the citron grove. Milton.

BLOW Blow, v. t.

Defn: To cause to blossom; to put forth (blossoms or flowers). The odorous banks, that blow Flowers of more mingled hue. Milton.

BLOW Blow, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A blossom; a flower; also, a state of blossoming; a mass of blossoms. "Such a blow of tulips." Tatler.

BLOW Blow, n. Etym: [OE. blaw, blowe; cf. OHG. bliuwan, pliuwan, to beat, G. bläuen, Goth. bliggwan.]

1. A forcible stroke with the hand, fist, or some instrument, as a rod, a club, an ax, or a sword. Well struck ! there was blow for blow. Shak.

2. A sudden or forcible act or effort; an assault. A vigorous blow might win [Hanno's camp]. T. Arnold.

3. The infliction of evil; a sudden calamity; something which produces mental, physical, or financial suffering or loss (esp. when sudden); a buffet. A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows. Shak. At a blow, suddenly; at one effort; by a single vigorous act. "They lose a province at a blow." Dryden. -- To come to blows, to engage in combat; to fight; -- said of individuals, armies, and nations.

Syn. -- Stroke; knock; shock; misfortune.

BLOW Blow, v. i. [imp. Blew; p. p. Blown; p. pr. & vb. n. Blowing.] Etym: [OE. blawen, blowen, AS. bl to blow, as wind; akin to OHG. pl, G. blähen, to blow up, swell, L. flare to blow, Gr. to spout out, and to E. bladder, blast, inflate, etc., and perh. blow to bloom.]

1. To produce a current of air; to move, as air, esp. to move rapidly or with power; as, the wind blows. Hark how it rains and blows ! Walton.

2. To send forth a forcible current of air, as from the mouth or from a pair of bellows.

3. To breathe hard or quick; to pant; to puff. Here is Mistress Page at the door, sweating and blowing. Shak.

4. To sound on being blown into, as a trumpet. There let the pealing organ blow. Milton.

5. To spout water, etc., from the blowholes, as a whale.

6. To be carried or moved by the wind; as, the dust blows in from the street. The grass blows from their graves to thy own. M. Arnold.

7. To talk loudly; to boast; to storm. [Colloq.] You blow behind my back, but dare not say anything to my face. Bartlett. To blow hot and cold Etym: (a saying derived from a fable of , to favor a thing at one time and treat it coldly at another; or to appear both to favor and to oppose. -- To blow off, to let steam escape through a passage provided for the purpose; as, the engine or steamer is blowing off. -- To blow out. (a) To be driven out by the expansive force of a gas or vapor; as, a steam cock or valve sometimes blows out. (b) To talk violently or abusively. [Low] -- To blow over, to pass away without effect; to cease, or be dissipated; as, the storm and the clouds have blown over. -- To blow up, to be torn to pieces and thrown into the air as by an explosion of powder or gas or the expansive force of steam; to burst; to explode; as, a powder mill or steam boiler blows up. "The enemy's magazines blew up." Tatler.

BLOW Blow, v. t.

1. To force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means; as, to blow the fire.

2. To drive by a current air; to impel; as, the tempest blew the ship ashore. Off at sea northeast winds blow Sabean odors from the spicy shore. Milton.

3. To cause air to pass through by the action of the mouth, or otherwise; to cause to sound, as a wind instrument; as, to blow a trumpet; to blow an organ. Hath she no husband That will take pains to blow a horn before her Shak. Boy, blow the pipe until the bubble rise, Then cast it off to float upon the skies. Parnell.

4. To clear of contents by forcing air through; as, to blow an egg; to blow one's nose.

5. To burst, shatter, or destroy by an explosion; -- usually with up, down, open, or similar adverb; as, to blow up a building.

6. To spread by report; to publish; to disclose. Through the court his courtesy was blown. Dryden. His language does his knowledge blow. Whiting.

7. To form by inflation; to swell by injecting air; as, to blow bubbles; to blow glass.

8. To inflate, as with pride; to puff up. Look how imagination blows him. Shak.

9. To put out of breath; to cause to blow from fatigue; as, to blow a horse. Sir W. Scott.

10. To deposit eggs or larvæ upon, or in (meat, etc.). To suffer The flesh fly blow my mouth. Shak. To blow great guns, to blow furiously and with roaring blasts; -- said of the wind at sea or along the coast. -- To blow off, to empty (a boiler) of water through the blow-off pipe, while under steam pressure; also, to eject (steam, water, sediment, etc.) from a boiler. -- To blow one's own trumpet, to vaunt one's own exploits, or sound one's own praises. -- To blow out, to extinguish by a current of air, as a candle. -- To blow up. (a) To fill with air; to swell; as, to blow up a bladder or bubble. (b) To inflate, as with pride, self-conceit, etc.; to puff up; as, to blow one up with flattery. "Blown up with high conceits engendering pride." Milton. (c) To excite; as, to blow up a contention.(d) To burst, to raise into the air, or to scatter, by an explosion; as, to blow up a fort. (e) To scold violently; as, to blow up a person for some offense. [Colloq.] I have blown him up well -- nobody can say I wink at what he does. G. Eliot. To blow upon. (a) To blast; to taint; to bring into discredit; to render stale, unsavory, or worthless. (b) To inform against. [Colloq.] How far the very custom of hearing anything spouted withers and blows upon a fine passage, may be seen in those speeches from [Shakespeare's] Henry V. which are current in the mouths of schoolboys. C. Lamb. A lady's maid whose character had been blown upon. Macaulay.

BLOW Blow, n.

1. A blowing, esp., a violent blowing of the wind; a gale; as, a heavy blow came on, and the ship put back to port.

2. The act of forcing air from the mouth, or through or from some instrument; as, to give a hard blow on a whistle or horn; to give the fire a blow with the bellows.

3. The spouting of a whale.

4. (Metal.)

Defn: A single heat or operation of the Bessemer converter. Raymond.

5. An egg, or a larva, deposited by a fly on or in flesh, or the act of depositing it. Chapman.

BLOWBALL Blow"ball` (, n.

Defn: The downy seed head of a dandelion, which children delight to blow away. B. Jonson.

BLOWEN; BLOWESS Blow"en, Blow"ess, n.

Defn: A prostitute; a courtesan; a strumpet. [Low] Smart.

BLOWER Blow"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, blows.

2. (Mech.)

Defn: A device for producing a current of air; as: (a) A metal plate temporarily placed before the upper part of a grate or open fire. (b) A machine for producing an artificial blast or current of air by pressure, as for increasing the draft of a furnace, ventilating a building or shaft, cleansing gram, etc.

3. A blowing out or excessive discharge of gas from a hole or fissure in a mine.

4. The whale; -- so called by seamen, from the circumstance of its spouting up a column of water.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small fish of the Atlantic coast (Tetrodon turgidus); the puffer.

6. A braggart, or loud talker. [Slang] Bartlett.

BLOWFLY Blow"fly`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of fly of the genus Musca that deposits its eggs or young larvæ (called flyblows and maggots) upon meat or other animal products.

BLOWGUN Blow"gun`, n.

Defn: A tube, as of cane or reed, sometimes twelve feet long, through which an arrow or other projectile may be impelled by the force of the breath. It is a weapon much used by certain Indians of America and the West Indies; -- called also blowpipe, and blowtube. See Sumpitan.

BLOWHOLE Blow"hole`, n.

1. A cavern in a cliff, at the water level, opening to the air at its farther extremity, so that the waters rush in with each surge and rise in a lofty jet from the extremity.

2. A nostril or spiracle in the top of the head of a whale or other cetacean.

Note: There are two spiracles or blowholes in the common whales, but only one in sperm whales, porpoises, etc.

3. A hole in the ice to which whales, seals, etc., come to breathe.

4. (Founding)

Defn: An air hole in a casting.

BLOWN Blown, p. p. & a.

1. Swollen; inflated; distended; puffed up, as cattle when gorged with green food which develops gas.

2. Stale; worthless.

3. Out of breath; tired; exhausted. "Their horses much blown." Sir W. Scott.

4. Covered with the eggs and larvæ of flies; fly blown.

BLOWN Blown, p. p. & a.

Defn: Opened; in blossom or having blossomed, as a flower. Shak.

BLOW-OFF Blow"-off` (, n.

1. A blowing off steam, water, etc.; -- Also, adj.

Defn: as, a blow-off cock or pipe.

2. An outburst of temper or excitement. [Colloq.]

BLOW-OUT Blow"-out` (, n.

Defn: The cleaning of the flues of a boiler from scale, etc., by a blast of steam.

BLOWPIPE Blow"pipe` (, n.

1. A tube for directing a jet of air into a fire or into the flame of a lamp or candle, so as to concentrate the heat on some object.

Note: It is called a mouth blowpipe when used with the mouth; but for both chemical and industrial purposes, it is often worked by a bellows or other contrivance. The common mouth blowpipe is a tapering tube with a very small orifice at the end to be inserted in the flame. The oxyhydrogen blowpipe, invented by Dr. Hare in 1801, is an instrument in which oxygen and hydrogen, taken from separate reservoirs, in the proportions of two volumes of hydrogen to one of oxygen, are burned in a jet, under pressure. It gives a heat that will consume the diamond, fuse platinum, and dissipate in vapor, or in gaseous forms, most known substances.

2. A blowgun; a blowtube. Blowpipe analysis (Chem.), analysis by means of the blowpipe. -- Blowpipe reaction (Chem.), the characteristic behavior of a substance subjected to a test by means of the blowpipe.

BLOWPOINT Blow"point` (, n.

Defn: A child's game. [Obs.]

BLOWSE Blowse, n.

Defn: See Blowze.

BLOWTH Blowth, n. Etym: [From Blow to blossom: cf. Growth.]

Defn: A blossoming; a bloom. [Obs. or Archaic] "In the blowth and bud." Sir W. Raleigh.

BLOWTUBE Blow"tube`, n.

1. A blowgun. Tylor.

2. A similar instrument, commonly of tin, used by boys for discharging paper wads and other light missiles.

3. (Glassmaking)

Defn: A long wrought iron tube, on the end of which the workman gathers a quantity of "metal" (melted glass), and through which he blows to expand or shape it; -- called also blowing tube, and blowpipe.

BLOW VALVE Blow" valve` (. (Mach.)

Defn: See Snifting valve.

BLOWY Blow"y, a.

Defn: Windy; as, blowy weather; a blowy upland.

BLOWZE Blowze, n. Etym: [Prob. from the same root as blush.]

Defn: A ruddy, fat-faced woman; a wench. [Obs.] Shak.

BLOWZED Blowzed, a.

Defn: Having high color from exposure to the weather; ruddy-faced; blowzy; disordered. Huge women blowzed with health and wind. Tennyson.

BLOWZY Blowz"y, a.

Defn: Coarse and ruddy-faced; fat and ruddy; high colored; frowzy.

BLUB Blub, v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. Bleb, Blob.]

Defn: To swell; to puff out, as with weeping. [Obs.]

BLUBBER Blub"ber, n. Etym: [See Blobber, Blob, Bleb.]

1. A bubble. At his mouth a blubber stood of foam. Henryson.

2. The fat of whales and other large sea animals from which oil is obtained. It lies immediately under the skin and over the muscular flesh.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large sea nettle or medusa.

BLUBBER Blub"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blubbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Blubbering.]

Defn: To weep noisily, or so as to disfigure the face; to cry in a childish manner. She wept, she blubbered, and she tore her hair. Swift.

BLUBBER Blub"ber, v. t.

1. To swell or disfigure (the face) with weeping; to wet with tears. Dear Cloe, how blubbered is that pretty face! Prior.

2. To give vent to (tears) or utter (broken words or cries); -- with forth or out.

BLUBBERED Blub"bered, p. p. & a.

Defn: Swollen; turgid; as, a blubbered lip. Spenser.

BLUBBERING Blub"ber*ing, n.

Defn: The act of weeping noisily. He spake well save that his blubbering interrupted him. Winthrop.

BLUBBERY Blub"ber*y, a.

1. Swollen; protuberant.

2. Like blubber; gelatinous and quivering; as, a blubbery mass.

BLUCHER Blu"cher, n.

Defn: A kind of half boot, named from the Prussian general Blücher. Thackeray.

BLUDGEON Bludg"eon, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. blocan a little block, Gael. plocan a mallet, W. plocyn, dim. of ploc block; or perh. connected with E. blow a stroke. Cf. Block, Blow a stroke.]

Defn: A short stick, with one end loaded, or thicker and heavier that the other, used as an offensive weapon.

BLUE Blue, a. [Compar. Bluer; superl. Bluest.] Etym: [OE. bla, blo, blew, blue, Sw. bl, D. blauw, OHG. bl, G. blau; but influenced in form by F. bleu, from OHG. blao.]

1. Having the color of the clear sky, or a hue resembling it, whether lighter or darker; as, the deep, blue sea; as blue as a sapphire; blue violets. "The blue firmament." Milton.

2. Pale, without redness or glare, -- said of a flame; hence, of the color of burning brimstone, betokening the presence of ghosts or devils; as, the candle burns blue; the air was blue with oaths.

3. Low in spirits; melancholy; as, to feel blue.

4. Suited to produce low spirits; gloomy in prospect; as, thongs looked blue. [Colloq.]

5. Severe or over strict in morals; gloom; as, blue and sour religionists; suiting one who is over strict in morals; inculcating an impracticable, severe, or gloomy mortality; as, blue laws.

6. Literary; -- applied to women; -- an abbreviation of bluestocking. [Colloq.] The ladies were very blue and well informed. Thackeray. Blue asbestus. See Crocidolite. -- Blue black, of, or having, a very dark blue color, almost black. -- Blue blood. See under Blood. -- Blue buck (Zoöl.), a small South African antelope (Cephalophus pygmæus); also applied to a larger species (Ægoceras leucophæus); the blaubok. -- Blue cod (Zoöl.), the buffalo cod. -- Blue crab (Zoöl.), the common edible crab of the Atlantic coast of the United States (Callinectes hastatus). -- Blue curls (Bot.), a common plant (Trichostema dichotomum), resembling pennyroyal, and hence called also bastard pennyroyal. -- Blue devils, apparitions supposed to be seen by persons suffering with delirium tremens; hence, very low spirits. "Can Gumbo shut the hall door upon blue devils, or lay them all in a red sea of claret" Thackeray. -- Blue gage. See under Gage, a plum. -- Blue gum, an Australian myrtaceous tree (Eucalyptus globulus), of the loftiest proportions, now cultivated in tropical and warm temperate regions for its timber, and as a protection against malaria. The essential oil is beginning to be used in medicine. The timber is very useful. See Eucalyptus. -- Blue jack, Blue stone, blue vitriol; sulphate of copper. -- Blue jacket, a man-of war's man; a sailor wearing a naval uniform. -- Blue jaundice. See under Jaundice. -- Blue laws, a name first used in the eighteenth century to describe certain supposititious laws of extreme rigor reported to have been enacted in New Haven; hence, any puritanical laws. [U. S.] -- Blue light, a composition which burns with a brilliant blue flame; -- used in pyrotechnics and as a night signal at sea, and in military operations. -- Blue mantle (Her.), one of the four pursuivants of the English college of arms; -- so called from the color of his official robes. -- Blue mass, a preparation of mercury from which is formed the blue pill. McElrath. -- Blue mold, or mould, the blue fungus (Aspergillus glaucus) which grows on cheese. Brande & C. -- Blue Monday, a Monday following a Sunday of dissipation, or itself given to dissipation (as the Monday before Lent). -- Blue ointment (Med.), mercurial ointment. -- Blue Peter (British Marine), a blue flag with a white square in the center, used as a signal for sailing, to recall boats, etc. It is a corruption of blue repeater, one of the British signal flags. -- Blue pill. (Med.) (a) A pill of prepared mercury, used as an aperient, etc. (b) Blue mass. -- Blue ribbon. (a) The ribbon worn by members of the order of the Garter; -- hence, a member of that order. (b) Anything the attainment of which is an object of great ambition; a distinction; a prize. "These [scholarships] were the blue ribbon of the college." Farrar. (c) The distinctive badge of certain temperance or total abstinence organizations, as of the Blue ribbon Army. -- Blue ruin, utter ruin; also, gin. [Eng. Slang] Carlyle. -- Blue spar (Min.), azure spar; lazulite. See Lazulite. -- Blue thrush (Zoöl.), a European and Asiatic thrush (Petrocossyphus cyaneas). -- Blue verditer. See Verditer. -- Blue vitriol (Chem.), sulphate of copper, a violet blue crystallized salt, used in electric batteries, calico printing, etc. -- Blue water, the open ocean. -- To look blue, to look disheartened or dejected. -- True blue, genuine and thorough; not modified, nor mixed; not spurious; specifically, of uncompromising Presbyterianism, blue being the color adopted by the Covenanters.

For his religion . . . 'T was Presbyterian, true blue. Hudibras.

BLUE Blue, n.

1. One of the seven colors into which the rays of light divide themselves, when refracted through a glass prism; the color of the clear sky, or a color resembling that, whether lighter or darker; a pigment having such color. Sometimes, poetically, the sky.

2. A pedantic woman; a bluestocking. [Colloq.]

3. pl. Etym: [Short for blue devils.]

Defn: Low spirits; a fit of despondency; melancholy. [Colloq.] Berlin blue, Prussian blue. -- Mineral blue. See under Mineral. -- Prussian blue. See under Prussian.

BLUE Blue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blued; p. pr. & vb. n. Bluing.]

Defn: To make blue; to dye of a blue color; to make blue by heating, as metals, etc.

BLUEBACK Blue"back`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A trout (Salmo oquassa) inhabiting some of the lakes of Maine. (b) A salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) of the Columbia River and northward. (c) An American river herring (Clupea æstivalis), closely allied to the alewife.

BLUEBEARD Blue"beard, n.

Defn: The hero of a mediæval French nursery legend, who, leaving home, enjoined his young wife not to open a certain room in his castle. She entered it, and found the murdered bodies of his former wives. -- Also used adjectively of a subject which it is forbidden to investigate. The Bluebeard chamber of his mind, into which no eye but his own must look. Carlyle.

BLUEBELL Blue"bell`, n. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Campanula, especially the Campanula rotundifolia, which bears blue bell-shaped flowers; the harebell. (b) A plant of the genus Scilla (Scilla nutans).

BLUEBERRY Blue"berry, n. Etym: [Cf. Blaeberry.] (Bot.)

Defn: The berry of several species of Vaccinium, and ericaceous genus, differing from the American huckleberries in containing numerous minute seeds instead of ten nutlets. The commonest species are V. Pennsylvanicum and V. vacillans. V. corymbosum is the tall blueberry.

BLUEBILL Blue"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A duck of the genus Fuligula. Two American species (F. marila and F. affinis) are common. See Scaup duck.

BLUEBIRD Blue"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small song bird (Sialia sialis), very common in the United States, and, in the north, one of the earliest to arrive in spring. The male is blue, with the breast reddish. It is related to the European robin. Pairy bluebird (Zoöl.), a brilliant Indian or East Indian bird of the genus Irena, of several species.

BLUE BONNET; BLUE-BONNET Blue" bon`net or Blue"-bon`net, n.

1. A broad, flat Scottish cap of blue woolen, or one waring such cap; a Scotchman.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant. Same as Bluebottle.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European blue titmouse (Parus coeruleus); the bluecap.

BLUE BOOK Blue" book`.

1. A parliamentary publication, so called from its blue paper covers. [Eng.]

2. The United States official "Biennial Register."

BLUEBOTTLE Blue"bot`tle, n.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Centaurea cyanus) which grows in grain fields. It receives its name from its blue bottle-shaped flowers.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large and troublesome species of blowfly (Musca vomitoria). Its body is steel blue.

BLUEBREAST Blue"breast`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small European bird; the blue-throated warbler.

BLUECAP Blue"cap`, n.

1. (Zoöl.) (a) The bluepoll. (b) The blue bonnet or blue titmouse.

2. A Scot; a Scotchman; -- so named from wearing a blue bonnet. [Poetic] Shak.

BLUECOAT Blue"coat`, n.

Defn: One dressed in blue, as a soldier, a sailor, a beadle, etc.

BLUE-EYE Blue"-eye`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The blue-cheeked honeysucker of Australia.

BLUE-EYED Blue"-eyed`, a.

Defn: Having blue eyes.

BLUE-EYED GRASS Blue-eyed grass (Bot.)

Defn: a grasslike plant (Sisyrinchium anceps), with small flowers of a delicate blue color.

BLUEFIN Blue"fin`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of whitefish (Coregonus nigripinnis) found in Lake Michigan.

BLUEFISH Blue"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

1. A large voracious fish (Pomatomus saitatrix), of the family Carangidæ, valued as a food fish, and widely distributed on the American coast. On the New Jersey and Rhode Island coast it is called the horse mackerel, in Virginia saltwater tailor, or skipjack.

2. A West Indian fish (Platyglossus radiatus), of the family Labridæ.

Note: The name is applied locally to other species of fishes; as the cunner, sea bass, squeteague, etc.

BLUEGOWN Blue"gown`, n.

Defn: One of a class of paupers or pensioners, or licensed beggars, in Scotland, to whim annually on the king's birthday were distributed certain alms, including a blue gown; a beadsman.

BLUE GRASS Blue" grass`. (Bot.)

Defn: A species of grass (Poa compressa) with bluish green stems, valuable in thin gravelly soils; wire grass. Kentucky blue grass, a species of grass (Poa pratensis) which has running rootstocks and spreads rapidly. It is valuable as a pasture grass, as it endures both winter and drought better than other kinds, and is very nutritious.

BLUE-GRASS STATE Blue-grass State.

Defn: The Sate of Kentucky; -- a nickname alluding to the blue-grass region, where fine horses are bred.

BLUE HEN STATE Blue Hen State.

Defn: The State of Delaware; -- a popular sobriquet. It is said, though the story lacks proof, to have taken its origin from the insistence of a Delaware Revolutionary captain, named Caldwell, that no cock could be truly game unless the mother was a blue hen, whence Blue Hen's Chickens came to be a nickname for the people of Delaware.

BLUE JAY Blue" jay`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common jay of the United States (Cyanocitta, or Cyanura, cristata). The predominant color is bright blue.

BLUE-JOHN Blue"-john`, n.

Defn: A name given to fluor spar in Derbyshire, where it is used for ornamental purposes.

BLUELY Blue"ly, adv.

Defn: With a blue color. Swift.

BLUENESS Blue"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being blue; a blue color. Boyle.

BLUENOSE Blue"nose, n.

Defn: A nickname for a Nova Scotian.

BLUENOSE; BLUENOSER Blue"nose`, Blue"nos*er, n.

Defn: A Nova Scotian; also, a Nova Scotian ship (called also Blue"nos`er); a Nova Scotian potato, etc.

BLUEPOLL Blue"poll` (, n. Etym: [Blue + poll head.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of salmon (Salmo Cambricus) found in Wales.

BLUEPRINT Blue"print.

Defn: See under Print.

BLUE-SKYLAW Blue"-sky"law`.

Defn: A law enacted to provide for the regulation and supervision of investment companies in order to protect the public against companies that do not intend to do a fair and honest business and that offer investments that do not promise a fair return; -- so called because the promises made by some investment companies are as boundless or alluring as the blue sky, or, perhaps, because designed to clear away the clouds and fogs from the simple investor's horizon. [Colloq.]

BLUESTOCKING Blue"stock`ing, n.

1. A literary lady; a female pedant. [Colloq.]

Note: As explained in Boswell's "Life of Dr. Johnson", this term is derived from the name given to certain meetings held by ladies, in Johnson's time, for conversation with distinguished literary men. An eminent attendant of these assemblies was a Mr. Stillingfleet, who always wore blue stockings. He was so much distinguished for his conversational powers that his absence at any time was felt to be a great loss, so that the remark became common, "We can do nothing without the blue stockings." Hence these meetings were sportively called bluestocking clubs, and the ladies who attended them, bluestockings.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The American avocet (Recurvirostra Americana).

BLUESTOCKINGISM Blue"stock`ing*ism, n.

Defn: The character or manner of a bluestocking; female pedantry. [Colloq.]

BLUESTONE Blue"stone` (, n.

1. Blue vitriol. Dunglison.

2. A grayish blue building stone, as that commonly used in the eastern United States.

BLUETHROAT Blue"throat`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A singing bird of northern Europe and Asia (Cyanecula Suecica), related to the nightingales; -- called also blue-throated robin and blue-throated warbler.

BLUETS Blu"ets, n. Etym: [F. bluet, bleuet, dim. of bleu blue. See Blue, a.] (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to several different species of plants having blue flowers, as the Houstonia coerulea, the Centaurea cyanus or bluebottle, and the Vaccinium angustifolium.

BLUE-VEINED Blue"-veined` (, a.

Defn: Having blue veins or blue streaks.

BLUEWING Blue"wing`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The blue-winged teal. See Teal.

BLUEY Blue"y

Defn: ,a.Bluish. Southey.

BLUFF Bluff, a. Etym: [Cf. OD. blaf flat, broad, blaffaert one with a broad face, also, a boaster; or G. verblüffen to confuse, LG. bluffen to frighten; to unknown origin.]

1. Having a broad, flattened front; as, the bluff bows of a ship. "Bluff visages." Irving.

2. Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front. "A bluff or bold shore." Falconer. Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect. Judd.

3. Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.

4. Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque; as, a bluff answer; a bluff manner of talking; a bluff sea captain. "Bluff King Hal." Sir W. Scott. There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defense in a moment of surprise. I. Taylor.

BLUFF Bluff, n.

1. A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face. Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu. Whittier.

2. An act of bluffing; an expression of self-confidence for the purpose of intimidation; braggadocio; as, that is only bluff, or a bluff.

3. A game at cards; poker. [U.S.] Bartlett.

BLUFF Bluff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bluffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bluffing.]

1. (Poker)

Defn: To deter (an opponent) from taking the risk of betting on his hand of cards, as the bluffer does by betting heavily on his own hand although it may be of less value. [U. S.]

2. To frighten or deter from accomplishing a purpose by making a show of confidence in one's strength or resources; as, he bluffed me off. [Colloq.]

BLUFF Bluff, v. i.

Defn: To act as in the game of bluff.

BLUFF-BOWED Bluff"-bowed` (, a. (Naut.)

Defn: Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.

BLUFFER Bluff"er, ( n.

Defn: One who bluffs.

BLUFF-HEADED Bluff"-head`ed (, a. (Naut.)

Defn: Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.

BLUFFNESS Bluff"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being bluff.

BLUFFY Bluff"y, a.

1. Having bluffs, or bold, steep banks.

2. Inclined to bo bluff; brusque.

BLUING Blu"ing, n.

1. The act of rendering blue; as, the bluing of steel. Tomlinson.

2. Something to give a bluish tint, as indigo, or preparations used by washerwomen.

BLUISH Blu"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat blue; as, bluish veins. "Bluish mists." Dryden. -- Blu"ish*ly, adv. -- Blu"ish*ness, n.

BLUNDER Blun"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blundered; p. pr. & vb. n. Blundering.] Etym: [OE. blunderen, blondren, to stir, confuse, blunder; perh. allied to blend to mix, to confound by mixture.]

1. To make a gross error or mistake; as, to blunder in writing or preparing a medical prescription. Swift.

2. To move in an awkward, clumsy manner; to flounder and stumble. I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered in making my bow. Goldsmith. Yet knows not how to find the uncertain place, And blunders on, and staggers every pace. Dryden. To blunder on. (a) To continue blundering. (b) To find or reach as if by an accident involving more or less stupidity, -- applied to something desirable; as, to blunder on a useful discovery.

BLUNDER Blun"der, v. t.

1. To cause to blunder. [Obs.] "To blunder an adversary." Ditton.

2. To do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse. He blunders and confounds all these together. Stillingfleet.

BLUNDER Blun"der, n.

1. Confusion; disturbance. [Obs.]

2. A gross error or mistake, resulting from carelessness, stupidity, or culpable ignorance.

Syn. -- Blunder, Error, Mistake, Bull. An error is a departure or deviation from that which is right or correct; as, an error of the press; an error of judgment. A mistake is the interchange or taking of one thing for another, through haste, inadvertence, etc.; as, a careless mistake. A blunder is a mistake or error of a gross kind. It supposes a person to flounder on in his course, from carelessness, ignorance, or stupidity. A bull is a verbal blunder containing a laughable incongruity of ideas.

BLUNDERBUSS Blun"der*buss, n. Etym: [Either fr. blunder + D. bus tube, box, akin to G. büchse box, gun, E. box; or corrupted fr. D. donderbus (literally) thunder box, gun, musket.]

1. A short gun or firearm, with a large bore, capable of holding a number of balls, and intended to do execution without exact aim.

2. A stupid, blundering fellow.

BLUNDERER Blun"der*er, n.

Defn: One who is apt to blunder.

BLUNDERHEAD Blun"der*head` (, n. [Blunder + head.]

Defn: A stupid, blundering fellow.

BLUNDERING Blun"der*ing, a.

Defn: Characterized by blunders.

BLUNDERINGLY Blun"der*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a blundering manner.

BLUNGE Blunge, v. t.

Defn: To amalgamate and blend; to beat up or mix in water, as clay.

BLUNGER Blun"ger, n. Etym: [Corrupted from plunger.]

Defn: A wooden blade with a cross handle, used for mi Tomlinson.

BLUNGING Blun"ging, n.

Defn: The process of mixing clay in potteries with a blunger. Tomlinson.

BLUNT Blunt, a. Etym: [Cf. Prov. G. bludde a dull or blunt knife, Dan. blunde to sleep, Sw. & Icel. blunda; or perh. akin to E. blind.]

1. Having a thick edge or point, as an instrument; dull; not sharp. The murderous knife was dull and blunt. Shak.

2. Dull in understanding; slow of discernment; stupid; -- opposed to acute. His wits are not so blunt. Shak.

3. Abrupt in address; plain; unceremonious; wanting the forms of civility; rough in manners or speech. "Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behavior." "A plain, blunt man." Shak.

4. Hard to impress or penetrate. [R.] I find my heart hardened and blunt to new impressions. Pope.

Note: Blunt is much used in composition, as blunt-edged, blunt- sighted, blunt-spoken.

Syn. -- Obtuse; dull; pointless; curt; short; coarse; rude; brusque; impolite; uncivil.

BLUNT Blunt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blunting.]

1. To dull the edge or point of, by making it thicker; to make blunt. Shak.

2. To repress or weaken, as any appetite, desire, or power of the mind; to impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility, of; as, to blunt the feelings.

BLUNT Blunt, n.

1. A fencer's foil. [Obs.]

2. A short needle with a strong point. See Needle.

3. Money. [Cant] Beaconsfield.

BLUNTISH Blunt"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat blunt. -- Blunt"ish*ness, n.

BLUNTLY Blunt"ly, adv.

Defn: In a blunt manner; coarsely; plainly; abruptly; without delicacy, or the usual forms of civility. Sometimes after bluntly giving his opinions, he would quietly lay himself asleep until the end of their deliberations. Jeffrey.

BLUNTNESS Blunt"ness, n.

1. Want of edge or point; dullness; obtuseness; want of sharpness. The multitude of elements and bluntness of angles. Holland.

2. A bruptness of address; rude plainness. "Bluntness of speech." Boyle.

BLUNT-WITTED Blunt"-wit`ted, n.

Defn: Dull; stupid. Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanor! Shak.

BLUR Blur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blurred; p. pr. & vb. n. Blurring.] Etym: [Prob. of same origin as blear. See Blear.]

1. To render obscure by making the form or outline of confused and uncertain, as by soiling; to smear; to make indistinct and confused; as, to blur manuscript by handling it while damp; to blur the impression of a woodcut by an excess of ink. But time hath nothing blurred those lines of favor Which then he wore. Shak.

2. To cause imperfection of vision in; to dim; to darken. Her eyes are blurred with the lightning's glare. J. R. Drake.

3. To sully; to stain; to blemish, as reputation. Sarcasms may eclipse thine own, But can not blur my lost renown. Hudibras.

Syn. -- To spot; blot; disfigure; stain; sully.

BLUR Blur, n.

1. That which obscures without effacing; a stain; a blot, as upon paper or other substance. As for those who cleanse blurs with blotted fingers, they make it worse. Fuller.

2. A dim, confused appearance; indistinctness of vision; as, to see things with a blur; it was all blur.

3. A moral stain or blot. Lest she . . . will with her railing set a great blur on mine honesty and good name. Udall.

BLURRY Blur"ry, a.

Defn: Full of blurs; blurred.

BLURT Blurt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blurted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blurting.] Etym: [Cf. Blare.]

Defn: To utter suddenly and unadvisedly; to divulge inconsiderately; to ejaculate; -- commonly with out. Others . . . can not hold, but blurt out, those words which afterward they forced to eat. Hakewill. To blurt at, to speak contemptuously of. [Obs.] Shak.

BLUSH Blush v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blushing.] Etym: [OE. bluschen to shine, look, turn red, AS. blyscan to glow; akin to blysa a torch, abl to blush, D. blozen, Dan. blusse to blaze, blush.]

1. To become suffused with red in the cheeks, as from a sense of shame, modesty, or confusion; to become red from such cause, as the cheeks or face. To the nuptial bower I led her blushing like the morn. Milton. In the presence of the shameless and unblushing, the young offender is ashamed to blush. Buckminster. He would stroke The head of modest and ingenuous worth, That blushed at its own praise. Cowper.

2. To grow red; to have a red or rosy color. The sun of heaven, methought, was loth to set, But stayed, and made the western welkin blush. Shak.

3. To have a warm and delicate color, as some roses and other flowers. Full many a flower is born to blush unseen. T. Gray.

BLUSH Blush, v. t.

1. To suffuse with a blush; to redden; to make roseate. [Obs.] To blush and beautify the cheek again. Shak.

2. To express or make known by blushing. I'll blush you thanks. Shak.

BLUSH Blush, n.

1. A suffusion of the cheeks or face with red, as from a sense of shame, confusion, or modesty. The rosy blush of love. Trumbull.

2. A red or reddish color; a rosy tint. Light's last blushes tinged the distant hills. Lyttleton. At first blush, or At the first blush, at the first appearance or view. "At the first blush, we thought they had been ships come from France." Hakluyt.

Note: This phrase is used now more of ideas, opinions, etc., than of material things. "All purely identical propositions, obviously, and at first blush, appear." etc. Locke. -- To put to the blush, to cause to blush with shame; to put to shame.

BLUSHER Blush"er, n.

Defn: One that blushes.

BLUSHET Blush"et, n.

Defn: A modest girl. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

BLUSHFUL Blush"ful, a.

Defn: Full of blushes. While from his ardent look the turning Spring Averts her blushful face. Thomson.

BLUSHING Blush"ing, a.

Defn: Showing blushes; rosy red; having a warm and delicate color like some roses and other flowers; blooming; ruddy; roseate. The dappled pink and blushing rose. Prior.

BLUSHING Blush"ing, n.

Defn: The act of turning red; the appearance of a reddish color or flush upon the cheeks.

BLUSHINGLY Blush"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a blushing manner; with a blush or blushes; as, to answer or confess blushingly.

BLUSHLESS Blush"less, a.

Defn: Free from blushes; incapable of blushing; shameless; impudent. Vice now, secure, her blushless front shall raise. Dodsley.

BLUSHY Blush"y, a.

Defn: Like a blush; having the color of a blush; rosy. [R.] "A blushy color." Harvey.

BLUSTER Blus"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blustered; p. pr. & vb. n. Blustering.] Etym: [Allied to blast.]

1. To blow fitfully with violence and noise, as wind; to be windy and boisterous, as the weather. And ever-threatening storms Of Chaos blustering round. Milton.

2. To talk with noisy violence; to swagger, as a turbulent or boasting person; to act in a noisy, tumultuous way; to play the bully; to storm; to rage. Your ministerial directors blustered like tragic tyrants. Burke.

BLUSTER Blus"ter, v. t.

Defn: To utter, or do, with noisy violence; to force by blustering; to bully. He bloweth and blustereth out . . . his abominable blasphemy. Sir T. More. As if therewith he meant to bluster all princes into a perfect obedience to his commands. Fuller.

BLUSTER Blus"ter, n.

1. Fitful noise and violence, as of a storm; violent winds; boisterousness. To the winds they set Their corners, when with bluster to confound Sea, air, and shore. Milton.

2. Noisy and violent or threatening talk; noisy and boastful language. L'Estrange.

Syn. -- Noise; boisterousness; tumult; turbulence; confusion; boasting; swaggering; bullying.

BLUSTERER Blus"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, blusters; a noisy swaggerer.

BLUSTERING Blus"ter*ing, a.

1. Exhibiting noisy violence, as the wind; stormy; tumultuous. A tempest and a blustering day. Shak.

2. Uttering noisy threats; noisy and swaggering; boisterous. "A blustering fellow." L'Estrange.

BLUSTERINGLY Blus"ter*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a blustering manner.

BLUSTEROUS Blus"ter*ous, a.

Defn: Inclined to bluster; given to blustering; blustering. Motley.

BLUSTROUS Blus"trous, a.

Defn: Blusterous. Shak.

BO Bo, interj. Etym: [Cf. W. bw, an interj. of threatening or frightening; n., terror, fear, dread.]

Defn: An exclamation used to startle or frighten. [Spelt also boh and boo.]

BOA Bo"a, n.; pl. Boas . Etym: [L. boa a kind of water serpent. Perh. fr. bos an ox.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of large American serpents, including the boa constrictor, the emperor boa of Mexico (B. imperator), and the chevalier boa of Peru (B. eques).

Note: The name is also applied to related genera; as, the dog-headed boa (Xiphosoma caninum).

2. A long, round fur tippet; -- so called from its resemblance in shape to the boa constrictor.

BOA CONSTRICTOR Bo"a con*strict"or. Etym: [NL. See Boa, and Constrictor.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large and powerful serpent of tropical America, sometimes twenty or thirty feet long. See Illustration in Appendix.

Note: It has a succession of spots, alternately black and yellow, extending along the back. It kills its prey by constriction. The name is also loosely applied to other large serpents which crush their prey, particularly to those of the genus Python, found in Asia and Africa.

BOANERGES Bo`a*ner"ges. Etym: [Gr. , fr. Heb. bn sons of thunder. -- an appellation given by Christ to two of his disciples (James and John). See Mark iii. 17.]

Defn: Any declamatory and vociferous preacher or orator.

BOAR Boar, n. Etym: [OE. bar, bor, bore, AS. bar; akin to OHG. p, MHG. b, G. bär, boar (but not bär bear), and perh. Russ. borov' boar.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The uncastrated male of swine; specifically, the wild hog.

BOARD Board, n. Etym: [OE. bord, AS. bord board, shipboard; akin to bred plank, Icel. bor board, side of a ship, Goth. f footstool, D. bord board, G. brett, bort. See def. 8. sq. root92.]

1. A piece of timber sawed thin, and of considerable length and breadth as compared with the thickness, -- used for building, etc.

Note: When sawed thick, as over one and a half or two inches, it is usually called a plank.

2. A table to put food upon.

Note: The term board answers to the modern table, but it was often movable, and placed on trestles. Halliwell. Fruit of all kinds . . . She gathers, tribute large, and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand. Milton.

3. Hence: What is served on a table as food; stated meals; provision; entertainment; -- usually as furnished for pay; as, to work for one's board; the price of board.

4. A table at which a council or court is held. Hence: A council, convened for business, or any authorized assembly or meeting, public or private; a number of persons appointed or elected to sit in council for the management or direction of some public or private business or trust; as, the Board of Admiralty; a board of trade; a board of directors, trustees, commissioners, etc. Both better acquainted with affairs than any other who sat then at that board. Clarendon. We may judge from their letters to the board. Porteus.

5. A square or oblong piece of thin wood or other material used for some special purpose, as, a molding board; a board or surface painted or arranged for a game; as, a chessboard; a backgammon board.

6. Paper made thick and stiff like a board, for book covers, etc.; pasteboard; as, to bind a book in boards.

7. pl.

Defn: The stage in a theater; as, to go upon the boards, to enter upon the theatrical profession.

8. Etym: [In this use originally perh. a different word meaning border, margin; cf. D. boord, G. bord, shipboard, and G. borte trimming; also F. bord (fr. G.) the side of a ship. Cf. Border.]

Defn: The border or side of anything. (Naut.) (a) The side of a ship. "Now board to board the rival vessels row." Dryden. See On board, below. (b) The stretch which a ship makes in one tack.

Note: Board is much used adjectively or as the last part of a compound; as, fir board, clapboard, floor board, shipboard, sideboard, ironing board, chessboard, cardboard, pasteboard, seaboard; board measure. The American Board, a shortened form of "The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions" (the foreign missionary society of the American Congregational churches). -- Bed and board. See under Bed. -- Board and board (Naut.), side by side. -- Board of control, six privy councilors formerly appointed to superintend the affairs of the British East Indies. Stormonth. -- Board rule, a figured scale for finding without calculation the number of square feet in a board. Haldeman. -- Board of trade, in England, a committee of the privy council appointed to superintend matters relating to trade. In the United States, a body of men appointed for the advancement and protection of their business interests; a chamber of commerce. -- Board wages. (a) Food and lodging supplied as compensation for services; as, to work hard, and get only board wages. (b) Money wages which are barely sufficient to buy food and lodging. (c) A separate or special allowance of wages for the procurement of food, or food and lodging. Dryden. -- By the board, over the board, or side. "The mast went by the board." Totten. Hence (Fig.), To go by the board, to suffer complete destruction or overthrow. -- To enter on the boards, to have one's name inscribed on a board or tablet in a college as a student. [Cambridge, England.] "Having been entered on the boards of Trinity college." Hallam. -- To make a good board (Naut.), to sail in a straight line when close-hauled; to lose little to leeward. -- To make short boards, to tack frequently. -- On board. (a) On shipboard; in a ship or a boat; on board of; as, I came on board early; to be on board ship. (b) In or into a railway car or train. [Colloq. U. S.] -- Returning board, a board empowered to canvass and make an official statement of the votes cast at an election. [U.S.]

BOARD Board, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Boarding.]

1. To cover with boards or boarding; as, to board a house. "The boarded hovel." Cowper.

2. Etym: [Cf. Board to accost, and see Board, n.]

Defn: To go on board of, or enter, as a ship, whether in a hostile or a friendly way. You board an enemy to capture her, and a stranger to receive news or make a communication. Totten.

3. To enter, as a railway car. [Colloq. U. S.]

4. To furnish with regular meals, or with meals and lodgings, for compensation; to supply with daily meals.

5. To place at board, for compensation; as, to board one's horse at a livery stable.

BOARD Board, v. i.

Defn: To obtain meals, or meals and lodgings, statedly for compensation; as, he boards at the hotel. We are several of us, gentlemen and ladies, who board in the same house. Spectator.

BOARD Board, v. t. Etym: [F. aborder. See Abord, v. t.]

Defn: To approach; to accost; to address; hence, to woo. [Obs.] I will board her, though she chide as loud As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack. Shak.

BOARDABLE Board"a*ble, a.

Defn: That can be boarded, as a ship.

BOARDER Board"er, n.

1. One who has food statedly at another's table, or meals and lodgings in his house, for pay, or compensation of any kind.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: One who boards a ship; one selected to board an enemy's ship. Totten.

BOARDING Board"ing, n.

1. (Naut.)

Defn: The act of entering a ship, whether with a hostile or a friendly purpose. Both slain at one time, as they attempted the boarding of a frigate. Sir F. Drake.

2. The act of covering with boards; also, boards, collectively; or a covering made of boards.

3. The act of supplying, or the state of being supplied, with regular or specified meals, or with meals and lodgings, for pay. Boarding house, a house in which boarders are kept. -- Boarding nettings (Naut.), a strong network of cords or ropes erected at the side of a ship to prevent an enemy from boarding it. -- Boarding pike (Naut.), a pike used by sailors in boarding a vessel, or in repelling an attempt to board it. Totten. -- Boarding school, a school in which pupils receive board and lodging as well as instruction.

BOARFISH Boar"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A Mediterranean fish (Capros aper), of the family Caproidæ; -- so called from the resemblance of the extended lips to a hog's snout. (b) An Australian percoid fish (Histiopterus recurvirostris), valued as a food fish.

BOARISH Boar"ish, a.

Defn: Swinish; brutal; cruel. In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. Shak.

BOAST Boast, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Boasting.] Etym: [OE. bosten, boosten, v., bost, boost, n., noise, boasting; cf. G. bausen, bauschen, to swell, pusten, Dan. puste, Sw. pusta, to blow, Sw. pösa to swell; or W. bostio to boast, bost boast, Gael. bosd. But these last may be from English.]

1. To vaunt one's self; to brag; to say or tell things which are intended to give others a high opinion of one's self or of things belonging to one's self; as, to boast of one's exploits courage, descent, wealth. By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: .. not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. ii. 8, 9.

2. To speak in exulting language of another; to glory; to exult. In God we boast all the day long. Ps. xiiv. 8

Syn. -- To brag; bluster; vapor; crow; talk big.

BOAST Boast, v. t.

1. To display in ostentatious language; to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation; to extol. Lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds. Milton.

2. To display vaingloriously.

3. To possess or have; as, to boast a name. To boast one's self, to speak with unbecoming confidence in, and approval of, one's self; -- followed by of and the thing to which the boasting relates. [Archaic] Boast not thyself of to-morrow. Prov. xxvii.

BOAST Boast, v. t. Etym: [Of uncertain etymology.]

1. (Masonry)

Defn: To dress, as a stone, with a broad chisel. Weale.

2. (Sculp.)

Defn: To shape roughly as a preparation for the finer work to follow; to cut to the general form required.

BOAST Boast, n.

1. Act of boasting; vaunting or bragging. Reason and morals and where live they most, In Christian comfort, or in Stoic boast! Byron.

2. The cause of boasting; occasion of pride or exultation, -- sometimes of laudable pride or exultation. The boast of historians. Macaulay.

BOASTANCE Boast"ance, n.

Defn: Boasting. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BOASTER Boast"er, n.

Defn: One who boasts; a braggart.

BOASTER Boast"er, n.

Defn: A stone mason's broad-faced chisel.

BOASTFUL Boast"ful, a.

Defn: Given to, or full of, boasting; inclined to boast; vaunting; vainglorious; self-praising. -- Boast"ful*ly, adv. -- Boast"ful*ness, n.

BOASTING Boast"ing, n.

Defn: The act of glorying or vaunting; vainglorious speaking; ostentatious display. When boasting ends, then dignity begins. Young.

BOASTINGLY Boast"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: Boastfully; with boasting. "He boastingly tells you." Burke.

BOASTIVE Boast"ive, a.

Defn: Presumptuous. [R.]

BOASTLESS Boast"less, a.

Defn: Without boasting or ostentation.

BOAT Boat, n. Etym: [OE. boot, bat, AS. bat; akin to Icel. batr, Sw. båt, Dan. baad, D.& G. boot. Cf. Bateau.]

1. A small open vessel, or water craft, usually moved by cars or paddles, but often by a sail.

Note: Different kinds of boats have different names; as, canoe, yawl, wherry, pinnace, punt, etc.

2. Hence, any vessel; usually with some epithet descriptive of its use or mode of propulsion; as, pilot boat, packet boat, passage boat, advice boat, etc. The term is sometimes applied to steam vessels, even of the largest class; as, the Cunard boats.

3. A vehicle, utensil, or dish, somewhat resembling a boat in shape; as, a stone boat; a gravy boat.

Note: Boat is much used either adjectively or in combination; as, boat builder or boatbuilder; boat building or boatbuilding; boat hook or boathook; boathouse; boat keeper or boatkeeper; boat load; boat race; boat racing; boat rowing; boat song; boatlike; boat-shaped. Advice boat. See under Advice. -- Boat hook (Naut.), an iron hook with a point on the back, fixed to a long pole, to pull or push a boat, raft, log, etc. Totten. -- Boat rope, a rope for fastening a boat; -- usually called a painter. -- In the same boat, in the same situation or predicament. [Colloq.] F. W. Newman.

BOAT Boat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boated; p. pr. & vb. n. Boating.]

1. To transport in a boat; as, to boat goods.

2. To place in a boat; as, to boat oars. To boat the oars. See under Oar.

BOAT Boat, v. i.

Defn: To go or row in a boat. I boated over, ran my craft aground. Tennyson.

BOATABLE Boat"a*ble, a.

1. Such as can be transported in a boat.

2. Navigable for boats, or small river craft. The boatable waters of the Alleghany. J. Morse.

BOATAGE Boat"age, n.

Defn: Conveyance by boat; also, a charge for such conveyance.

BOATBILL Boat"bill` (, n. (Zoöl.)

1. A wading bird (Cancroma cochlearia) of the tropical parts of South America. Its bill is somewhat like a boat with the keel uppermost.

2. A perching bird of India, of the genus Eurylaimus.

BOAT BUG Boat" bug` (. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An aquatic hemipterous insect of the genus Notonecta; -- so called from swimming on its back, which gives it the appearance of a little boat. Called also boat fly, boat insect, boatman, and water boatman.

BOATFUL Boat"ful, n.; pl. Boatfuls.

Defn: The quantity or amount that fills a boat.

BOATHOUSE Boat"house`, n.

Defn: A house for sheltering boats. Half the latticed boathouse hides. Wordsworth.

BOATING Boat"ing, n.

1. The act or practice of rowing or sailing, esp. as an amusement; carriage in boats.

2. In Persia, a punishment of capital offenders, by laying them on the back in a covered boat, where they are left to perish.

BOATION Bo*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. boatus, fr. boare to roar.]

Defn: A crying out; a roaring; a bellowing; reverberation. [Obs.] The guns were heard . . . about a hundred Italian miles, in long boations. Derham.

BOATMAN Boat"man, n.; pl. Boatmen (.

1. A man who manages a boat; a rower of a boat. As late the boatman hies him home. Percival.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A boat bug. See Boat bug.

BOATMANSHIP Boat"man*ship, n.

Defn: The art of managing a boat.

BOAT-SHAPED Boat"-shaped` (, a. (Bot.)

Defn: See Cymbiform.

BOAT SHELL Boat" shell` (. (Zoöl.) (a) A marine gastropod of the genus Crepidula. The species are numerous. It is so named from its form and interior deck. (b) A marine univalve shell of the genus Cymba.

BOATSMAN Boats"man, n.

Defn: A boatman. [Archaic]

BOATSWAIN Boat"swain, n. Etym: [Boat + swain.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: An officer who has charge of the boats, sails, rigging, colors, anchors, cables, cordage, etc., of a ship, and who also summons the crew, and performs other duties.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The jager gull. (b) The tropic bird. Boatswain's mate, an assistant of the boatswain. Totten.

BOAT-TAIL Boat"-tail`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large grackle or blackbird (Quiscalus major), found in the Southern United States.

BOATWOMAN Boat"wom`an, n.; pl. Boatwomen (.

Defn: A woman who manages a boat.

BOB Bob, n. Etym: [An onomatopoetic word, expressing quick, jerky motion; OE. bob bunch, bobben to strike, mock, deceive. Cf. Prov. Eng. bob, n., a ball, an engine beam, bunch, blast, trick, taunt, scoff; as, a v., to dance, to courtesy, to disappoint, OF. bober to mock.]

1. Anything that hangs so as to play loosely, or with a short abrupt motion, as at the end of a string; a pendant; as, the bob at the end of a kite's tail. In jewels dressed and at each ear a bob. Dryden.

2. A knot of worms, or of rags, on a string, used in angling, as for eels; formerly, a worm suitable for bait. Or yellow bobs, turned up before the plow, Are chiefest baits, with cork and lead enow. Lauson.

3. A small piece of cork or light wood attached to a fishing line to show when a fish is biting; a float.

4. The ball or heavy part of a pendulum; also, the ball or weight at the end of a plumb line.

5. A small wheel, made of leather, with rounded edges, used in polishing spoons, etc.

6. A short, jerking motion; act of bobbing; as, a bob of the head.

7. (Steam Engine)

Defn: A working beam.

8. A knot or short curl of hair; also, a bob wig. A plain brown bob he wore. Shenstone.

9. A peculiar mode of ringing changes on bells.

10. The refrain of a song. To bed, to bed, will be the bob of the song. L'Estrange.

11. A blow; a shake or jog; a rap, as with the fist.

12. A jeer or flout; a sharp jest or taunt; a trick. He that a fool doth very wisely hit, Doth very foolishly, although he smart, Not to seem senseless of the bob. Shak.

13. A shilling. [Slang, Eng.] Dickens.

BOB Bob, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bobbing.] Etym: [OE. bobben. See Bob, n.]

1. To cause to move in a short, jerking manner; to move (a thing) with a bob. "He bobbed his head." W. Irving.

2. To strike with a quick, light blow; to tap. If any man happened by long sitting to sleep . . . he was suddenly bobbed on the face by the servants. Elyot.

3. To cheat; to gain by fraud or cheating; to filch. Gold and jewels that I bobbed from him. Shak.

4. To mock or delude; to cheat. To play her pranks, and bob the fool, The shrewish wife began. Turbervile.

5. To cut short; as, to bob the hair, or a horse's tail.

BOB Bob, v. i.

1. To have a short, jerking motion; to play to and fro, or up and down; to play loosely against anything. "Bobbing and courtesying." Thackeray.

2. To angle with a bob. See Bob, n., 2 & 3. He ne'er had learned the art to bob For anything but eels. Saxe. To bob at an apple, cherry, etc. to attempt to bite or seize with the mouth an apple, cherry, or other round fruit, while it is swinging from a string or floating in a tug of water.

BOBAC Bo"bac, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Poland marmot (Arctomys bobac).

BOBANCE Bo*bance", n. Etym: [OF. bobance, F. bombance, boasting, pageantry, fr. L. bombus a humming, buzzing.]

Defn: A boasting. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BOBBER Bob"ber, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, bobs.

BOBBERY Bob"ber*y, n. Etym: [Prob. an Anglo-Indian form of Hindi bap re O thou father! (a very disrespectful address).]

Defn: A squabble; a tumult; a noisy disturbance; as, to raise a bobbery. [Low] Halliwell.

BOBBIN Bob"bin, n. Etym: [F. bobine; of uncertain origin; cf. L. bombus a humming, from the noise it makes, or Ir. & Gael. baban tassel, or E. bob.]

1. A small pin, or cylinder, formerly of bone, now most commonly of wood, used in the making of pillow lace. Each thread is wound on a separate bobbin which hangs down holding the thread at a slight tension.

2. A spool or reel of various material and construction, with a head at one or both ends, and sometimes with a hole bored through its length by which it may be placed on a spindle or pivot. It is used to hold yarn or thread, as in spinning or warping machines, looms, sewing machines, etc.

3. The little rounded piece of wood, at the end of a latch string, which is pulled to raise the latch.

4. (Haberdashery)

Defn: A fine cord or narrow braid.

5. (Elec.)

Defn: A cylindrical or spool-shaped coil or insulated wire, usually containing a core of soft iron which becomes magnetic when the wire is traversed by an electrical current. Bobbin and fly frame, a roving machine. -- Bobbin lace, lace made on a pillow with bobbins; pillow lace.

BOBBINET Bob`bi*net", n. Etym: [Bobbin + net.]

Defn: A kind of cotton lace which is wrought by machines, and not by hand. [Sometimes written bobbin net.]The English machine-made net is now confined to point net, warp net, and bobbin net, so called from the peculiar construction of the machines by which they are produced. Tomlinsom.

BOBBINWORK Bob"bin*work`, n.

Defn: Work woven with bobbins.

BOBBISH Bob"bish, a.

Defn: Hearty; in good spirits. [Low, Eng.] Dickens.

BOBBY Bob"by, n.

Defn: A nickname for a policeman; -- from Sir Robert Peel, who remodeled the police force. See Peeler. [Slang, Eng.] Dickens.

BOB-CHERRY Bob"-cher`ry, n.

Defn: A play among children, in which a cherry, hung so as to bob against the mouth, is to be caught with the teeth.

BOBFLY Bob"fly`, n. (Fishing)

Defn: The fly at the end of the leader; an end fly.

BOBOLINK Bob"o*link`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American singing bird (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). The male is black and white; the female is brown; -- called also, ricebird, reedbird, and Boblincoln. The happiest bird of our spring is the bobolink. W. Irving.

BOBSLED; BOBSLEIGH Bob"sled`, Bob"sleigh`, n.

Defn: A short sled, mostly used as one of a pair connected by a reach or coupling; also, the compound sled so formed. [U. S.] The long wagon body set on bobsleds. W. D. Howells.

BOBSTAY Bob"stay` (, n. Etym: [Bob + stay.] (Naut.)

Defn: A rope or chain to confine the bowsprit of a ship downward to the stem or cutwater; -- usually in the pl.

BOBTAIL Bob"tail`, n. Etym: [Bob + tail.]

Defn: An animal (as a horse or dog) with a short tail. Rag, tag, and bobtail, the rabble.

BOBTAIL Bob"tail`, a.

Defn: Bobtailed. "Bobtail cur." Marryat.

BOBTAILED Bob"tailed` (, a.

Defn: Having the tail cut short, or naturally short; curtailed; as, a bobtailed horse or dog; a bobtailed coat.

BOBWHITE Bob"white`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common qua(Colinus, or Ortyx, Virginianus); -- so called from its note.

BOB WIG Bob" wig` (.

Defn: A short wig with bobs or short curls; -- called also bobtail wig. Spectator.

BOCAL Bo"cal, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A cylindrical glass vessel, with a large and short neck.

BOCARDO Bo*car"do, n. Etym: [A mnemonic word.]

1. (Logic)

Defn: A form of syllogism of which the first and third propositions are particular negatives, and the middle term a universal affirmative. Baroko and Bocardo have been stumbling blocks to the logicians. Bowen.

2. A prison; -- originally the name of the old north gate in Oxford, which was used as a prison. [Eng.] Latimer.

BOCASINE Boc"a*sine, n. Etym: [F. bocassin, boucassin.]

Defn: A sort of fine buckram.

BOCCA Boc"ca, n. Etym: [It., mouth.]

Defn: The round hole in the furnace of a glass manufactory through which the fused glass is taken out. Craig.

BOCE Boce, n. Etym: [L. box, bocis, Gr. , .] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A European fish (Box vulgaris), having a compressed body and bright colors; -- called also box, and bogue.

BOCK BEER Bock" beer` (. Etym: [G. bockbier; bock a buck + bier beer; -- said to be so named from its tendency to cause the drinker to caper like a goat.]

Defn: A strong beer, originally made in Bavaria. [Also written buck beer.]

BOCKELET Bock"e*let, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of long-winged hawk; -- called also bockerel, and bockeret. [Obs.]

BOCKEY Bock"ey, n. Etym: [D. bokaal.]

Defn: A bowl or vessel made from a gourd. [Local, New York] Bartlett.

BOCKING Bock"ing, n.

Defn: A coarse woolen fabric, used for floor cloths, to cover carpets, etc.; -- so called from the town of Bocking, in England, where it was first made.

BOCKLAND Bock"land, n.

Defn: See Bookland.

BODDICE Bod"dice, n.

Defn: See Bodick.

BODE Bode, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boded; p. pr. & vb. n. Boding.] Etym: [OE. bodien, AS. bodian to announce, tell from bod command; akin to Icel. bo to announce, Sw. båda to announce, portend. sq. root89. See Bid.]

Defn: To indicate by signs, as future events; to be the omen of; to portend to presage; to foreshow. A raven that bodes nothing but mischief. Goldsmith. Good onset bodes good end. Spenser.

BODE Bode, v. i.

Defn: To foreshow something; to augur. Whatever now The omen proved, it boded well to you. Dryden.

Syn. -- To forebode; foreshadow; augur; betoken.

BODE Bode, n.

1. An omen; a foreshadowing. [Obs.] The owl eke, that of death the bode bringeth. Chaucer.

2. A bid; an offer. [Obs. or Dial.] Sir W. Scott

BODE Bode, n. Etym: [AS. boda; akin to OFries. boda, AS. bodo, OHG. boto. See Bode, v. t.]

Defn: A messenger; a herald. Robertson.

BODE Bode, n. Etym: [See Abide.]

Defn: A stop; a halting; delay. [Obs.]

BODE Bode, imp. & p. p. from Bide.

Defn: Abode. There that night they bode. Tennyson.

BODE Bode, p. p.

Defn: of Bid. Bid or bidden. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BODEFUL Bode"ful, a.

Defn: Portentous; ominous. Carlyle.

BODEMENT Bode"ment, n.

Defn: An omen; a prognostic. [Obs.] This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl Makes all these bodements. Shak.

BODGE Bodge, n.

Defn: A botch; a patch. [Dial.] Whitlock.

BODGE Bodge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bodged.]

Defn: To botch; to mend clumsily; to patch. [Obs. or Dial.]

BODGE Bodge, v. i.

Defn: See Budge.

BODHISAT; BODHISATTVA; BODHISATTWA Bo"dhi*sat, Bo`dhi*satt"va, Bo`dhi*satt"wa, n. [Skr. bodhisattva (perh. through Pali bodhisatto); fr. bodhi knowledge, enlightenment + sattva being, essence.] (Buddhism)

Defn: One who has reached the highest degree of saintship, so that in his next incarnation he will be a Buddha, or savior of the world. -- Bo"dhi*sat`ship, n.

BODIAN Bo"di*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large food fish (Diagramma lineatum), native of the East Indies.

BODICE Bod"ice, n. Etym: [This is properly the plural of body, Oe. bodise a pair of bodies, equiv. to a bodice. Cf. Corset, and see Body.]

1. A kind of under waist stiffened with whalebone, etc., worn esp. by women; a corset; stays.

2. A close-fitting outer waist or vest forming the upper part of a woman's dress, or a portion of it. Her bodice half way she unlaced. Prior.

BODICED Bod"iced, a.

Defn: Wearing a bodice. Thackeray.

BODIED Bod"ied, a.

Defn: Having a body; -- usually in composition; as, able-bodied. A doe . . . not altogether so fat, but very good flesh and good bodied. Hakluyt.

BODILESS Bod"i*less, a.

1. Having no body.

2. Without material form; incorporeal. Phantoms bodiless and vain. Swift.

BODILINESS Bod"i*li*ness, n.

Defn: Corporeality. Minsheu.

BODILY Bod"i*ly, a.

1. Having a body or material form; physical; corporeal; consisting of matter. You are a mere spirit, and have no knowledge of the bodily part of us. Tatler.

2. Of or pertaining to the body, in distinction from the mind. "Bodily defects." L'Estrange.

3. Real; actual; put in execution. [Obs.] Be brought to bodily act. Shak. Bodily fear, apprehension of physical injury.

Syn. -- See Corporal.

BODILY Bod"i*ly, adv.

1. Corporeally; in bodily form; united with a body or matter; in the body. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Col. ii. 9

2. In respect to, or so as to affect, the entire body or mass; entirely; all at once; completely; as, to carry away bodily. "Leapt bodily below." Lowell.

BODING Bod"ing, a.

Defn: Foreshowing; presaging; ominous. -- Bod"ing*ly, adv.

BODING Bod"ing, n.

Defn: A prognostic; an omen; a foreboding.

BODKIN Bod"kin, n. Etym: [OE. boydekyn dagger; of uncertain origin; cf. W. bidog hanger, short sword, Ir. bideog, Gael. biodag.]

1. A dagger. [Obs.] When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin. Shak.

2. (Needlework)

Defn: An implement of steel, bone, ivory, etc., with a sharp point, for making holes by piercing; a

3. (Print.)

Defn: A sharp tool, like an awl, used for picking

4. A kind of needle with a large eye and a blunt point, for drawing tape, ribbon, etc., through a loop or a hem; a tape needle. Wedged whole ages in a bodkin's eye. Pope.

5. A kind of pin used by women to fasten the hair. To sit, ride, or travel bodkin, to sit closely wedged between two persons. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

BODKIN Bod"kin, n.

Defn: See Baudekin. [Obs.] Shirley.

BODLE Bo"dle, n.

Defn: A small Scotch coin worth about one sixth of an English penny. Sir W. Scott.

BODLEIAN Bod"lei*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Sir Thomas Bodley, or to the celebrated library at Oxford, founded by him in the sixteenth century.

BODOCK Bo*dock", n. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. bois d'arc.]

Defn: The Osage orange. [Southwestern U.S.]

BODRAGE Bod"rage, n. Etym: [Prob. of Celtic origin: cf. Bordrage.]

Defn: A raid. [Obs.]

BOD VEAL Bod veal.

Defn: Veal too immature to be suitable for food.

BODY Bod"y, n.; pl. Bodies. Etym: [OE. bodi, AS. bodig; akin to OHG. botah. sq. root257. Cf. Bodice.]

1. The material organized substance of an animal, whether living or dead, as distinguished from the spirit, or vital principle; the physical person. Absent in body, but present in spirit. 1 Cor. v. 3 For of the soul the body form doth take. For soul is form, and doth the body make. Spenser.

2. The trunk, or main part, of a person or animal, as distinguished from the limbs and head; the main, central, or principal part, as of a tree, army, country, etc. Who set the body and the limbs Of this great sport together Shak. The van of the king's army was led by the general; . . . in the body was the king and the prince. Clarendon. Rivers that run up into the body of Italy. Addison.

3. The real, as opposed to the symbolical; the substance, as opposed to the shadow. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col. ii. 17.

4. A person; a human being; -- frequently in composition; as, anybody, nobody. A dry, shrewd kind of a body. W. Irving.

5. A number of individuals spoken of collectively, usually as united by some common tie, or as organized for some purpose; a collective whole or totality; a corporation; as, a legislative body; a clerical body. A numerous body led unresistingly to the slaughter. Prescott.

6. A number of things or particulars embodied in a system; a general collection; as, a great body of facts; a body of laws or of divinity.

7. Any mass or portion of matter; any substance distinct from others; as, a metallic body; a moving body; an aëriform body. "A body of cold air." Huxley. By collision of two bodies, grind The air attrite to fire. Milton.

8. Amount; quantity; extent.

9. That part of a garment covering the body, as distinguished from the parts covering the limbs.

10. The bed or box of a vehicle, on or in which the load is placed; as, a wagon body; a cart body.

11. (Print.)

Defn: The shank of a type, or the depth of the shank (by which the size is indicated); as, a nonpareil face on an agate body.

12. (Geom.)

Defn: A figure that has length, breadth, and thickness; any solid figure.

13. Consistency; thickness; substance; strength; as, this color has body; wine of a good body.

Note: Colors bear a body when they are capable of being ground so fine, and of being mixed so entirely with oil, as to seem only a very thick oil of the same color. After body (Naut.), the part of a ship abaft the dead flat. -- Body cavity (Anat.), the space between the walls of the body and the inclosed viscera; the cælum; -- in mammals, divided by the diaphragm into thoracic and abdominal cavities. -- Body of a church, the nave. -- Body cloth; pl. Body cloths, a cloth or blanket for covering horses. -- Body clothes. (pl.)

1. Clothing for the body; esp. underclothing.

2. Body cloths for horses. [Obs.] Addison. -- Body coat, a gentleman's dress coat. -- Body color (Paint.), a pigment that has consistency, thickness, or body, in distinction from a tint or wash. -- Body of a law (Law), the main and operative part. -- Body louse (Zoöl.), a species of louse (Pediculus vestimenti), which sometimes infests the human body and clothes. See Grayback. -- Body plan (Shipbuilding), an end elevation, showing the conbour of the sides of a ship at certain points of her length. -- Body politic, the collective body of a nation or state as politically organized, or as exercising political functions; also, a corporation. Wharton. As to the persons who compose the body politic or associate themselves, they take collectively the name of "people", or "nation". Bouvier. -- Body servant, a valet. -- The bodies seven (Alchemy), the metals corresponding to the planets. [Obs.] Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe (=call), Mars yren (=iron), Mercurie quicksilver we clepe, Saturnus lead, and Jupiter is tin, and Venus coper. Chaucer. -- Body snatcher, one who secretly removes without right or authority a dead body from a grave, vault, etc.; a resurrectionist. -- Body snatching (Law), the unauthorized removal of a dead body from the grave; usually for the purpose of dissection.

BODY Bod"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bodied (p. pr. & vb. n. Bodying.]

Defn: To furnish with, or as with, a body; to produce in definite shape; to embody. To body forth, to give from or shape to mentally. Imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown. Shak.

BODYGUARD Bod"y*guard` (, n.

1. A guard to protect or defend the person; a lifeguard.

2. Retinue; attendance; following. Bp. Porteus.

BOEOTIAN Boe*o"tian, a. Etym: [L. Boeotia, Gr. , noted for its moist, thick atmosphere, and the dullness and stupidity of its inhabitants.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Boeotia; hence, stupid; dull; obtuse. -- n.

Defn: A native of Boeotia; also, one who is dull and ignorant.

BOER Boer, n. Etym: [D., a farmer. See Boor.]

Defn: A colonist or farmer in South Africa of Dutch descent.

BOES Bo"es, 3d sing. pr. of Behove.

Defn: Behoves or behooves. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BOG Bog, n. Etym: [Ir. & Gael. bog soft, tender, moist: cf. Ir. bogach bog, moor, marsh, Gael. bogan quagmire.]

1. A quagmire filled with decayed moss and other vegetable matter; wet spongy ground where a heavy body is apt to sink; a marsh; a morass. Appalled with thoughts of bog, or caverned pit, Of treacherous earth, subsiding where they tread. R. Jago.

2. A little elevated spot or clump of earth, roots, and grass, in a marsh or swamp. [Local, U. S.] Bog bean. See Buck bean. -- Bog bumper (bump, to make a loud noise), Bog blitter, Bog bluiter, Bog jumper, the bittern. [Prov.] -- Bog butter, a hydrocarbon of butterlike consistence found in the peat bogs of Ireland. -- Bog earth (Min.), a soil composed for the most part of silex and partially decomposed vegetable fiber. P. Cyc. -- Bog moss. (Bot.) Same as Sphagnum. -- Bog myrtle (Bot.), the sweet gale. -- Bog ore. (Min.) (a) An ore of iron found in boggy or swampy land; a variety of brown iron ore, or limonite. (b) Bog manganese, the hydrated peroxide of manganese. -- Bog rush (Bot.), any rush growing in bogs; saw grass. -- Bog spavin. See under Spavin.

BOG Bog, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Bogging.]

Defn: To sink, as into a bog; to submerge in a bog; to cause to sink and stick, as in mud and mire. At another time, he was bogged up to the middle in the slough of Lochend. Sir W. Scott.

BOGBERRY Bog"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The small cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus), which grows in boggy places.

BOGEY Bo"gey, n.

Defn: A goblin; a bugbear. See Bogy.

BOGGARD Bog"gard, n.

Defn: A bogey. [Local, Eng.]

BOGGLE Bog"gle, v. i. [imp & p. p. Boggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Boggling.] Etym: [ See Bogle, n.]

1. To stop or hesitate as if suddenly frightened, or in doubt, or impeded by unforeseen difficulties; to take alarm; to exhibit hesitancy and indecision. We start and boggle at every unusual appearance. Glanvill. Boggling at nothing which serveth their purpose. Barrow.

2. To do anything awkwardly or unskillfully.

3. To play fast and loose; to dissemble. Howell.

Syn. -- To doubt; hesitate; shrink; stickle; demur.

BOGGLE Bog"gle, v. t.

Defn: To embarrass with difficulties; to make a bungle or botch of. [Local, U. S.]

BOGGLER Bog"gler, n.

Defn: One who boggles.

BOGGLISH Bog"glish, a.

Defn: Doubtful; skittish. [Obs.]

BOGGY Bog"gy, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or containing, a bog or bogs; of the nature of a bog; swampy; as, boggy land.

BOGIE Bo"gie, n. [A dialectic word. N. of Eng. & Scot.]

Defn: A four-wheeled truck, having a certain amount of play around a vertical axis, used to support in part a locomotive on a railway track.

BOGIE ENGINE Bo"gie en"gine. (Railroads)

Defn: A switching engine the running gear and driving gear of which are on a bogie, or truck.

BOGLE Bo"gle, n. Etym: [Scot. and North Eng. bogle, bogill, bugill, specter; as a verb, to terrify, fr. W. bwgwl threatening, fear, bwg, bwgan, specter, hobgoblin. Cf. Bug.]

Defn: A goblin; a specter; a frightful phantom; a bogy; a bugbear. [Written also boggle.]

BOGSUCKER Bog"suck`er, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The American woodcock; -- so called from its feeding among the bogs.

BOGTROTTER Bog"trot`ter, n.

Defn: One who lives in a boggy country; -- applied in derision to the lowest class of Irish. Halliwell.

BOGTROTTING Bog"trot`ting, a.

Defn: Living among bogs.

BOGUE Bogue, v. i. (Naut.)

Defn: To fall off from the wind; to edge away to leeward; -- said only of inferior craft.

BOGUE Bogue, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The boce; -- called also bogue bream. See Boce.

BOGUS Bo"gus, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: Spurious; fictitious; sham; -- a cant term originally applied to counterfeit coin, and hence denoting anything counterfeit. [Colloq. U. S.]

BOGUS Bo"gus, n.

Defn: A liquor made of rum and molasses. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.

BOGWOOD Bog"wood`, n.

Defn: The wood of trees, esp. of oaks, dug up from peat bogs. It is of a shining black or ebony color, and is largely used for making ornaments.

BOGY Bo"gy, n.; pl. Bogies. Etym: [See Bogle.]

Defn: A specter; a hobgoblin; a bugbear. "Death's heads and bogies." J. H. Newman. [Written also bogey.] There are plenty of such foolish attempts at playing bogy in the history of savages. C. Kingsley.

BOHEA Bo*hea", n. Etym: [From Wu-i, pronounced by the Chinese bu-i, the name of the hills where this kind of tea is grown.]

Defn: Bohea tea, an inferior kind of black tea. See under Tea.

Note: The name was formerly applied to superior kinds of black tea, or to black tea in general.

BOHEMIA Bo*he"mi*a, n.

1. A country of central Europe.

2. Fig.: The region or community of social Bohemians. See Bohemian, n., 3. She knew every one who was any one in the land of Bohemia. Compton Reade.

BOHEMIAN Bo*he"mi*an, a.

1. Of or pertaining to Bohemia, or to the language of its ancient inhabitants or their descendants. See Bohemian, n., 2.

2. Of or pertaining to a social gypsy or "Bohemian" (see Bohemian, n., 3); vagabond; unconventional; free and easy. [Modern] Hers was a pleasant Bohemian life till she was five and thirty. Blackw. Mag. Artists have abandoned their Bohemian manners and customs nowadays. W. Black. Bohemian chatterer, or Bohemian waxwing (Zoöl.), a small bird of Europe and America (Ampelis garrulus); the waxwing. -- Bohemian glass, a variety of hard glass of fine quality, made in Bohemia. It is of variable composition, containing usually silica, lime, and potash, rarely soda, but no lead. It is often remarkable for beauty of color.

BOHEMIAN Bo*he"mi*an, n.

1. A native of Bohemia.

2. The language of the Czechs (the ancient inhabitants of Bohemia), the richest and most developed of the dialects of the Slavic family.

3. A restless vagabond; -- originally, an idle stroller or gypsy (as in France) thought to have come from Bohemia; in later times often applied to an adventurer in art or literature, of irregular, unconventional habits, questionable tastes, or free morals. [Modern]

Note: In this sense from the French bohémien, a gypsy; also, a person of irregular habits. She was of a wild, roving nature, inherited from father and mother, who were both Bohemians by taste and circumstances. Thackeray.

BOHEMIANISM Bo*he"mi*an*ism, n.

Defn: The characteristic conduct or methods of a Bohemian. [Modern]

BOHUN UPAS Bo"hun u"pas.

Defn: See Upas.

BOIAR Bo*iar", n.

Defn: See Boyar.

BOIL Boil, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Boiling.] Etym: [OE. boilen, OF. boilir, builir, F. bouillir, fr. L. bullire to be in a bubbling motion, from bulla bubble; akin to Gr. , Lith. bumbuls. Cf. Bull an edict, Budge, v., and Ebullition.]

1. To be agitated, or tumultuously moved, as a liquid by the generation and rising of bubbles of steam (or vapor), or of currents produced by heating it to the boiling point; to be in a state of ebullition; as, the water boils.

2. To be agitated like boiling water, by any other cause than heat; to bubble; to effervesce; as, the boiling waves. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot. Job xii. 31.

3. To pass from a liquid to an aëriform state or vapor when heated; as, the water boils away.

4. To be moved or excited with passion; to be hot or fervid; as, his blood boils with anger. Then boiled my breast with flame and burning wrath. Surrey.

5. To be in boiling water, as in cooking; as, the potatoes are boiling. To boil away, to vaporize; to evaporate or be evaporated by the action of heat. -- To boil over, to run over the top of a vessel, as liquid when thrown into violent agitation by heat or other cause of effervescence; to be excited with ardor or passion so as to lose self-control.

BOIL Boil, v. t.

1. To heat to the boiling point, or so as to cause ebullition; as, to boil water.

2. To form, or separate, by boiling or evaporation; as, to boil sugar or salt.

3. To subject to the action of heat in a boiling liquid so as to produce some specific effect, as cooking, cleansing, etc.; as, to boil meat; to boil clothes. The stomach cook is for the hall, And boileth meate for them all. Gower.

4. To steep or soak in warm water. [Obs.] To try whether seeds be old or new, the sense can not inform; but if you boil them in water, the new seeds will sprout sooner. Bacon. To boil down, to reduce in bulk by boiling; as, to boil down sap or sirup.

BOIL Boil, n.

Defn: Act or state of boiling. [Colloq.]

BOIL Boil, n. Etym: [Influenced by boil, v. See Beal, Bile.]

Defn: A hard, painful, inflamed tumor, which, on suppuration, discharges pus, mixed with blood, and discloses a small fibrous mass of dead tissue, called the core. A blind boil, one that suppurates imperfectly, or fails to come to a head. -- Delhi boil (Med.), a peculiar affection of the skin, probably parasitic in origin, prevailing in India (as among the British troops) and especially at Delhi.

BOILARY Boil"a*ry, n.

Defn: See Boilery.

BOILED Boiled, a.

Defn: Dressed or cooked by boiling; subjected to the action of a boiling liquid; as, boiled meat; a boiled dinner; boiled clothes.

BOILER Boil"er, n.

1. One who boils.

2. A vessel in which any thing is boiled.

Note: The word boiler is a generic term covering a great variety of kettles, saucepans, clothes boilers, evaporators, coppers, retorts, etc.

3. (Mech.)

Defn: A strong metallic vessel, usually of wrought iron plates riveted together, or a composite structure variously formed, in which steam is generated for driving engines, or for heating, cooking, or other purposes.

Note: The earliest steam boilers were usually spheres or sections of spheres, heated wholly from the outside. Watt used the wagon boiler (shaped like the top of a covered wagon) which is still used with low pressures. Most of the boilers in present use may be classified as plain cylinder boilers, flue boilers, sectional and tubular boilers. Barrel of a boiler, the cylindrical part containing the flues. -- Boiler plate, Boiler iron, plate or rolled iron of about a quarter to a half inch in thickness, used for making boilers and tanks, for covering ships, etc. -- Cylinder boiler, one which consists of a single iron cylinder. -- Flue boilers are usually single shells containing a small number of large flues, through which the heat either passes from the fire or returns to the chimney, and sometimes containing a fire box inclosed by water. -- Locomotive boiler, a boiler which contains an inclosed fire box and a large number of small flues leading to the chimney. -- Multiflue boiler. Same as Tubular boiler, below. -- Sectional boiler, a boiler composed of a number of sections, which are usually of small capacity and similar to, and connected with, each other. By multiplication of the sections a boiler of any desired capacity can be built up. -- Tubular boiler, a boiler containing tubes which form flues, and are surrounded by the water contained in the boiler. See Illust. of Steam boiler, under Steam. -- Tubulous boiler. See under Tubulous. See Tube, n., 6, and 1st Flue.

BOILERY Boil"er*y, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bouillerie.]

Defn: A place and apparatus for boiling, as for evaporating brine in salt making.

BOILING Boil"ing, a.

Defn: Heated to the point of bubbling; heaving with bubbles; in tumultuous agitation, as boiling liquid; surging; seething; swelling with heat, ardor, or passion. Boiling point, the temperature at which a fluid is converted into vapor, with the phenomena of ebullition. This is different for different liquids, and for the same liquid under different pressures. For water, at the level of the sea, barometer 30 in., it is 212 º Fahrenheit; for alcohol, 172.96º; for ether, 94.8º; for mercury, about 675º. The boiling point of water is lowered one degree Fahrenheit for about 550 feet of ascent above the level of the sea. -- Boiling spring, a spring which gives out very hot water, or water and steam, often ejecting it with much force; a geyser. -- To be at the boiling point, to be very angry. -- To keep the pot boiling, to keep going on actively, as in certain games. [Colloq.]

BOILING Boil"ing, n.

1. The act of ebullition or of tumultuous agitation.

2. Exposure to the action of a hot liquid.

BOILINGLY Boil"ing*ly, adv.