Chapter X: Part 10

BARDED, bärd'ed, _adj._ caparisoned, as horses.--_n._ BARD (_obs._), the protective covering of a war-horse or a man-at-arms. [Fr. _barde_--Sp. _albarda_, pack-saddle, perh. from Ar. _al-barda`ah_; _al_, the, and _barda`ah_, mule's pack-saddle.]

BARE, b[=a]r, _adj._ uncovered: naked: open to view: poor, scanty: unadorned: (_Shak._) unarmed: mere or by itself: (_Shak._) paltry, desolate: empty: (_Spens._) rude.--_v.t._ to strip or uncover.--_adj._ BARE'BACKED, with bare back: unsaddled.--_n._ BARE'BONE (_Shak._), a very lean person.--_adj._ BARE'FACED, with the face uncovered: (_Shak._) avowed: impudent.--_adv._ BARE'FACEDLY.--_n._ BARE'FACEDNESS.--_adjs._ BARE'FOOT, -ED, having the feet bare, often of some monastic orders; BARE'-GNAWN (_Shak._), gnawed bare; BARE'HEADED, having the head bare; BAR'ISH (_Carlyle_), somewhat bare; BARE'LEGGED, having the legs bare.--_adv._ BARE'LY.--_ns._ BARE'NESS; BARE'SARK, a fierce Norse fighter, a berserker.--_adv._ in a shirt only. [A.S. _bær_; Ger. _baar_, _bar_; Ice. _berr_.]

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

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

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

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

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

BARGHEST, bär'gest, _n._ a dog-like goblin portending death. [Perh. conn. with Ger. _berg-geist_, mountain-ghost.]

BARIC. See BARIUM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BARM, bärm, _n._ froth of beer or other fermenting liquor, used as leaven: yeast.--_adjs._ BARM'Y; BARM'Y-BRAINED, flighty. [A.S. _beorma_; cog. with Dan. _bärme_, Ger. _bärme_.]

BARMBRACK, bärm'brak, _n._ a currant-bun. [Ir. _bairigen breac_, speckled cake.]

BARM-CLOTH, bärm'-kloth, _n._ (_Morris_) an apron. [A.S. _barm_, bosom, _-beran_, to bear, and CLOTH.]

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

BARMKIN, bärm'kin, _n._ the rampart of a castle.

BARN, bärn, _n._ a building in which grain, hay, &c. are stored.--_v.t._ to store in a barn.--_ns._ and _adjs._ BARN'-DOOR, BARN'-YARD, as in barn-yard fowl.--_n._ BARN'-OWL, the commonest of British owls.--BARN-DOOR, in cricket, used of a player who blocks every ball: humorously, any large target. [A.S. _bere-ern_, contracted _bern_, from _bere_, barley, _ern_, a house.]

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

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

BARNACLE, bär'na-kl, _n._ an instrument consisting of two branches joined by a hinge, placed on the nose of horses to keep them quiet: (_pl._) a colloquial term for 'spectacles.'--_adj._ BAR'NACLED. [O. Fr. _bernac_, of which _bernacle_ seems to be a dim. form. The sense of 'spectacles' has been traced to O. Fr. _bericle_, eye-glass--_berillus_, beryl; but this is improbable.]

BARNEY, bär'ni, _n._ (_slang_) humbug: a prize-fight.

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

BAROGRAPH, bar'o-graf, _n._ a barometer which records automatically variations of atmospheric pressure. [Gr. _baros_, weight, _graphein_, to write.]

BAROMETER, bar-om'et-[.e]r, _n._ an instrument by which the weight or pressure of the atmosphere is measured, and changes of weather, or heights above sea-level, indicated.--_adj._ BAROMET'RIC.--_adv._ BAROMET'RICALLY.--_n._ BAROM'ETRY. [Gr. _baros_, weight, _metron_, measure.]

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

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

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

BAROQUE, bar-[=o]k', _adj._ originally a jeweller's term, but applied in art generally to extravagant ornamental designs: whimsical, odd. [Fr. _baroque_; perh. from L. _verruca_, wart, but referred by some to Ar. _bur[=a]q_, hard earth mixed with stones.]

BAROSCOPE, bar'[=o]-sk[=o]p, _n._ an instrument for indicating changes in the density of the air. [Gr. _baros_, weight, _skopein_, to see.]

BAROUCHE, ba-r[=oo]sh', _n._ a double-seated four-wheeled carriage with a falling top. [It. _baroccio_--L. _birotus_, two-wheeled, from _bis_, twice, _rota_, a wheel.]

BARQUE. Same as BARK (2).

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

BARRACAN, bar'a-kan, _n._ a thick, strong stuff resembling camlet. [Fr.; It.--Ar. _barrak[=a]n_, a dark dress, Pers. _barak_, a stuff made of camel's hair.]

BARRACE, bar'as, _n._ (_obs._) the lists in a tournament. [O. Fr. _barras_--_barre_, bar.]

BARRACK, bar'ak, _n._ a building for soldiers, esp. in garrison (generally in _pl._). [Fr. _baraque_ (It. _baracca_, Sp. _barraca_, a tent); acc. to Diez from _barra_, bar.]

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

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

BARRAGE, bär'[=a]j, _n._ the forming of an artificial bar in order to deepen a river. [Fr. _barrage_--_barre_, bar.]

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

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

BARREN, bar'en, _adj._ incapable of bearing offspring: unfruitful: dull, stupid: unprofitable (with _of_).--_adj._ BAR'REN-BEAT'EN.--_adv._ BAR'RENLY.--_n._ BAR'RENNESS.--_adjs._ BAR'REN-SPIR'ITED; BAR'REN-WIT'TED. [O. Fr. _barain_, _brahain_, _brehaing_, perh. from _bar_, man, as if 'male-like, not producing offspring.']

BARRET, bar'et, _n._ a flat cap, esp. the BIRETTA (q.v.). [Fr. _barrette_, Sp. _birreta_. See BIRETTA.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BARTER, bär't[.e]r, _v.t._ to give one thing in exchange for another (with _for_, _away_).--_v.i._ to traffic by exchanging.--_n._ traffic by exchange of commodities.--_n._ BAR'TERER, one who barters. [Prob. from O. Fr. _barat_.]

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

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

BARTON, bar'ton, _n._ a farm-yard. [A.S. _bere-tún_, yard, _bere_, barley, and _tún_, enclosure.]

BARYCENTRIC, bar-i-sen'trik, _adj._ pertaining to the centre of gravity. [Gr. _barys_, heavy, _kentron_, centre.]

BARYTA, ba-r[=i]'ta, BARYTES, ba-r[=i]'t[=e]z, _n._ the earth present in the minerals _witherite_ and _heavy spar_.--_adj._ BARYT'IC, of or containing baryta. [From Gr. _barys_, heavy.]

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

BASALT, bas-awlt', _n._ a hard, dark-coloured rock of igneous origin.--_adj._ BASALT'IC. [L. _basaltes_, an African word.]

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

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

BASCINET. Same as BASINET.

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

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

BASE, b[=a]s, _adj._ low in place, value, estimation, or principle: mean: vile: worthless: debased: counterfeit: (_law_) servile, as opposed to _free_: humble: (_B._ and _Shak._) lowly.--_adj._ BASE'-BORN, illegitimate.--_adv._ BASE'LY.--_adj._ BASE'-MIND'ED, of a low mind or spirit: mean.--_n._ BASE'NESS.--_adj._ BASE'-SPIR'ITED, mean-spirited. [Fr. _bas_--Low L. _bassus_, thick, fat, a vulgar Roman word, found also in name _Bassus_.]

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

BASE, b[=a]s, _n._ an old game played by two sides occupying contiguous spaces, called _bases_ or _homes_, off which any player is liable to be touched with the hand or struck by a ball by the enemy, and so attached to their sides. Forms of this game are known as _Prisoner's Base_ or _Bars_, and _Rounders_, and the national American game of _Base-ball_ is a development from it.

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

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

BASENET. Same as BASINET.

BASH, bash, _v.t._ to beat or smash in.--_n._ BASH. [Prob. Scand.]

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

BASHFUL, bash'f[=oo]l, _adj._ easily confused: modest: shy: wanting confidence.--_v.i._ BASH (_Spens._), to be abashed.--_adv._ BASH'FULLY.--_n._ BASH'FULNESS.--_adj._ BASH'LESS, unashamed. [See ABASH.]

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

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

BASIL, baz'il, _n._ a mainly tropical or subtropical genus of Labiatæ, characterised by a pleasant aromatic smell and taste, and reckoned amongst _sweet herbs_.--SWEET BASIL is an Indian annual long cultivated in Europe for seasoning purposes. [O. Fr. _basile_--L. _basilisca_--Gr. _basilikon_, royal.]

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

BASIL. See BEZEL.

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

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

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

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

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

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

BASK, bask, _v.i._ to lie in the warmth or sunshine. [Scand. _badask_, to bathe.]

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

BASQUE, bask, _adj._ relating to the _Basques_, or their wonderful language, with its extreme variability of dialects--the only example of a consistently incorporating language.--_n._ a native of the Basque provinces: the distinctive language of the Basques: a kind of short-skirted jacket worn by women, a continuation of the bodice a little below the waist.--_adj._ BASQUED (baskt), furnished with a basque.--_n._ BASQ'UINE, an outer petticoat worn by Basque and Spanish women. [Fr. _Basque_--Low L. _Vasco_, an inhabitant of _Vasconia_, whence _Gascony_. The Basques themselves call their tongue _Eskuara_, _Euscara_, whence the Fr. _Euscarien_.]

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

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

BASS. Same as BAST.

BASS, BASSE, bas, _n._ a marine fish allied to the perch. [A.S. _bærs_; cf. Ger. _bars_, the perch.]

BASSA, bas'sa, _n._ Same as BASHAW.

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

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

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

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

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

BAST, bast, _n._ the inner bark of the lime-tree: matting made of it. [A.S. _bæst_; Dut., Dan., Ger. _bast_.]

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

BASTE, b[=a]st, _v.t._ to beat with a stick. [Prob. conn. with Ice. _beysta_, Dan. _böste_, to beat.]

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

BASTE, b[=a]st, _v.t._ to sew slightly or with long stitches. [O. Fr. _bastír_, from Old High Ger. _bestan_, to sew.]

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

BASTINADO, bast-in-[=a]d'o, _v.t._ to beat with a baton or stick, esp. on the soles of the feet (a form of punishment in the East):--_pr.p._ bastin[=a]d'ing or bastin[=a]d'oing; _pa.p._ bastin[=a]d'ed or bastin[=a]d'oed.--_ns._ BASTINADE', BASTIN[=A]D'O. [Sp. _bastonada_, Fr. _bastonnade_--_baston_, _bâton_. See BATON.]

BASTION, bast'yun, _n._ a kind of tower at the angles of a fortification.--_adj._ BAST'IONED. [Fr.--O. Fr. _bastir_, to build.]

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

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

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

BATATA, ba-tä'ta, _n._ a plant with tuberous roots, the sweet potato. [Sp. _batata_, potato.]

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

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

BATE. Same as ABATE.

BATE, b[=a]t, _n._ (_Spens._) strife, contention.--_adj._ BATE'-BREED'ING (_Shak._). [Abbrev. of DEBATE.]

BATE, b[=a]t, _n._ diminution (_dial._, esp. in combination).

BATE, b[=a]t, _v.i._ (_Shak._) to beat the wings impatiently: (_obs._) to be impatient. [O. E. _batre_--Low L. _bat[)e]re_.]

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

BATELESS, b[=a]t'les, _adj._ (_Shak._) that cannot be bated or blunted.

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

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

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

BATHE, b[=a]_th_, _v.t._ to wash as in a bath: to wash or moisten with any liquid: to moisten, suffuse, encompass.--_v.i._ to take a bath.--_n._ the act of taking a bath.--_ns._ BATH'ING-BOX, a box for bathers to undress and dress in; BATH'ING-MACHINE', a small carriage in which a bather may be carried out into water conveniently deep for bathing. [A.S. _bathian_; Old High Ger. _badôn_, _bathôn_ (Ger. _baden_).]

BATHOMETER, bath-om'et-[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for ascertaining depth. [Gr. _bathos_, depth, _metron_, measure.]

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

BATHOS, b[=a]'thos, _n._ a ludicrous descent from the elevated to the mean in writing or speech.--_adj._ BATHET'IC, irregularly formed on the analogy of _pathos_, _pathetic_. [Gr. _bathos_, depth, from _bathys_, deep.]

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

BATHYMETRY, bath-im'et-ri, _n._ the science of measuring the depth of seas and lakes. [Gr. _bathys_, deep, _metria_, measurement.]

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

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

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

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

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

BATRACHIA, ba-tr[=a]'ki-a, _n.pl._ the order of reptiles which includes the frogs.--_adj._ and _n._ BATR[=A]'CHIAN. [From Gr. _batrachos_, a frog.]

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

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

BATTAILANT, bat't[=a]l-ant, _adj._ (_Spens._) fighting.--_adj._ BAT'TAILOUS (_arch._), war-like. [Fr. _bataillant_, pr.p. of _batailler_, to fight. See BATTLE.]

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

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

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

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

BATTEN, bat'n, _v.i._ to grow fat: to live in luxury.--_v.t._ (_obs._) to fatten. [Ice. _batna_, to grow better--_bati_, advantage; cf. Dut. _baten_, to avail.]

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

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

BATTER, bat'[.e]r, _n._ the inclination of a wall from the perpendicular.--_v.i._ to slope backward from the perpendicular. [Perh. from Fr. _battre_, to beat down.]

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

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

BATTLE, bat'l, _adj._ (_dial._) nourishing.--_v.t._ (_obs._) to feed. [Most prob. from Ice. _bati_, improvement. See BATTEN.]

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

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

BATTOLOGY, bat-ol'o-ji, _n._ repetition in speech or writing.--_adj._ BATTOLOG'ICAL. [Gr. _battos_, a person who repeated himself, and _legein_, to speak.]

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

BAUBLE, baw'bl, _n._ a trifling piece of finery: a child's plaything: a stick surmounted by a head with ass's ears, and forming the mock emblem of the court-jester: a piece of childish foolery: (_Shak._) a foolish person.--_adj._ BAU'BLING (_obs._), trifling. [O. Fr. _babel_, prob. from the root seen in L. _babulus_, a babbler.]

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

BAUDRIC, bawd'rik. Same as BALDRICK.

BAUDRONS, bawd'runs, _n._ Scotch name for the cat. [Perh. of Celt. origin; cf. Ir. _beadrac_, frolicsome, Gael. _beadrach_, a frolicsome girl.]

BAUK, BAULK. Same as BALK.

BAUSOND, bawz'ond, _adj._ (_obs._) having white spots, esp. on the forehead, or a white stripe down the face.--_adj._ BAUS'ON-FACED (_Scott_), with a face like a badger. [O. Fr. _bausant_ (It. _balzano_), black and white spotted. Further ety. dub.]

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

BAVARDAGE, bav-ar-d[=a]j', _n._ chattering. [Fr. _bavard_, garrulous--_bave_, drivel.]

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

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

BAWBLE. Same as BAUBLE.

BAWCOCK, baw'kok, _n._ (_Shak._) a fine fellow. [From Fr. _beau_, fine, and _coq_, a cock.]

BAWD, bawd, _n._ a procurer or procuress of women for lewd purposes--_fem._ only since about 1700.--_n._ BAWD'RY.--_adj._ BAWD'Y, obscene, unchaste, filthy.--_n._ BAWD'Y-HOUSE, a brothel. [Perh. abbrev. from BAWD'STROT, a word for a pander, now obsolete, derived from O. Fr. _baldestrot_--_bald_, gay, and perh. the Teut. root found in _strut_.]

BAWD, bawd, _n._ (_Shak._) a hare. [Perh. a contr. of BAUDRONS.]

BAWL, bawl, _v.i._ to shout or cry out loudly (with _at_, _against_).--_n._ a loud cry or shout.--_n._ BAWL'ER. [Perh. from Low L. _baulare_, to bark like a dog; but cf. Ice. _baula_, to low like a cow, _baula_, a cow.]

BAWN, bawn, _n._ a fortification round a house: an enclosure for cattle. [Ir. _bábhun_, enclosure.]

BAXTER. See BAKE.

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

BAY, b[=a], _n._ an inlet of the sea with a wider opening than a gulf: an inward bend of the shore. [Fr. _baie_--Low L. _baia_, a harbour.]

BAY, b[=a], _n._ the space between two columns: (_Shak._) the space under one house gable: any recess.--_n._ BAY'-WIN'DOW, any window forming a recess.--_adj._ BAY'-WIN'DOWED. [O. Fr. _baée_--_baer_, to gape, be open; prob. conn. with the foregoing word.]

BAY, b[=a], _n._ the laurel-tree: (_pl._) an honorary garland or crown of victory, originally of laurel: literary renown.--_ns._ BAY'BERRY; BAY'-RUM, an aromatic stimulant used for the skin and hair, and prepared by distilling the leaves of the bay-berry (_Pimenta acris_) with rum, or otherwise mixing the volatile oil of the leaves with alcohol. [O. Fr. _baie_, a berry--L. _baca_.]

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

BAY, BAYE, b[=a], _v.t._ (_Spens._) to bathe.

BAYADÈRE, b[=a]-ya-d[=e]r', _n._ a Hindu dancing-girl. [Fr.--Port. _bailadeira_.]

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

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

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

BAZAAR, BAZAR, ba-zär', _n._ an Eastern marketplace or exchange: a fancy fair in imitation of an Eastern bazaar. [Pers. _b[=a]z[=a]r_, a market.]

BDELLIUM, del'i-um, _n._ a kind of gum. [Gr. _bdellion_, used to translate, but prob. unconnected with Heb. _b'd[=o]lakh_, Gen. ii. 12.]

BE, b[=e], _v.i._ to live: to exist: to have a certain state or quality:--_pr.p._ b[=e]'ing; _pa.p._ been.--_n._ BE'-ALL (_Shak._), the whole being. [A.S. _béon_; Ger. _bin_; Gael. _bi_, to exist; W. _byw_, to live; Gr. _phu-ein_, L. _fui_, _fio_, Sans. _bhu_, to be, orig. meaning to grow.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BEAR, b[=a]r, _v.t._ to carry or support: to endure: to admit of: to be entitled to: to afford: to import: to manage: to behave or conduct one's self: to bring forth or produce.--_v.i._ to suffer: to be patient: to have reference to: to press (with _on_ or _upon_): to be situated:--_pr.p._ bear'ing; _pa.t._ b[=o]re; _pa.p._ b[=o]rne (but the _pa.p._ when used to mean 'brought forth' is _born_).--_adj._ BEAR'ABLE, that may be borne or endured.--_n._ BEAR'ABLENESS.--_adv._ BEAR'ABLY.--_ns._ BEAR'ER, one who or that which bears, esp. one who assists in carrying a body to the grave: a carrier or messenger; BEAR'ING, behaviour: situation of one object with regard to another: relation: that which is borne upon an escutcheon: (_mach._) the part of a shaft or axle in contact with its supports; BEAR'ING-CLOTH, the mantle or cloth in which a child was carried to the font; BEAR'ING-REIN, the fixed rein between the bit and the saddle, by which a horse's head is held up in driving and its neck made to arch.--BEAR HARD (_Shak._), to press or urge; BEAR IN HAND (_Shak._), to keep in expectation, to flatter one's hopes; TO BEAR A HAND, to give assistance; TO BEAR AWAY, to sail away; TO BEAR DOWN (with _upon_ or _towards_), to sail with the wind; TO BEAR OUT, to corroborate; TO BEAR UP, to keep up one's courage; TO BEAR UP FOR (_a place_), to sail towards; TO BEAR WITH, to make allowance for; TO BE BORNE IN (upon the) MIND, to be forcibly impressed upon it; TO BRING TO BEAR, to bring into operation (with _against_, _upon_); TO LOSE ONE'S BEARINGS, to become uncertain as to one's position. [A.S. _beran_; Goth. _bairan_, L. _ferre_, Gr. _pher-ein_, Sans. _bhri_.]

BEAR, an obsolete form of BIER.

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

BEAR, b[=e]r, _n._ barley, applied in Scotland to the now little grown variety _Hordeum hexastichon_. [A.S. _bere_.]

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

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

BEASTINGS. Same as BIESTINGS.

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

BEATH, b[=e]th, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to bathe. [A.S. _bethian_, to foment.]

BEATIFY, b[=e]-at'i-f[=i], _v.t._ to make blessed or happy: to declare to be in the enjoyment of eternal happiness in heaven.--_adjs._ BEATIF'IC, -AL, making supremely happy.--_adv._ BEATIF'ICALLY.--_n._ BEATIFIC[=A]'TION, act of beatifying: (_R.C. Church_) a declaration by the Pope that a person is blessed in heaven, authorising a certain definite form of public reverence payable to him--the first step to canonisation.--BEATIFIC VISION, a glimpse of the glory of heaven, esp. that which first bursts upon the disembodied soul. [L. _beatus_, blessed, and _fac[)e]re_, to make.]

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

BEAU, b[=o], _n._ a man attentive to dress or fashion: a fop or dandy: a lover:--_pl._ BEAUX (b[=o]z):--_fem._ BELLE.--_n._ BEAU'-ID[=E]'AL, ideal excellence, or an imaginary standard of perfection: the person in which such is realised.--_adj._ BEAU'ISH.--_ns._ BEAU'-MONDE, the gay or fashionable world; _Beaupere'_ (_Spens._), a term of courtesy for 'father,' esp. of ecclesiastical persons: a companion. [Fr. _beau_, _bel_--L. _bellus_, fine, gay, as if for a _benulus_, dim. of _benus_ = _bonus_, good.]

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

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