Chapter LIII: Appendix: Vermiformis (32)

2. To roll or carry smoothly on, or as on, wheels; as, we were bowled rapidly along the road.

3. To pelt or strike with anything rolled. Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earth, And bowled to death with turnipsShak. To bowl (a player) out, in cricket, to put out a striker by knocking down a bail or a stump in bowling.

BOWL Bowl, v. i.

1. To play with bowls.

2. To roll a ball on a plane, as at cricket, bowls, etc.

3. To move rapidly, smoothly, and like a ball; as, the carriage bowled along.

BOWLDER; BOULDER Bowl"der, Boul"der, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. bullra to roar, rattle, Dan. buldre, dial. Sw. bullersteen larger kind of pebbles; perh. akin to E. bellow.]

1. A large stone, worn smooth or rounded by the action of water; a large pebble.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: A mass of any rock, whether rounded or not, that has been transported by natural agencies from its native bed. See Drift. Bowlder clay, the unstratified clay deposit of the Glacial or Drift epoch, often containing large numbers of bowlders. -- Bowlder wall, a wall constructed of large stones or bowlders.

BOWLDERY Bowl"der*y, a.

Defn: Characterized by bowlders.

BOWLEG Bow"leg`, n.

Defn: A crooked leg. Jer. Taylor.

BOW-LEGGED Bow"-legged`, a.

Defn: Having crooked legs, esp. with the knees bent outward. Johnson.

BOWLER Bowl"er, n.

Defn: One who plays at bowls, or who rolls the ball in cricket or any other game.

BOWLESS Bow"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of a bow.

BOWLINE Bow"line, n. Etym: [Cf. D. boelijn, Icel. böglïnabovline; properly the line attached to the shoulder or side of the sail. See Bow (of a ship), and Line.] (Naut.)

Defn: A rope fastened near the middle of the leech or perpendicular edge of the square sails, by subordinate ropes, called bridles, and used to keep the weather edge of the sail tight forward, when the ship is closehauled. Bowline bridles, the ropes by which the bowline is fastened to the leech of the sail. -- Bowline knot. See Illust. under Knot. -- On a bowline, close-hauled or sailing close to the wind; -- said of a ship.

BOWLING Bowl"ing, n.

Defn: The act of playing at or rolling bowls, or of rolling the ball at cricket; the game of bowls or of tenpins. Bowling alley, a covered place for playing at bowls or tenpins. -- Bowling green, a level piece of greensward or smooth ground for bowling, as the small park in lower Broadway, New York, where the Dutch of New Amsterdam played this game.

BOWLS Bowls, n. pl.

Defn: See Bowl, a ball, a game.

BOWMAN Bow"man, n.; pl. Bowmen (.

Defn: A man who uses a bow; an archer. The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen. Jer. iv. 29. Bowman's root. (Bot.) See Indian physic, under Indian.

BOWMAN Bow"man, n. (Naut.)

Defn: The man who rows the foremost oar in a boat; the bow oar.

BOWNE Bowne, v. t. Etym: [See Boun.]

Defn: To make ready; to prepare; to dress. [Obs.] We will all bowne ourselves for the banquet. Sir W. Scott.

BOW NET Bow" net`

Defn: .

1. A trap for lobsters, being a wickerwork cylinder with a funnel- shaped entrance at one end.

2. A net for catching birds. J. H. Walsh.

BOW OAR Bow" oar`

Defn: .

1. The oar used by the bowman.

2. One who rows at the bow of a boat.

BOW-PEN Bow"-pen`, n.

Defn: Bow-compasses carrying a drawing pen. See Bow-compass.

BOW-PENCIL Bow"-pen`cil, n.

Defn: Bow-compasses, one leg of which carries a pencil.

BOW-SAW Bow"-saw`, n.

Defn: A saw with a thin or narrow blade set in a strong frame.

BOWSE Bowse, v. i. Etym: [See Booze, and Bouse.]

1. To carouse; to bouse; to booze. De Quincey.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: To pull or haul; as, to bowse upon a tack; to bowse away, i. e., to pull all together.

BOWSE Bowse, n.

Defn: A carouse; a drinking bout; a booze.

BOWSHOT Bow"shot`, n.

Defn: The distance traversed by an arrow shot from a bow.

BOWSPRIT Bow"sprit`, n. Etym: [Bow + sprit; akin to D.boegspriet; boeg bow of a ship + spriet, E. sprit, also Sw. bogspröt, G. bugspriet.] (Naut.)

Defn: A large boom or spar, which projects over the stem of a ship or other vessel, to carry sail forward.

BOWSSEN Bows"sen, v. t.

Defn: To drench; to soak; especially, to immerse (in water believed to have curative properties). [Obs.] There were many bowssening places, for curing of mad men. . . . If there appeared small amendment he was bowssened again and again. Carew.

BOWSTRING Bow"string`, n.

1. The string of a bow.

2. A string used by the Turks for strangling offenders. Bowstring bridge, a bridge formed of an arch of timber or iron, often braced, the thrust of which is resisted by a tie forming a chord of the arch. -- Bowstring girder, an arched beam strengthened by a tie connecting its two ends. -- Bowstring hemp (Bot.), the tenacious fiber of the Sanseviera Zeylanica, growing in India and Africa, from which bowstrings are made. Balfour.

BOWSTRING Bow"string`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowstringed ( or Bowstrung (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bowstringing.]

Defn: To strangle with a bowstring.

BOWSTRINGED Bow"stringed`, p.a.

1. Furnished with bowstring.

2. Put to death with a bowstring; strangled.

BOWTEL Bow"tel, n.

Defn: See Boultel.

BOWWOW Bow"wow`, n.

Defn: An onomatopoetic name for a dog or its bark. -- a.

Defn: Onomatopoetic; as, the bowwow theory of language; a bowwow word. [Jocose.]

BOWYER Bow"yer, n. Etym: [From Bow, like lawyer from law.]

1. An archer; one who uses bow.

2. One who makes or sells bows.

BOX Box, n. Etym: [As. box, L. buxus, fr. Gr. Box a case.] (Bot.)

Defn: A tree or shrub, flourishing in different parts of the world. The common box (Buxus sempervirens) has two varieties, one of which, the dwaft box (B.suffruticosa), is much used for borders in gardens. The wood of the tree varieties, being very hard and smooth, is extensively used in the arts, as by turners, engravers, mathematical instrument makers, etc. Box elder, the ash-leaved maple (Negundo aceroides), of North America. -- Box holly, the butcher's broom (Russus aculeatus). -- Box thorn, a shrub (Lycium barbarum). -- Box tree, the tree variety of the common box.

BOX Box, n.; pl. Boxes ( Etym: [As. box a small case or vessel with a cover; akin to OHG. buhsa box, G. büchse; fr. L. buxus boxwood, anything made of boxwood. See Pyx, and cf. Box a tree, Bushel.]

1. A receptacle or case of any firm material and of various shapes.

2. The quantity that a box contain.

3. A space with a few seats partitioned off in a theater, or other place of public amusement. Laughed at by the pit, box, galleries, nay, stage. Dorset. The boxes and the pit are sovereign judges. Dryden.

4. A chest or any receptacle for the deposit of money; as, a poor box; a contribution box. Yet since his neighbors give, the churl unlocks, Damning the poor, his tripple-bolted box. J. Warton.

5. A small country house. "A shooting box." Wilson. Tight boxes neatly sashed. Cowper.

6. A boxlike shed for shelter; as, a sentry box.

7. (Mach) (a) An axle box, journal box, journal bearing, or bushing. (b) A chamber or section of tube in which a valve works; the bucket of a lifting pump.

8. The driver's seat on a carriage or coach.

9. A present in a box; a present; esp. a Christmas box or gift. "A Christmas box." Dickens.

10. (Baseball)

Defn: The square in which the pitcher stands.

11. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A Mediterranean food fish; the bogue.

Note: Box is much used adjectively or in composition; as box lid, box maker, box circle, etc.; also with modifying substantives; as money box, letter box, bandbox, hatbox or hat box, snuff box or snuffbox. Box beam (Arch.), a beam made of metal plates so as to have the form of a long box. -- Box car (Railroads), a freight car covered with a roof and inclosed on the sides to protect its contents. -- Box chronometer, a ship's chronometer, mounted in gimbals, to preserve its proper position. -- Box coat, a thick overcoat for driving; sometimes with a heavy cape to carry off the rain. -- Box coupling, a metal collar uniting the ends of shafts or other parts in machinery. -- Box crab (Zoöl.), a crab of the genus Calappa, which, when at rest with the legs retracted, resembles a box. -- Box drain (Arch.), a drain constructed with upright sides, and with flat top and bottom. -- Box girder (Arch.), a box beam. -- Box groove (Metal Working), a closed groove between two rolls, formed by a collar on one roll fitting between collars on another. R. W. Raymond. -- Box metal, an alloy of copper and tin, or of zinc, lead, and antimony, for the bearings of journals, etc. -- Box plait, a plait that doubles both to the rigth and the left. -- Box turtle or Box tortoise (Zoöl.), a land tortoise or turtle of the genera Cistudo and Emys; -- so named because it can withdraw entirely within its shell, which can be closed by hinged joints in the lower shell. Also, humorously, an exceedingly reticent person. Emerson. -- In a box, in a perplexity or an embarrassing position; in difficulty. (Colloq.) -- In the wrong box, out of one's place; out of one's element; awkwardly situated. (Colloq.) Ridley (1554)

BOX Box, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boxed (p. pr. & vb. n. Boxing.]

1. To inclose in a box.

2. To furnish with boxes, as a wheel.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: To inclose with boarding, lathing, etc., so as to bring to a required form. To box a tree, to make an incision or hole in a tree for the purpose of procuring the sap. -- To box off, to divide into tight compartments. -- To box up. (a) To put into a box in order to save; as, he had boxed up twelve score pounds. (b) To confine; as, to be boxed up in narrow quarters.

BOX Box, n. Etym: [Cf.Dan. baske to slap, bask slap, blow. Cf. Pash.]

Defn: A blow on the head or ear with the hand. A good-humored box on the ear. W. Irving.

BOX Box, v. i.

Defn: To fight with the fist; to combat with, or as with, the hand or fist; to spar.

BOX Box, v. t.

Defn: To strike with the hand or fist, especially to strike on the ear, or on the side of the head.

BOX Box, v. t. Etym: [Cf.Sp. boxar, now spelt bojar.]

Defn: To boxhaul. To box off (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel either way by bracing the headyards aback. -- To box the compass (Naut.), to name the thirty-two points of the compass in their order.

BOXBERRY Box"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The wintergreern. (Gaultheria procumbens). [Local, U.S.]

BOXEN Box"en, a.

Defn: Made of boxwood; pertaining to, or resembling, the box (Buxus). [R.] The faded hue of sapless boxen leaves. Dryden.

BOXER Box"er, n.

Defn: One who packs boxes.

BOXER Box"er, n.

Defn: One who boxes; a pugilist.

BOXFISH Box"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The trunkfish.

BOXHAUL Box"haul`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boxhauled.] (Naut.)

Defn: To put (a vessel) on the other tack by veering her short round on her heel; -- so called from the circumstance of bracing the head yards abox (i. e., sharp aback, on the wind). Totten.

BOXHAULING Box"haul`ing, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A method of going from one tack to another. See Boxhaul.

BOXING Box"ing, n.

1. The act of inclosing (anything) in a box, as for storage or transportation.

2. Material used in making boxes or casings.

3. Any boxlike inclosure or recess; a casing.

4. (Arch.)

Defn: The external case of thin material used to bring any member to a required form.

BOXING Box"ing, n.

Defn: The act of fighting with the fist; a combat with the fist; sparring. Blackstone. Boxing glove, a large padded mitten or glove used in sparring for exercise or amusement.

BOXING DAY Box"ing day`.

Defn: The first week day after Christmas, a legal holiday on which Christmas boxes are given to postmen, errand boys, employees, etc. The night of this day is boxing night. [Eng.]

BOX-IRON Box"-i`ron, n.

Defn: A hollow smoothing iron containing a heater within.

BOXKEEPER Box"keep`er, n.

Defn: An attendant at a theater who has charge of the boxes.

BOX KITE Box kite.

Defn: A kite, invented by Lawrence Hargrave, of Sydney, Australia, which consist of two light rectangular boxes, or cells open on two sides, and fastened together horizontally. Called also Hargrave, or cellular, kite.

BOX TAIL Box tail. (Aëronautics)

Defn: In a flying machine, a tail or rudder, usually fixed, resembling a box kite.

BOXTHORN Box"thorn`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Lycium, esp. Lycium barbarum.

BOXWOOD Box"wood`, n.

Defn: The wood of the box (Buxus).

BOY Boy, n. Etym: [Cf. D. boef, Fries. boi, boy; akin to G. bube, Icel. bofi rouge.]

Defn: A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad; hence, a son. My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee. Sir W. Scott.

Note: Boy is often used as a term of comradeship, as in college, or in the army or navy. In the plural used colloquially of members of an assosiaton, fraternity, or party. Boy bishop, a boy (usually a chorister) elected bishop, in old Christian sports, and invested with robes and other insignia. He practiced a kind of mimicry of the ceremonies in which the bishop usually officiated. The Old Boy, the Devil. [Slang] -- Yellow boys, guineas. [Slang, Eng.] -- Boy's love, a popular English name of Southernwood (Artemisia abrotonum);) -- called also lad's love. -- Boy's play, childish amusements; anything trifling.

BOY Boy, v. t.

Defn: To act as a boy; -- in allusion to the former practice of boys acting women's parts on the stage. I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness. Shak.

BOYAR; BOYARD Bo*yar", Bo*yard", n. Etym: [Russ. boiárin'.]

Defn: A member of a Russian aristocratic order abolished by Peter the Great. Also, one of a privileged class in Roumania.

Note: English writers sometimes call Russian landed proprietors boyars.

BOYAU Boy"au, n.; pl. Boyaux or Boyaus. Etym: [F. boyau gut, a long and narrow place, and (of trenches) a branch. See Bowel.] (Fort.)

Defn: A winding or zigzag trench forming a path or communication from one siegework to another, to a magazine, etc.

BOYCOTT Boy"cott`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boycotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Boycotting.] Etym: [From Captain Boycott, a land agent in Mayo, Ireland, so treated in 1880.]

Defn: To combine against (a landlord, tradesman, employer, or other person), to withhold social or business relations from him, and to deter others from holding such relations; to subject to a boycott.

BOYCOTT Boy"cott, n.

Defn: The process, fact, or pressure of boycotting; a combining to withhold or prevent dealing or social intercourse with a tradesman, employer, etc.; social and business interdiction for the purpose of coercion.

BOYCOTTER Boy"cott`er, n.

Defn: A participant in boycotting.

BOYCOTTISM Boy"cott*ism, n.

Defn: Methods of boycotters.

BOYDEKIN Boy"de*kin, n.

Defn: A dagger; a bodkin. [Obs.]

BOYER Boy"er, n. Etym: [D. boeijer; -- so called because these vessels were employed for laying the boeijen, or buoys: cf. F. boyer. See Buoy.] (Naut.)

Defn: A Flemish sloop with a castle at each end. Sir W. Raleigh.

BOYHOOD Boy"hood, n. Etym: [Boy + -hood.]

Defn: The state of being a boy; the time during which one is a boy. Hood.

BOYISH Boy"ish, a.

Defn: Resembling a boy in a manners or opinions; belonging to a boy; childish; trifling; puerile. A boyish, odd conceit. Baillie.

BOYISHLY Boy"ish*ly, adv.

Defn: In a boyish manner; like a boy.

BOYISHNESS Boy"ish*ness, n.

Defn: The manners or behavior of a boy.

BOYISM Boy"ism, n.

1. Boyhood. [Obs.] T. Warton.

2. The nature of a boy; childishness. Dryden.

BOYLE'S LAW Boyle's" law`.

Defn: See under Law.

BOY SCOUT Boy scout.

Defn: Orig., a member of the "Boy Scouts," an organization of boys founded in 1908, by Sir R. S. S. Baden-Powell, to promote good citizenship by creating in them a spirit of civic duty and of usefulness to others, by stimulating their interest in wholesome mental, moral, industrial, and physical activities, etc. Hence, a member of any of the other similar organizations, which are now worldwide. In "The Boy Scouts of America" the local councils are generally under a scout commissioner, under whose supervision are scout masters, each in charge of a troop of two or more patrols of eight scouts each, who are of three classes, tenderfoot, second-class scout, and first-class scout.

BOZA Bo"za, n. Etym: [See Bosa.]

Defn: An acidulated fermented drink of the Arabs and Egyptians, made from millet seed and various astringent substances; also, an intoxicating beverage made from hemp seed, darnel meal, and water. [Written also bosa, bozah, bouza.]

BRABANTINE Bra*bant"ine, a.

Defn: Pertaining to Brabant, an ancient province of the Netherlands.

BRABBLE Brab"ble, v. i. Etym: [D. brabbelen to talk confusedly. Blab, Babble.]

Defn: To clamor; to contest noisily. [R.]

BRABBLE Brab"ble, n.

Defn: A broil; a noisy contest; a wrangle. This petty brabble will undo us all. Shak.

BRABBLEMENT Brab"ble*ment, n.

Defn: A brabble. [R.] Holland.

BRABBLER Brab"bler, n.

Defn: A clamorous, quarrelsome, noisy fellow; a wrangler. [R] Shak.

BRACCATE Brac"cate, a.Etym: [L. bracatus wearing breeches, fr. bracae breeches.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Furnished with feathers which conceal the feet.

BRACE Brace, n. Etym: [OF. brace, brasse, the two arms, embrace, fathom, F. brasse fathom, fr. L. bracchia the arms (stretched out), pl. of bracchium arm; cf. Gr.

1. That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.

2. A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum. The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that. Derham.

3. The state of being braced or tight; tension. The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension. Holder.

4. (Arch. & Engin.)

Defn: A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.

5. (Print.)

Defn: A vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, boll, bowl; or, in music, used to connect staves.

6. (Naut.)

Defn: A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.

7. (Mech.)

Defn: A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.

8. A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt. "A brace of greyhounds." Shak. He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants. Addison. A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church. Fuller. But you, my brace of lords. Shak.

9. pl.

Defn: Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders. I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces. Thackeray.

10. Harness; warlike preparation. [Obs.] For that it stands not in such warlike brace. Shak.

11. Armor for the arm; vantbrace.

12. (Mining)

Defn: The mouth of a shaft. [Cornwall] Angle brace. See under Angle.

BRACE Brace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Braced; p. pr. & vb. n. Bracing.]

1. To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam in a building.

2. To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves. And welcome war to brace her drums. Campbell.

3. To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly. The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy, have very little feet. Locke. Some who spurs had first braced on. Sir W. Scott.

4. To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as, he braced himself against the crowd. A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced. Fairfax.

5. (Naut.)

Defn: To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards. To brace about (Naut.), to turn (a yard) round for the contrary tack. -- To brace a yard (Naut.), to move it horizontally by means of a brace. -- To brace in (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by hauling in the weather brace. -- To brace one's self, to call up one's energies. "He braced himself for an effort which he was little able to make." J. D. Forbes. - To brace to (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by checking or easing off the lee brace, and hauling in the weather one, to assist in tacking. -- To brace up (Naut.), to bring (a yard) nearer the direction of the keel by hauling in the lee brace. -- To brace up sharp (Naut.), to turn (a yard) as far forward as the rigging will permit.

BRACE Brace, v. i.

Defn: To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -with up. [Colloq.]

BRACELET Brace"let, n. Etym: [F. bracelet, dim. of OF. bracel armlet, prop. little arm, dim. of bras arm, fr. L. bracchium. See Brace,n.]

1. An ornamental band or ring, for the wrist or the arm; in modern times, an ornament encircling the wrist, worn by women or girls.

2. A piece of defensive armor for the arm. Johnson.

BRACER Bra"cer, n.

1. That which braces, binds, or makes firm; a band or bandage.

2. A covering to protect the arm of the bowman from the vibration of the string; also, a brassart. Chaucer.

3. A medicine, as an astringent or a tonic, which gives tension or tone to any part of the body. Johnson.

BRACH Brach, n. Etym: [OE. brache a kind of scenting hound or setting dog, OF. brache, braque, fr. OHG. braccho, G. bracke; possibly akin to E. fragrant, fr. L. fragrare to smell.]

Defn: A bitch of the hound kind. Shak.

BRACHELYTRA Brach*el"y*tra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ( (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of beetles having short elytra, as the rove beetles.

BRACHIA Brach"i*a, n. pl.

Defn: See Brachium.

BRACHIAL Brach"i*al or (, a. Etym: [L. brachialis (bracch-), from bracchium (bracch-) arm: cf. F. brachial.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining or belonging to the arm; as, the brachial artery; the brachial nerve.

2. Of the nature of an arm; resembling an arm.

BRACHIATA Brach`i*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [See Brachiate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of the Crinoidea, including those furnished with long jointed arms. See Crinoidea.

BRACHIATE Brach"i*ate, a. Etym: [L. brachiatus (bracch-) with boughs or branches like arms, from brackium (bracch-) arm.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having branches in pairs, decussated, all nearly horizontal, and each pair at right angles with the next, as in the maple and lilac.

BRACHIOGANOID Brach`i*og"a*noid, n.

Defn: One of the Brachioganoidei.

BRACHIOGANOIDEI Brach`i*o*ga*noid"e*i, n. pl.Etym: [NL., from L. brachium (bracch-) arm + NL. ganoidei.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of ganoid fishes of which the bichir of Africa is a living example. See Crossopterygii.

BRACHIOLARIA Brach`i*o*la"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. brachiolum (bracch-), dim. of brachium (bracch-) arm.]

Defn: (Zoöl.) A peculiar early larval stage of certain starfishes, having a bilateral structure, and swimming by means of bands of vibrating cilia.

BRACHIOPOD Brach"i*o*pod, n. Etym: [Cf.F. brachiopode.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Brachiopoda, or its shell.

BRACHIOPODA Brach`i*op"o*da, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A class of Molluscoidea having a symmetrical bivalve shell, often attached by a fleshy peduncle.

Note: Within the shell is a pair of "arms," often long and spirally coiled, bearing rows of ciliated tentacles by which a current of water is made to flow into the mantle cavity, bringing the microscopic food to the mouth between the bases of the arms. The shell is both opened and closed by special muscles. They form two orders; Lyopoma, in which the shell is thin, and without a distinct hinge, as in Lingula; and Arthropoma, in which the firm calcareous shell has a regular hinge, as in Rhynchonella. See Arthropomata.

BRACHIUM Brach"i*um, n.; pl. Bracchia (. Etym: [L. brachium or bracchium, arm.] (Anat.)

Defn: The upper arm; the segment of the fore limb between the shoulder and the elbow.

BRACHMAN Brach"man, n. Etym: [L. Brachmanae, pl., Gr.

Defn: See Brahman. [Obs.]

BRACHYCATALECTIC Brach`y*cat`a*lec"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr.& Last. Pros.)

Defn: A verse wanting two syllables at its termination.

BRACHYCEPHALIC; BRACHYCEPHALOUS Brach`y*ce*phal"ic, Brach`y*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Having the skull short in proportion to its breadth; shortheaded; -- in distinction from dolichocephalic.

BRACHYCEPHALY; BRACHYCEPHALISM Brach`y*ceph"a*ly, Brach`y*ceph"a*lism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Brachycéphalie] . (Anat.)

Defn: The state or condition of being brachycephalic; shortness of head.

BRACHYCERAL Bra*chyc"er*al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having short antennæ, as certain insects.

BRACHYDIAGONAL Brach`y*di*ag"o*nal, a. Etym: [Gr. diagonal.]

Defn: Pertaining to the shorter diagonal, as of a rhombic prism. Brachydiagonal axis, the shorter lateral axis of an orthorhombic crystal.

BRACHYDIAGONAL Brach`y*di*ag"o*nal, n.

Defn: The shorter of the diagonals in a rhombic prism.

BRACHYDOME Brach`y*dome, n. Etym: [Gr. dome.] (Crystallog.)

Defn: A dome parallel to the shorter lateral axis. See Dome.

BRACHYGRAPHER Bra*chyg"ra*pher, n.

Defn: A writer in short hand; a stenographer. He asked the brachygrapher whether he wrote the notes of the sermon. Gayton.

BRACHYGRAPHY Bra*chyg"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. brachygraphie.]

Defn: Stenograhy. B. Jonson.

BRACHYLOGY Bra*chyl"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. brachylogie.] (Rhet.)

Defn: Conciseness of expression; brevity.

BRACHYPINACOID Brach`y*pin"a*coid, n. Etym: [Gr. pinacoid.] (Crytallog.)

Defn: A plane of an orthorhombic crystal which is parallel both to the vertical axis and to the shorter lateral (brachydiagonal) axis.

BRACHYPTERA Bra*chyp"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of Coleoptera having short wings; the rove beetles.

BRACHYPTERES Bra*chyp"te*res, n.pl. Etym: [NL. See Brachyptera. ] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of birds, including auks, divers, and penguins.

BRACHYPTEROUS Bra*chyp"ter*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. brachyptère.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having short wings.

BRACHYSTOCHRONE Bra*chys"to*chrone, n. Etym: [Incorrect for brachistochrone, fr. Gr. brachistochrone. ] (Math.)

Defn: A curve, in which a body, starting from a given point, and descending solely by the force of gravity, will reach another given point in a shorter time than it could by any other path. This curve of quickest descent, as it is sometimes called, is, in a vacuum, the same as the cycloid.

BRACHYTYPOUS Brach"y*ty`pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: Of a short form.

BRACHYURA Brach`y*u"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of decapod Crustacea, including the common crabs, characterized by a small and short abdomen, which is bent up beneath the large cephalo-thorax. [Also spelt Brachyoura.] See Crab, and Illustration in Appendix.

BRACHYURAL; BRACHYUROUS Brach`y*u"ral, Brach`y*u"rous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. brachyure.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Brachyura.

BRACHYURAN Brach`y*u"ran, n.

Defn: One of the Brachyura.

BRACING Bra"cing, a.

Defn: Imparting strength or tone; strengthening; invigorating; as, a bracing north wind.

BRACING Bra"cing, n.

1. The act of strengthening, supporting, or propping, with a brace or braces; the state of being braced.

2. (Engin.)

Defn: Any system of braces; braces, collectively; as, the bracing of a truss.

BRACK Brack, n. Etym: [Cf.D. braak, Dan. bræk, a breaking, Sw. & Isel. brak a crackling, creaking. Cf. Breach.]

Defn: An opening caused by the parting of any solid body; a crack or breach; a flaw. Stain or brack in her sweet reputation. J. Fletcher.

BRACK Brack, n. Etym: [D. brak, adj., salt; cf. LG. wrak refuse, G. brack.]

Defn: Salt or brackish water. [Obs.] Drayton.

BRACKEN Brack"en, n. Etym: [OE. braken, AS. bracce. See 2d Brake, n.]

Defn: A brake or fern. Sir W. Scott.

BRACKET Brack"et, n. Etym: [Cf.OF. braguette codpiece, F. brayette, Sp. bragueta, also a projecting mold in architecture; dim. fr.L. bracae breeches; cf. also, OF. bracon beam, prop, support; of unknown origin. Cf. Breeches.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: An architectural member, plain or ornamental, projecting from a wall or pier, to support weight falling outside of the same; also, a decorative feature seeming to discharge such an office.

Note: This is the more general word. See Brace, Cantalever, Console, Corbel, Strut.

2. (Engin. & Mech.)

Defn: A piece or combination of pieces, usually triangular in general shape, projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: A shot, crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.

4. (Mil.)

Defn: The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage.

5. (Print.)

Defn: One of two characters [], used to inclose a reference, explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an omission, and for certain other purposes; -- called also crotchet.

6. A gas fixture or lamp holder projecting from the face of a wall, column, or the like. Bracket light, a gas fixture or a lamp attached to a wall, column, etc.

BRACKET Brack"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bracketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bracketing]

Defn: To place within brackets; to connect by brackets; to furnish with brackets.

BRACKETING Brack"et*ing, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A series or group of brackets; brackets, collectively.

BRACKISH Brack"ish, a. Etym: [See Brack salt water.]

Defn: Saltish, or salt in a moderate degree, as water in saline soil. Springs in deserts found seem sweet, all brackish though they be. Byron.

BRACKISHNESS Brack"ish*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being brackish, or somewhat salt.

BRACKY Brack"y, a.

Defn: Brackish. Drayton.

BRACT Bract, n. Etym: [See Bractea.] (Bot.) (a) A leaf, usually smaller than the true leaves of a plant, from the axil of which a flower stalk arises. (b) Any modified leaf, or scale, on a flower stalk or at the base of a flower.

Note: Bracts are often inconspicuous, but sometimes large and showy, or highly colored, as in many cactaceous plants. The spathes of aroid plants are conspicuous forms of bracts.

BRACTEA Brac"te*a, n. Etym: [L., a thin plate of metal or wood, gold foil.] (Bot.)

Defn: A bract.

BRACTEAL Brac"te*al, a. Etym: [Cf.F. bractéal.]

Defn: Having the nature or appearance of a bract.

BRACTEATE Brac"te*ate, a. Etym: [Cf.L. bracteatus covered with gold plate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having a bract or bracts.

BRACTED Bract"ed, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Furnished with bracts.

BRACTEOLATE Brac"te*o*late, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Furnished with bracteoles or bractlets.

BRACTEOLE Brac"te*ole, n. Etym: [L. bracteola, dim. of bractea. See Bractea.] (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Bractlet.

BRACTLESS Bract"less, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Destitute of bracts.

BRACTLET Bract"let, n. Etym: [Bract + -let] (Bot.)

Defn: A bract on the stalk of a single flower, which is itself on a main stalk that support several flowers. Gray.

BRAD Brad, n. Etym: [Cf.OE. brod, Dan. braad prick, sting, brodde ice spur, frost nail, Sw. brodd frost nail, Icel. broddr any pointed piece of iron or stell; akin to AS. brord point, spire of grass, and perh. to E. bristle. See Bristle, n.]

Defn: A thin nail, usually small, with a slight projection at the top on one side instead of a head; also, a small wire nail, with a flat circular head; sometimes, a small, tapering, square-bodied finishing nail, with a countersunk head.

BRAD AWL Brad" awl`.

Defn: A straight awl with chisel edge, used to make holes for brads, etc. Weale.

BRADOON Bra*doon", n.

Defn: Same as Bridoon.

BRAE Brae, n. Etym: [See Bray a hill.]

Defn: A hillside; a slope; a bank; a hill. [Scot.] Burns.

BRAG Brag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bragged; p. pr. & vb. n. Bragging.] Etym: [OE. braggen to resound, blow, boast (cf. F. braguer to lead a merry life, flaunt, boast, OF. brague merriment), from Icel. braka to creak, brak noise, fr. the same root as E. break; properly then, to make a noise, boast. 95.]

Defn: To talk about one's self, or things pertaining to one's self, in a manner intended to excite admiration, envy, or wonder; to talk boastfully; to boast; -- often followed by of; as, to brag of one's exploits, courage, or money, or of the great things one intends to do. Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, Brags of his substance, not of ornament. Shak.

Syn. -- To swagger; boast; vapor; bluster; vaunt; flourish; talk big.

BRAG Brag, v. t.

Defn: To boast of. [Obs.] Shak.

BRAG Brag, n.

1. A boast or boasting; bragging; ostentatious pretense or self glorification. Cæsar . . . made not here his brag Of "came," and "saw," and "overcame." Shak.

2. The thing which is boasted of. Beauty is Nature's brag. Milton.

3. A game at cards similar to bluff. Chesterfield.

BRAG Brag, a. Etym: [See Brag, v. i.]

Defn: Brisk; full of spirits; boasting; pretentious; conceited. [Arhaic] A brag young fellow. B. Jonson.

BRAG Brag, adv.

Defn: Proudly; boastfully. [Obs.] Fuller.

BRAGGADOCIO Brag`ga*do"cio, n. Etym: [From Braggadocchio, a boastful character in Spenser's "Faërie Queene."]

1. A braggart; a boaster; a swaggerer. Dryden.

2. Empty boasting; mere brag; pretension.

BRAGGARDISM Brag"gard*ism, n. Etym: [See Braggart.]

Defn: Boastfulness; act of bragging. Shak.

BRAGGART Brag"gart, n. Etym: [OF. bragard flaunting, vain, bragging. See Brag, v. i.]

Defn: A boaster. O, I could play the woman with mine eyes, And braggart with my tongue. Shak.

BRAGGART Brag"gart, a.

Defn: Boastful. -- Brag"gart*ly, adv.

BRAGGER Brag"ger, n.

Defn: One who brags; a boaster.

BRAGGET Brag"get, n. Etym: [OE. braket, bragot, fr. W. bragawd, bragod, fr. brag malt.]

Defn: A liquor made of ale and honey fermented, with spices, etc. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

BRAGGINGLY Brag"ging`ly, adv.

Defn: Boastingly.

BRAGLESS Brag"less, a.

Defn: Without bragging. [R.] Shak.

BRAGLY Brag"ly, adv.

Defn: In a manner to be bragged of; finely; proudly. [Obs.] Spenser.

BRAHMA Brah"ma, n. Etym: [See Brahman.]

1. (Hindoo Myth.)

Defn: The One First Cause; also, one of the triad of Hindoo gods. The triad consists of Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Siva, the Destroyer.

Note: According to the Hindoo religious books, Brahma (with the final a short), or Brahm, is the Divine Essence, the One First Cause, the All in All, while the personal gods, Brahmá (with the final a long), Vishnu, and Siva, are emanations or manifestations of Brahma the Divine Essence.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A valuable variety of large, domestic fowl, peculiar in having the comb divided lengthwise into three parts, and the legs well feathered. There are two breeds, the dark or penciled, and the light; -- called also Brahmapootra.

BRAHMAN; BRAHMIN Brah"man, Brah"min, n.; pl. Brahmans, Brahmins. Etym: [Skr. Brahmana (cf. Brahman worship, holiness; the God Brahma, also Brahman): cf. F. Brahmane, Brachmane, Bramine, L. Brachmanae, -manes, -mani, pl., Gr.

Defn: A person of the highest or sacerdotal caste among the Hindoos. Brahman bull (Zoöl.), the male of a variety of the zebu, or Indian ox, considered sacred by the Hindoos.

BRAHMANESS Brah"man*ess, n.

Defn: A Brahmani.

BRAHMANI Brah"man*i, n. Etym: [Fem. of Brahman.]

Defn: Any Brahman woman. [Written also Brahmanee.]

BRAHMANIC; BRAHMANICAL; BRAHMAN-ICAL; BRAHMINIC; BRAHMINICAL; BRAHMIN-ICAL Brah*man"ic, -ic*al , Brah*min"ic (, *ic*al (, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Brahmans or to their doctrines and worship.

BRAHMANISM; BRAHMINISM Brah"man*ism, Brah"min*ism, n.

Defn: The religion or system of doctrines of the Brahmans; the religion of Brahma.

BRAHMANIST; BRAHMINIST Brah"man*ist, Brah"min*ist, n.

Defn: An adherent of the religion of the Brahmans.

BRAHMOISM Brah"mo*ism, n.

Defn: The religious system of Brahmo-somaj. Balfour.

BRAHMO-SOMAJ Brah`mo-so*maj", n. Etym: [Bengalese, a wor

Defn: A modern reforming theistic sect among the Hindos. [Written also Brahma-samaj.]

BRAID Braid, v. t. [imp. &. p. p. Braided; p. pr. & vb. n. Braiding.] Etym: [OE. braiden, breiden, to pull, reach, braid, AS. bregdan to move to and fro, to weave; akin. to Icel. breg, D. breiden to knit, OS. bregdan to weave, OHG. brettan to brandish. Cf. Broid.]

1. To weave, interlace, or entwine together, as three or more strands or threads; to form into a braid; to plait. Braid your locks with rosy twine. Milton.

2. To mingle, or to bring to a uniformly soft consistence, by beating, rubbing, or straining, as in some culinary operations.

3. To reproach. [Obs.] See Upbraid. Shak.

BRAID Braid, n.

1. A plait, band, or narrow fabric formed by intertwining or weaving together different strands. A braid of hair composed of two different colors twined together. Scott.

2. A narrow fabric, as of wool, silk, or linen, used for binding, trimming, or ornamenting dresses, etc.

BRAID Braid, n. Etym: [Cf.Icel. breg to move quickly.]

1. A quick motion; a start. [Obs.] Sackville.

2. A fancy; freak; caprice. [Obs.] R. Hyrde.

BRAID Braid v. i.

Defn: To start; to awake. [Obs.] Chaucer.

BRAID Braid, a. Etym: [AS. bræd, bred, deceit; akin to Icel. brag trick, AS. bredan, bregdan, to braid, knit, (hence) to knit a net, to draw into a net, i.e., to deceive. See Braid, v. t.]

Defn: Deceitful. [Obs.] Since Frenchmen are so braid, Marry that will, I live and die a maid. Shak.

BRAIDING Braid"ing, n.

1. The act of making or using braids.

2. Braids, collectively; trimming. A gentleman enveloped in mustachios, whiskers, fur collars, and braiding. Thackeray.

BRAIL Brail, n. Etym: [OE. brayle furling rope, OF. braiol a band placed around the breeches, fr.F. braies, pl., breeches, fr.L. braca, bracae, breeches, a Gallic word; cf. Arm. bragez. Cf. Breeches.]

1. (Falconry)

Defn: A thong of soft leather to bind up a hawk's wing.

2. pl. (Naut.)

Defn: Ropes passing through pulleys, and used to haul in or up the leeches, bottoms, or corners of sails, preparatory to furling.

3. A stock at each end of a seine to keep it stretched.

BRAIL Brail, v. t. (Naut.)

Defn: To haul up by the brails; -- used with up; as, to brail up a sail.

BRAILLE Braille, n.

Defn: A system of printing or writing for the blind in which the characters are represented by tangible points or dots. It was invented by Louis Braille, a French teacher of the blind.

BRAIN Brain, n. Etym: [OE. brain, brein, AS. bragen, brægen; akin to LG. brägen, bregen, D. brein, and perh. to Gr. 95.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The whitish mass of soft matter (the center of the nervous system, and the seat of consciousness and volition) which is inclosed in the cartilaginous or bony cranium of vertebrate animals. It is simply the anterior termination of the spinal cord, and is developed from three embryonic vesicles, whose cavities are connected with the central canal of the cord; the cavities of the vesicles become the central cavities, or ventricles, and the walls thicken unequally and become the three segments, the fore-, mid-, and hind-brain.

Note: In the brain of man the cerebral lobes, or largest part of the forebrain, are enormously developed so as to overhang the cerebellum, the great lobe of the hindbrain, and completely cover the lobes of the midbrain. The surface of the cerebrum is divided into irregular ridges, or convolutions, separated by grooves (the so-called fissures and sulci), and the two hemispheres are connected at the bottom of the longitudinal fissure by a great transverse band of nervous matter, the corpus callosum, while the two halves of the cerebellum are connected on the under side of the brain by the bridge, or pons Varolii.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The anterior or cephalic ganglion in insects and other invertebrates.

3. The organ or seat of intellect; hence, the understanding. " My brain is too dull." Sir W. Scott.

Note: In this sense, often used in the plural.

4. The affections; fancy; imagination. [R.] Shak. To have on the brain, to have constantly in one's thoughts, as a sort of monomania. [Low] Brain box or case, the bony on cartilaginous case inclosing the brain. -- Brain coral, Brain stone coral (Zoöl), a massive reef-building coral having the surface covered by ridges separated by furrows so as to resemble somewhat the surface of the brain, esp. such corals of the genera Mæandrina and Diploria. -- Brain fag (Med.), brain weariness. See Cerebropathy. -- Brain fever (Med.), fever in which the brain is specially affected; any acute cerebral affection attended by fever. -- Brain sand, calcareous matter found in the pineal gland.

BRAIN Brain, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brained; p. pr. & vb. n. Braining.]

1. To dash out the brains of; to kill by beating out the brains. Hence, Fig.: To destroy; to put an end to; to defeat. There thou mayst brain him. Shak. It was the swift celerity of the death . . . That brained my purpose. Shak.

2. To conceive; to understand. [Obs.] brain not. Shak.

BRAINED Brained, p.a.

Defn: Supplied with brains. If th' other two be brained like us. Shak.

BRAINISH Brain"ish, a.

Defn: Hot-headed; furious. [R.] Shak.

BRAINLESS Brain"less, a.

Defn: Without understanding; silly; thougthless; witless. -- Brain"less*ness, n.

BRAINPAN Brain"pan`, n. Etym: [Brain + pan.]

Defn: The bones which inclose the brain; the skull; the cranium.

BRAINSICK Brain"sick`, a.

Defn: Disordered in the understanding; giddy; thoughtless. -- Brain"sick*ness, n.

BRAINSICKLY Brain"sick`ly, adv.

Defn: In a brainsick manner.

BRAINY Brain"y, a.

Defn: Having an active or vigorous mind. [Colloq.]

BRAISE; BRAIZE Braise, Braize, n. Etym: [So called from its iridescent colors.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A European marine fish (Pagrus vulgaris) allied to the American scup; the becker. The name is sometimes applied to the related species. [Also written brazier.]

BRAISE; BRAIZE Braise, Braize, n. Etym: [F.]

1. Charcoal powder; breeze.

2. (Cookery)

Defn: Braised meat.

BRAISE Braise, v. t. Etym: [F. braiser, fr. braise coals.] (Cookery)

Defn: To stew or broil in a covered kettle or pan. A braising kettle has a deep cover which holds coals; consequently the cooking is done from above, as well as below. Mrs. Henderson.

BRAISER Brais"er, n.

Defn: A kettle or pan for braising.

BRAIT Brait, n. Etym: [Cf.W. braith variegated, Ir. breath, breagh, fine, comely.]

Defn: A rough diamond.

BRAIZE Braize, n.

Defn: See Braise.

BRAKE Brake, imp.

Defn: of Break. [Arhaic] Tennyson.

BRAKE Brake, n. Etym: [OE. brake fern; cf. AS. bracce fern, LG. brake willow bush, Da. bregne fern, G. brach fallow; prob. orig. the growth on rough, broken ground, fr. the root of E. break. See Break, v. t., cf. Bracken, and 2d Brake, n.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A fern of the genus Pteris, esp. the P. aquilina, common in almost all countries. It has solitary stems dividing into three principal branches. Less properly: Any fern.

2. A thicket; a place overgrown with shrubs and brambles, with undergrowth and ferns, or with canes. Rounds rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, To shelter thee from tempest and from rain. Shak. He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone. Sir W. Scott. Cane brake, a thicket of canes. See Canebrake.

BRAKE Brake, n. Etym: [OE. brake; cf. LG. brake an instrument for breaking flax, G. breche, fr. the root of E. break. See Break, v. t., and cf. Breach.]

1. An instrument or machine to break or bruise the woody part of flax or hemp so that it may be separated from the fiber.

2. An extended handle by means of which a number of men can unite in working a pump, as in a fire engine.

3. A baker's kneading though. Johnson.

4. A sharp bit or snaffle. Pampered jades . . . which need nor break nor bit. Gascoigne.

5. A frame for confining a refractory horse while the smith is shoeing him; also, an inclosure to restrain cattle, horses, etc. A horse . . . which Philip had bought . . . and because of his fierceness kept him within a brake of iron bars. J. Brende.

6. That part of a carriage, as of a movable battery, or engine, which enables it to turn.

7. (Mil.)

Defn: An ancient engine of war analogous to the crossbow and ballista.

8. (Agric.)

Defn: A large, heavy harrow for breaking clods after plowing; a drag.

9. A piece of mechanism for retarding or stopping motion by friction, as of a carriage or railway car, by the pressure of rubbers against the wheels, or of clogs or ratchets against the track or roadway, or of a pivoted lever against a wheel or drum in a machine.

10. (Engin.)

Defn: An apparatus for testing the power of a steam engine, or other motor, by weighing the amount of friction that the motor will overcome; a friction brake.

11. A cart or carriage without a body, used in breaking in horses.

12. An ancient instrument of torture. Holinshed. Air brake. See Air brake, in the Vocabulary. -- Brake beam or Brake bar, the beam that connects the brake blocks of opposite wheels. -- Brake block. (a) The part of a brake holding the brake shoe. (b) A brake shoe. -- Brake shoe or Brake rubber, the part of a brake against which the wheel rubs. -- Brake wheel, a wheel on the platform or top of a car by which brakes are operated. -- Continuous brake . See under Continuous.

BRAKEMAN Brake"man, n.; pl. Brakemen (.

1. (Railroads)

Defn: A man in charge of a brake or brakes.

2. (Mining)

Defn: The man in charge of the winding (or hoisting) engine for a mine.

BRAKY Brak"y, a.

Defn: Full of brakes; abounding with brambles, shrubs, or ferns; rough; thorny. In the woods and braky glens. W. Browne.

BRAMA Bra"ma, n.

Defn: See Brahma.

BRAMAH PRESS Bra"mah press`.

Defn: A hydrostatic press of immense power, invented by Joseph Bramah of London. See under Hydrostatic.

BRAMBLE Bram"ble, n. Etym: [OE. brembil, AS.brbramal), fr. the same root as E. broom, As. br. See Broom.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Rubus, including the raspberry and blackberry. Hence: Any rough, prickly shrub. The thorny brambles, and embracing bushes. Shak.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The brambling or bramble finch.

BRAMBLE BUSH Bram"ble bush`. (Bot.)

Defn: The bramble, or a collection of brambles growing together. He jumped into a bramble bush And scratched out both his eyes. Mother Goose.

BRAMBLED Bram"bled, a.

Defn: Overgrown with brambles. Forlorn she sits upon the brambled floor. T. Warton.

BRAMBLE NET Bram"ble net`.

Defn: A net to catch birds.

BRAMBLING Bram"bling, n. Etym: [OE. bramline. See Bramble, n.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European mountain finch (Fringilla montifringilla); -- called also bramble finch and bramble.

BRAMBLY Bram"bly, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or full of, brambles. "In brambly wildernesses." Tennyson.

BRAME Brame, n. Etym: [Cf. Breme.]

Defn: Sharp passion; vexation. [Obs.] Heart-burning brame. Spenser.

BRAMIN; BRAMINIC Bra"min, Bra*min"ic

Defn: , etc. See Brahman, Brachmanic, etc.

BRAN Bran, n. Etym: [OE. bren, bran, OF. bren, F. bran, from Celtic; cf. Armor. brenn, Ir. bran, bran, chaff.]

1. The broken coat of the seed of wheat, rye, or other cereal grain, separated from the flour or meal by sifting or bolting; the coarse, chaffy part of ground grain.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European carrion crow.

BRANCARD Bran"card, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A litter on which a person may be carried. [Obs.] Coigrave.

BRANCH Branch, n.; pl. Branches (. Etym: [OE. braunche, F. branche, fr. LL. branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor. brank branch, bough.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A shoot or secondary stem growing from the main stem, or from a principal limb or bough of a tree or other plant.

2. Any division extending like a branch; any arm or part connected with the main body of thing; ramification; as, the branch of an antler; the branch of a chandelier; a branch of a river; a branch of a railway. Most of the branches , or streams, were dried up. W. Irving.

3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct article; a section or subdivision; a department. "Branches of knowledge." Prescott. It is a branch and parcel of mine oath. Shak.

4. (Geom.)

Defn: One of the portions of a curve that extends outwards to an indefinitely great distance; as, the branches of an hyperbola.

5. A line of family descent, in distinction from some other line or lines from the same stock; any descendant in such a line; as, the English branch of a family. His father, a younger branch of the ancient stock. Carew.

6. (Naut.)

Defn: A warrant or commission given to a pilot, authorizing him to pilot vessels in certain waters. Branches of a bridle, two pieces of bent iron, which bear the bit, the cross chains, and the curb. -- Branch herring. See Alewife. -- Root and branch , totally, wholly.

Syn. -- Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.

BRANCH Branch, a.

Defn: Diverging from, or tributary to, a main stock, line, way, theme, etc.; as, a branch vein; a branch road or line; a branch topic; a branch store.

BRANCH Branch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Branched; p. pr. & vb. n. Branching.]

1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into branches; to ramify.

2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision. To branch off, to form a branch or a separate part; to diverge. -- To branch out, to speak diffusively; to extend one's discourse to other topics than the main one; also, to enlarge the scope of one's business, etc. To branch out into a long disputation. Spectator.

BRANCH Branch, v. t.

1. To divide as into branches; to make subordinate division in.

2. To adorn with needlework representing branches, flowers, or twigs. The train whereof loose far behind her strayed, Branched with gold and pearl, most richly wrought. Spenser.

BRANCHER Branch"er, n.

1. That which shoots forth branches; one who shows growth in various directions.

2. (Falconry)

Defn: A young hawk when it begins to leave the nest and take to the branches.

BRANCHERY Branch"er*y, n.

Defn: A system of branches.

BRANCHIA Bran"chi*a, n.; pl. Branchiæ. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: A gill; a respiratory organ for breathing the air contained in water, such as many aquatic and semiaquatic animals have.

BRANCHIAL Bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to branchiæ or gills. Branchial arches, the bony or cartilaginous arches which support the gills on each side of the throat of fishes and amphibians. See Illustration in Appendix. -- Branchial clefts, the openings between the branchial arches through which water passes.

BRANCHIATE Bran"chi*ate, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Furnished with branchiæ; as, branchiate segments.

BRANCHIFEROUS Bran*chif"er*ous, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Having gills; branchiate; as, branchiferous gastropods.

BRANCHINESS Branch"i*ness, n.

Defn: Fullness of branches.

BRANCHING Branch"ing, a.

Defn: Furnished with branches; shooting our branches; extending in a branch or branches. Shaded with branching palm. Milton.

BRANCHING Branch"ing, n.

Defn: The act or state of separation into branches; division into branches; a division or branch. The sciences, with their numerous branchings. L. Watts.

BRANCHIOGASTROPODA Bran`chi*o*gas*trop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. gastropoda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Those Gastropoda that breathe by branchiæ, including the Prosobranchiata and Opisthobranchiata.

BRANCHIOMERISM Bran`chi*om"er*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. -mere.] (Anat.)

Defn: The state of being made up of branchiate segments. R. Wiedersheim.

BRANCHIOPOD Bran"chi*o*pod, n.

Defn: One of the Branchiopoda.

BRANCHIOPODA Bran"chi*o*poda, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. -poda: cf. F. branchiopode.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of Entomostraca; -- so named from the feet of branchiopods having been supposed to perform the function of gills. It includes the fresh-water genera Branchipus, Apus, and Limnadia, and the genus Artemia found in salt lakes. It is also called Phyllopoda. See Phyllopoda, Cladocera. It is sometimes used in a broader sense.

BRANCHIOSTEGAL Bran`chi*os"te*gal, a. Etym: [Gr. branchiostège.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the membrane covering the gills of fishes. -- n. (Anat.)

Defn: A branchiostegal ray. See Illustration of Branchial arches in Appendix.

Note: This term was formerly applied to a group of fishes having boneless branchiæ. But the arrangement was artificial, and has been rejected.

BRANCHIOSTEGE Bran`chi*os"tege, (Anat.)

Defn: The branchiostegal membrane. See Illustration in Appendix.

BRANCHIOSTEGOUS Bran`chi*os"te*gous, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Branchiostegal.

BRANCHIOSTOMA Bran`chi*os"to*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr., Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The lancelet. See Amphioxus.

BRANCHIURA Bran"chi*u"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr., Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of Entomostraca, with suctorial mouths, including species parasitic on fishes, as the carp lice (Argulus).

BRANCHLESS Branch"less, a.

Defn: Destitude of branches or shoots; without any valuable product; barren; naked.

BRANCHLET Branch"let, n. Etym: [Branch + -let.]

Defn: A little branch; a twig.

BRANCH PILOT Branch" pi`lot.

Defn: A pilot who has a branch or commission, as from Trinity House, England, for special navigation.

BRANCHY Branch"y, a.

Defn: Full of branches; having wide-spreading branches; consisting of branches. Beneath thy branchy bowers of thickest gloom. J. Scott.

BRAND Brand, n. Etym: [OE. brand, brond, AS. brand brond brand, sword, from byrnan, beornan, to burn; akin to D., Dan., Sw., & G. brand brand, Icel. brandr a brand, blade of a sword. sq. root32. See Burn, v. t., and cf. Brandish.]

1. A burning piece of wood; or a stick or piece of wood partly burnt, whether burning or after the fire is extinct. Snatching a live brand from a wigwam, Mason threw it on a matted roof. Palfrey.

2. A sword, so called from its glittering or flashing brightness. [Poetic] Tennyson. Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand. Milton.