Chapter XVI: Part 16

BUMMER, bum'[.e]r, _n._ a plundering straggler or camp-follower during the American Civil War: a dissolute fellow, a loafer, a sponge.

BUMMLE, bum'l, _v.i._ (_prov._) to blunder.--_n._ an idle fellow.

BUMMOCK, bum'ok, _n._ (_Scot._) a brewing of ale. [Ety. unknown.]

BUMP, bump, _v.i._ to make a heavy or loud noise.--_v.t._ to strike with a dull sound: to strike against: to overtake and impinge upon the stern or side of a boat by the boat following, the bumper consequently taking the place of the bumped in rank--also 'to make a bump:' to spread out material in printing so as to fill any desired number of pages.--_n._ a dull heavy blow: a thump: a lump caused by a blow, one of the protuberances on the surface of the skull confidently associated by phrenologists with certain distinct qualities or propensities of the mind, hence colloquially for organ: the noise of the bittern.--_n._ BUMP'ER, a cup or glass filled to the brim for drinking a toast: anything large or generous in measure: a crowded house at a theatre or concert.--_adj._ as in a 'bumper house.'--_v.i._ to drink bumpers.--_n._ BUMPOL'OGY, phrenology.--_adj._ BUMP'Y. [Onomatopoeic.]

BUMPKIN, bump'kin, _n._ an awkward, clumsy rustic: a clown.--_adj._ BUMP'KINISH. [Prob. Dut. _boomken_, a log.]

BUMPTIOUS, bump'shus, _adj._ offensively self-assertive.--_adv._ BUMP'TIOUSLY.--_n._ BUMP'TIOUSNESS. [Prob. formed from BUMP.]

BUN, bun, _n._ a kind of sweet cake. [Prob. from O. Fr. _bugne_, a swelling.]

BUN, bun, _n._ a dry stalk: a hare's scut: a rabbit. [Prob. Gael. _bun_, a root.]

BUNCE, buns, _n._ (_slang_) extra gain--used as an interjection.

BUNCH, bunsh, _n._ a number of things tied together or growing together: a definite quantity fastened together, as of linen yarn (180,000 yards), &c.: a cluster: something in the form of a tuft or knot.--_v.i._ to swell out in a bunch.--_v.t._ to make a bunch of, to concentrate.--_adjs._ BUNCH'-BACKED (_Shak._), having a bunch on the back, crook-backed; BUNCHED, humped, protuberant.--_ns._ BUNCH'-GRASS, a name applied to several West American grasses, growing in clumps; BUNCH'INESS, the quality of being bunchy: state of growing in bunches.--_adj._ BUNCH'Y, growing in bunches or like a bunch, bulging.--BUNCH OF FIVES, the fist with the five fingers clenched. [Ety. obscure.]

BUNCOMBE. See BUNKUM.

BUNDESRATH, b[=oo]n'des-rät, _n._ the Federal Council of the German Empire, its members annually appointed by the governments of the various states.

BUNDLE, bun'dl, _n._ a number of things loosely bound together: an aggregation of one or more kinds of tissue traversing other tissues: a definite measure or quantity, as two reams of paper, twenty hanks of linen yarn, &c.--_v.t._ to bind or tie into bundles.--_v.i._ to pack up one's things for a journey, to go hurriedly or in confusion (with _away_, _off_, _out_).--_n._ BUN'DLING, an old custom in Wales, New England, and elsewhere for sweethearts to sleep on the same bed without undressing.--TO BUNDLE OFF, BUNDLE OUT, to send away unceremoniously or summarily. [Conn. with BIND and BOND.]

BUNG, bung, _n._ the stopper of the hole in a barrel: a large cork: (_Shak._) a sharper.--_v.t._ to stop up with a bung: to thrash severely.--_ns._ BUNG'-HOLE, a hole in a cask through which it is filled, closed by a bung; BUNG'-VENT, a small hole in a bung to let gasses escape, &c.--BUNG UP, to bruise. [Ety. dub.]

BUNGALOW, bung'ga-l[=o], _n._ the kind of house usually occupied by Europeans in the interior of India, and commonly provided for officers' quarters in cantonments.--DÂK-BUNGALOWS are houses for travellers. [Hind. _bangl[=a]_, Bengalese.]

BUNGLE, bung'l, _n._ anything clumsily done: a gross blunder.--_v.i._ to act in a clumsy, awkward manner.--_v.t._ to make or mend clumsily: to manage awkwardly.--_p.adj._ BUNG'LED, done clumsily.--_n._ BUNG'LER.--_p.adj._ BUNG'LING, clumsy, awkward: unskilfully or ill done.--_adv._ BUNG'LINGLY. [Ety. obscure; prob. onomatopoeic; Prof. Skeat quotes a dial. Sw. _bangla_, to work ineffectually; Mr F. Hindes Groome suggests Gipsy _bongo_, left, awkward.]

BUNION, bun'yun, _n._ a lump or inflamed swelling on the ball of the great toe. [Ety. unknown; Prof. Skeat suggests It. _bugnone_, a botch.]

BUNK, bungk, _n._ a box or recess in a ship's cabin, a sleeping-berth anywhere.--_v.i._ to occupy the same bunk, sleep together.--_n._ BUNK'ER, a large bin or chest used for stowing various things, as coals, &c.: a hazard in a golf-links, originally confined to sand-pits, but now often used for hazards generally. [Prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Ice. _bunki_, Dan. _bunke_, a heap.]

BUNKO, BUNCO, bung'k[=o], _n._ (_U.S._) a form of confidence-trick by which a simple fellow is swindled or taken somewhere and robbed.--_v.t._ to rob or swindle in such a way.--_n._ BUNK'O-STEER'ER, that one of the swindling confederates who allures the victim.

BUNKUM, bung'kum, _n._ empty clap-trap oratory, bombastic speechmaking intended for the newspapers rather than to persuade the audience.--Also BUN'COMBE. [From _Buncombe_, the name of a county in North Carolina. Bartlett quotes a story of how its member once went on talking in congress, explaining apologetically to the few hearers that remained that he was 'only talking for Buncombe.']

BUNNY, bun'i, _n._ a pet name for a rabbit. [Ety. unknown; prob. conn. with Gael. _bun_, a root.]

BUNODONT, b[=u]'n[=o]-dont, _adj._ having tuberculate molars--opp. to _Lophodont_. [Gr. _bounos_, a rounded hill, _odous_, _odontos_, a tooth.]

BUNSEN, b[=oo]n'sen, or bun'sen, _adj._ applied to some of the inventions of the great chemist, R. W. _Bunsen_ of Heidelberg.--_n._ BUN'SEN-BURN'ER, a gas-burner in which a plentiful supply of air is caused to mingle with the gas before ignition, so that a smokeless flame of low luminosity but great heating power is the result.

BUNT, bunt, _n._ a parasitic disease of wheat and other grains.--_adjs._ BUNT'ED, BUNT'Y. [Ety. unknown.]

BUNT, bunt, _n._ the bagging part of a fishing-net, a sail, &c.--_v.i._ to belly, as a sail. [Ety. unknown.]

BUNT, bunt, _v.i._ to push with the horns, butt: to spring, rear.--_n._ a push.--_n._ BUNT'ING, pushing: a boys' game, played with sticks and a small piece of wood: a strong timber, a stout prop.

BUNTER, bunt'[.e]r, _n._ a rag-picker, a low woman.

BUNTING, bunt'ing, _n._ a thin worsted stuff of which ships' colours are made. [Ety. dub.]

BUNTING, bunt'ing, _n._ a genus of birds in the Finch family nearly allied to the crossbills.

BUNTLINE, bunt'l[=i]n, _n._ a rope passing from the foot-rope of a square sail, led up to the masthead and thence on deck, to help in hauling the sail up to the yard.

BUOY, boi, _n._ a floating cask or light piece of wood fastened by a rope or chain to indicate shoals, the position of a ship's anchor, &c.--_v.t._ to fix buoys or marks: to keep afloat, bear up, or sustain: to raise the spirits.--_ns._ BUOY'AGE, a series of buoys or floating beacons to mark the course for vessels: the providing of buoys; BUOY'ANCY, capacity for floating lightly on water or in the air: specific lightness: (_fig._) lightness of spirit, cheerfulness.--_adj._ BUOY'ANT, light: cheerful.--_n._ BUOY'ANTNESS. [Dut. _boei_, buoy, fetter, through Romance forms (Norman _boie_), from Low L. _boia_, a collar of leather.]

BUPHAGA, b[=u]'f[=a]-ga, _n._ a small genus of African perching birds, nearly related to the starlings, feeding on the larvæ of gadflies and the like, which they find on the backs of cattle, camels, &c.--Also _Beef-eater_ and _Ox-pecker_. [Gr., _bous_, an ox, _phagein_, to eat.]

BUPRESTIS, b[=u]-pres'tis, _n._ a genus of beetles, typical of a large family, _Buprestidæ_, those occurring in warmer countries having lively colour and metallic sheen--some known as Golden Beetles. [L.,--Gr. _bouprestis_, _bous_, an ox, _pr[=e]thein_, to swell.]

BUR, BURR, bur, the prickly seed-case or head of certain plants, which sticks to clothes: any impediment or inconvenient adherent: any lump, ridge, &c., more or less sharp, a knot on a tree, knot in thread, knob at the base of a deer's horn, &c.: waste raw silk: the sweetbread or pancreas: (_Scot._) club-moss: the name for various tools and appliances, as the triangular chisel for clearing the corners of mortises, &c.: the blank driven out of a piece of sheet-metal by a punch: a partly vitrified brick.--_ns._ BUR'DOCK, a dock with a bur or prickly head; BUR'-THIS'TLE, the spear-thistle.--BUR IN THE THROAT, something seeming to stick in the throat, producing a choking sensation. [Cog. with Dan. _borre_, a bur.]

BUR, BURR, bur, _n._ the rough sound of _r_ pronounced in the throat, as in Northumberland--_v.i._ to whisper hoarsely, to murmur. [Usually associated with preceding, but perh. from the sound.]

BUR, bur, _n._ in an engraving, a slight ridge of metal raised on the edges of a line by the graver or the dry point, producing an effect like a smear, but dexterously used by some etchers, as Rembrandt, to deepen their shadows.

BURBLE, burb'l, _n._ trouble, disorder.--_v.t._ to trouble, confuse. [Scot.; prob. conn. with O. Fr. _barbouiller_, to confound.]

BURBOT, bur'bot, _n._ a fresh-water fish, like the eel, having a longish beard on its lower jaw. [Fr. _barbote_--L. _barba_, a beard.]

BURD, burd, _n._ (_obs._) for BIRD, a poetic name for a girl or lady.--_n._ BUR'DALANE, the last surviving child of a family.

BURDASH, burd'ash, _n._ a fringed sash worn round the waist by fine gentlemen in the time of Anne and George I.

BURDEN, bur'dn, _n._ a load: weight: cargo: that which is grievous, oppressive, or difficult to bear, as blame, sin, sorrow, &c.: birth.--_v.t._ to load: to oppress: to encumber.--_adjs._ BUR'DENOUS, BUR'DENSOME, heavy: oppressive.--BURDEN OF PROOF, in legal procedure, signifies the obligation to establish by evidence certain disputed facts. [A.S. _byrthen_--_beran_, to bear.]

BURDEN, bur'dn, _n._ part of a song repeated at the end of every stanza, refrain: the leading idea of anything: a load of care, sorrow, or responsibility. [Fr. _bourdon_, a humming tone in music--Low L. _burdo_, a drone or non-working bee.]

BURDEN, bur'dn, _n._ (_Spens._) a pilgrim's staff. [See BOURDON.]

BURDOCK. See BUR (1).

BUREAU, b[=u]r'[=o], _n._ a writing-table or chest of drawers: a room or office where such a table is used: a department for the transacting of public business:--_pl._ BUREAUX (b[=u]r'[=o]), BUREAUS (b[=u]r'[=o]z). [Fr. _bureau_--O. Fr. _burel_, russet cloth--L. _burrus_, red.]

BUREAUCRACY, b[=u]r[=o]'kras-i, _n._ a system of government centralised in graded series of officials, responsible only to their chiefs, and controlling every detail of public and private life.--_ns._ BUREAU'CRAT, BUREAU'CRATIST, one who advocates government by bureaucracy.--_adj._ BUREAUCRAT'IC, relating to or having the nature of a bureaucracy.--_adv._ BUREAUCRAT'ICALLY. [BUREAU, and Gr. _kratein_, to govern.]

BURETTE, b[=u]-ret', _n._ a flask-shaped vessel for holding liquids, an altar-cruet. [Fr.]

BURGAGE, bur'g[=a]j, _n._ a tenure in socage for a yearly rent: a tenure in Scotland in royal burghs under nominal service of watching. [O. Fr.]

BURGAMOT. Same as BERGAMOT.

BURGANET, bur'ga-net, _n._ a 16th-century helmet.--Also BUR'GONET. [Lit. 'Burgundian.']

BURGEE, bur'j[=e], _n._ a swallow-tailed flag or pennant: a kind of small coal for furnaces.

BURGEON, bur'jun, _n._ and _v.i._ Same as BOURGEON.

BURGH, bur'[=o], _n._ the Scotch word corresponding to the English BOROUGH.--_ns._ BURG (same as BOROUGH); BURG'AGE, a system of tenure where the king or other person is lord of an ancient borough, city, or town, by which the citizens hold their lands or tenements, for a certain annual rent; BURGESS (bur'jes), BUR'GHER, an inhabitant of a borough: a citizen or freeman: a magistrate of certain towns: one able to take the usual burgesses' oath (see ANTIBURGHER).--_adj._ BUR'GHAL, relating to a burgh.--_n._ BURG'OMASTER, the chief magistrate of a German or a Dutch borough, answering to the English term mayor.--BURGH OF BARONY, a corporation consisting of the inhabitants of a determinate tract of land within the _barony_, and municipally governed by magistrates and a council whose election is either vested in the baron superior of the district, or vested in the inhabitants themselves; BURGH OF REGALITY, a burgh of barony, spiritual or temporal, enfranchised by crown charter, with regal or exclusive criminal jurisdiction within their own territories.--PARLIAMENTARY BURGH, one like Paisley, Greenock, Leith, whose boundaries, as first fixed in 1832, were adopted for municipal purposes, with regard to which they stand practically in the same position as royal burghs; POLICE BURGH, a burgh constituted by the sheriff for purposes of improvement and police, the local authority being the police commissioners; ROYAL BURGH, a corporate body deriving its existence, constitution, and rights from a royal charter, such being either actual and express, or presumed to have existed.

BURGLAR, burg'lar, _n._ one who breaks into a house by night to steal.--_v.t._ and _v.i._ to commit burglary.--_adj._ BURGL[=A]R'IOUS.--_adv._ BURGL[=A]R'IOUSLY.--_v.t._ BURG'LARISE.--_n._ BURG'LARY, breaking into a house by night to steal. [Ety. dub.]

BURGONET. See BURGANET.

BURGOO, bur'g[=oo], _n._ a dish made of boiled oatmeal seasoned with salt, butter, and sugar, used by seamen. [Derivation unknown.]

BURGRAVE, bur'gr[=a]v, _n._ the governor of a town or castle. [Ger. _burg_-_graf_.]

BURGUNDY, bur'gun-di, _n._ a generous French red wine, so called from _Burgundy_, the district where it is made.

BURIAL, ber'i-al, _n._ the act of laying a dead body in the grave: interment.--_ns._ BUR'IAL-AISLE, an aisle in a church used for burials; BUR'IAL-GROUND, BUR'IAL-PLACE, a piece of ground set apart for burying.--BURIAL SERVICE, a religious service or form of ritual accompanying a burial; BURIAL SOCIETY, an insurance society for providing the expenses of burial. [A.S. _byrgels_, a tomb. See BURY.]

BURIN, b[=u]r'in, _n._ a kind of chisel of tempered steel, used in copper engraving--the distinctive style of a master is frequently described by such expressions as a _soft_, a _graphic_, or a _brilliant_ burin.--_n._ BUR'INIST, an engraver. [Fr.; from root of BORE.]

BURKE, burk, _v.t._ to murder, esp. by stifling: hence (_fig._) to put an end to quietly. [From _Burke_, an Edinburgh Irishman (hanged 1829), who committed the crime in order to sell the bodies of his victims for dissection.]

BURL, burl, _n._ a small knot in thread, a knot in wood.--_v.t._ to pick knots, &c., from, in finishing cloth.--_ns._ BUR'LING-[=I]'RON; BUR'LING-MACHINE'.--_adj._ BUR'LY, knotty.

BURLAP, bur'lap, _n._ a coarse canvas for wrappings, &c.--usually in _pl._ [Origin unknown.]

BURLESQUE, bur-lesk', _n._ a ludicrous representation--in speaking, acting, writing, drawing--a low and rude grade of the comic, whose legitimate office is to turn to laughter pretension and affectation.--_adj._ jocular: comical.--_v.t._ to turn into burlesque: to ridicule.--_p.adj._ BURLESQUED', caricatured.--_adv._ BURLESQUE'LY. [It. _burlesco_; prob. from Low L. _burra_, a flock of wool, a trifle.]

BURLETTA, bur-let'a, _n._ a musical farce: comic opera. [It.;--dim. of _burla_, a jest.]

BURLY, bur'li, _adj._ bulky: boisterous, bluff.--_n._ BUR'LINESS. [M. E. _borlich_; prob. Old High Ger. _burl[=i]h_, high, _b[=o]r_, a height.]

BURMESE, bur'm[=e]z, _adj._ relating to _Burma_ in Farther India, or its language.--_n._ a native of Burma, or the language of Burma--also BUR'MAN.

BURN, burn, _n._ a small stream or brook: a spring or fountain. [A.S. _burna_; cog. with Dut. and Ger. _born_.]

BURN, burn, _v.t._ to consume or injure by fire.--_v.i._ to be on fire: to feel excess of heat: to be inflamed with passion:--_pa.p._ burned or burnt.--_n._ a hurt or mark caused by fire.--_ns._ BURN'ER, the part of a lamp or gas-jet from which the flame arises; BURN'ING, act of consuming by fire: conflagration: inflammation.--_adj._ very hot: scorching: ardent: excessive.--_ns._ BURN'ING-GLASS, a convex lens concentrating the sun's rays at its focus; BURN'ING-HOUSE, a kiln; BURN'ING-MIRR'OR, a concave mirror for producing heat by concentrating the sun's rays; BURN'ING-POINT, the temperature at which a volatile oil in an open vessel will take fire from a match held close to its surface; BURNT'-EAR, a kind of smut in oats, wheat, &c., caused by a microscopic fungus; BURNT'-OFF'ERING, something offered and burned upon an altar as a sacrifice--amongst the Hebrews, apparently offerings of dedication and to some extent of expiation; BURNT'-SIENN'A (see SIENNA); BURN'-THE-WIND (_Scot._), a blacksmith.--BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET, said of money, when one is eager to spend it; BURN BLUE, to burn with a bluish flame like that of brimstone; BURN DAYLIGHT (_Shak._), to waste time in superfluous actions; BURN DOWN, to burn to the ground; BURN IN, to eat into, as fire: to fix and render durable, as colours, by means of intense heat, to imprint indelibly on the mind; BURNING BUSH, the emblem of the Presbyterian churches of Scotland, with the motto, 'Nec tamen consumebatur,' adopted from Ex. iii. 2, in memory of the unconquerable courage of the Covenanters under the cruel persecutions of the 17th century; BURNING QUESTION, one being keenly discussed; BURN ONE'S BOATS, to cut one's self off, as Cortes did, from all chance of retreat, to stake everything on success; BURN ONE'S FINGERS, to suffer from interfering in others' affairs, from embarking in speculations, &c.; BURN OUT, to destroy by means of burning: to burn till the fire dies down from want of fuel; BURN THE WATER, to spear salmon by torchlight; BURN UP, to consume completely by fire: to be burned completely. [A.S.; the weak verb _boernan_, _boernde_, _boerned_, has been confused with _beornan_, _byrnan_, _barn_, _bornen_; cf. Ger. _brennen_, to burn.]

BURNET, bur'net, _n._ the English name of two closely united genera of _Rosaceæ_--the Great Burnet common in meadows all over Europe; the Common Burnet growing on chalky soils, its slightly astringent leaves used in salads or soups, also as an ingredient in 'cool tankard.' [From its _brown_ flowers.]

BURNISH, burn'ish, _v.t._ to polish: to make bright by rubbing.--_n._ polish: lustre.--_ns._ BURN'ISHER, an instrument employed in burnishing; BURN'ISHING; BURN'ISHMENT.

BURNOUS, bur-n[=oo]s', _n._ a mantle with a hood much worn by the Arabs. [Fr.--Ar. _burnus_.]

BURNT, _pa.p._ of BURN (q.v.).

BURR. Same as BUR (q.v.).

BURREL, bur'el, _n._ a kind of coarse russet cloth in medieval times. [See BUREAU.]

BURRO, bur'[=o], _n._ a donkey. [Sp.]

BURROCK, bur'ok, _n._ a small weir or dam in a river, to direct the current toward fish-traps.

BURROW, bur'[=o], _n._ a hole in the ground dug by certain animals for shelter or defence.--_v.i._ to make holes underground as rabbits: to dwell in a concealed place.--_ns._ BURR'OW-DUCK, the sheldrake or bergander; BURR'OWING-OWL, a small long-legged diurnal American owl nesting in burrows; BURR'OWSTOWN (_Scot._), a town that is a burgh. [Ety. obscure; prob. a variant of Borough--A.S. _beorgan_, to protect.]

BURSA, bur'sa, _n._ a pouch or sac, esp. a synovial cavity formed where tendons pass over the harder parts of the body:--_pl._ BUR'SÆ (-s[=e]).--_adj._ BUR'SAL.--_ns._ BURS[=A]'LIS, a muscle moving the nictitating membrane, as in birds; BURSAL'OGY, knowledge about the bursæ. [See BURSAR.]

BURSAR, burs'ar, _n._ one who keeps the purse, a treasurer: in Scotland, a student maintained at a university by funds derived from endowment.--_adj._ BURSAR'IAL.--_ns._ BURS'ARSHIP, the office of a bursar; BURS'ARY, in Scotland, the allowance paid to a bursar; BURSE, a purse, an obsolete form of BOURSE.--_adjs._ BURSIC'ULATE, bursiform: resembling a small pouch, or provided with such; BURS'IFORM, pouch-shaped. [Low L. _bursarius_--_bursa_, a purse--Gr. _byrsa_, skin or leather.]

BURSCH, b[=oo]rsh, _n._ a German student:--_pl._ BURSCH'EN.--_n._ BURSCH'ENISM. [Ger. _bursch_, a companion, student.]

BURST, burst, _v.t._ to break into pieces: to break open suddenly or by violence: to disturb, interrupt.--_v.i._ to fly open or break in pieces: to break forth or away: to break into some sudden expression of feeling--e.g. 'to burst into song:'--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ burst.--_n._ a sudden outbreak: a hard gallop: a spurt: a drunken bout.--BURST IN, to force one's way violently into; BURST INTO BLOSSOM, to begin to blossom; BURST INTO TEARS, to fall a-crying; BURST OUT, to force one's way out violently; BURST UP (_coll._), to explode: to fail, become bankrupt.--A BURST UP, a collapse, failure.--ON THE BURST, on the spree. [A.S. _berstan_; Ger. _bersten_; Gael. _brisd_, to break.]

BURSTEN, bur'stn, _obs. pa.p._ of BURST.

BURTHEN, bur'thn, _n._ and _v.t._ For BURDEN.

BURTON, bur'ton, _n._ a tackle variously used.

BURY, ber'i, _v.t._ to hide in the ground: to cover: to place in the grave, as a dead body: to hide or blot out of remembrance:--_pr.p._ bur'ying; _pa.p._ bur'ied.--_ns._ BUR'YING-GROUND, BUR'YING-PLACE, ground set apart for burying the dead: a graveyard.--BURY THE HATCHET, to cease strife. [A.S. _byrgan_, to bury; Ger. _bergen_, to hide.]

BURY, ber'i, _n._ a delicate pear of several varieties.--Also BURR'EL, BURR'EL-PEAR. [Cf. the Fr. _beurré_, as in '_Beurré_ d'Angoulême.']

BUS, BUSS, bus, _n._ Short for OMNIBUS.

BUSBY, bus'bi, _n._ a fur hat with short bag hanging down from the top on its right side, of the same colour as the facings of the regiment, worn by hussars, and, in the British army, by horse artillerymen also. [Prob. Hung.]

BUSCON, bus'kon, _n._ (_U.S._) a miner paid by a percentage of the ore he raises. [Sp.]

BUSH, boosh, _n._ a shrub thick with branches: anything of bushy tuft-like shape: any wild uncultivated country, esp. at the Cape or in Australia: a bunch of ivy hung up as a tavern sign, a tavern itself--'Good wine needs no bush.'--_v.i._ to grow thick or bushy.--_v.t._ to set bushes about, support with bushes: to cover seeds by means of the bush-harrow.--_n._ BUSH'-CAT, the serval.--_adj._ BUSHED, lost in the bush.--_ns._ BUSH'-HARR'OW, a light kind of harrow used for covering grass-seeds, formed of a barred frame interwoven with bushes or branches; BUSH'INESS; BUSH'MAN, a settler in the uncleared land of America or the Colonies, a woodsman: one of a native race in South Africa (Dut. _boschjesman_); BUSH'-RANG'ER, in Australia, a lawless fellow, often an escaped criminal, who takes to the bush and lives by robbery; BUSH'-SHRIKE, a tropical American ant-thrush; BUSH'TIT, a small long-tailed titmouse of West America, building a large hanging-nest.--_v.i._ BUSH'-WHACK, to range through the bush: to fight in guerilla warfare.--_ns_. BUSH'-WHACK'ER, a guerilla fighter: a country lout: a short heavy scythe for cutting bushes; BUSH'-WHACK'ING, the habits or practice of bush-whackers: the process of forcing a way for a boat by pulling at the bushes overhanging a stream.--_adj._ BUSH'Y, full of bushes: thick and spreading.--BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH, to go round about anything, to evade coming to the point. [M. E. _busk_, _busch_; from a Teut. root found in Ger. _busch_, Low L. _boscus_, Fr. _bois_.]

BUSH, boosh, _n._ the metal box or lining of any cylinder in which an axle works.--_v.t._ to furnish with a bush.--_n._ BUSH'-MET'AL, hard brass, gun-metal, a composition of copper and tin, used for journals, bearings, &c. [Dut. _bus_--L. _buxus_, the box-tree.]

BUSHEL, boosh'el, _n._ a dry measure of 8 gallons, for measuring grain, fruit, &c. [O. Fr. _boissiel_, from the root of BOX.]

BUSHEL, boosh'el, _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_U.S._) to mend or alter, as men's clothes.--_ns._ BUSH'ELLER; BUSH'ELLING; BUSH'EL-WOM'AN.

BUSINESS, biz'nes, _n._ employment: engagment: trade, profession, or occupation: one's concerns or affairs: a matter or affair: (_theat._) action as distinguished from dialogue.--_adj._ BUS'INESS-LIKE, methodical, systematic, practical.--DO THE BUSINESS FOR, to settle, make an end of: to ruin.--GENTEEL BUSINESS (_theat._), such parts as require good dressing.--MAKE IT ONE'S BUSINESS, to undertake to accomplish something or see it done; MEAN BUSINESS, to be in earnest; MIND ONE'S OWN BUSINESS, to confine one's self to one's own affairs.--SEND ABOUT ONE'S BUSINESS, to dismiss promptly.

BUSK, busk, _v.t._ or _v.i._ to prepare: to dress one's self. [Ice. _búa_, to prepare, and _-sk_, contr. of _sik_, the recip. pron.--_self_.]

BUSK, busk, _n._ the piece of bone, wood, or steel in the front of a woman's stays: a corset.--_adj._ BUSKED. [Fr. _busc_, which Scheler thinks a doublet of _bois_; Littré, the same as It. _busto_, a bust.]

BUSK, busk, _v.i._ (_naut._) to cruise along a shore, to beat about: to seek. [Prob. Sp. _buscar_, to seek.]

BUSKET, busk'et, _n._ (_Spens._) a little bush.

BUSKIN, busk'in, _n._ a kind of half-boot with high heels worn in ancient times by actors of tragedy--hence, the tragic drama as distinguished from comedy: a half-boot.--_adj._ BUSK'INED, dressed in buskins, noting tragedy: tragic: dignified. [Ety. uncertain; cognates may be found in the O. Fr. _brousequin_; Dut. _broos-ken_; Sp. _borceguí_.]

BUSKY, busk'i, _adj._ (_Shak._). Same as BOSKY.

BUSS, bus, _n._ a rude or playful kiss, a smack.--_v.t._ to kiss, esp. in a rude or playful manner. [M. E. _bass_, prob. from Old Ger. _bussen_, to kiss, but modified by Fr. _baiser_, to kiss, from L. _basium_, a kiss.]

BUSS, bus, _n._ a small two-masted Dutch vessel, used in the herring and mackerel fisheries. [O. Fr. _busse_, Low L. _bussa_; cf. Ger. _büse_.]

BUSSU-PALM, bus'soo-päm, _n._ a palm growing along the Amazon, with leaves as long as 30 feet and 5 feet broad, forming good thatch.

BUST, bust, _n._ a sculpture representing the head and breast of a person: the upper part of the human body, a woman's bosom.--_adj._ BUST'ED, breasted: adorned with busts. [Fr. _buste_; It. and Sp. _busto_.]

BUST, bust, _n._ and _v._ a vulgar form of Burst.--_n._ BUST'ER, something large: a frolic: (_slang_) a roisterer.

BUSTARD, bus'tard, _n._ a genus of birds, sometimes made the type of a large family, usually ranked in the order of marsh birds like the cranes. [Fr. _bistard_, corr. from L. _avis tarda_, slow bird.]

BUSTLE, bus'l, _v.i._ to busy one's self noisily: to be active, often with more noise than actual work.--_n._ hurried activity: stir: tumult.--_n._ BUST'LER. [There is a M. E. _bustelen_, of doubtful relations; perh. conn. with _bluster_, or with Ice. _bustl_, a splash, or with A.S. _bysig_, busy.]

BUSTLE, bus'l, _n._ a stuffed pad or cushion worn by ladies under the skirt of their dress, the intention to improve the figure.

BUSY, biz'i, _adj._ fully employed: active: diligent: meddling.--_v.t._ to make busy: to occupy:--_pr.p._ busying (biz'i-ing); _pa.p._ busied (biz'id).--_adv._ BUS'ILY.--_n._ BUS'YBODY, one busy about others' affairs, a meddling person.--_adj._ BUS'YLESS (_Shak._), without business.--_n._ BUS'YNESS, state of being busy. [A.S. _bysig_.]

BUT, but, _prep._ or _conj._ without: except: besides: only: yet: still.--Used as a noun for a verbal objection; also as a verb, as in Scott's '_but_ me no _buts_.'--_adj._ (_Scot._) outside, as in 'but end.'--BUT AND BEN, a house having an outer and an inner room. [A.S. _be-útan_, _bútan_, without--_be_, by, and _útan_, out--near and yet outside.]

BUT, but, _n._ Same as BUTT.

BUTCHER, booch'[.e]r, _n._ one whose business is to slaughter animals for food: one who delights in bloody deeds.--_v.t._ to slaughter animals for food: to put to a bloody death, to kill cruelly: (_fig._) to spoil anything, as a bad actor or the like.--_ns._ BUTCH'ER-BIRD, a shrike; BUTCH'ERING, BUTCH'ING, the act of killing for food, or cruelly.--_adv._ BUTCH'ERLY, butcher-like, cruel, murderous.--_ns._ BUTCH'ER-MEAT, BUTCH'ER'S-MEAT, the flesh of animals slaughtered by butchers, as distinguished from fish, fowls, and game; BUTCH'ER'S-BROOM, a genus of plants of the lily order, the common one being an evergreen shrub, a bunch of which is used by butchers for sweeping their blocks; BUTCH'ERY, great or cruel slaughter: a slaughter-house or shambles. [O. Fr. _bochier_, _bouchier_, one who kills he-goats--_boc_, a he-goat; allied to Eng. BUCK.]

BUT-END. Same as BUTT-END.

BUTLER, but'l[.e]r, _n._ a servant who has charge of the liquors, plate, &c.--_v.i._ to act as butler.--_ns._ BUT'LERSHIP, BUT'LERAGE; BUT'LERY, the butler's pantry. [Norm. Fr. _butuiller_--Low L. _buticularius_. See BOTTLE.]

BUTMENT. Same as ABUTMENT.

BUTT, but, _v.i._ and _v.t._ to strike with the head, as a goat, &c.--_n._ a push with the head of an animal.--_n._ BUTT'ER, an animal that butts. [O. Fr. _boter_, to push, strike.]

BUTT, but, _n._ a large cask: a wine-butt = 126 gallons, a beer and sherry butt = 108 gallons. [Cf. Fr. _botte_, Sp. _bota_, Low L. _butta_.]

BUTT, but, _n._ a mark for archery practice: a mound behind musketry or artillery targets: one who is made the object of ridicule.--_n._ BUTT'-SHAFT (_Shak._), a shaft or arrow for shooting at butts with. [Fr. _but_, goal.]

BUTT, but, or in longer form, BUTT'-END, _n._ the thick and heavy end: the stump. [Ety. dub.]

BUTT, but, _n._ an ox-hide minus the _offal_ or pieces round the margins.

BUTTE, b[=u]t, but, _n._ any conspicuous and isolated hill or peak, esp. in the Rocky Mountain region. [Fr.]

BUTTER, but'[.e]r, _n._ an oily substance obtained from cream by churning.--_v.t._ to spread over with butter.--_ns._ BUTT'ER-BIRD, the name in Jamaica for the rice-bunting; BUTT'ER-BOAT, a table vessel for holding melted butter; BUTT'ER-BUMP, a bittern; BUTT'ER-BUR, -DOCK, the sweet coltsfoot; BUTT'ERCUP, a plant of the Crowfoot genus, with a cup-like flower of a golden yellow; BUTT'ER-FING'ERS, one who lets a cricket-ball he ought to catch slip through his fingers; BUTT'ER-FISH (see GUNNEL); BUTT'ERFLY, the name of an extensive group of beautiful winged insects: (_fig._) a light-headed person.--_adj._ light, flighty, like a butterfly.--_ns._ BUTT'ERINE, an artificial fatty compound sold as a substitute for butter--since 1887 only allowed to be sold under the names _margarine_ or _oleo-margarine_; BUTT'ER-MILK, the milk that remains after the butter has been separated from the cream by churning; BUTT'ER-NUT, the oily nut of the North American white walnut, the tree itself or its light-coloured close-grained wood: the nut of a lofty timber-tree of Guiana--the _souari-nut_; BUTT'ER-SCOTCH, a kind of toffee containing a large admixture of butter; BUTT'ER-TREE, a genus of plants found in the East Indies and in Africa, remarkable for a sweet buttery substance yielded by their seeds when boiled; BUTT'ER-WIFE, BUTT'ER-WOM'AN, a woman who makes and sells butter; BUTT'ER-WORT, a genus of small plants found in marshy places, so called either from the power of the leaves to coagulate milk, or from their peculiar sliminess.--_adj._ BUTT'ERY, like butter. [A.S. _butere_; Ger. _butter_; both from L. _butyrum_--Gr. _boutyron_--_bous_ ox, _tyros_, cheese.]

BUTTERY, but'[.e]r-i, _n._ a storeroom in a house for provisions, esp. liquors.--_ns._ BUTT'ERY-BAR, the ledge for holding tankards in the buttery; BUTT'ERY-HATCH, a half-door over which provisions are handed from the buttery. [Fr. _bouteillerie_, lit. 'place for bottles.' See BUTLER, BOTTLE.]

BUTTOCK, but'ok, _n._ the rump or protuberant part of the body behind: a term in wrestling.--_ns._ BUTT'OCK-MAIL (_Scot._), the fine formerly exacted by the Church as part of the discipline for the offence of fornication. [Dim. of BUTT, end.]

BUTTON, but'n, _n._ a knob of metal, bone, &c., used to fasten the dress: the knob at the end of a foil: the head of an unexpanded mushroom: the knob of an electric bell, &c.: anything of small value, as in the phrase, 'I don't care a button:' a person who acts as a decoy: (_pl._) young mushrooms, sheep's dung.--_v.t._ to fasten by means of buttons: to close up tightly.--_v.i._ to be fastened with buttons.--_ns._ BUTT'ON-BUSH, a North American shrub of the madder family, having globular flower-heads; BUTT'ON-HOLE, the hole or slit in the dress by which the button is held.--_v.t._ to detain in talk, as if by taking hold of a man by the button.--_ns._ BUTT'ON-HOOK, a hook for pulling the buttons of gloves and shoes through the button-holes; BUTT'ON-WOOD, a small West Indian evergreen tree of the myrobalan family: the plane-tree of the United States--also BUTT'ON-BALL and incorrectly _Sycamore_.--_adj._ BUTT'ONY, decorated with buttons.--BOY IN BUTTONS, a boy servant in livery, a page. [Fr. _bouton_, any small projection, from _bouter_, to push.]

BUTTRESS, but'res, _n._ a projecting support built on to the outside of a wall: any support or prop.--_v.t._ to prop or support, as by a buttress. [Acc. to Dr Murray, perh. from O. Fr. _bouterez_, apparently from _bouter_, to push, bear against.]

BUTTY, but'i, _n._ (_prov._) a chum, comrade, esp. one who takes a contract for working out a certain area of coal, or a partner in such.--_ns._ BUTT'Y-COLL'IER; BUTT'Y-GANG.

BUTYRIC, b[=u]-tir'ik, _adj._ pertaining to or derived from butter.--_n._ B[=U]'TYL, an alcohol radical.--_adj._ BUTYR[=A]'CEOUS, buttery, containing butter.--_n._ B[=U]'TYRATE, a salt of butyric acid.--BUTYRIC ACID, a volatile fatty acid possessing the disagreeable odour of rancid butter. [L. _butyrum_.]

BUXOM, buks'um, _adj._ yielding, elastic: gay, lively, jolly.--_n._ BUX'OMNESS, the quality of being buxom: liveliness: gaiety. [M. E. _buhsum_, pliable, obedient--A.S. _búgan_, to bow, yield, and affix SOME.]

BUY, b[=i], _v.t._ to purchase for money: to bribe: to obtain in exchange for something:--_pr.p._ buy'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ bought (bawt).--_adj._ BUY'ABLE, capable of being bought.--_n._ BUY'ER, one who buys, a purchaser.--BUY AND SELL (_Shak._), to barter; BUY IN, to purchase a stock: to buy back for the owner at an auction; BUY OFF, or OUT, to gain release from military service by payment of money; BUY OVER, to gain by bribery; BUY UP, to purchase the whole stock. [A.S. _bycgan_; Goth. _bugjan_.]

BUZZ, buz, _v.i._ to make a humming noise like bees.--_v.t._ to whisper or spread secretly.--_n._ the noise of bees and flies: a humming sound: a whispered report.--_n._ BUZZ'ER, one who buzzes: (_Shak._) a whisperer or tell-tale.--_adv._ BUZZ'INGLY.--_adj._ BUZZ'Y. [From the sound.]

BUZZ, buz, _v.t._ to drink to the bottom.

BUZZARD, buz'ard, _n._ a bird of prey of the falcon family: a blockhead: a name for some night moths and cockchafers.--_n._ BUZZ'ARD-CLOCK, a cockchafer, the dor. [Fr. _busard_; prob. from L. _buteo_, a kind of falcon.]

BY, b[=i], _prep._ at the side of: near to: through, denoting the agent, cause, means, &c.--_adv._ near: passing near: in presence of: aside, away.--_adv._ BY'-AND-BY, soon, presently.--_ns._ BY'-BLOW, a side blow: an illegitimate child; BY'-COR'NER, an out-of-the-way place; BY'-DRINK'ING (_Shak._), drinking between meals; BY'-ELEC'TION, a parliamentary election during the sitting of parliament: BY'-END, a subsidiary aim; BY'-FORM, a form of a word slightly varying from it; BY'-G[=O]'ING, the action of passing by, esp. IN THE BY-GOING.--_adj._ BY'GONE.--_ns._ BY'-LANE, a side lane or passage out of the common road; BY'-M[=O]'TIVE, an unavowed motive; BY'NAME, a nickname; BY'-PASS'AGE, a side passage.--_adj._ BY'-PAST (_Shak._), past: gone by.--_ns._ BY'PATH, a side path; BY'-PLACE, a retired place; BY'PLAY, a scene carried on, subordinate to and apart from the main part of the play; BY'-PR[=O]'DUCT, an accessory product resulting from some specific process or manufacture; BY'ROAD, a retired side road; BY'ROOM (_Shak._), a side or private room; BY'-SPEECH, a casual speech; BY'STANDER, one who stands by or near one--hence a looker-on; BY'-STREET, an obscure street; BY'-THING, a thing of minor importance; BY'-TIME, leisure time; BY'WAY, a private and obscure way; BY'WORD, a common saying: a proverb: an object of common derision; BY'WORK, work for leisure hours.--BY-THE-BY, BY THE WAY, in passing.--LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, let the past alone. [A.S. _bi_, _big_; Ger. _bei_, L. _ambi_.]

BY, BYE, b[=i], _n._ anything of minor importance, a side issue, a thing not directly aimed at: the condition of being odd, as opposed to _even_, the state of being left without a competitor, as in tennis, &c.: in cricket, a run stolen by the batsman on the ball passing the wicket-keeper and long-stop, the batsman not having struck the ball.--BY-THE-BYE, or -BY, incidentally, by the way.

BYCOCKET, b[=i]'kok-et, _n._ a turned-up peaked cap worn by noble persons in the 15th century--sometimes erroneously _abacot_. [O. Fr. _bicoquet_, prob. _bi-_ (L. _bis_), double, _coque_, a shell.]

BYDE, b[=i]d, _v.i._ Same as BIDE.

BYLANDER, obsolete form of BILANDER.

BYLAW, BYE-LAW, b[=i]'-law, _n._ the law of a city, town, or private corporation: a supplementary law or regulation. [The same as BYRLAW, from Ice. _byarlög_, Dan. _by-lov_, town-law; Scot. _bir-law_; from Ice. _bua_, to dwell. See BOWER. _By_, town, is the suffix in many place-names. The _by_ in bylaw is generally confused with the preposition.]

BYNEMPT, b[=i]-nempt', _pa.t._ of obsolete verb _Bename_ (_Spens._), named. [A.S. pfx. _by-_, _be-_, and _nemnen_, to name. See NAME.]

BYOUS, b[=i]'us, _adj._ (_Scot._) extraordinary.--_adv._ BY'OUSLY.

BYRE, b[=i]r, _n._ (_Scot._) a cow-house. [A.S. _býre_ _pl._ dwellings--_búr_, a bower. See BOWER.]

BYRLADY, bir-l[=a]'di, contraction for _By our Lady_.

BYRLAW, bir'law, _n._ a sort of popular jurisprudence formerly in use in Scotland, in villages and among husbandmen, concerning neighbourhood to be kept among themselves.--_n._ BYR'LAW-MAN, still in parts of Scotland, an arbiter, oddsman, or umpire. [A.S. _burh_, a borough.]

BYRONIC, b[=i]-ron'ik, _adj._ possessing the characteristics of Lord _Byron_ (1788-1824), or of his poetry, overstrained in sentiment or passion, cynical and libertine.--_adv._ BYRON'ICALLY.--_n._ BY'RONISM.

BYSSOLITE, bis'o-l[=i]t, _n._ an olive-green variety of actinolite, in long crystals.--Also AMIAN'TUS. [Gr. _byssos_, byssus, _lithos_, stone.]

BYSSUS, bis'us, _n._ a fine yellowish flax, and the linen made from it: the bundle of fine silky filaments by which many shellfish attach themselves to rocks, &c.: a genus of cryptogamic plants of a silky fibrous texture found on decaying wood, in mines, &c., and other dark places.--_adjs._ BYSSIF'EROUS, bearing or having a byssus; BYSS'INE, made of fine linen. [L.--Gr. _byssos_, a fine flaxen or silky substance.]

BYZANT, biz'ant. Same as BEZANT.

BYZANTINE, biz-an't[=i]n, biz'-, _adj._ relating to _Byzantium_ or Constantinople.--_n._ an inhabitant thereof.--_n._ BYZAN'TINISM, the manifestation of Byzantine characteristics.--BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE, the style prevalent in the Eastern Empire down to 1453, marked by the round arch springing from columns or piers, the dome supported upon pendentives, capitals elaborately sculptured, mosaic or other incrustations, &c.; BYZANTINE CHURCH, the Eastern or Greek Church; BYZANTINE EMPIRE, the Eastern or Greek Empire from 395 A.D. to 1453; BYZANTINE HISTORIANS, the series of Greek chroniclers of the affairs of the Byzantine Empire down to its fall in 1453.

* * * * *

the third letter of our alphabet, originally having the sound of _g_, then of _k_, and finally, in some languages, equivalent to _s_: (_mus._) name of one of the notes of the gamut, also the sound on which the system is founded--the scale C major has neither flats nor sharps, and therefore is called the _natural scale_.

CAABA, kä'a-ba, _n._ the Moslem Holy of Holies, a square building at Mecca, containing the famous Black Stone built into the south-east corner at a height convenient for being kissed. [Ar.]

CAAING-WHALE, kä'ing-hw[=a]l, _n._ one of the Cetacea, in the dolphin family, very gregarious, and oftener stranded than any other 'whale'--16 to 24 feet long, and 10 feet in girth. Other names are _Pilot-whale_, _Black-fish_, _Social Whale_, _Grindhval_. [Scot. _ca_, to drive.]

CAB, kab, _n._ a public carriage of various sizes and shapes, with two or four wheels, drawn by one horse.--_ns._ CAB'BY, a shortened form of CAB'MAN, one who drives a cab for hire; CAB'-STAND, a place where cabs stand for hire; CAB'-TOUT, one whose business it is to call cabs.--CABMEN'S SHELTER, a place of shelter for cabmen while waiting for hire. [Shortened from CABRIOLET.]

CAB, kab, _n._ a Hebrew dry measure = nearly three pints. [Heb. _kab_--_kabab_, to hollow.]

CABAL, ka-bal', _n._ a small party united for some secret design: the plot itself: a name in English history esp. given to five unpopular ministers of Charles II. (1672), whose initials happened to make up the word.--_v.i._ to form a party for a secret purpose: to plot:--_pr.p._ cabal'ling.--_n._ CABAL'LER, a plotter or intriguer. [Fr. _cabale_; from CABALA.]

CABALLERO, kä-bä-ly[=a]'r[=o], _n._ a Spanish gentleman: a Spanish dance.

CABALLINE, kab'a-lin, _adj._ pertaining to, or suited to, a horse. [L. _caballinus_--_caballus_, a horse.]

CABARET, kab'a-ret, _n._ a small tavern. [Fr., prob. for _cabanaret_--_cabane_, a hut.]

CABAS, CABA, kab'a, _n._ a woman's work-basket or reticule: a rush basket or pannier. [Fr.]

CABBAGE, kab'[=a]j, _n._ a well-known kitchen vegetable.--_ns._ CABB'AGE-BUTT'ERFLY, a large butterfly whose larvæ injure the leaves of cabbage and other cruciferous plants; CABB'AGE-MOTH, a moth whose larva feeds on the cabbage; CABB'AGE-PALM, CABB'AGE-TREE, a name given in different countries to different species of palm, the great terminal bud of which is eaten cooked like cabbage, or sometimes also raw in salads; CABB'AGE-ROSE, a species of rose which has a thick form like a cabbage-head; CABB'AGE-WORM, the larva of the cabbage-butterfly or of the cabbage-moth. [Fr. _caboche_, head (_choux cabus_, a cabbage); from L. _caput_, the head.]

CABBAGE, kab'[=a]j, _v.t._ and _v.i._ to purloin, esp. a tailor of portions of a customer's cloth.--_n._ cloth so appropriated.

CABBALA, CABALA, kab'a-la, _n._ a secret science of the Jewish rabbis for the interpretation of the hidden sense of Scripture, claimed to be handed down by oral tradition.--_ns._ CABB'ALISM, the science of the cabbala; CABB'ALIST, one versed in the cabbala.--_adjs._ CABBALIST'IC, -AL, relating to the cabbala: having a hidden meaning. [Heb. _qabb[=a]l[=a]h_, tradition, _qibb[=e]l_, to receive.]

CABER, k[=a]b'[.e]r, _n._ a pole, generally the stem of a young tree, which is poised and tossed or hurled by Highland athletes. [Gael.]

CABIN, kab'in, _n._ a hut or cottage: a small room, esp. in a ship, for officers or passengers--hence CAB'IN-PASS'ENGER, one paying for superior accommodation.--_v.t._ to shut up in a cabin.--_v.i._ to dwell in a cabin.--_n._ CAB'IN-BOY, a boy who waits on the officers or those who live in the cabin of a ship. [Fr. _cabane_--Low L. _capanna_.]

CABINET, kab'in-et, _n._ (_obs._) a little cabin or hut: (_Shak._) the bed or nest of a beast or bird: a small room, closet, or private apartment: a case of drawers for articles of value: a private room for consultation, esp. a king's--hence THE CABINET, a limited number of the chief ministers who govern England, being the leaders of the majority in parliament.--_ns._ CAB'INET-COUN'CIL, a council or consultation of the members of the Cabinet; CAB'INET-EDI'TION (of a book), one less in size and price than a library edition, but still elegant in format; CAB'INET-MAK'ER, a maker of cabinets and other fine furniture; CAB'INET-PH[=O]'TOGRAPH, one of the size larger than a carte-de-visite. [Dim. of CABIN; cf. mod. Fr. _cabinet_.]

CABIRI, ka-b[=i]'r[=i], _n.pl._ ancient divinities of Semitic origin, associated with fire and creative energy, worshipped in mysteries in Lemnos, Samothrace, and Indros--also CABEI'RI.--_adjs._ CABIR'IAN, CABIR'IC.

CABLE, k[=a]'bl, _n._ a strong rope or chain which ties anything, esp. a ship to her anchor: a nautical measure of 100 fathoms; a cable for submarine telegraphs composed of wires embedded in gutta-percha and encased in coiled strands of iron wire; a bundle of insulated wires laid underground in a street: a cable-message.--_v.t._ to provide with a cable, to tie up: to transmit a message, or to communicate with any one by submarine telegram.--_ns._ C[=A]'BLEGRAM, a message sent by submarine telegraph cable; C[=A]'BLE-MOULD'ING, a bead or moulding carved in imitation of a thick rope; C[=A]'BLING, a bead or moulding like a thick rope, often worked in flutes: the filling of flutes with a moulding like a cable.--SLIP THE CABLE, to let it run out. [Fr.--Low L. _caplum_, a halter--_cap-[)e]re_, to hold.]

CABOB, ka-bob', _n._ an Oriental dish of pieces of meat roasted with herbs: roast meat generally in India. [Ar. _kab[=a]b_.]

CABOCHED, CABOSHED, ka-bosht', _adj._ (_her._) bearing the head of an animal, with only the face seen. [Fr. _caboché_--L. _caput_, head.]

CABOCHON, ka-b[=o]-shong, _n._ a precious stone polished but uncut.--EN CABOCHON, rounded on top and flat on back, without facets--garnets, moonstone, &c. [Fr.]

CABOODLE, ka-b[=oo]'dl, _n._ (_slang_) crowd, company.

CABOOSE, ka-b[=oo]s', _n._ the kitchen or cooking-stove of a ship. [Dut. _kombuis_; cf. Ger. _kabuse_.]

CABRIOLE. See CAPRIOLE.

CABRIOLET, kab-ri-[=o]-l[=a]', _n._ a covered carriage with two or four wheels drawn by one horse. [Fr. See CAPRIOLE. By 1830 shortened into CAB.]

CACAO, ka-k[=a]'o, ka-kä'o, _n._ the chocolate-tree, from the seeds of which chocolate is made. [Mex. _cacauatl_.]

CACHÆMIA, CACHEMIA, ka-k[=e]'mi-a, _n._ a morbid state of the blood.--_adj._ CACH[=E]'MIC. [Gr. _kakos_, bad, _haima_, blood.]

CACHALOT, kash'a-lot, _n._ the sperm-whale. [Fr.]

CACHE, kash, _n._ a hiding-place for treasure, for stores of provisions, ammunition, &c.: the stores themselves so hidden.--_v.t._ to hide anything.--_n._ CACHE'POT, an ornamental flower-pot enclosing a common one of earthenware. [Fr. _cacher_, to hide.]

CACHET, kash'[=a], _n._ a seal, any distinctive stamp.--LETTRE DE CACHET, a letter under the private seal of the king of France under the old régime, by which the royal pleasure was made known to individuals, and the administration of justice often interfered with. [Fr.]

CACHEXY, ka-kek'si, _n._ a bad state of body: a depraved habit of mind.--_adjs._ CACHEC'TIC, -AL. [L.--Gr. _kachexia_--_kakos_, bad, _hexis_, condition.]

CACHINNATION, kak-in-[=a]'shun, _n._ loud laughter.--_adj._ CACHIN'NATORY. [L. _cachinnation-em_, _cachinn[=a]re_, to laugh loudly--from the sound.]

CACHOLONG, kash'o-long, _n._ a variety of quartz or of opal, generally of a milky colour. [Fr.]

CACHOLOT. Same as CACHALOT.

CACHOU, kash'[=oo], _n._ a sweetmeat, made in the form of a pill, of extract of liquorice, cashew-nut, or the like, used by some smokers in the hope to sweeten their breath. [Fr.]

CACHUCHA, kach'[=oo]ch-a, _n._ a lively Spanish dance. [Sp.]

CACIQUE, ka-s[=e]k', _n._ a native chief among the West Indian aborigines. [Haytian.]

CACKLE, kak'l, _n._ the sound made by a hen or goose.--_v.i._ to make such a sound.--_ns._ CACK'LER, a fowl that cackles: a talkative, gossiping person; CACK'LING, noise of a goose or hen. [M. E. _cakelen_; cog. with Dut. _hakelen_.]

CACODEMON, kak-o-d[=e]'mon, _n._ an evil spirit: (_Shak._) a nightmare. [Gr. _kakos_, bad, and DEMON.]

CACODYL, kak'o-dil, _n._ a colourless stinking liquid, composed of arsenic, carbon, and hydrogen. [Gr. _kak[=o]d[=e]s_, ill-smelling.]

CACOETHES, kak-o-[=e]'th[=e]z, _n._ an obstinate habit or disposition. [Gr. _kakos_, bad, _[=e]thos_, habit.]

CACOGASTRIC, kak-[=o]-gas'trik, _adj._ pertaining to a disordered stomach, dyspeptic. [Gr. _kakos_, bad, _gast[=e]r_, the stomach.]

CACOGRAPHY, kak-og'ra-fi, _n._ bad writing or spelling.--_adj._ CACOGRAPH'IC [Gr. _kakos_, bad, and _graphia_, writing.]

CACOLET, kak'o-l[=a], _n._ a military mule-litter for sick and wounded. [Fr.; prob. Basque.]

CACOLOGY, ka-kol'o-ji, _n._ bad grammar or pronunciation. [Gr. _kakos_, bad, _logos_, speech.]

CACOON, ka-k[=oo]n', _n._ a large seed of a tropical climber of the bean family, used for making scent-bottles, snuff boxes, purses, &c.: a purgative and emetic seed of a tropical American climber of the gourd family.

CACOPHONY, ka-kof'[=o]-ni, _n._ a disagreeable sound: discord of sounds.--_adjs._ CACOPH'ONOUS, CACOPHON'IC, -AL, CACOPH[=O]'NIOUS, harsh-sounding. [Gr. _kakos_, bad, _ph[=o]n[=e]_, sound.]

CACTUS, kak'tus, _n._ an American plant, generally with prickles instead of leaves.--_adj._ CACT[=A]'CEOUS, pertaining to or like the cactus. [Gr., a prickly plant found in Sicily.]

CAD, kad, _n._ a low, mean, or vulgar fellow: a bus driver or conductor, a tavern-yard loafer.--_adj._ CAD'DISH. [Short for CADET.]

CADASTRAL, ka-das'tral, _adj._ pertaining to a CADASTRE or public register of the lands of a country for fiscal purposes: applied also to a survey on a large scale, like our Ordnance Survey on the scale of 25 inches to the mile. [Fr.--Low L. _capitastrum_, register for a poll-tax--L. _caput_, the head.]

CADAVEROUS, ka-dav'[.e]-rus, _adj._ looking like a dead body: sickly-looking.--_n._ CAD[=A]V'ER (_surg._ and _anat._), a corpse.--_adj._ CADAV'ERIC.--_n._ CADAV'EROUSNESS. [L. _cadaver_, a dead body--_cad-[)e]re_, to fall dead.]

CADDICE, CADDIS, kad'dis, _n._ the larva of the May-fly and other species of Phryganea, which lives in water in a sheath formed of fragments of wood, stone, shell, leaves, &c., open at both ends--caddis-worms form excellent bait for trout.--_n._ CAD'DIS-FLY.

CADDIE, kad'i, _n._ a lad who attends a golfer at play, carrying his clubs: in 18th century a messenger or errand porter in Edinburgh. [See CADET.]

CADDIS, kad'dis, _n._ (_Shak._) worsted ribbon. [O. Fr. _cadaz_, _cadas_.]

CADDY, kad'i, _n._ a small box for holding tea. [Malay _kati_, the weight of the small packets in which tea is made up.]

CADE, k[=a]d, _n._ a barrel or cask. [Fr.--L. _cadus_, a cask.]

CADE, k[=a]d, _n._ and _adj._ a lamb or colt brought up by hand, a pet lamb. [Ety. unknown.]

CADEAU, kad'o, _n._ a present. [Fr.]

CADENAS, kad'e-nas, _n._ in medieval times, a locked casket containing a great man's table requisites, knife, fork, spoon, &c., often in the form of a ship. [O. Fr.,--L. _catena_, a chain.]

CADENCE, k[=a]'dens, _n._ the fall of the voice at the end of a sentence: tone, sound, modulation.--_adj._ C[=A]'DENCED, rhythmical.--_n._ C[=A]'DENCY, regularity of movement: (_her._) the relative status of younger sons.--_adj._ C[=A]'DENT (_Shak._), falling.--_n._ CADEN'ZA, a flourish given by a solo voice or instrument at the close of a movement. [Fr.--L. _cad-[)e]re_, to fall.]

CADET, ka-det', _n._ the younger or youngest son: a member of the younger branch of a family: in the army, one who serves as a private to become an officer: a student in a military school.--_n._ CADET'SHIP.--CADET CORPS, parties of boys undergoing military training. [Fr. _cadet_, formerly _capdet_--Low L. _capitettum_, dim. of _caput_, the head.]

CADGE, kaj, _v.i._ to beg or go about begging.--_n._ CADG'ER, a carrier who collects country produce, a hawker: a fellow who picks up his living about the streets. [Prob. conn. with CATCH.]

CADGY, kaj'i, _adj._ (_prov._) frolicsome: wanton. [Cf. Dan. _kaad_, wanton, Ice. _kátr_, merry.]

CADI, k[=a]'di, _n._ a judge in Mohammedan countries. [Ar. _q[=a]d[=i]_, a judge.]

CADMEAN, kad-m[=e]'an, _adj._ relating to _Cadmus_, who introduced the original Greek alphabet.

CADMIA, kad'mi-a, _n._ oxide of zinc, containing from 10 to 20 per cent. of cadmium. [Gr. _kadmia_, _kadmeia_ (_ge_), Cadmean (earth), calamine.]

CADMIUM, kad'mi-um, _n._ a white metal occurring in zinc ores. [See CADMIA.]

CADRANS, kad'rans, _n._ a wooden instrument by which a gem is adjusted while being cut. [Fr. _cadran_, a quadrant.]

CADRE, kad'r, _n._ a nucleus, framework, esp. the permanent skeleton of a regiment or corps, the commissioned and non-commissioned officers, &c., around whom the rank and file may be quickly grouped. [Fr.]

CADUCEUS, ka-d[=u]'se-us, _n._ (_myth._) the rod carried by Mercury, the messenger of the gods--a wand surmounted with two wings and entwined by two serpents.--_adj._ CAD[=U]'CEAN. [L., akin to Gr. _k[=e]rukeion_, a herald's wand--_k[=e]rux_, a herald.]

CADUCIBRANCHIATE, ka-d[=u]i-si-brang'ki-[=a]t, _adj._ losing the gills on attaining maturity, as all the salamanders.--_n.pl._ CADUCIBRANCHI[=A]'TA. [L. _caducus_, caducous, _branchiæ_, gills.]

CADUCOUS, ka-d[=u]'kus, _adj._ falling early, as leaves or flowers.--_n._ CAD[=U]'CITY, transitoriness, senility. [L. _caducus_--_cad-[)e]re_, to fall.]

CÆCUM, s[=e]'kum, _n._ a blind sac: a sac or bag having only one opening, connected with the intestine of an animal.--_adj._ CÆ'CAL. [L.--_cæcus_, blind.]

CAEN-STONE, k[=a]'en-st[=o]n, _n._ a cream-coloured limestone brought from _Caen_ in France.

CÆSAR, s[=e]'zar, _n._ an absolute monarch, an autocrat, from the Roman dictator Caius Julius Cæsar (100-44 B.C.).--_adj._ CÆSAR'EAN, relating to Julius Cæsar.--_ns._ CÆ'SARISM; CÆ'SARIST; CÆ'SARSHIP.--CÆSAREAN OPERATION, the popular name for Hysterotomy, the delivery of a child by cutting through the walls of the abdomen, as is said to have been the case with Cæsar.

CÆSIUM, s[=e]z'i-um, _n._ a silver-white, soft, and extensile alkaline metal, almost always found along with rubidium, discovered by Bunsen and Kirchhoff in 1860 by spectrum analysis.--_adj._ CÆS'IOUS, bluish green. [L. _cæsius_, bluish gray.]

CÆSURA, CESURA, s[=e]-z[=u]'ra, _n._ a syllable cut off at the end of a word after the completion of a foot: a pause in a verse.--_adj._ CÆS[=U]'RAL. [L.--_cæd[)e]re_, _cæsum_, to cut off.]

CAFÉ, käf'[=a], _n._ a coffee-house, a restaurant.--CAFÉ CHANTANT, a public place of entertainment where the guests hear music while sipping their liquor. [Fr.]

CAFFEINE, kaf'e-in, or kaf-[=e]'in, _n._ the alkaloid or active principle of coffee and tea. [Fr. _caféine_. See COFFEE.]

CAFFRE, kaf'f[.e]r, _n._ more correctly KAFIR (q.v.).

CAFTAN, kaf'tan, _n._ a Persian or Turkish vest. [Turk. _qaftán_.]

CAGE, k[=a]j, _n._ a place of confinement: a box made of wire and wood for holding birds or small animals: (_mining_) a frame with one or more platforms for cars, used in hoisting in a vertical shaft: the framework supporting a peal of bells.--_v.t._ to imprison in a cage--_p.adj._ CAGED, confined.--_ns._ CAGE'LING, a bird kept in a cage; CAGE'-WORK, open work like the bars of a cage. [Fr.--L. _cavea_, a hollow place.]

CAGOT, kag'[=o], _n._ one of an outcast race found scattered in the district of the western Pyrenees, most likely the descendants of lepers. [Fr.; origin unknown.]

CAHIER, ka-y[=a]', _n._ a writing-book, memorandum or report: a memorial. [Fr.]

CAHOOT, ka-h[=oo]t', _n._ (_U.S._) company or partnership.

CAILLACH, k[=i]l'yah, _n._ an old woman. [Gael. _cailleach_.]

CAIMAC, CAIMACAM. See KAIMAKAM.

CAIMAN. Same as CAYMAN.

CAIN, k[=a]n, _n._ a murderer, from _Cain_, who killed his brother Abel (Gen. iv.).--_adj._ CAIN'-COL'OURED (_Shak._), reddish, the traditional colour of the hair of Cain and Judas.--_n._ CAIN'ITE, a descendant of Cain: a member of a 2d-century set of Gnostics who revered Cain and Judas.

CAIN, KAIN, k[=a]n, _n._ in old Scots law, rent paid in kind, esp. in poultry, &c.--TO PAY THE CAIN, to pay the penalty. [Ir. and Gael, _cáin_, rent, tax.]

CAINOZOIC, k[=a]-no-z[=o]'ik, _adj._ belonging to the third of the great periods of geology, the same as the Tertiary (q.v.). [Gr. _kainos_, newly made, recent, _z[=o]on_, animal.]

CAIQUE, kä-[=e]k', _n._ a light skiff used on the Bosporus: the skiff of a galley. [Fr.,--Turk. _kaik_, a boat.]

CAIRD, k[=a]rd, _n._ a tramping tinker, a gipsy, a vagrant. [Gael. and Ir. _ceard_.]

CAIRN, k[=a]rn, _n._ a heap of stones, esp. one raised over a grave, or as a landmark on a mountain-top.--_n._ CAIRN'GORM-STONE, or simply CAIRNGORM, a name often given by jewellers to brown or yellow quartz or rock-crystal, because found among the Cairngorm Mountains in Aberdeenshire. [Celt. _carn_.]

CAISSON, k[=a]s'on, _n._ a tumbril or ammunition wagon: a chest filled with explosive materials: a strong case for keeping out the water while the foundations of a bridge are being built: an apparatus for lifting a vessel out of the water for repairs or inspection: the pontoon or floating gate used to close a dry-dock. [Fr., from _caisse_, a case or chest. See CASE.]

CAITIFF, k[=a]'tif, _n._ a mean despicable fellow.--_adj._ mean, base.--_n._ CAI'TIVE (_Spens._), captive, subject. [O. Fr. _caitif_, (Fr. _chétif_)--L. _captivus_, a captive--_cap-[)e]re_, to take.]

CAJOLE, ka-j[=o]l', _v.t._ to coax: to cheat by flattery.--_ns._ CAJOLE'MENT, coaxing for the purpose of deluding: wheedling language: flattery; CAJOL'ER; CAJOL'ERY. [Fr. _cajoler_, to chatter; ety. dub.]

CAJUPUT, kaj'i-put, _n._ a pungent, volatile, aromatic oil, distilled from the leaves of two trees native to Australia.--Also CAJ'EPUT. [Malay.]

CAKE, k[=a]k, _n._ a piece of dough that is baked: a small loaf of fine bread: any flattened mass baked, as _pan_-_cake_, &c., or as soap, wax, tobacco, &c.: a thin hard-baked kind of oaten-bread--whence Scotland is styled the 'Land of Cakes:' fancy bread, sweetened: a composition of bread with butter, sugar, spices, currants, raisins, &c., baked into any form--_plum-cake_, _tea-cake_, _wedding-cake_.--_v.t._ to form into a cake or hard mass.--_v.i._ to become baked or hardened.--_adj._ CAK'Y.--CAKES AND ALE, a phrase covering vaguely all the good things of life.--TO TAKE THE CAKE (_slang_), to carry off the honours, rank first. [Scand. _kaka_; cog. with Ger. _kuche_, Dut. _koek_.]

CALABAR-BEAN, käl'a-bär-b[=e]n, _n._ the seed of _Physostigma venenosum_, the ordeal bean of Old Calabar, used in the form of an emulsion in cases of witchcraft, the accused being plainly innocent if he can throw off the poison by vomiting.

CALABASH, kal'a-bash, _n._ a tree of tropical America, bearing a large melon-like fruit, the shell of which, called a calabash, is used for domestic purposes, as holding liquids, &c. [Fr. _calebasse_--Sp. _calabaza_--Pers. _kharbuz_, melon.]

CALABOOSE, kal'a-b[=oo]s, _n._ a prison in New Orleans, esp. a common lock-up. [Sp. _calabozo_, a dungeon.]

CALADIUM, kal-[=a]'di-um, _n._ a genus of plants of the Arum family, with edible starchy root-stocks. [Latinised from Malay _kél[=a]dy_.]

CALAMANCO, kal-a-mangk'o, _n._ a satin-twilled woollen stuff, checkered or brocaded in the warp. [Dut. _kalamink_, Ger. _kalmank_, Fr. _calmande_; origin unknown.]

CALAMANDER, kal'a-man-d[.e]r, _n._ a hard and valuable cabinet-wood of a brownish colour, with black stripes, brought from India and Ceylon. [Prob. Singh.]

CALAMARY, kal'a-mar-i, _n._ a popular name applied to numerous forms of cuttle-fish or Cephalopoda, more esp. to _Loligo vulgaris_.--Also SQUID. [Sp. _calamar_--Fr. _calmar_--L. _calamarius_, _calamus_, a pen.]

CALAMINE, kal'a-m[=i]n, _n._ an ore consisting essentially of carbonate of zinc. [Fr.--Low L. _calamina_, most prob. from L. _cadmia_.]

CALAMINT, kal'a-mint, _n._ a genus of Labiate plants closely allied to balm and thyme. [Fr.--Low L. _calamentum_, through L. from Gr. _kalaminth[=e]_.]

CALAMITE, kal'a-m[=i]t, _n._ a fossil plant abundant in the coal-measures, believed to be a kind of gigantic horse-tails (_Equisetaceæ_). [Formed from L. _calamus_, a reed.]