Chapter LIV: Appendix: Vermiformis (33)

3. A mark made by burning with a hot iron, as upon a cask, to designate the quality, manufacturer, etc., of the contents, or upon an animal, to designate ownership; -- also, a mark for a similar purpose made in any other way, as with a stencil. Hence, figurately: Quality; kind; grade; as, a good brand of flour.

4. A mark put upon criminals with a hot iron. Hence: Any mark of infamy or vice; a stigma. The brand of private vice. Channing.

5. An instrument to brand with; a branding iron.

6. (Bot.)

Defn: Any minute fungus which produces a burnt appearance in plants. The brands are of many species and several genera of the order Pucciniæi.

BRAND Brand, v.t [imp. & p. p. Branded; p. pr. & vb. n. Branding.].

1. To burn a distinctive mark into or upon with a hot iron, to indicate quality, ownership, etc., or to mark as infamous (as a convict).

2. To put an actual distinctive mark upon in any other way, as with a stencil, to show quality of contents, name of manufacture, etc.

3. Fig.: To fix a mark of infamy, or a stigma, upon. The Inquisition branded its victims with infamy. Prescott. There were the enormities, branded and condemned by the first and most natural verdict of common humanity. South.

4. To mark or impress indelibly, as with a hot iron. As if it were branded on my mind. Geo. Eliot. Brand"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, brands; a branding iron.

2. A gridiron. [Scot.]

BRANDENBURG Bran"den*burg, n. [So named after Brandenburg, a province and a town of Prussia.]

Defn: A kind of decoration for the breast of a coat, sometimes only a frog with a loop, but in some military uniforms enlarged into a broad horizontal stripe.

He wore a coat . . . trimmed with Brandenburgs. Smollett.

BRANDER Brand"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, brands; a branding iron.

2. A gridiron. [Scot.]

BRAND GOOSE Brand" goose`. Etym: [Prob. fr. 1st brand + goose: cf. Sw. brandgås. Cf. Brant.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of wild goose (Branta bernicla) usually called in America brant. See Brant.

BRANDIED Bran"died, a.

Defn: Mingled with brandy; made stronger by the addition of brandy; flavored or treated with brandy; as, brandied peaches.

BRANDING IRON Brand"ing i`*ron.

Defn: An iron to brand with.

BRAND IRON Brand" i`ron.

1. A branding iron.

2. A trivet to set a pot on. Huloet.

3. The horizontal bar of an andiron.

BRANDISH Bran"dish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brandished; p. pr. & vb. n. Brandishing.] Etym: [OE. braundisen, F. brandir, fr. brand a sword, fr. OHG. brant brand. See Brand, n.]

1. To move or wave, as a weapon; to raise and move in various directions; to shake or flourish. The quivering lance which he brandished bright. Drake.

2. To play with; to flourish; as, to brandish syllogisms.

BRANDISH Bran"dish, n.

Defn: A flourish, as with a weapon, whip, etc. "Brandishes of the fan." Tailer.

BRANDISHER Bran"dish*er, n.

Defn: One who brandishes.

BRANDLE Bran"dle, v. t. & i. Etym: [F. brandiller.]

Defn: To shake; to totter. [Obs.]

BRANDLING; BRANDLIN Brand"ling, Brand"lin, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Branlin, fish and worm.

BRAND-NEW Brand"-new", a. Etym: [See Brand, and cf. Brannew.]

Defn: Quite new; bright as if fresh from the forge.

BRAND SPORE Brand" spore`. (Bot.)

Defn: One of several spores growing in a series or chain, and produced by one of the fungi called brand.

BRANDY Bran"dy, n.; pl. Brandies. Etym: [From older brandywine, brandwine, fr. D. brandewijn, fr. p. p. of branden to burn, distill + wijn wine, akin to G. branntwein. See Brand.]

Defn: A strong alcoholic liquor distilled from wine. The name is also given to spirit distilled from other liquors, and in the United States to that distilled from cider and peaches. In northern Europe, it is also applied to a spirit obtained from grain. Brandy fruit, fruit preserved in brandy and sugar.

BRANDYWINE Bran"dy*wine`, n.

Defn: Brandy. [Obs.] Wiseman.

BRANGLE Bran"gle, n. Etym: [Prov. E. brangled confused, entangled, Scot. brangle to shake, menace; probably a variant of wrangle, confused with brawl.]

Defn: A wrangle; a squabble; a noisy contest or dispute. [R.] A brangle between him and his neighbor. Swift.

BRANGLE Bran"gle, v.i [imp. & p. p. Brangled; p. pr. & vb. n. Brangling.]

Defn: To wrangle; to dispute contentiously; to squabble. [R.]

BRANGLEMENT Bran"gle*ment, n.

Defn: Wrangle; brangle. [Obs.]

BRANGLER Bran"gler, n.

Defn: A quarrelsome person.

BRANGLING Bran"gling, n.

Defn: A quarrel. [R.] Whitlock.

BRANK Brank, n. Etym: [Prov. of Celtic origin; cf. L. brance, brace, the Gallic name of a particularly white kind of corn.]

Defn: Buckwheat. [Local, Eng.] Halliwell.

BRANK; BRANKS Brank, Branks, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. brangus, brangas, a sort of pillory, Ir. brancas halter, or D. pranger fetter.]

1. A sort of bridle with wooden side pieces. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Jamieson.

2. A scolding bridle, an instrument formerly used for correcting scolding women. It was an iron frame surrounding the head and having a triangular piece entering the mouth of the scold.

BRANK Brank, v. i.

1. To hold up and toss the head; -- applied to horses as spurning the bit. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

2. To prance; to caper. [Scot.] Jamieson.

BRANKURSINE Brank"ur*sine, n. Etym: [F. branc-ursine, branch-ursine, fr. LL. branca claw + L. ursinus belonging to a bear (fr. ursus bear), i .e., bear's claw, because its leaves resemble the claws of a bear. Cf. Branch.] (Bot.)

Defn: Bear's-breech, or Acanthus.

BRANLIN Bran"lin, n. Etym: [Scot. branlie fr. brand.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young salmon or parr, in the stage in which it has transverse black bands, as if burned by a gridiron.

BRANLIN Bran"lin, n. Etym: [See Brand.]

Defn: A small red worm or larva, used as bait for small fresh-water fish; -- so called from its red color.

BRAN-NEW Bran"-new", a.

Defn: See Brand-new.

BRANNY Bran"ny, a.

Defn: Having the appearance of bran; consisting of or containing bran. Wiseman.

BRANSLE Bran"sle, n. Etym: [See Brawl a dance.]

Defn: A brawl or dance. [Obs.] Spenser.

BRANT Brant, n. Etym: [Cf.Brand goose, Brent, Brenicle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of wild goose (Branta bernicla) -- called also brent and brand goose. The name is also applied to other related species.

BRANT Brant, a. Etym: [See Brent.]

Defn: Steep. [Prov. Eng.]

BRANTAIL Bran"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European redstart; -- so called from the red color of its tail.

BRANT-FOX Brant"-fox`, n. Etym: [For brand-fox; cf. G. brandfuchs, Sw. bradräf. So called from its yellowish brown and somewhat black color. See Brand.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of fox found in Sweden (Vulpes alopex), smaller than the common fox (V. vulgaris), but probably a variety of it.

BRANULAR Bran"u*lar, a.

Defn: Relating to the brain; cerebral. I. Taylor.

BRASEN Bra"sen, a.

Defn: Same as Brazen.

BRASH Brash, a. Etym: [Cf. Gael. bras or G. barsch harsh, sharp, tart, impetuous, D. barsch, Sw. & Dan. barsk.]

Defn: Hasty in temper; impetuous. Grose.

BRASH Brash, a. Etym: [Cf. Amer. bresk, brusk, fragile, brittle.]

Defn: Brittle, as wood or vegetables. [Colloq., U. S.] Bartlett.

BRASH Brash, n. Etym: [See Brash brittle.]

1. A rash or eruption; a sudden or transient fit of sickness.

2. Refuse boughs of trees; also, the clippings of hedges. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: Broken and angular fragments of rocks underlying alluvial deposits. Lyell.

4. Broken fragments of ice. Kane. Water brash (Med.), an affection characterized by a spasmodic pain or hot sensation in the stomach with a rising of watery liquid into the mouth; pyrosis. -- Weaning brash (Med.), a severe form of diarrhea which sometimes attacks children just weaned.

BRASHY Brash"y, a.

1. Resembling, or of the nature of, brash, or broken fragments; broken; crumbly.

Our progress was not at all impeded by the few soft, brashy floes that we encountered. F. T. Bullen.

2. Showery; characterized by brashes, or showers.

BRASIER; BRAZIER Bra"sier, Bra"zier, n. Etym: [OE. brasiere, F. braise live coals. See Brass.]

Defn: An artificer who works in brass. Franklin.

BRASIER; BRAZIER Bra"sier, Bra"zier, n. Etym: [F. brasier, braisíer, fr. braise live coals. See Brass.]

Defn: A pan for holding burning coals.

BRASILIN; BRASILEIN Bras"i*lin, Bras"i*lein, n. [Cf. F. brésiline. See 2d Brazil.] (Chem.)

Defn: A substance, C16H14O5, extracted from brazilwood as a yellow crystalline powder which is white when pure. It is colored intensely red by alkalies on exposure to the air, being oxidized to bra*sil"e*in, C16H12O5, to which brazilwood owes its dyeing properties.

BRASQUE Brasque, n. [F.] (Metal.)

Defn: A paste made by mixing powdered charcoal, coal, or coke with clay, molasses, tar, or other suitable substance. It is used for lining hearths, crucibles, etc. Called also steep.

BRASS Brass, n.; pl. Brasses. Etym: [OE. bras, bres, AS. bræs; akin to Icel. bras cement, solder, brasa to harden by fire, and to E. braze, brazen. Cf. 1st & 2d Braze.]

1. An alloy (usually yellow) of copper and zinc, in variable proportion, but often containing two parts of copper to one part of zinc. It sometimes contains tin, and rarely other metals.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A journal bearing, so called because frequently made of brass. A brass is often lined with a softer metal, when the latter is generally called a white metal lining. See Axle box, Journal Box, and Bearing.

3. Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze. [Obs.] Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey. Matt. x. 9.

4. Impudence; a brazen face. [Colloq.]

5. pl.

Defn: Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass. The very scullion who cleans the brasses. Hopkinson.

6. A brass plate engraved with a figure or device. Specifically, one used as a memorial to the dead, and generally having the portrait, coat of arms, etc.

7. pl. (Mining)

Defn: Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the color of which is near to that of brass.

Note: The word brass as used in Sculpture language is a translation for copper or some kind of bronze.

Note: Brass is often used adjectively or in self-explaining compounds; as, brass button, brass kettle, brass founder, brass foundry or brassfoundry. Brass band (Mus.), a band of musicians who play upon wind instruments made of brass, as trumpets, cornets, etc. -- Brass foil, Brass leaf, brass made into very thin sheets; -- called also Dutch gold.

BRASSAGE Bras"sage, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A sum formerly levied to pay the expense of coinage; -- now called seigniorage.

BRASSART Bras"sart, n. Etym: [F. brassard, fr. bras arm. See Brace, n.]

Defn: Armor for the arm; -- generally used for the whole arm from the shoulder to the wrist, and consisting, in the 15th and 16th centuries, of many parts.

BRASSE Brasse, n. Etym: [Perh. a transposition of barse; but cf. LG. brasse the bream, G. brassen Cf. Bream.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A spotted European fish of the genus Lucioperca, resembling a perch.

BRASSETS Bras"sets, n.

Defn: See Brassart.

BRASSICA Bras"si*ca, n. Etym: [L., cabbage.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants embracing several species ad varieties differing much in appearance and qualities: such as the common cabbage (B. oleracea), broccoli, cauliflowers, etc.; the wild turnip (B. campestris); the common turnip (B. rapa); the rape of coleseed (B. napus), etc.

BRASSICACEOUS Bras`si*ca"ceous, a. Etym: [L. brassica cabbage.] (Bot.)

Defn: Related to, or resembling, the cabbage, or plants of the Cabbage family.

BRASSIERE Bras`sière", n. [F.]

Defn: A form of woman's underwaist stiffened with whalebones, or the like, and worn to support the breasts.

BRASSINESS Brass"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state, conditions, or quality of being brassy. [Colloq.]

BRASS-VISAGED Brass"-vis"aged, a.

Defn: Impudent; bold.

BRASSY Brass"y, a.

1. Of or pertaining to brass; having the nature, appearance, or hardness, of brass.

2. Impudent; impudently bold. [Colloq.]

BRAST Brast, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Burst.]

Defn: To burst. [Obs.] And both his yën braste out of his face. Chaucer. Dreadfull furies which their chains have brast. Spenser.

BRAT Brat, n. Etym: [OE. bratt coarse garnment, AS. bratt cloak, fr. the Celtic; cf. W. brat clout, rag, Gael. brat cloak, apron, raf, Ir. brat cloak; properly then, a child's bib or clout; hence, a child.]

1. A coarse garnment or cloak; also, coarse clothing, in general. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. A coarse kind of apron for keeping the clothes clean; a bib. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Wright.

3. A child; an offspring; -- formerly used in a good sense, but now usually in a contemptuous sense. "This brat is none of mine." Shak. "A beggar's brat." Swift. O Israel! O household of the Lord! O Abraham's brats! O brood of blessed seed! Gascoigne.

4. The young of an animal. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

BRAT Brat, n. (Mining)

Defn: A thin bed of coal mixed with pyrites or carbonate of lime.

BRATSCHE Brat"sche, n. Etym: [G., fr. It. viola da braccio viola held on the arm.]

Defn: The tenor viola, or viola.

BRATTICE Brat"tice, n. Etym: [See Brettice.] (Mining) (a) A wall of separation in a shaft or gallery used for ventilation. (b) Planking to support a roof or wall.

BRATTISHING Brat"tish*ing, n.

1. See Brattice, n.

2. (Arch.)

Defn: Carved openwork, as of a shrine, battlement, or parapet.

BRAUNITE Braun"ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A native oxide of manganese, of dark brownish black color. It was named from a Mr. Braun of Gotha.

BRAVADE Bra*vade" (, n.

Defn: Bravado. [Obs.] Fanshawe.

BRAVADO Bra*va"do, n., pl. Bravadoes. Etym: [Sp. bravada, bravata, boast, brag: cf. F. bravade. See Brave.]

Defn: Boastful and threatening behavior; a boastful menace. In spite of our host's bravado. Irving.

BRAVE Brave, a. [Compar. Braver; superl. Bravest.] Etym: [F. brave, It. or Sp. bravo, (orig.) fierce, wild, savage, prob. from. L. barbarus. See Barbarous, and cf. Bravo.]

1. Bold; courageous; daring; intrepid; -- opposed to cowardly; as, a brave man; a brave act.

2. Having any sort of superiority or excellence; -- especially such as in conspicuous. [Obs. or Archaic as applied to material things.] Iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth. Bacon. It being a brave day, I walked to Whitehall. Pepys.

3. Making a fine show or display. [Archaic] Wear my dagger with the braver grace. Shak. For I have gold, and therefore will be brave. In silks I'll rattle it of every color. Robert Greene. Frog and lizard in holiday coats And turtle brave in his golden spots. Emerson.

Syn. -- Courageous; gallant; daring; valiant; valorous; bold; heroic; intrepid; fearless; dauntless; magnanimous; high-spirited; stout- hearted. See Gallant.

BRAVE Brave, n.

1. A brave person; one who is daring. The star-spangled banner, O,long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. F. S. Key.

2. Specifically, an Indian warrior.

3. A man daring beyond discretion; a bully. Hot braves like thee may fight. Dryden.

4. A challenge; a defiance; bravado. [Obs.] Demetrius, thou dost overween in all; And so in this, to bear me down with braves. Shak.

BRAVE Brave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Braved; p. pr. & vb. n. Braving.]

1. To encounter with courage and fortitude; to set at defiance; to defy; to dare. These I can brave, but those I can not bear. Dryden.

2. To adorn; to make fine or showy. [Obs.] Thou [a tailor whom Grunio was browbeating] hast braved meny men; brave not me; I'll neither be faced or braved. Shak.

BRAVELY Brave"ly, adv.

1. In a brave manner; courageously; gallantly; valiantly; splendidly; nobly.

2. Finely; gaudily; gayly; showily. And [she] decked herself bravely to allure the eyes of all men that should see her. Judith. x. 4.

3. Well; thrivingly; prosperously. [Colloq.]

BRAVENESS Brave"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of state or being brave.

BRAVERY Brav"er*y, n. Etym: [Cf. F. braverie.]

1. The quality of being brave; fearless; intrepidity. Remember, sir, my liege, . . . The natural bravery of your isle. Shak.

2. The act of braving; defiance; bravado. [Obs.] Reform, then, without bravery or scandal of former times and persons.

3. Splendor; magnificence; showy appearance; ostentation; fine dress. With scarfs and fans and double change of bravery. Shak. Like a stately ship . . . With all her bravery on, and tackle trim. Milton.

4. A showy person; a fine gentleman; a beau. [Obs.] A man that is the bravery of his age. Beau. & Fl.

Syn. -- Courage; heroism; interpidity; gallantry; valor; fearlessness; dauntlessness; hardihood; manfulness. See Courage, and Heroism.

BRAVING Brav"ing, n.

Defn: A bravado; a boast. With so proud a strain Of threats and bravings. Chapman.

BRAVINGLY Brav"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a defiant manner.

BRAVO Bra"vo, n.; pl. Bravoes. Etym: [I. See Brave, a.]

Defn: A daring villain; a bandit; one who sets law at defiance; a professional assassin or murderer. Safe from detection, seize the unwary prey. And stab, like bravoes, all who come this way. Churchill.

BRAVO Bra"vo, interj. Etym: [It. See Brave.]

Defn: Well done! excellent! an exclamation expressive of applause.

BRAVURA Bra*vu"ra, n. Etym: [It., (properly) bravery, spirit, from bravo. See Brave.] (Mus.)

Defn: A florid, brilliant style of music, written for effect, to show the range and flexibility of a singer's voice, or the technical force and skill of a performer; virtuoso music. Aria di bravura ( Etym: [It.], a florid air demanding brilliant execution.

BRAW Braw, a. [See Brave, a.] [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

1. Well-dressed; handsome; smart; brave; -- used of persons or their clothing, etc.; as, a braw lad. "A braw new gown." Burns.

2. Good; fine. "A braw night." Sir W. Scott.

BRAWL Brawl, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Brawled; p. pr. & vb. n. Brawling.] Etym: [OE. braulen to quarrel, boast, brallen to cry, make a noise; cf. LG. brallen to brag, MHG. prulen, G. prahlen, F. brailler to cry, shout, Pr. brailar, braillar, W. bragal to vociferate, brag, Armor. bragal to romp, to strut, W. broliaw to brag, brawl boast.

1. To quarrel noisily and outrageously. Let a man that is a man consider that he is a fool that brawleth openly with his wife. Golden Boke.

2. To complain loudly; to scold.

3. To make a loud confused noise, as the water of a rapid stream running over stones. Where the brook brawls along the painful road. Wordsworth.

Syn. -- To wrangle; squabble; contend.

BRAWL Brawl, n.

Defn: A noisy quarrel; loud, angry contention; a wrangle; a tumult; as, a drunken brawl. His sports were hindered by the brawls. Shak .

Syn. -- Noise; quarrel; uproar; row; tumult.

BRAWLER Brawl"er, n.

Defn: One that brawls; wrangler. Common brawler (Law), one who disturbs a neighborhood by brawling (and is therefore indictable at common law as a nuisance). Wharton.

BRAWLING Brawl"ing, a.

1. Quarreling; quarrelsome; noisy. She is an irksome brawling scold. Shak.

2. Making a loud confused noise. See Brawl, v. i., 3. A brawling stream. J. S. Shairp.

BRAWLINGLY Brawl"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a brawling manner.

BRAWN Brawn, n. Etym: [OF. braon fleshy part, muscle, fr. HG. br flesh, G. braten roast meat; akin to Icel. br flesh, food of beasts, AS. brbr to roast, G. braten, and possibly to E. breed.]

1. A muscle; flesh. [Obs.] Formed well of brawns and of bones. Chaucer.

2. Full, strong muscles, esp. of the arm or leg, muscular strength; a protuberant muscular part of the body; sometimes, the arm. Brawn without brains is thine. Dryden. It was ordained that murderers should be brent on the brawn of the left hand. E. Hall. And in my vantbrace put this withered brawn. Shak.

3. The flesh of a boar; also, the salted and prepared flesh of a boar. The best age for the boar is from two to five years, at which time it is best to geld him, or sell him for brawn. Mortimer.

4. A boar. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

BRAWNED Brawned, a.

Defn: Brawny; strong; muscular. [Obs.] Spenser.

BRAWNER Brawn"er, n.

Defn: A boor killed for the table.

BRAWNINESS Brawn"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being brawny.

BRAWNY Brawn"y, a.

Defn: Having large, strong muscles; muscular; fleshy; strong. "Brawny limbs." W. Irving.

Syn. -- Muscular; fleshy; strong; bulky; sinewy; athletic; stalwart; powerful; robust.

BRAXY Brax"y, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. breac rheum, broc sickness, Ir. bracha corruption. Jamieson.]

1. A disease of sheep. The term is variously applied in different localities. [Scot.]

2. A diseased sheep, or its mutton.

BRAY Bray, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Braying.] Etym: [OE. brayen, OF. breier, F. broyer to pound, grind, fr. OHG. brehhan to break. See Break.]

Defn: To pound, beat, rub, or grind small or fine. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar, . . . yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Prov. xxvii. 22.

BRAY Bray, v. i. Etym: [OE brayen, F. braire to bray, OF. braire to cry, fr. LL. bragire to whinny; perh. fr. the Celtic and akin to E. break; or perh. of imitative origin.]

1. To utter a loud, harsh cry, as an ass. Laugh, and they Return it louder than an ass can bray. Dryden.

2. To make a harsh, grating, or discordant noise. Heard ye the din of battle bray Gray.

BRAY Bray, v. t.

Defn: To make or utter with a loud, discordant, or harsh and grating sound. Arms on armor clashing, brayed Horrible discord. MIlton. And varying notes the war pipes brayed. Sir W. Scott.

BRAY Bray, n.

Defn: The harsh cry of an ass; also, any harsh, grating, or discordant sound. The bray and roar of multitudinous London. Jerrold.

BRAY Bray, n. Etym: [OE. braye, brey, brew, eyebrow, brow of a hill, hill, bank, Scot. bra, brae, bray, fr. AS. br eyebrow, influenced by the allied Icel. br eyebrow, bank, also akin to AS. brBrow.]

Defn: A bank; the slope of a hill; a hill. See Brae, which is now the usual spelling. [North of Eng. & Scot.] Fairfax.

BRAYER Bray"er, n.

Defn: An implement for braying and spreading ink in hand printing.

BRAYER Bray"er, n.

Defn: One that brays like an ass. Pope.

BRAYING Bray"ing, a.

Defn: Making a harsh noise; blaring. "Braying trumpets." Shak.

BRAZE Braze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Brazed; p. pr & vb. n. Brazing.] Etym: [F. braser to solder, fr. Icel. brasa to harden by fire. Cf. Brass.]

1. To solder with hard solder, esp. with an alloy of copper and zinc; as, to braze the seams of a copper pipe.

2. To harden. "Now I am brazes to it." Shak.

BRAZE Braze, v. t. Etym: [AS. bræsian, fr. bræs brass. See Brass.]

Defn: To cover or ornament with brass. Chapman.

BRAZEN Bra"zen, a.Etym: [OE. brasen, AS. bræsen. See Brass.]

1. Pertaining to, made of, or resembling, brass.

2. Sounding harsh and loud, like resounding brass.

3. Impudent; immodest; shameless; having a front like brass; as, a brazen countenance. Brazen age. (a) (Myth.) The age of war and lawlessness which succeeded the silver age. (b) (Archæol.) See under Bronze. -- Brazen sea (Jewish Antiq.), a large laver of brass, placed in Solomon's temple for the use of the priests.

BRAZEN Bra"zen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brazened; p. pr. & vb. n. Brazening.]

Defn: To carry through impudently or shamelessly; as, to brazen the matter through. Sabina brazened it out before Mrs. Wygram, but inwardly she was resolved to be a good deal more circumspect. W. Black.

BRAZEN-BROWED Bra"zen-browed`, a.

Defn: Shamelessly impudent. Sir T. Browne.

BRAZENFACE Bra"zen*face`, n.

Defn: An impudent of shameless person. "Well said, brazenface; hold it out." Shak.

BRAZENFACED Bra"zen*faced`, a.

Defn: Impudent; shameless.

BRAZENLY Bra"zen*ly, adv.

Defn: In a bold, impudent manner.

BRAZENNESS Bra"zen*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being brazen. Johnson.

BRAZIER Bra"zier, n.

Defn: Same as Brasier.

BRAZILETTO Braz`i*let"to, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. & Sp. brasilete, It. brasiletto.]

Defn: See Brazil wood.

BRAZILIAN Bra*zil"ian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Brasil. -- n.

Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Brazil. Brazilian pebble. See Pebble, n., 2.

BRAZILIN Braz"i*lin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. brésiline. See Brazil.] (Chem.)

Defn: A substance contained in both Brazil wood and Sapan wood, from which it is extracted as a yellow crystalline substance which is white when pure. It is colored intensely red by alkalies. [Written also brezilin.]

BRAZIL NUT Bra*zil" nut`. (Bot.)

Defn: An oily, three-sided nut, the seed of the Bertholletia excelsa; the cream nut.

Note: From eighteen to twenty-four of the seed or "nuts" grow in a hard and nearly globular shell.

BRAZIL WOOD Bra*zil" wood`. Etym: [OE. brasil, LL. brasile (cf. Pg. & Sp. brasil, Pr. bresil, Pr. bresil); perh. from Sp. or Pg. brasa a live coal (cf. Braze, Brasier); or Ar. vars plant for dyeing red or yellow. This name was given to the wood from its color; and it is said that King Emanuel, of Portugal, gave the name Brazil to the country in South America on account of its producing this wood.]

1. The wood of the oriental Cæsalpinia Sapan; -- so called before the discovery of America.

2. A very heavy wood of a reddish color, imported from Brazil and other tropical countries, for cabinet-work, and for dyeing. The best is the heartwood of Cæsalpinia echinata, a leguminous tree; but other trees also yield it. An interior sort comes from Jamaica, the timber of C. Braziliensis and C. crista. This is often distinguished as Braziletto , but the better kind is also frequently so named.

BREACH Breach, n. Etym: [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. bræk, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See Break, and cf. Brake (the instrument), Brack a break] .

1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense.

2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of contract; a breach of promise.

3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. Shak.

4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves; surge; surf. The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. 2 Sam. v. 20 A clear breach implies that the waves roll over the vessel without breaking. -- A clean breach implies that everything on deck is swept away. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture. There's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach. Shak.

6. A bruise; a wound. Breach for breach, eye for eye. Lev. xxiv. 20

7. (Med.)

Defn: A hernia; a rupture.

8. A breaking out upon; an assault. The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. 1. Chron. xiii. 11 Breach of falth, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or trust. -- Breach of peace, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public peace. -- Breach of privilege, an act or default in violation of the privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false swearing before a committee. Mozley. Abbott. - Breach of promise, violation of one's plighted word, esp. of a promise to marry. -- Breach of trust, violation of one's duty or faith in a matter entrusted to one.

Syn. -- Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding.

BREACH Breach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Breached ( ; p. pr. & vb. n. Breaching.]

Defn: To make a breach or opening in; as, to breach the walls of a city.

BREACH Breach, v. i.

Defn: To break the water, as by leaping out; -- said of a whale.

BREACHY Breach"y, a.

Defn: Apt to break fences or to break out of pasture; unruly; as, breachy cattle.

BREAD Bread, v. t. Etym: [AS. brædan to make broad, to spread. See Broad, a.]

Defn: To spread. [Obs.] Ray.

BREAD Bread, n. Etym: [AS. breád; akin to OFries. brad, OS. br, D. brood, G. brod, brot, Icel. brau, Sw. & Dan. bröd. The root is probably that of E. brew. Brew.]

1. An article of food made from flour or meal by moistening, kneading, and baking.

Note: Raised bread is made with yeast, salt, and sometimes a little butter or lard, and is mixed with warm milk or water to form the dough, which, after kneading, is given time to rise before baking. -- Cream of tartar bread is raised by the action of an alkaline carbonate or bicarbonate (as saleratus or ammonium bicarbonate) and cream of tartar (acid tartrate of potassium) or some acid. -- Unleavened bread is usually mixed with water and salt only. Aërated bread. See under Aërated. Bread and butter (fig.), means of living. -- Brown bread, Indian bread, Graham bread, Rye and Indian bread. See Brown bread, under Brown. -- Bread tree. See Breadfruit.

2. Food; sustenance; support of life, in general. Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11

BREAD Bread, v. t. (Cookery)

Defn: To cover with bread crumbs, preparatory to cooking; as, breaded cutlets.

BREADBASKET Bread"bas`ket, n.

Defn: The stomach. [Humorous] S. Foote.

BREADCORN Bread"corn`.

Defn: Corn of grain of which bread is made, as wheat, rye, etc.

BREADED Bread"ed, a.

Defn: Braided [Obs.] Spenser.

BREADEN Bread"en, a.

Defn: Made of bread. [R.]

BREADFRUIT Bread"fruit`, n. (Bot.)

1. The fruit of a tree (Artocarpus incisa) found in the islands of the Pacific, esp. the South Sea islands. It is of a roundish form, from four to six or seven inches in diameter, and, when baked, somewhat resembles bread, and is eaten as food, whence the name.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: The tree itself, which is one of considerable size, with large, lobed leaves. Cloth is made from the bark, and the timber is used for many purposes. Called also breadfruit tree and bread tree.

BREADLESS Bread"less, a.

Defn: Without bread; destitude of food. Plump peers and breadless bards alike are dull. P. Whitehead.

BREADROOT Bread`root", n. (Bot.)

Defn: The root of a leguminous plant (Psoralea esculenta), found near the Rocky Mountains. It is usually oval in form, and abounds in farinaceous matter, affording sweet and palatable food.

Note: It is the Pomme blanche of Canadian voyageurs.

BREADSTUFF Bread"stuff, n.

Defn: Grain, flour, or meal of which bread is made.

BREADTH Breadth, n. Etym: [OE. brede, breede, whence later bredette, AS. brbrad broad. See Broad, a.]

1. Distance from side to side of any surface or thing; measure across, or at right angles to the length; width.

2. (Fine Arts) The quality of having the colors and shadows broad and massive, and the arrangement of objects such as to avoid to great multiplicity of details, producing an impression of largeness and simple grandeur; -- called also breadth of effect. Breadth of coloring is a prominent character in the painting of all great masters. Weale.

BREADTHLESS Breadth"less, a.

Defn: Without breadth.

BREADTHWAYS Breadth"ways, ads.

Defn: Breadthwise. Whewell.

BREADTHWISE Breadth"wise, ads.

Defn: In the direction of the breadth.

BREADWINNER Bread"win`ner, n.

Defn: The member of a family whose labor supplies the food of the family; one who works for his living. H. Spencer.

BREAK Break, v. t. [imp. broke, (Obs. Brake); p. p. Broken (, (Obs. Broke); p. pr. & vb. n. Breaking.] Etym: [OE. breken, AS. brecan; akin to OS. brekan, D. breken, OHG. brehhan, G. brechen, Icel.braka to creak, Sw. braka, bräkka to crack, Dan. brække to break, Goth. brikan to break, L. frangere. Cf. Bray to pound, Breach, Fragile.]

1. To strain apart; to sever by fracture; to divide with violence; as, to break a rope or chain; to break a seal; to break an axle; to break rocks or coal; to break a lock. Shak.

2. To lay open as by breaking; to divide; as, to break a package of goods.

3. To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate. Katharine, break thy mind to me. Shak.

4. To infringe or violate, as an obligation, law, or promise. Out, out, hyena! these are thy wonted arts . . . To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray. Milton

5. To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate; as, to break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's journey. Go, release them, Ariel; My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore. Shak.

6. To destroy the completeness of; to remove a part from; as, to break a set.

7. To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce; as, the cavalry were not able to break the British squares.

8. To shatter to pieces; to reduce to fragments. The victim broke in pieces the musical instruments with which he had solaced the hours of captivity. Prescott.

9. To exchange for other money or currency of smaller denomination; as, to break a five dollar bill.

10. To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of; as, to break flax.

11. To weaken or impair, as health, spirit, or mind. An old man, broken with the storms of state. Shak.

12. To diminish the force of; to lessen the shock of, as a fall or blow. I'll rather leap down first, and break your fall. Dryden.

13. To impart, as news or information; to broach; -- with to, and often with a modified word implying some reserve; as, to break the news gently to the widow; to break a purpose cautiously to a friend.

14. To tame; to reduce to subjection; to make tractable; to discipline; as, to break a horse to the harness or saddle. "To break a colt." Spenser. Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute Shak.

15. To destroy the financial credit of; to make bankrupt; to ruin. With arts like these rich Matho, when he speaks, Attracts all fees, and little lawyers breaks. Dryden.

16. To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss. I see a great officer broken. Swift.

Note: With prepositions or adverbs: --To break down. (a) To crush; to overwhelm; as, to break down one's strength; to break down opposition. (b) To remove, or open a way through, by breaking; as, to break down a door or wall. -- To break in. (a) To force in; as, to break in a door. (b) To train; to discipline; as, a horse well broken in. -- To break of, to rid of; to cause to abandon; as, to break one of a habit. -- To break off. (a) To separate by breaking; as, to break off a twig. (b) To stop suddenly; to abandon. "Break off thy sins by righteousness." Dan. iv. 27. -- To break open, to open by breaking. "Open the door, or I will break it open." Shak. -- To break out, to take or force out by breaking; as, to break out a pane of glass. -- To break out a cargo, to unstow a cargo, so as to unload it easily. -- To break through. (a) To make an opening through, as, as by violence or the force of gravity; to pass violently through; as, to break through the enemy's lines; to break through the ice. (b) To disregard; as, to break through the ceremony. -- To break up. (a) To separate into parts; to plow (new or fallow ground). "Break up this capon." Shak. "Break up your fallow ground." Jer. iv. 3. (b) To dissolve; to put an end to. "Break up the court." Shak. -- To break (one) all up, to unsettle or disconcert completely; to upset. [Colloq.]

Note: With an immediate object: -To break the back. (a) To dislocate the backbone; hence, to disable totally. (b) To get through the worst part of; as, to break the back of a difficult undertaking. -- To break bulk, to destroy the entirety of a load by removing a portion of it; to begin to unload; also, to transfer in detail, as from boats to cars. -- To break cover, to burst forth from a protecting concealment, as game when hunted. -- To break a deer or stag, to cut it up and apportion the parts among those entitled to a share. -- To break fast, to partake of food after abstinence. See Breakfast. -- To break ground. (a) To open the earth as for planting; to commence excavation, as for building, siege operations, and the like; as, to break ground for a foundation, a canal, or a railroad. (b) Fig.: To begin to execute any plan. (c) (Naut.) To release the anchor from the bottom. -- To break the heart, to crush or overwhelm (one) with grief. -- To break a house (Law), to remove or set aside with violence and a felonious intent any part of a house or of the fastenings provided to secure it. -- To break the ice, to get through first difficulties; to overcome obstacles and make a beginning; to introduce a subject. -- To break jail, to escape from confinement in jail, usually by forcible means. -- To break a jest, to utter a jest. "Patroclus . . . the livelong day break scurril jests." Shak. -- To break joints, to lay or arrange bricks, shingles, etc., so that the joints in one course shall not coincide with those in the preceding course. -- To break a lance, to engage in a tilt or contest. -- To break the neck, to dislocate the joints of the neck. -- To break no squares, to create no trouble. [Obs.] -- To break a path, road, etc., to open a way through obstacles by force or labor. -- To break upon a wheel, to execute or torture, as a criminal by stretching him upon a wheel, and breaking his limbs with an iron bar; -- a mode of punishment formerly employed in some countries. -- To break wind, to give vent to wind from the anus.

Syn. -- To dispart; rend; tear; shatter; batter; violate; infringe; demolish; destroy; burst; dislocate.

BREAK Break, v. i.

1. To come apart or divide into two or more pieces, usually with suddenness and violence; to part; to burst asunder.

2. To open spontaneously, or by pressure from within, as a bubble, a tumor, a seed vessel, a bag. Else the bottle break, and the wine runneth out. Math. ix. 17.

3. To burst forth; to make its way; to come to view; to appear; to dawn. The day begins to break, and night is fied. Shak. And from the turf a fountain broke, and gurgled at our feet. Wordswoorth.

4. To burst forth violently, as a storm. The clouds are still above; and, while I speak, A second deluge o'er our head may break. Shak.

5. To open up. to be scattered; t be dissipated; as, the clouds are breaking. At length the darkness begins to break. Macawlay.

6. To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength. See how the dean begins to break; Poor gentleman . Swift.

7. To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief; as, my heart is breaking.

8. To fall in business; to become bankrupt. He that puts all upon adventures doth oftentimes break, and come to poverty. Bacn.

9. To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change the gait; as, to break into a run or gallop.

10. To fail in musical quality; as, a singer's voice breaks when it is strained beyond its compass and a tone or note is not completed, but degenerates into an unmusical sound instead. Also, to change in tone, as a boy's voice at puberty.

11. To fall out; to terminate friendship. To break upon the score of danger or expense is to be mean and narrow-spirited. Collier.

Note: With prepositions or adverbs: -To break away, to disengage one's self abruptly; to come or go away against resistance. Fear me not, man; I will not break away. Shak. To break down. (a) To come down by breaking; as, the coach broke down. (b) To fail in any undertaking. He had broken down almost at the outset. Thackeray. -- To break forth, to issue; to come out suddenly, as sound, light, etc. "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning." Isa. lviii. 8;

Note: often with into in expressing or giving vent to one's feelings. "Break forth into singing, ye mountains." Isa. xliv. 23. To break from, to go away from abruptly. This radiant from the circling crowd he broke. Dryden. -- To break into, to enter by breaking; as, a house. -- To break in upon, to enter or approach violently or unexpectedly. "This, this is he; softly awhile; let us not break in upon him." Milton. -- To break loose. (a) To extricate one's self forcibly. "Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell" Milton. (b) To cast off restraint, as of morals or propriety. -- To break off. (a) To become separated by rupture, or with suddenness and violence. (b) To desist or cease suddenly. "Nay, forward, old man; do not break off so." Shak. -- To break off from, to desist from; to abandon, as a habit. -- To break out. (a) To burst forth; to escape from restraint; to appear suddenly, as a fire or an epidemic. "For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and stream in the desert." Isa. xxxv. 6 (b) To show itself in cutaneous eruptions; -- said of a disease. (c) To have a rash or eruption on the akin; -- said of a patient. -- To break over, to overflow; to go beyond limits. -- To break up. (a) To become separated into parts or fragments; as, the ice break up in the rivers; the wreck will break up in the next storm. (b) To disperse. "The company breaks up." I. Watts. -- To break upon, to discover itself suddenly to; to dawn upon. -- To break with. (a) To fall out; to sever one's relations with; to part friendship. "It can not be the Volsces dare break with us." Shak. "If she did not intend to marry Clive, she should have broken with him altogether." Thackeray. (b) To come to an explanation; to enter into conference; to speak. [Obs.] "I will break with her and with her father." Shak.

BREAK Break, n. Etym: [See Break, v. t., and cf. Brake (the instrument), Breach, Brack a crack.]

1. An opening made by fracture or disruption.

2. An interruption of continuity; change of direction; as, a break in a wall; a break in the deck of a ship. Specifically: (a) (Arch.) A projection or recess from the face of a displacement in the circuit, interrupting the electrical current.

3. An interruption; a pause; as, a break in friendship; a break in the conversation.

4. An interruption in continuity in writing or printing, as where there is an omission, an unfilled line, etc. All modern trash is Set forth with numerous breaks and dashes. Swift.

5. The first appearing, as of light in the morning; the dawn; as, the break of day; the break of dawn.

6. A large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.

7. A device for checking motion, or for measuring friction. See Brake, n. 9 & 10.

8. (Teleg.)

Defn: See Commutator.

BREAKABLE Break"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being broken.

BREAKAGE Break"age, n.

1. The act of breaking; a break; a breaking; also, articles broken.

2. An allowance or compensation for things broken accidentally, as in transportation or use.

BREAKAWAY Break"a*way`, n. [Break + away] [Australasia]

1.

Defn: A wild rush of sheep, cattle, horses, or camels (especially at the smell or the sight of water); a stampede.

2. An animal that breaks away from a herd.

BREAKBONE FEVER Break"bone` fe`ver. (Med.)

Defn: See Dengue.

BREAK-CIRCUIT Break"-cir`cuit, n. (Elec.)

Defn: A key or other device for breaking an electrical circuit.

BREAKDOWN Break"down`, n.

1. The act or result of breaking down, as of a carriage; downfall.

2. (a) A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a number of persons or pairs in succession, as among the colored people of the Southern United States, and so called, perhaps, because the exercise is continued until most of those who take part in it break down. (b) Any rude, noisy dance performed by shuffling the feet, usually by one person at a time. [U.S.] Don't clear out when the quadrilles are over, for we are going to have a breakdown to wind up with. New Eng. Tales.

BREAKER Break"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, breaks. I'll be no breaker of the law. Shak.

2. Specifically: A machine for breaking rocks, or for breaking coal at the mines; also, the building in which such a machine is placed.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: A small water cask. Totten.

4. A wave breaking into foam against the shore, or against a sand bank, or a rock or reef near the surface. The breakers were right beneath her bows. Longfellow.

BREAKFAST Break"fast, n. Etym: [Break + fast.]

1. The first meal in the day, or that which is eaten at the first meal. A sorry breakfast for my lord protector. Shak.

2. A meal after fasting, or food in general. The wolves will get a breakfast by my death. Dryden.

BREAKFAST Break"fast, v. i. [imp. & p. p. breakfasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Breakfasting.]

Defn: To break one's fast in the morning; too eat the first meal in the day. First, sir, I read, and then I breakfast. Prior.

BREAKFAST Break"fast, v. t.

Defn: To furnish with breakfast. Milton.

BREAKMAN Break"man, n.

Defn: See Brakeman.

BREAKNECK Break"neck`, n.

1. A fall that breaks the neck.

2. A steep place endangering the neck.

BREAKNECK Break"neck`, a.

Defn: Producing danger of a broken neck; as, breakneck speed.

BREAK-UP Break"-up`, n.

Defn: Disruption; a separation and dispersion of the parts or members; as, a break-up of an assembly or dinner party; a break-up of the government.

BREAKWATER Break"wa`ter, n.

Defn: Any structure or contrivance, as a mole, or a wall at the mouth of a harbor, to break the force of waves, and afford protection from their violence.

BREAM Bream, n. Etym: [OE. breme, brem, F. brême, OF. bresme, of German origin; cf. OHG. brahsema, brahsina, OLG. bressemo, G. brassen. Cf. Brasse.]

1. (Zoöl)

Defn: A European fresh-water cyprinoid fish of the genus Abramis, little valued as food. Several species are known.

2. (Zoöl)

Defn: An American fresh-water fish, of various species of Pomotis and allied genera, which are also called sunfishes and pondfishes. See Pondfish.

3. (Zoöl)

Defn: A marine sparoid fish of the genus Pagellus, and allied genera. See Sea Bream.

BREAM Bream, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Breamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Breaming.] Etym: [Cf. Broom, and G. ein schiff brennen.] (Naut.)

Defn: To clean, as a ship's bottom of adherent shells, seaweed, etc., by the application of fire and scraping.

BREAST Breast, n. Etym: [OE. brest, breost, As. breóst; akin to Icel. brj, Sw. bröst, Dan. bryst, Goth. brusts, OS. briost, D. borst, G. brust.]

1. The fore part of the body, between the neck and the belly; the chest; as, the breast of a man or of a horse.

2. Either one of the protuberant glands, situated on the front of the chest or thorax in the female of man and of some other mammalia, in which milk is secreted for the nourishment of the young; a mammma; a teat. My brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother. Cant. viii. 1.

3. Anything resembling the human breast, or bosom; the front or forward part of anything; as, a chimney breast; a plow breast; the breast of a hill. Mountains on whose barren breast The laboring clouds do often rest. Milton.

4. (Mining) (a) The face of a coal working. (b) The front of a furnace.

5. The seat of consciousness; the repository of thought and self- consciousness, or of secrets; the seat of the affections and passions; the heart. He has a loyal breast. Shak.

6. The power of singing; a musical voice; -- so called, probably, from the connection of the voice with the lungs, which lie within the breast. [Obs.] By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast. Shak. Breast drill, a portable drilling machine, provided with a breastplate, for forcing the drill against the work. -- Breast pang. See Angina pectoris, under Angina. -- To make a clean breast, to disclose the secrets which weigh upon one; to make full confession.

BREAST Breast, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Breasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Breasted.]

Defn: To meet, with the breast; to struggle with or oppose manfully; as, to breast the storm or waves. The court breasted the popular current by sustaining the demurrer. Wirt. To breast up a hedge, to cut the face of it on one side so as to lay bare the principal upright stems of the plants.

BREASTBAND Breast"band`, n.

Defn: A band for the breast. Specifically: (Naut.) A band of canvas, or a rope, fastened at both ends to the rigging, to support the man who heaves the lead in sounding.

BREASTBEAM Breast"beam`, n. (Mach.)

Defn: The front transverse beam of a locomotive.

BREASTBONE Breast"bone`, n.

Defn: The bone of the breast; the sternum.

BREAST-DEEP Breast"-deep`, a.

Defn: Deep as from the breast to the feet; as high as the breast. See him breast-deep in earth, and famish him. Shak.

BREASTED Breast"ed, a.

Defn: Having a breast; -- used in composition with qualifying words, in either a literal or a metaphorical sense; as, a single-breasted coat. The close minister is buttoned up, and the brave officer open- breasted, on these occasions. Spectator.

BREASTFAST Breast"fast`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A large rope to fasten the midship part of a ship to a wharf, or to another vessel.

BREASTHEIGHT Breast"height`, n.

Defn: The interior slope of a fortification, against which the garnison lean in firing.

BREAST-HIGH Breast"-high`, a.

Defn: High as the breast.

BREASTHOOK Breast"hook`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A thick piece of timber in the form of a knee, placed across the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore part and unite the bows on each side. Totten.

BREASTING Breast"ing, n. (Mach.)

Defn: The curved channel in which a breast wheel turns. It is closely adapted to the curve of the wheel through about a quarter of its circumference, and prevents the escape of the water until it has spent its force upon the wheel. See Breast wheel.

BREASTKNOT Breast"knot`, n.

Defn: A pin worn of the breast for a fastening, or for ornament; a brooch.

BREASTPIN Breast"pin` (brest"pin`), n.

Defn: A pin worn on the breast for a fastening, or for ornament; a brooch.

BREASTPLATE Breast"plate`, n.

1. A plate of metal covering the breast as defensive armor. Before his old rusty breastplate could be scoured, and his cracked headpiece mended. Swift.

2. A piece against which the workman presses his breast in operating a breast drill, or other similar tool.

3. A strap that runs across a horse's breast. Ash.

4. (Jewish Antiq.)

Defn: A part of the vestment of the high priest, worn upon the front of the ephod. It was a double piece of richly embroidered stuff, a span square, set with twelve precious stones, on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Ephod.

BREASTPLOW; BREASTPLOUGH Breast"plow`, Breast"plough`, n.

Defn: A kind of plow, driven by the breast of the workman; -- used to cut or pare turf.

BREASTRAIL Breast"rail`, n.

Defn: The upper rail of any parapet of ordinary height, as of a balcony; the railing of a quarter-deck, etc.

BREASTROPE Breast"rope`, n.

Defn: See Breastband.

BREASTSUMMER Breast"sum`mer, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A summer or girder extending across a building flush with, and supporting, the upper part of a front or external wall; a long lintel; a girder; -- used principally above shop windows. [Written also brestsummer and bressummer.]

BREASTWHEEL Breast"wheel`, n.

Defn: A water wheel, on which the stream of water strikes neither so high as in the overshot wheel, nor so low as in the undershot, but generally at about half the height of the wheel, being kept in contact with it by the breasting. The water acts on the float boards partly by impulse, partly by its weight.

BREASTWORK Breast"work`, n.

1. (Fort.)

Defn: A defensive work of moderate height, hastily thrown up, of earth or other material.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: A railing on the quarter-deck and forecastle.

BREATH Breath, n. Etym: [OE. breth, breeth, AS. br odor, scent, breath; cf. OHG. bradam steam, vapor, breath, G. brodem, and possibly E. Brawn, and Breed.]

1. The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration, air which, in the process of respiration, has parted with oxygen and has received carbonic acid, aqueous vapor, warmth, etc. Melted as breath into the wind. Shak.

2. The act of breathing naturally or freely; the power or capacity to breathe freely; as, I am out of breath.

3. The power of respiration, and hence, life. Hood. Thou takest away their breath, they die. Ps. civ. 29.

4. Time to breathe; respite; pause. Give me some breath, some little pause. Shak.

5. A single respiration, or the time of making it; a single act; an instant. He smiles and he frowns in a breath. Dryden.

6. Fig.: That which gives or strengthens life. The earthquake voice of victory, To thee the breath of life. Byron.

7. A single word; the slightest effort; a triffle. A breath can make them, as a breath has made. Goldsmith.

8. A very slight breeze; air in gentle motion. Calm and unruffled as a summer's sea, when not a breath of wind flies o'er its surface. Addison.